Journal of Hematology & Oncology (May 2017)

Unmanipulated haploidentical stem cell transplantation in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a study on behalf of the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the EBMT

  • Nicole Santoro,
  • Annalisa Ruggeri,
  • Myriam Labopin,
  • Andrea Bacigalupo,
  • Fabio Ciceri,
  • Zafer Gülbaş,
  • He Huang,
  • Boris Afanasyev,
  • William Arcese,
  • Depei Wu,
  • Yener Koc,
  • Johanna Tischer,
  • Stella Santarone,
  • Sebastian Giebel,
  • Mohamad Mohty,
  • Arnon Nagler

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-017-0480-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Background Allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is the most effective post-remission treatment for adults with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The aim of the study was to analyze results of unmanipulated haploidentical allo-SCT (haplo-SCT) for adults with ALL and to identify prognostic factors. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis on 208 adults transplanted in EBMT centers from 2007 to 2014. Results Median age at haplo-SCT was 32 years and median follow-up, 31 months. Forty-four percent of the patients were in first complete remission (CR1). Stem cell source was the bone marrow (BM) for 43% and peripheral blood (PB) for 57% of patients. Myeloablative conditioning (MAC) was used for 66% and reduced intensity regimen (RIC) for 34% of patients. GVHD prophylaxis was based on post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) for 118 (57%) or on anti-thymocyte-globulin (ATG) for 90 (43%) plus standard prophylaxis. One hundred eighty-four (92%) patients achieved engraftment. Cumulative incidence (CI) of grade II–IV acute-graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) was 31%, grade III–IV 11%, and chronic GVHD 29%. Non-relapse mortality (NRM) and relapse-incidence (RI) were 32 and 37%, respectively. Overall survival (OS), leukemia-free survival (LFS), and GVHD-free, relapse-free-survival (GRFS) at 3 years were 33, 31, and 26%. For patients in CR1, OS, LFS, and GRFS were 52, 47, and 40%, respectively. Disease status was the main factor associated with transplant outcomes. Use of BM was independently associated with improvement in NRM, acute GVHD, GRFS, LFS, and OS. Conclusions Unmanipulated haplo-SCT may be considered a valid option for adult patients with high-risk ALL lacking HLA identical donor preferably in early disease status.

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