Clinical significance of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy.

The aim of the study was to investigate the prognostic significance of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) undergoing definite chemo-radiotherapy (CRT). We included 87 patients with LS-SCLC from South Korea, treated between 2005 and 2019 with definite CRT. ALI was calculated using body mass index, serum albumin, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio. We categorized 38 patients into the high ALI group (ALI ≥ 44.3) and 48 into the low ALI group (ALI < 44.3). Patients in the high ALI group exhibited longer overall survival (OS) than patients in the low ALI group. In multivariate analysis, prophylactic cranial irradiation (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.366, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20-0.66, P = 0.0008), and high ALI (HR = 0.475, 95% CI 0.27-0.84, P = 0.0103) were identified as independent prognostic factors for predicting better OS. Notably, a high ALI score was particularly indicative of longer survival in patients treated with the combination of etoposide and cisplatin. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that a high pretreatment ALI was significantly associated with better OS in patients with LS-SCLC undergoing definite CRT. This suggests that ALI could be a useful tool for predicting prognosis and guiding chemotherapy regimen selections in clinical practice for LS-SCLC.

Needle-in-needle electrochemical sensor for in-vivo monitoring of anticancer drug etoposide.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) serves as a potent tool for adjusting drug concentration within a reasonable range. However, continuous monitoring of anticancer drugs in-vivo presents a significant challenge. Herein, we propose a needle-in-needle electrochemical sensor based on an acupuncture needle electrode, capable of monitoring the anticancer drug etoposide in the peritoneal cavity of living rats. The acupuncture needle was modified with Au nanoparticles and etoposide-templated molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), resulting in high sensitivity and selectivity in the electrochemical detection of etoposide. The modified acupuncture needle (0.16 mm diameter) was anchored inside a syringe needle (1.40 mm diameter), allowing the outer syringe needle to protect the modified materials of the inner acupuncture needle during skin piercing. Due to the unique needle-in-needle design, high stability was obtained during in-vivo etoposide monitoring. Connecting to a smartphone-controlled portable electrochemical workstation, the needle-in-needle sensor offers great convenience in point-of-care TDM. Moreover, the electrode materials on the acupuncture needle were carefully characterized and optimized. Under the optimized conditions, low detection limits and wide linear range were achieved. This work provides new insights into acupuncture needle electrochemical sensors and further expands the feasibility for real-time and in-vivo detection.

Nongestational ovarian choriocarcinoma with bilateral teratoma: A rare case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Trophoblastic neoplasms are often associated with pregnancy, and nongestational trophoblastic neoplasms are extremely rare. Nongestational ovarian choriocarcinoma (NGCO) is a highly aggressive germ cell-derived tumor frequently presenting with early hematogenous metastasis. PATIENT CONCERNS: Herein, we report a case of a 28-year-old unmarried woman with regular menstruation who experienced vaginal bleeding 1 week after her last menstrual cycle. Doppler ultrasound revealed bilateral adnexal masses and elevated serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels. The patient was initially misdiagnosed as presenting an ectopic pregnancy. DIAGNOSIS: The final pathology confirmed an International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA NGCO with bilateral mature teratoma of the ovary. This is an extraordinary instance of ovarian choriocarcinoma which emerged without any prior gestation, and the patient's lack of a history of pregnancy made the diagnosis ignored. INTERVENTIONS: After initial surgery and 1 cycle of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) chemotherapy, a laparoscopic fertility-preserving comprehensive staging surgery was performed. Two cycles of chemotherapy with BEP were administered as supplemental therapy postsurgery, and leuprorelin was administered to protect ovarian function. OUTCOMES: Menstruation resumed 4 months after chemotherapy completion, and tumor indicators were within the normal range. No signs of recurrence were observed at the 36-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: NGCO should be considered if a female patient exhibits irregular vaginal bleeding and masses in the adnexal area. The present case and our literature review also highlighted that fertility-sparing surgery and multidrug chemotherapy are effective methods for treating NGCO.

[L-DEP regimen salvage therapy for refractory primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis triggered by Epstein-Barr virus infection in 4 children].

Objective: To analyze the efficacy and safety of the L-DEP regimen (asparaginase, liposome doxorubicin, etoposide and methylprednisolone) as a salvage therapy for the refractory primary hemophagocytic lymphohistocytosis triggered by Epstein-Barr virus infection (EBV-pHLH) in children. Methods: In this retrospective case study, clinical and laboratory data before and after L-DEP regimen of 4 children diagnosed with EBV-pHLH in Beijing Children's hospital between January 2016 and June 2022 were collected, and the efficacy and safety of L-DEP regimen for the treatment of EBV-pHLH were analyzed. Results: Among 4 patients, there were 3 females and 1 male with the age ranged from 0.8 to 7.0 years. Two of them showed compound heterozygous mutations of PRF1, one with a heterozygous mutation of UNC13D, one homozygous mutation of ITK. Before the L-DEP therapy, all of them had anemia and a soaring level of soluble CD25, 3 patients had neutropenia and thrombopenia, 3 patients had a high level of ferritin, 3 patients had hypofibrinogenemia and 1 patient had hypertriglyceridemia. After receiving 1 or 2 cycles of L-DEP treatment, three achieved remission, including complete remission (1 case) and partial remission (2 cases), and the other one had no remission. The levels of blood cell counts, soluble CD25, triglyceride, fibrinogen and albumin were recovered gradually in 3 patients who got remission. All four patients underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) after L-DEP regimen, and three survived. All patients had no severe chemotherapy related complications. The main side effects were bone marrow suppression, infection and pancreatitis, which recovered after appropriate treatments, apart from one who died from severe infection after urgent HSCT. Conclusion: L-DEP regimen could be served as an effective and safe salvage treatment for refractory pediatric EBV-pHLH, and also provide an opportunity for patients to receive HSCT.

A nationwide phase II study of delayed local treatment for children with high-risk neuroblastoma: The Japan Children's Cancer Group Neuroblastoma Committee Trial JN-H-11.

PURPOSE: Survival rates of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma are unacceptable. A time-intensified treatment strategy with delayed local treatment to control systemic diseases has been developed in Japan. We conducted a nationwide, prospective, single-arm clinical trial with delayed local treatment. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of delayed surgery to increase treatment intensity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-five patients with high-risk neuroblastoma were enrolled in this study between May 2011 and September 2015. Delayed local treatment consisted of five courses of induction chemotherapy (cisplatin, pirarubicin, vincristine, and cyclophosphamide) and myeloablative high-dose chemotherapy (melphalan, etoposide, and carboplatin), followed by local tumor extirpation with surgery and irradiation. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), response rate, adverse events, and surgical complications. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were enrolled, and 64 were evaluable (stage 3, n = 8; stage 4, n = 56). The estimated 3-year PFS and OS rates (95% confidence interval [CI]) were 44.4% [31.8%-56.3%] and 80.7% [68.5%-88.5%], resspectively. The response rate of INRC after completion of the treatment protocol was 66% (42/64; 95% CI: 53%-77%; 23 CR [complete response], 10 VGPR [very good partial response], and nine PR [partial response]). None of the patients died during the protocol treatment or within 30 days of completion. Grade 4 adverse effects, excluding hematological adverse effects, occurred in 48% of patients [31/64; 95% CI: 36%-61%]. Major Surgical complications were observed in 25% of patients [13/51; 95% CI: 14%-40%]. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that delayed local treatment is feasible and shows promising efficacy, suggesting that this treatment should be considered further in a comparative study of high-risk neuroblastoma.

Comparison of two autologous hematopoietic stem cell mobilization strategies in patients with multiple myeloma: CE plus G-CSF versus G-CSF only: A single-center retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Despite recent advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma, high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains an essential therapeutic keystone. As for the stem cell mobilization procedure, different regimens have been established, usually consisting of a cycle of chemotherapy followed by application of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), although febrile neutropenia is a common complication. Following national guidelines, our institution decided to primarily use G-CSF only mobilization during the COVID-19 pandemic to minimize the patients' risk of infection and to reduce the burden on the health system. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this retrospective single-center analysis, the efficacy and safety of G-CSF only mobilization was evaluated and compared to a historic control cohort undergoing chemotherapy-based mobilization by cyclophosphamide and etoposide (CE) plus G-CSF. RESULTS: Although G-CSF only was associated with a higher need for plerixafor administration (p < .0001) and a higher number of apheresis sessions per patient (p = .0002), we were able to collect the target dose of hematopoietic stem cells in the majority of our patients. CE mobilization achieved higher hematopoietic stem cell yields (p = .0015) and shorter apheresis sessions (p < .0001) yet was accompanied by an increased risk of febrile neutropenia (p < .0001). There was no difference in engraftment after ASCT. DISCUSSION: G-CSF only mobilization is a useful option in selected patients with comorbidities and an increased risk of serious infections, especially in the wintertime or in future pandemics.

Real-life study on the use of response adapted therapy in patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma: Results from a multicenter experience.

Few data are known regarding the use of interim positron emission tomography (iPET) after the first two cycles (iPET2) of chemotherapy in treatment-naïve classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) in routine clinical practice, and about the real-life adoption of intensification strategies for iPET positive patients. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study on cHL to investigate the use of iPET in the real-life setting, its prognostic role and outcomes of patients early shifted to intensification. Six hundreds and forty-one patients were enrolled (62% had advanced stage). iPET2 was positive in 89 patients (14%) including 8.7% and 17% early and advanced stage patients, respectively (p = 0.003). Among iPET 2 positive cases treatment was immediately modified in 19 cases; in 14 cases treatment was modified after an additional positive iPET4. Overall 56 iPET2 positive patients never received intensified therapies. Most frequently used intensified therapy was autologous stem cell transplantation followed by BEACOPP. After a median follow-up of 72 months, the 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 82% with iPET2 positive patients showing a worse PFS compared with iPET2 negative cases: 31% versus 85%. Focusing on advanced stage patients with a positive iPET2, the 5-year PFS was 59% for patients shifted to intensified therapy at any time point versus 61% for patients who never received intensified therapy. Our study confirmed the higher curability of naïve cHL patients in a real-world setting, and the prognostic role of iPET2 in this setting. A poor adherence to response-adapted strategy which however did not translate into a difference in patient outcomes.

Six versus four or five cycles of first-line etoposide and platinum-based chemotherapy combined with thoracic radiotherapy in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer: A propensity score-matched analysis of a prospective randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: The recommended treatment for limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) is a combination of thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) and etoposide plus cisplatin (EP) chemotherapy, typically administered over 4-6 cycles. Nonetheless, the optimal duration of chemotherapy is still not determined. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of patients with LS-SCLC who received either 6 cycles or 4-5 cycles of EP chemotherapy combined with TRT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, we utilized data from our prior prospective trial to analyze the outcomes of 265 LS-SCLC patients who received 4-6 courses of EP combined with concurrent accelerated hyperfractionated TRT between 2002 and 2017. Patients were categorized into two groups depending on their number of chemotherapy cycles: 6 or 4-5 cycles. To assess overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), we employed the Kaplan-Meier method after conducting propensity score matching (PSM). RESULTS: Among the 265 LS-SCLC patients, 60 (22.6%) received 6 cycles of EP chemotherapy, while 205 (77.4%) underwent 4-5 cycles. Following PSM (53 patients for each group), the patients in the 6 cycles group exhibited a significant improvement in OS and PFS in comparison to those in the 4-5 cycles group [median OS: 29.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 23.6-53.1 months) vs. 22.7 months (95% CI, 20.8-29.1 months), respectively, p = 0.019; median PFS: 17.9 months (95% CI, 13.7-30.5 months) vs. 12.0 months (95% CI, 9.8-14.2 months), respectively, p = 0.006]. The two-year and five-year OS rates were 60.38% and 29.87% in the 6 cycles group, whereas 47.17% and 15.72% in the 4-5 cycles group, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients diagnosed with LS-SCLC who were treated with EP regimen chemotherapy combined with TRT exhibited notably enhanced survival when administered 6 cycles of chemotherapy, as compared to those who underwent only 4-5 cycles.

Prognostic value of hemogram parameters in osteosarcoma: The French OS2006 experience.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) ratio at diagnosis and early lymphocytes recovery on doxorubicin-based chemotherapy, may impact the outcome in patients with osteosarcoma (OST). This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of hemogram parameters in patients with OST treated with high-dose methotrexate and etoposide/ifosfamide (M-EI) chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the prognostic value of various hemogram parameters at diagnosis and during therapy in a large consecutive cohort of patients with OST included in the French OS2006 trial and treated with M-EI chemotherapy. RESULTS: A total of 164 patients were analyzed. The median age was 14.7 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 11.7-17). Median follow-up was 5.6 years (IQR: 3.3-7.7 years). Three-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 71.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 64%-78%) and 86.4% (95% CI: 80%-91%), respectively. In univariate analysis, blood count parameters at diagnosis and early lymphocyte recovery at Day 14 were not found prognostic of survival outcomes. By contrast, an increase of NLR ratio at Day 1 of the first EI chemotherapy (NLR-W4) was associated with reduced OS in univariate (p = .0044) and multivariate analysis (hazards ratio [HR] = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1-1.5; p = .002), although not with EFS. After adjustment on histological response and metastatic status, an increase of the ratio NLR-W4 of 1 was associated with an increased risk of death of 30%. CONCLUSIONS: We identified NLR-W4 as a potential early biomarker for survival in patients with OST treated with M-EI chemotherapy. Further studies are required to confirm the prognostic value of NLR and better identify immune mechanisms involved in disease surveillance.

Clinical outcomes of etoposide and cytarabine as consolidation in elderly patients with primary CNS lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: A consolidation strategy has not been established for transplant-ineligible elderly patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). In this study, we aimed to retrospectively evaluate the clinical outcomes of etoposide and cytarabine (EA) as consolidation chemotherapy for transplant-ineligible patients with PCNSL following high-dose methotrexate (MTX)-based induction chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2015 and 2021, newly diagnosed transplant-ineligible patients with PCNSL with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were consecutively enrolled. All enrolled patients were over 60 years old and received EA consolidation after achieving a complete or partial response following induction chemotherapy. RESULTS: Of the 85 patients who achieved a complete or partial response to MTX-based induction chemotherapy, 51 received EA consolidation chemotherapy. Among the 25 (49.0%, 25/51) patients in partial remission before EA consolidation, 56% (n = 14) achieved complete remission after EA consolidation. The median overall survival and progression-free survival were 43 and 13 months, respectively. Hematological toxicities were most common, and all patients experienced grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Forty-eight patients experienced febrile neutropenia during consolidation chemotherapy, and 4 patients died owing to treatment-related complications. CONCLUSION: EA consolidation chemotherapy for transplant-ineligible, elderly patients with PCNSL improved response rates but showed a high relapse rate and short progression-free survival. The incidences of treatment-related mortality caused by hematologic toxicities and severe infections were very high, even after dose modification. Therefore, the use of EA consolidation should be reconsidered in elderly patients with PCNSL.

High-Dose Chemotherapy and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Salvage Therapy of Relapsed/Refractory Germ Cell Tumors: A Single-Center Experience.

INTRODUCTION: The optimal management of relapsed/refractory germ cell tumors remains unsettled. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as salvage therapy in patients who progressed after at least one line of cisplatin-based chemotherapy. METHODS: We retrospectively reported the results of 133 patients who underwent HDCT and ASCT as salvage therapy from 2016 to 2021. Patients received 3 cycles of paclitaxel, ifosfomide and cisplatin (TIP) regimen as induction and 1 cycle of carboplatin 700 mg/m2 on days 1-3 plus etoposide 750 mg/m2 on days 1-3, followed by ASCT. Demographic and clinicopathological features of patients, the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) risk group at diagnosis, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels before HDCT, treatment-related complications and survival outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 31 (range 18-62). The median follow-up was 31.1 months (95% CI, 28.9-33.3 months). During the median follow-up period, 74 of the 133 patients were still alive, and 63 of these were in complete remission. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 25.8 months (95% CI, 8.1-43.4 months). The 2-year PFS rate was 50.3% and the 2-year overall survival (OS) rate was 60.8%. Variables that remained statistically significant in multivariable analysis and were associated with poor prognosis were mediastinal primary tumor location, presence of brain metastases, and higher AFP and HCG levels at baseline. CONCLUSION: One course of HDCT and ASCT after induction with TIP is an effective and feasible treatment option for salvage treatment of relapsed/refractory germ cell tumors, with cure rates of up to 60%.

Prognostic significance of body mass index and serum albumin as the indicators of nutritional status in small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Body mass index (BMI) and serum albumin (ALB) level are long-established markers that reflect the nutritional status and eventually the prognosis of cancer patients. The objective of the study was to determine the clinical significance of these factors and specify their roles in outcomes compared with performance status (PS) and weight loss (WL), which are considered the most significant patient-related prognostic factors in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treated with platinum-etoposide-based chemotherapy. METHODS: A total of 378 patients with SCLC were enrolled in the study and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: BMI values were similar by clinical stage, whereas the percentages of the patients with WL, low serum ALB, and particularly poor (≥2) PS were significantly higher in patients with extended disease SCLC (ED-SCLC) compared to those with limited disease SCLC (LD-SCLC). In LD-SCLC, patients with poor PS lived for a significantly shorter time than patients with good PS (HR: 7.791, p = 0.0001); however, BMI (HR: 1.035, p = 0.8), WL (HR: 0.857, p = 0.5), and ALB (HR: 0.743, p = 0.3) had no significant effect on the outcome. In ED-SCLC, PS (HR: 4.257, p = 0.0001), WL (HR: 1.677, p = 0.001), and ALB (HR: 0.680, p = 0.007) had an impact on survival, but BMI did not (HR: 0.791, p = 0.08). In LD-SCLC, the univariate analysis showed that only poor PS was correlated with increased mortality (HR: 7.791, p = 0.0001); yet it lost significance in multivariate analysis. In ED-SCLC, poor PS (HR: 4.257, p = 0.0001), WL (HR: 1.667, p = 0.001), and a low ALB level (HR: 0.680, p = 0.007) were shown to be factors for poor prognosis in the univariate analysis; yet only PS remained significant in multivariate analysis (HR: 2.286, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Even though BMI and serum albumin showed no prognostic value in SCLC patients treated with chemotherapy, PS was found to be the most significant prognostic factor in both LD- and ED-SCLC stages.

Anti-CD30 CAR T cells as consolidation after autologous haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in patients with high-risk CD30+ lymphoma: a phase 1 study.

BACKGROUND: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting CD30 are safe and have promising activity when preceded by lymphodepleting chemotherapy. We aimed to determine the safety of anti-CD30 CAR T cells as consolidation after autologous haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with CD30+ lymphoma at high risk of relapse. METHODS: This phase 1 dose-escalation study was performed at two sites in the USA. Patients aged 3 years and older, with classical Hodgkin lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma with CD30+ disease documented by immunohistochemistry, and a Karnofsky performance score of more than 60% planned for autologous HSCT were eligible if they were considered high risk for relapse as defined by primary refractory disease or relapse within 12 months of initial therapy or extranodal involvement at the start of pre-transplantation salvage therapy. Patients received a single infusion of CAR T cells (2 × 107 CAR T cells per m2, 1 × 108 CAR T cells per m2, or 2 × 108 CAR T cells per m2) as consolidation after trilineage haematopoietic engraftment (defined as absolute neutrophil count ≥500 cells per µL for 3 days, platelet count ≥25 × 109 platelets per L without transfusion for 5 days, and haemoglobin ≥8 g/dL without transfusion for 5 days) following carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (BEAM) and HSCT. The primary endpoint was the determination of the maximum tolerated dose, which was based on the rate of dose-limiting toxicity in patients who received CAR T-cell infusion. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02663297) and enrolment is complete. FINDINGS: Between June 7, 2016, and Nov 30, 2020, 21 patients were enrolled and 18 patients (11 with Hodgkin lymphoma, six with T-cell lymphoma, one with grey zone lymphoma) were infused with anti-CD30 CAR T cells at a median of 22 days (range 16-44) after autologous HSCT. There were no dose-limiting toxicities observed, so the highest dose tested, 2 × 108 CAR T cells per m2, was determined to be the maximum tolerated dose. One patient had grade 1 cytokine release syndrome. The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were lymphopenia (two [11%] of 18) and leukopenia (two [11%] of 18). There were no treatment-related deaths. Two patients developed secondary malignancies approximately 2 years and 2·5 years following treatment (one stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer and one testicular cancer), but these were judged unrelated to treatment. At a median follow-up of 48·2 months (IQR 27·5-60·7) post-infusion, the median progression-free survival for all treated patients (n=18) was 32·3 months (95% CI 4·6 months to not estimable) and the median progression-free survival for treated patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (n=11) has not been reached. The median overall survival for all treated patients has not been reached. INTERPRETATION: Anti-CD30 CAR T-cell infusion as consolidation after BEAM and autologous HSCT is safe, with low rates of toxicity and encouraging preliminary activity in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma at high risk of relapse, highlighting the need for larger studies to confirm these findings. FUNDING: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, University Cancer Research Fund at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Early hematopoietic cell transplantation for familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a regional treatment network in Japan.

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHLH) is a fatal hyperinflammation syndrome arising from the genetic defect of perforin-mediated cytolysis. Curative hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is needed before development of central nervous system (CNS) disease. We studied treatment outcomes of 13 patients (FHLH2 n = 11, FHLH3 n = 2) consecutively diagnosed from 2011 to 2022 by flow cytometric screening for non-myeloablative HCT in a regional treatment network in Kyushu, Japan. One patient with a novel PRF1 variant escaped screening, but all patients with FHLH2 reached diagnosis and 8 of them received HCT until 3 and 9 months of age, respectively. The earliest HCT was conducted 65 days after birth. Three pretransplant deaths occurred in newborns with liver failure at diagnosis. Ten posttransplant patients have remained disease-free, 7 of whom had no neurological involvement. Time from first etoposide infusion to HCT was shorter in patients without CNS disease or bleeding than in patients with those factors (median [range] days: 62 [50-81] vs. 122 [89-209], p = 0.016). Six of 9 unrelated patients had a PRF1 c.1090_1091delCT variant. These results suggest that the critical times to start etoposide and HCT are within 3 months after birth and during etoposide control, respectively. Newborn screening may increase the percentage of disease-free survivors without complications.

Atezolizumab Plus Carboplatin and Etoposide in Patients with Untreated Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Interim Results of the MAURIS Phase IIIb Trial.

BACKGROUND: MAURIS is an Italian multicenter, open-label, phase IIIb ongoing trial, aiming at evaluating the safety and effectiveness of atezolizumab + carboplatin/etoposide in patients with newly diagnosed, extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). The primary objective is the safety evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients received atezolizumab + carboplatin/etoposide Q3W for 4-6 cycles in the induction phase, followed by atezolizumab maintenance Q3W. We presented the interim analysis on safety (referring to the induction phase) and clinical effectiveness, in all patients (N = 154) and in subgroups that received ≤3 (N = 23), 4 (N = 43), and 5-6 cycles (N = 89) of induction. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 10.5 months, 139 patients (90.3%) discontinued treatment. Serious adverse events occurred in 29.9% of patients overall, and the rate was lower in patients with 5-6 cycles (19.1%) than in those with 4 (34.9%) or ≤3 (63.6%) cycles. Immune-mediated adverse events were reported in 14.9%, 15.7%, 11.6%, and 18.2% of patients, overall and by subgroup, respectively. The median overall survival and progression-free survival were 10.7 and 5.5 months, respectively. Overall, 111 patients (71.6%) had a tumor response. CONCLUSIONS: Interim results provide further evidences about safety and efficacy profile of atezolizumab + carboplatin/etoposide treatment in a ES-SCLC patient population closer to that observed in clinical practice. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Eudract No. 2019-001146-17, NCT04028050.

Prognostic differences between carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan (BEAM) and carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan and fludarabine (BEAMF) regimens before autologous stem cell transplantation plus chimeric antigen receptor T therapy in patients with refractory/relapsed B-cell non-Hodgkin-lymphoma.

BACKGROUND AIMS: The combination therapy of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) therapy has been employed to improve outcomes for relapsed or refractory (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin-lymphoma (B-NHL). The widely used conditioning regimen before ASCT plus CART therapy reported in the literature was carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan (BEAM). However, whether adding fludarabine to the BEAM regimen (BEAMF) can improve the survival of patients with R/R B-NHL remains unknown. METHODS: In total, 39 and 19 patients with R/R B-NHL were enrolled to compare clinical outcomes in the BEAM and BEAMF regimens before ASCT plus CD19/22 CART therapy, respectively. RESULTS: The objective response (OR) rates at 3 months to BEAM and BEAMF regimens before ASCT plus CD19/22 CART therapy were 71.8% and 94.7%, respectively (P = 0.093). The BEAMF regimen showed a trend towards a superior duration of response compared with the BEAM regimen (P = 0.09). After a median follow-up of 28 months (range: 0.93-51.9 months), the BEAMF regimen demonstrated superior 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) (89.5% versus 63.9%; P = 0.048) and 2-year overall survival (OS) (100% vs 77.3%; P = 0.035) compared with the BEAM regimen. In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, OR at month 3 (responders) was remarkably correlated with better OS (hazard ratio: 0.112, P = 0.005) compared with OR (non-responders). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with R/R B-NHL, the BEAMF regimen before ASCT plus CD19/22 CART therapy was correlated with superior PFS and OS than the BEAM regimen, and the BEAMF regimen is a promising alternative conditioning regimen for ASCT plus CAR-T therapy.

The Treatment of Burkitt Lymphoma With the Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster Protocol With Rituximab and Consolidative Autologous Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Intensive treatment approaches are required for adult patients with Burkitt lymphoma (BL), although an univocal standard of care still does not exist. The use of frontline autologous stem cells transplantation (ASCT) is debated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2004 and 2020, 50 patients with BL were treated with the Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (BFM). Treatment plan consisted of 3 blocks, A (ifosfamide, vincristine, methotrexate, etoposide, and cytarabine), B (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and doxorubicin), and C (vindesine, methotrexate, etoposide, and cytarabine), each repeated twice, every 28 days. Rituximab was given at day 1 each block. Intrathecal prophylaxis was given once per each block. ASCT was scheduled at the end of the 6 blocks after conditioning. RESULTS: Median age at onset was 38 years (range 16-72); stages III-IV disease was observed in 82% of cases; bulky disease occurred in 44% of the patients, with B-symptoms in 38%. Stem cell harvest was performed in 72% of patients, who all received a subsequent ASCT. The full 6 blocks treatment was completed in 70% of the patients. The overall response rate was 74%, with a complete response rate of 60%. Ten-year overall survival and progression-free survival were 83.7% and 76.0%, respectively, without reaching the median. Ten-year disease-free survival was 80.3%. Grades 3-4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and mucositis were seen in 96%, 60%, 32%, and 24% of patients. Infections occurred in 60% of patients. CONCLUSION: Intensive treatment according to BFM protocol, with rituximab and ASCT, appears feasible, safe, and highly effective in adult patients with BL, as confirmed by long-term survival rates reflecting response maintenance.

Pulmonary lesions in early response assessment in pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma: prevalence and possible implications for initial staging.

BACKGROUND: Disseminated pulmonary involvement in pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (pHL) is indicative of Ann Arbor stage IV disease. During staging, it is necessary to assess for coexistence of non-malignant lung lesions due to infection representing background noise to avoid erroneously upstaging with therapy intensification. OBJECTIVE: This study attempts to describe new lung lesions detected on interim staging computed tomography (CT) scans after two cycles of vincristine, etoposide, prednisolone, doxorubicin in a prospective clinical trial. Based on the hypothesis that these new lung lesions are not part of the underlying malignancy but are epiphenomena, the aim is to analyze their size, number, and pattern to help distinguish true lung metastases from benign lung lesions on initial staging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the EuroNet-PHL-C1 trial re-evaluated the staging and interim lung CT scans of 1,300 pediatric patients with HL. Newly developed lung lesions during chemotherapy were classified according to the current Fleischner glossary of terms for thoracic imaging. Patients with new lung lesions found at early response assessment (ERA) were additionally assessed and compared to response seen in hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes. RESULTS: Of 1,300 patients at ERA, 119 (9.2%) had new pulmonary lesions not originally detectable at diagnosis. The phenomenon occurred regardless of initial lung involvement or whether a patient relapsed. In the latter group, new lung lesions on ERA regressed by the time of relapse staging. New lung lesions on ERA in patients without relapse were detected in 102 (7.8%) patients. Pulmonary nodules were recorded in 72 (5.5%) patients, the majority (97%) being<10 mm. Consolidations, ground-glass opacities, and parenchymal bands were less common. CONCLUSION: New nodules on interim staging are common, mostly measure less than 10 mm in diameter and usually require no further action because they are most likely non-malignant. Since it must be assumed that benign and malignant lung lesions coexist on initial staging, this benign background noise needs to be distinguished from lung metastases to avoid upstaging to stage IV disease. Raising the cut-off size for lung nodules to ≥ 10 mm might achieve the reduction of overtreatment but needs to be further evaluated with survival data. In contrast to the staging criteria of EuroNet-PHL-C1 and C2, our data suggest that the number of lesions present at initial staging may be less important.

Long-time follow-up of patients with untreated peripheral T cell lymphoma following chidamide combined with cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, vindesine, prednisone, and etoposide therapy: a single-center propensity score-matching study

Purpose This is a retrospective, single-center PSM study evaluating the efficacy and safety of chidamide combined with the CHOEP (C-CHOEP) regimen versus the single CHOEP regimen in patients with untreated peripheral T cell lymphomas (PTCL). Patients Patients newly diagnosed with PTCL between January 2015 and June 2021 were recruited, and were 1:1 divided into C-CHOEP and CHOEP groups according to their first-line chemotherapy regimens. The PSM method was used to match the baseline variables to balance the confounding factors. Results A cohort of 33 patients each in the C-CHOEP and CHOEP groups was generated after propensity score-matching (PSM). The complete remission (CR) rates of the C-CHOEP regimen were higher than that of the CHOEP regimen (56.3 vs. 25.8%, p = 0.014), whereas the duration of response of the C-CHOEP group was shorter (median DOR 30 vs. 57 months), resulting in roughly similar progression-free survival (PFS) and (overall survival) OS between the two groups. The responding patients who received chidamide maintenance therapy showed a trend of superior PFS and OS compared with patients who did not receive maintenance therapy. Conclusions The C-CHOEP regimen was well tolerated but failed to show advantages over the CHOEP regimen in patients with untreated PTCL; however, the chidamide maintenance may contribute to a more durable response and stable long-term survival (AU)

EMACO for treatment of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: A multinational multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin D alternating with cyclophosphamide, and vincristine (EMACO) for treatment of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, and for factors independently associated with EMACO resistance and disease-specific death in an international cohort. METHODS: Medical records of GTN patients who received EMACO during 1986-2019 from gestational trophoblastic disease centers from four countries including the USA, Thailand, Hungary, and Brazil, were retrospectively reviewed. Among 335 GTN patients, 266 patients who received EMACO as primary chemotherapy were included in the primary treatment group, and 69 patients who received EMACO after relapse/resistance to single-agent chemotherapy were included in the prior treatment group. RESULTS: Three-quarters (76.1%) of all patients achieved remission, and the survival rate was 89%. The prior treatment group had better outcomes than the primary treatment group relative to remission rate (87.0% vs. 73.3%, p = 0.014) and number of EMACO cycles to achieve remission (3 vs. 6 cycles, p < 0.001). Sustained remission increased to 87.2% in EMACO-resistant patients treated with later-line chemotherapy. Number of metastatic organs ≥2 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.33, p = 0.049) was the only independent predictor of EMACO resistance among overall patients. Interval from index pregnancy ≥7 months (aOR: 4.34, p = 0.001), and pretreatment hCG >100,000 IU/L (aOR: 2.85, p = 0.028) were independent predictors of EMACO resistance in the high-risk subgroup. The only factor independently associated with disease-specific death was EMACO resistance (aOR: 176.04, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: EMACO is an effective treatment for GTN. Number of metastatic organs and EMACO resistance were the independent predictors of EMACO resistance and disease-specific death, respectively.