Comparison of two conditioning regimens in treatment of leukemia by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract The conditioning regimens are the critical factors in the allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness and side-effects of two conditioning regimens in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Twenty-one cases received busulfan(BU) 16 mg/kg plus cyclophosphamide(CY) 120 mg/kg,the other 23 cases received total body irradiation(TBI) 7.5-8.5 Gy plus CY 120 mg/kg regimen. The 3-year disease-free survivals (DFS) were 61.5% in BU/CY group and 64.7% in TBI/CY group, respectively (P >0.05). The relapse rates were 23.8% and 26%, respectively, without significant difference (P >0.05). The incidence of liver damage in the BU/CY group was higher (80.9%) than that in the TBI/CY group (54.3%) (P0.05), while one patient in TBI/CY group developed grade IV pulmonary toxicity, which is lethal. No case was found to have cardiac, renal, or central nervous system grade I toxicity. The two groups have equal effectiveness, BU/CY regimen is relatively easy to administer and well tolerated with low extramedullary toxicity.