Impact of cytogenetics risk on outcome after reduced intensity conditioning allo-SCT from an HLA-identical sibling for patients with AML in first CR: a report from the acute leukemia working party of EBMT

So far the impact of cytogenetics risk on outcome in the context of reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) allo-SCT has been poorly studied. We have identified 378 AML patients in first CR who underwent RIC allo-SCT from an HLA-matched sibling donor between 2000 and 2007 reported to the European Group for Bone and Marrow Transplantation and for whom detailed cytogenetics data were available (good risk: n = 21; intermediate risk: n = 304; and poor risk: n = 53). With a median follow-up of 24 months (range: 1-93), 2-year non-relapse mortality, relapse rate (RR), leukemia-free survival (LFS) and OS were 14%, 31%, 55% and 61%, respectively. Cytogenetics was significantly associated with RR (good risk: 10%; intermediate risk: 28%; and poor risk: 55% at 2 years, P<0.0001) and LFS (good risk: 64%; intermediate risk: 57%; and poor risk: 38% at 2 years, P = 0.003). In a multivariate analysis, RR and LFS were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in the high-risk cytogenetics group (P = 0.001, P = 0.004) and in patients with a higher WBC at diagnosis (>10 x 10(9)/L) (P<0.001, P = 0.004). As documented in the setting of myeloablative allo-SCT, patients with poor cytogenetics had increased RR and decreased LFS after RIC allo-SCT, requiring new prospective strategies to improve results in this subgroup. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2012) 47, 1442-1447; doi:10.1038/bmt.2012.55; published online 16 April 2012