Association of socioeconomic status with autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation outcomes for lymphoma.

Socioeconomic status (SES) is an important determinant of disparities in health care. The association of SES with outcomes in autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) has not been described previously. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 687 AHCT recipients with lymphoma transplanted between 2003 and 2013. Patients were categorized into low (<$50 000/year) and high SES (⩾$50 000/year). A greater proportion of low SES patients lived farther away from our center (median 54 vs 28 miles), belonged to a racial minority (12 vs 3%), had poorer performance status (4 vs 1%) and had high-risk disease at AHCT (9 vs 5%). Median follow-up was 53 months. In univariable analysis, low SES patients had significantly higher relapse mortality and lower OS and PFS. This was confirmed on multivariable analysis for relapse mortality (HR for high vs low SES: 0.74 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.54-0.99), P=0.05), OS (HR 0.74 (0.58-0.95), P=0.02) and PFS (HR 0.77 (0.63-0.95), P=0.02). In multivariable analysis of ⩾1-year progression-free survivors, high SES patients had better OS (HR 0.73, P=0.05 vs low SES) that was primarily driven by a trend toward lower risk of non-relapse mortality (HR 0.62, P=0.06). SES is associated with outcomes of AHCT in patients with lymphoma.

Risk factors for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections in recent times. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) confers increased risk for CDI because of prolonged hospital stay, immunosuppression, the need to use broad-spectrum antibiotics and a complex interplay of preparative regimen and GvHD-induced gut mucosal damage. Our study evaluated risk factors (RF) for recurrent CDI in HSCT recipients given the ubiquity of traditional RF for CDI in this population. Of the 499 allogeneic HSCT recipients transplanted between 2005 and 2012, 61 (12%) developed CDI within 6 months before transplant or 2 years after transplant and were included in the analysis. Recurrent CDI occurred in 20 (33%) patients. One year incidence of CDI recurrence was 31%. Multivariable analyses identified the number of antecedent antibiotics other than those used to treat CDI as the only significant RF for recurrence (hazard ratio 1.96, 95% confidence interval 1.09-3.52, P=0.025). Most recurrences occurred within 6 months of the first CDI, and the recurrence of CDI was associated with a trend for increased risk of mortality. This prompts the need for further investigation into secondary prophylaxis to prevent recurrent CDI.

Association of socioeconomic status with long-term outcomes in 1-year survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

The relationship of socioeconomic status (SES) with long-term outcomes in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) survivors has not been well described. We studied the association of SES with the outcomes of 283 consecutive allogeneic HCT recipients transplanted between 2003 and 2012 who had survived for at least 1 year in remission. Median annual household income was estimated using Census tract data and from ZIP code of residence. SES categories were determined by recursive partitioning analysis (low SES (<$51 000/year), N=203; high SES (⩾$51 000/year), N=80). In multivariable analyses, low SES patients had higher risks of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 1.98, P=0.012) and non-relapse mortality (NRM) (HR 2.22, P=0.028), but similar risks of relapse mortality (HR 1.01, P=0.97) compared with high SES patients. A trend toward better survival and lower NRM for high SES patients with no chronic GVHD was observed; low SES patients without GVHD had similar survival as patients with chronic GVHD. In allogeneic HCT survivors who survive in remission for at least 1 year, SES is associated with long-term survival that is primarily mediated through higher risks of NRM. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms of health-care disparities and interventions to mitigate them.

Prognostic significance of pre-transplant quality of life in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients.

Quality of life (QOL) is an important outcome for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients. Whether pre-HCT QOL adds prognostic information to patient and disease related risk factors has not been well described. We investigated the association of pre-HCT QOL with relapse, non-relapse mortality (NRM), and overall mortality after allogeneic HCT. From 2003 to 2012, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant Scale instrument was administered before transplantation to 409 first allogeneic HCT recipients. We examined the association of the three outcomes with (1) individual QOL domains, (2) trial outcome index (TOI) and (3) total score. In multivariable models with individual domains, functional well-being (hazard ratio (HR) 0.95, P=0.025) and additional concerns (HR 1.39, P=0.002) were associated with reduced risk of relapse, no domain was associated with NRM, and better physical well-being was associated with reduced risk of overall mortality (HR 0.97, P=0.04). TOI was not associated with relapse or NRM but was associated with reduced risk of overall mortality (HR 0.93, P=0.05). Total score was not associated with any of the three outcomes. HCT-comorbidity index score was prognostic for greater risk of relapse and mortality but not NRM. QOL assessments, particularly physical functioning and functional well-being, may provide independent prognostic information beyond standard clinical measures in allogeneic HCT recipients.

It is not just IMRT: Human papillomavirus related oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma is associated with better swallowing outcomes after definitive chemoradiotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: Long term swallowing dysfunction in patients with oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) treated with concurrent chemoradiation (CRT) is declining. While the use of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is commonly believed to be a potential cause, we hypothesize that the increasing incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) related disease may also favorably impact this outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 130 HPV+ and 17 HPV- patients with stage III-IV OPSCC treated exclusively with conventional 3-field radiotherapy with chemotherapy between 2002 and 2010. The rates of normal diet, limited diet (significant restrictions in the types of foods eaten, and/or requiring nutritional supplementation for weight maintenance) and feeding tube dependence (FTD) were compared between HPV+ and HPV- patients. Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to perform univariate analysis (UVA) to examine predictors of a combined endpoint of dietary limitation, which included limited diet and/or FTD. These outcomes were also compared to our previously reported cohort of OPSCC patients treated between 1989 and 2002 to assess changes in toxicity over time given the changing disease epidemiology, in the setting of identical treatment regimens. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 55 months, HPV+ patients more frequently had resumed a normal diet (87% vs. 65%) at last follow up and had lower rates of limited diet (9% vs. 18%) and FTD (4% vs. 18%) compared to HPV- patients (p=0.02). HPV status was the only significant predictor of reduced swallowing dysfunction on UVA (HR 0.19; p=0.008). When compared to our 1989-2002 cohort, patients treated between 2002 and 2010 had less FTD (7.5% vs. 34%, p<0.001) and dietary limitations (26% vs.46%, p<0.001) at 6 months post treatment. CONCLUSIONS: HPV+ patients with OPSCC have reduced late swallowing dysfunction after chemoradiation compared to HPV- patients. The changing epidemiology of OPSCC may play a role in toxicity reduction in these patients, independent of the increasing use of IMRT.

Racial differences in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation outcomes among African Americans and whites.

The impact of race on outcome has been identified in a number of cancers, with African Americans having poorer survival compared with whites. We conducted a study to investigate the association of race with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) outcomes. We identified 789 patients (58 African Americans and 731 whites) who underwent allogeneic HCT for hematologic disorders. There were no significant differences between African Americans and white patients in gender, performance status or comorbidity score. However, African Americans were younger than whites (median 40 years versus 47 years, P=0.003) and were more likely to be in remission at HCT (74% versus 57%, P=0.011), to have an HLA-mismatched donor (36% versus 14%, P<0.001), to have positive donor or recipient CMV serostatus (90% versus 69%, P<0.001) and to have received a cord blood transplant (21% versus 6%, P<0.001). In univariate analysis, African Americans had worse overall survival (OS) (HR 1.41, P=0.026) compared with whites, with no significant differences in acute or chronic GvHD, non-CMV infection or relapse. However, after adjusting for several transplant and disease-related factors in multivariate analysis, the OS difference between African Americans and whites became nonsignificant (HR 1.27, P=0.18). These results suggest that race in and of itself does not lead to worse survival post HCT.

Outcomes after autologous SCT in lymphoma patients grouped by weight.

Obesity continues to be an increasing global health issue contributing to the complexity of chemotherapy dosing in the field of SCT. Investigation into the optimal dosing weight used to calculate chemotherapy doses in obese patients undergoing SCT is limited and inconclusive. Our single-center, retrospective study compared safety and efficacy outcomes by body mass index (BMI) for 476 adult lymphoma patients who underwent auto-SCT with a myeloablative chemotherapeutic regimen of BU, CY and etoposide dosed using adjusted body weight. Three weight groups categorized based on BMI were defined: normal/underweight ⩽24.9 kg/m(2), overweight 25-29.9 kg/m(2) and obese ⩾30 kg/m(2). Severity of mucositis, incidence of secondary malignancy, incidence of bacteremia and median hospital length of stay did not differ among the groups. The median times to absolute neutrophil count and platelet recovery were 10 days (P=0.75) and 14 days (P=0.17), respectively. Obese patients had a lower 100-day mortality compared with other weight groups, although this did not translate into an OS benefit. OS and disease relapse were similar among the groups. Our study demonstrates that use of adjusted body weight to calculate chemotherapy doses does not negatively have an impact on outcomes in obese patients undergoing auto-SCT with BU, CY and etoposide.

Gefitinib in definitive management of esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer: a retrospective analysis of two clinical trials.

The role of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition in resectable esophageal/gastroesophageal junction (E/GEJ) cancer is uncertain. Results from two Cleveland Clinic trials of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and surgery are updated and retrospectively compared, the second study differing only by the addition of gefitinib (G) to the treatment regimen. Eligibility required a diagnosis of E/GEJ squamous cell or adenocarcinoma, with an endoscopic ultrasound stage of at least T3, N1, or M1a (American Joint Committee on Cancer 6th). Patients in both trials received 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m(2) /day) and cisplatin (20 mg/m(2) /day) as continuous infusions over days 1-4 along with 30 Gy radiation at 1.5 Gy bid. Surgery followed in 4-6 weeks; identical CCRT was given 6-10 weeks later. The second trial added G, 250 mg/day, on day 1 for 4 weeks, and again with postoperative CCRT for 2 years. Preliminary results and comparisons have been previously published. Clinical characteristics were similar between the 80 patients on the G trial (2003-2006) and the 93 patients on the no-G trial (1999-2003). Minimum follow-up for all patients was 5 years. Multivariable analyses comparing the G versus no-G patients and adjusting for statistically significant covariates demonstrated improved overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.45-0.91, P = 0.012), recurrence-free survival (HR 0.61, 95% CI = 0.43-0.86, P = 0.006), and distant recurrence (HR 0.68, 95% CI = 0.45-1.00, P = 0.05), but not locoregional recurrence. Although this retrospective comparison can only be considered exploratory, it suggests that G may improve clinical outcomes when combined with CCRT and surgery in the definitive treatment of E/GEJ cancer.

Risk factors for vancomycin-resistant enterococcus bacteremia and its influence on survival after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) is a well-known infectious complication among immunocompromised patients. We performed a retrospective analysis to identify risk factors for the development of VRE bacteremia (VRE-B) within 15 months after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) and to determine its prognostic importance for other post-transplant outcomes. Eight hundred consecutive adult patients who underwent alloHCT for hematologic diseases from 1997 to 2011 were included. Seventy-six (10%) developed VRE-B at a median of 46 days post transplant. Year of transplant, higher HCT comorbidity score, a diagnosis of ALL, unrelated donor and umbilical cord blood donor were all significant risk factors on multivariable analysis for the development of VRE-B. Sixty-seven (88%) died within a median of 1.1 months after VRE-B, but only four (6%) of these deaths were attributable to VRE. VRE-B was significantly associated with worse OS (hazard ratio 4.28, 95% confidence interval 3.23-5.66, P<0.001) in multivariable analysis. We conclude that the incidence of VRE-B after alloHCT has increased over time and is highly associated with mortality, although not usually attributable to VRE infection. Rather than being the cause, this may be a marker for a complicated post-transplant course. Strategies to further enhance immune reconstitution post transplant and strict adherence to infection prevention measures are warranted.

Quality of life and outcomes in patients⩾60 years of age after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has become an established standard of care for many older patients with hematologic malignancies. The effect of transplantation on the quality of life (QOL) of older patients, however, has not been well studied. We thus analyzed QOL in patients ⩾60 undergoing an allogeneic HCT compared with patients <60 years. Prospective psychometric instruments were administered to 351 patients who underwent HCT from 2003 to 2010. Psychometric data were assessed longitudinally by validated questionnaires: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT), Coping Inventory and the Profile of Mood State-Short Form. Patients ⩾60 reported better social (P=0.006) and functional well-being (P=0.05) with FACT assessment, and had better total scores, (P=0.043) across all time points. When adjusted for baseline QOL scores as a covariate, social well-being remained significantly better, whereas the other scores became non-significant. With a median follow-up of 49 months, there were no significant differences in OS, relapse-free survival, relapse or chronic GVHD. This study provides further evidence that advanced age should not be a barrier in the decision to pursue allogeneic HCT. Older patients achieved comparable QOL when compared with younger patients.

Donor T-cell chimerism and early post-transplant cytomegalovirus viremia in patients treated with myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common infection after myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (M-alloHSCT). Achievement of complete donor T-cell chimerism (CDC-T) post transplant is a measure of immune reconstitution. We investigated the association between CDC-T post M-alloHSCT and the incidence of CMV viremia. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all CMV and chimerism results of 47 patients for the first 6 months post M-alloHSCT. CDC-T was analyzed as a time-varying covariate for association with post M-alloHSCT CMV viremia. RESULTS: CMV viremia occurred in 15 (32%) and CDC-T was achieved in 38 (81%) recipients within the first 6 months post M-alloHSCT. On univariable analysis, increased CMV viremia was seen among patients with CDC-T (hazard ratio 2.81 [P = 0.07, 95% confidence interval = 0.93-8.52]). A 30-day landmark analysis showed that the incidence of CMV viremia at 6 months (regardless of recipient CMV serostatus) was 50% among those who had achieved CDC-T by day 30, and 23% among those who had not (P = 0.06). CONCLUSION: We conclude that shorter time to CDC-T may be associated with higher risk of CMV viremia. If confirmed in a larger cohort, this might be a marker for risk stratification in the management of CMV in this population.

Clinicopathologic features and treatment outcomes of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in 21% of gastric and 33% of gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinomas. Trastuzumab has been approved for metastatic HER2-positive gastric/GEJ cancer in combination with chemotherapy. This retrospective analysis was undertaken to better define the clinicopathologic features, treatment outcomes, and prognosis in patients with HER2-positive adenocarcinoma of the esophagus/GEJ. Pathologic specimens from 156 patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus/GEJ treated on clinical trials with chemoradiation and surgery were tested for HER2. Seventy-six patients also received 2 years of gefitinib. Baseline characteristics and treatment outcomes of the HER2-positive and negative patients were compared both in aggregate and separately for each of the two trials. Of 156 patients, 135 had sufficient pathologic material available for HER2 assessment. HER2 positivity was found in 23%; 28% with GEJ primaries and 15% with esophageal primaries (P= 0.10). There was no statistical difference in clinicopathologic features between HER2-positive and negative patients except HER2-negative tumors were more likely to be poorly differentiated (P < 0.001). Locoregional recurrence, distant metastatic recurrence, any recurrence, and overall survival were also statistically similar between the HER2-positive and the HER2-negative groups, in both the entire cohort and in the gefitinib-treated subset. Except for tumor differentiation, HER2-positive and negative patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and GEJ do not differ in clinicopathologic characteristics and treatment outcomes. Given the demonstrated benefit of trastuzumab in HER2-positive gastric cancer and the similar incidence of HER2 overexpression in esophageal/GEJ adenocarcinoma, further evaluation of HER2-directed therapy in this disease seems indicated.

Validating the positive impact of in-hospital lay care-partner support on patient survival in allogeneic BMT: a prospective study.

This prospective study validates the finding from retrospective research that having an inpatient lay care-partner (CP) is associated with better survival following allogeneic BMT. Compared with patients without a CP (n=76), patients with a CP (n=88) have significantly better OS (P=0.017) and relapse-free survival (RFS) (P=0.020). Four-year and median survivals were 42% and 36 months among patients with CPs, compared with 26% and 10 months among those without CPs. Four-year survival and median RFS were 39% and 25 months among those with CPs, compared with 23% and 7 months among those without CPs. Further, better survival and RFS were associated with CP visit duration of >3 h per day (P=0.005 and P=0.007, respectively) and with CP frequency of visits >75% of inpatient days (P=0.004 and P=0.010, respectively). A CP support program should encourage not only presence of a CP but also duration and frequency of CP visits associated with better patient survival.

Fludarabine as a risk factor for poor stem cell harvest, treatment-related MDS and AML in follicular lymphoma patients after autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Fludarabine is an effective treatment for follicular lymphoma (FL), but exposure to it negatively impacts stem cell mobilization and may increase the risk of subsequent myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myelogenous leukemia (t-MDS/AML). We hypothesized that the risk that fludarabine imparts to stem cell mobilization and t-MDS/AML would be affected by dose or timing. All patients with FL treated at Cleveland Clinic from 1991 to 2007 with autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation were evaluated. Recursive partitioning analysis was used to explore associations of fludarabine and mitoxantrone dose and timing with poor stem cell harvest and t-MDS/AML. We identified 171 patients, of whom 52 previously received fludarabine. Patients exposed to fludarabine prior to auto-HCT were more likely to require >5 days of leukapheresis (P<0.001) and second stem cell mobilization (P<0.001), especially at a cumulative dose >150 mg/m(2). Univariable risk factors for t-MDS/AML included the number of chemotherapy regimens before auto-HCT, the need for >5 days of leukapheresis to collect CD34+ cells and fludarabine exposure in a dose-dependent manner, particularly when >500 mg/m(2). A cumulative dose of fludarabine >150 mg/m(2) increases the risk for poor stem cell harvests and any exposure increases the risk of t-MDS/AML, with the greatest risk being at doses >500 mg/m(2).

Intravenous compared with oral busulfan as preparation for allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation for AML and MDS.

BU and CY is a common conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation (HPCT). I.v. BU is increasingly used in place of the oral formulation for conditioning. We compared the outcomes of 135 consecutively treated AML and myelodysplastic syndrome patients who underwent allogeneic HPCT at our institution with BUCY2 using oral (n=93) or i.v. (n=42) BU, without dose adjustment. The i.v. BU patients had a lower incidence of any severity of oral mucositis (3 versus 55%, P=0.002) and severe mucositis (3 versus 24%, P=0.005). Other post transplant outcomes were comparable between the groups. In all 26 i.v. BU and 33 oral BU patients are alive; however, the median follow-up was significantly longer for the oral BU group. One- and two-year non-relapse mortality for the i.v. BU patients was 21% for both, and for the oral BU group was 23% and 29%, respectively. One- and two-year relapse mortality for the i.v. BU patients was 21% for both, and for the oral BU group was 24% and 29%, respectively. Substituting i.v. for oral BU reduces variability in drug exposure and potentially improves toxicity as suggested by our finding of significantly less oral mucositis and decreased severity with i.v. BU.