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The concept of haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) to treat severe autoimmune diseases has been around for several decades. Advances in the safety of HSCT have made it a clinical reality since 1995. Databases have registered around a thousand patients treated specifically for a wide range of diseases, predominantly multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic sclerosis (SSc), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Phase I/II prospective and retrospective studies have supported the potential of autologous HSCT as a treatment option in severely affected patients, with profound and prolonged clinical responses in some diseases, although procedures are generally not curative. Allogeneic HSCT appears to offer curative potential, but the potential of high toxicity has limited its use in this context. The exact role of HSCT remains to be defined, particularly in the context of other advances in the treatment of autoimmune disease. Along with other groups, the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) are overseeing several phase III trials in autologous transplantation. Given the risks of the HSCT, eligibility is restricted to patients who have severe, treatment resistant disease, in whom the prognosis is otherwise poor. This review aims to summarise the current published data in this evolving treatment for relatively rare patients with resistant or rapidly progressive disease where treatment options are otherwise limited. This cross-fertilization of knowledge between many specialties may provide increasing therapeutic opportunities in otherwise untreatable diseases. Moreover, destroying and rebuilding immune systems may provide insights into autoimmune diseases.

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and multiplex-fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) were used to evaluate the presentation karyotype in 15 and 18 patients respectively, aged >/=60 years, with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Conventional G-banded analysis was performed in all patients prior to evaluation. Comparative genomic hybridization confirmed the G-banded karyotype fully in 12 patients and partially in two patients. Normal CGH profiles were observed in patients with a normal karyotype and in one patient with a balanced chromosomal translocation as the sole cytogenetic aberration. Multiplex-fluorescence in situ hybridization provided additional information in two patients with a complex karyotype, but failed to detect a telomeric translocation in one patient. Eight patients with normal G-banded karyotypes appeared normal by M-FISH. These results demonstrate that both CGH and M-FISH analysis correlate well with the G-banded karyotype in AML. Furthermore, although additive cytogenetic data was not provided by either technique in cases with normal karyotype, DNA copy number change and cryptic translocations below the resolution of CGH and M-FISH may still be the initiating event for leukemogenesis for these patients.

Elderly patients (age >60 years) with AML who are selected for curative treatment frequently receive anthracycline/cytarabine containing regimens. The anthracendione mitoxantrone (MTN) in combination with cytarabine (Ara-C) produces comparable complete remission rates to other regimens and may be less toxic. Over a 12 year period, 75 patients (median age 67 years, range 60-83 years) referred with newly diagnosed AML were treated with MTN and ara-C. MTN was administered at 12 mg/m(2)/day intravenously for three days in the first 26 patients, and 10 mg/m(2)/day intravenously for five days in a subsequent 49 patients. Ara-C was administered at a dose of 100 mg/m(2) twice daily intravenously for seven days. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 34 out of 75 patients (45%). The median disease-free survival overall was 7.5 months (one month to nine and a half years). The median survival was one year for patients in whom CR was achieved, compared to four months in patients whom treatment failed (P=0.001). Age alone was predictive of achievement of CR, whilst presentation karyotype, serum LDH and patient age correlated with overall survival. These results confirm that although elderly patients have a poor outcome, prognostic factors can be identified that influence treatment outcome in this important group of patients.

Between 1969 and 1999, 420 patients (age > 60 years) with newly diagnosed AML were managed at St Bartholomew's Hospital (SBH), London, UK. Sixty-nine percent of patients received therapy with curative intent Eighty-eight patients (31%) of the latter achieved complete remission (CR), representing an overall CR rate of 21%. Treatment failure due to early death (ED) and resistant disease (RD) occurred in 50 and 19%, respectively. With median follow up of 11 years, actuarial survivals at 1,3 and 5 years were 20, 7 and 4%, respectively, the median survival of the entire cohort was 2 months. For patients who achieved CR, median survival was significantly better than that of patients in whom treatment failed (14 vs. 6 months). Over the 30 years, CR rate and the relative incidence of RD both increased from 13 to 45%, and 3 to 27%, respectively, whilst ED rate reduced from 84 to 27%. Multivariate analysis showed that treatment era, hepatosplenomegaly and increasing age predicted for reduced CR rate and OS. Although elderly patients with AML are characterised by a poor response to intensive chemotherapy, significant improvements in supportive care and the delivery of intensive treatment have led to improved CR rates and OS. New therapeutic strategies and a greater awareness of prognostic factors may further improve clinical outcome in this important group of patients.