Ex-vivo T-cell depleted (TCD) allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) by CD34 selection offers long term overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) with low incidences of acute and chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) and without an increased risk of relapse, according to a study of 102 adults with advanced myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) who received a CD-34 selected allo-HCST. Researchers found:

•Cumulative incidence (CI) of Grade II-IV acute GVHD was 9.8% at day 100 and 15.7% at day 180.

•CI of chronic GVHD was 3.9% at 1 year.

•CI of relapse was 11.8% after 1 year and 15.7% after 2.

•OS was 56.9% after 2 years and 49.3% after 5.

•RFS was 52.0% after 2 years and 47.6% after 5.

•CI of non-relapse mortality was 7.8% at 100 days, 22.5% at 1 year, and 33.4% at 5 years.

•Chronic GVHD/relapse-free survival overlapped with RFS.

Citation: Tamari R, Chung S, Esperanza B, et al. CD34-selected hematopoietic stem cell transplants conditioned with myeloablative regimens and anti-thymocyte globulin for advanced myelodysplastic syndrome: limited graft-versus-host disease without increased relapse. [Published online ahead of print July 14, 2015]. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbmt.2015.07.010.