Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) activity significantly increased in the Eastern Mediterranean area over the past decade. However, comparative outcomes with longer established centers, especially European Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) centers, have not been reported. We compared outcomes of matched-sibling allogeneic HCT between East Mediterranean Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EMBMT) and EBMT centers for adult patients with AML in first CR using myeloablative conditioning. We matched 431 patients from EMBMT with 431 patients from EBMT centers according to patient, disease and transplant characteristics. EMBMT recipients and donors were more likely to be CMV seropositive. There were no significant differences in the incidence of acute or chronic GVHD, or the 3-year cumulative incidence of non-relapse mortality (NRM) and relapse incidence (RI) between the two groups (NRM: EMBMT = 16% vs EBMT = 11), (RI: EMBMT = 13% vs EBMT = 19%). Notably, the 3-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) and OS were similar between the groups (LFS: EMBMT = 70 +/- 2% vs EBMT = 69 +/- 3%), (OS: EMBMT = 74 +/- 2% vs EBMT = 73 +/- 2%). Despite differences in socioeconomics, health resources and transplant experience, matched-sibling allogeneic HCT outcomes in emerging centers in the EMBMT region appear similar to EBMT centers.