0000000000246695
AUTHOR
Dieter Hoelzer
Salvage Therapy of Adult ALL
In a first study (1986 to 1992) the German Relapsing ALL Study Group (GRALLSG) has treated 67 adult patients with a first relapse of ALL. A first phase of induction consisted of vindesine, daunorubicin, asparaginase, and prednisone, a second phase of high-dose cytosine-arabinoside (Hd ara-C) and VP16. Results: 45 CR, 2 PR, 13 failures, 7 early death. 25 patients received a BMT. 10 had an allogeneic BMT in CR, 5 after another relapse or with refractory disease. Of 10 with autologous BMT 8 have been in 2nd CR. Only 4 of all 67 patients are surviving without relapse: One after unrelated BMT (36+mo), two after autologous BMT in 2nd CR (46+, 64+mo), and one after chemotherapy (61+mo). One patien…
Induction Therapy with Idarubicin, Ara-C, and VP-16, Followed by G-CSF and Maintenance Immunotherapy with Interleukin-2 for High-Risk AML
Aggressive chemotherapy followed by administration of G-CSF and maintenance therapy with interleukin-2 was evaluated in 16 patients with advanced myelodxysplastic syndrome, 47 patients with AML evolving from myelodysplastic syndromes, 3 patients with subacute myeloid leukemia and 5 patients with secondary AML. Median age was 59 years (range: 23 to 76 years). All patients achieving a complete remission (CR) after two induction courses went on to receive two consolidation courses, to be followed by randomization to either high-dose or low-dose IL-2 to evaluate the potential of IL-2 to eliminate residual leukemic cells and to prolong the duration of CR. Patients ≤ age 55 with an HLA identical …
Improved multilineage response of hematopoiesis in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes to a combination therapy with all-trans-retinoic acid, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, erythropoietin and alpha-tocopherol.
Differentiation induction therapy is being tested in myelodysplastic syndromes to ameliorate maturation defects and to restore normal hematopoietic function. To this end, 17 patients (eight with refractory anemia, two with refractory anemia and ring sideroblasts, and seven with refractory anemia and excess of blast cells) were treated with a combination of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), erythropoietin (EPO), and alpha-tocopherol for durations of 8-16 weeks. Absolute neutrophil counts increased in all patients; platelet counts increased in five patients with discontinuation of transfusion needs in two of four transfusion-dependent patients. Sti…
Chemotherapy with Idarubicin, Ara-C,VP-16, Amsacrine, Followed by G-CSF and Maintenance Immunotherapy with Interleukin-2 for Patients with High-Risk Acute Myeloid leukemia: a 3-Years Follow-Up
To improve the complete remission (CR) rate and to prolong CR duration in patients with advanced MDS, AML evolving from MDS, and secondary AML, a phase-III trial of aggressive chemotherapy followed by G-CSF was initiated in January 1992. Pts. achieving a CR were randomized to receive either high-dose or low-dose IL-2 to evaluate the potential of this cytokine to eliminate residual leukemic cells and to prolong the CR duration.
Prospective randomized trial to evaluate two delayed granulocyte colony stimulating factor administration schedules after high-dose cytarabine therapy in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), treatment with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) during remission induction shortens granulocytopenia and may decrease morbidity due to infections. However, the optimal timing of G-CSF administration after chemotherapy is not known. In a prospective randomized multi-center study, adult ALL patients were treated with high-dose ARA-C [HDAC, 3 g/m(2) bid (1 g/m(2) bid for T-ALL) days 1-4] and mitoxantrone (MI 10 mg/m(2) days 3-5). They were randomized to receive recombinant human G-CSF (Lenograstim) 263 micro g/day SC starting either from day 12 (Group 1) or day 17 (Group 2). Fifty-five patients (41 male, 14 female) with a median age of 34 yea…
GM-CSF in a Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial in Therapy of Adult Patients with De Novo Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Despite the fact that 60%–70% of patients with de novo acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) achieve a complete remission (CR) of the disease only about 20%–30% of the patients remain in long term remission and are probably cured [1,2]. These rather disappointing long-term results argue in favor of an even more intensive induction and post-remission therapy. This intention is, however, at time limited by therapy associated toxicity. Especially haematotoxicity seems to be the limiting factor in that patients with profound neutropenia are at high risk of developing fatal infectious complications [3]. In this context haematopoietic growth factors, such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating …
Granulocyte–Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor in the Therapy of Adults with De Novo Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia: An Update of a Double-Blind Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
We investigated whether granulocytemacrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) given concomitantly with chemotherapy (CT) improves the outcome of adults with de novo acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) by increasing the efficacy of CT and reducing infections. CT included cytarabine (ara-C) daunorubicin, and etoposide (DAV) for induction and early consolidation therapy and one cycle with high-dose (patients aged ≤50 years) or intermediate-dose ara-C (patients aged >50 years) /daunorubicin for late consolidation therapy. Eighty patients were randomized after DAV 1 to receive either GM-CSF (Escherichia coli, 250 µg/m2 per day, s.c.) or placebo starting 48 h prior to DAV II and the subsequent co…
Relevance of the Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Specific Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI) On Non-Relapse Related Mortality (NRM) in Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Receiving Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) in First Complete Remission: Results From the GMALL Study Group.
Abstract Abstract 3352 Poster Board III-240 Allogeneic HSCT is established as a potent curative therapy in adult patients with high risk ALL. However, due to transplant-related morbidity and lethality the gains in relapse prevention do not necessarily translate into survival advantages in the overall patient population. Defining the role of allogeneic HSCT in ALL patients in first complete remission (CR1) according to leukemia related risk factors, to transplant related risk factors (e.g. HLA matching, conditioning therapy and immunosuppressive treatment), and to comorbidity related risks, remains a major task for upcoming clinical trials. Several retrospective studies suggest that the HCT-…
Nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation in adults with high-risk ALL may be effective in early but not in advanced disease
The feasibility of nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation (NST) was evaluated in 22 adults with high-risk ALL. 16/22 patients had advanced disease and 11/22 had Ph+ ALL. Eleven patients received NST as first stem cell transplantation (SCT). Eleven patients had relapses after allogeneic or autologous SCT and underwent a salvage NST. 18/22 patients (82%) engrafted after NST. 13/16 patients (81%) with active disease reached complete remission (CR). 11 of 13 patients developed GVHD. After first NST 10/11 patients (91%) engrafted. Six of seven patients with active disease reached CR. Three of five relapsing patients reached subsequent CR after donor lymphocyte infusions, termination of immun…
Aggressive chemotherapy combined with G-CSF and maintenance therapy with interleukin-2 for patients with advanced myelodysplastic syndrome, subacute or secondary acute myeloid leukemia--initial results.
Aggressive chemotherapy of advanced myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) evolving from MDS, subacute AML and secondary AML has usually been associated with low complete remission (CR) rates, a high incidence of early death, and low disease-free survival. We therefore have initiated a phase-III trial of aggressive chemotherapy consisting of idarubicin, cytosine arabinoside, and VP-16 to improve the CR rate. Each chemotherapy cycle is followed by G-CSF to accelerate neutrophil recovery and to reduce the incidence of infections. Until now, 19 patients with high-risk AML have been entered. The CR rate is 47%, with only one death during induction. Patients achieving CR ar…
Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation With Posttransplant Cyclophosphamide Therapy vs Other Donor Transplantations in Adults With Hematologic Cancers A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Question What are the outcomes of haploidentical stem cell transplantation with posttransplant cyclophosphamide therapy compared with other transplant types in adults with hematologic cancers? Findings In this meta-analysis of 30 studies including 22974 patients, the use of haploidentical stem cell transplantation with posttransplant cyclophosphamide therapy appeared to show increased all-cause mortality compared with matched related donors, similar all-cause mortality compared with matched unrelated donors, and reduced all-cause mortality compared with mismatched unrelated donors. Relapse appeared to be increased in lymphoma and similar in acute leukemia compared with matched unrelated don…
Effect of Treatment with rhGM-CSF and Low-Dose Cytosine Arabinoside on Leukemic Blast Cells in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Treatment of patients having myelodysplastic a syndromes (MDS) with approaches such as differentiation induction, single cytostatic agents or supportive care only has, up to now, been rather unsuccessful. Aggressive chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplantation is only suitable for a very small proportion of patients. Thus, there is a need for new therapeutic alternatives.
Intensive chemotherapy with idarubicin, ara-C, etoposide, and m-AMSA followed by immunotherapy with interleukin-2 for myelodysplastic syndromes and high-risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Intensive chemotherapy followed by treatment with interleukin-2 (IL-2) was evaluated in a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial including 18 patients with refractory anemia with excess of blasts in transformation (RAEB-T), 86 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) evolving from myelodysplastic syndromes, and six patients with secondary AML after previous chemotherapy. Median age was 58 years (range: 18-76 years). Forty-nine patients (45%) achieved a complete remission (CR) after two induction cycles with idarubicin, ara-C, and etoposide, 52% of them aged/=60 years and 35% aged60 years (p=0.06). After two consolidation courses, patients were randomized to four cycles of either high-…