Screening for germ line p53 mutations in children with malignant tumors and a family history of cancer.

We have undertaken a routine investigation of the p53 status for all the children treated at our institution either affected by multiple tumors or whose family displays at least one second degree relative or less, affected by cancer before the age of 45 years. We report here on the first set of ten such families, eight of which were identified through a proband with sarcoma. p53 exons 5 to 8 have been sequenced following polymerase chain reaction amplification performed on DNA isolated from total blood. A missense mutation affecting codons 248, 273, and 282 was identified in three families. The mutation was inherited in these three families and was detected in unaffected members. In seven families no mutation was detected in exons 5 to 8.

Combined continuous infusion etoposide with high-dose cyclophosphamide for refractory neuroblastoma: a phase II study from the Société Française d'Oncologie Pédiatrique.

PURPOSE: Patients older than 1 year with stage IV neuroblastoma who fail to achieve complete remission (CRem) have a particularly poor long-term prognosis. In an attempt to improve the outcome of these refractory patients, we tested a new drug combination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine children with advanced neuroblastoma (27 stage IV and two stage III) were entered onto this phase II study. All were refractory to conventional chemotherapy and had measurable disease at the time of the trial. The regimen was a combination of high-dose cyclophosphamide (2 g/m2/d) on days 2, 3, and 4, and etoposide (VP16; 50 mg/m2/d) by continuous intravenous (IV) infusion on days 1 to 5. A pharmacokinetic study of VP16 was conducted in eight patients to determine whether the goal of persistent plasma levels between 1 and 5 micrograms/mL was achieved. RESULTS: Patients received a median of two courses, for a total of 58 courses. The median interval between each course was 32 days. In the 28 assessable patients, the overall response rate was 43%, with one CRem and 11 partial remissions (PRems). No life-threatening complication was observed in these heavily pretreated patients. The median duration of neutropenia (< 5 x 10(9)/L) was 14 days, and that of thrombocytopenia (< 50 x 10(9)/L) was 11 days. The overall incidence of sepsis was 27%. Gastrointestinal toxicity was frequent, but mild. Electrolyte disturbance with antidiuretic hormone (ADH)-like syndrome occurred in eight courses, but resolved rapidly. Grade > or = 2 hemorrhagic cystitis was observed in three courses. No cardiac toxicity was observed. There were no treatment-related deaths. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that mean steady-state plasma levels (Css) of VP16 were greater than 1 microgram/mL during all the courses. CONCLUSION: This new drug combination appears to be effective in advanced neuroblastoma. Its toxicity remains manageable, with no life-threatening complications. Further evaluation in patients with less-advanced disease is warranted.

Randomized, controlled, dose-range study of Ro 25-8315 given before and after a high-dose combination chemotherapy regimen in patients with metastatic or recurrent breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of three different dose levels of pegylated granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (Ro 25-8315) on progenitor cell mobilization and hematologic recovery in cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Breast cancer patients (n = 36) were randomly assigned to receive before (part I) and after (part II) chemotherapy either a single-dose injection of Ro 25-8315 (20 microg/kg, n = 9; 60 microg/kg, n = 9; 100 microg/kg, n = 10) or a standard daily dose of filgrastim (part I, 10 microg/kg/d; part II, 5 microg/kg/d) (control group, n = 8). RESULTS: Overall, Ro 25-8315 was well tolerated. In part I, more progenitor cell mobilization was observed with Ro 25-8315 100 microg/kg. The peak of circulating CD34(+) cells was obtained at day +5 in the four groups, and the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) returned to less than 20 x 10(9)/L by day +15. In part II, high levels of circulating CD34(+) cells (> 20 cells/microL) were obtained in all four groups. The chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (< 1 x 10(9)/L) was similar in the four groups. Ro 25-8315 100 microg/kg was more effective than filgrastim in reducing the number of patients with an ANC less than 0.5 x 10(9)/L on day +12 after chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: A single injection of Ro 25-8315 100 microg/kg might be the optimal dose for steady-state peripheral-blood progenitor cell mobilization. A single injection of 20, 60, or 100 microg/kg could be as efficient as daily administration of filgrastim to correct chemotherapy-induced cytopenia. The optimal dose of Ro 25-8315 should be determined according to the planned chemotherapy regimen.

An open-label, multicentre, randomised phase 2 study of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (filgrastim) as an adjunct to combination chemotherapy in paediatric patients with metastatic neuroblastoma.

Administration of combination chemotherapy to children with metastatic neuroblastoma induces profound myelosuppression resulting in chemotherapy treatment delays and febrile neutropenic episodes. The objective of this randomised multicentre study was to assess the incidence, duration and severity of neutropenia when filgrastim is added to induction chemotherapy administered to patients with metastatic neuroblastoma. In this study, 59 patients with metastatic neuroblastoma were randomised to receive chemotherapy (control group, n = 28) or chemotherapy plus filgrastim (filgrastim group, n = 31). Chemotherapy consisted of four cycles of cyclophosphamide, vincristine and doxorubicin (CADO) alternating at 21-day intervals with cisplatin and etoposide (CDDP-VP16). Filgrastim was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 5 micrograms/kg/day from day 7 for up to 14 days. The incidence of neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count [ANC] < 0.5 x 10(9)/l) in the filgrastim group was not reduced after the first CADO course. However, significant reductions were observed after courses 2, 3 and 4. The duration of neutropenia and of intravenous antibiotic use were significantly reduced in the filgrastim group over the whole study period (9 days versus 26 days, P < 0.001; 12 days versus 20 days, P = 0.04, respectively). However, the duration of hospitalisation and the incidence of febrile neutropenia were not significantly reduced. Compliance to treatment was good and the ability to administer chemotherapy without treatment delays was significantly better in the filgrastim group (P < 0.05). Event-free survival was greater in the filgrastim than in the control group (2.4 years versus 1.3 years; P = 0.072). Filgrastim is a beneficial adjunct to combination induction chemotherapy used in the treatment of metastatic neuroblastoma.

Long-term pulmonary sequelae after autologous bone marrow transplantation in children without total body irradiation.

We investigated the long-term pulmonary sequelae of 38 children surviving 3 to 11.5 years (median 7 years) after high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) without TBI. This cross-sectional study included patients with neuroblastoma (21), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (7), Ewing's sarcoma (5), rhabdomyosarcoma (3), medulloblastoma (1) and ALL (1). They were asked and examined for clinical signs and underwent a physical examination with chest X-ray; 33/38 had pulmonary function tests (PFT) performed. No obstructive disease was found. Fifteen out of 32 evaluable PFT (47%) were abnormal with a pulmonary restrictive syndrome in 10, and borderline values in five patients. Four of these 15 patients were symptomatic with exertional dyspnea and two of four had abnormal chest X-rays. The etiology was mainly multifactorial, associating HDC with thoracic radiotherapy +/- scoliosis/kyphosis +/- previous thoracotomy +/- post-ABMT interstitial pneumonitis. Only 3/10 patients with a restrictive syndrome had HDC containing BCNU or busulfan as the only risk factor for lung disease. We conclude that the prevalence of late pulmonary sequelae after ABMT without TBI is moderate and rarely due to HDC alone, since most abnormal PFT can be explained by heavy pretreatment prior to ABMT. As symptoms are scarce even in advanced disease, repeated testing and very long-term follow-up are needed.

Phase I-II study of interleukin-2 after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation in poorly responding neuroblastoma.

Despite intensification of treatment with high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous bone marrow transplantation (AMBT), the prognosis of poorly responding metastatic neuroblastoma remains bad. Recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2) was used after ABMT to enhance the immune response against the tumor and thereby to improve survival of these patients. In this study, five courses of rIL-2 were administered as a continuous intravenous infusion every 2 weeks, the first course lasting 5 days, and the other four 2 days. rIL-2 treatment was to begin within 120 days of BMT. This study demonstrates the feasibility of rIL-2 soon after HDC and ABMT. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was 12 x 10(6) U/m2/day. Clinical toxicity was similar to that observed in adults, moderately increased by the proximity of ABMT; in a previous study we demonstrated that the MTD in non-grafted children was 18 x 10(6) U/M2/day. Nevertheless, half of the patients were not able to receive rIL-2 therapy after ABMT, and only 6/12 received 100% of the planned dose, mainly because of thrombocytopenia. If peripheral stem cell transplantation is demonstrated to enhance platelet recovery, more patients could be treated with rIL-2 with the present schedule. Earlier administration of low-dose rIL-2 after BMT associated with ex vivo rIL-2 treatment of the graft could be a more valid way of using rIL-2 to improve survival.

Risk factors for hepatic veno-occlusive disease after high-dose busulfan-containing regimens followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation: a study in 136 children.

Risk factors for hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD) were analysed in a population of 136 autografted children who received high-dose busulfan (BU) as part of a conditioning regimen. HVOD was diagnosed according to McDonald's clinical criteria. The incidence of HVOD was particularly high in this series (22%) compared with series with other conditioning regimens but the outcome was favorable in 26 patients (87%). Four deaths occurred (13%), one of which was HVOD related. The clinical presentation of HVOD was similar to that described in previous reports. Although statistical analysis failed to demonstrate any factors predictive of outcome, it did identify risk factors for the occurrence of HVOD: these were (1) a total dose of BU exceeding the standard 16 mg/kg dose; (2) the use of three as opposed to two alkylating agents; (3) the sequence of BU administration when given in the conditioning regimen containing three alkylating agents; and (4) concomitant ketoconazole therapy.

In vivo induction of functional Fc gammaRI (CD64) on neutrophils and modulation of blood cytokine mRNA levels in cancer patients treated with G-CSF (rMetHuG-CSF).

Neutrophils from 13 children who received G-CSF for the collection of peripheral blood progenitors while they were in haematological steady state were studied at various times after G-CSF injection for Fc gammaR expression (Fc gammaRI or CD64, Fc gammaRII or CD32, and Fc gammaRIII or CD16) and for their ability to exert antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) through Fc gammaRI. Changes in IFNgamma, IL8, IL10, MCP1 and TNF alpha mRNA levels in peripheral blood cells were also studied 4 h and 24 h after the first G-CSF injection. Fc gammaRI expression increased strongly after 24 h and then remained at the same level throughout treatment. In contrast, Fc gammaRIII expression sharply decreased at day 1 and diminished even further thereafter. No change in Fc gammaRII was observed. ADCC exerted by neutrophils through Fc gammaRI started to increase after 24 h with the peak level at day 5. Cytokine mRNA analyses indicated a reproducible and strong increase of IL8 mRNA (11/13 children) after 24 h, whereas the changes in the mRNA levels of the other cytokines tested were more heterogenous (TFNgamma: three; IL10: six; MCP1: five: TNF alpha: four, of the 13 children). Therefore this study opens the way to an optimized therapeutic schedule for the combined use of G-CSF and monoclonal antibodies in adjuvant immuno-intervention.

Peripheral blood stem cell and bone marrow transplantation for solid tumors and lymphomas: hematologic recovery and costs. A randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation has an advantage over autologous bone marrow transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To compare the hematologic recovery and costs associated with PBSC transplantation with those associated with autologous bone marrow transplantation in patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy for solid tumors or lymphomas. DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial. SETTING: French Federation of Cancer Centers, located in cancer facilities or public hospitals with transplantation units. PATIENTS: Children and adults with solid tumors or lymphomas who were candidates for high-dose chemotherapy. INTERVENTIONS: Bone marrow or filgrastim-mobilized PBSCs. MEASUREMENT: The major and point was the duration of thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 50 x 10(9)/L). An economic evaluation of both types of transplantation was done prospectively to measure costs and cost-effectiveness. RESULTS: 129 patients entered the trial; 64 had PBSC transplantation, and 65 had bone marrow transplantation. The median duration of thrombocytopenia was 16 days in the PBSC group and 35 days in the bone marrow group (P < 0.001). All of the other clinical end points studied (time to last platelet transfusion, duration of granulocytopenia, number of transfusion episodes, and duration of hospitalization) favored PBSC transplantation. A cost analysis showed that total cost was decreased by 17% in adults and 29% in children with PBSC transplantation; thus, PBSC transplantation was clearly more cost-effective than bone marrow transplantation for both platelet and granulocyte recovery. CONCLUSION: Transplantation of PBSCs is associated with more rapid hematologic recovery than is bone marrow transplantation after high-dose chemotherapy for solid tumors or lymphomas. Furthermore, global costs are lower and cost-effectiveness ratios are better with PBSC transplantation.

Stem cell factor in combination with filgrastim after chemotherapy improves peripheral blood progenitor cell yield and reduces apheresis requirements in multiple myeloma patients: a randomized, controlled trial.

Stem cell factor (SCF) has been shown to synergize with filgrastim to mobilize CD34(+) cells into the peripheral blood. To determine if addition of SCF to chemotherapy and filgrastim reduces the number of leukaphereses required to achieve a target yield of 5 x 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg, 102 patients with multiple myeloma were randomized to receive mobilization chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide (4 g/m(2)) and either SCF (20 micrograms/kg/d) combined with filgrastim (5 micrograms/kg/d) or filgrastim alone (5 micrograms/kg/d), administered daily until leukaphereses were completed. After collection, patients were treated with myeloablative therapy supported by autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) infusion and filgrastim (5 micrograms/kg/d). There was a significant difference between the treatment groups in the number of leukaphereses required to collect 5 x 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg (median of 1 v 2 for SCF + filgrastim and filgrastim alone, respectively, P =.008). Patients receiving the combination of SCF plus filgrastim had a 3-fold greater chance of reaching 5 x 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg in a single leukapheresis compared with patients mobilized with filgrastim alone. The median CD34(+) cell yield was significantly increased for the SCF group in the first leukapheresis (11.3 v 4.0 x 10(6)/kg, P =.003) and all leukaphereses (12.4 v 8.2 x 10(6)/kg, P =.007). Total colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and mononuclear cell counts were also significantly higher in the SCF group in the first leukapheresis and in all leukaphereses. As expected for patients mobilized to an optimal CD34(+) cell yield, the time to engraftment was similar between the 2 treatment groups. Cells mobilized with the combination of SCF plus filgrastim were thus considered effective and safe for achieving rapid engraftment. Treatment with SCF plus filgrastim was well tolerated, with mild to moderate injection site reactions being the most frequently reported adverse events. There were no serious allergic-like reactions to SCF. The addition of SCF to filgrastim after cyclophosphamide for PBPC mobilization resulted in a significant increase in CD34(+) cell yield and a concomitant reduction in the number of leukaphereses required to collect an optimal harvest of 5 x 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg.