HLA-mismatched unrelated donors as an alternative graft source for allogeneic stem cell transplantation after antithymocyte globulin-containing conditioning regimen

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2009 Apr;15(4):454-62. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2009.01.002.

Abstract

Between August 1996 and December 2004, 369 patients with a median age of 41 years (range: 1-68 years) received stem cell transplantation (SCT) from unrelated donors after an antithymocyte-globulin (ATG)-containing conditioning regimen. In 268 patients, complete molecular typing (4-digit) of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, and -DQB1 was available: 110 patients were completely matched for 10 alleles, 91 patients had 1 allele-mismatch (9/10), and 67 patients were mismatched for 2-4 alleles (6-8/10). The incidence of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) was 33% in the 10/10, 41% in the 9/10, and 40% in the 6-8/10 group, respectively (P = .1). The cumulative incidence of treatment-related mortality (TRM) and relapse among the groups were similar (27%, 31%, and 32%, P = .2; and 28%, 27%, and 26%, P = .9. After a median follow-up of 35 months (range: 3-120 months), the estimated 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 42% and did not differ among the 10/10, the 9/10, and the 6-8/10-mismatched groups (45% versus 42% versus 39%) (P = .5). In multivariate analysis, only age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.013) (P = .004) and bad-risk disease (HR 1.975) (P < .001) were independent risk factors for DFS. In conclusion, pretransplant ATG allows allogeneic SCT from unrelated donors with HLA disparities.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Antilymphocyte Serum / administration & dosage*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / mortality
  • Graft vs Host Disease / prevention & control*
  • HLA Antigens*
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / mortality
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Histocompatibility Testing
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Living Donors*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Recurrence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Survival Rate
  • Transplantation Conditioning*

Substances

  • Antilymphocyte Serum
  • HLA Antigens
  • Immunosuppressive Agents