Overall 42 patients (pts) transplanted in hematological CR1 were retrospectively analyzed. Median follow-up was 15 months (range 277).
The expression of WT1 gene was measured according to the European Leukaemia Net recommendations. At the time of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) 29 pts were WT1-negative and 13 pts were WT1-positive.
In the univariate analysis, significantly better results were observed in the group of WT1 neg in terms of progression-free survival (in three yr 77% vs. 27%, p = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, the only significant feature in terms of better OS was WT1 negativity (p = 0.029).
Our results show that minimal residual disease status measured by quantitative assessment of WT1 gene in acute myeloid leukemia pts in CR1 significantly affects their future prognosis after allo-SCT.