Extramedullary relapse after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation plus buffy-coat in two high risk patients

In order to obtain an additional graft versus leukemia effect (GVL) and rapid engraftment, donor leukocyte infusion (DLI) was added to unseparated, sex-mismatched allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in two male patients (age 21, 26) affected by high risk hematological malignancies (refractory T-ALL, refractory B-LBL in leukemic phase). Graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted of methotrexate (MTX) alone. DLI were obtained after G-CSF 16 ug/kg/day sc. A total of 2.36 and 5.8 x 10(6)/kg MNC, 5.4 and 11 x 10(6)/kg CD34+ cells, 1.3 and 1.3 x 10(6)/kg CD3+ lymphocytes, respectively, were infused. Hemopoietic recovery occurred promptly. Complete chimerism was detected by cytogenetic examination. One patient developed an extramedullary relapse that first involved the cranial nerves, and then the testes, soft tissue and skin; the other patient developed central nervous system disease and then bilateral paravertebral masses with progressive paraplegia. Despite complete medullary remission with normal female karyotype, both patients died from extramedullary progression of their disease. Our observation shows that, at least in high risk patients, no additional GVHD or GVL effect was evident after donor leukocyte infusion. Extramedullary relapse was not prevented despite good control of medullary disease.