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Biomedical subjects

B Barlogie

Publications and source records attributed to B Barlogie.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

High-dose melphalan and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor for refractory multiple myeloma.

High-dose melphalan has induced remissions in about 40% of patients with refractory myeloma, but the mortality has been high, at about 20%, due to complications of prolonged granulocytopenia. In an attempt to stimulate earlier granulocyte recovery, recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was administered subcutaneously to 23 patients with refractory myeloma who had been treated with melphalan at a high dose of 100 mg/m2. Thirty-nine percent of patients achieved marked tumor cytoreduction by at least 75%, 2 died within 2 months from infectious complications during severe neutropenia; and median durations of relapse-free and overall survival were 7 and 10+ months, respectively. The nine patients presenting with both advanced age over 50 years and a long history of prior therapy of over 1 year required significantly longer median times of 31 days for granulocytes and of 63 days for platelets to reach safe levels of at least 500/microL and 50,000/microL, respectively, than the 14 remaining patients who had none or only one of these adverse features (21 and 26 days, respectively). In a historic control of 43 patients treated previously with high-dose melphalan but without GM-CSF, hematologic recovery to the aforementioned levels of granulocytes and platelets proceeded over almost 5 weeks, regardless of age and prior treatment exposure. Thus GM-CSF seems to hasten marrow recovery, especially in patients with adequate normal marrow stem-cell reserve as defined by younger age or less prior therapy. While not shortening the duration of neutropenia, GM-CSF dose increments (from 0.25 to 0.5 to 0.75 mg/m2) increased the incidence of severe toxicity from 0% to almost 40%, especially among older patients. These results support the usefulness of low-dose GM-CSF (0.25 mg/m2) in stimulating marrow recovery in selected patients with adequate marrow reserve treated with high-dose melphalan for refractory multiple myeloma.

Colony-Stimulating Factors↗

VAD-based regimens as primary treatment for multiple myeloma.

An alternating VCAD-VAD regimen, combining vincristine-doxorubicin by continuous infusion with cyclophosphamide and pulse dexamethasone, or VAD alone, was given to 175 previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma. The response rate with primary VAD-based regimens of 55% was virtually identical to the 54% in comparable patients treated previously with similar programs by using bolus vincristine-doxorubicin. Despite responses to VAD that were more rapid in onset than any previous treatment, remission and survival times were similar. This may be due to major differences in drug sensitivity between progenitor and differentiated plasma cells. A VAD-based regimen seems better for newly diagnosed patients when rapid control of multiple myeloma is necessary.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

New treatment strategies for multiple myeloma.

During the past 5 years, several new treatments and strategies have been developed for patients with multiple myeloma. For patients with disease resistant to standard therapies, these include the VAD regimen, dexamethasone alone, high-dose melphalan, and intensive chemoradiotherapy with bone marrow transplantation. Alpha interferon appears to have its greatest potential as part of early induction therapy or during remission maintenance. The role of hemopoietic growth factors or blood stem cells in support of high-dose therapy and drugs that may overcome multiple drug resistance continues under study. A sequence of non-cross resistant therapies early in the disease course seems worthy of investigation, especially in patients at high risk for early relapse.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Management of multiple myeloma.

There has been little progress in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma, and the average survival time is still only about 3 years. Although there have been significant therapeutic advances in recent years, clinical trials have only just begun. The major concern is, of course, the achievement of major disease control (which can be equated with a cure). The data available to date indicate that this is possible only with the use of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, with which a survival plateau of around 30% can be attained. The trials should perhaps include the sequential use of all regimens with established efficacy in refractory myeloma. Immunoconjugate therapy with either radioisotopes or cytotoxic agents could also be envisioned, and expansion with suitable biological agents such as interleukin-2 could be considered. There is a plethora of promising treatment possibilities and novel concepts that may improve the dismal outlook for patients with multiple myeloma.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Results of the vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone regimen in adults with standard- and high-risk acute lymphocytic leukemia.

One hundred five untreated adult patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) were entered on the vincristine, Adriamycin (doxorubicin; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH), and Decadron (dexamethasone; Merck Sharp and Dohme, West Point, PA) (VAD) regimen. Induction therapy with VAD and VAD plus cyclophosphamide (CVAD) was followed by a 2-year rotating maintenance program with multiple antileukemic combinations, and included early intensifications with Adriamycin and high-dose cytarabine (ara-C) and a late intensification with cyclophosphamide, carmustine (BCNU), and etoposide (VP-16) (CBV) followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Duration of therapy was 24 to 30 months. Eight-eight patients (84%) achieved complete remission (CR) with VAD-CVAD, and 94 (90%) ultimately had CR with continuation of the maintenance as planned. Induction mortality was 3%; only half of the patients required prolonged hospitalization of 1 week or longer, or intravenous antibiotics. Maintenance therapy was given to 79 patients, while nine with histocompatibility locus antigen (HLA)-matched related donors underwent allogeneic BMT. The median remission duration was 22 months, and the median survival was 19 months. Factors associated with significantly worse CR rates were older age, the presence of hypoalbuminemia or hyperbilirubinemia, L2 or L3 morphology, and myeloid markers on leukemic cells. Those associated with significantly worse remission durations were the presence of elevated leukocyte or absolute peripheral blast counts, Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive or B-cell ALL, L2 morphology, and more than one course to achieve CR. Patients could be divided into standard-risk ALL (28% of patients) and high-risk ALL (72% of patients) with long-term remission rates of 70% versus less than 30%. The 26 patients who underwent CBV autologous BMT had similar long-term outcome compared with 21 patients who did not (older age, medical contraindications, or socioeconomic problems). The presence or absence of myeloid markers on leukemic cells did not affect long-term prognosis. We conclude that VAD therapy is a well-tolerated effective induction regimen. High-risk ALL patients require alternative maintenance investigational approaches.

Adolescent↗

High dose cyclophosphamide, BCNU and VP-16 with autologous blood stem cell support for refractory multiple myeloma.

Eleven patients with advanced multiple myeloma refractory to standard doses of alkylating agents and salvage therapy with vincristine, adriamycin and dexamethasone (VAD) were treated with high dose cyclophosphamide, BCNU and VP-16 (CBV) with autologous blood stem cell support. Seven patients had marked marrow plasmacytosis (greater than 30%) and four had extensive pelvic bone disease precluding autologous marrow harvest. Four patients responded with a median remission duration of 7 months. Recovery of granulocytes and platelets occurred promptly in 10 evaluable patients with complete hematologic recovery. Autologous blood stem cells can provide safe and effective support for high dose CBV treatment of myeloma patients with extensive marrow plasmacytosis. The short remissions call for better cytoreductive regimens with consideration for earlier use when the myeloma may be more responsive to therapy.

Blood Transfusion, Autologous↗

Renal failure in multiple myeloma. Pathogenesis and prognostic implications.

The pathogenesis, prognosis, and reversibility of renal failure were assessed in 494 consecutive, previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma. For patients with a similar extent of disease, the presence or degree of azotemia did not adversely affect prognosis. Hypercalcemia and/or Bence Jones proteinuria explained the renal failure in 97% of patients. After treatment with a combination of hydration and chemotherapy, normal renal function was achieved in 51% of patients, reversibility usually being rapid and occurring more often in those with slight elevation of serum creatinine. Myeloma control was much more important for survival prolongation than reversal of renal failure, supporting the prompt institution of effective therapy for the underlying malignancy.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Experience with vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (VAD) chemotherapy in adults with refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Sixty-four adult patients with refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) received salvage therapy with the vincristine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH), and dexamethasone (VAD) regimen consisting of induction chemotherapy with the three agents followed by multiple-agent maintenance therapy for 2 years. Overall, 25 patients (39%) achieved complete remission. The median remission duration was 28 weeks with 20% of these patients remaining disease-free at 2 years. The median overall survival was 23 weeks. Prognostic factors associated with differences in remission rates included patient performance status, hemoglobin and platelet levels, and degree of peripheral and marrow blastosis. Factors related to differences in survival were patient age and performance status, hemoglobin and platelet levels, percentage of peripheral blasts, and albumin and bilirubin levels. The toxicity of the regimen was minimal, with 33% of patients requiring hospitalization because of febrile episodes of unknown origin (17%) or documented infections (16%). Therapy-related mortality occurred in four patients (6%). We conclude that the VAD program has significant antileukemic efficacy and acceptable toxicity in adult salvage ALL.

Adolescent↗

High serum levels of lactic dehydrogenase identify a high-grade lymphoma-like myeloma.

Although conferring a grave prognosis in patients with malignant lymphoma, high levels of serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) are usually not seen in patients with multiple myeloma, a more indolent tumor composed mainly of B cells in their terminal stage of differentiation. Thus, only 2 of 118 patients in earlier phases of myeloma showed marked LDH elevations to more than 500 U/L, whereas such abnormalities were present in 12 of 64 patients with advanced disease progressing despite treatment with vincristine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), dexamethasone (VAD) (median LDH level, 700 U/L). High LDH levels were associated with high serum levels of beta-2-microglobulin, hypercalcemia, extraosseous disease features, a short preceding clinical course as well as a short subsequent survival time. A poor prognosis was also noted in patients with lower LDH in whom marked increments were induced by high-dose chemotherapy; thus, LDH elevations to greater than 300 U/L present before or found after high-dose cytotoxic therapy were observed in about 50% of patients with VAD-resistant myeloma and define a new clinical entity with features of extraosseous disease and an unusually aggressive course ("high-grade myeloma"). The shorter survival of newly diagnosed patients with high-normal compared with those with low-normal LDH levels (less than 200 U/L), regardless of tumor mass, suggests the presence in some patients of a tumor subpopulation with high LDH production that escapes growth control with standard treatment. Staging of multiple myeloma should therefore include measurements of serum LDH levels in addition to beta-2-microglobulin analysis and tumor mass estimation.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Flow cytometric analysis of glucocorticoid receptor using monoclonal antibody and fluoresceinated ligand probes.

Conditions were established for single cell analysis of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) content by flow cytometry using several clones of a human leukemic cell line (CCRF-CEM). These included CEM-7A, 7R, C1, and ICR 27 Tk.3 cells which were examined both by standard [3H]dexamethasone radiometric binding and by two independent flow cytometry assays. The latter involved either mouse monoclonal antibody against GR (GR-MoAb) or fluoresceinated cortisol ligand probes. For CEM-7A, 7R, and C1 cells, there was a correlation between GR-MoAb and radiometrically defined GR values. However, clone ICR-27 Tk.3 with low [3H]dexamethasone binding exhibited the highest GR-MoAb fluorescence. The fluoresceinated cortisol assay correlated with dexamethasone binding values in all four clones. Thus, GR-MoAb identifies the total immunologically reactive GR present, while the fluoresceinated cortisol assay quantifies only the functionally intact GR in terms of its initial binding. Their combined use may reveal the cellular heterogeneity of GR expression and function also in human tumor samples, to which they have been successfully applied. When coupled with DNA counterstaining, GR expression can be related directly to frequently DNA-aneuploid tumor cells and cell cycle distribution.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of peripheral T-cell lymphoma. A cytologic, immunologic, and cytometric study.

The diagnosis of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is difficult. This entity can be misdiagnosed as Hodgkin's disease or a reactive process such as nonnecrotizing granulomatous lymphadenitis or it can present a problem in lymphoma classification. Fine-needle aspirates from 13 patients with histologically proven PTCL were evaluated by cytology, immunochemistry, and flow cytometry. Of the 13 patients with PTCL, initial cytologic diagnoses were atypical lymphocytic infiltrate (2), mixed-cell lymphoma (6), mixed-cell lymphoma with associated histiocytes (2), large cell lymphoma (2), and small cell lymphoma (1). Surface marker studies were performed on cytospin preparations. Antibodies against cytotoxic-suppressor (Leu-2a) and helper-inducer (Leu-3a,b) antigens were used in 11 cases. Ten lymphomas demonstrated helper phenotype and one showed phenotypic heterogeneity in two different sites. The most prominent cytologic features of PTCL were a variable combination of small, intermediate, and large lymphoid cells with irregular nuclei, presence of epithelioid histiocytes, and atypical mononuclear cells. Flow cytometry studies showed a diploid stem line with intermediate proliferative activity (mean S-phase of 6.7%) in most cases, despite the clinical aggressiveness of this neoplasm.

Adult↗

Chemotherapy for resistant and relapsing multiple myeloma.

This report summarizes a broad experience in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma resistant to standard chemotherapy. The VAD regimen has induced remissions in about 50% of relapsing patients but in only about 25% of previously unresponsive patients. In patients resistant to VAD, high-dose therapies with intravenous melphalan, a CBV combination (cyclophosphamide-BCNU-VP-16) or an EDAP regimen (VP-16 -platinum) produced responses in about 40% of patients. However, these treatments usually required autologous bone marrow or blood stem cell support and the median duration of control was only 6 months. With an even more intensive program using high-dose melphalan and total body irradiation supported by autologous bone marrow, all patients who survived the early treatment period responded for a median duration of about 1 year. Results indicated a dose-response effect of chemoradiotherapy on VAD-resistant myeloma with the potential that such intensive regimens will prolong disease-free survival time.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗