[Donor-cell-derived acute leukemias after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation]

The authors survey the clinical, immunophenotypic, cytogenetic, molecular genetic spectrum and pathogenetic mechanisms of donor cell derived acute leukemias after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The main aspects for detection of donor cell origin and the available therapeutic approaches are discussed through demonstration of one documented patient and data of the literature. Several hypotheses are summarized which try to explain how donor cell leukemia might arise including occult leukemia in the donor cells, transfer of oncogene from host to donor cells and the role of impaired immune surveillance. Investigation of donor cell leukemia cases might bring closer to understand the pathogenesis of leukemia serving as a model for studying the leukemiagenesis in vivo.