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Introduction: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major clinical issue after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The CMV envelope glycoproteins are key in viral pathogenesis; the glycoprotein B (gB) encoded by the UL55 gene might be an important determinant of viral virulence and disease severity marker in patients treated with allogeneic HSCT. Our aim was to investigate the molecular diversity of CMV gB and inquire into the associations between UL55 gene variations and clinical manifestations in adult patients treated with allogeneic HSCT. Results: The most prevalent genotypes were gB1 and gB4 (11/27, 40.7%). Patients with genotype gB1 infection had earlier platelet engraftment (p < 0.033) and less frequent minimal/measurable residual disease post HSCT than those without this genotype. Patients with gB4 glycoprotein infection had a significantly lower CD4+/CD8+ ratio at D90 (p < 0.026). Interestingly, patients with gB5 glycoprotein infection had shorter overall survival from base condition diagnosis (p < 0.042), as well as shorter overall survival after HSCT (p < 0.036). Acute GvHD was noted more frequently in those with mixed-genotype infection (p = 0.047). Material and Methods: The study included fifty-nine adult patients treated with allogeneic HSCT. Peripheral venous blood was sampled typically per week, with detection of CMV performed by quantitative real-time PCR. Multiplex nested PCR was used to determine specific gB genotypes, which were then statistically compared vis-à-vis specific clinical variables. Conclusions: Our study points to variations in the viral UL55 locus imparting both beneficial (earlier platelet engraftment, less frequent MRD post HSCT) and adverse effects (shorter overall survival, more frequent acute GvHD, less frequent 100% chimerism at day 90) to the transplanted host. Comprehensive molecular investigations are necessary to validate this apparent duality, as the potential benefits of CMV could perhaps be utilized for the benefit of the patient in the future.

The treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) consists of the continuous use of Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKis) such as ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, zanubrutinib and pirtobrutinib, or Bcl-2 inhibitors, such as venetoclax. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of CLL patients are significantly improved with the use of these therapies. Adverse effects (AEs) that can occur during treatment and the presence of pre-existing comorbidities in patients can influence subsequent treatment outcomes and, consequently, OS and PFS. Managing these AEs, including cardiologic toxicity and infections (including fungal infections), as well as treating cardiovascular and other comorbidities, can be challenging due to potential drug interactions with the medications used for the management of AEs and comorbidities. Therefore, this review examined the key challenges associated with the concomitant use of novel CLL therapies and medications for managing comorbidities and AEs. This review aims to enhance and facilitate the management of patients with CLL.

Mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 ( and ) genes are frequent molecular lesions in acute myeloid leukaemia with normal karyotype (AML-NK). The effects of mutations on clinical features and treatment outcome in AML-NK have been widely investigated, but only a few studies monitored these mutations during follow-up. In our study samples from 110 adult AML-NK were studied for the presence of and mutations, their associations with other prognostic markers and disease outcome. We also analyzed the stability of these mutations during the course of the disease in complete remission (CR) and relapse. mutations were found in 25 (23%) patients. + patients tend to have lower CR rate compared to -patients (44% 62.2%, p = 0.152), and had slightly lower disease free survival (12 months 17 months; p = 0.091). On the other hand, the presence of mutations had significant impact on overall survival (2 7 months; p = 0.039). The stability of mutations were studied sequentially in 19 + patients. All of them lost the mutation in CR, and the same mutations were detected in relapsed samples. Our study shows that the presence of mutations confer an adverse effect in AML-NK patients, which in combination with other molecular markers can lead to an improved risk stratification and better treatment. Also, mutations are very stable during the course of the disease and can be potentially used as markers for minimal residual disease detection.

The oncogenicity of the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is currently being widely debated. Most recently, mounting clinical evidence suggests an anti-cancer effect via CMV-induced T cell-mediated tumor destruction. However, the data were mostly obtained from single-center studies and in vitro experiments. Broad geographic coverage is required to offer a global perspective. Our study examined the correlation between country-specific CMV seroprevalence (across 73 countries) and the age-standardized incidence rate (of 34 invasive tumors). The populations studied were stratified according to decadal age periods as the immunologic effects of CMV seropositivity may depend upon age at initial infection. The International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (IARC WHO) database was used. The multivariate linear regression analysis revealed a worldwide inverse correlation between CMV seroprevalence and the incidences of 62.8% tumors. Notably, this inverse link persists for all cancers combined (Spearman’s ρ = −0.732, p < 0.001; β = −0.482, p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.737). An antithetical and significant correlation was also observed in particular age groups for the vast majority of tumors. Our results corroborate the conclusions of previous studies and indicate that this oncopreventive phenomenon holds true on a global scale. It applies to a wide spectrum of cancer histologies, additionally supporting the idea of a common underlying mechanism—CMV-stimulated T cell tumor targeting. Although these results further advance the notion of CMV-based therapies, in-depth investigation of host–virus interactions is still warranted.

Background: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is frequently associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), leading to potentially life-threatening bleeding. Compared to bleeding, thromboses are a less commonly encountered problem. Objective: The objective of our study was to identify the incidence and predictive value of demographic data, clinical–laboratory parameters, and thrombosis risk assessment models (RAMs) for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with APL. Methods: This study was a retrospective study conducted on adult patients with APL who were treated between 2006 and 2024 at the Clinic of Hematology UCCS with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracycline. The demographic and clinical–laboratory data related to VTE were collected and analyzed alongside the predictive value of two RAMs proposed by Al-Ani and Paterno and colleagues. Results: Among the one-hundred-fifty-five adult patients with APL, VTE was diagnosed in twenty-eight cases (18.1%). The most common location for thrombosis was in the central venous catheter (CVC), which affected twelve (42.8%) patients. A total of six (21.4%) patients had deep vein thrombosis (DVT), one patient (3.6%) showed a pulmonary embolism (PE), and thrombosis at unusual sites was present in nine (32.1%) patients. Our analyses showed that neither Al-Ani’s RAM nor the RAM proposed by Paterno and colleagues were predictive for VTE in patients with APL. The C statistics value for the Al-Ani model was ROC = 0.514, and, for Paterno’s RAM, it was ROC = 0.521. The independent risk factors for VTE, identified via multivariate analysis, were CD114 expression (p = 0.005, OR = 6.4 IC 95%: [1.8–23.2]) and the absence of bleeding at presentation (p = 0.013, OR = 0.086 IC 95%: [0.01–0.59]). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing that a higher expression of CD114 increases the risk of VTE. The absence of bleeding at presentation in patients with APL correlates with thrombosis. Further analyses are needed to confirm these findings and help to develop therapeutic strategies to prevent VTE complications. So far, no risk assessment model has been sufficient to stratify patients with APL according to their risk of VTE.

Using various risk factor scores, we aimed to identify a subset of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) for whom it was possible to assess the prognosis. We also aimed to develop a novel prognostic score system. This single centre study involved 102 patients of ≥60 years of age with non-promyelocytic AML. The adverse cytogenetic risk group appeared as the most significant independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS). Our prognostic scoring system was developed after analysing prognostic risk factors and was applied for patients with favourable and intermediate (I and II) cytogenetic risk groups: age <65 years of age, normal lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and a comorbidity score obtained applying the haematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI) < 3 = 0 points, in which age ≥65 years = 1 point and an elevated LDH score and HCT-CI ≥3 = 2 points. According to this prognostic model, patients without adverse cytogenetics were classified into three risk groups: favourable = 0–2 points, intermediate = 3–4 points and poor = > 4 points. The OS between these groups was highly significant ( p  < 0.001). The prognostic model developed in this study may refine the prognosis procedure of elderly AML patients without an adverse karyotype regarding OS, thereby guiding the treatment approach.

This single-center study estimated the significance of pretreatment factors, including comorbidities, which may predict outcome in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia and determined how poor risk factors may be used as decision criteria for intensity of chemotherapy in this group of patients. Seventy-seven patients aged ≥ 55 years treated under four different regimens were followed up 36 month. Our results suggest that the most significant predictor for poor overall survival is comorbidity, as scored by the Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI), P  = 0.008. The most significant predictor for rate of complete remission is serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, P  = 0.049, and the most significant predictor of early death is leucocytosis, P  = 0.007. HCT-CI ≥ 3 was the most significant factor for treatment decision making regarding intensity of chemotherapy. The use of standardized comorbidity assessment tools, such as HCT-CI, for elderly patients with AML is practical and can help to improve treatment decision regarding the intensity of chemotherapy.

The aims of this study were to investigate the frequency and prognostic relevance of CD56 expression in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and to compare the importance of CD56 expression with standard prognostic factors, such as age, leukocytosis, cytogenetic abnormalities and performance status. We analyzed the data of 184 newly diagnosed patients with non-promyelocytic AML and a follow-up of 36 months. The median patient age was 58 years, with a range of 18–79. CD56+ antigen was recorded in 40 patients (21.7%). CD56 + was the most significant risk factor for OS: P  = 0.05. The most significant factor for a poor rate of CR was age ≥ 55 years ( P  = 0.001). CD56 positivity had no significant influence on CR rate, but it was the most significant risk factor for disease-free survival ( P  = 0.005). The CD56 antigen is an independent prognostic risk factor, and its presence should be measured regularly for a better prognostic assessment of patients with AML.

The degradation product of collagen type I carboxy terminal telopeptide (ICTP) represents a new biochemical parameter that reflects the changes in the resorption properties of skeletal system. Affection of the skeleton is one of the most important characteristics of multiple myeloma (MM). We estimated significance of ICTP as osteolysis predictor and overall survival in comparison with standard prognostic parameters β 2 -microglobulin and C-reactive protein (CRP), in patients with MM. With our results, we have shown significant difference in serum level of ICTP ( P  = 0.009) between patients with and without osteolysis on conventional radiography. It was proved that ICTP is the most significant predictor of osteolysis ( P  = 0.09), while CRP is the most significant risk factor for overall survival ( P  < 0.01). Being highly significant predictor of osteolysis, ICTP can be used for identification of patients with MM who had increased risk for developing osteolytic lesions.