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Corticosteroids are the accepted primary therapy for acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), but durable responses are seen in only about half of the patients. Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN) 0802, a phase 3 multicenter randomized double-blinded trial, was designed to test whether mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) plus corticosteroids was superior to corticosteroids alone as initial therapy for acute GVHD. Patients with newly diagnosed acute GVHD were eligible if they required systemic therapy. Patients were randomized to receive prednisone with either MMF or placebo. The primary end point was acute or chronic GVHD-free survival at day 56 after initiation of therapy. A futility rule for GVHD-free survival at day 56 was met at a planned interim analysis after 235 patients (of 372) were enrolled: 116 MMF, 119 placebo. Baseline characteristics were well balanced between treatment groups including grade and organ distribution of GVHD. GVHD-free survival at day 56, cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD at 12 months, overall survival, Epstein-Barr virus reactivation, severe, life-threatening infections, relapse at 12 months, and quality of life were similar. The addition of MMF to corticosteroids as initial therapy for acute GVHD does not improve GVHD-free survival compared with corticosteroids alone. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01002742.

Idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS) is a diffuse, noninfectious lung injury that occurs acutely after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). IPS-related mortality has been historically high (>50%) despite treatment with systemic corticosteroids and supportive care measures. We have now examined the role of tumor necrosis factor inhibition in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of corticosteroids with etanercept or placebo. Thirty-four subjects (≥18 years) with IPS after HCT were randomized to receive methylprednisolone (2 mg/kg/day) plus etanercept (0.4 mg/kg twice weekly × 4 weeks; n = 16) or placebo (n = 18). No active infections and a pathogen-negative bronchoscopy were required at study entry. Response (alive, with complete discontinuation of supplemental oxygen support) and overall survival were examined. This study, originally planned to accrue 120 patients, was terminated prematurely due to slow accrual. In the limited number of patients examined, there were no differences in response rates at day 28 of study. Ten of 16 patients (62.5% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 35.4% to 84.8%]) receiving etanercept and 12 of 18 patients (66.7% [95% CI, 41.0% to 86.7%]) receiving placebo met the day 28 response definition (P = 1.00). The median survival was 170 days (95% CI, 11 to 362) with etanercept versus 64 days (95% CI, 26 to 209) with placebo (P = .51). Among responders, the median time to discontinuation of supplemental oxygen was 9 days (etanercept) versus 7 days (placebo). Therapy was well tolerated, with 1 toxicity-related death from infectious pneumonia in the placebo arm. The treatment of IPS with corticosteroids in adult HCT recipients was associated with high early response rates (>60%) compared with historical reports, with poor overall survival. The addition of etanercept did not lead to further increases in response, although the sample size of this truncated trial preclude a definitive conclusion.

Excessive adverse events were encountered in a Phase I/II study of cyclophosphamide (CY) dose deescalation in a fludarabine-based conditioning regimen for bone marrow transplantation from unrelated donors in patients with severe aplastic anemia. All patients received fixed doses of antithymocyte globulin, fludarabine, and low-dose total body irradiation. The starting CY dose was 150 mg/kg, with deescalation to 100 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, or 0 mg/kg. CY dose level 0 mg/kg was closed due to graft failure in 3 of 3 patients. CY dose level 150 mg/kg was closed due to excessive organ toxicity (n = 6) or viral pneumonia (n = 1), resulting in the death of 7 of 14 patients. CY dose levels 50 and 100 mg/kg remain open. Thus, CY at doses of 150 mg/kg in combination with total body irradiation (2 Gy), fludarabine (120 mg/m(2)), and antithymocyte globulin was associated with excessive organ toxicity.

BACKGROUND—Engraftment failure and delays, likely due to diminished cord blood unit (CBU) potency, remain major barriers to the overall success of unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT). To address this problem, we developed and retrospectively validated a novel scoring system, the Cord Blood Apgar (CBA), which is predictive of engraftment after UCBT. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS—In a single-center retrospective study, utilizing a database of 435 consecutive single cord myeloablative UCBTs performed between January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2008, precryopreservation and postthaw graft variables (total nucleated cell, CD34+, colony-forming units, mononuclear cell content, and volume) were initially correlated with neutrophil engraftment. Subsequently, based on the magnitude of hazard ratios (HRs) in univariate analysis, a weighted scoring system to predict CBU potency was developed using a randomly selected training data set and internally validated on the remaining data set. RESULTS—The CBA assigns transplanted CBUs three scores: a precryopreservation score (PCS), a postthaw score (PTS), and a composite score (CS), which incorporates the PCS and PTS values. CBA-PCS scores, which could be used for initial unit selection, were predictive of neutrophil (CBA-PCS ≥ 7.75 vs.

The Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network conducted 2 parallel multicenter phase 2 trials for individuals with leukemia or lymphoma and no suitable related donor. Reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) was used with either unrelated double umbilical cord blood (dUCB) or HLA-haploidentical related donor bone marrow (Haplo-marrow) transplantation. For both trials, the transplantation conditioning regimen incorporated cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, and 200 cGy of total body irradiation. The 1-year probabilities of overall and progression-free survival were 54% and 46%, respectively, after dUCB transplantation (n = 50) and 62% and 48%, respectively, after Haplo-marrow transplantation (n = 50). The day +56 cumulative incidence of neutrophil recovery was 94% after dUCB and 96% after Haplo-marrow transplantation. The 100-day cumulative incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD was 40% after dUCB and 32% after Haplo-marrow transplantation. The 1-year cumulative incidences of nonrelapse mortality and relapse after dUCB transplantation were 24% and 31%, respectively, with corresponding results of 7% and 45%, respectively, after Haplo-marrow transplantation. These multicenter studies confirm the utility of dUCB and Haplo-marrow as alternative donor sources and set the stage for a multicenter randomized clinical trial to assess the relative efficacy of these 2 strategies. The trials are registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov under NCT00864227 (BMT CTN 0604) and NCT00849147 (BMT CTN 0603).

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is the primary limitation of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Corticosteroids remain the standard initial therapy, yet only 25% to 41% of patients completely respond. This randomized, 4-arm, phase 2 trial was designed to identify the most promising agent(s) for initial therapy for aGVHD. Patients were randomized to receive methylprednisolone 2 mg/kg per day plus etanercept, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), denileukin diftitox (denileukin), or pentostatin. Patients (n = 180) were randomized; their median age was 50 years (range, 7.5-70 years). Myeloablative conditioning represented 66% of transplants. Grafts were peripheral blood (61%), bone marrow (25%), or umbilical cord blood (14%); 53% were from unrelated donors. Patients who received MMF for prophylaxis (24%) were randomized to a non-MMF arm. At randomization, aGVHD was grade I to II (68%), III to IV (32%), and (53%) had visceral organ involvement. Day 28 complete response rates were etanercept 26%, MMF 60%, denileukin 53%, and pentostatin 38%. Corresponding 9-month overall survival was 47%, 64%, 49%, and 47%, respectively. Cumulative incidences of severe infections were as follows: etanercept 48%, MMF 44%, denileukin 62%, and pentostatin 57%. Efficacy and toxicity data suggest the use of MMF plus corticosteroids is the most promising regimen to compare against corticosteroids alone in a definitive phase 3 trial. This study is registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00224874.

Outcomes of unrelated donor cord blood transplantation in 191 hematologic malignancy children (median age, 7.7 years; median weight, 25.9 kg) enrolled between 1999 and 2003 were studied (median follow-up, 27.4 months) in a prospective phase 2 multicenter trial. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching at enrollment was 6/6 (n = 17), 5/6 (n = 58), 4/6 (n = 111), or 3/6 (n = 5) by low-resolution HLA-A, -B, and high-resolution (HR) DRB1. Retrospectively, 179 pairs were HLA typed by HR. The median precryopreservation total nucleated cell (TNC) dose was 5.1 × 107 TNC/kg (range, 1.5-23.7) with 3.9 × 107 TNC/kg (range, 0.8-22.8) infused. The median time to engraftment (absolute neutrophil count > 500/mm3 and platelets 50 000/μL) was 27 and 174 days. The cumulative incidence of neutrophil engraftment by day 42 was 79.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 75.1%-85.2%); acute grades III/IV GVHD by day 100 was 19.5% (95% CI, 13.9%-25.5%); and chronic GVHD at 2 years was 20.8% (95% CI, 14.8%-27.7%). HR matching decreased the probability of severe acute GVHD. The cumulative incidence of relapse at 2 years was 19.9% (95% CI, 14.8%-25.7%). The probabilities of 6-month and 2-year survivals were 67.4% and 49.5%. Unrelated donor cord blood transplantation from partially HLA-mismatched units can cure many children with leukemias. The study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00000603.

The primary cause of death (COD) provides important information in many studies of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). A panel of experts critically assessed the CODs submitted by 15 transplantation centers for 281 patients who died in a randomized multicenter trial of unrelated HSCT. The panel reviewed the CODs reported by the transplantation centers, which used the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and National Marrow Donor Program COD reporting form. The panel determined that the existing criteria for primary and contributing CODs lacked sufficient stringency for uniform interpretation. A hierarchy was developed and applied to the T cell depletion project. Using its scheme, the panel reclassified 157 CODs (56%) reported by the transplantation centers. The changes resulted in increased recognition of graft-versus-host disease as the primary COD and a concomitant decrease in attribution of the primary COD to infection. This algorithm promotes consistent assignment of primary and contributing CODs for patients with leukemia or lymphoma who expire after myeloablative allogeneic HSCT.

Serious infections are a major obstacle limiting the usefulness of unrelated donor marrow transplantation. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and its therapy are associated with a high risk of opportunistic infection. In this study, patients were randomized to receive 1 of 2 GVHD prophylaxis strategies, marrow T cell depletion, and cyclosporine (TCD) or methotrexate/cyclosporine (M/C) after transplantation. The patients underwent transplantation between March 1995 and October 2000 as part of a multicenter randomized trial. As a secondary analysis, we analyzed infections in this study cohort. Among the 404 patients who underwent transplantation, a total of 1598 infections were reported. The rates of serious and fatal infections did not differ between the TCD and M/C groups. Bacterial infections accounted for 1/3 of serious infections in each treatment arm. A significantly higher incidence of severe cytomegalovirus (CMV) and life-threatening or fatal aspergillus infections was observed in the patients receiving TCD (CMV, 28% vs 17% [P = .02]; aspergillosis, 16% vs 7% [P < .01]). The only independent risk factor for serious infection was the development of grade III-IV acute GVHD (aGVHD; hazard ratio = 1.41; 95% confidence interval = 1.03-1.91). Strategies to speed immune recovery, even in the absence of GVHD, are needed to overcome the risk of infection after unrelated donor transplantation.

Summary Background The optimum preparative regimen for unrelated donor marrow transplantation in patients with severe aplastic anaemia remains to be established. We investigated whether the combination of fludarabine, anti-thymocyte globulin, and total body irradiation (TBI) would enable reduction of the cyclophosphamide dose to less than 200 mg/kg while maintaining engraftment and having a survival similar to or better than that with standard regimens using a cyclophosphamide dose of 200 mg/kg (known to be associated with significant organ toxicity) for unrelated donor transplantation for severe aplastic anaemia. We have previously shown that cyclophosphamide at 150 mg/kg resulted in excess toxicity and its omission (0 mg/kg) resulted in unacceptable graft failure (three of three patients had secondary graft failure). Here we report results for the 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg cohorts. Methods In a multicentre phase 1–2 study, patients (aged ≤65 years) with severe aplastic anaemia, adequate organ function, and an unrelated adult marrow donor HLA matched at the allele level for HLA A, B, C, and DRB1 or mismatched at a single HLA locus received bone marrow grafts from unrelated donors. All patients received anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit derived 3 mg/kg per day, intravenously, on days −4 to −2, or equine derived 30 mg/kg per day, intravenously, on days −4 to −2), fludarabine (30 mg/m 2 per day, intravenously, on days −5 to −2), and TBI (2 Gy). Cyclophosphamide dosing started at 150 mg/kg and was de-escalated in steps of 50 mg/kg (to 100 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, and 0 mg/kg). The primary endpoint was the selection of the optimum cyclophosphamide dose based on assessments of graft failure (primary or secondary), toxicity, and early death during 100 days of follow-up after the transplant; this is the planned final analysis for the primary endpoint. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00326417. Findings 96 patients had bone marrow transplant. At day 100, 35 (92%) of 38 patients were engrafted and alive in the cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg cohort and 35 (85%) of 41 in the 100 mg/kg cohort. Cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg resulted in posterior means for fatality without graft failure of 0·7% (credible interval 0–3·3) and 1·4% (0–4·9), respectively. Three patients (8%) had graft failure with cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg and six (15%) with cyclophosphamide 100 mg/kg. Four (11%) patients had major regimen-related toxicity with cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg and nine (22%) with cyclophosphamide 100 mg/kg. The most common organ toxicity was pulmonary (grade 3 or 4 dyspnoea or hypoxia including mechanical ventilation), and occurred in three (8%) and four (10%) patients given cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, respectively. Interpretation Cyclophosphamide at 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg with TBI 2 Gy, fludarabine, and anti-thymocyte globulin results in effective conditioning and few early deaths after unrelated donor transplantation for severe aplastic anaemia. These doses of cyclophosphamide provide a framework for further regimen optimisation strategies. Funding US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Cancer Institute.

The Cord Blood Transplantation Study (COBLT), sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, is a phase II multicenter study designed to evaluate the use of cord blood in allogeneic transplantation. In this report, we evaluated the outcomes of cord blood transplantation in 69 patients with lysosomal and peroxisomal storage diseases. Patients with mucopolysaccharidoses I to III, mucolipidoses (ML) II (n = 36), adrenoleukodystrophy (n = 8), metachromatic leukodystrophy (n = 6), Krabbe disease (n = 16), and Tay-Sachs disease (n = 3) were enrolled between August 1999 and June 2004. All patients received the same preparative regimen, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis, and supportive care. End points included survival, engraftment, GVHD, and toxicity. Sixty-nine patients (64% men; 81% white) with a median age of 1.8 years underwent transplantation with a median cell dose of 8.7 × 107/kg. One-year survival was 72% (95% confidence interval, 61%-83%). The cumulative incidence of neutrophil engraftment by day 42 was 78% (95% confidence interval, 67%-87%) at a median of 25 days. Grade II to IV acute GVHD occurred in 36% of patients. Cord blood donors are readily available for rapid transplantation. Cord blood transplantation should be considered as frontline therapy for young patients with lysosomal and peroxisomal storage diseases.

Donor-derived T cells have been proposed to play a role in pathogenesis of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). The impact of ex vivo T-cell depletion (TCD) on cGVHD was analyzed in a randomized multicenter trial involving unrelated donor marrow transplants. A total of 404 patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies received a total body irradiation-based myeloablative conditioning regimen. GVHD prophylaxis included TCD plus cyclosporine (CSA) or unmodified grafts with CSA plus methotrexate (M/C). Median recipient age was 31.2 years (range, 0.5-55.6 years); median follow-up time since randomization was 4.2 years. The mean number of T cells infused was 1 log lower on the TCD arm. The incidence of cGVHD at 2 years was similar between the TCD and M/C arms, 29% versus 34% (P = .27), respectively. Survival at 3 years from diagnosis of cGVHD was also similar, (TCD 51% versus M/C 58%; P = .29). The proportion of patients with cGVHD who discontinued immunosuppression at 5 years was not different (TCD 72% versus M/C 63%; P = .27), and incidence of serious infections and leukemia relapse were similar on both treatment arms. In spite of a significant reduction of acute GVHD, TCD did not reduce the incidence of cGVHD or improve survival in patients who developed cGVHD.

A non-total body irradiation-containing preparative regimen was studied in young children (500/μL) at day 42 was 0.59 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.44-0.78) at a median of 31 days (range, 23-55 days). The CINC and Kaplan-Meier estimates of platelet engraftment at day 180 were 0.53 (95% CI, 0.34-0.69) and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.61-1.00), respectively. CINC estimates of grade III/IV acute GVHD at day 100 and chronic GVHD at 1 year were 0.25 (95% CI, 0.09-0.41) and 0.26 (95% CI, 0.09-0.44), respectively. The CINC estimate of relapse was 0.31 (95% CI, 0.16-0.47) at 2 years. With a median follow-up of 27.8 months (range, 23.4-46.7 months), the probability of survival at 1 year was 0.47 (95% CI, 0.30-0.64). A preparative regimen containing a busulfan/melphalan/antithymocyte globulin preparative regimen is well tolerated in the setting of unrelated donor cord blood transplantation for childhood leukemia and can serve as a platform preparative regimen for intensifying host immunosuppression and antileukemic therapy to allow for improved engraftment and improved relapse-free survival.

The syndrome of microangiopathic hemolysis associated with renal failure, neurologic impairment, or both is a recognized complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This entity is often called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), yet it is clear that the pathophysiology of transplant-associated HUS/TTP is different from that of classic HUS or TTP. Furthermore, the incidence of this syndrome varies from 0.5% to 76% in different transplant series, primarily because of the lack of a uniform definition. The toxicity committee of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network has reviewed the current literature on transplant-related HUS/TTP and recommends that it be henceforth renamed posttransplantation thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). An operational definition for TMA based on the presence of microangiopathic hemolysis and renal and/or neurologic dysfunction is proposed. The primary intervention after diagnosis of TMA should be withdrawal of calcineurin inhibitors. Plasma exchange, although frequently used in this condition, has not been proven to be effective. In the absence of definitive trials, plasma exchange cannot be considered a standard of care for TMA. It is hoped that these positions will improve the identification and reporting of this devastating complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and facilitate future clinical studies for its prevention and treatment.

BACKGROUND: The Cord Blood Transplantation (COBLT) Study banking program was initiated in 1996. The study goals were to develop standard operating procedures for cord blood (CB) donor recruitment and banking and to build an ethnically diverse unrelated CB bank to support a transplantation protocol. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) and lymphocyte subset (LS) content of approximately 8000 CB units were characterized, and these results were correlated with donor ethnicity, birth weight, gestational age, sex, and type of delivery. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation of CD34+ cell count with colony-forming unit (CFU)–granulocyte-macrophage (r = 0.68, p

BACKGROUND: The goals of the Cord Blood Transplantation (COBLT) Study banking program initiated in 1996 were to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for cord blood (CB) donor recruitment and banking and to build an ethnically diverse unrelated CB bank to support a transplantation protocol. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The program included collection centers, three banks, a steering committee, and a medical coordinating center (MCC) that developed and validated SOPs and a Web-based data collection system. External oversight was performed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the MCC. RESULTS: A total of 34,799 potential donors were screened and 20,710 consented. A total of 17,207 ethnically diverse units were collected between 1998 and 2001. A total of 11,077 (64%) units were cryopreserved and quarantined. Of these, 79 percent met eligibility criteria and were HLA-typed and entered into the search registry. Higher CB volumes and cell counts were obtained from cesarean sections compared to vaginal deliveries. Units from African American persons contained lower cell counts per volume compared to other ethnicities. Birth weight correlated with volume and cell content. External oversight was accomplished through custom reports generated by the data collection system and periodic site visits. During maintenance, a breach in the SOPs was detected during a site visit at one of the banks. These units were designated for future use in nonclinical research. CONCLUSION: The COBLT Study demonstrated that SOPs and data collection can be implemented in multiple banks coordinated by one MCC. Relationships between donor demographics and CB content may be useful in the development of other CB banking programs.

In conjunction with a randomized trial of T-cell depletion versus conventional graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis, we assessed GVHD grading by comparing the transplant center 100-day score, a clinically calculated algorithm, and a blinded expert panel review (PR). Weekly skin, gut, and liver clinical staging; clinically verified differential diagnosis; biopsy information; cyclosporine levels; and initiation of treatment were reviewed and graded according to the consensus GVHD grading method modified by a prospectively determined grading algorithm that specified liver and gut downstaging if a differential diagnosis in that organ was identified. Transplant center (TC) determination of maximum grade was compared with the algorithm-calculated grade and the final expert PR. Of 404 patients reviewed, the TC grade concurred with the calculated algorithm grade in 72% (the algorithm upgraded 18% and downgraded 10%), whereas the TC grade agreed with the PR in 77% (the PR upgraded 12% and downgraded 11%). The calculated algorithm grade was nearly fully (92%) concordant with the final PR grade (the PR upgraded 0.7% and downgraded 7%). Blinded, duplicate reviews for quality control (n = 108) agreed with the initial review in 89% of cases. Algorithm and/or PR review reduced the TC-reported incidence of grade II (28% to 23%) and increased grade III (11% to 20%), whereas grade 0 (41% to 42%), grade I (13% to 12%), and grade IV (7% to 6%) were invariant. Recalculation of the algorithm grading without differential diagnosis downstaging reduced agreement with the TC to a small extent. The original algorithm changed 51 (13%) of 404 from grade 0 to II into grade III or IV or vice versa; calculation without the downgrade modified 44 cases (11%). Maximum acute GVHD grade had a major effect on 2-year disease-free survival, but assignment by TC, calculated algorithm, or final PR grade had little effect on survival within grades or grade categories 0 through II versus III or IV. We conclude that detailed and expert PR yields GVHD scoring that is internally consistent and reproducible with 89% concordance. Weekly recording of GVHD stage along with a calculated grading algorithm acknowledging differential diagnoses results in a final and maximum grade nearly fully concordant with the expert blinded PR. Multicenter prospective GVHD scoring using all available weekly staging and differential diagnosis data can be reliably assessed with a clinically relevant algorithm. This approach can thereby reduce investigator bias, facilitate comparison between centers, and perhaps eliminate the need for an expert PR. This technique should be used in future prospective studies of GVHD prophylaxis.

Grades 2-4 acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurs in approximately 35% of matched, related donor (MRD) allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients. We sought to determine if the combination of tacrolimus and sirolimus (Tac/Sir) was more effective than tacrolimus and methotrexate (Tac/Mtx) in preventing acute GVHD and early mortality after allogeneic MRD HCT in a phase 3, multicenter trial. The primary end point of the trial was to compare 114-day grades 2-4 acute GVHD-free survival using an intention-to-treat analysis of 304 randomized subjects. There was no difference in the probability of day 114 grades 2-4 acute GVHD-free survival (67% vs 62%, P = .38). Grades 2-4 GVHD was similar in the Tac/Sir and Tac/Mtx arms (26% vs 34%, P = .48). Neutrophil and platelet engraftment were more rapid in the Tac/Sir arm (14 vs 16 days, P < .001; 16 vs 19 days, P = .03). Oropharyngeal mucositis was less severe in the Tac/Sir arm (peak Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale score 0.70 vs 0.96, P < .001), but otherwise toxicity was similar. Chronic GVHD, relapse-free survival, and overall survival at 2 years were no different between study arms (53% vs 45%, P = .06; 53% vs 54%, P = .77; and 59% vs 63%, P = .36). Based on similar long-term outcomes, more rapid engraftment, and less oropharyngeal mucositis, the combination of Tac/Sir is an acceptable alternative to Tac/Mtx after MRD HCT. This study was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Cancer Institute; and the trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00406393.

Comparison of immune recovery in recipients of unmanipulated vs T-cell-depleted grafts from unrelated donors in a multicenter randomized phase II–III trial (T-cell depletion trial)

In 1995, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) solicited requests for a proposal (RFP) entitled "Transplant Centers for Clinical Research on Transplantation of Umbilical Cord Stem and Progenitor Cells." Three banks, six transplant centers, and one medical coordinating center (MCC) (Table 1) were funded with the overall goal of banking cord blood units (CBU) using a single manual of operations. Furthermore, the clinical protocols to evaluate the transplant outcome for adult and pediatric recipients of these well-characterized CBU would be analyzed in a uniform fashion. Because of the intense interest of the transplantation community in the policies and procedures for cord blood collection and processing, the principal investigators of the cord blood banks (CBB) and NHLBI elected to submit for publication the rationale and an abridged, but detailed, version of the standard operating procedures (SOP) developed between October 1996 and July 1998 prior to the initiation of the clinical protocols to be performed with these CBU. As the SOP will be refined over time, the complete SOP and subsequent amendments will be published and continually updated on the websites from the MCC-The EMMES Corporation (www.EMMES.com). All forms referred to in this document may be obtained from the EMMES website. It is hoped that the publication of this document will lay down a framework that will not only facilitate the development of other CBB but also help us more rapidly define what constitutes an "acceptable" CBU product.

Background Banked unrelated donor umbilical cord blood (CB) has improved access to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for patients without a suitably matched donor. In a resource-limited environment, ensuring that the public inventory is enriched with high-quality cord blood units (CBUs) addressing the needs of a diverse group of patients is a priority. Identification of donor characteristics correlating with higher CBU quality could guide operational strategies to increase the yield of banked high-quality CBUs.

On April 10, 2010 the Institutes of Medicine (IOM) released its report, A National Cancer Clinical Trials System for the 21st Century: Reinvigorating the NCI Cooperative Group Program. The IOM report called for major efforts to improve the speed and efficiency of design, launch, and conduct of cancer clinical trials; to make optimal use of scientific innovations; to improve the selection, prioritization, support, and completion of trials; and to foster expanded participation of both patients and physicians [1].

The Sickle Cell Unrelated Donor Transplant Trial (SCURT trial) of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN) is a phase II study of the toxicity and efficacy of unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplantation in children with severe sickle cell disease (SCD) using a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen. Here we report the results for the cord blood cohort of this trial. Eight children with severe SCD underwent unrelated donor cord blood transplantation (CBT) following alemtuzumab, fludarabine, and melphalan. Cyclosporine or tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil were administered for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Donor/recipient HLA match status was 6 of 6 (n = 1) or 5 of 6 (n = 7), based on low/intermediate-resolution molecular typing at HLA -A, -B, and high-resolution typing at -DRB1. Median recipient age was 13.7 years (range: 7.4-16.2 years), and median weight was 35.0 kg (range: 25.2-90.2 kg). The median pre-cryopreservation total nucleated cell dose was 6.4 × 10(7) /kg (range: 3.1-7.6), and the median postthaw infused CD34 cell dose was 1.5 × 10(5) /kg (range: 0.2-2.3). All patients achieved neutrophil recovery (absolute neutrophil count500/mm(3)) by day 33 (median: 22 days). Three patients who engrafted had 100% donor cells by day 100, which was sustained, and 5 patients had autologous hematopoietic recovery. Six of 8 patients had a platelet recovery to50,000/mm(3) by day 100. Two patients developed grade II acute GVHD. Of these, 1 developed extensive chronic GVHD and died of respiratory failure 14 months posttransplantation. With a median follow-up of 1.8 years (range: 1-2.6), 7 patients are alive with a 1-year survival of 100%, and 3 of 8 are alive without graft failure or disease recurrence. Based upon the high incidence of graft rejection after unrelated donor CBT, enrollment onto the cord blood arm of the SCURT trial was suspended. However, because this reduced-intensity regimen has demonstrated a favorable safety profile, this trial remains open to enrollment for unrelated marrow donor transplants. Novel approaches aimed at improving engraftment will be needed before unrelated CBT can be widely adopted for transplanting patients with severe SCD.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is most effectively prevented by ex vivo T cell depletion (TCD) of the allograft, but its role in the treatment of patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in complete remission (CR) remains unclear. We performed a phase 2 single-arm multicenter study to evaluate the role of TCD in AML patients in CR1 or CR2 up to age 65 years. The primary objective was to achieve a disease-free survival (DFS) rate of >75% at 6 months posttransplantation. A total of 44 patients with AML in CR1 (n = 37) or CR2 (n = 7) with a median age of 48.5 years (range, 21-59 years) received myeloablative chemotherapy and fractionated total body irradiation (1375 cGy) followed by immunomagnetically selected CD34-enriched, T cell‒depleted allografts from HLA-identical siblings. No pharmacologic GVHD prophylaxis was given. All patients engrafted. The incidence of acute GVHD grade II-IV was 22.7%, and the incidence of extensive chronic GVHD was 6.8% at 24 months. The relapse rate for patients in CR1 was 17.4% at 36 months. With a median follow-up of 34 months, DFS for all patients was 82% at 6 months, and DFS for patients in CR1 was 72.8% at 12 months and 58% at 36 months. HCT after myeloablative chemoradiotherapy can be performed in a multicenter setting using a uniform method of TCD, resulting in a low risk of extensive chronic GVHD and relapse for patients with AML in CR1.

Graft failure occurs in approximately 20% of patients after unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT). This could be because of inadequate potency of the cord blood unit (CBU). To this end, we investigated the impact of graft characteristics on engraftment and survival of 435 primarily pediatric (median age: 5.3 years) patients receiving a single-unit unrelated UCBT after myeloablative conditioning from 2000 to 2008. Pre-cryopreservation (pre-cryo) graft characteristics were provided by the banks. Post-thaw parameters were measured on dextran/albumin-washed grafts. Post-thaw recovery of the colony-forming unit (CFU), a biological assay reflecting functional viability of the cord blood cells was the lowest percent age (median 21.2%, mean 36.5%) of the pre-cryo value, regardless of the bank of origin. The cumulative incidences of neutrophil and platelet engraftment were 76.9% (95%, confidence interval [CI], 71.3%-82.5%) and 55% (95% CI, 49.3%-60.7%), respectively. Univariate and separate multivariate models using pre-cryo and post-thaw datasets including clinical parameters identified predictors of engraftment and survival. In multivariate modeling, higher CFU dosing was the only pre-cryo graft characteristic predictive of neutrophil (P = .0024) and platelet engraftment (P = .0063). In the post-thaw model, CFU dose best predicted neutrophil and platelet engraftment (both P < .0001). Comparatively, CD34+ and total nucleated cell (TNC) were only weakly predictive in post-thaw neutrophil and platelet engraftment models, respectively. In conclusion, CFU dose is a strong independent predictor of engraftment after unrelated UCBT and should be used to assess potency when selecting CBUs for transplantation.

Sirolimus is an effective agent used in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis after allogeneic transplantation. It also has antiproliferative effects on vascular endothelium when used to coat coronary artery stents. We noted an excess of veno-occlusive disease (VOD) in a clinical trial, and retrospectively reviewed the records of 488 patients to determine the association between sirolimus and VOD. When used with cyclophosphamide/total body irradiation (Cy/TBI) conditioning, sirolimus is associated with an increased incidence of VOD (OR 2.35, P = .005). The concomitant use of methotrexate further increased this rate (OR 3.23, P < .001), while sirolimus without methotrexate was not associated with an increased risk of VOD (OR 1.55, P = .33). Mortality after VOD diagnosis was unaffected, and overall treatment-related mortality was lowest when sirolimus was used without methotrexate. Similar findings were noted in matched, related, and unrelated as well as mismatched donor subgroups. When used with busulfan-based conditioning, sirolimus use was associated with an even higher rate of VOD (OR 8.8, P = .008). Our findings suggest that sirolimus use is associated with VOD after TBI-based transplantation when used with methotrexate after transplantation. Sirolimus-based GVHD prophylaxis without methotrexate is associated with the greatest overall survival. Myeloablative doses of busulfan should not be used with sirolimus-based immunosuppression.

Prospective clinical trials for blood transplantation and BMT are made more difficult by limited patient numbers, heterogeneity of clinical management strategies, and high-intensity therapy with frequent and toxic competing hazards. To address the challenges of prospective clinical study of BMT, the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN), sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/National Cancer Institute, was established. The network's charge is to design and execute multicenter clinical trials requiring participation from the network and from noncore centers for successful performance and to address rare diseases and unique populations that could not be well studied in individual centers. The BMT CTN organizational structure, current portfolio of studies, and scientific agenda are reviewed. Opportunities for investigators in any institution to propose trials and participate are outlined.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is established therapy for selected patients with acute leukemia. After transplantation, antileukemic immune responses are believed to eliminate residual leukemia cells and decrease the likelihood of relapse. However, the clinical effect of successful antigen-specific immune reconstitution after HSCT on the likelihood of leukemic relapse and overall survival is not known. Pediatric recipients of unrelated cord blood transplants who underwent transplantation for acute leukemia were sequentially evaluated for their development of antigen-specific T-lymphocyte immunity to herpes viruses. The clinical effect of a positive antigen-specific response on relapse-free survival was determined. The presence of an antigen-specific response resulted in a relapse-free survival advantage (P = .0001), which was primarily due to a decrease in leukemic relapse (P = .003). Proportional hazards modeling for time to relapse and time to relapse or death defined 3 variables that were strongly associated with a poor outcome: female gender, poor remission status before transplantation, and negative antigen-specific T-lymphocyte proliferation. Notably neither acute nor chronic graft-versus-host disease had any effect on the incidence of leukemic relapse. Successful antigen-specific immune reconstitution after unrelated cord blood transplantation results in decreased leukemic relapse and improved overall survival.

Unrelated-donor marrow transplantation is a potential option for transplant candidates lacking a compatible related donor. The T-cell Depletion Study compared the 3-year disease-free survival for patients receiving T-cell-depleted (TCD) donor marrow (n = 203) vs unmanipulated donor marrow with methotrexate and cyclosporine (M/C) (n = 207). Hospital costs during index admission were documented with billing data, while hospital costs during subsequent 6-month follow-up were estimated from case report forms. Patients with index admission billing were included in the analysis (TCD = 119, M/C = 127). Total hospital length of stay (LOS) was similar across groups, with medians 47.0 days for TCD and 52.0 days for M/C (P = 0.72). Total hospital costs were comparable, 145,115 dollars vs 141,981 dollars (P = 0.63) for TCD and M/C, respectively. However, controlling for site and patient characteristics, TCD was associated with a 12.1% reduction in LOS for the index admission (95% CI -19.4%, -4.3%). Independent of treatment, HLA matching (6/6) was associated with an 8.6% (95% CI -17.4%, +1.2%) reduction in the index admission LOS, while cost was lower by 15.8% (95% CI -26.7%, -3.3%). Treatment costs were similar for TCD and M/C study groups. Savings on reduced cost for treating acute graft-versus-host disease were likely offset by increase in serious infections in the TCD arm.

The primary objective of this study was to compare health-related quality of life (HRQL) in adult patients undergoing either ex vivo T cell–depleted bone marrow transplantation or conventional marrow transplantation. Data on patients' HRQL were gathered as part of a multicenter randomized trial comparing the effect of ex vivo T-cell depletion versus methotrexate and cyclosporine immunosuppression on disease-free survival. HRQL assessments were conducted at baseline, day +100, 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years. There were no treatment arm differences 1 year after transplantation on the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy, Bone Marrow Transplantation, the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36, and the Centers for Epidemiological Studies of Depression. The lack of treatment differences was robust across types of data analyses that took baseline functioning into account and that recognized the sensitivity of outcome measures to assumptions concerning missing data. The trajectory of recovery revealed an initial decrease in function and then a recovery to pretreatment levels that were similar for both treatment arms. Furthermore, the patients in both treatment groups returned to a functional level that approximated general US population norms. Even though the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease was slightly higher in the conventional treatment arm, T-cell depletion did not differentially affect HRQL at 1 year after transplantation.

The Cord Blood Transplantation study group conducted a prospective study of unrelated cord blood transplantation (CBT) to better define the role of this stem cell source for subjects requiring unrelated allogeneic transplantation. We report on 1 stratum of the study designated for adult subjects. The primary end point of the study was survival at 180 days. Secondary end points included engraftment, graft-versus-host disease, relapse, and long-term survival. Eligibility criteria for malignant and nonmalignant diseases were specified. Subjects with active central nervous system disease, Karnofsky performance status 107 nucleated cells per kilogram of recipient weight and matched at ≥4 HLA-A and -B (low or intermediate resolution) and -DRB1 (high resolution) types. Thirty-four subjects were entered, with a median age of 34.5 years (range, 18.2-55 years). Most subjects (n = 23) had a 4 of 6 match, 10 subjects had a 5 of 6 match, and 1 subject had a 6 of 6 match. Diagnoses at transplantation included acute myelogenous leukemia (n = 19), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 9), chronic myelogenous leukemia (n = 3), myelodysplastic syndrome (n = 1), paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) (n = 1), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 1); 94% were classified as poor risk according to National Marrow Donor Program criteria. Subjects received total body irradiation/cyclophosphamide (n = 27) or busulfan/melphalan (n = 7) conditioning regimens. Four subjects died before CBT and are described here but are not included in the main analysis. The cumulative incidence rates and median times to neutrophil (500/μL) and platelet (>20 000/μL) engraftment were 0.66 by day 42 (median, 31 days) and 0.35 by day 180 (median, 117 days). The cumulative incidence rate for grade II-IV GVHD was 0.34 by day 100. For the primary end point, survival at 180 days, Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were 0.30 (95% confidence interval, 0.14-0.46) by day 180 after transplantation. To date there are 2 survivors, and both are >36 months from enrollment. A retrospective analysis was performed by using high-resolution HLA-A and -B typing, which revealed that approximately one third of subjects had 1 or more additional HLA mismatches compared with results of low- or intermediate-resolution HLA typing. The findings of high treatment-related mortality and slow engraftment kinetics indicate that CBT should continue to be performed in specialized centers with a research focus on cord blood cells.

Objective : To determine toxicity and efficacy of adding fludarabine (FLU) to a standard preparative regimen of low-dose total body irradiation (TBI), anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and CY (Deeg J et al, Blood 108:1485, 2006), with de-escalation of the CY dose. Patients and Methods : Between May 2006 and December 2013, the BMT CTN (sponsored by the NHLBI and NCI) conducted a Phase I/II trial of unrelated donor BMT in SAA (BMT CTN 0301; NCT 00326417). Patients were eligible if they were aged < 65 years, with adequate organ function, and an available unrelated marrow donor matched at 7 or 8 of 8 HLA-A, B, C, and DRB1 loci. The trial accrued 97 patients, although analyses are limited to 96; 1 patient withdrew consent prior to BMT. All patients received TBI 200 cGy (day -1), ATG (either thymoglobulin 3 mg/kg IV or ATGAM 30 mg/kg IV daily x 3, days –4 to –2), FLU (30 mg/m2 IV daily x 4, days –5 to –2). The Phase I portion of the trial tested four CY dose levels: 150 mg/kg (days –4 to –2); 100 mg/kg (days –3 to –2); 50 mg/kg (day –2); and 0 mg/kg. The Phase I design allowed enrollment of up to six patients at each CY dose level unless toxicity or graft failure boundaries were crossed. In the Phase II portion, patients were enrolled onto the optimal CY dose level, using adaptive Bayesian criteria to rank desirability of CY doses based on Day 100 outcomes of engraftment and early death. The primary endpoint of the study was determination of the optimal CY dose based on Day 100 assessments of graft failure (primary: absolute neutrophil count Results : Twenty-one patients accrued to the Phase I portion of the trial and all CY dose levels were tested. CY dose level 0 mg/kg was closed after 3 of the first 3 patients developed secondary graft failure. The Phase II portion of the trial opened with CY dose level 150 mg/kg. However, this dose level was closed for excess toxicity (7 of 14 patients died; organ failure n=4, ARDS n=2 and infection n=1; Tolar et al, Biol Blood Marrow Transplant, 2012). Patients were subsequently assigned to CY dose level 100 mg/kg (CY DL 100; n=41) or CY dose level 50 mg/kg (CY DL 50; n=38), depending on Bayesian assessment of criteria noted above except that the last 20 patients were preferentially assigned to CY DL 50 to balance accrual to the two dose levels. Approximately half of patients were male and 79% Caucasian. The median age was 20.6 years. The median age for CY DL 50 and DL 100 was 24.5 (0.5-65) and 17.6 (1.9-63) years, respectively. The number of transplants with a mismatched (i.e.7/8) donor was 7 (18%) in the CY DL 50 group and 14 (34%) in the CY DL 100 group. All patients reached their Day 100 endpoint. The cumulative incidence of grade 2-4 acute GVHD was comparable between the two CY dose levels: 24% (DL 50) vs 27% (DL 100). All deaths before Day 100 were due to primary or secondary graft failure (CY DL 50; n=1 and CY DL 100; n=2),. Table 1 shows individual Day 100 outcomes for CY DL 50 and CY DL 100. Median follow up is 15 (3-27) and 24 (12-50) months for CY DL 50 and 100, respectively. All surviving patients on CY dose level 100 mg/kg have achieved a minimum follow up of 12 months, as opposed to only 75% of surviving patients on CY dose level 50 mg/kg. Conclusion : Results of the adaptive Bayesian dose selection suggest that the most desirable CY dose is 50 mg/kg followed by CY dose, 100 mg/kg. However, interpretation of data needs to take into account the potential imbalance of donor-recipient HLA disparity in the CY 50 mg/kg dose level. CY dose 150 mg/kg and 0 mg/kg should be avoided. Table 1 Day 100 Outcome CY DL 50 (n=38) CY DL 100 (n=41) Graft Failure, primary and secondary 3 (8%) 6 (15%) Survival 37 (97%) 39 (95%) Major RRT (Grade III or higher) 4 (11%) 9 (22%) Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract 230 The prognosis for patients (pts) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are aged 60 years or older at the time of initial diagnosis is poor. Even for pts achieving a first complete remission (CR1), prospects for long-term survival are poor due to the very high risk of relapse. Conventional myeloablative conditioning followed by allogeneic blood or marrow transplantation is associated with significantly less relapse compared with conventional chemotherapy when performed in younger pts with AML in CR1. However, the toxicity of this approach in older pts is prohibitive. A reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen may mitigate the risk of early toxicity and while early results in older AML pts have been encouraging and suggest disease free survival (DFS) rates above 30% at 3 yrs (Farag et al, Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2011), most data are retrospective and pts have not been treated uniformly. We therefore sought to determine the effectiveness of a uniform RIC regimen given to older pts with AML in CR1 on a prospective multi-center phase II trial conducted by the Alliance (formerly Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB)) and the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN). The study, activated in 2004, was initially limited to recipients of a matched related donor (MRD) graft but was amended in 2006 to include matched unrelated donor grafts (URD). The primary endpoint of the study was 2-year DFS. We hypothesized that DFS at 2-years would exceed 20% and powered the study to detect a 2-year DFS probability of 35% for URD recipients. We focused the primary analysis on URD recipients since the majority of older pts require an URD graft. Eligible pts were from 60–74 years old inclusive, had AML in CR1 following induction chemotherapy, availability of a 6/6 MRD or 8/8 URD, and absence of significant end-organ damage prior to transplantation. Adverse events (AE) were initially recorded according to NCI-CTCAE v3.0, amended to v4.0 in 10/2010. Accrual was completed in 12/2011. 132 pts were registered at 21 centers and 123 transplanted (MRD (47%); URD (53%). All donor grafts were mobilized and collected following G-CSF (PBSC). The median age of pts was 65 (range 60–74) and 76 pts (62%) were male. At diagnosis, 67% had an intermediate risk karyotype, 20% adverse risk, Event Cumulative incidence at 100 days* or 2yrs† 95% CI Acute GVHD 2-4 9.4%* 4.1–15% Acute GVHD 3-4 3.4%* 1.2–6.7% Chronic GVHD 26%† 17–34% Relapse 47%† 37–57% Treatment related mortality (TRM) 14%† 7.2–21% Event Probability at 2 yrs 95% CI DFS 39% 30–50% DFS URD only 38% 26–55% Overall survival (all pts) 46% 36–57% The rates of both acute and chronic GVHD as well as TRM were relatively low. There were 81 grade 3–5 non-hematologic AE recorded, including 7 grade 5 (4 infections, 1 each cardiac, pulmonary, and second malignancy). Relapse was the most common cause of death. In conclusion, the results of this first prospective US cooperative group trial conducted in a homogeneously treated group of older AML patients in CR1 demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of RIC allografting using MRD or URD PBSC grafts. DFS appears better following a RIC allograft compared to results achieved historically after conventional therapies, warranting prospective comparison in pts with contemporary cytogenetic and molecular disease characterization. Future research should also focus on preventing disease relapse after RIC allografting in this population. Disclosures: Devine: Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding. Off Label Use: Antithymocyte globulin for GVHD prophylaxis is included in the abstract. Vij:Millennium: Speakers Bureau. Shea:Otsuka: Research Funding.

Abstract 359 Background: On the basis of pilot data in adults with acute leukemia suggesting that the co-infusion of two UCB units was safe and associated with survival rates comparable to that in children, a randomized trial was proposed to determine whether the transplantation of two units might confer a survival advantage since cell dose is a critical determinant of hematopoietic recovery, non relapse mortality (NRM) and survival. Because adults are not as likely to have an adequate single unit, the study was performed in children. Patients and Methods: The BMT CTN, sponsored by NHLBI and NCI, conducted a multi-center, randomized, phase III trial with a primary objective of comparing one-year overall survival in the two study arms using an intent-to-treat analysis. Secondary objectives included comparisons of engraftment, acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), NRM, relapse and disease-free survival (DFS). Thirty-eight BMT CTN, PBMTC or COG centers enrolled patients between December 2006 and February 2012. All patients had to have available two UCB units; unit 1 was the best available HLA-matched unit to the patient with ≥2.5 × 107 total nucleated cell/kg patient weight; unit 2 was the next best HLA-matched unit with ≥1.5 × 107 total nucleated cell/kg. Each unit had to be at least 4/6 HLA-matched to the patient and 3/6 matched between units (at intermediate resolution for HLA-A, -B and allele-level for HLA-DRB1). Patients were randomized to receive a conventional single (n=113) or double (n=111) UCB transplant with randomization stratified by transplant center and patient age. Compliance was >95% in both treatment groups. Of those randomized to a single UCB transplant, 2.7% crossed over to a double and of those randomized to a double UCB transplant, 1.0% crossed over to single; 1.8% in both groups were not transplanted. Patient primary disease (AML, ALL, MDS, CML), disease risk, gender, age, race, ethnicity, CMV serology, performance score and HLA-match were balanced between the two study groups; ALL was the predominant diagnosis (half) in both study groups. All patients received a uniform conditioning regimen (fludarabine 75mg/m2, TBI 1320 cGy, cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg) and GVHD prophylaxis (cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil). Results: The median follow-up of surviving patients is 25 months (both study arms). Overall, 92% patients were in remission with 60% of these in second or subsequent remission. Most units were mismatched at one or two HLA-loci (45% and 40% of single UCB and 42% and 45% of double UCB transplants, respectively). The median pre-cryopreserved total nucleated cell dose was 4.8 and 8.9 × 107/kg for recipients of single and double UCB transplants, respectively. Except for a higher risk of grade III-IV acute GVHD in recipients of a double UCB transplant, all outcomes were similar between the two groups ( Table 1 ). The primary causes of death on both arms were similar with most due to relapse and GVHD. Conclusion: In children with hematological malignancies, outcomes were similar with no survival advantage in recipients of a double UCB transplant as compared to those transplanted with an adequately dosed single UCB unit. While recipients of two units had a higher incidence of acute GVHD, relapse risk was unchanged. Therefore, on the basis of these results, single UCB transplant should be the standard approach in children for whom a single unit containing ≥2.5 × 107nucleated cells/kg matched at zero, one or two HLA-loci is available. Double UCB transplant however remains a suitable alternative in the absence of an adequately dosed single UCB unit in children with hematologic malignancies. Table 1 . Single UCB Transplant Double UCB Transplant P-value Intent-to-treat Overall survival at 1-year 71% (62–79)% 65% (55–73)% 0.13 Transplanted Overall survival at 1-year 71% (61–79)% 66% (56–74)% 0.12 DFS at 1-year 68% (58–76)% 64% (54–73)% 0.20 Relapse at 1-year 12% (6–18)% 14% (7–20)% 0.37 NRM at 1-year 20% (12–27)% 22% (14–30)% 0.45 Neutrophil recovery at day-42 89% (83–95)% 87% (80–93)% 0.08 Platelet recovery at day-180 80% (72–88)% 72% (63-82)% 0.06 Acute grade II-IV GVHD at day-100 57% (48–67)% 57% (48–67)% 0.94 Acute grade III-IV GVHD at day-100 14% (7–20)% 23% (15–32)% 0.03 Any chronic GVHD at 1-year 32% (23–41)% 30% (20–39)% 0.64 Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract 739 The combination of a calcineurin inhibitor and methotrexate has been the standard of care in graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis for over 25 years, with resultant rates of grade II-IV acute GVHD between 30–50%. The mTOR inhibitor, sirolimus, has demonstrated promise in a number of Phase II trials as an immunosuppressant used for GVHD prophylaxis. The BMT CTN, sponsored by the NHLBI and NCI, conducted a multicenter, randomized controlled trial comparing the combination of tacrolimus and sirolimus (Tac/Sir) with tacrolimus and methotrexate (Tac/Mtx) as GVHD prophylaxis after matched, related donor (MRD) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Methods: Eligible patients were between ages 2 – 60 years, and had acute leukemia in remission, myelodysplasia or chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic or accelerated phase. All had adequate organ function, and a 6/6 HLA-A, B, DRB1 matched sibling donor. 304 patients were randomly assigned to either Tac/Sir (n = 151) or Tac/Mtx (n = 153) as GVHD prophylaxis after TBI-based conditioning and MRD HSCT. An intent-to-treat analysis was performed on the primary endpoint of Grade II-IV GVHD-free survival 114 days from randomization. Ten subjects who received busulfan-based conditioning and were previously reported were excluded from analysis. Three subjects who did not undergo HSCT are included in the primary analysis, but not secondary analyses. Results: Treatment groups were well balanced. The median age of participants was 44 years (range 13 – 59) and 83% had acute leukemia. Neutrophil and platelet engraftment were both faster in the Tac/Sir group (14 vs. 16 days, p < 0.001; 16 vs. 19 days, p = 0.03, respectively), but this did not affect the time to first hospital discharge (20 vs. 21 days, p = 0.37). The incidence of grade II-IV and grade III-IV acute GVHD at 100 days were lower in the Tac/Sir group (26 vs. 34%, p = 0.17; 8 vs. 15%, p = 0.05). Day 100 treatment-related mortality was no different between groups (7 vs. 7%, p = 0.43). The primary endpoint of 114-day acute GVHD-free survival was not statistically different between groups (67 vs. 62%, p = 0.38, Figure). The cumulative incidence of relapse at 2 years from transplantation was not different between groups (27 vs. 30%, p = 0.81). The competing-risk cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was higher in the Tac/Sir arm (54 vs. 43%, p =0.044). Overall toxicities were not different between groups, with two notable exceptions. The peak and average OMAS oral mucositis scores were lower in the Tac/Sir arm (peak 0.70 vs. 0.96, p < 0.001; average 0.31 vs. 0.47, p < 0.001), however, there was an increased rate of the endothelial injury syndromes, veno-occlusive disease (11 vs. 4%, p = 0.03), and thrombotic microangiopathy (5 vs. 1%, p = 0.05) in the Tac/Sir arm. Causes of death were not different between groups. At 2 years from transplantation, disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were not different between study arms (DFS 53 vs. 53%, p = 0.76; OS 60 vs. 61%, p = 0.44). Conclusions: No difference in 114-day acute GVHD-free survival was noted between treatment arms. Compared with Tac/Mtx in MRD HSCT, Tac/Sir is associated with more rapid engraftment, less severe acute GVHD and oral mucositis, excess chronic GVHD and endothelial injury syndromes, and similar long-term outcomes. Understanding the trade-offs between regimens, Tac/Sir can be used as an alternative to Tac/Mtx in MRD HSCT. Disclosures: Cutler: Pfizer, inc: Research Funding; Astellas, Inc: Consultancy, Research Funding. Off Label Use: Sirolimus - Prevention of GVHD Tacrolimus - Prevention of GVHD. Waller:Outsuka: Research Funding.

Abstract 3009FN2 Objective: To determine toxicity and efficacy of adding fludarabine (FLU) to a regimen of total body irradiation (TBI), anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclophosphamide (CY), with de-escalation of the CY dose. The goal is to minimize CY-related toxicities while preserving (or improving) engraftment and survival in patients with SAA receiving an unrelated donor marrow transplant. Patients and Methods: Since May 2006, the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN), sponsored by the NHLBI and NCI, has conducted a prospective Phase I/II clinical trial of unrelated donor marrow transplantation in SAA (BMT CTN 0301). Patients with SAA are eligible if they are < 65 years, have adequate organ function, and have an available unrelated marrow donor matched 7 of 8 HLA-A, B, C, DRB1 loci. Patients with Fanconi anemia and other marrow failure syndromes are excluded. All patients receive TBI 200 cGy, ATG (either thymoglobulin: 3 mg/kg IV or ATGAM 30 mg/kg IV daily × 3, days –4 to –2), FLU (30 mg/m2 IV daily × 4, days –5 to –2). The Phase I portion of the trial sequentially tested four CY dose levels: 150 mg/kg (administered days –4 to –2); 100 mg/kg (days –3 to –2); 50 mg/kg (day –2); and, 0 mg/kg, and allowed enrollment of up to six patients at each CY dose level unless toxicity or graft failure boundaries were crossed. In the Phase II portion of the trial, patients enroll onto the optimal CY dose level, which is chosen using adaptive Bayesian criteria to rank desirability of the CY doses. All patients are followed for two years after transplantation. Early stopping guidelines are used to monitor for graft failure and early transplant-related mortality through day 100. Results: Twenty-one patients accrued to the Phase I portion of the trial. CY dose level 0 mg/kg was closed after all three enrolled patients developed secondary graft failure. All received a second allograft. One patient remains alive at 23 months after the first transplantation. The other two died from adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) at 114 days after the first transplant and idiopathic pneumonia at 200 days after the first transplant. Review of Phase I results for the other three dose levels suggested CY dose 150 mg/kg as the optimal dose level for Phase II testing. However, after an additional eight patients were treated at this dose, the level was closed to further accrual because of excess toxicity. Seven of the 14 patients receiving 150 mg/kg of CY (and 7 of the last 8 enrolled) died. Causes of death were cardiac/pulmonary/multi-organ failure (n=4), ARDS (n=2), and parainfluenza virus type 3 pneumonia (n=1). Bayesian evaluation of the two remaining dose levels indicates very similar desirability scores and accrual continues at both the CY 100 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg levels. As of July 15, 2011, a total of 61 patients have been enrolled, 17 on the two closed levels, 33 on the 100 mg/kg level and 11 on the 50 mg/kg level. Conclusions: Early analysis of this trial, made necessary by these unexpected severe adverse events, revealed two important findings among patients receiving low-dose TBI, ATG, and FLU at the doses outlined: 1) CY dose 0 mg/kg is associated with higher than expected graft failure; and, 2) CY dose 150 mg/kg is associated with excess transplant-related toxicity. Neither CY dose level should be tested further in the context of the regimen used in this trial. To date, the two intermediate CY dose levels (100 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) have not crossed the graft failure or fatality stopping boundaries and accrual is in progress. Disclosures: Pulsipher: Genzyme: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Abstract 661 Objective: To compare 131Iodine-Tositumomab/BEAM to Rituximab/BEAM as the conditioning regimen followed by autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with relapsed chemotherapy sensitive DLBCL. Patients and Methods: The Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN 0401) study sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Cancer Institute enrolled 224 patients between 1/06 and 7/09. Eligible patients were age 18–80 years, had a Karnofsky performance score > 70%, persistent or recurrent DLBCL, chemotherapy sensitive disease, and had received 1–3 prior chemotherapy regimens. Patients with transformed DLBCL were excluded. Patients were randomized to receive 131Iodine Tositumomab (dosimetric dose of 5 mCi on day −19 and therapeutic dose of 75 cGy on day −12), carmustine 300 mg/m2 (day −6), etoposide 100 mg/m2 twice daily × 4 (days −5 to −2), cytarabine 100 mg/m2 twice daily × 4 (days −5 to −2), and melphalan 140 mg/m2 (day −1) (Bexxar/BEAM, n=111) vs. rituximab 375 mg/m2 on days −19 and −12 with the BEAM regimen (R/BEAM, n=113). All drugs were given intravenously. The median age at the time of transplant was 56.8 years in the Bexxar/BEAM and 58.8 years in the R/BEAM arm. All 224 patients were included in the intent to treat analysis for the primary endpoint of 2-year PFS. Twelve patients were not transplanted and two patients were ineligible based upon incorrect pathologic subtype and therefore were not included in further analyses Results: The median follow-up of the patients was 25.5 months (mo) (range 13.8– 47.0) in the Bexxar/ BEAM and 24.7 mos (range 4.7 – 58.6) in the R/BEAM arms, respectively. The primary end point of 2-year PFS was 47.9% (95% CI: 38.2%, 57.0%) for Bexxar/BEAM and 48.6% (95% CI: 38.6%, 57.8%) for R/BEAM (p= 0.94). The 2-year OS of all randomized patients was 61.0% (95% CI: 50.9%, 69.6%) for Bexxar/BEAM and 65.6% (95% CI: 55.3%, 74.1%) for R/BEAM (p= 0.38). Patients in complete remission after salvage chemotherapy (CR2) had an improved 2-yr OS compared to patients with primary induction failure (PIF) or chemosensitive relapse (p= 0.005). However, there were no differences in any group by treatment arm. 2-yr OS for CR2 patients with Bexxar/BEAM was 76.9% (95% CI: 62.9%, 86.1%) compared to 79.9% (95% CI: 64.7%, 89.1%) with R/BEAM (p= 0.61). The most common cause of failure was progression/relapse of the lymphoma with a cumulative incidence of relapse/progression at 2 yrs post transplant of 45.0% (95% CI: 35.2%, 54.8%) in the Bexxar/BEAM arm and 48.1% (95% CI: 38.1%, 58.1%) in the R/BEAM arm (p= 0.69). The treatment related mortality was 4.9% (95% CI: 0.8%, 9.0%) in the Bexxar/BEAM and 4.1% (95% CI: 0.2%, 8.0%) in the R/BEAM arms at 2 years post transplant (p= 0.97). Engraftment was similar with neutrophils to > 500/ul in 96.1% (95% CI: 92.2%, 100%) of Bexxar/BEAM and 93.5% (95% CI: 88.6%, 98.4%) of R/BEAM patients by day +28 (p= 0.40). Platelet recovery to > 20,000/ul with no transfusion by day +100 was present in 84.5% (95% CI: 77.4%, 91.6%) of the Bexxar/BEAM and 81.3% (95% CI: 73.9%, 88.7%) of the R/BEAM patients (p= 0.58). The median maximum mucositis score (by OMAS scale) was higher in the Bexxar/BEAM patients at 0.72 compared to 0.31 in the R/BEAM patients (p < 0.0001). One case of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) was reported in each arm of the trial and one additional case of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) was reported in the R/BEAM arm. By exploratory analyses, immune reconstitution as measured by levels of quantitative immunoglobulins and B and T-lymphocyte subsets was not different between the two randomized arms at baseline, day +100, day +365, or day +730. Conclusions: The Bexxar/BEAM and the R/BEAM regimens produced similar 2-yr PFS and OS for patients with chemotherapy sensitive relapsed DLBCL. No differences in engraftment or other toxicities were apparent other than an increase in mucositis with the Bexxar/BEAM regimen. No significant difference in the risk of MDS or AML could be detected with the current follow up. Disclosures: Vose: Genentech: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; SBio: Research Funding; Exelixis: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Millenium: Research Funding; GSK: Research Funding. Off Label Use: 131 Iodine Tositumomab combined with BEAM chemotherapy as a transplant preparative regimen for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is an off label use. Burns:Novartis: Research Funding. Press:Roche/Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria; Spectrum: Consultancy, Honoraria. Fenske:Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Millennium (Takeda) Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding.

Abstract 1 Background: Randomized trials demonstrated that filgrastim-mobilized PBSC compared to BM from HLA-identical siblings improved engraftment kinetics, increased risks of acute and chronic GVHD, but also decreased relapse and improved survival in patients with high risk leukemia. Retrospective analyses of unrelated donor transplants did not appreciate the same PBSC protective effect. Patients and Methods: The BMT CTN, sponsored by the NHLBI and NCI, conducted a Phase III, randomized, multicenter, trial of unrelated donor PBSC versus BM. The primary objective was to compare two-year survival probabilities in the two study arms using an intent-to-treat analysis. Both patients and donors provided informed consent. Fifty centers in the U.S. and Canada enrolled patients between January, 2004 and September 2009. Median follow up is 36 months (interquartile range 25 – 37 months). Randomization was performed in a 1:1 ratio to either PBSC or BM and stratified by transplant center and disease risk. Of the 278 subjects randomized to BM, 5% had no transplant, and 4.3% crossed over to PBSC; of the 273 randomized to PBSC, 4% had no transplant, and 0.4% crossed over to BM, so subjects on both arms had greater than 90% compliance with the assigned therapy. Patient primary disease (AML, ALL, CML, MDS, CMML, and MF), disease risk, gender, age, race, ethnicity, CMV serology, performance status, comorbidity, organ function, conditioning regimen, GVHD prophylaxis, use of growth factors, and donor characteristics were all well balanced between the two groups. Overall, 90% were adults over age 20, 47% had AML, 28% had high risk disease, 48% were conditioned with cyclophosphamide plus total body irradiation, and 71% received tacrolimus plus methotrexate for GVHD prophylaxis. Results: There were no observed differences in outcomes between the two groups except for a higher incidence of overall chronic GVHD (see Table) and more common chronic extensive GVHD with PBSC (46% vs. 31%). There were no survival differences according to graft sources in planned subset analyses of low and high risk malignancy or in those received HLA-matched or mismatched grafts. Primary causes of death were relapse in 54% vs. 49%, graft failure in 7% vs. 0%, acute or chronic GVHD in 22% vs. 34%, others in 16% vs. 16% of the BM and PBSC arms, respectively. Conclusion: This large randomized trial shows that PBSC from unrelated donors is associated with higher rates of chronic GVHD compared to BM, although rates of acute GVHD, relapse, non-relapse mortality and overall survival are similar. Disclosures: Off Label Use: Cyclophosphamide, busulfan, melphalan, fludarabine, anti-thymocyte globulin, irradiation were used to eradicate malignancy. Tacrolimus, cyclosporine, methotrexate were used for GVHD prophylaxis. Westervelt:Novartis: Speakers Bureau.

Abstract 2877 FLC assay measures circulating unbound k and l light chains and is of diagnostic and prognostic value in plasma cell disorders. Normalization of FLC ratio is considered a higher level of complete response (CR) in MM but this has not been well validated prospectively. HLC is a novel antibody based assay that targets the unique junctional epitopes between the heavy chain and light chain constant regions of intact immunoglobulin (Ig) molecules. It separately measures in pairs the light chain types of each immunoglobulin class generating ratios of monoclonal Ig/background polyclonal Ig concentrations (i.e IgGκ/IgGλ, IgAκ/IgAλ and IgMκ/IgMλ); potentially simplifying assessment of monoclonal protein response. To assess the prognostic impact of these assays and to correlate them with electrophoretic/immunofixation (SPE/IFE) assessment, we analyzed 497 stored serum samples from patients enrolled in the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN) 0102 clinical trial, sponsored by the NHLBI and NCI, of tandem autologous (autoHCT) vs. tandem autoHCT- allogeneic (alloHCT). Samples were collected prior to the first autoHCT and analyzed for FLC (Freelite™) and HLC (Hevylite™) at The Binding Site, UK. Corresponding disease status determination was centrally performed by an expert data review committee using uniform response criteria and correlated with FLC and HLC results. HLC remission was defined as normalization of composite heavy and light chain ratios across all 3 measured heavy/light chain pairs or the normalization of clonal isotype with normal ratios of uninvolved pairs. The demographics of 497 patients with HLC/FLC samples at baseline were concordant with the main study and showed similar patient proportions from the 2 study arms. Of the 211 pts with baseline SPE response better than or equal to a very good partial response (>VGPR), 188 also had an HLC remission (Sensitivity=89%). Comparison of the HLC remission with the >VGPR disease state also identified a specificity of 52%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 58% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 87%. Similarly, all 56 patients in complete remission (CR) by SPE/IFE were in HLC remission. Compared with conventional CR assessment, sensitivity of HLC remission was 100%, specificity 39%, PPV and NPV values of 17% and 100% respectively. FLC remission correlated with >VGPR disease state had a sensitivity of 47%, specificity of 81% and a PPV and NPV of 64% and 67% respectively. Multivariate models for post transplant progression free survival (PFS) indicated that baseline disease response (>VGPR vs. partial remission (PR) orVGPR disease state did not impact PFS (HR 0.96, p=0.83). Abnormal HLC after induction therapy has a high negative predictive value (100%) for identifying patients not achieving CR by uniform response criteria and is also associated with shorter PFS after transplant. FLC ratio normalization had no impact suggesting that stringent CR criteria may need further validation. Disclosures: Krishnan: Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Millenium: Speakers Bureau. Alvi:the binding site: Employment. Harding:The Binding Site Group Ltd: Employment. Maloney:Cellgene: Consultancy.

Abstract 655 Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the most effective means to prevent relapse in patients (pts) with AML in complete remission (CR). However, quality of life and overall survival (OS) are often affected by both acute and chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD). GVHD is most effectively prevented by ex vivo T cell depletion (TCD) of the allograft, but has been limited in its use by logistical difficulties, lack of an FDA-approved method, and concerns regarding potential risk of graft rejection, post transplant infections, and leukemic relapse. Most reported TCD studies represent single centers, multiple disease types and processing methods with varying degrees of TCD, all of which affect outcome. Therefore we designed a trial using a single processing method providing extensive TCD that did not require post transplant GVHD prophylaxis involving adult pts with AML in first or second CR. We hypothesized that the undesired side effects of TCD HCT would be reduced if combined with a conditioning regimen that was highly immunosuppressive and anti-leukemic. The primary objective was to achieve a disease-free survival (DFS) rate at 6 months (mos) post transplant that exceeded 75%. Secondary objectives included assessments of engraftment, transplant related mortality (TRM), GVHD, relapse, and performance of a single TCD method (CD34+ cell selection using the Miltenyi CliniMACS device) at participating centers. From 10/2005 to 12/2008, 47 pts were enrolled and 44 transplanted at 8 different centers. Median age was 48.5 years (range 21-59) with 28 female and 16 male pts. Of 37 AML CR1 pts, 49% had an unfavorable cytogenetic or molecular risk profile. The conditioning regimen consisted of hyperfractionated total body irradiation (1375cGy in 11 fractions) with partial lung shielding, thiotepa (10mg/kg), cyclophosphamide (120mg/kg), and rabbit antithymocyte globulin (2.5mg/kg). The donors, all HLA-identical siblings, were given G-CSF for mobilization and scheduled to undergo at least 2 leukapheresis procedures to ensure a graft with a high CD34+ cell content. All allografts were CD34-enriched and were targeted to contain ≥ 5×10e6 CD34+ cells/kg and < 1.0×10e5 CD3+ cells/kg. The median CD34+ and CD3+ doses achieved were 8.1 × 10e6/kg (range 2.4-46.2) and 0.07 × 10e5/kg (range 0.01-0.85), respectively. The majority (81%) of pts received the targeted CD34+ cell dose and no pt received > 1.0×10e5 CD3+ cells/kg. No pharmacological GVHD prophylaxis was given post transplant. There were no significant toxicities related to infusion of the CD34 enriched allografts. The most common grade 3-5 regimen-related toxicities included grades 3 or 4 mucositis (39%) and grades 3-5 pulmonary abnormalities (11%). Only 1 pt experienced hepatic veno-occlusive disease. All pts engrafted rapidly with a median time to neutrophil recovery (ANC > 500/ul) of 11 days (range 9-19). There was 1 secondary graft failure. The assessed outcomes are shown below.Estimate (95% Confidence Interval)Outcome100 Days6 Months12 MonthsAcute GVHD II-IV20.5% (8.7 – 23.3%)Acute GVHD III-IV4.5% (0 – 10.6%)Chronic GVHD17.7% (5.8-29.6%)Extensive Chronic GVHD7.6% (0-15.7%)TRM17.8% (5.8-29.8%)Overall Relapse18.2% (5.9-30.5%)Relapse 1st CR9.6% (0- 19.8%%)Relapse 2nd CR64.3% (27.5-100%)DFS81.3% (66.1-90.2%)64.0% (46.5-77.1%)DFS 1st CR89.2% (73.7-95.8%)72.1% (53.0-84.6%)OS74.3% (57.3-85.4%) The absolute peripheral CD4+ cell count remained on average below 200/ul until day +365. Donor cell chimerism increased in the CD3+ cell compartment through day +365. There were 14 deaths. The most common causes of death were relapse (N=5) and pulmonary toxicity (N=4). The median follow-up of survivors is 489 days (range 96-776). There was no difference in OS or DFS for pts above or below the median age of 48.5 years. We conclude that TCD HCT following myeloablative chemoradiotherapy can be performed in a multi-center setting using a single TCD method without additional post transplant prophylaxis with excellent DFS and OS, consistent engraftment, low TRM, and low incidence of relapse even in pts with unfavorable risk AML in CR1. The low incidences of acute and chronic GVHD in the absence of post transplant prophylaxis were particularly encouraging. A follow-up study of TCD HCT in AML recipients of unrelated donor allografts is being planned by the BMT CTN Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Randomization in clinical trials involving comparison of patients receiving an allogeneic HSCT versus other treatments is challenged by limitated donor availability. Biologic assignment relies on the availability of suitable donors to determine assignment to allogeneic HSCT. BMT CTN 0102 is a phase III multicenter clinical trial that compares tandem autologous HSCT (auto-auto) to an autologous HSCT followed by a nonmyeloablative allogeneic HSCT (auto-allo) for the treatment of multiple myeloma after initial systemic therapy. Transplant arm assignment was determined by the availability of an HLA-matched sibling donor. Patients were stratified into high and standard risk groups. Absence of chromosome 13 deletion by standard karyotyping and beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) ≤ 4mg/L were defined as standard-risk disease (SRD). The trial was powered to detect differences in 3-year progression-free survival in patients with SRD. A total of 710 patients from 43 centers in the U.S. were enrolled from December 2001 to March 2007. Data from 596 patients with SRD were available for this analysis (sibling donor availability for other 28 SRD patients is not yet determined); 30% (n=178) were assigned to the auto-allo arm. The median ages were 55 and 52 years for the auto-auto and auto-allo arms, respectively (p=0.01). The proportions of African-American patients were 17% and 9% in the auto-auto and auto-allo arms, respectively (p=0.006). Most patients were Durie Salmon Stage III (66% and 70%, p=0.6), in partial remission (86% and 83%, p=0.6) and had Karnofsky Performance Scores ≥ 90 (76% and 77%, p=0.5) at time of study entry. Treatment arms were balanced for B2M, baseline cardiac and hepatic functions and CMV serological status. Median times from diagnosis, initiation of systemic therapy and stem cell mobilization to first transplant were 213, 191 and 27 days, respectively and the same in both arms. The interval from the first to second transplant was 98 days for the auto-auto arm and 105 days for the auto-allo arm (p=0.02). We conclude that biologic assignment resulted in two reasonably comparable treatment groups, although statistically significant differences in age, race and interval between first and second transplant were identified. The differences in age between the groups is related to donor availability, since patients younger than 55 years had on average significantly more living siblings than older patients. Importantly, full-sibling donor availability did not account for differences in race distribution. Because the clinical significance of all detectable differences is unknown, the planned statistical analysis will adjust for these discrepancies. These results confirm that biologic assignment is feasible and might be considered when standard randomization is prohibitive, as in allogeneic HSCT clinical trials.

A multi-center, randomized, double blind trial was performed to determine the impact of FLU (400 mg daily in adults) vs. VORI (200 mg twice daily in adults) on the prevention of IFIs in standard risk allogeneic BMT patients receiving full-intensity conditioning regimens. 600 patients with AML (n=230), ALL (n=122), CML (n=103), MDS (n=98), lymphoma (n=43) and other diseases (n=4) were randomized; 295 to FLU, 305 to VORI between 2003 and 2006 (1 not transplanted). Study drugs were given for 100 days; in those receiving prednisone at a dose of ≥1 mg/kg/day at day 100 or for recipients of T cell depleted grafts with CD4+ counts 18 years; 55% male; 95% with HLA A, B, and DRB1 matched donor; stem cell graft was related donor marrow or PBSC in 56%. There were no significant differences between the two arms in patient, disease type or risk, or transplant characteristics. Rates of engraftment, acute or chronic GVHD, non-fungal infections, expected or unexpected severe adverse events, and rates of premature study drug withdrawal were similar in both arms (p=NS). At a median follow-up of 12 months, overall survival was 80% at 6 months and 67% at 12 months. A blinded data review committee reviewed source documents of all reported fungal infections, deaths, patients with a positive GM and those given empirical antifungal therapy. There were 25 proven, 30 probable, 15 presumptive, and 74 possible IFIs. The cumulative rates of proven, probable and presumptive IFI were similar in the two arms: 10.6% for FLU and 6.6% for VORI at 6 months (p=0.11) and 13.1% and 11.6% at 12 months (p=0.50), respectively. Microbiologically documented IFIs at 6 months in each arm (FLU and VORI) were caused by Aspergillus (16 and 7, p=0.05), Candida (3 and 3), Zygomycetes (3 and 2), and other (1 and 1). Fungal-free survival rates were similar: 76% for FLU and 78% for VORI at 6 months (p=NS) and 65% and 63% at 12 months (p=NS), respectively. Event-free and overall survival rates also were similar in both arms at 6 and 12 months (p=NS). There were no differences in fungal-free survival rates in patients who received prophylactic fluconazole or voriconazole when intensive monitoring and early empirical therapy were employed in standard risk allogeneic BMT recipients.