Zdeněk Král

Prevention of ovarian function damage by a GnRH analogue during chemotherapy in Hodgkin lymphoma patients

BACKGROUND Frequent negative consequence of chemotherapy (CHT) is ovarian damage and premature ovarian failure (POF). Aim of this prospective case-control study is evaluation of GnRH analogue (GnRH-a) administration to patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) during CHT and prevention of ovarian damage depending upon CHT regimen. METHODS Study group consists of 72 patients in fertile age (18-35 years) with HL diagnosis treated in 2004-2005 by curative CHT together with GnRH analogue (Triptorelin) administration according to a standardized protocol. Patients were divided into three groups according to the stage of disease and treated by three types of CHT regimens (A,B,C) with increased cytotoxicity. Ovarian function of all patients was assessed by gonadotrophin levels (FSH, LH) analysis from peripheral blood before treatment and also 6 and 12 month after it. The number of women with POF after CHT in study group was compared with control group (n = 45, age 18-35 years) of patients treated in 2002-2003 according to the same protocol but without protective GnRH analogue application. RESULTS In study group with GnRH analogue administration during CHT, there was significantly (P < 0.001) fewer cases with POF 6 and 12 month after the end of CHT (37.5% and 20.8%, respectively) than in control group (73.3% and 71.1%, respectively). Comparative analysis depending on cytotoxicity of CHT regimen used showed significant differences in percentage of patient with acquired POF between study and control group only in less aggressive CHT protocols. CONCLUSIONS Study showed a significant reduction of ovarian failure risk in women with HL treated with less aggressive CHT regimens plus a GnRH analogue.

Pre-transplant positron emission tomography in patients with relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma

This retrospective study evaluated the secondary clinical risk score at relapse, the prognostic significance of pre-transplant positron emission tomography (PET), and complete remission (CR) assessed by computed tomography (CT) after salvage chemotherapy before autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) in 76 patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Median follow-up after ASCT was 23 months. Overall 11/20 PET-positive and 14/56 PET-negative patients relapsed after ASCT. In univariate analysis, only PET negativity before ASCT was significantly associated with better 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) (72.7 ± 6.3% vs. 36.1 ± 11.6%, p = 0.01) and 2-year overall survival (OS) (90.3 ± 4.1% vs. 61.4 ± 11.6%, p = 0.009). Other factors were not significant. In multivariate analysis, none of the evaluated factors were significant for PFS and OS. However, positive pre-transplant PET identified a population with worse PFS and OS at least in univariate analysis.

A first Czech analysis of 1887 cases with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a premalignant condition with a risk of malignant conversion.

Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS)

BACKGROUND Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is one of the most prevalent premalignant conditions associated with a risk of malignant transformation to multiple myeloma (MM) or other forms of lymphoproliferative disorders with risk of progression of approximately 1% per year. IgG and IgA MGUS are precursor conditions of multiple myeloma (MM), whereas light-chain MGUS is a precursor condition of light chain MM. IgM MGUS is a precursor condition of Waldenström macroglobulinemia (MW) or other lymphoproliferative diseases. AIM Assessment of the risk of progression of patients with asymptomatic monoclonal gammopathies (MG) is based on various factors, including the serum paraprotein (M protein) concentration, isotype of M protein, serum free light chain ratio, infiltration of bone marrow plasmocytes, reduction of one or two noninvolved immunoglobulin subtype levels (immunoparesis), evolving and non-evolving subtype of MGUS, ratio of normal/abnormal plasma cells in bone marrow identified by multiparametric flow cytometry techniques and number of circulating plasma cells in peripheral blood. Three risk stratification models have been constructed that are useful in daily practice for predicting risk of progression of MGUS into malignant forms of monoclonal gammopathy - MAYO, PETHEMA and CMG model. The goal of all three models is to identify correctly prognostic markers that can divide patients into low-risk MGUS and high-risk MGUS groups. CONCLUSION This review provides a look at the definition, pathogenesis, diagnostic algorithm, clinical significance and stratification of MGUS patients, followed by recommendations for patient risk dispensarisation intervals.

[Treatment of Relapsed and Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma - Recommendations of the Czech Hodgkin Lymphoma Study Group].

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation remains the current standard of treatment for young patients with Hodgkin lymphoma in first relapse or in those who are refractory to first-line treatment. The most important prognostic factors in relapses are clinical stage IV, poor performance status, bulky mass, and less than partial remission after salvage chemotherapy. Standard salvage chemotherapy in relapse before autologous transplantation has not been defined; however, DHAP and ICE are most frequently used in this setting. A standard conditioning regimen before autologous transplantation is BEAM. Tandem autologous transplantation has been investigated in high-risk patients. Brentuximab vedotin is recommended as a consolidation treatment in patients with a high risk of relapse after autologous transplantation. Brentuximab vedotin is the standard of treatment for relapse after autologous transplantation, and subsequent allogeneic stem cell transplantation should be considered in young patients. Bretuximab vedotin in combination with bendamustine, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab, and combinations thereof with other drugs, were investigated in clinical trials in relapsed or refractory patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.Key words: Hodgkin lymphoma - autologous stem cell transplantation - brentuximab vedotin - nivolumabThis work was supported by grant awarded by AZV 16-29857, Ministry of Health in Czech Republic, Research project P 27/2012 awarded by Charles University in Prague, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Prague.The authors declare they have no potential confl icts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE recommendation for biomedical papers.Submitted: 7. 6. 2016Accepted: 24. 8. 2016.