Lung parenchyma-derived IL-6 promotes IL-17A-dependent acute lung injury after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS) is a relatively common, frequently fatal clinical entity, characterized by noninfectious acute lung inflammation following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), the mechanisms of which are unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that immune suppression with cyclosporin after SCT limits T-helper cell (Th) 1 differentiation and interferon-γ secretion by donor T cells, which is critical for inhibiting interleukin (IL)-6 generation from lung parenchyma during an alloimmune response. Thereafter, local IL-6 secretion induces donor alloantigen-specific Th17 cells to preferentially expand within the lung, and blockade of IL-17A or transplantation of grafts lacking the IL-17 receptor prevents disease. Studies using IL-6(-/-) recipients or IL-6 blockade demonstrate that IL-6 is the critical driver of donor Th17 differentiation within the lung. Importantly, IL-6 is also dysregulated in patients undergoing clinical SCT and is present at very high levels in the plasma of patients with IPS compared with SCT recipients without complications. Furthermore, at the time of diagnosis, plasma IL-6 levels were higher in a subset of IPS patients who were nonresponsive to steroids and anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy. In sum, pulmonary-derived IL-6 promotes IPS via the induction of Th17 differentiation, and strategies that target these cytokines represent logical therapeutic approaches for IPS.

Addition of interleukin-6 inhibition with tocilizumab to standard graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation: a phase 1/2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin 6 mediates graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in experimental allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (allogeneic SCT) and represents an attractive therapeutic target. We aimed to assess whether the humanised anti-interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, tocilizumab, could attenuate the incidence of acute GVHD. METHODS: We undertook a single-group, single-institution phase 1/2 study at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Bone Marrow Transplantation unit, QLD, Australia. Eligible patients were 18-65 years old and underwent T-replete HLA-matched allogeneic SCT with either total body irradiation-based myeloablative or reduced-intensity conditioning from unrelated or sibling donors. One intravenous dose of tocilizumab (8 mg/kg, capped at 800 mg, over 60 mins' infusion) was given the day before allogeneic SCT along with standard GVHD prophylaxis (cyclosporin [5 mg/kg per day on days -1 to +1, then 3 mg/kg per day to maintain therapeutic levels (trough levels of 140-300 ng/mL) for 100 days plus methotrexate [15 mg/m(2) on day 1, then 10 mg/m(2) on days 3, 6, and 11]). The primary endpoint was incidence of grade 2-4 acute GVHD at day 100, assessed and graded as per the Seattle criteria. Immunological profiles were compared with a non-randomised group of patients receiving allogeneic SCT, but not treated with tocilizumab. This trial is registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number ACTRN12612000726853. FINDINGS: Between Jan 19, 2012, and Aug 27, 2013, 48 eligible patients receiving cyclosporin and methotrexate as GVHD prophylaxis were enrolled into the study. The incidence of grade 2-4 acute GVHD in patients treated with tocilizumab at day 100 was 12% (95% CI 5-24), and the incidence of grade 3-4 acute GVHD was 4% (1-13). Grade 2-4 acute GVHD involving the skin developed in five (10%) patients of 48 treated with tocilizumab, involving the gastrointestinal tract in four (8%) patients; there were no reported cases involving the liver. Low incidences of grade 2-4 acute GVHD were noted in patients receiving both myeloablative total body irradiation-based conditioning (12% [95% CI 2-34) and fludarabine and melphalan reduced-intensity conditioning (12% [4-27]). Immune reconstitution was preserved in recipients of interleukin-6 receptor inhibition, but qualitatively modified with suppression of known pathogenic STAT3-dependent pathways. INTERPRETATION: Interleukin 6 is the main detectable and dysregulated cytokine secreted after allogeneic SCT and its inhibition is a potential new and simple strategy to protect from acute GVHD despite robust immune reconstitution; a randomised, controlled trial assessing tocilizumab in addition to standard GVHD prophylaxis in these patients is warranted. FUNDING: National Health and Medical Research Council and Queensland Health.

Our experience of nursing/allied health practitioner led geriatric screening and assessment of older patients with cancer - a highly accessible model of care.

OBJECTIVE: Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) has been proven to assist development of tailored treatment plans for older patients with cancer by identifying health issues affecting their ability to complete systemic therapy or cope with and recover from cancer treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Metro North Hospital and Health Service (MNHHS) has significant older population with cancer. Geriatric Oncology services were commenced in February 2018 at two facilities of MNHHS [North Lakes Cancer Care Services/Caboolture Hospital (NLCCS/CBH) Cancer services and Redcliffe Hospital (RH) Cancer services]. The Geriatric 8 (G8) screening tool was administered to predict patient vulnerability and need for CGA. A bespoke CGA suite comprising of 16 assessments was used. A clinical nurse or Allied Health (AH) practitioner conducted screening, followed by CGA. Proposed care was discussed at multidisciplinary case conference and AH interventions were provided. RESULTS: From February'2018 to July'2019, the G8 was administered to 1380 patients between the two facilities (918 patients at NLCCS/CBH and 462 patients at RH), comprising oncology and haematology patients. 825 patients (59%) showed impairment on G8 and were recommended for CGA. Another 50 patients were referred for CGA as per clinical assessment despite normal G8. 65% (572) of recommended CGAs were conducted. The most common impairments identified on CGA leading to AH referrals were timed up & go >13 s, malnutrition, polypharmacy and low mood & depression. CONCLUSION: The nursing/AH practitioner led Geriatric Oncology service is feasible, applicable and beneficial to patients. Further study is planned to assess the impact of the service on patients' health related quality of life and chemotherapy completion rates.

Pegylated interferon-2α invokes graft-versus-leukemia effects in patients relapsing after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a curative therapy for patients with hematological malignancies related largely to an immunological graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect mediated by donor T cells and natural killer cells. Relapse of disease after SCT represents failure of GVL and is now the major cause of treatment failure. We sought to augment GVL effects in patients (n = 29) relapsing after SCT in a prospective phase I/II clinical trial of dose-escalated pegylated interferon-2α (peg-IFNα). The administration of peg-IFNα after reinduction chemotherapy, with or without subsequent donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI), resulted in a 2-year overall survival (OS) of 31% (95% confidence interval, 17.3%-49.2%), which rejects the null hypothesis of 7% generated by observations in an institutional historical cohort. As expected, peg-IFNα was associated with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and hematological toxicity, which was manageable with scheduled dose modifications. Progression-free survival (PFS) was greatest in patients who experienced GVHD, although the majority of those patients still eventually progressed. Higher PFS and OS were associated with pretreatment proportions of immune cell populations with regulatory function, including mucosal invariant T cells, regulatory T cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, independent of any association with GVHD. Peg-IFNα administration after relapse thus constitutes a logical strategy to invoke GVL effects and should be studied in a larger, multicenter cohort. This trial was registered at www.anzctr.org.au as #ACTRN12612000728831.