Ursodeoxycholic acid for the prevention of hepatic complications in allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Blood ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 100 (6) ◽  
pp. 1977-1983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tapani Ruutu ◽  
Britta Eriksson ◽  
Kari Remes ◽  
Eeva Juvonen ◽  
Liisa Volin ◽  
...  

Abstract The role of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in the prevention of hepatic complications after allogeneic stem cell transplantation was studied in a prospective randomized open-label multicenter trial. A total of 242 patients were allocated to receive (n = 123) or not to receive (n = 119) UDCA in the dose of 12 mg/kg/d orally from the day preceding the conditioning until day 90 after transplantation. In the UDCA-treated group a significantly smaller proportion of patients developed a serum bilirubin level exceeding 50 μM (18 of 123 versus 31 of 119, P = .04), and similarly a smaller proportion of patients exceeded the alanine aminotransferase level of 100 U/L. There was no difference in the incidence of veno-occlusive disease of the liver. Compared to the control group, in the UDCA-treated group there was a nonsignificant trend toward a lower overall incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and a significantly lower incidence of grade III to IV acute GVHD (5 of 123 versus 17 of 119,P = .01), stage II to IV liver and intestinal GVHD, and stage III to IV skin GVHD. There was no difference in the incidence of chronic GVHD or in the relapse rate. Among the patients given UDCA, the survival at 1 year was significantly better, 71% versus 55% (P = .02), and the nonrelapse mortality rate was lower, 19% versus 34% (P = .01), than in the control group. There were significantly more deaths in GVHD in the control group. In conclusion, UDCA administration reduced hepatic problems and severe acute GVHD and improved survival. These results suggest a role for UDCA in the prevention of transplant-related complications in allogeneic transplantation.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 4980-4980
Author(s):  
Issa F. Khouri ◽  
Rima M. Saliba ◽  
Daniel R. Couriel ◽  
Grace-Julia Okoroji ◽  
Sandra Acholonu ◽  
...  

Abstract It has been postulated that B cells functioning as antigen-presenting cells may have an important role in the pathogenesis of GVHD. Depletion of donor cells from B-cells resulted in a low incidence of GVHD in mouse model (Schultz et al. BMT1995:16:289–289). More recently, we observed a lower incidence of chronic (and to a lesser extent acute GVHD) in patients with CLL who received an allogeneic stem cell transplantation after a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen containing rituximab (Exp Hematol32:28–35, 2004). The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of rituximab on GVHD in the setting of a more intense chemotherapy with BEAM, in patients who received an allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell from HLA-identical siblings. To test this hypothesis, we retrospectively studied 11 consecutive patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma who received BEAM/Rituximab at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. We attempted to match these patients by age, donor-recipient gender, and donor-recipient CMV reactivity to a historical control of 44 patients with lymphoma, who received BEAM alone as a conditioning regimen, without the Rituximab. Tacrolimus and methotrexate were used for GVHD prophylaxis in both groups. A total of 10 patients in the study group, could be matched with 19 patients in the control group and were included in the final analysis. The outcome of the 2 groups is shown below: Rituximab-Study Group Control Group -value P No. of patients 10 19 Median age 41 44 0.4     (range) (19–55) (19–60) Patient-Donor sex-matched 9(82%) 18(95%) 0.6 Median # CD34 + cells infused (106/kg) 5.1 4.73 0.1 Patient or Donor CMV+ 9(82%) 18(95%) 0.6 Patient and Donor CMV − 1(10%) 1(5%) Median # prior chemoregimens 3 3 0.9     range (1–8) (1–9) Median follow-up 17 38     range (8–48) (27–77) Acute GVHD 2–4 (n,%) 5(50%) 7(37%) 0.5 Acute GVHD 3–4 (n,%) 3(30%) 5(26%) 0.6 Chronic GVHD (n, % cumulative incidence) 8 (90% + 15) 10 (53% + 12 0.01 Our data suggest that the described protective effect of Rituximab against GVHD in mouse models or in the setting of non-myeloablative allogeneic transplantation, may be overcome by the BEAM. This more intense conditioning regimen may induce more GVHD by enhancing T-cell cytokines release and by causing more gastrointestinal toxicity, thus allowing for a greater antigen presentation.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 299-299
Author(s):  
Michael Schleuning ◽  
Christoph Schmid ◽  
Georg Ledderose ◽  
Johanna Tischer ◽  
Meike Humann ◽  
...  

Abstract Prophylactic transfusion of donor lymphocytes (pDLT) is an attractive form of maintenance therapy after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients with high risk of relapse. However, clinical experience is limited, and disease response is often achieved at the expense of severe graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). We here report our data on pDLT in high-risk AML and MDS. Cells were given within a prospective protocol that contained a sequence of chemotherapy, reduced intensity conditioning for allogeneic transplantation, and pDLT (FLAMSA-regimen). For pDLT, patients had to be in CR at least 120 days from transplantation, off immunosuppression for 30 days, and free of GvHD. 22/86 patients alive at day +120 fulfilled the criteria for pDLT. They had been transplanted for refractory or relapsed leukemia (n=9 each) or in CR1 because of unfavorable cytogenetics (n=4). 14 patients had an unfavorable karyotype, 8 with complex aberrations. Reasons for withholding pDLT in 64 patients included cGvHD or prolonged immunosuppression (n=38), refractory or relapsed leukemia (n=15), refusal of patient or donor (n=4 each), a history of grade IV acute GvHD (n=2), and chronic infections (n=3). The median time from transplant to first pDLT was 167 days (range 120–297). Median follow up of transfused patients is 696 days (range 209–1341). Ten patients received 1, 6 patients received 2, and 6 patients received 3 transfusions in escalating doses, containing a median of 1x106, 5x106 and 1x107 CD3+ cells/kg at pDLT 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Reasons for giving less than 3 transfusions were GvHD, relapse or refusal of the patient. Induction of GvHD was the main complication; grade III acute GvHD developed in 1, and chronic GvHD in 7 patients. So far, 5 patients have relapsed despite pDLT. One died of refractory leukemia, whereas 2 achieved secondary CR following adoptive immunotherapy. Two patients are currently under treatment. At present, 18/22 patients are alive and in CR at a median of 423 days post DLT. The current leukemia free survival at two years from first pDLT is 79%. Nineteen patients were complete chimeras at time of pDLT. pDLT converted mixed into complete bone marrow chimerism in 1, but failed in 2 cases. In our experience, pDLT is safe after allogeneic transplantation for high risk AML, when given at low doses and to a selected group of patients. Results are encouraging, and long term survival can be achieved. However, further studies need to define more precisely the contribution of pDLT to the therapeutic effect of the entire procedure.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 4546-4546
Author(s):  
Paolo Corradini ◽  
Barbara Sarina ◽  
Cristiana Carniti ◽  
Francesca Patriarca ◽  
Angelo Michele Carella ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4546 Background: Reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) followed by allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is an effective salvage therapy for relapsed lymphomas. The present GITMO study is a prospective multicenter phase II trial for patients affected by relapsed CD20 positive lymphomas. Compared with the previous thiotepa/fludarabine/cyclophosphamide GITMO protocol (Leukemia 2007), the thiotepa dose is increased, and high-dose Rituximab is included in the regimen to improve the outcome and possibly modulate the incidence of acute GVHD. Aims: Primary end-point was 1-year progression-free survival; secondary endpoints were non-relapse mortality and incidence of acute and chronic GVHD. Methods: Fifty-seven patients (pts) were enrolled so far in the study and 49 are evaluable for analysis. Treatment plan consisted of high-dose R (500 mg/ms on day -6) followed by thiotepa (12 mg/kg), fludarabine (60 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg). Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis included cyclosporine and mini-methotrexate; ATG (7.5 mk/kg) was only added for pts allografted from one antigen mismatched sibling or unrelated donors. Histopathological subtypes included 24 aggressive (HG) (n= 17 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, n= 7 mantle cell lymphomas) and 25 indolent lymphomas (LG) (n= 13 follicular lymphomas, n= 12 small lymphocytic/chronic lymphocytic leukemia). Patients were allografted from related siblings (SIB) (n= 32 matched, n=1 one single mismatched) or unrelated donors (UD) (n=11 matched, n=5 mismatched). All the pts had chemosensitive disease (n=20, 41% in complete remission) and 26 (53%) came from a failed autoSCT. Results: At a median follow-up of 13 months (range, 5–44 months), 36 pts are alive [n=27 (75%) in CR] and 13 died from any cause [n=6 for non-relapse mortality (NRM), n=7 for disease progression]. All the patients engrafted (94% had full donor chimerism at 3 months). The cumulative incidence (CI) of NRM was 13% at 1 year: 9% vs 19% for SIB and MUD (p=0.3), and 9% versus 16% for for LG and HG (p=0.3), respectively. In total only 11 of 49 pts had acute GVHD (n=8 grade II, n=3 grade III) with an estimated CI of 21% at 100 days. In the previous GITMO study the incidence was 35% with SIB only. Forty pts are evaluable for chronic GVHD with an estimated CI of 41% and 47% at 1 and 2 year, respectively (n=11 limited, n=3 extensive). Infections after engraftment requiring hospitalization or intravenous treatment were evaluable in 46 pts (n=3 excluded for early death). The overall incidence of infections was 58% (n=27) including 5 pts experienced sepsis and 10 pts pneumonia. Preliminary data on immune-reconstitution at 1 year showed: 1) low number of circulating B cells (median CD19+/ul: 129/ul) with an expansion of naive cells (IgD+, CD27-); 2) the median value of IgM was 89 mg/dl whereas IgG and IgA remained at low levels. The CI of relapse was 26% and 37% at 1 year and 2 years, respectively. In the indolent and aggressive groups, OS estimates at 2 years were 79% (95%CI, 52%-91%) and 61% (95 CI, 38%-77%) and PFS estimates were 53% (95%CI, 23%-76%) and 48% (95% CI, 27%-66%), respectively. Conclusions: The present data suggest that the administration of high-dose R is feasible and causes an unexpected reduction of the incidence of acute GVHD without increasing the NRM and the incidence of severe infections complications. Complete data evaluating the effects of R on immune reconstitution are ongoing. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 3239-3239
Author(s):  
Andreas Bjorklund ◽  
Johan Aschan ◽  
Olle Ringden ◽  
Jacek H. Winiarski ◽  
Per T. Ljungman

Abstract Background and aim: The procedure of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) has evolved during the past decades. Infectious complications are still a major problem contributing to the transplantation related mortality (TRM). The epidemiology and outcome of early infections after SCT are well described. However, less is known has about late infections after SCT. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine risk factors for fatal infections occurring later than 6 months after allogeneic SCT. Material and methods: Our study is based on 938 consecutive SCT patients transplanted 1976–2003 of whom 688 (73%) had survived for at least 6 months after SCT. A retrospective chart review was performed identifying 44 (6.4%) patients surviving for at least 6 months, having died from infection. Patients who had relapsed in their malignant disease were excluded. A control group of 176 patients (4 per case) was identified using relapse-free survival for at least 6 months and year of SCT as the matching criteria. Five controls were excluded leaving 171 patients in the control population. Risk factors for death from late infections were identified by logistic regression. Results: 29 patients (66%) developed their fatal infection within 18 months and 37 (84%) within 5 years after SCT. 37 patients (84%) had ongoing chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) and 36/44 (82%) had ongoing immunosupression at the time of death. 57 controls had died after 6 months from SCT; 32 of 57 from relapse. Comparing patients and controls in univariate analyses, the mean age was 30.6 years in the cases and 26.5 years in the controls (p=.13). 22/44 (50%) cases had been transplanted from an unrelated or mismatched donor, compared to 57/171 (33%) controls, p=.053; and 35/44 (80%) cases had received a conditioning regimen including myeloablative dose of TBI compared to 113/171 (66%) in the control group, p<.05). Regarding post-transplant complications 40/44 (91%) cases had experienced cGVHD compared with 101/171 (59%) controls, p<.001. 21/44 (48%) cases had developed obstructive respiratory dysfunction compared with 46/171 (27%) controls, p=.01; and more cases (33/44; 75%) than controls (85/171; 50%;) had experienced CMV infection. In multivariate analysis chronic GVHD (OR 9.2; p<.001), use of a mismatched or unrelated donor (OR 4.8; p<.001), and having had a CMV reactivation (OR 8.3; p=.004) increased the risk. Age, acute GVHD, TBI or obstructive respiratory dysfunction had no significant impact on the risk for late fatal infection. Conclusion: Infections later than 6 months after SCT are important contributors to late TRM. Risk factors for late fatal infections include chronic GVHD, use of alternative donors and CMV infection.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Zhang ◽  
Shujun Yang ◽  
Yujing Zou ◽  
Xiao Yan ◽  
Hao Wu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is one of the most complex complications after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Current standard of grading system is based on clinical symptoms in skin, liver and intestinal. However, it’s difficult to differ GVHD and its extent just by clinical manifestation. Here we retrospectively analyzed cell immune function in patients implemented allogeneic stem cell transplantation in Ningbo first Hospital from Jan 2013 to Jan 2018. Results the data are collected from 51 patients (mean age was 42; 45.1% women). The average NK cell percentage was 39.31% in severe GVHD (Grade III-IV), was 16.98% in mild GVHD (GradeI-II), while was 21.15% in No GVHD group. The statistical analysis showed difference among each grade. Further analysis was performed in Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) treated group and control group. We showed NK Cell percentage was sharply different in ATG treated group: 47.34% in severe GVHD, 11.98% in mild GVHD group, while 18.3% in no GVHD group. However, in control group, the average percentage of NK cells was 23.27% in severe GVHD, was 23.22%in mild GVHD group, while was 21.13% in no GVHD group. Conclusion The data supports that ATG can prevent GVHD by increasing NK cell percentage. The percentage of NK cell seemed to be a useful probe to evaluate the severity of GVHD in allogeneic stem cell transplantation patients using ATG in pretreatment.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 4122-4122
Author(s):  
Eshrak Al-Shaibani ◽  
Shiyi Chen ◽  
Wilson Lam ◽  
Arjun Law ◽  
Ivan Pasic ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Recent advances and improvement of supportive care allowed allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HCT) to be offered to selected older patients. However, data regarding outcome and factors affecting the outcomes are limited. Method: We retrospective analyzed the outcome in 332 patients, median age 65 years (60-76), who underwent HLA-matched related (n=85), matched unrelated (n=205) and haploidentical donor (n=42) HCT, between January 2014 to December 2019. Of these 60% were male. Diagnosis was leukemia: 193, MDS: 76, MF: 46 and others: 17. Graft source was PBSC in 98%. Reduce-intensity conditioning regimen was used in 95%, and in vivo T-cell depleted in 89% of patients. We categorized them to 3 age-groups (G): G1 60-65y, (n=175), G2 >65-70y (n=127), and G3 >70y (n=30).Cox models were used to compare the rates of overall survival (OS), non-relapse mortality( NRM), event free-survival (EFS), length of hospitalization for HCT, GVHD and reasons of re-hospitalization during the first year post HCT. Results: The median follow up was 14 months (range: 1-123 months). Median days of hospitalization during HCT period were 30-days (range: 20-132 days), with trend towards significance when stratified by age group (p=0.049). HCT-CI scores were 0-1 (n=143), 2-3 (n=107) and >3 (n=70). The cumulative incidences of grade II-IV acute-GVHD was 38.3% and 16.3% for grades III-IV. Moderate-severe chronic-GVHD was 23.7%. Increasing age was not associated with increases in acute GVHD (p=0.86) or chronic-GVHD (p= 0.6). Overall, 188 (56%) patients were re-hospitalized within the first 6-month of HCT, and 61 (18%) in the second 6-month period. The 2-year OS rate (Fig 1) were 56% in G1, 53% in G2 and 34% in G3 (p=0.05). The 2-year EFS rate (Fig 2) were 54% for G1, 49% for G2, and 31% for G3 (P=0.04). Cumulative incidence of NRM at 2-year (Fig 3) were 25% in G1, 36% in G2 and 52% in G3 (p=0.008). Further results are illustrated in Table 1. Risk factors such as age, KPS, HCT-CI, donor-type, readmission and GVHD were analyzed for their associations with outcomes using univariate analyses, those with significant results entered in multivariate-analysis Table 2. Patients aged 60-≤65 had significantly better EFS (p=0.04) and associated with a border line significant trend for lower NRM (p=0.05) than those aged >70. Re-admission in the first 6-month post HCT had a significant impact on the OS, EFS and NRM. HCT-CI >3 had significant impact on NRM. Conclusion: Age had a significant impact on hospitalization period during HCT. Age >70 had significant impact on EFS and trend toward higher NRM. HCT-CI, acute and chronic-GVHD and readmission in first 6-month post-HCT were significant risk factors. Readmission in the first 6 months correlated with lower OS, EFS and higher NRM. Acute GVHD III-IV or moderate-severe chronic GVHD associated with poor outcomes. Selecting patients based on HCT-CI, and good management of GVHD and post-HCT complication may improve the clinical outcome. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Law: Novartis: Consultancy; Actinium Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Kim: Bristol-Meier Squibb: Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria; Paladin: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Lipton: Bristol Myers Squibb, Ariad, Pfizer, Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 4975-4975
Author(s):  
Malek Benakli ◽  
Rose-Marie Hamladji ◽  
Redhouane Ahmed Nacer ◽  
Amina Talbi ◽  
Farih Mehdid ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation using a reduced intensity or nonmyeloablative conditioning (NSCT) represents an attractive treatment modality in CML. The rationale behind such approach is to decrease toxicity while inducing the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. Because of its significantly lower cost in comparison to Imatinib mesylate, NSCT may be considered an early treatment option in countries where limited resources. Material and Methods: Between April 2001 and December 2006, we treated 154 CML patients (131 in first chronic phase, 23 in accelerated phase) with NSCT from an HLA-identical family donor. The majority of pts has a Gratwohl score <2 prior to NSCT (n=115; 74,6%). The conditioning regimen included Fludarabine 150 mg/m2 and oral Busulfan 8 mg /kg (139 pts). GVHD prophylaxis consisted of association ciclosporine (CSA)-Mycophenolate (MMF). 15 pts received an additional prophylaxis with antithymocyte globulin (ATG). Median age was 35 (range, 18–55) years, and the sex-ratio (M/F) 0,87. The median time from diagnosis to NSCT was 11 (range, 4–50) months. All pts received G-CSF mobilised peripheral blood stem cells, median CD34+ cells count: 7,02.106/kg (range, 1,28–44,9). Results: Leucopenia is found almost at 71 pts (46,1%). The median time to achieve ANC >500. 109/l granulocytes was 14 (range, 7–24) days, and median time of aplasia was 7 (range, 2–19) days. Transfusion requirements were significantly reduced, only 3 pts (1,9%) required red blood cells transfusions. Only 15 pts (9,7%) needed platelets transfusions. Acute GVHD was seen in 65 cases (43,6%) including 26 (17,4%) cases of grade III–IV and 32 cases (21%) of late onset acute GVHD occurring after day 100 post-NSCT. 93 pts (67,3%) had chronic GVHD, of whom 58 with an extensive form. 23 pts (15,4%) had CMV reactivation. 24 pts (16,1%) relapsed (15 in chronic phase, 7 in blast crisis and 2 with a molecular relapse), but 11 pts could be salvaged and are currently in remission (7 after immunosupression discontinuation, one after DLI and 3 after a second conventional allograft). The chimerism of donor origin (STR-PCR method) of patients in remission was at an average of 74% at day 30, 80% at d100, 93% at 6 months, 97% at 1 year, and 99% at 2 years. Fifty pts (33,5%) have died, of whom 39 (22,1%) from GVHD and 10 (6,7%) from disease relapse. Transplant Related Mortality (TRM) at 100 days was 6%, but rose to 31,5% at 3 years. At last follow-up (median, 32 (range 6–68) months), 99 pts (66,4%) are still alive, 97 (65,1%) pts in hematologic remission; of whom 76 (78,3%) in complete molecular remission evaluated by RT-PCR. Overall survival and progression-free survival at 5 years are 61% and 51,6% respectively. Conclusion. The study demonstrates a relatively low rate of short-term toxicities after NSCT. However, long-term TRM is still high because of the GVHD. The GVL effect is well admited. The relapse can be often controled by immunomodulation (stoppage of immunosuppression, DLI) and eventually by second myeloablative allograft.


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 2124-2124
Author(s):  
Reyad Dada ◽  
Usman Binyam

Abstract Objectives: Relapsed cHL patients after autologous stem cell transplantation with treatment sensitive disease are usually potential candidates for curative allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HCT). However, there are some concerns around performing such procedure after treatment with checkpoint inhibitors. Methods: We collected published data of patients undergoing allogeneic (HCT) after treatment with checkpoint inhibitors. Abstracts of recent conferences (2015-2017) (ASCO, ASH, EBMT) were also included. Results (cohort 1) were compared with safety of recent studies with allogeneic HCT in cHL (2015-2018) without prior exposure to checkpoint inhibitors (cohort2). Only studies reporting on outcome of ≥3 patients were considered. Two reviewers studied the publications independently and matched extracted data. In case of author/group duplication, the publications were jointly rescanned by the reviewers and unified decision was taken whether the reported cohorts are the same. In case of confirmed duplication, the most recent report or the one with more detailed information was chosen. End points were rates for grade 3-4 acute GVHD, chronic GVHD and Non-relapse mortality (NRM). Results: Total of 259 records with 1100 patients were screened. Mean number of checkpoint inhibitors cycles received prior to allogeneic HCT was nine (range 1-38). Grade 3-4 acute GVHD in cohort 1 was 28% (95% CI, 20-37%) in comparison with 8% (95% CI, 6-10%) in historical cohort. Chronic GVHD was observed in 26% (95% CI, 19-36%) versus 29% (95%, CI 26-31%) respectively. In cohort 1, NRM rate was 15% (95% CI, 9-23%) which remained relatively stable after 6 months of allogeneic HCT versus 19% in cohort 2. Only 6.6% deaths were attributed to GVHD while the remaining 7.4% deaths were due to other complications of allogeneic HCT. Other relevant results will be presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Hematology in December 2018. Conclusions: This is the largest pooled analysis of its kind published so far. Our results suggest that allogeneic stem cell transplantation after checkpoint inhibitors is feasible and not associated with higher mortality. However, careful consideration should be given for prevention, early detection and effective treatment of GVHD in these cases. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 2202-2202
Author(s):  
Herbert G. Sayer ◽  
Lars-Olof Mügge ◽  
Sebastian Scholl ◽  
Anne Klink ◽  
Kristina Schilling ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Acute GvHD has, despite established immunosuppressive prophylaxis regimens, significant impact on acute morbidity and mortality following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). In the unrelated or even non-matched unrelated situation new GvHD-prophylaxis regimens balancing GvHD and graft-versus-leukaemia effect are needed. EC-MPS and mycophenolate mofetil [MMF] are effective immunosuppressants by inhibition of T- and B-cell proliferation. Primary study aims in this ethical board approved, prospective, single-centre, open phase II trial were (1) feasibility of prolongatedly started oral EC-MPS and (2) reduction in the rate of GvHD in unrelated allogeneic SCT. Patients and Methods: EC-MPS [Myfortic ®] 720 mg twice a day orally starting at day +10 after SCT in addition to standard GvHD prophylaxis, consisting of cyclosporine (CSA) 3 mg/kg continuous intravenous infusion with or without methotrexate (MTX) 15 mg/m2 day +1 and 10 mg/m2 day +3,+6,+11 intravenous push, was evaluated. According to the protocol, EC-MPS was tapered from day +40, if no acute GvHD-signs were present. 54 patients, including 8 patients from a previous pilot trial, with advanced haematological malignancies (n=28) or in first remission of acute leukaemia (n=26) between 8/03 and 12/07 were evaluated. The patients had either a 10/10 HLA-matched (n=32) or a 8-9/10 HLA mismatched unrelated donor (n=22). 32 (59%) patients received 40 mg/kg antithymocyte globulin (ATG), with 8 Gray total body irradiation (TBI) and cyclophosphamide (CY), or with fludarabine 120mg/m2, busulfan 8mg/kg or treosulfan 8–12 mg/kg. 12 or 8 Gray TBI and 120 mg/kg CY followed by MTX i.v. were administered to 22 (41%) patients. Results: A median of 5.7 (range: 0.9–9.9) unmanipulated G-CSF-mobilized CD-34 positive stem cells per kg were given on day 0. All of the 23 women and 31 men (median age 48 years (range: 20–65)), except one patient, showed a leukocyte engraftment on median day +14 (range: 9–35). Platelet engraftment was observed on median day +17 (range: 9–132). In 12 patients (22%) initially i.v. MMF (1g twice a day) instead of oral study medication was given temporarily, mostly due to severe mucositis. In six patients (11%) EC-MPS (on day +14, 17, 22, 32, 37, 76) had to be discontinued, due to severe nausea (n=2), neurological toxicity (n=2), graft failure (n=1) and protocol violation (n=1). Acute GvHD grade II-IV was observed in 27 (52%) patients, including 8 (15%) with grade III and 4 (7.5%) with grade IV. The incidence of chronic GvHD was 63 % (n=29) [limited chronic GvHD: 54 % (n=15), extended chronic GvHD: 14% (n=4)] of the 46 patients surviving &gt;100 days after SCT. With 10/10 HLA-matched donors GvHD grade II-IV was seen in 44% (n= 14) [grade III and IV n=5 (16%)], whereas with non fully-matched donors the incidence was 59 % (n=13) [grade III and IV n=7 (32%)]. Chronic GvHD incidence was 50% (14/28) in the fully matched donor situation in contrast to 83% (15/18) in the non-fully matched situation. The conditioning regimen with ATG resulted in a GvHD grade II-IV incidence of 39% (n=12) [GvHD grade III/IV: 19% (n=6)], compared to 68% (n=15) [GvHD grade III/IV: 27% (n=6)] without ATG. With a median follow-up of 16 months (range: 1–56) 28 patients (52%) are alive, 18 fully HLA-matched stem cell recipients (56%) and 10 mismatched HLA recipients (45%). Survival with or without ATG was 50% (n=16) and 55% (n=12), respectively. Twenty-six (48%) patients have died; 12 (22%) due to relapse, 10 (19%) due to acute/chronic GvHD, and 4 (7%) due to infection/secondary cancer without GvHD. Conclusions: EC-MPS with a 10 day prolongated start after transplantation combined with initial standard GvHD prophylaxis in the unrelated stem cell transplantation setting seems to be feasible. Mucositis was the main course for oral intake problems. The toxicity drop-out rate of 7 % should be considered. The analysis of all evaluable patients in the pilot and the prospective trial yielded effectiveness in reducing severe GvHD Grade III/IV, especially in combination with ATG. The MPS application regimen failed to show less incidence of chronic GvHD in the non-fully matched unrelated donor setting. GvHD prevention trials in the future should incorporate new drugs with a different pathway of T-cell inhibition or tolerance induction, respectively.


Author(s):  
U. Thiel ◽  
S. J. Schober ◽  
A. Ranft ◽  
H. Gassmann ◽  
S. Jabar ◽  
...  

AbstractPatients with advanced Ewing sarcoma (AES) carry a poor prognosis. Retrospectively, we analyzed 66 AES patients treated with allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) receiving HLA-mismatched (group A, n = 39) versus HLA-matched grafts (group B, n = 27). Median age at diagnosis was 13 years, and 15 years (range 3–49 years) at allo-SCT. The two groups did not differ statistically in distribution of gender, age, remission status/number of relapses at allo-SCT, or risk stratum. 9/39 (23%) group A versus 2/27 (7%) group B patients developed severe acute graft versus host disease (GvHD). Of patients alive at day 100, 7/34 (21%) group A versus 9/19 (47%) group B patients had developed chronic GvHD. In group A, 33/39 (85%) versus 20/27 (74%) group B patients died of disease and 1/39 (3%) versus 1/27 (4%) patients died of complications, respectively. Altogether 12/66 (18%) patients survived in CR. Median EFS 24 months after allo-SCT was 20% in both groups, median OS was 27% (group A) versus 17% (group B), respectively. There was no difference in EFS and OS in AES patients transplanted with HLA-mismatched versus HLA-matched graft in univariate and multivariate analyses. In this analysis, CR at allo-SCT is a condition for survival (p < 0.02).


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