Rare germline complement factor H variants in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) are susceptible to complement-mediated intravascular hemolysis and thrombosis. Factor H (FH) is the main regulator of the complement alternative pathway, which protects cells from unwanted complement-mediated damage. Although FH is not a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked molecule, it may play a role in PNH. We sought to determine if rare germline variants in complement factor H (CFH) affect the PNH course, screening 84 patients with PNH treated with eculizumab for rare variants in CFH, CFI, and C3 genes. We compared the allelic frequencies with populational data and a geographically-matched control group, looking for an association between presence of the variants and treatment response (transfusion independence by 6 months). Sixteen patients presented rare variants, 9 in CFH (10.7%). Germline CFH variants were more frequent among patients with PNH than among controls (P = .02) or public data (P < .001) and were more likely to be transfusion-dependent at 6 months after eculizumab initiation (P = .015). With a median follow-up of 5.8 years, 8 of 9 patients with the CFH variant received transfusions, and 2 developed thromboses. None of the patients with the CFH variant had severe aplastic anemia from eculizumab initiation until 6 months. We demonstrated for the first time that rare CFH variants are over-represented among patients with PNH and that germline genetic background may affect the response to eculizumab.

Busulfan-fludarabine- or treosulfan-fludarabine-based conditioning before allogeneic HSCT from matched sibling donors in paediatric patients with sickle cell disease: A study on behalf of the EBMT Paediatric Diseases and Inborn Errors Working Parties.

How important is choice of conditioning regimen in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for sickle cell disease (SCD)? We compared HSCT outcomes by conditioning regimen in paediatric patients with SCD from the EBMT registry. In 2010-2020, 251 patients aged <18 years underwent a first matched sibling donor (MSD) HSCT with conditioning based on busulfan-fludarabine (bu-flu; n = 89) or treosulfan-fludarabine (treo-flu; n = 162). In the bu-flu and treo-flu groups, 51.7% and 99.4% of patients, respectively, received thiotepa. Median follow-up was 2.7 years. Two-year overall survival (OS) was 98.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 90.9-99.8) with bu-flu and 99.3% (95% CI: 95.2-99.9) with treo-flu (p = 0.63). Grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) at 100 days was 2.4% (95% CI: 0.4-7.5) and 0.6% (0.1%-3.2%) for bu-flu and treo-flu respectively (p = 0.25). The 2-year incidence of extensive chronic GVHD was 1.5% (95% CI: 0.1-7.3) with bu-flu and 8.0% (95% CI: 4.1-13.3) with treo-flu (p = 0.057). These multinational data confirm the excellent curative capacity of MSD HSCT with myeloablative conditioning. Both conditioning regimens yielded excellent OS, low rates of acute and chronic GVHD, and low rates of graft failure.

Cord blood transplantation for AML: Comparable LFS in patients with de novo versus secondary AML in CR1, an ALWP/EBMT study.

We investigated whether secondary versus de novo acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) would be associated with poor outcomes in adult acute AML patients in first complete remission (CR1) receiving unrelated cord blood transplantation (CBT). This is a retrospective study from the acute leukaemia working party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Inclusion criteria included adult at first allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation between 2000 and 2021, unrelated single or double unit CBT, AML in CR1, no ex vivo T-cell depletion and no post-transplant cyclophosphamide. The primary end-point of the study was leukaemia-free survival (LFS). A total of 879 patients with de novo (n = 696) or secondary (n = 183) AML met the inclusion criteria. In multivariable analyses, sAML patients had non-significantly different LFS (HR = 0.98, p = 0.86), overall survival (HR = 1.07, p = 0.58), relapse incidence (HR = 0.74, p = 0.09) and non-relapse mortality (HR = 1.26, p = 0.13) than those with de novo AML. Our results demonstrate non-significantly different LFS following CBT in adult patients with secondary versus de novo AML.

Matched unrelated donor transplantation versus haploidentical transplantation with post-transplant cyclophosphamide in children with acute myeloid leukemia: a PDWP-EBMT study.

In children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who lack a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) identical sibling, the donor can be replaced with an HLA-matched unrelated donor (MUD) or a haploidentical donor (haplo). We compared outcomes of patients <18 years with AML in first and second complete remission (CR1 and CR2) undergoing a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) either with a MUD with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) (N=420) or a haplo HCT with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-CY) (N=96) after a myeloablative conditioning regimen (MAC) between 2011 and 2021, reported to the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. A matched pair analysis was performed to adjust for differences among groups. The final analysis was performed on 253 MUD and 95 haplo-HCT. In the matched cohort, median age at HCT was 11.2 and 10 years and median year of HCT was 2017 and 2018, in MUD and haplo-HCT recipients, respectively. The risk of grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) was significantly higher in the haplo group (hazard ratio [HR]=2.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-4.58; P=0.01). No significant differences were found in 2 years overall survival (OS; 78.4% vs. 71.5%; HR=1.39, 95% CI: 0.84-2.31; P=0.19), leukemia-free survival (LFS; 72.7% vs. 69.5%; HR=1.22, 95% CI: 0.76-1.95; P=0.41), CI of relapse (RI; 19.3% vs. 19.5%; HR=1.14, 95% CI: 0.62-2.08; P=0.68) non-relapse-mortality (NRM; 8% vs. 11%; HR=1.39, 95% CI: 0.66-2.93; P=0.39) and graft-versus-host free relapse-free survival (GRFS; 60.7% vs. 54.5%, HR=1.38, 95% CI: 0.95-2.02; P=0.09) after MUD and haplo-HCT respectively. Our study suggests that haplo-HCT with PT-CY is a suitable option to transplant children with AML lacking a matched related donor.

Peripheral blood stem cell versus bone marrow graft for patients ≥60 years undergoing reduced intensity conditioning haploidentical transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia in complete remission: An analysis of the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

In the context of T-cell replete haploidentical stem cell transplantation (Haplo-SCT) using post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy), it is still unknown whether peripheral blood (PB) or bone marrow (BM) is the best graft source. While PB is associated with a higher incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), it may induce a stronger graft-versus-leukemia effect compared to BM, notably in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). From the EBMT registry database, we compared T-cell replete PB (n = 595) versus BM (n = 209) grafts in a large cohort of 804 patients over the age of 60 years who underwent Haplo-SCT with PT-Cy for an AML in first or second complete remission. The risk of acute GVHD was significantly higher in the PB group (Grade II-IV: HR = 1.67, 95% CI [1.10-2.54], p = 0.01; Grade III-IV: HR = 2.29, 95% CI [1.16-4.54], p = 0.02). No significant difference was observed in chronic GVHD or non-relapse mortality. In the PB group, the risk of relapse was significantly lower in the PB group (HR = 0.65, 95% CI [0.45-0.94], p = 0.02) and leukemia-free survival was significantly better (HR = 0.76, 95% CI [0.59-0.99], p = 0.04), with a trend toward better overall survival (HR = 0.78, 95% CI [0.60-1.01], p = 0.06). We conclude that in the specific context of Haplo-SCT with PT-Cy, PB grafts represent a valid option to decrease the risk of relapse and improve outcome of older AML patients who usually do not benefit from conditioning intensification.

Comparable relapse incidence after unrelated allogeneic stem cell transplantation with post-transplant cyclophosphamide versus conventional anti-graft versus host disease prophylaxis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia: A study on behalf of the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

We compared relapse incidence (RI) post-unrelated transplantation with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) versus no PTCy graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis, in 7049 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients in remission, 707 with PTCy, and 6342 without (No PTCy). The patients in the PTCy group were younger, 52.7 versus 56.6 years (p < .001). There were more 9/10 donors in the PTCy group, 33.8% versus 16.4% (p < .001), and more received myeloablative conditioning, 61.7% versus 50.2% (p < .001). In the No PTCy group, 87.7% of patients received in vivo T-cell depletion. Neutrophil and platelet engraftment were lower in the PTCy versus No PTCy group, 93.8% and 80.9% versus 97.6% and 92.6% (p < .001). RI was not significantly different in the PTCy versus the No PTCy group, hazard ratio (HR) of 1.11 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.9-1.37) (p = .31). Acute GVHD grades II-IV and III-IV, were significantly lower in the PTCy versus the No PTCy group, HR of 0.74 (95% CI 0.59-0.92, p = .007) and HR = 0.56 (95% CI 0.38-0.83, p = .004), as were total and extensive chronic GVHD, HRs of 0.5 (95% CI 0.41-0.62, p < .001) and HR = 0.31 (95% CI 0.22-0.42, p < .001). Non-relapse mortality (NRM) was significantly lower with PTCy versus the No PTCy group, HR of 0.67 (95% CI 0.5-0.91, p = .007). GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) was higher in the PTCy versus the No PTCy group, HR of 0.69 (95% CI 0.59-0.81, p = .001). Leukemia-free survival (LFS) and overall survival (OS) did not differ between the groups. In summary, we observed comparable RI, OS, and LFS, significantly lower incidences of GVHD and NRM, and significantly higher GRFS in AML patients undergoing unrelated donor-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with PTCy versus No PTCy GVHD prophylaxis.

Unrelated or haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in second complete remission for acute myeloid leukemia-Improved outcomes over time: A European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Acute Leukemia Working Party study.

BACKGROUND: Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is the only cure for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in second complete remission (CR2). Patients lacking a matched sibling donor (MSD) receive transplants from matched unrelated donors (MUDs), mismatched unrelated donors (MMUDs), haploidentical (haplo) donors, or cord blood. METHODS: This is a retrospective, registry-based European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation study that investigates changes in patient- and transplant-related characteristics and posttransplant outcomes over time. RESULTS: We identified 3955 adult patients (46.7% female; median age, 52 years [range, 18-78 years]) with AML in CR2 first transplanted between 2005 and 2019 from a MUD 10/10 (61.4%), MMUD 9/10 (21.9%), or haplo donor (16.7%) and followed for 3.7 years. A total of 725 patients were transplanted between 2005 and 2009, 1600 between 2010 and 2014, and 1630 between 2015 and 2019. Over the three time periods, there was a significant increase in patient age (from 48.7 to 53.5 years; p < .001), use of a haplo donor (from 4.6% to 26.4%; p < .001), and use of posttransplant cyclophosphamide (from 0.4% to 29%; p < .001). There was a significant decrease in total body irradiation and in vivo T-cell depletion. In multivariate analysis, transplants performed more recently had better outcomes. Leukemia-free survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.79; p = .002) and overall survival (HR, 0.73; p < .001) increased over time. Similarly, nonrelapse mortality (HR, 0.64; p < .001) decreased over time. We also observed better graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) rates (acute GVHD II-IV: HR, 0.78; p = .03; GVHD-free, relapse-free survival: HR, 0.69; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Even in the absence of an MSD, outcomes of allo-HCT in CR2 for AML have significantly improved over time, with most favorable outcomes achieved with a MUD.

Allogeneic transplantation in acute myelogenous leukemia: a comprehensive single institution's experience.

Debates on the role and timing of allogeneic hemtopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) have persisted for decades. Time to transplant introduces an immortal time and current treatment algorithm mainly relies on the European LeukemiaNet disease risk classification. Previous studies are also limited to age groups, remission status and other ill-defined parameters. We studied all patients at diagnosis irrespective of age and comorbidities to estimate the cumulative incidence and potential benefit or disadvantage of HSCT in a single center. As a time-dependent covariate, HSCT improved overall survival in intermediate- and poor-risk patients (hazard ratio =0.51; P=0.004). In goodrisk patients only eight were transplanted in first complete remission. Overall, the 4-year cumulative incidence of HSCT was only 21.9% but was higher (52.1%) for patients in the first age quartile (16-57 years old) and 26.4% in older patients (57-70 years old) (P<0.001). It was negligible in patients older than 70 years reflecting our own transplant policy but also barriers to transplantation (comorbidities and remission status). However, HSCT patients need to survive, be considered eligible both by the referring and the HSCT physicians and have a suitable donor to get transplantation. We, thus, comprehensively analyzed the complete decision-making and outcome of all our AML patients from diagnosis to last followup to decipher how patient allocation and therapy inform the value of HSCT. The role of HSCT in AML is shifting with broad access to different donors including haploidentical ones. Thus, it may (or may not) lead to increased numbers of allogeneic HSCT in AML in adults.

Busulfan-fludarabine- or treosulfan-fludarabine-based myeloablative conditioning for children with thalassemia major.

Significant advances in supportive care for patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia major (TDT) have improved patients' life expectancy. However, transfusion-associated iron overload remains a significant barrier to long-term survival with good quality of life. Today, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the current curative standard of care. Alongside selection of the best available donor, an optimized conditioning regimen is crucial to maximize outcomes for patients with TDT undergoing HSCT. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to investigate the role of busulfan-fludarabine-based and treosulfan-fludarabine-based conditioning in TDT patients undergoing HSCT. We included 772 patients registered in the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) database who underwent first HSCT between 2010 and 2018. Four hundred ten patients received busulfan-fludarabine-based conditioning (median age 8.6 years) and 362 patients received treosulfan-fludarabine-based conditioning (median age 5.7 years). Patient outcomes were retrospectively compared by conditioning regimen. Two-year overall survival was 92.7% (95% confidence interval: 89.3-95.1%) after busulfan-fludarabine-based conditioning and 94.7% (95% confidence interval: 91.7-96.6%) after treosulfan-fludarabine-based conditioning. There was a very low incidence of second HSCT overall. The main causes of death were infections, graft-versus-host disease, and rejection. In conclusion, use of busulfan or treosulfan as the backbone of myeloablative conditioning for patients with TDT undergoing HSCT resulted in comparably high cure rates. Long-term follow-up studies are warranted to address the important issues of organ toxicities and gonadal function.

Treatment for pure red cell aplasia after major ABO-incompatible allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a multicentre study.

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) with major ABO incompatibility is responsible for transfusion dependent anaemia, impaired quality of life and iron overload. We conducted a retrospective study, over a 10-year period, which included all consecutive patients who received a major ABO mismatched aHSCT, to assess the impact of specific treatment on PRCA. We did not observe any PRCA in the 57 aHSCT issued from cord blood. Among the remaining 631 patients, cumulative incidence of PRCA was 10·5% [range 8·2-13.0]. The median duration of resolved PRCA was 171 days [IQR 116; 261]. Pre-transplant high isohaemagglutinins titre was associated with an increased risk of PRCA (P < 10-4 ). PRCA did not affect overall survival (P = 0·95). Twenty-two patients (33·3%) received at least one specific treatment. The most commonly used treatments were rituximab (17 patients) and donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI; seven patients). Regarding PRCA resolution, we did not observe a significant difference between treated or untreated subjects (HR = 0·93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·48- 1·80; P = 0·82). Similar results were observed with erythropoietin treatment (22 patients, HR = 0·86 95% CI: [0·47-1·57] P = 0·62). Our data do not support the use of erythropoietin, rituximab or DLI for the treatment of PRCA.

Heckman imputation models for binary or continuous MNAR outcomes and MAR predictors.

BACKGROUND: Multiple imputation by chained equations (MICE) requires specifying a suitable conditional imputation model for each incomplete variable and then iteratively imputes the missing values. In the presence of missing not at random (MNAR) outcomes, valid statistical inference often requires joint models for missing observations and their indicators of missingness. In this study, we derived an imputation model for missing binary data with MNAR mechanism from Heckman's model using a one-step maximum likelihood estimator. We applied this approach to improve a previously developed approach for MNAR continuous outcomes using Heckman's model and a two-step estimator. These models allow us to use a MICE process and can thus also handle missing at random (MAR) predictors in the same MICE process. METHODS: We simulated 1000 datasets of 500 cases. We generated the following missing data mechanisms on 30% of the outcomes: MAR mechanism, weak MNAR mechanism, and strong MNAR mechanism. We then resimulated the first three cases and added an additional 30% of MAR data on a predictor, resulting in 50% of complete cases. We evaluated and compared the performance of the developed approach to that of a complete case approach and classical Heckman's model estimates. RESULTS: With MNAR outcomes, only methods using Heckman's model were unbiased, and with a MAR predictor, the developed imputation approach outperformed all the other approaches. CONCLUSIONS: In the presence of MAR predictors, we proposed a simple approach to address MNAR binary or continuous outcomes under a Heckman assumption in a MICE procedure.

Impact of Latency Duration on the Prognosis of Preterm Infants after Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes at 24 to 32 Weeks' Gestation: A National Population-Based Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of latency duration on survival, survival without severe morbidity, and early-onset sepsis in infants born after preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) at 24-32 weeks' gestation. STUDY DESIGN: This study was based on the prospective national population-based Etude Épidémiologique sur les Petits Ȃges Gestationnels 2 cohort of preterm births and included 702 singletons delivered in France after PPROM at 24-32 weeks' gestation. Latency duration was defined as the time from spontaneous rupture of membranes to delivery, divided into 4 periods (12 hours to 2 days [reference], 3-7 days, 8-14 days, and >14 days). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between latency duration and survival, survival without severe morbidity at discharge, or early-onset sepsis. RESULTS: Latency duration ranged from 12 hours to 2 days (18%), 3-7 days (38%), 8-14 days (24%), and >14 days (20%). Rates of survival, survival without severe morbidity, and early-onset sepsis were 93.5% (95% CI 91.8-94.8), 85.4% (82.4-87.9), and 3.4% (2.0-5.7), respectively. A crude association found between prolonged latency duration and improved survival disappeared on adjusting for gestational age at birth (aOR 1.0 [reference], 1.6 [95% CI 0.8-3.2], 1.2 [0.5-2.9], and 1.0 [0.3-3.2] for latency durations from 12 hours to 2 days, 3-7 days, 8-14 days, and >14 days, respectively). Prolonged latency duration was not associated with survival without severe morbidity or early-onset sepsis. CONCLUSION: For a given gestational age at birth, prolonged latency duration after PPROM does not worsen neonatal prognosis.

A multiple imputation approach for MNAR mechanisms compatible with Heckman's model.

Standard implementations of multiple imputation (MI) approaches provide unbiased inferences based on an assumption of underlying missing at random (MAR) mechanisms. However, in the presence of missing data generated by missing not at random (MNAR) mechanisms, MI is not satisfactory. Originating in an econometric statistical context, Heckman's model, also called the sample selection method, deals with selected samples using two joined linear equations, termed the selection equation and the outcome equation. It has been successfully applied to MNAR outcomes. Nevertheless, such a method only addresses missing outcomes, and this is a strong limitation in clinical epidemiology settings, where covariates are also often missing. We propose to extend the validity of MI to some MNAR mechanisms through the use of the Heckman's model as imputation model and a two-step estimation process. This approach will provide a solution that can be used in an MI by chained equation framework to impute missing (either outcomes or covariates) data resulting either from a MAR or an MNAR mechanism when the MNAR mechanism is compatible with a Heckman's model. The approach is illustrated on a real dataset from a randomised trial in patients with seasonal influenza. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Evaluation of use and identification of predictive factors for nonuse of peripheral venous catheters in the emergency department.

The placement of peripheral venous catheters (PVC) is a frequent procedure in the emergency department (ED), which exposes patients to complications (hematoma, fluid leakage, phlebitis, edema, infection), increases hemolysis of blood samples, is time-consuming and costly. The main aim of this study is to analyze the rate of PVC nonuse in the ED and to identify predictive factors of their nonuse. This prospective single-center observational study was conducted in the ED of the Saint-Antoine Hospital in Paris, France between February and March 2022. Adult patients receiving a PVC were included. In addition to demographic and medical data, the reason for PVC prescription and the prescribing physician's expectation of PVC use were collected. A total of 304 patients were included, with a median age of 61.5 years (IQR: 43-79 years), of whom 152 (50%) were men. PVC were primarily prescribed for intravenous medication administration. Seventy-two (23.7%) PVC were not used. In multivariable analysis, the predictive factors of nonuse were the prescribing physician's expectation of nonuse [OR 6.35, CI 95% (2.64-15.29), for "no" and "not sure" vs. "yes" responses] and the reason for prescribing "just in case" [OR 3.54, CI 95% (1.37-9.17)]. PVC were not used in 23.7% of cases. Predictors of nonuse were the prescribing physician's expectation of nonuse and the reason for prescribing "just in case". A PVC should probably not be prescribed if the prescribing physician thinks it will not be used or prescribes it "just in case".

Continuously improving outcome over time after second allogeneic stem cell transplantation in relapsed acute myeloid leukemia: an EBMT registry analysis of 1540 patients.

Second allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT2) is among the most effective treatments for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) relapse after first alloSCT (alloSCT1). Long-term EBMT registry data were used to provide large scale, up-to-date outcome results and to identify factors for improved outcome. Among 1540 recipients of alloSCT2, increasing age, better disease control and performance status before alloSCT2, more use of alternative donors and higher conditioning intensity represented important trends over time. Between the first (2000-2004) and last (2015-2019) period, two-year overall and leukemia-free survival (OS/LFS) increased considerably (OS: 22.5-35%, LFS: 14.5-24.5%). Cumulative relapse incidence (RI) decreased from 64% to 50.7%, whereas graft-versus-host disease and non-relapse mortality (NRM) remained unchanged. In multivariable analysis, later period of alloSCT2 was associated with improved OS/LFS (HR = 0.47/0.53) and reduced RI (HR = 0.44). Beyond, remission duration, disease stage and patient performance score were factors for OS, LFS, RI, and NRM. Myeloablative conditioning for alloSCT2 decreased RI without increasing NRM, leading to improved OS/LFS. Haploidentical or unrelated donors and older age were associated with higher NRM and inferior OS. In summary, outcome after alloSCT2 has continuously improved over the last two decades despite increasing patient age. The identified factors provide clues for the optimized implementation of alloSCT2.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for pediatric patients with non-anaplastic peripheral T-cell lymphoma. An EBMT pediatric diseases working party study.

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) other than anaplastic large-cell lymphoma are rare in children, and the role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has not been clarified yet. In a retrospective analysis of registry-data of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation we analyzed 55 patients aged < 18 years who received allogeneic (N = 46) or autologous (N = 9) HSCT for PTCL. Median age at HSCT was 13.9 years; 33 patients (60%) were in first remission, and 6 (19%) in progression at HSCT. Conditioning was myeloablative in 87% of the allogeneic HSCTs and in 27 (58.7%) based on total body irradiation. After allogeneic HSCT the 5-year overall- and progression-free survival was 58.9% (95% CI 42.7-71.9) and 52.6% (95% CI 36.8-66.1), respectively. 5-year relapse incidence was 27.6% (95% CI 15.1-41.6), the non-relapse mortality rate was 19.8% (95% CI 9.7-32.6). Five of the six patients with progression at HSCT died. Seven of nine patients after autologous HSCT were alive and disease-free at last follow-up. Our data suggest a role of allogeneic HSCT in consolidation-treatment of patients with high-risk disease, who reach at least partial remission after primary- or relapse-therapy, whereas patients with therapy-refractory or progressive disease prior to transplantation do not profit from HSCT.

Comparison of fludarabine/melphalan (FluMel) with fludarabine/melphalan/BCNU or thiotepa (FBM/FTM) in patients with AML in first complete remission undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation - a registry study on behalf of the EBMT Acute Leukemia Working Party.

Conditioning protocols for patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) are being developed continuously to improve their anti-leukemic efficacy and reduce their toxicity. In this study, we compared the conditioning protocol of fludarabine with melphalan 140 mg/m2 (FluMel) with conditioning protocols based on this same backbone but with an additional alkylating agent i.e., either fludarabine/BCNU (also known as carmustine)/melphalan (FBM), or fludarabine/thiotepa/melphalan (FTM) 110 mg/m2. We included 1272 adult patients (FluMel, n = 1002; FBM/FTM, n = 270) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with intermediate/poor cytogenetic risk in first complete remission (CR) from the registry of the EBMT Acute Leukemia Working Party. Despite patients in the FBM/FTM group were older (64.1 years vs. 59.8 years, p < 0.001) and had a worse Karnofsky performance score (KPS < 90, 33% vs. 24%, p = 0.003), they showed a better overall survival (OS) (2 y OS: 68.3% vs. 58.1%, p = 0.02) and less non-relapse mortality (NRM) (2 y NRM: 15.8% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.009) compared to patients treated with FluMel. No significant differences were observed in relapse incidence (RI) (2 y RI: 24.9% vs. 23.7%, p = 0.62). In conclusion, the addition of a second alkylating agent (BCNU/carmustine or thiotepa) to FluMel as FBM/FTM conditioning, improves OS in AML patients in first CR with intermediate/poor risk cytogenetics after allo-HCT.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for DLBCL: a report from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation on more than 40,000 patients over 32 years.

Autologous(auto-) and allogeneic(allo-) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are key treatments for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), although their roles are challenged by CAR-T-cells and other immunotherapies. We examined the transplantation trends and outcomes for DLBCL patients undergoing auto-/allo-HSCT between 1990 and 2021 reported to EBMT. Over this period, 41,148 patients underwent auto-HSCT, peaking at 1911 cases in 2016, while allo-HSCT saw a maximum of 294 cases in 2018. The recent decline in transplants corresponds to increased CAR-T treatments (1117 cases in 2021). Median age for auto-HSCT rose from 42 (1990-1994) to 58 years (2015-2021), with peripheral blood becoming the primary stem cell source post-1994. Allo-HSCT median age increased from 36 (1990-1994) to 54 (2015-2021) years, with mobilized blood as the primary source post-1998 and reduced intensity conditioning post-2000. Unrelated and mismatched allo-HSCT accounted for 50% and 19% of allo-HSCT in 2015-2021. Three-year overall survival (OS) after auto-HSCT improved from 56% (1990-1994) to 70% (2015-2021), p < 0.001, with a decrease in relapse incidence (RI) from 49% to 38%, while non-relapse mortality (NRM) remained unchanged (4%). After allo-HSCT, 3-year-OS increased from 33% (1990-1999) to 46% (2015-2021) (p < 0.001); 3-year RI remained at 39% and 1-year-NRM decreased to 19% (p < 0.001). Our data reflect advancements over 32 years and >40,000 transplants, providing insights for evaluating emerging DLBCL therapies.

Outcomes of allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation for myelofibrosis in children and adolescents: the retrospective study of the EBMT Paediatric Diseases WP.

This retrospective study evaluated 35 children (median age 5.2 years; range 0.4-18) with myelofibrosis (MF), including 33 with primary myelofibrosis and 2 with secondary myelofibrosis transplanted from matched sibling donor (MSD) (n = 17) or non-MSD (n = 18) between 2000 and 2022. Conditioning was usually chemotherapy-based (n = 33) and myeloablative (n = 32). Fifteen patients received bone marrow (BM), 14 haematopoietic cells (HC) from peripheral blood (PB), and 6 from cord blood (CB). Day +100 acute GvHD II-IV incidence was significantly lower after MSD-haematopoietic cell transplantation (MSD-HCT) than after non-MSD-HCT [18.8% (4.3-41.1) vs 58.8% (31-78.6); p = 0.01]. Six-year non-relapse mortality (NRM) was 18% (7.1-32.8), relapse incidence was 15.9% (5.6-30.9), progression-free survival (PFS) was 66.1% (47-79.7), GvHD-free relapse-free survival was 50% (30.6-66.7), and overall survival (OS) was 71.1% (51.4-84). Six-year PFS and OS were significantly higher after BM transplantation compared to HCT from other sources [85.1% (52.3-96.1) vs 50.8% (26.3-71), p = 0.03, and 90.9% (50.8-98.7) vs 54% (28.1-74.2), p = 0.01, respectively], whereas NRM was significantly lower [0% vs 32% (12.3-53.9); p = 0.02]. This first multicentre study on outcomes of allogeneic HCT in children with myelofibrosis proves feasibility and curative effect of transplantation in these children, suggests that bone marrow transplantation is associated with better outcomes, and indicates the need for further studies.