[Autologous versus unrelated donor stem cell transplantation for adults with primary acute myeloid leukemia in first remission]

[Analysis of therapeutic effects of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 12 patients with DEK-NUP214 fusion gene positive acute myeloid leukemia]

Twelve DEK-NUP214 fusion gene-positive patients with acute myeloid leukemia and on allo-HSCT treatment at the Hematology Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from November 2016 to August 2022 were included in the study, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. The patients comprised five men and seven women with a median age of 34 (16-52) years. At the time of diagnosis, all the patients were positive for the DEK-NUP214 fusion gene. Chromosome karyotyping analysis showed t (6;9) (p23;q34) translocation in 10 patients (two patients did not undergo chromosome karyotyping analysis), FLT3-ITD mutation was detected in 11 patients, and high expression of WT1 was observed in 11 patients. Nine patients had their primary disease in the first complete remission state before transplantation, one patient had no disease remission, and two patients were in a recurrent state. All patients received myeloablative pretreatment, five patients received sibling allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and seven patients received haploid hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The median number of mononuclear cells in the transplant was 10.87 (7.09-17.89) ×10(8)/kg, and the number of CD34(+) cells was 3.29 (2.53-6.10) ×10(6)/kg. All patients achieved blood reconstruction, with a median time of 14 (10-20) days for neutrophil implantation and 15 (9-27) days for platelet implantation. The 1 year transplant-related mortality rate after transplantation was 21.2%. The cumulative recurrence rates 1 and 3 years after transplantation were 25.0% and 50.0%, respectively. The leukemia free survival rates were (65.6±14.0) % and (65.6±14.0) %, respectively. The overall survival rates were (72.2±13.8) % and (72.2±13.8) %, respectively.

Autologous stem cell transplantation in adult patients with intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission and no detectable minimal residual disease. A comparative retrospective study with haploidentical transplants of the global committee and the ALWP of the EBMT

In patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) of intermediate-risk (IR) in first remission (CR1) with no measurable residual disease (MRD negative), the choice of the best consolidation is questionable. 1122 adult patients from 196 centers, transplanted in 2010-21 were analyzed: 547 received an autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and 575 a Haploidentical donor transplant. Because of a significant interaction, comparisons were done separately for patients with wild-type FLT3 (FLT3-wt) and FLT3-ITD mutation (FLT3-ITD). In FLT3-wt patients, haploidentical transplants had two year lower relapse incidence (RI) (16.9% versus 32.6%; HR = 0.40, p < 0.001), higher NRM higher (17.2% vs 3.5%; HR = 7.02, p < 0.001), similar LFS (65.9% vs 63.8%; p = 0.37) and lower OS (73.2% vs 80.6%; HR = 1.69, p = 0.018). In FLT3-ITD patients, haploidentical transplants had two year lower RI (8.2% vs 47.8%; HR = 0.14, p < 0.001) higher NRM (20.2% vs 5.6%; HR = 3.43, p = 0.002), better LFS (71.5% vs 46.6%; HR = 0.53, p = 0.007) and similar OS (73.5% vs 61.9%; p = 0.44). In IR AML patients with FLT3-wt in MRD negative CR1, autologous stem cell transplantation is a valid option, while in patients with FLT3-ITD, haploidentical transplant is better. Whether autologous transplantation is superior to chemotherapy in FLT3-wt patients and the role of maintenance therapy with FLT3 inhibitors remain to be studied.

Optimizing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute leukemia

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains an important postremission treatment for acute leukemia (AL). It is known that some prognostic factors, such as age, cytogenetic and molecular risk stratification, and minimal residual disease (MRD) status, are closely related to clinical outcomes following ASCT. Moreover, there are multiple measurements, including pretransplant treatment, stem cell mobilization and collection, conditioning regimens, and maintenance treatment after transplantation, that can affect prognosis after ASCT. Our clinical practice of ASCT should be better standardized to further improve patient outcomes. This review outlines optimization and quality control measures for ASCT developed at the Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, the first established and largest autologous stem cell transplant center in China. These measures will enhance the development of best practices and strategies for AL ASCT therapies, thereby improving patient outcomes.