Nilotinib vs dasatinib in achieving MR4.5 for de novo chronic myeloid leukemia: the randomized JALSG CML212 study.

Deep molecular response (DMR) is a prerequite for treatment-free remission (TFR) in chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP). The JALSG (Japan Adult Leukemia Study Group) conducted a prospective randomized phase 3 CML212 study for de novo CML-CP to compare the cumulative achievement of molecular response 4.5 (MR4.

Real-World Outcomes of Graft-versus-Host Disease after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Japan: Retrospective Analysis of the Transplant Registry Unified Management Program Registry.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is an important therapeutic option for patients with hematologic malignancies. However, the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allo-HSCT remains a challenge. Although systemic steroid therapy is the established first-line therapy for acute GVHD (aGVHD) and chronic GVHD (cGVHD), many patients are unresponsive or resistant to corticosteroid therapy, and the response is insufficient.

Comparable survival outcomes with haploidentical stem cell transplantation and unrelated bone marrow transplantation.

We retrospectively compared outcomes of unrelated donor bone marrow transplant (UBMT) and HLA-haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation using post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy-haploPBSCT) using the Japanese registry data. Recipients of first HCT for acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes between 2012 and 2015 were included. The analyzed subjects comprised UBMT recipients with 8/8 matched HLA alleles (n = 1470), 7/8 matched alleles (n = 859), 6/8 matched alleles (n = 186), and recipients of PTCy-haploPBSCT (n = 133).

Comparable survival outcomes with haploidentical stem cell transplantation and cord blood transplantation.

HLA-haploidentical stem cell transplantation using post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy-haplo) and umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) are alternative to HLA-matched stem cell transplantation. We conducted a matched-pair analysis of PTCy-haplo and UCBT using the Japanese registry data. We identified 136 patients aged between 16 and 69 years who received PTCy-haplo as their first transplantation for acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes.

Efficacy and safety of modified BLd therapy for Japanese patients with transplant-ineligible multiple myeloma.

The BLd regimen, which is a triplet regimen of bortezomib (Bor), lenalidomide (Len), and dexamethasone (Dex), is effective against newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). However, non-hematological toxicities, such as peripheral neuropathy (PN), often hamper long-term continuation of the regimen, particularly in older adult patients. In this study, we examined the efficacy and safety of the modified BLd regimen with reduced-intensity Bor and standard-dose Len.

Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Inborn Errors of Immunity Other than Severe Combined Immunodeficiency in Japan: Retrospective Analysis for 1985-2016.

Purpose: Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a curative therapy for most patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI). We conducted a nationwide study on HCT for patients with IEI other than severe combined immunodeficiency (non-SCID) in Japan.

Methods: Data from the Japanese national database (Transplant Registry Unified Management Program, TRUMP) for 566 patients with non-SCID IEI, who underwent their first HCT between 1985 and 2016, were retrospectively analyzed.

Graft-Versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis Using Low-Dose Antithymocyte Globulin in Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation-A Matched-Pair Analysis.

Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) decreases chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) in peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT); however, the optimal ATG dose has not been elucidated. We conducted a matched-pair analysis to evaluate whether low-dose ATG could inhibit cGVHD in HLA-matched PBSCT after myeloablative conditioning. A total of 70 patients who were enrolled in the JSCT-ATG15 study, a multicenter phase II clinical trial of 2 mg/kg of ATG (thymoglobulin) given on days -2 and -1, were compared with 210 patients not receiving ATG, who were matched for age, sex, disease, and calcineurin inhibitor selected from the database in Japan.

Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Patients: a Japanese Retrospective Study.

Purpose: Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a curative therapy for patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Here, we conducted a nationwide study to assess the outcome of SCID patients after HCT in Japan.

Methods: A cohort of 181 SCID patients undergoing their first allogeneic HCT in 1974-2016 was studied by using the Japanese national database (Transplant Registry Unified Management Program, TRUMP).

Impact of graft-versus-host disease on relapse and survival after allogeneic stem cell transplantation for pediatric leukemia.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occasionally leads to morbidity and mortality but is thought to reduce the risk of relapses in patients with a hematological malignancy. However, information on the effect of GVHD in pediatric leukemia is limited. Using a nationwide registry, we retrospectively analyzed 1526 children who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation for leukemia.

Safety and Efficacy of Once-Daily Intravenous Busulfan in Allogeneic Transplantation: A Matched-Pair Analysis.

Compared with 4-times-daily infusion of intravenous busulfan (ivBU4), the safety and efficacy of once-daily infusion of ivBU (ivBU1) has not been fully clarified. We have been routinely using ivBU1 in a conditioning regimen in adult patients with myeloid malignancy who undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In this study, a total of 91 patients who received ivBU1 for 2 days (n = 18) or 4 days (n = 73) in our institutions were compared with 273 control patients who received ivBU4, who were matched for age, sex, performance status, disease risk, conditioning regimen, and donor type, selected from the database of the Japanese Society for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation using optimal matching algorithms.

A multicenter phase 2 study of empirical low-dose liposomal amphotericin B in patients with refractory febrile neutropenia.

Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is a major life-threatening problem encountered by patients with hematological malignancies receiving intensive chemotherapy. Empirical antifungal agents are therefore important. Despite the availability of antifungal agents for such situations, the optimal agents and administration methods remain unclear.

Double-unit cord blood transplantation after myeloablative conditioning for patients with hematologic malignancies: a multicenter phase II study in Japan.

We analyzed the outcomes of 61 patients with hematologic malignancies who underwent double-unit cord blood transplantation (dCBT) after myeloablative conditioning performed as part of a prospective multicenter phase II study. The conditioning regimen for dCBT included total body irradiation, cyclophosphamide, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor combined with cytosine arabinoside for myeloid malignancies and with total body irradiation and cyclophosphamide for lymphoid malignancies. The cumulative incidence of neutrophil engraftment after dCBT was 85% (95% confidence interval [CI], 73%-92%).

Association between Helicobacter pylori infection detected by the (13) C-urea breath test and low serum ferritin levels among Japanese adults.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is a major risk factor for chronic gastritis, digestive ulcers, and gastric cancer. Previous studies have shown associations between H. pylori infection and decreased iron storage.

Preventive medical services not covered by public health insurance at Daiko Medical Center in Japan, 2004-2011.

Preventive medical services not covered by public health insurance started in the Daiko Medical Center of Nagoya University in June, 2004. Those services included: (1) Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) diagnosis and eradication treatments, for which CYP2C19 genotyping was introduced in November 2005; (2) smoking cessation support with genotype tests of CYP1A1 Ile462Val, GSTM1 present/null, GSTT1 present/null, and NQO1 Pro187Ser; (3) advice on alcohol consumption with genotype tests of ADH Arg47His and ALDH2 Glu487Lys; (4) advice on folate-associated diseases with a genotype test of MTHFR C677T; (5) advice on a tumor marker CA19-9 with genotype tests of Lewis and Secretor genes; and (6) raloxifene prescription aimed to prevent breast cancer for high-risk postmenopausal women.

Improvements in Helicobacter pylori eradication rates through clinical CYP2C19 genotyping.

Lansoprazole (LPZ), amoxicillin (AMPC) and clarithromycin (CAM) are commonly used drugs (LAC regimen) for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication, but the eradication rate with this regimen was reported to be 70% to 90%. A few studies have reported that a successful eradication was associated with the CYP2C19 genotype, which influences the metabolism of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) including LPZ.

Eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori according to genotypes of CYP2C19, IL-1B, and TNF-A.

Background: Lansoprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin are commonly used drugs for eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). A few studies reported that the eradication rate was influenced by the functional polymorphism of CYP2C19, whose product metabolizes proton pomp inhibitors including lansoprazole.

Cardiovascular disease mortality and serum carotenoid levels: a Japanese population-based follow-up study.

Background: Some observational epidemiologic studies suggest that dietary and serum carotenoids are associated with reduced cardiovascular disease mortality.

Methods: Three thousand and sixty-one subjects (1,190 males and 1,871 females), aged 39 to 80 years, were recruited from residents of Hokkaido, Japan who had attended comprehensive health check-up programs from 1988 through 1995. Serum levels of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and lycopene were separately determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Cancer mortality and serum levels of carotenoids, retinol, and tocopherol: a population-based follow-up study of inhabitants of a rural area of Japan.

A total of 3,182 subjects (1,239 males and 1,943 females) aged from 39y to 79y, were recruited from the inhabitants of a rural area in Japan who participated in health check-up programs from 1988 to 1995. During the 10.5 year follow-up, 287 deaths (175 males and 112 females) from all causes, 134 (81 males and 53 females) from cancer of all sites, 31 from lung cancer, 21 from colorectal cancer, 20 from stomach cancer, and 62 from other cancers, were identified among the cohort subjects.