Reduced Intensity transplantation vs chemotherapy in CR1. A prospective, pseudorandomized study in 50-70 year old AML patients.

The aim of this prospective, international multicenter, pseudorandomized study comparing RICT HCT to standard-of-care chemotherapy in intermediate- or high-risk AML patients 50-70 years using the donor versus no-donor concept. Part 1 included only patients with potential family donors (RD) at the date of HLA-typing of the first potential sibling or CR-date, if later. Part 2 allowed the inclusion of patients without a possible sibling donor using the start of an unrelated donor (URD) search as inclusion date.

Health-related quality of life and quality-adjusted progression free survival for carfilzomib and dexamethasone maintenance following salvage autologous stem-cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma: a randomized phase 2 trial by the Nordic Myeloma Study Group.

Background: Decisions regarding maintenance therapy in patients with multiple myeloma should be based on both treatment efficacy and health-related quality of life (HRQL) consequences. In the CARFI trial, patients with first relapse of multiple myeloma underwent salvage autologous stem cell transplantation (salvage ASCT) before randomization to carfilzomib-dexamethasone maintenance therapy (Kd) or observation. The primary clinical endpoint was time to progression, which was extended by 8 months by Kd.

Carfilzomib and dexamethasone maintenance following salvage ASCT in multiple myeloma: A randomised phase 2 trial by the Nordic Myeloma Study Group.

Objective: We investigated the efficacy and safety of carfilzomib-containing induction before salvage high-dose melphalan with autologous stem-cell transplantation (salvage ASCT) and maintenance with carfilzomib and dexamethasone after salvage ASCT in multiple myeloma.

Methods: This randomised, open-label, phase 2 trial included patients with first relapse of multiple myeloma after upfront ASCT who were re-induced with four cycles of carfilzomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone. Two months after salvage, ASCT patients were randomised to either observation or maintenance therapy with iv carfilzomib 27 → 56 mg/sqm and p.

A Noninterventional, Observational, European Post-Authorization Safety Study of Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Treated With Lenalidomide.

Introduction: Lenalidomide plus dexamethasone is effective and well tolerated in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). In this observational, noninterventional European post-authorization safety study, the safety profile of lenalidomide plus dexamethasone was investigated and compared with that of other agents in the treatment of RRMM in a real-world setting.

Patients And Methods: Patients had received ≥ 1 prior antimyeloma therapy; prior lenalidomide was excluded.

Contactless online characterization of large-area conductive thin films by thermography and induction.

Testing and characterization techniques intended for traditional electronics production are rarely compatible with modern large-area, thin film electronics manufacturing processes such as roll-to-roll fabrication. Online quality monitoring of conductive thin films is necessary for upscaling and maintaining high-yield production. Thermography has already shown its usefulness in these kinds of applications, but has suffered from the lack of proper non-contact electrical heating.

Real-world treatment outcomes in multiple myeloma: Multicenter registry results from Finland 2009-2013.

Unlabelled: Outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have improved with the advent of novel therapies, however, real-world evidence of outcomes in clinical practice is scarce. We conducted a multi-center registry study to build a reliable picture of treatment and patient outcomes in Finland. The aim of this study was also to understand any methodological challenges in assessing treatment outcomes using disease registry data.

Thermography based online characterization of conductive thin films in large-scale electronics fabrication.

Flexible electronics is an emerging thin film based technology enabling completely new types of products and applications compared to conventional electronics. Since the quality of films defines the functionality of fabricated devices, the lack of suitable online manufacturing quality assessment tools has been identified to be a critical bottleneck while upscaling the volume and the yield of thin film electronics manufacturing. In order to solve that problem, a synchronized thermography (ST) based online measurement system was built.

Severe neutropenia after rituximab-treatment of multiple sclerosis.

We present here the first MS-case where rituximab-treatment led to grade IV neutropenia, with hospitalization and treatment of a serious infection with broad-spectrum antibiotics. The neutropenia resolved promptly with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor-treatment and the patient recovered well. Due to risk of recurring neutropenia rituximab-treatment was not re-administered.

A prospective randomized trial comparing cyclosporine/methotrexate and tacrolimus/sirolimus as graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Improvement of graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis remains an important goal in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Based on reports of possibly preferential properties of sirolimus, we compared the standard regimen of cyclosporine and methotrexate (n=106) with a combination of tacrolimus and sirolimus (n=103) as graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a prospective, open, randomized trial. The hypothesis was that the tacrolimus/sirolimus regimen would lead to less acute graft-versus-host disease and reduced transplant-related mortality.

Cost analysis of a randomized stem cell mobilization study in multiple myeloma.

Upfront autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is the standard therapy for younger multiple myeloma (MM) patients. MM patients usually undergo stem cell mobilization with cyclophosphamide (CY) followed by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), or with G-CSF alone. A limited number of randomized studies are available comparing costs of different mobilization strategies.

[Prophylactic platelet transfusions].

The consumption of platelet products in Finland is exceptionally high. For the most part, platelets are transfused pre-operatively to thrombocytopenic patients in order to prevent hemorrhage. Most of the minor procedures could, however, be conducted even if the patients'platelet levels would be lower than usual.

Blood graft cellular composition and posttransplant outcomes in myeloma patients mobilized with or without low-dose cyclophosphamide: a randomized comparison.

Background: Autologous stem cell transplantation is a standard treatment in multiple myeloma (MM). Blood grafts are usually collected after mobilization with granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) alone or in a combination with cyclophosphamide (CY). There is limited knowledge of the possible effects of different mobilization regimens on blood graft characteristics and posttransplant outcomes.

Treatment of adult acute myeloid leukemia.

The aim of this study was to analyze the treatment results of 180 adult AML patients treated at Turku University Hospital from 2002 to 2012. 124 patients received intensive therapy according to the protocol of the Finnish Leukemia Group. 86% of them achieved remission.

[Hemolysis and metastatic cancer in an elderly man].

Sometimes correct diagnoses is reached after many years and even after decades. Our patient had for decades suffered from a hemolytic disease, life-threatening, metastatic cancer at the age of almost 90 years was also suspected. The patient was finally diagnosed as having mild hereditary spherocytosis and the associated paraspinal extramedullar hematopoiesis as well as an osteoporotic vertebral fracture caused by osteoporosis.

Dasatinib induces fast and deep responses in newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukaemia patients in chronic phase: clinical results from a randomised phase-2 study (NordCML006).

We randomised 46 newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (median age 56) to receive dasatinib 100 mg QD or imatinib 400 mg QD and report outcome as an intention-to-treat analysis with 36 months follow-up. Early cytogenetic and molecular responses were superior in the dasatinib group, with a tendency that imatinib patients caught up with time. For instance, MR(3.

[Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia - 20-year treatment results at TYKS].

Approximately 30 cases of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) emerge in Finland yearly. In literature 35 to 40% of those under the age of 60 are reported to recover from their illness. Of the 67 adult ALL patients treated at the Turku University Hospital from 1990 to 2010, 96% achieved remission.

Imatinib and pegylated IFN-α2b discontinuation in first-line chronic myeloid leukemia patients following a major molecular response.

Objectives: Previous studies indicate that 40-50% of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in prolonged complete molecular remission may discontinue imatinib therapy without imminent relapse. The combination of pegylated interferon-alpha (Peg-IFN-α2b) and imatinib may increase the rate of successful discontinuation.

Methods: In this pilot study, we prospectively stopped imatinib from patients (n = 12) who had achieved major molecular response (MMR) after ≥12 months of treatment with either imatinib or imatinib+Peg-IFN-α2b.

Improved survival with ursodeoxycholic acid prophylaxis in allogeneic stem cell transplantation: long-term follow-up of a randomized study.

We report the long-term results of a prospective randomized study on the use of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) for prevention of hepatic complications after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Two hundred forty-two patients, 232 with malignant disease, were randomized to receive (n = 123) or not to receive (n = 119) UDCA from the beginning of the conditioning until 90 days post-transplantation. The results were reported after 1-year follow-up.

Bortezomib consolidation after autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma: a Nordic Myeloma Study Group randomized phase 3 trial.

The Nordic Myeloma Study Group conducted an open randomized trial to compare bortezomib as consolidation therapy given after high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) with no consolidation in bortezomib-naive patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Overall, 370 patients were centrally randomly assigned 3 months after ASCT to receive 20 doses of bortezomib given during 21 weeks or no consolidation. The hypothesis was that consolidation therapy would prolong progression-free survival (PFS).

Prognostic impact of pretransplant iron overload measured with magnetic resonance imaging on severe infections in allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Objective: Infections and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are the main causes of transplant-related mortality (TRM) of patients undergoing allo-SCT. The role of iron overload (IO) has been debated in this context. Studies, performed with non-specific surrogate markers of iron, suggest that IO predicts poor outcome after allo-SCT.

Thrombotic microangiopathy associated with bortezomib treatment in a patient with relapsed multiple myeloma.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) describe microvascular occlusive disorders characterized by thrombocytopenia due to increased platelet aggregation and fragmentation hemolysis. We report here what to our knowledge is the second case of TTP/HUS associated with bortezomib treatment.

Autologous and allogeneic stem-cell transplantation for transformed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (Richter's syndrome): A retrospective analysis from the chronic lymphocytic leukemia subcommittee of the chronic leukemia working party and lymphoma working party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Purpose: Patients with Richter's syndrome (RS) have a poor prognosis with conventional chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome after autologous stem-cell transplantation (autoSCT) or allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (alloSCT) in RS.

Patients And Methods: A survey was sent to all European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation centers assessing transplantations performed for RS.

[Stem cell transplantation in myelofibrosis].

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) offers the only potentially curative therapy for myelofibrosis, a malignant myeloproliferative disease. The transplant-related mortality is still high, 10-48%, but use of reduced-intensity conditioning is less toxic and allows transplantation to be performed up to 65-70 years of age. Fabourable treatment response will be attained at least in a third of patients, in another third the disease will progress, and nearly one third will succumb due to transplant complications.

Combination of pegylated IFN-α2b with imatinib increases molecular response rates in patients with low- or intermediate-risk chronic myeloid leukemia.

Biologic and clinical observations suggest that combining imatinib with IFN-α may improve treatment outcome in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). We randomized newly diagnosed chronic-phase CML patients with a low or intermediate Sokal risk score and in imatinib-induced complete hematologic remission either to receive a combination of pegylated IFN-α2b (Peg-IFN-α2b) 50 μg weekly and imatinib 400 mg daily (n = 56) or to receive imatinib 400 mg daily monotherapy (n = 56). The primary endpoint was the major molecular response (MMR) rate at 12 months after randomization.