Haploidentical vs. HLA-matched donor hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in second remission: A collaborative retrospective study of the Spanish Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation in Children (GETMON/GETH) and the Spanish Childhood Relapsed ALL Board (ReALLNet).

Introduction: Studies addressing the role of haploidentical as alternative to HLA-matched donors for stem cell transplantation (SCT) often include patients with diverse hematological malignancies in different remission statuses. Methods: We compared outcomes of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) undergoing SCT in second complete remission (CR2) from haploidentical (n = 25) versus HLA-matched donor (n = 51). Results: Patients were equally distributed across both groups according to age, immunophenotype, time to and site of relapse, relapse risk-group allocation, and minimal residual disease (MRD) before SCT. Incidence of graft failure, acute graft versus host disease (GVHD), and other early complications did not differ between both groups. We found no differences in overall survival (58.7% versus 59.5%; p = .8), leukemia free survival (LFS) (48% versus 36.4%; p = .5), event free survival (40% versus 34.4%; p = .69), cumulative incidence (CI) of subsequent relapse (28% versus 40.9%; p = .69), treatment related mortality (24% versus 23.6%; p = .83), CI of cGVHD (4.5% versus 18.7%; p = .2), and chronic GVHD-free and leukemia-free survival (44% versus 26.3%; p = .3) after haploidentical donor SCT. Chronic GVHD (HR = 0.09; p=.02) had protective impact, and MRD ≥ 0.01% before SCT (HR = 2.59; p=.01) had unfavorable impact on LFS. Discussion: These results support the role of haploidentical donor SCT in children with ALL in CR2.

Disseminated fusariosis and hematologic malignancies, a still devastating association. Report of three new cases / / Fusariosis diseminada y neoplasias hematológicas, una asociación devastadora todavía. Tres nuevos casos

Background. Fungi of the genus Fusarium are primarily plant pathogens and saprobes that produce disseminated infections in immunologically deficient humans. After aspergillosis, disseminated fusariosis is the second most common cause of invasive infection by filamentous fungi in patients with hematologic malignancies or those undergoing transplants of hematopoietic progenitors. Aims. Disseminated fusariosis (DF) is considered an extremely rare infection and has reached a stable incidence rate, but its high mortality rate and the lack of an optimal management protocol have raised increasing interest in this mycosis. Methods. We present three cases of DF produced by Fusarium oxysporum species complex, Fusarium solani species complex and the highly unusual Fusarium dimerum in patients with advanced hematological malignancies diagnosed in our hospital between 2007 and 2011. The species level identification of the Fusarium isolates was established by sequencing their TEF1 gene. Results. The isolates showed low susceptibility to most of the antifungal agents analyzed, except that observed for F. dimerum to amphotericin B (AmB) and terbinafine, and F. oxysporum species complex to AmB. Interestingly, the strain of F. solani species complex exhibited high MIC values for AmB and voriconazole, notwithstanding these drugs were used for treatment with good results. Other relevant aspects to be considered in the treatment of DF are surgically cleaning foci of infection, withdrawing presumably contaminated catheters and recovery from neutropenia. Conclusions. The prevention of infection in colonized patients, the maintenance of a high level of diagnostic suspicion for early diagnosis, and the combined, vigorous and prolonged use of L-AmB and voriconazole are essential to decrease the mortality rate of this devastating infection (AU)

Antecedentes. Los hongos del género Fusarium son principalmente patógenos vegetales que producen infecciones diseminadas en personas con deficiencias inmunológicas. Tras la aspergilosis, la fusariosis diseminada es la segunda causa de infección invasora por hongos filamentosos en pacientes con enfermedades hematológicas malignas o en receptores de trasplantes de progenitores hematopoyéticos. Objetivos. La fusariosis diseminada es muy infrecuente y ha alcanzado una tasa de incidencia estable. Sin embargo, el interés por estas micosis se ha incrementado debido a su alta tasa de mortalidad y a la falta de un tratamiento óptimo. Métodos. Se presentan tres casos de fusariosis diseminada por Fusarium oxysporum species complex (SC), Fusarium solani SC y Fusarium dimerum en pacientes de nuestro hospital con enfermedades hematológicas avanzadas, diagnosticados entre 2007 y 2011. Los aislamientos de Fusarium se identificaron mediante secuenciación del gen TEF1. Resultados. La sensibilidad a los antifúngicos ensayados fue baja salvo a la anfotericina B (AmB) y la terbinafina en F. dimerum, y a la AmB en F. oxysporum SC. Aunque F. solani SC mostró valores altos de CMI para la AmB y el voriconazol, su uso para el tratamiento del paciente dio buenos resultados. Otros aspectos relevantes para el tratamiento de la fusariosis diseminada son la limpieza quirúrgica de los focos de infección, la retirada de catéteres presumiblemente contaminados y la recuperación de la neutropenia. Conclusiones. La prevención de la infección en pacientes colonizados, el mantenimiento de un alto grado de sospecha para un diagnóstico temprano y el uso combinado, vigoroso y prolongado de L-AmB y voriconazol son esenciales para disminuir la mortalidad de esta infección devastadora (AU)

Disseminated fusariosis and hematologic malignancies, a still devastating association. Report of three new cases.

BACKGROUND: Fungi of the genus Fusarium are primarily plant pathogens and saprobes that produce disseminated infections in immunologically deficient humans. After aspergillosis, disseminated fusariosis is the second most common cause of invasive infection by filamentous fungi in patients with hematologic malignancies or those undergoing transplants of hematopoietic progenitors. AIMS: Disseminated fusariosis (DF) is considered an extremely rare infection and has reached a stable incidence rate, but its high mortality rate and the lack of an optimal management protocol have raised increasing interest in this mycosis. METHODS: We present three cases of DF produced by Fusarium oxysporum species complex, Fusarium solani species complex and the highly unusual Fusarium dimerum in patients with advanced hematological malignancies diagnosed in our hospital between 2007 and 2011. The species level identification of the Fusarium isolates was established by sequencing their TEF1 gene. RESULTS: The isolates showed low susceptibility to most of the antifungal agents analyzed, except that observed for F. dimerum to amphotericin B (AmB) and terbinafine, and F. oxysporum species complex to AmB. Interestingly, the strain of F. solani species complex exhibited high MIC values for AmB and voriconazole, notwithstanding these drugs were used for treatment with good results. Other relevant aspects to be considered in the treatment of DF are surgically cleaning foci of infection, withdrawing presumably contaminated catheters and recovery from neutropenia. CONCLUSIONS: The prevention of infection in colonized patients, the maintenance of a high level of diagnostic suspicion for early diagnosis, and the combined, vigorous and prolonged use of L-AmB and voriconazole are essential to decrease the mortality rate of this devastating infection.