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Abstract Patients who develop chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell-related immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) frequently undergo evaluation with electroencephalography (EEG). We hypothesize that EEG features and Synek scale score, a measure of degree of EEG abnormality, are associated with ICANS severity. Here, we performed a retrospective review of 125 adult patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) who received CAR-T cell therapy from 2010 to 2019, including 53 patients with B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with 1928z CAR T cells (NCT01044069) and 72 patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) treated with the commercial CAR T products axicabtagene ciloleucel or tisagenlecleucel. We collected video EEG monitoring (27 with B-ALL and 20 with LBCL) and recorded daily EEG features, Synek scores, and ICANS grade for 47 eligible patients. Synek scale and ICANS grade were positively correlated (correlation coefficient 0.47, 95% CI: 0.31–0.60). This was further corroborated in the univariable model associating high Synek scale (3 or 4) with high ICANS grade (OR = 15.2; 95%CI:7.8–29.7, p

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells targeting CD19 induce durable remissions in patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but many patients experience treatmentrelated toxicity. Cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurologic syndrome are extensively characterized. However, limited data exist on the burden, predictors, and implications of acute kidney injury (AKI) after CAR T cell therapy. On initial screening of the FDA adverse event reporting system, we identified a disproportionately high rate of renal adverse events among nearly 6,000 CAR T adverse event reports, suggesting it is clinically important in this patient population. In a subsequent single-center analysis of 399 NHL patients treated with CD19 CAR T cells, we found a substantial burden of AKI after CAR T infusion (10% and 5% of any grade and grade ≥2 AKI) with pre-renal causes being predominant (72%). Evolution to chronic kidney disease was rare, however, 3 patients required hemodialysis. Importantly, patients experiencing cytokine release syndrome and/or neurotoxicity as well as those with low serum albumin and high inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and TNF-alpha, were more likely to develop AKI. While pre-CAR T renal dysfunction was not associated with adverse outcomes, patients developing post-CAR T AKI had lower overall survival compared to their counterparts. Our findings indicate that renal dysfunction is a common toxicity of CAR T cell therapy with meaningful prognostic impact. Notably, the link between systemic inflammation and renal dysfunction, suggests that readily available biomarkers may inform on renal injury risk after CAR T cell therapy.

Abstract Relapse and toxicity limit the effectiveness of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy for large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), yet biomarkers that predict outcomes and toxicity are lacking. We examined radiomic features extracted from pre-CAR-T 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18F]FDG PET/CT) scans (n = 341) of 180 patients (121 male; median age, 66 years). Three conventional (maximum standardized uptake value [SUVmax], metabolic tumor volume [MTV], total lesion glycolysis [TLG]) and 116 novel radiomic features were assessed, along with inflammatory markers, toxicities, and outcomes. At both pre-apheresis and pre-infusion time points, conventional PET features of disease correlated with elevated inflammatory markers. At pre-infusion, MTV was associated with grade ≥ 2 cytokine release syndrome (odds ratio [OR] for 100 mL increase: 1.08 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01–1.20], P = 0.031), and SUVmax was associated with failure to achieve complete response (CR) (OR 1.72 [95% CI, 1.24–2.43], P

The activity of anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with Richter's transformation (RT) to aggressive large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) is largely unknown. In a multicenter retrospective study, we report the safety and efficacy of CAR T cell therapy in patients with RT (n=30) compared to patients with aggressive B cell lymphoma (n=283) and patients with transformed indolent Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (iNHL) (n=141) between April 2016 and January 2023. Two-thirds of patients received prior therapy for CLL before RT and 89% of them received B-cell receptor and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) inhibitors. Toxicities of CAR T cell therapy in RT were similar to other lymphomas, with no fatalities related to cytokine release syndrome or immune effector-cell associated neurotoxicity synderome. The 100-day overall response rate and complete response rates in patients with RT were 57% and 47%, respectively. With a median follow up of 19 months, the median overall survival (OS) was 9.9 months in patients with RT compared to 18 months in de-novo LBCL and not reached in patients with transformed iNHL. The OS at 12 months was 45% in patients with RT compared with 62% and 75% in patients with de novo LBCL and transformed iNHL, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, worse OS was associated with RT histology, elevated LDH, and more prior lines of therapy. CAR T cell therapy can salvage a proportion of patients with CLL and RT exposed to prior targeted agents; however, efficacy in RT is inferior compared to de novo LBCL and transformed iNHL

Not available.

Abstract Genomic profiling of hematologic malignancies has augmented our understanding of variants that contribute to disease pathogenesis and supported development of prognostic models that inform disease management in the clinic. Tumor only sequencing assays are limited in their ability to identify definitive somatic variants, which can lead to ambiguity in clinical reporting and patient management. Here, we describe the MSK-IMPACT Heme cohort, a comprehensive data set of somatic alterations from paired tumor and normal DNA using a hybridization capture-based next generation sequencing platform. We highlight patterns of mutations, copy number alterations, and mutation signatures in a broad set of myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms. We also demonstrate the power of appropriate matching to make definitive somatic calls, including in patients who have undergone allogeneic stem cell transplant. We expect that this resource will further spur research into the pathobiology and clinical utility of clinical sequencing for patients with hematologic neoplasms.

Comprehensive genomic sequencing is becoming a critical component in the assessment of hematologic malignancies, with broad implications for patient management. In this context, unequivocally discriminating somatic from germline events is challenging but greatly facilitated by matched analysis of tumor:normal pairs. In contrast to solid tumors, conventional sources of normal control (peripheral blood, buccal swabs, saliva) could be highly involved by the neoplastic process, rendering them unsuitable. In this work we describe our real-world experience using cell free DNA (cfDNA) isolated from nail clippings as an alternate source of normal control, through the dedicated review of 2,610 tumor:nail pairs comprehensively sequenced by MSK-IMPACT-heme. Overall, we find nail cfDNA is a robust source of germline control for paired genomic studies. In a subset of patients, nail DNA may have tumor DNA contamination, reflecting unique attributes of the hematologic disease and transplant history. Contamination is generally low level, but significantly more common among patients with myeloid neoplasms (20.5%; 304/1482) compared to lymphoid diseases (5.4%; 61/1128) and particularly enriched in myeloproliferative neoplasms with marked myelofibrosis. When identified in patients with lymphoid and plasma-cell neoplasms, mutations commonly reflected a myeloid profile and correlated with a concurrent/evolving clonal myeloid neoplasm. For nails collected after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation, donor DNA was identified in 22% (11/50). In this cohort, an association with recent history of graft-vs-host disease was identified. These findings should be considered as a potential limitation for the use of nail as normal control but could also provide important diagnostic information regarding the disease process.

Isatuximab is an IgG1κ-derived monoclonal antibody against CD38 approved for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma. Here we describe the successful treatment of a therapy-refractory pure red cell aplasia case following ABO-mismatched allogeneic stem cell transplantation with isatuximab. Our patient was a 75-year-old female with acute myeloid leukemia who received an HLA-B antigen mismatched, unrelated peripheral blood stem cell transplant with a major ABO incompatibility (blood group A+ in the donor and blood group O+ in the recipient). The patient developed persistent red cell aplasia and anti-A antibodies for more than 500 days from transplant. She received therapy with rituximab, bortezomib, prednisone, and darbepoetin alfa with partial to no response. After repeated insurance denials for daratumumab, isatuximab was obtained from the manufacturer through their CareASSIST program. Following the completion of 2 cycles of isatuximab (8 doses), significant and sustained red cell recovery was observed.

Background Refractory CMV viremia and disease are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT).Methods In phase I/II trials, we treated 67 subjects for CMV viremia or disease arising after HCT with adoptive transfer of banked, third-party, CMVpp65-sensitized T cells (CMVpp65-VSTs). All were evaluable for toxicity and 59 for response. Evaluable subjects had CMV disease or persisting viremia that had failed at least 2 weeks of induction therapy with a median of 3 antiviral drugs; 84.7% had more than 3 of 11 high-risk features. CMVpp65-VSTs were specific for 1 to 3 CMVpp65 epitopes, presented by a limited set of HLA class I or II alleles, and were selected based on high-resolution HLA matching at 2 of 10 HLA alleles and matching for subject and subject’s HCT donor for 1 or more alleles through which the CMVpp65-VSTs were restricted.Results T cell infusions were well tolerated. Of 59 subjects evaluable for response, 38 (64%) achieved complete or durable partial responses.Conclusions Recipients responding to CMVpp65VSTs experienced an improved overall survival. Of the risk factors evaluated, transplant type, recipient CD4+ and CD8+ T cell levels prior to adoptive therapy, and the HLA restriction of CMVpp65-VSTs infused each significantly affected responses. In addition, CMVpp65-specific T cells of HCT donor or recipient origin contributed to the durability of both complete and partial responses.Trial Registration NCT00674648; NCT01646645; NCT02136797 (NIH).Funding NIH (P01 CA23766, R21 CA162002 and P30 CA008748); Aubrey Fund; Claire Tow Foundation; Major Family Foundation; “Rick” Eisemann Pediatric Research Fund; Banbury Foundation; Edith Robertson Foundation; Larry Smead Foundation.

Summary: Background: The optimal timing for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines within the first year after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) is poorly understood. Methods: We conducted a prospective, multicentre, observational study of allogeneic HCT recipients who initiated SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations within 12 months of HCT. Participants were enrolled at 22 academic cancer centers across the United States. Participants of any age who were planning to receive a first post-HCT SARS-CoV-2 vaccine within 12 months of HCT were eligible. We obtained blood prior to and after each vaccine dose for up to four vaccine doses, with an end-of-study sample seven to nine months after enrollment. We tested for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (anti-S) IgG; nucleocapsid protein (anti-N) IgG; neutralizing antibodies for Wuhan D614G, Delta B.1.617.2, and Omicron B.1.1.529 strains; and SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell receptors (TCRs). The primary outcome was a comparison of anti-S IgG titers at the post-V2 time point in participants initiating vaccinations

Measurement(s) Metagenomics Technology Type(s) next generation DNA sequencing Sample Characteristic - Organism Bacteria Sample Characteristic - Environment gut microbiome Sample Characteristic - Location New York City

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) can potentially salvage large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) patients experiencing treatment failure after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR T). Nonetheless, data on the efficacy and toxicities of alloHCT after receipt of CAR T are limited. We report a multicenter retrospective study assessing the safety, toxicities, and outcomes of alloHCT in LBCL patients following CAR T failure. Eighty-eight patients with relapsed, refractory LBCL received an alloHCT following anti-CD19 CAR T failure. The median number of lines of therapy between CAR T infusion and alloHCT was one (range, 0-7). Low intensity conditioning was used in 77% (n=68) and peripheral blood was the most common graft source (86%, n=76). The most common donor types were matched unrelated donor (39%), followed by haploidentical (30%) and matched related donor (26%). Median follow-up of survivors was 15 months (range, 1-72). One-year overall survival, progression-free survival, and graft-versus-host disease-free relapse-free survival were 59%, 45%, and 39% respectively. One-year non-relapse mortality and progression/relapse were 22% and 33% respectively. On multivariate analysis,

Measurement(s) gut microbiome measurement • Cell Density • Clinical Data Technology Type(s) DNA sequencing • quantitative PCR • clinical laboratory measurement • 16s ribosomal gene sequencing assay Factor Type(s) relative abundance of bacteria • timepoint of hematopoietic cell transplantation • type of hematologic malignancy • time and route of drug administration • type of bacterial infection Sample Characteristic - Organism Homo sapiens Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.13584986

Abstract: Quality of immune reconstitution after cord blood transplantation (CBT) without antithymocyte globulin (ATG) in adults is not established. We analyzed immune recovery in 106 engrafted adult CBT recipients (median age 50 years [range 22-70]) transplanted for hematologic malignancies with cyclosporine/mycophenolate mofetil immunoprophylaxis and no ATG. Patients were treated predominantly for acute leukemia (66%), and almost all (96%) underwent myeloablation. Recovery of CD4+ T cells was faster than CD8+ T cells with median CD4+ T-cell counts exceeding 200/mm3 at 4 months. Early post-CBT, effector memory (EM), and central memory cells were the most common CD4+ subsets, whereas effector and EM were the most common CD8+ T-cell subsets. Naive T-cell subsets increased gradually after 6 to 9 months post-CBT. A higher engrafting CB unit infused viable CD3+ cell dose was associated with improved CD4+ and CD4+CD45RA+ T-cell recovery. Cytomegalovirus reactivation by day 60 was associated with an expansion of total, EM, and effector CD8+ T cells, but lower CD4+ T-cell counts. Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) did not significantly compromise T-cell reconstitution. In serial landmark analyses, higher CD4+ T-cell counts and phytohemagglutinin responses were associated with reduced overall mortality. In contrast, CD8+ T-cell counts were not significant. Recovery of natural killer and B cells was prompt, reaching medians of 252/mm3 and 150/mm3 by 4 months, respectively, although B-cell recovery was delayed by aGVHD. Neither subset was significantly associated with mortality. ATG-free adult CBT is associated with robust thymus-independent CD4+ T-cell recovery, and CD4+ recovery reduced mortality risk.

Abstract: Presumably, reduced-intensity/nonmyeloablative conditioning (RIC/NMA) for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) results in reduced infections compared with myeloablative conditioning (MAC) regimens; however, published evidence is limited. In this Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research study, 1755 patients (aged ≥40 years) with acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission were evaluated for infections occurring within 100 days after T-cell replete alloHCT. Patients receiving RIC/NMA (n = 777) compared with those receiving MAC (n = 978) were older and underwent transplantation more recently; however, the groups were similar regarding Karnofsky performance score, HCT–comorbidity index, and cytogenetic risk. One or more infections occurred in 1045 (59.5%) patients (MAC, 595 [61%]; RIC/NMA, 450 [58%]; P = .21) by day 100. The median time to initial infection after MAC conditioning occurred earlier (MAC, 15 days [range,

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are the standard of care for the treatment of several cancers. While these immunotherapies have improved patient outcomes in many clinical settings, they bring accompanying risks of toxicity, specifically immune-related adverse events (irAEs). There is a need for clear, effective guidelines for the management of irAEs during ICI treatment, motivating the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) to convene an expert panel to develop a clinical practice guideline. The panel discussed the recognition and management of single and combination ICI irAEs and ultimately developed evidence- and consensus-based recommendations to assist medical professionals in clinical decision-making and to improve outcomes for patients.

Background: Monocytes are an essential cellular component of the innate immune system that support the host’s effectiveness to combat a range of infectious pathogens. Hemopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) results in transient monocyte depletion, but the factors that regulate recovery of monocyte populations are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated whether the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota is associated with the recovery of monocyte homeostasis after HCT. Methods: We performed a single-center, prospective, pilot study of 18 recipients of either autologous or allogeneic HCT. Serial blood and stool samples were collected from each patient during their HCT hospitalization. Analysis of the gut microbiota was done using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and flow cytometric analysis was used to characterize the phenotypic composition of monocyte populations. Results: Dynamic fluctuations in monocyte reconstitution occurred after HCT, and large differences were observed in monocyte frequency among patients over time. Recovery of absolute monocyte counts and subsets showed significant variability across the heterogeneous transplant types and conditioning intensities; no relationship to the microbiota composition was observed in this small cohort. Conclusion: In this pilot study, a relationship between the microbiota composition and monocyte homeostasis could not be firmly established. However, we identify multivariate associations between clinical factors and monocyte reconstitution post-HCT. Our findings encourage further longitudinal surveillance of the intestinal microbiome and its link to immune reconstitution.

Research on CAR T cells has achieved enormous progress in recent years. After the impressive results obtained in relapsed and refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and aggressive B-cell lymphomas, two constructs, tisagenlecleucel and axicabtagene ciloleucel, were approved by FDA. The role of CAR T cells in the treatment of B-cell disorders, however, is rapidly evolving. Ongoing clinical trials aim at comparing CAR T cells with standard treatment options and at evaluating their efficacy earlier in the disease course. The use of CAR T cells is still limited by the risk of relevant toxicities, most commonly cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity, whose management has nonetheless significantly improved. Some patients do not respond or relapse after treatment, either because of poor CAR T-cell expansion, lack of anti-tumor effects or after the loss of the target antigen on tumor cells. Investigators are trying to overcome these hurdles in many ways: by testing constructs which target different and/or multiple antigens or by improving CAR T-cell structure with additional functions and synergistic molecules. Alternative cell sources including allogeneic products (off-the-shelf CAR T cells), NK cells, and T cells obtained from induced pluripotent stem cells are also considered. Several trials are exploring the curative potential of CAR T cells in other malignancies, and recent data on multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia are encouraging. Given the likely expansion of CAR T-cell indications and their wider availability over time, more and more highly specialized clinical centers, with dedicated clinical units, will be required. Overall, the costs of these cell therapies will also play a role in the sustainability of many health care systems. This review will focus on the major clinical trials of CAR T cells in B-cell malignancies, including those leading to the first FDA approvals, and on the new settings in which these constructs are being tested. Besides, the most promising approaches to improve CAR T-cell efficacy and early data on alternative cell sources will be reviewed. Finally, we will discuss the challenges and the opportunities that are emerging with the advent of CAR T cells into clinical routine.

We sought to study whether survival after haploidentical transplantation is comparable to that after matched unrelated donor transplantation for 822 patients aged 50-75 years with acute myeloid leukemia in first or second complete remission. One hundred and ninety-two patients received grafts from haploidentical donors (sibling 25%; offspring 75%) and 631 patients from matched unrelated donors aged 18-40 years. Patients’ and disease characteristics of the two groups were similar except that recipients of matched unrelated donor transplantation were more likely to have poor risk cytogenetics and more likely to receive myeloablative conditioning regimens. Time from documented remission to transplant did not differ by donor type. Five-year overall survival was 32% and 42% after haploidentical and matched unrelated donor transplant, respectively (P=0.04). Multivariable analysis showed higher mortality (hazard ratio 1.27, P=0.04) and relapse (hazard ratio 1.32, P=0.04) after haploidentical transplantation, with similar non-relapse mortality risks. Chronic graft-versus-host disease was higher after matched unrelated donor compared to haploidentical transplantation when bone marrow was the graft (hazard ratio 3.12, P

Abstract Background Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is one of the leading causes of non-relapse mortality and morbidity after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Methods We evaluated the outcomes of two well-established strategies used for GVHD prevention: in vivo T cell depletion using antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and ex vivo T cell depletion using a CD34-selected (CD34+) graft. A total of 525 adult patients (363 ATG, 162 CD34+) with intermediate or high-risk cytogenetics acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission (CR1) were included. Patients underwent myeloablative allo-HCT using matched related or unrelated donors. Results Two-year overall survival estimate was 69.9% (95% CI, 58.5–69.4) in the ATG group and 67.6% (95% CI, 60.3–74.9) in the CD34+ group (p = 0.31). The cumulative incidence of grade II–IV acute GVHD and chronic GVHD was higher in the ATG cohort [HR 2.0 (95% CI 1.1–3.7), p = 0.02; HR 15.1 (95% CI 5.3–42.2), p

Abstract Background Although the prognosis of core‐binding factor (CBF) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is better than other subtypes of AML, 30% of patients still relapse and may require allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). However, there is no validated widely accepted scoring system to predict patient subsets with higher risk of relapse. Methods Eleven centers in the US and Europe evaluated 247 patients with t(8;21)(q22;q22). Results Complete remission (CR) rate was high (92.7%), yet relapse occurred in 27.1% of patients. A total of 24.7% of patients received alloHCT. The median disease‐free (DFS) and overall (OS) survival were 20.8 and 31.2 months, respectively. Age, KIT D816V mutated (11.3%) or nontested (36.4%) compared with KIT D816V wild type (52.5%), high white blood cell counts (WBC), and pseudodiploidy compared with hyper‐ or hypodiploidy were included in a scoring system (named I‐CBFit). DFS rate at 2 years was 76% for patients with a low‐risk I‐CBFit score compared with 36% for those with a high‐risk I‐CBFit score (P

Abstract: We studied the association between non-HLA donor characteristics (age, sex, donor-recipient relationship, blood group [ABO] match, and cytomegalovirus [CMV] serostatus) and transplant outcomes after T-cell-replete HLA-haploidentical transplantation using posttransplantation cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) in 928 adults with hematologic malignancy transplanted between 2008 and 2015. Siblings (n = 358) and offspring (n = 450) were the predominant donors, with only 120 patients having received grafts from parents. Although mortality risks were higher with donors aged 30 years or older (hazard ratio, 1.39; P < .0001), the introduction of patient age to the Cox regression model negated the effect of donor age. Two-year survival adjusted for CMV seropositivity, disease, and disease risk index was lower in patients aged 55 to 78 years after transplantation of grafts from donors younger than 30 years (53%) or aged at least 30 years (46%) compared with younger patients who received grafts from donors younger than 30 years (61%) and at least 30 years (60%; P < .0001). Similarly, 2-year survival in patients aged 55 to 78 years was lower after transplantation of grafts from siblings (45%) or offspring (48%) compared with patients aged 18 to 54 years after transplantation of grafts from siblings (62%), offspring (58%), and parents (61%; P < .0001). Graft failure was higher after transplantation of grafts from parents (14%) compared with siblings (6%) or offspring (7%; P = .02). Other non-HLA donor characteristics were not associated with survival or graft failure. The current analyses suggest patient and disease, rather than non-HLA donor characteristics, predominantly influence survival in adults.

Abstract. By late 2018, 2 chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell products have been approved by US and European regulatory authorities. Tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah, Novartis) is indicated in the treatment of patients up to 25 years of age with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that is refractory or in second or later relapse, or adult patients with large B-cell lymphoma relapsed or refractory (r/r) after 2 or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified, high grade B-cell lymphoma and DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma. Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta, Kite) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with large B-cell lymphoma relapsed or refractory after 2 or more lines of systemic therapy, including DLBCL not otherwise specified, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, high grade B-cell lymphoma, and DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma (ZUMA-1 trial). This review will offer a practical guide for the recognition and management of the most important toxicities related to the use of the current commercial CAR T cells, and also highlight strategies to diminish these side effects in the future.

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-021-00903-0.

The effects of inter-unit HLA-match on early outcomes with regards to double cord blood transplantation have not been established. Therefore, we studied the effect of inter-unit HLA-mismatching on the outcomes of 449 patients with acute leukemia after double cord blood transplantation. Patients were divided into two groups: one group that included transplantations with inter-unit mismatch at 2 or less HLA-loci (n=381) and the other group with inter-unit mismatch at 3 or 4 HLA-loci (n=68). HLA-match considered low resolution matching at HLA-A and -B loci and allele-level at HLA-DRB1, the accepted standard for selecting units for double cord blood transplants. Patients’, disease, and transplant characteristics were similar in the two groups. We observed no effect of the degree of inter-unit HLA-mismatch on neutrophil (Hazard Ratio 1.27, P=0.11) or platelet (Hazard Ratio 0.1.13, P=0.42) recovery, acute graft-versus-host disease (Hazard Ratio 1.17, P=0.36), treatment-related mortality (Hazard Ratio 0.92, P=0.75), relapse (Hazard Ratio 1.18, P=0.49), treatment failure (Hazard Ratio 0.99, P=0.98), or overall survival (Hazard Ratio 0.98, P=0.91). There were no differences in the proportion of transplants with engraftment of both units by three months (5% after transplantation of units with inter-unit mismatch at ≤2 HLA-loci and 4% after transplantation of units with inter-unit mismatch at 3 or 4 HLA-loci). Our observations support the elimination of inter-unit HLA-mismatch criterion when selecting cord blood units in favor of optimizing selection based on individual unit characteristics.

We investigated whether and how recipient-donor sex affects transplantation outcomes of 11,797 patients transplanted between 2008 and 2010. Thirty-seven percent were male recipients with male donors, 21% male recipients with female donors, 25% female recipients with male donors, and 17% female recipients with female donors. In multivariable analyses, male recipients had inferior overall survival and progression-free survival compared to females regardless of donor sex, with an 11% relative increase in the hazard of death (P

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation has an established role in the treatment of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia whose survival when recipients of grafts from adult unrelated donors approaches that of recipients of grafts from sibling donors. Our aim was to determine the role of mismatched unrelated cord blood grafts in transplantation for 802 adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first or second complete remission. Using Cox regression we compared outcomes after 116 mismatched single or double cord blood transplants, 546 peripheral blood progenitor cell transplants and 140 bone marrow transplants. The characteristics of the recipients and their diseases were similar except cord blood recipients were younger, more likely to be non-Caucasians and more likely to have a low white blood cell count at diagnosis. There were differences in donor-recipient human leukocyte antigen-match depending on the source of the graft. Most adult donor transplants were matched at the allele-level considering human leukocyte antigens-A, -B, -C and –DRB1. In contrast, most cord blood transplants were mismatched and considered antigen-level matching; 57% were mismatched at two loci and 29% at one locus whereas only 29% of adult donor transplants were mismatched at one locus and none at two loci. There were no differences in the 3-year probabilities of survival between recipients of cord blood (44%), matched adult donor (44%) and mismatched adult donor (43%) transplants. Cord blood transplants engrafted slower and were associated with less grade 2–4 acute but similar chronic graft-versus-host disease, relapse, and transplant-related mortality. The survival of cord blood graft recipients was similar to that of recipients of matched or mismatched unrelated adult donor grafts and so cord blood should be considered a valid alternative source of stem cells for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the absence of a matched unrelated adult donor.

The development of successful cancer vaccines is contingent on the ability to induce effective and persistent anti-tumor immunity against self-antigens that do not typically elicit immune responses. In this study, we examine the effects of a non-myeloablative dose of total body irradiation on the ability of tumor-naïve mice to respond to DNA vaccines against melanoma. We demonstrate that irradiation followed by lymphocyte infusion results in a dramatic increase in responsiveness to tumor vaccination, with augmentation of T cell responses to tumor antigens and tumor eradication. In irradiated mice, infused CD8(+) T cells expand in an environment that is relatively depleted in regulatory T cells, and this correlates with improved CD8(+) T cell functionality. We also observe an increase in the frequency of dendritic cells displaying an activated phenotype within lymphoid organs in the first 24 hours after irradiation. Intriguingly, both the relative decrease in regulatory T cells and increase in activated dendritic cells correspond with a brief window of augmented responsiveness to immunization. After this 24 hour window, the numbers of dendritic cells decline, as does the ability of mice to respond to immunizations. When immunizations are initiated within the period of augmented dendritic cell activation, mice develop anti-tumor responses that show increased durability as well as magnitude, and this approach leads to improved survival in experiments with mice bearing established tumors as well as in a spontaneous melanoma model. We conclude that irradiation can produce potent immune adjuvant effects independent of its ability to induce tumor ablation, and that the timing of immunization and lymphocyte infusion in the irradiated host are crucial for generating optimal anti-tumor immunity. Clinical strategies using these approaches must therefore optimize such parameters, as the correct timing of infusion and vaccination may mean the difference between an ineffective treatment and successful tumor eradication.