Adoptive Immunotherapy via Donor Lymphocyte Infusions following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Myelofibrosis: A Real-World, Retrospective Multicenter Study

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Alexandros Rampotas - , University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Author)
  • Katja Sockel - , Department of internal Medicine I (Author)
  • Fotios Panitsas - , Laiko Hospital (Author)
  • Catrin Theuser - , Department of internal Medicine I (Author)
  • Martin Bornhauser - , University Cancer Centre, Department of internal Medicine I (Author)
  • Rafael Hernani - , Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia (Author)
  • Juan Carlos Hernandez-Boluda - , Hospital Clinico Universitario de Valencia (Author)
  • Albert Esquirol - , Hospital de la Santa creu i Sant Pau, Autonomous University of Barcelona (Author)
  • Daniele Avenoso - , King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Author)
  • Panagiotis Tsirigotis - , Attikon University Hospital (Author)
  • Marie Robin - , Service d'Hématologie-Greffe (Author)
  • Tomasz Czerw - , Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute of Oncology (Author)
  • Grzegorz Helbig - , Medical University of Silesia in Katowice (Author)
  • Claire Roddie - , University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Author)
  • Jonathan Lambert - , University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Author)
  • Donal P McLornan - , University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Author)

Abstract

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) remains the sole curative option for myelofibrosis (MF). Relapse remains a significant problem, however, occurring in up to 20% to 30% of cases. Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) represents a potentially effective strategy for relapse prevention and management, but the optimal timing based on measurable residual disease/chimerism analyses and the choice of regimen remain undetermined. We performed a retrospective real-world analysis of a multicenter cohort of MF allo-HCT recipients from 8 European transplantation centers who received DLI between 2005 and 2022. Response was assessed using International Working Group-Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Research and Treatment-defined response criteria, and survival endpoints were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier estimator and log-rank test. The study included 28 patients with a median age of 58 years and a Karnofsky Performance Status of >80. The majority of patients had Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System-plus intermediate-2 or high-risk disease at the time of allo-HCT. In vivo T cell depletion was used in 20 patients (71.2%), with 19 of the 20 receiving antithymocyte globulin. The indication for DLI was either "preemptive" (n = 15), due to a decrease in recipient chimerism (n = 13) or molecular relapse (n = 2), or "therapeutic" (n = 13) for clinician-defined hematologic/clinical relapse. No patient received DLI prophylactically. The median time of DLI administration was 23.4 months post allo-HCT. Of the 16 patients receiving multiple DLIs, 12 were part of a planned escalating dose regimen. The median follow-up from the time of first DLI was 55.4 months. The responses to DLI were complete response in 9 patients, partial response in 1 patient, and clinical improvement in 6 patients. Chimerism levels improved in 16 patients, and stable disease was reported in 5 patients. No response or progression was reported in 7 patients. DLI-induced acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) was reported in 11 patients (39%), with grade III-IV aGVHD in 7 (25%). The median overall survival from the time of first DLI was 62.6 months, and the cumulative incidence of relapse/progression after first DLI was 30.8% at 6 months. This study highlights that good response rates can be achieved with DLI even after frank relapse in some patients in a cohort in which other treatment options are very limited. More prospective studies are warranted to identify the optimal DLI regimen and timing to improve patient outcomes.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)687.e1-687.e7
JournalTransplantation and cellular therapy
Volume29
Issue number11
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85171586975

Keywords

Keywords

  • Humans, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Immunotherapy, Adoptive/adverse effects, Primary Myelofibrosis/therapy, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/complications, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects, Graft vs Host Disease, Lymphocytes, Recurrence