Endothelial activation and stress index as a prognostic factor of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: the report from the nationwide multi-center Thai Lymphoma Study Group

Several prognostic models have been introduced to predict outcomes of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Endothelial activation and stress index (EASIX) is a surrogate of endothelial dysfunction which has been shown to predict outcomes of patients with various hematologic malignancies. However, the prognostic implication of EASIX for DLBCL is limited and warrants exploration. We conducted a retrospective study enrolling adult DLBCL patients including a discovery cohort from the single-centered university hospital database and a validation cohort from the independent nationwide multi-center registry. EASIX scores were calculated using creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase, and platelet levels. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine optimal cutoff. Statistical analysis explored the impact of EASIX on survival outcomes. A total of 323 patients were included in the discovery cohort. The optimal EASIX cutoff was 1.07 stratifying patients into low (53.9%) and high EASIX (46.1%) groups. Patients with high EASIX had worse 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) (53.4% vs. 81.5%, p<0.001) and overall survival (OS) (64.4% vs. 88.7%, p<0.001) than patients with low EASIX. Multivariate analysis revealed that older age, bulky disease, impaired performance status, and high EASIX were associated with an unfavorable OS. In the validation cohort of 499 patients, the optimal EASIX cutoff was 1.04. Similar to the discovery cohort, high EASIX score was associated with high-risk diseases, worse PFS, and inferior OS. In conclusion, EASIX score was significantly associated with survival outcomes and may be used as a simple prognostic tool to better risk-classify DLBCL.

Persistence of dengue genome in a remotely infected patient

Background

Dengue virus infection is an intriguing illness. It is traditionally thought of as a self-limited and nonpersistent disease.

Objectives

We report a case with persistent dengue virus genome detectable in hematopoietic cells of a person with remote infection.

Methods

A patient with multiple myeloma in remission was prepared for peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation. Plasma and G-CSF-stimulated, mobilized PBSCs were collected. Dengue-specific reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed in both pre- and post-stimulated blood specimens. Anti-dengue antibodies by ELISA and by neutralization assay were measured before and after the stem cell mobilization.

Results

The viral genome was detected only in the PBSC of the post-G-CSF-stimulated specimens. Anti-dengue antibodies were negative and positive, by ELISA and neutralization assays, respectively, both before and after stem cell mobilization.

Conclusion

Our findings reveal a persistent infection. Whether and how this strain may interact with subsequent serotype(s) remains to be elucidated.

Report on hematopoietic cell transplantations performed in 2018/2019 focusing on the trends of selection of stem cell sources in the Asia-Pacific region: APBMT Activity Survey

The number of hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HCTs) is increasing annually worldwide, and the Asia-Pacific (AP) region is no exception. We report on the absolute number of HCTs in 2018 and 2019 and the trends in graft selection and disease indication in the past few decades. In 2018, 24,292 HCTs were performed in the AP region, of which 8,754 (36.0%) were autologous and 15,538 (64.0%) were allogeneic. Among the allogeneic HCTs, 10,552 (67.9%) of the recipients were related to their donors, whereas 4,986 (32.1%) were unrelated. In 2019, 27,583 HCTs were reported, of which 17,613 (63.9%) were allogeneic and 9,970 (36.1%) were autologous. Although, in 2010, there was a nearly equal number of related and unrelated HCTs, the difference has shown an annual increase, with more than double (2.05) the number of related than unrelated HCTs in 2019. Recent trends in the AP region show that peripheral blood has overwhelmingly surpassed the bone marrow as a graft source for both related and unrelated HCTs, with the haploidentical donor type being preferred; however, their trends in each country/region were quite different among countries/regions. In 2019, the main conditions requiring HCT were acute myelogenous leukemia (n=6,629 [24.0%]), plasma cell disorders (PCD) (n=4,935 [17.9%]), malignant lymphoma (ML) (n=4,106 [14.9%]), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (AML) (n=3,777 [13.7%]), myelodysplastic syndrome or myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm (n=1,913 [6.9%]), severe aplastic anemia (n=1,671 [6.1%]), and hemoglobinopathy (n=910 [3.3%]). PCD and ML were the main indications for autologous HCT, and the number of PCD cases has grown more prominent than the corresponding of ML. The increased number of allogeneic transplants for hemoglobinopathy remains prominent, as well as that of AML and acute lymphocytic leukemia for the past 5 years. There was a significant regional variation in the number of facilities performing HCTs, ranging from one in Mongolia and Nepal to 313 in Japan, and differing regional densities varying from 0.1 in Indonesia and Pakistan to 24.7 in Japan. The total transplant density per 10 million population in each country/region also differed (0.2 in Indonesia and 627 in New Zealand). This annual Activity Survey aims to help all participating countries/regions understand the changes in HCT, serve as an asset in promoting HCT activities in the AP region, and be used as a reference for comparison with other registries from Europe and the United States.

Germline HAVCR2 mutations and their relation to the clinical spectrum of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: results from a multicenter study and meta-analysis

Germline HAVCR2 mutations are frequently detected in subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) patients with/without hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) but factors associated with variable manifestations remain undetermined. To evaluate clinical variations and associated factors in SPTCL and/or HLH with/without HAVCR2 mutations, we performed direct sequencing of HAVCR2 exon 2 using DNA from patients with SPTCL or idiopathic HLH/HLH-like systemic illnesses, defined by HLH alone without secondary causes. The systematic review and individual patient data (IPD) level meta-analysis which included the present and previously published studies reporting HAVCR2 mutations in SPTCL with/without HLH populations was subsequently conducted using random-effects meta-analysis and multivariate logistic regression. Among 34 patients enrolled, ten of 28 SPTCL patients developed HLH/HLH-like systemic illnesses. Six cases with HAVCR2Y82C mutation manifested with HLH without panniculitis. Male sex (P=0.03) and age <18 years (P=0.04) were associated with HLH, corresponding to the inverse correlation between age and HLH-2004 score (r=-0.40; P=0.02). Homozygous HAVCR2Y82C mutation was more common in the presence of HLH compared with the absence (75.0% vs. 44.4%; P=0.02). Using IPD from the present and the other three eligible cohorts (N=127), male sex, heterozygous and homozygous/compound heterozygous HAVCR2 mutations were associated with HLH by the adjusted odds ratio of 2.93 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-7.06), 4.77 (95% CI: 1.05-21.63) and 8.48 (95% CI: 2.98-24.10), respectively. Patients with male sex and/or germline HAVCR2 mutations showed an increased risk of developing HLH. Younger patients tended to manifest with HLH, while older patients typically presented with SPTCL with less frequent HLH/HLH-like systemic illnesses.

Survival rates of adult patients with Hodgkin lymphoma who underwent ABVD versus escalated BEACOPP in a resource-limited country: An observational study

BACKGROUND

The survival rate of adult patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) depends on the responses to standard chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or combined therapy. Resource-limited countries face numerous obstacles in supporting patients with HL who undergo chemotherapy, especially in advanced stages.

AIM

To analyze the survival outcomes of adult patients with HL after combined-modality treatment (CMT) with involved-field or non-involved-field radiotherapy.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 90 adult patients with HL who received CMT at Rajavithi Hospital, Bangkok between 2007 and 2021. Patients with stage I-IV disease received different therapies depending on their risk group. The risk groups were evaluated according to initial response, bulky disease, and B symptoms. Patients (n = 90) who underwent CMT were followed up for 34.7 months (range, 1-141 months). The median follow-up periods of early and advanced-stage patients were 53.1 months and 23.5 months, respectively. The estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates of patients with advanced-stage diseases were 85% and 62%, respectively. There was a difference in the 3-year overall survival among advance-stage patients who underwent ABVD (94%) compared to those administered BEACOPPesc (50%), and the 3-year PFS (84%) among patients who underwent ABVD was higher than that among those administered BEACOPPesc (66%). Radiotherapy increased toxicity but did not improve the survival rate.

CONCLUSION

Chemotherapy administered to patients with advanced-stage adult HL was more effective than BEACOPPesc when ABVD was administered. Our findings are relevant for hospitals with limited resources.

Prognostic factors and impact of CMV reactivation on acute myeloid leukemia patients after HLA-matched myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation in a high CMV prevalence country

INTRODUCTION

Relapse of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) leads to dismal outcomes. This study aimed to identify high-risk patients and explore the effects of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation in a high CMV-seropositive population.

METHODS

The study involved a single-center retrospective cohort in Thailand, analyzing clinical risk factors and CMV-mediated immune responses, correlated with transplant outcomes in AML patients.

RESULTS

Eighty-five patients with AML in complete remission (CR) undergoing HLA-matched myeloablative allo-SCT between 2011 and February 2021 were enrolled. The relapse rate was 27.1% with the median time of 7 months after transplantation. The 3-year relapse-free-survival (RFS) and overall-survival (OS) were 72.2% and 80.8%, respectively. The disease status (>CR1) and absence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) were independently significant adverse prognostic factors of RFS and OS. Ninety-two percent of recipient-donor pairs were both CMV seropositive. The CMV reactivation occurred in 54.1% of the patients. The clinically significant CMV infection rate was 49.4%. No CMV syndrome/disease or CMV-related mortality occurred. One-year cumulative incidence of relapse among CMV-reactivation and non-reactivation groups were 14.3% and 25.6%, respectively, without a statistically significant difference. Transplantation-related mortality was 11.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

The transplantation beyond CR1 and absence of cGVHD are powerful prognostic factors associated with inferior RFS and OS. In a high CMV prevalence country, there appears to be no impact of CMV reactivation on relapse in AML patients undergoing an allo-SCT.

Outcomes of polatuzumab vedotin-containing regimens in real-world setting of relapsed and or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients: a matched-control analysis from the Thai Lymphoma Study Group (TLSG)

Relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) is a challenging condition to treat, and there is an unmet clinical need for effective therapies. Recently, polatuzumab vedotin (Pola), an anti-CD79b antibody-drug-conjugate (ADC), combined with bendamustine-rituximab (BR), has been approved for R/R DLBCL patients. However, real-world data on Pola-based regimens in R/R DLBCL patients, especially in Thailand, are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Pola-based salvage treatment in R/R DLBCL patients in Thailand. Thirty-five patients who received Pola-based treatment were included in the study, and their data were compared to 180 matched patients who received non-Pola-based therapy. The overall response rate (ORR) in the Pola group was 62.8%, with complete remission and partial remission rates of 17.1% and 45.7%, respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 10.6 months and 12.8 months, respectively. The study found a significantly higher ORR in Pola-based salvage treatments compared to non-Pola-based therapy (62.8% vs. 33.3%). The survival outcomes were also significantly superior in the Pola group, with longer median PFS and OS than the control group. Grades 3-4 adverse events (AEs) were mainly hematological, and they were tolerable. In conclusion, this study provides real-world evidence of the efficacy and safety of Pola-based salvage treatment in R/R DLBCL patients in Thailand. The results of this study are promising and suggest that Pola-based salvage treatment could be a viable option for R/R DLBCL patients who have limited treatment options.

The reliability of FEbrile Neutropenia after ChEmotherapy (FENCE) scores in predicting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor breakthrough febrile neutropenia among patients with lymphoma undergoing first-cycle chemotherapy: A prospective observational study

Background

A tool for estimating risk of febrile neutropenia (FN) after chemotherapy, namely the FEbrile Neutropenia after ChEmotherapy (FENCE) score, has been developed but has not been widely validated. This study aimed to validate the FENCE score as a tool for predicting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) breakthrough FN among patients with lymphoma who underwent chemotherapy.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study of treatment-naive adult patients with lymphoma who underwent their first cycle of chemotherapy between 2020 and 2021. The patients were followed up until the next cycle of chemotherapy to identify any infection events.

Results

Among the 135 patients with lymphoma, 62 (50%) were men. In a comparison of the value of each FENCE parameter for predicting G-CSF breakthrough infection, the parameter of advanced-stage disease showed high sensitivity of 92.8%, and receipt of platinum chemotherapy showed high specificity of 95.33%. With a FENCE score of 12 as a cutoff for low risk, analysis across all patients with lymphoma resulted in a high AUROCC of 0.63 (95% CI = 0.5–0.74%; p = 0.059), and analysis across only patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) resulted in an AUROCC of 0.65 (95% CI = 0.51–0.79%; p = 0.046). With a cutoff point of 12, FENCE score can predict breakthrough infection events at 30.0% (95% CI = 17.8–47.4%).

Conclusion

This study divided patients with lymphoma into risk groups according to FENCE score, showing that this instrument has discriminatory ability in predicting FN events, these being more likely to occur in patients in the intermediate- and high-risk groups. Multicenter studies are needed to validate this clinical risk score.

Improving cytokine-induced killer cell expansion using a gas-permeable culture method for clinical-scale production

BACKGROUND

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells are a heterogeneous group of immune cells that exert potent MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity toward various cancer cells in both solid and hematological malignancies.

OBJECTIVE

The purposes of this study were to compare the expansion and characteristics of cytokine-induced killer cells between a standard culture method and a gas-permeable culture method and to develop a clinical-scale expansion protocol for cytokine-induced killer cells using a gas-permeable culture method.

METHODS

We compared the absolute cell number, fold change, cell subsets, activation markers, cytokine concentrations, and cytotoxicity toward myeloid leukemia cell lines between cytokine-induced killer cells expanded using two different culture methods. Then, we determined the ability to achieve clinical-scale expansion of cytokine-induced killer cells using the gas-permeable culture method.

RESULTS

Cytokine-induced killer cells in the gas-permeable culture method group exhibited significantly better expansion but maintained similar cell subsets, activation markers, and cytotoxicity to those in the standard culture method group. In addition, we successfully manufactured cytokine-induced killer cells for clinical use using the gas-permeable culture method. We also showed the clinical efficacy of allogeneic cytokine-induced killer cells produced by the gas-permeable culture method in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia that relapsed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This patient maintained ongoing disease remission for 2 years with minimal side effects after cytokine-induced killer cell infusion.

CONCLUSIONS

We successfully developed a simple and effective protocol for the ex vivo expansion of cytokine-induced killer cells using the gas-permeable culture method for clinical application.

Genetic mutations associated with blood count abnormalities in myeloid neoplasms

INTRODUCTION

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) predominantly present with varying degrees of cytopenia, while myelodysplastic syndromes/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN) exhibit proliferative features. Genetic defects underlying different complete blood count (CBC) alterations remain to be defined.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate mutations and impacts on abnormal blood counts in MDS and MDS/MPN.

METHOD

MDS and MDS/MPN patients were recruited and sequenced by targeted next-generation sequencing. Clinical parameters, especially CBC, were evaluated for the association with genetic abnormalities and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 168 patients with myeloid neoplasms were recruited (92 cases of low-risk MDS, 57 cases of high-risk MDS and 19 cases of MDS/MPN). Compared to low-risk MDS and MDS/MPN, patients with high-risk MDS were presented with more severe neutropenia with 17.5% showing absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) lower than 0.5 × 10⁹/L. Patients with MDS/MPN more commonly harboured mutations and had a higher number of mutations per case than low-risk MDS (94.7% vs. 56.5%; p < 0.001 and 3 vs. 1; p < 0.001, respectively). Patients with SF3B1 mutations showed lower haemoglobin levels than wild-type (7.9 vs. 8.4 g/dL, p = 0.02), but were associated with normal platelet counts (286 vs. 93 × 10⁹/L; p < 0.001). Patients with U2AF1 mutations were associated with more severe leukopenia than wild-type (3 vs. 4.18 × 10⁹/L; p = 0.02). KRAS mutations were associated with monocytosis (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed high-risk MDS, MDS/MPN, severe neutropenia (ANC < 0.5 × 10⁹/L), and mutations in ASXL1 and SETBP1 were associated with inferior survival outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Certain mutations were related to more severe anaemia, lower white blood cell count or monocytosis in Asian MDS and MDS/MPN patients.

Excellent Prognosis of Low-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Without Detectable Myeloid-Related Mutations

BACKGROUND

Unexplained cytopenia (UC) and low-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are distinguished mainly by morphologic dysplasia, which sometimes shows inter-observer discrepancy. We hypothesized that gene mutations are strong prognostic factors for these low-risk patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We enrolled patients from 4 medical centers with unexplained cytopenia of at least 1 lineage. Diagnosis of low-risk MDS was made according to WHO 2016 classification and a revised international prognostic scoring system (R-IPSS) score of ≤ 3.5. DNA was extracted from bone marrow or blood and sequenced by targeted next generation sequencing (NGS).

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-one patients were recruited: 25% with UC and 75% with low-risk MDS. Complete blood counts were similar, but low-risk MDS patients carried higher numbers of mutations (1 vs. 0; P = .04) than UC patients. Overall, the most frequent mutated genes were TET2 (14.6%), SF3B1 (12.2%), and ASXL1 (9.7%). Survival rates of low-risk MDS patients versus UC patients were not significantly different. UC patients and low-risk MDS patients without genetic abnormalities showed superior 5-year progression free survival compared to MDS patients with mutations (100% vs. 76.0%; P = .005). Overall, ASXL1 mutations were associated with decreased 4-year overall survival compared to wild-type (59% vs. 31%; P = .01). In a multivariate analysis, ASXL1 and DNMT3A mutations in low-risk MDS patients were associated with a higher risk of disease progression with hazard ratios of 7.88 (95% CI 1.76-35.32, P = .01) and 7.45 (95% CI 1.61-34.46, P = .01), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Mutation detection is important for proper risk stratification of patients presenting with idiopathic cytopenia.

Expression of Programmed Cell Death-1 and Programmed Cell Death Ligands in Nodal Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma: Expression Pattern and Potential Prognostic Relevance

Programmed cell death (PD)/PD-ligands (PD-Ls) pathway plays an important role in the regulation of physiologic immune response. Several cancers, including lymphoma exhibit abnormal PD-1/PD-Ls expression, which may contribute to treatment failure, progression, and inferior outcomes. PD-1/PD-Ls expression has predominantly been described in B-cell lymphoma; such data in peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is limited. We described PD-1/PD-Ls expression patterns and associations with clinical characteristics and outcomes, in patients with systemic PTCLs. Correlation between PD-1/PD-Ls expression and outcomes was analyzed in patients who received lymphoma-specific therapy. PD-1/PD-Ls expression was observed across all common PTCL histologies at different proportions (PD-1 0%–76.9%, PD-L1 38.5%–62.5%, and PD-L2 62.5%–100%) with PD-1 being highly expressed in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. Baseline characteristics were comparable between PD-1/PD-Ls expression status. Of 47 patients who received lymphoma-specific therapy, outcomes were similar across all PD-L1/PD-L2 subgroups. In the Cox proportional hazard analysis, treatment response was the only factor associated with survival outcomes. However, PD-1/PD-Ls expression, either in lymphoma or stroma, was not a predictor for survival outcomes. In conclusion, differential PD-1/PD-Ls expressions were observed among various histological PTCL subtypes. In this study, we were unable to demonstrate an association between PD-1/PD-Ls expression, clinical characteristics, treatment response, and outcomes of PTCL patients.

ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine-associated thrombocytopenia: three cases of immune thrombocytopenia after 107 720 doses of ChAdOx1 vaccination in Thailand

We reported three cases of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) that developed within 6 weeks after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination. Antiplatelet factor 4 antibodies were undetectable in all three cases. Therefore, vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia was very unlikely. Other potential causes of thrombocytopenia were excluded. Their clinical presentations, severity of thrombocytopenia and outcomes were varied. Only one ITP case, an 80-year-old man, received ITP treatments and achieved complete response after 2 weeks of eltrombopag. An 84-year-old man had spontaneous complete remission, and a 55-year-old woman had partial platelet recovery without ITP treatments. Among 107 720 Thais administered the ChAdOx1 vaccine between 16 March and 10 May 2021, these three ITP cases resulted in an estimated risk of ITP of at least one per 36 000 doses, which was approximately similar to the risk of ITP after measles-mumps-rubella immunization. This raises the concern of an increased risk of ITP after ChAdOx1 vaccination.

Isolated Extramedullary Relapse After Human Leukocyte Antigen-Matched Myeloablative Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients: Case Reports and Literature Review

Isolated extramedullary relapse (iEMR) of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is rare and has a dismal prognosis. Among 67 patients with AML after allo-HSCT, iEMR and bone marrow relapse occurred in 6% and 20.9%, respectively, with a median time to relapse of 11.5 and 6.5 months, respectively. Here, we presented 4 iEMR-AML cases. Common relapse locations occurred in the central nervous system, skin, and lymph nodes. We also report a rare case of cardiac iEMR that responded to chemoradiotherapy. Two cases responded to local/systemic treatments, which resulted in prolonged survival. Another case had iEMR in the presence of chronic graft-versus-host disease. Bone marrow relapse occurring after iEMR was typical and found in three-fourths of the cases. In conclusion, iEMR-AML occurrence after allo-HSCT is not rare in Thai patients. Its unpredictability and lack of graft-versus-leukemia effect highlight the importance of monitoring EMR carefully and promptly providing treatments once it is detected.

Frequent mutations in HLA and related genes in extranodal NK/T cell lymphomas

Extranodal NK/T cell lymphomas (ENKTCLs) are aggressive Epstein-Barr virus-associated T/NK neoplasms that predominantly affect Asians. To explore the causative somatic events, we conducted a comprehensive genetic analysis of 19 ENKTCL patients by whole-genome (N = 2), whole-exome (N = 16), and targeted sequencing (N = 15). Commonly deregulated gene pathways in ENKTCLs included epigenetic modifiers (58%, 11/19) followed by human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) and related genes including HLA-A, B2M, TAP1, CD274, and PDCD1LG2 (32%, 6/19), and JAK-STAT pathway (26%, 5/19). Conspicuously, loss-of-function mutations in HLA-A were recurrently identified in ENKTCLs (16%, 3/19). HLA protein expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in 16 patients and lower expression was associated with advanced stages at presentation (p = .007). In conclusion, the defective antigen presenting pathway is common and related to disease progression, suggesting immune escape as a pathogenic mechanism of ENKTCLs.

Event-free survival at 12 months is a strong surrogate endpoint for stage 1 diffuse large B cell lymphoma: a report from Nation Wide Registry Thai Lymphoma Study Group

Event-free survival at 12 months (EFS12) is a surrogate endpoint for long-term outcomes in many histologic lymphoma subtypes. However, most reports have primarily investigated the implication of EFS12 in advanced-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). There are limited data regarding the significance of EFS12 in early-stage NHL. Herein, we evaluated the prognostic significance of EFS12 in patients with stage 1 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Out of 282 patients with stage 1 DLBCL who received intensive therapy, 227 (80.5%) achieved EFS12. The 4-year overall survival (OS) was 91.4% and 4.0% for patients who achieved and failed to achieve EFS12, respectively. Multivariable analyses demonstrated response to treatment and achievement of EFS12 as independent predictors for OS. In conclusion, our study demonstrated EFS12 as a powerful prognostic factor for stage 1 DLBCL. Further validation in more extensive prospective studies is warranted.

Long-term data from a phase 3 study of radotinib versus imatinib in patients with newly diagnosed, chronic myeloid leukaemia in the chronic phase (RERISE)

In the phase 3 study RERISE, patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukaemia in chronic phase demonstrated significantly faster and higher rates of major molecular response (MMR) with twice‐daily radotinib 300 mg (n = 79) or 400 mg (n = 81) than with once‐daily imatinib 400 mg (n = 81) after 12 months. With ≥48 months’ follow‐up, MMR was higher with radotinib 300 mg (86%) or 400 mg (83%) than with imatinib (75%). Among patients with BCR‐ABL1 ≤ 10% at three months, MMR and molecular response 4·5 (MR^4·5) were achieved within 48 months by more radotinib‐treated patients (300 mg: 84% and 52%, respectively; 400 mg: 74% and 44%, respectively) than imatinib‐treated patients (71% and 44%, respectively). Estimated overall and progression‐free survival rates at 48 months were not significantly different between imatinib (94% and 94%, respectively) and radotinib 300 mg (99% and 97%, respectively) or 400 mg (95% and 93%, respectively). The treatment failure rate was significantly higher with imatinib (19%) than with radotinib 300 mg (6%; P = 0·0197) or 400 mg (5%; P = 0·0072). Safety profiles were consistent with previous reports; most adverse events occurred within 12 months. Radotinib continues to demonstrate robust, deep molecular responses, suggesting that treatment‐free remission may be attainable.

Event free survival at 24 months is a strong surrogate prognostic endpoint of peripheral T cell lymphoma

Event free survival at 24 months (EFS24) has been described as a powerful predictor for outcome in several subtypes of B cell lymphoma. However, it was limitedly described in T cell lymphoma. We explored the implication of EFS24 as a predictor marker for peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL). We reviewed 293 systemic PTCL patients at 13 nationwide major university hospitals in Thailand from 2007 to 2014. The median event free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) of PTCL patients in our cohort was 16.3 and 27.7 months with corresponding 2-year EFS and 2-year OS of 45.8% and 51.9%, respectively. A total of 118 patients achieved EFS24 (no events during the first 24 mo). Patients who achieved EFS24 had better OS than patients who did not (2-y OS 92% vs 18.8%; HR, 0.1; P < .001). The standardized mortality ratio of patients achieving EFS24 was 18.7 (95% CI, 14.6-22.8). Multivariable analysis demonstrated performance status, histologic subtype, remission status, and EFS24 achievement as independent predictors for OS. Our study affirmed the value of EFS24 as a powerful prognostic factor for PTCL. Further validation in prospective study setting is warranted.

Novel DDX41 variants in Thai patients with myeloid neoplasms

Germline DDX41 mutations were recently reported to cause MDS/AML and donor-derived leukemia after transplantation. While previously described in Western countries, DDX41 variants have not been reported in a Southeast Asian population. We performed targeted sequencing of blood or bone marrow samples from 109 Thai patients with myeloid malignancies. Among the 109 patients (75 MDS, 8 MPN, 11 MDS/MPN and 15 AML), the most frequent mutations were in ASXL1 (17.4%), TET2 (16.5%) and SRSF2 (12.8%), respectively. DDX41 variants were detectable in six (5.5%) cases. Four patients exhibited three presumable germline DDX41 mutations: p.S21fs (n = 2), p.F235fs (n = 1), and p.R339H (n = 1). While p.S21fs was previously reported in myeloid neoplasm, the latter two variants have not been described. Two of these cases harbored concomitant probable germline/somatic DDX41 mutations (p.S21fs/p.R525H and p.R339H/p.K494T), while the other two patients carried only somatic mutations (p.R525H and p.F438L). The p.K494T and p.F438L variants have not been previously reported. In patients with DDX41 alterations, the diagnoses were MDS with excess blasts (4), secondary AML (1) and low-risk MDS (1). In conclusion, we identified DDX41 variants in Thai patients with myeloid malignancies in which these variants could be used to assess predisposition to MDS in Southeast Asia.

Programmed Cell Death 1 and Programmed Cell Death Ligands in Extranodal Natural Killer/T Cell Lymphoma: Expression Pattern and Potential Prognostic Relevance

The programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death ligands (PD-1/PD-Ls) axis is a potential immune escape mechanism of cancers. However, data on the PD-1/PD-Ls pathway in EBV-associated extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma (ENKTL) and its clinical implication are limited. Herein, we characterized PD-1/PD-L expression and its prognosis relevance in 49 ENKTL patients in Thailand. PD-L1 was expressed frequently on both lymphoma cells (61.2%) and stroma (77.5%), whereas PD-L2 expression was more common on lymphoma (63.2%) than stromal cells. PD-1 was positive in 20.5% of stroma, but undetectable on lymphoma cells. There was no association between baseline clinical characteristics and the expression PD-1/PD-Ls. The survival of patients with PD-Ls on tumor cells was poor. For PD-L1-positive versus negative cases, the 2-year event-free survival (EFS) was 42.2 versus 71.8% (p = 0.03) and 2-year overall survival (OS) was 45.4 versus 78.9% (p = 0.02), respectively. Comparing between patients with PD-L2-positive and PD-L2-negative lymphoma, the 2-year EFS was 37.1 versus 82.4% (p = 0.02) and 2-year OS was 45.2 versus 82.4% (p = 0.03), respectively. Neither PD-1 nor PD-Ls expression in the stroma predicted outcomes. In conclusion, PD-Ls were frequently expressed on ENKTL cells and associated with inferior outcomes. Therefore, PD-Ls are potential prognostic biomarkers and the roles of immune checkpoint blockade therapy in ENKTL deserve further investigation.

Advances in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the Asia-Pacific region: the second report from APBMT 2005-2015

Between 2005 and 2015, 138,165 hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) were reported in 18 countries/regions in the Asia-Pacific region. In this report, we describe current trends in HSCT throughout the Asia-Pacific region and differences among nations in this region and various global registries. Since 2008, more than 10,000 HSCTs have been recorded each year by the Asia-Pacific Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group Data Center. Between 2005 and 2015, the greatest increase in the number of HSCTs was observed in Vietnam. Allogeneic HSCT was performed more frequently than autologous HSCT, and a majority of cases involved related donors. Regarding allogeneic HSCT, the use of cord blood has remained steady, especially in Japan, and the number of cases involving related HLA non-identical donors has increased rapidly, particularly in China. The incidence of hemoglobinopathy, a main indication for allogeneic HSCT in India, China, Iran, and Pakistan, increased nearly six-fold over the last decade. Among the 18 participating countries/regions, the transplant rate per population varied widely according to the absolute number of HSCTs and the national/regional population size. We believe that this report will not only benefit the AP region but will also provide information about HSCT to other regions worldwide.

Amphiregulin modifies the Minnesota Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease Risk Score: results from BMT CTN 0302/0802

Amphiregulin (AREG) is an epidermal growth factor receptor ligand that can restore integrity to damaged intestinal mucosa in murine models of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). We previously reported that circulating AREG is elevated in late-onset aGVHD (occurring after 100 days posttransplant), but its clinical relevance in the context of aGVHD risk is unknown. We measured AREG in 251 aGVHD onset blood samples from Blood and Marrow Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN) primary treatment trials and determined their association with GVHD severity, day 28 complete or partial response (CR/PR) to first-line therapy, overall survival (OS), and nonrelapse mortality (NRM). Every doubling of plasma AREG was associated with a 33% decrease in the odds of day 28 CR/PR (odds ratio [OR], 0.67; P < .01). An AREG threshold of 33 pg/mL or greater divided patients with Minnesota standard-risk (SR) aGVHD into a distinct group with a significantly lower likelihood of: day 28 CR/PR (72% vs 85%; P = .02); greater 2-year NRM (42% vs 15%; P < .01); and inferior OS (40% vs 66%; P < .01). High AREG ≥ 33 pg/mL also stratified patients with Minnesota high-risk (HR) aGVHD: day 28 CR/PR (54% vs 83%; P = .03) and 2-year NRM (53% vs 11%; P < .01), with a trend toward inferior 2-year OS (37% vs 60%; P = .09). High-circulating AREG (≥33 pg/mL) reclassifies patients into HR subgroups and thereby further refines the Minnesota aGVHD clinical risk score.

Efficacy and safety of frontline rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone plus bortezomib (VR-CAP) or vincristine (R-CHOP) in a subset of newly diagnosed mantle cell lymphoma patients medically eligible for transplantation in the randomized, phase 3 LYM-3002 study

This post-hoc subanalysis of the LYM-3002 phase 3 study assessed the efficacy and safety of substituting vincristine in rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone (R-CHOP; n = 42) for bortezomib (VR-CAP; n = 38) in a subgroup of 80 mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) patients aged <60 years who did not receive stem cell transplantation (SCT) despite medical eligibility. Complete response (CR)/unconfirmed CR (CRu) rates were 67 vs. 39% (odds ratio 3.69 [95% CI(confidence interval): 1.31, 10.41]; p = .012). After 40 months median follow-up, median progression-free survival by independent radiology committee with VR-CAP vs. R-CHOP was 32.6 vs. 12.0 months (hazard ratio (HR) 0.59 [95% CI: 0.31, 1.13]; p = .108); median overall survival was not reached vs. 47.3 months (HR 0.81 [95% CI: 0.33, 1.96]; p = .634). Adverse events included neutropenia (92/76%), thrombocytopenia (70/10%) and leukopenia (65/50%). VR-CAP represents a potential alternative to R-CHOP in combined and/or alternating regimens for younger, SCT-eligible MCL patients.

Phase III Clinical Trial (RERISE study) Results of Efficacy and Safety of Radotinib Compared with Imatinib in Newly Diagnosed Chronic Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Purpose: Radotinib is a second-generation BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) approved in Korea for chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP) in patients newly diagnosed or with insufficient response to other TKIs. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of radotinib as first-line therapy for CML-CP.Experimental Design: This multinational, open-label study assigned patients (1:1:1) to one of two twice-daily radotinib doses, or imatinib daily. The primary endpoint was major molecular response (MMR) by 12 months.Results: Two hundred forty-one patients were randomized to receive radotinib 300 mg (n = 79) or 400 mg twice-daily (n = 81), or imatinib 400 mg daily (n = 81). MMR rates by 12 months were higher in patients receiving radotinib 300 mg (52%) or radotinib 400 mg twice-daily (46%) versus imatinib (30%; P = 0.0044 and P = 0.0342, respectively). Complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) rates by 12 months were higher for radotinib 300 mg (91%) versus imatinib (77%; P = 0.0120). Early molecular response at 3 months occurred in 86% and 87% of patients receiving radotinib 300 mg and radotinib 400 mg, respectively, and 71% of those receiving imatinib. By 12 months, no patients had progression to accelerated phase or blast crisis. Most adverse events were manageable with dose reduction.Conclusions: Radotinib demonstrated superiority over imatinib in CCyR and MMR in patients newly diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-positive CML-CP. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01511289 Clin Cancer Res; 23(23); 7180-8. ©2017 AACR.

An early-biomarker algorithm predicts lethal graft-versus-host disease and survival

BACKGROUND. No laboratory test can predict the risk of nonrelapse mortality (NRM) or severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after hematopoietic cellular transplantation (HCT) prior to the onset of GVHD symptoms. METHODS. Patient blood samples on day 7 after HCT were obtained from a multicenter set of 1,287 patients, and 620 samples were assigned to a training set. We measured the concentrations of 4 GVHD biomarkers (ST2, REG3α, TNFR1, and IL-2Rα) and used them to model 6-month NRM using rigorous cross-validation strategies to identify the best algorithm that defined 2 distinct risk groups. We then applied the final algorithm in an independent test set (n = 309) and validation set (n = 358). RESULTS. A 2-biomarker model using ST2 and REG3α concentrations identified patients with a cumulative incidence of 6-month NRM of 28% in the high-risk group and 7% in the low-risk group (P < 0.001). The algorithm performed equally well in the test set (33% vs. 7%, P < 0.001) and the multicenter validation set (26% vs. 10%, P < 0.001). Sixteen percent, 17%, and 20% of patients were at high risk in the training, test, and validation sets, respectively. GVHD-related mortality was greater in high-risk patients (18% vs. 4%, P < 0.001), as was severe gastrointestinal GVHD (17% vs. 8%, P < 0.001). The same algorithm can be successfully adapted to define 3 distinct risk groups at GVHD onset. CONCLUSION. A biomarker algorithm based on a blood sample taken 7 days after HCT can consistently identify a group of patients at high risk for lethal GVHD and NRM. FUNDING. The National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

The effect of missing KIR ligands, activating KIR genotype and haplotype on the outcome of T-cell-replete hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from HLA-identical siblings in Thai patients

This study was a retrospective analysis of Thai patients undergoing T-replete hematopoietic stem cell transplant from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling donors. We investigated 66 patients, including 40 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 12 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 14 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes and HLA ligands were typed by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide probes. We analyzed the effect of the number of missing KIR ligands (Bw4, C1 and C2) on clinical outcomes. A beneficial effect of missing KIR ligand was not observed in both univariate and multivariate analysis. When we analyzed the effect of specific missing KIR ligand on clinical outcomes, there was a trend that patients with missing A11 ligand had lower relapse rate (P = 0.076). Therefore, we also conducted the analysis by including the group with missing KIR ligands of Bw4, C1, C2 and A11. Patients with two or more than two missing KIR ligands had a trend for better clinical outcome including reduced relapse (P = 055) and statistically significant in terms of reduced acute graft-vs-host disease (aGVHD) rate (P = 0.013). In multivariate analysis, patients with two or more than two missing KIR ligands had a statistically significant better clinical outcome in terms of reduced aGVHD rate (HR = 0.155, 95%CI = 0.040-0.605, P = 0.007). The association between clinical outcome with KIR haplotypes, centromeric B haplotype and activating KIR was not observed here. Although the sample size in this study is rather limited, these data can later be subjected to meta-analysis to help reach the conclusion of the usefulness of this additional promising KIR genotyping in various hematopoietic stem cell transplantation types.

Correlation of FcγRIIIa Polymorphisms to the Response of Rituximab in Thai Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Rituximab is an anti-CD20 chimeric antibody widely used in combination with CHOP regimen for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). It is suggested that this antibody destroys B lymphoma cells mainly by antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) mechanism via the binding of the drug to FC gamma IIIa receptor (FcγRIIIa) on natural killer (NK) cells, affected to kill cancer cells. The FcγRIIIa has genetic polymorphism at nucleotide position 559 (G559T or V158F or rs396991) have shown influence on the binding and efficacy of rituximab.

OBJECTIVE

We identified the distribution of FcγRIIIa polymorphism in Thai patients with DLBCL and investigated the correlation between FcγRIIIa polymorphisms and the clinical outcomes in Thai DLBCL patients who were treated with rituximab plus CHOP chemotherapy regimen.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The Taqman SNP real-time PCR assay was used to identify the FcγRIIIa polymorphism in the present study and the clinical outcomes of these patients were evaluated and correlated between FcγRIIIa polymorphism.

RESULTS

The distribution of FcγRIIIa genotype in patients were 54.17% homozygous V/V 10.41% homozygous F/F and 35.42% heterozygous V/F and there was no differences in clinical response among these patients (p-value = 0.31). Complete response was assessed in V/V 84.62%, V/F 88.24%, and F/F 80.00%. Partial response was in V/V 7.68% and F/F 20.00%. Stable disease was in V/F 11.76%, progressive disease in V/V 7.72%.

CONCLUSION

The correlation could not be found between FcγRIIIa polymorphisms to the response of rituximab in Thai patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

International, Multicenter Standardization of Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease Clinical Data Collection: A Report from the Mount Sinai Acute GVHD International Consortium

Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and nonrelapse mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. The clinical staging of GVHD varies greatly between transplant centers and is frequently not agreed on by independent reviewers. The lack of standardized approaches to handle common sources of discrepancy in GVHD grading likely contributes to why promising GVHD treatments reported from single centers have failed to show benefit in randomized multicenter clinical trials. We developed guidelines through international expert consensus opinion to standardize the diagnosis and clinical staging of GVHD for use in a large international GVHD research consortium. During the first year of use, the guidance followed discussion of complex clinical phenotypes by experienced transplant physicians and data managers. These guidelines increase the uniformity of GVHD symptom capture, which may improve the reproducibility of GVHD clinical trials after further prospective validation.

Glomerular diseases associated with chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation: case reports

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is the major complication following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). Nephrotic syndrome (NS) and other types of glomerulonephritis have been proposed to be the very rare forms of renal cGVHD. From 1991 to 2011, 253 patients underwent allo-SCT at our center. We report here 4 cases (1.6%) presenting with varieties of glomerular manifestations associated with cGVHD. The first case was typical NS. The renal pathology showed membranous nephropathy (MN). The second case was also MN, but this patient also had the pathology of focal segmental glomerulosclrosis (FSGS) and acute tubular necrosis (ATN). The third case showed lupus nephritis-like glomerular lesions with a high anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) titer. The fourth case presented with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN)-like symptoms. The kidney histology in this case was not available. The patient responded well to immunosuppressive therapy, but NS later recurred. Therefore, overt glomerular diseases after allo-SCT in Thai patients are not very rare. Monitoring urinalysis during withdrawal of immunosuppressive drugs and also during follow-up of patients with cGVHD may be considered.

Successful peripheral blood stem cell mobilization using pegfilgrastim in allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Pegfilgrastim is produced by binding a 20,000-dalton polyethylene glycol molecule to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), increasing the mass of the compound, and resulting in a longer-lasting form of G-CSF. This makes it more convenient to use pegfilgrastim as a single-day injection. This study was a prospective phase II single-center trial. Fifteen normal related donors received pegfilgrastim 12 mg subcutaneously to mobilize peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Leukapheresis was planned to start 3 days after injection. All harvests were successful. Median number of leukapheresis was 2 days (range 1-3 days). There were 7/15 donors who only required single leukapheresis. The maximum concentration of white blood cells (WBC) and circulating CD34 cells occurred 3 days after pegfilgrastim injection (WBC: median 62,200/μl; CD34: median 69.76/μl). The median yield of CD34 cells was 6.78 × 10(6)/kg recipient weight. The median CD3 cells was 1.89 × 10(8)/kg recipient weight. The main adverse events were bone pain and headache. Median neutrophil and platelet engraftments in the recipients occurred on day 12 and day 13, respectively, after transplantation. PBSC mobilization with single-day injection of pegfilgrastim in normal donor is feasible. Further comparisons of this protocol to standard G-CSF for allogeneic stem cell mobilization should be conducted in future.

Cost utility analysis of reduced intensity hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in adolescence and young adult with severe thalassemia compared to hypertransfusion and iron chelation program

Background

Hematopoieticic stem cell transplantation is the only therapeutic option that can cure thalassemia disease. Reduced intensity hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (RI-HSCT) has demonstrated a high cure rate with minimal complications compared to other options. Because RI-HSCT is very costly, economic justification for its value is needed. This study aimed to estimate the cost-utility of RI-HSCT compared with blood transfusions combined with iron chelating therapy (BT-ICT) for adolescent and young adult with severe thalassemia in Thailand.

Methods

A Markov model was used to estimate the relevant costs and health outcomes over the patients’ lifetimes using a societal perspective. All future costs and outcomes were discounted at a rate of 3% per annum. The efficacy of RI-HSCT was based a clinical trial including a total of 18 thalassemia patients. Utility values were derived directly from all patients using EQ-5D and SF-6D. Primary outcomes of interest were lifetime costs, quality adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in US ($) per QALY gained. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were conducted to investigate the effect of parameter uncertainty.

Results

In base case analysis, the RI-HSCT group had a better clinical outcomes and higher lifetime costs. The incremental cost per QALY gained was US $ 3,236 per QALY. The acceptability curve showed that the probability of RI-HSCT being cost-effective was 71% at the willingness to pay of 1 time of Thai Gross domestic product per capita (GDP per capita), approximately US $ 4,210 per QALY gained. The most sensitive parameter was utility of severe thalassemia patients without cardiac complication patients.

Conclusion

At a societal willingness to pay of 1 GDP per capita, RI-HSCT was a cost-effective treatment for adolescent and young adult with severe thalassemia in Thailand compared to BT-ICT.

Nilotinib versus imatinib in patients (pts) with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP): ENESTnd 3-year (yr) follow-up (f/u)

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Background: In ENESTnd, nilotinib significantly reduced progression to AP/BC and demonstrated superior rates of MMR, MR4, and MR4.5 vs imatinib with f/u of 2 yrs. Methods: 846 pts with Ph+ CML-CP were randomized to nilotinib 300 mg BID (n = 282), nilotinib 400 mg BID (n = 281), or imatinib 400 mg QD (n = 283). Here, we report 3-yr f/u data. Results: Both nilotinib doses continued to demonstrate significantly higher rates of MMR, MR4, and MR4.5 vs imatinib. In a landmark analysis, pts with BCR-ABL transcript levels ≤ 10% at 3 months (mo) had a higher probability of achieving MMR by 1 and 2 yrs vs pts with transcript levels > 10%. No new progressions occurred on treatment since the 2-yr analysis; rates of progression to AP/BC including events on treatment (n = 2, 3, 12) and those occurring both on treatment and after discontinuation (n = 9, 6, 19) were significantly lower for nilotinib 300 mg BID and nilotinib 400 mg BID vs imatinib, respectively. At 3 yrs, OS considering only CML-related deaths was significantly higher for nilotinib vs imatinib. The safety profiles of nilotinib and imatinib were similar to those at 2 yrs. Conclusions: 3-yr f/u confirms the superiority of nilotinib vs imatinib and an acceptable tolerability profile for the treatment of pts with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP. [Table: see text]

Intra-coronary bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND

Stem cell transplantation is a potential treatment to improve left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the outcomes still are controversial.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the 6-month LVEF of the patients who underwent intra-coronary bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMC) transplantation in patients with STEMI compared with controlled subjects.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

After successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in STEMI patients who had LVEF was less than 50% were randomized to intra-coronary BMC transplantation or control. Bone marrow aspiration of 100 cc was performed in the morning. After cellprocessing for three hours, the suspension of BMC about 10 cc were infused to infracted area using standard PCI technique. Balloon occlusion for three minutes was performed during cell infusion. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was used to determine LVEF scar volume and LV volume before and six-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Between September 2006 and July 2008, 23patients (11 in BMC group and 12 in control group) were enrolled. Mean BMC count before transplant was 420 x 10(6) cell with 96% viability. At six-month follow-up, New York Heart Association function class significantly improved in both groups (2.3 +/- 0.6 to 1.2 +/- 0. 4 for BMC and 2.3 +/- 0.7 to 1.3 +/- 0.5 for control group) but no difference was seen between groups. However, scar volume, wall motion score index, and LVEF did not show improvement after six months in both groups (33.7 +/- 7.7 to 33.5 +/- 7.6 for BMC and 31.1 +/- 7.1 to 32.6 +/- 8.3 for control group). No complication was observed during the procedure.

CONCLUSION

BMC transplantation intra-coronary in patients with STEMI in KCMH was feasible and safe but LVEF improvement could not be demonstrated.

Feasibility and safety of intra-coronary bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation in ST elevation myocardial infarction patients

BACKGROUND

Stem cell transplantation is a potential treatment to improve left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However technique and mode of transplantation, type of cells, number of cells, and when to transplant are still unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the feasibility and safety of bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMC) intra-coronary transplantation and 6-months results in patients with STEMI.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

After successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in STEMI patients who did not have flow re-established within 12 hours and poor LVEF (less than 50%) by echocardiography were enrolled Bone marrow aspiration of 100 cc was performed in the morning. After cell processing for 3 hours, the suspension of BMC about 10 cc were infused to infarcted area using standard PCI technique. Balloon occlusion for 3 minutes was performed during cell infusion. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was used to determine LVEF scar volume and LV volume before and 6 months after transplantation.

RESULTS

Five patients were enrolled between May and August 2006. Duration of STEMI before transplantation ranged from 18 days to 14 years. Total amount of BMC ranged from 67 x 10(6) to 335 x 10(6). Number of CD 34 and CD 133+ cells were approximation to be 0.7 x 10(6) to 7.7 x 10(6) and 0.01 x 10(6) to 3.04 x 10(6). LVEF was increased from 36.4 at baseline to 43.3 at 6-month. NT pro-BNP level was decreased from 1105 ng/ml at baseline to 288 pg/ml at 6-month. No complications such as chest pain, no re-flow phenomenon, ventricular arrhythmia, or hypotension was detected during the procedure.

CONCLUSION

Intra-coronary BMC transplantation in patients with STEMI in our center is feasible and safe. LVEF was slightly improved; however, a randomized controlled study is needed.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever in a peripheral blood stem cell transplant recipient: the first case report

Dengue infection, a mosquito-borne infectious disease in tropical and subtropical areas, has recently become an emerging global disease. The clinical course of dengue infection may be unfavorable in immunocompromised patients. In this report, we present a 16-year old female patient with acute myeloid leukemia who received allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplant five months prior to presentation. She was hospitalized at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, due to fever, headache, and myalgia for one day. During hospitalization, she developed capillary leakage syndrome and progressive thrombocytopenia. A diagnosis of dengue hemorrhagic fever was made and confirmed by positive dengue serology and polymerase chain reaction testing. She made a full recovery 14 days after hospitalization. Our case possibly acquired dengue virus from infected mosquitoes while visiting her relatives four days before her present illness. In conclusion, this is the first reported case of dengue hemorrhagic fever in a peripheral blood stem cell transplant recipient. In addition, we review all previous reports of dengue infection in organ transplant recipients.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever in a peripheral blood stem cell transplant recipient: the first case report

Dengue infection, a mosquito-borne infectious disease in tropical and subtropical areas, has recently become an emerging global disease. Clinical course of dengue infection may be unfavorable in immunocompromised patients. In this report, we present a 16-year-old female patient with acute myeloid leukemia and receiving allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplant who was hospitalized at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, due to fever, headache, and myalgia for one day. During hospitalization, she developed capillary leakage syndrome and progressive thrombocytopenia. A diagnosis of dengue hemorrhagic fever was made and confirmed by positive dengue serology and polymerase chain reaction testing. She made a full recovery 14 days after hospitalization. In conclusion, this is the first reported case of dengue hemorrhagic fever in a peripheral blood stem cell transplant recipient. In addition, we review all previous reports of dengue infection in organ transplant recipients.

Rituximab-CHOP-ESHAP vs CHOP-ESHAP-high-dose therapy vs conventional CHOP chemotherapy in high-intermediate and high-risk aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

With currently available combination chemotherapy regimens, the outcome of the patients newly diagnosed with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) identified as 'high' and 'high-intermediate' risk groups according to the international prognostic index (IPI) is still unsatisfactory and a more innovative therapy is urgently required to improve the survival of the patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of rituximab given in combination with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) and ESHAP (etoposide, methylprednisolone, high-dose Ara-C, cisplatin) vs CHOP-ESHAP and upfront high-dose therapy (HDT) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) vs standard CHOP in patients aged < or = 65 years old newly diagnosed with 'high' and 'high-intermediate' risk aggressive lymphoma enrolled onto two consecutive treatment trials at the institute. Between May 1995 - July 2002, 84 patients, aged 15 - 65 years old, with newly diagnosed aggressive NHL and an age-adjusted IPI of 2 or 3 were enrolled. The median age of the patients was 38 years (range 15 - 65). The baseline demographic features, in particular the major prognostic variables, were similar between the treatment groups. Patients treated with rituximab-CHOP-ESHAP received eight cycles of rituximab (375 mg m(-2) on day 1 of cycles 1 - 6 and days 21 and 28 of cycle 7) plus CHOP (day 3 of cycles 1, 3 and 5) and ESHAP (day 3 of cycles 2, 4 and 6 and day 1 of cycle 7) at 21-day intervals. Patients enrolled onto the CHOP-ESHAP-HDT arm (n = 23) were treated with three courses of CHOP and then switched to two or four cycles of ESHAP followed by HDT. Patients treated with CHOP alone (n = 25) were treated with the standard eight cycles of CHOP. The rate of complete remission was significantly improved with rituximab-CHOP-ESHAP compared with either CHOP-ESHAP-HDT or CHOP alone (67% compared with 44% and 36%, respectively; p = 0.043). With a median follow-up time of 53 months, the 5-year overall survival (OS) was improved by the addition of rituximab-61% with rituximab-CHOP-ESHAP, compared with 43% for CHOP-ESHAP-HDT and 24% for CHOP alone (p = 0.088). Significant increases in failure-free survival (FFS) and disease-free survival (DFS) (61% and 96%), compared with CHOP-ESHAP-HDT (34% and 90%) and CHOP (16% and 44%; p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively) were observed. Compared to CHOP, rituximab-CHOP-ESHAP yielded significantly superior OS (p = 0.014), FFS (p < 0.001) and DFS (p < 0.001). The survivals, however, were not significantly different from patients treated with CHOP-ESHAP-HDT. It is concluded that rituximab-ESHAP-CHOP is superior over standard CHOP and fares comparably to upfront HDT/ASCT in previously untreated patients with aggressive lymphoma. A prospective randomized controlled trial is warranted to confirm these results.