Evaluation of the prognostic role of tumour-associated macrophages in newly diagnosed classical hodgkin lymphoma and correlation with early FDG-PET assessment

In Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL), about 20% of patients still have relapsed/refractory disease and late toxic effects rate continue to rise with time. 'Early FDG-PET' and tissue macrophage infiltration (TAM) emerged as powerful prognostic predictors. The primary endpoint was to investigate the prognostic role of both early FDG-PET and TAM; the secondary endpoint was to test if early FDG-PET positivity could correlate with high TAM score. A cohort of 200 HL patients was analysed. Induction treatment plan consisted of two to six courses of ABVD and, if indicated, involved field radiation therapy. All patients repeated CT scan and FDG-PET after two cycles and after the completion of therapy. TAM in di…

Differences among young adults, adults and elderly chronic myeloid leukemia patients

Abstract BACKGROUND: The incidence of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) increases with age, but it is unclear how the characteristics of the disease vary with age. In children, where CML is very rare, it presents with more aggressive features, including huge splenomegaly, higher cell count and higher blast cell percentage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To investigate if after childhood the disease maintains or loses these characteristics of aggressiveness, we analyzed 2784 adult patients, at least 18 years old, registered by GIMEMA CML WP over a 40-year period. RESULTS: Young adults (YAs: 18-29 years old) significantly differed from adults (30-59 years old) and elderly patients (at least 60 years old)…

Real-World Management of Myelofibrosis with Ruxolitinib: Initial Analysis of an Italian Observational Study (ROMEI)

Abstract Introduction ROMEI (CINC424AIT04 Ruxolitinib Observational study in Myelofibrosis treated patiEnts in Italy) is a prospective observational study that aims to bridge the knowledge gap between the clinical experience of registration trials and routine patient management by following roughly 200 myelofibrosis (MF) patients (pts) treated with ruxolitinib in everyday clinical practice. Enrollment began in April 2017 and ended in May 2018. Methods The primary endpoint is to evaluate changes in symptoms and quality of life during treatment with ruxolitinib through the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm 10 (MPN-10) disease-specific questionnaire and EuroQoL-5D-5L (EQ-5D-5L) general health questi…

A Retrospective Analysis about Frequency of Monitoring in Italian Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients after Discontinuation

Background: Successful tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) discontinuation has been obtained in some patients (pts) with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML). Careful molecular monitoring after discontinuation is the key to guarantee the safety, in terms of prompt resumption of therapy according to retreatment threshold criteria. It was observed that the majority of relapses usually occur during the first 6 months after TKI discontinuation [Saussele S, Lancet Oncol 2018; Etienne G, JCO 2017], accounting for the monthly quantitative PCR (qPCR) that all prospective protocols included in the trial design at least during the first half-year. Two studies [Kong HJ, Cancer 2017; Shanmugan…

First Interim Analysis of the Italian Dante Study: De-Escalation before Treatment-Free Remission in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treated with First-Line Nilotinib

Abstract Introduction: Treatment-free remission (TFR) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is demonstrated to be achievable and recommended for patients (pts) in sustained deep molecular response (sDMR) who can discontinue tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment and maintain responses in ~50% of cases. While the feasibility and safety of TKI cessation have been largely demonstrated, the strategies of TFR optimization are yet to be clarified. Studies (eg. DESTINY) investigating de-escalation, mainly after imatinib, suggested that a stepwise approach may favor TFR outcome. We present the interim results of the phase 2, prospective, multicenter DANTE study (NCT03874858) evaluating de-escalation…

Low-dose ponatinib is a good option in chronic myeloid leukemia patients intolerant to previous TKIs.

A Retrospective Analysis about Frequency of Monitoring in Italian Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients after Discontinuation.

Successful discontinuation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors has been achieved in patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Careful molecular monitoring after discontinuation warrants safe and prompt resumption of therapy. We retrospectively evaluated how molecular monitoring has been conducted in Italy in a cohort of patients who discontinued tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment per clinical practice. The outcome of these patients has recently been reported&mdash

Gimema Registry of Conception/Pregnancy in Adult Patients Diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Treated with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs)

Abstract The management of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) during pregnancy is a matter of continuous debate. The introduction of the tyrosin kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in clinical practice has dramatically changed the prognosis of CML patients. Patients diagnosed in chronic phase can expect an excellent disease control and a normal lifespan. Issues relating to fertility and pregnancy must be introduced at diagnosis. Different reports were published in patients conceving/getting pregnant during Imatinib treatment, while there are only sporadic data about other TKIs. The GIMEMA CML working party has started a retrospective and prospective study to describe all female pregnancies/m…

Beyond the comfort zone of deep molecular response: discontinuation in major molecular response chronic myeloid leukemia.

Discontinuation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) therapy is now feasible for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with deep and longstanding molecular response (MR 4/4.5); around 40–60%...

Observational study of chronic myeloid leukemia Italian patients who discontinued tyrosine kinase inhibitors in clinical practice.

It is judged safe to discontinue treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in experimental trials on treatment-free remission (TFR). We collected a total of 293 Italian patients with chronic phase CML who discontinued TKI in deep molecular response. Seventy-two percent of patients were on treatment with imatinib, and 28% with second generation TKI at the time of discontinuation. Median duration of treatment with the last TKI was 77 months [Interquartile Range (IQR) 54;111], median duration of deep molecular response was 46 months (IQR 31;74). Duration of treatment with TKI and duration of deep molecular response were shorter with second generation TK…