0000000000033890

AUTHOR

Lothar Kanz

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Versus Tandem High-Dose Melphalan for Front-Line Treatment of Deletion 13q14 Myeloma – An Interim Analysis of the German DSMM V Trial.

Abstract Abstract 51 Background Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo SCT), a treatment modality based on transfer of immunocompetent donor lymphocytes offers curative potential to subjects with a variety of hematological cancers. In multiple myeloma (MM), high-dose melphalan followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (auto SCT) is adopted as a standard of care. However, it remains palliative since virtually all patients (pts) relapse and renders allo SCT an option of interest. Deletion of chromosome 13q14 (13q-) in MM has been shown to negatively impact prognosis. Therefore, improvement of therapy for 13q- pts is highly desirable. Patients and methods A prospective two-arm multi…

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Steady-state neutrophil homeostasis is dependent on TLR4/TRIF signaling

Polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes (neutrophils) are tightly controlled by an incompletely understood homeostatic feedback loop adjusting the marrow's supply to peripheral needs. Although it has long been known that marrow cellularity is inversely correlated with G-CSF levels, the mechanism linking peripheral clearance to production remains unknown. Herein, the feedback response to antibody induced neutropenia is characterized to consist of G-CSF–dependent shifts of marrow hematopoietic progenitor populations including expansion of the lin-/Sca-1/c-kit (LSK) and granulocyte macrophage progenitor (GMP) compartments at the expense of thrombopoietic and red cell precursors. Evidence is …

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Phase II study of bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone as induction therapy in multiple myeloma: DSMM XI trial.

Summary We assessed the safety and efficacy of bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (VCD) induction therapy in previously untreated multiple myeloma patients. A total of 414 patients received three 21-day cycles of VCD prior to autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). Most common grade ≥3 adverse events were leucopenia (31·4%) and thrombocytopenia (6·8%). The overall response rate (ORR) by investigator-based assessment was 85·4%. Most patients (74%) underwent successful central laboratory-based molecular cytogenetic analysis. No clinically relevant differences in ORR post-induction were seen between patients with or without high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (86·2% vs. 84·3%)…

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Human GITR Ligand Is Expressed on Tumor Cells and Reduces Cytokine Production and Cellular Cytotoxicity of NK Cells Identified to Express GITR.

Abstract Members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily mediate multiple cellular functions including cellular proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. Human Glucocorticoid-induced TNF Receptor (GITR) has been shown to be expressed on T cells, is upregulated following activation and mediates costimulatory signals. The human GITR ligand (GITRL) has been reported to be expressed on antigen presenting cells and various healthy nonlymphoid tissues including small intestine, ovary, testis, kidney and endothelial cells. We analyzed multiple tumor cell lines of hematopoietic and epithelial origin as well as of germ cell lineage and various gliomas by RT-PCR and FACS analysis. Both G…

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Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Cells Secrete Granulopoietic Cytokines upon Danger Signaling

Abstract Granulopoietic homeostasis is regulated at steady-state to supply sufficient numbers of pooled and circulating neutrophils to maintain barrier function against commensal flora. In addition, upon pathogenic microbial challenge, an increased formation of neutrophils is induced, termed ‘emergency granulopoiesis’. Antibody-mediated reduction of neutrophil numbers in steady-state induces a feedback loop leading to an increase of bone marrow granulopoiesis with expansion of hematopoetic stem and progenitor cells. This feedback loop was demonstrated to depend on TLR4 and TRIF, but not MyD88 signaling (Bugl et al. Blood 2013). In contrast, emergency granulopoiesis was shown to be dependent…

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Bispecific T-Cell Engager (BiTE) Antibody Construct Blinatumomab for the Treatment of Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma : Final Results From a Phase I Study

Purpose Blinatumomab is a CD19/CD3 BiTE (bispecific T-cell engager) antibody construct for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome–negative acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia. We evaluated blinatumomab in relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Patients and Methods This 3 + 3 design, phase I dose-escalation study determined adverse events and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of continuous intravenous infusion blinatumomab in patients with relapsed/refractory NHL. Blinatumomab was administered over 4 or 8 weeks at seven different dose levels (0.5 to 90 μg/m2/day). End points were incidence of adverse events, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and overall response rate. Results B…

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A phase I study of oral uracil-ftorafur plus folinic acid in combination with weekly paclitaxel in patients with solid tumors.

Ftorafur is an orally available prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Its combination with uracil in a molar ratio of 1:4 (UFT) increases the 5-FU concentration in tumor cells compared with ftorafur alone. Paclitaxel has a broad spectrum of activity against solid tumors and synergic effects with UFT have been demonstrated in vitro. A phase I study was performed to determine the maximum tolerated dose of the combination of UFT and paclitaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors.UFT and folinic acid were applied at 300 mg/m2/day and 90 mg/day, respectively, on days 1-28, repeated on day 36. Paclitaxel was applied on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of each cycle. The starting dose of paclitaxel was 50 mg/m…

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