Donor cell leukemia: a critical review

Approximately 40 cases of DCL have been reported in the literature; cases have been reported after allografts from bone marrow, peripheral blood and cord blood. The study of these cases may provide new insights into the mechanisms of leukemogenesis. Some data suggest that the prevalence of this complication has been under-estimated. Most cases of DCL have occurred following transplantation for leukemia, but there have also been cases reported after transplantation for non-malignant conditions. Various mechanisms have been proposed to explain how DCL arise and are briefly discussed. Additional studies are needed to define with more detail both the true prevalence of this complication and its precise pathogenetic mechanism.