A systematic approach to the endocrine care of survivors of pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Long-term endocrine sequelae after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children and adolescents

PURPOSE

As the survival rate from pediatric cancers has increased significantly with advances in treatment modalities, long-term endocrine complications have also risen. This study investigated the frequencies and risks of endocrine sequelae in childhood cancer survivors who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

METHODS

This study included 200 pediatric patients who underwent HSCT. Clinical and endocrinological findings were collected retrospectively. The median follow-up duration after HSCT was 14 years.

RESULTS

Endocrine complications occurred in 135 patients (67.5%). Children who underwent HSCT at pubertal age (n=100) were at higher risk of endocrine complications than those who received it at prepubertal age (79% vs. 56%, P=0.001). The most common complication was hypogonadism (40%), followed by dyslipidemia (22%). Short stature and diabetes mellitus were more prevalent in the prepubertal group, whereas hypogonadism and osteoporosis were more common in the pubertal group. Being female, pubertal age at HSCT, and glucocorticoid use were predictors of an increased risk for any complication. Radiation exposure increased the risk of short stature and hypothyroidism. Hypogonadism was significantly associated with being female, pubertal age at HSCT, and high-dose radiation. Pubertal age at HSCT also increased the risks of osteoporosis and dyslipidemia.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that long-term endocrine complications are common after HSCT in children and adolescents. Age at HSCT is a critical factor for endocrine complications after HSCT. These findings suggest that surveillance strategies for endocrine complications in childhood cancer survivors should be specified according to age at HSCT.

Endocrine complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation during childhood-Results from a close follow-up in a cohort of 152 patients

CONTEXT

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a therapeutic option for numerous haematologic diseases and solid tumours. Increasing indications for HSCT and reduction in associated mortality have been raising the number of paediatric HSCT survivors and their long-term toxicities.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the endocrine disorders developed after HSCT.

DESIGN AND PATIENTS

Retrospective analysis of 152 patients submitted to HSCT in paediatric age with at least 24 months of follow-up at our endocrine late-effects clinics.

RESULTS

Patients were followed up for 9.9 (interquartile range [IQR]: 12.2) years. The median age at HSCT was 7.5 (IQR: 9) years. At least one endocrine complication was observed in 65.1% of the patients. Primary hypogonadism was detected in 34.2%. Female gender (p < .001), HSCT > 10 years old (p = .01) and chemotherapy before HSCT (p < .001) were identified as risk factors for developing gonadal dysfunction. Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) occurred in 23.0% with a mean stature Z-score at diagnosis of -1.8 ± 1.4. GHD was associated with cranial (p < .001) and HSCT < 10 years old (p ≤ 0.001). Patients who were exposed to total body irradiation (TBI) were at higher risk for primary hypothyroidism (22.3%) (p = .01), thyroid nodules (17.1%) (p < .001), thyroid carcinoma (5.3%) (p < .001), dyslipidaemia (19.1%) (p < .001) and disturbance of carbohydrate metabolism (19.1%) (p < .001).

CONCLUSION

At least one endocrine complication was diagnosed in 65.1% of patients, with gonadal dysfunction being the most prevalent. The conditioning regimen with TBI was a risk factor for the development of several endocrine disorders. This study is one of the largest series evaluating the endocrine disorders among survivors of paediatric HSCT and intends to reinforce the importance of routine follow-up of these patients.

[Prevalence and risk factors of obesity in children with Diamond-Blackfan anemia]

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the distribution of body mass index (BMI) and risk factors for obesity in children with Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (DBA).

METHODS

The children with DBA who attended National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, from January 2003 to December 2020 were enrolled as subjects. The related clinical data and treatment regimens were recorded. The height and weight data measured within 1 week before or after follow-up time points were collected to calculate BMI. The risk factors for obesity were determined by multivariate regression analysis in children with DBA.

RESULTS

A total of 129 children with DBA were enrolled, among whom there were 80 boys (62.0%) and 49 girls (38.0%), with a median age of 49 months (range 3-189 months). The prevalence rate of obesity was 14.7% (19/129). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the absence of ribosomal protein gene mutation was closely associated with obesity in children with DBA (adjusted OR=3.63, 95%CI: 1.16-11.38, adjusted P=0.027). In children with glucocorticoid-dependent DBA, obesity was not associated with age of initiation of glucocorticoid therapy, duration of glucocorticoid therapy, and maintenance dose of glucocorticoids (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high prevalence rate of obesity in children with DBA, and the absence of ribosomal protein gene mutation is closely associated with obesity in children with DBA.

Management of dyslipidemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Dyslipidemia is one of the complications after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and it is often underestimated and undertreated. Dyslipidemia in allo-HSCT recipients has been confirmed to be associated with endocrine dysfunction, acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD and cGVHD), immunosuppressive agent application, etc. However, few studies have illustrated the accurate molecular signaling pathways involved in dyslipidemia, and there are no standard guidelines for dyslipidemia management after HSCT. This review will discuss the pathogenesis of dyslipidemia, especially the association with aGVHD and/or cGVHD. Comprehensive treatment methods for dyslipidemia after HSCT will also be summarized.

Late endocrine effects after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with nonmalignant diseases

The number of children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for nonmalignant diseases has increased in recent years. Endocrine complications are common after HSCT for malignant diseases, while little is known about long-term prevalence and risk factors in children transplanted for nonmalignant diseases. We retrospectively evaluated gonadal function, near adult height and thyroid function in 197 survivors of pediatric HSCT for hemoglobinopathies (n = 66), inborn errors of immunity/metabolism (n = 74) and bone marrow failure disorders (n = 57); median follow-up was 6.2 years (range 3.0-10.5). Gonadal dysfunction occurred in 55% of (post)pubertal females, was still present at last assessment in 43% and was more common after busulfan- than treosulfan-based conditioning (HR 10.6, CI 2.2-52.7; adjusted for HSCT indication). Gonadal dysfunction occurred in 39% of (post)pubertal males, was still present at last assessment in 32% and was less common in those who were prepubertal compared to (post)pubertal at HSCT (HR 0.11; CI 0.05-0.21). Near adult height was more than 2 SDS below mean parental height in 21% of males and 8% of females. Hypothyroidism occurred in 16% of patients; 4% received thyroxin treatment. In conclusion, endocrine complications, especially gonadal dysfunction, are common after pediatric HSCT for nonmalignant conditions. In females, treosulfan seems less gonadotoxic than busulfan. Careful long-term endocrine follow-up is indicated.

Thyroid disorders following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in childhood: the impact of the conditioning regimen on thyroid dysfunction, volume changes and occurrence of nodules

BACKGROUND

Thyroid late effects are among the most frequent sequelae reported after pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Though the detrimental effects of radiotherapy on the developing thyroid gland have been extensively assessed, the role of chemotherapy-only conditioning regimens is still controversial.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed at describing the occurrence, monitoring and management of thyroid function disorders (i.e. Graves' disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis and non-autoimmune hypothyroidism), nodules and volumetric changes over a 20-year observation period in a single pediatric transplant unit. In addition, we assessed the impact of different conditioning regimens on thyroid health.

STUDY

design Retrospective observational analysis. The study population included 244 patients transplanted for pediatric malignant or non-malignant diseases between 1999 and 2018 and for whom at least four thyroid function tests and one or more thyroid ultrasound(s) assessed sequentially after HSCT were available.

RESULTS

The 15-year cumulative incidence (CI) of either autoimmune or non-autoimmune thyroid dysfunctions (34%, SE 5.3%) did not statistically differ between total body irradiation- (TBI-) and chemo-based regimens (p 0.23). Indeed, the CI after busulfan (BU) was overall superimposable to that recorded after TBI (10-year CI: 22.2% versus 25.9%, respectively). Nevertheless, the CI of non-autoimmune hypothyroidism was statistically higher after BU- (12.4%, SE 3.7%) than after other chemotherapy only-based-conditionings (3.1%, SE 3.1%; p 0.02, 5-year CI), treosulfan included. The overall CI of nodules was low for the first 5 years after HSCT (1.9%, SE 0.9%), but it showed a subsequent steep increase over time, with a 15-year CI as high as 52.1% (SE 7.5%). TBI-conditioned patients experienced a higher 15-year CI of nodules (66.8%, SE 9.1%) compared to those receiving chemo-only regimens (33.6%, SE 9.5%; p 0.02), whereas age > 10 years upon transplantation showed a protective effect (HR 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.2-0.88). Finally, a systematic sonographic follow-up highlighted a progressive statistically significant reduction in thyroid antero-posterior diameter among patients conditioned with TBI (p 0.005), but not after chemo-only regimens.

CONCLUSIONS

TBI and younger age upon HSCT play a remarkable and statistically demonstrated detrimental role on the occurrence of thyroid nodules, both benign and malignant. TBI and BU expose patients to a higher cumulative incidence of thyroid dysfunctions than other chemo-only regimens, treosulfan included. Accordingly, BU can be regarded as the most thyrotoxic agent among those administered as a part of a chemo-only conditioning regimen. Finally, patients conditioned with TBI, but not with other regimens, show a progressive decrease in thyroid volume over time, as assessed by sequential ultrasounds.

Web-Based Research Trends on Child and Adolescent Cancer Survivors Over the Last 5 Years: Text Network Analysis and Topic Modeling Study

Background

Being diagnosed with cancer during childhood or adolescence can disrupt important periods in an individual’s physical, psychosocial, and spiritual development and potentially reduce the quality of life (QOL) after treatment. Research is urgently required to improve the QOL for child and adolescent cancer survivors, and it is necessary to analyze the trends in prior research reported in international academic journals to identify knowledge structures.

Objective

This study aims to identify the main keywords based on network centrality, subgroups (clusters) of keyword networks by using a cohesion analysis method, and the main theme of child and adolescent cancer survivor–related research abstracts through topic modeling. This study also aims to label the subgroups by comparing the results of the cohesion and topic modeling.

Methods

A text network analysis method and topic modeling were used to explore the main trends in child and adolescent cancer survivor research by structuring a network of keyword (semantic morphemes) co-occurrence in the abstracts of articles published in 5 major web-based databases from 2016 to 2020. A total of 1677 child and adolescent cancer survivor–related studies were used for data analyses. Data selection, processing, and analyses were also conducted.

Results

The top 5 keywords in terms of degree and eigenvector centrality were risk, control interval, radiation, childhood cancer treatment, and diagnosis. Of the 1677 studies used for data analyses, cluster 1 included 780 (46.51%) documents under risk management, cluster 2 contained 557 (33.21%) articles under health-related QOL and supportive care, and cluster 3 consisted of 340 (20.27%) studies under cancer treatment and complications.

Conclusions

This study is significant in that it confirms the knowledge structure based on the main keywords and cross-disciplinary trends in child and adolescent cancer survivor research published in the last 5 years worldwide. The primary goal of child and adolescent cancer survivor research is to prevent and manage the various aspects of the problems encountered during the transition to a normal life and to improve the overall QOL. To this end, it is necessary to further revitalize the study of the multidisciplinary team approach for the promotion of age-specific health behaviors and the development of intervention strategies with increased feasibility for child and adolescent cancer survivors.

Thyroid function disorders and secondary cancer following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in pediatrics: State of the art and practical recommendations for a risk-based follow-up

Thyroid disorders (TD) represent a remarkable share of all the late morbidities experienced following pediatric haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), with long-term reported occurrence often exceeding 70%. In addition, the data collected on wide cohorts of survivors assessed longitudinally outlined a progressive increase in the cumulative incidence of TD as far as 30 years following transplantation. Accordingly, a life-long monitoring of thyroid health is warranted among patients exposed to HSCT in childhood, in order to early detect TD and undertake a prompt dedicated treatment. Although several national and international consortia have provided recommendations for the early detection of thyroid disorders among childhood cancer survivors exposed to radiotherapy and alkylating agents, no guidelines specifically and thoroughly focused on HSCT-related TD have been published to date. As stem cell transplantation has become the standard-of-care in a growing body of non-oncological conditions, this urge has become pivotal. To highlight the challenging issues specifically involving this cohort of patients and to provide clinicians with the proposal of a practical follow-up protocol, we reviewed published literature in the light of the shared experience of a multidisciplinary team of pediatric oncologists, transplantologists, pathologists and endocrinologists involved in the long-term care of HSCT survivors. As a final result, we hereby present the proposals of a practical and customized risk-based approach to tailor thyroid health follow-up based on HSCT-related detrimental factors.

Late Effects After Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in ALL, Long-Term Follow-Up and Transition: A Step Into Adult Life

Haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) can be a curative treatment for children and adolescents with very-high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Improvements in supportive care and transplant techniques have led to increasing numbers of long-term survivors worldwide. However, conditioning regimens as well as transplant-related complications are associated with severe sequelae, impacting patients' quality of life. It is widely recognised that paediatric HSCT survivors must have timely access to life-long care and surveillance in order to prevent, ameliorate and manage all possible adverse late effects of HSCT. This is fundamentally important because it can both prevent ill health and optimise the quality and experience of survival following HSCT. Furthermore, it reduces the impact of preventable chronic illness on already under-resourced health services. In addition to late effects, survivors of paediatric ALL also have to deal with unique challenges associated with transition to adult services. In this review, we: (1) provide an overview of the potential late effects following HSCT for ALL in childhood and adolescence; (2) focus on the unique challenges of transition from paediatric care to adult services; and (3) provide a framework for long-term surveillance and medical care for survivors of paediatric ALL who have undergone HSCT.