Outcomes of Consecutively Diagnosed Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma Patients Using the Alberta Lymphoma Clinical Practice Guideline Incorporating Thiotepa-Busulfan Conditioning for Transplantation-Eligible Patients.

While no widely accepted standard treatment regimen exists for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), growing evidence supports an approach that incorporates autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as consolidative therapy when feasible. In November 2011, the Alberta Hematology Tumor Team established a new clinical practice guideline (CPG) for PCNSL involving high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX)/cytarabine-based induction followed by ASCT for eligible patients using a thiotepa and busulfan (TBu) conditioning regimen that omitted cyclophosphamide from the regimen that was used before 2011. This retrospective study analyzed all 64 patients with PCNSL diagnosed consecutively in 3 Canadian centers between November 2011 and December 2017 to evaluate adherence to the 2011 CPG and associated outcomes. Of the 64 patients with PCNSL, 38 were initiated on the transplantation-eligible protocol, of whom 30 underwent successful ASCT, and 26 were deemed transplantation-ineligible, of whom only 7 completed the transplantation-ineligible HDMTX-based protocol. For the transplantation-eligible and -ineligible cohorts, the projected 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were 83.8% and 14.3% and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 78.1% and 0%, respectively. For the 30 patients who underwent TBu/ASCT, the 3-year OS and PFS rates were 92.7% and 88.9%, respectively, with no treatment-related mortality or significant neurotoxicity. These real-world results highlight the efficacy and tolerability of TBu/ASCT consolidation for PCNSL in patients young and fit enough for an intensive treatment program, along with the significant need for improved therapies for older or less fit patients with PCNSL.

Targeting non-Hodgkin lymphoma with blinatumomab.

INTRODUCTION: Management of patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) remains challenging, and novel effective agents are eagerly awaited. Blinatumomab is a bispecific T-cell engager, targeting CD19. While blinatumomab's primary clinical use has been in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), there are increasing data for its use in B-lineage lymphomas. Areas covered: The aim of this review is to highlight the clinical data for blinatumomab use in NHL. Herein, the authors provide an overview of blinatumomab, its mechanism of action, its proven efficacy against B-ALL, and its phase I-II data assessing its use in NHL Expert opinion: Blinatumomab has modest activity in phase I-II trials in NHL, and may represent a means of bridging patients with relapsed disease to hematopoietic stem cell transplant. More widespread use is currently hampered by lack of phase III data, multiple competing agents, an onerous administration schedule and significant side effect profile. Further studies are eagerly awaited assessing its use in combination with other immunotherapy strategies.

Autologous stem cell transplantation for stiff person syndrome: two cases from the Ottawa blood and marrow transplant program.

IMPORTANCE: Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare neurological disease causing significant functional disability for patients and presenting a therapeutic challenge for clinicians. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) has been used successfully to remit autoimmune-mediated neurological diseases. We report 2 cases of severe SPS treated with auto-HSCT, a novel therapy for this disease. OBSERVATIONS: Two anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody-positive patients with SPS had an autologous hematopoietic stem cell graft collected and stored. Subsequently, the patients underwent auto-HSCT. Both patients achieved clinical remission with sustained, marked improvement in symptoms and a return to premorbid functioning, now more than 2.5 and 4.5 years after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Stiff person syndrome represents a novel indication for auto-HSCT. The resolution of clinical manifestations of SPS despite the persistence of anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies following auto-HSCT suggests that the antibody does not play a direct role in pathogenesis of SPS.