Clinical evaluation and determinants of response to HBI0101 (BCMA CART) therapy in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

HBI0101 is an academic chimeric antigen receptor T (CART) targeted to BCMA for the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) and light chain amyloidosis. Herein, we present the Phase Ib/II results of fifty heavily pre-treated RRMM patients dosed with 800x106 CART cells (NCT04720313). Inclusion criteria were relatively permissive (i.e., performance status and baseline organ function) and consequently, about half of the enrolled patients would have been ineligible for pivotal clinical trials. The median time elapsed from patient enrolment until CART delivery was 25 days (range, 14-65). HBI0101-related toxicities included grade 1-3 cytokine-release syndrome, grade 3-4 hematologic toxicities and grade 1-2 immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. Responses were achieved in 90% of the patients, 56% achieved stringent and complete response (sCR/CR), and 70% reached a minimal residual disease negativity. Within a median follow-up of 12.3 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 11.0 months; (95% CI, 6.2-14.6), and the overall survival was not reached (95% CI, 13.3-not reached). Multivariable analysis on patient/disease and CART cell-related characteristics revealed that high-risk cytogenetic, extramedullary disease, and increased number of effector-memory T-cells in CART products were independently associated with inferior PFS. In conclusion, comprehensive analyses of the parameters affecting the response to CART therapy are essential for improving patients' outcome.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease detected by tissue-specific cell-free DNA methylation biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: Accurate detection of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major challenge in the management of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Here, we demonstrated the use of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) for detection of tissue turnover and chronic GVHD (cGVHD) in specific organs. METHODS: We established a cocktail of tissue-specific DNA methylation markers and used it to determine the concentration of cfDNA molecules derived from the liver, skin, lungs, colon, and specific immune cells in 101 patients undergoing HCT. RESULTS: Patients with active cGVHD showed elevated concentrations of cfDNA, as well as tissue-specific methylation markers that agreed with clinical scores. Strikingly, transplanted patients with no clinical symptoms had abnormally high levels of tissue-specific markers, suggesting hidden tissue turnover even in the absence of evident clinical pathology. An integrative model taking into account total cfDNA concentration, monocyte/macrophage cfDNA levels and alanine transaminase was able to correctly identify GVHD with a specificity of 86% and precision of 89% (AUC of 0.8). CONCLUSION: cfDNA markers can be used for the detection of cGVHD, opening a window into underlying tissue dynamics in patients that receive allogeneic stem cell transplants. FUNDING: This work was supported by grants from the Ernest and Bonnie Beutler Research Program of Excellence in Genomic Medicine, The Israel Science Foundation, the Waldholtz/Pakula family, the Robert M. and Marilyn Sternberg Family Charitable Foundation and the Helmsley Charitable Trust (to YD).

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte transfusion in a patient with treatment refractory triple negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer that is treated with chemotherapy. Recently, programmed death 1 (PD1) inhibition, as well as antibody-drug conjugates, have been added to the available treatment regimen, yet metastatic disease is fatal. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) has been well described in melanoma, but less data is available on other solid malignancies. CASE: Herein, we present a case of a 31-year-old patient diagnosed with Breast Cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) positive, TNBC. The patient's disease rapidly progressed while under standard treatment protocols. As a result, additional genetic testing of the tumor was carried out and revealed loss of BRCA1 heterozygosity, a double Tumor Protein 53 (TP53) mutation, and MYC amplification. Due to resistance to conventional therapy, an experimental approach was attempted using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in November 2021 at Hadassah University Medical Center. While receiving this treatment, the patient exhibited a reported subjective clinical improvement including a month spent out of the hospital. However, the final result, presumably due to Interleukin 2 (IL-2) toxicity, was the patient's passing. CONCLUSION: This case is unique and peculiar regarding the treatment modality chosen, due to the extremely refractory disease the patient suffered from. After standard therapies rapidly failed, adoptive cell therapy was attempted with the infusion of TILs. This treatment has been shown effective in melanoma, however, there is an extreme paucity of data on other solid tumors, including TNBC. Although the patient ultimately demised presumably due to treatment side effects, brief clinical benefit was apparent. Further studies are warranted.

High rate of adenovirus detection in gastrointestinal biopsies of symptomatic stem cell transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVES: The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a major human adenovirus (HAdV) replication site in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), yet the prevalence and correlates of HAdV GI infection in this setting have remained poorly recognized, especially among adult HSCT recipients. DESIGN OR METHODS: We retrospectively studied the prevalence and risk factors of HAdV GI-tissue infection in HSCT recipients (73 adults and 15 children) with GI symptoms who underwent GI-tissue biopsy between January-2012 and December-2017. The presence of HAdV in the GI tissues was determined by real-time PCR. RESULTS: HAdV GI-tissue infection was detected in 21 (23.9%) patients, with similar infection rates identified in adults and children. GI-tissue detection was more common at late (>100 days) compared to early times post-transplantation (50% vs. 12.9%, p < .001). The presence of bloody diarrhea, Arab ethnicity (p = .014) and concurrent cytomegalovirus GI-tissue detection (p = .025) were significantly correlated with HAdV GI-tissue infection, while chronic graft versus host disease was of borderline association (p = .055). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal a high rate and new clinical-demographic correlates of HAdV GI-tissue infection in adult and pediatric HSCT recipients with GI symptoms. The findings highlight the need for future prospective studies to assess the relatedness of HAdV infection to the GI symptoms, and the prevalence, impact, and treatment of HAdV GI infection in HSCT recipients.

Clonal Myeloid Dysplasia Following CAR T-Cell Therapy: Chicken or the Egg?

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by recurrent relapses. Consequently, patients receive multiple therapy lines, including alkylating agents and immune modulators, which have been associated with secondary malignancies such as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CART) therapy is efficacious in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) MM. However, the long-term complications, particularly MDS, are not well understood. Whether CART therapy causes or promotes MDS has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we explored the causal relationship between MDS and CART therapy. We retrospectively examined the prevalence of MDS-related morphological and mutational changes before and after administration of CART therapy in five patients. Among them, four developed MDS after CART therapy, while one had pre-existing MDS prior to CART. None of the four patients who developed post-CART MDS showed morphological MDS changes prior to CART therapy. However, all four patients exhibited molecular alterations associated with MDS in their pre-CART as well as post-CART therapy bone marrow. No new mutations were observed. Our findings provide initial evidence suggesting that anti-BCMA CART therapy in MM may promote expansion of pre-existing MDS clones rather than causing development of new clones.

Long-Term Results with Thiotepa-Containing Conditioning Regimens for Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains a cornerstone in the treatment of both Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and various non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) subtypes. BEAM (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan) is the most frequently used conditioning regimen; however, owing due to limited availability and toxicity of carmustine, thiotepa-containing regimens have been suggested. We previously reported encouraging results in ASCT with a TECAM (thiotepa, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, and melphalan) conditioning regimen from 2000 to 2013. We aimed to update our experience with the TECAM regimen by adding our experience from 2013 to 2020 to the previously reported cohort. Moreover, we aimed to use the detailed data for the 2 transplant cohorts to identify improvements in ASCT outcomes in the recent era. We retrospectively analyzed all lymphoma patients who underwent ASCT at our center between January 2000 and December 2020. A total of 353 lymphoma patients were included (142 in the newer cohort added to 211 previously reported patients), all of whom were treated with our standard TECAM conditioning regimen. The cohort included 127 patients with HL, 107 with DLBCL, and 119 with other NHL subtypes. The newer cohort was characterized by significantly poorer Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) prior to ASCT (45.7% versus 19.3% with ECOG-PS ≥1; P < .01), whereas a higher proportion of patients entered transplantation in complete response (CR) (71.9% versus 47.8%; P < .01). The median follow-up after ASCT was 136.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 91.4 to 181.4 months). The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates post-ASCT for the entire cohort were 59.8% and 79.3%, respectively. Evaluating the 303 of 353 patients (86.4%) who entered ASCT with a responsive disease-a population that represents today's approach to the selection of patients for ASCT-the 3-year PFS and OS rates were 61.5% and 81.9%, respectively. In this population, the 3-year PFS rate was 62.2% for HL, 62.6% for DLBCL, 64.3% for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), and the 3-year OS rate were 90.1%, 75.2%, and 78.6%, respectively. OS was significantly better in the newer cohort (P < .01), but not when evaluating only patients who entered ASCT with responsive disease. Dose reductions, poor disease status, and poor ECOG-PS at ASCT entry were associated with worse outcomes across all lymphoma subtypes. In accordance with our previous report, patients entering transplantation for DLBCL with a partial response achieved similar outcomes as those with a CR. Eighteen patients died within the first 100 days, 8 due to disease progression and 10 due to transplantation-related complications (2.8%). There were no cases of interstitial pneumonitis syndrome. Twenty-two cases (6.2%) of secondary malignancies were documented. Our results confirm that TECAM is an effective and safe conditioning regimen for ASCT in patients with HL and various NHLs, including favorable results in PCNSL. Despite a higher proportion of frail patients, the newer cohort's outcomes were favorable, driven by better lymphoma control pretransplantation. In the DLBCL cohort, ECOG-PS had more prognostic value than achieving a CR pre-ASCT, a finding relevant to the optimal allocation of patients to different treatment options in the era of chimeric antigen receptor T cell availability.

Third BNT162b2 mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Dose Significantly Enhances Immunogenicity in Recipients of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

COVID-19-related mortality among hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients in the pre-vaccine era ranged between 22 and 33%. The Pfizer/BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine demonstrated significant immunogenicity and efficacy in the healthy population; however, its long-term effects on allogeneic HSCT recipients remained unclear. Our study longitudinally evaluated humoral and cellular responses to the BNT162b2 vaccine in adult allogeneic HSCT patients. A positive response was defined as antibody titers ≥ 150 AU/mL post-second vaccination. Among 77 included patients, 51 (66.2%) responded to vaccination. Response-associated factors were female gender, recent anti-CD20 therapy, and a longer interval between transplant and vaccination. Response rates reached 83.7% in patients vaccinated >12 months post-transplant. At 6 months post-second vaccination, antibody titers dropped, but were significantly increased with the booster dose. Moreover, 43% (6/14) of non-responders to the second vaccination acquired sufficient antibody titers after booster administration, resulting in an overall response rate of 79.5% for the entire cohort. The BNT162b2 vaccine was effective in allogeneic transplant recipients. Although antibody titers decreased with time, the third vaccination led to their significant elevation, with 93% of third-dose responders maintaining titers above 150 AU/mL at 3 months post-administration.

Risk factors and outcomes of COVID-19 in adult patients with hematological malignancies: A single-center study showing lower than expected rates of hospitalization and mortality.

BACKGROUND: Studies addressing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with hematological malignancies have reported mortality rates of up to 40%; however, included predominantly hospitalized patients. METHODS: During the first year of the pandemic, we followed adult patients with hematological malignancies treated at a tertiary center in Jerusalem, Israel, who contracted COVID-19, with the aim of studying risk factors for adverse COVID-19-related outcomes. We used remote communication to track patients managed at home-isolation, and patient questioning to assess the source of COVID-19 infection, community versus nosocomial. RESULTS: Our series included 183 patients, median age was 62.5 years, 72% had at least one comorbidity and 39% were receiving active antineoplastic treatment. Hospitalization, critical COVID-19, and mortality rates were 32%, 12.6%, and 9.8%, respectively, remarkably lower than previously reported. Age, multiple comorbidities, and active antineoplastic treatment were significantly associated with hospitalization due to COVID-19. Treatment with monoclonal antibodies was strongly associated with both hospitalization and critical COVID-19. In older (≥60) patients not receiving active antineoplastic treatment, mortality, and severe COVID-19 rates were comparable to those of the general Israeli population. We did not detect patients that contracted COVID-19 within the Hematology Division. CONCLUSION: These findings are relevant for the future management of patients with hematological malignancies in COVID-19-affected regions.

[STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH FANCONI ANEMIA: AN ISRAELI TERTIARY CENTER EXPERIENCE].

INTRODUCTION: Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare genetic syndrome characterized by increased chromosomal breakage, congenital anomalies, bone marrow failure and an increased tendency to develop malignancies. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative treatment for bone marrow failure and the hematologic malignancies these patients develop. Given the sensitivity of FA patients to chemotherapy and radiation, as to the clinical symptoms of graft versus host disease (GvHD), HSCT in these patients is challenging. Since the mid-nineties, HSCT for FA patients is performed in our center by using the fludarabine based reduced-intensity protocol. AIMS: To summarize the results of HSCT for patients with FA using a fludarabine based reduced-intensity conditioning regimen at the Hadassah Medical Center. METHODS: This retrospective research is based on the collection and analysis of clinical and laboratory data from the medical records of patients. RESULTS: Since June 1996 up till February 2020, 39 patients with FA underwent 43 HSCTs with a fludarabine based protocol at the Hadassah Medical Center. Four patients required a second transplant due to primary engraftment failure. Nine patients (23%) suffered from acute GvHD, four of them severe. Eight patients (20%) developed chronic GvHD, two with an extensive and debilitating disease. Thirty-three (85%) of the patients survived and six died, five shortly after the transplant, and one twenty years later from malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show high survival rates with low rates of engraftment failure and reasonable rates of GvHD. DISCUSSION: As of today, there is an effective and safe treatment for patients with FA who require HSCT by using a fludarabine-based reduced-intensity conditioning regimen, with high survival rates and few complications.

Two decades of stem cell transplantation in patients with Fanconi anemia: Analysis of factors affecting transplant outcomes.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is currently the only curative treatment for the hematological complications of patients with Fanconi anemia (FA). Over the last two decades, HSCT outcomes have improved dramatically following the development of regimens tailored for FA patients. In this study, we analyzed genetic, clinical, and transplant data of 41 patients with FA who underwent HSCT at Hadassah Medical Center between November 1996 and September 2020. Overall survival (OS) was 82.9% with a median follow-up time of 2.11-years (95% CI, .48-16.56). Thirteen patients (31.7%) developed acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), three of them with grades 3-4. Nine patients developed chronic GVHD, five had extensive disease. Twelve patients (29.3%) developed stable mixed-chimerism with complete resolution of bone marrow failure (BMF); none of them had acute nor chronic GVHD. Significantly higher GVHD rates were observed in transplants from peripheral blood stem cell grafts as compared to other stem cell sources (p = .002 for acute and p = .004 for chronic GVHD). Outcome parameters were comparable between HSCT from matched-sibling (n = 20) to other donors (n = 21), including survival rates (p = .1), time to engraftment (p = .69 and p = .14 for neutrophil and platelet engraftment time, respectively), chimerism status (p = .36 and p = .83 for full-donor and mixed chimerism, respectively), and GVHD prevalence (p = 1). Our results demonstrate the vast improvements in HSCT outcomes of patients with FA, narrowing the gap between matched-sibling versus alternative donor transplantations. Our data identifies factors that may significantly affect transplant outcomes such as graft source and chimerism status.

Development and manufacture of novel locally produced anti-BCMA CAR T cells for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: results from a phase I clinical trial.

Anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy shows remarkable efficacy in patients with relapsed and/or refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma (MM). HBI0101, a novel second generation optimized anti- BCMA CAR T-cell therapy, was developed in an academic setting. We conducted a phase I dose-escalation study of HBI0101 (cohort 1: 150x106 CAR T cells, n=6; cohort 2: 450x106 CAR T cells, n=7; cohort 3: 800x106 CAR T cells, n=7) in 20 heavily pre-treated R/R MM patients. Grade 1-2 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was reported in 18 patients (90%). Neither grade 3-4 CRS nor neurotoxicity of any grade were observed. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed in any cohort. The overall response rate (ORR), (stringent) complete response (CR/sCR), and very good partial response rates were 75%, 50%, and 25%, respectively. Response rates were dose-dependent with 85% ORR, 71% CR, and 57% minimal residual disease negativity in the high-dose cohort 3. Across all cohorts, the median overall survival (OS) was 308 days (range 25-466+), with an estimated OS of 55% as of June 27th (data cut-off). The median progression-free survival was 160 days, with 6 subjects remaining progression free at the time of data cut-off. Our findings demonstrate the manageable safety profile and efficacy of HBI0101. These encouraging data support the decentralization of CAR T production in an academic setting, ensuring sufficient CAR T supply to satisfy the increasing local demand. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04720313.

Feasibility of a Novel Academic BCMA-CART (HBI0101) for the Treatment of Relapsed and Refractory AL Amyloidosis.

PURPOSE: AL amyloidosis (AL) treatments are generally based on those employed for multiple myeloma. Anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) chimeric antigen receptor T (CART)-cell therapy, already approved for multiple myeloma, might be too toxic for patients with AL. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Here we describe the ex vivo applicability of a novel in-house, academic anti-BCMA CAR construct on AL primary cells, as well as the safety and efficacy in 4 patients with relapsed/refractory (RR) primary AL, treated in a phase I clinical trial (NCT04720313). RESULTS: Three had MAYO stage IIIa cardiac involvement at enrollment. The treatment proved relatively safe, with a short and manageable grade 3 cytokine release syndrome evident in 2 patients and no neurotoxicity in any. Cardiac decompensations, observed in 2 patients, were also short and manageable. The overall hematologic response and complete response rates were observed in all patients with an organ response evident in all four. Within a median follow-up period of 5.2 (2.5-9.5) months, all 4 patients maintained their responses. CONCLUSIONS: BCMA-CART cells provide a first proof-of-concept that this therapy is safe enough and highly efficacious for the treatment of patients with advanced, RR AL.

Monitoring Minimal Residual Disease in RUNX1-Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: Mutated RUNX1 is considered a poor prognostic factor and usually is mutually exclusive with NPM1 mutations. Monitoring of molecular markers for minimal residual disease provides a powerful tool to assess remission and guide clinical decisions. METHODS: Newly diagnosed RUNX1-mutated AML patients, designated to intensive chemotherapy-based treatment or nonintensive regimens, were monitored for mutated RUNX1 transcript levels by qPCR with patient-specific primers. Samples were obtained along the treatment course and follow-up. RESULTS: A clear correlation was observed between mutated RUNX1 levels and response to treatment as observed by flow cytometry and STR-based assessment. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate the feasibility of RUNX1-based MRD to correlate with the clinicopathological status of leukemia. We further suggest how RUNX1 qPCR monitoring can influence clinical decision-making and contribute to improved personalized patient care.

LGR5 expressing skin fibroblasts define a major cellular hub perturbed in scleroderma.

Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma, SSc) is an incurable autoimmune disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. Here, we conducted a population-scale single-cell genomic analysis of skin and blood samples of 56 healthy controls and 97 SSc patients at different stages of the disease. We found immune compartment dysfunction only in a specific subtype of diffuse SSc patients but global dysregulation of the stromal compartment, particularly in a previously undefined subset of LGR5+-scleroderma-associated fibroblasts (ScAFs). ScAFs are perturbed morphologically and molecularly in SSc patients. Single-cell multiome profiling of stromal cells revealed ScAF-specific markers, pathways, regulatory elements, and transcription factors underlining disease development. Systematic analysis of these molecular features with clinical metadata associates specific ScAF targets with disease pathogenesis and SSc clinical traits. Our high-resolution atlas of the sclerodermatous skin spectrum will enable a paradigm shift in the understanding of SSc disease and facilitate the development of biomarkers and therapeutic strategies.

Toxicity and efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma above the age of 70 years compared to younger patients - a matched control multicenter cohort study.

Data regarding efficacy and toxicity of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy in the elderly, geriatric population are insufficient. In 2019, tisagenlecleucel and axicabtagene-ciloleucel were commercially approved for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. From May 2019 onwards, 47 relapsed/refractory diffuse large Bcell lymphoma patients, ≥70 years underwent lymphopharesis in three Israeli centers. Elderly (n=41, mean age 76.2 years) and young (n=41, mean age 55.4 years) patients were matched based on ECOG performance status and lactose dehydrogenase levels. There were no differences in CD4/CD8 ratio (P=0.94), %CD4 naive (P=0.92), %CD8 naive (P=0.44) and exhaustion markers (both HLA-DR and PD-1) between CAR-T cell products in both cohorts. Forty-one elderly patients (87%) received CAR-T cell infusion. There were no differences in the incidence of grade ≥3 cytokine-release-syndrome (P=0.29), grade≥3 neurotoxicity (P=0.54), and duration of hospitalization (P=0.55) between elderly and younger patients. There was no difference in median D7-CAR-T cell expansion (P=0.145). Response rates were similar between the two groups (complete response 46% and partial response 17% in the elderly group, P=0.337). Non-relapse mortality at 1 and 3 months was 0 in both groups. With a median follow-up of 7 months (range, 1.3-17.2 months), 6- and 12-months progression-free and overall survival in elderly patients were 39% and 32%, and 74% and 69%, respectively. EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires, obtained at 1 month, showed worsening of disability and cancer-related-symptoms in elderly versus younger patients. We conclude that outcomes of CAR-T cell therapy are comparable between elderly, geriatric and younger patients, indicating that age as per se should not preclude CAR-T cell administration. Longer rehabilitation therapy is essential to improve disabilities and long-term symptoms.

Neutrophil decline rate following autologous transplant for lymphoma is a predictor of patients' outcome.

Neutropenia postchemotherapy is associated with favorable outcomes, which was attributed to optimal dosing. However, little is known about the neutrophil decline rate as a predictor of cancer outcomes, which may reflect a dynamic marker of chemosensitivity. We assessed the association between the neutrophil decline rate and disease outcomes in a known cohort of 212 lymphoma patients, treated with thiotepa, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, and melphalan (TECAM) conditioning followed by autologous transplant in our center between 2000 and 2013. Slower neutrophil decline rate was correlated with worse overall survival, mediated not by shorter time to progression (TTP), but rather by worse survival post-progression, possibly pointing to chemosensitivity at each line of therapy as the responsible mechanism. The effect was seen across histologies and was independent of stronger predictors of outcome like performance status (PS) and response before transplant. Prospective research is needed to confirm our results and expand their validity to other clinical scenarios.

COVID-19 among patients with hematological malignancies: a national Israeli retrospective analysis with special emphasis on treatment and outcome.

This national Israeli multicenter retrospective study aimed to characterize the clinical course of COVID-19 infection among patients with hematological malignancies, with special emphasis on treatment efficacy and outcome. Clinical and laboratory data from haemato-oncological patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from 16 medical centers were centrally reported. Multivariate regression analyses were used to determine variables associated with severe disease, hospitalization, and mortality. In total, 313 patients were included: 103 (35.7%) developed severe/critical respiratory infection, 178 (61.4%) were hospitalized, and 60 (20.0%) died. Age > 70 years was associated with severe/critical disease (p = 0.036) and mortality (p = 0.023), hypertension with severe/critical disease (p = 0.046) and hospitalization (p = 0.001), active haemato-oncological treatment with hospitalization (p = 0.009), and remdesivir treatment was associated with decreased mortality (p = 0.021). Convalescent plasma, enoxaparin, and corticosteroids resulted in no clinical benefit. In conclusion, COVID-19 infection seems particularly severe in patients with hematological malignancies, and of all examined therapies, remdesivir appears to be the most effective.

Photobiomodulation (low-level laser) therapy for immediate pain relief of persistent oral ulcers in chronic graft-versus-host disease.

PURPOSE: To determine the immediate pain-relieving effect of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMt) in patients with oral ulcers of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) refractory to first line therapy with topical corticosteroids. METHODS: This retrospective study included all patients who underwent PBMt for pain relief of refractory oral cGVHD lesions. PBMt was applied using an intraoral approach to all sites with mucosal lesions, using a 940 nm InGaAsP diode laser device, with the following parameters: pulsed modulation (duty cycle of 50%), power 0.7 W, illuminated spot size 7.1 cm2, irradiance 98.6 mW/cm2, and irradiation time 90 s per point. Pain was self-assessed using a 0-to-10 scale immediately before and after PBMt. RESULTS: Data from eleven patients with a total of 56 PBMt sessions were analyzed. In 48 (85.7%) sessions, the patients reported less pain immediately after treatment, with a reduction of ≥ 50% of the initial pain level in 43 (76.8%) sessions. Mean pre- and post-treatment pain levels were 5.20 ±2.7 and 1.38 ±2.1, respectively (p < 0.001), i.e., a post-treatment reduction of 73.4% of the initial pain level. The benefits of the treatment remained for a mean of 6.50 ±5.4 days (range of 2 to 14 days). No adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: PBMt seems to be a promising treatment modality for refractory oral cGVHD lesions as a rapid pain reliever with relatively long-lasting effects.

Management and long-term consequences of genital graft versus host disease following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Vulvovaginal Graft-versus-host disease (VV-GVHD) is an underdiagnosed complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The severity of the disease varies greatly, ranging from minor discomfort to severe, irreversible anatomic changes. This study sought to assess the long-term course of VV-GVHD. A retrospective analysis was conducted of 64 women who underwent HSCT and were followed over 9 years in a designated vulvovaginal clinic. VV-GVHD was detected in 56% of transplanted women. Adherence with follow-up correlated with diagnosis of VV-GVHD (p < 0.001) and with sexual activity (p = 0.023). Most of the women with VV-GVHD were symptomatic; however, 22% were asymptomatic upon diagnosis. Women were treated with topical steroids, topical estrogen, vaginal dilators, and vaginal silicone rings. Vaginal silicone rings were associated with higher patient adherence and better results. VV-GVHD is a common complication of HSCT and can adversely impact patients' sexuality and quality of life. The disease pattern is chronic, necessitating long term follow-up and adherence with treatment. Vulvar anatomical changes occurred despite treatment; however, vaginal patency can be maintained by early diagnosis, constant surveillance, and early treatment, consequently allowing preservation of normal sexual function. Awareness of VV-GVHD must be raised in order to better serve female patients and facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.

Allogeneic Hemopoietic Stem Cell Transplants in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Prepared with Busulfan and Fludarabine (BUFLU) or Thiotepa, Busulfan, and Fludarabine (TBF): A Retrospective Study.

This is a multicenter retrospective comparison of 2 myeloablative conditioning regimens in 454 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in remission: busulfan (4 days) and fludarabine (BUFLU) versus thiotepa, busulfan, and fludarabine (TBF). Eligible for this study were patients allografted between January 2008 and December 2018 in 10 transplant centers, with AML in first or second remission: 201 patients received BUFLU, whereas 253 received TBF. The 2 groups (BUFLU and TBF) were comparable for age (P = .13) and adverse AML risk factors (P = .3). The TBF group had more second remissions and more haploidentical grafts. The donor type included HLA-identical siblings, unrelated donors, and family haploidentical donors. The 5-year cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was 19% for BUFLU and 22% for TBF (P = .8), and the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 30% and 15%, respectively (P = .0004). The 5-year actuarial survival was 51% for BUFLU and 68% for TBF (P = .002). In a multivariate Cox analysis, after correcting for confounding factors, the use of TBF reduced the risk of relapse compared with BUFLU (P = .03) and the risk of death (P = .03). In a matched pair analysis of 108 BUFLU patients matched with 108 TBF patients, with the exclusion of haploidentical grafts, TBF reduced the risk of relapse (P = .006) and there was a trend for improved survival (P = .07). Superior survival of patients receiving TBF as compared with BUFLU is due to a reduced risk of relapse, with comparable NRM. The survival advantage is independent of donor type and AML risk factors.