Allogeneic and autologous bone marrow transplantation for acute leukemia and malignant lymphoma: current status

The current status of autologous and allogeneic marrow transplantation for acute leukemias and malignant lymphoma is reviewed and compared to the current status of conventional chemotherapy. Based on the reviewed literature, it is concluded that marrow transplantation and conventional chemoradiotherapy are not mutually exclusive and that for most young patients with acute hematological malignancies the question is not if, but rather when to intervene with a marrow transplant treatment. Thus marrow transplantation and conventional chemoradiotherapy can work as complimentary units in the complex therapeutic approach needed to cure most patients with hematological malignancies.