Therapy‐induced myelodysplasia and secondary leukaemia

Abstract

A study was performed on bone marrow histology in patients before, during and at various time intervals after chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for solid tumours, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma and acute leukaemias. Alterations in both haematopoietic and stromal compartments (myelodysplasia) were found in varying degrees of severity depending on the type and the time elapsed from the treatment. The tumour‐induced and post‐therapy myelodysplasia, restitution phase, pre‐leukaemic phase, and therapy‐induced leukaemia and aplasia are described. The findings are discussed in the light of current theories of the mechanisms of therapy‐induced myelodysplasia and acute leukaemia.