1. ¹Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
2. ²MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory, Munich, Germany
3. ³Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Hospital of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Correspondence: Dr U Bacher, Clinic for Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, Hamburg D-20246, Germany. E-mail: u.bacher@uke.de

Received 28 December 2007; Revised 26 February 2008; Accepted 12 May 2008; Published online 30 June 2008.

Abstract

Allogeneic SCT is important in myelodysplastic syndrome, the BCR-ABL-negative chronic myeloproliferative diseases (CMPDs) and in poor-risk AML. Techniques to monitor the minimal residual disease, for example, by PCR or immunophenotyping gain increasing importance in the post transplantation period as basis for improved and earlier therapeutic interventions in impending relapse. Recent markers such as the NPM1 mutations in AML or the JAK2V617F mutation in the CMPD can be exactly quantified by real-time PCR and were evaluated for their prognostic value in the post transplantation phase and for their utility to plan adoptive immunotherapy in case of molecular relapse. With respect to chimerism, new and very sensitive methods were introduced, for example, quantitative assessment of genetic polymorphisms by real-time PCR, but also methods here are still highly individualized. Only in CML, where SCT focuses now on poor-risk cases or cases of tyrosine kinase inhibitor failure, follow-up schedules are standardized. Standardization of the different diagnostic techniques and of the intervals in the post transplantation period is urgently needed also in other myeloid malignancies and should be focus of future studies.