造血干细胞移植治疗儿童髓系白血病26例疗效分析

目的 了解造血干细胞移植对儿童急性髓系白血病(AML)和慢性粒细胞白血病(CML)的治疗效果.方法 髓系白血病患儿26例,平均年龄为9.8岁,其中CML 8例,AML18例.CML患儿中,第1次慢性期(CPl)6例,加速期(AP)1例,第2次慢性期(CP2)1例;AML患儿中,第1次缓解(CRl)9例,第2次缓解(CR2)7例,2例未缓解(NCR).26例中,2例接受HLA全相合同胞供者的外周血与骨髓干细胞联合移植;2例接受由HLA半相合母亲供者外周血干细胞分离出的CD34+细胞输注;2例接受脐血移植;其余20例接受外周血造血干细胞移植.每例移植有核细胞(6.8±6.0)×108/kg,CD34+细胞(4.0±5.8)×106/kg,CD3+细胞(2.6±3.8)×108/kg.所有患儿均采用白消安及环磷酰胺进行清髓性预处理.移植后采用环孢素A和甲氨蝶呤联用预防移植物抗宿主病(GVHD),接受无关供者造血干细胞移植者加用抗胸腺细胞球蛋白,6例CML患儿加用霉酚酸酯.若发生Ⅱ度以上GVHD,则给予甲泼尼龙或巴利昔单抗治疗.结果 除2例HLA半相合移植失败外,其余24例均获得造血功能重建.24例植入成功的患儿中,2例未发生急性GVHD(aGVHD),15例(62.5%,15/24)出现Ⅰ～Ⅱ度aGVHD,7例(29.2%,7/24)出现Ⅲ～Ⅳ度aGVHD(重度aGVHD).7例重度aGVHD均为CML患儿.26例平均随访20.5个月,其中原发病复发死亡者4例,治疗相关死亡者5例,尚有17例(65.4%,17/26)患儿无病存活.结论 异基因造血干细胞移植有助于提高髓系白血病患儿的存活率,只要加强预防,无关供者造血干细胞移植产生的GVHD是可以控制的.而对于高危患儿,无关供者造血干细胞移植的效果与亲缘相关供者移植相似.     

Bone marrow transplantation depleted of T cells followed by repletion with incremental doses of donor lymphocytes for relapsing patients with chronic myeloid leukemia: a therapeutic strategy

BACKGROUND: For patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), long-term survival after stem cell transplantation requires adequate control of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and disease recurrence. Relapsing patients respond to donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) but develop life-threatening complications. METHODS: Patients with CML in first chronic phase received bone marrow (n = 14) or peripheral blood progenitor cell transplants (n = 4) from HLA-identical siblings. GVHD prophylaxis was by ex vivo T-cell depletion with CAMPATH 1G. If disease recurred, donors' mononuclear cells were collected by apheresis, the CD3 samples commencing at 10(6)/kg were aliquoted at half-log increment intervals, cryopreserved, and infused until disease clearance. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (median age: 32.5 years) received transplants. All engrafted without procedure-related mortality. Fourteen patients relapsed, and 13 entered the DLI program. Two developed extensive GVHD after single schedule infusions ranging from 89x10(6) to 670x10(6) mononuclear cells/kg, and one survives in complete remission (CR). The rest, treated with incremental dose DLI, experienced no acute toxicities. One, who had developed grade III steroid-responsive GVHD, died in CR2 from opportunistic infections. Steroids reversed limited cutaneous GVHD and elevated liver enzymes in five patients. Three others developed pancytopenia, and two restored blood counts only after donor peripheral blood progenitor cell infusions. Molecular CR2 was established in 12/13 patients, occurring in 10/11 (91%) on the incremental program at a median accumulation of 67 (range: 5-166) x10(6) CD3 cells/kg. Sixteen of 18 (89%) survive at median of 854.5 days from bone marrow transplantation, 4 in CR1 and 10 in CR2 at a median disease-free survival (for remission 2) duration of 341 days. The median combined disease-free survival of the 14 patients in CR 1+2 is 660 days, with 99% average performance status. CONCLUSIONS: Escalating DLI leads to safe new molecular CR in most CML relapse patients. These results raise the possibility of using "safe" transplantation programs of T-cell depletion, that include graded DLI as prevention against disease recurrence.     

Graft-versus-host Disease–free,Relapse-free Survival After HLA-identical Sibling Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation With Tacrolimus-based Graft-versus-host Disease Prophylaxis in Japanese Patients

The ideal post-allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation recovery is not just the cure of hematologic malignancies but also freedom from ongoing morbidity. Recent studies have revealed that HLA-identical sibling peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) had been providing impaired graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)–free relapse-free survival (GRFS) due to a higher risk of GVHD. Study on GVHD prophylaxis bears clinical reliance when focused on Japanese population because risk of GVHD differs among races. We identified 15 consecutive Japanese patients who received tacrolimus-based GVHD prophylaxis after myeloablative HLA-identical sibling PBSCT. No episode of grade ≥ II acute GVHD and only one episode of grade III toxicity were documented, with the control of mean weekly blood tacrolimus concentrations during the first 4 weeks at 13 to 17 ng/mL. An estimated 46.7% (95% CI: 21.4% to 71.9%) of the patients enjoyed their GRFS at 3 years after transplantation, and failure in the treatment of chronic GVHD was not reported during the median follow-up period of 1059 days (range, 784 to 1778 days) after the development of chronic GVHD. The results suggest that the application of tacrolimus with the optimization of its blood concentrations may effectively prevent ongoing morbidities after HLA-identical sibling PBSCT.     

伊马替尼联合供者淋巴细胞输注治疗造血干细胞移植后慢性粒细胞白血病复发

目的 探讨伊马替尼联合供者淋巴细胞输注(DLI)治疗异基因造血干细胞移植后慢性粒细胞白血病(CML)复发的效果.方法 3例CML(慢性期)患者,在接受预处理后,例1接受其胞妹外周血造血干细胞移植,例2接受其胞兄的骨髓移植,例3接受其胞弟的骨髓与外周血造血干细胞联合移植.例1移植后采用环孢素A(CsA)和霉酚酸酯(MMF)预防移植物抗宿主病(GVHD),例2采用CsA、短程甲氨蝶呤(MTX)、抗胸腺细胞球蛋白及抗CD25单克隆抗体预防GVHD,例3应用CsA、MTX和MMF预防GVHD.采用细胞遗传学及荧光原位杂交技术动态监测治疗效果.移植后发生血液学复发时,给予伊马替尼口服,并行DLI.结果 例1移植后30 d行DLI,输注CD3+T淋巴细胞0.5×107 /kg,移植后50 d和70 d,再次行DLI,分别输注CD3+ T淋巴细胞1.0 × 107 /kg和2.0×107 /kg,短串联重复序列(STR)检测提示为完全供者嵌合(DC).移植后120 d,疾病进展,给予伊马替尼400 mg/d,同时输注供者CD3+ T淋巴细胞2.5 × 107/kg.移植后180 d,STR检查提示仍为DC.患者最终于移植后17个月因髓外复发死亡.例2的染色体核型于移植后35 d转变为46,XY,XY为100%,BCR-ABL融合基因阴性.移植后100 d,原发病复发.停用免疫抑制剂,输入供者CD3+ T淋巴细胞3.9×107 /kg,同时口服伊马替尼500 mg/d.DLI联合伊马替尼治疗后30 d,患者的染色体核型为46,XY,XY为100%,BCR-ABL融合基因阴性,患者至今无病存活53个月.例3移植后5 d造血功能获得重建,移植后60 d,染色体核型为46,XY.移植后120 d,确诊CML复发,遂给予伊马替尼400 mg/d,并行DLI,共输注供者CD3+ T淋巴细胞8×107 /kg,1个月后,患者的染色体核型再次转为46,XY,患者至今无病存活50个月.结论 伊马替尼联合DLI对造血干细胞移植后CML复发具有一定的治疗效果.     

Sirolimus (rapamycin) for the treatment of steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease.

BACKGROUND: In a pilot trial we evaluated the toxicity and efficacy of sirolimus (rapamycin) as second-line therapy for the treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in 21 patients (1-46 years of age) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). METHODS: All patients were treated with methylprednisolone at 2 mg/kg/day, but failed to respond satisfactorily. Sirolimus was started 19-78 (median 37) days after HSCT when 10 patients had grade III and 11 had grade IV GVHD. The first four patients received a loading dose (15 mg/m2) of oral sirolimus on day 1 followed by 5 mg/m2/day for 13 days. The next 17 patients received either 5 (n=7) or 4 (n=10) mg/m2/day for 14 days without a loading dose. Eleven patients completed the 14-day sirolimus course. Five patients were treated for 9-13 days, two for 6 days, and three for 1-3 days. RESULTS: Sirolimus was discontinued early in 10 patients because of lack of improvement in GVHD (n=5), myelosuppression (n=2), seizure (n=2), and attending physician preference (n=1). The most common and significant adverse events were thrombocytopenia (n=7) and neutropenia (n=4). Other side effects included increased blood triglycerides (n=8) and cholesterol (n=3). Five patients had evidence of a hemolytic uremic syndrome concurrently with or after sirolimus treatment. Eighteen of the 21 patients received 6 or more doses of sirolimus and 12 responded, 5 with complete and 7 with partial responses. Six of the 12 responders (28% of all patients enrolled) and 1 nonresponder are currently alive at 400-907 days after HSCT, 3 with chronic GVHD. Fourteen of the 21 patients (66%) died 40-263 days after transplant. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that sirolimus has activity in the treatment of steroid-refractory acute GVHD. However, there was considerable toxicity and further dose optimization studies seem warranted.     

非清髓性造血干细胞移植后并发移植物抗宿主病的相关因素分析

目的 探讨和分析非清髓性造血干细胞移植(NST)后并发移植物抗宿主病(GVHD)的相关因素.方法 选择34例血液病患者,其中重型再生障碍性贫血(SAA)15例,重型β-地中海贫血(TM)1例,肿瘤性血液病18例;进行无关供者脐带血造血干细胞移植(UCBT)11例,同胞供者骨髓联合外周血干细胞移植7例,外周血造血干细胞移植(PBSCT)16例.移植前采用以抗胸腺细胞球蛋白(ATG)、抗淋巴细胞球蛋白(ALG)或者氟达拉滨强效免疫抑制为基础的非清髓性预处理方案.GVHD的预防采用短程的甲氨蝶呤(MTX)联合环孢素A(CsA).观察非清髓性造血干细胞移植后的临床特点以及急、慢性移植物抗宿主病的发生情况;分析发生慢性移植物抗宿主病(cGVHD)的相关因素.结果 NST的植入率为91.2%.移植后7例肿瘤性血液病患者形成了供、受者造血细胞混合嵌合体(MC),给予供者淋巴细胞输注(DLI)2～9次后,例由MC转变为供者造血细胞完全嵌合体(FDC).随访12(3～96)个月,共发生Ⅰ～Ⅱ度急性移植物抗宿主病(aGVHD)5例,GVHD 15例.经统计学分析,发现年龄大的肿瘤性血液病患者经以ATG为基础的NST后,再给予DLI,其cGVHD的发生率高,且合并感染,对治疗的反应差;而以氟达拉滨为基础的NST患者发生cGVHD后治疗反应较好.移植100 d前后患者分别死亡3例和5例,其中3例死于广泛性cGVHD.结论 患者的年龄大、有合并症、以ATG为基础的预处理方案、肿瘤性血液病是NST后患者并发cGVHD的危险因素.     

异基因外周血干细胞移植治疗骨髓增生异常综合征8例临床分析

观察异基因外周血干细胞移植(allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation,allo-PBSCT)治疗骨髓增生异常综合征(myelodysplastic syndrome,MDS)的疗效.方法 对2007年5月至2012年1月在中山大学附属第三医院血液科住院的8例MDS患者采用allo-PBSCT治疗.其中男2例,女6例,年龄18 ~ 50岁(中位年龄31岁).按世界卫生组织(World Health Organization,WHO)MDS分型标准(2008年)分类,难治性细胞减少伴多系增生异常(refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia,RCMD)占2例,难治性贫血伴原始细胞增多(refractory anemia with excess blasts,RAEB)-1占1例,RAEB-2占3例,MDS进展为急性髓系白血病(MDS-AML)占2例.供者经粒细胞集落刺激因子(granulocyte colony-stimulating factor,G-CSF)5 ~10 μg/(kg·d)动员5d后,分1~2d采集外周血造血干细胞.受者输入外周血单个核细胞(5.8~11.6)×108/kg(中位数7.7×108/kg).受者预处理方案为BuCy方案6例,改良BuCy方案2例,非亲缘供者联合使用抗胸腺细胞球蛋白(ATG).予环孢素加短疗程甲氨蝶呤方案预防移植物抗宿主病(GVHD).结果 8例患者中有6例移植后造血重建,中性粒细胞≥0.5×109/L和血小板≥20×109/L的时间分别为移植后9~15d(中位数12d)及11~42 d(中位数13d);4例患者发生急性移植物抗宿主病(aGVHD),其中I度1例,Ⅱ度2例,Ⅳ度1例;存活超过l00d的6例患者发生局限型慢性移植物抗宿主病3例.随访时间为2.6~56.9个月(中位数27.0个月),2例患者移植后100 d内死亡,其余患者均无病存活.以Kaplan-Meier法估算,患者总体生存率及无病生存率均为(75.0±15.3)%,生存期为(43.4±8.3)个月.结论 外周血干细胞移植是治疗年轻MDS患者的有效方法.     

Combination of tacrolimus,methotrexate, and methylprednisolone prevents acute but not chronic graft-versus-host disease in unrelated bone marrow transplantation

BACKGROUND: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is still a major problem in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Prophylactic regimens used against GVHD in unrelated BMT, including cyclosporine (CsA)-plus-methotrexate (MTX), CsA-plus-MTX-plus-prednisone, and tacrolimus (FK506)-plus-MTX, are still unsatisfactory (34-70% occurrence of grades II-IV GVHD). To address this problem, we examined the efficacy of FK506-plus-MTX-plus-methylprednisolone (mPSL) in 20 patients who underwent BMT from unrelated donors. METHODS: All patients received FK506 beginning the day before transplantation at a dose of 0.03 mg/kg per day by continuous intravenous (IV) infusion. MTX was administered at a dose of 10 mg/m(2) IV on day 1, and 7 mg/m(2) on days 3, 6, and 11. Intravenous administration of mPSL was started at a dose of 2 mg/kg per day on day 1. In the absence of acute GVHD, mPSL was gradually tapered from day 29. RESULTS: Development of acute GVHD was almost completely suppressed (one patient with grade I, none with grades II-IV). However, the incidence and severity of chronic GVHD did not decrease. Eight of 12 patients with extensive chronic GVHD died of thrombotic microangiopathy or infection. A vigorous fluctuation (>100 U/mL per 10 days) of the soluble interleukin 2 receptor level in the serum after engraftment was highly related to the occurrence of chronic GVHD. CONCLUSIONS: An FK506-plus(+)-MTX-plus(+)-mPSL prophylactic regimen could almost completely suppress acute GVHD but not chronic GVHD in unrelated BMT. In this GVHD prophylactic system, the extent of the change of soluble interleukin 2 receptor level may be a good predictor of development of chronic GVHD.     

Acute graft-versus-host disease in pancreas transplantation: a comparison of two case presentations and a review of the literature

As a complication of solid organ transplantation, acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is most associated with small bowel and liver transplants. We present two cases of acute GVHD following pancreas transplantation. Case 1 was a 27-year-old female who underwent cadaveric pancreas transplant 9 months after a successful live donor kidney transplant. Case 2 was a 38-year-old male who received a simultaneous cadaveric pancreas and live donor kidney transplant. Both patients presented within 30 days of transplant with nonspecific symptoms. Rejection and infection were ruled out. Both subjects had progressive decline in mentation associated with pancytopenia and hyperbilirubinemia. Rash was not present until late in their hospital course. Skin biopsies demonstrated mixed chimerism with pancreas donor DNA diagnostic of GVHD. Acute GVHD is a rare, often fatal, complication of pancreas transplantation, and its presentation appears to differ from acute GVHD associated with stem cell transplantation.     

异基因造血干细胞移植治疗重型β珠蛋白生成障碍性贫血

目的 探讨异基因造血干细胞移植(allo-HSCT)治疗重型β珠蛋白生成障碍性贫血的临床疗效.方法 PesaroⅡ-Ⅲ度重型β珠蛋白生成障碍性贫血患者24例接受allo-HSCT治疗,其中男性18例,女性6例,患者年龄中位数为4岁(2～15岁).24例中,同胞供者23例,母亲供者1例;HLA 6个抗原全相合23例,5个抗原相合1例;骨髓混合外周血干细胞移植15例,脐带血移植9例.采用白消安+环磷酰胺+氟达拉滨的预处理方案.环孢素A(CsA)+甲氨蝶呤(MTX)+抗胸腺细胞球蛋白(ATG)+吗替麦考酚酯(MMF)联用预防移植物抗宿主病(GVHD).中位随访时间13个月(3～69个月).结果 移植后22例患者造血功能顺利恢复.至随访结束,无病存活21例;移植相关死亡1例(4.2%);移植物排斥反应2例(8.3%).21例的3年无病存活率为87.5%,3年总体存活率为91.7%.Ⅱ-Ⅳ度急性GVHD的累积发生率为16.7%,慢性GVHD的累积发生率为20.3%,广泛性慢性GVHD的发生率为5.0%.结论 异基因骨髓混合外周血干细胞移植治疗珠蛋白生成障碍性贫血可获得确切疗效,同时脐带血是珠蛋白生成障碍性贫血移植的重要干细胞来源.CsA+MTX+ATG+小剂量、短疗程MMF的方案可以有效地减少严重急性GVHD的发生,提高移植疗效.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the effect of allgeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for β-thalassemia major. Methods Twenty-four β-thalassemia major patients with median age of 4 years (range: 2～15 years), 18 boys and 6 girls, received allo-HSCT.They were classified into class Ⅱ-Ⅲ according to Pesaro thalassemia classification. Twenty-three transplantations were from sibling donor and 1 was from mother, either HLA-identical (n = 23) or HLA-mismatched (5/6) (n = 1). Fifteen patients received bone marrow transplantation (BMT) plus peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT), and 9 were subjected to umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT). The conditioning regimen consisted of busalphan, cyclophosphamide,fludarabine, plus hydroxyurea before transplantation. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis included CsA, methotrexate, antilymphpcute globulin, and mycophenolate mofetil. The median follow-up period was 13 months (range: 3～69). Results Of 24 patients, there were 21 cases (87. 5 %) of disease-free survival, 1 (4. 2 %) transplantation-related death, and 2 cases (8. 3 %) of rejection. Three-year overall survival and disease-free survival rate was 91.7 % and 87. 5 %respectively. The cumulative incidence of grade Ⅱ -Ⅳ acute GVHD and chronic GVHD was 16. 7 %and 20. 3 %, particularly cumulative extensive chronic GVHD was 5. 0 %. Conclusion The sibling donor BMT plus PBSCT is an effective and safe way to treat β-thalassemia major. Cord blood is an important source of hematopoietic stem cells for HSCT. The protocol GVHD prophylaxis of CsA,MTX, ATG with a low-dose and short course of MMF can effectively reduce the incidence of severe acute GVHD, improve the outcome of thalassemia transplantation.     

减低强度预处理造血干细胞移植联合低剂量环孢素A治疗恶性血液病

目的 探讨以减低强度的氟达拉滨、白消安(Bu)和环磷酰胺(CTX)为预处理方案的异基因外周血造血干细胞移植(HSCT)联合低剂量环孢素A(CsA)的疗效及并发症发生情况.方法 恶性血液病患者11例,接受同胞间HSCT,供、受者问HLA配型,HLA全相合10例.5个抗原相合1例.预处理包括移植前第9～4天给予氟达拉滨30～35 mg·m-2·d-1,移植前第4、3天给予白消安3.2 mg·kg-1·d1,移植前第2、1天给予CTX 60mg·kg1·d-1.移植后联合使用CsA和短程甲氨蝶呤(MTX)预防移植物抗宿主病(GVHD),供者细胞植入后,降低CsA用量.结果 移植后早期11例造血功能均获得重建,骨髓细胞为完全供者型.随访3～17个月,9例并发急性GVHD,主要侵犯肝脏和皮肤;9例并发慢性GVHD,均侵犯口腔和肝脏,其中1例为广泛性慢性GVHD,其余为局限性慢性GVHD.增加CsA用量或者加用甲泼尼龙后,急、慢性GVHD均能得到控制,仅1例需加用霉酚酸脂.11例中,2例的原发病复发,其中1例病情得到控制,1例失访.结论 HSCT时采用氟达拉滨、白消安和环磷酰胺(CTX)预处理方案,并将白消安的用量减为常用剂量的一半,移植后采用低剂量CsA,细胞的植入率高;急、慢性GVHD的发生率较高,但对糖皮质激素和CsA的治疗反应良好.     

Double valve replacement without blood transfusion in a case complicated with liver cirrhosis and pancytopenia

A 63-year-old woman complicated with liver cirrhosis and pancytopenia was admitted for aortic and mitral valve replacement. As laboratory findings at time of admission showed pancytopenia with Hb of 7.3 g/dl, WBC of 2,200/mm3, and platelet of 6.2 x 10(4)/mm3, splenectomy was first conducted and the blood cells and platelet increased in number. At 27 days after splenectomy, double vale replacement was performed without blood transfusion and her postoperative course was unevenfull. It is considered that preoperative splenectomy is useful in management of patients complicated with hypersplenism and pancytopenia.     

不同动员方案对异基因造血干细胞移植临床疗效的影响

目的 探讨异基因造血干细胞移植中不同动员方案的临床效果.方法 回顾性分析71例异基因外周血造血干细胞移植的临床资料,根据供者采用动员剂的不同分为G-CSF动员组(G组,有24例受者)和G-CSF联合GM-CSF动员组(G+M组,有47例受者).比较两组供者的动员效果及移植物细胞成分,观察受者术后造血功能重建的情况和GVHD的发生情况,观察供者应用动员剂后的不良反应.结果 动员4 d后,G组供者的外周血白细胞计数为(49.6±19.5)×109/L,明显高于G+M组供者的(25.4±10.4)×109/L(P＜0.05).两组间CD34+细胞占单个核细胞比例的差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),但G+M组CD34+CD38-细胞占CD34+细胞的比例为(37.7±5.7)%,明显高于G组的(31.4±4.5)%(P＜0.05).两组供者经过1～3次采集均能获取足够的CD34+细胞,两组采集的供者淋巴细胞计数及其亚群分布的差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).两组受者间CD34+细胞、CD34+CD38-细胞及T淋巴细胞亚群输入量的差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).术后所有受者的造血功能均顺利重建.术后对受者进行2～55个月的随访,无论是急性还是慢性GVHD,其发病率和严重程度在两组间的差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).术后共有17例受者死于原发病复发,10例死于GVHD和感染等移植相关并发症,G组和G+M组分别有14例(58.3%)和31例(66.0%)受者存活.在使用动员剂后,供者出现的主要不良反应为骨骼肌酸痛和发热,多发生在用药后36 h,给予解热镇痛药后缓解.结论 单用G-CSF与联合应用G-CSF和M-CSF进行动员的临床效果相当,但后者对CD34+CD38-细胞的选择性较强,而在异基因造血干细胞移植输入较多的CD34+细胞和CD34+CD38-细胞有利于受者造血功能的快速重建.     

Audit of peripheral stem cell transplantation for aplastic anemia in multitransfused infected patients

Introduction

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a curative modality for aplastic anemia; the preferred stem cell source is bone marrow. However, allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) used in high-risk patients is associated with higher risk of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Our center receives multitransfused, alloimmunized, infected, late referrals for transplant.

Methods

Forty-one patients of median age 22 years (range 8-37) received allogeneic-PBSCT from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling donors. The median time since diagnosis was 12 months (range 4-65) and median pretransplant transfusions were 37 (range 6-160). Six patients were platelet refractory and one alloimmunized for pan-red blood cell (RBC) antigens. Several patients had pretransplant icterus or renal dysfunction and 26 (63.4%) had unresponsive bacterial/fungal infections. Our conditioning regimen included fludarabine 30 mg/m² for 6 days (days -10 to -5), cyclophosphamide 60 mg/kg/d for 2 days (days -6 to -5), and antithymocyte globulin (ATGAM) 30 mg/kg/d for 4 days (day -4 to -1), which was reduced to 2 days in 2 patients. We used standard GVHD prophylaxis with cyclosporine and methotrexate on days 1, 3, 6, 11.

Results

The median follow-up period was 29 months (range 6-78) and median engraftment time 10 days (range 8-17). Thirty-one patients (75.6%) were treated for infections, with 20 of these on antifungals for preexisting infections. There were two graft rejections and 10 (24.4%) deaths, with three intracranial hemorrhages, two rejections with infection, three cases of refractory GVHD (acute/overlap syndrome) with cytomegalovirus reactivation, and two invasive fungal infections. Overall incidence of acute GVHD was 39% with 2 grade IV cases. Ten (25%) cases developed chronic GVHD, with extensive GVHD in four.

Conclusion

With more experience using shortened course of ATGAM, HLA-matched donor transfusions, and availability of newer antifungals, we have been able to decrease PBSCT-related mortality. Further improvement will be possible with early referrals.     

A European multicenter study of chronic graft-versus-host disease. The role of cytomegalovirus serology in recipients and donors--acute graft-versus-host disease, and splenectomy

A group of 466 leukemic bone marrow transplanted patients were reported from 17 European bone marrow transplantation teams. Of these, 285 survived more than 3 months and could be evaluated for chronic GVHD. The cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 32% two years after BMT. The following factors were statistically significantly associated with chronic GVHD in bivariate analysis: high donor and recipient age, splenecacute GVHD, pretransplant seropositivity to CMV among the recipients and the donors, and donor seropositivity to 3 or 4 different herpesviruses, compared with 0-2, prior to BMT. In multivariate analysis pretransplant recipient CMV seropositivity in combination with donor CMV seropositivity prior to BMT (P = 0.0006), a previous grade II-IV acute GVHD (P = 0.001), and splenectomy (P = 0.01) were significantly associated with chronic GVHD. Thus, in addition to acute GVHD, CMV immune donor cells may be triggered by latent CMV in the recipient, which may play a role in the triggering of chronic GVHD. The possible role of splenectomy in GVHD is also discussed.     

A phase I-II study evaluating the murine anti-IL-2 receptor antibody 2A3 for treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease

A murine IgG1 antibody specific for the IL-2-binding site on the human lymphocyte IL-2 receptor beta chain (CD25) was evaluated in 11 patients who developed acute graft-versus-host disease following allogeneic marrow transplantation. All patients had received cyclosporine and methotrexate for prophylaxis of GVHD, either alone (4 cases), or in combination with antithymocyte globulin (4 cases) or with prednisone (3 cases). Patients had developed GVHD at 7-53 days (median 12) after transplantation and had failed treatment with corticosteroids for 3-44 days (median 19). Residual GVHD was of grade II severity in 4 patients, grade III in 5 patients, and grade IV in 2 patients. Sequential patients received monoclonal antibody in escalating doses from 0.1 mg/kg/day to 1.0 mg/kg/day for 7 days. Side effects were fever, respiratory distress, hypertension, hypotension, and chills occurring in 11 of 72 (14%) antibody infusions. Trough antibody levels greater than 6 micrograms/ml were achieved in patients treated with 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg/day. Four of eight evaluable patients had an IgM antibody response, and one had an IgG response to the murine immunoglobulin. Clinical response of GVHD was evaluated in 10 patients who received the entire course of the antibody treatment. Among 7 patients treated within 40 days from transplantation, one patient had a complete response in the skin as the only involved organ, and 3 patients had a partial response, 2 in the skin and one in the gastrointestinal tract. No responses were achieved with liver disease at anytime or in any organ in patients treated beyond 40 days after transplantation. Since administration of this antibody was well tolerated and some efficacy was observed in patients with acute GVHD treated early after transplantation, there is a rationale for testing this antibody as an agent for prophylaxis of GVHD.     

Ineffective cellular interaction and interleukin 2 deficiency causing T cell defects in human allogeneic marrow recipients early after grafting and in those with chronic graft-versus-host disease

Impairment in T cell proliferation in response to E. coli and in CML to unrelated alloantigens was usually observed in patients early after marrow grafting and persisted in long-term patients with chronic GVHD but not in those without chronic GVHD. We analyzed various cellular functions in the pathway of T cell activation and found that in patients with immunodeficiency, (1) their M phi usually could process and present antigens to normal T cells, (2) their T cells did not proliferate even in the presence of normal antigen-pulsed M phi, (3) IL-2 production by T cells was deficient, and (4) exogenous IL-2 restored CML activity in cells of most patients early after grafting but not in cells of most patients with chronic GVHD. Therefore, failure to induce proliferation and cytotoxicity in T cells of marrow recipients is not likely due to M phi defects but because of ineffective communication among T cell subsets, probably related to impaired IL-2 production and/or unresponsiveness to IL-2.     

Feasibility of second hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using reduced-intensity conditioning with fludarabine and melphalan after a failed autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

This study was performed to determine the feasibility of second hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) using reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) with fludarabine and melphalan in patients with relapsed hematologic malignancies after a prior autologous HSCT. Twelve patients (multiple myeloma [n = 7], non-Hodgkin lymphoma [n = 3], and acute myeloid leukemia [n = 2] received allogeneic HSCT using RIC with fludarabine (25 mg/m² for 5 days) and melphalan (140 mg/m² for 1 day) after a failed autologous HSCT. The graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporine plus a minidose of methotrexate. All patients achieved a neutrophil and platelet engraftment in a median 13.5 days and 17.5 days, respectively. The transplant-related mortality was 2 patients (16.7%). Grade II-IV acute GVHD and chronic extensive GVHD were noted in 4 (33.3%) and 1 patient (11.1%), respectively. Over a median follow-up duration of 376 days, 5 patients were alive without evidence of disease. The estimated nonrelapse mortality at 1 year was 28.4%. The estimated overall survival rate at 1 year was 58.3%, and the estimated event- free survival rate at 1 year was 41.7%. Allogeneic HSCT using RIC with fludarabine and melphalan appears to be feasible for a second HSCT in patients with relapsed hematologic malignancies after a failed autologous HSCT.     

Pancreaticoduodenectomy combined with splenectomy for a patient with pancreatic cancer and pancytopenia due to liver cirrhosis: Case report

Introduction and importanceThe incidence of patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) is increasing. Patients with LC are known to have a greater risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality than patients without LC. A treatment option such as pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has not been validated to be safe for these patients, especially those with pancytopenia due to portal hypertension (PH). Providing an effective treatment option for these patients is essential.Case presentationHerein, we describe a patient with pancreatic cancer with pancytopenia due to LC that was successfully treated with PD combined with splenectomy. The patient was a 70-year-old woman who was referred to our hospital for evaluation of a mass in the pancreatic head after she developed obstructive jaundice. She was diagnosed with T2N0M0, Stage IB pancreatic cancer and pancytopenia due to PH associated with LC. She received 2 cycles of adjuvant gemcitabine/S-1 chemotherapy and underwent radical subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy with splenectomy to improve her pancytopenia. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed an R0 resection showing an Evans grade IIa histological response. Her pancytopenia improved rapidly after surgery.Clinical discussionStrict indications for PD, haemostatic control of intraoperative bleeding, and optimal perioperative management were important for preventing hepatic decompensation in this patient. Splenectomy is effective for thrombocytopenia due to LC; however, attention to postoperative complications such as overwhelming post-splenectomy infection and portal vein thrombosis is required.ConclusionFor patients with pancreatic cancer with pancytopenia due to LC, PD combined with splenectomy plus optimal perioperative management is effective.     

Secondary leukemia following ultra high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell autotransplantation for refractory testicular cancer

Secondary leukemia following chemotherapy or radiotherapy for mediastinal germ cell tumors in a well-described entity. It also may occur in patients with testicular germ cell tumors. We report a case of secondary leukemia occurring in a 31-year-old man who received ultra high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell autotransplantation (PBSCT) for a refractory testicular cancer (pathology; Seminoma, Embryonal carcinoma, Yolk sac tumor, Choriocarcinoma) with IIIB2 under Japanese classification, poor-risk group under Indiana classification. The initial levels of serum LDH, AFP and beta-HCG were high at 959 IU/l, 1,452 ng/ml and 800 ng/ml. He received total 11 cycles of systemic chemotherapy (2 cycles of PVB regimen, 4 cycles of PEB regimen, 3 cycles of VIP regimen and 2 cycles of ultra high-dose chemotherapy with PBSCT for pulmonary and para-aortic lymph node metastasis following his initial orchiectomy. The total amount of etoposide (VP-16), cisplatin (CDDP), carboplatin (CBDCA) and ifosfamide (IFM), this patient received was 7,225 mg/m2, 1,510 mg/m2 1,750 mg/m2, and 50.5 g. He has survived with CR of disease. Severe and persistent pancytopenia developed 25 months after his initial orchiectomy. Bone marrow examination showed AML (M2 with eosinophilia) under French-America-British (FAB) classification. Therefore, he was diagnosed as secondary leukemia following high-dose chemotherapy. He received total 6 cycles of systematic chemotherapy for the secondary leukemia in the internal department. He is planing to have bone marrow transplantation. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in the literature relevant to secondary leukemia following ultra high-dose chemotherapy with PBSCT in testicular tumor in Japan.