Stem cell transplantation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract

Despite the significant progress that has been made in recent years in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), mainly due to the introduction of monoclonal antibodies, allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation remains the only method that could potentially cure CLL. However, because of high peritransplant mortality, this method is reserved only for patients with high-risk CLL. Autologous transplantation is currently not recommended for patients with CLL due to the lack of advantage over the standard first-line FCR immunochemotherapy and the lack of efficacy in high-risk CLL.