Abstract

Although most children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receive fractionated total body irradiation (FTBI) as myeloablative conditioning (MAC) for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), it is an important matter of debate if chemotherapy can effectively replace FTBI. To compare outcomes after FTBI versus chemotherapy-based conditioning (CC), we performed a retrospective EBMT registry study. Children aged 2-18 years after MAC for first allo-HSCT of bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) from matched-related (MRD) or unrelated donors (UD) in first (CR1) or second remission (CR2) between 2000 and 2012 were included. Propensity score weighting was used to control pretreatment imbalances of the observed variables. 3.054 patients were analyzed. CR1 (1.498): median follow-up (FU) after FTBI (1.285) and CC (213) was 6.8 and 6.1 years. Survivals were not significantly different. CR2 (1.556): median FU after FTBI (1.345) and CC (211) was 6.2 years. Outcomes after FTBI were superior as compared with CC with regard to overall survival (OS), leukemia-free survival (LFS), relapse incidence (RI), and nonrelapse mortality (NRM). However, we must emphasize the preliminary character of the results of this retrospective "real-world-practice" study. These findings will be prospectively assessed in the ALL SCTped 2012 FORUM trial.

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is currently the standard of care for many malignant and nonmalignant blood diseases. As several treatment-emerging acute toxicities are expected, optimal supportive measurements critically affect HSCT outcomes. The paucity of good clinical studies in supportive practices gives rise to the establishment of heterogeneous guidelines across the different centers, which hampers direct clinical comparison in multicentric studies. Aiming to harmonize the supportive care provided during the pediatric HSCT in Europe, the Pediatric Diseases Working Party (PDWP) of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) promoted dedicated workshops during the years 2017 and 2018. The present paper describes the resulting consensus on the management of sinusoidal obstructive syndrome, mucositis, enteral and parenteral nutrition, iron overload, and emesis during HSCT.

Abstract

Pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) practices differ from those of adults, particularly the heterogeneity of transplantable non-malignant diseases and the lower incidence of Graft-versus-Host-Disease (GVHD). Several guidelines regarding the management of acute (a) GVHD in adult HCT have been published. We aimed to capture the real-life approaches for pediatric aGVHD prophylaxis/treatment, and data from 75/193 (response rate 39%) EBMT centers (26 countries) were included, representing half (48%) of the pediatric EBMT-HCT activity. Results with ≥75% approval from respondents (74/75) for GVHD prophylaxis after myeloablative HCT for malignancies partially contradict published guidelines: single-agent cyclosporine A (CsA) was used for matched-sibling donor HCT in 47%; blood CsA levels were reported lower; the relapse risk in malignant diseases influenced GVHD prophylaxis with early withdrawal of CsA; distinct longer duration of CsA was employed in non-malignant diseases. Most centers used additional anti-thymocyte globulin for matched-unrelated and mismatched donor HCT, but not for matched-siblings. Regarding prophylaxis in non-myeloablative conditioning (mainly for non-malignant diseases) responses showed broad heterogeneity. High conformity was found for first-line treatment; however, results regarding steroid-refractory aGVHD indicate an earlier diagnosis in children. Our findings highlight the need for standardized pediatric approaches towards aGVHD prophylaxis/treatment differentiated for malignant and non-malignant underlying diseases.

Abstract

Understanding the potential emotional and psychological risks of pediatric sibling HSC donation is an area of research that remains in its infancy. A cross-sectional survey was distributed electronically to directors at all CIBMTR and EBMT centers to describe current transplant center practices for obtaining assent, preparation for the physical/emotional experiences of donation, and monitoring the post-donation well-being of pediatric donors (<18 years of age). Respondents were 45/91 (49%) and 66/144 (46%) of CIBMTR and EBMT centers, respectively. Although 78% of centers reported having a mechanism in place to ensure donor free assent, centers also reported only limited assessment of psychosocial suitability to manage the emotional risks of donation. More than half of centers reported no psychosocial follow-up assessment post-donation. Few centers have policies in place to address donor psychological needs. Future investigations should include medical and psychosocial outcomes following full integration of comprehensive psychosocial screening and surveillance of pediatric donors.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Gonadal impairment is an important late effect having a significant impact on quality of life of transplanted patients. The aim of this study was to compare gonadal function after Busulfan (Bu) or Treosulfan (Treo) conditioning regimens in pre and post-pubertal children. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a retrospective, multicenter study including children transplanted in pediatric European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) centers between 1992 and 2012 who did not receive gonadotoxic chemo-radiotherapy before the transplant. RESULTS We evaluated 137 patients transplanted in 25 pediatric EBMT centers. Median age at transplant was 11.04 years (range 5-18); 89 patients were males and 48 were females. Eighty-nine patients were pre-pubertal at transplant, while 48 were post-pubertal. One hundred eighteen children received Bu and 19 Treo. A higher proportion of females treated with Treo in pre-pubertal stage reached spontaneous puberty compared to those treated with Bu (p=0.02). Spontaneous menarche was more frequent after Treo than after Bu (p< 0.001). Post-pubertal males and females treated with Treo had significantly lower luteinizing hormone (LH) levels (p=0.03 and p=0.04, respectively) compared to the Bu group. CONCLUSIONS Frequency of gonadal damage associated with Treo was significantly lower than that observed after Bu. These results need to be confirmed in a larger population.

Abstract

Survival for subgroups of patients with Wilms tumor (WT), such as those who suffer from relapse, is disappointing. Some patients' treatment plans include high-dose chemotherapy (HDT) with autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (aHCT), although proof for its benefit is lacking. To increase the level of evidence regarding children with WT receiving aHCT as consolidation of first or second remission (after first relapse), we extracted relevant data from the European Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry concerning 69 patients. Different HDT regimens were administered, mostly either melphalan-containing (n = 34) or thiotepa-containing (n = 14). For the whole population, 5-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) probabilities were 0.67 (+/-0.06) and 0.63 (+/-0.06), respectively (median observation time 7.8 years); for children transplanted in first remission, OS and EFS were 0.69 (+/-0.09) and 0.72 (+/-0.08). In univariate analysis, male gender and relapse in multiple sites were associated with lower OS probabilities. The use of a given pretransplant regimen (i.e. melphalan alone versus regimens with multiple drugs) did not seem to influence EFS/OS probability after aHCT, but significantly influenced platelet engraftment (more delayed with thiotepa). We here provide further data to improve the basis for future evidence-based clinical decision-making when using HDT and aHCT in relapsed/refractory WT.

Abstract

Outcome data were collected from the EBMT registry on 373 children from 120 centers with relapsed leukemia (214 ALL, 159 AML) who underwent second allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) between 2004 and 2013. At 2 and 5 years, respectively, overall survival (OS) was 38% and 29%, and leukemia-free survival (LFS) was 30% and 25%. Median follow-up after second HSCT was 36.4 months in the ALL group and 50.2 months in the AML group. In the ALL group, at 2 and 5 years, respectively, OS was 43% and 33%, and LFS, 34% and 31%; corresponding values in the AML group were OS 32% and 24%, LFS 24% and 17%. Non-relapse mortality rates at 2 years were 22% (ALL) and 18% (AML). Favorable prognostic factors (P <0.05) for OS and LFS included >12 months between transplants and chronic graft-versus-host disease after the first SCT (both groups), complete response before the second HSCT (ALL only), and age >12 years (AML only). Findings were more consistent over time in the ALL group, with no significant differences between 2-year and 5-year rates of relapse, non-relapse mortality, and LFS. Children with relapsed acute leukemias have a substantial chance at long-term survival following second HSCT. Given the many novel targeted and immune-modulation therapies currently under development, it is important to identify specific patient subpopulations that may benefit from a second HSCT versus those better suited to new approaches.

Abstract

We report data obtained from a retrospective multicenter pediatric survey on behalf of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT). Information on Solid Organ Transplantation (SOT) performed in pediatric recipients of either autologous or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) between 1984 and 2016 were collected in 20 pediatric EBMT Centers (25.6%). Overall, we evaluated data on 44 SOTs following HSCT including 20 liver (LTx), 12 lung (LuTx), 6 heart (HTx), and 6 kidney (KTx) transplantations. The indication for SOT was organ failure related to intractable Graft-versus-Host Disease in 16 children (36.3%), acute or chronic HSCT-related toxicity in 18 (40.9%) and organ dysfunction related to the underlying disease in 10 (22.8%). The median follow-up was 10.9 years (95% CI: 1.7-29.5). The overall survival (OS) rate at 1 and 5 years after SOT was 85.7% and 80.4%, respectively: it was 74% and 63.2% after LTx, 83.2% after HTx, and 100% equally after LuTx and KTx. This multicenter survey confirms that SOT represents a promising option in children with severe organ failure occurred after HSCT. Additional studies are needed to further establish the effectiveness of SOT after HSCT and to better understand the mechanism underlying this encouraging success. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) represents the cornerstone of treatment in pediatric high-risk and relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The aim of the present study was to compare outcomes of pediatric patients with AML undergoing HSCT using 3 different conditioning regimens: total body irradiation (TBI) and cyclophosphamide (Cy); busulfan (Bu) and Cy; or Bu, Cy, and melphalan (Mel). In this retrospective study, registry data for patients>2 and <18 years age undergoing matched allogeneic HSCT for AML in first complete remission (CR1) in 204 European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation centers between 2000 and 2010 were analyzed. Data were available for 631 patients; 458 patients received stem cells from a matched sibling donor and 173 from a matched unrelated donor. For 440 patients, bone marrow was used as stem cell source, and 191 patients received peripheral blood stem cells. One hundred nine patients received TBICy, 389 received BuCy, and 133 received BuCyMel as their preparatory regimen. Median follow-up was 55 months. Patients receiving BuCyMel showed a lower incidence of relapse at 5 years (14.7% versus 31.5% in BuCy versus 30% in TBICy, P<.01) and higher overall survival (OS) (76.6% versus 64% versus 64.5%, P=.04) and leukemia-free survival (LFS) (74.5% versus 58% versus 61.9%, P<.01), with a comparable nonrelapse mortality (NRM) (10.8% versus 10.5% versus 8.1%, P=.79). Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) grades III and IV but not chronic GVHD, was higher in patients receiving BuCyMel. Older age at HSCT had an adverse impact on NRM and the use of peripheral blood as stem cell source was associated with increased chronic GVHD and NRM as well as lower LFS and OS. Among pediatric patients receiving HSCT for AML in CR1, the use of BuCyMel conditioning proved superior to TBICy and BuCy in reducing relapse and improving LFS. Copyright © 2017 The American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. All rights reserved.