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Low doses ATLG as GvHD prophylaxis in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for lymphomas

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 56, pages 2295–2298 (2021)Cite this article

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Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a well-established indication for several lymphoma subsets. However, there is still a need of optimization of graft-versus-host-disease (GvHD) prevention strategies without increasing the risk of relapse while assuring good quality of life. The addition of either anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) or anti T-lymphocyte globulin (ATLG) to the standard combination with calcineurin inhibitors and antimetabolites is widely used in Europe on the basis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the setting of unrelated and matched related HSCT, especially in acute leukemias and myeloid disorders [1,2,3,4]. No focused trial with ATLG has been ever run in the setting of lymphomas.

We retrospectively evaluated the role of low doses ATLG (15–30 mg/kg) in addition to cyclosporine and either short-term methotrexate or mycophenolate as GvHD prevention in HSCT in 75 patients with Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas consecutively performed at the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Program, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Bologna, Italy.

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Fig. 1: Cumulative incidence of Graft versus-host Disease (GVHD).

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Acknowledgements

Authors acknowledge Rita Bertoni and Enrica Tomassini for technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna; Istituto “L. e A. Seràgnoli”, Bologna, Italy

    Francesca Bonifazi, Elisa Dan, Barbara Sinigaglia, Luca Zazzeroni, Simonetta Rizzi, Cristina Tassi, Beatrice Casadei, Pier Luigi Zinzani & Mario Arpinati

  2. Department of Medical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Irene Defrancesco

  3. Division of Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy

    Irene Defrancesco

  4. Clinica Ematologica, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale, Udine, Italy

    Jacopo Olivieri

  5. Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Francesco Barbato, Paolo Lopedote, Michele Dicataldo, Beatrice Casadei & Pier Luigi Zinzani

  6. Hematology Section, Department of Medical Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Arcispedale S. Anna, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

    Mariarosaria Sessa

Authors
  1. Francesca Bonifazi
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  2. Irene Defrancesco
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  3. Jacopo Olivieri
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  4. Francesco Barbato
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  5. Paolo Lopedote
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  6. Michele Dicataldo
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  7. Mariarosaria Sessa
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  8. Elisa Dan
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  9. Barbara Sinigaglia
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  10. Luca Zazzeroni
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  11. Simonetta Rizzi
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  12. Cristina Tassi
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  13. Beatrice Casadei
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  14. Pier Luigi Zinzani
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  15. Mario Arpinati
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Contributions

FB conceived, designed, and supervised the study; FBa, PL, MDC, MS, ED, BS, SR, LZ, CT, MA, GS, SDM, and BC acquired clinical and laboratory data; JO performed statistical analyses; FB, ID, PLZ, and MA analyzed and interpreted data; FB and ID wrote the manuscript; and all authors revised and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesca Bonifazi.

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Conflict of interest

FB received honoraria (speaker fees and advisory boards) from NEOVII.

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Bonifazi, F., Defrancesco, I., Olivieri, J. et al. Low doses ATLG as GvHD prophylaxis in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for lymphomas. Bone Marrow Transplant 56, 2295–2298 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-021-01359-x

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