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The role of anti-thymocyte globulin in allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from HLA-matched unrelated donors (MUD) for secondary AML in remission: a study from the ALWP /EBMT
Nagler, A., Labopin, M., Kröger, N., Schroeder, T., Gedde-Dahl, T., Eder, M., Franke, G. N., Blau, I. W., Salmenniemi, U., Socie, G., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2023
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
We compared outcomes, of 1609 patients with secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) undergoing allogeneic transplantation (HSCT) in first complete remission (CR1) from matched unrelated donors (MUD) from 2010 to 2021, receiving or not receiving anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) (ATG-1308, no ATG-301). Median age was 60.9 (range, 18.5-77.8) and 61.1 (range, 21.8-75.7) years, (p = 0.3). Graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was cyclosporin-A with methotrexate (41%) or mycophenolate mofetil (38.2%), without significant differences between groups. Day 28, engraftment (ANC > 0.5 × 10(9)/L) was 92.3% vs 95.3% (p = 0.17), respectively. On multivariate analysis, ATG was associated with lower incidence of grade II-IV and grade III-IV acute GVHD (p = 0.002 and p = 0.015), total and extensive chronic GVHD (p = 0.008 and p < 0.0001), and relapse incidence (RI) (p = 0.039), while non-relapse mortality (NRM) did not differ (p = 0.51). Overall survival (OS), and GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) were significantly higher in the ATG vs no ATG group, HR = 0.76 (95% CI 0.61-0.95, p = 0.014) and HR = 0.68 (95% CI 0.57-0.8, p < 0.0001), with a tendency for better leukemia-free survival (LFS), HR = 0.82 (95% CI 0.67-1, p = 0.051). The main causes of death were the original disease, infection, and GVHD. In conclusion, ATG reduces GVHD and improves LFS, OS, and GRFS in sAML patients without increasing the RI, despite sAML being a high-risk disease.
PICO Summary
Population
Adults with secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) undergoing allogeneic HSCT) in first complete remission from matched unrelated donors and reported to the EBMT registry (n=1609)
Intervention
Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) included in GvHD prophylaxis (n=1308)
Comparison
No ATG included in GvHD prophylaxis (n=301)
Outcome
Day 28, engraftment (ANC > 0.5 × 10(9)/L) was 92.3% vs 95.3%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, ATG was associated with lower incidence of grade II-IV and grade III-IV acute GVHD, total and extensive chronic GVHD, and relapse incidence (RI), while non-relapse mortality (NRM) did not differ. Overall survival (OS), and GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) were significantly higher in the ATG vs no ATG group, HR = 0.76 (95% CI 0.61-0.95) and HR = 0.68 (95% CI 0.57-0.8), with a tendency for better leukemia-free survival (LFS), HR = 0.82 (95% CI 0.67-1). The main causes of death were the original disease, infection, and GVHD.
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Ibrutinib for First-Line Treatment of Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease: Results From the Randomized Phase III iNTEGRATE Study
Miklos, D. B., Abu Zaid, M., Cooney, J. P., Albring, J. C., Flowers, M., Skarbnik, A. P., Yakoub-Agha, I., Ko, B. S., Bruno, B., Waller, E. K., et al
Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 2023;:Jco2200509
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
PURPOSE To present primary and final analyses from the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III iNTEGRATE study, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of ibrutinib with prednisone in previously untreated patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). METHODS Patients (age ≥ 12 years) with newly diagnosed moderate or severe cGVHD, requiring systemic corticosteroid therapy, and with no prior systemic treatment for cGVHD were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive ibrutinib 420 mg once daily plus prednisone, starting at 1 mg/kg once daily or placebo plus prednisone. The primary end point was response rate at 48 weeks according to 2014 National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Project Criteria. Other end points included event-free survival, duration of response, time to withdrawal of immunosuppressants, improvement in Lee cGVHD Symptom Scale score, overall survival (OS), and safety. RESULTS Ninety-five and 98 patients enrolled in the ibrutinib-prednisone and placebo-prednisone arms, respectively. At 48 weeks, response rates were 41% (ibrutinib-prednisone) and 37% (placebo-prednisone; P = .54). At 33 months of follow-up, median duration of response was 19 months (ibrutinib-prednisone) and 10 months (placebo-prednisone; P = .10). Median event-free survival was 15 months (ibrutinib-prednisone) and 8 months (placebo-prednisone; hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.54 to 1.1; P = .11). Improvement in overall Lee cGVHD Symptom Scale was 43% (ibrutinib-prednisone) and 31% (placebo-ibrutinib; P = .07). Median OS was not reached in either arm. The 24-month Kaplan-Meier OS estimates were 80% for both arms (hazard ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.90). Grade ≥ 3 serious adverse events occurred in 49% (ibrutinib-prednisone) and 47% (placebo-prednisone) of patients. CONCLUSION There was no statistical difference observed in the primary and secondary end points with ibrutinib-prednisone treatment. No new safety signals were observed with ibrutinib treatment in previously untreated patients with cGVHD. The primary end point of iNTEGRATE was not met.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients 12 years and older with newly diagnosed moderate or severe chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) enrolled in the iNTEGRATE trial (n=193)
Intervention
Ibrutinib 420 mg once daily plus prednisone, starting at 1 mg/kg once daily (n=95)
Comparison
placebo plus prednisone (n=98)
Outcome
At 48 weeks, response rates were 41% (ibrutinib-prednisone) and 37% (placebo-prednisone; P = .54). At 33 months of follow-up, median duration of response was 19 months (ibrutinib-prednisone) and 10 months (placebo-prednisone). Median event-free survival was 15 months (ibrutinib-prednisone) and 8 months (placebo-prednisone; hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.54 to 1.1). Improvement in overall Lee cGVHD Symptom Scale was 43% (ibrutinib-prednisone) and 31% (placebo-ibrutinib). Median OS was not reached in either arm. The 24-month Kaplan-Meier OS estimates were 80% for both arms (hazard ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.90). Grade ≥ 3 serious adverse events occurred in 49% (ibrutinib-prednisone) and 47% (placebo-prednisone) of patients
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Azithromycin promotes relapse by disrupting immune and metabolic networks after allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Vallet, N., Le Grand, S., Bondeelle, L., Hoareau, B., Corneau, A., Bouteiller, D., Tournier, S., Lew-Derivry, L., Bohineust, A., Tourret, M., et al
Blood. 2022
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
Administration of azithromycin after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for hematological malignancies has been associated with relapse in a randomized phase 3 controlled clinical trial. Studying 240 samples from patients randomized in this trial is a unique opportunity to better understand the mechanisms underlying relapse, the first cause of mortality after transplantation. We used multi-omics on patients' samples to decipher immune alterations associated with azithromycin intake and post-transplant relapsed malignancies. Azithromycin was associated with a network of altered energy metabolism pathways and immune subsets, including T cells biased toward immunomodulatory and exhausted profiles. In vitro, azithromycin exposure inhibited T cells cytotoxicity against tumor cells and impaired T cells metabolism through glycolysis inhibition, mitochondrial genes downregulation, and immunomodulatory genes upregulation, notably SOCS1. These results highlight that azithromycin directly affects immune cells that favor relapse, which raises caution about long-term use of azithromycin treatment in patients at high risk of malignancies.
PICO Summary
Population
Participants with haematological malignancies enrolled in the ALLOZITHRO trial (n=240)
Intervention
Azithromycin 250 mg x 3/week (n=123)
Comparison
Placebo (n=117)
Outcome
Azithromycin was associated with a network of altered energy metabolism pathways and immune subsets, including T cells biased toward immunomodulatory and exhausted profiles. In vitro, azithromycin exposure inhibited T cells cytotoxicity against tumor cells and impaired T cells metabolism through glycolysis inhibition, mitochondrial genes downregulation, and immunomodulatory genes upregulation, notably SOCS1.
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The outcome of two or more HLA loci mismatched unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplantation for acute leukemia: an ALWP of the EBMT study
Nagler, A., Dholaria, B., Labopin, M., Bruno, B., Rambaldi, A., Pioltelli, P., La Nasa, G., Socie, G., Mielke, S., Ruggeri, M., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2020
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
A mismatched unrelated (MMUD) donor represents an alternative therapeutic option for patients who need allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) and do not have a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matched donor. We studied outcomes of patients with acute leukemia transplanted from ≥2 HLA allele MMUD. The study population consisted of 465 patients. The median follow-up period was 63 and 75 months in the AML and ALL groups, respectively. The incidence of grade II-IV and grade III-IV acute (a) graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) during the first 100 days was 37% and 16%, respectively. Total and extensive chronic (c) GVHD rates at 2 years were 38% and 17%, respectively. In the entire population, the 5-year relapse incidence (RI), non-relapse mortality (NRM), leukemia-free survival (LFS), overall survival and refined GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) was 33%, 31%, 37%, 41%, and 27%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, HLA-DR mismatch was a poor prognostic factor, giving a significantly higher NRM [hazard ratio (HR), 1.67, p = 0.02]; poorer LFS (HR, 1.42, p = 0.03); OS (HR, 1.46, p = 0.03) and higher aGVHD grade II-IV (HR, 1.46, p = 0.05). In this study, allo-HCT from ≤6/8 HLA allele MMUD in acute leukemia patients resulted in acceptable LFS and refined GRFS. HLA-DR mismatch was a poor prognostic factor.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients with acute leukaemia (n=465, of which AML n=320, ALL n=145)
Intervention
Transplantation with >/=2 HLA allele mismatched unrelated donor
Comparison
None
Outcome
The incidence of grade II-IV and grade III-IV acute (a) graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) during the first 100 days was 37% in AML patients and 16% in ALL patients. Total and extensive chronic (c) GVHD rates at 2 years were 38% and 17%, respectively. In the entire population, the 5-year relapse incidence (RI), non-relapse mortality (NRM), leukemia-free survival (LFS), overall survival and refined GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) was 33%, 31%, 37%, 41%, and 27%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, HLA-DR mismatch was a poor prognostic factor, giving a significantly higher NRM [hazard ratio (HR), 1.67]; poorer LFS (HR, 1.42); OS (HR, 1.46) and higher aGVHD grade II-IV (HR, 1.46).
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Comparing transplant outcomes in ALL patients after haploidentical with PTCy or matched unrelated donor transplantation
Al Malki, M. M., Yang, D., Labopin, M., Afanasyev, B., Angelucci, E., Bashey, A., Socie, G., Karduss-Urueta, A., Helbig, G., Bornhauser, M., et al
Blood advances. 2020;4(9):2073-2083
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
We compared outcomes of 1461 adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receiving hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) from a haploidentical (n = 487) or matched unrelated donor (MUD; n = 974) between January 2005 and June 2018. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy), calcineurin inhibitor (CNI), and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for haploidentical, and CNI with MMF or methotrexate with/without antithymoglobulin for MUDs. Haploidentical recipients were matched (1:2 ratio) with MUD controls for sex, conditioning intensity, disease stage, Philadelphia-chromosome status, and cytogenetic risk. In the myeloablative setting, day +28 neutrophil recovery was similar between haploidentical (87%) and MUD (88%) (P = .11). Corresponding rates after reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) were 84% and 88% (P = .47). The 3-month incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD (aGVHD) and 3-year chronic GVHD (cGVHD) was similar after haploidentical compared with MUD: myeloablative conditioning, 33% vs 34% (P = .46) for aGVHD and 29% vs 31% for cGVHD (P = .58); RIC, 31% vs 30% (P = .06) for aGVHD and 24% vs 29% for cGVHD (P = .86). Among patients receiving myeloablative regimens, 3-year probabilities of overall survival were 44% and 51% with haploidentical and MUD (P = .56). Corresponding rates after RIC were 43% and 42% (P = .6). In this large multicenter case-matched retrospective analysis, despite the limitations of a registry-based study (ie, unavailability of key elements such as minimal residual disease testing), our analysis indicated that outcomes of patients with ALL undergoing HCT from a haploidentical donor were comparable with 8 of 8 MUD transplantations.
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 adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Transplant outcomes are, amongst other factors, dependent on optimal donor selection; despite a plethora of recent advances, donor availability is an area of unmet need for many patients. A fully HLA matched sibling donor is the preferred donor choice but is available in <30% of patients. Several studies have shown that comparable results can be achieved with a fully matched unrelated donor (MUD), but availability can be as low as 20% in non-Caucasian individuals. Haploidentical donor options are available for the vast majority of patients but historically their utility was limited by high rates of GvHD, treatment related morbidity and mortality and graft rejection. The addition of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PtCy), calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) and mycofenolate mofetil (MMF) as GvHD prophylaxis has reduced these risks and is now a frequently employed approach for haploidentical haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HaploSCT) making it an attractive alternative to conventional donor transplant.
Several recent studies have compared MUD alloSCT and HaploSCT approaches in ALL in recent years. Most notably this has included an analysis of the European Bone Marrow Transplant (EBMT) group registry which included 1234 patients with ALL and shows comparable outcomes between HaploSCT and MUD alloSCT.
What did this paper set out to examine?
This retrospective multicentre cohort study aims to compare outcomes of HaploSCT & PtCy with MUD alloSCT in ALL in terms of engraftment, acute and chronic graft versus host disease (GvHD) incidence and severity, relapse free survival (RFS), non-relapse mortality (NRM) and overall survival (OS).
It is the first study to explicitly compare haploidentical allogeneic stem cell transplant (HaploSCT) with matched unrelated donor allogeneic stem cell transplant (MUD alloSCT) in terms of conditioning intensity, Philadelphia chromosome status and graft source. It also provides additional extensive, multinational data with matched pair analysis on outcomes of patients in both groups.
What did they show?
The authors compared data from 1461 adult patients (HaploSCT = 487 vs MUD = 974). Data from two separate registries was used: the EBMT registry alone was used for MUD alloSCT while the Haploidentical Transplant and Cellular Therapy Research Consortium (TCT-RC) was used in combination with Acute Leukaemia Working Party subgroup of the EBMT registry data for assessment of HaploSCT. The reason for using two databases is not explicitly stated although it is believed that this was done to increase sample size in the HaploSCT cohort.
Patients >18 years old with ALL over a 13.5-year period from January 2005 to June 2018 receiving their first alloSCT were included in the analysis. Exclusion criteria were fairly selected. GvHD prophylaxis was with PtCy, CNI and MMF in the HaploSCT group and with CNI and methotrexate or MMF in the MUD group. 64% of MUD patients also received ATG. Cohorts were matched at 1:2 (HaploSCT : MUD) for sex, cytogenetic risk, Philadelphia chromosome status, disease stage and intensity of conditioning (reduced intensity vs myeloablative). Statistical analysis was appropriate for the question to be answered.
RESULTS: HaploSCT and MUD alloSCT were comparable in terms of neutrophil engraftment, RFS and OS regardless of conditioning intensity, Philadelphia chromosome status and graft source. 3-year OS was 44% in the HaploSCT group vs 51% in the MUD group using myeloablative conditioning (p=5.56) with rates of 43% (HaploSCT) and 42% (MUD) for reduced intensity conditioning (p=5.6).
The overall incidence of acute and chronic GvHD was similar between the groups but there was an increased incidence in grade III-IV GvHD in HaploSCT when peripheral blood stem cells were used. Additionally, mortality form GvHD was higher in the MUD group. This is in keeping with results reported in the literature.
What are the implications for practice and for future work?
HaploSCT is becoming an increasingly attractive option for patients without matched sibling transplant. The comparable overall survival and now much more manageable GvHD risk will afford a previously difficult to manage cohort of patients a further option of curative treatment.
This study adds to the growing evidence base but did have some limitations. Firstly, the study is retrospective and uses registry-based data. While the registries used are of high quality, there are inherent concerns about missing data points and differences between the two databases used. The authors agreed that the variability of the condition regimes used added a further layer of complexity.
Prospective data with intention to treat analysis is required to further assess the comparability of HaploSCT and MUD for ALL patients.
PICO Summary
Population
Adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (n=1461)
Intervention
HSCT from a haploidentical donor (n = 487)
Comparison
HSCT from a matched unrelated donor (n = 974)
Outcome
In the myeloablative setting, day +28 neutrophil recovery was similar between haploidentical (87%) and MUD (88%). Corresponding rates after reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) were 84% and 88%. The 3-month incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD (aGVHD) and 3-year chronic GVHD (cGVHD) was similar after haploidentical compared with MUD: myeloablative conditioning, 33% vs 34% for aGVHD and 29% vs 31% for cGVHD; RIC, 31% vs 30% for aGVHD and 24% vs 29% for cGVHD. Among patients receiving myeloablative regimens, 3-year probabilities of overall survival were 44% and 51% with haploidentical and MUD. Corresponding rates after RIC were 43% and 42%.
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6.
Haploidentical transplant with post-transplant cyclophosphamide for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a report from the EBMT acute leukemia working party
Bazarbachi, A., Labopin, M., Angelucci, E., Gulbas, Z., Ozdogu, H., Arat, M., de Rosa, L., Pastano, R., Pioltelli, P., Montserrat, R., 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
Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is recommended in high-risk patients with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). For patients with no HLA identical donor, haploidentical transplantation (haplo-HCT) is becoming the leading source of stem cell donation. However, data is scarce on predictive factors for outcome in that setting. We identified 122 adults (20% female; median age 31 years; range 18-68) with T-ALL who received a haplo-HCT with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (ptCy) between 2010 and 2017. Median follow-up of living patients was 23 months. The 2-year relapse incidence and non-relapse mortality were 45% and 21%, respectively. The 2-year leukemia-free survival (LFS), overall survival (OS) and GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) were 34%, 42% and 27%, respectively. The 2-year LFS and OS were highly influenced by disease status at transplant, being 49% and 55% respectively for first complete remission (CR1), 34% and 50% respectively for CR2, 8% and 12% respectively for patients with active disease. On multivariate analysis, only disease status affected LFS and OS. Transplantation in CR2 negatively affected LFS, whereas active disease at haplo-HCT negatively affected LFS and OS. In conclusion, haplo-HCT with ptCy produced encouraging results in this challenging disease, particularly when performed in CR. Despite the limitation of the small sample size, results were not affected by the type of conditioning, questioning the need for total body irradiation based-myeloablative conditioning (TBI-MAC) in that setting.
PICO Summary
Population
Adults with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (n=122)
Intervention
Haploidentical transplantation with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (ptCy)
Comparison
None
Outcome
The 2-year relapse incidence and non-relapse mortality were 45% and 21%, respectively. The 2-year leukemia-free survival (LFS), overall survival (OS) and GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) were 34%, 42% and 27%, respectively. The 2-year LFS and OS were highly influenced by disease status at transplant, being 49% and 55% respectively for first complete remission (CR1), 34% and 50% respectively for CR2, 8% and 12% respectively for patients with active disease. On multivariate analysis, only disease status affected LFS and OS. Transplantation in CR2 negatively affected LFS, whereas active disease at haplo-HCT negatively affected LFS and OS.
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CD34+ cell dose effects on clinical outcomes after T-cell replete haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia using peripheral blood stem cells. A Study from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)
Maffini, E., Labopin, M., Blaise, D., Ciceri, F., Gulbas, Z., Deconinck, E., Leblond, V., Chevallier, P., Socie, G., Araujo, M. C., et al
American journal of hematology. 2020
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
Previous observations have reported controversial conclusions regarding cell dose and survival endpoints after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We conducted a retrospective analysis on 414 adult patients (median age 54 years, range, 18-74) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first and second complete remission who received a T-cell replete allogeneic HSCT from haploidentical donors, using peripheral blood stem cells, between 2006-2018. Median number of infused CD34+ was 6.58 x 10(6) /kg (range, 2.2-31.2). Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was post-transplant cyclophosphamide in 293 patients and anti-lymphocyte serum in 121 patients. Conditioning was myeloablative in 179 patients and reduced-intensity in 235 patients. After a median follow-up of 23.3 months (range, 12.1-41.8), 2-year overall survival (OS) was 64.5 % (95% CI 59.3-69.7) with leukemia-free survival (LFS) of 57.3 % (95% CI 51.8-62.7) and non-relapse mortality (NRM) of 23.3 % (95% CI 19-27.7). Grades III-IV acute GVHD day+100 incidence was 14.6 % while extensive chronic GVHD was 14.4% at 2-years. Thirteen (3.2%) patients experienced graft failure. We found the optimal CD34+/kg threshold defining high (n= 334) versus low cell dose (n= 80) at 4.96 x 10(6) . Recipients of > 4.96 x 10(6) /kg CD34+ cells experienced less NRM (Hazard ratio [HR] 0.48; 95% CI 0.30-0.76) and prolonged LFS (HR 0.63; 95% CI 0.43-0.91) and OS (HR 0.60; 95% CI 0.40-0.88) compared to those in the lower cell dose cohort. Larger cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (n=414)
Intervention
T-cell replete allogeneic HSCT from haploidentical donors, using peripheral blood stem cells, between 2006-2018
Comparison
None
Outcome
After a median follow-up of 23.3 months (range, 12.1-41.8), 2-year overall survival (OS) was 64.5% with leukemia-free survival (LFS) of 57.3% and non-relapse mortality (NRM) of 23.3 %. Grades III-IV acute GVHD day+100 incidence was 14.6 % while extensive chronic GVHD was 14.4% at 2-years. Thirteen (3.2%) patients experienced graft failure. We found the optimal CD34+/kg threshold defining high (n= 334) versus low cell dose (n= 80) at 4.96 x 10(6). Recipients of > 4.96 x 10(6) /kg CD34+ cells experienced less NRM and prolonged LFS and OS compared to those in the lower cell dose cohort.
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8.
Relapse- and immunosuppression-free survival after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation: How can we assess treatment success for complex time-to-event endpoints?
Bluhmki, T., Schmoor, C., Finke, J., Schumacher, M., Socie, G., Beyersmann, J.
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
In most clinical oncology trials, time-to-first-event analyses are used for efficacy assessment, which do often not capture the entire disease process. Instead, the focus may be on more complex time-to-event endpoints, as e.g. the course of disease after the first event or endpoints occurring multiply post randomization. We propose "relapse-free and immunosuppression-free survival" (RIFS) as an innovative and clinically relevant outcome measure for assessing treatment success after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT). To capture the time-dynamic relationship of multiple episodes of immunosuppressive therapy during follow-up, relapse, and non-relapse mortality, a multistate model is developed. The statistical complexity is that the probability of RIFS is non-monotonic over time; thus, standard time-to-first-event methodology is inappropriate for formal treatment comparisons. Instead, a generalization of the Kaplan-Meier method is used for probability estimation, and simulation-based resampling is suggested as a strategy for statistical inference. We reanalyze data from a recently published phase III trial in 201 leukemia patients after SCT. The study aimed at evaluating long-term treatment success of standard GvHD prophylaxis plus a pre-transplant anti-human-T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin compared to standard prophylaxis alone. Results suggest that treatment increases the long-term probability of RIFS by approximately 30% during the entire follow-up period, which complements the original findings. This article highlights the importance of complex endpoints in oncology. They give deeper insight into the treatment and disease process over time. Multistate models combined with resampling are highlighted as a promising tool to evaluate treatment success beyond standard endpoints. Example code is provided in the Supplementary Materials.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients with leukaemia who participated in a randomised controlled trial between 2003 and 2007 (n=201)
Intervention
Standard GVHD prophylaxis plus a pretransplant ATLG (n = 103)
Comparison
Standard GVHD prophylaxis alone (n = 98)
Outcome
ATLG treatment increases the long-term probability of relapse-free and immunosuppression-free survival (RIFS) by approximately 30% during the entire follow-up period, which complements the original findings.
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9.
Comprehensive clinical-molecular transplant scoring system for myelofibrosis undergoing stem cell transplantation
Gagelmann, N., Ditschkowski, M., Bogdanov, R., Bredin, S., Robin, M., Cassinat, B., Shahswar, R., Thol, F., Heuser, M., Socie, G., et al
Blood. 2019
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is curative in myelofibrosis and current prognostic scoring systems aim to select patients for transplantation. Here, we aimed to develop a prognostic score to determine prognosis after transplantation itself using clinical, molecular and transplant-specific information of a total of 361 myelofibrosis patients. Of these, 205 patients were used as a training cohort to create a clinical-molecular myelofibrosis transplant scoring system (MTSS), which was then externally validated in a cohort of 156 patients. Multivariable analysis on survival identified age ≥ 57 years, Karnofsky performance status < 90%, platelet count < 150 x 109/L and leukocyte count > 25 x 10(9)/L prior to transplantation, HLA-mismatched unrelated donor, ASXL1 mutation and non-CALR/MPL driver mutation genotype being independent predictors of outcome. The uncorrected concordance index for the final survival model was 0.723, and bias-corrected indices were similar. Risk factors were incorporated into a 4-level MTSS low (score of 0-2), intermediate (score of 3-4), high (score of 5), and very high (score of > 5). The 5-year survival according to risk groups in the validation cohort was 83% (95% CI, 71-95%), 64% (95% CI, 53-75%), 37% (95% CI, 17-57%), and 22% (95% CI, 4-39%), respectively (p < 0.001). Increasing score was predictive of non-relapse mortality (p < 0.001) and remained applicable to primary (0.718) and post-ET/PV myelofibrosis (0.701) improving prognostic ability in comparison to all currently available disease-specific systems. In conclusion, this myelofibrosis transplant score (MTSS) predicts outcome of primary and post-ET/PV myelofibrosis patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
PICO Summary
Population
361 myelofibrosis patients
Intervention
clinical-molecular Myelofibrosis Transplant Scoring System (MTSS)
Comparison
DIPSS, MIPSS70, and MYSEC-PM scoring systems
Outcome
MTSS predicts outcome of primary and post-ET/PV myelofibrosis patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation
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10.
Comparison of DIPSS and MYSEC-PM for prediction of outcome in post-PV and ET myelofibrosis after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation
Gagelmann, N., Eikema, D. J., de Wreede, L. C., Koster, L., Wolschke, C., Arnold, R., Kanz, L., McQuaker, G., Marchand, T., Socie, G., et al
Biology of blood and marrow transplantation : journal of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 2019
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
We aimed to validate the MYelofibrosis SECondary to PV and ET prognostic model (MYSEC- PM) in 159 patients with myelofibrosis secondary to polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry undergoing transplantation from matched siblings or unrelated donors. Furthermore, we aimed to test its prognostic performance in comparison with the Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System (DIPSS). Score performance was analyzed using the concordance index (C): the probability that a patient who experienced an event had a higher risk score than a patient who did not (C >0.5 suggesting predictive ability). Median follow-up of the total cohort was 41 months (34-54 months) being different in post-PV (45 months) and post-ET myelofibrosis (38 months). Survival at one, two, and four years was 70% (63-77%), 61% (53- 69%) and 52% (43-61%) for the total cohort, 70% (59-80%), 61% (49-73%) and 51% (38-64%) for post-PV, and 71% (61-81%), 61% (50-72%) and 54% (42-66%) for post-ET myelofibrosis (p=0.78). Overall, the DIPSS was not significantly predictive of outcome (p=0.28). With respect to the MYSEC-PM, overall survival at four years was 69% for the low-risk, 55% for the intermediate-1-risk, 47% for the intermediate-2-risk, and 22% (0-45%) for the high-risk group. The prognostic model was predictive of survival overall (p=0.05) while groups with intermediate-2 and high risk showed no significant difference (p=0.44). Assessment of prognostic utility yielded C-index of 0.575 (0.502-0.648) for the DIPSS while assessment of the MYSEC-PM resulted in C-statistics of 0.636 (0.563-0.708) indicating improvement in prediction of posttransplant survival using the new MYSEC-PM. In addition, transplantations from an unrelated donor in comparison with an HLA-identical sibling showed worse outcome (p=0.04) and transplant recipients seropositive for cytomegalovirus in comparison with seronegative recipients (p=0.01) showed worse survival. In conclusion, incorporating transplant-specific as well as clinical and mutational information together with the MYSEC-PM may enhance risk stratification.
PICO Summary
Population
Patients with myelofibrosis secondary to polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry undergoing transplantation from matched siblings or unrelated donors. (n=159)
Intervention
MYelofibrosis SECondary to PV and ET prognostic model (MYSEC- PM)
Comparison
Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System (DIPSS)
Outcome
Overall, the DIPSS was not significantly predictive of outcome. MYSEC-PM was predictive of survival overall, while groups with intermediate-2 and high risk showed no significant difference. Assessment of prognostic utility yielded C-index of 0.575 for the DIPSS while assessment of the MYSEC-PM resulted in C-statistics of 0.636, indicating improvement in prediction of posttransplant survival using the new MYSEC-PM.