Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor following peripheral-blood progenitor-cell transplant in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PURPOSE: To compare the hematologic recovery after high-dose chemotherapy and circulating peripheral-blood progenitor-cell (PBPC) transplant between patients who received recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (treated group) and those who did not (control group). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From December 1992 through June 1994, two sequential and consecutive cohorts of 20 patients each with histologically proven non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) received high-dose chemotherapy (carmustine [BCNU], cytarabine [Ara-C], etoposide and melphalan [BEAM]) followed by PBPC transplant. The first 20 patients were treated with G-CSF (5 micrograms/kg/d) after PBPC administration. Since the time of platelet and leukocyte recovery in this group was short (< 15 days), with a narrow standard deviation from the mean value, the last 20 patients were not given G-CSF. Hematologic recovery, number of febrile days, rate of documented infections, number of hospital days, duration of gastrointestinal complications, platelet and RBC transfusions, and antibiotic requirements were compared in the two groups. RESULTS: The two groups of patients were comparable according to disease status, histology, stage, bulky disease bone marrow involvement, elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, and median number of infused CD34+ cells and colony-forming units granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM). The median time to reach 0.5 x 10(9)/L and 1.0 x 10(9)/L neutrophils was 2 days shorter in G-CSF group, but this difference was not statistically significant. The median times to reach 20 x 10(9)/L and 50 x 10(9)/L platelets were, respectively, 10 and 14 days in the G-CSF group and 11 and 16 days in the control group, but again this was not statistically significant. Moreover, when considering clinically relevant end points including the number of documented infections and antibiotic requirements, platelet transfusions, gastrointestinal toxicity, and days of hospitalization, no differences were demonstrated between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Provided an optimal dose of circulating progenitors is infused, NHL patients transplanted with PBPC do not benefit by the administration of hematopoietic growth factors.

Short-term treatment for adult hypergranular and microgranular acute promyelocytic leukemia.

A high hemorrhagic risk and a complete response to the differentiative agent all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) are the main clinical features of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), two distinct subtypes of which have been recognized, the common hypergranular leukopenic form (M3) and a microgranular hyperleukocytic variant (M3v). We analyzed, with emphasis on both disease- and therapy-related prognostic factors, the results from a 9-year trial in 65 adults with M3 and M3v APL, treated homogenously with a short-term therapy (STT) program excluding maintenance. STT comprised a maximum of six courses with doxorubicin, cytosine arabinoside (ara-C), and 6-thioguanine. Sixty-five APL patients formed the study group, M3v accounting for 25% of cases. In M3v, the absolute blast cell count was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) and early hemorrhagic deaths were more frequent (p = 0.05). The blast count correlated inversely with the probability of remission (p = 0.005), poor-risk patients being those with > 10 x 10(9)/l blast cells. During the study, the median survival improved from 0.1 to 2.7 years (p = < 0.005). In first place, response to chemotherapy increased from 42 to 84% (p = 0.006), by giving daily prophylactic platelet transfusions (to > 30 x 10(9)/l) and no heparin (course I), and by avoiding too toxic high-dose ara-C and deferring treatment in infected/neutropenic patients showing the atypical differentiative bone marrow pattern (course II). Secondly, the probability of first unmaintained remission differed significantly between patients given intentionally more than four total chemotherapy courses or intermediate/high-dose ara-C consolidation (0.59 at 5 years) and those treated less intensively (0.21) (p < 0.005). Intensive STT was very effective for the management of adult APL patients at standard hemorrhagic risk and receiving optimal supportive care. In high-risk patients with hyperleukocytosis and M3v, induction results could be improved by the concomitant use of ATRA. M3v in adults must be recognized promptly because of the very high early hemorrhagic risk.

Treatment of adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) over a 16 year period.

Between 1972 and 1988 269 newly diagnosed adolescents and adults (age range 14-78 years) with ALL were managed with three protocols of increasing intensity (OPAL, HEAV'D, OPAL-HDAraC). The complete remission (CR) rate in 212 patients treated with OPAL and HEAV'D was 151/212 (71%), the median CR duration was 1.9 years. With a median follow-up of 9 years, 49 patients remain free of disease. On multivariate analysis age, blast cell count, and immunophenotype were found to correlate significantly with CR rate, remission duration and survival. CR was achieved in 38/57 (67%) patients subsequently treated with OPAL-HDAraC; however, although remission duration was longer in 'high risk' patients (T, B and Null phenotype irrespective of blast cout, cALLA+ve with blast count greater than 10 x 10(9)/l) as compared to the results achieved in similar patients with OPAL/HEAV'D, overall, the results were no better than those achieved previously. Indeed, patients in the 'standard risk' category (cALLA+ve, blast count less than 10 x 10(9)/l) fared better previously. Subsequently, neither treatment according to prognostic variables, or the addition of different pairs of drugs in rotation, to HEAV'D, have improved outcome in 63 other patients. Currently, further intensification of the early treatment is being evaluated.

Short term therapy (STT) for acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML).

Between 1978 and 1988 (median follow up 5 1/2 years), 396 newly diagnosed adults with AML (age range 14-59 years, median 44) received STT comprising daily Adriamycin: 25mg/m2 for 3 days, Cytosine arabinoside (ara-C): 100mg/m2 bd and 6-thioguanine: 100mg/m2 bd, each for 7 days. A maximum of 6 cycles was administered with as short an intercycle time as possible. No further treatment was given. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 243/396 patients (62%), 71 patients (18%) having resistant leukaemia and 82 (21%) dying within 6 weeks. Antecedent myelodysplasia and advanced age correlated unfavourably with achievement of CR (p = less than 0.001 and 0.005 respectively). Sixty nine patients continue in first remission between 2 1/2 and 12 years; the median duration of remission was 1 year. M3 morphology (p = 0.005) and absence of hepatosplenomegaly (p = 0.001) correlated favourably with duration of remission. Ninety one patients remain alive with an actuarial survival of 22% at 5 years. More recently, additional consolidation comprising high-dose ara-C and total body irradiation (TBI) with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) has been evaluated in an open study. CR has been achieved in 41/66 patients under the age of 50 but only 19/41 have proceeded to ara-C + TBI + ABMT. Twenty two have not (early recurrence 10, allogeneic BMT 4, debility 6, refusal 2). 11/19 who proceeded to ablative therapy continue in remission (4 treatment related deaths, 4 recurrences) as compared to 9/22 who did not. Currently the overall median duration of remission for the 41 patients intended to proceed is identical to that of age-matched historical controls illustrating the difficulties inherent in demonstrating benefit for the use of myeloablative therapy and ABMT in patients with AML in first remission.

G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells for allogeneic transplantation of resistant or relapsing acute leukemias.

Peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) were mobilized by G-CSF in normal HLA identical siblings and used for allogeneic transplantation in eight patients with refractory or relapsed acute leukemias. G-CSF administration was well tolerated and no significant side-effects were registered. The number of circulating WBC peaked at day 5 after G-CSF (range: 22.6-74.6 x 10(9)/l) with a median of 65 CD34+ cells/microl (38-155). As a consequence of leukaphereses, platelets progressively decreased, reaching the nadir after the last procedure (84-205 x 10(9)/l). A mean of two aphereses (1-3) were performed between day +4 and +7 during which 10 liters of blood were processed each time by a cell separator. Conditioning regimens were: fractionated total body irradiation (FTBI) plus either HDAra-C (2 g/m2 x 2/day for 6 days) (n=5) or melphalan (110 mg/m2) (n= 1) and busulfan (4 mg/kg/day for 4 days) and melphalan (110 mg/m2) in two patients relapsed after a previous FTBI-based allogeneic or autologous BMT. At transplantation, a median of 6.9 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg (4.2-16.5) and 279 x 10(6) CD3+ cells/kg (161-786) were infused. Engraftment of both neutrophils (> or v=1.5 x 10(9)/l) and platelets (> or v=20 x 10(9)/l) was observed in all patients after a median time of 18 days (range: 11-20 and 10-26, respectively). The evaluation of engraftment after transplantation was accomplished by PCR analysis of four hypervariable genomic regions (VNTR) (ApoB, ApoC2, YNZ-22, and MCT 118) which allowed to demonstrate the condition of donor chimaera in all patients after transplantation. As far as the clinical outcome, two patients died of interstitial pneumonitis at day +243 and +69 and two patients died at day +62 and +152 of pulmonary aspergillosis. Four patients remain alive in remission between day +88 and +287 with grade 0-l GVHD. Allogeneic PBPC transplantation is associated with a complete hematologic recovery and despite the infusion of a large amount of mature CD3+ lymphocytes, apparently acute GVHD is not worse than expected after transplantation of bone marrow progenitors.

Intensive therapy for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: preliminary results of the idarubicin/vincristine/L-asparaginase/prednisolone regimen.

Between June 1991 and September 1992, 80 patients with adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (newly diagnosed, n = 68; relapsed or refractory ALL, n = 7; lymphoid blast transformation of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia [LT-CML], n = 5) were managed with a combination regimen consisting of idarubicin 36, 20, or 10 mg/m2 plus vincristine, L-asparaginase, and prednisolone (IVAP-1, -2, -3). Three patients with LT-CML and four with relapsing ALL had a complete remission. In the group of newly diagnosed patients aged 15 to 60 years treated with IVAP-1, the complete remission rate was only 44% due to the high incidence of toxic deaths. In contrast, 39 of 44 cases who subsequently received IVAP-2 achieved a complete remission (89%, P = .001), as did 62% of elderly patients who received IVAP-3. Hematologic and nonhematologic toxicity was significantly reduced with IVAP-2 compared with IVAP-1. The use of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in 24 patients was not associated with a reduced duration of granulocytopenia less than 0.5 x 10(9)/L, although there was a lower incidence of documented infections in patients receiving granulocyte colony-stimulating factor than in controls. Post-remission intensification with idarubicin-based courses, high-dose therapy with autologous bone marrow stem cell rescue, and rotational weekly therapy was feasible and its toxicity was manageable. These preliminary findings indicate that IVAP-2 (idarubicin 20 mg/m2) is a highly effective and well-tolerated regimen for remission induction of adult ALL.

Aspirin and risk of bleeding in patients with thrombocythemia.

Thirty-two patients with thrombocythemia associated with myeloproliferative syndromes were selected on the basis of normal bleeding time and absence of hemorrhagic or thrombotic history. Twenty-five control subjects were studied simultaneously. They were all given a single intravenous infusion of 500 mg of aspirin (lysine acetylsalicylate), and bleeding time was measured two hours later. Both in the control group and in the patient group, aspirin significantly prolonged the bleeding time, but the average prolongation was significantly more pronounced in the patients. In comparison with the control subjects, the patients had a statistically significant reduction of platelet serotonin content and no difference in the production of platelet lipoxygenase derivative 12-HETE or plasma von Willebrand factor properties. Fourteen patients had abnormal platelet aggregation in response to adenosine diphosphate, adrenaline (epinephrine), or collagen. In six of them, all with very low serotonin content, the bleeding time was prolonged above the upper limit of the post-aspirin values in the control group. Thus, cyclooxygenase inhibition by aspirin unmasked a bleeding tendency in patients with a severe reduction in platelet dense bodies content. These findings might be relevant in relation to the use of antiplatelet drugs.

Fibrinogen Bergamo I (A alpha 16Arg----Cys): susceptibility towards thrombin following aminoethylation, methylation or carboxamidomethylation of cysteine residues.

An abnormal fibrinogen, denoted as "fibrinogen Bergamo I", has been characterized. Its defect consists in an exchange of arginine by cysteine in position 16 of the A alpha-chain, thus corresponding to that found in a number of other fibrinogen variants. The abnormal fibrinopeptide A cannot be split off by thrombin from intact fibrinogen Bergamo I. We describe three different chemical modifications of the cysteine A alpha 16, i.e. aminoethylation, methylation and carboxamidomethylation, and their effects on the susceptibility of fibrinogen Bergamo I towards thrombin attack. S-aminoethylation of the A alpha 16Cys renders the peptide bond A alpha 16-17 cleavable by thrombin. Following methylation or carboxamidomethylation, the A alpha 19-arginyl bond becomes accessible for thrombin. The chemically modified extended fibrinopeptide A can be readily separated from the normal fibrinopeptide A by HPLC. The latter two modifications are suitable alternative procedures for detecting the molecular defect A alpha 16Arg----Cys of fibrinogen.

Cancer procoagulant in acute non lymphoid leukemia: relationship of enzyme detection to disease activity.

Blast cell extracts from patients with acute non lymphoid leukemia (ANLL) express cancer procoagulant (CP). This factor X (FX) activator is distinct from tissue factor (TF) in that it does not require factor VII (FVII) to trigger blood coagulation, it acts as a cysteine proteinase and is not present in normal mononuclear cells. To assess whether there is any relationship between the presence of CP and the status of the disease, ANLL patients have been studied at diagnosis, during remission, at relapse. The procoagulant activity in either the presence or absence of F VII and sensitivity to cysteine proteinase inhibitors were tested on cell extracts. Immunoreactivity was explored with an anti-CP polyclonal antibody. Data obtained in 91 newly-diagnosed ANLL patients (subtypes M1 to M5, FAB classification) confirmed the presence of CP in M1 to M4 groups (mean +/- SE FVII-independent activity: M1 = 2.1 +/- 0.7 unit/mg; M2 = 5.7 +/- 1.7 unit/mg; M3 = 31.5 +/- 8 unit/mg; M4 = 1.6 +/- 1.2 unit/mg); CP was absent in the M5 type. In eight patients analyzed in a subsequent phase of partial remission, specific activity had dropped from 26.9 +/- 7.8 to 10.5 +/- 4.0 unit/mg. Activity was virtually absent (0-0.05 unit/mg) in the bone marrow of 37 patients studied at complete remission. Bone marrow samples from six subjects tested at different intervals after complete remission were repeatedly negative for CP but became positive 2 to 5 months before relapse. Upon relapse, the FVII independent activity rose to 24.2 +/- 8.2 unit/mg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Factors for rapid and sustained hematopoietic reconstitution by circulating progenitor-cell transplantation in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) mobilized from bone marrow will replace the use of bone marrow transplantation because hematopoietic reconstitution is more rapid using the former technique. We report on early and late recovery of hematopoiesis after CPC transplantation in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and analyze the role of variables possibly influencing engraftment. From December 1992 through September 1995, 57 consecutive NHL patients were enrolled in this study. Patients could be divided into 2 groups: the first comprised 32 patients with untreated diffuse large-cell lymphoma and unfavorable prognostic factors; the second comprised 25 patients with resistant or relapsing NHL of low-and high-grade histology. All patients received high-dose chemotherapy (carmustine, cytarabine, etoposide, and melphalan; BEAM) followed by CPC transplantation. In all, 25 patients were treated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) after CPC administration. The time to short-and long-term hematologic engraftment and variables correlating with multilineage long-term reconstitution were examined. The time to bilineage (neutrophils and platelets) hematopoietic reconstitution did not differ in G-CSF-treated and-untreated patients. In contrast, the time taken to reach a neutrophil count of 0.5 x 10(9)/1 and a WBC of 1 x 10(9)/1 was significantly shorter in G-CSF-treated patients. Overall, 33 patients achieved long-term, complete trilineage engraftment after a median of 117 days from CPC transplantation. The leukocyte count was the first parameter to reach full engraftment and hemoglobin was the last. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, 80% of the patients are projected to reconstitute fully at 12 months after transplantation. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that sustained, long-term hematopoiesis was significantly related to a younger age, an early bilineage reconstitution, and the quantity of CD34+ cells infused.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF, filgrastim) after or during an intensive remission induction therapy for adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: effects, role of patient pretreatment characteristics, and costs.

An early intensive anthracycline therapy can improve therapeutic outcome in adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) but is usually associated with marked myelosuppressive effects and significant morbidity by infections. To reduce this risk, we employed granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF, filgrastim 5 microg/kg/d) as an adjunct to a myelotoxic, 14-day long induction regimen with idarubicin-vincristine-L-asparaginase-prednisone (IVAP). Owing to changes in study design, patients received 'late' (n = 28) or 'early' (n = 37) G-CSF from days 15 or 4 of IVAP, respectively, until resolution of severe neutropenia. Study endpoints included time to recovery from neutropenic nadir, duration of neutropenia <0.5 x 10(9)/l, incidence of infectious complications, assessment of variables affecting G-CSF response, clinical outcome and costs. Sixty-five consecutive cases were evaluable. Patients in early G-CSF group recovered significantly faster from the neutropenic nadir (p < 0.002), contracted less infectious complications (p = 0.007), and required less intravenous antibiotic (p = 0.008) and antifungal (p = 0.002) medications. Although these reductions did not compensate for the increased G-CSF treatment cost, the overall supportive care cost was not significantly increased by early G-CSF. Interestingly, T-ALL phenotype (p = 0.02) and higher neutrophil presentation count (p = 0.03) were associated with a shorter neutropenic course even with late G-CSF. Early G-CSF may be a valid approach to mitigate chemotherapy-induced neutropenia of IVAP and other similarly myelosuppressive adult ALL regimens.

Age-adapted moderate-dose induction and flexible outpatient postremission therapy for elderly patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

We report the results of a recent trial in elderly acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients (> or = 60 years). Initial chemotherapy consisted of one 14-day course with single-dose idarubicin plus vincristine-prednisone-L-asparaginase. Idarubicin was preferred to other anthracyclines because of its shorter time to response. Sequential outpatient postremission therapy included single-dose idarubicin plus vincristine-cyclophosphamide-L-asparaginase pulses, cranial irradiation with intrathecal methotrexate-cytarabine, flexible weekly vincristine-cyclophosphamide alternating with cytarabine-teniposide, and two-year standard maintenance with mercaptopurine-methotrexate. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was added to induction and early consolidation courses. Twenty-two patients mainly with high-risk features entered the study: median age was 64 years (60-73), 40% of cases were CD10- B-lineage and T-lineage ALL, 38% of CD10+ B-lineage ALL carried a BCR-ABL rearrangement, while 23% coexpressed myeloid antigen, 86% had L2 morphology, 50% had a blast count greater than 10 x 10(9)/1, 54% had hepato-splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. The complete remission (CR) rate after induction therapy was 59%. A partial remission was obtained in two cases. There were four early deaths (18%) and three refractory ALL (14%). Median time to response was 21 days. With G-CSF, the median duration of absolute neutropenia was 10.5 days. Flexible postremission therapy was very well tolerated, causing no major toxicity. With a median follow-up of 2.6 years, 3 patients remain alive in first CR (23%), 2 of whom at 21.3 months and 39.6 months, respectively. Median survival of responders was 12 months compared to only 1.2 months for nonresponders (p < 0.001). This moderate-dose idarubicin-containing and G-CSF-supported regimen was associated with a high early remission rate in elderly ALL. Postremission therapy results were modest, though not appreciably different from the general experience in this patient population. Because further escalation of drug intensity appears unjustified, attempts to document and reverse drug resistance patterns and restore a dysregulated apoptosis must be considered.

High risk of severe bleeding in aged patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence and to establish which factors were associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic complications in an historic cohort of 117 consecutive and unselected patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Sixty-eight patients (58%) underwent medical treatment and/or splenectomy and 33 (48% of treated) achieved a complete stable remission. At equivalent platelet count the incidence of major hemorrhagic complications was significantly higher in aged (greater than 60 years) than in younger (less than 40 years) patients (10.4% v 0.4%/pt-y, relative risk = 28.9, P less than .01). A previous hemorrhagic event was identified as another major risk factor for hemorrhage (relative risk = 27.5, P less than .0005), while hypertension and underlying disorders had no influence. We conclude that age more than 60 years and a previous history of bleeding are major risk factors for severe hemorrhages in adults with ITP.

The management of acute myelogenous leukemia in the elderly: ten-year experience in 118 patients.

This retrospective study was undertaken to analyse the survival pattern of 118 consecutive, unselected patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) aged between 60 and 82 years observed at a single centre over a 10-year period (1981-1991). Thirty-two per cent of cases had an antecedent hematological disorder (AHD), and 7 per cent had a secondary AML. Forty patients (39 per cent) were managed with palliative intent with short courses with oral hydroxyurea +/- 6-thioguanine. In contrast to 78 patients (61 per cent) selected for remission-induction treatment, these were significantly older (P < 0.0001), had a greater incidence of AHD (P < 0.039) and of hypoplastic AML (P < 0.017), and an inferior amount of blast cells in the bone marrow (P < 0.003). Patients undergoing remission-induction chemotherapy were managed with DAT-like chemotherapy, high-dose cytosine arabinoside (HD-ara-C), and mitoxantrone-based regimens. The complete response (CR) rate was 29 per cent. Response was higher with the two most intensive HD-araC and mitoxantrone-etoposide-araC programmes (P < 0.026), and correlated favourably with no AHD (P < 0.04) and lower blast cell count in the peripheral blood (P < 0.02). Overall survival of responders was longer than in palliation and nonresponder groups (P < 0.025 and P < 0.001, respectively). In the active treatment group, survival correlated with performance status (P < 0.005) and blast cell count (P < 0.05). Infection was the main cause of morbidity during active treatment, accounting for most induction failures (60 per cent), followed by haemorrhage (12 per cent) and resistant disease (12 per cent). These results from an unselected series represent an improvement over those obtained by us in previous years (1971-1980), and show that intensive treatment programmes are applicable to the elderly with AML and that prolonged disease-free survival is possible for some. Improving further CR rate and duration will depend equally on the optimization of supportive care measures and the introduction of more effective therapeutic modalities.

The use of anthracyclines in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

A critical review of the role of anthracyclines in the management of adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia was performed to define current indications for their use. Major pertinent clinical series were reviewed with reference to anthracycline type, cumulative dosage and dose intensity, and administration schedule during both induction therapy and postremission consolidation, comparing results, whenever possible, with non-anthracycline treatment groups. A subgroup analysis was performed to evidentiate disease subtypes likely associated with a favorable outcome to anthracycline treatment. The results indicated that anthracyclines may still play a primary role in this setting. In particular, anthracyclines should be used at full therapeutic doses, especially during induction and early consolidation; idarubicin could be a better choice than daunorubicin or adriamycin; finally, an early brief intensive treatment with anthracyclines may provide an excellent probability of long-term disease-free survival in CD10+ t(9;22)-negative B-precursor adult ALL, obviating the need for prolonged maintenance or late reinduction therapy.

A new combination of carboplatin, high-dose cytarabine and cross-over mitoxantrone or idarubicin for refractory and relapsed acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: High-dose cytarabine (HIDAC) and new anthracycline-type drugs (mitoxantrone, idarubicin) are the mainstay of several active regimens against relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The present study was undertaken to assess the feasibility, toxicity, and antileukemic activity of carboplatin (CBDCA) added to a combination of the two former agents. DESIGN AND METHODS: Two regimens (R) of CBDCA plus HIDAC and either mitoxantrone or idarubicin (crossover) were sequentially evaluated. R-1 consisted of CBDCA 300 mg/m2/d (24-hour infusion) on days 1-4, HIDAC 1 g/m2/bd on days 1-5, and mitoxantrone/idarubicin 12/6 mg/m2/d on days 1-3, followed by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). R-2, an attenuated-toxicity regimen, consisted of CBDCA and G-CSF as above, HIDAC on alternate days (1, 3, 5), and mitoxantrone/idarubicin 8/5 mg/m2/dose. Intended post-remission therapy included a similar, lower intensity course and a myeloablative phase supported by an allogeneic or autologous blood cell transplant. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (median age 53 years, one child) formed the study group: 10 (34%) had a primary refractory disease (8 to idarubicin-cytarabine-etoposide, ICE), 6 (21%) were at second or subsequent relapse, and 5 (17%) had a first remission lasting < 12 months. In addition, 4 patients (14%) had received prior HIDAC and 10 (34%) were relapsing after a bone marrow/blood cell transplant. Twelve patients were treated with R-1 and 17 with R-2. The complete response rate was 25% with R-1 and 53% with R-2, due to a significantly lower death rate by pancytopenic complications (p = 0.023). The probability of response by risk class was: primary refractory 30% (43% with R-2), > 2nd relapse 33% (50% with R-2), 1st relapse < 12 months 40% (50% with R-2), 1st relapse > 12 months 50% (75% with R-2), prior HIDAC 75%, and prior transplant 30% (33% with R-2). Seven patients could undergo an autologous (n = 5) or allogeneic (n = 2) bone marrow/peripheral blood cell transplant after one consolidation cycle. Overall survival was 4.2 months, significantly longer in responders (complete and partial: median 11 months) than non-responders (p < 0.001). Median duration of complete remission was 10 months and 2-year probability 0.31, but no patient remained disease-free at 3 years. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: R-2 was well tolerated, exerted a significant activity in high-risk AML, and is amenable to further improvements. However, the lack of long-term disease-free survivors indicates the need for innovative post-remission strategies.

Danazol for the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Fourteen patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) refractory to steroids and/or splenectomy were treated with danazol (200 mg 3 times a day) for 2 months. The following responses were achieved: excellent (platelet count greater than 100 X 10(9)/l) in 5 patients; good (greater than 50 X 10(9)/l, but less than 100 X 10(9)/l) in 2 patients, and poor in (no increase of platelet count) 7 patients. In three cases remission lasted more than 7 months. Danazol was well tolerated and in most patients better suited than steroids for long-term intake.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and pregnancy. Maternal platelet count and antiplatelet antibodies do not predict the risk of neonatal thrombocytopenia.

The aim of this study was to try to better characterize, on the basis of maternal platelet count and antiplatelet antibodies, women with ITP or a history thereof at risk of being delivered of a child affected by neonatal thrombocytopenia. Results show that either clinical classification or maternal platelet count were not effective in predicting the occurrence of neonatal thrombocytopenia. Effects of prednisone on platelet-bound and unbound antibodies were studied prospectively in 12 non-pregnant women with ITP; no increase of these parameters was observed after treatment. Thus, the risk of corticosteroid therapy in the management of pregnant ITP patients remains hypothetical and unproven.

Clinical outcome after autologous transplantation in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients with high international prognostic index (IPI).

BACKGROUND: Dose intensification and autologous stem cell transplantation as front-line therapy in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients (NHL) is a matter for debate, although preliminary data suggest a role for it in patients at high risk of resistance or relapse according to the international prognostic index (IPI). PURPOSE AND STUDY DESIGN: To compare retrospectively the clinical outcome of two cohorts of NHL patients with high-risk IPI treated with MACOP-B for 12 weeks (38 patients) or high-dose chemotherapy (44 patients) including eight weeks of MACOP-B, one or two intensification cycles with mitoxanthrone, dexamethasone, high-dose ara-C and finally BEAM chemotherapy with autologous hemopoietic progenitor cell transplantation. RESULTS: The actuarial estimate of event (progression, relapse or death)-free survival (EFS) at three years was better (58% vs. 41%, P = 0.08) for patients treated with intensive regimen even though the overall survival did not show a statistically significant difference (63% vs. 50%, P = 0.27). Multivariate analysis showed that the high-dose chemotherapy program was the only independent variable correlating with a reduction in the event rate. CONCLUSION: Early autologous stem-cell transplantation might improve the clinical outcome of high-risk patients according to IPI.