Real World Outcomes with Treatment Free Remission in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia-Experience from a Tertiary Care Cancer Centre.

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is caused by balanced translocation t(9::22)(q34;q11) resulting in formation of pathogenic BCR-ABL fusion gene. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have revolutionised the treatment of CML. Ongoing treatment with TKI leads to side effects and has financial impact.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell based cellular therapies for cancer: An introduction and Indian perspective.

Using one's own immune system for curing cancer has been an active field of research in cancer biology and therapeutics. One such opportunity in cellular immunotherapy is adoptive cell transfers. With the recent approval of CAR-T therapy as a cancer treatment, a whole new paradigm of cancer treatment has opened-up, with a ray of hope for relapsed/refractory cancer patients.

Bortezomib-based induction therapy followed by autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients: A single-center experience and review of Indian literature.

Introduction: High-dose chemotherapy with melphalan, followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHCT) remains the standard of care for consolidation therapy of fit patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM), for more than 20 years now.

Material And Methods: This is a retrospective study of NDMM patients who underwent AHCT at our center from 2011 to 2018. Data was undertaken using the hospital electronic medical records (EMR).

Real-world outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the biosimilar era.

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive and the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The clinical use of rituximab has improved the treatment response and survival of patients with DLBCL. The introduction of rituximab biosimilar into healthcare system has helped in providing a cost-effective treatment to B-cell lymphoid malignancies as standard of care and has improved access to patients worldwide.

Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in a zoo of multidrug-resistant organisms: Data from a cancer center in eastern India.

Background: Infections by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) are a major hurdle in hematopoietic stem-cell transplants (HSCTs). Conditioning regimens lead to mucosal barrier injury, which in-turn leads to transmigration of gut bacteria and sepsis. Pre-transplant stool and throat surveillance cultures can guide empirical antibiotic policy during the neutropenic period.

Should we adopt an automated de-centralized model of chimeric antigen receptor- T cells manufacturing for low-and middle-income countries? A real world perspective.

Autologous chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapy has proven itself as an effective therapeutic modality for cancers, especially hematological malignancies and is emerging as a potential candidate for solid organ cancers as well. However, the accessibility to treatment has been limited due to complexities and costs associated with manufacturing a genetically modified autologous product. The centralized model of CAR-T manufacturing which has emerged as the dominant model in developed nations does not seem well-suited to the needs and realities of the developing economies.

Real-World Outcomes of Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Multi-Centric Registry From India.

Background: Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is one of the most curable malignancies with a 5-year survival of over 80%. Most published literature from low-middle income countries comes from single institute experience.

Methodology: The OncoCollect Lymphoma group registry was set up in 2017 and has 9 major participating sites across India.

Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Clinical Presentation and Treatment Outcomes From the Lymphoma Registry.

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the commonest subtype of lymphoma, standard CHOP was the treatment of choice, 42% of patients received rituximab, and 29% of patients were lost to follow-up during therapy, were reported in a study that collected retrospective data at 13 public and private hospitals for patients diagnosed with lymphoma between January 2005 and December 2009. The OncoCollect Registry was set up in 2017 to address the challenges in the collection of retrospective data through chart review, recording access to anthracycline and rituximab-based treatment, and to study outcomes and any improvement in the patient follow-up.

Methodology: The OncoCollect Lymphoma group registry was set up at a national level with 9 participating centers.

Relapsed Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma and Brentuximab Vedotin-Bendamustine Combination Therapy as a Bridge to Transplantation: Real-World Evidence From a Middle-Income Setting and Literature Review.

Introduction: Despite high cure rates with standard treatment, 30% patients with Hodgkin lymphoma develop relapsed or refractory (R/R) disease. Salvage therapy followed by autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is considered standard of care. Brentuximab Vedotin (Bv) in combination with Bendamustine (B) has been tested in the salvage setting with promising results.

Impact of COVID-19 on peripheral stem cell collection and preservation at a hematopoietic cell transplant center in India: Experience 2020.

The prevailing corona virus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has adversely affected the healthcare services globally. Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is considered as the preferred treatment option for several hematological malignancies, and HPC collection facilities have to function continuously along with implementing safety measures. Based on the national and international guidelines, we implemented additional measures and modifications to our standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure secure HPC collection from patients as well as donors.

Indian Expert Opinion on Cancer Care during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Coronavirus pandemic has increased human disease burden, as well as economic distress globally. Being in an immunocompromised state, patients with cancer comprise an important at-risk population for novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. It is necessary to modify individualized clinical management for every cancer patient in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in elderly patients-real-world experience from a middle-income country setting.

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the commonest subtype of lymphoma in the elderly and poses unique challenges in this group of patients. There is a need for more information on real-world outcomes across economic disparities.

Methods: Electronic Medical Record of 3,087 lymphomas (>18 years) were evaluated retrospectively, of which 842 (27%) patients were ≥65 years.

Sequential Treatment of Arsenic Trioxide Followed by All Trans Retinoic Acid with Anthracyclines has Excellent Long-Term Cure in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) remains the most curable myeloid leukemia made feasible through effective use of two differentiating agents, all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) with or without chemotherapy (CT). However, early morbidity and mortality remains a problem. With the objective of reducing early death a strategy of sequential induction ATO followed by consolidation ATRA in combination with CT was adopted by our group.

Relapsed plasmablastic lymphoma in a HIV-negative patient: Pushing the envelope.

This case emphasizes that, with the availability of novel immunotherapy agents (Daratumumab), and repurposed use of bortezomib, a patient with HIV-negative relapsed PBL can be treated successfully and consolidated with an allogeneic haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation.

COVID-19 and haematology services in a cancer centre from a middle-income country: adapting service delivery, balancing the known and unknown during the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions in multiple spheres of healthcare delivery in the world. Developing nations have had to tackle this unanticipated crisis in the midst of various other healthcare delivery issues and resource constraints. As a tertiary level cancer care provider located in an eastern Indian city, a COVID-19 hotspot, we share our experience from the perspective of haematology and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) services.

Thalidomide in Patients with Transfusion-Dependent E-Beta Thalassemia Refractory to Hydroxyurea: A Single-Center Experience.

Transfusion-dependent E-Beta (EB) thalassemia is one of the major causes of hereditary hemoglobinopathies in India. Hydroxyurea has been tried for HbF induction and amelioration of the transfusion frequency in EB thalassemia. The primary objective of this retrospective study, conducted between January 2017 and December 2018, was to determine the efficacy of thalidomide in reducing transfusion frequency in patients with EB thalassemia who have failed a reasonable trial of hydroxyurea.

Gender climate in Indian oncology: national survey report.

Introduction: There is evidence of under-representation of women in leadership roles and publications in oncology. However, there is little knowledge about their perceptions of professional environment, unique challenges and opportunities compared with male counterparts. The problem is more prominent in lower-income and middle-income countries like India and merits exploration.