Objective: Relapse and graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) are still the main complications after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, especially in the setting of reduced intensity regimen (RIC) and unrelated donor. We compared here anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) or alemtuzumab as GVHD prophylaxis in patients with myeloid disease transplanted after RIC and from an unrelated donor.
Method: ATG and alemtuzumab patients have been matched by age, gender, HLA matching, comorbidities and cytogenetics risk (119 patients in each group).
Results: After matching, we found that ATG decreased the risk of relapse (HR: 0.55, P = .0049) and improved relapse-free survival (RFS, HR: 0.70, P = .042). The improved RFS with ATG was more pronounced in CMV-positive patients but was not influenced by disease risk. Regarding overall survival, GVHD-free relapse-free survival and transplant-related mortality, the risk was similar using ATG or alemtuzumab.
Conclusion: Even if GVHD risk is lowered by alemtuzumab use, it does not translate in better outcome due to higher risk of relapse.
Keywords: alemtuzumab; anti-thymocyte globulin; graft-vs-host disease prophylaxis; myeloid disorder; unrelated transplant.
© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.