Comparison of Regimens Used for Allogeneic Matched Related Donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Sickle Cell

Daniel Prior1, Jingchen Liang2, Yanhong Deng2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

Prior analyses have reported on the impact of different donor types and conditioning regimen intensities on outcomes for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) who undergo hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), and demonstrated superior outcomes using an HLA-matched related donor (MRD). However, the impact of conditioning regimen intensity on outcomes remains unclear, with conflicting findings across studies. In addition, the lack of data on comparative outcomes of different approaches to conditioning and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis for allogeneic HCT for SCD remains a gap in the field. We compared outcomes for SCD patients who have received HLA-matched related donor (MRD) HCT for SCD using different HCT regimens. We examined de-identified records of MRD HCT for SCD on patients transplanted between 1991 and 2022 in the United States and submitted to the CIBMTR. We compared the most common transplant regimens in the registry, which included TBI 300/400 cGy + sirolimus + anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG)/alemtuzumab described by Hsieh et al; Busulfan/Fludarabine + CNI/methotrexate (MTX) + ATG/alemtuzumab as described by Krishnamurti et al.; Fludarabine/Melphalan + CNI/MTX + ATG/alemtuzumab as described by King et al.; and Busulfan/Cyclophosphamide (CY) + CNI /MTX/prednisone + ATG/alemtuzumab as described by Walters et al. For pediatric MRD HCT, EFS rates were highest with the Krishnamurti et al. (3-year EFS 94%, 95% CI 88, 100) and lowest with the Hsieh et al. regimen (3-year EFS 57%, 95% CI 25, 100, p<0.001). Rates of chronic GVHD were lowest in the Hsieh et al. cohort (3-year rate 0%) and highest in the King et al. cohort (3-year rate 20.4%, 95% CI 13.2, 28.8, p=0.040). For adult MRD HCT, EFS rates were similar between the Hsieh et al. and Krishnamurti et al. regimens, while cGVHD was significantly lower in the Hsieh et al. cohort. These real-world data have the potential to inform shared decision-making in MRD HCT for SCD. Pediatric patients had the highest EFS rates using myeloablative conditioning regimens, while non-myeloablative conditioning resulted in the lowest EFS rates. Adult patients had similar event-free survival using myeloablative and non-myeloablative conditioning regimens, with less GVHD following non-myeloablative regimens.

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells01:01

Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

All blood and immune cells are produced from the multipotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by the process of hematopoiesis. However, they all have a limited life span. In addition, many are depleted in immune surveillance or combatting an injury or infection. This makes blood one of the most regenerative tissues. Hematopoiesis helps replenish these blood and immune cells, restoring the body's normal functioning. However, overproduction of blood and immune cells can make them cancerous or...
Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration01:21

Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration

Stem cell therapy is a method used in regenerative medicine to repair and restore function to damaged tissues and organs. Stem cells have the potential to proliferate and differentiate into various tissue types, making them ideal candidates for tissue regeneration. For example, hematopoietic stem cell transplants are commonly used in blood cancer treatment to replenish damaged bone marrow and restore healthy blood cells.
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell types that...
Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants01:22

Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants

Bone marrow transplant is a potential cure for several diseases, including cancer and specific genetic disorders. Notably, this procedure is applicable for patients suffering from aplastic anemia, certain types of leukemia, severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID), Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, thalassemia, sickle-cell disease, and certain cancers.
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy the...
Tissue Transplantation01:24

Tissue Transplantation

Tissue transplantation is a significant medical procedure involving the transfer of cells, tissues, or organs from a donor to a recipient, with the primary aim of restoring lost functions. This procedure is crucial in treating a broad spectrum of diseases, including kidney diseases, liver failure, heart disease, and certain types of cancers.
The Biology of Tissue Transplantation
The biology of tissue transplantation hinges on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules. These molecules...