Bortezomib before and after high-dose therapy in myeloma: long-term results from the phase III HOVON-65/GMMG-HD4 trial.

The Dutch-Belgian Cooperative Trial Group for Hematology Oncology Group-65/German-speaking Myeloma Multicenter Group-HD4 (HOVON-65/GMMG-HD4) phase III trial compared bortezomib (BTZ) before and after high-dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDM, PAD arm) compared with classical cytotoxic agents prior and thalidomide after HDM (VAD arm) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients aged 18-65 years. Here, the long-term follow-up and data on second primary malignancies (SPM) are presented. After a median follow-up of 96 months, progression-free survival (censored at allogeneic transplantation, PFS) remained significantly prolonged in the PAD versus VAD arm (hazard ratio (HR)=0.76, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of 0.65-0.89, P=0.001). Overall survival (OS) was similar in the PAD versus VAD arm (HR=0.89, 95% CI: 0.74-1.08, P=0.24). The incidence of SPM were similar between the two arms (7% each, P=0.73). The negative prognostic effects of the cytogenetic aberration deletion 17p13 (clone size ⩾10%) and renal impairment at baseline (serum creatinine >2 mg dl-1) on PFS and OS remained abrogated in the PAD but not VAD arm. OS from first relapse/progression was similar between the study arms (HR=1.02, P=0.85). In conclusion, the survival benefit with BTZ induction/maintenance compared with classical cytotoxic agents and thalidomide maintenance is maintained without an increased risk of SPM.

Guideline for diagnosis and treatment of Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia.

On behalf of the lymphoma and multiple myeloma working parties of the Dutch/Belgian Haemato-Oncology Foundation for Adults in The Netherlands (HOVON), we present a guideline for diagnosis and management of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM). Considering the indolent behaviour and heterogeneous clinical presentation of WM, it is crucial to determine the right indications for treatment, as well as to individualise therapeutic options. There are significant differences from the approach to multiple myeloma or the treatment of other indolent non-Hodkgin lymphomas, and these results cannot always be extrapolated. There is a lack of large clinical trials due to the low incidence of WM. Based on the available data, we provide a practical diagnostic classification, as well as recommendations for first-line therapy and options for treating relapsed disease. Some typical clinical features of WM, such as autoimmune phenomena and 'IgM flare' after rituximab treatment, are highlighted. A more elaborate version of this guideline was published in the 'Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Hematologie' (Dutch Journal for Hematology) September 2012.

Impact of chemotherapy on the mobilisation, harvest and economic costs of autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma.

To evaluate factors affecting mobilisation and harvest and to calculate the economic costs of autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma (MM) we analysed 29 consecutive patients who had been transplanted at the Nijmegen University Hospital between January 1992 and February 1999. Thirteen patients had been treated with three or more melphalan cycles before transplantation (melphalan group), while four of the remaining 16 patients (no-melphalan group) had only received one melphalan cycle with an interval of one year or longer before harvest. The two groups were analysed for differences in mobilisation, harvest and the costs. Collection of a sufficient number of peripheral stem cells failed in 4 patients in the melphalan group, and these patients were transplanted with both bone marrow and peripheral stem cells. The greater need for growth factors (median 6,400 microg vs 4,500 microg) and the longer duration of admission (median 8 days vs 3 days) for mobilisation in the melphalan group increased significantly (p=0.01) the total mobilisation costs (median fl 13,876 vs fl 6,101). The greater number of apheresis sessions (median three) and the additional bone marrow harvests for patients who could not achieve a sufficient number of stem cells, increased significantly (p<0.001) the total harvest costs (median fl 9,690 vs fl 1,615) in the melphalan group. This resulted in significantly (p=0.008) higher overall costs of the procedure (median: fl 49,576 vs fl 35,889). The haematopoietic recovery of all groups was similar. The no-melphalan group was subdivided in two groups based on the median number of chemotherapy cycles before harvest. The heavily treated group had received more than 5 chemotherapy cycles and the moderately treated group four cycles or less. The median overall costs of these two groups were comparable (median fl 36,837 vs fl 34,351). This study suggests that the administration of stem cell toxic melphalan before harvest contributes to administration of more dosages of growth factor, longer admission duration for mobilisation and higher number of leukaphereses in order to collect sufficient number of stem cells. This resulted in significantly higher overall costs. More cycles of chemotherapy without melphalan did not increase significantly any studied parameter nor the total costs of procedure. Melphalan therapy or heavy pre-treatment did not prolong the repopulation interval, probably due to the infusion of similar number of progenitor cells.

Cost analysis of autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation versus autologous bone marrow transplantation for patients with non Hodgkin's lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

We evaluated the costs of unpurged autologous stem cell transplantation in a non-randomised study of 54 consecutive patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies who have been transplanted at the Nijmegen University Hospital between July 1992 and March 1998. Thirty-five patients were transplanted with autologous peripheral stem cells (APSCT): 30 had non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 5 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Nineteen patients were transplanted with autologous bone marrow stem cells (ABMT): 17 had NHL and 2 ALL. The number of progenitor cells (CFU-GM, BFU-E) and nucleated cells was significantly higher in peripheral blood transplants. The duration of cytopenia was shorter after APSCT. The leucocyte recovery to 0.5 x 10(9)/L was 13 days for recipients of peripheral stem cells compared to 20 days for bone marrow recipients (P <0.001). The platelet recoveries to 20 x 10(9)/L were 13 and 29 days, respectively (P = 0.001). This resulted in significantly shorter admission duration 24 days after APSCT versus 30 days (P = 0.003) after ABMT. Furthermore, a statistically significant difference between both groups was observed for antimicrobial costs (mean: fl 2,939 vs fl 4,888; P = 0.008), platelet transfusions (median: 3 vs 7 units; P = 0.01) and erythrocyte transfusions (median: 6 vs 10 units; P = 0.03). The mean overall costs were lower in patients transplanted with stem cells from peripheral blood: fl 34,178 versus fl 43,469 (P = 0.007). This study suggests that the APSCT results in significant cost savings due to shorter hospital stay and less costs of supportive care, despite higher mobilisation costs. The costs of blood transfusions and antimicrobials for patients with ALL were significantly higher when compared to patients with NHL.

Recurrent focal glomerulosclerosis: natural course and treatment with plasma exchange.

BACKGROUND: Focal glomerulosclerosis (FGS) can recur after renal transplantation and prognosis is poor in untreated patients. A circulating plasma factor has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a recurrent FGS and treatment with plasma exchange has proven effective in decreasing proteinuria in some patients. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the course of disease in patients with recurrent FGS, transplanted in our centre. Seven patients transplanted between 1991 and 1997, received treatment with plasma exchange, whereas 10 patients, transplanted between 1973 and 1991, were left untreated and served as historical controls. RESULTS: The time of onset of proteinuria (>3.5 g/day) was comparable in the untreated and treated patients (9 and 10 days respectively), as was the average proteinuria at that time (5.5 and 5.8 g/day respectively). In the untreated patients, proteinuria persisted and eventually all grafts were lost, on average 43 months after the diagnosis of a recurrence. In five cases (50%) the recurrence was the single cause of graft loss. The clinical course was different in the seven patients who were treated with plasma exchange. In five of these patients, the recurrence occurred within 3 weeks after transplantation. Plasma exchange was started 1-14 days after onset of proteinuria in these patients. Two lost their grafts after 0.7 and 1.0 months because of untreatable rejection. In the remaining three patients the plasma exchange resulted in abrupt disappearance of the proteinuria, and the response has been lasting for 2-3.2 years. In these patients the only histological abnormality was foot effacement on electron-microscopy. In two patients the recurrence became manifest at 9 weeks and 5.8 years after transplantation respectively. These two patients relapsed after the initial course of plasma exchange, but responded to repeated session, and are currently being treated once a month. They have been followed for 1. 7 and 1.4 years after the onset of proteinuria and their urinary protein levels are 0.23 and 1.2 g/10 mmol creatinine. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of untreated recurrent FGS is poor. Treatment with plasma exchange can lead to complete remission of proteinuria and relapsing patients may respond to repeated sessions. Best results are obtained when plasma exchange is started early, when there are no visible lesions on light-microscopy.

Primitive multilineage progenitor cells predominate in peripheral blood early after mobilization with high-dose cyclophosphamide and GM-CSF or G-CSF.

The change in phenotype, number and proliferative capacity of peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitors (PBHP) was studied in six patients with multiple myeloma during hematopoietic recovery after mobilization with high-dose cyclophosphamide and GM-CSF or G-CSF. In all six patients the first CD34+ cells appearing in the peripheral blood (PB) after cytoreductive treatment were predominantly CD34+/33- (> 70%). At later stages when leukapheresis procedures were started, the CD34+/33+ cells predominated in five of six patients. In leukapheresis harvests of peripheral blood, and in bone marrow addition of SCF and IL-6 to the culturing medium enhanced the plating efficiency. In peripheral blood an increase from 12 to 22% for CD34+/33+ and from 6 to 14% for CD34+/33- was observed. In normal bone marrow we observed an increase from 15 to 23% for CD34+/33+ and from 7 to 17% for CD34+/33-. Highly proliferative progenitors (>500 cells) in the CD34+/33- fraction appeared to be dependent on the addition of 'stem cell recruiting factors' (SCF and IL-6); in bone marrow the percentage of wells with >500 cells increased from 0.9 to 12.6% after SCF+IL-6 and in PBHP from 2 to 9%. We conclude that the first progenitors appearing in the peripheral blood after priming with high-dose cyclophosphamide and GM- or G-CSF have a more primitive immunophenotype, CD34+/33-.