Prophylactic Natural Killer Cell Immunotherapy Following HLA-Haploidentical Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Prevents Relapse and Improves Survival in Patients with High-Risk Hematological Malignancies

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 1161-1161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Thakar ◽  
Parameswaran Hari ◽  
David G. Maloney ◽  
Carolyn A. Keever-Taylor ◽  
Lori Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Overall Survival ◽  
T Cell ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Cell Depletion ◽  
T Cell Depletion ◽  
Free Survival

Abstract Background: Regimens using post-transplant cyclophosphamide (CY) have been developed to provide potent in vivo T cell depletion for patients undergoing human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Luznik, O'Donnell and colleagues (BBMT 2008) reported that when this immune suppression strategy is coupled with non-myeloablative conditioning (fludarabine 150 mg/m2, CY 29 mg/kg, 2 Gy total body irradiation) followed by marrow transplantation, it was well-tolerated with low rates of non-relapse mortality (NRM; 15% at 1 year). However, the 2 year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival were low at 36% and 26%, respectively, due to high relapse rates (51% at 1 year). One explanation could be that while post-HCT CY promoted low rates of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), it also eliminated early T and natural killer (NK) cell clones important for disease surveillance. Based on this hypothesis, we developed a next-generation Phase I/II clinical trial incorporating a boost of donor NK cells on day +7 as an attempt to prevent relapse after transplant. In this study, CY 50 mg/kg as a single dose on day +3 was used for T cell depletion. Methods: Forty patients (pediatric, n=14; adult, n=26) with median age of 45 (range 8-75) years having ALL (n=11), AML (n=9), MDS (n=6), HL (n=6), MM (n=4), NHL (n=3), and CLL (n=1) underwent non-myeloablative transplantation using related, HLA-haploidentical marrow donors on this prospective clinical trial. Patients were high risk due to underlying disease, potential for relapse, and/or risk for transplant-related mortality (TRM). Most patients were heavily pre-treated, with median time from cancer diagnosis to transplant being 2 (0.3 - 12.1) years, including 18 patients having 26 prior HCTs (auto, n=14; allo, n=12). Twenty-five patients (63%) had HCT-CI scores ≥ 3 indicating high risk for TRM. In order to obtain NK cells, non-mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from donors on day +6 using apheresis and stored overnight. NK cells were isolated on day +7 using the Miltenyi CliniMACS system (CD3 depletion followed by CD56 selection) and were administered as a single, fresh infusion that same day without prior culturing or expansion. The Phase I dose-finding study (n=11) enrolled at 2 NK doses [2.5 or 5 x 106/kg +/- 20%, respectively], with extended enrollment at the 2nd dose level for Phase II (n=29) with 83% of patients meeting NK dose parameters. NK cell products had a median log T cell depletion of 5.4 (4.1-7.1), median NK recovery of 54% (33-68%), and median NK purity of 92% (74-99%). Excellent viability (>95%) was seen in all NK products. Results: One patient developed chest pain associated with NK cell infusion; otherwise all other patients tolerated their NK cell infusions well without fevers or other adverse reactions. Full donor chimerism (>95% CD3) was seen in 83% of patients at last follow-up, while 18% and 10% experienced graft rejection or graft failure, respectively. Cumulative incidence of grades 2-3 and grade 3 (no grade 4 seen) acute GVHD occurred in 36% and 8% of patients, respectively, at day +100. Of the 39 evaluable patients, 16% developed chronic extensive GVHD at 1 year. Relapse or progression occurred in 31% of patients by 1 year after HCT. With a median follow-up of 1.5 years (range, 0.1 - 4.9 years), 14 patients have died from relapse/progression (n=11) or infection/VOD (n=3), giving a probability of OS, relapse/progression-free survival (PFS), and NRM at 1 year of 73%, 62%, and 8%, respectively, and 2 year OS and relapse/PFS of 63% and 46%, respectively (Fig 1). Summary: We have demonstrated the safety of infusing donor NK cells early after HCT in a group of heavily-treated patients with high-risk hematological malignancies. In many patients, disease-free survival was possible with the aid of this prophylactic infusion of donor NK cells in combination with allogeneic HCT. These results provide a promising platform to further augment NK cell alloreactivity in the post-HCT setting to prevent relapse and disease progression. Figure 1 Incidence of Overall Survival and Relapse/Progression-Free Survival Figure 1. Incidence of Overall Survival and Relapse/Progression-Free Survival Disclosures Hari: Merck: Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria.

HLA-Haploidentical Familial Donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation without Ex Vivo- T Cell Depletion after Reduced-Intensity Conditioning of Busulfan, Fludarabine, and Anti-Thymocyte Globulin: A Preliminary Report.

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 3077-3077
Author(s):  
Kyoo-Hyung Lee ◽  
Seong-Jun Choi ◽  
Jung-Hee Lee ◽  
Ho-Jin Shin ◽  
Young-Shin Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Cell Transplantation ◽  
Acute Gvhd ◽  
Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation ◽  
Hematopoietic Cell ◽  
Cell Depletion ◽  
Reduced Intensity Conditioning ◽  
T Cell Depletion ◽  
Reduced Intensity

Abstract Animal hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) models and several small clinical trials showed that successful engraftment can be achieved across HLA-haplotype difference after reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC). Furthermore, decreased graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and transplantation-related mortality (TRM) after RIC was shown in a swine leukocyte antigen-haploidentical HCT experiment. Therefore, a protocol investigating the role of RIC in HLA-haploidentical familial donor HCT was initiated in April 2004 and 20 patients [13 male and 7 female; median age 26.5 years (16–65)] without HLA-matched donor enrolled until June 2007. The diagnosis were AML (n=9), ALL (n=4), acute biphenotypic leukemia (n=1), MDS (n=4), and SAA (n=2), and all patients had high-risk features, i.e. first complete remission (CR) but with high-risk chromosomal abnormality (n=1), first CR after salvage (n=1), second CR (n=6), recurrent/refractory state (n=7), immunotherapy failure (n=4), and high-risk MDS (RAEB-1, n=1). The RIC included iv busulfan 3.2 mg/kg × 2, fludarabine 30 mg/m2 × 6, plus anti-thymocyte globulin [Thymoglobuline 3 mg/kg (n=17) or Lymphoglobuline 15 mg/kg (n=3)] × 4. After receiving G-CSF, the donors (13 mothers; 5 offsprings; and 2 HLA-haploidentical siblings) underwent 2 or 3 daily leukapheresis, and the collected cells were given to patients without T cell depletion [medians of; 7.9 (3.7–12.1)×108/kg MNC, 6.9 (3.6–73.5)×106/kg CD34+ cells, and 4.6 (1.8–8.5)×108/kg CD3+ cells]. GVHD prophylaxis was cyclosporine 3 mg/kg/day iv from day -1 and a short course of methotrexate. As a part of separate phase 1 study, the two most-recently enrolled patients received additional donor CD34+ cell-derived NK cells 6 weeks after HCT. Except one patients with SAA who died due to K. pneumoniae sepsis on day 18, all 19 evaluable patients engrafted with ANC> 500/μl median 17 days (12–53) and platelet> 20,000/μl median 23 days (12–100) after HCT. Eight patients experienced acute GVHD (grades I, II, III, and IV; 2, 3, 2, and 1, respectively). Cumulative incidences (CI) of overall and grade II-IV acute GVHD were 40 and 30%, respectively. Eight patients experienced chronic GVHD (limited, 4; extensive, 4; CI, 51%). Fourteen showed positive CMV antigenemia, while 2 suffered CMV colitis, which resolved after treatment. As early as 2 weeks after HCT, 15 of 16 evaluable patients, and, by 4 weeks, all of 17 evaluable patients showed donor chimerism ≥95% on STR-PCR, which was maintained until 24 weeks in all 11 patients tested. Thirteen patients are alive after median follow-up of 13.6 months (1.5–37.9; Kaplan-Meier survival, 55.6%). Of 16 patients with acute leukemia and high-risk MDS, 8 remain alive without recurrence (event-free-survival, 40.9%). Two patients died of K. pneumoniae sepsis and grade IV acute GVHD, respectively (CI of TRM, 11%). Immune recovery in 10 patients without relapse for > 6 months showed robust lymphocyte contents and immunoglobulin levels at 6 months (means of; 1,060/ul CD3+, 222/ul CD4+, 767/ul CD8+ cells, and 1,317 mg/dl IgG) and 12 months. After RIC, consistent engraftment and durable complete donor hematopoietic chimerism can be achieved from HLA-haploidentical familial donor. The frequencies of GVHD and TRM were low.

Lack of HLA Class I Ligands for Autologous Inhibitory KIR Is Associated with Improved Survival Following Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for Children with Neuroblastoma.

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 3322-3322
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M Venstrom ◽  
Junting Zheng ◽  
Reenat S Hasan ◽  
Karen E Danis ◽  
Irene Y Cheung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Overall Survival ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Hla Class I ◽  
Class I ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Hla Ligand ◽  
Myeloablative Chemotherapy

Abstract Background: In hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for hematologic malignancies, natural killer (NK) cells contribute to tumor eradication such that leukemia patients lacking the HLA class I ligand for the donor NK inhibitory killer Ig-like receptors (KIR) have lower relapse rates and longer survival. Since myeloablative chemotherapy followed by autologous HSCT (ASCT) improves survival for children with high risk neuroblastoma (a tumor sensitive to NK killing) we hypothesize that NK cells may be active in this setting and that KIR-HLA combinations where the patient lacks HLA class I ligands for autologous KIR may be associated with improved clinical outcomes. Methods: 155 children with high risk neuroblastoma received myeloablative chemotherapy followed by ASCT between 1992 and 2004. Most patients received anti-GD2 antibody 3F8 and 13-cis-retinoic acid following ASCT. HLA and KIR genotyping was performed. Patients were segregated according to those with or without HLA class I ligand for autologous inhibitory KIR. We examined the 3 inhibitory KIR groups with identified class I ligands: KIR2DL2/2DL3, which recognize HLA-CAsn80(HLA-C1 group), KIR2DL1 recognizing HLA-C Lys80(HLA-C2 group), and KIR3DL1 recognizing HLA-Bw4; as well as 6 activating KIR and 2 KIR haplotype groups. Overall survival and progression-free survival were estimated by Kaplan-Meier method and hazard ratios by Cox regression. No adjustments were made for multiple comparisons. Comparisons of each end point were based on the log-rank statistics. Results: 66% of the 155 children lacked at least 1 HLA ligand for his/ her inhibitory KIR. With median followup of 66.8 months, patients lacking a KIR ligand (n=103) had a 45% lower risk of death compared with patients with all HLA ligands present (n=52) (HR 0.55; 95% CI 0.33–0.90; P=0.015). Similarly, for progression-free survival, the risk of relapse or death was 39% lower for patients lacking an HLA ligand for inhibitory KIR (HR 0.61; 95% CI 0.39–0.97; P=0.035). In particular, patients lacking the HLA-C1 ligand for KIR2DL2/2DL3 experienced an overall survival benefit (HR 0.34; 95% CI 0.11–1.09; P=0.060). Activating KIR and KIR haplotypes were not associated with survival. Conclusion: Among children with high risk neuroblastoma undergoing ASCT, improved overall and progression-free survival is associated with the absence of one or more HLA class I ligands for the patient’s NK cell inhibitory KIR receptor. KIRHLA immunogenetics may therefore be a novel genetic indicator of prognosis for patients undergoing ASCT. Mechanistically, these findings imply that NK tolerance is modified after ASCT, and that KIR-HLA genotypes may also play a role in antibodybased immunotherapy, since most of these patients received 3F8 antibody. These findings require confirmation in a larger prospective study. Figure Figure

Nodal Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma – a Clinical and Epidemiological Analysis at Medicine School of Sao Paulo University

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 1706-1706
Author(s):  
Luis Alberto de Padua Covas Lage ◽  
Marianne Castro Goncalves ◽  
Rodrigo Santucci ◽  
Renata Oliveira Costa ◽  
Debora Levy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Overall Survival ◽  
T Cell ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Large Cell ◽  
T Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Large Cell Lymphoma

Abstract Background: Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) are a biologically and clinically heterogeneous group of rare diseases arising from mature or activated post-thymic T lymphocytes. Correspond to 10% to 15% of lymphoid malignancies with marked geographical variation in incidence. According to the WHO classification they are divided into nodal, extranodal, primary cutaneous and leukemic or disseminated and encompass 18 distinct entities. The nodal group involves the peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS), angioimmunoblastic lymphoma (AITL), anaplastic large cell lymphoma ALK positive (ALCL-ALK+) and anaplastic large cell lymphoma ALK negative (ALCL-ALK-). The literature of PTCL is scarce, especially in our country where data of epidemiology, clinical features and outcomes are usually rarely available. So, to better understand PTCL we performed a retrospective study with patients treated in a reference service for cancer treatment in Brazil. Methods: Eight-seven nodal PTCL patients treated with anthracyclne-based regimen (CHOP or, CHOEP) from January 2000 to June 2014 were evaluated retrospectively at the Medicine School of Sao Paulo University, Brazil. All patients lower than 60 years were consolidated with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in first CR or PR except that with ALCL-ALK+ diagnosis. Refractory and relapsed patients were salvaged with 3-4 cycles of IVAC (Ifosphamide 1.5 g/m2 i.v D1-D5, etoposide 100mg/m2 i.v D1-D5, aracytin 2g/m2 i.v twice a day D1-D2) regimen and submitted to ASCT. It was performed a central histopathological review and clinical and epidemiological data were obtained from medical records. Patients were evaluated for overall response (OR) including complete response (CR) and partial response (PR), overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). Statistical analysis was performed using the STATA-3 program using and a p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 87 patients, 34 (39.08%) cases were classified as ALCL-ALK-, 27 (31.03%) as PTCL-NOS, 16 (18.39%) as ALCL-ALK+, 6 (6.89%) as AITL and in 4 (4.1%) cases the diagnosis could not be performed and an expansion of the immunohistochemical is ongoing. Thirty-six (45.38%) cases were female and 51(54.62%) were male, 59(67.81%) patients were lower than 60 years. Seventy-six (87.35%) patients presented in advanced stage (III or IV) at diagnosis but 73(83.90%) patients presented an ECOG < 2 and 14(16.10%) ≥ 2. Eighteen (20.70%) patients were of low-risk, 26 (29.88%) of low-intermediate risk and 43(49.42%) of high-intermediate and high-risk of international prognostic index (IPI). The CR and PR was obtained for 44(50.57%) and 8(9.19%), respectively with 59.76% OR. Thirty (34.48%) patients were primary refractory and five remain under treatment. In a median of follow of 30 months, ALCL-ALK+ show higher OS (median 140.98 months) than ALCL-ALK- (44.20 months), PTCL-NOS (median 20.62 months) and AITL (median 7.24 months) (p=0.41) (Figure 1A). The median of PFS was 3.84 months for AITL, 23.44 months for ALCL-ALK+, 40.03 months for PTCL-NOS and was not yet reached for ALCL-ALK- (p=0.0006) (Figure 1B). Figure 1: Overall survival (1A) and Progression Free Survival (1B) of nodal PTCL Figure 1:. Overall survival (1A) and Progression Free Survival (1B) of nodal PTCL Figure 2 Figure 2. Conclusion: In this study we showed that ALCL-ALK+ as well as found in the literature presented a better OS in comparison to others nodal T-cell lymphoma as AITL, PTCL-NOS and ALCL-ALK-. Surprisingly the PFS of ALCL-ALK+ was statistically significant lower than of ALCL-ALK-. We thought that this result may be explained because in our service until to perform this analysis we did not indicate ASCT in first CR for ALCL-ALK+, but for all ALCL-ALK-. This hypothesis may be reinforced as the most of our cases presented high-intermediate and high-risk of IPI and that could equalize the favorable effect of ALK expression. In addition, we changed our approach and we are also indicating ASCT in first line for patients with ALCL-ALK+ with intermediate-high and high-risk of IPI . Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Classification of Donor KIR-Genotype Information to Predict Outcome after Unrelated Hematopoietic Stell Cell Transplantation: The Jury Is Still out

Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 2162-2162
Author(s):  
Johannes Schetelig ◽  
Henning Baldauf ◽  
Carolin Massalski ◽  
Sandra Frank ◽  
Jürgen Sauter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Overall Survival ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Transplantation ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Cell Depletion ◽  
Unrelated Donor ◽  
T Cell Depletion ◽  
Travel Grant

Abstract Introduction: A series of studies suggest that harnessing natural killer (NK) cell reactivity by killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genotype based unrelated donor selection could further improve outcome after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). A Receptor-Ligand model has been proposed for donor selection which aims at augmenting NK cell activation while minimizing inhibition. Information on education of KIR2DS1-positive NK cells (Venstrom et al, NEJM 2012) and the predicted Receptor-Ligand interaction of KIR3DL1-positive NK cells is utilized for this algorithm. By combining this information donors can be classified as KIR-advantageous or disadvantageous. Patients with donors, characterized by activating KIR2DS1 and weak/non-inhibiting KIR3DL1, experienced less relapse and improved survival compared to patients with donors, characterized by lacking an activating KIR2DS1 but presence of strong-inhibiting KIR3DL1. This study aimed at validating this predictor in an independent cohort of patients. Methods: Donor samples were retrieved from the Collaborative Biobank (Dresden, Germany) and mapped to patient outcome data extracted from the German Registry for Stem Cell transplantation. KIR typing was performed using a high resolution amplicon-based next generation sequencing method. KIR typing at the allele level was based on sequencing of exons 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9. The patient population was restricted to patients with AML or MDS. Donor and patient mapping was cross-checked by HLA-typing of the donor sample. The impact of the predictor on overall survival was tested in a Cox regression model adjusted for patient age, a modified disease risk index, performance status, donor age, HLA-match, sex match, CMV match, conditioning intensity, type of T-cell depletion and graft type. Results: Clinical data from 2314 patients were analyzed. The median age at alloHCT was 59.4 years (range, 18.1 to 79.6 years). The indication for alloHCT was AML for 80% of patients and MDS for 20% of patients. Disease risk was assessed as low, intermediate, high or very high in 1%, 52%, 42%, and 5%, respectively. Patient and donor were 10/10 matched in 78% of pairs, whereas a one locus mismatch was reported for 21% of pairs. Myeloablative, reduced-intensity and non-myeloablative conditioning regimens were used in 29%, 67%, and 4% of patients, respectively. ATG was administered in 77% and alemtuzumab in 3% of patients. Twenty percent of patients received no T-cell depletion. In total, 535 patients experienced relapse and 945 patients died. This number of events translated into a power of the confirmatory analysis for the predictor of KIR2DS1 and KIR3DL1 of 67%. Two-year overall and event-free survival for the whole cohort was 51% (95%-CI 48% to 53%) and 44% (95%-CI 42% to 47%) and the 2-year incidence of relapse and non-relapse mortality was 28% (95%-CI 26% to 30%) for both endpoints. In univariate analysis, overall survival (54% versus 56%) and the cumulative incidence of relapse of patients with a KIR-advantageous donor were comparable to patients with KIR-disadvantageous donors. The adjusted hazard ratio from the multivariable Cox regression model for the comparison of patients with KIR-advantageous versus KIR-disadvantageous donors was 0.99 (Wald-test, p=0.95) for overall survival and 1.12 (Wald-test, p=0.41) for relapse incidence. When evaluated separately, the two components of the predictor (degree of inhibition by KIR3DL1 & presence of activating KIR2DS1) did not have an impact on overall survival or the incidence of relapse (see Figure). Also, evaluation of the combined predictor in subsets of patients by disease, type of T-cell depletion and HLA-compatibility did not allow prediction of these outcomes. Conclusions: Relapse incidence and overall survival after unrelated donor alloHCT could not be predicted using information on activating KIR2DS1 and inhibiting KIR3DL1 donor genes in an independent cohort of predominantly Caucasian patients. The predictor had been developed in a cohort of patients with AML who were younger and predominantly had received myeloablative conditioning based on total-body irradiation, ATG was administered less often, but donors often were only partially HLA-compatible. The different outcome in the current analysis thus points at potential interactions between NK-cell mediated allo-reactivity and procedural variations of alloHCT. Figure Figure. Disclosures Schetelig: Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Stelljes:Novartis: Honoraria; MSD: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; JAZZ: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria. Ayuk:Therakos (Mallinckrodt): Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy. Bethge:Neovii GmbH: Honoraria, Research Funding; Miltenyi Biotec GmbH: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Bug:Neovii: Other: Travel Grant; Novartis Pharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Other: Travel Grant; Celgene: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Astellas Pharma: Other: Travel Grant; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Other: Travel Grant. Kobbe:Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Travel Support, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding. Beelen:Medac: Consultancy, Other: Travel Support. Fleischhauer:GENDX: Research Funding.

Allo-Reactive NK Cells after HLA-Matched Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 2904-2904
Author(s):  
Justin Hasenkamp ◽  
Andrea Borgerding ◽  
Bjoern Chapuy ◽  
Gerald Wulf ◽  
Inga Missal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Depletion ◽  
T Cell Depletion ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Graft Versus Host ◽  
Donor Type

Abstract Allo-reactive natural killer (NK) cells frequently occur early after haplo-mismatch hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with killer cell immunoglobuline-like receptor (KIR)-ligand mismatch in graft versus host (GvH) direction. Clinical data and experiments in mice indicate a beneficial influence on relapse rates, graft acceptance and Graft-versus-Host disease (GvHD). We determined the incidence of allo-reactive donor type NK cells after HLA A-, B-, DR-, DQ-matched allogeneic HSCT on a functional level. Clinical course, chimerism (PCR), immune-reconstitution (FACS) and frequencies of functional active and allo-reactive NK cells (ELISpot) were longitudinal determined in 19 patients so far. Patients (pts) suffered for high risk AML (7 pts), CML failing cytogenetic response to imatinib (3 pts), poor risk ALL (2 pts), relapse/refractory high-grade NHL (6 pts) and Multiple Myeloma (13q-) (1 pt). All patients received myeloablative conditioning regimens and GvHD-prophylaxis with cyclosporine A or tacrolimus and short course mycophenolat mofetil without in vivo or ex vivo T cell depletion. Chimerism analyses ensured hematopoietic reconstitution from donor type in 19/19 patients. In 3/19 patients NK cell activity was absent even against HLA class I negative control target cells. Absence of functional active NK cells correlates with severe acute GvHD accompanied by high doses of glucocorticosteroid medication. In all other patients we detected at least once functional active NK cells in peripheral blood. In 4/19 cases we detected allo-reactive NK cells after HSCT at days (d) +28, +68, +128 (case 19), d +56 (case 8), d +355 (case 1) and d +379 (case 13). Two cases were transplanted in KIR-ligand mismatch in GvH direction (donors HLA-CAsn80 and -CLys80, recipients missing HLA-CLys80). Allo-reactive NK cells were absent in all patients with known complete KIR-ligand match. Flow cytometry data on reconstitution of NK cell repertoire showed individual heterogeneous results. After median observation time post HSCT of 268 d (31–902) 3 patients died due to relapse. None of the patients with NK cell allo-reactivity experienced relapse. This is the first proof of circulating functionally active, allo-reactive NK cells after HLA-A, -B, -DR and -DQ matched HSCT. We detected NK cell allo-reactivity in all donor-recipient pairs with KIR-ligand (HLA-C) mismatch in GvH direction. After haplo-mismatch HSCT and T cell depletion NK cell allo-reactivity is restricted early after transplantation (within 3 months). In contrast, we detected late onset (>1 year) of NK cell allo-reactivity after one-locus (HLA-C) mismatch HSCT without T cell depletion of the grafts.

Analysis of Factors Influencing Natural Killer (NK) Cell Activity during the Early Phase after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (SCT).

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 2192-2192
Author(s):  
Lars Fischer ◽  
Olaf Penack ◽  
Chiara Gentilini ◽  
Eckhard Thiel ◽  
Uharek Lutz
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Absolute Number ◽  
Cell Depletion ◽  
Reduced Intensity Conditioning ◽  
T Cell Depletion ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Absolute

Abstract Background: After allogeneic SCT, NK cell mediated cytotoxicity is an important defense mechanism against residual tumor cells and viral infections. Using a novel flow cytometric assay, which detects the lytic granule membrane protein CD107a as a marker for NK cell degranulation, we investigated the effect of in vivo T cell depletion and the type of conditioning on NK cell function in the early phase after transplantation. Methods: At day +30 and day +90 after allogeneic SCT with regular (n=14) and dose reduced conditioning (n=8), PBMCs were coincubated at 37°C for 3 h with the NK sensitive cell line HL60. 20μl of PE-Cy5 conjugated anti-CD107a monoclonal antibody (moAb) was added to each tube containing 400μl effector/target cell suspension (2x106 cells, E:T ratio 1:1) prior to incubation. After 1 hour, 10μl of monensin (2mM) was added. After incubation for 3 hours, the cells were stained with conjugated moAb (CD56, CD16, CD3) for flow cytometry. The percentage of CD107a expressing NK cells was assessed and the absolute number of degranulating NK cells /μl was calculated. Results were compared to values from 15 healthy controls. Results: Twenty two patients (pts.) were investigated. Fourteen pts. received a conventional conditioning regimen and eight a reduced intensity conditioning. T cell depletion was applied in 15/22 pts. (ATG n=12, alemtuzumab n=2, 1 OKT-3 n=1). The type of donor included MRD (n=7) and MUD (n=15). At day +30, the proportion of NK cells with cytotoxic activity (indicated by the mean percentage of degranulating CD107a+/CD56+ cells) was significantly reduced as compared to normal donors (2.6% vs. 5.6%, p<0.001). At day +90 the percentage of degranulating NK cells was still decreased compared to normal (3.5%, p=0.007). The predominant proportion of degranulating cells was in the CD56dim/CD16− subpopulation (mean 9.8%). After conventional conditioning, the mean percentage of CD107a+ cells was 1,9% at day +30, compared to 4,0% in patients with reduced intensity conditioning (p=0.21). The absolute number of degranulating NK cells was significantly reduced after conventional conditioning (4.1/μl vs. 19.8/μl, p=0.011). Interestingly, we found no influence of in vivo T cell depletion with ATG on the mean value for CD107a+ cells at day +30 (2.5% vs. 2.9%, p=0.77). Conclusion: Although the proportion of NK cells is increased after allogeneic SCT, our data suggest that the cytotoxic activity of these cells is considerably reduced. The absolute number of NK cells with cytotoxic activity is significantly higher after reduced intensity conditioning which may contribute to the effectiveness of these regimens. Antibody induced in vivo T cell depletion with ATG showed no impact on NK cell activity during the first two months post SCT.

Mature T Cells in the Graft Improve NK Cells Reconstitution after Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 3120-3120
Author(s):  
Stephanie Nguyen ◽  
Mathieu Kuentz ◽  
Jean-Paul Vernant ◽  
Nathalie Dhedin ◽  
Oualid Bouteraa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Depletion ◽  
Specific Lysis ◽  
T Cell Depletion ◽  
Donor T Cells ◽  
Nk Cell Differentiation

Abstract We previously demonstrated that natural killer (NK) cells generated after haploidentical stem-cell transplantation (SCT) are blocked at an immature state characterized by phenotypic features and impaired functioning, a blockage that may affect transplantation outcome (Nguyen et al. Blood 2005). Hypothesizing that the absence of mature donor T cells in the graft may affect NK cell differentiation and function, we examined NK cells from 21 patients who received haploidentical SCT from relatives for advanced malignant hematopoietic disease and underwent either partial (pTCD) (CD3+ in the graft >1x105/Kg, mean: 6.9x105/Kg; n=11) or extensive (e-TCD) (CD3+ in the graft<1x105/Kg; mean: 0.35x105/Kg; n=10) T cell depletion and compared them with NK cells from their healthy donors. As previously described, compared with donor cells, recipient NK cells expressed lower levels of inhibitory KIR (in particular KIR2DL1 and KIR2DL2) and higher levels of CD94/NKG2A receptors after transplant (mean expression of CD94/NKG2A on recipient NK cell at 3 months post-transplant: 93.4%±7.2% versus 49.6%±10.9% on donor NK cells, p<0.0001), but these levels did not differ significantly between the pTCD and eTCD groups. However, the frequency of the immunoregulatory CD3−CD56bright NK subset was sharply lower in the pTCD than eTCD groups after transplantation (25.0%±9.6% versus 53.3%±18.0 at 3 months; p<0.001). The level of NKp30 receptors on NK cells was also higher after pTCD than eTCD transplantation (70.3%±7.1% versus 58.0%±6.5%, p=0.013) and that of pTCD patients resembled the donor NK repertoire. NK cytotoxicity against primary haplomismatched AML blasts was significantly more pronounced after pTCD than eTCD transplants (29.0%±8.9% specific lysis versus 6.7%±4.1% at a ratio Effector/Target (E/T):20/1, p=0.002), although still lower than in donor NK cells (mean specific lysis of donor NK cells from both groups against AML blasts: 43.5%±13% at a ratio E/T: 20/1). This more mature phenotypic and functional profile of NK cells after pTCD transplant was clinically associated with a lower rate of relapse and superior survival (1/11 relapse, 3/11 patients alive in complete remission at 11, 10 and 3 years) than in eTCD group (8/10 relapse; no patient alive at 1 year). These results support a model in which mature donor T cells in the graft may play a key role, in vivo, in NK cell differentiation by improving NK cell maturation and cytolytic function against leukemic blasts. They point to the dilemma of haploidentical hematopoietic SCT in leukemic patients: on the one hand, extensive T-cell depletion is associated with a risk of fatal leukemia relapse due to the loss of the GvL effect T cells, which can not be replaced by immature NK cells; on the other hand, partial T-cell depletion might increase the risk of GvHD but also improves the GvL effect mediated by NK cells. New treatments infusing mature haploidentical NK cells in leukemic patients should be used to test the efficiency of NK alloreactivity.

Alemtuzumab but Not ATG Decreases Natural Killer (NK) Cell Activity towards Tumor Targets in the Early Phase after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 2869-2869
Author(s):  
Olaf Penack ◽  
Lars Fischer ◽  
Andrea Stroux ◽  
Chiara Gentilini ◽  
Axel Nogai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Early Phase ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Absolute Number ◽  
Cell Depletion ◽  
Nk Cell Activity ◽  
T Cell Depletion ◽  
Healthy Donors

Abstract Background: In vivo T cell depletion with ATG or Alemtuzumab is effective to reduce the incidence of graft-versus host disease (GVHD) caused by alloreactive T cells. However, there is also a potential impact of these substances on the function of natural killer (NK) cells who are the predominant cells in peripheral blood in the early phase after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and mediate beneficial graft-versus-tumor activity. Using a novel flow cytometric assay, which detects the lytic granule membrane protein CD107a as a marker for NK cell degranulation, we investigated the effect of T cell depletion with ATG and Alemtuzumab on NK cell function in the early phase after HSCT. Methods: PBMCs of 34 patients (pts) at day +30 after allogeneic HSCT and of 16 healthy donors were coincubated at 37°C for 3 h with the NK sensitive cell line HL60. In each tube, containing 400μl effector/target suspension (2x106 cells), 20μl of PE-Cy5 conjugated anti-CD107a monoclonal antibody was added prior to incubation. After the first 1 h 10μl of the secretion inhibitor 2 mM monensin was added. At the end of coincubation cells were stained with mAbs (CD56, CD3) for flow cytometry. The percentage of CD107a expressing NK cells was assessed and the absolute number of degranulating NK cells/μl was calculated. Results: Treatment Characteristics: Fourteen pts received ATG, ten pts were treated with Alemtuzumab and ten patients did not receive T cell depletion. The source of donor was: MRD 12 and MUD 22. NK cell count: The median NK cell count was: 250/μl in healthy individuals, 250/μl in pts without T cell depletion, 400/μl in pts with ATG and 100/μl in pts receiving Alemtuzumab (p<0.0005; Kruskal-Wallis test). NK cell activity: The median percentage of degranulating NK cells was 5.4% in healthy donors, 4,4% without T cell depletion, 2,8% when ATG was used and 0,8% when Alemtuzumab was given (p<0.0005). The absolute number of CD107a+ NK cells in response to the standardized tumor targets accounted for 13,4/μl (median) in normal donors, 12,9/μl in pts without T cell depletion, 7,6/μl in pts with ATG and 0,9/μl in pts with Alemtuzumab (p=0.001). The percentage and absolute number of CD107a+ NK cells were not significantly different between patients receiving ATG and patients not receiving T cell depletion (p=NS). Conclusion: With a new and feasible method we were able to quantify and characterize tumor reactive NK cells after HSCT. We found that NK cell mediated cytotoxicity towards tumor targets is influenced by the type of T cell depletion: The NK cell activity in patients receiving Alemtuzumab was considerably reduced whereas ATG had only moderate impact on the NK cell activity in the early phase after HSCT.

scholarly journals T-cell depletion of HLA-identical transplants in leukemia

Blood ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 2120-2130 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Marmont ◽  
MM Horowitz ◽  
RP Gale ◽  
K Sobocinski ◽  
RC Ash ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Treatment Failure ◽  
Chronic Gvhd ◽  
Chronic Phase ◽  
Myelogenous Leukemia ◽  
Cell Depletion ◽  
T Cell Depletion ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Dose Rates ◽  
Leukemia Relapse

We analyzed the effects of T-cell depletion on the outcome of HLA- identical sibling bone marrow transplants for leukemia by comparing 731 T-cell-depleted transplants with 2,480 non-T-cell-depleted transplants. T-cell depletion decreased acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (relative risk [RR] 0.45; P less than .0001) and chronic (GVHD) (RR 0.56; P less than .0001). However, it increased graft failure (RR 9.29; P less than .0001). Leukemia relapse also was increased. In first remission acute leukemia or chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia, leukemia relapse was 2.75 times more likely after T-cell-depleted transplants (P less than .0001). T-cell depletion increased the risk of treatment failure (RR 1.35; P less than .0003) and decreased leukemia- free survival. We also studied controllable variables associated with outcome of T-cell-depleted transplants. The unique findings were that among recipients of T-cell-depleted transplants for early leukemia, radiation doses greater than or equal to 11 Gy (RR 0.54; P less than .01), dose rates greater than 14 cGy/min (RR 0.56; P less than .002), and additional posttransplant immune suppression with cyclosporine alone (RR 0.53; P less than .0006) or cyclosporine plus methotrexate (RR 0.36; P less than .01) were associated with fewer treatment failures. Use of monoclonal antibodies rather than physical techniques for T-cell depletion (RR 2.01; P less than .03) and fractionated radiation (RR 1.69; P less than .05) were associated with increased treatment failure and lower leukemia-free survival. These data may be useful in designing strategies to improve results of T-cell-depleted transplants.

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