¹Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Department of Internal Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA

Correspondence: Dr AA Toor, Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S. 1st Avenue, Rm 234, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA. E-mail: atoor@lumc.edu

Received 11 June 2004; Accepted 17 September 2004; Published online 22 November 2004.

Abstract

A second allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) for relapsed hematologic malignancies is an option in select patients after an initial allograft has failed. If the original donor is not available, a different donor may have to be considered. We report our experience of performing a second allogeneic HSCT using a different donor in patients with relapsed leukemia and lymphoma. In a 5-year period, six patients underwent a second allograft with myeloablative conditioning using a different donor. Four of these were retransplanted using a matched-unrelated donor. Four of the patients (67%) remain progression-free at a median follow-up of 32 months (range 3–72). There were no cases of transplant-related mortality. We conclude that a second allogeneic HSCT using a different donor is a viable option for selected patients relapsing after an allograft if the original donor is not available.