P140 EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF CHEMOTHERAPY CONTAINING NON–PEGYLATED LIPOSOMAL DOXORUBICIN IN PATIENTS AT HIGH CARDIOVASCULAR RISK: A SINGLE–CENTER EXPERIENCE

 

Anthracyclines represent the most effective chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of non–Hodgkin‘s lymphoma (NHL), although their use is limited due to the risk of cardiac toxicity. This occurs mainly in elderly patients, those with a history of cardiovascular (CV) disease and/or multiple concomitant risk factors. Liposomal doxorubicin has been shown to reduce this toxicity. The aim of this retrospective study is to investigate the use of non–pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in high–risk patients in terms of haematological response rate and CV events. In a single centre, 15 patients undergoing R–COMP regimen (Rituximab, Prednisone, Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, Myocet liposomal doxorubicin) were consecutively collected from January 2020 to December 2021. The mean age of patients was 73.9 years and 60% were male. The baseline mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 55.9%; four patients had a baseline FE of < 50%, two of them had a severe reduction in LVEF. Among all patients, 86.7% had systemic hypertension, 40% diabetes mellitus, 46.7% dyslipidaemia and 20% a family history of CV disease. Moreover, 46.7% of patients had at least two concomitant risk factors and 20% at least three. 20% had a history of ischemic heart disease, 13.3% had previous exposure to anthracyclines and 20% with mediastinal radiotherapy; 26.7% had moderate to severe aortic valvulopathy. According to the joint Cardio–Oncology evaluation, 100% of patients had been considered unsuitable for conventional doxorubicin.. More than 85% of the cases were already on cardioactive therapy at baseline evaluation and 66.7% required titration or modification during chemotherapy. With R–COMP, the whole population was able to finish treatment achieved complete haematological remission. The mean LVEF at the end of treatment was 55.8% (p = 0.814).

Conclusions

Our results support the efficacy and safety of R–COMP in a population at high risk for cardiac events, otherwise excluded from anthracycline–containing therapy. Liposomal formulatio reduces doxorubicin cardiomyocyte accumulation and thus toxicity, providing the best possible treatment for the majority of the onco–haematological population.

C50 CARDIO–ONCO–HAEMATOLOGY IN CLINICAL PRACTICE. A “CHANGELING” CASE: MORE THAN PARADOXICAL BUBBLES

39–year–old female, without cardiovascular risk factors. At the end of pregnancy she complained of progressive dyspnoea and so she was admitted to the emergency room. Blood tests showed elevated D–dimer and LDH values. A chest CT scan was performed showing a mediastinal mass of about 15 cm encompassing the ascending aorta, the left brachiocephalic trunk and the superior vena cava, both of which appeared thrombosed. Therapy with low molecular weight heparin was started. The patient underwent a mediastinal biopsy, which documented a primary mediastinal non–Hodgkin‘s lymphoma. The baseline cardiological evaluation showed a preserved ejection fraction (60%) at echocardiogram (ECHO). The first cycle of chemotherapy with R–CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine) was started. After an episode of hypoesthesia of the left upper limb, that regressed spontaneously within a few hours, she performed MRI that showed multiple areolas compatible with ischemic disease. Following these results the patient was submitted to an ECHO with saline solution injected through the right brachial vein that documented evidence of early opacification of the left atrium and subsequent opacification of the right sections (after 3 cardiac cycles) (Fig. 1–2). This finding suggested a right–to–left shunting, via the bronchial lower district to the left atrium (pulmonary veins). This suspicion was confirmed by CT angiography, which showed occlusion of the superior vena cava with passage of contrast into azygos and early opacification of peribronchial venous circles (Fig. 3). A patency of foramen ovale was ruled out by injection of saline solution through the femoral vein. After the second cycle of chemotherapy, ECHO showed diffuse hypokinesia and reduced EF to 50%. It was then decided to proceed with the third cycle according to the intensified R–DAEPOCH scheme, except for doxorubicin, because of the cardiotoxicity developed by the patient. A cardioprotective therapy was also started with bisoprolol and ramipril with rapid titration. At subsequent radiological controls, a progressive reduction of the mediastinal mass was found and after just one month, the echocardiogram showed a complete recovery of the EF. Contrast injection confirmed presence of a veno–venous shunt. Cardio–oncology is an intriguing and complex discipline that requires the development of local multidisciplinary teams for challenging situations that patients with cancer may ask us to address.

Study of the viral removal efficiency in a urban wastewater treatment plant

Municipal and agricultural wastewater contain a variety of microorganisms and in particular enteric viruses. For the reuse of this treated wastewater it is important to ensure the efficiency of purification treatments and disinfection practices, that have often been insufficient to lower the viral load below the risk level. For this reason, for the routine analysis of recycled waters, the research into pathogenic viruses (e.g. HAV) and classical bacterial parameters (E. coli, enterococci and Salmonella) has to be associated with specific viral indicators such as somatic coliphages, adenovirus and TTV. The results of environmental monitoring, carried out in a wastewater treatment plant, showed the presence of adenovirus DNA in 100% of collected samples and TTV DNA in 95% (19/20) of raw sewage and in 85% (17/20) of the exit samples, while HAV was detected only in 2 samples over 40 (5%). The quantitative analysis has revealed an average reduction of 2 log for adenovirus and 1.58 log for TTV. The bacterial indicators were reduced by 1.74 log and 1.99 log respectively for E. coli and enterococci, while for somatic coliphages an average reduction of 2.2 log was observed. No significant correlation was shown between these parameters, confirming their inadequacy for the virological risk assessment. However the results of adenovirus confirm it as the best indicator to evaluate the efficacy of wastewater depuration plant in eliminating viruses.

Epidemiological surveillance of human enteric viruses by monitoring of different environmental matrices

In the aim of studying possible relations between viruses detected in clinical specimens and the ones found in different environmental matrices, in the period May 2004 to April 2005, the collection of faecal samples from gastroenteritis cases and the monthly monitoring of raw and treated wastewater, river water, seawater and mussels were carried out. The viruses considered for environmental monitoring were adenovirus, rotavirus, enterovirus, norovirus, hepatitis A virus (HAV) and Torque teno virus (TTV): they were searched for with PCR and RT-PCR and confirmed by gene sequencing. Faecal coliforms and somatic coliphages' counts were also determined. The surveillance of case detected 45 positive faecal samples out of 255 (17.6%) while 35 of 56 environmental samples (62.5%) resulted positive for at least one of the considered viruses. The detection of the same viral strain in the faeces of gastroenteritis cases and in water was possible for adenovirus and rotavirus, which were also predominant in environmental matrices; thus they could be considered as a reference for risk assessment.

One-year monthly monitoring of Torque teno virus (TTV) in river water in Italy

Torque teno virus (TTV) is prevalent worldwide in general populations but at present is not related with any specific pathology. Its presence in faeces and its remarkable environmental stability suggest the possibility of using it as an indicator of faecal contamination in the environment. To evaluate the waterborne spread of TTV and its possible relationship with human pathogen enteric viruses, water samples were collected monthly for a year (May 2004-April 2005) from a river receiving the effluent of the treatment plant of the city of Pisa, concentrated and assayed with bimolecular tests (PCR, RT-PCR). TTV was detected in three samples (25%) while 16% of samples were positive for enteroviruses, 33% for rotaviruses, 8% for noroviruses genotype 1 and 25% for noroviruses genotype 2. Only two TTV samples (June and January) were also positive for rotavirus and norovirus, respectively. The detection of TTV in water confirmed its possible faecal-oral route of transmission but data are still insufficient to draw conclusions about the role of TTV as a viral indicator.

Outpatient management of acute promyelocytic leukemia after consolidation chemotherapy

The feasibility and safety of outpatient management of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) during the aplastic phase after intensive consolidation chemotherapy, the incidence and types of complications requiring readmission to hospital, and the number of hospital days spared by this policy have been prospectively evaluated. After chemotherapy administration, patients were evaluated on an ambulatory basis. In the event of any complication they referred to the Emergency Unit (EU) of our Department dedicated to outpatients with hematologic diseases. Forty patients with APL observed over a 4 year period were eligible for intensive chemotherapy. After the achievement of complete remission they received a total of 104 consolidation courses and in 98 instances they were followed on an ambulatory basis. There were 41 cases (42%) of rehospitalization for fever (40 cases) or severe anemia (one case). Only one patient died due to a brain hemorrhage. Streptococcus viridans was the organism most frequently isolated from blood. Empiric once-a-day antibacterial therapy with ceftriaxone and amikacin was effective in 87% of the cases and made possible early discharge in 28% of the cases to continue the antibiotic therapy on an outpatient setting. Patients were managed out of the hospital for 76% of the post-consolidation neutropenia period. Thanks to the availability of an EU specifically dedicated to outpatients with hematologic diseases, out-hospital management of APL patients after consolidation therapy appeared to be safe, well accepted, potentially cost-saving, and contributed to saving the risk of developing severe nosocomial infections.