Results of allogeneic bone marrow transplant in chronic myeloid leukaemia following conditioning with busulfan and cyclophosphamide.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the outcome of oral busulfan and intravenous cyclophosphamide (BuCY 2 regimen) followed by allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) in a cohort of patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in a single centre. METHODS: From 1991 to March 1998, a total of 27 consecutive Ph+ CML patients received busulfan 4 mg/kg/day over 4 days and cyclophosphamide 60 mg/kg/day over 2 days followed by infusion of HLA-identical sibling haematopoietic stem cells. All except one (who received peripheral blood stem cells) were given donor bone marrow cells. Post-transplant graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis included a short course of methotrexate (on days +1, +3, +6 and +11) and cyclosporine till day +180. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 30.5 months (1-55+ months), 14 patients (52%) are alive free from relapse. Early mortality was relatively high with 10 patients (37%) dying within first 100 days post-transplant. Acute GVHD developed in 14 patients (52%) inspite of GVHD prophylaxis with methotrexate and cyclosporine; six had grade I/II and eight grade III/IV. Chronic GVHD developed in five of 15 patients who lived beyond 70 days. CONCLUSION: Allogeneic BMT appears to result in eradication of CML and ensure disease free survival in about half of the young patients. However, efforts should be on to minimise early mortality.