A Rheological Study on the Effect of Tethering Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines into Hydrogels on Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Migration, Degradation, and Morphology.

Polymer-peptide hydrogels are being designed as implantable materials that deliver human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) to treat wounds. Most wounds can progress through the healing process without intervention. During the normal healing process, cytokines are released from the wound to create a concentration gradient, which causes directed cell migration from the native niche to the wound site. Our work takes inspiration from this process and uniformly tethers cytokines into the scaffold to measure changes in cell-mediated degradation and motility. This is the first step in designing cytokine concentration gradients into the material to direct cell migration. We measure changes in rheological properties, encapsulated cell-mediated pericellular degradation and migration in a hydrogel scaffold with covalently tethered cytokines, either tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß). TNF-α is expressed in early stages of wound healing causing an inflammatory response. TGF-ß is released in later stages of wound healing causing an anti-inflammatory response in the surrounding tissue. Both cytokines cause directed cell migration. We measure no statistically significant difference in modulus or the critical relaxation exponent when tethering either cytokine in the polymeric network without encapsulated hMSCs. This indicates that the scaffold structure and rheology is unchanged by the addition of tethered cytokines. Increases in hMSC motility, morphology and cell-mediated degradation are measured using a combination of multiple particle tracking microrheology (MPT) and live-cell imaging in hydrogels with tethered cytokines. We measure that tethering TNF-α into the hydrogel increases cellular remodeling on earlier days postencapsulation and tethering TGF-ß into the scaffold increases cellular remodeling on later days. We measure tethering either TGF-ß or TNF-α enhances cell stretching and, subsequently, migration. This work provides rheological characterization that can be used to design new materials that present chemical cues in the pericellular region to direct cell migration.

Cognitive function in patients prior to undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

PURPOSE: Cognitive impairment is common and consequential in patients with cancer who undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, there is no standard of care for evaluating cognition in patients prior to or after receiving HSCT, and it is not known which patients are at highest risk for cognitive impairment. The objectives of this study were to describe cognitive function in patients prior to allogeneic HSCT and identify demographic, disease-related, and psychosocial factors associated with cognitive function. METHODS: Prior to HSCT, participants completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). We assessed bivariable associations between continuous MoCA scores and demographic, disease-related, and psychosocial variables using linear regression. Variables significant at the p < 0.2 level were adjusted for age, sex, and years of education in multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Over 50% of participants demonstrated evidence of cognitive impairment (MoCA < 26) prior to transplantation. When adjusted for demographic variables, two characteristics were significantly associated with worse cognitive function: the hematopoietic cell transplantation-comorbidity index score (p = 0.01) and history of alcohol or substance abuse (p = 0.02). Pre-HSCT cancer and cancer treatment-specific variables were not associated with cognitive function. CONCLUSION: Cognitive impairment is common in patients scheduled to receive HSCT. Pre-transplantation evaluation of medical comorbidities and history of substance abuse may be important in identifying patients at risk for cognitive impairment. Further research characterizing the trajectory and impact of cognitive impairment on patient symptom burden and function may help improve outcomes.

Long-Term Follow-up of CALGB (Alliance) 100001: Autologous Followed by Nonmyeloablative Allogeneic Transplant for Multiple Myeloma.

CALGB (Alliance) 100001 was a phase II study evaluating autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) followed by nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT) in patients with multiple myeloma who had received no more than 18 months of prior therapy and had experienced no more than 1 prior progression event. Conditioning for ASCT was with high-dose melphalan (200 mg/m2). The alloSCT reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen consisted of fludarabine (30 mg/m2/d i.v. on days -7 through -3) and cyclophosphamide (1 g/m2/d i.v. on days -4 through -3). The primary objective was to determine the 6-month post-alloSCT treatment-related mortality (TRM) rate. Additional objectives included determining the proportion of patients who could complete this tandem ASCT-alloSCT approach in a cooperative group setting, overall response rates, rates of donor chimerism, rates of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), disease-free survival, and overall survival (OS). Sixty patients were enrolled, of whom 57 (95%) completed ASCT and 49 (82%) completed tandem ASCT-alloSCT. The TRM rate was 2% (1/49; 90% confidence interval, 0.10% to 9.3%). Moderate to severe (grades 2 to 3) acute GVHD was observed in 13 of 49 alloSCT patients (27%). One patient died due to GVHD within 9 months of alloSCT. Twenty-seven of the 49 patients (55%) who underwent alloSCT reported chronic GVHD as either limited (15/49; 31%) or extensive (12/49; 24%) in the first year post-alloSCT and prior to the start of nonprotocol therapy for progressive disease. With a median follow-up for survival of 11 years, the median OS time is 6.6 years and the median time to disease progression is 3.6 years. Similar to other studies, this study confirmed that tandem ASCT/alloSCT is associated with durable disease control in a subset of patients. This study demonstrated the feasibility of performing tandem ASCT/alloSCT in a cooperative group setting and determined that a fludarabine/cyclophosphamide RIC regimen is associated with a very low TRM rate.

Pilot randomized trial of an electronic symptom monitoring and reporting intervention for hospitalized adults undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

PURPOSE: Patients undergoing a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) have varied symptoms during their hospitalization. This study examined whether daily symptom reporting (with electronic patient-reported outcomes [PROs]) in an inpatient bone marrow transplant clinic reduced symptom burden on post-transplant days +7, +10, and +14. METHODS: A prospective, single-institution 1:1 pilot randomized, two-arm study recruited HCT patients. HCT inpatients (N = 76) reported daily on 16 common symptoms using the PRO version of the Common Terminology for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE). Fisher's exact test was used to examine differences in the proportion of patients reporting individual symptoms. Multivariable linear regression modeling was used to examine group differences in peak symptom burden, while controlling for symptom burden at baseline, age, comorbidity, and transplantation type (autologous or allogeneic). RESULTS: HCT patients receiving the PRO intervention also experienced lower peak symptom burden (average of 16 symptoms) at days +7, +10, and +14 (10.4 vs 14.5, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Daily use of electronic symptom reporting to nurses in an inpatient bone marrow transplant clinic reduced peak symptom burden and improved individual symptoms during the 2 weeks post-transplant. A multi-site trial is warranted to demonstrate the generalizability, efficacy, and value of this intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02574897.

Evaluation of mobilization efficacy with an extended interval following plerixafor administration.

Plerixafor is a hematopoietic stem cell mobilizing agent used in combination with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor to improve collection for autologous stem cell transplantation. Despite a recommendation for administration 11 h prior to apheresis per package labeling, logistical challenges lead many institutions to administer plerixafor at an extended interval. The purpose of this study was to determine if plerixafor effectively and efficiently mobilizes CD34+ cells when given at an extended interval prior to apheresis. This was a retrospective evaluation of adult patients who received plerixafor based on an algorithm reserving daily plerixafor only for patients with a pre-apheresis CD34+ count of < 20 cells/µL (pre-apheresis plerixafor) or with a low CD34+ yield after the first apheresis session (rescue plerixafor). The primary outcome was achievement of a disease-specific collection goal of ≥ 6 ×106 CD34+ cells/kg for multiple myeloma and ≥ 4 ×106 CD34+ cells/kg for lymphoma. The mean interval between plerixafor administration and apheresis was 17 h in this study. Despite this extended interval, 64% of patients met their disease-specific collection goal. A minimum collection goal of ≥ 2 ×106 CD34+ cells/kg was achieved by 95% of patients. Mobilization remained efficient with a median of two days to complete collection. Based on this data, plerixafor effectively and efficiently mobilizes CD34+ cells when given at an extended interval prior to apheresis.

Influence of Germline Genetics on Tacrolimus Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients.

Tacrolimus exhibits high inter-patient pharmacokinetics (PK) variability, as well as a narrow therapeutic index, and therefore requires therapeutic drug monitoring. Germline mutations in cytochrome P450 isoforms 4 and 5 genes (CYP3A4/5) and the ATP-binding cassette B1 gene (ABCB1) may contribute to interindividual tacrolimus PK variability, which may impact clinical outcomes among allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients. In this study, 252 adult patients who received tacrolimus for acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) prophylaxis after allogeneic HSCT were genotyped to evaluate if germline genetic variants associated with tacrolimus PK and pharmacodynamic (PD) variability. Significant associations were detected between germline variants in CYP3A4/5 and ABCB1 and PK endpoints (e.g., median steady-state tacrolimus concentrations and time to goal tacrolimus concentration). However, significant associations were not observed between CYP3A4/5 or ABCB1 germline variants and PD endpoints (e.g., aGVHD and treatment-emergent nephrotoxicity). Decreased age and CYP3A5*1/*1 genotype were independently associated with subtherapeutic tacrolimus trough concentrations while CYP3A5*1*3 or CYP3A5*3/*3 genotypes, myeloablative allogeneic HSCT conditioning regimen (MAC) and increased weight were independently associated with supratherapeutic tacrolimus trough concentrations. Future lines of prospective research inquiry are warranted to use both germline genetic and clinical data to develop precision dosing tools that will optimize both tacrolimus dosing and clinical outcomes among adult HSCT patients.

Evaluation of a Test Dose Strategy for Pharmacokinetically-Guided Busulfan Dosing for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Targeted busulfan dosing helps limit chemotherapy-related toxicity and optimize disease outcomes in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). The objective of this study was to evaluate busulfan exposure from a pharmacokinetic (PK)-guided dosing strategy using a test dose. This retrospective evaluation included adult patients who underwent HCT at our institution with busulfan-based myeloablative (>9 mg/kg) conditioning between January 2014 and October 2015. A weight-based test dose of 0.8 mg/kg was used with PK assessments to predict area under the curve (AUCpred) achieved with weight-based dosing, with a target AUC of 4800 µM*minute (AUCtarget). PK from the test dose was then used to calculate a PK-guided first myeloablative busulfan dose. PK assessments were also done after the first dose to assess if the goal area under the curve (AUC) had been achieved (AUCfirst). A PK-guided first dose resulted in achievement of target AUC with target ranges of ±10% in 50% of patients, ±15% in 75%, and ±20% in 94%. This was an improved rate of target achievement compared with the 33%, 44%, and 63% of patients who achieved the desired AUC for these respective target ranges when using weight-based dosing (P = .12, .004, and <.001, respectively). The PK-guided strategy also decreased the variability of AUC from 3.6-fold in AUCpred from the weight-based test doses (2700.8 to 9631 µM*minute; SD, 1211.6 µM*minute) to 1.8-fold in AUCfirst from the PK-guided first doses (3672.1 to 6609.8 µM*minute; SD, 574.7 µM*minute). This reflects a 2-fold improvement in AUC variability with a PK-guided dosing strategy. This is also improved from the 3-fold variability in AUC reported in other studies. Weight and body surface area were significantly associated with the likelihood of AUCfirst being within the ±10% target range (P = .04 for both associations). There was no significant association between AUCfirst and death, relapse, or a composite of the two. These results demonstrate a significant improvement in target AUC attainment and less interpatient variability with PK-guided dosing using a test dose strategy compared with weight-based dosing.

Mature outcomes and prognostic indices in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in Malawi: a prospective cohort.

Outcomes for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are poorly described. We report mature data from one of the first prospective SSA cohorts. Patients aged ≥18 years with DLBCL were enrolled in Malawi 2013-2017. Participants were treated with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) chemotherapy and concurrent antiretroviral therapy (ART) if positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV+). Eighty-six participants (mean age 47 years, standard deviation 13) were enrolled: 54 (63%) were male and 51 (59%) were HIV+, of whom 34 (67%) were on ART at DLBCL diagnosis. Median CD4 count was 0·113 cells × 109 /l (interquartile range [IQR] 0·062-0·227) and 25 (49%) had HIV viral load <400 copies/µl. Participants received median six cycles CHOP (IQR 4-6). No patients were lost to follow-up and the 2-year overall survival was 38% (95% confidence interval 28-49). In multivariable analyses, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) ≥2 and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) >2× upper limit of normal (ULN) were associated with mortality. HIV status was not associated with mortality. A simplified prognostic model of LDH >2× ULN and PS ≥2 performed at least as well as the age-adjusted International Prognostic Index. DLBCL can be successfully treated in SSA and outcomes did not differ by HIV status. A simplified prognostic model prognosticates well and may be easier to use in resource-limited settings but requires validation.

Influence of Treating Facility, Provider Volume, and Patient-Sharing on Survival of Patients With Multiple Myeloma.

BACKGROUND: Population-based studies suggest that patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have better outcomes when treated at high-volume facilities, but the relative contribution of provider expertise and hospital resources to improved outcomes is unknown. This study explored how treating facility, individual provider volume, and patient-sharing between MM specialists and community providers influenced outcomes for patients with MM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A state cancer registry linked to public and private insurance claims was used to identify a cohort of patients diagnosed with MM in 2006 through 2012. Three multivariable Cox models were used to examine how the following factors impacted overall survival: (1) evaluation at an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCICCC), (2) the primary oncologist's volume of patients with MM, and (3) patient-sharing between MM specialists and community oncologists. RESULTS: A total of 1,029 patients diagnosed with MM in 2006 through 2012 were identified. Patients who were not evaluated at an NCICCC had an increased risk of mortality compared with those evaluated at an NCICCC (hazard ratio [HR], 1.50; 95% CI, 1.21-1.86; P<.001). Compared with patients treated by NCICCC MM specialists, those treated by both low-volume community providers (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.14-1.90; P<.01) and high-volume community providers (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.04-1.61; P<.05) had a higher risk of mortality. No difference in mortality was seen between patients treated by NCICCC MM specialists and those treated by the highest-volume community oncologists in the ninth and tenth deciles (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.84-1.37; P=.5591). Patients treated by community oncologists had a higher risk of mortality regardless of patient-sharing compared with patients treated by MM specialists (eg, community oncologist with a history of sharing vs NCICCC MM specialist: HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.10-2.02; P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study add to the accumulating evidence showing that patients with MM benefit from care at high-volume facilities, and suggest that similar outcomes can be achieved by the highest-volume providers in the community.

Successful treatment of hepatitis C virus infection with direct-acting antivirals during hematopoietic cell transplant.

Current guidelines recommend that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection be treated completely prior to hematopoietic cell transplantation or delayed until immune reconstitution after transplantation to avoid drug-drug interactions and treatment interruption. However, these recommendations were informed by outcomes using treatment with ribavirin and pegylated interferon. We report the first case of successful treatment of HCV using direct-acting antivirals during hematopoietic cell transplantation. This case study suggests that treatment of HCV concurrent with hematopoietic cell transplantation for malignancy may be the best option for some patients in whom it is unsafe to delay treatment for either disease.

Effect of Antihuman T Lymphocyte Globulin on Immune Recovery after Myeloablative Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation with Matched Unrelated Donors: Analysis of Immune Reconstitution in a Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

We recently conducted a randomized double-blind study in which we demonstrated that moderate/severe chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) but not cGVHD-free survival was reduced in patients receiving anti-T lymphocyte globulin (ATLG) versus placebo. In a companion study we performed immunophenotypic analysis to determine the impact of ATLG on immune reconstitution (IR) and to correlate IR with clinical outcomes. The randomized study (n = 254) included patients (aged 18 to 65 years) who underwent myeloablative transplants for acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, or acute lymphoblastic leukemia from HLA-matched unrelated donors. Ninety-one patients consented for the companion IR study (ATLG = 44, placebo = 47). Blood samples were collected on days 30, 100, 180, and 360 after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), and multiparameter flow cytometry was performed in a blinded fashion. Reconstitution of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells was delayed up to 6 months post-HCT in the ATLG arm, whereas absolute regulatory T cell (Treg) (CD4+25+127-) numbers were lower only in the first 100 days. Analysis of the CD4+ Treg and conventional T cells (Tconv) (CD4+25-127+) compartments showed a profound absence of naive Tregs and Tconv in the first 100 days post-HCT, with very slow recovery for 1 year. B cell and natural killer cell recovery were similar in each arm. Higher absolute counts of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T, Tregs, and Tconv were associated with improved overall survival, progression-free survival, and nonrelapse mortality but not moderate/severe cGVHD. Although ATLG delays CD3+ and CD4+ T cell recovery post-transplant, it has a relative Treg sparing effect after the early post-HCT period, with possible implications for protection from cGVHD. ATLG severely compromises the generation of naive CD4+ cells (Treg and Tconv), potentially affecting the diversity of the TCR repertoire and T cell responses against malignancy and infection.

Country-Level Macroeconomic Indicators Predict Early Post-Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Survival in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A CIBMTR Analysis.

For patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) offers a potential cure. Life-threatening complications can arise from alloHCT that require the application of sophisticated health care delivery. The impact of country-level economic conditions on post-transplantation outcomes is not known. Our objective was to assess whether these variables were associated with outcomes for patients transplanted for ALL. Using data from the Center for Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, we included 11,261 patients who received a first alloHCT for ALL from 303 centers across 38 countries between the years of 2005 and 2013. Cox regression models were constructed using the following macroeconomic indicators as main effects: Gross national income per capita, health expenditure per capita, and Human Development Index (HDI). The outcome was overall survival at 100 days following transplantation. In each model, transplants performed within lower resourced environments were associated with inferior overall survival. In the model with the HDI as the main effect, transplants performed in the lowest HDI quartile (n = 697) were associated with increased hazard for mortality (hazard ratio, 2.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.64 to 3.57; P < .001) in comparison with transplants performed in the countries with the highest HDI quartile. This translated into an 11% survival difference at 100 days (77% for lowest HDI quartile versus 88% for all other quartiles). Country-level macroeconomic indices were associated with lower survival at 100 days after alloHCT for ALL. The reasons for this disparity require further investigation.

RB but not R-HCVAD is a feasible induction regimen prior to auto-HCT in frontline MCL: results of SWOG Study S1106.

Aggressive induction chemotherapy followed by autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant (auto-HCT) is effective for younger patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). However, the optimal induction regimen is widely debated. The Southwestern Oncology Group S1106 trial was designed to assess rituximab plus hyperCVAD/MTX/ARAC (hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone, alternating with high dose cytarabine and methotrexate) (RH) versus rituximab plus bendamustine (RB) in a randomized phase II trial to select a pre-transplant induction regimen for future development. Patients had previously untreated stage III, IV, or bulky stage II MCL and received either 4 cycles of RH or 6 cycles of RB, followed by auto-HCT. Fifty-three of a planned 160 patients were accrued; an unacceptably high mobilization failure rate (29%) on the RH arm prompted premature study closure. The estimated 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 81% vs. 82% and overall survival (OS) was 87% vs. 88% for RB and RH, respectively. RH is not an ideal platform for future multi-centre transplant trials in MCL. RB achieved a 2-year PFS of 81% and a 78% MRD negative rate. Premature closure of the study limited the sample size and the precision of PFS estimates and MRD rates. However, RB can achieve a deep remission and could be a platform for future trials in MCL.

Practice Patterns and Preferences Among Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Clinicians.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation can cure many high-risk diseases but is associated with complexity, cost, and risk. Several areas in transplantation practice were identified in the 2014 Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network State of the Science Symposium (BMT CTN SOSS) as high priorities for further study. We developed a survey for hematopoietic cell transplantation clinicians to identify current practices in BMT CTN SOSS priority areas and to understand, more generally, the variation in approach to transplantation and estimation of transplantation benefit in current medical practice. Of 1439 transplantation clinicians surveyed, 305 responded (20% response rate). Clinicians were well represented by age, experience, geography, and size of practice. We found that several techniques identified in the BMT CTN SOSS, such as maintenance therapy for acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes after allogeneic transplantation, were already being utilized in practice on and off study, with higher rates of use in higher-volume centers. There was significant variation among clinicians in use of transplantation technologies and approaches to common transplantation scenarios. Appraisals of risks and benefits of transplantation appeared to converge upon similar estimates despite the presentation of different hypothetical scenarios. These results suggest overall equipoise in several BMT CTN SOSS high-priority areas and support the need for better data to inform clinical practice.

Efficacy of Pharmacokinetics-Directed Busulfan, Cyclophosphamide, and Etoposide Conditioning and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Lymphoma: Comparison of a Multicenter Phase II Study and CIBMTR Outcomes.

Busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide (BuCyE) is a commonly used conditioning regimen for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). This multicenter, phase II study examined the safety and efficacy of BuCyE with individually adjusted busulfan based on preconditioning pharmacokinetics. The study initially enrolled Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients ages 18 to 80 years but was amended due to high early treatment-related mortality (TRM) in patients > 65 years. BuCyE outcomes were compared with contemporaneous recipients of carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (BEAM) from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research. Two hundred seven subjects with HL (n = 66) or NHL (n = 141) were enrolled from 32 centers in North America, and 203 underwent ASCT. Day 100 TRM for all subjects (n = 203), patients > 65 years (n = 17), and patients ≤ 65 years (n = 186) were 4.5%, 23.5%, and 2.7%, respectively. The estimated rates of 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) were 33% for HL and 58%, 77%, and 43% for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL; n = 63), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL; n = 29), and follicular lymphoma (FL; n = 23), respectively. The estimated rates of 2-year overall survival (OS) were 76% for HL and 65%, 89%, and 89% for DLBCL, MCL, and FL, respectively. In the matched analysis rates of 2-year TRM were 3.3% for BuCyE and 3.9% for BEAM, and there were no differences in outcomes for NHL. Patients with HL had lower rates of 2-year PFS with BuCyE, 33% (95% CI, 21% to 46%), than with BEAM, 59% (95% CI, 52% to 66%), with no differences in TRM or OS. BuCyE provided adequate disease control and safety in B cell NHL patients ≤ 65 years but produced worse PFS in HL patients when compared with BEAM.

Statewide geographic variation in outcomes for adults with acute myeloid leukemia in North Carolina.

BACKGROUND: Population-based studies have demonstrated survival disparities related to socioeconomic factors for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The objective of the current study was to determine whether the local health care infrastructure, represented by Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) region, or treating center experience, represented by National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCICCC) designation, were associated with outcomes among patients with AML in North Carolina. METHODS: Patients who were diagnosed with AML from 2003 to 2009 were identified using the University of North Carolina Lineberger Integrated Cancer Information and Surveillance System, a database linking insurance claims to the North Carolina Cancer Registry. A Cox proportional-hazards model was used to explore survival based on AHEC region. A subset of patients who received inpatient chemotherapy was examined to evaluate the impact of treatment at an NCICCC. RESULTS: Nine hundred patients were identified in the study period, 553 of whom received inpatient chemotherapy therapy within 30 days of diagnosis. Almost one-half of these patients (n = 294) received chemotherapy at a non-NCICCC. Among the patients who received intensive inpatient therapy, residence in 3 of 9 AHEC regions was associated with a higher risk of mortality (hazard ratio: range, 1.97-4.03; P < .01) at 1 year in multivariate analysis. Treatment at a non-NCICCC was not associated with an increased risk of mortality at 1 year (hazard ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.95-1.65). CONCLUSIONS: Survival among patients with AML in North Carolina varies according to geographic region. Further examination of local practice and referral patterns may inform strategies to improve AML outcomes across the state. Cancer 2016;122:3041-3050. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Does FLT3 mutation impact survival after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia? A Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with FMS like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have a poor prognosis and are referred for early allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). METHODS: Data from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) were used to evaluate 511 adult patients with de novo AML who underwent HCT during 2008 through 2011 to determine whether FLT3 mutations had an impact on HCT outcomes. RESULTS: In total, 158 patients (31%) had FLT3 mutations. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed an increased risk of relapse at 3 years in the FLT3 mutated group compared with the wild-type (WT) group (38% [95% confidence interval (CI), 30%-45%] vs 28% [95% CI, 24%-33%]; P = .04; relative risk, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.15-2.22]; P = .0048). However, FLT3 mutation status was not significantly associated with nonrelapse mortality, leukemia-free survival, or overall survival. Although more patients in the FLT3 mutated group died from relapsed primary disease compared with those in the WT group (60% vs 46%), the 3-year overall survival rate was comparable for the 2 groups (mutated group: 49%; 95% CI, 40%-57%; WT group: 55%, 95% CI, 50%-60%; P = .20). CONCLUSIONS: The current data indicate that FLT3 mutation status did not adversely impact overall survival after HCT, and about 50% of patients with this mutation who underwent HCT were long-term survivors. Cancer 2016;122:3005-3014. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

A phase II trial of bendamustine in combination with rituximab in older patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Bendamustine in combination with rituximab (BR) has been associated with high response rates and acceptable toxicity in older patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Evaluation of BR is warranted in the front-line setting for DLBCL patients not eligible for anthracyclines or for the elderly. In this phase II study, we enrolled DLBCL patients aged ≥65 years who were poor candidates for R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) to determine the efficacy and safety of BR in previously untreated stage II-IV DLBCL. Twenty-three patients were enrolled with a median age of 80 years. 52% of patients presented with poor functional status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score of ≥2). The overall response rate was 78% with 12 complete responses (52%). At a median follow up of 29 months, the median overall survival was 10·2 months and the median progression-free survival was 5·4 months. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were haematological. Combination therapy with BR demonstrates high response rates as front-line therapy in frail older patients with DLBCL, but survival rates were low. BR should be used with caution in future clinical trials involving older DLBCL patients with poor functional status.

Outcomes of MYC-associated lymphomas after R-CHOP with and without consolidative autologous stem cell transplant: subset analysis of randomized trial intergroup SWOG S9704.

Double hit lymphoma (DHL) and double protein-expressing (MYC, BCL2) lymphomas (DPL) fare poorly with R-CHOP (rituximab + cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone); consolidative autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) may improve outcomes. S9704, a phase III randomized study of CHOP +/-R with or without ASCT enabled evaluation of intensive consolidation. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) identified 27 of 198 patients (13·6%) with MYC overexpression; 20 (74%) harboured concurrent BCL2 overexpression. Four had DHL and 16 had DPL only. With median 127 months follow-up, there is a trend favouring outcomes after ASCT in DPL and MYC protein overexpressing patients, whereas all DHL patients have died irrespective of ASCT.

Autologous transplantation as consolidation for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of autologous stem-cell transplantation during the first remission in patients with diffuse, aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma classified as high-intermediate risk or high risk on the International Prognostic Index remains controversial and is untested in the rituximab era. METHODS: We treated 397 patients who had disease with an age-adjusted classification of high risk or high-intermediate risk with five cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) or CHOP plus rituximab. Patients with a response were randomly assigned to receive three additional cycles of induction chemotherapy (control group) or one additional cycle of induction chemotherapy followed by autologous stem-cell transplantation (transplantation group). The primary efficacy end points were 2-year progression-free survival and overall survival. RESULTS: Of 370 induction-eligible patients, 253 were randomly assigned to the transplantation group (125) or the control group (128). Forty-six patients in the transplantation group and 68 in the control group had disease progression or died, with 2-year progression-free survival rates of 69 and 55%, respectively (hazard ratio in the control group vs. the transplantation group, 1.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18 to 2.51; P=0.005). Thirty-seven patients in the transplantation group and 47 in the control group died, with 2-year overall survival rates of 74 and 71%, respectively (hazard ratio, 1.26; 95% CI, 0.82 to 1.94; P=0.30). Exploratory analyses showed a differential treatment effect according to risk level for both progression-free survival (P=0.04 for interaction) and overall survival (P=0.01 for interaction). Among high-risk patients, the 2-year overall survival rate was 82% in the transplantation group and 64% in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Early autologous stem-cell transplantation improved progression-free survival among patients with high-intermediate-risk or high-risk disease who had a response to induction therapy. Overall survival after transplantation was not improved, probably because of the effectiveness of salvage transplantation. (Funded by the National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services, and others; SWOG-9704 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00004031.).