Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for myelofibrosis: prognostic indicators and the role of JAK2 V617F measurable-residual disease monitoring by droplet-digital polymerase chain reaction

Relapse after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is one of the key determinants of outcome in myelofibrosis (MF) and remains an important unmet need. In this retrospective single-centre study, we evaluated 35 consecutive patients with MF receiving allogeneic HSCT. At 30 days post-HSCT, full donor chimerism was achieved in 31 patients (88.6%). The median time to neutrophil engraftment was 16.8 (10–42) days and the median time to platelet engraftment was 26 (12–245) days. Four patients (11.4%) experienced primary graft failure. With a median duration of follow-up of 33 (1–223) months, with the 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 51.6% and 46.3%, respectively. Relapse after HSCT ( P < 0.001), leucocyte count ≥ 18 × 10 9 /L at HSCT ( P = 0.003) and accelerated/blast phase disease at HSCT ( P < 0.001) were significantly associated with worse OS. Age at HSCT ≥ 54 years ( P = 0.01), mutated ETV6 ( P = 0.03), leucocyte count ≥ 18 × 10 9 /L ( P = 0.02), accelerated/blast phase MF ( P = 0.001), and grade 2–3 bone marrow reticulin fibrosis at 12 months post-HSCT ( P = 0.002) were significantly associated with worse PFS. JAK2 V617F MRD ≥ 0.047 [sensitivity 85.7%; positive predictive value (PPV) 100%; AUC 0.984; P = 0.001] at 6 months and JAK2 V617F MRD ≥ 0.009 (sensitivity 100%; PPV 100%; AUC 1.0; P = 0.001) at 12 months were highly predictive of post-HSCT relapse. Inferior OS and PFS were significantly associated with detectable JAK2 V617F MRD at 12 months ( P = 0.003 and P = 0.0001, respectively).