scholarly journals Pembrolizumab for the Treatment of Disease Relapse Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 3415-3415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Kline ◽  
Hongtao Liu ◽  
Tallarico Michael ◽  
Andrew S Artz ◽  
James Godfrey ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Disease relapse remains the primary cause of mortality following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). One important mechanism of disease relapse in this setting is failure of the graft-versus-tumor (GvT) effect, and the PD-1/PD-L1 axis may diminish GvT after alloSCT. We hypothesized that PD-1/PD-L1 interactions prevent donor-derived T cells from eliminating malignant cells expressing minor histocompatibility antigens, and that blocking PD-1/PD-L1 interactions with the anti-PD-1 antibody, pembrolizumab (pem), might restore GvT and induce clinical responses in patients (pts) with relapsed hematologic malignancies following alloHCT. However, PD-1 blockade therapy has been associated with severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in murine models, and GVHD has been reported in humans treated with anti-PD-1 therapy after alloHCT. Thus, we developed a prospective clinical study to test the tolerability and preliminary efficacy of pembrolizumab in patients with relapsed leukemia/lymphoma after alloSCT. Methods: Pts with AML, MDS, or B cell lymphomas with biopsy-proven recurrence after alloSCT were eligible, as long as no active acute GVHD > grade 1 or chronic GVHD was present. Pts were treated with pem 200 mg IV q3 weeks for up to 2 years, provided that neither intolerable side-effects nor disease progression occurred. Pem could be delayed for treatment-limiting toxicities (TLT), defined as immune-related adverse events (irAEs) not meeting criteria for a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). DLT was defined as the development of grade 3 or 4 acute GVHD/irAE, any unexpected grade > 2 toxicity related to pem, or development of > grade 2 vital organ dysfunction secondary to an irAE within 90 days of pem initiation. A two-stage mini-max design was chosen, with an early stopping rule for DLT after the first 11 patients were enrolled. Results: 11 pts (7 male, 4 female), mean age 49.5 yrs (range, 27-62 yrs) have been enrolled. 8 pts had AML and 3 had lymphoma (DLBCL - 2, cHL - 1). 6 pts had matched-related donors (MRD) and 5 pts had haploidentical/umbilical cord blood (haplo-cord) donors. Pts with MRD were conditioned with fludarabine, melphalan, and alemtuzumab, or fludarabine and busulfan. Pts with haplo-cord donors were conditioned with fludarabine, melphalan, and ATG. 5 pts had prior acute GVHD. Pts relapsed following alloHCT at a median of 453 days (range, 101-1021 days). A median of 2 cycles of pembrolizumab (range, 1-8) was administered. 3 pts are receiving ongoing treatment. 3 pts experienced a DLT due to an irAE (grade 3-4 pneumonitis 2 pts; grade 3 hyperthyroidism 1 pt), all of which occurred after 1-2 cycles of pem, and resolved after pem discontinuation and corticosteroid treatment. 1 pt experienced a TLT (grade 2 rash), but resumed pem treatment. Among all pts, irAEs of any grade occurred in 7 pts. 7 pts were evaluable for response. 3 pts (2 AML, 1 DLBCL) experienced progressive disease (PD), 2 pts (AML) had stable disease (SD), and 2 pts achieved CR (DLBCL, cHL). 1 pt with AML (myeloid sarcoma) in whom pem was discontinued for PD by PET/CT imaging had a concurrent tumor biopsy that revealed marked T cell infiltration and PD-L1 expression on a significant fraction of malignant myeloid cells, suggestive of possible inflammatory "pseudo-progression". 1 pt in CR developed therapy-related AML unrelated to pem. Notably, both patients with CR following pem had PD-L1 gene-amplified lymphomas by FISH, and diffuse PD-L1 protein expression on pre-treatment biopsies. Currently, 4 pts have died, all due to disease progression, and 7 are alive. A total of 26 patients are expected to be enrolled. Conclusions: Treatment with pem in the post-alloHCT disease relapse setting is feasible, but can induce early and severe irAEs, requiring vigilant monitoring. To date, objective responses were seen in 2/3 lymphoma patients treated with pem. In AML, pem may be less effective, where a best response of SD was observed in 2 pts, and possible "pseudo-progression" in a patient with myeloid sarcoma. This study continues to accrue pts, and correlative analyses are underway. To our knowledge, these are the first prospective data of PD-1 blockade therapy in the post-alloHCT setting. Disclosures Kline: iTeos: Research Funding; Merck: Honoraria, Research Funding. Liu:BMS: Research Funding. Curran:Merck: Research Funding. Stock:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Smith:BMS: Consultancy; Portola: Honoraria. Bishop:Juneau Therapeutics: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; United Healthcare: Employment; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Speakers Bureau.

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 5742-5742
Author(s):  
Han Bi Lee ◽  
Jae-Ho Yoon ◽  
Gi June Min ◽  
Sung-Soo Park ◽  
Silvia Park ◽  
...  

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) preconditioning intensity, donor choice, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis for advanced myelofibrosis (MF) have not been fully elucidated. Thirty-five patients with advanced MF were treated with reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) allo-HCT. We searched for matched sibling (n=16) followed by matched (n=10) or mismatched (n=5) unrelated and familial mismatched donors (n=4). Preconditioning regimen consisted of fludarabine (total 150 mg/m2) and busulfan (total 6.4 mg/kg) with total body irradiation≤ 400cGy. All showed engraftments, but four (11.4%) showed either leukemic relapse (n=3) or delayed graft failure (n=1). Two-year overall survival (OS) and non-relapse mortality (NRM) was 60.0% and 29.9%, respectively. Acute GVHD was observed in 19 patients, and grade III-IV acute GVHD was higher with HLA-mismatch (70% vs. 20%, p=0.008). Significant hepatic GVHD was observed in nine patients (5 acute, 4 chronic), and six of them died. Multivariate analysis revealed inferior OS with HLA-mismatch (HR=6.40, 95%CI 1.6-25.7, p=0.009) and in patients with high ferritin level at post-HCT D+21 (HR=7.22, 95%CI 1.9-27.5, p=0.004), which were related to hepatic GVHD and high NRM. RIC allo-HCT can be a valid choice for advanced MF. However, HLA-mismatch and high post-HCT ferritin levels related to significant hepatic GVHD should be regarded as poor-risk parameters. Disclosures Kim: Handok: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria; Hanmi: Consultancy, Honoraria; AGP: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; SL VaxiGen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy; Janssen: Honoraria; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Otsuka: Honoraria; BL & H: Research Funding; Chugai: Honoraria; Yuhan: Honoraria; Sanofi-Genzyme: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Lee:Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Achillion: Research Funding.


Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 2460-2460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radha Ramanan ◽  
Andrew Boon Ming Lim ◽  
Kate Mason ◽  
Jeffrey Szer ◽  
David Ritchie

Abstract Aim To identify the causes and consequences of omission and/or reduction of methotrexate (MTX) doses in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis used during allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). Method We conducted a retrospective medical record review of 125 alloHCTs performed between the years 2011 and 2013 at our hospital where MTX (15, 10, 10, 10 mg/m2 intravenously on day [D] +1, D+3, D+6, D+11 respectively) is used with cyclosporine as GVHD prophylaxis. The association of MTX dose omission with overall survival (OS), non-relapse mortality (NRM) and acute GVHD, measured from a landmark of D+12, was evaluated with univariate and multivariate analysis. Results 116 patients (median age 48, range 17-67, 59% male) were eligible for analysis. Commonest indications for alloHCT were acute leukemia (47%) and chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (28%). Conditioning was myeloablative in 54%, donors were siblings in 53%, and grafts were peripheral blood in 87%. 85 patients (73%) received all four full doses of MTX. 22 patients had a dose omission at D+11, and two at both D+6 and D+11. 43 patients were given folinic acid rescue. Documented reasons for MTX alteration were mucositis (n = 22; World Health Organisation mucositis grade 4 in 16 patients, grade 3 in 4 patients and grade 2 in 2 patients), fluid overload (n = 10), liver impairment (n = 8, median bilirubin 83 micromol/L, range 19-204 micromol/L, normal < 21 micromol/L), renal impairment (n = 8, median creatinine 138 micromol/L, range 67-276 micromol/L, normal 45-90 micromol/L) and sepsis (1). MTX omission was associated with poorer OS (48% vs 90%; hazard ratio [HR] for mortality 5.4, 95% CI 2.5-11.7, P < 0.001, Figure 1) and higher NRM (39% vs 5%, HR 10.2, 95% CI 3.4-30.8, P < 0.001, Figure 2) at 12 months post landmark. A pattern of ongoing NRM was observed beyond day 100. Strikingly, those patients who received all four full doses of MTX had NRM of 0% at 100 days post landmark. There was no difference in rates of grade 2-4 (24% vs 22%, P = .950) or grade 3-4 (9% vs 11%, P = .662) acute GVHD, or relapse (20% vs 17%, P = .514), at day 100 post landmark. Conclusion MTX dose reduction has no significant impact on GVHD development, suggesting that MTX omissions or other adjustments of GVHD prophylaxis did not lead to enhanced T cell activation. However, it seems that the need to reduce MTX indicates an increased risk of NRM, likely reflecting ongoing organ dysfunction. Older patients or those with pre-transplant co-morbidities may be better served by strategies that lower the likelihood of organ toxicity, including reduced intensity conditioning and lower initial doses of MTX. Figure 1. Overall survival according to whether or not any methotrexate (MTX) was omitted. Figure 1. Overall survival according to whether or not any methotrexate (MTX) was omitted. Figure 2. Non-relapse mortality according to whether or not any methotrexate (MTX) was omitted. Figure 2. Non-relapse mortality according to whether or not any methotrexate (MTX) was omitted. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 912-912
Author(s):  
Guru Subramanian Guru Murthy ◽  
Soyoung Kim ◽  
Noel Estrada-Merly ◽  
Ronald M. Sobecks ◽  
Betul Oran ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) remains the only curative therapeutic modality for patients with myelofibrosis (MF). However, the optimal conditioning regimen for allo-HCT either in the myeloablative conditioning (MAC) or in the reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) setting is not well known. Methods: Using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) database, we identified adults aged ≥18 years with MF who underwent allo-HCT between the years 2008-2018. Donor types included matched sibling donor (MSD), 8/8 matched unrelated donor (MUD), and 7/8 MUD. Outcomes were compared separately in the MAC and RIC cohorts based on the most common conditioning regimens used in each setting - MAC [(Fludarabine/Busulfan (Flu/Bu) vs. Busulfan/cyclophosphamide (Bu/Cy)] or RIC [(Flu/Bu vs. Fludarabine/melphalan (Flu/Mel)]. Overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), non-relapse mortality (NRM), relapse, acute and chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) and GVHD-free relapse-free survival (GRFS) were evaluated. Survival analysis was done using Kaplan-Meier method and significant predictors were evaluated using Cox-proportional hazard regression method. Multivariable regression model included main effect (conditioning regimen) and covariates (patient age, gender, race, CMV match, disease subtype, DIPSS at HCT, comorbidities score (HCT-CI), Karnofsky performance status, prior therapy (ruxolitinib use/splenic radiation therapy/splenectomy), interval between diagnosis and transplant, conditioning intensity, stem cell source, donor-recipient HLA-match, GVHD prophylaxis, ATG/alemtuzumab use, transplant year, and center affect). All analyses were performed at a two-sided significance level of 0.05. Results: Of 872 patients who met the study criteria, 379 patients underwent allo-HCT using MAC (Flu/Bu=247, Bu/Cy=132) and 493 patients using RIC (Flu/Bu=166, Flu/Mel=327). Key baseline characteristics of the patients are summarized in Table 1. In multivariable analysis, significant differences in outcomes were observed in the MAC and RIC setting based on the choice of conditioning regimen (Table 2). In the MAC setting, Bu/Cy was associated with a higher risk of acute GVHD (grade 2-4 HR 2.33, 95% CI 1.67-3.25, p&lt;0.01; grade 3-4 HR 2.31, 95% CI 1.52-3.52, p&lt;0.01) and inferior GRFS (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.49-2.53, p&lt;0.01) as compared to Flu/Bu. In the RIC setting, Flu/Mel was associated with inferior OS (HR 1.80, 95% CI 1.15-2.81, p&lt;0.01), higher risk of NRM (HR 1.81, 95% CI 1.12-2.91, p=0.01) and acute GVHD (grade 2-4- HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.03-2.03, p=0.03; grade 3-4 HR 2.21, 95%CI 1.28-3.83, p&lt;0.01) as compared to Flu/Bu. These higher risks associated with Flu/Mel were primarily observed early post-transplant. The results were consistent when the outcomes were evaluated based on the two common melphalan doses employed in the RIC setting (100mg/m 2 vs 140mg/m 2). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that the choice of conditioning regimen significantly influences the outcomes of allo-HCT in MF. The results favor Flu/Bu based conditioning in the MAC (lesser acute GVHD and better GRFS) and RIC (better OS, lower NRM, lower acute GVHD) setting. Hence, this aspect should be explored in future studies as the modification of conditioning strategies could lead to improved outcomes. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Guru Murthy: TG therapeutics: Other: Advisory board; Cardinal Health Inc.: Honoraria; Qessential: Consultancy; Guidepoint: Consultancy; Techspert: Consultancy; Cancerexpertnow: Honoraria. Sobecks: CareDX: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Scott: Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Saber: Govt. COI: Other.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (14) ◽  
pp. 3224-3233
Author(s):  
Paul J. Martin ◽  
David M. Levine ◽  
Barry E. Storer ◽  
Sarah C. Nelson ◽  
Xinyuan Dong ◽  
...  

Abstract Many studies have suggested that genetic variants in donors and recipients are associated with survival-related outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), but these results have not been confirmed. Therefore, the utility of testing genetic variants in donors and recipients for risk stratification or understanding mechanisms leading to mortality after HCT has not been established. We tested 122 recipient and donor candidate variants for association with nonrelapse mortality (NRM) and relapse mortality (RM) in a cohort of 2560 HCT recipients of European ancestry with related or unrelated donors. Associations discovered in this cohort were tested for replication in a separate cohort of 1710 HCT recipients. We found that the donor rs1051792 A allele in MICA was associated with a lower risk of NRM. Donor and recipient rs1051792 genotypes were highly correlated, making it statistically impossible to determine whether the donor or recipient genotype accounted for the association. Risks of grade 3 to 4 graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and NRM in patients with grades 3 to 4 GVHD were lower with donor MICA-129Met but not with MICA-129Val, implicating MICA-129Met in the donor as an explanation for the decreased risk of NRM after HCT. Our analysis of candidate variants did not show any other association with NRM or RM. A genome-wide association study did not identify any other variants associated with NRM or RM.


2011 ◽  
Vol 208 (5) ◽  
pp. 1069-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daigo Hashimoto ◽  
Andrew Chow ◽  
Melanie Greter ◽  
Yvonne Saenger ◽  
Wing-Hong Kwan ◽  
...  

Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) results from the attack of host tissues by donor allogeneic T cells and is the most serious limitation of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Host antigen-presenting cells are thought to control the priming of alloreactive T cells and the induction of acute GVHD after allo-HCT. However, whereas the role of host DC in GVHD has been established, the contribution of host macrophages to GVHD has not been clearly addressed. We show that, in contrast to DC, reducing of the host macrophage pool in recipient mice increased donor T cell expansion and aggravated GVHD mortality after allo-HCT. We also show that host macrophages that persist after allo-HCT engulf donor allogeneic T cells and inhibit their proliferation. Conversely, administration of the cytokine CSF-1 before transplant expanded the host macrophage pool, reduced donor T cell expansion, and improved GVHD morbidity and mortality after allo-HCT. This study establishes the unexpected key role of host macrophages in inhibiting GVHD and identifies CSF-1 as a potential prophylactic therapy to limit acute GVHD after allo-HCT in the clinic.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 113 (7) ◽  
pp. 1581-1588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asad Bashey ◽  
Bridget Medina ◽  
Sue Corringham ◽  
Mildred Pasek ◽  
Ewa Carrier ◽  
...  

Abstract Relapse of malignancy after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) remains a therapeutic challenge. Blockade of the CTLA4 molecule can effectively augment antitumor immunity mediated by autologous effector T cells. We have assessed the safety and preliminary efficacy of a neutralizing, human anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibody, ipilimumab, in stimulating the graft-versus-malignancy (GVM) effect after allo-HCT. Twenty-nine patients with malignancies that were recurrent or progressive after allo-HCT, received ipilimumab as a single infusion at dose cohorts between 0.1 and 3.0 mg/kg. Dose-limiting toxicity was not encountered, and ipilimumab did not induce graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) or graft rejection. Organ-specific immune adverse events (IAE) were seen in 4 patients (grade 3 arthritis, grade 2 hyperthyroidism, recurrent grade 4 pneumonitis). Three patients with lymphoid malignancy developed objective disease responses following ipilimumab: complete remission (CR) in 2 patients with Hodgkin disease and partial remission (PR) in a patient with refractory mantle cell lymphoma. At the 3.0 mg/kg dose, active serum concentrations of ipilimumab were maintained for more than 30 days after a single infusion. Ipilimumab, as administered in this clinical trial, does not induce or exacerbate clinical GVHD, but may cause organ-specific IAE and regression of malignancy. This study is registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov under NCI protocol ID P6082.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 204062072093693
Author(s):  
Jae-Ho Yoon ◽  
Gi June Min ◽  
Sung-Soo Park ◽  
Silvia Park ◽  
Sung-Eun Lee ◽  
...  

Background: Preconditioning intensity, donor choice and graft- versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) for advanced myelofibrosis (MF) have not been fully elucidated. Methods: Thirty-five patients with advanced MF were treated with reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) allo-HCT. We searched for matched sibling donors first, followed by matched or mismatched unrelated donors and familial mismatched donors. Preconditioning regimen consisted of fludarabine (total 150 mg/m2) and busulfan (total 6.4 mg/kg) with total body irradiation ⩽400cGy. Results: All showed engraftments, but four showed either leukemic relapse or delayed graft failure. Two-year overall survival (OS) and non-relapse mortality (NRM) was 60.0% and 29.9%, respectively. Acute GVHD was observed in 19 patients, and grade III–IV acute GVHD (eight grade III and four grade IV) was higher in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatched donor HCT compared with HLA-matched HCT (70% versus 20%). Chronic GVHD was observed in 16 patients, and a cumulative incidence of severe chronic GVHD was 33% in HLA-mismatched donor HCT and 7.7% in HLA-matched HCT. Significant hepatic GVHD was observed in nine patients (five acute, four chronic) and six of them died. Multivariate analysis revealed inferior OS in HLA-mismatched donor HCT (hazard ratio (HR) = 6.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6–25.7, p = 0.009) and in patients with high ferritin level at the time of pre-conditioning period (HR = 7.22, 95% CI 1.9–27.5, p = 0.004), which were related to higher incidence of hepatic GVHD with high NRM rate. Conclusion: RIC allo-HCT can be a valid choice providing graft- versus-fibrosis effect for advanced MF patients. However, HLA-mismatched donor and high pre-HCT ferritin level related to fatal hepatic GVHD should be regarded as poor-risk parameters.


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