The global SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic continues to be devastating in many areas. Treatment options have been limited and convalescent donor plasma has been used by many centers to transfer ...passive neutralizing antibodies to patients with respiratory involvement. The results often vary by institution and are complicated by the nature and quality of the donor plasma itself, the timing of administration and the clinical aspects of the recipients. SARS-CoV-2 infection is known to be associated with an increase in the blood concentrations of several inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, as part of the overall immune response to the virus and consequential to mediated lung pathology. Some of these correlates contribute to the cytokine storm syndrome and acute respiratory distress syndrome, often resulting in fatality. A Phase IIa clinical trial at our institution using high neutralizing titer convalescent plasma transfer gave us the unique opportunity to study the elevations of correlates in the first 10 days after infusion. Plasma recipients were divided into hospitalized COVID-19 pneumonia patients who did not (Track 2) or did (Track 3) require mechanical ventilation. Several cytokines were elevated in the patients of each Track and some continued to rise through Day 10, while others initially increased and then subsided. Furthermore, elevations in MIP-1α, MIP-1β and CRP correlated with disease progression of Track 2 recipients. Overall, our observations serve as a foundation for further study of these correlates and the identification of potential biomarkers to improve upon convalescent plasma therapy and to drive more successful patient outcomes.
Here, we report on a phase IIa study to determine the intubation rate, survival, viral clearance, and development of endogenous Abs in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia treated with convalescent ...plasma (CCP) containing high levels of neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 Abs. Radiographic and laboratory evaluation confirmed all 51 treated patients had COVID-19 pneumonia. Fresh or frozen CCP from donors with high titers of neutralizing Abs was administered. The nonmechanically ventilated patients (n = 36) had an intubation rate of 13.9% and a 30-day survival rate of 88.9%, and the overall survival rate for a comparative group based on network data was 72.5% (1625/2241). Patients had negative nasopharyngeal swab rates of 43.8% and 73.0% on days 10 and 30, respectively. Patients mechanically ventilated had a day-30 mortality rate of 46.7%; the mortality rate for a comparative group based on network data was 71.0% (369/520). All evaluable patients were found to have neutralizing Abs on day 3 (n = 47), and all but 1 patient had Abs on days 30 and 60. The only adverse event was a mild rash. In this study on patients with COVID-19 disease, we show therapeutic use of CCP was safe and conferred transfer of Abs, while preserving endogenous immune response.
Abstract 3453
Individuals undergoing allogeneic transplantation receive multiple red blood cell transfusions both as part of the transplant procedure and as part of the pre-transplant care of the ...underlying disease. Therefore these patients may be at risk for complications of transfusional iron overload. Several studies have noted that individuals entering the transplant with baseline elevated serum ferritin values have decreased overall survival and higher rates of disease relapse. Whether the iron is a direct contributor to inferior outcomes or is a marker of more advanced disease (thereby requiring greater transfusions) is unclear. Little is known about the incidence and consequences of iron overload among long-term survivors of allogeneic transplantation.
Using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses, we performed a single center, retrospective cohort study of consecutive allogeneic transplants performed at Hackensack University Medical Center from January 2002 through June 30, 2009 to determine the association between serum ferritin (measured approximately 1 yr post allogeneic transplant) and overall survival.
During the study time frame, 637 allogeneic transplants (Donor Lymphocyte Infusion procedures excluded) were performed at our center and 342 (54%) survived ≥ one year. Among 1-year survivors 240 (70%) had post-transplant serum ferritin values available for review, including 132 (55%) allogeneic sibling, 68 (28%) matched unrelated, and 40 (17%) mismatched unrelated donor transplants. The median post-transplant ferritin value among 1-year survivors of allogeneic transplant was 628 ng/ml (95% CI 17, 5010), with 93 (39%) above 1000 ng/ml and 40 (17%) above 2500 ng/ml. The median post-transplant ferritin levels varied by underlying hematologic disease (aplastic anemia = 1147, acute leukemia = 1067, MDS = 944, CLL = 297, CML = 219, lymphoma = 123, multiple myeloma = 90). The Kaplan-Meier projected 5-year survival rate was 76% for the cohort that had survived one year and had available ferritin values. Fifty late deaths have occurred; causes of late death were disease relapse (n=37, 74%), GVHD (n=7, 14%), infection (n=4, 8%), cardiac (n=1, 2%) and second malignancy (n=1, 2%). The 1-year post-transplant serum ferritin value was a significant predictor of long term survival. Using a cut-off ferritin value of 1000 ng/ml, the 5-year projected survivals were 85% (95 CI 75%-91%) and 64% (95% CI 52–73%) for the low and high ferritin cohorts respectively (Figure, log-rank p<0.001), with a hazard ratio of 3.5 (95% CI 2–6.4, p<0.001). Similarly a serum ferritin value >2500 ng/ml was associated with inferior survival (HR 2.97, p<0.001). Underlying hematologic disease also correlated with 5-year projected survival including 70%, 83%, and 89% for acute leukemia/MDS, lymphoma/myeloma/CLL, and aplastic anemia/CML groupings, respectively (log-rank p<0.01 for leukemia/MDS vs other groupings). Patients receiving bone marrow grafts did better than those receiving peripheral blood stem cells (HR = 2.2; p = 0.03). Age, gender, donor type (sibling, matched unrelated, mismatch unrelated) and intensity of regimen (ablative vs. non-myeloablative) were not predictive of inferior survival in univariate analysis. In the multivariate Cox-regression analysis, elevated post-transplant ferritin >1000 ng/ml (HR 3.3, 95%CI 1.6–6.1; p<0.001) and diagnosis of acute leukemia/MDS (HR 4.5, 95%CI 1.1–18.7; p=0.04) remained independent predictors of inferior survival, even when adjusted for age, gender, type of graft, donor type, and intensity of conditioning regimen. Relapse deaths (25% vs. 9%; p<0.001) and GVHD deaths (6% vs 0.6%; p=0.03) were more common in the high ferritin cohort.
Among patients who have survived one-year following allogeneic transplantation, a post-transplant serum ferritin value greater than 1000 ng/ml is a predictor of inferior long-term outcomes. To our knowledge this is the first report on the importance of late monitoring of serum ferritin, but it is in agreement with prior studies suggesting a pre-transplant ferritin value is a predictor of outcomes. Prospective studies attempting to modify outcomes by reducing post-transplant iron overload states are needed.
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No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The global SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic continues to be devastating in many areas. Treatment options have been limited and convalescent donor plasma has been used by many centers to transfer ...passive neutralizing antibodies to patients with respiratory involvement. The results often vary by institution and are complicated by the nature and quality of the donor plasma itself, the timing of administration and the clinical aspects of the recipients. SARS-CoV-2 infection is known to be associated with an increase in the blood concentrations of several inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, as part of the overall immune response to the virus and consequential to mediated lung pathology. Some of these correlates contribute to the cytokine storm syndrome and acute respiratory distress syndrome, often resulting in fatality. A Phase IIa clinical trial at our institution using high neutralizing titer convalescent plasma transfer gave us the unique opportunity to study the elevations of correlates in the first 10 days after infusion. Plasma recipients were divided into hospitalized COVID-19 pneumonia patients who did not (Track 2) or did (Track 3) require mechanical ventilation. Several cytokines were elevated in the patients of each Track and some continued to rise through Day 10, while others initially increased and then subsided. Furthermore, elevations in MIP-1α, MIP-1β and CRP correlated with disease progression of Track 2 recipients. Overall, our observations serve as a foundation for further study of these correlates and the identification of potential biomarkers to improve upon convalescent plasma therapy and to drive more successful patient outcomes. Author summary COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has a varied clinical course with limited treatment options. While some patients mount a productive immune response leading to recovery, others progress to rapid respiratory deterioration that may require hospitalization and mechanical ventilation. Our institution conducted a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) to treat patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia. In this arm of the study, we sought to examine immune analytes in donor plasma as well as evaluate the recipients’ plasma before CPT infusion, and at Day 3 and Day 10 post-CPT infusion. We found some analytes to be elevated in plasma donors, compared to healthy controls, even after recovery. Plasma composition in CPT recipients prior to infusion showed elevations in several analytes associated with immune activation. Some significant differences were seen in plasma composition in patients in our Track 2 cohort (hospitalized without mechanical ventilation) compared to the Track 3 cohort (hospitalized with mechanical ventilation). In addition, we obtained plasma samples for hospitalized COVID-19 patients that did not receive CPT and noted several differences in the course of immune analyte production over time compared to the CPT-treated patients.
Engraftment syndrome (ES) is a well-defined entity characterized by non-infectious fever and other clinical manifestations including skin rash, pulmonary infiltrates, diarrhea, weight gain and ...neurological symptoms which happens in the setting of autologous HSCT during early neutrophil recovery phase. (Spitzer ,2001).These clinical manifestations usually occur immediately before or at the time of neutrophil engraftment possibly due to the release of inflammatory cytokines. ES may require therapy with corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs.
Our study cohort included 645 patients with multiple myeloma treated with autologous stem cell transplantation between January 2010 and June 2019. The majority of patients had a single autologous transplant (80%), 18 % received a second autologous transplant and 3 patients had a third autologous transplant. Fifty seven percent of patients were male, 61 % had IgG myeloma and 50 percent had standard risk cytogenetics. Sixty three percent of patients were under the age of 65 years. ES was defined as a combination of at least 2 symptoms not attributed to other causes, including non-infectious fever, diarrhea, skin rash, pulmonary infiltrates or hepatic dysfunction, occurring from 3 days prior to 10 days post engraftment. (Cornell ,2015).One hundred and ninety seven patients in this cohort met the criteria for engraftment syndrome of whom 173 were treated with corticosteroids and 9 required the addition of tacrolimus or cyclosporine. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed looking at risk factors for the development of ES and the overall effect of ES on patient outcome.
Results of our univariate analysis showed that age >65, female sex, use of plerixafor were significant risk factors for developing engraftment syndrome while use of cyclophosphamide-based mobilization had significantly reduced risk. Multivariate analysis using Gray Fine model revealed that patients over 65 years were twice as likely to develop ES than patients who were younger than 65 years (HR=1.881, CI: 1.405 to 2.518). Females had a 36% higher risk of ES than male patients (HR=1.355, CI: 1.011 to 1.815). Patients who were infused with more than 7x106 CD34+ cells/kg had a 40% reduced risk of developing ES (HR=0.559, CI: 0.385 to 0.812). Receiving the new formulation of melphalan: EVOMELAⓇ, as preparative regimen, was associated with a 60% increased risk of developing ES compared to patients treated with the standard formulation (HR=1.597, CI: 1.116 to 2.285). The use of plerixafor was found to be a risk factor for ES even when adjusted for age(HR=1.463,CI:1.024 to 2.089).
Follow- up of patients that did not develop ES (n=445) had a median of 59 months (IQR: 29.0 -80.0months), range: 0 - 136 months. Follow-up time of patients that developed ES (n=197) was 41.0 months (IQR: 16.0 - 66.0 months), range: 0.0 - 131 months.An overall survival analysis of patients who developed engraftment syndrome showed a trend for improved survival in patients who did not develop engraftment syndrome, however this did not meet statistical significance and PFS curves were similar with no statistically significant difference between the two groups.
Our study of this large cohort of patients suggests that selection of mobilization regimen and conditioning chemotherapy could decrease the incidence of ES, thereby decreasing morbidity and prolonged hospital stay. There can also be a consideration for pre-emptive treatment of patients in the very high risk category based on age, gender and available cell dose.
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Siegel:Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Rowley:Allergan: Equity Ownership; Fate Therapeutics: Consultancy. Biran:Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol Meyers Squibb: Research Funding. Goldberg:Cancer Outcomes Tracking and Analysis (COTA) Inc.: Equity Ownership; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; COTA: Equity Ownership. Goy:Takeda: Other: Grants outside of the submitted work; Hackensack University Medical Center, RCCA: Employment; Acerta: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Grants outside of the submitted work, Research Funding; Hakensackumc: Research Funding; University of Nebraska: Research Funding; Astrazenca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Genentech: Other: Grants outside of the submitted work, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics/Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Grants outside of the submitted work, Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Grants outside of the submitted work; COTA: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: leadership role for profit healthcare company; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.
Background: Evomela, a Melphalan bioequivalent, was approved by the FDA in 2016 for high-dose conditioning treatment prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma (MM). ...Evomela has increased solubility and stability compared to traditional Melphalan which requires propylene glycol, a stabilizing agent. A retrospective review (Miller et al. 2019) showed that there was no difference in outcomes or short term morbidity in autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) recipients conditioned with either Melphalan or Evomela. There was, however, an increased incidence of C. difficile-negative diarrhea in the Evomela group. Engraftment syndrome (ES) is a well characterized, although poorly understood, conglomerate of symptoms occurring in the autologous peri-engraftment period. We have previously demonstrated (McKiernan et al. 2017) that patients with ES have an adverse overall outcome. This study aims to evaluate the effect of Evomela conditioning on patients with MM receiving ASCT.
Methods: Our study cohort included 644 patients with MM who received ASCT between January 2008 and December 2018. Evomela conditioning was administered to all patients treated on or after September 4, 2016, defining the Melphalan and Evomela cohorts. ES was defined as diarrhea, rash, non-infectious fever, hepatic dysfunction, pulmonary infiltrates, or encephalopathy not attributed to other causes from 3 days prior to 15 days post engraftment. High-risk disease (HRD) was defined as del 17p, 1q gain, t(4;14), t(14;16), t(14;20) by FISH, monosomy 13, del 13q or hypodiploidy by standard cytogenetics, or high-risk gene expression profiling. Response criteria from the International Myeloma Working Group was used to determine response. Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) probabilities were estimated using log rank or Wilcoxon tests. Cox hazard regression model was examined for factors influencing ES.
Results: Of the 644 patients, 78 were conditioned with Evomela and 554 were conditioned with Melphalan. Thirty five percent of the total patient population had HRD, 234 (36%) were age 65 or older, and 369 (57%) were males. A total of 197 (30%) patients developed ES with 171 (87%) receiving treatment with corticosteroids. Conditioning with Evomela was associated with a significantly higher incidence of ES 15 days post ASCT compared to Melphalan (40.3% vs 24.8%, p=0.0006). Multivariate analysis showed that patients conditioned with Evomela were 60% more likely (HR-1.597, 95% CI, 1.116-2.285, p=0.0105) to develop ES than traditional Melphalan. Across both cohorts, higher median CD34+ stem cell doses (5.22 vs 5.85 x 10e6/kg, p=0.0026) were protective against ES. Age greater than 65 was associated with increased 15 day post ASCT incidence of ES (HR-1.903, 95% CI, 1.435-2.523, p=<0.0001). There was no PFS (p=0.2996) or OS (p=0.2778) difference between the Evomela group and the Melphalan group. There was a trend towards decreased OS (p=0.0914) among patients with ES, but it was not statistically significant. There was no statistically significant progression difference between ES and non-ES groups (p=0.9739).
Conclusion: Patients conditioned with Evomela are significantly more likely to develop ES than patients conditioned with traditional Melphalan. We were not able to show any survival or progression-free survival advantage for patients treated with Evomela. We would caution the use of Evomela in patients with other risk factors for ES. More studies are needed to further understand the differences between Melphalan and Evomela.
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Siegel:Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Rowley:Allergan: Equity Ownership; Fate Therapeutics: Consultancy. Biran:Merck: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Meyers Squibb: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria. Goldberg:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; COTA: Equity Ownership; Cancer Outcomes Tracking and Analysis (COTA) Inc.: Equity Ownership. Goy:Hackensack University Medical Center, RCCA: Employment; Takeda: Other: Grants outside of the submitted work; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Grants outside of the submitted work; COTA: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: leadership role for profit healthcare company; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astrazenca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Genentech: Other: Grants outside of the submitted work, Research Funding; Acerta: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Grants outside of the submitted work, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics/Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Grants outside of the submitted work, Research Funding; University of Nebraska: Research Funding; Hakensackumc: Research Funding.
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