Allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Allogeneic transplantation after reduced-intensity conditioning with fludarabine-CY for both indolent and aggressive lymphoid malignancies

We studied the outcome of allo-SCT after reduced-intensity conditioning in relapsed or refractory indolent and aggressive lymphoid malignancies. All 54 patients (diagnosis: B-CLL n=13, indolent lymphoma n=12, aggressive lymphoma n=13, transformed lymphoma n=16) received conditioning with fludarabine and CY between July 2001 and November 2010. They underwent allo-SCT because of relapse after auto-SCT or because no other therapy could lead to a meaningful remission. Patients received an unmanipulated peripheral blood stem-cell graft. Median follow-up was 67 months. Thirty-two patients had received rituximab. Immediately after transplantation, remission status had improved in 21 patients, all without DLI. During the follow-up six additional patients achieved CR without further therapy. Four-year OS (EFS) was 46% (46%) for B-CLL, 83% (75%) for indolent lymphoma, 69% (55%) for aggressive lymphoma and 74% (67%) for transformed lymphoma (P=0.28 (P=0.54)). Forty two percent developed acute GVHD, 68% chronic GVHD (16% limited, 52% extensive). Previous auto-SCT did not influence OS, while acute GVHD did. Two-year non-relapse mortality was 16%. In conclusion, reduced-intensity conditioning with fludarabine-CY is feasible and effective for both indolent and aggressive lymphoid malignancies, even after previous auto-SCT. Because of the excellent anti-B-cell/lymphoma activity fludarabine-CY decreases tumor load, gaining time for the development of a graft versus lymphoma effect.

Inpatient rehabilitation improved functional status in asthenic patients with solid and hematologic malignancies

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare functional outcomes in asthenic patients with hematologic malignancies with those of asthenic patients with solid tumors after inpatient rehabilitation. We hypothesized that asthenic patients with hematologic malignancies are less likely than patients with solid tumors to make functional improvement after rehabilitation.

DESIGN

The records of 60 asthenic cancer patients (30 consecutive patients with solid tumors and 30 consecutive patients with hematologic malignancies) who underwent inpatient rehabilitation at a comprehensive cancer center between October 2005 and October 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with focal neurologic deficits were excluded. All patients admitted to the inpatient rehabilitation unit received 3 hrs of more of therapy per weekday. The main outcomes included total, motor, and cognitive Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores, hospital and rehabilitation length of stay, and FIM efficiency.

RESULTS

The mean total FIM score significantly improved in patients with solid tumors (mean, 15; range, -6 to 38) and in patients with hematologic malignancies (mean, 17; range, -3 to 27); however, between-group differences in FIM scores were not significant (P = 0.31). The solid tumor patients were significantly older than the hematologic malignancy patients (71 ± 11 vs. 64 ± 12 yrs; P = 0.02), but the mean rehabilitation lengths of stay were the same for each group (9.5 days; P = 0.82). The mean FIM efficiency in the hematologic malignancy group was higher than that of the solid tumor group (1.9 vs.1.4; P = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

Asthenic patients with solid tumors or hematologic malignancies could benefit from inpatient rehabilitation and make significant functional gain.

Reliability of ambulatory walking activity in patients with hematologic malignancies

OBJECTIVES

To determine the relative and absolute reliability of the assessment of ambulatory walking activity during 2 consecutive weeks in patients with hematologic malignancies recovering at home from their medical treatment and to compare the physical activity level of hematologic cancer patients after high-dose chemotherapy with healthy subjects.

DESIGN

Test-retest study of 2 consecutive 7-day recordings using the microprocessor-based step accelerometer 3 (SAM3).

SETTING

Home and community.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients (n=23) with hematologic malignancies recovering from high-dose chemotherapy and healthy controls (n=30).

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC(3,1)) and its 95% confidence interval (CI), SE of measurement procedure and its 95% CI, the smallest detectable difference (SDD), the coefficient of variation (CV), and t tests for the variables total steps and peak activity.

RESULTS

The day-to-day and week-to-week CVs for walking activity and peak activity were 35.17% and 13.17% and 18.61% and 6.90%, respectively. For relative reliability, the ICCs for 2 consecutive 7-day recordings including the 95% CI for total steps and peak activity were 0.90 (95% CI, 0.75-0.98) and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.66-0.94), respectively. The absolute reliability for total steps and peak activity including the SE of measurement procedure and the 95% CI were 564 (95% CI, +/-1106) and 2.42 steps (95% CI, +/-4.74), respectively, for 2 consecutive 7-day recordings. The week-to-week SDD was 1564 for total steps and 6.70 for peak activity. The 7-day mean for total step activity was 5355 for the patients with hematologic malignancies and 6364 for healthy subjects (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicate that there is good relative reliability for the assessment of 2 consecutive 7-day recordings of ambulatory walking activity, and it showed that the SDD derived from this sample may be useful in detecting changes in daily walking activity in hematologic cancer patients who are recovering from intensive medical treatment. The study also documented compromised levels of ambulatory walking activity among hematologic cancer patients recovering from high-dose chemotherapy as compared with healthy controls.

Chemotherapy and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Adult T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma: Current Status and Controversies

Adult T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma is a relatively rare aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with frequent involvement of extranodal sites. Because of the rarity of this malignancy, it is treated variably and often suboptimally, using approaches similar to those used for other types of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas, with the consequence that outcome is often suboptimal. The collective experience in the management of adult T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma suggests a good outcome for patients with no adverse prognostic factors who are treated with an acute lymphocytic leukemia-like treatment strategy. Patients with adverse prognostic features should be considered for more aggressive therapy-specifically, high-dose chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This article will attempt to review the current status of chemotherapy treatment programs and the relative merits of the different hematopoietic stem cell transplantation programs in this disease, particularly in relation to the pathologic and clinical features that correlate with disease prognosis.