Prophylactic use of low-dose interleukin-2 and the clinical outcomes of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A randomized study

Leukemia relapse and chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) are still major obstacles of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The numbers and activity of natural killer (NK) and T-regulatory cells can be increased post-transplantation by exposure to interleukin-2 (IL-2). We tested whether administering low-dose IL-2 would decrease leukemia relapse while reducing cGVHD after allotransplantation. This controlled, open-label randomized trial included 90 recipients of allotransplants. Subjects were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either receive or not receive low-dose IL-2 during the early post-transplantation period. Patients in the IL-2 arm received a subcutaneous injection of low-dose IL-2 (1 x 10(6) U/d) on day 60 after allo-HSCT. IL-2 was administered daily for 14 d followed by a 14-d hiatus. The primary endpoint was the cumulative incidence of leukemia relapse (CIR). Three-year CIRs for the IL-2 arm and control arm were 23% (range 16-30%) and 11% (range 6-15%; p = 0.20), respectively. Minimal residual disease-positive (MRD+) tests were more common in the IL-2 arm compared to the control arm (36% [range 29-44%] vs. 15% [range 10-20%], p = 0.03). The cumulative incidence of moderate-to-severe chronic GVHD (cGVHD) was lower in the IL-2 arm compared to the control arm (33% [range 26-39%] vs. 57% [range 49-64%), p = 0.02). Therefore, the 3-y GVHD-free and GVHD progression-free survival (GPFS) rates were significantly higher in the IL-2 arm compared to the control arm (47% [range 39-55%] vs. 31% [range 25-38%], p = 0.048). Blood Tregs, NK cells, and NK-cell cytotoxicity were increased in subjects in the IL-2 arm between 3 mo and 6 mo post-transplantation. Administration of low-dose IL-2 during the immediate post-transplantation period was associated with a higher GPFS but did not decrease the CIR.National Natural Science Foundation of China [81670166, 81530046, 81270644, 81230013]; Beijing Talents fund [2015000021223ZK26]; Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (973 Program) [2013CB733700]; Milstein Medical Asian American Partnership (MMAAP) Foundation Research Project Award in Haematology and the Collaborative Innovation Center of Haematology, Peking University, China; Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Program [Z151100001615020, Z141100000214011]; Clinical Characteristic Study of Capital Project [Z121107001012085]SCI(E)ARTICLExjhrm@medmail.com.cn12