Therapeutic plasma exchange as an intervention for gemtuzumab ozogamicin impaired hemoglobin scavenging: A case and systematic review.

Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) is a CD33 monoclonal antibody-drug conjugate currently in use to treat myeloid malignancies. A unique adverse effect of this medication is destruction of CD33 positive macrophages resulting in reduced clearance of free hemoglobin leading to grossly red plasma. This build-up of free hemoglobin can potentially lead to end organ damage and prevent performance of clinically necessary laboratory evaluation.

Bartonella henselae Infection and Lymphadenopathy in a Patient With T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Patients undergoing therapy for T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia are at risk of infections during their treatment course. Cat scratch disease caused by Bartonella hensalae can masquerade as leukemic relapse and cause systemic infection. Obtaining a thorough exposure history may aid clinicians in making the diagnosis.

Identification and targeting of protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7) as an immunotherapy candidate for neuroblastoma.

GD2-targeting immunotherapies have improved survival in children with neuroblastoma, yet on-target, off-tumor toxicities can occur and a subset of patients cease to respond. The majority of neuroblastoma patients who receive immunotherapy have been previously treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy, making it paramount to identify neuroblastoma-specific antigens that remain stable throughout standard treatment. Cell surface glycoproteomics performed on human-derived neuroblastoma tumors in mice following chemotherapy treatment identified protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7) to be abundantly expressed.

A phase 1 study of simvastatin in combination with topotecan and cyclophosphamide in pediatric patients with relapsed and/or refractory solid and CNS tumors.

Background: 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) can inhibit tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, and restore apoptosis in preclinical pediatric solid tumor models. We conducted a phase 1 trial to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of simvastatin with topotecan and cyclophosphamide in children with relapsed/refractory solid and central nervous system (CNS) tumors.

Methods: Simvastatin was administered orally twice daily on days 1-21, with topotecan and cyclophosphamide intravenously on days 1-5 of a 21-day cycle.

A single-center retrospective review of pediatric cases of progressive transformation of germinal centers.

Background: Progressive transformation of germinal centers (PTGC) is a rare diagnosis characterized by asymptomatic lymph node enlargement. It has previously been associated with lymphoma, autoimmune conditions, and lymphoproliferative diseases in small pediatric case series.

Procedures: We conducted a single-center retrospective review of pediatric cases of PTGC diagnosed at our institution by hematopathologists from 2000 to 2020.