Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation Supported by Third-Party Donor Cells: Rationale, Results, and Applications

AbstractLow incidence of graft-versus-host disease provides the major rational for pursuing umbilical cord blood (UCB) stem cell transplantation (SCT). Considerable evidence also suggests a lower rate of recurrence after UCB SCT than after transplantation from adult donors. Recent advances in understanding of the human fetal immune development provide a rational underpinning for these clinical outcomes. The fetal immune system is geared toward maintaining tolerance to foreign antigens, particularly to the maternal antigens to which it is exposed throughout gestation. To this purpose it is dominated by a unique population of peripheral T regulatory cells that actively maintain tolerance. This and other features of the UCB lymphoid system explains the low incidence of graft-versus-host disease and superior outcomes of UCB SCT with noninherited maternal antigen–matched grafts. At the same time, highly sensitized maternal microchimeric cells are frequently detected in UCB and likely contribute to superior graft-versus-leukemia effects and low rates of disease recurrence in inherited paternal antigen–matched UCB recipients. However, historically erratic and slow hematopoietic recovery after UCB SCT leads to increased early morbidity and mortality, excessive hospitalization, and increased costs. This has held up the widespread utilization of UCB SCT in adults. Here we summarize recent data on UCB SCT with an emphasis on studies of co-infusion of adult CD34 selected hematopoietic stem cells with UCB SCT. This procedure, through transient engraftment of adult hematopoietic stem cells, largely overcomes the problem of delayed engraftment. It also results in predictable engraftment of a UCB with the desired characteristics. We also briefly discuss unresolved issues and possible future applications of this technology

NCI First International Workshop on the Biology, Prevention, and Treatment of Relapse after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Report from the Committee on Treatment of Relapse after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Relapse is a major cause of treatment failure after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT). Treatment options for relapse have been inadequate, and the majority of patients ultimately die of their disease. There is no standard approach to treating relapse after alloHSCT. Withdrawal of immune suppression and donor lymphocyte infusions are commonly used for all diseases; although these interventions are remarkably effective for relapsed chronic myelogenous leukemia, they have limited efficacy in other hematologic malignancies. Conventional and novel chemotherapy, monoclonal antibody therapy, targeted therapies, and second transplants have been utilized in a variety of relapsed diseases, but reports on these therapies are generally anecdotal and retrospective. As such, there is an immediate need for well-designed, disease-specific trials for treatment of relapse after alloHSCT. This report summarizes current treatment options under investigation for relapse after alloHSCT in a disease-specific manner. In addition, recommendations are provided for specific areas of research necessary in the treatment of relapse after alloHSCT

Tacrolimus does not abrogate the increased risk of acute graft-versus-host disease after unrelated-donor marrow transplantation with allelic mismatching at HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1

AbstractOne hundred patients of median age 34 years (range, 14-53) received bone marrow transplants from unrelated donors serologically matched for human leukocyte antigen HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DR using tacrolimus and minimethotrexate for prevention of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Sixty-eight patient-donor pairs had allelic matches at HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1, 20 pairs had a single mismatch at HLA-DRB1 or HLA-DQB1, and 12 were mismatched at both HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1. Minimum follow-up time was 6 months. Grades 2 to 4 GVHD occurred in 43% of patients with matched donors, 69% with single allele-mismatched donors, and 71% with double allele-mismatched donors; grades 3 to 4 GVHD occurred in 22%, 43%, and 64%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the relative risk of grades 2 to 4 GVHD was 2.2 (95% CI, 1.1-4.5; P = .03) with a single allele mismatch and 2.7 (95% CI, 1.2-6.0; P = .02) with a double allele mismatch. The relative risks of grades 3 to 4 GVHD were 3.0 (95% CI, 1.2-7.6; P = .02) and 5.0 (95% CI, 1.9-12.6; P = .001), respectively. Day 100 treatment-related mortality was also adversely affected by allelic mismatching, occurring in 21% of those with matched donors, 50% with single allele-mismatched donors, and 42% with double allele-mismatched donors (P = .02), but overall survival at day 180 did not differ significantly among the 3 groups. Tacrolimus does not abrogate the adverse impact of allele mismatching at HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 on the risk of moderate-to-severe acute GVHD.Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2000;6(2A):190-7

National Cancer Institute’s First International Workshop on the Biology, Prevention, and Treatment of Relapse after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Summary and Recommendations from the Organizing Committee

The National Cancer Institute’s First International Workshop on the Biology, Prevention, and Treatment of Relapse after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation was organized and convened to identify, prioritize, and coordinate future research activities related to relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Each of the Workshop’s 6 Working Committees has published individual reports of ongoing basic, translational, and clinical research and recommended areas for future research related to the areas of relapse biology, epidemiology, prevention, and treatment. This document summarizes each committee’s recommendations and suggests 3 major initiatives for a coordinated research effort to address the problem of relapse after allo-HSCT: (1) to establish multicenter correlative and clinical trial networks for basic/translational, epidemiologic, and clinical research; (2) to establish a network of biorepositories for the collection of samples before and after allo-HSCT to aid in laboratory and clinical studies; and (3) to further refine, implement, and study the Workshop-proposed definitions for disease-specific response and relapse and recommendations for monitoring of minimal residual disease. These recommendations, in coordination with ongoing research initiatives and transplantation organizations, provide a research framework to rapidly and efficiently address the significant problem of relapse after allo-HSCT

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer consensus statement on immunotherapy for the treatment of hematologic malignancies: multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and acute leukemia

Increasing knowledge concerning the biology of hematologic malignancies as well as the role of the immune system in the control of these diseases has led to the development and approval of immunotherapies that are resulting in impressive clinical responses. Therefore, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) convened a hematologic malignancy Cancer Immunotherapy Guidelines panel consisting of physicians, nurses, patient advocates, and patients to develop consensus recommendations for the clinical application of immunotherapy for patients with multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and acute leukemia. These recommendations were developed following the previously established process based on the Institute of Medicine’s clinical practice guidelines. In doing so, a systematic literature search was performed for high-impact studies from 2004 to 2014 and was supplemented with further literature as identified by the panel. The consensus panel met in December of 2014 with the goal to generate consensus recommendations for the clinical use of immunotherapy in patients with hematologic malignancies. During this meeting, consensus panel voting along with discussion were used to rate and review the strength of the supporting evidence from the literature search. These consensus recommendations focus on issues related to patient selection, toxicity management, clinical endpoints, and the sequencing or combination of therapies. Overall, immunotherapy is rapidly emerging as an effective therapeutic strategy for the management of hematologic malignances. Evidence-based consensus recommendations for its clinical application are provided and will be updated as the field evolves

Lenalidomide after Stem-Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma

Data are lacking on whether lenalidomide maintenance therapy prolongs the time to disease progression after autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma

Topping it up : methods to improve cord blood transplantation outcomes by increasing the number of CD34+cells

Cord blood is increasingly recognized for its excellent stem cell potential, lenient matching criteria, instant availability and clinical behavior in transplants when cell dose criteria can be met. However with 1-2 log fewer total (stem cell) numbers in the graft compared with other cell sources, the infused cell dose per kilogram is critical for engraftment and outcome, creating the need for development of stem cell support platforms. The co-transplant platforms of haplo cord and double unit cord blood (DUCB) transplantation are aimed toward increasing stem cell dose. Together with the optimization of reduced-intensity protocols, long-term sustained engraftment using cord blood has become available to most patients, including elderly patients. Haplo cord has a low incidence of both acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease but may require anti-thymocyte globulin ATG for effective neutrophil recovery. DUCB can be performed without anti-thymocyte globulin with excellent immune reconstitution and disease-free survival, but engraftment is considerably slower, and graft-versus-host disease incidence significant. Both haplo-cord and DUCB transplantation appear to both be valid alternatives to matched unrelated donors in adults