Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients Requiring Two Cycles of Intensive Induction for Attainment of Remission Experience Inferior Survival Compared with Patients Requiring a Single Course of Induction Chemotherapy

Matched related versus unrelated versus haploidentical donors for allogeneic transplantation in AML patients achieving first complete remission after two induction courses: a study from the ALWP/EBMT

We compared transplants (HSCT) from matched related siblings (MSD) with those from matched 10/10 and mismatched 9/10 unrelated (UD) and T-replete haploidentical (Haplo) donors in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission (CR1) achieved after two inductions, a known poor prognostic factor. One thousand two hundred and ninety-five patients were included: MSD (n = 428), UD 10/10 (n = 554), UD 9/10 (n = 135), and Haplo (n = 178). Acute GVHD II-IV was higher in all groups compared to MSD. Extensive chronic (c) GVHD was significantly higher in UD 9/10 (HR = 2.52; 95% CI 1.55-4.11, p = 0.0002) and UD 10/10 (HR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.03-2.13, p = 0.036) and cGVHD all grades were higher in UD 9/10 vs MSD (HR = 1.77; 95% CI 1.26-2.49, p = 0.0009). Non-relapse mortality was higher in all groups compared to MSD. Relapse incidence, leukemia-free, and overall survival did not differ significantly between donor types. Finally, GVHD-free relapse-free survival was lower in HSCT from UD 9/10 (HR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.20-2.03, p = 0.0009) but not in those from UD 10/10 (HR = 1.13, p = 0.22) and Haplo donors (HR = 1.12, p = 0.43) compared to MSD. In conclusion, in AML patients undergoing HSCT in CR1 achieved after two induction courses 10/10 UD and Haplo but not 9/10 UD donors are comparable alternatives to MSD.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for acute myeloid leukemia in patients in first complete remission after one versus two induction courses: A study from the ALWP of the EBMT

BACKGROUND

Achieving complete remission (CR) is the main goal in AML treatment and a prerequisite for successful autologous stem cell transplantation (ACT).

METHODS

Comparing results of peripheral blood ACT in patients with AML in CR1 attained following 1 versus 2 chemotherapy courses transplanted in 2000-2019.

RESULTS

Patients 1532 (84%) with one and 293 (16%) patients with two induction chemotherapies courses (a total of 1825 patients) were included in the study. Follow-up was 7.9 (95% CI: 7.4-8.4) and 7.7 (95% CI: 7.0-8.6) years (p = 0.8). Time from diagnosis to ACT was 4.7 (range, 3.9-5.8) versus 5.7 (range, 4.7-7.1) months (p < 0.001), respectively. Leukemia free survival (LFS) and overall survival (OS) at 5 years were inferior for patients achieving CR1 with 2 versus 1 course of chemotherapy: 26.6% versus 41.7% (HR = 1.42 [95% CI: 1.22-1.66], p < 0.001) and 36.2% versus 53.3%, (HR = 1.48 [95% CI: 1.25-1.75], p < 0.001), and 5-year relapse incidence (RI) was higher: 67.2% versus 52.3%, (HR = 1.46 [95% CI: 1.25-1.72], p < 0.001). Five-year non-relapse mortality (NRM) was 6.2% versus 6.0% for patients with 2 versus 1 chemotherapy courses, and did not differ significantly (HR = 1.31 [95% CI: 0.81-2.10], p = 0.27).

CONCLUSIONS

LFS and OS were inferior and relapse rate was higher in AML patients who received two inductions chemotherapy courses to reach CR1 before being autografted. AML patients who required 2 induction courses to achieve remission, may be offered allogeneic transplantation rather than an autologous one in an attempt to reduce their high RI and improve outcomes.