How to improve RCHOP as frontline therapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 randomized controlled trials.

RCHOP is the standard of care for patients with diffuse large b-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) but failures occur in approximately 40% of them. We performed a meta-analysis of 21 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing experimental regimens with RCHOP. We searched the database of PubMed with proper criteria, and data of efficacy (Progression Free Survival-PFS) in the ITT population were extracted and analyzed. Cross comparisons of RCTs were performed by using the CINEMA software. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%, CI) are reported. The literature search yielded 21 RCTs including 5785 patients in the RCHOP arm and 5648 patients in the experimental arm. Odds ratio (OR) for PFS in the total cohort was OR (95%, CI): 0.87 (0.76-0.99), p=0.02. Among different strategies to improve RCHOP, addition of a novel agent on RCHOP improved PFS. In total 1740 patients in the RCHOP arm were compared with 1755 in the RCHOP plus a novel agent arm, and the OR (95% CI) for PFS was 0.84 (0.71-0.97), p=0.02. Indirect comparisons of nine studies adding a novel agent on RCHOP does not give prominence to any agent. Subgroup analysis according to cell of origin was performed for non-GC DLBCL patients. In this subgroup, 1546 patients treated with RCHOP were compared with 1538 patients treated with experimental regimens. The OR (95% CI) for PFS was 0.86 (0.73-1.02), p=0.34. Overall survival data extracted from 18 studies showed no superiority of experimental regimens over RCHOP. Efficacy of RCHOP backbone is marginally improved when adding a novel anti-lymphoma agent.

Socioeconomic Status is Globally a Prognostic Factor for Overall Survival of Multiple Myeloma Patients: Synthesis of Studies and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic status (SES) is reflecting differences in sociodemographic factors affecting cancer survivorship. Deprived, low SES populations have a higher prevalence of multiple myeloma and worst survival, a condition which widens over time. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of 16 studies (registries and cohorts) reporting myeloma patients' survival data according to SES. Ten studies reported Hazzard Ratio (H.R.) (95 % CI), and 16 studies reported p values. We combined the H.R. from 10 studies, and by using the Mosteller-Bush formula, we performed a synthesis of p values according to the area of the globe. RESULTS: Combination of H.R. from 10 studies including 85198 myeloma patients weighted to sample size of each study and adopting the hypothesis of random effect returned a combined H.R.: 1,26 (1,13-1,31) in favor of high SES patients.USA: Synthesis of p values coming from 6 studies (n=89807 pts) by using the Mosteller and Bush formula extracted a p-value of <0.0001 favoring high SES patients.Oceania: Synthesis of p values in two cohorts from Australia and New Zealand (n= 10196 pts) returned a p-value of 0,022 favoring high SES patients.Europe: The synthesis of p values from the U.K. and Greece studies (n=18533 pts) returned a p-value of <0,0001 favoring high SES patients.Asia: Synthesis of 2 studies from Asia (n=915 pts) returned a p-value of <0,0001 favoring high SES patients. CONCLUSIONS: Across the globe and widening over decades, the socioeconomic status remains a gap for equality in myeloma care.

Primary Renal Vein Aneurysm Rupture: Case Report of a Catastrophic Entity.

BACKGROUND: Renal vein aneurysms (RVAs) are uncommon entities, which are usually incidental findings or may cause mild nonspecific symptoms. Modern radiological imaging, mainly multislice computed tomography (CT), has substantially contributed to a prompt and accurate diagnosis. Treatment may range from watchful waiting to aneurysmorraphy, aneurysmectomy, and nephrectomy. Potential complications include thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, pressure to other structures, and rupture. CASE: A 58-year-old male patient was admitted at the emergency department with abdominal pain. He underwent an emergency CT scan which showed a huge retroperitoneal hematoma around the right kidney, while soon afterward he had a hypovolemic shock, less than an hour after a temporary loss of consciousness after an acute emotional distress episode. He underwent an emergency laparotomy and a right nephrectomy because of an RVA. Interestingly, his postoperative course was uneventful and his six-month follow-up was normal. DISCUSSION: This report presents the rupture of an RVA for the first time, which was successfully treated through nephrectomy by general surgeons in a secondary hospital. This is a catastrophic event which may be lethal, in case prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention delay. Due to the rarity of the disease, its etiology and optimal treatment remain to be clarified.

Perfusion parameters analysis of the vertebral bone marrow in patients with Ph¹â» chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (Ph(neg) MPN): a dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate perfusion parameters of the vertebral bone marrow in patients with Philadelphia negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (Ph(neg) MPN) using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study enrolled 24 patients with Ph(neg) MPN: 12 patients with myelofibrosis (Group A), 6 with essential thrombocythemia (ET), and 6 with polycythemia vera (PV) (Group B) who underwent DCE-MRI of the lumbosacral spine. Twelve normal individuals served as control group (Group C). Wash-in (WIN), wash-out (WOUT), maximum contrast-enhancement (CE max), time-to-peak (TTPK), time-to-maximum slope (TMSP), and the WIN/TMSP ratio (WTSP) were calculated. RESULTS: WIN, CE(max) , and WTSP parameters were higher in Group A than in Group C (P < 0.05). These parameters were significant (P < 0.0001) in discriminating patients with myelofibrosis from normal individuals with sensitivities 74.14%, 87.93%, 74.14%, and specificities 91.07%, 83.93%, 91.07%, respectively. WIN, WOUT, CE(max) , and WTSP parameters were higher in Group A than in Group B (P < 0.05). Group B exhibited no differences in perfusion parameters as compared with Group C with the exception of WOUT. CONCLUSION: Patients with myelofibrosis exhibited increased perfusion parameters in vertebral bone marrow, which could be consisted with increased vascularity, probably related to neoangiogenesis as opposed to ET or PV patients showing no increased perfusion. DCE-MRI may be of value in discriminating subgroups of Ph(neg) MPN patients and in indicating those progressing to myelofibrosis.

Optic nerve sheath meningioma: a case report.

A case of a 75-year old male with right-sided exopthalmos is presented. Outside proptosis of the right eye was initially observed 6 years ago. Opthalmological and endocrinological clinical examination as well as laboratory tests revealed no pathology from optic nerve disc, optic bulb and thyroid related hormones. MRI study demonstrated an optic nerve meningioma. The key imaging findings and the differential diagnosis were discussed in this present paper.

Pedunculated uterine leiomyoma mimicking abdominal mass: a case report.

A 48-year-old woman presented with abdominal fullness and a palpable "mass" in the left lower quadrant. Ultrasonography showed a large, rounded, hypoechoic mass. Contrast-enhanced helical CT of the abdomen demonstrated a well-circumscribed, heterogeneously but vividly enhancing mass. The uterus had a leiomyomatous configuration on CT. Uterus and mass revealed the same enhancing pattern. Thin section CT revealed a long, thin stalk connecting the mass with the body of the uterus. Surgical removal of both uterus and the mass confirmed the diagnosis of a pedunculated subserosal leiomyoma originating from a leiomyomatous uterus.