Towards graft-versus-host disease-free alternative donor transplant platforms for patients with acquired aplastic anemia Review


Authors: Oved, J. H.; Bacigalupo, A.; DeZern, A. E.
Review Title: Towards graft-versus-host disease-free alternative donor transplant platforms for patients with acquired aplastic anemia
Abstract: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is a well-established treatment option for acquired aplastic anemia. Historically, upfront HCT with HLA-matched sibling donors is used in young patients and immunosuppressive therapy (IST) is used for all others. Over time, innovations in the transplant platform have decreased unwanted complications such as graft-versus- host disease (GvHD), failure to engraft, and infections, thereby expanding the use of alternative donors. This has led to an evolution towards HCT and away from IST despite increased intensity of treatment due to improved event-free survival. The ideal conditioning regimen for HCT in aplastic anemia results in sustained engraftment, minimal toxicity, lack of GvHD, and is not limited by donor availability. Two transplant platforms have been refined to meet these needs. TCR αβ + T-cell depletion has excellent outcomes with minimal graft rejection and GvHD in the matched and mismatched unrelated donor setting. Haploidentical grafts, however, still require further optimization. Bone marrow grafts given with anti-thymocyte globulin and post-transplant cyclophosphamide have similarly excellent results with extremely low rates of GvHD. Peripheral mobilized grafts need further optimization in this setting. This review provides an overview of the current perspective on regimens that minimize GvHD in aplastic anemia and how they can be further refined so that all patients with aplastic anemia have curative therapy available to them. This record is sourced from MEDLINE/PubMed, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Keywords: adolescent; child; event free survival; cyclophosphamide; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; engraftment; graft versus host reaction; graft rejection; drug therapy; t cell depletion; immunosuppressive treatment; bone marrow transplantation; therapy; aplastic anemia; human; article; mismatched unrelated donor; matched sibling donor
Journal Title: Haematologica
Volume: 110
Issue: 8
ISSN: 0390-6078
Publisher: Ferrata Storti Foundation  
Date Published: 2025-08-01
Start Page: 1693
End Page: 1701
Language: English
DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2024.286544
PUBMED: 40438974
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC12358789
DOI/URL:
Notes: The MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) is acknowledged in the PubMed record and PDF. Corresponding MSK author is Joseph H. Oved -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Joseph Hai Oved
    39 Oved