Molecular remission induced by fractionated dose-escalating donor leukocyte infusion without graft-versus-host disease in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia relapsed after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

A 39-year-old male with CML who relapsed 5 years and 8 months after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation achieved complete molecular remission following fractionated dose-escalating donor leukocyte infusions. Acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) did not occur and the patient remained asymptomatic throughout treatment. Since no prophylaxis against GVHD was administered, this case indicated that the graft-versus-leukemia effect is entirely separate from GVHD in certain conditions.