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Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is still considered the only curative treatment option for most patients with intermediate and high-risk acute myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, this therapy is also associated with an increased risk of graft versus host disease (GvHD) and relapse of active disease. Therefore, researchers are exploring ways to alter conditioning regimens in order to minimize those risks by using combined treatment regimens.
One of the promising candidates to use in combination with a standard conditioning regimen for patients undergoing transplantation is decitabine (Dec). This pyrimidine analog, also known as 5-aza deoxycytidine, has been approved for the treatment of AML and MDS and has also been reported to lower incidence of GvHD.1–5
In order to further evaluate the efficacy, role in GvHD prophylaxis, and safety of Dec-containing conditioning regimen in patients with intermediate/ high-risk MDS/AML, Qing Ya Wang from Peking University, CN, and colleagues carried out a retrospective analysis in 76 patients.6
Table 1. Baseline patient characteristics
ATG, anti-thymocyte globulin; BM, bone marrow; Bu, Busulfan; Cy, cyclophosphamide; Flu, fludarabine; Haplo-HSCT, HLA haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; HCT-CI, hematopoietic cell transplant-comorbidity index; IPSS-R, Revised international prognostic scoring system; MSD-HSCT, HLA matched sibling donor allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell; MUD-HSCT, HLA-matched unrelated donor allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; PB, peripheral blood; RA, refractory anemia; RAEB, refractory anemia with excess blasts; RCMD, refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia; t-AML, transferred acute myeloid leukemia. |
|||
Characteristics |
Dec (N= 40) |
Non-Dec (N= 36) |
p value |
---|---|---|---|
Age at HSCT, years |
41 ± 12 |
33 ± 14 |
0.028 |
Gender Male (%) Female (%) |
50 50 |
47 53 |
0.809 |
Prior transplant therapy Chemotherapy (%) CsA (%) None (%) |
60 2.5 27.5 |
44.5 33.3 22.2 |
0.093 |
WHO classification RA (%) RCMD (%) RAEB-1 (%) RAEB-2 (%) t-AML (%) |
0 20 20 17.5 42.5 |
2.8 36.1 8.3 13.9 38.9 |
0.299 |
Type of donor MSD-HSCT (%) Haplo-HSCT (%) MUD-HSCT (%) |
27.5 55 17.5 |
25 58.3 16.7 |
0.956 |
Graft source BM + PB (%) PB (%) |
75 25 |
80.6 19.4 |
0.562 |
MNC (×108/kg) |
9.76 ± 3.37 |
12.48±5.07 |
0.007 |
CD34+ (×106/kg) |
5.77 ± 2.73 |
3.65 ± 3.10 |
0.004 |
Conditioning regimen Bu/Flu (%) Bu/Cy (%) |
100 0 |
86.1 13.9 |
0.015 |
ATG (g/kg) Yes (%) No (%) |
97.5 2.5 |
86.1 13.9 |
0.066 |
The results of this retrospective analysis in a small cohort suggest that the addition of Dec to the conditioning regimen may lower the risk of aGvHD and active disease relapse. The impact of Dec-containing regimens on OS, DFS and NRM is inconclusive due to the limited numbers of patients studied. A larger prospective study with a longer follow-up is required to confirm those findings.
References
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