An International Learning Collaborative Phase 2 Trial for Haploidentical Bone Marrow Transplant in Sickle Cell Disease.

In the setting of a learning collaborative, we conducted an international multicenter phase 2 clinical trial testing the hypothesis that non-myeloablative related haploidentical BMT with thiotepa and post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) will result in 2-year event-free survival (no graft failure or death) of at least 80%. A total of 70 participants (median age 19.1 (IQR 14.1 - 25.0) were evaluable based on the conditioning protocol. Graft failure occurred in 11.4% (8/70) and only in participants <18 years (p=0.001); all had autologous reconstitution. After a median follow-up of 2.4 years (IQR 1.5-3.9), the 2-year Kaplan-Meier-based probability of event-free survival was 82.6% (95% CI 71.4%-89.7%). The 2-year overall survival was 94.1% (95% CI 84.9%-97.7%) with no difference between the child and adult participants (p=0.889). After excluding participants with graft failure (n=8), participants with engraftment had median whole blood donor chimerism values at D+180 and D+365 post-transplant of 100.0% (IQR 99.8 - 100.0%; n=59) and 100.0% (IQR 100.0 - 100.0%; n=58), respectively, and 96.6% (57/59) were off immunosuppression at 1-year post-transplant. The 1-year grades III-IV acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) rate was 10.0% (95% CI 4.6 - 18.6%), and the 2-year moderate-severe chronic GvHD rate was 10.0% (95% CI 4.6 - 18.6%). Five participants (7.1%) died from infectious complications. We demonstrate that non-myeloablative haploidentical BMT with thiotepa and PTCy is a readily available curative therapy for most adults, even those with organ damage, instead of the more expensive myeloablative gene therapy and gene editing. Additional strategies are required for children to decrease graft failure rates (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01850108).

The influence of cell concentration at cryopreservation on neutrophil engraftment after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

ABSTRACT Background: Peripheral blood stem cell concentrations are traditionally adjusted to 20-40 × 106 leukocytes/mL prior to freezing. This low cell concentration at cryopreservation implies larger volumes with more dimethyl sulfoxide being used, and higher cost and toxicity at the time of transplant. Higher cell concentrations have been reported but this is not widely accepted. Moreover, the influence of cell concentration on engraftment has not been well documented. Therefore, this study retrospectively analyzed the influence of peripheral blood stem cell concentration at freezing on engraftment after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Method: Leukapheresis products were plasma-depleted and cryopreserved with 5% dimethyl sulfoxide, 6% hydroxyethylamide solution and 4% albumin in a −80 °C freezer. Individual patient data from hospital records were reviewed. Results: Fifty consecutive patients with oncological diseases underwent 88 leukaphereses. Median age was six years (range: 1-32 years) and median weight was 19 kg (range: 8-94 kg). Median leukocyte concentration was 109 × 106/mL at collection and 359 × 106 (range: 58-676 × 106) at freezing with 78% viability (range: 53-95%); leukocyte recovery after thawing was 95% (range: 70-100%). In multivariate analysis, cell concentration (p-value = 0.001) had a negative impact on engraftment. Patients infused with bags frozen with <200 × 106 leukocytes/mL engrafted after a median of nine days (range: 8-12 days), 200-400 × 106 leukocytes/mL after 11 days (range: 9-20 days); 400-600 × 106 leukocytes/mL after 12 days (range: 8-19 days) and with cell concentrations >600 × 106 leukocytes/mL, engraftment was after 14 days (range: 13-22 days). Conclusion: In patients with adequate CD34 cell collections, total leukocyte concentrations of 282 × 106/mL, freezing with 5% dimethyl sulfoxide and 6% hydroxyethylamide solution without a controlled-rate freezer, and storing cells at −80 ºC yielded excellent engraftment. Further increases in cell concentration may delay engraftment, without affecting safety.

The influence of cell concentration at cryopreservation on neutrophil engraftment after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral blood stem cell concentrations are traditionally adjusted to 20-40 × 106 leukocytes/mL prior to freezing. This low cell concentration at cryopreservation implies larger volumes with more dimethyl sulfoxide being used, and higher cost and toxicity at the time of transplant. Higher cell concentrations have been reported but this is not widely accepted. Moreover, the influence of cell concentration on engraftment has not been well documented. Therefore, this study retrospectively analyzed the influence of peripheral blood stem cell concentration at freezing on engraftment after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. METHOD: Leukapheresis products were plasma-depleted and cryopreserved with 5% dimethyl sulfoxide, 6% hydroxyethylamide solution and 4% albumin in a -80 °C freezer. Individual patient data from hospital records were reviewed. RESULTS: Fifty consecutive patients with oncological diseases underwent 88 leukaphereses. Median age was six years (range: 1-32 years) and median weight was 19 kg (range: 8-94 kg). Median leukocyte concentration was 109 × 106/mL at collection and 359 × 106 (range: 58-676 × 106) at freezing with 78% viability (range: 53-95%); leukocyte recovery after thawing was 95% (range: 70-100%). In multivariate analysis, cell concentration (p-value = 0.001) had a negative impact on engraftment. Patients infused with bags frozen with <200 × 106 leukocytes/mL engrafted after a median of nine days (range: 8-12 days), 200-400 × 106 leukocytes/mL after 11 days (range: 9-20 days); 400-600 × 106 leukocytes/mL after 12 days (range: 8-19 days) and with cell concentrations >600 × 106 leukocytes/mL, engraftment was after 14 days (range: 13-22 days). CONCLUSION: In patients with adequate CD34 cell collections, total leukocyte concentrations of 282 × 106/mL, freezing with 5% dimethyl sulfoxide and 6% hydroxyethylamide solution without a controlled-rate freezer, and storing cells at -80 °C yielded excellent engraftment. Further increases in cell concentration may delay engraftment, without affecting safety.

Pilot study on the efficacy of combined intraoral and extraoral low-level laser therapy for prevention of oral mucositis in pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND DATA: Studies suggest that intraoral low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can ameliorate oral mucositis in adult patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of a combined protocol of intraoral and extraoral LLLT in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). METHODS: Twelve children undergoing HSCT were treated four times a week with a combined protocol of intraoral and extraoral LLLT, for a mean duration of 22 days. Clinical and functional mucositis scores were assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE). These scores were compared with a matched retrospective control group of 12 children who did not receive LLLT during HSCT. RESULTS: Clinical mucositis scores were significantly lower in the LLLT group than in the control group (p = 0.004). Incidence of ulcerative oral mucositis was also significantly lower in the LLLT group (p = 0.027). Functional limitation associated with diet/swallowing was less severe in the LLLT group; however, this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that a combined protocol of intraoral and extraoral application of LLLT can reduce the severity of oral mucositis in pediatric patients undergoing HSCT. Randomized double-blind clinical trials with a larger number of subjects are needed to further test such combined protocols.