Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor ligand mismatching and outcome after haploidentical transplantation with post-transplant cyclophosphamide

Leukemia. 2019 Jan;33(1):230-239. doi: 10.1038/s41375-018-0170-5. Epub 2018 Jun 15.

Abstract

Haploidentical stem cell transplantation with T cell-replete grafts and post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) is increasingly used with encouraging outcome. Natural killer (NK) cell alloreactivity, predicted by missing killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) ligands in the recipient that are present in their donor improves outcome of T cell-depleted haploidentical transplants. We explored the role of KIR ligand mismatching in 444 acute leukemia patients after T cell-replete transplants with PTCy. Thirty-seven percent of all patients had KIR ligand mismatching. Patients were in first remission (CR1) (39%), second remission (CR2) (26%), or active disease (35%). Stem cell source was peripheral blood (PBSC, 46%) or bone marrow (54%). The 2-year relapse, non-relapse mortality (NRM), and survival rates were 36.0% (95% confidence interval (CI), 31.4-40.7), 23.9% (20.0-28.0), and 45.9% (40.8-51.0), respectively. Multivariate analysis identified acute myeloid leukemia compared with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (hazard ratio (HR) 0.55, P = 0.002), female gender (HR 0.72, P = 0.04), and good performance status (HR 0.71, P = 0.04) as factors associated with better survival, while advanced age (HR 1.13, P = 0.04), active disease (HR 3.38, P < 0.0001), and KIR ligand mismatching (HR 1.41, P = 0.03) as associated with worse survival. KIR ligand mismatching was associated with a trend for higher relapse but not with graft-versus-host disease or NRM. The KIR ligand-mismatching effect was more prominent in patients given PBSC. In conclusion, there is no evidence that KIR ligand mismatching results in better outcome in the PTCy setting.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Graft vs Host Disease / genetics
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / mortality*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / therapy
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / mortality*
  • Histocompatibility
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / immunology
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / mortality*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / immunology
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / mortality*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, KIR / genetics
  • Receptors, KIR / immunology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Transplantation Conditioning
  • Transplantation, Haploidentical
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Receptors, KIR
  • Cyclophosphamide