Outcomes of Patients Diagnosed With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Results From a Tertiary Care Center

Background:
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is currently the only curative treatment for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).


Methods:
We analyzed the outcomes of 93 patients (median age: 52 years) who underwent allo-HCT at our center between 1989 and 2019.


Results:
After a median follow-up of 35 months, relapse was observed in 15.1% (n = 14) patients. The estimated 2-year non-relapse mortality, relapse-free survival, and overall survival (OS) were 38.1%, 54.2%, and 58.7%, respectively. The ECOG performance status ≥ 2 (hazard ratio [HR]: 4.1; p = .001) and use of total body irradiation (in a myeloablative conditioning regimen; HR: 2.64; p = .005) were predictive of poor OS after multivariable analysis. The occurrence of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome/veno-occlusive disease post-transplant was associated with poor survival (p = .001).


Conclusion:
Although the use of kinase and bcl2 inhibitors may result in a decrease in the number and need of transplants, allo-HCT remains a viable option in selected patients with high-risk CLL and good performance status.