Long-term outcome of peripheral T-cell lymphomas: Ten-year follow-up of the International Prospective T-cell Project

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are a heterogeneous group of haematological cancers with generally poor clinical outcomes. However, a subset of patients experience durable disease control, and little is known regarding long-term outcomes. The International T-cell Lymphoma Project (ITCLP) is the largest prospectively collected cohort of patients with PTCLs, providing insight into clinical outcomes at academic medical centres globally. We performed a long-term outcome analysis on patients from the ITCLP with available 10-year follow-up data (n = 735). The overall response rate to first-line therapy was 68%, while 5- and 10-year overall survival estimates were 49% and 40% respectively. Most deaths occurred prior to 5 years, and for patients alive at 5 years, the chance of surviving to 10 years was 84%. However, lymphoma remained the leading cause of death in the 5- to 10-year period (67%). Low-risk International Prognostic Index and Prognostic Index for T-cell lymphoma scores both identified patients with improved survival, while in multivariate analysis, age >60 years and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 2-4 were associated with inferior outcomes. The favourable survival seen in patients achieving durable initial disease control emphasizes the unmet need for optimal front-line therapeutic approaches in PTCLs.

Management of adults and children receiving CAR T-cell therapy: 2021 best practice recommendations of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and the Joint Accreditation Committee of ISCT and EBMT (JACIE) and the European Haematology Association (EHA)

BACKGROUND

Several commercial and academic autologous chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) products targeting CD19 have been approved in Europe for relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, high-grade B-cell lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma. Products for other diseases such as multiple myeloma and follicular lymphoma are likely to be approved by the European Medicines Agency in the near future.

DESIGN

The European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)-Joint Accreditation Committee of ISCT and EBMT (JACIE) and the European Haematology Association collaborated to draft best practice recommendations based on the current literature to support health care professionals in delivering consistent, high-quality care in this rapidly moving field.

RESULTS

Thirty-six CAR-T experts (medical, nursing, pharmacy/laboratory) assembled to draft recommendations to cover all aspects of CAR-T patient care and supply chain management, from patient selection to long-term follow-up, post-authorisation safety surveillance and regulatory issues.

CONCLUSIONS

We provide practical, clinically relevant recommendations on the use of these high-cost, logistically complex therapies for haematologists/oncologists, nurses and other stakeholders including pharmacists and health sector administrators involved in the delivery of CAR-T in the clinic.

Metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease after haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in adults: an EBMT cross-sectional non-interventional study

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with cardiovascular disease in the general population and is also a potential cardiovascular risk factor in survivors of haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). We report an EBMT cross-sectional, multi-centre, non-interventional study of 453 adult HCT patients surviving a minimum of 2 years post-transplant attending routine follow-up HCT and/or late effects clinics in 9 centres. The overall prevalence of MetS was 37.5% rising to 53% in patients >50 years of age at follow-up. There were no differences in rates of MetS between autologous and allogeneic HCT survivors, nor any association with graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) or current immunosuppressant therapy. Notably, there was a significantly higher occurrence of cardiovascular events (CVE, defined as cerebrovascular accident, coronary heart disease or peripheral vascular disease) in those with MetS than in those without MetS (26.7% versus 9%, p < 0.001, OR 3.69, 95% CI 2.09-6.54, p < 0.001), and, as expected, MetS and CVE were age-related. Unexpectedly, CVE were associated with occurrence of second malignancy. Screening for and management of MetS should be integrated within routine HCT long-term follow-up care for both allogeneic and autologous HCT survivors. Further research is warranted, including randomised controlled trials of interventional strategies and mechanistic studies of cardiovascular risk in HCT survivors.

Impact of patient: donor HLA disparity on reduced-intensity-conditioned allogeneic stem cell transplants from HLA mismatched unrelated donors for AML: from the ALWP of the EBMT

Patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) who lack a matched sibling or unrelated donor commonly undergo transplantation from a donor matched at 9/10 HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQB1 alleles, and it is unclear if a specific locus mismatch is preferable to any other. We therefore studied 937 patients with AML in complete remission transplanted using a reduced intensity conditioning regimen from an unrelated donor mismatched at a single allele. In a multivariate analysis, patient age, adverse karyotype and patient cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity were correlated with decreased leukaemia free survival (LFS) and overall survival (OS). There was no significant difference in LFS or OS between patients transplanted from donors mismatched at HLA-A, -B, -C or -DRB1 in comparison to a HLA-DQB1 mismatched transplant. In a multivariate analysis, patients transplanted with a HLA-A mismatched donor had higher rates of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and non-relapse mortality (NRM) than patients transplanted with a HLA-DQB1 mismatched donor. Patient CMV seropositivity was associated with an increase in NRM and acute GVHD and reduced LFS and OS, regardless of donor CMV status. For CMV seropositive patients lacking a fully matched donor, alternative GVHD and CMV prophylaxis strategies should be considered.

Nilotinib in steroid-refractory cGVHD: prospective parallel evaluation of response, according to NIH criteria and exploratory response criteria (GITMO criteria)

We conducted a phase I-II study to evaluate Nilotinib (NIL) safety and pharmacokinetics in 22 SR-cGVHD patients; we also evaluated ORR by using in parallel NIH criteria and an exploratory approach, combining objective improvement (OI) without failure criteria (GITMO criteria). Results: 22 patients were enrolled. After dose escalation up to 600 mg/day, MTD was not reached. Main toxicities were asthenia, headache, nausea, pruritus, cramps, and mild anemia. Mean and median plasma concentrations of NIL (C-NIL) were 817 (SD ± 450) and 773 ng/ml. ORR at 6 months, according to 2005 and 2014 NIH and GITMO criteria were 27.8%, 22.2%, and 55.6% respectively; close correspondence has been observed for ORR, according to 2014 NIH criteria, both assessed in a conventional way and assisted by dedicated software (CROSY). At 48 months OS was 75% while FFS, according to NIH and GITMO criteria, was 30 and 25%. In conclusion the safety profile of NIL and long-term outcome makes NIL an attractive option in SR-cGVHD. Exploratory GITMO criteria could represent an alternative tool for easy response evaluation in patients with prevalent skin and lung involvement, but require validation in a larger population; CROSY software showed excellent reliability in capturing ORR according to the 2014 NIH criteria.

Postremission Consolidation by Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) for Acute Myeloid Leukemia in First Complete Remission (CR) and Negative Implications for Subsequent Allogeneic HCT in Second CR: A Study by the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)

After autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in the first complete remission (CR1), patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may relapse and undergo allogeneic HCT in the second complete remission (CR2). The aim of this study was to analyze the outcome of allogeneic HCT performed in CR2 comparing patients with prior consolidation by autologous HCT versus patients with chemotherapy consolidation. Included were 2619 adults with allogeneic HCT in CR2 from 2000 to 2017 with (n = 417) or without (n = 2202) prior autologous HCT. Patient groups were not entirely comparable; patients with prior autologous HCT were younger, had less often a favorable cytogenetic profile, had more commonly donors other than matched siblings, and more often received reduced-intensity conditioning. In multivariate analysis, nonrelapse mortality risks in patients with prior autologous HCT were 1.34 (1.07 to 1.67; P = .01) after adjustment for age, cytogenetic risk, transplant year, donor, conditioning intensity, sex matching, interval diagnosis-relapse, and relapse-allogeneic HCT as compared with chemotherapy consolidation. Similarly, risks of events in leukemia-free survival and graft-versus-host disease, relapse-free survival were higher with prior autologous HCT, 1.17 (1.01 to 1.35), P = .03 and 1.18 (1.03 to 1.35), P = .02, respectively. Risk of death was also higher, 1.13 (0.97 to 1.32), P = .1, but this was not significant. Postremission consolidation with autologous HCT for AML in CR1 increases toxicity of subsequent allogeneic HCT in CR2.

Trends in patient outcome over the past two decades following allogeneic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukaemia: an ALWP/EBMT analysis

BACKGROUND

Outcomes for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) have significantly improved in recent years.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the incremental improvement of transplanted AML patients in the last two decades.

METHODS

Patients included in this analysis were adult AML patients who underwent allo-SCT from an HLA-matched sibling donor (MSD) or HLA-matched unrelated donor (MUD) in first remission. Patient outcomes were assessed between three cohorts according to the year of transplant (1993-2002, 2003-2007 and 2008-2012).

RESULTS

The analysis comprised a total of 20 187 patients of whom 4763 were transplanted between 1993 and 2002, 5835 in 2003 and 2007, and 9589 in 2008 and 2012. In multivariate analysis, leukaemia-free survival (LFS) rates were significantly improved in more recently transplanted patients compared to patients transplanted in 1993-2002 [Hazard ratio (HR) = 0.84, confidence interval (CI) 95%, 0.77-0.92; P = 0.003], a benefit which also extended to improved overall survival (OS; HR = 0.8, CI 95%, 0.73-0.89; P < 0.0001), and decreased nonrelapse mortality (NRM) rates (HR = 0.65, CI 95%, 0.56-0.75; P < 0.0001). Subset analysis revealed that in MSD, the rates of LFS, NRM and OS significantly improved in patients in the more recent cohort with similar results also seen in MUD. Finally, the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was significantly reduced leading to improved GVHD-free/relapse-free survival (GRFS) rates in more recently transplanted patients.

CONCLUSION

Outcome of allo-SCT for AML patients has markedly improved in the last two decades owing to decreased nonrelapse mortality and improved rates of leukaemia-free survival resulting in significantly longer survival.

Cord blood transplantation is associated with good outcomes in secondary Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in first remission

BACKGROUND

We conducted a retrospective survey within the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) registry to assess the outcomes of cord blood transplantation (CBT) in secondary acute myeloid leukaemia (sAML).

METHODS

Inclusion criteria consisted of ≥18 years of age, sAML, first CBT between 2002 and 2016, and either first complete remission (CR) or active disease at CBT.

RESULTS

One hundred forty-six patients met the study inclusion criteria. Status at transplantation was first CR (n = 97), primary refractory sAML (n = 30) or relapsed (n = 19) sAML. Neutrophil engraftment was achieved in 118 patients while the remaining 25 patients (17%) failed to engraft. This includes 13% of patients transplanted in first CR versus 30% of those transplanted with active disease (P = 0.008). Two-year incidences of relapse were 25% in first CR patients versus 36% in those with advanced disease (P = 0.06) while 2-year incidences of nonrelapse mortality were 35% and 49% (P = 0.03), respectively. At 2-year overall survival, leukaemia-free survival and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-free relapse-free survival were 42% vs. 19% (P < 0.001), 40% vs. 16% (P < 0.001), and 26% vs. 12% (P = 0.002) in first CR patients versus those with advanced disease, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We report here the first study of CBT in a large cohort of sAML patients. Main observation was that CBT rescued approximately 40% of patients with sAML in first CR.

Pure sinusoidal photo-modulation using an acousto-optic modulator

We use an arbitrary waveform generator to generate a clean sinusoidal modulation from the otherwise nonlinear acousto-optic modulator (AOM). A closed loop optimization script is applied to reduce high order harmonic distortion to less than 0.05% in a high AOM diffraction efficiency regime. This low level of distortion allows us to measure the nonlinear response to photoexcitation of many materials. We demonstrate this technique in a pump-probe experiment to measure the Nonlinear Photo-Modulated Reflectivity (NPMR) of surfaces. NPMR served us as the basis for developing super-resolution microscopy for non-fluorescence samples (label-free) as well as a tool in studying the ultrafast nonlinear response of photo-excited plasmonic nano-structures. Our methodology could be applied to other imaging systems in which measuring nonlinearity is desirable, such as fluorescence and photoacoustic microscopy.

Distinct factors determine the kinetics of disease relapse in adults transplanted for acute myeloid leukaemia

BACKGROUND

Disease recurrence remains the major cause of death in adults with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) treated using either intensive chemotherapy (IC) or allogenic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT).

AIMS

The timely delivery of maintenance drug or cellular therapies represent emerging strategies with the potential to reduce relapse after both treatment modalities, but whilst the determinants of overall relapse risk have been extensively characterized the factors determining the timing of disease recurrence have not been characterized.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We have therefore examined, using a series of sequential landmark analyses, relapse kinetics in a cohort of 2028 patients who received an allo-SCT for AML in CR1 and separately 570 patients treated with IC alone.

RESULTS

In the first 3 months after allo-SCT, the factors associated with an increased risk of relapse included the presence of the FLT3-ITD (P < 0.001), patient age (P = 0.012), time interval from CR1 to transplant (P < 0.001) and donor type (P = 0.03). Relapse from 3 to 6 months was associated with a higher white cell count at diagnosis (P = 0.001), adverse-risk cytogenetics (P < 0.001), presence of FLT3-ITD mutation (P < 0.001) and time interval to achieve first complete remission (P = 0.013). Later relapse was associated with adverse cytogenetics, mutated NPM1, absence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and the use of in vivo T-cell depletion. In patients treated with IC alone, the factors associated with relapse in the first 3 months were adverse-risk cytogenetics (P < 0.001) and FLT3-ITD status (P = 0.001). The factors predicting later relapse were the time interval from diagnosis to CR1 (P = 0.22) and time interval from CR1 to IC (P = 0.012).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Taken together, these data provide novel insights into the biology of disease recurrence after both allo-SCT and IC and have the potential to inform the design of novel maintenance strategies in both clinical settings.

Occurrence of graft-versus-host disease increases mortality after umbilical cord blood transplantation for acute myeloid leukaemia: a report from Eurocord and the ALWP of the EBMT

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) as treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) relies on immune-mediated graft-versus-leukaemia effects. Previous studies have suggested a strong association between graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurrence and graft-versus-leukaemia effects after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

METHODS

Here, we evaluated the kinetics of relapse rate in correlation with GVHD occurrence after UCBT. The kinetics of relapse rate over time in correlation to GVHD occurrence were assessed by calculating the relapse rate per patient-year within sequential 90-day intervals. The impact of GVHD on relapse and mortality was further studied in multivariate Cox models handling GVHD as a time-dependent covariate.

RESULTS

The study included data from 1068 patients given single (n = 567) or double (n = 501) UCBT. The proportion of patients with grade II, III and IV acute GVHD was 20%, 7% and 4%, respectively. At 2 years, the cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 42%, the cumulative incidence of relapse was 32%, and overall survival was 32% as well. Relapse rates declined gradually over time during the first 30 months after transplantation. There was a possible suggestion that grade II-IV acute (HR = 0.8, P = 0.1) and chronic (HR = 0.65, P = 0.1) GVHD decreased relapse risk. However, grade II-IV acute GVHD significantly increased early (the first 18 months after UCBT) mortality (HR = 1.3, P = 0.02), whilst chronic GVHD increased each early (HR = 2.7, P < 0.001) and late (HR = 4.9, P < 0.001) mortality after UCBT.

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of grade II-IV acute or chronic GVHD each increases overall mortality after UCBT for AML mitigating the possible graft-versus-leukemia effect of GVHD.

What is the outcome in patients with acute leukaemia who survive severe acute graft-versus-host disease?

BACKGROUND

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a major complication of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). With new promising therapies, survival may improve for severe aGVHD.

OBJECTIVES

We wanted to analyze the long-term outcome in patients who survive severe aGVHD.

METHODS

This study was a landmark analysis of 23 567 patients with acute Leukaemia who survived for more than 6 months after HSCT, 2002-2014. Patients alive after severe aGVHD (n = 1738) were compared to controls.

RESULTS

Patients with severe aGVHD had higher non-relapse mortality (NRM) and higher rate of extensive chronic GVHD (cGVHD) than the controls (P < 10^-5 ). The probability of relapse was significantly lower in the severe aGVHD group, but Leukaemia-free survival (LFS) and overall survival were significantly lower than for the controls (P < 10^-5 ). Five-year LFS in patients with severe aGVHD was 49%, as opposed to 61% in controls with no or mild GVHD and 59% in patients with moderate GVHD.

CONCLUSIONS

HSCT patients who survive severe aGVHD have higher risk of developing extensive cGVHD, a higher NRM, a lower relapse probability, and lower LFS than other HSCT patients. This study is a platform for outcome analysis in patients treated with novel therapies for acute GVHD.

Low Protein Z levels in patients with plasma cell neoplasms are inversely correlated with IL-6 levels

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have an increased thrombotic risk, but pathogenesis remains uncertain. Low levels of Protein Z (PZ), a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein, are associated with venous as well as arterial thrombosis. The purpose of this study was to analyze PZ levels in patients with plasma cell neoplasms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study consisted of 64 plasma cells neoplasm patients and 42 healthy individuals. Clinical investigations included measurement of plasma PZ and IL-6 levels.

RESULTS

PZ levels in patients with plasma cell neoplasms were significantly lower compared to healthy controls in the entire cohort (1392±659 vs.2010±603ng/mL, P<0.01), as well as in specific disease subgroups; symptomatic MM (1428±652ng/mL, p<0.01), smoldering MM (1437±883ng/mL, p=0.045) and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) (1247±593ng/mL, p=0.01). PZ was negatively correlated with IL-6 levels in MM patients (r=-0.7, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in PZ levels between patients with or without thrombotic event.

CONCLUSION

Plasma cell neoplasm patients have low levels of PZ. This is presumably related to the increased IL-6 production by the bone marrow microenvironment, and could have a potential role in the increased thrombotic tendency in those patients.

Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant in patients with lower risk myelodysplastic syndrome: a retrospective analysis on behalf of the Chronic Malignancy Working Party of the EBMT

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/bmt.2016.266.

A comparison between allogeneic stem cell transplantation from unmanipulated haploidentical and unrelated donors in acute leukemia

BACKGROUND

In the absence of a HLA-matched related or matched unrelated donor, allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) from mismatched unrelated donors or haploidentical donors are potential alternatives for patients with acute leukemia with an indication to allo-SCT. The objective of this study was to compare the outcome of allo-SCT from T cell-replete haploidentical (Haplo) versus matched (MUD 10/10) or mismatched unrelated donor at a single HLA-locus (MMUD 9/10) for patients with acute leukemia in remission.

METHODS

Two hundred sixty-five adult patients with de novo acute leukemia in first or second remission that received a Haplo-SCT between January 2007 and December 2013 were compared with 2490 patients receiving a MUD 10/10 and 813 receiving a MMUD 9/10. Propensity score weighted analysis was conducted in order to control for disease risk imbalances between the groups.

RESULTS

The weighted 3-year non-relapse mortality and relapse incidence were 29 and 30% for Haplo, 21 and 29% for MUD 10/10, and 29 and 25% for MMUD 9/10, respectively. The weighted 3-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) and overall survival (OS) were 41 and 46% for Haplo, 50 and 56% for MUD 10/10, and 46 and 48% for MMUD 9/10, respectively. Using weighted Cox model, both LFS and OS were significantly higher in transplants from MUD 10/10 compared from those in Haplo but not different between transplants from MMUD 9/10 and Haplo. The type of donor was not significantly associated with neither acute nor chronic graft-versus-host disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with acute leukemia in remission have better outcomes if transplanted from a MUD 10/10. We did not find any significant difference in outcome between transplants from MMUD 9/10 and Haplo, suggesting that both can be equally used in the absence of a 10/10 MUD. KEY POINT 1: Better outcomes using fully (10/10) matched unrelated donor for allo-SCT in acute leukemia in remission. KEY POINT 2: Similar outcomes after allo-SCT from unmanipulated haploidentical graft or mismatched (9/10) unrelated donor in acute leukemia in remission.

Autologous transplant vs oral chemotherapy and lenalidomide in newly diagnosed young myeloma patients: a pooled analysis

In newly diagnosed myeloma patients, upfront autologous transplant (ASCT) prolongs progression-free survival 1 (PFS1) compared with chemotherapy plus lenalidomide (CC+R). Salvage ASCT at first relapse may still effectively rescue patients who did not receive upfront ASCT. To evaluate the long-term benefit of upfront ASCT vs CC+R and the impact of salvage ASCT in patients who received upfront CC+R, we conducted a pooled analysis of 2 phase III trials (RV-MM-209 and EMN-441). Primary endpoints were PFS1, progression-free survival 2 (PFS2), overall survival (OS). A total of 268 patients were randomized to 2 courses of melphalan 200 mg/m² and ASCT (MEL200-ASCT) and 261 to CC+R. Median follow-up was 46 months. MEL200-ASCT significantly improved PFS1 (median: 42 vs 24 months, HR 0.53; P<0.001), PFS2 (4 years: 71 vs 54%, HR 0.53, P<0.001) and OS (4 years: 84 vs 70%, HR 0.51, P<0.001) compared with CC+R. The advantage was noticed in good and bad prognosis patients. Only 53% of patients relapsing from CC+R received ASCT at first relapse. Upfront ASCT significantly reduced the risk of death (HR 0.51; P=0.007) in comparison with salvage ASCT. In conclusion, these data confirm the role of upfront ASCT as the standard approach for all young myeloma patients.

Impact of drug development on the use of stem cell transplantation: a report by the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is used with increasing frequency in Europe with 40 000 transplants reported in 2014. Transplant-related mortality remains high in allogeneic HSCT (10-20%); high-dose chemotherapy is toxic and demanding for patients. Drug development is accelerating and with limited toxicity of some targeted drugs may replace HSCT, whereas others may function as a 'bridge to transplant'. We analyzed HSCT reported to the activity survey for selected diseases in which major advances in drug development have been made. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors markedly changed the number of allogeneic HSCT in early CML. In myelodysplastic syndromes, hypomethylating agents show no effect on HSCT activity and Janus kinase inhibitors for myeloproliferative neoplasm appear to have only a temporary effect. For CLL autologous HSCT decreased after publication of trials showing improved PFS but no overall survival advantage and allogeneic rates are dropping after the introduction of Bruton kinase and PI3K Inhibitors. Whether these are 'game changers' as was imatinib for CML requires additional follow-up. For myeloma, proteasome inhibitors and new immunomodulatory drugs do not appear to impact transplant rates. Drug development data show different effects on HSCT use; highly effective drugs may replace HSCT, whereas other drugs may improve the patient's condition to allow for HSCT.

Prognostic pre-transplant factors in myelodysplastic syndromes primarily treated by high dose allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a retrospective study of the MDS subcommittee of the CMWP of the EBMT

Many pre-transplant factors are known to influence the outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) treatment in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). However, patient cohorts are often heterogeneous by disease stage and treatment modalities, which complicates interpretation of the results. This study aimed to obtain a homogeneous patient cohort by including only de novo MDS patients who received upfront allogeneic SCT after standard high dose myelo-ablative conditioning. The effect of pre-transplant factors such as age, disease stage, transfusions, iron parameters and comorbidity on overall survival (OS), non-relapse mortality (NRM), and relapse incidence (RI) was evaluated in 201 patients. In this cohort, characterized by low comorbidity and a short interval between diagnosis and transplantation, NRM was the most determinant factor for survival after SCT (47 % after 2-year follow-up). WHO classification and transfusion burden were the only modalities with a significant impact on overall survival after SCT. Estimated hazard ratios (HR) showed a strongly increased risk of death, NRM and RI, in patients with a high transfusion-burden (HR 1.99; P = 0.006, HR of 1.89; P = 0.03 and HR 2.67; P = 0.03). The HR's for ferritin level and comorbidity were not significantly increased.

Safety and efficacy of thiotepa-based conditioning for allogeneic transplantation in AML: a survey from the ALWP of the EBMT

This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of thiotepa-based regimens before allogeneic stem cell transplantation in 310 adult patients with AML. Disease status at the time of transplantation was CR1 in 50%, CR2+ in 23.5% and advanced disease in 26.5%. Transplantation was performed from haploidentical (35%), matched sibling (27%), unrelated (20%) or cord blood (18%) donors. As for safety: mucositis occurred in 46.8% of the patients and the cumulative incidence (CI) of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome was 4.0%. With a median follow-up of 37 months, the CI of acute GvHD grade>II was 26.5%, whereas CI of chronic GvHD was 28.1% at 3 years. CI for non-relapse mortality at 3 years was 38.4%, 49.7% and 45.4% for patients in CR1, CR2+ and advanced disease, respectively (P=0.10). Relapse incidence at 3 years was 20.2, 30.7 and 40.6% in these three respective groups (P=0.002). CI for 3-year leukemia-free survival and overall survival were 41.4% and 45.6% (CR1), 19.6% and 27.7% (CR2+), and 13.9% and 13.6% (advanced disease), respectively (P<10^-4 for both). Our data suggest that thiotepa-based conditioning therapy in AML is feasible, effective and safe, as investigated for sinusoidal obstruction syndrome and mucositis.

A randomized phase III study of carfilzomib vs low-dose corticosteroids with optional cyclophosphamide in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (FOCUS)

This randomized, phase III, open-label, multicenter study compared carfilzomib monotherapy against low-dose corticosteroids and optional cyclophosphamide in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients were randomized (1:1) to receive carfilzomib (10-min intravenous infusion; 20 mg/m² on days 1 and 2 of cycle 1; 27 mg/m² thereafter) or a control regimen of low-dose corticosteroids (84 mg of dexamethasone or equivalent corticosteroid) with optional cyclophosphamide (1400 mg) for 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Three-hundred and fifteen patients were randomized to carfilzomib (n=157) or control (n=158). Both groups had a median of five prior regimens. In the control group, 95% of patients received cyclophosphamide. Median OS was 10.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 8.4-14.4) vs 10.0 months (95% CI 7.7-12.0) with carfilzomib vs control (hazard ratio=0.975; 95% CI 0.760-1.249; P=0.4172). Progression-free survival was similar between groups; overall response rate was higher with carfilzomib (19.1 vs 11.4%). The most common grade ⩾3 adverse events were anemia (25.5 vs 30.7%), thrombocytopenia (24.2 vs 22.2%) and neutropenia (7.6 vs 12.4%) with carfilzomib vs control. Median OS for single-agent carfilzomib was similar to that for an active doublet control regimen in heavily pretreated RRMM patients.

Autologous transplant remains the preferred therapy for relapsed APL in CR2

Despite their favorable prognosis, 10-20% of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients relapse. Reinduction therapy is often followed by autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT). Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has become part of standard reinduction and is often followed by auto-HCT. Data on patients in CR2 were collected from two large transplant registries (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) and European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplant (EBMT)) and two specialty referral centers. The outcome of patients in CR2 who received only ATO-based therapy as reinduction was retrospectively compared with those who got an auto-HCT, with or without ATO. Prognostic factors included age, disease risk, extramedullary disease and duration of CR1. Of 207 evaluable patients, the median age was 31.5 years, 15.3% had extramedullary disease and median WBC at diagnosis was 4.8 × 10(9)/L. Sixty-seven patients received ATO alone and 140 underwent auto-HCT. The groups were comparable for age, gender, extramedullary disease, risk group and duration of CR1. At 5 years, overall survival (OS) was 42% and 78% for the ATO-only and auto-HCT groups, respectively (P<0.001). In addition, OS was associated with longer duration of CR1 (P=0.002), but not with disease risk at diagnosis. These data suggest that auto-HCT for APL patients in CR2 results in better OS than ATO-based therapy alone.

Mobilization of autologous and allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells for transplantation in haematological malignancies using biosimilar G-CSF

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Biosimilars of the granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) filgrastim were approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for registered indications of the originator G-CSF, including prevention and treatment of neutropenia, as well as mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells in 2008. Nevertheless, there is still an ongoing debate regarding the quality, efficacy and safety of biosimilar G-CSF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This article is a meta-analysis of clinical studies on the use of biosimilar G-CSF for mobilization and transplantation of haematopoietic stem cells as available in public databases. All data sets were weighted for the number of patients and parameters and then subjected to statistical meta-analysis employing the Mann-Whitney U-test followed by the Hodges-Lehmann estimator to assess differences between biosimilar and originator G-SCF.

RESULTS

A total of 1892 individuals, mostly with haematological malignancies but also including 351 healthy donors have been successfully mobilized for autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplantation using biosimilar G-CSF (Zarzio(TM) : 1239 individuals; Ratiograstim(TM) /Tevagrastim(TM) : 653 individuals). A total of 740 patients with multiple myeloma, 491 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), 150 with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and other diseases are included in this meta-analysis, as well as 161 siblings and 190 volunteer unrelated donors. For biosimilar and originator G-CSF, bioequivalence was observed for the yield of CD34+ stem cells as well as for the engraftment of the transplants.

CONCLUSION

Biosimilar G-CSF has equivalent effects and safety as originator G-CSF.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Europe 2014: more than 40 000 transplants annually

A record number of 40 829 hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in 36 469 patients (15 765 allogeneic (43%), 20 704 autologous (57%)) were reported by 656 centers in 47 countries to the 2014 survey. Trends include: continued growth in transplant activity, more so in Eastern European countries than in the west; a continued increase in the use of haploidentical family donors (by 25%) and slower growth for unrelated donor HSCT. The use of cord blood as a stem cell source has decreased again in 2014. Main indications for HSCT were leukemias: 11 853 (33% 96% allogeneic); lymphoid neoplasias; 20 802 (57% 11% allogeneic); solid tumors; 1458 (4% 3% allogeneic) and non-malignant disorders; 2203 (6% 88% allogeneic). Changes in transplant activity include more allogeneic HSCT for AML in CR1, myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) and aplastic anemia and decreasing use in CLL; and more autologous HSCT for plasma cell disorders and in particular for amyloidosis. In addition, data on numbers of teams doing alternative donor transplants, allogeneic after autologous HSCT, autologous cord blood transplants are presented.

Impact of conditioning with TBI in adult patients with T-cell ALL who receive a myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a report from the acute leukemia working party of EBMT

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is a therapeutic option for adult patients with T-cell ALL (T-ALL). Meanwhile, few allo-SCT data specific to adult T-ALL have been described thus far. Specifically, the optimal myeloablative conditioning regimen is unknown. In this retrospective study, 601 patients were included. Patients received allo-SCT in CR1, CR2, CR >2 or in advanced disease in 69%, 15%, 2% and 14% of cases, respectively. With an overall follow-up of 58 months, 523 patients received a TBI-based regimen, whereas 78 patients received a chemotherapy-based regimen including IV busulfan-cyclophosphamide (IV Bu-Cy) (n=46). Unlike patients aged ⩾35 years, patients aged <35 years who received a TBI-based regimen displayed an improved outcome compared with patients who received a chemotherapy-based regimen (5-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) of 50% for TBI versus 18% for chemo-only regimen or IV Bu-Cy regimens, P=10(-5) and 10(-4), respectively). In multivariate analysis, use of TBI was associated with an improved LFS (hazard ratio (HR)=0.55 (0.34-0.86), P=0.01) and overall survival (HR=0.54 (0.34-0.87), P=0.01) in patients aged <35 years. In conclusion, younger adult patients with T-ALL entitled to receive a myeloablative allo-SCT may benefit from TBI-based regimens.

In patients older than 55 years with AML in first CR, should we search for a matched unrelated donor when an old sibling donor is available?

Allogeneic hematopoietic transplantation is increasingly used in patients aged 55 years or more with AML. The question of whether outcomes can be improved with an allele-level 8/8 HLA-matched unrelated donor (MUD) rather than an older HLA-matched sibling (MSD, more than 55 years) is still unanswered. We thus analyzed outcomes in 714 patients aged 55 years and older with AML in first CR (CR1) who received PBSCs after a reduced-intensity conditioning hematopoietic cell transplant from a MUD (n=310) or a MSD (n=404) in a recent period (2005-2010). The 3-year cumulative incidences (CIs) of non-relapse mortality were 17% and 23% with MSD and MUD, respectively (P=0.17). The 3-year CIs of relapse were 37% and 30%, respectively (P=0.12), resulting in a 3-year CI of leukemia-free survival of 46% and 47%, respectively (P=0.51). The 3-year overall survival was 49% with both MSD and MUD. In conclusion, HLA-identical sibling donors aged 55 years or more should not be excluded because of age for patients aged 55 years and older with AML in CR1.

Is there a stronger graft-versus-leukemia effect using HLA-haploidentical donors compared with HLA-identical siblings?

Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs) are increasingly used, but it is unknown whether they have a stronger graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. We analyzed 10 679 acute leukemia patients who underwent HSCT from an HLA-matched sibling donor (MSD, n=9815) or a haploidentical donor (⩾2 HLA-antigen disparity, n=864) between 2007 and 2012, reported to the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. In a Cox regression model, acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was added as time-dependent variables. There was no difference in probability of relapse between recipients of haploidentical and MSD grafts. Factors of importance for relapse after T-cell-replete grafts included remission status at HSCT, Karnofsky score ⩽80, acute GVHD of grade II or higher and chronic GVHD (P<10(-5)). Patients with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (n=194) had similar outcome as other T-cell-replete haploidentical transplants (n=369). Non-relapse mortality was significantly higher in the haploidentical group compared with that in MSD patients (P<10(-5)). Leukemia-free survival was superior in the MSD patients receiving T-cell-replete (P<10(-5)) or T-cell-depleted grafts (P=0.0006). The risk of relapse was the same in acute leukemia patients who received haploidentical donor grafts as in those given MSD transplants, suggesting a similar GVL effect.

Outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for adult patients with AML and 11q23/MLL rearrangement (MLL-r AML)

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with 11q23/MLL rearrangement (MLL-r AML) is allocated to the intermediate- or high-risk cytogenetic prognostic category depending on the MLL fusion partner. A more favorable outcome has been reported in patients receiving an allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (alloHSCT), but this has not been confirmed in large series. We analyzed the outcome of alloHSCT among adult patients reported to the Acute Leukemia Working Party between 2000 and 2010. We identified 159 patients with 11q23/MLL rearranged AML allografted in first complete remission (CR1, n=138) or CR2, mostly corresponding to t(9;11), t(11;19), t(6;11) and t(10;11) translocations. Two-year overall survival (OS), leukemia-free survival (LFS), relapse incidence and non-relapse mortality were 56±4%, 51±4%, 31±3% and 17±4%, respectively. The outcome differed according to 11q23/MLL rearrangement, being more favorable in patients with t(9;11) and t(11;19) compared with t(10;11) and t(6;11) (2-year OS: 64±6% and 73±10% vs 40±13% and 24±11%, respectively; P<0.0001). Multivariate analysis for OS identified t(6;11), t(10;11), age>40 years and CR2 as unfavorable features, whereas t(6;11), t(10;11), CR2 and the use of reduced-intensity conditioning regimen affected poorly the LFS. This study confirms the potential role of alloHSCT for adult patients with 11q23/MLL rearranged AML in CR1.

Comparison of outcomes after unrelated cord blood and unmanipulated haploidentical stem cell transplantation in adults with acute leukemia

Outcomes after unmanipulated haploidentical stem cell transplantation (Haplo) and after unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT) are encouraging and have become alternative options to treat patients with high-risk acute leukemia without human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matched donor. We compared outcomes after UCBT and Haplo in adults with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Median follow-up was 24 months. Analysis was performed separately for patients with AML, n=918 (Haplo=360, UCBT=558) and ALL, n=528 (Haplo=158 and UCBT=370). UCBT was associated with delayed engraftment and higher graft failure in both AML and ALL recipients. In multivariate analysis, UCBT was associated with lower incidence of chronic graft-vs-host disease both in the AML group (hazard ratio (HR)=0.63, P=0.008) and in the ALL group (HR=0.58, P=0.01). Not statistically significant differences were observed between Haplo and UCBT for relapse incidence (HR=0.95, P=0.76 for AML and HR=0.82, P=0.31 for ALL), non-relapse mortality (HR=1.16, P=0.47 for AML and HR=1.23, P=0.23 for ALL) and leukemia-free survival (HR 0.78, P=0.78 for AML and HR=1.00, P=0.84 for ALL). There were no statistically differences on main outcomes after unmanipulated Haplo and UCBT, and both approaches are valid for acute leukemia patients lacking a HLA matched donor. Both strategies expand the donor pool for patients in need.

Hematopoietic SCT in Europe 2013: recent trends in the use of alternative donors showing more haploidentical donors but fewer cord blood transplants

A record number of 39,209 HSCT in 34,809 patients (14,950 allogeneic (43%) and 19,859 autologous (57%)) were reported by 658 centers in 48 countries to the 2013 survey. Trends include: more growth in allogeneic than in autologous HSCT, increasing use of sibling and unrelated donors and a pronounced increase in haploidentical family donors when compared with cord blood donors for those patients without a matched related or unrelated donor. Main indications were leukemias, 11,190 (32%; 96% allogeneic); lymphoid neoplasias, 19,958 (57%; 11% allogeneic); solid tumors, 1543 (4%; 4% allogeneic); and nonmalignant disorders, 1975 (6%; 91% allogeneic). In patients without a matched sibling or unrelated donor, alternative donors are used. Since 2010 there has been a marked increase of 96% in the number of transplants performed from haploidentical relatives (802 in 2010 to 1571 in 2013), whereas the number of unrelated cord blood transplants has slightly decreased (789 in 2010 to 666 in 2013). The use of donor type varies greatly throughout Europe.

Indications for allo- and auto-SCT for haematological diseases, solid tumours and immune disorders: current practice in Europe, 2015

This is the sixth special report that the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation regularly publishes on the current practice and indications for haematopoietic SCT for haematological diseases, solid tumours and immune disorders in Europe. Major changes have occurred in the field of haematopoietic SCT over the last years. Cord blood units as well as haploidentical donors have been increasingly used as stem cell sources for allo-SCT, thus, augmenting the possibility of finding a suitable donor for a patient. Continuous refinement of conditioning strategies has also expanded not only the number of potential indications but also has permitted consideration of older patients or those with co-morbidity for a transplant. There is accumulating evidence of the role of haematopoietic SCT in non-haematological disorders such as autoimmune diseases. On the other hand, the advent of new drugs and very effective targeted therapy has challenged the role of SCT in some instances or at least, modified its position in the treatment armamentarium of a given patient. An updated report with revised tables and operating definitions is presented.