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Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide-Based Graft-versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis
Bolaños-Meade, J., Hamadani, M., Wu, J., Al Malki, M. M., Martens, M. J., Runaas, L., Elmariah, H., Rezvani, A. R., Gooptu, M., Larkin, K. T., et al
The New England journal of medicine. 2023;388(25):2338-2348
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Abstract
BACKGROUND In patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT), a calcineurin inhibitor plus methotrexate has been a standard prophylaxis against graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). A phase 2 study indicated the potential superiority of a post-transplantation regimen of cyclophosphamide, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil. METHODS In a phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned adults with hematologic cancers in a 1:1 ratio to receive cyclophosphamide-tacrolimus-mycophenolate mofetil (experimental prophylaxis) or tacrolimus-methotrexate (standard prophylaxis). The patients underwent HSCT from an HLA-matched related donor or a matched or 7/8 mismatched (i.e., mismatched at only one of the HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, and HLA-DRB1 loci) unrelated donor, after reduced-intensity conditioning. The primary end point was GVHD-free, relapse-free survival at 1 year, assessed in a time-to-event analysis, with events defined as grade III or IV acute GVHD, chronic GVHD warranting systemic immunosuppression, disease relapse or progression, and death from any cause. RESULTS In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, GVHD-free, relapse-free survival was significantly more common among the 214 patients in the experimental-prophylaxis group than among the 217 patients in the standard-prophylaxis group (hazard ratio for grade III or IV acute GVHD, chronic GVHD, disease relapse or progression, or death, 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49 to 0.83; P = 0.001). At 1 year, the adjusted GVHD-free, relapse-free survival was 52.7% (95% CI, 45.8 to 59.2) with experimental prophylaxis and 34.9% (95% CI, 28.6 to 41.3) with standard prophylaxis. Patients in the experimental-prophylaxis group appeared to have less severe acute or chronic GVHD and a higher incidence of immunosuppression-free survival at 1 year. Overall and disease-free survival, relapse, transplantation-related death, and engraftment did not differ substantially between the groups. CONCLUSIONS Among patients undergoing allogeneic HLA-matched HSCT with reduced-intensity conditioning, GVHD-free, relapse-free survival at 1 year was significantly more common among those who received cyclophosphamide-tacrolimus-mycophenolate mofetil than among those who received tacrolimus-methotrexate. (Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and others; BMT CTN 1703 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03959241.).
PICO Summary
Population
Adults with hematologic cancers undergoing HLA-matched related donor or a matched or 7/8 mismatched unrelated donor transplant, enrolled in an RCT in multiple centres in USA (n=431)
Intervention
Cyclophosphamide-tacrolimus-mycophenolate mofetil (experimental prophylaxis, n=214)
Comparison
Tacrolimus-methotrexate (standard prophylaxis (standard prophylaxis, n=217)
Outcome
GVHD-free, relapse-free survival was significantly more common among patients in the experimental-prophylaxis group than among the standard-prophylaxis group (hazard ratio for grade III or IV acute GVHD, chronic GVHD, disease relapse or progression, or death, 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49 to 0.83). At 1 year, the adjusted GVHD-free, relapse-free survival was 52.7% (95% CI, 45.8 to 59.2) with experimental prophylaxis and 34.9% (95% CI, 28.6 to 41.3) with standard prophylaxis. Patients in the experimental-prophylaxis group appeared to have less severe acute or chronic GVHD and a higher incidence of immunosuppression-free survival at 1 year. Overall and disease-free survival, relapse, transplantation-related death, and engraftment did not differ substantially between the groups.
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Posttransplantation Cyclophosphamide-based Graft versus Host Disease Prophylaxis with Non-myeloablative Conditioning for Blood or Marrow Transplantation for Myelofibrosis
Jain, T., Tsai, H. L., DeZern, A. E., Gondek, L. P., Elmariah, H., Bolaños-Meade, J., Luznik, L., Fuchs, E., Ambinder, R., Gladstone, D. E., et al
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2022
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Abstract
We describe outcomes with posttransplantation cyclophosphamide and non-myeloablative conditioning based allogeneic blood or marrow transplantation for myelofibrosis using matched or mismatched, family or unrelated donors. The conditioning regimen consisted of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation. Forty-two patients, with a median age of 63 years, were included, of whom 19% had intermediate-1, 60% had intermediate-2, and 21% had high-risk DIPSS-plus disease, and 60% had atleast one high-risk somatic mutation. Over 90% patients engrafted neutrophils at a median of 19.5 days and 7% had graft failure. At 1 and 3-years, respectively, the overall survival was 65% and 60%, relapse-free survival was 65% and 31%, relapse was 5% and 40%, and non-relapse mortality was 30% and 30%. Acute graft versus host disease grade 3-4 was noted in 17% at 1 year and chronic graft versus host disease requiring systemic therapy in 12% patients. Spleen size ≥ 17 cm or prior splenectomy was associated with inferior relapse-free survival (HR 3.50, 95% CI 1.18-10.37, P=0.02) and higher relapse rate (SDHR not calculable, P=0.01). Age > 60 years (SDHR 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08-0.80, P=0.02) and peripheral blood graft (SDHR 0.34, 95% CI 0.11-0.99, P=0.05) was associated with lower risk of relapse. In our limited sample, the presence of a high-risk mutation was not statistically significantly associated with an inferior outcome although ASXL1 was suggestive of inferior survival (SDHR 2.36. 95% CI 0.85-6.6, P=0.09). Overall, this approach shows comparable outcomes as previously reported and underscores the importance of spleen size in evaluation of transplant candidates.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients with high-risk Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System (DIPSS)-plus myelofibrosis (n=42)
Intervention
Matched or mismatched allogeneic transplantation with non-myeloablative conditioning, and post-transplant cyclophosphamide
Comparison
None
Outcome
Over 90% patients engrafted neutrophils at a median of 19.5 days and 7% had graft failure. At 1 and 3-years, respectively, the overall survival was 65% and 60%, relapse-free survival was 65% and 31%, relapse was 5% and 40%, and non-relapse mortality was 30% and 30%. Acute graft versus host disease grade 3-4 was noted in 17% at 1 year and chronic graft versus host disease requiring systemic therapy in 12% patients. Spleen size ≥ 17 cm or prior splenectomy was associated with inferior relapse-free survival (HR 3.50, 95% CI 1.18-10.37) and higher relapse rate (SDHR not calculable). Age > 60 years (SDHR 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08-0.80) and peripheral blood graft (SDHR 0.34, 95% CI 0.11-0.99) was associated with lower risk of relapse. In our limited sample, the presence of a high-risk mutation was not statistically significantly associated with an inferior outcome although ASXL1 was suggestive of inferior survival (SDHR 2.36. 95% CI 0.85-6.6).
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Haploidentical bone marrow transplantation in patients with relapsed or refractory severe aplastic anaemia in the USA (BMT CTN 1502): a multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 trial
DeZern, A. E., Eapen, M., Wu, J., Talano, J. A., Solh, M., Dávila Saldaña, B. J., Karanes, C., Horwitz, M. E., Mallhi, K., Arai, S., et al
The Lancet. Haematology. 2022
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Relapsed severe aplastic anaemia is a marrow failure disorder with high morbidity and mortality. It is often treated with bone marrow transplantation at relapse post-immunosuppressive therapy, but under-represented minorities often cannot find a suitably matched donor. This study aimed to understand the 1-year overall survival in patients with relapsed or refractory severe aplastic anaemia after haploidentical bone marrow transplantation. METHODS We report the outcomes of BMT CTN 1502, a single-arm, phase 2 clinical trial done at academic bone marrow transplantation centres in the USA. Included patients were children and adults (75 years or younger) with severe aplastic anaemia that was refractory (fulfilment of severe aplastic anaemia disease criteria at least 3 months after initial immunosuppressive therapy) or relapsed (initial improvement of cytopenias after first-line immunosuppressive therapy but then a later return to fulfilment of severe aplastic anaemia disease criteria), adequate performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score 0 or 1, Karnofsky or Lansky score ≥60%), and the presence of an eligible related haploidentical donor. The regimen used reduced-intensity conditioning (rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin 4·5 mg/kg in total, cyclophosphamide 14·5 mg/kg daily for 2 days, fludarabine 30 mg/kg daily for 5 days, total body irradiation 200 cGy in a single fraction), related HLA-haploidentical donors, and post-transplantation cyclophosphamide-based graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Additionally, for GVHD prophylaxis, mycophenolate mofetil was given orally at a dose of 15 mg/kg three times a day up to 1 g three times a day (maximum dose 3000 mg per day) from day 5 to day 35, and tacrolimus was given orally or intravenously from day 5 to day 180 as per institutional standards to maintain a serum concentration of 10-15 ng/mL. The primary endpoint was overall survival 1 year after bone marrow transplantation. All patients treated per protocol were analysed. This study is complete and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02918292. FINDINGS Between May 1, 2017, and Aug 30, 2020, 32 patients with relapsed or refractory severe aplastic anaemia were enrolled from 14 centres, and 31 underwent bone marrow transplantation. The median age was 24·9 years (IQR 10·4-51·3), and median follow-up was 24·3 months (IQR 12·1-29·2). Of the 31 patients who received a transplant, 19 (61%) were male and 12 (39%) female. 13 (42%) patients were site-reported as non-White, and 19 (61%) were from under-represented racial and ethnic groups; there were four (13%) patients who were Asian, seven (23%) Black, one (3%) Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and one (3%) more than one race, with seven (23%) patients reporting Hispanic ethnicity. 24 (77%) of 31 patients were alive with engraftment at 1 year, and one (3%) patient alive with autologous recovery. The 1-year overall survival was 81% (95% CI 62-91). The most common grade 3-5 adverse events (seen in seven or more patients) included seven (23%) patients with abnormal liver tests, 15 (48%) patients with cardiovascular changes (including sinus tachycardia, heart failure, pericarditis), ten (32%) patients with gastrointestinal issues, seven (23%) patients with nutritional disorders, and eight (26%) patients with respiratory disorders. Six (19%) deaths, due to disease and unsuccessful bone marrow transplantation, were reported after transplantation. INTERPRETATION Haploidentical bone marrow transplantation using this approach results in excellent overall survival with minimal GVHD in patients who have not responded to immunosuppressive therapy, and can expand access to bone marrow transplantation across all populations. In clinical practice, this could now be considered a standard approach for salvage treatment of severe aplastic anaemia. Attention to obtaining high cell doses (>2·5 × 10(8) nucleated marrow cells per kg of recipient ideal bodyweight) from bone marrow harvests is crucial to the success of this approach. FUNDING US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and US National Cancer Institute.
PICO Summary
Population
Children and adults up to 75 years with severe refractory aplastic anaemia, from transplant centres in USA (n=32)
Intervention
Haploidentical transplantation with reduced intensity conditioning
Comparison
None
Outcome
31 received transplant. 24 (77%) of 31 patients were alive with engraftment at 1 year, and one (3%) patient alive with autologous recovery. The 1-year overall survival was 81% (95% CI 62-91). The most common grade 3-5 adverse events (seen in seven or more patients) included seven (23%) patients with abnormal liver tests, 15 (48%) patients with cardiovascular changes (including sinus tachycardia, heart failure, pericarditis), ten (32%) patients with gastrointestinal issues, seven (23%) patients with nutritional disorders, and eight (26%) patients with respiratory disorders. Six (19%) deaths, due to disease and unsuccessful bone marrow transplantation, were reported after transplantation.
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HLA-Matching with PTCy: A Reanalysis of a CIBMTR Dataset with Propensity Score Matching and Donor Age
Ambinder, A. J., Jain, T., Tsai, H. L., Horowitz, M. M., Jones, R. J., Varadhan, R.
Blood advances. 2022
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Abstract
Blood or marrow transplantation (BMT) outcomes using haploidentical donors (Haplo) and post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy)-based graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis compare favorably to using HLA-matched donors with calcineurin inhibitor-based GVHD prophylaxis. A recent CIBMTR analysis of patients receiving homogenous PTCy-based prophylaxis found that, with reduced intensity conditioning, Haplo BMTs had worse outcomes than matched unrelated donor (MUD) BMTs. Due to significant differences in characteristics between the groups, we reanalyzed the dataset using propensity score matching and, additionally, added a donor age variable. MUD BMTs were matched to Haplo BMTs in a 1:5 ratio. After matching, no significant differences were found between groups across all measured baseline characteristics. Outcomes analyses demonstrated no significant differences in overall survival (HR of mortality with MUD vs Haplo [95% CI], 0.95[0.65-1.16], P=0.75), disease free survival (HR of relapse or death, 0.98[0.73-1.18], P=0.89), relapse rate (HR, 1.06[0.77-1.38], P=0.69), or non-relapse mortality (HR, 0.85[0.42-1.13], P=0.49) between the two groups. After stratification by conditioning intensity, MUD BMTs in the RIC cohort had a lower risk of NRM (HR, 0.56 [0.14-0.99], P=0.05), with no significant difference in other clinical outcomes. These results suggest that the effect of HLA matching on BMT outcomes with PTCy is less meaningful than previously reported and observed differences resulted in part from differences in donor age. Timely identification of a young, at least half-matched (related or unrelated) donor may be more important than finding a matched donor, if the latter leads to a substantial delay in BMT or use of an older donor.
PICO Summary
Population
Adults with acute myeloid leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in first or second complete remission, or myelodysplastic syndromes attending 111 bone marrow transplantation (BMT) centres across the USA and reported to the CIBMTR registry (n=837)
Intervention
BMT from haploidentical donors (Haplo, n=637, subset receiving reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) n=341)
Comparison
BMT from matched unrelated donors (MUD, n=200, subset receiving RIC n=114)
Outcome
After matching, no significant differences were found between groups across all measured baseline characteristics. Outcomes analyses demonstrated no significant differences in overall survival (HR of mortality with MUD vs Haplo [95% CI], 0.95[0.65-1.16]), disease free survival (HR of relapse or death, 0.98[0.73-1.18]), relapse rate (HR, 1.06[0.77-1.38]), or non-relapse mortality (HR, 0.85[0.42-1.13]) between the two groups. After stratification by conditioning intensity, MUD BMTs in the RIC cohort had a lower risk of non-relapse mortality (HR, 0.56 [0.14-0.99]), with no significant difference in other clinical outcomes.
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Relationship of donor age and relationship to outcomes of haploidentical transplantation with posttransplant cyclophosphamide
DeZern, A. E., Franklin, C., Tsai, H. L., Imus, P. H., Cooke, K. R., Varadhan, R., Jones, R. J.
Blood advances. 2021;5(5):1360-1368
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Abstract
Allogeneic blood or marrow transplantation (BMT) physicians seek to optimize all possible variables to improve outcomes. Selectable factors include conditioning, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis, graft source, and donor. Many patients, especially those with eligible haploidentical (haplo) donors, will have multiple donor options. We seek to identify factors to optimize the choice of haplo donors when using posttransplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) GVHD prophylaxis. We evaluated the effect of modifiable donor characteristics (donor age and relationship) on outcomes following haplo BMT with a uniform nonmyeloablative conditioning and PTCy. From 2002 to 2017, 889 consecutive adult patients underwent nonmyeloablative haplo BMT with PTCy. Median follow-up among survivors was 2.5 years after BMT. Median recipient age was 59 (range: 18 to 76) years and median donor age was 40 (range: 13 to 79) years. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that increasing donor age by decade was associated with poorer overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13 [1.05, 1.22; P = .0015]), worse progression-free survival (HR, 1.09 [1.02, 1.16; P = .015]), and a higher risk for grade 2 to 4 and grade 3 to 4 GVHD (1.3 [1.06, 1.61; P = .013]), but not for chronic GVHD (HR, 1.06 [0.94, 1.2]; P = .37). These less-favorable results with older donors were attributable to worse nonrelapse mortality (HR, 1.19 [1.05, 1.34]; P = .006), not relapse. Parents were associated with inferior outcomes compared with sibling donors, whereas no significant differences were observed between parental donors. These data suggest that the youngest, adult-sized donors should be preferred when multiple haplo donors are available.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients undergoing non-myeloablative haploidentical transplantation (n=889)
Intervention
Evaluation of the effect of modifiable donor characteristics (donor age and relationship) on outcomes.
Comparison
None
Outcome
Median follow-up among survivors was 2.5 years after BMT. Median recipient age was 59 (range: 18 to 76) years and median donor age was 40 (range: 13 to 79) years. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that increasing donor age by decade was associated with poorer overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13), worse progression-free survival (HR, 1.09), and a higher risk for grade 2 to 4 and grade 3 to 4 GVHD (HR, 1.3), but not for chronic GVHD (HR, 1.06). These less-favourable results with older donors were attributable to worse non-relapse mortality (HR, 1.19), not relapse. Parents were associated with inferior outcomes compared with sibling donors, whereas no significant differences were observed between parental donors.
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Umbilical cord blood or HLA-haploidentical transplantation: Real world outcomes vs randomized trial outcomes
O'Donnell, P. V., Brunstein, C. G., Fuchs, E. J., Zhang, M. J., Allbee-Johnson, M., Antin, J. H., Leifer, E. S., Elmariah, H., Grunwald, M. R., Hashmi, H., et al
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2021
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Randomized clinical trials offer the highest quality data for modifying clinical practice. Results of a phase III randomized trial of non-myeloablative transplantation for adults with high- risk hematologic malignancies with two umbilical cord blood (UCB) units (n=183) or HLA-haploidentical relative bone marrow (Haplo-BM) (n=154) revealed 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) of 41% and 35% after Haplo-BM and two-unit UCB transplantation, respectively (p=0.41); overall survival was 57% and 46%, respectively (p=0.04), BMT CTN 1101; NCT01597778. OBJECTIVES We sought to examine the generalizability of BMT CTN 1101 to a contemporaneous cohort beyond the trial's pre-specified 2-year outcomes. All transplantation occurred between June 2012 and June 2018 in the United States. We hypothesized that the results of a rigorous phase III randomized trial will be generalizable. Changes in graft selection for HLA-haploidentical relative transplantation during the trial period allowed comparison of outcomes after transplantation with Haplo-BM to those after haploidentical peripheral blood (Haplo-PB). STUDY DESIGN The trial's broad eligibility criteria were applied to the data source of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research to select non-trial subjects. Extended follow up of trial subjects was obtained from this data source. Three separate analyses were performed: 1) trial subjects beyond the trial's 2-year endpoint 2) comparison of trial subjects to a contemporaneous cohort of non-trial subjects (195 two-unit UCB, 358 Haplo-BM, 403 Haplo-PB) and 3) comparison of non-trial subjects by donor and graft type. Multivariate analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards models for comparison of outcomes by treatment groups. RESULTS With longer follow up of the trial cohorts, 5-year PFS (37% versus 29%, p=0.08) and overall survival (42% versus 36%, p=0.06) were not significantly different between treatment groups. We then compared the trial results to comparable real-world transplantations. Five-year overall survival after trial and non-trial two-unit UCB (36% versus 41%, p=0.48) and trial and non-trial Haplo-BM (42% versus 47%, p=0.80) transplantation were not different confirming generalizability. The randomized trial did not accrue as planned and therefore lacked the statistical power to detect a 15% difference in progression-free survival. With substantially larger numbers of non-trial Haplo-BM transplantations, 5-year survival was higher after non-trial Haplo-BM compared to trial two-unit UCB (47% versus 36%, p=0.012). Non-trial patients who received Haplo-PB transplantation had higher 5-year survival (54%) compared to trial (HR 0.76, p=0.044) and non-trial (HR 0.78, p=0.026) Haplo-BM. Similarly, survival was higher after Haplo-PB compared to trial (HR 0.57, p<0.0001) and non-trial UCB (HR 0.63, p=0.0002). CONCLUSION When considering alternative donor low intensity conditioning regimen transplantation, a haploidentical relative is preferred. Further, PB is the preferred graft.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients enrolled on the BMT CTN 1101 trial (n=337), and non-trial patients identified from the CIBMTR database (n=956), who met the criteria for BMT CTN 11001 but were not enrolled (total n=1293)
Intervention
two umbilical cord blood (UCB) units (trial: n=183, non-trial: n=195; total n=378)
Comparison
HLA-haploidentical relative bone marrow (Haplo-BM, trial: n=154, non-trial: n=358; total n=512); Non-trial cohort undergoing peripheral blood haploidentical transplant (Haplo-PB, n=403)
Outcome
With longer follow up of the trial cohorts, 5-year PFS (37% versus 29%, p=0.08) and overall survival (42% versus 36%) were not significantly different between treatment groups. We then compared the trial results to comparable real-world transplantations. Five-year overall survival after trial and non-trial two-unit UCB (36% versus 41%) and trial and non-trial Haplo-BM (42% versus 47%) transplantation were not different confirming generalizability. The randomized trial did not accrue as planned and therefore lacked the statistical power to detect a 15% difference in progression-free survival. With substantially larger numbers of non-trial Haplo-BM transplantations, 5-year survival was higher after non-trial Haplo-BM compared to trial two-unit UCB (47% versus 36%). Non-trial patients who received Haplo-PB transplantation had higher 5-year survival (54%) compared to trial (HR 0.76) and non-trial (HR 0.78) Haplo-BM. Similarly, survival was higher after Haplo-PB compared to trial (HR 0.57) and non-trial UCB (HR 0.63).
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Double unrelated umbilical cord blood vs HLA-haploidentical bone marrow transplantation: the BMT CTN 1101 trial
Fuchs, E. J., O'Donnell, P. V., Eapen, M., Logan, B., Antin, J. H., Dawson, P., Devine, S., Horowitz, M. M., Horwitz, M. E., Karanes, C., et al
Blood. 2021;137(3):420-428
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Abstract
Results of 2 parallel phase 2 trials of transplantation of unrelated umbilical cord blood (UCB) or bone marrow (BM) from HLA-haploidentical relatives provided equipoise for direct comparison of these donor sources. Between June 2012 and June 2018, 368 patients aged 18 to 70 years with chemotherapy-sensitive lymphoma or acute leukemia in remission were randomly assigned to undergo UCB (n = 186) or haploidentical (n = 182) transplant. Reduced-intensity conditioning comprised total-body irradiation with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine for both donor types. Graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis for UCB transplantation was cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and for haploidentical transplantation, posttransplant cyclophosphamide, tacrolimus, and MMF. The primary end point was 2-year progression-free survival (PFS). Treatment groups had similar age, sex, self-reported ethnic origin, performance status, disease, and disease status at randomization. Two-year PFS was 35% (95% confidence interval [CI], 28% to 42%) compared with 41% (95% CI, 34% to 48%) after UCB and haploidentical transplants, respectively (P = .41). Prespecified analysis of secondary end points recorded higher 2-year nonrelapse mortality after UCB, 18% (95% CI, 13% to 24%), compared with haploidentical transplantation, 11% (95% CI, 6% to 16%), P = .04. This led to lower 2-year overall survival (OS) after UCB compared with haploidentical transplantation, 46% (95% CI, 38-53) and 57% (95% CI 49% to 64%), respectively (P = .04). The trial did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in the primary end point, 2-year PFS, between the donor sources. Although both donor sources extend access to reduced-intensity transplantation, analyses of secondary end points, including OS, favor haploidentical BM donors. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01597778.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients aged 18 to 70 years with chemotherapy-sensitive lymphoma or acute leukaemia in remission (n=368)
Intervention
Cord blood transplantation (UCB, n=186)
Comparison
Haploidentical transplantation (n=182)
Outcome
Two-year PFS was 35% after UCB compared with 41% haploidentical transplant. Prespecified analysis of secondary end points recorded higher 2-year nonrelapse mortality after UCB: 18%, compared with 11% for haploidentical transplantation. This led to lower 2-year overall survival (OS) after UCB compared with haploidentical transplantation, 46% and 57%, respectively. The trial did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in the primary end point, 2-year PFS, between the donor sources.
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Randomized Phase III BMT CTN Trial of Calcineurin Inhibitor-Free Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease Interventions in Myeloablative Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Hematologic Malignancies
Luznik, L., Pasquini, M. C., Logan, B., Soiffer, R. J., Wu, J., Devine, S. M., Geller, N., Giralt, S., Heslop, H. E., Horowitz, M. M., et al
Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 2021;:Jco2102293
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
PURPOSE Calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) are standard components of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Prior data suggested that CNI-free approaches using donor T-cell depletion, either by ex vivo CD34 selection or in vivo post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) as a single agent, are associated with lower rates of chronic GVHD (cGVHD). METHODS This multicenter phase III trial randomly assigned patients with acute leukemia or myelodysplasia and an HLA-matched donor to receive CD34-selected peripheral blood stem cell, PTCy after a bone marrow (BM) graft, or tacrolimus and methotrexate after BM graft (control). The primary end point was cGVHD (moderate or severe) or relapse-free survival (CRFS). RESULTS Among 346 patients enrolled, 327 received HCT, 300 per protocol. Intent-to-treat rates of 2-year CRFS were 50.6% for CD34 selection (hazard ratio [HR] compared with control, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.56 to 1.15; P = .24), 48.1% for PTCy (HR, 0.86; 0.61 to 1.23; P = .41), and 41.0% for control. Corresponding rates of overall survival were 60.1% (HR, 1.74; 1.09 to 2.80; P = .02), 76.2% (HR, 1.02; 0.60 to 1.72; P = .95), and 76.1%. CD34 selection was associated with lower moderate to severe cGVHD (HR, 0.25; 0.12 to 0.52; P = .02) but higher transplant-related mortality (HR, 2.76; 1.26 to 6.06; P = .01). PTCy was associated with comparable cGVHD and survival outcomes to control, and a trend toward lower disease relapse (HR, 0.52; 0.28 to 0.96; P = .037). CONCLUSION CNI-free interventions as performed herein did not result in superior CRFS compared with tacrolimus and methotrexate with BM. Lower rates of moderate and severe cGVHD did not translate into improved survival.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients 65 years and under with acute leukaemia or myelodysplasia undergoing matched donor allogeneic HSCT at 26 centres in the USA (n=346)
Intervention
CD34 selected graft (n=114) or Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy, n=114)
Comparison
Tacrolimus and methotrexate (Control, n=118)
Outcome
Among 346 patients enrolled, 327 received HCT, 300 per protocol. Intent-to-treat rates of 2-year CRFS were 50.6% for CD34 selection (hazard ratio [HR] compared with control, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.56 to 1.15), 48.1% for PTCy (HR, 0.86; 0.61 to 1.23), and 41.0% for control. Corresponding rates of overall survival were 60.1% (HR, 1.74; 1.09 to 2.80), 76.2% (HR, 1.02; 0.60 to 1.72), and 76.1%. CD34 selection was associated with lower moderate to severe cGVHD (HR, 0.25; 0.12 to 0.52) but higher transplant-related mortality (HR, 2.76; 1.26 to 6.06). PTCy was associated with comparable cGVHD and survival outcomes to control, and a trend toward lower disease relapse (HR, 0.52; 0.28 to 0.96)
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Shortened-duration immunosuppressive therapy after nonmyeloablative, related HLA-haploidentical or unrelated peripheral blood grafts and post-transplantation cyclophosphamide
DeZern, A. E., Elmariah, H., Zahurak, M., Rosner, G. L., Gladstone, D. E., Ali, S. A., Huff, C. A., Swinnen, L. J., Imus, P., Borrello, I., et al
Biology of blood and marrow transplantation : journal of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 2020
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
With post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis, nonmyeloablative (NMA) HLA-haploidentical (haplo) and HLA-matched blood or marrow (BMT) have comparable outcomes. Previous reports showed that discontinuation of immunosuppression (IS) as early as day 60 after infusion of bone marrow (BM) haplo allograft with PTCy is feasible. There are certain diseases in which peripheral blood (PB) may be favored over BM, but, given the higher rates of GVHD with PB, excessive GVHD becomes an increased concern. We present a completed, prospective single-center trial of stopping IS at days 90 and 60 after NMA PB transplantation. Between 12/2015-7/2018, 117 consecutive patients with hematologic malignancies associated with higher rates of graft failure after NMA conditioned BM transplantation and PTCy, received NMA PB allografts on trial. The primary objective was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of reduced-duration IS (from Day 5 through Day 90 in cohort 1 and through Day 60 in cohort 2). Of the 117 patients (median age 64 years, range 22-78), the most common diagnoses were myelodysplastic syndrome (33%), acute myeloid leukemia (with minimal residual disease or arising from antecedent disorder) (32%), myeloproliferative neoplasms (19%) myeloma (9%), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (7%). Shortened IS was feasible in 75 pts (64%) overall. Ineligibility for shortened IS resulted most commonly from GVHD (17 pts), followed by early relapse (11 pts), non-relapse mortality (NRM) (7 pts), patient/ physician preference (4 pts) or graft failure (3 pts). Of the 57 patients in the D90 cohort, 33 (58%) stopped IS early as planned. Of the 60 patients in the D60 cohort, 42 (70%) stopped IS early as planned. The graft failure rate was 2.6%. After IS cessation, the median time to diagnosis of grade II-IV GVHD was 21 days and 32 days in the day 90 and day 60 cohorts respectively, with almost all cases developing within 40 days. Approximately one-third of these patients did restart IS. All outcome measures were similar in the 2 cohorts and to our historical outcomes with 180 days of IS. The cumulative incidence of grade 3-4 acute GVHD were low at 2 and 7% in D90 and D60, respectively. Severe chronic GVHD was 9% (D90) and 5% (D60) at 2 years. The two year overall survival was 67% for both the D90 and D60 cohorts, The two year progression free survival was 47% for the Day 90 cohort and 52% for the Day 60 cohort with the GVHD-free relapse-free survival less than 35% for both cohorts. These data suggest that reduced-duration IS in pts receiving NMA PB grafts with PTCy is feasible and carries an acceptable safety profile.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients with hematologic malignancies associated with higher rates of graft failure (n=117)
Intervention
Non-myeloablative haploidentical transplant with immunosuppression days 5-90 (D90 cohort, n=57)
Comparison
Non-myeloablative haploidentical transplant, with immunosuppression days 5-60 (D60 cohort, n=60)
Outcome
Shortened immunosuppression (IS) was feasible in 75 pts (64%) overall. Ineligibility for shortened IS resulted most commonly from GVHD (17 pts), followed by early relapse (11 pts), non-relapse mortality (NRM) (7 pts), patient/ physician preference (4 pts) or graft failure (3 pts). Of the 57 patients in the D90 cohort, 33 (58%) stopped IS early as planned. Of the 60 patients in the D60 cohort, 42 (70%) stopped IS early as planned. The graft failure rate was 2.6%. After IS cessation, the median time to diagnosis of grade II-IV GVHD was 21 days and 32 days in the day 90 and day 60 cohorts respectively, with almost all cases developing within 40 days. Approximately one-third of these patients did restart IS. All outcome measures were similar in the 2 cohorts and to our historical outcomes with 180 days of IS. The cumulative incidence of grade 3-4 acute GVHD were low at 2 and 7% in D90 and D60, respectively. Severe chronic GVHD was 9% (D90) and 5% (D60) at 2 years. The two year overall survival was 67% for both the D90 and D60 cohorts, The two year progression free survival was 47% for the Day 90 cohort and 52% for the Day 60 cohort with the GVHD-free relapse-free survival less than 35% for both cohorts.
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10.
Double unrelated umbilical cord blood versus HLA-haploidentical bone marrow transplantation (BMT CTN 1101)
Fuchs, E. J., O'Donnell, P. V., Eapen, M., Logan, B. R., Antin, J. H., Dawson, P., Devine, S. M., Horowitz, M. M., Horwitz, M. E., Karanes, C., et al
Blood. 2020
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
Results of two parallel phase II trials of transplantation of unrelated umbilical cord blood or bone marrow from HLA-haploidentical relatives provided equipoise for direct comparison of these donor sources. Between June 2012 and June 2018, 368 patients aged 18-70 years with chemotherapy-sensitive lymphoma or acute leukemia in remission were randomly assigned to undergo cord blood (n=186) or haploidentical (n=182) transplant. Reduced intensity conditioning comprised total body irradiation with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine for both donor types. Graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis for cord blood transplantation was cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil and for haploidentical transplantation, post-transplant cyclophosphamide, tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil. The primary endpoint was 2-year progression-free survival. Treatment groups had similar age, sex, self-reported ethnic origin, performance status, disease and disease status at randomization. Two-year progression-free survival was 35% (95% CI, 28-42%) compared to 41% (95% CI, 34-48%) after cord blood and haploidentical transplants, respectively (p=0.41). Pre-specified analysis of secondary endpoints recorded higher 2-year non-relapse mortality after cord blood, 18% (95% CI, 13-24%) compared to haploidentical transplantation, 11% (95% CI, 6-16%), p=0.04. This led to lower 2-year overall survival after cord blood compared to haploidentical transplantation, 46% (95% CI, 38-53) and 57% (95% CI 49-64%), respectively (p=0.04). The trial did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in the primary endpoint, 2-year progression-free survival, between the donor sources. While both donor sources extend access to reduced intensity transplantation, analyses of secondary endpoints, including overall survival, favor haploidentical bone marrow donors. (Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-National Cancer Institute; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01597778).
Clinical Commentary
Dr. Julia Wolf, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
What is known?
Allogeneic stem cell transplant is a potentially curative treatment option for patients with poor risk or relapsed acute leukaemia or lymphoma. Transplant outcomes are, amongst other factors, dependent on optimal donor selection; despite recent advances, donor availability remains an area of unmet need for many patients. Fully HLA matched sibling donors are the preferred choice but are available in <30% of patients, while fully matched unrelated donor (MUD) transplants are available in <20% of non-Caucasian patients. For patients who lack a HLA matched donor, alternative stem cell sources include double umbilical cord transplant (DUCT) and haploidentical haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HaploSCT). DUCT is associated with low immunogenicity and non-invasive harvesting, but utility is limited by lack of further cell availability, e.g. for donor lymphocyte infusions, as well as cost. A small (n = 45) randomised trial (Sanz, J. et al, 2020) comparing DUCT and HaploSCT in the myeloablative setting showed increased non-relapse mortality in the DUCT group but no significant difference in terms of relapse rates or overall survival (OS). While other data is extensive it is often registry based and retrospective. Prospective data in the reduced intensity setting is limited.
What did this paper set out to examine?
This randomised multi-centre phase III trial set in the United States is the first randomised trial to compare DUCT and HaploSCT for the treatment of leukaemia and lymphoma in adults in the setting of reduced intensity conditioning. It aims to compare the two donor sources in terms of 2-year progression free survival (PFS) as primary endpoint and engraftment, acute and chronic Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD), non-relapse mortality, relapse/progression and OS as secondary endpoints.
What did they show?
The authors compared data from 368 patients (DUCT = 186 vs HaploSCT = 182) enrolled from 33 centres over a 6-year period from 2012 to 2016. The cohort represents 90% of the planned accrual of 410 patients – the trial closed early due to slow accrual. Patients aged 18-70 years with high risk acute leukaemia and lymphoma with good performance score, adequate organ function and available haploidentical donor or double umbilical cord unit were included. Exclusion criteria were fairly selected. Patients were well matched in terms of age, sex, self-reported ethnic origin, performance status, disease and disease status at randomisation. Reduced intensity conditioning comprised cyclophosphamide and fludarabine with total body irradiation for both donor types. GvHD prophylaxis for cord blood transplantation was cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and PtCy, tacrolimus and MMF for HaploSCT.
RESULTS: DUCT and HaploSCT were comparable for the primary endpoint of 2-year PFS (35% vs 41%; p=0.41). Analysis of secondary endpoints reached statistical significance for some of the chosen parameters: DUCT was associated with higher 2-year non-relapse mortality (18% vs 11%; p=0.04) and lower OS (46% vs 57%; p=0.04). Death was most commonly attributed to recurrent disease and relapse rates were comparable in both groups (47% in DUCT vs 48% in HaploSCT; p=0.968). HaploSCT showed higher cumulative incidence of neutrophil recovery at day 56 while no difference was seen in platelet recovery. Similar rates of acute and chronic GvHD were observed.
What are the implications for practice and for future work?
While this study didn’t demonstrate a significant difference in its’ primary end point, it showed an OS benefit and lower non-relapse mortality in the HaploSCT arm. Higher non-relapse mortality associated with DUCT may be explained by lack of immunologic memory and associated higher rates of infection, especially in the early post-transplant period. A recent meta-analysis (Poonsombudlert, et al. 2019) concurs that HaploSCT is associated with improved OS but also demonstrated lower relapse rates, lower rates of acute GvHD and higher rates of chronic GvHD in HaploSCT compared with DUCT. These findings were not replicated in this study. Lower non-relapse mortality and improved OS were also reported in a retrospective study of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (Kosuri, S. et al, 2017) which also demonstrated improved 4-year PFS in HaploSCT compared with DUCT.
While both donor sources improve access to reduced intensity transplantation, improved overall survival and lower non-relapse mortality with comparable GvHD rates shown in this study make HaploSCT an increasingly attractive option for patients without matched sibling transplant.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients aged 18-70 years with chemotherapy-sensitive lymphoma or acute leukaemia in remission (n=368)
Intervention
Cord blood transplantation (n=186)
Comparison
Haploidentical transplantation (n=182)
Outcome
Two-year progression-free survival was 35% compared to 41% after cord blood and haploidentical transplants, respectively. Pre-specified analysis of secondary endpoints recorded higher 2-year non-relapse mortality after cord blood, 18% compared to haploidentical transplantation, 11%. This led to lower 2-year overall survival after cord blood compared to haploidentical transplantation, 46% and 57%, respectively. The trial did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in the primary endpoint, 2-year progression-free survival, between the donor sources.