Session: 722. Clinical Allogeneic Transplantation: Acute and Chronic GVHD, Immune Reconstitution: Poster II
Hematology Disease Topics & Pathways:
Biological, Therapies, transplantation
Objectives: To correlate Ikaros expression both in the graft and in the recipient’s peripheral blood (PB) after engraftment with the risk of GVHD after allogeneic HSCT outcomes.
Patients and methods: 51 patients were included. Median age was 51 years (19-80), 53% of patients were male, and 57% of them had acute leukemia. Donor were haploidentical in 45% of cases, related identical in 29% and unrelated identical in 26%. Most patients (82%) received reduced-intensity conditioning regimens. Median follow-up was 20 months (10-40 months). Samples were collected from the graft and from the PB of the recipient 3 weeks after neutrophil recovery. Real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for analysis of absolute and relative Ikaros expression.
Results: There was no association between Ikaros expression and the risk of acute GVHD, relapse or mortality. However, a significant association was observed in the risk of chronic GVHD. Cumulative incidence (CI) of chronic GVHD and of moderate / severe chronic GVHD (according to National Institute of Health - NIH classification) in two years were 49% and 28%, respectively. Higher Ikaros expression in the graft was associated with a significantly higher risk of moderate/severe chronic GVHD (54% vs. 15%, respectively, P=0.01). Higher Ikaros expression in the recipient’s PB after engraftment was also associated with a significantly higher risk of moderate/severe chronic GVHD (65% vs. 11%, respectively, P=0.01).
Conclusions: Ikaros expression in the graft and in the PB of the recipient after transplant seems to be correlated with a higher risk of moderate/severe chronic GVHD and might be evaluated in larger and prospective trials as a potential biomarker.
Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.