Search

MELD exceptions are designed to equipoise liver transplant waiting list survival. We aimed to analyze the impact of the MELD Upgrade rule and all other MELD exceptions on the liver transplant waiting list outcomes during 2012-2017 in Switzerland.We conducted a nationwide cohort study including all adult patients registered on the Swiss liver transplant waiting list between 2012 and 2017. Waiting list mortality and access to transplantation were analyzed, considering MELD exceptions as time-dependent covariates.730 patients were included. Patients with MELD Upgrade exceptions had a higher risk of dying while on the waiting list (OR 2.13; CI 95% 1.30-3.47) and also an increased likelihood of receiving a liver transplantation, when compared to patients without MELD exceptions. Patients with any type of MELD exceptions were more likely to be transplanted when compared to patients without MELD exceptions. The proportion of patients with MELD exceptions increased from 2012 to 2017 (44% vs 88%). Allocation MELD at the time of transplantation showed an annual increase (23 ± 8 points vs 32 ± 5 points, p 0.001).Only patients with MELD Upgrade exceptions had the expected combination of higher waiting list mortality and quicker access to liver transplantation.

Background: Data on individualized immunosuppressive protocols for the pediatric heart recipients are missing in Europe. To contribute to this very small but specialized field, we describe the use of induction therapy (IT) in pediatric heart transplant patients in Switzerland and the retrospective outcomes. Method: This is a retrospective national database analysis of children

The development of tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has improved survival of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Some patients may become resistant to TKIs and require hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) that is highly gonadotoxic. Fertility preservation with ovarian stimulation might be indicated but is challenging if patients need to remain on TKIs until HSCT because TKIs may compromise follicular development and response to ovarian stimulation. We report the case of a patient with CML resistant to TKI and planned for an HSCT, in which treatment by TKI was replaced by interferon-α before and during ovarian stimulation for fertility preservation. Successful ovarian stimulation was performed, allowing cryopreservation of nine zygotes. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was performed, and at present, 3 years later, the patient presents a sustained major molecular response.

Background: Lung transplantation (LT) is a recognized treatment for end-stage pulmonary disease. Bacteria from the recipient nasopharynx seed the new lungs leading to infections and allograft damage. Understanding the characteristics and topological variations of the microbiota may be important to apprehend the pathophysiology of allograft dysfunction. Objectives: To examine the characteristics and relationship of bacterial compositions between conducting and respiratory zones of the allograft. Methods: We performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing on bronchial aspirates (BAs) and bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs) collected in pairs in 19 patients at several time-points post-LT. Results: The respiratory zone was characterized independently of the time post-LT by a higher bacterial richness than the conducting zone (p = 0.041). The phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria dominated both sampling zones, with an inverse correlation between these two phyla (Spearman r = -0.830). Samples of the same pair, as well as pairs from the same individual clustered together (Pseudo-F = 3.8652, p < 0.01). Microbiota of BA and BAL were more closely related in samples from the same patient than each sample type across different patients, with variation in community structure being mainly inter-individual (p < 0.01). Both number of antibiotics administered (p < 0.01) and time interval post-LT (p < 0.01) contributed to the variation in global microbiota structure. Longitudinal analysis of BA-BAL pairs of two patients showed dynamic wave like fluctuations of the microbiota. Conclusions: Our results show that post-transplant respiratory zones harbor higher bacterial richness, but overall similar bacterial profiles as compared to conductive zones. They further support an individual microbial signature following LT.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors represent today's treatment of choice in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is regarded as salvage therapy. This prospective randomized CML-study IIIA recruited 669 patients with newly diagnosed CML between July 1997 and January 2004 from 143 centers. Of these, 427 patients were considered eligible for HSCT and were randomized by availability of a matched family donor between primary HSCT (group A; N=166 patients) and best available drug treatment (group B; N=261). Primary end point was long-term survival. Survival probabilities were not different between groups A and B (10-year survival: 0.76 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69-0.82) vs 0.69 (95% CI: 0.61-0.76)), but influenced by disease and transplant risk. Patients with a low transplant risk showed superior survival compared with patients with high- (P

This trial was aimed to explore the efficacy of pegfilgrastim to accelerate neutrophil engraftment after stem cell autotransplant. Twenty patients with multiple myeloma and 20 with lymphoma received pegfilgrastim 6 mg on day +1. Forty cases treated with daily filgrastim starting at median day +7 (5-7), matched by age, sex, diagnosis, high-dose chemotherapy schedule, CD34 + cell-dose, and prior therapy lines, were used for comparison. Median time to neutrophil engraftment was 9.5 vs. 11 days for pegfilgrastim and filgrastim, respectively (p0.0001). Likewise, duration of neutropenia, intravenous antibiotic use, and hospitalization favored pegfilgrastim, while platelet engraftment, transfusion requirement, and fever duration were equivalent in both groups. No grade ≥ 3 toxicities were observed. Patients with lymphoma performed similarly to the entire cohort, while patients with myeloma showed faster neutrophil engraftment and shorter neutropenia but not shorter hospitalization and antibiotic use. The possibility of different outcomes for lymphoma and myeloma suggests that stratification by diagnosis may be useful in future phase III studies.

Primary systemic amyloidosis (AL amyloidosis) continues to have a very poor prognosis. Most therapeutic strategies remain unsatisfactory. Conventional chemotherapy is known to offer at best only moderate efficacy. Several studies have yielded higher complete response rates after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in addition to improving outcomes in a subgroup of patients. However, the superiority of an intensive approach in AL amyloidosis has not been confirmed in a randomised trial. The precise role of ASCT remains unclear. We report our experience in 16 patients diagnosed with AL amyloidosis and treated in a multidisciplinary approach with high-dose melphalan and ASCT. Median age was 59 (39-71) years. The kidneys were predominantly affected in 75% of cases; two or more organs were affected in 38%. Median time from diagnosis to transplantation was 2 (1-4) months. Three patients (19%) developed acute renal failure and required transient dialysis. Transplant-related mortality was 6% after 100 days. Haematological complete response (CR) was obtained in nine (56%) and organ response in six (38%) patients. Nine out of 12 patients (75%) with kidney involvement exhibited a sustained clinical benefit at 12 months. Half of all the patients (n = 8) were alive after a median follow-up of 33 months, including two in continuous CR. This suggests that high-dose chemotherapy and ASCT are still valid treatment options in AL amyloidosis and that a significant number of patients with renal involvement might benefit from this approach.

There are conflicting data on the role of the lectin pathway of complement activation and its recognition molecules in acute rejection and outcome after transplantation. To help resolve this we analyzed polymorphisms and serum levels of lectin pathway components in 710 consecutive kidney transplant recipients enrolled in the nationwide Swiss Transplant Cohort Study, together with all biopsy-proven rejection episodes and 1-year graft and patient survival. Functional mannose-binding lectin (MBL) levels were determined in serum samples, and previously described MBL2, ficolin 2, and MBL-associated serine protease 2 polymorphisms were genotyped. Low MBL serum levels and deficient MBL2 diplotypes were associated with a higher incidence of acute cellular rejection during the first year, in particular in recipients of deceased-donor kidneys. This association remained significant (hazard ratio 1.75, 95% confidence interval 1.18-2.60) in a Cox regression model after adjustment for relevant covariates. In contrast, there was no significant association with rates of antibody-mediated rejection, patient death, early graft dysfunction or loss. Thus, results in a prospective multicenter contemporary cohort suggest that MBL2 polymorphisms result in low MBL serum levels and are associated with acute cellular rejection after kidney transplantation. Since MBL deficiency is a relatively frequent trait in the normal population, our findings may lead to individual risk stratification and customized immunosuppression.

AIMS: The aims of this observational study were to assess the variability in imatinib pharmacokinetics and to explore the relationship between its disposition and various biological covariates, especially plasma alpha1-acid glycoprotein concentrations. METHODS: A population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using NONMEM based on 321 plasma samples from 59 patients with either chronic myeloid leukaemia or gastrointestinal stromal tumours. The influence of covariates on oral clearance and volume of distribution was examined. Furthermore, the in vivo intracellular pharmacokinetics of imatinib was explored in five patients. RESULTS: A one-compartment model with first-order absorption appropriately described the data, giving a mean (+/-SEM) oral clearance of 14.3 l h-1 (+/-1.0) and a volume of distribution of 347 l (+/-62). Oral clearance was influenced by body weight, age, sex and disease diagnosis. A large proportion of the interindividual variability (36% of clearance and 63% of volume of distribution) remained unexplained by these demographic covariates. Plasma alpha1-acid glycoprotein concentrations had a marked influence on total imatinib concentrations. Moreover, we observed an intra/extracellular ratio of 8, suggesting substantial uptake of the drug into the target cells. CONCLUSION: Because of the high pharmacokinetic variability of imatinib and the reported relationships between its plasma concentration and efficacy and toxicity, the usefulness of therapeutic drug monitoring as an aid to optimizing therapy should be further investigated. Ideally, such an approach should take account of either circulating alpha1-acid glycoprotein concentrations or free imatinib concentrations.

A sensitive HPLC method has been developed for the assay of imatinib in human plasma, by off-line solid-phase extraction followed by HPLC coupled with UV-Diode Array Detection. Plasma (750 microl), with clozapine added as internal standard, is diluted 3 + 1 with water and subjected to a solid-phase extraction on a C18 cartridge. After matrix components elimination with 2000 microl of water (in two aliquots of 1000 microl), imatinib is eluted with 3 x 500 microl MeOH. The resulting eluate is evaporated under nitrogen at room temperature and is reconstituted in 180 microl 50% methanol. A 50 microl volume is injected onto a Nucleosil 100-5 microm C18 AB column. Imatinib is analyzed using a gradient elution program with solvent mixture constituted of methanol and water containing both 0.05% ammonium acetate. Imatinib is detected by UV at 261 nm. The calibration curves are linear between 0.1 and 10 microg/ml. The limit of quantification and detection are 0.05 and 0.01 microg/ml, respectively. The mean absolute recovery of imatinib is 96%. The method is precise with mean inter-day CVs within 1.1-2.4%, and accurate (range of inter-day deviations -0.6 to +0.7%). The method has been validated and is currently being applied in a clinical study assessing the imatinib plasma concentration variability in a population of chronic myeloid leukemia- and gastro-intestinal stromal tumor-patients.

The effects of two nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors with different isoform selectivity were compared in a murine model of endotoxemia. Mice challenged with 70 mg/kg intraperitoneal (ip) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were treated 6 h after LPS with either NG-gamma-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, nonselective NOS inhibitor, 10-60 mg/kg), L-canavanine (selective inhibitor of inducible NOS, 50-300 mg/kg), or saline (0.2 mL) given ip. In a subset of mice, plasma concentrations of nitrate (NO breakdown product), lipase (pancreas injury), lactate dehydrogenase, and transaminases (liver injury) were measured 16 h after LPS. Although both inhibitors reduced plasma nitrate, they produced contrasting effects on survival and organ injury. L-NAME enhanced liver damage and tended to accelerate the time of death, while L-canavanine significantly reduced mortality and had no deleterious effects in terms of organ damage. These results indicate that nonselective NOS inhibitors are detrimental in endotoxic shock and support the potential usefulness of selective inducible NOS inhibitors in this setting.

S-methyl-isothiourea (SMT) is a potent inhibitor of NO synthase (NOS) with relative selectivity towards the inducible isoform (iNOS). We compared SMT and norepinephrine for the treatment of experimental endotoxic shock. Anesthetized rats challenged intravenously with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 10 mg/kg, were treated after 1 h with a 4-h infusion of norepinephrine (titrated to maintain blood pressure within baseline values), SMT at low dose (0.1 mg x kg-1 x h-1), or at high dose (1 mg x kg-1 x h-1), or an equivalent volume of saline (2 ml x kg-1 x h-1). In saline-treated animals, LPS increased plasma nitrate and produced hypotension, low cardiac output (CO), lactic acidosis, and signs of liver and kidney dysfunction. Norepinephrine maintained blood pressure (BP) and reduced the fall in CO, without affecting lactic acidosis, organ dysfunction, and nitrate accumulation. The latter was dose-dependently blunted by SMT. Treatment with this agent prevented hypotension, through systemic vasoconstriction with the high dose and a maintained CO with the low dose. Low, but not high, dose SMT blunted lactic acidosis. Both doses reduced the signs of renal, but not liver, dysfunction. In additional studies, we obtained evidence that, in contrast with the high dose, SMT at low dose did not interfere with the function of constitutive NOS. These findings suggest a potential advantage of selective iNOS inhibition over standard adrenergic support in the therapy of septic shock.

1 An enhanced production of nitric oxide (NO) from L-arginine, related to the diffuse expression of an inducible NO synthase (iNOS), contributes to the pathogenesis of endotoxic shock. Since iNOS activity depends on extracellular L-arginine, we hypothesized that limiting cellular L-arginine uptake would reduce NO production in endotoxic shock. We investigated the effects of L-lysine, an inhibitor of L-arginine uptake through system y+, on NO production, multiple organ dysfunction and lactate levels, in normal and endotoxaemic rats. 2 Anaesthetized rats challenged with intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 mg kg−1) received a 5 h infusion of either L-lysine (500 μmol kg−1 h−1, n=12) or isotonic saline (2 ml kg−1 h−1, n=11). In rats treated with saline, LPS produced a large increase in plasma nitrate and L-citrulline concentrations at 5 h, both markers of enhanced NO production. LPS also caused severe hypotension, low cardiac output and marked hyperlactataemia. All these changes were significantly reduced byL-lysine administration. 3 Endotoxaemia also caused a significant rise in the plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), lipase, urea and creatinine, and hence, liver, pancreatic and renal dysfunction. These changes tended to be less pronounced in rats treated with L-lysine, although the differences did not reach statistical significance. 4 Similar experiments were conducted in 10 rats challenged with LPS vehicle in place of LPS and then treated with L-lysine (500 μmol kg−1 h−1, n=5) or saline (2 ml kg−1 h−1, n=5) for 5 h. In these animals, all the haemodynamic and metabolic variables remained stable and not statistically different between both treatment groups, except for a slight rise in ALAT, which was comparable in L-lysine and saline-treated rats. 5 In conclusion, L-lysine, an inhibitor of cellular L-arginine uptake, reduces NO production and exerts beneficial haemodynamic effects in endotoxaemic rats. L-lysine also reduces hyperlactataemia and tends to blunt the development of organ injury in these animals. Contrastingly, L-lysine has no effects in the absence of endotoxin and thus appears to act as a selective modulator of iNOS activity. British Journal of Pharmacology (1997) 122, 742–748; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0701419

1. The cardiovascular failure in sepsis may result from increased nitric oxide biosynthesis, through the diffuse expression of an inducible nitric oxide synthase. In such conditions, nitric oxide synthase inhibitors might be of therapeutic value, but detrimental side effects have been reported with their use, possibly related to the blockade of constitutive nitric oxide synthase. Therefore, the use of selective inhibitors of inducible nitric oxide synthase might be more suitable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of l-canavanine, a potentially selective inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase, in an animal model of septic shock. 2. Anaesthetized rats were challenged with 10 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide intravenously. One hour later, they randomly received a 5 h infusion of either l-canavanine (20 mg h−1 kg−1, n = 15), nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (5 mgh−1 kg−1, n = 13) or 0.9% NaCl (2 ml h−1 kg−1, n = 21). Lipopolysaccharide induced a progressive fall in blood pressure and cardiac index, accompanied by a significant lactic acidosis and a marked rise in plasma nitrate. All these changes were significantly attenuated by l-canavanine, which also improved the tolerance of endotoxaemic animals to acute episodes of hypovolemia. In addition, l-canavanine significantly increased survival of mice challenged with a lethal dose of lipopolysaccharide. In contrast to l-canavanine, nitro-l-arginine methyl ester increased blood pressure at the expense of a severe fall in cardiac index, while largely enhancing lactic acidosis. This agent did not improve survival of endotoxaemic mice. In additional experiments, we found that the pressor effect of l-canavanine in advanced endotoxaemia (4 h) was reversed by l-arginine, confirming that it was related to nitric oxide synthase inhibition. In contrast, l-canavanine did not exert any influence on blood pressure in the very early stage (first hour) of endotoxaemia or in the absence of lipopolysaccharide exposure, indicating a lack of constitutive nitric oxide synthase inhibition by this agent. 3. In conclusion, l-canavanine produced beneficial haemodynamic and metabolic effects and improved survival in rodent endotoxic shock. The actions of l-canavanine were associated with a selective inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase and were in marked contrast to the deleterious consequences of nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, a non-selective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, in similar conditions.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has been successfully used in HIV-related lymphoma (HIV-Ly) patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy. We report the first comparative analysis between HIV-Ly and a matched cohort of HIV− lymphoma patients. This retrospective European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation study included 53 patients (66% non-Hodgkin and 34% Hodgkin lymphoma) within each cohort. Both groups were comparable except for the higher proportion of males, mixed-cellularity Hodgkin lymphoma and patients receiving granulocyte colony-stimulating factor before engraftment and a smaller proportion receiving total body irradiation-based conditioning within the HIV-Ly cohort. Incidence of relapse, overall survival, and progression-free survival were similar in both cohorts. A higher nonrelapse mortality within the first year after ASCT was observed in the HIV-Ly group (8% vs 2%), predominantly because of early bacterial infections, although this was not statistically significant and did not influence survival. Thus, within the highly active antiretroviral therapy era, HIV patients should be considered for ASCT according to the same criteria adopted for HIV− lymphoma patients.

Background: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a life-threatening complication of immunosuppression following transplantation. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and gammopathy in serum are associated with PTLD, but these two parameters have not been evaluated in parallel for their association with PTLD. Methods: We evaluated the incidence of EBV load positivity, gammopathy, and protein expression in sera from all PTLD patients diagnosed at our hospital during the past seven yr. Results were compared with those of a control group including matched transplanted patients who did not develop PTLD. Results: Seven of 10 PTLD patients presented EBV+ PTLD, for which five patients had detectable serum EBV DNA levels compared with none of 38 controls (RR between two groups =121, p

The definitive diagnosis of several hematological diseases, as for instance leukaemias, unexplained pancytopenias and other bone marrow disorders, requires a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. Not only haematologists, but also internists, need to master this rather invasive procedure. The knowledge of indications, contra-indications, potential complications and their prevention of its complications is of utmost importance. This article reviews these topics about bone marrow biopsy, giving some practical advices on this procedure.

Imatinib has revolutionised the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST). Using a nonlinear mixed effects population model, individual estimates of pharmacokinetic parameters were derived and used to estimate imatinib exposure (area under the curve, AUC) in 58 patients. Plasma-free concentration was deduced from a model incorporating plasma levels of alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein. Associations between AUC (or clearance) and response or incidence of side effects were explored by logistic regression analysis. Influence of KIT genotype was also assessed in GIST patients. Both total (in GIST) and free drug exposure (in CML and GIST) correlated with the occurrence and number of side effects (e.g. odds ratio 2.7+/-0.6 for a two-fold free AUC increase in GIST; P

Abstract 4355 Little is known about the additional benefit of Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT) as consolidation treatment of NHL in 1st CR in HIV+ patients. We herein report a comparative analysis of HIV+ patients with a LBCL treated with chemotherapy (chemo) followed by ASCT and a matched cohort of HIV+ patients treated with chemo alone. Methodology Retrospective, registry-based, matched cohort study. ASCT cohort: patients with diffuse large B-cell (DLBC) or plasmablastic NHL treated with ASCT in 1st CR after standard chemo and reported to the EBMT Registry. Chemo cohort: For each patient within the ASCT cohort we selected two controls from the HIV+ patients with NHL GESIDA/PETHEMA registry. Patients in both cohorts were in 1st CR following front-line or rescue (for partially responding patients) chemo and were matched according to histology, IPI and the use of Rituximab. We compared overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS) and cumulative incidence (CI) of relapse between both cohorts. These primary outcomes were defined according to the EBMT. OS was computed from diagnosis while DFS and CI of relapse were computed from 3 weeks after the last standard chemo cycle administered (end of chemo). Results The ASCT cohort included 10 patients diagnosed between 1999 and 2005. The Chemo cohort included 20 patients, 16 diagnosed between 1999 and 2005. Both cohorts were comparable for the main clinical and patient features (Table 1). The median (range) follow-up (FU) time since the end of chemo for surviving patients was 56 months (mo) (24-106) in the ASCT cohort vs 37 mo (8-107.5) in the Chemo cohort; P=.28. Five years (yr) OS for the ASCT cohort and the Chemo cohort were 68.5% [CI95%: 39-98] and 46.5% [CI95%: 18-75], respectively; P=.6. Three yr DFS for the ASCT cohort and the Chemo cohort were 70% [CI95%: 41.5-98.5] and 59.5% [CI95%: 29-86]; respectively; P=.4. The CI of relapse in the ASCT cohort and the Chemo cohort were 21% [CI95%: 0-47] and 27% [CI95%: 2-51], respectively; P=.8 Conclusions In this retrospective registry-based, matched cohort study of HIV+ patients with large B-cell NHL we found a non-significant effect of ASCT as consolidation treatment in 1st CR patients, in terms of survival and relapse incidence. Nevertheless, due to the observed favorable tendency, future analysis including a higher number of patients and, eventually, randomized clinical studies, should be performed to further clarify these observations. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract 2274 Poster Board II-251 Introduction: Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) is regularly used after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant (ASCT) to accelerate neutrophil engraftment. The result is a reduction of the number of febrile days, antibiotic use and duration of hospitalization, resulting in a reduction of costs. Randomized trails demonstrated that further cost reduction is obtained by delaying the beginning of G-CSF therapy from day 1 to days 5-7 post transplant without significantly changing the time to neutrophil recovery, despite a trend to better results when the drug was started on day 1. Pegfilgrastim is a sustained duration form of filgrastim administered as a single-fixed s.c. dose, a schedule that is more patient friendly. Moreover, as the drug is given in a single shot, there is no need to delay the therapy to decrease treatment costs. This trial was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of pegfilgrastim to enhance neutrophil recovery after ASCT. Patients and Methods: in this bi-institutional phase II trial 40 patients with Multiple Myeloma (N=20), Hodgkin Lymphoma (N=8) and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (N=12) were accrued from January 2007 to December 2008. Pegfilgrastim 6 mg s.c. was administered on transplant day 1. Results were compared with a historical control group of 40 patients (20 with myeloma and 20 with lymphoma) treated with filgrastim 5μg/kg/d s.c. starting at median day 7 after transplant (range 3-7). All lymphoma patients (cases and controls) received BEAM as high dose schedule, while the 40 multiple myeloma patients were treted with MEL200. If tandem transplants were planned, only the first procedure was eligible to the study. Differences between groups were estimated by two-sample t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. A two sided p-value of Results: case and control populations were statistically similar in terms of age, sex, disease, conditioning regimen, CD34+ cell-dose and number of prior therapy lines. Median time to achieve a neutrophil count > 500/μl was 9.5 vs 11.3 days for case and controls, respectively (p 20000/μl was 11.9 vs 11.4 days (p=0.42); median duration of fever was 3.4 vs 4.6 days (p=0.3); median duration of i.v. antibiotic therapy was 4.2 vs 6.5 days (p=0.0007); median hospitalization duration was 14 vs 14.8 days (p=0.0184, N.S. at t-test). Both groups received an equal number of RBC and platelet transfusions. Pain was present in 12.5% of patients in the experimental group and lasted for a median of 3 days (2-9). No other toxicities related to pegfilgrastim were observed. The control group received a median of 6.5 doses of filgrastim (range 4-10). Market prices per treatment are 2076.75 vs 1534.90 Swiss Francs for pegfilgrastim and filgrastim, respectively. Conclusions: Pegfilgrastim given as a single dose of 6 mg s.c. on transplant day 1 accelerates neutrophil engraftment, shortens the duration of neutropenia and hospitalization and reduces the use of i.v. antibiotics compared to daily filgrastim. The 25% increase in costs when using pegfilgrastim is counterbalanced by a shorter time on antibiotics and a tendency to a shorter time in hospital. Disclosures: Wannesson: AMGEN: Research Funding. Off Label Use: Pegfilgrastim is a pegilated formulation of filgrastim, a reccombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor. It has a long half life allowing a single dose treatment instead of multiple repeated doses. In general it has been shown equivalent results comparing to filgrastim in all clinical settings, even if still off-label for some indications, like the post-autologous transplant support (matter of the present abstract). Ghielmini:AMGEN: Research Funding. Ketterer:AMGEN: Research Funding.

Several authors have reported ASCT as a feasible, safe and effective treatment in HIV associated lymphoma patients (pts) receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), particularly when being autografted with chemosensitive disease. To gain a better understanding of the usefulness of ASCT in HIV+ Lymphoma pts a retrospective comparative study (HIV+ vs HIV- lymphoma pts with ASCT) has been performed using the EBMT-LWP Registry. Methodology: Registry-based, retrospective, individually matched case-control analysis. Within the participating centres one or two HIV- controls for each HIV+ pt were selected from the registry with the following inclusion criteria: Known HIV serological status at ASCT, lymphoma (HL or NHL), ASCT performed between 1999 and 2006 and pts over 18 years of age. Two cohorts (HIV+ vs HIV-) were matched for histology, IPI at diagnosis (NHL), stage at diagnosis, disease status at ASCT, age at ASCT, year and country of ASCT. Results: 40 HIV+ lymphoma pts undergoing an ASCT were matched with 46 HIV- pts. Pts and transplant features are shown in table 1. With a median follow up of 36 mo, the differences regarding OS and PFS were not significant: 62% for HIV+ vs 69% for controls, and 56.5 vs 58%, respectively. No differences were seen regarding HL and NHL pts. An overall TRM of 10% was observed in the HIV cohort, mainly related to infections, while no cases of TRM were seen within the control arm. Since survival rates between the HIV+ and the matched HIV- lymphoma populations remained comparable, the HIV condition should not preclude these pts from being treated according to the same criteria as the HIV negative lymphoma population. Nevertheless, infectious complications should be cautiously followed within the HIV+ lymphoma pts undergoing an ASCT. Patients and transplant features HIV+ HIV- n=40 % n=46 % Age [Median (range)] in years 41.4 (29.2–62.5) 44 (16–62.4) p= NS Male sex 35 87.5 25 54.3 p=0.001 Histology DLBCL 24 60 25 54.3 p= NS Burkitt lymphoma 2 5 2 4.3 p= NS T-cell NHL 2 5 3 6.6 p= NS HL 12 30 16 34.8 p= NS Disease status at ASCT Complete remission (CR) 21 (12 in CR1) 52.5 (30 in CR1) 20 (11 in CR1) 43.5 (24 in CR1) p= NS Chemosensitive disease 16 40 25 54.3 p= NS Chemorefractory disease 3 7.5 1 2.2 p= NS CD34+ cells infused mill/kg [median (range)] 4.9 (1.6–21.2) 4.8 (0.9–21.2) p= NS G-CSF prior to engraftment 36 90 21 46 p= 0.0001 Neutrophil engraftment 39 98% 46 100 p= NS Cause of Death Relapse/progression 9 60% 10 84% p=0.08 Secondary malignancy 1 6.7% 1 8% p= NS Transplant-related deaths 4 26.7% 0 0% p=0.06 Other 1 6.7% 1 8% p= NS

It was demonstrated in a placebo controlled randomized study that Palifemin decrease the severity of oral mucositis in patients (pts) treated with total body irradiation (TBI), high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The benefit of this treatment in pts who are not receiving TBI-containing conditioning regimen is still unclear. We evaluated prospectively the effect of Palifermin on mucositis prevention in 34 consecutive pts treated with HDCT and ASCT compared to an historical group of pts who did not receive Palifermin. Between 03/2005 and 05/2006, 34 pts (Group A) treated with Melphalan 200 (n=15) or BEAM (n=19) gave informed consent and received 6 injections of 0.06 mg/kg of Palifermin (3 days (d.) before HDCT and 3 d. following ASCT). Four were excluded from efficacy analysis, 2 of them due to Melphalan dose reduction and 2 due to early discontinuation of Palifermin. They were compared to 77 pts (Group B) treated with Melphalan 200 (n=43) or BEAM (n=34) from 2003 to 2005. WHO grading was used for toxicity assessment. The median age was 55 years in group A (Range 28–67) and 54 years in group B (Range 19–66). The median count of CD34 cells/kg infused was 4.2 millions (Range 1.96–23.9) in group A and 3.85 millions (Range 1.8–16.2) in group B. The median time for engraftment was the same in both groups and was respectively 11 d. for neutrophils (Range 8–12) and 11 d. for platelets (Range 8–13) in group A, 11 d. for neutrophils (Range 8–13) and 11 d. for platelets (Range 8–18) in group B. Severe oral mucositis (Grade 3 and 4) was lower in group A (17%) than in group B (44%). The incidence of grade 2 or more digestive mucositis was similar in the 2 groups (66% vs.60%) as well as the total opioid use (43% vs 57%). All patients but one in the group B developed fever. Fever of unknown origin were more frequent in group A due to less fever attributed to grade 3 or 4 mucositis.In group A, all but 3 pts developed toxicities. Grade 3 or 4 toxicities consisted in erythematous rash in 15 pts (44%), generalized oedema in 2 and odynophagia in 1. Grade 1 or 2 toxicities were pruritis (24%), rash (32%), localized oedema (26%) and buccal discomfort (41%). 1 pt died at d.12 from an hemophagocytic syndroma and onother at d.90 from a rapidly progressive colorectal cancer. We conclude that the use of Palifermin reduced the incidence of grade 3 or 4 mucositis in our group of pts treated without TBI, but did not decrease either digestive mucositis or the use of morphinic. The benefit of Palifermin on mucositis prevention has still to be balanced again the risk of discomfort and toxicities of this drug. Large randomized studies are still needed before recommending the systematic administration of Palifermin to pts receiving Melphalan 200 or BEAM as conditioning regimen before ASCT.

Following the widespread use of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), ASCT has been reported as a feasible and effective treatment in the setting of HIV-Ly patients (pts). Nevertheless just series including up to 20 patients have been published so far. We present a preliminary analysis of the outcomes regarding the experience within the EBMT-LWP. Methodology: A retrospective analysis including HIV-Ly patients undergoing peripheral blood ASCT from 1999 to 2005 and reported to the EBMT was performed. Main endpoints: OS, EFS and TRM. Results: 44 pts from 14 institutions/7 countries were included: 39 males, median age 43 (29–62) years old. One pt underwent more than 1 ASCT (follow up censored at time of 2nd ASCT). In addition to HIV infection, 11 pts were co-infected by HBV, 8/43 by HCV and 16/36 pt met AIDS criteria (other than lymphoma) at the time of lymphoma diagnosis. Histology: 34 NHL (20 DLBCL; 7 Burkitt/Burkitt-like; 4 plasmablastic; 3 other), 59% of them with IPI>2 at diagnosis; 10 HL (50% with Ann-Arbor stage>IIB at diagnosis). Patients received a median of 2 (1–5) treatment lines pre-ASCT. Status at ASCT: 22 CR (13 in CR1); 18 in PR/chemo-sensitive relapse and 4 in primary induction failure/chemo-resistant relapse. Conditioning: 41 pts received BEAM/variants and 3 TBI-based regimens. Post-ASCT anti-tumour pre-emptive treatment was used in 10 pts (8 radiotherapy; 2 Rituximab). The median count of T-CD4+ cells/μl was 162 (8–702) at the time of ASCT; 26/38 had undetectable HIV viral loads. HAART was given in 39/42 pts during conditioning but was withdrawn in 9 of them. The median number of CD34+ cells infused was 5 (1,6–21,2) x106/kg. G-CSF was used until engraftment in 39/43 pt during a median of 8 (2–29) days. All pts but one who died on day +15 reached neutrophils>500/μl at a median time of 11 (8–36) days. Platelet count >20.000/μl was reached in 39/44 pt at a median time of 14 (6–455) days. The pt engrafting platelets on day +455 was transfusion independent since day +49. Three new post-ASCT malignancies were reported: in situ epitelioma and myelodysplasia (+4 years) in 1 pt, and kidney adenocarcinoma (+3 years) in another one. Relapse occurred in 13 (29,5%) pts which status at SCT was CR in 4, PR/chemosensitive relapse in 5 and chemo-resistant disease in 4. The median time to relapse/progression was 5,2 (0,6–32,1) mo. Seventeen pts died (38,6%): disease relapse/progression (n=11), ASCT-related complication (n=4) -bacterial infection (n=3), secondary myelodysplasia (n=1)-, 1 pt died from an HIV-related complication and 1 pt died on day +15 of multi-organ failure within the context of a bacterial sepsis and pre-transplant renal dysfunction. With a median follow up time of 36,3 (3,2–72,3) mo, the OS and DFS probability at this point were 60,2% (67,5% when chemo-resistant pts were excluded from analysis) and 55% respectively. For those pts in CR1 at ASCT, OS at 36,3 mo was 85% vs 60% for those in CR>1/PR/chemosensitive relapse. Conclusion: The results from the EBMT-LWP experience, the largest reported so far, show that ASCT remains a useful treatment in terms of TRM, long-term OS, and DFS for high risk HIV-Ly patients. These outcomes are comparable to those observed in HIV negative lymphoma patients.

Infectious complications in transplanted patients (pts) motivate recommendations that autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) should be carried out in special rooms endowed with positive pressure and high-efficiency particulate air filtration (HEPA) filters. However growing indications for ASCT and cost restrictions prompt to lighten the procedure without compromising the safety. We report here 59 consecutive and non-selected ASCTs performed from 2/00 to 4/04 in conventional single rooms (without positive pressure air filtration) to analyze early toxicity, infectious complications and 100-days (d.) transplant related death (TRD). High-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and ASCT were administered for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (n=39), multiple myeloma (n=13) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (n=2). Five pts with multiple myeloma received double ASCT. Median (med.) age was 54 years (range 22–71). Med. number (nb.) of previous lines of treatment was 1 (range 1–6). Thirty-nine pts were intensified in 1st remission (26 CR, 11 PR, 2 MR), 12 in 2nd remission (10 CR, 2 PR), 1 in 3rd CR and 2 in either SD or refractory relapse. Except for amphotericin-B mouthwashes and oral valacyclovir in case of HSV seropositivity, no systemic prophylactic antibiotic (abt) was used. The med. nb. of reinfused stem cells was 3.7x106 CD34+/kg (1.86–33.3). One pt received 0.94x106 CD34+ cells/kg combined with bone marrow. G-CSF was started at day 7 (2–15) after transplant. Med. time to achieve an absolute neutrophil count >0.5x109/L and >1.0x109/L was respectively (resp.) 10 d. (8–13) and 11 d. (8–13). Med. time to spontaneous platelet count >20x109/L and >50x109/L was resp. 11 d. (0–28) and 13 d. (9–81). The med. nb. of red cells and platelets transfusions was resp. 2 (0–12) and 2 (0–25). Except five pts, all developed fever (>38.3°C) and 56 out of the 59 pts received abt for a med. duration of 12 d. (1–46). Twenty-six pts (44%) had fever without any documented infection. Grade3/4 infections were diagnosed in 27 pts (46%). One patient presented candidemia. No case of aspergillosis was observed. Two pts (3%) needed transient transfer to the intensive care unit because of septicemia with reversible cardio-respiratory failure. The med duration of hospitalization was 20 d. (2–75), and was

ASCT has been reported as a feasible, safe and effective treatment in HIV-Ly patients (pts) receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). We hereby present an updated analysis of the EBMT experience on HIV-Ly pts treated with an ASCT since 1999. Sixty eight pts from 20 institutions [56 (82%) males, median age of 41 (29–62) years] were included. Twenty-two pts met AIDS criteria (other than lymphoma) at the time of HIV-Ly diagnosis. Forty-nine pts were diagnosed of NHL (31 DLBCL; 8 Burkitt/Burkitt-like; 4 plasmablastic; 3 anaplastic, 3 PTCL), 80% of them presenting with stage >II and 18 pts of HL, 61% of them presenting with stage >II. Median (range) lines of therapy before ASCT was 2 (1–5). Thirty-five pts were autografted in CR (16 in CR1), 25 in chemosensitive disease and 8 in chemoresistant disease. Sixty-five pts received the BEAM protocol as a conditioning regimen and the remaining three received TBI-based protocols. Two pts received more than 1 ASCT (censored at time of 2nd ASCT). At the time of ASCT the median number of CD4+ cells was 162 (8–1159)/mcl and 34 pts had undetectable HIV viral loads. HAART was given in 55/57 pts during conditioning but withdrawn in 25% of them. The median number of CD34+ cells infused was 4.5 (1.6–21.2) ×106/kg and G-CSF was used until engraftment in 60/67 pts for a median of 8 (2–21) days. All pts but one who died on day +15 reached neutrophils>500/ml at a median time of 11 (8–36) days. Platelet count >20.000/ml was reached in 61 pts at a median time of 14 (6–455) days. Twenty three pts (34%) died: disease-progression (n=15), acute ASCT-related complications (n=6) [bacterial infections (n=4), multi-organ failure (n=1), other complications (n=1)] and 2 pts died from HIV-related complications. Cumulative incidence of NRM was 4.4% (95%CI 1.5–13.3) and 7.6% (95%CI 3.3–17.6) at 3 and 12 months, respectively. Age > 50 years at ASCT [RR 4.37 (95%CI 1.01–18.89), p = 0.05] was the only independent adverse prognostic factor for NRM. Relapse occurred in 19 (28%) pts giving a cumulative incidence of 23.6% (15.2–36.9) and 29.6% (20.0–43.8) at 12 and 24 months, respectively. Median time to progression was 4.5 (0.5–32) months. Histology (NHL other than DLBCL) [RR 3.2 (95%CI 1.0–9.6), p = 0.04], the use of >2 previous treatment lines [RR 2.7 (95%CI 1.0–7.2), p = 0.05] and not being in CR at ASCT [RR 3.5 (95%CI 1.2–9.7), p = 0.02] were significantly associated with a higher risk of relapse post-ASCT. With a median follow up time of 32 (2–81) months, PFS and OS were 56% (CI95% 43–70) and 61% (CI95% 48–74) at 3 years, respectively. Pts with refractory disease showed a poorer OS [RR 5.1 (95%CI 1.8–14.6), p = 0.002] and PFS [RR 5.3 (95%CI 2.0–13.7), p = 0.001]. One pt developed an in-situ epithelioma and myelodisplastic syndrome (+4y) and another one a kidney adenocarcinoma (+3y). The results of the largest experience on ASCT for HIV-Ly indicate that this approach is a useful treatment in terms of NRM, long-term OS, and PFS, with significantly better results in patients autografted with chemosensitive disease.