Upfront plerixafor plus G-CSF versus cyclophosphamide plus G-CSF for stem cell mobilization in multiple myeloma: efficacy and cost analysis study.

Cyclophosphamide plus G-CSF (C+G-CSF) is one of the most widely used stem cell (SC) mobilization regimens for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Plerixafor plus G-CSF (P+G-CSF) has demonstrated superior SC mobilization efficacy when compared with G-CSF alone and has been shown to rescue patients who fail mobilization with G-CSF or C+G-CSF. Despite the proven efficacy of P+G-CSF in upfront SC mobilization, its use has been limited, mostly due to concerns of high price of the drug. However, a comprehensive comparison of the efficacy and cost effectiveness of SC mobilization using C+G-CSF versus P+G-CSF is not available. In this study, we compared 111 patients receiving C+G-CSF to 112 patients receiving P+G-CSF. The use of P+G-CSF was associated with a higher success rate of SC collection defined as ⩾5 × 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg (94 versus 83%, P=0.013) and less toxicities. Thirteen patients in the C+G-CSF arm were hospitalized owing to complications while none in the P+G-CSF group. C+G-CSF was associated with higher financial burden as assessed using institutional-specific costs and charges (P<0.001) as well as using Medicare reimbursement rates (P=0.27). Higher rate of hospitalization, increased need for salvage mobilization, and increased G-CSF use account for these differences.

Characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from cancer patients with suspected tuberculosis infection in Egypt: identification, prevalence, risk factors and resistance pattern.

Data are sparse on Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among patients with cancer in Egypt. We sought to detect the presence of tuberculosis (TB) disease among patients with malignant conditions and suspected TB and to study the main risk factors. Also, we compared different diagnostic procedures and detected the antimicrobial susceptibility of M. tuberculosis isolates against rifampin and isoniazid. One hundred patients were included in this study, all of them had malignant conditions and were suspected by the clinicians of having TB. Identification of M. tuberculosis in different specimens was performed by smear microscopy, followed by Lowenstein-Jensen medium and Mycobacterium growth indicator tube (MGIT) cultures and artus(®) real-time PCR. In addition, an indirect MGIT anti-TB susceptibility test was carried out against rifampin and isoniazid. A total of 76% of studied cases were found to be TB positive. The frequencies of TB-positive cases in the bronchogenic, haematological and solid tumour malignancy groups were 21%, 25% and 30%, respectively. Significant differences between pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB in different malignancy groups were recorded. Real-time PCR showed the highest overall diagnostic efficiency. Multidrug-resistance of M. tuberculosis to both rifampin and isoniazid was detected in 28.6% of examined isolates. Infection in cancer patients with TB was significantly more often recorded among elderly patients and those suffering from poverty. Pulmonary TB is more common than extrapulmonary TB in patients with malignancy. Real-time PCR is the most accurate and rapid method for TB diagnosis. MGIT-rifampin resistance may be used as a reliable marker for detection of multidrug-resistant TB. Diagnosis and instituting treatment course for active or latent TB infection are crucial before starting anticancer therapy.