Miklos DB, et al.- Novel research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology investigated the effectiveness of ibrutinib as a first-line treatment for newly diagnosed moderate or severe chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) in patients without prior systemic treatment. While the results did not show statistical significance in response rates, duration of response, and overall survival, the study emphasized the urgent need for more effective cGVHD treatments and research in this vital area.
Dehn J, et al. – Research presented at the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Annual Meeting showed that a donor search prognosis-based algorithm can be implemented into a multicenter trial and results in equivalent chances of patients receiving HCT regardless of their baseline search prognosis. The study suggests the algorithm can be a valuable tool for defining the donor search strategy and improving the success rate of transplantation in patients needing curative cellular therapy.
Liberio N, et al. – The CIBMTR conducted a study to address the lack of data guiding haploidentical (haplo) donor selection for pediatric HCT. Research presented at the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Annual Meeting showed that sibling donors had a lower risk of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease and graft failure when compared to parental donors. The study suggests sibling donors may be the optimal haplo donor choice for pediatric HCT to minimize risks and improve outcomes.
Oshima MU, et al. – Research published in Blood Advances compared CMV reactivation and disease in seropositive HCT recipients using different GVHD prophylaxis approaches. Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) combined with a calcineurin inhibitor and mycophenolate mofetil was associated with a higher risk of early CMV reactivation. However, the risk of CMV disease was not significantly different, though patients who develop GVHD are more susceptible to CMV. This highlights that GVHD prevention remains a priority.
Hamed AB, et al. – Research published in Transplantation and Cellular Therapy showed factors associated with potential hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) donors aged 30 and younger opting out of donation on national donor registries. Results suggest potential approaches that national registries could consider to improve donor availability.
Jain T, et al. – Research found that outcomes of myelofibrosis patients receiving HCT were comparable between unrelated and haploidentical donor sources, with matched sibling donors still being the preferred option. This data was presented at the 2023 Tandem Meetings of the ASTCT and the CIBMTR.
Abid MB, et al. – Two research studies presented at the 2023 Tandem Meetings of the ASTCT and the CIBMTR compared the outcomes of adult allogeneic HCT recipients with AML and B-cell ALL based on donor type. Results showed recipients with older matched sibling donors had a significantly higher 5-year disease relapse than those with younger matched unrelated donors.
Niederwieser D, et al. – Research showed older patients with AML in their first complete remission who received allogeneic HCT had better outcomes than those who received non-transplant, conventional consolidation treatment. This data was presented at the 64th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition.
Stefanski HE, et al. – Research shows the number of HCT unrelated donors testing positive for COVID-19 following medical clearance for donation was 2.4-fold higher in the first half of 2022 compared to the first half of 2021 (n=53 vs. 22). Donor positivity led to transplantation postponement for some patients that already started conditioning and for all who had not started conditioning, highlighting the need for transplant centers to have a backup plan.
Stelljes M, et al. – Researchers presented this novel randomized controlled trial at the 64th Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American Society of Hematology. Results showed that patients with relapsed/refractory AML may have comparable remission and survival outcomes with sequential conditioning versus intensive induction chemotherapy before allogeneic HCT.
Mehta R, et al. – Research published in Transplantation and Cellular Therapy shows better outcomes for matched unrelated donor and matched sibling donor hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) than haploidentical donor HCT when using post-transplant cyclophosphamide for graft-versus-host disease prevention in a single center study.
Qayed M, et al. – Research published in Blood Advances shows reductions in acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in both matched unrelated and mismatched unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (MUD and MMUD HCT) when abatacept is added to standard of care treatment. Effects were substantial in MMUD, revealing abatacept as another promising tool to expand HCT access to those without a fully matched donor, which is more common for racially and ethnically diverse patients.
Battipaglia G, et al. – Research published in Bone Marrow Transplantation finds that less HLA mismatching is associated with better overall survival, non-relapse mortality, and leukemia-free survival when comparing one-antigen mismatched unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplant to haploidentical donor HCT in the presence of post-transplant cyclophosphamide.
Gooptu M, et al., Blood—An observational study from the CIBMTR Graft Sources Working Committee found that 8/8 matched unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) with PTCy based graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis resulted in superior overall survival and disease-free survival compared to haploidentical HCT with PTCy in the reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) setting for treatment of acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. It is the first known study that offers a direct comparison between the two donor sources using PTCy.
Use of MMUDs can expand HCT access for ethnically diverse populations.
Auletta J, et al., Transplantation and Cellular Therapy—A manuscript published in
Transplantation and Cellular Therapy offered the first report on the impact of
the COVID-19 pandemic on the ability of the National Marrow Donor Program®
(NMDP)/Be The Match® and the Network to safely deliver unrelated donor products
early in the pandemic. The authors found that the NMDP/Be The Match and Network
partners continued to effectively deliver domestic and unrelated donor products
to allogeneic transplant patients in similar or shorter timeframes than before
COVID-19, despite the many unexpected challenges brought about by the pandemic.