Independent prognostic impact of CD15 on complete remission achievement in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

The prognostic role of CD15 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been tested in different studies with conflicting results. To address this issue, we retrospectively evaluated a cohort of 460 AML patients of all ages with the exclusion of acute promyelocytic leukemia (M/F 243/217, median age 50.6 years [range 0.9-81.2]) intensively treated at our institute between January 1999 and December 2010. CD15 positivity was found in 171 of 406 evaluable patients (42.1%). Complete remission (CR) was achieved by 334 patients (72.6%), while 82 (17.8%) were resistant and 44 (9.6%) died during induction: the median CR duration was 15.5 months (range 0.6-176.0), with 2-year disease-free survival rate of 45.1% (95% confidence interval 39.6-50.6). The median overall survival was 14.4 months (range 0.3-177.0), with 2-year overall survival rate of 42.2% (95% confidence interval 37.5-46.9). At univariate analysis for CR achievement, age < 60 years (P < .001), World Health Organization classification (P = .045), low-risk karyotype (P < .001), no high-risk karyotype (P = .006), positivity for AML-ETO (P = .004)/CBFß-MYH11 (P = .003)/CD15 (P = .006)/CD11b (P = .013), negativity for FLT3-ITD (P = .001), Hb > 8 g/dL (P = .020), and white blood cell < 50 × 109 /L (P = .034) had a favorable impact. At a multivariate logistic regression model, CD15 positivity (P = .002), age < 60 years (P = .008), white blood cell < 50 × 109 /L (P = .017), and low-risk/no high-risk karyotype (P = .026/P = .025) retained an independent prognostic role on CR achievement. The baseline assessment of CD15 positivity appears to have a role in the risk evaluation for CR achievement in AML patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy and should be assessed in prospective studies together with other clinical and biologic features already reported.

TPO-RAs in pITP: description of a case series and analysis of predictive factors for response.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience concerning sustained response (SR) after TPO-RA discontinuation in adult pITP patients and to identify possible predictive factors for outcome. METHODS: Thirty-nine pITP patients who received a TPO-RA were evaluated. Response (R) was defined as a platelet count ≥30 × 109 /L and at least a twofold increase in the baseline count and complete response (CR) as a platelet count ≥100 × 109 /L, in the absence of bleeding. Durable response (DR) was defined as a R/CR persisting ≥4 wk with a stable dose of TPO-RA, and SR as the first assessed platelet count ≥30 × 109 /L, available at more than 4 wk after discontinuation of TPO-RA, in the absence of other concomitant or rescue therapies. RESULTS: Twenty-nine/39 (74%) were responders: 18 (46%) reached a CR and 11 (28%) a R. A DR was observed in 16/29 (55%) responders. Seven SR (18%) were reached: five of seven patients achieved a SR from a prior DR. CR was statistically associated with the achievement of a subsequent DR: 13/18 (72%) CR patients obtained a DR, while only three of 11 (27%) R ones did (P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: CR was a significant prognostic factor for the achievement of a DR. Moreover, we observed a trend for DR patients to obtain a subsequent SR.

Tapentadol PR for Pain Syndromes in Real Life Patients with Hematological Malignancy.

BACKGROUND: More than 50% of oncohematological patients suffer from pain syndrome, mostly originating from the bone, which often include nociceptive and neuropathic complaints. Tapentadol, a recently available treatment option for cancer pain, exerts a dual analgesic mechanisms (opioid and noradrenergic), allowing for a high clinical efficacy as well as for a reduction in adverse events compared to traditional opioids. AIM: To explore the safety and efficacy of tapentadol as a suitable agent for the pain management in the setting of oncohematology. METHODS: Our observational study included 36 patients with basal pain intensity (NRS) ranging from 5 to 10. Tapentadol prolonged release (PR) was given at the initial dose of 50 mg BID and careful titrated according to the achieved pain control. RESULTS: Tapentadol PR was given at the dosages ranging from 200 and 260 mg/day after a careful titration, allowed for a clinically (-7 points NRS) remarkable reduction of pain intensity without any significant side effects. CONCLUSION: In oncohematological patients on pain, tapentadol PR was effective and well tolerated, so representing a suitable treatment option in this difficult setting.

Clinical features and prognostic factors in solitary plasmacytoma.

This study aimed to review the clinical features and outcome of 53 patients with solitary plasmacytoma managed at our Institution between 1976 and 2012. Thirty-five patients had bone solitary plasmacytoma and 18 extramedullary solitary plasmacytoma. Tumour sizes were larger in patients with bone involvement (P = 0·003). Treatment consisted of local radiotherapy (n = 26), radiotherapy + chemotherapy (n = 15), surgery (n = 4) and chemotherapy (n = 8); the local control rate was 94·3%. Progression to multiple myeloma was recorded in 20/35 (57·1%) patients with bone involvement and in 1/18 (5·5%) patients with extramedullary disease (P = 0·0003). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 78·4%; bone solitary plasmacytoma patients had a significantly worse OS (71·9% vs. 88·2%, respectively; P = 0·029) and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS; 53·0% vs. 88·5%; P = 0·0003) compared to extramedullary solitary plasmacytoma patients. On univariate analysis, bone disease and size (≥5 cm) impacted negatively on PFS (P = 0·0027 and P = 0·04, respectively). Bone disease also affected OS (P = 0·04). In multivariate analysis bone location was the only independent prognostic factor for PFS (P = 0·0041) and OS (P = 0·021). Patients with bone solitary plasmacytoma have a significantly worse prognosis than extramedullary solitary plasmacytoma cases.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia in patients aged >70 years: the cure beyond the age.

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has made acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) a very curable disease also in patients aged >60 years; however, there are only few case reports in very elderly APL patients. To address this issue, we reviewed treatment results in 13 patients aged >70 years with newly diagnosed APL followed at our institution from January 1991 to December 2008. According to Sanz score, seven patients were at low risk, five at intermediate risk, and one at high risk. Induction therapy consisted of ATRA + idarubicin in nine patients (3/9 with reduced idarubicin dosage) and ATRA alone in four patients; in this latter group, however, 2/4 needed to add chemotherapy (CHT) due to hyperleukocytosis during ATRA treatment. All patients achieved both morphological and molecular complete remission (CR) after a median time of 51 [interquartile range (IR) 43-55] and 114 (IR 74-155) days, respectively. Infective complications were observed in 10/13 patients, APL differentiation syndrome in 3/13 patients. Twelve patients received consolidation therapy, followed by maintenance treatment in nine patients. Five patients relapsed after 7, 8, 11, 35, and 56 months. At present, seven patients are still alive, five died due to disease progression (four) or senectus while in CR (one), and one was lost to follow-up while in CR. The 5-year event-free survival was 56.1 % (95 % CI, 26.0-86.2); the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 64.5 % (95 % CI, 35.6-93.4). ATRA-based treatment of APL is safe and effective also in very elderly patients, with long-lasting disease-free OS.

Subcutaneous bortezomib for multiple myeloma treatment: patients' benefits.

The use of novel agents such as thalidomide, lenalidomide, and bortezomib has considerably improved the outcome of multiple myeloma patients. Besides greater biological activity, these drugs unfortunately have also been associated with greater toxicity. To evaluate the positive effect on the quality of life of patients, driven by both the tolerability and antimyeloma activity of bortezomib, we analyzed data that have been published concerning different strategies used to improve its tolerability as once weekly and/or subcutaneous administration.