Aimaz Afrough

Symptomatic BK Virus Infection Is Associated with Kidney Function Decline and Poor Overall Survival in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Recipients

Nephropathy due to BK virus (BKV) infection is an evolving challenge in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We hypothesized that BKV infection was a marker of kidney function decline and a poor prognostic factor in HSCT recipients who experience this complication. In this retrospective study, we analyzed all patients who underwent their first allogeneic HSCT at our institution between 2004 and 2012. We evaluated the incidence of persistent kidney function decline, which was defined as a confirmed reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate of at least 25% from baseline using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology equation. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to model the cause‐specific hazard of kidney function decline, and the Fine–Gray method was used to account for the competing risks of death. Among 2477 recipients of a first allogeneic HSCT, BK viruria was detected in 25% (n = 629) and kidney function decline in 944 (38.1%). On multivariate analysis, after adjusting for age, sex, acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD), chronic GVHD, preparative conditioning regimen, and graft source, BK viruria remained a significant risk factor for kidney function decline (p < 0.001). In addition, patients with BKV infection and kidney function decline experienced worse overall survival. After allogeneic HSCT, BKV infection was strongly and independently associated with subsequent kidney function decline and worse patient survival after HSCT.

Central Nervous System Relapse in Adults with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Central nervous system (CNS) relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) confers a poor prognosis in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Preventing CNS relapse after HSCT remains a therapeutic challenge, and criteria for post-HSCT CNS prophylaxis have not been addressed. In a 3-center retrospective analysis, we reviewed the data for 457 adult patients with ALL who received a first allogeneic HSCT in first or second complete remission (CR). All patients received CNS prophylaxis as part of their upfront therapy for ALL, but post-transplantation CNS prophylaxis practice varied by institution and was administered to 48% of the patients. Eighteen patients (4%) developed CNS relapse after HSCT (isolated CNS relapse, n = 8; combined bone marrow and CNS relapse, n = 10). Patients with a previous history of CNS involvement with leukemia had a significantly higher rate for CNS relapse (P = .002), and pretransplantation CNS involvement was the only risk factor for post-transplantation CNS relapse found in this study. We failed to find a significant effect of post-transplantation CNS prophylaxis to prevent relapse after transplantation. Furthermore, no benefit for post-transplantation CNS prophylaxis could be detected when a subgroup analysis of patients with (P = .10) and without previous CNS involvement (P = .52) was performed. Finally, we could not find any significant effect for intensity of the transplantation conditioning regimen on CNS relapse after HSCT. In conclusion, CNS relapse is an uncommon event after HSCT for patients with ALL in CR1 or CR2, but with higher risk among patients with CNS involvement before transplantation. Furthermore, neither the use of post-HSCT CNS prophylaxis nor the intensity of the HSCT conditioning regimen made a significant difference in the rate of post-HSCT CNS relapse.

Poor immune reconstitution is associated with symptomatic BK polyomavirus viruria in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients

BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) infections are known indicators of immune suppression in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients; they can lead to hemorrhagic cystitis, ureteral stenosis, renal dysfunction, and prolonged hospital stays. In this study, we determined transplant‐associated variables and immune parameters that can predict for the risk of BKPyV viruria. We hypothesized that BKPyV infection is a marker of poor immune recovery.

Outcomes in hepatitis C virus seropositive lymphoma and myeloma patients after autologous stem cell transplantation.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the cornerstone therapy for many hematological disorders. Advances in HSCT with better supportive care and earlier referral for HSCT have led to an increase in the number of patients undergoing HSCT. However, the post-HSCT period is often accompanied by infections and complications involving the liver, the lungs and the hematopoietic system.

Impact of Hepatitis B Core Antibody Seropositivity on the Outcome of Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma

Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) seropositivity has been associated with a higher rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation after chemotherapy, even in patients who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative. However, little is known about the risk of HBV reactivation after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT). We evaluated the incidence of HBV reactivation, liver toxicity, and survival in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who received auto-HCT at our institution. We retrospectively identified 107 MM patients with resolved HBV infection (HBcAb positive, HBsAg negative) and 125 patients with negative HBV serology (control subjects) who were matched for age, timing of auto-HCT from diagnosis, cytogenetics, disease status at transplant, induction therapy, and preparative regimen. All patients underwent auto-HCT between 1991 and 2013. Primary endpoints were HBV reactivation, defined as HBsAg positivity or ≥10-fold increase in HBV DNA, and hepatotoxicity, as defined in the U.S. National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0. In the resolved HBV infection group, 52 patients (49%) were HBsAb positive and 24 (22%) had detectable HBV DNA before auto-HCT. Only 1 patient with resolved HBV infection received pre-emptive antiviral therapy with lamivudine, whereas 4 patients received lamivudine (n = 3) or tenofovir (n = 1) at reactivation after auto-HCT for a median duration of 12 months. HBV reactivation occurred in 7 of 107 patients (6.5%) in the resolved HBV group. Median time to HBV reactivation from auto-HCT was 16 months. The cumulative incidence of grade 2 or greater hepatotoxicity was 30% in the resolved HBV infection group and 22% in the control group (hazard ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, .7 to 2.3; P = .4). Nonrelapse mortality for the 2 groups was not statistically different at 2 years (P = .06), although it trended higher in the control group than in the resolved HBV infection group (8% versus 1%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) durations in the resolved HBV infection and control groups were 21 versus 18 months (P = .5) and 53 versus 67 months (P = .2), respectively. Our data suggest that resolved HBV infection in patients undergoing auto-HCT for MM is associated with a low risk of HBV reactivation and hepatotoxicity; these complications were reversible and did not adversely affect the PFS or OS.

Outcome of Patients with Immunoglobulin Light-Chain Amyloidosis with Lung, Liver, Gastrointestinal, Neurologic, and Soft Tissue Involvement after Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

There is limited information on the outcome when organs other than heart or kidneys are involved by immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis (AL). We report the outcome of 53 patients with AL with gastrointestinal (GI), peripheral nerve (PN), liver, lung, or soft-tissue involvement, who underwent high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT) at our institution between 1997 and 2013. The median age at auto-HCT was 56 years (range, 35 to 74). One, 2, 3, or 4 organs were involved in 43%, 22%, 28%, and 4% of patients, respectively. Concurrent cardiac, renal, or both were involved in 24 (45%) patients. Forty-six patients received induction therapy before auto-HCT. The 100-day and 1-year treatment-related mortality (TRM) were 3.8% (n = 2) and 7.5% (n = 4), respectively. Forty-one (80%) patients achieved a hematologic response. Organ response at 1 year after auto-HCT was seen in 23 (57%) of the 40 evaluable patients. With a median follow-up of 24 months, the median progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were 36 and 73 months, respectively. Auto-HCT was associated with a low TRM, durable organ responses, and a median OS of > 6 years in selected patients with AL and GI, PN, liver, lung, or soft-tissue involvement.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in light chain amyloidosis (AL) with renal involvement

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in light chain amyloidosis (AL) with renal involvement

Impact of Induction Therapy on the Outcome of Immunoglobulin Light Chain Amyloidosis after Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

With the availability of immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs) and proteasome inhibitors (PI), most patients with immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL) receive induction therapy before autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT). In this study we evaluated the type of induction therapy and its impact on the outcome of auto-HCT in AL. We identified 128 patients with AL who underwent high-dose chemotherapy and auto-HCT at our institution between 1997 and 2013. Patients were divided into 3 groups: no induction, conventional chemotherapy (CC)-based induction (melphalan, steroids), and IMiD/PI-based induction (thalidomide, lenalidomide, or bortezomib). The hematologic response (HR) and organ response were defined according to the established criteria. Median age at auto-HCT was 58 years (range, 35 to 75). Twenty patients (15.5%) received no induction, 25 (19.5%) received CC, and 83 (65%) received IMiDs/PIs. One, 2, or 3 or more organs were involved in 90 (70%), 20 (16%), and 18 (14%) patients, respectively. After auto-HCT 12 of 20 (60%), 15 of 24 (62%), and 72 of 83 (87%) assessable patients achieved HR at 100 days in no induction, CC, and IMiD/PI groups, respectively (P = .001). Organ response at 1 year after auto-HCT was seen in 7 of 18 (39%), 14 of 24 (58%), and 37 of 79 (47%) assessable patients in no induction, CC, and IMiD/PI groups, respectively (P = .3). Achieving a hematologic complete response was associated with a significantly higher probability of achieving an organ response (P = .02). After a median follow-up of 26 months, rates of 2-year progression-free survival were 67%, 56%, and 73% in no induction, CC, and IMiD/PI groups, respectively (P = .07; hazard ratio, .5; 95% confidence interval [CI], .3 to 1.1). Rates of 2-year overall survival were 73%, 76%, and 87% in no induction, CC, and IMiD/PI groups, respectively (P = .05; hazard ratio, .4; 95% CI, .2 to .9). On multivariate analysis a low β2-microglobulin (P = .01; hazard ratio, .3; 95% CI, .1 to .7) and induction therapy with IMiD/PI (P = .01; hazard ratio, .3; 95% CI, .1 to .7) were associated with a better overall survival. Induction therapy with either CC or IMiDs/PIs is safe and feasible in selected patients with AL. IMiD/PI-based induction is associated with a longer overall survival compared with patients who received no induction or CC before auto-HCT.

Donor Cell–Derived Myelodysplastic Syndrome With Ring Chromosome 7 After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant in 2 Patients With Lymphomas as Primary Disease

Donor cell leukemia (DCL) is a rare condition defined as leukemia or myelodysplasia that develops in grafted donor cells. To the authors’ knowledge, this report presents the first cases of DCL with r(7) abnormality (ring chromosome 7). Although abnormalities of chromosome 7 are common in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, detection of r(7) and recognition of its origin can be challenging. This is also the first report of del(12p) (deletion of 12p) resulting in ETV6 (ets translocation variant gene 6) deletion in DCL. Progression of disease in the patient with del(12p)/ ETV6, from myelodysplastic syndrome to acute myeloid leukemia, suggests that del(12p)/ETV6 may play an important role in leukemia transformation in DCL.