Latin America: the next region for haematopoietic transplant progress

Haematopoietic cell transplant activity in the 28 countries comprising Latin America is poorly defined. We conducted a voluntary survey of members of the Latin American Bone Marrow Transplantation Group regarding transplant activity 2009–2012. Collated responses were compared with data of transplant rates from the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation for other geographic regions. Several socio-economic variables were analysed to determine correlations with transplant rates. In total, 94 teams from 12 countries reported 11519 transplants including 7033 autotransplants and 4486 allotransplants. Annual activity increased from 2517 transplants in 2009 to 3263 in 2012, a 30% increase. Median transplants rate (transplant per million inhabitants) in 2012 was 64 (autotransplants, median 40; allotransplants, median 24). This rate is substantially lower than that in North America and European regions (482 and 378) but higher than that in the Eastern Mediterranean and Asia Pacific regions (30 and 45). However, the Latin America transplant rate is 5–8-fold lower than that in America and Europe, suggesting a need to increase transplant availability. Transplant team density in Latin America (teams per million population; 1.8) is 3–4-fold lower than that in North America (6.2) or Europe (7.6). Within Latin America, there is substantial diversity in transplant rates by country partially explained by diverse socio-economic variables including per capita gross national income, health expenditure and physician density. These data should help inform future health-care policy in Latin America

The Latin American experience of allografting patients with severe aplastic anaemia: real-world data on the impact of stem cell source and ATG administration in HLA-identical sibling transplants

We studied 298 patients with severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) allografted in four Latin American countries. The source of cells was bone marrow (BM) in 94 patients and PBSCs in 204 patients. Engraftment failed in 8.1% of recipients with no difference between BM and PBSCs (P = 0.08). Incidence of acute GvHD (aGvHD) for BM and PBSCs was 30% vs 32% (P = 0.18), and for grades III–IV was 2.6% vs 11.6% (P = 0.01). Chronic GvHD (cGvHD) between BM and PBSCs was 37% vs 59% (P = 0.002) and extensive 5% vs 23.6% (P = 0.01). OS was 74% vs 76% for BM vs PBSCs (P = 0.95). Event-free survival was superior in patients conditioned with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG)-based regimens compared with other regimens (79% vs 61%, P = 0.001) as excessive secondary graft failure was seen with other regimens (10% vs 26%, P = 0.005) respectively. In multivariate analysis, aGvHD II–IV (hazard ratio (HR) 2.50, confidence interval (CI) 1.1–5.6, P = 0.02) and aGvHD III–IV (HR 8.3 CI 3.4–20.2, Po0.001) proved to be independent negative predictors of survival. In conclusion, BM as a source of cells and ATG-based regimens should be standard because of higher GvHD incidence with PBSCs, although the latter combining with ATG in the conditioning regimen could be an option in selected high-risk patient

Recomendaciones para el descarte de productos de CPH/linfocitos criopreservados: consenso del Grupo Argentino de Trasplante de Médula Ósea (GATMO)

The cryopreservation and storage of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is usually required in the autologous stem cells transplant setting and, in some cases, for allogenic products. The storage of these products has a validity defined by the storage characteristics, clinical utility and security conditions of the product. Here, we present recommendations elaborated by the Argentinian Group of Bone Marrow Transplantation (GATMO).El procedimiento de criopreservación y almacenamiento (CyA) de las células progenitoras hematopoyéticas (CPH) es requerido con frecuencia para la realización de un trasplante CPH autólogo y en algunas ocasiones se requiere la CyA de productos celulares alogénicos (CPH o linfocitos). El almacenamiento de estos productos celulares tiene una validez definida por el medio en el que se almacena, la utilidad clínica del producto y las condiciones de seguridad del producto que fue almacenado. Se presentan recomendaciones emitidas por el Grupo Argentino de Trasplante sobre el descarte de productos criopreservados y almacenados.

Temporal trends in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Argentina between 2009 and 2018: A collaborative study by GATMO-TC and INCUCAI

Special Article: Introduction: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only curative treatment for many disorders and international data shows a growing trend. Method: We aimed to evaluate the temporal trends in HSCT transplant rates in Argentina. A time-series analysis was performed for the period 2009 to 2018 using the national database from the National Central Coordinating Institute for Ablations and Implants. Crude and standardized transplant rates were calculated. A permutation joinpoint regression model analysis was used to identify significant changes over time. Results: Altogether, 8,474 transplants were reported to INCUCAI by 28 centers (autologous 67.5%); the main indication was multiple myeloma (30%). The WHO age-sex standardized HSCT rates for the entire country were 153.3 HSCT/10 million inhabitants (95% CI 141.7–165.8) in 2009 and 260.1 HSCT/10 million inhabitants (95% CI 245.5–275.5) in 2018. There was a large gap in HSCT rates among the states and regions. The transplant rate was higher for autologous transplants throughout the years. Within the allogeneic group, the related donor transplant rate was higher than the unrelated donor transplant rate. The joinpoint regression analysis of HSCT rates for the whole country over time showed an observed annual percentage change of 6.3% (95% CI 5.4-7.3; p < 0.01). No changes were observed for unrelated donors during the study period. Conclusions: Age-sex standardized HSCT rates in Argentina are increasing, mainly due to autologous and family donor allogeneic transplants. A wide variation across the country was found, demonstrating differences in the access to transplantation among Argentine regions

Transforming growth factor-β1 functional polymorphisms in myeloablative sibling hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with sibling donors (s.d.) is a life-saving intervention for patients with hematologicalmalignancies. Numerous genetic factors have a role in transplant outcome. Several functional polymorphisms have been identifiedin TGF-β1 gene, such as single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at +29C4T within exon 1. Two hundred and forty five patient/donorpairs who underwent a s.d. HSCT in our centers were genotyped for this SNP. In the myeloablative cohort, +29CC donors wereassociated with an increase in severe chronic GvHD (32% vs 16%, hazard ratio (HR) 9.0, P = 0.02). Regarding survival outcomes,+29CC patients developed higher non relapse mortality (NRM) (1?5 years CC 28?32% vs TC/TT 7?10%; HR 5.1, P = 0.01). Recipientsof +29TT donors experienced a higher relapse rate (1?5 years TT 37?51% vs TC 19?25% vs CC 13%?19%; HR 2.4, P = 0.01) witha decreased overall survival (OS) (1?5 years TT 69?50% vs TC/CC 77?69%; HR 1.9, P = 0.05). Similar to previous myeloablativeunrelated donors HSCT results, we confirmed that +29CC patients had higher NRM. In addition we found that +29TT donors mightbe associated with a higher relapse rate and lower OS. These results should be confirmed in larger series. Identification of theseSNPs will allow personalizing transplant conditioning and immunosuppressant regimens, as well as assisting in the choice of themost appropriate donor.Fil: Berro, Mariano. Universidad Austral; ArgentinaFil: Palau Nagore, Maria Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Rivas, M. M.. Universidad Austral; ArgentinaFil: Longo, P.. Universidad Austral; ArgentinaFil: Foncuberta, Cecilia. Instituto Alexander Fleming; ArgentinaFil: Vitriu, Adriana. Instituto Alexander Fleming; ArgentinaFil: Remaggi, Guillermina. Fundaleu; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Rolón, Juliana. Fundaleu; ArgentinaFil: Jaimovich, Gregorio. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Requejo, Alejandro. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Feldman, Leonardo. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Padros, Karín. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, María Beatriz. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Shaw, B. E.. Medical College Of Wisconsin; Estados UnidosFil: Larripa, Irene Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Belli, Carolina Bárbara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Kusminsky, Gustavo. Universidad Austral; Argentin

One and a half million hematopoietic stem cell transplants: continuous and differential improvement in worldwide access with the use of non-identical family donors

The Worldwide Network of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (WBMT) pursues the mission of promoting hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for instance by evaluating activities through member societies, national registries and individual centers. In 2016, 82,718 first HCT were reported by 1,662 HCT teams in 86 of the 195 World Health Organization member states representing a global increase of 6.2% in autologous HCT and 7.0% in allogeneic HCT and bringing the total to 1,298,897 procedures. Assuming a frequency of 84,000/year, 1.5 million HCT were performed by 2019 since 1957. Slightly more autologous (53.5%) than allogeneic and more related (53.6%) than unrelated HCT were reported. A remarkable increase was noted in haploidentical related HCT for leukemias and lymphoproliferative diseases, but even more in non-malignant diseases. Transplant rates (TR; HCT/10 million population) varied according to region reaching 560.8 in North America, 438.5 in Europe, 76.7 in Latin America, 53.6 in South East Asia/Western Pacific (SEA/WPR) and 27.8 in African/East Mediterranean (AFR/EMR). Interestingly, haploidentical TR amounted to 32% in SEA/WPR and 26% in Latin America, but only 14% in Europe and EMR and 4.9% in North America of all allogeneic HCT. HCT team density (teams/10 million population) was highest in Europe (7.7) followed by North America (6.0), SEA/WPR (1.9), Latin America (1.6) and AFR/EMR (0.4). HCT are increasing steadily worldwide with narrowing gaps between regions and greater increase in allogeneic compared to autologous activity. While related HCT is rising, largely due to increase in haploidentical HCT, unrelated HCT is plateauing and cord blood HCT is in decline