How to manage lymphoid malignancies during novel 2019 coronavirus (CoVid-19) outbreak: a Brazilian task force recommendation

ABSTRACT: The novel Coronavirus (CoVid-19) outbreak is now consider a world pandemic, affecting more than 1,300,000 people worldwide. Cancer patients are in risk for severe disease, including a higher risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, need for invasive ventilation or death. Management of patients with lymphoid malignancies can be challenging during the outbreak, due to need of multiple hospital visits and admissions, immunosuppression and need for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and stem cell transplantation. In this article, we will focus on the practical management of patients with lymphoid malignancies during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on minimizing the risk for patients.

A subgroup analysis of JUMP, a phase IIIb, expanded-access study evaluating the safety and efficacy of ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis in a Brazilian cohort

Abstract Introduction Ruxolitinib has been approved for the treatment of myelofibrosis (MF). In this study, we present safety and efficacy findings from an analysis of 104 patients with intermediate- and high-risk MF in a Brazilian cohort of the JUMP study who received treatment with ruxolitinib. Methods JUMP is a single-arm, open-label, phase IIIb, expanded-access study. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the safety and tolerability (frequency, duration, and severity of adverse events [AEs]) of ruxolitinib. Results All of the 104 patients received the treatment. Median duration of exposure was 35.8 months. The most common hematologic AEs were anemia (57.7), thrombocytopenia (38.5%), neutropenia (11.5%), and leukopenia (9.6%). Second malignancies (all grades) occurred in 19.2% of patients (n = 20). Serious AEs were reported in 62.5% of patients (n = 65). The proportions of patients with ≥50% reduction from baseline in palpable spleen length at weeks 24 and 48 were 62.7% and 69.2%, respectively. The mean change from the baseline in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)-Lymphoma total score was 10.8 [15.6%] at week 4, 12.6 [14.1%] at week 24, and 12.2 [14.3%] at week 48. The mean change from the baseline for the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue scale was 3.9 [42.8%] at week 4, 4.9 [29.9%] at week 24, and 4.7 [28%] at week 48. At week 48, the estimated progression-free survival, leukemia-free survival, and overall survival probabilities were 91%, 91% and 93%, respectively Overall, 21 deaths were observed in the present study. Conclusion Findings from this study suggest that ruxolitinib could be evaluated as a standard-of-care treatment for the MF population in need of a viable treatment option. NCT01493414

Evaluation of anemia after long-term treatment with imatinib in chronic myeloid leukemia patients in chronic phase

ABSTRACT Introduction: The incidence of grade 3-4 anemia was reported to be 3% with imatinib therapy for newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the chronic phase (CP). However, there are few data regarding the causes and the development of anemia after long-term treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of anemia after at least two years of imatinib treatment of CML patients in the CP and to identify other contributing causes of anemia in this population. Patients and methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 97 CML patients in the CP treated with imatinib for at least two years. We analyzed the hemoglobin (Hb) levels of CML patients at diagnosis, upon initiation of treatment with imatinib and after two years of imatinib treatment, and investigated other causes of anemia in this population. Results: Most of the patients presented Hb levels below the normal range (80.4%) after the second year of treatment, 17.9% grade 2 and 1.3% grade 3. In 13 cases (16.7%), anemia was attributed to resistance and in 13 cases (16.7%) the following causes were identified: iron deficiency (n = 5), hypothyroidism (n = 2), vitamin B12 deficiency (n = 3), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) (n = 1), pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 1) and renal toxicity (n = 1). In 52 patients (66.6%), there were no other factors contributing to anemia, except imatinib treatment. Conclusion: Regular follow-up is required to identify the causes of anemia not related to CML or imatinib toxicity. The importance of investigating secondary causes of anemia should be emphasized, especially in patients with good adherence to treatment and satisfactory therapeutic response.

Management of chronic myeloid leukemia during pregnancy: a retrospective analysis at a single center

ABSTRACT We analyzed the management and outcomes of pregnancies of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia at a single center over fifteen years. Among the 203 CML female patients, there were ten pregnancies in seven women, all of them not planned. In three cases, the chronic myeloid leukemia diagnosis was made during pregnancy. Five patients received tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the first weeks of pregnancy and the drug was interrupted until delivery. One patient lost complete cytogenetic response, and two patients lost the hematological response. A patient with a stable major molecular response had two successful pregnancies without loss of response. There were four premature births. There were no maternal adverse events, fetal malformation or death. All patients received Interferon-alpha during gestation, and two received hydroxyurea for a short period. Leukapheresis was performed in two patients for hyperleukocytosis control. One patient with sickle cell disease died from disease progression six months after delivery. Conclusions: The tyrosine kinase inhibitors ministration should be interrupted during pregnancy. Patients should be advised to achieve a stable and deep molecular response if they plan to conceive, to avoid the risk of disease progression.

Primary infratentorial diffuse large b-cell lymphoma: a challenging diagnosis in an immunocompetent patient

SUMMARY We describe the case of a female patient, 52 years old, with dizziness and left motor incoordination for 2 weeks. Brain MRI magnetic resonance imaging) revealed a hyperintense lesion on T2-weighted images, without restricted diffusion, in the left middle cerebellar peduncle. Spectroscopy demonstrated peak of lipids and perfusion did not show any elevation in relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV). The patient underwent an open biopsy and resection, and the diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) was established. The patient received intravenous dexamethasone with symptoms remission, followed by four cycles of methotrexate plus cytarabine. After 3 months, the patient returned with decreased consciences level and a new MRI revealed a right superior frontal gyrus lesion with features suggesting a lymphomatous lesion. The patient died five days after her relapse.

RESUMO Descrevemos o caso de uma paciente do sexo feminino, de 52 anos, apresentando história de tontura e perda da coordenação motora do lado esquerdo há duas semanas. A RM (ressonância magnética) de crânio revelou uma lesão hiperintensa nas imagens ponderadas em T2, sem restrição à difusão, localizada no pedúnculo cerebelar médio esquerdo. A espectroscopia demonstrou pico de lipídeos, sem elevação do volume sanguíneo cerebral relativo (rCBV) à perfusão. A paciente foi submetida à biópsia a céu aberto, estabelecendo o diagnóstico de linfoma difuso de grandes células B (DLBCL). Houve remissão dos sintomas após o início do tratamento com dexametasona endovenosa, seguida de quatro ciclos de metotrexato associado à citarabina. Após três meses, a paciente retornou apresentando rebaixamento do nível de consciência, e a RM de crânio revelou uma nova lesão de origem linfomatosa no giro frontal superior direito. A paciente faleceu após cinco dias.

Characteristics of follicular and mantle cell lymphoma in Brazil: prognostic impact of clinical parameters and treatment conditions in two hospitals

ABSTRACT Objective: Follicular and mantle cell lymphoma are low-grade B-cell malignancies that lack good responses to chemoimmunotherapy. This study aimed to assess retrospectively clinicopathological features and to determine independent prognostic factors for follicular and mantle cell lymphoma patients treated at two Brazilian medical centers: the Hematology and Hemotherapy Center of the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), a public university hospital, and AC. Camargo Cancer Center, a specialized cancer center. Methods: Two hundred and twenty-seven follicular and 112 mantle cell lymphoma cases were diagnosed between 1999 and 2016. Archived paraffin blocks were retrieved and reviewed. Corresponding demographics and clinical data were recovered from medical charts. Outcome analyses considered both overall and event-free survival. Results: For follicular lymphoma treated with the R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, vincristine sulfate, prednisone) and R-CVP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine sulfate, prednisone) regimens, both B-symptoms (p-value < 0.01 for overall and event-free survival) and high-risk Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (p-value < 0.01 for overall survival) were independently associated to worse prognosis. Maintenance with rituximab improved the prognosis (p-value < 0.01 for overall survival). For mantle cell lymphoma, B-symptoms (p-value = 0.03 for overall survival and event-free survival) and bone marrow infiltration (p-value = 0.01 for overall survival) independently predicted reduced survival, and rituximab at induction increased both event-free and overall survival (p-value < 0.01 in both analyses). Combinations of these deleterious features could identify extremely poor prognostic subgroups. The administration of rituximab was more frequent in the AC. Camargo Cancer Center, which was the institution associated with better overall survival for both neoplasias. Conclusion: This study represents the largest cohort of follicular and mantle cell lymphoma in South America thus far. Some easily assessable clinical variables were able to predict prognosis and should be considered in low-income centers. In addition, the underuse of rituximab in the Brazilian public health system should be reconsidered in future health policies.

Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography staging can replace bone marrow biopsy in Hodgkin's lymphoma. Results from Brazilian Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate, in a large prospective multicenter study, whether 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography is sufficiently accurate to identify clinically important bone marrow involvement by Hodgkin's lymphoma to replace routine bone marrow biopsy in a developing tropical country. Methods: Patients newly diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma were recruited from six cancer centers in Brazil. All were staged by the results of positron emission tomography/computed tomography that were centrally reviewed and by iliac crest bone marrow biopsy. Patients were classified as having marrow disease if they had lymphoma identified by marrow biopsy histology or had focal 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose marrow uptake that resolved following chemotherapy. Results: A total of 246 participants were recruited from six different centers and 62 (25.2%) were judged to have Hodgkin's lymphoma in the bone marrow. Positron emission tomography and biopsies were concordant in 206 patients (83%). Positron emission tomography correctly identified marrow disease in 59/62 patients (95.1%) and marrow biopsy in 25/62 patients (40.3%). In 22/62 (35.4%) patients, the two techniques were concordant in the diagnosis of marrow involvement. Of the forty discordant results, positron emission tomography found bone marrow involvement in 37 patients, upstaging 22 to stage IV and having an impact on therapeutic decision in nine cases given their reallocation from early to advanced stage. Three false negative positron emission tomography results were obtained with bone marrow biopsy giving positive findings. All three cases were classified as stage IV regardless of bone marrow findings implying no modification in the clinical management. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of positron emission tomography for detecting bone marrow disease were 95%, 100% and 98% and for bone marrow biopsy they were 40%, 100% and 84%, respectively. Conclusion: We conclude that positron emission tomography can replace marrow biopsy in Brazilian patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma without compromising clinical management.

Everolimus as a single agent in refractory or relapsed Hodgkin's lymphoma: the Brazilian Named Patient Program Experience

Abstract Background Despite all the scientific progress that has been made on understanding the disease, prognosis for patients with relapsed and refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma remains poor and the treatment is palliative in the majority of the cases. Thus, the aim of this study was to present the results on the compassionate use of everolimus in a group of patients who were monitored at nine different centers in Brazil. Methods A 10-mg oral dose of everolimus was given to each patient daily. Response time was evaluated from the beginning of medication use until loss of response, toxicity or medical decision to cease treatment. Results Thirty-three patients were evaluated. The median age at the beginning of medication administration was 29 years. Patients had received a median of five prior therapies. Overall response rate was 45.4%, with 13 patients achieving partial response, two achieved clinical response, 14 remained with stable disease, two had disease progression, and two were not evaluated. Patients received a median of 14 cycles. Progression-free survival was nine months, and overall survival was estimated to be 36 months. Three patients used the medication for more than four years. The most frequently reported adverse events were thrombocytopenia and hypercholesterolemia. Three patients had pulmonary toxicity. Grade III and IV adverse events occurred in 39% of the patients. Conclusion Everolimus was found to provide a response in a group of patients with refractory or relapsed Hodgkin's lymphoma who had adequate tolerability to the drug.

Age-adjusted international prognostic index is a predictor of survival in gastric diffuse B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients

Background The clinical course of gastric lymphoma is heterogeneous and clinical symptoms and some factors have been related to prognosis. Objective The present study aims to identify prognostic factors in gastric diffuse B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed and treated in different countries. Methods A consecutive series of gastric diffuse B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients diagnosed and treated in Brazil, Portugal and Italy, between February 2008 and December 2014 was evaluated. Results Of 104 patients, 57 were female and the median age was 69 years (range: 28­88). The distribution of the age-adjusted international prognostic index was 12/95 (13%) high risk, 20/95 (21%) high-intermediate risk and 63/95 (66%) low/low-intermediate risk. Symptoms included abdominal pain (63/74), weight loss (57/73), dysphagia (37/72) and nausea/vomiting (37/72). Bulky disease was found in 24% of the cases, anemia in 33 of 76 patients and bleeding in 22 of 72 patients. The median follow-up time was 25 months (range: 1­77 months), with 1- and 5-year survival rates of 79% and 76%, respectively. The multivariate Cox Regression identified the age-adjusted international prognostic index as a predictor of death (hazard risk: 3.62; 95% confidence interval: 2.21­5.93; p-value <0.0001). Conclusions This series identified the age-adjusted international prognostic index as predictive of mortality in patients treated with conventional immunochemotherapy.

Primary myelofibrosis: risk stratification by IPSS identifies patients with poor clinical outcome

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether risk scores used to classify patients with primary myelofibrosis and JAK-2 V617F mutation status can predict clinical outcome. METHODS: A review of clinical and laboratory data from 74 patients with primary myelofibrosis diagnosed between 1992 and 2011. The IPSS and Lille scores were calculated for risk stratification and correlated with overall survival. RESULTS: A V617F JAK2 mutation was detected in 32 cases (47%), with no significant correlation with overall survival. The patients were classified according to the scores: Lille - low, 53 (73.%); intermediate, 13 (18%); and high, 5 (7%); and IPSS- low, 15 (26%); intermediate-1, 23 (32%); intermediate-2, 19 (26%); and high, 15 (31%). Those patients presenting a higher risk according to the IPSS (high and intermediate-2) had a significantly shorter overall survival relative to the low risk groups (intermediate-1 and low) (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: These results emphasize the importance of the IPSS prognostic score for risk assessment in predicting the clinical outcome of primary myelofibrosis patients.

Functional evaluation indicates physical losses after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To perform a function evaluation of patients before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. METHODS: From November 2008 to November 2010, 29 female (58%) and 21 male patients (42%) with median age of 48 years (range: 24-67) were enrolled in this study. Data collection was performed before and after autologous or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Evaluation instruments included the 2-minute walking test to evaluate gait performance with assessment of the oxygen saturation, heart rate and Borg Scale before and after the test; grip strength for strength evaluation, Schober Test for spine mobility testing and maximum and adapted activity scores of the Human Activity Profile questionnaire to test functionality in daily activities. RESULTS: Fifty patients were evaluated at baseline; six did not undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (three died, one refused and two were excluded). Thus 44/50 (88% - 21 allogeneic and 23 autologous) transplantations were performed. Only 33 of the 44 patients (75%) performed evaluations after transplantation (nine died and two were excluded). Of the patients who performed both evaluations, significantly lower values were found in the evaluation after transplantation for the 2-minute walking test (p-value = 0.004), grip strength of both right and left hands (p-value = 0.004 and p-value < 0.0001, respectively), the Schober Test, and maximum and adapted activity scores (p-value < 0.0001). The heart rate was higher (p-value = 0.01) before the 2-minute walking test and oxygen saturation was higher (p-value = 0.02) after. CONCLUSION: Statistical differences indicate functional impairment after transplantation showing physical losses in this population.

Evaluation of respiratory conditions in early phase of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of respiratory physiotherapy based on clinical evidence and analyze the improvement in respiratory parameters. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit of the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Two different previously established respiratory physiotherapy protocols were applied from days D-1 to D+7 that aimed to improve airway clearance, pulmonary re-expansion and the strengthening of respiratory muscles. Group A were subjected to diaphragmatic proprioceptive stimulation, breathing exercises, incentive spirometry with Respiron®, inspiratory muscle training with the Threshold® Inspiratory Muscle Training device, bronchial hygienization with Shaker® and cough stimulation. Group B performed a protocol that only used incentive spirometry. The parameters analyzed were: tidal volume, minute volume, maximal inspiratory pressure, maximal expiratory pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate and respiratory frequency. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients submitted to myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were included in this study. Among these, thirty-nine were evaluated and randomized in the two groups. There were significant differences between the groups for tidal volume at D+2 (p-value = 0.007) and maximal inspiratory pressure (p-value = 0.03), maximal expiratory pressure (p-value = 0.03) and tidal volume (p-value = 0.004) at D+7. CONCLUSION: On comparing Group A with Group B, the authors concluded that the protocol of respiratory physiotherapy applied in this study resulted in an improvement in ventilation and in respiratory muscle strength of patients submitted to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

T-Cell Lymphomas in South America and Europe

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas are a group of rare neoplasms originating from clonal proliferation of mature post-thymic lymphocytes with different entities having specific biological characteristics and clinical features. As natural killer cells are closely related to T-cells, natural killer-cell lymphomas are also part of the group. The current World Health Organization classification recognizes four categories of T/natural killer-cell lymphomas with respect to their presentation: disseminated (leukemic), nodal, extranodal and cutaneous. Geographic variations in the distribution of these diseases are well documented: nodal subtypes are more frequent in Europe and North America, while extranodal forms, including natural killer-cell lymphomas, occur almost exclusively in Asia and South America. On the whole, T-cell lymphomas are more common in Asia than in western countries, usually affect adults, with a higher tendency in men, and, excluding a few subtypes, usually have an aggressive course and poor prognosis. Apart from anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma, that have a good outcome, other nodal and extranodal forms have a 5-year overall survival of about 30 percent. According to the principal prognostic indexes, the majority of patients are allocated to the unfavorable subset. In the past, the rarity of these diseases prevented progress in the understanding of their biology and improvements in the efficaciousness of therapy. Recently, international projects devoted to these diseases created networks promoting investigations on T-cell lymphomas. These projects are the basis of forthcoming cooperative, large scale trials to detail biologic characteristics of each sub-entity and to possibly individuate targets for new therapies.