SLAM Family Receptors in B Cell Chronic Lymphoproliferative Disorders.

The signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) receptor family (SLAMF) consists of nine glycoproteins that belong to the CD2 superfamily of immunoglobulin (Ig) domain-containing molecules. SLAMF receptors modulate the differentiation and activation of a wide range of immune cells. Individual SLAMF receptors are expressed on the surface of hematopoietic stem cells, hematopoietic progenitor cells, B cells, T cells, NK cells, NKT cells, monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, and platelets. The expression of SLAMF receptors was studied during normal B cell maturation. Several SLAMF receptors were also detected in cancer cell lines of B-lymphoid origin and in pathological B cells from patients with B cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (B-CLPD), the most frequent hematological malignancies in adults. This review summarizes current knowledge on the expression of SLAMF receptors and their adaptor proteins SAP and EAT-2 in B-CLPD. Several SLAMF receptors could be regarded as potential diagnostic and differential diagnostic markers, prognostic factors, and targets for the development of novel drugs for patients with B-CLPD.

Impact of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) on progression free survival (PFS) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients (NDMM) with high risk cytogenetic abnormalities.

OBJECTIVES: ASCT has been considered the standard of care for younger patients with NDMM, however, not all the studies published so far have uniformly demonstrated the complete superiority of ASCT over chemotherapy at standard doses. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized studies has shown a significant benefit with single ASCT in terms of prolonged progression-free survival (PFS), but not of overall survival (OS). In our retrospective analysis we investigated the impact of high dose (HD) chemotherapy followed by ASCT in special population of patients with high risk cytogenetic profile on the PFS and treatment outcome. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of NDMM patients eligible for HD chemotherapy followed by upfront ASCT in the era of novel agents, who underwent the ASCT in the Department of hematology and oncohematology LF UPJS and UNLP Kosice in the timeframe of 54 months (from 01/JAN/2019 to 30/JUN/2023). Patients were stratified according to their cytogenetic profile. PFS was defined by the time from ASCT to the disease progression. The OS was defined as the time from the the start of treatment to the death from disease progression. The high risk cytogenetic abnormalities (HRCA) were defined as t(4;14), del(17/17p), t(14;16), t(14;20), nonhyperploidy, gain (1q). RESULTS: Inclusion criteria were met by 65 patients with NDMM who received HD chemotherpy followed by ASCT. We identified 22 (33.8 %) patients with HRCA and 43 (66.2 %) patients with standard cytogenetic risk. During the monitored period we recorded 4 deaths due to disease progression, all of them in the HCRA subgroup. The response was enhanced by the ASCT in both subgroups. The very good partial response (VGPR) increased from 42 % to 46 % and complete remission (CR) increased from 23 % to 45 % after the ASCT. The number of patients achieving only partial response (PR) decreased from 35 % to 9 % after ASCT. In the subgroup of patients with HRCA the median PFS after ASCT was lower compared to the patients with standard cytogenetic risk (17 vs 38 months). The average PFS in both subgroups was 22.9 months. The median OS in both subgroups was not reached, however the only deaths due to disease progression were recorded in the HRCA subgroup. At the time of analysis, 100 % (43) of patients are alive in the standard cytogenetic subgroup versus 72 % (18) of patients in HRCA subgroup. CONCLUSION: HD chemotherapy followed by ASCT remains the standard of care for NDMM eligible for high dose chemotherapy. Our results confirm the benefit of ASCT even in the presence of HRCA. Lower PFS in the HRCA subgroup might indicate the need for more intensive treatment, which may be achieved by tandem ASCT defined as two ASCT performed within a period of no more than six months. Additionally, as three- and four-drug induction therapies are becoming increasingly available and effective, resulting in high minimal residual disease (MRD) negative rates, it is important to continue discussing and further personalizing upfront ASCT to avoid overtreatment and possible toxicities especially in the non-high-risk patient population (Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 9).

Occurrence of cryptosporidium parvum IIaA17G1R1 in hospitalized hemato-oncological patients in Slovakia.

This study aimed to determine the presence of cryptosporidiosis in immunosuppressed patients hospitalized at the Clinic of Haematology and Oncohaematology in a form of routine screening. Samples were collected from November 2019 to February 2020, when the first wave of the Coronavirus pandemic occurred in Slovakia. A total of 36 samples were collected from patients hospitalized at the Clinic of Haematology and Oncohaematology, both from the open ward and the intensive care unit. For the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis, a nested PCR targeting the gp60 gene and the SSU rRNA locus was used. From the 36 samples, Cryptosporidium parvum subtype IIaA17G1R1 was diagnosed in 9 patients (7 from the open ward and 2 from the intensive care unit), all hospitalized at the clinic at the same time, in February 2020. The occurrence of the same species and subtype, Cryptosporidium parvum IIaA17G1R1, in 9 patients hospitalized at the same time, both at the open ward and the intensive care unit may suggest a possible transmission occurred at the clinic.

Ixazomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone combination in "real-world" clinical practice in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Ixazomib is approved for use in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (IRd) for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who received at least one previous therapy. Registration study "TOURMALINE MM-1" was published in 2016. Nevertheless, clinical trials are significantly different from real-world use. From June 2016 to December 2018, IRd was available for Slovak patients with relapsed/refractory MM through a Named Patient Program. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ixazomib. We analyzed in this cohort study outcomes of 106 MM patients treated with IRd at 2 academic centers. The median age at diagnosis was 63 years (44-78). The median number of prior lines was 2 (1-7). The majority had high international staging system (ISS) score: 18, 29, and 59 were in the ISS I, ISS II, and ISS III groups, respectively. Treatment continued until progression, unacceptable toxicity, or death. The median follow-up for the entire cohort was 29 (0-49) months. The overall response rate was 74.5% (complete remission, 7.5%; partial remission, 67%). The median overall survival was not reached. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 43 months (95% CI 35.6-50.4). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to generate survival curves, and we compared the influence of different factors on PFS. The most common hematological adverse events of any grade were neutropenia (90.4%), anemia (55.6%), and thrombocytopenia (43.4%). Our real-world data support the use of IRd as a highly effective and well-tolerated oral treatment protocol for relapsed myeloma.

Real-world effectiveness and safety of daratumumab, bortezomib and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma in Slovakia.

Real-world data on regimens for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) are limited. Daratumumab in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone is a promising new treatment. The aim of this analysis was to assess the outcomes of daratumumab-bortezomib-dexamethasone (DVd) combination for the treatment of patients with RRMM in a real-world setting. All consecutive RRMM patients who received at least two cycles of DVd treatment between December 2016 and July 2020 were identified. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and survival of 47 patients treated at 7 Slovak centers outside of the clinical trials. The median age was 65 years (range, 35 to 83). The median (range) number of lines of therapy per patient was 3 (2-6). All patients were previously exposed to PIs (proteasome inhibitors) and IMIDs (immunomodulatory drugs), the majority of patients (70.2%) had double refractory (IMIDs and PI) disease and 72.3% of patients were refractory to their last therapy. Most patients presented with high-risk characteristics, including 25.6% adverse cytogenetics and 25.5% extramedullary disease. The majority of patients responded with an overall response rate of 78%, we found complete response in 3, very good partial response in 22, partial response in 12, minor response or stable disease in 9, and progressive disease in 1 patient. After a median follow-up period of 8 months, the median progression-free survival was 10 months. There was a longer progression-free survival in those with 2 vs. >2 prior treatments, with equally good effectivity in standard-risk and high-risk cytogenetic groups. The adverse events were usually mild, none leading to permanent drug interruptions. Daratumumab-bortezomib-based combinations are efficacious and safe regimens in RRMM patients in the real-world setting. This is the first analysis in Slovakia addressing the DVd combination outside of the clinical trial setting.

Overexpression of Galectin-3 in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Is Associated With 17p Deletion: A Short Report.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Galectins belong to the family of galactose-binding proteins known to play an important role in the processes of cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and neoplastic progression. Herein, we studied the expression of galectin-3 (Gal-3) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of Gal-3 was analyzed by means of multiparametric flow cytometry in normal and pathological B-cells from peripheral blood and bone marrow samples of 67 patients with CLL. RESULTS: Pathological B-cells expressed significantly higher levels of cytoplasmic Gal-3 than normal B-cells. Moreover, overexpression of cytoplasmic Gal-3 was observed in the prognostically poorest subgroup of CLL patients, namely those with 17p deletion. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate a possible role of galectin-3 in CLL pathophysiology and its potential value as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target.

Detection of FLT3 Mutations in Patients from Eastern Slovakia.

BACKGROUND: The study investigated FLT3 gene mutations in patients from eastern Slovakia using a simple molecular method. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed 141 patients with primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 8 patients with AML that developed from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who were aged 19-81 years. DNA isolated from peripheral blood and/or bone marrow was analyzed by PCR. FLT3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) was detected by amplification of exons 14 and 15. Point mutations in the FLT3 tyrosine kinase domain (FLT3-TKD) were detected by digesting the PCR product of exon 20 with the restriction endonuclease EcoRV. Fragments were separated electrophoretically. PCR products of the positive samples were also analyzed using a microchip device (Bioanalyzer 2100). RESULTS: LT3-ITD and point mutations in the FLT-TKD were detected in 19 and 8% of patients, resp. Two patients (1%) harbored both types of mutations. Patients with and without FLT3 mutations were called FLT+ and FLT-, resp. Most FLT3+ patients had no chromosomal aberrations (59%) or harbored the t (15; 17) translocation in PML-RARA (15%). The mortality rate was 33% among FLT3+ patients and 10% among FLT3-patients. Among FLT3+ patients, the mortality rates of patients with FLT3-ITD and point mutations of the FLT-TKD were almost the same. A 77-year-old female patient with both FLT3-ITD and a point mutation in the FLT3-TKD was in remission. The eight patients who developed AML from MDS were assessed separately. Of these, three patients were FLT3+; two patients displayed FLT3-ITD, and one patient harbored a point mutation in the FLT3-TKD. No other genetic aberrations were detected. FLT3+ patients lived for longer than FLT3-patients. These analyses of FLT3 gene mutations in patients from eastern Slovakia are consistent with published data from other databases. CONCLUSION: The applied PCR method is reliable, relatively fast, and affordable, and can be used for routine monitoring of FLT3 gene mutations. FLT3 mutations can be verified using a microchip as an alternative to capillary electrophoresis. Key words: acute myelogenous leukemia - DNA - PCR - mutation - FLT3-ITD - FLT3-TKD The study was supported by the European Regional Development grant OPVaV-2009/2.2/05- -SORO (ITMS code: 26220220143). The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE recommendation for biomedical paper Submitted: 19. 10. 2017 Accepted: 15. 2. 2018.

Identification of new phosphorylation sites of CD23 in B-cells of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is the most common lymphoproliferative disorder in adults. Patients with B-CLL strongly express the CD23 - C type of lectin (low affinity IgE receptor, Fc epsilon RII), which is linked to B cell activation and proliferation. Phosphorylation in lymphocytes is tightly associated with regulation of protein activities, functional regulation and cell signaling, and may thus affect initiation and/or progression of the disease. Here we report changes in the phosphorylation of CD23 on threonine (pThr314) and two serine residues (pSer254, pSer265) in B lymphocytes of B-CLL patients, using a flow cytometry approach. The majority of tested patients with active forms of B-CLL presented a notable overexpression of CD23 along with pThr314, pSer254, and pSer265 CD23 phosphorylation positivity. Moreover, we have experimentally stimulated the CD23 phosphorylations in a subset of peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy controls by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate treatment. This affects the activation of competent phosphorylation mediating kinases, resulting in the enhanced phosphorylation pattern. Together, these data confirm that CD23 protein is phosphorylated in B cells of B-CLL patients, report the identification of new CD23 phosphorylation sites, and suggest a possible role(s) of such phosphorylations in the activation of CD23 during the process of lymphocytic activation in B-CLL.

Micafungin as empirical antifungal therapy in hematological patients: a retrospective, multicenter study in the Czech and Slovak Republics.

The objective of this retrospective, multicenter study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of micafungin as empirical antifungal therapy during febrile neutropenia (FN) in 73 hematological patients from six centers in two countries. All patients received 100 mg of micafungin/day. The overall favorable response rate (RR) was 64.8% when the resolution of fever during neutropenia was included in the response criteria and 84.5% when excluded. A significantly lower favorable RR in patients with persistent fever and non-specific pulmonary infiltrates compared to patients with persistent fever only (82.8 vs. 52.4%, respectively; p = 0.011) was not found when resolution of fever was not included in the composite endpoint criteria (93.1 vs. 78.6%, respectively; p = 0.180). Breakthrough fungal disease developed in 2.7% of patients. Treatment was discontinued in 16.4% of cases. Only one patient (1.4%) discontinued therapy due to an adverse event. Posaconazole prophylaxis improved favorable RR when defervescence was included as composite endpoint criterion (p = 0.047), but not when it was excluded (p = 0.485). However, neutrophil recovery did not influence favorable RR (p = 0.803 and p = 0.112, respectively). These data suggest that micafungin is safe and effective as an empirical therapy in patients with FN.

Invasive aspergillosis in patients with hematological malignancies in the Czech and Slovak republics: Fungal InfectioN Database (FIND) analysis, 2005-2009.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate risk factors, diagnostic procedures, and treatment outcomes of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in patients with hematological malignancies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of data from proven/probable IA cases that occurred from 2005 to 2009 at 10 hematology centers was performed. RESULTS: We identified 176 IA cases that mainly occurred in patients with acute leukemias (58.5%), mostly those on induction/re-induction treatments (39.8%). Prolonged neutropenia was the most frequent risk factor for IA (61.4%). The lungs were the most frequently affected site (93.8%) and computed tomography detected abnormalities in all episodes; however, only 53.7% of patients had findings suggestive of IA. Galactomannan (GM) detection in serum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (positive in 79.1% and 78.8% of episodes, respectively) played a crucial role in IA diagnosis. Neutrophil count and antifungal prophylaxis did not influence the GM positivity rate, but empirical therapy decreased this rate (in serum). Of the IA cases, 53.2% responded to initial antifungal therapy. The combination of voriconazole and echinocandin, even as initial or salvage therapy, did not perform better than voriconazole monotherapy (p=0.924 for initial therapy and p=0.205 for salvage therapy). Neutrophil recovery had a significant role in the response to initial (but not salvage) antifungal therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our retrospective analysis identified key diagnostic and treatment characteristics, and this understanding could improve the management of hematological malignancy patients with IA.