Targeted-dose of busulfan: Higher risk of sinusoidal obstructive syndrome observed with systemic exposure dose above 5000 µMol⸱min. A historically controlled clinical trial.

Busulfan is given in the conditioning regimens preceding hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and plasma levels can be monitored. A targeted, individualized systemic exposure (SE) dose can be achieved by calculating the area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC). The objective of this study was to determine a cutoff value for safety for the AUC for busulfan plasma levels in patients undergoing HSCT. A total of 149 consecutive HSCT patients were studied. After an oral test dose of busulfan, we set target doses of 4000, 5000, or 6000 µMol⸱min/day, and analyzed the AUC of oral or intravenous Bu. These patients were compared with 53 historical control subjects who had received myeloablative conditioning regimen without busulfan pharmacokinetic monitoring. Using a test dose and the administration route had no impact on the sinusoidal obstructive syndrome (SOS) incidence, transplant-related mortality or 1-year overall survival. However, patients receiving busulfan at doses set up at AUC > 5000 had an increased risk to develop SOS after HSCT (hazard ratio 3.39, p = 0.034, 95% CI 1.09-10.52). Adjusting the busulfan dose according to SE levels target dose during conditioning is associated with lower rates of oral severe mucositis and SOS. A cutoff of 5000 µMol⸱min is safe and does not impair survival.

Severe hemorrhagic cystitis caused by the BK polyomavirus is associated with decreased survival post-allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: BK polyomavirus reactivation can occur following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and may lead to hemorrhagic cystitis (BKPyV-HC). We hypothesized that development of BKPyV-HC is associated with increased mortality post allo-HSCT. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data on 133 adult patients (≥18 years old) who underwent allo-HSCT from 2007 until 2014 at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in São Paulo, Brazil. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients presented with BKPyV-HC after a median time of 42 days, with a 1-year cumulative incidence probability of 28.9% (95% CI 21.5%-36.7%). In a multivariate Cox model, risk factors for development of BKPyV-HC included younger age, male sex, development of grade 2-4 acute graft-versus-host disease and recipients of umbilical cord blood grafts. Development of grade 3-4 BKPyV-HC (but not grade 1-2) was associated with a decreased overall survival (OS) in a multivariate Cox model (hazard ratio [HR] 7.51, P < 0.0001) and an increased risk of TRM (HR 3.66, P < 0.0001). Grade 3-4 BKPyV-HC was also associated with an increased risk of relapse that did not reach statistical significance (HR 3.01, P = 0.07). Median overall survival (OS) post-BKPyV-HC was 4.7 months, and cidofovir had no impact on survival. CONCLUSION: Development of BKPyV-HC appears to be associated with decreased survival following allo-HSCT.

Clinical outcomes in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A comparison between young and elderly patients. Observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse clinical outcomes comparing two age groups of patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and to identify risk factors associated with older patients' mortality. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the medical charts of all consecutive patients admitted in one hospital for allo-HSCT were reviewed. Overall survival (OS) and other outcomes were compared between patients aged up to 55 years (YG) and older than 55 (EG). RESULTS: From January 2007 to August 2014, 111 adult patients were admitted for allo-HSCT and were included 75 in the YG and 36 in the EG group. The OS rate at D+ 100 was 84% for YG individuals in contrast to 75% in the EG (p = 0.01), and 71% vs. 50% at one year after HSCT (p = 0.01) respectively. Therapy-related mortality (TRM) rates for the YG and EG were, respectively, 14% vs. 17% (p = 0.04) at D+ 100 and 17% vs. 32% (p = 0.04) at one year. Haploidentical donor type and active disease status significantly increased mortality risk in the EG (hazard ratio 2.42; p = 0.018; and 2.04; p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: YG and EG have similar TRM rates early after allo-HSCT, but the elderly had higher TRM during the critical period from 100 days to one year.

Human Leukocyte Antigen-Haploidentical Transplantation for Relapsed/Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Multicenter Analysis.

Reduced-intensity-conditioned allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) remains a potentially curative approach for patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) after an autologous stem cell transplantation. In the absence of an HLA-identical donor, haploidentical SCT (haplo-SCT) with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) has been evaluated with favorable preliminary results. We evaluated 24 patients who underwent haplo-SCT for relapsed/refractory HL. The conditioning regimen consisted of cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, and total body irradiation. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted of a calcineurin inhibitor, mycophenolate mofetil, and PT-Cy (50 mg/kg/day for 2 days) for all patients. After a median follow-up of 2 years, the cumulative incidence (CI) of nonrelapse mortality was 26% and the CI of grades II to IV acute GVHD and chronic GVHD were 17% and 24%, respectively. Estimation of progression-free and overall survival at 2 years were 54% and 66%%, respectively. Haplo-SCT is a valuable option for relapsed/refractory HL patients after a failed autologous SCT, with favorable survival and relatively low risk of GVHD.

Pharmacokinetics analysis results are similar for oral compared to intravenous busulfan in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, except for the earlier onset of mucositis. A controlled clinical study.

Busulfan is used in myeloablative schemes for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), with monitoring of dosage through the area under the curve (AUC) of the drug plasma concentration (µMol min). In this study, we compared the complete pharmacokinetics of busulfan administered orally (Bu-Oral) and intravenously (Bu-IV). We evaluated 40 patients who underwent HSCT with different types of conditioning regimens. After one dose, in the Bu-Oral group (n = 21), the median AUC was 1174 µMol min (799-4000), reaching a median of 4440 µMol min (3428-7181.5) during conditioning in 24 h. In the Bu-IV group (n = 19), it was 1244.8 µMol min (1001.2-2021), reaching 5598.0 µMol min (3102-8818) during conditioning in 24 h. Measuring plasma concentration of Bu in patients undergoing HSCT is important, regardless of the formulation, and the inclusion of a pre-HSCT test can predict the optimal dose during conditioning. Pharmacokinetics of the oral administration of busulfan, as well as clearance, are extremely variable, and this can potentially compromise the clinical results of the treatment since it makes it difficult to predict clinical results.

Haploidentical bone marrow transplantation with post transplant cyclophosphamide for patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy: a suitable choice in an urgent situation.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only treatment that enhances survival and stabilizes neurologic symptoms in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) with cerebral involvement, a severe demyelinating disease of childhood. Patients with X-ALD who lack a well-matched HLA donor need a rapid alternative. Haploidentical HSCT using post transplant cyclophosphamide (PT/Cy) has been performed in patients with malignant and nonmalignant diseases showing similar outcomes compared to other alternative sources. We describe the outcomes of transplants performed for nine X-ALD patients using haploidentical donors and PT/Cy. Patients received conditioning regimen with fludarabine 150 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 29 mg/kg and 2 Gy total body irradiation (TBI) with or without antithymocyte globulin. Graft-vs.-host disease prophylaxis consisted of cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg/day on days +3 and +4, tacrolimus or cyclosporine A and mycophenolate mofetil. One patient had a primary graft failure and was not eligible for a second transplant. Three patients had secondary graft failure and were successfully rescued with second haploidentical transplants. Trying to improve engraftment, conditioning regimen was changed, substituting 2 Gy TBI for 4 Gy total lymphoid irradiation. Eight patients are alive and engrafted (17-37 months after transplant). Haploidentical HSCT with PT/Cy is a feasible alternative for X-ALD patients lacking a suitable matched donor. Graft failure has to be addressed in further studies.

Gastric antiulcer and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oil from Casearia sylvestris Sw.

To investigate the antiulcer and antiinflammatory activities of the essential oil from Casearia sylvestris leaves (EOCS) the following tests were used: rat paw edema, granulomatous tissue test, vascular permeability, writhing test, gastric ulcer stress-induced and evaluation of gastric secretion (pylorus ligation test). The total yield of EOCS was 2.5% with LD50 of 1100 mg/kg in mouse. The major compounds identified using gas chromatography were caryophyllene, thujopsene, alfa-humulene, beta-acoradiene, germacrene-d, bicyclogermacrene, calamenene, germacrene B, spathulenol and globulol. The EOCS orally administered to the rats at 125 mg/kg resulted 36% of inhibition in carrageenan-induced edema in the rat paw assay (p<0.05, Student's t-test). However, both rat paw edema dextran-induced and vascular permeability assay using histamine showed no significant inhibition. Mice submitted to the writhing test using acetic acid presented 58% and 56% of inhibition in writhes with EOCS and indomethacin, respectively. Furthermore, EOCS inhibited 90% of stress-induced gastric ulcer, while cimetidine inhibited 70% (p<0.05, Student's t-test). The volume of gastric secretion in the group treated with EOCS was greater than the group treated with cimetidine. The EOCS also showed no changes related to H+ levels in the gastric secretion. With the overall results obtained in this study the authors suggest an anti-inflammatory activity for the EOCS of Casearia sylvestris beyond its anti-ulcer activity.

Use of gemtuzumab ozogamycin combined with conventional chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the outcome of patients treated with gemtuzumab ozogamycin combined with conventional therapy treated at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. METHODS: 14 patients who had high risk features (secondary leukemia, unfavorable cytogenetics, and refractory disease) were treated with gemtuzumab ozogamycin combined with conventional therapy and their outcome was analysed by reviewing their medical records. RESULTS: Overall response rate was 58%, with 43% achieving complete response, with a median follow-up of 11 months, event-free survival was 3 months. Eleven patients died, 6 of them due to refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Only four patients presented with grade 3 to 4 toxicities and only one patient had sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after bone marrow transplant. CONCLUSION: gemtuzumab ozogamycin combined with chemotherapy is a feasible treatment regimen in acute myeloid leukemia patients. However, further studies are necessary to clarify which subgroup of patients may beneft from this treatment.

Uso de gemtuzumabe ozogamicina combinado com quimioterapia convencional em pacientes com leucemia mieloide aguda / Use of gemtuzumab ozogamycin combined with conventional chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Objective: To analyze the outcome of patients treated with gemtuzumab ozogamycin combined with conventional therapy treated at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. Methods: 14 patients who had high risk features (secondary leukemia, unfavorable cytogenetics, and refractory disease) were treated with gemtuzumab ozogamycincombined with conventional therapy and their outcome was analysed by reviewing their medical records. Results: Overall response rate was 58%, with 43% achieving complete response, with a median followup of 11 months, event-free survival was 3 months. Eleven patients died, 6 of them due to refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Only four patients presented with grade 3 to 4 toxicities and only one patient had sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after bone marrow transplant. Conclusion: gemtuzumab ozogamycin combined with chemotherapy is a feasible treatment regimen in acute myeloid leukemia patients. However, further studies are necessary to clarify which subgroup of patients may benefit from this treatment.

Objetivo: Analisar a evolução de pacientes tratados com gemtuzumabe ozogamicina combinado à terapêutica convencional no Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. Métodos: 14 pacientes que tinham alto risco (leucemia secundária, citogenética desfavorávele doença refratária) foram tratados com gentuzumabe ozogamicina associado à terapêutica convencional, e sua evolução foi analisada por meio de seus prontuários médicos. Resultados: A taxa total de resposta foi de 58%, com 43% chegando a resposta completa, em acompanhamento médio de 11 meses, e três meses com intervalo de sobrevivência livre. Foram a óbito 11 pacientes, 6 deles por leucemia mieloide aguda. Somente quatro pacientes apresentaram graus 3 a 4 de toxicidade e apenas um paciente teve síndrome de obstrução sinusoidal após transplante de medula. Conclusão: Gemtuzumabe ozogamicina associado à terapêutica quimioterápica convencional éum tratamento factível em pacientes com leucemia mieloide aguda. Contudo, novos estudos são necessários para esclarecer qual o subgrupo de pacientes que pode se beneficiar desse tratamento.