New York, Dec 04: A common genetic variation appears to reduce the risk of a serious complication after a bone marrow transplant, new research shows. People who had the gene variation were half as likely as other patients to develop severe graft-versus-host disease or die from the transplant, according to a study of 933 bone marrow recipients in Seattle.

The researchers said testing for the genetic variation could help determine treatment options for patients who are considering the risky procedure and could help their doctors adjust their medication afterward.

"People have assumed for a long time that genetic differences between patients will affect outcome of cancer therapy. This is clear, clinical evidence that supports that hypothesis,'' said one of the researchers, Dr. John A Hansen of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre and the University of Washington.

The findings are reported in today's new England Journal of Medicine. Bureau Report