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BACKGROUND: Transfusional iron overload and its consequences are challenges in chronically transfused patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) or aplastic anemia (AA). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, open-label study to investigate the efficacy of deferasirox (DFX) by serial measurement of serum ferritin (S-ferritin) level, liver iron concentration (LIC) level using relaxation rates magnetic resonance imaging, and other laboratory variables in patients with MDS or AA. RESULTS: A total of 96 patients showing S-ferritin level of at least 1000 ng/mL received daily DFX for up to 1 year. At the end of the study, S-ferritin level was significantly decreased in MDS (p=0.02366) and AA (p=0.0009). LIC level was also significantly reduced by more than 6.7 mg Fe/g dry weight from baseline. Hemoglobin level and platelet counts were significantly increased from baseline (p=0.002 and p=0.025, respectively) for patients showing significant anemia or thrombocytopenia. Elevated alanine aminotransferase was also significantly decreased from baseline. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that DFX is effective in reducing S-ferritin and LIC level in transfusional iron overload patients with MDS or AA and is well tolerated. In addition, positive effects in hematologic and hepatic function can be expected with DFX. Iron chelation treatment should be considered in transfused patients with MDS and AA when transfusion-related iron overload is documented.

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BACKGROUND: To compare the mobilizing effects and toxicities of two different doses of cyclophosphamide (CY) plus lenograstim (glycosylated G-CSF), we performed a prospective randomized study by enrolling patients suffering with either high-risk Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) or breast cancer undergoing ablative chemotherapy. METHODS: The NHL patients received 4 cycles of CHOP and the breast cancer patients received 2-3 cycles of FAC (FEC) adjuvant chemotherapy. Then, the patients were randomly allocated to receive CY 4 g/m2 (arm A) or 1.5 g/m2 (arm B) in combination with lenograstim. Large volume leukapheresis was carried out and it was continued daily until the target cell dose of 2 x 10(6) CD34+ cell/kg was reached. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients were enrolled in the study. The median number of leukaphereis sessions actually performed was 2.5 sessions in arm A and 3 sessions in arm B. The target cell dose was obtained with the median number of one leukapheresis session in both arms of the study (p=0.09). The collected number of CD34+ cells in the leukapheresis products was higher in arm A than arm B (22.4 vs. 9.9 x 10(6)/kg, respectively, p=0.05). Grade III or IV leukopenia was present in 14/15 patients (94%) in arm A and in 1/12 patients (8%) in arm B (p<0.0001). Grade Ill or IV thrombocytopenia was present in 8/15 patients (54%) in arm A, but this was not present in any patients of arm B (p=0.0004). Neutropenic fever occurred in 6/15 patients (40%) in arm A, and in 1/12 patients (8%) in arm B (p=0.09). The hematological recovery of the leukocytes and platelets after transplantation was not statistically different between the two doses. CONCLUSION: Low-dose CY plus lenograstim is a safe and effective mobilizing regimen.

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We conducted a phase II multicenter trial to estimate the response and survival of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma to high dose melphalan therapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Eligible patients who had undergone induction with vincristine, adriamycin and dexamethasone (VAD) should have adequate cardiac, pulmonary and renal function (creatinine <2 mg/dL). Melphalan at 200 mg/m2 was used as a conditioning regimen. Eighty patients were enrolled from 13 centers. The median age of the patients was 53 yr (range; 20 to 68 yr). The initial stage was IA/IIA/IIB/IIIA/IIIB in 3/8/1/54/14 patients, respectively. Beta2-microglobulin, CRP and LDH were increased in 74, 42 and 34% of the patients examined. Cytogenetic data were available in 30 patients, and 6 patients showed numeric or structural abnormalities. Two therapy-related mortalities occurred from infection. Among the 78 evaluable patients, CR/PR/MR/NC/PD were achieved in 48/26/2/1/1 patients, respectively. After a median follow-up of 30 months, the median overall and event-free survivals were 66 months (95% CI: 20-112) and 24 months (95% CI: 18-29), respectively. This study verifies the efficacy and feasibility of high dose melphalan therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

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PURPOSE: Gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are two compounds with reproducible activity against advanced pancreatic carcinomas. To evaluate the activity and feasibility of this combination chemotherapy, a multi-institutional phase II study was performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients (male: female 15: 5, median age: 60.5 years), with histologically verified locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic carcinomas, were enrolled between April 2000 and March 2002. Gemcitabine was administered by intravenous injection at the doses of 1, 000 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15, and 5-FU 800 mg/m2/day, was given by continuous intravenous infusion on days 1~5. The treatment was repeated every 4 weeks. The clinical benefit response (CBR) was a composite of the pain, Karnofsky performance status and body weight change measurement. RESULTS: Nineteen of the twenty patients were assessable for response. The median follow-up duration was 4.6 months (0.4~15.2 months). Five patients achieved a partial response and eight a stable disease. The overall response rate was 25.0%. The CBR was assessable in 12 patients. The overall CBR was 41.7% (5/12). The median survival of all the patients was 8.0 months. Grade 3~4 toxicities included neutropenia (9.3%) and thrombocytopenia (5.3%). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that gemcitabine, combined with infusional 5-FU, was well tolerated, and produced modest antitumor activity and symptomatic relief in advanced pancreatic cancer patients.