Cell Therapy Transplant Canada (CTTC) Consensus-Based Guideline 2024 for Management and Treatment of Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease and Future Directions for Development.

This is a consensus-based Canadian guideline whose primary purpose is to standardize and facilitate the management of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD) across the country. Creating uniform healthcare guidance in Canada is a challenge for a number of reasons including the differences in healthcare authority structure, funding and access to healthcare resources between provinces and territories, as well as the geographic size. These differences can lead to variable and unequal access to effective therapies for GvHD. This document will provide comprehensive and practical guidance that can be applied across Canada by healthcare professionals caring for patients with cGvHD. Hopefully, this guideline, based on input from GvHD treaters across the country, will aid in standardizing cGvHD care and facilitate access to much-needed novel therapies. This consensus paper aims to discuss the optimal approach to the initial assessment of cGvHD, review the severity scoring and global grading system, discuss systemic and topical treatments, as well as supportive therapies, and propose a therapeutic algorithm for frontline and subsequent lines of cGvHD treatment in adults and pediatric patients. Finally, we will make suggestions about the future direction of cGvHD treatment development such as (1) a mode-of-action-based cGvHD drug selection, according to the pathogenesis of cGvHD, (2) a combination strategy with the introduction of newer targeted drugs, (3) a steroid-free regimen, particularly for front line therapy for cGvHD treatment, and (4) a pre-emptive approach which can prevent the progression of cGvHD in high-risk patients destined to develop severe and highly morbid forms of cGvHD.

Canadian real-world experience of asciminib treatment in heavily pre-treated chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients who failed multiple lines of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy.

BACKGROUND: Asciminib is a novel drug specifically targeting ABL myristoyl pocket in the ABL1 protein. METHODS: Forty one patients with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with asciminib from 2018 to 2022 were reviewed and analyzed for the efficacy and tolerability of asciminib using real-world experience data. RESULTS: The median age was 60 years (range 17-90) with a past history of a cardiovascular event in 21 patients (51%). Patients were pretreated with a median of 3 previous tyrosine kinase inhibitors (range 1-5). After a median of 12 months of asciminib (range 3-41), major molecular response (MMR) rate was 39% (n = 11/28) and 42% (n = 5/12) at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Molecular response with 2 log reduction (MR2) was noted in 54% (n = 15/28) and 50% (n = 6/12) at 6 and 12 months. The cumulative incidence of MMR and MR2 was 46.3% and 66% at 12 months. Five patients discontinued asciminib due to treatment failure (n = 3) or thrombocytopenia (n = 2). There were no cardiovascular events. Out of 7 patients treated with high dose asciminib for T315I mutation, 5 patients achieved MMR or deeper response. The event-free survival was 63% at 12 months. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed clinical efficacy and tolerability of asciminib with real-world experience.

Histoplasma capsulatum sinusitis: case report and review.

Histoplasma capsulatum has not typically been associated with sinusitis in either immunocompetent or immunocompromised hosts. We report a case of sinusitis caused by H. capsulatum in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and discuss the reported cases of this rare clinical manifestation of histoplasmosis in the medical literature.

Prognostic impact of MYD88 mutation, proliferative index and cell origin in diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, among non-Hodgkin lymphomas, is one of the most frequent subtypes. Clinical laboratory data and post-treatment outcomes are scarce in the Brazilian population. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this retrospective study was to assess the impact of tumor markers, including the Myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MYD88) mutation. METHOD: Eighty-three patients were included and treated with R-CHOP or R-CHOP-like regimens. RESULTS: Median age was 64-years old and 58% were female patients. The median follow-up was 42 months. The progression free survival (PFS) at this time was 63% and overall survival (OS), 66%. In the patients with tumors expressing Myc proto-oncogene protein (MYC) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2), assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), known as dual protein expressers, median post-progression survival was 31 (15-45) months. An increased proliferative index were associated with a high rate of progression (hazard ratio 2.31 [95% confidence interval [1.05-5.12]; p = 0.04). The cell of origin (COO), identified by IHC, was not able to predict PFS (p = 0.76). The MYD88 L265P mutation was present in 10.8% (9/83) of patients and did not show a prognostic correlation. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the MYD88 mutation, although an important tool for diagnosis and a possible target drug, presented at a low frequency and was not a prognostic marker in this population.

What happens to intolerant, relapsed or refractory chronic myeloid leukemia patients without access to clinical trials?

OBJECTIVE: To assess clinical outcomes of intolerant, relapsed or refractory patients who could not be treated with new tyrosine kinase inhibitors or experimental therapies. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of 90 chronic myeloid leukemia patients in all phases of the disease treated with imatinib mesylate as their first TKI therapy, and with dasatinib or nilotinib as the next line of therapy. We evaluated clinical outcomes of these patients, with special focus on the group that needed more than two therapy lines. RESULTS: Thirty-nine percent of patients were refractory or intolerant to imatinib. An 8-year overall survival rate of the patients who went through three or more lines of treatment was significantly lower, compared to those who were able to maintain imatinib as their first-line therapy (83% and 22%, respectively p<0.01). Decreased overall survival was associated with advanced-phase disease (p<0.01), failure to achieve major molecular response in first-line treatment (p<0.01) and interruption of first-line treatment due to any reason (p=0.023). Failure in achieving complete cytogenetic response and major molecular response and treatment interruption were associated with the progression to the third-line treatment. CONCLUSION: The critical outcome observed in relapsed, intolerant or refractory chronic phase CML patients reflects the unmet need for this group of patients without an alternative therapy, such as new drugs or experimental therapies in clinical trials. Broader access to newer treatment possibilities is a crucial asset to improve survival among CML patients, especially those refractory or intolerant to first-line therapies.

Quercetin prevents oxidative stress and NF-kappaB activation in gastric mucosa of portal hypertensive rats.

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of quercetin on oxidative stress and activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) in an experimental model of portal hypertensive gastropathy induced by partial portal vein ligation (PPVL). Portal pressure was significantly elevated in PPVL rats. Transaminase and alkaline phosphatase activities were not significantly modified, indicating absence of liver injury. Histological analysis of gastric sections showed a lost of normal architecture, with edema and vasodilatation. The cytosolic concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and the lipoperoxidation measurement by chemiluminiscence were significantly increased. Superoxide dismutase activity in gastric mucosa was significantly reduced. Portal hypertensive gastropathy induced a marked activation of NF-kappaB, accompanied by a decrease in IkappaB protein levels and a significant induction of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein. Administration of quercetin markedly alleviated histological abnormalities and inhibited oxidative stress and NF-kappaB activation. IkappaB decrease and induction of iNOS protein were partially prevented by quercetin. Quercetin treatment, by abolishing the NF-kappaB signal transduction pathway, may block the production of noxious mediators involved in the pathogenesis of portal hypertensive gastropathy.

Prognostic impact of MYD88 mutation, proliferative index and cell origin in diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Abstract Background Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, among non-Hodgkin lymphomas, is one of the most frequent subtypes. Clinical laboratory data and post-treatment outcomes are scarce in the Brazilian population. Objective The main objective of this retrospective study was to assess the impact of tumor markers, including the Myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MYD88) mutation. Method Eighty-three patients were included and treated with R-CHOP or R-CHOP-like regimens. Results Median age was 64-years old and 58% were female patients. The median follow-up was 42 months. The progression free survival (PFS) at this time was 63% and overall survival (OS), 66%. In the patients with tumors expressing Myc proto-oncogene protein (MYC) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2), assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), known as dual protein expressers, median post-progression survival was 31 (15-45) months. An increased proliferative index were associated with a high rate of progression (hazard ratio 2.31 [95% confidence interval [1.05-5.12]; p = 0.04). The cell of origin (COO), identified by IHC, was not able to predict PFS (p = 0.76). The MYD88 L265P mutation was present in 10.8% (9/83) of patients and did not show a prognostic correlation. Conclusion In conclusion, the MYD88 mutation, although an important tool for diagnosis and a possible target drug, presented at a low frequency and was not a prognostic marker in this population.

What happens to intolerant, relapsed or refractory chronic myeloid leukemia patients without access to clinical trials?

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess clinical outcomes of intolerant, relapsed or refractory patients who could not be treated with new tyrosine kinase inhibitors or experimental therapies. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 90 chronic myeloid leukemia patients in all phases of the disease treated with imatinib mesylate as their first TKI therapy, and with dasatinib or nilotinib as the next line of therapy. We evaluated clinical outcomes of these patients, with special focus on the group that needed more than two therapy lines. Results: Thirty-nine percent of patients were refractory or intolerant to imatinib. An 8-year overall survival rate of the patients who went through three or more lines of treatment was significantly lower, compared to those who were able to maintain imatinib as their first-line therapy (83% and 22%, respectively p < 0.01). Decreased overall survival was associated with advanced-phase disease (p < 0.01), failure to achieve major molecular response in first-line treatment (p < 0.01) and interruption of first-line treatment due to any reason (p = 0.023). Failure in achieving complete cytogenetic response and major molecular response and treatment interruption were associated with the progression to the third-line treatment. Conclusion: The critical outcome observed in relapsed, intolerant or refractory chronic phase CML patients reflects the unmet need for this group of patients without an alternative therapy, such as new drugs or experimental therapies in clinical trials. Broader access to newer treatment possibilities is a crucial asset to improve survival among CML patients, especially those refractory or intolerant to first-line therapies.

Obinutuzumabe no tratamento de pacientes com leucemia linfoide crônica, não elegíveis à dose completa de fludarabina: análise de impacto orçamentário baseado no tempo para a próxima terapia / Obinutuzumab for the treatment of unfit patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: budget impact analysis based on time to next treatment

Objetivo: Comparar o impacto orçamentário de obinutuzumabe + clorambucila (GClb), rituximabe + clorambucila (RClb), ofatumumabe + clorambucila (OClb) ou clorambucila (Clb) na primeira linha de tratamento (1L) e suas respectivas opções de segunda linha (2L) recomendadas por consenso brasileiro e internacional para adultos com leucemia linfoide crônica (LLC) não tratados previamente e inelegíveis à dose completa de fludarabina (slow-go). Métodos: A análise foi conduzida a partir do desfecho de tempo para próxima terapia (TPPT) na perspectiva do Sistema de Saúde Suplementar (SSS). Apenas custos de aquisição de medicamentos foram considerados, incluindo posologia de bulas registradas. Regimes de tratamento de 2L considerados foram RClb ou ibrutinibe. As curvas de TPPT foram obtidas do estudo CLL11 e COMPLEMENT 1. Resultados: Em horizonte temporal de cinco anos, GClb demonstrou benefício econômico, quando comparado com RClb, OClb e Clb, sendo o potencial de savings por paciente de R$ 80 mil, R$ 149 mil e R$ 284 mil, respectivamente. Adicionalmente, em cinco anos, verificou-se que a adoção de GClb na 1L para pacientes com LLC pode promover economia de R$32 milhões para SSS quando comparado com RClb e Clb, uma vez que seu intervalo livre de tratamento é mais longo do que o das tecnologias comparadas, o que posterga o início do tratamento de 2L. Conclusões: Apesar de o preço unitário de obinutuzumabe e o custo de tratamento inicial de GClb serem superiores aos de RClb, OClb e Clb, o tratamento de 1L com GClb pode promover benefícios econômicos em longo prazo, consequentes dos resultados clínicos favoráveis da associação de GClb no tratamento da LLC.

Objective: To compare the budget impact of obinutuzumab + chlorambucil (GClb), rituximab + chlorambucil (RClb), ofatumumabe + chlorambucil (OClb) or chlorambucil (Clb) in first line treatment (1L) and their respective therapeutic options in second line (2L), recommended by a Brazilian and international consensus for adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), with no previous treatment and classified as ineligible to full dose fludarabine treatment (slow-go). Methods: The analysis was conducted based on the outcome time to next treatment (TPPT) under the perspective of the Brazilian Private Healthcare System (SSS). Only drug acquisition costs were considered, including dosage from registered labels. RClb and ibrutinib were considered as 2L treatment regimens. The TPPT curves were obtained from the CLL11 and COMPLEMENT 1 studies. Results: Considering a five-year time horizon, GClb demonstrated economic benefit when compared to RClb, OClb and Clb, with potential savings per patient of R$ 80 thousand, R$ 149 thousand and R$ 284 thousand, respectively. Additionally, in five years, the adoption of GClb as 1L for patients with CLL can promote an economy of R$ 32 million to the SSS when compared to RClb and Clb, since the GClb treatment free interval is longer than the compared technologies, which delays the beginning of the more costly 2L treatment. Conclusions: Although the unitary obinutuzumab price and the cost of initial GClb treatment are greater than RClb, OClb and Clb, 1L treatment with GClb can promote economic benefits in the long term, resulting from the favorable clinical results of GClb association in CLL treatment.