Maintenance therapy after allogeneic hematopoietic transplant for acute myeloid leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Oren Pasvolsky*, Shai Shimony, Moshe Yeshurun, Liat Shargian, Ofir Wolach, Pia Raanani, Anat Gafter-Gvili, Ronit Gurion

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: For patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), disease relapse remains the most common reason for transplant failure and patient death. Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have aimed to reduce the risk of relapse by means of post-transplant maintenance therapy. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs comparing the efficacy and safety of maintenance with observation or placebo in patients with AML after allogeneic HSCT. We searched Cochrane Library, PubMed and conference proceedings up to Febuary 2021. Results: Our search yielded five trials including 736 patients. Maintenance therapy consisted of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in 3 studies (sorafenib 2 studies; midostaurin 1 study) and hypomethylating agents (HMAs) in 2 studies (decitabine and azacytidine 1 study each). Maintenance therapy was associated with an improved overall survival (OS), HR = 0.61 (95% CI 0.47–0.80). Subgroup analysis revealed advantage in OS with either TKI or HMA maintenance. Relapse free survival (RFS) was also improved in the maintenance arm compared with the control arm HR = 0.51(95% CI 0.40 − 0.66). There was no difference between the two arms in overall grade 3/4 adverse events or overall infections, in grade 3/4 infections, or in acute and chronic graft versus host disease. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis shows that post-transplant maintenance therapy in AML patients is effective in improving RFS and OS, with a satisfactory safety profile.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1335-1341
Number of pages7
JournalActa Oncologica
Volume60
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Acute myeloid leukemia
  • allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant
  • maintenance
  • meta-analysis

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