Herrad Baurmann

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation after reduced-intensity conditioning in patients with myelofibrosis: a prospective, multicenter study of the Chronic Leukemia Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

From 2002 to 2007, 103 patients with primary myelofibrosis or postessential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera myelofibrosis and a median age of 55 years (range, 32-68 years) were included in a prospective multicenter phase 2 trial to determine efficacy of a busulfan (10 mg/kg)/fludarabine (180 mg/m(2))-based reduced-intensity conditioning regimen followed by allogeneic stem cell transplantation from related (n = 33) or unrelated donors (n = 70). All but 2 patients (2%) showed leukocyte and platelet engraftment after a median of 18 and 22 days, respectively. Acute graft-versus-host disease grade 2 to 4 occurred in 27% and chronic graft-versus-host disease in 43% of the patients. Cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality at 1 year was 16% (95% confidence interval, 9%-23%) and significantly lower for patients with a completely matched donor (12% vs 38%; P = .003). The cumulative incidence of relapse at 3 years was 22% (95% confidence interval, 13%-31%) and was influenced by Lille risk profile (low, 14%; intermediate, 22%; and high, 34%; P = .02). The estimated 5-year event-free and overall survival was 51% and 67%, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, age older than 55 years (hazard ratio = 2.70; P = .02) and human leukocyte antigen-mismatched donor (hazard ratio = 3.04; P = .006) remained significant factors for survival. The study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT 00599547.

High-dose treatment with carboplatin, etoposide, and ifosfamide followed by autologous stem-cell transplantation in relapsed or refractory germ cell cancer: a phase I/II study. The German Testicular Cancer Cooperative Study Group.

PURPOSE This trial evaluated the toxicity and efficacy of high-dose carboplatin, etoposide, and ifosfamide followed by autologous stem-cell transplantation in patients with refractory or relapsed germ cell cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between August 1989 and September 1992, 74 patients with refractory or recurrent germ-cell tumors received one cycle of escalating doses of carboplatin (1,500 to 2,000 mg/m2), etoposide (1,200 to 2,400 mg/m2), and ifosfamide (0 to 10 g/m2). Before high-dose therapy, two cycles of conventional-dose cisplatin, etoposide, and ifosfamide were administered to assess tumor responsiveness. Seventy-four patients were assessable for toxicity and 68 for response. RESULTS The doses of carboplatin 1,500 mg/m2, etoposide 2,400 mg/m2, and ifosfamide 10 g/m2 appeared to be safe. At this dosage, we treated 20 patients and observed World Health Organization (WHO) grade 3 and 4 hematotoxicity (100%), nausea (100%), diarrhea (30%), and hepatotoxicity (10%). All patients developed granulocytopenic fever. At carboplatin doses of 1,500 mg/m2, kidney toxicity was mild, with a median maximum creatinine level of 1.4 mg/dL (range, 1.1 to 3.0 mg/dL). However, at carboplatin doses of 1,750 and 2,000 mg/m2, we observed nonacceptable nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Two (3%) patients died of treatment-related complications. Six patients required hemodialysis, which was temporary in five patients and permanent in one. Objective responses were obtained in 43 of 68 (63%) patients, including 21 (31%) complete remissions (CRs) and 14 (20%) inoperable partial remissions (PRs) with marker normalization. The median observation time of surviving patients was 12 months (range, 2 to 32). The probabilities of overall survival, event-free survival, and the relapse-free survival at 2 years were 44% (SD 8%), 35% (SD 6%), and 67% (SD 9%), respectively. Patients with disease refractory to conventional-dose pretreatment had a poor prognosis, with only one of 23 patients surviving event-free at 7 months after high-dose chemotherapy (HDT). In contrast, 24 of 45 (53.3%) patients with sensitive disease survive event-free with a probability of event-free survival at 2 years of 50% (SD 8%). CONCLUSION High-dose carboplatin, etoposide, and ifosfamide plus autologous stem-cell transplantation can be used in refractory and relapsed germ cell cancer with acceptable toxicity, and represents an effective, potentially curative salvage treatment.

Reduced-intensity conditioning versus standard conditioning before allogeneic haemopoietic cell transplantation in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia in first complete remission: a prospective, open-label randomised phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND Reduced-intensity conditioning regimens have been developed to minimise early toxic effects and deaths after allogeneic haemopoietic cell transplantation. However, the efficacy of these regimens before this procedure has not been investigated in a randomised trial. In this prospective, open-label randomised phase 3 trial we compared a reduced-intensity fludarabine-based conditioning regimen with a standard regimen in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia in first complete remission. METHODS Patients were aged 18-60 years and had intermediate-risk or high-risk acute myeloid leukaemia (defined by cytogenetics) in first complete remission; an available HLA-matched sibling donor or an unrelated donor with at least nine of ten HLA alleles; and adequate renal, cardiac, pulmonary, and neurological function. Between Nov 15, 2004, and Dec 31, 2009, patients were randomly assigned (1:1, by a computer-based minimisation procedure that balanced patients for age, cytogenetic risk, induction therapy, and donor type) to receive either reduced-intensity conditioning of four doses of 2 Gy of total-body irradiation and 150 mg/m(2) fludarabine or standard conditioning of six doses of 2 Gy of total-body irradiation and 120 mg/kg cyclophosphamide. All patients were given ciclosporin and methotrexate as prophylaxis against graft-versus-host disease. Neither investigators nor patients were blinded to study treatment. Our primary endpoint was the incidence of non-relapse mortality, analysed in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00150878. FINDINGS The trial was stopped early on Dec 31, 2009, because of slow accrual of patients. 99 patients were randomly assigned to receive reduced-intensity conditioning and 96 to receive standard conditioning. The incidence of non-relapse mortality did not differ between the reduced-intensity and standard conditioning groups (cumulative incidence at 3 years 13% [95% CI 6-21] vs 18% [10-26]; HR 0·62 [95% CI 0·30-1·31]). Relapse incidence (cumulative incidence 3 years 28% [95% CI 19-38] vs 26% [17-36]; HR 1·10 [95% CI 0·63-1·90]), disease-free survival (3 year disease-free survival 58% [95% CI 49-70] vs 56% [46-67]; HR 0·85 [95% CI 0·55-1·32]), and overall survival (3 year overall survival 61% [95% CI 50-74] vs 58% [47-70]; HR 0·77 [95% CI 0·48-1·25]) did not differ significantly between groups. Grade 3-4 of oral mucositis was less common in the reduced-intensity group than in the standard conditioning group (50 patients in the reduced-intensity conditioning group vs 73 patients in the standard conditioning group); the frequency of other side-effects such as graft-versus-host disease and increased concentrations of bilirubin and creatinine did not differ significantly between groups. INTERPRETATION Reduced-intensity conditioning results in a similar incidence of non-relapse mortality and reduced toxic effects compared with standard conditioning without affecting survival outcomes, and thus could be preferentially used in patients younger than 60 years with acute myeloid leukaemia transplanted in first complete remission.

High single-drug activity of nelarabine in relapsed T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma offers curative option with subsequent stem cell transplantation

Nelarabine, a purine analog with T-cell specific action, has been approved for relapsed/refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (ALL/LBL). This is a report of a single-arm phase 2 study conducted in adults (18-81 years of age) with relapsed/refractory T-ALL/LBL. After 1 or 2 cycles, 45 of 126 evaluable patients (36%) achieved complete remission (CR), 12 partial remission (10%), and 66 (52%) were refractory. One treatment-related death was observed, and 2 patients were withdrawn before evaluation. A total of 80% of the CR patients were transferred to stem cell transplantation (SCT). Overall survival was 24% at 1 year (11% at 6 years). After subsequent SCT in CR, survival was 31% and relapse-free survival 37% at 3 years. Transplantation-related mortality was 11%. Neurologic toxicities of grade I-IV/grade III-IV were observed in 13%/4% of the cycles and 16%/7% of the patients. This largest study so far with nelarabine in adults showed impressive single-drug activity in relapsed T-ALL/T-LBL. The drug was well tolerated, even in heavily pretreated patients. A high proportion of CR patients were transferred to SCT with low mortality but a high relapse rate. Exploration of nelarabine in earlier stages of relapse (eg, increasing minimal residual disease), in front-line therapy, and in combination is warranted.

Impact of JAK2V617F mutation status, allele burden, and clearance after allogeneic stem cell transplantation for myelofibrosis

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after reduced-intensity conditioning has become a reasonable treatment option for patients with advanced myelofibrosis. The role of characteristic molecular genetic abnormalities, such as JAK2V617F on outcome of ASCT, is not yet elucidated. In 139 of 162 myelofibrosis patients with known JAK2V617F mutation status who received ASCT after reduced-intensity conditioning, the impact of JAK2 genotype, JAK2V617F allele burden, and clearance of mutation after ASCT was evaluated. Overall survival was significantly reduced in multivariate analysis in patients harboring JAK2 wild-type (hazard ratio = 2.14, P = .01) compared with JAK2 mutated patients. No significant influence on outcome was noted for the mutated allele burden analyzed either as continuous variable or after dividing into quartiles. Achievement of JAK2V617F negativity after ASCT was significantly associated with a decreased incidence of relapse (hazard ratio = 0.22, P = .04). In a landmark analysis, patients who cleared JAK2 mutation level in peripheral blood 6 months after ASCT had a significant lower risk of relapse (5% vs 35%, P = .03). We conclude that JAK2V617F-mutated status, but not allele frequency, resulted in an improved survival and rapid clearance after allografting reduces the risk of relapse.

Antithymocyte globulin for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease after unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia: results from the multicenter German cooperative study group

Summary:A total of 155 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) received hematopoietic stem cell transplants from unrelated donors after standard conditioning. Clinical outcome after the use of two different antithymocyte globulins for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) was analyzed in a retrospective study as follows: rabbit ATG (Thymoglobulin Sangstat/Genzyme, n=49, median age 42 years, 53% in CR, further ATG-S); rabbit ATG (ATG-Fresenius, n=38, median age 42 years, 58% in CR, further ATG-F) or no ATG (n=68, median age 36 years, 55% in CR). The groups were comparable regarding disease status at transplant, age, CMV status and cytogenetics. Grade III–IV acute GvHD was found in 15% in the ATG and 27% in the no ATG group (P=0.44). The most important independent risk factors for chronic GvHD (cGvHD) were the use of ATG, disease status at transplant and conditioning. cGvHD developed significantly more frequently in no ATG group. With the median follow-up of 34 months, the 5-year survival is 42% for those transplanted in CR. To conclude, these data demonstrate that the transplants performed in CR, with ATG, are associated with a good outcome, low incidence of cGvHD and no increase of relapse.

Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation for Advanced Systemic Mastocytosis

PURPOSE Advanced systemic mastocytosis (SM), a fatal hematopoietic malignancy characterized by drug resistance, has no standard therapy. The effectiveness of allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (alloHCT) in SM remains unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a global effort to define the value of HCT in SM, 57 patients with the following subtypes of SM were evaluated: SM associated with clonal hematologic non-mast cell disorders (SM-AHNMD; n = 38), mast cell leukemia (MCL; n = 12), and aggressive SM (ASM; n = 7). Median age of patients was 46 years (range, 11 to 67 years). Donors were HLA-identical (n = 34), unrelated (n = 17), umbilical cord blood (n = 2), HLA-haploidentical (n = 1), or unknown (n = 3). Thirty-six patients received myeloablative conditioning (MAC), and 21 patients received reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC). RESULTS Responses in SM were observed in 40 patients (70%), with complete remission in 16 patients (28%). Twelve patients (21%) had stable disease, and five patients (9%) had primary refractory disease. Overall survival (OS) at 3 years was 57% for all patients, 74% for patients with SM-AHNMD, 43% for those with ASM, and 17% for those with MCL. The strongest risk factor for poor OS was MCL. Survival was also lower in patients receiving RIC compared with MAC and in patients having progression compared with patients having stable disease or response. CONCLUSION AlloHCT was associated with long-term survival in patients with advanced SM. Although alloHCT may be considered as a viable and potentially curative therapeutic option for advanced SM in the meantime, given that this is a retrospective analysis with no control group, the definitive role of alloHCT will need to be determined by a prospective trial.

Dose-dense induction with sequential high-dose cytarabine and mitoxantone (S-HAM) and pegfilgrastim results in a high efficacy and a short duration of critical neutropenia in de novo acute myeloid leukemia: a pilot study of the AMLCG

Dose density during early induction has been demonstrated to be one of the prime determinants for treatment efficacy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The German AML Cooperative Group has therefore piloted a dose-dense induction regimen sequential high-dose AraC and mitoxantrone followed by pegfilgrastim (S-HAM) in which 2 induction cycles are applied over 11 to 12 days instead of 25 to 29 days as used in conventional double induction, thereby increasing dose density 2-fold. Of 172 de novo AML patients (excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia), 61% reached a complete remission, 22% a complete remission with incomplete peripheral recovery, 7% had persistent leukemia, 10% died (early death) resulting in an overall response rate of 83%. Kaplan-Meier estimated survival at 2 years was 61% for the whole group (patients with unfavorable karyotypes, 38%; patients with favorable karyotypes, 69%; patients with intermediate karyotypes, 75%) after S-HAM treatment. Importantly, the compression of the 2 induction cycles into the first 11 to 12 days of treatment was beneficial for normal hematopoiesis as demonstrated by a significantly shortened duration of critical neutropenia of 31 days compared with 46 days after conventionally timed double induction.

ATG as part of the conditioning regimen reduces transplant-related mortality (TRM) and improves overall survival after unrelated stem cell transplantation in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)

Summary:Matched unrelated donor transplants have an increased risk of severe graft-versus-host disease and transplant-related mortality (TRM). ATG has been introduced to decrease GvHD and to facilitate engraftment. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 333 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia, who were treated with Fresenius ATG (n=145, average=90 mg/kg bw, range 40–90 mg/kg bw) or standard immunosuppression without ATG (n=188). Both groups were comparable regarding distribution of age, sex, HLA-matched vs mismatched donors. ATG Fresenius led to a faster leukocyte engraftment, decreased the incidence of acute GvHD and TRM (P=0.01 and P=0.03) and led to a significant better overall survival (70 vs 57%, P=0.03). We concluded that a prospective randomized study is needed to evaluate the definite role of ATG in hemopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Calcineurin inhibitor-free GVHD prophylaxis with sirolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and ATG in Allo-SCT for leukemia patients with high relapse risk: an observational cohort study

Certain leukemias have a high relapse risk even after allo-SCT, and GVHD prophylaxis with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) may interfere with a possible GVL effect. Therefore, we replaced CYA by sirolimus in patients with high relapse risk. In contrast to CNIs, sirolimus promotes the generation of regulatory T-cells and has potent antineoplastic activity. Sirolimus has been used in combination with CNI for GVHD prophylaxis in hematopoietic SCT. However, no CNI-free prophylactic regimen with sirolimus has been evaluated so far. Within the FLAMSA-RIC protocol, 15 patients received GVHD prophylaxis with sirolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). The underlying diagnoses were relapsed or refractory T-ALL (n=3), AML with FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) or mixed-lineage leukemia-partial tandem duplication (MLL-PTD; n=10; 5 with refractory disease) and CML in refractory myeloid blast crisis (n=2). All evaluable patients (n=14) were engrafted. Grades II–IV acute GVHD occurred in 21% and chronic GVHD in 30% of patients. Non-relapse mortality rate was 14%. No thrombotic microangiopathy or sinusoidal obstruction syndrome was observed. Three patients with FLT3-ITD+ AML relapsed after a median of 112 days. At a median follow-up of 10 months after transplantation, 10 patients are alive and in complete remission. In conclusion, sirolimus-based GVHD prophylactic regimens deserve further investigation.