Immunoablative high-dose cyclophosphamide without stem-cell rescue for refractory, severe autoimmune disease

Cyclophosphamide in refractory autoimmune hepatitis and autoimmune hepatitis coexisting extrahepatic autoimmune disorders

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Despite tacrolimus (TAC) or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for alternate approaches, a proportion of patients still required further exploration of other therapeutic options due to uncontrolled autoimmune hepatitis(AIH). The role of cyclophosphamide (CYC) for AIH has been explored in isolated case reports and small series. We present a review of CYC therapy in AIH patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A search for studies with keywords 'autoimmune hepatitis' and 'cyclophosphamide' was performed. Data recorded included gender, age, laboratory parameters and histological findings at the time of AIH diagnosis and before initiation of CYC therapy.

RESULTS

We identified 13 patients across 7 studies who met criteria for study inclusion, of whom around 69.2% (9/13) were primary refractory; 30.8% (4/13) patients used CYC as rescue therapy due to their coexisting autoimmune complications. The main findings of the study were that CYC appears to have an acceptable safety profile in difficult-to-treat AIH patients, with an overall remission rate of 88.9% (8/9). The other four patients with AIH accompanied by extrahepatic autoimmune disorders also achieved remission of transaminase levels and stability of liver function after the addition of CYC. A positive response to CYC treatment was seen in 12(92.3%) patients and none of them relapsed during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

We cautiously recommend that CYC could be a conditioning alternative to starting second-line therapy after unsuccessful intensification of first-line treatment. Pharmacogenetic methods may play a role in guiding cyclophosphamide therapy. Given our small sample size, results should be considered preliminary.

The Nitrogen Mustards

The nitrogen mustards are powerful cytotoxic and lymphoablative agents and have been used for more than 60 years. They are employed in the treatment of cancers, sarcomas, and hematologic malignancies. Cyclophosphamide, the most versatile of the nitrogen mustards, also has a place in stem cell transplantation and the therapy of autoimmune diseases. Adverse effects caused by the nitrogen mustards on the central nervous system, kidney, heart, bladder, and gonads remain important issues. Advances in analytical techniques have facilitated the investigation of the pharmacokinetics of the nitrogen mustards, especially the oxazaphosphorines, which are prodrugs requiring metabolic activation. Enzymes involved in the metabolism of cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide are very polymorphic, but a greater understanding of the pharmacogenomic influences on their activity has not yet translated into a personalized medicine approach. In addition to damaging DNA, the nitrogen mustards can act through other mechanisms, such as antiangiogenesis and immunomodulation. The immunomodulatory properties of cyclophosphamide are an area of current exploration. In particular, cyclophosphamide decreases the number and activity of regulatory T cells, and the interaction between cyclophosphamide and the intestinal microbiome is now recognized as an important factor. New derivatives of the nitrogen mustards continue to be assessed. Oxazaphosphorine analogs have been synthesized in attempts to both improve efficacy and reduce toxicity, with varying degrees of success. Combinations of the nitrogen mustards with monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule targeted agents are being evaluated. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The nitrogen mustards are important, well-established therapeutic agents that are used to treat a variety of diseases. Their role is continuing to evolve.

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in Children: Laboratory Investigation, Disease Associations, and Treatment Strategies

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a relatively uncommon pediatric clinical condition. As such, the evaluation and management of these cases can be challenging for even the most seasoned pediatrician. In this review, the 3 major forms of autoimmune hemolytic anemia in children will be discussed: warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia, cold agglutinin disease, and paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria. After a general description of the laboratory approach to these entities, the pathophysiology of these disease processes, including important disease associations, will be described, and treatment strategies will be discussed. This will provide the reader with a rational approach to identifying and managing pediatric patients with these uncommon autoimmune conditions.

Remission is not maintained over 2 years with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation (HSCT) is being accepted as a standard of care in various inflammatory diseases. The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been closely evolving with the understanding of disease pathogenesis. With the rising resistance to the traditional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and targeted biological therapy, researchers are in pursuit of other methods for disease management. Since the ultimate goal of the ideal treatment of RA is to restore immune tolerance, HSCT attracts much attention considering its reparative, paracrine, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, a systematic review of studies on HSCT in RA is lacking.

AIM

To investigate the role of HSCT in the management of RA.

METHODS

A detailed search of PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane, and the Web of Science databases was made to identify the relevant articles till September 2020 following Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines. We extracted data including the number of patients, source of hematopoietic stem cells, their mobilization and conditioning regimens, results, and complications from the eligible studies. Results were dichotomized into success (ACR 50/70) and failure (ACR 20) based on the improvement from baseline characteristics. The methodological quality of the included studies was also assessed. Analysis was performed using OpenMeta[Analysis] software.

RESULTS

We included 17 studies (1 randomized controlled trial, 11 prospective, and 5 retrospective studies) with 233 patients for analysis. HSCT provided a significantly beneficial overall improvement in the clinical grades of ACR criteria (Z = 11.309, P < 0.001). However, the remission was noted only till 24 mo and later on the significance of the result was lost (Z = 1.737, P = 0.082). A less than 1% treatment-related mortality was noted from the included studies. No major drug-related toxicities were noted in any of the included studies. All patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT received immunosuppression in the conditioning regimen to counteract the graft-vs-host reaction which made them vulnerable to infections. It is noted that the source of hematopoietic stem cells did not play a role in altering the functional outcome and both autologous (Z = 9.972, P < 0.001) and allogenic (Z = 6.978, P < 0.001) sources produced significant improvement in the outcome compared to the pre-operative state despite having a significant heterogeneity among the studies reporting them (I² = 99.4, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Although the available literature is encouraging towards the use of HSCT in refractory cases with significant improvement from baseline till 2 years, the inclusion of HSCT into the standard of care of RA needs further exploration.

Current Status and Future Directions in Graft-Versus-Host Disease Prevention Following Allogeneic Blood and Marrow Transplantation in Adults

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in its acute and chronic forms continues to represent a significant barrier to the success and wide-applicability of blood and marrow transplantation as a potentially curative treatment modality for a number of benign and malignant blood conditions. Presently, calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based regimens remain the most commonly used prevention strategy, although post-transplant cyclophosphamide is emerging as an alternative approach, and is providing a backbone for innovative CNI-free combinations. In this paper, we review the current strategies used for the prevention of GvHD, and highlight some of the developing and promising combinations.

Evans syndrome: clinical perspectives, biological insights and treatment modalities

Evans syndrome (ES) is a rare and chronic autoimmune disease characterized by autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenic purpura with a positive direct anti-human globulin test. It is classified as primary and secondary, with the frequency in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia being 37%–73%. It predominates in children, mainly due to primary immunodeficiencies or autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome. ES during pregnancy is associated with high fetal morbidity, including severe hemolysis and intracranial bleeding with neurological sequelae and death. The clinical presentation can include fatigue, pallor, jaundice and mucosal bleeding, with remissions and exacerbations during the person’s lifetime, and acute manifestations as catastrophic bleeding and massive hemolysis. Recent molecular theories explaining the physiopathology of ES include deficiencies of CTLA-4, LRBA, TPP2 and a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio. As in other autoimmune cytopenias, there is no established evidence-based treatment and steroids are the first-line therapy, with intravenous immunoglobulin administered as a life-saving resource in cases of severe immune thrombocytopenic purpura manifestations. Second-line treatment for refractory ES includes rituximab, mofetil mycophenolate, cyclosporine, vincristine, azathioprine, sirolimus and thrombopoietin receptor agonists. In cases unresponsive to immunosuppressive agents, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been successful, although it is necessary to consider its potential serious adverse effects. In conclusion, ES is a disease with a heterogeneous course that remains challenging to patients and physicians, with prospective clinical trials needed to explore potential targeted therapy to achieve an improved long-term response or even a cure.

Natural History, Pathogenesis, and Treatment of Evans Syndrome in Children

Primary Evans syndrome (ES) is defined by the concurrent or sequential occurrence of immune thrombocytopenia and autoimmune hemolytic anemia in the absence of an underlying etiology. The syndrome is characterized by a chronic, relapsing, and potentially fatal course requiring long-term immunosuppressive therapy. Treatment of ES is hardly evidence-based. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of therapy. Rituximab has emerged as the most widely used second-line treatment, as it can safely achieve high response rates and postpone splenectomy. An increasing number of new genetic defects involving critical pathways of immune regulation identify specific disorders, which explain cases of ES previously reported as "idiopathic".

Stem cells to restore insulin production and cure diabetes

BACKGROUND

The advancement of knowledge in the field of regenerative medicine is increasing the therapeutic expectations of patients and clinicians on cell therapy approaches. Within these, stem cell therapies are often evoked as a possible therapeutic option for diabetes, already ongoing or possible in the near future.

AIM

The purpose of this document is to make a point of the situation on existing knowledge and therapies with stem cells to treat patients with diabetes by focusing on some of the aspects that most frequently raise curiosity and discussion in clinical practice and in the interaction with the patient. In fact, at present there are no clinically approved treatments based on the use of stem cells for the treatment of diabetes, but several therapeutic approaches have already been evaluated or are being evaluated in clinical trials.

DATA SYNTHESIS

It is possible to identify three large potential application fields: 1) the reconstruction of the β cell mass; 2) the immunomodulation in type 1 diabetes (T1D); 3) the treatment of complications. In this study we will limit the discussion to approaches that have the potential for clinical translation, deliberately omitting aspects of basic biology and preclinical data. Also, we intentionally omit the treatment of the complications that will be the subject of a future document. Finally, an overview of the Italian situation regarding the storage of cord blood cells for the therapy of diabetes will be given.

Treatment Options for Primary Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia: A Short Comprehensive Review

Until now, treatment of primary autoimmune hemolytic anemia of the warm type (wAIHA) is primarily based on immunosuppression. However, many patients do not respond adequately to treatment, and treated patients may develop severe side effects due to uncontrolled, mixed and/or long-lasting immunosuppression. Unfortunately, the newly used therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are unspecific and remain frequently ineffective. Thus, development of a specific therapy for AIHA is necessary. The ideal therapy would be the identification and elimination of the causative origin of autoimmunization and/or the correction or reprogramming of the dysregulated immune components. Blood transfusion is the most rapidly effective measure for patients who develop or may develop hypoxic anemia. Although some effort has been made to guide physicians on how to adequately treat patients with AIHA, a number of individual aspects should be considered prior to treatment. Based on my serological and clinical experience and the analysis of evidence-based studies, we remain far from any optimized therapeutic measures for all AIHA patients. Today, the old standard therapy using controlled steroid administration, with or without azathioprine or cyclophosphamide, is, when complemented with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, still the most effective therapy in wAIHA. Rituximab or other monoclonal antibodies may be used instead of splenectomy in therapy-refractory patients.

Severe Refractory Immune Thrombocytopenia Successfully Treated with High-Dose Pulse Cyclophosphamide and Eltrombopag

Severe refractory ITP is clinically challenging and a variety of single or combination chemotherapies have been tried with limited outcome. We report a case of ITP that was unresponsive to multiple agents including high-dose steroid, IVIG, Rho(D) immune globulin, rituximab, cyclosporine, azathioprine, vincristine, mycophenolate mofetil, romiplostim, and eltrombopag; however, it achieved complete remission with combination treatment of cyclophosphamide and eltrombopag.

Post-transplant high-dose cyclophosphamide for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease

Cyclophosphamide's lack of hematopoietic stem cell toxicity and its unique effects on the immune system have prompted several investigators to explore its potential for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplants, post-transplant cyclophosphamide together with standard prophylaxis reduces the incidence of GVHD to acceptable rates without the need for T cell depletion. In matched related and unrelated donor settings, cyclophosphamide alone has produced encouraging results. In particular, the low incidence of chronic GVHD is noteworthy. Here, we present a review of the current understanding of the mechanism of action of post-transplant cyclophosphamide and summarize the clinical data on its use for the prevention of GVHD.

Multiple sclerosis and cancer: when two wrongs make a right?

INTRODUCTION

Current treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) remain partially successful, with certain patients remaining treatment resistant. A recent treatment, known as 'immunoablation' has been used in severe cases of adult MS with promising results. However, due to its high risk and reservation for severe or refractory cases, its full potential remains unknown.

METHODS

We report the case of MM, a 14-year-old boy diagnosed with MS and a concurrent diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

RESULTS

After receiving aggressive chemotherapy (immunoablation) for Hodgkin's lymphoma, MM's MS symptoms appear to have remitted, and he has remained progression- and disease activity-free for over six years.

DISCUSSION

This case study will focus on MM's cognitive and behavioural development over this time, but will also discuss treatment implications raised by this rare case.

Current therapeutic leads for the treatment of autoimmune diseases: stem cell transplantation and inhibition of post-translational modifications of autoantigens

BACKGROUND

The complexity of autoimmune diseases is reflected on their clinicopathological heterogeneity and the failure to find treatments that cure them after over a century of research. Conventional treatments help ameliorate disease activity but they treat the symptoms whereas the diseases remain incurable in the vast majority of patients.

OBJECTIVE

To confront diseases of such nature it is essential to discover therapeutics that will lead to the induction of tolerance or the specific deletion of autoreactive lymphocytes. Current basic and clinical research strategies focus on the better identification of self-antigens, the induction of T regulatory cells that can suppress autoreactive cell activities or, more radically, the 'reformatting' of the immune system through hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

METHODS

We analyzed literature on autoimmune disease therapeutics, focusing on new antigens that may arise from post-translational modifications of common proteins and, also, the area of HSCT.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS

With the recent discovery that citrullination of self-epitopes may be a major pathogenic mechanism for, at least, certain types of autoimmune diseases, it becomes apparent that potentially any self-antigen in the body can be a target of an autoimmune attack. In addition, although the available data on HSCT applied to patients suffering from severe refractory autoimmune diseases do not allow for the determination of the efficacy of the various methods employed to re-educate the immune system, they contribute to our understanding of disease pathogenesis and the improvement on the therapeutic approaches.

A prospective, randomized, controlled trial of autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for aggressive multiple sclerosis: a position paper

Background:

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been tried in the last 15 years as a therapeutic option in patients with poor-prognosis autoimmune disease who do not respond to conventional treatments. Worldwide, more than 600 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been treated with HSCT, most of them having been recruited in small, single-centre, phase 1–2 uncontrolled trials. Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging outcomes from case series reports or Registry-based analyses suggest that a major response is achieved in most patients; quality and duration of response are better in patients transplanted during the relapsing–remitting phase than in those in the secondary progressive stage.

Objectives:

An interdisciplinary group of neurologists and haematologists has been formed, following two international meetings supported by the European and American Blood and Marrow Transplantation Societies, for the purpose of discussing a controlled clinical trial, to be designed within the new scenarios of evolving MS treatments.

Conclusions:

Objectives of the trial, patient selection, transplant technology and outcome assessment were extensively discussed. The outcome of this process is summarized in the present paper, with the goal of establishing the background and advancing the development of a prospective, randomized, controlled multicentre trial to assess the clinical efficacy of HSCT for the treatment of highly active MS.

Treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis with high-dose cyclophosphamide induction followed by glatiramer acetate maintenance

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have described stabilization of aggressive multiple sclerosis (MS) with one-time induction therapy with high-dose cyclophosphamide (HiCy). The long-term benefit of this stabilization followed by conventional therapy has not been explored.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and clinical outcomes following treatment of relapsing-remitting MS with HiCy induction therapy followed by glatiramer acetate maintenance.

METHODS

A retrospective review of a closely followed population of thirty two MS patients treated with HiCy (200mg/kg intravenous infusion over 4 days) followed by maintenance with glatiramer acetate was performed.

RESULTS

Annualized relapse rate was reduced from 1.37 in the 2 years prior to treatment to 0.27 over a mean post-treatment follow-up period of 14 months (range 0.5-33.8). The projected probability of relapse-free survival at 2 years was 0.64 (95% CI 0.37-0.82). The projected probability of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) progression-free survival at 2 years was 0.77 (95% CI 0.43-0.92). The mean number of gadolinium-enhanced lesions was reduced from 0.86 (SD 1.6) at baseline to 0 at 12 months and 0.08 (SD 0.28) at 15-24 months. A total of 55% of patients had no evidence of disease activity in follow-up. Infectious complications occurred in 47% with no long-term morbidity and no deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

Induction therapy with HiCy followed by long-term maintenance with glatiramer acetate is well tolerated in patients with MS, and appears to be efficacious in reducing the risk of relapse, disability progression, and new MRI lesions.

Reversal of gastrointestinal carcinoma-induced immunosuppression and induction of antitumoural immunity by a combination of cyclophosphamide and gene transfer of IL-12

Immunotherapy-based strategies for gastrointestinal carcinomas (GIC) have been exploited so far, but these approaches have to face strong mechanisms of immune escape induced by tumours. We previously demonstrated that sub-therapeutic doses of an adenovirus expressing IL-12 genes (AdIL-12) mediated a potent antitumour effect against subcutaneous (s.c.) colorectal carcinomas (CRC) in mice pre-treated with low doses of cyclophosphamide (Cy). In our study we used this combination to assess its impact on the immunosuppressive microenvironment. In s.c. CRC model we demonstrated that non-responder mice failed to decrease Tregs in tumour, spleen and peripheral blood. Reconstitution of Tregs into tumour-bearing mice treated with combined therapy abolished the antitumoural effect. In addition, Cy + AdIL-12 modified Tregs functionality by inhibiting the in vitro secretion of IL-10 and TGF-β and their ability to inhibit dendritic cells activation. Combined treatment decreased the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in comparison to non-treated mice and, interestingly, administration of Tregs restored splenic MDSCs population. Furthermore, combined therapy potently generated specific cytotoxic IFN-γ-secreting CD4+ T cells able to eradicate established CRC tumours after adoptive transfer. Finally, we evaluated the combination on disseminated CRC and pancreatic carcinoma (PC). Cy + AdIL-12 were able to eradicate liver metastatic CRC (47%) and PC tumour nodules (40%) and to prolong animal survival. The results of this study support the hypothesis that Cy + AdIL-12 might be a valid immunotherapeutic strategy for advanced GIC.

High-dose cyclophosphamide without stem cell rescue in 207 patients with aplastic anemia and other autoimmune diseases

High-dose cyclophosphamide has long been used as an anticancer agent, a conditioning regimen for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and a potent immunosuppressive agent in autoimmune diseases including aplastic anemia. High-dose cyclophosphamide is highly toxic to lymphocytes but spares hematopoietic stem cells because of their abundant levels of aldehyde dehydrogenase, the major mechanism of cyclophosphamide inactivation. High-dose cyclophosphamide therapy induces durable remissions in most patients with acquired aplastic anemia. Moreover, high-dose cyclophosphamide without hematopoietic stem cell rescue has shown activity in a variety of other severe autoimmune diseases. Here we review the history of cyclophosphamide as it applies to aplastic anemia and other autoimmune diseases. We include historical data from early patients treated for aplastic anemia as well as data from 140 patients from an observational retrospective study in a single tertiary care hospital. This latter component was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of high-dose cyclophosphamide therapy without stem cell rescue in patients with refractory autoimmune diseases. We analyzed the 140 patients with severe, progressive autoimmune diseases treated. All patients discussed here received cyclophosphamide, 50 mg/kg per day for 4 consecutive days. Response, relapse, and overall survival were measured. Response was defined as a decrease in disease activity in conjunction with a decrease or elimination of immune-modulating drugs. Relapse was defined as worsening disease activity and/or a requirement for an increase in dose of, or administration of new, immunosuppressive medications. Hematologic recovery occurred in all patients. The overall response rate was 94%, and 44% of those patients remained progression free with a median follow-up of 36 months (range, 1-120 mo) for the 140 patients analyzed together. The overall actuarial and event-free survival across all diseases at 60 months was 90.7% and 20.6%, respectively. High-dose cyclophosphamide without stem cell rescue is well tolerated and induces a high rate of remission in severe autoimmune diseases.

High-dose cyclophosphamide without stem cell rescue for the treatment of refractory Behcet's disease

OBJECTIVE

Behcet's disease (BD) is a systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by recurrent mucocutaneous ulcerations, ocular inflammation, and numerous severe systemic inflammatory manifestations. While most patients respond to standard immunosuppressive therapies, a subset will develop refractory disease. In this report, the use of a novel therapy for the treatment of BD is described.

METHODS

Two patients with severe refractory BD who were treated with nonmyeloablative high-dose cyclophosphamide therapy without stem cell rescue.

RESULTS

After treatment, both patients were completely weaned off immunosuppressive therapy and entered disease-free remissions of 18 and 24 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest high-dose cyclophosphamide therapy without stem cell rescue as an alternative for the treatment of refractory BD.

High-dose cyclophosphamide for autoimmunity and alloimmunity

High-dose cyclophosphamide (high-CY) is a potent immunosuppressive regimen that is increasingly used to mitigate both autoimmune and alloimmune conditions. Differential expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase between hematopoietic stem cells and lymphocytes accounts for the differential sensitivity of these cells to high-CY and explains why this regimen is immunosuppressive but not myeloablative. This article describes the clinical translation of high-CY for the treatment of autoimmune and alloimmune conditions.

Stem cell transplantation for patients with Evans syndrome

Evans syndrome (ES) is a chronic hematological disorder characterized by autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune-mediated thrombocytopenia that often requires profound and long-term immunosuppression. Only a few small case series or single case studies of autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with ES have been reported in the literature, with long-term remissions being observed after both autologous and allogeneic HSCT. Patients with ES suffering from refractory disease, multiple relapses and serious disease-related complications should be offered allogeneic HSCT, which is the only treatment with curative potential. Autologous HSCT might be preferable in patients with serious pre-existing comorbidities lacking an HLA-identical donor. Owing to the rarity of this disease and the small number of patients receiving HSCT for ES, prospective controlled studies on this approach are not available. A prospective registration of patients transplanted for ES would allow the development of optimal transplant strategies.

High-dose cyclophosphamide versus monthly intravenous cyclophosphamide for systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective randomized trial

OBJECTIVE

Monthly intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide for 6 months has been the standard induction regimen for lupus nephritis, followed by a maintenance regimen of quarterly infusions for 2 years. We undertook this study to compare the efficacy and safety of the standard regimen versus a high-dose IV cyclophosphamide regimen.

METHODS

We performed a prospective randomized trial comparing monthly IV cyclophosphamide at 750 mg/m(2) body surface area for 6 months followed by quarterly IV cyclophosphamide for 2 years (traditional treatment) against high-dose IV cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg daily for 4 days) (high-dose treatment). Entry criteria included renal lupus, neurologic lupus, or other organ system involvement with moderate-to-severe activity.

RESULTS

Fifty-one patients were randomized; 3 withdrew before treatment and 1 committed suicide after 2 months of high-dose treatment. Twenty-two had renal lupus, 14 had neurologic lupus, and 11 had other organ involvement. The outcome measure was the Responder Index for Lupus Erythematosus (complete response, partial response, no change, or worsening). At 6 months (the end of induction), 11 of 21 patients (52%) in the high-dose treatment group had a complete response compared with 9 of 26 patients (35%) in the traditional treatment group (P = 0.13). At the final visit (30 months), 10 of 21 patients (48%) in the high-dose treatment group had a complete response compared with 13 of 20 patients (65%) who continued with traditional treatment (P = 0.13). Six patients crossed over from traditional treatment to high-dose treatment because of lack of response, and 3 of those patients became complete responders.

CONCLUSION

There was not strong evidence that monthly IV cyclophosphamide and high-dose IV cyclophosphamide differed in complete or in any (complete or partial) response to induction or maintenance therapy. However, nonresponders to monthly IV cyclophosphamide can sometimes be rescued with high-dose IV cyclophosphamide.

Management of systemic lupus erythematosus in Chinese patients

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a worldwide disease with prevalence figures ranging from nine to 130 per 100,000 individuals. SLE appears to be more prevalent in certain ethnic groups, such as the African-Americans, African-Caribbeans and Asians. The prevalence of SLE in Hong Kong Chinese was estimated to be 59 out of 100,000 (104/100,000 among women), which is mid-way between that of the Caucasians and African-Americans. Certain organ manifestations, such as lupus nephritis, are more common in Chinese than Caucasians. A recent prospective study reported that the cumulative incidence of renal disease within 5 years of diagnosis of SLE in Chinese patients was 60%. Despite the improvement in survival of SLE in the past few decades, manifestations that are refractory to conventional therapies and treatment related complications are still major challenges in the management of SLE. Novel-therapeutic modalities for SLE should aim at targeting more specifically the immunopathogenetic pathways to achieve higher efficacy and reduce short- and long-term therapy-related toxicities. This review summarizes the management strategies and novel therapeutic modalities in SLE.

Hematopoietic SCT modulates gut inflammation in experimental inflammatory bowel disease

Hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) and high-dose chemotherapy are being explored as therapy for various human refractory immune-mediated conditions, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Nevertheless, the exact immunological mechanisms by which the BM cells (BMCs) or immunosuppression provide remission from these diseases is not yet clear. In this work, we investigated the role of these therapies in the modulation of gut mucosal inflammation in an experimental model of IBD. Colitis was induced in mice by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid and after CY was administered (200 mg/kg) alone (CY group) or followed by BMCs infusion (HSCT group). Animals were followed for 60 days. Both HSCT and CY reduced the histopathological features of colitis significantly. Infused cells were localized in the gut, and a marked decrease of CD4(+) leukocytes in the inflammatory infiltrate on days +7 and +14 and of CD8(+) cells on day +7 was found in both treatments allied to impressive reduction of proinflammatory Th1 and Th17 cytokines. Although chemotherapy alone was the best treatment regarding the induction of immunosuppressive molecules, only HSCT resulted in increased survival rates compared with the control group. Our findings indicate that high-dose CY followed by HSCT is effective in the modulation of mucosal immunity and in accelerating immune reconstitution after BMT, thus providing valuable tools to support the development and understanding of novel therapeutic strategies for IBD.

High-dose cyclophosphamide for severe aplastic anemia: long-term follow-up

Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a life-threatening bone marrow failure disorder that can be treated with bone marrow transplantation, immunosuppressive therapy, and high-dose cyclophosphamide. Here, we report long-term follow-up on 67 SAA patients (44 treatment-naive and 23 refractory) treated with high-dose cyclophosphamide. At 10 years, the overall actuarial survival was 88%, the response rate was 71% with the majority being complete, and the actuarial event-free survival was 58% in 44 treatment-naive SAA patients. Patients with refractory SAA fared less well after high-dose cyclophosphamide therapy; at 10 years, overall actuarial survival, response, and actuarial event-free survival rates were 62%, 48%, and 27%, respectively. High-dose cyclophosphamide is highly effective therapy for severe aplastic anemia. Large randomized controlled trials will be necessary to establish how results of high-dose cyclophosphamide compare with either bone marrow transplantation or standard immunosuppressive regimens, such as antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporine.

Cyclophosphamide and cancer: golden anniversary

Cyclophosphamide remains one of the most successful and widely utilized antineoplastic drugs. Moreover, it is also a potent immunosuppressive agent and the most commonly used drug in blood and marrow transplantation (BMT). It was initially synthesized to selectively target cancer cells, although the hypothesized mechanism of tumor specificity (activation by cancer cell phosphamidases) transpired to be irrelevant to its activity. Nevertheless, cyclophosphamide's unique metabolism and inactivation by aldehyde dehydrogenase is responsible for its distinct cytotoxic properties. Differential cellular expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase has an effect on the anticancer therapeutic index and immunosuppressive properties of cyclophosphamide. This Review highlights the chemistry, pharmacology, clinical toxic effects and current clinical applications of cyclophosphamide in cancer and autoimmune disorders. We also discuss the development of high-dose cyclophosphamide for BMT and the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

[Current value of stem-cell transplantation in autoimmune diseases]

Transplantations of autologous or allogeneic stem cells from bone marrow or peripheral blood are preformed for the treatment of resistant autoimmune diseases. Data have been systematically collected since 1996. We describe the historical development of this procedure for autoimmune diseases, the possible mechanisms of action, the options for stem cell collection, purging and conditioning (high-dose chemotherapy, combination with monoclonal anti-T- or B-cell antibodies, total body irradiation), as well as the reported outcomes in the literature.

Intensive immunosuppression with high dose cyclophosphamide but without stem cell rescue for severe autoimmunity: advantages and disadvantages

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for the treatment of severe autoimmune disorders continues to show great promise. The morbidity and mortality of the approach is relatively low and clinical benefit has been demonstrated in many, but not all patients. Furthermore, relapse following HSCT is not uncommon. Most centers now prefer nonmyeloablative conditioning regimens using high dose cyclophosphamide prior to SCT; however, emerging data show that high dose cylophosphamide can be administered safely without the need for HSCT. Eliminating the use of HSCT after high dose cyclophosphamide shortens the duration of the procedure by several weeks, markedly reduces the cost of the procedure and eliminates the potential of reinfusing autoreactive lymphoctes with the autograft.

High dose cyclophosphamide performs better than monthly dose cyclophosphamide in quality of life measures

In spite of current therapies, the overall health status of patients with SLE is poor. High-dose cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg for 4 days) with or without stem-cell rescue has been introduced as a new therapy for severe SLE, including renal and central nervous system (CNS)-SLE. Long-term durable responses have been found to be 40%. A randomised clinical trial was completed comparing high-dose cyclophosphamide with monthly intravenous cyclophosphamide (750 mg/m squared bovine serum albumin) in patients with SLE who need cyclophosphamide for the first time. The primary outcome of the trial was complete clinical response. In this report, we compare the treatment groups with respect to quality of life. The patients in this study had a mean age of 35.3 +/- 10.1 years, were of Caucasian (35%), African-American (51%), Hispanic (8%) and Asian (6%) people, and 88% were women. The organ leading to treatment was renal lupus in 29%, CNS-lupus in 45% and other organs in 26%. Quality of life was measured at each visit using the Medical Outcome Study Short-Form 36 (SF-36). At 6 months, the patients in the high-dose cyclophosphamide trial arm had significantly greater improvement than patients in the monthly intravenous cyclophosphamide arm (P = 0.026; P = 0.0082, respectively) in the categories of general health and social functioning. At 18 months, the improvement in the role-physical score was significantly greater in the high-dose cyclophosphamide trial arm than in the monthly-dose cyclophosphamide arm (P = 0.025). At the end of the two and a half-year study, there were no significant differences between the groups with respect to changes in SF-36. By pooling the groups, at 30 months, there was a statistically significant (P < 0.05) improvement over baseline in 6 of the 8 SF-36 domains. This study shows earlier improvement in SF-36 measures at 6 months in the high-dose cyclophosphamide group but equal improvement in both arms at two and one and a half years. Eventual improvements in quality-of-life with both cyclophosphamide regimens are clinically meaningful to both patients and treating physicians.

Rebooting the immune system with high-dose cyclophosphamide for treatment of refractory myasthenia gravis

A small but important proportion of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) are refractory to conventional immunotherapy. We have treated 12 such patients by "rebooting" the immune system with high-dose cyclophosphamide (Hi Cy, 200 mg/kg), which largely eliminates the mature immune system, while leaving hematopoietic precursors intact. The objective of this report is to describe the clinical and immunologic results of Hi Cy treatment of refractory MG. We have followed 12 patients clinically for 1-9 years, and have analyzed their humoral and cellular immunologic parameters. Hi Cy is safe and effective. All but one of the patients experienced dramatic clinical improvement for variable periods from 5 months to 7.5 years, lasting for more than 1 year in seven of the patients. Two patients are still in treatment-free remission at 5.5 and 7.5 years, and five have achieved responsiveness to immunosuppressive agents that were previously ineffective. Hi Cy typically reduced, but did not completely eliminate, antibodies to the autoantigen AChR or to tetanus or diphtheria toxin; re-immunization with tetanus or diphtheria toxoid increased the antibody levels. Despite prior thymectomy, T cell receptor excision circles, generally considered to reflect thymic emigrant T cells, were produced by all patients. Hi Cy treatment results in effective, but often not permanent, remission in most refractory myasthenic patients, suggesting that the immune system is in fact "rebooted," but not "reformatted." We therefore recommend that treatment of refractory MG with Hi Cy be followed with maintenance immunotherapy.

Reduced intensity HLA-haploidentical BMT with post transplantation cyclophosphamide in nonmalignant hematologic diseases

Allogeneic blood or marrow transplantation (BMT) is potentially curative for a variety of life-threatening nonmalignant hematologic diseases such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and hemoglobinopathies. The application of BMT to treat these disorders is limited by the lack of suitable donors and often end-organ damage from the underlying disease. We treated three patients with thrombotic PNH, one of whom also had sickle cell disease, with a nonmyeloablative, HLA-haploidentical BMT with post-transplant CY. Rapid engraftment without GVHD occurred in two of the patients, including the patient with sickle cell disease. Both patients are disease free with full donor chimerism and require no immunosuppressive therapy, with follow-up of 1 and 4 years, respectively. Nonmyeloablative, HLA-haploidentical BMT with post-transplant CY is a promising approach for patients with life-threatening nonmalignant hematologic disease who lack an HLA-matched sibling donor.

Reduction of disease activity and disability with high-dose cyclophosphamide in patients with aggressive multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVE

To explore the safety and effectiveness of high-dose cyclophosphamide (HiCy) without bone marrow transplantation in patients with aggressive multiple sclerosis (MS).

DESIGN

A 2-year open-label trial of patients with aggressive relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) given an immunoablative regimen of HiCy (50 mg/kg/d for 4 consecutive days) with no subsequent immunomodulatory therapy unless disease activity reappeared that required rescue therapy.

SETTING

The Johns Hopkins University Multiple Sclerosis Center, Baltimore, Maryland. Patients A total of 21 patients with RRMS were screened for eligibility and 9 patients were enrolled in the trial. Patients were required to have 2 or more gadolinium-enhancing lesions on each of 2 pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging scans, at least 1 clinical exacerbation in the 12 months prior to HiCy treatment, or a sustained increase of 1.0 point or higher on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in the preceding year. Intervention Patients received 50 mg/kg/d of cyclophosphamide intravenously for 4 consecutive days, followed by 5 mug/kg/d of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor 6 days after completion of HiCy treatment, until the absolute neutrophil count exceeded 1.0 x 10(9) cells/L for 2 consecutive days.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome of the study was the safety and tolerability of HiCy in patients with RRMS. Secondary outcome measures included a change in gadolinium-enhancing lesions on magnetic resonance images and a change in disability measures (EDSS and Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite).

RESULTS

Nine patients were treated and followed up for a mean period of 23 months. Eight patients had failed conventional therapy and 1 was treatment naive. The median age at time of entry was 29 years (range, 20-47 years). All patients developed transient total or near-total pancytopenia as expected, followed by hematopoietic recovery in 10 to 17 days, stimulated by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. There were no deaths or unexpected serious adverse events. There was a statistically significant reduction in disability (EDSS) at follow-up (mean [SD] decrease, 2.11 [1.97]; 39.4%; P = .02). The mean (SD) number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions on the 2 pretreatment scans were 6.5 (2.1) and 1.2 (2.3) at follow-up (81.4% reduction; P = .01). Two patients required rescue treatment with other immunomodulatory therapies during the study owing to MS exacerbations.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with HiCy was safe and well tolerated in our patients with MS. Patients experienced a pronounced reduction in disease activity and disability after HiCy treatment. This immunoablative regimen of cyclophosphamide for patients with aggressive MS is worthy of further study and may be an alternative to bone marrow transplantation. Published online June 9, 2008 (doi:10.1001/archneurol.65.8.noc80042).

High-dose cyclophosphamide without stem cell rescue in scleroderma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the safety and tolerability of high-dose cyclophosphamide without stem cell rescue in scleroderma.

METHODS

An open-label, single-site, uncontrolled study design entered patients with active diffuse cutaneous scleroderma. Patients were treated with cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg) intravenously daily for 4 consecutive days (total 200 mg/kg) followed by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (5 microg/kg/day). The primary clinical efficacy end point was the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS). Secondary end points included the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), physician global assessment (PGA) and pulmonary function tests.

RESULTS

Six patients (4 men, 2 women) aged 19-60 years were entered into the study. One patients died early in the protocol, thus five patients had follow-up data. The percentage reduction of the mRSS in these five evaluable patients within 1 month of treatment was 60%, 55%, 41%, 31% and 0%. The patient with no decline in skin score at 1 month showed a decrease in skin score from 41 to 26 by the 3-month visit, a 37% improvement. Three patients sustained the improvement after treatment for 24, 12 and 12 months. Two patients relapsed at 12 and 6 months after treatment. The PGA and HAQ-DI scores improved in five of the six patients by 72% and 79% respectively at 3 months. The only serious adverse event was a death that occurred owing to infection after neutrophil count recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

High-dose cyclophosphamide without stem cell rescue can lead to a clinically significant improvement in skin score and measures of disease severity in patients with diffuse cutaneous scleroderma.

The use of stem cells for the treatment of autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases constitute a heterogeneous group of conditions commonly treated with anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressant and immunomodulating drugs, with satisfactory results in most cases. Nevertheless, some patients become resistant to conventional therapy. The use of high doses of drugs in such cases results in the need for bone marrow reconstitution, a situation which has stimulated research into the use of hematopoietic stem cells in autoimmune disease therapy. Stem cell transplantation in such diseases aims to destroy the self-reacting immune cells and produce a new functional immune system, as well as substitute cells for tissue damaged in the course of the disease. Significant results, such as the reestablishment of tolerance and a decrease in the recurrence of autoimmune disease, have been reported following stem cell transplantation in patients with autoimmune disease in Brazil and throughout the world. These results suggest that stem cell transplantation has the potential to become an important therapeutic approach to the treatment of various autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, systemic sclerosis, Crohn's disease, autoimmune blood cytopenias, and type I diabetes mellitus.

Emerging therapies for multiple sclerosis

This review examines the mode of action, safety profile and clinical efficacy of some of the most promising new therapeutic strategies for multiple sclerosis. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can regenerate a new and tolerant immune system and is a potentially effective rescue therapy in a subset of patients with aggressive forms of MS refractory to approved immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive agents. High-dose cyclophosphamide without stem cell support is suggested to induce prolonged remissions through similar immunological mechanisms with less toxicity. Fingolimod (FTY720) is a novel oral immunomodulating agent that acts through preventing lymphocyte recirculation from lymphoid organs. Monoclonal antibody therapy has provided scientists and clinicians the opportunity to rationally direct the therapeutic intervention against specific molecules. Targeting molecules of the immune system such as CD52 (alemtuzumab), CD25 (daclizumab), VLA-4 (natalizumab) and CD20 (rituximab) have resulted in potent immunomodulatory effects through sometimes unpredicted mechanisms. The potential of immunoglobulins to induce remyelination in the CNS is being investigated in an attempt to develop therapies promoting tissue repair and functional recovery. The evidence supporting the potential of these emerging immunotherapies suggests that strong progress is being made in the development of effective cures for multiple sclerosis.

Reversal of autoimmune disease in lupus-prone New Zealand black/New Zealand white mice by nonmyeloablative transplantation of purified allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells

Patients with severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) refractory to conventional treatment are candidates for autologous hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation if the intent is to reset the immunologic clock. These patients might be candidates for allotransplantation with (SLE)-resistant major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotype-matched HSC if partial or complete replacement of an autoimmune-prone system is the intent. Using lupus-prone New Zealand black x New Zealand white (NZBW) mice, we investigated the use of highly enriched, haplomismatched, allogeneic HSC to prevent development of or to treat established autoimmune pathology. Young NZBW mice receiving purified allogeneic HSC transplants had improved survival, decreased proteinuria, circulating immune complexes, and autoantibodies to nuclear antigens than did untreated mice or mice given NZBW HSCs. NZBW mice with established lupus-like disease that received nonmyeloablative conditioning and transplants of (MHC) haplomismatched allogeneic HSCs also had greatly increased overall survival. Mice that received transplants exhibited stabilization or reversal of their lupus symptoms; stabilized or decreased proteinuria, and a lower frequency of elevated circulating immune complexes or autoantibodies than did control mice. Induction of durable mixed chimerism by transplantation of purified allogeneic HSCs after nonmyeloablative conditioning has the potential to reverse symptoms of established NZBW lupus.

Catastrophic relapse of Evans syndrome five years after allogeneic BMT notwithstanding full donor chimerism. Terminal hemolytic-uremic syndrome

A patient with severe Evans syndrome received an allo-BMT from his HLA-identical sister on November, 2000. Full marrow and blood donor chimerism were achieved only after 5 donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI), and coincided with complete clinical remission and disappearence of auto-antibodies. Five years later, hemolytic anemia recurred with rapid increase of serum bilirubin to over 50 mg%: he responded to combined therapy, but died on day +17 from admission of an acute hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). All circulating blood cells, including erythrocytes, were 100% donor. Ex vivo cultured and expanded T and B cells from the peripheral blood were also 100% donor. The supernatants from B cell cultures, containing either IgM or IgG, did not react with a panel of erythrocytes. Thus in this typical autoimmune disease with a predominant B cell pathogenesis the donor immune system resulted "innocent of autoimmunity". The persistence of long-lived recipient autoreactive plasma-cell lines in survival niches, still producing autoantibodies, may be hypothesized for this and similar cases. The postulated graft-versus-autoimmunity (GVA) effect was apparently not sufficient to eradicate autoimmunity in this patient.

Emerging drug therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus

Despite the tremendous improvement in survival of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the past few decades, manifestations of the disease that are refractory to conventional therapies and treatment-related complications are still major causes of mortality and morbidity. In recent years, we have seen an explosive development of newer therapeutic modalities for various rheumatic diseases including SLE. Novel therapies for SLE should aim at targeting more specifically the immunopathogenetic pathways to achieve higher efficacy and reduce therapy related toxicities. This article reviews the emerging therapeutic modalities that have been used or are being tried in patients with SLE.