Mismatched Donor Lymphocyte Infusions for Relapsed Disease Following Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Patients receiving allogeneic stem cell transplantation for hematological malignancies who suffer a relapse of their disease post-transplant have limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. With the exception of patients with chronic leukemias who may achieve prolonged remissions after donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs), treatments using either chemotherapy or a DLI achieve less than a 10% median survival beyond 6 months. Most of these patients die of progressive leukemia, underlying the need for new therapeutic approaches.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatched DLIs appear to possess a more potent graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect. However, when given after an HLA-mismatched transplant DLIs have a high risk of causing graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), which can be severe. To reduce the risk of GvHD, infusions of mismatched lymphocytes from an alternative donor may be used to avoid permanent engraftment and associated risk of GvHD.

In this study, we propose to use a novel strategy to treat leukemias relapsing after HLA matched allogeneic stem cell transplantation by using haplo-identical DLIs to promote the associated antileukemic effect while minimizing the possibility of permanent engraftment and associated GvHD. To achieve only temporary engraftment and to promote disease control we will give fludarabine immunosuppression prior to the DLI. We anticipate the infusion of HLA-mismatched donor lymphocytes in this setting will produce no detectible engraftment or only temporary engraftment, but may result in a strong GvL effect regardless of engraftment outcome. We will select patients for this protocol who fall into the worst category for post-transplant relapse. Specifically, we will enroll patients with acute leukemia or MDS relapsing within 6 months of transplant, of which less than 5% survive beyond a year from relapse.

Patients receiving allogeneic stem cell transplantation for hematological malignancies who suffer a relapse of their disease post-transplant have limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. With the exception of patients with chronic leukemias who may achieve prolonged remissions after donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs), treatments using either chemotherapy or a DLI achieve less than a 10% median survival beyond 6 months. Most of these patients die of progressive leukemia, underlying the need for new therapeutic approaches.

HLA-mismatched DLIs appear to possess a more potent graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect. However, when given after an HLA-mismatched transplant DLIs have a high risk of causing graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), which can be severe. To reduce the risk of GvHD, infusions of mismatched lymphocytes from an alternative donor may be used to avoid permanent engraftment and associated risk of GvHD.

In this study, we propose to use a novel strategy to treat leukemias relapsing after HLA matched allogeneic stem cell transplantation by using haplo-identical DLIs to promote the associated antileukemic effect while minimizing the possibility of permanent engraftment and associated GvHD. To achieve only temporary engraftment and to promote disease control we will give fludarabine immunosuppression prior to the DLI. We anticipate the infusion of HLA-mismatched donor lymphocytes in this setting will produce no detectible engraftment or only temporary engraftment, but may result in a strong GvL effect regardless of engraftment outcome. We will select patients for this protocol who fall into the worst category for post-transplant relapse. Specifically, we will enroll patients with acute leukemia or MDS relapsing within 6 months of transplant, of which less than 5% survive beyond a year from relapse.

The primary objective of this phase II clinical trial will be to evaluate the safety and efficacy of using a non-engraftment model and a lymphocytes infusion from a haplo-identical donor to treat relapsed disease following matched sibling stem cell transplantation in subjects who are not candidates for alternative treatment options.

We therefore propose this is a phase II clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an infusion of unmanipulated lymphocytes from a haplo-identical donor in subjects with relapsed disease following matched sibling stem cell transplantation who are not candidates for alternative treatment options.

The primary endpoint of this phase 2 study is survival at 6 month post-relapse of disease. Successful outcome of the study will be a survival of 100% greater than the National Heart Lung and Blood (NHLBI) historical 25% at 6-months.

Secondary endpoints will include: incidence and severity of induced GvHD, proportion of DLI engraftment, peak chimerism, leukemia response at 21 days post DLI, residual leukemia measured by patient chimerism, leukemia free survival from date relapse, and safety of the mismatched DLI procedure.

Eligibility Criteria:
* ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Inclusion Criteria- Recipient:

1. Diagnosed with one of the following hematological conditions:

   * Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) of any subtype or
   * Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) of any subtype or
   * Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) of any subtype or
   * Blastic phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
2. Relapsed disease within 6 months of matched sibling allogeneic stem cell transplant procedure
3. Evaluation for protocol within 8 weeks of relapse and enrollment within 12 weeks or relapse
4. 8-75 years of age
5. Availability of previous HLA identical (6/6) related donor (ages 8 to 17 must have previously donated bone marrow \[not peripheral blood\]
6. At least one haploidentical (1-3 antigen mismatched) related donor available for apheresis

Exclusion Criteria Recipient (any of the following):

1. Active grade II-IV Graft vs. Host Disease (GvHD)
2. Extensive chronic Graft vs. Host Disease (GvHD)
3. Post-transplant donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) from original donor within 1 month of protocol enrollment.
4. Progressive disease despite post-relapse chemo or monoclonal therapy.
5. Co-morbidity of such severity that it would preclude the patients ability to tolerate protocol therapy.
6. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) greater than 10 x ULN (grade 3, CTCAE).
7. Bilirubin greater than 5 x Upper Limit of Normal (ULN) (grade 3, CTCAE).
8. Creatinine greater than 3.5 mg/dl (grade 3, CTCAE).
9. HIV positive (Recipients who are positive for hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) or human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I/II) are not excluded from participation).
10. Positive pregnancy test for women of childbearing age.
11. Severe psychiatric illness or mental deficiency sufficiently severe as to make compliance with the transplant treatment unlikely and informed consent impossible.

Inclusion Criteria- Stem Cell Donors:

1. HLA-matched sibling stem cell donor from the original transplant to participate in a stem cell rescue only in the setting of severe, refractory GvHD caused by the haploidentical cells.
2. Related HLA haplo-identical (1-3 A, B or DR antigens mismatched with recipient). To maximize the GvL that is associated with HLA disparity, the haploidentical donor will be chosen based on the greatest HLA mismatch (preference: 3/6 greater than 4/6 greater than 5/6). Parents and siblings will be considered equally.
3. Weight greater than or equal to 18 kg
4. Age greater than or equal to 8 or less than or equal to 80 years old.

Exclusion Criteria Stem Cell Donor (any of the following):

1. Pregnant or lactating
2. Unfit to receive filgrastim (G-CSF) or previous filgrastim mobilization for donors under 18 years of age.
3. Unfit to undergo apheresis (abnormal blood counts, history of stroke, uncontrolled hypertension).
4. Sickling hemoglobinopathies such as HbSS or HbSC.
5. HIV positive. Donors who are positive for hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I/II), or T.cruzi (Chagas) will be used at the discretion of the investigator following counseling and approval from the recipient.
6. Severe psychiatric illness or mental deficiency sufficiently severe as to make compliance with the donation of stem cells unlikely and/or informed consent impossible.

Inclusion criteria- Haplo Lymphocyte Donors:

1. Related HLA haplo-identical (1-3 A, B or DR antigens mismatched with recipient). To maximize the GvL that is associated with HLA disparity, the haploidentical donor will be chosen based on the greatest HLA mismatch (preference: 3/6 greater than 4/6 greater than 5/6). Donors age less than 80 years required, and parents and siblings will be considered equally.
2. Age greater than or equal to 18 or less than or equal to 80 years old.

Exclusion Criteria Haplo Lymphocyte Donor (any of the following):

1. Pregnant or lactating
2. Unfit to undergo apheresis (abnormal blood counts, history of stroke, uncontrolled hypertension).
3. Sickling hemoglobinopathies such as HbSS and HbSC .
4. HIV positive. Donors who are positive for hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) or human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I/II), or T.cruzi (Chagas) will be used at the discretion of the investigator following counseling and approval from the recipient.
5. Severe psychiatric illness or mental deficiency sufficiently severe as to make compliance with the donation of stem cells unlikely and/or informed consent impossible