A phase I/II study of the safety and efficacy of the addition of sirolimus to tacrolimus/methotrexate graft versus host disease prophylaxis after allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation in paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)

Br J Haematol. 2009 Dec;147(5):691-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2009.07889.x. Epub 2009 Sep 10.

Abstract

Sirolimus has been shown to have activity against human acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at serum levels used for immunosuppression. We hypothesized that the addition of sirolimus to a tacrolimus/methotrexate graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis regimen would decrease relapse after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and initiated a phase I/II study to demonstrate safety, feasibility, and efficacy. The study cohort included 18 patients in high-risk (HR) first complete remission (CR1), 16 in HR CR2, 17 in intermediate risk (IR) CR2, and 12 in CR3+. The 2-year event-free survival (EFS) of the cohort was 66% (standard error 6.4). EFS of risk groups was 74%, 81%, 44% and 46% for CR1, IR CR2, HR CR2 and CR3+ patients respectively, and did not differ by stem cell source. Cumulative incidence of acute GVHD grade II-IV and III-IV was 38% and 21% respectively, while the cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 32%. Cumulative incidence of transplant-related mortality and relapse was 10% and 25% respectively. Significant toxicities included veno-occlusive disease [seven patients (11%)], transplant-associated microangiopathy (three patients), and idiopathic pneumonitis (one patient). In summary, sirolimus-based GVHD prophylaxis can be given safely in this population and early survival results are promising. A phase III trial to test whether sirolimus decreases relapse and improves outcome after transplantation for ALL is ongoing.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Epidemiologic Methods
  • Female
  • Graft Survival
  • Graft vs Host Disease / prevention & control*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Methotrexate / adverse effects
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy*
  • Recurrence
  • Sirolimus / adverse effects
  • Sirolimus / therapeutic use*
  • Tacrolimus / adverse effects
  • Tacrolimus / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Sirolimus
  • Tacrolimus
  • Methotrexate