Risk of hepatic decompensation from hepatitis B virus reactivation in hematological malignancy treatments

In this editorial,we discussed the apparent discrepancy between the findings described by Colapietro et al,in their case report and data found in the literature.Colapietro et al reported a case of hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related hepatic decompensation in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia and a previously resolved HBV infection who was receiving Bruton’s tyrosine kinase(BTK)inhibitor therapy.First of all,we recapitulated the main aspects of the immune system involved in the response to HBV infection in order to underline the role of the innate and adaptive response,focusing our attention on the protective role of anti-HBs.We then carefully analyzed literature data on the risk of HBV reactivation(HBVr)in patients with previous HBV infection who were treated with either tyrosine kinase inhibitors or BTK inhibitors for their hematologic malignancies.Based on literature data,we suggested that several factors may contribute to the different risks of HBVr:The type of hematologic malignancy;the type of therapy(BTK inhibitors,especially second-generation,seem to be at a higher risk of HBVr than those with tyrosine kinase inhibitors);previous exposure to an anti-CD20 as first-line therapy;and ethnicity and HBV genotype.Therefore,the warning regarding HBVr in the specific setting of patients with hematologic malignancies requires further investigation.

Hematological Malignancies in Sickle Cell Disease Patients: Report of Four Cases in Togo and Literature Review

Background: Hemopathies were rarely observed in major sickle cell disease patients some thirty years ago, probably due to the high mortality rate among the latter as a result of progressive complications. Thanks to advances in the management of sickle cell disease, patients' life expectancy has increased considerably, exposing them more frequently to neoplasia, including hematological malignancies. The increased risk of leukemogenesis is multifactorial and linked to the pathophysiological mechanisms of the clinical manifestations of sickle cell disease. Study Setting: The clinical haematology department of campus teaching hospital and the paediatric onco-haematology unit of Sylvanus Olympio teaching hospital in Lomé were used as study settings. Observations: Four hematologic malignancies were collected in a cohort of 5847 major sickle cell syndromes. The median age of the patients was 31.25 years (extremes: 14 and 58 years) and they were predominantly female (sex ratio M/F = 0.25). Two were on background therapy with hydroxyurea. Among the four patients, there were two cases of acute lymphocytic leukemia, including ALL3 in a 58-year-old SS woman and T-ALL2 in a 12-year-old SC. Then, a case of lymphocytic lymphoma in a 20-year-old SS man was reported and finally a case of chronic myelocytic leukemia in a 33-year-old woman of Sβ+ thalassaemia phenotype. Conclusion: To further report this coexistence, it is therefore essential to systematically consider hematological malignancies during major sickle cell syndromes even if there are similarities in the symptomatology of these two serious pathological situations.

Fighting against hematological malignancy in China: from unique system to global impact

During recent decades, substantial progress has been made in clinical strategies for treating hematological malignancies. Not only did China benefit from the global progression in the management of acute promyelocytic leukemia, risk-stratification-directed strategies for acute or chronic leukemia and haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the unique system developed by Chinese doctors has also become inspiration for refining global clinical practice. The multicenter trials and collaborations adhering to international standards might further strengthen the global impact and lead the way in specific fields of research worldwide.

Predictive value of co-expression patterns of immune checkpoint molecules for clinical outcomes of hematological malignancies

Co-expression of immune checkpoint(IC)molecules can exacerbate T cell exhaustion in patients with hematological malignancies(HMs)and contribute to the immune escape of tumor cells,which is related to poor clinical outcome.It is worth establishing and optimizing an ideal prediction model based on the co-expression patterns of IC molecules to evaluate the immune status of HM patients and predict their clinical outcome.In this perspective,we summarize the co-expression patterns of IC molecules and their importance as biomarkers that predict the prognosis of patients with different HMs,providing new insights for designing dual IC blockades(ICBs).

Continuous renal replacement therapy with oXiris®in patients with hematologically malignant septic shock:A retrospective study

BACKGROUND The mortality rate from septic shock in patients with hematological malignancies(HMs)remains significantly higher than that in patients without HMs.A longer resuscitation time would definitely be harmful because of the irreversibly immunocompromised status of the patients.Shortening the resuscitation time through continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)with oXiris^(■)would be an attractive strategy in managing such patients.AIM To explore the effects of CRRT and oXiris^(■)in shortening the resuscitation time and modifying the host response by reducing inflammation mediator levels.METHODS Forty-five patients with HM were diagnosed with septic shock and underwent CRRT between 2018 and 2022.Patients were divided into two groups based on the hemofilter used for CRRT(oXiris^(■)group,n=26;M150 group,n=19).We compared the number of days of negative and total fluid balance after 7 d of CRRT between the groups.The heart rate,norepinephrine dose,Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA)score,and blood lactic acid levels at different time points in the two groups were also compared.Blood levels of inflammatory mediators in the 26 patients in the oXiris^(■)group were measured to further infer the possible mechanism.RESULTS The average total fluid balance after 7 d of CRRT in the oXiris^(■)group was significantly lower than that of patients in the M150 hemofilter group.The SOFA scores of patients after CRRT with oXiris^(■)therapy were significantly lower than those before treatment on day 1(d1),d3 and d7 after CRRT;these parameters were also significantly lower than those of the control group on d7.The lac level after oXiris^(■)therapy was significantly lower than that before treatment on d3 and d7 after CRRT.There were no significant differences in the above parameters between the two groups at the other time points.In the oXiris^(■)group,procalcitonin levels decreased on d7,whereas interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor levels decreased significantly on d3 and d7 after treatment.CONCLUSION CRRT with oXiris^(■)hemofilter may improve hemodynamics by reducing inflammatory mediators and playing a role in shortening the resuscitation period and decreasing total fluid balance in the resuscitation phases.

Cholesterol-associated lysosomal disorder triggers cell death of hematological malignancy:Dynamic analysis on cytotoxic effects of LW-218

The integrity of lysosomes is of vital importance to survival of tumor cells.We demonstrated that LW-218,a synthetic flavonoid,induced rapid lysosomal enlargement accompanied with lysosomal membrane permeabilization in hematological malignancy.LW-218-induced lysosomal damage and lysosome-dependent cell death were mediated by cathepsin D,as the lysosomal damage and cell apoptosis could be suppressed by depletion of cathepsin D or lysosome alkalization agents,which can alter the activity of cathepsins.Lysophagy,was initiated for cell self-rescue after LW-218 treatment and correlated with calcium release and nuclei translocation of transcription factor EB.LW-218 treatment enhanced the expression of autophagy-related genes which could be inhibited by intracellular calcium chelator.Sustained exposure to LW-218 exhausted the lysosomal capacity so as to repress the normal autophagy.LW-218-induced enlargement and damage of lysosomes were triggered by abnormal cholesterol deposition on lysosome membrane which caused by interaction between LW-218 and NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 1.Moreover,LW-218 inhibited the leukemia cell growth in vivo.Thus,the necessary impact of integral lysosomal function in cell rescue and death were illustrated.

Intensive care unit outcomes in patients with hematological malignancy

Hematological malignancies are usually life-limiting conditions.Limitations of care need to be decided early,based on acceptability to the patient,family,physician,and community.Inappropriate intensive care unit(ICU)admission is likely to result in significant physical,psychological,and economic burden.There is little published on the impact of non-acute preadmission disease factors on ICU outcomes in hematological malignancies.Aim:To identify baseline performance and disease-associated factors before admission to ICU in patients with hematological malignancy that contribute to subsequent ICU mortality.Methods:A retrospective analysis of electronic medical records,laboratory results,and Intensive Care data for all patients(n=184)with hematological malignancy admitted to the Calvary Mater Hospital ICU between January 1,2013 and June 30,2017 was undertaken.Baseline age,gender,condition,Eastern Cooperative Oncology,and Charlson Comorbidity scores were compared to ICU outcome and overall survival.Disease-specific prognostic risk scores were compared to ICU outcome.Results:Overall,73.9%survived the ICU admission,with 31.6%surviving at 12 months.Superior ejection fractions(>55%)and prognosis>12 months(based on disease-specific risk scores)were significantly associated with overall survival(P=0.024 and P=0.001).Induction and posttransplantation therapy were predictive of poor ICU survival outcome(P<0.0001 and P=0.041).APACHE scores were significant predictors of ICU mortality(P=0.002 for APACHE II and P<0.0001 for APACHE III).Conclusion:Survival outcomes for patients with hematological malignancy admitted to the ICU correlate with functional and comorbidity status.Disease-specific prognostic scores can assist in recognizing patients likely to benefit from ICU admission.

Acute myelomonocytic leukemia and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma as simultaneous bilineage hematologic malignancy treated with decitabine:A case report

BACKGROUND Simultaneous bilineage hematologic malignancies are rare;however,several cases of acute myeloid leukemia(AML)and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma(T-LBL)cooccurrence have been reported.A standard treatment for simultaneous AML and T-LBL has not yet been established,and its prognosis is very poor.Further studies to develop standard treatments are required to increase patient survival rates.CASE SUMMARY A 69-year-old man complaining of pleuritic chest pain visited the emergency room.Computed tomography revealed multiple enlarged lymph nodes(LNs)in the neck and groin and pulmonary thromboembolism with pulmonary infarction.Furthermore,a peripheral blood smear performed due to leukocytosis revealed circulating blasts.Acute myelomonocytic leukemia(AMML)was diagnosed after bone marrow examination,and T-LBL positivity for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase,cluster of differentiation(CD)34,and CD4 was confirmed by cervical LN biopsy.Decitabine and dexamethasone were administered because he could not receive intensive chemotherapy due to poor performance status.Complete remission of AMML and T-LBL was achieved after 4 cycles of decitabine plus dexamethasone.CONCLUSION We report the therapeutic effect of decitabine,a hypomethylating agent(HMA),in patients with concurrent bilineage hematologic malignancies and suggest that further studies are required to evaluate the therapeutic effect of HMAs on both lymphoid and bilineage hematologic malignancies.

Recent progresson nuclear export protein XPO1 inhibitor in the treatment of hematological malignancies

Most tumor suppressor and growth-regulating proteins are transported via the plasmic nuclear transporter exportin 1(XPO1).Many malignancies have excessive XPO1 expression,which is associated with disease progression and resistance to therapy.A novel class of anticancer medication called selective inhibitor of nuclear export(SINE)can down-regulate the levels of a number of antigenic proteins in the cytoplasm,activate tumor suppressor and other growth regulating proteins,and promote the nuclear retention and apoptosis of tumor cells.This article discusses the function of XPO1 in drug resistance and tumor development as well as the advancement of XPO1 inhibitor research for the treatment of hematological cancers.

Blockade of CD300A enhances the ability of human NK cells to lyse hematologic malignancies

Objective: The human cluster of differentiation(CD)300A, a type-I transmembrane protein with immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs, was investigated as a potential immune checkpoint for human natural killer(NK) cells targeting hematologic malignancies(HMs).Methods: We implemented a stimulation system involving the CD300A ligand, phosphatidylserine(PS), exposed to the outer surface of malignant cells. Additionally, we utilized CD300A overexpression, a CD300A blocking system, and a xenotransplantation model to evaluate the impact of CD300A on NK cell efficacy against HMs in in vitro and in vivo settings. Furthermore, we explored the association between CD300A and HM progression in patients.Results: Our findings indicated that PS hampers the function of NK cells. Increased CD300A expression inhibited HM lysis by NK cells. CD300A overexpression shortened the survival of HM-xenografted mice by impairing transplanted NK cells. Blocking PS–CD300A signals with antibodies significantly amplified the expression of lysis function-related proteins and effector cytokines in NK cells, thereby augmenting the ability to lyse HMs. Clinically, heightened CD300A expression correlated with shorter survival and an “exhausted” phenotype of intratumoral NK cells in patients with HMs or solid tumors.Conclusions: These results propose CD300A as a potential target for invigorating NK cell-based treatments against HMs.

Prevention of hepatitis B reactivation in patients with hematologic malignancies treated with novel systemic therapies:Who and Why?

The risk of reactivation in patients with chronic or past/resolved hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection receiving chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs is a wellknown possibility.The indication of antiviral prophylaxis with nucleo(t)side analogue is given according to the risk of HBV reactivation of the prescribed therapy.Though the advent of new drugs is occurring in all the field of medicine,in the setting of hematologic malignancies the last few years have been characterized by several drug classes and innovative cellular treatment.As novel therapies,there are few data about the rate of HBV reactivation and the decision of starting or not an antiviral prophylaxis could be challenging.Moreover,patients are often treated with a combination of different drugs,so evaluating the actual role of these new therapies in increasing the risk of HBV reactivation is difficult.First results are now available,but further studies are still needed.Patients with chronic HBV infection[hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)positive]are reasonably all treated.Past/resolved HBV patients(HBsAg negative)are the actual area of uncertainty where it could be difficult choosing between prophylaxis and pre-emptive strategy.

Navigating the complex terrain of hepatitis B virus reactivation in the era of Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors

In this editorial,we offer a summary of the risk associated with hepatitis B reactivation(HBVr)in the setting of both solid and hematologic malignancies treated with Bruton tyrosine kinase(BTK)inhibitors,with insights derived from current studies.Furthermore,we emphasize the critical need for a framework regarding robust risk evaluation in patients undergoing such treatments.This framework is essential for identifying those at increased risk of HBVr,enabling healthcare providers to implement proactive measures to prevent reactivation and ensure the safe administration of BTK inhibitor therapy.

Preclinical evaluation of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine combined with CD19 CAR-T in the treatment of B-cell hematologic malignancies in vivo

Background:Chimeric antigen receptor T(CAR-T)cell therapy has achieved marked therapeutic success in ameliorating hematological malignancies.However,there is an extant void in the clinical guidelines concerning the most effective chemotherapy regimen prior to chimeric antigen receptor T(CAR-T)cell therapy,as well as the optimal timing for CAR-T cell infusion post-chemotherapy.Materials and Methods:We employed cell-derived tumor xenograft(CDX)murine models to delineate the optimal pre-conditioning chemotherapy regimen and timing for CAR-T cell treatment.Furthermore,transcriptome sequencing was implemented to identify the therapeutic targets and elucidate the underlying mechanisms governing the treatment regimen.Results:Our preclinical in vivo evaluation determined that a combination of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine,followed by the infusion of CD19 CAR-T cells five days subsequent to the chemotherapy,exerts the most efficacious therapeutic effect in B-cell hematological malignancies.Concurrently,RNA-seq data indicated that the therapeutic efficacy predominantly perturbs tumor cell metabolism,primarily through the inhibition of key mitochondrial targets,such as C-Jun Kinase enzyme(C-JUN).Conclusion:In summary,the present study offers critical clinical guidance and serves as an authoritative reference for the deployment of CD19 CAR-T cell therapy in the treatment of B-cell hematological malignancies.

Cervical myeloid sarcoma as an initial clinical manifestation: Four case reports

BACKGROUND Cervical myeloid sarcoma(MS)is a rare hematological malignancy characterized by the formation of extramedullary soft tissue masses in the cervical region.Due to its uncommon presentation in the female reproductive system,cervical MS poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.Consequently,there is a pressing need for more research and clinical experience to better understand,diagnose,and manage this condition effectively.CASE SUMMARY This report details four cases,the diagnostic process,treatment strategy,and outcomes,discussing cervical MS as an initial clinical manifestation.The disease exhibits varied clinical presentations,such as irregular vaginal bleeding and pa-lpation of cervical masses.The treatment approaches discussed include neoad-juvant chemotherapy,surgery,and postoperative chemotherapy,though mana-ging the disease remains challenging.The report also features a comprehensive literature review that underscores the importance of immunohistochemistry for accurate diagnosis,identifying key markers,including myeloperoxidase,cluster of differentiation(CD)68,and CD43,stressing the need for further research to improve treatment strategies and prognosis.CONCLUSION Immunohistochemical diagnosis and tailored therapeutic strategies are essential.Further research is crucial in improving outcomes and developing effective treatment protocols.

A Prospective Study on HGV Infection after Transfusion in Pediatric Hematological Children

In order to delineate the infectious status of HGV in pediatric hemato-logical patients and its clinical features, 38 children were studied for HGV by reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR). The overall positive rate was 23. 68 %; the positive rate in 1-10 time transfusion recipients (mean 3. 26 times) was 3. 70 % while in over 10 time transfusion recipients (mean 20. 09 times) was 72. 73 %. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (P<0. 001). All HGV positive children showed diminished immunity and most were single HGV infection with no clinical and biochemical evidences of acute hepatitis. Our results suggest that HGV is one of the main causes of post-transfusion hepatic virus infection and the prevalence is related to transfusion times. Hematological malignancy maybe the most susceptible confluence of HGV.

Prevention and management of hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients with hematological malignancies treated with anticancer therapy

Hepatitis due to hepatitis B virus(HBV) reactivation can be severe and potentially fatal, but is preventable. HBV reactivation is most commonly reported in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy, especially rituximabcontaining therapy for hematological malignancies and those receiving stem cell transplantation. All patients with hematological malignancies receiving anticancer therapy should be screened for active or resolved HBV infection by blood tests for hepatitis B surface antigen(HBs Ag) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen(antiHBc). Patients found to be positive for HBs Ag should be given prophylactic antiviral therapy to prevent HBV reactivation. For patients with resolved HBV infection, no standard strategy has yet been established to prevent HBV reactivation. There are usually two options. One is pre-emptive therapy guided by serial HBV DNA monitoring, whereby antiviral therapy is given as soon as HBV DNA becomes detectable. However, there is little evidence regarding the optimal interval and period of monitoring. An alternative approach is prophylactic antiviral therapy, especially for patients receiving highrisk therapy such as rituximab, newer generation of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, obinutuzumab or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This strategy may effectively prevent HBV reactivation and avoid the inconvenience of repeated HBV DNA monitoring. Entecavir or tenofovir are preferred over lamivudine as prophylactic therapy. Although there is no well-defined guideline on the optimal duration of prophylactic therapy, there is growing evidence to recommend continuing prophylactic antiviral therapy for at least 12 mo after cessation of chemotherapy, and even longer for those who receive rituximab or who had high serum HBV DNA levels before the start of immunosuppressive therapy. Many novel agents have recently become available for the treatment of hematological malignancies, and these agents may be associated with HBV reactivation. Although there is currently limited evidence to guide the optimal preventive measures, we recommend antiviral prophylaxis in HBs Ag-positive patients receiving novel treatments, especially the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors, which are B-cell receptor signaling modulators and reduce proliferation of malignant B-cells. Further studies are needed to clarify the risk of HBV reactivation with these agents and the best prophylactic strategy in the era of targeted therapy for hematological malignancies.

TMTP1, a Novel Tumor-homing Peptide, Specifically Targets Hematological Malignancies and Their Metastases

TMTP1, a 5-amino acid peptide NVVRQ, obtained by using the flagella peptide library screening in our previous studies, can be used for the labeling of malignant in situ and metastatic lesions, and even micro-metastases. In this study, TMTP1 was assessed for its ability to specifically target the malignant hematopoietic cells and metastatic lesions of hematological malignancies. FITC-TMTP1 was chemically synthesized. Immunofluorescence assay and competitive test were carried out to determine the specific binding capacity of TMTPl to hematological malignant cell lines, including HL60, k562, SHI-1, Jurkat, Raji, El-4 and umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells. Mononuclear cells were isolated from the bone marrow of healthy subjects and patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Then the cells were co-clutured with TMTP1 or scrambled peptides and the binding and affinity of TMTP1 peptide to the primary cells of hematological malignancies were flow cytometrically analyzed. The binding speci-ficity of TMTP1 to target hematological malignancies was measured in vivo by intravenous injection of FITC-conjugated TMTP1 into El-4 lymphoma-bearing mice. The results showed that TMTP1 specifi-cally bound to the cells of a series of hematological malignancies, including HL60, k562, Jurkat, Raji , El-4 and chronic myeloid leukemia primary cells but not to bone marrow mononuclear cells from healthy subjects. By contrast, TMTP1 could bind to the metastatic foci of lymphoma originating from the EL-4 cell line while the scrambled peptide failed to do so. Moreover, the occult metastases could be identified, with high specificity, by detecting FITC-TMTP1. We are led to conclude that TMTP1, as a novel tumor-homing peptide, can serve as a marker for primary malignant and metastatic lesions for the early diagnosis of hematological malignances and a carrier of anticancer drugs for cancer treatment.

CAR T Cell Therapy for Hematological Malignancies

As a rapidly progressing field in oncology,the adoptive transfer of T cells that have been genetically modified with chimeric antigen receptors(CARs)has shown striking efficacy in the management of hematological malignancies and has been reported in a number of clinical trials.of note,CAR T cell therapy has shown extraordinary potential,especially in relapsed/refractory patients.However,there are still challenges regarding the further development of this strategy,spanning from engineering and manufacturing issues,to limited applications,to accompanying toxicities.In this review,we will summarize the general knowledge of this novel method,including receptor composition,applications,adverse events and challenges.Additionally,we will propose several comprehensive recommendations.

Characteristics of escape mutations from occult hepatitis B virus infected patients with hematological malignancies in South Egypt

AIM To investigate the prevalence and virological characteristics of occult hepatitis B virus(HBV) infections in patients with hematological malignancies in South Egypt.METHODS Serum samples were collected from 165 patients with hematological malignancies to monitor titers of HBV DNA, hepatitis B surface antigen(HBs Ag), and antibodies to HBV core(anti-HBc) and surface antigens. Serum samples negative for HBs Ag and positive for anti-HBc were subjected to nucleic acid extraction and HBV DNA detection by real-time polymerase chain reaction. DNA sequences spanning the S region were analyzed in cases with occult HBV infection. In vitro comparative study of constructed 1.24-fold wild type and S protein mutant HBV genotype D clones was further performed. RESULTS HBV DNA was detected in 23(42.6%) of 54 patients with hematological malignancies who were HBsA g negative, but anti-HBc positive, suggesting the presence of occult HBV infection. The complete HBV genome was retrieved from 6 occult HBV patients, and P120 T and S143 L were detected in 3 and 2 cases, respectively. Site directed mutagenesis was done to produce 1.24-fold genotype D clones with amino acid mutations T120 and L143. The in vitro analyses revealed that a lower level of extracellular HBsA g was detected by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay(CLEIA) with the clone containing T120 mutation, compared with the wild type or the clone with S143 L mutation despite the similar levels of extracellular and intracellular HBs Ag detected by Western blot. Southern blot experiments showed that the levels of intracellular HBV DNA were not different between these clones. CONCLUSION Occult HBV infection is common in patients with hematological malignancies and associated with P120 T and S143 L mutations. 120 T mutation impairs the detection of HBsA g by CLEIA.

Combination of CRISPR/Cas9 System and CAR-T Cell Therapy:A New Era for Refractory and Relapsed Hematological Malignancies

Chimeric antigen receptor T(CAR-T)cell therapy is the novel treatment strategy for hematological malignancies such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL),lymphoma and multiple myeloma.However,treatment-related toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome(CRS)and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome(ICANS)have become significant hurdles to CAR-T treatment.Multiple strategies were established to alter the CAR structure on the genomic level to improve efficacy and reduce toxicities.Recently,the innovative gene-editing technology-clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease9(Cas9)system,which particularly exhibits preponderance in knock-in and knockout at specific sites,is widely utilized to manufacture CAR-T products.The application of CRISPR/Cas9 to CAR-T cell therapy has shown promising clinical results with minimal toxicity.In this review,we summarized the past achievements of CRISPR/Cas9 in CAR-T therapy and focused on the potential CAR-T targets.