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The effect of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) on the risk of nonrelapse mortality (NRM) and relapse has not been specifically studied in older adults, who are increasingly undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) and surviving long-term to develop cGVHD. In this Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) analysis, we tested our hypothesis that the risk of NRM was higher with the development of cGVHD, particularly among older adults (age ≥60 years). We included 4429 adults age ≥40 years who underwent a first HLA-matched peripheral blood stem cell alloHCT for acute myelogenous leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome between 2008 and 2017. We compared outcomes of 4 groups-older adults (≥60 years) and younger adults (40 to 59 years) with cGVHD and older and younger adults without cGVHD-to determine the effect of older age and cGVHD on various outcomes. We used Cox proportional hazard models to determine the risk of NRM, relapse, and overall survival (OS). We treated cGVHD as a time-dependent covariate. The severity of cGVHD was based on the CIBMTR clinical definitions. cGVHD was significantly associated with a higher risk of NRM and lower risk of relapse regardless of age. The risk of NRM was higher for older adults versus younger adults. Adults who developed cGVHD as a group had longer OS compared with age-matched cohorts without cGVHD. Older adults had worse OS regardless of cGVHD. Among adults with cGVHD, clinically moderate or severe cGVHD was associated with a significantly higher risk of NRM and lower risk of relapse; severe cGVHD was associated with shorter OS, whereas mild to moderate cGVHD was associated with longer OS. Among both younger and older adults, the development of cGVHD was associated with a higher risk of NRM, lower risk of relapse, and longer OS. Older adults had a higher risk of NRM, but the increased risk of NRM associated with cGVHD did not differ based on age. The development of mild to moderate cGVHD offered the most favorable balance between minimizing NRM and decreasing the risk of relapse. The relapse risk was lowest for adults with severe cGVHD, but high NRM resulted in shorter OS. Developing strategies to avoid clinically severe cGVHD is critically important. © 2021 American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens developed to extend allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) to older patients have resulted in encouraging outcomes. We aimed to compare the two most commonly used RIC regimens, intravenous use of fludarabine with busulfan (FluBu) and fludarabine with melphalan (FluMel), in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Through CIBMTR, we identified 1045 MDS patients aged ≥ 60 years who underwent first HSCT with a matched related or matched (8/8) unrelated donor using RIC. CIBMTR’s definition of RIC was used: a regimen that incorporated an intravenous busulfan total dose ≤ 7.2 mg/kg, or a low-dose melphalan total dose of ≤ 150 mg/m(2). The two groups, FluBu (n=697) and FluMel (n=448), were comparable for disease and transplant-related characteristics except for the more frequent use of anti-thymocyte globulin or alemtuzumab in the FluBu group (39% vs. 31%). The median age was 67 in both groups. FluMel was associated with a reduced relapse incidence (RI) compared with FluBu, with a 1-year adjusted incidence of 26% vs. 44% (p≤0.0001). Transplant-related mortality (TRM) was higher with FluMel compared with FluBu (26% vs. 16%, p≤0.0001). Since the magnitude of improvement with FluMel in RI was greater than the improvement in TRM with FluBu, disease-free survival (DFS) was improved at 1-year and beyond with FluMel compared with FluBu (48% vs. 40% at 1 year, p=0.02, and 35% vs. 27% at 3 years, p=0.01). Overall survival (OS) was comparable at 1 year (63% vs. 61%, p=0.4) but significantly improved with FluMel compared with FluBu at 3 years (46% vs. 39%, p=0.03). Our results suggest that FluMel is associated with superior DFS compared with FluBu due to reduced RI in older MDS patients.

Patients who develop therapy-related myeloid neoplasm, either myelodysplastic syndrome (t-MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) have a poor prognosis. An earlier CIBMTR analysis of allogeneic hematopoietic cell therapy (allo-HCT) (n=868, 1990-2004) showed 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of 22% and 21%. Modern supportive care, graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis and reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens have improved outcomes. Therefore, the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) analyzed 1531 allo-HCT for adults with t-MDS (n = 759) or t-AML (n = 772) performed from 2000 to 2014. Median age was 59 years (18-74) for t-MDS and 52 years (18-77) for t-AML. 24% of patient with t-MDS and 11% of patients with t-AML and had a prior autologous transplant. A myeloablative regimen was used in 49% of patients with t-MDS and 61% of patients with t-AML. Non-relapse mortality (NRM) at five years was 34% (95% confidence interval (CI) 30-37) and 34% (30-37) for t-MDS and t-AML, respectively. Relapse rates at five years were 46% (43-50) and 43% (40-47), respectively. 5-year OS and DFS was 27% (23-31) and 19% (16-23) for patients with t-MDS and 25% (22-28) and 23% (20-26) for patients with t-AML. In multivariate analysis, OS and DFS were significantly better in young patients with low risk t-MDS and those receiving MAC HCT during first complete remission (CR1) t-AML, but worse for those with prior autologous HCT, higher risk cytogenetics or IPSS-R score and partially matched unrelated donors (URD). Relapse remains the major cause of treatment failure with little improvement over the past two decades. These data indicate caution in recommending allo-HCT in these conditions and more effective anti-neoplastic approaches before and after allo-HCT. BACKGROUND Patients who develop therapy-related myeloid neoplasm, either myelodysplastic syndrome (t-MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) have a poor prognosis. An earlier CIBMTR analysis of allogeneic hematopoietic cell therapy (allo-HCT) (n=868, 1990-2004) showed 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of 22% and 21%. Modern supportive care, graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis and reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens have improved outcomes. OBJECTIVES The primary objectives are OS and DFS. The secondary objectives are non-relapse mortality (NRM), relapse, GVHD rates and identifying prognostic factors for outcomes after allo-HCT. STUDY DESIGN The Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) analyzed 1531 allo-HCT for adults with t-MDS (n = 759) or t-AML (n = 772) performed from 2000 to 2014. Cumulative incidence function was used to estimate relapse, NRM, acute and chronic GVHD. Kaplan-Meier estimate was used to calculate probabilities of OS and DFS. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate hazard ratio (HR) of patient / disease / transplant related factors for outcomes of interest. RESULTS The median age was 59 years (18-74) for t-MDS and 52 years (18-77) for t-AML. 24% of patient with t-MDS and 11% of patients with t-AML and had a prior autologous transplant. A myeloablative regimen was used in 49% of patients with t-MDS and 61% of patients with t-AML. Non-relapse mortality (NRM) at five years was 34% (95% confidence interval (CI) 30-37) and 34% (30-37) for t-MDS and t-AML, respectively. Relapse rates at five years were 46% (43-50) and 43% (40-47), respectively. 5-year OS and DFS was 27% (23-31) and 19% (16-23) for patients with t-MDS and 25% (22-28) and 23% (20-26) for patients with t-AML. In multivariate analysis, OS and DFS were significantly better in young patients with low risk t-MDS and those receiving MAC HCT during first complete remission (CR1) t-AML, but worse for those with prior autologous HCT, higher risk cytogenetics or IPSS-R score and partially matched unrelated donors (URD). CONCLUSIONS Relapse remains the major cause of treatment failure with little improvement over the past two decades. These data indicate caution in recommending allo-HCT in these conditions. Through better patient optimization, more effective conditioning and studies of post-HCT interventions, outcomes for patients with t-MDS and t-AML may improve.

Cytogenetic risk stratification at diagnosis has long been one of the most useful tools to assess prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). To examine the prognostic impact of cytogenetic abnormalities on outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, we studied 1731 adults with Philadelphia-negative ALL in complete remission who underwent myeloablative or reduced intensity/non-myeloablative conditioning transplant from unrelated or matched sibling donors reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research. A total of 632 patients had abnormal conventional metaphase cytogenetics. The leukemia-free survival and overall survival rates at 5 years after transplantation in patients with abnormal cytogenetics were 40% and 42%, respectively, which were similar to those in patients with a normal karyotype. Of the previously established cytogenetic risk classifications, modified Medical Research Council-Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score was the only independent prognosticator of leukemia-free survival (P=0.03). In the multivariable analysis, monosomy 7 predicted post-transplant relapse [hazard ratio (HR)=2.11; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.04-4.27] and treatment failure (HR=1.97; 95% CI: 1.20-3.24). Complex karyotype was prognostic for relapse (HR=1.69; 95% CI: 1.06-2.69), whereas t(8;14) predicted treatment failure (HR=2.85; 95% CI: 1.35-6.02) and overall mortality (HR=3.03; 95% CI: 1.44-6.41). This large study suggested a novel transplant-specific cytogenetic scheme with adverse [monosomy 7, complex karyotype, del(7q), t(8;14), t(11;19), del(11q), tetraploidy/near triploidy], intermediate (normal karyotype and all other abnormalities), and favorable (high hyperdiploidy) risks to prognosticate leukemia-free survival (P=0.02). Although some previously established high-risk Philadelphia-negative cytogenetic abnormalities in ALL can be overcome by transplantation, monosomy 7, complex karyotype, and t(8;14) continue to pose significant risks and yield inferior outcomes.

It remains unknown whether the administration of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting BCR-ABL1 after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is associated with improved outcomes for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In this registry study, we analyzed clinical outcomes of 390 adult patients with CML transplanted from 2007-2014 who received maintenance TKI following HCT (n=89) as compared to no TKI maintenance (n=301), as reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research. All patients received TKI therapy prior to HCT. The majority of patients had disease beyond CP1 at HCT (n=240, 62%). The study was conducted as a landmark analysis, excluding patients that died, relapsed, had chronic graft-versus-host disease or were censored prior to Day 100 following HCT. Of the 89 patients receiving TKI maintenance, 77 (87%) received a single TKI while 12 (13%) received multiple sequential TKIs. The most common TKIs used for maintenance were dasatinib (n=50), imatinib (n=27) and nilotinib (n=27). As measured from Day 100, the adjusted estimates for 5-year relapse (maintenance, 35% vs. no maintenance, 26%; p=0.11), leukemia-free survival (LFS, maintenance, 42% vs. no maintenance, 44%; p=0.65) or overall survival (OS, maintenance, 61% vs. no maintenance, 57%; p=0.61) did not significantly differ between patients receiving TKI maintenance or no maintenance. These results remained unchanged in multivariate analysis and were not modified by the status of disease prior to transplant. In conclusion, our data did not demonstrate a significant impact of maintenance TKI therapy on clinical outcomes in a Day 100 landmark analysis. The optimal approach to TKI administration in the post-transplant setting in CML remains undetermined.

Comparative outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for BCR-ABL1- myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) in blast phase (MPN-BP) vs de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and AML with prior myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs; post-MDS AML), are unknown. Using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) database, we compared HCT outcomes in 177 MPN-BP patients with 4749 patients with de novo AML, and 1104 patients with post-MDS AML, using multivariate regression analysis in 2 separate comparisons. In a multivariate Cox model, no difference in overall survival (OS) or relapse was observed in patients with MPN-BP vs de novo AML with active leukemia at HCT. Patients with MPN-BP in remission had inferior OS in comparison with de novo AML in remission (hazard ratio [HR], 1.40 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.76]) due to higher relapse rate (HR, 2.18 [95% CI, 1.69-2.80]). MPN-BP patients had inferior OS (HR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.00-1.43]) and increased relapse (HR, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.31-1.96]) compared with post-MDS AML. Poor-risk cytogenetics were associated with increased relapse in both comparisons. Peripheral blood grafts were associated with decreased relapse in MPN-BP and post-MDS AML (HR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.57-0.86]). Nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was similar between MPN-BP vs de novo AML, and MPN-BP vs post-MDS AML. Total-body irradiation-based myeloablative conditioning was associated with higher NRM in both comparisons. Survival of MPN-BP after HCT is inferior to de novo AML in remission and post-MDS AML due to increased relapse. Relapse-prevention strategies are required to optimize HCT outcomes in MPN-BP.

Non-graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) ocular complications are generally uncommon after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) but can cause prolonged morbidity affecting activities of daily living and quality of life. Here we provide an expert review of non-GVHD ocular complications in a collaboration between transplantation physicians and ophthalmologists through the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and the Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Complications discussed in this review include cataracts, glaucoma, ocular infections, ocular involvement with malignancy, ischemic microvascular retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, retinal hemorrhage, retinal detachment and ocular toxicities associated with medications. We summarize the incidence, risk factors, screening, prevention, and treatment of individual complications and generate evidence-based recommendations. Baseline ocular evaluation before HCT should be considered in all patients who undergo HCT. Follow-up evaluations should be considered according to clinical signs and symptoms and risk factors. Better preventive strategies and treatments remain to be investigated for individual ocular complications after HCT. Both transplantation physicians and ophthalmologists should be knowledgeable about non-GVHD ocular complications and provide comprehensive collaborative team care.

Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) is a standard therapy for relapsed classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL); however, long-term outcomes are not well described.This study analyzed survival, nonrelapse mortality, late effects, and subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs) in 1617 patients who survived progression-free for ≥2 years after auto-HCT for cHL or DLBCL between 1990 and 2008. The median age at auto-HCT was 40 years; the median follow-up was 10.6 years.The 5-year overall survival rate was 90% (95% confidence interval [CI], 87%-92%) for patients with cHL and 89% (95% CI, 87%-91%) for patients with DLBCL. The risk of late mortality in comparison with the general population was 9.6-fold higher for patients with cHL (standardized mortality ratio [SMR], 9.6) and 3.4-fold higher for patients with DLBCL (SMR, 3.4). Relapse accounted for 44% of late deaths. At least 1 late effect was reported for 9% of the patients. A total of 105 SMNs were confirmed: 44 in the cHL group and 61 in the DLBCL group. According to a multivariate analysis, older age, male sex, a Karnofsky score90, total body irradiation (TBI) exposure, and a higher number of lines of chemotherapy before auto-HCT were risk factors for overall mortality in cHL. Risk factors in DLBCL were older age and TBI exposure. A subanalysis of 798 adolescent and young adult patients mirrored the outcomes of the overall study population.Despite generally favorable outcomes, 2-year survivors of auto-HCT for cHL or DLBCL have an excess late-mortality risk in comparison with the general population and experience an assortment of late complications. Cancer 2018;124:816-25. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a common hematologic malignancy with many highly effective therapies. Chemorefractory disease, often characterized by deletion of chromosome 17p, has historically been associated with very poor outcomes, leading to the application of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) for medically fit patients. Although the use of allo-HCT has declined since the introduction of novel targeted therapy for the treatment of CLL, there remains significant interest in understanding factors that may influence the efficacy of allo-HCT, the only known curative treatment for CLL. The potential benefit of transplantation is most likely due to the presence of alloreactive donor T cells that mediate the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. The recognition of potentially tumor-specific antigens in the context of class I and II major histocompatibility complex on malignant B lymphocytes by donor T cells may be influenced by subtle differences in the highly polymorphic HLA locus. Given previous reports of specific HLA alleles impacting the incidence of CLL and the clinical outcomes of allo-HCT for CLL, we sought to study the overall survival and progression-free survival of a large cohort of patients with CLL who underwent allo-HCT from fully HLA-matched related and unrelated donors at Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research transplantation centers. We found no statistically significant association of allo-HCT outcomes in CLL based on previously reported HLA combinations. Additional study is needed to further define the immunologic features that portend a more favorable GVL effect after allo-HCT for CLL.

Non-graft-vs.-host disease (non-GVHD) ocular complications are generally uncommon after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), but can cause prolonged morbidity affecting activities of daily living and quality of life. Here we provide an expert review of non-GVHD ocular complications in a collaboration between transplant physicians and ophthalmologists through the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and the Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Complications discussed in this review include cataracts, glaucoma, ocular infections, ocular involvement with malignancy, ischemic microvascular retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, retinal hemorrhage, retinal detachment, and ocular toxicities associated with medications. We have summarized incidence, risk factors, screening, prevention and treatment of individual complicastions and generated evidence-based recommendations. Baseline ocular evaluation before HCT should be considered in all patients who undergo HCT. Follow-up evaluations should be considered according to clinical symptoms, signs and risk factors. Better preventive strategies and treatments remain to be investigated for individual ocular complications after HCT. Both transplant physicians and ophthalmologists should be knowledgeable of non-GVHD ocular complications and provide comprehensive collaborative team care.