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World J Hematol. Feb 6, 2017; 6(1): 1-10
Published online Feb 6, 2017. doi: 10.5315/wjh.v6.i1.1
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in chronic myeloid leukemia patients: Single center experience
Nur Soyer, Ayse Uysal, Murat Tombuloglu, Fahri Sahin, Guray Saydam, Filiz Vural
Nur Soyer, Ayse Uysal, Murat Tombuloglu, Fahri Sahin, Guray Saydam, Filiz Vural, Department of Hematology, Ege University Medical Faculty, 35100 Izmir, Turkey
Author contributions: Soyer N, Uysal A, Tombuloglu M, Sahin F, Saydam G and Vural F have been involved equally and have read and approved the final manuscript; Soyer N, Uysal A, Tombuloglu M, Sahin F, Saydam G and Vural F meet the criteria for authorship established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors and verify the validity of the results reported.
Conflict-of-interest statement: No.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Nur Soyer, MD, Department of Hematology, Ege University Medical Faculty, Ankara Blvd, Bornova, 35100 Izmir, Turkey. drakadnur@yahoo.com
Telephone: +90-232-3904541 Fax: +90-232-3738797
Received: August 23, 2016
Peer-review started: August 24, 2016
First decision: October 20, 2016
Revised: October 21, 2016
Accepted: January 2, 2017
Article in press: January 3, 2017
Published online: February 6, 2017
Processing time: 149 Days and 4.8 Hours
Abstract

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disease which leads the unregulated growth of myeloid cells in the bone marrow. It is characterized by the presence of Philadelphia chromosome. Reciprocal translocation of the ABL gene from chromosome 9 to 22 t (9; 22) (q34; q11.2) generate a fusion gene (BCR-ABL). BCR-ABL protein had constitutive tyrosine kinase activity that is a primary cause of chronic phase of CML. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are now considered standard therapy for patients with CML. Even though, successful treatment with the TKIs, allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is still an important option for the treatment of CML, especially for patients who are resistant or intolerant to at least one second generation TKI or for patients with blastic phase. Today, we know that there is no evidence for increased transplant-related toxicity and negative impact of survival with pre-transplant TKIs. However, there are some controversies about timing of ASCT, the optimal conditioning regimens and donor source. Another important issue is that BCR-ABL signaling is not necessary for survival of CML stem cell and TKIs were not effective on these cells. So, ASCT may play a role to eliminate CML stem cells. In this article, we review the diagnosis, management and treatment of CML. Later, we present our center’s outcomes of ASCT for patients with CML and then, we discuss the place of ASCT in CML treatment in the TKIs era.

Keywords: Chronic myeloid leukemia; Allogeneic stem cell transplantation; Tyrosine kinase inhibitors; Graft vs host disease; Survival

Core tip: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have changed the fatal outcomes of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Many studies showed that TKIs provided rapid response, few serious adverse event and impressive survival outcomes. Although, allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is only curative treatment option for CML, since 1999, the numbers of ASCT have dropped. Currently, ASCT is offering for patients who are resistant or intolerant to at least one second generation TKI or for patients with blastic phase. Here, we present our center’s outcomes of ASCT for patients with CML and then, we discuss the place of ASCT in CML treatment in the TKIs era.