Researchers at Hamilton Health Sciences' (HHS) Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre have discovered that monitoring donor cell DNA presence as early as one month post-transplant could be crucial for predicting outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients.
The study, recently published in Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, analyzed 141 patients who received donor stem cell transplants between 2016 and 2022, revealing that early detection of 'mixed chimerism' correlates with higher relapse risks.
Understanding Mixed Chimerism and Its Impact
Mixed chimerism occurs when donor stem cells fail to completely replace the patient's diseased cells following transplantation, resulting in a mixture of recipient and donor DNA in the blood. In optimal scenarios, patient DNA should be undetectable post-transplant, with donor DNA becoming the sole genetic signature in blood cells.
"If the genetic fingerprint, as early as 30 days after transplant is all from the donor, then the risk for leukemia returning is much lower, and the chance for the patient to be cured is a lot better," explains Dr. Tobias Berg, an HHS hematologist and study author.
Clinical Significance and Treatment Implications
Currently, approximately 60% of AML patients achieve cure through transplantation, while 40% experience disease recurrence. The study's findings open new avenues for early intervention strategies, particularly through donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI).
"With a DLI, it's a fast, one-time collection and the recipient receives these cells in an easy outpatient procedure, so no overnight stay is required," notes Dr. Berg. This intervention can boost donor immune cell effects and potentially eliminate remaining diseased cells before relapse occurs.
Research Collaboration and Precision Medicine
The study represents a collaborative effort between HHS's Cellular Therapy and Transplant program, the Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program's genetics lab, and the Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research at McMaster University.
Dr. Marc Jeschke, HHS vice president of research and chief scientific officer, emphasizes that this research aligns with their vision for precision medicine, enabling more personalized treatment approaches for individual patients.
Study Leadership and Expertise
Led by HHS hematologist Dr. Michael Radford, the research team included prominent experts such as:
- Dr. Irwin Walker, a pioneer in allogeneic stem cell transplants
- Dr. Brian Leber, who performed HHS's thousandth allogeneic stem cell transplant
- Dr. Kylie Lepic, medical director of the HHS Cellular Therapy and Transplant Program
- Dr. Gregory Pond, statistician and ECRI director
The findings suggest that ongoing monitoring of chimerism patterns could lead to more accurate outcome predictions and improved treatment strategies for AML patients undergoing stem cell transplantation.
