Comparison of second transplantation and donor lymphocyte infusion for donor mixed chimerism after allogeneic stem cell transplantation for nonmalignant diseases

Case report: HLA-haploidentical HSCT rescued with donor lymphocytes infusions in a patient with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease

Chronic granulomatous disease is an inborn error of immunity due to disrupted function of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase complex. This results in impaired respiratory burst of phagocytes and insufficient killing of bacteria and fungi. Patients with chronic granulomatous disease are at increased risk for infections, autoinflammation and autoimmunity. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only widely available curative therapy. While HSCT from human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matched siblings or unrelated donors are standard of care, transplantation from HLA-haploidentical donors or gene therapy are considered alternative options. We describe a 14-month-old male with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease who underwent a paternal HLA-haploidentical HSCT using T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha/beta⁺/CD19⁺ depleted peripheral blood stem cells followed by mycophenolate graft versus host disease prophylaxis. Decreasing donor fraction of CD3⁺ T cells was overcome by repeated infusions of donor lymphocytes from the paternal HLA-haploidentical donor. The patient achieved normalized respiratory burst and full donor chimerism. He remained disease-free off any antibiotic prophylaxis for more than three years after HLA-haploidentical HSCT. In patients with x-linked chronic granulomatous disease without a matched donor paternal HLA-haploidentical HSCT is a treatment option worth to consider. Administration of donor lymphocytes can prevent imminent graft failure.

Escalated Dose Donor Lymphocyte Infusion Treatment in Patients with Primary Immune Deficiencies After HSCT with Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Regimen

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND

Mixed chimerism is a major concern after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) using a reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen in primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs). A donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) escalating dose regimen has been developed with the aim of reducing toxicity while preserving efficacy. However, the graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) development remains the most common and adverse effect of DLI and continues to be a limiting factor in its application, especially nonmalignant diseases such as PIDs. We prospectively evaluated PID patients after HSCT using RIC in Childrens Medical Center, who were candidates for an escalating dose of DLI for MC from 2016 to 2018.

METHODS

With the median follow-up of 16.4 months, 12 patients (nine males and three females) with a median age of 3.72 years received DLI. The median number of DLI was 3.2 (range, 1-5), the maximum and total dose of DLIs administered per patient were 3.6 × 10⁷ (range, 1-5) cells/kg CD3⁺ and 9.3 × 10⁷ (range, 1-15) cells/kg CD3⁺ cells, respectively.

RESULTS

Median donor chimerism at baseline before the DLIs was 41% (range, 11-73%), patients received DLIs at a median of 105 (range, 37-230) days and 52 (range, 3-168) days after the HSCT and onset of the MC, respectively. At the final assessment, six (54.5%) patients improved after DLIs at a median of 47.3 days.

CONCLUSION

PID patients may benefit from DLI with an escalating dose regimen, but the GvHD development remains a concern during the DLI, and the optimum dose and frequency must be standardized.

Unresolved issues in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for non-malignant diseases

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can be curative for a variety of non-malignant diseases (NMDs) as well as hematological malignancies. However, there are several fundamental differences between HCT for NMDs and hematological malignancies, which may necessitate the use of alternative HCT strategies. For example, these diseases differ in the intensity of conditioning regimen sufficient to improve disease. In addition, patients with NMDs are at higher risk of graft failure or mixed chimerism following HCT, and gain no or little survival benefit from graft-versus-host disease. Because more than 80% of patients with NMDs become long-term survivors, greater attention has been paid to late adverse effects and decreased of quality of life after HCT. This review addresses several unresolved issues in allogeneic HCT for patients with NMDs, such as (1) stem cell source, (2) conditioning regimen, (3) use of serotherapy or low-dose irradiation, and (4) therapeutic intervention for mixed chimerism. Resolving these issues may improve transplant outcomes in patients with NMDs.

Programmed death 1 monoclonal antibody helped to treat mixed chimeric and reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus in a patient with adult-onset chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A case report

RATIONALE

Systemic forms of chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV) can predispose a patient to a protracted course of fulminant hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, which has a poor prognosis. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection may persist even after theoretically curative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A female patient with CAEBV underwent chemotherapy followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from her human leukocyte antigen-matched sister. Neutrophil and platelet engraftment was observed on day +12 and +10. Full donor chimerism (DC) was achieved on Day +21.

DIAGNOSES

From day +38, EBV-DNA in the blood was persistently positive, and DC declined. We attempted empirical interventions such as withdrawal of immune suppression, multiple donor lymphocyte infusion, stem cell boost, and interferon-α treatment. However, EBV-DNA copies continued to increase aggressively, whereas DC decreased rapidly and then reached a nadir of 63.27%.

INTERVENTIONS

Salvage programmed death 1 (PD-1) antibody treatment was administered as salvage therapy at +69 and +84.

OUTCOMES

EBV-DNA was negative on day +97 and was ultimately undetectable. Equivalently, a full and stable DC was obtained at +97.

LESSONS

We summarize a case of PD-1 antibody used as salvage treatment in a post-transplant patient with CAEBV, which was eradicated and full DC was obtained. This case suggests that the PD-1 antibody appears to be a promising option for fighting EBV and mixed DCs.

Successful engraftment of haploidentical stem cell transplant with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide in a patient with adenosine deaminase deficiency

BACKGROUND

SCID are characterized by an imbalance in cellular and humoral immunity. Enzyme ADA deficiency represents from 10% to 15% of the SCID. This generates diminished maturation of the cell precursors. Treatments include enzyme replacement therapy, allogenic, or autologous HSCT with gene therapy, with HSCT being of choice when an identical HLA donor exists.

CASE REPORT

Male patient, without relevant family antecedents or consanguinity. The patient had multiple infections during the first months of life, evidencing low immunoglobulin levels, with absence of T and B lymphocytes, and natural killer cells. Severe combined immunodeficiencies are considered due to ADA deficiency; management was begun and is derived to our hospital. Admission at 8 months of life, with chronic malnutrition and psychomotor retardation. The HLA studies were conducted without finding an identical donor, taken to HSCT with haploidentical donor. Conditioning regimen with cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, melphalan, and thymoglobulin. This patient received prophylaxis for graft-versus-host disease with cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, and methotrexate. A 22 months post-transplant, the patient was without immunosuppressants or immunoglobulin, without evidence of graft-versus-host disease or new infections.

CONCLUSIONS

The ADA deficiency is an infrequent pathology that can be potentially fatal if adequate treatment is not started. Haploidentical HSCT, using post-transplantation cyclophosphamide, emerges as a viable option with which good results can be achieved and improve the quality of life in patients with no other therapeutic alternatives.

Improved outcomes using unmanipulated haploidentical hematopoietic stem cells combined with third-party umbilical cord blood transplantation for non-malignant diseases in children: The experience of a single center

BACKGROUND

Unmanipulated haploid HSCT for SAA has resulted in improved outcomes over recent years. However, studies related to unmanipulated haploid HSCs combined with tp-UCB transplantation for other types of NMD are rare. Accordingly, we present the outcomes of 109 pediatric patients with life-threatening NMD undergoing unmanipulated haploid HSCs combined with tp-UCB transplantation.

PROCEDURE

We retrospectively investigated 109 pediatric patients with life-threatening NMD treated with unmanipulated haploid HSCs combined with tp-UCB transplantation in a single center.

RESULTS

The median days of neutrophil and platelet engraftment were +13 and +22 days, respectively. None of the cases experienced PGF. The incidence rates for grade I-II, III-IV aGVHD and cGVHD were 44.9%, 24.8%, and 9.3%, respectively. The incidence rates of CMV and EBV viremia were 46.7% and 39.4%, respectively. The median follow-up duration was 997 days. In total, 106 patients survived, including 104 cases with FFS and 2 cases with SGF. Three patients died. The 5-year TRM, OS, and FFS were 2.8%, 97.2%, and 96.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The results of unmanipulated haploid HSCs combined with tp-UCB in pediatric patients with life-threatening NMD were promising. However, further research is now needed to determine specific factors that might influence the engraftment of HSCs.

Impact of graft-versus-host disease on the clinical outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for non-malignant diseases

The impact of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) on clinical outcomes was retrospectively analyzed in 960 patients with non-malignant diseases (NMD) who underwent a first allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Grade III-IV acute GVHD (but not grade I-II) was significantly associated with a lower rate of overall survival (OS), and higher non-relapse mortality (NRM) than that seen in patients without acute GVHD. Extensive (but not limited) GVHD was significantly associated with a lower OS rate and higher NRM than that seen in patients without chronic GVHD. Any grade of acute (but not chronic) GVHD was significantly associated with a lower incidence of relapse and a lower proportion of patients requiring a second HSCT or donor lymphocyte infusion for graft failure or mixed chimerism, but its impact on OS was almost negligible. Acute GVHD was significantly associated with lower OS rates in all disease groups, whereas chronic GVHD was significantly associated with lower OS rates in the primary immunodeficiency and histiocytosis groups. In conclusion, acute and chronic GVHD, even if mild, was associated with reduced OS in patients receiving HSCT for NMD and effective strategies should, therefore, be implemented to minimize GVHD.

Impact of low-dose irradiation and in vivo T-cell depletion on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for non-malignant diseases using fludarabine-based reduced-intensity conditioning

Reduced-intensity conditioning is widely used with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for non-malignant diseases: however, the optimal conditioning to ensure stable engraftment has not been established. In this study, we retrospectively compared the impact of low-dose (1-6 Gy) irradiation and in vivo T-cell depletion on the clinical outcome of 523 patients with non-malignant disease who underwent a first allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using fludarabine-based reduced-intensity conditioning. Use of low-dose irradiation, but not of anti-thymocyte globulin/anti-lymphocyte globulin, showed a beneficial effect on overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.56; 95% confidence interval: 0.35-0.91, P = 0.018). Furthermore, use of low-dose irradiation was strongly associated with lower transplant-related mortality (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.55; 95% confidence interval: 0.32-0.96, P = 0.034). The addition of low-dose irradiation to the conditioning regimen was beneficial, at least to the short-term clinical outcome. A large prospective study with long-term follow-up is now required to extend these findings and establish the optimal hematopoietic stem cell transplant conditioning for patients with at least some subgroups of non-malignant diseases.

High incidence of BK virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis in children after second or third allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BKV-HC is a serious complication of allogeneic HSCT. To characterize the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of post-HSCT BKV-HC, we retrospectively analyzed 112 patients who underwent one or more allogeneic HSCTs at our hospital between 2001 and 2017. Twenty underwent second or third HSCT thereafter. Ten patients developed BKV-HC at a median of 30 days after HSCT. The 100-day cumulative incidences of grade 0-4 and grade 2-4 BKV-HC were 7.8% and 6.2%, respectively. HSCTs performed in 2011-2017 associated with significantly higher 100-day cumulative incidence of grade 2-4 BKV-HC (14.0%) than HSCTs performed in 2001-2010 (1.3%, P = 0.004). On multivariate analysis, second or third HSCT was the only independent significant risk factor for development of grade 2-4 BKV-HC (P = 0.015). Serial PCR monitoring of urine and blood BKV load did not predict BKV-HC. The recent increase in the incidence of BKV-HC may reflect recent innovations in transplant technologies that facilitate second or third HSCT, which are known to cause prolonged immune deficiency. If safe and effective treatment or prophylaxis becomes available, it could be used to target the high-risk patients for BKV-HC.