Post-transplant complications revealed by mycophenolate mofetil related transporters and metabolic enzymes gene polymorphisms in pediatric patients with hematological disorders

Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Haplo-HSCT) serves as an important option for patients without an HLA matched donor in treating hematological disorders, while patients may experience various complications after transplantation. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), a cornerstone drug for graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis, effectively reduces the incidence of acute GvHD, and the efficacy of MMF varies among individuals associated with MMF-related transporters and metabolic enzymes single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, limited studies have systematically reported the correlations between the MMF-related SNPs and post-transplant complications.

Here, we conducted a retrospective study involving 90 pediatric patients with hematological disorders who underwent haplo-HSCT at a single center. All patients were subjected to MMF-related SNP testing, combined with common clinical characteristics, to be correlated with post-transplant complications.

We observed that all 15 MMF-related SNPs were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Based on multivariate Cox regression analysis of post-transplant complications, we discovered that SLCO1B1 (521T > C) variant genotype was an independent protective factor for chronic GvHD (HR = 0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.08–0.84)). For viral infection, CYP2C8 (1291 + 106T > C) variant genotype was an independent risk factor for cytomegalovirus infection (HR = 2.98, 95% CI (1.18–7.53)). As to hemorrhagic cystitis, SLCO1B1 (1865 + 4846T > C) variant genotype was an independent protective factor, while older age was considered as an independent risk factor (HR = 0.41, 95% CI (0.19–0.85); HR = 2.52, 95% CI (1.14–5.54), respectively). No statistical significance was discovered between common clinical characteristics and MMF-related SNPs with other complications, including grade II-IV/III-IV acute GvHD, Epstein-Barr virus infection, peri-engraftment syndrome, and capillary leak syndrome. We also discovered SLCO1B1 (597 C > T) and SLC29A1 (-162 + 228 A > C) variant genotypes are both independent factors for cumulative incidence of relapse after haplo-HSCT (HR = 4.02, 95% CI (1.42–11.44); HR = 0.18, 95% CI (0.07–0.43), respectively).

Our findings highlight the significance of MMF-related transporters and metabolic enzymes SNPs in the development of post-transplant complications, contributing to facilitating personalized risk assessment and improving the clinical management in haplo-HSCT patients.