Autologous stem-cell transplantation in patients with mantle cell lymphoma beyond 65 years of age: a study from the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)

BACKGROUND

Limited experience is available on the feasibility and efficacy of autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) beyond 65 years.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We analysed 712 patients with MCL treated with ASCT from 2000 to 2007 and reported to the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry. Patients>65 years were compared with patients<65 years for the end points non-relapse mortality (NRM), relapse incidence, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Seventy-nine patients were ≥65 years old. Median time from diagnosis to ASCT was longer in the elderly patients (11 versus 9 months, P=0.005); they had more commonly received at least two treatment lines (62.0% versus 47.9%, P=0.02) and were less commonly in first complete remission at ASCT (35.4% versus 51.2%, P=0.002). Median follow-up after ASCT was 19 and 25 months, respectively. NRM was comparable at 3 months (3.8% versus 2.5%) and at 5 years (5.6% versus 5.0%). There were no differences in relapse rate (66% versus 55% at 5 years), PFS (29% versus 40%) and OS (61% versus 67%) between both populations of patients.

CONCLUSION

ASCT beyond 65 years of age is feasible in selected patients with MCL and results in similar disease control and survival as in younger patients.

Abstract P5-13-04: Use of Bisphosphonates in the Adjuvant Setting for Breast Cancer — A More Than 10 Years Single Centre Experience

Background: Adjuvant therapies for early breast cancer are associated with substantial decrease in bone mineral density. Bisphosphonates are antiresorptive agents that have an established role in preventing skeletal morbitity in patients with bone metastases and in the treatment of osteoporosis. It has also been shown that these agents are active in preventing cancer treatment induced bone loss in women with early stage breast cancer. Recently, several trials have demonstrated that bisphosphonates may exert anticancer effects in the adjuvant setting. Patients and methods: Since 1997 we treated an increasing number of unselected patients with early breast cancer with bisphosphonates (up to 2009: 1144 out of 1876 patients). There was no significant difference in the two patient groups concerning tumour size, nodal status, hormone receptor (HR) expression, HER-2 expression and adjuvant treatment modalities. In most cases we used zoledronic acid, but also clodronate ibandronate or alendronate.

Results: Disease-free survival (DFS) was significant better in patients treated with bisphosphonates (p = 0.009). This was also true in the subgroup of patients with hormone receptor positive disease (p=0.0011) and even more striking in patients with N+ disease (p=0.00003). There was no significant difference in DFS in patients with hormone receptor negative disease. In our analyses especially patients with N+ and ER/PR+ disease showed a significant advantage from treatment with bisphosphonates. Conclusion: This large single centre experience demonstrates a significant improvement of disease-free survival in patients with breast cancer treated with bisphosphonates in the adjuvant setting. The benefit was more pronounced in the subgroup of nodal positive and hormone receptor positive disease.

The impact of donor gender on outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma: reduced relapse risk in female to male transplants

The impact of the donor gender on outcome in HLA-identical sibling donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma was studied in a retrospective registry study of 1312 patients (476 male to male (M --> M); 334 female to male (F --> M); 258 male to female (M --> F); 244 female to female (F --> F) reported to the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT). The best overall survival (OS) from the time of transplantation was found in F --> F (median 41 months) with no significant difference between other groups (median 25 months in M --> M, 18 months in F --> M, 19 months in M --> F) despite a significantly higher nonrelapse mortality in F --> M. This was due to a significantly lower relapse rate (REL) in F --> M compared to all other groups. Before 1994, OS was poorer in F --> M than in M --> M, which improved to similarity from 1994 onwards (median 29 months in M --> M and 25 months in F --> M). The reduced REL contributed to this improvement in F --> M indicting a gender-specific graft vs myeloma effect. Therefore, a female donor is as good as a male one for male patients, while for female patients gender disparity is a negative factor for outcome.

Progress in allogeneic bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma: a comparison between transplants performed 1983-93 and 1994-98 at European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation centres

Out of 690 allogeneic matched sibling donor transplants for multiple myeloma reported to the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) registry, 334 were performed during the period 1983-93 (all with bone marrow) and 356 during 1994-98 [223 with bone marrow and 133 with peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs)]. The median overall survival was 10 months for patients transplanted during the earlier time period and 50 months for patients transplanted with hone marrow during the later period. The use of PBSCs was associated with earlier engraftment but no significant survival benefit compared to bone marrow transplants during the same time period. The improvement in survival since 1994 with the result of a significant reduction in transplant-related mortality, which was 38%, 21% and 25% at 6 months and 46%, 30% and 37% at 2 years during the earlier period, and the later period with bone marrow and PBSCs respectively. Reasons for the reduced transplant-related mortality appeared to be fewer deaths owing to bacterial and fungal infections and interstitial pneumonitis, in turn a result of earlier transplantation and less prior chemotherapy. Better supportive treatment and more frequent use of cytokines may also play a role. The improvement in survival was not directly related to the increased use of PBSCs.

Addition of ATG to the conditioning regimen is a major determinant for outcome after transplantation with partially lymphocyte-depleted grafts from voluntary unrelated donors

We retrospectively analysed the outcome of voluntary unrelated donor (VUD)-SCT in 56 patients after conditioning without or with ATG. All received partially lymphocyte-depleted grafts. Four of 17 patients (24%) who were not given ATG rejected their grafts, as did one of 33 (3%) conditioned with ATG (P=0.02). The incidences of acute graft-versus-host disease grade III/IV were 29 and 6%, respectively (P=0.02), and probabilities of 1-year transplant-related mortality were 64% (95% CI, 44-84%) and 27% (95% CI, 12-42%), respectively (P=0.004). Projected at 3 years, probability of survival was 18% (95% CI, 2-34%) after conditioning without ATG and 60% (95% CI, 43-70%) after conditioning with ATG (P=0.002). Probabilities of disease-free survival (DFS) were 18% (95% CI, 2-34%) and 45% (95% CI, 27-63%), respectively (P=0.005). Patients who did not receive ATG had a probability of current DFS of 18% (95% CI, 3-34%) and this was 60% (95% CI, 43-77%) for the patients conditioned with ATG (P<0.001). We conclude that the addition of ATG to the conditioning regimen is associated with a significantly more favourable outcome in recipients of partially T-cell-depleted grafts from VUDs.

Analysis of 127 stem cell donations of the regional Bone Marrow Donor Bank Europdonor Nijmegen, The Netherlands

In December 2000, the Bone Marrow DonorBank Europdonor Nijmegen in The Netherlands celebrated its tenth anniversary. We describe the organisation and activities in the first 10 years of this regional bone marrow donor bank. A concise inquiry was sent to all transplant centres who had received a graft from our donors. Response rate was 88% and data were available from 127 recipients. Three donors donated twice to different patients. Median age of the 124 donors (42 females and 82 males) was 37 years and 30 years for the 127 recipients (48 females and 79 males). Time interval between first request of a blood sample and collection of bone marrow varied from 13 to 695 days (median, 113 days). All but two donors received general anaesthesia for 25-120 min (median; 60 min). Hospital stay has been reduced to 24 h. Most donors experienced pain from the collection sites for 3-5 days. However, 9 donors (7%) suffered from pain for 2-3 weeks. All but two donors (98%) were willing to donate a second time for the same patient and 119 (96%) donors wished to remain in the register. The number of nucleated cells (NC) in the collected marrow varied from 0.2 to 8.3 x 10(8)/kg body weight of the recipient (median, 3.5 x 10(8)/kg) with 6.4-470.0 x 10(4) CFU-GM/kg body weight of the recipient (median, 18.0 x 10(4)/kg body weight). The 3-year projected probability of survival of the 127 recipients transplanted with marrow from donors provided by Bone Marrow Donor Bank Europdonor Nijmegen was 27 +/- 9% (+/-95% CI).

Quantification of donor and recipient hemopoietic cells by real-time PCR of single nucleotide polymorphisms

Analysis of changes in recipient and donor hemopoietic cell origin is extremely useful to monitor the effect of stem cell transplantation (SCT) and sequential adoptive immunotherapy by donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI). We developed a sensitive and accurate method to quantify the percentage of recipient and donor cells by real-time PCR using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as markers. Allele-specific PCR of seven SNPs resulted in specific markers for donor or recipient in 97% of HLA-identical sibling pairs. Both, recipient- and donor-derived hemopoietic cells can be simultaneously analyzed in 67% sibling pairs. We expect this can be increased to approximately 99% by developing three additional SNP-PCR. Serial dilution of SNP-positive DNA into either SNP-negative DNA or water revealed a detection limit of 0.1-0.01% depending on the amount of input DNA and start C(t) of the used SNP-PCR. Application of our real-time SNP-PCR method for a CML patient treated by allogeneic SCT and DLI demonstrated its feasibility to follow donor T-cell chimerism and early detection of residual and recurrent autologous hemopoiesis in response to treatment. This detailed monitoring of the genetic origin of hemopoietic cells, in particular immune effector cells and target cells after SCT and DLI, may substantially contribute to understanding of the mechanisms that play a role in the success of treatment.

Transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells as compared with bone marrow from HLA-identical siblings in adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia

PURPOSE

Several studies show that allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) engraft more rapidly than bone marrow (BM). However, the data are inconsistent with regard to acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), relapse, transplant-related mortality (TRM), and leukemia-free survival (LFS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 1994 and December 2000, 3,465 adult patients (older than 15 years of age) were reported to the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry from 224 centers. Among acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, 1,537 patients received BM and 757 patients received PBSC. In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients, the corresponding figures were 826 versus 345 patients who were analyzed for engraftment, GVHD, TRM, relapse, LFS, and survival.

RESULTS

In multivariate analysis, the recovery of neutrophils and platelets was faster with PBSC than with BM (P <.0001). Chronic GVHD was associated with PBSC in patients with AML (relative risk [RR], 2.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.66 to 2.7; P <.0001) and ALL (RR, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.09 to 2.27; P =.02). PBSC versus BM in patients with AML or ALL was not significantly associated with acute GVHD, TRM, relapse, survival, or LFS. In multivariate analysis of patients with AML, factors significantly associated with improved LFS included first remission at transplant (P <.0001), promyelocytic leukemia (M3) versus other French-American-British types (P <.0001), and donor age below median 37 years (P =.02). In patients with ALL, first remission (P <.0001) and methotrexate included in the immunosuppressive regimen (P =.001) were associated with improved LFS.

CONCLUSION

Allogeneic PBSC results in faster neutrophil and platelet engraftment and a higher incidence of chronic GVHD than BM. However, acute GVHD, TRM, relapse, survival, and LFS were similar in patients receiving PBSCs versus BM.

Long-term follow-up of persisting mixed chimerism after partially T cell-depleted allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Using red cell phenotyping (RCP) and/or cytogenetics (CYT) we identified 19 patients with persisting mixed chimerism (MC) among 231 patients transplanted with partially T cell-depleted stem cell grafts from HLA-identical siblings. Persisting MC is defined as MC for more than 2 years in patients without any evidence of relapse. Median leukemia-free survival in these patients was 150 (range, 50-218) months. Diagnoses were ALL (n= 10); AML (n = 2); CML (n = 2); NHL (n = 2); MDS (n= 1); MM (n = 1) and SAA (n = 1). Purpose of this study was the long-term follow-up of MC and definition of patterns of chimerism in the various subsets of PBMCs and granulocytes. Using a PCR-STR technique CD3(+)/CD4(+) (T4 lymphocytes), CD3(+)/CD8(+) (T8 lymphocytes), CD45(+)/CD19(+) (B lymphocytes), CD45(+)/CD14(+) (monocytes), CD45(+)/CD15(+) (granulocytes) and CD3(-)/CD56(+) (NK-cells) were analyzed. The majority of patients with persisting MC were conditioned with a less intensive conditioning regimen and had little GVHD. Sequential monitoring of the chimerism resulted in a group of patients (n = 7) with very slow transient mixed chimerism that resulted in complete DC after median 7 years. Another nine patients had a relatively high percentage of persisting autologous cells for a median of 12 years and in three patients we observed a stable low percentage of autologous cells. Only two out of 19 patients (AML-CR1, CML-CP1) relapsed during follow-up. Both patients had a relatively high percentage of autologous cells. Chimerism in granulocytes and PBMC subsets was analyzed at a median of 8 years after SCT in nine patients. In five patients mixed chimerism simultaneously detected by RCP and CYT was associated with MC in all subsets. Within each individual patient the percentages of donor and recipient cells were very different between the different subsets. Two CML-CP1 patients were mixed chimera in only two subsets and in one patient these subsets represented pending relapse. In another two patients mixed chimerism with a very low number of autologous red cells was not found in the PBMCs because of the different sensitivity level of the RCP and the PCR-STR technique. We conclude that in patients with persisting mixed chimerism after partially T cell-depleted SCT a remarkable number of patients had lymphoid malignancies, the majority of the patients were conditioned with less intensive conditioning regimens and the mixed chimerism was not correlated with relapse. Chimerism in granulocytes and PBMC subsets did show great intra-individual differences in the subsets and these data correlated well with RCP and CYT data with the exception of the NK cells.

Influence of the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) exon 8 genotype on efficacy of tiapride and clinical outcome of alcohol withdrawal

We tested the hypothesis that allelic variants of the human dopamine D2 receptor E8 genotype are associated with (i) dopamine D2 antagonist tiapride dose in treatment of alcohol withdrawal (n = 50) and (ii) with anxiety and depression in patients during alcoholism detoxification therapy (admission n = 87; discharge n = 50). DRD2 E8 A/A genotype was associated with increased dose of tiapride during a 9-day detoxification therapy and with increased anxiety and depression scores on admission and 2 weeks later. The findings suggest a pharmacogenetic influence of DRD2 E8 genotype on tiapride efficacy in alcohol withdrawal. In an earlier report, DRD2 E8 A/A genotype was associated with reduced responsiveness to the dopamine D2 agonist apomorphine; however, it is not clear whether both findings share the same biological basis. Earlier findings concerning association of DRD2 E8 A/A with increased anxiety and depression are replicated for the first time.

Induction of graft-versus-leukemia to prevent relapse after partially lymphocyte-depleted allogeneic bone marrow transplantation by pre-emptive donor leukocyte infusions

In this prospective study we analyzed pre-emptive donor leukocyte infusions (DLI) in 82 consecutive patients transplanted with partially T cell-depleted grafts for acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, refractory anemia with excess of blasts, refractory anemia with excess of blasts in transformation and multiple myeloma. Donors were HLA-identical siblings. Patients without significant acute (>grade 1) and/or chronic GVHD were scheduled to be treated with DLI (35 patients) and 31 actually received DLI. Patients who developed acute GVHD >grade 1 and/or chronic GVHD were not scheduled to receive DLI and served as a comparison group (47 patients). The median interval between BMT and DLI was 22 weeks. The first six patients received 0.7 x 10(8) CD3+ cells/kg body weight (b.w.). Five out of these six patients developed acute GVHD (grade 1: n = 2, grade 3: n = 2 and grade 4: n= 1) which was more frequent and more severe than we had anticipated. In the next 25 patients the number of T lymphocytes was diminished to 0.1 x 10(8) CD3+ cells/kg b.w. which resulted in less frequent and less severe GVHD. Eight patients in this group developed acute GVHD (grade 1: n = 4, grade 2: n = 4) and three patients had limited chronic GVHD. Patients in the DLI group needed more time to establish complete donor chimerism confirmed by a higher number of mixed chimeras at 6 months after BMT. The projected 3-year probability of disease-free survival was 77% for the 35 patients intended to treat with DLI and 45% for the patients of the comparison group (P = 0.024). Relapse rate at 36 months after transplantation was 18% in the patients who were intended to treat with DLI and 44% in the comparison group (P = 0.026). We conclude that pre-emptive DLI is feasible and generates favorable relapse rates in patients who are at high risk for relapse. Furthermore, the incidence and severity of GVHD disease after DLI is dependent on the number of CD3+ cells infused.

Alpha-interferon maintenance treatment is associated with improved survival after high-dose treatment and autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma: a retrospective registry study from the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of alpha-IFN maintenance treatment after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for multiple myeloma in a retrospective registry analysis. 473 patients with multiple myeloma who received IFN maintenance treatment ASCT were compared with 419 patients who did not receive IFN-treatment. Patients who were evaluable for response and in complete or partial remission at 6 months after ASCT were eligible, after excluding patients with graft failure. Cox proportional hazards assumptions were checked and handled by stratification. The prognostic variables unevenly distributed between the two groups were statistically corrected for in the Cox analysis. 391 patients reached complete remission (CR) after ASCT (203 in the IFN group and 188 in the no-IFN group) and 501 were in partial remission (PR, IFN 270, no-IFN 231). Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were significantly better in the IFN-group (OS, 78 vs 47 months, P = 0.007, and PFS, 29 vs 20 months, P = 0.006, respectively). The difference in OS and PFS was most strongly pronounced in the PR patients. 209 patients have died (IFN, 84; no-IFN, 125). Progressive myeloma was the cause of death in 94% of the IFN-treated patients and in 83% of the no-IFN group (P = NS). Thus, IFN maintenance treatment after ASCT was associated with better OS and PFS. Treatment seemed to be most beneficial in patients who did not achieve CR. The difference in median survival was as long as 2.5 years, and although part of this difference is attributable to differences in other prognostic factors, it might justify possible differences in quality-of-life due to adverse effects of interferon treatment.

Donor lymphocyte infusions for relapsed multiple myeloma after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation: predictive factors for response and long-term outcome

PURPOSE

To determine the efficacy, toxicity, and long-term outcome and prognostic factors of donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (AlloSCT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-seven patients received 52 DLI courses at a median of 30 months after the previous AlloSCT. Reinduction therapy was administered to 13 patients before DLI.

RESULTS

Reinduction therapy was successful in eight of 13 patients. Fourteen patients (52%) responded to DLI, including six patients (22%) who achieved a complete remission (CR). Five patients responded after T-cell dose escalation in subsequent DLIs. Four patients experienced relapse or disease progression (three from partial response and one from CR). Five patients remain in remission more than 30 months after DLI. Major toxicity was acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which was present in 55% and 26% of patients, respectively. Two patients died from bone marrow aplasia. Median overall survival of all patients was 18 months. Overall survival was 11 months for DLI-resistant patients and has not been reached for the responding patients. In two patients, sustained molecular remission was observed. The factors that were correlated with response to DLI were a T-cell dose of more than 1.10(8) cells/kg, response to reinduction therapy, and chemotherapy-sensitive disease before AlloSCT.

CONCLUSION

These data confirm the potential and durable graft-versus-myeloma effect of DLI in patients with relapsed MM after AlloSCT. Future studies should be aimed at increasing response rates, especially in patients with chemoresistant disease, and reducing toxicity by limiting GVHD. Adjuvant DLI seems an attractive and promising approach for patients who do not achieve a molecular remission after AlloSCT.

Outcome of T cell-depleted transplantation after conditioning with an intensified regimen in patients aged 50 years or more is comparable with that in younger patients

One hundred and thirty-one patients were transplanted for AML-CR1, ALL-CR1 or CML-CP1 after conditioning with 120 mg/kg body weight cyclophosphamide and 2 x 4.5 Gy TBI. Conditioning was intensified with the addition of 42 mg/m2 idarubicin. Grafts were T cell-depleted using counterflow centrifugation. Donors were HLA-identical siblings. We compared outcome of BMT in 109 patients aged less than 50 (median, 35) years with that of 22 patients with an age of 50 years or more (median, 53 years). For the patients aged <50 years, 2-year probabilities of treatment-related mortality, relapse, survival and leukemia-free survival were 26% (95% CI, 17% to 35%), 26% (95% CI, 17% to 35%), 64% (95% CI, 55% to 73%), and 56% (95% CI, 47% to 65%). For the patients aged > or =50 years, these figures were 13% (95% CI, 0% to 30%), 24% (95% CI, 6% to 42%), 66% (95% CI, 46% to 86%), and 67% (95% CI, 47% to 87%), respectively. Outcome did not differ significantly between the two age groups. TRM was within the range of that reported in the literature for recipients of T cell-depleted grafts. We conclude that T cell-depleted transplantation after a conditioning regimen that was intensified with the addition of idarubicin is feasible in patients aged > or =50 years. For this age group of patients, results of nonmyeloablative regimens should be compared with that obtained with T cell-depleted grafts.

Red blood cell phenotyping is a sensitive technique for monitoring chronic myeloid leukaemia patients after T-cell-depleted bone marrow transplantation and after donor leucocyte infusion

Fifteen consecutive patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) who relapsed from T-cell-depleted bone marrow transplantation (BMT) were successfully treated with donor leucocyte infusions (DLIs). Chimaerism was analysed using red blood cell phenotyping (RCP), and the results were compared with cytogenetic analysis and outcome of qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for breakpoint molecules. In all patients, an increase in autologous erythrocytes and/or a decrease in donor red cells indicated relapse. Donor erythrocytes started to increase from 4 to 20 (median 12) weeks after DLI. At 6 and 12 months after DLI, complete donor chimaerism was found in 11 and 15 patients, respectively, and all patients were in cytogenic remission. A high percentage of autologous red cells at the time of DLI predicted pancytopenia. During relapse and after DLI, the percentage of autologous red cells was strongly correlated with the reappearance and disappearance of Ph-positive metaphases (r = 0.90; P < 0.001 and r = 0.96; P < 0.001 respectively). The same was true for the correlation between the percentage of autologous red cells and positivity/negativity in PCR for Bcr-Abl breakpoint molecules (r = 0.94; P < 0.001). A normalized Bcr-Abl dose of greater than 10-3 in real-time quantitative PCR correlated well with relapse and the presence of autologous red blood cells (r = 0.77; P < 0.001). We conclude that RCP is a sensitive, easy to perform and fast technique for the prediction of pending relapse after BMT for CML. RCP also predicts the response to DLI and the occurrence of bone marrow aplasia after DLI.

Counterflow centrifugation allows addition of appropriate numbers of T cells to allogeneic marrow and blood stem cell grafts to prevent severe GVHD without substantial loss of mature and immature progenitor cells

Using counterflow centrifugation elutriation (CCE) lymphocytes can be separated from CD34+ populations based on size. Immature progenitors tend to be smaller than mature cells suggesting that CCE introduces loss of stem cells. We compared the separation of 12 PBSC with 16 BM transplants. Cells were separated in 12 fractions (3000-2200 r.p.m.) and the rotor off (RO) fraction. Separation patterns of BM and PBSC were comparable. B cells were collected in the high speed fractions followed by T and NK cells. In contrast, progenitor cells were collected in lower speed fractions. By adding successively T cell-depleted fractions to the RO fraction a BM transplant could be composed containing 0.7 x 10(6) T cells/kg and 90%, 89% and 68% recovery of CD34+, CFU-GM and BFU-E. PBSC were separated in four CCE runs inducing higher numbers of T cells in the graft (4.4 x 10(6)/kg) and 54% CD34+, 46% CFU-GM and 37% BFU-E recovery. Time of engraftment was not delayed and no graft failure was observed. The higher number of T cells was not associated with higher incidence of GVHD. Acute GVHD > or = grade III occurred in 0 of 16 BM and two of 12 PBSC recipients; extensive chronic GVHD was observed in four of 15 and three of nine recipients, respectively. To study immature cells in the graft, CD34 subpopulations and cells with long-term repopulating ability, determined using cobble-stone area formation (CAFC assay), were evaluated in each fraction. The separation patterns in BM and PBSC were comparable. Cells with mature and immature phenotype were enriched in lower speed fractions (mean recovery of 74% CD34+/CD13-/DR-). The CAFC week 2, 4 and 6 were also enriched in these fractions. These data show that the used CCE procedure is a reliable method to deplete T cells from stem cell transplants without substantial loss of immature and mature progenitors.

In relapsed patients after lymphocyte depleted bone marrow transplantation the percentage of donor T lymphocytes correlates well with the outcome of donor leukocyte infusion

Donor leukocyte infusions (DLI) from the original marrow donor have been shown to induce remission in patients with relapse after BMT. We analyzed factors that were associated with remission. Twenty-six patients with a relapse after T cell depleted BMT received DLI. The following pre-DLI factors were analyzed: sex and age of the patients and donors, GVHD after BMT, indication for DLI, percentage of donor T lymphocytes in the patient at the time of DLI, interval between relapse and DLI, and number of T lymphocytes infused. Remission was achieved in 11 of 15 patients (73%) treated for relapsed CML and in one of 11 patients (9%) treated for relapsed AML, ALL or RAEB-t (P = .002). Two of 13 patients (15%) with < or =40% of T lymphocytes from donor origin attained remission compared with 10 of 13 patients (77%) with >40% (P = .002). Two of 13 patients (15%) with an interval of < or =18 months between BMT and first DLI entered remission compared with 10 of 13 patients (77%) with an interval of >18 months (P = .002). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that indication for DLI (CML versus AML/ALL and RAEB-t) and the percentage T lymphocytes from donor origin (< or =40 versus >40) were significantly correlated with remission (P = .03). The occurrence of GVHD post DLI was highly associated with achievement of remission (P = .0001). DLI res ults in remission in a high percentage of patients with relapsed CML after BMT. The percentage of T lymphocytes from donor origin still present in the patient at the time of DLI is highly correlated with achievement of remission.

Quantitation of minimal residual disease in Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukaemia patients using real-time quantitative RT-PCR

We used a recently developed system for real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine residual disease in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia. The expression of the Bcr-Abl hybrid oncogene was determined and normalized by using the PBGD housekeeping gene product as endogenous reference. The sensitivity and reproducibility of the assay was tested on cell line K562. A dilution of Bcr-Abl-positive cell line K562 remained positive at up to 250 fg of RNA. 10 copies of Bcr-Abl DNA in water could still be detected. The dynamic range of the method spanned six orders of magnitude. Analysis of 10 identical assays on K562 RNA resulted in a variation of 15%. To test the feasibility of normalization of Bcr-Abl dosage by the PBGD product, we compared the efficiencies of the RT-PCRs in 150 patient analyses. We concluded that PBGD was a suitable and stringent quality control standard. Three patients who were treated with donor leucocyte infusions for chronic myeloid leukaemia who had relapsed after bone marrow transplantation were followed over time. The normalized Bcr-Abl dosage was compared to the results of cytogenetics. Cytogenetic analysis was negative below a normalized Bcr-Abl dose of about 3 x 10(-2). This semi-automated method is fast, sensitive and accurate and enables a high throughput of samples.

Cataracts after total body irradiation and bone marrow transplantation in patients with acute leukemia in complete remission: a study of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

PURPOSE

Advances in bone marrow transplantation (BMT) have consistently improved long-term survival. Therefore, evaluation of late complications such as cataracts is of paramount importance.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We analyzed data of 2149 patients from the EBMT registry. A cohort of 1063 patients were evaluable for survival and ophthalmologic status after transplant for acute leukemia (AL) in first or second complete remission. Conditioning therapy included either single-dose total body irradiation (STBI) or fractionated TBI (FTBI) grouped in different dose rates (low: LDR < or = 0.04 Gy/min; high: HDR > 0.04 Gy/min).

RESULTS

The overall 10-year estimated cataract incidence (ECI) was 50%. It was 60% in the STBI group, 43% in the FTBI group < or = 6 fractions, and 7% in the FTBI group > 6 fractions (p < 10(-4)). It was significantly lower (30%) in the LDR than in the HDR groups (59%;p < 10(-4)). Patients receiving heparin for veno-occlusive disease prophylaxis had fewer cataracts than those who did not (10-year ECI: 33% vs. 53%, respectively;p = 0.04). The 10-year ECI was 65% in the allogeneic vs. 46% in the autologous BMT patients (p = 0.0018). Factors independently associated with an increased risk of cataract were an older age (> 23 years), higher dose rate (> 0.04 Gy/min), allogeneic BMT, and steroid administration (> 100 days). The use of FTBI was associated with a decreased risk of cataract. Heparin administration was a protective factor in patients receiving STBI. In terms of cataract surgery, the unfavorable factors for requiring surgery were: age > 23 yr, STBI, dose rate > 0.04 Gy/min, chronic graft-vs.-host disease (cGvHD), and absence of heparin administration. Among the patients who required cataract surgery (111 out of 257), secondary posterior capsular opacification was observed in 15.7%.

CONCLUSION

High dose rate and STBI are the main risk factors for cataract development and the need for surgery, and the administration of heparin has a protective role in cataractogenesis.

Donor leukocyte infusions are effective in relapsed multiple myeloma after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Donor leukocyte infusions (DLI) can induce sustained remissions in patients with acute and chronic myeloid leukemia who relapse after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT). Also, in multiple myeloma (MM), incidental reports have indicated the existence of a graft-versus-myeloma effect (GVM) induced by allo-reactive T cells. We performed a retrospective study in a larger group of MM patients to characterize better the effect, prognostic factors, and toxicity of this new treatment modality. Thirteen patients with relapsed MM after allo-BMT were studied. Patients received a total of 29 DLI with T-cell doses ranging from 1 x 10(6)/kg to 33 x 10(7)/kg. Repetitive courses, sometimes with escalated cell doses, were undertaken in case of no response to or relapse after DLI. Eight of 13 patients responded: 4 patients achieved a partial remission and 4 patients achieved a complete remission. Dose escalation was effective in 3 patients. The time to response was median 6 weeks (range, 4 to 10 weeks). Major toxicities were secondary to acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which occurred in 66% and 56% of all patients and in 87% and 85% of the responders, respectively. Two responding patients developed fatal BM aplasia. The only prognostic factors for response were a T-cell dose greater than 1 x 10(8)/kg and the occurrence of GVHD. Seven of nine patients developing acute GVHD responded, as compared with only 1 response in the 4 patients without GVHD and 6 of 7 patients with chronic GVHD responded, whereas no response was observed in the 5 patients without chronic GVHD. DLI are effective in a high percentage of patients with relapsed MM after allo-BMT, although it is associated with a high treatment-related toxicity. The dose of T cells used may be important in determining the GVM effect, with the highest probability of response after infusion of more than 1 x 10(8) T cells. Because the optimal individual dose may vary, patient-adapted therapy consisting of repeated infusions with escalating dose of donor leukocytes until maximum response is achieved may therefore be preferable.

Outcome of transplantation for standard-risk leukaemia with grafts depleted of lymphocytes after conditioning with an intensified regimen

One hundred and eighty-one consecutive patients with standard-risk leukaemia were transplanted with HLA-identical sibling grafts depleted of lymphocytes using counter-flow centrifugation. In 116 patients, standard conditioning was intensified by the addition of anthracyclines. Multivariate analysis revealed significantly more acute GVHD > or = grade 2 and a trend towards more chronic GVHD in patients conditioned with the addition of anthracyclines. For all patients the risk for chronic GVHD, but not for acute GVHD increased with a higher number of T cells in the graft. The projected 5-year probability of relapse was significantly lower in the group of patients conditioned with anthracyclines; 26% versus 52% (P = 0.015). In multivariate analysis the addition of anthracyclines to the conditioning regimen was the only significant factor contributing to a lower probability of relapse. The projected 5-year probability of leukaemia-free survival [LFS] in the patients conditioned with and without the addition of anthracyclines was 56% and 36%, respectively (P = 0.004). In multivariate analysis the addition of anthracyclines to the conditioning regimen correlated significantly with a lower number of mixed chimaeras in patients at 6 and 12 months after BMT. Mixed chimaerism at 6 months after transplantation did not significantly correlate with a higher incidence of relapse in further follow-up. In contrast, mixed chimaerism at 12 months after BMT was significantly associated with higher relapse rate. We conclude that the addition of anthracyclines to the conditioning regimen improves outcome of BMT using T-cell-depleted grafts.

Survival in first or second remission after lymphocyte-depleted transplantation for Philadelphia chromosome-positive CML in first chronic phase

We studied the outcome of BMT in 38 consecutive CML patients in CP1 who received transplants depleted of lymphocytes using counterflow centrifugation. In all patients the conditioning regimen was intensified by the addition of anthracyclines. Donors were HLA, MLC-identical siblings. Six patients (16%) died within 6 months. All 37 patients with a follow-up of more than 0.5 months engrafted and only one (3%) suffered from acute GVHD > or = grade 3. Chronic GVHD was evaluable in 33 patients and was extensive in six (18%). The projected 5-year probabilities of hematologic, cytogenetic and molecular relapse were 30% (95% confidence interval (CI), 10-49%), 35% (95% CI, 14-56%), and 34% (95% CI, 13-55%), respectively. The projected 5-year probability of survival was 68% (95% CI, 50-86%). Projected at 5 years, probabilities of leukemia-free survival (LFS) in hematologic, cytogenetic and molecular remission were 55% (95% CI, 37-73%), 51% (95% CI, 32-69%), and 51% (95% CI, 32-70%), respectively. All patients with relapse but one who relapsed in blastic phase were treated with retransplantation (n = 1) or with the infusion of lymphocytes (n = 6). Six patients regained second hematologic remission and five entered second cytogenetic and molecular remission. Including these patients, the probability of survival in first or second hematologic remission at the end of follow-up was 68% (95% CI, 50-86%). The probabilities of survival in first or second cytogenetic and molecular remission at the end of follow-up were both 61% (95% CI, 42-80%). We advocate revaluation of T cell depletion of donor marrow for patients with CML-CP1, especially for those at high risk of developing GVHD.

Outcome of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with lymphocyte-depleted marrow grafts in adult patients with myelodysplastic syndromes

Thirty-five patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) were treated with BMT between 1986 and 1994. Their median age was 41 years (range 23-60). Thirteen patients had transfusion-dependent refractory anaemia (RA). Twenty-two patients suffered from more advanced stages of MDS, 15 being in complete remission (CR) after chemotherapy. In 31 recipients, pretransplant conditioning consisted of cyclophosphamide and TBI with or without the addition of idarubucin; four patients were conditioned with other schedules. Donors were genotypically HLA-identical and MLC-negative siblings in 32, and others in three cases. All patients received a graft depleted of 98% of T lymphocytes using counterflow centrifugation. Fourteen patients are alive and in continuous remission with a median follow-up of 20 months (range 15-113) after BMT. Seven patients relapsed between 3 and 18 months after BMT and subsequently died. Fourteen transplantation-related deaths occurred. Outcome in patients under and over 40 years old was comparable. The probability of disease-free survival (DFS) at 2 years after BMT was 39% (95% confidence interval (CI), 22-56%). Considering patients with HLA-identical and MLC-negative sibling donors transplanted for RA (n = 11) or more advanced stages of MDS in CR (n = 14), the probabilities of DFS were 73% (95% CI, 47-99%) and 42% (95% CI, 15-69%), respectively. This indicates that BMT with lymphocyte-depleted grafts can cure a substantial number of relatively old patients with MDS, especially when grafts from HLA-identical and MLC-negative siblings are used and patients are suffering from RA.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for acute leukemia in patients over the age of 40 years. Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)

Extension of allogeneic transplants to older patients has been limited by a high risk of transplant-related death and graft-versus-host disease. To evaluate the feasibility in older patients, a retrospective analysis of the procedure was performed for first remission acute leukemia in 192 patients aged over 40 years and compared with a group of 1119 recipients aged from 16 to 40 years reported to the EBMT from 1986 to 1992. Patient-, disease-, and treatment-related variables were compared between the two age groups using the chi2 statistical method for categorical variables. Variables differing significantly or recognized as potential prognostic factors were included in a multivariate analysis. Leukemia-free survival and relapse were comparable among the age groups in the two types of leukemias. Incidence of graft-versus-host disease was higher in the older group of ALL patients. Older patients with AML in first remission had a higher treatment-related mortality incidence, with no influence on survival. A pair-matched analysis of AML patients did not show any statistical difference in the probability of LFS, RI, TRM, and survival for the two age cohorts of patients. These results suggest that BMT should be considered for patients over 40 years of age.

Massive pleural effusion attributed to high-dose cyclophosphamide during conditioning for BMT

A 37-year-old male developed massive pleural effusion leading to respiratory failure and electromechanical dissociation within 24 h after the second dose of 4200 mg cyclophosphamide (CY) during conditioning for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia. After resuscitation and bilateral pleural drainage he recovered within 1 day. Subsequently, total body irradiation was given and with a delay of 1 day the transplantation procedure was continued without major complications. No explanation for this idiosyncratic reaction other than the administration of high dose CY in combination with mesna rescue was found. This reaction has not been reported before in the literature.

Intensification of the conditioning regimen by the addition of anthracyclines results in a higher incidence of sustained molecular remissions after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for chronic myeloid leukaemia with marrow depleted of lymphocytes by counterflow centrifugation

BACKGROUND

Relapse remains a significant problem in patients after bone marrow transplantation. The aim of the study was an effort to decrease the incidence of relapses in patients transplanted for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) by different conditioning regimens.

METHODS AND RESULTS

28 patients with CML who underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with grafts depleted of 98% of lymphocytes were divided into two groups according to the conditioning regimen used. Patients in group 1 were conditioned without anthracyclines, and patients in group 2 were conditioned with the addition of anthracyclines. Bone marrow samples taken 6 and 12 months after BMT, and annually thereafter, were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for residual disease. Median time of bone marrow sampling and medium number of samples analyzed did not differ significantly between two groups of patients. In group 1, consisting of 11 patients, 40% of samples were negative, and in group 2 with 17 patients, PCR was negative in 79% of samples. It is evident that the addition of anthracyclines favourably influences posttransplantation development.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of anthracyclines to the conditioning regimen in recipients of grafts depleted of 98% of lymphocytes, significantly decreases the incidence of relapses even 4 years after BMT.

Erythrocyte repopulation after major ABO incompatible transplantation with lymphocyte-depleted bone marrow

Forty-four out of 258 allogeneic BMT were performed across the major ABO barrier. Donor erythrocyte repopulation could be evaluated in 30 cases. Fifty-eight patients transplanted with an ABO compatible or minor incompatible graft served as the control group. All patients received a marrow graft depleted of lymphocytes by counterflow centrifugation. Less than 10(8) residual erythrocytes were present in the graft. Cyclosporin A was used as immunoprophylaxis after transplantation. Erythrocyte repopulation was measured using a fluorescent microsphere method. An adapted transfusion policy was applied. Eight out of 30 patients (27%) with major ABO incompatibility had no detectable donor erythrocytes 2 months after BMT. Up to 3 months after BMT donor erythrocyte repopulation was significantly delayed in the ABO incompatible group (P < or = 0.03). Significantly more erythrocyte transfusions were required in the ABO incompatible group (P < 0.001). Six patients with blood group O (20%) developed pure red cell aplasia which resolved in five without therapeutic intervention. In these six patients anti-A antibody titers were persistently high the first 3 months after BMT. This was in contrast with 22 patients with timely recovery of erythropoiesis in whom anti-A and anti-B antibody titers showed a steady decrease after BMT. The incidence of immunohematological complications in these patients who received a lymphocyte depleted major ABO incompatible graft is similar (20%) to the incidence reported in the literature. Serious morbidity related to major ABO incompatibility did not occur.

Graft-versus-leukemia effect of donor lymphocyte transfusions in marrow grafted patients

The immune reactivity of allogeneic lymphocytes plays a major role in the control of leukemia after bone marrow transplantation. In patients with recurrent leukemia after marrow transplantation, chimerism and tolerance provide ideal conditions for adoptive immunotherapy with donor lymphocytes. We studied the effect of donor lymphocyte transfusions on acute and chronic leukemia in relapse after bone marrow transplantation. One hundred thirty-five patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) (N = 84), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (N = 23), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (N = 22), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) (N = 5), and polycythemia vera with osteomyelofibrosis (PCV) (N = 1) were treated with transfusions of donor lymphocytes. Patients were monitored for response of leukemia, including in CML, the use of the polymerase chain reaction for bcr/abl mRNA transcripts and for the occurrence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and myelosuppression. Complete remissions were induced by donor lymphocyte transfusions in 54 patients with CML (73%) and in the patient with PCV; complete remissions were also induced in five patients (29%) with AML and a patient with MDS. In contrast, ALL did not respond to adoptive immunotherapy with donor lymphocyte transfusions. Remissions were durable in patients treated for CML in chronic phase (probability of remission: 87% at 3 years). Lymphocyte transfusions were also given to 18 patients with ALL, AML, MDS, and transformed phase CML who were in remission after chemotherapy. These remissions were not durable. Fifty-two patients (41%) developed GVHD of grade 2 or more, and 41 patients (34%) showed signs of myelosuppression. Seventeen patients died without leukemia, 14 patients with GVHD and/or myelosuppression. Donor lymphocyte transfusions exert strong effects against myeloid forms of leukemia and induce durable remissions in CML.

Expansion of CD8+CD57+ T cells after allogeneic BMT is related with a low incidence of relapse and with cytomegalovirus infection

Peripheral blood lymphocytes of 46 recipients of lymphocyte-depleted bone marrow allografts were phenotypically analysed over a period of 1 year. We investigated the repopulation of lymphocyte subpopulations and their relation with clinical parameters such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), graft-versus-leukaemia and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The number of repopulated T cells varied strongly between the blood samples of the recipients. In 45% of the recipients the number of T cells recovered to or above normal levels within 3 months after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), whereas the other recipients remained below normal up to 1 year after BMT. In recipients with a high repopulation, the CD8+ T-cell subset contributed more to this high repopulation than the CD4+ T-cell subset. We showed that the majority of T cells of these recipients expressed the alpha beta T-cell receptor, CD8, CD57 and CD11b. HLA-DR was also highly expressed reflecting the activation stage of T cells in these recipients. BMT recipients with a high repopulation of CD8+ T cells showed a lower incidence of leukaemic relapse than recipients with a low repopulation. The 3-year probability of relapse was 19% versus 64% (P = 0.03), respectively. The relative high number of CD8+ T cells at 3 months after BMT was not associated with the incidence of GVHD. In contrast, occurrence of CMV infection after BMT was significantly higher in these recipients. Our results indicate that CD8+ T cells, predominantly CD57+, of BMT recipients with an expansion of these cells represent an in vivo activated cell population. This CD8+ T-cell population may consist partially of cytotoxic cells with anti-leukaemic activity as suggested by a low relapse rate. The signal for the strong expansion of these CD8+CD57+ T cells after BMT is still unclear, but association with CMV infection suggests that viral antigens are involved.

Role of allogenic bone marrow transplantation in adolescent or adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma in first remission

Sixty-nine adolescents and adults 15-51 years of age with untreated acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL, 54 patients) or lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL, 15 patients) were referred for intensive antileukaemic therapy. Patients were treated according to one of two protocols. Both included induction and consolidation with vincristine, prednisone, daunorubicin, cyclophosphamide, Ara C and asparaginase. Fifty-eight patients achieved complete remission within 8 weeks of chemotherapy. One additional patient entered remission after allogeneic BMT. Altogether 86% of the patients achieved CR. Thirty-three patients are alive, corresponding to an actuarial survival of 48 +/- 6% at 5 years after start of therapy. Survival from time of achievement of CR is 53 +/- 7% at 5 years and disease-free survival (DFS) is 52 +/- 7%. Consolidation treatment was given to all patients except one. An HLA-identical sibling was identified for 30 patients (45%). Twenty-two patients were scheduled to be transplanted with marrow from an HLA-identical sibling. The survival and DFS in these 22 patients was 58 +/- 11% at 5 years. DFS was not significantly different compared with the DFS of the eight patients who received an auto-BMT and the 26 patients treated with maintenance chemotherapy. DFS at 5 years was 63 +/- 17% and 40 +/- 10%, respectively. We also evaluated the influence of the presence of an HLA-identical sibling on the treatment outcome of all patients alive 12 weeks after initiation of remission-induction therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Idarubicin-related side effects in recipients of T-cell-depleted allogeneic bone marrow transplants are schedule dependent

The influence of three different dosage schedules of anthracycline (idarubicin or daunorubicin)-intensified preparative therapy prior to T-cell-depleted allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) on (1) the severity and duration of oral toxicity (mucositis), (2) the duration of bone marrow aplasia, and (3) overall survival, relapse, and disease-free survival was studied in 99 BMT patients with standard- or high-risk hematologic malignancies. A further 146 patients who did not receive the anthracycline-intensified conditioning served as (historic) controls. All patients received cyclophosphamide (total dose, 120 mg/kg) on days -6 and -5 and total body irradiation on days -2 and -1 prior to BMT. The 99 patients who received the anthracycline-intensified preparative regimen were given either idarubicin (total dose, 42 mg/m2; n = 88) or daunorubicin (total dose, 156 mg/m2; n = 11) by continuous intravenous infusion between days -7 and -1 prior to BMT in 59 cases (cohort 1), on days -8 and -7 in 17 cases (cohort 2), and on days -12 and -11 in 23 cases (cohort 3). The occurrence of severe oral mucositis and delayed bone marrow recovery was schedule dependent, being substantially lower with earlier administration of the anthracycline-intensified regimen on days -12 and -11 before BMT (cohort 3), in comparison with later administration (cohorts 1 and 2). Plasma drug and metabolite concentrations were measured in 11 patients who received idarubicin. At the time of allogeneic bone marrow infusion (day 0), patients in cohorts 1 and 2 had plasma concentrations of idarubicin and idarubicinol (its active metabolite) in the range of in vitro cytotoxicity. However, in cohort 3, plasma concentrations on day 0 were much lower, which correlated with the lower maximum intensity and shorter duration of mucositis in these patients. In terms of overall survival, relapse rate, and disease-free survival in standard-risk patients, the anthracycline-intensified regimen proved to be very effective. Transplant-related mortality was 25% in the anthracycline group compared with 32% in the controls. The probability of relapse also was significantly less in the anthracycline group in comparison with controls (17% v 46%; P < .001), and the probabilities of long-term overall and disease-free survival were significantly greater (71% v 37% [P < .01] and 63% v 32% [P < .01], respectively). Only three patients in the idarubicin group experienced cardiotoxicity (one in each cohort); the causative relationship with anthracyclines was considered likely in one, possible in one, and doubtful in the third.

Outcome for patients who relapse after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for chronic myeloid leukemia. Chronic Leukemia Working Party. European Bone Marrow Transplantation Group

We studied the clinical course of 130 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients (89 males and 41 females) in the European Bone Marrow Transplantation Group (EBMT) registry who received transplants before January 1, 1988 and who subsequently had evidence of recurrent leukemia. All patients had received a pretransplant conditioning regimen including total body irradiation (TBI). The first evidence of relapse was cytogenetic only in 74 (57%) patients and hematologic in 56 (43%). The overall actuarial survival from relapse was 36% at 6 years, with a significantly higher proportion of survivors among female patients (53% v 30%; P < .002). In univariate analysis, the 6-year probability of survival was 52% for patients with cytogenetic relapse and 30% for patients relapsing in chronic phase (CP), while no patient who relapsed in advanced phase (AP or BC) survived more than 3.5 years from relapse (P < .0001). The actuarial survival of patients relapsing before 6 months, between 6 and 12 months, and later than 12 months after transplant was 27%, 26%, and 45%, respectively (P < .002). Among patients with cytogenetic relapse, partial or complete disappearance of Ph-positive cells occurred in 40% of untreated patients and in 42% of those treated with interferon (IFN). However, IFN therapy significantly delayed progression toward hematologic disease. Cytogenetic responses were observed in 25% of patients who received IFN for relapse into CP, while only one minor cytogenetic response was reported in patients on conventional chemotherapy. For patients presenting with cytogenetic relapse as well as for those in hematologic relapse, IFN therapy significantly improved the 2-year probability of survival. However, long-term survival for IFN-treated patients in either group was not different from long-term survival in comparable patients not receiving IFN therapy. Twenty-nine patients of this series underwent a second bone marrow transplant (BMT) and the projected survival at 4 years after the second transplant is 28%. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, four factors remained significantly associated with survival: disease phase at relapse (P < .0001), duration of time interval from BMT to relapse (P = .0001), interferon therapy at relapse (P = .0024), and patient sex (P = .0032). This retrospective study provides evidence that some patients who relapse after BMT may benefit from treatment with IFN; a second BMT may offer the chance of cure. Data from this analysis may be useful in designing future prospective trials on posttransplant CML relapse.

Donor leukocyte infusions for chronic myeloid leukemia relapsed after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

PURPOSE

Treatment options for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who relapse after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) are limited. Treatment with lymphocytes from the original marrow donor and the influence on the malignant clone was studied in these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Seven patients with CML that had relapsed after BMT with T-cell-depleted grafts were treated. Six patients received leukocyte infusions from the original marrow donor. One patient received a second BMT with unseparated marrow from the same sibling donor. Chimerism was studied using erythrocyte and cytogenetic markers. Residual leukemic cells were monitored by cytogenetic analysis of the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the breakpoint cluster region/Abelson (BCR-ABL) fusion gene.

RESULTS

In five patients with hematologic relapse, the Ph chromosome disappeared 1 to 3 months after the leukocyte infusions. Cytogenetic analysis and in situ hybridization (ISH) showed only donor cells during further follow-up. Four to five patients became negative for the BCR-ABL translocation by PCR. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) always preceded response and was severe in two patients. One patient with cytogenetic relapse showed no response after leukocyte infusions. GVHD after second BMT was of moderate severity. One year after second BMT, PCR for the BCR-ABL translocation was negative.

CONCLUSION

Infusion of donor leukocytes is an effective treatment with a low mortality in patients with CML relapsed after BMT with a T-cell-depleted graft. Longer follow-up and more patients will be needed to know whether cure will be permanent.

Comparison of chromosome studies on PHA-stimulated blood and unstimulated bone marrow cells in recipients of lymphocyte depleted grafts using counterflow centrifugation

We performed chromosome studies on 121 paired samples of phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated blood and unstimulated bone marrow cells from 57 recipients of lymphocyte depleted grafts using counterflow centrifugation. The paired samples were drawn simultaneously 6-108 months after transplantation. The incidence of mixed chimaerism was higher in blood than in bone marrow cells, both in patients who relapsed and in patients in continuous complete remission. The higher number of mixed lymphoid chimaeras is caused by autologous T lymphocytes which have survived the conditioning regimen and/or by donor lymphocytes which persisted after disappearance of the marrow graft. The type of blood and bone marrow chimaerism had no significant impact on the incidence of chronic GVHD but the overall incidence of chronic GVHD was too low to allow an accurate assessment. Cytogenetic analysis is a useful method for assessing chimaerism after bone marrow transplantation. Apart from its limited sensitivity for the demonstration of a minor cell population, discrepancies between chromosome studies of blood cells (lymphoid chimaerism) and bone marrow cells (myeloid/erythroid chimaerism) have to be taken into consideration.

Influence of the conditioning regimen on erythrocyte chimerism, graft-versus-host disease and relapse after allogeneic transplantation with lymphocyte depleted marrow

Three different conditioning regimens were applied to 144 patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) with HLA identical sibling marrow, depleted of lymphocytes by counterflow centrifugation. All regimens consisted of cyclophosphamide and fractionated total body irradiation (TBI). In 49 patients treated with regimen A the total TBI dose was 9 Gy. In regimen B the dose rate of TBI was increased and anthracyclines were added (n = 65). Thirty patients received regimen C with a total TBI dose of 12 Gy but no anthracyclines. The different conditioning regimens did not influence the percentage of patients with detectable recipient CFU-GM prior to infusion of donor marrow. The incidences of mixed erythrocyte chimerism at 6 months after BMT were 73, 33 and 20% for regimens A, B and C respectively. The conditioning regimen influenced significantly mixed erythrocyte chimerism from 6 to 24 months after BMT. Both age and the conditioning regimen influenced significantly the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (p = 0.017 and 0.0001 respectively). Acute GVHD greater than or equal to I occurred in 15, 29 and 77% of the patients treated with regimens A, B and C respectively. The incidence of acute and chronic GVHD was significantly higher in complete donor chimeras than in mixed chimeras (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.01). The probability of relapse was 43% in 32 and 18% in 43 good risk patients treated with regimens A and B respectively (p = 0.07). Longer follow-up is needed to draw conclusions about relapse in regimen C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A scheme for daily monitoring of oral mucositis in allogeneic BMT recipients

A system was developed for scoring oral mucositis in order to investigate its connection with fever and bacteraemia due to 'viridans' streptococci. A series of 42 allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients given demethoxydaunorubicin and total body irradiation for conditioning therapy were monitored daily for the presence of lesions, erythema, oral oedema, pain and dysphagia, each of which was graded numerically at four levels. These values were added together to yield a daily mucositis score (DMS) with a scale of 0-15. Mucositis developed shortly after transplant and progressed within a few days to grade III (WHO grade 3-4) in the majority of patients. Bacteraemia due to 'viridans' streptococci was documented in 64% of cases and the organisms were first detected as fever developed and mucositis approached its peak. The WHO scheme defined mucositis as either absent or grade 3-4 corresponding to a DMS of 4 or 5, whereas a grading system based on the most pronounced sign or symptom resulted in three grades of severity which corresponded to a DMS of less than or equal to 4, 5-9 and greater than or equal to 10 respectively. However, only the DMS permitted monitoring of mucositis through all its stages of development. The scheme therefore offers the potential for exploring causal relationships between mucosal damage, granulocytopenia, fever and bacteraemia and can be included as an independent measure in studies of prevention and therapy of complications related to mucositis.

Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor accelerates neutrophil and monocyte recovery after allogeneic T-cell-depleted bone marrow transplantation

In a prospective randomized study, five European transplant centers compared recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF; mammalian glycosylated) with placebo. rhGM-CSF was administered in a dose of 8 micrograms glycoprotein (5.5 micrograms protein)/kg/d, as a continuous intravenous (IV) infusion for 14 days, starting 3 hours after bone marrow infusion. Fifty-seven patients entered and completed the study. Median age of the recipients was 34 years (range, 17 to 51 y). All donors were HLA-identical, MLC-nonreactive siblings. Marrow grafts were depleted of T lymphocytes either by counterflow centrifugation (n = 42) or by immunological methods (n = 15). Twenty-nine patients received rhGM-CSF and 28 patients placebo. The leukocyte count and the absolute neutrophil count were significantly higher in the rhGM-CSF-treated group from day +9 to day +14 after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). This was also true for the monocyte count from day +12 to day +21. Early neutrophil (greater than 0.1 and greater than 0.3 x 10(9)/L) and early leukocyte (greater than 0.3 and greater than 0.5 x 10(9)/L) recovery was significantly faster for the patients given GM-CSF. The incidences of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and transplant-related mortality were not different in both groups. However, the number of bronchopneumonias was significantly lower in the rhGM-CSF-treated group (P = .03). Long-term follow-up showed a trend to better overall disease-free survival at 2 years and a trend to a lower relapse risk in patients treated with rhGM-CSF. This study shows that rhGM-CSF significantly increases neutrophil and monocyte counts during periods of 6 to 10 days in the second and third week after BMT. This shortened period until myeloid cell recovery after transplantation resulted in a decreased number of pneumonias, without an increase in incidence of GVHD or relapse.