Further Personalizing Medicine in Immune Disorders: Genomic Findings and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Survival

Abstract

Background: Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) provides effective long-term management for some inborn errors of immunity. Genetic findings can inform donor selection, considerations in conditioning intensity and agents, and graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis. Exome/genome sequencing is increasingly accessible but of uncertain clinical utility. We aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of comprehensive genomic evaluations through review of HCT at our center.

Methods: We performed exome/genome sequencing on pre-HCT samples from participants between 2017 and 2023. We reported primary findings (PF) and secondary findings (SF). Post hoc, we analyzed medication and pharmacogenetic (PGx) data.

Results: We analyzed pre-HCT exome/genome sequencing (n = 84 exome, n = 63 genome, n = 32 with both) for 179 probands. Most (143/179; 79.9%) had a PF underlying the HCT indication, with GATA2 being most common (n = 59). Three percent of participants had an SF predisposing to cancer or cardiovascular disease. Most (n = 108/179; 60.3%) received ≥1 medication(s) that may have been further optimized with PGx. Using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, we compared the survival rates of participants with 0, 1, and ≥2 genomic risk factors (GRF: absence of PF; presence of SF or PGx). Survival at 3 y was 94.8%, 84.8%, and 58.5% for those with 0, 1, and ≥2 GRF, respectively (log-rank: 16.10, df = 2, P = 0.0003), indicating statistically significant survival differences by GRF.

Conclusions: Comprehensive genomic evaluation is an emerging avenue for tailoring HCT approaches, and identification of HCT-relevant findings may be common. On multivariate analysis, GRF was associated with survival in this retrospective cohort. Prospective research is warranted to further integrate genomic data into precision treatment.