LANDES B I O S C I E N C E V m Richard K. Burt Scott T. Lothian a d e m e c u V LANDES B I O S C I E N C E a d e m e c u m Table of contents 1. General Information 2. Transplantation Procedures 3. Transfusion Medicine in Marrow and Blood Cell Transplantation 4. Cytoreduction 5. MHC and Bone Marrow Transplantation 6. Diseases 7. Engraftment 8. General Medical Care This is one of a new series of medical handbooks. It includes subjects generally not covered in other handbook series, especially many technology-driven topics that reflect the increasing influence of technology in clinical medicine. The name chosen for this comprehensive medical handbook series is Vademecum, a Latin word that roughly means “to carry along”. In the Middle Ages, traveling clerics carried pocket-sized books, excerpts of the carefully transcribed canons, known as Vademecum. In the 19th century a medical publisher in Germany, Samuel Karger, called a series of portable medical books Vademecum. The Vademecum books are intended to be used both in the training of physicians and the care of patients, by medical students, medical house staff and practicing physicians. We hope you will find them a valuable resource. Bone Marrow Transplantation 9. Growth Factors 10. Infections 11. Graft-Versus-Host Disease 12. Graft-Versus-Leukemia Effect of Allogeneic BMT 13. Toxicity 14. Outpatient Management of Marrow and Blood Stem Cell Transplant Patients 15. Gene Therapy 16. Medications Appendices All titles available at www.landesbioscience.com H. Joachim Deeg George W. Santos I SBN 1- 57059- 560- 7 9 7 8 1 5 7 0 5 9 5 6 0 8 Richard K. Burt, M.D. Northwestern University Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. H. Joachim Deeg, M.D. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. Scott Thomas Lothian, R.Ph. Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. George W. Santos, M.D. Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. Bone Marrow Transplantation iv Bone Marrow Transplantation Landes Bioscience Georgetown U.S. and Canada Copyright © 1998 Landes Bioscience All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the U.S.A. Please address all inquiries to the Publishers: Landes Bioscience, 810 S. Church, Georgetown, Texas, U.S.A. 78626 Phone: 512/ 863 7762; FAX: 512/ 863 0081 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bone marrow transplantation / [edited by] Richard K. Burt, H. Joachim Deeg, George W. Santos p. cm. "A vademecum series book." Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-57059-560-7 (alk. paper) 1. Bone marrow—Transplantation. 2. Bone marrow—Transplanta- tion—Patients—Care. I. Burt, Richard K., 1954- II. Deeg, Hans Joachim, 1945-. III. Santos, George W. [DNLM: 1. Bone MarrowTransplantation. WH 300 B712 1998] RD123.5.B6484 1993 617.4'4—dc21 DNLM/DC 98-49747 for Library of Congress CIP While the authors, editors, sponsor and publisher believe that drug selection and dosage and the specifications and usage of equipment and devices, as set forth in this book, are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication, they make no warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to mate- rial described in this book. In view of the ongoing research, equipment develop- ment, changes in governmental regulations and the rapid accumulation of information relating to the biomedical sciences, the reader is urged to carefully review and evaluate the information provided herein. U.S. and Canada ISBN: 1-57059-560-7 xxv PREFACE This book is a therapeutic manual designed as a quick prac- tical guide and reference for houseofficers, fellows, pharma- cists and nurses on the bone marrow transplant unit. Indica- tions, complications, drug doses and approaches to clinical management problems are emphasized. Requirements for a bone marrow transplant unit are outlined. Chapters with procedures on patient evaluation, unrelated donors, marrow processing, en- graftment/relapse and general patient care (including outpatient) are included along with many other pertinent concerns. Prob- lems, such as GVHD, infection and toxicity are also discussed. Diseases requiring bone marrow transplants, such as multiple myeloma, lymphomas, pediatric malignancies and adult solid tumors have chapters devoted to them. ACKNOWLEDGMENT To those physicians who helped guide me by their example, thank you. To list a few: William Burns, M.D. (Medical College of Wisconsin); Shalina Gupta-Burt, M.D. (Rush); Martin Lidsky, M.D. (Baylor); Charles Link, M.D. (Human Gene Therapy Re- search Institute); Edward C. Lynch, M.D. (Baylor); Henry McFarland, M.D. (NIH); Arthur Nienhuis, M.D. (Saint Jude); Steven Rosen, M.D. (Northwestern); George Santos, M.D. (Johns Hopkins); H. I. Schweppe, M.D. (Baylor); and Ann Traynor, M.D. (Northwestern). Finally, thank you to Connie and Charles Liedske for their courage and determination. 3 History of Bone Marrow Transplantation George W. Santos I) INTRODUCTION Although there were early sporadic attempts to use bone marrow for its thera- peutic effect in anemia and leukemia by oral, intramuscular or even intravenous routes, the first detonation of a nuclear device on July 16, 1945 provided the major stimulus for research in bone marrow transplantation. This research was initially heavily supported by various government agencies that had an interest in under- standing the pathophysiology of ionizing radiation injury in man. II) EARLY HISTORY Protection from the toxicity of total body irradiation (TBI) by shielding hemato- poietic tissues in animals was initially observed by the Danish investigator Fabricious- Moeller in 1922 and later confirmed with more extensive investigation by Jacobsen in 1949. This provided the rationale for further experiments of Jacobsen and col- leagues in 1951 and Lorenz and colleagues in the same year, that showed that the systemic injection of spleen cells or marrow cells would provide the same protec- tion from radiation lethality afforded by the shielding of hematopoietic tissue. III) ACUTE GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST DISEASE (aGVHD) In 1955 English workers reported that mice given syngeneic hematopoietic cells following otherwise lethal TBI were afforded long lasting protection but that mice given allogeneic cells engrafted, but died with a characteristic illness before 100 days. Initially this was called secondary disease. These observations were confirmed and extended by a number of workers and by the late 1950s and early 1960s the typical involvement of the skin, gut and liver was characterized as acute GVHD. The small lymphocyte later identified as a T lymphocyte was eventually implicated as the initiator of this iatrogenic disease. It was recognized early that blood product transfusion could, because of its allo- geneic T lymphocyte content, cause clinical and fatal aGVHD in individuals who were at risk by virtue of their stage of development (i.e., fetus), disease (i.e., se- vere combined immunodeficiency) or treatment (i.e., in some cases immunosup- pressed because of chemotherapy of a malignancy). The simple measure of ex- posing the blood products to sufficient x-irradiation was able to prevent this problem. Early workers noted that following marrow transplantation a marked immuno- deficiency occurred but that a redevelopment of the immune system by donor cell precursors proceeded in a pattern similar to a recapitulation of ontogeny. This was quite clear in syngeneic transplants but the immunologic recovery was se- verely impaired in allogeneic animal transplants. A more complete understanding of this state of immunodeficiency came later in clinical studies. Investigations in the late 1950s and early 1960s in mice and extending to the early 1970s in canines indicated that methotrexate (MTX) administered following transplantation could markedly decrease severe aGVHD. For many years it was standard practice to use MTX following transplantation to decrease the severity of GVHD. Subsequently prophylaxis for acute GVHD has been replaced with the use 1.1 Bone Marrow Transplantation, edited by Richard K. Burt, H. Joachim Deeg, Scott Thomas Lothian, George W. Santos. © 1998 Landes Bioscience. 4 Bone Marrow Transplantation of cyclosporine alone or with MTX or by various forms of T cell depletion of the infused marrow. IV) TOLERANCE In early studies it became evident that a number of animals would eventually recover from aGVHD. Further investigations indicated that donor lymphoid tis- sues were specifically tolerant to host tissues. Strong evidence was presented in experimental models that this donor to host tolerance was mediated by specific T�lymphocyte suppressor cells of donor origin. V) CHRONIC GVHD (cGVHD) In the mid 1970s, the first cases of human cGVHD were reported in recipients of HLA-identical sibling marrow allografts. Clinical manifestations were systemic in- volving dermal, oral, ocular, hepatic, gut and pulmonary tissues. Many patients presented with severe skin and subcutaneous fibrosis with contractures, severe wasting and frequent infections. The disease has been associated with a number of autoimmune phenomena. The incidence of this disease has been reported to be between 25-50%. Initially, without treatment only about 20% of patients with extensive cGVHD became long term survivors with a reasonable quality of life. Earlier diagnoses and advances in treatment have markedly decreased the mor- bidity and mortality of this complication. VI) TRANSPLANT PREPARATIVE REGIMENS Before the early 1970s, TBI alone was employed prior to marrow transplantation in end stage leukemia. The Johns Hopkins group developed the rationale for the use of high dose cyclophosphamide (CY) as a preparative regimen. Because of the high relapse rate with both regimens they were abandoned for patients with ma- lignancies. The CY regimen with slight modification was adopted for transplanta- tion in severe aplastic anemia and has remained the most frequently used regimen for marrow transplantation in that disease. In 1976 the Seattle group reported the use of CY (60 mg/kg) given on 2 successive days followed by 1000 cGy of TBI on the third day. Subsequently the TBI was modified as fractionated single daily doses. With minor modifications this has been the most widely used regimen. A few other groups, however, have further modified this regimen by the use of chemothera- peutic agents other than CY preceding the fractionated TBI or by employing hyperfractionated TBI. A few transplant regimens have been employed involving only chemotherapeu- tic agents. The most widely employed has been a combination of busulfan and CY. In randomized studies this regimen has been shown to be as effective as the com- bination of CY and TBI in chronic myelogenous leukemia and in acute myelog- enous leukemia. The regimen has also been adopted in the treatment of certain genetic diseases including thalassemia and sickle cell disease. VII) DONORS Initially the majority of marrow donors were genotypical HLA-identical siblings. This provided compatible donors to only about a quarter of patients. When phenotypic matched or one HLA antigen mismatched family members were em- ployed as donors 30-35% of the patients were able to have a donor. Although there is some increase in the incidence or severity of aGVHD with these donors, the event-free survivals in the hematopoietic malignancies are the same. With greater HLA disparity, however, the results are significantly worse. In children, closely matched but unrelated donors (primarily phenotypically identical) have given reasonable results (Fig. 1.1.1). 1.1 5 Although syngeneic donors are uncommon, a number of series have reported acceptable results in the hematopoietic neoplasms and in severe aplastic anemia. Encouraged by these results, the use of autologous bone marrow transplantation has been pursued with renewed and increasing vigor, at first in the lymphomas, later with the acute leukemias and more recently with various solid tumors. Au- tologous bone marrow transplantation in carcinoma of the breast is currently the most prevalent type of transplant for solid tumors (Fig. 1.1.2). Although the antitumor effect demonstrated in allogeneic transplants for hema- tologic diseases is absent with syngeneic and autologous transplants, the hazards of morbidity and mortality associated with acute and chronic GVHD and the at- tempts in prevention and treatment are absent. At present the increase in relapse rate seen with autologous or syngeneic transplants is balanced against the decrease History of Bone Marrow Transplantation Fig. 1.1.1. Donor type for allotransplants. Reprinted with permission from IBMTR/ ABMTR 1995; 2:4. 1.1 Fig. 1.1.2. Indications for blood and marrow transplants in North America, 1994. Reprinted with permission from IBMTR/ABMTR 1995; 2:3. % OF ALLOTRANSPLANTS NUMBER OF TRANSPLANTS CML AML ALL NON- HODGKIN LYMPHOMA HODGKIN DISEASE B R E A S T CANCER OTHER MALIG- NANCY NON- MALIGNANT DISEASE Allogeneic (Total N = 4,000) Autologous (Total N = 8,000) 6 Bone Marrow Transplantation in toxicity associated with allogeneic transplants. In general, the overall survival for autologous and allogeneic transplants in lymphoma and acute myelogenous leukemia are the same. Peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells have more recently been shown to be a satisfactory means of reconstituting the hematopoietic system after marrow ablative therapy (Fig. 1.1.3). This approach offers at least two potential advan- tages: 1) it can be collected in patients where marrow cannot be harvested be- cause of prior damage from radiotherapy or infiltration by malignant disease and 2) it appears to produce a faster marrow reconstitution than marrow. This results in a shorter period of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. VIII) CLINICAL STUDIES Despite a few promising results, the 10 years of the late 1950s to the late 1960s were a period of frustration and disappointment for marrow transplantation. Most transplants were performed in terminally ill patients who died too soon for evalu- ation of engraftment. Many of these patients were transplanted with marrow from individuals who were not tissue typed or who were tissue typed with unreliable methods. In cases where engraftment was successful it was followed by lethal acute GVHD and fatal viral and fungal infections. A dramatic improvement in the therapeutic results of allogeneic transplantation began in the early 1970s when the definition of the HLA antigen system and more reliable methods of tissue typing were beginning to be established. In addition, patients with acute leukemia were being transplanted while in a complete remis- sion rather than in florid relapse or in an infected state. Therapeutic outcomes continued to improve during the 1970s and 80s as expe- rience with the clinical management of transplants was acquired and advances in supportive care, including the use of newer antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral antibiotics, employment of hematopoietic growth factors and methods to control serious acute and chronic GVHD were developed. Currently one might expect cure rates of 50-90% for patients with severe aplastic anemia and various genetic diseases, 20-70% for patients with acute leukemia, 20-80% for patients with chronic 1.1 Fig. 1.1.3. Stem cell source for autotransplants. Reprinted with permission from IBMTR/ABMTR 1995; 2:4. % OF AUTOTRANSPLANTS 7 History of Bone Marrow Transplantation myelogenous leukemia or lymphoma depending on the age, clinical status of the patient at the time of transplantation and the type and degree of tissue matching of the donor. IX) CONCLUSION In the relatively short time of 3.5 decades, bone marrow transplantation has evolved from a highly experimental laboratory activity to a well established and curative therapeutic modality for the treatment of malignancy, diseases of marrow failure and selected genetic diseases. SUGGESTED READING 1. Santos GW. History of Bone Marrow Transplantation. Clin Haem 1983; 12:611-39. 2. Santos GW. Historical background. In: Atkinson K, ed. Clinical Bone Marrow Transplantation: A Reference Textbook. Cambridge University Press, 1994; 1-9. 1.1 8 Bone Marrow Transplantation Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit Philip L. McCarthy Jr., Lori A. Williams I) REQUIREMENTS Although autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplants may be safely per- formed on a general hematology/oncology unit, even more recently entirely on an outpatient basis, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) currently remains an investigational therapy with high mortality and should not be performed on a regular medical or oncology floor. A BMT unit is a specialized area of the hospital specifically designed to prevent infectious complications and provide care by a group of nurses and physicians specifically trained in complications of intensive chemoradiotherapy, fever, neutropenia and graft-versus-host disease. The unit may be designed and staffed so that critically ill patients, who may require invasive hemodynamic monitoring, mechanical ventilation and renal dialysis, can be cared for. A BMT transplant unit is designed primarily for allogeneic patients but can be used for autologous transplants. The use of peripheral blood as a source of he- matopoietic stem cells has changed the character of autologous and allogeneic transplantation. The term BMT unit will be used interchangeably for all types of stem cell transplants. Criteria for the establishment of a transplant unit are listed in Table 1.2.1. In the future, BMT units may require certification to assure mini- mum standards of care. Later in this chapter, we will describe recent advances that have allowed for the outpatient treatment of autologous patients. A) NURSING STAFF The first requirement for a BMT unit is a dedicated nursing staff who are trained in the management of pancytopenic patients and are able to recognize the complications of transplantation. The nurse to patient ratio will vary from as low as 1:1 for a patient with multiple problems to as high as 1:3 to 1:4 for patients who are relatively uncomplicated. Nurses must be familiar with the administration and complications of intensive dose chemotherapy and radia- tion therapy. Complications include veno-occlusive disease, renal failure, in- terstitial pneumonitis, cardiac arrhythmias, hemorrhage, congestive heart fail- ure, severe stomatitis and dermatitis as well as bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Allogeneic transplantation also includes complications related to immunosuppression and graft-versus-host disease, in particular organ dam- age to skin, liver and gastrointestinal tract. Experienced nursing staff is critical to the consistent management of BMT patients. This is especially true in units where houseofficers and hematology/oncology fellows rotate for short peri- ods of time. Standard orders for the management of routine problems such as fever, administration of blood products, chemotherapy and intravenous hy- dration facilitate the care of these complex patients and help to eliminate dis- orientation for rotating physicians. The lack of consistent application of proto- cols and implementation of procedures leads to unnecessary confusion and is demoralizing for staff and others who participate in the transplant patient care. 1.2 Bone Marrow Transplantation, edited by Richard K. Burt, H. Joachim Deeg, Scott Thomas Lothian, George W. Santos. © 1998 Landes Bioscience.