Treatment pattern and outcomes of re-induction therapy prior to stem cell transplantation in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma in Germany.

There are limited data guiding choice of re-induction therapies for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) prior to stem cell transplantation (SCT). We performed a retrospective medical chart review of 171 patients with RRMM in Germany who received re-induction therapy in second line (78%; n = 134) or third line (22%; n = 37) prior to re-SCT. Index therapy was defined as first completed re-induction therapy for planned myeloablative conditioning and SCT in second/third line within the eligibility period (1/2016-12/2019).

Supporting regional pandemic management by enabling self-service reporting-A case report.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic revealed a need for better collaboration among research, care, and management in Germany as well as globally. Initially, there was a high demand for broad data collection across Germany, but as the pandemic evolved, localized data became increasingly necessary. Customized dashboards and tools were rapidly developed to provide timely and accurate information.

Primary prophylaxis of invasive fungal diseases in patients with haematological malignancies: 2022 update of the recommendations of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society for Haematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO).

Patients with haematological malignancies (HM) are at high risk of developing invasive fungal disease (IFD) with high morbidity and attributable mortality. We reviewed data published until September 2021 to update the 2017 antifungal prophylaxis recommendations of the German Society of Haematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO). The strong recommendation to administer antifungal prophylaxis in patients with HM with long-lasting neutropenia, i.

Targeting the undruggable: menin inhibitors ante portas.

Acute myeloid leukaemias harbouring a rearrangement of the mixed lineage leukaemia gene (MLL) are aggressive haematopoietic malignancies that relapse early and have a poor prognosis (event-free survival less than 50%). Menin is a tumour suppressor, however, in MLL-rearranged leukaemias it functions as a co-factor which is mandatory for the leukaemic transformation by interaction with the N-terminal part of MLL, which is maintained in all MLL-fusion proteins. Inhibition of menin blocks leukaemogenesis and leads to differentiation and, in turn, to apoptosis of leukaemic blasts.

Neurofilament proteins as a potential biomarker in chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathy.

BACKGROUNDPaclitaxel chemotherapy frequently induces dose-limiting sensory axonal polyneuropathy. Given that sensory symptoms are challenging to assess objectively in clinical practice, an easily accessible biomarker for chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathy (CIPN) holds the potential to improve early diagnosis. Here, we describe neurofilament light chain (NFL), a marker for neuroaxonal damage, as a translational surrogate marker for CIPN.

Adherence to the EAU Guideline Recommendations for Local Tumor Treatment in Penile Cancer: Results of the European PROspective Penile Cancer Study Group Survey (E-PROPS).

Introduction: Penile cancer (PeCa) is an orphan disease in European countries. The current guidelines are predominantly based on retrospective studies with a low level of evidence. In our study, we aimed to identify predictors for guideline-conform treatment and hypothesize that reference centers for PeCa and physicians' experience promote guideline compliance and therefore correct local tumor therapy.

Sterility release testing of peripheral blood stem cells for transplantation: impact of culture bottles and incubation temperature.

Background: Sterility testing of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) is mandatory before release. As antibiotic treatment of the PBSC donor may result in false-negative results, PBSC matrix validation must be carried out.

Study Design And Methods: Three spiked PBSCs and a buffy coat (BC; control matrix) were analyzed using the blood culture device BacT/ALERT 3D with the low-temperature module.

Detection of the relatively slow-growing Propionibacterium acnes in seven matrices of blood components and advanced therapeutical medicinal products.

Background: Relatively slow-growing bacteria like Propionibacterium acnes represent a challenge for quality control investigations in sterility release testing of blood components and advanced therapeutic medicinal products (ATMPs).

Methods: A convenient validation with 7 matrices was performed using buffy coat, stem cells, islet cells, natural killer cells, red blood cells, platelets and plasma in the microbial detection system Bact/Alert3D incubator. All matrix samples were spiked twofold with Propionibacterium acnes with approximately 50 colony forming units (CFUs) per bottle in iAST and iNST culture bottles for 14days using a multishot bioball.

FISH--a new noninvasive method for the diagnosis of urinary bladder carcinomas.

Urinary bladder carcinoma is one of the most frequent malignant tumour diseases. The frequency increases with advancing age. The knowledge increase about genetic changes in tumour cells opens the possibility of a new noninvasive diagnosis with the help of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Contamination of bronchoscopes with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and successful sterilization by low-temperature hydrogen peroxide plasma sterilization.

Background: The transmission of mycobacteria by bronchoscopes has been reported several times in the last years. To explore methods to prevent transmission of tuberculosis in this way, we sterilized contaminated bronchoscopes with low-temperature hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization.

Methods: Bronchoscopes were contaminated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and decontaminated with a washer/disinfector ("normal washing").