An evidence-based and risk-adapted GSF versus GSF plus plerixafor mobilization strategy to obtain a sufficient CD34+ cell yield in the harvest for autologous stem cell transplants.

BACKGROUND: Plerixafor is a bicyclam molecule with the ability to reversibly bind to receptor CXCR-4 thus leading to an increased release of stem cells (SC) into the circulation. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of G-CSF plus plerixafor versus G-CSF alone mobilizing regimens on the basis of CD34+ cell yield and engraftment kinetics following hematopoietic SC transplants. METHODS: The study incorporated 173 patients with plasma cell neoplasms (PCN), Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), undergoing mobilization and following autologous SC-transplant. For patients with mobilization failure and those predicted to be at risk of harvesting inadequate CD34+ yields (poor-responders), plerixafor was administered. Data was collected and compared in relation to the harvesting protocols used, cell quantification, cell-engraftment potential and overall clinical outcome. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients received plerixafor (58.4 %) and the median CD34+increase was 312 %. Chemotherapy-mobilized PCN-patients required less plerixafor administration (p = 0.01), no difference was observed in lymphoma groups (p = 0.46). The median CD34+cell yield was 7.8 × 106/kg bm. Patients requiring plerixafor achieved lower, but still comparable cell yields. Total cell dose infused was in correlation with engraftment kinetics. Patients requiring plerixafor had delayed platelet engraftment (p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Adequately selected plerixafor administration reduces "mobilization-related-failure" rate and assure a high-level cell dose for SC transplants, with superior "therapeutic-potential" and safety profile. The mobilization strategy that incorporates "just-in-time" plerixafor administration, also leads to a reduction of hospitalization days and healthcare resource utilization. For definitive conclusions, further controlled/larger clinical trials concerning correlation of CD34+ cell count/yield, with hematopoietic reconstitution are required.

The role of immunophenotyping in differential diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: Accurate diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) acquires immunophenotyping by flow cytometry in order to facilitate differential diagnosis between CLL and other mature B-cell neoplasms (MBCN). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to define immunological profile of CLL cells. METHODS: Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry was performed on peripheral blood specimens at diagnosis in the group of 211 patients with de novo MBCN. RESULTS: Absolute count of B-cells was significantly increased in all MBCN patients comparing to healthy control group (p < 0.05). B-cell monoclonality was detected in 96% of all MBCN patients, by using surface immunoglobulin (sIg) light chain restriction. B-cell antigens, CD19, CD20, CD22, were expressed with very high frequency in CLL and other MBCN. In comparison with other MBCN, in CLL group, the frequency of expression was higher for CD5 and CD23 (p < 0.0001), though lower for FMC7 antigen (p < 0.0001). CLL patients were characterized by lower expression patterns of CD20, CD22, CD79b, and sIg (p < 0.0001) as well as higher expression pattern of CD5 antigen (p < 0.05). Correlation between the final diagnosis of MBCN and values of CLL scoring system showed that the majority of CLL patients (97%) had higher values (5 or 4) whereas the majority of other MBCN patients (96%) had lower score values (0-3). CONCLUSION: Our results have shown that characteristic immunophenotype which differentiates CLL from other MBCN is defined by following marker combination--CD19+ CD20(+Iow) CD22(+low) CD5(+high) CD23+ FMC7-CD79b(+Iow) sIg(+Iow). CLL score values of 5 or 4 points are highly suggestive for diagnosis of CLL.

International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis Scoring System for disseminated intravascular coagulation ≥ 6: a new predictor of hemorrhagic early death in acute promyelocytic leukemia.

High-hemorrhagic early death (ED) rate is a major impediment in the managing of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). In our group of 56 newly diagnosed APL patients, ED occurred in 12 subjects, due to endocranial bleeding (8/12), differentiation syndrome (2/12), or infection (2/12). Predictors of hemorrhagic ED were as follows: white blood cells count ≥ 20 × 10(9)/L (P = 0.002337), Eastern cooperative oncology group performance status ≥ 3 (P = 0.00173), fibrinogen level <2 g/L (P = 0.004907), prothrombin time <50% (P = 0.0124), and International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis Scoring System for disseminated intravascular coagulation (ISTH DIC score) ≥ 6 (P = 0.00741). Multivariate analysis indicated ISTH DIC score ≥ 6 to be the most significant predictor for hemorrhagic ED (P = 0.008). The main finding of this study is that simple coagulation-related tests, performed on hospital admission and combined in the ISTH DIC score, might help to identify patients at high risk for fatal bleeding needing more aggressive supportive measures.

Outcome prediction of advanced mantle cell lymphoma by international prognostic index versus different mantle cell lymphoma indexes: one institution study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of international prognostic index (IPI), mantle cell lymphoma IPI (MIPI), simplified MIPI (sMIPI), and MIPI biological (MIPIb), as well as their correlation with immunophenotype, clinical characteristics, and overall survival (OS), in a selected group of 54 patients with advanced-stage mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), treated uniformly with CHOP. Seventeen patients had IV clinical stage (CS), while other 37 had leukemic phase at presentation. Diffuse type of marrow infiltration was verified in 68.5% and nodular in remainder patients. Extranodal localization (25.9%) included bowel (20.4%), pleural effusion, sinus, and palpebral infiltration. All of analyzed patients expressed typical MCL immunophenotypic profile: CD19(+)CD20(+)CD22(+)CD5(+)Cyclin-D1(+)FMC7(+)CD79b(+)smIg(+)CD38(+/-)CD23(-)CD10(-). Median OS of the whole group was 23 months, without significant differences between IV CS and leukemic phase patients. Thirty-two patients (59.3%) responded to initial treatment, 9 (16.7%) with complete and 23 (42.6%) with partial remission. Negative prognostic influence on OS had high IPI (P < 0.01), high sMIPI (P < 0.001), MIPI (P < 0.01), MIPIb (P < 0.01), extranodal localization (P < 0.01), and diffuse marrow infiltration (P < 0.01). Testing between randomly selected groups showed that patients with lower proportion of CD5(+) cells (<80%) correlated with cytological blastoid variant and had shorter survival comparing with the group with higher proportion of CD5(+) cells (>80%) (P < 0.01). Using univariate Cox regression, we proved that IPI, sMIPI, MIPI, and MIPIb had an independent predictive importance (P < 0.01) for OS in uniformly treated advanced MCL patients, although sMIPI prognostic significance was the highest (P < 0.001).