Bone Marrow Transplantation in the Treatment of Acute Leukemia

Of 60 reported cases of refractory leukemia treated by bone marrow transplantation from 1969 to 1972, 13 (21.6%) were alive from 6 months to almost 3 years following transplantation. Major stumbling blocks in clinical marrow transplantation include graft-versus-host disease, incomplete immunologic reconstitution, opportunistic infection and recurrent leukemia. Although the results of marrow transplantation in acute leukemia have been disappointing in many instances, technical advances and the continued success of this procedure in a small number of patients has prompted continued investigation.