Transplant Cell Ther
June 2025
While highly morbid forms of chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) and severe late effects of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can impact children and adults alike, unique considerations arise in pediatric cases regarding diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and likelihood of resolution. As children can present with atypical features of cGVHD and with more significant disease due to inability to communicate symptoms, they may be at increased risk for highly morbid forms of cGVHD and incur greater subsequent late effects, which may be more pronounced in those with underlying chromosomal breakage syndromes, with higher prevalence in pediatric HCT recipients. The long-term effects of cGVHD and its therapies include impaired immune reconstitution, leading to increased risks of infection and secondary malignant neoplasms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Melanoma as a subsequent malignant neoplasm has been described among childhood cancer survivors; however, the risk factors and long-term survival are not well understood.
Methods: We assessed incidence, risk factors, and outcomes for melanoma among participants in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study cohort. Cumulative incidence and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated, and multivariable Cox models were used to determine hazard ratios (HRs) and associated 95% CI for melanoma risk factors.
Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) occurs in approximately 1 in 5 pediatric allogeneic HCT patients and is a leading cause of late morbidity and mortality. Late effects of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) may lead to long-term chronic health conditions and shortened life expectancy. In addition to direct physiologic challenges from cGVHD and other late effects, numerous patient-important outcomes impact the quality of life (QOL) of patients and their families.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurrent literature lacks details on the impact of pediatric chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) on long-term survivorship after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Nonetheless, cGVHD remains a leading cause of post-transplant morbidity and mortality in children and adolescents, which is particularly relevant given the longer life-expectancy after HCT (measured in decades) compared to older adults. To address this knowledge gap, leaders of the Pediatric Transplant and Cellular Therapy Consortium convened a multidisciplinary taskforce of experts in pediatric cGVHD and HCT late effects known as RESILIENT after Chronic GVHD (Research and Education towards Solutions for Late effects to Innovate, Excel, and Nurture after cGVHD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGuidelines regarding the optimal use and timing of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) screening in childhood cancer survivors to evaluate for the risk of premature ovarian insufficiency or reduced fertility potential are lacking. We conducted a systematic review of the current evidence supporting AMH screening of female childhood cancer survivors with the overall objective to identify gaps in the literature needing further study, to allow for future data-driven recommendations. Search terms included "cancer, fertility, and anti-Mullerian hormone.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBone Marrow Transplant
September 2024
Disparities in access to hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) are well established. Prior studies have identified barriers, such as referral and travel to an HCT center, that occur before consultation. Whether differences in access persist after evaluation at an HCT center remains unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapy expand to new indications and international access improves, the volume of HCT performed annually continues to rise. Parallel improvements in HCT techniques and supportive care entails more patients surviving long-term, creating further emphasis on survivorship needs. Survivors are at risk for developing late complications secondary to pre-, peri- and post-transplant exposures and other underlying risk-factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapy expand to new indications and international access improves, the number of HCTs performed annually continues to rise. Parallel improvements in HCT techniques and supportive care entails more patients surviving long term, creating further emphasis on survivorship needs. Survivors are at risk for developing late complications secondary to pretransplantation, peritransplantation, and post-transplantation exposures and other underlying risk factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMale infertility is defined as a failure to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse owing to suspected male reproductive factors. Non-malignant red blood cell disorders are systemic conditions that have been associated with male infertility with varying severity and strength of evidence. Hereditary haemoglobinopathies and bone marrow failure syndromes have been associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis dysfunction, hypogonadism, and abnormal sperm parameters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRacial/ethnic minorities have demonstrated worse survival after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) compared to whites. Whether the racial disparity in HCT outcomes persists in long-term survivors and possibly may be even exacerbated in this population, which frequently transitions back from the transplant center to their local healthcare providers, is unknown. In the current study, we compared long-term outcomes among 1-year allogeneic HCT survivors by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPediatr Blood Cancer
September 2023
In the survivorship setting, adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors frequently demonstrate little knowledge of infertility risk, are unclear regarding their fertility status, and may under- or overestimate their treatment-related risk for infertility. In female AYA survivors, ovarian function usually parallels fertility, and can be assessed with serum hormone levels and ultrasonography. Posttreatment fertility preservation may be appropriate for survivors at risk for primary ovarian insufficiency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTacrolimus (Tac)/methotrexate (MTX) is standard graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis; however, is associated with several toxicities. Tac, reduced-dose MTX (mini-MTX), and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) have been used but never compared with standard MTX. We performed a randomized trial comparing Tac/MTX (full-MTX) with Tac/mini-MTX/MMF (mini-MTX/MMF) for GVHD prevention after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFConsolidation with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has improved survival for patients with central nervous system tumors (CNSTs). The impact of the autologous graft CD34+ dose on patient outcomes is unknown. We wanted to analyze the relationship between CD34 dose, total nucleated cell (TNC) dose, and clinical outcomes, including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), relapse, non-relapse mortality (NRM), endothelial-injury complications (EIC), and time to neutrophil engraftment in children undergoing autologous HSCT for CNSTs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is common after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). The determination of incidence, risk factors, and impact of CDI on alloHCT outcomes is an unmet need. The study examines all patients aged 2 years and older who received first alloHCT for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) between 2013 and 2018 at US centers and reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) data registry.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAllogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation is a curative procedure for hematologic malignancies but is associated with a significant risk of non-relapse mortality (NRM). The Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI) is a prognostic tool that discriminates this risk in all age groups. A recent survey of transplant physicians demonstrated that 79% of pediatric providers used the HCT-CI infrequently, and most reported concerns about its applicability in the younger population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransplant Cell Ther
February 2023
Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can cure many nonmalignant conditions, but concern for morbidity and mortality remains. To help physicians estimate patient-specific transplant mortality risk, the HCT comorbidity index (HCT-CI) is used. However, pediatric physicians use the HCT-CI less frequently than adult counterparts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) commonly complicates pediatric hematopoietic cellular therapy (HCT), pulmonary manifestations and histology of TA-TMA (pTA-TMA) are rarely reported, with scant data available on timing, risk factors, pathogenesis, and outcomes. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) are recognized manifestations of pTA-TMA. The objective of this study was to characterize the pathologic findings, outcomes, and coincident diagnoses preceding biopsy-proven pTA-TMA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransplant Cell Ther
November 2022
The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has significantly impacted global health and healthcare delivery systems. To characterize the secondary effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigation strategies used in the delivery of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) care, we performed a comprehensive literature search encompassing changes in specific donor collection, processing practices, patient outcomes, and patient-related concerns specific to HSCT and HSCT-related healthcare delivery. In this review, we summarize the available literature on the secondary impacts the COVID-19 pandemic on the fields of HSCT and cellular therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransplant Cell Ther
October 2022
Young adults (YA), age 18 to 39 years, are at a stage of life that may make them more vulnerable than older adults to impairments in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) during and after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Health self-efficacy (HSE), the belief that one can implement strategies to produce a desired health outcome, has been associated with health outcomes in oncology research. Little is known about HRQOL or HSE in YA HCT survivors compared with older HCT survivors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev
September 2022
Background: Gonadotoxic treatment-related infertility has a significant impact on quality of life in childhood cancer survivors. Genome-wide association analyses to delineate the risk of infertility in childhood cancer survivors have not been previously reported.
Methods: Leveraging genotype data from a large survivor cohort, the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS), we investigated the role of SNPs on future pregnancy or siring a pregnancy in survivors without pelvic, testicular, or brain radiation who had ever been married.