Phototherapy and topical treatments for cutaneous graft vs. host disease in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients: a scoping review.

Skin is usually the first and most affected organ involved in graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), and treatment is still a clinical challenge. Although the need for skin-directed treatments such as physical treatments and topical medications are generally agreed on, what the gold standard treatment strategy should be remains open to debate. The aim of this scoping review was to synthesize the current knowledge on the topical and physical treatments of cutaneous GvHD in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients and to highlight the best evidence available so as to reduce the gap between 'what is known' and 'what is done' in the clinical practice. Twenty-eight studies were included in this qualitative synthesis. Photo-biomodulation with psoralen was not included in this review. Phototherapy (ultraviolet A or B or narrowband B) was the physical treatment most described in the literature in both acute GvHD and chronic GvHD. Topical calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus ointment and pimecrolimus cream as well as corticosteroid creams such as clobetasol and triamcinolone are mainly used in case of chronic GvHD. In all of the studies included in the review, topical treatments were always associated with systemic therapy. None of the topical interventions identified in our review provided strong evidence supporting its use, and the topical approaches seemed to have an adjuvant role in the treatment of cutaneous GvHD.

Nilotinib in steroid-refractory cGVHD: prospective parallel evaluation of response, according to NIH criteria and exploratory response criteria (GITMO criteria).

We conducted a phase I-II study to evaluate Nilotinib (NIL) safety and pharmacokinetics in 22 SR-cGVHD patients; we also evaluated ORR by using in parallel NIH criteria and an exploratory approach, combining objective improvement (OI) without failure criteria (GITMO criteria). Results: 22 patients were enrolled. After dose escalation up to 600 mg/day, MTD was not reached. Main toxicities were asthenia, headache, nausea, pruritus, cramps, and mild anemia. Mean and median plasma concentrations of NIL (C-NIL) were 817 (SD ± 450) and 773 ng/ml. ORR at 6 months, according to 2005 and 2014 NIH and GITMO criteria were 27.8%, 22.2%, and 55.6% respectively; close correspondence has been observed for ORR, according to 2014 NIH criteria, both assessed in a conventional way and assisted by dedicated software (CROSY). At 48 months OS was 75% while FFS, according to NIH and GITMO criteria, was 30 and 25%. In conclusion the safety profile of NIL and long-term outcome makes NIL an attractive option in SR-cGVHD. Exploratory GITMO criteria could represent an alternative tool for easy response evaluation in patients with prevalent skin and lung involvement, but require validation in a larger population; CROSY software showed excellent reliability in capturing ORR according to the 2014 NIH criteria.

'Real-life' report on the management of chronic GvHD in the Gruppo Italiano Trapianto Midollo Osseo (GITMO).

Several guidelines have been published about management of chronic GvHD (cGvHD), but the clinical practice still remains demanding. The Gruppo Italiano Trapianto di Midollo Osseo (GITMO) has planned a prospective observational study on cGvHD, supported by a dedicated software, including the updated recommendations. In view of this study, two surveys have been conducted, focusing the management of cGvHD and ancillary therapy in cGvHD, to address the current 'real life' situation. The two surveys were sent to all 57 GITMO centers, performing allografting in Italy; the response rate was 57% and 66% of the interviewed centers, respectively. The first survey showed a great disparity especially regarding steroid-refractory cGvHD, although extracorporeal photo-apheresis resulted as the most indicated treatment in this setting. Another challenging issue was the strategy for tapering steroid: our survey showed a great variance, and this disagreement could be a real bias in evaluating outcomes in prospective studies. As for the second survey, the results suggest that the ancillary treatments are not standardized in many centers. All responding centers reported a strong need to standardize management of cGvHD and to participate in prospective trials. Before starting observational and/or interventional studies, a detailed knowledge of current practice should be encouraged.

Allogeneic bone marrow or peripheral blood cell transplants in adults with hematologic malignancies: a single-center experience.

This is a retrospective study of 97 patients who received either allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) (n=52) or peripheral blood cell transplant (PBCT) (n=45) at our institution from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling donors between January 1994 and January 1997. The two groups were comparable with respect to diagnosis, age, sex, interval from diagnosis, and disease phase. They were prepared with cyclophosphamide (CY) and fractionated total-body irradiation (TBI) (n=51) or CY and thiotepa (n=46). Graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporin A and methotrexate. Patients who received PBCT exhibited faster neutrophil engraftment (day 14 vs. day 16, p = 0.002) than those in the BMT group, as well as higher platelet counts on day 20 (32x10(9)/kg vs. 21x10(9)/kg, p = 0.001), but graft function as assessed by platelet counts on days 50, 100, and thereafter was comparable. The number of days spent in the hospital, days on intravenous antibiotics, and days of fever were lower in the PBCT group, but not significantly. Acute GVHD, chronic GVHD, and cytomegalovirus infections were comparable between the two groups. The overall actuarial 3-year transplant-related mortality (TRM) rate for BMT vs. PBCT patients was 20 vs. 33% (p = 0.1), the survival rate was 53 vs. 48% (p = 0.3), and the relapse rate was 42 vs. 43% (p = 0.8). For patients in first complete remission, these figures were TRM 12 vs. 22% (p = 0.2), survival rate 75 vs. 70% (p = 0.4) and relapse rate 31 vs. 9% (p = 0.4), respectively, for the BMT and PBCT groups. These data suggest that the short-term outcome of allogeneic PBCT is not significantly different from that of allogeneic BMT in patients with hematologic malignancies. Long-term results are not available at present.

Deficient reconstitution of early progenitors after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients maintain normal peripheral blood counts long term, suggesting durable support from engrafted stem cells. In order to investigate late hemopoietic reconstitution at the level of committed and early progenitors (LTC-IC), we studied 64 long-term survivors at a median interval of 6 years (range: 2-20) after allogeneic bone marrow transplant. CFU-GM and BFU-E numbers did not differ from normal controls; CFU-GEMM were found to be significantly decreased (1.2 +/- 0.2/10(5) vs 3.1 +/- 0.4, P = 0.001). The most remarkable defect was however, the low frequency of LTC-IC (3.2 +/- 0.6/10(6) vs 54.2 +/- 9.3, P = 0.0001) that did not improve with time and did not correlate with phase of the disease, conditioning regimen, CMV infections or GVHD. Number of infused cells and CFU-GM content of marrow grafts did not seem to influence the number of LTC-IC. This study documents a significantly reduced number of early progenitors in BMT patients despite normal numbers of committed progenitors and normal peripheral blood counts. This finding may suggest a permanent reduction of the stem cell reservoir after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Voriconazole in the management of invasive aspergillosis in two patients with acute myeloid leukemia undergoing stem cell transplantation.

The management of invasive aspergillosis in patients with hematological malignancies remains controversial. A major problem is how to manage patients who had invasive aspergillosis during remission induction and consolidation therapy and then undergo SCT. Indeed in these patients the mortality rate related to invasive aspergillosis recurrence remains unacceptably high. We report two cases of patients who underwent remission induction for AML, developed invasive aspergillosis during antifungal prophylaxis with itraconazole, failed amphotericin B deoxycholate and liposomal amphotericin B treatment, were successfully treated with voriconazole and eventually underwent SCT with voriconazole prophylaxis without reactivation of invasive aspergillosis.

Comparison of an enzyme immunoassay and a latex agglutination system for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in bone marrow transplant recipients.

The performance of two Aspergillus antigenemia systems, the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Platelia Aspergillus test, and the latex agglutination (LA), Pastorex Aspergillus test, in the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis were compared by testing 364 serum samples from 22 bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients. Sensitivity and specificity for the ELISA test were 60% and 82% respectively, vs 40% and 94% for the LA test. In the two patients found positive with both methods, the ELISA test became positive earlier than the LA test or remained positive after the LA test had become negative. These results encourage further evaluation of the Platelia Aspergillus test, to assess its role in the management of invasive aspergillosis in BMT patients.

Foscarnet prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus infections in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT): a dose-finding study.

This is a dose-finding study using foscarnet for CMV prophylaxis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in 20 high risk patients (unrelated donors, or T cell depleted, and/or advanced disease). Foscarnet was started on day +1 after BMT and continued until day +100. We explored four different dose levels, patients being entered at the lowest dose level until one patient experiences CMV-reactivation, identified as two consecutive positive CMV antigenemias (CMVAg-emia). The four dose levels expressed as mg/kg/day between days 1 and 30 (induction) and between days 31 and 100 (maintenance) were respectively: dose level I = 60/30 (n = 5); dose level II = 120/60 (n = 4); dose level III = 120/90 (n = 5) and dose level IV = 120/120 (n = 6). All patients showed engraftment: PMN > or =0.5 x 109/l at a median interval of 16, 21, 17, 15 days after BMT, and Plt > or =30x10(9)/l on days 19, 16, 17, 17 respectively. CMVAg-emia was seen in 10 patients at a median interval of 53 days post-BMT (range 33-89) with a median of 10 CMV antigen+ cells (range 1-16). There was a dose effect of foscarnet on CMVAg-emia: respectively 4/5 patients (80%), 2/4 (50%), 3/5 (60%) and 1/6 (18%) at dose levels I, II, III, IV (P = 0.1). CMV disease was seen in 3/9 (33%) at dose levels I, II and 0/11 at dose levels III, IV (P = 0. 07). The median number of CMV antigen-positive cells at diagnosis of CMV infection was different: 13 in dose levels I-II and two in dose levels III-IV (P = 0.01). Increased creatininine was seen in 15 patients with a mean of 1.8 mg% (range 1.5-5.7) and was the cause of discontinuation in nine patients (45%). Renal toxicity was reversible in all nine patients. Overall actuarial TRM at 2 years was 31%: 47% for patients at dose levels I-II and 19% for patients at dose levels III-IV. In conclusion, foscarnet exhibits a dose-dependent prophylactic effect on CMVAg-emia, CMV disease and transplant-related mortality with acceptable and reversible renal toxicity.

Early predictors of transplant-related mortality (TRM) after allogeneic bone marrow transplants (BMT): blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and bilirubin.

Transplant-related mortality (TRM) following allo- geneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) remains a major concern and early identification of patients at risk may be clinically relevant. In this study we describe a predictive score based on bilirubin and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels on day +7 after BMT. The patient population consisted of 309 consecutive patients who underwent BMT from sibling (n = 263) or unrelated donors (n = 46) for hematologic disorders between December 1990 and December 1996. Of 27 laboratory tests taken on day +7 after BMT, serum bilirubin (P = 0.02) and BUN (P = 0.007) were found to be independent predictors of TRM in multivariate analysis. The median levels of bilirubin (0.9 mg/dl) and of BUN (21 mg/dl) were then used as a cut-off and a score of 1 was given for values equal/greater than the median. There were 216 patients with scores 0-1 (low risk) on day +7 (bilirubin <0.9 and/or BUN <21) and 93 patients with score 2 (high risk) (bilirubin >/=0.9 and BUN >/=21): the latter had more grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (P = 0.03), slower neutrophil (P = 0.02) and slower platelet engraftment (P = 0.002). The actuarial 5 year TRM is 22% for low risk vs44% for high risk patients (P = 0.0003). For HLA-identical siblings TRM is 20% vs35% (P = 0.01), for unrelated donors it is 20% vs 65% (P = 0.01). Day +7 score was highly predictive of TRM on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 1.9, P < 0.01), after adjustment for year of transplant (P < 0.00001), unrelated vs sibling donors (P = 0.001), patient age (P = 0.01) and diagnosis (P = 0.01). These results were validated on an independent group of 82 allogeneic BMT recipients in a pediatric Unit who showed an actuarial TRM of 16% for low risk vs 46% for high risk patients (P = 0.002). This study suggests that it may be possible to identify patients with different risks of TRM on day +7 after BMT: high risk patients could be eligible for programs designed to intensify prophylaxis of post-transplant complications.

Forscarnet vs ganciclovir for cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia after allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT): a randomised study.

This trial was designed to compare foscarnet with ganciclovir as pre-emptive therapy for CMV infection in patients undergoing allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Thirty-nine patients were randomized to receive foscarnet 90 mg/kg every 12 h (n = 20) or ganciclovir 5 mg/kg every 12 h (n = 19) for 15 days at the time of development of CMVAg-emia. Primary-end points of the study were (1) outcome of CMVAg-emia; (2) progression to CMV disease; and (3) side-effects of treatment. The secondary end-point was transplant-related mortality (TRM). The two groups were comparable for diagnosis, status of disease, donor type, acute graft-versus-host (aGVHD) prophylaxis, interval between HSCT and CMVAg-emia and number of CMVAg positive cells; the donor and recipient age were borderline older in the foscarnet group. Increments of serum creatinine in the foscarnet group, and cytopenia in the ganciclovir group were controlled by reducing the administered dose: in the first 15 days of therapy 9/20 foscarnet and 10/19 ganciclovir patients had a dose reduction greater than 20% (P = 0.43). Clearance of CMVAg-emia was faster in the foscarnet group although with borderline statistical significance. Failures of treatment occurred in 3/20 patients in foscarnet group vs 8/19 patients in ganciclovir group (P= 0.06): causes of failure were the need for combination therapy to control antigenemia (1/20 vs 5/19), and reactivation during treatment for 2 vs 3 patients, respectively. CMV disease was diagnosed in 1 vs 2 patients (P = 0.5) who subsequently died. The actuarial 1-year TRM was 25 vs 12%, respectively (P = 0.3). This study suggests that foscarnet and ganciclovir are both effective for pre-emptive therapy of CMVAg-emia, although the number of failures would seem to be slightly higher in the ganciclovir patients. Side-effects are seen in both groups and can be managed with appropriate dose reduction.

Donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) were given between June 1990 and March 1996 to 18 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) for the treatment of cytogenetic (n = 6) or hematologic relapse (n = 12) following an allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT). Patients were divided in two groups: patients in group A (n = 8) received a large dose of donor lymphocytes (> or = 1 x 10(8)/kg), whereas patients in group B (n = 10) received escalating numbers of cells (2 x 10(5) up to 2 x 10(8)/kg). The median number of DLI in group A was 2 (range 1-3); the median number of infusions in group B was 7 (range 3-9). Acute GVHD occurred in 12 patients (grades I-III) and was a major cause of death in two. The risk of developing GVHD correlated with the number of cells infused: 37%, 14%, 5% and 0% for DLI with cells > or = 1 x 10(8), 2 x 10(7)/kg, 2 x 10(6)/kg, and 2 x 10(5)/kg, respectively (P = 0.01). Median transaminase levels were found to be significantly increased in patients with, as compared to patients without, acute GVHD (GPT 412 vs 28 IU/l; P = 0.03). Severe aplasia occurred in four and was a contributing cause of death in two patients. Overall, four patients died as a consequence of DLI and all received > 1 x 10(8)/kg cells: the actuarial risk was 38% in group A and 14% in group B (P = 0.1). There were 10 complete and three partial cytogenetic responses: the actuarial probability at 5 years of being Ph negative was 69%: it was 46% for group A and 85% for group B (P = 0.1). The longest patient is now 6 years post-DLI, Ph negative, BCR-ABL negative. The actuarial 3 year survival is 38% in group A and 86% in group B (P = 0.06). The study confirms that DLI post-BMT is not innocuous and that there is a definite long-lasting antileukemic effect in patients with CML. It also suggests that: (1) the risk of developing GVHD correlates with the number of infused cells; (2) that significant elevations of serum GPT levels are associated with GVHD; and (3) that the use of escalating doses of cells may allow the identification of side-effects and discontinuation of infusions before life-threatening GVHD has developed.

Antigen detection in the diagnosis and management of a patient with probable cerebral aspergillosis treated with voriconazole.

This report describes the diagnosis and management of a 16-year-old boy who developed neurological signs and symptoms suggestive of cerebral aspergillosis following a haploidentical bone marrow transplant. A new sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of Aspergillus galactomannan circulating antigens (Platelia Aspergillus, Sanofi Diagnostic Pasteur, France) was used on serum and cerebrospinal fluid to obtain a presumptive diagnosis and to monitor the course of the disease. Having failed conventional therapy with amphotericin B, the patient received compassionate treatment with voriconazole for a period of 37 days. High levels of voriconazole were observed in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), with a trend toward accumulation. After 7 days a marked improvement in the patient's neurological symptoms was noted, and ELISA data indicated a corresponding decrease in Aspergillus galactomannan levels in both serum and CSF. Voriconazole was well tolerated, with only transient increases in ALT/AST recorded during therapy. Although the patient survived the acute Aspergillus infection, he subsequently died of an unrelated infection.

Successful treatment of Acremonium fungemia with voriconazole.

We report two cases of Acremonium fungemia with proven involvement of the skin and probably of the lung in patients who were both undergoing chemotherapy, one for mantle cell lymphoma and the other for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Both patients failed amphotericin B deoxycholate treatment and were successfully treated with voriconazole with very mild toxicity.

Bone marrow transplantation for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired clonal disease of the hemopoietic stem cell (HSC) characterized by intravascular hemolysis and increased risk of venous thrombosis. There are different therapeutic approaches for PNH which do not cure the disease, but can decrease its complications. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) may cure PNH. We reports here our experience of seven PNH patients who underwent allogeneic BMT. DESIGN AND METHODS: Between January 1991 and January 1999 seven patients with PNH, aged 23 to 37, were transplanted with unmanipulated bone marrow from HLA identical siblings. Median time from diagnosis to BMT was 2.5 years (range: 1-16). All patients were transfusion-dependent and had received various treatments before BMT: steroids, vitamins, cyclosporin A (CyA), growth factors. One patient had also been treated with anti-thymocyte globulin. One patient was HbsAg positive and one anti-HCV positive. At the time of BMT the median value of hemoglobin (Hb) was 9 g/dL (range 6.5-11), white blood cells 5&10(9)/L (range: 2.9-7.7), platelets 97&10(9)/L (range: 31-355), LDH: 2726 U/L. The conditioning regimen was cyclophosphamide (160 mg/kg) and busulfan (10-14 mg/kg), followed by unmanipulated bone marrow (median of 5&10(8) cells/kg) and CyA (+MTX in two patients) for prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). RESULTS: All seven patients are alive, full chimeras, with complete hematologic recovery and no evidence of PNH, at a median follow up of 51 months post-BMT (6-103). Time to achieve a granulocyte count of 0.5&10(9)/L, platelets 30&10(9)/L and Hb 10 g/dL was respectively 16, 19 and 22 days. Acute GvHD was limited or mild in six patients, and severe in one. Chronic GvHD was extensive in two patients. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that HLA identical sibling BMT is an effective therapeutic option for PNH, also in the hemolytic phase of the disease: it also suggests that HBV and HCV infections are not an absolute contraindication.

A randomized trial of high dose polyvalent intravenous immunoglobulin (HDIgG) vs. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) hyperimmune IgG in allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The role of high dose intravenous IgG (HDIgG) and of hyperimmune CMV IgG (CMV-IgG) in patients undergoing allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is still unclear. The aim of this study was to compare prophylactic CMV-IgG with HDIgGin a randomized prospective trial in allogeneic HSCT recipients: primary end point of the study was the occurrence of post-transplant CMV antigenemia (CMVAg-emia). Secondary end-points were severity of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), infections and transplant related mortality (TRM). DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive 100 mg/kg/week of CMV-IgG (group A; n = 64) or 400 mg/kg/week of HDIgG (group B; n = 64) from day -7 to day +100. The two groups were comparable for age, diagnosis, disease status, and acute graft-versus host (aGvHD) prophylaxis. RESULTS: The actuarial risk at 1 year of CMV antigenemia was lower for CMV-IgG (61% vs. 71%) but not significantly (p = 0.37); CMVAg-emia occurred at the same interval from HSCT (47 vs. 48 days, p = 0.9), with a comparable number of CMVAg positive cells (3 vs. 3 p = 0.9). Eight patients died of interstitial pneumonia (IP) (4 in each group), two in group A of CMV-IP. Acute GvHD was scored as O-I, II and III-IV in 39 vs. 35, 23 vs. 22 and 2 vs. 7 patients respectively for the two groups (p = not significant). The actuarial risk of developing acute GvHD grade II-IV was lower for CMV-IgG (39% vs. 45%) but not significantly (p = 0.43). Chronic GvHD scored as absent in 7 vs. 10 patients, limited in 39 vs. 37 and extensive in 19 vs. 17 patients respectively (p = not significant). Numbered days with intravenous antibiotics, days in hospital, days of fever, number of local and disseminated infections, number of patients with fever of unknown origin were not significantly different. Actuarial 1 year TRM is 18% vs. 19%, respectively (p = 0.9). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that CMV antigenemia is comparable in recipients of hyperimmune CMV-IgG and of polyvalent HDIgG, although the former had a 32% lower cost. It also shows that the potential immunomodulating effect on acute GvHD and transplant mortality is similar with 100 or 400 mg of IgG/kg/week: this is relevant, in view of the high cost of prophylactic HDIgG.