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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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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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Defibrotide plus best standard of care compared with best standard of care alone for the prevention of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HARMONY): a randomised, multicentre, phase 3 trial
Grupp, S. A., Corbacioglu, S., Kang, H. J., Teshima, T., Khaw, S. L., Locatelli, F., Maertens, J., Stelljes, M., Stepensky, P., Lopez, P., et al
The Lancet. Haematology. 2023
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, also known as veno-occlusive disease, is a potentially life-threatening complication of haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). We aimed to compare defibrotide prophylaxis plus best supportive care versus best supportive care alone for sinusoidal obstruction syndrome prevention after HSCT. METHODS This open-label, randomised, multicentre, phase 3 trial was done in 104 centres in 14 countries. Patients who were at least 1 month old, were scheduled to receive allogeneic HSCT (adult [aged >16 years] or paediatric [aged >1 month to ≤16 years] patients) or autologous HSCT (paediatric patients only), and were at high risk or very high risk of developing sinusoidal obstruction syndrome were eligible for inclusion. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) by an interactive web response system to receive intravenous defibrotide 25 mg/kg per day (four equal doses [6·25 mg/kg per dose]) and best supportive care (determined by individual institutional guidelines; defibrotide prophylaxis group) or best supportive care only (best supportive care group). Randomisation was stratified by sinusoidal obstruction syndrome risk, age, and country. The primary endpoint, sinusoidal obstruction syndrome-free survival at day 30 after HSCT, was assessed by an independent Endpoint Adjudication Committee in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. Safety was assessed in all patients who received protocol treatment. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02851407. FINDINGS Between Jan 11, 2017, and Oct 20, 2020, 372 patients (172 [46%] women and 200 [54%] men; median age 14·0 years [IQR 4·0-41·0] were randomly assigned to the defibrotide prophylaxis group (n=190) or best supportive care group (n=182; ITT population). On the basis of recommendations from the Independent Data Monitoring Committee following completion of the planned interim analysis in the first 280 recruited patients on April 29, 2020, enrolment was prematurely stopped for presumed futility. At the final analysis, sinusoidal obstruction syndrome-free survival by day 30 after HSCT was 67% (95% CI 58-74) in the defibrotide prophylaxis group and 73% (62-80) in the best supportive care group (HR 1·27 [95% CI 0·84-1·93]; p=0·85). Treatment-emergent adverse events were similar between groups during the randomised prophylaxis phase; most treatment-emergent adverse events were related to the transplantation rather than to study drug. The most common grade 3 or 4 treatment-emergent adverse events were stomatitis (grade 3, 52 [29%] of 181 patients in the defibrotide prophylaxis group and 56 [32%] of 174 patients in the best supportive care group; grade 4, two [1%] in the defibrotide prophylaxis group and two [1%] in the best supportive care group) and febrile neutropaenia (grade 3, 51 [28%] in the defibrotide prophylaxis group and 52 [30%] in the best supportive care group; grade 4, no patients in the defibrotide prophylaxis group and three [2%] in the best supportive care group). Serious treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 74 (41%) of 181 patients in the defibrotide prophylaxis group and 61 (35%) of 174 patients in the best supportive care group. In the rescue phase, when patients in both treatment groups received defibrotide as rescue treatment, fatal treatment-related adverse events occurred in one (4%) of 25 patients in the defibrotide prophylaxis group (intracranial haemorrhage) and one (3%) of 31 patients in the best supportive care group (sinusoidal obstruction syndrome). INTERPRETATION Defibrotide did not show a benefit in the prophylaxis of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome. Additional studies of carefully selected patients at high risk of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after HSCT are warranted. FUNDING Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
PICO Summary
Population
Adults and children at least one month old who were scheduled to receive allogeneic transplant or children 1 month – 16 years scheduled to receive autologous transplant, and at high or very high risk of developing sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (n=372)
Intervention
Defibrotide prophylaxis plus best supportive care (n=190)
Comparison
Best supportive care alone (n=182)
Outcome
On the basis of recommendations from the Independent Data Monitoring Committee following completion of the planned interim analysis in the first 280 recruited patients on April 29, 2020, enrolment was prematurely stopped for presumed futility. At the final analysis, sinusoidal obstruction syndrome-free survival by day 30 after HSCT was 67% (95% CI 58-74) in the defibrotide prophylaxis group and 73% (62-80) in the best supportive care group (HR 1·27 [95% CI 0·84-1·93]; p=0·85). Treatment-emergent adverse events were similar between groups during the randomised prophylaxis phase; most treatment-emergent adverse events were related to the transplantation rather than to study drug. Serious treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 74 (41%) of 181 patients in the defibrotide prophylaxis group and 61 (35%) of 174 patients in the best supportive care group. In the rescue phase, when patients in both treatment groups received defibrotide as rescue treatment, fatal treatment-related adverse events occurred in one (4%) of 25 patients in the defibrotide prophylaxis group (intracranial haemorrhage) and one (3%) of 31 patients in the best supportive care group (sinusoidal obstruction syndrome).
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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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Indications for haematopoietic cell transplantation for haematological diseases, solid tumours and immune disorders: current practice in Europe, 2022
Snowden, J. A., Sánchez-Ortega, I., Corbacioglu, S., Basak, G. W., Chabannon, C., de la Camara, R., Dolstra, H., Duarte, R. F., Glass, B., Greco, R., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2022;:1-23
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
For over two decades, the EBMT has updated recommendations on indications for haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) practice based on clinical and scientific developments in the field. This is the eighth special EBMT report on the indications for HCT for haematological diseases, solid tumours and immune disorders. Our aim is to provide general guidance on HCT indications according to prevailing clinical practice in EBMT countries and centres. In order to inform patient decisions, these recommendations must be considered in conjunction with the risk of the disease, risk of HCT procedure and non-transplant strategies, including evolving cellular therapies. HCT techniques are constantly evolving and we make no specific recommendations, but encourage harmonisation of practice, where possible, to ensure experience across indications can be meaningfully aggregated via registry outputs. We also recommend working according to JACIE accreditation standards to maintain quality in clinical and laboratory components of practice, including benchmarking of survival outcomes. Since the last edition, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected clinical decision making and activity across indications. Although the full impact of the pandemic is yet to be determined, we recommend that decision making across indications is delivered with ongoing reference to EBMT and national COVID-19 guidance, in accordance with current local conditions.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients with haematological diseases, solid tumours and immune disorders
Intervention
Updated recommendations on indications for haematopoietic cell transplantation, according to prevailing clinical practice in EBMT countries and centres
Comparison
None
Outcome
Although the full impact of the pandemic is yet to be determined, we recommend that decision making across indications is delivered with ongoing reference to EBMT and national COVID-19 guidance, in accordance with current local conditions.
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Development and validation of a disease risk stratification system for patients with haematological malignancies: a retrospective cohort study of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry
Shouval, R., Fein, J. A., Labopin, M., Cho, C., Bazarbachi, A., Baron, F., Bug, G., Ciceri, F., Corbacioglu, S., Galimard, J. E., et al
The Lancet. Haematology. 2021;8(3):e205-e215
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diagnosis and remission status at the time of allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) are the principal determinants of overall survival following transplantation. We sought to develop a contemporary disease-risk stratification system (DRSS) that accounts for heterogeneous transplantation indications. METHODS In this retrospective cohort study we included 55 histology and remission status combinations across haematological malignancies, including acute leukaemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic disorders. A total of 47?265 adult patients (aged =18 years) who received an allogeneic HSCT between Jan 1, 2012, and Dec 31, 2016, and were reported to the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry were included. We divided EBMT patients into derivation (n=25?534), tuning (n=18?365), and geographical validation (n=3366) cohorts. Disease combinations were ranked in a multivariable Cox regression for overall survival in the derivation cohort, cutoff for risk groups were evaluated for the tuning cohort, and the selected system was tested on the geographical validation cohort. An independent single-centre US cohort of 660 patients transplanted between Jan 1, 2010, and Dec 31, 2015 was used to externally validate the results. FINDINGS The DRSS model stratified patients in the derivation cohort (median follow-up was 2·1 years [IQR 1·0-3·2]) into five risk groups with increasing mortality risk: low risk (reference group), intermediate-1 (hazard ratio for overall survival 1·26 [95% CI 1·17-1·36], p<0·0001), intermediate-2 (1·53 [1·42-1·66], p<0·0001), high (2·03 [1·86-2·22], p<0·0001), and very high (2·87 [2·63-3·13], p<0·0001). DRSS levels were also associated with a stepwise increase in risk across the tuning and geographical validation cohort. In the external validation cohort (median follow-up was 5·7 years [IQR 4·5-7·1]), the DRSS scheme separated patients into 4 risk groups associated with increasing risk of mortality: intermediate-2 risk (hazard ratio [HR] 1·34 [95% CI 1·04-1·74], p=0·025), high risk (HR 2·03 [95% CI 1·39-2·95], p=0·00023) and very-high risk (HR 2·26 [95% CI 1·62-3·15], p<0·0001) patients compared with the low risk and intermediate-1 risk group (reference group). Across all cohorts, between 64% and 65% of patients were categorised as having intermediate-risk disease by a previous prognostic system (ie, the disease-risk index [DRI]). The DRSS reclassified these intermediate-risk DRI patients, with 855 (6%) low risk, 7111 (51%) intermediate-1 risk, 5700 (41%) intermediate-2 risk, and 375 (3%) high risk or very high risk of 14?041 patients in a subanalysis combining the tuning and internal geographic validation cohorts. The DRI projected 2-year overall survival was 62·1% (95% CI 61·2-62·9) for these 14?041 patients, while the DRSS reclassified them into finer prognostic groups with overall survival ranging from 45·7% (37·4-54·0; very high risk patients) to 73·1% (70·1-76·2; low risk patients). INTERPRETATION The DRSS is a novel risk stratification tool including disease features related to histology, genetic profile, and treatment response. The model should serve as a benchmark for future studies. This system facilitates the interpretation and analysis of studies with heterogeneous cohorts, promoting trial-design with more inclusive populations. FUNDING The Varda and Boaz Dotan Research Center for Hemato-Oncology Research, Tel Aviv University.
PICO Summary
Population
Adults with haematological malignancies who received an allogeneic HSCT reported to the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry (n=47,265)
Intervention
Disease Risk Stratification System (DRSS)
Comparison
Disease Risk Index (DRI)
Outcome
The DRSS scheme separated patients into 4 risk groups associated with increasing risk of mortality: intermediate-2 risk (hazard ratio [HR] 1·34), high risk (HR 2·03]) and very-high risk (HR 2·26) patients compared with the low risk and intermediate-1 risk group (reference group). Across all cohorts, between 64% and 65% of patients were categorised as having intermediate-risk disease by a previous prognostic system (ie, the disease-risk index [DRI]). The DRSS reclassified these intermediate-risk DRI patients, with 855 (6%) low risk, 7111 (51%) intermediate-1 risk, 5700 (41%) intermediate-2 risk, and 375 (3%) high risk or very high risk of 14,041 patients in a subanalysis combining the tuning and internal geographic validation cohorts. The DRI projected 2-year overall survival was 62·1% for these 14,041 patients, while the DRSS reclassified them into finer prognostic groups with overall survival ranging from 45·7% (37·4-54·0; very high risk patients) to 73·1% (70·1-76·2; low risk patients).
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Treosulfan-fludarabine-thiotepa-based conditioning treatment before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for pediatric patients with hematological malignancies
Kalwak, K., Mielcarek, M., Patrick, K., Styczynski, J., Bader, P., Corbacioglu, S., Burkhardt, B., Sykora, K. W., Drabko, K., Gozdzik, J., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2020
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
Treosulfan-based conditioning prior to allogeneic transplantation has been shown to have myeloablative, immunosuppressive, and antineoplastic effects associated with reduced non-relapse mortality (NRM) in adults. Therefore, we prospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of treosulfan-based conditioning in children with hematological malignancies in this phase II trial. Overall, 65 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (35.4%), acute myeloid leukemia (44.6%), myelodysplastic syndrome (15.4%), or juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (4.6%) received treosulfan intravenously at a dose of 10 mg/m(2)/day (7.7%), 12 g/m(2)/day (35.4%), or 14 g/m(2)/day (56.9%) according to their individual body surface area in combination with fludarabine and thiotepa. The incidence of complete donor chimerism at day +28 was 98.4% with no primary and only one secondary graft failure. At 36 months, NRM was only 3.1%, while relapse incidence was 21.7%, and overall survival was 83.0%. The cumulative incidence of acute graft-vs.-host disease was 45.3% for grades I-IV and 26.6% for grades II-IV. At 36 months, 25.8% overall and 19.4% moderate/severe chronic graft-vs.-host disease were reported. These data confirm the safe and effective use of treosulfan-based conditioning in pediatric patients with hematological malignancies. Therefore, treosulfan/fludarabine/thiotepa can be recommended for myeloablative conditioning in children with hematological malignancies.
PICO Summary
Population
Children with haematological malignancies (n=65)
Intervention
Conditioning with treosulfan, dosed according to body surface area, in combination with fludarabine and thiotepa
Comparison
None
Outcome
The incidence of complete donor chimerism at day +28 was 98.4% with no primary and only one secondary graft failure. At 36 months, NRM was only 3.1%, while relapse incidence was 21.7%, and overall survival was 83.0%. The cumulative incidence of acute graft-vs.-host disease was 45.3% for grades I-IV and 26.6% for grades II-IV. At 36 months, 25.8% overall and 19.4% moderate/severe chronic graft-vs.-host disease were reported.
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The challenge of COVID-19 and hematopoietic cell transplantation; EBMT recommendations for management of hematopoietic cell transplant recipients, their donors, and patients undergoing CAR T-cell therapy
Ljungman, P., Mikulska, M., de la Camara, R., Basak, G. W., Chabannon, C., Corbacioglu, S., Duarte, R., Dolstra, H., Lankester, A. C., Mohty, M., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2020;55(11):2071-2076
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly spread over the world causing the disease by WHO called COVID-19. This pandemic poses unprecedented stress on the health care system including programs performing allogeneic and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapy such as with CAR T cells. Risk factors for severe disease include age and predisposing conditions such as cancer. The true impact on stem cell transplant and CAR T-cell recipients in unknown. The European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) has therefore developed recommendations for transplant programs and physicians caring for these patients. These guidelines were developed by experts from the Infectious Diseases Working Party and have been endorsed by EBMT's scientific council and board. This work intends to provide guidelines for transplant centers, management of transplant candidates and recipients, and donor issues until the COVID-19 pandemic has passed.
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Total Body Irradiation or Chemotherapy Conditioning in Childhood ALL: A Multinational, Randomized, Noninferiority Phase III Study
Peters, C., Dalle, J. H., Locatelli, F., Poetschger, U., Sedlacek, P., Buechner, J., Shaw, P. J., Staciuk, R., Ifversen, M., Pichler, H., et al
Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 2020;:Jco2002529
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
PURPOSE Total body irradiation (TBI) before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is efficacious, but long-term side effects are concerning. We investigated whether preparative combination chemotherapy could replace TBI in such patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS FORUM is a randomized, controlled, open-label, international, multicenter, phase III, noninferiority study. Patients = 18 years at diagnosis, 4-21 years at HSCT, in complete remission pre-HSCT, and with an HLA-compatible related or unrelated donor were randomly assigned to myeloablative conditioning with fractionated 12 Gy TBI and etoposide versus fludarabine, thiotepa, and either busulfan or treosulfan. The noninferiority margin was 8%. With 1,000 patients randomly assigned in 5 years, 2-year minimum follow-up, and one-sided alpha of 5%, 80% power was calculated. A futility stopping rule would halt random assignment if chemoconditioning was significantly inferior to TBI (EudraCT: 2012-003032-22; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01949129). RESULTS Between April 2013 and December 2018, 543 patients were screened, 417 were randomly assigned, 212 received TBI, and 201 received chemoconditioning. The stopping rule was applied on March 31, 2019. The median follow-up was 2.1 years. In the intention-to-treat population, 2-year overall survival (OS) was significantly higher following TBI (0.91; 95% CI, 0.86 to 0.95; P < .0001) versus chemoconditioning (0.75; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.81). Two-year cumulative incidence of relapse and treatment-related mortality were 0.12 (95% CI, 0.08 to 0.17; P < .0001) and 0.02 (95% CI, < 0.01 to 0.05; P = .0269) following TBI and 0.33 (95% CI, 0.25 to 0.40) and 0.09 (95% CI, 0.05 to 0.14) following chemoconditioning, respectively. CONCLUSION Improved OS and lower relapse risk were observed following TBI plus etoposide compared with chemoconditioning. We therefore recommend TBI plus etoposide for patients > 4 years old with high-risk ALL undergoing allogeneic HSCT.
Clinical Commentary
Dr. Julia Wolf, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
What is known?
Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) provides a potential curative treatment option for paediatric patients with high risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Pre-transplant conditioning regimes with total body irradiation (TBI) have resulted in encouraging overall and relapse-free survival but may cause serious long-term side effects. As a result, several studies have investigated TBI-free regimes. A large meta-analysis (1) which included seven randomised controlled trials comparing TBI-based with chemoconditioning regimes demonstrated significantly lower treatment related mortality (TRM) but no overall survival (OS) advantage with TBI-based regimes. A further small randomised study (2) found significantly higher event-free survival (EFS) with TBI-based regimes in patients with unrelated donors, but a non-significant difference only in patients with matched sibling donors. Concerns about late effects of TBI on growth, cognitive function and secondary malignancy however remain. A single centre retrospective study (3) in paediatric ALL concluded that triosulphan based regimes were safe and efficacious while a similar review (4) in adult patients suggested that busulphan and clofarabine could provide an alternative to TBI. This paper reports on the FORUM study. It compares TBI with chemoconditioning regimes to investigate whether optimal chemoconditioning regimens could replace TBI in paediatric patients with high-risk ALL.
What did this paper set out to examine?
This is the largest randomised, controlled, open-label, international, multicentre, phase III trial comparing TBI plus etoposide with chemoconditioning (fludarabine, thiotepa and busulfan or triosulfan) in paediatric ALL to date. It investigates whether chemoconditioning is non-inferior to TBI-based regimes with the primary endpoint of OS. It is also the first study to directly and prospectively compare these regimes in terms of disease-free survival and short- and long-term adverse events. The study aimed to recruit 1000 patients.
What did they show?
Improved OS and lower relapse risk were observed following TBI plus etoposide compared with chemoconditioning. Patients ≤18 years old at diagnosis and aged 4-21 at HSCT with high risk ALL in complete morphological remission with HLA compatible related or unrelated donor were included in the study. Patients were randomised 1:1 to 12Gy TBI with etoposide versus fludarabine, thiotepa and busulfan or triosulphan conditioning. Patients were well matched for baseline characteristics and demographics. Randomisation was stopped early due significant inferiority of chemoconditioning compared with TBI-based regime.
Results
Following randomisation of 417 patients, a futility stopping rule was applied because patients receiving chemoconditioning with fludarabine, thiotepa, and busulfan or treosulfan had inferior OS to those receiving TBI plus etoposide. Two-year OS was 0.91 (95% CI, P <.0001) following TBI versus 0.75 (95% CI) following chemoconditioning. Median follow up was 2.1 years. Relapse was the commonest reason for treatment failure and out of 67 patients who relapsed, there was no difference in OS between conditioning regimes. There was no difference in serious adverse events or GvHD rates between the groups.
What are the implications for practice and for future work?
While TBI is associated with potentially serious long-term side effects, this study supports growing evidence demonstrating improved outcomes for patients undergoing TBI-based conditioning. Here patients receiving TBI-based conditioning had a significantly lower risk of relapse and TRM than those given chemoconditioning.
Of note, TRM in this trial was low compared to previously reported studies. FOCUS reported a 2-year OS and EFS rate of 0.91 and 0.91 respectively, which is the lowest documented TRM in HSCT for high-risk paediatric ALL to date. Additionally, other risk factors thought to impact on outcomes (e.g. leukaemia phenotype, MRD pre-transplant, donor type, etc) were not found to be significant in FOCUS. Only remission status (CR1 vs CR2) and conditioning regime influenced OS and EFS. This may be in part explained by the strong attempts within this study to reduce MRD prior to HSCT in all patients.
This was a noninferiority study which required a sample size of 1000 patients with 2-year minimum follow-up to make analysis of primary outcomes feasible. As the majority of relapses in paediatric ALL occur in the first 24 months, it is unlikely that longer follow up would result in dramatic changes to outcomes.
Non-randomised recruitment in FORUM to assess long-term side effects of TBI, such as secondary malignancy, in FORUM is ongoing. However, no difference in adverse events or incidence of GvHD was found between study groups. The study reports a composite end point of 2-year GVHD-free, relapse-free survival of 72% (95% CI) following TBI plus etoposide and 51% (95% CI, p= .0003) following chemoconditioning which might be a benchmark for future investigations.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at or before 18 years of age, who underwent HSCT aged 4-21 years (n=413)
Intervention
TBI conditioning (n=212)
Comparison
Chemoconditioning: fludarabine, thiotepa, and either busulfan or treosulfan (n=201)
Outcome
The median follow-up was 2.1 years. In the intention-to-treat population, 2-year overall survival (OS) was significantly higher following TBI (0.91) versus chemoconditioning (0.75). Two-year cumulative incidence of relapse and treatment-related mortality were 0.12 and 0.02 following TBI and 0.33 and 0.09 following chemoconditioning, respectively.
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Diagnosis, grading, and treatment recommendations for children, adolescents, and young adults with sinusoidal obstructive syndrome: an international expert position statement
Mahadeo, K. M., Bajwa, R., Abdel-Azim, H., Lehmann, L. E., Duncan, C., Zantek, N., Vittorio, J., Angelo, J., McArthur, J., Schadler, K., et al
The Lancet. Haematology. 2019
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
Sinusoidal obstructive syndrome, also known as hepatic veno-occlusive disease, is a potentially life-threatening complication that occurs in children undergoing haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). Differences in the incidence of genetic predisposition and clinical presentation of sinusoidal obstructive syndrome between children and adults have rendered the historical Baltimore and Seattle diagnostic criteria insufficient for children. In 2017, the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) proposed the first paediatric diagnostic and severity grading guidelines for sinusoidal obstructive syndrome, intended for implementation across European centres. However, universally accepted paediatric criteria are needed to ensure prompt diagnosis, definitive treatment, and improved outcomes for children, adolescents, and young adults with sinusoidal obstructive syndrome, and to facilitate international clinical research collaboration. We convened an international panel of multidisciplinary experts including physicians with expertise in HSCT, paediatric intensive care, nephrology, hepatology, radiology, pathology, and transfusion medicine; HSCT advanced-practice providers and medical trainees; pharmacists; and translational and basic science researchers from the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators Network, the EBMT, the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortia, and several other institutions with extensive experience in sinusoidal obstructive syndrome. Panellists convened at The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX, USA) in February, 2019, to evaluate the available evidence. In this expert position statement paper, we provide consensus recommendations for the international implementation of guidelines for the diagnosis, severity grading, and treatment of sinusoidal obstructive syndrome among children, adolescents, and young adults. We endorse universal adoption of paediatric diagnostic guidelines for sinusoidal obstruction syndrome as proposed by the EBMT, and provide implementation guidance for standardisation across centres; we have further proposed adjunctive use of age-appropriate organ-specific toxicity criteria for severity grading and provided prophylaxis and treatment considerations among children and adolescent and young adult patients. Key recommendations include: (1) liver biopsy, portal venous wedge pressure, and reversal of portal venous flow on Doppler ultrasonography should not be used for the routine diagnosis of sinusoidal obstructive syndrome in children, adolescents, and young adults; (2) platelet refractoriness can be defined as a corrected count increment of less than 5000-7500 following at least two sequential ABO-compatible fresh platelet transfusions; (3) hepatomegaly is best defined as an absolute increase of at least 1 cm in liver length at the midclavicular line; and if a baseline measurement is not available, hepatomegaly can be defined as greater than 2 SDs above normal for age; and (4) the presence and volume of ascites can be categorised as mild (minimal fluid by liver, spleen, or pelvis), moderate (<1 cm fluid), or severe (fluid in all three regions with >1 cm fluid in at least two regions).
PICO Summary
Population
Paediatric patients with sinusoidal obstruction syndrome / hepatic veno-occlusive disease
Intervention
Guidelines produced by an international panel of multidisciplinary experts from the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators Network, the EBMT, the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortia, and several other institutions with extensive experience in sinusoidal obstructive syndrome.
Comparison
None
Outcome
Key recommendations include: (1) liver biopsy, portal venous wedge pressure, and reversal of portal venous flow on Doppler ultrasonography should not be used for the routine diagnosis of sinusoidal obstructive syndrome in children, adolescents, and young adults; (2) platelet refractoriness can be defined as a corrected count increment of less than 5000-7500 following at least two sequential ABO-compatible fresh platelet transfusions; (3) hepatomegaly is best defined as an absolute increase of at least 1 cm in liver length at the midclavicular line; and if a baseline measurement is not available, hepatomegaly can be defined as greater than 2 SDs above normal for age; and (4) the presence and volume of ascites can be categorised as mild (minimal fluid by liver, spleen, or pelvis), moderate (<1 cm fluid), or severe (fluid in all three regions with >1 cm fluid in at least two regions).
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Systematic review of defibrotide studies in the treatment of veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (VOD/SOS)
Richardson, P., Aggarwal, S., Topaloglu, O., Villa, K. F., Corbacioglu, S.
Bone marrow transplantation. 2019
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Full text
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
Veno-occlusive disease (VOD), also called sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), is a potentially life-threatening complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) conditioning or high-dose nontransplant chemotherapy. VOD/SOS with multi-organ dysfunction (MOD) is associated with a mortality rate of > 80%. Defibrotide (25 mg/kg/day) is approved to treat hepatic VOD/SOS with renal or pulmonary dysfunction post HSCT in the United States and to treat severe hepatic VOD/SOS in patients > 1 month of age in the European Union. A random effects model was used for pooling data from 17 systematically chosen defibrotide studies. For patients in these reports (n = 2598), and those in the subset of 10 reports of patients treated with ~ 25 mg/kg/day (n = 1691), estimated Day + 100 survival rates were 54% and 56%, respectively. Among those patients treated with ~ 25 mg/kg/day, estimated Day + 100 survival was 44% among patients with MOD and 71% in patients without MOD; survival was 41% and 70%, respectively, for the population of patients receiving any dose of defibrotide. Safety results were not pooled owing to differences in reporting methodology but were generally consistent with the known tolerability profile of defibrotide. This analysis provides the largest assessment of survival in patients treated with defibrotide for VOD/SOS with or without MOD.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients with veno-occlusive disease / sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in 17 defibrotide studies (n=2598)
Intervention
Defibrotide ~ 25 mg/kg/day (n = 1691)
Comparison
Any defibrotide dose
Outcome
Day + 100 survival rates were 56% and 54%, respectively. Among those patients treated with ~ 25 mg/kg/day, estimated Day + 100 survival was 44% among patients with MOD and 71% in patients without MOD; survival was 41% and 70%, respectively, for the population of patients receiving any dose of defibrotide. Safety results were not pooled owing to differences in reporting methodology but were generally consistent with the known tolerability profile of defibrotide.