Allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation for therapy-related myeloid neoplasms arising following treatment for lymphoma: a retrospective study on behalf of the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the EBMT.

Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN), either myelodysplastic neoplasms (t-MDS) or acute myeloid leukemias (t-AML), have a poor prognosis and allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) represents the only curative option. In this multicenter, registry-based study, we analyzed outcomes of 378 patients undergoing first allo-HCT between 2006-2017 for t-MN arising secondary to lymphoma treatment. Median age was 58 years at allo-HCT; 222 (59%) had a diagnosis of t-MDS and 156 (41%) of t-AML, respectively. At the time of allo-HCT, 46% of t-MN cases were reported as in complete remission (CR) and 15% of lymphomas were recorded as not in remission. A reduced intensity conditioning regimen was used in 70% of cases. For the entire cohort, 5-year OS, and t-MN PFS, relapse incidence and NRM were 32%, 28%, 35% and 37%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, undergoing allo-HCT with t-MN not in CR and older age were associated with significantly worse OS, PFS and NRM. At 5 years post allo-HCT, the relapse incidence of lymphoma was low at 3%, while the rate of secondary malignancies was 8%. This analysis shows the curative potential of allo-HCT for patients with t-MN arising secondary to lymphoma treatment in approximately a third of patients.

Outcomes of CMML patients undergoing allo-HCT are significantly worse compared to MDS-a study of the CMWP of the EBMT.

Although CMML since long has been separated from MDS, many studies continue to evaluate the outcomes of both diseases after hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) together. Data evaluating outcomes of a large CMML cohort after allo-HCT compared to MDS are limited. We aim to compare outcomes of CMML to MDS patients who underwent allo-HCT between 2010 and 2018. Patients ≥18 years with CMML and MDS undergoing allo-HCT reported to the EBMT registry were analyzed. Progression to AML before allo-HCT was an exclusion criterion. Overall survival (OS), progression/relapse-free survival (PFS), relapse incidence (including progression) (REL), and non-relapse mortality (NRM) were evaluated in univariable and multivariable (MVA) Cox proportional hazard models including interaction terms between disease and confounders. In total, 10832 patients who underwent allo-HCT were included in the study, there were a total of 1466 CMML, and 9366 MDS. The median age at time of allo-HCT in CMML (median 60.5, IQR 54.3-65.2 years) was significantly higher than in the MDS cohort (median 58.8, IQR 50.2-64.5 years; p < .001). A significantly higher percentage of CMML patients were male (69.4%) compared to MDS (61.2%; p < .001). There were no clinically meaningful differences in the distribution of Karnofsky score, Sorror HCT-CI score at allo-HCT, and donor type, between the CMML and MDS patients. RIC platforms were utilized in 63.9% of CMML allo-HCT, and in 61.4% of MDS patients (p = .08). In univariable analyses, we found that OS, PFS, and REL were significantly worse in CMML when compared with MDS (all p < .0001), whereas no significant difference was observed in NRM (p = .77). In multivariable analyses, the HR comparing MDS versus CMML for OS was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.74-0.88, p < .001), PFS 0.76 (95% CI 0.70-0.82, p < .001), relapse 0.66 (95% CI 0.59-0.74, p < .001), and NRM 0.87 (95% CI 0.78-0.98, p = .02), respectively. The association between baseline variables and outcome was found to be similar in MDS and CMML (all interaction p > .05) except for a decreasing trend over time of the risk of relapse in CMML (HR allo-HCT per year later 0.94, 95% CI 0.90-0.98), whereas no such trend was observed in MDS (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.98-1.02). The poor outcome observed for CMML could be related to variables not measured in this study or to factors inherent to the disease itself. This study demonstrates that outcomes of CMML patients after allo-HCT are significantly worse compared to MDS. The results of this study may contribute to future recommendations for allo-HCT in CMML patients.

Measuring objective physical activity in people with chronic low back pain using accelerometers: a scoping review.

Purpose: Accelerometers can be used to objectively measure physical activity. They could be offered to people with chronic low back pain (CLBP) who are encouraged to maintain an active lifestyle. The aim of this study was to examine the use of accelerometers in studies of people with CLBP and to synthesize the main results regarding the measurement of objective physical activity. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O'Malley's framework. Relevant studies were collected from 4 electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, CINHAL, Web of Science) between January 2000 and July 2023. Two reviewers independently screened all studies and extracted data. Results: 40 publications out of 810 citations were included for analysis. The use of accelerometers in people with CLBP differed across studies; the duration of measurement, physical activity outcomes and models varied, and several limitations of accelerometry were reported. The main results of objective physical activity measures varied and were sometimes contradictory. Thus, they question the validity of measurement methods and provide the opportunity to discuss the objective physical activity of people with CLBP. Conclusions: Accelerometers have the potential to monitor physical performance in people with CLBP; however, important technical limitations must be overcome.

Comparison of efficacy and toxicity according to etoposide and cytarabine dosing in BEAM conditioning followed by autologous stem cell transplantation in Hodgkin lymphoma.

The combination of carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (BEAM) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a commonly used intensification regimen for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. As etoposide and cytarabine dosing are not defined, we conducted a retrospective, multicenter study, to compare efficacy and toxicity in 130 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma receiving etoposide and cytarabine at either 200 mg/m2/d (n = 50), 400 mg/m2/d (n = 35), or etoposide 200 mg/m2/d and cytarabine 400 mg/m2/d (n = 45). Progression-free survival and overall survival were not associated with the intensity of conditioning. Increased conditioning intensity was associated with longer duration of thrombocytopenia, a higher number of transfused RBC and platelet units and a higher frequency of mucositis, but serious adverse events or infectious complications were not increased. The intensity of BEAM regimen was not associated with survival but with the rate of cytopenia and mucositis advocating for the use of lower dosing in frail patients.

Toxicity Profile According to Etoposide and Cytarabine Dosing in Patients with Lymphoma Receiving Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Following BEAM Conditioning.

High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is part of the treatment strategy for some patients with high-risk lymphoma by improving survival with an acceptable toxicity profile. Although the BEAM (BCNU, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan) intensification regimen is the most used, the optimal dosing for each drug is unclear. Here, we retrospectively compared the outcome of 110 patients receiving higher (400 mg/m2, n = 69) or lower (200 mg/m2, n = 41) etoposide and cytarabine doses in our institution between 2012 and 2019. Patients in the BEAM 200 group experienced less toxicity with reduced fever duration (P < 0.001), number of platelet transfusions (P = 0.008), antibiotic duration (P < 0.001), antifungal therapy (P < 0.001), and mucositis (P < 0.001) whereas length of stay, admission to the intensive care unit, and in-hospital mortality were not different between groups. Progression-free survival (PFS) was non-significantly lower in the BEAM 200 group (36-month PFS, 68% vs. 80%, P = 0.053) whereas OS was similar between the two groups (36-month OS, 87% vs. 91%, respectively, P = 0.12). Albeit a non-significant reduction in PFS, BEAM 200 conditioning intensity was associated with a reduced toxicity profile.

Outcome of patients with newly diagnosed AML admitted to the ICU, including preemptive admission - a multi-center study.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) can lead to life-threatening complications that may require intensive care unit (ICU) management. It has been advocated that early preemptive (ePE) ICU admission, before the onset of organ failure, could benefit some high-risk patients such as those with hyperleukocytosis. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the outcome of newly diagnosed AML patients who required ICU admission in five academic centers with a special focus on patients with an ePE admission strategy, i.e., those transferred to the ICU without any organ failure (modified SOFA score ≤ 2 [omitting thrombocytopenia] and no life-sustaining intervention in the first 24 h following ICU admission) before the start of induction therapy. Between January 2017 and December 2019, 428 patients were included among which 101 were admitted to the ICU. Among patients requiring life-sustaining interventions (n = 83), 18 (22%) died while in the ICU but ICU survivors had the same survival as those not admitted to the ICU. Patients with an ePE admission (n = 18) had more comorbidities and high-risk disease features such as hyperleukocytosis but required no life-sustaining interventions while in the ICU. In a subgroup analysis of patients with hyperleukocytosis ≥ 50 G/l at diagnosis (n = 85), patients not admitted to the ICU and those admitted with an ePE strategy had similar outcomes. This study provides encouraging results about ICU outcome in AML patients during induction therapy but the potential benefit of an ePE strategy must be confirmed prospectively.

JAK inhibition for CD3- CD4+ lymphocytic-variant hypereosinophilic syndrome.

Alternatives are urgently needed in patients with CD3- CD4+ lymphocytic-variant hypereosinophilic syndrome (L-HES) requiring high-level steroids or who are unresponsive and/or intolerant to conventional alternative therapies. We report five L-HES patients (44-66 years) with cutaneous involvement (n = 5) and persistent eosinophilia (n = 3) despite conventional therapies, who successfully received JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib n = 1, ruxolitinib n = 4). JAKi led to complete clinical remission in the first 3 months in all (with prednisone withdrawal in four). Absolute eosinophil counts normalized in cases receiving ruxolitinib, while reduction was partial under tofacitinib. After switch from tofacitinib to ruxolitinib, complete clinical response persisted despite prednisone withdrawal. The clone size remained stable in all patients. After 3-13 months of follow-up, no adverse event was reported. Prospective clinical trials are warranted to examine the use of JAKi in L-HES.

Relationship between comorbidities, mutational profile, and outcome after intensive chemotherapy in patients older than 60 years with acute myeloid leukemia: Assessment of different risk scores.

The aim of this study was to evaluate how comorbidities and molecular landscape relate to outcome in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) aged 60 years or older who received intensive induction therapy. In 91 patients, 323 mutations were identified in 77 genes by next-generation sequencing, with a median of four mutations per patient, with NPM1, FLT3, TET2, and DNMT3A being the most frequently mutated genes. A multistate model identified FLT3, IDH2, RUNX1, and TET2 mutations as associated with a higher likelihood of achieving complete remission while STAG2 mutations were associated with primary refractory disease, and DNMT3A, FLT3, IDH2, and TP53 mutations with mortality after relapse. Ferrara unfitness criteria and performance status were the best predictors of short-term outcome (area under the curve = 82 for 2-month survival for both parameters), whereas genomic classifications better predicted long-term outcome, with the Patel risk stratification performing the best over the 5-year follow-up period (C-index = 0.63 for event-free and overall survival). We show that most genomic prognostic classifications, mainly used in younger patients, are useful for classifying older patients, but to a lesser extent, because of different mutational profiles. Specific prognostic classifications, incorporating performance status, comorbidities, and cytogenetic/molecular data, should be specifically designed for patients over 60 years.

Impact of central nervous system involvement in adult patients with Philadelphia-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a GRAALL-2005 study.

Whereas the prognosis of adult patients with Philadelphia-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has greatly improved since the advent of pediatric-inspired regimens, the impact of initial central nervous system (CNS) involvement has not been formerly re-evaluated. We report here the outcome of patients with initial CNS involvement included in the pediatric-inspired prospective randomized GRAALL-2005 study. Between 2006 and 2014, 784 adult patients (aged 18-59 years) with newly diagnosed Philadelphia-negative ALL were included, of whom 55 (7%) had CNS involvement. In CNSpositive patients, overall survival was shorter (median 1.9 years vs. not reached, HR=1.8 [1.3-2.6], P<0.001). While there was no statistical difference in cumulative incidence of relapse between CNS+ and CNS- patients (HR=1.5 [0.9-2.5], P=0.11), non-relapse mortality was significantly higher in those with initial CNS disease (HR=2.1 [1.2-3.5], P=0.01). This increase in toxicity was mostly observed in patients randomized to the high-dose cyclophosphamide arm and in those who received allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Exploratory landmark analyses did not show any association between either cranial irradiation or allogeneic stem cell transplantation and outcome. Despite improved outcome in young adult ALL patients with pediatric-inspired protocols, CNS involvement is associated with a worse outcome mainly due to excess toxicity, without improved outcome with allogeneic SCT.

Outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant in patients diagnosed with blast phase of myeloproliferative neoplasms: A retrospective study from the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT) provides the only potential route to long-term remission in patients diagnosed with blast phase transformation of myeloproliferative neoplasm (BP-MPN). We report on a large, retrospective European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry-based study of BP-MPN patients undergoing allo-HCT. BP-MPN patients undergoing first allo-HCT between 2005 and 2019 were included. A total of 663 patients were included. With a median follow-up of 62 months, the estimated 3-year overall survival (OS) was 36% (95% confidence interval [CI], 32-36). Factors associated with lower OS were Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) <90 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.65, p < .001) and active disease at allo-HCT (HR 1.45, p < .001), whereas patients undergoing allo-HCT more recently associated with a higher OS (HR 0.96, p = .008). In a selected patient's population, the 3-year OS of patients undergoing allo-HCT in complete response (CR) and with a KPS ≥90 was 60%. KPS < 90 (HR 1.4, p = .001) and active disease (HR 1.44, p = .0004) were associated with a lower progression-free survival (PFS). Conversely, most recent allo-HCT associated with a higher PFS (HR 0.96, p = .008). Active disease at allo-HCT (HR 1.34, p = .03) was associated with a higher cumulative incidence of relapse (RI) and allo-HCT in earlier calendar years (HR 0.96, p = .02) associated with a lower RI. Last, KPS < 90 (HR 1.91, p < .001), active disease (HR 1.74, p = .003) and allo-HCT from mismatched related donors were associated with a higher non-relapse mortality (HR 2.66, p = .003). In this large series of BP-MPN patients, about one third were alive at 3 years after transplantation. Patients undergoing allo-HCT in the more recent era, with a KPS ≥90 and in CR at transplant had a better prognosis.

Abnormal T-cell phenotype in episodic angioedema with hypereosinophilia (Gleich syndrome): Frequency, clinical implication, and prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Episodic angioedema with eosinophilia (EAE) (Gleich syndrome) is a rare disorder consisting of recurrent episodes of angioedema, hypereosinophilia, and frequent elevated serum IgM level. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter nationwide study regarding the clinical spectrum and therapeutic management of patients with EAE in France. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients with a median age at diagnosis of 41 years (range, 5-84) were included. The median duration of each crisis was 5.5 days (range, 1-90), with swelling affecting mainly the face and the upper limbs. Total serum IgM levels were increased in 20 patients (67%). Abnormal T-cell immunophenotypes were detected in 12 patients (40%), of whom 5 (17%) showed evidence of clonal T-cell receptor gamma locus gene (TRG) rearrangement. The median duration of follow-up was 53 months (range, 31-99). The presence of an abnormal T-cell population was the sole factor associated with a shorter time to flare (hazard ratio, 4.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-14.66; P = .02). At last follow-up, 3 patients (10%) were able to have all treatments withdrawn and 11 (37%) were in clinical and biologic remission with less than 10 mg of prednisone daily. CONCLUSION: EAE is a heterogeneous condition that encompasses several disease forms. Although patients usually respond well to glucocorticoids, those with evidence of abnormal T-cell phenotype have a shorter time to flare.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy after durvalumab treatment for acute myeloid leukemia: A consequence of an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome?

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a fatal demyelinating disease of the central nervous system resulting from the reactivation of the John Cunningham virus (JCV). PML occurs almost exclusively during profound immune suppression but it can also be observed in immunocompromised subjects as part of an inflammatory immune reconstitution syndrome (IRIS) in patients receiving antiviral therapy. We report a case of PML in a 61-year-old patient with acute myeloid leukemia who had developed after discontinuation of durvalumab (anti-PD-L1) therapy initiated after multiple treatments. Results suggest that PML may result from two nonexclusive mechanisms: (i) an inhibition of the protective response of JCV-specific T cells as a consequence of the blockade of the PD1-PDL1 pathway, associated with a lack of compensatory expression of other inhibitory receptors by T cells and (ii) a neuroinflammatory response (PML-IRIS) that may have contributed to virus reactivation.

Comparison of scoring systems evaluating suitability for intensive chemotherapy in adults with acute myeloid leukemia-a Grand Ouest Against Leukemia (GOAL) study.

Several scoring systems have been developed to assess suitability of individual patients for intensive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapy. We sought to compare the performance of these scores in a cohort of 428 consecutive adults with AML who received conventional induction chemotherapy in five academic centers in France. All scoring systems identified a subset of patients with increased 28 and 56-day mortality although the prediction accuracy was overall limited with C-statistics of ranging from 0.61 to 0.71 Overall survival (OS) prediction was more limited and restricted to scoring systems that include AML-related parameters. The outcome of 104 patients (24%) considered unsuitable for intensive chemotherapy based on criteria used in recent randomized trials was similar to that of the other 324 patients (28-day mortality, odds ratio [OR] = 1.88, P = 0.2; 56-day mortality, OR = 1.71, P = 0.21; event-free survival, hazard ratio [HR] = 1.08, P = 0.6; OS, HR = 1.25, P = 0.14) with low discrimination (C-statistic: 0.57, 0.56, 0.50, and 0.52 for 28-day, 56-day mortality, EFS, and OS, respectively). Together, our findings indicate that the accuracy of currently available approaches to identify patients at increased risk of early mortality and shortened survival after intensive AML therapy is relatively limited. Caution regarding the use of available scoring systems should be warranted in clinical decision-making.

Evolution of eligibility criteria for non-transplant randomized controlled trials in adults with acute myeloid leukemia.

Eligibility criteria for clinical trials are intended to select suitable study subjects but can limit trial participation and generalization of results. While reported for other cancers, non-enrollment rates and evolution of eligibility criteria over time have so far not been studied for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Among 3698 studies published between 2010 and 2020, including 447 involving prospective clinical trials, we identified 75 phase three RCTs testing non-transplant therapies for adults with AML. Only 31 studies (41%) provided information on non-enrollment; in these studies, the median non-enrollment rate was 23%, primarily attributed to restrictive eligibility criteria. In 95% of trials, eligibility criteria were reported with the total number per trial increasing over time (P < 0.001), particularly in industry-funded trials. A total of 27 eligibility criteria were used across trials, mostly concerning comorbidities or performance status, with eight of them becoming more common over time. The concordance with recent ASCO - Friends of Cancer Research eligibility criteria recommendations greatly varied, from 35% to 99%. Together, our analyses suggest that the ability to generalize results from non-transplant RCTs may be increasingly limited because of high non-enrollment rates and increasingly restrictive eligibility criteria.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in patients with therapy-related myeloid neoplasm after breast cancer: a study of the Chronic Malignancies Working Party of the EBMT.

We performed a registry study on therapy-related myeloid neoplasm (t-MN), both therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome (t-MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) following treatment for breast cancer who underwent a first allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT). Of 252 identified female patients (median age 57 years), 77% were transplanted for t-AML and 23% for t-MDS, with a median time from breast cancer diagnosis to the diagnosis of tMN and subsequent allo-HCT of 3.7 and 4.6 years, respectively. At transplant, 191 patients were in remission for breast cancer, while 4 were not (57 missing). T-MN was in a complete remission at the time of transplant in 67% of patients. 2-year overall survival, relapse free-survival, relapse incidence and non-relapse mortality were 50%, 45%, 33%, and 22%, respectively. Multivariable analysis revealed that if the t-MN was not in CR pre-transplant, this was associated with lower OS, RFS, and a higher relapse incidence. Seventeen cases of breast cancer recurrence were recorded after a median of 2.4 years post-transplant, and relapse of primary breast cancer accounted for 7% of deaths. This study indicates that allo-HCT for t-MN following treatment for breast cancer shows encouraging transplant outcomes. The incidence of breast cancer relapse post-transplant remains a cause for concern.

Daunorubicin and Its Active Metabolite Pharmacokinetic Profiles in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Patients: A Pharmacokinetic Ancillary Study of the BIG-1 Trial.

Daunorubicin pharmacokinetics (PK) are characterised by an important inter-individual variability, which raises questions about the optimal dose regimen in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia. The aim of the study is to assess the joint daunorubicin/daunorubicinol PK profile and to define an optimal population PK study design. Fourteen patients were enrolled in the PK ancillary study of the BIG-1 trial and 6-8 samples were taken up to 24 h after administration of the first dose of daunorubicin (90 mg/m2/day). Daunorubicin and daunorubicinol quantifications were assessed using a validated liquid chromatography technique coupled with a fluorescence detector method. Data were analysed using a non-compartmental approach and non-linear mixed effects modelling. Optimal sampling strategy was proposed using the R function PFIM. The median daunorubicin and daunorubicinol AUC0-tlast were 577 ng/mL·hr (Range: 375-1167) and 2200 ng/mL·hr (range: 933-4683), respectively. The median metabolic ratio was 0.32 (range: 0.1-0.44). Daunorubicin PK was best described by a three-compartment parent, two-compartment metabolite model, with a double first-order transformation of daunorubicin to metabolite. Body surface area and plasma creatinine had a significant impact on the daunorubicin and daunorubicinol PK. A practical optimal population design has been derived from this model with five sampling times per subject (0.5, 0.75, 2, 9, 24 h) and this can be used for a future population PK study.

Cardiac Effects of BRAF and MEK Inhibitors: Mechanisms and Clinical Management.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The identification of BRAF mutation prompted the development of new class of targeted therapy for treating melanoma: BRAF inhibitors and MEK inhibitors. Cardiovascular events have been reported with these treatments and could counterbalance their long-term maintenance. RECENT FINDINGS: LVEF decrease due to BRAF and MEK inhibitors appears fairly common (10%) but usually not severe, without impact on patient outcomes. To date, no treatment options have been tested to prevent or to treat a decrease of LVEF associated with BRAF and MEK inhibitors. QTc prolongation was observed in 3% and arterial hypertension in 20% during treatment but only one-third of cases required a therapeutic change. BRAF and MEK inhibitors have revolutionized the management and the prognosis of melanoma patients. Cardio-oncology units may be useful for a better care of potential cardiac toxicity and particularly to inappropriately avoid discontinuing BRAF and MEK inhibitors.