Abstract

Recent registry data suggest that host-versus-graft alloreactions mediated by anti-donor HLA antibodies in recipients of adult allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells or single-unit umbilical cord blood (UCB) contribute to the risk of graft failure. The present study evaluated the impact of anti-HLA antibodies on engraftment and unit predominance in 126 double-UCB (dUCB) recipients. Eighteen dUCB recipients were identified with at least 1 of 2 UCB units recognized by anti-HLA antibodies directed against donor-directed HLA-specific antibodies (DSAs). Overall, 9 of 12 patients who had DSAs against 1 of the 2 UCB units composing the graft and 5 of 6 patients who had DSAs against both units engrafted. The cumulative incidence of engraftment was similar in patients with and without DSAs (83% vs 78%). Thus, our data do not support a negative effect of anti-HLA antibodies on engraftment, at least in the setting of cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil and the conditioning regimens used at the University of Minnesota, and argue against routine screening for use in graft selection before dUCB transplantation. Further studies are needed to fully understand the value of anti-HLA antibody testing in dUCB graft selection and its impact on transplantation outcomes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1704-1708
Number of pages5
JournalBiology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Volume17
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2011

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Financial disclosure: This work was supported in part by grants from the National Cancer Institute ( CA65493 , to Claudio G. Brunstein, Jeffrey S. Miller, Todd E. DeFor, and John E. Wagner, and CA77598 , to Todd E. DeFor), a grant from the Children’s Cancer Research Fund (to John E. Wagner and Todd E. DeFor), an American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation Robert A. Good New Investigator Award (to Claudio G. Brunstein), and a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Scholar in Clinical Research Award (to Claudio G. Brunstein). The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Keywords

  • Engraftment
  • Graft rejection
  • Unit predominance

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Anti-HLA antibodies in double umbilical cord blood transplantation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this