Abatacept-Prophylaxis Based Haploidentical Transplantation May Allow Sustained Engraftment and Offset Gvhd in Non-Malignant Disorders
Authors: Ngwube Alexander I. , Shah Niketa C. , Schulz Ginny , Krishnamurti Lakshmanan , Shenoy Shalini 
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Non-malignant disorders (NMD) derive no benefit from graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic transplantation (HCT). Transplantation designed to optimize engraftment and immune reconstitution while minimizing GVHD and organ toxicities is desirable. Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) decreases severe chronic GVHD risk in radiation-containing regimens for NMD when combined with serotherapy (anti-thymocyte globulin) (PMID: 22955919; PMID: 30500440). Abatacept effectively offsets GVHD following unrelated donor (URD) HCT (PMID: 33449816; PMID: 32813873). Based on these reports, NCT03128996 was developed for haploidentical transplantation in NMD after radiation-free reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) combining PTCy + Abatacept for GVHD prophylaxis. Serotherapy does not contribute to GVHD prophylaxis in this RIC approach. Outcomes focused on safety and GVHD- free donor engraftment in children with NMD and no better donor options.

Method: Conditioning included alemtuzumab (day -22 to -19), fludarabine (day -8 to -4), melphalan (day -3) and thiotepa (day -4) as previously published (hydroxyurea prior to RIC was used in proliferative marrow disorders) (PMID: 32813873). Stem cell source was bone marrow (BM) or CD34-selected peripheral blood cells with a fixed CD3 cell dose of 1x10^6/kg recipient weight. GVHD prophylaxis included tacrolimus (day -1, with wean beginning 6-9 months post-HCT), PTCy on days +3 and +4, mycophenolate mofetil until day +28, and monthly abatacept doses until 13 months post-HCT. Survival, safety, donor chimerism, GVHD incidence, and incidence of post HCT infection were primary outcome measures.

Results: Eleven patients 6 to 24 years old (median 9 years) underwent HCT for adrenoleukodystrophy ( 2), sickle cell disease (SCD) ( 6), aplastic anemia ( 1), second transplant for severe combined immunodeficiency ( 1) and STAT 5B gain-of-function mutation ( 1). Eight were trial participants and 3 treated according to trial guidelines. All patients tolerated abatacept infusions and engrafted with neutrophil recovery (&gt;500/cu mm) at a median of 17 days (range 15-24 days). As of 7/31/2023, median follow up is 411 days (range 83-1979 days). The mean myeloid and T-cell chimerisms at D100 (n=10) and 1 year (n=6) were 97.8%+/- 5.3 and 96.3% +/- 6.4 and 98.6% +/- 3.3 and 95% +/-8.7, respectively. One patient with SCD has low myeloid engraftment (24%) at 7 months post-HCT (lymphoid 91%); a stem cell boost is planned after immune suppression with fludarabine/Cytoxan/ATG (PMID: 35798858). Viral reactivation was noted in 4 patients, none developed CMV disease or EBV post-transplant lymphoproliferation. One patient developed grade 1 acute GVHD. Of 6 evaluable patients, one developed localized chronic skin GVHD. This patient remains on systemic immune suppression beyond 13 months (ruxolitinib). The overall and GVHD-free survival at 1-year post HCT in evaluable patients (N=6) is 100 % and 83%, respectively.

Conclusion: Promising preliminary results in this cohort support continuation of the trial with longer term follow-up. The effective suppression of GVHD without serious infectious complications in the first year post-HCT is encouraging. Virus reactivation was however noted early post-HCT and requires monitoring and prophylaxis. Incorporating abatacept into GVHD prophylaxis was successful in achieving desired outcomes; the phase 1 portion of the study is completed and the phase 2 trial and follow-up are ongoing.