Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for leukemia

Alan S Wayne1, Kristin Baird, R Maarten Egeler

  • 1Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 1-3750, 9000 Rockville Pike, MSC 1104, Bethesda, MD 20892-1104, USA. waynea@mail.nih.gov

Leukemia represents the most common pediatric malignancy, accounting for approximately 30% of all cancers in children less than 20 years of age. Most children diagnosed with leukemia are cured without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but for some high-risk subgroups, allogeneic HSCT plays an important role in their therapeutic approach. The characteristics of these high-risk subgroups and the role of HSCT in childhood leukemias are discussed.

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