Publications by authors named "Elisa Lucchini"

The efficacy and safety of fostamatinib in adult patients with persistent/chronic immune thrombocytopenia (p/c ITP) were demonstrated in the FIT-1/FIT-2 trials. This retrospective, multicentre observational study evaluated real-world outcomes in consecutive p/c ITP patients treated with fostamatinib in Italy. The primary end-point, serving as a surrogate for both efficacy and safety, was the proportion of patients receiving fostamatinib for at least 6 months.

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Rilzabrutinib is a covalent, reversible Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting multiple immune thrombocytopenia (ITP)-related mechanisms. The phase 3 LUNA3 study in previously treated adults with persistent/chronic ITP evaluated oral rilzabrutinib 400 mg twice daily (n = 133) vs placebo (n = 69) for 24 weeks. At baseline overall, median age was 47 years, 63% female, 7.

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Although recent evidence suggests that myeloid clonal hematopoiesis (M-CH) may influence lymphoma clinical outcome, its impact in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) remains unclear. Here, we report a comprehensive next-generation sequencing-based analysis of the M-CH mutational landscape at baseline and follow-up in patients enrolled in the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi MCL0208 phase 3 trial, evaluating lenalidomide maintenance vs observation after chemoimmunotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in untreated young patients with MCL. Overall, 254 of 300 (85%) enrolled patients (median age, 57 years [range, 32-66]) had a baseline sample available for CH analysis.

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Article Synopsis
  • The IELSG37 trial investigated whether patients with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) who have a complete metabolic response (CMR) after treatment can safely skip consolidation radiotherapy.
  • It was a randomized noninferiority study involving 545 patients, focusing on progression-free survival (PFS) over 30 months, with results showing high PFS rates of 96.2% for observation and 98.5% for radiotherapy.
  • The study concluded that avoiding irradiation does not negatively impact survival, highlighting positive outcomes for patients with CMR.
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Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare lymphoproliferative neoplasm considered incurable, with a median survival of 3-5 years. In recent years, Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) have been introduced, demonstrating high therapeutic activity. However, the prognosis for MCL patients failing ibrutinib therapy is particularly poor, with a survival expectation of a few months.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Genetic analysis revealed that certain single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to drug transport and receptor genes can predict the effectiveness and safety of lenalidomide treatment.
  • * Patients with specific genetic profiles (polymorphisms in ABCB1 and VEGF) showed better outcomes, while those with wild-type genotypes had poorer survival rates, highlighting the potential of these SNPs as biomarkers for treatment response and toxicity.
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messenger RNA (mRNA)-Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) vaccines such as BNT162b2 became available in late 2020, but hematological malignancy patients (HM pts) were not evaluated in initial registration trials. We hereby report the results of a prospective, unicentric, observational study Response to COVID-19 Vaccination in hEmatological malignancies (CERVAX) developed to assess the postvaccine serological and T-cell-mediated response in a cohort of SARS-CoV2-negative HM pts vaccinated with BNT162b2. Patients with lymphomas [non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)], chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and multiple myeloma (MM); off-therapy for at least 3 months; in a watch-and-wait program; or in treatment with ibrutinib, venetoclax, and lenalidomide were included.

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Background: Two thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA), romiplostim and eltrombopag, are currently widely adopted as second-line ITP therapy even in the absence of robust evidence on their comparative advantages over rituximab or splenectomy or their preferential use in some specific clinical contexts.

Methods: An online survey was distributed between May 2021 and June 2021 to collect standardized information on TPO-RA use in Italy.

Results: Eighty-eight hematologists from 79 centers completed the survey.

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After FDA and EMA approval of the regimen containing polatuzumab vedotin plus rituximab and bendamustine (PolaBR), eligible relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients in Italy were granted early access through a Named Patient Program. A multicentric observational retrospective study was conducted focusing on the effectiveness and safety of PolaBR in everyday clinical practice. Fifty-five patients were enrolled.

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Post-coronavirus disease 2019 (post-COVID-19) condition, previously referred to as long COVID, includes a post-acute syndrome defined by the presence of non-specific symptoms occurring usually 3 months from the onset of the acute phase and lasting at least 2 months. Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) represent a high-risk population for COVID-19. Moreover, the response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is often absent or inadequate.

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The addition of venetoclax to hypomethylating agents (HMA-V) improved the outcome of patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) ineligible for intensive treatment. The aim of our study was to confirm data reported in literature, in a real-life multicenter experience. We retrospectively evaluated 56 naïve AML patients who received HMA-V at 8 different collaborating Hematology Units in the North-East of Italy, from September 2018 to October 2020.

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Unlabelled: Patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) have a poor prognosis, with an expected survival of less than 1 year using standard salvage therapies. Recent advances in our understanding of the biology of PTCL have led to identifying B-Cell Lymphoma 2 (BCL2) protein as a potential therapeutic target. BLC2 inhibitor venetoclax was investigated in a prospective phase II trial in patients with BCL2-positive R/R PTCL after at least one previous standard line of treatment (NCT03552692).

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Background: Rituximab plus bendamustine (BR), and rituximab, bendamustine, and cytarabine (R-BAC) are well-known induction therapies in elderly patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), according to clinical guidelines. However, a direct comparison between the two regimens has never been performed.

Methods: In this multicentre retrospective study, we compared the outcome of patients with newly diagnosed MCL, treated with BR or R-BAC.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (SMZL) is a complex condition with varying clinical outcomes, influenced by multiple gene mutations and diverse regulatory pathways, making it critical to identify different subgroups based on their genetic and environmental features.
  • - Researchers analyzed 303 spleen samples from an international study to understand these subgroups, ultimately identifying two main genetic clusters: NNK (58% of cases) and DMT (32% of cases), each with unique genetic profiles and survival outcomes.
  • - The study revealed two types of immune microenvironments within SMZL: immune-suppressive and immune-silent, highlighting their distinct clinical implications and the potential for improving classification and targeted therapies in this disease.
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The rate of complete remission (CR) with the anti-PD1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) nivolumab (N) and pembrolizumab (P) in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is low (20-30%), and the majority of patients eventually relapse. One strategy to improve their outcome is to combine ICI with radiotherapy (ICI-RT), taking advantage of a supposed synergistic effect. We retrospectively collected data of 12 adult patients with R/R cHL treated with ICI-RT delivered during or within 8 weeks from the start or after the end of ICI.

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Cardiac lymphomas are rare extranodal lymphomas involving primarily and secondarily the heart and/or pericardium. Here we describe three cases of cardiac involvement from lymphoma with specific peculiarities: two primary cardiac Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphomas and one secondary involvement from Marginal Zone Lymphoma (MZL). The first case highlights the issue of early CNS relapse and the possible role for CNS prophylaxis; the second case demonstrates the difficulties of interpretation and possible mistakes of different radiologic techniques adopted to evaluate cardiac involvement by lymphoma during follow-up; the third is a unique case of MZL with cardiac involvement.

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The efficacy and safety of thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TRAs) in older patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) are unknown. We investigated TRA response and switch, thrombotic/hemorrhagic risk, and sustained responses off-treatment (SROTs) in 384 patients with ITP aged ≥60 years. After 3 months, 82.

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Up to 30% immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients achieve a sustained remission off-treatment (SROT) after discontinuation of thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs). Factors predictive of response are lacking. Patients aged ≥18 years with newly diagnosed or persistent ITP were treated with eltrombopag for 24 weeks.

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Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) secondary to chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) is poorly responsive to conventional treatments. We conducted a multicenter phase 2 prospective 24-week study in 18 patients with ITP secondary to LPDs to assess the safety and efficacy of eltrombopag. Responsive patients entered an extension study for up to 5 years.

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The use of rituximab for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia was greeted enthusiastically: it led to up to 60% response rates, making it, nearly 20 years ago, the main alternative to splenectomy, with far fewer side effects. However, long-term follow-up data showed that only 20-30% of patients maintained the remission. No significant changes have been registered using different dose schedules and timing of administration, while the combination with other drugs seemed promising.

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Despite the improvement in understanding its pathogenesis and the introduction of novel treatment options, the management of primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) still remains challenging. Considering its increased incidence with aging and prolonged life-expectancy, ITP is often diagnosed in elderly patients, a subset that deserves some special precautions. Ensure the diagnosis is a crucial step, and carefully attention must be given in excluding other causes of thrombocytopenia, especially among older people that frequently suffer from many comorbidities.

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