Selection of Cord Blood Unit by CD34+ Cell and GM-CFU Numbers and Allele-Level HLA Matching in Single Cord Blood Transplantation

Abstract

In Japan, only single-unit cord blood transplantations (CBTs) are typically performed, and their number has increased over the last 23 years, with ongoing improvement in results. In most cases, CBTs with multiple HLA mismatches are used, owing to a low HLA barrier, and lower engraftment rate is a problem that must be overcome. Here, as part of an effort to improve guidelines for the selection and processing of CB units for transplantation, we sought to assess the present status of CBT in Japan and to elucidate factors contributing to the favorable outcomes, focusing in particular on selection by cell components of CB unit and HLA allele matching. We conducted a nationwide study analyzing 13,443 patients who underwent first CBT between in Japan between December 1997 and December 2019 using multivariate regression analysis. Both patient- and transplantation-related variables, such as age and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Comorbidity Index, as well as selected CB unit characteristics, were included in the analysis. The interaction analysis elucidated that CB unit selection favoring higher counts of CD34⁺ cells and granulocyte macrophage colony-forming units (GM-CFU)/kg, but not of total nucleated cells, contributed to improved engraftment after transplantation. Moreover, a higher CD34⁺ cell dose was associated with improved overall survival (OS). Distinctive HLA allele matching was observed. A 0 or 1 HLA allele mismatch between patient and donor had favorable engraftment and carried significantly lower risks of acute GVHD and chronic GVHD but had a significantly higher leukemia relapse rate, compared with a 3-HLA allele mismatch. HLA-DRB1 mismatches were associated with reduced risk of leukemia relapse. Notably, the number of HLA allele mismatches had no incremental effect on engraftment, acute and chronic GVHD, or relapse incidence. As a result, 5-year overall survival did not differ significantly among patients receiving CB units with 0 to 7 HLA allele mismatches. The main points of CB unit selection are as follows. First, selection according to a higher number of CD34⁺ cells/kg and then of CFU-GM/kg is recommended to obtain favorable engraftment. A unit with .5 × 10⁵ CD34⁺ cells/kg is minimally acceptable. For units with a CD34⁺ cell dose of .5 to 1.0 × 10⁵ cells/kg, applying the parameter of ≥20 to 50 × 10³ GM-CFU/kg (66.5% of transplanted CB units in this cohort) is associated with a neutrophil engraftment rate of approximately 90%. A unit with ≥1.0 × 10⁵ CD34⁺ cells/kg can achieve a ≥90% mean neutrophil engraftment rate. Subsequently, HLA allele matching of HLA-A, -B, -C, and -DRB1 at the 2-field level should be searched for units with 0 or 1 HLA allele mismatch in the host-versus-graft direction for favorable engraftment. Units with 2 to 6 HLA allele mismatches are acceptable in patients age ≥15 years and units with 2 to 4 HLA allele mismatches are acceptable in patients age ≤14 years. Units with HLA-DRB1 and/or -B allele mismatch(es) might not be preferable owing to an increased GVHD risk. Our analysis demonstrates that single-unit CBT with the selection of adequate CD34⁺/kg and GM-CFU/kg and HLA allele matching showed favorable outcomes in both pediatric and adult patients.

Keywords: CD34(+) cell; GM-CFU; HLA; Single cord blood transplantation.