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Outcomes of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Adult Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia Harboring KMT2A Rearrangement and Its Prognostic Factors
Jiang, B., Zhao, Y., Luo, Y., Yu, J., Chen, Y., Ye, B., Fu, H., Lai, X., Liu, L., Ye, Y., et al
Cell transplantation. 2024;33:9636897231225821
Abstract
KMT2A rearrangement (KMT2A-r) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with poor outcomes; the prognostic factors after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remain unclear. We investigated 364 adults with AML who underwent allo-HSCT between April 2016 and May 2022, and 45 had KMT2A-r among them. Propensity score analysis with 1:1 matching and the nearest neighbor matching method identified 42 patients in KMT2A-r and non-KMT2A-r cohorts, respectively. The 2-year overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), and non-relapsed mortality rates of patients with KMT2A-r (n = 45) were 59.1%, 49.6%, 41.5%, and 8.9%, respectively. Using propensity score matching, the 2-year OS rate of patients with KMT2A-r (n = 42) was lower than that of those without KMT2A-r (n = 42; 56.1% vs 88.1%, P = 0.003). Among patients with KMT2A-r (n = 45), the prognostic advantage was exhibited from transplantation in first complete remission (CR1) and measurable residual disease (MRD) negative, which was reflected in OS, RFS, and CIR (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.002, respectively). Furthermore, patients with AF6 had poorer outcomes than those with AF9, ELL, and other KMT2A-r subtypes (P = 0.032, P = 0.001, and P = 0.001 for OS, RFS, and CIR, respectively). However, no differences were found in the OS, RFS, and CIR between patients with KMT2A-r with and without mutations (all P > 0.05). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that achieving CR1 MRD negative before HSCT was a protective factor for OS [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.242, P = 0.007], RFS (HR = 0.350, P = 0.036), and CIR (HR = 0.271, P = 0.021), while AF6 was a risk factor for RFS (HR = 2.985, P = 0.028) and CIR (HR = 4.675, P = 0.004). The prognosis of patients with KMT2A-r AML was poor, particularly those harboring AF6-related translocation; however, it is not associated with the presence of mutations. These patients can benefit from achieving CR1 MRD negative before HSCT.
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2.
Droplet digital PCR for sensitive relapse detection in acute myeloid leukaemia patients transplanted by reduced intensity conditioning
Gronlund, J. K., Veigaard, C., Juhl-Christensen, C., Skou, A. S., Melsvik, D., Ommen, H. B.
European journal of haematology. 2024
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Follow-up after allogeneic transplantation in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is guided by measurable residual disease (MRD) testing. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is the preferred MRD platform but unfortunately, 40%-60% of AML patients have no high-quality qPCR target. This study aimed to improve MRD testing by utilising droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). ddPCR offers patient-specific monitoring but concerns of tracking clonal haematopoiesis rather than malignant cells prompt further validation. METHODS Retrospectively, we performed MRD testing on blood and bone marrow samples from AML patients transplanted by reduced-intensity conditioning. RESULTS The applicability of ddPCR was 39/42 (92.9%). Forty-five ddPCR assays were validated with a 0.0089% median sensitivity. qPCR targeting NPM1 mutation detected relapse 46 days before ddPCR (p = .03). ddPCR detected relapse 34.5 days before qPCR targeting WT1 overexpression (p = .03). In non-relapsing patients, zero false positive ddPCR MRD relapses were observed even when monitoring targets associated with clonal haematopoiesis such as DNMT3A, TET2, and ASXL1 mutations. CONCLUSION These results confirm that qPCR targeting NPM1 mutations or fusion transcripts are superior in MRD testing. In the absence of such targets, ddPCR is a promising alternative demonstrating (a) high applicability, (b) high sensitivity, and (c) zero false positive MRD relapses in non-relapsing patients.
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Relative prognostic value of flow cytometric measurable residual disease before allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for adults with MDS/AML or AML
Orvain, C., Ali, N., Othus, M., Rodríguez-Arbolí, E., Milano, F., Le, C. M., Sandmaier, B. M., Scott, B. L., Appelbaum, F. R., Walter, R. B.
American journal of hematology. 2024
Abstract
Multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) measurable residual disease (MRD) before allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) independently predicts poor outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Conversely, its prognostic value in the newly defined disease entity, myelodysplastic neoplasm (MDS)/AML is unknown. To assess the relationship between disease type, pre-HCT MRD, and post-HCT outcomes, we retrospectively analyzed 1265 adults with MDS/AML (n = 151) or AML (n = 1114) who received a first allograft in first or second morphologic remission at a single institution between April 2006 and March 2023. At 3 years, relapse rates (29% for MDS/AML vs. 29% for AML, p = .98), relapse-free survival (RFS; 50% vs. 55%, p = .22), overall survival (OS; 52% vs. 60%, p = .073), and non-relapse mortality (22% vs. 16%, p = .14) were not statistically significantly different. However, a significant interaction was found between pre-HCT MFC MRD and disease type (MDS/AML vs. AML) for relapse (p = .009), RFS (p = .011), and OS (p = .039). The interaction models indicated that the hazard ratios (HRs) for the association between pre-HCT MRD and post-HCT outcomes were lower in patients with MDS/AML (for relapse: HR = 1.75 [0.97-3.15] in MDS/AML vs. 4.13 [3.31-5.16] in AML; for RFS: HR = 1.58 [1.02-2.45] vs. 2.98 [2.48-3.58]; for OS: HR = 1.50 [0.96-2.35] vs. 2.52 [2.09-3.06]). On the other hand, residual cytogenetic abnormalities at the time of HCT were equally informative in MDS/AML as in AML patients. Our data indicate that MFC-based pre-HCT MRD testing, but not testing for residual cytogenetic abnormalities, is less informative for MDS/AML than AML patients when used for prognostication of post-HCT outcomes.
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4.
Fludarabine-treosulfan versus fludarabine-melphalan or busulfan-cyclophosphamide conditioning in older AML or MDS patients - A clinical trial to registry data comparison
Beelen, D. W., Iacobelli, S., Koster, L., Eikema, D. J., van Biezen, A., Stölzel, F., Ciceri, F., Bethge, W., Dreger, P., Wagner-Drouet, E. M., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2024
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Full text
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
A randomized study (acronym: MC-FludT.14/L Trial II) demonstrated that fludarabine plus treosulfan (30 g/m²) was an effective and well tolerated conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). To further evaluate this regimen, all 252 study patients aged 50 to 70 years were compared with similar patients, who underwent allo-HCT after fludarabine/melphalan (140 mg/m²) (FluMel) or busulfan (12.8 mg/kg)/cyclophosphamide (120 mg/kg) (BuCy) regimens and whose data was provided by the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry. In 1:1 propensity-score matched-paired analysis (PSA) of AML patients, there was no difference in 2-year-relapse-incidence after FluTreo compared with either FluMel (n = 110, p = 0.28) or BuCy (n = 78, p = 0.98). However, 2-year-non-relapse-mortality (NRM) was lower compared with FluMel (p = 0.019) and BuCy (p < 0.001). Consequently, 2-year-overall-survival (OS) after FluTreo was higher compared with FluMel (p = 0.04) and BuCy (p < 0.001). For MDS patients, no endpoint differences between FluTreo and FluMel (n = 30) were evident, whereas 2-year-OS after FluTreo was higher compared with BuCy (n = 25, p = 0.01) due to lower 2-year-NRM. Multivariate sensitivity analysis confirmed all significant results of PSA. Consequently, FluTreo (30 g/m²) seems to retain efficacy compared with FluMel and BuCy, but is better tolerated by older patients.
PICO Summary
Population
Adults aged 50-70 years with primary or secondary AML in complete remission or MDS, receiving a peripheral blood allogeneic transplant (n=1220)
Intervention
Participants in the MC-FludT.14/L trial who received fludarabine-treosulfan conditioning (FluTreo, n=252)
Comparison
Propensity-score matched patients identified from the EBMT registry (n=968) who received fludarabine/melphalan (FluMel, n=338) or busulfan/cyclophosphamide (BuCy, n=630) regimens
Outcome
In 1:1 propensity-score matched-paired analysis (PSA) of AML patients, there was no difference in 2-year-relapse-incidence after FluTreo compared with either FluMel (n=110) or BuCy (n=78). However, 2-year-non-relapse-mortality (NRM) was lower compared with FluMel and BuCy. Consequently, 2-year-overall-survival (OS) after FluTreo was higher compared with FluMel and BuCy. For MDS patients, no endpoint differences between FluTreo and FluMel (n=30) were evident, whereas 2-year-OS after FluTreo was higher compared with BuCy (n=25) due to lower 2-year-NRM. Multivariate sensitivity analysis confirmed all significant results of PSA.
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Persistent IDH mutations are not associated with increased relapse or death in patients with IDH-mutated acute myeloid leukemia undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant with post-transplant cyclophosphamide
Ravindra, N., Dillon, L. W., Gui, G., Smith, M., Gondek, L. P., Jones, R. J., Corner, A., Hourigan, C. S., Ambinder, A. J.
Bone marrow transplantation. 2024
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6.
Donor KIR2DL1 allelic polymorphism influences post-haematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation outcomes in the T cell depleted and reduced intensity conditioning setting
Wright, P. A., van de Pasch, L. A. L., Dignan, F. L., Kichula, K. M., Pollock, N. R., Norman, P. J., Marchan, E., Hill, L., Vandelbosch, S., Fullwood, C., et al
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2024
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of established KIR clinical assessment algorithms used for donor selection for haematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation (HPCT) evaluate gene content (presence/absence) of the KIR gene complex. In comparison, relatively little is known about the impact of KIR allelic polymorphism. By analysing donors of T cell depleted (TcD) reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) HPCT, this study investigated the influence on post-transplant outcome of two polymorphic residues of the inhibitory KIR2DL1. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to expand upon existing research into the influence of KIR2DL1 allelic polymorphism upon post-transplant outcome. The effects of allele groups upon transplant outcomes were investigated within a patient cohort in a defined treatment protocol of RIC with TcD. STUDY DESIGN Using phylogenetic data, KIR2DL1 allelic polymorphism was categorised into groups on the basis of variation within codons 114 and 245 (positive or negative for the following groups: KIR2DL1*002/001g, KIR2DL1*003, KIR2DL1*004g) and the identification of null alleles. The influence of these KIR2DL1 allele groups in haematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation (HPCT) donors was assessed in the post-transplant data of 86 acute myelogenous leukaemia patients receiving RIC TcD HPCT at a single centre. RESULTS KIR2DL1 allele groups in the donor significantly impacted upon 5-year post-transplant outcomes in RIC TcD HPCT. Donor KIR2DL1*003 presented the greatest influence upon post-transplant outcomes, with KIR2DL1*003 positive donors severely reducing 5-year post-transplant overall survival (OS) compared to those receiving a transplant from a KIR2DL1*003 negative donor (KIR2DL1*003 pos vs neg: 27.0% vs 60.0%, p=0.008, p(c)=0.024) and disease-free survival (DFS) (KIR2DL1*003 pos vs neg: 23.5% vs 60.0%, p=0.004, p(c)=0.012), and increasing 5-year relapse incidence (KIR2DL1*003 pos vs neg: 63.9% vs 27.2%, p=0.009, p(c)=0.027). KIR2DL1*003 homozygous and KIR2DL1*003 heterozygous grafts did not present significantly different post-transplant outcomes. Donors possessing the KIR2DL1*002/001 allele group were found to significantly improve post-transplant outcomes, with donors positive for the KIR2DL1*004 allele group presenting a trend towards improvement. KIR2DL1*002/001 allele group (KIR2DL1*002/001g) positive donors improved 5-year OS (KIR2DL1*002/001g pos vs neg: 56.4% vs 27.2%, p=0.009, p(c)=0.024) and DFS (KIR2DL1*002/001g pos vs neg: 53.8% vs. 25.5%, p=0.018, p(c)=0.036). KIR2DL1*004 allele group (KIR2DL1*004g) positive donors trended towards improving 5-year OS (KIR2DL1*004g pos vs neg: 53.3% vs 35.5%, p=0.097, p(c)=0.097) and DFS (KIR2DL1*004g pos vs neg: 50.0% vs 33.9%, p=0.121, p(c)=0.121), and reducing relapse incidence (KIR2DL1*004g pos vs neg: 33.1% vs 54.0%, p=0.079, p(c)=0.152). CONCLUSION The presented findings suggest donor selection algorithms for TcD RIC HPCT should consider avoiding KIR2DL1*003 positive donors, where possible, and contributes to the mounting evidence that KIR assessment in donor selection algorithms should reflect the conditioning regime protocol used.
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WT1 and TP53 as valuable diagnostic biomarkers for relapse after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia
Asghari-Ghomi, A., Fallahian, F., Garavand, J., Mohammadi, M. H.
Molecular biology reports. 2024;51(1):244
Abstract
BACKGROUND Relapse following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) occurs relatively frequently and is a significant risk factor for mortality in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Early diagnosis is, therefore, of utmost importance and can provide valuable guidance for appropriate and timely intervention. Here, the diagnostic value of two molecular markers, Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) and tumor suppressor protein p53 (TP53), were studied. METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty AML patients undergoing HSCT participated in this investigation. Some had relapsed following HSCT, while others were in remission. Peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) samples were collected following relapse and remission. WT1 and TP53 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was evaluated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‒qPCR). The diagnostic value of genes was evaluated by utilizing receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. ROC analysis showed WT1 and TP53 as diagnostic markers for relapse after HSCT in AML patients. The mRNA expression level of WT1 was elevated in individuals who experienced relapse compared to those in a state of remission (p value < 0.01). Conversely, the expression level of TP53 mRNA was lower in individuals who had relapsed compared to those in remission (p value < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS WT1 and TP53 possess the potential to serve as invaluable biomarkers in the identification of molecular relapse after HSCT in patients with AML. Further studies for a definitive conclusion are recommended.
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Haploidentical Transplant with Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and Myelodysplastic Syndromes Patients: The Role of Previous Lines of Therapy
Avenoso, D., Serpenti, F., Slonim, L. B., Bouziana, S., Dazzi, F., Hannah, G., Kenyon, M., Mehra, V., Kulasekararaj, A., Krishamurthy, P., et al
Mediterranean journal of hematology and infectious diseases. 2024;16(1):e2024002
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplant is an option, potentially curative, for high-risk acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients. Post-transplant cyclophosphamide administration allows for the selection of haploidentical donors in patients who are eligible for the procedure but do not have a fully matched donor since it can overcome the HLA barrier. There is still an active debate on whether intensifying the conditioning regimen is necessary with haploidentical donors when peripheral blood stem cells are used as the graft source. Herein, we report our decennial experience of haploidentical stem-cell transplant using peripheral blood stem cells (haplo-PBSC) at King's College Hospital. OBJECTIVES The primary objective was to evaluate overall survival (OS) following haplo-PBSC. Secondary objectives were total OS for patients with less than two previous lines of therapy, OS according to cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation, incidence of transplant-related mortality (TRM), graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and GVHD-relapse-free survival (GRFS). RESULTS One-year and three-year total OS were 62% and 43%, respectively, with a median OS of 22 months. One-year and three-year OS for patients with ≤2 and those with >2 previous lines of therapy were 72% and 55%, and 60% and 22%, respectively (p-value=0.04). The median OS in patients with >2 previous and ≤2 lines of therapy was 16 and 49 months, respectively. Cumulative incidence (CI) of relapse was 25% with a median time to relapse of 5 months (range 1 - 38 months). CONCLUSIONS Haploidentical haematopoietic stem-cell transplant is potentially curative in chemosensitive AML and MDS and offers a high rate of prolonged remission. Our cohort further confirms the role of consolidative haploidentical transplant in patients in complete remission and highlights that patients with heavily pre-treated disease may not benefit from this strategy.
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9.
The effect of center experience on allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia
Yanada, M., Yano, S., Kuwatsuka, Y., Kawamura, K., Fukuda, T., Ichinohe, T., Hashii, Y., Goto, H., Kato, K., Ishimaru, F., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2024
Abstract
This study aimed to address the prognostic impact of center experience based on the data of 7821 adults with acute myeloid leukemia who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) from 2010 to 2019 in Japan, where medical care was provided within a uniform healthcare system. Center experience was defined based on the number of allogeneic HCTs performed for any indication during the study period, by which centers were divided into low-, intermediate-, and high-volume centers. After adjusting for known confounding factors, the risk of overall mortality was lowest for the high-volume centers and highest for the low-volume centers, with the difference between the center categories attributed primarily to the risk of relapse. Patients transplanted at high-volume centers had higher risks of acute and chronic graft-versus-host diseases but without an increased risk of non-relapse mortality (NRM). These findings reveal the presence of a center effect in allogeneic HCT conducted during the past decade in Japan, highlighting the difference in relapse based on center experience. The weaker effect on NRM compared with that on relapse suggests that the transplantation care quality is becoming equalized across the country.
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10.
Pretransplantation predictors of survival in nonremission acute myeloid leukemia treated with haploidentical transplantation using steroid-based GVHD prophylaxis
Teramoto, M., Tamaki, H., Kaida, K., Samori, M., Takahashi-Hirata, S., Utsunomiya, N., Katayama, A., Fukunaga, K., Inoue, T., Yoshihara, K., et al
Annals of hematology. 2024
Abstract
Haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) using glucocorticoids for acute graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis (GC-haplo) may become a curative treatment option for nonremission acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This retrospective study aimed to identify pre-HCT predictors of survival in a cohort of 97 nonremission AML treated with GC-haplo in Hyogo Medical University Hospital between 2010 and 2020. Relapse and primary induction failure included in 70 (72%) and 27 (28%) patients, respectively. Sixty-one patients (63%) had undergone previous HCT. Multivariate analysis revealed that ≤ 6 months' duration between first complete remission (CR1) and first relapse (Rel1) (CR1-Rel1 interval) (hazard ratio 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-3.89, P = 0.016) and serum albumin before starting the conditioning treatment of ≤ 3.5 g/dL (hazard ratio 1.80, 95%CI 1.09-2.96, P = 0.022) as risk factors for overall survival. Among three groups categorized according to serum albumin and CR1-Rel1 interval, the best 3-year overall survival was observed in patients with albumin > 3.5 g/dL and CR1-Rel1 interval > 6 months or primary induction failure (50.2%, 95%CI 28.9%-68.3%, P < 0.001), revealing that survival could be predicted using albumin and past CR duration in patients with very high-risk AML not in remission before GC-haplo.