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Evidence on volume outcome associations for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in multiple myeloma (MM) is limited. We investigated ASCT utilization patterns and volume outcome associations in the German National Registry for Stem Cell Transplants (DRST). MM patients with an upfront ASCT between 1998 and 2014 registered in the DRST were included. ASCT utilization increased strongly from 6% to 17% between 1999 and 2013 with the largest increase for patients aged 60–64 years (8–34%). The mean number of ASCTs conducted in the hospitals per year varied (quintiles, Q1:0.0–8.2 to Q5:31.0–102.7). Center volume was not associated with survival after upfront ASCT (lowest vs. highest center volume, hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals: 0.95 (0.76–1.18), p = 0.92). Our findings may reflect a high standard of care and degree of specialization of centers performing ASCT for MM in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphomas and large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia are rare lymphoproliferative malignancies with fundamental different prognosis. This prompted us to examine the expression of SLAMF7 also by T-cell lymphoma, NK/T-cell lymphoma, NK-LGL, and T-LGL. Here we found a strong expression of SLAMF7 by IHC comparable to biopsies from patients with multiple myeloma in NK/T-cell lymphoma, whereas no expression by IHC was found on T-cell lymphoma biopsy tissue of 3 patients with T-cell lymphoma and of 1 patient with T-ALL. Lymphoma tissue of a patient (UPN 1) with NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type stained positive for SLAMF7 by IHC. [Extracted from the article]

SLAMF7 expression in pretreatment formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded mastocytosis bone marrow biopsies derived from five patients with histologically proven SM was evaluated by immuno-histochemical (IHC) staining with SLAMF7-specific antibodies. Bone marrow infiltration of MCs of 60% prior to therapy fell to <5% after therapy (Supplementary Figure 1d/e, Supplemental Data). Cytoreductive therapy in 108 adults with systemic mastocytosis: outcome analysis and response prediction during treatment with interferon-alpha, hydroxyurea, imatinib mesylate or 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine. International Working Group-Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Research and Treatment (IWG-MRT) & European Competence Network on Mastocytosis (ECNM) consensus response criteria in advanced systemic mastocytosis. [Extracted from the article]

The patient granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) response is represented by the leukocyte peak in the blood induced by a single dose of G-CSF after chemotherapy, and is correlated with subsequent neutropenic infection risk. General patterns for a meaningful risk group stratification, have not yet been determined. Two independent data sets including a total of 306 cases with myeloma or lymphoma and autologous blood stem cell transplant were available. An infection susceptibility curve plotted according to ranked G-CSF responses from a multicenter study reproduced and validated a curve from the previous single center. Two trend changes were seen within these curves at around 11 000 and 22 000 leukocytes/μL, which separated three groups with a high, medium and low risk of infection. While G-CSF response is related to the consecutive duration of neutropenia, it retains additional independent predictive information for infection risk ( p < 0.0001) and, more important, is a tool available before the onset of the critical period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented which discusses the case of limbic encephalitis with high serum titres of Hu antibodies in a patient with Hodgkin disease.

A letter to the editor on the adverse effect of DMSO-preserved autologous stem-cells infusion is presented.

Purpose: While recent studies described the role of IKZF1/3 proteins in multiple myeloma (MM) cells, few have highlighted the significance of IKZF1/3 expression in T-cells. In this study we examine the prognostic and predictive value of IKZF1/3 expression in T-cells in patients with MM stage III. Experimental design: We analysed the IKZF1/3 expression levels in T-cells from 45 MM stage I (MMI) and 50 newly diagnosed MM stage III (MMIII) patients, according to Durie-Salmon staging system, by flow cytometry to examine their prognostic and predictive value. We also combined in vivo observations with in vitro assays to determine the effect of IKZF1/3 expression on the T-cell immunophenotype and anti-tumour T-cell response in 162 MMIII patients. Results: We found that high IKZF3, but not IKZF1, expression in T-cells correlates with superior overall survival in MMIII patients treated with immunomodulatory drugs (thalidomide, lenalidomide and pomalidomide). Moreover, we show that higher IKZF3 expression in T-cells inhibits myeloma-specific T-cell response in vitro and that the immunophenotype of patients with high IKZF3 expression shows features that are contrary to the changes induced by immunomodulatory drugs. Although we observed higher IKZF3 expression levels in T-cells from patients with MMIII compared to MMI, IKZF3 expression was unaffected by the tumour microenvironment. Conclusion: In conclusion, IKZF3 expression in T-cells is a predictive value for clinical outcome in MMIII patients treated with immunomodulatory drugs due to its profound modulation of T-cell functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]