PURPOSE: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative treatment for advanced hematologic malignancies. HSCT using human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatched donors is historically associated with inferior survival. Patients from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups more frequently rely on HLA-mismatched donors. We hypothesized that post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) based graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis would improve outcomes for HSCT recipients using peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) from HLA-mismatched unrelated donors (MMUDs) by reducing the risk of GVHD. METHODS: This phase II, nonrandomized, multicenter trial assessed PBSCs in the setting of a GVHD prophylaxis regimen of cyclophosphamide, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil in two adult strata: myeloablative conditioning (MAC) and reduced-intensity or nonmyeloablative (RIC/NMA) conditioning before HSCT from a MMUD. The primary objective was to estimate 1 year overall survival (OS) for each stratum. Key secondary end points included incidences of acute and chronic GVHD. RESULTS: A total of 145 patients enrolled, with 59% self-identifying within an underrepresented group. The 1 year OS was 83.8% (95% CI, 73.1% to 90.4%) for MAC and 78.6% (95% CI, 67% to 86.5%) for RIC/NMA. Incidences of grades III to IV acute GVHD at 6 months were 8% (95% CI, 3.2 to 15.6) for MAC and 10% (95% CI, 4.4 to 18.4) for RIC/NMA. Moderate/severe chronic GVHD at 1 year was 10.3% (95% CI, 4.4 to 18.9) for MAC and 8.6% (95% CI, 3.5 to 16.6) for RIC/NMA. 32% of patients whose donors matched at fewer than seven of eight HLA alleles had similar OS compared with those with donor matched at seven of eight alleles. CONCLUSION: PTCy-based GVHD prophylaxis after MMUD HSCT with PBSC grafts results in favorable 1 year OS. Using MMUDs expands donor availability to all patients regardless of ancestry (ACCESS; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04904588 ).

To study the effectiveness of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) therapy for patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 disease. This non-randomized prospective cohort study was conducted from May 21 to June 30, 2020, at four major tertiary hospitals in Kuwait. CCP was administered to 135 patients. The control group comprised 233 patients who received standard treatment. All patients (N = 368, median age 54 [range 15-82]) had laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and either moderate or severe COVID-19 disease. CCP treatment was associated with a higher rate of clinical improvement in patients with moderate or severe disease. Among those with moderate COVID-19 disease, time to clinical improvement was 7 days in the CCP group, versus 8 days in the control group (p = 0·006). For severe COVID-19 disease, time to clinical improvement was 7 days in the CCP group, versus 15.5 days in the control group (p = 0·003). In the adjusted analysis, patients with moderate disease treated with CCP had a significantly lower 30-day mortality rate. Compared to the control group, oxygen saturation improved within 3 days of CCP transfusion, and lymphocyte counts improved from day 7 in patients with moderate COVID-19 disease and day 11 in patients with severe disease. C-reactive protein levels declined throughout the first 14 days after CCP transfusion. None of the CCP patients developed a serious transfusion reaction. The data show that administration of CCP is a safe treatment option for patients with COVID-19 disease with a favorable outcome in the rate of, and time to, clinical improvement.

The development of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) after lung transplantation is common and results in adverse outcomes. In kidney transplantation, Belatacept has been associated with a lower incidence of DSA, but experience with Belatacept in lung transplantation is limited. We conducted a 2-center pilot randomized controlled trial of de novo immunosuppression with Belatacept after lung transplantation to assess the feasibility of conducting a pivotal trial. Twenty-seven participants were randomized to Control (Tacrolimus, Mycophenolate Mofetil, and prednisone, n = 14) or Belatacept-based immunosuppression (Tacrolimus, Belatacept, and prednisone until day 89 followed by Belatacept, Mycophenolate Mofetil, and prednisone, n = 13). All participants were treated with rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin for induction immunosuppression. We permanently stopped randomization and treatment with Belatacept after 3 participants in the Belatacept arm died compared to none in the Control arm. Subsequently, 2 additional participants in the Belatacept arm died for a total of 5 deaths compared to none in the Control arm (log rank p = 0.016). We did not detect a significant difference in DSA development, acute cellular rejection, or infection between the 2 groups. We conclude that the investigational regimen used in this study is associated with increased mortality after lung transplantation.