In a nutshell
This study aimed to compare unrelated donor umbilical cord blood transplant and unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplant in adult and pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
This study concluded that unrelated donor umbilical cord blood transplants could be used more often as a treatment option for patients with acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Some background
Transplants are an important treatment option for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Transplanted stem cells increase cell production. Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) or umbilical cord blood transplant (UBCT) are treatment options. The unrelated HSCT involves cells from an unrelated donor being transferred into the patient. An unrelated UBCT involves transfusing umbilical cord blood from an unrelated donor to a patient. This blood is a rich source of stem cells.
The safety and effectiveness of these two types of transplant in AML and ALL is still under investigation.
Methods & findings
This study analyzed information from 9 studies involving 6762 patients who had AML or ALL. 2026 patients received UBCT and 4736 received HSCT. The safety and effectiveness of both transplants were analyzed. This was done by looking at the rates of relapse (cancer returns), overall survival (OS, time from treatment until death from any cause), progression free survival (PFS, time from treatment until disease progression), and days to neutrophil (white blood cells) and platelet (cells involved in clotting) recovery.
The risk of relapse was the same for the UBCT and HSCT groups. There was also no significant difference in OS and PFS between the UBCT and HSCT groups.
The neutrophil and platelet recovery periods were shorter after HSCT than after UBCT.
The bottom line
This study concluded that the use of UBCT as a treatment option for AML and ALL patients could be increased.
The fine print
Separate studies should be done for patients with AML and ALL.
What’s next?
Consult your physician about different transplant options available to you.
Published By :
Blood Reviews
Date :
Nov 15, 2017
