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Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains the most common cause of nonrelapse-related morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Although T-cell depletion and intensive immunosuppression are effective in the control of GVHD, they are often associated with higher rates of infection and tumor recurrence. In this study, we showed that heparan sulfate (HS), an extracellular matrix component, can activate Toll-like receptor 4 on dendritic cells in vitro, leading to the enhancement of dendritic cell maturation and alloreactive T-cell responses. We further demonstrated in vivo that serum HS levels were acutely elevated at the onset of clinical GVHD in mice after allo-HSCT. Treatment with the serine protease inhibitor α1-antitrypsin decreased serum levels of HS, leading to a reduction in alloreactive T-cell responses and GVHD severity. Conversely, an HS mimetic that increased serum HS levels accelerated GVHD. In addition, in patients undergoing allo-HSCT for hematologic malignancies, serum HS levels were elevated and correlated with the severity of GVHD. These results identify a critical role for HS in promoting acute GVHD after allo-HSCT, and they suggest that modulation of HS release may have therapeutic potential for the control of clinical GVHD.

Purpose: To assess factors associated with severe pulmonary toxicity after myeloablative conditioning using total body irradiation (TBI) followed by allogeneic stem cell transplantation., Methods and Materials: A total of 101 adult patients who underwent TBI-based myeloablative conditioning for hematologic malignancies at Duke University between 1998 and 2008 were reviewed. TBI was combined with high-dose cyclophosphamide, melphalan, fludarabine, or etoposide, depending on the underlying disease. Acute pulmonary toxicity, occurring within 90 days of transplantation, was scored using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. Actuarial overall survival and the cumulative incidence of acute pulmonary toxicity were calculated via the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using a log-rank test. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to assess factors independently associated with acute severe pulmonary toxicity., Results: The 90-day actuarial risk of developing severe (Grade 3-5) pulmonary toxicity was 33%. Actuarial survival at 90 days was 49% in patients with severe pulmonary toxicity vs. 94% in patients without (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, the number of prior chemotherapy regimens was the only factor independently associated with development of severe pulmonary toxicity (odds ratio, 2.7 per regimen)., Conclusions: Severe acute pulmonary toxicity is prevalent after TBI-based myeloablative conditioning regimens, occurring in approximately 33% of patients. The number of prior chemotherapy regimens appears to be an important risk factor., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hematologists/oncologists would provide essential care for victims of a catastrophic radiation incident, such as the detonation of an improvised nuclear device (IND). The US Radiation Injury Treatment Network (RITN) is a voluntary consortium of 37 academic medical centers, 8 blood donor centers, and 7 umbilical cord banks focused on preparedness for radiation incidents. The RITN conducted 2 tabletop exercises to evaluate response capability after a hypothetical IND detonation in a U.S. city. In the 2008 exercise, medical centers voluntarily accepted 1757 victims at their institutions, a small fraction of the number in need. In the 2009 exercise, each center was required to accept 300 victims. In response, the centers outlined multiple strategies to increase bed availability, extend staff and resources, and support family and friends accompanying transferred victims. The exercises highlighted shortcomings in current planning and future steps for improving surge capacity that are applicable to various mass casualty scenarios., (Copyright © 2010 American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. All rights reserved.)

Infusing natural killer (NK) cells following transplantation may allow less infections and relapse with little risk of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). We delivered 51 total NK cell-enriched donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs) to 30 patients following a 3-6/6 HLA matched T cell-depleted nonmyeloablative allogeneic transplant. The primary endpoint of this study was feasibility and safety. Eight weeks following transplantation, donor NK cell-enriched DLIs were processed using a CD56(+) selecting column with up to 3 fresh infusions allowed. Toxicity, relapse, and survival were monitored. T cell phenotype, NK cell functional recovery, and KIR typing were assessed for association with outcomes. Fourteen matched and 16 mismatched transplanted patients received a total of 51 NK cell-enriched DLIs. Selection resulted in 96% (standard deviation [SD] 8%) purity and 83% (SD 21%) yield in the matched setting and 97% (SD 3%) purity and 77% (SD 24%) yield in the mismatched setting. The median number of CD3(-) CD56(+) NK cells infused was 10.6 (SD 7.91) x 10(6) cells/kg and 9.21 (SD 5.6) x 10(6) cells/kg, respectively. The median number of contaminating CD3(+)CD56(-) T cells infused was .53 (1.1) x 10(6) and .27 (.78) x 10(6) in the matched and mismatched setting, respectively. Only 1 patient each in the matched (n = 14) or mismatched (n = 16) setting experienced severe aGVHD with little other toxicity attributable to the infusions. Long-term responders with multiple NK cell-enriched infusions and improved T cell phenotypic recovery had improved duration of responses (p = .0045) and overall survival (OS) (P = .0058). A 1-step, high-yield process is feasible, and results in high doses of NK cells infused with little toxicity. NK cell-enriched DLIs result in improved immune recovery and outcomes for some. Future studies must assess whether the improved outcomes are the direct result of the high doses and improved NK cell function or other aspects of immune recovery.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are enriched for aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity and ALDH is a selectable marker for human HSCs. However, the function of ALDH in HSC biology is not well understood. We sought to determine the function of ALDH in regulating HSC fate. Pharmacologic inhibition of ALDH with diethylaminobenzaldehyde (DEAB) impeded the differentiation of murine CD34(-)c-kit(+)Sca-1(+)lineage(-) (34(-)KSL) HSCs in culture and facilitated a ninefold expansion of cells capable of radioprotecting lethally irradiated mice compared to input 34(-)KSL cells. Treatment of bone marrow (BM) 34(-)KSL cells with DEAB caused a fourfold increase in 4-week competitive repopulating units, verifying the amplification of short-term HSCs (ST-HSCs) in response to ALDH inhibition. Targeted siRNA of ALDH1a1 in BM HSCs caused a comparable expansion of radioprotective progenitor cells in culture compared to DEAB treatment, confirming that ALDH1a1 was the target of DEAB inhibition. The addition of all trans retinoic acid blocked DEAB-mediated expansion of ST-HSCs in culture, suggesting that ALDH1a1 regulates HSC differentiation via augmentation of retinoid signaling. Pharmacologic inhibition of ALDH has therapeutic potential as a means to amplify ST-HSCs for transplantation purposes.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside in association with bone marrow (BM) sinusoidal vessels in vivo, but the function of BM endothelial cells (ECs) in regulating hematopoiesis is unclear. We hypothesized that hematopoietic regeneration following injury is regulated by BM ECs. BALB/c mice were treated with total body irradiation (TBI) and then infused with C57Bl6-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to augment endogenous BM EC activity. TBI caused pronounced disruption of the BM vasculature, BM hypocellularity, ablation of HSCs, and pancytopenia in control mice, whereas irradiated, EPC-treated mice displayed accelerated recovery of BM sinusoidal vessels, BM cellularity, peripheral blood white blood cells (WBCs), neutrophils, and platelets, and a 4.4-fold increase in BM HSCs. Systemic administration of anti-VE-cadherin antibody significantly delayed hematologic recovery in both EPC-treated mice and irradiated, non-EPC-treated mice compared with irradiated controls. These data demonstrate that allogeneic EPC infusions can augment hematopoiesis and suggest a relationship between BM microvascular recovery and hematopoietic reconstitution in vivo.

Spermatogonial stem cell transplantation (SSCT) offers unique approaches to investigate SSC and to manipulate the male germline. We report here the first successful performance of this technique in the dog, which is an important model of human diseases. First, we investigated an irradiation protocol to deplete endogenous male germ cells in recipient testes. Histologic examination confirmed >95% depletion of endogenous spermatogenesis, but retention of normal testis architecture. Then, 5-month-old recipient dogs (n=5) were focally irradiated on their testes prior to transplantation with mixed seminiferous tubule cells (fresh (n=2) or after 2 weeks of culture (n=3)). The dogs receiving cultured cells showed an immediate allergic response, which subsided quickly with palliative treatment. No such response was seen in the dogs receiving fresh cells, for which a different injection medium was used. Twelve months post-injection recipients were castrated and sperm was collected from epididymides. We performed microsatellite analysis comparing DNA from the epididymal sperm with genomic DNA from both the recipients and the donors. We used six markers to demonstrate the presence of donor alleles in the sperm from one recipient of fresh mixed tubule cells. No evidence of donor alleles was detected in sperm from the other recipients. Using quantitative PCR based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), about 19.5% of sperm were shown to be donor derived in the recipient. Our results demonstrate the first successful completion of SSCT in the dog, an important step toward transgenesis through the male germline in this valuable biomedical model.

Context: Nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation (NMSCT) is a mode of immunotherapy increasingly employed in treating hematologic, lymphoid, and solid tumors. Patients are monitored principally by molecular analysis of donor engraftment., Objective: To determine the role of morphologic examination of bone marrow after NMSCT., Design: Seventy-three patients undergoing NMSCT under the Campath 1H (humanized anti-CD52 antibody) protocol were studied. Pretransplant and sequential posttransplant bone marrow specimens were evaluated and the findings were correlated with corresponding engraftment data., Results: Pretransplant bone marrow specimens from 43% of the patients were involved by disease, and these marrow specimens were significantly more cellular than those that were free of disease. Morphologically detectable disease was still present in day 14 posttransplant marrow specimens in more than one half of these patients, but there was no difference in engraftment in those with or without marrow disease. Early posttransplant marrow in nearly one half of the patients showed myeloid hyperplasia and atypical localization of immature myeloid precursors. Marrow cellularity for the first 2 months after NMSCT was significantly lower in those patients receiving stem cells mismatched at 1 to 3 loci as compared with those who received fully matched grafts (mean cellularity, 38.1% vs 54.1% at day 14). Marrow failure without recurrent disease at 3 to 6 months after transplant was detected by engraftment study in only approximately 15% of cases. Similarly, early recurrence of disease was detected first by morphologic examination in 4 of 13 cases before a decline in donor engraftment occurred., Conclusion: Morphologic examination of bone marrow provides additional information that is complementary to donor engraftment analysis for optimal management after NMSCT.

Nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation (NMSCT) may destroy some malignancies through a graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effect, but tumor relapse and viral reactivation remain challenges for which immunizations may be helpful. Dendritic cells (DC), particularly DC1 and ex vivo-cultured DC, induce antigen-specific immune responses following viral infections and anti-tumor immunizations. DC2 may be tolerogenic. We hypothesize that successful immunizations following NMSCT will require adequate numbers of functional DC1 or ex vivo-generated DC. We determined the number, phenotype, and function of blood DC1 and DC2 and ex vivo-generated DC obtained from donor-recipient pairs before and up to 90 days after NMSCT. Although the percentage and number of recipient blood Lin(-) HLA-DR(+) CD11c(+) DC1 following NMSCT (median 0.46%, IQR 0.33-0.52%) was lower than donor DC1 (median 0.94%, IQR 0.40-2.2%) this was not significant. In contrast, the percentage and absolute number of blood Lin(-) HLA-DR(+) CD11c(-) CD123(+) DC2 was significantly decreased following the transplant (median 0.01% IQR 0.01-0.01% at day 60 compared with median 0.14%, IQR 0.10-0.38% for the donor before transplantation, p < 0.05). The yield (median 6.0%, IQR 5.5-8.5%) and allostimulatory function of ex vivo-generated DC did not differ significantly at any time point. The donor chimerism of blood and cultured DC reflected that of the overall white blood cells. Ex vivo-generated, donor DC loaded with cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigens were capable of stimulating a CMV-specific immune response in vitro within peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a patient following NMSCT. We conclude that blood DC numbers may be diminished following NMSCT transplant, but that DC1 recovery exceeds DC2 and functional DC may be generated from peripheral blood progenitors at all time points suggesting a possible use in immunization strategies.

Despite modern chemotherapy, advanced breast cancer remains a significant cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in women. Patients with disease involvement of multiple lymph nodes represent a subgroup with a high risk of relapse. In particular, 50% of patients with 4 to 9 axillary lymph nodes involved will relapse after standard chemotherapy. In an effort to improve the survival of patients with 4 to 9 involved nodes, we performed a phase II study in which 61 patients with surgically diagnosed stage II or III breast cancer and 4 to 9 positive lymph nodes received 3 cycles of doxorubicin and 5-fluorouracil followed by high-dose chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, and carmustine and infusion of autologous hematopoietic progenitor cells. All patients received posttransplantation localized radiotherapy unless contraindicated, and all patients with hormone receptor-positive disease received tamoxifen. After a median patient follow-up of 6.7 years (range, 4.6-8.6 years), the 5-year overall survival rate was 79% (95% CI, 69%-90%), with relapse-free survival of 73% (95% CI, 62%-85%). Treatment-related mortality was 3%. Interstitial pneumonitis occurred in 69% of patients but did not contribute to mortality. Our study presents long-term favorable results regarding the use of consolidative HDC with autologous hematopoietic support in previously untreated patients with high-risk primary breast cancer.

Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) causes substantial morbidity and mortality after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). There are limited data on risk factors for CMV viremia and the safety of antiviral medications used to treat CMV in children. Methods We conducted a single-center retrospective study of children who underwent HSCT between 2000 and 2016. We used log-logistic regression to evaluate associations between clinical characteristics and CMV-free survival at 100 days after HSCT. We compared the incidences of laboratory-defined adverse events (AEs) during treatment with ganciclovir and foscarnet. Results Among 969 children, the median (interquartile range) age was 6.5 (3.1–11.5) years, and 80% underwent allogeneic HSCT. Two hundred forty-four (25%) children developed CMV viremia. Older age (odds ratio [OR], 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92–0.98), male sex (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.51–0.99), non-Black, non-White race (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.36–0.87), umbilical cord blood donor source (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.08–0.97), and CMV seropositivity (R-/D+: OR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.07–0.41; R+/D-: OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.09–0.21; R+/D+: OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.04–0.15) were associated with lower odds of 100-day CMV-free survival. Compared with foscarnet, ganciclovir was associated with lower incidences of thrombocytopenia (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.38; 95% CI, 0.15–0.97), electrolyte AEs (IRR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.24–0.75), endocrine AEs (IRR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.34–0.79), and renal AEs (IRR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.19–0.65). Conclusions CMV viremia occurred commonly among children after HSCT, and ganciclovir and foscarnet were associated with distinct toxicity profiles among children with CMV infection. These findings should be considered when developing CMV prevention and treatment strategies for children after HSCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Respiratory viral infections (RVIs) are frequent complications of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Surgical masks are a simple and inexpensive intervention that may reduce nosocomial spread. Methods. In this prospective single-center study, we instituted a universal surgical mask policy requiring all individuals with direct contact with HSCT patients to wear a surgical mask, regardless of symptoms or season. The primary endpoint was the incidence of RVIs in the mask period (2010-2014) compared with the premask period (2003-2009). Results. RVIs decreased from 10.3% (95/920 patients) in the premask period to 4.4% (40/911) in the mask period (P < .001). Significant decreases occurred after both allogeneic (64/378 [16.9%] to 24/289 [8.3%], P = .001) and autologous (31/542 [5.7%] to 16/622 [2.6%], P = .007) transplants. After adjusting for multiple covariates including season and year in a segmented longitudinal analysis, the decrease in RVIs remained significant, with risk of RVI of 0.4 in patients in the mask group compared with the premask group (0.19-0.85, P = .02). In contrast, no decrease was observed during this same period in an adjacent hematologic malignancy unit, which followed the same infection control practices except for the mask policy. The majority of this decrease was in parainfluenza virus 3 (PIV3) (8.3% to 2.2%, P < .001). Conclusions. Requiring all individuals with direct patient contact to wear a surgical mask is associated with a reduction in RVIs, particularly PIV3, during the most vulnerable period following HSCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: High relapse rates and infections remain primary causes of failure in nonmyeloablative transplantation. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) may stimulate the immune system and improve outcomes. The primary objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of administering IL-2 following a T-cell-depleted nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Methods: Patients received T-cell-depleted nonmyeloablative transplant from a matched or mismatched related donor. Those with allogeneic engraftment < grade 2 acute GVHD at time of study entry, and no severe end organ damage were eligible and received IL-2 starting 6 weeks after the first day of stem cell infusion. Patients received 1 mu/m2 daily for 5 days each week for 4 weeks followed by a 2-week rest period for a 6-week cycle to continue for up to 1 year. Results: Eight patients aged 28–69 years were treated. Significant toxicities were limited to GVHD of the skin ≤grade 2 in 3 patients and severe fatigue in 4 patients, limiting the duration of therapy. Two of the 8 patients died of relapsed disease and 1 from CMV. With a median overall duration of follow-up of survivors of 48 months, 5 patients (63%) remain alive and in continuous complete remission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concern of the public regarding terrorist actions involving nuclear emergencies resulted in the reopening of the discussion regarding the best ways to cope with the inevitable health impairments. Medical experts from the US and from Europe considered it of importance to harmonize at an international level the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches regarding the radiation-induced health impairments. The present contribution is the result of the first U.S./European Consultation Workshop addressing approaches to radiation emergency preparedness and assistance, which was held recently at Ulm University, Ulm, Germany. Discussions dealt with the assessment of the extent of damage after total body exposure and, in particular, the quantity and quality of the damage to the hematopoietic stem cell pool. Secondly, the pathogenesis of the multiorgan failure was considered because of the organ-to-organ interactions. Thirdly, approaches were considered to harmonize the ''triage-methods'' used on an international level using the ''Response Category'' approach as developed for the European Communities. These discussions lead to the conclusion that there is a strong need for continuing education of physicians, nurses, and support personnel to address the issues posed by the management of patients suffering from radiation syndromes. Finally, the discussions expressed the need for more international cooperation in research and development of more refined methods to treat patients with any type of radiation syndromes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minor histocompatibility antigens (miHA) are responsible for the occurrence of graft-versus-host disease in the setting of a major histocompatibility complex matched sibling allogeneic stem cell transplantation. These miHA are peptide fragments that are associated with major histocompatibility complex class I or class II antigens. Elegant experiments have led to the molecular characterization of these antigens. Efforts to prevent graft-versus-host disease could be targeted through this pathway by matching for these miHA or by preventing antigen recognition. Alternatively, these miHA could be exploited as targets for a more potent graft-versus-malignancy effect. This area of miHA promises to continue to be an exciting area of continued research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recent studies indicate cells transfer between fetus and mother during pregnancy and can persist in both decades later. The presence within one individual of a small population of cells from another genetically distinct individual is referred to as microchimerism. Naturally acquired microchimerism has recently been investigated in autoimmune diseases, including scleroderma, thyroiditis, primary biliary cirrhosis, Sjögren syndrome, systemic lupus, dermatomyositis, and neonatal lupus. Iatrogenic chimerism has been investigated in transplantation and following blood transfusion. Considering findings of naturally acquired microchimerism along with iatrogenic microchimerism suggests microchimerism can have detrimental and/or beneficial effects in both settings. Recent identification of tissue-specific microchimerism either from naturally acquired or iatrogenic microchimerism (eg, cardiac myocytes) raises the possibility that microchimerism can be a target of autoimmunity or alternatively contribute to tissue repair. Advances in this new frontier of research with varied and numerous implications for human health are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editorial. Discusses the persistence of fetal cells in maternal peripheral blood several years after childbirth. Percentage of cord blood samples where maternal cells are found; Occurrence of chimerism in patients who undergo stem cell transplantation; Hypothesis on the involvement of microchimerism in the pathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases.

Noninfectious pulmonary complications are one of the major side effects of hematopoetic stem cell transplant (HSCT); however, the development of pulmonary sarcoidosis post-HSCT is uncommon, with only three cases previously reported. In each of those cases, sarcoidosis was also diagnosed in the stem cell donor. We now report four cases of de novo pulmonary sarcoidosis occurring post-HSCT (3 autologous HSCT and 1 allogeneic HSCT). We suggest that pulmonary sarcoidosis may develop following either autologous or allogeneic HSCT, and the prevalence may be 10-fold higher than that of the normal population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Delirium is common following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. • In this select sample, greater age, treatment regimen intensity, and greater white matter burden were all associated with greater delirium incidence. Delirium is common among adults undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT), although the clinical and neuroimaging correlates of post-HCT delirium have not been adequately delineated. We therefore examined the frequency of delirium and neuroimaging correlates of post-transplant delirium in a retrospective cohort of 115 adults undergoing neuroimaging after allogeneic HCT. Delirium was established using previously validated methods for retrospective identification of chart-assessed postprocedural delirium. Chart reviews were independently conducted by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in HCT, psychiatry, and psychology on consecutive allogeneic HCT patients who underwent neuroimaging assessments and transplantation at a single center between January 2009 and December 2016. Neuroimaging markers of white matter damage and brain volume loss were also recorded. In total, 115 patients were included, ranging in age from 20 to 74 years (mean [SD] age, 49 [13]). Fifty-three patients (46%) developed post-HCT delirium. In an adjusted model, delirium incidence was associated with older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.92 [1.28, 2.87] per decade, P =.002), greater severity of white matter hyperintensities (OR, 1.95 [1.06, 3.57], P =.031), and conditioning intensity (OR, 6.37 [2.20, 18.45], P <.001) but was unrelated to cortical atrophy (P =.777). Delirium was associated with fewer hospital-free days (P =.023) but was not associated with overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.95 [0.56, 1.61], P =.844). Greater incidence of delirium following HCT was associated with greater age, microvascular burden, and conditioning intensity. Pre-HCT consideration of microvascular burden and other neuroimaging biomarkers of risk may be warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: T-cell receptor variable β chain (TCRBV) repertoire spectratyping involves the estimation of CDR3 length distributions for monitoring T-cell receptor diversity and has proven useful for analyses of immune reconstitution and T-cell clonal expansions in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft-versus-leukemia after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. We performed a longitudinal spectratype analysis of 23 TCRBV families in 28 patients who underwent allogeneic T cell–depleted peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Sixteen patients subsequently developed acute GVHD. We recently developed statistical methods that bring increased power and flexibility to spectratype analysis and allow us to analyze TCRBV repertoire development under appropriately complex statistical models. Applying these methods, we found that patients with acute GVHD demonstrated TCRBV repertoire development statistically distinct from that repertoire development in patients without GVHD. Specifically, GVHD patients showed spectratypes indicative of lower diversity and greater deviation from the spectratypes expected in healthy individuals at intermediate times. Most individual TCRBV subfamilies had spectratypes statistically distinguishable between GVHD and non-GVHD patients at 6 months after transplantation. These results suggest that the T-cell receptor repertoire perturbations associated with acute GVHD are widely spread throughout the TCRBV families. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction Prophylactic, donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) is used to augment immune recovery and graft vs. tumor effect following a T-cell depleted alloSCT. However, it carries the risk of inducing severe GvHD. Our pre-clinical murine studies have implicated the naive T-cell, defined by CD62L marker, as the primary driver of alloreactivity. We hypothesize that transferring selected memory T-cells without naive-T cells would endow the patient with cells that do not cause GvHD while augmenting host defense against infection and tumor recurrence. Objectives The goal of the study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose of a prophylactic, delayed DLI that has been depleted of naive T-cells. Methods We enrolled 16 adult patients, median age 54 who met following criteria; a. underwent an alemtuzumab or thymoglobulin-containing non-myeloablative allogeneic transplant from an HLA-identical family donor or an 8/8 HLA-matched unrelated donor (MUD), b. at least 60 days from day of transplantation, c. no active acute GvHD grade II or higher. Primary diseases were CLL; n=1, MM; n=2, MF; n=1, NHL; n=5, MDS; n=1, AML; n=6. A dedicated, non-mobilized donor apheresis procedure was performed following enrollment. Naive, CD45RA+ T-cells were depleted from the collection under an IND using the Miltenyi clinimacs system. A standard phase I, 3+3 dose escalation schema was employed. The dose-limiting toxicity of the DLI was defined as development of grade III/IV acute GvHD within 90 days of the DLI. Results The DLI was infused on median 112.5 days (76 to 280 days) following transplant. 8 patients received matched sibling grafts and 8 received MUD grafts. 3 patients each received naive T-cell depleted CD3+ dose of 1 × 105/kg, 1 × 106/kg, and 5 × 106/kg. The top dose of 1 × 107/kg was expanded to 7 patients. No dose limiting toxicity or adverse event attributable to the DLI was observed at any dose level. 1 patient developed grade 2 acute GvHD and 1 developed moderate chronic GvHD attributable to the DLI. 4 patients had relapsed disease; 2 in the lowest dose and 2 in the highest dose levels. With a median follow-up of 2.75 years, 2-year relapse free and overall survivals are 56.25% and 68.75%, respectively (Fig 1 and 2). NK cells, CD3+T lymphocytes, CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD8+ T lymphocytes show positive correlations of 0.24, 0.40, 0.42 and 0.38 respectively with time following the DLI (Fig 3). Conclusion A prophylactic, naive T-cell depleted DLI can be provided safely, without significant risk of acute GvHD at a dose of 1 × 10e7 CD3/kg. Larger studies in a more homogeneous patient population will be needed to confirm the impact on immune recovery and relapse prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delirium is common among adults undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT), although the clinical predictors and neuroimaging correlates of postoperative delirium have not been adequately delineated. We therefore examined the frequency of delirium and neuroimaging correlates of post-HCT delirium in a retrospective cohort of 115 adults undergoing BMT. Delirium was established using previously validated methods for retrospective identification of chart-assessed postoperative delirium. Chart reviews were independently conducted by a team including a HCT physician, a transplant psychiatrist, a transplant psychologist, and a psychiatry resident on consecutive allogeneic HCT patients who underwent neuroimaging assessments, transplanted between January, 2009 December, 2016Y. Neuroimaging markers of cortical volume loss and white matter hyperintensities were also recorded. One hundred fifteen patients were included, ranging in age from 20 to 74 (mean age = 49 [SD = 13]). Fifty-three patients (46%) developed post-HCT delirium. In an adjusted model, delirium incidence was associated with older age (OR = 1.92 [1.28, 2.87] per decade, P =.002), greater severity of white matter hyperintensities (OR = 1.95 [1.06, 3.57], P =.031), and treatment regimen intensity (OR = 6.37 [2.20, 18.45], P <.001) but was unrelated to cortical atrophy (P =.777). Greater incidence of delirium following BMT was associated with greater age, microvascular burden, and more severe treatment regimen. Pre-HCT consideration of microvascular burden and other neuroimaging biomarkers of risk may be warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]