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Eltrombopag improves platelet engraftment after haploidentical bone marrow transplantation: Results of a Phase II study
Ahmed, S., Bashir, Q., Bassett, R. L., Jr., Ullah, F., Aung, F., Valdez, B. C., Alousi, A. M., Hosing, C., Kebriaei, P., Khouri, I., et al
American journal of hematology. 2024
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
Slow platelet recovery frequently occurs after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) with bone marrow graft and post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PCy)-based graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Improved platelet recovery may reduce the need for transfusions and improve outcomes. We investigated the safety and efficacy of eltrombopag, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, at enhancing platelet recovery post-haplo-HSCT. The prospective study included patients ≥18 years of age who received haplo-HSCT with bone marrow graft and PCy. Patients received eltrombopag 300 mg/day starting on Day +5. The primary objective was to estimate platelet engraftment (>50 000/μL by Day 60). In a post hoc analysis, they were compared to a contemporary matched control group who did not receive eltrombopag. One hundred ten patients were included in the analysis (30 eltrombopag and 80 control). Seventy-three percent and 50% of patients in the eltrombopag group and control group, respectively, attained >50 000/μL platelet count by Day 60 (p = .043). No eltrombopag-related grade ≥4 adverse events were observed. Median time to platelet recovery (>20 000/μL) was 29 days with eltrombopag and 31 days for controls (p = .022), while its cumulative incidence was 90% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 78%-100%) with eltrombopag versus 67.5% (95% CI: 57%-78%) for controls (p = .014). Number of platelet transfusions received, overall survival, progression-free survival, GVHD rate, relapse rate, and non-relapse mortality were similar between groups. Overall, eltrombopag is safe and improves platelet recovery in patients undergoing haplo-HSCT with bone marrow graft and PCy.
PICO Summary
Population
Adults underoing haploidentical transplant with bone marrow graft and post-transplant cyclophosphamide from a single centre in USA (n=110)
Intervention
Eltrombopag 300 mg/day starting on Day +5 (n=30)
Comparison
contemporary matched control group who did not receive eltrombopag (n=80)
Outcome
Seventy-three percent and 50% of patients in the eltrombopag group and control group, respectively, attained >50 000/μL platelet count by Day 60. No eltrombopag-related grade ≥4 adverse events were observed. Median time to platelet recovery (>20 000/μL) was 29 days with eltrombopag and 31 days for controls, while its cumulative incidence was 90% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 78%-100%) with eltrombopag versus 67.5% (95% CI: 57%-78%) for controls. Number of platelet transfusions received, overall survival, progression-free survival, GVHD rate, relapse rate, and non-relapse mortality were similar between groups.
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Incidence and Risk Factors of Early Onset VOD/SOS Differ in Younger vs Older Adults After Stem Cell Transplantation
Marcoux, C., Saliba, R. M., Wallis, W., Khazal, S. J., Ragoonanan, D., Rondon, G., Tewari, P., Popat, U. R., Oran, B., Olson, A. L., et al
Blood advances. 2024
Abstract
Veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). While increasing awareness and modern transplant techniques have mitigated risk, the interaction of historic risk factors in the current era with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) is unknown. We performed a retrospective single center analysis of adult patients 18 years or older undergoing allo-SCT (N=1561) using predominately PTCy as GVHD prophylaxis (72%). We found a higher rate of VOD at 16.8% (20/119) in those aged ≤ 25 years compared to 3.8% (55/1442) in those >25 years, with unique predictors of VOD within each cohort. Multivariate classification and regression tree (CART) analysis confirmed age as the primary independent determinant of the rate of VOD. Within patients aged 18-25 years, disease risk index (DRI) (31% with high/very high DRI vs 12% low/intermediate DRI; p=0.03) and prior lines of chemotherapy (24% with >1 vs 6% with ≤1, p=0.03) were the strongest predictors of VOD. Incidence of VOD in patients > 25 years of age consistently ranged between 3-5% across most risk factors evaluated, with only hepatic factors (baseline elevation of bilirubin, aspartate transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT)) or gemtuzumab exposure associated with increased rates of VOD. There was no significant difference in rates of VOD in those receiving PTCy compared to those receiving alternate GVHD prophylaxis. Our data highlight the differences in incidence and predictors in VOD between younger (≤25) and older (>25) adults undergoing allo-SCT.
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Outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma and 1q gain/amplification receiving autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant: the MD Anderson cancer center experience
Pasvolsky, O., Ghanem, S., Milton, D. R., Rauf, M., Tanner, M. R., Bashir, Q., Srour, S., Saini, N., Lin, P., Ramdial, J., et al
Blood cancer journal. 2024;14(1):4
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
The prognostic impact of additional copies of chromosome 1q (1q + ) on outcomes of newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients undergoing autologous transplantation (autoSCT) is unclear. We conducted a retrospective single-center analysis of NDMM patients with 1q21 gain/amplification (3 or ≥4 copies of 1q, respectively) that received autoSCT between 2008-2018. 213 patients were included (79% 1q gain; 21% 1q amplification). The most commonly used induction regimen was bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (41%). At day100 post-autoSCT and at best post-transplant response, 78% and 87% of patients achieved ≥VGPR, and 38% and 50% achieved MRD-negative ≥VGPR, respectively. Median PFS and OS for the entire cohort were 35.5 months and 81.4 months, respectively. On multivariable assessment for PFS, MRD negative ≥VGPR before autoSCT (HR 0.52, p = 0.013) was associated with superior PFS, whereas 1q amplification was associated with inferior PFS (2.03, p = 0.003). On multivariate analysis for OS, achieving MRD negative ≥VGPR at best post-transplant response was associated with superior survival (0.29, p < 0.001), whereas R-ISS III and concomitant del17p or t(4:14) were associated with inferior survival (6.95, p = 0.030, 2.33, p = 0.023 and 3.00, p = 0.047, respectively). In conclusion, patients with 1q+ NDMM, especially 1q amplification, have inferior survival outcomes compared to standard-risk disease after upfront autoSCT, though outcomes are better than other high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities.
PICO Summary
Population
Adults with newly-diagnosed myeloma (NDMM) patients with 1q21 gain/amplification (3 or >/=4 copies of 1q, respectively) that received autoSCT between from a single centre in USA (n=213)
Intervention
Assess the prognostic impact of additional copies of chromosome 1q (1q+) on autologous transplantation outcomes
Comparison
None
Outcome
At day100 post-autoSCT and at best post-transplant response, 78% and 87% of patients achieved very good partial response or better (>/=VGPR) and 38% and 50% achieved MRD-negative >/=VGPR, respectively. Median PFS and OS for the entire cohort were 35.5 months and 81.4 months, respectively. On multivariable assessment for PFS, MRD negative >/=VGPR before autoSCT (HR 0.52) was associated with superior PFS, whereas 1q amplification was associated with inferior PFS (2.03). On multivariate analysis for OS, achieving MRD negative >/=VGPR at best post-transplant response was associated with superior survival (0.29), whereas R-ISS III and concomitant del17p or t(4:14) were associated with inferior survival (6.95, 2.33, and 3.00, respectively).
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Azacitidine Post-transplant Maintenance Improves Disease Progression in High-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Pasvolsky, O., Saliba, R. M., Popat, U. R., Alousi, A., Mehta, R., Yeh, J., Al-Atrash, G., Adeel, M., Ramdial, J., Marin, D., et al
Clinical lymphoma, myeloma & leukemia. 2024
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maintenance after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) with hypomethylating agents has yielded conflicting results. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a single center retrospective matched-control analysis with the study group (5-azacitidine [AZA] group) including adults with FLT3-negative acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who received post-transplant AZA maintenance off clinical trial (n = 93). A matched control group was comprised of contemporaneous AML/MDS patients who did not receive any maintenance (n = 357). Primary endpoint was disease progression. RESULTS The AZA and control groups had comparable patient and disease characteristics except for older age (median: 61 vs. 57 years, P = .01) and lower hematopoietic comorbidity index (median: 2 vs. 3, P = .04) in the AZA group. The 3-year cumulative incidence of progression in the AZA and control groups was 29% vs. 33% (P = .09). The protective effect of AZA on progression was limited to patients with high-risk AML/MDS (HR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.2-0.8, P = .009). This led to improved progression-free survival both in high-risk AML and MDS patients with maintenance (HR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.1-0.6, P = .004 and HR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.2-0.9, P = .04). CONCLUSION AZA maintenance was associated with a lower progression rate in patients with high-risk FLT3-negative AML or MDS, and AZA maintenance should be considered for post-alloHCT maintenance in this subset.
PICO Summary
Population
Adults with FLT3-negative acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
Intervention
Post-transplant 5-azacitidine (AZA) maintenance off clinical trial (n = 93).
Comparison
Contemporaneous AML/MDS patients who did not receive any maintenance (n = 357)
Outcome
The AZA and control groups had comparable patient and disease characteristics except for older age (median: 61 vs. 57 years) and lower hematopoietic comorbidity index (median: 2 vs. 3) in the AZA group. The 3-year cumulative incidence of progression in the AZA and control groups was 29% vs. 33%. The protective effect of AZA on progression was limited to patients with high-risk AML/MDS (HR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.2-0.8). This led to improved progression-free survival both in high-risk AML and MDS patients with maintenance (HR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.1-0.6, and HR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.2-0.9).
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Myeloablative Fractionated Busulfan for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant in Older Patients or Patients with Comorbidities
Popat, U. R., Pasvolsky, O., Bassett, R., Mehta, R. S., Olson, A. L., Chen, J., Alousi, A. M., Al-Atrash, G., Bashir, Q., Gulbis, A. M., et al
Blood advances. 2023
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
Traditional conditioning regimens for patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHCT) provide suboptimal outcomes, especially for older patients and those with comorbidities. We hypothesized that a fractionated myeloablative busulfan dose delivered over an extended period would reduce non-relapse mortality (NRM), while retaining anti-leukemic effects. Here, we performed a phase II trial for adults with hematological malignancies receiving matched related or unrelated alloHCT. Participants received busulfan 80mg/m2 outpatient on days -20 and -13 before transplant. Fludarabine 40mg/m2 was given on days -6 to -2 followed by busulfan dosed to achieve a target area under the curve of 20,000mol/min for the whole course. The primary endpoint was day 100 NRM. Seventy-eight patients were included, with a median age of 61 (range 39-70) years, transplanted for acute leukemia (24%), MDS (27%), or MPD/CML (44%). HCT specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI) was >3 in 34 (44%). With a median follow-up of 36.4 (range 2.9-51.5) months, 100-day, 1-year and 3-year NRM was 3.8% (95%CI, 0-8.1%), 8% (95%CI, 2-14%), and 9.3% (95%CI, 2.6-15.9%), without a significant difference by age or HCT-CI score. One-year and 3-year relapse incidence was 10% (95%CI, 4-17%) and 18% (95%CI, 9-27%), respectively. Three-year overall survival was 80% (95%CI, 72-90%) and was similar for patients >60 and <60 years of age, as well as those with HCT-CI>3 and HCT-CI<3. Overall, we found that a myeloablative fractionated busulfan regimen has low NRM without an increase in relapse rate, resulting in promising survival, even in older patients or in patients with comorbidities.
PICO Summary
Population
Adults with haematological malignancies receiving matched related or unrelated allogeneic transplant, from a single centre in USA (n=78).
Intervention
Busulfan 80mg/m2 outpatient on days -20 and -13 before transplant, fludarabine 40mg/m2 on days -6 to -2 followed by busulfan dosed to achieve a target area under the curve of 20,000mol/min for the whole course
Comparison
None
Outcome
With a median follow-up of 36.4 (range 2.9-51.5) months, 100-day, 1-year and 3-year non-relapse mortality was 3.8% (95%CI, 0-8.1%), 8% (95%CI, 2-14%), and 9.3% (95%CI, 2.6-15.9%), without a significant difference by age or HCT-CI score. One-year and 3-year relapse incidence was 10% (95%CI, 4-17%) and 18% (95%CI, 9-27%), respectively. Three-year overall survival was 80% (95%CI, 72-90%) and was similar for patients >60 and <60 years of age, as well as those with HCT-CI>3 and HCT-CI<3.
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Effect of donor age in patients with acute myeloid leukemia undergoing haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation vary by conditioning intensity and recipient age
Saliba, R. M., Kanakry, C. G., Gadalla, S., Kebriaei, P., Rezvani, K., Champlin, R. E., Shpall, E. J., Weisdorf, D., Mehta, R. S.
American journal of hematology. 2023
Abstract
We investigated the impact of donor age (younger [≤35 years] vs. older [>35 years]) after accounting for other non-HLA and HLA factors on outcomes of patients with acute myeloid leukemia undergoing HLA-haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (n = 790). The effect differed by conditioning-partly related to the differences in the recipient age in myeloablative (MAC; median 46 years) versus reduced-intensity/non-myeloablative conditioning (RIC/NMA; median 61 years) groups. With MAC (n = 320), donor age had no impact on acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), but older donors were associated with a significantly higher risk of chronic GVHD (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10-2.30, p = .02) independent of recipient age and other factors. Donor age had no impact on either relapse or non-relapse mortality (NRM). The impact of donor/recipient age on overall survival changed over time. Older donors were associated with significantly higher late overall mortality (>6 months) in younger recipients (≤ 50 years; HR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.03-4.6, p = .04) but not older recipients. With RIC/NMA (n = 470), neither recipient's nor donor's age influenced the risk of GVHD. Donor age had no significant impact on the risk of relapse, but older donors were associated with a significantly higher risk of NRM (HR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.02-2.6, p = .04) independent of recipient age. Older donor age was associated with significantly higher late overall mortality (>9 months) in older recipients (>50 years; HR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.0-2.67; p = .049) but not in younger recipients. Donor selection based on donor age may require a tailored approach for a particular recipient.
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Transplant Outcomes of Myelofibrosis with Busulfan and Fludarabine Myeloablative Conditioning
Joseph, J., Srour, S. A., Milton, D. R., Ramdial, J. L., Saini, N. Y., Olson, A. L., Bashir, Q., Oran, B., Alousi, A. M., Hosing, C., et al
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2023
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
BACKGROUND Outcomes of myelofibrosis with allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) have improved over the past decade and are partly related to advances in supportive treatments and conditioning regimens. Several factors are known to predict transplant outcomes. However, most studies lack homogeneity in the conditioning regimen used, which limits their ability to assess prognostic factors on transplant outcomes. OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine the risk factors that predict transplant outcomes in patients with myelofibrosis who underwent matched or mismatched allo-SCT using a uniform myeloablative conditioning regimen consisting of busulfan and fludarabine with tacrolimus and methotrexate-based graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis. STUDY DESIGN This single-center study included patients with myelofibrosis who underwent allo-SCT with a matched unrelated donor (MUD), matched related donor (MRD), or mismatched unrelated donor (MMUD) and received busulfan and fludarabine conditioning with methotrexate/tacrolimus-based GVHD prophylaxis. RESULTS Sixty-five patients with myelofibrosis met the criteria and were included in the study. At a median follow-up of 35.6 months, the 3-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), non-relapse mortality (NRM), and overall survival (OS) for all study patients were 27%, 20%, and 65%, respectively. In a multivariable analysis for CIR, prior use of JAK inhibitors was significantly associated with a decreased risk of relapse (HR [95% CI], 0.33 [0.11-0.99]; p = 0.048). For NRM, HCT-CI (≥3 vs. <3, 10.09 [2.09-48.76]; p=0.004) and donor type (MUD vs. MRD, 5.38 [1.14-25.30]; p=0.033 and MMUD vs. MRD, 10.73 [1.05-109.4]; p=0.045) were associated with an increased risk of mortality. Likewise for OS, HCT-CI (≥3 vs. <3, 3.31 [1.22-8.99]; p = 0.019) and donor type (MMUD vs. MRD, 5.20 [1.35-19.98]; p = 0.016) were significantly associated with inferior survival. Longer time from diagnosis to allo-SCT seemed to confer worse survival but this didn't reach statistical significance (>12 months vs. ≤12 months: NRM, 7.20 [0.96-53.94]; p=0.055 and OS, 2.60 [0.95-7.14]; p=0.06). CONCLUSIONS In a homogenous cohort of myelofibrosis patients uniformly treated with busulfan/fludarabine myeloablative conditioning and methotrexate-based GVHD prophylaxis, we showed that donor choice and HCT-CI are the two strongest predictors for improved survival after allo-SCT.
PICO Summary
Population
People with myelofibrosis who underwent allo-SCT with a matched unrelated donor (MUD), matched related donor (MRD), or mismatched unrelated donor (MMUD) at a single centre in USA (n=176)
Intervention
Cohort for analysis: all who received myeloablative conditioning regimen consisting of busulfan and fludarabine with tacrolimus and methotrexate-based graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis (n=65)
Comparison
None
Outcome
At a median follow-up of 35.6 months, the 3-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), non-relapse mortality (NRM), and overall survival (OS) for all study patients were 27%, 20%, and 65%, respectively. In a multivariable analysis for CIR, prior use of JAK inhibitors was significantly associated with a decreased risk of relapse (HR [95% CI], 0.33 [0.11-0.99]). For NRM, HCT-CI (>/=3 vs. <3, 10.09 [2.09-48.76]) and donor type (MUD vs. MRD, 5.38 [1.14-25.30] and MMUD vs. MRD, 10.73 [1.05-109.4]) were associated with an increased risk of mortality. Likewise for OS, HCT-CI (>/=3 vs. <3, 3.31 [1.22-8.99];) and donor type (MMUD vs. MRD, 5.20 [1.35-19.98]) were significantly associated with inferior survival. Longer time from diagnosis to allo-SCT seemed to confer worse survival but this didn't reach statistical significance (>12 months vs. </=12 months: NRM, 7.20 [0.96-53.94] and OS, 2.60 [0.95-7.14]).
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Paving the Road for CAR-Ts: ASTCT 80/20 Task Force consensus on challenges and solutions to improving efficiency of clinical center certification and maintenance of operations for commercially approved immune effector cell therapies
Nikiforow, S., Frigault, M. J., Frey, N. V., Gardner, R. A., Komanduri, K. V., Perales, M. A., Kebriaei, P., Warkentin, P. I., Pasquini, M., Aho, J. L., et al
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2023
Abstract
As the number and type of regulatory authority-approved cellular therapies grow, clinical treatment centers face a heavy burden of duplicative documentation around initial qualification, ongoing auditing, and reporting-with overlapping requirements from each manufacturer to ensure safe use of their specific product, which in the United States are stipulated under individual Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Biologic License Applications (BLA). The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) convened the 80/20 Taskforce to consider challenges and potential solutions to these issues. The taskforce proposed that 80% of manufacturers' requirements for onboarding and ongoing operations of commercially available products could be standardized and streamlined. Taskforce members interviewed dozens of stakeholders, including clinicians at large academic medical centers already utilizing commercial and investigational immune effector cell (IEC) products, regulators, members of accrediting bodies and professional cellular therapy societies, and manufacturers of IEC therapies for oncologic indications. In November 2021, the taskforce organized and led virtual discussions in a public forum and at a private ASTCT 80/20 workshop at the online AcCELLerate Forum, a cellular-therapy stakeholders' meeting organized by the ASTCT, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR). At the workshop, approximately 60 stakeholders worked to identify and prioritize common challenges in onboarding and maintenance of operations at clinical sites for commercial FDA-approved and future IEC therapies and ways to streamline the process. It was agreed that standardization would improve efficiency of onboarding, allowing more cost-effective, sustainable growth of approved IEC therapies at treatment centers, and facilitate wider access while maintaining safety and clinical success. This early but extensive survey of stakeholders resulted in five overarching suggestions for both established and emerging treatment centers: 1. Eliminate duplication in accreditation and auditing of clinical sites; 2. Define expectations for education and management of CAR-T cell therapy toxicities to potentially replace product-specific REMS programs; 3. Streamline current REMS education, testing and data reporting; 4. Standardize IT platforms supporting enrollment, clinical site-to-manufacturer communication, and logistics of maintaining chain of identity/chain of custody across multiple transportation steps; 5. Encourage use of universal nomenclature by cell therapy manufacturers. Future discussions need to engage a broader range of stakeholders including administrators, pharmacists, nurses, data coordinators, surgeons, pathologists, and those developing promising cellular therapies for solid tumors, as well as teams from smaller academic or community cancer center settings. Continued collaboration with stakeholders outside of clinical sites will include accrediting bodies/auditors, established and emerging cell therapy companies, software developers, professional societies, and the patients who receive these therapies. Active dialogue with government regulators remains essential. Such joint efforts are critical as the number of IEC therapies for myriad oncologic and non-oncologic indications grows.
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Impact of Donor Age on Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Outcomes in Older Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Abid, M. B., Estrada-Merly, N., Zhang, M. J., Chen, K., Allan, D., Bredeson, C., Sabloff, M., Guru Murthy, G. S., Badar, T., Hashmi, S., et al
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2023
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (alloHCT) provides cure for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML); however, disease relapse remains a major concern. Based on recent data suggesting that younger donor age confers the greatest benefit among matched unrelated donors (MUD), we attempted to answer a practical question: which donor type provides the best outcomes when an older patient with AML has a matched sibling donor (MSD, also older) vs the best MUD? METHODS This retrospective cohort registry study accessed data from Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database (CIBMTR) in patients with AML 50 years or older undergoing alloHCT from older MSD (aged≥50) or younger MUD (aged≤35) between 2011 and 2018. The study included common allograft types, conditioning regimens, and graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. The primary outcome was relapse risk. Secondary outcomes included non-relapse mortality (NRM), GVHD, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS Among 4684 eligible patients, 1736 underwent alloHCT with an older MSD whereas 2948 received transplant from a younger MUD. In multivariable analysis, compared to an alloHCT from older MSDs, younger MUDs conferred a decreased relapse risk (HR 0.86; p=.005) and a significantly lower adjusted 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse (35% vs 41%; p=.003), but was associated with an increased risk for chronic GVHD (HR 1.18; 95% CI, 1.08-1.29; p=.0002) and greater NRM only in the earlier period from 2011-2015 (HR 1.24; p=.016). The corresponding NRM rates were significantly lower in the more recent period from 2016-2018 (HR 0.78; p=.017). The adjusted 5-year DFS probability was 44% (95% CI, 42%-46%) with an alloHCT from younger MUDs compared to 41% (95% CI, 38%-43%) with an older MSD (p=.04). CONCLUSION In older patients with AML undergoing alloHCT, the use of younger MUDs is associated with a decreased relapse risk and improved DFS compared to older MSDs.
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Younger Matched Unrelated Donors Confer Decreased Relapse Compared to Older Sibling Donors in Older B-cell ALL Patients Undergoing Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Abid, M. B., Merly, N. E., Zhang, M. J., Chen, K., Bredeson, C., Allan, D., Sabloff, M., Marks, D. I., Litzow, M., Hourigan, C., et al
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2023
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (alloHCT) offers cures for older patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), disease relapse remains a major issue. Whether matched sibling donors (MSD) are still the preferred donor choice compared to younger matched unrelated donors (MUD), in the contemporary era of improved transplant practices, remains unknown. METHODS This retrospective cohort registry study queried the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database (CIBMTR) data in B-cell ALL patients 50 years or older, undergoing alloHCT from older MSDs (donor age ≥ 50) or younger MUDs (donor age ≤ 35) between 2011 and 2018. The study included common allograft types, conditioning regimens, and graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis strategies. The primary outcome was relapse risk whereas secondary outcomes included non-relapse mortality (NRM), GVHD, leukemia-free survival (LFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS Among 925 eligible patients in the study cohort, 386 underwent alloHCT with an older MSD (median donor age, 58) whereas 539 received transplant from a younger MUD (median donor age, 25). In multivariable analysis, younger MUDs conferred a significantly decreased risk of relapse (HR 0.68; p=.002) vs older MSDs. The adjusted cumulative incidence of relapse at 5 years was significantly lower with younger MUDs compared to older MSDs (26% vs 37%; p=.001). Younger MUDs were associated with a greater risk of chronic GVHD compared to older MSDs (HR 1.33; 95% CI, 1.10-1.61; p=.003). Compared to older MSDs, younger MUDs conferred an increased NRM (HR 1.38; p=.02) and higher adjusted cumulative incidence of NRM at 5 years (31% vs 22%; p=.006). There were no differences in OS or LFS rates of alloHCT with younger MUDs vs older MSDs (OS: HR 1.09; p=.37; DFS: HR 0.95; p=.57). CONCLUSION Younger MUDs could be considered as a possible way to prevent relapse after alloHCT in older adults with ALL. Combining the use of younger MUDs with improved strategies to reduce GVHD is worth further exploration to improve outcomes.