G-CSF-primed haploidentical marrow transplantation without ex vivo T cell depletion: an excellent alternative for high-risk leukemia.

Based on our encouraging results of G-CSF-primed HLA-matched related marrow transplants for high-risk leukemia, we extended the study from matched related to haploidentical transplants using G-CSF primed marrow and sequential immunosuppressants to prevent both graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and host-versus-graft rejection (HVGR). Fifteen high-risk leukemia patients, who needed urgent transplantation but lacked an HLA-matched donor, underwent G-CSF-primed haploidentical marrow transplantation without ex vivo T cell depletion. Donors were given G-CSF (Lenograstim) at 3-4 microg/kg/day for 7 days prior to marrow harvest. GVHD and HVGR prophylaxis were combined in the sequential usage of cyclosporin A, methotrexate, anti-thymocyte globulin and mycophenolate mofetil. All patients established sustained trilineage engraftment at a median of 19 days and 21 days for neutrophil and platelets respectively. G-CSF priming significantly increased CD34(+) and CFU-GM cells, reduced total lymphocytes and reversed the CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio in the donor marrow. The incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD was 33.3%. Nine patients survived more than a year with a Karnofsky performance status of 100%. Estimated overall disease-free survival at 2 years was 60 +/- 7%. In conclusion, using G-CSF priming marrow grafts along with sequential immunosuppressants provided an excellent alternative for the treatment of high-risk hematological malignancy in patients who lack matched donors.