Azacitidine salvage therapy for relapse of myeloid malignancies following allogeneic hematopoietic SCT

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2014 Apr;49(4):567-71. doi: 10.1038/bmt.2013.233. Epub 2014 Feb 3.

Abstract

Patients with hematopoietic malignancies relapsing after allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (allo-HSCT) have a poor prognosis. We retrospectively analyzed the patients who received azacitidine in our center in the course of treatment of their post-transplant relapse. We identified 31 patients. Relapse occurred at a median of 3.7 (1.7-37.6) months following allo-HSCT. Patients received a median number of three cycles (1-12) of azacitidine (7 days, 75 mg/m(2) daily). Thirty-nine percent of patients had either a monosomal karyotype or a complex karyotype. Eleven patients (35%) received at least one DLI. Eleven patients responded to azacitidine, with four patients achieving a CR (13%). Median time to best response was 92 (35-247) days, with a median duration of 209 (64-751) days. One-year estimated survival rate was 14%. In conclusion, azacitidine may reinduce durable remissions in very few patients with AML or myelodysplastic syndrome. The toxicity related to azacitidine was high, although it may be difficult to distinguish between treatment-related side effects, namely due to cytopenia and toxicity due to the relapse or disease progression itself. Early administration of azacitidine after transplant followed by DLI should be considered as a pre-emptive therapy for potential relapse in patients with minimal residual disease or high-risk myeloid malignancies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Azacitidine / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Salvage Therapy / methods
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Azacitidine