CONTENTS Report from the 2nd International Report from the second iwNST meeting ........ 1 Workshop on NST January 25–28, 2001, St Martin, West Indies Filipovich, Vose assume Registry chairs; Sergio Giralt, MD he inaugural meeting of the International Ringdén, Champlin Working Group on Non-myeloablative Stem- Associate Professor, BMT Unit, T cell Transplantation (iwNST) was held in St Lucia named as University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer chairs-elect .............. 1 Center, Houston in 2000. The meeting brought together a small group of international transplantation experts with an interest in the development of non- Perspectives: myeloablative or reduced-intensity preparative – Julie M. Vose regimens for blood and marrow transplantation – Armand Keating ... 2 Shimon Slavin, MD (BMT). Following the success of this meeting, a Professor and Chairman, Department of second iwNST meeting was held with the support BMT and Cancer Immunotherapy, Hadassah Tandem BMT meetings of Schering AG in St Martin from January 25–28, University Hospital, Jerusalem 2001. The aims of the second meeting were – in appreciation...... 3 twofold. First to discuss progress made in NST in hematologic malignancies, solid tumors and a Forbeck Forum range of other therapeutic settings, including discusses Christopher N. Bredeson, autoimmune diseases, and second to determine recommendations for areas of consensus suitable for establishing MD, MSc multicenter prospective clinical trials in non- clinical trials in Assistant Scientific Director, IBMTR/ABMTR myeloablative stem cell transplantation (NST). hematopoietic stem cell Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medical The meeting was divided into three sections: College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee transplantation ........ 9 continued on page 4 Recent peer-reviewed publications from the IBMTR/ABMTR ....... 10 Filipovich, Vose assume Registry chairs; Ringdén, Champlin named as chairs-elect Foundation and corporate support of At the February 2001 Annual Meeting, Dr. Alexandra Dr. Gérard Socié from Hôpital St. Louis in Paris, the IBMTR/ABMTR . 11 Filipovich of Children’s Hospital Medical Center in France (Secretary-Treasurer) and Drs. Sergio Giralt Cincinnati assumed the Chair of the IBMTR Advisory from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Committee. Dr. John Goldman (Imperial College of Texas and Axel Zander from University Hospital IBMTR/ABMTR Medicine, London) will continue to serve on the Eppendorf in Hamburg, Germany (Members-at- Executive Committees Executive Committee for a three-year term as Large). and Statistical Center Immediate Past-Chair. Dr. Olle Ringdén of Huddinge personnel ............... 12 University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden was chosen For the ABMTR, Dr. Michael Bishop from the US as IBMTR Chair-Elect in the pre-meeting balloting. National Cancer Institute has been elected Dr. Julie Vose of the University of Nebraska, Omaha Nominating Committee Chair, and Dr. Koen van assumed the Chair of the ABMTR Advisory Besien from the University of Chicago Medical Center Committee; Dr. Armand Keating (University of has been named Secretary-Treasurer. New ABMTR Toronto) will continue to serve on the Executive Executive Committee Members-at-Large are Drs. Committee as Immediate Past-Chair. Dr. Richard Elizabeth Reed from the University of Nebraska, Champlin from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center was Omaha and Patrick Stiff from Loyola University This issue of the IBMTR/ chosen as ABMTR Chair-Elect. Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. ABMTR Newsletter is supported by an unrestricted In other IBMTR election results, Dr. Daniel Weisdorf of We thank Drs. A. John Barrett, Robert Peter Gale, educational grant from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis was Hans-Jochem Kolb and John Wingard for their past selected as Nominating Committee Chair. Newly service on the IBMTR Executive Committee and Drs. Schering AG elected IBMTR Executive Committee members are James Armitage, Bruce Camitta, Carole Miller and continued on page 4 1 Perspectives Julie M. Vose, MD ABMTR Advisory Committee Chair Professor of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA It is my distinct pleasure to assume the research groups have ultimately lead to specific issues. Our organization is in an chair of the ABMTR from Armand Keating. many excellent papers in peer-reviewed excellent situation to be able to assist in Over the past three years Dr. Keating, journals. In addition to research the statistical planning, development, and along with Dr. Mary Horowitz and the contributions, the Registry is an invaluable implementation of such studies. With such entire Statistical Center, has led the source of information for patients, efforts, scientific questions can be ABMTR to the forefront of autologous physicians, and healthcare agencies definitely answered in appropriately transplantation research. interested in transplantation. designed clinical trials. From the inception of the ABMTR in the The future of this outstanding organization Developments in transplantation over the late 1980s, the activity of the organization must include the planning, organization, next several years will shape the future of has continued to grow and prosper. and conduct of prospective clinical trials in transplantation clinical care and research Accomplishments include the collection of transplantation. This can be accomplished and will affect countless patients with data on more than 63,000 patients through a large network of transplant malignancies and other conditions. It is receiving autologous transplantation for centers which collaborate on transplant exciting to be able to assist in the next various malignancies or conditions since clinical trials that have been specifically phase of the ABMTR’s development and 1989. Collaborations on research papers developed to answer important questions to be a part of the future of blood and with multiple investigators and other regarding transplantation and disease- marrow transplantation. Armand Keating, MD ABMTR Immediate Past-Chair Professor and Chief, Medical Services, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada It is indeed gratifying that both the ABMTR in North America and internationally. In A second and important area for further and IBMTR continue to thrive. This is true order to carry this out effectively, it must development is the ongoing need to for registration activity as well as for active adapt, change and grow in new ways. I collaborate with related organizations. The contributions to the field of blood and would like to provide three examples of reasons are obvious: synergy and the marrow transplantation. For example, over how this is already taking place. avoidance of duplication among many 63,000 cases have been registered with others. An excellent example is the the ABMTR, including the approximately The first is a strong interest in participating collaboration with the ASBMT that has 19,000 detailed research reports since in prospective clinical trials. The Registry resulted in the continued success of the 1989 when the Registry began. Perhaps with its large network of participating Tandem BMT Meetings. Another most impressively, during the 2000–2001 transplant centers (including large and successful collaboration is with the EBMT, year there have been 17 papers small, highly academic as well as service- and it is recognized that greater interaction published, with 10 in press and 6 under based programs) is extremely well can only help the field. The IBMTR/ review from the IBMTR and ABMTR. Many positioned to evolve as a hub of a ABMTR is currently exploring the have, and will appear in first rate prospective trials network. Indeed, a possibility of collaborating with the international peer-reviewed journals. network of transplant programs is already Canadian Bone Marrow Transplant Group These accomplishments attest to the vigor established through the Statistical Center (CBMTG) to develop a national registry and leadership of the Working Committees by virtue of the data exchange that takes database. This is of some significance and of Mary Horowitz and the Statistical place between them. Because of its broad because the 24 centers in Canada Center. The merging of the IBMTR and constituency of participating transplant perform about 1200 transplants per year. ABMTR roles in the Working Committees programs, the Registry is well placed to The development of such a registry will has been an important and creative force facilitate rapid and large accrual to help facilitate the CBMTG’s goal of in this productivity. important trials. Another major advantage establishing a cohesive national clinical is that Registry studies are hypothesis- trials network. They already have the Vital organizations do not stand still. I generating, enabling key prospective trials advantage that all the centers are believe that the ABMTR (and IBMTR – it is to be quickly developed. Importantly, the associated with teaching hospitals and becoming increasingly difficult to separate feasibility of such trials can be readily their directors are committed to their functions) will have an increasingly tested by analyzing the extensive Registry addressing important transplant-related important role in moving the field forward database. questions. continued on page 3 2 • Volume 8 • Issue 1 • August 2001 • Tandem BMT Meetings Tandem BMT Meetings 2001– in appreciation By D’Etta Waldoch, CMP t is simply time to say thank you – time efficiency next year. Online registration heralded for gathering