Allogeneic Stem-Cell Transplantation May Overcome the Adverse Prognosis of Unmutated VH Gene in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Purpose To investigate whether allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (allo-SCT) may overcome the negative impact of unmutated VH genes in the outcome of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).Patients and Methods We analyzed the outcome of patients who underwent SCT according to their VH mutational status.Results Thirty-four patients (14 allo-SCT and 20 autologous SCT [auto-SCT]) presented unmutated VH genes and 16 patients presented mutated VH genes (nine allo-SCT and seven auto-SCT). Tumoral burden pre-SCT was significantly higher in the allo-SCT patients independent of the VH mutational status. The risk of relapse was significantly higher after auto-SCT (5-year risk, 61%; 95% CI, 44% to 84%) than after allo-SCT (5-year risk 12%, 95% CI, 3% to 44%; P < .05). In the unmutated group, 13 of 20 auto-SCT and two of 14 allo-SCT patients experienced disease progression, with a risk of relapse at 5 years of 66% (95% CI, 48% to 93%) v 17% (95% CI, 5% to 60%), respectively (P = .01).Conclusion These results show that allo-SCT may overcome the unfavorable effect of unmutated VH genes in patients with CLL.