Progenitor cell transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by the clonal proliferation of a hematopoietic stem cell, is a malignancy for which allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), when available, constitutes a mainstay of treatment. Several clinical considerations, especially the patient's age, influence the availability and likely outcome of BMT for patients with CML. Recent advances in nontransplant treatments for CML, notably interferon-alpha, have made the decision about the implementation and timing of BMT in CML more complex. Areas of active investigation include transplantation from a matched unrelated donor (MUD) and autologous BMT.