Successful treatment of relapsed AML after allogeneic stem cell transplantation with azacitidine

Leuk Res. 2007 Feb;31(2):257-9. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2006.03.003. Epub 2006 Apr 18.

Abstract

Therapeutic options for patients with relapse of MDS or high risk AML after allogeneic stem cell transplantation are limited. We here present the case of a 64-year-old female patient with MDS, who received peripheral blood stem cells from her HLA-identical brother after a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen. Two months after allogeneic transplantation she suffered from a relapse, now fulfilling WHO criteria for AML with a bone marrow blast count of 91%. We then decided to treat her with azacitidine, a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor with proven antileukemic activity. The patient achieved a complete haematological response after two cycles and full donor chimerism after a single dose of donor lymphocytes. We postulate that azacitidine acts through a direct reduction of malignant cells and may in addition augment the immunologic effects of donor lymphocyte infusions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Azacitidine / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid / therapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / therapy*
  • Recurrence
  • Remission Induction
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Transplantation Conditioning
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Azacitidine