Minimal residual disease after bone marrow transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia and implications for graft-versus-leukemia effect: a review of recent results.

Cure of leukemia by allogeneic BMT is achieved by the combined effect of the myeloablative preparative regimen and an allo-immune response of donor cells to residual leukemia termed the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. In the first year following BMT for CML, PCR used to detect the leukemia-specific BCR/ABL message frequently reveals subclinical levels of persisting leukemia. In a meta-analysis of reports on qualitative PCR findings after BMT for CML in 12 recently published series, we found that for unmanipulated BMT in chronic phase, PCR detection was not associated with a higher relapse risk and that most patients became PCR negative within 2 years post-BMT. In contrast, PCR detection of BCR/ABL transcripts was a more reliable predictor in recipients of T cell-depleted BMT and in those transplanted in accelerated or blastic phase of their disease. For accurate prediction of relapse, serial quantitative PCR is necessary. It could also be used to monitor efficacy of experimental treatments of relapse with interferon or donor lymphocyte transfusions. Furthermore, studies of the association of GVHD with PCR detection of BCR/ABL message may shed light on the relationship of GVL with minimal residual disease in CML.