melphalan and Central-Nervous-System-Neoplasms

High risk/recurrent CNS tumors have a poor prognosis. We studied tandem high dose chemotherapy (HDC) with hematopoietic progenitor stem cell rescues (HPCR) as potentially curative therapy. Twenty-four patients (mean age 6.8 years) were enrolled, 19 underwent HDC/HPCR. Diagnoses were medulloblastoma (n = 9), germ cell tumor (n = 4), high grade astrocytoma (n = 2), supratentorial PNET (n = 1), pineoblastoma (n = 2), or papillary meningioma (n = 1). Cytoreduction regimen #1 consisted of carboplatin (500 mg/m(2)) x 3 days, etoposide (250 mg/m(2)) x 3 days, and thiotepa (300 mg/m(2)) x 3 days. Patients without progression or excessive toxicity (n = 11), received regimen #2 with melphalan (60 mg/m(2)) x 3 days and cyclophosphamide (1,500 mg/m(2)) x 4 days. Projected overall/event-free survival for the 19 patients was 51/37% and 34/28% at 1 and 5 years, respectively. Toxicity was significant with six treatment related deaths including four with veno-occlusive disease. This regimen of sequential HDC/HPCR in high risk/recurrent CNS tumor patients is not feasible due to toxicity.

Topics: Adolescent; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carboplatin; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Child; Child, Preschool; Combined Modality Therapy; Cyclophosphamide; Etoposide; Female; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Infant; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Melphalan; Thiotepa; Transplantation Conditioning

To determine the response, toxicity, and survival for children with progressive or recurrent medulloblastoma and germinoma using a single myeloablative course of chemotherapy supported by autologous hematopoietic stem cells.. Subjects were in second remission or had minimal residual disease at the time of study entry. The conditioning regimen consisted of cyclophosphamide 6,000 mg/m(2) plus melphalan 180 mg/m(2).. Twenty-nine evaluable pediatric patients were accrued. The most frequent major toxicities were myelosuppression, infections, and stomatitis, but no toxic deaths were recorded. Best responses were: CR = 6, CCR = 13, PR = 6, SD = 2, and PD = 2. There were 6 medulloblastoma and 3 germinoma survivors with a median follow-up of 7.5 years (range = 2.8-10). Two germinoma survivors received radiotherapy after autografting for presumptive progressive disease.. Myeloablative chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide and melphalan was tolerable in the relapsed brain tumor setting with 19/29 cases achieving CR or CCR status and 9/29 becoming long-term survivors.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Child; Child, Preschool; Cyclophosphamide; Germinoma; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Medulloblastoma; Melphalan; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Transplantation, Autologous

Limited information is available regarding the use of amifostine in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients. Melphalan, carboplatin, etoposide +/- cyclophosphamide is a commonly used preparatory regimen in pediatric solid tumor HSCT. Therefore, we decided to determine the feasibility of the addition of amifostine (750 mg/m b.i.d. x 4 d) to melphalan (200 mg/m), carboplatin (1200 mg/m), and etoposide (800 mg/m) (level 1) and escalating doses of cyclophosphamide (3000 mg/m and 3800 mg/m, levels 2 and 3, respectively) followed by autologous HSCT. Thirty-two patients with a variety of pediatric solid tumors were studied. Seventeen patients were accrued at level 1, 9 at level 2, and 6 at level 3. Major toxicities during the administration of the preparatory regimen were hypocalcemia, emesis, and hypotension. Hypocalcemia required aggressive calcium supplementation during the conditioning phase. No dose limiting toxicities were encountered at level 3. Amifostine at 750 mg/m b.i.d. for 4 days can be administered with a double alkylator regimen consisting of melphalan (200 mg/m), cyclophosphamide (up to 3800 mg/m), carboplatin (1200 mg/m), and etoposide (800 mg/m) with manageable toxicities.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Amifostine; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Bone Neoplasms; Carboplatin; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Child; Child, Preschool; Combined Modality Therapy; Cyclophosphamide; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Etoposide; Feasibility Studies; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Hypocalcemia; Kidney Neoplasms; Melphalan; Neoplasms; Neuroblastoma; Pilot Projects; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Sarcoma; Transplantation, Autologous; Transplantation, Homologous; Treatment Outcome; Wilms Tumor

The treatment of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) has been considerably improved over recent years. In this article, we report six cases of PCNSL treated by first-line induction chemotherapy followed by intensive chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Six immunocompetent patients presenting with a PCNSL, confirmed by thoraco-abdomino-pelvic computer tomography scan and bone marrow biopsy, were treated with induction chemotherapy followed by BEAM intensive chemotherapy and ASCT and radiotherapy. At the end of the treatment, all the patients were in complete remission. After a median follow-up of 41.5 months (17-70 months), four patients were alive without signs of relapse (median survival: 35.5 months). Two patients died from relapse at 19 and 23 months. The neurotoxicity was low with epilepsy in one patient and persistent left side dysesthesia in another one. These results are fairly encouraging. Other studies with greater numbers of patients and longer follow-up are needed to confirm this study.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carmustine; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Combined Modality Therapy; Cytarabine; Etoposide; Female; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Immunocompetence; Lymphoma; Male; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Recurrence; Remission Induction; Survival Rate; Transplantation, Autologous

We investigated the use of a new conditioning regimen followed by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for treating children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) after relapse within 6 months of the completion of therapy. One hundred and sixteen children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in second or subsequent complete remission (CR) underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from HLA-identical siblings after a preparative regimen comprising total body irradiation (TBI), high-dose cytosine arabinoside and melphalan (TAM regimen). The Kaplan-Meier product-limit estimate (mean +/- SE) of disease-free survival (DFS) at 7 years was 59.5 +/- 9% (95% confidence interval). The estimated chance of relapse was 22.5 +/- 15% with a median follow-up of 88.5 months (range 51-132). 26 patients (22.4%) died with no evidence of recurrent leukaemia, mainly from interstitial pneumonitis, veno-occlusive disease or acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Three factors significantly affected DFS: acute GVHD. site of relapse and, for children in second remission after a marrow relapse, the disease status at the time of transplantation. The DFS were 59.02 +/- 12.6%, 37.5 +/- 19.8% and 774 +/- 15% among patients in CR2 after a marrow relapse, in CR3 or in untreated partial marrow relapse, and in CR2 after an isolated CNS relapse, respectively. The lowest DFS was seen in children with acute GVHD grades 3-4. Two significant factors were associated with relapse: the marrow status at the time of transplantation and chronic GVHD. The relapse rate was lower among children in CR2 or with chronic GVHD. We conclude that transplantation after the TAM regimen is an effective therapy for this population with acceptable toxicity, particularly for children in second remission after a very early marrow relapse, or those with early isolated CNS involvement.

Topics: Adolescent; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Child; Child, Preschool; Cytarabine; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Graft vs Host Disease; Humans; Male; Melphalan; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Prospective Studies; Recurrence; Testicular Neoplasms; Transplantation, Homologous; Whole-Body Irradiation

Current treatments for metastatic breast cancer are not associated with significant survival benefits despite response rates of over 50%. High-dose therapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) has been investigated, particularly in North America, and prolonged survival in up to 25% of women has been reported, but with a significant treatment-related mortality. However, in patients with haematological malignancies undergoing autologous transplantation, haematopoietic reconstruction is significantly quicker and mortality lower than with ABMT, when peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) are used. In 32 women with metastatic breast cancer, we investigated the feasibility of PBPC mobilisation with high-dose cyclophosphamide and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) after 12 weeks' infusional induction chemotherapy and the subsequent efficacy of the haematopoietic reconstitution after conditioning with melphalan and either etoposide or thiotepa. PBPC mobilisation was successful in 28/32 (88%) patients, and there was a rapid post-transplantation haematopoietic recovery: median time to neutrophils > 0.5 x 10(9) l-1 was 14 days and to platelets > 20 x 10(9) l-1 was 10 days. There was no procedure-related mortality, and the major morbidity was mucositis (WHO grade 3-4) in 18/32 patients (56%). In a patient group of which the majority had very poor prognostic features, the median survival from start of induction chemotherapy was 15 months. Thus, PBPC mobilisation and support of high-dose chemotherapy is feasible after infusional induction chemotherapy for patients with metastatic breast cancer, although the optimum drug combination has not yet been determined.

Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Breast Neoplasms; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Chi-Square Distribution; Confidence Intervals; Diarrhea; Disease-Free Survival; Etoposide; Female; Hematologic Diseases; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Survival Rate; Thiotepa; Treatment Outcome

Secondary central nervous system lymphoma (SCNSL) affects approximately 5% of patients with aggressive large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) and is associated with poor outcomes. This retrospective, multicenter study included 62 consecutive patients with SCNSL intended for transplant with high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX)-based induction followed by high-dose thiotepa, busulfan, melphalan, rituximab (TBMR) conditioning and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Median age was 58 years (range 20-75) and 52 (84%) patients had ECOG performance status >1 at diagnosis of SCNSL. Fifty-two (84%) patients completed induction and proceeded to TBMR/ASCT. With median follow-up 5.7 years, 5-year progression-free and overall survival rates were 53% (95% CI 39-65%) and 65% (95% CI 51-76%) for all patients and 62% (95% CI 45-74%) and 73% (95% CI 57-84%) for those undergoing TBMR/ASCT, respectively. Despite a historically poor prognosis, HD-MTX-based induction followed by TBMR/ASCT has the potential to achieve long-term survival in a substantial proportion of patients with SCNSL.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Autografts; Busulfan; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Combined Modality Therapy; Cyclophosphamide; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; Melphalan; Methotrexate; Middle Aged; Neoplasms, Second Primary; Retrospective Studies; Rituximab; Thiotepa; Transplantation, Autologous; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carboplatin; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Chemoradiotherapy; Germinoma; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Melphalan; Salvage Therapy; Second-Look Surgery; Tumor Burden; Young Adult

Patients with retinoblastoma and central nervous system (CNS) involvement are rarely curable with available treatments. We designed a high-dose intra-arterial regimen targeting the ophthalmic artery and chiasm combined with intrathecal chemotherapy to treat a 4-year-old patient with retinoblastoma metastasized to the CNS. After three cycles of this regimen, including carboplatin, melphalan, and intrathecal topotecan, a partial response of the orbital tumor mass and chiasmatic lesion, and complete response in the cerebrospinal fluid and bone marrow were achieved. This new treatment strategy may be explored as a treatment component for patients with overt extraocular retinoblastoma and CNS dissemination.

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carboplatin; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Child, Preschool; Humans; Infusions, Intra-Arterial; Injections, Spinal; Male; Melphalan; Retinal Neoplasms; Retinoblastoma; Topotecan

Topics: Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Biopsy; Brain; Carmustine; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Cesarean Section; Cytarabine; Dexamethasone; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Melphalan; Methotrexate; Podophyllotoxin; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic; Pregnancy Outcome; Rituximab; Transplantation, Autologous; Treatment Outcome

Treatment of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) improved in recent years. However, the high neurotoxicity and low survival rates associated with this condition remain unresolved. We report 13 consecutive patients with PCNSL for whom upfront melphalan, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and dexamethasone (known as LEED) followed by autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) was planned at the Anjo Kosei Hospital. All patients were pathologically diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and were negative for human immunodeficiency virus. All patients were to receive three cycles of high-dose methotrexate-based induction chemotherapy, two cycles of high-dose AraC-based chemotherapy, and LEED followed by ASCT. All 13 patients achieved a partial response, and the 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 76.2 %. Seven of the 13 patients were alive at the last follow-up, without any adverse events, including neurotoxicity. Six of the 13 (46.2 %) patients underwent ASCT and the 3-year OS rate was 80.0 %. Although this study included only a limited number of patients, these preliminary signs of efficacy and tolerability merit further consideration. To make further improvements in survival, the rate of patients undergoing ASCT should be increased. Other prospective studies involving greater numbers of patients are required to confirm these findings.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Cyclophosphamide; Cytarabine; Dexamethasone; Etoposide; Female; Humans; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; Male; Melphalan; Methotrexate; Middle Aged; Remission Induction; Retrospective Studies; Stem Cell Transplantation; Survival Analysis; Transplantation, Autologous; Treatment Outcome

The present study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of myeloablative high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with relapsed or progressed central nervous system germ cell tumors (CNS-GCTs). Eleven patients with non-germinomatous germ cell tumors and nine patients with germinomas were enrolled. Patients received between two and eight cycles of conventional chemotherapy prior to HDCT/autoSCT with or without radiotherapy. Overall, 16 patients proceeded to the first HDCT/autoSCT, and nine proceeded to the second HDCT/autoSCT. CTE (carboplatin-thiotepa-etoposide) and cyclophosphamide-melphalan (CM) regimens were used for the first and second HDCT, respectively. Toxicities during HDCT/autoSCT were acceptable, and there were no treatment-related deaths. Twelve patients experienced relapse or progression; however, four patients with germinomas remain alive after subsequent RT. Therefore, a total of 12 patients (four NGGCTs and eight germinomas) remain alive with a median follow-up of 47 months (range 22-90) after relapse or progression. The probability of 3-year overall survival was 59.1 ± 11.2 % (36.4 ± 14.5 % for NGGCTs vs. 88.9 ± 10.5 % for germinomas, P = 0.028). RT, particularly craniospinal RT, was associated with a better tumor response prior to HDCT/autoSCT and a better final outcome. In conclusion, HDCT/autoSCT was feasible, and survival rates were encouraging. Further study with a larger cohort of patients is needed to elucidate the role of HDCT/autoSCT in the treatment of relapsed or progressed CNS-GCTs.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carboplatin; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Child; Child, Preschool; Combined Modality Therapy; Cyclophosphamide; Etoposide; Feasibility Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Male; Melphalan; Myeloid Cells; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Salvage Therapy; Survival Rate; Thiotepa; Transplantation, Autologous; Young Adult

To assess the safety and efficacy of intensive methotrexate-based chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy (HDT) with autologous stem-cell rescue in patients with newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL).. Twenty-eight patients received induction chemotherapy using high-dose systemic methotrexate (3.5 g/m2) and cytarabine (3 g/m2 daily for 2 days). Fourteen patients with chemosensitive disease evident on neuroimaging then received high-dose therapy using carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan with autologous stem-cell rescue.. The objective response rate to the induction-phase chemotherapy was 57%, and median overall survival is not yet assessable, with a median follow-up time of 28 months. The overall median event-free survival time is 5.6 months for all patients and 9.3 months for 14 patients who underwent transplantation. Six of these 14 patients (43%) remained disease-free at last follow-up. Treatment was well tolerated; there was one transplantation-related death. Prospective neuropsychologic evaluations have revealed no evidence of treatment-related neurotoxicity.. This treatment approach is feasible in patients with newly diagnosed PCNSL without evidence of significant related neurotoxicity. Although the transplantation results are similar to those achieved in patients with aggressive or poor-prognosis systemic lymphoma, the low response rate to induction chemotherapy and the significant number of patients who experienced relapse soon after HDT suggest that more aggressive induction chemotherapy may be warranted.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carmustine; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Combined Modality Therapy; Cytarabine; Etoposide; Female; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Male; Melphalan; Methotrexate; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Prospective Studies; Remission Induction; Safety; Salvage Therapy; Survival Rate; Transplantation, Autologous; Treatment Outcome