Long-term outcome in patients with Fanconi anemia who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a retrospective nationwide analysis

International recommendations for screening and preventative practices for long-term survivors of transplantation and cellular therapy: a 2023 update

As hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapy expand to new indications and international access improves, the volume of HCT performed annually continues to rise. Parallel improvements in HCT techniques and supportive care entails more patients surviving long-term, creating further emphasis on survivorship needs. Survivors are at risk for developing late complications secondary to pre-, peri- and post-transplant exposures and other underlying risk-factors. Guidelines for screening and preventive practices for HCT survivors were originally published in 2006 and updated in 2012. To review contemporary literature and update the recommendations while considering the changing practice of HCT and cellular therapy, an international group of experts was again convened. This review provides updated pediatric and adult survivorship guidelines for HCT and cellular therapy. The contributory role of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) to the development of late effects is discussed but cGVHD management is not covered in detail. These guidelines emphasize special needs of patients with distinct underlying HCT indications or comorbidities (e.g., hemoglobinopathies, older adults) but do not replace more detailed group, disease, or condition specific guidelines. Although these recommendations should be applicable to the vast majority of HCT recipients, resource constraints may limit their implementation in some settings.

International Recommendations for Screening and Preventative Practices for Long-Term Survivors of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy: A 2023 Update

As hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapy expand to new indications and international access improves, the number of HCTs performed annually continues to rise. Parallel improvements in HCT techniques and supportive care entails more patients surviving long term, creating further emphasis on survivorship needs. Survivors are at risk for developing late complications secondary to pretransplantation, peritransplantation, and post-transplantation exposures and other underlying risk factors. Guidelines for screening and preventive practices for HCT survivors were originally published in 2006 and then updated in 2012. An international group of experts was convened to review the contemporary literature and update the recommendations while considering the changing practices of HCT and cellular therapy. This review provides updated pediatric and adult survivorship guidelines for HCT and cellular therapy. The contributory role of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) to the development of late effects is discussed, but cGVHD management is not covered in detail. These guidelines emphasize the special needs of patients with distinct underlying HCT indications or comorbidities (eg, hemoglobinopathies, older adults) but do not replace more detailed group-, disease-, or condition-specific guidelines. Although these recommendations should be applicable to the vast majority of HCT recipients, resource constraints may limit their implementation in some settings.

HLA-haploidentical T-cell receptor αβT/B-cell-depleted stem cell transplantation for Fanconi anemia

HLA-haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT) using post-transplant high-dose cyclophosphamide (PT-CY) is an alternative choice when a suitable donors is unavailable. However, PT-CY is difficult in patients with Fanconi anemia (FA) due to their high vulnerability to alkylating agents. For FA, we prefer haplo-SCT by T-cell receptor αβT-cell and B-cell depletion (αβT/B-depleted haplo-SCT), which can reduce the risks of PT-CY-related complications and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). An 11-year-old boy with diagnosed FA (FANCG mutation) and bone marrow failure was to receive αβT/B-depleted haplo-SCT from his father (HLA 4/8 allele matched) due to absence of an HLA-matched donors. αβT/B-depleted peripheral blood stem cells (CD34 + cell count, 1.17 × 107/kg; αβ + T-cell count, 1.3 × 105/kg) were infused following conditioning consisting of fludarabine (150 mg/m2), cyclophosphamide (40 mg/kg), anti-thymocyte globulin (5 mg/kg), rituximab (375 mg/m2), and thoraco-abdominal irradiation (3 Gy). Tacrolimus was used for GVHD prophylaxis until day + 30. Neutrophil engraftment was achieved on day + 9, and complete chimerism was confirmed on days + 28 and + 96. At 12-month post-SCT, the patient was well without GVHD or any other complications. αβT/B-depleted haplo-SCT is a good choice not only for patients unsuitable for PT-CY, but also for all pediatric recipients to reduce SCT-related complications.

[Secondary cancers following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Guidelines from the Francophone Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (SFGM-TC)]

The Francophone Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (SFGM-TC) held the 13th edition of the Clinical Practices Harmonization Workshops. Our workgroup reviewed the current data on the incidence, screening methods and international guidelines for the prevention of secondary solid cancers following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The purpose of this workshop was to provide recommendations for the screening and prevention of secondary malignancies to Francophone transplantation centers.

Pediatric Bone Marrow Failure: A Broad Landscape in Need of Personalized Management

Irreversible severe bone marrow failure (BMF) is a life-threatening condition in pediatric patients. Most important causes are inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFSs) and (pre)malignant diseases, such as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and (idiopathic) aplastic anemia (AA). Timely treatment is essential to prevent infections and bleeding complications and increase overall survival (OS). Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) provides a cure for most types of BMF but cannot restore non-hematological defects. When using a matched sibling donor (MSD) or a matched unrelated donor (MUD), the OS after HSCT ranges between 60 and 90%. Due to the introduction of post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) to prevent graft versus host disease (GVHD), alternative donor HSCT can reach similar survival rates. Although HSCT can restore ineffective hematopoiesis, it is not always used as a first-line therapy due to the severe risks associated with HSCT. Therefore, depending on the underlying cause, other treatment options might be preferred. Finally, for IBMFSs with an identified genetic etiology, gene therapy might provide a novel treatment strategy as it could bypass certain limitations of HSCT. However, gene therapy for most IBMFSs is still in its infancy. This review summarizes current clinical practices for pediatric BMF, including HSCT as well as other disease-specific treatment options.

Fanconi anemia phenotypic and transplant outcomes' associations in Iranian patients

Objectives

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare, heterogeneous, inherited disorder. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) represents the only therapeutic option to restore normal hematopoiesis. This study reports the outcomes of FA‐HSCT patients and identifies factors, including clinical phenotype. Our team examined more than 95% of Iranian FA patients during the last decade.

Study Design

One hundred and six FA patients (age range: 2–41) who underwent HSCT from March 2007 to February 2018 were enrolled. Clinical characteristics of genetic disease, pre‐HSCT findings, HSCT indication, and long‐term follow‐up evaluated and recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0.

Results

The mean follow‐up period for survivors was 36 months (range, 1–101). The 3‐year overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival were 72.2% and 71.2%, respectively. The 3‐year OS rate for patients with limited and extensive malformations was 78.8% and 56.6%, respectively (p = 0.025). Acute graft versus host disease incidence was 60.52% for patients with limited malformations versus 70% for patients with extensive ones (p = 0.49). Chronic graft versus host disease incidence for these two groups was 9.21% and 10%, respectively (p = 0.91).

Conclusions

OS was not associated with each of the malformations singly; however, it was lower in the extensive group. The younger age of patients at the HSCT time leads to a higher OS. The differences in FA patients' outcomes and the various genotypes were probably related. These data provide a powerful tool for further studies on genotype–phenotype association with HSCT results.

The younger age of FA patients at the HSCT time leads to a higher OS.

OS was lower in the congenital malformations extensive group.

The malformations’ scope affects aGvHD incidence significantly, while not cGvHD.

Various HSCT outcomes in different centers can be due to distinct genotypes.

Successful sequential liver and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a patient with Fanconi anemia

BACKGROUND

In Fanconi anemia bone marrow failure is the major cause of morbidity and mortality and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation represents the only curative treatment. Liver disease, in terms of elevated liver function tests, as well as benign and malignant liver tumors, occurs especially in case of androgen treatment. We report a unique case of a child with Fanconi anemia with FANCD2 mutation who developed neonatal cryptogenic liver cirrhosis and bone marrow failure. The child successfully underwent sequential liver transplantation and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the first 2 years of life. Nineteen months after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and 30 months after liver transplantation, the patient is clinically well with normal hematopoietic function and excellent liver function.

CONCLUSION

This is the first FA patient who successfully received sequential LT and HSCT highlighting that successful sequential transplantation is feasible in Fanconi anemia patients.

Somatic mosaicism in patients with Fanconi anaemia: Proposal of alternative tissue for inconclusive diagnoses

INTRODUCTION

Fanconi anaemia (FA) is a rare genetic disorder marked by progressive bone marrow failure, chromosomal fragility, and increased cancer susceptibility. Laboratory diagnosis includes chromosomal instability test and mutation investigation. A total of 15%-25% of all patients may have somatic mosaicism, characterized by two distinct haematopoietic cell populations, one resistant and one sensitive to agents that induce chromosomal breakage, which complicates the diagnosis by a high incidence of reverted cells leading to inconclusive or false-negative results. The study aimed to evaluate the use of bone marrow stromal mesenchymal cells (BM-MSCs) as an alternative, non-haematopoietic tissue for diagnosis.

METHODS

Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells from 12 patients with positive diepoxybutane (DEB) tests were cultivated and analysed by cytogenetics and mutation investigation.

RESULTS

The DEB test was performed at 0.1 and 0.01 μg/ml concentrations, with an index ranging from 0.24 to 1.00. At higher concentration, the metaphases number was lower, probably due to toxicity. Regarding the molecular investigation, all the mutations previously found in peripheral blood were identified on BM-MSC.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated the possibility of using BM-MSCs as an alternative tissue for cytogenetic and molecular investigation. Future tests using an intermediate DEB concentration may lead to an optimal protocol that could be non-toxic to cells but provides conclusive results.

Recent advances in hematopoietic cell transplantation for inherited bone marrow failure syndromes

Inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFSs) are a group of rare genetic disorders characterized by bone marrow failure with unique phenotypes and predisposition to cancer. Classical IBMFSs primarily include Fanconi anemia with impaired DNA damage repair, dyskeratosis congenita with telomere maintenance dysfunction, and Diamond-Blackfan anemia with aberrant ribosomal protein biosynthesis. Recently, comprehensive genetic analyses have been implemented for the definitive diagnosis of classic IBMFSs, and advances in molecular genetics have led to the identification of novel disorders such as AMeD and MIRAGE syndromes. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), a promising option to overcome impaired hematopoiesis in patients with IBMFSs, does not correct nonhematological defects and may enhance the risk of secondary malignancies. Disease-specific management is necessary because IBMFSs differ in underlying defects and are associated with varying degrees of risk for clonal evolution and early or late complications after HCT. In addition, long-term follow-up is essential to detect complications related to the IBMFS or HCT. This review provides a summary of current clinical practices along with the latest data on HCT in IBMFSs.

Management of oral leukoplakia in patients with Fanconi anemia

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare genetic disease involving an increased risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia and solid tumors, especially head-and-neck squamous cell carcinomas, for which the oral cavity is the most frequent site of occurrence. The patient presented in this study underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and developed nonhomogeneous oral leukoplakia after 7 years, which was promptly removed and diagnosed with high-grade epithelial dysplasia. Many risk conditions for oral squamous cell carcinoma were featured in the present case including FA, allogeneic HSCT, graft-versus-host disease, immunosuppressive therapy, female gender, nonsmoker, tongue location and nonhomogeneous type of leukoplakia. Close follow-up of the entire upper aerodigestive tract mucosa and early removal of all suspected lesions are highly recommended in the management of such patients.