Pretransplant Assessment Of Mortality Score Research Articles

External Validation of the Revised Pretransplant Assessment of Mortality Score in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Cohort Study.

Pretransplant risk scores such as the revised Pretransplant Assessment of Mortality (rPAM) score help to predict outcome of patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Since the rPAM has not been validated externally in a heterogeneous patient population with different diseases, we aimed to validate the rPAM score in a real-world cohort of allo-HCT patients. A total of 429 patients were included receiving their first allo-HCT from 2008 to 2015. The predictive capacity of the rPAM score for 4-year overall survival (OS), nonrelapse mortality (NRM), and cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) after allo-HCT was evaluated. Moreover, we evaluated the impact of the rPAM score for OS and used uni- and multivariable analyses to identify patient- and transplant-related predictors for OS. In rPAM score categories of <17, 17–23, 24–30, and >30, the OS probability at 4 years differed significantly with 61%, 36%, 26%, and 10%, respectively (P < 0.0001). In contrast to CIR, the NRM increased significantly in patients with higher rPAM scores (P < 0.001). Regarding the OS, the rPAM score had an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.676 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.625-0.727) at 4 years. In the multivariable analysis, the rPAM score was associated with OS—independently of conditioning regimens (adjusted hazard ratio per 1-unit increase, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06-1.10; P < 0.001). Additionally, forced expiratory volume in 1 second and the disease risk index were the components of the rPAM significantly associated with outcome. In our large real-world cohort with extended follow-up, the rPAM score was validated as an independent predictor of OS in patients with hematologic disorders undergoing allo-HCT.

Post-Transplant High Dose Cyclophosphamide and Bortezomib As Graft-Versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Introduction. Prevention of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) remains a major challenge. The combination of methotrexate (MTX) and a calcineurin inhibitor has been the standard regimen for prophylaxis in patients receiving matched sibling donor (MSD) or matched unrelated donor (MUD) transplants for the past few decades. However, over 50% of patients undergoing AHCT still develop acute or chronic GvHD or even both, causing high rates of morbidity and mortality. Moreover, calcineurin inhibitors also have untoward toxic side effects. High dose post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy), initially introduced for GvHD prevention in the setting of haploidentical transplantation, has now been studied in MSD and MUD transplants. We adopted a novel approach to prevent GvHD using a short course of PTCy and bortezomib. We hypothesized that such combination is safe and effective and omits the need for calcineurin or m-TOR inhibitors.Study Design. We report the outcomes of a prospective cohort of patients who received PTCy and bortezomib for GvHD prevention following MSD or MUD transplants. Twenty-eight patients were treated in a phase I-II trial and their clinical outcomes were previously reported (al-Homsi AS et al, BBMT 2019). Most of the remaining patients were treated on an extension trial. GvHD prevention consisted of PTCy 50 mg/kg IV on day +3 and +4, and bortezomib 1.3mg/m 2 IV 6 hours after transplant and again 72 hours after. Patients receiving MUD transplants also received rabbit ATG (thymoglobulin®) 5mg/kg total IV fractionated on day -4 to -2. All patients received peripheral blood grafts and standard supportive care as per Institutional policy. G-CSF was administered routinely until neutrophil engraftment.Results. Fifty-eight patients are included in this analysis. Median age was 60 (range 22-78) years. Fifty-three percent of patients were male. Underlying malignancies consisted of myeloid and lymphoid malignancies in 79.3% and 20.6%, respectively. Acute myeloid leukemia (50%) and myelodysplastic syndromes (24.1%) were the most common diseases. At transplant, disease risk index was low, intermediate, high and very high in 19.0%, 48.3%, 31.0% and 1.7% of patients, respectively. Median Pretransplant Assessment of Mortality Score (PAM) was 16.7 (5.4-29.4). Grafts were from MSD in 24.1% or MUD in 75.9% of patients. Recipient (R)/Donor (D) CMV status at transplant was as follows: R+/D+: 43%; R+/D-: 21%; R-/D+: 14% and R-/D-: 22%. Conditioning regimens consisted of reduced intensity fludarabine and busulfan in all but 2 patients who were conditioned with myeloablative fludarabine and busulfan. Overall, the regimen was remarkably well tolerated. Median times to neutrophil and platelet engraftment were 16 (13-28) and 26 (15-57) days respectively. No patient experienced primary graft failure. CMV and EBV reactivation rates were 46.6% and 24%. Cumulative incidences of grade II-IV and grade III-IV acute GVHD were 35% (95% CI: 22%-47%) and 15% (95% CI: 7%-25%) at day +120, respectively. Cumulative incidence of chronic GvHD was 14% at 1 year . Overall, 34% of patients required immunosuppression with systemic steroids after day +4 either for grade III-IV acute or chronic GvHD. Disease relapse rate was 26%. One-year cumulative incidence of transplant-related mortality was 14% (95% CI: 6%-25%). Median overall survival was 30.7 (95% CI: 15.7-not yet reached) months. One-year overall survival was 72% (95% CI: 57%-82%). One-year composite GvHD (acute and chronic) free and relapse free survival (GRFS) was 41.6% (95% CI: 28.9%-54%).Conclusion. PTCy and bortezomib combination for GvHD prophylaxis following MSD and MUD transplants is well tolerated and effective. It offers an alternative regimen to calcineurin and m-TOR inhibitor-containing regimens and may be preferred in certain settings including patients with limited resources, poor medication compliance, and with impaired renal function. A comparison of this cohort to a matched control group of patients receiving methotrexate and cyclosporine for GvHD prevention is ongoing. DisclosuresAbdul-Hay: Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Other: Advisory Board, Speakers Bureau; Jazz: Other: Advisory Board, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy; Takeda: Speakers Bureau. Al-Homsi: Celyad: Other: Advisory Board; Daichii Sanyko: Consultancy. OffLabel Disclosure:Cyclophosphamide and Bortezomib are used for GvHD prevention

Validation of Scores Predicting Non-Relapse Mortality in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Study on 1276 Patients on Behalf the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the EBMT

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only potential curative treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Non-relapse mortality (NRM) remains a matter of concern despite the introduction of reduced-intensity conditioning in this disease, occurring mainly in an elderly population. Disease features and status at transplant are cornerstones for the risk of relapse. Different pre-transplant parameters have been analysed in various population without resulting in consensus.Here, we aim to evaluate the predictive role of different pre-transplant parameters including comorbidities on NRM, in 1276 patients who were transplanted for MDS between 2003 and 2014 in centers who participated to the EBMT Data Quality Initiative. The performance of the HCT-CI (Hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index) and PAM (Pretransplant Assessment of Mortality) scores1,2,3 in predicting NRM and overall survival (OS) was investigated according to principles and methods that have been described for external validation of prediction models4. Besides, model discrimination was assessed by the concordance (c) index and its adaptation for competing risks analyses5,6.Median age was 59 (18-79) and the median follow-up was 73 months. The different scores were categorized as initially published. According to the IPSS classification, two-thirds of the patients were classified within the low or intermediate groups of risk (score ≤1) and one-third within the higher-risk's categories (score ≥1.5). Donors were mostly matched related (34.3%) or unrelated (62.1%), use of peripheral blood stem cells was predominant (89.8%) and conditioning was non-myeloablative in 60% of the transplants. Overall, 731 patients died during the study period, including 445 non-relapse deaths. At 48 months, OS was 46.7% (95%CI 44.0 to 49.6) and NRM was 32.5% (95%CI 29.8 to 35.0).The c-index for HCT-CI score, HCT-CI/Age score and PAM were lower than for Karnofsky score meaning that the scores did not predict better the NRM and the OS than Karnofsky score. Furthermore, PAM score did not predict NRM but was able to predict OS (See Figure 1).In multivariate analysis including age, disease risk, conditioning, HCT-CI and KS, age ≥ 70 (HR 1.89, 95%CI 1.14-3.12, p=0.013; HR 1.63, 95%CI 1.09-2.45, p=0.018), HCT-CI ≥3 (HR 1.31, 95%CI 1.02-1.68, p=0.033; HR 1.31, 95%CI 1.08-1.59, p=0.006) and KS ≤ 80 (HR 2.08, 95%CI 1.57-2.76, p<0.0001; HR 1.75, 95%CI 1.41-2.17, p<0.0001) were statistically significantly associated with respectively increased risks for NRM and with a decreased OS. Disease risk and intensity of conditioning regimens had no significant influence on outcomes (Table 1).In conclusion, our study demonstrated on a large homogeneous population of MDS patients the ability of the different comorbidities scoring system to predict toxicity and survival outcomes after HSCT. Among them, Karnofsky score was the most powerful predictive tool. Patient's risk profile assessment is crucial to refine predictive models assessing disease features and transplant procedures.

Comparison of the Impact of Pre-Transplant Co-Morbidity Scores on Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Outcomes

Abstract Introduction: Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is potentially curative for the treatment of various hematological diseases, in part due to the effect of conditioning chemotherapy, and in part due to graft-versus-malignancy effect. However, alloHCT is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Multiple co-morbidity indices have been published in the literature for the purpose of pre-transplant risk assessment. The purpose of the presented study is to assess a number of these pre-transplant scores on a single-center transplant population and to determine the score with improved risk stratification ability using concordance statistics. Methods: We investigated the impact of the prospectively collected Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI) on post-transplant outcomes for 243 recipients of allo-HCT performed between August 2014 and October 2016 at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center (Toronto, Canada), and compared this score to other pre-transplant scores including the age-adjusted HCT-CI, PAM score (Pre-transplant Assessment of Mortality Score) and the Disease Risk Index (DRI). Partitioning of the HCT-CI, HCT-CI/age and PAM scores into three groups was performed based on maximum significant differences on univariate analysis for overall survival (OS). Concordance statistics were used to compare the stratification power of the scores. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Inc, Cary, NC). Results: The median age at transplant is 56 years, patients were transplanted for AML (53%), ALL (7.5%), MDS (13.5%), MPN (14%), NHL/CLL (8.5%) and (3.5%) AA. Donors were matched related in 37%, unrelated in 59% and haploidentical in 3% of the patients. Reduced intensity conditioning chemotherapy was used in 132 patients (54%), 153 patients (63%) received in-vivo T-cell depletion by using Campath or ATG, both donor and recipient were CMV negative in 48 (20%) of the patients. DRI was high in 67 (29%), intermediate in 145 (62%) and low in 22 (9%) of patients. HCT-CI was 0 in 90 (37%), 1 in 49(21%) and ≥2 in 103 (43%) of patients. HCT-CI/age was 0 in 22 (10%), 1 in 72 (30%) and ≥2 in 148 (62%). PAM score was 1-17 in 157(68%), 18-24 in 70 (30%) and 25-27 in 7 (3%) of patients. Median follow up of survivors was 28 months (range 17-44 months). OS of the entire cohort was 51% and 43% at 2 and 5 years post-transplant respectively. Cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) was 19% at 2 years. For OS, as grouped above, the DRI did not demonstrate a significant difference between groups (p=0.77). For HCT-CI, p=0.034 (Figure 1), for HCT-CI/age p=0.02 and for the PAM score p=0.38. For OS, for the DRI, the C-statistic was 0.51 (se=0.03, 95%CI 0.45-0.57). For the PAM score, C-statistic was 0.51 (se=0.02,95%CI 0.45-0.56). For the HCT-CI age, C-statistic was 0.56 (se=0.024, 95%CI 0.51-0.61). For the HCT-CI, C-statistic was 0.56 (se 0.02, 95% CI 0.50-0.61). For CIR, the PAM score demonstrated a superior C-statistic of 0.56 (se=0.06, 95%CI 0.44-0.67) compared to the other scores. For NRM, the HCT-CI score (Figure 2, p=0.039) is superior with C-statistic 0.56 (se=0.04, 95%CI=0.49-0.63). Conclusion: Based on the above described analysis, the original HCT-CI score as described by Sorror et aldemonstrates superior prognostic stratification ability for OS and NRM in our patient cohort compared to other scores. Further investigation for the development of an optimal risk scoring system for allogeneic HCT is required. Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures Kim: Paladin: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Lipton:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.

Validation of the Revised Pretransplant Assessment of Mortality Score in Patients with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Undergoing Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Despite recent advances, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) continues to be accompanied by a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Several scores have been developed to predict outcome after allo-HSCT. The recently revised Pretransplant Assessment of Mortality (PAM) score is based on patient age, donor type, disease risk, cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus of patient and donor, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). The aim of this study was to analyze the predictive power of the PAM score in an independent large cohort of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). We selected adult patients with AML who underwent a first allo-HSCT at the University Hospital of Dresden, a tertiary care hospital with a large transplantation program. All adult patients treated between January 1, 2003, and July 1, 2015, were included. The PAM score was calculated as described previously. Overall survival (OS), cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) after allo-HSCT were analyzed. Age, AML type, sex match, CMV match, donor type, European Leukemia Net risk classification, type of conditioning, disease stage, and PAM score as a continuous variable were selected a priori for multivariate Cox regression analyses. A total of 544 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median patient age was 57 years. With a median follow-up of 47 months (range, 1 to 161 months), the estimated OS for the whole cohort at 4 years was 43%, with a CIR of 30% and an NRM of 31%. The probability of OS at 4 years was 65% for patients with a PAM score of 0, 52% in those with a PAM score of 1, 33% in those with a PAM score of 2, and 22% in those with a PAM score of 3 (P < .001, log-rank test). Both the CIR and NRM increased with higher PAM scores (P = .005 and P < .001, respectively, Gray test). In multivariate analysis, age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.02 per year; P = .004), disease stage (primary induction failure versus first complete remission (CR1); HR, 1.5; P = .03), and the PAM score (HR 1.04; P = .03) had a significant impact on OS. This is the first independent validation of the revised PAM score allowing for simple and valid estimation of transplantation outcomes. It can serve as an important tool in counseling patients with AML, as well as in designing future trials.

Age adjusted hematopoietic stem cell transplant comorbidity index predicts survival in a T-cell depleted cohort

ObjectivesAllogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) continues to evolve with the treatment in higher risk patient population. This practice mandates stringent update and validation of risk stratification prior to undergoing such a complex and potentially fatal procedure. We examined the adoption of the new comorbidity index (HCT-CI/Age) proposed by the Seattle group after the addition of age variable and compared it to the pre-transplant assessment of mortality (PAM) that already incorporates age as part of its evaluation criteria. MethodsA retrospective analysis of adult patients who underwent HCT at our institution from January 2010 through August 2014 was performed. Kaplan-Meier’s curve, log-rank tests, Cox model and Pearson correlation was used in the analysis. ResultsOf the 114 patients that underwent allogeneic transplant in our institution, 75.4% were ≥40 years old. More than 58% had a DLCO ≤80%. Although scores were positively correlated (correlation coefficient 0.43, p < 0.001), HCT-CI/Age more accurately predicted 2-year overall survival (OS) and non-relapse mortality (NRM) in patients with lower (0–4) and higher (5–7) scores (52% and 36% versus 24% and 76%, p = 0.004, 0.003 respectively). PAM score did not reach statistical significance for difference in OS nor NRM between the low (<24) and high-risk (≥24) groups (p = 0.19 for both). ConclusionsDespite our small sample population, HCT-CI/Age was more discriminative to identify patients with poor outcome that might benefit from intensified management strategies or other therapeutic approaches rather than allogeneic HCT.

External Validation of the Revised PAM Score for Patients with AML Scheduled for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

PurposeCounselling of patients with AML about allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) is still an ambitious task in the light of the potential curative perspective after alloHSCT, poor outcomes after non-transplant approaches but a high risk of transplant-associated complications and still a significant risk of relapse even after HSCT. Several scores have been developed to predict outcome after HSCT, such as the HCT-CI and the Pre-transplant Assessment of Mortality (PAM) score. The PAM score has been revised recently, thereby acknowledging the shift to more frequently used reduced intensity conditioning. This score utilizes information on pts.age, donor type, disease risk, theserostatus for the CMV of pts.and donor, and the forcedexspiratory volume in the 1 second (FEV1). The aim of this study was to analyze the predictive power of the PAM score in an independent, large cohort of AML pts.who receivedalloHSCT within the last 12 years.Patients and MethodsWe selected all adult AMLpts.whoreceived the firstalloHSCTat the University Hospital of Dresden, a tertiary care hospital with a large transplant program, from January, 1, 2003 to July, 1, 2015.Pts.withhaplo-identical donors or after cord-blood transplantation were excluded. All patients gave their informed consent on analysing data. The PAM score was calculated as published (Au et al., BBMT 2015) and stratified into 4 groups: scores <17,scores17 to <24, scores 24 through 30, and scores >30.Overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) and non-relapse-mortality (NRM) after alloHSCTwereanalyzed according to several factors known to impact outcome using the log-rank test for univariate comparison. Age, AML type (de novo vs. sAMLvs. t-MN), sex match (female donor/male recipient vs. all other), CMV match (negative/negative vs. all other), donor type (sibling vs. matched unrelated vs. mismatched unrelated), ELN risk classification, type of conditioning (RIC vs. MAC), disease stage (CR1 vs. primary induction failure vs. >= first relapse) and the PAM score as a continuous variable were selected a priori for multivariate Cox regression analyses.ResultsOverall, 544 pts.metthe inclusion criteria and were analyzed,the median age was 57 years (range, 18 to 76). Two-hundred-three pts.(37%) were treated with standard myeloablative conditioning (MAC) regimens while the remaining pts. received reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). Donors were siblings in 120 (22%), matched unrelated in 295 (54%) and mismatched unrelated donors in 129 (24%) pts. With a median follow up of 47 months (range, 1 to 161), the estimated OS for the whole cohort at five years was 43%, with a CIR of 30% and a NRM of 31% up to that time-point. The probability for OS at five years for pts.in PAM score group 0, 1, 2, and 3 was 65%, 50%, 33%, 22%, respectively (log-rank test, p= <.001). Both the CIR and NRM increased with increasing PAM scores (gray-tests, p= .005 and p= <.001, respectively). Notably, the PAM score contributed significantly to the prediction of OS even when added to a multivariate regression model which contained the single components of the score. In the final multivariate model, age (HR 1.02 per year, p= .004), disease stage (primary induction failure versus CR1, HR 1.5, p= .03), and the PAM score (HR 1.04, p= .03) had a significant impact on OS.ConclusionWe validated the revised PAM for the prediction of OS after HLA-compatiblealloHSCTin a large, well characterised cohort of AMLpts.treatedat a large German transplantcenter. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first external validation of the revised PAM score. OS prediction based on this tool will be useful for counselling of futurepts.withAML. [Display omitted] DisclosuresMiddeke:Sanofi: Honoraria. Thiede:AgenDix: Employment, Other: Ownership. Schetelig:Sanofi: Honoraria.

Up-to-date tools for risk assessment before allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Cure of malignant and non-malignant hematological diseases is potentially possible after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Accurate evaluation of the risk-benefit ratio for an individual patient could improve the decision-making process about transplant, which ultimately would increase the likelihood of success. Several transplant-related models were designed in an effort to optimize decision-making about suitable candidates for allogeneic HCT. In 1998, The European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) developed a five-component pretransplantation risk scoring system for patients with CML. The EBMT score was later tested in patients with various hematological disorders, and it was shown to stratify risks of mortality after allogeneic HCT. More recent research efforts focused on models that assess health status before HCT. A HCT-specific comorbidity index was designed to assign weights to 17 relevant comorbidities that were shown to independently predict non-relapse mortality. Performance status scales and comprehensive geriatric assessment tools might uncover additional overall health limitations that affect long-term survival among older recipients of allogeneic HCT. Other models include the pretransplantation assessment of mortality score that summarizes the impacts of eight different pretransplantation patient- and disease-specific variables into a 50-point model that predicts survival. The disease-risk index captures the impact of primary diagnoses and disease status on relapse and survival following allogeneic HCT. The values and limitations of each model are discussed herein. We also provide insight on how to use these models in the clinic to decide about offering allogeneic HCT with the most suitable conditioning regimen intensity.

The Use of Biomarker Ferritin and Albumin As Well As HCT-CI, but Not PAM, Was Predictive of Suvival, Gvhd and, Relapse in Myeloid Malignancies

Developing the optimal models for pretransplant assessment as more reduced intensity conditioning regimens are implemented and the higher median age of transplant. The pre-transplant assessment of mortality (PAM) assesses all cause mortality at 2 years and the Hematopoietic Stem cell Transplantation specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI) which previously used Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) to assessed NRM based on history and organ function. Previous studies have shown that certain biomarkers such as ferritin and albumin may help optimize risk assessment before transplant. We tested the validity of PAM, HCT-CI, serum ferritin and albumin to predict GVHD, relapse and overall survival (OS) in our older patient population. IRB approval was obtained to retrospectively review clinical outcomes in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation at our institution between, 2010 - 2013. We examined a total of 94 patients with myeloid malignancies (see Table 1 for patient characteristics). Risk variables assessed included calculated PAM, HCT-CI and KPS scores and pre HCT serum ferritin and albumin levels. We examined the predictive value of these biomarkers with respect to GVHD, relapse, and overall survival. Of the 94 patients 46% are alive and in remission, 20% have relapse and GVHD developed in 56% of patients. To determine the optimal cutoff for classifying into high and low groups for each risk measure, first the association between the measure and clinical outcomes was determined to obtain the logistic regression. Then area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for each clinical outcome against the risk measure was calculated. The cutoff that maximized the sum of the ROC-AUC across all measured was selected. Patients with HCT-CI > 4, (cut off 4), had a less likelihood of survival than those with HCT < 4 OR 4.3 (95% CI: 1.6-11.2) (p=.0033). Similarly, patients with low albumin, (cutoff 4.1), were less likely to than those with high albumin survive OR 0.4 (95% CI: 0.2-0.9) (p=0.02). Patients in the high ferritin group, (cut off 2425) were less likely to survive than those with low ferritin OR 4.0 (95% CI:1.3-2.3) (p=0.016). The high HCT-CI group, (cut off 4) was more likely to relapse than lower HCT-CI OR 2.9, (95% CI: 1.1-8.1) (p=0.04) and patients with a high KPS, (cutoff 81), were less likely to relapse than lower KPS OR 0.3 (95% CI: 0.1-0.8) (p=0.22). In the high ferritin group, (cutoff 2020) patients were more likely to have GVHD than low ferritin group OR 0.2 (95% CI: 0.1-0.7) (p=0.005). (Table 2) We conclude that HCT-CI was more predictive of mortality than the PAM score in our cohort or patients with median age 65 years old. Our results are concordant with previously reported data showing serum ferritin and albumin is useful biomarkers to predict GVHD, relapse and survival. We are now incorporating objective markers such as ferritin, albumin, and other functional assessments to objectively quantify risk in our current patients presenting for allogeneic HSCT.Table 1Patient CharacteristicsAll Patients (N = 94)N (%)Patient Age< 5033 (35)50-5935 (37)60-7026 (28)RaceCaucasian76 (81)African American14 (15)Other4 (4)DonorRelated40 (43)Unrelated54 (57)HLA MismatchNo71 (76)Yes10 (11)Missing13Stem Cell SourceBM5 (5)PBSC89 (95)ConditioningMyeloablative47 (50)Reduced Intensity47 (50)ATGNo13 (14)Yes81 (86)Patient CMV Sero statusNegative41 (44)Positive48 (51)Missing5KPS< 9017 (18)90-10077 (82)BM indicates bone marrow; PBSC, peripheral blood stem cells; CMV, cytomegalovirus.Table 2Biomarkers and Clinical OutcomesBiomarkersGVHDRelapseSurvivalCut-offp-valueCut-offp-valueCut-offp-valuePAM240.1222240.4911210.2077HCT-CCI20330840.049540.0033Ferritin20200.005410700.381824250.0164KPS810.1679810.0226910.1289Albumin4.20.11034.20.27504.10.0220 DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Reevaluation of the Pretransplant Assessment of Mortality Score after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Transplantation

The Pretransplant Assessment of Mortality (PAM) score was developed in 2006 to predict risk of mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Transplant practices have evolved during the past decade, suggesting the need to reevaluate the performance of the PAM score. We used statistical modeling to analyze and recalibrate mortality based on overall PAM scores, its components, and conditioning regimen in a retrospective cohort of 1549 patients who had HCT from 2003 through 2009. PAM scores correlated with mortality, but the effect size was smaller in the current study than in previous studies. PAM scores also demonstrated a stronger association with mortality in patients who received myeloablative conditioning than in those who received reduced-intensity conditioning. In contrast to the original study, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity, serum alanine aminotransferase, and serum creatinine concentrations were no longer significantly associated with 2-year mortality, whereas patient and donor cytomegalovirus serology was associated with mortality in the current cohort. Based on our findings, we developed and tested a revised PAM score for clinicians to estimate survival after allogeneic HCT with myeloablative conditioning regimens for patients with hematologic malignancy. Prognostic models such as the PAM score should be updated and recalibrated periodically to accommodate changes in clinical practice.

Predictive value of risk assessment scores in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation (RIC allo-SCT) is associated with less toxicity and is used for older patients. We retrospectively studied the predictive value of two risk assessment scores, which were the hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI) and the pre-transplantation assessment of mortality (PAM) score, for assessing the outcome of RIC allo-SCT. Seventy-eight patients underwent transplantation between 2005 and 2013 at a single institution. RIC was performed with fludarabine and melphalan with/without total body irradiation. The 3-year overall survival of patients with an HCT-CI >3 was significantly worse than that of patients with an HCT-CI 0-3 (31.6% vs. 59.6%, P = 0.020). Also, the 3-year overall survival of patients with a PAM score >24 was significantly worse than that of those with a PAM score ≤24 (29.2% vs. 61.4%, P = 0.005). The present findings suggest that changing the cut-off values of these risk assessment scores can improve prediction of outcomes in patients receiving RIC allo-SCT with this conditioning regimen and we need validation by large-scale study with other regimens.

Pre-Transplantation Assessment Of Mortality (PAM) Score Is a Poor Predictor For Survival In The Highest Risk Group When Used In T Cell Depleted Myeloablative Allogeneic Transplants

IntroductionPAM score is a simple tool for predicting mortality risk in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Originally developed and validated at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, this has recently been validated in 276 patients from Japan. We retrospectively evaluated this in our cohort of T deplete myeloablative allogeneic transplants as there are no published studies validating PAM score in T deplete myeloablative setting. ResultsAfter a median follow up of 63 months 51% of the patients are alive. The predicted mortality for category 2, 3 and 4 patients via PAM score was 28%, 48% and 28% respectively. This was concordant with the predicted mortality at 2yrs for category 2 and 3. Category 4 was not concordant (Chi-square test, P=0.0035).CharacteristicsN=51Age-yrMedian35Range17-57Sex-No (%)Male29 (57)Female22 (43)Donor type-No (%)Related29 (57)Unrelated22 (43)Disease type-No (%)ALL12 (24)AML24 (48)CML3 (6)MDS4 (7)Others8 (15)Disease risk category-No (%)Low3 (6)Intermediate32 (63)High16 (31)Conditioning Regimen-No (%)TBI >12Gy43 (84)TBI<123 (6)Non TBI5 (10)Alemtuzumab dose in stem cell bag (mg)047.5610181542019PAM score categories (2 yr probability of mortality)Predicted(%)Observed(%)11<25021425-502832950-754847>7528Follow up (months)Median63Range1-162 [Display omitted] [Display omitted] [Display omitted] Disclosures:Milligan:Celgene:unrestricted educational grant Other.

Validation of pretransplantation assessment of mortality risk score in the outcome of hematopoietic SCT in non-Caucasians

The Pretransplantation Assessment of Mortality (PAM) score is a risk score for mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (HSCT). Ethnicity is a genetically determined factor that correlated with immune-mediated outcomes of allogeneic HSCT. We evaluated the predictive value of the PAM score for transplant outcome in 276 Japanese populations in which transplant-related complications occur less frequently than Caucasians. The PAM score effectively risk-stratified these patients for survival; overall survival (OS) at 2 years was 100%, 80.2%, 49.4%, and 13.9% in the categories 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, showing a clear distinction of OS by categories (P<0.001). In addition, the PAM score is useful for the prediction of transplant outcomes both in patients with standard-risk underlying diseases and those with high-risk diseases. The PAM score developed in Caucasian populations is thus useful in non-Caucasian populations.

Reduced Mortality after Allogeneic Hematopoietic-Cell Transplantation

Over the past decade, advances have been made in the care of patients undergoing transplantation. We conducted a study to determine whether these advances have improved the outcomes of transplantation. We analyzed overall mortality, mortality not preceded by relapse, recurrent malignant conditions, and the frequency and severity of major complications of transplantation, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and hepatic, renal, pulmonary, and infectious complications, among 1418 patients who received their first allogeneic transplants at our center in Seattle in the period from 1993 through 1997 and among 1148 patients who received their first allogeneic transplants in the period from 2003 through 2007. Components of the Pretransplant Assessment of Mortality (PAM) score were used in regression models to adjust for the severity of illness at the time of transplantation. In the 2003-2007 period, as compared with the 1993-1997 period, we observed significant decreases in mortality not preceded by relapse, both at day 200 (by 60%) and overall (by 52%), the rate of relapse or progression of a malignant condition (by 21%), and overall mortality (by 41%), after adjustment for components of the PAM score. The results were similar when the analyses were limited to patients who received myeloablative conditioning therapy. We also found significant decreases in the risk of severe GVHD; disease caused by viral, bacterial, and fungal infections; and damage to the liver, kidneys, and lungs. We found a substantial reduction in the hazard of death related to allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation, as well as increased long-term survival, over the past decade. Improved outcomes appear to be related to reductions in organ damage, infection, and severe acute GVHD. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health.).

Retrospective analysis of common scoring systems and outcome in patients older than 60 years treated with reduced-intensity conditioning regimen and alloSCT

In this retrospective study, 63 patients >60 years with hematological malignancies and treated with allo-SCT and with reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) were reviewed. A total of 51% of patients suffered from AML or myelodysplastic syndromes. Disease status before transplantation was CR or PR 71 with 29% transplanted with active disease. Patients were classified according to three published prognostic indexes: (1) hematopoietic cell transplantation comorbidity index (HCT-CI); (2) European BMT (EBMT) score; and (3) Pretransplantation Assessment of Mortality (PAM) score. The 100-day and 1-year treatment-related mortality (TRM) were 6 and 22%, respectively, for the entire group. The 2-year OS and PFS were 60 and 58%, respectively. The incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD (aGVHD) and extensive chronic GVHD was 46 and 48%, respectively. In a univariate analysis, neither the HCT-CI nor the EBMT score, nor the PAM score were predictive of TRM and OS. Only the occurrence of aGVHD affected the TRM and OS. ALLO-RIC is feasible in elderly patients. Even if those prognostic scores were not adapted to elderly patients, they did not predict for TRM and OS. aGVHD is the main cause of TRM and more efforts should be made to reduce its incidence without sacrificing graft vs tumor effect.

Comparison of Two Pretransplant Predictive Models and a Flexible HCT-CI Using Different Cut off Points to Determine Low-, Intermediate-, and High-Risk Groups: The Flexible HCT-CI Is the Best Predictor of NRM and OS in a Population of Patients Undergoing allo-RIC

Patient comorbidities are being increasingly analyzed as predictors for outcome after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), especially in allogeneic HSCT (Allo-HSCT). Researchers from Seattle have recently developed several pretransplant scoring systems (hematopoietic cell transplantation comorbidity index [HCT-CI] and the Pretransplantation Assessment of Mortality (PAM) model) from large sets of HSCT recipients with the aim of improving non-transplant models, mainly the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). The validation of these comorbidity indexes in other institutions and in different disease and conditioning-related settings is of interest to determine whether these models are potentially applicable in clinical practice and in research settings. We performed a retrospective study in our institution including 194 consecutive reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) AlloHSCT (allo-RIC) recipients to compare the predictive value of the PAM score, CCI, the original HCT-CI, and the flexible HCT-CI using a different risk group stratification. The median patient pretransplant scores for the HCT-CI, PAM, and CCI were 3.5, 22, and 0, respectively. The flexible HCT-CI risk-scoring system (restratified as: low risk [LR] 0-3 points, intermediate risk [IR] 4-5 points, and high risk [HR] >5 points) was the best predictor for non-relapse mortality (NRM). The 100-day and 2-year NRM incidence in these risk categories was 4% (95% confidence interval C.I. 2%-11%), 16% (95% C.I. 9%-31%), and 29% (95% C.I. 19%-45%), respectively (P < .001), and 19% (95% C.I. 12%-28%), 33% (95% C.I. 22%-49%), and 40% (95% C.I. 28%-56%), respectively (P=.01). However, we found no predictive value for NRM using neither the original HCT-CI nor the PAM or CCI models. The better predictive capacity for NRM of the flexible HCT-CI than PAM and CCI was confirmed with the c-statistics (c-statistics of 0.672, 0.634, and 0.595, respectively). Regarding the 2-year overall survival (OS), the flexible HCT-CI score categories were also associated with the highest predictive HR. In conclusion, our single-center study suggests that the flexible HCT-CI is a good predictor of 2-year NRM and survival after an allo-RIC.

Carbon Monoxide Diffusion Capacity: How Low Can You Go for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Eligibility?

Current guidelines suggest that patients with a pretransplantation diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) ≤ 60% are not ideal candidates for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT); however, recent studies suggest this criterion may exclude patients who will benefit from the procedure. We conducted a study of all adult patients who underwent autologous or allogeneic HCT between 1990 and 2005, and had a DLCO < 60%, of predicted normal, to examine whether there is a lower limit for the DLCO threshold in the context of respiratory failure and nonrelapse mortality risk (NRM), and whether a comprehensive risk scoring system, such as the Pretransplant Assessment of Mortality (PAM) risk score, can more effectively risk stratify these patients with a very low pretransplantation DLCO. We found that among patients with a DLCO ≤ 60% the risk of respiratory failure or NRM was not significantly different; however, the PAM score effectively risk-stratified these patients for NRM risk. There was a stepwise relationship between PAM score category and NRM risk; the highest PAM score category was associated with a 4.38-fold increase in risk ( P < .001). These findings suggest that the pretransplantation DLCO should not be considered the sole eligibility criteria for allogeneic HCT.

Impact of comorbidity indexes on non-relapse mortality

Comorbidity indexes (CI) have been reported to predict non-relapse mortality (NRM) and overall survival after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) (Charlson's comorbidity index (CCI), hematopoietic cell transplantation CI (HCT-CI) and the pre-transplantation assessment of mortality (PAM) score). Which of these indexes best predict survival is unknown yet. We retrospectively studied 286 patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT. HCT-CI and PAM scores required grading according to pre-transplant pulmonary function tests (PFTs), which were lacking for some patients. We thus designed a reduced HCT-CI and an adjusted PAM, without results of PFTs. Using CCI, 25% of patients had indexes of 1 or more; median reduced HCT-CI score was 1; median adjusted PAM score was 24. The discriminative properties of the three CIs were rather low in our population. Comparison of patients and transplant characteristics between our and Seattle group's cohorts, however, revealed significant differences in more children, in more cord blood HSCT and in HSCT for Fanconi anemia in St Louis. Finally, multivariate analysis of scoring items revealed that age, matched unrelated or mismatched donor and hepatic disease were associated with NRM in our cohort. Translating use for patient's counseling or decision to proceed to transplant of these CIs will need prospective studies in a large independent cohort.

Validation of a Pretransplantation Assessment of Mortality (PAM) Score for Predicting Risk of Death in the First Two Years after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in a Tertiary Transplant Center.

Mortality rates after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for hematological malignancies remains high. Recently, a 50-point pretransplantation assessment of mortality (PAM) score was developed by clinical investigators at the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center utilizing eight pre-transplant clinical variables including age, donor type, disease risk, conditioning regimen, percentage of predicted FEV1, percentage of predicted DLCO, serum creatinine level and serum ALT level. The PAM score performed well to predict risk of death in the first two years after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. The objective of our study was to validate the PAM score in a retrospective cohort of patients that underwent allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation at Hahnemann University Hospital from 1986 until 2006. 400 patients underwent allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation from 1986 to 2006. 170 patients were found to be eligible for retrospective analysis since pre- transplant serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were not available for the remaining 230 patients. The PAM score was calculated for each patient using the scoring system outlined in the original article. The patients were categorized into four cohorts with scores ranging from 9 to 16 for category 1 (probability of death, 25%), from 17 to 23 for category 2 (probability of death, 25% to 50%), from 24 to 30 for category 3 (probability of death, 50% to 75%), and from 31 to 44 for category 4 (probability of death, 75%). Kaplan- Meier survival curves were generated for each of the four categories. Overall mortality was 62.9% at 2 years. PAM scores ranged from 11 to 36. 41 patients were grouped into category 1, 71 into category 2, 48 patients into category 3 and 10 patients into category 4. Mortality at 2 years was 39% in category 1, 56.3% in category 2, 85.4% in category 3 and 100% in the high-risk category. Compared to the low risk group, group 2 had a hazard ratio of 1.64 (p = 0.092, CI: 0.92 to 2.94); group 3 had a hazard ratio of 3.996 compared to the low risk group (p < 0.001, CI: 2.23 to 7.16) and group 4 had a hazard ratio of 6.73 versus the low-risk group (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 3.01 to 15.04). In conclusion, the PAM score successfully classified patients into distinct survival groups (p < 0.001 for the comparison by log-rank test). Higher PAM scores were associated with progressively increased risk of death. [Display omitted]