Intrabone Transplantation of a Single Unwashed Umbilical Cord Blood Unit with Antithymocyte Globulin-Free and Sirolimus-Based Graft-versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis: Fast Immune Reconstitution and Long-Term Disease Control in Patients with High-Risk Diseases

Abstract

Several strategies have been explored with the attempt of improving the safety and feasibility of umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) in adults. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to examine the safety and efficacy of intrabone transplantation of a single unwashed cord blood unit in an antithymocyte globulin-free, sirolimus-based graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis platform. We collected data for all consecutive UCBTs infused intrabone (IB) and unwashed at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan between 2012 and 2021. Thirty-one consecutive UCBTs were identified. All but 3 UCB units had a high-resolution HLA typing on 8 loci at the time of selection. At the time of cryopreservation, the median CD34⁺ cell count was 1 × 10⁵/kg (range, .6 to 12.0 × 10⁵/kg) and the median total nucleated cell (TNC) count was 2.8 × 10⁷/kg (range, 1.48 to 5.6 × 10⁷/kg). Eighty-seven percent of patients received myeloablative conditioning, and 77% underwent transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia. The median duration of follow-up among survivors was 38.2 months (range, 10.4 to 123.6 months). No adverse events were related to the IB infusion at bedside under short-conscious periprocedural sedation or to the no wash technique. After thawing, median CD34⁺ cell and TNC counts were .8 × 10⁵/kg (range, .1 to 2.3 × 10⁵/kg) and 1.42 × 10⁷/kg (range, .69 to 3.2 × 10⁷/kg). The median time to engraftment was 27 days for neutrophils and 53 days for platelets. One patient experienced graft rejection and was subsequently rescued with a salvage transplantation. The median time to a CD3⁺ cell count >100/μL was 30 days. The 100-day cumulative incidence of grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 12.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4% to 27.3%), and the 2-year cumulative incidence of moderate-to-severe chronic GVHD (cGVHD) was 11.8% (95% CI, 2.7% to 28.3%). At 2 years, overall survival (OS) was 52.7% (95% CI, 33% to 69%), relapse incidence was 30.7% (95% CI, 13.7% to 49.6%), and transplantation-related mortality was 29% (95% CI, 14.3% to 45.6%). In univariate analysis, infused CD34⁺ cell count did not impact transplantation outcomes. In patients who underwent transplantation in first complete remission, relapse rate was 13%, with a 2-year OS >90%. In our cohort, IB infusion of a single cord blood unit was feasible, with no adverse reactions related to the no wash/IB infusion, low rates of cGVHD and disease relapse, and rapid immune reconstitution.

Keywords: Alternative donor; Intrabone infusion; Umbilical cord blood transplantation.