Cyclophosphamide-glucocorticoids versus lenalidomide-dexamethasone as treatment for multiple myeloma at first relapse after autologous stem cell transplantation - a retrospective analysis

ABSTRACT There have been significant improvements in therapeutic options for relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) over the past two decades, with many novel agents including proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, and more recently monoclonal antibodies demonstrating efficacy in this setting. However, there is a paucity of real-world data comparing outcomes seen in patients treated with novel agents as opposed to older agents. We report a historical single center cohort of patients diagnosed with myeloma between the years 1991-2012 in order to explore possible differences in outcomes. A total of 139 patients who underwent stem cell transplantation were included in our study. In our study, 88 patients were treated with cyclophosphamide and steroids alone at relapse whereas 51 patients were treated with Len-Dex. In the multivariate analysis, TTNT was shorter for patients who received Cyclo compared to Len-Dex (HR = 1.74; 95% CI, 1.01-2.99; p = 0.04); however, we could not detect an overall survival benefit (HR = 1.20; 95% CI 0.63-2.29; p = 0.57). Adverse event rates were similar in the two groups. In this retrospective single center analysis, Len-Dex was associated with longer TTNT compared with Cyclo at first relapse following autoSCT in MM; however its effect on overall survival in this setting was less clear.

The impact of multiple myeloma induction therapy on hematopoietic stem cell mobilization and collection: 25-year experience

ABSTRACT While first-line induction therapy for patients with multiple myeloma has changed over the years, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation still plays a significant role, improving both depth of response and progression-free survival of myeloma patients. Our 25-year experience in mobilizing hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells for 472 transplant-eligible myeloma patients was retrospectively reviewed. Patients were stratified according to the remission induction therapy received, and the outcomes were compared among the cohorts that received vincristine, adriamycin and dexamethasone (VAD) (n = 232), bortezomib and dexamethasone (BD) (n = 86), cyclophosphamide, bortezomib and dexamethasone (CyBorD) (n = 82) and other regimens (n = 67). Cyclophosphamide plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was the predominant mobilization regimen given. A greater number of CD34+ cells (9.9 × 10E6/kg, p = 0.026) was collected with less hospital admissions in BD patients (13%, p = 0.001), when compared to those receiving VAD (7.5 × 10E6/kg, 29%), CyBorD (7.6 × 10E6/kg, 19%), or other regimens (7.9 × 10E6/kg, 36%). Induction therapy did not influence the overall rate of unscheduled visits or the length of hospitalization because of complications following mobilization. The myeloma response was not significantly deepened following the cyclophosphamide administered for mobilization. This analysis demonstrates the importance of monitoring the impact of initial treatment on downstream procedures such as stem cell mobilization and collection.

Drug Trafficking; Use; and HIV Risk: The Need for Comprehensive Interventions

The rapid increase in communication and transportation between Africa and other continents as well as the erosion of social fabric attended by poverty; ethnic conflicts; and civil wars has led to increased trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs. Cannabis dominates illicit trade and accounts for as much as 40 of global interdiction. Due to escalating seizures in recent years; the illicit trade in heroin and cocaine has become a concern that has quickly spread from West Africa to include Eastern and Southern Africa in the past 10 years. All regions of Africa are characterized by the use of cannabis; reflecting its entrenched status all over Africa. Most alarming though is the use of heroin; which is now being injected frequently and threatens to reverse the gain made in the prevention of HIV/AIDS. The prevalence of HIV infection and other blood-borne diseases among injection drug users is five to six times that among the general population; calling for urgent intervention among this group. Programs that aim to reduce the drug trafficking in Africa and needle syringe programs as well as medication-assisted treatment (MAT) of heroin dependence while still in their infancy in Africa show promise and need to be scaled up

Recognition of hemophilia A in an elderly patient

Hemophilia A (classic hemophilia) is an hereditary coagulation disorder characterized by the absence, severe deficiency, or defective functioning of plasma coagulation factor VIII. It is inherited in an X-linked recessive manner and occurs almost exclusively in males. The first manifestations of bleeding are usually first noted as a young child since most of the patients with hemophilia A have a profound deficiency of factor VIII (less than 1% of normal value). However, in mild hemophilia (5-25% of normal level of factor VIII) the condition may escape detection with many of the patients developing bleeding only after trauma or surgery. Hemophilia A is the result of a recent genetic mutation in approximately one third of patients, for whom often there is no family history of a bleeding disorder. Here we present an elderly male patient with spontaneous bleeding in an extremity that has coagulation studies consistent with the diagnosis of hemophilia A. Physicians must be aware that mild hemophilia can present in this unusual manner and should consider this possibility in patients that have unexplained bleeding even if there is no clear personal or family history of an hereditary coagulation disorder