Prospective randomized comparison of single-dose versus hyperfractionated total-body irradiation in patients with hematologic malignancies.

PURPOSE: Fractionated total-body irradiation (HTBI) is considered to induce less toxicity to normal tissues and probably has the same efficacy as single-dose total-body irradiation (STBI) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. We decided to determine whether this concept can be applied to a large number of patients with various hematologic malignancies using two dissimilar fractionation schedules. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between December 1986 and October 1994, 160 patients with various hematologic malignancies were randomized to receive either a 10-Gy dose of STBI or 14.85-Gy dose of HTBI. RESULTS: One hundred forty-seven patients were assessable. The 8-year overall survival rate and cause-specific survival rate in the STBI group was 38% and 63.5%, respectively. Overall survival rate and cause-specific survival rate in the HTBI group was 45% and 77%, respectively. The incidence of interstitial pneumonitis was similar in both groups. However, the incidence of veno-occlusive disease (VOD) of the liver was significantly higher in the STBI group. In the multivariate analysis with overall survival as the end point, the female sex was an independent favorable prognostic factor. On the other hand, when cause-specific survival was considered as the end point, the multivariate analysis demonstrated that sex and TBI were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of HTBI is probably higher than that of STBI. Both regimens induce similar toxicity with the exception of VOD of the liver, the incidence of which is significantly more pronounced in the STBI group.

Interleukin-2 in association with increasing doses of interferon-gamma in patients with advanced cancer.

Twenty-seven patients with evaluable metastatic cancer were treated with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and escalating doses of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma). rIL-2 was infused over a 15 min period at a constant dose (8 x 10(6) IU/m2/8 h x 5 days first cycle, and 8 x 10(6) IU/m2/12 h x 5 days second and third cycles, with 9 days rest between each cycle). IFN-gamma was started 4 days before each cycle of rIL-2 and was given every other day at a dosage of 1 x 10(6) U/m2 x 3/cycle (four patients), 5 x 10(6) U/m2 x 3/cycle (four patients), 5 x 10(6) U/m2 x 5/cycle (four patients) and 10 x 10(6) U/m2 x 5/cycle (15 patients). Common side effects were fluid retention and hepatic toxicity (27 and 15% grade greater than or equal to 2); one ischemic chest pains and one acute respiratory distress occurred. Toxicities were not greater than those described with high dose rIL-2 alone and were similar in each dose level of IFN-gamma. No patient died from the procedure. Four patients responded, one complete response and three partial responses; all were treated with 25 or 50 x 10(6) U/m2/cycle of IFN-gamma (melanoma, two patients; renal cell carcinoma, one patient; lymphoma, one patient). Further phase II studies at these dosages are justified to precisely define the antitumoral efficacy of this association.

Long-term survivors after salvage high dose chemotherapy with bone marrow rescue in refractory germ cell cancer.

Between April 1984 and May 1985, 17 heavily pretreated patients with relapsing or refractory germ cell tumours were treated with cisplatin 40 mg/m2/day, days 1-5; etoposide 350 mg/m2/day, days 1-5; cyclophosphamide 1600 mg/m2/day, days 2-5 and autologous bone marrow transplantation on day 8 as consolidation of conventional salvage chemotherapy. None of the 11 refractory patients and 4 of the 6 responders to prior salvage treatment are long-term survivors at 68, 72, 74 and 74 months. Mean aplasia duration was 17 days and there were 7 documented episodes of septicaemia in 17 febrile patients. 1 patient died of treatment. Among the 4 survivors, 2 patients have a sustained grade II invalidating neuropathy. We conclude that this regimen is not recommended as salvage therapy in refractory patients but may be a useful consolidation treatment in patients responding to conventional salvage chemotherapy.

Failure of a CD18/anti-LFA1 monoclonal antibody infusion to prevent graft rejection in leukemic patients receiving T-depleted allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

CD18 antibodies react with the common beta chain of the human leukocyte function antigen (LFA1)* and thus block the functions mediated by the three identified molecules in humans. A murine CD18 monoclonal antibody was infused in 8 leukemic patients receiving allogeneic T-depleted bone marrow transplantation in order to prevent graft rejection. This was part of the conditioning, including total-body irradiation and high-dose chemotherapy, given to all patients. To prevent graft-versus-host disease the donor bone marrow T cells were depleted using complement-mediated cytolysis or a ricin A conjugate immunotoxin, and cyclosporine or methotrexate were given posttransplant. A persistent level of free circulating anti-LFA1 antibody was detected in 5/8 patients. Despite this, 5 graft failures occurred, with 2 patients experiencing late rejection (days 60 and 97) following HLA-identical transplantation and 3 patients having no engraftment following haplo-mismatched transplant. One other patient died of early sepsis. Only 2 patients (who differed at 1 HLA locus from their donor) are alive with long-term complete chimerism (300 and 315 days). Transient inhibition of recipients' leukocyte functions with an anti-LFA1 antibody did not appear to facilitate engraftment of allogeneic T-depleted marrow transplantation for leukemias.

Blood cell kinetics and total body irradiation.

The early response of blood cells to irradiation has been studied in leukemia patients who received total body irradiation (TBI) prior to cyclophosphamide and bone marrow transplantation. After a single session treatment (10 Gy in 4 h) the most dramatic variation was observed in the granulocytes. At the end of the irradiation their concentration was 2 to 6 times higher. Because of a subsequent rapid decline, the peak may be overlooked if the blood counts are delayed. Lymphocytes decreased to 50% at the end of the single session TBI and continue to decrease exponentially, with a half time of 30 h. During a fractionated irradiation (11 X 1.2 Gy in 4 days) the lymphocyte number dropped to 60%, 13 h after the first fraction and this decline continued with a half time of 30 h during the treatment. From the data obtained in vivo, a lymphocyte D0 value of 1.2 Gy was computed. The lymphocyte subsets (B.T. OKT4 OKT8) did not exhibit different radiosensitivities either in vivo or in vitro. The disappearance of lethally hit lymphocytes from the blood exhibits a biphasic kinetic: 50% of the cells disappear in a few hours and 50% with a half time at 30 h. Lymphocytes irradiated either in vitro or in vivo when in culture disappear slowly, contrasting with the in vivo findings. It may suggest that lethally hit lymphocytes are quickly removed from the circulating pool in vivo.

Single dose versus hyperfractionated total body irradiation before allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: a non-randomized comparative study of 54 patients at the Institut Gustave-Roussy.

At the Institut Gustave-Roussy (IGR), from January 1982 to December 1986, 54 patients received total body irradiation (TBI) as a part of the conditioning regimen before allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The patients were non-randomly assigned to either single dose TBI (STBI) (31 patients receiving 10 Gy at a 4.5 cGy/min dose rate, 8 Gy to the lungs) or to a hyperfractionated scheme (HTBI) (23 patients receiving 13.2 Gy in 11 fractions, 3 fractions per day, 9 Gy to the lungs). Relapse rate and overall survival were not significantly different in the two STBI and HTBI groups, in spite of a larger number of 2nd and 3rd remission patients in the HTBI subset. The incidence of interstitial pneumonitis (IP) was significantly reduced in the HTBI group (13%, versus 45% after STBI, p = 0.02). Lethality by IP was also lower after HTBI (4%, versus 26% after STBI, p = 0.08). There was no case of veno-occlusive disease of the liver in the HTBI group, whereas three cases were observed after STBI. Based on these results, the IGR activated, in January 1987, a randomized trial comparing the single dose 10 Gy TBI (8 Gy to the lung) to a new hyperfractionated schedule (11 fractions of 1.35 Gy, 3 fractions per day, 9 Gy to the lungs).

Blood cell kinetics after a 385 cGy total body irradiation given to a CML patient for bone marrow transplantation.

Fractionated total body irradiation was given to a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia as part of a conditioning regimen for bone marrow transplantation. The radiation treatment was discontinued after the third fraction (total dose: 385 cGy) and no bone marrow graft was given because of the patient's refusal. Peripheral blood lymphocyte levels were monitored for 3 months and lymphocyte subsets up to 50 days post-irradiation. Lymphocyte numbers reached the nadir 48 h after the last fraction and lymphopenia was still present 3 months later. All lymphocyte subsets (T, B, CD4 and CD8 cells) showed a similar decrease except for natural killer cells which exhibited a larger decline. The regenerative capacity of T cells, CD4 subset and natural killer cells was less than that of B cells and CD8 lymphocyte subsets.

Phase I study of in vivo lenograstim (rHuG-CSF) for stem cell collection demonstrates improved neutrophil recovery after autologous bone marrow transplantation.

Colony stimulating factors and especially rHuG-GSF, the first available neutrophil growth factor, have led to considerable interest in the field of stem cell transplantation because of their ability to induce stem cell peripheralization either alone or in association with high-dose chemotherapy. Few data exist, however, on the impact of rHuG-CSF on large scale bone marrow collection and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). This phase I, non-randomized, dose escalation study of rHu-G-CSF (lenograstim) administered to 30 patients at doses ranging from 1 to 40 micrograms/kg/day for 5 days before bone marrow harvesting showed that priming with rHu-G-CSF in vivo increased the number of bone marrow cells and D14 myeloid restricted progenitors (CFU-GM) and led to a better neutrophil recovery after ABMT compared with a contemporary unprimed control population. Otherwise, this study established that 5 days of rHuG-CSF therapy, as a sole stimulus, induced a tenfold increase in the circulating CFU-GM amongst which immature progenitors, estimated by the Delta assay (secondary CFU-GM grown after 7 days of liquid culture/primary CFU-GM), are detected. These conclusions were valid for doses as low as 2 micrograms/kg/day which induced only mild neutrophilia up to the highest dose (40 micrograms/kg/day) and suggest that a short course of rHuG-CSF is beneficial in increasing the stem cell collection.

Phase-I-II study of high-dose melphalan and autologous marrow transplantation in adult patients with poor-risk non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Eleven adult patients with poor-risk non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated with high-dose melphalan (140 mg/m2) or high-dose combination chemotherapy (BCNU, Ara-C, vindesine and melphalan) followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation. Six of the eight patients evaluable for response achieved complete remission and one achieved partial remission. Response duration ranged from 1.5 to 12 months (median 2 months). Prompt hematological recovery occurred in all patients. The duration of aplasia and the extrahematological toxicity were similar in both groups. High-dose melphalan alone or associated with other drugs followed by marrow infusion appears to produce a high response rate and demonstrates the potential for salvaging patients with refractory lymphoma.

A phase II study of interleukin-2 in 49 patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia.

In this report we present the results of a multicenter phase II study of high-dose recombinant Interleukin-2 (rIL-2) in patients with refractory or relapsed acute leukemia. Forty-nine patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML: 30 patients) or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL: 19 patients) were included. Median age was 30 years (range: 4-71). Four patients were treated for primary refractory disease and 45 for relapsed disease (16 patients > 2nd relapse). Twenty-four patients (49%) had previously received bone marrow transplantation (allogeneic: 5, autologous: 19). Patients were scheduled to receive three 5-day cycles of rIL-2 given every other week. rIL-2 was administered as bolus I.V. infusion of 8 x 10(6) UI/m2 every 8 hours during cycle I and every 12 hours during cycles 2 and 3. Patients received a mean of 76% of rIL-2 planned dose. Main toxicity was hematologic (grade IV thrombopenia: 84%). Hemodynamic and metabolic toxicities lead to treatment discontinuation in 10 patients (20%). Strong immune activation was achieved including a significant increase in activated T-cells and Lymphokine-Activating-Killer cell (LAK) activity. Twenty-seven out of 30 AML patients could be evaluated for response: 2(7%) achieved complete remission (CR) which lasted 3 and 4 months. No response was observed in the 18 assessable ALL patients, most of whom (77 %) presented absolute drug resistance. These results show that this high dose rIL-2 regimen induces significant biological effects and provides some anti-leukemic activity in patients with advanced leukemia. Considering the severe toxicity observed and the limited remission rate achieved here, rIL-2 does not appear to be a valuable therapeutic option for such patients. However, the undoubted anti-leukemic activity of this cytokine invites further investigation especially in the minimal residual disease situation.

Impact of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor on dose intensity and toxicity of three cycles of methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin in patients with previously untreated urothelial bladder carcinoma.

This single arm, open labeled, non randomized study was aimed to evaluate the toxicity of 3 cycles of MVAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin) with rhG-CSF (5 micrograms/kg/day from day 3 to day 14), on 14 patients with previously untreated infiltrating bladder carcinoma, 42 cycles were administered. Chemotherapy toxicity was very low, with 7% of neutropenia grade 3 or 4.4% of thrombocytopenia grade 2, no mucositis above grade 2 and no nadir sepsis. Bone pain related to rhG-CSF occurred in 14% of cycles. 88% of the cycles were given at full dose without any delay and mean relative dose intensity was 96.4% (RDI was 100% for 9 patients). One patient achieved a complete pathological response (cystectomy: 1) and 6 clinical responses with negative transurethral resection. Addition of rhG-CSF to MVAC chemotherapy allows a high dose intensity of MVAC with very low toxicity over 3 cycles. This association should be compared to standard MVAC or intensified regimens to evaluate efficacy, toxicity, and cost effectiveness.

Clinical and biological effects of gamma interferon and the combination of gamma interferon and interleukin-2 after autologous bone marrow transplantation.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) have shown synergistic immunomodulatory and anti-tumor effects in preclinical studies. The present study was designed to assess the effects of the combination of these cytokines after autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Ten patients received rIFN-gamma alone and 13 patients the combination of rIFN-gamma + rIL-2. Patients received transplants because of lymphoma (10 patients), acute leukemia (3 patients) or solid tumors (10 patients). Immunotherapy was started at a median of 67 days after ABMT. All patients received either 5 x 10(6) (8 pts) or 10 x 10(6) IU/m2 (16 pts) rIFN-gamma by subcutaneous injection 3 times weekly for 14 weeks. rIL-2 therapy consisted of 5 cycles of continuous intravenous infusion of 12 x 10(6) IU/m2/day starting 1 week after administration of rIFN-gamma. In the rIFN-gamma group, toxicity was mild and some biological changes were seen (NK/LAK activation, increase of phagocytosis and of NBT reduction). The combination of rIFN-gamma with rIL-2 did not increase the usual rIL-2 toxicity. NK/LAK cytotoxicity was strongly activated after the first cycle of rIL-2 and was maintained until the end of therapy. Granulocyte chemotaxis was defective after cycle 1 but recovered thereafter. We conclude that the administration of rIFN-gamma + rIL-2 is feasible after ABMT. Our data suggest that the combination may have prolonged the immunologic activation provided by rIL-2 and some improvement of the deleterious effects of rIL-2 on granulocyte functions was achieved. Controlled studies are warranted to assess the impact of this strategy on biological response and patient outcome.

rIL-2 in metastatic soft tissue sarcomas refractory to chemotherapy: response and enhancement of further chemosensitivity.

Chemotherapy (CT) in advanced and metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS) has a reported response rate of 17 to 30%, with a median survival of 30 months. Experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated some response with high-dose intravenous recombinant Interleukin-2 (r-IL2). We report a retrospective analysis of twelve patients with metastatic or locally evolutive STS who received high-dose rIL-2 immunotherapy: all patients were pre-treated with CT and were non responsive. All of these patients developed usual severe toxicity. One patient achieved a partial response with rIL-2 with more than 75% regression of lung metastases. All patients received CT post rIL-2 and 2 of them achieved a further response: 1 of them had a complete response (CR), and one had a partial response (PR). These results suggest that rIL-2 has a relatively low efficacy in patients with STS but that some of these patients can be, after rIL-2, responders to CT despite previous resistance.

Unusual vascular changes in the red pulp of the spleen accompanying breast carcinoma metastasis.

The prevalence of splenic metastasis from carcinomas varies between 2% and 13% in autopsy studies. Most of them are clinically inapparent. We report herein the case of a splenic metastasis revealing breast carcinoma in a 73-year old woman. Splenectomy was performed to correct hypersplenism. Macroscopically, the cut surface of the spleen was uniform and pale. On microscopical examination, the metastatic infiltration involved both red and white pulp as single cells, cords and micro-nodules. Tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA). The breast origin of this splenic metastasis was supported by the increase of CA 15-3 level, and by the appearance of axillary lymphadenopathy. In addition, the red pulp sinuses were obliterated by multiple thrombi at different stages of development and the splenic cords were collagenized. These changes could result from an unusual stromal reaction.

A phase II trial of early intensive chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of poor prognosis non seminomatous germ cell tumors.

Twenty-eight patients with poor prognosis, advanced metastatic non seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) were treated with early high dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) rescue. The primary tumor was testicular in 19 patients and extragonadal in nine patients. For 19 patients with a testicular primary, the median probability of complete remission (CR) was 0.05 according to our prognostic mathematical model based on pretreatment levels of serum HCG and AFP. The same prognostic model was used for extragonadal primaries. Treatment consisted of two cycles of a modified double dose of cisplatin, vinblastine, bleomycin, VP-16 regimen (mPVeBV) followed by a high dose cisplatin-etoposide-cyclophosphamide regimen (PEC) followed by ABMT. Of the 28 patients, 17 (61%) achieved CR, one of which was surgical CR (sCR), five died of rapidly progressive disease early during the first cycle of mPVeBV, two had treatment-related deaths, three did not respond and one patient refused treatment. Of the 17 patients initially in CR, three relapsed after 4, 4 and 7 months respectively and have subsequently died. Two other patients died while still in CR: one committed suicide and one died of an infectious complication due to transfusion-related AIDS. Twelve patients are alive in CR after a median follow-up of 66 months (range 7-72 months). The non parametric 3-year survival rate is 40%. To demonstrate the effect of intensive chemotherapy with ABMT, a randomized multicenter French study was set up to evaluate the PVeBV regimen with or without high dose treatment and ABMT in poor risk NSGCT patients.

[Comparison between single-dose and hyperfractionated total-body irradiation for the conditioning of allogenic grafts of the bone marrow. A retrospective study of 54 patients with malignant hematologic diseases]. / Comparaison entre irradiation totale en un temps et hyperfractionnée pour le conditionnement des greffes de moëlle allogéniques. Une étude rétrospective de 54 malades atteints d'hemopathies malignes.

The present study is a retrospective analysis of 54 patients with hematological malignancies who were treated by total body irradiation (TBI) and allogenic bone-marrow transplantation from 1982-1986. Patients were not randomly assigned to receive either single dose total body irradiation (STBI) (10 Gy x 1-4 cGy/min-lung dose 8 Gy) or hyperfractionated total body irradiation (HTBI) (1,20 Gy x 11-3 fractions/day-lung dose 9 Gy). Thirty one patients received STBI and 23 a HTBI regimen. Despite the presence of a large proportion of patients with a high risk of leukemic relapse in the HTBI group, the incidence of relapse did not differ significantly in the two groups: STBI (16%), HTBI (21%). Lung and liver toxicity were predominant in the STBI group. Interstitial pneumonitis occurred in 45% of the STBI patients versus 13% in the HTBI group. This difference remains significant when adjusted to the incidence of graft versus host disease (GVHD) in the two groups. Three cases of veino-occlusive disease were observed (10%), but only in the STBI group. Even when differences in age and the frequency of GVHD are considered in the two groups, these findings suggest that HTBI is at least as effective as STBI and that toxicity is reduced with this schedule.

[Value of high-dose chemotherapy followed by bone marrow autograft in non-seminomatous germinal tumor with poor prognosis. Results of the combination of cisplatinum, etoposide and cyclophosphamide (PEC protocol)]. / Intérêt de la chimiothérapie à haute dose suivie d'autogreffe de moelle osseuse dans les tumeurs germinales non séminomateuses de mauvais pronostic. Résultats de l'association cisplatinum, étoposide et cyclophosphamide (protocole PEC).

In recent years, the prognosis of non-seminomatous germ-cell tumors has been greatly improved by the use of novel chemotherapeutic regimens including platinum derivatives. However, the prognosis remains poor for a certain proportion of these patients. We have therefore developed an intensive chemotherapy protocol (PEC) followed by bone marrow autografting: cisplatin (40 mg/m2/day x 5 d), etoposide (350 mg/m2/day x 5 d), cyclophosphamide (1,600 mg/m2/day x 4 d). Forty-four poor-prognosis patients were thus treated. The results can be stratified into 3 categories, as follows: I: 12 refractory patients: 3 CR, 6 PR, 2 failures, 1 unevaluable. Median survival was short (7 months, range 2-16 months); II: 6 patients with sensitive relapse: 5 CR, 1 unevaluable. Four patients remained in CR at 42, 45, 46 and 48 months; III: 26 patients who received PEC as consolidation therapy in the first CR-PR after courses of conventional chemotherapy and who were selected at the time of diagnosis on the basis of factors of poor prognosis: 16 CR, 3 PR, 7 unevaluable. Two-year disease-free survival (Kaplan-Meier) is 60%. The median duration of neutropenia (less than 0.5 x 10(9)/l) was 15 d (range 6-37) and that of thrombocytopenia (less than 20 x 10(9)/l), 13 d (range 3-32). The most significant non-hematologic toxicity was of the gastrointestinal tract; in particular severe mucositis. Four iatrogenic deaths occurred (2 candidiasis, 1 aspergillosis and 1 hemorrhage). Pharmacokinetic studies were used to determine the optimum time for reinfusing the marrow and provided information on the mechanism of the mucositis. In conclusion, PEC protocol showed a high efficacy with 94% response rate (68.5% CR) among the 35 evaluable pts. Patients refractory to conventional treatment did not appear to benefit from this intensive chemotherapy. However, it appears that it may be useful for patients with relapses sensitive to salvage therapy. Encouraging results were obtained with the PEC protocol administered as early consolidation for patients with identifiable risk factors at diagnosis. A multicenter, randomized trial is currently underway in France to compare this approach with standard conventional chemotherapy.

[High-doses chemotherapy followed by bone marrow autograft in the treatment of small cell bronchial cancer]. / Chimiothérapie à hautes doses suivie d'autogreffe de moelle osseuse dans le traitement du cancer bronchique à petites cellules.

Nineteen patients were treated with high dose chemotherapy followed by an autologous bone marrow transplantation. The chemotherapy regimen was an association of BCNU, procarbazine, etoposide, melphalan. Six patients had a progressive disease; 4 short-term complete remissions were observed. In 13 responding patients, 6 maintained complete remissions were noted.

[Sweet's syndrome and aseptic abscess of the spleen]. / Syndrome de Sweet et abcès aseptiques de la rate.

Extra-cutaneous manifestations of neutrophilic dermatosis are exceptional and diverse: they consist of inflammatory infiltrates with neutrophil polymorphonuclears, without evidence of infectious agents. Localisations to the lung are the most frequently observed. A single observation of spleen involvement has been reported in a case of Sneddon-Wilkinson's disease. Herein we report the case of an aseptic splenic abscess during the course of a Sweet's syndrome.

[Hematopoietic growth factors]. / Facteurs de croissance hématopoïétiques.

Haematopoietic growth factors are a family of genetically determined low molecular weight glycoproteins which regulate the proliferation and differentiation of haemopoietic cells through specific membrane receptors. GCSF and GMCSF reduce the morbidity from infections associated with the neutropenia induced by chemotherapy of onco-haematological neoplasia; EPQ totally corrects not only the anaemia of patients with chronic renal failure, but also 50 percent of anaemias related to chemotherapy; finally, the activity of IL 3 on platelet production seems to control the thrombocytopenia which restricts the use of therapeutics.