Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin-Containing Salvage Strategies as a Bridge to Second Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell...

Post-transplant relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) carries a dismal prognosis. Whether gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO)-containing salvage strategies can achieve sufficient disease control to facilitate second allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remains unclear. We retrospectively analyzed 34 patients with CD33-positive AML treated with GO-containing individualized salvage therapy and evaluated remission, transplantation outcomes, survival, and safety. The overall response rate was 61.8%, comprising morphologic remission in 20 patients (58.8%), including 1 complete remission (CR) and 19 complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi), and partial remission in 1 patient (2.9%). Notably, 9/20 (45.0%) achieved MRD-negative CR/CRi, and 16/20 (80.0%) successfully proceeded to second allo-HSCT. All but 1 patient initiated conditioning within 21 to 44 days after GO (median, 27 days). The median overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS) for the entire cohort were 7.6 and 6.6 months, respectively, with 1-year OS/LFS rates of 36.8%. Among CR/CRi patients, 1-year OS/LFS reached 61.9% following second allo-HSCT. MRD-negative CR/CRi before transplantation was associated with superior post-transplant outcomes, with 1-year OS/LFS rates of 87.5% versus 33.3% among patients with MRD-positive CR/CRi (both P = .012). Exploratory analysis showed numerically higher survival among patients who underwent second allo-HSCT >30 versus ≤30 days after GO (85.7% versus 54.6%). Persistent cytopenias before conditioning were common (white blood cell count [WBC] <0.5 × 10⁹/L, 55.6%; platelets <20 × 10⁹/L, 38.9%) and did not preclude transplantation in patients achieving adequate disease control. Hepatic toxicity was generally manageable, with grade 1 to 2/≥3 alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase elevation in 47.1%/14.7%, grade 1 to 2 hyperbilirubinemia in 29.4%, and only 1 fatal sinusoidal obstruction syndrome/veno-occlusive disease (1/18, 5.6%) after second allo-HSCT. GO-containing individualized salvage strategies were associated with manageable hepatic toxicity and feasible bridging to second allo-HSCT. Achieving deep remission before transplantation may be critical for improving post-transplant outcomes.