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To evaluate the outcomes of salvage third autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. We analyzed 570 patients who had undergone a third ASCT between 1997 and 2010 (European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation data), of whom 482 patients underwent tandem ASCT and a third ASCT at first relapse (AARA group) and 88 patients underwent an upfront ASCT with second and third transplantations after subsequent relapses (ARARA group). With a median follow-up after salvage third ASCT of 61 months in the AARA group and 48 months in the ARARA group, the day +100 nonrelapse mortality in the 2 groups was 4% and 7%, the incidence of second primary malignancy was 6% and 7%, the median progression-free survival was 13 and 8 months, and median overall survival (OS) was 33 and 15 months. In the AARA group, according to the relapse-free interval (RFI) from the second ASCT, the median OS after the third ASCT was 17 months if the RFI was <18 months, 37 months if the RFI was between 18 and 36 months, and 64 months if the RFI was ≥36 months ( P  < .001). In the ARARA group, the median OS after the third ASCT was 7 months if the RFI was <6 months, 13 months if the RFI was between 6 and 18 months, and 27 months if the RFI was ≥18 months ( P  < .001). In a multivariate analysis of the AARA group, the favorable prognostic factor was an RFI after second ASCT of ≥18 months. Progressive disease and a Karnofsky Performance Status score of <70 at third ASCT were unfavorable factors. A salvage third ASCT is of value for patients with relapsed myeloma, particularly for those with a long duration of response and chemosensitive disease at the time of transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has recently been shown that a T cell–replete allogeneic (allo) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from a haploidentical donor (haplo-ID) could be a valid treatment for hematological malignancies. However, little data exist concerning older populations. We provided transplantation to 31 patients over the age of 55 years from a haplo-ID and compared their outcomes with patients of the same ages who underwent transplantation from a matched related (MRD) or an unrelated donor (UD). All 3 groups were comparable, except for their conditioning. Patients in haplo-ID group received 2 days of post-transplantation high-dose cyclophosphamide followed by cyclosporine A and mycophenolate mofetil, whereas patients in other groups received pretransplantation antithymocyte globulin, cyclosporine A, and additional mycophenolate mofetil in case of 1-antigen mismatch. All patients but 1 in the haplo-ID group engrafted. The incidence of grades 2 to 4 acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was not statistically different between recipients from haplo-ID (cumulative incidence, 23%) and MRD (cumulative incidence, 21%) transplantations but it was lower than after UD HSCT (cumulative incidence, 44%). No patient in the haplo-ID group developed severe chronic GVHD, compared with cumulative incidences of 16% and 14% after MRD ( P = .02) and UD ( P = .03) grafts, respectively. The cumulative incidences of relapse were similar in the 3 groups, whereas nonrelapse mortality after UD HSCT was 3-fold higher than after haplo-ID or MRD HSCT. Overall, 2-year overall survival (70%), progression-free survival (67%), and progression and severe chronic GVHD–free survival (67%) probabilities after haplo-ID did not statistically differ from MRD transplantation (78%, 64%, and 51%, respectively), although they were higher than after UD transplantation (51% [ P = .08], 38% [ P = .02], and 31% [ P = .007]). We conclude that T cell–replete haplo-ID HSCT followed by post-transplantation high-dose- cyclophosphamide in patients over 55 years is associated with promising results, similar to MRD HSCT, and is deserving prospective evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The patients presenting with metastatic solid tumors remains with poor prognosis. Despite advances in treatment and better understanding of the biological pathway during the past two decades, outcome remains often very poor. On the other hand, allogeneic stem cell transplantation has been established as a potent antitumoral immunotherapy in various hematological malignancies. Preliminary results confirm that graft versus tumor effect does exist. The main challenge is now to transform this biological and clinical effect into a real clinical benefit in term of curability and survival. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Advanced hematologic malignancies have a higher incidence in older patients and very often lack effective treatments. Allo-HSCT represents the only potential curative option for most of hematologic malignancies. However, 2 main limitations limited this development for a long period of time in older patients. High rates of fatal non-relapse morbidities have been progressively decreased using reduced toxicity conditioning approaches. This allowed pushing up the age limit of patients considered for transplant. The search for a donor has been also a high limitation in older population, due to the lower incidence of matched sibling donors in this population. The development of allo-HSCT from a familial Haplo donor after a reduced intensity (RIC) or non-myeloablative conditioning (NMAC) has allowed for the recent development of allo-HSCT in older population. Here we analyzed a cohort of 111 consecutive patients aged of 65 years or older transplanted from a haplo donor in a single institution from 2013 to 2018. During this period of time, the search for a one-mismatch haplotype donor (Haplo) has been progressively introduced in our program, the upper limit age for transplant progressively increased and more advanced diseases. Patient characteristics: Median age: 69,3 (65-78) years; Male patients: 64%; Acute leukemia (AL): 34%; Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative syndromes (MDS/MPS): 45%; Chronic Leukemia: 2%; Lymphoma: 18%; others: 3%. High or very high risk disease index (DRI): 44%. Donor characteristics: median age: 39,2 (22-68); Male gender: 61%; sibling donor: 17%; offspring donor: 83%. Non Myeloablative/ Reduced toxicity conditioning: 51%/49%; All patients received PTCY. PT Immunosuppression included CSA and MMF. Median follow-up: 20 (3-78) months; ANC recovery in 96%: 19 (10-44) days; untransfused platelet recovery above 20 in 75%: 17 (7-56) days. In evaluable patients for aGVHD: No: 59%; Grade 1: 7%; Grade 2: 16%; Grade 3: 11%; Grade 4: 5%; 85% patients were evaluable for cGVHD: No: 62%; limited: 13%; Moderate/severe:25%; 32 patients (25%) patients died from non-relapse mortality at a median of 116 days (13-1373); 16 patients relapsed/progressed at a median of 5,6 (1-63) months. Two year overall and disease-free survivals are respectively of 58% (95% CI: 6.35-7.04) and 54% (95% CI: 7.17-7.55). the only predictive factor was disease risk. Overall these data show that allo haplo HSCT is a valid option in older patients with high-risk malignancies. To improve results we performed from 2015 in patients older than 65 years systematic and combined evaluation of comorbidities score, performance status and geriatric assessment (instrumental activity of daily living (AIDL); vulnerability assessment) that will be presented in the meeting for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Graft failure or loss frequency was 3% among Francophone centers from 2011 to 2017. • Haploidentical donors were identified and harvested faster than unrelated donors. • Haploidentical transplant with PTCy for rescuing graft failure leads to acceptable overall survival. Prognosis of patients with graft failure is dismal, and retransplantation is the sole option for long-term survival. To address the interest of haploidentical transplantation as a salvage option in this context, we analyzed data from 24 patients with graft failure or loss retransplanted with a haploidentical donor who received post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) as graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis (GVHD). Fludarabine-based reduced-intensity conditioning was used in 23 patients and the Baltimore regimen in 14 patients. The median delay between previous and salvage transplantation for graft failure was 63 days (range, 39 to 98). In addition to PTCy, all patients received cyclosporine, and 22 patients also received mycophenolate mofetil for GVHD prophylaxis. With a median follow-up of 353 days (range, 16 to 2010), 1-year overall survival (OS) was 56% (95% confidence interval, 38% to 81%). Transplant complications accounted for 80% of deaths. The cumulative incidence of neutrophil engraftment at day +30 was 79%. Cumulative incidence of grades II to IV acute GVHD at day 100 was 14%, and 1-year cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 31%. One-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 13%. Stem cell source did not impact on engraftment, GVHD, relapse, or OS. Salvage haploidentical transplant with PTCy for rescuing graft failure patients leads to an acceptable 1-year OS and might be a valid option in this poor situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective report compared the 4-year outcomes of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) in 651 adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia receiving a reduced-intensity (RIC) or nonmyeloablative conditioning (NMA) regimen according to the type of unrelated donors. These were either umbilical cord blood (UCB, n = 205), a 9/10 mismatched unrelated donor (MisMUD, n = 99), or a 10/10 matched unrelated donor (MUD, n = 347) graft. Neutrophil recovery was slower in UCB (74.5% by day 42) compared with MisMUD (94.8%) and MUD (95.6%) ( P < .001). There was no significant difference in nonrelapse mortality between UCB and both MUD (hazard ratio [HR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], .62 to 1.78; P = .85) and MisMUD (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, .88 to 2.83; P = .13) The relapse/progression was similar between UCB and MisMUD (HR, .62; 95% CI, .37 to 1.03; P = .07), but was significantly lower in MUD compared with UCB (HR, .60; 95% CI, .39 to .92; P = .02). The rate of extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was similar between UCB and both MUD (HR, 2.15; 95% CI, .93 to 4.97; P = .08) and MisMUD (HR, 1.84; 95% CI, .68 to 4.95; P = .23). The rate of severe grade III and IV acute GVHD was significantly increased in MisMUD compared with UCB (HR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.30 to 5.23; P = .007). There was no significant difference in overall survival between UCB and both MisMUD (HR, .98; 95% CI, .66 to 1.45; P = .92) and MUD (HR, .74; 95% CI, .52 to 1.03; P = .08). These data suggest that in the setting of RIC/NMA, allo-SCT UCB is a valid alternative graft source, with significantly less chronic GVHD, compared with MisMUD, when there is no MUD available or when urgent transplantation is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective multicenter report assessed the outcome of 600 patients with hematologic diseases older than 60 years who received reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), with the specific aim to compare outcomes of patients between 60 and 65 years old (N = 493) with those older than 65 years (N = 107). Except for donor age, there were no significant differences between the groups regarding patients, diseases, and allo-HSCT characteristics. At time of RIC allo-HSCT, 276 patients (46%) were in complete remission. With a median follow-up of 22.8 and 23.7 months in the younger and the older groups, respectively, 2-year relapse, nonrelapse mortality, disease-free survival, and overall survival rates were similar in both groups (29.6% vs. 20.4%; 29.9% vs. 34.6%; 40.6% vs. 46.7%; 49.2% vs. 50.2%, respectively; P = NS for all comparisons). In a Cox multivariate analysis, after adjustment for disease and transplant factors, age per se was not an adverse factor for survival (relative risk = 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.81-1.44, P = .62). We conclude that in selected patients, RIC allo-HSCT could be offered to patients over 65 years old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absolute number of infused CD34+ donor cells represents a critical step towards the achievement of durable marrow engraftment after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Previous observations have reported controversial conclusions on the impact of CD34+ cell doses and post-transplant clinical end-points. We conducted a retrospective analysis on 414 adult patients (median age 54 years; range, 18-74) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first (70%) and second (30%) complete remission who had received a T-cell replete allogeneic HSCT from a haploidentical donor, using peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC), between 2006-2018, based on ALWP-EBMT registry data. Graft vs. host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy)-based in 293 (71%) patients and anti-lymphocyte serum (ATG)-based in 121 (29%) patients. Conditioning was myeloablative in 179 (43%) patients and reduced-intensity in 235 (57%) patients. Median number of infused CD34+ cells was 6.58 × 106/kg (range, 2.2-31.2). 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 a leukemia-free survival (LFS) of 57.3% (95% CI 51.8-62.7) and non-relapse mortality (NRM) of 23.3% (95% CI: 19.0-27.7). The cumulative incidence of grade II-IV and III-IV acute GVHD at day-100 were 32.3% (95% CI: 27.8 - 36.9) and 14.6% (95% CI: 11.3 - 18.2), respectively. Incidence of 2-years chronic GVHD overall and extensive were 36.3% (95% CI: 30.9 - 41.6) and 14.4% (95% CI: 10.7 - 18.6), respectively. GVHD-free/relapse-free survival was 43.5% (95% CI: 38 - 48.9) at 2-years. We found the optimal CD34+/kg threshold defining high-dose (n= 334) versus low-dose (n= 80) to be 4.96 × 106, using the Hothorn and Zeileis method (Hothorn, T. and Zeileis, A. Biometrics 2008;64(4):1263–1269). Recipients of > 4.96 × 106/kg CD34+ cells experienced lower NRM (hazard ratio [HR] 0.48; 95% CI: 0.29-0.75) and prolonged LFS (HR 0.62; 95% CI 0.43-0.90) and OS (HR 0.59; 95% CI: 0.40-0.87) than recipients of ≤ 4.96 × 106/kg CD34+ cell dose. Patients who received ATG as GVHD prophylaxis experienced less grades II-IV acute GVHD respect those in the PT-Cy cohort (HR 0.56; 95% CI: 0.36-0.87) without any differences in grades III-IV acute GVHD incidence at day 100 between the two groups. On Cox analysis, a female donor to male recipient combination was associated with higher extensive chronic GVHD incidence compared to other donor-recipient sex combinations, with CD34+ categorized according to the optimal threshold of 4.96 × 106 (HR 2.21; 95% CI: 1.23-3.97; p= 0.008). AML patients who underwent a PBSC T-cell replete HSCT from haploidentical donors receiving ≥ 4.96 × 106 CD34+/kg cells experienced a lower NRM and extended survival rates compared to those receiving ≤ 4.96 × 106/kg CD34+. The latter findings may have a significant practical impact and can guide prospective approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclosporine A (CsA) alone or in combination with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been used as graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) prophylaxis since the development of reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). The association of CsA+MMF, while commonly used after transplantation from a matched unrelated donor (MUD), has never been tested in a large randomized prospective trial. We retrospectively investigated the outcomes of 497 adult patients with AML in complete remission (CR) undergoing a MUD transplant between 2007-2017 using CsA+MMF or CsA alone as GvHD prophylaxis, and registered with the ALWP of the EBMT. Patients had CsA alone (n=183) or CsA+MMF (n=314) as GvHD prophylaxis. All underwent a RIC regimen with fludarabine and busulfan and received anti-thymocyte globulin. The median age at transplant was similar (59 and 60 years in the CsA and CsA+MMF group). The median follow-up was not significantly different between the two groups (33 vs 34 months in CsA and CsA+MMF, respectively). Disease status at transplant was first complete remission (CR1) for 81% in CsA group and 86% in CsA+MMF group (p=NS). Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) was the graft source in 93% of patients receiving CsA alone and in 96% of patients who received CsA+MMF (p=0.17). All but 2 patients engrafted. The 100 day cumulative incidence (CI) of grade II-IV and grade III-IV acute GvHD were 30% and 10%, respectively. The 2-year CI of chronic GvHD was 35% and CI of extensive cGvHD was 15%. The 2-year CI of non-relapse mortality (NRM) and relapse were 19% and 25%, respectively. Disease recurrence (n=31), GvHD (n=20) and infection (n=17) were the most common causes of death in the CsA group. Relapse (n=53), GvHD (n=28) and infection (n=28) were the most frequent causes of death in the CsA+MMF group. The 2-year GVHD-free relapse-free survival (GRFS), leukemia- free survival (LFS), and overall survival (OS) were 45%, 56% and 60%, respectively. On multivariate analysis (MVA), no statistically significant differences between the two groups with respect to relapse, NRM, LFS, OS, acute and chronic GvHD were identified. A positive cytomegalovirus serology of the donor was associated with higher NRM [HR=2.03, p<0.001] and higher cGvHD [HR=1.44, p=0.03] and a lower OS [HR 1.66, p<0.001], LFS [HR=1.69, p=0.001] and GRFS [HR=1.75, p<0.001]. In a subgroup analysis in patients in CR1 who received PBSC, no differences were detected between the two groups for relapse, NRM, LFS, OS, or aGvHD. Patients who received CsA alone tended to have a higher cGvHD (p=0.05). However, this finding was not statistically significant in MVA. We observed comparable outcomes in AML patients in CR1 who underwent MUD transplantation and RIC with CsA+MMF or CsA alone as GvHD prophylaxis. This suggests that both strategies may be considered valid approaches. Randomized trials are needed to further assess which patients could benefit from the addition of MMF in GvHD prophylaxis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nonmyeloablative haploidentical stem cell transplantation for advanced lymphomas is highly feasible with low incidence of nonrelapse mortality. • It provides a strong graft-versus-lymphoma effect for both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with low incidence of relapse when performed in partial or complete remission. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is a valid option in patients with refractory lymphomas. HLA haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT) expanded the accessibility to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. The aims of study were to retrospectively assess the toxicity and efficacy of haplo-SCT using nonmyeloablative conditioning in patients with advanced lymphoma. In total, 147 patients with advanced lymphoma at 2 partner institutions were included. Patients received a uniform nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), GVHD, nonrelapse mortality, and GVHD, relapse-free survival (GRFS). Median follow-up was 39 months (range, 6 to 114 months). The median age was 46 years (range, 19 to 71 years). Sixty-five percent of patients were in complete remission (CR) at transplantation. Cumulative incidence of grade II to IV acute GVHD was 30% (95% confidence interval [Cl], 23% to 38%). Two-year cumulative incidence of all grades of chronic GVHD was 13% (95% CI, 8% to 20%). Two-year cumulative incidence of disease relapse was 19% (95% CI, 14% to 27%), with a higher incidence in patients not being in CR at allo-HCT (CR versus not CR: 12% versus 33%, P =.006). Two-year PFS, OS, and GRFS were 66% (95% CI, 59-75), 73% (95% CI, 66-81), and 56% (95% CI, 48-65), respectively. Haplo-SCT with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide may be considered a valid option for patients with aggressive lymphoma and deserves further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In HLA mismatched umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT), reduced-intensity conditioning provided comparable results to myeloablative conditioning for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) aged 40 to 60 years. • The main factor associated with poor outcomes after HLA mismatched UCBT was advanced disease status. • UCBT remains an alternative graft source for patients 40 to 60 years old with AML. The use of myeloablative conditioning (MAC) in umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) has been associated with high nonrelapse mortality (NRM) in patients aged >40 years, especially those having a high HLA disparity, thus limiting wider applications. We hypothesized that the NRM advantage of reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) and higher graft-versus-leukemia effect associated with greater HLA disparities would expand its use for patients (aged 40 to 60 years) without compromising efficacy and compared outcomes between RIC and MAC regimens. In total, 288 patients aged 40 to 60 years, with de novo acute myeloid leukemia, receiving UCBT with at least 2 HLA mismatches with RIC (n = 166) or MAC (n = 122) regimens were included. As compared to RIC, the MAC cohort included relatively younger patients, having received more single UCBT, with lower total nucleated cell counts and more in vivo T cell depletion. Median time to neutrophil engraftment, infections (bacterial, viral, and fungal), and grade II to IV acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease were similar in both groups. In the multivariate analysis, overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.98; P =.9), NRM (HR, 0.68; P =.2), and relapse (HR, 1.24; P =.5) were not different between RIC and MAC. Refractory disease was associated with worse survival. Outcomes of UBCT for patients aged 40 to 60 years having ≥2 HLA mismatches are comparable after the RIC or MAC regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Outcomes of 122 haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantations with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide for T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia are reported. • Survival was mostly affected by disease status, being significantly better in first complete remission • Outcomes were not affected by conditioning, calling into question the need for total body irradiation. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is recommended in high-risk patients with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). For patients without an HLA-identical donor, haploidentical (haplo-) HCT is becoming the leading source of stem cell donation. However, data are scarce on predictive factors for outcome in that setting. We identified 122 adults (20% female; median age, 31 years; range, 18 to 68 years) with T-ALL who underwent haplo-HCT with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (ptCy) between 2010 and 2017. The median duration of follow-up of living patients was 23 months. The 2-year incidences of relapse and nonrelapse mortality were 45% and 21%, respectively. The 2-year leukemia-free survival (LFS), overall survival (OS), and graft-versus-host disease, relapse-free survival (GRFS) were 34%, 42%, and 27%, respectively. The 2-year LFS and OS were highly influenced by disease status at transplantation, being 49% and 55%, respectively, for patients in first complete remission (CR1); 34% and 50%, respectively, for those in second CR (CR2); and 8% and 12%, respectively, for patients with active disease. On multivariate analysis, only disease status was found to affect LFS and OS. Transplantation in CR2 negatively affected LFS, whereas active disease at the time of haplo-HCT negatively affected LFS and OS. In conclusion, haplo-HCT with ptCy produced encouraging results in this challenging disease, particularly when performed in patients in CR. Despite the limitation of the small sample size, our results were not affected by the type of conditioning, calling into question the need for total body irradiation-based myeloablative conditioning in that setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High-risk cytogenetics can be found in about half of patients newly diagnosed with myeloma with extramedullary disease (NDMM EMD) undergoing transplant. • Tandem autologous transplant improves survival in NDMM EMD with high-risk cytogenetics in comparison with single transplant. • Outcome after first-line autologous–allogeneic transplant appeared to be improved compared with single transplant, but more data specific to NDMM EMD are needed. Although high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplant combined with novel agents continues to be the hallmark of first-line treatment in newly diagnosed transplant-eligible multiple myeloma patients, the impact of tandem autologous or autologous/reduced-intensity allogeneic transplant for patients with extramedullary disease (EMD) and high-risk cytogenetics is not yet defined. Here, we analyzed clinical and cytogenetic data from 488 adult myeloma patients with EMD undergoing single autologous (n = 373), tandem autologous (n = 84), or autologous–allogeneic transplant (n = 31) between 2003 and 2015. At least 1 high-risk abnormality was present in 41% (n = 202), with del(17p) (40%) and t(4;14) (45%) the most frequent. More than 1 high-risk abnormality was found in 54%. High-risk cytogenetics showed worse 4-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of 54% and 29%, respectively, versus 78% and 49% for standard-risk cytogenetics (P <.001). Co-segregation of high-risk abnormalities did not seem to affect outcome. Regarding transplant regimen, OS and PFS were 70% and 43% for single autologous versus 83% and 52% for tandem autologous and 88% and 58% for autologous–allogeneic (P =.06 and P =.30). In multivariate analysis high-risk cytogenetics were associated with worse survival (hazard ratio [HR], 2.00; P =.003), whereas tandem autologous significantly improved outcome versus single autologous transplant (HRs,.46 and.64; P =.02 and P =.03). Autologous–allogeneic transplant did not significantly differ in outcome but appeared to improve survival, but results were limited because of small population (HR,.31). In conclusion, high-risk cytogenetics is frequently observed in newly diagnosed myeloma with EMD and significantly worsens outcome after single autologous, whereas a tandem autologous transplant strategy may overcome onset poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Marked improvement has been achieved in recent years in stem cell transplantation (SCT) from unrelated donors. • Long-term outcome is equivalent after SCT from unrelated and sibling donors. • Patients who are leukemia-free 2 years after SCT can expect a favorable outcome. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is potentially curative therapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Marked improvement has been achieved with SCT from matched unrelated donors (MUDs) in recent years. However, there are limited data comparing the long-term outcomes (beyond 10 years) after SCT from sibling donors and MUDs in older patients with AML. We analyzed these outcomes in a large cohort of patients with AML (n = 1134), age ≥50 years, who were alive and leukemia-free 2 years after SCT from matched siblings (n = 848) or MUDs (n = 286), with a median follow-up of 8.9 years. The median age was 56 and 58 years after SCT from siblings and MUDs, respectively (P =.005). In the sibling group, 77%, 12%, and 11% were in first complete remission (CR1), second complete remission (CR2), and active leukemia at SCT compared with 50%, 25%, and 25% in the MUD group, respectively (P <.001). Sixty-one percent of siblings and 62% of MUDs had reduced-intensity conditioning (P =.78). The 10-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) of patients surviving leukemia-free 2 years after SCT was 72% and 62%, respectively (P =.30). Multivariate analysis identified active leukemia at SCT (hazard ratio [HR], 1.86; P =.0001) or CR2 (HR, 1.51; P =.02) compared with CR1, female recipients (HR, 0.71; P =.006), adverse cytogenetics (HR, 2.52; P =.01), and prior graft-versus-host disease (HR, 1.31; P =.04) as independent factors predicting LFS. Donor and conditioning type were not significant. The cumulative incidence was 15% and 17% (P =.97) for late relapse mortality and 13% and 21% for late nonrelapse mortality, respectively (P =.15). In conclusion, long-term LFS is similar, and patients who are leukemia-free 2 years after SCT can expect favorable outcomes with both donor types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PBSC graft is associated with reduced mortality relative to BM cells for patients with HL undergoing haplo-SCT with PT-Cy. • Acute and chronic GVHD did not differ between PBSC and BM grafts. • A lower number of patients receiving PBSC haplo-SCT died because of disease relapse relative to BM graft. Haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT) with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) represents a potential curative strategy for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) when a matched related or unrelated donor is not available. The role of graft source, either bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs), in this setting has not been fully elucidated. We performed a retrospective study on 91 patients with HL to compare the outcome after BM (n = 53) or PBSC (n = 38) transplant. Eighty-nine patients engrafted with no difference between BM and PBSCs in terms of median time for neutrophil (20 versus 20 days, P =.405) and platelet (26 versus 26.5 days, P =.994) engraftment. With a median follow-up of 40.2 months, 100-day cumulative incidences of grades II to IV acute graft-versus host disease (GVHD) and grades II to IV acute GVHD were 24% and 4%, respectively. Graft source was not associated with a different risk of acute GVHD both by univariate and multivariate analyses. Consistently, 1-year cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 7% with no differences between the 2 graft types (P =.761). Two-year rates of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), nonrelapse mortality, and GVHD/relapse-free survival (GRFS) were 67%, 58%, 20%, and 52%, respectively. By univariate analysis, pretransplant disease status was the main variable affecting all outcomes. By multivariate analysis, PBSCs resulted in a protective factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR],.29; P =.006), PFS (HR,.38; P =.001), and GRFS (HR,.44; P =.020). The other independent variables affecting the final outcome were pretransplant disease status and hematopoietic cell transplant–specific comorbidity index. In conclusion, when planning a haplo-SCT with PT-Cy for patients with poor-risk HL, graft type is an important variable to take into account when selecting the best available donor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) offers high survival rates in children and young adults with acute leukemia. • Even with positive pretransplantation minimal residual disease (MRD), UCBT leads to high cure rate. • Double UCBT may have a better graft-versus-leukemia effect in patients with MRD. ABSTRACT We previously reported in a French prospective randomized study that transplantation of 2 unrelated cord blood (UCB) units instead of 1 unit does not decrease the risk of transplantation failure but may enhance alloreactivity. Here we evaluated the influence of pretransplantation minimal residual disease (MRD) on leukemia relapse and survival after single- versus double-UCB transplantation (UCBT). Among 137 children and young adults who underwent UCBT in this randomized study, 115 had available data on MRD assessment done immediately before initiation of the pretransplantation conditioning regimen. MRD was considered positive at a level of ≥10−4, which was the case of 43 out of 115 patients. Overall, the mean 3-year survival probability was 69.1 ± 4.4%, and it was not significantly influenced by the MRD level: 70.7 ± 5.4% in MRD-negative (<10−4) patients (n = 72), 71.1 ± 9.4% in MRD-positive patients with 10−4 ≤ MRD <10−3 (n = 26) and 58.8 ± 11.9% in MRD-positive patients with ≥10−3 (n = 17). In the MRD-positive group, the mean risk of relapse was significantly lower in the double-UCBT arm compared with the single-UCBT arm (10.5 ± 7.2% versus 41.7 ± 10.4%; P =.025) leading to a higher mean 3-year survival rate (82.6 ± 9.3% versus 53.6 ± 10.3%; P =.031). This difference was observed only in patients who had not received antithymocyte globulin during their conditioning regimen. In the MRD-negative group, there was no differencebetween the single- and the double-UCBT arms. We conclude that even in cases of positive pretransplantation MRD, UCBT in children and young adults with acute leukemia yields a high cure rate, and that a double-unit strategy may enhance the graft-versus-leukemia effect and survival in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • We performed a retrospective review of 56 myelofibrosis patients transplanted from mismatched family donors. • Neutrophil engraftment at a median of 20days was observed in 82%. • Low rates of acute GVHD grades II to IV were observed in 28% (16% to 40%) and grades III to IV in 9% (2% to 16%). • Chronic GVHD at 1 year was found in 45% (32% to 58%). • Overall survival at 2years was 56% (41% to 70%). Abstract This analysis included 56 myelofibrosis (MF) patients transplanted from family mismatched donor between 2009 and 2015 enrolled in the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation database. The median age was 57years (range, 38 to 72); 75% had primary MF and 25% had secondary MF. JAK2 V617F was mutated in 61%. Donors were HLA mismatched at 2 or more loci. Stem cells were sourced from bone marrow in 66% and peripheral blood in 34%. The median CD34+ cell dose was 4.8 × 106/kg (range, 1.7 to 22.9; n = 43). Conditioning was predominantly myeloablative in 70% and reduced intensity in the remainder. Regimens were heterogeneous with thiotepa, busulfan, fludarabine, and post-transplant cyclophosphamide used in 59%. The incidence of neutrophil engraftment by 28days was 82% (range, 70% to 93%), at a median of 21days (range, 19 to 23). At 2years the cumulative incidence of primary graft failure was 9% (95% CI 1% to 16%) and secondary graft failure was 13% (95% CI 4% to 22%). The cumulative incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) grades II to IV and III to IV was 28% (95% CI 16% to 40%) and 9% (95% CI 2% to 17%) at 100days. The cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD at 1 year was 45% (95% CI 32% to 58%), but the cumulative incidence of death without chronic GVHD by 1 year was 20% (95% CI 10% to 31%). With a median follow-up of 32 months, the 1- and 2-year overall survival was 61% (95% CI 48% to 74%) and 56% (95% CI 41% to 70%), respectively. The 1- and 2- year progression-free survival was 58% (95% CI 45% to 71%) and 43% (95% CI 28% to 58%), respectively, with a 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse of 19% (95% CI 7% to 31%). The 2-year nonrelapse mortality was 38% (95% CI 24% to 51%). This retrospective study of MF allo-SCT using family mismatched donors demonstrated feasibility of the approach, timely neutrophil engraftment in over 80% of cases, and acceptable overall and progression-free survival rates with relapse rates not dissimilar to the unrelated donor setting. However, strategies to minimize the risk of graft failure and the relatively high nonrelapse mortality need to be used, ideally in a multicenter prospective fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation is feasible as salvage therapy in myeloma. • Two-year progression-free survival was 17%, and overall survival (OS) was 48%. • At 2 years, the cumulative risk of relapse/progression was 56%, and 1-year nonrelapse mortality was 21%. • The use of post-transplantation cyclophosphamide and bone marrow as the stem cell source were associated with improved OS at 2 years. Abstract Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) using siblings and matched donors has the potential for long-term disease control in a subset of high-risk patients with multiple myeloma (MM); however, the data on using haploidentical donors in this disease are limited. We conducted a retrospective analysis to examine the outcomes of patients with MM who underwent haploidentical allo-HCT within European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation/Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research centers. A total of 96 patients underwent haploidentical allo-HCT between 2008 and 2016. With a median follow-up of 24.0 months (range, 13.2 to 24.9 months), 97% (95% confidence interval [CI], 93% to 100%) of patients had neutrophil engraftment by day 28, and 75% (95% CI, 66% to 84%) achieved platelet recovery by day 60. Two-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 17% (95% CI, 8% to 26%), and overall survival (OS) was 48% (95% CI, 36% to 59%). At 2 years, the cumulative risk of relapse/progression was 56% (95% CI, 45% to 67%), and 1-year nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was 21% (95% CI, 13% to 29%). The incidences of acute graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) grades II-IV by 100 days and chronic GVHD at 2 years were 39% (95% CI, 28% to 49%) and 46% (95% CI, 34% to 59%), respectively. On univariate analysis, use of post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) (54% [95% CI, 41% to 68%] versus 25% [95% CI, 1% to 48%]; P =.009) and use of bone marrow as source of stem cells (72% [95% CI, 55% to 89%] versus 31% [95% CI, 17% to 46%]; P =.001) were associated with improved OS at 2 years. Disease status, patient sex, intensity of conditioning regimen, recipient/donor sex mismatch, and cytomegalovirus serostatus had no impact on OS, PFS, or NRM. Haploidentical transplantation is feasible for patients with multiply relapsed or high-risk MM, with an encouraging 2-year OS of 48% and an NRM of 21% at 1 year, supporting further investigation of haploidentical allo-HCT in suitable candidates with MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Overall survival, progression-free survival, and nonrelapse mortality were better in haploidentical than in cord blood donors. • Nonrelapse mortality was not significantly different between haploidentical and mismatched unrelated donor. • Relapse risk was not influenced by the type of donor. • Acute graft-versus-host disease risk was lower with haploidentical or cord blood donors than with mismatched unrelated donors. • Chronic graft-versus-host disease was not influenced by the type of donor. Abstract Recently, haploidentical transplantation (haplo) using post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has been reported to give very encouraging results in patients with hematological malignancies. Patients who have no HLA-matched donor currently have the choice between a mismatched unrelated donor, an unrelated cord blood (CB) donor, and a haploidentical related donor. The aim of our study is to compare the outcome of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who have been transplanted from a haploidentical donor using PTCy, an HLA-mismatched unrelated donor (marrow or peripheral blood stem cells), or an unrelated mismatched CB donor. A total of 833 MDS patients from the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) registry, transplanted between 2011 and 2016, were identified. The potential benefit of haplo was compared with mismatched unrelated and CB donors in an adjusted and weighted model taking into account potential confounders and other prognostic variables. Haplo was at lower risk of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) than mismatched unrelated donor (P =.010) but at similar risk than CB. Progression-free survival was better after haplo (versus mismatched unrelated, P =.056; versus CB, P =.003) and overall survival tended to be superior after haplo (versus mismatched unrelated, P =.082; versus CB, P =.002). Nonrelapse mortality was not significantly different between haplo and mismatched unrelated donors. Relapse risk was not influenced by the type of donor. In conclusion, patients with MDS from the EBMT registry receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a haplo donor have significantly better outcome than those receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a CB donor and at least similar or better outcome than with a mismatched unrelated donor. Prospective studies comparing the type of donors will be needed to confirm this assumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract More than 60% of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) are age >60 years at presentation. The purpose of this study was to compare the potential risks and benefits of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) in elderly patients with NHL with younger patients in a large sample, also taking into account comorbidity information. All patients age ≥18 years who had undergone alloHCT from a matched sibling or unrelated donor for NHL between 2003 and 2013 and were registered with the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation were eligible for the study. The primary study endpoint was 1-year nonrelapse mortality (NRM). A total of 3919 patients were eligible and were categorized by age: young (Y), 18 to 50 y (n = 1772); middle age (MA), 51 to 65 y (n = 1967); or old (O), 66 to 77 y (n = 180). Follicular lymphoma was present in 37% of the patients; diffuse large B cell lymphoma, in 30%; mantle cell lymphoma, in 21%, and peripheral T cell lymphoma, in 11%. At the time of alloHCT, 85% of the patients were chemosensitive and 15% were chemorefractory. With a median follow-up of 4.5 years in survivors, NRM at 1 year was 13% for the Y group. 20% for the MA group, and 33% for the O group (P <.001), whereas relapse incidence and overall survival (OS) at 3 years in the 3 groups were 30%, 31%, and 28% (P =.355) and 60%, 54%, and 38% (P <.001), respectively. Multivariable adjustment for confounders, including sex, NHL subset, time from diagnosis, chemosensitivity, donor, and conditioning, confirmed older age as a significant predictor for NRM and OS, but not for relapse risk. Although comorbidity was a significant predictor of NRM in a subset analysis restricted to the 979 patients with comorbidity information available, age retained its significant impact on NRM. In conclusion, our data show that alloHCT in patients age >65 y provides similar NHL control as seen in younger patients but is associated with a higher NRM that is not fully explained by comorbidity. Thus, although alloHCT is feasible and effective in very old patients, the increased NRM risk must be taken into account when assessing the indication for alloHCT for NHL in this age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • UCBT is feasible in heavily pretreated patients with HL. • Outcomes are poor for patients not in CR at the time of UCBT. • Cyclophosphamide + fludarabine + 2 Gy total body irradiation conditioning regimen is associated with decreased risk of NRM and better OS. Abstract Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is an alternative for patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), but only limited data on unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) are available. We analyzed 131 adults with HL who underwent UCBT in European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation centers from 2003 to 2015. Disease status at UCBT was complete remission (CR) in 59 patients (47%), and almost all patients had received a previous autologous stem cell transplantation. The 4-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 26% (95% confidence interval [CI], 19% to 34%) and 46% (95% CI, 37% to 55%), respectively. Relapse incidence was 44% (95% CI, 36% to 54%), and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was 31% (95% CI, 23% to 40%) at 4 years. In multivariate analysis refractory/relapsed disease status at UCBT was associated with increased relapse incidence (hazard ratio [HR], 3.14 [95% CI, 1.41 to 7.00], P =.005) and NRM (HR, 3.61 [95% CI, 1.58 to 8.27], P =.002) and lower PFS (HR, 3.45 [95% CI, 1.95 to 6.10], P <.001) and OS (HR, 3.10 [95% CI, 1.60 to 5.99], P =.001). Conditioning regimen with cyclophosphamide + fludarabine + 2 Gy total body irradiation (Cy+Flu+2GyTBI) was associated with decreased risk of NRM (HR,.26 [95% CI,.10 to.64], P =.004). Moreover, Cy+Flu+2GyTBI conditioning regimen was associated with a better OS (HR,.25 [95% CI,.12 to.50], P <.001) and PFS (HR,.51 [95% CI,.27 to.96], P =.04). UCBT is feasible in heavily pretreated patients with HL. The reduced-intensity conditioning regimen with Cy+Flu+2GyTBI is associated with a better OS and NRM. However, outcomes are poor in patients not in CR at UCBT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • There was a reduced relapse rate with FLAMSA-TBI compared with BuFlu in AML in CR (HR,.64; P =.04). • There was a trend for improved leukemia-free survival with FLAMSA-TBI. • Results with FLAMSA-Bu are comparable to BuFlu in AML in CR. Abstract Busulfan/fludarabine (BuFlu) is a widely used conditioning regimen for patients with myeloid malignancies. The sequential FLAMSA (fludarabine + Ara-C + amsacrine chemotherapy) protocol followed by either cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation (FLAMSA-TBI) or cyclophosphamide and busulfan (FLAMSA-Bu) has shown remarkable activity in high-risk acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients. Here we compare the outcomes of AML patients transplanted in first complete remission (CR1) or second complete remission (CR2) after conditioning with BuFlu or FLAMSA. Eligible patients had their first allogeneic stem cell transplantation for AML in CR1 or CR2 between January 2005 and June 2016. Donors were matched related or unrelated with up to 1 mismatch. Conditioning consisted of either BuFlu or FLAMSA. Propensity score matching was applied and comparisons were performed using weighted Cox regression. BuFlu conditioning was used in 1197 patients, whereas FLAMSA-TBI and FLAMSA-Bu were used in 258 and 141 patients, respectively. Median follow-up of survivors was 24.72 months. In univariate analysis, relapse incidence (RI) was 30.3%, 21.9%, and 23.1% in the BuFlu, FLAMSA-TBI, and FLAMSA-Bu groups, respectively (P <.01), and nonrelapse mortality at 2 years was 16.1%, 16.4%, and 26.7%, respectively (P <.01). Leukemia-free survival (LFS) at 2 years was 53.6%, 61.6%, and 50.1%, respectively (P =.03). Weighted Cox regression revealed that FLAMSA-TBI compared with BuFlu was associated with lower RI (hazard ratio [HR],.64; 95% confidence interval [CI],.42 to.98; P =.04) and a trend for better LFS (HR,.72; 95% CI,.49 to 1.06; P =.09). These results suggest that compared with BuFlu, conditioning with FLAMSA-TBI leads to reduced RI at 2 years in AML patients transplanted in CR1 or CR2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Usually, after double umbilical cord blood transplantation (DUCBT), only 1 of the transplanted units persists in the long term. The characteristics of the winning cord blood unit (W-CBU) that determine unit dominance and how they influence the outcomes of DUCBT remain unclear. We retrospectively analyzed 347 patients with acute leukemia transplanted with a DUCBT (694 CBU) from 2005 to 2013 who had documented neutrophil engraftment and a W-CBU identified by chimerism analysis, to identify unit characteristics impacting on dominance. Median age at DUCBT was 40 years and median follow-up was 35 months. Among W-CBUs, 41% were ≥5/6 HLA matched to the recipient and 59% were ≤4/6. Multivariate analysis indicated that ≤4/6 HLA-matched W-CBUs led to lower leukemia-free survival (44% versus 56%; hazard ratio [HR], 1.5; P  = .032) and overall survival (49% versus 62%; HR, 1.5; P  = .028), increased nonrelapse mortality (26% versus 18%; HR, 1.9; P  = .027), and acute graft-versus-host disease (46% versus 35%; HR, 1.7; P  = .013). We were unable to predict unit dominance, but we demonstrated that outcomes were strongly influenced by the degree of HLA mismatch between W-CBU and recipient. Therefore, selection of both units with the lower number of HLA mismatches with the recipient is indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haploidentical related donor (HRD) allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) was developed as a valid option for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the absence of a matched donor. However, many investigators are reluctant to consider the use of this alternative in elderly patients, anticipating high morbidity. Here, we report a single-center comparison of HRD versus matched sibling donor (MSD) and unrelated donor (UD) allo-HSCT for patients with AML aged ≥60 years. Ninety-four patients (MSD: n = 31; UD: n = 30; HRD: n = 33) were analyzed. The median age was 65 (range, 60 to 73) years. We observed a higher cumulative incidence of grade 3 to 4 acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after UD allo-HSCT (MSD versus UD versus HRD: 3% versus 33% versus 6%, respectively; P  = .006). Two-year cumulative incidence of moderate or severe chronic GVHD was 17%, 27%, and 16% in the MSD, UD, and HRD groups, respectively ( P  = .487). No difference was observed in the 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse or nonrelapse mortality (NRM) (relapse: MSD versus UD versus HRD: 32% versus 25% versus 25%, respectively; P  = .411; NRM: MSD versus UD versus HRD: 19% versus 27% versus 24%, respectively; P  = .709). At 2 years, progression-free survival, overall survival, and GVHD- and relapse-free survival were 48%, 50%, and 39%, respectively, in the MSD group; 48%, 51%, and 23%, respectively, in the UD group; and 50%, 52%, and 32%, respectively, in the HRD group, without statistically significant differences between the groups. We conclude that HRD allo-HSCT is highly feasible and no less efficient than MSD or UD allo-HSCT in patients with AML aged ≥60 years. Thus, the absence of a HLA-identical donor should not limit the consideration of allo-HSCT for the treatment of AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) has been associated with inferior outcomes compared with de novo AML. Little is known about patient risk factors and outcomes in sAML after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT); thus, this large systemic analysis of the European Society for Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation registry was performed. This study included 4997 patients with sAML who received HCT from 2000 to 2016. In univariate analysis the 2-year cumulative incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), relapse, and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) were 33.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 32% to 34.9%), 33.7% (95% CI, 32.3% to 35.1%), and 27.5% (95% CI, 26.1% to 28.7%), respectively. Overall survival (OS), leukemia-free survival (LFS), and GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) at 2 years were 44.5% (95% CI, 43% to 46%), 38.8% (95% CI, 37.4% to 40.3%), and 27.2% (95% CI, 25.9% to 28.6%), respectively. In multivariate analysis, patients receiving myeloablative regimens had decreased relapse (hazard ratio, .859; 95% CI, .761 to .97; P  = .01), higher NRM (hazard ratio, 1.175; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.341; P  = .02), and no differences in OS, LFS, and GRFS compared with patients receiving reduced-intensity conditioning regimens. Active disease, adverse cytogenetics, older age, Karnofsky performance status (≤80%), ex vivo T cell depletion, other malignant hematologic diseases, and patient cytomegalovirus seropositivity were associated with inferior OS and LFS. These variables should be considered in patients with sAML in need of HCT, and further study regarding the impact of conditioning regimens on relapse is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of novel agents for multiple myeloma (MM) is cause for a re-examination of the incidence of second primary malignancies (SPMs). We examined the SPM rate in MM patients who were enrolled in the prospective observational CALM (Collaboration to Collect Autologous Transplant outcome in Lymphoma and Myeloma) study. Between 2008 and 2012, 3204 patients with MM underwent a first autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Plerixafor was used as a mobilizing agent for patients with poor (or potentially poor) stem cell mobilization as defined by the respective centers. A total of 135 patients developed SPMs, with a cumulative incidence of 5.3% (95% confidence interval, 4.4 to 6.3) at 72 months. Ninety-four patients developed solid tumors, 30 developed hematologic malignancies, and 11 developed an SPM of an unknown type. The cumulative incidence of known hematologic and solid malignancies were 1.4% and 3.6%, respectively, at 72 months. In a univariate analysis, use of radiotherapy, type of induction regimen, hematopoietic stem cell dose, poor mobilizer status, plerixafor use, and sex did not influence the cumulative incidence of SPMs. Only age over 65 years was statistically associated with an increased incidence. Overall, the incidence of SPMs was comparable to earlier estimations of SPMs in MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dose intensity of the conditioning regimen has significant impact on the outcomes after stem cell transplantation (SCT) for acute myeloid leukemia. Most studies have shown more relapse, less nonrelapse mortality (NRM), and similar overall survival after reduced-intensity and myeloablative conditioning. There are limited data on the dose equivalence and expected outcomes of treosulfan-based compared with busulfan-based conditioning. We compared SCT outcomes after fludarabine with either intravenous busulfan at a myeloablative dose (FB4, 12.8 mg/kg, n = 1265) or a reduced dose (FB2, 6.4 mg/kg, n = 1456) or treosulfan at 42 g/m 2 (FT14, n = 403) or 36 g/m 2 (FT12, n = 168). Median patient age was 48, 60, 57, and 60 years in the FB4, FB2, FT14, and FT12 groups, respectively ( P  < .0001). Two-year overall survival was 58%, 53%, 53%, and 51%, respectively ( P  = .25). Multivariate analysis identified advanced age, advanced disease status, and secondary leukemia to be associated with worse survival. Relapse rate was 30%, 35%, 34%, and 40%, respectively. Relapse was more common after FB2, advanced age and disease status, secondary leukemia, and sibling donors. NRM was 17%, 18%, 21%, and 16%, respectively. NRM was least common after FT12 and more common with advanced age and disease status and unrelated donors. Treosulfan-based regimens were associated with lower rates of graft-versus-host disease. There was no difference in any outcome among patients in first complete remission at transplantation. However, there was better survival with treosulfan-based conditioning in advanced leukemia. In conclusion, survival is determined mostly by disease biology and is similar after various regimens. Treosulfan-based conditioning is more similar to myeloablative than to reduced-intensity conditioning but can be administered safely in older patients, with lower rates of graft-versus-host disease and possibly better outcomes in patients with active leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the impact of unidirectional donor versus recipient killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR)–ligand mismatch (KIR-Lmm) on the outcomes of T cell–replete haploidentical stem cell transplantation (Haplo-SCT) with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) in a cohort of 144 patients treated for various hematologi diseases. We separately analyzed 81 patients in complete remission (CR group) and 63 with active disease (no CR group) at the time of Haplo-SCT. One-third of patients in each group had KIR-Lmm. In the no CR group, KIR-Lmm was associated with a significantly lower incidence of relapse (hazard ratio, .21; P  = .013) and better progression-free survival (hazard ratio, .42; P  = .028), with no significant increase in graft-versus-host disease incidence or nonrelapse mortality. In contrast, in the CR group no benefit of KIR-Lmm was observed. Our results encourage considering KIR-Lmm as an additional tool to improve donor selection for T cell–replete Haplo-SCT with PT-Cy, especially in patients with high-risk diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) represents a potential curative strategy for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) relapsing after autologous SCT (ASCT), but the incidence of disease relapse is still high. We performed a retrospective study on 64 patients with HL relapsing after ASCT to compare outcomes after HLA-identical SCT (HLAid-SCT; n = 34) and haploidentical SCT with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) (Haplo-SCT; n = 30). All patients engrafted, with a significantly shorter median time for neutrophil and platelet engraftment after HLAid compared with Haplo-SCT (14 days versus 19 days and 11 days versus 23 days, respectively; P  < .005). With a median follow-up of 47 months, 3-year overall survival (OS), 3 -year progression-free survival (PFS), and 1-year nonrelapse mortality (NRM) were 53%, 44% and 17%, respectively. Recipients of Haplo-SCT were less likely to experience disease relapse (3-year cumulative incidence of relapse, 13% versus 62%; P  = .0001) and chronic graft- versus-host disease (GVHD; 3% versus 32%; P  = .003), resulting in improved PFS (60% versus 29%; P  = .04) and GVHD-free/relapse-free survival (47% versus 17%; P  = .06). The 3-year OS did not differ between the 2 groups (56% versus 54%; P  not significant), and NRM was higher after Haplo-SCT, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (26% versus 9%; P  = .09). On multivariate Cox regression analysis, receipt of Haplo-SCT (hazard ratio [HR], .17; P  = .02) and achieving optimal disease control (complete remission before SCT: HR, .6; P  < .0001) were the only independent variables associated with a reduced risk of disease relapse. Haplo-SCT is a valid option for patients with HL relapsing after ASCT, with a reduced incidence of relapse compared with HLAid SCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deletion (5q) karyotype (del [5q]) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is the most common karyotypic abnormality in de novo MDS. An increased number of blasts and additional karyotypic abnormalities (del [5q]+) are associated with a poor outcome. We analyzed the outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants (HCT) in patients suffering from MDS with only del (5q) or del (5q)+ . A total of 162 patients, of median age 54 years (range, 9 to 73), having MDS and del (5q) abnormalities received HCT from identical siblings (n = 87) or unrelated donors (n = 75). The cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality and relapse incidence at 4 years was 29% (95% CI, 22 to 36) and 46% (95% CI, 38 to 54), whereas the estimated 4 year survival, relapse-free and overall, was 25% (95% CI, 18 to 33) and 30% (95% CI, 23 to 38), respectively. In a multivariate analysis patients with del (5q) and a blast excess displayed poorer survival (hazard ratio, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.44 to 3.93; P  < .001), whereas female recipient sex resulted in improved survival (hazard ratio, .61; 95% CI, .41 to .90; P  = .01). We conclude that allogeneic HCT can cure a subset of patients with MDS and a del (5q) abnormality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allogeneic (allo) hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) currently represents the only potentially curative therapy for patients affected by multiple myeloma (MM). Up to 30% of patients in western countries do not have a matched donor. Haploidentical HCT (haplo-HCT) may be an option, but currently, there are little available data regarding this treatment. We analyzed survival outcomes of 30 heavily pretreated MM patients who received haplo-HCT with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide as graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Median neutrophil and platelet engraftments at day +30 were 87% (95% confidence interval [CI], 66% to 95%) and 60% (95% CI, 40% to 75%), respectively. The cumulative incidences of relapse or progression of disease (PD) and nonrelapse mortality at 18 months were 42% (95% CI, 23% to 59%) and 10% (95% CI, 2% to 24%), respectively. The cumulative incidence of grade II to IV acute GVHD at day +100 was 29% (95% CI, 14% to 47%). The cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD at 18 months was 7% (95% CI, 1% to 21%). With a median follow-up in survivors of 25 months (range, 15 to 73 months), the 18-month progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 33% (95% CI, 17% to 50%) and 63% (95% CI, 44% to 78%), respectively. No differences were observed between peripheral blood and bone marrow graft in terms of engraftment, GVHD, or PD incidence. Chemorefractory disease at transplantation was associated with a lower/reduced 18-month PFS (9% versus 47%, P  = .01) and OS (45% versus 74%, P  = .03). This was explained by a higher PD incidence (55% versus 33%, P  = .05). In this multicenter study, we report encouraging results with haplo-HCT for patients with heavily pretreated MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant progress has been made over the past decade in haploidentical transplantation, with the development of novel methods to control intense alloreactive reactions generated in the major HLA-mismatched setting. Application of post-transplantation cyclophosphamide has gained worldwide acceptance as an effective and low-cost way to perform this type of transplantation, with outcomes now similar to those from HLA-matched unrelated donors. These advances have resulted in improved treatment-related mortality, whereas disease relapse has emerged as the most common cause of treatment failure. In addition, improvements in immunologic reconstitution after transplantation are much needed, not only in haploidentical transplantation but in all forms of stem cell transplantation. This symposium has focused on some of the most promising methods to control alloreactivity in this form of transplantation and application of cellular therapy to prevent disease relapse after transplantation, as well as understanding immunologic reconstitution and foreseeable approaches to improve immune recovery after transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess toxicity and efficacy of adjuvant high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) in 583 high-risk breast cancer (BC) patients (>3 positive nodes) who were transplanted between 1995 and 2005 in Europe. All patients received surgery before transplant, and 55 patients (9.5%) received neoadjuvant treatment before surgery. Median age was 47.1 years, 57.3% of patients were premenopausal at treatment, 56.5% had endocrine-responsive tumors, 19.5% had a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative tumor, and 72.4% had ≥10 positive lymph nodes at surgery. Seventy-nine percent received a single HDC procedure. Overall transplant-related mortality was 1.9%, at .9% between 2001 and 2005, whereas secondary tumor-related mortality was .9%. With a median follow-up of 120 months, overall survival and disease-free survival rates at 5 and 10 years in the whole population were 75% and 64% and 58% and 44%, respectively. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that rates of overall survival were significantly better in patients with endocrine-responsive tumors, <10 positive lymph nodes, and smaller tumor size. HER2 status did not affect survival probability. Adjuvant HDC with AHSCT has a low mortality rate and provides impressive long-term survival rates in patients with high-risk BC. Our results suggest that this treatment modality should be considered in selected high-risk BC patients and further investigated in clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outcomes after umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) are unknown. We analyzed outcomes of 68 patients with poor-risk CLL/SLL who underwent reduced-intensity (RIC) UCBT from 2004 to 2012. The median age was 57 years and median follow-up 36 months; 17 patients had del 17p/p53mutation, 19 patients had fludarabine-refractory disease, 11 relapsed after autologous stem cell transplantation, 8 had diagnosis of prolymphocytic leukemia, 4 had Richter syndrome, and 8 underwent transplantation with progressive or refractory disease. The most common RIC used was cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, and total body irradiation (TBI) in 82%; 15 patients received antithymocyte globulin. Most of the cord blood grafts were HLA mismatched and 76% received a double UCBT. Median total nucleated cells collected was 4.7 × 10 7 /kg. The cumulative incidences (CI) of neutrophil and platelet engraftment were 84% and 72% at 60 and 180 days respectively; day 100 graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (grade II to IV) was 43% and 3-year chronic GVHD was 32%. The CI of relapse, nonrelapse mortality, overall survival, and progression-free survival (PFS) at 3 years were 16%, 39%, 54%, and 45%, respectively. Fludarabine-sensitive disease at transplantation and use of low-dose TBI regimens were associated with acceptable PFS. In conclusion, use of RIC-UCBT seems to be feasible in patients with poor-risk CLL/SLL and improved outcomes were observed in patients with fludarabine-sensitive disease who received low-dose TBI regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in the development of reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) have allowed a broader range of patients to access allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Reconstitution of an effective immune system post-transplant, including natural killer (NK) cells, is critical for both tumor control and infectious disease control or prevention. The development and functions of NK cells in such settings remain elusive. Here we analyzed NK cell development in HLA-matched HSCT from related or unrelated donors, after RIC that included antithymocyte globulin (N = 45 patients). Our data reveal that NK cells quickly recover after RIC-HSCT, irrespective of donor type. Rapidly re-emerging NK cells, however, remain immature for more than 6 months. Effector functions resemble that of immature NK cells because they poorly produce IFN-γ and TNF-α in response to target cell stimulation, despite a rapid acquisition of degranulation ability and MIP-1β production. Strikingly, rapid reconstitution of cytokine production correlates with a lower relapse incidence ( P = .01) and a better survival rate ( P < .0001) at 1 year post-transplant, whereas degranulation capacity was associated with less relapse ( P = .05). Our study demonstrates rapid quantitative reconstitution of the NK cell compartment despite administration of potent immune suppressive drugs as part of the conditioning regimen and after transplantation. However, there is a prolonged persistence of functional defects, the correction of which positively correlates with clinical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains the only curative treatment in patients with higher risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), but the choice of the optimal alternative stem cell source is still a subject of debate in patients lacking an HLA-matched sibling donor. Here, we report on a large series of patients with MDS (N = 631) transplanted either with mobilized peripheral stem cells (PBs) from unrelated donors (n = 502) or with umbilical cord blood transplant (UCB, n = 129) as alternative grafts after reduced-intensity conditioning. Neutrophil engraftment was higher after PB (98% versus 78%, P < .0001). Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was similar after PB (31%) and UCB (29%), and chronic GVHD incidence was higher after PB (41% versus 23%). Two-year nonrelapse mortality was lower after PB (31% versus 42% P = .03). There was a better overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) after PB (49% ± 2% versus 30% ± 4%, P < .0001 and 44% ± 2% versus 28% ± 4%, P < .0001). Multivariate analysis confirmed the advantage of PB for treatment-related mortality, OS, and DFS, whereas relative risk of chronic GVHD was similar. A multivariate analysis comparing PB from a 10/10 HLA-matched donor, PB from a 9/10 HLA-matched donor, and UCB showed an advantage on treatment-related mortality, DFS, and OS only in 10/10 PB. We conclude that in MDS patients lacking an HLA-matched sibling donor, PB from a 10/10 HLA-matched unrelated donor is the preferred source of hematopoietic stem cells. HLA-mismatched unrelated donor or cord blood seem to give similar inferior results except for neutrophil engraftment, which is delayed after UCB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT) is recommended for patients with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In many situations, a matched related (MRD) or matched unrelated donor (MUD) is lacking, in which case unrelated cord blood units (UCB) provide an alternative. We analyzed the outcome of consecutive high-risk AML patients prepared with reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens and allografted with UCB (n = 32) and compared their outcome with high-risk AML patients who underwent transplantation with MRD/MUD (n = 49) in the same period of time. Grade III to IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurred slightly more frequently in the UCB group (25%) than in the MRD/MUD group (8%) ( P = .069). Conversely, we found a lower incidence of extensive chronic GVHD in the UCB group (6%) than in the MRD/MUD group (20%, P = .085). Nonrelapse mortality at 4 years was 16% and 22% in the UCB and MRD/MUD groups, respectively ( P = .529). The cumulative incidence of relapse at 4 years was significantly higher in the UCB group (60%) than in the MRD/MUD group (27%, P = .006). Leukemia-free survival (LFS) and overall survival (OS) at 4 years were 25% and 34%, respectively, in the UCB group and 50% and 56%, respectively, in the MRD/MUD group (LFS, P = .029; OS, P = .072). Multivariate analyses adjusted by cytogenetics and disease status at the time of Allo-HSCT revealed that use of UCB remained an independent predictive factor of shorter LFS (hazard ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 3.6; P = .018), and was associated with a trend for shorter OS (hazard ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, .9 to 3.2; P = .093). Whereas UCB provides an alternative for patients with high-risk AML lacking an MRD/MUD, the high incidence of relapse after RIC-based UCB Allo-HSCT is a concern. Attempts to improve leukemic control with UCB Allo-HSCT are warranted, as well as the evaluation of other alternative donors in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoreduction before allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes remains a debatable issue. After excluding patients who had received preconditioning induction chemotherapy, we analyzed 128 consecutive patients with myelodysplastic syndrome who received reduced-intensity or nonmyeloablative conditioning (RIC/NMA) allo-SCT. Among them, 40 received azacitidine (AZA) before transplant (AZA group) and 88 were transplanted up front (best supportive care [BSC] group). At diagnosis, 55 patients had intermediate 2 or high-risk scores per the International Prognostic Scoring System and 33 had a high cytogenetic risk score. Progression to a more advanced disease before allo-SCT was recorded in 22 patients. Source of stem cells were blood (n = 112) or marrow (n = 16) from sibling (n = 78) or HLA-matched unrelated (n = 50) donors. With a median follow-up of 60 months, 3-year overall survival, relapse-free survival, cumulative incidence of relapse, and nonrelapse mortality were, respectively, 53% versus 53% (P = .69), 37% versus 42% (P = .78), 35% versus 36% (P = .99), and 20% versus 23% (P = .74), for the AZA group and BSC group, respectively. Multivariate analysis confirmed the absence of statistical differences in outcome between the AZA and BSC groups, after adjusting for potential confounders using the propensity score approach. The absence of cytoreduction before RIC/NMA allo-SCT did not seem to alter the outcome. However, our results emphasize the need to perform prospective protocols to delineate the role of debulking strategy and to identify subsets of patients who may benefit from this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recently, the administration of high-dose cyclophosphamide (Cy) after T cell–replete haploidentical stem cell infusion has been reported to be feasible and effective. In the original study, bone marrow (BM) was used as the source of stem cells. Here, we retrospectively analyzed the use of BM versus peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) in a cohort of patients receiving haploidentical T cell–replete transplantation after a nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen with postinfusion Cy. In the PBSC versus BM groups, the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 33% versus 25%, respectively, and the incidence of chronic GVHD was 13% versus 13%, respectively. The median time to achieve a safe and unsupported absolute neutrophil and platelet count was 20 versus 21 days and 27 versus 29 days, respectively. The incidence of engraftment was also similar in the 2 cohorts. The 1-year nonrelapse mortality rate was 12% versus 22%, respectively (P = .96). Finally, nonsignificant differences in survival were observed. In conclusion, the use of PBSCs instead of BM after T cell–replete haploidentical transplantation did not appear to be detrimental in terms of either GVHD or engraftment rate. PBSCs could be a valid alternative to BM after transplantation from a haploidentical donor using postinfusion Cy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of a CD34+-selected stem cell boost (SCB) without prior conditioning in 32 patients (male/22; median age of 54 years; range, 20 to 69) with poor graft function, defined as neutrophils ≤1.5 x 109/L, and/or platelets ≤30 x 109/L, and/or hemoglobin ≤8.5 g/dL). The median interval between stem cell transplantation and SCB was 5 months (range, 2 to 228). The median number of CD34+ and CD3+ cells were 3.4 x 106/kg (.96 to 8.30) and 9 x 103/kg body weight (range, 2 to 70), respectively. Hematological improvement was observed in 81% of patients and noted after a median of 30 days (range, 14 to 120) after SCB. The recipients of related grafts responded faster than recipients of unrelated grafts (20 versus 30 days, P = .04). The cumulative incidence of acute (grade II to IV) and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after SCB was 17% and 26%, respectively. Patients with acute GVHD received a higher median CD3+ cell dose. The 2-year probability of overall survival was 45%. We suggest that SCB represents an effective approach to improve poor graft function post transplantation, but optimal timing of SCB administration, anti-infective, and GVHD prophylaxis needs further evaluation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nonmyeloablative (NMA) regimens allow the use of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in patients considered unfit for standard myeloablative conditioning (MAC) regimens using high-dose alkylating agents with or without total body irradiation (TBI). Reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens, based on fludarabine (Flu), busulfan (Bu), and rabbit antithymocyte globulin (r-ATG), represent an intermediate alternative between NMA and MAC regimens. This platform was subsequently optimized by the introduction of i.v. Bu and the use of 5 mg/kg r-ATG, based on the hypothesis that these modifications would improve the safety of RIC allo-HSCT. Here we report a study conducted at our institution on 206 patients, median age 59 years, who underwent allo-HSCT after conditioning with Flu, 2 days of i.v. Bu, and 5 mg/kg r-ATG (FBx-ATG) between 2005 and 2012. The prevalence of grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 9%, and that of extensive chronic GVHD was 22%. Four-year nonrelapse mortality (NRM), relapse, and overall survival (OS) rates were 22%, 36%, and 54%, respectively. NRM tended to be influenced by comorbidities (hematopoietic cell transplantation–specific comorbidity index [HCT-CI] <3 versus HCT-CI ≥3: 18% versus 27%; P = .075), but not by age (<60 years, 20% versus ≥60 years, 25%; P = .142). Disease risk significantly influenced relapse (2 years: low, 8%, intermediate, 28%, high, 34%; very high, 63%; P = .017). Both disease risk (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: intermediate, 2.1 [0.8 to 5.2], P = .127; high, 3.4 [1.3 to 9.1], P = .013; very high, 4.0 [1.1 to 14], P = .029) and HCT-CI (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]: HCT-CI ≥3, 1.7 (1.1 to 2.8), P = .018) influenced OS, but age and donor type did not. The FBx-ATG RIC regimen reported here is associated with low mortality and high long-term disease-free survival without persistent GVHD in both young and old patients. It represents a valuable platform for developing further post-transplantation strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of relapse, particularly in the setting of high-risk disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: It has been reported that chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). The risk of relapse is generally reduced when cGVHD is present, but prognosis may be affected by increased toxicity and/or risk of infection associated with immunosuppressive treatment (IST). We performed a longitudinal data analysis of cGVHD, including the evolution of cGVHD itself over time in response to IST, in a single-center cohort of 313 consecutive patients undergoing allo-SCT. We found that lack of sustained response without withdrawal of IST within 6 months of cGVHD development was associated with higher transplantation-related mortality (hazard ratio, 2.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-4.33) compared with cGVHD-free patients. Conversely, response conferred better overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.18-0.95). Our analytical approach allowed us to integrate the evolution of cGVHD in a predictive model of transplantation outcome; notably, remission associated with permanent discontinuation of IST within the first 6 months from the occurrence of cGVHD seemed to correlate most closely with final outcome. Further confirmation from larger studies is needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in children, is cured with conventional therapy in 70%. However, the 5-year survival for those who relapse is about 30%, and drops to about 15% for those with unfavorable histologies (alveolar/undifferentiated subtypes). We describe outcomes of 62 subjects receiving autologous blood/bone marrow (BM) transplants for RMS between 1989 and 2003, and reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplantation Research (CIBMTR). Histologic subtype was confirmed by reviewing pathology reports. Treatment-related mortality (TRM), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. Overall, 73% of subjects were <20 years; 39% had cancer bulk >5 cm, 63% had metastasis at diagnosis, 55% had unfavorable histologies, 92% had cancer responsive to chemotherapy pretransplant, and 67% were in first remission. The 1-year TRM was 5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1%-12%) and the 5-year PFS and OS were 29% (95% CI, 18%-41%) and 32% (95% CI, 21%-44%), respectively. There was only a 4% relapse rate after the first year. There were no differences in 5-year PFS or survival based on histological subtype, transplant in first remission versus relapse (36% versus 29%; P = .5), or transplantation for poor-risk histologies in first remission versus relapse (34% versus 33%; P = .9). Our data indicate that autotransplants for RMS disease are typically done in patients with disease responsive to chemotherapy pretransplant, with approximately one-third long-term survivors. Despite high-risk factors, we also found a low TRM, perhaps reflecting the migration from marrow to blood stem cells as the graft source. Even when performed after relapse for alveolar/undifferentiated histologies, long-term survivals were seen seemingly better than results with conventional therapies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Defining conditioning regimen intensity has become a critical issue for the hemopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) community. In the present report we propose to define conditioning regimens in 3 categories: (1) myeloablative (MA) conditioning, (2) reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC), and (3) nonmyeloablative (NMA) conditioning. Assignment to these categories is based on the duration of cytopenia and on the requirement for stem cell (SC) support: MA regimens cause irreversible cytopenia and SC support is mandatory. NMA regimens cause minimal cytopenia, and can be given also without SC support. RIC regimens do not fit criteria for MA or NMA regimens: they cause cytopenia of variable duration, and should be given with stem cell support, although cytopenia may not be irreversible. This report also assigns commonly used regimens to one of these categories, based upon the agents, dose, or combinations. Standardized classification of conditioning regimen intensities will allow comparison across studies and interpretation of study results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Given their antileukemic activity, natural killer (NK) cells can alter the outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The physiologic functions of NK cells are regulated by the interaction of killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) with specific HLA class I ligands. In the literature, different models based on HLA class I and/or KIR donor (D)/recipient (R) gene disparities are considered as predictors of NK cell alloreactivity. In this retrospective and multicentric French study, we analyzed the clinical impact of the different NK-alloreactivity models in 264 patients who underwent T repleted unrelated HSCT. First, we did not observe that the “KIR ligand-ligand” model had a significant clinical impact on unrelated HSCT outcome, whereas the “missing KIR ligand” model had a significant but limited effect on unrelated HSCT, because only the absence of C1 ligand in patients with myelogenous diseases was associated with a decreased overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio=2.17, P =.005). The “KIR receptor-receptor” and the “KIR receptor-ligand” models seemed the most capable of predicting NK alloreactivity because they had a significant impact on acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) occurrence, OS, and relapse incidence in D/R unrelated pairs. In particular, KIR3DL1 gene mismatches in the GVH direction (D+R−) and the D KIR3DL1+/3DS1+ and R Bw4− combination were respectively correlated with the lowest OS in HLA identical pairs (HR=1.99, P =.02) and the highest incidence of relapse in HLA nonidentical D/R unrelated pairs (HR=4.72, P =.03). Overall, our results suggest a detrimental effect of KIR3DL1+/3DS1+ donor NK cells transplanted into HLA-Bw4− patients in the absence of an educational process via KIR3DL1/HLA-Bw4 interactions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]