Background: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) and donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) may induce a graft-versus-tumor effect in pediatric sarcoma patients. Here, we describe general feasibility, toxicity and efficacy of DLI after allo-SCT.
Results: 4 of 8 patients responded. ES#4 had stable disease (SD) for 9 months after DLI and RMS#4 partial response for 8 months with combined hyperthermia/chemotherapy. In ES#4, DLI led to SD for 6 months and reverted residual disease before allo-SCT into complete remission. After DLI, ES#4 and RMS#4 developed acute GvHD (°III-°IV), ES#4 also developed chronic GvHD. 5 patients including ES#4 lived longer than expected. Median survival after allo-SCT was 2.3 years, post-relapse survival (PRS) was 13 months. Off note, HLA-mismatched DLI were associated with a trend towards increased survival after allo-SCT and increased PRS compared to HLA-matched DLI (23 versus 3 months).
Materials and methods: We studied eight adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with advanced Ewing sarcoma (ES#1-4) and rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS#1-4) who received DLI. Escalating doses ranged from 2.5 × 104 to 1 × 108 CD3+ cells/kg body weight. AYAs were evaluated for response to DLI, graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and survival.
Conclusions: DLI after allo-SCT may control advanced pediatric sarcoma in AYAs with controllable toxicity.
Keywords: Ewing sarcoma; allogeneic stem cell transplantation; alloimmunity and transplantation; donor lymphocyte infusion; rhabdomyosarcoma.