Publications by authors named "Merih Kızıl Cakar"

: 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.

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Article Synopsis
  • Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is an effective treatment for hematologic cancers, but some patients can't collect enough stem cells with just G-CSF, leading to the use of chemomobilization.
  • In a study of 183 lymphoma and myeloma patients, 43 experienced febrile neutropenia (FN), showing lower preapheresis blood counts and slower platelet and neutrophil recovery post-transplant.
  • Despite the challenges posed by FN, sufficient harvesting of CD34+ stem cells remains possible, indicating the need for prompt treatment of FN and possibly more apheresis sessions.
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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.

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  • This study investigates the feasibility and success factors of collecting peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) from healthy donors on the 4th day of mobilization, instead of the usual 5th day, using G-CSF.
  • Data from 141 healthy donors showed that 81.6% had adequate mobilization, with higher CD34+ cell counts linked to successful early collection.
  • The researchers developed a predictive model for clinicians considering early collection, highlighting the importance of donor/recipient weight ratio and CD34+ cell count to maximize success rates.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Background Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by persistently elevated platelet count without a clear secondary cause. Although most patients with ET are between 55 and 60 years of age, it has been estimated that 20% of women with ET are diagnosed during reproductive ages. Miscarriage is the most frequent complication of ET that has been hypothesized to be caused by microcirculatory disturbances and placental microinfarction.

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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.

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Introduction: The most common kind of leukemia in adults is chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). CLL is treated with ibrutinib. During the course of ibrutinib therapy, bleeding and cardiac arrhythmias may occur.

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Introduction: In this study, we aim to analyze the effect of total body irradiation (TBI) on neutrophil and thrombocyte engraftment durations in acute leukemia (AL) patients who achieved allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-SCT) at our center.

Methods: The data of 193 acute leukemia patients who were performed Allo-SCT from matched-related donors were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: Thrombocyte engraftment duration was statistically shorter (12 days) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients who received TBI-based conditioning when compared to ALL patients who received non-TBI-based conditioning (14 days; p=0.

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Purpose: Venetoclax (VEN) is an oral selective inhibitor of antiapoptotic protein B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (BCL-2).

Methods: We report 7 relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients treated with venetoclax and hypomethylating agents (HMA).

Results: More than half of the patients could go on with venetoclax for only a few months.

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Certain genetic mutations could have a role in the etiology of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Hereby, in this study, we primarily aimed to investigate the distribution of genetic mutations in AML patients. We also attempted to analyze the incidence of genetic mutations in AML patients from Turkey.

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Article Synopsis
  • * In a study involving 82 patients, 90.2% achieved normal uric acid levels within 24 hours after a single 7.5 mg dose of rasburicase, with 84.1% maintaining normal levels after one week.
  • * The study highlighted that the TLS risk group was the only factor predicting failure to normalize uric acid at 24 hours, but no factors were identified after a week, supporting rasburicase's effectiveness in managing TLS.
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Purpose: Pralatrexate is a new generation antifolate treatment agent used for the treatment of relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphomas. This study aims to determine the general characteristics of the patients receiving pralatrexate therapy in Turkey, contributing to the literature on the effectiveness of pralatrexate therapy in peripheral T-cell lymphomas by determining the response levels of such patients to the therapy. The study also attempts to clinically examine the major side effects observed in patients during treatment with pralatrexate.

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The prognosis is poor for relapsed or refractory (R/R) classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) patients. The brentuximab vedotin (Bv) and bendamustine (B) combination has been used as a preferable salvage regimen in R/R cHL patient trials. We retrospectively evaluated response rates, toxicities, and the survival in R/R cHL patients treated with the BvB combination.

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Introduction: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has an increasing incidence in elderly patients with poorer prognosis than in younger patients. Clinicians should clearly identify the characteristics and prognostic factors of elderly patients. We analyzed the outcome of elderly DLBCL patients, especially factors affecting survival in real-life clinical practice.

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Background And Objectives: Cast nephropathy (CN) and hyperviscosity (HV), which we encounter in plasma cell diseases, are serious clinical manifestations that increase mortality and morbidity if not managed well in the early period. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) procedures based on the removal of patient plasma is a frequently preferred treatment modality. TPE is recommended at varying levels of evidence for the treatment of CN and HV in plasma cell disorders.

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Background: Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after induction treatment is the standard of care. Our understanding of myeloma genetics has been very limited and its effect to stem cell mobilization is not widely investigated. We aimed to investigate the effect of genetic abnormalities on stem cell mobilization in myeloma.

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We report a 42-year-old patient who had Hodgkin lymphoma and developed bilateral symmetrical peripheral gangrene (SPG) in the feet and hands, which occurred during septic shock after autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. SPG is a rare but severe complication of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and is frequently associated with sepsis. The pathophysiology of SPG includes DIC-mediated intravascular thrombosis and thrombotic occlusion of microcirculation, resulting in low blood flow.

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The introduction of rituximab to the CHOP protocol has demonstrated an improvement in PFS and OS in DLBCL patients with both early and advanced stages. Most studies in the pre-rituximab period indicated that bulky disease has an unfavorable impact on clinical outcomes of DLBCL. The effect of bulky mass on the outcome of DLBCL patients undergoing R-CHOP therapy remained uncertain.

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Background: Although induction chemotherapy results in remission in many older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), relapse is common and overall survival is poor.

Methods: We conducted a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the oral formulation of azacitidine (CC-486, a hypomethylating agent that is not bioequivalent to injectable azacitidine), as maintenance therapy in patients with AML who were in first remission after intensive chemotherapy. Patients who were 55 years of age or older, were in complete remission with or without complete blood count recovery, and were not candidates for hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation were randomly assigned to receive CC-486 (300 mg) or placebo once daily for 14 days per 28-day cycle.

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In the literature, substantial differences have been reported regarding incidence and outcomes for the pediatric and adult groups with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common NHL subtype, and its outcome in adolescents and young adults (AYA) has not been widely investigated. This study aims at reporting our experience on the outcome of DLBCL in the AYA group.

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