A phase III, multi-center, randomized trial comparing peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) and bone marrow transplant outcomes has found comparable 2-year survival: 51% vs. 46%, respectively (p=0.29). However, chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) developed more often and was more severe in patients who received PBSC compared with those receiving marrow. Two-year cGVHD incidence was 53% (PBSC) vs. 41% (marrow) (p=0.01). This study of unrelated donor transplants was conducted by the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN) and examined 551 patients transplanted between 2004-2009.
Anasetti C, et al. N Eng J Med