Demographics and Outcome of Philadelphia-positive ALL in a Pediatric Population in North India: a Single-center Experience
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY ONCOLOGY
Authors: Pant, Gitika; Kumar, Archana; Verma, Nishant; Pooniya, Vishal; Sharma, Anil; Gupta, Bhvya
Abstract
Philadelphia-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children had a worse outcome before the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We have evaluated the demographics and outcome of Ph+ ALL patients treated with imatinib without blood marrow transplantation. Of the 206 children with ALL registered for treatment, the demographic data of 15 Ph+ ALL patients were compared with the remaining Ph- patients. Imatinib (340 mg/m(2)) was started on day 5 (D5) of induction in Ph+ patients, and their overall survival was compared with Ph- high-risk patients treated on similar protocols. Statistical analysis was carried out by the Fisher exact test and the t test. The Kaplan-Meier test was used for survival analysis. Philadelphia positivity noted in 15/206 (7.28%) ALL patients was higher than reported earlier. Median initial total leukocyte count and central nervous system positivity were significantly higher in Ph+ patients. Myeloid markers, CD13 and CD33, were also positive in 33.3% Ph+ patients. D15 and D35 marrow showed remissions in a larger proportion of Ph+ ALL, as compared with Ph- patients, but chemotherapy interruptions and neutropenic deaths were significantly higher after starting imatinib, as compared with Philadelphia high-risk patients. Overall survival was similar in Ph+ and Ph- high-risk ALL patients. Ph+ ALL, noted in 7.28%, presented with high initial white blood cell counts, high central nervous system positivity, poor steroid response, and higher induction deaths, as compared with high-risk Ph- ALL, and raised the question about the appropriate dose and time of introduction of imatinib to prevent toxicity.
Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
Authors: Yip, Hon-Kan; Fang, Wen-Feng; Li, Yi-Chen; Lee, Fan-Yen; Lee, Chen-Hsiang; Pei, Sung-Nan; Ma, Ming-Chun; Chen, Kuan-Hung; Sung, Pei-Hsun; Lee, Mel S.
Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the safety, feasibility, and possible adverse events of single-dose human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. Design: Prospective phase I clinical trial. Setting: Medical center in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Patients: Moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome with a Pao(2)/Fio(2) ratio less than 200. Interventions: Scaling for doses was required by Taiwan Food and Drug Administration as follows: the first three patients received low-dose human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (1.0 x 10(6) cells/kg), the next three patients with intermediate dose (5.0 x 10(6) cells/kg), and the final three patients with high dose (1.0 x 10(7) cells/kg) between December 2017 and August 2019. Measurements and Main Results: Nine consecutive patients were enrolled into the study. In-hospital mortality was 33.3% (3/9), including two with recurrent septic shock and one with ventilator-induced severe pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema. No serious prespecified cell infusion-associated or treatment-related adverse events was identified in any patient. Serial flow-cytometric analyses of circulating inflammatory biomarkers (CD14(+)CD33(+)/CD11b+CD16+/CD16+MPO+/CD11b+MPO+/CD14(dim)CD33+) and mesenchymal stem cell markers (CD26+CD45-/CD29+CD45-/CD34+CD45-/CD44+CD45-/CD73+CD45-/CD90+CD45-/CD105+CD45-/CD26+CD45-) were notably progressively reduced (p for trend < 0.001), whereas the immune cell markers (Helper-T-cell(CD3+CD4+)/Cytotoxity-T-cell(CD3+CD8+)/Regulatory-T-cell(CD4+CD25+FOXp3+)) were notably increased (p for trend < 0.001) after cell infusion. Conclusions: The result of this phase I clinical trial showed that a single-dose IV infusion of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells was safe with favorable outcome in nine acute respiratory distress syndrome patients.