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Stem cell transplantation

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes: myth and reality

Leukemia volume 35, pages 225–228 (2021)Cite this article

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A Correction to this article was published on 09 February 2021

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Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) more frequently affect elderly patients with a median age of 70 years and usually have a grim prognosis [1, 2]. Elderly patients with AML or MDS who are fit enough are considered for being treated with intensive chemotherapy (IC) or hypomethylating agents (HMA), and more recently with newer agents such as venetoclax or CPX-351 [3, 4]. However, despite these approaches, relapse frequently occurs within 1 year after initial treatment.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the cornerstone of consolidation therapy for intermediate and high-risk AML and the only curative therapy for advanced MDS. However, due to transplant related mortality (TRM), HSCT has long been considered only in younger patients until the development of reduced intensity conditioning (RIC).

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Fig. 1: Flow chart of the study.
Fig. 2: Outcomes of transplanted and non-transplanted patients.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: A. Sutra Del Galy, A. Marouf

  2. These authors jointly supervised this work: L. Adès, G. Socié

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hematology–Transplantation, AP-HP Hospital St Louis, Paris, France

    A. Sutra Del Galy, A. Marouf, M. Robin, D. Michonneau, F. Sicre de Fontebrune, A. Xhaard, C. Frieri, R. Peffault de Latour & G. Socié

  2. University of Paris, Paris, France

    A. Sutra Del Galy, D. Michonneau, R. Itzykson, C. Frieri, H. Dombret, P. Fenaux, R. Peffault de Latour, L. Adès & G. Socié

  3. Adult Hematology, AP-HP Hospital St Louis, Paris, France

    E. Raffoux, E. Lengline, R. Itzykson & H. Dombret

  4. INSERM UMR 976, Paris, France

    D. Michonneau & G. Socié

  5. Hematology Senior, AP-HP Hospital St Louis, Paris, France

    M. Sébert, P. Fenaux & L. Adès

Authors
  1. A. Sutra Del Galy
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  16. G. Socié
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Contributions

GS, LA, and ER designed the study. AM and ASG collected the data and performed the statistical analysis. ASG and GS interpreted the data and wrote the first draft of the paper. ER, MR, DM, AX, FSDF, MS, EL, RI, CF, HD, PF, RPL, LA and GS were in charge of the patients. All authors contributed to data interpretation, paper writing, and critical review.

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Correspondence to G. Socié.

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Del Galy, A.S., Marouf, A., Raffoux, E. et al. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes: myth and reality. Leukemia 35, 225–228 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-020-1004-9

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