Incidence of large granular lymphocytosis (LGL) in patients with late cytopenias after allogeneic blood or marrow transplantation (AlloBMT).

Authors

null

Marcus Messmer

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Marcus Messmer , Laura Wake , Hua-Ling Tsai , Richard J. Jones , Ravi Varadhan , Nina D. Wagner-Johnston

Organizations

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins Department of Pathology, Baltimore, MD, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Research Funding

No funding received
None

Background: LGL - often called LGL leukemia - is a clonal disorder of T or NK cells often associated with cytopenias, autoimmunity, splenomegaly, and B symptoms. There are a limited number of studies of benign LGL expansion after alloBMT, some suggesting an association with improved transplant-related outcomes. In contrast, clinically significant LGL leukemia after alloBMT is only described in case reports. Methods: We cross referenced all patients receiving an alloBMT at Johns Hopkins since 2010 with patients who were evaluated for LGL expansion by peripheral blood (PB) flow cytometry (FC) since 2012. Results: There were 1930 alloBMTs from 1/1/10 to 7/1/19. PB FC for suspected LGL was sent on 153 unique patients after alloBMT, usually in the setting of cytopenias (97%). Median age was 59. 69 (45%) had LGL expansion (LGL+) at a median 194 days after alloBMT. Among LGL+, 53 (77%) had an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 1500. The majority of the alloBMTs were non-myeloablative (NMA) (97%), related (88%), and haploidentical (89%), consistent with our center’s characteristics. Graft vs host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy), mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus or sirolimus. 64 (93%) cases were T cell LGL (T-LGL) and 5 were NK cell. Of those with T-LGL, 43 were assessed for T cell receptor clonality. 21% were clonal, 53% oligoclonal, 5% polyclonal, and 21% indeterminate. There were no significant demographic or transplant-related differences between LGL+ and LGL- in our 153 patient cohort. LGL+ were more likely to have had CMV viremia (75% vs 26%, p < 0.0001), but not acute or chronic GVHD. LGL+ had higher lymphocyte counts (1520/cu mm vs 495, p < 0.0001) and a trend toward more neutropenia (77% vs 63%, p = 0.07). There were no differences in overall survival, relapse, or non-relapse mortality. 29 (42%) of LGL+ received immunosuppressive therapy (IST) for cytopenias. First line treatment was corticosteroids for 24 (83%). 65% had normalization of ANC with first line treatment, compared to improvements in anemia in 15% and thrombocytopenia in 36%. 34% of those treated required ≥2 lines of treatment. Conclusions: In contrast to prior studies, where LGL after alloBMT was asymptomatic and associated with improved transplant outcomes, we identified a high rate of LGL with cytopenias and no improvement in transplant outcomes. Neutropenia was common in LGL+ and usually improved with IST.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2020 ASCO Virtual Scientific Program

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Hematologic Malignancies—Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, and Allotransplant

Track

Hematologic Malignancies

Sub Track

Allogenic Stem Cell Transplantation

Citation

J Clin Oncol 38: 2020 (suppl; abstr 7544)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2020.38.15_suppl.7544

Abstract #

7544

Poster Bd #

317

Abstract Disclosures