Background: Stem-cell mobilization in multiple myeloma is usually done with G-CSF with or without Cyclophosphamide (Cy) based chemotherapy/Plerixafor. Pre-clinical data suggest the role of proteasome inhibitors in mobilization. We previously reported that Bortezomib (Bort) when added to a Cy-based regimen had a better stem-cell yield.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: We have previously reported that pre-transplant use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is independently associated with the occurrence of transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA). However, the precise TKI-related factors which predispose to TA-TMA are unknown. In this retrospective analysis, we identify the TKI-related factors that are associated with TA-TMA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBlood Cancer J
May 2025
Indian J Cancer
January 2025
Introduction: CAR-T cell therapy has changed the treatment paradigm for hematological malignancies, offering a curative potential for patients with relapsed or refractory disease. India, with its significant burden of hematological malignancies, faces unique challenges in implementing this therapy. The development of indigenous CAR-T cells has reduced costs substantially, but barriers remain, including limited manufacturing capacity, relatively high costs, and logistical constraints.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBlood Cancer J
April 2025
Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapy is effective for relapsed/refractory B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r B-ALL) but is not universally available. We developed a novel humanized CD19-directed CAR-T (HCAR19) approved for Phase 1/1b/2 trials. Patients aged 3-25 years were enrolled with r/r B-ALL and ineligible for allogeneic stem cell transplant.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTreatment of Burkitt Lymphoma/Leukemia (BL/L) in adults has evolved from the use of pediatric inspired regimens (CODOX-M/IVAC, hyper-CVAD, GMALL) to the use of lower intensity EPOCH regimens. The addition of rituximab has led to improvements in overall survival. Survival with these regimens in the real world was shown to be inferior as compared to those found in the prospective trials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGraft rejection is an important concern following haploidentical transplant with a reported incidence of 10-15%. The number of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches and the vector of mismatch have not been found to be associated with the risk of graft rejection in haploidentical transplants. Patients with HLA homozygosity at all loci (HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, and DQB1) undergoing haploidentical transplant is a rare scenario that results in zero mismatches in the graft-versus-host (GvH) direction and 2-5 mismatches in the host-versus-graft (HvG) direction depending on the donor haplotype.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Over the past decade, there have been significant advancements in the treatment of AML. However, similar progress has not been observed in India, with induction mortality rates surpassing those in high-income countries. Our patient population also differs significantly from those in clinical trials, with about 50% ineligible for intensive chemotherapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Various chemotherapy regimens have been used for chemo-mobilization of stem cells prior to autologous stem cell transplant in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, and there is no clear standard of care. In this retrospective study, we analyzed mobilization outcomes and the factors affecting successful mobilization following different salvage chemotherapy regimens used in Hodgkin lymphoma.
Objectives: The primary objective was to compare success rates of different chemotherapy regimens.
Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus
October 2024
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is caused by balanced translocation t(9::22)(q34;q11) resulting in formation of pathogenic BCR-ABL fusion gene. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have revolutionised the treatment of CML. Ongoing treatment with TKI leads to side effects and has financial impact.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate clinical presentation of chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), laterality of presentation, and longitudinal changes in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Methods: This is a retrospective longitudinal analysis of 60 eyes from 30 patients who had undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Demographic characteristics, clinical history, comorbidities, and other organ involvements were taken into account for analysis.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our findings highlight changes in AML management strategies in India. There was a decrease in overall patient registrations, particularly at large referral centers, while smaller centers saw an increase, reflecting a shift towards more localized care. This shift was accompanied by a rise in the use of hypomethylating agents (HMAs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlobally, overall survival (OS) of older patients with AML continues to be suboptimal with very little data from India. In a multicenter registry analysis, we evaluated 712 patients with AML older than 55 years. Only 323 (45.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in de-novo acute myeloid leukemia patients receiving induction chemotherapy. Despite using posaconazole, a broad-spectrum antifungal, for IFI prophylaxis, the breakthrough IFI rate is high in the real-world setting. One of the reasons could be frequent suboptimal plasma posaconazole levels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground Objectives: The role of consolidation radiation therapy (CRT) after complete metabolic response to chemotherapy in advanced-stage (stage III and IV) Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is controversial. This study was undertaken to assess the clinical outcomes in terms of event free survival, local failure free survival and overall survival in individuals with advanced HL treated with chemotherapy and CRT.
Methods: A retrospective review was conducted to study the long-term clinical outcomes in individuals diagnosed with HL and treated with chemotherapy and CRT from 2012 to 2016 at a tertiary cancer care hospital in India.
Circulating tumor plasma cells (CTPCs) provide a noninvasive alternative for measuring tumor burden in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). Moreover, measurable residual disease (MRD) assessment in peripheral blood (PBMRD) can provide an ideal alternative to bone marrow MRD, which is limited by its painful nature and technical challenges. However, the clinical significance of PBMRD in NDMM still remains uncertain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a serious complication in hematologic malignancies, and lung infiltrates (LIs) remain a significant concern. An accurate microbiological diagnosis is crucial but difficult to establish. To address this, we analyzed the utility of a standardized method for performing bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) along with a two-step strategy for the analysis of BAL fluid.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcute graft versus host disease (aGvHD) is the major contributor of nonrelapse mortality in alloHSCT. It is associated with an inflammatory immune response manifesting as cytokine storm with ensuing damage to target organs such as liver, gut, and skin. Prevention of aGvHD while retaining the beneficial graft versus leukemia (GvL) effect remains a major challenge.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The prognosis of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) relapsing post autologous transplant (AuSCT) is poor. Even with novel therapies, only approximately 20%-25% of patients attain complete remissions, with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of approximately 5-15 months. Lenalidomide has been shown to have activity in relapsed HL.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVarious reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens are used to decrease toxicity while providing comparable outcomes to myeloablative regimens. We compared toxicity and outcomes between two RIC regimens, fludarabine with melphalan (Flu-Mel) and fludarabine with treosulfan (Flu-Treo), retrospectively over a 10-year period in two donor groups, matched related donor (MRD)/matched unrelated donor (MUD) and haploidentical (Haplo) transplants. The study included 138 patients, of which 105 received MRD/MUD (Flu-Mel: 94, Flu-Treo: 11) and 33 Haplo (Flu-Mel: 17, Flu-Treo: 16) transplants.
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