In vivo T cell depletion with pretransplant anti-thymocyte globulin reduces graft-versus-host disease without increasing relapse in good risk myeloid leukemia patients after stem cell transplantation from matched related donors

One-hundred and two patients with good risk myeloid leukemia (CML first chronic phase or AML first CR) were transplanted from HLA-related donors after conditioning with (n = 45) or without anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) (n = 57). One graft failure was observed in the non-ATG and none in the ATG group. The median time to leukocyte engraftment (>1 × 109/l) was 16 (range 12–33) in the ATG group and 17 days (range 11–29) in the non-ATG group (NS) and for platelet engraftment (>20 × 109/l) 24 and 19 days (P = 0.002), respectively. Acute GVHD grade II–IV was observed in 47% of the non-ATG and in 20% of the ATG group (P = 0.004). Grade III/IV GVHD occurred in 7% of the ATG and in 32% of the non-ATG group (P = 0.002). Chronic GVHD was seen in 36% and 67% (P = 0.005), respectively. After a median follow-up of 48 months (range 2–128), the 5-year estimated OS is 66% (95% KI: 51–81%) for the ATG group and 59% (95% KI: 46–72%) for the non-ATG group (NS). The 5-year estimated DFS is 64% (95% KI: 50–78%) for ATG and 55% (95% KI: 43–67%) for the non-ATG regimen (NS). The 5-year probability of relapse was 5% in the ATG and 15% in the non-ATG group (NS). ATG as part of the conditioning regimen leads to a significant reduction in GVHD without increase of relapse in patients with myeloid leukemia after stem cell transplantation from HLA-related donors.