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1.
Diagnosis, grading and management of toxicities from immunotherapies in children, adolescents and young adults with cancer
Ragoonanan, D., Khazal, S. J., Abdel-Azim, H., McCall, D., Cuglievan, B., Tambaro, F. P., Ahmad, A. H., Rowan, C. M., Gutierrez, C., Schadler, K., et al
Nature reviews. Clinical oncology. 2021
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies are associated with remarkable therapeutic response rates but also with unique and severe toxicities, which potentially result in rapid deterioration in health. The number of clinical applications for novel immune effector-cell therapies, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing cells, and other immunotherapies, such as immune-checkpoint inhibitors, is increasing. In this Consensus Statement, members of the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI) Network Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Cancer Immunotherapy (HCT-CI) Subgroup, Paediatric Diseases Working Party (PDWP) of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), Supportive Care Committee of the Pediatric Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Consortium (PTCTC) and MD Anderson Cancer Center CAR T Cell Therapy-Associated Toxicity (CARTOX) Program collaborated to provide updated comprehensive recommendations for the care of children, adolescents and young adults receiving cancer immunotherapies. With these recommendations, we address emerging toxicity mitigation strategies, we advocate for the characterization of baseline organ function according to age and discipline-specific criteria, we recommend early critical care assessment when indicated, with consideration of reversibility of underlying pathology (instead of organ failure scores) to guide critical care interventions, and we call for researchers, regulatory agencies and sponsors to support and facilitate early inclusion of young patients with cancer in well-designed clinical trials.
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2.
Superior survival with pediatric-style chemotherapy compared to myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in older adolescents and young adults with Ph-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first complete remission: analysis from CALGB 10403 and the CIBMTR
Wieduwilt, M. J., Stock, W., Advani, A., Luger, S., Larson, R. A., Tallman, M., Appelbaum, F., Zhang, M. J., Bo-Subait, K., Wang, H. L., et al
Leukemia. 2021
Abstract
Optimal post-remission therapy for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with Ph-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in first complete remission (CR1) is not established. We compared overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), relapse, and non-relapse mortality (NRM) for patients receiving post-remission therapy on CALGB 10403 to a cohort undergoing myeloablative (MA) allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in CR1. In univariate analysis, OS was superior with chemotherapy compared to MA allogeneic HCT (3-year OS 77% vs. 53%, P?0.001). In multivariate analysis, allogeneic HCT showed inferior OS (HR 2.00, 95% CI 1.5-2.66, P?0.001), inferior DFS (HR 1.62, 95% CI 1.25-2.12, P?0.001), and increased NRM (HR 5.41, 95% CI 3.23-9.06, P?0.001) compared to chemotherapy. A higher 5-year relapse incidence was seen with chemotherapy compared to allogeneic HCT (34% vs. 23%, P?=?0.011). Obesity was independently associated with inferior OS (HR 2.17, 95% CI 1.63-2.89, P?0.001), inferior DFS (HR 1.97, 95% CI 1.51-2.57, P?0.001), increased relapse (1.84, 95% CI 1.31-2.59, P?0.001), and increased NRM (HR 2.10, 95% CI 1.37-3.23, P?0.001). For AYA ALL patients in CR1, post-remission therapy with pediatric-style chemotherapy is superior to MA allogeneic HCT for OS, DFS, and NRM.
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3.
Improved detection of sinusoidal obstructive syndrome using pediatric-AYA diagnostic criteria and severity grading
Ragoonanan, D., Khazal, S. J., Wang, J., Payne, A., Kohorst, M., Harden, A., Tewari, P., Petropoulos, D., Shoberu, B., Kebriaei, P., et al
Bone marrow transplantation. 2020
Abstract
New diagnostic criteria and severity grading for sinusoidal obstructive syndrome (SOS) among pediatric and adolescent young adult (AYA) patients have been recently endorsed by international consensus. The extent to which these have been adopted in the US remains unclear. We sought to assess the potential impact via retrospective application of these criteria among patients treated at a large academic center in the United States. This is a single center retrospective study of pediatric-AYA patients who underwent hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) between July 2009 and 2019. The incidence of SOS was assessed using historic Baltimore and Seattle diagnostic criteria and compared with more recent guidelines (pEBMT) as proposed by the Paediatric Diseases Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Among 226 patients, application of the pEBMT diagnostic criteria was associated with a higher incidence (15.9%) and earlier time to diagnosis of SOS (by 2.5-3 days) compared with the modified Seattle (12.3%), and Baltimore (6.6%) criteria, respectively. The pEBMT criteria were sensitive and highly specific. Refractory thrombocytopenia was present in 75% of patients at diagnosis. Approximately 61% of patients with SOS were anicteric at diagnosis, though the majority (94.4%) developed hyperbilirubinemia as SOS progressed over a median time of 4 (1-57) days. Application of pEBMT criteria may have resulted in earlier indication for definitive treatment by 3 days. Timely diagnosis and administration of definitive treatment of SOS has been associated with improved outcomes. Prospective studies may better characterize the risk factors and natural course of SOS using pEBMT criteria.
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4.
Diagnosis, grading, and treatment recommendations for children, adolescents, and young adults with sinusoidal obstructive syndrome: an international expert position statement
Mahadeo, K. M., Bajwa, R., Abdel-Azim, H., Lehmann, L. E., Duncan, C., Zantek, N., Vittorio, J., Angelo, J., McArthur, J., Schadler, K., et al
The Lancet. Haematology. 2019
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Full text
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Editor's Choice
Abstract
Sinusoidal obstructive syndrome, also known as hepatic veno-occlusive disease, is a potentially life-threatening complication that occurs in children undergoing haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). Differences in the incidence of genetic predisposition and clinical presentation of sinusoidal obstructive syndrome between children and adults have rendered the historical Baltimore and Seattle diagnostic criteria insufficient for children. In 2017, the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) proposed the first paediatric diagnostic and severity grading guidelines for sinusoidal obstructive syndrome, intended for implementation across European centres. However, universally accepted paediatric criteria are needed to ensure prompt diagnosis, definitive treatment, and improved outcomes for children, adolescents, and young adults with sinusoidal obstructive syndrome, and to facilitate international clinical research collaboration. We convened an international panel of multidisciplinary experts including physicians with expertise in HSCT, paediatric intensive care, nephrology, hepatology, radiology, pathology, and transfusion medicine; HSCT advanced-practice providers and medical trainees; pharmacists; and translational and basic science researchers from the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators Network, the EBMT, the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortia, and several other institutions with extensive experience in sinusoidal obstructive syndrome. Panellists convened at The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX, USA) in February, 2019, to evaluate the available evidence. In this expert position statement paper, we provide consensus recommendations for the international implementation of guidelines for the diagnosis, severity grading, and treatment of sinusoidal obstructive syndrome among children, adolescents, and young adults. We endorse universal adoption of paediatric diagnostic guidelines for sinusoidal obstruction syndrome as proposed by the EBMT, and provide implementation guidance for standardisation across centres; we have further proposed adjunctive use of age-appropriate organ-specific toxicity criteria for severity grading and provided prophylaxis and treatment considerations among children and adolescent and young adult patients. Key recommendations include: (1) liver biopsy, portal venous wedge pressure, and reversal of portal venous flow on Doppler ultrasonography should not be used for the routine diagnosis of sinusoidal obstructive syndrome in children, adolescents, and young adults; (2) platelet refractoriness can be defined as a corrected count increment of less than 5000-7500 following at least two sequential ABO-compatible fresh platelet transfusions; (3) hepatomegaly is best defined as an absolute increase of at least 1 cm in liver length at the midclavicular line; and if a baseline measurement is not available, hepatomegaly can be defined as greater than 2 SDs above normal for age; and (4) the presence and volume of ascites can be categorised as mild (minimal fluid by liver, spleen, or pelvis), moderate (<1 cm fluid), or severe (fluid in all three regions with >1 cm fluid in at least two regions).
PICO Summary
Population
Paediatric patients with sinusoidal obstruction syndrome / hepatic veno-occlusive disease
Intervention
Guidelines produced by an international panel of multidisciplinary experts from the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators Network, the EBMT, the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortia, and several other institutions with extensive experience in sinusoidal obstructive syndrome.
Comparison
None
Outcome
Key recommendations include: (1) liver biopsy, portal venous wedge pressure, and reversal of portal venous flow on Doppler ultrasonography should not be used for the routine diagnosis of sinusoidal obstructive syndrome in children, adolescents, and young adults; (2) platelet refractoriness can be defined as a corrected count increment of less than 5000-7500 following at least two sequential ABO-compatible fresh platelet transfusions; (3) hepatomegaly is best defined as an absolute increase of at least 1 cm in liver length at the midclavicular line; and if a baseline measurement is not available, hepatomegaly can be defined as greater than 2 SDs above normal for age; and (4) the presence and volume of ascites can be categorised as mild (minimal fluid by liver, spleen, or pelvis), moderate (<1 cm fluid), or severe (fluid in all three regions with >1 cm fluid in at least two regions).
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5.
Management guidelines for paediatric patients receiving chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy
Mahadeo, K. M., Khazal, S. J., Abdel-Azim, H., Fitzgerald, J. C., Taraseviciute, A., Bollard, C. M., Tewari, P., Duncan, C., Traube, C., McCall, D., et al
Nature reviews. Clinical oncology. 2018
Abstract
In 2017, an autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy indicated for children and young adults with relapsed and/or refractory CD19(+) acute lymphoblastic leukaemia became the first gene therapy to be approved in the USA. This innovative form of cellular immunotherapy has been associated with remarkable response rates but is also associated with unique and often severe toxicities, which can lead to rapid cardiorespiratory and/or neurological deterioration. Multidisciplinary medical vigilance and the requisite health-care infrastructure are imperative to ensuring optimal patient outcomes, especially as these therapies transition from research protocols to standard care. Herein, authors representing the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI) Network Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Subgroup and the MD Anderson Cancer Center CAR T Cell Therapy-Associated Toxicity (CARTOX) Program have collaborated to provide comprehensive consensus guidelines on the care of children receiving CAR T cell therapy.
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6.
Etiologies and Impact of Readmission Rates in the First 180 Days After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
Maher, O. M., Silva, J. G., Huh, W. W., Cuglievan, B., DePombo, A., Kebriaei, P., Park, M., Liu, D., Tillman, C., Tarek, N., et al
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. 2017;39(8):609-613
Abstract
INTRODUCTION High rates of patients require readmission to the hospital within 6 months of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We investigated the relationship between readmission rates and outcomes after HSCT in children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYA). MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis of patients (26 years or younger) treated with HSCT was conducted. RESULTS A chart review of 435 CAYA who underwent HSCT from 2008 to 2015 revealed that 171 patients (39%) had at least 1 hospital readmission within 180 days of transplant; 87% received allogeneic and 13% received autologous HSCT. A total of 312 readmission events were reported. The median follow-up time was 31 months. Documented infection (n=99) and graft-versus-host disease complications (n=60) were the most common causes. Higher than 2 readmission rates were associated with lower overall survival (OS) (P=0.001) and disease-free survival (P<0.001) in patients who received allogeneic HSCT. These findings were not found in the autologous HSCT. In a multivariate analysis of those who received allogeneic HSCT, prior treatment with >=2 chemotherapy regimens (P=0.03) was independent predictor of lower OS. There were also trends noted toward lower OS for patients with documented infections at index admission or subsequent readmissions (P=0.09). CONCLUSIONS More than 2 hospital readmissions within 6 months of allogeneic HSCT in CAYA, who are either heavily pretreated or had documented infections at index admission or subsequent readmissions adversely affected the outcomes.