A study of 414 adults transplanted for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in remission between 2000 and 2010 at two institutions has found comparable 6-year overall survival across four donor types: matched related donors (47%); umbilical cord blood (36%); matched unrelated donors (54%); and mismatched unrelated donors (51%) (p=0.11). Patients received either myeloablative or reduced-intensity conditioning. Although transplant-related mortality was comparable among the four graft sources regardless of conditioning intensity, relapse was significantly increased in reduced-intensity conditioning transplants and was lowest in younger patients receiving myeloablative conditioning. The authors conclude that the use of alternative donors in myeloablative or reduced-intensity transplants for AML patients is appropriate when a sibling donor is not available.
Warlick ED, et al. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant