Circulating sCD138 and Some Angiogenesis-Involved Cytokines Help to Anticipate the Disease Progression of Early-Stage B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Syndecan-1 (CD138) is a transmembrane heparin sulfate proteoglycan expressed on distinct stages of differentiation of B-lymphoid cells. Its prognostic value in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) has not been evaluated so far. The serum concentration of sCD138 and some angiogenesis-involved cytokines: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basis fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and endostatin were studied in 52 previously untreated patients with B-CLL. We found that bFGF and sCD138 levels were significantly higher in B-CLL patients than in controls. In patients with sCD138 level or endostatin level below the median value the lymphocyte count was higher than in patients with serum level of those cytokines above the median value. In patients with progressive disease bFGF level was significantly higher and sCD138 level significantly lower than in patients with stable one. Moreover, high sCD138 level was associated with longer lymphocyte doubling-free survival, and, on the limit of statistical significance, a high endostatin level was associated with shorter progression-free survival. We conclude that serum sCD138 level is increased in early stage B-CLL patients and may have a positive prognostic value as to the dynamics of the disease

Hematopoietic stem cell mobilization with the reversible CXCR4 receptor inhibitor plerixafor (AMD3100)—Polish compassionate use experience

Recent developments in the field of targeted therapy have led to the discovery of a new drug, plerixafor, that is a specific inhibitor of the CXCR4 receptor. Plerixafor acts in concert with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to increase the number of stem cells circulating in the peripheral blood (PB). Therefore, it has been applied in the field of hematopoietic stem cell mobilization. We analyzed retrospectively data regarding stem cell mobilization with plerixafor in a cohort of 61 patients suffering from multiple myeloma (N = 23), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (N = 20), or Hodgkin’s lymphoma (N = 18). At least one previous mobilization attempt had failed in 83.6% of these patients, whereas 16.4% were predicted to be poor mobilizers. The median number of CD34+ cells in the PB after the first administration of plerixafor was 22/μL (range of 0–121). In total, 85.2% of the patients proceeded to cell collection, and a median of two (range of 0–4) aphereses were performed. A minimum of 2.0 × 106 CD34+ cells per kilogram of the patient’s body weight (cells/kg b.w.) was collected from 65.6% of patients, and the median number of cells collected was 2.67 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg b.w. (0–8.0). Of the patients, 55.7% had already undergone autologous stem cell transplantation, and the median time to neutrophil and platelet reconstitution was 12 and 14 days, respectively. Cases of late graft failure were not observed. We identified the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and previous radiotherapy as independent factors that contributed to failure of mobilization. The current report demonstrates the satisfactory efficacy of plerixafor plus G-CSF for stem cell mobilization in heavily pre-treated poor or predicted poor mobilizers

The effect of lipegfilgrastim on hematopoietic reconstitution and supportive treatment after megachemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies

Megachemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT) is a standard treatment option in patients below 70 years of age with multiple myeloma (MM) as well as with relapsed and refractory lymphomas. Recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF) are commonly used to accelerate bone marrow recovery after chemotherapy and reduce the duration of severe neutropenia. Lipegfilgrastim is a glicopegylated G-CSF with prolonged action registered for adult patients with malignant neoplasms in order to reduce the duration of neutropenia and the incidence of febrile neutropenia (FN). So far, there is not enough data to confirm the effectiveness and safety of this drug in patients with hematological malignancies including those undergoing auto-PBSCT. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of lipegfilgrastim on hematopoietic regeneration and supportive care after auto-PBSCT in patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies. The study population consisted of 30 patients (12 female and 18 male; median age: 50 years ± 13), including 13 patients with MM, 5 with Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and 12 with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (nHL). The median number of transplanted CD34+ cells was 3.96 ± 1.56 × 10^6/kg of body mass. On day +1 after auto-PBSCT, the patients received lipegfilgrastim in a single 6 mg subcutaneous injection. The control group consisted of 32 patients (13 female and 19 male; median age: 50 years ± 6.4), including 13 with MM, 8 with HL and 11 with nHL, who received subcutaneous filgrastim in a dose of 5 μg/kg/day from day +1 after transplantation and continued to an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > 1.5 × 10^9/L. There was no significant difference in the time of regeneration ANC > 0.5 × 10^9/L which was 10.65 ± 1.00 vs. 11.51 ± 2.29 days respectively in the study and control group. Similar observations were noted regarding the duration of febrile neutropenia (2.16 ± 2.22 vs. 1.70 ± 4.17 days; p = 0.998), regeneration of platelets (PLT) > 20 × 10^9/L (12.41 ± 2.41 vs. 13.82 ± 4.48 days; p = 0.233) and demand for transfusion of red blood cells (0.76 ± 1.07 vs. 1.33 ± 2.33 units; p = 0.414) and platelets (11.5 ± 6.9 vs. 19.2 ± 17.7 units; p = 0.08). Different results were observed for the length of hospitalization, which was significantly shorter in the lipegfilgrastim group (16.14 ± 14 vs. 24.46 ± 6.79 days; p = 0.000). Lipegfilgrastim is as effective as filgrastim with regards to the regeneration of the hematopoietic system, duration of febrile neutropenia, demand for transfusion of blood products and significantly reduces hospitalization in patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies after auto-PBSCT

BKV Related Hemorrhagic Cystitis—An Insight into Risk Factors and Later Complications—An Analysis on Behalf of Polish Adult Leukemia Group

BK virus reactivation increases the likelihood of hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT). In this study, we aimed to identify predictive and risk factors associated with the increased occurrence of this condition following HCT. On a group of 124 patients aged ≤71 years old (median 40 years) who underwent HCT, we analyzed sex, age, time from diagnosis to transplantation, type of conditioning, donor’s relationship, age, and sex, the impact of immunosuppression with different drugs, and acute and chronic GVHD, BK viremia and viruria as potential factors increasing the risk of BK-related HC after HCT. HC occurred among 24 patients (24/124; 29.2%). A significant correlation was observed between HC incidences after HCT, BK viremia and viruria, and acute GVHD occurrence. Furthermore, the level of BKV DNA in serum at day +21 (>0.75 × 103) significantly impacted the patients’ survival time. According to our results, the likelihood ratio of BKV-DNA on day +21 in serum is 6.25, indicating that this diagnostic test has the potential to be utilized in a clinical setting. These findings may be used as a voice in the discussion on implementing an optimal preemptive treatment in BKV reactivation after allogeneic HCT