OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy of autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplantation in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and investigate its relevant prognostic factors.

METHODSA total of 96 adult patients with ALL who had admitted to our hospital from November 1986 to June 2004 were followed up till February 28, 2005. They were divided into autologous stem cell transplantation (Auto-SCT) group (n = 56) and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (Allo-SCT) group (n = 40). Auto-SCT group was further divided to treated subgroup, in which patients received graft-purified transplantation and (or) maintenance immunotherapy or chemotherapy after transplantation (n = 26), and non-treated subgroup (n = 30). Clinical characteristics of these groups were retrospectively analyzed. Survival date were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and the prognostic factors were analyzed with the COX regression model.

RESULTSThe 1-, 3-, and 5-year leukemia-free-survival (LFS) were not significantly different between the auto-SCT group and the allo-SCT group. The 3-and 5-year LFS of auto-SCT treated subgroup, auto-SCT non-treated subgroup and allo-SCT group were [(73.0 +/- 8.7)%, (69.2 +/- 9.0)%], [(42.2 +/- 10.1)%, (35.1 +/- 10.0)%], and [(50.9 +/- 8.2)%, (50.9 +/- 8.2)%], respectively, which showed statistical significance (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe long-term LFS is similar after auto-SCT and after allo-SCT. Purified graft and maintain immunotherapy or chemotherapy post-transplantation may decrease the relapse rate after auto-SCT and improve survival.