Mobilization of hemopoietic stem cells with high-dose methotrexate plus granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Background: High-dose therapy with autologous stem cell support after standard dose induction is a promising approach for therapy of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). High-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) is a standard drug for induction of PCNSL; however, data about the capacity of HD-MTX plus granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) to mobilize hemopoietic progenitors are lacking.

Study Design And Methods: This investigation describes the data from stem cell mobilization and apheresis procedures after one or two cycles of HD-MTX for induction of PCNSL within the East German Study Group for Haematology and Oncology 053 trial.

An open-label randomized trial comparing itraconazole oral solution with fluconazole oral solution for primary prophylaxis of fungal infections in patients with haematological malignancy and profound neutropenia.

Objectives: This trial studied the efficacy and safety of itraconazole and fluconazole in the prevention of invasive fungal infections in neutropenic patients with haematological malignancies.

Patients And Methods: An 8 week, open-label, randomized, parallel-group, multicentre trial comparing itraconazole oral solution (2.5 mg/kg twice daily; N=248) with fluconazole oral solution or capsules (400 mg daily; N=246) in 494 patients with anticipated profound neutropenia (i.

Fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide versus fludarabine alone in first-line therapy of younger patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Combination chemotherapy with fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide (FC) was compared with the standard regimen of fludarabine monotherapy in first-line treatment of younger patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Between 1999 and 2003, a total of 375 patients younger than 66 years who predominantly had advanced CLL were randomly assigned to receive either fludarabine (25 mg/m(2) for 5 days intravenously, repeated every 28 days) or FC combination therapy (fludarabine 30 mg/m(2) plus cyclophosphamide 250 mg/m(2) for 3 days intravenously, repeated every 28 days). Both regimens were administered to a maximum of 6 courses.

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.

Fludarabine and bendamustine in refractory and relapsed indolent lymphoma--a multicenter phase I/II Trial of the east german society of hematology and oncology (OSHO).

The therapy of patients with relapsed or refractory indolent lymphoma relies on the development of new drug combinations. The drugs bendamustine and fludarabine have cytotoxic activity as monotherapy in indolent lymphoma and show synergism in vitro. In this study, we combined both drugs in a multicenter clinical phase I/II trial to evaluate their toxicity and efficacy.

Fludarabine combination therapy for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Fludarabine combination therapies have attained an increased popularity in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Among them, the combination of fludarabine/cyclophosphamide (FC) is by far the best regimen studied. Patients receiving FC at relapse show response rates (RRs) of 70%-94% with 11%-34% complete remission (CR) rates.

Intermediate-dose cytarabine treatment delivered at moderate infusion rates for de novo acute myeloid leukemia-results of a phase I-II study.

Published randomized trials on different cytarabine doses for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) provide evidence of a dose-response effect. However, high-dose cytarabine (HIDAC) regimens correlate with increased morbidity and toxicity related mortality. Typical HIDAC regimens deliver 6 g/m2/d in infusion rates of 500-3000 mg/m2/h.