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The best donor option for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients lacking an HLA-matched donor has remained intensively debated. We herein report the results of a large retrospective registry study comparing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) outcomes between double-unit umbilical cord blood transplantation (dCBT, n = 209) versus 9/10 HLA-matched unrelated donor (UD) with posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy)-based graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis (UD 9/10, n = 270) in patients with AML in first complete remission (CR1). Inclusion criteria consisted of adult patient, AML in CR1 at transplantation, either peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) from UD 9/10 with PTCy as GVHD prophylaxis or dCBT without PTCy, transplantation between 2013 and 2021, and no in vivo T-cell depletion. The 180-day cumulative incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD was 29% in UD 9/10 versus 44% in dCBT recipients (p = .001). After adjustment for covariates, dCBT recipients had a higher non-relapse mortality (HR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.23-4.48; p = .01), comparable relapse incidence (HR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.67-1.86; p = .66), lower leukemia-free survival (HR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.01-2.23; p = .047), and lower overall survival (HR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.08-2.55; p = .02) compared with patients receiving UD 9/10 HCT. In summary, our results suggest that transplantation outcomes are better with UD 9/10 with PTCy-based GVHD prophylaxis than with dCBT for AML patients in CR1. These data might support the use of UD 9/10 with PTCy-based GVHD prophylaxis over dCBT in AML patients lacking an HLA-matched donor., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Autologous(auto-) and allogeneic(allo-) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are key treatments for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), although their roles are challenged by CAR-T-cells and other immunotherapies. We examined the transplantation trends and outcomes for DLBCL patients undergoing auto-/allo-HSCT between 1990 and 2021 reported to EBMT. Over this period, 41,148 patients underwent auto-HSCT, peaking at 1911 cases in 2016, while allo-HSCT saw a maximum of 294 cases in 2018. The recent decline in transplants corresponds to increased CAR-T treatments (1117 cases in 2021). Median age for auto-HSCT rose from 42 (1990-1994) to 58 years (2015-2021), with peripheral blood becoming the primary stem cell source post-1994. Allo-HSCT median age increased from 36 (1990-1994) to 54 (2015-2021) years, with mobilized blood as the primary source post-1998 and reduced intensity conditioning post-2000. Unrelated and mismatched allo-HSCT accounted for 50% and 19% of allo-HSCT in 2015-2021. Three-year overall survival (OS) after auto-HSCT improved from 56% (1990-1994) to 70% (2015-2021), p < 0.001, with a decrease in relapse incidence (RI) from 49% to 38%, while non-relapse mortality (NRM) remained unchanged (4%). After allo-HSCT, 3-year-OS increased from 33% (1990-1999) to 46% (2015-2021) (p < 0.001); 3-year RI remained at 39% and 1-year-NRM decreased to 19% (p < 0.001). Our data reflect advancements over 32 years and >40,000 transplants, providing insights for evaluating emerging DLBCL therapies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

We aimed to compare outcomes following treosulfan (TREO) or busulfan (BU) conditioning in a large cohort of myelofibrosis (MF) patients from the EBMT registry. A total of 530 patients were included; 73 received TREO and 457 BU (BU ≤ 6.4 mg/kg in 134, considered RIC, BU > 6.4 mg/kg in 323 considered higher dose (HD)). Groups were compared using adjusted Cox models. Cumulative incidences of engraftment and acute GVHD were similar across the 3 groups. The TREO group had significantly better OS than BU-HD (HR:0.61, 95% CI: 0.39-0.93) and a trend towards better OS over BU-RIC (HR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.41-1.05). Moreover, the TREO cohort had a significantly better Progression-Free-Survival (PFS) than both the BU-HD (HR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.38-0.84) and BU-RIC (HR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.39-0.91) cohorts, which had similar PFS estimates. Non-relapse mortality (NRM) was reduced in the TREO and BU-RIC cohorts (HR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.24-0.80 TREO vs BU-HD; HR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.28-1.04 TREO vs BU-RIC). Of note, relapse risk did not significantly differ across the three groups. In summary, within the limits of a registry-based study, TREO conditioning may improve PFS in MF HSCT and have lower NRM than BU-HD with a similar relapse risk to BU-RIC. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

In the 2022 European LeukemiaNet classification, patients with nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1)-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were classified in the adverse-risk category in the presence of high-risk cytogenetics (CG). Nonetheless, the impact of various CG aberrations on posttransplant outcomes remains to be unraveled. This registry study analyzed adult patients with NPM1-mutated de novo AML who underwent their first allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in the first complete remission from 2005 to 2021. A total of 3275 patients were identified, 2782 had normal karyotype, 493 had chromosomal aberrations including 160 with adverse-risk CG, 72 patients had complex karyotype (CK), and 66 monosomal karyotype (MK). Overall, 2377 (73%) patients had FLT3-ITD. On univariate analysis, only FLT3-ITD, minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD) positivity and CK, but not abnormal CG, affected posttransplant outcomes. On multivariable analysis, CK was associated with lower overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR] 1.72, p = .009). In the subgroup of 493 patients with aberrant CG, the 2-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) and OS were around 61% and 68%, respectively. On multivariable analysis for this subgroup, CK and MRD positivity were associated with increased risk of relapse (HR 1.7, p = .025; and 1.99, p = .003 respectively) and worse LFS (HR 1.62, p = .018; and 1.64, p = .011 respectively) while FLT3-ITD, MK, or other CG abnormalities had no significant effect. Importantly, CK negatively affected OS (HR 1.91, p = .002). In the first complete remission transplant setting, CK was found as the only cytogenetic risk factor for worse outcomes in NPM1-mutated AML. Nevertheless, even for this subgroup, a significant proportion of patients can achieve long-term posttransplant survival., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

We investigated whether secondary versus de novo acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) would be associated with poor outcomes in adult acute AML patients in first complete remission (CR1) receiving unrelated cord blood transplantation (CBT). This is a retrospective study from the acute leukaemia working party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Inclusion criteria included adult at first allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation between 2000 and 2021, unrelated single or double unit CBT, AML in CR1, no ex vivo T-cell depletion and no post-transplant cyclophosphamide. The primary end-point of the study was leukaemia-free survival (LFS). A total of 879 patients with de novo (n = 696) or secondary (n = 183) AML met the inclusion criteria. In multivariable analyses, sAML patients had non-significantly different LFS (HR = 0.98, p = 0.86), overall survival (HR = 1.07, p = 0.58), relapse incidence (HR = 0.74, p = 0.09) and non-relapse mortality (HR = 1.26, p = 0.13) than those with de novo AML. Our results demonstrate non-significantly different LFS following CBT in adult patients with secondary versus de novo AML., (© 2023 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is recommended in first complete remission (CR1) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) harboring FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD). We assessed changes over time in transplant characteristics and outcomes in patients with AML age 60 years and younger with a FLT3-ITD., Experimental Design: We identified 1,827 adult patients with AML (median age 49 years, range 18-60) with FLT3-ITD and intermediate karyotype, allografted between 2012 and 2021 in CR1., Results: NPM1 was mutated in 72% of patients. We compared changes over time in 688 patients transplanted between 2012 and 2016, and 1,139 patients transplanted between 2017 and 2021. For patients with wild-type NPM1, the 2-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) and overall survival (OS) significantly improved over time from 54% to 64% (HR = 0.67; P = 0.011) and from 63% to 71% (HR = 0.66; P = 0.021), respectively. Allo-HCT in recent years significantly reduced the cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR). For patients with NPM1 mutation, no significant changes over time were noted., Conclusions: In patients with AML with FLT3-ITD and wild-type NPM1, we noticed a significant decrease over time in the CIR and improvement of LFS and OS, likely reflecting the efficacy of FLT-3 inhibitors, including when used as posttransplant maintenance, in this high-risk setting. On the contrary, no significant change over time was noticed in outcomes of patients harboring a FLT3 and NPM1 mutation., (©2023 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Graft failure has remained a limitation of umbilical cord blood transplantation (CBT). Here, we assessed the outcomes of patients who experienced graft failure after CBT. Inclusion criteria were patients (age ≥ 18 years) experiencing graft failure after unrelated CBT (single or double) between 2005 and 2016, for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), no prior allogeneic or autologous transplantation, no other stem cell product. The study included 87 patients. At 1-year, cumulative incidence of relapse and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was 35% and 37%, respectively. One-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was 40% and 29%, respectively. Forty-six patients underwent a salvage second transplantation with 1-year and 2-year OS and PFS from second transplantation 41% and 34% for OS, and 37% and 34% for PFS, respectively. In multivariate analysis, complete remission (CR) at CBT (HR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.25-0.83, P = 0.01) and reduced-intensity conditioning (HR = 0.51, 95% CI 0.29-0.91, P = 0.023) were associated with better OS. In conclusion, in this retrospective study, we observed that approximately one-quarter of patients experiencing graft failure after CBT remained alive without relapse 2 years later., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Olutasidenib (FT-2102) is a potent, selective, oral, small-molecule inhibitor of mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (mIDH1). Overall, 153 IDH1 inhibitor-naive patients with mIDH1R132 relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) received olutasidenib monotherapy 150 mg twice daily in the pivotal cohort of this study. The median age of participants was 71 years (range, 32-87 years) and the median number of prior regimens received by patients was 2 (1-7). The rate of complete remission (CR) plus CR with partial hematologic recovery (CRh) was 35%, and the overall response rate was 48%. Response rates were similar in patients who had, and who had not, received prior venetoclax. With 55% of patients censored at the time of data cut-off, the median duration of CR/CRh was 25.9 months. The median duration of overall response was 11.7 months, and the median overall survival was 11.6 months. Of 86 patients who were transfusion dependent at baseline, a 56-day transfusion independence was achieved in 29 (34%), which included patients in all response groups. Grade 3 or 4 treatment-emergent adverse events (≥10%) were febrile neutropenia and anemia (n = 31; 20% each), thrombocytopenia (n = 25; 16%), and neutropenia (n = 20; 13%). Differentiation syndrome adverse events of special interest occurred in 22 (14%) patients, with 14 (9%) grade ≥3 and 1 fatal case reported. Overall, olutasidenib induced durable remissions and transfusion independence with a well-characterized and manageable side effect profile. The observed efficacy represents a therapeutic advance in this molecularly defined, poor-prognostic population of patients with mIDH1 R/R AML. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02719574., (© 2023 by The American Society of Hematology. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), permitting only noncommercial, nonderivative use with attribution. All other rights reserved.)

Availability of haploidentical donors has broadened utilization of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) are being used with increased frequency in haploidentical allo-HCT. We evaluated extent of HLA disparity (2-3/8 versus 4/8 HLA antigen mismatches) on post-allograft outcomes when using T-cell replete PBSC from haploidentical donors for acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission. Primary objectives entailed assessing cumulative incidence of grade 2-4 acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and chronic GVHD (any grade). A total of 645 patients received a haploidentical allo-HCT from a donor with either 2-3 of 8 HLA antigen mismatches (n = 180) or with 4 of 8 HLA antigen mismatches (n = 465). Presence of 2-3 of 8 versus 4 of 8 HLA mismatches did not affect the incidence of acute GVHD (grade 2-4) and chronic GVHD (any grade). Overall survival (OS), leukemia-free survival (LFS) relapse incidence (RI), nonrelapse mortality and the composite endpoint of GVHD-free relapse-free survival were also similar among the groups. Pertaining to HLA-B leader matching effect, our analysis did not discern any difference in aforementioned post-allograft outcomes for this variable. However, in univariate analysis, absence of an antigen mismatch in HLA-DPB1 showed a trend for better OS. Notwithstanding inherent limitations associated with registry data, our results did not show an advantage of selecting a haploidentical donor with 2-3 of 8 HLA antigen mismatches over one with 4 of 8 HLA antigen mismatches when using PBSC as the cell source. Adverse cytogenetics remains a major adverse determinant of inferior OS and LFS and a higher RI. Using reduced-intensity conditioning yielded worse OS and LFS., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the European Hematology Association.)

Relapsed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) still represents a major concern with poor outcomes. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of blinatumomab and donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) versus blinatumomab alone in this setting. This is a multicenter retrospective study from centers of SFGM-TC. All transplanted patients who received blinatumomab salvage therapy were included. Patients who received DLI from 1 month before to 100 days after the starting of blinatumomab were included in the blina-DLI group. Seventy-two patients were included. Medium follow-up was 38 months. Fifty received blinatumomab alone and 22 the association blinatumomab-DLI. Two-year overall survival (OS) was 31% in the blinatumomab group and 43% in the blinatumomab-DLI group (p = 0.31). Studying DLI as a time dependent variable, PFS did not significantly differ between the 2 groups (HR:0.7, 95% CI: 0.4-1.5). In multivariate analysis, DLI was not a prognostic factor for OS, progression-free survival and progression/relapse incidence. Adverse events and graft-versus-disease rates were comparable in the 2 groups. In conclusion, adding DLI between 1 month before and 100 days after start of blinatumomab is safe and does not seem to improve outcomes in B-ALL patients who relapsed after allo-HCT., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

HLA-haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Haplo-HCT) is frequently used as treatment for patients with active acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here, we investigated whether 9/10 HLA-mismatched unrelated donor transplantation (MMUD-HCT) with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) is an adequate alternative. Inclusion criteria in this retrospective registry study consisted of adult patients, first HCT with a Haplo donor or MMUD between 2010 and 2020 using PTCy as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis, and primary refractory or relapsed disease. MMUD patients were pair-matched 1 to 2 with Haplo-recipients. A total of 73 MMUD patients met the inclusion criteria. Their data were compared to those of 146 Haplo patients in a matched-pair analysis. Median follow-up was 27 months in MMUD patients and 36 months in Haplo recipients. Two-year incidences of relapse and non-relapse mortality (NRM) were 40% and 18% in MMUD patients, respectively, versus 50% (P = 0.23) and 24% (P = 0.18) in Haplo recipients. Two-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) and overall survival (OS) was 42% and 46% in MMUD recipients, respectively, versus 26% (P = 0.1) and 28% (P = 0.061) in Haplo-patients. In conclusions, in AML patients with active disease at transplantation, MMUD-HCT results in at least comparable outcomes to Haplo-HCT when PTCy is applied., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Targeting FLT3-ITD in AML using TKI against FLT3 cannot prevent relapse even in the presence of complete remission, suggesting the resistance and/or the persistence of leukemic-initiating cells in the hematopoietic niche. By mimicking the hematopoietic niche condition with cultures at low oxygen concentrations, we demonstrate in vitro that FLT3-ITD AML cells decrease their repopulating capacity when Vps34 is inhibited. Ex vivo, AML FLT3-ITD blasts treated with Vps34 inhibitors recovered proliferation more slowly due to an increase an apoptosis. In vivo, mice engrafted with FLT3-ITD AML MV4-11 cells have the invasion of the bone marrow and blood in 2 weeks. After 4 weeks of FLT3 TKI treatment with gilteritinib, the leukemic burden had strongly decreased and deep remission was observed. When treatment was discontinued, mice relapsed rapidly. In contrast, Vps34 inhibition strongly decreased the relapse rate, and even more so in association with mobilization by G-CSF and AMD3100. These results demonstrate that remission offers the therapeutic window for a regimen using Vps34 inhibition combined with mobilization to target persistent leukemic stem cells and thus decrease the relapse rate.

The indication for performing an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) in patients with isolated trisomy 8 AML in first complete remission (CR) is still debated. Here, we compared outcomes of such patients given either allo-HCT or autologous (auto)-HCT. Inclusion criteria consisted of adult patients with de novo AML, isolated trisomy 8, first HCT between 2000 and 2018, CR1 at transplantation, and either auto-HCT or allo-HCT with a HLA-identical sibling donor (MSD) or a 10/10 HLA-matched unrelated donor (UD 10/10). A total of 401 patients met the inclusion criteria. They underwent an auto-HCT (n = 81), allo-HCT with a MSD (n = 186) or allo-HCT with a 10/10 UD (n = 134). At 3 years, relapse incidence, nonrelapse mortality and leukemia-free survival (LFS) were 59%, 5%, and 37%, respectively, in auto-HCT recipients; 31% (P < 0.001), 14% (P = 0.04), and 55% (P = 0.033), respectively, in MSD recipients and 29% (P < 0.001), 13% (P = 0.15), and 59% (P = 0.03), respectively, in UD 10/10 recipients. In multivariate analysis, in comparison to auto-HCT, MSD and UD 10/10 were associated with a lower risk of relapse (HR = 0.47, P < 0.001 and HR = 0.40, P < 0.001, respectively) translating to better LFS (HR = 0.69, P = 0.04 and HR = 0.60, P = 0.03, respectively). There was also a similar trend for overall survival (HR = 0.73, P = 0.12 and HR = 0.65, P = 0.08).

Background: Peripheral T cell lymphomas form a heterogeneous group with a usually dismal prognostic. The place of allogeneic stem cell transplantation to treat PTCL is debated., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), relapse, and transplant-related mortality (TRM) and associated variables in 285 adults with non-primary cutaneous PTCL (PCTL-NOS (39%), angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphomas (29%), anaplastic T cell lymphomas (15%), and other subtypes (17%)), who received alloSCT in 34 centers between 2006 and 2014., Results: AlloSCT was given as part of front-line therapy (n = 138) to 93 patients in first complete response (CR) and 45 in first partial response (PR), and of salvage therapy (n = 147) to 116 patients for second or more CR/PR and 31 for progressive disease. Reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) was given to 172 patients (62%), while 107 (38%) received myeloablative conditioning (MAC). The median follow-up was 72.4 months. The 2- and 4-year OS were 65% and 59%, respectively, and the cumulative incidence of relapse was 18% after 1 year and 19% after 2 years. TRM was 21% at 1 year, 24% after 2 years, and 28% after 4 years. In multivariate analysis, grade III-IV acute GvHD (HR = 2.57, 95% CI 1.53-4.31; p = 0.00036), low Karnofsky score < 80% (HR = 5.14, 95% CI 2.02-13.06; p = 0.00058), and progressive disease status before transplant (HR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.25-3.89; p = 0.0062) were significantly associated with a reduced OS., Conclusions: The data demonstrate in the largest retrospective cohort of non-cutaneous PTCL so far reported that alloSCT after RIC or MAC is an effective strategy, even in chemoresistant patients.

Background: Natural Killer (NK) cells are innate lymphoid cells that can be cytotoxic toward a large panel of solid tumors and hematological malignancies including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Such a cytotoxicity depends on various receptors. Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) belong to these receptors and are involved in maturation process, then in the activation abilities of NK cells., Methods: We investigated the prognostic impact of the KIR2DL5B genotype in 240 CML patients included in two clinical trials investigating tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) discontinuation: STIM and STIM2., Results: After adjustment for standard risk factors in CML, we found that the inhibitory receptor KIR2DL5B-positive genotype was independently related to a delayed second deep molecular remission (HR 0.54, 95% CI [0.32-0.91], P = 0.02) after TKI rechallenge but not to time to first deep molecular remission or treatment-free remission rates., Conclusion: These results suggest that KIR2DL5B could carry a role in lymphocyte-mediated control of leukemic residual disease control in patient with CML relapse., (© 2019 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

To find out prognostic factors and to investigate different therapeutic approaches, we report on 147 consecutive patients who relapsed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Sixty-two patients underwent immunotherapy (IT group, second allo-HSCT or donor lymphocyte infusion), 39 received cytoreductive treatment alone (CRT group) and 46 were managed with palliative/supportive cares (PSC group). Two-year rates of overall survival (OS) were 32%, 6%, and 2% in the IT, CRT, and PSC groups, respectively (P < .001). In multivariate analysis, 4 factors adversely influenced 2-year rates of OS: history of acute graft-versus-host disease (hazard ratio [HR], 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26 to 2.67; P = .002), relapse within 6 months (HR, 2.69; 95% CI, .82 to 3.98; P < .001), progression to acute myeloid leukemia (HR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.75 to 3.83; P < .001), and platelet count < 50 G/L at relapse (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.44; P = .007). A prognostic score based on those factors discriminated 2 risk groups with median OSs of 13.2 versus 2.4 months, respectively (P < .001). When propensity score, prognostic score, and treatment strategy were included in Cox model, immunotherapy was found to be an independent factor that favorably impacts OS (HR, .40; 95% CI, .26 to .63; P < .001). In conclusion, immunotherapy should be considered when possible for MDS patients relapsing after allo-HSCT., (Copyright © 2016 American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)