Haploidentical bone marrow transplantation in Mexico.

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Pediatric Oncology
• Immunology

Background:

• Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a vital treatment for hematological malignancies.
• Utilizing CD34(+) cells depleted of T lymphocytes via CliniMACS offers a strategy to mitigate graft-versus-host disease.

Observation:

• This study reports on four Mexican children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) undergoing haploidentical HSCT.
• The transplantation involved 12 × 10^6 CD34(+) stem cells/kg body weight with 98% purity, followed for 9.5 years.

Findings:

• Successful engraftment was achieved in three out of four pediatric patients.
• All patients experienced cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation.
• One patient succumbed to graft rejection and infectious complications.

Implications:

• Haploidentical HSCT is a feasible treatment option for pediatric hematological malignancies in this cohort.
• Managing post-transplant infections and preventing graft rejection are critical for improving outcomes.
• Further research is needed to optimize T-cell depletion strategies and reduce infectious complications.