Thiotepa, busulfan and fludarabine conditioning-regimen is a promising approach for older adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

For acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients, total body irradiation (TBI)- based conditioning regimens are the first choice specially in young population. However, several studies have shown an equivalence in clinical outcomes with thiotepa-based conditioning regimen. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate the outcome of adult ALL patients who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) with a thiotepa-busulfan-fludarabine (TBF) myeloablative conditioning regimen with reduced toxicity. Fifty-five patients received a TBF regimen. The median age of the patients was 51 years (range, 17 to 72.4). Most patients had a diagnosis of B-ALL (93%) with 7% having T-ALL. Two - and 5-year overall survival was 73.2% and 64%, respectively. At 2 years, leukemia-free survival and GVHD-free, relapse-free survival were 59.5% and 57.6%, and at 5 years, 53.4% and 51.8%, respectively. The 5-year non-relapse mortality was 15%. The day 180 cumulative incidence (CI) of grade II-IV acute GVHD and grade III-IV acute GVHD were 38.2% and 5.5%, respectively. At 2 years, the CI of chronic GVHD and extensive chronic GVHD was 16.9% and 1.9%, respectively. Our study results do suggest that using TBF as the conditioning regimen in adult ALL patients is a promising option with acceptable toxicity.

Clinical and biological impact of ATP-binding cassette transporter activity in adult acute myeloid leukemia.

Chemotherapy resistance is the main cause of treatment failure in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and has been related to ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter activity. However, the links between ABC activity, immunophenotype, and molecular AML parameters have been poorly evaluated. Moreover, the prognostic value of ABC activity, when compared to new molecular markers, is unknown. Here we investigated the links between ABC activity, as evaluated by JC-1 +/- cyclosporine A assay, and immunophenotypic, cytogenetic, molecular, and targeted next-generation sequencing features in 361 AML patients. High ABC activity was found in 164 patients and was significantly associated with less proliferating disease, an immature immunophenotype (expression of CD34, HLA-DR, CD117, CD13), and gene mutations defining AML as belonging to secondary-type ontogenic groups. Low ABC activity was associated with more mature myeloid differentiation (CD34-, cyMPO+, CD15+, CD33+) or monocytic commitment (CD64+, CD4+weak, CD14+), with NPM1 mutations, KMT2A rearrangements, and core-binding factor gene fusions, hallmarks of the de novo-type AML ontogeny. ABC activity was one of the major factors we identified using a random forest model for early prediction of AML ontogeny. In the 230 patients evaluated at diagnosis and intensively treated, high ABC activity was a predictive factor for primary resistance, and in multivariate analysis including full molecular data, an independent factor for event-free survival (P=0.0370). JC-1 +/- cyclosporine A assay could be used at diagnosis to predict AML ontogeny and to complete prognosis evaluation in addition to new molecular markers.

Invasive Fungal Rhinosinusitis Due to Co-infection with Mucormycosis and Exserohilum rostratum in a Patient with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Invasive fungal infections remain an important cause of complication and morbidity in the management of acute leukemias. Here we report the case of a 27-year-old patient from French Polynesia who was diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. After induction chemotherapy, she developed rhinosinusitis with extensive bone lysis. The context and clinical presentation quickly made us suspect an invasive mucormycosis infection. However, a multidisciplinary investigation including mass spectrometry techniques also revealed the presence of Exserohilum rostratum, a pathogen member of the genus Exserohilum that is ubiquitous in tropical and subtropical regions but rarely implicated in invasive sinusitis. Antifungal treatment combined with an early surgical approach resulted in a favorable clinical response.

Prognostic impact of early minimal residual disease combined with complete molecular evaluation in acute myeloid leukemia with mutated NPM1: a single center study.

We evaluated prognostic factors in 83 intensively treated adult patients with NPM1 mutated AML. Targeted next-generation sequencing revealed high frequency of co-mutations in epigenetic modifiers or proliferation pathways. NPM1 minimal residual disease (MRD), assessed in bone marrow by specific polymerase chain reaction after one chemotherapy course, was >0.01% in 50 patients considered poor responders (PR). On multivariate analysis, including all variables with a p value <.1 on univariate analysis, age >60, performance status (PS) ≥1, presence of FLT3 mutations, DNMT3A-R882, and PR status, were independently associated with lower leukemia-free survival. Age >60, a previous hematological disease and PR status were independent negative predictive factors for overall survival. In our study, early NPM1 MRD was confirmed as an important prognostic factor. All FLT3 and DNMT3A-R882 mutations have also an independent prognostic value. We support the rational for in-depth investigations for a better approach in patients who achieving a first complete remission.

Stable pulmonary function after haploidentical stem cell transplantation with post-transplant cyclophosphamide: a single center experience.

Prior studies have reported pulmonary function tests (PFT) before and after related and unrelated allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, limited data exist on the evaluation of lung function after haploidentical stem cell transplantation (HAPLO) with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCY). We retrospectively reported the evaluation of PFTs at screening before HAPLO in 80 patients at 100 days and 1 year of follow-up. The proportion of surviving patients with available PFTs at 100 days and 1 year were 86% and 68%, respectively. During the follow-up period, four patients met the criteria for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and two for interstitial lung disease. Overall survival was 73% (95% CI 62-82%) at 2 years. We observed a significant reduction in diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) corrected for the most recent hemoglobin concentration (DLCOc) at 100 days after HAPLO. However, an overall substantial stable pulmonary function was observed at 1 year.

Weak immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with hematologic malignancies.

This study evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of BNT162b2 vaccine in patients with hematological malignancies. Antibodies blocking spike binding to immobilized ACE-2 (NAb) correlated with anti-Spike (S) IgG d42 titers (Spearman r = 0.865, p < 0.0001), and an anti-S IgG d42 level ≥3100 UA/mL was predictive of NAb ≥ 30%, the positivity cutoff for NAb (p < 0.0001). Only 47% of the patients achieved an anti-S IgG d42 level ≥3100 UA/mL after the two BNT162b2 inocula, compared to 87% of healthy controls. In multivariable analysis, male patients, use of B-cell targeting treatment within the last 12 months prior to vaccination, and CD19+ B-cell level <120/uL, were associated with a significantly decreased probability of achieving a protective anti-S IgG level after the second BNT162b2 inoculum. Finally, using the IFN-γ ELISPOT assay, we found a significant increase in T-cell response against the S protein, with 53% of patients having an anti-S IgG-positive ELISPOT after the second BNT162b2 inoculum. There was a correlation between the anti-S ELISPOT response and IgG d42 level (Spearman r = 0.3026, p = 0.012). These findings suggest that vaccination with two BNT162b2 inocula translates into a significant increase in humoral and cellular response in patients with hematological malignancies, but only around half of the patients can likely achieve effective immune protection against COVID-19.

Thiotepa-busulfan-fludarabine as a conditioning regimen for patients with myelofibrosis undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic transplantation: a single center experience.

We assessed the outcomes associated with thiotepa, busulfan and fludarabine (TBF) conditioning regimen in a cohort of 29 consecutive patients allografted for myelofibrosis (MF). The median age was 56 (range 42-70) years. According to the refined Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System (DIPSS-plus), 15 (52%) patients were classified as high risk. Graft source was peripheral blood stem cells in 27 patients. Donor type was HLA-matched related (n = 5), matched unrelated (n = 16), mismatched unrelated (n = 1), and haploidentical (n = 7). All but 2 patients engrafted. The cumulative incidence (CI) of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 21% (95% CI, 10-42) at day 100. The CI of chronic GVHD was 39% (95% CI, 23-65) at 3 years. The median follow-up period was 39 (range 14-60) months. Overall survival was 69% (95% CI, 50-83) at 3 years. No relapse was observed. TBF is a valid conditioning strategy in patients with MF.

Multiple Myeloma Outpatient Transplant Program in the Era of Novel Agents: State-of-the-Art.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the most common indication for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), and outpatient models have been widely developed in this setting. Although numerous studies have demonstrated the safety and feasibility of outpatient ASCT, it is not a routine procedure. Stringent guidelines for patient selection and clinical management, including functional status, caregiver support, and psychological aspects, are essential to identify eligible patients. However, there is still no general agreement on these criteria. Quality of life data are limited and contradictory. There is considerable variability in outpatient transplant models, and there are no randomised studies supporting the use of one over the other. Studies evaluating results in terms of long-term survival, transplant toxicity in comparison with a standard approach are lacking. The procedure is cost-effective within the context of a hospital budget, but an in-depth analysis of the real cost of these programmes has yet to be performed.