Prognostic factors in allo-SCT of elderly patients with AML

Efficacy and safety of blinatumomab in children with relapsed/refractory B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: Several clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the effects of blinatumomab in childhood B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). We conducted this meta-analysis to validate the efficacy and safety of blinatumomab in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory B-ALL (R/R B-ALL). Methods: We searched and investigated all relevant studies in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. The primary outcomes were complete response (CR), overall survival (OS), event free survival (EFS), minimal residual disease (MRD) response, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and were calculated separately for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and single-arm studies. The secondary end points were adverse effects (AEs) and the relapse rate. The Cochrane, bias assessment tool, was used to assess the risk of bias in RCTs. The methodological quality of single-arm studies was assessed using the methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS) tool. Results: The meta-analysis included two RCTs and 10 single-arm studies, including 652 patients in total. Our study showed that in the single-arm studies, the combined CR rate was 0.56 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.45 -0.68), the odds ratios (ORs) of OS was 0.43 (95% CI 0.32 -0.54), the EFS rate was 0.30 (95% CI: 0.20 -0.40), the MRD response was 0.51 (95% CI: 0.34 -0.68), allo-HSCT rate was 0.62 (95% CI: 0.50 -.74), the AE rate was 0.65 (95% CI: 0.54 -0.76) and the relapse rate was 0.32 (95% CI: 0.27 -0.38). In the RCTs, the blinatumomab-treated group compared with the chemotherapy group had a combined OS rate of 0.12 (95% CI: 0.05 -0.19) and an EFS rate of 2.16 (95% CI: 1.54 -3.03). The pooled MRD response rate was 4.71 (95% CI:2.84 -7.81), allo-HSCT was 3.24 (95% CI: 1.96 -5.35), the AE rate was 0.31 (95% CI: 0.16 -0.60), and the relapse rate was 0 .69 (95% CI: 0.43 -1.09). Conclusion: According to this meta-analysis, blinatumomab shows potent therapeutic efficacy and limited AEs in children with R/R B- ALL. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022361914.

Characteristics predicting outcomes of allogeneic stem-cell transplantation in relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia

BACKGROUND

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (ahsct) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, but it can cure carefully selected patients with acute myeloid leukemia (aml) in second remission (cr2). In a cohort of patients with aml who underwent ahsct in cr2, we determined the pre-transplant factors that predicted for overall survival (os), relapse, and non-relapse mortality. We also sought to validate the prognostic risk groups derived by Michelis and colleagues in this independent population.

METHODS

In a retrospective chart review, we obtained data for 55 consecutive patients who underwent ahsct for aml in cr2. Hazard ratios were used to describe the independent effects of pre-transplant variables on outcome, and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to assess outcomes in the three prognostic groups identified by Michelis and colleagues.

RESULTS

At 1, 3, and 5 years post-transplant, os was 60%, 45.5%, and 37.5% respectively. Statistically significant differences in os, relapse mortality, and non-relapse mortality were not identified between the prognostic risk groups identified by Michelis and colleagues. Women were less likely than men to relapse, and a modified European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (mebmt) score of 3 or less was associated with a lower non-relapse mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The 37.5% 5-year os in this cohort suggests that, compared with other options, ahsct offers patients with aml in cr2 a better chance of cure. Our study supports the use of the mebmt score to predict non-relapse mortality in this population.

Cytogenetic risk determines outcomes after allogeneic transplantation in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia in their second complete remission: A Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research cohort analysis

BACKGROUND

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) offers curative potential to a number of older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in their first complete remission. However, there are limited data in the literature concerning post-HCT outcomes for older patients in their second complete remission (CR2).

METHODS

The purpose of the current study was to retrospectively investigate within the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database parameters influencing posttransplant outcomes for patients 60 years of age or older undergoing HCT for AML in CR2.

RESULTS

In total, 196 patients from 78 centers were identified; the median age was 64 years (range, 60-78 years). Seventy-one percent had a Karnofsky performance status ≥ 90 at the time of HCT. Reduced-intensity conditioning regimens were used in 159 patients (81%). A univariate analysis demonstrated a 3-year overall survival (OS) rate of 42% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35%-49%), a leukemia-free survival rate of 37% (95% CI, 30%-44%), a cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality of 25% (95% CI, 19%-32%), and a cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) of 38% (95% CI, 31%-45%). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that cytogenetic risk was the only independent risk factor for OS (P = .023) with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.14 (95% CI, 0.59-2.19) for intermediate-risk cytogenetics and an HR of 2.32 (95% CI, 1.05-5.14) for unfavorable-risk cytogenetics. For CIR, cytogenetic risk was also the only independent prognostic factor (P = .01) with an HR of 1.10 (95% CI, 0.47-2.56) for intermediate-risk cytogenetics and an HR of 2.98 (95% CI, 1.11-8.00) for unfavorable-risk cytogenetics.

CONCLUSIONS

Allogeneic HCT is a curative treatment option for older patients with AML in CR2, particularly for those with favorable or intermediate cytogenetic risk. Cancer 2017;123:2035-2042. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation for AML and myelodysplastic syndrome in elderly patients (⩾60 years)

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) remains the best curative option for patients with refractory AML or with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). For decades, age alone had been widely used as the primary criterion to assess eligibility for allogeneic SCT; however, prospective studies to evaluate allogeneic SCT in elderly patients are still limited. A total of 187 patients (median age of 64 years, range 60-77 years) with AML (87%) or MDS (13%) transplanted between 1999 and 2014 were included in this retrospective analysis. Relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) at 3 years were 32% (95% confidence interval (CI): 25-39%) and 35% (95%CI: 27-42%), respectively. Overall survival was 49% (95%CI: 35-64%) in AML patients who were transplanted in first complete remission (CR1), but even patients with active disease did benefit from transplantation, showing an OS at 3 years of 30% (95%CI: 20-40%). Multivariate analysis revealed disease- and patient-specific risk indices as independent prognostic factors for OS and non-relapse mortality (NRM). In conclusion, our monocenter results indicate that patients should not be generally withheld from allogeneic SCT because of age or disease status only. Specific risk models incorporating disease status and disease-specific risk factors at the time of transplantation as well as existing comorbidities are helpful tools to assess transplantation-associated risk factors of elderly patients.

Benefit of allogeneic transplantation in patients age ≥ 60 years with acute myeloid leukemia is limited to those in first complete remission at time of transplant

We evaluated the impact of age and remission status on 242 consecutive patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in our program between 1999 and 2011. Median age of all patients was 48 years (range, 18 to 71). Based on age and remission status, patients were divided into 4 groups: first complete remission (CR1) age <60 years (n = 116), second complete remission (CR2) age <60 years (n = 78), CR1 age ≥60 years (n = 32), and CR2 age ≥60 years (n = 16). Donors were matched related (n = 155, 64%) or matched unrelated (n = 87, 36%). Median follow-up of survivors was 65 months (range, 12 to 145). In a univariate analysis, 3-year overall survival rates of the 4 groups were 57%, 43%, 39%, and 16% (P = .003), respectively. In a multivariable analysis, hazard ratios of nonrelapse mortality and survival were 2.08 (P = .06) and 1.52 (P = .23), respectively, in patients ≥60 years in CR2 compared with ≥ 60 years in CR1. Although a plateau in survival was observed for patients ≥60 years in CR1 similar to those <60 years in CR1 and CR2, no long-term survivors were seen in patients ≥60 years in CR2. Our data suggest disappointing outcomes in AML patients ≥60 years of age transplanted in CR2. Therefore, if a transplant is indicated, early referral is recommended in patients ≥60 years with AML.

Prognostic factors in patients aged 50 years or older undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for hematologic malignancy

We retrospectively analyzed patients aged C 50 years with hematologic malignancies who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) to identify preoperative variables predicting the outcome. There were 71 patients with a median age of 57 years (range: 50-63 years) who had acute leukemia (n = 53) or myelodysplastic syndrome (n = 18). Myeloablative conditioning was done in 35 patients and 36 patients had reduced-intensity conditioning. The 5-year overall survival rate (OS), cumulative relapse rate, and non-relapse mortality rate (NRM) were 45, 24, and 33%, respectively. According to multivariate analysis, high-risk disease (HR 3.50, 95% CI 1.43-8.56, P = 0.006), a hematopoietic cell transplantation comorbidity index (HCT-CI) score ≥ 3 (HR 4.41, 95% CI 1.31-14.77, P = 0.016), and an HLA-mismatched unrelated donor (HR 4.03, 95% CI 1.46-11.10, P = 0.007) were significant predictors of worse OS. Highrisk disease was also significantly associated with a higher cumulative relapse rate (HR 4.59, 95% CI 0.94-6.92, P = 0.065). Furthermore, an HCT-CI score ≥ 3 (HR 3.02, 95% CI 1.01-20.78, P = 0.048) and an HLA-mismatched unrelated donor (HR 3.02, 95% CI 1.04-8.74, P = 0.042) were risk factors for NRM. These results suggest that the disease risk, HCT-CI score, and donor type/histocompatibility are prognostic factors for elderly patients, while the conditioning regimen and age are not predictors.