Granulocyte transfusion during cord blood transplant for relapsed, refractory AML is associated with massive CD8+ T-cell expansion, significant cytokine release syndrome and induction of disease remission

Abstract

In high-risk myeloid malignancy, relapse is reduced using cord blood transplant (CBT) but remains the principal cause of treatment failure. We previously described T-cell expansion in CBT recipients receiving granulocyte transfusions. We now report the safety and tolerability of such transfusions, T-cell expansion data, immunophenotype, cytokine profiles and clinical response in children with post-transplant relapsed acute leukaemia who received T-replete, HLA-mismatched CBT and pooled granulocytes within a phase I/II trial (ClinicalTrials.Gov NCT05425043). All patients received the transfusion schedule without significant clinical toxicity. Nine of ten patients treated had detectable measurable residual disease (MRD) pre-transplant. Nine patients achieved haematological remission, and eight became MRD negative. There were five deaths: transplant complications (n = 2), disease (n = 3), including two late relapses. Five patients are alive and in remission with 12.7 months median follow up. Significant T-cell expansion occurred in nine patients with a greater median lymphocyte count than a historical cohort between days 7-13 (median 1.73 × 10⁹ /L vs. 0.1 × 10⁹ /L; p < 0.0001). Expanded T-cells were predominantly CD8⁺ and effector memory or TEMRA phenotype. They exhibited markers of activation and cytotoxicity with interferon-gamma production. All patients developed grade 1-3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) with elevated serum IL-6 and interferon-gamma.

Keywords: cord blood; cord blood transplant; granulocytes; myeloid leukaemia; paediatric haematology.