The importance of systemic inflammatory response measurements as pretransplant risk factors for outcome after allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation.

Systemic inflammatory response (SIR) measures are known prognostic values in patients with solid tumours. Little is known about their impact in haematological diseases or allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). Therefore, we evaluate the association of pretransplant inflammatory markers with the clinical outcome in a prospective analysis of alloHCT.

Evaluation of risk for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation with myeloablative conditioning regimens.

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), as chronic manifestation of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), is a debilitating complication leading to lung function deterioration in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). In the present study, we evaluated BOS development risk in patients after receiving myeloablative conditioning (MAC) regimens. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing allo-HCT, who received MAC with busulfan/cyclophosphamid (BuCy, n = 175) busulfan/fludarabin (FluBu4, n = 29) or thiotepa/busulfan/fludarabine (TBF MAC, n = 37).

Hope for motherhood: pregnancy after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (a national multicenter study).

Improved long-term survival rates after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) make family planning for young adult cancer survivors an important topic. However, treatment-related infertility risk poses challenges. To assess pregnancy and birth rates in a contemporary cohort, we conducted a national multicenter study using data from the German Transplant Registry, focusing on adult women aged 18 to 40 years who underwent alloHCT between 2003 and 2018.

Long term results of a prospective multicenter observational study on the use of anti-human T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin (ATLG) in unrelated donor transplantation (ATOS study).

ATOS is a prospective observational study evaluating the outcome of patients receiving anti-human T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin (ATLG) in unrelated donor transplantation. Primary endpoint was severe GvHD and relapse-free survival (SGRFS). GvHD prophylaxis consisted of ATLG and CSA/ MTX or MMF.

Long-term follow-up of patients with acute myeloid leukemia undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after primary induction failure.

Primary induction failure (PIF) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients is associated with poor outcome, with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) being the sole curative therapeutic option. Here, we retrospectively evaluated long-term outcomes of 220 AML patients undergoing allogeneic HCT after PIF who never achieved remission, and identified clinical and molecular risk factors associated with treatment response and ultimate prognosis. In this high-risk population, disease-free survival was 25.

Identification of clinical factors impacting outcome in patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation after BEAM and TEAM conditioning.

Organ dysfunction, including pulmonary function impairment, plays a key role in the choice of conditioning chemotherapy before autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT). Replacement of BCNU/carmustine as part of BEAM (BCNU/carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan) conditioning protocol by thiotepa (TEAM) reduces pulmonary toxicity while maintaining efficacy. We retrospectively analyzed the association of clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and organ function with outcomes after conditioning with BEAM or TEAM.

High-fat diet impact on intestinal cholesterol conversion by the microbiota and serum cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol-to-coprostanol conversion by the intestinal microbiota has been suggested to reduce intestinal and serum cholesterol availability, but the relationship between intestinal cholesterol conversion and the gut microbiota, dietary habits, and serum lipids has not been characterized in detail. We measured conserved proportions of cholesterol high and low-converter types in individuals with and without obesity from two distinct, independent low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF) dietary intervention studies. Across both cohorts, cholesterol conversion increased in previous low-converters after LCHF diet and was positively correlated with the fecal relative abundance of .

Phase II trial of hypomethylating agent combined with nivolumab for acute myeloid leukaemia relapse after allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation-Immune signature correlates with response.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) relapse after allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is often driven by immune-related mechanisms and associated with poor prognosis. Immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with hypomethylating agents (HMA) may restore or enhance the graft-versus-leukaemia effect. Still, data about using this combination regimen after allo-HCT are limited.

Cellular and Humoral SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Responses in 192 Adult Recipients of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

To determine factors influencing the vaccination response against SARS-CoV-2 is of importance in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) as they display an increased mortality after SARS-CoV-2 infection, an increased risk of extended viral persistence and reduced vaccination response. Real-life data on anti-SARS-CoV-2-S1-IgG titers ( = 192) and IFN-γ release ( = 110) of allo-HCT recipients were obtained using commercially available, validated assays after vaccination with either mRNA (Comirnaty™, Pfizer-BioNTech™, NY, US and Mainz, Germany or Spikevax™, Moderna™, Cambridge, Massachusetts, US) or vector-based vaccines (Vaxzevria™,AstraZeneca™, Cambridge, UK or Janssen COVID-19 vaccine™Johnson/Johnson, New Brunswick, New Jersey, US), or after a heterologous protocol (vector/mRNA). Humoral response (78% response rate) was influenced by age, time after transplantation, the usage of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and ongoing immunosuppression, specifically corticosteroids.

Thiotepa-fludarabine-treosulfan conditioning for 2nd allogeneic HCT from an alternative unrelated donor for patients with AML: a prospective multicenter phase II trial.

Therapeutic options for patients with AML relapsing after allogeneic HCT range from chemotherapy or hypomethylating agents with or without donor lymphocyte infusions to a 2nd allogeneic HCT. Available data are based on retrospective single center or registry studies. The aim of this multicenter trial was to investigate prospectively intensive conditioning with Thiotepa, Fludarabine and Treosulfan (TFT) for 2nd allogeneic HCT from an alternative unrelated donor in patients with AML relapse > 6 months after a 1st allogeneic HCT.

Empiric vs Preemptive Antifungal Strategy in High-Risk Neutropenic Patients on Fluconazole Prophylaxis: A Randomized Trial of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer.

Background: Empiric antifungal therapy is considered the standard of care for high-risk neutropenic patients with persistent fever. The impact of a preemptive, diagnostic-driven approach based on galactomannan screening and chest computed tomography scan on demand on survival and on the risk of invasive fungal disease (IFD) during the first weeks of high-risk neutropenia is unknown.

Methods: Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients were randomly assigned to receive caspofungin empirically (arm A) or preemptively (arm B), while receiving fluconazole 400 mg daily prophylactically.

Monitoring of Measurable Residual Disease Using Circulating DNA after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

Relapse of the underlying disease is a frequent complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). In this study, we describe the clinical utility of measurable residual disease (MRD) and mixed chimerism (MC) assessment in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis to detect earlier relapse in patients with hematological malignancies after allo-HSCT. A total of 326 plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs) samples obtained from 62 patients with myeloid malignancies were analyzed by droplet-digital PCR (median follow-up: 827 days).

Therapy response of glucocorticoid-refractory acute GVHD of the lower intestinal tract.

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a major life-threatening complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. While most studies report therapy-response of aGVHD including a cumulative grade of skin, liver and intestinal tract manifestations, there is a lack of information specifically on lower gastrointestinal tract aGVHD (GI-GVHD) therapy-response, which is highly relevant in light of novel therapies that target intestinal regeneration such as IL-22, R-spondin or GLP-2. Here we retrospectively analyzed patients who developed GI-GVHD over a 6-year period.

Interprofessional evidence-based counselling programme for complementary and integrative healthcare in patients with cancer: study protocol for the controlled implementation study CCC-Integrativ.

Introduction: According to international literature, patients with cancer wish to have information on complementary and integrative healthcare (CIH). Medical guidelines recommend actively approaching patients with cancer discussing potential benefits and risks of individual CIH methods. While some CIH methods, for example, acupuncture and yoga, have been proven effective in high-quality studies, other CIH methods lack studies or bear the risk of interactions with chemotherapeutics, for example, herbal drugs.

Impact of single-room contact precautions on acquisition and transmission of vancomycin-resistant enterococci on haematological and oncological wards, multicentre cohort-study, Germany, January-December 2016.

BackgroundEvidence supporting the effectiveness of single-room contact precautions (SCP) in preventing in-hospital acquisition of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (haVRE) is limited.AimWe assessed the impact of SCP on haVRE and their transmission.MethodsWe conducted a prospective, multicentre cohort study in German haematological/oncological departments during 2016.

Effects of a Non-Energy-Restricted Ketogenic Diet on Clinical Oral Parameters. An Exploratory Pilot Trial.

Ketogenic diets (KDs) may be a helpful complement in the prevention of and therapy for several diseases. Apart from their non-cariogenic properties, it is still unclear how KDs affect oral parameters. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a KD on clinical periodontal parameters.

Rehabilitation after Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Special Challenge.

The general population is getting older and suffer more haematological malignancies despite being physically fit. These malignancies are mainly only curable via an alloHCT, and they are now carried out more frequently. Patients benefit from intensive rehabilitation earlier and may need it repeatedly in cases of severe side effects (e.

The impact of pulmonary function in patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation.

High-dose chemotherapy, followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT), is an established therapy for patients with hematological malignancies. The age of patients undergoing auto-HSCT and, therefore, the comorbidities, has increased over the last decades. However, the assessment of organ dysfunction prior to auto-HSCT has not been well studied.

Type of exercise may influence postural adaptations in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Objective: Traditional posturography measurements characterize postural instability in patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), while underlying postural control mechanisms remain unclear. Taking a model-based approach can yield insights into these mechanisms. This study's aim was to characterize the modifications in postural control of CIPN patients associated with exercise in relation to the postural behavior of healthy control participants (hCON) via an exploratory approach.

ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical Nutrition in cancer.

Background: This practical guideline is based on the current scientific ESPEN guidelines on nutrition in cancer patients.

Methods: ESPEN guidelines have been shortened and transformed into flow charts for easier use in clinical practice. The practical guideline is dedicated to all professionals including physicians, dieticians, nutritionists and nurses working with patients with cancer.

Donor lymphocyte infusions after first allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in adults with acute myeloid leukemia: a single-center landmark analysis.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is potentially curative for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The inherent graft-versus-leukemia activity (GvL) may be optimized by donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI). Here we present our single-center experience of DLI use patterns and effectiveness, based on 342 consecutive adult patients receiving a first allo-HSCT for AML between 2009 and 2017.

A prospective single-center study on CNI-free GVHD prophylaxis with everolimus plus mycophenolate mofetil in allogeneic HCT.

We report a single-center phase I/II trial exploring the combination of everolimus (EVE) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-free GVHD prophylaxis for 24 patients with hematologic malignancies and indication for allogeneic HCT after a high dose or reduced-intensity ablative conditioning. The study was registered as EudraCT-2007-001892-12 and Clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00856505.

Cardiopulmonary performance in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients-evaluation of pre-transplant risk assessments.

Cardiopulmonary performance reflects how well different organ systems interact. It is inter alia influenced by body composition, determines patients' quality of life and can also predict mortality. However, it is not yet used for risk prediction prior to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantations (alloHCT).