Neutrophil Engraftment Time Research Articles

Changes in Microbiome in Patients with Kidney Injury after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) that increases the risk of mortality. In contrast, higher diversity of intestinal microbiota at the time of neutrophil engraftment has been associated with lower mortality. We aimed to better understand kidney outcomes in relation to changes in gut diversity in this patient population, hypothesizing that patients with lower microbiome diversity at baseline and at engraftment were at higher risk of developing kidney complications. We performed a single-center retrospective study of 419 hematopoietic cell transplant recipients from 2014-2017 at our institution whose gut microbiota were analyzed. We defined AKI and CKD based on KDIGO criteria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration equation. We defined gut microbiome diversity using Shannon and Simpson reciprocal diversity indices, with higher levels indicating more diverse microbiota. Simpson reciprocal DI and Shannon DI were 21.8 (IQR: 13.7, 35.2; range: 1.6, 102.5) and 3.7 (IQR: 3.2, 4.2; range: 0.7,5.2) in our cohort at baseline and 6.3 (IQR: 3.7, 10.4) and 2.3 (IQR: 1.7, 2.8) at peri-engraftment. Of the 419, 263 patients (63%) developed any grade AKI in 100 days post-HCT, and 114 (27%) developed Grade 2+ AKI. There were no significant differences in microbiome diversity at baseline or peri-engraftment in patients who developed post-transplant AKI or CKD, respectively, in comparison to those who did not develop kidney complications. Our findings do not support the existence of a link between baseline or peri-engraftment gut diversity and the risk for development of AKI or CKD in patients undergoing allo-HCT. This study highlights the complex and multifactorial etiology of AKI in allo-HCT recipients and the need for additional prospective and mechanistic studies.

Clinical outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from matched sibling donor for myelofibrosis

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of matched sibling donor allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for the treatment of myelofibrosis (MF). Methods: In this case series, the clinical data of 18 patients with MF who received allo-HSCT in the Department of Hematology, Peking University People's Hospital from December 2008 to December 2023 were retrospectively studied. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and competitive risk model were used to evaluate the probabilities of 3-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), and transplant related mortality (TRM). The transplant related complications were also analyzed. Results: Among the 18 patients included, there were 12 males and 6 females, with a median age of 50 (range: 28-64) years. All 18 patients achieved neutrophil engraftment, and the time of neutrophil engraftment [M (Q1, Q3)] was 16.0 (11.8, 18.0) days. Twelve patients achieved platelet engraftment, and the platelet engraftment time was 21.0 (16.2, 43.2) days. Six patients had grade Ⅱ to Ⅳ acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and six patients had chronic GVHD. The 3-year OS rate and DFS rate after transplantation were 62.2% and 52.2%, respectively. The 3-year CIR and TRM were 29.7% and 24.6%, respectively. Four patients died during follow-up, with the main cause of death being infections. Conclusion: Matched sibling allo-HSCT is a feasible option for the treatment of MF.

The impact of delayed versus early administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation on transplantation outcome.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is routinely administered after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) to decrease the duration of neutropenia and diminish the incidence of febrile neutropenia. Nevertheless, the most advantageous timeframe for administering G-CSF in the transplantation setting remains elusive. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 200 patients diagnosed with hematological malignancies who underwent auto-HSCT between July 2017 and January 2022. Patients were divided into two groups of 100 individuals based on the timing of G-CSF administration after auto-HSCT. In the first group, G-CSF was administered on post-transplantation day +1, while in the second group, G-CSF was administered on post-transplantation day +5. Patient demographics and clinical outcomes, including time to neutrophil engraftment, time to platelet engraftment, length of hospital stay, duration of fever, and incidence of bacterial and fungal bloodstream infections, were compared between the two groups. We identified a significantly shorter platelet engraftment time in the day +5 group than in the day +1 group (P<0.001), though the groups were similar regarding neutrophil engraftment time. The total number of G-CSF injections differed significantly according to the administration schedule. The number of red blood cells and length of hospital stay was greater in the day +1 group (all P<0.001). The incidence of bacterial and fungal bloodstream infections and duration of fever did not differ between the groups. Delayed administration of G-CSF on day +5 is as effective as early administration and can positively influence platelet engraftment, transfusion support, and hospitalization time.

Clinical characteristics and risk stratification for late-onset herpes zoster following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) recipients is significantly higher than that of the general public. Although routine antiviral prophylaxis is recommended, late-onset HZ has been highlighted, yet limited information is known about its clinical features and predictors. Here, we conducted a retrospective nested case-control study to identify patients with late-onset HZ, defined as a diagnosis of HZ after 1 year of transplantation, among allo-HSCT recipients between 2012 and 2017 at Peking University People's Hospital. Three controls were matched for each patient. A total of 201 patients developed late-onset HZ. Age over 20 years, absence of neutrophil engraftment by 14 days, mental disorders, immunosuppressant use at 1 year, and a peripheral CD4+/CD8+ ratio ≥0.5 at 1 year were independent risk factors, among which the CD4+/CD8+ ratio demonstrated good discriminative power for predicting late-onset HZ. For patients with a CD4+/CD8+ ratio <0.5, patient age, neutrophil engraftment time, mental disorders, and immunosuppressant use were potential risk factors. A stratification algorithm was accordingly established, classifying the transplant recipients into three risk groups. Whether the algorithm could facilitate the administration of posttransplant antiviral prophylaxis merits further validation.

Prophylactic intravenous immunoglobulin use in allogeneic stem cell transplantation; does intravenous immunoglobulin affect survival, sepsis, and engraftment time?

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Stem cell transplant recipients have an increase in various infections depending on the immunosuppression. The purpose is to explore the effect of the use of proflactıc intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) on transplant recıpıents. OBJECTIVE: It was aimed to examine the effect of IVIG on allogeneic stem cell transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, sepsis status, infection focus causing sepsis, neutrophil and platelet engraftment time of patients the length of stay in the hospital at the time of the stem cell transplant, if the patient died, how many days after the transplant the event developed, and the data of the bone marrow transplant unit were reviewed retrospectively. One hundred and eleven patients who were given IVIG (400 mg/kg/week IVIG intravenous was given to the patients as a weekly prophylactic up to 100 days starting on the 7th day after transplantation) and 190 patients who did not receive IVIG were included in the study. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the IVIG groups in terms of gender, diagnosis, donor characteristics, and event (P &gt; 0.05). Sepsis was observed significantly less in patients who were given IVIG compared to patients who were not given IVIG (P &lt; 0.001). While it was observed that IVIG did not have a significant effect on platelet engraftment and discharge times (P &gt; 0.05), neutrophil engraftment time was significantly higher in patients given IVIG compared to patients not given IVIG (P &lt; 0.009). It was observed that the use of IVIG in patients with sepsis did not have a positive effect on survival. (with sepsis hazard ratio [HR]: 3.890 P = 0.001, IVIG given HR: 3.244 P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: It was observed that the use of IVIG in allogeneic stem cell transplantation was associated with a decrease in sepsis, but the use of IVIG did not have a positive effect on survival and could prolong neutrophil engraftment.

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for progressive systemic sclerosis: a retrospective study of outcome and prognostic factors

PurposeSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. SSc treatment is still challenging, and evidence is scarce. In the last decades high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HD-ASCT) has proven to be effective. However, treatment related morbidity and mortality (TRM) are high. We conducted a retrospective, single-center analysis of SSc patients following HD-ASCT focusing on TRM and risk factors.Methods32 patients who underwent HD-ASCT at our hospital between June 2000 and September 2020 were included. Clinical characteristics were evaluated based on chart review before and after HD-ASCT. Analyses focused on overall survival (OS), TRM, and response to HD-ASCT.ResultsMedian OS was 81 months (range 0–243). Within one year, 20 of 32 (76.9%) patients responded to HD-ASCT. Overall, 6 patients (18.8%) died in the context of HD-ASCT. Patients with subjective response to HD-ASCT (p = 0.024) and those with shorter time to platelet engraftment (p = 0.047) had significantly longer OS. Impaired renal function, age at HD-ASCT ≥ 55, disease duration < 12 months, high Hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI) and Charlton Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores were associated with higher TRM. Patients receiving conditioning chemotherapy with thiotepa needed longer time for neutrophil (p = 0.035) and platelet engraftment (p = 0.021).ConclusionThis study confirms the efficacy of HD-ASCT for patients with SSc in a single center real-world setting. High TRM is still a challenge. However, TRM could be reduced by exclusion of high-risk patients and attention to prognostic parameters and scores as suggested in this study.

Neutrophil antigen antibodies affect engraftment and secondary graft failure in hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation.

Research is limited on the role of antibodies against human neutrophil antigen (HNA) in hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) transplantation outcomes. A retrospective review was conducted on medical records of patients at the NIH Clinical Center enrolled in six research protocols. This case-control study included 21 patients tested for HNA antibodies from January 2010 to March 2022 who underwent HPC transplantation. In addition, 42 patients following the same research protocols were randomly selected as a control group. The cumulative incidence of time to neutrophil engraftment was significantly impacted by the patients' anti-HNA status (p = .042), with the patients with anti-HNA experiencing delayed engraftment. Secondary graft failure occurred in 4 out of 42 patients (9.52%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.7-22.1) of the control group, while 5 out of 9 patients (55.5%; 95% CI: 26.7-81.1) with anti-HNA experienced secondary graft failure (p = .005). Furthermore, patients with anti-HNA had a lower proportion (p = .008 for full and p = .002 for partial chimerism) and cumulative incidence (p = .016 for full and p = .010 for partial chimerism) of achieving donor chimerism compared to the control group. The study reveals a potential link between anti-HNA and HPC transplantation outcomes not previously reported. Patients with anti-HNA had a lower proportion and cumulative incidence of achieving donor chimerism. Additionally, anti-HNA status affected the time for neutrophil engraftment, with a slower rate of neutrophil engraftment and increased risk of secondary failure in patients with anti-HNA.

A single-center retrospective study of salvage allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation pretreated with MeCBA regimen for refractory/relapsed acute myeloid leukemia

Thirty refractory relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) patients who received salvage allo-HSCT with MeCBA conditioning regimen from January 2018 to June 2022 at Henan Cancer Hospital were included, and their clinical data were reviewed. There were 16 males and 14 females among the 30 patients with a median age of 37 (16-53) years. There were 3 sibling allograft donor transplants, 1 unrelated donor transplant, and 26 haplotype transplants. The median course of pre-transplant chemotherapy was 4 (3-22). The time of neutrophil engraftment was 14 (9-22) days and 18 (10-40) days for platelet. The 30-day cumulative incidence of neutrophil engraftment was 100% and the 100-day cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment was 96.7% (95% CI 85.4% -97.5% ). 22 (73.3% ) patients experienced grade 1-2 gastrointestinal reactions, and there was no grade 3-4 organ toxicity. With a median follow-up of 37.1 months, the overall survival (OS) rate, event-free survival (EFS) rate, cumulative recurrence rate (CIR), and non-recurrence mortality (NRM) rate at 3 years after transplantation were 70.0% (95% CI 50.3% -83.1% ), 65.3% (95% CI 44.8% -79.8% ), 21.2% (95% CI 9.2% -44.4% ) and 16.7% (95% CI 7.3% -35.5% ), respectively.

Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Paediatric Patients with X-linked Lymphoproliferative Syndrome.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic factors of haploid hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome. Seven children with X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome diagnosed by XIAP gene analysis were enrolled. The conditioning regimens were tolerated in all seven patients, and the median time of neutrophil engraftment was 10 days (8-13 days), and that of platelet engraftment was 21 days (14-24 days). STR-PCR analysis on the peripheral blood cells showed complete donor origins. Four cases developed Grade I acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD), one developed Grade III aGVHD (intestinal tract), and two cases had limited chronic GVHD. Four cases had cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation, and two cases had Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation. One case was diagnosed as pneumocystosis, and thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) occurred in three cases. During the follow-up period (median time of 42 months), one patient died of TMA and six patients survived. Statistical analysis showed that the status of disease remission and the positive result of virus in blood before transplantation were independent prognostic factors. Haplo-HSCT might be a curative option for children with refractory X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome. Low-intensity conditioning regimens may reduce transplant-related mortality and improve overall survival.

Effect of sirolimus combined with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody desensitization on the prognosis of patients underwent haploidentical stem cell transplantation

Objective: To investigate the effects of sirolimus combined with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody desensitization on the prognosis of patients with haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT). Methods: Fifteen consecutive patients who received haplo-SCT and pre-transplant donor specific anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody (DSA) positive [mean fluorescence intensity (MFI)≥2 000] in the Institute of Hematological Diseases from November 2021 to March 2023 were retrospectively recruited into the desensitized group. There were 4 males and 11 females, with a median age [M(Q1, Q3)] of 48 (37, 59) years. All patients were desensitized with sirolimus combined with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody. The non-desensitized group included 29 patients with haplo-SCT who had not received desensitization treatment from August 2012 to June 2016. There were 12 males and 17 females with a median age of 42 (26, 50) years. Up to October 1, 2023, the median follow-up time was 13 (9, 18) months in the study group and 23 (14, 29) months in the control group. The changes of MFI before and after desensitization treatment and the prognosis of patients in the desensitized group were compared, including the incidence of primary implantation failure (pGF), neutrophil implantation time, platelet implantation time, grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and chronic GVHD incidence, non-recurrence related mortality, event-free survival rate, disease-free survival rate and overall survival rate. The survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method, and the survival rate between groups was compared with Log-rank test. Results: After desensitization treatment, the level of DSA MFI in the desensitized group decreased from 8 879 (7 544, 11 495) to 3 781 (1 638, 4 165) after desensitization treatment (P<0.01). All of the patients achieved hematopoietic recovery, and the median time for neutrophil and platelet engraftment were 14 (11, 15) and 20 (18, 25) days, respectively. The incidence of pGF in the desensitized group was 0, which was lower than that in the non-desensitized group (34.5%, 10/29) (P=0.011). The expected 1-year disease-free survival rate and overall survival rate in the desensitized group were 100% (15/15) and 100% (15/15) respectively, while those in the non-desensitized group were 75.9% (22/29) and 75.9% (22/29) respectively, the difference was not statistically significant (both P>0.05). The one-year event-free survival rate in the desensitized group was expected to be 100% (15/15), which was higher than that in the non-desensitized group (51.3%, 15/29) (P=0.002). Conclusion: Sirolimus combined with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody desensitization therapy can reduce the DSA level of haplo-SCT recipients, promote hematopoietic engraftment after transplantation, and avoid the occurrence of pGF after transplantation.

Challenges and Outcomes of the First Stem Cell Transplant Program in Tanzania, East Africa.

Due to the significant resources involved in creating HSCT programs there is a significant disparity in the availability of this treatment modality between the developed and developing countries. This manuscript details the process and the outcomes of the first HSCT program in East Africa which was started at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Information and data were collected on the processes which had been implemented for starting the HSCT program at MNH. The details of the collaborations, training, infrastructure development, and acquisition of the biomedical equipment, as well as the actual process for HSCT, as well as the outcomes of treatment are described. Observations. The project has been detailed in 4 stages for ease of description: Stage 1: Preparatory work which was performed by the Government of Tanzania, as well as the administrators and clinicians from MNH (July 2017-September 2021). Stage 2: Exploratory gap analysis by the teams from MNH and International Haematology Consortium of HCG Hospital, India (HCG-IHC) in October 2021. Stage 3: Activities for closure of gaps (November 2021). Stage 4: Stem Cell Transplantation Camps (November 2021 to March 2022). 11 peripheral blood stem cell transplants were done in two camps, November 2021 (5 patients), and February 2022 (6 patients). 10 patients underwent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma and 1 for lymphoma. The median duration of hospital stay was 19 ± 6 days. The median time for neutrophil engraftment, it was on 8.8 ± 0.8 days, and for platelet engraftment was 9.6 ± 2.4 days. Progression-free survival was 100%, and there was no mortality. Commonalities in the socioeconomic challenges in developing countries can be leveraged to create robust HSCT programs in other developing countries.

Efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation based on a total body irradiation conditioning treatment regimen for adult acute lymphocytic leukemia

Objective: To analyze the efficacy of allo-HSCT with total body irradiation (TBI) and chemotherapy alone in the treatment of adult ALL and to explore the factors affecting prognosis. Methods: The clinical data of 95 adult patients with ALL who underwent allo-HSCT from January 2015 to August 2022 were included. According to the conditioning regimen, the patients were divided into two groups: the TBI plus cyclophosphamide (TBI/Cy) group (n=53) and the busulfan plus cyclophosphamide (Bu/Cy) group (n=42). Hematopoietic reconstitution after transplantation, GVHD, transplantation-related complications, relapse rate (RR), non-relapse mortality (NRM), OS, and LFS were compared, and the factors related to prognosis were analyzed. Results: The median time of neutrophil engraftment was 14 (10-25) days in the TBI/Cy group and 14 (10-24) days in the Bu/Cy group (P=0.106). The median time of megakaryocyte engraftment was 17 (10-42) days in the TBI/Cy group and 19 (11-42) days in the Bu/Cy group (P=0.488). The incidence of grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute GVHD (aGVHD) in the TBI/Cy and Bu/Cy groups was 41.5% and 35.7%, respectively (P=0.565). The incidence of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ aGVHD in these two groups was 24.5% and 4.8%, respectively (P=0.009). The incidence of severe chronic GVHD in the two groups was 16.7% and 13.5%, respectively (P=0.689). The incidence of cytomegalovirus infection, Epstein-Barr virus infection, severe infection, and hemorrhagic cystitis in the two groups was 41.5% and 35.7% (P=0.565), 34.0% and 35.7% (P=0.859), 43.4% and 33.3% (P=0.318), and 20.8% and 50.0% (P=0.003), respectively. The median follow-up time was 37.1 months and 53.3 months in the TBI/Cy and Bu/Cy groups, respectively. The 2-year cumulative RR was 17.0% in the TBI/Cy group and 42.9% in the Bu/Cy group (P=0.017). The 2-year cumulative NRM was 24.5% and 7.1%, respectively (P=0.120). The 2-year LFS was 58.5% and 50.0%, respectively (P=0.466). The 2-year OS rate was 69.8% and 64.3%, respectively (P=0.697). In the multivariate analysis, the conditioning regimen containing TBI was a protective factor for relapse after transplantation (HR=0.304, 95% CI 0.135-0.688, P=0.004), whereas the effect on NRM was not significant (HR=1.393, 95% CI 0.355-5.462, P=0.634). Infection was an independent risk factor for OS after allo-HSCT in adult patients with ALL. Conclusion: allo-HSCT based on TBI conditioning regimen had lower relapse rate and lower incidence of hemorrhagic cystitis for adult ALL, compared with chemotherapy regimen. While the incidence o grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ aGVHD was hgher in TBI conditioning regimen than that in chemotherapy regimen.

Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin Promotes Platelet Engraftment in Severe Aplastic Anemia Patients Following Treatment With Haploid Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation using Modified Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide

BackgroundRecombinant human TPO (rhTPO) promotes platelet engraftment in patients after allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT). However, the effects of rhTPO on platelet recovery after Haplo-HSCT in patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) have not been intensively studied. ObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate the efficacy of rhTPO on platelet engraftment in patients with SAA who were treated with Haplo-HSCT using post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy). Study DesignSAA patients who received Haplo-HSCT plus PTCy regimen were divided into the rhTPO group (with subcutaneous injection of rhTPO, n = 28) and Control group (no rhTPO administration, n = 27). The engraftment of platelet/neutrophil, platelet infusion amount, and transplant-related complications between the 2 groups were compared. ResultsAll 55 patients showed successful hematopoietic reconstitution. The median time of platelet engraftment was 11 (9 to 29) days in the rhTPO group and 14 (9 to 28) days in the Control group (P = .003). The rhTPO group had a significantly reduced amount of infused platelets compared to the Control group (2 (1 to 11.5) versus 3 (1 to 14) therapeutic doses; P = .004). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding median time of neutrophil engraftment, incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and chronic GVHD (cGVHD), incidence of cytomegalovirus or Epstein–Barr virus reactivation, 3-yr overall survival rate, and failure-free-survival rate. No obvious adverse reactions were observed in the rhTPO group. ConclusionrhTPO promoted platelet engraftment, reduced the amount of transfused platelets, and demonstrated good safety profiles without evidence of adverse reactions in patients with SAA who received Haplo-HSCT using PTCy regimen.

Comparison of Infectious Complications in Patients Receiving High-Dose Cyclophosphamide as GvHD Prophylaxis After Transplantation From A 9/10 HLA-Matched Unrelated Donor with Standard GvHD Prophylaxis After Transplant From A Fully Matched Related Donor.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether cyclophosphamide administered after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) from 9/10 HLA-Matched Unrelated Donors (MMUD) increases the rates of bacterial, fungal, viral infections, complications (hemorrhagic cystitis (HC)), and infection-related mortality compared to allogeneic stem cell transplantation from matched related donors (MRD). This is a retrospective multicenter study. 45 MMUD ASCT patients who received posttransplant cyclophosphamide+methotrexate+calcineurin inhibitor compared with 45 MRD ASCT patients who received methotrexate+calcineurin inhibitor. Although there was a statistically significant prolongation of neutrophil engraftment time in the PTCy arm, there was no statistically significant difference in bacterial infection frequencies between the groups (PTCy; 9 (20%), control; 8 (17.8%), p=0.778). The distribution of CMV infection in the first 100 days was similar (p=0.827), but the distribution of CMV infection rate between the 100th and 365th days was observed more frequently in the control group (p=0.005). HC rates and their grades were similar in both groups (PTCy; 4 (8.8%), control; 6 (13.3%) p=0.502). The rates of VZV infection and invasive aspergillosis were similar in the PTCy and control groups (13.3% in the PTCy and 17.8% in the control group p=0.561). There is also no statistically significant difference in survival analysis (OS, LFS, GRFS, RI, IRM, NRM) between groups. However, the incidence of cGVHD was significantly higher in the control group (P=0.035). The addition of PTCy to standard GvHD prophylaxis in MMUD ASCT does not lead to an increase in CMV reactivation, bacterial infections, invasive fungal infection, viral hemorrhagic cystitis, or mortality.

Co-transplantation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and peripheral blood stem cells in children and adolescents with refractory or relapsed severe aplastic anemia

To evaluate the co-transplantation efficacy of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) and peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) as a novel approach for refractory or relapsed severe aplastic anemia (R/R SAA) in children and adolescents, thirty-two children and adolescents diagnosed with R/R SAA underwent a retrospective chart review. The patients were categorized into two groups based on the source of PBSCs: the matched sibling donor (MSD) group and the unrelated donor (UD) group. No adverse events related to UC-MSC infusion occurred in any of the patients. The median time for neutrophil engraftment was 13 days (range: 10–23 days), and for platelets, it was 15 days (range: 11–28 days). Acute GVHD of Grade I–II and moderate chronic GVHD were observed in 21.8 and 12.5% of cases, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between the MSD and UD groups in terms of engraftment, GVHD, and complications, including infection and hemorrhagic cystitis. The median follow-up time was 38.6 months (range: 1.4–140.8 months). As of October 31, 2021, five patients had succumbed, while 27 (84.4%) survived. The 5-year OS rate showed no statistically significant difference between the MSD and UD groups (84.8 ± 10.0 vs. 82.4 ± 9.2%, p = 0.674). In conclusion, the application of UC-MSCs in the treatment of R/R SAA in PBSC transplantation is reliable and safe, they had no graft rejection, low incidence of severe GVHD which may have been contributed by the co-infusion of MSC.

Evaluation of busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide as a preparation regimen for autologous stem cell transplantation in Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) exhibits a cure rate of 90% in patients diagnosed at an early stage and a cure rate ranging from 70% to 90% in patients diagnosed at an advanced stage. In the case of patients with relapsed/refractory HL (r/rHL), it is recommended to provide salvage chemotherapy initially, followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The ideal conditioning regimen for the transplantation process is still being investigated. OBJECTIVES: For individuals with r/rHL, high-dose chemotherapy combined with ASCT (HD-ASCT) is thought to be the most effective method of treatment. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide (BuCyE) preparation regimen in r/rHL patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 67 lymphoma patients older than 18 years who had HD-ASCT with the BuCyE conditioning regimen between September 2014 and November 2021 (86 months). The research consisted of 34 r/r HL patients among them. A parenteral regimen of 0.8 mg/kg of busulfan every 6 h from day −7 to day −5, 50 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide on days −3 and −2, and 400 mg/m2 of etoposide on days −5 and −4 comprised the patient preparation regimen before ASCT. All data were collected from inpatient files and the Inonu University Turgut Ozal Medical Center Hospital Information System. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 43 years, and 67.6% were males. The most common type of HL was nodular sclerosis, which was followed by mixed cellularity. The median time for platelet and neutrophil engraftment was 14 and 11 days, respectively. 5.0 × 106/kg was the median transplanted dose of CD34+ cells (2.1–13.55). Liver toxicity was observed in 6 (17.6%) patients. Eight patients suffered from pulmonary side effects. The median number of previous chemotherapies was 2 (2–4). In all lymphoma patients, the complete response rate was 61.8% (n = 21), whereas the disease progression rate was 32.3% (n = 11). Transplantation-related mortality on the 100th day was 8.8% (n = 3). Three-year overall survival was 57.17%. CONCLUSION: When the literature was reviewed, the studies with the BuCyE preparation regimen in patients with r/rHL were limited. This conditioning regimen was found to have fewer side effects and a lower cost. It can be preferable when compared to carmustine (BCNU), etoposide, cytarabine (ARA-C), and melphalan (known as BEAM) in r/rHL.

Multiple-Factor Analysis of Human Herpes Virus 6 Infection in Complementary Transplantation with Haploidentical Stem Cells and Unrelated Cord Blood

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can ultimately cure various hematological disorders. Building upon the basis of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-cy) haploidentical HSCT, we innovatively employed a combination of haploidentical related donors and unrelated cord blood donors for complementary transplantation to treat pediatric leukemia and severe thalassemia. This approach has been successful, and complementary transplantation has become an important option in haploidentical HSCT. However, with the development of haploidentical HSCT and the long-term use of immunosuppressive agents, viral infections have gained increasing attention, and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is one of the concerning viruses. HHV-6 exists in two variants, HHV-6A and HHV-6B, with HHV-6B being the common infection in HSCT. HHV-6B is characterized by a preference for lymphocytes and neurons and can easily reactivate in patients with compromised immune systems after HSCT, leading to severe and irreversible brain and nerve damage, and in severe cases, death. In this study, we aim to identify the susceptible factors for HHV-6B infection in cases of complementary transplantation, with the goal of improving the safety of complementary transplantation in HSCT. Objective: Through a retrospective analysis, we aim to identify the factors associated with HHV-6 infection after complementary transplantation in HSCT, providing clinical evidence for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Methods: We selected cases of HSCT using complementary transplantation from December 2018 to May 2022. Factors such as the primary disease of the patients, gender, age, donor-recipient blood type, haploidentical donor engraftment, different HLA-matched cord blood engraftment, neutrophil and platelet engraftment times, use of ATG and glucocorticoids, fever condition, timing of HHV-6 infection, and the time to seronegativity after treatment were analyzed to identify the characteristics and related risk factors of HHV-6B infection. Results: Among 142 cases (73 with thalassemia, 19 with AML, 37 with JMML, 2 with Fanconi anemia, 8 with SAA, and 8 with ALL) using complementary transplantation, 91 cases were infected with HHV-6, resulting in an infection rate of 64%. In the infection group, 8 patients were under the age of 2 years (8.8%), while 83 patients were 2 years or older (91.2%). In the uninfected group, 17 patients were under 2 years of age (33.3%), and 34 patients were 2 years or older (66.7%). (p&amp;lt;0.001). Regarding the type of graft, 79 patients in the infection group received cord blood transplantation (86.8%), and 12 patients received peripheral blood transplantation (13.2%). In the uninfected group, 19 patients received cord blood transplantation (37.3%), and 32 patients received peripheral blood transplantation (62.7%). (p&amp;lt;0.05). Regarding ATG use, 61 patients in the infection group received ATG (67%), and 12 patients did not (33%). In the uninfected group, 25 patients received ATG (49%), and 26 patients did not (51%). (p=0.035). In terms of glucocorticoid use, 82 patients in the infection group received glucocorticoids (90.1%), and 9 patients did not (9.9%). In the uninfected group, 13 patients did not receive glucocorticoids (25.5%), and 38 patients did (74.5%). (p&amp;lt;0.05). Regarding neutrophil engraftment time, it was 36 days in the infection group and 23 days in the uninfected group. Regarding platelet engraftment time, it was 43.5 days in the infection group and 18.5 days in the uninfected group. In terms of CMV and EB virus infection, only one patient in the infection group had concurrent CMV infection, and there were no cases of concurrent EB virus infection. Conclusion: In complementary transplantation, cord blood transplantation, glucocorticoid use, ATG use, and recipient age are high-risk factors for HHV-6 infection/reactivation. There were no significant differences in HHV-6 infection between different diseases treated with complementary transplantation. Furthermore, HHV-6 infection significantly delays the engraftment of neutrophils and platelets. Keywords: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, haploidentical, cord blood, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6)

Effect of Early Cytomegalovirus Reactivation on Relapse in Adult Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Registry Study from the Japan Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (JSTCT)

Background Cytomegalovirus reactivation (CMVR) is a well-known complication contributing to morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Previous studies have demonstrated that CMVR is associated with poor clinical outcomes following HSCT. However, some studies have shown that CMVR following HSCT may have a recurrence-suppressing effect on hematological diseases, including acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Conversely, data on the relevance between CMVR and relapse in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) following HSCT remain limited and inconclusive. This nationwide retrospective study aimed to examine the association between CMVR and MDS relapse following HSCT. Methods This study was conducted by the Adult Myelodysplastic Syndromes Working Group of the Japan Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (JSTCT). Clinical data were collected by the JSTCT and the Japanese Data Center for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation employing the Transplant Registry Unified Management Program (TRUMP). Overall, 1,082 patients aged ≥16 years who were diagnosed with de novo MDS, underwent initial allogeneic HSCT between 2010 and 2018, and survived until 100 days post-transplant without disease relapse were examined. Patients who received cord blood transplantation, in vivo T-cell depletion, and prophylactic anti-CMV treatment were excluded. CMVR was defined as the initiation of CMV preemptive or definitive therapy within 100 days post-transplant. Patients underwent pp65 antigenemia monitoring commencing at the time of neutrophil engraftment after HSCT. Preemptive therapy was typically instituted upon the detection of a minimum of 2 CMV pp65 antigen-positive cells per 50,000 white blood cells. In analysis, CMVR and acute/chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were evaluated as time dependent covariates. This retrospective study was approved by the Data Management Committee of the JSTCT and the ethics committee of the Ehime University School of Medicine. Results Of the 1,082 patients, 622 (57.5%) experienced CMVR. The median time from HSCT to the onset of CMVR was 46 (range, 4-97) days. In contrast, reactivation beyond 100 days after HSCT was observed in 20 patients (1.8%). End-organ disease due to CMV infection was detected in 79 (7.3%) patients with a median of 61 (range, 19-385) days. CMV infections included enteritis (n = 65), retinitis (n = 5), pneumonitis (n = 4), hepatitis (n = 3), and others (n = 3). Of the whole cohort, the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), non-relapse mortality (NRM), disease-free survival, and overall survival (OS) were 15.6%, 26.7%, 57.7%, and 60.5%, respectively. The OS of patients with CMVR was significantly lower than that of patients without CMVR (P = 0.047). A total of 423 patients died at the time of analysis, and no difference in the cause of death was found between patients with and without CMVR. Then, the effect of CMVR on relapse after HSCT was analyzed by patient, disease, and transplant characteristics. Interestingly, in patients with &amp;lt;5% bone marrow blast count at the time of HSCT, CMVR was significantly associated with a lower CIR (5-year CIR, 7.6% vs. 16.4%; P = 0.002). On the contrary, no difference in the CIR was found between patients with and without CMVR in the group with ≥5% bone marrow blast count (5-year CIR, 19.4% vs. 18.0%; P = 0.72). Moreover, the OS of patients with CMVR was significantly lower than that of patients without CMVR in the group with ≥5% bone marrow blast count (P = 0.009). However, the OS of patients with &amp;lt;5% bone marrow blast count was similar between with and without CMVR (P = 0.82). In the multivariate analysis, CMVR was significantly associated with a lower CIR in the group with &amp;lt;5% bone marrow blast count (hazard ratio [HR], 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.23-0.70; P = 0.001). Furthermore, in the analysis excluding patients with grade II-IV acute GVHD, CMVR was similarly associated with a lower CIR in the group with &amp;lt;5% bone marrow blast count (HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.18-0.80; P = 0.011). Conclusion This study presents that CMVR may have different effects on MDS relapse depending on the bone marrow blast count at the time of HSCT. Although more studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of this association, these findings may serve as a basis for devising effective CMV prophylaxis after HSCT.

Omidubicel-Onlv for Allogeneic Transplantation (allo-HCT) in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies: Results of a Multicenter Open Label Expanded Access Program

Introduction Omidubicel-onlv is a nicotinamide-modified allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell therapy donor source derived from umbilical cord blood (UCB). A phase 3 randomized study (NCT02730299) demonstrated improved hematopoietic recovery and decreased infections in patients transplanted with omidubicel compared to UCB. An expanded access program (EAP) was conducted to provide access to omidubicel in advance of commercial availability in the United States (US) in April 2023. Objective This was an open-label, single-arm EAP evaluating clinical outcomes in patients with hematologic malignancies following allo-HCT with omidubicel. Methods Eligible patients (≥12 years) with hematologic malignancies received myeloablative conditioning, prophylactic medications, and supportive care as per institutional guidelines. Patients were monitored for neutrophil and platelet engraftment, infections, graft versus host disease (GVHD), and additional clinical events for up to 2 years post-transplantation. Results were retrospectively compared with previously described outcomes in patients from the phase 3 study comparing transplant with omidubicel (P3-OMI, n=52) and unmanipulated UCB (P3-UCB, n=56). Results Between July 2020 and April 2023, 36 patients were enrolled and 29 (18 males, 11 females) were transplanted at 5 US sites. Median age was 39 years (range: 20-73); 55% were White, 21% Asian, 17% Black, and 7% other. Diagnoses were acute myelogenous leukemia (38%), acute lymphocytic leukemia (28%), myelodysplastic syndrome (21%), and other (14%). All patients received myeloablative conditioning (total body irradiation-based: 58.5%, chemotherapy alone: 34.5%). Median transplanted CD34+ cell dose was 5.6x10 6 cells/kg (range: 1.8-18.7x10 6 cells/kg) and HLA match was 4/6 in 52%, 5/6 in 45%, and 6/6 in 3%. Median follow-up was 6.3 months (range: 0.3-27.7). No infusion reactions were reported. Median time to neutrophil (≥500/µl x3 days) and platelet (&amp;gt;20,000/µl x3 days) engraftment were 13 and 34 days, respectively. Primary graft failure occurred in 2 (6.9%) patients, both alive &amp;gt;100 days after second haploidentical transplant. The incidences of first grade 2-3 bacterial and invasive (grade 3) fungal infection through 100 days post-transplant were 16.9% and 0%, respectively. The incidence of grade 3 viral infections 1-year post-transplant was 13.4%. At 100 and 365 days post-transplant, disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 95.2% and 82.5%, and overall survival (OS) rates were 96.3% and 84.2%, respectively. Acute GVHD was reported in 13 (44.8%) patients (grade 2: 34.5%, grade 3: 10.3%) and mild chronic GVHD in 1 (3.5%) patient. There were 4 deaths (13.8%): 2 due to relapse (Days 275 and 381), 1 due to infection (Day 135) and 1 due to respiratory failure (Day 10). Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease was reported in 1 patient. Demographic and disease characteristics were similar to those in the phase 3 omidubicel registration trial, including racial and ethnic diversity (&amp;gt;39% minorities). Neutrophil engraftment time in EAP patients was similar to P3-OMI (10 days) and shorter than P3-UCB (20.5 days). Similarly, median platelet recovery was similar to P3-OMI (37 days) and shorter than P3-UCB (50 days). Infection, GVHD, DFS, and OS in EAP were also similar to those observed in P3-OMI (Table 1). Conclusion In a real-world EAP setting, the outcomes of allo-HCT with omidubicel in patients with hematologic malignancies were consistent with those from the phase 3 registration study. These data support the role of omidubicel as a donor source, particularly for patients from diverse racial backgrounds.

Haploidentical STEM-Cell Transplantation for Children with ACUTE Leukemia and NON-Malignant Disorders, Using ΑΒ + T Cell /CD19 + B-Cell Depletion, a Single Center Experience

Background: αβ+ T cells/CD19+ B cells depleted haploidentical Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (αβ+ TCR/ CD19+ depleted haplo-HSCT) is increasingly used in children with acute leukemia (AL) and many non-malignant disorders (NMD) such as severe combined immune deficiency (SCID), inborn errors of immunity (IEI), bone marrow failure (BMF, acquired/congenital) and familial Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), in need of a transplant and not having a matched related donor. Within this heterogenous group of patients, it is important to try to define introductory requirements for successful outcomes, and to identify risk factors for transplant related complications. Methods: Data was collected retrospectively regarding children age &amp;lt;21 years with AL or NMD who underwent αβ+ TCR/ CD19+ depleted haplo-HSCT at Sheba Medical Center between the years 2012-2021. Results: Seventy-four children underwent αβ+ TCR/ CD19+ depleted haplo-HSCT, for AL and NMD. Acute Leukemia subgroup Thirty-eight children had AL of them 34 patients engrafted successfully. The median time for neutrophil and platelet engraftment was 10 (range 9-17) and 13 (range 10-22) days, respectively. We observed 5-years overall survival (OS) and event free survival of 51% and 42%, respectively for the whole cohort. There were no cases of grade 3-4 acute graft versus host disease and only two patients had chronic graft versus host disease. EFS was higher in patients with graft composition of γδ+ T cells greater than the median value (MV) of 9.5X10^6 cells/kg than in patients who recieved cell dose lower than MV (54% vs 26%, P=0.04). Non-malignant Disorders Thirty-six children had NMD. Twenty-six of them (72%) engrafted and ten did not (did not achieved neutrophil count above 500 cells/uL at day 30). Engraftment kinetics was similar to AL subgroup. Secondary rejection was observed in two patients. Conditioning regimen varied within this subgroup. For patients with BMF, busulfan or treosulfan/fludarabine was administrated. All patients with HLH conditioned with treosulfan/fludarabine/thiotepa regimen. Patients with SCID, either did not recieved conditioning or received fludarabine/thiotepa/melphalan or treosulfan/fludarabin conditioning. For patients with IEI the protocol was based on treosulfan/fludarabin/thiotepa. Full donor chimerism was observed at day 30 in all patients who engrafted. Five-year OS was 56% for the whole cohort. OS was higher for patients without active infection at the day of transplant compared to patients with active infection (91.7% vs 33%, respectively, p=6.4X10-4). Mortality was high with thirteen patients dying from infection and one from veno-occlusive disease. Cumulative incidence of aGVHD was 30% with the majority were no greater than grade 2 and for cGVHD was 19%. Conclusions: αβ+/CD19+ haploidentical Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can offer long-term survival for children with acute leukemia and NMD. For children with AL, we observed a presumed protective role for higher content of γδ+ T cell in the graft which need to be evaluate prospectively in a larger cohort. There were no cases of severe GVHD and the rate of grade 1-2 GVHD was low. For children with NMD αβ+ TCR/CD19+ depleted haplo-HSCT is feasible and effective. Children with active infections at day 0 had poorer outcomes whereas children without an active infection had excellent outcomes. Thus, patients who have a clear indication for transplant should be evaluated for transplant as early as possible.