Stem Cell Transplantation For Myelodysplastic Syndrome Research Articles

Revisiting Timing and Decision Modeling for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation in Myelodysplastic Syndromes.

The Oncology Grand Rounds series is designed to place original reports published in the Journal into clinical context. A case presentation is followed by a description of diagnostic and management challenges, a review of the relevant literature, and a summary of the authors' suggested management approaches. The goal of this series is to help readers better understand how to apply the results of key studies, including those published in Journal of Clinical Oncology, to patients seen in their own clinical practice.

Generalist in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for MDS or AML: Epigenetic therapy.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remains the only curative treatment for patients with myeloid malignancies such as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, relapse and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) still affect the survival of patients who receive allo-HSCT, and more appropriate therapeutic strategies should be applied at all stages of transplantation to prevent these adverse events. The use of epigenetics agents, such as hypomethylating agents (HMAs), has been explored to decrease the risk of relapse by epigenetic modulation, which is especially effective among AML patients with poor mutations in epigenetic regulators. Furthermore, epigenetic agents have also been regarded as prophylactic methods for GvHD management without abrogating graft versus leukemia (GvL) effects. Therefore, the combination of epigenetic therapy and HSCT may optimize the transplantation process and prevent treatment failure. Existing studies have investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of using HMAs in the pretransplant, transplant and posttransplant stages among MDS and AML patients. This review examines the application of HMAs as a bridge treatment to reduce the tumor burden and the determine appropriate dose during allo-HSCT. Within this review, we also examine the efficacy and safety of HMAs alone or HMA-based strategies in posttransplant settings for MDS and AML. Finally, we provide an overview of other epigenetic candidates, which have been discussed in the nontransplant setting.

British Society for Haematology guidelines for the management of adult myelodysplastic syndromes.

British Society for Haematology guidelines for the management of adult myelodysplastic syndromes.

Significant EBV Reactivation Is Associated with Poorer Overall Survival Due to Increased NRM Post Myeloablative/Reduced Intensity, T-Cell Deplete Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant for MDS or Acute Leukaemia

Introduction EBV reactivation post allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) occurs due to profound suppression of T-cell number or function and subsequent reactivation of latent host or recipient EBV infection through loss of immune-surveillance. The relationship of EBV reactivation to patient outcomes has not been reported in patients who have received T-cell depletion (TCD) with Thymoglobulin. This analysis assessed the outcomes in patients who had previously received an alloSCT with TCD using Thymoglobulin and who developed EBV reactivation that either required treatment (EBV Treatment) vs those who did not require treatment (EBV No Treatment) vs those who had no evidence of EBV reactivation (No EBV). Methods This was a retrospective review of all patients who received TCD with Thymoglobulin prior to alloSCT at the Royal Melbourne Hospital between 2006-2017. Eligible patients received reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) or myeloablative conditioning (MAC) for acute leukemia (AL) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). EBV was monitored weekly via semi-quantitative PCR . Preemptive rituximab was given based on peak viral loads, rate of rise in viral loads or biopsy proven post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). Categorical and continuous baseline characteristics of the cohorts were compared using chi-squared and Kruskal-Wallis tests respectively. EBV Treatment was treated as a time-dependent variable and evaluated for its relationship to overall survival (OS) using Cox proportional modelling, adjusted for age and high or very high Disease Risk Index (DRI) and grade III-IV acute GVHD. Survival estimates were performed by Kaplan-Meier product-limit method. Cumulative incidence (CI) of relapse and non-relapse mortality (NRM) were calculated by the Fine-Gray method. Results Of 165 eligible patients, 101 (61%) had an episode of EBV reactivation at a median of 46 days post-transplant (range 10-221 days). 24 received therapy for EBV. Of these, 4 had biopsy-proven PTLD, and 23 received rituximab alone with 1 receiving R-CHOP for PTLD. An undetectable EBV viral load was achieved in 20 out of 24. The baseline characteristics of the subgroups are presented in Table 1. The median survival of the whole cohort was 79 months with an estimated 2-year OS of 60% (95%CI 56-68) and a median follow up of time of 81 months in survivors. The median survival of the EBV Treatment group was 14 months, compared with 121 months and 81.1 months in the EBV No Treatment and No EBV cohorts respectively (Figure 1). Table 2 lists causes of death per group with relapse and complications of poor graft function (PGF) being the leading causes of death in the EBV Treatment group. The incidence of grade III-IV acute GVHD at 100 days was similar between groups as was the incidence of any chronic GVHD at 6 and 12 months. EBV Treatment was significantly associated with poorer OS even when adjusting for age, high/very high DRI and presence of acute GVHD (HR 2.47 CI 1.46-4.17; p=0.0007). The EBV Treatment group had a significantly higher 2 year CI of NRM compared to the EBV Treatment and No EBV groups (38% vs 11% vs 18% p=0.006) but similar incidence of relapse (Figure 2) . Conclusion In this cohort of AL/MDS patients undergoing TCD alloSCT, those who required treatment for EBV reactivation experienced poorer survival due to increased NRM. This increase in NRM may reflect impaired immune reconstitution of which significant EBV reactivation is a manifestation. Further studies to understand the underlying immune defects post alloSCT that predispose patients to significant EBV reactivation and associated complications is warranted to identify immune recovery strategies that may be employed in this poor prognosis group. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Phase II Study of CPX-351 Plus Venetoclax in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Phase II Study of CPX-351 Plus Venetoclax in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) Using Treosulfan Based Compared to Standard Reduced-Intensity or Myeloablative Conditioning Regimens. a Report of the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of EBMT

<h3>Introduction</h3> Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is potentially curative therapy for patients with MDS. Prior studies have shown no overall-survival (OS) advantage of any conditioning regimen over the others. Reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) is usually associated with lower non-relapse mortality (NRM) compared to myeloablative conditioning (MAC), however, relapse rates are higher, resulting in similar OS. Fludarabine and treosulfan (FT) is a reduced-toxicity regimen with intense anti leukemia activity in patients with myeloid malignancies. We explored outcomes following FT conditioning in comparison with other regimens. <h3>Methods</h3> We retrospectively analyzed SCT outcomes of MDS patients reported to the chronic malignancies working party of EBMT (n=1722). The conditioning regimens were defined according to standard EBMT criteria and included FT (n=367), RIC (n=687) or MAC (n=668). <h3>Results</h3> FT and RIC recipients were older than MAC recipients, median age 59, 59 and 51 years, respectively (P < 0.001). More FT recipients had untreated MDS at SCT, 45%, 26% and 36%, respectively (P < 0.001). Disease status at diagnosis, cytogenetics, secondary origin and prior transformation to AML, were not different between the regimens. With a median follow-up of 20 months (1-171), 807 patients are alive, 328 died of relapse and 587 had NRM. The 5-year rates of relapse, NRM and OS for the entire group were 21% (95%CI, 19-23), 35% (95%CI, 33-38) and 44% (95%CI, 42-437), respectively. Relapse rates were similar after FT and MAC, 16% (13-21) and 19% (16-22), respectively, significantly lower than after RIC, 25% (21-28) (P = 0.003). Multivariate analysis (MVA) identified age >55 years (HR 1.42), advanced histology (RAEB 1/2, HR 2.01/ 1.73), prior transformation to AML (HR 1.87), refractory disease to prior therapies (HR 1.75) secondary origin (HR 1.33) and poor cytogenetics (HR 2.83) as associated with higher relapse risk. FT conditioning was associated with a lower risk (HR 0.63, P = 0.006). NRM was lower after FT and RIC than after MAC, 34% (29-39), 33% (30-37) and 38% (35-40), respectively (P = 0.05). MVA identified age >55 years (HR 1.39) and MAC (HR 1.34) as associated with higher NRM, while SCT from sibling donor (HR 0.81) and in CR (HR 0.80) were associated with a lower risk. In all, 5-year OS was 50% (44-55), 43% (38-47), and 43% (39-47), after FT, RIC and MAC, respectively (Figure 1, P = 0.03). MVA identified age >55 years (HR 1.39), advanced histology (RAEB 1/2, HR 1.35/ 1.10), prior transformation to AML (HR 1.37), and poor cytogenetics (HR 1.58) as associated with lower OS. FT conditioning was associated with better OS (HR 0.79, P = 0.01). <h3>Conclusions</h3> FT is associated with similar low relapse rates as MAC and similar low NRM as RIC, resulting in improved outcome over both RIC and MAC. FT might be the preferred regimen for SCT in MDS. These observations merit further study in randomized prospective trials.

Role of Age and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Specific Comorbidity Index in Myelodysplastic Patients Undergoing an Allotransplant: A Retrospective Study from the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains the only potentially curative option for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) but is severely limited by nonrelapse mortality (NRM), especially in this mostly older population. Comorbidity assessment is crucial to predict NRM and often assessed with the Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Specific Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI). Moreover, the impact of age on NRM still remains a matter of debate. In recent years, the age at which transplants are made has been progressively increasing, and patients with comorbidities have become more common. Extricating the respective roles of age and comorbidities in toxic mortality is all the more important. This study by the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry included 1245 adult patients who underwent a first allogeneic stem cell transplantation for MDSs between 2003 and 2014. Overall, 4-year NRM and overall survival were 32% and 47%, respectively. When considered as continuous predictors, HCT-CI score and age were associated with an increased hazard ratio (HR) for NRM. In multivariate analysis, age band (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.25; P= .016), HCT-CI ≥3 (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.73; P = .022), and Karnofsky Performance Status ≤80 (HR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.52 to 2.73; P< .0001) were significantly predictive of a worse NRM. In our large cohort, both comorbidities, evaluated by the original HCT-CI score, and chronological age significantly affected NRM. Thus, age should be part of the transplant decision-making process and should be integrated in future scoring systems predicting outcomes of HSCT in MDSs.

Induction, Bridging, or Straight Ahead: The Ongoing Dilemma of Allografting in Advanced Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Induction, Bridging, or Straight Ahead: The Ongoing Dilemma of Allografting in Advanced Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Correlations between Pre-Transplant Treatment and Bone Marrow Response with Post-Transplant Outcomes in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome Undergoing Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Correlations between Pre-Transplant Treatment and Bone Marrow Response with Post-Transplant Outcomes in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome Undergoing Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Precision Medicine at Work: Genetic Profiling to Guide Stem-Cell Transplantation in Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Precision Medicine at Work: Genetic Profiling to Guide Stem-Cell Transplantation in Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Feasibililty of Azacitidine As Bridge to Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Higher-Risk MDS or Low-Blast Count AML: Results of the BMT-AZA Multicenter Prospective Study

Background Allogeneic SCT remains the only curative option in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We prospectively evaluated in a multicenter phase 2 GITMO (Italian Bone Marrow Transplantation Group) trial, the feasibility of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT, primary protocol end-point) after induction treatment with azacitidine (Vidaza, Celgene). According to the protocol, patients had to perform at least 4 and up to 12 cycles of azacitidine as induction treatment before ASCT. Patients not eligible for ASCT could continue treatment until disease progression.Methods Between November 2010 and September 2014, 102 patients were enrolled by 20 Italian hematology centers. Nine patients never started treatment due to progressive disease (PD, n=2), refusal (n=3), or unknown causes (n=4). Of remaining 93 patients, 70 had with IPSS Int-2/High-risk MDS, 15 WHO-defined acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 8 chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). There were 32 females and 61 males with median age 59 yrs (range 21-66.5 yrs). At treatment start, ECOG performance status was: 0 in 66 patients, 1 in 17 and 2 in 10 patients, while MDS HCT-index was: low (0) in 43 patients, intermediate (1-2) in 31 and high (>2) in 18 patients. All 93 patients started azacitidine s.c. at the standard dose of 75 mg/sqm/day, 7 days/month, at a median of 0.8 months (range 0-105 months) from initial MDS diagnosis.Results At response assessment after a median of 4.5 cycles (range 1-11), 25% of patients (n=19) achieved complete remission (CR), 3% marrow-CR (n=2), 14% partial remission (PR, n=11), 9% hematologic improvement (HI, n=7), 35% had stable disease (SD, n=27) and 14% PD (n=11). ASCT was performed in 48 patients (52%), after a median of 4.5 azacitidine cycles (range: 1-11). Data on ASCT are presently available for 45 patients, transplanted with bone marrow (n=10 pts) or peripheral blood stem cells (n=35 pts) from an HLA-identical donor (sibling in 11, and MUD in 34 cases). Forty-five patients did not receive ASCT due to: disease relapse or progression (n=16, 35%), adverse events (n=12, 27%), refusal (n=5, 11%), or other causes (n=12, 27%).At a median follow-up of 18.5 months (range 0.2-31.5), 43 patients are alive (25 received ASCT), and 50 patients died. Causes of death are reported in Table 1. Median overall survival (OS) for the whole patient cohort was 13.4 months (95% CI: 10.9-18.6, Figure 1). Disease status after azacitidine was predictive of significantly improved survival for patients in CR/PR/HI, compared to SD or PD (n=77 patients who completed at least 4 cycles, Figure 2). ASCT considered as time-dependent covariate was associated to a significantly longer survival (p=0.008, HR 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.8). Stratification of MDS according to IPSS and karyotype was not associated to survival.Conclusions Our study shows that allogeneic transplantation following azacitidine is feasible in HR-MDS/CMML and AML, with about 50% of patients being able to undergo HSCT. These data favourably compare with previous studies in MDS on ASCT preceded by conventional chemotherapy. Disease status at the time of HSCT confirms its significant prognostic role for survival, also in the context of hypomethylating treatment, where stabilization of disease also represents a therapeutic target. Disease relapse or progression remain the major causes of death indicating the need for other strategies aimed at improving disease control in MDS. [Display omitted] [Display omitted] [Display omitted] DisclosuresVoso:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding. Off Label Use: Azacitidine used as induction treatment before allogeneic stem cell transplantation in MDS. Finelli:Janssen: Other: Speaker; Novartis: Other: Speaker; Celgene: Other: Speaker, Research Funding.

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Myelodysplastic Syndrome; A More Favorable Outcome after Fludarabine and Treosulfan Conditioning. a Survey on Behalf of the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the EBMT

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a potentially curative therapy for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). So far, there is no proven advantage for any conditioning regimen over the others. Prior studies have shown that reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) is associated with lower non-relapse mortality (NRM) compared with myeloablative conditioning (MAC), however, relapse rates are increased, resulting in similar survival. Novel conditioning regimens that will reduce SCT-related toxicity while retaining maximal anti-leukemia effect will be of benefit. Fludarabine combined with treosulfan (FT) has been shown, in relatively small phase II studies, to be a reduced-toxicity regimen with intense anti leukemia activity and limited toxicity in patients with myeloid malignancies and possibly in particular in MDS. In this analysis we performed a retrospective analysis of all SCTs for MDS, performed between 2000 and 2011 and reported to the chronic malignancies working party (CMWP) of the EBMT (n=2516). We identified 480 patients given FT and compared their outcomes to patients given various MAC (n=1090) and RIC (n=946) regimens. FT and RIC recipients were older than MAC recipients, median age 59, 60 and 50 years, respectively (p=0.001). They were also more likely to have an unrelated donor, 56%, 57% and 50%, respectively (p=0.001) and to be given peripheral blood stem cell rather than bone marrow grafts, 92%, 94% and 79%, respectively (p=0.001). More FT recipients had previously untreated MDS at SCT, 33%, 20% and 24% while less had chemosensitive disease, 42%, 51% and 51%, respectively (p=0.001). The proportion of patients with chemo-refractory disease and with more than 10% marrow or peripheral blood blasts at SCT was similar in the three groups. More FT recipients had a prior history of transformation to AML, 15%, 9% and 9%, respectively (p=0.03). The proportion of patients with high and intermediate-risk cytogenetics was 13%, 21% and 18%, respectively (p=0.01). With a median follow-up of 21 months (range, 1-150), 1364 patients are alive, 456 patients died of relapse and 696 of NRM causes. The estimated 5 year overall (OS) and disease-free (DFS) rates for the entire group were 40% (95%CI, 37-43) and 35% (95%CI, 33-38), respectively. The 5-year OS rate of FT recipients was 47% (95%CI, 41-52). OS after the various RIC and MAC regimens was similar, 39% (95%CI, 34-43) and 38% (95%CI, 33-42), respectively, significantly shorter than after FT (p=0.02). DFS rates were 42% (95%CI, 37-47), 31% (95%CI, 27-36) and 35% (95%CI, 30-39), respectively (p=0.002). Relapse rates were similar after FT and MAC, 25% (95%CI, 21-30) and 29% (95%CI, 25-33), respectively, significantly lower than after RIC, 37% (95%CI, 33-41) (p=0.001). NRM was lower after FT and RIC than after MAC, 33% (95%CI, 28-38) and 32% (95%CI, 28-35), Vs. 36% (95%CI, 33-40), respectively (p=0.14). Multivariate analysis identified age> 55 years (HR 1.7, P=0.01), marrow blasts at SCT > 10% (HR 1.5, p=0.02), a history of transformation to AML (HR 1.7, p=0.01) and MDS refractory to prior therapy (HR 1.8, p=0.001) as poor prognostic factors for survival, while FT conditioning was protective (HR 0.6, p=0.02). Gender, cytogenetics, time from diagnosis to SCT, donor type and stem cell source were not predictive for survival. The predicting factors for increased relapse risk were RIC (HR 1.6, p=0.03), chemorefractory disease (HR 1.6, p=0.05), marrow blasts at SCT > 10% (HR 1.6, p=0.04), poor risk cytogenetics (HR 2.2, p=0.003) and prior transformation to AML (HR 1.8, p=0.0001). The predicting factors for increased NRM were MAC (HR 1.6, p=0.004), age > 55 years (HR 1.5, p=0.008), unrelated donor (HR 1.4, p=0.004), chemo-refractory disease (HR 1.5, p=0.05), marrow blasts > 10% (HR 1.6, p=0.01) and positive patient serology for CMV (HR 1.4, p=0.04). In conclusion, FT is associated with similar low relapse rates as MAC and similar low NRM as RIC, resulting in improved outcome over both RIC and MAC regimens. FT might be the preferred regimen for SCT in MDS. These observations merit further study in randomized prospective trials. DisclosuresNagler*:MEDAC, Germany: Honoraria, Research Funding. Beelen:MEDAC, Germany: Research Funding. Ciceri:MEDAC, Germany: Honoraria, Research Funding. Kröger:MEDAC, Germany: Research Funding.

Response to Pre-Grafting Hypomethylating Treatment Predicts Transplant Outcomes of MDS

Abstract 2034 Background:Despite the survival improvements with the advent of hypomethylating treatment (HMT), stem cell transplantation (SCT) remains the only curative treatment strategy in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Recent reports suggest that HMT could be a feasible bridge to SCT, thereby stabilizing the natural course of the disease. In the current study, we analyzed the influences of treatment response of HMT on the transplant outcome to clarify the optimal time point to proceed to SCT during HMT. Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 56 consecutive patients at a median 49 (18–70) years who received grafts from 23 sibling, 24 unrelated, or 9 alternative donors following a median 4 (1–13) cycles of HMT for MDS. Response assessment followed the standard criteria of IWG 2006 but two criteria were applied for disease progression (DP), for which blast counts at the start or of HMT (BL-start) or maximal response (BL-max) were used as reference blast level. Nineteen patients received SCT in continuous response (COR), which included 2 CR, 15 mCR with or without HI, and 2 HI. For remaining 37 patients, 21 were in stable disease (SD-start) and 16 in DP (DP-start) when BL-start was used whereas SD-start was reclassified to DP in 6 patients when BL-max was applied, who were designated as loss of response (LOR). DP included 12 AML, of whom 5 were in mCR at SCT. Results:Successful engraftment was achieved in all cases, and the cumulative incidence of acute GVHD (°ÃII) at day 100 and chronic GHVD at 2 years among evaluable patients were 32.1% and 66.0%, respectively. After a median follow-up of 18.3 months for survivors, overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) and treatment related mortality (CITRM) at 2 years were 60.8%, 55.6%, 32.2, and 22.2%, respectively. Although statistically significant differences in survival were demonstrated whether BL-start or BL-max was used (Fig. A & B), the latter response model was better predictive and used for following analysis. When patients were dichotomized into COR/SD-max versus LOR/DP-start, the latter group was a significantly poor predictor for 2-year OS (77.1% versus 34.8%, p=<.0001), DFS (74.5% versus 26.0%, p=<.0001) and CIR (9.1% vs 64.5%, p=<.0001) while CITRM was non-significant (16.3% versus 26.8%, p=.270). Multivariate analysis by adjusting for BM blast counts, cytogenetic risks at SCT, CD 34+ cell dose infused, hematopoietic cell transplantation specific comorbidity index and history of AML, DPmax and poor cytogenetic risk were powerful factors predicting worse DFS: DPmax, HR=4.09, p=.009,; HR=3.65, p=.004). This effect of response remained significant when analysis was confined in cohort excluding the patients with history of AML. Unexpected predictive power of response in the comparison of blast count at SCT was strengthened by the significant differences in DFS between COR/SD-max and LOR/DP-start in patients having the same blast level (5–19%). When influences of response were analyzed according to the IPSS risk group at HMT, COR showed better DFS compared to SD-max, LOR, or PD-start in INT-2/high group (Fig.C). Conclusion:This analysis demonstrates response to HMT and karyotype are the significant predictors in allogeneic SCT with pre-transplant HMT for MDS rather than the disease status before HMT or BM blast count at the time of SCT. Our data also suggests that carrying out SCT in MDS should be performed before LOR as well as PD and that DP is not just a progressed disease phase exerted by increased BM blast count but a condition led by evolved MDS clones with alternated characteristic features affected by HMT. This current study demonstrates the significance of response to HMT on transplant outcomes and therefore necessitates continued studies to further illustrate the significance. [Display omitted] Disclosures:Kim:Janssen: Family, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Review of stem-cell transplantation for myelodysplastic syndromes in older patients in the context of the Decision Memo for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Myelodysplastic Syndrome emanating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) comprise a heterogeneous group of clonal hematopoietic stem-cell disorders that result in varying degrees of cytopenia and risk of transformation into acute leukemia. Allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT) is the only known cure for this disease. The treatment is routinely used for younger patients, but only a minority of patients older than the age of 60 undergo this procedure. The overall MDS incidence is 3.3 per 100,000, but the incidence in patients older than age 70 is between 15 and 50 per 100,000. The median age at presentation is 76 years. Medicare-age patients 65 or older represent 80% of the total population receiving an MDS diagnosis. In the United States, one of the obstacles to SCT for older patients with MDS has been lack of third party reimbursement. On August 4, 2010, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released their Decision Memo for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) for Myelodysplastic Syndrome. This memo states: "Allogeneic HSCT for MDS is covered by Medicare only for beneficiaries with MDS participating in an approved clinical study that meets the criteria below…. " In this review, we will summarize what is known regarding the role of allogeneic SCT in older patients as well as other elements that should be included within clinical trials that can provide the evidence necessary to demonstrate that allogeneic SCT should be a covered benefit for Medicare beneficiaries.

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for MDS and sAML Following Reduced Intensity Conditioning and Preemptive Donor Lymphocyte Transfusion.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) are diseases of the hematopoietic stem cell that are potentially curable by allogeneic stem cells transplantation (ASCT). MDS and sAML are most frequent in elderly patients with significant co-morbidity. Here we report our results with reduced intensity conditioning regimen and preemptive donor lymphocyte transfusions that have been successful in patients with advanced and refractory AML. Sixty seven patients were treated for MDS and 90 patients for sAML. The FLAMSA regimen consisted of a 4 day course of chemotherapy (Ara-C 2g/m2, Fludarabin 30 mg/m2, and amsacrin 100 mg/m2) followed by 3 days rest and reduced intensity conditioning with 4 Gy total body irradiation (TBI), cyclophosphamide (CY) +/− antithymocyte globulin (ATG). Overall survival at 10 years was 50% for MDS and 26% for sAML (p=0.014, log rank). In the MDS group most patients had preleukemic forms (IPSS 3 and 4). Survival at 5 years was 58% with FLAMSA, 44% with myeloablative conditioning with TBI and 67% with Busulfan (BUS). Non-relapse mortality at 5 years was 41% with FLAMSA, 20% for BUS and 50% for TBI. The relapse or progression rate was 0% for FLAMSA, 24 % for BUS and TBI respectively. In sAML the 5 year survival was 17% for FLAMSA, 57 % for BUS and 30% for TBI. Non-relapse mortality was 60% for FLAMSA, 36% for BUS and 66% for TBI, whereas the relapse rate was 62% for FLAMSA, 12.5 % for BUS and 37% for TBI (p=0.04). In multivariate analysis adjusted for disease, conditioning treatment and source of stem cells – marrow vs. mobilized blood – differences were not significant and the only significant prognostic factor was age less than 30 years (p=0.003). Therefore patients of the age of 60 years and older with AML were treated with FLAMSA containing BUS (8mg/kg in two days) instead of 4 Gy TBI. The overall survival at 2 years was 64%, 61% with FLAMSA-TBI and 70% with FLAMSA-BUS. The non-relapse mortality was 9% for FLAMSA-BUS and 37% for FLAMSA-TBI; the relapse rate was 25% at 2 years. At day 120 patients received donor lymphocytes (DLT) in 3 escalating doses from 1 × 106/kg, 5 × 106/kg on day 150 and 1 × 107/kg on day 180, if they had no GVHD, infection or relapse. Preemptive DLT appear to prevent relapse when compared to a historical control and contemporary patients not given DLT. We conclude from these data that MDS/sAML may have a different biology in young patients, and that in the elderly we can optimize the treatment with FLAMSA-BUS as a dose reduced regimen and preemptive immunotherapy for maintenance of remission.

Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Recent Progress in Diagnosis and Understanding of Their Pathophysiology

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are common malignant disorders with a poor prognosis. MDS are a group of highly heterogeneous disorders but show certain universal findings including a high incidence in the elderly population, cytopenia, dysplastic myeloid cells, and frequent transformation to acute myeloid leukemia. Until recently, the vast majority of MDS patients were treated with supportive therapy alone, such as transfusions. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) has the potential for cure, although due to the age and comorbidity of MDS patients, the role of allogeneic SCT in MDS has been limited. Recently, research in MDS has shown substantial advances that have deepened our understanding of MDS pathophysiology and changed our approach to MDS patients. This review touches on some recent developments in the diagnosis and pathophysiology of MDS.

Unrelated donor marrow transplantation for myelodysplastic syndromes: outcome analysis in 510 transplants facilitated by the National Marrow Donor Program

AbstractBetween April 1988 and July 1998, 510 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) underwent unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation (BMT) facilitated by the National Marrow Donor Program. Median age was 38 years (range, <1-62 years). Several conditioning regimens and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis methods were used, and T-cell depletion was used in 121 patients. Donors were serologically matched for HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 antigens for 74% of patients. Of 437 patients evaluable for engraftment, 24 (5% cumulative incidence, with 95% confidence interval [CI] of 3%-7%) failed to engraft, and an additional 33 (8% cumulative incidence; 95% CI, 6%-10%) had late graft failure. Grades II to IV GVHD developed in 47% of patients (95% CI, 43%-49%), and limited and extensive chronic GVHD developed at 2 years in 27% (95% CI, 24%-30%). The incidence of relapse at 2 years was 14% (95% CI, 11%-17%). Greater relapse was independently associated with advanced MDS subtype and no acute GVHD. The estimated probability of disease-free survival (DFS) at 2 years was 29% (95% CI, 25%-33%). Improved DFS was independently associated with less advanced MDS subtype, higher cell dose, recipient cytomegalovirus (CMV) seronegativity, shorter interval from diagnosis to transplantation, and transplantation in recent years. Common causes of death were treatment-related complications accounting for 82% of fatalities. The 2-year cumulative incidence of treatment-related mortality (TRM) was 54% (95% CI, 53%-61%). Sixty-nine percent of TRM occurred within the first 100 days, and 93% occurred within the first year of transplantation. Higher TRM was independently associated with older recipient and donor age, HLA mismatch, and recipient CMV seropositivity. This study demonstrates that unrelated donor BMT cures a significant proportion of patients with MDS. TRM is the major problem limiting the success of unrelated donor BMT in MDS. The observations made in this study should facilitate the design of prospective trials aimed at improving the results of unrelated donor stem cell transplantation for MDS.

Stem cell transplantation for a myelodysplastic syndrome in children

The myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a rare, clonal disorder of pluripotent stem cells in children and is characterized by ineffective haematopoiesis, morphologic abnormalities in one or more cell lines in a usually cellular bone marrow, and by predilection for the acute leukaemia. A large proportion of children with MDS present associated clinical abnormalities. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is the only definitive cure for this heterogeneous group of lethal disorders. Results with SCT have been difficult to interpret due to the variability of conditioning regimens, types of donors, and pretransplant therapy. In many series, the outcome with donors other than matched siblings has been extremely poor. The optimal pre-transplant therapy and conditioning regimen for SCT in MDS have not yet been defined. The establishment of several international working groups will eventually help to elucidate the pathogenesis of childhood MDS and will evaluate new treatment strategies to improve their clinical outcome.

Achievements in Understanding and Treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndromes

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) constitute a challenge for the biologist as well as for the treating physician. In Section I, Dr. Willman reviews the current classifications and disease mechanisms involved in this heterogeneous clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder. A stepwise genetic progression model is proposed in which inherited or acquired genetic lesions promote the acquisition of "secondary" genetic events mainly characterized by gains and losses of specific chromosome regions. The genetic risk to develop MDS is likely multifactorial and dependent on various constellations of risk-producing and -protecting alleles. In Section II Dr. Barrett with Dr. Saunthararajah addresses the immunologic factors that may act as important secondary events in the development of severe pancytopenia. T cells from patients with MDS may suppress autologous erythroid and granulocytic growth in vitro, and T cell suppression by antithymocyte globulin or cyclosporine may significantly improve cytopenia, especially in refractory anemia. Recent studies have also demonstrated an increased vessel density in MDS bone marrow, and a phase II trial of thalidomide showed responses in a subgroup of MDS patients especially in those with low blast counts. In Section III Dr. Hellström-Lindberg presents results of allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT), intensive and low-dose chemotherapy. The results of allogeneic SCT in MDS are slowly improving but are still poor for patients with unfavorable cytogenetics and/or a high score according to the International Prognostic Scoring System. A recently published study of patients between 55-65 years old showed a disease-free survival (DFS) at 3 years of 39%. Consolidation treatment with autologous SCT after intensive chemotherapy may result in long-term DFS in a proportion of patients with high-risk MDS. Low-dose treatment with 5-azacytidine has been shown to significantly prolong the time to leukemic transformation or death in patients with high-risk MSA. Erythropoietin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor may synergistically improve hemoglobin levels, particularly in sideroblastic anemia. Recent therapeutic advances have made it clear that new biological information may lead to new treatment modalities and, in combination with statistically developed predictive models, help select patients for different therapeutic options.

Achievements in Understanding and Treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndromes

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) constitute a challenge for the biologist as well as for the treating physician. In Section I, Dr. Willman reviews the current classifications and disease mechanisms involved in this heterogeneous clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder. A stepwise genetic progression model is proposed in which inherited or acquired genetic lesions promote the acquisition of “secondary” genetic events mainly characterized by gains and losses of specific chromosome regions. The genetic risk to develop MDS is likely multifactorial and dependent on various constellations of risk-producing and -protecting alleles. In Section II Dr. Barrett with Dr. Saunthararajah addresses the immunologic factors that may act as important secondary events in the development of severe pancytopenia. T cells from patients with MDS may suppress autologous erythroid and granulocytic growth in vitro, and T cell suppression by antithymocyte globulin or cyclosporine may significantly improve cytopenia, especially in refractory anemia. Recent studies have also demonstrated an increased vessel density in MDS bone marrow, and a phase II trial of thalidomide showed responses in a subgroup of MDS patients especially in those with low blast counts. In Section III Dr. Hellström-Lindberg presents results of allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT), intensive and low-dose chemotherapy. The results of allogeneic SCT in MDS are slowly improving but are still poor for patients with unfavorable cytogenetics and/or a high score according to the International Prognostic Scoring System. A recently published study of patients between 55-65 years old showed a disease-free survival (DFS) at 3 years of 39%. Consolidation treatment with autologous SCT after intensive chemotherapy may result in long-term DFS in a proportion of patients with high-risk MDS. Low-dose treatment with 5-azacytidine has been shown to significantly prolong the time to leukemic transformation or death in patients with high-risk MSA. Erythropoietin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor may synergistically improve hemoglobin levels, particularly in sideroblastic anemia. Recent therapeutic advances have made it clear that new biological information may lead to new treatment modalities and, in combination with statistically developed predictive models, help select patients for different therapeutic options.