loading page

Abatacept-based Graft-Versus-Host-Disease Prophylaxis in Haplo-identical Hematopoietic Cell Transplant: Single Center Experience in a High-Risk Cohort
  • +4
  • Enass Raffa,
  • Anand Srinivasan,
  • Donna Wall,
  • Tal Schechter,
  • Muhammad Ali,
  • Joerg Krueger,
  • Kuang-Yueh chiang
Enass Raffa
The Hospital for Sick Children

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Anand Srinivasan
The Hospital for Sick Children
Author Profile
Donna Wall
Hospital for Sick Children
Author Profile
Tal Schechter
The Hospital for Sick Children
Author Profile
Muhammad Ali
The Hospital for Sick Children
Author Profile
Joerg Krueger
Hospital for Sick Children
Author Profile
Kuang-Yueh chiang
Hospital for Sick Children
Author Profile

Abstract

Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has become the most popular approach in haplo-identical hematopoietic cell transplant (haplo-HCT). Although there are reports of a small number of adult patients in the literature who experienced graft failure and were re-transplanted with a haploidentical donor with PTCy prophylaxis, there is still insufficient guidance for patients with specific contraindications/complications to cyclophosphamide and virtually no data in the pediatric setting. Abatacept (Aba), a T cell co-stimulation blockade, has been shown in previous studies to prevent severe acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) with minimal toxicity and durable engraftment. We report the efficacy of Aba-based GVHD prophylaxis in four pediatrics patients (ages 2-12 years) who received a haplo-HCT with peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC). Three patients had previous transplants. One patient developed acute GVHD of skin stage 3 and one patient had both stage 3 skin and stage 1 GI acute GVHD. Two patients had mild chronic skin GVHD. All 4 patients are alive with full donor chimerism and without disease at 7-23 months follow up, weaning or off immunosuppressive agents with no complications. Successful haplo-HCT utilizing an Aba- based regimen can result in reliable engraftment and acceptable GVHD. However, our small sample size limits generalizability and encourages the consideration of a larger prospective trial to validate these results in the haplo-HCT setting.