Treatment of T-prolymphocytic leukemia with nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Aim: T-prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare disease of the elderly cha racterized by a high white blood cell count and organomegaly, and is curren tly incurable. Our aim was to elicit graft-versus-leukemia reactions in a p atient with T-PLL. Methods: A 52-yr-old woman with refractory T-PLL underwe nt a nonmyeloablative regimen followed by allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (a "minitransplant") from her HLA-matched sibling. Res ults: There was no treatment related toxicity other than neutropenia. Engra ftment was successful. The patient experienced no graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) at any time but, on day 84 after transplantation, had a relapse in the central nervous system. Despite infusion of donor lymphocytes and intra lumbar chemotherapy, she died on day 157 of systemic disease. Conclusion: T he reasons why treatment may have failed are discussed (nature of disease, disease progression, treatment schedule).