Diagnostic criteria for hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated microangiopathy : results of a consensus process by an International Working Group

There are no widely accepted criteria for the definition of hematopoietic stem cell transplant -associated microangiopathy (TAM). An International Working Group was formed to develop a consensus formulation of criteria for diagnosing clinically significant TAM.The participants proposed a list of candidate criteria, selected those considered necessary, and ranked those considered optional to identify a core set of criteria. Three obligatory criteria and four optional criteria that ranked highest formed a core set. In an appropriateness panel process, the participants scored the diagnosis of 16 patient profiles as appropriate or not appropriate for TAM. Using the experts' ratings on the patient profiles as a gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of 24 candidate definitions of the disorder developed from the core set of criteria were evaluated. A nominal group technique was used to facilitate consensus formation. The definition of TAM with the highest score formed the finalThe Working Group proposes that the diagnosis of TAM requires fulfilment of all of the following criteria: (i)4% schistocytes in blood; (ii) de novo, prolonged or progressive thrombocytopenia (platelet count50 x 109/L or 50% or greater reduction from previous counts); (iii) sudden and persistent increase in lactate dehydrogenase concentration; (iv) decrease in hemoglobin concentration or increased transfusion requirement; and (v) decrease in serum haptoglobin. The sensitivity and specificity of this definition exceed 80%.The Working Group recommends that the presented criteria of TAM be adopted in clinical use, especially in scientific trials

Theoretical study of peculiarities of unstable longitudinal shear crack growth in sub-Rayleigh and supershear regimes

In the paper we present the results of the theoretical study of some fundamental aspects of mode II crack propagation in conventional sub-Rayleigh regime and transition to intersonic regime. It is shown that development of a sub-Rayleigh shear crack is determined in many respects by elastic vortex traveling ahead of the crack tip at a shear wave velocity. Formation of such a vortex helps to better understand the well-known phenomenon of acceleration of a shear crack towards the longitudinal wave velocity. Simulation results have shown that due to self-similarity of shear crack propagation the conditions of sub-Rayleigh to intersonic transition depend on dimensionless material and crack parameters. Two key dimensionless parameters are proposed

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for multiple myeloma in Europe: trends and outcomes over 25 years. A study by the EBMT Chronic Malignancies Working Party

We describe the use and outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for multiple myeloma (MM) in Europe between January 1990 and December 2012. We identified 7333 patients, median age at allo-HSCT was 51 years (range: 18-78), of whom 4539 (62%) were males. We distinguished three groups: (1) allo-HSCT upfront (n=1924), (2) tandem auto-allo-HSCT (n=2004) and (3) allo-HSCT as a second line treatment and beyond (n=3405). Overall, there is a steady increase in numbers of allo-HSCT over the years. Upfront allo-HSCT use increased up to year 2000, followed by a decrease thereafter and represented 12% of allo-HSCTs performed in 2012. Tandem auto-allo-HSCT peaked around year 2004 and contributed to 19% of allo-HSCTs in 2012. Allo-HSCT as salvage after one or two or three autografts was steadily increasing over the last years and represented 69% of allo-HSCTs in 2012. Remarkable heterogeneity in using allo-HSCT was observed among the different European countries. The 5-year survival probabilities from time of allo-HSCT for the three groups after year 2004 were 42%, 54% and 32%, respectively. These results show that the use of allo-HSCT is increasing in Europe, especially as second line treatment and beyond. There is an unmet need for well-designed prospective studies investigating allo-HSCT as salvage therapy for MM

Phase III, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of CC-486 (Oral Azacitidine) in Patients With Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Treatment options are limited for patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS). This phase III, placebo-controlled trial evaluated CC-486 (oral azacitidine), a hypomethylating agent, in patients with International Prognostic Scoring System LR-MDS and RBC transfusion–dependent anemia and thrombocytopenia. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to CC-486 300-mg or placebo for 21 days/28-day cycle. The primary end point was RBC transfusion independence (TI). RESULTS: Two hundred sixteen patients received CC-486 (n = 107) or placebo (n = 109). The median age was 74 years, median platelet count was 25 × 10(9)/L, and absolute neutrophil count was 1.3 × 10(9)/L. In the CC-486 and placebo arms, 31% and 11% of patients, respectively, achieved RBC-TI (P = .0002), with median durations of 11.1 and 5.0 months. Reductions of ≥ 4 RBC units were attained by 42.1% and 30.6% of patients, respectively, with median durations of 10.0 and 2.3 months, and more CC-486 patients had ≥ 1.5 g/dL hemoglobin increases from baseline (23.4% v 4.6%). Platelet hematologic improvement rate was higher with CC-486 (24.3% v 6.5%). Underpowered interim overall survival analysis showed no difference between CC-486 and placebo (median, 17.3 v 16.2 months; P = .96). Low-grade GI events were the most common adverse events in both arms. In the CC-486 and placebo arms, 90% and 73% of patients experienced a grade 3-4 adverse event. Overall death rate was similar between arms, but there was an imbalance in deaths during the first 56 days (CC-486, n = 16; placebo, n = 6), most related to infections; the median pretreatment absolute neutrophil count for the 16 CC-486 patients was 0.57 × 10(9)/L. CONCLUSION: CC-486 significantly improved RBC-TI rate and induced durable bilineage improvements in patients with LR-MDS and high-risk disease features. More early deaths occurred in the CC-486 arm, most related to infections in patients with significant pretreatment neutropenia. Further evaluation of CC-486 in MDS is needed

Phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of CC-486 (oral azacitidine) in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes

Purpose: Treatment options are limited for patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS). This phase III, placebo-controlled trial evaluated CC-486 (oral azacitidine), a hypomethylating agent, in patients with International Prognostic Scoring System LR-MDS and RBC transfusion-dependent anemia and thrombocytopenia. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to CC-486 300-mg or placebo for 21 days/28-day cycle. The primary end point was RBC transfusion independence (TI). Results: Two hundred sixteen patients received CC-486 (n = 107) or placebo (n = 109). The median age was 74 years, median platelet count was 25 × 109/L, and absolute neutrophil count was 1.3 × 109/L. In the CC-486 and placebo arms, 31% and 11% of patients, respectively, achieved RBC-TI (P = .0002), with median durations of 11.1 and 5.0 months. Reductions of ≥ 4 RBC units were attained by 42.1% and 30.6% of patients, respectively, with median durations of 10.0 and 2.3 months, and more CC-486 patients had ≥ 1.5 g/dL hemoglobin increases from baseline (23.4% v 4.6%). Platelet hematologic improvement rate was higher with CC-486 (24.3% v 6.5%). Underpowered interim overall survival analysis showed no difference between CC-486 and placebo (median, 17.3 v 16.2 months; P = .96). Low-grade GI events were the most common adverse events in both arms. In the CC-486 and placebo arms, 90% and 73% of patients experienced a grade 3-4 adverse event. Overall death rate was similar between arms, but there was an imbalance in deaths during the first 56 days (CC-486, n = 16; placebo, n = 6), most related to infections; the median pretreatment absolute neutrophil count for the 16 CC-486 patients was 0.57 × 109/L. Conclusion: CC-486 significantly improved RBC-TI rate and induced durable bilineage improvements in patients with LR-MDS and high-risk disease features. More early deaths occurred in the CC-486 arm, most related to infections in patients with significant pretreatment neutropenia. Further evaluation of CC-486 in MDS is needed