Quality-adjusted time without symptoms or toxicity analysis of haploidentical-related donor vs.identical sibling donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia

Objective:We aimed to compare the quality-adjusted time without symptoms or toxicity(Q-TWiST)in acute myeloid leukemia(AML)patients who received haploidentical-related donor(HID)and identical sibling donor(ISD)hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT).Methods:Five clinical health states were defined:toxicity(TOX),acute graft-versus-host disease(GVHD),chronic GVHD(cGVHD),time without symptoms and toxicity(TWiST)and relapse(REL).The equation used in this study was as follows:Q-TWiST=UTOX×TOX+UTWiST×TWiST+UREL×REL+UaGVHD×aGVHD+UcGVHD×cGVHD.Results:A total of 239 AML patients were enrolled.We established a mathematical model,i.e.,Q-TWiST HID HSCT>Q-TWiST ISD HSCT,to explore the range of utility coefficients satisfying the inequality.Based on the raw data,the utility coefficient is equivalent to the following inequality:10.57067UTOX-46.27733UREL+105.9374+3.388078UaGVHD-210.8198UcGVHD>0.The model showed that when UTOX,UREL,and UaGVHD were within the range of 0-1,as well as when UcGVHD was within the range of 0-0.569,the inequality Q-TWiST HID HSCT>Q-TWiST ISD HSCT was valid.According to the results of the ChiCTR1800016972 study,the median coefficients of TOX,acute GVHD(aGVHD),and cGVHD were 0.56(0.41-0.76),0.56(0.47-0.72),and 0.54(0.37-0.79),respectively.We selected a series of specific examples of the coefficients,i.e.,UTOX=0.5,UREL=0.05,UaGVHD-0.5,and UcGVHD-0.5.The Q-TWiST values of ISD and HID HSCT were 896 and 900 d,respectively(P=0.470).Conclusions:We first observed that Q-TWiST was comparable between AML patients receiving HID HSCT and those receiving ISD HSCT.

Treatment patterns and a prognostic scoring system for elderly acute myeloid leukemia patients:a retrospective multicenter cohort study in China

Objective:Acute myeloid leukemia(AML)is primarily a malignant disorder affecting the elderly.We aimed to compare the outcomes of different treatment patterns in elderly AML patients and to propose a prognostic scoring system that could predict survival and aid therapeutic decisions.Methods:Patients aged≥60 years who had been diagnosed with AML at 7 hospitals in China were enrolled(n=228).Treatment patterns included standard chemotherapy,low intensity therapy,and best supportive care(BSC).Results:The early mortality rates were 31%,6.8%,and 6.3%for the BSC,low intensity therapy,and standard chemotherapy groups,respectively.The complete remission rate of the standard chemotherapy group was higher than that of the low intensity therapy group.The median overall survival(OS)was 561 days and 222 days for the standard chemotherapy and low intensity therapy groups,respectively,and were both longer than that of the BSC group(86 days).Based on multivariate analyses,we defined a prognostic scoring system that enabled classification of patients into 3 risk groups,in an attempt to predict the OS of patients receiving chemotherapies and low intensity therapies.Low and intermediate risk patients benefited more from standard chemotherapies than from low intensity therapies.However,the median OS was comparable between standard chemotherapies and low intensity therapies in high risk patients.Conclusions:Our prognostic scoring system could predict survival and help select appropriate therapies for elderly AML patients.Standard chemotherapy is important for elderly AML patients,particularly for those categorized into low and intermediate risk groups.

Arsenic trioxide alleviates acute graft-versus-host disease by modulating macrophage polarization

This study aimed to explore macrophage polarization in acute graft-versus-host disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and investigated if arsenic trioxide(ATO) could correct this imbalance. In the colon of GVHD mice, we found that the number of F4/80+iNOS+ cells as well as the expression intensity of TNF-α and IL-1β was greater in the GVHD group than in the BM group, whereas the number of F4/80+CD206+ cells and the expression intensity of IL-10 and TGF-β was greater in the BM group than in the GVHD group. We investigated the effect of ATO on GVHD mice, and found that ATO treatment clearly improved the survival of the mice and reduced the severity of GVHD. In addition, ATO reduced the number of F4/80+iNOS+ cells, and increased the number of F4/80+CD206+ cells in the colon of GVHD mice. Furthermore, ATO sharply decreased CD86 and CD80 expression, and increased CD163 and CD206 expression in macrophages induced from aGVHD patients. Therefore,ATO can modulate the M1 and M2 phenotype in GVHD mice or in macrophages from aGVHD patients. Our data suggest that macrophage polarization is involved in the pathogenesis of aGVHD, and ATO treatment modulates macrophage polarization toward an M2 phenotype.

Risk factors for chronic graft-versus-host disease after anti-thymocyte globulin-based haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia

Chronic graft-versus-host disease(cGVHD)is a major complication following unmanipulated haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(haplo-HSCT).We aimed to identify the risk factors for cGVHD in patients who underwent anti-thymocyte globulin-based haplo-HSCT for acute myeloid leukemia(n=280).The diagnosis of cGVHD was in accordance with the National Institutes of Health consensus criteria.A total of 169 patients suffered from cGVHD.The patients who had 3 loci mismatched had a higher 8-year incidence of cGVHD(total,66.0%vs.53.7%,P=0.031;moderate to severe,42.4%vs.30.1%,P=0.036)than the patients who had 1 to 2 loci mismatched.The patients who had maternal donors had a higher 8-year incidence of moderate to severe cGVHD(49.2%vs.32.9%,P=0.024)compared with the patients who had other donors.The patients who had grades III to IV acute GVHD(aGVHD)had higher 8-year incidence of cGVHD(total,88.0%vs.50.4%,P<0.001;moderate to severe,68.0%vs.27.0%,P<0.001)compared with the patients without aGVHD.In multivariate analysis,grades III to IV aGVHD was the only independent risk factor for cGVHD.Thus,further interventions should be considered in patients with severe aGVHD to prevent cGVHD.

Treatment options for adult intermediate-risk AML patients in CR1:Allo-HSCT or chemotherapy?

Acutemyeloid leukemia(AML),which is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults,is a heterogeneous,clonal hematopoietic disorder characterized by the accumulation of immature myeloid progenitors.This heterogeneity is especially obvious in the“intermediate-risk group”as defined by international criteria such as those of the European LeukemiaNet,Medical Research Council(MRC),and National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Single-cell immune landscape of measurable residual disease in acute myeloid leukemia

Measurable residual disease(MRD)is a powerful prognostic factor of relapse in acute myeloid leukemia(AML).We applied the single-cell RNA sequencing to bone marrow(BM)samples from patients with(n=20)and without(n=12)MRD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.A comprehensive immune landscape with 184,231 cells was created.Compared with CD8+T cells enriched in the MRDnegative group(MRD‒_CD8),those enriched in the MRD-positive group(MRD+_CD8)showed lower expression levels of cytotoxicity-related genes.Three monocyte clusters(i.e.,MRD+_M)and three B-cell clusters(i.e.,MRD+_B)were enriched in the MRD-positive group.Conversion from an MRD-positive state to an MRD-negative state was accompanied by an increase in MRD‒_CD8 clusters and vice versa.MRDenriched cell clusters employed the macrophage migration inhibitory factor pathway to regulate MRD‒_CD8 clusters.These findings revealed the characteristics of the immune cell landscape in MRD positivity,which will allow for a better understanding of the immune mechanisms for MRD conversion.

Comparison of clinical features of nephrotic syndrome after haploidentical and matched donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

To the Editor:Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT)is one of the most effective options for hematological diseases.However,allo-HSCT treatment can cause serious complications.Post-transplant kidney damage is an important complication.In this study,we retrospectively analyzed the frequency of nephrotic syndrome(NS)after allo-HSCT and compared the frequency and clinical characteristics of NS between haploidentical donor(HID)and matched donor(MD)HSCT(including matched sibling donors[MSD]and unrelated donors[URD]).

Insights from TARGET-seq:Inflammation drives TP53-mediated clonal evolution

Approximately 10%–20%myeloproliferative neoplasms(MPNs)can progress into blast-phase MPNs,also termed secondary acute myeloid leukemias(sAMLs),presenting dismal prognoses.sAML exhibits a distinctive clinical and pathological profile compared to de novo AML,marked by a higher incidence of erythroid leukemias and reduced responsive to conventional chemotherapies,resulting in a median survival of approximately 6 months.TP53 alterations are prevalent adverse events in leukemic transformation(LT),occurring in around one-third of sAML subjects.

异基因造血干细胞移植后腺病毒感染的临床特征分析

目的分析异基因造血干细胞移植(allo-HSCT)后人腺病毒(HAdV)感染患者的临床特征及预后。方法回顾性病例系列研究。收集2015年8月至2019年10月在北京大学人民医院血液科接受allo-HSCT后出现疑似感染症状但感染病原不明的2728例患者标本,采用荧光定量PCR法检测HAdV DNA,HAdV DNA检测阳性视为HAdV感染。分析HAdV感染患者临床表现,并根据患者年龄、移植类型、移植年份、随访时间采用巢式病例配对按1∶3匹配了未发生HAdV感染的患者作为对照组,采用Kaplan-Meier法分析并进行Log-rank检验,比较HAdV感染组和对照组的临床预后。结果共检测7119份标本,其中36例患者99例次HAdV DNA阳性。36例HAdV感染患者中22例发生HAdV血症;24例除HAdV感染外合并1种或多种其他病毒感染;19例(53%)有发热,25例(69%)有消化道症状,11例(31%)有呼吸道症状,9例(25%)有肝功能异常,6例(17%)有神经系统症状;23例同时发生2度及以上急性移植物抗宿主病;9例患者接受西多福韦抗病毒治疗,其中7例HAdV转阴,2例治疗无效。所有患者随访时间[M(Q_(1),Q_(3))]为496(216,940)d,Kaplan-Meier分析显示HAdV感染组5年总体生存率低于对照组(48.4%±9.2%比91.3%±3.5%;χ^(2)=65.03,P<0.001),移植后5年的非复发死亡率高于对照组(40.8%±8.8%比4.0%±2.0%;χ^(2)=34.17,P<0.001)。结论allo-HSCT后HAdV感染者以消化道、呼吸道症状为主,合并2度以上急性移植物抗宿主病的风险增加,HAdV感染患者总体生存差,非复发死亡率高。

Interferon-α salvage treatment is effective for patients with acute leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome with unsatisfactory response to minimal residual disease-directed donor lymphocyte infusion after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The efficacy of salvage interferon-α(IFN-α) treatment was investigated in patients with unsatisfactory response to minimal residual disease (MRD)-directed donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI)(n=24). Patients who did not become MRD-negative at 1 month after DLI were those with unsatisfactory response and were eligible to receive salvage IFN-α treatment within 3 months of DLI. Recombinant human IFN-α-2b injections were subcutaneously administered 2–3 times a week for 6 months. Nine (37.5%), 6 (25.0%), and 3 (12.5%) patients became MRD-negative at 1, 2, and>2 months after the salvage IFN-α treatment, respectively. Two-year cumulative incidences of relapse and non-relapse mortality were 35.9% and 8.3%, respectively. Two-year probabilities of event-free survival, disease-free survival, and overall survival were 51.6%, 54.3%, and 68.0%, respectively. Outcomes of patients subjected to salvage IFN-α treatment after DLI were significantly better than those with persistent MRD without IFN-α treatment. Moreover, clinical outcomes were comparable between the salvage DLI and IFN-α treatment groups. Thus, salvage IFN-α treatment may help improve the outcome of patients with unsatisfactory responses to MRD-directed DLI and could be a potential salvage treatment for these patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Minimal residual disease-directed immunotherapy for high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The efficacy of minimal residual disease (MRD)-directed immunotherapy,including interferon-α (IFN-α) treatment and chemotherapy plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-primed donor leukocyte infusion (chemo-DLI),was investigated in patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who were MRD-positive after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).High-risk MDS patients who received non-T-cell-depleted allo-HSCT at the Peking University Institute of Hematology and were MRD-positive after ailo-HSCT were studied (n =47).The MRD-positive status was considered if leukemia-associated aberrant immune phenotypes or Wilms' tumor gene 1 expression is present in a single bone marrow sample.The cumulative incidence of the relapse and non-relapse mortality 2 years after immunotherapy were 14.5% and 21.4% (P=0.377)and 9.1% and 0.0% (P=0.985) for patients in the IFN-α and chemo-DLI groups,respectively.The probability of disease-free and overall survival 2 years after immunotherapy were 76.4% and 78.6% (P =0.891) and 84.3% and 84.6% (P=0.972) for patients in the IFN-α and chemo-DLI groups,respectively.Persistent MRD after immunotherapy was associated with poor survival.Thus,the MRD-directed immunotherapy was effective for patients with high-risk MDS who were MRD-positive after alIo-HSCT,and the efficacy was comparable between chemo-DLI and IFN-α treatment.

Development of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 2022:Regenerating“Groot”to heal the world

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT),the pioneer and mainstream form of cellular therapy,represents the only curative or preferred treatment for various malignant and nonmalignant disorders or facilitates organ transplantation by reconstituting the new blood and immune system of a patient with donor’s regenerative HSCs,similar to the comics character“Groot,”who has an incredible regeneration ability.The annual cases of allo-HSCT in China's Mainland increased from 10042 in 2020 to 12744 in 2021,suggesting that the negative impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic might be eliminated,while Europe and North American registries reported 18796 and 8326 cases in 2020,respectively.1 In addition,cutting-edge progress in other cellular therapies,including chimeric antigen receptor T(CAR-T)cells,mesenchymal stromal cells,and specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte(CTL)cells,promotes the combination of allo-HSCT with these therapies to compose the new chapter“Strong Together,Guardians of Life”to save more patients worldwide.

Novel microfluidic device for measurable residual disease detection in acute leukemia

Relapse is the most important cause of treatment failure in acute leukemia(AL).Thus,how to predict relapse is critical for improving the survival of patients with AL.Measurable residual diseases(MRDs;previously termed minimal resid-ual diseases),refering to the presence of remaining leukemia cells after the declaration of complete remission(CF)detected by morphological analysis,is the most important biomarker forrelapseprediction.'Several methods,including multiparameter flow cytometry(MFC),real-time quantitative polymerase dhain reaction(qPCR),digital PCR(dPCR),and next-generation sequencing(NGS),are used to monitor MRD after treatment,reaching a sensitvityof 10^(-4)to 10^(-6).

Improved outcomes in E2A::HLF positive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia by chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy and BCL-2 inhibitor

To the Editor:The fusion gene E2A::HLF(TCF3::HLF)is formed by t(17;19)(q21-22;p13),which presents in<1%of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia(B-ALL)and mainly occurs in older children and adolescents.[1]Such patients were often accompanied by drug resistance and early relapse,which confer an extremely poor prognosis,and even intensive chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)cannot improve their survival.[2]A few studies suggested that chimeric antigen receptor T(CAR-T)cell therapy or BCL-2 inhibitors might benefit such patients.

Positive stool culture could predict the clinical outcomes of haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

We aimed to identify the effect of positive stool cultures (PSCs) on the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT)(n = 332). PSCs were observed in 61 patients (PSC group, 18.4%). Enterobacteriaceae in stool specimens was associated with a higher risk of bloodstream infection, and Candida in stool specimens was related to a higher risk of platelet engraftment failure. The cumulative incidence of infection-related mortality 1 year after haplo-HSCT in the PSC group was higher than that of the patients who showed persistently negative stool cultures (NSC group;19.2% vs. 8.9%, P = 0.017). The probabilities of overall survival (71.4% vs. 83.8%, P = 0.031) and disease-free survival (69.6% vs. 81.0%, P = 0.048) 1 year after haplo-HSCT for the PSC group were significantly lower than those for the NSC group, particularly for patients who had Candida in their stool specimens. In multivariate analysis, Candida in stool specimens significantly increased the risk of mortality and was associated with poorer survival. Our results showed that PSC influenced the clinical outcomes after haplo-HSCT, particularly those who had Candida in their stool specimens .

Risk stratification system for skin and soft tissue infections after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation:PAH risk score

Skin and soft tissue infections(SSTIs)refer to infections involving the skin,subcutaneous tissue,fascia,and muscle.In transplant populations with hematological malignancies,an immunocompromised status and the routine use of immunosuppressants increase the risk of SSTIs greatly.However,to date,the profiles and clinical outcomes of SSTIs in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)patients remain unclear.This study included 228 patients(3.67%)who developed SSTIs within 180 days after allogeneic HSCT from January 2004 to December 2019 in Peking University People’s Hospital.The overall annual survival rate was 71.5%.We compared the differences between survivors and non-survivors a year after transplant and found that primary platelet graft failure(PPGF),comorbidities of acute kidney injury(AKI),and hospital-acquired pneumonia(HAP)were independent risk factors for death in the study population.A PPGF-AKI-HAP risk stratification system was established with a mortality risk score of 1×PPGF+1×AKI+1×HAP.The areas under the curves of internal and external validation were 0.833(95%CI 0.760–0.906)and 0.826(95%CI 0.715–0.937),respectively.The calibration plot revealed the high consistency of the estimated risks,and decision curve analysis showed considerable net benefits for patients.

Influence of the degree of donor bone marrow hyperplasia on patient clinical outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

This study evaluated the influence of the degree of donor bone marrow(BM)hyperplasia on patient clinical outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT).Twelve patients received allo-HSCT from hypoplastic BM donors between January 2010 and December 2017.Forty-eight patients whose donors demonstrated BM hyperplasia were selected using a propensity score matching method(1:4).Primary graft failure including poor graft function and graft rejection did not occur in two groups.In BM hypoplasia and hyperplasia groups,the cumulative incidence(CI)of neutrophil engraftment at day 28(91.7%vs.93.8%,P=0.75),platelet engraftment at day 150(83.3%vs.93.8%,P=0.48),the median time to myeloid engraftment(14 days vs.14 days,P=0.85)and platelet engraftment(14 days vs.14 days,P=0.85)were comparable.The 3-year progression-free survival,overall survival,CI of non-relapse mortality and relapse were 67.8%vs.71.7%(P=0.98),69.8%vs.77.8%(P=0.69),18.5%vs.13.6%(P=0.66),and 10.2%vs.10.4%(P=0.82),respectively.In multivariate analysis,donor BM hypoplasia did not affect patient clinical outcomes after allo-HSCT.If patients have no other suitable donor,a donor with BM hypoplasia can be used for patients receiving allo-HSCT if the donor Complete Blood Count and other examinations are normal.

Advancement of human leukocyte antigen-partially matched related hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)is one of the most effective options for hematological malignancies,and human leukocyte antigen-partially matched related donors(PMRDs)are a valuable option for HSCT.Several protocols(with or without ex vivo T-cell depletion(TCD))have been established worldwide.TCD including CD34+positive selection and CD3/CD19 depletion has successfully overcome the human leukocyte antigen disparity.However,TCD is associated with prolonged immune deficiencies,increased risks of infectious complications,and high transplantation-related mortality.PMRD HSCT without ex vivo TCD is well developed,and numerous patients have benefitted from it.Here,we review the literature on PMRD HSCT.