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Biomedical subjects

E A Copelan

Publications and source records attributed to E A Copelan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Analysis of prognostic factors for allogeneic marrow transplantation following busulfan and cyclophosphamide in myelodysplastic syndrome and after leukemic transformation.

Prognostic factors in 42 patients aged 11 to 62 (median 46) years, with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or after leukemic transformation, who underwent allogeneic marrow transplantation between 1984 and 1999 were analyzed. Thirty-six had advanced disease morphology; 19 had leukemic transformation. Twenty-nine received a preparative regimen of BuCy2 and 13 busulfan 14 mg/kg, etoposide 50 mg/kg and cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg. Severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) occurred in three patients all of whom received anti-leukemic chemotherapy prior to transplantation. Fifteen patients (36%) died from early transplant-related complications; nine patients relapsed. The estimated 4 year disease-free survival (DFS) was 35% (95% CI 26-44%). Older age was the most significant adverse prognostic factor. Patients with leukemic transformation who underwent early transplantation had significantly better DFS than those treated first with chemotherapy (P = 0.002). Delayed toxicity was rare in these patients; no late relapses occurred. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 1219-1222.

Adult↗

Autotransplantation following busulfan, etoposide and cyclophosphamide in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The purpose of the study was to determine the toxicities and effectiveness of a novel preparative regimen of busulfan (Bu) 14 mg/kg, etoposide 50 or 60 mg/kg, and cyclophosphamide (Cy) 120 mg/kg in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and to analyze results using doses based on different body weight parameters and the two different etoposide doses. Three hundred and eighty-two patients aged 16 to 72 underwent first autologous transplantation with mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells between August 1992 and December 1998 at either of two transplant centers. Mucositis was the most common toxicity. Hepatic toxicity was the most common life-threatening toxicity; severe hepatic VOD occurred in 11 patients (2.9%). Ten patients (2.6%) died from treatment-related toxicity. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) for the entire group was 46.9% (95% CI, 40.5-53.3%). Elevated LDH, resistance to chemotherapy, and intermediate/aggressive histology were significant adverse prognostic factors. For patients in sensitive first relapse PFS was 47.0% (95% CI, 37-57%). Neither etoposide dose nor body weight parameter utilized significantly affected outcome. In conclusion, the novel preparative regimen of Bu, etoposide and Cy results in a low incidence of treatment-related mortality and is effective in the treatment of patients with NHL. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 1243-1248.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Mobilization of peripheral-blood progenitor cells with high-dose etoposide and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in patients with breast cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Hodgkin's disease.

PURPOSE: We analyzed the safety and effectiveness of high-dose etoposide (2 g/m2) followed by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) as a peripheral-blood progenitor cell (PBPC) mobilization regimen and assessed extent of tumor reduction in patients with breast cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and Hodgkin's disease (HD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred sixty-nine consecutive patients who eventually underwent PBPC transplantation received treatment with high-dose etoposide (2 g/m2) followed by daily G-CSF (5 microg/kg). RESULTS: This mobilization method was effective in nearly all patients. No patients died of mobilization-related complications. A 50% reduction in tumor size was seen in 19% of assessable patients with breast cancer, 44% of those with NHL, and 38% of those with HD. Hematopoietic recovery (HR) following transplantation occurred in all patients. Patients with > or = 4 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg engrafted with neutrophils at a median of 9 days after transplant and patients with at least 1.2 x 10(6) CD34+/CD33- cells/kg achieved platelet recovery at a median of 15 days. CONCLUSION: Etoposide plus G-CSF is an effective and safe method for mobilization of PBPCs. Etoposide is an effective agent in tumor reduction in NHL and HD and is less effective in breast cancer. The substantially lower incidence of prior exposure to this agent compared with cyclophosphamide favors its use.

Adolescent↗

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor/interleukin-3 fusion protein versus granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor after autologous bone marrow transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: results of a randomized double-blind trial.

PURPOSE: A phase III trial to compare PIXY321 with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) following high-dose therapy and autologous bone marrow transplant (ABMT) was conducted to evaluate the time to hematopoietic recovery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred seventy-seven patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) receiving ABMT were randomized to receive either PIXY321 750 micrograms/m2/d divided into two subcutaneous (SC) doses or GM-CSF 250 micrograms/m2/d as a 2-hour intravenous (IV) infusion starting on day 0 post-ABMT for a maximum of 28 days. RESULTS: The median time to reach an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > or = 500/microL in the PIXY321 group was 17 days versus 19 days in the GM-CSF group (P = .07) and the median time to reach platelet transfusion independence in the PIXY321 group was 25 days versus 23 days in the GM-CSF group (P = .30). The toxicity profiles of the two agents appeared to be equivalent with the exception of more patients in the PIXY321 group with a rash (64%) compared with the GM-CSF group (48%) (P = .028). A logistic regression model identified the use of a non-total-body irradiation (TBI) regimen and/or receipt of unpurged marrow and a body-surface area greater than 2.0 m2 as predictive of faster neutrophil engraftment, and those three factors, as well as the receipt of < or = two prior chemotherapy regimens as predictive for rapid platelet engraftment. CONCLUSION: There was a trend toward a slight improvement in neutrophil engraftment post-ABMT with the PIXY321 administered by an SC route compared with GM-CSF administered by an IV route. However, no differences could be identified between the two agents with respect to the time to platelet transfusion independence. Patient, regimen, and graft characteristics were most predictive of the engraftment tempo.

Adolescent↗

Bone marrow engraftment following unrelated donor transplantation utilizing busulfan and cyclophosphamide preparatory chemotherapy.

Two major problems of unrelated donor transplantation have been an increased incidence of GVHD and graft failure. Even with HLA identity by microlymphocytotoxicity assay and non-reactive MLC, URD marrow transplant recipients have a higher incidence of graft rejection and GVHD. The preparative regimen busulfan 16 mg/kg and cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg (BuCy2) has been shown to be at least as effective in preparation of recipients with CML of HLA-identical sibling grafts as cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation (Cy/TBI). However, concern about a high rejection rate in URD transplants has prevented most centers from using BuCy2 in this setting. From March 1990 to March 1994, 26 patients underwent URD transplantation following preparation with BuCy2. Patients received either standard cyclosporine and methotrexate or cyclosporine and methylprednisolone for GVHD prophylaxis. Two patients died on day 16 and 20 without evidence of hematopoietic engraftment. Of the 24 patients evaluable for engraftment, 23 (96%) had evidence of donor engraftment defined as an ANC > 0.5 x 10(9)/1. No patient who had initial engraftment had late graft failure. Within our study group the risk of graft rejection or graft failure does not appear to be higher than that reported for URD transplants utilizing TBI-containing regimens.

Acute Disease↗

Influence of graft-versus-host disease on outcome following allogeneic transplantation with radiation-free preparative therapy in patients with advanced leukemia.

Between March 1984 and March 1995, 76 patients with advanced acute myelogenous, acute lymphoblastic, or chronic myelogenous leukemia underwent allogeneic marrow transplantation from HLA-identical or one-antigen mismatched sibling or unrelated donors. Patients received a preparative regimen consisting of busulfan 16 mg/kg and cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg or busulfan 14 mg/kg, cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg and etoposide (VP-16) 50 mg/kg. For GVHD prevention, patients received cyclosporine with either methotrexate or steroids or FK506 with methotrexate. Fourteen patients were leukemia-free survivors at a median of 6.5 years (range 1-11 years) following transplantation. For the group as a whole, the estimated leukemia-free survival (LFS) at 5 years is 20% (95% confidence interval 10-30%). Ten of the 14 leukemia-free survivors developed acute GVHD greater than grade II and chronic GVHD and two developed only chronic GVHD. Significantly better relapse rates and disease-free survival were associated with the development of acute and/or chronic GVHD. In the absence of acute GVHD and/or chronic GVHD, patients who underwent transplantation for advanced leukemia, after preparation with Bu/CY or Bu/CY/VP-16, were very likely to experience disease recurrence. Novel strategies designed to promote development of GVHD present a promising area for investigation to improve outcome in patients with leukemia at high risk for relapse.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

The biology and treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults.

Despite reports to the contrary, only a small minority of adults with ALL are currently cured. Results have improved modestly with more intensive postremission chemotherapy and with tailoring of protocols in individuals with specific subsets of ALL. The use of growth factors may further improve treatment results. The performance of allogeneic BMT in first remission is clearly effective in some individuals, eg, those with Ph1-positive ALL, but it is unclear whether it is advantageous in most individuals. There are little data supporting the effectiveness of autotransplantation, as currently performed in ALL, despite its theoretical potential. Advances in understanding the biology of ALL have led to new approaches currently under basic and clinical investigation. These include serial studies of minimal residual disease by a variety of techniques to tailor treatment, the development of conjugated MoAbs to lymphoid cell antigens and immunologic and biochemical approaches to chimeric RNA and peptides generated by abnormal fusion genes. It seems likely that substantial improvement in the treatment of adult ALL awaits better characterization of the biology of this disease. However, some improvement will occur through empirical clinical research. It is critical that physicians recognize the poor results with current therapeutic approaches and enter patients into large well-designed clinical trials.

Adult↗

Controlled trial of orally administered immunoglobulin following bone marrow transplantation.

Between May 1987 and September 1989, 72 patients undergoing marrow transplantation at a single institution were randomized to receive 50 mg/kg of a commercial gammaglobulin preparation or placebo daily in four divided doses for 28 days following transplantation. Patients receiving oral gammaglobulin had significantly increased concentrations of stool IgG (p = 0.01) compared with the placebo group. There was no difference in the amount of diarrhea, frequency of GVHD, duration of hospitalization or survival in the two groups. The present study demonstrates that orally administered IgG can survive passage through the gastrointestinal tract of bone marrow transplantation recipients but there was no effect of oral administration of immunoglobulin on morbidity or mortality following bone marrow transplantation.

Administration, Oral↗

HLA-B44-directed cytotoxic T cells associated with acute graft-versus-host disease following unrelated bone marrow transplantation.

We describe the recipient of a marrow graft from an HLA-serologically identical unrelated donor from whom highly potent host-reactive CTL of donor origin were isolated in association with acute GVHD. Extensive sequence and biochemical analysis of the HLA complex of this donor and recipient revealed several disparities in class I and class II HLA with the potential to be recognized by T cells from the donor or the host. The donor-derived CTL exclusively recognized a class I HLA difference associated with HLA-B44. Nucleotide sequencing of donor and recipient cells revealed that the patient possessed the HLA-B*4402 allele recognized by IEF as B44.2 while the donor possessed HLA-B*4403 (IEF variant B44.1). These alleles differ at one amino acid residue located at position 156 in the alpha 2 domain. The donor-derived CTL were shown to be specific for B44.2 by blocking studies and by the lysis of five different B44.2+ unrelated cell lines, two of which were confirmed by sequencing to be homozygous for B*4402. A host-specific difference involving a HLA-DRB1 allele was not recognized by the CTL, neither did HLA differences unique to the donor HLA-B*4403 and HLA-DQ8 elicit a host response. These data show that certain HLA disparities may be tolerated at the same time that other disparities elicit a potent immunologic response. The chemical nature of the difference, its structural impact, as well as the conditions of transplant appear to influence the type of response which occurs.

Acute Disease↗

Plotting summary predictions in multistate survival models: probabilities of relapse and death in remission for bone marrow transplantation patients.

Multistate survival analysis usually involves a series of detailed regressional analyses describing transitions between various states. There is an often neglected need for the many estimates resulting from such an analysis to be re-synthesized into summary statements, such as prediction of various outcomes from specified patient histories. Arjas and Erola recently proposed a framework for dynamic probabilistic causality which has calculation of such prediction statements as a central tool. We illustrate these procedures on data from a multicentre bone marrow transplantation study, with death while in remission and relapse as terminal events and recovery of the patients's platelets to a normal level and the onset of acute graft-versus-host disease as intermediate events, using Cox regression models throughout. Among the features illustrated by the resulting plots is a strong effect on death while in remission if the platelets do not recover within the first three months.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

Evidence for possible involvement of an elastolytic serine protease in aspergillosis.

A number of isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus obtained from the hospital environment produced extracellular elastolytic activity. This activity was found to be catalyzed by a single 33-kDa protein which was purified and characterized to be a serine protease. A. fumigatus, when grown on the insoluble structural material obtained from murine and bovine lung, produced the same extracellular 33-kDa elastolytic protease, indicating that this enzyme is likely to be produced when the organism infects the lung. Polymerase chain reaction with an oligonucleotide primer based on the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the elastolytic enzyme yielded a cDNA which was cloned and sequenced. The active serine motif showed more similarity to subtilisin than to mammalian elastase. The amino acid sequence showed 80% identity to the alkaline protease from Aspergillus oryzae. Screening of hospital isolates of Aspergillus flavus showed great variation in the production of elastolytic activity and a much lower level of activity than that produced by A. fumigatus. The elastolytic protease from A. flavus was shown to be a serine protease susceptible to modification and inactivation by active serine and histidine-directed reagents. This protease cross-reacted with the antibodies prepared against the elastolytic protease from A. fumigatus. Immunogold localization of the elastolytic enzyme showed that A. fumigatus germinating and penetrating into the lungs of neutropenic mice secreted the elastolytic protease. An elastase-deficient mutant generated from a highly virulent isolate of A. fumigatus caused drastically reduced mortality when nasally introduced into the lung of neutropenic mice. All of the evidence suggests that extracellular elastolytic protease is a significant virulence factor in invasive aspergillosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation following busulfan and 90 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide.

Ten patients with AML or CML aged 40-55 years underwent allogeneic marrow transplantation from HLA-identical siblings following a preparation regimen of busulfan 16 mg/kg and cyclophosphamide (CY) 90 mg/kg. The CY dose was substantially lower than has been previously used in combination with busulfan. All 10 individuals engrafted. Cytogenetic analysis of marrow and peripheral blood cells demonstrated similar patterns of chimerism to those previously described using higher CY doses. This study demonstrates that when administered with busulfan 16 mg/kg a dose of 90 mg/kg CY is adequately immunosuppressive to permit consistent engraftment of marrow from HLA-identical sibling donors.

Adult↗

Second autologous bone marrow transplantation in Hodgkin's disease.

We report a case of sustained disease-free survival following second autologous marrow transplantation (BMT) in a patient with Hodgkin's lymphoma which had recurred following several conventional chemotherapy regimens as well as a prior autologous transplant. The initial autologous BMT was performed in fourth complete remission and followed high-dose cyclophosphamide, etoposide and thiotepa. The disease recurred 8 months later and the patient underwent a second ABMT following conditioning with busulfan and cyclophosphamide 1 year after his first transplant. Aside from slow engraftment, his course was uncomplicated. This patient remains in complete remission more than 4 years and 6 months following the second transplantation. This case demonstrates that second autologous transplantation can result in sustained disease-free survival in individuals with Hodgkin's disease with recurrence following initial transplantation.

Adult↗

Effect of GVHD on the recovery of NK cell activity and LAK precursors following BMT.

The mechanism by which GVHD augments the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect of marrow transplants has not been ascertained. One possibility involves the secondary activation of natural killer (NK) cells by cytokines released during the GVHD process. To evaluate this possibility we have compared NK activity and lymphokine-activated killer cell precursor (LAKp) frequencies in serially sampled PBMC from recipients of unmanipulated autologous or allogeneic marrow with and without active GVHD. NK activity recovered rapidly after BMT and was elevated during episodes of acute GVHD. However, NK activity did not differ between recipients of autologous or allogeneic marrow without GVHD nor was NK activity increased in association with chronic GVHD. Endogenously-activated NK cells were detected only in recipients of allogeneic marrow but this did not correlate with GVHD status. In contrast to NK activity, LAKp frequencies fell below the control range during the first 8 weeks after BMT. By 9-14 weeks the median LAKp frequency was normal and did not differ between the three groups then or later after transplant. We conclude that acute GVHD may serve to increase the lytic activity of NK cells but does not result in increased LAKp. LAKp frequencies are below normal during the first two months after BMT, a finding not previously recognized from bulk culture LAK studies. The role of LAK effectors in GVL may involve more the degree of cellular activation rather than the number of cells activated.

Acute Disease↗

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, and multiple myeloma following preparation with busulfan and cyclophosphamide (BuCy2).

The combination of busulfan (Bu) and cyclophosphamide (Cy) has been found to be effective preparative therapy for patients treated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We developed the BuCy2 regimen, which contains a lower dose of cyclophosphamide than the original BuCy regimen, in the hope of reducing regimen-related toxicities. We have studied the use of BuCy2 as preparation for allogeneic BMT in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, and multiple myeloma. In patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, the leukemia-free survival and regimen-related toxicity rates obtained in our study appear similar to those achieved with other preparative regimens, including those containing Cy and total body irradiation (TBI). BuCy2 is also an effective BMT preparative regimen in patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. Treatment with BuCy2 results in a lower incidence of severe stomatitis and probably of interstitial pneumonia than does treatment with Cy/TBI, but hepatic veno-occlusive disease occurs more frequently in BuCy-treated patients. The incidence of veno-occlusive disease appears to be affected by agents used as prophylaxis for graft-versus-host disease. Compared with Cy/TBI regimens, BuCy treatment is likely to result in fewer delayed effects of treatment, such as impairment of fertility and second malignancies. Current clinical efforts are focusing on ways to improve the antileukemic activity of the BuCy preparative regimen and to reduce regimen-related toxicities.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Preparation for marrow transplantation in Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma using Bu/CY.

The results of autologous and allogeneic BMT in 44 patients with Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphomas who received preparative therapy consisting of busulfan 16 mg/kg and cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg are presented. Sixteen patients are surviving free of disease between 8 months and 6 years after transplantation. Thirteen patients either did not attain complete remission or experienced a recurrence of their disease. Fifteen patients died from treatment-related complications. Karnofsky score < or = 70, lactate dehydrogenase greater than twice normal and the development of hepatic veno-occlusive disease were associated with failure to achieve lymphoma-free survival.

Adolescent↗