Cytogenetic events after bone marrow transplantation for chronic myeloid
leukemia in chronic phase
CK Arthur, JF Apperley, AP Guo, F Rassool, LM Gao and JM Goldman
Medical Research Council Leukaemia Unit, Hammersmith Hospital, London.
Forty-eight patients treated by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
(BMT) for Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in
chronic phase had serial cytogenetic studies of marrow performed at
intervals after transplant. Twenty patients received marrow cells from
donors of opposite sex. Ph+ marrow metaphases were identified in 24 of 48
(50%) of patients after BMT; they were first seen early (within 1 year) in
16 cases and late (greater than 1 year after BMT) in eight cases.
Ph-positivity after BMT occurred more commonly in recipients of T-depleted
than nondepleted marrow (19 of 28 v 5 of 20). In 4 cases the Ph+ metaphases
were found only transiently after BMT; in 11 cases the Ph+ metaphases have
persisted but hematologic relapse has not ensued; in 9 cases the finding of
Ph+ metaphases coincided with or preceded hematologic relapse. Chromosomes
in cells of donor origin had morphological abnormalities in two cases. No
relapses were identified in cells of donor origin. Our data suggest that
the relationship between cells of recipient and donor origin is complex:
cure of leukemia may depend on factors that operate for some months or
years after BMT.
Volume 71,
Issue 5,
pp. 1179-1186,
05/01/1988
Copyright © 1988 by The American Society of Hematology
