Complete Remission of 4 Years Following Autologous Blood Stem Cell Transplantation in a Child with Early Relapse of Translocation T(9;X) Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract

A survey of the International Bone Marrow Registry (IBMTR) in 1987 showed that the chance for continuous complete remission (CR) in children after a relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) within 18 months after initial diagnosis is less than 5% with conventional chemotherapy and about 20% with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (alloBMT).¹ Results have not improved in the meantime.² More recently, infusion of blood-derived stem cells (ABSCT) after myeloablative treatment was followed by complete hematopoietic reconstitution in both adults and pediatric cancer patients.^3-6