AIM. To study the fractions of BAALC-expressing (BAALC-e) leukemic hematopoietic stem cells (LHSCs) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with isolated mutations in the FLT3 gene as well as their combinations with the mutations in the NPM1 gene. MATERIALS & METHODS. The study enrolled adult AML patients with the common element of having isolated FLT3 mutations in the genome (n = 25). The control group (n = 21) consisted of AML patients with mutations in both FLT3 and NPM1. The patients (n = 46) were aged 18–84 years (median 52 years), there were 26 women and 20 men. Non-random chromosomal aberrations, including those of a complex nature (≥ 3 lesions per metaphase), were identified in 13 patients with isolated FLT3 mutation and in 1 patient with both FLT3 and NPM1 mutations. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the level of BAALC, WT1, and EVI1 expressions by the cells in bone marrow aspirate. Thresholds for distinguishing between high and low levels of BAALC and EVI1 expression were considered to be 31 % and 10 %, respectively, and the thresholds for WT1 and FLT3 allele ratio were 250 copies/104 ABL1 copies and 0.5, respectively. РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ. An increased BAALC expression level roughly reflecting the fraction size of BAALC-e LHSCs was detected in 20/25 (80 %) patients with isolated FLT3 mutations. This was observed together with an increased level of WT1 (n = 22) and EVI1 (n = 7) expression. In all patients with both FLT3 and NPM1 mutations (control group, n = 21), the BAALC and EVI1 expression levels were below the threshold, which did not affect WT1 expression. This observation suggests to question the random nature of the identified decrease of BAALC and EVI1 expressions, which can be hypothetically accounted for by a low count of CD34-positive LHSCs in the bone marrow of AML patients with NPM1 mutations. Serial measurements of these molecular parameters under therapy for AML with FLT3 +/– NPM1 mutations show the feasibility of their use in assessing the therapy efficacy or the need for its correction, if required. CONCLUSION. The data presented in this paper clearly indicate that clinical trials need to intensively apply serial analysis of the fractions of BAALC-expressing leukemic HSCs in AML patients with FLT3 mutations. This approach allows for better molecular monitoring of the therapy efficacy for this challenging category of AML patients.

Background. The effectiveness of therapy for acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) has significantly improved over the past decades, including through the implementation of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The Russian multicenter ALL-2009 study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01193933) showed that performing autologous HSCT (auto-HSCT) in patients with T-ALL/LBL improves long-term results. However, the study was non-randomized and the need for auto-HSCT in clinical practice requires careful study.Aim. To assess the significance of auto-HSCT in patients with T-ALL/LBL in the framework of ALL-2016 multicenter, prospective, randomized study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03462095).Materials and methods. The study included 109 adult patients with T-ALL/LBL (m:f 82:27). Median age was 31 (18– 52) years. T-ALL was diagnosed in 88 (81 %) patients, T-LBL in 21 (19 %) patients. All patients are treated according to the ALL-2016 protocol. Using the web platform, upon completion of induction therapy (+70 days), all T-ALL/LBL patients who achieved clinical and hematological remission were randomized to the auto-HSCT arm or chemotherapy alone (CT). Centralized monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) in bone marrow samples was performed by multicolor flow cytometry at the control points according to the ALL-2016 protocol. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS 9.4.Results. 87 patients with T-ALL/LBL were randomized: 44 to the auto-HSCT arm and 43 to the CT arm. Further analysis included 25 patients who underwent auto-HSCT and 36 patients receiving only CT. Three-year relapse-free survival in T-ALL is estimated at 62 % (auto-HSCT) vs. 81 % (CT) (p = 0.3422), and in T-LBL – 67 % (auto-HSCT) vs. 79 % (CT) (p = 0.59). MRD persistence on the +70th day of therapy according to the ALL-2016 protocol was determined in 40 % of patients (autoHSCT) and in 67 % (CT) (p = 0.057). In a multivariate analysis, it was determined that T-ALL from early T-cell precursor (ETP-variant) and MRD persistence after the end of II phase induction are the main risk factors for relapse in the treatment according to the ALL-2016 protocol.Conclusion. Performing auto-HSCT both in patients with T-ALL and T-LBL, and with MRD persistence on day +70 according to the ALL-2016 protocol did not improve long-term results. The development of new programs for the treatment of patients with MRD persistence, as well as the ETP variant of T-ALL, is of current interest.

Introduction. Ph-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a high risk group of B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Since tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) were introduced, controversial data have been obtained on the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell (allo-HSCT) in the first complete remission. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of allo-HSCT in the first complete remission of Ph-positive ALL in adult patients after remission induction with continuous chemotherapeutic exposure in combination with TKIs. Methods and materials . The retrospective analysis included 74 patients with a median age of 32 years (range 18–59) after allo-HSCT in the first complete remission and 58 patients with a median age of 39 years (range 18–65) in the first complete remission after conservative therapy. Ninety-one per cent and 83 % of patients received imatinib as TKIs in remission induction in the allo-HSCT and conservative therapy groups, respectively. The median time from the first complete remission to allo-HSCT was 7 months (range 2–33). Thirty-six patients (49 %) had positive minimal residual disease (MRD) status prior to allo-HSCT. Eighteen patients (14 %) over 40 years underwent allo-HSCT in the first complete remission. Results. Allo-HSCT improves overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) and by 9 months since the achievement of the first complete remission, they were 70.1 (95 % CI 56.4–88.6) in the allo-HSCT group versus 45.1 (95 % CI 33.4–61.0) in the conservative group, p=0.025 and 63.3 % (95 % CI 47.6–84.1) in the allo-HSCT group versus 44.8 % (95 % CI 33.2–60.4) in the conservative therapy group, p=0.04, respectively. Allo-HSCT in patients over 40 years does not improve 5-year OS and RFS and were 57.2 % (95 % CI 30.0–84.4) versus 59.8 % (95 % CI 36.9– 82.7), p=0.69, and 42.6 % (95 % CI 14.0–71.2) vs. 50.9 % (95 % CI 29.5–72.3), p=0, 88, respectively. Conclusion. Allo-HSCT performed before 9 months from achievement of the first complete remission after induction with imatinib is the preferred method of remission consolidation in patients from 18 to 40 years old. The optimal therapy for patients older than 40 years in the first complete remission is a conservative approach in combination with TKIs.

Introduction. There are several forms of the L-asparaginase which are characterized by differences in the half-life, the spectrum of toxicity as well as other factors. Aim — to determine the incidence of different types of L-asparaginase toxicity in adult patients with Ph-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated according to the ALL-2016 protocol. Materials and methods . From December 2016 to February 2023 the multicenter prospective randomized study “ALL-2016” included 313 patients with newly diagnosed Ph-negative ALL. Information about the 256 patients who had toxicity of native L-asparaginase was entered into an electronic database. The ratio of men and women was 155:101. The median age was 32 (18–54) years. We analyzed 1253 courses of therapy that included the administration of L-asparaginase. Results . L-asparaginase toxicity and adverse reactions were diagnosed in 67 (26 %) of 256 patients. Of the 1253 courses, 102 (8 %) had complications associated with the administration of this drug. Grade 1–2 toxicity of L-asparaginase was diagnosed in 34 (51 %) patients: allergic reaction — in 6 (18 %), thrombosis of brachiocephalic veins associated with the installation of a central venous catheter — in 2 (6 %), increased pancreatic amylase in blood serum and diastase in urine, without clinical signs of pancreatitis — in 3 (9 %), lower protein-synthesis function of liver — in 23 (68 %), hepatotoxicity — in 15 (44 %). Grade 3–4 toxicity of L-asparaginase was diagnosed in 33 (49 %) patients, of which 22 (67 %) required discontinuation of the drug. The median of the development of complications of L-asparaginase was the third administration. None of the patients died as the result of the toxicity of native form of the drug. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and the probability of relapse (PR) in the group of patients in which L-asparaginase was discontinued at the stage of induction of remission and in the group of patients who continued L-asparaginase treatment at remission consolidation and maintenance therapy did not differ significantly: OS — 89 % vs 70 % (p = 0.0921), PR — 47 % vs 33 % (р = 0.8633). Conclusion. In adult patients, L-asparaginase withdrawal due to toxicity, in most cases, occurs at the stage of the remission induction. It is possible that the replacement of the native form the drug to the pegylated one in adult patients with ALL, in whom L-asparaginase is canceled at the stage of remission induction, improves long-term survival rates.

Background. Due to changing views on pathogenesis, risk factors and therapy strategies in prognostically favorable CBF-positive acute myeloid leukemias[1] (AML), the expression monitoring of RUNX1/RUNX1T1 or CBFB/MYH11 fusion genes, as an additional evaluation of treatment outcomes, appears to be insufficient. This indicates the need to improve the monitoring of the CBF+ AML course by means of parallel measurements of BAALC expression levels which roughly correlate with the mass of BAALC-expressing leukemia hematopoietic stem cells (BAALC-e LHSC). Aim. To improve the quality of assessing treatment outcomes with due account for expression levels of RUNX1/RUNX1T1 or CBFB/MYH11 fusion genes and the mass of BAALC-e LHSC and on this basis to pave the way for personalized CBF+ AML treatment. Materials & Methods. This study enrolled 39 adult patients aged 20–81 years (median 32 years) and 8 children aged 2–18 years (median 12 years). Among them there were 20 females and 27 males. AML with inv(16)(p13;q22)/t(16;16) was identified in 19 patients, t(8;21)(q22;q22) was detected in 28 patients. BAALC, WT1, RUNX1/RUNX1T1, CBFB/MYH11 expression levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and related to the expression of the ABL1 expert gene. Results. In 23 patients, inv(16) and t(8;21) appeared to be isolated. Additional multidirectional chromosomal changes were observed in 24 patients with inv(16) and in 18 patients with t(8;21). All enrolled patients showed increased BAALC expression. In the course of therapy, it was decreasing to the threshold value in 16/18 (89 %) patients. The evaluation of the mean BAALC expression levels in the pooled groups of children and adults with isolated findings of either inv(16) or t(8;21) showed the decrease of the BAALC-e LHSC mass only in children (p = 0.049). The comparison of the mean WT1 expression levels in the pooled groups of children and adults with isolated and additional chromosomal abnormalities revealed their significant decrease in patients with complicated variants (p = 0.023). Conclusion. The case reports provided in this paper show that the molecular monitoring with serial measurements of fusion genes and BAALC gene expression levels in CBF+ AML patients can lay the basis for further improvement of personalized treatment strategies for these patients. In all likelihood, parallel measurements of the above gene expression levels will allow to establish the framework for decision-making concerning treatment extent and timely HSC transplantation.

Clinical and laboratory data are presented of a 29 year female patient with BAALC- and BCL-2-positive T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia developed from early leukemic progenitors which was treated unsuccessfully with high-dose chemotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT), but revealed an impressive effect of venetoclax. For reasons beyond our control, allo-HSCT with myeloablative fludarabine-busulfan (14 mg/ kg) conditioning regimen was performed at the peak of relapse when blast count in bone marrow aspirate was 77.5%, whereas level of BAALC-expressing earlier progenitors (EP) reached 186%. HSCT was ineffective, since the number of blasts on day+30 reached 86%, whereas the burden of BAALC-expressing EP decreased to the cutoff values. Later, at post-transplant stage, an impressive response to venetoclax coupled with hypomethylating agent was observed. Following allo-HSCT and combined venetoclax therapy a severe pancytopenia developed, which required the second transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells from her haplo-matched father. After transplantation hematopoietic recovery started on day 10+. Although bone marrow aspirate at this point was hypo cellular, it contained all types of granulocytic and erythroid elements and 2.2% of blasts only.

Objective. To assess the course and outcomes of COVID-19 in recipients of allogeneic and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Materials and Methods. The retrospective study included 44 adult recipients (allogeneic – 33 [75%] and autologous – 11 [25%] of HSCT who diagnosed with COVID-19 after transplantation. Group mostly represented by acute leukemia – 18 (41%) and lymphoma – 10 (22.7%). The median follow-up time since the development of COVID-19 was 231 days (1–818 days), after HSCT – 507.5 days (14–3723 days). Overall and progression-free survival was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier and Log-Rank method. We also evaluated the characteristics of the course of a new coronavirus infection. Results. Median time for the development of COVID-19 from the moment of HSCT was 122.5 days (-1–3490 days). Twelve patients (27.2%) were in grade 3–4 neutropenia at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis, 16 (36.4%) patients were in grade 1–2 neutropenia. Sixteen (48.4%) allo-HSCT recipients had active graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) at the time of COVID-19 development. Disease severity was mild in 19 (43.2%) and moderate in 13 (29.5%) patients. Overall, 200-day survival from the onset of COVID-19 was 78.8% (95% CI [63.1–88.4]). Anemia (p = 0.02) and thrombocytopenia (p = 0.01) significantly decrease OS in patients with COVID-19 after HSCT. Patients with GVHD at the time of COVID-19 onset had a better survival rate (p = 0.02). The timing of COVID-19 development after HSCT did not affect outcomes. Conclusions. The key points of the course of COVID-19 in HSCT recipients are the presence of cytopenia and graft-versus-host disease. Overall survival was 78.8%.

The present paper provides evidence for a high detection rate of BAALC gene overexpression, also combined with WT1 gene overexpression, in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and FISH-verified chromosome defects. The BAALC and WT1 gene expression profiling of 16 MDS patients (6 out of them received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) showed an increased BAALC expression in 14 patients. The expression level in 2 patients was near the cut-off. Low expression levels were identified in a female patient with isolated 5q deletion in karyotype and also with its combination with complex karyotype. On the other hand, the highest expression levels were reported in patients with normal karyotype and 3q26 locus rearrangement, which was associated with EVI1 gene overexpression. Since the BAALC expression level, at least in patients with the major (except for М3 and М7) FAB-variants of acute myeloid leukemias (AML), was closely associated with BAALC-producing precursor cells of leukemia clone, a profound study of this phenomenon in MDS patients seems to be important for understanding the finest mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of AML and AML relapses on the level of precursor cells.

Introduction. Over the past 5 years, signifi cant progress has been achieved in the treatment of patients with Ph-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Treatment results were compared between two protocols of the Russian multicenter studies «ALL-2009» and «ALL-2016», in which multicomponent high-dose consolidation was not used. The principle of continuity of treatment was observed with modifi cation of doses of cytostatic drugs depending on the depth of cytopenia. Aim – to compare the 5-year results of two studies and to determine the factors of unfavorable prognosis in the treatment of patients with ALL. Materials and methods. The studies were performed from April 2009 to April 2016 (ALL-2009) and from April 2016 to September 2021 (ALL-2016), and 596 patients were included: 330 in ALL-2009 and 266 in ALL-2016. The analysis was performed in March 2022. The median age of patients in ALL-2009 was 28 years (15–55), in ALL-2016 – 32.5 years (18–55). Cytogenetic studies were performed in 242 patients in ALL-2009 (73.3 %) and 236 patients in ALL-2016 (88.7 %). Patients in the ALL-2016 protocol underwent a centralized assessment of minimal residual disease (MRD) by fl ow cytometry on protocol +70 day (after completion of two induction phases), +133 and +190 days. Transplantation of allogeneic stem hematopoietic cells was performed in 7 % of patients in ALL-2009 and in 9 % in ALL-2016. Results. Overall, relapse-free survival (OS, RFS) and the probability of relapse for a period of 3 years from the moment of inclusion of patients in a particular study were 59 %, 63 % and 23 % for ALL-2009, and for ALL-2016 – 64 %, 59 % and 22 %, respectively. For patients with B-cell precursor ALL, two cytogenetic risk groups were formed, in which long-term survival rates differed signifi cantly: the standard group (hyperploid set of chromosomes and normal karyotype) – OS 63 %, RFS 70 %, and high cytogenetic risk (any abnormal karyotype, except for hyperploidy) – OS 49 %, RFS 52 % (р = 0.001, р = 0.0014). In T-ALL, cytogenetic markers had no prognostic value, but the immunophenotype of early T-cell precursor turned out to be an important predictor of poor prognosis (the probability of relapse was 52 % compared with 15 % for all other immunophenotypic variants). According to the results of centralized monitoring of MRD, it was determined that for B-cell precursor ALL, the signifi cant negative factors are the high cytogenetic risk group and positive MRD status at +70 day, and for T-cells, the early immunophenotype and positive MRD status at +133 day.

The study assessed the outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in 34 patients with cytogenetically verified variants of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with trisomy 8 and/or monosomy 7, who were treated at the RM Gorbacheva Scientific Research Institute of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Transplantation from 2013 to 2020. Both adult and pediatric MDS were analyzed without excluding the variants with two additional chromosomal abnormalities or complex karyotype. The study revealed that а) allo-HSCT should be performed in the treatment of both MDS variants; b) the outcomes of trisomy 8 treatment appeared to be better; c) children with monosomy 7 showed a higher rate of toxic complications in allo-HSCT.

Leukemia-associated myelitis is a rare but underestimated complication. It has a different etiology associated with both, the main disease and its treatment methods. It requires differential diagnosis with funicular myelosis, polyradiculoneuropathy, tumor and hemorrhagic formation, stroke, dysmetabolic manifestations, as well as with the consequences of treatment of the underlying disease using radiation, cytostatic, targeted therapy.It should also be differentiated from paraneoplastic myelopathy and progression of the underlying disease. However,with the help of neuroimaging methods, it can be detected more recently than a detailed clinical picture appears. A case report of myelopathy in a 31 year old patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia is presented. Treatment of the underlying disease was carried out with the use of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and targeted therapy. The nature of the disease,i.e. recurrent course of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the variety of treatment methods, and the absence of focal changes in neuroimaging in the zone that determines clinical manifestations, made it necessary to consider a wide range of possible etiological factors for the development of myelopathy. Myelopathy was confirmed by MRI 2.5 months after the debut of neurological symptoms, which corresponds to modern concepts and time criteria for visualization in neurooncology. The article presents the criteria for diagnosing myelopathy, a complication of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It should also be differentiated from However, with the help of neuroimaging methods, it can be detected more recently than a detailed clinical picture appears.

Randomized multicenter trials in the area of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) face considerable challenges, therefore, their amount is relatively small. Most clinical guidelines are based on the data of multicenter registry studies or well-controlled prospective single-center non-randomized studies. To determine the criteria of a well-controlled single-center trial the results of which can be confi rmed by a multicenter analysis, the total of 44 groups of patients from 22 cooperative studies in collaboration with EBMT were analyzed. The results of these studies were compared with single-center data and the results of the planned studies of RM Gorbacheva Scientifi c Research Institute of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Transplantation. In 43 % of cases signifi cant diff erences were observed. The probability of diff erences did not decrease with an increasing number of patients in the single-center groups, but became higher (odds ratio 1.037; 95% confi dence interval 1.001-1.074; p = 0.046), which highlights the diff erences in methods of single- and multicenter trials. While analyzing the reasons for signifi cant diff erences the following necessary criteria for high-quali ty single-center trials in the area of HSCT were formulated: 1) conditioning regimens and graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis (if they are not subject of the study) need to be consistent with the most frequently used practices; 2) groups of patients should be status-homogeneous; 3) the trial must not include patients treated more than 5 years before the analysis; 4) patients should receive current antitumor therapy at pre- and post-transplantation stages; 5) each compared group should include more than 30-40 patients

Проведение рандомизированных многоцентровых исследований в области трансплантации гемопоэтических стволовых клеток (ТГСК) представляет значительные трудности, поэтому доля таких исследований невелика. Большинство клинических рекомендаций основывается на данных популяционных многоцентровых исследований регистров или хорошо контролируемых проспективных одноцентровых нерандомизированных исследований. С целью определить критерии хорошо контролируемого одноцентрового исследования, результаты которого могут быть подтверждены в многоцентровом анализе, проанализировано 44 группы пациентов из 22 совместных с группой EBMT исследований. Проведено сравнение результатов этих исследований с одноцентровыми данными и спланированными исследованиями НИИ ДОГиТ им. Р.М. Горбачевой. Выявлено, что статистически значимые различия наблюдались в 43 % случаев, при этом вероятность расхождения результатов при повышении числа пациентов в одноцентровых группах не уменьшалась, а увеличивалась (отношение шансов 1,037; 95%-й доверительный интервал 1,001–1,074; p = 0,046), что свидетельствует о различиях в методологии одноцентровых и многоцентровых исследований. При анализе причин статистически значимых результатов сформулированы следующие необходимые критерии высококачественных одноцентровых исследований в области ТГСК: 1) режимы кондиционирования и профилактики реакции «трансплантат против хозяина» (если они не являются предметом исследования) должны соответствовать наиболее часто используемым в практике; 2) группы пациентов должны быть однородными по своему статусу; 3) в исследование не должны включаться пациенты, получавшие лечение более чем за 5 лет до анализа; 4) пациенты должны получать современную противоопухолевую терапию на до- и посттрансплантационном этапах; 5) каждая сравниваемая группа должна включать более 30–40 пациентов.

Introduction. Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is the only curative therapy for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML).Aim. Analysis of allo-HSCT outcomes in CML patients following reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens.Materials and methods. This retrospective study included 110 CML patients who underwent allo-HSCT in 1995–2019. RIC regimens included busulfan (8–12 mg/kg), fludarabine (180 mg/m2) or melphalan (140 mg/m2), fludarabine (180 mg/m2). The median onset time for treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) was 60 days after allo-HSCT (30–835). Post-transplant graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) prevention with cyclophosphamide (Cy) at high doses (PTCy) of 50 mg/kg in 3–4 days after allo-HSCT (D+3, D+4) was ordered in 61 % (n = 67), with antithymocyte globulin (ATGAM) 60 mg/kg — in 17 % (n = 19), with thymoglobulin 5 mg/kg — in 3 % (n = 3) of the patients.Results. In the study cohort, 50 % (n = 55) of the patients had chronic phase 2 and higher (CP ≥ 2), 25 % (n = 27) — accelerated phase (AP), 9 % (n = 10) — blast crisis (BC) phase of the disease. Among CP ≥ 2 patients, 63 % (n = 58) had a BC in history, and 25 % (n = 23) — 2 or more BCs. One-year non-relapse mortality (NRM) was 21 % (95 % CI 15–31). PTCy prevention of GVHD significantly reduced the NRM risk relative to other schemes: 11 % (95 % CI 5–20) vs. 38 % (95 % CI 23–53) (p = 0.001). Acute GVHD II–IV had a rate of 23 % (95 % CI 15–31), chronic GVHD of moderate to severe degree 15 % (95 % CI 9–22). TKIs were used in 49 % (n = 29) cases for relapse prevention, in 40 % (n = 24) — due to the lack of response to allo-HSCT, in 10 % (n = 6) — in relapse. Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) was performed in 37 patients mainly in BCR-ABL positive cases (24 %, n = 9) and relapse (49 %, n = 18). Three-year relapse rate was 36 % (95 % CI 26–46), and five-year relapse-free survival (RFS) was 40 % (95 % CI 29–51). Transplantation in AP or BC phase significantly increased the relapse rate (odds ratio 2.4800 (1.2180–5.050), p = 0.012). Five-year overall survival was 52 % (95 % CI 40–62), a clean BC history and PTCy correlated with a higher 5-year overall survival (odds ratios 1.9990 (1.0700–3.7350), p = 0.029, and 0.3126 (0.1670–0.5851), p = 0.0002, respectively).Conclusion. Reduced-intensity conditioning is advantageous in patients with long-term CML and several lines of TKI therapy in history. Post-transplant complication relief is associated with PTCy prevention. Relapse instances, however, complicate the outcomes of allo-HSCT with RIC. Post-transplant TKI and DLI facilitate response in 54 % of the patients. Success of allo-HSCT largely depends on the disease phase (CP, AP, BC) at the time of transplantation.

Aim.Was to evaluate clinical efficacy, adverse events and changes in the gut microbiome after fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) form of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Materials and methods.The prospective single-center study in R.M. Gorbacheva institute included 27 patients with GI GVHD after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. 19 patients received FMT, 8 patients received placebo. Clinical scales for GI autoimmune diseases were used to evaluate response. Microbiome alterations were assessed with multiplex PCR. Results.After FMT higher overall bacterial mass (р=0.00088), higher bacterial numbers ofBifidobacteriumspp. (р=0.021),Escherichia coli(р=0.049) andBacteroides fragilisgr. (р=0.000043) compared to placebo group. Also higher bacterial mass was observed in patients with clinical response (р=0.0057). The bacterial mass after procedure in non-responders was compared to the placebo group (р=0.31). Partial response of GVHD was achieved faster in the FMT group compared to placebo (median 4 days vs 48 days,p=0.014). Complete response was observed in 8 (42%), 14 (74%) and 16 (84%) at 30, 60 and 90 days respectively, while in the placebo group only 0%, 1 (13%) and 4 (50%) achieved complete response at the same time points. The incidence and severity of adverse events was comparable between FMT and the placebo group. Conclusion.FMT in patients with refractory GI GVHD was associated with favorable clinical outcomes and recovery in certain marker bacterial populations. Multiplex PCR can be used to assess an engraftment of a donor microbiota. FMT in GI GVHD was not associated with life-threatening adverse events, but further studies are required to validate clinical efficacy.

Background. Recent advances in the treatment of relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R ALL) are attributed to the implementation of immunotherapy methods which include blinatumomab, the bispecific engager of a patient's endogenous T-cells (Blincyto™, Amgen®) (BC). Aim. To assess BC efficacy and toxicity in the treatment of R/R ALL patients with persistence of minimal tumor clone before and after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Materials & Methods. The trial included 66 B-ALL patients with CD19+ aged 18 to 72 years, 23 (35 %) of them with measurable minimal residual disease (MRD+) and 43 (65 %) with R/R ALL. In 18 (27 %) patients BC was administered after prior allo-HSCT. Results. In the overall group 2-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with response to BC treatment were 53 % and 38 % respectively. In the R/R ALL group complete remission (CR) was achieved in 29 (67 %) patients including 24 (83 %) patients with negative MRD. CR rate was higher in standard cytogenetic risk group (73 %) in comparison with high-risk group (59 %). In patients with more or less than 50 % blast cells in bone marrow CR rate was 85 % and 61 %, respectively. When BC was administered after prior allo-HSCT and without it CR rate was 80 % and 60 %, respectively. In R/R ALL patients with response to BC 2-year OS and DFS were 40 % and 26 %, respectively, in the MRD+ group of ALL patients they were 66 % and 51 %, respectively. Relapse rate was lower in the group with allo-HSCT than in the group without it, i.e. 21 % vs. 55 %. Adverse events of grade 3-4 were observed in 25 (38 %) patients. In 11 (16 %) patients BC therapy had to be discontinued, in 5 (7 %) patients it was terminated prior to the scheduled date. Conclusion. BC efficacy is higher in the MRD+ group and in R/R ALL patients with smaller tumor mass. BC treatment after allo-HSCT yields remissions in most patients and can be combined with immune-adoptive therapy.

Aim. To assess the prognostic value of the mutation of DNA methylation genes, SF3B1, and TP53 in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Materials & Methods. Out of 35 MDS patients included into the trial 2 had multilineage dysplasia, 13 with excess blasts-I, 19 with excess blasts-II, and 1 had 5q-syndrome (criteria WHO 2016). In 30 patients primary MDS was identified, in 5 patients it was detected after prior chemo- or radiotherapy. 25 patients received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). According to IPSS-R there were 1 low-risk, 5 intermediate risk, 17 high-risk, and 12 very highrisk patients. Hypomethylating agents were administered to 28 patients. Median age of patients was 49 years (range 18-80 years). Next-generation sequencing was applied for identifying somatic mutations in DNA methylation genes (TET2, IDH1/2, ASXL1, and DNMT3A) as well as in SF3B1, TP53, and RUNX1. Time to progression (TTP) was defined as the time from the initial diagnosis to the date of acute leukemia diagnosis. Allo-HSCT- or antitumor therapy-associated death was considered as competing risk. Results. Methylation gene analysis showed no mutation in 37 % of patients, in 40 % mutation was detected only in one of the genes, in 23 % mutation was identified in > 2 genes. SF3B1 mutations were reported in 23 % and TP53 in 11 % of patients. Median follow-up was 25 months (range 5-116 months). Univariate analysis showed no considerable differences in overall survival depending on mutation status. Median TTP in the group with allo-HSCT was not achieved, in the group without allo-HSCT it was 6 months (p = 0.0001). In patients with no SF3B1 mutation median TTP was 35 months, in patients with this mutation it was not achieved (p = 0.043). With ≥ 2 mutations in methylation genes median TTP was 12 months, in other cases it was not achieved (p = 0.024). In cases of TP53 mutation median TTP was 6 months, in cases without this mutation it was 43 months (p = 0.023). Multivariate analysis confirmed unfavorable prognostic value of TP53 mutation or ≥ 2 mutations in methylation genes in terms of TTP regardless of the drug treatment or allo-HSCT performed (hazard ratio 7.1; 95% confidence interval 2.6-19.6; p = 0.0001). Conclusion. The analysis of molecular markers yields additional data concerning the MDS prognosis. Further research is required to determine the prognostic value of molecular markers in clinical practice which will enable to individualize approaches to MDS treatment.