Age does not matter: Mobilization and harvesting are safe and effective for elderly allogeneic peripheral hematopoietic stem cell donors

It took several years to succeed safe hematopoietic stem cell transplantations. HLA-matched unrelated donors have become the most common donor source for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants worldwide. The sibling donor may have more comorbidity and decreased regenerative potential of stem and immune cells. The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine whether aging had any negative effect on aging donor or patient. 27 patients who received a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from February 2013 to May 2016 and their donors were analyzed. We showed that transplantation from older relative donor was feasible. Adverse event rate was low. Donors tolerated the procedure very well. Good CD34+ cell harvest was possible.

Autologous stem cell transplantation and stem cell mobilization kinetics in elderly patients with B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

As known, the world population is aging and as the life span increases the number of advanced-age lymphomas also shows an upward trend. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the standard treatment modality in chemotherapy-sensitive relapsed or refractory aggressive lymphomas. Increased morbidity and mortality related to both the transplant itself and comorbid diseases can be observed in elderly lymphoma patients. Patients who are 65 years or older and underwent autologous HSCT with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma were retrospectively included in our study. In terms of survival analysis, median follow-up was 34.5 months (8-159) while the overall survival (OS) was 58%. In the univariate analysis of prognostic data in OS, patients who were referred to transplantation with complete response had a statistically significant survival advantage (p=0.043). In terms of the effect of pre-transplant conditioning regimens on survival, BEAM regimen yielded better results, though not statistically significant. Age, number of chemotherapy cycles received before mobilization and radiation therapy had no significant effect on the CD34 (+) cell count in the final product (p=0.492, 0.746 and 0.078 respectively). In conclusion, autologous HSCT is a practicable treatment modality that provides survival advantage in suitable advanced-age patients with a diagnosis of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Rapid transformation of atypical myeloproliferative disorder with consistent t(8;13) to B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A case report

8p11 myeloproliferative syndrome (EMS; also known as the stem cell leukemia syndrome-SCLL) is a rare atypical myeloproliferative disorder associated with chromosomal abnormalities involving the 8p11 chromosomal band. Translocations associated with this syndrome result in the fusion of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR 1) gene with various partners, resulting in ligand independent FGFR activity. The most commonly observed translocation of this syndrome is t(8;13), which results in the expression of a chimeric ZNF198-FGFR1 tyrosine kinase. Disease phenotype associated with this translocation has some typical features such as poor prognosis, and transformation to mainly acute leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma; commonly with a T-cell phenotype in which obtaining and maintenance of remission is difficult by conventional chemotherapy. We hereby present a case diagnosed as atypical chronic myeloproliferative disease with consistent t(8;13)(p12;q12) and transformed rapidly to pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia which is a rare clinical presentation.