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Cytogenetic abnormalities predict survival after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia: a PDWP/EBMT study
Sharma, A., Galimard, J. E., Pryce, A., Bhoopalan, S. V., Dalissier, A., Dalle, J. H., Locatelli, F., Jubert, C., Mirci-Danicar, O., Kitra-Roussou, V., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2024
Abstract
Poor-risk (PR) cytogenetic/molecular abnormalities generally direct pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). We assessed the predictive value of cytogenetic risk classification at diagnosis with respect to post-HSCT outcomes in pediatric patients. Patients younger than 18 years at the time of their first allogeneic HSCT for AML in CR1 between 2005 and 2022 who were reported to the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry were subgrouped into four categories. Of the 845 pediatric patients included in this study, 36% had an 11q23 abnormality, 24% had monosomy 7/del7q or monosomy 5/del5q, 24% had a complex or monosomal karyotype, and 16% had other PR cytogenetic abnormalities. In a multivariable model, 11q23 (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.66, P = 0.03) and other PR cytogenetic abnormalities (HR = 0.55, P = 0.02) were associated with significantly better overall survival when compared with monosomy 7/del7q or monosomy 5/del5q. Patients with other PR cytogenetic abnormalities had a lower risk of disease relapse after HSCT (HR = 0.49, P = 0.01) and, hence, better leukemia-free survival (HR = 0.55, P = 0.01). Therefore, we conclude that PR cytogenetic abnormalities at diagnosis predict overall survival after HSCT for AML in pediatric patients.
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2.
Outcomes of Unmanipulated Haploidentical Transplantation Using Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) in Pediatric Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Ruggeri, A., Galimard, J. E., Paina, O., Fagioli, F., Tbakhi, A., Yesilipek, A., Navarro, J. M. F., Faraci, M., Hamladji, R. M., Skorobogatova, E., et al
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2021;27(5):424.e1-424.e9
Abstract
HLA-haploidentical transplantation (haplo-HCT) using post-transplantation-cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) is a feasible procedure in children with malignancies. However, large studies on Haplo-HCT with PT-Cy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are lacking. We analyzed haplo-HCT outcomes in 180 children with ALL. Median age was 9 years, and median follow-up was 2.7 years. Disease status was CR1 for 24%, CR2 for 45%, CR+3 for 12%, and active disease for 19%. All patients received PT-Cy day +3 and +4. Bone marrow (BM) was the stem cell source in 115 patients (64%). Cumulative incidence of 42-day engraftment was 88.9%. Cumulative incidence of day-100 acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) grade II-IV was 28%, and 2-year chronic GVHD was 21.9%. At 2 years, cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was 19.6%. Cumulative incidence was 41.9% for relapse and 25% for patients in CR1. Estimated 2-year leukemia free survival was 65%, 44%, and 18.8% for patients transplanted in CR1, CR2, CR3+ and 3% at 1 year for active disease. In multivariable analysis for patients in CR1 and CR2, disease status (CR2 [hazard ratio {HR} = 2.19; P = .04]), age at HCT older than 13 (HR = 2.07; P = .03) and use of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) (HR = 1.98; P = .04) were independent factors associated with decreased overall survival. Use of PBSC was also associated with higher NRM (HR = 3.13; P = .04). Haplo-HCT with PT-Cy is an option for children with ALL, namely those transplanted in CR1 and CR2. Age and disease status remain the most important factors for outcomes. BM cells as a graft source is associated with improved survival.
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3.
Multivariate Analysis of Immune Reconstitution and Relapse Risk Scoring in Children Receiving Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Acute Leukemias
Spadea, M., Saglio, F., Tripodi, S. I., Menconi, M., Zecca, M., Fagioli, F.
Transplantation direct. 2021;7(11):e774
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Abstract
A timely and effective immune reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is of crucial importance to enhance graft-versus-leukemia reaction in hematological malignancies. Several factors can influence the yield of this process, and new mathematical models are needed to describe this complex phenomenon. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed immune reconstitution in the early post-HSCT period in a multicenter cohort of 206 pediatric patients affected by acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome who received their first allo-HSCT. All patients were in complete morphological remission at transplantation and were followed-up at least 26 mo post-HSCT. Blood samples for analysis of lymphocyte subset numbers were collected at day 100 (±20 d). RESULTS The 2-y cumulative incidence of relapse was 22.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.3-27). Using principal component analysis, we identified based on 16 input variables a new multivariate model that enables patients' description in a low-dimensional model, consisting of the first 2 principal components. We found that the numbers of CD3(+)/CD4(+)/CD8(+) lymphocyte subsets at day 100 post-HSCT and acute graft-versus-host disease had the greatest impact in preventing relapse. We ultimately derived a risk score defining high- or medium-low-risk groups with 2-y cumulative incidence of relapse: 35.3% (95% CI, 25.6-45) and 15.6% (95% CI, 10.1-20.7), respectively (P ?=?0.001*). CONCLUSIONS Our model describes immune reconstitution and its main influencing factors in the early posttransplantation period, presenting as a reliable model for relapse risk prediction. If validated, this model could definitely serve as a predictive tool and could be used for clinical trials or for individualized patient counseling.
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4.
Myeloablative conditioning for allo-HSCT in pediatric ALL: FTBI or chemotherapy?-A multicenter EBMT-PDWP study
Willasch, A. M., Peters, C., Sedlacek, P., Dalle, J. H., Kitra-Roussou, V., Yesilipek, A., Wachowiak, J., Lankester, A., Prete, A., Hamidieh, A. A., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2020
Abstract
Although most children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receive fractionated total body irradiation (FTBI) as myeloablative conditioning (MAC) for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), it is an important matter of debate if chemotherapy can effectively replace FTBI. To compare outcomes after FTBI versus chemotherapy-based conditioning (CC), we performed a retrospective EBMT registry study. Children aged 2-18 years after MAC for first allo-HSCT of bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) from matched-related (MRD) or unrelated donors (UD) in first (CR1) or second remission (CR2) between 2000 and 2012 were included. Propensity score weighting was used to control pretreatment imbalances of the observed variables. 3.054 patients were analyzed. CR1 (1.498): median follow-up (FU) after FTBI (1.285) and CC (213) was 6.8 and 6.1 years. Survivals were not significantly different. CR2 (1.556): median FU after FTBI (1.345) and CC (211) was 6.2 years. Outcomes after FTBI were superior as compared with CC with regard to overall survival (OS), leukemia-free survival (LFS), relapse incidence (RI), and nonrelapse mortality (NRM). However, we must emphasize the preliminary character of the results of this retrospective "real-world-practice" study. These findings will be prospectively assessed in the ALL SCTped 2012 FORUM trial.
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5.
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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6.
Clofarabine and Treosulfan as conditioning for matched related and unrelated HSCT: results from the phase II trial "Clo3o"
Peccatori, J., Mastaglio, S., Giglio, F., Greco, R., Crocchiolo, R., Patriarca, F., Forno, B., Deola, S., Assanelli, A., Stanghellini, M. T. L., et al
Biology of blood and marrow transplantation : journal of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 2019
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) can be curative for patients with hematological malignancies. The ideal conditioning regimen before allogeneic HSCT has not been established. We conducted a phase II study to evaluate tolerability and efficacy of Clofarabine and Treosulfan as conditioning regimen before allo-HSCT. Primary objective was evaluation of the cumulative incidence of non-relapse mortality (NRM) on day +100. Forty-four patients (36 acute myeloid leukemias, 5 acute lymphoblastic leukemias, 3 myelodysplastic syndromes) were enrolled. Median age was 47 years. Median follow-up was 27 months. Conditioning regimen was based on Clofarabine 40 mg/m(2) (day -6 to -2) and Treosulfan 14 g/m(2) (day -6 to -4). Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cells were derived from a sibling (n=22) or a well-matched unrelated donor (n=22). Graft versus host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis consisted of Thymoglobuline, Rituximab, Cyclosporine and short course Methotrexate. The regimen allowed rapid engraftment and 100 days NRM of 18%, mainly because of bacterial infections. Grade 2-4 acute and chronic GvHD were 16% and 19% respectively. Overall survival (OS), progression free survival and relapse incidence at 2-year were 51%, 31% and 50%. A significantly different outcome was observed between patients with "low/intermediate" vs "high/very high" disease risk index (DRI; 1-year OS 78% and 24%). Treosulfan and Clofarabine as conditioning regimen for allo-HSCT is feasible, with 78% 1-year OS in low/intermediate DRI. However 1-year NRM was 18% and, despite the intensification of the conditioning regimen, relapse incidence is still a major issue in patients with poor prognostic risk factors.
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Unrelated donor vs HLA-haploidentical alpha/beta T-cell and B-cell depleted HSCT in children with acute leukemia
Bertaina, A., Zecca, M., Buldini, B., Sacchi, N., Algeri, M., Saglio, F., Perotti, C., Gallina, A. M., Bertaina, V., Lanino, E., et al
Blood. 2018
Abstract
Traditionally, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from both HLA-matched related and unrelated donors (UD) has been used for treating acute leukemia (AL) children in need of an allograft. Recently, HLA-haploidentical HSCT after alphabeta T-cell/B-cell depletion (alphabetahaplo-HSCT) was shown to be effective in single-center studies. Here, we report the first multicenter retrospective analysis of 127 macthed UD (MUD), 118 mismatched (MMUD) and 98 alphabetahaplo-HSCT recipients, transplanted between 2010 and 2015, in 13 Italian centers. All these AL children were transplanted in morphological remission after a myeloablative conditioning regimen. Graft failure occurred in 2% each of UD-HSCT and alphabetahaplo-HSCT group. In MUD vs MMUD-HSCT recipients, the cumulative incidence (CI) of grade II-IV and grade III-IV acute GvHD was 35% vs 44% and 6% vs 18%, as compared to 16% and 0% in alphabetahaplo-HSCT recipients (P<0.001). Children treated with alphabetahaplo-HSCT also had a significantly lower incidence of overall and extensive chronic GvHD (p<0.01). Eight (6%) MUD, 32 (28%) MMUD and 9 (9%) alphabetahaplo-HSCT patients died from transplant-related complications. With a median follow-up of 3.3 years, the 5-year probability of leukemia-free survival in the 3 groups was 67%, 55% and 62% respectively. In the three groups, chronic GvHD-free/relapse-free (GRFS) probability of survival was 61%, 34% and 58%, respectively (P<0.001). When compared to patients given MMUD-HSCT, alphabetahaplo-HSCT recipients had a lower CI of NRM and a better GFRS (P<0.001). These data indicate that alphabetahaplo-HSCT is a suitable therapeutic option for children with AL in need of transplantation, especially when an allele-matched UD is not available.
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Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for isolated extramedullary relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children
Gabelli, M., Zecca, M., Messina, C., Carraro, E., Buldini, B., Rovelli, A. M., Fagioli, F., Bertaina, A., Lanino, E., Favre, C., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2018
Abstract
Relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may occur in extramedullary sites, mainly central nervous system (CNS) and testis. Optimal post-remissional treatment for isolated extramedullary relapse (IEMR) is still controversial. We collected data of children treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for ALL IEMR from 1990 to 2015 in Italy. Among 281 patients, 167 had a relapse confined to CNS, 73 to testis, 14 to mediastinum, and 27 to other organs. Ninety-seven patients underwent autologous HSCT, 79 received allogeneic HSCT from a matched family donor, 75 from a matched unrelated donor, and 30 from an HLA-haploidentical donor. The 10-year overall survival was 56% and was not influenced by gender, ALL blast immune-phenotype, age, site of relapse, duration of first remission, and type of HSCT. In multivariable analysis, the only prognostic factors were disease status at HSCT and year of transplantation. Patients transplanted in third or subsequent complete remission (CR) had a risk of death 2.3 times greater than those in CR2. Children treated after 2000 had half the risk of death than those treated before that year. Our results suggest that both autologous and allogeneic HSCT may be considered for the treatment of pediatric ALL IEMR after the achievement of CR2.
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Analysis of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Engraftment After Allogeneic HSCT in Pediatric Patients: A Large Multicenter Study
Castello, L. M., Leone, M., Adamini, A., Castiglia, S., Mareschi, K., Ferrero, I., Marco, G., Carnevale-Schianca, F., Fagioli, F., Berger, M.
Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology. 2018
Abstract
The mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) role after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is still a matter of debate; in particular, MSC engraftment in recipient bone marrow (BM) is unclear. A total of 46 patients were analyzed for MSC and hemopoietic stem cell engraftment after HSCT. The majority of patients had the BM as the stem cell source, and acute leukemia was the main indication for HSCT. Mesenchymal and hematopoietic stem cell chimerism analysis was carried out through specific polymorphic tandemly repeated regions. All patients reached complete donor engraftment; no evidence of donor-derived MSC engraftment was noted. Our data indicate that MSCs after HSCT remain of recipient origin despite the following: (i) myeloablative conditioning; (ii) the stem cell source; (iii) the interval from HSCT to BM analysis; (iv) the underlying disease before HSCT; and (v) the patients' or the donors' age at HSCT.
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10.
Pre- and post-transplant minimal residual disease predicts relapse occurrence in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Lovisa, F., Zecca, M., Rossi, B., Campeggio, M., Magrin, E., Giarin, E., Buldini, B., Songia, S., Cazzaniga, G., Mina, T., et al
British journal of haematology. 2018;180(5):680-693
Abstract
Relapse remains the leading cause of treatment failure in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We retrospectively investigated the prognostic role of minimal residual disease (MRD) before and after HSCT in 119 children transplanted in complete remission (CR). MRD was measured by polymerase chain reaction in bone marrow samples collected pre-HSCT and during the first and third trimesters after HSCT (post-HSCT1 and post-HSCT3). The overall event-free survival (EFS) was 50%. The cumulative incidence of relapse and non-relapse mortality was 41% and 9%. Any degree of detectable pre-HSCT MRD was associated with poor outcome: EFS was 39% and 18% in patients with MRD positivity <1 × 10(-3) and ≥1 × 10(-3) , respectively, versus 73% in MRD-negative patients (P < 0·001). This effect was maintained in different disease remissions, but low-level MRD had a very strong negative impact only in patients transplanted in second or further CR. Also, MRD after HSCT enabled patients to be stratified, with increasing MRD between post-HSCT1 and post-HSCT3 clearly defining cohorts with a different outcome. MRD is an important prognostic factor both before and after transplantation. Given that MRD persistence after HSCT is associated with dismal outcome, these patients could benefit from early discontinuation of immunosuppression, or pre-emptive immuno-therapy.