1
|
Linari S, Pieri L, Carulli C, Demartis F, Fjerza R, Prisco D, Castaman G. Is pharmacological thromboprophylaxis necessary in persons with haemophilia undergoing major orthopaedic surgery? Haemophilia 2024; 30:865-867. [PMID: 38575529 DOI: 10.1111/hae.15012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Linari
- Center for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Lisa Pieri
- Center for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Christian Carulli
- Orthopedic Clinic, Orthopedic Traumatologic Center, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Demartis
- Center for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Rajmonda Fjerza
- Center for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Domenico Prisco
- Internal Interdisciplinary Medicine Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Castaman
- Center for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Castaman G, Linari S, Pieri L, Carulli C, Prosperi P, Tonelli P, Demartis F, Fjerza R, Attanasio M, Coppo M, Salvianti F. Safe and Successful Surgical Outcome in Persons with Hemophilia A with and without Inhibitors Treated with Emicizumab: A Large, Single Center, Real-World Experience. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12062317. [PMID: 36983317 PMCID: PMC10055920 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12062317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Emicizumab is a humanized recombinant bispecific antibody, bridging together activated factor IX (FIXa) and factor X (FX), thus mimicking the activity of FVIII in vivo. Emicizumab is designed for long-term prophylaxis in patients with severe hemophilia A with and without inhibitors. This approach provides constant protection, with significant reduction in bleeding rate and improved quality of life. However, protection provided by emicizumab is not absolute, and clotting factor concentrates (FVIII, rFVIIa, aPCC) may be necessary for post-traumatic bleeding or surgery, with a potential thrombotic risk or difficulty in preventing bleeding. Real world evidence is still scanty, especially for managing major surgery. In this study, 75 surgeries were managed in 28 patients (27 major procedures in 15 patients and 48 minor procedures in 20 patients. In 17 patients without inhibitors, 30 minor surgeries were carried out by using FVIII in 5, with only a bleeding event, which was successfully treated with FVIII concentrate. Six major surgeries were uneventfully performed with FVIII concentrate. Eleven PWHA and high-titer inhibitors underwent 39 surgical procedures (18 minor and 21 major surgeries). Minor surgeries were mostly performed without prophylaxis with rFVIIa, with only a single bleeding complication. All 21 major surgeries were covered with a homogeneous protocol using rFVIIa. In four instances, bleeding complications occurred, treated with rFVIIa. Of them, a single patient only failed to respond and died because of an uncontrollable bleeding from a large ruptured retroperitoneal pseudotumor. Surgery in patients with emicizumab can be safely carried out with the use of appropriate replacement therapy protocols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo Castaman
- Center for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Department of Oncology, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-55-7947587
| | - Silvia Linari
- Center for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Department of Oncology, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Lisa Pieri
- Center for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Department of Oncology, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Christian Carulli
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Paolo Prosperi
- Emergency Surgery Department, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Paolo Tonelli
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Demartis
- Center for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Department of Oncology, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Rajmonda Fjerza
- Center for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Department of Oncology, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Monica Attanasio
- Center for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Department of Oncology, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Mirella Coppo
- Center for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Department of Oncology, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Salvianti
- Center for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Department of Oncology, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tagliaferri A, Molinari AC, Peyvandi F, Coppola A, Demartis F, Biasoli C, Borchiellini A, Cultrera D, De Cristofaro R, Daniele F, Giordano P, Marchesini E, Margaglione M, Marino R, Pollio B, Radossi P, Santoro C, Santoro RC, Siragusa S, Sottilotta G, Tosetto A, Piscitelli L, Villa MR, Zanon E, Finardi A, Schiavetti I, Vaccari D, Castaman G. IDEAL study: A real-world assessment of pattern of use and clinical outcomes with recombinant coagulation factor IX albumin fusion protein (rIX-FP) in patients with haemophilia B in Italy. Haemophilia 2023; 29:135-144. [PMID: 36423202 PMCID: PMC10099489 DOI: 10.1111/hae.14689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Factor IX replacement therapy is used for treatment and prophylaxis of bleeding in haemophilia B. rIX-FP is an extended half-life albumin-fusion protein, which, in clinical studies, has demonstrated prolonged dosing intervals up to 21 days for routine prophylaxis, providing therapeutic benefit. AIMS To describe dosing frequency and consumption (primary endpoint), efficacy and safety of rIX-FP treatment during routine clinical practice in Italy. METHODS Patients with moderate/severe haemophilia B on prophylaxis with rIX-FP for ≥6 months, were enrolled in this observational study from October 2017 to February 2019 and followed-up for 2 years. Descriptive analysis included prospective and retrospective data (12 months prior to switching to rIX-FP). RESULTS Data were collected from 59 male patients (median age 30.1 years) enrolled by 23 Italian centres. Of them, 50 were on prophylaxis during the entire observation period and completed the study. The infusion frequency changed from 2-3 times/week in 86.0% of patients with previous treatment, to less than once a week in 84.0% of patients treated with rIX-FP at the 2nd-year follow-up. The annual number of infusions decreased by about 70%, whereas the mean FIX activity trough level increased from 3.8% to 14.4% (mean > 10% in all the infusion regimens). Median Annualised Bleeding Rate of .0 was achieved across all prophylaxis regimens. Subjects with zero bleedings increased from 66.0% to 78.0% with rIX-FP. CONCLUSION Treatment with rIX-FP reduced infusion frequency, while providing higher FIX trough levels with substantial benefit in terms of annualised bleeding rate and a good safety profile.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annarita Tagliaferri
- Regional Reference Centre for Inherited Bleeding Disorders, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Angelo Claudio Molinari
- Regional Reference Centre for Haemorrhagic Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Flora Peyvandi
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Coppola
- Regional Reference Centre for Inherited Bleeding Disorders, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Francesco Demartis
- Department of Oncology, Centre for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Biasoli
- Haemophilia and Transfusion Centre, "Bufalini" Hospital, Cesena, Italy
| | - Alessandra Borchiellini
- Regional Reference Centre for Bleeding and Thrombotic Disorders, "Città della Salute e della Scienza" University Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Dorina Cultrera
- Haemophilia Regional Reference Centre, Haematology Unit, Policlinico "G. Rodolico - S. Marco" Hospital, Catania, Italy
| | - Raimondo De Cristofaro
- Haemorrhagic and Thrombotic Disease Service, Area of Haematological and Oncological Sciences, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy
| | - Filomena Daniele
- Haemostasis and Thrombosis Service, Ospedale Civile dell'Annunziata, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Paola Giordano
- "B. Trambusti" General and Specialised Paediatrics Unit, "Giovanni XXIII" Hospital, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Emanuela Marchesini
- Haemophilia Centre, Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine, "Santa Maria della Misericordia" University Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Margaglione
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Renato Marino
- Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, University Hospital, Bari, Italy
| | - Berardino Pollio
- Regional Reference Centre for Inherited Bleeding and Thrombotic Disorders, Transfusion Medicine, "Regina Margherita" Children Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Paolo Radossi
- Onco-Haematology Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, Castelfranco Veneto Hospital, Castelfranco Veneto, Italy
| | - Cristina Santoro
- Department of Haematology, University Hospital Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Carlotta Santoro
- Regional Reference Centre for Haemophilia and Coagulation Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliera Pugliese-Ciaccio, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Sergio Siragusa
- Haematology Unit, Thrombosis and Haemostasis Reference Regional Centre, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Tosetto
- Haematology Department, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Unit, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Lydia Piscitelli
- SSD Congenital Haemorrhagic Diseases, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Villa
- Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, Haematology Unit, "Ospedale del Mare" Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Ezio Zanon
- Department of Medicine, Haemophilia Centre, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Irene Schiavetti
- Hippocrates Research, Genova, Italy.,Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Giancarlo Castaman
- Department of Oncology, Centre for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zanon E, Pasca S, Demartis F, Tagliaferri A, Santoro C, Cantori I, Molinari AC, Biasoli C, Coppola A, Luciani M, Sottilotta G, Ricca I, Pollio B, Borchiellini A, Tosetto A, Peyvandi F, Frigo AC, Simioni P. Intracranial Haemorrhage in Haemophilia Patients Is Still an Open Issue: The Final Results of the Italian EMO.REC Registry. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11071969. [PMID: 35407576 PMCID: PMC8999820 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11071969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a highly serious event in patients with haemophilia (PWH) which leads to disability and in some cases to death. ICH occurs among all ages but is particularly frequent in newborns. Aim: The primary aim was to assess the incidence and mortality due to ICH in an Italian population of PWH. Secondary aims were to evaluate the risk factors for ICH, the role of prophylaxis, and the clinical management of patients presenting ICH. Methods: A retrospective-prospective registry was established in the network of the Italian Association of Haemophilia Centers to collect all ICHs in PWH from 2009 to 2019 reporting clinical features, treatments, and outcomes. Results: Forty-six ICHs were collected from 13 Centers. The ICHs occurred in 15 children (10 < 2 years), and in 31 adults, 45.2% of them with mild hemophilia. Overall, 60.9% patients had severe haemophilia (15/15 children). Overall ICH incidence (×1000 person/year) was 0.360 (0.270−0.480 95% CI), higher in children <2 years, 1.995 (1.110−3.442 95% CI). Only 7/46 patients, all with severe haemophilia, had received a prophylactic regimen before the ICH, none with mild. Inhibitors were present in 10.9% of patients. In adult PWHs 17/31 suffered from hypertension; 85.7% of the mild subjects and 29.4% of the moderate/severe ones (p < 0.05). ICH was spontaneous in the 69.6% with lower rate in children (46.7%). Surgery was required in 21/46 patients for cerebral hematoma evacuation. Treatment with coagulation factor concentrates for at least three weeks was needed in 76.7% of cases. ICH was fatal in 30.4% of the cases. Of the survivors, 50.0% became permanently disabled. Only one-third of adult patients received long term prophylaxis after the acute treatment. Conclusion: The results from our Registry confirm the still high incidence of ICH in infants <2 years and in adults, particularly in mild PWHs presenting hypertension and its unfavorable outcomes. The majority of PWHs were treated on-demand before ICH occurred, suggesting the important role of prophylaxis in preventing such life-threatening bleeding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ezio Zanon
- Haemophilia Center-General Medicine, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-049-8212-2666
| | - Samantha Pasca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy;
| | - Francesco Demartis
- Centre for Bleeding Disorders, Careggi University Hospital of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| | - Annarita Tagliaferri
- Regional Reference Centre for Inherited Bleeding Disorders, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Cristina Santoro
- Hematology Division, Umberto I University Hospital of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Isabella Cantori
- Haemophilia Center, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Hospital of Macerata, 62100 Macerata, Italy;
| | - Angelo Claudio Molinari
- Regional Reference Centre for Hemorrhagic Diseases, Thrombosis and Hemostasis Unit, Gaslini Children Hospital of Genoa, 16147 Genova, Italy;
| | - Chiara Biasoli
- Haemophilia Center, Transfusion Medicine, Department of Clinical Pathology, Hospital of Cesena, 47521 Cesena, Italy;
| | - Antonio Coppola
- Regional Reference Centre for Inherited Bleeding Disorders, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.T.); (A.C.)
| | - Matteo Luciani
- Haemostasis and Thrombosis Center, Onco-Hematology Department, Bambin Gesù Children Hospital of Rome, 00165 Roma, Italy;
| | - Gianluca Sottilotta
- Haemophilia Center, Department of Onco-Hematology and Radioterapy, Hospital of Reggio Calabria, 89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy;
| | - Irene Ricca
- Transfusion Medicine, Department of Diagnostic, Regina Margherita Children Hospital of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (I.R.); (B.P.)
| | - Berardino Pollio
- Transfusion Medicine, Department of Diagnostic, Regina Margherita Children Hospital of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (I.R.); (B.P.)
| | | | - Alberto Tosetto
- Hemorrhagic and Thrombotic Diseases Unit, S. Bortolo Hospital of Vicenza, 36100 Vicenza, Italy;
| | - Flora Peyvandi
- Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, University Hospital of Milan, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Anna Chiara Frigo
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health Padua University Hospital, 35122 Padova, Italy;
| | - Paolo Simioni
- Haemophilia Center-General Medicine, Padua University Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Demartis F, Batorova A, Chambost H, Eshghi P, Karimi M, Kavakli K, El Fegoun SB, Cepo K, Vestergaard LS, Benson G. Real-World Early Treatment with Room Temperature-Stable Recombinant Factor VIIa in Hemophilia A/B and Inhibitors: SMART-7™ Post Hoc Analyses. TH Open 2017; 1:e130-e138. [PMID: 31249918 PMCID: PMC6524848 DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1608943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Treating hemophilia A or B patients with inhibitors is particularly challenging, as they do not respond to replacement therapy with factor VIII or factor IX concentrates. A room temperature–stable formulation of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa; NovoSeven
®
), which provides improved convenience and treatment access to patients compared with the earlier formulation of rFVIIa, was shown to be safe and effective in a post-authorization, multinational, observational study (Study Monitoring Antibodies against Room Temperature–stable factor 7 [SMART-7™]). In post hoc, subgroup analyses of SMART-7™ data, the hemostatic response following rFVIIa monotherapy in patients with hemophilia A or B with inhibitors by time to first treatment and in different age cohorts was assessed. A total of 482/618 bleeding episodes treated with rFVIIa monotherapy and with (1) valid efficacy assessment, (2) no missing time for bleed start, (3) no missing time for any dose administration, and (4) valid time to first treatment were included in the analyses. Data on the type and location of bleeding episodes treated with rFVIIa monotherapy were also collected. The majority of bleeding episodes treated with rFVIIa monotherapy were treated within 1 hour after bleeding onset (318/482 [66%]) and, among them, 96.5% (307/318) were effectively treated (i.e., bleeding stopped). Hemostatic efficacy remained high for bleeding episodes treated >1 to ≤4 hours after the onset, with 94/101 (93.1%) treated effectively. Cause and location of bleeding varied across the different age groups assessed. Real-world evidence from post hoc, subgroup analyses of SMART-7™ data confirmed that patients were able to treat themselves quickly and that early treatment with rFVIIa was associated with high efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Demartis
- Agenzia per l'Emofilia, Centro Malattie Emorragiche, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Firenze, Italy
| | - Angelika Batorova
- National Hemophilia Centre, Department of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical School of Comenius University, University Hospital, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Hervé Chambost
- Service d'Hématologie Oncologie Pédiatrique, La Timone, APHM, and Inserm, UMR 1062, Faculté de Médecine, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Peyman Eshghi
- Pediatric Congenital Hematologic Disorders Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehran Karimi
- Hematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Kaan Kavakli
- Department of Hematology, Ege University Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
| | | | - Katarina Cepo
- Medical & Science Biopharm, Novo Nordisk A/S, Søborg, Denmark
| | | | - Gary Benson
- Northern Ireland Haemophilia Comprehensive Care Centre, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kavakli K, Demartis F, Karimi M, Eshghi P, Neme D, Chambost H, Sommer L, Zak M, Benson G. Safety and effectiveness of room temperature stable recombinant factor VIIa in patients with haemophilia A or B and inhibitors: Results of a multinational, prospective, observational study. Haemophilia 2017; 23:575-582. [PMID: 28440004 DOI: 10.1111/hae.13227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A room temperature stable formulation of recombinant activated factor VII (NovoSeven® ), allowing convenient storage and therefore improved treatment access, has been developed. Bioequivalence to the previous NovoSeven® was demonstrated in healthy humans, leading to European approval (2008). Although no confirmed cases of neutralising antibodies to rFVIIa in patients with haemophilia A or B have been observed with the original formulation, changes in formulation or storage condition may alter immunogenicity. AIM SMART-7™ was designed to investigate the safety of NovoSeven® in a real-world setting in patients with haemophilia A or B with inhibitors. METHODS Study medication was not provided by the sponsor, and treatment was at the discretion of the treating physician, in accordance with the local label. Patient baseline information was collected at enrolment. Information on safety, drug exposure and bleeding episodes was collected and FVII antibody screening was encouraged at baseline and performed at the investigator's discretion. RESULTS Fifty-one patients were enrolled and 31 completed the study. Forty-one adverse events (AEs) were reported in 23 patients; 25 AEs in 14 patients were serious. No thromboembolic events were observed. Although four cases of reduced therapeutic response were reported, FVII antibody screening was negative. Forty-eight patients experienced 618 bleeding episodes and 93.4% of 609 evaluated bleeds were stopped by treatment. Of the 538 bleeding episodes treated with NovoSeven® monotherapy, 94.2% stopped by end of treatment. CONCLUSION Data collected during the SMART-7™ study revealed no treatment-related safety issues and no FVII-binding antibodies for patients treated with NovoSeven® under real-world conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Kavakli
- Department of Hematology, Ege University Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
| | - F Demartis
- Careggi Agenzia per l'Emofilia, A.O.U.C. Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Firenze, Italy
| | - M Karimi
- Hematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - P Eshghi
- Pediatric Congenital Hematologic Disorders Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - D Neme
- Fundación de la Hemofilia, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - H Chambost
- Service d'Hématologie Oncologie Pédiatrique, La Timone, APHM, Marseille, France.,Inserm, UMR 1062, Faculté de Médecine, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - L Sommer
- Biostatistics Biopharm, Global Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Søborg, Denmark
| | - M Zak
- Medical and Science Haemophilia, Global Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Søborg, Denmark
| | - G Benson
- Northern Ireland Haemophilia Comprehensive Care Centre, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
On August 1, 1996, due to the expiration of the
five-year preservation limit provided by British law for
unclaimed and legally unusable frozen embryos, 3,300 embryos
were thawed and discarded. In Italy the news of this
impending event triggered many reactions among scholars
as well as the general population. In Massa, a little
town in Tuscany, a most unusual response arose.
Two hundred women banded together and asked to carry out
a prenatal adoption. Their purpose in making this request
was to avoid what they believed to be mass infanticide.
Many of the women were married and already had children.
They belonged to a local Catholic association. Nonetheless,
their reaction was their own response to numerous appeals
to respect life by the Catholic Church worldwide and by
Italian Catholic thinkers especially.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Demartis
- University of Florence Medical School, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Herndier BG, Werner A, Arnstein P, Abbey NW, Demartis F, Cohen RL, Shuman MA, Levy JA. Characterization of a human Kaposi's sarcoma cell line that induces angiogenic tumors in animals. AIDS 1994; 8:575-81. [PMID: 7520247 DOI: 10.1097/00002030-199405000-00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize a Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) cell line established from a tumor biopsy from the oral mucosa of an iatrogenically immunosuppressed HIV-negative man. METHODS Cells were placed in culture and evaluated by a variety of biologic, serologic, karyotypic, and immunologic procedures. Electron microscopic examination was performed. The ability to produce tumors in nude mice was evaluated, and the nature of the cells within the tumor determined. Assays for urokinase plasminogen activator type (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and the urokinase receptor (uPAR) were conducted. RESULTS The SLK cell line has an endothelial cell morphology with very little anaplasia. The karyotype indicates diploid phenotype of human origin. Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic examinations confirmed the endothelial nature of this cell line. No viruses were detected. The tumors induced in nude mice showed hypervascularization, with characteristics of KS. The cell line produces uPA and PAI-1, and also expresses uPAR. CONCLUSIONS The SLK cell line is of endothelial cell origin and the first human cell line to induce KS-like tumors in recipient animals. The expression of urokinase and its receptor suggests a paracrine and autocrine interaction that may be important for the growth of the tumor. The SLK line should be valuable for studies of KS pathogenesis and therapeutic approaches to this malignancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B G Herndier
- Department of Pathology, San Francisco General Hospital, California
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|