Molecular measurable residual disease by immunoglobulin gene rearrangements on circulating tumor DNA predicts outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

In diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treatment response relies on imaging. We investigated the potential value of molecular measurable residual disease (MRD) on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to predict patient outcomes. We retrospectively evaluated 73 patients.

Secondary Prophylaxis of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) with Low Dose Apixaban or Rivaroxaban: Results from a Patient Population with More than 2 Years of Median Follow-up.

Background: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are widely used for the treatment and secondary prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Nowadays, DOACs represent the gold standard for long-term anticoagulation, with low-intensity DOACs administration becoming increasingly used worldwide in such scenario. Albeit low-intensity apixaban and rivaroxaban are approved for clinical usage as secondary VTE prophylaxis, there are few literature data regarding their efficacy and safety with a long follow-up.

Whole body MRI with Diffusion Weighted Imaging versus 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/CT in the staging of lymphomas.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic performance of Whole Body (WB)-MRI in comparison with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/CT (18F-FDG-PET/CT) in lymphoma staging and to assess whether quantitative metabolic parameters from 18F-FDG-PET/CT and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values are related.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with a histologically proven primary nodal lymphoma to  undergo 18F-FDG-PET/CT and WB-MRI, both performed within 15 days one from the other, either before starting treatment (baseline) or during treatment (interim). Positive and negative predictive values of WB-MRI for the identification of nodal and extra-nodal disease were measured.

Research Topic: Measurable Residual Disease in Hematologic Malignancies. Can digital droplet PCR improve measurable residual disease monitoring in chronic lymphoid malignancies?

Minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD) monitoring is progressively changing the management of hematologic malignancies. The possibility of detecting the persistence/reappearance of disease in patients in apparent clinical remission offers a refined risk stratification and a treatment decision making tool. Several molecular techniques are employed to monitor MRD, from conventional real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) to next generation sequencing and digital droplet PCR (ddPCR), in different tissues or compartments through the detection of fusion genes, immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene rearrangements or disease-specific mutations.

Benefits and Safety of Empiric Antibiotic Treatment Active Against KPC- in Febrile Neutropenic Patients with Acute Leukemia Who are Colonized with KPC-. A 7-Years Retrospective Observational Cohort Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the benefits and safety of the empiric antibiotic treatment (EAT) active against KPC- in febrile neutropenic patients with acute leukaemia (AL) who are colonised by KPC-

Patients And Methods: A 7-year (2013-2019) retrospective observational cohort study was conducted at the Haematology, Sapienza Rome University (Italy) on 94 febrile neutropenia episodes (FNE) in AL patients KPC- carriers treated with active EAT.

Results: Eighty-two (87%) FNE were empirically treated with antibiotic combinations [38 colistin-based and 44 ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZAVI)-based], 12 with CAZAVI monotherapy. Successful outcomes were observed in 88/94 (94%) FNE, 46/49 (94%) microbiologically documented infections, and 24/27 (89%) gram-negative bloodstream infections (GNB-BSI).

Impact of anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies in the management of patients with lymphoma and COVID19: A retrospective study.

COVID19 in patients affected by lymphoma represents an important challenge because of the higher mortality rate. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies (anti-S MoAbs) appear promising in this setting. We report a monocentric retrospective study including 176 patients affected by lymphoma which developed SARS-CoV-2 infection since the start of COVID19 pandemic.

Lymphadenopathies before and during the Pandemic COVID-19: Increasing Incidence of Metastases from Solid Tumors.

Since December 2019, the world has experienced a pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, a virus which spread throughout the world. Anti-COVID19 measures were applied to limit the spread of the infection, affecting normal clinical practice. In 2020, studies on the possible impact of the pandemic considering the screening programs for early diagnosis of cancer were conducted, resulting in a prediction of delayed diagnosis of cancer.

Asciminib in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Despite the fact that, in the last years, life expectancy of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients has reached that of the normal population, a significant proportion of CML patients is likely to fail treatment with first- or second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Failure to first-line treatment is commonly due to molecular resistance or unbearable toxicity. New specific compounds are tested in this setting to fulfill this unmet clinical need in CML; of these, asciminib has shown efficacy based on allosteric inhibition which allows to overcome resistance and off-target toxicity.

Direct oral anticoagulants for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with hematologic malignancies.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in patients with cancer due to both the proinflammatory effect of neoplastic cells and to cardiotoxicity of anti-tumor therapies. Anticoagulation is still challenging in cancer patients due to increased bleeding risk related to specific neoplasms such us hematologic malignancies. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in AF patients affected by hematologic neoplasms.

Novel therapeutic agents for myelofibrosis after failure or suboptimal response to JAK2 inhbitors.

Purpose Of Review: JAK2 inhibitors have changed the therapeutic strategies for the management of primary and secondary myelofibrosis. Ruxolitinib, the first available agent, improved disease-related symptoms, spleen volume, and overall survival compared to conventional chemotherapy. It has been revealed that after 3 years of treatment, about 50% of patients discontinued ruxolitinib for resistance and/or intolerance and should be candidate to a second line of treatment.

Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment.

Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma (EMZL lymphoma) is an indolent B-cell lymphoma with a median age at diagnosis of about 60 years. It accounts for 7-8% of all B-cell lymphomas. It can occur in various extranodal sites, including stomach, lung, ocular adnexa, and skin; furthermore, the disseminated disease can be found in 25-50% of cases.

Secondary prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism with direct oral anticoagulants: comparison between patients with major congenital thrombophilia versus non-thrombophilic patients.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are widely used for the treatment and secondary prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Congenital thrombophilia is a condition that predisposes to a higher incidence of VTE and often requires long-term anticoagulation for secondary prophylaxis. It is less clear the efficacy of DOACs in patients with major thrombophilia.

Reduced transmission of carbapenemase-producing (KPC-KP) in patients with haematological malignancies hospitalized in an Italian hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: During the lockdown that started in Italy on 10 March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic, aggressive procedures were implemented to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission in SARS-CoV-2-negative patients with haematological malignancies. These efforts progressively reduced carbapenemase-producing (KPC-KP) spread among these patients. Here we evaluated the potential effects of measures against COVID-19 that reduced KPC-KP transmission.

High Basal Maximal Standardized Uptake Value (SUV) in Follicular Lymphoma Identifies Patients with a Low Risk of Long-Term Relapse.

Background: Despite that the unfavorable prognostic role of a high Total Metabolic Tumor Volume (TMTV) in Follicular Lymphoma has been demonstrated, the role of SUV alone at baseline PET/CT could have a different prognostic role.

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective observational monocentric cohort study. All patients affected by FL who underwent a basal PET/CT were included.