title: Nonmyeloablative transplantation with or without alemtuzumab: comparison between 2 prospective studies in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders.
abstract: Although nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen transplantations (NMTs) induce engraftment of allogeneic stem cells with a low spectrum of toxicity, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. In vivo T-cell depletion, using alemtuzumab, has been shown to reduce the incidence of GVHD. However, this type of maneuver, although reducing GVHD, may have an adverse impact on disease response, because NMTs exhibit their antitumor activity by relying on a graft-versus-malignancy effect. To explore the efficacy of alemtuzumab compared with methotrexate (MTX) for GVHD prophylaxis, we have compared the results in 129 recipients of a sibling NMT enrolled in 2 prospective studies for chronic lymphoproliferative disorders. Both NMTs were based on the same combination of fludarabine and melphalan, but the United Kingdom regimen (group A) used cyclosporin A plus alemtuzumab, whereas the Spanish regimen (group B) used cyclosporin A plus MTX for GVHD prophylaxis. Patients receiving alemtuzumab had a higher incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation (85% versus 24%, P <.001) and a significantly lower incidence of acute GVHD (21.7% versus 45.1%, P =.006) and chronic GVHD (5% versus 66.7%, P <.001). Twenty-one percent of patients in group A and 67.5% in group B had complete or partial responses 3 months after transplantation (P <.001). Eighteen patients in group A received donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs) to achieve disease control. At last follow-up there was no difference in disease status between the groups with 71% versus 67.5% (P =.43) of patients showing complete or partial responses in groups A and B, respectively. No significant differences were observed in event-free or overall survival between the 2 groups. In conclusion, alemtuzumab significantly reduced GVHD but its use was associated with a higher incidence of CMV reactivation. Patients receiving alemtuzumab often required DLIs to achieve similar tumor control but the incidence of GVHD was not significantly increased after DLI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitairo de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente s/n, 37007 Salamanca, Spain. pesimo@usal.es
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pérez-Simón
authors.forename: Panagiotis D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Kottaridis
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Craddock
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.forename: Raj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Conde
authors.forename: Don W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Milligan
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schey
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urbano-Ispizua
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.forename: Kwee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sureda
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sierra
authors.forename: Anthony H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Goldstone
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Linch
authors.forename: Jesus F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: San Miguel
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020350:Graft vs Tumor Effect; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015994:Incidence; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015993:Life Tables; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning / Q000379:methods*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D016572:Cyclosporine; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine; D008558:Melphalan; D008727:Methotrexate