HLA Class I genotype is associated with relapse risk after allogeneic stem cell transplantation for NPM1-mutated AML. Transplantation and cellular therapy Narayan, R., Niroula, A., Wang, T., Kuxhausen, M., He, M., Meyer, E., Chen, Y. B., Bhatt, V. R., Beitinjaneh, A., Nishihori, T., Sharma, A., Brown, V. I., Kamoun, M., Diaz, M. A., Abid, M. B., Askar, M., Kanakry, C. G., Gragert, L., Bolon, Y. T., Marsh, S. G., Gadalla, S. M., Paczesny, S., Spellman, S., Lee, S. J. 2023

Abstract

Mutation-bearing peptide ligands from mutated nucleophosmin-1 (NPM1) protein have been empirically found to be presented by HLA Class I in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).We hypothesized that HLA genotype may impact allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) outcomes in NPM1-mutated AML due to differences in antigen presentation. We evaluated the effect of the variable of predicted strong binding to mutated NPM1 peptides using HLA Class I genotypes from matched donor:recipient pairs on transplant recipient overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) as part of primary objectives, and relapse risk (CIR) and non-relapse mortality (NRM) as part of secondary objectives.Baseline and outcome data reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research from a study cohort of adult patients (N=1020) with NPM1-mutated de novo AML in first (71%) or second (29%) complete remission undergoing 8/8 matched related (18%) or matched unrelated (82%) allo-HCT were retrospectively analyzed. Class I alleles from donor:recipient pairs were analyzed for predicted strong HLA binding to mutated NPM1 using netMHCpan 4.0.429 (42%) of donor:recipient pairs were classified as having predicted strong binding HLA alleles (SBHA) to mutated NPM1. In multivariable analyses adjusting for clinical covariates, the presence of predicted SBHA was associated with a lower risk of relapse (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.55-0.94, p=0.015). Overall survival (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.67-0.98, p=0.028) and DFS (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.69-1.01, p=0.070) had a suggestion towards better outcomes if predicted SBHA were present but did not meet prespecified p<0.025. Non-relapse mortality did not differ (HR 1.04, p=0.740).These hypothesis generating data support further exploration of HLA genotype:neoantigen interactions in the allo-HCT context.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jtct.2023.03.027

View details for PubMedID 36997024