melphalan and Pancytopenia

Standard chemotherapy with melphalan-prednisone or a combination of alkylating agents has not extended the overall survival of patients with multiple myeloma during the last 30 years and strictly defined complete remissions (CR) are exceedingly rare. The early mortality with conventional therapy varies between 2 and 10 percent. A substantial increase in the dose of melphalan (100-140 mg/m2) has resulted in a 30-45% CR rate in newly diagnosed patients and an overall survival advantage of approximately 1 year. However, treatment related morbidity and mortality, due to prolonged cytopenia was unacceptably high. Based on these findings the dose intensity was further increased by either escalating melphalan to 200 mg/m2 or by adding total body irradiation, while at the same time providing stem cell support to shorten the duration of cytopenia. Autologous transplants, especially with peripheral blood stem cells and hematopoietic growth factors, can now be performed safely up to the age of 70 with a low transplant-related mortality (2-10%). A CR is attained in approximately 50% of previously untreated patients and 10-20% of refractory cases. Overall survival of newly diagnosed and refractory patients treated with autotransplants appears superior to that of patients receiving conventional chemotherapy. Therefore, autotransplantation should be considered as a treatment option in all patients with multiple myeloma at least up to the age of 65. Despite these encouraging findings, most myeloma patients ultimately relapse and the survival curves do not suggest that autotransplantation as currently performed is a curative approach in a substantial proportion of patients. Further improvement with autotransplants should be achieved by providing tumor-free grafts and by introducing post-transplantation manipulations, aimed at eradicating minimal residual disease.

Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bone Marrow; Clinical Trials as Topic; Combined Modality Therapy; Disease-Free Survival; Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neoplasm, Residual; Pancytopenia; Plasma Cells; Prednisone; Prognosis; Remission Induction; Salvage Therapy; Survival Analysis; Survival Rate; Transplantation Conditioning; Whole-Body Irradiation

With the eventual goal of reducing relapse and thus improving overall survival in selected lymphoma patients, a Phase I study was performed using the cytoprotectant amifostine to permit safe dose-augmentation of melphalan in the carmustine (BCNU), etoposide, cytarabine (arabinosylcytosine), and melphalan (BEAM) regimen before autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Between 30 July 2003 and 25 November 2008, a total of 32 lymphoma patients were entered, of which 28 were evaluable. We found the melphalan dose in BEAM could be safely escalated to at least 260 mg/m², a substantial increase from the usual dose of 140 mg/m² in BEAM while the trial was terminated early due to poor accrual, no maximal tolerated dose or dose-limiting toxicity was found. A Phase II trial is planned.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Amifostine; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Atrial Fibrillation; Carmustine; Combined Modality Therapy; Cytarabine; Cytoprotection; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Etoposide; Female; Humans; Lymphoma; Male; Maximum Tolerated Dose; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Mucositis; Pancytopenia; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; Postoperative Complications; Transplantation Conditioning; Transplantation, Autologous; Young Adult

In order to shorten the pancytopenic period following high-dose melphalan 140 mg/m2 (HDM) treatment of multiple myeloma patients, we studied the effects of re-infusing granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) [Filgrastim, Neupogen]-primed unprocessed whole blood. 30 patients with multiple myeloma were treated with HDM. One litre of blood after 5 or 6 days stimulation with G-CSF (10 micrograms/kg) was drawn, kept unprocessed for 1 day and re-infused 24 h after chemotherapy. Time to granulocyte recovery (> 0.5 x 10(9)/1) and platelet recovery (> 20 x 10(9)/1) were assessed as well as length of hospital stay, number of transfusions and antibiotic use. These 30 patients were compared with 20 historical control patients who were similarly treated but without stem cell support. The response rate was 75% (21/28) including a complete remission (CR) rate of 29% (8/28). Two early deaths due to Aspergillus pneumonia were observed. The median overall survival after HDM has not been reached after a median follow-up of 14 months. 10 patients showed progression at a median of 7 months. Currently, 23 patients are alive with a median follow-up time of 14 months. Haematological recovery was significantly faster in the study group as compared to the historical control group. The neutrophil count reached 0.5 x 10(9)/1 at a median of 14 days after infusion of 1 litre of unprocessed whole blood compared with 38 days in the historical control group. A platelet count of 20 x 10(9)/1 was reached at a median of 26 days compared with 36 days in the historical control group. Length of hospital stay decreased from a median of 43 to 18.5 days. The number of days with antibiotics was reduced from a median of 21 to 6 days. HDM is effective therapy for multiple myeloma. Toxicity of the regimen is considerably reduced by the use of G-CSF-stimulated unprocessed whole blood, an easy to perform and cheap technique to mobilise and collect stem cells.

Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; Blood Transfusion, Autologous; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Male; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma; Pancytopenia; Recombinant Proteins; Survival Rate

The optimal autologous stem cell rescue (HDC-SCR) regimen for children with high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NBL) is not defined. Carboplatin/etoposide/melphalan (CEM) is the current US standard; however, European data suggest busulfan/melphalan (Bu/Mel) may have less toxicity. Published data regarding toxicities associated with CEM and Bu/Mel are limited. We conducted a single-institution retrospective cohort study of children with HR-NBL who received CEM or Bu/Mel preparative regimens. Toxicity data were analyzed using χ(2) or Fisher's exact, Wilcoxon two-sample or log-rank tests. Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) was observed in 7/44 CEM (15.9%) and 5/21 (24%) Bu/Mel patients (P=0.50). Median time to SOS was longer following Bu/Mel than CEM (20 versus 9 days, P=0.02). Pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) was observed in ~20% of children after Bu/Mel and none after CEM (P=0.01). CEM patients had more nephrotoxicity (P=0.001), packed red blood cell (P=0.02) and platelet transfusions (P=0.008), and days on maximum pain support (P=0.0007). Time to engraftment, length of stay, documented infection rates and HDC-SCR-related mortality were similar. Nephrotoxicity and resource utilization associated with cytopenias and mucositis were greater after CEM. Pulmonary toxicities were more severe after Bu/Mel, and increased vigilance for PHTN may be warranted, particularly in children with hypoxemia out of proportion to respiratory distress.

Topics: Adolescent; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Busulfan; Carboplatin; Child; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Etoposide; Female; Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Infant; Kidney Diseases; Male; Melphalan; Mucositis; Myeloablative Agonists; Neuroblastoma; Pancytopenia; Retrospective Studies; Stem Cell Transplantation; Transplantation Conditioning; Young Adult

A 46-year-old-man received high dose chemotherapy and an autologous stem-cell transplant for multiple plasmacytoma. He had a prolonged period of pancytopenia post-transplantation, which was thought to be due to a suboptimal dose of transplanted stem cells in combination with the effects of interferon therapy and an altered bone marrow microenvironment. Twenty-eight months after the transplant he was found to be hyperthyroid. Anti-thyroid therapy has led to a sustained improvement in his pancytopenia.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Back Pain; Carbimazole; Cyclophosphamide; Doxorubicin; Graves Disease; Gynecomastia; Humans; Male; Melphalan; Methylprednisolone; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma; Pancytopenia; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; Ribs; Spinal Neoplasms; Thoracic Vertebrae; Transplantation Conditioning; Transplantation, Autologous; Vincristine

We report an adult case of reactive hemophagocytic syndrome (RHS) associated with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who received emergency bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Despite methylprednisolone pulse therapy, high-dose gamma-globulin, and chemotherapy containing etoposide, the pancytopenia progressed. After informed consent, the patient underwent syngeneic BMT using melphalan as the conditioning regimen. The patient has been well without relapse of RHS and MDS for more than 2 years after BMT. This result suggests that the above strategy, including BMT, should be considered for the treatment of adult RHS associated with hematological malignancy.

Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Disease-Free Survival; Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell; Humans; Japan; Male; Melphalan; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Pancytopenia; Transplantation, Isogeneic

Topics: Adolescent; Cell Cycle; Child; Child, Preschool; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Fanconi Anemia; Flow Cytometry; G2 Phase; Humans; Infant; Melphalan; Pancytopenia; Phytohemagglutinins

A 42-year-old male patient with a history of occupational exposure to benzene presented with pancytopenia. His bone marrow showed evidence of trilineage dysplasia and cytogenetic analysis revealed a unique t(9;13)(q34;q12) translocation. Five months after diagnosis he developed secondary AML. He was treated with four courses of chemotherapy and an autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Four years post-transplantation he remains in haematological and morphological remission though the cytogenetic abnormality is still present in all metaphases examined.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Benzene; Bone Marrow; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Carmustine; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9; Combined Modality Therapy; Etoposide; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Male; Melphalan; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Neoplastic Stem Cells; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Pancytopenia; Remission Induction; Solvents; Translocation, Genetic; Transplantation, Homologous

Intensive therapy, mainly with purged autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT), has been proposed in recent years as consolidation treatment in young patients with follicular lymphoma. Reported experience with transplantation of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) is, so far, limited. The feasibility and the therapeutic efficacy of intensive therapy followed by unpurged autologous PBPC reinfusion were evaluated in 60 patients with poor-prognosis follicular lymphoma. Twelve patients were in first partial remission (PR), 34 were in second partial or complete remission (CR), and 14 were in subsequent progression. At the time of the procedure, 39 patients (65%) had persistent bone marrow involvement, 49 patients (82%) were in PR, and 16 patients had presented with a histologic transformation (HT). PBPC were collected after chemotherapy followed by granulocyte (G) colony-stimulating factor (CSF) or granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF in 50 patients. Conditioning regimens included high-dose chemotherapy alone (14 patients); mainly the BCNU, etoposide, aracytine, melphalan [BEAM] regimen), or cyclophosphamide with or without etoposide plus total body irradiation (46 patients). The median time to reach a neutrophil count greater than 0.5 x 10(9)/L was 13 days. There were five treatment-related deaths, with four being associated with a delayed engraftment and all occurring in patients in third or subsequent progression. At a median follow-up of 21 months, 48 patients were still alive, 18 relapsed, and seven died of lymphomas progression. Estimated 2-year overall survival (OS) and failure-free survival (FFS) rates were 86% and 53%, respectively, without or plateau. Patients treated in PR1 or PR2/CR2 had a significantly longer rate of OS and FFS than those treated in subsequent progression (P = .002 and P = .001, respectively), whereas age, response to salvage treatment, presence or absence of residual bone marrow involvement, or conditioning regimen had no influence on outcome. Patients with HT tended to have a worse FFS rate (P = .04) without an OS difference. Along with an unusual rate of engraftment failure, the poor FFS observed in heavily pretreated patients suggests that intensive therapy should be performed early in the course of the disease. Given the high percentage of patients intensified in PR with residual bone marrow involvement, our results are comparable with those achieved with ABMT published to date. Prospective trials are warranted to compar

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carmustine; Combined Modality Therapy; Cyclophosphamide; Cytarabine; Doxorubicin; Graft Rejection; Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Life Tables; Lymphoma, Follicular; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Pancytopenia; Podophyllotoxin; Prednisone; Prognosis; Teniposide; Treatment Outcome; Vincristine; Whole-Body Irradiation

Growth factor granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; filgrastim) is effective at progenitor release into the peripheral blood. After high-dose chemotherapy haematopoietic reconstitution occurs after reinfusion of these peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC). However, the collection by leukapheresis and further processing of PBPC are very time consuming and expensive. We have studied the transplantation potential of a small volume of unprocessed autologous whole blood after G-CSF mobilisation. Six patients with plasma cell disorders received G-CSF 10 micrograms/kg sc during 6 days. Subsequently 11 of whole blood was collected by phlebotomy, kept unprocessed at room temperature and reinfused 24 h after high-dose melphalan 140 mg/m2. CFU-GM content was 845 per ml blood (median, range 320-3472) and CD34+ cells rose to a median percentage of 0.9 (range 0.4-2.0). Haematological recovery was significantly faster in the study group compared with the control group of 20 patients who received the same dose of melphalan without reinfusion of PBPC. The neutrophil count reached 0.5 x 10(9)/l at a median of 12.5 days after infusion of PBPC vs 38 days in the control group (p = 0.0003). The platelet count reached 20 x 10(9)/l after a median of 23.5 days vs 38 days (p = 0.0218). The shortened recovery was reflected by less transfusions, less antibiotic use and shortening of hospital stay (19 days vs 43 days, p = 0.0003). We conclude that this easy technique of mobilisation and collection of PBPC is very effective for hastening haematologic recovery after high-dose chemotherapy.

Topics: Adult; Blood Cell Count; Blood Cells; Blood Transfusion, Autologous; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Combined Modality Therapy; Filgrastim; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Humans; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma; Pancytopenia; Recombinant Proteins; Time Factors

A prospective study was conducted to assess the efficacy and toxicity of a salvage regimen consisting of CCNU, Melphalan, and VP-16 (CAV) given at 28-day intervals in patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) relapsing after primary therapy or refractory to the alternating MOPP/ABVD regimen.. This study included 58 patients (median age: 34 years), with resistant or relapsing HD. Primary therapy had consisted of alternating MOPP/ABVD (81%) or MOPP alone (19%); 38% of patients were relapsing from prior complete remission (CR) while 62% had resistant disease. Extranodal disease was present in 55% and B-symptoms in 72% of patients; one-fifth had bulky disease and/or bone marrow involvement. The CAV was used as first salvage in half of the patients.. Complete remission was obtained in 17 patients (29%); unfavorable factors for CR in univariate analysis were the presence of bulky disease and the failure to achieve CR with prior therapy. Nine patients (53% of remitters) have subsequently relapsed with a 10-month median duration of CR. The 3-year overall survival after CAV was 25% with an 18-month median survival; significant differences in survival were found according to the extent of disease, the presence of B-symptoms and the HD status (prior sensitive or resistant disease, first or subsequent relapse). Seven patients are long-term remitters (12%), and one of them has been given high-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation at relapse after CAV. The CAV toxicity was mostly hematological; severe pancytopenia occurred in six cases with two cases of fatal infections and one of fatal hemorrhage.. CAV therapy was moderately effective as third-line salvage in patients with HD resistant to alternating MOPP/ABVD or previously given two different regimens for relapse; the toxicity was mostly hematological and supportive therapy was needed in one-third of the patients.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bleomycin; Dacarbazine; Doxorubicin; Drug Resistance; Etoposide; Female; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Lomustine; Male; Mechlorethamine; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Pancytopenia; Prednisone; Procarbazine; Prospective Studies; Recurrence; Remission Induction; Salvage Therapy; Survival Rate; Vinblastine; Vincristine

Over a follow-up period of ten years, nine of our 100 patients with multiple myeloma (MM), developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS, preleukaemia). MDS occurred 19-156 (median 35) months from the diagnosis of MM. Six patients presented with pancytopenia and no patients had active MM at the time of MDS diagnosis. Three patients were defined as having refractory anaemia (RA) and six as refractory anaemia with excess blasts (RAEB) or RAEB in transformation (RAEBT), according to the FAB classification. The clinical course is characterized by increasing red blood cell and platelet transfusion requirements, recurrent infections and bleeding episodes. All patients, except for one, died within 3 to 8 (median 5) months from MDS diagnosis. The causes of death were sepsis or bleeding; three patients underwent leukaemic transformation. Thus, the clinical course of this small group of myeloma patients who developed secondary MDS (sMDS), was similar to other series of patients with sMDS. Serial bone marrow examinations suggest an initial hypercellular phase, followed by a rapidly evolving preterminal hypocellular marrow. In an attempt to detect MM patients at risk of developing sMDS, the epidemiological (including ethnic), clinical and laboratory data of the 9 MDS patients at the time of the MM presentation were reviewed and compared to the other MM patients. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in most parameters, except for two. All MDS patients were Ashkenazi Jews and no patients of Sepharadic origin developed MDS. Also, no IgA-myeloma patient developed MDS. If these findings are confirmed in a larger series, it may point to subgroups at risk which may require a different approach.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Aged; Female; Humans; Israel; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Pancytopenia; Prednisone; Risk Factors

The authors report the results of treatment of 41 patients with melphalan-resistant multiple myeloma using single half-body irradiation (HBI) or double half-body irradiation (DHBI). Patients were grouped using prognostic classification reported by the Medical Research Council. Patients in group I and II showed the best response to therapy with reduction in serum of urinary paraprotein and improvement in symptoms, most notably a marked reduction in bone pain. In these groups five patients have survived over 2 years after therapy. The therapeutic response appeared better in those patients who received DHBI as opposed to those whom treated with single HBI. Patients in group III did not achieve prolonged survival but effective relief of bone pain was a consistent finding in these patients also. Thus HBI represents an alternative to combination chemotherapy as second-line treatment of patients with melphalan-resistant multiple myeloma. A comparative study of HBI versus combination chemotherapy is now indicated to establish which therapeutic approach is most effective.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Cobalt Radioisotopes; Drug Resistance; Erythrocyte Transfusion; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Melphalan; Methods; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma; Pancytopenia; Paraproteinemias; Radioisotope Teletherapy

Three cases of secondary leukemia developing after chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for myeloma, mycosis fungoides, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are reported. The first case was a 51-year-old man with IgG-lambda myeloma, treated with melphalan and prednisolone, who developed acute myelomonocytic leukemia 54 months after the diagnosis of myeloma. The second case was a 54-year-old woman with mycosis fungoides treated with radiation, predonine, and cyclophosphamide, who developed acute megakaryoblastic leukemia 298 months after the diagnosis of mycosis fungoides. The third case was a 35-year-old woman with stage IV non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with VEMP who developed acute myelogenous leukemia 26 months after the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma. All cases showed pancytopenia and two of three cases had morphologic abnormality in several hemopoietic cell lineages in the leukemic stage. There is a possibility that second malignancies are an increasingly recognized complication in the patients treated with a large amount of chemo-radiotherapy.

Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Cyclophosphamide; Female; Humans; Leukemia; Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Leukemia, Radiation-Induced; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Male; Melphalan; Mercaptopurine; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma; Mycosis Fungoides; Pancytopenia; Prednisolone; Vincristine

Neuroblastoma and Ewing's sarcoma are examples of pediatric cancers in which disseminated disease is often present at diagnosis or develops later in spite of combination therapy. The demonstration that marrow-ablative doses of chemotherapy can increase tumor cell kill, and that autologous bone marrow can be cryopreserved and reinfused into the patient to reverse such marrow ablation, has stimulated interest in this approach to refractory childhood cancers. We present results of treating eighteen patients with recurrent neuroblastoma and Ewing's sarcoma resistant to conventional therapy. We used supralethal doses of melphalan, supported by reinfusion of previously cryopreserved autologous bone marrow. Seven of 10 neuroblastoma and six of eight Ewing's sarcoma patients had complete or partial responses, lasting for a median of 6 months (neuroblastoma) and 3 months (Ewing's sarcoma). Prolonged hospitalization, pancytopenia complicated by sepsis, and reversible gastrointestinal toxicity were the major side effects. These results suggest this approach should be tested in therapeutic trials at an earlier disease stage in children who have cancers with a predictably bad prognosis.

Topics: Abdominal Neoplasms; Adolescent; Adult; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Bone Neoplasms; Child; Child, Preschool; Combined Modality Therapy; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Melphalan; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neuroblastoma; Pancytopenia; Sarcoma, Ewing; Transplantation, Autologous

Two patients developed acute bone marrow cancer following mastectomy and institution of alkylating agents as adjuvant chemotherapy. An aneuploid condition was observed in both cases, along with involvement of chromosomes 11 and 12 in structural rearrangements. Subsequent studies of 18 patients who had or had not received such therapy showed no evidence of chromosomal aberrations. However, the long-term effect of adjuvant chemotherapy in cancer patients is still of concern until additional information becomes available.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Bone Marrow; Breast Neoplasms; Chromosome Aberrations; Female; Humans; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Pancytopenia