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Treosulfan Compared with Reduced-Intensity Busulfan Improves Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Outcomes of Older Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome Patients: Final Analysis of a Prospective Randomized Trial
Beelen, D. W., Stelljes, M., Reményi, P., Wagner-Drouet, E. M., Dreger, P., Bethge, W., Ciceri, F., Stölzel, F., Junghanß, C., Labussiere-Wallet, H., et al
American journal of hematology. 2022
Abstract
The phase III study was designed to compare event-free survival (EFS) after treosulfan-based conditioning with a widely applied reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) busulfan regimen in older or comorbid patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). A previously reported confirmatory interim analysis of the randomized clinical study including 476 patients demonstrated statistically significant non-inferiority for treosulfan with clinically meaningful improvement in EFS. Here, the final study results and pre-specified subgroup analyses of all 570 randomized patients with completed longer term follow-up are presented. Patients presenting HCT-specific comorbidity index > 2 or aged ≥ 50 years were randomly assigned (1:1) to intravenous (IV) fludarabine with either treosulfan (30 g/m(2) IV) or busulfan (6.4 mg/kg IV) after stratification by disease risk group, donor type, and participating institution. The primary endpoint was EFS with disease recurrence, graft failure, or death from any cause as events. EFS of patients (median age 60 years) was superior after treosulfan compared to RIC busulfan: 36-months-EFS rate 59.5% (95% CI, 52.2 to 66.1) vs 49.7% (95% CI, 43.3 to 55.7) with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.64 (95% CI, 0.49 to 0.84), P = 0.0006. Likewise, overall survival (OS) with treosulfan was superior compared to busulfan: 36-months-OS rate 66.8% vs 56.3%; HR 0.64 (95% CI, 0.48 to 0.87), P = 0.0037. Post hoc analyses revealed that these differences were consistent with the confirmatory interim analysis, and thereby the treosulfan regimen appears particularly suitable for older AML and MDS patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Durable benefit of rituximab maintenance post-autograft in patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma: 12-year follow-up of the EBMT lymphoma working party Lym1 trial
Pettengell, R., Uddin, R., Boumendil, A., Johnson, R., Metzner, B., Martín, A., Romejko-Jarosinska, J., Bence-Bruckler, I., Giri, P., Niemann, C. U., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2021
Abstract
We report the 12-year follow-up of the prospective randomized EBMT LYM1 trial to determine whether the benefit of brief duration rituximab maintenance (RM) on progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma (FL) receiving an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is sustained. One hundred and thirty-eight patients received RM with or without purging. The median follow-up after random assignment is 12 years (range 10-13) for the whole series. The 10-year PFS after ASCT is 47% (95% CI 40-54) with only 4 patients relapsing after 7.5 years. RM continues to significantly improve 10-year PFS after ASCT in comparison with NM [P?=?0.002; HR 0.548 (95% CI 0.38-0.80)]. Ten-year non-relapse mortality (NRM) was not significantly different between treatment groups (7% overall). 10-year overall survival (OS) after ASCT was 75% (69-81) for the whole series, with no significant differences according to treatment sub-groups. 10-year OS for patients who progressed within 24 months (POD24T) was 60%, in comparison with 85% for patients without progression. Thus the benefit of rituximab maintenance after ASCT on relapse prevention is sustained at 12 years, suggesting that RM adds to ASCT-mediated disease eradication and may enhance the curative potential of ASCT.
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A randomized phase 3 trial of auto vs. allo transplantation as part of first-line therapy in poor-risk peripheral T-NHL
Schmitz, N., Truemper, L. H., Bouabdallah, K., Ziepert, M., Leclerc, M., Cartron, G., Jaccard, A., Reimer, P., Wagner-Drouet, E. M., Wilhelm, M., et al
Blood. 2020
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
Standard first-line therapy for younger patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma consists of six courses of CHOP or CHOEP consolidated by high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (AutoSCT). We hypothesized that consolidative allogeneic transplantation (AlloSCT) could improve outcome. 104 patients with nodal peripheral T-cell lymphoma except ALK+ ALCL, 18 to 60 years of age, all stages and IPI scores except stage 1 and aaIPI 0, were randomized to receive 4 x CHOEP and 1 x DHAP followed by high-dose therapy and AutoSCT or myeloablative conditioning and AlloSCT. The primary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS) at three years. After a median follow-up of 42 months, 3-year EFS of patients undergoing AlloSCT was 43% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 29%; 57%) as compared to 38% (95% CI: 25%; 52%) after AutoSCT. Overall survival at 3 years was 57% (95% CI: 43%; 71%) versus 70% (95% CI: 57%; 82%) after AlloSCT or AutoSCT, without significant differences between treatment arms. None of 21 responding patients proceeding to AlloSCT as opposed to 13 of 36 patients (36%) proceeding to AutoSCT relapsed. Eight of 26 patients (31%) and none of 41 patients died due to transplant-related toxicity after allogeneic and autologous transplantation, respectively. In younger patients with T-cell lymphoma standard chemotherapy consolidated by autologous or allogeneic transplantation results in comparable survival. The strong graft-versus-lymphoma effect after AlloSCT was counterbalanced by transplant-related mortality. CHO(E)P followed by AutoSCT remains the preferred treatment option for transplant-eligible patients. AlloSCT is the treatment of choice for relapsing patients also after AutoSCT.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients with nodal peripheral T-cell lymphoma except ALK+ ALCL (n=103)
Intervention
4 x CHOEP and 1 x DHAP followed by high-dose therapy and (AutoSCT, n=54)
Comparison
Myeloablative conditioning and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (AlloSCT, n=49)
Outcome
After a median follow-up of 42 months, 3-year event-free survival (EFS) of patients undergoing AlloSCT was 43% as compared to 38% after AutoSCT. Overall survival at 3 years was 57% versus 70% after AlloSCT or AutoSCT, without significant differences between treatment arms. None of 21 responding patients proceeding to AlloSCT as opposed to 13 of 36 patients (36%) proceeding to AutoSCT relapsed. Eight of 26 patients (31%) and none of 41 patients died due to transplant-related toxicity after allogeneic and autologous transplantation, respectively. In younger patients with T-cell lymphoma standard chemotherapy consolidated by autologous or allogeneic transplantation results in comparable survival. The strong graft-versus-lymphoma effect after AlloSCT was counterbalanced by transplant-related mortality.
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Treosulfan or busulfan plus fludarabine as conditioning treatment before allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation for older patients with acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome (MC-FludT.14/L): a randomised, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial
Beelen, D. W., Trenschel, R., Stelljes, M., Groth, C., Masszi, T., Remenyi, P., Wagner-Drouet, E. M., Hauptrock, B., Dreger, P., Luft, T., et al
The Lancet. Haematology. 2019
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND Further improvement of preparative regimens before allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an unmet medical need for the growing number of older or comorbid patients with acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of conditioning with treosulfan plus fludarabine compared with reduced-intensity busulfan plus fludarabine in this population. METHODS We did an open-label, randomised, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial in 31 transplantation centres in France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Poland. Eligible patients were 18-70 years, had acute myeloid leukaemia in first or consecutive complete haematological remission (blast counts <5% in bone marrow) or myelodysplastic syndrome (blast counts <20% in bone marrow), Karnofsky index of 60% or higher, and were indicated for allogeneic HSCT but considered at an increased risk for standard myeloablative preparative regimens based on age (≥50 years), an HSCT-specific comorbidity index of more than 2, or both. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either intravenous 10 g/m(2) treosulfan daily applied as a 2-h infusion for 3 days (days -4 to -2) or 0.8 mg/kg busulfan applied as a 2-h infusion at 6-h intervals on days -4 and -3. Both groups received 30 mg/m(2) intravenous fludarabine daily for 5 days (days -6 to -2). The primary outcome was event-free survival 2 years after HSCT. The non-inferiority margin was a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.3. Efficacy was assessed in all patients who received treatment and completed transplantation, and safety in all patients who received treatment. The study is registered with EudraCT (2008-002356-18) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00822393). FINDINGS Between June 13, 2013, and May 3, 2016, 476 patients were enrolled (240 in the busulfan group received treatment and transplantation, and in the treosulfan group 221 received treatment and 220 transplanation). At the second preplanned interim analysis (Nov 9, 2016), the primary endpoint was met and trial was stopped. Here we present the final confirmatory analysis (data cutoff May 31, 2017). Median follow-up was 15.4 months (IQR 8.8-23.6) for patients treated with treosulfan and 17.4 months (6.3-23.4) for those treated with busulfan. 2-year event-free survival was 64.0% (95% CI 56.0-70.9) in the treosulfan group and 50.4% (42.8-57.5) in the busulfan group (HR 0.65 [95% CI 0.47-0.90]; p<0.0001 for non-inferiority, p=0.0051 for superiority). The most frequently reported grade 3 or higher adverse events were abnormal blood chemistry results (33 [15%] of 221 patients in the treosulfan group vs 35 [15%] of 240 patients in the busulfan group) and gastrointestinal disorders (24 [11%] patients vs 39 [16%] patients). Serious adverse events were reported for 18 (8%) patients in the treosulfan group and 17 (7%) patients in the busulfan group. Causes of deaths were generally transplantation-related. INTERPRETATION Treosulfan was non-inferior to busulfan when used in combination with fludarabine as a conditioning regimen for allogeneic HSCT for older or comorbid patients with acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. The improved outcomes in patients treated with the treosulfan-fludarabine regimen suggest its potential to become a standard preparative regimen in this population. FUNDING medac GmbH.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients with acute myeloid leukaemia in first or consecutive complete haematological remission or myelodysplastic syndrome considered at an increased risk for standard myeloablative preparative regimens based on age (>/=50 years), an HSCT-specific comorbidity index of more than 2, or both. (n=460)
Intervention
Intravenous 10 g/m(2) treosulfan daily for 3 days followed by intravenous fludarabine daily for 5 days (n=221)
Comparison
0.8 mg/kg busulfan at 6-h intervals on days -4 and -3, followed by 30 mg/m(2) intravenous fludarabine daily for 5 days (n=240)
Outcome
Median follow-up was 15.4 months for patients treated with treosulfan and 17.4 months for those treated with busulfan. 2-year event-free survival was 64.0% in the treosulfan group and 50.4% in the busulfan group. The most frequently reported grade 3 or higher adverse events were abnormal blood chemistry results (15% patients in the treosulfan group vs 15% in the busulfan group) and gastrointestinal disorders (11% patients vs 16% patients). Serious adverse events were reported for 8% of patients in the treosulfan group and 7% of patients in the busulfan group. Causes of deaths were generally transplantation-related.
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Long-term efficacy of reduced-intensity versus myeloablative conditioning before allogeneic haemopoietic cell transplantation in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia in first complete remission: retrospective follow-up of an open-label, randomised phase 3 trial
Fasslrinner, F., Schetelig, J., Burchert, A., Kramer, M., Trenschel, R., Hegenbart, U., Stadler, M., Schafer-Eckart, K., Batzel, M., Eich, H., et al
The Lancet. Haematology. 2018
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of the intensity of conditioning before allogeneic haemopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has been studied in a randomised phase 3 trial comparing reduced-intensity conditioning with myeloablative conditioning in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia in first complete remission. Because of the short follow-up of the original trial, whether reduced-intensity conditioning increases the risk of late relapse compared with myeloablative conditioning remained unclear. To address this question, we present retrospective 10-year follow-up data of this trial and focus on late relapse. METHODS The original randomised phase 3 trial included patients aged 18-60 years, with intermediate-risk or high-risk acute myeloid leukaemia, an adequate organ function, and an available HLA-matched sibling donor or an unrelated donor with at least nine out of ten HLA alleles matched. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to 120 mg/m(2) fludarabine combined with four 2 Gy doses of total-body irradiation (reduced-intensity conditioning) or six 2 Gy doses of total-body irradiation and 120 mg/kg cyclophosphamide (myeloablative conditioning). The primary and secondary efficacy endpoints of this trial have been published previously. In this retrospective, long-term follow-up analysis, data were collected from medical reports from individual participating study centres, and from physician and patient interviews. Endpoints included in this analysis were cumulative relapse incidence, overall survival, disease-free survival, and non-relapse mortality in the original study population and in patients alive and relapse-free at 12 months after HCT (landmark analysis). 10-year time to event rates were calculated in the intention-to-treat population and were compared with the Gray test. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00150878. FINDINGS In the original trial, 195 patients were randomly assigned to receive reduced-intensity conditioning (n=99) or myeloablative conditioning (n=96). For this retrospective analysis, data were collected with a nearly complete follow-up (completeness index 99%). Median follow-up time for surviving patients was 9.9 years (IQR 8.5-11.4), during which the cumulative incidence of relapse in the complete study population was identical in both groups (30% [95% CI 20-39] in the reduced-intensity conditioning group vs 30% [21-40] in the myeloablative conditioning group; Gray test p=0.99). Relapse occurred at a median of 5.0 months (IQR 3.0-8.8) in the reduced-intensity conditioning group versus 9.5 months (4.5-20.5) in the myeloablative conditioning group. 10-year disease-free survival was 55% (95% CI 45-66) in the reduced-intensity conditioning group and 43% (34-55) in the myeloablative conditioning group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.76 [0.51-1.14]; p=0.19). 10-year non-relapse mortality was 16% (95% CI 8-24) in the reduced-intensity conditioning group and 26% (17-36) in the myeloablative conditioning group (subdistribution HR 0.60 [95% CI 0.32-1.11]; Gray test p=0.10). The incidence of long-term toxicities associated with total-body irradiation was comparable; secondary malignancies occurred in six (6%) of 94 patients in the reduced-intensity conditioning group and five (6%) of 90 in the myeloablative conditioning group (p=1.00). INTERPRETATION There is no evidence that reduced-intensity conditioning increases the risk of late relapse compared with myeloablative conditioning. Given that the reduced-intensity conditioning group in the original trial was associated with lower early morbidity and toxicity, reduced-intensity conditioning with moderately reduced total-body irradiation doses could be the preferred conditioning strategy for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia who are younger than 60 years and transplanted in first complete remission. FUNDING None.
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Impact of HSCT Conditioning and Glucocorticoid Dose on Exercise Adherence and Response
Wiskemann, J., Herzog, B., Kuehl, R., Schmidt, M. E., Steindorf, K., Schwerdtfeger, R., Dreger, P., Bohus, M.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2017;49(11):2143-2150
Abstract
PURPOSE Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCT) that exercise interventions have beneficial effects in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is growing. However, intensive chemotherapy conditioning and glucocorticoid (GC) treatment is always part of an allo-HSCT and possibly affect exercise adherence and training response. Therefore, we aimed to examine whether various conditioning protocols or different doses of GC treatment affect exercise adherence and/or training response during the inpatient period. METHODS We analyzed inpatient data from intervention groups of two large RCT in allo-HSCT patients (n = 113). The intervention incorporated partly supervised endurance and resistance exercise three to five times per week. According to the potentially interfering factors, the patients were divided into groups depending on intensity of conditioning (myeloablative conditioning (MAC), reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC), and nonmyeloablative conditioning (NMC)) and cumulative dose of GC treatment (GC low ≤9 mg·kg prednisone or GC high >9 mg·kg prednisone) and were compared. RESULTS Median exercise adherence (target value, five sessions weekly) during the inpatient period was 64% in MAC, 54% in RIC, and 63% in NMC. The proportion of prematurely terminated training sessions ranged from 11% to 15%. Tiredness was the most frequent cause of exercise termination in all groups. Exercise adherence, duration (min·wk) and type of training was significantly associated with GC dose. With regard to training response, results suggest that GC-low patients tend to respond better in knee extensor muscle strength. CONCLUSIONS Exercise adherence during inpatient period is significantly affected by dose of GC treatment but not by condition regimen. However, given the reasonable adherence rates also in the GC-high group, data support the feasibility and importance of exercising for all allo-HSCT patients during the inpatient period.
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Dose-Reduced Versus Standard Conditioning Followed by Allogeneic Stem-Cell Transplantation for Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Prospective Randomized Phase III Study of the EBMT (RICMAC Trial)
Kroger, N., Iacobelli, S., Franke, G. N., Platzbecker, U., Uddin, R., Hubel, K., Scheid, C., Weber, T., Robin, M., Stelljes, M., et al
Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2017;35(19):2157-2164
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Abstract
Purpose To compare a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen (RIC) with a myeloablative conditioning regimen (MAC) before allogeneic transplantation in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) within a randomized trial. Patients and Methods Within the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, we conducted a prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized phase III trial that compared a busulfan-based RIC with MAC in patients with MDS or secondary acute myeloid leukemia. A total of 129 patients were enrolled from 18 centers. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio and were stratified according to donor, age, and blast count. Results Engraftment was comparable between both groups. The CI of acute graft-versus-host disease II to IV was 32.3% after RIC and 37.5% after MAC ( P = .35). The CI of chronic graft-versus-host disease was 61.6% after RIC and 64.7% after MAC ( P = .76). The CI of nonrelapse mortality after 1 year was 17% (95% CI, 8% to 26%) after RIC and 25% (95% CI, 15% to 36%) after MAC ( P = .29). The CI of relapse at 2 years was 17% (95% CI, 8% to 26%) after RIC and 15% (95% CI, 6% to 24%) after MAC ( P = .6), which resulted in a 2-year relapse-free survival and overall survival of 62% (95% CI, 50% to 74%) and 76% (95% CI, 66% to 87%), respectively, after RIC, and 58% (95% CI, 46% to 71%) and 63% (95% CI, 51% to 75%), respectively, after MAC ( P = .58 and P = .08, respectively). Conclusion This prospective, randomized trial of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation provides evidence that RIC resulted in at least a 2-year relapse-free survival and overall survival similar to MAC in patients with MDS or secondary acute myeloid leukemia.
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Determinants of exercise adherence and contamination in a randomized controlled trial in cancer patients during and after allogeneic HCT
Kuehl, R., Schmidt, M. E., Dreger, P., Steindorf, K., Bohus, M., Wiskemann, J.
Supportive Care in Cancer. 2016;24(10):4327-37
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence from randomized controlled trials is growing that exercise interventions are beneficial in cancer patients receiving allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT). However, information about adherence to exercise interventions and exercise contamination in control groups is lacking. This information is crucial for the interpretation of study results. We therefore examined the determinants of exercise adherence and contamination in different treatment periods during (inpatient) and after (outpatient) allo-HCT. METHODS One hundred fifty-three patients scheduled for allo-HCT were randomized to a 1-year partly supervised exercise intervention (endurance and resistance exercise) or to a control group. Adherence was assessed via exercise logs and contamination via questionnaires. RESULTS Adherence varied between 66 % (inpatient) and 78 % (outpatient) in different treatment periods. During (inpatient) transplantation period, higher adherence was significantly associated with lower fatigue (P=0.004) and with having children at home (P=0.049). Adherence after discharge was positively associated with endurance performance (P=0.003); higher adherence after day 100 was associated with exercise activity prior allo-HCT (P=0.010) and higher adherence after discharge (P=0.001). Contamination among controls was high with 54 % and significantly associated with muscle strength (P=0.025) and fatigue (P=0.050). CONCLUSION Exercise adherence in different treatment periods was determined by different variables, and contamination among controls was evident. These findings may have important implications for correct interpretation of randomized exercise intervention trials.