Allografting for indolent lymphoid neoplasms

Background. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has been used in p atients with low-grade lymphoma (LGL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL ) with the goal of achieving long-term disease-free survival. Patients and methods: Twenty-nine patients with these diagnoses (LGL = 19, CLL = 10) received allogeneic BMT between September 1995 and January 1999. Median age was 42 (range 20-52) years. Twenty-three of twenty-nine patients (79%) were Ann Arbor or Rai stage IV at the time of transplant: twenty-fou r (83%) had never achieved complete remission (CR). Donor source was HLA-ma tched sibling (20), unrelated (8) and syngeneic (1). Results. Seventeen patients are currently alive, a median of 29 months (ran ge 1-85) post-BMT with a median KPS of 90%. Twenty-three of twenty-seven ev aluable patients (85%) achieved CR post-BMT. Six patients had refractory/re current disease. Death occurred related to transplant complications in eigh t patients and underlying disease in four. Overall and event-free survival for the whole group is 51% and 44%, respectively. Conclusions. Allogeneic BMT for young patients with advanced stage LGL or C LL is a Feasible strategy that can result in achievement of long-term disea se-free survival.