Dose-escalated treosulphan in combination with cyclophosphamide as a new preparative regimen for allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with an increased risk for regimen-related complications

Treosulphan has recently demonstrated antileukaemic activity and potent haematopoietic stem cell toxicity. Dose-escalated treosulphan ( 3 x 12 or 3 x 14 g/m(2)) combined with cyclophosphamide (Cy) was chosen for a new preparative regimen before allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 18 patients ( median age 44, range 19 - 64 years) with haematological malignancies, considered ineligible for other myeloablative preparative regimens. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated rapid treosulphan plasma clearance and a dose-dependent increase of its maximum plasma concentrations and area under the concentration - time curves. Rapid and sustained white blood cell and platelet recovery and full donor chimerism was attained in all evaluable patients. Non-haematological regimen-related CTC grades 3 - 4 adverse events were transient and predominantly consisted of cardiac (28%), gastrointestinal (39%), and hepatic ( 39%) toxicities. The 1-year nonrelapse mortality was 22%. Principal causes of transplant-related lethal events were infections in three of four affected patients. Only one patient died from regimen-related cardiac toxicity. The 1-year relapse estimate is 22%, overall and progression-free survival estimates are 67 and 56%, respectively. In conclusion, this new treosulphan and Cy combination is an effective, comparatively well-tolerated myeloablative preparative regimen even in patients with an increased risk for regimen-related toxic complications.