Outcome after failure of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with acute leukemia: a study by the société Francophone de greffe de moelle et de thérapie cellulaire (SFGM-TC).

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) contributes to improved outcome in childhood acute leukemia (AL). However, therapeutic options are poorly defined in the case of post-transplantation relapse. We aimed to compare treatment strategies in 334 consecutive children with acute leukemia relapse or progression after SCT in a recent 10-year period. Data could be analyzed in 288 patients (157 ALL, 123 AML and 8 biphenotypic AL) with a median age of 8.16 years at transplantation. The median delay from first SCT to relapse or progression was 182 days. The treatment consisted of chemotherapy alone (n=108), chemotherapy followed by second SCT (n=70), supportive/palliative care (n=67), combination of chemotherapy and donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI; n=30), or isolated reinfusion of donor lymphocytes (DLI; n=13). The median OS duration after relapse was 164 days and differed according to therapy: DLI after chemotherapy=385 days, second allograft=391 days, chemotherapy=174 days, DLI alone=140 days, palliative care=43 days. A second SCT or a combination of chemotherapy and DLI yielded similar outcome (hazard ratio (HR)=0.85, P=0.53) unlike chemotherapy alone (HR=1.43 P=0.04), palliative care (HR=4.24, P<0.0001) or isolated DLI (HR=1,94, P<0.04). Despite limitations in this retrospective setting, strategies including immunointervention appear superior to other approaches, mostly in AML.

Cytogenetics and outcome of allogeneic transplantation in first remission of acute myeloid leukemia: the French pediatric experience.

We analyzed the impact of cytogenetics on 193 children enrolled in two successive French trials (LAME89/91 and ELAM02), who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation during CR1. Detailed karyotype was available for 66/74 (89%) in LAME89/91 and 118/119 (99%) in ELAM02. Several karyotype and transplant characteristics differed according to therapeutic protocol: unfavorable karyotypes were more frequent in ELAM02 (36% vs 18%), pretransplant chemotherapy included high-dose cytarabine in ELAM02 and not in LAME89/91, IV replaced oral busulfan in the conditioning regimen, methotrexate was removed from post-transplant immunosuppression, and matched unrelated donor and cord blood transplantation were introduced. Five-year overall survival (OS) was 78.2% in LAME89 and 81.4% in ELAM02. OS was significantly lower for the unfavorable cytogenetic risk group in LAME89/91 when compared with intermediate and favorable groups (50% vs 90.6 and 86.4%, P=0.001). This difference was no longer apparent in ELAM02 (80.9% vs 71.3% and 5/5, respectively). Survival improvement for children with unfavorable karyotype was statistically significant (P=0.026) and was due to decrease in relapse risk. Five-year transplantation-related mortality was 6.75% in LAME89/91. In ELAM02, it was 3.2% for patients with a sibling donor and 10.9% with an unrelated donor or cord blood. We conclude that the outcome of children with unfavorable karyotype transplanted in CR1 has improved.

Improvement of overall survival after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for children and adolescents: a three-decade experience of a single institution.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) has become an essential component of the treatment for a variety of diseases in pediatric patients. During the past decades, advances in the transplant technology, availability of hematopoietic stem cells and supportive care not only have resulted in improved outcomes, but also have expanded the transplant options. However, these features have been studied mainly in adult populations. This investigation analyzed changes in patient profile, transplantation, graft characteristics and outcome among 250 children and adolescent patients who received allo-SCT in a single center between 1983 and 2010. In the 2000-2010, compared with the 1983-1999 period, a significantly higher 5-year overall survival (64% versus 52%, P=0.03) was observed together with a significant decrease of non-relapse mortality (27% versus 9%, P=0.0002). The progression-free survival was comparable between the two periods (49% versus 57%; P=0.17). The 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 24% between 1983 and 1999, and 34% between 2000 and 2010 (P=0.08). Major advances in supportive care practice have been made over the past decade, resulting in a significant survival benefit for the pediatric population undergoing allo-SCT. However, post-transplant relapse remains the leading cause of failure of this therapeutic approach, and preventing relapse represents a major challenge today.

Effect of immune modulation in relapsed peripheral T-cell lymphomas after post-allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a study by the Société Française de Greffe de Moelle et de Thérapie Cellulaire (SFGM-TC).

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma carries a poor prognosis. To document a possible graft-versus-lymphoma effect in this setting, we evaluated the impact of immunomodulation in 63 patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma who relapsed after allogeneic transplant in 27 SFGM-TC centers. Relapse occurred after a median of 2.8 months. Patients were then treated with non-immunologic strategies (chemotherapy, radiotherapy) and/or immune modulation (donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) and/or discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy). Median overall survival (OS) after relapse was 6.1 months (DLI group: 23.6 months, non-DLI group: 3.6 months). Among the 14 patients who received DLI, 9 responded and 2 had stable disease. Among the remaining 49 patients, a complete response accompanied by extensive chronic GvHD was achieved in two patients after tapering of immunosuppressive drugs. Thirty patients received radio-chemotherapy, with an overall response rate of 50%. In multivariate analysis, chronic GvHD (odds ratio: 11.25 (2.68-48.21), P=0.0009) and skin relapse (odds ratio: 4.15 (1.04-16.50), P=0.043) were associated with a better response to treatment at relapse. In a time-dependent analysis, the only factor predictive of OS was the time from transplantation to relapse (hazards ratio: 0.33 (0.17-0.640), P=0.0009). This large series provides encouraging evidence of a true GvL effect in this disease.

[SFGM-TC recommendation on indications for allogeneic stem cell transplantation in children with congenital neutropenia]. / Indications d'allogreffe dans les neutropénies constitutionnelles : recommandation de la SFGM-TC.

In this report, we address the issue of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in children with congenital neutropenia. Constitutional disorders with neutropenia are exceptional. Treatment and prevention of severe infections are a major concern in the management of chronic neutropenia. These disorders, especially Kostmann's disease and Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond syndrome, are associated with an increased risk of leukemia. The role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in these patients is still unclear. In an effort to harmonize clinical practices between different French transplantation centers, the French Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapy (SFGM-TC) set up the fourth annual series of workshops which brought together practitioners from all member centers and took place in September 2013 in Lille.

Impact on long-term OS of conditioning regimen in allogeneic BMT for children with AML in first CR: TBI+CY versus BU+CY: a report from the Société Française de Greffe de Moelle et de Thérapie Cellulaire.

Allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) appears to be an efficient tool to cure high-risk AML in first CR but the choice between BU-based or TBI-based conditioning regimens still remains controversial. In order to analyze the impact of conditioning regimen on long-term survival, we conducted a retrospective analysis from French registry data including all consecutive patients under 18 years old (n=226) from 1980 to 2004 transplanted for AML in CR1 from sibling (n=142) or matched unrelated donors and given either TBI-1200 cGy and CY 120 mg/kg (TBI-Cy, n=84) or BU 16 mg/kg and CY 200 mg/kg (BuCy200, n=142). Patient subgroups were comparable for all criteria except for median age at diagnosis and HSCT and for donor type. Both 5-year OS and disease-free survival (DFS) were significantly better in BuCy200 group (P=0.02 and 0.005, respectively). In multivariate analysis, both HLA matching and BuCy200 appeared as good prognostic factors for treatment-related mortality and DFS. Grade 2-4 acute GvHD and chronic GvHD rates were statistically higher in TBI-Cy group than in Bu-Cy200 one with a RR at 2 (P=0.002). In total, Bu-Cy200 conditioning regimen gives better outcome compared with TBI-Cy irrespective of the stem cell source and the donor type.

Escalated lymphodepletion followed by donor lymphocyte infusion can induce a graft-versus-host response without overwhelming toxicity.

Treatment of relapse of hematological malignancies following allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (allo-HSCT) remains very challenging and relies usually on the readministration of chemotherapy combined with donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI). To enhance DLI effectiveness, lymphodepletion (LD) with fludarabine (Flu) and/or CY before the injection of lymphocytes is an attractive modality to modify the immune environment, leading possibly to suppression of regulatory T cells (T(reg)) and exposing the patient to cytokine activation. However, LD before DLI may lead to induction of deleterious GVHD. To avoid inducing overwhelming toxicity, we proceeded by escalating doses of both LD and DLI. Eighteen patients with various non-CML hematological malignancies who relapsed following allo-HSCT were treated with chemotherapy and LD-DLI or LD-DLI upfront. T-cell subpopulation and DC levels as well as cytokine plasma levels (IL-7, IL-15) were measured before and following LD-DLI. Cumulative incidence of acute grade II-IV GVHD was 29.4% similar to that reported in patients receiving DLI without LD. In addition, Flu alone with low dose of DLI was not associated with severe GHVD. CY/Flu at the respective doses of 600 mg/m(2) on day 1 and Flu 25 mg/m(2)/day on days 1-3 did not result in a marked decrease of T(reg) cells, nor in endogenous IL-7 and IL-15 production. However, a peripheral expansion of DCs was observed. These findings suggest that the escalated dose procedure appears safe and prevent overwhelming toxicity. A dose-limiting toxicity has not yet been reached.

Human herpes virus 6 infection is a hallmark of cord blood transplant in adults and may participate to delayed engraftment: a comparison with matched unrelated donors as stem cell source.

Occurrence of CMV, EBV and human herpes virus 6 (HHV6) infections and immune reconstitution were compared in 15 adult patients receiving a cord blood transplantation (CBT) and 40 patients who received an allogeneic transplantation from a matched unrelated donor (MUD). Herpes virus DNA quantifications in the blood (459 samples) were performed before and then monthly up to 9 months after transplant and the main lymphocytes populations were counted at 3, 6 and 9 months. Incidence of HHV6 infection was significantly higher in the CBT group (80 vs 42.5%; P<0.0001), with higher viral load (P<0.0001). In multivariate analysis, the use of a CBT and a myeloablative conditioning regimen were found to increase the risk of HHV6 infection (odds ratio (OR)=5.4, P=0.02 and OR=3.5, P=0.04, respectively). Incidences of CMV were similar between the two groups whereas MUD increased the risk of EBV infection, in univariate analysis only. HHV6 reactivation translated toward delayed neutrophils and plts engraftment in the two groups. MUD and CBT do not share the same immune reconstitution patterns, notably for B and CD8 lymphocytes and NK cells. There is a strong and specific relationship between HHV6 infection and the use of cord blood cells.