Poor outcome and high prevalence of invasive fungal infections in patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma exposed to zidovudine and interferon alfa

Patients treated for adult T-Cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) have a poor prognosis and are prone to infectious complications which are poorly described. As the French reference center for ATL, we retrospectively analyzed 47 consecutive ATL (acute, n = 23; lymphoma, n = 14; chronic, n = 8; smoldering, n = 2) patients between 2006 and 2016 (median age 51 years, 96% Afro-Caribbean origin). The 3-year overall survival (OS) was 15.8%, 11.3%, and 85.7% for acute, lymphoma, and indolent (chronic and smoldering) forms respectively. Among aggressive subtypes, 20 patients received, as frontline therapy, high dose of zidovudine and interferon alfa (AZT-IFN⍺) resulting in an overall response rate (ORR) of 39% (complete response [CR] 33%) and 17 chemotherapy resulting of an ORR of 59% (CR 50%). Ninety-five infections occurred in 38 patients, most of whom had an acute subtype (n = 73/95; 77%). During their follow-up, patients receiving frontline chemotherapy or frontline AZT-IFNα developed infections in 74% (n = 14/19) and 89% (n = 24/27) of the cases respectively. Sixty-four (67%) of infections were microbiologically documented. Among them, invasive fungal infections (IFI, n = 11) included 2 Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, 5 invasive aspergillosis, and 4 yeast fungemia. IFI exclusively occurred in patients with acute subtype mostly exposed to AZT-IFNα (n = 10/11) and experiencing prolonged (> 10 days) grade 4 neutropenia. Patients with aggressive subtype experiencing IFI had a lower OS than those who did not (median OS 5.4 months versus 18.4 months, p = 0.0048). ATL patients have a poor prognosis even in the modern era. Moreover, the high rate of infections impacts their management especially those exposed to AZT-IFNα.

Efficacy and safety of cytokines versus first-line sunitinib and second-line axitinib for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (ESCAPE study): A study protocol for phase III randomized sequential open-label study

Appropriate protocol for the sequential treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has not been established yet. Some mRCC cases with favorable risk were reported to achieve complete remission and durable response using interferon alfa (IFNα) + low dose interleukin-2 (IL-2). Cytokine therapies may be suitable for some patients with mRCC as first-line therapy. The present study is a phase III, investigator-initiated, multicenter, prospective randomized controlled trial investigating patients with low and intermediate risk mRCC classified by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center risk criteria to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sequential treatment with cytokine (IFNα + IL-2) as first-line and axitinib as second-line therapy versus sequential treatment with sunitinib as first-line and axitinib as second-line therapy, which is the current standard treatment for patients with favorable risk. The target sample size was set at 72 patients per group (total 144 cases). The study duration is 7 years, and the duration for recruitment is 4 years. Our expectation of this trial is to clarify first- and second-line sequential treatment for mRCC better, especially in patients with favorable risk and some with intermediate risk. The results of this trial will certainly contribute to new information for the strategy of first- and second-line sequential treatment for mRCC.

Trial registration

University hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Center identifier UMIN 000012522.

The prevalence of occult hepatitis B in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with interferon-based antiviral therapy

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is known to be mostly prevalent in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients and OBI reactivation might be life-threatening in patients undergoing interferon (IFN)-free direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. As previous studies have revealed a relationship between OBI and non-response to IFN-based antiviral therapy, the aim of the current study was to determine if there was a higher prevalence of OBI in IFN non-responders than responders.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in CHC patients who had previously received IFN-based antiviral therapy. Serum samples of 100 HBsAg negative CHC patients were tested for HBV DNA, anti-HBc IgG, anti-HBs, ALT and AST. The presence of OBI was compared between 50 IFN responders and 50 IFN non-responders. Patients with a history of previous HBV infection, patients with evidence of cirrhosis and patients who had received IFN therapy within the last one year were excluded from the study.

RESULTS

Anti-HBc IgG positivity was determined in 53% of the patients. HBV DNA positivity, indicating OBI was determined in 1 (1%) patient. This patient was anti-HBc IgG positive, anti-HBs negative, ALT and AST levels were normal. The HBV DNA and anti-HBc IgG positivity rates were higher in the non-responder group than in the responder group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.31 and p = 0.07 respectively).

CONCLUSION

According to the results of this study, the prevalence of OBI is lower than expected amongst CHC patients in Turkey and it may not be necessary to apply routine screening to IFN non-responders for OBI infection before DAA therapy. However, there is a need for multicentre studies with larger patient series.

The Use of Interferons in the Treatment of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Interferons are polypeptides that naturally occur in the human body as a part of the innate immune response. By harnessing these immunomodulatory functions, synthetic interferons have shown efficacy in combating various diseases including cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. This article closely examines the qualities of interferon alfa and interferon gamma and the evidence behind their use in the 2 most common types of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, namely, mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome.

Temperature rise after peginterferon alfa-2a injection in patients with chronic hepatitis C is associated with virological response and is modulated by IL28B genotype

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis C is associated with non-specific symptoms including fever. We aimed to determine the association of temperature changes with interferon antiviral activity.

METHODS

60 treatment-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C (67% genotype 1/4/6, 33% genotype 2/3) were admitted to start peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin in a clinical trial. Temperature was measured at baseline and 3 times daily for the first 24h and the maximal increase from baseline during that time (ΔTmax) was determined. Serum HCV-RNA, interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) and expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs - CD274, ISG15, RSAD2, IRF7, CXCL10) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured at very early time points, and response kinetics calculated. The IL28B single nucleotide polymorphism, rs12979860, was genotyped.

RESULTS

Temperatures rose by 1.2±0.8°C, peaking after 12.5h. ΔTmax was strongly associated with 1st phase virological decline (r=0.59, p<0.0001) and was independent of gender, cirrhosis, viral genotype or baseline HCV-RNA. The association with 1st phase decline was seen in patients with rs12979860CC genotype (r = 0.65, p <0.0001) but not in CT/TT (r = 0.13, p = 0.53) and patients with CC genotype had a higher DTmax (1.4 ± 0.8 C vs. 0.8 ± 0.6 +C, p = 0.001). DTmax was associated with 6- and 24-h induction of serum IP-10 and of PBMC ISG expression, but only in patients with rs12979860CC [corrected].ΔTmax weakly predicted early virological response (AUC=0.68, CI 0.49-0.88).

CONCLUSIONS

Temperature rise following peginterferon injection is closely associated with virological response and is modulated by IL28B polymorphism, reflecting host interferon-responsiveness.

Interferon alfa in the treatment paradigm for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

OBJECTIVES

In this article, we review the various options for and the potential role of interferon alfa (IFN-α) in the treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

METHODS

PubMed was searched for journal articles on IFN-α use in treating bladder cancer. The references listed in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines were used as a guide to identify relevant publications on treatments for NMIBC.

RESULTS

Transurethral resection with adjuvant intravesical chemotherapy or immunotherapy is the standard treatment option for NMIBC. Adjuvant IFN-α therapy has limited efficacy in preventing recurrences in intermediate-risk and high-risk patients; bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) monotherapy is the recommended first-line treatment in these patients. Unfortunately, cancer progression or recurrence is a common outcome; radical cystectomy, which is often the lifesaving approach in such a scenario, is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and decreased quality of life. Current alternatives to cystectomy include repeat intravesical immunotherapy, conventional instillation chemotherapy, and device-assisted intravesical chemotherapy. The efficacy of any chemotherapy after BCG failure, either conventional or device assisted, has not been established. BCG and IFN-α combination intravesical therapy has not been investigated thoroughly; based on available data, combination therapy appears to be most effective in patients with carcinoma in situ and may be preferentially considered as an alternative to radical cystectomy for patients with intermediate-risk or high-risk NMIBC who do not tolerate the standard BCG dose or experience BCG failure after 1 year of therapy. However, this approach requires close follow-up and should only be chosen after careful consideration of all risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a lack of efficacious treatment options for patients with NMIBC recurrence or progression after initial BCG treatment. There is a need for well-designed clinical trials investigating the safety and efficacy of available therapies, including BCG and IFN-α2b combination therapy.

Pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin for children with chronic hepatitis C

AIM: To study current treatment options for pediatric hepatitis C infection and their associated success rates.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed charts of thirty children who had been treated with combination therapy of pegylated interferon alfa plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C infection. Patients had been treated with ribavirin (15 mg/kg per day) and either pegylated interferon alfa 2a (180 mg/m² once weekly) or pegylated interferon alfa 2b (1.5 mg/kg once weekly). Patients’ follow-up included subjective assessment of complaints, physical examination including weight and height, as well as laboratory evaluations for viral load [before treatment, at 12 wk, and 6 mo following treatment completion, as determined by sustained viral response (SVR)], complete blood count, liver enzymes, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, renal function tests, and thyroid function tests. For patients not achieving a two log decrease in viral load at treatment week 12, treatment was discontinued and the patient was considered a treatment non-responder.

RESULTS: Thirty children aged 3-18 years were included in the study. Twenty patients (11 males, 9 females) received pegylated interferon alfa 2b and ten patients (6 males, 4 females) received pegylated interferon alfa 2a. Twenty-three patients were infected with genotype 1, six patients were infected with genotype 3, and one patient was infected with genotype 2. Twenty patients (67%) achieved SVR. Treatment success rates were 90% with pegylated interferon alfa 2a vs 55% with pegylated interferon alfa 2b. Although a trend was noted for improved outcomes in the group receiving pegylated interferon alfa 2a, there were no statistically significant outcome differences between the two treatment groups (P = 0.1). Treatment success was 56.5% for patients infected with genotype 1 virus, compared to 100% for patients infected with other genotypes (P = 0.064). There was no difference in treatment response between males and females. A cut-off age of twelve years was used to dichotomize younger vs older participants; however, no difference in treatment response was observed between these groups. Using multivariate regression analysis, we could not determine predictors for achieving SVR from among the variables we examined (age, sex, and viral genotype). Although we noted a trend toward SVR with peginterferon alfa-2a, there was no statistical difference between the two peginterferons. A high incidence of adverse reactions to treatment was noted. Twenty-five patients (83%) suffered from at least one adverse reaction, but most experienced more than one adverse reaction. All patients except one became leukopenic (white blood cell count less than 5500 leukocytes/μL), six (20%) became anemic (hemoglobin less than 110 g/L), and one (3.3%) became thrombocytopenic (platelets less than 100 000/μL).

CONCLUSION: Combination therapy to treat hepatitis C in children is as effective as in adults. There may be a benefit for treatment with pegylated interferon alfa 2a.

Multisystem Sarcoidosis in a Patient on Interferon-α Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C

Sarcoidosis is a chronic multisystemic granulomatous disease that is triggered by an autoimmune process. Nowadays, this pathology represents a well-recognized but uncommon complication for antiviral treatment in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Herein, we report a remarkable case of 47-year-old woman treated for chronic HCV infection; the patient has developed interferon alfa-induced sarcoidosis involving the central nervous system. The evolution was fatal despite disrupting the antiviral therapy and initiating a high-dose corticotherapy. This complication of interferon alfa treatment was reported in the literature in only one case. Through this case and a review of the literature, we aim to underline the importance of screening for sarcoidosis before and during the follow-up of HCV patients undergoing antiviral therapy.

Chronic hepatitis B: whom to treat and for how long? Propositions, challenges, and future directions

Recent guidelines of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the European Association for the Study of the Liver, and the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver 2008 update of the "Asian-Pacific consensus statement on the management of chronic hepatitis B" offer comprehensive recommendations for the general management of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). These recommendations highlight preferred approaches to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of CHB. Nonetheless, the results of recent studies have led to an improved understanding of the disease and a belief that current recommendations on specific therapeutic considerations, including CHB treatment initiation and cessation criteria, particularly in patient populations with special circumstances, can be improved. Twelve experts from the Asia-Pacific region formed the Asia-Pacific Panel Recommendations for the Optimal Management of Chronic Hepatitis B (APPROACH) Working Group to review, challenge, and assess relevant new data and inform future updates of CHB treatment guidelines. The significance of and controversy about reported findings were discussed and debated in an expert meeting of the Working Group in Beijing, China, in November 2008. This review paper attempts to identify areas requiring improved CHB management and provide suggestions for future guideline updates, with special emphasis on treatment initiation and duration.

Psychiatric side effects of pegylated interferon alfa-2b as compared to conventional interferon alfa-2b in patients with chronic hepatitis C

AIM: To assess systematically the spectrum and extent of depressive symptoms comparing patient groups receiving peginterferon or conventional interferon.

METHODS: Ninety-eight patients with chronic hepatitis C and interferon-based therapy (+ribavirin) were consecutively enrolled in a longitudinal study. Patients were treated with conventional interferon alfa-2b (48/98 patients; 5 MIU interferon alfa-2b thrice weekly) or peginterferon alfa-2b (50/98 patients; 80-150 μg peginterferon alfa-2b) in combination with weight-adapted ribavirin (800-1200 mg/d). Repeated psychometric testing was performed before, three times during and once after antiviral therapy: Depression was evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), anger/hostility by the Symptom Checklist-90 Items Revised (SCL-90-R).

RESULTS: Therapy with pegylated interferon alfa-2b produces comparable scores for depression (ANOVA: P = 0.875) as compared to conventional interferon. Maximums of depression scores were even higher and cases of clinically relevant depression were frequent during therapy with peginterferon. Scores for anger/hostility were comparable for both therapy subgroups.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the extent and frequency of depressive symptoms in total are not reduced by peginterferon. Monitoring and management of neuropsychiatric toxicity especially depression have to be considered as much as in antiviral therapy with unmodified interferon.