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Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) remains a debilitating cause of hospitalization and death in patients with cancer and is a significant challenge for healthcare providers despite advancements in its management. This umbrella review analyzed the results of meta-analyses on the use of rasburicase in the treatment of patients with cancer. A literature search was performed of five databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Global Index Medicus, and ScienceDirect) for articles with full texts available online. A measurement tool to assess systematic reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) was used to assess the quality of the included studies, and Review Manager software was used to conduct all statistical analyses. The systematic search identified eight relevant meta-analyses, with primary analyses including outcome data that analyzed mortality, renal failure, and comparisons with allopurinol. The pooled data showed that rasburicase effectively reduced TLS development and serum uric acid levels in children and adults with malignancies. Most outcomes did not differ significantly compared with those of allopurinol. Future trials should focus on the cost-effectiveness of rasburicase compared to that of allopurinol while including high-, intermediate-, and low-risk patients. Rasburicase is safe and effective for managing patients with TLS. However, recent large-scale meta-analyses have reported conflicting results. Most meta-analyses were graded as low to critically low as per AMSTAR 2. The analysis revealed that the benefit of rasburicase did not differ significantly from that of allopurinol, which has higher cost-effectiveness and fewer side effects., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

BACKGROUND Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). While bone marrow (BM) involvement is common in lymphoma, primary bone marrow (PBM) DLBCL is extremely rare. We present a case of PBM DLBCL discovered in a patient with COVID-19. CASE REPORT An 80-year-old man presented with generalized abdominal pain, weight loss, fever, fatigue, anorexia, and watery diarrhea over a 3-month period. Physical examination was unremarkable. Laboratory workup revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated inflammation markers. SARS-COV-2 PCR was positive, while blood cultures were negative. A rapid decline in the white blood cell count in the following days prompted a BM biopsy, confirming the diagnosis of PBM DLBCL. Computed tomography (CT) did not show thoracic or abdominal lymphadenopathy. The patient received packed red blood cell and platelet transfusions, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for pancytopenia, and empirical antibiotics for suspected infection. Due to active COVID-19 and advanced age, cytotoxic chemotherapy was delayed. Rituximab and prednisone were initiated on day 9, followed by an infusion reaction, which led to treatment discontinuation. He died 2 days later. CONCLUSIONS Diagnosing PBM malignancy is challenging, especially with coexisting infection. It is essential to suspect underlying BM malignancy in patients with clinical deterioration and worsening pancytopenia despite adequate treatment. The diagnosis of PBM DLBCL requires the absence of lymphadenopathy, and the presence of histologically confirmed DLBCL. Prompt management with combination chemotherapy with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) with/without hematopoietic stem cell transplant can improve the prognosis.

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) characterized by Feline McDonough Sarcoma-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT-3) internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations have poor outcomes. Treatment options are limited, because these mutations confer resistance to conventional chemotherapy. FLT-3 inhibitors such as sorafenib have been studied as a single agent and in combination with conventional chemotherapy or azacytidine with fair responses., Patients and Methods: Here we describe our preclinical and clinical experience with the combination of the DNA hypomethylating agent, decitabine and sorafenib for the treatment of FLT-3 ITD-mutant AML., Results: In vitro treatment of the human FLT-3 ITD-mutant AML cell line, MV4-11, with both drugs significantly improved growth inhibition over single-agent therapy and resulted in synergistic antitumor effects (combination index < 1). A case series of 6 patients treated with off protocol combination of decitabine and sorafenib demonstrated overall responses in 5 patients (83%) with a median survival of 155 days. Four of the 5 patients (80%) with relapsed/refractory AML achieved complete responses with incomplete count recovery. The combination was also well tolerated., Conclusion: Further investigation is warranted to confirm these responses., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)