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Conditioning

Treosulfan-based conditioning regimens for allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with non-malignant diseases

Abstract

An increasing number of children with non-malignant diseases can be cured by allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Treosulfan (L-treitol-1,4-bis-methanesulfonate) is being used more frequently for conditioning, owing to its’ lower toxicity profile compared with conventional myeloablative regimens. A retrospective analysis was performed of children registered in the EBMT database, who received treosulfan before HSCT between January 2005 and 2010, to identify possible dose-related toxicity and determine the incidence of engraftment, treatment-related mortality and overall survival (OS). Results from 316 transplants from 11 different countries are presented. Ninety-five (30%) were under 1 year of age at the time of transplant. OS was 83% and event-free survival was 76%; 3-year OS and event-free survival of infants below 1 year were 79% and 73%, respectively. No association was found with age at transplant, dose of treosulfan given, other agents used in combination with treosulfan, donor type, stem cell source, or second or subsequent transplant. In this report of the largest number of children to date receiving treosulfan for non-malignant diseases, treosulfan is shown to be a safe and effective agent even for those under 1 year of age at the time of transplant. Further prospective studies are needed using precisely defined protocols with pharmacokinetic monitoring and detailed chimerism analysis. In addition, long-term studies will be vital to determine long-term effects, for example, on fertility in comparison with other regimens.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Arnaud Dalassier for data correction and management.

Author contributions

CP and UP designed the study. MS, HB, AL, PV, ARG, UP and CP contributed equally to this manuscript. KWS and PS contributed to the study and manuscript. EG provided additional statistical support.

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Correspondence to M A Slatter.

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Competing interests

The EBMT received an unrestricted grant for the retrospective data collection and analysis from medac GmbH. CP received travel grants and study support from medac. MS received travel grants from medac. All other authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Supplementary Information accompanies this paper on Bone Marrow Transplantation website

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Slatter, M., Boztug, H., Pötschger, U. et al. Treosulfan-based conditioning regimens for allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with non-malignant diseases. Bone Marrow Transplant 50, 1536–1541 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2015.171

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