Skip to main content

Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Acute Leukemias

Part of the book series: Hematologic Malignancies ((HEMATOLOGIC))

  • 973 Accesses

Abstract

The treatment paradigm for acute lymphomablastic leukemia has been constantly changing. Historically, allogeneic transplantation (alloHCT) has been a mainstay in the treatment for adult ALL patients due to its effectiveness in preventing disease relapse and due to the poorer outcomes of adult ALL treatment protocols compared to pediatric patients. There have been ongoing advances in the treatment of ALL including the use of pediatric-like protocols as well as the incorporation of oncogenomics and MRD-based responses into prognostic models. In addition, in the last decade, there has been a rapid development of immune-based therapies, and three agents inotuzumab, blinatumomab, and chimeric antigenic T-cell therapy (CAR-T) have been approved for the treatment for relapsed ALL. In the field of alloHCT, the use of reduced intensity conditioning and alternative donor sources has improved the accessibility of alloHCT. In this chapter, we review the latest literature addressing these issues and discuss the relevance of alloHCT in this rapidly changing treatment landscape.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Kantarjian H, et al. Long-term follow-up results of hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (Hyper-CVAD), a dose-intensive regimen, in adult acute lymphocytic leukemia. Cancer. 2004;101(12):2788–801.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Thomas X, et al. Outcome of treatment in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: analysis of the LALA-94 trial. J Clin Oncol. 2004;22(20):4075–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Rowe JM, et al. Induction therapy for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: results of more than 1500 patients from the international ALL trial: MRC UKALL XII/ECOG E2993. Blood. 2005;106(12):3760–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bassan R, Lerede T, Barbui T. Strategies for the treatment of recurrent acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults. Haematologica. 1996;81(1):20–36.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Garcia-Manero G, Thomas DA. Salvage therapy for refractory or relapsed acute lymphocytic leukemia. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2001;15(1):163–205.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Fielding AK, et al. Outcome of 609 adults after relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); an MRC UKALL12/ECOG 2993 study. Blood. 2007;109(3):944–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gokbuget N, et al. Outcome of relapsed adult lymphoblastic leukemia depends on response to salvage chemotherapy, prognostic factors, and performance of stem cell transplantation. Blood. 2012;120(10):2032–41.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Pui CH, Evans WE. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia. N Engl J Med. 1998;339(9):605–15.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Moorman AV, et al. Karyotype is an independent prognostic factor in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): analysis of cytogenetic data from patients treated on the Medical Research Council (MRC) UKALLXII/Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 2993 trial. Blood. 2007;109(8):3189–97.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hunault M, et al. Better outcome of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia after early genoidentical allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) than after late high-dose therapy and autologous BMT: a GOELAMS trial. Blood. 2004;104(10):3028–37.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Goldstone AH, et al. In adults with standard-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the greatest benefit is achieved from a matched sibling allogeneic transplantation in first complete remission, and an autologous transplantation is less effective than conventional consolidation/maintenance chemotherapy in all patients: final results of the International ALL Trial (MRC UKALL XII/ECOG E2993). Blood. 2008;111(4):1827–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Cornelissen JJ, et al. Myeloablative allogeneic versus autologous stem cell transplantation in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first remission: a prospective sibling donor versus no-donor comparison. Blood. 2009;113(6):1375–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Labar B, et al. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for patients < or =50 years old in first complete remission: results of the EORTC ALL-3 trial. Haematologica. 2004;89(7):809–17.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Gökbuget N, et al. Adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and molecular failure display a poor prognosis and are candidates for stem cell transplantation and targeted therapies. Blood. 2012;120(9):1868–76.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ribera JM, et al. Treatment of high-risk Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adolescents and adults according to early cytologic response and minimal residual disease after consolidation assessed by flow cytometry: final results of the PETHEMA ALL-AR-03 trial. J Clin Oncol. 2014;32(15):1595–604.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Bassan R, et al. Different molecular levels of post-induction minimal residual disease may predict hematopoietic stem cell transplantation outcome in adult Philadelphia-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood Cancer J. 2014;4:e225.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Giebel S, et al. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for adults with Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first remission: a position statement of the European Working Group for Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (EWALL) and the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT). Bone Marrow Transplant. 2019;54(6):798–809.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Gökbuget N, et al. Blinatumomab for minimal residual disease in adults with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood. 2018;131(14):1522–31.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Mullighan CG, et al. Deletion of IKZF1 and prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2009;360(5):470–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Den Boer ML, et al. A subtype of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with poor treatment outcome: a genome-wide classification study. Lancet Oncol. 2009;10(2):125–34.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Roberts KG, et al. Outcomes of children with BCR-ABL1-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with risk-directed therapy based on the levels of minimal residual disease. J Clin Oncol. 2014;32(27):3012–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Beldjord K, et al. Oncogenetics and minimal residual disease are independent outcome predictors in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood. 2014;123(24):3739–49.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Herold T, et al. Adults with Philadelphia chromosome-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia frequently have IGH-CRLF2 and JAK2 mutations, persistence of minimal residual disease and poor prognosis. Haematologica. 2017;102(1):130–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Boer JM, et al. Expression profiling of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia identifies a BCR-ABL1-like subgroup characterized by high non-response and relapse rates. Haematologica. 2015;100(7):e261–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Jain N, et al. Ph-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a high-risk subtype in adults. Blood. 2017;129(5):572–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Roberts KG, et al. High frequency and poor outcome of Philadelphia chromosome-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults. J Clin Oncol. 2017;35(4):394–401.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Moorman AV, et al. Prognosis of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and intrachromosomal amplification of chromosome 21 (iAMP21). Blood. 2007;109(6):2327–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Heerema NA, et al. Intrachromosomal amplification of chromosome 21 is associated with inferior outcomes in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated in contemporary standard-risk children’s oncology group studies: a report from the children’s oncology group. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31(27):3397–402.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Harrison CJ, et al. An international study of intrachromosomal amplification of chromosome 21 (iAMP21): cytogenetic characterization and outcome. Leukemia. 2014;28(5):1015–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Moorman AV, et al. Risk-directed treatment intensification significantly reduces the risk of relapse among children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and intrachromosomal amplification of chromosome 21: a comparison of the MRC ALL97/99 and UKALL2003 trials. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31(27):3389–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Attarbaschi A, et al. Minimal residual disease values discriminate between low and high relapse risk in children with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia and an intrachromosomal amplification of chromosome 21: the Austrian and German acute lymphoblastic leukemia Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster (ALL-BFM) trials. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(18):3046–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Coustan-Smith E, et al. Early T-cell precursor leukaemia: a subtype of very high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Lancet Oncol. 2009;10(2):147–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Arber DA, et al. The 2016 revision to the World Health Organization classification of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemia. Blood. 2016;127(20):2391–405.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Patrick K, et al. Outcome for children and young people with Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia treated on a contemporary protocol, UKALL 2003. Br J Haematol. 2014;166(3):421–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Jain N, et al. Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (ETP-ALL/LBL) in adolescents and adults: a high-risk subtype. Blood. 2016;127(15):1863–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Bond J, et al. Early response-based therapy stratification improves survival in adult early thymic precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a group for research on adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia study. J Clin Oncol. 2017;35(23):2683–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Martino R, et al. Allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplantation following salvage chemotherapy for adults with refractory or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Bone Marrow Transplant. 1998;21(10):1023–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Thomas DA, et al. Primary refractory and relapsed adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: characteristics, treatment results, and prognosis with salvage therapy. Cancer. 1999;86(7):1216–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Terwey TH, et al. Allogeneic SCT in refractory or relapsed adult ALL is effective without prior reinduction chemotherapy. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2008;42(12):791–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Cornelissen JJ, et al. Unrelated marrow transplantation for adult patients with poor-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia: strong graft-versus-leukemia effect and risk factors determining outcome. Blood. 2001;97(6):1572–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Doney K, et al. Predictive factors for outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2003;9(7):472–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Pavlu J, et al. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for primary refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a report from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the EBMT. Cancer. 2017;123(11):1965–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Kantarjian HM, et al. Inotuzumab ozogamicin versus standard therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(8):740–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Kebriaei P, et al. Feasibility of allografting in patients with advanced acute lymphoblastic leukemia after salvage therapy with inotuzumab ozogamicin. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2013;13(3):296–301.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Kantarjian H, et al. Blinatumomab versus chemotherapy for advanced acute lymphoblastic leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2017;376(9):836–47.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Maude SL, et al. Tisagenlecleucel in children and young adults with B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(5):439–48.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  47. Kebriaei P, et al. Intravenous busulfan compared with total body irradiation pretransplant conditioning for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2018;24(4):726–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Eder S, et al. Thiotepa-based conditioning versus total body irradiation as myeloablative conditioning prior to allogeneic stem cell transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a matched-pair analysis from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Am J Hematol. 2017;92(10):997–1003.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Stein AS, et al. Reduced-intensity conditioning followed by peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for adult patients with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2009;15(11):1407–14.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Cho BS, et al. Reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation is a potential therapeutic approach for adults with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission: results of a prospective phase 2 study. Leukemia. 2009;23(10):1763–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Santarone S, et al. Fludarabine and pharmacokinetic-targeted busulfan before allografting for adults with acute lymphoid leukemia. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2011;17(10):1505–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Russell JA, et al. Allogeneic transplantation for adult acute leukemia in first and second remission with a novel regimen incorporating daily intravenous busulfan, fludarabine, 400 CGY total-body irradiation, and thymoglobulin. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2007;13(7):814–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Mohty M, et al. Reduced-intensity versus conventional myeloablative conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a retrospective study from the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Blood. 2010;116(22):4439–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Marks DI, et al. The outcome of full-intensity and reduced-intensity conditioning matched sibling or unrelated donor transplantation in adults with Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first and second complete remission. Blood. 2010;116(3):366–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  55. Okasha D et al. Post induction MRD predicts high relapse risk following reduced intensity conditioned allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a prospective study of adult ALL (UK ALL14) EHA S802. 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Giebel S et al. Trends in the use of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a report from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of EBMT. EHA S524. 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Kiehl MG, et al. Outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: no difference in related compared with unrelated transplant in first complete remission. J Clin Oncol. 2004;22(14):2816–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Segal E, et al. Comparing outcomes of matched related donor and matched unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplants in adults with B-Cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer. 2017;123(17):3346–55.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Luznik L, et al. High-dose cyclophosphamide as single-agent, short-course prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease. Blood. 2010;115(16):3224–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  60. Santoro N, et al. Unmanipulated haploidentical stem cell transplantation in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a study on behalf of the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the EBMT. J Hematol Oncol. 2017;10(1):113.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Srour SA, et al. Haploidentical transplantation with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide for high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2017;23(2):318–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Eapen M, et al. Effect of graft source on unrelated donor haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation in adults with acute leukaemia: a retrospective analysis. Lancet Oncol. 2010;11(7):653–60.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  63. Bachanova V, et al. Prolonged survival in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after reduced-intensity conditioning with cord blood or sibling donor transplantation. Blood. 2009;113(13):2902–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Tomblyn MB, et al. Myeloablative hematopoietic cell transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: analysis of graft sources and long-term outcome. J Clin Oncol. 2009;27(22):3634–41.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  65. Milano F, Appelbaum FR, Delaney C. Cord-blood transplantation in patients with minimal residual disease. N Engl J Med. 2016;375(22):2204–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Partow Kebriaei .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Poon, L.M., Kebriaei, P. (2021). Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). In: Faderl, S.H., Kantarjian, H.M., Estey, E. (eds) Acute Leukemias. Hematologic Malignancies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53633-6_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53633-6_13

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-53632-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-53633-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics