High-Dose Cytarabine and Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation in Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Long-Term Follow-Up of the Randomized Mantle Cell Lymphoma Younger Trial of the European Mantle Cell Lymphoma Network.

Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned co-primary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical Trial Updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.In 2004, the European Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) Network initiated the randomized open-label, phase III MCL Younger trial for first-line treatment of patients with advanced-stage MCL, age < 66 years, comparing an alternating rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone/rituximab plus dexamethasone, high-dose cytarabine, and cisplatin (R-CHOP/R-DHAP) induction followed by high-dose cytarabine-containing myeloablative radiochemotherapy conditioning and autologous peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation (R-DHAP arm) to R-CHOP with standard myeloablative radiochemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation (R-CHOP arm). After a median follow-up of 10.6 years, the time to treatment failure was still significantly improved in the R-DHAP versus R-CHOP arms (medians 8.4 v 3.9 years, 5-/10-year rates 64%/46% v 41%/25%, P = .038, hazard ratio, 0.59). Median overall survival (OS) was not reached in the R-DHAP arm versus 11.3 years in R-CHOP arm (5-/10-year rates, 76%/60% v 69%/55%, P = .12). The unadjusted OS hazard ratios (0.80 [95% CI, 0.61 to 1.06], P = .12) reached significance when adjusted for Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (MIPI) and MIPI + Ki-67 (MIPI-c) (0.74; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.98; P = .038 and .60; 95% CI, 0.41 to 0.87; P = .0066). The incidence of secondary hematologic malignancies tended to be higher in the R-DHAP arm (4.5% v 1.4% at 10 years). With mature long-term data, we confirm the previously observed substantially prolonged time to treatment failure and, for the first time to our knowledge, show an improvement of OS. Some patients with MCL may be cured.

Low Graft Invariant Natural Killer T-Cell Dose Is a Risk Factor for Cytomegalovirus Reactivation After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation is common after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and may result in fatal CMV disease. Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are potent modulators of the immune system preventing graft-versus-host disease while promoting graft-versus-leukemia effects. It is thought that iNKT cells selectively influence mediators of both innate and adaptive immunity. Here, we investigated the impact of graft iNKT cells on CMV reactivation in patients undergoing allogeneic HCT. We found a significantly decreased cumulative incidence of CMV reactivation in patients with higher numbers of iNKT cells in the allograft. Therefore iNKT-cell-enriched grafts or adoptive transfer of iNKT cells are compelling cytotherapeutic strategies to improve outcomes after allogeneic HCT.

Autologous stem cell transplantation for progressive systemic sclerosis: a prospective non-interventional study from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Autoimmune Disease Working Party.

Three randomized controlled trials in early severe systemic sclerosis demonstrated that autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was superior to standard cyclophosphamide therapy. This European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation multi-center prospective non-interventional study was designed to further decipher efficacy and safety of this procedure for severe systemic sclerosis patients in real-life practice and to search for prognostic factors. All consecutive adult systemic sclerosis patients undergoing a first autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation between December 2012 and February 2016 were prospectively included in the study. Primary endpoint was progression free survival. Secondary endpoints were overall survival, non-relapse mortality, response and incidence of progression. Eighty systemic sclerosis patients were included. Median follow-up duration was 24 (6-57) months after stem cell transplantation using cyclophosphamide plus antithymocyte globulins conditioning for all, with CD34+ selection in 35 patients. At 2 years, progression free survival was 81.8%, overall survival was 90%, response was 88.7% and incidence of progression was 11.9%. The 100 days non-relapse mortality was 6.25% (n=5) with four deaths from cardiac event, including three due to cyclophosphamide toxicity. Modified Rodnan skin score and forced vital capacity improved with time (p< 0.001). By multivariate analysis, baseline skin score >24 and older age at transplant were associated with lower progression free survival (Hazard ration 3.32) and 1.77, respectively). CD34+-selection was associated with better response (Hazard ration: 0.46). This study confirms the efficacy of autologous stem cell transplantation in real-life practice for severe systemic sclerosis using non myeloablative conditioning. Careful cardio-pulmonary assessment to identify organ involvement at patient referral, reduced cyclophosphamide doses and CD34+ selection may improve outcomes. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02516124.

Determinants of survival in myelofibrosis patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

We aimed to evaluate the determinants of survival in myelofibrosis patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) and to describe factors predicting the main post-HCT complications. This retrospective study by the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation included 2916 myelofibrosis patients who underwent first allo-HCT from an HLA-identical sibling or unrelated donor between 2000 and 2016. After a median follow-up of 4.7 years from transplant, projected median survival of the series was 5.3 years. Factors independently associated with increased mortality were age ≥ 60 years and Karnofsky Performance Status <90% at transplant, and occurrence of graft failure, grades III-IV acute graft-vs.-host disease (aGVHD), and disease progression/relapse during follow-up. The opposing effects of chronic graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) on non-relapse mortality and relapse incidence resulted in a neutral influence on survival. Graft failure increased in unrelated donor recipients and decreased with myeloablative conditioning (MAC) and negative donor/recipient cytomegalovirus serostatus. Risk of grades III-IV aGVHD was higher with unrelated donors and decreased with MAC. Relapse incidence tended to be higher in patients with intermediate-2/high-risk DIPSS categories and to decrease in CALR-mutated patients. Acute and chronic GVHD reduced the subsequent risk of relapse. This information has potential implications for patient counseling and clinical decision-making.

Cooperating, congenital neutropenia-associated Csf3r and Runx1 mutations activate pro-inflammatory signaling and inhibit myeloid differentiation of mouse HSPCs.

Patients with the pre-leukemia bone marrow failure syndrome called severe congenital neutropenia (CN) have an approximately 15% risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML; called here CN/AML). Most CN/AML patients co-acquire CSF3R and RUNX1 mutations, which play cooperative roles in the development of AML. To establish an in vitro model of leukemogenesis, we utilized bone marrow lin- cells from transgenic C57BL/6-d715 Csf3r mice expressing a CN patient-mimicking truncated CSF3R mutation. We transduced these cells with vectors encoding RUNX1 wild type (WT) or RUNX1 mutant proteins carrying the R139G or R174L mutations. Cells transduced with these RUNX1 mutants showed diminished in vitro myeloid differentiation and elevated replating capacity, compared with those expressing WT RUNX1. mRNA expression analysis showed that cells transduced with the RUNX1 mutants exhibited hyperactivation of inflammatory signaling and innate immunity pathways, including IL-6, TLR, NF-kappaB, IFN, and TREM1 signaling. These data suggest that the expression of mutated RUNX1 in a CSF3R-mutated background may activate the pro-inflammatory cell state and inhibit myeloid differentiation.

Cryobiopsy increases the EGFR detection rate in non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Detection of activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation is crucial for individualized treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However little is known about how biopsy technique affects the detection rate of EGFR mutations. This retrospective, single center study evaluated the detection rate of EGFR mutations in tissue obtained by bronchoscopic cryobiopsy and compared this to other standard tissue sampling techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 414 patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC and known EGFR mutation status between 3/2008-7/2014. Tumor specimens obtained by tissue preserving bronchoscopic cryobiopsy were compared to those obtained by other techniques. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Analysis of bronchoscopic cryobiopsy tissue detected 29 activating EGFR mutations in 27 (21.6 %) out of 125 patients, while analysis of tissue obtained by non-cryobiopsy techniques (bronchoscopic forceps biopsies, fine needle aspiration, imaging guided transthoracical and surgical procedures) detected 42 EGFR mutations in 40 (13.8 %) out of 298 patients (p < 0.05). Cryobiopsy increased detection rate of EGFR mutations in central tumors compared with forceps biopsy (19.6 % versus 6.5 %, p < 0.05), while an insignificant trend was detected also for peripheral tumors (33.3 % versus 26.9 %). Bronchosopic cryobiopsy increases the detection rate of activating EGFR mutations in NSCLC in comparison to other tissue sampling techniques. This will help to optimize individualized treatment of patients with advanced tumors. Because of the retrospective nature of this analysis, a prospective trial is mandatory for final assessment.

Outcome after autologous stem cell transplantation in primary refractory or relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma-a long-term follow-up single center experience.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (autoSCT) can achieve long-term remission in primary refractory or relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r HL); however, still up to 50% of patients relapse after autoSCT. In this retrospective analysis, we investigated the impact of autologous stem cell transplantation in a consecutive, unselected cohort of primary refractory and relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma patients (n = 66) with the majority of patients treated in the pre-brentuximab vedotin and immune checkpoint inhibitor era. In our cohort, a 5-year overall survival (OS) from autoSCT of 59.5% and a 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) after autoSCT of 46.1% was achieved. Multivariate analysis revealed primary refractory disease and early relapse (< 12 months) after initial therapy as well as the presence of B symptoms at relapse as independent risk factors associated with a higher risk for relapse and an inferior PFS and OS. Several other clinical factors, including the presence of extranodal disease at relapse and failure to achieve a complete response to salvage chemotherapy, were associated with a trend towards an inferior survival. Patients relapsing after autoSCT had a particularly poor outcome, regardless of eligibility to undergo allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). We further evaluated recently published prognostic models for r/r HL patients undergoing autoSCT and could validate several risk scores in our independent "real world" cohort.

Disease progression and defects in primary hemostasis as major cause of bleeding in multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In patients with multiple myeloma (MM), unexpected bleeding complications remain a major issue. Since routine coagulation parameters are often inconspicuous, diagnosis and treatment of the underlying coagulation disorders are challenging. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In our single-center observational study, we analyzed 164 patients with MM for coagulation disorders and bleeding complications. RESULTS: Prolonged closure times (CTs), measured by PFA-100, were the most common, abnormal coagulation test, found in 66% of bleeding patients vs 5% in non-bleeding, followed by qualitative defects of von Willebrand factor (VWF:CB/VWF:Ag ratios), found in 34% vs 1% in the non-bleeding group. Increased serum free light chains (SFLC) and SFLC ratios were significantly associated with prolonged CTs and acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS). Prolonged CTs and AVWS were associated with disease progression, determined by dynamics of SFLC ratios (P < .001), serum creatinine level (P = .013), Beta-2 microglobulin (P = .03), LDH (P = .016), and bone marrow infiltration (P < .001). Of note, response to myeloma therapy was frequently correlated with normalization of coagulation parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Bleeding complications in MM are predominantly caused by defects in primary hemostasis and associated with disease progression. In a peri-interventional workup, determination of CTs and VWF:CB/VWF:Ag ratios are of significant importance to assess bleeding risk.

Treatment of Older Patients With Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL): Long-Term Follow-Up of the Randomized European MCL Elderly Trial.

PURPOSE: In an update of the randomized, open-label, phase III European Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) Elderly trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00209209), published in 2012, we aimed to confirm results on long-term outcome focusing on efficacy and safety of long-term use of rituximab maintenance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five hundred sixty patients with newly diagnosed MCL underwent a first random assignment between rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) and rituximab, fludarabine, and cyclophosphamide (R-FC) induction, followed by a second random assignment in 316 responders between rituximab and interferon alfa maintenance, to be continued until progression. We compared progression-free survival from the second randomization and overall survival (OS) from the first or second randomizations. RESULTS: After a median follow-up time of 7.6 years, the previously described difference in OS between the induction arms persisted (median, 6.4 years after R-CHOP [n = 280] v 3.9 years after R-FC [n = 280]; P = .0054). Patients responding to R-CHOP had median progression-free survival and OS times of 5.4 and 9.8 years, respectively, when randomly assigned to rituximab (n = 87), compared with 1.9 years (P < .001) and 7.1 years (P = .0026), respectively, when randomly assigned to interferon alfa (n = 97). In 58% and 32% of patients treated with R-CHOP, rituximab maintenance was still ongoing 2 and 5 years from start of maintenance, respectively. After R-FC, rituximab maintenance was associated with an unexpectedly high cumulative incidence of death in remission (22% at 5 years). Toxicity of rituximab maintenance was low after R-CHOP (grade 3-4 leukopenia or infection < 5%) but more prominent in patients on rituximab maintenance after R-FC, in whom grade 3-4 leukopenia (up to 40%) and infections were frequent (up to 15%). CONCLUSION: The excellent results of R-CHOP followed by rituximab maintenance until progression for older patients with MCL persisted in a mature follow-up. Prolongation of rituximab maintenance beyond 2 years is effective and safe.

Invariant natural killer T cells are functionally impaired in patients with systemic sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a potentially fatal autoimmune disease that leads to extensive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are potent immunoregulatory T lymphocytes being able to orchestrate dysregulated immune responses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate numbers and function of iNKT cells in patients with SSc and to analyze their correlation with disease parameters. METHODS: Human iNKT cells from 88 patients with SSc and 33 healthy controls were analyzed by flow cytometry. Their proliferative capacity and cytokine production were investigated following activation with CD1d ligand α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer). RESULTS: We observed an absolute and relative decrease of iNKT cells in patients with SSc compared with healthy controls. Interestingly, the subtype of SSc, disease severity, or treatment with immunosuppressive drugs did not affect iNKT cell numbers. However, T helper (Th) cell immune polarization was biased towards a Th17 immunophenotype in SSc patients. Moreover, iNKT cells from patients with SSc showed a significantly decreased expansion capacity upon stimulation with α-GalCer. CONCLUSION: iNKT cells are deficient and functionally impaired in patients with SSc. Therefore, adoptive transfer strategies using culture-expanded iNKT cells could be a novel approach to treat SSc patients.

Allogeneic transplantation in multiple myeloma: long-term follow-up and cytogenetic subgroup analysis.

This phase 3 trial compared tandem autologous stem cell transplantation (autoSCT) versus autoSCT followed by reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation (auto/alloSCT) in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) with deletion of (del) chromosome 13q (del13q). The availability/absence of a human leukocyte antigen-matched-related or matched-unrelated donor (MUD) determined the nature of the second SCT. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) in the intention-to-treat population (n = 199). Auto/alloSCT was performed in 126 patients; 74 received MUD allografts. After 91 months median follow-up, median PFS with auto/allo versus tandem autoSCT was 34.5 versus 21.8 months (P = 0.003; adjusted hazard ratio 0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.36-0.84). Median overall survival (OS) was 70.2 versus 71.8 months (P = 0.856). Two-year non-relapse mortality with auto/allo versus tandem autoSCT was 14.3% versus 4.1% (P = 0.008). In patients harboring both del13q and del17p, median PFS and OS were 37.5 and 61.5 months with auto/allo (n = 19) versus 6.1 and 23.4 months with tandem autoSCT (n = 6) (P = 0.0002 and 0.032). Our findings suggest that auto/alloSCT significantly extends PFS versus tandem autoSCT in del13q MM, and indicate some survival benefit for first-line alloSCT in high-risk MM.

The role of autologous stem cell transplantation in peripheral T cell lymphoma: a long-term follow-up single-center experience.

PURPOSE: Peripheral T cell lymphomas (PTCL) are a rare and heterogeneous group of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas, showing a generally poor prognosis. In this retrospective analysis, we aimed to investigate the impact of autologous stem cell transplantation (autoSCT) in PTCL. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 58 consecutive unselected PTCL patients aged 21-71 years undergoing autoSCT as first-line consolidation as well as in the relapse setting was performed. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 67 months. A 5-year overall survival (OS) of 53% and a 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) after autoSCT of 44% was achieved. The overall relapse rate after autoSCT was 50%. On multivariate analysis, standard baseline characteristics such as age, disease stage and international prognostic index (IPI) score failed to predict outcome in our cohort. First-line treatment with autoSCT was not associated with a benefit in OS when compared to patients receiving autoSCT at relapse. Notably, autoSCT seemed to be a suitable approach even for older transplant-eligible patients (aged ≥ 60 years), with a similar 5-year OS of 49% when compared to younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that autoSCT can achieve long-term survival in PTCL patients even after relapse and should also be considered for eligible older patients.

Publisher Correction: Absence of NKG2D ligands defines leukaemia stem cells and mediates their immune evasion.

An Amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Absence of NKG2D ligands defines leukaemia stem cells and mediates their immune evasion.

Patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) often achieve remission after therapy, but subsequently die of relapse1 that is driven by chemotherapy-resistant leukaemic stem cells (LSCs)2,3. LSCs are defined by their capacity to initiate leukaemia in immunocompromised mice4. However, this precludes analyses of their interaction with lymphocytes as components of anti-tumour immunity5, which LSCs must escape to induce cancer. Here we demonstrate that stemness and immune evasion are closely intertwined in AML. Using xenografts of human AML as well as syngeneic mouse models of leukaemia, we show that ligands of the danger detector NKG2D-a critical mediator of anti-tumour immunity by cytotoxic lymphocytes, such as NK cells6-9-are generally expressed on bulk AML cells but not on LSCs. AML cells with LSC properties can be isolated by their lack of expression of NKG2D ligands (NKG2DLs) in both CD34-expressing and non-CD34-expressing cases of AML. AML cells that express NKG2DLs are cleared by NK cells, whereas NKG2DL-negative leukaemic cells isolated from the same individual escape cell killing by NK cells. These NKG2DL-negative AML cells show an immature morphology, display molecular and functional stemness characteristics, and can initiate serially re-transplantable leukaemia and survive chemotherapy in patient-derived xenotransplant models. Mechanistically, poly-ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1) represses expression of NKG2DLs. Genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of PARP1 induces NKG2DLs on the LSC surface but not on healthy or pre-leukaemic cells. Treatment with PARP1 inhibitors, followed by transfer of polyclonal NK cells, suppresses leukaemogenesis in patient-derived xenotransplant models. In summary, our data link the LSC concept to immune escape and provide a strong rationale for targeting therapy-resistant LSCs by PARP1 inhibition, which renders them amenable to control by NK cells in vivo.

Myeloablative and Reduced-Intensity Conditioned Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Myelofibrosis: A Retrospective Study by the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

This retrospective study by the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation analyzed the outcome of 2224 patients with myelofibrosis (MF) who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) between 2000 and 2014; 781 (35%) underwent myeloablative conditioning (MAC) and 1443 (65%) reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC). Median patient age was 52.9 years (range, 18 to 74 years) and 57.5 years (range, 21 to 76 years) in the MAC and RIC cohorts, respectively. Donor type was similar: matched sibling donors (MAC, 317 [41%]; RIC, 552 [38%]) and unrelated donors (MAC, 464 [59%]; RIC, 891 [62%]). Median time to both neutrophil and platelet (>20 × 109/L) engraftment did not differ between cohorts. Rates of grade II to IV acute GVHD were 28% (MAC) and 31% (RIC; P = NS). Cumulative chronic GVHD rates (limited/extensive) were 22%/27% (MAC) and 19%/31% (RIC; P = .10). Cumulative incidences of nonrelapse mortality (NRM) at 1, 3, and 5 years were 25.5%, 32.2%, and 34.6% (MAC) and 26.3%, 32.8%, and 34.4% (RIC), respectively. There was a trend toward a higher relapse rate with RIC regimens compared with MAC (P = .08); rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 10.9%, 17.2%, and 20.1% (MAC) and 14%, 19.7%, and 23.2% (RIC), respectively. No significant difference in 5-year probabilities of overall survival (OS) was noted: MAC (53.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 49.1% to 56.9%) and RIC (51.0%; 95% CI, 48.3% to 53.7%); P = .78. Regarding the composite end point of GVHD-free/relapse-free survival (GRFS), the unadjusted Kaplan-Meier estimate of 5-year GRFS was 32.4% (95% CI, 29.0% to 36.1%) in the MAC group and 26.1% (95% CI, 23.9% to 28.2%) in the RIC group (P = .001). In the MAC cohort, multivariable analysis confirmed worse OS and NRM with older age (>50 years), using an unrelated donor and a Karnofsky Performance Status of 80 or less. For the RIC cohort, worse OS and NRM were associated with age 60 to 70 years compared with younger recipients, use of a mismatched donor, and poor performance status. In conclusion, although similar OS rates existed for both cohorts overall, this study suggests that MAC should still be used for younger individuals suitable for such an approach due to a trend toward less relapse and an overall suggested advantage of improved GRFS, albeit this should be examined in a more homogeneous cohort. RIC allo-SCT still offers significant survival advantage in the older, fitter MF allograft patient, and optimization to reduce significant relapse and NRM rates is required.

Invariant NKT Cells From Donor Lymphocyte Infusions (DLI-iNKTs) Promote ex vivo Lysis of Leukemic Blasts in a CD1d-Dependent Manner.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is a curative treatment option for hematologic malignancies but relapse remains the most common cause of death. Infusion of donor lymphocytes (DLIs) can induce remission and prolong survival by exerting graft-vs.-leukemia (GVL) effects. However, sufficient tumor control cannot be established in all patients and occurrence of graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) prevents further dose escalation. Previous data indicate that invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells promote anti-tumor immunity without exacerbating GVHD. In the present study we investigated lysis of leukemic blasts through iNKT cells from donor-derived lymphocytes for leukemia control and found that iNKT cells constitute about 0.12% of cryopreserved donor T cells. Therefore, we established a 2-week cell culture protocol allowing for a robust expansion of iNKT cells from cryopreserved DLIs (DLI-iNKTs) that can be used for further preclinical and clinical applications. Such DLI-iNKTs efficiently lysed leukemia cell lines and primary patient AML blasts ex vivo in a dose- and CD1d-dependent manner. Furthermore, expression of CD1d on target cells was required to release proinflammatory cytokines and proapoptotic effector molecules. Our results suggest that iNKT cells from donor-derived lymphocytes are involved in anti-tumor immunity after allo-HCT and therefore may reduce the risk of relapse and improve progression-free and overall survival.

Comparison of Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System and MYelofibrosis SECondary to PV and ET Prognostic Model for Prediction of Outcome in Polycythemia Vera and Essential Thrombocythemia Myelofibrosis after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation.

We aimed to validate the MYelofibrosis SECondary to PV and ET prognostic model (MYSEC-PM) in 159 patients with myelofibrosis secondary to polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry undergoing transplantation from matched siblings or unrelated donors. Furthermore, we aimed to test its prognostic performance in comparison with the Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System (DIPSS). Score performance was analyzed using the concordance index (C): the probability that a patient who experienced an event had a higher risk score than a patient who did not (C > .5 suggesting predictive ability). Median follow-up of the total cohort was 41 months (range, 34 to 54), 45 months in post-PV and 38 months in post-ET myelofibrosis. Survival at 1, 2, and 4 years was 70% (95% CI, 63% to 77%), 61% (95% CI, 53% to 69%), and 52% (95% CI, 43% to 61%) for the total cohort; 70% (95% CI, 59% to 80%), 61% (95% CI, 49% to 73%), and 51% (95% CI, 38% to 64%) for post-PV; and 71% (95% CI, 61% to 81%), 61% (95% CI, 50% to 72%), and 54% (95% CI, 42% to 66%) for post-ET myelofibrosis (P = .78). Overall, the DIPSS was not significantly predictive of outcome (P = .28). With respect to the MYSEC-PM, overall survival at 4 years was 69% for the low-risk, 55% for the intermediate 1-risk, 47% for the intermediate 2-risk, and 22% (0% to 45%) for the high-risk groups. The prognostic model was predictive of survival overall (P = .05), whereas groups with intermediate 2 and high risk showed no significant difference (P = .44). Assessment of prognostic utility yielded a C-index of .575 (95% CI, .502 to .648) for the DIPSS, whereas assessment of the MYSEC-PM resulted in a C-statistics of .636 (95% CI, .563 to .708), indicating improvement in prediction of post-transplant survival using the new MYSEC-PM. In addition, transplantations from an unrelated donor in comparison with an HLA-identical sibling showed worse outcome (P = .04), and transplant recipients seropositive for cytomegalovirus in comparison with seronegative recipients (P = .01) showed worse survival. In conclusion, incorporating transplant-specific and clinical and mutational information together with the MYSEC-PM may enhance risk stratification.

G-CSF administration prior to donor lymphocyte apheresis promotes anti-leukaemic effects in allogeneic HCT patients.

Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) is an effective method to establish full donor chimerism or to prevent and treat relapse after allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Usually, DLIs are collected from naïve donors as steady-state lymphocytes. When donor lymphocytes are collected during stem cell apheresis, donors are pre-treated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). However, the impact of G-CSF stimulation and the resulting composition of DLIs on beneficial anti-leukaemic responses and survival remain elusive. Therefore, we performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the role of G-CSF-DLIs: 44 patients received either steady-state DLIs or G-CSF-DLIs to prevent and treat relapse or establish full donor chimerism after allo-HCT. The G-CSF-DLI patient cohort showed an improved conversion to full donor chimerism and a lower cumulative incidence of relapse or disease progression without a significantly increased cumulative incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). CD34+ cells, monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells and monocytes as well as donor age and the subsequent occurrence of chronic GVHD were identified as risk factors that significantly improve overall survival after DLI administration. In conclusion, our data suggest that administration of G-CSF-DLIs results in graft-versus-leukaemia effects without exacerbating GVHD, therefore, improving survival after DLIs.