Post-transplant cyclophosphamide plus anti-thymocyte globulin decreased serum IL-6 levels when compared with post-transplant cyclophosphamide alone after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background: Post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) and anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) are common prophylactic strategies for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT). Interleukin (IL)-6 is a surrogate marker for cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and acute GVHD.

Method: The clinical outcomes and complications of haplo-HSCT with PTCy plus ATG versus PTCy monotherapy were compared according to serum IL-6 levels at Chungnam National University Hospital (Daejeon, South Korea) from January 2019 to February 2023.

B7H6 is the predominant activating ligand driving natural killer cell-mediated killing in patients with liquid tumours: evidence from clinical, in silico, in vitro, and in vivo studies.

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells are a subset of innate lymphoid cells that are inherently capable of recognizing and killing infected or tumour cells. This has positioned NK cells as a promising live drug for tumour immunotherapy, but limited success suggests incomplete knowledge of their killing mechanism. NK cell-mediated killing involves a complex decision-making process based on integrating activating and inhibitory signals from various ligand-receptor repertoires.

Functional iron deficiency anemia in patients with cancer.

Anemia is frequently observed in patients with cancer owing to anticancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and inflammatory responses. This often leads to functional iron deficiency, characterized by adequate iron stores but impaired use of iron for red blood cell production. This condition, termed functional iron deficiency anemia (IDA), is identified by a ferritin level of 30-500 µg/dL and a transferrin saturation < 50%.

Analysis of CSF3R mutations in atypical chronic myeloid leukemia and other myeloid malignancies.

We report a series of patients with CSF3R-mutant (CSF3R) atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (aCML), chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) or other hematologic malignancies. We included 25 patients: 5 aCML and 4 CNL CSF3R patients; 1 aCML, 2 CNL, and 2 myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm, not otherwise specified patients without CSF3R mutation; and 11 CSF3R patients with other diseases [8 acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 1 chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), 1 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and 1 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)]. Patients with aCML or CNL were tested by Sanger sequencing and pyrosequencing to identify CSF3R T618I.

Enhanced Expression of Glycolytic Enzymes and Succinate Dehydrogenase Complex Flavoprotein Subunit A by Mesothelin Promotes Glycolysis and Mitochondrial Respiration in Myeloblasts of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by rapid growth and uncontrolled proliferation of undifferentiated myeloid cells. Metabolic reprogramming is commonly observed in the bone marrow of AML patients, as leukemia cells require increased ATP supply to support disease progression. In this study, we examined the potential role of mesothelin as a metabolic modulator in myeloid cells in AML.

Real-World Treatment Patterns and Clinical Outcomes in Korean Patients With AML Ineligible for First-Line Intensive Chemotherapy: A Subanalysis of the CURRENT Study, a Non-Interventional, Retrospective Chart Review.

Background: Although most elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy (ICT), treatment options remain limited. CURRENT (UMIN000037786), a real-world, non-interventional, retrospective chart review, evaluated clinical outcomes, clinicopathologic characteristics, and treatment patterns in these patients. We present results from a subanalysis of Korean patients in this study.

Abdominal aortic calcification in patients newly diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia.

Background: Although atherosclerosis is likely to be involved in the development of arterial thrombotic events in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET), abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) has rarely been investigated. We evaluated the prevalence and clinical relevance of AAC at the time of ET diagnosis.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients newly diagnosed with ET who underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) at the time of diagnosis between January 2002 and December 2021 at Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.

Autoimmune Limbic Encephalitis in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies after Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation with Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide.

Autoimmune limbic encephalitis (LE) is a rare, but devastating complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). There is currently limited evidence describing the risk factors, laboratory features, and underlying mechanisms of this neurologic adverse event. We retrospectively reviewed available clinical, imaging, and laboratory data from adult patients with hematological malignancies who underwent haploidentical HSCT with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) at Chungnam National University Hospital from June 2016 to May 2020.

Prognostic value of the mutation types and dynamics of FLT3-ITD in acute myeloid leukemia.

Objective: The prognostic value of the mutation types and dynamics of FLT3-ITD in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other known factors were studied.

Methods: Initial and follow-up samples from 45 AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutations were analyzed by fragment length analysis, Sanger sequencing, and next-generation sequencing.

Results: Some patients (13%) had multiple FLT3-ITD mutations, and many of them had acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).

Maintenance therapy with Fluoropyrimidine and cetuximab or bevacizumab after first line FOLFOX-chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer according to RAS or BRAF mutation status.

Purpose: Fluoropyrimidine (FP) with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is the standard first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC); however, oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy critically affects the quality of life of patients. Maintenance strategies with FP plus bevacizumab have been well-established; nonetheless, the real-world outcomes of maintenance therapy with FP and cetuximab are unclear. We investigated the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent maintenance therapy with cetuximab.

Efficacy of cisplatin combined with vinorelbine as second- or higher-line palliative chemotherapy in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

The aim of this study was to assess the therapeutic efficacy of a cisplatin and vinorelbine combination as second- or higher-line palliative chemotherapy in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with advanced ovarian cancer who were treated with cisplatin (60 mg/m2 on day 1) and vinorelbine (25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8) every 3 weeks between January 2004 and March 2021. Treatment responses, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed; laboratory data were reviewed to determine toxicity.

Acquired von willebrand syndrome in patients with philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm.

Background: Acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) has not been investigated in Korean patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm.

Methods: This study analyzed the prevalence at diagnosis and clinical features of AVWS in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), prefibrotic/early primary myelofibrosis (pre-PMF), or overt PMF (PMF) diagnosed between January 2019 and December 2021 at Chungam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea. AVWS was defined as below the lower reference limit (56%) of ristocetin cofactor activity (VWF:RCo).

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test With Comorbidity Index Before Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) with comorbidity index as a predictor of overall survival (OS) and non-relapse mortality (NRM) in patients with hematological malignancies who undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive adult patients with hematological malignancies who underwent HLA-matched donor-HSCT at Chungnam National University Hospital (Daejeon, South Korea) between January 2014 and December 2020. Maximal oxygen consumption (VOmax) was classified using the recommendations of the Mayo Clinic database.

Targeting ERRα promotes cytotoxic effects against acute myeloid leukemia through suppressing mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive blood cancer with poor clinical outcomes. Emerging data suggest that mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (mtOXPHOS) plays a significant role in AML tumorigenesis, progression, and resistance to chemotherapies. However, how the mtOXPHOS is regulated in AML cells is not well understood.

Splenic Infarction in Patients with Philadelphia-negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

Objective We retrospectively analyzed the prevalence and clinical features of splenic infarctions in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (Ph MPNs). Patients Patients diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), prefibrotic/early primary myelofibrosis (pre-PMF), or PMF from January 1996 to October 2020 in Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea, were reviewed. Results A total of 347 patients (143 ET, 129 PV, 44 pre-PMF, and 31 PMF patients; 201 men and 146 women) with a median age of 64 (range 15-91) years old were followed up for a median of 4.

The dual role of autophagy in acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a severe hematologic malignancy prevalent in older patients, and the identification of potential therapeutic targets for AML is problematic. Autophagy is a lysosome-dependent catabolic pathway involved in the tumorigenesis and/or treatment of various cancers. Mounting evidence has suggested that autophagy plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of AML and anticancer responses.

Volumetric Splenomegaly in Patients With Polycythemia Vera.

Background: Non-palpable splenomegaly in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) has seldom been addressed. In this retrospective study, we evaluated non-palpable, volumetric splenomegaly defined based on age- and body surface area (BSA)-matched criteria in patients with PV diagnosed according to the 2016 World Health Organization diagnostic criteria.

Methods: Patients with PV who underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) and who had palpable splenomegaly at diagnosis from January 1991 to December 2020 at Chungnam National University Hospital were enrolled.

Myelofibrotic and leukemic transformation in 2016 WHO-defined Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm.

Background: Information on myelofibrotic and leukemic transformations in Korean Philadelphia chromosome- negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (Ph MPNs) is limited.

Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed transformations in patients diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV) prefibrotic/early primary myelofibrosis (pre-PMF), or overt primary myelofibrosis (PMF) based on the 2016 World Health Organization criteria between January 1996 and December 2020 at Chungam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.

Results: A total of 351 patients (144 with ET, 131 with PV, 45 with pre-PMF, and 31 with PMF; 204 men and 147 women) with a median age of 64 years (range, 15‒91 years) were followed for a median of 4.

Pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

Dasatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), induces pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, information on other TKIs is limited.We retrospectively analyzed PH prevalence by reviewing transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) findings in a population of Korean CML patients treated with TKI at a single hospital between 2003 and 2020.

Thrombotic and hemorrhagic events in 2016 World Health Organization-defined Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm.

Background/aims: Recent changes in the diagnostic criteria for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and increasing patient numbers necessitate updating of the data on vascular events in patients with such disorders.

Methods: In this single-center study, thrombotic and hemorrhagic events were retrospectively analyzed in patients diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV) prefibrotic/early primary myelofibrosis (pre-PMF), or PMF, based on the 2016 World Health Organization diagnostic criteria.

Results: Of a total of 335 consecutive patients (139 ET, 42 pre-PMF, 124 PV, and 30 PMF patients; 192 males and 143 females) of median age 64 years (range, 15 to 91), 112 (33.

Volumetric splenomegaly in patients with essential thrombocythemia and prefibrotic/early primary myelofibrosis.

Non-palpable, volumetric splenomegaly at diagnosis was evaluated using computed tomography in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and prefibrotic/early primary myelofibrosis (pre-PMF) based on 2016 World Health Organization guidelines. Each patient's spleen volume was adjusted for their age and body surface area. The degree of splenomegaly was classified as no, borderline volumetric, overt volumetric, or palpable splenomegaly.

Impact of pre-transplant use of antibiotics on the graft-versus-host disease in adult patients with hematological malignancies.

Objectives: Changes in fecal microbiota affect the incidence and extent of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Most patients with hematological malignancies receive antibiotics for the treatment of febrile neutropenia prior to allogeneic HSCT, and pre-transplant use of antibiotics may influence the fecal microbiota and GVHD.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed consecutive adult patients with hematological malignancies who received allogeneic HSCT at Chungnam National University Hospital between 2007 and 2018.