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1.
Finding a balance in reduced toxicity hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for thalassemia: role of infused CD3+ cell count and immunosuppression
Meissner, B., Lang, P., Bader, P., Hoenig, M., Müller, I., Meisel, R., Greil, J., Sauer, M. G., Metzler, M., Corbacioglu, S., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2024
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Full text
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
We performed a retrospective analysis on 124 patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia who were registered in the German pediatric registry for stem cell transplantation. All patients underwent first allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) between 2011 and 2020 and belonged mainly to Pesaro risk class 1-2. Four-year overall (OS) and thalassemia-free survival (TFS) were 94.5% ± 2.9% and 88.0% ± 3.4% after treosulfan-fludarabine-thiotepa- and 96.9% ± 3.1% (P = 0.763) and 96.9% ± 3.1% (P = 0.155) after busulfan-fludarabine-based conditioning. Mixed chimerism below 75% occurred predominantly in treosulfan-based regimens (27.5% versus 6.2%). OS and TFS did not differ significantly between matched sibling, other matched family and matched unrelated donor (UD) HSCTs (OS: 100.0%, 100.0%, 96.3% ± 3.6%; TFS: 96.5% ± 2.4%, 90.0% ± 9.5%, 88.9% ± 6.0%). However, mismatched UD-HSCTs performed less favorable (OS: 84.7% ± 7.3% (P = 0.029); TFS: 79.9% ± 7.4% (P = 0.082)). We generated a scoring system reflecting the risk to develop mixed chimerism in our cohort. The main risk-reducing factors were a high CD3+ cell count (≥6 × 10(7)/kg) in the graft, busulfan-conditioning, pre-conditioning therapy and low-targeted ciclosporin A trough levels. Acute GvHD grade III-IV in treosulfan-based concepts predominantly occurred in patients with UD and reduced GvHD prophylaxis but not in the context of high CD3+ cell doses. Taken together, this information might be used to develop more risk-adapted HSCT regimens for thalassemia patients.
PICO Summary
Population
Children and young adults with transfusion-dependent thalassemia who underwent first allogeneic transplant between 2011 and 2020 and were registered in the German pediatric registry for stem cell transplantation. (n=124)
Intervention
Treosulfan-fludarabine-thiotepa based conditioning (n=92)
Comparison
Busulfan-fludarabine-based conditioning (n=32)
Outcome
Four-year overall (OS) and thalassemia-free survival (TFS) were 94.5% ± 2.9% and 88.0% ± 3.4% after treosulfan-fludarabine-thiotepa- and 96.9% ± 3.1% and 96.9% ± 3.1% after busulfan-fludarabine-based conditioning. Mixed chimerism below 75% occurred predominantly in treosulfan-based regimens (27.5% versus 6.2%). OS and TFS did not differ significantly between matched sibling, other matched family and matched unrelated donor (UD) HSCTs (OS: 100.0%, 100.0%, 96.3% ± 3.6%; TFS: 96.5% ± 2.4%, 90.0% ± 9.5%, 88.9% ± 6.0%). However, mismatched UD-HSCTs performed less favorable (OS: 84.7% ± 7.3%; TFS: 79.9% ± 7.4%). We generated a scoring system reflecting the risk to develop mixed chimerism in our cohort. The main risk-reducing factors were a high CD3+ cell count (≥6 × 10(7)/kg) in the graft, busulfan-conditioning, pre-conditioning therapy and low-targeted ciclosporin A trough levels. Acute GvHD grade III-IV in treosulfan-based concepts predominantly occurred in patients with UD and reduced GvHD prophylaxis but not in the context of high CD3+ cell doses.
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2.
Busulfan-fludarabine- or treosulfan-fludarabine-based conditioning before allogeneic HSCT from matched sibling donors in paediatric patients with sickle cell disease: A study on behalf of the EBMT Paediatric Diseases and Inborn Errors Working Parties
Cseh, A., Galimard, J. E., de la Fuente, J., Isgro, A., Zecca, M., Garwer, B., Biffi, A., Aljurf, M., Sundin, M., Belendez, C., et al
British journal of haematology. 2023
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
How important is choice of conditioning regimen in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for sickle cell disease (SCD)? We compared HSCT outcomes by conditioning regimen in paediatric patients with SCD from the EBMT registry. In 2010-2020, 251 patients aged <18 years underwent a first matched sibling donor (MSD) HSCT with conditioning based on busulfan-fludarabine (bu-flu; n = 89) or treosulfan-fludarabine (treo-flu; n = 162). In the bu-flu and treo-flu groups, 51.7% and 99.4% of patients, respectively, received thiotepa. Median follow-up was 2.7 years. Two-year overall survival (OS) was 98.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 90.9-99.8) with bu-flu and 99.3% (95% CI: 95.2-99.9) with treo-flu (p = 0.63). Grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) at 100 days was 2.4% (95% CI: 0.4-7.5) and 0.6% (0.1%-3.2%) for bu-flu and treo-flu respectively (p = 0.25). The 2-year incidence of extensive chronic GVHD was 1.5% (95% CI: 0.1-7.3) with bu-flu and 8.0% (95% CI: 4.1-13.3) with treo-flu (p = 0.057). These multinational data confirm the excellent curative capacity of MSD HSCT with myeloablative conditioning. Both conditioning regimens yielded excellent OS, low rates of acute and chronic GVHD, and low rates of graft failure.
PICO Summary
Population
Children who underwent transplant for sickle cell disease, identified from the EBMT registry (n=251)
Intervention
Conditioning based on busulfan-fludarabine (bu-flu, n=89)
Comparison
Conditoning based on treosulfan-fludarabine (treo-flu, n=162).
Outcome
Median follow-up was 2.7 years. Two-year overall survival (OS) was 98.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 90.9-99.8) with bu-flu and 99.3% (95% CI: 95.2-99.9) with treo-flu. Grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) at 100 days was 2.4% (95% CI: 0.4-7.5) and 0.6% (0.1%-3.2%) for bu-flu and treo-flu respectively. The 2-year incidence of extensive chronic GVHD was 1.5% (95% CI: 0.1-7.3) with bu-flu and 8.0% (95% CI: 4.1-13.3) with treo-flu.
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Recent results of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for thalassemia with busulfan-based conditioning regimen in France: improved thalassemia free survival despite frequent mixed chimerism. A retrospective study from the Francophone Society of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (SFGM-TC)
Rossi, M., Szepetowski, S., Yakouben, K., Paillard, C., Sirvent, A., Castelle, M., Pegon, C., Piguet, C., Grain, A., Angoso, M., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2023
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Busulfan-fludarabine- or treosulfan-fludarabine-based myeloablative conditioning for children with thalassemia major
Lüftinger, R., Zubarovskaya, N., Galimard, J. E., Cseh, A., Salzer, E., Locatelli, F., Algeri, M., Yesilipek, A., de la Fuente, J., Isgrò, A., et al
Annals of hematology. 2022
Abstract
Significant advances in supportive care for patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia major (TDT) have improved patients' life expectancy. However, transfusion-associated iron overload remains a significant barrier to long-term survival with good quality of life. Today, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the current curative standard of care. Alongside selection of the best available donor, an optimized conditioning regimen is crucial to maximize outcomes for patients with TDT undergoing HSCT. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to investigate the role of busulfan-fludarabine-based and treosulfan-fludarabine-based conditioning in TDT patients undergoing HSCT. We included 772 patients registered in the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) database who underwent first HSCT between 2010 and 2018. Four hundred ten patients received busulfan-fludarabine-based conditioning (median age 8.6 years) and 362 patients received treosulfan-fludarabine-based conditioning (median age 5.7 years). Patient outcomes were retrospectively compared by conditioning regimen. Two-year overall survival was 92.7% (95% confidence interval: 89.3-95.1%) after busulfan-fludarabine-based conditioning and 94.7% (95% confidence interval: 91.7-96.6%) after treosulfan-fludarabine-based conditioning. There was a very low incidence of second HSCT overall. The main causes of death were infections, graft-versus-host disease, and rejection. In conclusion, use of busulfan or treosulfan as the backbone of myeloablative conditioning for patients with TDT undergoing HSCT resulted in comparably high cure rates. Long-term follow-up studies are warranted to address the important issues of organ toxicities and gonadal function.
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Sickle cell disease: an international survey of results of HLA-identical sibling hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Gluckman, E., Cappelli, B., Bernaudin, F., Labopin, M., Volt, F., Carreras, J., Pinto Simoes, B., Ferster, A., Dupont, S., de la Fuente, J., et al
Blood. 2017;129(11):1548-1556
Abstract
Despite advances in supportive therapy to prevent complications of sickle cell disease (SCD), access to care is not universal. Hematopoietic cell transplantation is, to date, the only curative therapy for SCD, but its application is limited by availability of a suitable HLA-matched donor and lack of awareness of the benefits of transplant. Included in this study are 1000 recipients of HLA-identical sibling transplants performed between 1986 and 2013 and reported to the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Eurocord, and the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research. The primary endpoint was event-free survival, defined as being alive without graft failure; risk factors were studied using a Cox regression models. The median age at transplantation was 9 years, and the median follow-up was longer than 5 years. Most patients received a myeloablative conditioning regimen (n = 873; 87%); the remainder received reduced-intensity conditioning regimens (n = 125; 13%). Bone marrow was the predominant stem cell source (n = 839; 84%); peripheral blood and cord blood progenitors were used in 73 (7%) and 88 (9%) patients, respectively. The 5-year event-free survival and overall survival were 91.4% (95% confidence interval, 89.6%-93.3%) and 92.9% (95% confidence interval, 91.1%-94.6%), respectively. Event-free survival was lower with increasing age at transplantation (hazard ratio [HR], 1.09; P < .001) and higher for transplantations performed after 2006 (HR, 0.95; P = .013). Twenty-three patients experienced graft failure, and 70 patients (7%) died, with the most common cause of death being infection. The excellent outcome of a cohort transplanted over the course of 3 decades confirms the role of HLA-identical sibling transplantation for children and adults with SCD.
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Hemopoietic stem cell transplantation in thalassemia: a report from the European Society for Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation Hemoglobinopathy Registry, 2000-2010
Baronciani, D., Angelucci, E., Potschger, U., Gaziev, J., Yesilipek, A., Zecca, M., Orofino, M. G., Giardini, C., Al-Ahmari, A., Marktel, S., et al
Bone Marrow Transplantation. 2016;51(4):536-41
Abstract
Allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only method currently available to cure transfusion-dependent thalassemia major that has been widely used worldwide. To verify transplantation distribution, demography, activity, policies and outcomes inside the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), we performed a retrospective non-interventional study, extracting data from the EBMT hemoglobinopathy prospective registry database. We included 1493 consecutive patients with thalassemia major transplanted between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2010. In total, 1359 (91%) transplants were performed on patients <18 years old, 1061 were from a human leukocyte Ag-identical sibling donor. After a median observation time of 2 years, the 2-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS; that is, thalassemia-free survival) were 88 +/- 1% and 81 +/- 1%, respectively. Transplantation from a human leukocyte Ag-identical sibling offered the best results, with OS and EFS of 91 +/- 1% and 83 +/- 1%, respectively. No significant differences in survival were reported between countries. The threshold age for optimal transplant outcomes was around 14 years, with an OS of 90-96% and an EFS of 83-93% when transplants were performed before this age. Allogeneic HSCT for thalassemia is a curative approach that is employed internationally and produces excellent results.
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7.
Indications and Results of HLA-Identical Sibling Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Sickle Cell Disease. [Review]
Walters, M. C., De Castro, L. M., Sullivan, K. M., Krishnamurti, L., Kamani, N., Bredeson, C., Neuberg, D., Hassell, K. L., Farnia, S., Campbell, A., et al
Biology of Blood & Marrow Transplantation. 2016;22(2):207-11
Abstract
Although a number of published trials exist of HLA-identical sibling hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for sickle cell disease (SCD) that span 2 decades, when and for whom this therapy should be pursued is a subject of debate. Assessments of the risks of transplant-related complications that include infertility and debilitating graft-versus-host disease and long-term quality of life after successful HCT are difficult to perform without prospective trials in transplant and nontransplant cohorts. However, it is possible to assess the risk of mortality and to compare published rates of survival in individuals with SCD treated and not treated by HCT. In this brief review, projections about mortality risk based on recent published reports are reviewed and summarized. The published data show overall survival and event-free survival rates of 95% and 92%, respectively, in children treated by HLA-identical sibling HCT. The overall survival rates in the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (N = 412) and European Blood and Marrow Transplant (N = 487) registries were 91% and 95%, respectively. These results provide broad support for the therapeutic value of HLA-identical sibling HCT for children with SCD and serve as the basis for a strong recommendation in favor of the option of HCT when a suitable donor is available. The experience of HLA-identical sibling HCT in adults with SCD is limited but appears to be similar to results in children. These preliminary observations, however, warrant further investigation. Copyright © 2016 American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.