Successful Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Engraftment after a Minimal Conditioning Regimen in Children with Relapsed or Refractory Solid Tumors (original) (raw)

The Transplantation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells After Non-Myeloablative Conditioning: A Cellular Therapeutic Approach to Hematologic and Genetic Diseases

Immunologic Research, 2003

Originally, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was viewed as a form of rescue from the marrow lethal effects of high doses of chemo-radiotherapy used to both eradicate malignancy and to provide sufficient immunosuppression to ensure allogeneic engraftment. Clear evience of a therapeutic graft-versustumor (GVT) effect mediated by allogeneic effector cells (T cells) has prompted the exploration of HSCT regimens that rely solely upon host immunosuppression (non-myeloablative) to facilitate allogeneic donor engraftment. The engrafted donor effector cells are then used to accomplish the task of eradicating host malignant cells. The non-myeloblative regimen developed in Seattle uses 2 Gy total body irradiation (TBI) before transplant followed by postgrafting cyclosporine (CSP) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). This regimen resulted in initial mixed donor-host chimerism in all patients with hematologic malignancies and genetic disorders who received HLA-matched sibling allografts. The 17% incidence of graft rejection was reduced to 3% with the addition of fludarabine, 30 mg/m 2 /day on d -4, -3, and -2. The non-myeloablative combination of fludarabine/TBI has also been successful at achieving high engraftment rates in recipients of 10 of 10 HLA antigen matched unrelated donor HSCTs in patients with hematologic malignancies. By reducing acute toxicities relative to conventional HSCT, most patients have received their pre-and post-HSCT therapy almost exclusively as outpatients. Acute and chronic GVHD occur after non-myeloablative HSCT, but the incidence and severity appear less compared to conventional HSCT. As in conventional transplants, immune dysregulation from GVHD and its treatment and delayed reconstitution of immune function continue to present risks to patients who have otherwise undergone successful non-myeloablative HSCT. Cellular therapeutic effects have been observed after non-myeloablative HSCT such as correction of inherited genetic disorders, and eradication of hematologic malignant diseases and renal cell carcinoma via GVT responses.

Antibody based conditioning for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Frontiers in Immunology, 2022

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a curative therapeutic option for many patients with hematological malignancies and nonmalignant hematopoietic disorders. To achieve stable engraftment of donor hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), recipient HSC deletion is needed to create space for incoming donor HSCs and donor HSCs must escape immune rejection by the recipient. Conventional allo-HSCT requires high dose of irradiation and/or chemotherapy to produce sufficient host stem cell and immune system ablation to permit donor HSC engraftment. However, these procedures also result in nonspecific tissue injury that can cause short-and long-term adverse effects as well as incite and amplify graft-versus-hostdisease (GVHD). The delivery of targeted radiotherapy to hematopoietic tissues with the use of a radioimmunoconjugate (ROIC) as a part of transplant preparative regimen has shown clinical benefits. ROIC clinical data provide evidence for decreased relapse without increased transplant-related mortality by delivering higher targeted radiation to sites of malignancy than when given in a nontargeted fashion. An alternative approach to allo-HSCT has been developed and tested in preclinical mouse models in which nonmyeloablative preconditioning with low dose of the alkylating agent (busulfan) or lower systemic dose of irradiation combined with costimulatory pathway blockade (CTLA4-Ig, anti-CD40L monoclonal antibody) and/or immunosuppressive drugs have been used. Under these conditions, mixed chimerism and transplantation tolerance to fully MHC mismatched donor marrow was observed. Recently, several novel proof-of-concept antibody-mediated preconditioning methods have been developed that can selectively target hematopoietic stem and immune cells with minimal overall toxicity. Antibody-drug-conjugate (ADC) combined with reduced intensity conditioning or high dose ADC as single dose monotherapy have shown promise for allo-HSCT in preclinical models. The purpose of the current review is to discuss the literature exploring antibody-based conditioning that includes native antibody, radiolabeled antibody conjugates, and ADC for allo-HSCT.

Clinical adoptive chemoimmunotherapy with allogeneic alloactivated HLA-haploidentical lymphocytes: controlled induction of graft-versus-host-reactions

Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy, 1988

A total of 13 cancer patients were treated with Adoptive Chemoimmunotherapy (ACIT) using alloactivated HLA haploidentical lymphocytes. Donor lymphocytes were activated in vitro using a pool of irradiated allogeneic lymphocytes (MLC-cells) and some further expanded by culturing in T-cell growth factor (TCGF-cells). The first 6 patients received i.v. cyclophosphamide (CPM) followed 24 h later by escalating doses of MLC-cells, then 7 days later they received an infusion of TCGF-cells. Minimal toxicity was seen. The next 7 patients received CPM (800 mg/m 2) and a combined MLC and TCGF-cell infusion (total cell dose ranged from 0.79 × 101° to 2.26 × 10~°). Of these 7 patients, 3 developed mild graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR) which resolved without treatment, and 2 patients had progressive GVHR which was arrested by methylprednisolone (2 mg/kg). Peripheral blood lymphocytes from these 2 patients, during the GVHR, had increased activated T-cells (OKT-10+ and OK-Ia+). In vitro expansion, in TCGF, of these activated T-cells enabled HLA typing to prove they were of donor origin. Only 1 clinical antitumor response was observed in the first 6 patients. The results of this study indicate that this form of ACIT can be given to patients with acceptable toxicity. Self-limited or easily controlled GVHR may be induced and primed donor cells persisting in the circulation are probably responsible. Further testing is required to determine whether the immune response induced by this form of AC-IT may be therapeutically effective.

A pilot study of reduced toxicity conditioning with BU, fludarabine and alemtuzumab before the allogeneic hematopoietic SCT in children and adolescents

Bone Marrow Transplantation, 2011

We report the results of a pilot study of a BU-fludarabinealemtuzumab (BFA)-reduced toxicity conditioning (RTC) followed by allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (AlloHSCT) in 12 children and adolescents (o21 years) with malignant and non-malignant diseases. Stem cell sources were: two unrelated cord blood, one unrelated BM, two related and seven unrelated PBSC. Positive CD34 selection was performed in five unrelated PBSC grafts. RCT was carried out with BFA, and GVHD prophylaxis was FK506 and mycophenolate mofetil. The median time for neutrophil and platelet engraftment was 16 and 31 days, respectively. The P of developing Xgrade II, Xgrade III aGVHD and cGVHD was 41.6, 25 and 9%, respectively. Only 1 out of 12 developed Xgrade III toxicity. There was one primary and no secondary graft failure. Mixed donor chimerism on day 100 and 1 year was median 99 and 96%, respectively; X90% of recipients achieved X80% donor chimerism. The 3-year overall survival (OS) in all patients was 91.7 ± 8% (100% for malignant vs 80% for non-malignant diseases, ns). In all, 11 (91%) patients remain alive at median 2.8 (0.3-6.8) years. RTC followed by AlloHSCT, based on BFA conditioning, is feasible and tolerable in children and adolescents, and results in prompt achievement of durable mixed donor chimerism and excellent OS.

Graft-versus-host disease and graft-versus-tumor effects after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

2013

We designed a minimal-intensity conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in patients with advanced hematologic malignancies unable to tolerate high-intensity regimens because of age, serious comorbidities, or previous high-dose HCT. The regimen allows the purest assessment of graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effects apart from conditioning and graftversus-host disease (GVHD) not augmented by regimen-related toxicities.

Prompt initiation of immunotherapy in children with an increasing number of autologous cells after allogeneic HCT can induce complete donor-type chimerism: a report of 14 children

Bone Marrow Transplantation, 2003

Immunotherapy consisting of withdrawal of immunosuppression and/or donor lymphocyte infusions was initiated in 14 children (10 acute lymphoblastic leukemia, three acute myeloblastic leukemia and one myelodysplastic syndrome) with an increasing amount of autologous DNA (increasing mixed chimerism, inMC) detected after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Two children were in relapse when inMC was detected, 12 remained in CR. Children with overt relapse at the time of cessation of cyclosporine A (CsA) received 'debulking' chemotherapy. One of them developed acute grade III graft-versus-host disease, converted to complete donor chimerism (CC) and achieved remission. Another patient did not respond and died due to disease progression. Among 12 children treated in remission, 11 responded with conversion to CC, seven after CsA withdrawal and four after DLI. One patient did not respond, rejected the graft and died due to pulmonary aspergillosis. In one patient, the response was transient, inMC reappeared and frank relapse occurred. One patient developed isolated CNS relapse despite conversion to CC, but achieved CR after conventional treatment. One child died in CC due to infection. No graft-versus-host disease (GvHD)-related death occurred. A total of 10 patients are alive in remission with median follow-up of 338 days. Our results support the hypothesis that chimerism-guided immunotherapy after alloHCT may prevent progression to hematological relapse.

Graft-Versus-Tumor Effects After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation With Nonmyeloablative Conditioning

Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2005

Purpose We have used a nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen consisting of total-body irradiation (2 Gy) with or without fludarabine (30 mg/m2/d for 3 days) for related and unrelated hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in patients with hematologic malignancies who were not candidates for conventional HCT because of age, medical comorbidities, or preceding high-dose HCT. This approach relied on graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effects for control of malignancy. Patients and Methods We analyzed GVT effects in 322 patients given grafts from HLA-matched related (n = 192) or unrelated donors (n = 130). Results Of the 221 patients with measurable disease at HCT, 126 (57%) achieved complete (n = 98) or partial (n = 28) remissions. In multivariate analysis, there was a higher probability trend of achieving complete remissions in patients with chronic extensive graft-versus-host disease (GVHD; P = .07). One hundred eight patients (34%) relapsed or progressed. In multivariate analysis, achieveme...

Clinical relevance of recipient leukocyte infusion as antitumor therapy following nonmyeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

Experimental Hematology, 2006

Objective. Graft-versus-leukemia effects of donor lymphocytes have been considered to be central to the therapeutic benefit of nonmyeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for malignant diseases. Surprisingly, some patients who reject donor grafts following nonmyeloablative HCT have sustained remissions of advanced, chemorefractory hematologic malignancies. In murine mixed chimeras prepared with nonmyeloablative conditioning, we previously showed that recipient leukocyte infusions (RLIs) induce loss of donor chimerism and mediate antitumor responses against host-type tumors. We assessed the clinical relevance of our mouse model. Methods. Mixed chimeric mice were generated by a nonmyeloablative protocol and some of them received host-derived tumor cells and/or RLIs or donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI). We examined chimerism, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and tumor survival. Results. RLI is still effective when the leukocytes are obtained from tumor-bearing mice. Established mixed chimerism is required prior to the induced rejection to achieve maximum antitumor effects. The antitumor effects of RLI are not dependent on a specific donor strain or conditioning protocol. In contrast to DLI, RLI leads to donor cell rejection without the risk of GVHD. Conclusion. Together, these data reinforce the clinical potential of RLI therapy as a new HCT strategy that does not carry the risk of GVHD.