Remission Induction Therapy (remission + induction_therapy)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Prednisone induces immunophenotypic modulation of CD10 and CD34 in nonapoptotic B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells,

CYTOMETRY, Issue 3 2008
Giuseppe Gaipa
Abstract Background: Immunophenotypic modulation is induced by steroids in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) patients during remission induction therapy. Methods: We cultured BCP-ALL blasts from diagnostic bone marrow (BM) samples (n = 20) in the presence of prednisone on stroma layer obtained from BM-derived mesenchymal cells to maintain viability. Antigen expression was assessed by multiparametric flow cytometry. Results: Leukemia samples that sustained the treatment in vitro with prednisone, showed significative reduction of CD10 and CD34 expression compared with control, and it was comparable with that observed in residual leukemic cells of the same patients in BM at day 15 of treatment. Modulated cells were viable as determined by Annexin V staining and preserved light scattering properties. Of note, the extent of antigen modulation in vitro correlated with response to prednisone in vivo. Conclusions: The prednisone-induced immunophenotypic modulation can be reproduced in vitro and this phenomenon may reflect sensitivity to chemotherapy. © 2008 Clinical Cytometry Society [source]


A multicenter survey of rituximab therapy for refractory antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody,associated vasculitis

ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 7 2009
Rachel B. Jones
Objective B cell depletion with rituximab has allowed remissions in relapsing or refractory antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA),associated vasculitis in small studies. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of rituximab for ANCA-associated vasculitis in a larger multicenter cohort. This permitted comparison of rituximab dosing regimens, the value of continuing immunosuppression, and investigation of ANCA and B cell levels as re-treatment biomarkers. Methods Retrospective, standardized data collection from 65 sequential patients receiving rituximab for refractory ANCA-associated vasculitis at 4 centers in the UK was used. Results All patients achieved B cell depletion. Complete remission occurred in 49 of the 65 patients (75%), partial remission in 15 (23%), and no response in 1 (2%). The prednisolone dosage was reduced from 12.5 mg/day (median) to 9.0 mg/day at 6 months (P = 0.0006). Immunosuppressive therapy was withdrawn in 37 of 60 patients (62%). Twenty-eight of 49 patients who achieved full remission (57%) experienced relapse (median 11.5 months). B cell return preceded relapse in 14 of 27 patients (52%). Although ANCA levels fell after rituximab therapy, relapse was not associated with ANCA positivity or a rise in ANCA levels. Neither the initial rituximab regimen (4 infusions of 375 mg/m2 each given 1 week apart or 2 infusions of 1 gm each given 2 weeks apart) nor withdrawal of immunosuppressive therapy (37 of 60 patients [62%]) influenced the timing of relapse. Thirty-eight patients received ,2 courses of rituximab, and complete remission was induced or maintained in 32 of them (84%). IgM levels fell, although IgG levels remained stable. Forty-six serious adverse events occurred, including 2 episodes of late-onset neutropenia, which were attributed to rituximab. Conclusion Rituximab was effective remission induction therapy for refractory ANCA-associated vasculitis in this study. There was no difference in efficacy between the 2 main treatment regimens. Continuing immunosuppression did not reduce relapses. Relapses occurred, but re-treatment was effective and safe. There was no clear influence of rituximab on the frequency of serious adverse events. ANCA and B cell levels lacked sufficient sensitivity to guide the timing of re-treatment. [source]


Remission induction therapy containing rituximab markedly improved the outcome of untreated mature B cell lymphoma

BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2008
Hirokazu Nagai
Summary Many controlled clinical trials have proven that rituximab improves the clinical outcome of patients with mature B cell lymphoma. This study was conducted to assess the contribution of rituximab in the actual clinical practice. Patients with newly diagnosed mature B cell lymphoma treated at 20 National Hospital Organization hospitals from January 2000 to December 2004 were consecutively registered. Rituximab was approved in September 2002 for indolent B cell lymphoma and in September 2003 for aggressive B cell lymphoma in Japan. The patients were divided into two groups depending on whether they received induction therapy containing rituximab. The endpoint was to evaluate the rituximab benefit based on 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) and 2-year overall survival (OS). A total 1126 patients received chemotherapies. Of these, 762 were diagnosed as diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and 215 as follicular lymphoma (FL). PFS and OS were markedly improved in the rituximab group compared with the non-rituximab group in patients with DLBCL (both P < 0·001) and in patients with FL (P < 0·001 and P = 0·003 respectively). Rituximab, when used for remission induction therapy, significantly improved the clinical outcome of the mature B cell lymphoma patient in actual clinical practice. [source]


Acute pulmonary failure during remission induction chemotherapy in adults with acute myeloid leukemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome

CANCER, Issue 1 2010
Ali Al Ameri MD
Abstract BACKGROUND: Acute pulmonary failure during remission induction therapy is a serious complication in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To the authors' knowledge, the course and prognosis of such patients is not well known. METHODS: A total of 1541 patients referred for remission induction chemotherapy of AML or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 120 (8%) patients developed acute pulmonary failure within 2 weeks of the initiation of chemotherapy; 87 of these patients (73%) died during remission induction, whereas 17 (14%) achieved a complete response. The median survival among the 120 patients with early acute pulmonary failure was 3 weeks. Predictive factors for the development of early acute pulmonary failure by multivariate analysis were: male sex (P = .00038), acute promyelocytic leukemia (P = .00003), poor performance status (P = .001), lung infiltrates at diagnosis (P = .000001), and increased creatinine (P = .000005). Patients who had 0 to 1, 2, 3, or 4 to 5 adverse factors were found to have estimated predictive incidences of acute pulmonary failure of 3%, 13%, 23%, and 34%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Preventive approaches at the start of induction therapy in patients at high risk of pulmonary failure may improve the outcome of these patients. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society. [source]