T cell depleted haploidentical transplantation: positive selection

Abstract

Interest in mismatched transplantation arises from the fact that a suitable one-haplotype mismatched donor is immediately available for virtually all patients, particularly for those who urgently need an allogenic transplant. Work on one haplotype-mismatched transplants has been proceeding for over 20 years all over the world and novel transplant techniques have been developed. Some centres have focused on the conditioning regimens and post transplant immune suppression; others have concentrated on manipulating the graft which may be a megadose of extensively T celldepleted or unmanipulated progenitor cells. Excellent engraftment rates are associated with a very low incidence of acute and chronic GVHD and regimen-related mortality even in patients who are over 50 years old. Overall, event-free survival and transplant-related mortality compare favourably with reports on transplants from sources of stem cells other than the matched sibling.

Introduction

A matched sibling or a well-matched unrelated donor are the best options for patients with acute leukemia at high risk of relapse but unfortunately most patients do not have a suitable matched donor while in first hematological complete remission (CR).^1–3 The only way to narrow the gap is to use a family donor with whom the patient shares one HLA haplotype for HLA-A, B, C and DR but not the other. This donor is immediately availability for all transplant candidates and unlike transplants from other alternative stem cell sources, the haploidentical transplant offers the advantage of another family member who is immediately available as an alternative donor or even a second graft from the original donor for nearly all patients who reject the graft. Furthermore any engrafted patients may potentially benefit from future attempts to modulate the cellular environment by delayed infusions of donor cell populations.

As the haplo transplant has spread to centres worldwide and several hundred patients have been treated, we have enough data to include the haploidentical option in an intention-to-treat flow-chart at least for high-risk acute leukemia patients who are the major group requiring transplantation.

One-haplotype mismatched HSCT

In this setting, our efforts have long concentrated on managing T cell alloreactivity in order to ensure engraftment without causing GvHD and, at the same time, minimise the major problems which are closely correlated with extensive T cell depletion, i.e. leukemia relapse and post transplant immune deficiency.⁴

In 1993, we applied the stem cell megadose in clinical practice for the first time.⁵ T-cell-depleted bone marrow cells were supplemented with T-cell-depleted G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs). After the immuno-myeloablative conditioning regimen that included single fraction total body irradiation (TBI), thiotepa, cyclophosphamide (CY) and rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG), 36 patients received a median of 10.7×10⁶ CD34⁺ cells/kg and 2×10⁵ CD3⁺ cells/kg. T-cell depletion with soybean agglutination and E-rosetting was the only prophylaxis for GvHD. A primary full-donor engraftment was achieved in 80% of patients and the incidence of acute grade II-IV GvHD was 17%, in the absence of any postgrafting immunosuppression.

After this successful pilot study attention focussed on optimising graft processing and conditioning regimen. In October 1995, in an attempt to enhance immunosuppression without increasing the extra-hematologic toxicity of the conditioning, we substituted fludarabine for CY in the pretransplant chemotherapy.^6,7 Our adult patients receive 8 Gy TBI in a single fraction at high dose rate with lung shielding. To prevent growth inhibition TBI is fractionated in children. The total dose is 12 Gy over 3 days. Since we introduced these two modifications – fludarabine and 4 Gy TBI to the lung –we have had no cases of idiopathic interstitial pneumonitis. As far as regards ATG, we adjusted our doses according to the source (6–10 mg/kg thymoglubulin, 20–25 mg/kg Fresenius, all over 5 days) (Figure 1). Furthermore, with the aim of eliminating GvHD we tried to reduce the number of T lymphocytes in the inoculum to a mean of 2×10⁴/kg, i.e. one log less than in the previous series of patients. The technical inconveniences of the our original graft processing procedure were overcome when, in January 1999, we started positively selecting the CD34⁺ cells using the Clinimacs device which in a one-step, fully automated procedure selects a highly purified CD34⁺ cell population. Our final inocula now contains a median of 12×10⁶ CD34⁺ cells/kg and 1×10⁴ CD3⁺ cells/kg recipient body weight. Finally, given its immunosuppressive properties, we also suspended post-transplant G-CSF administration to the recipients (Table 1).^8,9

Figure 1.

Conditioning regimen.

Table 1. Modifications in the Perugia Haplotransplant Programme.

Years of study	1993–1995	1995–1998	1999–2008
n. of patients	36	44	196
Age (y) Median (range)	25 (2–51)	24 (4–53)	34 (6–68)
HSC source	BM+PB	BM+PB in 29 PB only in 15	PB
Graft processing	SBA+E rosette	E rosette+ CD34+ selection (Ceprate SC)	CD34+ selection (Clinimacs)
Conditioning regimen	TBI, TT, CY, ATG	TBI, TT, F, ATG	TBI, TT, F, ATG
G-CSF posttransplant	YES	YES	NO
Graft content, median
CD34+/kg	10.8 × 106	10.5 × 106	12.8 × 106
CD3+/kg	2.2 × 105	0.2 × 105	0.1 × 105
Diseases
AML / ALL	12 / 24	21 / 23	131 / 65
Disease status at TX
CR 1	0	7	63
CR ≥ 2	18	22	64
Relapse	18	15	69

HSC: Hematopoietic Stem Cells; BM: Bone Marrow; PB: Peripheral Blood; SBA: Soybean Agglutinin; TBI: Total Body Irradiation; TT: Thiotepa; CY: Cyclophosphamide; ATG: Anti Thymocyte Globulin; G-CSF: Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor; AML: Acute Myeloid Leukemia; ALL: Acute Lymphoid Leukemia; CR: Complete Remission.

Results

The extra-hematological toxicity of this innovative conditioning regimen was minimal even in patients who were at risk because 25% were in the upper age group for transplantation, between 45 and 68 years, and about 50% were in advanced stage disease.

Under protocols that include fludarabine we have achieved a 95% primary engraftment rate. Acute and chronic GvHD were almost completely prevented with ex vivo positive selection of the grafts and in vivo T cell depletion exerted by ATG.

With minimal GvHD one might expect a high relapse rate in patients who were at high risk of relapse at transplant and did not benefit from the GvHD-related GvL effect. However, the relapse rate was 17% in AML and 27% in ALL patients who were transplanted in any CR (Figure 2a). Our intensely myeloablative conditioning regimen might have compensated for the lack of T-cell mediated GvL effect. Furthermore, unlike matched transplants, haploidentical transplants can benefit from a NK-cell mediated GVL effect.^10–13 Indeed, patients transplanted in remission had a 3% and 47% probability of relapse respectively whether the donor was NK alloreactive or not (Figure 2b). Therefore, given this evidence, donor-vs-recipient NK alloreactivity, as predicted by the HLA disparity, should be exploited when selecting the optimal donor from among the mismatched family members. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was the main cause of infection-related deaths in our patients. Other infections which contribute to our 40% incidence of non relapse mortality include fungi and bacteria (Figure 3a). Our anti-infective approach is mainly based upon ganciclovir over the conditioning followed by foscarnet for the first three weeks after transplanation. Liposomal amphotericine B is the standard anti-Aspergillus propylaxis until the neutrophil count normalises. Overall, disease status at transplant is a significant factor for TRM and the risk of life threatening infections plateaus out after about one year when the immunity tends to normalize. On the other hand we have less mortality in children and adolescents, particularly when they are transplanted in remission (Figure 3b).

Figure 2.

Leukemia relapse.

Figure 3.

Non-relapse mortality.

Our overall population of 284 patients has a maximum follow-up now of 17 years. DFS ranged from 30% in ALL to 43% in AML in patients who were transplanted in any CR and it is worth nothing that, with no chronic GvHD, all these long term survivors have an excellent quality of life. We have 60% survival in patients aged 18 or under. As might be expected, outcomes are extremely poor in patients who are transplanted in chemoresistant relapse. However our 18% DFS for advanced AML patients is really quite good, considering that they had no other option beyond the haplo-transplant (Figure 4). Having a NK alloreactive donor impacts strongly on outcomes in patients with AML in remission.¹³

Figure 4.

Disease-free survival.

Another positive factor which emerged from Martin Stern's analysis was that a maternal donor is associated with best survival. In a retrospective analysis of 118 patients, having a mother who can exert donor vs recipient NK cell alloreactivity offers an excellent probability of survival.¹⁴

In conclusion, the ideal haplotransplant should be structured as follows: patients should be in CR, the donor should be selected according to CMV serology and should perferably be a mother and /or someone who can exert donor vs recipient NK cell alloreactiviy. TBI can be given as a single or fractionated schedule. Lung shielding is important. Fludarabine is better than CY and the recommended ATG doses are 25 mg/kg for Fresenius and 6 mg/kg for thymoglobulin. Extensive T and B cell depletion is crucial for success and of course a megadose of CD34⁺ cells must be reached. Post-transplant the only recommendation is for anti-infective prophylaxis.

The present challenge is to reduce post-transplant infectious mortality in adults and researchers are focussing on strategies to ensure faster and better immunological reconstitution separating GvHD from favourable donor immune responses.

In extensively T cell depleted transplants such as we use in Perugia, strategies are based on post-transplant addbacks of donor T cells.

To prevent GvHD, these addbacks are purged of alloreactivity using a photodynamic method.¹⁵ We are also attempting to down modulate alloreactivity by infusion of naturaly occurring donor T regulatory cells.¹⁶

In conclusion, today we are in a position to offer a transplant to all patients with high-risk leukaemia. HLA typing must be done at diagnosis. If a sibling donor is not available attention should focus on alternative sources of stem cells limiting the registry search for a well-matched unrelated donor to 2 or 3 months. If unsuccessful, consider a cord blood unit or a haplo donor. Both are immediately available but an haploidentical NK alloreactive donor offers a better outcome and survival.