Reduced-intensity conditioning regimens in malignant haematological diseases

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is a potentially curative procedure for patients with haematological malignancies. Conventional, myeloablative conditioning is, however, poorly tolerated by patients of advanced age, those receiving second transplants and those with concomitant diseases. Based on recognition of the importance of a graft-versus-disease (GVD) effect in curing malignant haematological disease, reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) as preparation for allogeneic stem cell transplantation has been developed for these patients. Although large prospective randomised clinical trials with significant follow-up are lacking, transplant-related morbidity and mortality of RIC transplants seem to compare favourably with conventional conditioning in this group of patients.