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Babakhanlou R, Ravandi-Kashani F, Hita AG, Kontoyiannis DP. Anorectal Infections in Neutropenic Leukemia Patients: A Common Clinical Challenge. J Hematol 2024; 13:1-11. [PMID: 38644983 PMCID: PMC11027774 DOI: 10.14740/jh1251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Anorectal infections in neutropenic leukemia patients are a significant and potentially life-threatening complication. The pathogenesis of this condition is not entirely understood and believed to be multifactorial, including mucosal injury as a result of cytotoxic drugs, profound neutropenia and impaired host defense. Establishing an early diagnosis is key and often made clinically on the basis of signs and symptoms, but also from imaging studies demonstrating perianal inflammation or fluid collection. The management of anorectal infections in neutropenic leukemia patients is not straightforward, as there are no well-conducted studies on this entity. This review seeks to provide a framework into the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of anorectal infections in neutropenic leukemia patients, propose a diagnostic approach and to discuss controversies in the management of this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrick Babakhanlou
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Farhad Ravandi-Kashani
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Angel G. Hita
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Dimitrios P. Kontoyiannis
- Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Ravandi F, Döhner H, Wei AH, Montesinos P, Pfeilstöcker M, Papayannidis C, Lai Y, Wang K, See WL, de Menezes DL, Petrlik E, Prebet T, Roboz GJ. Survival outcomes in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia who received subsequent therapy for relapse in QUAZAR AML-001. Br J Haematol 2024; 204:877-886. [PMID: 37952982 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
In the phase 3 QUAZAR AML-001 trial (NCT01757535) of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in remission following intensive chemotherapy (IC) and ineligible for haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), oral azacitidine (Oral-AZA) maintenance significantly prolonged overall survival (OS) versus placebo. The impact of subsequent treatment following maintenance has not been evaluated. In this post hoc analysis, OS was estimated for patients who received subsequent AML therapy, and by regimen received (IC or lower-intensity therapy). First subsequent therapy (FST) was administered after treatment discontinuation in 134/238 Oral-AZA and 173/234 placebo patients. OS from randomization in patients who received FST after Oral-AZA versus placebo was 17.8 versus 12.9 months (HR: 0.82 [95% CI: 0.64-1.04], median follow-up: 56.7 months); OS from FST was similar between arms. Among patients who received injectable hypomethylating agents as FST, median OS was 8.2 versus 4.9 months in the Oral-AZA versus placebo groups (HR: 0.66 [95% CI: 0.41-1.06]). Forty-eight patients (16/238 Oral-AZA, 32/234 placebo) received HSCT following treatment discontinuation, including six Oral-AZA patients still in first remission; Oral-AZA OS benefit persisted when censoring these patients. Oral-AZA maintenance can prolong AML remission duration without negatively impacting survival outcomes after salvage therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Ravandi
- Department of Leukemia, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Andrew H Wei
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Pau Montesinos
- Hematology Department, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic, La Fe, València, Spain
- CIBERONC, Instituto Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Michael Pfeilstöcker
- Third Medical Department for Hematology and Oncology, Hanusch Hospital, Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cristina Papayannidis
- IRCCS, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Bologna, Istituto di Ematologia "L. e A. Seràgnoli", Bologna, Italy
| | - Yinzhi Lai
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Kefeng Wang
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Wendy L See
- Bristol Myers Squibb, San Francisco, California, USA
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Schiller GJ, Kustanovich V. Considerations regarding maintenance therapy for acute myeloid leukemia in remission. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2024; 24:15-20. [PMID: 38230741 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2024.2306164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION For most adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia, relapse is characteristic of the disease. When allotransplant in first complete remission is administered as consolidative therapy, relapse is still common, affecting 20-40% of recipients. Maintenance of remission with low-dose treatments may hold promise in preventing relapse. AREAS COVERED Improvements in the detection of clinical and biological variants of disease allow the practitioner to identify which patients, based on disease features, may benefit from therapy directed at residual clonal elements that might contribute to relapse. Along with improvements in methods of detecting residual disease, novel agents are under investigation as a platform in order to maintain remission and may contribute to prolonged survival. In this manuscript, we review literature available through PubMed regarding the use of maintenance therapy, described as post-remission or post-transplant treatment intended to delay or prevent relapse. EXPERT OPINION Although results of randomized studies are limited, a role for maintenance therapy, particularly directed at molecular targets, in distinct settings of post-remission management is recommended. We also advise that randomized studies of immune therapy along with opportunities for further evaluation of risk-agnostic interventions be a focus of cooperative groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary J Schiller
- Hematological Malignancy/Stem Cell Transplant Program, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Vlad Kustanovich
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Babakhanlou R, DiNardo C, Borthakur G. IDH2 mutations in acute myeloid leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 2023; 64:1733-1741. [PMID: 37462435 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2023.2237153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Advances in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) over the last 40 years have been limited. With an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease, the advent of new treatment options has enriched the armamentarium of the physician to combat the disease. Mutations of the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDHs) genes are common in AML and occur in 20-30% of cases. These mutations lead to DNA hypermethylation, aberrant gene expression, cell proliferation, and abnormal differentiation. Targeting mutant IDH, either as monotherapy or in combination with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) or BCL-2 inhibitors, has opened new avenues of therapy for these patients.This review will outline the function of IDHs and focus on the biological effects of IDH2 mutations in AML, their prognosis and treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrick Babakhanlou
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Courtney DiNardo
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Gautam Borthakur
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
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Babakhanlou R, Ravandi-Kashani F, Kontoyiannis DP. Neutropenic Enterocolitis: An Uncommon, but Fearsome Complication of Leukemia. J Hematol 2023; 12:59-65. [PMID: 37187499 PMCID: PMC10181327 DOI: 10.14740/jh1105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neutropenic enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening condition occurring in severely neutropenic patients, following intensive chemotherapy for leukemia. Its pathogenesis is not entirely understood and believed to be multifactorial, including mucosal injury as a result of cytotoxic drugs, profound neutropenia, impaired host defense and possibly microbiota changes. Establishing an early diagnosis is key. The management of NEC remains undefined due to lack of high-quality clinical data. With a better understanding of the disease, a more conservative approach is preferred over surgical intervention. The involvement of a multi-disciplinary team, consisting of the oncologist, infectious diseases specialists and surgeons is highly recommended. This review aims to delineate insights into the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of NEC and to emphasize the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrick Babakhanlou
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Corresponding Author: Rodrick Babakhanlou, Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Farhad Ravandi-Kashani
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Dimitrios P. Kontoyiannis
- Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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