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.
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Leukemia & lymphoma · Aug 2013
ReviewIbrutinib: a novel Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor with outstanding responses in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
New treatment options are urgently needed for patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who fail to respond to currently available therapies or cannot achieve a sustained response. Moreover, targeted agents with less myelotoxicity are necessary to treat patients with multiple comorbidities who would otherwise be unable to tolerate standard regimens. ⋯ In phase I/II trials, ibrutinib 420 mg or 840 mg - given continuously as single agent or at a dose of 420 mg daily in combination with a monoclonal antibody or chemoimmunotherapy - has been associated with high response rates and durable clinical remissions. Phase II and III trials are currently under way for treatment-naive patients, relapsed/refractory patients, and for those patients harboring a 17p deletion.
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Leukemia & lymphoma · Aug 2013
Delayed intensive care unit admission is associated with increased mortality in patients with cancer with acute respiratory failure.
Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is the leading reason for intensive care unit (ICU) admission in patients with cancer. The aim of this study was to identify early predictors of death in patients with cancer admitted to the ICU for ARF who were not intubated at admission. We conducted analysis of a prospective randomized controlled trial including 219 patients with cancer with ARF in which day-28 mortality was a secondary endpoint. ⋯ After adjustment for the logistic organ dysfunction (LOD) score at admission, only time between respiratory symptoms onset and ICU admission > 2 days and LOD score were independently associated with day-28 mortality. Determinants of death include both factors non-amenable to change, and delay in ARF management. These results suggest that early intensive care management of patients with cancer with ARF may translate to better survival.