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Biomedical subjects

R M Stone

Publications and source records attributed to R M Stone.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

United States multicenter study of arsenic trioxide in relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia.

PURPOSE: To determine the safety and efficacy of arsenic trioxide (ATO) in patients with relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients experiencing first (n = 21) or > or = second (n = 19) relapse were treated with daily infusions of ATO to a maximum of 60 doses or until all leukemic cells in bone marrow were eliminated. Patients who achieved a complete remission (CR) were offered one consolidation course of ATO that began 3 to 4 weeks later. Patients who remained in CR were eligible to receive further cycles of ATO therapy on a maintenance study. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients (85%) achieved a CR. Thirty-one patients (91%) with CRs had posttreatment cytogenetic tests negative for t(15;17). Eighty-six percent of the patients who were assessable by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction converted from positive to negative for the promyelocytic leukemia/retinoic acid receptor-alpha transcript by the completion of their consolidation therapy. Thirty-two patients received consolidation therapy, and 18 received additional ATO as maintenance. Eleven patients underwent allogeneic (n = 8) or autologous (n = 3) transplant after ATO treatment. The 18-month overall and relapse-free survival (RFS) estimates were 66% and 56%, respectively. Twenty patients (50%) had leukocytosis (> 10,000 WBC/microL) during induction therapy. Ten patients developed signs or symptoms suggestive of the APL syndrome and were effectively treated with dexamethasone. Electrocardiographic QT prolongation was common (63%). One patient had an absolute QT interval of > 500 msec and had an asymptomatic 7-beat run of torsades de pointe. Two patients died during induction, neither from drug-related causes. CONCLUSION: This study establishes ATO as a highly effective therapy for patients with relapsed APL.

Adolescent↗

Postremission therapy in older patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia: a randomized trial comparing mitoxantrone and intermediate-dose cytarabine with standard-dose cytarabine.

The treatment of older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains unsatisfactory, with complete remission (CR) achieved in only approximately 50% and long-term disease-free survival in 10% to 20%. Three hundred eighty-eight patients (60 years of age and older) with newly diagnosed de novo AML were randomly assigned to receive placebo (P) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or GM in a double-blind manner, beginning 1 day after the completion of 3 days of daunorubicin and 7 days of cytarabine therapy. No differences were found in the rates of leukemic regrowth, CR, or infectious complications in either arm. Of 205 patients who achieved CR, 169 were medically well and were randomized to receive cytarabine alone or a combination of cytarabine and mitoxantrone. With a median follow-up of 7.7 years, the median disease-free survival times were 11 months and 10 months for those randomized to cytarabine or cytarabine/mitoxantrone, respectively. Rates of relapse, excluding deaths in CR, were 77% for cytarabine and 82% for cytarabine/mitoxantrone. Induction randomization had no effect on leukemic relapse rate or remission duration in either postremission arm. Because cytarabine/mitoxantrone was more toxic and no more effective than cytarabine, it was concluded that this higher-dose therapy had no benefit in the postremission management of older patients with de novo AML. These results suggest the need to develop novel therapeutic strategies for these patients. (Blood. 2001;98:548-553)

Actuarial Analysis↗

High frequency of immunophenotype changes in acute myeloid leukemia at relapse: implications for residual disease detection (Cancer and Leukemia Group B Study 8361).

Multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) has the potential to allow for sensitive and specific monitoring of residual disease (RD) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The use of MFC for RD monitoring assumes that AML cells identified by their immunophenotype at diagnosis can be detected during remission and at relapse. AML cells from 136 patients were immunophenotyped by MFC at diagnosis and at first relapse using 9 panels of 3 monoclonal antibodies. Immunophenotype changes occurred in 124 patients (91%); they consisted of gains or losses of discrete leukemia cell populations resolved by MFC (42 patients) and gains or losses of antigens on leukemia cell populations present at both time points (108 patients). Antigen expression defining unusual phenotypes changed frequently: CD13, CD33, and CD34, absent at diagnosis in 3, 33, and 47 cases, respectively, were gained at relapse in 2 (67%), 15 (45%), and 17 (36%); CD56, CD19, and CD14, present at diagnosis in 5, 16, and 20 cases, were lost at relapse in 2 (40%), 6 (38%), and 8 (40%). Leukemia cell gates created in pretreatment samples using each 3-antibody panel allowed identification of relapse AML cells in only 68% to 91% of cases, but use of 8 3-antibody panels, which included antibodies to a total of 16 antigens, allowed identification of relapse AML cells in all cases. Thus, the immunophenotype of AML cells is markedly unstable; nevertheless, despite this instability, MFC has the potential to identify RD in AML if multiple antibody panels are used at all time points. (Blood. 2001;97:3574-3580)

Adolescent↗

CD6+ donor marrow T-cell depletion as the sole form of graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplant from unrelated donors.

PURPOSE: The role of donor marrow T-cell depletion (TCD) in preventing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after transplantation of unrelated allogeneic marrow remains undefined. Because different TCD methodologies differ in the degree and specificity with which T cells are removed, it is likely that transplant outcomes would depend on which technique is used. Herein, we report results in the first 48 recipients of unrelated marrow using CD6+ TCD as the sole form of GVHD prophylaxis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Median age of patients was 46 years (20 to 58 years). Donors were matched at A/B HLA loci. Ablation consisted of cyclophosphamide and fractionated total-body irradiation (TBI; 14 Gy). To facilitate engraftment, patients also received 7.5 Gy (22 patients) [corrected] or 4.5 Gy (26 patients) [corrected] of total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) before admission. No additional immune suppressive prophylaxis was administered. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was administered daily from day +1 to engraftment. RESULTS: All 48 patients demonstrated neutrophil engraftment. An absolute neutrophil count of 500 x 10(6)/L was achieved at a median of 12 days (range, 9 to 23 days). There were no cases of late graft failure. The number of CD34+ cells infused/kg was associated with speed of platelet and neutrophil recovery. The dose of TLI did not influence engraftment. Grades 2-4 acute GVHD occurred in 42% of patients (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28 to 0.57). Mortality at day 100 was 19%. There have been only five relapses. Estimated 2-year survival was 44% (95% CI, 0.28 to 0.59) for the entire group, 58% for patients less than 50 years of age. In multivariable analysis, age less than 50 years (P =.002), cytomegalovirus seronegative status (P =.04), and early disease status at bone marrow transplant (P =.05) were associated with superior survival. CONCLUSION: CD6+ TCD does not impede engraftment of unrelated bone marrow after low-dose TLI, cyclophosphamide, and TBI. CD6+ TCD as the sole form of GVHD prophylaxis results in an incidence of GVHD that compares favorably with many adult studies of unrelated transplantation using unmanipulated marrow and immune-suppressive medications, especially in light of the median age of our patients (46 years). Although event-free survival in patients less than 50 years of age is very encouraging, older patients experience frequent transplantation-related complications despite TCD.

Adult↗

Postremission therapy in adults with acute myeloid leukemia.

A patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who has achieved remission after induction chemotherapy still harbors 10(9) to 10(10), albeit undetectable, leukemic cells. Optimally, postremission therapy safely reduces the leukemic burden to a level compatible with long-term disease-free survival. Although older adults fare poorly with intensive postremission therapy, young and middle-aged adults can receive either chemotherapy based on high-dose cytarabine or myeloablative therapy in preparation for autologous or, if a histocompatible donor is available, allogeneic stem cell rescue. The rationale for each approach, the prospective trials comparing the various options, and a suggested strategy for choosing among them is presented. Although cytogenetic category at diagnosis is the most important prognostic factor, this feature remains an imperfect guide to postremission therapy. An informal consensus has arisen in favor of chemotherapy for patients with good prognosis and allogeneic transplant for those whose AML displays an adverse karyotype. For the intermediate group, an individualized decision is required and any of the three options is reasonable. Because the relapse rate is so high, new therapies for AML, such as signaling and immunotherapeutic approaches, are the focus of active investigation.

Adolescent↗

Report of an international working group to standardize response criteria for myelodysplastic syndromes.

Standardized criteria for assessing response are essential to ensure comparability among clinical trials for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). An international working group of experienced clinicians involved in the management of patients with MDS reviewed currently used response definitions and developed a uniform set of guidelines for future clinical trials in MDS. The MDS differ from many other hematologic malignancies in their chronicity and the morbidity and mortality caused by chronic cytopenias, often without disease progression to acute myeloid leukemia. Whereas response rates may be an important endpoint for phase 2 studies of new agents and may assist regulatory agencies in their evaluation and approval processes, an important goal of clinical trials in MDS should be to prolong patient survival. Therefore, these response criteria reflected 2 sets of goals in MDS: altering the natural history of the disease and alleviating disease-related complications with improved quality of life. It is anticipated that the recommendations presented will require modification as more is learned about the molecular biology and genetics of these disorders. Until then, it is hoped these guidelines will serve to improve communication among investigators and to ensure comparability among clinical trials. (Blood. 2000;96:3671-3674)

Disease Progression↗

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pegylated recombinant human megakaryocyte growth and development factor as an adjunct to induction and consolidation therapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Newly diagnosed patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were randomized to receive either 2.5 or 5 microg/kg/day of pegylated recombinant human megakaryocyte growth and development factor (PEG-rHuMGDF) or a placebo administered subcutaneously after completion of chemotherapy. The study evaluated the toxicity of PEG-rHuMGDF and any effect on the duration of thrombocytopenia. Each of 35 patients under 60 years of age received the following therapy: 45 mg/m(2) daunorubicin on days 1-3, 100 mg/m(2) cytarabine (ARA-C) for 7 days, and 2 gm/m(2) high-dose ARA-C (HIDAC) for 6 doses on days 8-10. The 22 patients 60 years or older received standard daunorubicin and ARA-C without HIDAC. PEG-rHuMGDF was well tolerated, and no specific toxicities could be attributed to its use. There was no difference in the time to achieve a platelet count of at least 20 x 10(9)/L among the 3 groups (median 28-30 days for patients less than 60 years old and 21-23 days for patients 60 years or older). Patients receiving PEG-rHuMGDF achieved higher platelet counts after remission. However there was no significant difference in the number of days on which platelet transfusions were administered among the 3 groups. The complete remission rate was 71% for patients less than 60 years and 64% for those 60 years or older, with no significant difference among the 3 groups. Postremission consolidation chemotherapy with either placebo or PEG-rHuMGDF was given to 28 patients beginning the day after completion of chemotherapy. There was no apparent difference in the time that was necessary to reach a platelet count of at least 20 or 50 x 10(9)/L or more platelets or in the number of platelet transfusions received. In summary, PEG-rHuMGDF was well tolerated by patients receiving induction and consolidation therapy for AML; however, there was no effect on the duration of severe thrombocytopenia or the platelet transfusion requirement. (Blood. 2000;95:2530-2535)

Acute Disease↗

Outcome in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome after autologous bone marrow transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PURPOSE: The absolute risk of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) after autologous bone marrow transplant (ABMT) for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) exceeds 5% in several reported series. We report the outcome of a large cohort of patients who developed MDS after ABMT for NHL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between December 1982 and December 1997, 552 patients underwent ABMT for NHL, with a uniform ablative regimen of cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation followed by reinfusion of obtained marrow purged with monoclonal antibodies. MDS was strictly defined, using the French-American-British classification system, as requiring bone marrow dysplasia in at least two cell lines, with associated unexplained persistent cytopenias. RESULTS: Forty-one patients developed MDS at a median of 47 months after ABMT. The incidence of MDS was 7.4%, and actuarial incidence at 10 years is 19.8%, without evidence of a plateau. Patients who developed MDS received significantly fewer numbers of cells reinfused per kilogram at ABMT (P =.0003). Karyotypes were performed on bone marrow samples of 33 patients, and 29 patients had either del(7) or complex abnormalities. The median survival from diagnosis of MDS was 9.4 months. The International Prognostic Scoring System for MDS failed to predict outcome in these patients. Thirteen patients underwent allogeneic BMT as treatment for MDS, and all have died of BMT-related complications (11 patients) or relapse (two patients), with a median survival of only 1.8 months. CONCLUSION: Long-term follow-up demonstrates a high incidence of MDS after ABMT for NHL. The prognosis for these patients is uniformly poor, and novel treatment strategies are needed for this fatal disorder.

Adult↗

A randomized controlled trial of filgrastim during remission induction and consolidation chemotherapy for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: CALGB study 9111.

Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; filgrastim) shortens the time to neutrophil recovery after intensive chemotherapy, but its role in the treatment of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is uncertain. We randomly assigned 198 adults with untreated ALL (median age, 35 years; range, 16 to 83) to receive either placebo or G-CSF (5 microgram/kg/d) subcutaneously, beginning 4 days after starting intensive remission induction chemotherapy and continuing until the neutrophil count was >/=1, 000/microL for 2 days. The study assignment was unblinded as individual patients achieved a complete remission (CR). Patients initially assigned to G-CSF then continued to receive G-CSF through 2 monthly courses of consolidation therapy. Patients assigned to placebo received no further study drug. The median time to recover neutrophils >/=1,000/microL during the remission induction course was 16 days (interquartile range [IQR], 15 to 18 days) for the patients assigned to receive G-CSF and 22 days (IQR, 19 to 29 days) for the patients assigned to placebo (P < .001). Patients in the G-CSF group had significantly shorter durations of neutropenia (<1, 000/microL) and thrombocytopenia (<50,000/microL) and fewer days in the hospital (median, 22 days v 28 days; P = .02) compared with patients receiving placebo. The patients assigned to receive G-CSF had a higher CR rate and fewer deaths during remission induction than did those receiving placebo (P = .04 by the chi-square test for trend). During Courses IIA and IIB of consolidation treatment, patients in the G-CSF group had significantly more rapid recovery of neutrophils >/=1,000/microL than did the control group by approximately 6 to 9 days. However, the patients in the G-CSF group did not complete the planned first 3 months of chemotherapy any more rapidly than did the patients in the placebo group. Overall toxicity was not lessened by the use of G-CSF. After a median follow-up of 4. 7 years, there were no significant differences in either the disease-free survival (P = .53) or the overall survival (P = .25) for the patients assigned to G-CSF (medians, 2.3 years and 2.4 years, respectively) compared with those assigned to placebo (medians, 1.7 and 1.8 years, respectively). Adults who received intensive chemotherapy for ALL benefited from G-CSF treatment, but its use did not markedly affect the ultimate outcome.

Adolescent↗

Predictive value of clonality assays in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma undergoing autologous bone marrow transplant: a single institution study.

Recent studies have documented an increased risk of therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myelogenous leukemia (t-MDS/AML) after autologous bone marrow transplant (ABMT) for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). To develop methods to identify patients at risk for this complication, we have investigated the predictive value of clonal bone marrow (BM) hematopoiesis for the development of t-MDS/AML, as defined by an X-inactivation based clonality assay at the human androgen receptor locus (HUMARA), in a group of patients undergoing ABMT for NHL from a single institution (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA). One hundred four female patients were analyzed. At the time of ABMT, the prevalence of polyclonal hematopoiesis was 77% (80/104), of skewed X-inactivation pattern (XIP) was 20% (21/104), and of clonal hematopoiesis was 3% (3/104). To determine the predictive value of clonality for the development of t-MDS/AML, a subgroup of 78 patients with at least 18 months follow-up was analyzed. As defined by the HUMARA assay, 53 of 78 patients had persistent polyclonal hematopoiesis, 15 of 78 had skewed XIP, and 10 of 78 (13.5%) either had clonal hematopoiesis at the time of ABMT or developed clonal hematopoiesis after ABMT. t-MDS/AML developed in 2 of 53 patients with polyclonal hematopoiesis and in 4 of 10 with clonal hematopoiesis. We conclude that a significant proportion of patients have clonal hematopoiesis at the time of ABMT and that clonal hematopoiesis, as detected by the HUMARA assay, is predictive of the development of t-MDS/AML (P = .004).

Adult↗

Molecular characterization of the t(8;13)(p11;q12) translocation associated with an atypical myeloproliferative disorder: evidence for three discrete loci involved in myeloid leukemias on 8p11.

A reciprocal chromosome translocation between 13q12 and 8p11 is the consistent cytogenetic abnormality seen in a nonspecific myeloproliferative disorder that is associated with T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and peripheral blood eosinophilia. Detailed molecular analyses of the translocation breakpoints associated with this rearrangement have not been reported to date. We have now generated somatic cell hybrids from a newly described patient with this specific structural rearrangement and analyzed the breakpoints on the derivative chromosomes. We have shown that the breakpoint on chromosome 13 lies within a 300- to 500-kb region defined by the KIAA177 gene and D13S1123 marker. In addition, we have identified a 1.2-Mb YAC, 959A4, that crosses the translocation breakpoint on the short arm of chromosome 8 in this patient. The location of this breakpoint in 8p11 is distinct from the t(8;16) and t(8;22) translocations associated with M4/M5 myeloid leukemias, and suggests that three distinct loci located within 8p11 are involved in the pathogenesis of myeloid neoplasias.

Adult↗

Acute myeloid leukemia-type chemotherapy for newly diagnosed patients without antecedent cytopenias having myelodysplastic syndrome as defined by French-American-British criteria: a Cancer and Leukemia Group B Study.

PURPOSE: To determine the treatment outcome of standard acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-type chemotherapy in a subset of patients with newly diagnosed myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) compared with that of patients with de novo AML as defined using French-American-British (FAB) criteria. In addition, to determine the pretreatment variables having prognostic significance for treatment outcome in patients with MDS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine hundred seven newly diagnosed patients with no history of cytopenias having a local institutional de novo AML successfully karyotyped and treated on Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) protocols for AML from 1984 to 1992. Thirty-three of the 907 patients were reclassified as having MDS on central pathology review using FAB criteria and form the basis of this analysis. RESULTS: The treatment outcomes for patients with MDS and AML were similar; the complete remission (CR) rate was 79% and 68%, respectively (P = .37); median CR duration was 11 and 15 months, respectively (P = .28); and median survival was 13 and 16 months, respectively (P = .72). For the MDS patients, there were no prognostic variables for CR rate identified. For CR duration, only the Sanz classification had prognostic value. The prognostic factors for survival in a univariate analysis included age, WBC count, Sanz classification, and percent blood blasts. In a proportional hazards analysis of survival, age greater than 60 years and WBC less than 2.6 x 10(9)/L were adverse prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: In patients with no known history of cytopenias who are treated intensively at diagnosis, the FAB distinctions between MDS (refractory anemia with excess blasts and refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation) and AML appear to have little therapeutic relevance.

Acute Disease↗

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor after initial chemotherapy for elderly patients with primary acute myelogenous leukemia. Cancer and Leukemia Group B.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients with primary acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) are less likely to enter remission than younger adults, in part because of a higher mortality rate related to severe myelosuppression. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) has been shown to shorten the duration of neutropenia and decrease infectious complications when administered after chemotherapy to patients with lymphomas and solid tumors. METHODS: We randomly assigned 388 patients 60 years of age or older who had newly diagnosed primary AML to receive placebo or GM-CSF (5 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day intravenously over a period of six hours) in a double-blind manner, beginning the day after the completion of three days of daunorubicin (45 mg per square meter of body-surface area per day) and seven days of cytarabine (200 mg per square meter per day by continuous intravenous infusion). If leukemia cells persisted in the marrow three weeks after the initiation of chemotherapy, further daunorubicin (two days) and cytarabine (five days) were administered. GM-CSF or placebo was given daily until the neutrophil count was at least 1000 per cubic millimeter, there was evidence of the regrowth of leukemia, or severe toxic effects attributable to the study infusion occurred. Patients who had a complete remission were then randomly assigned to receive one of two intensification regimens. RESULTS: Of 388 patients (median age, 69 years), 193 were randomly assigned to receive GM-CSF and 195 to placebo. The rate of complete remission was 51 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 44 to 59 percent) among those assigned to GM-CSF and 54 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 47 to 61 percent) among those assigned to receive placebo (P = 0.61). The reasons for failure (early death, death during marrow hypoplasia, and persistent leukemia), the incidence of severe or lethal infection, and the incidence of the regrowth of leukemia (2 percent overall) were similar in the two groups. The median duration of neutropenia was slightly shorter (P = 0.02) in the patients who received GM-CSF (15 days) than in those who received placebo (17 days), but the clinical importance of this result was minimal because the growth factor failed to lower the treatment-related mortality rate or improve the rate of complete remission. CONCLUSIONS: GM-CSF, in the dose and schedule we used, does not stimulate the regrowth of leukemia, but it also does not decrease the severe myelosuppressive consequences of initial chemotherapy or improve the response rate in patients 60 years of age or older with primary AML. It should not be recommended for use in such patients.

Aged↗