High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation as first-line therapy for primary CNS lymphoma in patients younger than 60 years: a multicenter phase II study of the GOELAMS group.

The optimum treatment of primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is not yet determined. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of initial methotrexate-based chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy (HDT) with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with newly diagnosed PCNSL. Twenty-five patients received two courses of initial chemotherapy combining methotrexate, etoposide, carmustine and methylprednisolone, and one course of ifosfamide-cytarabine followed by peripheral stem cell collection.

Proliferation of human progenitor cells in a long-term culture system is more efficiently sustained by the addition of Flt-3 ligand or megakaryocyte growth and development factor than by Kit ligand.

Introduction: We compared the effects of the early-acting growth factors (GF), Flt-3 ligand (FL), c-Kit ligand (KL), and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and the late-acting GF, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and megakaryocyte growth and development factor (MGDF), added alone in human long-term marrow culture (LTMC).

Materials And Methods: The GF were used in primary cultures of mononuclear cells (MNC) and in cocultures of CD34+ cells on murine preestablished MS-5 stromal layers. GF activity was assessed as nonadherent and adherent progenitor cell production and cobblestone area formation at week 5.

Tolerance evaluation of L-asparaginase loaded in red blood cells.

Objective: A pilot clinical study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of a single dose of L-asparaginase loaded in red blood cells (RBCs).

Methods: Thirteen patients received a single dose of L-asparaginase in the range 30-200 i.u.

Immunologic indices in myelodysplastic syndromes.

Immunocompetence was evaluated in 36 untreated and noninfected patients affected with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). T-cell number and activity were evaluated by counts of total T-cells and T-lymphocyte subsets, and by measure of DNA synthesis in response to phytohemagglutinin and Concanavalin A. B-cells were evaluated as surface immunoglobulin- (SIg+) bearing cells and by serum immunoglobulin levels.