The effect of allogeneic stem cell transplantation on outcome in younger acute myeloid leukemia patients with minimal residual disease detected by flow cytometry at the end of post-remission chemotherapy.

Minimal residual disease (MRD) levels were determined by multi-parameter flow cytometry in 45 younger adult patients ( pound60 years old) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in complete remission. Data were collected after induction (MRD1; n=43) and/or at the end of post-remission chemotherapy or before stem cell transplantation (SCT)(MRD2; n=31). Patients with detectable MRD2 who underwent allogeneic or autologous SCT had significantly better 5-year relapse-free survival than patients not transplanted (80%, 53% and 0%, respectively p=0.003). Therefore allogeneic SCT should be considered in younger adult AML patients with detectable MRD at the end of post-remission chemotherapy. Autologous SCT may be an alternative for patients not eligible for allogeneic SCT.