Evaluation of Primary Oral Vancomycin Prophylaxis Against Infection During Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation.

Background: Evaluations of oral vancomycin prophylaxis (OVP) against have been reported in stem cell transplant populations with short follow-up periods. The longest known duration of standardized follow-up post-OVP is 90 days within an allogeneic stem cell transplant population. In 2017, we implemented OVP 125 mg twice daily in autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) recipients beginning the day of admission and continued until the day of discharge.

Central Nervous System Prophylaxis Utilization in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Within a Large Community Health System.

Purpose: The impact of central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is contentious. The CNS International Prognostic Index (IPI) calculator offers prognostic guidance in identifying those patients who may be at highest risk of disease progression or relapse to the CNS. However, it is unclear whether this tool has guided clinician decision-making in a real-world setting.

Comparison of intermittent intravenous tacrolimus to continuous tacrolimus in adult allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients.

Initial continuous intravenous (CIV) tacrolimus (0.03 mg/kg/day based on ideal body weight [IBW]) has been favored for graft versus host disease (GVHD) prevention in allogeneic stem cell transplant patients due to the consistent, steady-state degree of immunosuppression; however, this method poses many logistical challenges. We implemented intermittent (IIV) tacrolimus at a starting dose of 0.

Blocking UBE2N abrogates oncogenic immune signaling in acute myeloid leukemia.

Dysregulation of innate immune signaling pathways is implicated in various hematologic malignancies. However, these pathways have not been systematically examined in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We report that AML hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) exhibit a high frequency of dysregulated innate immune-related and inflammatory pathways, referred to as oncogenic immune signaling states.

Freeze-dried platelets are a promising alternative in bleeding thrombocytopenic patients with hematological malignancies.

Thrombosomes are trehalose-stabilized, freeze-dried group O platelets with a 3-year shelf life. They can be stockpiled, rapidly reconstituted, and infused regardless of the recipient's blood type. Thrombosomes thus represent a potential alternative platelet transfusion strategy.

Reduced intensity conditioning for acute myeloid leukemia using melphalan- vs busulfan-based regimens: a CIBMTR report.

There is a lack of large comparative study on the outcomes of reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) transplantation using fludarabine/busulfan (FB) and fludarabine/melphalan (FM) regimens. Adult AML patients from Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research who received first RIC allo-transplant between 2001 and 2015 were studied. Patients were excluded if they received cord blood or identical twin transplant, total body irradiation in conditioning, or graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis with in vitro T-cell depletion.

Noninfectious neurologic complications of hematopoietic cell transplantation: A systematic review.

Objective/background: Neurological complications occur at a high frequency after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). However, an absence is noted in the published literature as regards the quantification of the exact burden and the outcomes thereof. In this systematic review, we endeavored to detail if the recipients of HCT developed any noninfectious neurological events/complications.

Adaptive response to inflammation contributes to sustained myelopoiesis and confers a competitive advantage in myelodysplastic syndrome HSCs.

Despite evidence of chronic inflammation in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and cell-intrinsic dysregulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling in MDS hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), the mechanisms responsible for the competitive advantage of MDS HSPCs in an inflammatory milieu over normal HSPCs remain poorly defined. Here, we found that chronic inflammation was a determinant for the competitive advantage of MDS HSPCs and for disease progression. The cell-intrinsic response of MDS HSPCs, which involves signaling through the noncanonical NF-κB pathway, protected these cells from chronic inflammation as compared to normal HSPCs.

Age adjusted hematopoietic stem cell transplant comorbidity index predicts survival in a T-cell depleted cohort.

Objectives: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) continues to evolve with the treatment in higher risk patient population. This practice mandates stringent update and validation of risk stratification prior to undergoing such a complex and potentially fatal procedure. We examined the adoption of the new comorbidity index (HCT-CI/Age) proposed by the Seattle group after the addition of age variable and compared it to the pre-transplant assessment of mortality (PAM) that already incorporates age as part of its evaluation criteria.

Cytomegalovirus reactivation is associated with a lower rate of early relapse in myeloid malignancies independent of in-vivo T cell depletion strategy.

The association between cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation and relapse risk has not been evaluated in relation to T cell depletion strategies. We evaluated 93 patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and analyzed the association between T cell depletion strategies with the cumulative incidence of relapse and CMV reactivation. A total of 33% of patients who received ATG vs.

Blinatumomab may induce graft versus host leukemia in patients with pre-B ALL relapsing after hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Blinatumomab, a bispecific T-cell engager monoclonal antibody used to manage Philadelphia chromosome-negative relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can be used to treat patients by inducing graft versus leukemia reaction post allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, a feature which it was post allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, a feature which this drug was not aimed to do.

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease: a rare disease with an unusual presentation.

IgG4-RD can also present in the skeletal muscle, mimicking several other diseases. It is unusual for this relatively new classification of diseases to present in the muscles and can be mistakenly diagnosed as other autoimmune diseases rendering a delay in the appropriate management and progression of the disease.

Concomitant Renal Cell Carcinoma and Hematologic Malignancy in Immunosuppressed Patients.

Objectives: Treatment of a renal mass in patients with hematologic malignancy or on immunosuppression can be complex and is not well defined. Surgical excision or thermal ablation of renal mass is generally recommended in view of concern for tumor progression in immunosuppressed patients. We report our management decision experience in patients and literature review on concomitant renal and hematologic malignancy.

Exploring the possibilities: airspace disease in the postallogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant period.

A 50-year-old man with a history of myelodysplastic syndrome status postallogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in July 2013 presented in January 2014 with a 6-week history of worsening shortness of breath and dry cough. Chest imaging revealed scattered groundglass opacities in the upper lobes bilaterally and two areas of focal consolidation on the left side. Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage grew methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and the patient was treated with a prolonged course of vancomycin without improvement in symptoms or oxygenation.

Evaluating the optimal serum ferritin level to identify hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in the critical care setting.

Ferritin is known to be involved in numerous physiological roles, such as iron storage, as well as various pathological conditions and in generalized inflammatory states. Hyperferritinemia is also encountered in the setting of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Current diagnostic criteria exist to define HLH based on several clinical and biochemical markers, including the serum ferritin level.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma: Guidelines from the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Therapeutic strategies for multiple myeloma (MM) have changed dramatically over the past decade. Thus, the role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) must be considered in the context of this evolution. In this evidence-based review, we have critically analyzed the data from the most recent clinical trials to better understand how to incorporate HCT and when HCT is indicated.

High incidence of severe acute graft-versus-host disease with tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil in a large cohort of related and unrelated allogeneic transplantation patients.

Both acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). The optimal pharmacological regimen for GVHD prophylaxis is unclear, but combinations of a calcineurin inhibitor (cyclosporin or tacrolimus [Tac]) and an antimetabolite (methotrexate or mycophenolate mofetil [MMF]) are typically used. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical outcomes of 414 consecutive patients who underwent AHSCT from sibling (SD) or unrelated donors (UD) with Tac/MMF combination, between January 2005 and August 2010.

Phase I trial of bortezomib during maintenance phase after high dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma.

We enrolled 15 patients in this phase I dose de-escalation trial. Twelve patients are evaluable. The primary objective was to determine the safest and best tolerated maintenance dosing (MD) of bortezomib (B).

Anti-thymocyte globulin (thymoglobulin), tacrolimus, and sirolimus as acute graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis for unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We prospectively evaluated the efficacy of intermediate-dose rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (Thymoglobulin® a total of 4.5 mg/kg given over days -3, -2, and -1) in combination with tacrolimus and sirolimus for the prevention of aGVHD.