Anthracyline-reduced sequential combination chemotherapy for younger patients with good-prognosis aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Introduction: Anthracyline-based chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for patients with aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). However, anthracyclines have been associated with long-term cardiac toxicity.

Methods: We conducted a study using a sequential combination chemotherapy with a reduced cumulative dose of anthracyclines in younger patients with good-prognosis aggressive NHL.

The clinical significance of soluble human leukocyte antigen class-I, ICTP, and RANKL molecules in multiple myeloma patients.

Because of the variable clinical course of multiple myeloma, the identification of prognostic parameters is of clinical interest. Therefore, we analyzed the clinical significance of serum levels of soluble human leukocyte antigen class I molecules (sHLA-I), carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type-I collagen (ICTP), and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL). Compared with controls, sHLA-I were threefold (p < 0.

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents: favorable safety profile when used as indicated.

Background And Purpose: Several studies with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) have raised a number of safety issues. Therefore, a discussion of available data in light of the current EORTC guidelines 2006 on the use of ESAs in anemic patients is warranted.

Methods: Literature is reviewed with respect to experimental and clinical data on the effect of ESA therapy on tumor growth both in the preclinical setting and on patient survival.

Diagnostic yield of computed tomography-guided coaxial core biopsy of undetermined masses in the free retroperitoneal space: single-center experience.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of core biopsy in coaxial technique under guidance of computed tomography (CT) for retroperitoneal masses. We performed a retrospective analysis of CT-guided coaxial core biopsies of undetermined masses in the non-organ-bound retroperitoneal space in 49 patients. In 37 cases a 15-G guidance needle with a 16-G semiautomated core biopsy system, and in 12 cases a 16-G guidance needle with an 18-G biopsy system, was used.

Long-term results of a phase-I/II study of sequential high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation in the initial treatment of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Aims And Background: To improve the survival of patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, we evaluated a risk-adapted therapeutic approach using high-dose (HD) or conventional-dose (CD) chemotherapy (CT) for poor-risk and good-risk patients, respectively.

Methods: Twenty patients were treated in each group. In both groups, the first chemotherapy cycle consisted of dexamethasone, vincristine, ifosfamide, and etoposide.

Soluble MICA as an independent prognostic factor for the overall survival and progression-free survival of multiple myeloma patients.

Major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A (MICA) molecules are frequently expressed in lymphoproliferative malignancies including multiple myeloma (MM). MICA activates NK cells and co-stimulates T cells by interaction with its immunoreceptor NKG2D. In contrast, soluble MICA (sMICA) molecules impair the functions of NKG2D(+) T and NK cells, which may facilitate tumor cell escape from immunosurveillance.

Immune parameters in multiple myeloma patients: influence of treatment and correlation with opportunistic infections.

The present study evaluated cellular and humoral immune parameters in myeloma patients, focusing on the effect of treatment and the risk of opportunistic infections. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and serum levels of nonmyeloma immunoglobulins (Ig) were analysed in 480 blood samples from 77 myeloma patients. Untreated myeloma patients exhibited significantly reduced CD4+/45RO+, CD19+, CD3+/HLA-DR+, and natural killer (NK) cells, as well as nonmyeloma IgA, IgG and IgM.

Serum free light chain analysis and urine immunofixation electrophoresis in patients with multiple myeloma.

Purpose: Retrospective studies have shown that immunoassays measuring free light chains (FLC) in serum are useful for diagnosis and monitoring of multiple myeloma. This study prospectively evaluates the use of FLC assays and, for the first time, investigates the relationship between serum FLC concentrations and the presence and detectability of Bence Jones (BJ) proteins in the urine.

Patients And Methods: Three hundred seventy-eight paired samples of serum and urine were tested from 82 patients during the course of their disease.

In vitro dendritic cell generation and lymphocyte subsets in myeloma patients: influence of thalidomide and high-dose chemotherapy treatment.

While vaccination with antigen-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs) represents a promising therapeutic strategy in multiple myeloma (MM), clinical benefit, so far, has been limited to individual patients. To identify potential problems with this approach, we have analyzed the influence of treatment parameters, in particular high-dose chemotherapy (HD-CTX) and thalidomide, on in vitro DC generation and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in MM patients. From a total of 25 MM patients, including 14 patients on thalidomide treatment and 11 after HD-CTX, in vitro DC generation from peripheral blood monocytes under serum-free condition was investigated.

Thalidomide in combination with dexamethasone for pretreated patients with multiple myeloma: serum level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor as a predictive factor for response rate and for survival.

The aim of this study was to assess the side effects and the efficacy of thalidomide alone or in combination with dexamethasone in relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) and to evaluate possible predictive factors for response rate and survival. Twenty-nine pretreated patients were enrolled, including 13 patients with a relapse after high-dose chemotherapy. The median number of relapses was 3 (range: 1-7).

Response to chemotherapy and treating institution predict survival in primary central nervous system lymphoma.

The majority of the available data on primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) derive from small unicentric or oligocentric studies. In this multicentre study, we evaluated the response, survival and toxicity in PCNSL patients after carmustine, methotrexate 1.5 g/m2, procarbazine and dexamethasone (BMPD) chemotherapy and searched for prognostic factors.