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1.
Individualized rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin dosing in adult haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation with high-risk hematologic malignancy: Exposure-response analysis and population pharmacokinetics simulations
Teramoto, M., Takahashi, T., Matsumoto, K., Jaber, M., Kaida, K., Tamaki, H., Ikegame, K., Yoshihara, S.
American journal of hematology. 2024
Abstract
Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for hematologic malignancies with non-remission disease and/or prior post-transplant relapse have poor relapse-free survival. We previously demonstrated the efficacy of haploidentical reduced-intensity HCT regimen with glucocorticoid-based graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. We recently showed a possible association between rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) exposure and acute GVHD (aGVHD) risk, leading to hypothesize that optimization of rATG exposure may further improve this regimen. We retrospectively examined the exposure-response association of rATG and key clinical outcomes post haploidentical HCT. We subsequently developed an individualized rATG dosing that optimizes rATG exposure using a previously developed population pharmacokinetic model. Of the 103 patients analyzed, the median age was 47 years (range: 17-70) and majority had a non-remission disease prior to HCT (88%). rATG concentration on day 0 of HCT (C(day_0) ) was the strongest predictor of Grade 2-4 aGVHD through day +100. Patients with C(day_0) ≥ 20 μg/mL had an approximately 3-fold lower risk of Grade 2-4 aGVHD (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16, 0.62) and Grade 3-4 aGVHD (HR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.68) as well as an approximately 2-fold lower risk of overall mortality (HR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.77) and relapse (HR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.26, 0.94). In conclusion, this reduced-intensity haploidentical HCT regimen with exposure-optimized rATG may provide a promising option to patients undergoing high-risk HCT for hematologic malignancy. The developed rATG dosing warrant prospective validation.
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2.
Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation using HLA-haploidentical donor with post-transplant cyclophosphamide versus HLA-matched sibling donor for lymphoma
Nakaya, Y., Nakamae, H., Nishikubo, M., Kondo, E., Fukuda, T., Hiramoto, N., Mori, Y., Nagafuji, K., Eto, T., Onishi, Y., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2024
Abstract
Data comparing HLA-haploidentical donors and HLA-matched sibling donors (MSDs) in peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) for lymphoma are scarce. We retrospectively analyzed 465 patients with lymphoma aged 16 years or older who underwent PBSCT using haploidentical donors with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy-haplo) (n = 166) or MSDs with calcineurin inhibitor-based graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis (n = 299). Two-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) in the PTCy-haplo and MSD groups were 49.2% versus 51.9% (P = 0.64), 38.0% versus 39.9% (P = 0.97), and 27.7% versus 18.5% (P = 0.006), respectively. In multivariable analyses, PTCy-haplo recipients had slower neutrophil recovery (hazard ratio [HR], 0.62; P < 0.001) and platelet recovery (HR, 0.54; P < 0.001), lower risk of chronic GVHD (HR, 0.64; P = 0.038) and extensive chronic GVHD (HR, 0.45; P = 0.008), and better GRFS (HR, 0.66; P = 0.003) than MSD transplant recipients. OS, PFS, relapse or progression, and non-relapse mortality were similar between the groups. The difference might be mainly due to PTCy use rather than donor type; however, the results suggested that PTCy-haplo could be a possible option as an alternative to conventional MSD transplantation for lymphoma in PBSCT.
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3.
Post-transplant cyclophosphamide-based graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis in HLA-matched and haploidentical donor transplants for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma: a comparative study of the LWP EBMT.: GVHD prophylaxis for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma
Montoro, J., Boumendil, A., Finel, H., Bramanti, S., Castagna, L., Blaise, D., Dominietto, A., Kulagin, A., Yakoub-Agha, I., Tbakhi, A., et al
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2023
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has emerged as a promising approach for preventing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). However, there is a lack of studies examining the impact of this GVHD prophylaxis when different donor types are used in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). OBJECTIVE To compare the outcomes of patients with HL undergoing HSCT from both HLA-matched donors, which include matched sibling donors (MSD) and matched unrelated donors (MUD), and haploidentical donors, using PTCy as GVHD prophylaxis approach in all cohorts. STUDY DESIGN We retrospectively compared transplant outcomes of allo-HSCT from 166 HLA-matched donors (96 siblings and 70 unrelated) and 694 haploidentical donors using PTCy-based GVHD prophylaxis in patients with HL registered in the EBMT database from 2010 to 2020. RESULTS Haploidentical transplantation showed significantly lower platelet engraftment (86% vs 94%, p<0.001) and higher rates of grades II-IV acute GVHD (24% vs 34%, p=0.01) compared to HLA-matched transplantation. The 2-year cumulative incidence of non-relapse mortality (NRM) was significantly lower in the HLA-matched cohort compared to haploidentical cohort (10% vs 18%, p=0.02), resulting in a higher overall survival (OS) rate (82% vs 70%, p=0.002). There were no significant differences observed in terms of relapse, progression-free survival, or GVHD-free relapse-free survival between the groups. In multivariable analysis, haploidentical transplantation was associated with an increased risk of grades II-IV acute GVHD, NRM, and worse OS compared to HLA-matched transplantation. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that, in the context of PTCy-based GVHD prophylaxis, transplantation from HLA-matched donors appears to be a more favorable option compared to haploidentical transplantation.
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4.
GVHD occurrence does not reduce AML relapse following PTCy-based haploidentical transplantation: a study from the ALWP of the EBMT
Baron, F., Labopin, M., Tischer, J., Raiola, A. M., Vydra, J., Blaise, D., Chiusolo, P., Stölzel, F., Fanin, R., Chevallier, P., et al
Journal of hematology & oncology. 2023;16(1):10
Abstract
The association between graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurrence and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) relapse in patients treated with HLA-haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Haplo-HCT) with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy)-based GVHD prophylaxis has remained debated. Here, we addressed this issue in patients with active AML at transplantation. 2-year cumulative incidences of relapse and leukemia-free survival (LFS) were 49% and 32.3%, respectively. There were no associations between acute nor chronic GVHD of any grade and lower relapse incidence. However, grade I acute GVHD was associated with better LFS (HR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.51-0.99, P = 0.04). In contrast, grade III-IV acute (HR = 3.09, 95% CI 1.87-5.12, P < 0.0001) as well as extensive chronic (HR = 3.3, 95% CI 1.81-6.04, P = 0.0001) GVHD correlated with higher nonrelapse mortality leading to lower LFS (HR = 1.36, 95% CI 0.99-1.86, P = 0.056 and HR = 1.97, 95% CI 1.35-2.89, P = 0.0004, respectively). In conclusion, these data suggest a dissociation of graft-versus-leukemia effects from GVHD in patients with active AML treated with PTCy-based Haplo-HCT.
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5.
Reduced post-transplant cyclophosphamide doses in haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation for elderly patients with hematological malignancies
Duléry, R., Goudet, C., Mannina, D., Bianchessi, A., Granata, A., Harbi, S., Maisano, V., Chabannon, C., Malard, F., Brissot, E., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2022
Abstract
Although post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) is effective for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis, it is associated with toxicities, which might be dose-dependent. We compared the outcomes with PT-Cy at 80 mg/kg to those with PT-Cy at 100 mg/kg in elderly patients undergoing haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Inclusion criteria included peripheral blood stem cells, hematological malignancy, and age>65 years (or age>60 years if cardiac event history). Thirty-eight patients received PT-Cy at 80 mg/kg and 55 100 mg/kg, divided in two doses. The cumulative incidences (CI) of acute grade II-IV, acute grade III-IV, and moderate/severe chronic GVHD were 32%, 16%, and 13% with PT-Cy at 80 mg/kg compared to 33%, 13%, and 16% with 100 mg/kg, respectively. In multivariable analysis, reducing PT-Cy dose had no significant impact on GVHD. Neutrophil and platelet engraftments were significantly improved, and CI of BK virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis was reduced with 80 mg/kg of PT-Cy compared to 100 mg/kg. At 2 years, non-relapse mortality was 16% and 31%, progression-free survival 65% and 49%, overall survival 70% and 56%, and GVHD-free, relapse-free survival 52% and 36% with 80 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, respectively. Reducing PT-Cy dose to 80 mg/kg is safe and associated with improved hematological recovery and lower CI of hemorrhagic cystitis in elderly patients undergoing haploidentical HCT.
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6.
Antithymocyte globulin plus post-transplant cyclophosphamide combination as graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis in haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for hematological malignancies
Chen, T. T., Lin, C. C., Lo, W. J., Hsieh, C. Y., Lien, M. Y., Lin, C. H., Lin, C. Y., Bai, L. Y., Chiu, C. F., Yeh, S. P.
International journal of hematology. 2022
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) and calcineurin inhibitors used in peripheral blood haplo-identical stem cell transplantation (haploSCT) increase the risk of acute/chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Whether ATG/PT-Cy is feasible for Asian patients undergoing haploSCT is unclear, and an optimal strategy for GVHD prophylaxis is needed. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 61 hematologic malignancy patients who underwent peripheral blood haploSCT using ATG/PT-Cy from January 2013 to December 2018. We also compared the effects of ATG/PT-Cy (ATG group; n = 61) with historical data from patients who underwent haploSCT using sirolimus/PT-Cy (non-ATG group; n = 22). RESULTS Cumulative incidences of grades II-IV acute GVHD and moderate to severe chronic GVHD did not differ significantly. The ATG group had higher incidence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation, but neither group had post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders. The ATG group also had a higher OS rate (2-year OS in ATG group vs. non-ATG group: 43.4% vs. 27.3%, respectively; P = 0.071). CONCLUSION ATG/PT-Cy is an acceptable strategy for GVHD prophylaxis in Asian patients undergoing haploSCT.
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7.
Impact of the Addition of Antithymocyte Globulin to Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide in Haploidentical Transplantation with Peripheral Blood Compared to Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide Alone in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia: A Retrospective Study on Behalf of the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Battipaglia, G., Labopin, M., Blaise, D., Diez-Martin, J. L., Bazarbachi, A., Vitek, A., Chevallier, P., Castagna, L., Grillo, G., Daguindau, E., et al
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2022;28(9):587.e1-587.e7
Abstract
The use of haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (haplo-HCT) with peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) to treat acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is increasing. We explored whether the addition of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) to post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) allows better outcomes compared with PTCy alone in haplo-HCT with PBSCs (haplo-PBSCT). We included 441 adult patients undergoing a first haplo-PBSCT for AML in first or second complete remission; graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis contained either PTCy alone (n = 374) or ATG plus PTCy (n = 67), in addition to cyclosporine A (CsA) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as other immunosuppressive agents. All transplantations were performed between 2011 and 2019. No major imbalances were observed between the 2 groups. For both groups, the median patient age was 56 years, and the median year of haplo-PBSCT was 2017. Most patients received a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen (57% in the PTCy group and 61% in the ATG+PTCy group; P = .54). The median follow-up was 19 months in the PTCy group versus 15 months in the ATG+PTCy group (P = .59), and the rate of neutrophil engraftment in the 2 groups was 97% and 98%, respectively. In univariate analysis, there were no statistical differences in transplantation outcomes between the 2 groups. In multivariate analysis, ATG+PTCy was associated with a lower risk of chronic GVHD compared with PTCy alone (hazard ratio, .46; 95% confidence interval, .23 to .93; P = .03). No between-group differences in the other transplantation outcomes were seen. In haplo-PBSCT, the addition of ATG to PTCy (with CsA and MMF) is feasible and better at preventing chronic GVHD and is associated with survival and transplantation outcomes comparable to those with PTCy alone, without increasing transplantation toxicity, mortality, or relapse incidence.
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8.
Post-transplant cyclophosphamide after HLA identical compared to Haploidentical donor transplant in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: a study on behalf of GETH-TC
Bailén, R., Pascual-Cascón, M. J., Guerreiro, M., López-Corral, L., Chinea, A., Bermúdez, A., Sampol, A., Heras, I., García-Torres, E., Torres, M., et al
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2022
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCY) effectively prevents graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after unmanipulated HLA-haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and achieves low rates of GVHD in HLA identical transplantation. OBJECTIVE To compare the outcomes of haploidentical versus HLA identical HSCT in patients undergoing HSCT for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) using PTCY. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a retrospective study of 229 patients undergoing first HSCT for AML using PTCY with additional immunosuppression, 99 from matched sibling or unrelated donor (MSD/MUD) performed in 3 hospitals and 130 from haploidentical donors (haplo group) performed in 20 hospitals within the Spanish Group of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (GETH-TC). RESULTS Peripheral blood stem cells were used as graft in 89% of patients; myeloablative conditioning was used in 56%. There were significantly more patients with active disease (5% vs. 20%, p = 0.001), high/very high DRI (32% vs. 67%, p = 0.000) and prior auto-HSCT (2% vs. 11%, p = 0.010) in the haplo group. Median follow-up was 27 and 62.5 months for MSD/MUD and haplo, respectively. At 2 years, no significant differences were observed in overall survival (OS) (72% vs. 62%, p = 0.07), event-free survival (EFS) (70% vs. 54%, p = 0.055), cumulative incidence of relapse (19% vs. 25%, p = 0.13), non-relapse mortality (14% vs. 19%, p = 0.145) and the composite endpoint of GVHD and relapse-free survival (GRFS) (49% vs. 42%, p = 0.249). Multivariate analysis identified only age and active disease as significant risk factors for OS and EFS; reduced intensity conditioning, high/very high DRI and haplo donor were nearly statistically significant for these outcomes. Grade II-IV acute GVHD was lower in MSD/MUD (14% vs. 47%, p = 0.000). Cumulative incidences of grade III-IV acute GVHD (4% vs. 9%, p = 0.14) and moderate-severe chronic GVHD (22% vs. 19%, p = 0.28) were similar. Limitations of our study include limited sample size, differences between haplo and MSD/MUD groups and heterogeneous additional immunosuppression and PTCY timing in MSD/MUD. CONCLUSIONS The use of a HLA identical donor with PTCY in patients with AML showed lower incidence of clinically significant grade II-IV acute GVHD compared to haplo donors. Further studies with larger sample size should be performed to establish a possible benefit of HLA identical donor on survival.
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9.
Modified combination of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) as compared with standard ATG protocol in haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for acute leukemia
Barkhordar, M., Kasaeian, A., Janbabai, G., Kamranzadeh Fumani, H., Tavakoli, S., Rashidi, A. A., Mousavi, S. A., Ghavamzadeh, A., Vaezi, M.
Frontiers in immunology. 2022;13:921293
Abstract
In haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (haplo-PBSCT), the combination of anti-thymocyte globulin and post-transplant cyclophosphamide (ATG/PTCy) has a synergistic impact in preventing graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). However, little is known about the long-term consequences of the new combination approach. Our goal is to evaluate the efficacy of ATG/PTCy versus a standard ATG regimen by focusing at long-term outcomes in a more homogeneous group of patients. We retrospectively included 118 adult patients up to 60 years with acute leukemia who underwent haplo-PBSCT at our single institution, following the same myeloablative conditioning regimen. From 2010 to 2020, 78 patients received a modified combination of ATG (2.5 mg/kg/day, on days -3, -2, and -1) and PTCy (40 mg/kg/day on days +3 and +4) compared to 40 patients who had a standard ATG-based regimen (2.5 mg/kg/day from days -4 to -1) from 2008 to 2015. The median follow-up time for all patients was 5.36 years, respectively. The cumulative incidence (CI) of neutrophil and platelet engraftment, as well as CMV reactivation, did not differ statistically between the two groups. The CI of the acute GvHD of grades II-IV and III-IV and extensive chronic GvHD were considerably lower in the ATG/PTCy (34.6%, 8.97%, and 13.63%) than in the ATG cohort (57.5%, 30%, and 38.23%) as validated by multivariable modeling. Additionally, compared to the ATG arm, the ATG/PTCy was a hazard factor associated with a higher risk of relapse (HR = 2.23, p = 0.039). The probability of 5-year overall survival, disease-free survival, and GvHD-free relapse-free survival in the ATG/PTCy group (53.34%, 49.77%, and 36.04%) was comparable with the ATG group (47.5%, 42.5%, and 22.5%), respectively. Our finding suggested that a modified ATG/PTCy combination resulted in a lower risk of acute and chronic GvHD and a higher risk of relapse than the standard ATG-based protocol but had no effect on long-term outcomes. However, certain adjustments in the immunosuppression protocol are warranted to improve the outcome.
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10.
Outcomes of haploidentical peripheral stem cell transplantation with combination of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) and anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) compared to unrelated donor transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia: A retrospective 10-year experience
Barkhordar, M., Kasaeian, A., Janbabai, G., Mousavi, S. A., Fumani, H. K., Tavakoli, S., Bahri, T., Ghavamzadeh, A., Vaezi, M.
Leukemia research. 2022;120:106918
Abstract
In the evolution of haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT), In vivo T-cell modulation with concomitant use of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and high-dose post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) provides a novel promising method on transplant outcomes; however, the long-term effects of this therapy are mostly unknown. We retrospectively compared the long-term outcomes of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients undergoing a haplo-HSCT (n = 92) with a new modified combination of ATG and PTCy in the context of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) and myeloablative conditioning (MAC) with an otherwise similar group of AML patients who received an unrelated donor (URD) HSCT (n = 57) with ATG protocol from February 2010 to December 2020 at our single-center (HORCSCT). Median follow-up was 3.73 and 4.28 years for haploidentical and URD-HSCT, respectively. In haplo-HSCT, the cumulative incidence of grades II-IV and III-IV acute graft versus host disease (aGvHD) and extensive chronic GvHD (cGvHD) was much lower than in URD (27% versus 56% for grades II-IV, 8.7% versus 24.5% for grades III-IV, and 15.4% versus 34.7% for extensive cGvHD, respectively). Five-year overall survival (OS) was 54.03% for haplo and 54.48% for URD (p = 0.927); GvHD-free relapse-free survival (GRFS) was 44.1% and 29.86% (p = 0.149); relapse incidence was 15.79% and 26.95% (p = 0.72); and non-relapse mortality (NRM) was 29.48% and 26.32% (p = 0.73), respectively. Using multivariable analyses, when compared to Haplo, URD was a significant predictor of relapse (HR=1.80, p = 0.039); however, no difference in OS, GRFS, and NRM was noted between haplo and URD. Therefore, given the favorable results with haplo-HSCT and considering donor availability promptly with low cost, it conservatively suggested that haplo-HSCT with the introduced protocol could be viewed as the first alternative for patients with AML in the absence of matched sibling donors.