Allogeneic marrow transplantation in the treatment of infants with cancer.

Marrow transplantation in infants with cancer present special challenges particularly because of the need to use conditioning regimens containing cytotoxic agents during a period of rapid somatic growth. An up-date of the largest study in children under 2 years of age treated by marrow transplantation for acute myeloblastic leukaemia, and a review of late effects experienced by older children, demonstrate the necessity to develop conditioning regimens which avoid total body radiation. Efforts to achieve this aim in the treatment of leukaemia are summarised.