Characterisation of extramedullary relapse in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in advanced disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Leuk Lymphoma. 2009 Apr;50(4):551-8. doi: 10.1080/10428190902755513.

Abstract

Recently, higher extramedullary relapse rates following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) in myeloid malignancies were reported e.g. because of selection of poor-risk patients. We analysed five consecutive patients with post-transplant extramedullary relapse of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) out of a total of 24 patients (21%) undergoing allo-SCT. All five patients with extramedullary relapse had clonal evolution and a history of blast phase (BP). In particular, 56% of the patients in BP had extramedullary relapse with no extramedullary relapse in patients with chronic/accelerated phase. Most frequent manifestation sites were the skeletal system, the muscles/subcutaneous tissue and the central nervous system. In one case chloroma was mimicking myositis of the lower limbs. Combined approaches were performed including irradiation (n = 4), chemotherapy (n = 2), IM (n = 2), dasatinib (n = 4), nilotinib (n = 1), a novel aurora-kinase-inhibitor (n = 1), donor lymphocytes (n = 2) or a second allo-SCT (n = 2). Transient response was achieved in one case, stable partial remissions in two cases, whereas two cases were refractory. Research should focus on prospective studies aiming to improve treatment of extramedullary relapse in stem cell recipients with CML with a special focus on the role of second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Benzamides
  • Cytarabine / administration & dosage
  • Dasatinib
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / pathology
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Piperazines / administration & dosage
  • Pyrimidines / administration & dosage
  • Radiotherapy
  • Recurrence
  • Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Thiazoles / administration & dosage
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • Piperazines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Thiazoles
  • Cytarabine
  • Dexamethasone
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Dasatinib