The Open Cancer Immunology Journal

2013, 5 : 1-8
Published online 2013 October 18. DOI: 10.2174/1876401001104010001
Publisher ID: TOCIJ-5-1

NK-KIR Gene Repertoire and Outcome of Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation from Unrelated Donors

Wilasinee Chainonthee , Martin Bornhäuser , Monika Füssel , Gerhard Ehninger and Ralf Wassmuth
Medizinische Klinik u. Poliklinik I, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus der Technischen Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74 • 01307 Dresden, Germany

ABSTRACT

In this retrospective study, the influence of donor and recipient KIR-gene content and their respective ligands including clinical parameters as potential confounding variables on the outcome of 150 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients undergoing allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) from unrelated donors was systematically investigated. There was no significant influence of KIR ligand mismatching and of donor/recipient KIR haplotype combinations on overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DSF), non-relapse mortality (NRM) and relapse. Isolated effects of KIR haplotypes, were detected for acute, chronic Graft versus Host Disease (aGvHD and cGvHD) as well as for the cumulative incidence of non-relapse mortality and relapse. The incidence of non-relapse mortality was evaluated in donor and recipient pairs harbouring KIR AA homozygosity (AA/Bx: p=0.038, HR=0.73, 95% CI=0.35-1.46 and AA/AA: p=0.043, HR=0.64, 95% CI 0.53-1-17). Our data suggest that KIR genotyping may be useful in patients in whom several HLAidentical unrelated donors can be identified but is probably not necessary for the primary donor selection algorithm.

Keywords:

KIR, stem cell transplantation, GvL.