scholarly journals Engraftment of Donor Cells after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: Comparison and Impact of Chimerism in Whole Blood and Peripheral CD3+ T-Cells

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 5866-5866
Author(s):  
Yannick Le Bris ◽  
Berger Florian ◽  
Audrey Menard ◽  
Thierry Guillaume ◽  
Pierre Peterlin ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: After allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT), engraftment can be assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using differing donor/recipient markers (Alizadeh et al. Blood, 2002), identified in peripheral blood DNA cells before transplant. We report here on the concomitant examination of the proportions of donor and recipient DNA in peripheral whole blood (WB) and sorted CD3+ T-cells on days +60 and +90, looking at their impact on survival. Patients, material and methods: This monocentric study evaluated the impact on outcomes of early WB and sorted CD3+ T cells chimerism independently and of the four possible combinations of chimerism between WB and sorted CD3+ T-cells. All follow-up chimerism samples from allo-SCT patients performed in adults at Nantes University Hospital between October 2009 and October 2016 were reviewed, focusing on those where both PB and/or CD3+ T-cells were evaluated on days +60 (45-75) and/or +90 (75-120) after allo-SCT. A global cohort of 229 patients (239 grafts) was retrieved, which includes 52 patients evaluable on day +60 only, 67 evaluable on day +90 only and 120 evaluable on both days +60 and +90. A threshold of >95% donor DNA was considered for complete chimerism. Disease free survival (DFS) was calculated from the date of graft until relapse, death or last follow-up. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the date of graft until death or last follow-up. Chi square tests were used to compare incidences. Log rang test and Kaplan Meier were used to evaluate DFS and OS. Results: The whole cohort comprised 62% males and had a median age of 58 years old (20-74) at the time of allo-SCT. Patients were treated for myeloid-lineage disease in 59% of the cases. Reduced-intensity conditioning was used in 89% (n=212), donors were familial in 45% (n=107), registry in 48% (n=114). Unrelated cord blood units were used in 8% of the cases (n=18). Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCY) was performed in 48 procedures including 33 and 15 with haplo (HG) and matched donors respectively. Considering the 239 allograft procedures, the median follow-up was 5.8 years (95% CI: 3.1-5.8), the rate of relapse 27% and the rate of death 31%. Complete WB chimerism was observed for 80% and 71% of the cases on day +60 and day +90 respectively. Complete CD3+ chimerism was present for 53% and 51% of the grafts at days +30 and +90 respectively. Thus, cases displaying both complete WB and CD3+ chimerism on days +60 and +90 were 53% and 51% respectively, while 27% and 20% were documented with full WB and mixed CD3+ chimerism on days +60 and +90. Mixed chimerism was observed in both WB and CD3+ cells in 14% of the cases on day +60 and 22% on day +90. Finally, a small proportion of patients (6% and 7% at days +60 and +90) displayed an intriguing complete chimerism in CD3+ cells yet mixed WB chimerism. None of these features appeared associated to disease lineage (lymphoid or myeloid) nor cord blood allo-SCT. Interestingly, of the 27 grafts with myeloablative conditioning, only 14 had full WB/CD3+ engraftment on day +60 or +90, and thus all 27 were retained for the study. None of the four WB/CD3 chimerism combinations at the two times considered had an impact on DFS in this cohort. Surprisingly, although full or mixed WB chimerism had no impact on DFS and OS at days +60 and +90, the presence of a mixed CD3+ chimerism (vs full) at day+90 was associated with a significantly better OS (median: 5.8 months years [95%CI: -not reached] versus 3.1 years [95%CI: 2.2- 3.1]; p=0.025). CD3+ chimerism at day+60 has no impact on OS. All HG resulted in full CD3+ chimerism at both time points compared to non HG (100% vs 52%, p<0.0001). The same was almost true when considering PTCY procedures: 90% at day+60 and 92% at day +90. Of note, there was no influence on DFS nor OS of WB or CD3+ chimerism status when considering only HG or PTCY grafts vs others in this series. Discussion: In this large series, early WB chimerism status did not predict outcome. Surprisingly, mixed CD3+ chimerism at day+90 appears to be significantly associated with a longer OS, suggesting that remaining recipient memory lymphocytes could be beneficial. This result has to be confirmed prospectively. It remains also to define the place of donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) to prevent relapse in patients with full or mixed CD3+ chimerism post-transplant (analyses of DLI received in our patients are on-going). Disclosures Moreau: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria.

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 1328-1328
Author(s):  
Víctor Noriega ◽  
Carolina Martinez-Laperche ◽  
David Serrano ◽  
Gabriela Rodriguez-Macias ◽  
Mi Kwon ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 1328 Introduction: CD4+CD25+ regulatory T-cells (Treg) play an important role in inducing and maintaining allogeneic tolerance and can inhibit graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). However, the dynamics of donor and recipient Treg cell populations after Allo-SCT has not been studied yet. Objective: To analyze the dynamics of chimerism in Tregs and compare it to that of T lymphocytes (TL; CD3+) and whole blood leukocytes (WBL). Material and Methods: The study includes 53 patients subjected to Allo-SCT (myeloablative and non-myeloablative). PB samples were obtained weekly during the first month and every 14 days after day +30 until complete chimerism (CC) was achieved, and at fixed time-points (+30, +60, +90, +180, +365) thereafter. TL and Tregs were purified from PB until CC was achieved using inmunomagnetic technology (Miltenyi Biotec; CD3+ Microbeads and CD4+/CD25+ Treg Isolation Kit, respectively). Chimerism analysis was performed by microsatellite PCR (STR-PCR; AmpFlSTR SGM Plus; Applied Biosystems) on genomic DNA obtained from WBL as well as on cell lysates obtained from purified TL and Tregs. Complete chimerism was considered in samples with percentage of recipient cells <1% (sensitivity of the STR-PCR) for WBL samples and <5% (minimum purity of 95% as estimated by flow cytometry) for purified cell lineages. Results: Median follow up for the whole cohort of patients was 338 days. CC was spontaneously achieved in WBL, TL and Tregs in 45/53 patients (85%) in a median time of 35.41, 38.8 and 42.5 days respectively. 5/3 patients (9%) suffered from graft failure/rejection showing mixed chimerism (MC) with increasing percentages of recipient cells both in WBL and leukocyte lineages. 3/53 patients (6%) maintained mixed chimerism (MC) in WBL and leukocyte lineages at day +180, with no signs of graft rejection or disease relapse. Analysis of the chimerism dynamics of those patients who spontaneously achieve CC revealed two different groups: Group 1 included 25/45 patients who achieved CC at the same time in WBL, TL and Tregs. Group 2 included 20/45 patients who achieved CC in WBL while maintaining MC in TL and Tregs. Interestingly enough, 9/20 patients from Group 2 maintained MC in Tregs 7–75 days after achieving CC in both WBL and TL (Figure 1). In a preliminary analysis, the small sample size precluded from obtaining statistically significant associations between the dynamics of chimerism in Tregs and the development of complications such as relapse or GVHD after SCT. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study dealing with Treg chimerism after SCT. We have shown it is feasible and can be performed on a routine basis together with standard lineage specific chimerism follow up. Although there is an association between chimerism dynamics in Tregs and TL, this is not absolute and a percentage of patients maintain residual Tregs of recipient origin after WTL and TL have become of complete donor origin. In this small cohort, Treg chimerism did not influence the development of post-SCT complications. Analysis of a larger and more homogeneous cohort would allow establishing the usefulness of Treg chimerism testing for the management of transplanted patients. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 247-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heike Pfeifer ◽  
B. Wassmann ◽  
Wolfgang A. Bethge ◽  
Jolanta Dengler ◽  
Martin Bornhäuser ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 247 Background: The presence of minimal residual disease (MRD) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) for Ph+ ALL is highly predictive of eventual relapse. Imatinib (IM) has very limited efficacy in hematologic relapse of Ph+ALL, but may prevent leukemia recurrence if started when the leukemia burden is still very low and detectable only by molecular techniques. The optimal time for starting IM post transplant and the prognostic relevance of different bcr-abl transcript levels in relation to time after SCT have not been established. Aims: To determine the impact of post-transplant IM, given either prophylactically or after detection of bcr-abl transcripts (pre-emptively), on the overall incidence of MRD, remission duration, long-term treatment outcome and tolerability in pts. who underwent SCT for Ph+ALL in complete remission. Study Design: In a prospective, randomized multicenter trial, previously transplanted Ph+ ALL pts. (n=55) were assigned to receive imatinib prophylactically (n=26) or pre-emptively (n=29). SCT was performed in CR1 in 23 pts. and 27 pts. in the two groups, respectively. Five pts.were transplanted in CR2. Serial assessment of bcr-abl transcripts was performed by quantitative RT-PCR and additionally by nested-RT-PCR if the sensitivity of the qRT-PCR was below the quantitative range. Confirmatory testing of a second independent sample was not required, to reduce the risk of treatment delays. Samples were considered PCR negative only if the ABL copy number exceeded 104. Imatinib administration was scheduled for one year of continuous PCR negativity. Results: IM was started in 24/26 pts. allocated to prophylactic IM and in 14/29 pts. in the pre-emptive arm. The majority of pts. received IM 400 mg/d (26/38 pts.), the other 12 pts. 600 mg IM daily. IM was started a median of 48 d after SCT in the prophylactic arm and 70 d after SCT with pre-emptive therapy. After a median follow-up of 30 mos. and 32 mos., respectively, 82% and 78% of pts. are alive in ongoing CR, 4 pts. died in CR. Five pts. transplanted in CR1 and 2/5 pts. transplanted in CR2 have relapsed (median follow-up 9 mos. and 10.5 mos., respectively). The frequency of MRD positivity was significantly lower in pts. assigned to prophylactic imatinib (10/26; 40%) than those in the pre-emptive treatment arm (20/29; 69%) (p=0.046 by chi2 test). Only 9 of 29 pts. assigned to pre-emptive imatinib remained continuously PCR negative after SCT, with a median follow-up of 32 months (18–46 months) after SCT. The median duration of sustained, uninterrupted PCR negativity after SCT is 26.5 months with prophylactic and 6.8 months with pre-emptive administration of imatinib (p=0.065). The probability of remaing in CHR after SCT was significantly lower in partients who remained MRD negative after SCT (p=0.0002). Analysis of the kinetics of molecular relapse showed that detection of bcr-abl transcripts within 100 days of transplant, despite rapid initiation of IM, was associated with a significantly inferior EFS compared to first detection of MRD positivity more than 100 days after SCT. IM was discontinued prematurely in 54% pts. receiving imatinib prophylactically and in 64% of pts. receiving imatinib pre-emptively, mostly due to gastrointestinal toxicity. Accordingly, the time to IM discontinuation was 245 d and 191 d in the prophylactic and the pre-emptive treatment arms, respectively. Despite this early discontinuation rate, overall survival in the two treatment groups was 80% and 74.5% after 5 years, with no significant difference by log rank test (p=0.84). Conclusions: Prophylactic administration of imatinib significantly reduces the incidence of molecular relapse after SCT. Both interventional strategies are associated with a low rate of hematologic relapse, durable remissions and excellent long-term outcome in patients with Ph+ ALL. The presence of MRD both prior to and early after SCT identifies a small subset of patients with a poor prognosis despite post-transplant imatinib, and warrants testing of alternative approaches to prevent hematologic relapse. Disclosures: Schuld: Novartis: Employment. Goekbuget:Micromet: Consultancy. Ottmann:Novartis Corporation: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding.


Hemato ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 692-702
Author(s):  
Ann-Kristin Schmaelter ◽  
Johanna Waidhauser ◽  
Dina Kaiser ◽  
Tatjana Lenskaja ◽  
Stefanie Gruetzner ◽  
...  

Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is an established method to enhance the Graft-versus-Leukemia (GvL) effect. However, alterations of cellular subsets in the peripheral blood of DLI recipients have not been studied. We investigated the changes in lymphocyte subpopulations in 16 patients receiving DLI after successful alloSCT. Up to three DLIs were applied in escalating doses, prophylactically for relapse prevention in high-risk disease (n = 5), preemptively for mixed chimerism and/or a molecular relapse/persistence (n = 8), or as part of treatment for hematological relapse (n = 3). We used immunophenotyping to measure the absolute numbers of CD4+, CD8+, NK, and CD56+ T cells and their respective subsets in patients’ peripheral blood one day before DLI (d-1) and compared the results at day + 1 and + 7 post DLI to the values before DLI. After the administration of 1 × 106 CD3+ cells/kg body weight, we observed an overall increase in the CD8+ and CD56+ T cell counts. We determined significant changes between day − 1 compared to day + 1 and day + 7 in memory and activated CD8+ subsets and CD56+ T cells. Applying a higher dose of DLI (5 × 106 CD3+ cells/kg) led to a significant increase in the overall counts and subsets of CD8+, CD4+, and NK cells. In conclusion, serial immune phenotyping in the peripheral blood of DLI recipients revealed significant changes in immune effector cells, in particular for various CD8+ T cell subtypes, indicating proliferation and differentiation.


Leukemia ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Schaap ◽  
A Schattenberg ◽  
E Mensink ◽  
F Preijers ◽  
M Hillegers ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-38
Author(s):  
N. N. Popova ◽  
V. G. Savchenko

Background. The timely reconstitution of the donor-derived immune system is a key factor in the prevention of such post-transplant complications as graft versus host disease, relapse or secondary tumours and various infections. These complications affect the long-term survival of patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.Aim — to describe the main stages of T Cell–mediated immune recovery in patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.General findings. T-cell–mediated immunity is responsible for anti-infective and anti-tumour immune response. The early post-transplant period is characterized by the thymus-independent pathway of T-cell recovery largely involving proliferation of mature donor T cells, which were transplanted to the patient together with hematopoietic stem cells. To a lesser extent, this recovery pathway is realized through the expansion of host naïve and memory T cells, which survived after conditioning. Thymus-dependent reconstitution involves generation of de novo naïve T cells and subsequent formation of a pool of memory T-cells providing the main immunological effects — graft versus tumour and graft versus host reactions. A better understanding of the T-cell immune reconstitution process is important for selecting optimized pre-transplant conditioning regimens and patient-specific immunosuppressive therapy approaches, thus reducing the risks of post-transplant complications and improving the long-term survival of patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 621-621
Author(s):  
Thomas Lion ◽  
Marcel Tilanus ◽  
Hélène Cavé ◽  
Mark Lawler ◽  
Anna Serra ◽  
...  

Abstract Transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells from related and unrelated donors is becoming an increasingly important approach in the successful treatment of different malignant and non-malignant disorders. There is thus growing demand for clinical diagnostic methodologies permitting the surveillance of chimerism during the post-transplant period. The techniques currently employed are rather heterogeneous, rendering uniform evaluation and comparison of diagnostic results between centers difficult. Leading laboratories from ten European countries have therefore performed a collaborative study supported by a grant from the European Commission, the EuroChimerism Concerted Action. The aim of this Concerted Action was the development of a standardized diagnostic methodology for the detection and monitoring of chimerism in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation. A set of microsatellite markers, selected on the basis of their excellent performance in chimerism analysis at the reference centers involved, have been carefully evaluated and optimized for quantitative chimerism testing under standardized experimental conditions. A EuroChimerism panel designed to optimally meet the specific requirements of quantitative chimerism analysis was established utilizing 13 markers (D2S1360, D7S1517, D8S1132, D9S1118, D10S2325, D11S554, D12S1064, D12S391, D17S1290, D19S253, MYCL1, P450CYP19 and SE-33), which best satisfied the criteria of the EuroChimerism consortium. Individual microsatellites from the panel can be analyzed in multiplex reactions to facilitate the identification of one or more markers optimally suited for the monitoring of chimerism during the post-transplant period. Extensive testing of related individuals (>500 pairs) revealed that the EuroChimerism marker panel will provide at least two informative markers which meet the stringent criteria of eligibility defined by the EuroChimerism consortium (Watzinger et al., Leukemia 2006) in >99% of all patient/donor constellations. In addition to the outstanding informativeness of the marker panel, chimerism testing by singleplex assays permitted sensitive detection of residual cells of patient or donor origin at levels ranging between 0.8–1.6% in about 90% of instances. The assay also facilitates accurate and reproducible quantification of donor and recipient hematopoietic cells in peripheral blood or bone marrow specimens and in specific cell lineages isolated by flow-sorting. The precision in determining the relative contribution of donor/recipient cell populations to mixed chimerism was high within the range between 10–90% donor- or recipient-derived cells, while there was a tendency to overestimate the percentage of the subdominant cell population within the range between 1–10%. Wide use of the EuroChimerism assay will provide a basis for international standardization of chimerism testing, which will ultimately contribute to improved clinical management of patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 4460-4460
Author(s):  
Paolo Anderlini ◽  
Sandra Acholonu ◽  
Grace-Julia Okoroji ◽  
Sergio A Giralt ◽  
Roy Jones ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4460 Background: The role of DLIs in the management of recurrent HL following allo-SCT is not well established. Response rates in the 30–50% range have been reported (as high as 79% in a recent report), but their durability and impact on patient survival are not always clear (Peggs et al, BJH 2008; 143:468 and JCO 2011; 29: 971). We wish to update our initial report on this issue (Anderlini et al, BMT 2004; 34: 511). For more details on response criteria definitions, please refer to our original report. Patients and Methods: Between 1999 and 2010, 27 consecutive patients with relapsed/refractory HL following unmanipulated allo-SCT received a total of 55 DLIs as immunotherapy for treatment of progressive disease (PD). Their median age was 30 years (19–60; M/F 19/8), and 21/27 (78%) had a history of prior autologous SCT. Seventeen patients received more than one DLI (range 2–5). Seventeen had a matched sibling/parent donor and ten a matched unrelated donor. In all but two cases the conditioning regimen included fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide or melphalan plus/minus antithymocyte globulin. The median time to PD after allo-SCT was 5 months (range 1–21). In ten patients (37%) prior salvage chemotherapy was administered prior to at least one of their DLIs. The pre-DLI chimerism status was 2/27 mixed and 25/27 full donor. Results: Ten of 27 (37%) patients had a complete/partial response (CR/PR) following at least one of their DLIs. Six of 27 patients (22%) achieved CR/CRU (complete response, unknown), and four of 27(15%) achieved a PR. The median response duration was 7.5 months (range 0.5–20). Of all these ten responders, 100% developed graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) and half of them (50%) had received concomitant chemotherapy. Of the ten patients who received only one DLI, two (20%) had chemotherapy prior to their DLIs. One (10%) had a CRU and the other had stable disease (SD) (10%). Of the remaining eight that did not have chemo prior to DLI, 2 (20%) had CRU, 3 (30%) had PR, 2 (20%) had SD and 1 (10%) had PD. The median CD3+ cell dose administered was 49.8 × 10E6/ kg (range 0.05–285). GVHD developed (or flared) following the DLI in 45/55 cases (82%). After the DLI mixed chimerism (n=2) was converted to complete (or near-complete) donor chimerism. At the latest follow-up (March 2011), five patients (18%) are alive (two in CR). For these five survivors, the follow-up after the 1st DLI is 42 months (range 4–63). Four of them (80%) did not receive chemotherapy with their DLI(s), while one did. Twenty-two patients expired. Their median survival after the 1st DLI was 14 months (range 4–64). Causes of death included PD (n=15; 68%) and non-relapse mortality (n=7; 32%). Conclusions: Despite the limitations related to the small sample size, patient heterogeneity and concomitant chemotherapy administration, these data suggest that (a) DLIs for immunotherapy of recurrent HL following allo-SCT have significant (albeit not always durable) activity, and a subset of patients become long-term survivors (b) administration of multiple DLIs is feasible in selected patients (c) responses are associated with the development of GVHD (d) the role (if any) of concomitant chemotherapy is unclear and, lastly (e) PD remains the main cause of mortality following DLIs. The role of DLIs should be reassessed in the contest of new and effective agents now available in the salvage setting (SGN-35, panobinostat, etc). Disclosures: Off Label Use: Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and melphalan as part of conditioning regimen for allogeneic stem cell transplantation.


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