Prognostic Factors and Outcome of Patients with Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treated with the Hyper-CVAD Regimen: A Retrospective Study.

Aim: The Hyper-CVAD regimen has shown promising results for adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), as designed by the MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). This treatment has resulted in a complete remission rate of 92% and a 5-year overall survival of 38%. However, given the diversity of patient demographics and institutional methods, outcomes may differ between various institutions. This study will compare the outcome of adult ALL patients treated with the Hyper-CVAD regimen in Iran with those obtained in the original series presented at the MDACC. Patients and Method. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the 2-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) and the 2-year overall survival (OS) of 70 ALL patients treated between 2014 and 2019 in the Seyed Al-Shohada Hospital in Isfahan, Iran. Results: In total, 59 ALL patients (84.28%) achieved complete remission (CR). The CR rate had statistical differences by bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and WBC count. The 2-year LFS and OS were 40% and 42%, respectively. There were significant differences in LFS and OS by BMT, myeloid marker, and WBC count. Conclusion: The outcome of the traditional Hyper-CVAD regimen in treating adult ALL was not satisfying. More efficient therapies should be applied for the treatment of adult ALL.

The feasibility of PETHEMA ALL-96 regimen on treatment of patients with acute lymphoid leukemia.

Background: Asparaginase-based treatment regimen for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is considered as feasible, but there is still a lack of data. In this study, considering the results of other regimen that were not optimum in previous studies. Here, we aimed to investigate the feasibility of PETHEMA ALL-96 treatment regimen. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective feasibility study that was performed in 2019-2021 on 13 patients diagnosed with B-cell ALL. Patients were treated by PETHEMA ALL-96 regimen during induction, consolidation, reinduction, and maintenance phases. Patients were followed for 2 years after initiation of PETHEMA ALL-96 regimen for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of all patients were evaluated after 2 years. Results: Data of 11 patients were analyzed. Within 28 days after treatments, all patients (100%) had no blasts in the bone marrow that was considered as complete remission (CR). The CR rate was 100% within 6 months and 12 months and 81.8% within 2 years after the treatments. Evaluation of OS, CR, and DFS regarding 6, 12, and 24 months showed 100% for all items after 6 and 12 months. After 24 months, the CR was 90.9%, the OS was 81.8% and the DFS was 90.9%. None of the patients died during the induction phase and during the 12 months study. No side effects were observed. Conclusion: The PETHEMA ALL-96 had high feasibility and survival rates with no side effects during the study course. It is believed that PETHEMA ALL-96 regimen has beneficial outcomes in young patients with ALL.

Melatonin in the Management of Mood and Sleep Problems Induced by Androgen Deprivation Therapy in Prostate Cancer Patients: A Randomized Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been considered as a mainstay of treatment for advanced prostate cancer. Considering ADT for cancer patients is accompanied with many side effects, such as behavioral and neurologic side effects that adversely affect the quality of life. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of melatonin administration on sleep problems and mood changes induced by ADT in prostate cancer patients. Methods: The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was designed in the oncology-hematology outpatient clinic of Omid Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. After screening by the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), patients were divided into either an intervention group receiving 6 mg melatonin daily for four weeks or an identical placebo. After that, patients were evaluated by the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaires at baseline and after 4-week follow-ups. Results: Forty-three patients, including 21 and 22 patients in melatonin and placebo groups, respectively completed follow-ups period. Melatonin administration significantly improved PSQI scores in four domains of sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep efficacy, and daytime dysfunction. After 4-week melatonin supplementation, the severity of depression and anxiety assessed by BDI and HAM-A questionnaires, respectively, decreased non-statistically significant in both melatonin and placebo groups. Conclusions: In our study, melatonin supplementation ameliorated ADT-induced sleep problems in patients with prostate cancers; however, for more conclusive results, further future large and well-designed clinical studies is warranted.

Management of Febrile Neutropenia: A Description of Clinical and Microbiological Findings by Focusing on Risk Factors and Pitfalls.

OBJECTIVE: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is one of the most serious clinical problems in patients with hematologic malignancies and patients receiving chemotherapy. The present study was implemented to determine precisely how FN is managed in most referral hospitals in Isfahan (Iran) and what are the characteristics of FN patients as well as risk factors associated with FN development. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study performed over a period of 6 months on patients hospitalized in the Hematology-Oncology Center of Omid Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. The information was collected by filling the designed data abstraction form. FINDINGS: A total of 115 oncology patients were admitted with or encountered to FN. This equates to a cumulative incidence of 1.26% of FN cases per 1000 oncology admissions. The average age was 49.5 ± 18.02 years (range 18-85 years), with 42.6% of patients being female. The most frequently prescribed antibiotic agents were meropenem (91.3%) and vancomycin (47.82%) alone or in combination. Empiric antifungal agents initiated in 20.86% of cases, and we could not find any patients who needed to receive antiviral treatment. From all positive cultures, Gram-positive microorganisms were the most found pathogen. Among them, female sex (42.6%) and lymphopenia (26.5%) were the most noted predictors. Neutropenia (81.7%) was the most reported risk factors for serious complications. CONCLUSION: Although our center is university-affiliated, there are still several points, and pitfalls must be considered and revised in the management of FN patients. Obtaining and assessing the samples microbiologically and antibiotic therapy accordingly were the most troublesome complications.

The anti-wasting effects of L-carnitine supplementation on cancer: experimental data and clinical studies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cachexia is a paraneoplastic syndrome that affects the large majority of patients with end-stage cancer. No known therapy exists to effectively overcome the severe symptoms of cachexia, which include anorexia, weight loss and fatigue. This study considered the results of both experimental and clinical studies to evaluate the suitability of L-carnitine and its derivatives as potential therapies for cachexia in patients with cancer. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: All available English-language papers on the use of L-carnitine in patients with cachexia related to cancer, including reviews, case reports, case series, and clinical trials, were obtained by searching multiple databases, including all Elsevier publications, Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Scopus, clinical trials, and the Cochrane database of systematic reviews. RESULTS: The protective effects of L-carnitine were extracted from the literature review based on critical mechanisms involved in skeletal muscle loss, including increased proteolysis, impaired protein synthesis, myonuclear apoptosis, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The results of this process favored L-carnitine supplementation in patients with cancer-related cachexia. Nitrogen balance was improved either through the increase of protein synthesis or by reduction in proteolysis, inhibiting apoptosis or reversing inflammatory processes. CONCLUSIONS: Although clinical studies are inconclusive, studies in animal models support L-carnitine administration to prevent oxidative stress and ameliorate mitochondrial function. L-carnitine supplementation leads to beneficial effects on several critical mechanisms involved in pathologic skeletal muscle loss and improved fatigue-related parameters in patients with cancer. However, more well-designed, double-blinded, randomized clinical trials are necessary to establish L-carnitine supplementation as a therapeutic strategy for cachexia.

Osteonecrosis of the Jaws in Patient Received Bisphosphonates and Sunitinib Separately: A Case Report.

Recently published reports have suggested that antiangiogenic drugs such as sunitinib could potentiate the osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) induced by bisphosphonates (BPs) and even induce this adverse effect per se. We reported a case of ONJ with renal cell carcinoma under sunitinib medication and history of BPs therapy. A 53-year-old man was referred to the oral surgery clinic complaining of painful exposed oral lesion and bone extraction from right lower jaw in the mouth. He underwent nephrectomy followed by 5 months treatment with cycles of 50 mg sunitinib (Sutent®) once a day for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks drug free before lesion exposure in October 2016. However, the patient has encounter to intermittent mucositis and gingivitis in oral cavity several times. Our patient had a history of zoledronic acid (4 mg intravenously two times) administration due to primary cancer misdiagnosis. In our case, no dental procedure contributed to the occurrence of ONJ. The lesion was improved by sunitinib cessation and administration of antibiotics through 2 weeks. Mucosal injury induction as well as inhibition of angiogenic signaling pathways by sunitinib administration may have precipitated the occurrence of ONJ. In addition, a possible synergistic effect by previously BP treatment is another accused.

Change in functional bowel symptoms after prostatectomy: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional bowel disorder that up to 20% of the population is suffering from it. Also benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common problem that approximately 90 percent of men may be affected by this condition until the eighth decade of their life. Prostatectomy as a surgery and pelvic intervention can cause IBS. METHODS: It was a case-control study including 66 patients in 2 case groups and 66 patients in 2 control groups. Case groups were patients who underwent open prostatectomy and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and control groups were patients who were candidate for prostatectomy. RESULTS: Ten patients in case groups and five patients in control groups had IBS. There was no significant difference in IBS between control and case groups (p = 0.117). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first forward study regarding bowel symptom changes following prostatectomy. The main positive finding of this study is that open prostatectomy was followed by significant increase in diarrhea and bowel habit alternation associated with onset of abdominal pain. Specifically the change was found after open operation but not after TURP. Prostatectomy whether in form of open or transurethral may cause onset of abdominal discomfort and bowel habit change.