The EBMT activity survey 2007 with focus on allogeneic HSCT for AML and novel cellular therapies

High incidence of herpes zoster in nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Although the use of nonmyeloablative (NMA) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) regimens has expanded in the past decade, little data exist to support antiviral prophylaxis to prevent herpes zoster (HZ) in recipients who are seropositive for varicella-zoster virus in this population. The present study examined the clinical features, incidence, and risk factors for HZ in a homogeneous cohort of NMA allogeneic HSCT recipients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study assessing all patients who underwent sibling NMA HSCT at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital (Montreal) between July 2000 and December 2008. All patients received the same conditioning regimen, immunoprophylaxis, and graft-versus-host disease therapy. The diagnosis of HZ was defined clinically. Factors associated with HZ were identified using a Cox proportional hazards model. A total of 179 patients were followed for a median of 33 months (interquartile range, 21-59). HZ developed in 66 patients (37%) at a median of 8.3 months post-HSCT; the incidence rate was 175 cases/1000 person-years. The estimated cumulative HZ incidence was 27% at 1 year, 36% at 2 years, and 44% at 3 years. Thoracic dermatomes were most frequently involved (30%); dissemination occurred in 5 patients. No deaths resulted from HZ, but 23% of patients developed postherpetic neuralgia. In multivariate analysis, reactivation of cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus was associated with a reduced likelihood of HZ (hazard ratio, 0.54 and 0.33, respectively). Antiviral prophylaxis or treatment for cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus reactivations were protective against HZ. The incidence of HZ in our cohort of NMA HSCT recipients is similar to the incidence reported in HSCT recipients who received a myeloablative conditioning regimen. Given the observed high risk, we conclude that recommendations for antiviral prophylaxis should apply, at least for the first year, to the NMA HSCT population as well.

Efficacy and outcome of autologous transplantation in rare myelomas

BACKGROUND

As rare myelomas, i.e. the IgD, IgE, IgM and non-secretory forms, constitute only a small proportion of any study, relatively little is known about their prognosis in the era of peripheral stem cell transplantation.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We used the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Myeloma Database to compare the outcome following autologous transplantation of over 20,000 patients with common myelomas (IgG, IgA and light chain myeloma) with the outcome of patients with rare myelomas: 379 IgD, 13 IgE, 72 IgM and 976 non-secretory cases.

RESULTS

The study confirms the multiple adverse prognostic factors seen in IgD myeloma. Somewhat surprisingly, patients with IgD and non-secretory myeloma both had higher complete remission rates before and after transplantation than patients with common myelomas. However, while the overall survival of patients with non-secretory myeloma was similar to that of the patients with common myelomas, the survival of patients with IgD myeloma was significantly worse (although better than survival rates reported for non-transplanted patients); this was due to higher transplant-related mortality and relapse/progression rates. The post-transplantation survival of patients with IgE or IgM myeloma appears to be very poor.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides data on the biological features of rare myelomas. The overall survival of patients with IgD, IgE or IgM myeloma is poor following autologous transplantation but substantially better than that reported for patients who were not transplanted.

Ancestim (r-metHuSCF) plus filgrastim and/or chemotherapy for mobilization of blood progenitors in 513 poorly mobilizing cancer patients: the French compassionate experience

Ancestim (r-MetHuSCF) is available in France for compassionate use in patients who are candidates for high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation, and who failed in previous attempts at mobilization and collection. We report here data from 513 adult patients who benefited from this program, between January 1998 and July 2007. Given with systematic premedication, ancestim was generally well tolerated, although severe but not life-threatening adverse events were reported in 12 individuals. Overall, a graft was obtained or completed for 235 patients (46%). The median number of collected CD34+ cells was 3.00 × 10(6)/kg (range: 0.03-39.50). The target threshold of 2 × 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg was reached in 161 patients (31%). Factors associated with collection were diagnosis of myeloma, no previous autologous transplant, no more than one previous failed attempt and a mobilization regimen including cytotoxic agents. A total of 207 patients (40%) proceeded to high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation. The median time to reach 0.5 × 10(9)/L neutrophils and 20 × 10(9)/L platelets was 12 (6-40) and 13 (0-31) days, respectively. We conclude that a combination of ancestim with filgrastim successfully mobilized CD34+ cells in peripheral blood, and allowed adequate collection in preparation for autologous transplantation in approximately one-third of poorly mobilizing patients.

NCI first international workshop on the biology, prevention, and treatment of relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: report from the committee on disease-specific methods and strategies for monitoring relapse following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. part II: chronic leukemias, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and lymphoid malignancies

Relapse has become the major cause of treatment failure after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Outcome of patients with clinical relapse after transplantation generally remains poor, but intervention prior to florid relapse improves outcome for certain hematologic malignancies. To detect early relapse or minimal residual disease, sensitive methods such as molecular genetics, tumor-specific molecular primers, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) are commonly used after allogeneic stem cell transplantation to monitor patients, but not all of them are included in the commonly employed disease-specific response criteria. The highest sensitivity and specificity can be achieved by molecular monitoring of tumor- or patient-specific markers measured by polymerase chain reaction-based techniques, but not all diseases have such targets for monitoring. Similar high sensitivity can be achieved by determination of recipient-donor chimerism, but its specificity regarding detection of relapse is low and differs substantially among diseases. Here, we summarize the current knowledge about the utilization of such sensitive monitoring techniques in chronic leukemias, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and lymphoid malignancies based on tumor-specific markers and cell chimerism and how these methods might augment the standard definitions of posttransplant remission, persistence, progression, relapse, and the prediction of relapse. Critically important is the need for standardization of the different residual disease techniques and to assess the clinical relevance of minimal residual disease and chimerism surveillance in individual diseases, which in turn must be followed by studies to assess the potential impact of specific interventional strategies.

[Happy birthday to Joint Accreditation Committee for ISCT Europe and EBMT]

JACIE (Joint accreditation committee for ISCT Europe and EBMT) is a comprehensive quality management system built in under the auspices of two European professional societies. The singularity of JACIE is its coverage of all the main actors - clinical wards as well as collection and processing facilities - that contribute to a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation program. Deployment of JACIE started ten years ago. A recent retrospective analysis of the large-size european registry of autologous and allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations demonstrates that one of the factors affecting the overall survival of recipients of allogenic transplantation is the status of the transplant program regarding JACIE accreditation. This provides one of the first demonstrations that introduction of a quality management system can contribute to the overall survival of patients treated with a highly specific and complex medical procedure.

High rate of stem cell mobilization failure after thalidomide and oral cyclophosphamide induction therapy for multiple myeloma

Novel agents are increasingly used during induction therapy for multiple myeloma (MM), but there is concern about their potential impact on stem cell mobilization. Regimens containing either thalidomide or cyclophosphamide have little or no impact on stem cell collection. In this retrospective review of 136 patients with newly diagnosed MM, we show that the combination of thalidomide and oral CY with dexamethasone (CTD) during induction therapy impaired stem cell mobilization substantially. Compared with VAD (vincristine, doxorubicin, dexamethasone) and a VAD-like induction regimen, the stem cell collection yield after CTD was decreased by 49% (median 5.0 vs 9.8 × 10(6) CD34+cells/kg, P<0.001). Following CTD, more patients failed to mobilize enough stem cells for one (25.4 vs 5.8%, P=0.002) or two (39.4 vs 15.9%, P=0.002) transplants. These results demonstrate that the combination of thalidomide and oral CY impairs stem cell mobilization and indicate that drugs with no previously reported relevant effect on stem cell mobilization can have a substantial impact when given in combination.

Clinical impact of suicide gene therapy in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) from an HLA-matched related or unrelated donor is a curative option for patients with high-risk hematological diseases. In the absence of a matched donor, patients have been offered investigational transplantation strategies such as umbilical cord blood SCT or family haploidentical SCT. Besides the activity of the conditioning regimen, most of the antileukemic potential of allo-SCT relies on alloreactivity, promoted by donor lymphocytes reacting against patient-specific antigens, such as minor and major histocompatibility antigens, ultimately translating into cancer immunotherapy. Unfortunately, alloreactivity is also responsible for the most serious and frequent complication of allo-SCT: graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD). The risk of GvHD increases with the level of HLA disparity between host and donor, and leads to impaired quality of life and reduced survival expectancy, particularly among patients receiving transplants from HLA-mismatched donors. Gene transfer technologies are promising tools to manipulate donor T cell immunity to enforce the graft-versus-tumor effect, to promote functional immune reconstitution (graft vs. infection), and to prevent or control GvHD. To this purpose, several cell and gene transfer approaches have been investigated at the preclinical level, and are being implemented in clinical trials. Suicide gene therapy is to date the most extensive clinical application of T cell-based gene therapy. In several phase I-II clinical studies conducted worldwide this approach proved highly feasible, safe, and effective in promoting a dynamic and patient-specific modulation of alloreactivity. This review focuses on this approach.

Progress and prospects: graft-versus-host disease

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is one of the major complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, an otherwise highly effective therapeutic modality for patients affected by hematological diseases. The main inducers of GvHD are alloreactive donor T cells, which recognize host antigens presented by recipient cells. The critical role of lymphocytes in GvHD is well documented by the observation that T-cell depletion from the graft prevents GvHD. Unfortunately, the removal of donor lymphocytes from the graft increases the incidence of disease relapse and life-threatening infectious complications. Gene transfer technologies are promising tools to manipulate donor T-cell immunity to enforce graft-versus-tumor/graft-versus-infection while preventing or controlling GvHD. For this purpose, several cell and gene transfer approaches have been investigated at the preclinical level and implemented in clinical trials.

Plerixafor plus granulocyte CSF can mobilize hematopoietic stem cells from multiple myeloma and lymphoma patients failing previous mobilization attempts: EU compassionate use data

Plerixafor was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) to enhance stem cell mobilization for autologous transplant in patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma. In this study, we present the first European compassionate use experience in mobilization failures, patients who are hardest to remobilize but were not included in registration trials. A total of 56 consecutive patients from 15 centers in Spain and the United Kingdom were included: age 60 (33-69) years; 29 men (32 with myeloma and 24 with lymphoma); 2 lines of previous chemotherapy (1-10); 73 previously failed mobilization attempts with G-CSF (28), chemotherapy plus G-CSF (43) or G-CSF plus SCF(2). Overall, 71% of patients reached ≥ 10 CD34+ cells per μL with plerixafor on day 5 after a 7.6-fold expansion from day 4. A total of 42 patients (75%) collected ≥ 2 × 10⁶, average 3.0 ± 1.7 (0.4-10.6) CD34+ cells per kg with plerixafor plus G-CSF. There were no severe drug-related adverse events. In all, 35 patients (63%) underwent transplant, receiving an average of 3.1±1.2 (1.9-7.7) × 10⁶ CD34+ cells per kg. All patients engrafted neutrophils (day 12; 13.4 ± 0.8; 8-30) and platelets (day 15; 18.5 ± 2.4; 8-33). In our experience, plerixafor offers an effective alternative to collect sufficient CD34+ cells for autologous SCT from patients who fail conventional mobilization methods, with good tolerance and a high success rate.

Successful peripheral blood stem cells collection in imatinib pretreated and nilotinib-treated chronic myeloid leukemia patient

We report a case of a successful mobilization and harvest of the peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) in imatinib-pretreated and nilotinib treated 52-year-old woman diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-positive and BCR-ABL (b2a2) positive chronic phase CML in 2/2002. She failed interferon-alfa and imatinib treatment. She achieved her first complete molecular remission after 16 months of nilotinib treatment and later on was mobilized with filgrastim at a dose of 10 ug/kg/day applied subcutaneously once daily. The total number of 2.98 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg was harvested on the fourth day of the mobilization. The autologous graft of the stem cells was cryopreserved and tested for the residual disease: the FISH revealed negative results and the RT-PCR was positive (BCR-ABL/ABL ratio 0,0017 in RQ-PCR). To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful PBSC harvest in a patient significantly pretreated with imatinib and nilotinib.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation and emerging viral infections

Viral infections remain important causes of morbidity and mortality in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients. More recent developments in preparative regimens and graft manipulations, as well as the control of well-recognized post-transplant infections by the introduction of prophylaxis and preemptive strategies, have influenced the timing and the epidemiology of infections. As new pathogens, such as human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human bocavirus, human coronaviruses HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-HKU1, human herpesviruses HHV-6 and HHV-7, and polyomaviruses, have emerged, it is fundamental to determine the significance of the newly discovered viruses and their role in the transplantation field. This article summarizes recent data on epidemiology and laboratory diagnosis of new pathogens, as well as clinical features and management of the associated infectious complications. J. Med. Virol. 82:528-538, 2010. (c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Stem cell source and outcome after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in children and adolescents with acute leukemia

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from siblings, unrelated donors or HLA mismatched family members has become an important procedure to offer a chance of cure to children and adolescents with acute leukemia at high risk of relapse and those with certain genetic diseases. Bone marrow (BM) was the only stem cell source for many years. During the past 15 years, peripheral blood stem cells from granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilized healthy donors, or umbilical cord blood from related or unrelated donors, have become available. Each stem cell source has different risks/benefits for patients and donors, the choice depending not only on availability, but also on HLA compatibility and urgency of the HSCT. This review will analyze the advantages and limitations of each of these options, and the main criteria which can be applied when choosing the appropriate stem cell source for pediatric transplant recipients with acute leukemia.

Trends of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the third millennium

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has evolved into an accepted therapy for many congenital or acquired disorders of the hematopoietic system. It has seen major changes in indications and use of transplant techniques. HSCT is a high cost procedure and requires investments; information on trends is essential for patient counselling and healthcare planning.

RECENT FINDINGS

HSCT rates have increased worldwide. Increase is constant and predictable; the reasons therefore are manifold. Introduction of reduced intensity conditioning regimens has opened access to patients at older age and with comorbidities. Higher numbers of unrelated volunteer donors and cord blood products give access to HSCT for patients without family donors. For some well defined indications, HSCT has become the most cost efficient therapy in countries with limited resources. Use of HSCT is under discussion for nonhematopoietic indications, as is the use of nonhematopoietic stem cells for organ repair.

SUMMARY

HSCT is likely to continue to increase for currently established indications. Indications and technologies will vary between countries with limited or nonrestricted resources. The most cost effective approach might not be the same everywhere. Novel indications will emerge but time will be needed to confirm their benefit. Close observation of global trends will become an essential tool for healthcare agencies in order to provide the necessary infrastructure in time.

Recent advances in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and perspectives of RNAi applications

In adults, the bone marrow compartment contains hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) which can differentiate into progenitors with more restricted lineage potential and generate all cellular elements of the blood. HSCs for stem cell transplantation can be obtained by bone marrow collection, mobilization into peripheral blood followed by apheresis, or use of stem cells from cord blood. Currently, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is used to treat patients with various hematological diseases. Although substantial progress has been made, a number of challenges can limit the efficacy of HSC transplantation, including the occurrence of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT), the susceptibility of patients to opportunistic infections and relapse of malignancies after SCT. Recent studies indicate that small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can specifically and efficiently interfere with the expression of oncogenic genes. Therefore, the possibility of interfering with the expression of these proteins in hematopoietic cells may offer a new option to correct cell differentiation and function. In addition to the generation of T cells restricted by nonself MHC as reviewed by Stauss and colleagues in 1999, the modulation of NK cell receptor expression and T-cell activation is a new strategy that could limit GvHD. This chapter reviews the recent advances in ASCT and discusses the potential application of RNAi in hematopoietic cells.

Peripheral blood stem cell collection in multiple myeloma: a retrospective analysis of 6 years leukapheresis activity in 109 patients treated at the Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori of Milan

Double autologous stem cell transplantation is the standard treatment in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients younger than 65 years; therefore, optimization of leukapheresis is crucial. We performed a retrospective analysis of 297 leukaphereses comparing semiautomated (V4.7 in 20% of collections) versus automated (V6.0 in 80%) Caridian (COBE) Spectra versions and analyzing the influence of M-protein on the outcome. Both methods gave comparable collection efficiencies (CE%) (53.4% vs. 55.7% in V6.0 and V4.7, respectively) with similar leukapheresis time and processed volume. Harvest volume was higher in V4.7 (P < 0.0001) with similar contamination of red blood cells (RBCs) (P = 0.77) and platelets (P = 0.09) when compared with V6.0. In patients with higher peripheral white blood cells (WBCs), V6.0 with adjusted harvest volume (<700 mL), achieved similar CD34(+) CE% (P = 0.39) and better enrichment of nucleated cells (P < 0.0,002) but higher RBCs (P < 0.0,001) and platelets contamination (P = 0.001), when compared with a larger cycle volume in patients with lower WBCs. In hard to mobilize patients, CD34(+) CE% was significantly more efficient with V4.7 than V6.0 (P < 0.0,001). CD34(+) CE% was unaffected by serologic M-protein, but platelet CE% was higher in the absence of M-protein (P = 0.0,003), without any reduction in peripheral patients platelets. We, therefore, conclude that in the setting of MM patients with a high WBCs count and/or low percentage of peripheral CD34(+) cells, collections with V4.7 or adjusted cycle volume V6.0 gave comparable result in CD34(+) CE%. RBCs and platelets contamination is higher if low cycle volume is chosen. In hard to mobilize patients, V4.7 is advisable.

Regenerative medicine: a 2009 overview

The rapidly evolving field of regenerative medicine holds much promise for cell-based therapies for a range of debilitating conditions from spinal cord injury to haematological and neurological diseases. The groundbreaking discovery of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells has offered new perspectives on disease progression and the possibility of patient-specific cell transplants. In this review we first give a brief history of the field of regenerative medicine and then discuss the current state of regenerative medicine with a focus on embryonic stem cells and iPS cells. In order to keep abreast with this rapidly developing field, the Journal of Internal Medicine organized a 2-day Symposium, on March 12-13(th) 2009, at the Karolinska Insitute in Stockholm, which featured talks by 19 leading scientists in the field of regenerative medicine. In this review, we discuss the Symposium and introduce six accompanying review articles, by Symposium speakers, which focus on some of the topics discussed at the meeting.