Pre-Transplant Marital Status and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Outcomes

Background

Evidence about the impact of marital status before hematopoietic cell transplantation (hct) on outcomes after hct is conflicting.

Methods

We identified patients 40 years of age and older within the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research registry who underwent hct between January 2008 and December 2015. Marital status before hct was declared as one of: married or living with a partner, single (never married), separated or divorced, and widowed. We performed a multivariable analysis to determine the association of marital status with outcomes after hct.

Results

We identified 10,226 allogeneic and 5714 autologous hct cases with, respectively, a median follow-up of 37 months (range: 1-102 months) and 40 months (range: 1-106 months). No association between marital status and overall survival was observed in either the allogeneic (p = 0.58) or autologous (p = 0.17) setting. However, marital status was associated with grades 2-4 acute graft-versus-host disease (gvhd), p < 0.001, and chronic gvhd, p = 0.04. The risk of grades 2-4 acute gvhd was increased in separated compared with married patients [hazard ratio (hr): 1.13; 95% confidence interval (ci): 1.03 to 1.24], and single patients had a reduced risk of grades 2-4 acute gvhd (hr: 0.87; 95% ci: 0.77 to 0.98). The risk of chronic gvhd was lower in widowed compared with married patients (hr: 0.82; 95% ci: 0.67 to 0.99).

Conclusions

Overall survival after hct is not influenced by marital status, but associations were evident between marital status and grades 2-4 acute and chronic gvhd. To better appreciate the effects of marital status and social support, future research should consider using validated scales to measure social support and patient and caregiver reports of caregiver commitment, and to assess health-related quality of life together with health care utilization.

Early post transplant (F-18) 2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography does not predict outcome for patients undergoing auto-SCT in non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma

Positron emission tomography (PET) in conjunction with computed tomography is a frequently used modality for staging patients with lymphoma. Utility of PET-computed tomography before or early following auto-SCT has not been as rigorously evaluated. We retrospectively analyzed patients who received auto-SCT for treatment of relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkins lymphoma or Hodgkins disease between the years of 1996 and 2007. Patients who had either a PET scan following salvage chemotherapy within 14 weeks of transplantation (pre-PET), and/or a PET scan 6-14 weeks following transplantation (post-PET) were included. A total of 90 patients were identified for analysis. The median follow-up time is 3.3 years, with a range of 0.13-12.0 years. The median PFS was 4.6 years, and median OS was 5.1 years. At the time of this analysis, 34 patients (37%) experienced disease relapse, and 25 (27%) of the patients died from disease progression. In multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis, post-PET did not predict for outcome, pre-PET positivity predicted for decrease in PFS. In conclusion, post-PET scan did not predict for PFS or OS in multivariate analysis. Positive pre-PET scan did predict for PFS as seen in previous studies, and may help identify patients who would benefit from innovative post transplant therapies.

Randomized phase II trial of the nucleolin targeting aptamer AS1411 combined with high-dose cytarabine in relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

7019

Background: Aptamers are small synthetic oligonucleotides that form stable nuclease-resistant 3D structures and bind target proteins with specificity and affinity similar to antibodies. These “chemical antibodies” represent a new class of therapeutics. The AS1411 aptamer binds nucleolin on the surface of cancer cells and induces apoptosis. AS1411 has synergistic effects in combination with cytarabine on AML cell lines in vitro and in vivo. A phase I trial of AS1411 monotherapy in 30 patients with advanced cancer showed objective responses without serious toxicities. Methods: This open-label randomized phase II trial compared AS1411 plus high-dose cytarabine (HiDAC) with HiDAC alone in patients with primary refractory or relapsed AML who had received up to 3 previous lines of chemotherapy. Patients in cohort I were randomized 2:1 to receive AS1411 10 mg/kg/day as continuous IVI on days 1–7 + HiDAC 1.5 g/m2/ twice daily on days 4–7 or HiDAC alone for 4 days. Following safety assessment, a second cohort was randomized in a similar manner, with AS1411 escalated to 40 mg/kg/day. Objectives were comparison of response rates (CR+CRp), safety and tolerability between treatment groups. Results: Accrual has been completed, with 71 patients randomized: 22 to AS1411 10 mg/kg/day + HiDAC (AS1411–10), 26 to AS1411 40 mg/kg/day + HiDAC (AS1411–40) and 23 to HiDAC alone (control). Safety findings are currently available for 44 patients (AS1411–10, 21; AS1411–40, 9; control, 14). The main grade 3/4 toxicities were hematologic, notably febrile neutropenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia; and infections. Safety findings were similar across groups, except that grade 3 hypokalemia was more frequent with AS1411–40. Deaths within 28 days of treatment were: AS1411–10, 1/21; AS1411–40, 1/9; and control, 2/14. Response data are currently available for 39 patients; response rates were: AS1411–10, 16% (3/19); AS1411–40, 14% (1/7); and control, 0% (0/13). Conclusions: Data from this first phase II trial of an aptamer in oncology are encouraging. The combination of AS1411 at 10 or 40 mg/kg/day with HiDAC appears well tolerated and shows promising signs of activity in patients with relapsed/refractory AML.

[Table: see text]

Cloretazine is an effective induction therapy in elderly patients (pts) with poor-risk de novo AML

6512

Background: The incidence of AML increases with age with a median of 68 years in the US. The treatment of elderly pts (≥60 years) with AML poses challenges related to pt characteristics (age, performance status (PS), comorbidities) and adverse biological features. The majority of elderly pts are not considered for standard induction therapies that incorporate araC + anthracycline, and complete remission rates (CR+CRp), leukemia-free (LFS) and overall survival (OS) are significantly lower than in younger pts. As a result, NCCN guidelines recommend investigational therapy for this population. Cloretazine (C) is a novel DNA alkylating agent that selectively targets the O-6 position in guanine and has been developed in AML, based on phase I data demonstrating activity in refractory hematologic malignancies with acceptable toxicity. Methods: A multi-center trial in elderly pts with untreated poor-risk AML and high risk MDS was performed. Pts received C (600 mg/m2) as a single 30–60 minute infusion. Retreatment for induction was permitted for pts who showed improvement. A consolidation course of C at 400 mg/m2 was an option for pts who achieved a CR. Results: 105 pts were treated, of whom 45 pts (median age 72, range 60–84) had de novo AML, 44 had secondary AML, and 16 had high-risk MDS. Considering only de novo AML pts, pt characteristics are the following: M/F=25/20; favorable/intermediate/poor/NA cytogenetics =0/28(62%)/15(33%)/2; and PS 0/1/2=8(18%)/21(47%)/16(36%). The CR rate was 49% (N=22). CR was 50% for pts with intermediate cytogenetics and 53% for pts with poor risk cytogenetics. CR remained consistent despite increasing PS (PS0=50%, PS1=48%, PS2=50%). For responders, the median time for ANC≥1000 cells/dl was 31 days (range 27–44) and for plt≥20,000/dl was 22 days (range 14–29). There was no significant non-hematologic toxicity; the early death rate was 20%. Of the 22 pts who achieved CR, 8 remain alive and disease-free at a median of 337 days (range 137–546). At one year, the LFS is 27% and the OS is 22%. Conclusion: C is very well tolerated and has demonstrated impressive response results as a single agent in an elderly pt population with poor risk AML.

[Table: see text]

Poor risk assessment in the elderly receiving cloretazine induction for AML or MDS

18562

Background: Elderly patients (pts) ≥60 years with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) have lower response rates, and higher morbidity and mortality than younger pts when treated with cytotoxic induction therapy. Common disease-related factors that predict poor response in the elderly are adverse cytogenetics and secondary leukemia (following antecedent hematologic disorder or exposure to chemotherapy). Pt-related factors such as ECOG performance status (PS) and organ dysfunction affect treatment decisions due to poor tolerability and early death. Cloretazine, a novel alkylating agent has significant activity in AML and MDS with a favorable safety profile. A Phase II study of monotherapy induction was conducted in elderly pts with AML or high risk MDS (N = 105, median age 72, range 60–88), with a 31% complete response rate and minimal non-hematologic toxicity. To describe the pts in this study considered “unfit” for 7+3 induction, disease-related and pt-related information was obtained. The Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Comorbidity Index (Sorrer et al, 2005) (HCT-CI) is a modification of the Charlson Comorbidity Index (Charlson et al.1987), for pts considered for stem cell transplant. Seventeen medical conditions are included with weighted values predicting non-relapse mortality (NRM). Methods: Baseline demographic and pt-related data was obtained from case report forms. In addition to disease-related prognostic indicators, pt-related data was scored by the HCT-CI. Pts were grouped in risk categories for NRM by HCT-CI scores (low = 0, intermediate = 1 or 2; high ≥3). Results: Either or both disease-related poor risk factors were present in 68 pts (65%): 42 pts (40%) had unfavorable cytogenetics and 45 pts (43%) had secondary AML. No pt had favorable cytogenetics. Ninety-four (89%) pts had at least one HCT-CI comorbidity. The most common were cardiac (46%), psychiatric (28%); hepatic (25%) and controlled infection (24%). By HCT-CI, the risk for NRM was low in 10%, intermediate in 32%, and high in 57% of pts. Conclusions: The majority of these elderly pts were poor-risk by disease-related criteria or comorbidities measured by the HCT-CI. This index warrants further testing for determining NRM risk of induction regimens for elderly pts with AML.

[Table: see text]

Inhaled steroids as prophylaxis for delayed pulmonary toxicity syndrome in breast cancer patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of inhaled fluticasone propionate (Flovent) as prophylaxis against delayed pulmonary toxicity syndrome (DPTS) and decline in pulmonary function in breast cancer patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy with the conditioning regimen of cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and carmustine (CPB) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty-three consecutive patients with multinode-positive or metastatic breast cancer undergoing high-dose chemotherapy with CPB and ASCT who were treated at the Duke University Adult Bone Marrow Transplant Program. All patients were started on inhaled fluticasone propionate, 880 microg every 12 hours, for 12 weeks from the start date of their CPB conditioning regimen. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) with a single-breath diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) were performed pre-ASCT as well as approximately 6 and 12 weeks post-ASCT. DPTS was defined as follows: (1) development of a nonproductive cough and dyspnea with or without fever, plus a fall in DLCO to less than 60% predicted; or (2) decline in DLCO to less than 50% predicted with or without symptoms.

RESULTS

Pulmonary function tests were done on all patients pre-ASCT, on 56 of the 63 patients at a median of 44 days (range, 25 to 73 days) post-ASCT, and on 51 of the 63 patients at a median of 96 days (range, 50 to 190 days) post-ASCT. The PFTs showed an average of an 8% (+/-26%) and 21% (+/-22%) decline in DLCO. These declines compare favorably with our historical control group of 45 consecutive breast cancer patients undergoing ASCT with CPB as a conditioning regimen, who experienced average declines in DLCO of 29% (+/-18%) (P < .001) and 33% (+/-18%) (P < .001) at comparable time periods post-ASCT. Delayed pulmonary toxicity syndrome occurred in 35% of treated patients compared to 73% of the historical controls (P = .0003). No patients died of DPTS or pulmonary problems, and there were no fungal pneumonias.

CONCLUSION

Inhaled fluticasone propionate may decrease the incidence of DPTS in patients treated with CPB as a conditioning regimen for ASCT, as well as help to preserve pulmonary function as measured by DLCO. These results are worthy of further study in a randomized clinical trial.

Secondary myelodysplasia and acute leukemia in breast cancer patients after autologous bone marrow transplant

PURPOSE

To determine the incidence of myelodysplasia (MDS) and/or acute leukemia (AL) in breast cancer patients after high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with a single conditioning regimen and autologous bone marrow transplant (ABMT), and analyze the cytogenetic abnormalities that arise after HDC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 864 breast cancer patients who underwent ABMT at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, from 1985 through 1996 who received the same preparative regimen of cyclophosphamide 1,875 mg/m2 for 3 days, cisplatin 55 mg/m2 for 3 days, and BCNU 600 mg/m2 for 1 day (CPB). Pretransplant cytogenetics were analyzed in all patients and posttransplant cytogenetics were evaluated in four of five patients who developed MDS/AL.

RESULTS

Five of 864 patients developed MDS/AL after HDC with CPB and ABMT. The crude cumulative incidence of MDS/AL was 0.58%. The Kaplan-Meier curve shows a 4-year probability of developing MDS/AL of 1.6%. Pretransplant cytogenetics performed on these five patients were all normal. Posttransplant cytogenetics were performed on four of five patients and they were abnormal in all four, although only one patient had the most common cytogenetic abnormality associated with secondary MDS/AL (chromosome 5 and/or 7 abnormality).

CONCLUSION

Whereas MDS/AL is a potential complication of HDC with CPB and ABMT, the incidence in this series of patients with breast cancer was relatively low compared with that reported in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who underwent ABMT. The cytogenetic abnormalities reported in this group of breast cancer patients were not typical of those seen in prior reports of secondary MDS/AL and appear to have occurred after HDC.