The effect of in vivo T cell depletion with alemtuzumab on reduced-intensity allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2008 Nov;14(11):1288-97. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2008.09.001.

Abstract

Reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation is increasingly considered for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). To investigate the impact of in vivo T cell depletion with alemtuzumab on the incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), nonrelapse mortality (NRM), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS), we retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 62 consecutive CLL patients conditioned with fludarabine and melphalan at 4 institutions. For GVHD prophylaxis, 41 patients (cohort 1) received alemtuzumab and cyclosporin; and 21 patients (cohort 2) received cyclosporin plus methotrexate or mycophenolate. Donors were 50 siblings and 12 unrelated volunteers. Twenty-two (36%) patients received donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI), 20 (49%) from cohort 1 and 2 (10%) from cohort 2 (P=.002). Grade III-IV acute GVHD (aGVHD) was observed in 20% and 38% of patients from cohorts 1 and 2, respectively (P=.14). Extensive chronic GVHD (cGVHD) was observed in 10% and 48% of patients from cohorts 1 and 2, respectively (P=.03). There was a trend toward a higher viral infection rate in cohort 1 compared to cohort 2 (68% versus 43%, P=.062), but the incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation was not significantly different. The 3-year OS, PFS, NRM, and relapse rates were 65%, 39%, 28%, and 32%, respectively, for cohort 1; and 57%, 47%, 34%, and 20%, respectively, for cohort 2 (P=.629, P=.361, P=.735, and P=0.112, respectively). In conclusion, both methods of GVHD prophylaxis were equivalent in terms of survival. The administration of alemtuzumab led to reduced cGVHD, possibly improving quality of life.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alemtuzumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cyclosporine / administration & dosage
  • Cytomegalovirus
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Donor Selection
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / mortality
  • Graft vs Host Disease / prevention & control*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / mortality
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / therapy*
  • Living Donors
  • Lymphocyte Depletion*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myeloablative Agonists / administration & dosage
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • T-Lymphocytes
  • Transplantation Conditioning*
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Virus Activation / drug effects

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Myeloablative Agonists
  • Alemtuzumab
  • Cyclosporine