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Treatment of Relapse of Acute Myeloid Leukemia After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Current Hematologic Malignancy Reports volume 9, pages 186–192 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Disease relapse remains a major cause of mortality for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Historically, patients who experience disease relapse after HSCT have a dismal prognosis with very few long-term survivors. There is no standard treatment for patients in this situation given the variability in patient characteristics, disease biology, complications such as graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) and infections, donor availability, and patient choice. Here, we discuss the current options for treatment of relapsed AML after HSCT including conventional chemotherapy, novel agents, donor leukocyte infusion, second allogeneic HSCT, and emerging therapies.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Amir T. Fathi served on the advisory board for Agios Pharmaceutical and Seattle Genetics.

Dr. Yi-Bin Chen served as a consultant for Otsuka Pharmaceuticals and Seattle Genetics. Dr. Chen received grants from Otsuka, Seattle Genetics, Bayer/Onyx, and Novartis, Inc.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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  1. Center for Leukemia, Massachusetts General Hospital, Zero Emerson Place, Suite 118, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Amir T. Fathi

  2. Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Cox 108, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Yi-Bin Chen

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  1. Amir T. Fathi
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Correspondence to Yi-Bin Chen.

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Fathi, A.T., Chen, YB. Treatment of Relapse of Acute Myeloid Leukemia After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 9, 186–192 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11899-014-0209-2

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Keywords

  • Acute myeloid leukemia
  • Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
  • Relapse
  • Graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD)
  • Emerging therapies