Abstract

The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) published its first white paper on indications for autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in 2015. It was identified at the time that periodic updates of indications would be required to stay abreast with state of the art and emerging indications and therapy. In recent years, the field has not only seen an improvement in transplantation technology thus widening the therapeutic scope of HCT, but additionally a whole new treatment strategy using modified immune effector cells including chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART-cell) and T-cell receptors (TCRs) has emerged. The guidelines review committee of the ASTCT deemed it optimal to update the ASTCT recommendations for indications for HCT to include new data and to incorporate indications for immune effector cell therapy (IECT) where appropriate. The guidelines committee established multi-stakeholder task force consisting of transplant experts, payer representatives and a patient advocate to provide guidance on indications for HCT and IECT. This manuscript presents the updated recommendations from the ASTCT on indications for HCT and IECT. Indications for HCT/IECT were categorized as (1) Standard of care, where indication is well defined and supported by evidence, (2) Standard of care, clinical evidence available, where large clinical trials and observational studies are not available but has been shown to be effective therapy, (3) Standard of care, rare indication, for rare diseases where demonstrated effectiveness exist but large clinical trials and observational studies are not feasible, (4) Developmental, for diseases where pre-clinical and/or early phase clinical studies show HCT/IECT to be a promising treatment option, and (5) Not generally recommended, where available evidence does not support the routine use of HCT/IECT. The ASTCT will continue to periodically review these guidelines and update them as new evidence becomes available.

Abstract

The outcomes of patients with primary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL) after undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in the novel agent era are unknown. We report outcomes of 348 patients with pPCL receiving autologous (auto-) HCT (n = 277) and allogeneic (allo-) HCT (n = 71) between 2008 and 2015. Median age was 60 years and 56 years for auto- and allo-HCT respectively. For auto-HCT, the 4-year outcomes were: non-relapse mortality (NRM) 7% (4-11%), relapse (REL) 76% (69-82%), progression-free survival (PFS) 17% (13-23%), and overall survival (OS) 28% (22-35%). Karnofsky performance status (KPS) > 90 and ≥very good partial response (VGPR) predicted superior OS in multi-variate analysis for auto-HCT. For allo-HCT, the 4-year outcomes were: NRM 12% (5-21%), REL 69% (56-81%), PFS 19% (10-31%), and OS 31% (19-44%). Compared with prior CIBMTR pPCL patients (1995-2006), inferior survival was noted in the current cohort (3-year OS, 39% vs. 38% in allo-HCT, and 62% vs. 35% in auto-HCT) respectively. However, we noted an increased HCT utilization, from 12% (7-21%) in 1995 to 46% (34-64%) in 2009 using SEER data (available till 2009). Despite modern induction translating to higher proportion receiving HCT, the outcomes remain poor in pPCL patients, mainly derived by high relapse rates post-HCT.

Abstract

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis for unmanipulated haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (haplo-HCT) include post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) and anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG). Utilizing EBMT registry, we compared ATG versus PTCy based GVHD prophylaxis in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients undergoing haplo-HCT. Included were 434 patients; ATG (n=98) and PTCy (n=336). Median follow-up was ~2 years. Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups except that the ATG-group was more likely to have relapsed/refractory ALL (P=0.008), non-TBI conditioning (P<0.001), peripheral blood graft source (P=<0.001) and transplanted at an earlier time-period (median year of HCT 2011 vs. 2015). The 100-day grade II-IV and III-IV acute-GVHD was similar between ATG and PTCy, as was 2-year chronic-GVHD. On multivariate analysis (MVA), leukemia-free survival (LFS) and overall survival (OS) was better with PTCy compared to ATG prophylaxis. Relapse incidence (RI) was lower in the PTCy group (P=0.03), while non-relapse mortality (NRM) was not different. Advanced disease and lower performance score were associated with poorer LFS and OS and advanced disease with inferior GVHD-free/relapse-free survival (GRFS). Peripheral grafts were associated with higher GVHD compared to bone marrow grafts. In ALL patients undergoing unmanipulated haplo-HCT, PTCy for GVHD prevention resulted in lower RI and improved LFS and OS compared to ATG.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) possess numerous risk factors for Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) and experience a high rate of diarrhea. Colonization rates of C. difficile vary greatly among subgroup analyses with recent studies demonstrating colonization rates in the blood and marrow transplant units up to nine times that of the general population. METHODS The primary objectives of this study were to identify the rate of C. difficile colonization and acquisition in HSCT patients admitted to the blood and marrow transplant unit. This was a prospective study that included all adult patients admitted for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Stool specimens were routinely collected on admission and weekly thereafter for a maximum of six samples per patient. RESULTS Forty-two patients met inclusion criteria and had baseline samples available for analysis. The rate of C. difficile colonization on admission was 24%, and an additional 9% of patients acquired the organism during admission. Twelve percent of patients developed CDI that was diagnosed clinically. Univariate analysis showed an increased risk of colonization for patients with three or more prior chemotherapy cycles. CONCLUSIONS Given high colonization rates coupled with high risk of CDI in this population, providers must be judicious when testing for CDI and interpreting test results for HSCT patients.

Abstract

Importance: Maintenance therapies are often considered as a therapeutic strategy in patients with lymphoma following autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) to mitigate the risk of disease relapse. With an evolving therapeutic landscape, where novel drugs are moving earlier in therapy lines, evidence relevant to contemporary practice is increasingly limited. The American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT), Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR), and European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) jointly convened an expert panel with diverse expertise and geographical representation to formulate consensus recommendations regarding the use of maintenance and/or consolidation therapies after auto-HCT in patients with lymphoma. Observations: The RAND-modified Delphi method was used to generate consensus statements where at least 75% vote in favor of a recommendation was considered as consensus. The process included 3 online surveys moderated by an independent methodological expert to ensure anonymity and an in-person meeting. The panel recommended restricting the histologic categories covered in this project to Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and follicular lymphoma. On completion of the voting process, the panel generated 22 consensus statements regarding post auto-HCT maintenance and/or consolidation therapies. The grade A recommendations included endorsement of: (1) brentuximab vedotin (BV) maintenance and/or consolidation in BV-naive high-risk HL, (2) rituximab maintenance in MCL undergoing auto-HCT after first-line therapy, (3) rituximab maintenance in rituximab-naive FL, and (4) No post auto-HCT maintenance was recommended in DLBCL. The panel also developed consensus statements for important real-world clinical scenarios, where randomized data are lacking to guide clinical practice. Conclusions and Relevance: In the absence of contemporary evidence-based data, the panel found RAND-modified Delphi methodology effective in providing a rigorous framework for developing consensus recommendations for post auto-HCT maintenance and/or consolidation therapies in lymphoma.

Abstract

Alternative donor allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants (allo-HCT), such as double UCB transplants (dUCBT) and haploidentical related donor transplants (haplo-HCT) have been shown to be safe and effective in adult patients who do not have an HLA-identical sibling or unrelated donor available. Most transplant centers have committed to one of the two alternative donor sources, even though there is a lack of published randomized data directly comparing outcomes and comparative data on cost effectiveness of dUCBT versus haplo-HCT. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate and compare the early costs and charges of haplo-HCT and dUCBT in the first 100 days at two US transplant centers. Forty-nine recipients of haplo-HCT (at one center) and 37 with dUCBT (at another center) were included in the analysis. We compared graft acquisition, inpatient/outpatient and total charges in the first 100 days: the results of the analysis showed a significantly lower cost of graft acquisition and a lower total charges (for 100-day HCT survivors) in favor of haplo-HCT. Importantly, in order to control for the obvious shortcomings of comparing costs at two different transplant centers, adjustments were made based on the current (2018) local wage index and inflation rate. In the absence of further guidance from a prospective study, the cost analysis in this study suggest that haplo-HCT may result in early cost saving over dUCBT and may be preferred by transplant centers and for patients with more limited resources.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Data on whether T-cell dose of allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) product influences transplant outcome are conflicting. METHODS Using CIBMTR database, we identified 2,736 adult patients who underwent first allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplant for acute leukemia (AML, ALL) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) between 2008-2014 using an HLA-matched sibling donor (MSD) or 8/8-matched unrelated donor (MUD). We excluded ex-vivo and in-vivo T-cell depleted transplants. Correlative analysis was performed between CD3+ T-cell dose and risk of graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), relapse, non-relapse mortality (NRM), disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS Using maximum likelihood estimation method, we identified CD3+ T-cell cell dose cutoff that separated risk of acute GVHD (aGVHD) grade II-IV in both MSD and MUD groups. A CD3+ T-cell dose cutoff of 14x10(7) cells/kg identified MSD/low CD3+ (n=223) and MSD/high CD3+ (n=1214), and a dose of 15x10(7) cells/kg identified MUD/low CD3+ (n=197) and MUD/high CD3+ (n=1102). With univariate analysis, MSD/high CD3+ group had higher cumulative incidence of day 100 aGVHD grade II-IV of 33% vs 25% when compared to MSD/low CD3+ group (P value =0.009). There was no other difference between both groups in engraftment rate, risk of aGVHD grade III-IV or chronic GVHD (cGVHD), NRM, relapse, DFS, or OS. MUD/high CD3+ group had higher cumulative incidence of day 100 aGVHD grade II-IV of 49% vs 41% when compared to MUD/low CD3+ group (P value =0.04). There was no other difference between both groups in engraftment rate, risk of severe aGVHD or cGVHD, NRM, relapse, DFS, or OS. Multivariate analysis of MSD and MUD groups failed to show an association between CD3+ T-cell dose and risk of either aGVHD grade II-IV (p value =0.1 and 0.07 respectively) or cGVHD (p value=0.8 and 0.3 respectively). Sub-analysis of CD4, CD8 and CD4/CD8 ratio failed to identify cutoff values predictive of transplant outcome. Using log-rank test, the sample size was, however, suboptimal to identify difference at these cutoff cell dose. CONCLUSION In this registry study, CD3+ T-cell dose of PBSCT product did not influence risk of aGVHD or cGVHD or other transplant outcomes when using HLA-matched sibling or 8/8 unrelated donors. Subset analysis of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell dose was not possible for small sample size.

Abstract

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) patients with relapsed or refractory disease may benefit from allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), but many lack a matched sibling donor (MSD). Herein, we compare outcomes of two reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) HCT platforms in cHL: T cell-replete related donor haploidentical (haplo) HCT with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy)-based approach versus MSD/calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based approach. The study included 596 adult patients who underwent a first RIC allo-HCT for cHL between 2008-2016, using either haplo-PTCy (n=139) or MSD/CNI-based (n=457) approach. Overall survival (OS) was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included acute (a) and (c) graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), non-relapse mortality (NRM), relapse/progression, and progression-free survival (PFS). On multivariate analysis, there was no significant difference between haplo/PTCy and MDS/CNI-based approaches in terms of OS (hazard ratio [HR]=1.07; 95%CI=0.79-1.45; p=0.66) or PFS (HR=0.86; 95%CI=0.68-1.10; p=0.22). Haplo/PTCy was associated with a significantly higher risk of grade 2-4 aGVHD (odds ratio [OR]=1.73, 95%CI=1.16-2.59, p=0.007), but the risk of grade 3-4 aGVHD was not significantly different between the two cohorts (OR=0.61, 95%CI=0.29-1.27, p=0.19). The haplo/PTCy platform provided a significant reduction in cGVHD risk (HR=0.45, 95%CI=0.32-0.64, p<0.001), and a significant reduction in relapse risk (HR=0.74, 95%CI=0.56-0.97, p=0.03). There was a statistically non-significant trend towards higher NRM with haplo/PTCy approach (HR=1.65, 95%CI=0.99-2.77, p=0.06). Haplo/PTCy-based approaches are associated with lower incidence of cGVHD and relapse, with PFS and OS outcomes comparable to MSD/CNI-based approaches. There was a leaning towards higher NRM with haplo/PTCy-based platform. These data show that haplo/PTCy allo-HCT in cHL results in survival comparable to MSD/CNI-based allo-HCT.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Outcome and management of patients who relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) has evolved in a recent decade. Using a multi-institutional retrospective database, we report the predictive factors and survival of lymphoma patients who relapse following allo-HCT. METHODS We evaluated 495 allo-HCT recipients transplanted between 2000-2015 at three academic US medical centers. Landmark analysis evaluating predictive factors was performed at 1-month post allo-HCT relapse with primary end-point of post-relapse overall survival (PR-OS). RESULTS A total of 175 lymphoma patients (35%) experienced relapse post allo-HCT. Of these, 126 patients at the median age of 46 years (range 19-71 years) were evaluable. Most patients (86%) received subsequent therapy; 80 patients received targeted agents and 19 donor lymphocyte infusion. On univariate analysis, median PR-OS for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma was 47.9 months compared to 11.3 months in patients with indolent and 10.1 months in aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (p=0.04). On multivariate analysis, post-relapse therapy administration (no therapy vs targeted therapy: HR=0.21, 95%CI=0.10-0.45; no therapy vs non-targeted therapy: HR=0.26, 95%CI=0.11-0.57), late relapse after 130 days post allo-HCT (relative to early relapse, HR 0.25; p<0.001) and ECOG performance status of 0-1 (vs ECOG ≥ 2, HR 0.49; p=0.003) were associated with a significantly reduced risk of mortality. Patients relapsing ≥130 days from the time of allo-HCT yield PR-OS of 48.8 months compared to 6.5 months in patients with early relapse (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that in the contemporaneous era, therapies used for patients experiencing post allo-HCT lymphoma relapse can extend survival.

Abstract

PURPOSE We aimed to assess patterns of relapse in patients undergoing salvage ASCT for relapsed HL in the modern-era with the hypothesis that patients suffering relapse at initially involved sites are at increased risks of relapse post-ASCT that may help guide the application of peri-transplant RT. MATERIALS/METHODS A retrospective review of 38 patients undergoing ASCT from 2002-2017 for relapsed or refractory HL. Site of relapse at time of ASCT and subsequent relapse were compared to sites of initial involvement at diagnosis using follow-up imaging most commonly PET/CT. Relapse and overall survival were calculated from the date of ASCT using the Kaplan Meier method with multivariate analysis completed using Cox multivariate analysis. RESULTS The median follow-up was 38 months [Interquartile Range (IQR): 18-66 months]. Twenty-two patients (58%) suffered relapse following ASCT at a median time to relapse of 9.1 months (IQR: 2.9 -12.3) with a 5-year risk of relapse of 58% (95%CI: 41-75%). On univariate analysis, relapse at an initially involved site was significant for higher rates of relapse at 71% at 5-years (95% CI: 52-90%) compared to relapse at initially uninvolved sites 30% (95% CI: 2-58%), p=0.05. Relapse rate was also significantly higher in patients less than 30 years old at diagnosis at 80% (95% CI: 59-100%) compared to 40% (95% CI: 18-62%) at 5-years in patients greater than 30 years of age (p<0.01). On multivariate analysis, relapse at initially involved sites was significant for higher rates of relapse, HR 8.3 (95% CI: 1.2-57.4, p=0.03) CONCLUSIONS Relapse at initially involved sites may potentially increase risks of relapse after ASCT and additional studies are needed to clarify if this should be used as an additional factor to guide recommendations for peri-transplant RT.