-
1.
The role of anti-thymocyte globulin in allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from HLA-matched unrelated donors (MUD) for secondary AML in remission: a study from the ALWP /EBMT
Nagler, A., Labopin, M., Kröger, N., Schroeder, T., Gedde-Dahl, T., Eder, M., Franke, G. N., Blau, I. W., Salmenniemi, U., Socie, G., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2023
-
-
-
Full text
-
Editor's Choice
Abstract
We compared outcomes, of 1609 patients with secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) undergoing allogeneic transplantation (HSCT) in first complete remission (CR1) from matched unrelated donors (MUD) from 2010 to 2021, receiving or not receiving anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) (ATG-1308, no ATG-301). Median age was 60.9 (range, 18.5-77.8) and 61.1 (range, 21.8-75.7) years, (p = 0.3). Graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was cyclosporin-A with methotrexate (41%) or mycophenolate mofetil (38.2%), without significant differences between groups. Day 28, engraftment (ANC > 0.5 × 10(9)/L) was 92.3% vs 95.3% (p = 0.17), respectively. On multivariate analysis, ATG was associated with lower incidence of grade II-IV and grade III-IV acute GVHD (p = 0.002 and p = 0.015), total and extensive chronic GVHD (p = 0.008 and p < 0.0001), and relapse incidence (RI) (p = 0.039), while non-relapse mortality (NRM) did not differ (p = 0.51). Overall survival (OS), and GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) were significantly higher in the ATG vs no ATG group, HR = 0.76 (95% CI 0.61-0.95, p = 0.014) and HR = 0.68 (95% CI 0.57-0.8, p < 0.0001), with a tendency for better leukemia-free survival (LFS), HR = 0.82 (95% CI 0.67-1, p = 0.051). The main causes of death were the original disease, infection, and GVHD. In conclusion, ATG reduces GVHD and improves LFS, OS, and GRFS in sAML patients without increasing the RI, despite sAML being a high-risk disease.
PICO Summary
Population
Adults with secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) undergoing allogeneic HSCT) in first complete remission from matched unrelated donors and reported to the EBMT registry (n=1609)
Intervention
Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) included in GvHD prophylaxis (n=1308)
Comparison
No ATG included in GvHD prophylaxis (n=301)
Outcome
Day 28, engraftment (ANC > 0.5 × 10(9)/L) was 92.3% vs 95.3%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, ATG was associated with lower incidence of grade II-IV and grade III-IV acute GVHD, total and extensive chronic GVHD, and relapse incidence (RI), while non-relapse mortality (NRM) did not differ. Overall survival (OS), and GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) were significantly higher in the ATG vs no ATG group, HR = 0.76 (95% CI 0.61-0.95) and HR = 0.68 (95% CI 0.57-0.8), with a tendency for better leukemia-free survival (LFS), HR = 0.82 (95% CI 0.67-1). The main causes of death were the original disease, infection, and GVHD.
-
2.
ATG in HLA-matched, peripheral blood, hematopoietic cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome: a secondary analysis of a CIBMTR database
Arcuri, L. J., Kerbauy, M. N., Kerbauy, L. N., Santos, F. P. S., Ribeiro, A. A. F., Hamerschlak, N.
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2022
-
-
-
Free full text
-
Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) are the preferred grafts for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), according to the CIBMTR. Donor recovery is faster with PBSC harvest, but PBSC is associated with higher chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and poorer quality of life. Anti-T cell globulin (ATG) is polyclonal IgG from rabbits or horses immunized with human thymocytes or a human T-cell line which may reduce graft-versus-host disease in HCT and improve outcomes. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of ATG in HLA-matched Related (MRD) and matched (HLA 8/8) unrelated donor (MUD) HCT. STUDY DESIGN We used a freely available CIBMTR database published online for secondary analyses. The database included patients ≥ 40 y/o who have undergone their first PBSC MRD or MUD HCT for acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome with or without ATG between 2008 and 2017. Patients who received posttransplant cyclophosphamide or alemtuzumab were excluded. RESULTS Overall survival was not different with ATG (HR = 1.09, 95CI 1.00-1.19, p = 0.06) compared with no ATG. Relapse rate was higher with ATG (HR = 1.29, 95CI 1.17-1.43, p < 0.001) and NRM was lower with ATG (HR = 0.84, 95CI 0.72-0.98, p = 0.03). Grades II-IV acute GVHD was significantly lower with ATG (HR = 0.77, 95CI 0.69-0.87, p < 0.001) but not grades III-IV acute GVHD (HR = 0.85, 95CI 0.69-1.04, p = 0.11). Both chronic GVHD (HR = 0.54, 95CI 0.48-0.60, p < 0.001) and moderate/severe chronic GVHD (HR = 0.45, 95CI 0.38-0.52, p < 0.001) were lower with ATG. There was an interaction between ATG and conditioning regimen for relapse rate and overall survival. Relapse rate was higher in those who received reduced-intensity (RIC) or non-myeloablative (NMA) conditioning regimens and ATG, compared with MAC ± ATG or RIC without ATG (interaction test, p = 0.003). Overall survival was also poorer with ATG and RIC or NMA conditioning regimens (interaction test, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION Our results show that ATG can mitigate the more severe forms of chronic GVHD without impairing overall survival in HLA-matched HCT with PBSC grafts and myeloablative conditioning regimen. ATG should be standard in this population.
PICO Summary
Population
Adults over 40 years drawn from the CIBMTR database, undergoing first peripheral blood stem cell transplant from matched related donor or matched unrelated donor for acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome with or without ATG (n=4320)
Intervention
Received Anti-T cell globulin (ATG) prophylaxis (n=1007)
Comparison
Received no ATG prophylaxis (n=3313)
Outcome
Overall survival was not different with ATG (HR = 1.09, 95CI 1.00-1.19) compared with no ATG. Relapse rate was higher with ATG (HR = 1.29, 95CI 1.17-1.43) and non-relapse mortality was lower with ATG (HR = 0.84, 95CI 0.72-0.98). Grades II-IV acute GVHD was significantly lower with ATG (HR = 0.77, 95CI 0.69-0.87) but not grades III-IV acute GVHD (HR = 0.85, 95CI 0.69-1.04). Both chronic GVHD (HR = 0.54, 95CI 0.48-0.60) and moderate/severe chronic GVHD (HR = 0.45, 95CI 0.38-0.52) were lower with ATG. Relapse rate was higher in those who received reduced-intensity (RIC) or non-myeloablative (NMA) conditioning regimens and ATG, compared with myeloablative conditioning with or without ATG or RIC without ATG. Overall survival was also poorer with ATG and RIC or NMA conditioning regimens.
-
3.
Graft-Versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis with Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide versus Cyclosporine A and Methotrexate in Matched Sibling Donor Transplantation
Nagler, A., Labopin, M., Dholaria, B., Wu, D., Choi, G., Aljurf, M., Ciceri, F., Gedde-Dahl, T., Meijer, E., Niittyvuopio, R., et al
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2021
-
-
-
Free full text
-
Editor's Choice
Abstract
Cyclosporine A and methotrexate (CSA/MTX) is the standard graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis regimen for matched sibling donor (MSD) allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Recently, post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has been shown to be effective in GVHD prevention. In this registry-based study, we compared outcomes of 118 patients with PTCy and 1202 patients with CSA/MTX who underwent MSD allo-HCT for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In a matched-pair analysis, PTCy was associated with a higher incidence of relapse at 2-year (41.1% versus 21.3%, p=0.039) compared to CSA/MTX. The incidence of day 180 grade II-IV acute GVHD (25.2% versus 25.4%, p=0.90) and 2-year chronic GVHD (42.6% versus 42.6%, p=0.84) were comparable between PTCy and CSA/MTX, respectively. Similarly, 2-year leukemia-free survival (LFS, 54.4% versus 74.32%, p=0.052), overall survival (OS, 70.6% versus 79.7%, p=0.15) and GVHD-free-relapse-free survival (GRFS, 38.1% versus 52.5%, p=0.49) were not statistically different between PTCy versus CSA/MTX. In conclusion, GVHD prophylaxis with PTCy is feasible, resulting in similar incidences of GVHD, GRFS, LFS, and OS compared to conventional CSA/MTX in patients undergoing allo-HCT from MSD. The higher relapse observed with PTCy needs further evaluation in a prospective study.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients who underwent matched sibling donor (MSD) allogeneic transplant for acute myeloid leukemia, (AML) reported to the EBMT registry (n=1320)
Intervention
Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy, n=118)
Comparison
Cyclosporine A and methotrexate (CSA/MTX, n=1202)
Outcome
In a matched-pair analysis, PTCy was associated with a higher incidence of relapse at 2-year (41.1% versus 21.3%) compared to CSA/MTX. The incidence of day 180 grade II-IV acute GVHD (25.2% versus 25.4%) and 2-year chronic GVHD (42.6% versus 42.6%) were comparable between PTCy and CSA/MTX, respectively. Similarly, 2-year leukemia-free survival (LFS, 54.4% versus 74.32%), overall survival (OS, 70.6% versus 79.7%) and GVHD-free-relapse-free survival (GRFS, 38.1% versus 52.5%) were not statistically different between PTCy versus CSA/MTX. In conclusion, GVHD prophylaxis with PTCy is feasible, resulting in similar incidences of GVHD, GRFS, LFS, and OS compared to conventional CSA/MTX in patients undergoing allo-HCT from MSD. The higher relapse observed with PTCy needs further evaluation in a prospective study.
-
4.
Comparison of mycophenolate mofetil and calcineurin inhibitor versus calcineurin inhibitor-based graft-versus-host-disease prophylaxis for matched unrelated donor transplant in acute myeloid leukemia. A study from the ALWP of the EBMT
Paviglianiti, A., Labopin, M., Blaise, D., Socié, G., Bulabois, C. E., Lioure, B., Ceballos, P., Blau, I. W., Guillerm, G., Maertens, J., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2020
-
-
-
Free full text
-
Full text
-
Editor's Choice
Abstract
The association of Cyclosporine A (CsA) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has increased in the setting of reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). Nevertheless, the use of CsA or CsA+MMF has not been reported in a large and uniform cohort. We analyzed 497 patients with acute myeloid leukemia in complete remission (CR) who underwent matched unrelated donor (MUD) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). All patients received a fludarabine busulfan RIC regimen and anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) with either CsA alone or in combination with MMF. The cumulative incidence (CI) of grade II-IV acute GvHD was 27% (95% CI 21-33%) for CsA and 33% (95% CI 27-38%) for CsA+MMF (p?=?0.25). The 2-year CI of chronic GvHD was 38% (95% CI 31-45%) and 33% (95% CI 28-39%) for the CsA and the CsA+MMF group, respectively (p?=?0.26). On multivariate analysis, no statistically significant differences with respect to relapse incidence (RI), non-relapse mortality (NRM), leukemia-free survival (LFS), overall survival (OS), acute and chronic GvHD were found between the two groups, also when conducting a subgroup analysis in peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) recipients. Our results support the importance of randomized trial to identify patients who could benefit from the addition of MMF in MUD HSCT.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients who underwent a 10/10 MUD HSCT for acute myeloid leukaemia (n=497)
Intervention
Cyclosporine A and mycophenolate mofetil (CsA + MMF, n=314)
Comparison
Cyclosporine A alone (CsA, n=183)
Outcome
The cumulative incidence (CI) of grade II-IV acute GvHD was 27% for CsA and 33% for CsA+MMF. The 2-year CI of chronic GvHD was 38% and 33% for the CsA and the CsA+MMF group, respectively. On multivariate analysis, no statistically significant differences with respect to relapse incidence (RI), non-relapse mortality (NRM), leukemia-free survival (LFS), overall survival (OS), acute and chronic GvHD were found between the two groups, also when conducting a subgroup analysis in peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) recipients.
-
5.
Post-transplant cyclophosphamide versus antithymocyte globulin in patients with acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation from 10/10 HLA-matched unrelated donors
Brissot, E., Labopin, M., Moiseev, I., Cornelissen, J. J., Meijer, E., Van Gorkom, G., Rovira, M., Ciceri, F., Griskevicius, L., Blaise, D., et al
Journal of hematology & oncology. 2020;13(1):87
-
-
-
Free full text
-
Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major contributor to mortality and morbidity after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The updated recommendations suggest that rabbit antithymocyte globulin or anti-T-lymphocyte globulin (ATG) should be used for GVHD prophylaxis in patients undergoing matched-unrelated donor (MUD) allo-HSCT. More recently, using post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCY) in the haploidentical setting has resulted in low incidences of both acute (aGVHD) and chronic GVHD (cGVHD). Therefore, the aim of our study was to compare GVHD prophylaxis using either PTCY or ATG in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who underwent allo-HSCT in first remission (CR1) from a 10/10 HLA-MUD. METHODS Overall, 174 and 1452 patients from the EBMT registry receiving PTCY and ATG were included. Cumulative incidence of aGVHD and cGVHD, leukemia-free survival, overall survival, non-relapse mortality, cumulative incidence of relapse, and refined GVHD-free, relapse-free survival were compared between the 2 groups. Propensity score matching was also performed in order to confirm the results of the main analysis RESULTS No statistical difference between the PTCY and ATG groups was observed for the incidence of grade II-IV aGVHD. The same held true for the incidence of cGVHD and for extensive cGVHD. In univariate and multivariate analyses, no statistical differences were observed for all other transplant outcomes. These results were also confirmed using matched-pair analysis. CONCLUSION These results highlight that, in the10/10 HLA-MUD setting, the use of PTCY for GVHD prophylaxis may provide similar outcomes to those obtained with ATG in patients with AML in CR1.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients from the EBMT registry underoing 10/10 matched unrelated stem cell transplantation for AML (n=1626)
Intervention
Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCY, n=174)
Comparison
Antithymocyte globulin (ATG, n=1452)
Outcome
No statistical difference between the PTCY and ATG groups was observed for the incidence of grade II-IV aGVHD. The same held true for the incidence of cGVHD and for extensive cGVHD. In univariate and multivariate analyses, no statistical differences were observed for all other transplant outcomes.
-
6.
Acute GVHD prophylaxis plus ATLG after myeloablative allogeneic haemopoietic peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation from HLA-identical siblings in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia in remission: final results of quality of life and long-term outcome analysis of a phase 3 randomised study
Bonifazi, F., Solano, C., Wolschke, C., Sessa, M., Patriarca, F., Zallio, F., Nagler, A., Selleri, C., Risitano, A. M., Messina, G., et al
The Lancet. Haematology. 2019;6(2):e89-e99
-
-
-
Free full text
-
Full text
-
Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously showed that human anti-T-lymphocyte globulin (ATLG) plus ciclosporin and methotrexate given to patients with acute leukaemia in remission, having allogeneic haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation with peripheral blood stem cells from an HLA-identical sibling donor after myeloablative conditioning, significantly reduced 2-year chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) incidence and severity, without increasing disease relapse and infections, and improves cGVHD-free and relapse-free survival (cGRFS). The aim of an extended follow-up study was the assessment of long-term outcomes, which are, in this context, scarcely reported in the literature. We report unpublished data on quality of life (QoL) from the original study and the results of a follow-up extension. METHODS In the original open-label study, patients with acute myeloid and lymphoblastic leukaemia in first or subsequent remission, having sibling HLA-identical allogeneic peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation, were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive ATLG plus standard GVHD prophylaxis with ciclosporin and short-term methotrexate (ATLG group) or standard GVHD prophylaxis without ATLG (non-ATLG group). Conditioning regimens were cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg with either total body irradiation (12 Gy) or busulfan (12.8 mg/kg intravenously or 16 mg/kg orally), with or without etoposide (30-60 mg/kg). Randomisation was stratified according to centre and disease risk. The primary endpoint was cumulative incidence of cGVHD at 2 years. The primary and secondary endpoints, excluding QoL, have been published. QoL, assessed using European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HDC29 questionnaires, was an unpublished secondary endpoint, which we now report here. A follow-up extension was then done, with the primary endpoint cumulative incidence of cGVHD. Enrolment has been completed for both studies. The original trial (number, NCT00678275) and follow-up extension (number, NCT03042676) are registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. FINDINGS In the original study, from Dec 14, 2006, to Feb 2, 2012, 161 patients were enrolled and 155 were randomly assigned to either the ATLG group (n=83) or to the non-ATLG group (n=72). In the follow-up study, which started on Feb 7, 2017, and was completed on June 30, 2017, 61 patients were included in the ATLG group and 53 were included in the non-ATLG group. Global health status showed a more favourable time course in the ATLG group compared with the non-ATLG group (p=0.02; treatment by visit interaction). ATLG was descriptively superior to non-ATLG at 24 months for physical function (points estimate -14.8 [95% CI -26.4 to -3.1]; p=0.014) and social function (-19.1 [-38.0 to -0.2]; p=0.047), gastrointestinal side-effects (8.8 [2.5-15.1]; p=0.008) and effect on family (13.5 [1.2-25.8]; p=0.032). Extended follow-up (median 5.9 years [IQR 1.7-7.9]) confirmed a lower 5-year cGVHD incidence (30.0% [95% CI 21.4-41.9] vs 69.1% [59.1-80.1]; analysis for entire follow-up, p<0.001), no increase in relapses (35.4% [26.4-47.5] vs 22.5% [14.6-34.7]; p=0.09), improved cGRFS (34.3% [24.2-44.5] vs 13.9% [7.1-22.9]; p=0.005), and fewer patients still in immunosuppression (9.6% vs 28.3%; p=0.017) in the ATLG group compared with the non-ATLG group. 5-year overall survival, relapse-free survival, and non-relapse mortality did not differ significantly between groups. INTERPRETATION The addition of ATLG to standard GVHD prophylaxis improves the probability of surviving without disease relapse and cGVHD after myeloablative peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation from an HLA-identical sibling donor for patients with acute leukaemia in remission. Further additional benefits are better QoL and shorter immunosuppressive treatment compared with standard GVHD prophylaxis without ATLG. Therefore, in this setting, ATLG plus standard GVHD prophylaxis should be preferred over the standard GVHD prophylaxis alone. FUNDING Neovii Biotech.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients with acute myeloid and lymphoblastic leukaemia in first or subsequent remission, undergoing sibling HLA-identical allogeneic peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation.
Intervention
ATLG plus standard GVHD prophylaxis with ciclosporin and short-term methotrexate (ATLG Group, n=83)
Comparison
Standard GVHD prophylaxis without ATLG (non-ATLG group, n=72)
Outcome
Global health status showed a more favourable time course in the ATLG group compared with the non-ATLG group. ATLG was descriptively superior to non-ATLG at 24 months for physical function and social function, gastrointestinal side-effects and effect on. Extended follow-up confirmed a lower 5-year cGVHD incidence , no increase in relapses, improved cGRFS, and fewer patients still in immunosuppression in the ATLG group compared with the non-ATLG group. 5-year overall survival, relapse-free survival, and non-relapse mortality did not differ significantly between groups.