Leukemia & lymphoma
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Leukemia & lymphoma · Sep 2013
A preliminary study of a health related quality of life assessment of priority symptoms in advanced lymphoma: the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Lymphoma Symptom Index.
Despite the recent advances in cancer therapeutics for lymphoma (Lym), a continuum of disease, treatment and psychological challenges, adversely impacting health-related quality of life, remain for the clinical management of the patient with Lym. In response, this study presents the development and validation of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (NCCN-FACT) Lymphoma Symptom Index-18 (FLymSI-18). ⋯ Reliability estimates indicate that FLymSI-18 has acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.87), content validity and concurrent validity as indicated by moderate to strong correlations with the FACIT (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy). Overall, the FLymSI-18 provides evidence for its reliability and validity as a brief assessment of the most important symptoms associated with advanced Lym in the clinical trial research environment.
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Leukemia & lymphoma · Sep 2013
Bone marrow mast cell burden and serum tryptase level as markers of response in patients with systemic mastocytosis.
Two important response criteria in systemic mastocytosis (SM) are the elimination or reduction in percentage of bone marrow mast cells (MCs) and the reduction of serum tryptase levels. We investigated the accuracy of a single time point reduction of bone marrow MCs and serum tryptase level as response criteria in 50 patients with SM with available serial assessments. Bone marrow MC percentage varied significantly, with an average coefficient of variation (CV) of 65% (range, 6-173%) and 44% of patients having a CV higher than the average. ⋯ Furthermore, the achievement of a single time point therapy-induced bone marrow complete response (no histological evidence of malignant bone marrow MCs) did not correlate with tryptase level or symptomatic improvement. In conclusion, the value of single measurements of bone marrow MC percentage and serum tryptase level as response criteria in SM is not supported by clinical data. Incorporation of an assessment of the degree in reduction of MCs and tryptase, and assessment of response durability, would make response criteria more clinically meaningful.
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Leukemia & lymphoma · Sep 2013
Role of serum high mobility group box 1 in hematological malignancies complicated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome and effect of recombinant thrombomodulin.
High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) mediates inflammation. We investigated the role of serum HMGB1 in 54 patients with hematological malignancies with and without systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). There was no difference between groups 1 (complete remission of hematological disease: n = 13) and 2 (no remission: n = 16) in serum HMGB1 levels. ⋯ Thirteen of those with SIRS improved, and serum HMGB1 levels significantly decreased (p = 0.047). Seven patients in group 3 who died within 28 days of SIRS onset had significantly higher serum HMGB1 levels than the survivors (p = 0.016). The anti-HMGB1 properties of rhTM might be useful therapy if serum HMGB1 is associated with the development of SIRS in the presence of hematological malignancies.