Allogeneic stem cell transplantation and CAR-T in B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: a two-center experience and review of the literature.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is still a potentially curative option for B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-NHL) in the modern immunotherapy era. The objective of this study was to analyze long-term outcomes of patients with B-NHL who received allo-HSCT. We analyzed overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and graft versus host disease (GVHD) relapse-free survival (GRFS) in 53 patients undergoing allo-HSCT from two institutions. The median follow-up of the study was 72 months (range 29-115 months). The median number of lines of therapy before allo-HSCT was 3 (range 1-6) and twenty-eight patients (53%) had received a previous autologous transplant. The 3-year PFS, OS and GRFS were 55%, 63%, and 55%, respectively. One-year non-relapse mortality was 26%. Karnofsky Performance Scale < 90 was associated with worse OS in multivariable analysis. A non-comparative analysis of a cohort of 44 patients with similar characteristics who received chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy was done, showing a 1-year PFS and OS were 60% and 66%, respectively. Our data shows that allo-HSCT is still a useful option for treating selected patients with R/R B-NHL. Our retrospective analysis and review of the literature demonstrate that allo-HSCT can provide durable remissions in a subset of patients with R/R B-NHL.

Risk factors and health behaviors associated with loneliness among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loneliness may exacerbate poor health outcomes particularly among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about the risk factors of loneliness among cancer survivors. We evaluated the risk factors of loneliness in the context of COVID-19 pandemic-related prevention behaviors and lifestyle/psychosocial factors among cancer survivors. Cancer survivors (n = 1471) seen at Huntsman Cancer Institute completed a survey between August-September 2020 evaluating health behaviors, medical care, and psychosocial factors including loneliness during COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were classified into two groups: 'lonely' (sometimes, usually, or always felt lonely in past month) and 'non-lonely' (never or rarely felt lonely in past month). 33% of cancer survivors reported feeling lonely in the past month. Multivariable logistic regression showed female sex, not living with a spouse/partner, poor health status, COVID-19 pandemic-associated lifestyle factors including increased alcohol consumption and marijuana/CBD oil use, and psychosocial stressors such as disruptions in daily life, less social interaction, and higher perceived stress and financial stress were associated with feeling lonely as compared to being non-lonely (all p < 0.05). A significant proportion of participants reported loneliness, which is a serious health risk among vulnerable populations, particularly cancer survivors. Modifiable risk factors such as unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and psychosocial stress were associated with loneliness. These results highlight the need to screen for unhealthy lifestyle factors and psychosocial stressors to identify cancer survivors at increased risk of loneliness and to develop effective management strategies.

Infectious complications following CAR-t cell therapy for B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a single-center experience and review of the literature.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy targeting CD19 has significantly improved outcomes in the treatment of refractory or relapsed (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Several risk factors including CAR-T cell-related toxicities and their treatments often lead to infectious complications (ICs); however, the pattern and timeline is not well established. We evaluated ICs in 48 patients with R/R B-cell NHL following CAR-T cell therapy at our institution. Overall, 15 patients experienced 22 infection events. Eight infections (4 bacterial, 3 viral and 1 fungal) occurred within the first 30 days and 14 infections (7 bacterial, 6 viral, 1 fungal) between days 31 to 180 following CAR-T infusion. Most infections were mild-to-moderate and fifteen infections involved the respiratory tract. Two patients developed mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection and one patient a cytomegalovirus reactivation after CAR-T infusion. Two patients developed IFIs: one case each of fatal disseminated candidiasis and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis at day 16 and 77, respectively. Patients with more than 4 prior antitumor regimens and patient's ≥ 65 years had a higher infection rate. Infections in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell NHL are common after CAR-T despite the use of infection prophylaxis. Age ≥ 65 years and having > 4 prior antitumor treatments were identified as risk factors for infection. Fungal infections carried significant impact in morbidity and mortality, suggesting a role for increase fungal surveillance and/or anti-mold prophylaxis following high-dose steroids and tocilizumab. Four of ten patients developed an antibody response following two doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine.

Mental health disorders are more common in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and may negatively impact overall survival.

BACKGROUND: Long-term mental health outcomes were characterized in patients who were diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and risk factors for the development of mental health disorders were identified. METHODS: Patients who were diagnosed with HL between 1997 and 2014 were identified in the Utah Cancer Registry. Each patient was matched with up to five individuals from a general population cohort identified within the Utah Population Database, a unique source of linked records that includes patient and demographic data. RESULTS: In total, 795 patients who had HL were matched with 3575 individuals from the general population. Compared with the general population, patients who had HL had a higher risk of any mental health diagnosis (hazard ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.57-2.00). Patients with HL had higher risks of anxiety, depression, substance-related disorders, and suicide and intentional self-inflicted injuries compared with the general population. The main risk factor associated with an increased risk of being diagnosed with mental health disorders was undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with a hazard ratio of 2.06 (95% confidence interval, 1.53-2.76). The diagnosis of any mental health disorder among patients with HL was associated with a detrimental impact on overall survival; the 10-year overall survival rate was 70% in patients who had a mental health diagnosis compared with 86% in those patients without a mental health diagnosis (p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who had HL had an increased risk of various mental health disorders compared with a matched general population. The current data illustrate the importance of attention to mental health in HL survivorship, particularly for patients who undergo therapy with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Factors associated with changes in exercise behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE: There is limited information on how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed health behaviors among cancer patients. We examined changes in exercise behaviors since the pandemic and identified characteristics associated with these changes among cancer patients. METHODS: Cancer patients (n = 1,210) completed a survey from August to September 2020 to assess COVID-19 pandemic-related changes in health behaviors and psychosocial factors. Patients were categorized into three groups: exercising less, exercising did not change, and exercising more. Patient characteristics were compared by exercise groups. RESULTS: One-third of the patients reported a decreased amount of regular exercise, while 10% reported exercising more during the pandemic. Patients who exercised less were more likely to be unemployed/retired and have poor health status and psychosocial stressors such as disruptions in daily life while less likely to be former smokers (all p < 0.05). In contrast, patients who exercised more were younger, had stage IV diagnosis, and also reported disruptions in daily life (all p < 0.05). Patients who were living in rural areas were also more likely not to experience changes in exercise habits (all p < 0.05), although rural-urban status was not identified as a strong predictor. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of cancer patients experienced changes in exercise habits, especially exercising less, during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Age, employment status, tumor stage, health status, smoking status, and psychosocial factors were associated with changes in exercise behaviors. Our results highlight the importance of promoting physical activity guidelines for cancer survivorship during the COVID-19 pandemic and may help improve the identification of cancer patients susceptible to exercising less.

Comparative outcomes of myeloablative and reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia with prior solid tumor: A report from the acute leukemia working party of the European society for blood and bone marrow transplantation.

Therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) arises as a late complication following antecedent solid tumors or hematologic diseases and their associated treatments. There are limited data regarding risk factors and outcomes following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for t-AML following a prior solid tumor, and furthermore, the impact of myeloablative (MAC) vs reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) on survival is unknown. The acute leukemia working party (ALWP) of the European society for blood and bone marrow transplantation (EBMT) performed a large registry study that included 535 patients with t-AML and prior solid tumor who underwent first MAC or RIC allogeneic HCT from 2000-2016. The primary endpoints of the study were OS and LFS. Patients receiving RIC regimens had an increase in relapse incidence (hazard ratio [HR], 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-2.26; P = 0.04), lower LFS (HR, 1.52; 95% CI 1.12-2.05, P = 0.007), and OS (HR, 1.51; CI 1.09-2.09; P = 0.012). There were no differences in NRM and GRFS. Importantly, LFS and OS were superior in patients receiving ablative regimens due to a decrease in relapse. As NRM continues to decline in the current era, it is conceivable that outcomes of HCT for t-AML with prior solid tumor may be improved by careful patient selection for myeloablative regimens.

Varicella Zoster Virus Reactivation in Adult Survivors of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: How Do We Best Protect Our Patients?

Reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) remains a significant public health burden for long-term survivors of hematopoietic cell transplantation. Delayed immune reconstitution after transplantation due to immunosuppression, post-transplant therapies, poor engraftment, and graft-versus-host disease leave a large number of patients at risk for herpes zoster (shingles) and its highly morbid complications. Although prophylaxis with acyclovir or valacyclovir has reduced the incidence of VZV reactivation as long as prophylaxis is continued, the incidence of disease in the late post-transplant period or after stopping prophylaxis is greater in the hematopoietic cell transplantation population than the general public. Therefore, additional interventions beyond long-term use of prophylactic antivirals are required to suppress VZV. Vaccines to elicit VZV-specific immunity represent one method to enhance prevention of VZV reactivation, but care must be taken with live vaccines. Inactivated vaccines have been developed and require well-designed studies to determine their safety and efficacy in this high-risk population. Here, we report the available evidence for established and newly developed vaccines for VZV and discuss our view on their role in protecting our transplant survivors against VZV reactivation.

Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients: Expert Review from the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and Complications and Quality of Life Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a potentially curative treatment for children and adults with malignant and nonmalignant diseases. Despite increasing survival rates, long-term morbidity after HCT is substantial. Neurocognitive dysfunction is a serious cause of morbidity, yet little is known about neurocognitive dysfunction after HCT. To address this gap, collaborative efforts of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation undertook an expert review of neurocognitive dysfunction after HCT. In this review we define what constitutes neurocognitive dysfunction, characterize its risk factors and sequelae, describe tools and methods to assess neurocognitive function in HCT recipients, and discuss possible interventions for HCT patients with this condition. This review aims to help clinicians understand the scope of this health-related problem, highlight its impact on well-being of survivors, and help determine factors that may improve identification of patients at risk for declines in cognitive functioning after HCT. In particular, we review strategies for preventing and treating neurocognitive dysfunction in HCT patients. Finally, we highlight the need for well-designed studies to develop and test interventions aimed at preventing and improving neurocognitive dysfunction and its sequelae after HCT.

Haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation for adult acute myeloid leukemia: a position statement from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Allogeneic blood or marrow hematopoietic cell transplantation continues to be the most potent anti-leukemic treatment for adult patients with standard, high-risk, or chemo-refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Until recently, this procedure was generally limited to those recipients who had an available matched-sibling donor or matched-unrelated donor. Technical advances in graft cell processing and manipulation, control of bidirectional T cell alloreactivity, graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis, and other supportive measures in haploidentical transplantation now enable nearly all patients with acute myeloid leukemia to benefit from the graft-versus-leukemia effect with substantial reduction in procedure-related mortality. Over recent years, haploidentical donors have been increasingly adopted as a valid donor source in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia in the absence of an HLA-matched donor. Among centers of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, the use of haploidentical related donor transplantation has increased by 250% since 2010, and 291% since 2005. On behalf of the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, we summarize recent utilization trends in haploidentical transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia and describe the transformative changes in haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation techniques over the past decade, which have led to the current widespread use of this procedure. Furthermore, we review the efficacy of haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia from available studies, including preliminary comparative studies, and bring attention to remaining unanswered questions and directions for future research. We conclude this report with our recommendations for the role of haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia.

Access to CAR T-cell therapy: Focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies in patients with relapsed or refractory disease without other treatment options. However, only a very small proportion of patients with an indication for CAR T-cell can access the treatment. The imbalance between supply and demand is magnified in minority and vulnerable populations. Limited access is multifactorial and in part a result of factors directly related to the cellular product such as cost, complex logistics and manufacturing limitations. On the other hand, the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and their social and structural context are also key to understanding access barriers in cellular therapy and health care in general. CAR T-cell therapy provides us with a new opportunity to better understand and prioritize this gap, a key step towards proactively and strategically addressing access. The aim of this review is to provide an analysis of the current state of access to CAR T therapy with a focus on the influence of DEI. We will cover aspects related to the cellular product and the inseparable context of social and structural determinants. Identifying and addressing barriers is necessary to ensure equitable access to this and all future novel therapies.

Incident diabetes among older Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The risk of diabetes among Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (ANHPI) women after breast cancer is unclear. This study estimated the risk of incident type II diabetes in older ANHPI and older non-Hispanic White (NHW) women with breast cancer from the US National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Medicare linked claims. METHODS: A matched cohort of 7122 older ANHPI and 21 365 older NHW women with breast cancer were identified from SEER-Medicare between 2000 and 2017. To assess the risk of incident type II diabetes after breast cancer, hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated using the Cox proportional-hazards regression model. RESULTS: During the mean 8 years of follow-up, 9.3% of older women with breast cancer developed incident type II diabetes. In comparison with older NHW women, older ANHPI women without a known history of diabetes had an elevated risk of diabetes after breast cancer, with strong associations observed for Pacific Islander (HR = 3.09, 95% CI = 1.43 to 6.67), Vietnamese (HR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.33 to 2.36), and Filipino (HR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.57 to 2.59) women with breast cancer, adjusting for potential confounders. Among ANHPI women with breast cancer, more baseline comorbidities and obesity were risk factors for developing incident type II diabetes. CONCLUSION: ANHPI women diagnosed with breast cancer had an elevated risk of type II diabetes compared with older NHW women with breast cancer. Routine monitoring and management of diabetes are warranted in older ANHPI women with breast cancer.

Incident Cardiovascular Disease Risk among Older Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Breast Cancer Survivors.

BACKGROUND: Cardiotoxicity among breast cancer survivors is associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (ANHPI) breast cancer survivors in the United States is unknown. METHODS: We used the SEER-Medicare linked database to estimate the risk of CVD among older breast cancer survivors. International Classification of Disease diagnosis codes were used to identify incident CVD outcomes. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) comparing ANHPI with Non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients with breast cancer for CVD, and among ANHPI race and ethnicity groups. RESULTS: A total of 7,122 ANHPI breast cancer survivors and 21,365 NHW breast cancer survivors were identified. The risks of incident heart failure and ischemic heart disease were lower among ANHPI compared with NHW breast cancer survivors (HRheart failure, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.61-0.84; HRheart disease, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.63-0.88). Compared with Japanese patients with breast cancer, Filipino, Asian Indian and Pakistani, and Native Hawaiian breast cancer survivors had higher risks of heart failure. ischemic heart disease and death. Among ANHPI breast cancer survivors, risk factors for heart failure included older age, higher comorbidity score, distant cancer stage and chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support heterogeneity in CVD outcomes among breast cancer survivors among ANHPI race and ethnicity groups. Further research is needed to elucidate the disparities experienced among ANHPI breast cancer survivors. IMPACT: Filipino, Asian Indian and Pakistani, and Native Hawaiian patients with breast cancer had higher risks of heart failure, ischemic heart disease and death among ANHPI patients with breast cancer.

Financial Toxicity, Time Toxicity, and Quality of Life in Multiple Myeloma.

BACKGROUND: Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) may be on therapy for years, which can lead to financial toxicity (FinTox) or time toxicity (TimeTox). The prevalence, predictors, and quality of life (QOL) impacts of FinTox and TimeTox during different phases of MM treatment have not been characterized. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a single-center cross-sectional survey of patients with MM who had undergone transplantation. FinTox+ was defined as a COST-FACIT score <23, TimeTox+ as MM-related interactions (including phone calls) ≥1x weekly or ≥1x monthly in-person among far-residing patients, QOL using PROMIS Global Health, and functional status using patient-reported Karnofsky performance status (KPS). RESULTS: Of 252 patients, 22% and 40% met FinTox+ and TimeTox+ criteria respectively. Respective FinTox+ and TimeTox+ proportions were 22%/37% for patients on maintenance, 22%/82% with active therapy, and 20%/14% with observation. FinTox+ predictors included annual income (P < .01) and out-of-pocket costs (P < .01). TimeTox+ predictors included disease status (P < .001), caregiver status (P = .01), far-residing status (P < .001), and out-of-pocket costs (P = .03). FinTox+ was associated with a clinically meaningful decrease in mental QOL, while TimeTox+ patients were more likely to have KPS ≤ 80. CONCLUSIONS: In our large study, monetary status but not disease status predicted FinTox. Over a third of patients on maintenance reported TimeTox. FinTox+ was associated with decreased mental health, while TimeTox+ was associated with worse performance status. These two toxicities may negatively impact patient wellbeing, and studies of strategies to mitigate their impact are in development.

Study Protocol: Predicting the Quality of Response to Specific Treatments (PQRST) in Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease.

BACKGROUND: Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a leading cause of late morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Despite significant progress in chronic GVHD therapies, challenges remain in understanding pleomorphic phenotypes and varying response to treatment. The goal of the Predicting the Quality of Response to Specific Treatments (PQRST) in chronic GVHD study is to identify predictors of treatment response. This report describing the study design seeks to raise awareness and invite collaborations with investigators who wish to access clinical data and research samples from this study. METHODS: This is a prospective, observational cohort study involving data collection from patients who are beginning first-, second-, or third-line systemic therapy for chronic GVHD with defined agents. Evaluable participants will have baseline assessments and research samples prior to starting the index therapy, and 1 month after starting treatment. Response assessments occur at 3 and 6 months after start of treatment, or if a new systemic therapy is started before 6 months. Target enrollment is approximately 200 patients at 8 institutions, with at least 6 months of follow up to determine response to index therapy. RESULTS: Enrollment started in July 2020 and was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; as of 3/1/2024, 137 evaluable participants have been enrolled. DISCUSSION: The Chronic GVHD Consortium "PQRST" is a large longitudinal cohort study that aims to investigate predictors of treatment response by identifying biologically and clinically defined patient subgroups. We welcome investigators to collaborate in the use of these data. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04431479.

Returning to Work Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: The Survivor's Perspective.

While curing a patient's underlying disease is the primary goal of physicians performing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), the ultimate objective is to provide patients with optimal post-HCT quality of life. For many survivors, this includes returning to work (RTW). We conducted a survey of 1- to 5-yr post-HCT survivors at our center to evaluate their perspective on facilitators and barriers to RTW as well as to gauge interest in potentially useful RTW support interventions. Survivors aged 18 to 65 yrs (n = 994) were sent an annual survey that included 36 supplementary questions about post-HCT RTW. Survey questions were selected from published national cancer survivor surveys and then modified specifically for HCT survivors. Three hundred forty-four (35%) survivors with a mean age of 53 yrs completed the survey, of whom 272 (79%) had worked prior to their diagnosis. Of those 272 patients, 145 (53%) were working currently and another 22 (8%) had attempted to go back to work following HCT but were not presently working. We found that having had an allogeneic versus autologous HCT (P = .006) was associated with a decreased likelihood of currently working, whereas frequent employer communication (>once a month) (P = .070) and having a more supportive employer (P = .036) were associated with a greater chance of currently working. Of survivors currently working, 45% reported that they had made one or more changes to their work schedule (e.g., flexible schedule or part-time work) or environment (e.g., work from home) upon RTW. Ninety-five percent of responders reported that they could have benefited from RTW support provided by the transplant center, but only 13% indicated that they had received it. Education on RTW challenges, information on disability benefits, and access to physical therapy were among the most requested support interventions. To improve post-HCT quality of life for survivors open to assistance, providers should address work status and goals, recognize barriers to successful return, and offer RTW support including working directly with employers. Allogeneic HCT survivors are particularly vulnerable to failing attempts to RTW and should be the target of retention interventions. A previously published manuscript on RTW guidance for providers of stem cell transplant patients endorsed by the American Society of Transplant and Cellular Therapy is available in Open Access and can be used as a tool to counsel and support these patients.

Severity of Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease and Late Effects Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Adults with Hematologic Malignancy.

The study aimed to determine the association of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) diagnosis and severity with the development of subsequent neoplasms (SN) and nonmalignant late effects (NM-LE) in 2-year disease-free adult survivors following hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for a hematologic malignancy. To do so, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 3884 survivors of HCT for hematologic malignancy in the Center of International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database. We conducted a landmark analysis at the 2-year post-transplantation date, comparing first SN and NM-LE in survivors with and without cGVHD. The cumulative incidence (CuI) of SN and NM-LE were estimated through 10 years post-HCT in both groups, with death or disease relapse as a competing risk. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the associations of cGVHD and its related characteristics with the development of SN and NM-LE. The estimated 10-year CuI of SN in patients with GVHD (n = 2669) and patients without cGVHD (n = 1215) was 15% (95% confidence interval [CI], 14% to 17%) versus 9% (7.2% to 11%) (P < .001). cGVHD by 2 years post-HCT was independently associated with SN (hazard ratio [HR], 1.94; 95% CI, 1.53 to 2.46; P < .0001) with a standardized incidence ratio of 3.2 (95% CI, 2.9 to 3.5; P < .0001). Increasing severity of cGVHD was associated with an increased risk of SN. The estimated 10-year CuI of first NM-LE in patients with and without cGVHD was 28 (95% CI, 26% to 30%) versus 13% (95% CI, 11% to 15%) (P < .001). cGVHD by 2 years post-HCT was independently associated with NM-LE (HR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.81 to 2.76; P < .0001). Multivariate analysis of cGVHD-related factors showed that increasing severity of cGVHD, extensive grade, having both mucocutaneous and visceral involvement, and receiving cGVHD treatment for >12 months were associated with the greatest magnitude of risk for NM-LE. cGVHD was closely associated with both SN and NM-LE in adult survivors of HCT for hematologic malignancy. Patients identified as having more severe involvement and both mucocutaneous and visceral organ involvement may warrant enhanced monitoring and screening for SNs and NM-LEs. However, caution is warranted when interpreting these results, as patients with cGVHD may have more vigilant post-transplantation health care and surveillance for late effects.

Racial, Ethnic and Socioeconomic Diversity and Outcomes of Patients with Graft-versus-Host Disease: A CIBMTR Analysis.

Socioeconomic status (SES) and race/ethnicity have been associated with outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Certain aspects of GVHD management such as the need for long term care, prolonged immunosuppressive treatment, and need for close follow up for complications may exacerbate disparities. Adults (≥ 18 years) reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) who underwent a first alloHCT for acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, or myeloproliferative neoplasm between 2008 - 2018 were included. Endpoints for those developing GVHD included overall survival (OS), transplant related mortality (TRM), and disease relapse. Models were adjusted for patient and transplant related variables. A two-sided p-value < 0.01 was considered significant. Among the 14,825 allo-HCT recipients, 6,259 (42.2%) and 6,675 (45.0%) patients developed aGVHD and cGVHD, respectively. In patients with aGVHD, non-Hispanic Blacks had increased TRM (HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.24-1.83, p=0.0001) and overall mortality (HR 1.31, 1.14-1.50, p=0.0002) compared with non-Hispanic Whites, an association that disappeared when severity of aGVHD was included in the model. Lower SES was associated with increased risk of disease relapse (p=0.0016) but not OS or TRM. In patients who developed cGVHD, race and ethnicity were not associated with OS, TRM and disease relapse. However, the highest quartile of annual household income (≥ $80,000) had improved OS (HR 0.77, 0.69-0.85, p<0.0001) and reduced TRM (HR 0.86, 0.67-0.87, p<0.0001) compared with lowest quartile, adjusting for race and ethnicity. Race/ethnicity and SES are associated with outcomes after GVHD. Optimizing health care resources available to low SES patients and strategies to minimize the risk of severe GVHD in non-Hispanic Blacks may improve long-term outcomes.