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Indications and Results of Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplanation in Acute Leukaemia

Allogeneic hematopoietic SCT in children with ALL: current concepts of ongoing prospective SCT trials

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 41, pages S71–S74 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

The definition of indications for allogeneic SCT in children with high-risk (HR) ALL in the first remission or after the first or subsequent relapse depends on biological features, response to treatment and survival after chemotherapy alone. As the results of frontline and relapse protocols are improving over time, there is a strong need for prospective SCT trials, ensuring a well-standardized procedure regarding all relevant components that are potentially responsible for heterogeneity in post-SCT outcome. Therefore, in 2003, the ALL-BFM and the ALL-REZ BFM Study Group initiated a prospective, international, multicenter trial (ALL-SCT-BFM 2003). This trial will now be extended to a larger consortium, trial ALL-SCT-BFM-international (ALL-SCT-BFMi). Strict rules define HLA-typing, donor selection, conditioning regimen, GvHD prophylaxis and therapy as well as standards of supportive care to reduce treatment-related mortality and establish an early GVL effect. Moreover, comprehensive and closely reviewed documentation and serious adverse event reporting shall ensure high study quality. Case-by-case discussions of any fatal or critical course during annual meetings will improve the culture of failure management and lead to modifications of guidelines of supportive care. Finally, the results of these prospective trials will determine the current potential of the different SCT procedures in HR or relapsed childhood ALL.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the nurses and doctors of all participating medical centers and SCT units for their input in performing the ongoing ALL-SCT BFM trial, all data managers for precise data management, the staff of the reference laboratories for continuous excellent cooperation and the members of the study committees for their contributions during the development and progress of the trials. We appreciate the useful discussions and support provided by all colleagues in the study centers, especially Anja Möricke, Melanie Gerzmehle, Kirsten Mischke, Julia Dobke, Susanne Karlhuber, Ingeborg Hirsch, Martin Zimmermann, Ulrike Pötschger and Thomas Klingebiel.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany

    A Schrauder & M Schrappe

  2. Kinderklinik der Charité, Berlin, Germany

    A von Stackelberg

  3. Division of Women's and Children's Services Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, UK

    J Cornish

  4. Department of Hematology and Oncology, St Anna Children's Hospital, Vienna, Austria

    Christina Peters

Authors
  1. A Schrauder
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  2. A von Stackelberg
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  3. M Schrappe
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  4. J Cornish
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  5. Christina Peters
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Consortia

on behalf of the ALL-BFM Study Group, the ALL-REZ BFM Study Group, the EBMT PD WP and the I-BFM Study Group

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christina Peters.

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None of the authors declared any financial interests.

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Schrauder, A., von Stackelberg, A., Schrappe, M. et al. Allogeneic hematopoietic SCT in children with ALL: current concepts of ongoing prospective SCT trials. Bone Marrow Transplant 41 (Suppl 2), S71–S74 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2008.58

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