Intensive Care Outcomes of Patients after High Dose Chemotherapy and Subsequent Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: A Retrospective, Single Centre Analysis

High dose chemotherapy (HDT) followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is standard of care including a curative treatment option for several cancers. While much is known about the management of patients with allogenic SCT at the intensive care unit (ICU), data regarding incidence, clinical impact, and outcome of critical illness following ASCT are less reported. This study included 256 patients with different cancer entities. Median age was 56 years (interquartile ranges (IQR): 45–64), and 67% were male. One-year survival was 89%; 15 patients (6%) required treatment at the ICU following HDT. The main reason for ICU admission was septic shock (80%) with the predominant focus being the respiratory tract (53%). Three patients died, twelve recovered, and six (40%) were alive at one-year, resulting in an immediate treatment-related mortality of 1.2%. Independent risk factors for ICU admission were age (odds ratio (OR) 1.05; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00–1.09; p = 0.043), duration of aplasia (OR: 1.37; CI: 1.07–1.75; p = 0.013), and Charlson comorbidity score (OR: 1.64; CI: 1.20–2.23; p = 0.002). HDT followed by ASCT performed at an experienced centre is generally associated with a low risk for treatment related mortality. ICU treatment is warranted mainly due to infectious complications and has a strong positive impact on intermediate-term survival

Salvage Chemotherapy with Cisplatin, Ifosfamide, and Paclitaxel in Aggressive Variant of Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Significant progress has been achieved in the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). However, results in patients with aggressive variant prostate cancer (AVPC) have been disappointing. Here, we report retrospectively collected data from intensively pretreated AVPC patients (n = 17; 88.2% visceral metastases; 82% elevation of neuroendocrine markers) treated with salvage chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin, ifosfamide, and paclitaxel (TIP). At the interim analysis, 60% of patients showed radiographic response or stable disease (PFS = 2.5 months; OS = 6 months). In men who responded to chemotherapy, an OS > 15 months was observed. Preclinical analyses confirmed the high activity of the TIP regimen, especially in docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer cells. This effect was primarily mediated by increased cisplatin sensitivity in the emergence of taxane resistance. Proteomic and functional analyses identified a lower DNA repair capacity and cell cycle machinery deficiency to be causative. In contrast, paclitaxel showed inconsistent effects, partially antagonizing cisplatin and ifosfamide in some AVPC models. Consequently, paclitaxel has been excluded from the TIP combination for future patients. In summary, we report for the first time the promising efficacy of TIP as salvage therapy in AVPC. Our preclinical data indicate a pivotal role for cisplatin in overcoming docetaxel resistance