Publications by authors named "Pietro Di Ciaccio"

Infection and lymphopenia are established bendamustine-related complications. The relationship between lymphopenia severity and infection risk, and the role of antimicrobial prophylaxis, is not well described. This multicentre retrospective study analysed infection characteristics and antimicrobial prophylaxis in 302 bendamustine-treated indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients.

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Article Synopsis
  • Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with varied clinical outcomes, often requiring multiple treatment lines, but resulting in shorter disease control periods over time.
  • Novel treatments like chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies and bispecific antibodies may be effective but are usually given late in the treatment process, potentially missing chances to help patients with more aggressive forms of the disease.
  • A study of 389 patients over 10 years revealed that mortality from MCL increases with each treatment line, highlighting the need for earlier trials of innovative therapies for high-risk patients, especially older individuals and those relapsing early.
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Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare and aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma associated with immunodeficiency, characterized by uncertain treatment approaches and an unfavorable prognosis. We conducted a multicenter, international, retrospective cohort study, aiming to characterize the clinical features, risk factors, and outcomes of patients with PBL. Data were collected from 22 institutions across 4 countries regarding patients diagnosed with PBL between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2020.

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The management of potentially life-threatening malignancies in pregnancy is complicated by a lack of robust safety and efficacy evidence. This data shortage stems from a historical exclusion of women of childbearing potential from prospective clinical trials due to concerns around potential teratogenicity and toxicity of investigational agents. We conducted a systematic review of published data on immunochemotherapeutic treatment of life-threatening haematological malignancies in pregnancy between 2010 and 2022, and the maternal and neonatal outcomes.

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Lymphoma in pregnancy (LIP) presents unique clinical, social and ethical challenges; however, the evidence regarding this clinical scenario is limited. We conducted a multicentre retrospective observational study reporting on the features, management, and outcomes of LIP in patients diagnosed between January 2009 and December 2020 at 16 sites in Australia and New Zealand for the first time. We included diagnoses occurring either during pregnancy or within the first 12 months following delivery.

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Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved outcomes for human immunodeficiency virus-associated non-Hodgkin lymphoma (HIV-NHL). This is an analysis of 44 patients with HIV with Burkitt lymphoma (HIV-BL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (HIV-DLBCL) treated in Australia over a 10-year period (2009-2019) during the ART and rituximab era. At HIV-NHL diagnosis, the majority of presenting patients had adequate CD4 counts and undetectable HIV viral load <50 copies/mL.

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Background: There is no standard front-line therapy for older patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). We analyzed the clinical presentation and front-line management of older Australian patients with cHL and explored factors associated with unplanned hospital admission and survival.

Methods: Patients aged ≥ 61 years and diagnosed between 2011 and 2020, were retrospectively identified through the Lymphoma and Related Diseases Registry (LaRDR) and Australasian Lymphoma Alliance (ALA) institutional databases.

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Background: Evidence regarding the characteristics of second primary cancer (SPC) in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) is limited.

Setting: We performed a national population-based data linkage study to determine the incidence and risk factors of SPC in PLWHIV in Australia between 1982 and 2012.

Methods: We conducted a probabilistic data linkage study to compare the incidence of SPC over time, defined using HIV treatment eras, for SPCs related to oncogenic viral infection in comparison with non-infection-related SPCs.

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Lymphoma in pregnancy is a rare and challenging diagnosis that complicates ∼1:6000 pregnancies; posing a series of unique therapeutic, social, and ethical challenges to the patient, her family, and the medical professionals involved. These difficulties are compounded by the paucity of real-world data on the management of LIP, and a lack of relevant support systems for women in this setting. We conducted a retrospective multicenter qualitative study, interviewing women aged ≥18 years of age diagnosed with Hodgkin (HL) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) during pregnancy or within 12 months postpartum, between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2020 from 13 Australasian sites.

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Australia and New Zealand have achieved excellent community control of COVID-19 infection. In light of the imminent COVID-19 vaccination roll out in both countries, representatives from the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand and infectious diseases specialists have collaborated on this consensus position statement regarding COVID-19 vaccination in patients with haematological disorders. It is our recommendation that patients with haematological malignancies, and some benign haematological disorders, should have expedited access to high-efficacy COVID-19 vaccines, given that these patients are at high risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 infection.

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Background: The absence of the red cell antigens P, P1 and P , known as 'p', represents an extremely rare red cell phenotype. Individuals with this phenotype spontaneously form anti-PP1P isoantibodies, associated with severe haemolytic transfusion reactions, recurrent spontaneous abortion and haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN).

Methods: We report a series of four successful pregnancies in three women with anti-PP1P isoantibodies, one complicated by HDFN, another by intrauterine growth restriction, all managed supportively.

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Viral infections, principally cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and adenovirus, are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The use of systemic antivirals is limited by limited efficacy and organ toxicities. Inability to clear infection is exacerbated by transplant-related immunosuppression and prophylaxis or treatment of acute graft versus host disease.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A consensus statement from experts in Australia and New Zealand offers guidance for clinicians on managing cancer patients during the pandemic, emphasizing the need for minimizing COVID-19 exposure.
  • * Recommendations include using telehealth, reducing non-essential visits, and individualizing treatment plans based on the patient's specific cancer type, risk factors, and local healthcare availability.
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