title: Antithymocyte globulin for graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis in transplants from unrelated donors: 2 randomized studies from Gruppo Italiano Trapianti Midollo Osseo (GITMO).
abstract: One hundred nine patients with hematologic malignancies, undergoing bone marrow transplants (BMT) from unrelated donors, were randomized in 2 consecutive trials to receive or not to receive antithymocyte globulin (ATG) in the conditioning regimen, as follows: (A) 54 patients (median age, 28 years; 39% with advanced disease) were randomized to no ATG (n = 25) versus 7.5 mg/kg rabbit ATG (Thymoglobulin; Sangstat, Lyon, France) (n = 29); (B) 55 patients (median age, 31 years, 71% with advanced disease) were randomized to no ATG (n = 28) versus 15 mg/kg rabbit ATG (n = 27). Grade III-IV graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was diagnosed in 36% versus 41% (P =.8) in the first and in 50% versus 11% (P =.001) in the second trial. Transplant-related mortality (TRM), relapse, and actuarial 3-year survival rates were comparable in both trials. In fact, despite the reduction of GVHD in the second trial, a higher risk for lethal infections (30% vs 7%; P =.02) was seen in the arm given 15 mg/kg ATG. Extensive chronic GVHD developed overall more frequently in patients given no ATG (62% vs 39%; P =.04), as confirmed by multivariate analysis (P =.03). Time to 50 x 10(9)/L platelets was comparable in the first trial (21 vs 24 days; P =.3) and delayed in the ATG arm in the second trial (23 vs 38 days; P =.02). These trials suggest that (1) 15 mg/kg ATG before BMT significantly reduces the risk for grade III-IV acute GVHD, (2) this does not translate to a reduction in TRM because of the increased risk for infections, and (3) though survival is unchanged, extensive chronic GVHD is significantly reduced in patients receiving ATG.
authors.affiliation: Ospedale San Martino, Genova, Italy. apbacigalupo@smartino.ge.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bacigalupo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lamparelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruzzi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guidi
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Alessandrino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: di Bartolomeo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oneto
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbanti
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sacchi
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Van Lint
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002423:Cause of Death; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017053:Infection Control; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011817:Rabbits; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning / Q000379:methods*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D008727:Methotrexate