Similar outcomes using myeloablative vs reduced-intensity allogeneic transplant preparative regimens for AML or MDS.

Although reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) and non-myeloablative (NMA)-conditioning regimens have been used for over a decade, their relative efficacy vs myeloablative (MA) approaches to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in patients with AML and myelodysplasia (MDS) is unknown. We compared disease status, donor, graft and recipient characteristics with outcomes of 3731 MA with 1448 RIC/NMA procedures performed at 217 centers between 1997 and 2004. The 5-year univariate probabilities and multivariate relative risk outcomes of relapse, TRM, disease-free survival (DFS) and OS are reported. Adjusted OS at 5 years was 34, 33 and 26% for MA, RIC and NMA transplants, respectively. NMA conditioning resulted in inferior DFS and OS, but there was no difference in DFS and OS between RIC and MA regimens. Late TRM negates early decreases in toxicity with RIC and NMA regimens. Our data suggest that higher regimen intensity may contribute to optimal survival in patients with AML/MDS, suggesting roles for both regimen intensity and graft vs leukemia in these diseases. Prospective studies comparing regimens are needed to confirm this finding and determine the optimal approach to patients who are eligible for either MA or RIC/NMA conditioning.

Is the International Staging System superior to the Durie-Salmon staging system? A comparison in multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous transplant.

The international staging system (ISS) for multiple myeloma (MM) is a validated alternative to the Durie-Salmon staging system (DSS) for predicting survival at diagnosis. We compared these staging systems for predicting outcomes after upfront autologous stem cell transplantation by analyzing the outcomes of 729 patients between 1995 and 2002. With a median follow-up of 56 months, the univariate probabilities (95% CI) of non-relapse mortality (NRM), relapse, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) at 5 years were 7, 68, 25 and 52%, respectively. The median OS for stages I, II, III by DSS and ISS were 82, 68, 50 and 64, 68, 45 months, respectively. The concordance between the two staging systems was only 36%. Staging systems were formally compared using Cox models fit with DSS and ISS stages. The relative risks of PFS and OS were significantly different for stages I vs II and II vs III for DSS, but only for stages II vs III for ISS. Although both systems were predictive of PFS and OS, the DSS was superior in formal statistical comparison using Brier score. However, neither system was strongly predictive of outcomes, indicating the need for newer schemes incorporating other prognostic markers.

Bone marrow transplants from mismatched related and unrelated donors for severe aplastic anemia.

For patients with acquired severe aplastic anemia without a matched sibling donor and not responding to immunosuppressive treatment, bone marrow transplantation from a suitable alternative donor is often attempted. We examined risks of graft failure, graft-versus-host disease and overall survival after 318 alternative donor transplants between 1988 and 1998. Sixty-six patients received allografts from 1-antigen and 20 from >1-antigen mismatched related donors; 181 from matched and 51 from mismatched unrelated donors. Most patients were young, had had multiple red blood cell transfusions and poor performance score at transplantation. We did not observe differences in risks of graft failure and overall mortality by donor type. The probabilities of graft failure at 100 days after 1-antigen mismatched related donor, >1-antigen mismatched related donor, matched unrelated donor and mismatched unrelated donor transplants were 21, 25, 15 and 18%, respectively. Corresponding probabilities of overall survival at 5 years were 49, 30, 39 and 36%, respectively. Although alternative donor transplantation results in long-term survival, mortality rates are high. Poor performance score and older age adversely affect outcomes after transplantation. Therefore, early referral for transplantation should be encouraged for patients who fail immunosuppressive therapy and have a suitable alternative donor.

Autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma patients <60 vs >/=60 years of age.

The role of autologous stem cell transplantation (AuSCT) in older multiple myeloma patients is unclear. Using data from the Autologous Blood and Marrow Transplant Registry, we compared the outcome of 110 patients >/=the age of 60 (median 63; range 60-73) years, undergoing AuSCT with that of 382 patients <60 (median 52; range 30-59) years. The two groups were similar except that older patients had a higher beta(2)-microglobulin level at diagnosis (P=0.016) and fewer had lytic lesions (P=0.007). Day 100 mortality was 6% (95% confidence interval 4-9) and 1-year treatment-related mortality (TRM) was 9% (6-13) in patients <60 years, compared with 5% (2-10) and 8% (4-14), respectively, in patients >/=60 years. The relapse rate, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in the two groups were also similar. Multivariate analysis of all patients identified only an interval from diagnosis to AuSCT >12 months and the use of two prior chemotherapy regimens within 6 months of AuSCT as adverse prognostic factors. Our results indicate that AuSCT can be safely performed in selected older patients: the best results were observed in patients undergoing AuSCT relatively early in their disease course.

Effect of postremission chemotherapy before human leukocyte antigen-identical sibling transplantation for acute myelogenous leukemia in first complete remission.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is an effective postremission strategy for patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in first complete remission (CR). The value of administering consolidation chemotherapy before human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling transplantation is not established. Outcomes of patients with AML in first CR receiving no consolidation therapy, standard-dose cytarabine consolidation therapy, and high-dose cytarabine consolidation therapy before HLA-identical sibling transplantation were compared. Five-year treatment-related mortality rates were 30% (95% confidence interval [CI], 18% to 42%) in patients receiving no consolidation chemotherapy, 22% (95% CI, 17% to 28%) in those receiving standard-dose cytarabine consolidation, and 24% (95% CI, 17% to 31%) in those receiving high-dose cytarabine (P = NS). Five-year cumulative incidences of relapse were 19% (10% to 30%), 21% (16% to 27%), and 17% (11% to 24%), respectively (P = NS). Five-year probabilities of leukemia-free survival were 50% (36% to 63%), 56% (49% to 63%), and 59% (50% to 66%), respectively (P = NS). Five-year probabilities of overall survival were 60% (46% to 71%), 56% (49% to 63%), and 60% (51% to 67%), respectively (P = NS). The data indicate that postremission consolidation with cytarabine before allogeneic transplantation for AML in first CR is not associated with improved outcome compared to proceeding directly to transplantation after successful induction. (Blood. 2000;96:1254-1258)

Comparison of preparative regimens in transplants for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PURPOSE: Preparative regimens involving total-body irradiation (TBI) produce significant late toxicities in some children who receive bone marrow transplants, including impaired growth and intellectual development. Busulfan is often used as an alternative to TBI, but there are few data regarding its relative efficacy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared outcomes of HLA-identical sibling transplants for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children (< 20 years of age) who received cyclophosphamide plus TBI (CY/TBI) (n = 451) versus those who received busulfan plus cyclophosphamide (Bu/CY) (n = 176) for pretransplant conditioning. Patients received transplants between 1988 and 1995 and their results were reported to the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry by 144 participating institutions. The CY/TBI and Bu/CY groups did not differ in gender, immune phenotype, leukocyte count at the time of diagnosis, chromosome abnormalities, remission status, or length of initial remission. T-cell depletion was used more frequently in the CY/TBI group; the Bu/CY group included a higher proportion of children who were less than 5 years of age. The median follow-up period was 37 months. RESULTS: The 3-year probabilities of survival were 55% (95% confidence interval [CI], 50% to 60%) with TBI/CY and 40% (95% CI, 32% to 48%) with Bu/CY (univariate P =.003). The 3-year probabilities of leukemia-free survival were 50% (95% CI, 45% to 55%) and 35% (95% CI, 28% to 43%), respectively (univariate P =.005). In a multivariate analysis, the risks of relapse were similar in the two groups (relative risk [RR], 1.30 for Bu/CY v CY/TBI; P =.1). Treatment-related mortality was higher in the Bu/CY group (RR, 1.68; P =.012). Death and treatment failure (relapse or death, inverse of leukemia-free survival) were more frequent in the Bu/CY group (RR, 1. 39; P =.017 for death; RR, 1.42; P =.006 for treatment failure). CONCLUSION: These data indicate superior survival with CY/TBI conditioning, compared with Bu/CY conditioning, for HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplants in children with ALL.