Allogeneic stem cell transplantation for mantle cell lymphoma-update of the prospective trials of the East German Study Group Hematology/Oncology (OSHO#60 and #74).

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with an often aggressive course, incurable by chemotherapy. Consolidation with high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (autoSCT) has a low transplant-related mortality but does not lead to a survival plateau. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is associated with a higher early mortality, but can cure MCL. To investigate alloSCT for therapy of MCL, we conducted two prospective trials for de novo MCL (OSHO#74) and for relapsed or refractory MCL (OSHO#60). Fifteen and 24 patients were recruited, respectively. Induction was mainly R-DHAP alternating with R-CHOP. Conditioning was either Busulfan/Cyclophosphamide or Treosulfan/Fludarabin. Either HLA-identical siblings or matched-unrelated donors with not more than one mismatch were allowed. ATG was mandatory in mismatched or unrelated transplantation. Progression-free survival (PFS) was 62% and overall survival (OS) was 68% after 16.5-year follow-up. Significant differences in PFS and OS between both trials were not observed. Patients below 56 years and patients after myeloablative conditioning had a better outcome compared to patients of the corresponding groups. Nine patients have died between day +8 and 5.9 years after SCT. Data from 7 long-term surviving patients showed an excellent Quality-of-life (QoL) after alloSCT. AlloSCT for MCL delivers excellent long-term survival data. The early mortality is higher than after autoSCT; however, the survival curves after alloSCT indicate the curative potential of this therapy. AlloSCT is a standard of care for all feasible patients with refractory or relapsed MCL and should offer to selected patients with de novo MCL and a poor risk profile. For defining the position of alloSCT in the therapeutic algorithm of MCL therapy, a randomized comparison of autoSCT and alloSCT is mandatory.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation improves long-term outcome for relapsed AML patients across all ages: results from two East German Study Group Hematology and Oncology (OSHO) trials.

Relapse of acute leukemia is a frequent complication with uncertain outcome and poorly defined risk factors. From 1621 patients entered into two prospective clinical trials (AML02; n = 740 and AML04; n = 881), 74.2% reached complete remission (CR) 1 after induction(s) and 59 patients after additional induction ± hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Of the non-refractory patients, 48.4% with a median age of 63 (range 17-85) years relapsed. Relapses occurred within 6 months after CR in 46.5%, between 7 and 18 months in 38.7%, and after 18 months in 14.8% of patients. Relapse treatment resulted in CR2 in 39% of patients depending upon age (54.5% of ≤ 60 and 28.6% of > 60 years), duration of CR1, and treatment of relapse. Overall survival (OS) was 10.9 (7.4-16.2) %, but OS after HCT ± intensive chemotherapy (ICT) was 39.3% (31.8-48.6) at 5 years and not different in younger and older patients. Donor lymphocyte infusion ± chemotherapy and ICT alone resulted only in OS of 15.4% and of 5%, respectively. Independent favorable factors for OS were long CR1 duration, and HCT, while non-monosomal disease was beneficial for OS in elderly patients. Leukemia-free survival [LFS; 24.9 (19.5-31.7) % at 10 years] was affected by similar risk factors. In a competing risk model, the relapse incidence at 5 years was 53.5 ± 3.5% and the non-relapse mortality rate 21.7 ± 2.9%. Lower relapse incidence was observed in patents with HCT, long CR1 duration, and female gender. Risk factors for non-relapse mortality were HCT in younger and type of AML in elderly patients. In conclusion, allogeneic HCT ± IC improved the results in relapsed AML in younger and elderly patients. Increasing CR2 rates and HCT frequency will be the challenge for the next years. Relapse of the disease remains the major problem.

Biomarker candidates for the detection of an infectious etiology of febrile neutropenia.

PURPOSE: Infections and subsequent septicemia are major complications in neutropenic patients with hematological malignancies. Here, we identify biomarker candidates for the early detection of an infectious origin, and monitoring of febrile neutropenia (FN). METHODS: Proteome, metabolome, and conventional biomarkers from 20 patients with febrile neutropenia without proven infection (FNPI) were compared to 28 patients with proven infection, including 17 patients with bacteremia. RESULTS: Three peptides (mass to charge ratio 1017.4-1057.3; p-values 0.011-0.024), six proteins (mass to charge ratio 6881-17,215; p-values 0.002-0.004), and six phosphatidylcholines (p-values 0.007-0.037) were identified that differed in FNPI patients compared to patients with infection or bacteremia. Seven of these marker candidates discriminated FNPI from infection at fever onset with higher sensitivity and specificity (ROC-AUC 0.688-0.824) than conventional biomarkers i.e., procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, or interleukin-6 (ROC-AUC 0.535-0.672). In a post hoc analysis, monitoring the time course of four lysophosphatidylcholines, threonine, and tryptophan allowed for discrimination of patients with or without resolution of FN (ROC-AUC 0.648-0.919) with higher accuracy compared to conventional markers (ROC-AUC 0.514-0.871). CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-one promising biomarker candidates for the early detection of an infectious origin or for monitoring the course of FN were found which might overcome known shortcomings of conventional markers.

Clinical Management of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare but serious complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT). Among others, calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) for prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) may promote the development of PRES, but the pathomechanism is still controversial. Discontinuation of CNI facilitates remission of symptoms but might contribute to the unfavorable prognosis of PRES due to an elevated incidence of GvHD. METHODS: This is a case series of 7 patients with PRES from a retrospective analysis of 146 consecutive patients who received alloHSCT for hematologic malignancies. RESULTS: At the onset of PRES, all patients presented a systemic infection, while no influence was seen for underlying disease, conditioning regimen, donor type, or GvHD. Discontinuation of CNI and control of the blood pressure reversed neurological symptoms in 6 patients, while 1 patient died from septic multiorgan failure. After bridging with prednisolone and/or mycophenolic acid, replacement of CNI by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor everolimus effectively prevented severe GvHD without recurrence of PRES. CONCLUSIONS: A systemic infection/inflammation may be an important cause of PRES. Prophylaxis of GvHD by the mTOR inhibitor everolimus in case of PRES after alloHSCT demonstrated promising results but needs to be validated in larger cohorts.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation for mantle cell lymphoma--final report from the prospective trials of the East German Study Group Haematology/Oncology (OSHO).

This study was conducted in order to evaluate allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) as consolidation for patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Patients with MCL were included into two prospective trials OSHO #060 (refractory/relapsed) and #074 (de novo). Induction was rituximab and chemotherapy. Responding patients proceeded to alloSCT. Minimal residual disease was monitored by quantitative RT-PCR detecting either t(11;14) or clonospecific CDR-III regions. In case of circulating lymphoma cells, immunomodulation (cyclosporine A withdrawal, rituximab, donor lymphocyte infusion) was initiated. Thirty-three of 39 patients underwent alloSCT after myeloablative (n = 7) or toxicity-reduced (n = 26) conditioning. Leukocytes engrafted at day +16 (median, range 0-101) and platelets at day +14 (0-142). Acute graft-versus-host disease stages I-II occurred in 42 % and stages III-IV in 15 %. Five patients have relapsed after SCT. The overall mortality after SCT was 24 % (n = 8). Median follow-up after SCT was 2.8 years (range 0.0-10.9). Five-year progression-free survival was 67 %, and overall survival 73 % after SCT. The results were comparable for primary MCL and refractory/relapsed disease as well as for related vs. unrelated SCT. Younger patients had a significantly better outcome than the elderly. AlloSCT is a feasible and promising consolidation therapy for relapsed and refractory disease and an attractive option for young patients with de novo MCL of high risk.

Paraneoplastic inflammation in myelodysplastic syndrome or bone marrow failure: case series with focus on 5-azacytidine and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) comprises a heterogeneous group of clonal disorders of haematopoietic stem cells, characterised by dysplastic haematopoiesis and dysregulated apoptosis resulting in various degrees of cytopenia, whereas canonical cytologic, cytogenetic and histopathologic findings guiding the diagnosis MDS are widely accepted, the MDS-phenotype can be masked by coexisting/paraneoplastic immunologic disease. Autoimmune disorders have an estimated incidence of 10% among patients suffering from MDS and are causally related to increased morbidity and mortality, younger age at diagnosis and more complex genetics. Conversely, systemic inflammatory disorders may be an early manifestation of MDS, show good response to immunosuppressive therapy and frequently disappear during the course of specific haematologic therapy. OBJECTIVE: Monocentric report on clinical phenotypes found in MDS or bone marrow failure with paraneoplastic inflammatory disease. METHODS: Clinical case reports and systematic review about MDS pathophysiology and treatment. RESULTS: We report eight patients diagnosed with MDS or bone marrow failure, who presented with paraneoplastic autoimmune diseases. Six of eight patients were treated with the hypomethylating agent 5-azacytidine, three of which achieved meaningful response with regard to inflammation control and haematologic recovery. CONCLUSIONS: As paraneoplastic syndromes are often mistakenly diagnosed as idiopathic autoimmune disorders, we propose that coexistence of an underlying myelodysplastic syndrome should be considered early in the diagnostic work up. 5-Azacytidine is effective in controlling paraneoplastic inflammation.

Isolated central nervous system relapse of chronic myeloid leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: This case report highlights the relevance of quantifying the BCR-ABL gene in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with suspected relapse of chronic myeloid leukemia in the central nervous system. CASE PRESENTATION: We report on a female patient with isolated central nervous system relapse of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) during peripheral remission after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The patient showed a progressive cognitive decline as the main symptom. MRI revealed a hydrocephalus and an increase in cell count in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with around 50% immature blasts in the differential count. A highly elevated BCR-ABL/ ABL ratio was detected in the CSF, whilst the ratio for peripheral blood and bone marrow was not altered. On treatment of the malresorptive hydrocephalus with shunt surgery, the patient showed an initial cognitive improvement, followed by a secondary deterioration. At this time, the cranial MRI showed leukemic infiltration of lateral ventricles walls. Hence, intrathecal administration of cytarabine, methotrexate, and dexamethasone was initiated, which caused a significant decrease of cells in the CSF. Soon after, the patient demonstrated significant cognitive improvement with a good participation in daily activities. At a later time point, after the patient had lost the major molecular response of CML, therapy with dasatinib was initiated. In a further follow-up, the patient was neurologically and hematologically stable. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with treated CML, the rare case of an isolated CNS blast crisis has to be taken into account if neurological symptoms evolve. The analysis of BCR-ABL in the CSF is a further option for the reliable detection of primary isolated relapse of CML in these patients.

Impact of induction chemotherapy with intermediate-dosed cytarabine and subsequent allogeneic stem cell transplantation on the outcome of high-risk acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with antecedent hematological disease (s-AML) and treatment-related AML (t-AML) predicts poor prognosis. Intensive treatment protocols of those high-risk patients should consider allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in first complete remission (CR). Despite allo-HSCT, relapse rate remains high. Induction chemotherapy with liposomal cytarabine and daunorubicin (CPX-351) has been approved for patients with AML with myeloid-related changes (AML-MRC) or t-AML based on improved survival and remission rates compared to standard 7 + 3 induction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 110 patients with newly diagnosed s-AML or t-AML at a university hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Median age was 62 years (24-77 years). A total of 65 patients with s-AML after MDS (59%) and 23 patients (20.9%) with t-AML were included. Induction chemotherapy consisted of intermediate-dosed cytarabine (ID-AraC) in combination with idarubicin (patients up to 60 years) or mitoxantrone (patients over 60 years). In patients subsequently undergoing allo-HSCT, reduced conditioning regimens (RIC) were applied prior to transplantation in 47 of 62 patients (76%). RESULTS: Induction chemotherapy with ID-AraC resulted in an overall response rate of 83% including complete remission (CR/CRi) in 69 patients (63%) with a low rate of early death (2.7%). Most relevant non-hematologic toxicity consisted of infectious complications including sepsis with need of intensive care treatment in five patients (4.5%) and proven or probable invasive fungal disease in eight patients (7.2%). Relapse-free survival (RFS), event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) of the whole cohort were 19 months (0-167), 10 months (0-234) and 15 months (0-234), respectively (p < 0.0001). A significant improvement of OS was observed in patients who underwent allo-HSCT compared to those without subsequent allo-HSCT: 9 vs. 46 months, p < 0.0001. Rate of transplantation-related mortality (TRM) in the early phase post allo-HSCT was low (0.9% at day 30 and 1.8% at day 90, respectively). RIC conditioning results in OS rate of 60% after 60 months post allo-HSCT (median OS not reached). CONCLUSION: S-AML and t-AML patients receiving induction chemotherapy with intermediate-dosed cytarabine showed satisfactory response rate and consolidation therapy with allo-HSCT after full or reduced-intensity conditioning further improved survival in these patients with similar outcome as reported for CPX-351.

Outcome of patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia treated with Mito-FLAG salvage chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Curative intended treatment is challenging in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (r/r AML) and associated with a dismal prognosis for long-term survival. Despite novel treatment options, the majority of patients are treated with chemotherapy-based regimens. Although widely used, little data exist on the combination of fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (FLAG) and mitoxantrone as salvage strategy for r/r AML. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six patients receiving Mito-FLAG for r/r AML treated at a German tertiary care center between 2009 and 2019 were analyzed with regard to response rates, survival and safety profile. RESULTS: Overall response rate was 75.8% with 56.1% of patients achieving complete remission (CR) and 19.7% partial remission (PR). After a median follow-up of 54 months, median overall survival (OS) was 13 months. Patients transitioned to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) (75.8%) showed a significant improvement in OS with a median OS of 17 (95% CI 8.5-25.4) months vs 3 (95% CI 1.7-4.3) months (p < 0.001). 30- and 60-day mortality rates for all patients after the initial cycle of Mito-FLAG were 4.5% and 7.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The Mito-FLAG salvage protocol represents an effective and feasible treatment regimen for r/r AML. Importantly, a high rate of transition to successful alloHSCT with the aim of long-term disease-free survival has been shown.

Preferred co-localization of chromosome 8 and 21 in myeloid bone marrow cells detected by three dimensional molecular cytogenetics.

The impact of chromosome architecture in the formation of chromosome aberrations is a recent finding of interphase directed molecular cytogenetic studies. Also positive correlation of translocation frequencies and spatial proximity of chromosomes was described. Thus, disease specific chromosomal translocations could be due to tissue specific genomic organization. However, no three-dimensional interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) studies for the nuclear architecture of bone marrow (BM) cells have previously been done. In this study, BM of three secondary acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cases with trisomy 8 and otherwise normal karyotype were evaluated. Bone marrow cells of one AML and one ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) case, peripheral blood lymphocytes and human sperm, all of them with normal karyotype, served as controls. Multicolor banding (MCB) probes for chromosomes 8 and 21 were applied in suspension-FISH (S-FISH). Interestingly, in myeloid bone marrow cells chromosomes 8 (di- and trisomic) and 21 tended to co-localize with their homologue chromosome(s), rather than to be separated. Thus, the co-localization of chromosomes 8 and 21 might promote a translocation providing a selective advantage of t(8;21) cells in AML-M2. In summary, the concept that tissue specific spatial proximity of chromosomes leads to enhanced translocation frequencies was further supported.

The use of ITS DNA sequence analysis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in diagnosing an infection with Fusarium proliferatum.

Although mycoses are among the most common diseases worldwide, infections with Fusarium spp. occur only rarely. Mostly patients suffering from underlying immune deficiency are infected with this mould, resulting in a considerably decreasing prognosis. In immunocompromised patients, cutaneous manifestations are more often associated with Fusarium sp. than with Candida sp. or Aspergillus sp. We describe one patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, who was first treated with chemotherapy after GMALL protocol 07/03. After relapse, the patient was successfully transplanted in second remission with a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched unrelated peripheral blood stem cell graft. Ten months later, the patient died from respiratory insufficiency and recurrence of leukaemia. Previously, Aspergillus antigen was detected in blood. In the latter course, disseminated papules appeared. One of these was examined histologically and mycologically. Conventional cultural diagnostics led to the diagnosis of a fusariosis, further supported by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, both determining the isolated strain as Fusarium proliferatum, which is a very infrequent pathogen within this genus. Our investigations underline the potential of MALDI-TOF MS based identification of Fusarium species as an innovative, time and cost efficient alternative to ITS sequencing.

Outcome of FLT3-ITD-positive acute myeloid leukemia: impact of allogeneic stem cell transplantation and tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment.

BACKGROUND: Activating mutations of the receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 (fms-related tyrosine kinase 3) reflect the most frequent molecular aberration in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In particular, FLT3 internal tandem duplications (FLT3-ITD) are characterized by an unfavorable prognosis and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allogeneic SCT) in first complete remission is recommended. In case of imminent or frank relapse following allogeneic SCT, treatment with FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) constitutes a promising clinical approach to induce hematologic remission without conventional chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the response to induction chemotherapy and the outcome of 76 patients with FLT3-ITD-positive AML including 50 patients who underwent allogeneic SCT. Furthermore, efficacy of TKI treatment was evaluated in 18 patients (median age 54 years, range 21-74) with relapsed or refractory FLT3-ITD-positive AML. RESULTS: Response to induction chemotherapy in 76 FLT3-ITD-positive AML patients was characterized by a complete remission (CR) rate of 68%. In total, 50 of 76 patients (66%) underwent allogeneic SCT including 40 patients (80%) in CR. Relapse of AML was observed in 21 of 47 patients (45%) after allogeneic SCT with a median relapse-free survival (RFS) of 13 months (range 3-224) for patients with CR prior to or at day +30 after SCT. Myeloablative conditioning resulted in an improved median RFS of 29 months (4-217) as compared to a reduced intensity conditioning protocol prior to allogeneic SCT with a RFS of 8 months (1-197, P = 0.048), respectively. Median OS of FLT3-ITD-positive AML was 17 months (5-225) for patients who received an allogeneic SCT as compared to 9 months (1-184) for patients who did not undergo SCT. Response of FLT3-ITD-positive AML to sorafenib was characterized by only 3 of 18 patients achieving a bone marrow response (17%), while there was no response to second-line treatment with ponatinib. CONCLUSION: This "real-life" data reflect the continuing challenge of FLT3-ITD-positive AML and confirm the poor outcome even after allogeneic SCT. Furthermore, efficacy of TKI treatment of relapsed or refractory FLT3-ITD AML is still limited and requires substantial improvement, e.g., by the introduction of second-generation inhibitors targeting constitutively active FLT3.

Chronic persistent parvovirus B19 bone marrow infection resulting in transfusion-dependent pure red cell aplasia in multiple myeloma after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and severe graft versus host disease.

INTRODUCTION: We report a chronic persistent Parvovirus B19 (PVB19) infection despite long-term immunoglobulin substitution intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and tapering of immune-suppressive therapy in a 41-year-old patient after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) and long-term immune-suppressive therapy due to a steroid-refractory graft versus host disease (GvHD). CLINICAL COURSE: More than 18 month after alloHSCT the patient acquired a de novo transfusion-dependent pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) due to a PVB19 infection. Despite prompt tapering of GvHD-directed therapy and application of various IVIG regimens, transfusion-dependent anaemia (fourerythrocyte concentrates a month) persisted, and a high PVB19 replication is still evident for more than 3.5 years. Virological analysis at different time points showed a very high PVB19 load in the blood (range: 6.79E9-1.56E11), as well as highly elevated PVB19-IgG (range: 1.95-3.34) and -IgM (range: 1.97-9.74) levels in serology testing. Other virological parameters were not significantly elevated. After 30 months, a bone marrow (BM) examination still revealed a highly dysplastic erythropoiesis without any cellular maturation, and a high-grade expression of PVB19 within the dysplastic erythropoietic progenitor cells, consistent with a PRCA due to a PVB19 infection of the BM. We suggest that PRCA was most probably caused by a primary PVB19 infection of unknown source following alloHSCT with a PVB19-negative donor. CONCLUSION: PRCA due a PVB19 infection of the BM may persist over a long-time, despite prolonged administration of various IVIG regimen and tapering of GvHD-directed therapy. The case emphasizes the importance of PVB19 monitoring in heavily pre-treated haematological patients. Currently, PVB19-directed treatment options are extremely limited and optimized therapeutic strategies are urgently needed.

Impairment in functional status and survival in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is mainly affecting elderly patients. Elderly patients are increasingly affected by impairment of functional status (FS). FS is of prognostic relevance for survival in different tumours. Data for patients with AML are rare. Within a prospective trial we recruited patients with newly diagnosed AML and measured FS by two different methods: Karnofsky performance status (KPS) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Sixty-three patients aged 19-85 years (median 61.1) were included. Twenty-three had prior myelodisplastic syndrome (MDS), 7 favourable, 17 unfavourable karyotype. Fifty received induction chemotherapy, 13 palliative chemotherapy. Median survival was 15.2 months (95% CI, 10.8-22.3) in all patients. Age, cytogenetic risk group, and impaired KPS and IADL significantly influenced median survival in univariate analysis. Impairment of IADL was the single most predictive variable. In multivariate analysis, impairment of IADL Score (HR:4.3, 95% CI 1.7-10.5, P = 0.001) and of KPS (HR:4.8, 95% CI 1.9-12.3, P = 0.001), and unfavourable cytogenetic risk group (HR:6.0, 95% CI 2.5-14.3, P < 0.001) significantly predicted median survival. In patients with AML, FS and not age is a major predictor of survival. The influence of FS is independent from cytogenetic risk group. IADL measurement adds information to KPS. The results have to be confirmed in a large sample of patients.

Case report: false positive elevated serum-galactomannan levels after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation caused by oral nutritional supplements.

Positive galactomannan tests in patients who underwent chemotherapy without any clinical signs of a fungal infection should lead the clinician to consideration of a false-positive test result. Oral nutritional supplements may be a cause, especially in the case of concomitant disturbance of the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier because of mucositis.

Comparison of two dose levels of cyclophosphamide for successful stem cell mobilization in myeloma patients.

INTRODUCTION: Even in the era of proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs, the autologous stem cell transplantation after high-dose melphalan continues to represent a standard approach for myeloma patients in first-line therapy. Different mobilization chemotherapies before stem cell apheresis have been published while cyclophosphamide at a dose level of up to 4 g/m2 has been evaluated and is commonly applied. In contrast, lower dose levels of cyclophosphamide (e.g., 1.5 g/m2) did not result in a sufficient collection of stem cells. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the impact of "intermediate-dose" (ID-CY, 2.5 g/m2) versus "high-dose" (HD-CY, 4 g/m2) cyclophosphamide in 101 (48 vs. 53) consecutively evaluable myeloma patients (median age 59 years, range 32-72 years) who underwent stem cell mobilization after induction chemotherapy. Successful stem cell harvest was defined as a stem cell yield of at least 5 million CD34 cells per kg bodyweight. Evaluation of toxicity especially considered infectious complications and hematological toxicity in both subgroups. RESULTS: Successful stem cell mobilization was achieved in 40 of 48 (83 %) and 44 of 53 (83 %) patients, respectively. The median time to apheresis (11 vs. 12 days) and the median CD34 content of stem cell harvest (8.3 vs. 7.6 million CD34 cells per kg bodyweight) did not differ significantly between both groups. There was a significant difference of WBC nadir in favor of the cyclophosphamide regimen with 2.5 g/m2 (0.8 vs. 0.3 Gpt/L, p = 0.021), and neutropenic fever was more often observed in patients who received 4 g/m2 cyclophosphamide (34 vs. 15 %, p = 0.078). Importantly, after induction chemotherapy using the VCD regimen (bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, dexamethasone), successful stem cell mobilization was achieved in 26 of 29 (90 %) patients treated with 2.5 g/m2 and 21 of 25 (84 %) patients receiving 4 g/m2 cyclophosphamide, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ID-CY is safe and highly effective for stem cell mobilization in patients with newly diagnosed myeloma and associated with a reduced toxicity compared to HD-CY.

Treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for mobilization of bone marrow cells in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to evaluate the hypothesis that treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mobilize bone marrow cells (BMCs) is feasible and safe and promotes neovascularization and myocardial function in patients with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Fourteen patients in the treatment group and 9 patients in the control group were enrolled in this prospective, nonrandomized, open-label study. Forty-eight hours after successful recanalization and stent implantation, the patients of the treatment group received 10 microg/kg body weight per day G-CSF subcutaneously for mean treatment duration of 7.0 +/- 1.0 days. Nine patients fulfilled the entry criteria but refused participation and served therefore as control group. In both groups, regional wall motion and perfusion was evaluated with electrocardiogram-gated sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography imaging and ejection fraction with radionuclidventriculography before discharge and after 3 months. RESULTS: No severe side effects of G-CSF treatment were observed. There was a significant improvement of the regional wall motion and perfusion within the treatment group (P < .0001) and between the treatment and control group (P < .05 and P < .01, respectively). Ejection fraction in the treatment group increased from 0.40 +/- 0.11 to 0.48 +/- 0.13 (P < .01), whereas in the control group, ejection fraction increased from 0.40 +/- 0.13 to 0.43 +/- 0.13 (P = .049). A control angiography of the treatment group after 12.4 +/- 6.6 months showed an in-stent restenosis in 1 patient. CONCLUSION: In patients with acute myocardial infarction, treatment with G-CSF to mobilize BMCs is feasible and safe and seems to be effective under clinical conditions. The therapeutic effect might be attributed to BMC-associated promotion of myocardial regeneration and neovascularization.

Analyses of minimal residual disease based on Flt3 mutations in allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

PURPOSE: Activating Flt3 mutations are observed in about 30% of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and individual Flt3 mutations are applicable for minimal residual disease (MRD) analyses. METHODS: We investigated the MRD status in four AML patients carrying different Flt3 mutations (three patients with Flt3 length mutations of the juxtamembrane domain, one patient carrying a mutation of the Flt3 tyrosine kinase domain, i.e. Flt3-TKD mutation) who underwent allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Residual leukaemia cells were retrospectively determined by real-time PCR at different time points. RESULTS: We can demonstrate a good correlation between the course of MRD status and clinical events in all four investigated patients. CONCLUSION: These examples demonstrate the potential impact of Flt3 based MRD status not only after but also prior to allogeneic PBSCT.

Autologous intracoronary mononuclear bone marrow cell transplantation in chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy in humans.

BACKGROUND: Recent data suggest that transplantation of autologous bone marrow cells (BMC) may contribute to myocardial repair after acute myocardial infarction. We hypothesized that patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy could also benefit from autologous BMC transplantation in addition to established heart failure therapy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Five patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy caused by anterior myocardial infarction, 1.3+/-0.5 years ago and open infarct artery, received autologous mononuclear BMC transplantation via balloon catheter in the target vessel at the site of previous occlusion. Patients were followed up at 3 months (left heart catheterisation, 2D-echocardiography, dobutamine stress echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing) and at 12 months (2D-echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing). Follow-up examination showed no significant improvement neither in global, regional, and microvascular function, nor in physical performance. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot trial intracoronary transplantation of autologous, mononuclear BMC did not lead to any significant improvement in myocardial function and physical performance of patients with chronic ischemic heart disease.