Cord blood transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a pediatric patient

The prognosis of Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is poor. While umbilical cord blood transplantation has been used successfully for hematopoietic reconstitution, patients' size may be a limiting factor. We report an 11-year-old, 55-kg patient with Ph+ ALL, who received human leukocyte antigen-identical sibling donor cord blood transplantation (5.94 x 10(6) CD34+ cells) during the second ALL relapse. On days 25, 41, 75 and 103, successful engraftment was confirmed by cytogenetic studies. However, the leukemia relapsed on day 117 and the patient died on day 146 due to refractory ALL. In conclusion, based on the documented engraftment in our patient, we believe cord blood transplantation may be successfully employed in adolescent or possibly even adult patients.