High Dose Chemotherapy and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: an Eight-Year Experience

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is commonly used in relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Several trials report the role of ASCT for high risk patients. We evaluated the results and the prognostic factors influencing the therapeutic effects on the patients who were treated with high dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation. We analyzed the data of 40 cases with NHL who underwent ASCT after HDC. Twenty-four patients had high-risk disease, 12 cases sensitive relapse, and two cases resistant relapse or primary refractory each. The median age of patients was 34 years (range, 14-58 years). The median follow-up duration from transplantation was 16 months (range, 0.6-94 months). Estimated overall survival and progression-free survival at 5 years were 40% and 30%, respectively. Poor prognostic factors for survival included older age (≥ 45 years), poor performance status in all patient analysis, and a longer interval between first complete remission and transplantation in high risk patients. In high risk NHL patients, transplantation should be done early after first complete remission to overcome chemo-resistance

Detection and localization of early- and late-stage cancers using platelet RNA

Cancer patients benefit from early tumor detection since treatment outcomes are more favorable for less advanced cancers. Platelets are involved in cancer progression and are considered a promising biosource for cancer detection, as they alter their RNA content upon local and systemic cues. We show that tumor-educated platelet (TEP) RNA-based blood tests enable the detection of 18 cancer types. With 99% specificity in asymptomatic controls, thromboSeq correctly detected the presence of cancer in two-thirds of 1,096 blood samples from stage I–IV cancer patients and in half of 352 stage I–III tumors. Symptomatic controls, including inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, and benign tumors had increased false-positive test results with an average specificity of 78%. Moreover, thromboSeq determined the tumor site of origin in five different tumor types correctly in over 80% of the cancer patients. These results highlight the potential properties of TEP-derived RNA panels to supplement current approaches for blood-based cancer screening

Thrombotic microangiopathy after traumatic brain injury: A case report and review of the literature

Key Clinical Message This case report supports that trauma can rarely cause thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Early recognition is important due to a high mortality of untreated TMA, but diagnosis can be delayed by attributing lab abnormalities as due to blood loss. Abstract Major trauma can provoke coagulopathy, ranging from hypo‐ to hypercoagulation. Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), characterized by hemolytic anemia, renal failure, thrombocytopenia, and intravascular hemolysis, results in bleeding tendency but also microvascular thrombosis. We report a rare case of isolated traumatic brain injury leading to TMA treated with plasmapheresis