LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF LEUKEMIA PATIENTS AFTER RELATED CRYOPRESERVED ALLOGENEIC BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

We have previously shown that allogeneic bone marrow transplantation ( BMT) with cryopreserved donor marrow cells can be used without prolong ing the engraftment time or interfering with the reconstitution of hae mopoiesis. In this report we extend our initial observations of the fi rst 40 patients who underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation f rom related donors with cryopreserved donor bone marrow for haematolog ical malignancies, including the long-term follow-up data of the previ ously reported patients. The outcome of these patients was compared wi th that of 40 related BMT recipients receiving fresh donor bone marrow (historic control group). Time until engraftment of all patients rece iving cryopreserved bone marrow was not different from the control gro up (ANC>0.5 x 10(9)/l 17 d (range 11-24 d) versus 17.5 d (range 10-28 d); platelets>20 x 10(9)/l 21 d (range 11-85 d) versus 22 d (range 13- 69 d), respectively). There was the same incidence of acute and chroni c GvHD in patients receiving either cryopreserved bone marrow or fresh bone marrow (acute GvHD greater than or equal to II 61% v 60% and chr onic GvHD 56% v 52%, respectively). Chimaerism studies showed no diffe rence between the patient groups. Furthermore, the two groups did not differ in day 100 survival (82% v 72%). With a median follow-up of 520 d (range 47-1365 d) and 1289 d (range 48-1849 d), 60% of the patients receiving cryopreserved and 53% of the patients receiving fresh allog eneic donor bone marrow respectively, are alive. We conclude that cryo preservation of allogeneic related donor bone marrow does not adversel y affect engraftment, does not decrease the incidence of severe acute GvHD, and does not seem to affect the day 100 survival or long-term ha emopoiesis.