1.
The impact of second-donor lymphocyte infusion on secondary graft failure after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation through activation of Foxp3 and regulatory T cells
Xie, Y. X., Ma, L. M., Ren, R. R., Tian, W. W., Wang, T.
Cytotherapy. 2022
Abstract
Secondary graft failure (SGF) is a fatal complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation without effective treatment methods, especially after haploidentical transplantation. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) from a second donor in treating SGF and the underlying immune mechanisms. A second donor is a candidate donor who did not initially provide stem cells for HLA-matched sibling donor or HLA-haploidentical donor transplantation. We conducted a retrospective study of 237 patients with a median age of 38 years (range 9-56) for whom the degree of mixed chimerism (MC) and complete donor chimerism (CC), mRNA expression levels of Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), and the proportion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) were regularly assessed. The median time to SGF was 62 days (range 41-117) after transplantation. Twenty-one patients with SGF received DLI, including 12 patients who initially received DLI from a second donor (i.e., a donor other than the transplantation [first] donor) and 9 patients who initially received DLI from the first donor but showed no response. Three of those 9 patients subsequently received DLI from a second donor. The incidence of acute GVHD and chronic GVHD induced by DLI from the second donor was significantly higher than that of DLI from the first donor (P = 0.006). Twenty-one patients with SGF exhibited synchronous MC, and the overall MC rate after transplantation was 65% (range 42%-85%).The proportion of Tregs significantly decreased in SGF patients, from a median of 2.61% ± 0.88% to 0.92% ± 0.23% at the indicated time point after transplantation (P = 0.03). Second-donor DLI resulted in a complete response (CR) in 13 patients, and MC gradually converted into CC; simultaneously, there was a significant increase in the mRNA level of Foxp3 and the proportion of Tregs (baseline, 0.92% ± 0.23% versus CR, 3.61% ± 0.82%; P = 0.01). For the patients who did not respond to DLI from either donor type, there was no significant change in donor chimerism, Foxp3 expression level or Treg proportion. Overall survival and disease-free survival 2 years after DLI were 66.7% ± 3.08% and 59.8% ± 4.11%, respectively. DLI from a second donor may be an effective treatment for SGF, and the mechanism is related to MC-to-CC conversion and activation of Foxp3 and Tregs.
2.
Effect of Donor Lymphocyte Infusion From Two Types of Donors on Mixed Chimerism With Secondary Graft Failure After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Ren, R. R., Ma, L. M., Xie, Y. X., Tian, W. W., Wang, T.
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2022;28(3):152.e1-152.e7
Abstract
Mixed chimerism (MC) and secondary graft failure (SGF) with recipient- or donor-type chimerism is a major obstacle in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) can eradicate minimal residual disease or be used to rescue a hematologic relapse, being able to induce durable remissions after HSCT. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy and immune mechanism of DLI from the original and alternative donor for patients of mixed donor chimerism with SGF. The alternative donor refers to the candidate relative donor who did not initially provide stem cells and includes HLA-matched sibling donor or HLA-haploidentical donor. We conducted a retrospective study of 246 patients with a median age of 37 (9-58) years who had regularly detected MC, complete donor chimera (CC), and regulatory T cells (Treg). The median diagnosis time of SGF was 69 (39-141) days after transplantation. Sixteen patients with SGF received DLI from the alternative donor, including 3 patients who chose DLI from the original donor with no initial response and 13 patients who directly chose DLI from the alternative donor. Sixteen patients with SGF existed mixed chimerism synchronously and the rate calculated overall chimerism of MC was 63% (range 42%-85%) after transplantation. The proportion of Treg decreased significantly in SGF patients from a median of 2.66% ± 0.80% to 0.93% ± 0.57% at a time point after transplantation (P = .02). The DLI of the alternative donor in 14 patients achieved complete response and MC gradually convert to CC state, simultaneously there was significant increase in the Treg fraction (SGF versus complete response: 0.93% ± 0.57% versus 3.61% ± 0.82% [P = .01]). For the clinical nonresponders from 2 types of donors, there was no significant change in MC and Treg cells. The OS and disease-free survival at 2 years after DLI were 69.7% ± 3.19% and 61.3% ± 4.80%, respectively. DLI from the alternative donor may be an effective treatment for MC with SGF, and the mechanism is closely related to the activation of Treg cells level.
3.
Comparison of Outcomes After Second Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Versus Donor Lymphocyte Infusion in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Patients
Al-Shaibani, E., Bautista, R., Lipton, J. H., Kim, D. D., Viswabandya, A., Kumar, R., Lam, W., Law, A. D., Al-Shaibani, Z., Gerbitz, A., et al
Clinical lymphoma, myeloma & leukemia. 2021
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is potentially curative for hematological disease however can be complicated by relapse or graft failure (GF), for which second-HCT and donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) are performed. This study aimed to compare outcomes following the two interventions. METHODS We retrospectively investigated 89 patients with relapse or GF after first-HCT, 50 (56%) underwent second HCT and 39 (44%) received (DLI), from June 2011 to September 2020. RESULTS Median age at intervention was 55 years (19-72). Second-HCT was performed for relapse in 19 patients and for GF in 31 patients (primary GF in 11 and secondary in 20 patients), same donor was used in 25 (50%) patients. DLI was performed for relapse in 20 and for secondary GF in 19 patients. Median number of DLI administered was 2 (range 1-11). Univariate analysis demonstrated 2 year overall survival (OS) for second-HCT was superior when performed for relapse (65%) compared to GF (44%) (P = .03). For DLI patients, 2 year OS was 49% for GF and 45% for relapse patients (P = .49). For relapse as an indication, second-HCT demonstrated borderline superiority compared to DLI (P = .07). Multivariable analysis demonstrated for OS for the entire cohort demonstrated donor mismatch (HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.26%-0.94%, P = .03), KPS at time of intervention (HR 2.10, 95% CI 1.14%-3.85%, P = .02) and time from first-HCT to intervention (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28%-0.93%, P = .03) as significant variables. CONCLUSION Second-HCT may improve outcomes when performed for relapse post-transplant if patients achieve remission again, while DLI may be reserved for patients with active disease.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients with relapse or graft failure after first HSCT, retrospectively identified from a single centre in Canada (n=89)
Intervention
Second allogeneic transplant (second-HCT, n=50)
Comparison
Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI, n=39)
Outcome
Median age at intervention was 55 years (19-72). Second-HCT was performed for relapse in 19 patients and for GF in 31 patients (primary GF in 11 and secondary in 20 patients), same donor was used in 25 (50%) patients. DLI was performed for relapse in 20 and for secondary GF in 19 patients. Median number of DLI administered was 2 (range 1-11). Univariate analysis demonstrated 2 year overall survival (OS) for second-HCT was superior when performed for relapse (65%) compared to GF (44%). For DLI patients, 2 year OS was 49% for GF and 45% for relapse patients. For relapse as an indication, second-HCT demonstrated borderline superiority compared to DLI. Multivariable analysis demonstrated for OS for the entire cohort demonstrated donor mismatch (HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.26%-0.94%), KPS at time of intervention (HR 2.10, 95% CI 1.14%-3.85%) and time from first-HCT to intervention (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28%-0.93%) as significant variables.