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Donor cell-derived acute monoblastic leukemia involving MLL gene translocation in an adult patient who received umbilical cord blood transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 41, pages 91–92 (2008)Cite this article

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an effective therapy for hematological malignancies. In particular, cord blood transplantation (CBT) has been successfully performed numerous times over the past decade, and remains an attractive option since donor coordination is not necessary. In contrast, there are still serious problems associated with CBT. Donor cell leukemia (DCL) is a rare but one of the most serious complications following HSCT. Some researchers recently reported cases with donor cell-derived leukemia (DCL) following CBT,1, 2, 3 whereas its clinical features and pathogenesis remain to be fully elucidated.

A 31-year-old man who had a 3-year history of refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma underwent CBT from a two-antigen-mismatched unrelated female donor in April 2004. The number of infused CD34-positive cells was 3.0 × 107 cells/kg. Preparative regimen comprised fludarabine, busulfan and total body irradiation.4 GVHD prophylaxis was mycophenolate mofetil and cyclosporine. Neutrophil engraftment was documented on day 26. He developed grade III acute GVHD of the gut, which was successfully treated with prednisolone. His clinical courses had been uneventful except mild chronic GVHD involving the oral mucosa and the skin, for which cyclosporine and prednisolone were given.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr Tomohiko Taki at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine and Dr Yasuhide Hayashi at Gunma Children's Medical Center for useful suggestions in the discussion of karyotype analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Transfusion Medicine, Metropolitan Fuchu Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

    T Hamaki, K Kajiwara, M Funaki, A Harima, K Kogure, K Yamada, H Kodo & Y Kouzai

  2. Division of Exploratory Research, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    T Hamaki & M Kami

  3. Office for Life-Style Related Diseases Control, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan

    N Murashige

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  1. T Hamaki
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Correspondence to T Hamaki.

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Hamaki, T., Kajiwara, K., Kami, M. et al. Donor cell-derived acute monoblastic leukemia involving MLL gene translocation in an adult patient who received umbilical cord blood transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 41, 91–92 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1705836

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