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Biomedical subjects

A M Marmont

Publications and source records attributed to A M Marmont.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Failure of autologous stem cell transplantation in refractory thrombocytopenic purpura.

A 44-year-old man with splenectomised refractory autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP) of 10 years' duration underwent an autologous, T cell-depleted marrow transplant following conditioning with thiotepa and CY. There was no response to the transplant procedure. This is the fourth case in the literature to show failure following autologous stem cell transplantation, although complete, steroid-independent remissions were obtained in the first two patients for over 1 year.

Adult↗

Allogeneic bone marrow or peripheral blood cell transplants in adults with hematologic malignancies: a single-center experience.

This is a retrospective study of 97 patients who received either allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) (n=52) or peripheral blood cell transplant (PBCT) (n=45) at our institution from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling donors between January 1994 and January 1997. The two groups were comparable with respect to diagnosis, age, sex, interval from diagnosis, and disease phase. They were prepared with cyclophosphamide (CY) and fractionated total-body irradiation (TBI) (n=51) or CY and thiotepa (n=46). Graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporin A and methotrexate. Patients who received PBCT exhibited faster neutrophil engraftment (day 14 vs. day 16, p = 0.002) than those in the BMT group, as well as higher platelet counts on day 20 (32x10(9)/kg vs. 21x10(9)/kg, p = 0.001), but graft function as assessed by platelet counts on days 50, 100, and thereafter was comparable. The number of days spent in the hospital, days on intravenous antibiotics, and days of fever were lower in the PBCT group, but not significantly. Acute GVHD, chronic GVHD, and cytomegalovirus infections were comparable between the two groups. The overall actuarial 3-year transplant-related mortality (TRM) rate for BMT vs. PBCT patients was 20 vs. 33% (p = 0.1), the survival rate was 53 vs. 48% (p = 0.3), and the relapse rate was 42 vs. 43% (p = 0.8). For patients in first complete remission, these figures were TRM 12 vs. 22% (p = 0.2), survival rate 75 vs. 70% (p = 0.4) and relapse rate 31 vs. 9% (p = 0.4), respectively, for the BMT and PBCT groups. These data suggest that the short-term outcome of allogeneic PBCT is not significantly different from that of allogeneic BMT in patients with hematologic malignancies. Long-term results are not available at present.

Adolescent↗

Stem cell transplantation for severe autoimmune diseases: progress and problems.

Since Morton and Siegel's epochal experiments 30 years ago animal models have been successfully utilized both for transfer and resolution of autoimmune diseases (AID). More recently human lymphocyte xenografts have reproduced clinical AID in SCID mice. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation demonstrated therapeutic potential in fully developed autoimmune disease. Mixed allogeneic chimerism induced by a sublethal approach has also been shown to prevent and even reverse autoimmune insulitis in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. More unexpectedly it was found that experimental adjuvant arthritis (AA) and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) could be cured by means of total body irradiation (TBI) followed by autologous hemolymphopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation. It was postulated that the newly developing T cells might be tolerant to self antigens. The transfer of AID from affected donors to recipients of allogeneic HSC transplants has been reported for many organ-specific AID, including diabetes (IDDM), thyroiditis, myasthenia gravis and thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP); rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were not transferred. Conversely patients with the combination of AID and a severe blood disease (leukemia, aplasia) were cured of both diseases following allogeneic BMT, with the notable exception of a relapse in a patient with RA despite full donor engraftment. Allogeneic transplants are certainly more promising as far as concerns a resolution of AID, because they may also exert a graft-versus-autoimmunity effect by gradually eradicating the recipient's lymphopoiesis, but transplant related mortality (TRM) is considered still too high to employ this procedure consistently. New non-myeloablative conditioning regimens, designed to allow the donor's immune system to take over, are already utilized for malignant and non-malignant hematologic diseases, and may become an attractive option for severe, refractory AID. For the time being, however, autologous procedures are still safer, and are being utilized in many projects worldwide. The EBMT/EULAR Registry has collected over 70 patient reports. The more numerous and favorable results have been obtained up to now in multiple scleosis and in systemic lupus erythematosus; the worst in refractory autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. No definite conclusions as to the efficacy of autologous HSC transplantation, from marrow or from blood, with or without T-cell depletion, may be drawn at this time, but the feeling is that real cures will be very difficult to obtain by this approach, and that corticosteroid-free remissions and a general lowering of the autoimmune potential will be more realistic goals. Accurate comparisons with already existing aggressive immunosuppressive protocols will become necessary, if possible by means of prospective randomized clinical studies.

Adoptive Transfer↗

Engraftment of HLA-matched sibling hematopoietic stem cells after immunosuppressive conditioning regimen in patients with hematologic neoplasias.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this pilot study was to assess the possibility of achieving engraftment of HLA-matched sibling donor mobilized hematopoietic stem cells after immunosuppressive non-myeloablative therapy. The second objective was to verify whether high-dose therapy with autologous stem cells rescue followed by allografting conditioned by only an immunosuppressive regimen, can be combined in order to achieve the reduction of tumor burden after autografting and the control of residual disease with immune-mediated effects after allografting. DESIGN AND METHODS: To enter the pilot study the patients had to fulfil the following criteria: advanced resistant disease, presence of an HLA matched sibling donor, no general contraindications to stem cell transplantation. Our data refers to 9 patients: Hodgkin's disease (n = 4), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 2), advanced chronic myelogenous leukemia (n = 2) (one patient with accelerated phase Ph-negative but p190 BCR-ABL gene positive by RT-PCR and one with Ph-positive blastic phase), refractory anemia with excess of blasts t(1;3) (p36;q21) (n = 1). All patients but one received the combined approach. At a median of 40 days (range 30-96), after high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell engraftment, the patients were treated with immunosuppressive therapy consisting of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (Flu-Cy protocol) and then HLA matched donor mobilized stem cells were infused into the patients. GvHD prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporin and methotrexate. RESULTS: To date, with a median observation period of 4 months (range, 2-10), complete chimerism (100% donor cells) has been achieved in 6 patients. Three patients did not achieve complete chimerism: one patient died of progressive Hodgkin's disease when he reached 55% of donor cells, another patient is now in increasing phase of donor cell engraftment and the last patient (blastic phase-CML) was the only case who appears to have had autologous recovery. Two of the Hodgkin's disease patients, who were in partial remission after autografting, achieved complete remission after allografting and both are disease free 2 and 6 months after. Another Hodgkin's disease patient is alive at 10 months but she has progressive disease. One of the two patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, who achieved partial remission after autografting, obtained complete remission and he is disease free 2 months after allografting. The other patient maintains partial remission obtained after autografting. The accelerated phase-CML patient obtained hematologic and molecular remission; the RAEB patient achieved hematologic and cytogenetic remission. In two patients severe aGVHD (grade II-III) was the single major complication but neither patient died of it. Mild aGVHD was seen in another patient. In only one patient did the ANC decrease to below 1 x 10(9)/L and in no case did platelets decrease below 20 x 10(9)/L. No patients required a sterile room or any red cell or platelet transfusions. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Immunosuppressive therapy with a Flu-Cy protocol allowed engraftment of HLA-matched sibling donor stem cells without procedure-related deaths; moreover, we have demonstrated that this combined procedure can be pursued in safety in a serious ill population and some of these patients achieved a complete remission. This procedure is not likely to be curative, but a fascinating step along the path to curing these diseases. Of course, the follow-up is too short to document the incidence of cGvHD.

Adult↗

Autologous marrow stem cell transplantation for severe systemic lupus erythematosus of long duration.

A 46 year woman with severe long-lasting SLE received an autologous bone marrow transplantation utilising CD34+ haematopoietic progenitors following a 3log T-lymphocyte depletion. The immunosuppressive regimen (conditioning) consisted of 15mg/kg Thiotepa followed by 100 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide over 2d. Granulocytic recovery was aided by G-CSF. The post-transplant course was uneventful, and a good clinical and immunologic remission (ANA negativisation) was achieved. This is the first case of SLE having received an autologous progenitor cell transplant for the autoimmune disease by itself, unaccompanied by a haematologic condition requiring transplantation. The potential, advantages and limits of this procedure, which are currently being explored worldwide, are briefly discussed.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

Stem cell transplantation for severe autoimmune disorders, with special reference to rheumatic diseases.

Animal models of autoimmune disease have been successfully used to explore peripheral stem cell transfusion and bone marrow transplantation. Allogeneic marrow transplants have been shown to suppress lupus-like disease and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Autologous transplantation has also been successful in adjuvant arthritis. Operationally, these may be considered as graft versus autoimmunity effects. In humans, adoptive autoimmunity, in which the donor becomes apparent in the recipient, has been documented for myasthenia gravis and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Of 9 allogeneic bone marrow transplants for rheumatoid arthritis, 4 patients have done well for many years while one relapsed after 2 years. In 2 cases, autologous marrow transplant has been used specifically to treat autoimmune disease: one patient with CREST had only a transient response and one patient with myasthenia gravis had remission. While allogeneic bone marrow transplant is the most rational procedure, its use in nonmalignant disorders must be very carefully considered secondary to its toxicity and potential morbidity. The use of peripheral blood CD34+ cells with T cell depletion, may promise complete or partial longterm remission but results of this therapy need to be compared with other immunosuppressive combinations.

Adult↗

Early recurrence or persistence of autoimmune diseases after unmanipulated autologous stem cell transplantation.

Autologous stem cell transplantation with or without in vitro lymphocyte depletion has been suggested as a new treatment option for severe autoimmune diseases. We describe five patients with autoimmune diseases (CREST syndrome, myasthenia gravis and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus, atopic dermatitis, and rheumatoid arthritis) who underwent autologous bone marrow (n = 1) or peripheral blood progenitor cell (n = 4) transplantation with unmanipulated grafts as treatment for the autoimmune disease in one case or as treatment for a malignant disorder with a concomitant autoimmune disorder in four cases. In all patients serological and clinical signs of the autoimmune disease recurred early or persisted. These observations should be regarded as a cautionary note concerning the efficacy of high-dose therapy followed by transplantation of unmanipulated autologous stem cells for treatment of severe autoimmune diseases.

Adult↗

Combined foscarnet-ganciclovir treatment for cytomegalovirus infections after allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation.

In a previous study, we showed that patients undergoing allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) who had cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia with more than 4 CMV antigen-positive cells/200,000 have a high transplant-related mortality (TRM) rate, despite treatment with ganciclovir or foscarnet. In an attempt to reduce TRM, 32 allogeneic HSCT recipients, between the ages of 16 and 55 years (median, 35 years), with CMV antigenemia (> or = 5 positive cells) developing at a median interval from HSCT of 49 days, were given combination treatment with foscarnet and ganciclovir for 15 days. The prescribed dose was 180 mg/kg/day of foscarnet and 10 mg/kg/day of ganciclovir: the median administered dose in the first 15 days, after adjusting for creatinine levels and peripheral blood counts, was 64% for foscarnet and 53% for ganciclovir. Maintenance was given with foscarnet and ganciclovir on alternate days for an additional 2 weeks. Thirty-one of 32 patients were on cyclosporine, 30 were on systemic antibiotics, and 9 were on intravenous amphotericin. Median laboratory values on days 1 and 15 of treatment were 1.0 and 1.1 mg/100 ml creatinine, 5.7 x 10(9)/L, and 4.1 x 10(9)/L white blood cells, and 78 x lO(9)/L and 72 x 10(9)/L platelets. All patients cleared CMV antigenemia by day +15, although CMV antigenemia recurred in 5 patients on maintenance therapy and in 14 patients off maintenance therapy: the dose of foscarnet (but not ganciclovir) received in the first 15 days was significantly lower in patients in whom antigenemia recurred within 30 days (P=0.0002). Six patients died, one with interstitial pneumonia, one with multiorgan failure, and four with infections. Twenty-six patients survived 119-1051 days after transplant. The actuarial TRM rate at 1 year is 23%. Eighteen patients who had received unmanipulated bone marrow transplants from HLA-identical siblings were compared with 15 matched controls who had been treated with a single drug (either foscarnet or ganciclovir) for CMV antigenemia (> or = 5 cells): the actuarial 1 year TRM rate was 13% for patients receiving combined treatment, compared with 47% for controls receiving a single drug (P=0.02). This study shows that combined foscarnet-ganciclovir is one therapeutic option for allogeneic HSCT recipients who develop CMV antigenemia with a high number of CMV antigen-positive cells. Treatment can be given together with cyclosporine and antibiotics with appropriate dose reductions. It produces prompt clearing of CMV infection, and may reduce TRM rates in comparison to single-agent therapy.

Adolescent↗

Chemotherapy versus transplants for acute myelogenous leukemia in second remission.

The best therapy for persons with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in 2nd remission is unknown. Bone marrow transplants from an HLA-identical sibling are reported to be better than chemotherapy but this is controversial. The objective of the study was to compare 3-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) in comparable subjects receiving chemotherapy or a transplant. 485 persons with AML in 2nd remission were studied. The chemotherapy cohort included 244 persons treated on trials of the British Medical Research Council, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and MD Anderson Hospital. The transplant cohort included 257 persons transplanted worldwide and reported to the international Bone Marrow Transplant Registry (16 were also chemotherapy subjects.) Subjects were selected for comparable age and year of treatment. Preliminary analyses identified two factors correlated with LFS: age < or = or > 30 years and 1st remission duration < or = or > 1 year; subsequent analyses were partitioned accordingly. Three-year probabilities of treatment-related mortality with chemotherapy and transplants were 7% (95% confidence interval, 3-15%) vs 56% (49-63%). Three-year leukemia relapse probabilities were 81% (74-86%) vs 41% (33-49%). Three-year probabilities of LFS were 17% (12-23%) vs 26 (20-32%). Cohort analysis showed significantly higher LFS with transplants vs chemotherapy in persons < or = 30 years and 1st remissions > 1 year (41% (29-53%) vs 17% (7-32%); P = 0.017) and those in > 30 years with 1st remissions < or = 1 year (18% (9-29%) vs 7% (2-16%); P = 0.046). Others had comparable LFS with both treatments. These data indicate better LFS with HLA-identical sibling transplants than chemotherapy in some persons with AML in 2nd remission.

Adolescent↗

HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplants vs chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia in first remission.

There is controversy whether adults with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in first remission are best treated with chemotherapy or an HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplant. We studied 1097 adults, 16-50 years old, with AML in first remission. Results of transplants from HLA-identical siblings reported to the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry (IBMTR; n = 901) were compared with results of chemotherapy in comparable persons treated by the German AML Cooperative Group (GAMLCG; n = 196). Preliminary analyses identified subject- and disease-related variables differing between the cohorts and associated with treatment outcome within each cohort. We adjusted for these variables and differences in time-to-treatment in subsequent comparisons of treatment-related mortality, relapse, survival and leukemia-free survival (LFS). Five-year probability of treatment-related mortality was greater for transplants than chemotherapy (43% (95% confidence interval, 37-49%) vs 7% (3-11%); P< 0.0001). Five-year relapse probability was less for transplants than chemotherapy (24% (20-28%) vs 63% (55-71%); P< 0.0001). Five-year probability of survival was similar with transplants and chemotherapy (48% (43-53%) vs 42% (33-51%); P = 0.24). Five-year LFS probability was higher for transplants than chemotherapy (46% (42-50%) vs 35% (28-41%); P= 0.01). These data indicate that bone marrow transplants from HLA-identical siblings result in comparable survival but greater LFS than chemotherapy in adults with AML in first remission.

Adolescent↗

Combined foscarnet -ganciclovir treatment for cytomegalovirus infections after allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (Hsct).

Thirty two allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients, aged 16-55 (median 35), with CMV antigenemia (= > 5 positive cells) developing at a median interval from BMT of 49 days, were given combined treatment with foscarnet and ganciclovir for 15 days. Maintenance was given with foscarnet and ganciclovir on alternate days for an additional 2 weeks. 31/32 patients were on cyclosporin 30 on systemic antibiotics and 9 were on intravenous amphotericin Median laboratory values on day 1 and 15 of treatment were respectively creatinine 1.0-1.1 mg%; WBC 5.7-4.1 x 10(9)/l; platelets 78 72 x 10(9)/l. All patients cleared CMV-antigenemia by day +15, though 5 reactivated on and 14 off maintenance: the dose of foscarnet (but not ganciclovir) received in the first 15 days was significantly lower in patients reactivating within 30 days (p = 0.0002). Six patients died, one with i.p., one with multiorgan failure, and four with infections. Eighteen patients survive 119-1051 days post-transplant. The actuarial TRM at 1 year is 23%. This study shows that combined foscarnet-ganciclovir is one therapeutic option for allogeneic BMT recipients developing CMVAg-emia with a high number of CMVAg+ cells: treatment can be given together with cyclosporin and antibiotics with appropriate dose reductions; it produces prompt clearing of CMV infection, and may reduce transplant related mortality when compared to single agent therapy.

Adolescent↗

Chronic clonal myeloproliferative disease associated with a t(5;21) translocation. Complete but transient hematologic and cytogenetic remission induced by interferon-alpha.

A patient with a chronic myeloproliferative disease associated with a 100% t(5;12) translocation was treated with 3 million U per day of IFN-alpha 2a. Besides being consistently Ph-negative, the search for BCR/ABL hybrid transcripts by means of RT-PCR was also negative. Total cytogenetic conversion to diploid hematopoiesis was obtained, but after discontinuation of IFN a 50% relapse of t(5;21) mitoses was found, and treatment was resumed. There is some degree of consensus that the mechanism by which IFN-alpha suppresses the Ph+ clone in CML consists in the restoration of normal adhesion of CML progenitors to the marrow stroma, by preventing transcription of the BCR/ABL mRNA, and hence expression of the p210 tyrosine kinase. However, if the 'faulty adhesion' hypothesis, and its correction by IFN-alpha, is to be considered correct, this case proves that it must include also Ph-negative, not BCR-ABL rearranged clonal myeloid proliferations.

Adult↗

Bone marrow transplantation for Diamond-Blackfan anemia.

Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a rare disorder usually diagnosed in the first year of life. Although most cases respond to corticosteroids, > 20% are, or become, steroid-resistant. We report 10 children with DBA who received a bone marrow transplant from an HLA-identical sibling (n = 8), maternal (n = 1) or unrelated (n = 1) donor and reported to the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry. Among eight recipients of HLA-identical sibling transplants, six are alive 5-87 months after transplant with no evidence of DBA and with Karnofsky performance scores of 90-100%. The two recipients of non-HLA-identical sibling transplants died < 2 weeks after transplant. The actuarial 2-year probability of survival for the eight sibling transplants was 72 (37-92)% (95% confidence interval).

Adolescent↗

Stem cell transplantation for severe autoimmune diseases: new proposals but still unanswered questions.

An extensive series of experimental investigations has shown that both inherited and induced autoimmune diseases in laboratory animals may be transferred and, conversely, cured by stem cell transplantation. In man, the evidence is mainly anecdotal, originating both from the transmission of autoimmune conditions following allogeneic BMT from carrier donors to non-autoimmune recipients transplant-requiring diseases, and from the resolution of autoimmune diseases (mainly rheumatoid arthritis) of the recipients after allogeneic BMT from healthy donors. Will it be possible to cure severe autoimmune diseases with powerfully immunosuppressive conditioning regimens followed by the administration of hematopoietic stem cells? If the reconstitution of a naive immune system is necessary, allogeneic stem cells will be necessary, but the procedure is still saddled with its attending problems, with TRM in the foreground. When utilizing autologous stem cells in conjunction with TCD the patients' tolerance will be significantly better, but remissions are to be anticipated rather than cures. However, some special manipulations may be expected to ameliorate results in those selected autoimmune patients not or badly responding to conventional immunosuppressive therapy, for whom this type of treatment can be offered.

Autoimmune Diseases↗