Quality control and quantification in IG/TR next-generation sequencing marker identification: protocols and bioinformatic functionalities by EuroClonality-NGS.

Assessment of clonality, marker identification and measurement of minimal residual disease (MRD) of immunoglobulin (IG) and T cell receptor (TR) gene rearrangements in lymphoid neoplasms using next-generation sequencing (NGS) is currently under intensive development for use in clinical diagnostics. So far, however, there is a lack of suitable quality control (QC) options with regard to standardisation and quality metrics to ensure robust clinical application of such approaches. The EuroClonality-NGS Working Group has therefore established two types of QCs to accompany the NGS-based IG/TR assays.

A retrospective, multicenter study of the efficacy of lapatinib plus trastuzumab in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients previously treated with trastuzumab, lapatinib, or both: the Trastyvere study.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lapatinib (L) and trastuzumab (T) combination in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients previously treated with T and/or L.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective, post-authorized, multicenter study including patients with HER2-positive MBC or locally advanced breast cancer (ABC) treated with the combination of L-T. Concomitant endocrine therapy, as well as brain metastasis and/or prior exposure to L, were allowed.

Role of urine immunofixation in the complete response assessment of MM patients other than light-chain-only disease.

Response criteria for multiple myeloma (MM) require monoclonal protein (M-protein)-negative status on both serum immunofixation electrophoresis (sIFE) and urine (uIFE) immunofixation electrophoresis for classification of complete response (CR). However, uIFE is not always performed for sIFE-negative patients. We analyzed M-protein evaluations from 384 MM patients (excluding those with light-chain-only disease) treated in the GEM2012MENOS65 (NCT01916252) trial to determine the uIFE-positive rate in patients who became sIFE-negative posttreatment and evaluate rates of minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative status and progression-free survival (PFS) among patients achieving CR, CR but without uIFE available (uncertain CR; uCR), or very good partial response (VGPR).

Involvement of antifactor VIII autoantibodies specificity in the outcome of inhibitor eradication therapies in acquired hemophilia a patients.

: We hypothesized that inhibitor specificity may predict the outcome of antifactor VIII autoantibodies eradication treatment in acquired hemophilia A. Our objective was to analyze the association between factor VIII domains recognized by inhibitors and outcome of the immunosuppressive therapies (ISTs) in a prospective, observational study. 16 patients were recruited.

Serial Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Identify Early Stages of Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity.

Background: Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity is a major clinical problem, and early cardiotoxicity markers are needed.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify early doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by serial multiparametric cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and its pathological correlates in a large animal model.

Methods: Twenty pigs were included.

Author Correction: Donor lymphocyte infusions for B-cell malignancies relapse after T-cell replete allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

In the original version of this article, author 'Lucia López-Corral' was incorrectly listed as 'Lucia López'. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the article to 'Lucia López-Corral'.

Phase II, Multicenter, Single-arm Trial of Eribulin as First-line Therapy for Patients With Aggressive Taxane-pretreated HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer: The MERIBEL Study.

Background: Eribulin has efficacy in patients with progression after ≥ 1 chemotherapeutic regimen for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). A short disease-free interval (DFI) and previous use of taxanes in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting have been associated with worse outcomes for patients receiving first-line chemotherapy for HER2-negative MBC. The aim of the present trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of eribulin as first-line therapy for patients with HER2-negative MBC with these poor prognostic factors.

Bendamustine as part of conditioning of autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with aggressive lymphoma: a phase 2 study from the GELTAMO group.

We conducted a phase 2 trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of bendamustine instead of BCNU (carmustine) in the BEAM (BCNU, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan) regimen (BendaEAM) as conditioning for autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with aggressive lymphomas. The primary endpoint was 3-year progression-free survival (PFS). Sixty patients (median age 55 [28-71] years) were included.

Hidden myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS): A prospective study to confirm or exclude MDS in patients with anemia of uncertain etiology.

Introduction: Diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) when anemia is the only abnormality can be complicated. The aim of our study was to investigate the primary causes of anemia and/or macrocytosis of uncertain etiology.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective study over 4 months in three hematology laboratories.

Long-term response to first-line bevacizumab-based therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer: results of the observational "LORENA" study.

Background: Randomized controlled trials of the first-line combination of bevacizumab and chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) have shown improvements in tumor response and progression-free survival (PFS).

Objective: The aim of this ambispective, observational study (LORENA) was to describe the clinical characteristics of long-term responders to bevacizumab-based therapy.

Patients And Methods: This study consisted of a retrospective and a prospective phase.

Prognostic utility of serum free light chain ratios and heavy-light chain ratios in multiple myeloma in three PETHEMA/GEM phase III clinical trials.

We investigated the prognostic impact and clinical utility of serum free light chains (sFLC) and serum heavy-light chains (sHLC) in patients with multiple myeloma treated according to the GEM2005MENOS65, GEM2005MAS65, and GEM2010MAS65 PETHEMA/GEM phase III clinical trials. Serum samples collected at diagnosis were retrospectively analyzed for sFLC (n = 623) and sHLC (n = 183). After induction or autologous transplantation, 309 and 89 samples respectively were available for sFLC and sHLC assays.

Sitosterolemia: Diagnosis, Metabolic and Hematological Abnormalities, Cardiovascular Disease and Management.

Sitosterolemia is a recessive inherited metabolic disorder of unknown prevalence, characterized by increased levels of plasma plant sterols. It is caused by 28 and 31 variants in ABCG5 and ABCG8 genes, respectively, and is characterized by a predisposition to hyperabsorption and accumulation of toxic levels of plant sterols in plasma. Its clinical picture is extremely heterogeneous.

Three-year interim results of overall and progression-free survival in a cohort of patients with prostate cancer (GESCAP group).

Aims: To describe the 3-year progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and disease-specific mortality in the prospective prostate cancer GESCAP cohort, as well as the progression to castration resistance in patients on hormone therapy.

Material And Methods: Prospective, observational, epidemiological, multicentre study. Of the 4087 patients recruited, 3843 were evaluable.

Eltrombopag in immune thrombocytopenia: efficacy review and update on drug safety.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder that induces a decrease in the number of circulating platelets due to spleen destruction and inability of megakaryocytes to restore normal counts. Immunosuppressive therapy with glucocorticoid drugs constitutes the first line of treatment. However, lack of response to these agents is not uncommon, and the management of refractory patients is a matter of controversy.

Reduced intensity conditioning increases risk of severe cGVHD: identification of risk factors for cGVHD in a multicenter setting.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Aim is to identify risk factors for the development of cGVHD in a multicenter setting. Patients transplanted between 2000 and 2006 were analyzed (n = 820).

A new prognostic model identifies patients aged 80 years and older with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who may benefit from curative treatment: A multicenter, retrospective analysis by the Spanish GELTAMO group.

The means of optimally managing very elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has not been established. We retrospectively analyzed 252 patients aged 80-100 years, diagnosed with DLBCL or grade 3B follicular lymphoma, treated in 19 hospitals from the GELTAMO group. Primary objective was to analyze the influence of the type of treatment and comorbidity scales on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Hemorrhagic pericardial effusion as the debut of acquired hemophilia in a chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient: A case report, and a review of acquired hemophilia A-related hematological malignancies.

Background: Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare bleeding disease caused by autoantibodies against factor VIII. Spontaneous bleeding symptoms usually affect the skin and muscle, while pericardial effusion is an extremely rare manifestation. In the elderly, anticoagulant treatment is frequent and bleeding symptoms are usually associated with this.

Does renal function affect the efficacy or safety of a pharmacoinvasive strategy in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction? A meta-analysis.

Background: The efficacy and safety of pharmacoinvasive strategy following fibrinolysis for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in relation to renal function have not been established.

Methods: Using patient-level data from 4 randomized controlled trials, we examined the efficacy and safety of pharmacoinvasive versus standard treatment after fibrinolysis for STEMI. Patients were stratified based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on presentation (<60 mL/min/1.

SEOM clinical guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of glioblastoma (2017).

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common brain malignancy and accounts for over 50% of all high-grade gliomas. Radiotherapy (RT) with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy is the current standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed GB up to age 70. Recently, a new standard of care has been adopted for elderly patients (≥ 65 years) based on short course of RT and TMZ.