Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation - Blog Science Connections

Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation for
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia of Childhood
During Second Remission
E. Plouoier, D. Amsallem, A. Noir, and P. Hewe
In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) of childhood, the results of new
chemotherapy protocols are promising, since 50-70% of children remain in
first complete remission (CR) 5 years after diagnosis (1,2). After a relapse, a
second remission is usually induced by chemotherapy but is of short duration in
most cases. The prognosis for ALL in second remission therefore remains poor
(3,4).
For children who do not have a sibling whose leukocyte antigen is identical,
autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) after intensive therapy
represents a new approach to treating ALL in second CR (5).
We report here our experience with 19 children with ALL in second CR
treated with intensive therapy followed by ABMT.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Since 1979, 19 children with ALL in second CR, 5 girls and 14 boys,
underwent ABMT. The children's mean age was 8 years, with a range of 2-14
years.
Twelve children had L, and seven children had L 2
type of ALL, according to
the French-American-British classification.
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