...his staging was 4A, with an international prognostic score of 2, and treatment was commenced following a RATHL approach starting with ABVD chemotherapy. The interim PET-CT scan following cycle 2 ...of ABVD demonstrated a complete metabolic response within the cervical and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, but persistent avidity within the right humeral shaft lesions which were essentially unchanged in size with a mild reduction in 18-F-FDG avidity (see Figure 2). ...discrepant responses to treatment should be further investigated.
Objectives
Although the role of the ED in the management of patients needing palliative care is recognised internationally, there are little Australasian data on this issue. This study aimed to ...determine the current knowledge and attitude to the provision of palliative care in Australasian EDs.
Methods
All ED directors in Australasia were invited to complete an online survey about the provision of palliative care in their department. Quantitative data were described using counts and proportions, and qualitative data were summarised thematically.
Results
Of 165 eligible ED directors, 35 completed the survey (22%; 95% CI, 15–28%). Only 17/35 (49%; 95% CI, 32–65%) believed that ED provided good palliative care, and 28/35 (80%; 95% CI, 67–93%) were unaware of international gold standard palliative care protocols. Most had access to hospital‐based palliative care specialists 27/35 (77%; 95% CI, 63–91%); however, only 5/27 (19%; 95% CI, 4–33%) used them. Few EDs undertake formal training in palliative care 10/35 (29%; 95% CI, 16–45%). Respondents showed concern about the quality of palliative care they provide and advocated for more palliative care training.
Conclusion
Although limited by the low response rate, this survey indicates that there is a need and a desire for greater integration of the values and standards of high‐quality palliative care in Australasian EDs.
To increase the number of inpatients with a completed ‘Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (RESPECT)’ form on the Haematology ward.
Rationale – Junior doctors often find ...themselves dealing with deteriorating patients who do not have completed RESPECT forms. All inpatients should ideally have an advanced care plan (RESPECT form) to guide treatment, especially in the event of acute deterioration. Due to the complexity of haematological disorders, junior doctors have fairly limited knowledge of the prognosis associated with specific haematological conditions and the various lines of treatment used for them, and the nuances needed in planning for treatment escalation for these patients, these decisions are best made by experienced consultants or registrars.
Methodology: Prospective data collection was completed on the number of Haematology and bone marrow transplant inpatients who had a completed Respect form in the haematology wards. We found that only 38% of them had a Respect form. We shared this finding in the Haematology MDT and highlighted the need to increase this number. We discussed this with the ward nurses and requested them to flag up pending RESPECT forms during board rounds (similar to VTE assessments). We put up a poster above the patient notes cabinet, highlighting the need to complete Respect forms. We spoke to the BMT co-ordination team about including RESPECT forms in the pre-transplant assessment paperwork. We re-audited the compliance after 3 weeks.
On re-auditing, 76% of inpatients had RESPECT forms. We plan to re-audit in a month's time to see if this improvement is being sustained.
We were able to find a solution to achieving a meaningful increase in compliance with RESPECT form completion due to engaging members of the MDT in the process of enacting a change and by implementing change at multiple levels so that it is a systematic, sustained change.
•DIAPH1-related disorder has a bilineage hematological phenotype of macrothrombocytopenia and neutropenia associated with hearing loss.•Eltrombopag increased proplatelet formation from cultured ...DIAPH1-related disorder megakaryocytes and improved platelet counts in vivo.
Background
Advances in understanding the molecular basis of breast cancer has necessitated a definition of improved indicators of prognosis that are central to the underlying cancer biology and that ...reflect the heterogeneous nature of the disease. This study investigates the pattern of expression of the steroid receptor co-regulators NCOA1/SRC1, NCOA3/RAC3, NCOR2/SMRT, and CBP/p300 in breast cancer. The aims were to identify whether their expression was related to patient outcome, their relationships to known prognostic factors and to provide a basis for further research into the mechanistic significance of such associations.
Methods
The protein levels of steroid receptor co-regulators were assessed by immunohistochemistry in a large well-characterised series of breast carcinomas prepared as tissue microarrays. Relationships between these targets, other clinicopathological variables and patients’ outcome were examined.
Results
NCOR2/SMRT was an independent prognostic indicator of overall patient survival (OS) and disease free interval (DFI) and was significantly correlated with distant metastases and local recurrence whereas tumours expressing NCOA1/SRC1 had a significantly longer OS and DFI. There were also significant correlations between co-regulator expression of NCOA1/SRC1, CBP/p300 and NCOA3/RAC3, which were associated with lower tumour grade. NCOA1/SRC1 was also correlated with smaller tumour size. Furthermore, the co-activators had a significant association with steroid receptors, particularly ERα.
Conclusions
NCOR2/SMRT is associated with poor patient outcome, independent of other prognostic factors. In contrast, steroid receptor co-activator expression is generally associated with a good prognosis. Further investigations are needed to establish the mechanisms of these links between the steroid receptor co-regulator system and patient outcome.
Introduction
Standard first line treatment for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) in fit patients is induction with cytarabine containing chemo-immunotherapy and a consolidative autologous stem cell ...transplant (ASCT). Responses are excellent but there is a continuous pattern of relapse. Progression within 24 months (POD24) of standard first line therapy including ASCT has been shown to predict poorer outcomes, which may be ameliorated by alloSCT. Ibrutinib, a Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor, is an effective therapy for relapsed MCL. However, there is a paucity of published data of ibrutinib's efficacy in patients treated at relapse after standard first line treatment with ASCT and very little regarding the impact of POD24 on outcomes after ibrutinib and outcomes of subsequent alloSCT.
Methods
This was a retrospective analysis of the EBMT registry. The inclusion criteria were: patients with MCL ≥18 years old, 1st line therapy containing cytarabine and rituximab, ASCT in first CR/PR between 2009 and 2016 and received ibrutinib for 1st relapse after ASCT. POD24 was defined as progressive disease in less than 24 months after ASCT.
Results
66 patients met the inclusion criteria (Table 1) relapsing at a median of 25 months (range 15-33) post ASCT. Thirty-two patients progressed in less than 24 months after ASCT. Ibrutinib was started at a median of 30 days after relapse (range 10-54). Overall response rate (ORR) was 74% 32 (48%) achieving CR and 18 (27%) PR. The median duration of response was 10.1 months (available for 28 patients). There were no significant differences in the duration of response to ibrutinib for patients with POD24 (median: 10.4 months, IQR 4.0-15.4) compared to POD after 24 months or more (POD≥24) (median 9.8 months, IQR 6.5-20.7) p=0.9. Relapse after/during ibrutinib occurred in 21 patients (33%) at a median of 12 months (range 1-34). 13 of those patients were on ibrutinib at the time of relapse and the remaining 8 after ibrutinib had been stopped for a SCT or because of toxicity. Ibrutinib therapy continues at last follow-up in 23 (35%) patients. Ibrutinib was stopped for the following reasons: 16 patients subsequent SCT, 13 relapse, 5 toxicity (cytopenia, infection, tachycardia, hepatitis and poor tolerance, 1 case each), 9 other/unknown reasons.
Second SCT was undertaken in 23 patients (22 alloSCT, 1 ASCT), 16 of whom were in CR/PR after only ibrutinib at the time of relapse. For alloSCT recipients, the donor was MUD in 11, MSD in 5 and mismatch related in 6. The majority (n=19) had reduced intensity conditioning. 50% of the patients developed acute GvHD and 50% chronic GvHD (3 extensive). With a median follow up of 17 months post alloSCT, 18 (63%) are in remission. There were no significant differences in PFS (p=0.173) or OS (p=0.336) post alloSCT for patients with POD24 and POD≥24.
At last follow up (median follow-up of 22 months after starting ibrutinib), 35 (71%) patients were in CR and 4 (8%) in PR. 17 patients have died; the most common reason was MCL (14 patients), 2 deaths were secondary to alloSCT toxicity and in 1 case the cause of death was unknown. 2-year OS after starting ibrutinib was 72% (69% for alloSCT patients) and 2-year PFS 62%. PFS after starting ibrutinib was significantly better for patients with POD≥24 compared to those with POD24 (72% vs. 53% at 2 years post ASCT, p=0.017) and this translated to an OS benefit (80% vs. 68% at 2 years post ASCT, p=0.019) (figures 1 and 2).
Conclusion
Ibrutinib therapy did not overcome the poor outcome for patients with POD24 after first line therapy and although there was a high ORR to ibrutinib the median duration of response is only 10.1 months. AlloSCT should therefore be undertaken if possible, in our retrospective cohort of patients it appeared to overcome the poor prognosis of POD24 patients.
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Hunter:Jazz pharamceuticals: Honoraria, Other: speaker fees, Meeting attendance support; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: speaker fees; celegene: Other: Meeting attendance support. Peggs:Autolus: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Foà:Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Amgen Inc.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Shire: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Shire: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Amgen Inc.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celltrion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Celltrion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Pillai:Celgene: Honoraria. Mufti:Celgene Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Cellectis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.
Introduction
Relapse of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is a common occurrence associated with a poor outcome with limited treatment options. Donor ...lymphocyte infusions (DLI) are commonly employed in this setting in an attempt to exploit the allogeneic graft versus lymphoma (GVL) effect to induce remissions. There is however a paucity of data describing the efficacy of DLIs in inducing remissions in NHL subtypes and the risk of subsequently developing graft versus host disease (GVHD). We report here the largest series of patients with NHL receiving DLI for relapse after alloSCT.
Methods
Patients relapsing after an alloSCT for NHL and receiving DLI were identified on the EBMT database. Centres were invited to contribute additional data. 118 patients follicular lymphoma (FL) n=28, diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) n=28, T cell lymphoma (TCL) n=52 and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) n=10 from 39 centres who received DLI as the only treatment for relapse were identified. Patients receiving DLI in combination with other therapy were excluded from this analysis. The median age at alloSCT was 50 (range 18-73) years. There were 81 male and 37 female patients who underwent an alloSCT with reduced intensity (RIC) (n=90) or myeloablative conditioning (MAC) (n=28) at a median of 2.4 (range 0.3-26.3) years from diagnosis. Allogeneic cells were provided from matched sibling (n=63), unrelated (n=47) or mismatched family (n=8) donors and 85 patients received either ATG/ALG or CAMPATH as part of GVHD prophylaxis. The median time from alloSCT to relapse was 3.8 months (range 18 days-67 months).
Results
Patients received a median of 1 (range 1-19) DLI at a median starting dose of 1.5 x106 CD3/kg (range 0.01-120x106 CD3/kg) at a median of 152 days (range 18-2136) post alloSCT. The median last dose of DLI was 10x106/kg (range 0.1-180x106/kg) given at a median of 353 days (range 41-2725) post alloSCT. The median time from relapse to the first DLI was 35 days (range 0-168). Acute GVHD and chronic GVHD prior to DLI was reported in 29% and 14% of patients, respectively. Of 93 evaluable patients 47 (51%) patients achieved a complete remission, 10 (11%) a partial remission, 13 (14%) stable disease and 23 (25%) had progressive disease following DLI. The median duration of response was 36 months (range 1-168). When analysed according to histology the overall response rate (ORR) (CR+PR) for FL was 84% (CR 68%), DLBCL 41% (32% CR), TCL 54% (46% CR) and MCL 86% (CR 71%). The median duration of responses for FL, DLBCL, TCL and MCL were 30 (range 2-150), 38 (4-76), 37 (range 1-168) and 50 months (13-116) respectively. With a median follow up of 77 months after the 1st DLI 36 (31%) patients remain in complete remission, 29 (25%) without any further therapy. 37 (35%) went on to receive additional antilymphoma therapy after the DLI. Of 17 patients with FL achieving a CR post DLI 12 (71%) remain in remission without further therapy at a median of 78 (9-158) months after DLI. Of 18 patients with TCL that achieved a CR with DLI, 15 (83%) remain in remission without further therapy at a median of 95 (range 42-161) months after DLI. Following the DLI 43 (36%) patients developed aGVHD (6 grade I, 13 grade II, 11 grade III, 9 grade IV, 4 grade unknown) and 33 (28%) developed cGVHD (11 limited, 20 extensive, 2 unknown). Following the first DLI the cumulative incidence of relapse was 31% (CI 22-41) at 4 years and of NRM 28% (CI 20-37). The 4-year PFS after 1st DLI was 39% (CI 30-50) and the OS, 44% (CI 35-54).
Conclusions
DLI induce significant rates of disease response in patients with NHL relapsing after alloSCT providing clear proof of principle of the allogeneic GVL effect. The rates of response are most impressive in FL and MCL. The majority of patients with TCL and FL that achieve a CR post DLI remain in remission with long term follow up. Acute and chronic GVHD is a significant complication of DLI.
Robinson:Sandoz: Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Chalandon:Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel costs. Beelen:Medac: Consultancy, Other: Travel Support. Finke:Neovii: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel grants, Research Funding; Medac: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel grants, Research Funding; Riemser: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel grants, Research Funding. Tischer:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Other: Jazz Advisory Board. Corradini:Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer; Abbvie: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer; Sandoz: Other: Advisory Board; Sanofi: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer; Gilead: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer; Roche: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Lecturer; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer.
•Ibrutinib ± rituximab was effective and well tolerated as first-line MCL therapy; outcomes were worse in patients with high-risk disease.•Novel approaches are needed for patients with high-risk MCL ...and those with progressive disease after first-line ibrutinib.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, ibrutinib with or without rituximab was approved in England for initial treatment of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) instead of immunochemotherapy. Because limited data are available in this setting, we conducted an observational cohort study evaluating safety and efficacy. Adults receiving ibrutinib with or without rituximab for untreated MCL were evaluated for treatment toxicity, response, and survival, including outcomes in high-risk MCL (TP53 mutation/deletion/p53 overexpression, blastoid/pleomorphic, or Ki67 ≥ 30%). A total of 149 patients from 43 participating centers were enrolled: 74.1% male, median age 75 years, 75.2% Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status of 0 to 1, 36.2% high-risk, and 8.9% autologous transplant candidates. All patients received ≥1 cycle ibrutinib (median, 8 cycles), 39.0% with rituximab. Grade ≥3 toxicity occurred in 20.3%, and 33.8% required dose reductions/delays. At 15.6-month median follow-up, 41.6% discontinued ibrutinib, 8.1% due to toxicity. Of 104 response-assessed patients, overall (ORR) and complete response (CR) rates were 71.2% and 20.2%, respectively. ORR was 77.3% (low risk) vs 59.0% (high risk) (P = .05) and 78.7% (ibrutinib-rituximab) vs 64.9% (ibrutinib; P = .13). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 26.0 months (all patients); 13.7 months (high risk) vs not reached (NR) (low risk; hazard ratio HR, 2.19; P = .004). Median overall survival was NR (all); 14.8 months (high risk) vs NR (low risk; HR, 2.36; P = .005). Median post-ibrutinib survival was 1.4 months, longer in 41.9% patients receiving subsequent treatment (median, 8.6 vs 0.6 months; HR, 0.36; P = .002). Ibrutinib with or without rituximab was effective and well tolerated as first-line treatment of MCL, including older and transplant-ineligible patients. PFS and OS were significantly inferior in one-third of patients with high-risk disease and those unsuitable for post-ibrutinib treatment, highlighting the need for novel approaches in these groups.
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