Search

Background: In patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukaemia (R/R AML) who received salvage chemotherapy, limited and not updated studies explored the incidence of invasive aspergillosis (IA) and the role of antifungal prophylaxis (AP). The aims of this multicentre retrospective 'SEIFEM 2016-B' study were as follows: (1) to evaluate the current rate and the outcome of proven/probable IA and (2) to assess the efficacy of AP, in a large 'real life' series of patient with R/R AML submitted to salvage chemotherapy. Results: Of 2250 R/R AML patients, a total of 74 cases of IA (5.1%) were recorded as follows: 10 (0.7%) proven and 64 (4.3%) probable. Information about AP were available in 73/74 (99%) patients. Fifty-eight (79%) breakthrough infections occurred, mainly during AP with posaconazole [25 (43%)]. The patients who received AP during salvage chemotherapy showed a benefit from antifungal therapy (AT) than patients who did not received AP [43 (86%) vs 7 (14%); p&nbsp

Favorable acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients (pts.) demonstrate a relatively good outcome with standard induction; thus, pts. are generally not addressed to allogeneic transplant in first remission. However, it is not clear if also in a real-life setting, the outcome is homogeneous in the different favorable molecular groups and which are the parameters significantly associated to an increased relapse risk, useful to suggest the need of an intensified approach. In order to clarify this point, we collected clinical data on consecutive unselected AML pts. assigned to favorable category (modified ELN 2010 due to the inclusion of double-mutated CEBPA-positive cases), diagnosed and treated in six centers of the Italian network Rete Ematologica Lombarda (REL) from 2007 to 2015. We assessed response (CR, mCR), relapse rate (CIR), and outcome (OS, DFS) after first-line treatment. A total of 201 pts. was studied and the analysis was performed globally and in each molecular group: t(8;21)(q22;q22)/RUNX1-RUNX1T1 (30 pts., 14.9%), inv. (16)(p13q22) or t(16;16)(p13q22)/CBFB-MIH11 (35 pts., 17.4%), normal karyotype and mutated NPM1 and negative FLT3-ITD (116 pts., 57.7%) or double-mutated CEBPA (CEBPAdm) (20 pts., 10%). Complete remission (CR) was obtained in 188 pts. (93.5%), molecular CR (mCR) in 114 (67.5%); After a median follow-up of 2.4 years, cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) was documented in 78 of 188 responding pts. (41%) after a median time of 11.3 months. CIR was higher in the CBFB-MIH11 group, in pts. achieving only a hematological response without mCR (72.1 vs 28.1%, p

The epidemiology of invasive fungal infections (IFI) among patients with hematologic malignancies who are undergoing either conventional chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is changing due to the introduction of new, effective antifungal agents for both prophylaxis and

Summary Objectives To describe the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of hematological patients affected by Nocardia spp infections. Methods We retrospectively evaluated all the cases diagnosed in four Italian institutions. Results Between 2002 and 2012, 10 cases of nocardiosis were recorded. The median age of the patients was 66 years (range 24–85 years). The underlying hematological disease was a lymphoproliferative disorder in all but two patients. Eight patients (80%) showed active underlying hematological disease, relapsed or refractory in five (50%); one patient had a history of previous allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Eight patients (80%) were on steroid therapy; lymphopenia was present in 8/10 (80%) patients. All patients showed lung involvement. Six patients were affected by disseminated nocardiosis. Three patients (30%) were nocardemic and three (30%) showed central nervous system involvement. Skin, lymph nodes, and bone were involved in one patient each. The median overall survival was 65 days. Older age, a longer period between hematological diagnosis and Nocardia spp infection, and relapsed/refractory hematological disease were associated with a worse prognosis. Conclusions Although rare, nocardiosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary and central nervous system lesions among hematological patients. Lymphoproliferative disorders, prolonged steroid treatment, lymphopenia, and active hematological disease are the conditions that are worth considering as predisposing factors for the development of this disease.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with deranged core-binding factor beta (CBFβ) is usually associated with a favorable prognosis with 50–70% of patients cured using contemporary treatments. We analyzed the prognostic significance of clinical features on 58 patients with CBFβ-AML aged ≤60 years. Increasing age was the only predictor for survival (P

Blast phase (BP) may occur as a late event in essential thrombocythemia (ET). This study includes 19 patients with post-ET BP diagnosed and followed in a single institution. At BP, 63% of patients had leukocytosis (white blood cell count >10 x 10(9)/L), 74% had anemia (hemoglobin value

We used intermediate doses of Ara-C (IDAra-C) in the treatment of 15 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in blast crisis and, combined with hydroxyurea, in 20 CML patients in accelerated phase. Patients with blastic CML received intensive 5-day courses of IDAra-C 600 mg/m2 every 12 h as a 2-h infusion. Of 15 patients, three achieved complete response (CR) and three partial response (PR), for an overall response rate of 40 per cent. All patients developed severe leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, and two died in hypoplasia. Except nausea and vomiting requiring medication, other nonhematologic toxicities were uncommon. Median response duration was 4 months (range 1 to 7 months). Survival was 5 months for responders and 1.5 months for nonresponders. Patients with CML in accelerated phase were treated with two-day courses of IDAra-C 600 mg/m2 every 12 h by 2-h infusion, every two-three weeks. Daily hydroxyurea 1-1.5 g/day was administered between courses. Of 20 patients, 15 (75 per cent) achieved a good PR with rapid improvement of the symptoms of disease acceleration. The median duration of response was 11 months (range 3 to 38 months); duration was over 24 months in five patients. The median survival from the start of IDAra-C was 13 months for responders and 3.5 months for nonresponders. We conclude that IDAra-C is an effective approach for CML in terminal phase. Its use in 5-day induction courses for blast crisis CML has a response rate comparable to that achieved with high-dose Ara-C. In patients in accelerated phase, the combination of short courses of IDAra-C with hydroxyurea is a well-tolerated treatment able to improve substantially the clinical and hematologic symptoms of disease progression.

We report a case of a patient with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM) who presented with progressive dyspnea of unexplained origin. Splenomegaly, blood smear, and bone marrow findings allowed diagnosis of MMM. High-resolution CT chest scan revealed diffuse septal thickening, while echocardiography and electrocardiogram showed no indirect evidence of pulmonary hypertension. Finally, lung biopsy revealed irregularly distributed interstitial fibrosis with islands of erythroblasts, immature granulocytic elements, and dysplastic megakaryocytes, allowing diagnosis of pulmonary extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH). The patient received hydroxyurea as cytoreductive agent, obtaining a good hematologic response and an improvement of dyspnea. Note that, in this patient, dyspnea was the first clinical symptom of MMM; the dyspnea was not associated with pulmonary hypertension and improved following cytoreductive treatment. This case points to the importance of suspecting pulmonary EMH when unexplained progressive dyspnea occurs in a patient with MMM. Early recognition of pulmonary EMH may prevent PH and favor a better response to therapy.

BACKGROUND Acute leukemia (AL) may occur as rare and late event of polycythemia vera (PV). METHODS The current study included 23 patients who developed acute leukemia in a cohort of 414 consecutive PV patients with long-term observation (3208 person years of follow-up). Kaplan–Meier Product-Limit method was used to estimate the cumulative probability of survival; Gehan–Wilcoxon test was applied to compare survival in different groups of patients. RESULTS Median age was 68 years, and 18 patients (78%) were > 60 years of age. At diagnosis of AL, most patients had a white blood count > 10 × 109/L (n = 17; 74%), Hgb 50 × 109/L (n = 17; 74%). Of 14 patients in whom cytogenetic analysis was available at leukemic transformation, 12 showed high-risk abnormalities including complex karyotype (n = 10), del (7)(q22) sole (n = 1) and del (X)(q26) sole (n = 1), whereas 2 had a normal karyotype. In patients whose karyotype was available at diagnosis of PV, cytogenetic evolution was documented at progression to AL. Treatment consisted of supportive care and/or low-dose chemotherapy (n = 15), or induction chemotherapy (n = 8). This included idarubicin plus cytarabine (n = 3), high-dose cytarabine (n = 4), and fludarabine-based regimen (n = 1). Allogenic stem cell transplantation was offered to a single patient, who is alive at Day + 70. The outcome of patients was poor, with a median survival of 2.9 months (range, 0.6–20.1 mos), with no significant differences between palliation and intensive treatments. CONCLUSIONS AL following PV has distinct clinical and biologic features. Outcome of patients is poor irrespective of the treatment employed. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.

Objectives To investigate the incidence, treatment and outcome of breakthrough invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in adult acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients after posaconazole prophylaxis. Methods From January 2010 to April 2012, all consecutive patients with newly diagnosed AML were prospectively registered at 33 participating Italian centres. All cases of IFIs occurring within 30 days after the end of the first induction chemotherapy were recorded. The strategy of antifungal treatment (empirical, pre-emptive or targeted) and the drugs used were analysed. ClinicalTrials.gov code: NCT01315925. Results In total, 1192 patients with newly diagnosed AML were enrolled in the study, of whom 510 received posaconazole prophylaxis and were included in the present analysis. Of these patients, 140 (27%) needed systemic antifungal treatment. Among the 127 evaluable cases, an empirical approach was utilized in 102 patients (80%), a pre-emptive approach in 19 patients (15%) and targeted therapy in 6 patients (5%). Only five patients died of IFIs (three in the empirical group and two in the targeted group; 4%). A critical review of IFI diagnoses at 30 days demonstrated that among the patients treated empirically, ∼30% were not affected by IFIs but rather only by fever of unidentified origin. A comparison between the empirical and the pre-emptive groups showed no significant differences regarding the attributable and overall mortalities. Conclusions This study confirms that posaconazole prophylaxis reduces the incidence of breakthrough IFIs and does not modify the efficacy of subsequent systemic antifungal treatment, regardless of the approach (empirical or pre-emptive) or the antifungal drug used.

"# $ $ % ! ! & '$ #! ( ! $ $ )*+,, !- ./ 01/2)3,/,03"&./01/2)3 ,))3,peer-00583548, version 1 - 6 Apr 2011 45 (

Dear Editor, Invasive fungal sinusitis is a rare, severe infection, typically occurring in immunocompromised patients who have impaired neutrophil function or who have received longterm immunosuppressive therapy [1]. Haematological patients and among them, those affected by acute leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome are at higher risk [2]. The occurrence of this complication often compromises the therapeutic programme for the underlying haematological condition, necessitating a delay or cessation of chemotherapy with a subsequent high risk of relapse or progression. The acute fulminant form is characterised by its speed of evolution and is associated with a high mortality rate that reaches 100% in cases of intracranial mycotic dissemination [3]. The clinical onset is generally subtle and insidious; facial swelling or pain with or without fever must be promptly considered as possible signs of invasive sinusitis. Computed tomography (CT) evidence of pronounced thickening of the mucosa of the nasal cavity strongly suggests the diagnosis, which can be confirmed by identification of the pathogenic fungus in sinus tissues. Surgical debridement of the affected sinus is a necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedure and must be combined with systemic antifungal therapy. The fungi most frequently involved are Aspergillus and Zygomicetes. Prognosis is related to various factors, such as the speed of diagnosis and treatment, the type of fungal infection [3], dissemination to the central nervous system, and complete neutrophil recovery [4]. The scarce information in the literature on invasive fungal sinusitis in immunocompromised patients highlights the importance and efficacy of a combined surgical and medical approach [5]. However, the factors with a major role in the evolution of the infection have not been discussed. We describe here seven cases of invasive fungal sinusitis, observed at our institution between November 2006 and December 2008, in patients affected by acute leukaemia (five patients with acute myeloid leukaemia and two with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia). These seven cases occurred among a total of 130 patients with acute leukaemia newly diagnosed in the same period. Table 1 summarises the characteristics of these seven patients and their infections. In all cases, the infection developed while the patients were severely neutropenic (neutrophil count< 500/mmc); the neutropenia was chemotherapy-related in six patients, while in one case of acute leukaemic transformation of a myelodysplastic syndrome, it was an expression of the patient’s haematological disease. This last patient had never been treated before; two out of the other six patients had received only induction chemotherapy, while the other four patients had a prior history of more chemotherapy (1–8 lines of chemotherapy). Facial pain with or without facial swelling was the initial symptom in all cases, associated with fever in six out of the seven patients. CTscanning, which P. Zappasodi (*) :M. Rossi : C. Castagnola :A. Corso : M. Bonfichi :M. Lazzarino Division of Haematology, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy e-mail: p.zappasodi@smatteo.pv.it

Between July 1992 and June 1996, 901 new cases of adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia were recorded in the GIMEMA Archive of Adult Acute Leukaemia; 21 of them (2.3%) had a previous primary malignancy (PM). We found that secondary acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cases (sALL) presented with older age, a high incidence of pre-pre-B immunophenotype and a significantly higher prevalence of cancer among relatives compared to de novo ALL. The leukaemogenic activity of the cytotoxic drugs employed for the treatment of PM may have played a potential role in only a proportion of patients, opening the possibility that some sALL patients may have developed two or more malignancies due to individual predisposing factors.

One hundred and five consecutive primary high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or secondary acute myeloid leukaemia (sAML) evolving from MDS (performance status 0–3, ECOG) entered this study. Induction chemotherapy (CT) consisted of idarubicine 12 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1 and 2, etoposide 60 mg/m2/12 h i.v. for 5 d, Ara-C 120 mg/m2/12 h i.v. for 5 d (one or two courses). Patients were randomized to receive or not G-CSF (5 μg/kg/d subcutaneously 48 h after the end of CT). 52 cases underwent CT alone and 53 CT+G-CSF. The CT + G-CSF patients had a significantly shorter duration of neutropenia (8 v 16 d) with a lower incidence of infections and significantly better responses (CR+PR: 74% v 52%, P

Introduction: The European Leukemia Net (ELN) stratification classifies as favorable prognosis four different subgroups of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with specific cytogenetic/molecular abnormalities. These forms are potentially curable with standard chemotherapy, even though about 30% of patients (pts) still relapse. Overall survival (OS) of 60% at 5 years is reported but it is not clear if all different subgroups show an homogeneous outcome. The purpose of this study was to assess, in a real life setting, the response rate and the outcome of newly diagnosed AML patients with favorable prognosis based on ELN classification. Data were collected from six hematological centers of the regional network REL (Rete Ematologica Lombarda). Methods: Between 2007 and 2014 we analyzed adult AML patients with t(8;21)(q22;q22)/RUNX1-RUNX1T1(group1), inv(16)(p13q22) or t(16;16)(p13q22)/CBFbeta-MIH11(group 2), normal karyotype and mutated NPM1 and negative FLT3-ITD (group 3) or double mutated CEBPA (CEBPA dm) (group 4). All patients received induction, mainly standard 3+7 chemotherapy (or reduced 1+5 in older pts) in 66% of cases, followed by high dose cytarabine based consolidation in 77% of pts. Clinical and molecular data were analyzed at diagnosis and at different time points during treatment and follow up with qualitative and quantitative PCR. The Kaplan-Meier product-limit method was used to estimate survival curves, and the log-rank test was adopted to evaluate differences between groups of pts. Results: We studied 177 AML pts (96 males and 81 females) with a median age of 55 years (range 20-80): 27 of group 1, 35 of group 2, 98 of group 3 and 17 of group 4. Complete hematological response (CHR), assessed in 176 pts, was achieved in 161 pts (92%): 23(85%), 32(91%), 90(93%), 16(94%) respectively in group 1, 2, 3, 4 without significant difference (p=0.26). Molecular complete remission (mCR), evaluated in 152 pts out of 161 in CHR, was documented in 102 pts. Forty pts entered mCR after induction and 62 pts at the end of consolidation or later (1-40 months); therefore, mCR rate was 67%. Considering the type of the method, 48 pts resulted in mCR with qualitative PCR, the remaining 54 (53%) with qualitatitive and quantitative PCR. Median time to mCR was 4 months and was different among groups (p=0.03); in particular, t(8;21) pts obtained mCR later than NPM1 pts (8 versus 2.6 months) (p=0.01). The relapse rate was 41% and the median time to relapse was 10.2 months, without any difference among groups (respectively p=0.5 and p=0.8). Five years overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) were 65% and 47% with no significant difference among groups (respectively p=0.3 and p=0.9). Age ( Conclusion: This study, conducted in a non selected population of favorable risk AML patients, confirms high CR rate and the prognostic value of age, favoring patients younger than 60 years. Our data confirm that the ELN classification identifies a clinically homogeneous group of good risk AML patients sharing comparable outcome even outside clinical trials setting. Molecular complete remission is associated with better outcome, in particular when assessed by quantitative PCR. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The treatment of the pulmonary toxicity induced by carmustine is nowadays based on the use of corticosteroids that generally lead to a rapid resolution of pneumonitis. On the contrary, no therapeutic alternatives are reported for those patients who do not respond to steroids. We describe a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a patient who developed a severe interstitial pneumonitis after an autologous transplantation including carmustine in the conditioning regimen. He was successfully treated with an association of steroids and cyclosporine A with a rapid improvement of symptoms and a complete resolution of pneumonitis. This is, to our knowledge, the first case of carmustine-induced pneumonitis, resistant to steroids alone, successfully treated with cyclosporine A. This suggests an immunoallergic mechanism in the pathogenesis of the damage, which can be reversed with prompt therapy.

Background. Given the good penetration of systemic high-dose cytarabine (HDara-C) into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), this approach was used to treat patients with central nervous system (CNS) leukemia, either isolated or with concurrent extraneurologic disease (END). Methods. From 1983 to 1991, 46 adults with CNS involvement were treated with systemic HDara-C: 25 had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 15 had high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), 5 had acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and 1 had lymphoid blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Induction consisted of HDara-C 3 g/m2 every 12 hours, by 3-hour infusion, for 8 doses (30 patients), or 6 doses (16 patients), followed by 4 doses at day 21. Results. Of 46 patients, 29 (63%) achieved complete remission (CR): 15/15 with isolated CNS leukemia, and 14/31 (45%) with CNS and concurrent marrow or lymph node disease. Of 17 patients not meeting CR criteria because of persistent END, 11 showed complete CNS response. The first 10 remitters were consolidated with monthly 4-dose courses of HDara-C. The remaining 19 received postinduction multidrug chemotherapy (including vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, Lasparaginase, etoposide plus intermediate-dose ara-C, mitoxantrone plus HDara-C) and intrathecal methotrexate (MTX) ± cranial radiation therapy. One patient underwent autologous and one allogeneic bone marrow transplant. Median CR duration was 7 months (range, 2–56+): 8 months for patients with isolated CNS leukemia, and 4 months for those with concurrent END. In only two patients was CNS the primary site of relapse. Three patients with isolated CNS leukemia are disease-free at 23, 40, and 56 months. The main toxicity was myelosuppression. No patient showed dose-limiting neurologic toxicity. Conclusions. Systemic HDara-C appears effective therapy for CNS leukemia, maximally in cases with isolated CNS involvement. HDara-C may be combined safely with cranial radiation therapy and intrathecal MTX. This approach for CNS leukemia, however, needs to be combined with additional treatments to eradicate residual disease in extraneurologic compartments.

In this report, we present images from a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia who experienced several central nervous system relapses.

Treatment and outcome of 103 consecutive patients aged greater than or equal to 60 with de novo acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) were reviewed. Twenty-three cases (22%) were not suitable for induction chemotherapy because of very poor presenting general conditions and could receive supportive care alone. The majority of them died within 1 month. Twenty-eight patients (27%) aged greater than or equal to 70 and/or with concurrent nonhematologic disorders underwent mild induction chemotherapy, which produced 3 complete remissions. The median survival for this group was 2 months. Only 52 patients (50%) were considered eligible for conventional induction chemotherapy. For this group, response rate was 34.5%, the median survival was 3.5 months, and median survival for responding patients was 13 months. Only intensive chemotherapy seems capable of substantially improving prognosis for older ANLL patients. This approach, however, is feasible only in a minority of patients, due to a high incidence of life-threatening complications.

OBJECTIVES Aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the risk of invasive fungal infection (IFI) in patients (pts) with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and to compare APL pts with patients affected by non promyelocytic acute myeloid leukemia (npAML) in order to evaluate factors potentially linked to IFI in these two subsets of acute myeloid leukemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS From January 2010 to April 2012 all pts with newly diagnosed AML were registered in 33 Italian participating centers. A minimum follow up of 90 days after 1st induction chemotherapy was requested for all pts. A prolonged follow up until June 2014 was made only for APL. Data were collected about age, gender, AML subtype, treatment and also about post chemotherapy risk factors for IFI (duration of neutropenia, mucosal damages, vomiting, diarrhea, presence of medical devices), antifungal prophylaxis, onset of IFI, level of certainty (possible/probable/proven), and antifungal treatment. Only for APL the survey was prolonged for at least 3 months in order to analyze if these pts have an IFI risk during other than first induction phases. RESULTS 1,192 consecutive newly diagnosed adult AML pts (npAML:1,086/APL:106) were enrolled in the study. Among npAML pts, those receiving low dose chemotherapy and/or palliative treatment were excluded from the analysis; in the remaining 881 pts 214 cases (24%) of IFI were recorded. Considering APL, 3 pts were excluded from the analysis due to early death (1 pt) or bad performance status (2 pts). The remaining 103 pts received APL treatment according to local protocols: all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) plus chemotherapy (90 pts) or ATRA plus arsenic trioxide (ATO)(13 pts). Only 8 (8%) APL pts developed an IFI after the induction phase: 1 proven, 3 probable and 4 possible IFI. All cases were caused by molds. All APL were followed for a median follow up of 36 months (range 3-54). During this time only 2 other cases of IFI were observed: 1 possible IFI during consolidation at 16 weeks from APL diagnosis and 1 probable aspergillosis in a rare case of APL relapse at 132 weeks from APL diagnosis. All the IFI occurred in pts treated with ATRA plus chemotherapy. IFI was fatal in only 1 case (cerebral aspergillosis), all the other pts recovered after antifungal treatment. A comparison between npAML and APL was made in order to analyze the risk of IFI within 90 days after induction treatment among these 2 groups of patients (see table). A significantly lower number of overall IFI and systemic antifungal treatment was observed in the APL group, in spite of the fact that systemic anti mold prophylaxis was significantly less frequently utilized. | | || | | APL | npAML | p | | Number of pts | 103 | 881 | | | Mean age | 51 | 55 | 0.01 | | m/f | 50/53 | 448/433 | N.S. | | Performance status (WHO) 0-1 >1 | . 76 27 | . 284 597 | .

From 2000 to 2004, 152 patients with multiple myeloma agedor=65 years, enrolled in high-dose programs, were treated with two schedules of DCEP (dexamethasone, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and cisplatin): 106 patients (group I) were mobilized with the infusional version of DCEP (infusional-DCEP), and 46 patients (group II) with a shorter version (DCEP-short). The median number of CD34(+) cells collected was similar in the two groups as was the percentage of patients yieldingor=4 x 10(6) cells/kg. The proportion of patients in whom mobilization failed was similar in the two groups. The incidence of WHO grade III neutropenia was higher in group II, although the difference was not statistically significant; the percentage of patients requiring hospitalization for severe infections was similar in the two groups. The incidence of WHO grade IV thrombocytopenia did not differ between the two groups. The response rate was 72% in group I and 80% in group II with similar percentages of patients achieving good responses. DCEP-short is a good mobilizing regimen, sharing the same characteristics as infusional-DCEP: high mobilizing efficacy, low toxicity and good antitumor activity. This new schedule of DCEP does, however, allow complete outpatient management and so could be advantageously included in any high-dose therapy program.

Background and Objectives: In adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), unlike in childhood ALL, the percentage of long-term remitters and survivors has not improved significantly over the last decades. In the present analysis, we describe a series of adult ALL patients consecutively treated with the same regimen in order to analyse prognostic factors and treatment outcome as well as to define new risk-oriented strategies. Design and Methods: From 1990 to 1998, 102 newly diagnosed ALL patients were referred to our division, 83 of them were eligible for the present study. Median age was 31 years (range 13–76); 77.1% had B-lineage ALL and 22.9% T-lineage ALL; 36.1% showed associated myeloid markers. All patients received an induction phase treatment, consisting of a 4-week cycle with vincristine, daunorubicin, L-asparaginase and desametasone; the consolidation phase included cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, 6-mercaptopurine and central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis, followed by three of months maintenance (methotrexate + 6-mercaptopurine), re-induction (4-week cycle with vincristine, adriamicin, desametasone), and 2-year maintenance with methotrexate + 6-mercaptopurine. Results: Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 66 patients (79.5%); 20.5% of patients were resistant. The relapse rate was 60.2%. There were 10 CNS relapses (accounting for 12% of all patients, 15% of all CRs and 20% of all relapses). One patient had an ovarian and 2 had a breast relapse. Eleven patients remained in first continuous CR after chemotherapy. Median overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 1.8 and 1.0 years, respectively, with a median follow-up of 5.6 years (range 0.3–12.1). Initial white blood cell count ≤30 × 109/l, age Interpretation and Conclusions: In our cohort, we were able to define a small subgroup of adult ALL patients with a better outcome. However, the majority of patients is at a high risk of failure when treated with standard protocols. There is a need for new, more active regimens for these patients.

Several trials have suggested that intensive post-remission therapy may prolong the duration of complete remission (CR) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and the efficacy of high-dose cytarabine (HiDAC) consolidation chemotherapy followed by high-dose therapy and autologous infusion of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) mobilized by G-CSF in adult patients with AML in first CR. Fifteen consecutive AML patients underwent HiDAC consolidation chemotherapy, used as a method of in vivo purging, followed by G-CSF for the purpose of autologous PBPC collection. Eleven patients collected a median of 6.9x10(8)/kg peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) (range 2.9-23) and a median of 6.67x10(6)/kg CD34+ cells (range 1.8-33.5) with a median of two aphereses (range 1-3). Two patients did not mobilize and two obtained an inadequate number of progenitor cells. The 11 patients with adequate collections received myeloablative chemotherapy followed by the infusion of PBPC. The median number of days to recover neutrophils and platelets was 12 and 13, respectively. After a median follow-up of 28.7 months (range 17.2-43.4), five out of 11 patients who underwent PBPC transplantation are still in CR, five have died in first relapse and one is alive in CR after relapse treated with salvage therapy and second PBPC infusion. These results demonstrate that HiDAC consolidation chemotherapy followed by autologous PBPC transplantation is a feasible procedure with minimal toxicity. Randomized studies should be performed to evaluate whether this form of consolidation may produce a significant improvement in leukemia-free survival.

Growth factors (GF) are reported to play an important role in the therapy of myelodisplastic syndromes (MDS). After in vitro administration a consistent group of MDS may respond to GF but the possibility of differentiation, regulation or expansion of myelodisplastic clones following GF therapy is still a question to be answered as their optimum dose and combinations. To validate if in vivo treatment with GF, may promote the regulation or the recovery of myelopoiesis and/or modify the clonality of the responses, we gave G-CSF after intensive chemotherapy in high risk MDS and acute leukemia evolving from MDS patients. According to our data the use of G-CSF after intensive chemotherapy may improve the CR rate without increase of leukemic transformation. However the answer were clonal and the remission duration remained very short so we suggest to utilize this time to perform other therapeutic strategies such as, when possible, the BMT.

We have compared the CFU-GM growth observed in 29 PBSC samples (8 HL, 21 NHL) to that obtained with 30 bone marrow (BM) “buffy coats” harvested for an autologous BMT program in pts without BM involvement (25 AML, 3 HL, 2 NHL). The CFU-GM tests were performed before cryopreservation, made without noncontrolled heat fusion, and after thawing. The collections of PBSC were made with a CS3000 Plus (Baxter). The apheresis were performed after mobilisation with HD CTX 4 g/m2 and administration of G-CSF (6–15 days). The cultures of CFU-GM were made in methylcellulose for PBSC and in agar monolayer for BM cells, using a conditioned medium from 5637 cell line as source of CSF. Before freezing a mean the CFU-GM growth of from BM cells were higher than in PBSC (35.5 vs 26: P

Background: Dasatinib is a potent, oral inhibitor of the BCR-ABL, c-KIT and SRC kinase family, which has proven to be a more active inhibitor of BCR-ABL and c-KIT than imatinib in preclinical studies. Clinically, it has been shown to be effective in chronic myeloid leukemia and in Ph+ ALL patients resistant or intolerant to imatinib. Aims: The primary objective of the study was to assess the activity of dasatinib in de novo adult Ph+ ALL patients in terms of complete hematological remission (CHR); the secondary objectives were treatment toxicity, rate of immunophenotypic and molecular responses, disease-free survival (DFS), relapse rate and overall survival (OS). Methods: The GIMEMA LAL 1205 protocol was designed for patients ≥18 years (no upper age limit) who receive dasatinib po, 70 mg BID. A steroid pre-phase is started 7 days prior to dasatinib administration and continued up to day 31, and then tapered. The pre-phase allows identification of the BCR/ABL transcript. Dasatinib is given for 12 weeks. Two intrathecal methotrexates are administered at days +22 and +43. All cases are analyzed through a central handling of samples at presentation for morphology, immunophenotype, cytogenetics and molecular biology at the coordinating center in Rome. Minimal residual disease (MRD) is also centrally investigated by flow-cytometry and Q-RT-PCR at days +22, +43, +57 and +84. The protocol was designed for 48 patients. Results: Recruitment started in November 2006 and was completed in August 2008. The median age of the 48 enrolled BCR/ABL+ ALL patients was 54 years (range 24-76), 26 were females and 22 males. The median WBC count was 20.1 (range 2.2–133). The last analysis has been conducted on 36 patients. One patient stopped treatment after 14 days due to intestinal toxicity and 1 patient refused treatment. Thus, to date 34 patients are evaluable for response. Nineteen cases were p190+ and 15 p210+ (5 were p190/p210+). A >75% response to the steroid pre-phase was recorded in 82.7% of patients. All 34 patients (100%) have witnessed a CHR: 32 (94.12%) at the 1st determination at day +22, 1 at the 2nd at day +43 and 1 at the 3rd at day +57. No fatalities have been observed. In 13 patients, at least 1 severe adverse event (SAE) has been recorded, for a total of 26 SAEs. Overall, the compliance has been good; only 1 patient stopped treatment at day 67 due to toxicity while in CHR. The median follow-up is so far 11.2 months. The OS at 10 months is 80.7%. Immunophenotypic and BCR/ABL Q-RT-PCR monitoring of MRD has shown a very marked clearance of leukemic cells by day +22, progressively strengthened at the subsequent timepoints. In p190+ cases the minimal MRD value was reached at day +43, while in p210+ cases this was observed at day +84, documenting a lower susceptibility to dasatinib by this molecular subgroup. So far, 9 patients have relapsed, at a median of 72 days from the end of induction; in agreement with the MRD data, 7/9 relapses occurred within the p210+ cases and 2/9 within the p190+ cases. The presence of mutations has been investigated in 8/9 relapsed samples: 5 showed a T315I mutation, 1 an E255K mutation and 2 were wt. Cloning experiments allowed to detect in 2 cases low levels of T315I mutations already at presentation and on MRD cells at the end of the induction treatment. The first multivariate analysis has been conducted for DFS and the degree of PCR reduction − ≤10−3 vs ≥10−3 - has so far emerged as the only significant prognostic factor. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that in adult Ph+ ALL dasatinib monotherapy is capable of inducing a CHR in virtually all patients, irrespective of age, without important toxicities and with no fatalities. The hematological response is associated with a very marked and rapid debulking of the neoplastic clone documented at the MRD level, particularly for p190+ cases. The degree of PCR response is of prognostic relevance. No relapses have been observed during the induction phase. The optimal post-induction treatment strategy, which was not part of the study, remains to be defined, particularly in light of the genetic instability of Ph+ ALL and of the selection/induction of mutations. These results, together with those previously reported by our group with imatinib alone for elderly patients, question the use of chemotherapy, with or without a TK inhibitor, for the remission induction of Ph+ ALL.

Dasatinib (SPRYCEL, formerly BMS-354825) is a potent, orally active inhibitor of the BCR-ABL, c-KIT and SRC family of kinases, which play a critical role in oncogenesis and persistence of malignant phenotypes. In preclinical studies, dasatinib has proven to be a more potent inhibitor of BCR-ABL and c-KIT than imatinib mesylate, and has been shown to be effective in the clinical setting in patients with all phases of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or Ph+ ALL resistant to or intolerant of imatinib. We present the first interim results of the GIMEMA protocol LAL 1205 designed to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of dasatinib in Ph+ ALL patients at the onset of the disease. The protocol enrolls patients ≥18 years who receive dasatinib p.o. at a dose of 70 mg BID. A steroid regimen (prednisone up to 60mg/m2 day po) is started 7 days prior to the first dasatinib administration and is continued until day 31. The 7-day prednisone pre-phase allows identification of the BCR/ABL transcript. Dasatinib is administered for a total of 84 days. Two intrathecal methotrexate infusions at days +22 and +43 are included. All cases are processed and analyzed through central handling of samples at presentation and are investigated for morphology, immunophenotype, cytogenetics and molecular biology. Minimal residual disease (MRD) is also centrally evaluated by flow-cytometry and Q-RT-PCR at days +22, +43, +57 and +84. A total of 23 patients with BCR/ABL+ ALL have been enrolled to date; median age 57 yrs (30–74), 15 females. All 23 patients have shown a complete hematological response by day +22. One patient relapsed after completing dasatinib administration and died of disease progression, while all other patients are at present alive and well after a median time of observation from diagnosis of 4.5 months (1.7 – 8.0). Monitoring of MRD documented that dasatinib plus prednisone was capable of inducing a very marked clearance of leukemic cells already at day +22, confirmed and strengthened in the subsequent steps of observation. The results of the immunophenotypic and BCR/ABL Q-RT-PCR monitoring are reported in the accompanying table: This interim analysis indicates that in adult and elderly Ph+ ALL induction monotherapy with dasatinib plus prednisone is capable of inducing a rapid hematological remission in all patients so far treated without important toxicity and no fatality. This is associated with a very marked and rapid debulking of the disease as documented by the close phenotypic and molecular monitoring of MRD. DAYS IMMUNOPHENOTYPE Q-RT-PCR (% of leukemic cells) (copy number) 1% 0.01% 1 x 10²

CNS relapse occurs in ~5% of cases of APL. Conventional treatment includes intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy with methotrexate (MTX) and/or cytarabine, systemic salvage chemotherapy, and sometimes cranial irradiation: survival is poor, ranging from weeks to a few months. Liposomal cytarabine (DepoCyte®) is a novel sustained-release formulation with a terminal half-life ~40 × longer than free cytarabine (Bleyer et al. Clin Cancer Res 99;5:3349) and is approved for the treatment of adults with lymphomatous meningitis (LM): liposomal cytarabinbe has been shown to be more effective than free cytarabine in patients with LM (Glantz et al. JCO1999;17:3110). Intrathecal (IT) injections of this agent are given once every 2 weeks during treatment, as opposed to 2–3 × per week for free cytarabine or MTX, and an Ommaya reservoir is not required. In this report we present the case of a patient with CNS relapse of APL, refractory to conventional treatment including chemotherapy with high-dose (HD) cytarabine plus idarubicin, IT MTX, and cranial irradiation, who has been treated successfully with liposomal cytarabine.In July 2003, a 33-year-old woman was admitted with low-risk APL (hypergranular leukemic promyelocytes). Blood counts showed: Hb 5.3 g/dL, leukocytes 9.3 ×109/L, platelets 53 ×109/L. Cytogenetics showed t(15;17) and RT-PCR was positive for PML/RARα (bcr1 isoform). The patient achieved a hematological remission after induction and a molecular remission after consolidation using the AIDA protocol (Mandelli et al. Blood1997;90:1014). Molecular relapse during maintenance was treated with idarubicin plus ATRA resulting in a second molecular remission. In June 05, autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PML/RARα-negative) was performed during molecular remission. Following a third molecular relapse in September 2005, with headache, APL cells and PML/RARα transcript were identified in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Prolonged cytopenia characterized by fever and possible fungal pneumonia followed IT MTX, HD cytarabine plus idarubicin and cranial radiation, which induced a bone marrow molecular remission, but CSF showed persistence of APL cells, confirmed by PML/RARα. In November, the patient was treated with IT liposomal cytarabine 50 mg every 2 weeks with concomitant dexamethasone. CSF was obtained before each IT treatment: 14 days after the first treatment, no APL cells or PML/RARα transcript were found in CSF. Unfortunately, despite the use of dexamethasone, after the third IT injection, arachnoiditis developed, with headache, pain, confusion, somnolence and agitation. Arachnoiditis can be caused by meningeal infiltration by tumor cells, cranial irradiation and IT administration of drugs: it is difficult to distinguish between these causes. HD steroid was started, and the patient recovered after a few days. The patient remains in CNS remission, but suffered a bone marrow relapse in May 2006, which was treated with chemotherapy. In this patient, IT liposomal cytarabine resulted in a prolonged remission of CNS disease. Unfortunately, treatment of her systemic disease proved less successful.

An internal tandem duplication (ITD) or a point mutation of the FLT3 is detected in about one third of MDS patients at the time of clinical progression, but very few studies have determined whether these mutations are already present on clinical diagnosis. A high FLT3 expression is caused by both these as well as by other still undefined mutations. Therefore, we have decided to analyse the expression of the FLT3 gene by RT-PCR on clinical diagnosis and during disease outcome in twenty-six MDS patients. Our study was aimed at determining whether a high FLT3 expression was correlated with any peculiar clinico-haematological parameter, clinical evolution to AML and response to treatment. Fourteen patients were males and twelve females; their median age was 60 years (range 36–76). According to FAB classification seven patients were classified as refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS), fourteen as RA and five as refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB). Conventional cytogenetic studies discovered a normal karyotype in twenty patients, a del(20q) in three, a del(5q) in two and a del(12p) in one. Blast cell percentage was 0–5% in twenty patients, 6–10% in four and 11–20% in two. According to IPSS fifteen patients were considered low-risk, eight intermediate-1 risk and three as intermediate-2 risk. FLT3 expression was evaluated through a relative real-time quantification approach which used SybrGreen I as DNA binding fluorescent dye. Total RNA from mononuclear cells from a patient, who harboured an ITD of the FLT3 gene and presented a high expression of the gene, was serially diluted in order to obtain a standard curve for real-time quantification. FLT3 expression was determined by the ΔΔCt method. FLT3 levels were normalized to ABL and calibrated on a normal sample. At the onset of the disease twenty-three patients showed a FLT3 expression similar to that of the normal control, while three (one RA and two RAEB) presented a two-four fold increase. In these last patients no correlation with any particular clinico-haematological feature was noted. Nine of the twenty-six patients progressed in AML after a median time of thirty-one months (range 8–86). Three of them had already presented an increased FLT3 expression on clinical diagnosis. Considering the remaining six patients, a three-seventeen fold increase of FLT3 expression was observed in two patients and a normal FLT3 expression in the other four. Time from MDS to AML evolution was 8,22,29,33,39 months for patients with a high FLT3 expression and 31,40,42 and 86 months for those with a normal FLT3 expression. Three of the five patients with a high FLT3 expression were given different courses of intensive chemotherapy. One of them, who never responded to chemotherapy, maintained a constantly high FLT3 expression, the other two, who achieved complete remission, showed a normalization of FLT3 expression. However both of these two responsive patients again presented a six-eight fold increase of FLT3 expression on relapse. In conclusion, a high FLT3 expression i) may be observed on clinical diagnosis in about 11,5% of MDS patients, ii) does not associate with any peculiar clinico-haematological finding, iii) frequently appears at the time of AML evolution since it was detected in two of our six patients who showed a normal FLT3 expression on clinical diagnosis but a high expression on relapse.

The present study, carried out in two APL with multiple relapses, was aimed at determining 1) which correlation does exist between FLT3/hTERT expression levels and PML-RARA results; 2) whether high FLT3 and hTERT expression levels might be predictive of relapse; 3) whether FLT3 expression is better than FLT3 Internal Tandem Duplication (ITD) for evaluating disease outcome. Relative quantifications of FLT3/hTERT transcripts were performed by real-time PCR using SybrGreen I. For FLT3 calibration total RNA from a normal subject was used, for hTERT total RNA from K562 cells. In both cases the ΔΔCt method was used for quantification. On clinical diagnosis one patient with a WBC of 124.0x109/L and a PML-RARA fusion at PML BCR1 presented the FLT3/hTERT genes highly expressed. On qualitative PCR the patient also showed the ITD of FLT3. He was treated with the AIDA protocol and succeeded in achieving a haematological but not molecular remission. During CR FLT3/hTERT expression remained high and the ITD was never detected. Fourteen months later when on first clinical relapse FLT3 expression abruptly increased, the ITD reappeared, hTERT levels were still high. A re-induction chemotherapy induced a second haematological but not molecular remission lasting five months. FLT3 as well as hTERT expression levels became similar to those of the control, and FLT3 ITD disappeared. A progressive increase of FLT3 expression and an abrupt increase of hTERT expression preceded the second relapse which was accompanied by the reappearance of the ITD. After re-induction chemotherapy FLT3/hTERT expression dropped down to values of the control. A third CR was obtained but the patient remained PML/RARA and Flt3 ITD positive and soon after died of a CNS relapse. The other patient was treated in another Centre and came to our observation in haematological CR. At that time he was PML-RARA negative with high FLT3/hTERT expression. Eight months later he was still in clinical but not molecular CR having a PML-RARA fusion at BCR3, high FLT3/hTERT expression levels and presenting FLT3 ITD. One month later when clinical relapse occurred FLT3 expression levels were unchanged, hTERT expression dropped down to normal values and FLT3 ITD was still present. A re-induction chemotherapy induced a second CR with alternatively positive and negative PML-RARA results, high FLT3 and low hTERT expression levels. The patient underwent an allogeneic bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor but five months later he relapsed for the second time with an abrupt rise of hTERT expression that preceded a quick increase of FLT3 expression. A third clinical but not molecular CR was achieved after chemotherapy, but the patient remained PML-RARA positive with a normal FLT3/hTERT expression. Two months later a rapid increase of hTERT expression preceded that of FLT3 and the occurrence of the third relapse. In conclusion i) increased FLT3 and hTERT levels during CR are associated with alternative positive/negative PML-RARA results on nested RT PCR and are always predictive of pending relapse; ii) on disease recurrence a marked elevation of hTERT expression often preceded that of FLT3; iii) quantitative real-time PCR of the FLT3 gene was more effective in predicting disease outcome than the ITD, this last being discovered only when FLT3 expression was already high.

In this report we describe a case of granulocytic sarcoma (GS) developing in a patient after 66 months in complete remission of acute nonlymphoid leukemia. The granulocytic precursor cell proliferation arose simultaneously in two extramedullary sites (testis and small bowel), without evidence of bone marrow relapse. The intensive systemic chemotherapy with high-dose ARA-C allowed a clinical remission, lasting 8 months. GS eventually recurred as extramedullary multi-site disease (abdominal lymph nodes, central nervous system involvement), once again unassociated with blood and bone marrow relapse. Both, at onset and in relapse, special staining techniques on tissue sections (chloroacetate esterase) and immunohistochemical typing with monoclonal antibodies were necessary for a correct diagnosis. We discuss the relationship between systemic leukemia and the GS which showed a metastasizing tumor-like behavior.

AML patients (pts) with a normal chromosome pattern and the “Internal Tandem Duplication” (ITD) of the FLT3 gene have an overall and event-free survival (OS, EFS) inferior than those of pts with a FLT3 “wild-type” gene because of a higher relapse risk, are placed in the intermediate-1 prognostic category, and when in complete remission (CR) are candidates to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). However, the role of allo-HSCT in ITD+ pts is still debated and a recent retrospective analysis has stated that FLT3/ITD adversely affected allo-HSCT outcome in the same direction as it does after chemotherapy. Thus, the present study was aimed to compare the OS, EFS and relapse risk of pts submitted to allo-HSCT in first CR or in initial relapse, defined by a 5-10% bone marrow blast cell percentage, with those of pts submitted to chemotherapy alone. The study cohort consisted of 54 chromosomally normal, ITD+ consecutive non-M3 AML pts who were included in 168 AML pts aged 18-66 years who came to our observation in the period January 2007-December 2013. At diagnosis median age was 48.6 years (range 18-66), 25 pts were males and 29 females. Median follow-up was 16.2 months (0.4-68.8): median follow-up for responsive pts was 7.15 months (range 0.26-27.6), for relapsed pts was 18.1 (range 1.9-68.8) and for transplanted pts was 9.1 months (range 2.9-26.8). All pts received the same induction treatment that consisted of standard Idarubicine+Ara-c “3+7” followed by two consolidation courses with high-dose Ara-c. Those who failed induction received other treatment schedules among which Fludarabine+Ara-c+Idarubicine was the most common. At the end of consolidation 38 pts were in first CR, achieved after 3+7 in 27 pts and after a second different course in 11. Sixteen pts had a resistant disease. After a median time of five months (range 1-21) 21/38 pts (55.2%) relapsed. All received a re-induction and 8/21 (38.1%) attained a second CR. Allo-HSCT was performed in a total of 23 pts: 12 first CRs, 6 second CRs and 5 initial relapses. The donor was a sibling in 7 pts, an unrelated donor in 13 and an haplo-identical donor in 3; the HSC source was the marrow in 6 pts, the peripheral blood in 16 and the cord blood (CB) in one. The Conditioning regimen was myeloblative (mainly Busulfan+Fludarabine) in 21 and non-myeloblative in 2; GvHD prophylaxis consisted of Cyclosporine A, steroids and methotrexate “short course”. The median number of CD34+ cells infused was 5.14x106/kg (1.3-12.7). All pts except that who received CB engrafted after a median time of 15 days (12-28); 21 were complete chimeras, two partial chimeras. Thirteen pts developed acute GvHD (grade I in 3 pts, grade II in 5, grade III in 2 and grade IV in 3) which totally/partially recovered after high dose steroids along with different immunosuppressive drugs in 4 and 9 pts respectively. Eleven pts developed a chronic GvHD which was the evolution of an aGvHD in 9, targeted different organs, was stable in 3 pts and completely/partially recovered in 4 and 2 pts respectively. Post-transplant relapse occurred in 3/12 first CRs, in none second CRs and in 3/5 initial relapse. The estimated response rate for CR pts submitted to allo-HSCT was 422.1 (95% CI: 262.4-679.1) versus 64.6 (95% CI: 40.7-102.6) for those submitted to chemotherapy alone with a median survival time of 7.2 months (range 5.3-8.8) versus not reached (1.9-not available); on univariable Cox model the HR of allo-HSCT pts was 37.9 (95% CI: 9.4-152.0) with p=0.0000. The estimated relapse rate for CR pts submitted to allo-HSCT was 8.6 (95% CI: 2.1-34.4) versus 44.3 (95% CI: 25.7-76.3) for those submitted to chemotherapy alone with a median survival time not reached (range not available) versus 13.2 (7.2-not available); on univariable Cox model the HR of allo-HSCT pts was 0.5 (95% CI: 0.2-1.1) with p=0.06. The estimated death rate for CR pts submitted to allo-HSCT was 28.7 (95% CI: 13.7-60.4) versus 49.7 (95% CI: 32.1-77.1) for those submitted to chemotherapy alone with a median survival time of 18.3 months (range 14.2-not available) versus 12.2 (8.8-18.9); on univariable Cox model the HR for allo-HSCT pts was 0.48 (95% CI: 0.2-1.1) with p=0.09. In conclusion, our series suggests that in ITD+ pts allo-HSCT significantly strengthens CR in pts who had already responded to conventional chemotherapy, but it presents only a trend towards significance when its superiority to prevent relapse was considered. Disclosures Castagnola: Gilead Sciences: Research Funding.

To evaluate clinical and biological features, treatments and outcome of patients(pts) with Systemic Mastocytosis(SM). A retrospective study (1995–2006) about pts with SM admitted in 14 Italian hematology divisions in tertiary cares or university hospitals. 30 cases of SM were collected(median age 62 y.o.; M/F 14/16) and classified according to the WHO criteria: Mast Cell Leukemia in 14 pts, Aggressive SM in 12 and Indolent in 3; the remaining one had SM with associated clonal non-mast cell-lineage hematologic disease. Skin was the principal extramedullary organ involved (19 pts) followed by spleen(15), liver(13), and cardiovascular system(12). Molecular biology studies were performed in 22 pts: 15 showed the c-kit point mutation D816V; in another patient a different c-kit mutation was found while in 3 pts additional gene defects and karyotype abnormalities were recognized. Treatments were heterogeneous, and the same patient could have received different therapies after failure of the previous one. Imatinib(400 mg/day) was used in 17 pts (11 as first line therapy, 5 and 1 as second and third line respectively); interferon-alpha(3×3 MU s.c. weekly) was employed in 7 patients(4 as first line therapy, 2 as second and 1 as third line); 2-CDA(0.14 mg/kg) was administered in 3 pts(1 as first, 1 as second and 1 as third line therapy); 2 patients underwent HSCT as second and third line respectively. Data about response to treatment are reported in the table. The overall response rate to imatinib was of 30%, registering 1 complete remission(CR) and 4 partial remissions. All but one responsive patients did not present c-kit point mutation. Three pts(10%) died for progression of SM; a fourth patient in CR died for accidental causes. The actuarial Kaplan-Meier curve at 10 years showed an overall-survival of 87%. Conclusions: SM is a rare disease, characterized by severe and life-threatening mediator-related symptoms but with a low mortality rate. D816V c-kit mutation is frequent and associated with resistance against imatinib: only 1 patient showed a CR. Of note 2-CDA has shown interesting clinical response: all 3 treated pts showed a clinical improvement. Because of the rarity of SM, an effective standard of care is lacking. More data are needed to find new and successful therapeutic strategies; it is possible that new tyrosine kinase inhibitors could allow to achieve clinical and molecular remission of disease, crossing resistence to imatinib due to c-kit mutation, in order to improve above all quoad valitudinem prognosis of these pts. Response to treatments. DRUGS CR PR Stable Unrespons. N.E. TOTAL Imatinib 1 4 5 3 4 17 INF-alpha 0 1 1 5 0 7 2-CDA 0 3 0 0 0 3 Conventional CTX 0 1 2 4 1 8 Allo-HSCT 2 0 0 0 0 2 Wait & Watch 0 0 6 2 0 8