Few choices in medical oncology are as stark as the decision of whether or not to proceed with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Recent advances provide more information to inform the decision, including molecular studies of leukemia that predict tumor responsiveness, assays of minimal residual disease that measure early treatment outcome, and comorbidity indices that predict nonrelapse mortality. Although large prospective studies incorporating all of these factors are lacking, literature reviews and consensus statements exist that can help the clinician in this difficult choice. Allogeneic HCT should be considered for all patients younger than age 65, with an available donor, an acceptable comorbidity index, and whose had initial induction therapy has failed. Similarly, allogeneic HCT is appropriate therapy for all patients with AML in second remission younger than age 75, with an appropriate donor, and a comorbidity index of 5 or less. For patients younger than age 60 with AML in first complete remission (CR), there is little evidence that HCT benefits those with favorable-risk disease who achieve CR with one cycle of induction and have no evidence of minimal residual disease. Allogeneic HCT is indicated for essentially all other categories of patients. For those age 60 and older, few prospective studies are available on which to base recommendations, but, as in younger patients, the benefit of allogeneic HCT is questionable for patients with favorable-risk AML. For patients with higher-risk disease, allogeneic HCT is a reasonable option with the caution that the risk of HCT increases dramatically in those with a comorbidity index of 3 or higher.
Minimal residual disease prior to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia: a meta-analysis
