Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for adults with therapy-related acute myeloid leukaemia: a retrospective multicentre study on behalf of the SFGM-TC

We report the results from a multicentre retrospective study of 220 adult patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) for therapy-related acute myeloid leukaemia (t-AML). Median age at t-AML diagnosis was 56 years, with a prior history of haematological (45%) or breast (34%). Median time from cytotoxic exposure to t-AML diagnosis was 54.7 months. At transplant, around 20% of patients had measurable residual disease and 3% of patients were not in complete remission. The median follow-up was 21.4 months (Q1–Q3, 5.9–52.8). At 12 months, overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), and graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD)-free-relapse-free survival (GRFS) were 60.7% (95% CI 54.6–67.5), 52.8% (95% CI 46.5–68.4), and 44.1% (95% CI 37.6–51.8), respectively. At 5 years, OS, EFS, and GRFS were 44.1% (95% CI 37.4–52.1), 40.4% (95% CI 33.9–48.1), and 35.3% (95% CI 28.8–43.3), respectively. At last follow-up, 44% of patients were in complete remission (n = 96) and transplant-related mortality accounted for 21% of all deaths (n = 119). Multivariable analysis revealed that uncontrolled t-AML at transplant was associated with lower EFS (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.0–3.7, p = 0.041). In conclusion, alloHSCT for t-AML shows encouraging results and offers additional opportunity with the emergence of novel pre-graft therapies.