Nicolaus Kroeger

International myeloma working group consensus approach to the treatment of multiple myeloma patients who are candidates for autologous stem cell transplantation

The role of high-dose therapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) continues to evolve in the novel agent era. The choice of induction therapy has moved from conventional chemotherapy to newer regimens incorporating the immunomodulatory derivatives thalidomide or lenalidomide and the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib. These drugs combine well with traditional therapies and with one another to form various doublet, triplet, and quadruplet regimens. Up-front use of these induction treatments, in particular 3-drug combinations, has affected unprecedented rates of complete response that rival those previously seen with conventional chemotherapy and subsequent ASCT. Autotransplantation applied after novel-agent-based induction regimens provides further improvement in the depth of response, a gain that translates into extended progression-free survival and, potentially, overall survival. High activity shown by immunomodulatory derivatives and bortezomib before ASCT has recently led to their use as consolidation and maintenance therapies after autotransplantation. Novel agents and ASCT are complementary treatment strategies for MM. This article reviews the current literature and provides important perspectives and guidance on the major issues surrounding the optimal current management of younger, transplantation-eligible MM patients.

Outcome of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation in Adult Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: No Difference in Related Compared With Unrelated Transplant in First Complete Remission

PURPOSE The role of unrelated allogeneic stem-cell transplantation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients is still not clear, and only limited data are available from the literature. We analyzed factors affecting clinical outcome of ALL patients receiving a related or unrelated stem-cell graft from matched donors. PATIENTS AND METHODS The total study population was 264 adult patients receiving a myeloablative allogeneic stem-cell transplant for ALL at nine bone marrow transplantation centers between 1990 and 2002. Of these, 221 patients receiving a matched related or unrelated graft were analyzed. One hundred forty-eight patients received transplantation in complete remission; 62 patients were in relapse; and 11 patients were refractory to chemotherapy before transplant. Fifty percent of patients received bone marrow, and 50% received peripheral blood stem cell from a human leukocyte antigen-identical related (n = 103), or matched unrelated (n = 118) donor. RESULTS Disease-free survival (DFS) at 5 years was 28%, with 76 patients (34%) still alive (2.2 to 103 months post-transplantation), and 145 deceased (65 relapses, transplant-related mortality, 45%). We observed an advantage regarding DFS in favor of patients receiving transplantation during their first complete remission (CR) in comparison with patients receiving transplantation in or after second CR (P =.014) or who relapsed (P <.001). We observed a clear trend toward improved survival in favor of B-lineage ALL patients compared with T-lineage ALL patients (P =.052), and Philadelphia chromosome-positive patients had no poorer outcome than Philadelphia chromosome-negative patients. Total-body irradiation-based conditioning improved DFS in comparison with busulfan (P =.041). CONCLUSION Myeloablative matched related or matched unrelated allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in ALL patients should be performed in first CR.

NCI First International Workshop on the Biology, Prevention, and Treatment of Relapse after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Report from the Committee on Treatment of Relapse after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Relapse is a major cause of treatment failure after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT). Treatment options for relapse have been inadequate, and the majority of patients ultimately die of their disease. There is no standard approach to treating relapse after alloHSCT. Withdrawal of immune suppression and donor lymphocyte infusions are commonly used for all diseases; although these interventions are remarkably effective for relapsed chronic myelogenous leukemia, they have limited efficacy in other hematologic malignancies. Conventional and novel chemotherapy, monoclonal antibody therapy, targeted therapies, and second transplants have been utilized in a variety of relapsed diseases, but reports on these therapies are generally anecdotal and retrospective. As such, there is an immediate need for well-designed, disease-specific trials for treatment of relapse after alloHSCT. This report summarizes current treatment options under investigation for relapse after alloHSCT in a disease-specific manner. In addition, recommendations are provided for specific areas of research necessary in the treatment of relapse after alloHSCT.

EBV reactivation and post transplant lymphoproliferative disorders following allogeneic SCT

Fatal problems encountered in allogeneic stem cell transplantation include EBV reactivation and post transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) with high mortality rates. We performed a retrospective analysis in all consecutive adult and pediatric EBV reactivations and PTLD during a period of 8.5 years. There were 26 patients with EBV reactivation/PTLD out of a total of 854 transplantations giving an overall incidence of 3.0%. Specifically, the incidence of EBV-PTLD was 1.3%, whereas that of EBV reactivation was 1.8%. Median age was 46.0 and 11.0 years in the adult and pediatric patients, respectively. There were high rates (54%) of concomitant bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections at the time of EBV manifestation. Variable treatment regimens were applied including in most cases an anti-CD20 regimen often in combination with virustatic compounds, polychemotherapy or donor lymphocytes. The mortality rates were 9 of 11 (82%) in patients with EBV-PTLD and 10 of 15 (67%) in patients with reactivation. Only 7 of 26 patients (27%) are alive after a median follow-up of 758 days (range 24–2751). The high mortality rates of EBV reactivation and of EBV-PTLD irrespective of multimodal treatment approaches emphasize standardization and optimization of post transplant surveillance and treatment strategies to improve control of these often fatal complications.

Influence of mannose-binding lectin genotypes and serostatus in allo-SCT: analysis of 131 recipients and donors

Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) deficiency is determined by MBL gene polymorphisms and is associated with an increased infection risk. To clarify the role of MBL in Allo-SCT, 131 recipients–donors were analysed. MBL genotypes were determined by PCR and heteroduplex analyses, MBL serum levels by ELISA, and MBL oligomers by western blotting. MBL levels <400 ng/ml were associated with increased susceptibility to fungal pneumonia (7/12 vs 35/111; P=0.04, adjusted P=0.002), HSV/VZV (7/12 vs 26/111; P=0.03), CMV reactivation and acute GVHD. Donor genotypes had no influence. Pre-SCT MBL levels corresponded to recipients’ genotypes (P<0.001), changed significantly post-SCT, but were not influenced by donors’ genotypes. MBL oligomer profiles were similar pre-/post-SCT. Cultured CD34+ cells were found not to synthesise MBL. In conclusion, low MBL levels pre-transplant predisposed patients to sepsis, fungal and viral infection. Donors’ MBL genotypes did not influence infection rates. Prospective studies should clarify the importance of MBL as a prelude for MBL replacement after SCT.

Philadelphia chromosome-negative classical myeloproliferative neoplasms: revised management recommendations from European LeukemiaNet

This document updates the recommendations on the management of Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (Ph-neg MPNs) published in 2011 by the European LeukemiaNet (ELN) consortium. Recommendations were produced by multiple-step formalized procedures of group discussion. A critical appraisal of evidence by using Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was performed in the areas where at least one randomized clinical trial was published. Seven randomized controlled trials provided the evidence base; earlier phase trials also informed recommendation development. Key differences from the 2011 diagnostic recommendations included: lower threshold values for hemoglobin and hematocrit and bone marrow examination for diagnosis of polycythemia vera (PV), according to the revised WHO criteria; the search for complementary clonal markers, such as ASXL1, EZH2, IDH1/IDH2, and SRSF2 for the diagnosis of myelofibrosis (MF) in patients who test negative for JAK2V617, CALR or MPL driver mutations. Regarding key differences of therapy recommendations, both recombinant interferon alpha and the JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib are recommended as second-line therapies for PV patients who are intolerant or have inadequate response to hydroxyurea. Ruxolitinib is recommended as first-line approach for MF-associated splenomegaly in patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk disease; in case of intermediate-1 disease, ruxolitinib is recommended in highly symptomatic splenomegaly. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is recommended for transplant-eligible MF patients with high or intermediate-2 risk score. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is also recommended for transplant-eligible MF patients with intermediate-1 risk score who present with either refractory, transfusion-dependent anemia, blasts in peripheral blood > 2%, adverse cytogenetics, or high-risk mutations. In these situations, the transplant procedure should be performed in a controlled setting.

Interactive diagnostics in the indication to allogeneic SCT in AML

Owing to the heterogeneity of AML, the indication for allogeneic SCT (allo-SCT) requires an exact definition of the individual subentity and risk category. A comprehensive diagnostic approach is needed, which combines cytomorphology, cytogenetics, FISH, molecular genetics and immunophenotyping. Whereas the categorization in three prognostic karyotype groups is well established, rare recurrent aberrations as the unfavorable t(8;16)(p11;p13), inv(3)(q21q26) and t(6;9)(p23;q34) must also be considered. In normal karyotype, PCR analyses reveal prognostically relevant mutations in >85% of cases, and a molecular data set composed of the FLT3-ITD, MLL-PTD, NPM1 and CEBPA mutations was found able to guide the selection of patients for allo-SCT. Some novel markers as the WT1 mutations might further contribute to risk stratification in normal karyotype. The panel of minimal residual disease parameters is being expanded at this time, for example, by quantitative PCR for the NPM1 mutations. Immunophenotyping allows the definition of leukemia-associated phenotypes in nearly all cases, but its position in the indication to allo-SCT has to be validated. Thus, the optimization of the indication to allo-SCT is an ongoing process that should remain in continuous interaction with the increasing panel of known genetic markers and diagnostic methods.

Higher busulfan dose intensity appears to improve leukemia-free and overall survival in AML allografted in CR2: An analysis from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation is a potentially curative treatment in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Recent advances in the field of hematopoietic cell allografting have resulted in a practice shift, favoring less intense preparative regimens. We present results of a retrospective comparative analysis of two preparative regimens, namely FB2 (IV fludarabine plus IV busulfan 6.4mg/kg±10%) and FB4 (IV fludarabine plus IV busulfan 12.8mg/kg ±10%), in patients with acute myeloid leukemia undergoing hematopoietic cell allografting in second complete remission at EBMT participating centers. Between 2003 and 2010, 128 AML patients in second complete remission were allografted following a preparative regimen of FB2 (n=88) or FB4 (n=40). The median time-to-neutrophil engraftment was similar whether patients received FB2 (16 (5-38) days) or FB4 (16 (9-29) days), p=0.45. A multivariate analysis showed that use of FB4 resulted in improved 2-year leukemia-free (HR=0.44 (95%CI=0.21, 0.94), p=0.03) and overall survival (HR=0.38 (95%CI=0.16, 0.86), p=0.02). Cumulative incidence of non-relapse mortality (2-year) for all patients was 21% (95%CI=14-28%). Our analysis suggests that FB4 improves 2-year leukemia-free and overall survival in AML allografted in second complete remission. A confirmatory randomized controlled trial that compares these two preparative regimens (FB2 vs. FB4) in AML in CR2 is definitely warranted.

Safety of conditioning agents for allogeneic haematopoietic transplantation

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) for haematological malignancies became a safer approach in recent years, for example, owing to improved supportive strategies. However, despite the efficacy of the procedure, morbidity and mortality mainly caused by infections and organ toxicity remain serious problems. Due to the variety of conditioning regimens being applied before allo-SCT, one important aspect is represented by the toxicity profiles of the specific compounds, which are being applied for the reduction of the leukaemia cell load and for immunosuppression. This is being illustrated by the hepatotoxic profile of busulfan with its high rate of veno-occlusive disease. However, recent advances in our understanding of drug metabolism, progress in the measurement of drug concentration, and the invention of some new drugs and therapeutic approaches in the conditioning period are promising steps in achieving more safety for patients undergoing allo-SCT. Reduced-intensity conditioning concepts allow the inclusion of heavily pretreated patients or patients with severe co-morbidities in transplantation concepts. New prophylactic regimens, including poly- or monoclonal antibodies, result in reduced rates of graft-versus-host disease, and some ‘new’ drugs such as treosulfan or clofarabine widen the range of available conditioning regimens for specific situations.

No proinflammatory signature in CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells in multiple sclerosis patients.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) has been used as a therapeutic approach in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, it is still unclear if the immune system that emerges from autologous CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) of MS patients is pre-conditioned to re-develop the proinflammatory phenotype. The objective of this article is to compare the whole genome gene and microRNA expression signature in CD34+ HPC of MS patients and healthy donors (HD). CD34+ HPC were isolated from peripheral blood of eight MS patients and five HD and analyzed by whole genome gene expression and microRNA expression microarray. Among the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) only TNNT1 reached statistical significance (logFC=3.1, p<0.01). The microRNA expression was not significantly different between MS patients and HD. We did not find significant alterations of gene expression or microRNA profiles in CD34+ HPCs of MS patients. Our results support the use of aHSCT for treatment of MS.