Successful treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia in a pregnant Jehovah's Witness with all-trans retinoic acid, rhG-CSF, and erythropoietin

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Literature

The management of pregnant women with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a challenging situation where limited evidence-based information is available. We performed a systematic literature review to analyze the outcomes reported for both mother and fetus when APL is diagnosed during pregnancy. PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were systematically searched to identify studies reporting cases of APL during pregnancy. Sixty-six articles met the eligibility criteria (53 single case reports). Ninety-two patients were eligible for induction therapy, with most them being treated with all-trans retinoic acid alone (32%) or combined with chemotherapy (43%), while the remaining patients received chemotherapy alone. Three patients were treated with arsenic-based regimens after delivery. Overall complete remission rate was 89%, with no statistically significant differences according to the type of induction and gestational age. During the first trimester, women were more likely to experience spontaneous and induced abortion compared to those during the second trimester (88% vs. 30%) (p < 0.0001), while only one patient diagnosed during the third trimester terminated in stillbirth. Twelve of 16 infants with neonatal complications had respiratory distress syndrome. Except two early deaths (Potter's syndrome and pulmonary hemorrhage), all neonates evolved favorably. This study confirms that gestational age does not affect the results in the mother, but is closely related to fetal viability. Our results may be useful for the process of decision making that requires the involvement of the patient, hematologist, obstetrician and neonatologist.

Treatment of acute leukaemia in adult Jehovah's Witnesses

Since Jehovah's Witness (JW) patients diagnosed with leukaemia refuse blood transfusions, they are often denied intensive chemotherapy for fear they could not survive myeloablation without blood transfusion support. Treatment of JW patients with acute leukaemia is challenging and carries a higher morbidity and mortality; however, the refusal of blood products should not be an absolute contraindication to offer multiple treatment modalities including haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In this review we discuss their optimal management and describe alternative modalities to blood transfusions to provide sufficient oxygenation and prevent bleeding.

Managing acute promyelocytic leukemia in patients belonging to the Jehovah's Witness congregation

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a hyper-acute leukemia and presents with cytopenias and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Jehovah’s Witnesses with APL offer a unique challenge during induction by refusing transfusion and pose a difficult challenge in this curable disease. Our focus over the last 8 years has been decreasing early deaths in APL in both academic and community centers. As a result we have extensive experience in APL induction with a proven improvement in early deaths. Three patients with APL belonging to the Jehovah’s Witness congregation were treated in our practice and published literature in treating Witnesses with APL was reviewed. It is highly imperative to prevent induction mortality in this patient population. The goal of treatment among the Witnesses is to prevent death during induction and subsequently cure them. We discuss the management and proactive measures to prevent induction mortality in this most curable blood cancer.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia during pregnancy: a systematic analysis of outcome

The outcomes of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in pregnancy are largely unknown. The MEDLINE database was systematically searched to obtain 43 articles with 71 patients with new-onset APL during pregnancy. Induction therapy included various regimens of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), cytarabine, and anthracycline and resulted in a complete remission rate of 93%. Obstetric and fetal complications included pre-term deliveries (46%), spontaneous/therapeutic abortion/intrauterine death (33.3%) and other neonatal complications (25.9%). Mothers diagnosed in the first trimester were more likely to experience obstetric (p < 0.01) and fetal (p < 0.01) complications. To our knowledge, this is the largest systematic review of APL in pregnancy. The vast majority of APL patients in pregnancy may achieve remission with initial induction therapy. APL or its therapy in pregnancy, however, is associated with a high risk of fetal and obstetrical complications. The results of our study may help in patient counseling and informed decision-making.

Acute myeloid leukemia in the pregnant patient

Although acute myeloid leukemia (AML) mostly occurs in older patients, it could be seen in women of childbearing age. It is therefore not surprising that in some patients, the management of AML will be complicated by a coexistent pregnancy. However, the association of leukemia and pregnancy is uncommon. Its incidence is estimated to be 1 in 75,000-100,000 pregnancies. During pregnancy, most leukemias are acute: two-thirds are myeloid and one-third are lymphoblastic. There is no standard approach for this clinical dilemma, in part because of variables such as the type of AML, the seriousness of the symptoms, and the patient's personal beliefs. In many cases, the diagnostic workup has to be altered because of the pregnancy, and often available treatments have varying risks to the fetus. While chemotherapy is reported to have some risks during the first trimester, it is admitted that it can be administered safely during the second and the third trimesters.

Gynecologic malignancy in pregnancy

Gynecologic malignancy during pregnancy is a stressful problem. For the diagnosis and treatment of malignancy during pregnancy, a multidisciplinary approach is needed. Patients should be advised about the benefits and risk of treatment. When selecting a treatment for malignancy during pregnancy, the physiologic changes that occur with the pregnancy should be considered. Various diagnostic procedures that do not harm the fetus can be used. Laparoscopic surgery or laparotomy may be safely performed. The staging approach and treatment should be standard. Systemic chemotherapy during the first trimester should be delayed if possible. Radiation therapy should preferably start postpartum. Although delivery should be delayed preferably until after 35 weeks of gestation, termination of pregnancy may be considered when immediate treatment is required. Subsequent pregnancies do not increase the risk of malignancy recurrence.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor for hematopoietic stem cell donation from healthy female donors during pregnancy and lactation: what do we know?

BACKGROUND Hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) are mostly used as supportive measures to reduce infectious complications associated with neutropenia. Over the past decade, the use of HGFs became a common method for mobilizing human CD34+ stem cells, either for autologous or allogeneic transplantation. However, since their introduction the long-term safety of the procedure has become a major focus of discussion and research. Most information refers to healthy normal donors and data concerning pregnant and lactating women are scarce. The clinical question, which is the core of this review, is whether stem cell donation, preceded by administration of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for mobilization, is a safe procedure for pregnant donors. METHODS Literature searches were performed in Pubmed for English language articles published before the end of May 2012, focusing on G-CSF administration during pregnancy, lactation and hematopoietic stem cell donation. Searches included animal and human studies. RESULTS Data from animals (n = 15 studies) and women (n = 46 studies) indicate that G-CSF crosses the placenta, stimulates fetal granulopoiesis, improves neonatal survival mostly for very immature infants, promotes trophoblast growth and placental metabolism and has an anti-abortive role. Granulocyte macrophage-CSF is a key cytokine in the maternal immune tolerance towards the implanted embryo and exerts protective long-term programming effects to preimplantation embryos. The available data suggest that probably CSFs should not be administered during the time of most active organogenesis (first trimester), except perhaps for the first week during which implantation takes place. Provided CSF is administered during the second and third trimesters, it appears to be safe, and pregnant women receiving the CSF treatment can become hematopoietic stem cell donors. There are also risks related to the anesthesia, which is required for the bone marrow aspiration. During lactation, there should be a period of at least 3 days to allow for clearance of CSF from milk before resuming breast feeding. With regard to teratogenicity or leukaemogenity, in non-pregnant or non-lactating women reports show that CSF administration is associated with a risk for leukemia; however, this risk is not higher compared with the control population. CONCLUSIONS The information available to date indicates that administration of CSF in general, and G-CSF in particular, is safe and healthy pregnant women can serve as donors of either bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells. However, the clinical experience is rather limited and therefore until more data become available, G-CSF should not be used during pregnancy and lactation when other therapeutic options, instead of stem cell transplantation, are available.

Cancer and pregnancy: a comprehensive review

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy complicated by cancer is relatively rare but, as women in western societies tend to delay childbearing to the third and fourth decade of life, this phenomenon is going to be encountered more often in the future.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Review of the literature and description of the different diagnostic and therapeutic approaches which are required to diagnose and treat pregnant mothers with cancer.

RESULTS

As in non-pregnant patients, every effort should be made to provide the maximal benefit and best prognosis to the pregnant patient. In most cases, in order to avoid any harm to the fetus, different diagnostic approach should be incorporated and treatment should be tailored to each pregnant woman. Cooperation of multidisciplinary teams, incorporating medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons, obstetricians, neonatologists and experienced nursing staff, is required to provide optimal care for the patient. The benefits from use of surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy as well as the mother's wishes and beliefs need to be factored into recommendations and treatment planning.

CONCLUSIONS

With the experience gained, the developments in clinical and radiation oncology and the cooperation of multidisciplinary teams, treatment of cancer during pregnancy with normal fetal outcome is feasible.

Treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia during pregnancy

Management of the pregnant patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a challenge. Immediate treatment of APL is critical, as it is an oncologic emergency, with a high risk of morbidity and mortality associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation. However, administration of chemotherapy and differentiating agents in pregnancy is controversial because of potential teratogenic effects. In addition, complications associated with APL, including retinoic acid syndrome, add to the complexity of management. To better understand how to manage this complex patient care situation, we searched the PubMed database (January 1972-May 2008) for English-language articles about maternal and fetal outcomes resulting from APL treatment during pregnancy. A total of 42 cases from 35 articles were identified: 12 first-trimester, 21 second-trimester, and 9 third-trimester cases. The most commonly administered agents were all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), anthracyclines, and antimetabolites. Complete remission was reported in 35 (83%) of 42 patients. Administration of ATRA or chemotherapy in the first trimester was associated with an increased risk of fetal malformations and spontaneous abortion, whereas administration in the second and third trimesters was associated with relatively favorable fetal outcomes. The overall treatment of the pregnant patient with APL should include a discussion about pregnancy termination, especially if APL is diagnosed in the first trimester. If the pregnancy is to continue, then the appropriate chemotherapy regimen needs to be determined. Frequent fetal monitoring, along with aggressive management of potential APL-related complications, is necessary to allow for optimal maternal and fetal outcomes.

Complete remission induced by gemtuzumab ozogamicin in a Jehovah's Witness patient with acute myelogenous leukemia

We report an interesting case of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in a Jehovah's Witness patient. A 61-year-old woman, a Jehovah's Witness, consulted our hospital because of continuous fever and refractory pharyngitis. The white blood cell count was increased with myeloblasts and monoblasts, both of which showed positivity for CD33. The level of WT1 messenger RNA (mRNA) in the bone marrow was 130,000 copies/microg RNA. The patient's diagnosis was AML (M4). Because complete remission (CR) was not obtained with 2 courses of chemotherapy consisting of acrarubicin and cytarabine, we tried gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) with informed consent. No major side effects appeared, and CR was obtained after 2 courses of GO, which decreased the WT1 mRNA level to 480 copies/microg RNA. The patient has been in CR for 6 months with ubenimex. This case suggests that GO can be one of the treatment options in similar situations, although it should be used with considerable care.

Remission induction in a Jehovah's Witness patient with acute myeloid leukaemia using gemtuzumab ozogamicin

A 40-year-old patient, who was a Jehovah's Witness, with acute myeloid leukaemia entered remission using a chemotherapeutic based regime aided by the addition of gemtuzumab ozogamicin without requiring any blood product support. The use of gemtuzumab ozogamicin may have helped avoid fatal pancytopenia. The use of gemtuzumab ozogamicin might be considered in similar situations.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia during pregnancy: report of 3 cases

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by onset at a young age and a life-threatening hemorrhagic diathesis, which is attributed to a disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)-like coagulopathy. The discovery of all-trans-retinoic acid has changed the course of APL treatment by reducing the onset of DIC and inducing a complete and durable remission in more than 90% of patients. The occurrence of APL during pregnancy is not a frequent event, but the management of these patients raises many therapeutic and ethical dilemmas and requires a careful clinical case evaluation of fetal and maternal risk, coagulation status, the parents' wishes, and therapeutic options. Here we describe 3 patients with APL diagnosed during pregnancy. Clinical data and the therapeutic approaches are presented. In the discussion, we analyze clinical decisions and therapeutic options and compare our cases with those found in the literature.

Molecular remission without blood product support using all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) induction and combined arsenic trioxide/ATRA consolidation in a Jehovah's Witness with de novo acute promyelocytic leukaemia

Arsenic trioxide has recently been used in the treatment of both relapsed and de novo acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML). Molecular remissions have been attained using arsenic trioxide with minimal associated haematological toxicity, making protocols utilizing this drug an attractive option for Jehovah's Witnesses with APML. A 62-year-old female Jehovah's Witness with de novo APML was treated with all-trans retinoic acid induction followed by combined arsenic trioxide/ATRA consolidation, and achieved molecular remission with minimal haematological toxicity and no blood product support.

Successful treatment of all-trans retinoic acid resistant and chemotherapy naïve acute promyelocytic patients with arsenic trioxide--two case reports

Arsenic trioxide(As2O3) has proved highly effective in treating both refractory or primary cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The role of arsenic trioxide in APL treatment has been confirmed by study groups in China and in the USA. However, what is the role of As2O3 in treating APL? Should it be used as first line therapy, or should it be used as a second line drug. This still remains to be defined. Here, we report two cases of APL, who were treated successfully with As2O3 when they relapsed. Initially, both received all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for primary remission induction therapy, and obtained a complete remission. For ethical or personal reasons, they did not receive chemotherapy as consolidation therapy and when they relapsed at 23 months and 12 months later respectively, they both received As2O3 therapy after being resistant to ATRA treatment. Two courses of As2O3 were given and both reached complete remission. There were very few adverse reactions to the drug, only mild abdominal cramps, mild fluid retention, and transient elevation of transaminases. They both had rather good quality of life throughout the treatment and both remain in remission for 32 months and 10 months since therapy, respectively.

Pregnancy in a Jehovah's witness with cervical cancer and anemia

A 34-year-old Jehovah's Witness presented with vaginal bleeding and anemia at 23 weeks gestation. She was diagnosed with a FIGO Stage IB2 squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. The patient refused transfusion of blood products and strongly desired to continue the pregnancy. She was hospitalized and at 33 weeks gestation underwent a Cesarean-radical hysterectomy with measures that minimized blood loss.