Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for hematological malignancies following etoposide, cyclophosphamide, and fractionated total body irradiation

Pharmacokinetics and dose adjustment of etoposide administered in a medium-dose etoposide, cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation regimen before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND

We investigated the pharmacokinetics of etoposide (ETP) to reduce the inter-individual variations of ETP concentrations in patients with acute leukemia who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We also carried out an in vivo study using rats to verify the dose adjustment.

METHODS

This study included 20 adult patients. ETP was administered intravenously at a dose of 15 mg/kg once daily for 2 days (total dose: 30 mg/kg) combined with standard conditioning of cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation. In an in vivo study using rats, ETP was administered intravenously at a dose of 15 mg/kg or an adjusted dose. The ETP plasma concentration was determined by using HPLC. The pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by using a 1-compartment model.

RESULTS

The peak concentration (Cmax) of ETP and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of ETP differed greatly among patients (range of Cmax, 51.8 - 116.5 μg/mL; range of AUC, 870 - 2015 μg · h/mL). A significant relationship was found between Cmax and AUC (R = 0.85, P < 0.05). Distribution volume (Vd) was suggested to be one of the factors of inter-individual variation in plasma concentration of ETP in patients (range of Vd, 0.13 - 0.27 L/kg), and correlated with Alb and body weight (R = 0.56, P < 0.05; R = 0.40, P < 0.05 respectively). We predicted Vd of rats by body weight of rats (with normal albumin levels and renal function), and the dose of ETP was adjusted using predicted Vd. In the dose adjustment group, the target plasma ETP concentration was achieved and the variation of plasma ETP concentration was decreased.

CONCLUSION

The results suggested that inter-individual variation of plasma concentration of ETP could be reduced by predicting Vd. Prediction of Vd is effective for reducing individual variation of ETP concentration and might enable a good therapeutic effect to be achieved.

A Safety and Efficacy Study of Medium-Dose Etoposide, Cyclophosphamide and Total Body Irradiation Conditioning Before Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Prognosis for adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been reported to be approximately 35% to 50%, even after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). We previously reported retrospective analyses of a conditioning regimen of medium-dose etoposide, cyclophosphamide (CY), and total body irradiation (TBI) before allo-SCT for ALL. To prospectively analyze the efficacy of this conditioning regimen, we conducted a trial prospectively.

Once daily i.v. busulfan and fludarabine (i.v. Bu-Flu) compares favorably with i.v. busulfan and cyclophosphamide (i.v. BuCy2) as pretransplant conditioning therapy in AML/MDS

We postulated that fludarabine (Flu) instead of cyclophosphamide (Cy) combined with i.v. busulfan (Bu) as preconditioning for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) would improve safety and retain antileukemic efficacy. Sixty-seven patients received BuCy2, and subsequently, 148 patients received Bu-Flu. We used a Bayesian method to compare outcomes between these nonrandomized patients. The groups had comparable pretreatment characteristics, except that Bu-Flu patients were older (46 versus 39 years, P < .01), more often had unrelated donors (47.3% versus 20.9%, P < .0003), and had shorter median follow-up (39.7 versus 74.6 months). To account for improved supportive care and other unidentified factors that may affect outcome ("period" effects), 78 acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients receiving Melphalan-Flu (MF), treated in parallel during this time (1997-2004) were used to estimate the period effect. The MF patients' outcomes worsened during this period. Therefore, the period effect is unlikely to explain the greatly improved outcome with Bu-Flu. Patients transplanted with Bu-Flu in the first complete remission (CR1) had a 3-year overall survival and event-free-survival (EFS) of 78% and 74%, respectively, whereas CR1 patients younger than age 41 had a 3-year EFS of 83%. These results support replacing BuCy +/- ATG with Bu-Flu +/- rabbit-antithymocyte globulin (ATG), and warrant a prospective comparison between allogeneic HSCT and conventional induction/consolidation chemotherapy for AML in CR1.

A myeloablative conditioning regimen for patients with impaired cardiac function undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation: reduced cyclophosphamide combined with etoposide and total body irradiation

To circumvent the cardiac toxicity of high-dose cyclophosphamide (CY) in the myeloablative conditioning for those with cardiac comorbidity, we developed a new cardiac sparing conditioning regimen (VP/rCY/TBI) composed of 12 Gy of total body irradiation (TBI), etoposide (VP-16) (40 mg/kg), and reduced CY (40 mg/kg). We assessed the feasibility of this regimen by retrospectively comparing the outcome of VP/rCY/TBI recipients (n = 18) with that of CY/TBI recipients (n = 140). VP/rCY/TBI recipients had significantly higher cumulative dose of anthracyclines, lower ejection fraction (EF), and poorer Karnofsky performance scales (KPS) than CY/TBI recipients. The cumulative incidences of disease progression were 34.9% in VP/rCY/TBI recipients and 19.0% in CY/TBI recipients (P = 0.33). Despite poorer KPS and more cardiac comorbidity in the VP/rCY/TBI recipients, no difference in the nonprogression mortality rates was observed among recipients of the two regimens (17.5 and 14.3%, respectively, P = 0.96). Severe cardiac toxicity within 28 days after transplantation occurred in 5.9 and 3.6% of VP/rCY/TBI and CY/TBI recipients, respectively (P = 0.64). Graft rejection was not observed in VP/rCY/TBI recipients. There is a possibility that VP/rCY/TBI regimen can be safely administered for patients with pretransplantation cardiac comorbidity while preserving antineoplastic effects. These observations merit further prospective study.

Excellent outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using a conditioning regimen with medium-dose VP-16, cyclophosphamide and total-body irradiation for adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of 37 adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) conditioned with medium-dose VP-16 (VP, 30 mg/kg), cyclophosphamide (CY, 120 mg/kg), and fractionated total-body irradiation (TBI, 12 Gy) (medium-dose VP/CY/TBI). The median age of the patients was 26 years. Thirteen patients underwent transplantation from HLA-matched related donors (MRD), 18 patients underwent transplantation from HLA-matched unrelated donors (MUD), and 6 patients underwent transplantation from HLA-mismatched donors (MMD). Thirty-two patients received bone marrow and 4 patients received peripheral blood stem cells. Ten patients were Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph(+)) and 35 patients were in complete remission (CR) at transplantation. All of the patients achieved engraftment, and grade 3 organ toxicity before engraftment occurred in 27 patients. Grade II-III acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and chronic GVHD (cGVHD) occurred in 15 and 18 patients, respectively. No patient developed grade IV acute GVHD (aGVHD) or died of GVHD. At median follow-up of 35.1 months, 32 patients were alive and all Ph(+) patients were alive. Three patients died of relapse and 2 died of transplant-related mortality (TRM). The actuarial 3-year overall survival (OS) rate, relapse rate, and TRM rate were 89.2%, 8.1%, and 5.4%, respectively. Non-CR at transplantation, MRD, and no aGVHD were significant adverse prognostic factors for survival. Medium-dose VP/CY/TBI for adult ALL patients was associated with lower relapse rate and no increase in toxicity, resulting in better survival.

Efficacy of etoposide, cyclophosphamide, and total body irradiation in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for adult patients with hematological malignancies

INTRODUCTION

A combination of fractionated total body irradiation (TBI) with etoposide (VP-16) and cyclophosphamide (CY) as a preconditioning regimen (VP/CY/TBI) has been reported to be safe and effective for both adults and children undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT). However, the reported doses of VP-16 were different. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of a VP-16 (at less than the usual dose)/CY/TBI regimen for adults with hematological malignancies who are required to receive allo-BMT.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-eight patients received VP-16, CY and TBI (VP/CY/TBI) as a preconditioning regimen for allo-BMT. Twenty-one patients were in first complete remission (1CR), six patients were in second remission (2CR) and 11 patients were in non-remission status (non-CR) before allo-BMT. These patients received allo-BMT from related donors (n=14) and unrelated donors (n=24). The preconditioning regimen consisted of VP-16 (15 mg/kg/d for 2 d), CY (60 mg/kg/d for 2 d) and 12 Gy TBI in six fractions for 3 d.

RESULTS

Two patients died on day 30 after transplantation. The median follow-up period for all patients was 35.0 months (range 0.8-159.6 months). At the time of analysis, 10 patients had died. Seven of those 10 patients died because of relapse. The estimated 5-yr disease-free survival (DFS) rates for all cases and acute myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases were 73.6, 66.7 and 100%, respectively. The estimated 5-yr DFS rates for 1CR, 2CR and non-CR cases were 90.5, 83.3 and 40.9%, respectively (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Based on these findings, we suggest that a VP/CY/TBI regimen is effective and safe for adult patients with hematological malignancies in 1CR and 2CR.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for acute myeloblastic leukaemia in remission: risk factors for long-term morbidity and mortality

In this single-centre retrospective study, we analysed risk factors for nonrelapse long-term morbidity and mortality in patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) who had undergone allogeneic transplantation. A total of 112 patients with de novo AML in first complete remission (CR1), n=90 or second complete remission (CR2, n=22) who received un-manipulated bone marrow grafts from human leukocyte antigen identical siblings between January 1985 and August 2000 were included. Of these, 97 patients alive and disease-free for at least 100 days after transplant were selected for the purpose of this long-term analysis. The use of an intensified conditioning regimen, Gram-negative bacteriaemia before transplantation, year of transplantation and number of pretransplant chemotherapy courses for patients in CR1 significantly affected the 7-year event-free survival which was 57%. 7-year transplant-related mortality TRM was 22%. Significant predictors for TRM were: bacterial infections before transplantation, major ABO blood group incompatibility, late severe bacterial infections, and chronic (graft-versus-host disease) GvHD. Predictive factors for late severe bacterial infections were infections before transplant, total body irradiation and GvHD. Incidence and risk factors for other late events including, chronic GvHD, late infections, osteonecrosis, cataract, endocrine- cardiac- and lung-complications, cancer and performance status at last follow-up were also studied. The analysis strongly suggests that the combination of pretransplant factors such as chemotherapy and conditioning, and posttransplant factors such as chronic GvHD had a major impact on late nonrelapse morbidity and mortality.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for children with acute leukemia: cytoreduction with fractionated total body irradiation, high-dose etoposide and cyclophosphamide

Marrow-ablative chemo-radiotherapy followed by hematopoietic stem cell rescue from an allogeneic source improves outcomes for children with high-risk acute leukemia. The first effective pre-transplant preparative regimens consisted of high-dose cyclophosphamide (CY) and total body irradiation (TBI). Subsequent attempts have been made to improve leukemia-free survival, by adding other chemotherapy agents to these agents. In previous clinical studies of total body irradiation, etoposide, cyclophosphamide (TBI-VP-16-Cy) in adult allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, there has been a high incidence of severe regimen-related toxicity. In this study, we investigated the safety and efficacy of this combination in 41 children who received TBI (12-14 Gy), VP-16 (30 mg/kg), and CY (60 mg/kg x 2) and then either matched sibling or alternative donor transplants for acute leukemia. There was only one case of fatal regimen-related toxicity. The estimated 3-year event-free survival for patients with early or intermediate stage disease was 68% (53-88%). The estimated event-free survival of patients with advanced disease was 17% (5-59%). TBI-VP16-CY is safe in pediatric transplantation, and it has good efficacy for transplant recipients with less advanced disease. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 489-494.

High-dose etoposide, cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for resistant acute myeloid leukemia: a study by the North American Marrow Transplant Group

We evaluated the toxicity and efficacy of high-dose etoposide, cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation (TBI) followed by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for patients with resistant, acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Between 9/84 and 11/92 we treated 70 patients with etoposide (900-1800 mg/m2), cyclophosphamide (120-180 mg/kg) and TBI (1000-1200 cGy) followed by allogeneic BMT from histocompatible siblings. Forty patients were in untreated first relapse. Median time from diagnosis to transplant was 10 months. Toxicity was similar to that observed with cyclophosphamide/TBI with the median duration of neutropenia (ANC < 500/microliters) being 19 days (range 10-27) and the median duration of thrombocytopenia being 23 days (range 13-173). Twenty-three patients remain in continuous complete remission at a median of 56 months after transplant (range 36-132 months). Probabilities of disease-free survival, persistent/recurrent disease and transplant related mortality are .32, .47, and .37 respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that grade > or = 2 acute graft-vs-host disease and transplant in untreated first relapse were associated with increased DFS due to reduced relapse risk. We conclude that high-dose etoposide with cyclophosphamide and TBI followed by allogeneic BMT is effective therapy for resistant AML, producing durable remission in approximately one-third of those treated. Disease persistence or recurrence was the major cause of treatment failure. Further improvement in DFS following allogeneic BMT for resistant AML might be achieved by using less intensive GVHD prophylaxis or through infusion of donor peripheral blood cells in patients who fail to develop significant acute GVHD.

Efficacy and toxicity of radiation in preparative regimens for pediatric stem cell transplantation. I: Clinical applications and therapeutic effects

Here, we review the role of total body irradiation in the treatment of children with bone marrow transplantation, as well as alternative sources of stem cells. We were unable to demonstrate any clear superiority of TBI-containing preparative regimens, but we were able to find a few definitive reports of significantly enhanced toxicity or important variations in control of the underlying primary diseases, in comparing TBI-based regimens, with those containing only chemotherapy.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for leukemia following piperazinedione and fractionated total body irradiation

Between 1980 and 1988, 126 patients with leukemia were treated with piperazinedione and fractionated total body irradiation (TBI) followed by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from HLA matched siblings. Sixty-one patients had acute myelogenous leukemia, 46 acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and 19 chronic myelogenous leukemia. Patients with acute leukemia in first complete remission were transplanted only if perceived to have a low probability of remaining in remission with conventional therapy. The toxicity from the preparative regimen was similar to that of cyclophosphamide and TBI except that none of the patients in the study had hemorrhagic cystitis or veno-occlusive disease. After a median follow up of 114 months, 29 patients (23%) are still alive without relapse. The survival of patients with acute myelogenous or lymphoblastic leukemia transplanted in their first remission were 35% and 43%, respectively. The survival of patients transplanted in their first chronic phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia was 60%. The results of this preparative regimen are comparable to those of cyclophosphamide and TBI.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation following busulfan-cyclophosphamide with or without etoposide conditioning regimen for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

We have investigated the feasibility and efficacy of administering a radiation-free preparative regimen in the setting of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in 40 consecutive patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Busulfan (4 mg/kg/d x 4 d) and cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg/d x 4 d) (BuCy4) were given in 29 patients and 11 received busulfan (4 mg/kg/d x 4 d), etoposide (60 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg/d x 2 d) (BuCy+VP - 16). Median age was 22 years (range 1-50); 11 patients were children < or = 15 years of age. All children and 20 adults were at high risk of relapse pretransplant. Nine adults and one child died from transplant-related toxicity. 11 patients relapsed at a median of 11 months post-transplant (range 2-27). The 3-year Kaplan-Meier estimated probability of relapse was 42.1% and found to be significantly lower in patients with chronic GVHD (P = 0.03). 19 patients are leukaemia-free survivors with a median follow-up of 33 months (range 7-59). The Kaplan-Meier actuarial probability of disease-free survival at 3 years was 43% for all patients. 63.6% for children versus 30.2% for adults (P = 0.24) and 51.6% for patients transplanted in first remission versus 30.2% for those transplanted in subsequent remissions (P = 0.20).

Preliminary results of treatment with filgrastim for relapse of leukemia and myelodysplasia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

BACKGROUND

Patients whose leukemia relapses after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation have a poor prognosis; few respond to further chemotherapy, and almost none survive over the long term. We present preliminary observations on the use of filgrastim (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) for relapse after transplantation.

METHODS

Seven female patients with leukemia (one with chronic myelogenous leukemia, five with acute myelogenous leukemia, and one with a myelodysplastic syndrome that transformed into acute myelogenous leukemia) whose disease relapsed within 360 days after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation received filgrastim (5 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day by subcutaneous injection) to reinduce remission by stimulating residual donor marrow cells. Cytogenetic analysis of bone marrow, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and determination of restriction-fragment--length polymorphisms were used to assess response and chimerism.

RESULTS

Three of the seven patients had a complete hematologic and cytogenetic remission, with reestablishment of hematopoiesis of donor origin. Mild chronic graft-versus-host disease developed in one patient, and acute graft-versus-host disease in none. One patient had a relapse 12 months after treatment, and two others remained in remission after 10 and 11 months. In two of the patients with a response, fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated stimulation of donor cells without differentiation of the leukemic clone.

CONCLUSIONS

Filgrastim may be effective in selected cases of leukemic relapse after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.