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Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the curative treatment for many malignant and non-malignant blood disorders and some solid cancers. However, transplant procedures are considered tertiary level care requiring a high degree of technicality and expertise and generating very high costs for hospital structures in developing countries as well as for patients without health insurance. During the 11th annual harmonization workshops of the francophone Society of bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapy (SFGM-TC), a designated working group reviewed the literature in order to elaborate unified guidelines, for developing the transplant activity in emerging countries. Access to infrastructure must comply with international standards and therefore requires a hospital system already in place, capable of accommodating and supporting the HCT activity. In addition, the commitment of the state and the establishment for the financing of the project seems essential.

CAR-T cells are an innovative treatment for an increasing number of patients, particularly since the extension of their indication to mantle lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Several complications of CAR T-cell therapy, that were first described as exceptional, have now been reported in series of patients, since its first clinical use in 2011. Among them, cardiac complications, delayed cytopenias, acute and chronic Graft versus Host Disease, and tumoral lysis syndrome are recognized as specific potent complications following CAR T-cells infusion. During the twelfth edition of practice harmonization workshops of the Francophone society of bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapy (SFGM-TC), a working group focused its work on the management of these complications with focuses the epidemiology, the physiopathology and the risk factors of these 4 side effects. Our recommendations apply to commercial CAR-T cells, in order to guide strategies for the management of complications associated with this new therapeutic approach.

The immune effector cell-associated syndrome (ICANS) has been described as the second most frequent specific complication following CAR-T cell therapy. The median time to the onset of neurological symptoms is five days after CAR-T infusion. ICANS can be concomitant to cytokine release syndrome but often follows the resolution of the latter. However, 10 % of patients experience delayed onset after 3 weeks of CAR-T cell infusion. The duration of symptoms is usually short, around five days if an early appropriate treatment is given. Symptoms are heterogeneous, ranging from mild symptoms quickly reversible (alterations of consciousness, deterioration in handwriting) to more serious forms with seizures or even a coma. The ICANS severity is currently based on the ASTCT score. The diagnosis of ICANS is clinical but EEG, MRI and lumbar punction can help ruling out alternative diagnoses. The first line treatment consists of high-dose corticosteroids. During the twelfth edition of practice harmonization workshops of the Francophone Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (SFGM-TC), a working group focused its work on updating the SFGM-TC recommendations on the management of ICANS. In this review we discuss the management of ICANS and other neurological toxicities in patients undergoing of CAR-T cell therapy. These recommendations apply to commercial CAR-T cells, in order to guide strategies for the management neurological complications associated with this new therapeutic approach.

Infections occurring after CAR T-cells are a common complication. At the acute phase of treatment following CAR T-cell infusion, the exact incidence of infections is unknown given the overlapping symptoms with cytokine release syndrome. The risk factors for infection include the malignant underlying disease and its multiple treatments, and an immunosuppressive state induced by CAR-T cells themselves and the treatment of their complications. During the twelfth edition of practice harmonization workshops of the Francophone society of bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapy (SFGM-TC), a working group focused its work on the management of post-CAR infectious complications. In this review we discuss anti-infection prophylaxis and vaccination of patients undergoing CAR T-cell therapy as well as a special chapter for the specific case of COVID-19. These recommendations apply to commercial CAR-T cells, in order to guide strategies for the management and prevention of infectious complications associated with this new therapeutic approach.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the curative treatment for many malignant and non-malignant blood disorders and some solid cancers. However, transplant procedures are considered tertiary level care requiring a high degree of technicality and expertise and generating very high costs for hospital structures in developing countries as well as for patients without health insurance. During the 11th annual harmonization workshops of the francophone Society of bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapy (SFGM-TC), a designated working group reviewed the literature in order to elaborate unified guidelines, for developing the transplant activity in emerging countries. Access to infrastructure must comply with international standards and therefore requires a hospital system already in place, capable of accommodating and supporting the HCT activity. In addition, the commitment of the state and the establishment for the financing of the project seems essential.

Resume Une allogreffe de cellules souches hematopoietiques depend de l’eradication de la pathologie traitee et d’une reconstitution satisfaisante de l’hematopoiese (et de la lymphopoiese) issues des cellules du donneur. Cependant, des retards de reconstitution, l’apparition secondaire ou la persistance de cytopenies sont regulierement observees et constituent des causes possibles d’echec d’une allogreffe. Ces dysfonctions du greffon sont a distinguer des problemes de non-prise du greffon. Bien que ces situations soient relativement frequentes, il n’existe pas de conduite a tenir bien codifiee ou de recommandations emises par les differentes societes savantes de greffe. Le groupe de travail a base ses recommandations a partir d’une analyse d’articles originaux et revues publies references dans la litterature.

Recommendations for visits or environment restrictions, and sometimes for food are usually well described for inpatient within HSCT unit procedures where those measures are less precise and detailed for outpatient from the discharge to the immune reconstitution achievement. The present paper main objective is to define risk patient groups depending on time, immune-suppressive drugs as well as graft-versus-host disease and immune reconstitution. We define here 3 risk patient groups and propose measures about house cleaning, pets, schools, social activities, hygiene, foods, sexual life and siblings.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a curative treatment for many hematological diseases. However, this procedure causes the patient to be susceptible to infection. Prophylactic treatments are administered in clinical practice even thought the level of evidence of their effectiveness is not always high. In addition, changes in the transplantation procedures - use of reduced intensity conditioning, development of alternative graft sources - must lead to a rethinking of attitudes towards prophylaxis. Our working group based its recommendations on a review of referential articles and publications on the subject found in the literature. These recommendations concern the prophylaxis of infections caused by HSV1, HSV2, varicella zoster, and hepatitis B, as well as anti-bacterial and digestive decontamination prophylaxis, prevention of pneumocystis, toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, as well as prophylaxis of fungal infections. Other infectious agents usually involved in infections post-allotransplant have been the subject of another set of recommendations from the French Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.

The Francophone Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (SFGM-TC) organized the 7th allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation clinical practices harmonization workshop series in September 2016 in Lille, France. The objective of our workshop is to provide a discussion on the conservation and congelation of hematopoietic stem cells in a pediatric setting as well as our recommendations for this technique.

Success of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation requires both the underlying disease eradication and satisfying reconstitution of hematopoiesis from donor cells. However, reconstitution delays, secondary development or persistence of cytopenia are regularly observed and are potential causes of failure after allogeneic transplantation. These graft dysfunctions should be distinguished from non-engraftment/engraftment failure. Although these situations are relatively common, there is no consensus in the literature for their management. During the workshop of the SFGM-TC, the working group proposed recommendations from an analysis of the literature.