Various approaches for accessing the influence of human leukocyte antigens disparity in haploidentical stem cell transplantation

Abstract Introduction We investigated the association of HLA on clinical outcomes in our cohort of patients in the haplo‐HSCT program using the HLAMatchmaker (EM) and PIRCHE score (PS) algorithms. Methods The group comprised 64 patients (male = 35–54.7%, female 29–45.3%; median age 43 years) and their related haplo‐HSCT donors (male = 30–46.9%, female 34–53.1%). HLA‐A/B/C/DRB1/DQB1/DPB1 loci were analyzed. Results Multivariate analysis of the association between different HLA or patient/donor‐related parameters and clinical outcome revealed the following associations with statistical significance: GvHD and HLA class I PS in the GvH direction ( p = .0420) and relapse with diagnosis ( p = .0163). For OS, the only variable showing a tendency of association was the source of HSCT ( p = .0965). Conclusion Combined results of univariate and multivariate analysis suggest that the patients awaiting the selection of the best haplo‐HSCT donor could benefit the most from the combination of all three approaches, in cases when a suitable donor can be chosen from a number of potential donors.