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Biomedical subjects

R Champlin

Publications and source records attributed to R Champlin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Decitabine with allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in the therapy of leukemia relapse following a prior transplant: results of a phase I study.

Relapse after allogeneic progenitor cell transplant is associated with a poor prognosis for patients with advanced leukemia, with few curative options available. Use of novel chemotherapeutic agents with limited toxicity is warranted. We investigated the role of decitabine, a pyrimidine analogue with significant anti-leukemic effect and limited toxicity, in this setting. Fourteen patients with advanced acute leukemia or transformed chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who had failed previous allogeneic transplant were treated. Decitabine at doses of 100 mg/m2 to 150 mg/m2 given every 12 h for 5 days was followed by infusion of stem cells from the original donor 2 to 5 days after the completion of chemotherapy. Dose of decitabine was escalated in cohorts of three patients based on the modified Fibonacci scheme. The primary study end-point was assessment of the toxicity of the regimen with secondary endpoints of response and survival. Eight patients responded with either a complete remission or partial hematological remission (absence of blasts in peripheral blood and bone marrow but with platelet count <100 x 10(9)/l). Toxicity was limited with no grade 3 or 4 toxicity directly attributable to the treatment. The median survival for all patients was 190 days (range 11 to 1215+ days). Decitabine at doses of 100 mg/m2 to 150 mg/m2 given every 12 h for 5 days, followed by stem cell infusion from the original donor was well tolerated, and was associated with acceptable myelosuppression. Current response data should encourage further study of this drug, either alone or in combination with other agents, for treatment of relapsed acute leukemia after an allogeneic transplant.

Adult↗

Impact of complete remission with intensive therapy in patients with responsive multiple myeloma.

Clinical outcomes were assessed in 68 consecutive patients with multiple myeloma of high or intermediate tumor mass that had responded to VAD or dexamethasone-based therapy and were consolidated with early intensive therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. Results were compared with those of 50 comparable patients who refused or were unable to receive intensive treatment for socioeconomic reasons. Following high-dose therapy, the rate of CR increased from 6 to 37%, with median survival prolonged by 10 months. Survival of 21 patients with disease converted from PR to CR (median 8.3 years) was significantly longer than that of similarly-treated patients who remained in PR (median 5.0 years). CR of myeloma represents the major surrogate marker of long survival and the primary goal of myeloablative treatment for patients in PR. Twelve of 18 patients with rapid reduction of myeloma protein (T(1/2) < 0.5 months), and myeloma protein reduction to <1.0 g/dl after primary therapy achieved CR (67%), identifying pretransplant features favorable to intensive therapy. Among 35 patients with slower reduction or higher residual myeloma protein, CR occurred in eight patients (23%) (P < 0.01), for whom other treatments should be considered. The kinetics of response to initial therapy should be considered in selecting patients more likely to achieve CR and consequent long survival after intensive treatment.

Actuarial Analysis↗

High-dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell transplantation in patients with resistant Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia.

Preliminary evidence suggests that high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplantation may be effective in some patients with resistant Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. During the last 10 years, seven patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia have received transplants at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, four with autologous and three with allogeneic stem cells. Four patients achieved partial remission, and three patients have remained alive for at least 2 years. Our data confirm the feasibility of high-dose therapy in patients with macroglobulinemia and support the need for prospective studies of this modality in patients with chemosensitive disease.

Adult↗

Unrelated donor hematopoietic transplantation.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the treatment of choice for a range of malignant and non-malignant diseases. Unfortunately, fewer than 30% of patients have a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling. Advances in our understanding of the HLA system and the development of large international donor registries are supporting the increasing use of unrelated donors as an alternative source of stem cells. Unrelated donor transplantation, however, is still associated with higher complication rates than in HLA-identical sibling donor transplants. Improvements in graft-vs.-host disease prevention and treatment, new conditioning regimens and better donor selection will likely expand the indications of unrelated donor HSCT in the next decade.

Graft vs Host Disease↗

Non-myeloablative transplants for malignant disease.

This article discusses changes in the way hematopoietic stem cell allotransplants may be carried out in the future to treat patients with malignant hematological diseases. Specifically, the focus has shifted away from attempts at eradicating underlying diseases through toxic high-dose chemoradiation therapy towards using the stem cell donor's immune cells for that purpose (allogeneic graft-versus-tumor effect). The non-myeloablative transplant approaches hold promise in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with conventional high-dose chemoradiation therapy, and they allow allogeneic transplants in elderly or medically infirm patients who are at present not candidates for transplantation. In the future, specific graft-versus-tumor responses may become possible by eliciting donor T cell responses to tumor-associated minor histocompatibility antigens. In Section I, Dr. Rainer Storb describes experimental studies in random-bred dogs that rely on non-cytotoxic immunosuppressive agents to establish stable allografts. Powerful postgrafting immunosuppression, traditionally directed at preventing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), is also used to overcome host-versus-graft (HVG) reactions, thereby dramatically reducing the need for intensive immunosuppressive conditioning programs. Preclinical canine studies have been translated into the clinical setting for treatment of elderly or medically infirm patients with malignant hematological diseases. The pretransplant conditioning has been reduced to a single dose of 2 Gy total body irradiation (TBI) with or without fludarabine. The lack of toxicity makes it possible for transplants to be conducted in the outpatient setting. Multicenter trials have been initiated, and more than 300 patients have been successfully treated with hematopoietic stem cell grafts both from related and unrelated HLA-matched donors. In Section II, Dr. Richard Champlin describes clinical studies with therapeutic strategies that utilize relatively non-toxic, nonmyeloablative disease-specific preparative regimens incorporating fludarabine, together with other chemotherapeutic agents, to achieve disease suppression and engraftment of allogeneic hematopoietic cells and to allow subsequent infusions of donor lymphocytes. Remissions have been seen in patients with acute myelocytic, chronic myelocytic, chronic lymphocytic, leukemias, lymphomas, and myelomas. In Section III, Dr. Stanley Riddell and colleagues describe studies on isolation of T cells reactive with minor histocompatibility (H) antigens and involved both in GVHD and graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) responses. For example, the gene encoding a novel H-Y antigen in humans has been identified and shown to exhibit restricted tissue expression. Acute myelocytic leukemia stem cells were demonstrated to express the H-Y antigen and additional minor H antigens, and engraftment of such cells in NOD/SCID mice could be selectively prevented by minor antigen-specific T-cell clones. An autosomal encoded human minor H antigen associated with chronic GVHD has been demonstrated. A trial evaluating therapy of relapsed acute myelocytic leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia after allogeneic stem cell transplantation with T-cell clones specific for recipient minor H antigens has been initiated.

Aged↗

Therapeutic potential of leukemia-derived dendritic cells: preclinical and clinical progress.

Human leukemia-derived dendritic cells show potential as tools for therapy. Leukemic cells of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) will all undergo substantial differentiation toward dendritic cells (DC) and may be used to drive autologous T cells to acquire anti-leukemic cytotoxicity. This article describes the use of these human leukemia-derived dendritic cells for stimulation of allogeneic donor lymphocytes and presents a clinical trial of autologous CML DC-stimulated lymphocytes.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Unrelated donor marrow transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia: 9 years' experience of the national marrow donor program.

Over a period of 8.5 years (February 1988 to October 1996), 1423 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) underwent unrelated donor (URD) bone marrow transplants (BMTs) facilitated by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) at 85 transplant centers. One hundred thirty-seven evaluable (9.9%) patients failed to engraft, and an additional 83 (6.6%) evaluable patients experienced late graft failure. Grade III/IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) developed in 33% of patients (95% confidence interval [CI], 30%-36%). The incidence of extensive chronic GVHD was 60% (95% CI, 56%-63%) at 2 years. Only 5.7% of patients (95% CI, 3.6%-7.8%) transplanted in chronic phase developed hematologic relapse at 3 years. Several factors were independently associated with improved disease-free survival (DFS), including transplant in chronic phase, transplant within 1 year of diagnosis, younger recipient age, a cytomegalovirus seronegative recipient, and development of no or mild acute GVHD. The combined effect of these factors on outcome is manifest in a subset (n = 157) of young (less than 35 years), chronic phase patients transplanted within 1 year of diagnosis using HLA-matched donors who had 63% (95% CI, 53%-73%) DFS at 3 years. URD BMT therapy for CML is both feasible and effective with more frequent and more rapid identification of suitable donors. Early URD transplant during chronic phase yields good results and should be considered in CML patients otherwise eligible for transplant but without a suitable related donor.

Age Factors↗

Daclizumab, a humanized anti-interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain antibody, for treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease.

Daclizumab, a humanized monoclonal IgG1 directed against the alpha chain of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), is a competitive inhibitor of IL-2 on activated lymphocytes. To test the hypothesis that specific inhibition of activated lymphocytes in patients with ongoing acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) might ameliorate the process, we treated 43 patients with advanced or steroid-refractory GVHD with daclizumab. The first cohort of 24 patients was treated with daclizumab 1 mg/kg on days 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. On day 43, the complete response (CR) rate was 29% (95% confidence interval [CI], 13%-51%). Survival on day 120 was 29% (95% CI, 13%-51%). A second cohort of 19 patients was treated with daclizumab 1 mg/kg on days 1, 4, 8, 15, and 22. For these patients, the CR rate on day 43 was 47% (95% CI, 24%-71%), and survival on day 120 was 53% (95% CI, 29%-76%). There were no infusion-related reactions and no serious side effects related to daclizumab. Following treatment, there was a reduction in serum concentrations of soluble IL-2R and peripheral blood CD3( + )25(+) lymphocytes, but these changes were not predictive of response. Daclizumab has substantial activity for the treatment of acute GVHD, and the second regimen evaluated is recommended for a controlled study. (Blood, 2000; 95:83-89)

Adolescent↗

Allogeneic hematopoietic transplantation for acute and chronic myeloid leukemia: non-myeloablative preparative regimens and induction of the graft-versus-leukemia effect.

High-dose chemoradiotherapy with allogeneic blood or bone marrow transplantation is an effective and potentially curative treatment for advanced or high-risk hematologic malignancies, but it has been associated with significant morbidity and mortality resulting from toxicity of the preparative regimen, graft-versus-host disease, and the immunodeficient state that accompanies the procedure. Development of safer and less toxic treatment has been the subject of much research. This review summarizes the current understanding of the mechanisms by which allogeneic transplants cure leukemia and the rationale for non-myeloablative preparative regimens. Experience of the authors is related with 116 patients diagnosed with acute or chronic myeloid leukemia who underwent allogeneic hematopoetic transplantation with two non-ablative regimens that differed in intensity.

Aged↗

Allogeneic hematopoietic transplantation for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma: potential for nonablative preparative regimens.

There is increasing interest in the use of allogeneic blood and marrow transplants for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and lymphomas. Numerous studies indicate efficacy in patients with advanced disease and demonstrate existence of a potent graft-versus-malignancy effect against these disorders. Allogeneic transplantation is most effective in CLL and low-grade lymphomas, but precise indications and timing of allogeneic transplants in these indolent disorders are not well defined. Allotransplantation is an effective, potentially curative approach, albeit with substantial risks; it is indicated in selected categories of patients. Allogeneic transplants are also promising for mantle cell lymphoma. In large-cell lymphoma, relapses are reduced in allogeneic compared with autologous transplants, but the benefit of allotransplantation has been offset by increased risk of treatment-related complications, and its indications are controversial. A promising new strategy is the use of less toxic, nonmyeloablative preparative regimens to achieve engraftment and allow development of graft-versus-malignancy effects that can produce durable remission in selected categories of lymphoid malignancies.

Female↗

Tacrolimus does not abrogate the increased risk of acute graft-versus-host disease after unrelated-donor marrow transplantation with allelic mismatching at HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1.

One hundred patients of median age 34 years (range, 14-53) received bone marrow transplants from unrelated donors serologically matched for human leukocyte antigen HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DR using tacrolimus and minimethotrexate for prevention of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Sixty-eight patient-donor pairs had allelic matches at HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1, 20 pairs had a single mismatch at HLA-DRB1 or HLA-DQB1, and 12 were mismatched at both HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1. Minimum follow-up time was 6 months. Grades 2 to 4 GVHD occurred in 43% of patients with matched donors, 69% with single allele-mismatched donors, and 71% with double allele-mismatched donors; grades 3 to 4 GVHD occurred in 22%, 43%, and 64%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the relative risk of grades 2 to 4 GVHD was 2.2 (95% CI, 1.1-4.5; P = .03) with a single allele mismatch and 2.7 (95% CI, 1.2-6.0; P = .02) with a double allele mismatch. The relative risks of grades 3 to 4 GVHD were 3.0 (95% CI, 1.2-7.6; P = .02) and 5.0 (95% CI, 1.9-12.6; P = .001), respectively. Day 100 treatment-related mortality was also adversely affected by allelic mismatching, occurring in 21% of those with matched donors, 50% with single allele-mismatched donors, and 42% with double allele-mismatched donors (P = .02), but overall survival at day 180 did not differ significantly among the 3 groups. Tacrolimus does not abrogate the adverse impact of allele mismatching at HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 on the risk of moderate-to-severe acute GVHD.

Acute Disease↗

A phase I trial of recombinant human thrombopoietin in patients with delayed platelet recovery after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Delayed platelet recovery is a significant complication after both autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). A multicenter, phase I dose-escalation study of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) was conducted to assess its safety and to obtain preliminary data on its efficacy in patients with persistent severe thrombocytopenia (<20,000/microL) >35 days after HSCT. Thirty-eight patients, 37 of whom were evaluable, were enrolled in the study from April 1996 through January 1997. rhTPO was administered at doses of 0.6, 1.2, and 2.4 microg/kg as a single dose (group A) or in multiple doses every 3 days for a total of 5 doses (group B). No significant adverse effects were observed. Ten patients had recovery of platelet counts during the 28-day study period; 3 of these 10 had an increase in marrow megakaryocyte content 7 days after completing treatment with rhTPO. When all baseline marrows were compared with samples after rhTPO treatment, there was no difference in marrow megakaryocyte content (P = 0.49). This study design could not answer the question of whether the recoveries of platelet counts observed in some patients were spontaneous or influenced by rhTPO treatment; nonetheless, the authors found no correlation between the dose of rhTPO and the recovery of platelet counts. Increases in serum TPO levels were dose-dependent and remained significantly elevated for up to 72 hours after treatment. To evaluate response, further studies of treatment strategies with rhTPO in patients with delayed platelet recovery are required.

Adolescent↗

Mini-allografts: ongoing trials in humans.

Conventional allogeneic stem cell transplantation is a valuable approach to therapy for many hematologic malignancies. However, high-dose conditioning regimens designed both to control the malignancy and to prevent graft rejection are associated with a high incidence of acute and long-term side-effects. This has largely precluded the use of allografting for patients older than 55 years or for younger patients with certain pre-existing organ damage. In order to manage the side-effects, transplants have traditionally been delivered in highly specialized hospital wards or intensive care settings. Thus, an important goal is to develop safer allografting procedures that can be extended to older patients or patients with pre-existing organ dysfunction who are currently excluded from consideration for transplant. Recent observations have shown that donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) can eradicate some malignancies that relapse after conventional allografting. These observations confirmed earlier evidence in favor of a graft-versus-leukemia effect based on the association of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) with a lower likelihood of relapse of malignancy after allografting. Given the potential efficacy of DLI as the sole modality for eradication of malignancy, new strategies for allografting can incorporate the concept of less intensive conditioning therapy which is given with the sole aim of facilitating allogeneic engraftment. Recent pre-clinical studies in a canine model have shown that conditioning regimens for allografting can be markedly reduced in intensity yet still achieve the goal of engraftment. This review briefly summarizes the initial translational clinical studies, using a minimally myelosuppressive-conditioning regimen based on low dose total body irradiation (TBI) or fludarabine alone or in combination with other drugs followed by a short course of immunosuppression with post-grafting cyclosporine and methotrexate or mycophenolate mofetil.

Animals↗

Granisetron (Kytril) plus dexamethasone for antiemetic control in bone marrow transplant patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy with or without total body irradiation.

This prospective trial evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of granisetron for antiemetic control in patients receiving high-dose cyclophosphamide (CY)-containing regimens with/without TBI for bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation or PBSC mobilization. Granisetron 1 mg i.v. plus dexamethasone 10 mg i. v. were administered daily 30 min before chemotherapy or radiation for a median of 5 days. Response was defined as the number of emetic episodes per 24 h: complete response, 0 and no emetic rescue; major response, 1-2; minor response, 3-5; failure, >5. One hundred patients were enrolled. Ninety-eight received CY-containing regimens and 26 of these additionally received TBI (12 Gy divided over 4 days). Response was complete on 216 (47%) of a total 456 patient days, major on 222 (49%), minor on 14 (3%), and failure on 4 (1%). Mean number of emetic episodes per patient per day and breakthrough medication required per patient per day was 0.24 (range 0-8) and 0. 40 (range 0-8), respectively. Adverse effects were minimal, with headache (20%) reported most frequently. Based on these results, granisetron plus dexamethasone is an effective and well-tolerated antiemetic regimen in BMT/PBSCT recipients conditioned with high-dose chemotherapy with/without TBI. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 1279-1283.

Adult↗

High-dose melphalan and allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for treatment of early relapse after allogeneic transplant.

Patients with acute leukemias relapsing within 1 year of an allogeneic BMT have a poor prognosis. We studied the use of melphalan 180 mg/m2 followed by allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) as salvage treatment for patients relapsing after related (n = 7) or matched unrelated transplants (n = 3). Diagnoses were AML (n = 4), ALL (n = 3), biphenotypic acute leukemia (n = 2) and CML in blast crisis (n = 1). Eight patients were beyond first relapse and none were in remission. The median time from previous transplant to relapse was 146 days (range 66-206). The melphalan dose was 90 mg/m2 intravenously on days -4 and -3 with PBSC infusion on day 0. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporine and methylprednisolone. The median time to an absolute neutrophil count >0.5 x 10(9)/l and to a platelet count >20 x 10(9)/l was 11 and 13 days, respectively. All engrafting patients (n = 8) had 100% donor cells. Two patients died before day 30, but no other grade 3 or 4 toxicity occurred. Acute GVHD grades II-III occurred in two subjects, and chronic GVHD in four. Seven patients achieved CR, but relapsed at a median of 116 days (range 56-614). Leukemia was the cause of death in eight patients. Median survival was 149 days (range 6-614). This treatment produced responses in the majority of this poor prognosis group. However, durable remissions were not observed, and new treatments to consolidate the responses achieved in this setting are needed. This regimen could be considered for short-term disease control to facilitate donor lymphocyte infusion-based immunotherapy or other measures to prevent disease recurrence.

Acute Disease↗

Cryofibrinogenemia and skin necrosis in a patient with diffuse large cell lymphoma after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation.

A 34-year-old woman with diffuse mediastinal B cell large cell lymphoma presented 60 days after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation, and post-transplant immunotherapy with interleukin-2, with skin necrosis in the ears and extremities. Extensive work-up revealed the presence of cryofibrinogenemia and associated thrombotic vasculopathy. The patient was successfully treated with corticosteroids and therapeutic plasma exchange. However, she had recurrence of large cell lymphoma a few weeks later and died of progressive disease. Cryfibrinogenemia and skin necrosis may have occurred secondary to the imminent relapse, or as a rare complication of high-dose chemotherapy or treatment with interleukin-2.

Adult↗