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We report a modified post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-CY) regimen, for unmanipulated haploidentical marrow transplants, in 150 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). All patients received a myeloablative regimen, cyclosporine A (CsA) on day 0, mycophenolate on day +1, and PT-CY 50 mg/kg on days +3 and +5. The median age was 51 (range, 17–74) years, 51 (34%) patients had active disease at transplant, and the median follow-up of surviving patients 903 (range, 150-1955) days. The cumulative incidence (CI) of engraftment, acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) grade II to IV, and moderate/severe chronic GVHD was 92%, 17%, and 15%, respectively. The 4-year CI of transplant-related mortality (TRM) and relapse was 20% and 24%, respectively. Four-year survival for remission patients was 72% (74% versus 67% for <60 or ≥60 years of age) and 26% for advanced patients (17% versus 41% for <60 or ≥60 years of age). In a multivariate analysis, active disease at transplant was the only negative predictor of survival, TRM and relapse. The original PT-CY regimen can be modified with CsA on day 0, still providing protection against GVHD, low toxicity, and encouraging low relapse incidence in AML patients, also over 60 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This is an update of a randomized study on antithymocyte globulin (ATG; Thymoglobulin) before transplantation in patients undergoing unmanipulated marrow transplantation from unrelated donors. The median follow-up for surviving patients is 5.7 years. At last follow-up, chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was scored in 60% of non-ATG and in 37% of ATG patients (P = .05), and extensive chronic GVHD was present in 41% and 15%, respectively (P = .01). Chronic lung dysfunction was diagnosed in 51% versus 19% of patients (P = .005). Forced vital capacity decreased significantly with time in non-ATG patients (P = .005), but not in patients who received ATG (P = .30). The proportion of patients with Karnofsky scores of ≥90% at 4 years was 57% versus 89% in non-ATG versus ATG patients (P = .03). The actuarial 6-year survival for all patients randomized was 31% versus 44% (non-ATG versus ATG; P = .80). The cumulative incidence of transplant-related mortality was 51% versus 41% (P = .70) and of relapse was 32% versus 40% (P = .90). For patients who survived 1 year, transplant-related mortality was 25% versus 3% (P = .03), and actuarial survival was 58% versus 85% (P = .09). In conclusion, the addition of ATG to cyclosporine/methotrexate provides significant protection against extensive chronic GVHD and chronic lung dysfunction, reduces late transplant mortality, and improves quality of life in patients undergoing unrelated donor transplantation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]