[Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for older adults (mini-transplantation)]

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after conditioning regimen with high dose cytostatic drugs and total body irradiation may induce severe transplantation related complications especially in older adults. Recently, several reports showed successful engraftment in older patients with hematological and non hematological malignancies after reduced doses of cytostatic drugs. So called mini-transplantation (nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) might be able to induce graft-versus-leukemia/tumor effect (GVL/T) without severe transplantation related complications. Older patients and patients with reduced performance status induced by prior infectious and organ complications might benefit from this mini-transplantation strategy.