Underestimated Needs for Lymphoma Patients: An Assessment Issue.

Background And Aim Of The Work: The aim of the current study was to explore under-considered psychosocial needs for lymphoma cancer group. A model of the role of psychosocial factors and Stressful Life Events was operationalized.

Method: We used Discriminant Analysis to test predictive power of the model.

Results of a prospective phase II trial with oral low-dose bexarotene plus photochemotherapy (PUVA) in refractory and/or relapsed patients with mycosis fungoides.

Introduction: Bexarotene is a synthetic retinoid effective in early and advanced stages of mycosis fungoides (MF)/Sezary Syndrome (SS) both in monotherapy and combination schemes. We aimed to assess disease response to low-dose bexarotene and PUVA in maintenance in refractory and/or resistant patients with early and advanced stage MF/SS.

Methods: We followed prospectively 21 patients (stages IB-IV): 15 with early stage MF and 6 with advanced disease.

Rituximab plus liposomal pegylated doxorubicin in the treatment of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas.

Background: In primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (PCBCL), radiotherapy - or surgery in a minority of cases - is the first-line treatment in follicle center lymphoma (PCFCL) and marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (PCMZL). Conversely, patients with multifocal skin involvement or relapsed/refractory disease deserve a systemic chemotherapy. In diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, leg type (PCLBCL-LT), due its poorer outcome, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP)-like regimens are the most commonly used frontline, although hard to propose in elderly patients.

Immunohistochemistry analysis of bone marrow biopsies in multiple sclerosis patients undergoing autologous haematopoietic stem cells transplantation.

Objective: Recently autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) has been introduced for the treatment of severe forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). As little data are available on bone marrow (BM) of MS patients undergoing AHSCT, we investigated the morphological and phenotypic characteristics of MS BM.

Methods: BM biopsies of 14 MS patients screened for AHSCT and 10 control patients were evaluated to assess cellularity, morphology, immunological profile and bone marrow microenvironment.

Drug-specific Th2 cells and IgE antibodies in a patient with anaphylaxis to rituximab.

Rituximab (RTX) is currently used in the treatment of lymphoproliferative diseases and of several rheumatologic disorders and is a frequent cause of acute infusion reactions, usually classified as cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Some infusion reactions to RTX raise concern for immediate type I hypersensitivity, even if to date RTX-specific IgE antibodies have not been reported. To improve knowledge of the mechanisms of reactions to RTX, we investigated humoral and cellular immune responses to this drug in a patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis who displayed two immediate infusion-related reactions.

Patients with ≥ 20 × 10(9)/l platelets at baseline may have a prompt response to romiplostim during the early phase of treatment: an italian single-institution experience.

Patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia treated with romiplostim may benefit from a higher starting dose when a rapid increase in count is needed, but it could be avoided in those with a prompt response to the standard dosage. We hypothesized that a platelet count ≥ 20 × 10(9)/l at baseline could distinguish subjects with such response from those with a delayed one during the early phase of treatment. Our work is a retrospective and single-institution analysis comparing the median platelet count, the median weekly dosage of romiplostim and the median number of weekly platelet counts < 50 × 10(9)/l between patients with a baseline ≥ 20 × 10(9)/l platelets (n=10, 2 splenectomized) and those with a lower one (n=8, 3 splenectomized) during the first month of treatment with romiplostim.

Evidence for reduced angiogenesis in bone marrow in SSc: immunohistochemistry and multiparametric computerized imaging analysis.

Objective: Dysfunctional angiogenesis is a pathogenetic marker of SSc. Circulating levels of endothelial progenitor cells are reduced, and mesenchymal stromal cells show a reduced differentiation into endothelial cells and capacity to form capillaries. This suggests that pathophysiologically relevant changes may already exist in SSc bone marrow (BM) stromal cells that may affect downstream angiogenesis.

Single dose palonosetron and dexamethasone in preventing nausea and vomiting induced by high emetogenic ABVD regimen in Hodgkin Lymphoma patients.

To evaluate the efficacy of a new agent, palonosetron, in Hodgkin Lymphoma patients treated with ABVD regimen. Complete response during the overall phase of the first ABVD cycle, was the primary endpoint. Secondary end points were: emesis-free patients and use of rescue medication during the acute and overall phases.

Efficacy and safety of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas and comparison with the commonly used therapies.

Objectives: The therapy of advanced, relapsed or refractory primary cutaneous lymphomas is often unsatisfactory. Recent data indicate a favourable pharmacokynetic, pharmacodynamic and toxicity profile of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Peg-Doxo) in primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, while in primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (PCBCLs), the drug efficacy has never been assessed so far.

Methods: We performed a prospective phase II pilot clinical trial of Peg-Doxo monotherapy (20 mg/m(2)) in PCBCLs.

Characteristics and clinical correlates of MPL 515W>L/K mutation in essential thrombocythemia.

Among 994 patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) who were genotyped for the MPLW515L/K mutation, 30 patients carrying the mutation were identified (3.0%), 8 of whom also displayed the JAK2V671F mutation. MPLW515L/K patients presented lower hemoglobin levels and higher platelet counts than did wild type (wt) MPL; these differences were highly significant compared with MPLwt/JAK2V617F-positive patients.

Liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin in combination with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone and rituximab in patients with lymphoma and concurrent cardiac diseases or pre-treated with anthracyclines.

Background: To assess the efficacy and safety of the combination of non-pegylated liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin (Myocet(R)) with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone and rituximab (R-COMP) in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphomas.

Methods: Twenty-one patients were selected for the presence of negative concurrent clinical features such as cardiac comorbidity and/or previous treatment with anthracycline-based regimens. Liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin at a dose of 50 mg/m(2) was administered in association with cyclophosphamide (750 mg/m(2)), vincristine (1.

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in the treatment of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas.

Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Peg-Doxo) is a promising drug for advanced/recalcitrant primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs). This prospective phase II trial enrolled 19 patients. We observed overall and complete response rates of 84.

Rituximab and chlorambucil as first-line treatment for low-grade ocular adnexal lymphomas.

Ocular adnexal lymphomas (OALs) are typically low-grade lymphomas and are largely represented by marginal-zone lymphomas (EMZL). Radiotherapy is the treatment of choice but is frequently associated to local complications. We investigated the association of chlorambucil and rituximab as first-line treatment for primary OALs.

Multispectral imaging autofluorescence microscopy in colonic and gastric cancer metastatic lymph nodes.

Background & Aims: The lymphadenectomy and extended lymphadenectomy procedures have been points of controversy in surgical oncology. The methods available for the detection of metastatic lymph nodes are numerous. These include lymphoscintigraphy and radiolabeled antibody detection, but in most cancers the currently used technique is sentinel lymph node identification, performed primarily through the use of immunohistochemistry.

Prognostic factors in primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma: the Italian Study Group for Cutaneous Lymphomas.

Purpose: Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (PCBCLs) are a distinct group of primary cutaneous lymphomas with few and conflicting data on their prognostic factors.

Patients And Methods: The study group included 467 patients with PCBCL who were referred, treated, and observed in 11 Italian centers (the Italian Study Group for Cutaneous Lymphomas) during a 24-year period (1980 to 2003). All of the patients were reclassified according to the WHO-European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) classification.

Dose-dense CHOP plus rituximab (R-CHOP14) for the treatment of elderly patients with high-risk diffuse large B cell lymphoma: a pilot study.

Background: Aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) require intensive therapies which seemed impracticable in elderly patients. Dose reduction and therapy attenuation reduced treatment-related toxicity, but also decreased therapeutic efficacy. In elderly patients too, the achievement of complete remission is the most important prognostic factor affecting outcome.

18FDG-positron emission tomography in post treatment evaluation of residual mass in Hodgkin's lymphoma: long-term results.

In patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) at the end of first line therapy an accurate imaging technique with high prognostic value is needed to assess response to treatment and predict those patients who will suffer disease relapse. This technique and its results permit the quick initiation of a second line therapy in patients suffering from a progressive disease or those unresponsive to treatment avoid over-treatment of patients in complete remission or those having a non-active residual disease. We included a (18)FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) scan to the diagnostic set-up to investigate 28 patients following the end of their treatment.

Combined chemotherapy with carmustine, doxorubicin, etoposide, vincristine, and cyclophosphamide plus mitoxantrone, cytarabine and methotrexate with citrovorum factor for the treatment of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a long-term follow-up study.

Background: The standard treatment for patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP). Since 1989, the authors have used a new chemotherapy regimen with combined carmustine, doxorubicin, etoposide, vincristine, and cyclophosphamide plus mitoxantrone, cytarabine and methotrexate with citrovorum factor called BAVEC-MiMA. The objective of the current study was to explore, after a long follow-up period, the impact of this third-generation regimen for the treatment of aggressive NHL.

The role of anthracyclines in combination chemotherapy for the treatment of follicular lymphoma: retrospective study of the Intergruppo Italiano Linfomi on 761 cases.

In order to elucidate the role of anthracycline based combination chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of follicular lymphoma we conducted a retrospective study on a large series of patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of follicular lymphoma. The Italian lymphoma intergroup (ILI) promoted a retrospective study of patients with follicular lymphoma treated in cooperative trials between 1985 and 1996. Six hundred and thirty three cases were treated with an anthracycline-containing regimen and 128 patients were treated without anthracyclines.

Treatment of large cell lymphoma in elderly patients with a mitoxantrone, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and prednisone regimen: long-term follow-up results.

Background: Patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) require intensive and extensive therapy, which seems impracticable in elderly patients due to hematologic and extrahematologic toxicity. Consequent dose reduction and therapy attenuation can reduce treatment-related toxicity but also decreases therapeutic efficacy. Thus, age represents a fundamental prognostic factor that has a profound influence on both therapeutic decisions and patient outcome.