Disseminated intravascular coagulation at diagnosis is a strong predictor for thrombosis in acute myeloid leukemia.

Venous thromboembolism is a common complication in patients with cancer, but only limited data are available in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In a prospective study in a cohort of 272 adult patients (aged 18-65) and an independent validation cohort of 132 elderly adults (aged >60) with newly diagnosed AML, we assessed markers of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) (fibrinogen, D-dimer, α-2-antiplasmin, antitrombin, prothrombin time, and platelet count) and the DIC score according the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis and their associations with the occurrence of venous and arterial thrombosis during follow-up. The prevalence of thrombosis was 8.7% (4.7% venous, 4.0% arterial) in the younger adults over a median follow-up of 478 days and 10.4% (4.4% venous, 5.9% arterial) in elderly patients. Most thrombotic events (66%) occurred before the start of the second course of chemotherapy. The calculated DIC score significantly predicted venous and arterial thrombosis with a hazard ratio (HR) for a high DIC score (≥5) of 4.79 (1.71-13.45). These results were confirmed in the validation cohort of elderly patients with AML (HR 11.08 [3.23-38.06]). Among all DIC parameters, D-dimer levels are most predictive for thrombosis with an HR of 12.3 (3.39-42.64) in the first cohort and an HR of 7.82 (1.95-31.38) in validation cohort for a D-dimer >4 mg/L vs ≤4 mg/L. It is concluded that venous and arterial thrombosis may develop in ∼10% of AML patients treated with intensive chemotherapy, which to a large extent can be predicted by the presence of DIC at time of AML diagnosis.

Distinct peripheral T-cell and NK-cell profiles in HGBL-MYC/BCL2 vs patients with DLBCL NOS.

ABSTRACT: Patients with high-grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 rearrangements (HGBL-MYC/BCL2) respond poorly to immunochemotherapy compared with patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (DLBCL NOS) without a MYC rearrangement. This suggests a negative impact of lymphoma-intrinsic MYC on the immune system. To investigate this, we compared circulating T cells and natural killer (NK) cells of patients with HGBL-MYC/BCL2 (n = 66), patients with DLBCL NOS (n = 53), and age-matched healthy donors (HDs; n = 16) by flow cytometry and performed proliferation, cytokine production, and cytotoxicity assays. Compared with HDs, both lymphoma subtypes displayed similar frequencies of CD8+ T cells but decreased CD4+ T cells. Regulatory T-cell (Treg) frequencies were reduced only in patients with DLBCL NOS. Activated (HLA-DR+/CD38+) T cells, PD-1+CD4+ T cells, and PD-1+Tregs were increased in both lymphoma subtypes, but PD-1+CD8+ T cells were increased only in HGBL-MYC/BCL2. Patients with DLBCL NOS, but not patients with HGBL-MYC/BCL2, exhibited higher frequencies of senescent T cells than HDs. Functional assays showed no overt differences between both lymphoma groups and HDs. Deeper analyses revealed that PD-1+ T cells of patients with HGBL-MYC/BCL2 were exhausted with impaired cytokine production and degranulation. Patients with DLBCL NOS, but not patients with HGBL-MYC/BCL2, exhibited higher frequencies of NK cells expressing inhibiting receptor NKG2A. Both lymphoma subtypes exhibited lower TIM-3+- and DNAM-1+-expressing NK cells. Although NK cells of patients with HGBL-MYC/BCL2 showed less degranulation, they were not defective in cytotoxicity. In conclusion, our results demonstrate an increased exhaustion in circulating T cells of patients with HGBL-MYC/BCL2. Nonetheless, the overall intact peripheral T-cell and NK-cell functions in these patients emphasize the importance of investigating potential immune evasion in the microenvironment of MYC-rearranged lymphomas.

Validity of bioluminescence measurements for noninvasive in vivo imaging of tumor load in small animals.

A relatively new strategy to longitudinally monitor tumor load in intact animals and the effects of therapy is noninvasive bioluminescence imaging (BLI). The validity of BLIf or quantitative assessment of tumor load in small animals is critically evaluated in the present review. Cancer cells are grafted in mice or rats after transfection with a luciferase gene--usually that of a firefly. To determine tumor load, animals receive the substrate agent luciferin intraperitoneally, which luciferase converts into oxyluciferin in an ATP-dependent manner Light emitted by oxyluciferin in viable cancer cells is captured noninvasively with a highly sensitive charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. Validation studies indicate that BLI is useful to determine tumor load in the course of time, with each animal serving as its own reference. BLI is rapid, easy to perform, and sensitive. It can detect tumor load shortly after inoculation, even when relatively few cancer cells (2500-10,000) are used. BLI is less suited for the determination of absolute tumor mass in an animal because of quenching of bioluminescence by tissue components and the exact location of tumors because its spatial resolution is limited. Nevertheless, BLI is a powerful tool for high-throughput longitudinal monitoring of tumor load in small animals and allows the implementation of more advanced orthotopic tumor models in therapy intervention studies with almost the same simplicity as when measuring traditional ectopic subcutaneous models in combination with calipers.

Etanercept for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease: A single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is an important complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). High dose glucocorticosteroids, are currently recommended as first-line treatment for grade II-IV aGVHD resulting in overall complete responses (CR) in 40%-50% of patients. No standard second-line regimen has been established. Different options have been reported, including anti-TNFα antibodies. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the outcome of 15 patients with steroid-refractory (SR) aGVHD treated with etanercept at our institution. Patients were transplanted for a hematological malignancy and received either a myeloablative or a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen. Prophylaxis of GVHD consisted of cyclosporin A and mycophenolic acid. RESULTS: Acute GVHD was diagnosed at a median of 61 days post-transplantation. All patients had grade III aGVHD of the gut. Second-line treatment with etanercept was started at a median of 13 days after initiation of first-line therapy. Overall response rate was 53%, with CR in 3 patients and PR in 5 patients. Median overall survival after initiation of treatment with etanercept was 66 days (range 5-267) for the entire group. Median overall survival was 99 days (range 47-267 days) for responders and 17 days (range 5-66 days) for non-responders (p<0.01). Nevertheless, all patients died. Causes of death were progressive GVHD in 7 patients (47%), infection in 6 patients (40%), cardiac death in 1 patient (6.7%) and relapse in 1 patient (6,7%). CONCLUSION: Second-line treatment with etanercept does induce responses in SR-aGVHD of the gut but appears to be associated with poor long-term survival even in responding patients.

The effect of low molecular weight heparin on survival in patients with advanced malignancy.

PURPOSE: Studies in cancer patients with venous thromboembolism suggested that low molecular weight heparin may prolong survival. In a double-blind study, we evaluated the effect of low molecular weight heparin on survival in patients with advanced malignancy without venous thromboembolism. METHODS: Patients with metastasized or locally advanced solid tumors were randomly assigned to receive a 6-week course of subcutaneous nadroparin or placebo. The primary efficacy analysis was based on time from random assignment to death. The primary safety outcome was major bleeding. RESULTS: In total, 148 patients were allocated to nadroparin and 154 patients were allocated to placebo. Mean follow-up was 1 year. In the intention-to-treat analysis the overall hazard ratio of mortality was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.59 to 0.96) with a median survival of 8.0 months in the nadroparin recipients versus 6.6 months in the placebo group. After adjustment for potential confounders, the treatment effect remained statistically significant. Major bleeding occurred in five (3%) of nadroparin-treated patients and in one (1%) of the placebo recipients (P = .12). In the a priori specified subgroup of patients with a life expectancy of 6 months or more at enrollment, the hazard ratio was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.45 to 0.90) with a median survival of 15.4 and 9.4 months, respectively. For patients with a shorter life expectancy, the hazard ratio was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.62 to 1.25). CONCLUSION: A brief course of subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin favorably influences the survival in patients with advanced malignancy and deserves additional clinical evaluation.

Thrombosis prophylaxis in patient populations with a central venous catheter: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Central venous catheters (CVCs) are used in a wide variety of patients. Associated complications are thrombosis and infection. It is a matter of debate whether thromboprophylaxis is beneficial. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of 3 different patient populations to render the available information in the literature more accessible to clinical practice: patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN), patients with cancer, and patients admitted to intensive care units. RESULTS: Prophylaxis with heparin added to PN was found to give a nonsignificant reduction in the incidence of catheter-related thrombosis (pooled relative risk of randomized studies, 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-5.48). In cancer patients, both low-dose warfarin and low-molecular-weight heparin significantly reduced the incidence of catheter-related thrombosis (relative risk of randomized studies, 0.25 [95% CI, 0.09-0.70] and 0.10 [95% CI, 0.01-0.71], respectively). So far, intensive care patients have hardly been studied with respect to thromboprophylaxis and the incidence of CVC thrombosis. Any effect of the type of catheter could not be established because of small numbers. There was no apparent increase in bleeding events with prophylactic anticoagulation in patients with CVCs. CONCLUSIONS: In the small number of patients studied, the addition of heparin to PN did not significantly decrease the risk of catheter-related thrombosis, whereas warfarin and dalteparin did decrease the thrombosis risk in cancer patients with CVCs. There is no apparent increase in bleeding events with prophylactic anticoagulants in patients with CVCs.

Differential effects of anticoagulants on tumor development of mouse cancer cell lines B16, K1735 and CT26 in lung.

Cancer progression is facilitated by blood coagulation. Anticoagulants, such as Hirudin and low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs), reduce metastasis mainly by inhibition of thrombin formation and L- and P-selectin-mediated cell-cell adhesion. It is unknown whether the effects are dependent on cancer cell type. The effects of anticoagulants on tumor development of K1735 and B16 melanoma cells and CT26 colon cancer cells were investigated in mouse lung. Tumor load was determined noninvasively each week up to day 21 in all experiments using bioluminescence imaging. Effects of anticoagulants on tumor development of the three cell lines were correlated with the fibrin/fibrinogen content in the tumors, expression of tissue factor (TF), protease activated receptor (PAR)-1 and -4 and CD24, a ligand of L- and P-selectins. Hirudin inhibited tumor development of B16 cells in lungs completely but did not affect tumor growth of K1735 and CT26 cells. Low molecular weight heparin did not have an effect on K1735 melanoma tumor growth either. TF and PAR-4 expression was similar in the three cell lines. PAR-1 and CD24 were hardly expressed by K1735, whereas CT26 cells expressed low levels and B16 high levels of PAR-1 and CD24. Fibrin content of the tumors was not affected by LMWH. It is concluded that effects of anticoagulants are dependent on cancer cell type and are correlated with their CD24 and PAR-1 expression.

Antithrombotic therapy and cancer.

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: To assess the current evidence from recent clinical trials investigating antithrombotic agents for the prophylaxis and treatment of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients and for the effects of these agents on cancer progression. RECENT FINDINGS: A growing body of evidence supports the preventive use of antithrombotic strategies in subgroups of cancer patients. Moreover, in the long-term management of deep venous thrombosis in cancer patients, low-molecular-weight heparin seems to represent a valid alternative to vitamin K antagonists. Finally, several studies have claimed a direct anticancer activity and a positive impact on prognosis of some antithrombotic agents, eg, aspirin and low-molecular-weight heparin. SUMMARY: Although recent evidence suggests low-molecular-weight heparin as a possible option in the management and prevention of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients, more evidence from large randomized, prospective, controlled trials is needed to determine the exact the magnitude of the risk-benefit ratio associated with its use. The promising results on the effects of antithrombotic agents in the prognosis of cancer patients deserve further evaluation to estimate the potential and the feasibility of this approach.