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.

Trends in Volumes and Survival After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Racial/Ethnic Minorities.

There has been an increase in volume as well as improvement in overall survival (OS) after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for hematologic disorders. It is unknown if these changes have impacted racial/ethnic minorities equally. In this observational study from Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research of 79,904 autologous (auto) and 65,662 allogeneic (allo) HCTs, we examined the volume and rates of change of auto HCT and allo HCT over time and trends in OS in 4 racial/ethnic groups: Non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs), Non-Hispanic African Americans (NHAAs), Hispanics across five 2-year cohorts from 2009 to 2018. Rates of change were compared using Poisson model. Adjusted and unadjusted Cox proportional hazards models examined trends in mortality in the 4 racial/ethnic groups over 5 study time periods. The rates of increase in volume were significantly higher for Hispanics and NHAAs vs. NHW for both autoHCT and alloHCT. Adjusted overall mortality after autoHCT was comparable across all racial/ethnic groups. NHAA adults (HR 1.13; 95% CI 1.04-1.22; p=0.004) and pediatric patients (HR 1.62; 95% CI 1.3-2.03; p<0.001 had a higher risk of mortality after alloHCT compared to NHWs. Improvement in OS over time was seen in all 4 groups after both autoHCT and alloHCT.Our study shows the rate of change for the use of autoHCT and alloHCT is higher in NHAAs and Hispanics compared to NHWs. Survival after autoHCT and alloHCT improved over time, however NHAAs have worse OS after alloHCT which has persisted. Continued efforts are needed to mitigate disparities for patients requiring alloHCT.

International Recommendations for Screening and Preventative Practices for Long-Term Survivors of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy: A 2023 Update.

As hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapy expand to new indications and international access improves, the number of HCTs performed annually continues to rise. Parallel improvements in HCT techniques and supportive care entails more patients surviving long term, creating further emphasis on survivorship needs. Survivors are at risk for developing late complications secondary to pretransplantation, peritransplantation, and post-transplantation exposures and other underlying risk factors. Guidelines for screening and preventive practices for HCT survivors were originally published in 2006 and then updated in 2012. An international group of experts was convened to review the contemporary literature and update the recommendations while considering the changing practices of HCT and cellular therapy. This review provides updated pediatric and adult survivorship guidelines for HCT and cellular therapy. The contributory role of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) to the development of late effects is discussed, but cGVHD management is not covered in detail. These guidelines emphasize the special needs of patients with distinct underlying HCT indications or comorbidities (eg, hemoglobinopathies, older adults) but do not replace more detailed group-, disease-, or condition-specific guidelines. Although these recommendations should be applicable to the vast majority of HCT recipients, resource constraints may limit their implementation in some settings.

International recommendations for screening and preventative practices for long-term survivors of transplantation and cellular therapy: a 2023 update.

As hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapy expand to new indications and international access improves, the volume of HCT performed annually continues to rise. Parallel improvements in HCT techniques and supportive care entails more patients surviving long-term, creating further emphasis on survivorship needs. Survivors are at risk for developing late complications secondary to pre-, peri- and post-transplant exposures and other underlying risk-factors. Guidelines for screening and preventive practices for HCT survivors were originally published in 2006 and updated in 2012. To review contemporary literature and update the recommendations while considering the changing practice of HCT and cellular therapy, an international group of experts was again convened. This review provides updated pediatric and adult survivorship guidelines for HCT and cellular therapy. The contributory role of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) to the development of late effects is discussed but cGVHD management is not covered in detail. These guidelines emphasize special needs of patients with distinct underlying HCT indications or comorbidities (e.g., hemoglobinopathies, older adults) but do not replace more detailed group, disease, or condition specific guidelines. Although these recommendations should be applicable to the vast majority of HCT recipients, resource constraints may limit their implementation in some settings.

Recommendations for surveillance of pulmonary dysfunction among childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors: a report from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group.

Childhood, adolescent, and young adult (CAYA) cancer survivors are at risk of pulmonary dysfunction. Current follow-up care guidelines are discordant. Therefore, the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group established and convened a panel of 33 experts to develop evidence-based surveillance guidelines. We critically reviewed available evidence regarding risk factors for pulmonary dysfunction, types of pulmonary function testing, and timings of surveillance, then we formulated our recommendations. We recommend that CAYA cancer survivors and healthcare providers are aware of reduced pulmonary function risks and pay vigilant attention to potential symptoms of pulmonary dysfunction, especially among survivors treated with allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, thoracic radiotherapy, and thoracic surgery. Based on existing limited evidence and current lack of interventions, our panel recommends pulmonary function testing only for symptomatic survivors. Since scarce existing evidence informs our recommendation, we highlight the need for prospective collaborative studies to address pulmonary function knowledge gaps among CAYA cancer survivors.

Return to school practices after hematopoietic cell transplantation: a survey of transplant centers in the United States.

To understand transplant center recommendations on return-to-school timing and related support for hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) survivors, we conducted a two-phase, cross-sectional, web-based survey: In Phase I, medical directors of pediatric HCT centers from the National Marrow Donor Program/ Be The Match Registry were asked regarding the availability of a return to school standardized operating procedure (SOP). In Phase II, HCT physician members of the Pediatric Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Consortium were approached to study inter-physician practice variability regarding return to school post-HCT, factors affecting their decision-making, and support provided by HCT centers for return to school. Out of 46 respondents in Phase I (55% response rate), 28 (61%) reported having a SOP. Wide variations in recommendations were noted in 12 received SOPs. In Phase II, 122 physicians (60 centers) responded (30.6% response rate). The majority (60%) recommended autologous HCT recipients return to school within 6 months post-HCT but 65% recommended allogeneic HCT recipients return to school after 6 months or once off immunosuppression. Our findings indicate a lack of consensus within and across HCT centers regarding recommended return to school timing and underscore need for a guideline to standardize this process to ensure patient safety and re-integration into school.

Cytogenetic abnormalities predict survival after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia: a PDWP/EBMT study.

Poor-risk (PR) cytogenetic/molecular abnormalities generally direct pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). We assessed the predictive value of cytogenetic risk classification at diagnosis with respect to post-HSCT outcomes in pediatric patients. Patients younger than 18 years at the time of their first allogeneic HSCT for AML in CR1 between 2005 and 2022 who were reported to the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry were subgrouped into four categories. Of the 845 pediatric patients included in this study, 36% had an 11q23 abnormality, 24% had monosomy 7/del7q or monosomy 5/del5q, 24% had a complex or monosomal karyotype, and 16% had other PR cytogenetic abnormalities. In a multivariable model, 11q23 (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.66, P = 0.03) and other PR cytogenetic abnormalities (HR = 0.55, P = 0.02) were associated with significantly better overall survival when compared with monosomy 7/del7q or monosomy 5/del5q. Patients with other PR cytogenetic abnormalities had a lower risk of disease relapse after HSCT (HR = 0.49, P = 0.01) and, hence, better leukemia-free survival (HR = 0.55, P = 0.01). Therefore, we conclude that PR cytogenetic abnormalities at diagnosis predict overall survival after HSCT for AML in pediatric patients.

Incidence and Impact of Fungal Infections in Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide-Based Graft-versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis and Haploidentical Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research Analysis.

Fungal infection (FI) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Neutropenia, HLA mismatch, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and viral infections are risk factors for FI. The objectives of this Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research registry study were to compare the incidence and density of FI occurring within 180 days after HCT in matched sibling (Sib) transplants with either calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based or post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy)-based GVHD prophylaxis and related haploidentical transplants receiving PTCy, and to examine the impact of FI by day 180 on transplantation outcomes. METHODS: Patients who underwent their first HCT between 2012 and 2017 for acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome and received a related haploidentical transplant with PTCy (HaploCy; n = 757) or a Sib transplant with PTCy (SibCy; n = 403) or CNI (SibCNI; n = 1605) were analyzed. The incidence of FI by day 180 post-HCT was calculated as cumulative incidence with death as the competing risk. The associations of FI with overall survival, transplant-related mortality, chronic GVHD, and relapse at 2 years post-HCT were examined in Cox proportional hazards regression models. Factors significantly associated with the outcome variable at a 1% level were kept in the final model. RESULTS: By day 180 post-HCT, 56 (7%) HaploCy, 24 (6%), SibCy, and 59 (4%) SibCNI recipients developed ≥1 FI (P < .001). The cumulative incidence of yeast FI was 5.2% (99% confidence interval [CI], 3.3% to 7.3%) for HaploCy, 2.2% (99% CI, .7% to 4.5%) for SibCy, and 1.9% (99% CI, 1.1% to 2.9%) for SibCNI (P = .001), and that of mold FI was 2.9% (99% CI, 1.5% to 4.7%), 3.7% (99% CI, 91.7% to 6.6%), and 1.7% (99% CI, 1.0% to 2.6%), respectively (P = .040). FI was associated with an increased risk of death, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 4.06 (99% CI, 2.2 to 7.6) for HaploCy, 4.7 (99% CI, 2.0 to 11.0) for SibCy, and 3.4 (99% CI, 1.8 to 6.4) for SibCNI compared with SibCNI without FI (P < .0001 for all). Similar associations were noted for transplantation-related mortality. FI did not impact rates of relapse or chronic GVHD. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of FI by day 180 ranged between 1.9% and 5.2% for yeast FI and from 1.7% to 3.7% for mold FI across the 3 cohorts. The use of PTCy was associated with higher rates of yeast FI only in HaploHCT and with mold FI in both HaploHCT and SibHCT. The presence of FI by day 180 was associated with increased risk for overall mortality and transplant-related mortality at 2 years regardless of donor type or PTCy use. Although rates of FI were low with PTCy, FI is associated with an increased risk of death, underscoring the need for improved management strategies.

Intensive care risk and long-term outcomes in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.

ABSTRACT: Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can be complicated by life-threatening organ toxicity and infection necessitating intensive care. Epidemiologic data have been limited by single-center studies, poor database granularity, and a lack of long-term survivors. To identify contemporary trends in intensive care unit (ICU) use and long-term outcomes, we merged data from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and the Virtual Pediatric Systems databases. We identified 6995 pediatric patients with HCT aged ≤21 years who underwent first allogeneic HCT between 2008 and 2014 across 69 centers in the United States or Canada and followed patients until the year 2020. ICU admission was required for 1067 patients (8.3% by day +100, 12.8% by 1 year, and 15.3% by 5 years after HCT), and was linked to demographic background, pretransplant organ toxicity, allograft type and HLA-match, and the development of graft-versus-host disease or malignancy relapse. Survival to ICU discharge was 85.7%, but more than half of ICU survivors required ICU readmission, leading to 52.5% and 42.6% survival at 1- and 5-years post-ICU transfer, respectively. ICU survival was worse among patients with malignant disease, poor pretransplant organ function, and alloreactivity risk factors. Among 1-year HCT survivors, those who required ICU in the first year had 10% lower survival at 5 years and developed new dialysis-dependent renal failure at a greater rate (P<.001). Thus, although ICU management is common and survival to ICU discharge is high, ongoing complications necessitate recurrent ICU admission and lead to a poor 1-year outcome in select patients who are at high risk.

Unfavorable transcriptome profiles and social disadvantage in hematopoietic cell transplantation: a CIBMTR analysis.

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) capture subjective social determinants of health (SDOHs), which can affect health outcomes through the stress response pathway. The conserved transcriptional response to adversity (CTRA) is a stress-mediated proinflammatory transcriptomic pattern that has been linked to adverse hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) outcomes. This study examined the association of pretransplant CTRA with patient-reported SDOHs in allogeneic HCT recipients. In this cross-sectional study, pre-HCT SDOH-related PROs included the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT). CTRA was assessed by RNA sequencing of whole blood specimens, with mixed effects linear regression models relating CTRA expression to PRO scores while controlling for age, sex, race, disease, and performance status. Among 121 patients, the median age was 54 years, 42% were female, and 91% were White. CTRA was elevated in participants reporting lower scores on the FACT-BMT (P = .003), including the general (P = .003) and BMT-specific (P = .014) components. Effects were driven by the social well-being domain (P = .0001). This corresponded to an 8% to 15% difference in CTRA RNA expression across a 4 standard deviation range in patient-reported SDOHs. Ancillary bioinformatics analyses confirmed the association of well-being with reduced proinflammatory transcription pathway activity [cyclic AMP response element-binding protein, (CREB), NF-κB, and activating protein-1 (AP-1)]. In conclusion, HCT-treated patients who experience unfavorable social conditions show elevated CTRA expression in pretransplant blood samples. These data highlight the biologic sequelae of social well-being and community context and suggest a potential molecular mechanism for the impact of social gradients in HCT outcomes. Targeting this pathway could optimize outcomes in this high-risk population.

Critical Illness Risk and Long-Term Outcomes Following Intensive Care in Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients.

Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can be complicated by the development of organ toxicity and infection necessitating intensive care. Risk factors for intensive care admission are unclear due to heterogeneity across centers, and long-term outcome data after intensive care are sparse due to a historical paucity of survivors. Methods: The Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) was queried to identify patients age ≤21 years who underwent a 1st allogeneic HCT between 2008-2014 in the United States or Canada. Records were cross-referenced with the Virtual Pediatric Systems pediatric ICU database to identify intensive care admissions. CIBMTR follow-up data were collected through the year 2020. Result: We identified 6,995 pediatric HCT patients from 69 HCT centers, of whom 1,067 required post-HCT intensive care. The cumulative incidence of PICU admission was 8.3% at day +100, 12.8% at 1 year, and 15.3% at 5 years post HCT. PICU admission was linked to younger age, lower median zip code income, Black or multiracial background, pre-transplant organ toxicity, pre-transplant CMV seropositivity, use of umbilical cord blood and/or HLA-mismatched allografts, and the development of post-HCT graft-versus-host disease or malignancy relapse. Among PICU patients, survival to ICU discharge was 85.7% but more than half of ICU survivors were readmitted to a PICU during the study interval. Overall survival from the time of 1st PICU admission was 52.5% at 1 year and 42.6% at 5 years. Long-term post-ICU survival was worse among patients with malignant disease (particularly if relapsed), as well as those with poor pre-transplant organ function and alloreactivity risk-factors. In a landmark analysis of all 1-year HCT survivors, those who required intensive care in the first year had 10% lower survival at 5 years (77.1% vs. 87.0%, p<0.001) and developed new dialysis-dependent renal failure at a greater rate (p<0.001). Conclusions: Intensive care management is common in pediatric HCT patients. Survival to ICU discharge is high, but ongoing complications necessitate recurrent ICU admission and lead to a poor 1-year outcome in many patients. Together, these data suggest an ongoing burden of toxicity in pediatric HCT patients that continues to limit long-term survival.

Financial Hardship in Childhood Cancer Survivors Treated with Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.

Long-term survivors of childhood cancer are at risk for financial hardship. However, it is not known if HCT leads to an incremental change in financial hardship for survivors who received it versus those who did not. We examined financial outcomes among adult survivors of childhood cancer who had undergone HCT. Using a cross-sectional survey in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study population between 2017 and 2019, self-reported financial hardship was compared between survivors who received HCT, survivors treated without HCT ("non-HCT"), and siblings and categorized into 3 domains: material hardship/financial sacrifices, behavioral, and psychological hardship. The standardized score of each domain of financial hardship was calculated by adding the item responses and dividing by the standard deviation among siblings. Multivariable linear and logistic regression were used to evaluate associations between sociodemographic characteristics, cancer diagnosis, post-treatment complications, and financial hardship among survivors. The mean adjusted score for each hardship domain was not significantly different between HCT survivors (n = 133) and non-HCT survivors (n = 2711); mean differences were .18 (95% confidence interval [CI], -.05 to .41) for material hardship/financial sacrifices, .07 (95% CI, -.18 to .32) for behavioral hardship, and .19 (95% CI, -.04 to .42) for psychological hardship. Within specific items, a higher proportion of survivors treated with HCT reported greater financial hardship compared to non-HCT survivors. HCT survivors also had significantly higher mean domain scores compared to sibling controls (n = 1027) in all domains. Household income and chronic health conditions, but not HCT, were associated with financial hardship among all survivors. Adult survivors of childhood cancer treated with HCT do not report greater overall financial hardship compared to non-HCT survivors but do report greater overall financial hardship compared to sibling controls. Surveillance and intervention may be necessary for all survivors regardless of HCT status.

Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Long-Term Outcomes in ≥1 Year Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Survivors: A CIBMTR Analysis.

Racial/ethnic minorities have demonstrated worse survival after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) compared to whites. Whether the racial disparity in HCT outcomes persists in long-term survivors and possibly may be even exacerbated in this population, which frequently transitions back from the transplant center to their local healthcare providers, is unknown. In the current study, we compared long-term outcomes among 1-year allogeneic HCT survivors by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES). The Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database was used to identify 5473 patients with acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, or myelodysplastic syndromes who underwent their first allogeneic HCT between 2007 and 2017 and were alive and in remission for at least 1 year after transplantation. The study was restricted to patients who underwent HCT in the United States. SES was defined using patient neighborhood poverty level estimated from the recipient's ZIP code of residence; a ZIP code with ≥20% of persons below the federal poverty level was considered a high poverty area. The primary outcome was to evaluate the associations of race/ethnicity and neighborhood poverty level with overall survival (OS), relapse, and nonrelapse mortality (NRM). Cox regression models were used to determine associations of ethnicity/race and SES with OS, relapse, and NRM. Standardized mortality ratios were calculated to compare mortality rates of the study patients and their general population peers matched on race/ethnicity, age, and sex. The study cohort was predominately non-Hispanic white (n = 4385) and also included non-Hispanic black (n = 338), Hispanic (n = 516), and Asian (n = 234) patients. Overall, 729 patients (13%) resided in high-poverty areas. Significantly larger proportions of non-Hispanic black (37%) and Hispanic (26%) patients lived in high-poverty areas compared to non-Hispanic whites (10%) and Asians (10%) (P < .01). Multivariable analysis revealed no significant associations between OS, PFS, relapse, or NRM and race/ethnicity or poverty level when adjusted for patient-, disease- and transplantation-related covariates. Our retrospective cohort registry study shows that among adult allogeneic HCT recipients who survived at least 1 year in remission, there were no associations between race/ethnicity, neighborhood poverty level, and long-term outcomes.

Barriers and facilitators of the return-to-school process affecting adolescent recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation: A qualitative interview study of caregivers.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients remain out of school for a prolonged period of time; navigating their return to school after completion of therapy can be challenging for caregivers. METHODS: Between August 2020 and June 2021, we conducted individual semi-structured interviews of 19 caregivers of adolescent HCT recipients (10-18 years of age at HCT; 1-7 years post HCT) to understand the challenges faced at the time of their child's return to in-person school post HCT. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze interview transcripts, and thematic analysis was used to identify and organize emerging themes. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from the caregivers' experiences. First, caregivers reported facing several challenges related to lack of communication between their child's healthcare and school teams, which was burdensome for them. Second, some caregivers reported receiving support from school and healthcare professionals, as well as their child's peers, which helped reduce the burden of return to school. Caregivers also reported providing motivational, emotional, and spiritual support to patients. Lastly, caregivers made several recommendations regarding the need for better communication between family, healthcare professionals, and school professionals and availability of supportive care such as mental health counseling and neuropsychological testing. Notably, the need for a return-to-school navigator emerged as a key finding from our analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers of adolescent HCT recipients face several challenges supporting their children's return to school post HCT, which are related to lack of communication between patients' healthcare and school teams. While some reported receiving support from school and healthcare professionals and their child's peers, the need to coordinate the return-to-school process was burdensome for several caregivers. Additional work is needed to optimize support for HCT recipients and their caregivers during their return-to-school process to minimize burden. Our study findings have the potential to serve as a framework for developing and testing supportive care interventions to improve the return-to-school experience of HCT survivors and ultimately their quality of life.

Impact of Public Reporting of Center-Specific Survival Analysis Scores on Patient Volumes at Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Centers.

The Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research reports the outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) at United States transplantation centers (TC) annually through its Center-Specific Survival Analysis (CSA). The CSA compares the actual 1-year overall survival (OS) and predicted 1-year OS rate after alloHCT at each TC, which is then reported as 0 (OS as expected), -1 (OS worse than expected), or 1 (OS better than expected). We evaluated the impact of public reporting of TC performance on their alloHCT patient volumes. Ninety-one TCs that serve adult or combined adult and pediatric populations and had CSA scores reported for 2012-2018 were included. We analyzed prior-calendar-year TC volume, prior-calendar-year CSA score, whether the CSA score had changed in the prior year from two years earlier, calendar year, TC type (adult only vs. combined adult and pediatric), and years of alloHCT experience for their impact on patient volumes. A CSA score of -1, as compared with 0 or 1, was associated with an 8% to 9% reduction in the mean TC volume (P < 0.001) in the subsequent year, adjusting for the prior year center volume. Additionally, being a TC neighboring an index TC with a -1 CSA score, was associated with a 3.5% increase in mean TC volume (P = 0.04). Our data show that public reporting of CSA scores is associated with changes in alloHCT volumes at TCs. Additional investigation into the causes of this shift in patient volume and the impact on outcomes is ongoing.

Evaluation of Children with Malignancies for Blood and Marrow Transplantation: A Report from the ASTCT Committee on Practice Guidelines.

Evaluation of a candidate for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a complex process with substantial intercenter variability. Although literature providing guidance for evaluating the eligibility of adults is well established, similar guidance for children is lacking. To address gaps between adult recommendations and the specific needs of children, we convened a panel of pediatric HCT experts from a wide geographic range of American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) member institutions to offer recommendations for pediatric-focused pre-HCT evaluation. In this report from the ASTCT Committee on Practice Guidelines, we present a practical framework for evaluating children with malignancies who are candidates for HCT. We also highlight key differences from adults and emphasize areas of unmet need that require additional research to delineate best practices.

Relationship between work performance and quality of life in long-term survivors of pediatric and adolescent hematopoietic cell transplant.

PURPOSE: To assess work status, missed time at work (absenteeism), work performance (presenteeism), and their relationship with quality of life (QOL) among long-term survivors of childhood hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT). METHODS: A single-center cross-sectional survey study of adult survivors of childhood allogeneic HCT (performed between 1985 and 2010). Work and QOL data were captured using the World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire and the National Institutes of Health Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), respectively. Higher absenteeism and presenteeism scores meant higher missed time at work and productivity, respectively. PROMIS domains were scored on a T-score metric with a mean score of reference population at 50 and standard deviation of 10. Univariate linear regression was performed to study factors associated with increase in PROMIS scores. RESULTS: Forty-four survivors completed the survey. Median ages at HCT and survey were 11 years (interquartile range [IQR] 7-13) and 30 years (IQR 26-34), respectively. Seventy-three percent were working, 23% were unemployed, and 4% were students. Employed survivors reported less pain and sleep disturbance. Higher absolute presenteeism was associated with less pain interference and more satisfaction with social roles and activities and physical function. Higher relative presenteeism was associated with less cognitive concerns. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: We found significant associations between survivors' work status, performance, and QOL. Our findings provide an important insight on the implications of work outcomes on HCT survivors' physical, mental, and social health and emphasize the importance of longitudinal assessment of work status, performance, and QOL.

Prevalence and Determinants of Return to Work as a Patient-Centered Outcome in Survivors of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Employment is an important indicator of health and functional recovery for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) survivors and has significant social and economic impacts. Cancer survivors treated with conventional non-HCT therapy are known to be at a higher risk of unemployment or not returning to work after completion of therapy compared with the control population. However, the literature on return-to-work challenges among HCT survivors remains limited. RECENT FINDINGS: Here we summarize the evidence on prevalence and determinants of return-to-work challenges among HCT survivors using previously published literature. Findings from previously published research show that return to work or unemployment is a major concern among HCT survivors, especially for allogeneic HCT recipients, and prior studies have identified several modifiable risk factors associated with it. Survivors' post-HCT employment status is significantly associated with quality of life, impacting physical, emotional, social, and financial aspects of their lives. We also highlight the gaps in current knowledge such as limited information on employment outcomes of childhood, adolescent, and young adult HCT survivors; work-related challenges among employed HCT survivors; consequences of work-related challenges; and interventions to improve return to work among HCT survivors. Findings highlighted in this review make a strong case of a multidisciplinary return-to-work support for HCT survivors to properly address their needs.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of COVID-19 in Pediatric and Early Adolescent and Young Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients: A Cohort Study.

Adult hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients are at a high risk of adverse outcomes after COVID-19. Although children have had better outcomes after COVID-19 compared to adults, data on risk factors and outcomes of COVID-19 among pediatric HSCT recipients are lacking. We describe outcomes of HSCT recipients who were ≤21 years of age at COVID-19 diagnosis and were reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research between March 27, 2020, and May 7, 2021. The primary outcome was overall survival after COVID-19 diagnosis. We determined risk factors of COVID-19 as a secondary outcome in a subset of allogeneic HSCT recipients. A total of 167 pediatric HSCT recipients (135 allogeneic; 32 autologous HSCT recipients) were included. Median time from HSCT to COVID-19 was 15 months (interquartile range [IQR] 7-45) for allogeneic HSCT recipients and 16 months (IQR 6-59) for autologous HSCT recipients. Median follow-up from COVID-19 diagnosis was 53 days (range 1-270) and 37 days (1-179) for allogeneic and autologous HSCT recipients, respectively. Although COVID-19 was mild in 87% (n = 146/167), 10% (n = 16/167) of patients required supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation. The 45-day overall survival was 95% (95% confidence interval [CI], 90-99) and 90% (74-99) for allogeneic and autologous HSCT recipients, respectively. Cox regression analysis showed that patients with a hematopoietic cell transplant comorbidity index (HCT-CI) score of 1-2 were more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 (hazard ratio 1.95; 95% CI, 1.03-3.69, P = .042) compared to those with an HCT-CI of 0. Pediatric and early adolescent and young adult HSCT recipients with pre-HSCT comorbidities were more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19. Overall mortality, albeit higher than the reported general population estimates, was lower when compared with previously published data focusing on adult HSCT recipients.