Bone Marrow versus Peripheral Blood from Unrelated Donors for Children and Adolescents with Acute Leukemia

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) rates are higher after unrelated donor transplantation; thus, we examined whether there would be differences in transplant outcomes by graft type in children and adolescents with acute leukemia. The primary endpoint was overall survival. We studied 872 patients <18 years old who were transplanted with bone marrow (n = 650) or peripheral blood (n = 222) from unrelated donors. The characteristics of the 2 groups were comparable, except recipients of bone marrow were younger than recipients of peripheral blood (median age, 10 versus 12 years). Grades 2 to 4 (hazard ratio [HR], 1.48; P < .001) and grades 3 and 4 acute (HR, 1.69; P < .001) and chronic GVHD (HR, 1.92; P < .001) were higher with transplantation of peripheral blood than with bone marrow. Although relapse risks were lower after peripheral blood transplants (HR, 0.76; P = .05), transplant-related mortality (HR, 1.91; P = .003) and overall mortality (HR, 1.34; P = .032) were higher than with bone marrow transplants. The 8-year probability of overall survival after transplantation of bone marrow was 47% compared with 42% after peripheral blood. The 8-year probability of leukemia-free survival was 40% after transplantation of bone marrow and peripheral blood. Lower relapse after transplantation of peripheral blood negated the survival advantage after transplantation of bone marrow. The observed higher acute and chronic GVHD seen with peripheral blood suggest cautious use of this graft in children and adolescents with acute leukemia.