In haematopoietic SCT for acute leukemia TBI impacts on relapse but not survival: results of a multicentre observational study

Low rate of nonrelapse mortality in under-4-year-olds with ALL given chemotherapeutic conditioning for HSCT: a phase 3 FORUM study

ABSTRACT

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is highly effective for treating pediatric high-risk or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). For young children, total body irradiation (TBI) is associated with severe late sequelae. In the FORUM study (NCT01949129), we assessed safety, event-free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS) of 2 TBI-free conditioning regimens in children aged <4 years with ALL. Patients received fludarabine (Flu), thiotepa (Thio), and either busulfan (Bu) or treosulfan (Treo) before HSCT. From 2013 to 2021, 191 children received transplantation and were observed for ≥6 months (median follow-up: 3 years). The 3-year OS was 0.63 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.52-0.72) and 0.76 (95% CI, 0.64-0.84) for Flu/Thio/Bu and Flu/Thio/Treo (P = .075), respectively. Three-year EFS was 0.52 (95% CI, 0.41-0.61) and 0.51 (95% CI, 0.39-0.62), respectively (P = .794). Cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality (NRM) and relapse at 3 years were 0.06 (95% CI, 0.02-0.12) vs 0.03 (95% CI: <0.01-0.09) (P = .406) and 0.42 (95% CI, 0.31-0.52) vs 0.45 (95% CI, 0.34-0.56) (P = .920), respectively. Grade >1 acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurred in 29% of patients receiving Flu/Thio/Bu and 17% of those receiving Flu/Thio/Treo (P = .049), whereas grade 3/4 occurred in 10% and 9%, respectively (P = .813). The 3-year incidence of chronic GVHD was 0.07 (95% CI, 0.03-0.13) vs 0.05 (95% CI, 0.02-0.11), respectively (P = .518). In conclusion, both chemotherapeutic conditioning regimens were well tolerated and NRM was low. However, relapse was the major cause of treatment failure. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01949129.

Haploidentical vs. sibling, unrelated, or cord blood hematopoietic cell transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Haploidentical HCT is the preferred alternate donor approach for adults with ALL.

Haploidentical transplantation had similar survival compared with fully HLA-matched donor HCT but with reduced GVHD.

The role of haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) using posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is being defined. We performed a retrospective, multivariable analysis comparing outcomes of HCT approaches by donor for adults with ALL in remission. The primary objective was to compare overall survival (OS) among haploidentical HCTs using PTCy and HLA-matched sibling donor (MSD), 8/8 HLA-matched unrelated donor (MUD), 7 /8 HLA-MUD, or umbilical cord blood (UCB) HCT. Comparing haploidentical HCT to MSD HCT, we found that OS, leukemia-free survival (LFS), nonrelapse mortality (NRM), relapse, and acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) were not different but chronic GVHD (cGVHD) was higher in MSD HCT. Compared with MUD HCT, OS, LFS, and relapse were not different, but MUD HCT had increased NRM (hazard ratio [HR], 1.42; P = .02), grade 3 to 4 aGVHD (HR, 1.59; P = .005), and cGVHD. Compared with 7/8 UD HCT, LFS and relapse were not different, but 7/8 UD HCT had worse OS (HR, 1.38; P = .01) and increased NRM (HR, 2.13; P ≤ .001), grade 3 to 4 aGVHD (HR, 1.86; P = .003), and cGVHD (HR, 1.72; P ≤ .001). Compared with UCB HCT, late OS, late LFS, relapse, and cGVHD were not different but UCB HCT had worse early OS (≤18 months; HR, 1.93; P < .001), worse early LFS (HR, 1.40; P = .007) and increased incidences of NRM (HR, 2.08; P < .001) and grade 3 to 4 aGVHD (HR, 1.97; P < .001). Haploidentical HCT using PTCy showed no difference in survival but less GVHD compared with traditional MSD and MUD HCT and is the preferred alternative donor HCT option for adults with ALL in complete remission.

Haploidentical age-adapted myeloablative transplant and regulatory and effector T cells for acute myeloid leukemia

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the most effective treatment in eradicating high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here, we present data from a novel HLA-haploidentical HSCT protocol that addressed the 2 remaining major unmet medical needs: leukemia relapse and chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Fifty AML patients were enrolled in the study. The conditioning regimen included total body irradiation for patients up to age 50 years and total marrow/lymphoid irradiation for patients age 51 to 65 years. Irradiation was followed by thiotepa, fludarabine, and cyclophosphamide. Patients received an infusion of 2 × 106/kg donor regulatory T cells on day -4 followed by 1 × 106/kg donor conventional T cells on day -1 and a mean of 10.7 × 106 ± 3.4 × 106/kgpurified CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells on day 0. No pharmacological GVHD prophylaxis was administered posttransplantation. Patients achieved full donor-type engraftment. Fifteen patients developed grade ≥2 acute GVHD (aGVHD). Twelve of the 15 patients with aGVHD were alive and no longer receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Moderate/severe cGVHD occurred in only 1 patient. Nonrelapse mortality occurred in 10 patients. Only 2 patients relapsed. Consequently, at a median follow-up of 29 months, the probability of moderate/severe cGVHD/relapse-free survival was 75% (95% confidence interval, 71%-78%). A novel HLA-haploidentical HSCT strategy that combines an age-adapted myeloablative conditioning regimen with regulatory and conventional T-cell adoptive immunotherapy resulted in an unprecedented cGVHD/relapse-free survival rate in 50 AML patients with a median age of 53 years. This trial was registered with the Umbria Region Institutional Review Board Public Registry as identification code 02/14 and public registry #2384/14 and at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03977103.

Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in the Treatment of Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Updated 2019 Evidence-Based Review from the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

The role of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is reviewed and critically evaluated in this systematic evidence-based review. Specific criteria were used for searching the published literature and for grading the quality and strength of the evidence and the strength of the recommendations. A panel of ALL experts developed consensus on the treatment recommendations based on the evidence. Allogeneic HCT offers a survival benefit in selected patients with ALL, and this review summarizes the standard indications as well as the areas of controversy. There is now greater experience with pediatric-inspired chemotherapy regimens that has transformed upfront therapy for adult ALL, resulting in higher remission rates and overall survival. This in turn has increased the equipoise around decision making for ALL in first complete remission (CR1) when there is no measurable residual disease (MRD) at the end of induction and/or consolidation. Randomized studies are needed for adults with ALL to compare allogeneic HCT in CR1 with pediatric-inspired chemotherapy alone. Indications for transplantation in the evolving landscape of MRD assessments and novel targeted and immune therapeutics remain important areas of investigation.

A Single-Center Experience With Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Modest Pitch for Non-Total Body Irradiation Conditioning Regimens

OBJECTIVES

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been used for several decades to treat patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Total body irradiation has been promoted as an important component of conditioning regimens for this process; however, recent reports of chemotherapy-based conditioning regimens have shown comparable outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We report our experience with radiation-free conditioning using busulfan and cyclophosphamide in 127 pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who were treated between 1997 and 2014. The median age was 11 years (range, < 1 to 15 y), 70% of patients were male, 81.1% received transplants from HLA-matched siblings, 83% received peripheral blood stem cells, 41% were in second complete remission at the time of transplant, and 83% had B-lineage immunophenotype.

RESULTS

In patients who were in complete remission at the time of transplant, 5-year overall survival, leukemia-free survival, and relapse rates were 62.48% (95% confidence interval, 52.29-71.09%), 49.43% (95% confidence interval, 39.57-58.53%), and 45.64% (95% confidence interval, 35.85-54.88%), respectively. We observed significant differences between outcomes in patients by time of transplant, presence of chronic graft-versus-host disease, and remission status.

CONCLUSIONS

Our relapse rates were comparable to those shown in recent studies, although the transplant-related mortality rate was lower. The results of our study showed that a busulfan/cyclophosphamide conditioning regimen has acceptable outcomes without the undesirable adverse effects of total body irradiation, particularly in pediatric patients. Large multicenter studies are needed to assess less toxic conditioning regimens with fewer adverse effects in these patients.

Light and shadows of a new technique: is photon total-skin irradiation using helical IMRT feasible, less complex and as toxic as the electrons one?

BACKGROUND

Radiotherapy is one of the standard treatments for cutaneous lymphoma and Total Skin Electrons Beam Irradiation (TSEBI) is generally used to treat diffuse cutaneous lymphoma and some cases of localized disease. Helical IMRT (HI) allows to treat complex target with optimal dose distribution and organ at risk sparing, so helical tomotherapy has been proposed as alternative technique to TSEBI but only one preliminary report has been published.

METHODS

Three patients treated (from May 2013 to December 2014) with Helical IMRT, with a total dose between 24 and 30 Gy, were retrospectively evaluated. Data about dosimetric features, response and acute toxicity were registered and analyzed. Planned target coverage was compared with daily in vivo measures and dose calculation based on volumetric images used for set up evaluation as well.

RESULTS

The patients had a mean measured surface fraction dose ranging from 1.54 Gy up to 2.0 Gy. A planned target dose ranging from 85 to 120% of prescription doses was obtained. All doses to Organs At Risk were within the required constraints. Particular attention was posed on "whole bone marrow" planned V10Gy, V12Gy and V20Gy values, ranging respectively between 23 and 43%, 20.1 and 38% and 9.8 and 24%. A comparison with the theoretical homologous values obtained with TSEBI has shown much lower values with TSEBI. Even if treatment was given in sequence to the skin of the upper and lower hemi-body, all the patients had anaemia, requiring blood transfusions, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia.

CONCLUSION

Based on our limited results TSEBI should still be considered the standard method to treat total skin because of its pattern of acute and late toxicities and the dose distribution. In this particular case the better target coverage obtained with HI can be paid in terms of worse toxicity. Helical IMRT can instead be considered optimal in treating large, convex, cutaneous areas where it is difficult to use multiple electrons fields in relation with the clinical results and the limited and reversible toxicities.

An investigation on the predominant diseases, its diagnosis, and commonly used drugs in the poultry farms in the North-Eastern regions of Algeria

Aim

An investigation was carried out to assess the occurrence of diseases, its method of diagnosis, and commonly used drugs in poultry farms in North-Eastern regions of Algeria.

Materials and Methods

A total of 265 veterinary doctors were surveyed to obtain information on the dominant diseases, its frequency of occurrence, method of diagnosis, and commonly used drugs in poultry farms.

Results

A study revealed that about 68% of bacterial diseases are due to colibacillosis, mycoplasmosis, and salmonellosis, 22% of viral diseases are due to Newcastle, Gumboro, and infectious bronchitis, and 10% others including coccidiosis and ascites syndrome. The study also showed that about 57% of cases were diagnosed by clinical signs, 36% by necropsy findings, and the remaining 7% through therapeutic and laboratory analysis. Antibiotics, a predominance of the anarchic veterinary drugs, were massively used to control the diseases. Hence, there is a need for strict regulations on the use of veterinary drugs to guarantee food safety.

Conclusion

These results remain non-exhaustive but contribute strongly to determine the status of health of the birds in the region.

The Total Body Irradiation Schedule Affects Acute Leukemia Relapse After Matched T Cell-Depleted Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

PURPOSE

We sought to determine whether the total body irradiation (TBI) schedule affected outcome in patients with acute leukemia in complete remission who received T cell-depleted allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from HLA identical siblings.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The study recruited 55 patients (median age, 48 years; age range, 20-66 years; 30 men and 25 women; 34 with acute myeloid leukemia and 21 with acute lymphoid leukemia). Hyperfractionated TBI (HTBI) (1.2 Gy thrice daily for 4 days [for a total dose of 14.4 Gy] from day -12 to day -9) was administered to 29 patients. Single-dose TBI (STBI) (8 Gy, at a median dose rate of 10.7 cGy/min on day -9) was given to 26 patients.

RESULTS

All patients achieved primary, sustained engraftment with full donor-type chimerism. At 10 years, the overall cumulative incidence of transplant-related mortality was 11% (SE, ±0.1%). It was 7% (SE, ±0.2%) after HTBI and 15% (SE, ±0.5%) after STBI (P=.3). The overall cumulative incidence of relapse was 33% (SE, ±0.5). It was 13% (SE, ±0.5%) after HTBI and 46% (SE, ±1%) after STBI (P=.02). The overall probability of disease-free survival (DFS) was 59% (SE, ±7%). It was 67% (SE, ±0.84%) after HTBI and 37% (SE, ±1.4%) after STBI (P=.01). Multivariate analyses showed the TBI schedule was the only risk factor that significantly affected relapse and DFS (P=.01 and P=.03, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with acute leukemia, HTBI is more efficacious than STBI in eradicating minimal residual disease after HLA-matched T cell-depleted hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, thus affecting DFS.

Molecular Chimeric Recipient Precursor T Cells Promote Cardiac Allograft Survival in Mice

BACKGROUND

Molecular chimerism has become a potential method to induce donor-specific transplant tolerance. We researched the prolongation of cardiac allograft survival by recipient mouse molecular chimeric precursor T cells (pre-T cells) or hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) infusion in vivo.

METHODS

The donor C57BL/6 mouse MHC-I gene (H-2K(b) and H-2D(b) gene) were amplified by RT-PCR. The identified recipient BALB/c mouse pre-T cells and HSCs were transduced by the pMSCVneo retroviral vector of C57BL/6 mouse MHC-I gene (pMSCVneo-H-2D(b)/H-2K(b)). Then the molecular chimeric cells were transfused back to the BALB/c mice. Allogeneic T-lymphocyte proliferation was assessed in mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR). A mouse model of heterotopic abdominal heart transplantation was performed to evaluate survival times and histological grade of acute rejection at 7 days after transplantation.

RESULTS

BALB/c mice molecular chimeric pre-T cells and HSCs were cultured successfully after pMSCV-H-2D(b)/H-2K(b) transduction. After the molecular chimeric pre-T cell treatment, the result of MLR showed that the stimulating index of allogeneic T lymphocyte had a statistically significant decrease, which also exhibited a significant reduction after molecular chimeric HSC treatment. The survival time of cardiac allograft was prolonged after chimeric pre-T cell or HSC infusion; meanwhile, pathologic rejection grade decreased significantly. Nevertheless, molecular chimeric pre-T cells exhibited a longer median survival time.

CONCLUSION

The molecular chimeric recipient mouse pre-T cell or HSC infusion reduced spleen T cells' response to allogeneic T cells in vitro and delayed cardiac allograft rejection in vivo. Pre-T cells have more advantages than HSCs on the prolongation of mouse cardiac allograft survival.

Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Adolescent and Young Adult Patients

The objectives of this review were to discuss standard and investigational treatment strategies for adolescent and young adult with acute myeloid leukemia, excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adolescent and young adult patients (AYAs) may need a different type of therapy than those currently used in children and older patients. As soon as AML is diagnosed, AYA patient should be offered to participate in well-designed clinical trials. The standard treatment approach for AYAs with AML is remission induction chemotherapy with an anthracycline/cytarabine combination, followed by either consolidation chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation, depending on the ability of the patient to tolerate intensive treatment and cytogenetic features. Presently, continuing progress of novel drugs targeting specific pathways in acute leukemia may bring AML treatment into a new era.