Risk factors and outcome of graft failure after HLA matched and mismatched unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a study on behalf of SFGM-TC and SFHI.

Graft failure remains a severe complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Several risk factors have already been published. In this study, we re-evaluated them in a large cohort who had the benefit of the recent experience in HSCT (2006-2012). Data from 4684 unrelated donor HSCT from 2006 to 2012 were retrospectively collected from centers belonging to the French Society for Stem Cell Transplantation. Among the 2716 patients for whom HLA typing was available, 103 did not engraft leading to a low rate of no engraftment at 3.8%. In univariate analysis, only type of disease and status of disease at transplant for malignant diseases remained significant risk factors (P=0.04 and P<0.0001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, only status of disease was a significant risk factor (P<0.0001). Among the 61 patients who did not engraft and who were mismatched for 1 HLA class I and/or HLA-DP, 5 donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) were detected but only 1 was clearly involved in graft failure, for the others their role was more questionable. Second HSCT exhibited a protective although not statistically significant effect on OS (hazard ratio=0.57 [0.32-1.02]). In conclusion, only one parameter (disease status before graft) remains risk factor for graft failure in this recent cohort.

[Impact of anti-HLA antibodies on outcomes of allogeneic stem cell transplantation: a report by the SFGM-TC]. / Impact des anticorps anti-HLA sur le devenir de l'allogreffe de cellules souches hématopoïétiques : un rapport par la SFGM-TC.

The role of anti-HLA antibodies in allogeneic stem cell transplantation setting is still unclear. In the attempt to harmonize clinical practices between different French transplantation centers, the French Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapies (SFGM-TC) set up its fourth annual series of workshops which brought together practitioners from all of its member centers. These workshops took place in September 2013 in Lille. This article offers the recommendations of the group that considered the impact that have anti-HLA antibodies on outcomes in allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Pretransplant sensitization against angiotensin II type 1 receptor is a risk factor for acute rejection and graft loss.

The angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) is an emerging target of functional non-HLA antibodies (Ab). We examined the potential of determining the degree of presensitization against AT1R as a risk factor for graft survival and acute rejection (AR). The study included 599 kidney recipients between 1998 and 2007. Serum samples were analyzed in a blinded fashion for anti-AT1R antibodies (AT1R-Abs) using a quantitative solid-phase assay. A threshold of AT1R-Ab levels was statistically determined at 10 U based on the time to graft failure. An extended Cox model determined risk factors for occurrence of graft failure and a first AR episode. AT1R-Abs >10 U were detected in 283 patients (47.2%) before transplantation. Patients who had a level of AT1R-Abs >10 U had a 2.6-fold higher risk of graft failure from 3 years posttransplantation onwards (p = 0.0005) and a 1.9-fold higher risk of experiencing an AR episode within the first 4 months of transplantation (p = 0.0393). Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) accounted for 1/3 of AR, whereby 71.4% of them were associated with >10 U of pretransplant AT1R-Abs. Pretransplant anti-AT1R-Abs are an independent risk factor for long-term graft loss in association with a higher risk of early AR episodes.

The natural history of clinical operational tolerance after kidney transplantation through twenty-seven cases.

We report here on a European cohort of 27 kidney transplant recipients displaying operational tolerance, compared to two cohorts of matched kidney transplant recipients under immunosuppression and patients who stopped immunosuppressive drugs and presented with rejection. We report that a lower proportion of operationally tolerant patients received induction therapy (52% without induction therapy vs. 78.3%[p = 0.0455] and 96.7%[p = 0.0001], respectively), a difference likely due to the higher proportion (18.5%) of HLA matched recipients in the tolerant cohort. These patients were also significantly older at the time of transplantation (p = 0.0211) and immunosuppression withdrawal (p = 0.0002) than recipients who rejected their graft after weaning. Finally, these patients were at lower risk of infectious disease. Among the 27 patients defined as operationally tolerant at the time of inclusion, 19 still display stable graft function (mean 9 ± 4 years after transplantation) whereas 30% presented slow deterioration of graft function. Six of these patients tested positive for pre-graft anti-HLA antibodies. Biopsy histology studies revealed an active immunologically driven mechanism for half of them, associated with DSA in the absence of C4d. This study suggests that operational tolerance can persist as a robust phenomenon, although eventual graft loss does occur in some patients, particularly in the setting of donor-specific alloantibody.

BAFF and BAFF-R levels are associated with risk of long-term kidney graft dysfunction and development of donor-specific antibodies.

There are lines of evidence that B cells may play a role in transplantation. B cell activating factor, BAFF, is a homotrimer that has been shown to play a role in B cell survival, maturation and activation. To date, little is known of the role of BAFF and its receptors in transplantation. We analyzed the level of BAFF mRNA and its soluble protein, as well as transcripts coding for its receptors, BAFF-R, TACI and BCMA, in the blood of 143 patients with stable kidney transplant function 5 years or more posttransplantation. Three endpoints were analyzed: the time to renal dysfunction, the time to appearance of anti-HLA antibodies and the time to development of donor-specific antibodies. We established threshold values for BAFF and BAFF-R and showed that (1) stable patients with high BAFF-R levels had a higher risk of developing graft dysfunction, (2) patients with lower levels of BAFF transcripts or a higher level of soluble BAFF had a significantly higher risk of developing donor-specific antibodies. These data suggest that BAFF constitutes a risk factor for renal graft dysfunction and development of donor-specific antibodies. They also suggest that agents targeting BAFF-R interactions may offer new therapeutic opportunities in transplantation.

Posttransplant donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies negatively impact pancreas transplantation outcome.

During a 9-year follow-up, 167 consecutive pancreas transplant recipients (152 simultaneous pancreas-kidney [SPK]) were followed for the detection of posttransplant anti-HLA antibodies. Forty patients (24%) developed anti-HLA antibodies, 26 (65%) had donor-specific antibodies (DSA; 61% anticlass 2) and 14 (35%) non-DSA (78.6% anticlass 1). More rejection episodes were observed in patients with positive anti-HLA antibodies than in patients without antibodies (42.5% vs. 11%; p = 0.001), with the highest incidence observed in DSA patients (53.8%). More severe rejections (according to rescue therapy) were observed in DSA patients compared to non-DSA (p < 0.05) or to negative patients (p < 0.001). Contrasting with the kidney, pancreas graft survival did not differ between patients with or without anti-HLA antibodies. On the contrary, pancreas and kidney survivals were significantly lower in DSA positive patients (75% for both organs) as compared to non-DSA positive patients (100% for pancreas and 92% for kidney) or to HLA-negative patients (91% for pancreas and 89% for kidney). Nontechnical pancreas and kidney graft failures were significantly higher in positive than in negative anti-HLA patients (32.5% vs. 11%; p < 0.01). Occurrence of posttransplant DSA was an independent risk factor for both pancreas and kidney survival (HR 3.2; p = 0.039) in diabetic transplant recipients.

Biomarkers for the diagnosis of the stable kidney transplant and chronic transplant injury using the ProtoArray® technology.

Transplant glomerulopathy (TG), a form of chronic renal transplant rejection, carries a poor prognosis. It must be differentiated from the entity defined by the Banff '05 classification, interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IF/TA). Sequential transplant biopsies have shown that these lesions are subclinical long before clinical manifestations. The availability of biomarkers may provide an earlier diagnosis and subsequent treatment. The aim of our study was to identify serum biomarkers in kidney recipients showing TG compared with IF/TA or stable patients, using protein microarray technology. This technology detects auto- or alloantibodies in patient sera. With a high degree of statistical significance, we identified 18 antibody reactivities specific for TG; 11 for IF/TA; and 10 among stable patients. Target proteins were involved in signal transduction, transcription regulation, DNA replication and repair, cell cycle, endocytosis, cell redox, as well as glycolysis. Some markers, such as podocan and collagen XXIII among TG and tubular cell ion channels among IF/TA, possibly provide insights into the pathogenesis of the lesions.

MICA compatibility and immunization in third kidney transplantations.

Significantly lower graft survival has been observed among recipients of a third (G3) compared with a first or second kidney transplantation. Because patients awaiting G3 are largely HLA immunized, they are usually transplanted with a high HLA match. Moreover, their rate of acute rejection episodes is similar to a first or second transplantation. Since major histocompatibility complex class I related chain A (MICA) molecules have been proposed as new targets for antibody recognition, we were interested to type donors and recipients for MICA alleles and to study MICA immunization of these patients. Forty-three pairs of donors and recipients were typed for MICA alleles using Luminex technology (LABtype RSSO). MICA alleles showed strong linkage disequilibrium with the B locus: some 4-digit alleles were preferentially associated with a given MICA allele. A greater frequency of patients with 2 MICA mismatches (MM) was observed among patients with rejection (40%), whereas all the graft losses were observed in patients with 0 or 1 MICA MM. MICA immunization was studied using sera from 52 patients collected on day 0 and after transplantation using a Luminex assay (LABScreen). MICA immunization was less frequent than HLA immunization, and MICA donor-specific antibody (DSA) was equally present in functional and failed grafts. These observations confirmed the potential role of MICA immunization in rejection, whereas the poor graft survival among third transplantations could not be explained by MICA incompatibility or immunization.

[PTHrP and breast cancer]. / PTHrP et cancer du sein.

Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) has a high homology with the N-terminal portion of the parathyroid hormone (PTH). The gene of PTHrP is complex and can generate by alternative splicing at least three mature peptides containing 139, 141 and 173 amino acids. PTHrP acts via a common receptor with PTH but also via specific receptors. In physiological circumstances, PTHrP is produced locally in many normal tissues where it has autocrine/paracrine functions, particularly during embryonic development, growth regulation and differentiation of many cellular types. PTHrP has endocrine action on bone and kidney. The humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy is mainly mediated by PTHrP. Most hypercalcemic patients with solid tumors have increased plasma PTHrP, whereas PTHrP is not detectable in healthy subjects. During treatment with bisphosphonates, elevated plasma levels of PTHrP are associated with a weak response. PTHrP has also a significant role in the pathophysiology of bone metastases. PTHrP can induce a local osteolysis near the bone metastases, which favours their progression and thus participates in the autocrine regulation of tumor growth. In breast cancer, PTHrP is detected in about 60% of primary tumors and in more than 70% of bone metastases, whereas only 17% of nonbone metastases express PTHrP. A higher expression of PTHrP and its mRNA 1-139, is positively correlated with an invasive tumor phenotype and the development of bone metastases. PTHrP is an effector of transforming growth factor (TGFbeta) in the development and progression of osteolytic bone metastases. TGFbeta, which is released in bone matrix during osteolytic resorption, enhances tumor cells PTHrP production. Then, PTHrP stimulates bone resorption and develops tumor cells metastatic potential. Thus a feedback loop exists between carcinoma cells and the bone microenvironment, leading to a vicious circle.

High levels of cytokeratin 19 fragments but no evidence of cytokeratins 1, 2, 10/11, 14 or filaggrin in the serum of squamous cell lung carcinoma patients.

The CYFRA 21-1 assay detects circulating fragments of cytokeratin 19, which is a sensitive marker for the diagnosis of lung cancers, particularly squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. Epidermis-type proteins, such as cytokeratins 1, 2, 10/11 and 14 or filaggrin, are also expressed in squamous cell carcinomas. These could also be pertinent tumor markers, ideally as sensitive as CYFRA 21-1 and more specific for squamous cell lung cancer. To verify this hypothesis, using monoclonal antibodies produced in our laboratory, we developed immunoassays specific for these proteins. After optimization, the immunoassays were evaluated in sera from 91 controls and 138 patients with squamous cell lung cancer and compared to conventional tumor markers (CEA, SCC Ag and CYFRA 21-1). Less than 14% of the sera were above the lower limit of detection of the cytokeratin- and filaggrin-specific immunoassays. Moreover, part of these positive sera were induced by the presence of interfering heterophilic antibodies in sera. Thus, in patients with squamous cell lung cancer, we confirmed the high diagnostic sensitivity of CYFRA 21-1 (55.6%) but were unable to detect significant levels of epidermis-type cytokeratins or filaggrin.

Two-step targeting and dosimetry for small cell lung cancer xenograft with anti-NCAM/antihistamine bispecific antibody and radioiodinated bivalent hapten.

UNLABELLED: The "affinity enhancement system," a two-step targeting technique using bispecific antibody and radiolabeled bivalent hapten, has been reported to be useful for carcinoembryonic antigen-expressing tumors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of this method for targeting human small cell lung cancer using an antineural cell adhesion molecule antibody. METHODS: Antineural cell adhesion molecule/antihistamine bispecific antibody NK1NBL1-679 was prepared by coupling an equimolecular quantity of a Fab' fragment of NK1NBL1 to a Fab fragment of antihistamine 679. Athymic mice inoculated with NCI-H69 small cell lung cancer cells expressing neural cell adhesion molecule were administered bispecific antibody and then 48 h later 125I-labeled bivalent histamine hapten. 125I-labeled intact NK1NBL1 was injected into other groups of mice. Biodistributions were examined as a function of time. RESULTS: In mice of the two-step targeting, tumor uptake was 2.5 +/- 0.2, 3.2 +/- 0.4, 6.4 +/- 2.0, 7.2 +/- 2.7, 6.1 +/- 2.1 and 2.2 +/- 0.4 %ID/g at 5, 30 min, 5, 24, 48 and 96 h, and tumor-to-blood, tumor-to-liver and tumor-to-kidney ratios were 1.4 +/- 1.1, 10.8 +/- 13.2 and 4.6 +/- 4.7, respectively, at 5 h, whereas 125I-labeled NK1NBL1 showed a tumor uptake of 5.7 +/- 0.4 %ID/g and tumor-to-blood, tumor-to-liver and tumor-to-kidney ratios of 0.3 +/- 0.1, 1.1 +/- 0.2 and 0.9 +/- 0.1, respectively, at 5 h. These results were confirmed by autoradiographic studies, which demonstrated clear tumor-to-normal tissue contrast. Dosimetry showed that the affinity enhancement system could enhance the therapeutic potential of the antineural cell adhesion molecule antibody NK1NBL1. CONCLUSION: This two-step targeting method seems promising for the diagnosis and therapy of small cell lung cancer.

Biodistribution and dosimetric study in medullary thyroid cancer xenograft using bispecific antibody and iodine-125-labeled bivalent hapten.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to evaluate biodistributions and absorbed doses of anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)/anti-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-indium (anti-DTPA-In) bispecific monoclonal antibody (BsMAb) F6-734 and 125I-labeled DTPA-indium dimer hapten (125I-di-DTPA-In hapten) in athymic mice xenografted with human medullary thyroid cancer. METHODS: Bispecific monoclonal antibodies F6-679 (anti-CEA/antihistamine) and G7A5-734 (antimelanoma/anti-di-DTPA-In) were used as irrelevant BsMAbs. Athymic mice inoculated with TT medullary thyroid cancer cells expressing CEA were administered BsMAbs F6-734, F6-679 or G7A5-734 and then, 48 hr later, 125I-di-DTPA-In hapten. Iodine-125-labeled F6 F(ab')2 fragment was injected into other groups of mice. Biodistributions were examined at 30 min and 5, 24, 48 and 96 hr after injection of 125I-di-DTPA-In hapten or 125I-labeled F6 F(ab')2. RESULTS: In mice injected with BsMAb F6-734 and 125I-di-DTPA-In hapten, tumor uptake was 9.1%+/-2.1%, 8.7%+/-3.5%, 8.0%+/-2.3%, 5.1%+/-0.9% and 3.5%+/-1.5% of the injected dose/g at 30 min and 5, 24, 48 and 96 hr, and tumor-to-blood, tumor-to-liver and tumor-to-kidney ratios were 37.0+/-12.5, 32.3+/-10.9 and 10.4+/-2.7 at 24 hr. Iodine-125-F6 F(ab')2 fragment showed a tumor uptake of 7.39% injected dose/g and tumor-to-blood, tumor-to-liver and tumor-to-kidney ratios of 1.8+/-0.6, 7.3+/-2.9 and 3.6+/-1.6 at 24 hr. In mice injected with F6-679 or G7A5-734, tumor uptake and tumor-to-normal tissue ratios were much lower than in the mice injected with F6-734. These results were confirmed by autoradiographic studies that demonstrated clear tumor-to-normal tissue contrast. CONCLUSION: This two-step targeting method seems very potent for the diagnosis and therapy of human medullary thyroid cancer and other CEA-producing tumors because it combines high tumor uptake and low normal tissue background.

Anti-native and recombinant myeloperoxidase monoclonals and human autoantibodies.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is one of the main antigen targets of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in systemic vasculitides. It has been suggested that anti-MPO antibodies may recognize a single epitope on recombinant MPO. If confirmed on native MPO, this might allow specific therapeutic intervention with anti-idiotypic MoAbs to prevent antibody antigen interaction which is thought to cause activation of neutrophils and vasculitis. We searched for restriction in the epitope recognition profile in 50 patients with anti-MPO autoantibodies, using both native and recombinant MPO. Mouse monoclonals were purified and tested in competition assays. At least four epitopes were identified on native MPO using these monoclonals and only two were conserved on recombinant MPO. We found that human MPO autoantibody response was not restricted to a single epitope on native MPO, as all sera tested did not show the same profile in competitive studies with monoclonals. Furthermore, 30% of human anti-native MPO sera failed to recognize rMPO.

Comparative targeting of human colon-carcinoma multicell spheroids using one- and two-step (bispecific antibody) techniques.

In the perspective of radioimmunotherapy (RIT) of micrometastases, we compared, in multicell spheroids (MS), the uptake and retention kinetics of 125I-F(ab)'2 F6 anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) monoclonal antibody (MAb), and the affinity enhancement system (AES) using an anti-CEA/anti-DTPA-indium bispecific antibody (BsMAb) and a 125I-labeled di-DTPA-In-tyrosine-lysine bivalent hapten. We used MS of colorectal tumor cell lines expressing CEA strongly (LS 174T), weakly (HT-29) or not at all (HRT-18). Uptake and retention kinetics of 125I-F(ab)'2 F6 and 125I-BsMAb used alone gave similar results. The highest uptake values, obtained with LS 174T MS, were slightly lower with AES than with 125I-F(ab)'2 F6. However, effective retention half-lives were longer for AES than for 125I-F(ab)'2 F6 or for 111In-labeled monovalent hapten after pre-incubation of spheroids with BsMAb. Autoradiography showed the same slow and heterogeneous distribution of 125I-F(ab)'2 F6 and 125I-BsMAb. These results indicate that the 2-step technique is more favorable for RIT: uptake values were approximately the same but uptake kinetics were more rapid, and retention half-life was longer than with the one-step technique.

Effects of interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) association in intraperitoneal radioimmunotherapy: studies on an in vitro micrometastasis model.

We considered the usefulness of an association of two cytokines interferon gamma (INF gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) in optimizing intraperitoneal (i.p.) radioimmunotherapy of ovarian cancer. Studies were performed in conditions similar to those observed in vivo, using tumor multicell spheroids of the SHIN-3 ovarian adenocarcinoma line which expresses CA125 and O3 antigens. Light and electron microscopy showed that this cytokine association caused considerable modification of the three-dimensional morphology of the spheroids and the cells composing them. The uptake and retention kinetics of 125I-labeled F(ab')2 fragments of OC125 and OVTL-3 antibodies indicated that the presence of the cytokines led to a 1.5-fold increase in the quantity of O3 antigen at the spheroid surface. These results were confirmed by autoradiographs showing that the INF gamma-TNF alpha association produced extensive direct antitumor action, with better penetration and uptake of OVTL-3 antibody. Thus, i.p. radioimmunotherapy of micrometastases could be optimized by an initial injection of the IFN gamma-TNF alpha combination.