Hematopoietic stem cell transplants after reduced intensity conditioning regimen (RI-HSCT): Report of a workshop of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)

Allogeneic minitransplants are being increasingly used for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Eligibility criteria usually include age over 60 years and/or major clinical problems concomitant with the hematologic disorder. This report summarizes a workshop which was held in 1999 under the auspices of EBMT: the issues discussed included stem cell sources and mobilization techniques, stem cell engraftment, accessory cells, mixed chimerism, graft-versus-tumor effect and ongoing clinical trials. There are many questions which still need to be answered, but this area of transplantation seems very promising and will certainly develop in the coming years.