Palonosetron compared with ondansetron in pediatric cancer patients: multicycle analysis of a randomized Phase III study

Aim: To investigate across multiple cycles the efficacy and safety of palonosetron in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in pediatric cancer patients receiving highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC/MEC). Patients & methods: Patients were randomly assigned to 10, 20 mu g/kg palonosetron or 3 x 150 mu g/kg ondansetron for up to four cycles of HEC/MEC. Results: In all on-study chemotherapy cycles, complete response rates were higher in patients in the 20 mu g/kg palonosetron group than the ondansetron group. Treatment-emergent adverse events were comparable between the palonosetron 20 mu g/kg and ondansetron groups. Conclusion: Over four cycles of HEC/MEC, 20 mu g/kg palonosetron was an efficacious and safe treatment for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in pediatric cancer patients

Borna disease virus (BDV) circulating immunocomplex positivity in addicted patients in the Czech Republic: a prospective cohort analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Borna disease virus (BDV) is an RNA virus belonging to the family Bornaviridae. Borna disease virus is a neurotropic virus that causes changes in mood, behaviour and cognition. BDV causes persistent infection of the central nervous system. Immune changes lead to activation of infection. Alcohol and drug dependence are associated with immune impairment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We examined the seropositivity of BDV circulating immunocomplexes (CIC) in patients with alcohol and drug dependence and healthy individuals (blood donors). We examined 41 addicted patients for the presence of BDV CIC in the serum by ELISA at the beginning of detoxification, and after eight weeks of abstinence. This is the first such study performed in patients with alcohol and drug dependence.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>BDV CIC positivity was detected in 36.59% of addicted patients on day 0 and in 42.86% on day 56. The control group was 37.3% positive. However, we did not detect higher BDV CIC positivity in addicted patients in comparison with blood donors (p = 0.179). The significantly higher level of BDV CIC was associated with lower levels of GGT (gamma glutamyl transferase) (p = 0.027) and approached statistical significance with the lower age of addicted patients (p = 0.064). We did not find any association between BDV CIC positivity and other anamnestic and demographic characteristics.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In our study addicted patients did not have significantly higher levels of BDV CIC than the control group. The highest levels of BDV CIC were detected in patients with lower levels of GGT and a lower age.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>This study was approved by the ethical committee of the University Hospital Medical Faculty of Charles University in Pilsen, Czech Republic (registration number 303/2001).</p

Treatment and outcome analysis of 639 relapsed non-hodgkin lymphomas in children and adolescents and resulting treatment recommendations

Despite poor survival, controversies remain in the treatment for refractory or relapsed pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r NHL). The current project aimed to collect international experience on the re-induction treatment of r/r NHL, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), risk factors associated with outcome, and to suggest treatment recommendations. Inclusion criteria were (i) refractory disease, disease progression or relapse of any NHL subtype except anaplastic large cell lymphoma, (ii) age < 18 years at initial diagnosis, (iii) diagnosis in/after January 2000. Data from 639 eligible patients were evaluable. The eight-year probability of overall survival was 34 ± 2% with highly significant differences according to NHL subtypes: 28 ± 3% for 254 Burkitt lymphoma/leukemia, 50 ± 6% for 98 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, 57 ± 8% for 41 primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphomas, 27 ± 3% for 177 T-lymphoblastic lymphomas, 52 ± 10% for 34 precursor-B-cell lymphoblastic lymphomas and 30 ± 9% for 35 patients with rare NHL subtypes. Subtype-specific factors associated with survival and treatment recommendations are suggested. There were no survivors without HSCT, except in few very small subgroups. Conclusions: There is an urgent need to further improve survival in r/r NHL. The current study provides the largest real-world series, which underlines the role of HSCT and suggests treatment recommendations. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Clinical characteristics and outcome of pediatric and adolescent patients with follicular lymphoma - The EICNHL and i-BFM study groups experience

This journal suppl. is Special Issue: 4rth International Symposium on Childhood, Adolescent and Young Adult Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma ... 2012BACKGROUND: Follicular lymphoma (FL) rarely occurs in children and adolescents accounting for 2% of all B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Moreover, comprehensive data on clinical, histopathologic and outcome characteristics are scarce. OBJECTIVES/METHODS: The aim of this multinational retrospective study including 13 EICNHL and/or i-BFM study group members was to assess these parameters in a series of 63 patients with FL. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 3:1 and median age was 13 years. Thirty-six suffered from stage I, 19 from stage II, six from stage III and two from stage IV disease. Median serum LDH level was 252 U/l. Ten percent demonstrated grade I/II and 66% grade III histopathology (not available in 24%). Seventy-nine percent had peripheral lymph node involvement. Of 36 stage I patients 30 had a complete resection. Of all 63 patients 44 received any chemotherapy and one rituximab only while 17 underwent a watch and wait strategy. Only one patient relapsed; 4-year pEFS was 94 ± 5%, overall survival 100% after a median follow-up of 2.2 years. CONCLUSIONS: FL in children and adolescents seems to be associated with male gender, >10 years of age, limited stage of disease, low LDH levels and peripheral lymph node involvement. Treatment outcome is excellent.link_to_OA_fulltex