Allogeneic marrow transplantation for chronic granulocytic leukemia.

A retrospective analysis is presented of results obtained with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in three phases of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic granulocytic leukemia. At BMT, 23 patients were in blastic phase (BP), 33 were in accelerated phase (AP), and 45 were in chronic phase (CP). With a follow-up time of 1-8 years after BMT, the probability of long-term survival was 14, 10, and 58%, respectively, for patients transplanted in BP, AP, or CP. The probability of cytogenetic relapse with or without clinical hematologic relapse at 3 years after BMT was 80, 38, and 31%, respectively, for patients transplanted in BP, AP, or CP. Splenectomy did not influence posttransplant survival. Given the dismal prognosis on conventional therapy, patients younger than 50 in BP or AP should be considered for BMT. For the patient in CP, BMT offers the possibility of cure but with a significant risk of early death. Patients under 40 who fully understand the risks and potential benefits of BMT should be offered BMT early in CP before any change to AP occurs.