Recurrent extramedullary relapse of acute myelogenous leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a patient with the chromosomal abnormality t(8;21) and CD56-positivity

Isolated extramedullary (EM) relapse of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is rare. Predisposing factors include CD56 expression and the chromosomal abnormality t(8;21). We describe an AML patient showing the chromosomal abnormality t(8;21) and CD56 expression who experienced a unique EM relapse after allo-HSCT. Approximately 10 months after allo-HSCT, he experienced relapse involving the femur and lumbar vertebrae and, subsequently, an EM relapse of the stomach. Although we administered only local radiotherapy and not systemic chemotherapy, he showed no bone marrow relapse on long-term follow-up after achieving complete hematological remission. These findings suggest that the graft-versus-leukemia effect may preferentially maintain marrow remission rather than prevent EM relapse. In addition, our findings show that extended survival is possible after EM relapse following allo-HSCT in patients with marrow hematopoiesis of donor origin, and that augmentation of the graft-versus-leukemia effect may be useful.     

Repeated relapses of acute myelogenous leukemia in the isolated extramedullary sites following allogeneic bone marrow transplantations

Isolated extramedullary (EM) relapses of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) have been reported to be rare, and are usually followed by bone marrow relapses. We report a 49-year-old man with AML with the unfavorable chromosome abnormality 7q-, who was treated by allo-HSCT. Fifteen months after allo-HSCT, the patient initially developed a relapse only in his inguinal lymph nodes, and then bone marrow relapse became evident one month after the EM relapse. Subsequently, the patient received chemotherapy and a second allo-HSCT from another donor, but he suffered another relapse in different EM sites including the skin and central nervous system with a persistently normal marrow. This case is characterized by repeated relapses in isolated EM sites after allo-HSCT and suggests that the anti-leukemic effects of chemotherapy and/or graft-versus-leukemia effects in the EM sites might not be so uniformly effective as that in the marrow. Accordingly, we should be aware that AML relapses can occur repeatedly only in isolated EM sites post allo-HSCT, resulting in treatment failure and a poor prognosis.     

Incidence of extramedullary relapse after haploidentical SCT for advanced AML/myelodysplastic syndrome

Extramedullary (EM) relapse of leukemia after allo-SCT in patients with AML/myelodysplastic syndrome has been increasingly reported. The reduced effectiveness of the GVL effect in EM sites, as compared with BM, has been suggested to underlie this problem. We retrospectively analyzed the pattern of relapse after haploidentical SCT (haplo-SCT), performed as the first or second SCT. Among 38 patients who received haplo-SCT as their first SCT, the cumulative incidences of BM and EM relapse at 3 years were 40.5 and 10.9%, respectively. Among 19 patients who received haplo-SCT as their second SCT, the cumulative incidences of BM and EM relapse were 30.9 and 31.9%, respectively. Moreover, most of the patients who underwent repeat haplo-SCT for the treatment of EM relapse had further EM relapse at other sites. Post-relapse survival did not differ significantly with different patterns of relapse. The frequent occurrence of EM relapse after haplo-SCT, particularly when performed as a second SCT, suggests that the potent GVL effect elicited by an HLA disparity also occurs preferentially in BM. Our findings emphasize the need for a treatment strategy for EM relapse that recognizes the reduced susceptibility of EM relapse to the GVL effect.     

Early matched sibling hematopoietic cell transplantation for adult AML in first remission using an age-adapted strategy: long-term results of a prospective GOELAMS study

The LAM2001 phase 3 trial, involving 832 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML; median: 46 years) proposed HLA-identical sibling allograft HSCT for all patients with an identified donor. The trial compared reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) for patients older than 50 years of age (N = 47) and myeloablative conditioning for younger patients (N = 117). BM HSCT was performed in the younger patients, while the older ones received a consolidation course, followed by peripheral blood allo-HSCT using RIC. The incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD, was 51.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 42.1-61.8) and 11.3% (1.6-21.2) after myeloablative or RIC, respectively (P < .0001) and that of chronic GVHD 45.8% (95% CI: 34.8-56.7) and 41.7% (24.7-58.6; NS). Cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality at 108 months was 15.8% (95% CI: 9.8-23.2) for myeloablative, and 6.5% (0.2-16.2) for RIC (NS). CI of relapse at 108 months was 21.7% (95% CI: 13.9-28.6) and 28.6% (16.5-43.4; NS). Overall survival at 108 months was 63.4% (95% CI: 54.6-72.2) and 65.8% (52.2-72.2), respectively, after myeloablative or RIC (NS). RIC peripheral blood stem cell allo-HSCT is prospectively feasible for patients between the ages of 51 and 60 years without excess of relapse or nonrelapse mortality, and compares favorably with myeloablative marrow allo-HSCT proposed to younger patients.     

Extramedullary relapses after allogeneic non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma patients do not negatively affect treatment outcome

Recent literature suggests that after non-myeloablative allogeneic (NMA) stem cell transplantation (SCT), the incidence of extramedullary (EM) relapse in multiple myeloma (MM) patients is increased and that these relapses have a poor prognosis. However, numbers on incidence and treatment outcome are scarce. We collected data from 54 relapsed MM patients from a total group of 172 treated with sequential autologous and allogeneic NMA SCT at seven transplantation centres. There were 43 (79.6%) systemic relapses, including 6 with concurrent EM localisation. Five patients had a local EM relapse only. Six patients relapsed with only bone involvement. Patients with deletion of chromosome 13 had a higher incidence of EM relapse (30.8 versus 5.6%, P=0.06). EM relapses were treated with donor lymphocyte infusion, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, especially with novel agents. The response rate was 45.5%, which was not different when compared to patients without EM disease (54.1%). Overall survival and progression-free survival were not significantly different in patients with EM disease, when compared to those without EM disease. In conclusion, the incidence of relapse with EM disease following allogeneic NMA SCT was 20.4%. There was no negative impact of EM relapse on response rate, overall survival and progression-free survival.     

Studies of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who relapsed. Relationship of site of relapse, time and prognosis

One hundred and forty patients out of 511 children with ALL who were entered in the study of the Children's Cancer & Leukemia Study Group from 1981 through March 1988 had relapsed by August 1988. The sites of relapse were BM (including concurrent CNS relapse) in 96 cases (70%), CNS in 36 cases (25%), and testicles in 8 cases (5%). A second complete remission was induced in 57 of the 75 patients (76%) with ALL in the first BM relapse. The projected disease-free survival (DFS) for those in the second BM remission was 26.0% at 2 years and the length of the first remission was correlated with the outcome. In the patients in early marrow relapse within 12 months after diagnosis, the probability of maintaining a second remission at 2 years was 6.7% compared to 29.8% in those in intermediate marrow relapse. All patients in late relapse after more than 48 months from diagnosis are surviving with no evidence of disease. The outcome of the patients with isolated extra-marrow relapse was so favorable that the probability of maintaining a second remission for those in CNS relapse was 41.4% at 3 years, and 57.1% in patients in testicular relapse. These data suggest that 20-30% of patients relapsing after more than 12 months from diagnosis may be salvaged, but those who relapsed during active therapy within the first 12 months after diagnosis, other types of treatment should by considered.     

Second allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as treatment for leukemia relapsing following a first transplant

We report 27 patients with relapsed acute or chronic leukemia who underwent a second hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) from a related or unrelated donor. Seventeen patients were diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), six with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and four with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Ages ranged from 22 to 49 years (median 37); 13 patients were female and 14 male. Relapse was diagnosed between 1 and 45 months after the first HSCT. Sixteen patients who relapsed had received an autologous transplant initially and 11 an allogeneic transplant. Ten patients relapsed within 6 months and 17 patients later than 6 months. Chemotherapy was used as reinduction for relapse after HSCT in 16 patients who had received an autologous transplant and in three who had received an allogeneic transplant, since the latter did not respond to reduction of immunosuppression to induce a graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) reaction. Five of these 19 patients (26%) achieved complete remission (CR), seven patients did not respond to chemotherapy and seven achieved a partial remission (PR). The stem cell source for the second HSCT included bone marrow (n = 12) and PBSC (n = 4) from genotypically identical unrelated donors, PBSC (n = 7) and bone marrow (n = 3) from related donors. Currently eight of the 27 patients are alive and disease-free after the second HSCT. One patient is alive and disease-free after two allogeneic transplants (day +1538), eight patients, who relapsed after an autologous transplant followed by an allogeneic transplant (days +248 to +1140), acute myeloid leukaemia (n = 6) and chronic myeloid leukemia (n = 2) are alive and disease-free. The overall disease-free survival is 30% (8/27). The overall disease-free survival of autologous transplant patients subsequently undergoing an allogeneic transplant is 43% (P = 0.049). It is suggested that a second HSCT is possible for patients with leukemia relapse following the first autologous transplant. A second transplant might also be offered to patients relapsing after the first allogeneic HSCT. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 41-45.     

Serum cholinesterase is an early and sensitive marker of graft-versus host-disease (GVHD) and transplant-related mortality (TRM).

Serum cholinesterase (CHE) has been reported to be a significant indicator of liver function and prognosis in patients with cirrhosis. On the other hand, liver complications are frequent following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We therefore tested whether CHE was predictive of graft-versus-host disease and outcome in HSCT recipients. We studied 689 patients receiving a HSCT from an HLA-identical sibling (SIB) (n = 511), an alternative donor (n = 173) or a syngeneic twin (n = 5). Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was scored as 0-I, II, III-IV in 325 (47%), 279 (41%), and 85 patients (12%) respectively; 190 (28%) patients died of transplant-related complications (TRM). On day -7 the median CHE serum level was comparable in patients who either survived or died of TRM (5900 IU/l). On day 0, serum CHE levels were respectively 2310 and 2120 IU/l (P = NS) indicating the impact of the conditioning regimen. On day +7 after HSCT, the median level for surviving patients was 2598 IU/l vs 2309 IU/l for patients who subsequently died (P = 0.0002), on day +21 CHE levels were respectively 3348 vs 2528 IU/l (P < 0.00001), on day +50, 3575 vs 2358 IU/l (P < 0.00001) and on day +100 4193 vs 2729 IU/l (P < 0.00001). CHE levels on day +50 strongly correlated with aGVHD (3803 vs 3070 vs 1933 IU/l for patients with GVHD grade 0-I, II, and III-IV, respectively (P < 0.00001) and relapse (3569 for patients relapsing vs 3115 IU/l for patients not relapsing, P = 0.0006). In conclusion, (1) serum cholinesterase is a simple and reliable marker of acute GVHD and transplant-related complications; and (2) high CHE levels on day +50 predict relapse. If confirmed, the latter patients may be eligible for early reduction of immunosuppressive therapy.     

The influence of diagnostic bronchoscopy on clinical outcomes comparing adult autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplant patients

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To review our experience with diagnostic bronchoscopy in the evaluation of pulmonary infiltrates in adult hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients in the era of Pneumocystis prophylaxis and cytomegalovirus antigen testing. The study focused on diagnostic yields and the influence of bronchoscopic findings on pharmacologic therapy and mortality, comparing allogeneic (allo) HSCT patients to autologous (auto) HSCT patients. DESIGN: Case series review. SETTING: Tertiary care academic urban medical centers. PATIENTS: All adult allo-HSCT and auto-HSCT patients undergoing bronchoscopy for the evaluation of pulmonary infiltrates from January 1997 to September 2001. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The review identified 169 bronchoscopies that had been performed on HSCT patients, representing 12.5% of all HSCT patients (allo-HSCT patients, 125 bronchoscopies; auto-HSCT patients, 44 bronchoscopies). Bronchoscopy was requested more often in allo-HSCT patients (18.7%) compared to auto-HSCT patients (6.6%). Findings at bronchoscopy provided a specific diagnosis more frequently in allo-HSCT patients (50%) compared to auto-HSCT patients (34%). For both allo-HSCT and auto-HSCT patients, most diagnoses were obtained by BAL alone, whereas transbronchial biopsy (TBBx) provided additional specific information in < 10% of cases. For select patients (n = 27), surgical lung biopsy following bronchoscopy provided unique diagnoses in 47 to 50% of cases. Information from bronchoscopy influenced clinical decisions more often in allo-HSCT patients (50%) than in auto-HSCT patients (36%), and allowed for the discontinuation or addition of antimicrobial, corticosteroid, or antineoplastic agents to treatment. Complications from bronchoscopy occurred in 9% of all HSCT patients (n = 15), and were associated with higher in-hospital mortality rates in allo-HSCT patients (82%; n = 9) compared to auto-HSCT patients (50%; n = 2). The overall in-hospital mortality rates for allo-HSCT and auto-HSCT patients having bronchoscopy was similar (38% vs 27%, respectively; p = 0.25), and establishing a specific diagnosis by bronchoscopy did not improve the in-hospital mortality rate for allo-HSCT or auto-HSCT patients. CONCLUSIONS: Bronchoscopy may provide clinically useful information in the evaluation of adult allo-HSCT and auto-HSCT recipients with pulmonary infiltrates. The results of testing BAL fluid samples alone suggested an etiology in most cases, whereas the findings of TBBx provided unique diagnoses infrequently. Further studies are warranted to improve the utility of diagnostic bronchoscopy in the evaluation of HSCT patients.     

Expanded donor natural killer cell and IL-2, IL-15 treatment efficacy in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), leukemia relapse, and immune deficiency remain the major limitations of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Donor natural killer cells (NK) and cytokines have good potential in GVHD prevention and immune reconstitution enhancement. Improved survival after allo-HSCT therefore requires effective prophylaxis to reduce GVHD and strategy to mediate graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. We studied the administration of expanded donor NK cell infusion and interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-15 mixture treatment in a murine allo-HSCT model for its effects on GVHD, immune reconstitution and leukemia relapse. In the GVHD model, recipient mice were reconstituted with bone marrow (BM) cells and splenocytes via vein. In the leukemia model, recipient mice were inoculated with EL9611 leukemia cells via vein 8 d prior to transplant. NK cell infusion mice group had lower clinical GVHD scores and suffered less severe GVHD-associated weight loss than control mice group. 90% of control mice died of leukemia relapse within 52 d post-transplant. NK cell infusion and IL-2 and IL-15 treatment recipient mice had improved survival compared with control mice. NK cell infusion and IL-2 and IL-15 treatment recipient mice had also accelerated lymphoid immune reconstitution compared with control mice group. Expanded donor NK cell infusion and IL-2 and IL-15 treatment could promote lymphoid immune reconstitution, mitigate GVHD, and reduce leukemia relapse in allo-HSCT recipients. The findings may have important significance for complication prevention in clinical allo-HSCT.     

Children with hyperdiploid but not triple trisomy (+4,+10,+17) acute lymphoblastic leukemia have an increased incidence of extramedullary relapse on current therapies: a single institution experience

To evaluate the outcome of children with high hyperdiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia (hHDALL) treated at the author's institution. One hundred thirty-five consecutive children with B-precursor ALL were diagnosed between 1991 and 2002: 38 (28.1%) hHDALL and 97 (71.9%) non-hHDALL. In the hHDALL group, 11/38 (28.9%) relapsed at a median interval of 2.8 years (range: 0.8-5.0 years) with 9/11 relapses occurring at the end or after the completion of therapy. Three (27.3%) relapses were isolated hematopoietic (BM), while eight (72.7%) were either isolated extramedullary (EM) relapses (n=6; Testis: 4; CNS: 2) or combined hematopoietic and extramedullary relapses (n=2; BM + CNS: 1; BM + Testis: 1). For the non-hHDALL group, 29/97 (29.9%) relapsed. Unlike the hHDALL group, the non-hHDALL group experienced hematopoietic relapses (62%; n=18) more frequently than isolated extramedullary (27.5%; n=8: Testis: 1; CNS: 7) or combined hematopoietic and extramedullary relapses (10.3%; CNS + BM: 3), with 24/29 (82.8%) of the relapses occurring on therapy. Relapses in hHDALL frequently involved EM sites (P=0.053). Presence of triple trisomy of +4,+10,+17 at diagnosis had a protective effect against relapse (P<0.05). Five-year EFS for the hHDALL and non-hHDALL patients was similar, 70.5+/-7.5% and 66.4+/-4.9%, respectively. Five-year OS for the hHDALL patients was significantly higher than for the non-hHDALL patients, 92+/-4.5% vs. 74.1+/-4.5%, P=0.038. Biologically significant differences exist between relapse patterns of hHDALL and non-hHDALL cases related to relapse sites and time periods when relapses occur. hHDALL relapses continue to be chemo-sensitive.     

The prognostic significance of polyclonal bone marrow plasma cells in patients with relapsing multiple myeloma

Prior studies have revealed that the presence of increasing number of polyclonal plasma cells (pPCs) in the bone marrow (BM) are associated with better outcomes in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients. This effect has not been studied in patients with MM at the time of disease relapse. We determined the prognostic value of depletion of pPCs in the BM by 7‐color multiparameter flow cytometry in a series of 174 relapsing MM patients. The time to next therapy (TTNT) in those with <5% pPCs was 9.4 months versus 13.9 months in those with ≥5% pPCs (P = .0091). The median overall survival (OS) in those with <5% pPCs was 21.4 months, while the median OS was not reached in those patients with ≥5% pPCs (P = .019). Of the 109 patients with standard risk cytogenetics, the median OS of those with <5% pPCs was 28.4 months, while the median OS was not reached in those with ≥5% pPCs (P = .033). As such, <5% pPCs in the BM appears to have prognostic utility in identifying a subset of relapsing MM patients, even with standard‐risk cytogenetics, who have a particularly adverse outcome.     

(90)Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan followed by reduced-intensity conditioning and allo-SCT in patients with advanced follicular lymphoma

Reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) is a potentially curative therapeutic option for patients with advanced follicular lymphoma (FL), but disease relapse remains the most common cause of failure. Radioimmunoconjugates administered before RIC allo-HSCT may enhance cytoreduction and allow more time for GVL effect to develop without the associated toxicity of a myeloablative HSCT. We performed a retrospective study to describe the outcomes of patients with relapsed, refractory or transformed FL who received yttrium-90 ((90)Y)-ibritumomab tiuxetan followed by fludarabine and low-dose BU RIC allogeneic HSCT at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute between 2006 and 2009, inclusively. Twelve patients were identified with a median age of 55 (40-66) years and a median number of lines of therapy of 5 (2-10). Two patients (17%) had transformed to a more aggressive histology and five (42%) had chemorefractory FL. Cumulative incidences of grade II-IV acute GVHD at 100 days were 17% (±11%) and chronic GVHD at 12 months were 63% (±19%). Two-year non-relapse mortality was 18% (±12%). Two-year OS and PFS were 83% (±11%) and 74% (±13%), respectively. This treatment is associated with favorable outcomes including acceptable rates of GVHD and relapse in advanced FL patients, and warrants prospective studies.     

Polymerase chain reaction-based detection of minimal residual disease in multiple myeloma patients receiving allogeneic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recent advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) include use of high-dose chemoradiotherapy followed by allografting. Although allografting with bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) seems to improve clinical outcome and lengthen survival, only about 50% of patients reach stringently defined complete remission (CR), and most subsequently relapse. We assessed the clinical relevance of minimal residual disease (MRD) in 14 MM patients in CR after allografting with PBSC (6 patients) or BM (8 patients). DESIGN AND METHODS: Among the 30 out of 72 MM patients in our Institute who achieved CR after allografting, 14 had a molecular marker suitable for allo-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.Stringent molecular monitoring was done using clonal markers based upon rearranged immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes. Molecular remission (MCR) was defined as two consecutive negative PCR results. RESULTS: Seven of 14 (50%) molecularly monitored patients, achieved MCR and did not relapse after a median molecular follow-up of 60 months (range 36-120). Median time to obtain first PCR negativity was 12 (BM group) and 6 months (PBSC group), respectively. Of the seven patients (50%) who never achieved MCR, one relapsed. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, 50% of the MM patients in CR studied by us also achieved stringently-defined MCR. MCR was associated with a very low rate of clinical relapse.     

Reduced intensity thiotepa-cyclophosphamide conditioning for allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) in patients up to 60 years of age

Transplant-related mortality (TRM) remains a major problem in older patients undergoing allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs). We have therefore explored a less intensive conditioning in 33 patients with a median age of 52 years (range 43-60) transplanted from human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-identical siblings. The underlying disease was chronic myeloid leukaemia (n = 15), acute myeloid leukaemia (n = 6), myelodysplasia (n = 7) or a chronic lymphoproliferative disorder (n = 5); 15 patients (45%) had advanced disease. The regimen consisted of thiotepa (THIO; 10 mg/kg) on day -5 and cyclophosphamide (CY; 50 mg/kg) on days -3 and -2 (total dose 100 mg/kg). The source was bone marrow (BM) (n = 17) or granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized peripheral blood (PB) (n = 16), which were infused without manipulation. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporin A (CyA) and a short course of methotrexate. Mean time to achieve a neutrophil count of 0.5 x 109/l was 17 d (range 11-23) and full donor chimaerism was detected in 79% of patients by day 100. Acute GVHD grade III or IV occurred in 3% of patients. Chronic GVHD was seen in 45% of patients, with a significant difference for PB (69%) compared with BM transplants (23%) (P = 0.009). For BM grafts, the actuarial 2-year TRM was 6%, the relapse 56% and survival 87%; for PB grafts, these figures were, respectively, 27%, 33% and 68%. Twenty-five patients are alive at a median follow-up of 762 d (range 216-1615) and 20 patients (60%) remain free of disease. Thirteen patients (39%) received donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) either for persisting or relapsing disease and six patients had complete remission. In conclusion: (i) patients up to the age of 60 years can be allografted with reduced intensity conditioning; (ii) the procedure was associated with a low transplant-related mortality, particularly for bone marrow grafts, because of a lower risk of chronic GVHD; and (iii) DLI were required after transplant in half the patients for persisting disease or relapse.     

Donor lymphocyte infusions for multiple myeloma: clinical results and novel perspectives

Donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs) provide effective therapy for patients with various hematological malignancies who have relapsed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In patients with multiple myeloma (MM), DLIs can induce response rates of 40-52%. DLIs were employed as treatment for MM relapse or as prophylaxis for relapse in MM patients undergoing allo-HSCT. The clinically most relevant treatment-related morbidity with DLIs is the occurrence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Secondly, graft failure and the immune escape of extramedullary plasmocytoma have been reported. The fact that previous clinical reports have documented graft-versus-myeloma (GVM) activity without GVHD suggests that at least two distinct immunocompetent cell populations mediating GVHD and/or GVM may exist. Further characterization of the effector cells such as T cells and/or NK cells and their targets may help to clarify the immune response that mediates the GVM effect. This review considers the results of clinical approaches with DLI for MM, with emphasis on strategies to prevent GVHD while preserving the GVM effect. Furthermore, currently investigated molecular antigenic targets for the GVM effect such as MM-specific idiotypic determinant of immunoglobulin variable regions, several PRAME epitopes and antigenic structures encoded by cancer germline-specific genes as candidates for immunotherapy trials are discussed.     

A pilot study of low-dose recombinant interleukin-2 for acute lymphoblastic malignancy after unmanipulated allogeneic blood and marrow transplantation

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of low-dose recombinant interleukin-2(IL-2) administered to patients with acute lymphoblastic malignancy at high-risk of relapse after unmanipulated HLA-identical or HLA-haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). We studied 19 patients with acute lymphoblastic malignancy who underwent IL-2 treatment for a high probability of disease recurrence after allo-HSCT between July 2004 and June 2006 at Peking University Institute of Hematology. With a median follow-up of 6 months (range, 3-19 months) after the first IL-2 therapy, 14 of 15 evaluable patients in our cohort were disease-free (93.33%), whereas one patient in 'high risk' pretransplantation category relapsed. Toxicities from IL-2 were mainly fever, pain, redness and swelling at the injection site. Four patients left the study because of hyperpyrexia. Local and reversible chronic GVHD was observed in 6 of 15 patients (40%). Similar cGVHD occurrences were observed between the two groups of patients undergoing HLA-identical HSCT (three of seven patients) and HLA-haploidentical HSCT (two of six patients), respectively. In conclusion, low-dose IL-2 subcutaneous administration from 100 days for a prolonged period could be a safe and effective strategy to prevent relapse in acute lymphoblastic malignancy patients with high risk of recurrence after unmanipulated allo-HSCT.     

血液系统恶性疾病异基因造血干细胞移植后WT1基因动态检测的意义

目的 初步探索在各类血液系统恶性疾病异基因造血干细胞移植(allo-HSCT)后,动态检测WT1基因表达水平对监测微小残留病(MRD)及预测临床复发的意义.方法 采用实时定量(RQ)-RT-PCR技术动态检测31例allo-HSCT后患者的WT1基因表达(共计102份骨髓标本),测定其WT1 mRNA及内参基因ABL mRNA拷贝数.结果 复发组和未复发组WT1基因中位表达水平分别为0.80%、0.17%,两者间差异有统计学意义(P<0.01).动态检测复发组WT1基因表达,显示WT1基因表达在临床复发前或伴随临床复发时可有明显的升高(均>1.0%),复发时WT1基因表达水平较复发前一次明显升高(P<0.05).结论 应用RQ-RT-PCR技术动态检测WT1基因表达,可能是移植后监测MRD及预测复发的一种有希望的手段.     

The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 agonist tert-butylhydroquinone improves bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell function in prolonged isolated thrombocytopenia after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Prolonged isolated thrombocytopenia (PT) is a life-threatening comorbidity associated with allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Our previous study indicated that dysfunctional bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM MSCs) played a role in PT pathogenesis and that reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation was related to BM MSC senescence and apoptosis. However, the mechanism of the increase in ROS levels in the BM MSCs of PT patients is unknown. In the current case-control study, we investigated whether nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), which is a central regulator of the cellular anti-oxidant response that can clear ROS in human BM MSCs, was associated with PT after allo-HSCT. We evaluated whether an NRF2 agonist (tert-butylhydroquinone, TBHQ) could enhance BM MSCs from PT patients in vitro. We found that BM MSCs from PT patients exhibited increased ROS levels and reduced NRF2 expression. Multivariate analysis showed that low NRF2 expression was an independent risk factor for primary PT [p = 0.032, Odds ratio (OR) 0.868, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.764–0.988]. In-vitro treatment with TBHQ improved the quantity and function of BM MSCs from PT patients by downregulating ROS levels and rescued the impaired BM MSC support of megakaryocytopoiesis. In conclusion, these results suggested that NRF2 downregulation in human BM MSCs might be involved in the pathogenesis of PT after allo-HSCT and that BM MSC impairment could be improved by NRF2 agonist in vitro. Although further validation is needed, our data indicate that NRF2 agonists might be a potential therapeutic approach for PT patients after allo-HSCT.