Case Report: Eltrombopag in mosaic and gene therapy-treated patients with Fanconi anemia.

Fanconi anemia (FA) constitutes the most common of the inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, a group of rare heterogeneous disorders characterized by cytopenia, predisposition to hematologic and solid malignancies and diverse clinical features. Currently, the only available hematopoietic curative treatment for bone marrow failure is an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), although gene therapy has demonstrated evidence of efficacy and substantially reduced toxicity. It has been demonstrated that eltrombopag stimulates trilineage hematopoiesis in aplastic anemia, and preclinical studies suggest it promotes DNA repair in FA hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).

Eltrombopag for Bone Marrow Failure in Fanconi Anemia: Results From the Phase II Clinical Trial FANCREV.

Eltrombopag stimulates hematopoiesis in aplastic anemia, and preclinical studies suggest it promotes DNA repair in Fanconi Anemia (FA) hematopoietic stem cells. We conducted a clinical trial to explore its safety and efficacy in bone marrow failure due to FA. Eltrombopag was administered to 8 pediatric patients with one or more significant cytopenias.

Lentiviral Gene Therapy for Severe Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Type 1.

Background: The β common integrin subunit CD18 is essential for leukocyte-endothelial adhesion and extravasation to inflamed or infected tissue. Damaging variants in , which encodes CD18, cause leukocyte adhesion deficiency type I (LAD-I), an inborn error of immunity that leads to frequent life-threatening infections and a high risk of death among affected children. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) represents a curative treatment but is limited by donor availability, a high incidence of graft-versus-host disease, and graft failure.

Characterizing the molecular and spatial heterogeneity of midline gliomas in adults: a single institution analysis.

Purpose: Primary gliomas arising within midline structures of the central nervous system are associated with a worse prognosis compared with hemispheric gliomas. In adults, compared to their pediatric counterparts, adult midline gliomas are not as clearly characterized on the clinical behavior, prognostic factors, and treatment approaches for these diseases.

Methods: This retrospective cohort assessed all adult (≥ 18 years) patients from our institution with diffuse gliomas arising from midline structures at time of diagnosis (2014-2020).

Haematopoietic gene therapy of non-conditioned patients with Fanconi anaemia-A: results from open-label phase 1/2 (FANCOLEN-1) and long-term clinical trials.

Background: Allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation is the standard treatment for bone marrow failure (BMF) in patients with Fanconi anaemia, but transplantation-associated complications such as an increased incidence of subsequent cancer are frequent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the infusion of autologous gene-corrected haematopoietic stem cells as an alternative therapy for these patients.

Methods: This was an open-label, investigator-initiated phase 1/2 clinical trial (FANCOLEN-1) and long-term follow-up trial (up to 7 years post-treatment) in Spain.

Phase 1 Study of AAV9.LAMP2B Gene Therapy in Danon Disease.

Background: Danon disease is a rare, X-linked, monogenic cardiomyopathy caused by mutations in the lysosomal-associated membrane 2 gene (), which encodes the LAMP2 protein. In male patients, the predominant phenotype is progressive cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac dysfunction, and early death. There are no directed therapies for the disease.

Memantine to Reduce Cognitive Impairment After Radiation in Children: A Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility of Memantine in Reducing Cognitive Impairment in Pediatric Patients after Radiation Therapy for Central Nervous System Tumors.

Purpose: Memantine is standard in certain adults receiving brain radiation therapy (RT) to decrease cognitive impacts, but it is unknown whether pediatric patients can take, tolerate, and/or benefit from memantine. In this prospective single-arm feasibility study, we hypothesized that pediatric patients receiving central nervous system (CNS) RT would tolerate memantine with good adherence.

Methods And Materials: Patients aged 4 to 18 years with a primary CNS malignancy (excluding World Health Organization grade 4 astrocytoma, glioblastoma) receiving intracranial RT were eligible.

Thrombotic microangiopathy following systemic AAV administration is dependent on anti-capsid antibodies.

BACKGROUNDSystemic administration of adeno-associated virus (AAV) can trigger life-threatening inflammatory responses, including thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), acute kidney injury due to atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome-like complement activation, immune-mediated myocardial inflammation, and hepatic toxicity.METHODSWe describe the kinetics of immune activation following systemic AAV serotype 9 (AAV9) administration in 38 individuals following 2 distinct prophylactic immunomodulation regimens. Group 1 received corticosteroids and Group 2 received rituximab plus sirolimus in addition to steroids to prevent anti-AAV antibody formation.

Busulfan and subsequent malignancy: An evidence-based risk assessment.

Background: The incidence of secondary malignancies associated with busulfan exposure is considered low, but has been poorly characterized. Because this alkylating agent is increasingly utilized as conditioning prior to gene therapy in nonmalignant hematologic and related disorders, more precise characterization of busulfan's potential contribution to subsequent malignant risk is warranted.

Procedure: We conducted a literature-based assessment of busulfan and subsequent late effects, with emphasis on secondary malignancies, identifying publications via PubMed searches, and selecting those reporting at least 3 years of follow-up.

Predicting disease progression and the need for tumor-directed treatment in tectal plate gliomas.

Objective: Tectal plate gliomas are rare, slow-growing tumors of the midbrain that are discovered predominantly in the pediatric population. Because of their indolent nature, treatment mainly consists of observation and management of hydrocephalus. Unfortunately, a subset of tectal gliomas may exhibit tumor enlargement and disease progression.

Copeptin levels in hospitalized infants and children with suspected vasopressin-dependent disorders: a case series.

Objectives: There have been recent advances assessing copeptin levels in adults with suspected disorders of vasopressin release. Very limited data exits on copeptin levels in children and infants, especially in a critically-ill hospitalized population where hyper- and hypo-natremia are very common. Our objective is to describe the institutional experience assessing copeptin levels in hospitalized infants and children with hyper- or hypo-natremia.

Advances in NK cell therapy for brain tumors.

Despite advances in treatment regimens that comprise surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, outcome of many brain tumors remains dismal, more so when they recur. The proximity of brain tumors to delicate neural structures often precludes complete surgical resection. Toxicity and long-term side effects of systemic therapy remain a concern.

Preclinical safety and efficacy of lentiviral-mediated gene therapy for leukocyte adhesion deficiency type I.

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type I (LAD-I) is a primary immunodeficiency caused by mutations in the gene, which encodes for the CD18 subunit of β-integrins. Deficient expression of β-integrins results in impaired neutrophil migration in response to bacterial and fungal infections. Using a lentiviral vector (LV) that mediates a preferential myeloid expression of human CD18 (Chim.

Findings on Optical Coherence Tomography in Malignant Infantile Osteopetrosis.

Malignant infantile osteopetrosis is a rare inherited disorder with neurological complications and a shortened life expectancy. Vision loss is typically attributed to osseous compression of the optic nerves at the level of the optic canal. Fundus imaging is reported, as well as the first optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography in this rare condition.

Drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier for the treatment of pediatric brain tumors - An update.

Even though the last decade has seen a surge in the identification of molecular targets and targeted therapies in pediatric brain tumors, the blood brain barrier (BBB) remains a significant challenge in systemic drug delivery. This continues to undermine therapeutic efficacy. Recent efforts have identified several strategies that can facilitate enhanced drug delivery into pediatric brain tumors.

Preclinical studies of efficacy thresholds and tolerability of a clinically ready lentiviral vector for pyruvate kinase deficiency treatment.

Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the gene. PKD is characterized by non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia of variable severity and may be fatal in some cases during early childhood. Although not considered the standard of care, allogeneic stem cell transplantation has been shown as a potentially curative treatment, limited by donor availability, toxicity, and incomplete engraftment.

Natural gene therapy by reverse mosaicism leads to improved hematology in Fanconi anemia patients.

Fanconi anemia (FA) is characterized by chromosome fragility, bone marrow failure (BMF) and predisposition to cancer. As reverse genetic mosaicism has been described as "natural gene therapy" in patients with FA, we sought to evaluate the clinical course of a cohort of FA mosaic patients followed at referral centers in Spain over a 30-year period. This cohort includes patients with a majority of T cells without chromosomal aberrations in the DEB-chromosomal breakage test.

Gene therapy for infantile malignant osteopetrosis: review of pre-clinical research and proof-of-concept for phenotypic reversal.

Infantile malignant osteopetrosis is a devastating disorder of early childhood that is frequently fatal and for which there are only limited therapeutic options. Gene therapy utilizing autologous hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells represents a potentially advantageous therapeutic alternative for this multisystemic disease. Gene therapy can be performed relatively rapidly following diagnosis, will not result in graft versus host disease, and may also have potential for reduced incidences of other transplant-related complications.