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1.
Systematic Evaluation of Donor-KIR/Recipient-HLA Interactions in HLA-matched Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for AML
Fein, J. A., Shouval, R., Krieger, E., Spellman, S. R., Wang, T., Baldauf, H., Fleischhauer, K., Kröger, N., Horowitz, M. M., Maiers, M., et al
Blood advances. 2023
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), donor NK-cell killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and recipient HLA interactions may contribute to the graft-versus-leukemia effect of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Analyses of individual KIR/HLA interactions however have yielded conflicting findings, and their importance in the HLA-matched unrelated donor (MUD) setting remains controversial. We systematically studied outcomes of individual donor-KIR/recipient-HLA interactions for HCT outcomes and empirically evaluated prevalent KIR genotypes for clinical benefit. Adult AML patients (n=2025) transplanted in complete remission who received MUD grafts reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplantation were evaluated. Only the donor-2DL2present/recipient-HLA-C1present pair was associated with reduced relapse (hazard ratio 0.79 [95% confidence interval: 0.67, 0.93], p = 0.006) compared with donor-2DL2absent/recipient-HLA-C1present. However, no association were found when comparing HLA-C groups among KIR-2DL2present-graft recipients. We identified nine prevalent donor KIR genotypes in our cohort and screened them for association with relapse risk. Genotype (G)5 in all recipients and G3 in Bw4present recipients were associated with decreased relapse risk (HR 0.52 [0.35, 0.78], p = 0.002; 0.32 [0.14, 0.72], p = 0.006, respectively) and G2 (HR 1.63 [1.15, 2.29], p = 0.005) with increased relapse risk C1-homozygous recipients, compared to patients with the same ligand. However, we could not validate these findings in an external dataset of 796 AML transplants from the German transplantation registry. Neither a systematic evaluation of known HLA-KIR interactions nor an empiric assessment of prevalent KIR genotypes demonstrated clinically actionable associations, therefore not supporting these KIR-driven strategies for MUD selection in AML.
PICO Summary
Population
Adults with acute myeloid leukaemia who underwent matched unrelated donor (MUD) transplantation in complete remission, identified from the CIBMTR registry (n=2025)
Intervention
Evaluation of individual donor-KIR/recipient-HLA interactions for HCT outcomes and empirically evaluated prevalent KIR genotypes for clinical benefit.
Comparison
Independent validation cohort of 796 AML transplants from the German transplantation registry (n=796)
Outcome
Only the donor-2DL2+/recipient-HLA-C1+ pair was associated with reduced relapse (hazard ratio 0.79 [95% confidence interval: 0.67, 0.93]) compared with donor-2DL2-/recipient-HLA-C1+. However, no association were found when comparing HLA-C groups among KIR-2DL2+-graft recipients. We identified nine prevalent donor KIR genotypes in our cohort and screened them for association with relapse risk. Genotype (G)5 in all recipients and G3 in Bw4+recipients were associated with decreased relapse risk (HR 0.52 [0.35, 0.78]; 0.32 [0.14, 0.72], respectively) and G2 (HR 1.63 [1.15, 2.29]) with increased relapse risk C1-homozygous recipients, compared to patients with the same ligand.
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Cytokine release syndrome in haploidentical stem cell transplant may impact T-cell recovery and relapse
Shapiro, R. M., Kim, H. T., Ansuinelli, M., Guleria, I., Cutler, C. S., Koreth, J., Gooptu, M., Antin, J. H., Kelkar, A. H., Ritz, J., et al
Blood advances. 2023
Abstract
Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) following haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) resembles the CRS after chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T therapy. We conducted this single-center retrospective study evaluating the association of post-haploidentical HCT CRS with clinical outcomes and immune reconstitution. One hundred sixty-nine patients who underwent haploidentical HCT between 2011 and 2020 were identified. Of these, 98 patients (58%) developed CRS after HCT. CRS was diagnosed based on the presence of fever within the first 5 days after HCT without evidence of infection or infusion reaction, and graded according to established criteria. The development of post-haploidentical HCT CRS was associated with a lower incidence of disease relapse (p=0.024) but with an increased risk of chronic GVHD (p=0.01). The association of CRS with a lower incidence of relapse was not confounded by graft source or disease diagnosis. Neither CD34 nor TNC dose was associated with CRS independently of graft type. In patients developing CRS, CD4+ Treg (p<0.0005), CD4+ Tcon (p<0.005) and CD8+ T-cells (p<0.005) were increased at 1 month following HCT compared to those who did not develop CRS, but not at later time points. The increase in CD4+ regulatory T cells at 1 month post HCT was most notable among patients with CRS who received a bone marrow graft (p<0.005). The development of post haploidentical HCT CRS is associated with a reduced incidence of disease relapse and with a transient effect on post HCT immune reconstitution of T cells and their subsets. Validation of these observations in a multicenter cohort is required.
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Invasive Yeast Infection After Haploidentical Donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Associated with Cytokine Release Syndrome
Little, J. S., Shapiro, R. M., Aleissa, M. M., Kim, A., Chang, J. B. P., Kubiak, D. W., Zhou, G., Antin, J. H., Koreth, J., Nikiforow, S., et al
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2022
Abstract
BACKGROUND Use of haploidentical donor hematopoietic cell transplantation (haploHCT) has expanded but recent reports raise concern for increased rates of infectious complications. The incidence and risk factors for invasive fungal disease (IFD) after haploHCT have not been well elucidated. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for IFD after haploHCT. The identification of key risk factors will permit targeted prevention measures and may explain elevated risk for other infectious complications after haploHCT. STUDY DESIGN We performed a single-center retrospective study of all adults undergoing haploHCT between May 2011 and May 2021 (n=205). The 30-day and one-year cumulative incidence of proven or probable IFD and one-year non-relapse mortality (NRM) were assessed. Secondary analysis evaluated risk factors for invasive yeast infection (IYI) using univariate and multivariable Cox regression models. RESULTS Twenty-nine patients (14%) developed IFD following haploHCT. Nineteen (9.3%) developed IYI in the first year, 13 of which occurred early with a 30-day cumulative incidence of 6.3% (95% CI 2.9 - 9.6%) and increased NRM in patients with IYI (53.9% versus 10.9%). The majority of yeast isolates (17/20; 85%) were fluconazole susceptible. The incidence of IYI in the first 30 days after haploHCT was 10% among the 110 (54%) patients who developed cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and 21% among the 29 (14%) who received tocilizumab. On multivariable analysis, AML (HR 6.24; 1.66 - 23.37; p=0.007) and CRS (HR 4.65; 1.00 - 21.58; p=0.049) were associated with an increased risk of early IYI after haploHCT. CONCLUSION CRS after haploHCT is common and is associated with increased risk of early IYI. The identification of CRS as a risk factor for IYI raises questions about its potential association with other infections after haploHCT. Recognition of key risk factors for infection may permit individualized strategies for prevention and intervention and minimize potential side effects.
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4.
Outcomes for Patients With IDH-Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia Undergoing Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Chen, E. C., Li, S., Eisfeld, A. K., Luskin, M. R., Mims, A., Jones, D., Antin, J. H., Cutler, C. S., Koreth, J., Ho, V. T., et al
Transplantation and cellular therapy. 2021
Abstract
Disease relapse after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a major cause of treatment failure for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Maintenance therapy after HCT for patients with targetable mutations such as mutated IDH1 or IDH2 may improve outcomes, and clinical trials evaluating this strategy are ongoing. However, clinical outcomes of IDH1- and IDH2-mutated AML patients after HCT have not been well described. The primary objective of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and post-HCT outcomes of IDH-mutated AML patients. Survival outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and cumulative incidences of relapse and nonrelapse mortality. In this multicenter retrospective analysis, 112 adult patients with IDH1- or IDH2-mutated AML who underwent HCT and did not receive an IDH inhibitor as maintenance therapy after HCT were identified at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Ohio State University. Mutation testing was performed using next-generation sequencing panels. Patient characteristics were collected retrospectively, and their survival outcomes were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. The median patient age was 64.1 years. The median follow-up was 27.5 months. Among patients, 78.5% had intermediate- or adverse-risk disease by European LeukemiaNET criteria. Fifty-eight percent of patients received intensive induction chemotherapy, 82% of patients underwent HCT during first complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi), and 34% of patients received myeloablative conditioning. Frequently detected co-mutations were DNMT3A (35.7%), NPM1 (33.1%), and FLT3-ITD (13.4%); TP53 mutations were detected in 3.6% of patients. For IDH1-mutated patients transplanted during first CR/CRi, the 1- and 2-year PFS was 75% and 58%, respectively. For IDH2-mutated patients transplanted in first CR/CRi, the 1- and 2-year PFS was 64% and 58%, respectively. The 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 31% and 25% for IDH1- and IDH2-mutated cohorts, respectively. Multivariable analysis suggested first CR/CRi and age =60 was associated with improved outcomes for IDH2-mutated patients. To date, this is the largest multicenter study of outcomes of IDH-mutated AML patients after HCT. Our analysis provides important benchmarks for analysis and interpretation of results emerging from clinical trials evaluating maintenance IDH1 and IDH2 inhibitor therapy for AML patients after HCT.
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5.
Incidence and impact of community respiratory viral infections in post-transplant cyclophosphamide-based graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis and haploidentical stem cell transplantation
Mulroney, C. M., Bilal Abid, M., Bashey, A., Chemaly, R. F., Ciurea, S. O., Chen, M., Dandoy, C. E., Diaz Perez, M. A., Friend, B. D., Fuchs, E., et al
British journal of haematology. 2021
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Abstract
Community respiratory viral infections (CRVIs) are associated with pulmonary function impairment, alloimmune lung syndromes and inferior survival in human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-matched allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) recipients. Although the incidence of viral infections in HLA-haploidentical HCT recipients who receive post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy)-based graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis is reportedly increased, there are insufficient data describing the incidence of CRVIs and the impact of donor source and PTCy on transplant outcomes. Analysing patients receiving their first HCT between 2012 and 2017 for acute myeloid leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndromes, we describe comparative outcomes between matched sibling transplants receiving either calcineurin-based GVHD prophylaxis (SibCNI, N = 1605) or PTCy (SibCy, N = 403), and related haploidentical transplants receiving PTCy (HaploCy, N = 757). The incidence of CRVIs was higher for patients receiving PTCy, regardless of donor type. Patients in the HaploCy cohort who developed a CRVI by day +180 had both a higher risk of treatment-related mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 2·14, 99% confidence interval (CI) 1·13-4·07; P = 0·002] and inferior 2-year overall survival (HR 1·65, 99% CI 1·11-2·43; P = 0·001) compared to SibCNI with no CRVI. This finding justifies further research into long-term antiviral immune recovery, as well as development of preventive and treatment strategies to improve long-term outcomes in such patients.
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6.
Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptor-Ligand Interactions Predict Clinical Outcomes Following Unrelated Donor Transplants
Krieger, E., Sabo, R., Moezzi, S., Cain, C., Roberts, C., Kimball, P., Chesney, A., McCarty, J., Keating, A., Romee, R., et al
Biology of blood and marrow transplantation : journal of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 2019
Abstract
Killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) and KIR-ligand (KIRL) interactions play an important role in natural killer (NK) cell mediated graft versus leukemia effect following hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). However, there is considerable heterogeneity in the KIR gene and KIRL content in individuals, making it difficult to estimate the full clinical impact of NK cell reconstitution following HCT. Here, a novel adaptive mathematical model designed to quantify these interactions is presented to better assess the influence of NK cell-mediated alloreactivity on transplant outcomes. Ninety-eight HLA matched unrelated donor (URD) HCT recipients were retrospectively studied. The KIR-KIRL interactions were quantified using a system of matrix equations. Unit values were ascribed to each KIR-KIRL interaction and directionality of interactions was denoted by, either a positive (activating) or negative symbol (inhibition); these interactions were then summed. The absolute values of both the missing KIRL as well as inhibitory KIR-KIRL interactions were significantly associated with overall survival and relapse. These score components were initially used to develop a weighted (w-KIR Score) and subsequently a simplified, non-weighted KIR-KIRL interaction scores (IM-KIR Score). Increased w-KIR Score and IM-KIR Score were both predictive of all-cause mortality and relapse; w-KIR score HR of 0.37 (P=0.001) and 0.44 (P=0.044) respectively; IM-KIR score HR of 0.5 (P=0.049) and 0.44 (P=0.002) respectively. IM-KIR score was also associated with NK cell reconstitution post HCT. KIR-KIRL interactions as reflected by the w-KIR and IM-KIR scores influence both relapse risk and survival in recipients of HLA matched URD HCT with hematological malignancies.
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7.
The Predicted Indirectly Recognizable HLA Epitopes (PIRCHE) Score for HLA Class I Graft-Versus-Host Disparity Is Associated with Increased Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease in Haploidentical Transplantation with Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide
Rimando, J., Slade, M., DiPersio, J. F., Westervelt, P., Gao, F., Liu, C., Romee, R.
Biology of blood and marrow transplantation : journal of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 2019
Abstract
The Predicted Indirectly Recognizable HLA Epitopes (PIRCHE) score quantifies the number of PIRCHE between patient and donor pairs and represents an in silico measure of indirect alloreactivity. This biologic process is defined as T cell recognition of epitopes derived from mismatched, allogeneic HLA peptides that are subsequently presented by shared HLA molecules. Its association with clinical outcome has not been examined in haplo-HCT with PTCy. We hypothesized that PIRCHE scores would correlate with indirect alloreactivity and predict graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) risk and incidence of relapse after haplo-HCT with PTCy. To address this, we retrospectively analyzed 148 patients who received peripheral blood, T cell-replete haplo-HCT with PTCy at a single center between 2009 and 2016. PIRCHE scores (PS) were calculated using the PIRCHE online matching tool. PS were categorized by class and vector. The median class I graft-versus-host (GvH) PS was 11 (range, 0-56), while the median class I host-versus-graft (HvG) PS was 10 (range 0-51). The class I GvH PS was associated with increased grade II-IV aGvHD (adjusted HR or aHR 1.03 per PS unit increase; 95% CI 1.01-1.05; p=0.008) but not chronic GvHD or incidence of relapse. PIRCHE scores represent a novel strategy to predict clinical outcome in haplo-HCT. Further studies using registry data and prospective cohorts are warranted to validate these findings.
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Prognostic value of prior consolidation in acute myeloid leukemia patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation in minimal residual disease-negative first complete remission
How, J., Vij, K. R., Ebadi, M., DeFor, T. E., Romee, R., Dolan, M. M., Ustun, C., Weisdorf, D. J., Linden, M. A., Rashidi, A.
American journal of hematology. 2018
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9.
HLA epitope mismatch in haploidentical transplantation is associated with decreased relapse and delayed engraftment
Rimando, J., Slade, M., DiPersio, J. F., Westervelt, P., Gao, F., Liu, C., Romee, R.
Blood advances. 2018;2(24):3590-3601
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
HLA disparity is traditionally measured at the antigen or allele level, and its impact on haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (haplo-HCT) with high-dose posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) is unclear. To the best of our knowledge, the relationship between HLA eplet-derived epitope mismatch (EM) and clinical outcome has not been examined in haplo-HCT. We retrospectively analyzed 148 patients who received a peripheral blood, T-cell-replete haplo-HCT with PTCy at a single center. HLA EM was quantified using an HLAMatchmaker-based method and was stratified by class and vector. The primary outcome was incidence of relapse. The total number of mismatched epitopes (MEs) per patient-donor pair in our patient population ranged from 0 to 51 (median, 24) in the graft-versus-host (GVH) direction and 0 to 47 (median, 24) in the host-versus-graft (HVG) direction. Higher HLA class II EM in the GVH direction was associated with a significantly reduced risk of relapse (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.952 per ME; P = .002) and improved relapse-free survival (adjusted HR, 0.974 per ME; P = .020). Higher HLA class II EM in the HVG direction was associated with longer time to neutrophil (adjusted HR, 0.974 per ME; P = .013) and platelet (adjusted HR, 0.961 per ME; P = .001) engraftment. In peripheral blood haplo-HCT patients, increased HLA EM was associated with a protective effect on the risk of relapse in the GVH direction but a negative effect on time to count recovery in the HVG direction. HLA EM based on the HLA Matchmaker represents a novel strategy to predict clinical outcome in haplo-HCT.
PICO Summary
Population
Population 148 patients who received a peripheral blood, T-cell-replete haplo-HCT with high-dose posttransplant cyclophosphamide
Intervention
Intervention Measurement of epitope mismatch
Comparison
Comparison N/A
Outcome
Outcome Higher HLA class II EM in the GVH direction was associated with a significantly reduced risk of relapse and improved relapse-free survival. Higher HLA class II EM in the HVG direction was associated with longer time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment. In peripheral blood haplo-HCT patients, increased HLA EM was associated with a protective effect on the risk of relapse in the GVH direction but a negative effect on time to count recovery in the HVG direction
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Peritransplant Serum Albumin Decline Predicts Subsequent Severe Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease after Mucotoxic Myeloablative Conditioning
Rashidi, A., DiPersio, J. F., Westervelt, P., Abboud, C. N., Schroeder, M. A., Cashen, A. F., Pusic, I., Romee, R.
Biology of Blood & Marrow Transplantation. 2016;22(6):1137-41
Abstract
Conditioning-related gut toxicity can result in a protein-losing enteropathy manifesting as a decline in serum albumin in the peritransplant period. Inspired by the pathogenesis of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), we hypothesized that the magnitude of decline in serum albumin from the day of conditioning initiation until its nadir in the first 2 weeks after hematopoietic cell transplantation HCT (DeltaAlb) predicts the risk for subsequent severe aGVHD. We reviewed the medical records of all 88 patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome who underwent highly mucotoxic myeloablative (busulfan/cyclophosphamide or cyclophosphamide/total body irradiation) allogeneic HCT from a matched related donor (MRD) or matched unrelated donor (MUD) at our institution between January 1, 2012 and January 1, 2015. Severe aGVHD was associated with MUD (47% versus 14% with MRD; P = .001) and DeltaAlb, which was significantly greater among patients who developed versus did not develop severe aGVHD (1.2 +/- .5 versus .8 +/- .4 g/dL, respectively; P < .001). In multivariate analysis DeltaAlb remained a significant predictor of severe aGVHD (odds ratio, 5.68; 95% CI, 1.65 to 19.64; P = .006; area under the ROC curve, .74; 95% CI, .63 to .86; P < .001). The best cutoff for DeltaAlb to predict severe aGVHD was .9, with a sensitivity, specificity, and overall classification accuracy of 77%, 66%, and 69%, respectively. The model was validated using the bootstrap technique, with no significant change in its performance. These results were not generalizable to a cohort of 30 patients who received less mucotoxic myeloablative or reduced-intensity conditioning. In conclusion, with mucotoxic myeloablative HCT, each .1-g/dL increase in DeltaAlb was associated with an approximately 23% increase in the odds of developing severe aGVHD. As an early biomarker of gut damage, DeltaAlb can be incorporated in composite risk models for aGVHD prediction, with hopes for ultimately allowing for individualized GVHD prophylaxis and potential intervention according to the predicted risk. Copyright © 2016 The American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.