Stem cell transplantation in myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia
Guideline Developer(s)
Program in Evidence-based Care
Date Released
Full Text Guideline
Evidence Supporting the Recommendations
Evidence in this report included prospective cohort studies, retrospective cohort studies, systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis, and clinical practice guidelines.
Implementation of the Guideline
An implementation strategy was not provided.
Quick Reference Guides/Physician Guides
Benefits/Harms of Implementing the Guideline Recommendations
- One systematic review comprising a total of 22 studies demonstrated a long-term curative outcome for related, unrelated, either or unspecified allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT).
- One systematic review, comprising 24 clinical studies involving 6,007 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission (CR1) comparing alloSCT, autologous SCT (ASCT), chemotherapy (CT), or any combination of the three, found a significant relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) benefit associated with alloSCT. That review performed subgroup analyses for both recurrence or RFS and OS according to patient risk (good, intermediate, or poor risk). Significant benefits in favour of alloSCT for both intermediate and poor risk patients (p<0.01) were detected, but no difference was detected with good risk patients. The OS subgroup analysis also detected significant benefits in favour of alloSCT for intermediate and poor risk patients (p<0.01) but not for good risk patients.
- One meta-analysis, that pooled data from two trials (AML 96 and AML 02) that compared alloSCT with ASCT with CT, including a total of 708 patients, detected significant differences in favour of alloSCT for both OS and leukemia-free survival (LFS) at two years. In a multivariate analysis, factors associated with better OS and longer LFS were being younger (p=0.008) and receiving an allogeneic transplant.
- One prospective cohort study found significant benefits in favour of alloSCT compared with ASCT in the relative risk for eight-year disease-free survival (DFS).
Stem cell transplantation (SCT) is associated with graft versus host disease (GVHD) and treatment-related mortality.
Rating Scheme for the Strength of the Recommendations
Not applicable
Qualifying Statements
- The patient selection process and the ultimate decision to perform a stem cell transplantation (SCT) should take into account not only disease-related characteristics, but also co-morbidities and patient preferences. Patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia should be referred to a transplant centre for transplant assessment.
- Care has been taken in the preparation of the information contained in this report. Nonetheless, any person seeking to apply or consult the report is expected to use independent medical judgment in the context of individual clinical circumstances or seek out the supervision of a qualified clinician. Cancer Care Ontario makes no representation or guarantees of any kind whatsoever regarding the report content or use or application and disclaims any responsibility for its application or use in any way.
Methodology
Searches of Electronic Databases
Literature Search Strategy
Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
The MEDLINE (OVID) database (1996 through October [week two] 2010) was systematically searched for evidence on October 21, 2010 using the strategy that appears in Appendix A of the original guideline document. A total of 89 hits were obtained, and after excluding irrelevant papers according to a title and abstract review, 21 were ordered for full-text review. Of these 21, only four met the inclusion criteria and were retained.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
The MEDLINE (OVID) database (1996 through October [week one] 2010) was systematically searched for evidence on October 21, 2010 using the strategy that appears in Appendix B of the original guideline document. A total of 211 hits were obtained, and after excluding irrelevant papers according to a title and abstract review, 64 were ordered for full-text review. Of these 64, only 17 met the inclusion criteria and were retained.
Study Selection Criteria
Articles were selected if they were the following:
- Systematic reviews (SRs) with or without meta-analysis or clinical practice guidelines if evidence was obtained with a systematic review.
- Fully published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on patients with MDS or AML who received stem cell transplantation (SCT) that reported on survival outcomes and/or quality of life (QoL).
- Fully published non-randomized studies on patients with MDS or AML who received SCT that had an appropriate comparison group that reported on survival outcomes or QoL.
- Reports published in English only.
- Myelodysplastic syndrome: A systematic review (SR), a National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) clinical practice guideline (CPG), and two retrospective cohort studies were obtained.
- Acute myeloid leukemia: Seventeen papers were obtained, comprising three SRs, three CPGs, three meta-analyses, one prospective cohort study, and seven retrospective cohort studies.
Expert Consensus (Committee)
Not applicable
Review of Published Meta-Analyses
Systematic Review with Evidence Tables
Synthesizing the Evidence
While no pooling was planned, it would be considered if data allow.
Assessment of Study Quality
The quality of the included evidence was assessed as follows. For systematic reviews that would be used as the sole evidence base for the recommendations, or where solely a systematic review (SR) supported any specific recommendation, the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool would be used to assess quality. For clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II Instrument would be used, but only if an adaptation of the recommendations was being considered.
Where recommendations from CPGs were not adapted, the evidence base in those CPGs would be informally assessed for completeness, and any relevant evidence within would be considered as a basis for recommendations in this report. Any meta-analysis would be assessed for quality using criteria similar to that used for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), where appropriate. RCTs would be assessed for quality by examining the following seven criteria: the method of randomization, reporting of blinding, the power and sample size calculation, length of follow-up, reporting on details of the statistical analysis, reporting on withdrawals to treatment and other losses to follow-up, and reporting on the sources of funding for the research. Comparative, but non-randomized, evidence would be assessed according to the full reporting of the patient selection criteria, the interventions each patient received, and all relevant outcomes.
Expert Consensus
Not stated
A formal cost analysis was not performed and published cost analyses were not reviewed.
Not stated
Not applicable
Identifying Information and Availability
Kouroukis CT, Rumble RB, Walker I, Bredeson C, Schuh A. Stem cell transplantation in myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia. Toronto (ON): Cancer Care Ontario (CCO); 2012 Mar 29. Various p. (Recommendation report; no. SCT-3). [35 references]
Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.
The Program in Evidence-based Care (PEBC) is a Province of Ontario initiative sponsored by Cancer Care Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
The Program in Evidence-based Care (PEBC) is a provincial initiative of Cancer Care Ontario supported by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care through Cancer Care Ontario. All work produced by the PEBC is editorially independent from its funding source.
Hematology Disease Site Group
For a current list of past and present members, please see the Cancer Care Ontario Web site.
The authors of this recommendation report disclosed potential conflicts of interest relating to the topic of this special advice report. Three of the authors reported no conflicts (TK, RBR, CB). One author reported being a principal investigator (PI) on a related trial (IW), and another reported attending an out-of-country request hearing as a patient advocate (AS).
This is the current release of the guideline.
The RECOMMENDATION REPORT, initially the full original Guideline, over time will expand to contain new information emerging from their reviewing and updating activities.
Please visit the Cancer Care Ontario Web site for details on any new evidence that has emerged and implications to the guidelines.
Electronic copies: Available in Portable Document Format (PDF) from the Cancer Care Ontario Web site.
The following are available:
- Stem cell transplantation in myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia. Summary. Toronto (ON): Cancer Care Ontario; 2012 Mar 29. 5 p. Electronic copies: Available in Portable Document Format (PDF) from the Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) Web site.
- Program in evidence-based care handbook. Toronto (ON): Cancer Care Ontario (CCO); 2012. 14 p. Electronic copies: Available in PDF from the CCO Web site.
None available
This summary was completed by ECRI Institute on September 6, 2013.
This NGC summary is based on the original guideline, which is subject to the guideline developer's copyright restrictions. Please refer to the Copyright and Disclaimer Statements posted at the Program in Evidence-based Care section of the Cancer Care Ontario Web site.
Scope
- Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Assessment of Therapeutic Effectiveness
Treatment
Hematology
Oncology
Physicians
- To evaluate the role of stem cell transplantation (SCT) in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
- To review the most current evidence comparing treatment modalities that include an SCT component
- To make a series of clinical recommendations to inform clinicians, patients, and other stakeholders of the treatment options available
All adult patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) being considered for treatment that includes either blood or bone marrow transplantation
- Allogeneic transplantation
- Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT)
- Survival (three-year overall, median, overall, three-year disease-free, leukemia-free, relapse-free)
- Three-year treatment-related mortality
- Acute graft-versus-host disease
Recommendations
Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
- Allogeneic transplantation is an option for patients with MDS. This is the only potentially curative therapy for MDS.
- Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is not recommended for patients with MDS.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
First Complete Remission
- Allogeneic transplantation is a treatment option for selected patients with AML in first complete remission (CR1) with high-risk features including intermediate or high-risk cytogenetic or molecular phenotypes, high-risk clinical features at presentation, and secondary or treatment-related AML.
- ASCT is not recommended for patients with AML in first complete remission.
Beyond First Complete Remission
- Allogeneic transplantation is the recommended option for eligible patients with AML who achieve a second or subsequent remission.
- There is insufficient evidence to support the use of ASCT for patients with AML in the second or subsequent remission.
- Autologous transplantation is recommended for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in a molecularly-negative second remission.
- Select patients with AML not in remission may derive benefit from allogeneic transplant.
None provided
Institute of Medicine (IOM) National Healthcare Quality Report Categories
Getting Better
Living with Illness
Effectiveness
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