Unrelated donor stem cell transplantation after autologous transplantation: experience of a single center

Abstract

Patients who do not respond to autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) have a poor prognosis. Concerns about toxicity limit the use of unrelated donor stem cell transplantation (UDSCT), but the knowledge about outcome after UDSCT post-ASCT is limited. We carried out a retrospective analysis of the outcome in seven consecutive patients with leukemia (n = 5), myeloma (n = 1) and graft failure (n = 1) who underwent UDSCT after ASCT. Donors were matched for HLA-A, -B and -DR (n = 6) or had one class I antigen mismatch (n = 1). Tissue typing was performed by a high-resolution genomic technique for class II. Median patient age was 34 (11–54) years and time from ASCT to UDSCT was 16 (3–22) months. Patients with malignant diseases were given TBI and a CY preparatory regimen. In addition, all patients received T cell antibodies prior to UDSCT. Grade I acute GVHD developed in all seven patients, but there was no sign of more severe acute GVHD. Two of four evaluable patients developed limited chronic GVHD. Three died of transplant-related toxicity, all due to pulmonary complications. Four patients are alive at 1.1, 1.5, 3.1 and 4.9 years post-UDSCT. A closely matched UDSCT could be considered for selected patients who are not cured by an ASCT.