Long-term renal prognosis and risk for hypertension after myeloablative therapies in survivors of childhood high-risk neuroblastoma: A nationwide study

Long-Term Kidney and Cardiovascular Complications in Pediatric Cancer Survivors

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to describe the burden of adverse kidney and hypertension outcomes in patients evaluated by pediatric nephrology in a multidisciplinary survivorship clinic.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective chart review of all patients followed up by nephrology in our multidisciplinary survivorship clinic from August 2013 to June 2021. Data included clinic blood pressure, longitudinal ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), echocardiography, serum creatinine, and first-morning urine protein/creatinine ratios. For patients with multiple ABPMs, results of initial and most recent ABPMs were compared.

RESULTS

Of 422 patients followed in the multidisciplinary cancer survivorship clinic, 130 were seen by nephrology. The median time after therapy completion to first nephrology visit was 8 years. The most common diagnoses were leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome (27%), neuroblastoma (24%), and Wilms tumor (15%). At the last follow-up, 68% had impaired kidney function, 38% had a clinical diagnosis of hypertension, and 12% had proteinuria. There were 91 ABPMs performed in 55 (42%) patients. Patients with multiple ABPMs (n = 21) had statistically significant reductions in overall median blood pressure loads: systolic initial load 37% vs most recent 10% (P = .005) and diastolic load 36% vs 14% (P = .017). Patients with impaired kidney function were more likely to have received ifosfamide. Patients with hypertension were more likely to have received total body irradiation or allogeneic stem cell transplant.

CONCLUSIONS

History of leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome, neuroblastoma, and Wilms tumor was frequent among survivors seen by nephrology. There was significant improvement in cardiovascular measures with increased recognition of hypertension and subsequent treatment.

Hypertension in Cancer Survivors: A Review of the Literature and Suggested Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among cancer survivors. Hypertension, which is common among cancer survivors with a prevalence of greater than 70% by age 50, potentiates the risk for CVD in a more than additive fashion. For example, childhood cancer survivors who develop hypertension may have up to a 12 times higher risk for heart failure than survivors who remain normotensive. Studies have shown that mild valvular disease (28% incidence), cardiomyopathy (7.4%), arrhythmias (4.6%), and coronary artery disease (3.8%) are among the most common CVDs in childhood cancer survivors. Among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors, the most common reasons for cardiovascular-related hospital admission are venous/lymphatic disease (absolute excess risk 19%), cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia (15%), hypertension (13%), and ischemic heart disease (12%). In addition, cancer therapies can increase the risk for hypertension and CVD. Therefore, early detection and treatment of hypertension is essential to reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among survivors.

METHODS

We present a literature review, which identified over 20 clinical trials, systemic reviews, and meta-analyses (13 clinical trials, 8 systemic reviews or meta-analyses) by searching PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library for relevant articles addressing hypertension in cancer survivors.

RESULTS

Although our understanding of the complex relationship between cancer therapies and CVD has grown significantly over the past 2 decades, there remain several gaps in knowledge when specifically addressing CVD in the survivor population. This review provides an up-to-date survivor-centered approach to the screening and treatment of hypertension, which considers survivor-specific cardiovascular risk, applies guideline directed therapies when appropriate, screens for survivor-specific factors that may influence antihypertensive medication selection, and finally considers the prohypertensive mechanisms of antineoplastic agents as a potential target for antihypertensive medications.

CONCLUSIONS

Screening for and treating hypertension among survivors can promote cardiovascular health in this vulnerable population.

Late effects in survivors of high-risk neuroblastoma following stem cell transplant with and without total body irradiation

BACKGROUND

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. Those with high-risk disease are treated with multimodal therapy, including high-dose chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, radiation, and immunotherapy that have led to multiple long-term complications in survivors. In the late 1990s, consolidation therapy involved myeloablative conditioning including total body irradiation (TBI) with autologous stem cell rescue. Recognizing the significant long-term toxicities of exposure to TBI, more contemporary treatment protocols have removed this from conditioning regimens. This study examines an expanded cohort of 48 high-risk neuroblastoma patients to identify differences in the late effect profiles for those treated with TBI and those treated without TBI.

PROCEDURE

Data on the study cohort were collected from clinic charts, provider documentation in the electronic medical record of visits to survivorship clinic, including all subspecialists, and ancillary reports of laboratory and diagnostic tests done as part of risk-based screening at each visit.

RESULTS

All 48 survivors of BMT for high-risk neuroblastoma had numerous late effects of therapy, with 73% having between five and 10 late effects. TBI impacted some late effects significantly, including growth hormone deficiency (GHD), bone outcomes, and cataracts.

CONCLUSION

Although high-risk neuroblastoma survivors treated with TBI have significant late effects, those treated without TBI also continue to have significant morbidity related to high-dose chemotherapy and local radiation. A multidisciplinary care team assists in providing comprehensive care to those survivors who are at highest risk for significant late effects.

Integrative Role of Albumin: Evolutionary, Biochemical and Pathophysiological Aspects

Being one of the main proteins in the human body and many animal species, albumin plays a crucial role in the transport of various ions, electrically neutral molecules and in maintaining the colloidal osmotic pressure of the blood. Albumin is able to bind almost all known drugs, many nutraceuticals and toxic substances, determining their pharmaco- and toxicokinetics. However, albumin is not only the passive but also the active participant of the pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic processes possessing a number of enzymatic activities. Due to the thiol group of Cys34, albumin can serve as a trap for reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, thus participating in redox processes. The interaction of the protein with blood cells, blood vessels, and also with tissue cells outside the vascular bed is of great importance. The interaction of albumin with endothelial glycocalyx and vascular endothelial cells largely determines its integrative role. This review provides information of a historical nature, information on evolutionary changes, inflammatory and antioxidant properties of albumin, on its structural and functional modifications and their significance in the pathogenesis of some diseases.

Serum Albumin in Health and Disease: Esterase, Antioxidant, Transporting and Signaling Properties

Being one of the main proteins in the human body and many animal species, albumin plays a decisive role in the transport of various ions-electrically neutral and charged molecules-and in maintaining the colloidal osmotic pressure of the blood. Albumin is able to bind to almost all known drugs, as well as many nutraceuticals and toxic substances, largely determining their pharmaco- and toxicokinetics. Albumin of humans and respective representatives in cattle and rodents have their own structural features that determine species differences in functional properties. However, albumin is not only passive, but also an active participant of pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic processes, possessing a number of enzymatic activities. Numerous experiments have shown esterase or pseudoesterase activity of albumin towards a number of endogeneous and exogeneous esters. Due to the free thiol group of Cys34, albumin can serve as a trap for reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, thus participating in redox processes. Glycated albumin makes a significant contribution to the pathogenesis of diabetes and other diseases. The interaction of albumin with blood cells, blood vessels and tissue cells outside the vascular bed is of great importance. Interactions with endothelial glycocalyx and vascular endothelial cells largely determine the integrative role of albumin. This review considers the esterase, antioxidant, transporting and signaling properties of albumin, as well as its structural and functional modifications and their significance in the pathogenesis of certain diseases.