Treosulfan/fludarabine as an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant conditioning regimen for high-risk patients.

In recent years, new conditioning regimens have been explored in patients not eligible for conventional transplant with the aim to reduce transplant-related mortality. In a phase II multicentric prospective trial, we investigated the safety and feasibility of the treosulfan-fludarabine combination prior to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant in patients with various hematological malignancies not eligible for conventional regimens because of previous intensive treatment, older age, and comorbidities. Forty-six consecutive patients, median age 48 years (range 17-69), were enrolled. Sixteen of them were in complete remission, and 20 had a HSCT comorbidity index > or = 1. Forty-four patients had regular and sustained engraftment, and 39 out of 40 evaluable patients developed complete chimerism. Nonhematological toxicity was limited. Risk of transplant-related mortality was 9% (95% CI, 2-17%) at day +100 and plotted at 15% (95% CI, 7-22%) after 7 months. The estimated overall survival and progression-free survival with a median follow-up of 20 months were 51% and 38%, respectively. The estimated 30 months progression-free survival for patients transplanted in remission was 56%. The treosulfan-fludarabine combination is a reduced-toxicity but myeloablative regimen that can be proposed to patients not fitting criteria for conventional transplant regimens. Longer follow-up and further prospective studies are necessary to evaluate this regimen. Copyright 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.