Journal of Hematology & Oncology (Sep 2016)

Minimal residual disease- and graft-vs.-host disease-guided multiple consolidation chemotherapy and donor lymphocyte infusion prevent second acute leukemia relapse after allotransplant

  • Chen-Hua Yan,
  • Yu Wang,
  • Jing-Zhi Wang,
  • Yu-Hong Chen,
  • Yao Chen,
  • Feng-rong Wang,
  • Yu-Qian Sun,
  • Xiao-Dong Mo,
  • Wei Han,
  • Huan Chen,
  • Xiao-hui Zhang,
  • Lan-Ping Xu,
  • Kai-Yan Liu,
  • Xiao-Jun Huang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-016-0319-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Background Persons with acute leukemia relapsing after allotransplant and who respond to anti-leukemia interventions are at high risk of a second relapse. We studied the impact of minimal residual disease (MRD)- and graft-vs.-host disease (GvHD)-guided multiple consolidation chemotherapy and donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs) to prevent second relapse in patients with acute leukemia relapsing post-transplant and who achieved complete remission after induction chemotherapy and DLI. Methods Forty-seven subjects with acute leukemia relapsing after an allotransplant and who achieved complete remission after post-relapse induction chemotherapy and DLI were eligible. The use of consolidation chemotherapy and DLI was guided by the results of MRD testing and whether or not DLI caused acute and/or chronic GvHD. Outcomes were compared with those of 34 similar historical controls who did not receive consolidation chemotherapy and DLIs after induction chemotherapy and DLI. Results One-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR; 22 % 95 % confidence interval (10, 35 %) vs. 56 % (39, 73 %); P < 0.0001), leukemia-free survival (LFS; 71 % (57, 84 %) vs. 35 % (19, 51 %); P < 0.0001), and survival (78 % (66, 90 %) vs. 44 % (27, 61 %); P < 0.0001) was significantly better in subjects than controls. In multivariate analyses, no chronic GvHD after therapy (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.56 (1.09, 11.58); P = 0.035) and a positive MRD test after therapy (HR = 21.04 (4.44, 94.87); P < 0.0001) were associated with an increased CIR. Conclusion These data suggest MRD- and GvHD-guided multiple consolidation chemotherapy and DLIs reduce CIR and increase LFS and survival compared with controls in persons relapsing after allotransplant for acute leukemia. Trial registration ChiCTR-ONC-12002912. Donor lymphocyte infusion for the treatment of leukemia relapse following allogeneic hematopoeitic stem cell transplant.

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