The role of ruxolitinib in the management of acute GVHD.

Background And Objectives: Following an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT), a primary cause of morbidity and mortality is still steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGVHD). Recently, ruxolitinib, an oral inhibitor of JAK1 and JAK2, was approved for use in individuals suffering from SR-aGVHD. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy and toxicity of ruxolitinib in the real world.

What is the role of alpha-1 antitrypsin in the management of acute graft versus host disease?

Objective: Acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) occurs in 20-80 % of patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Of these patients, 40 % will be resistant to steroids, which is the standard first-line approach. There is no standard second line treatment approach for patients with steroid refractory acute GVHD (SR-aGVHD).

Is there a relationship between vitamin D levels and graft versus host disease?

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is common in adult patients undergoing allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Since vitamin D is an important regulatory factor for the immune system, vitamin D deficiency may have effects on antitumor activity, relapse rates, graft versus host disease (GVHD) occurrence and infection rates in allo-HSCT. We aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin D levels on the outcome of allo-HSCT.

Efficacy of Ruxolitinib in the management of chronic GVHD.

Objectives: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a potentially curative treatment for hematological diseases, with success rates improving due to advancements in conditioning regimens and new anti-graft versus host disease (GVHD) drugs. Ruxolitinib, an oral selective Janus kinase (JAK) 1 and 2 inhibitor has been used to mitigate the effects of various inflammatory and myeloproliferative syndromes, given the JAK kinase pathway's central role in cytokine signaling during inflammatory and immune processes. In this study we aimed to assess ruxolitinib's efficacy in patients with chronic GVHD (cGVHD).

Effectiveness of ibrutinib in the management of chronic GVHD.

Objectives: Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) represents a significant adverse event that may ensue following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT). In patients resistant to corticosteroids, which is the first-line treatment for cGVHD, ibrutinib is being evaluated as a potential treatment option. In this study, we aimed to share the findings of our multicenter study regarding the outcomes of ibrutinib treatment in patients with corticosteroid-resistant cGVHD who had previously received multiple systemic therapies.

What should be the optimal dose of post-transplantation cyclophosphamide for GVHD prophylaxis in allogeneic stem cell transplantation?

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to compare the engraftment days, graft versus host disease (GVHD) development, relapse and overall survival (OS) rates in patients using variable intensity conditioning regimens with two different post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) doses for hematological malignancies.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 162 patients who have had PTCy at a dose of 25 mg/kg × 2 and 50 mg/kg × 2 between 2018 and 2024. Patients were divided in 2 groups; PTCy dose with 25 mg/kg × 2 (Group 1, n = 45) and PTCy dose with 50 mg/kg × 2 (Group 2, n = 117).

Survival Outcomes of Patients with Primary Plasma Cell Leukemia in the Era of Proteasome Inhibitors and Immunomodulatory Agents: A Real-Life Multicenter Analysis.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to obtain real-life data on the use of antimyeloma agents, which significantly increase overall survival (OS) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients, in primary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL) patients with poor prognosis.

Materials And Methods: Data from 53 patients who were diagnosed with pPCL between 2011 and 2020 and who used at least one proteasome inhibitor (PI) and/or immunomodulatory (IMID) agent were analyzed retrospectively. Depending on the year of the pPCL diagnosis, 20% leukocytes or ≥2x10/L plasma cells in the peripheral blood was used as a diagnostic criterion.

Role of WT1 in Measurable Residual Disease Follow-Up in the Post Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Setting.

: The Wilms' tumor gene 1 (WT1) plays a critical role in cell development and the regulation of essential genes involved in cell growth and metabolism. In the context of hematopoietic tumors, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), WT1 has been identified as a potential marker for measurable residual disease (MRD) assessment. Relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) remains a significant challenge in AML treatment, highlighting the importance of MRD monitoring for risk stratification and treatment decisions.

A new scoring system to predict survival in elderly advanced stage Hodgkin lymphoma patients.

Predictive prognostic scoring (PS) systems are not primarily applicable to elderly patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). The objective of this study was to develop a PS system for these patients. The derivation cohort (DC) was utilized for model development, consisting of 97 variables.

Early Tapering of Cyclosporine Is Feasible in Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation: A Single Center Experience.

Introduction: Cyclosporine-A (CsA) and post transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) are common agents used for graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis in Haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (haplo-HCT). However, the impact of CsA cessation timing in the posttransplant setting on clinical outcomes is uncertain. We aimed to investigate the impact of a novel approach that integrated early CsA cessation with PTCy utilization.

Tobacco and e-cigarette promotion on social media: the case of German rap music.

German rap artists advertise hookah tobacco and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) on social media. Advertising tobacco products on the internet is banned under European Parliament and the German Tobacco Products Act. Despite this, 26 out of 60 famous German rap artists have their own e-cigarette or hookah tobacco editions, which are promoted on social media platforms such as Instagram, Tiktok or Youtube.

Evaluation of oral manifestations and head and neck lymphadenopathy in newly diagnosed acute leukemia patients.

Objectives: To determine the frequency of head and neck lymphadenopathy (LAP) and intraoral findings (non-dental/dental) in patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia (AL).

Subjects And Methods: Twenty-eight (52.8%) females and 25 (47.

Experience of Daratumumab in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: A Multicenter Study from Türkiye.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who underwent daratumumab (DARA) therapy.

Materials And Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 134 patients who underwent at least two courses of DARA from February 1, 2018, to April 15, 2022. Epidemiological, disease, and treatment characteristics of patients and treatment-related side effects were evaluated.

An effective treatment in Erdheim Chester disease: vemurafenib: a case report.

Background: Erdheim Chester disease (ECD) is a rare disease with multisystemic involvement in the group of non-langerhans cell histiocytosis. Although nearly 100 years have passed since its definition, the number of cases reported all over the world is below 1000. In addition to the rarity of the disease, low awareness seems to play a role in this.

Real-world data on the effectiveness and safety of Ixazomib-Lenalidomide-Dexamethasone therapy in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients: a multicenter experience in Turkey.

A multicenter, retrospective, observational study was conducted to explore effectiveness and safety of ixazomib plus lenalidomide with dexamethasone (IRd) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients following at least ≥ two lines of therapy. Patients' treatment responses, overall response rate, progression-free survival rate, and adverse events were recorded. Mean age of 54 patients was 66.

International Forum: The Turkish perspective on apheresis activity: The Turkish apheresis registry report.

Therapeutic apheresis is an extracorporeal treatment that selectively removes abnormal cells or harmful substances in the blood that are associated with or cause certain diseases. During the last decades the application of therapeutic apheresis has expanded to a broad spectrum of hematological and non-hematological diseases due to various studies on the clinical efficacy of this procedure. In this context there are more than 30 centers performing therapeutic apheresis and registered in the apheresis database in Turkey.

The effect of pre-conditioning immunoglobulin and absolute lymphocyte count on the outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Introduction: The prevention of mortality and morbidity related to the increasingly used allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), along with the effects of pre- and post-transplant immune status on transplant outcomes, have become the focus of the studies conducted on this subject in recent years. In parallel, this study was designed to investigate the effects of pre-conditioning immunoglobulin (pre-conditioning-Ig) and pre-conditioning absolute lymphocyte count (pre-conditioning-ALC) levels on transplant outcomes.

Methods: This study was designed as a retrospective, observational and cross-sectional study.

Polatuzumab vedotin, rituximab, and bendamustine combination in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a real-world data from Turkey.

Polatuzumab vedotin (Pola) with bendamustine and rituximab (BR) is a promising option for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We analyzed the data of 71 R/R DLBCL patients who had been treated with Pola-BR in the named patient program from March 2018 to April 2021 from 32 centers in Turkey. All patients received up to six cycles of Pola 1.

Latent tuberculosis in adult hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients: Clinical experience from a previously endemic population.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients may be at an elevated risk of developing active tuberculosis infection due to suppression in the cellular immune system. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of latent tuberculosis and active tuberculosis in patients with allogeneic and autologous HSCT. In this cohort, data were obtained retrospectively from patients' records.

Could blood groups have prognostic significance on survival in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma?

The prognostic importance of the ABO blood group in non-Hodgkin lymphoma is largely unknown. We aim to investigate the prognostic significance of blood groups on the survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. 412 people (206 DLBCL patients and 206 healthy donors) were included.

Skin ulcers caused by ruxolitinib in a patient with chronic cutaneous graft-versus-host disease.

Introduction: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). In the treatment of chronic GVHD, skin directed therapy, systemic corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors (such as cyclosporine (CsA) and tacrolimus), rituximab, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) and ruxolitinib are used.

Case Report: We present an 18 year old male with Philadelphia chromosome positive acute B lymphoblastic leukemia, treated with allogeneic HCT from a full matched sibling donor.