Preventive versus curative photobiomodulation for oral mucositis in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: which approach is more effective?

PURPOSE: There is increasing evidence that photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy is both an effective and safe approach in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for both prevention and management of oral mucositis (OM), but its use in clinical practice is still limited and the timing of application is under discussion. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate possible differences between patients treated either with preventive or curative PBM therapy. METHODS: The retrospective case series included 24 patients suffering from multiple myeloma who underwent the same conditioning and transplantation protocol. Patients were treated either with preventive PBM starting from the first day of conditioning up to two days post-HSCT or with curative PBM (starting at OM onset for four consecutive days). OM score, pain, and functional parameters were recorded. RESULTS: All patients developed OM. Preventive PBM was significantly more effective in reducing OM severity (p < 0.0001) and pain (p < 0.0001) post-HSCT than curative PBM. Furthermore, we found a lower number of patients reporting discomfort in all subjective parameters (pain during swallowing, chewing, and speaking) in the preventive PBM group. No adverse events related to PBM therapy were recorded in both groups. CONCLUSION: The timing for PBM therapy in patients undergoing HSCT is crucial: when started on the first day of conditioning, it significantly reduces both pain and OM severity, providing an important benefit also in subjective oral functions such as speaking, swallowing, and chewing, thus increasing the overall adherence to the oncological therapies.

Clonal haematopoiesis as a risk factor for therapy-related myeloid neoplasms in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia treated with chemo-(immuno)therapy.

Clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) may predispose for the development of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN). Using target next-generation sequencing (t-NGS) panels and digital droplet polymerase chain reactions (ddPCR), we studied the myeloid gene mutation profiles of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) who developed a t-MN after treatment with chemo-(immuno)therapy. Using NGS, we detected a total of 30 pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in 10 of 13 patients with a t-MN (77%, median number of variants for patient: 2, range 0-6). The prevalence of CHIP was then backtracked in paired samples taken at CLL diagnosis in eight of these patients. Six of them carried at least one CHIP-variant at the time of t-MN (median: 2, range: 1-5), and the same variants were present in the CLL sample in five cases. CHIP variants were present in 34 of 285 patients from a population-based CLL cohort, which translates into a significantly higher prevalence of CHIP in patients with a CLL who developed a t-MN, compared to the population-based cohort (5/8, 62.5% vs. 34/285, 12%, p = 0.0001). Our data show that CHIP may be considered as a novel parameter affecting treatment algorithms in patients with CLL, and highlight the potential of using chemo-free therapies in CHIP-positive cases.

Molecular dissection of a hyper-aggressive CBFB-MYH11/FLT3-ITD-positive acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is a haematological malignancy showing a hypervariable landscape of clinical outcomes and phenotypic differences, explainable by heterogeneity at the cellular and molecular level. Among the most common genomic alterations, CBFB-MYH11 rearrangement and FLT3-ITD gene mutations, have opposite clinical significance and are unfrequently associated. We present here a Molecular Case Report in which these two events co-exist an ultra-aggressive phenotype resulting in death in 4 days from hospital admittance. Somatic and germline Whole Exome Sequencing analysis was performed to uncover other putative driver mutations, de-novo genomic structural events or germline clusters increasing cancer insurgence. Only three mutations in LTK, BCAS2 and LGAS9 were found, unlikely causative of the exhibited phenotype, prompting to additional investigation of the rare CBFB-MYH11/ FLT3-ITD scenario.

Early intracranial haemorrhages in acute promyelocytic leukaemia: analysis of neuroradiological and clinico-biological parameters.

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) represents a modern success of precision medicine. However, fatalities occurring within the first 30 days of induction treatment, in particular intracranial haemorrhage (ICH), remain the main causes of death. We studied the clinico-biological characteristics of 13 patients with APL who experienced ICH. Compared to 85 patients without this complication, patients with ICH were older and more frequently had high-risk APL. Moreover, positivity for the 'swirl' sign at neuroradiological imaging and hydrocephalus were predictors of a fatal outcome, together with lower fibrinogen, prolonged international normalized ratio (INR) and higher lactate dehydrogenase levels.

When Poisons Cure: The Case of Arsenic in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia.

Arsenic has been known for centuries for its double-edged potential: a poison and at the same time a therapeutic agent. The name "arsenikon," meaning "potent," speaks itself for the pharmaceutical properties of this compound, questioned and analyzed for at least 2000 years. In the last decades, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has evolved from a highly fatal to a curable disease, due to the use of all-trans-retinoic acid and, more recently, arsenic trioxide combinations. The success of these entirely chemo-free regimens increased the awareness of APL and reduced the prevalence of early deaths, which was an impending issue in this disease. Further improvements are expected with the next use of oral arsenic formulations, which will allow a complete outpatient approach, at least in the post-induction settings, further improving patients' quality of life. The wide use of standardized approaches in APL will also help unravel long-standing open questions, including the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of the differentiation syndrome and of short-term organ toxicities. In the long term, the study of survivorship issues, such as fertility and organ-related and psychological damages, in the increasing number of survivors will help further improve their life after APL.

Comparative analysis of azacitidine and intensive chemotherapy as front-line treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

The present observational study aimed to compare the efficacy of azacitidine (AZA) and intensive chemotherapy (IC) in elderly patients with untreated acute myeloid leukemia (AML), diagnosed according to WHO criteria. In the two groups, we evaluated complete remission (CR), overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS). The AZA group included 89 patients; median age was 73 years (range 61-80) and median white blood cell count (WBCc) 2.5 × 109/L (range 0.27-83), 45% of the patients had BM blasts ≥ 30%, and 44 (49%) had a secondary AML (sAML). Karyotype was evaluable in 69 patients: 51 (74%) had intermediate-risk abnormalities and 18 (26%) an unfavorable risk karyotype. IC group consisted of 110 patients who received an induction course with mitoxantrone, cytarabine, and etoposide, followed by two consolidation cycles including idarubicin, cytarabine, and etoposide. Median age was 67 years (range 61-78) and median WBCc 8.0 × 109/L (range 0.69-258); 44 (40%) had a sAML. Karyotype was evaluable in 88 patients, 71 (81%) had intermediate risk, and 17 (19%) unfavorable risk karyotype. To minimize the effects of treatment selection bias, adjustments were made using the propensity-score matching method, which yielded 74 patient pairs. CR rate was significantly higher in IC vs AZA group (73 vs 25%, respectively) (p < 0.0001), but the 3-year OS rates and median OS were not significantly different (21.6 vs 11% and 15.8 vs 13 months, respectively). Our analysis suggests similar outcomes with AZA compared to IC. Controlled, randomized clinical trials are warranted to confirm this conclusion.

A cluster of Geotrichum clavatum (Saprochaete clavata) infection in haematological patients: a first Italian report and review of literature.

Invasive fungal infections, usually Aspergillus and Candida, represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with malignant haematological diseases, but in the last years rare fungal infections have more frequently been reported. Here, we report the clinical history of three patients affected with haematological malignancies who developed an infection caused by Geotrichum (G.) clavatum. Two out of three patients were affected by acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), and one by mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). All patients received cytarabine-based chemotherapeutic regimens and developed G. clavatum infection within 3 weeks from therapy initiation. In all cases, G. clavatum was isolated from central venous catheter and peripheral blood cultures. In vitro susceptibility test confirmed an intrinsic resistance to echinocandins and, in all cases, visceral localisations (spleen, liver and lung) were documented by total body computed tomography (CT) scan. A prolonged antifungal therapy with high doses liposomal amphotericin-B was necessary to obtain fever resolution. Only the patient with MCL died while the other two AML recovered, and one of them after received an allogeneic stem cell transplantation. We consecutively reviewed all published cases of infection caused by G. clavatum. Our experience and literature review indicate that G. clavatum can cause invasive infection in haematological patients, mainly in those with acute leukaemia.

Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome following a dog bite in an asplenic patient: case report and review of the literature.

The Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome represents a critical condition characterized by a septic shock associated with a disseminated intravascular coagulation causing the plugging of the microvascular network virtually all organs and systems, including the skin, the kidneys, the liver, and adrenal glands; the mortality rate is elevated, and survivors often must undergo multiple limb amputations. Here, we describe the uncommon case of an asplenic patient who developed this syndrome after a superficial wound caused by a dog bite causing an initial infection due to Capnocytophaga canimorsus that is part of the normal oral microbiome of pets. The clinical and pathological findings and the current and future therapeutic options are reviewed and discussed.

Serological and cellular response to mRNA-SARS-CoV2 vaccine in patients with hematological lymphoid malignancies: Results of the study "Cervax".

messenger RNA (mRNA)-Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) vaccines such as BNT162b2 became available in late 2020, but hematological malignancy patients (HM pts) were not evaluated in initial registration trials. We hereby report the results of a prospective, unicentric, observational study Response to COVID-19 Vaccination in hEmatological malignancies (CERVAX) developed to assess the postvaccine serological and T-cell-mediated response in a cohort of SARS-CoV2-negative HM pts vaccinated with BNT162b2. Patients with lymphomas [non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)], chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and multiple myeloma (MM); off-therapy for at least 3 months; in a watch-and-wait program; or in treatment with ibrutinib, venetoclax, and lenalidomide were included. Different time points were considered to assess the serological response to the vaccine: before the second dose (T1), at 3-6-12 months after the first dose (T2-3-4, respectively). Since March 2021, 39 pts have been enrolled: 15 (38%) NHL, 12 (31%) CLL, and 12 (31%) MM. There were 13 of the 39 pts (33%) seroconverted at T1; an increase of the serological response was registered after the second dose (T2) (22/39 pts, 56%) and maintained after 6 months (22/39 pts, 56%) and 12 months (24/39 pts, 61%) from the first dose (T3-T4, respectively). Non-serological responders at T4 were 7/39 (18%): 0/15 NHL, 1/12 MM (8%), and 6/12 CLL (50%). All of them were on therapy (one lenalidomide, three ibrutinib, and three venetoclax). SARS-CoV2-reactive T-cell analysis (interferon gamma release assays) was available since June 2022 and was evaluated at 12 months (T4) from the first dose of vaccine in 31/39 pts (79%). T-cell-mediated-responders were 17/31 (55%): most of them were NHL and MM (47%, 41% and 12% for NHL, MM, and CLL, respectively). Both serological and T-cell non-responders were represented by pts on active therapy (venetoclax/ibrutinib). During the period of observation, eight (20.5%) pts developed mild SARS-CoV2 infection; no coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)-related deaths or hospitalizations were registered. In conclusion, in our cohort of lymphoproliferative pts receiving BNT162b2, CLL diagnosis and venetoclax/ibrutinib seem to be related with a lower humoral or T-mediated response. Nevertheless, the efficacy of mRNA vaccine in HM pts and the importance to continue the vaccine program even in non-responders after the first dose are supported in our study by demonstrating that a humoral and T-cell-mediated seroconversion should be observed even in the subsets of heavily immunocompromised pts.

Venetoclax in combination with hypomethylating agents in previously untreated patients with acute myeloid leukemia ineligible for intensive treatment: a real-life multicenter experience.

The addition of venetoclax to hypomethylating agents (HMA-V) improved the outcome of patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) ineligible for intensive treatment. The aim of our study was to confirm data reported in literature, in a real-life multicenter experience. We retrospectively evaluated 56 naïve AML patients who received HMA-V at 8 different collaborating Hematology Units in the North-East of Italy, from September 2018 to October 2020. Patients received azacitidine or decitabine at standard dose, adding venetoclax starting from cycle 1-3. The median time-to-response was 2 cycles and composite complete remission rate (CCR) was 67.9%. Thirteen out of 38 responders (34.2%) relapsed, with a median response duration of 13.7 months. Transfusion independence (TI) was obtained in 27 (87.0%) and 28 (90.3%) out of 31 patients for red blood cells and platelets, respectively. Median OS was 12.3 months (95% CI, 8.1-16.5), and median PFS was 11.3 months (95% CI, 4.6-17.9). Cytogenetic risk was the only variable impacting on survival, while no differences were observed stratifying patients by age, bone marrow blasts, WHO classification or type of HMA. In conclusion, our real-life multicenter experience indicates that HMA-V treatment allows achieving good response rates in naïve AML patients, ineligible for intensive chemotherapy.

Vitamin C Deficiency in Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Vitamin C has been shown to play a significant role in suppressing progression of leukemia through epigenetic mechanisms. We aimed to study the role of vitamin C in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) biology and clinical course. To this purpose, the plasma levels of vitamin C at diagnosis in 62 patients with AML (including 5 cases with acute promyelocytic leukemia, APL),7 with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and in 15 healthy donors (HDs) were studied. As controls, vitamins A and E levels were analysed. Expression of the main vitamin C transporters and of the TET2 enzyme were investigated by a specific RQ-PCR while cytoplasmic vitamin C concentration and its uptake were studied in mononuclear cells (MNCs), lymphocytes and blast cells purified from AML samples, and MNCs isolated from HDs. There were no significant differences in vitamin A and E serum levels between patients and HDs. Conversely, vitamin C concentration was significantly lower in AML as compared to HDs (p<0.0001), inversely correlated with peripheral blast-counts (p=0.029), significantly increased at the time of complete remission (CR) (p=0.04) and further decreased in resistant disease (p=0.002). Expression of the main vitamin C transporters SLC23A2, SLC2A1 and SLC2A3 was also significantly reduced in AML compared to HDs. In this line, cytoplasmic vitamin C levels were also significantly lower in AML-MNCs versus HDs, and in sorted blasts compared to normal lymphocytes in individual patients. No association was found between vitamin C plasma levels and the mutation profile of AML patients, as well as when considering cytogenetics or 2017 ELN risk stratification groups. Finally, vitamin C levels did not play a predictive role for overall or relapse-free survival. In conclusion, our study shows that vitamin C levels are significantly decreased in patients with AML at the time of initial diagnosis, further decrease during disease progression and return to normal upon achievement of CR. Correspondingly, low intracellular levels may mirror increased vitamin C metabolic consumption in proliferating AML cells.

Prevalence and Prognostic Role of IDH Mutations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Results of the GIMEMA AML1516 Protocol.

IDH1/2 mutations are common in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and represent a therapeutic target. The GIMEMA AML1516 observational protocol was designed to study the prevalence of IDH1/2 mutations and associations with clinico-biological parameters in a cohort of Italian AML patients. We analyzed a cohort of 284 AML consecutive patients at diagnosis, 139 females and 145 males, of a median age of 65 years (range: 19−86). Of these, 38 (14%) harbored IDH1 and 51 (18%) IDH2 mutations. IDH1/2 mutations were significantly associated with WHO PS >2 (p < 0.001) and non-complex karyotype (p = 0.021) when compared to IDH1/2-WT. Furthermore, patients with IDH1 mutations were more frequently NPM1-mutated (p = 0.007) and had a higher platelet count (p = 0.036). At relapse, IDH1/2 mutations were detected in 6 (25%) patients. As per the outcome, 60.5% of IDH1/2-mutated patients achieved complete remission; overall survival and event-free survival at 2 years were 44.5% and 36.1%, respectively: these rates were similar to IDH1/2-WT. In IDH1/2-mutated patients, high WBC proved to be an independent prognostic factor for survival. In conclusion, the GIMEMA AML1516 confirms that IDH1/2 mutations are frequently detected at diagnosis and underlines the importance of recognizing IDH1/2-mutated cases up-front to offer the most appropriate therapeutic strategy, given the availability of IDH1/2 inhibitors.

Therapeutic Choice in Older Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Matter of Fitness.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with an incidence increasing with age, is the most common acute leukemia in adults. Concurrent comorbidities, mild to severe organ dysfunctions, and low performance status (PS) are frequently found in older patients at the onset, conditioning treatment choice and crucially influencing the outcome. Although anthracyclines plus cytarabine-based chemotherapy, also called "7 + 3" regimen, remains the standard of care in young adults, its use in patients older than 65 years should be reserved to selected cases because of higher incidence of toxicity. These adverse features of AML in the elderly underline the importance of a careful patient assessment at diagnosis as a critical tool in the decision-making process of treatment choice. In this review, we will describe selected recently approved drugs as well as examine prognostic algorithms that may be helpful to assign treatment in elderly patients properly.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) expression is associated with FLT3-ITD mutations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) is a DNA polymerase expressed in acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs), where it may be involved in the generation of NPM1 and FLT3-ITD mutations. We studied the correlations between TdT expression and FLT3-ITD or NPM1 mutations in primary AML samples, and the impact on patients' survival. TdT expression was analyzed in 143 adult AML patients by flow cytometry as percentage of positivity and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) on blasts. TdT was positive in 49 samples (34.2%), with a median of 48% TdT-positivity (range 7-98) and a median MFI of 2.70 (range 1.23-30.54). FLT3-ITD and NPM1 mutations were present in 24 (16.7%) and 34 (23.7%) cases, respectively. Median TdT expression on blasts was significantly higher in FLT3-ITD+, as compared with FLT3-ITD- AMLs (median 8% vs 0% respectively, p = 0.035). NPM1 mutational status, FLT3-ITD allelic ratio, karyotype, and ELN risk groups, did not correlate with TdT expression or MFI on blasts. TdT + patients had poorer survival as compared to TdT-, but this result was not confirmed by the multivariable analysis, where ELN risk stratification as well as age and type of treatment remained independent prognostic factors for OS. In summary, our results support the possible implication of TdT enzyme in the generation of FLT3-ITD mutations in AML.

The Role of Forkhead Box Proteins in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Forkhead box (FOX) proteins are a group of transcriptional factors implicated in different cellular functions such as differentiation, proliferation and senescence. A growing number of studies have focused on the relationship between FOX proteins and cancers, particularly hematological neoplasms such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). FOX proteins are widely involved in AML biology, including leukemogenesis, relapse and drug sensitivity. Here we explore the role of FOX transcription factors in the major AML entities, according to "The 2016 revision to the World Health Organization classification of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemia", and in the context of the most recurrent gene mutations identified in this heterogeneous disease. Moreover, we report the new evidences about the role of FOX proteins in drug sensitivity, mechanisms of chemoresistance, and possible targeting for personalized therapies.

Applications and efficiency of flow cytometry for leukemia diagnostics.

Introduction: Multiparametric flow cytometry immunophenotype (MFCI) plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of acute leukemia (AL). Through the comprehensive assessment of surface and intracellular antigens expressed by blasts, MFCI permits to distinguish myeloid or B/T lymphoid AL, or AL of ambiguous lineages. By means of MFCI, the blasts can be characterized in bone marrow, peripheral blood, and body fluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid.Area covered: This review discusses how MFCI is currently applied in the diagnostic evaluation of AL; it also focuses on 'peculiar' issues such as the role of MFCI for the diagnosis of central nervous system leukemic involvement.Expert commentary: Despite the improved knowledge about the biology of AL, MFCI remains a fundamental tool to make a prompt and accurate diagnosis. MFCI also provides prognostic information for some antigens are associated with specific cytogenetic/genetic abnormalities and, recently, it became a powerful tool to evaluate the quality and depth of response (the so called 'measurable residual disease'). Its role as an efficient detector of residual disease paved the way to the investigation of tissues other than bone marrow and peripheral blood, demonstrating that even small amounts of AL appear to have a prognostic impact and may require personalized intervention.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Concomitant BCR-ABL and NPM1 Mutations.

We present a case report of a patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) characterized by the simultaneous presence of nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) mutation and the breakpoint cluster region-Abelson (BCR-ABL) fusion oncogene. Our findings emphasize the importance of routinely including BCR-ABL in the diagnostic workup of AML in order to offer to the patients the most appropriate risk category and treatment options.

Diagnostic Performance and Safety of Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Thrombocytopenic Haematological Patients for Invasive Fungal Infections Diagnosis: A Monocentric, Retrospective Experience.

BACKGROUND: Although bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) measurements of galactomannan antigen (GM) seems to be more sensitive than serum testing to detect invasive fungal infection (IFI), a consensus on the most appropriate diagnostic threshold of the BAL GM test is still unclear. Moreover, there is uncertainty as to whether BAL is a safe procedure in patients with hematological malignancies (HM) and thrombocytopenia. OBJECTIVES: Based on this background, 102 adult patients with HM and associated thrombocytopenia were retrospectively analyzed with the dual aim of 1) determining whether BAL is a safe and feasible procedure; and, 2) identifying the most appropriate threshold for GM positivity in the diagnosis of IFI. PATIENTS/METHODS: each BAL was considered as one case/patient. One hundred twelve BALs were carried out in 102 HM patients: at the time of the BAL, the median platelet count (PLTs) in all patients was 47×109/L (1-476), and 31 patients (27%) had PLTs< 20×109/L. RESULTS: complications from the BAL were infrequent (3.5%) and mild. No bleeding was reported. The BAL GM cut off of >0.8 was associated with the best diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity 72.97% and specificity 80%). Antifungal treatment of patients with BAL GM >0.8 resulted in a clinical-radiological improvement in 35/41 patients (85%). CONCLUSIONS: BAL was a safe procedure also in thrombocytopenic patients, permitting an IFI diagnosis not otherwise identifiable using EORTC/MSG criteria. Our data suggest that a BAL GM value of>0.8 represents the most useful cut-off in terms of sensibility and specificity. Further prospective studies on a more significant number of patients are needed to confirm these results.