Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Older Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Jodi J Lipof1, Kah Poh Loh2, Kristen O'Dwyer3

  • 1James P. Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, P.O. Box 704, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. jane_liesveld@urmc.rochester.edu.

Cancers
|June 6, 2018
PubMed

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease that affects adults aged 65 years and above, and survival in this population is poor. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is a potentially curative therapy for these patients but is underutilized due to frequent comorbidities and perceived higher risk of treatment-related mortality and non-relapse mortality. Increasing data supports the utility of allo-HCT in fit older patients after intensive chemotherapy resulting in improvement of outcomes. With the development of reduced intensity and non-myeloablative conditioning regimens that are associated with lower rates of treatment-related toxicity and mortality, this has allowed more older patients with AML to receive allo-HCT. In this review, we provide some guidance on appropriate selection of older patients as transplant candidates, benefits and risks associated with allo-HCT, conditioning regimen choice, and stem cell transplant sources as they relate to the conduct of stem cell transplantation in older patients.

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