Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for leukaemia and aplastic anaemia. Results of the Leipzig BMT Group.

In acute leukaemias there was a stable plateau in the survival curve at 45% after two years if grafted in first complete remission (n = 20) but only 13% of the patients are disease-free alive if grafted in a more advanced stage of the disease (n = 8). In 16 patients transplanted for chronic myeloid leukaemia the overall survival is 40%, in cases with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prevention by cyclosporine survival rate could be improved. Only 8 patients with severe aplastic anaemia, partially in low performance status were able to be transplanted; three died of infections, another by acute GVHD. The fatal complications in our study characterize the international well-known major problems in BMT: GVHD, interstitial pneumonitis, infections, graft failure in aplastic anaemia and recurrence of leukaemia, especially in more advanced leukaemia stage.

Fundamentals, trends and our experiences with total body irradiation (TBI) before bone marrow transplantation (BMT).

At the end of the sixties and to beginning of the seventies years the total body irradiation (TBI) was introduced in the concept of bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The aim is the destruction of leukaemic or normal stem cells surviving the chemotherapy or the overcoming of the immunological defense. From March 1980 to January 1987 we have treated 84 patients with single exposure of 8.5 to 10.5 Gy midline dose for body and lung in cases of leukaemia and of 6 to 7 Gy for patients with aplastic anaemia. We used a dose rate of about 5.5 cGy/min delivered by a linear accelerator. The results were comparable with other centres but a further indicator for the effectiveness of a irradiation technique is also the idiopathic interstitial pneumonitis (IIP). Our incidence of IIP was 10.7 per cent and the mortality was 2.4 per cent. Additional we have had 8.3 per cent interstitial pneumonitis (IP) caused by an infection. All patients with a combination of IP and GVHD had a fatal prognosis. In present time a tendency is to see to fractionation techniques in total body irradiation for decreasing of the pneumonitis rate, the reduction of severe acute and delayed side effects, for a better homogenisation of the dose in the whole body and for using of synchronizing effects on the stem cells.

Acute and late effects in the course of and after total body irradiation with following bone marrow transplantation in patients with different forms of leukaemia.

The acute reaction in the course of a total body irradiation (TBI) appears in an organ-specific damage of the stem cells. Moreover, there are unspecified central-nervous stress reactions. Clinical reactions are obtained by the study and symptomatic therapy is proposed. 90 patients with different forms of leukaemia were observed. We documented the course in a specific "protocol system". Reactions like an increase of body temperature, changes of pulse and blood pressure were registered. The occurrence of gastro-intestinal reactions is a typical symptom of the acute radiation syndrome e.g. vomiting and diarrhoea are demonstrated in dependence of the applicated dose of irradiation. Further symptoms of TBI appeared in the later period. Mucositis, parotitis, a decreased function of the salivary glands and diarrhoea as well as vomiting are characterized by different intensity and temporary termination. A difference between allogeneic and autologous transplantation is caused by a medicamental additional treatment. During the late period these symptoms will disappear completely. Moreover, after TBI and BMT late effects are a cataract and some changes in the hormonal system demanding a specific correction or substitution respectively.

Autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) using unpurged marrow as intensification for first complete remission in acute leukaemia (AL).

In order to assess the clinical advantage of autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) without ex vivo purging, the results in 26 patients (10 AML, 16 ALL) in 1. CR were analyzed retrospectively. All patients received 3 consolidation cycles "in-vivo purging" before marrow harvesting. Beside relapses infections and cardiac failure were the most frequent complications. After 1 to 12.5 months 11 cases relapsed with a higher probability in patients who had a longer period of induction and between CR and ABMT. 12 patients became relapse-free survivors 6 to 53 months after ABMT with a stable plateau after 12.5 months for 8 patients. In conclusion, ABMT following "in-vivo purging" as the strongest one-step postremission therapy in patients with acute leukaemias may be a way for better long-term results in these patients.

[Trial of systemic postoperative irradiation of breast cancer]. / Versuch einer systemischen postoperativen Bestrahlung des Mammakarzinoms.

Most of all women submitted to radical operation for a loco-regionally advanced mammary carcinoma show a fateful latent formation of remote metastases necessitating a total body treatment. In a pilot study twenty patients underwent instead of adjuvant chemotherapy an irradiation of both the upper and lower body part administered in two sessions with a dose of 8 Gy to the lung and the median body line, respectively, in order to reduce or to destroy micrometastases. The irradiations were given in one day at intervals of three to four weeks. They were well tolerated. A negative influence on the disease has not yet been observed, however, the manifestation of metastases seems to be delayed. The method is not expensive and involves little inconvenience for the patient, on the other hand it still seems to be capable of improvement.