Second malignancy after treatment of adult acute myeloid leukemia: cohort study on adult patients enrolled in the GIMEMA trials.
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Publications and source records attributed to R Cerri.
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Forty-three consecutive patients with de novo and untreated non M3 AML aged 60 or less entered the study. The mean age of patients was 50 (range 15-60). The induction regimen (FLAG-Ida) included fludarabine (30 mg/sqm), Ara-C (2 g/sqm) on days 1-5, and idarubicin (10 mg/sqm) on days 1, 3, 5. G-CSF (300 mcg/day) was administered s.c. 12 hours before starting fludarabine and was continued for five days. HDT with stem cell rescue was planned for all patients in first CR after one course of high dose Ara-C (HDAC) consolidation and in good clinical conditions. Forty-two (98%) patients were evaluable for response. One patient died during induction (2%). CR was achieved in 35 patients (82%). Twenty-three patients, 66% of those achieving CR, underwent autologous (N = 17) or allogeneic (N = 6) transplantation. With a median follow up of 24 months, the average median duration of CR is 17 months (range 3-66) and the median survival is 20 months (range 1-83). Overall the 5 year projected disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 37% and 43%, respectively. Among patients who underwent stem cell transplantation DFS and OS were 53% and 69%, respectively. The median time to PMN recovery (> 0.5 x 10(9)/l) was 17 days (range 10-28) and 50 x 10(9)/l platelets were reached at a median of 17 days (12-38). In conclusion FLAG-Ida regimen is effective, low toxic and improves feasibility of stem cell transplant.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in a multicenter retrospective study, the clinical and laboratory characteristics and the outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) previously diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) among an adult acute leukemia population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 1992 and July 1996, 3934 new cases of adults with acute leukemia were recorded in GIMEMA Archive of Adult Acute Leukemia (2964 AML, 901 ALL, 69 acute leukemia expressing both myeloid and lymphoid surface markers). RESULTS: Two hundred patients (5.1%) presented with a history of previous malignancy (21 of them were affected by ALL and 179 by AML). Among sAML, 37 patients (29%) had a previous breast cancer. They consisted of 36 females and 1 male, median age 56 years, range 34-87. The median latency between the 2 malignancies was 54 months (range 5-379). Twenty-seven patients received chemo- and/or radiotherapy for breast cancer (7 only chemotherapy, 6 only radiotherapy, and 14 combined treatment). All patients were surgically treated but in 10 patients surgical debridement was the sole therapy for breast cancer. The drugs most frequently employed were alkylating agents (18 patients), topoisomerase II inhibitors (9 patients), antimetabolites (20 patients) (CMF, CEF and MMM combinations). At onset of sAML the median WBC count was 7.7 x 10(9)/l (0.8-153) and the median platelet count was 33.5 x 10(9)/l (3-305). Considering morphological features, FAB subtypes were 4 M0, 5 M1, 11 M2, 5 M3, 8 M4, 3 M5, and 1 M6. Cytogenetic study was performed on 28 patients and 12 of them presented abnormalities. It is noteworthy that chromosome 5 or 7 abnormalities (typically observed in those patients treated with alkylating agents) were present only in three cases. Thirty-four patients received chemotherapy for sAML, and twenty-five of them achieved a CR (74%), with a median duration of twenty-eight weeks (5-280+). The overall survival was 8 months (1-80+). DISCUSSION: The high number of sAML we observed in patients with a previous breast cancer, may be due to the fact that this malignancy is the most frequent neoplasm in women and by the high probability of cure with a consequent long disease-free survival. Our results suggest that the risk of sAML after recovery from breast cancer is increasing due to the rise in the number of patients cured from breast cancer, and in the future could be a relevant problem for haematologists.
Between July 1992 and June 1996, 3934 new cases of acute leukaemia were registered in the Gruppo Italiano Malattie Ematologiche Maligne dell'Adulto (GIMEMA) Archive of Adult Acute Leukaemia. Two hundred cases (5.1%) presented with a history of primary malignancy (PM), 179 of which were acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The median age of these cases was significantly higher than that of other primitive AML (63 years vs. 57 years; P < 0.001). The number of men was significantly lower than the number of women [74/1544 (4.8%) vs. 105/1420 (7.4%); odds ratio (OR) 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46-0.87; P < 0.002], as was the number of patients aged <65 years [104/1963 (5.3%) vs. 75/1001 (7.5%); OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.50-0.95; P < 0.01]. An increased incidence of cancer was observed among first-degree relatives of patients with AML occurring after a PM (secondary AML; sAML) [66/179 (36.9%) sAML vs. 757/2785 (27.2%) de novo AML, age adjusted; OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.07-6.42; P < 0.005]. Prevalent types of PM were breast cancer, lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease. sAML occurred after a median latency of 52 months (range 2-379). Of the 122 patients who received chemotherapy for sAML, 67 patients (55%) achieved a complete remission (CR), three a partial remission, 15 (12%) died in induction and 37 (30%) were unresponsive. The median duration of CR was 30 weeks (range 4-250). The median overall survival was 7 months (range 1-196). Comparing acute promyelocytic leukaemia with all other French-American-British (FAB) groups, a significant increase in CR achievement was observed [14/18 (77.7%) vs. 53/101 (52.4%), P < 0.046] as well as in median CR duration (55 vs. 24 months, P < 0.02). The analysis of our data suggests that not only previous chemotherapy but also genetic predisposition could play a role in the pathogenesis of sAML.
Acute myeloid leukaemias (AML) evolving from a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or secondary to chemoradiotherapy frequently display unfavorable biologic characteristics. This may explain the lower remission rate obtained with conventional chemotherapy. Recently, the association of Fludarabine with intermediate dose Ara-C has produced interesting results particularly in high risk AML patients. Here, we report on 42 secondary AML patients treated with a combination of Fludarabine, intermediate dose Ara-C, G-CSF with or without an antracycline (FLANG, FLAG-IDA or FLAG). Overall, complete remissions (CR) were documented in 14 patients (33%) and partial responses (PR) in 12 (29%), while 10 patients proved resistant (24%). Six patients (14%) died early. The presence of a prognostically unfavorable karyotype had a negative impact on the CR rate (20% compared to 50% for patients with an intermediate prognosis karyotype, p 0.05). Patients treated with FLAG, FLANG and FLAG-IDA had similar CR rates. At the time of this analysis, after a mean follow-up of 12 months, the mean duration of CR is 16 months (range 3-66) and the mean survival is 11 months (range 1-67). The median time to granulocyte recovery (neutrophils > 0.5 x 10(9)/l) was 20 days (range 12-39) and 50 x 10(9)/l platelets were reached at a median of 26 days (range 9-56). Taken together, these Fludarabine containing regimens proved to be an effective and tolerable treatment for patients with secondary AML. Patients above 70 years of age may also benefit from this therapy, however the problem of treating patients with adverse chromosomal abnormalities still remains unresolved.
Since the social and financial impact of AML therapy is becoming more and more relevant we analyzed the cost of induction therapy of two different regimens. The first one is part of the widely employed EORTC-GIMEMA AML-10 and consists often days of therapy. The second (FLANG) is a short (three day), Fludarabine, Ara-C, mitoxantrone and G-CSF containing regimen. We first retrospectively analyzed the outcome of 77 consecutive AML patients with comparable clinical and haematological features receiving FLANG (25) or AML-10 (52), between June 1993 and October 1999, and observed equivalent CR rate, as well as DFS and overall survival duration. We then selected 9 non pretreated patients per group who reached CR after one course of therapy. Patients treated with FLANG had a statistically significant earlier platelet recovery compared to those treated with AML-10, fewer days of intravenous antibiotic therapy (14/22, respectively, p < 0.05), and a shorter hospitalization period (22/33 days, p < 0.01). FLANG was significantly more expensive than AML 10 as far as the cost of antiblastic drugs (p < 0.01) and G-CSF support (p < 0.05) are concerned. On the contrary, the expense for antiemetic drugs (p < 0.01) and the cost of personnel and other services ($5,906/$3,970, p < 0.05) were higher for AML-10 than for FLANG. Overall, the average costs of FLANG and AML10 were $9,269 and $12,424 respectively (p < 0.05; difference = -25%). Our study seems to indicate that, compared to AML-10, FLANG induction is as effective, less expensive and it allows for a decrease in the length of hospitalization and thus for better exploitation of the financial resources of Hematology-Oncology departments.
A series of substituted N-cycloalkyl benzamides, cinnamamides, and indole-3-carboxamides were synthesized and evaluated for their analgesic, antiinflammatory activities as well as for their gastrointestinal irritation liability. Indomethacin was used as reference drug in both tests. Compounds 1k, 1b, 1h, 1j, and 1g were the most active in the antiinflammatory paw edema inhibition test, with a sharply dose-dependent effect. In terms of the analgesic activity (acetic acid writhing test), the most active compound was 5a followed by 3a, but many other compounds were found to have a non-negligible potency. Even in this case, the effect was dose dependent.
Although in recent years the use of purine analogues has increased the percentage of long-term complete response the effect on overall survival of patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is not yet clear. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcome (mean follow up of 92 months) of 64 patients receiving IFN as first-line therapy. IFN was well tolerated and effective. The overall response rate was 91% (PR 65%, CR 13%, GPR 13%). Forty-one patients (63%) received IFN 3 MU/ wk as maintenance therapy. The 10-yr projected survival rate of responding patients (CR and GPR 100%; PR 95%) and non-responders (SD, PD 80%) clearly shows that type of response does not affect survival. Patients receiving IFN maintenance had a statistically higher PFS than those who did not (p <0.01). This study shows that IFN is still one of the standard therapies for this disease, that achieving CR has no primary relevance for the control of the disease, and that good utilization of therapeutic resources may assure HCL patients a survival rate comparable to that of a normal, healthy population.
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Two series of hydrazonic compounds related to main classes of inhibitors of fungal squalene epoxidase (SE) were designed and prepared on the hypothesis of a pharmacophoric model. The antifungal activity of the new compounds was evaluated in vitro against dermatophytes, moulds and yeasts. Antidermatophytic activity resulted for several hydrazones, particularly for those containing a tett-butylacetylenic group, supporting the hypothesis that the introduction of a hydrazonic function in the model could retain the antimycotic activity.
The synthesis of analogues of N,2-diphenyl-N-(4-piperidyl)acetamide endowed with antiarrhythmic activity is reported. Benzoyl, cinnamoyl, acetyl and propionyl groups replace the phenacyl group as N-acyl substituent, while pyridine replaces benzene as aromatic ring bound to the amide nitrogen. The title compounds were evaluated for antiarrhythmic activity on experimental arrhythmias induced by aconitine in rats. The presence of a n-propyl chain and an unsubstituted cinnamoyl moiety (1j) gives the highest protection against aconitine induced extrasystoles while the best efficacy against lethal effects is due to the presence of a n-propyl chain and an acetyl moiety (1m).
Two series of N-[4-(alkyl)cyclohexyl]-substituted benzamides, i.e. a series of N-[4-(tert-butyl)cyclohexyl]-substituted benzamides and a series of N-[4-(ethyl)cyclohexyl]-substituted benzamides, were synthesised and evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic potencies, and gastrointestinal irritation liability.
A method for 'in vivo' determination of the oxytetracyclin residues in ovine milk at low levels is described. Two groups of Sardinian breed sheep were treated with a dose of oxytetracycline by intramammary infusion and intramuscular administration, respectively. Oxytetracycline residues in extracts obtained from a preliminary cleanup procedure, were detected by an isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Linear calibration plots were obtained over a large concentration range of 1 mg ml(-1)-10 ng ml(-1), with correlation coefficients higher than 0.996. Recoveries between 85.8 and 98.9% were obtained. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of determination (LOQ) were 5.2 and 17.5 ng ml(-1), respectively. This method would be useful for routine monitoring of oxytetracycline residues in ovine dairy milk.
Between July 1992 and June 1996, 901 new cases of adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia were recorded in the GIMEMA Archive of Adult Acute Leukaemia; 21 of them (2.3%) had a previous primary malignancy (PM). We found that secondary acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cases (sALL) presented with older age, a high incidence of pre-pre-B immunophenotype and a significantly higher prevalence of cancer among relatives compared to de novo ALL. The leukaemogenic activity of the cytotoxic drugs employed for the treatment of PM may have played a potential role in only a proportion of patients, opening the possibility that some sALL patients may have developed two or more malignancies due to individual predisposing factors.
Markedly different chiral separation abilities were observed for native beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD), carboxymethyl-beta-CD (CM-beta-CD) and heptakis (2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-beta-CD (TM-beta-CD) towards the enantiomers of (+/-)-chlorpheniramine ((+/-)-CHL) in capillary electrophoresis (CE). Native beta-CD afforded almost baseline enantioseparation at a concentration of 18 mg/mL, whereas only 1 mg/mL solution of CM-beta-CD was required for adequate enantioseparation. TM-beta-CD allowed the nearly baseline enantioseparation only at a concentration as high as 80 mg/mL. Moreover, the migration order of (+/-)-CHL in the presence of TM-beta-CD was opposite to that with beta-CD and CM-beta-CD. 1H and 13C-NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) have been used in order to obtain preliminary information about the stoichiometry and the binding constants in the intermolecular diastereomeric complexes of (+/-)-CHL with these CDs.
Two series of 1-methyl-4-(N-aroyl)-piperidinamides were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, as well as for their gastrointestinal irritation liability. A non-aromatic derivative, 1-methyl-4-(N-cyclohexanoyl)-piperidinamide, was synthesized and evaluated in order to obtain a more exhaustive knowledge of the structure-activity relationship.
A method for determination in vivo of the benzylpenicillin residues in ovine milk at low levels was described. Two groups of Sardinian breed sheep were treated with a dose of penicillin G sodium salt by intramammary infusion and intramuscular administration respectively. The residues were detected by isocratic HPLC method of the extract obtained from a previous cleanup procedure. Linear calibration plots were obtained over a large concentration range of 1 mg ml-1 -10 ng ml-1, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.998. Recoveries between 78.6 and 87.3% were obtained. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of determination (LOQ) were 2.6 and 8.8 ng ml-1 respectively. This method would be useful for routine monitoring of penicillin G residues in ovine dairy milk.
Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) exhibits peculiar epidemiological, clinical, cytogenetic and molecular features, compared to the other acute myeloid leukaemias (AML). Data on epidemiology and occupational risk factors for APL desumed from the GIMEMA archive are reported and compared with those of the other AML. An exploratory case-case study was designed on AML patients from 56 haematology centres in Italy. Overall, 4296 patients older than 15 yr with a new diagnosis of acute leukaemia were recorded between July 1992 and July 1997. Of these, 335 were classified as APL, and 2894 as other AML. The median age of APL patients was 43 compared to 59 yr for the other AML (p < 0.00001). In order to identify peculiar risk factors for APL development, different parameters were compared in the 2 groups. After adjusting by age no significant differences were observed with regard to education, lifetime prevalence of cancer among siblings and previous diseases in the patient's history. Occupational exposure as a possible risk factor for APL showed no increased risk compared to other AML among farmers, builders and leather workers. A significant association was found in electricians (OR=4.4, 95% CI=2.0-9.7) and a weak association was found in wood workers (OR=3.2, 95% CI=0.8-10.8). The proportion of APL with respect to other AML was significantly higher in the north east of Italy compared to the rest of the country (OR=1.7, 95% CI=1.3-2.2). These data confirm the younger age of APL patients compared to the other AML. A possible role of electromagnetic fields is suggested by the higher risk of APL in electrical workers and in the more industrialized areas of the country.