IMPROVE-BMT: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Prehabilitation Exercise for Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients.

Background: There is limited evidence on the effects of aerobic and resistance training exercise interventions to improve physical function and patient-reported outcomes prior to autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). IMPROVE-BMT was a single-site, pilot randomized controlled trial investigating the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a pragmatic resistance training exercise program prior to HSCT compared to usual HSCT care. Secondary aims included differences in physical function between the exercise group (EX) and usual care control group (UC). Methods: Outcome measurements were assessed: prior to HSCT, on/around day of HSCT admission, +30 days post-HSCT, and +100 days post-HSCT. The exercise intervention was a home-based exercise program that incorporated resistance-band and bodyweight exercises. Results: Acceptability among participants was 83%; exercise adherence averaged at 92%; and there were zero exercise-related adverse or serious adverse events. The average pre-transplant exercise phase was 6.28 weeks (2.71-18.29 weeks). EX (n = 36) demonstrated larger increases in the six-minute walk test distance, short physical performance battery scores, and 30-s chair stands compared to UC (n = 38) and demonstrated significant within-group improvements for the six-minute walk test, the short physical performance battery, the 30-s chair stands, and the timed up-and-go test. Conclusions: IMPROVE-BMT demonstrates that pragmatic exercise is highly feasible for HSCT recipients and can potentially lead to enhanced recovery that may not be achievable in non-exercisers.

Clofarabine Preconditioning followed by Allogeneic Transplant Using TBI and Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide for Relapsed Refractory Leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia patients with induction failure or relapsed refractory disease have minimal chance of achieving remission with subsequent treatments. Several trials have shown the feasibility of clofarabine-based conditioning in allogeneic stem cell transplants (allo-HSCT) for non-remission AML patients. Pre-transplant conditioning with clofarabine followed by reduced-intensity allo-HSCT has also demonstrated a potential benefit in those patients with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical donors, but it is not commonly used in haploidentical and mismatched transplants. In this case report, we describe our experience of seven cases of non-remission AML who received clofarabine preconditioning followed by an allo-HSCT with PTCy. The 2-year overall survival and disease-free survival was 83.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 27.3-97.9%) and 85.7% (95% CI: 33.4-97.9%). Median days of neutrophil and platelet recovery were 16 (range of 13-23) and 28 (range of 17-75), respectively. The cumulative incidence of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) at day 100 and chronic GVHD at 1-year showed 28.6% (95% CI: 8-74.2%) and 28.6% (95% CI: 3-63.9%), respectively. The two-year relapse rate was 14.3% (95% CI: 2.14-66.6%). One-year GVHD-free relapse-free survival (GFRS) at 1-year was 71.4% (95% CI: 25.8-92%). Our patients showed successful outcomes with clofarabine preconditioning to reduce the leukemic burden at the pre-transplant period followed by PTCy to reduce GVHD resulting in lower relapsed rate and better GFRS in these patients.

The addition of doxycycline to fluoroquinolones for bacterial prophylaxis in autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial prophylaxis with a fluoroquinolone (FQ) during autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is common, although not standardized among transplant centers. The addition of doxycycline (doxy) to FQ prophylaxis was previously linked to reduced neutropenic fever and bacteremia in multiple myeloma (MM) patients undergoing ASCT although several confounders were present. We compared the incidence of neutropenic fever and bacteremia between MM patients variably receiving prophylaxis with FQ alone and FQ-doxy during ASCT. METHODS: Systematic retrospective chart review of MM patients who underwent ASCT between January 2016 and December 2021. The primary objective was to determine the effect of bacterial prophylaxis on neutropenic fever and bacteremia within 30 days of ASCT. Multivariable logistic regression for neutropenic fever and univariate logistic regression for bacteremia accounted for differences in subject characteristics between groups. RESULTS: Among 341 subjects, 121 received FQ and 220 received FQ-doxy for prophylaxis. Neutropenic fever developed in 67 (55.4%) and 87 (39.5%) subjects in the FQ and FQ-doxy groups, respectively (p = .005). Bacteremia was infrequent, with 5 (4.1%) and 5 (2.3%) cases developing in the FQ and FQ-doxy groups, respectively (p = .337). Among Gram-negative bacteremia events, 7/7 Escherichia coli strains were FQ-resistant, and 5/7 were ceftriaxone-resistant. CONCLUSION: The FQ-doxy prophylaxis group had fewer cases of neutropenic fever than the FQ group, however, there was no significant difference in bacteremia. High rates of antibiotic resistance were observed. An updated randomized controlled trial investigating appropriate prophylaxis for ASCT in the context of current oncology standards and changing antimicrobial resistance rates is warranted.

Mosunetuzumab with polatuzumab vedotin in relapsed or refractory aggressive large B cell lymphoma: a phase 1b/2 trial.

Relapsed/refractory aggressive large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) remains an area of unmet need. Here we report the primary analysis of a phase 1b/2 trial of outpatient mosunetuzumab (a CD20xCD3 T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody) plus polatuzumab vedotin (an anti-CD79B antibody-drug conjugate) in relapsed/refractory LBCL. The phase 2 component is a single arm of an ongoing multi-arm trial. The primary endpoint during dose expansion was independent review committee (IRC)-assessed best overall response rate. Secondary endpoints included investigator-assessed overall response rate, complete response, duration of response, progression-free survival and overall survival. At data cutoff, 120 patients were enrolled (22 dose escalation, 98 dose expansion). The primary endpoint was met during dose expansion, with IRC-assessed best overall response rate and complete response rates of 59.2% (58/98; 95% confidence interval (CI): 48.8-69.0) and 45.9% (45/98; 95% CI: 35.8-56.3), respectively (median follow-up, 23.9 months). Median duration of complete was not reached (95% CI: 20.5-not estimable (NE)). Median progression-free survival was 11.4 months (95% CI: 6.2-18.7). Median overall survival was 23.3 months (95% CI: 14.8-NE). Across dose escalation and expansion, the most common grade 3 or higher adverse events were neutropenia (25.0%, 30/120) and fatigue (6.7%, 8/120). Any-grade cytokine release syndrome occurred in 16.7% of patients. These data demonstrate that mosunetuzumab plus polatuzumab vedotin has a favorable safety profile with highly durable responses suitable as second-line therapy in transplant-ineligible relapsed/refractory LBCL. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03671018 .

CD26lowPD-1+ CD8 T cells are terminally exhausted and associated with leukemia progression in acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a devastating blood cancer with poor prognosis. Novel effective treatment is an urgent unmet need. Immunotherapy targeting T cell exhaustion by blocking inhibitory pathways, such as PD-1, is promising in cancer treatment. However, results from clinical studies applying PD-1 blockade to AML patients are largely disappointing. AML is highly heterogeneous. Identification of additional immune regulatory pathways and defining predictive biomarkers for treatment response are crucial to optimize the strategy. CD26 is a marker of T cell activation and involved in multiple immune processes. Here, we performed comprehensive phenotypic and functional analyses on the blood samples collected from AML patients and discovered that CD26lowPD-1+ CD8 T cells were associated with AML progression. Specifically, the percentage of this cell fraction was significantly higher in patients with newly diagnosed AML compared to that in patients achieved completed remission or healthy controls. Our subsequent studies on CD26lowPD-1+ CD8 T cells from AML patients at initial diagnosis demonstrated that this cell population highly expressed inhibitory receptors and displayed impaired cytokine production, indicating an exhaustion status. Importantly, CD26lowPD-1+ CD8 T cells carried features of terminal exhaustion, manifested by higher frequency of TEMRA differentiation, increased expression of transcription factors that are observed in terminally exhausted T cells, and high level of intracellular expression of granzyme B and perforin. Our findings suggest a prognostic and predictive value of CD26 in AML, providing pivotal information to optimize the immunotherapy for this devastating cancer.

High-grade B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified: a multi-institutional retrospective study.

In this multi-institutional retrospective study, we examined the characteristics and outcomes of 160 patients with high-grade B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (HGBL-NOS)-a rare category defined by high-grade morphologic features and lack of MYC rearrangements with BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements ("double hit"). Our results show that HGBL-NOS tumors are heterogeneous: 83% of patients had a germinal center B-cell immunophenotype, 37% a dual-expressor immunophenotype (MYC and BCL2 expression), 28% MYC rearrangement, 13% BCL2 rearrangement, and 11% BCL6 rearrangement. Most patients presented with stage IV disease, a high serum lactate dehydrogenase, and other high-risk clinical factors. Most frequent first-line regimens included dose-adjusted cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and etoposide, with rituximab and prednisone (DA-EPOCH-R; 43%); rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP; 33%); or other intensive chemotherapy programs. We found no significant differences in the rates of complete response (CR), progression-free survival (PFS), or overall survival (OS) between these chemotherapy regimens. CR was attained by 69% of patients. PFS at 2 years was 55.2% and OS was 68.1%. In a multivariable model, the main prognostic factors for PFS and OS were poor performance status, lactate dehydrogenase >3 × upper limit of normal, and a dual-expressor immunophenotype. Age >60 years or presence of MYC rearrangement were not prognostic, but patients with TP53 alterations had a dismal PFS. Presence of MYC rearrangement was not predictive of better PFS in patients treated with DA-EPOCH-R vs R-CHOP. Improvements in the diagnostic criteria and therapeutic approaches beyond dose-intense chemotherapy are needed to overcome the unfavorable prognosis of patients with HGBL-NOS.

Real-world evidence of the safety and survival with CD19 CAR-T cell therapy for relapsed/refractory solid organ transplant-related PTLD.

The use of CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy for relapsed/refractory solid organ transplantation (SOT)-related post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is not well studied. We conducted a multicentre, retrospective analysis of adults with relapsed/refractory SOT-associated PTLD. Among 22 relapsed/refractory SOT-PTLD patients, the pathology was monomorphic B cell. Prior SOTs included 14 kidney (64%), three liver (14%), two heart (9%), one intestinal (5%), one lung (5%), and one pancreas after kidney transplant (5%). The median time from SOT to PTLD diagnosis was 107 months. Pre-CAR-T bridging therapy was used in 55% of patients, and immunosuppression was stopped completely before CAR-T infusion in 64%. Eighteen (82%) patients experienced cytokine release syndrome: one (5%) each grade (G) 3 and G4. The immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome was observed in 16 (73%) patients: six (27%) G3 and two (9%) G4. The overall response rate was 64% (55% complete response). Three patients (14%) experienced allograft rejection after CAR-T. The two-year progression-free survival and overall survival rates were 35% and 58%, respectively. Additionally, the achievement of CR post-CAR-T was strongly associated with survival. Collectively, the safety and efficacy of CD19 CAR-T therapy in relapsed/refractory SOT-related PTLD appeared similar to pivotal CAR-T data, including approximately one-third of patients achieving sustained remission.

EBV-positive PCNSL in older patients: incidence, characteristics, tumor pathology, and outcomes across a large multicenter cohort.

The objective of this multicenter retrospective study was to examine the incidence, patient characteristics, pathology, and outcomes associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related CNS lymphoma (CNSL) in older patients. Among 309 CNSL patients aged ≥60, 11.7% had EBV + tumors of which 72.2% were solid organ transplant (SOT)-related post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD). Younger age, SOT or autoimmune disease, and immunosuppressive treatment correlated highly with EBV-positivity. EBV + tumors were associated with absent C-MYC and BCL6 expression. EBV + PTLD was more likely to be associated with the absence of CD5 expression. EBV + non-PTLD had better median OS (not reached) compared to EBV + PTLD (10.8 months) and EBV-negative patients (43 months). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that age, performance status, and PTLD were negative predictors of OS. EBV status and immunosuppressive treatment were not correlated with OS. Our findings merit further investigation of EBV + PCNSL tumors and EBV-directed therapies.

Older patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma: Survival and prognostication across 20 U.S. cancer centers.

There is a paucity of large-scale data delineating outcomes and prognostication of older patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). We retrospectively analyzed 539 newly-diagnosed PCNSL patients ages ≥60 years across 20 U.S. academic centers. The median age was 70 years (range 60-88); at least one geriatric syndrome was present in 46%; the median Cumulative Index Ratings Scale-Geriatrics (CIRS-G) score was 6 (range, 0-27); and 36% had impairment in activities of daily living (ADL). The most common induction regimens were high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) ± rituximab; methotrexate, temozolomide, rituximab (MTR); and rituximab, methotrexate, procarbazine, vincristine (R-MPV). Overall, 70% of patients achieved remission, with 14% undergoing consolidative autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) and 24% receiving maintenance. With 58-month median follow-up, median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 17 months (95% CI 13-22 months) and 43 months (95% CI 31-56 months), respectively. Three-year PFS and OS were highest with MTR (55% and 74%, respectively). With single-agent methotrexate ± rituximab, 3-year PFS and OS were 30% (p = .0002) and 47% (p = .0072). On multivariate analysis, increasing age at diagnosis and Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) was associated with inferior PFS; age, hypoalbuminemia, higher CIRS-G score, and ECOG PS adversely affected OS. Among patients receiving maintenance, 3-year PFS was 65% versus 45% without maintenance (p = 0.02), with 3-year OS of 84% versus 61%, respectively (p = .0003). Altogether, outcomes in older PCNSL patients appeared optimized with HD-MTX combination induction regimens and maintenance therapy. Furthermore, several prognostic factors, including geriatric measures, were associated with inferior outcomes.

IMPROVE-BMT: a protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial of prehabilitation exercise for adult haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in adults is an intensive medical procedure for a variety of haematological malignancies. Although there is a large body of evidence demonstrating the negative effects of HSCT on physical function and psychosocial parameters, there is limited evidence on the impact of HSCT on body composition and bone health. Further, aerobic and resistance-training exercise interventions aimed at improving physical function and patient-reported outcomes largely take place during the peritransplant and post-transplant period. Prehabilitative exercise, or exercise prior to medical treatment, has been successfully deployed in presurgical candidates and other tumour sites, yet there is a paucity of evidence on the effect of prehabilitation in HSCT patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility, acceptability and safety of a resistance training exercise programme in patients with haematological malignancies prior to HSCT. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: IMpact of PRehabilitation in Oncology Via Exercise-Bone Marrow Transplant is a single-site, pilot randomised controlled trial of an exercise intervention compared with usual care. The primary aim is to assess the feasibility, acceptability and safety of the resistance-training exercise intervention prior to HSCT. Secondary aims include evaluating the differences in physical function, body composition, bone mineral density and patient-reported outcomes between the exercise group and usual care control group. Outcome measurements will be assessed: prior to HSCT, on/around day of HSCT admission, +30 days post-HSCT and +100 days post-HSCT. The exercise intervention is a home-based resistance training exercise programme that incorporates resistance band and body weight exercises. The primary outcomes will be reported as percentages and/or mean values. The secondary outcomes will be analysed using appropriate statistical methods to portray within-group and between-group differences. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has Penn State College of Medicine approval. Results will be disseminated through scientific publication and presentation at exercise-related and oncology-related scientific meetings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03886909.

Donor HLA mismatch promotes full donor T-cell chimerism in the allogeneic stem cell transplant with reduced-intensity conditioning and post-transplant cyclophosphamide GVHD prophylaxis.

Full donor T-cell chimerism (FDTCC) after allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) has been associated with improved outcomes in hematologic malignancy. We studied if donor human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatch improves achievement of FDTCC because mismatched HLA promotes donor T-cell proliferation where recipient T-cells had been impaired by previous treatment. Patients (N = 138) received allo-SCT with reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) from 39 HLA mismatched donors (16 unrelated; 23 haploidentical) with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) or 99 matched donors (21 siblings; 78 unrelated) with PTCy (N = 18) or non-PTCy (N = 81). Achievement of FDTCC by day 100 was higher with HLA mismatched donors than matched donors (82.1% vs. 27.3%, p < 00,001), which was further improved with 200 cGy total body irradiation (87.9%) or lymphoid (versus myeloid) malignancy (93.8%). Since all mismatched transplants used PTCy, FDTCC was higher with PTCy than non-PTCy (68.4% vs. 25.7%, p < 0.00001), but not in the matched transplant with PTCy (38.9%), negating PTCy as the primary driver. Lymphocyte recovery was delayed with PTCy than without (median on day + 30: 100 vs. 630/µL, p < 0.0001). The benefit of FDTCC was not translated into survival outcomes, especially in myeloid malignancies, possibly due to the insufficient graft-versus-tumor effects from the delayed lymphocyte recovery. Further studies are necessary to improve lymphocyte count recovery in PTCy transplants.

Male-specific late effects in adult hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients: a systematic review from the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Male-specific late effects after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) include genital chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), hypogonadism, sexual dysfunction, infertility, and subsequent malignancies. They may be closely intertwined and cause prolonged morbidity and decreased quality of life after HCT. We provide a systematic review of male-specific late effects in a collaboration between transplant physicians, endocrinologists, urologists, dermatologists, and sexual health professionals through the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, and the Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. The systematic review summarizes incidence, risk factors, screening, prevention and treatment of these complications and provides consensus evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice and future research.

Post-transplant cyclophosphamide alters immune signatures and leads to impaired T cell reconstitution in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Despite the increased usage of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), our knowledge of immune reconstitution post-allo-HSCT in the setting of PTCy is limited. Adequate immune reconstitution is the key to a successful transplant. In this study, we aim to investigate the effect of PTCy on the reconstitution of each immune component; more focus was placed on the immunophenotype and functions of T cells. Using blood samples from patients who underwent allo-HSCT under regimens containing PTCy (n = 23) versus those who received no PTCy (n = 14), we examined the impact of PTCy on the post-transplant immune response. We demonstrated a distinct T cell immune signature between PTCy versus non-PTCy group. PTCy significantly delayed T cell reconstitution and affected the T cell subsets by increasing regulatory T cells (Treg) while reducing naïve T cells. In addition, we observed remarkable enhancement of multiple inhibitory receptors (TIGIT, PD-1, TIM-3, CD38, CD39) on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells on day 30 post-transplantation in patients who received PTCy. Importantly, upregulation of PD-1 on CD8 T cells was persistent through day 180 and these T cells were less functional, manifested by reduced cytokine production upon anti-CD3/CD28 stimulation. Furthermore, we found a significant correlation of T cell immune phenotypes to clinical outcome (disease relapse and GVHD) in patients who received PTCy. Our novel findings provide critical information to understand the mechanism of how PTCy impacts immune reconstitution in allo-HSCT and may subsequently lead to optimization of our clinical practice using this treatment.

Male-Specific Late Effects in Adult Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients: A Systematic Review from the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Male-specific late effects after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) include genital chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), hypogonadism, sexual dysfunction, infertility, and subsequent malignancies, such as prostate, penile, and testicular cancer. These effects may be closely intertwined and cause prolonged morbidity and decreased quality of life after HCT. Here we provide a systematic review of male-specific late effects in a collaboration among transplantation physicians, endocrinologists, urologists, dermatologists, and sexual health professionals through the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and the Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. We used a systematic review methodology to summarize incidence, risk factors, screening, prevention, and treatment of these complications and provide consensus evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice and future research. Most of the evidence regarding male GVHD is still based on limited data, precluding strong therapeutic recommendations. Therefore, we recommend systematic screening for male genital GVHD regularly and reporting of cases to large registries to allow for a better understanding. Future research also should address treatment, given the little published evidence currently available. Male-specific endocrine consequences of HCT include hypogonadism, which also may affect bone health. Given the scanty evidence, current recommendations for hormone substitution and/or bone health treatment are based on similar principles as for the general population. Following HCT, sexual health decreases, and this topic should be addressed at regular intervals. Future studies should focus on interventional strategies to address sexual dysfunction. Infertility remains prevalent in patients having undergone myeloablative conditioning, warranting the offer of sperm preservation for all HCT candidates. Most studies on fertility rely on descriptive registry analysis and surveys, underscoring the importance of reporting post-HCT conception data to large registries. Although the quality of evidence is low, the development of cancer in male genital organs does not seem more prevalent in HCT recipients compared with the general population; however, subsequent malignancies in general seem to be more prevalent in males than in females, and special attention should be given to skin and oral mucosa. Male-specific late effects, which likely are more underreported than female-specific complications, should be systematically considered during the regular follow-up visits of male survivors who have undergone HCT. Care of patients with male-specific late effects warrants close collaboration between transplantation physicians and specialists from other involved disciplines. Future research should be directed toward better data collection on male-specific late effects and on studies about the interrelationships among these late effects, to allow the development of evidence-based effective management practices.

Improved outcome in AML relapse after allogeneic transplant with high-intensity chemotherapy followed by 2nd allogeneic stem cell transplant or donor lymphocyte infusion.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT) remains a major therapeutic challenge. While patients with longer remission after initial alloSCT are recommended to receive cell therapy (CT) such as 2ndalloSCT or donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI), survival for patients who relapse within 6 months of alloSCT has been dismal. We evaluated the outcomes of AML relapse after alloSCT to assess the impact of different treatments on long-term survival. One hundred and seventy-two patients with AML underwent alloSCT at the Penn State Cancer Institute from January 2014 to August 2019. Sixty-nine patients relapsed (median age, 60 years; range, 10-75). Of these, 4 patients underwent 2ndalloSCT, and 26 received DLI. One-year overall survival (OS) in all cases was 20.3% (95% CI: 11.8-30.4%). Patients with ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 at relapse showed a better 1-year OS than those with PS 3-4. Median OS for patients who received chemotherapy only or chemotherapy with CT was 74 or 173.5 days, respectively (p < 0.001). Relapsed patients receiving conventional re-induction chemotherapy were categorized as the high-intensity chemotherapy (H) group, while those receiving treatments such as hypomethylating agents or targeted agents were categorized as the low-intensity chemotherapy (L) group. The H group showed a better 1-year OS compared with the L group. Patients who received H + CT showed a better 1-year OS of 52.9% than the other 3 groups (p < 0.001). Even for patients with post-alloSCT remission duration of less than 6 months, the statistical significance was preserved. Factors including age, donor source at 1stalloSCT, time to relapse, blast counts, PS at relapse, and treatment type after post-alloSCT relapse were used for a multivariate analysis, and matched or mismatched related donor and H + CT after alloSCT were identified as independent factors associated with OS. These findings support the use of H + CT as the treatment option of choice for AML patients who relapse after alloSCT when feasible.

Timing of Invasive Mechanical Ventilation and Mortality among Patients with Severe COVID-19-associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome associated with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) (CARDS) pneumonitis presents a clinical challenge as regards to the timing of intubation and ambiguity of outcome. There is a lack of clear consensus on when to switch patients from trials of noninvasive therapies to invasive mechanical ventilation. We investigated the effect of the timing of intubation from the time of admission on the clinical outcome of CARDS. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The aim and objective was to analyze the effect of timing of intubation early (within 48 hours of admission to critical care unit) versus delayed (after 48 hours of admission to critical care unit) on mortality in severe CARDS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study performed in a 28-bedded COVID-19 intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital in Pune, India. All patients admitted between April 1, 2020, and October 15, 2020, with confirmed COVID-19 (RT-PCR positive) requiring mechanical ventilation were included in the study. RESULTS: The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Among 2,230 patients that were admitted to the hospital, 525 required critical care (23.5%), invasive mechanical ventilation was needed in 162 patients and 147 (28%) of critical care admission were included in the study cohort after exclusion. Seventy-five patients (51%) were intubated within 48 hours of critical care admission (early group) and 72 (48.9%) were intubated after 48 hours of critical care admission (delayed group). With regards to the total of 147 included patients; male patients were 74.1% with a median age of 59 years (interquartile range, 51-68 years). Diabetes (44.9%) and hypertension (43.5%) were the most common comorbidities. Higher admission acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II scores and lower absolute lymphocyte count were observed in patients intubated within 48 hours. The early intubated group had a mortality of 60% whereas the same was observed as 77.7% in delayed intubation group, and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Current study concludes that early intubation is associated with improved survival rates in severe CARDS patients. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Zirpe KG, Tiwari AM, Gurav SK, Deshmukh AM, Suryawanshi PB, Wankhede PP, et al. Timing of Invasive Mechanical Ventilation and Mortality among Patients with Severe COVID-19-associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(5):493-498.

Outcomes of Burkitt lymphoma with central nervous system involvement: evidence from a large multicenter cohort study.

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in Burkitt lymphoma (BL) poses a major therapeutic challenge, and the relative ability of contemporary regimens to treat CNS involvement remains uncertain. We described prognostic significance of CNS involvement and incidence of CNS recurrence/progression after contemporary immunochemotherapy using real-world clinicopathologic data on adults with BL diagnosed between 2009 and 2018 across 30 US institutions. We examined associations between baseline CNS involvement, patient characteristics, complete response (CR) rates, and survival. We also examined risk factors for CNS recurrence. Nineteen percent (120/641) of patients (age 18-88 years) had CNS involvement. It was independently associated with HIV infection, poor performance status, involvement of ≥2 extranodal sites, or bone marrow involvement. First-line regimen selection was unaffected by CNS involvement (P=0.93). Patients with CNS disease had significantly lower rates of CR (59% versus 77% without; P<0.001), worse 3-year progression-free survival (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-2.06, P=0.004) and overall survival (aHR, 1.62, 95%CI, 1.18-2.22, P=0.003). The 3-year cumulative incidence of CNS recurrence was 6% (95%CI, 4-8%). It was significantly lower among patients receiving other regimens (CODOX-M/IVAC, 4%, or hyperCVAD/MA, 3%) compared with DA-EPOCH-R (13%; adjusted sub-HR, 4.38, 95%CI, 2.16-8.87, P<0.001). Baseline CNS involvement in BL is relatively common and portends inferior prognosis independent of first-line regimen selection. In real-world practice, regimens with highly CNS-penetrant intravenous systemic agents were associated with a lower risk of CNS recurrence. This finding may be influenced by observed suboptimal adherence to the strict CNS staging and intrathecal therapy procedures incorporated in DA-EPOCH-R.

Burkitt Lymphoma International Prognostic Index.

PURPOSE: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) has unique biology and clinical course but lacks a standardized prognostic model. We developed and validated a novel prognostic index specific for BL to aid risk stratification, interpretation of clinical trials, and targeted development of novel treatment approaches. METHODS: We derived the BL International Prognostic Index (BL-IPI) from a real-world data set of adult patients with BL treated with immunochemotherapy in the United States between 2009 and 2018, identifying candidate variables that showed the strongest prognostic association with progression-free survival (PFS). The index was validated in an external data set of patients treated in Europe, Canada, and Australia between 2004 and 2019. RESULTS: In the derivation cohort of 633 patients with BL, age ≥ 40 years, performance status ≥ 2, serum lactate dehydrogenase > 3× upper limit of normal, and CNS involvement were selected as equally weighted factors with an independent prognostic value. The resulting BL-IPI identified groups with low (zero risk factors, 18% of patients), intermediate (one factor, 36% of patients), and high risk (≥ 2 factors, 46% of patients) with 3-year PFS estimates of 92%, 72%, and 53%, respectively, and 3-year overall survival estimates of 96%, 76%, and 59%, respectively. The index discriminated outcomes regardless of HIV status, stage, or first-line chemotherapy regimen. Patient characteristics, relative size of the BL-IPI groupings, and outcome discrimination were consistent in the validation cohort of 457 patients, with 3-year PFS estimates of 96%, 82%, and 63% for low-, intermediate-, and high-risk BL-IPI, respectively. CONCLUSION: The BL-IPI provides robust discrimination of survival in adult BL, suitable for use as prognostication and stratification in trials. The high-risk group has suboptimal outcomes with standard therapy and should be considered for innovative treatment approaches.