Abstract The treatment of patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma has improved considerably in the last 15 years, after the introduction of proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs. The first clinical trials with new proteasome inhibitors have produced exciting results, particularly those comparing triplet regimens with standard doublet regimens, with a gain in progression-free survival accompanied by an acceptable safety profile and either similar or better health-related quality of life. New proteasome inhibitors hold the potential to fill unmet needs in multiple myeloma management regarding improvement of clinical outcomes, including delayed progression of disease in high-risk patients. This review summarizes the main pharmacological properties and clinical outcomes of these agents, and discusses their potential to change the whole multiple myeloma therapeutic landscape.

Abstract Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) is a serious world health problem that limits public actions to control tuberculosis, because the most used anti-tuberculosis first-line drugs fail to stop mycobacterium spread. Consequently, a quick detection through molecular diagnosis is essential to reduce morbidity and medical costs. Despite the availability of several molecular-based commercial-kits to diagnose multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, their diagnostic value might diverge worldwide since Mycobacterium tuberculosis genetic variability differs according to geographic location. Here, we studied the predictive value of four common mycobacterial mutations in strains isolated from endemic areas of Brazil. Mutations were found at the frequency of 41.9% for katG, 25.6% for inhA, and 69.8% for rpoB genes in multidrug-resistant strains. Multimarker analysis revealed that combination of only two mutations (“katG/S315T + rpoB/S531L”) was a better surrogate of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis than single-marker analysis (86% sensitivity vs. 62.8%). Prediction of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis was not improved by adding a third or fourth mutation in the model. Therefore, rather than using diagnostic kits detecting several mutations, we propose a simple dual-marker panel to detect multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, with 86% sensitivity and 100% specificity. In conclusion, this approach (previous genetic study + analysis of only prevalent markers) would considerably decrease the processing costs while retaining diagnostic accuracy.

Objetivo: Determinar a sobrevida de pacientes portadores de mieloma múltiplo em 5 anos pós-transplante. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo em pacientes com diagnóstico de mieloma múltiplo submetidos a transplante autólogo de medula óssea em uma instituição brasileira, no período de 1993 a 2007. Resultados: Foram avaliados 73 pacientes com mediana de idade de 55 anos. A sobrevida encontrada em 5 anos foi de 75% (2,4 a 60 meses). A análise estatística demonstrou significância estatística para o grau de resposta ao tratamento aplicado previamente ao transplante autólogo de medula óssea (p = 0,01). Não houve significância estatística para o estadiamento clínico ou período de diagnóstico (antes ou após o ano 2000). Conclusão: A experiência na realização de transplante autólogo de medula para mileoma múltiplo, em uma instituição brasileira, demonstrou uma evolução concordante com a literatura médica e destacou a importância da resposta prévia ao transplante na sobrevida desses pacientes.

Objective: To determine the 5-year post-transplant survival of patients with multiple myeloma. Methods: A retrospective study in patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma submitted to autologous bone marrow transplantation at a Brazilian institution, during the period of 1993 to 2007. Results: Seventy-three patients were evaluated with a median age of 55 years. Survival in 5 years was 75% (2.4 to 60 months). Statistical analysis demonstrated statistical significance for the applied grade of response prior to treatment with autologous bone marrow transplantation (p = 0.01). There was no statistical significance for clinical staging or time of diagnosis (before or after the year 2000). Conclusion: Experience in autologous bone marrow transplantation for multiple myeloma at a Brazilian institution demonstrated an evolution consistent with that of medical literature and highlighted the importance of a response to treatment prior to transplantation in the survival of these patients.

Na leucemia linfoide aguda (LLA), a proliferação, acúmulo e infiltração de células imaturas caracterizam uma entidade heterogênea, apresentando ampla diversidade de aspectos clínicos e biológicos. Na LLA do adulto, a concentração de fatores prognósticos de alto risco, como o imunofenótipo B, alterações cromossômicas e, principalmente, a presença do cromossomo Ph positivo. Considerações a respeito da alta morbidade e mortalidade relacionadas ao transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas (TCTH) têm gerado controvérsias quanto à indicação desta modalidade terapêutica, nos pacientes adultos com LLA em primeira remissão (1ª RC). Os resultados da terapia convencional com quimioterapia, diante dos diferentes grupos de risco em pacientes com LLA, têm sido utilizados para a indicação de TCTH. Apresentamos o algoritmo de indicações do transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas em pacientes adultos com LLA.

In acute lymphoblastic leukemia, accumulation and proliferation of immature cells infiltration characterise a heterogeneous entity, featuring a wide variety of clinical and biological aspects. In the adult LLA concentration of high-risk prognosis factors such as age, B-cell, chromosomic changes, and chiefly the presence of chromosome positive Ph. Considerations of high morbidity and mortality rates related to haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (TCTH) have generated controversy about this therapeutic modality in adult patients with LLA in first remission (1st RC). The results of conventional therapy with chemotherapy in contrast with different risk groups of patients with LLA, has been used for the indication of TCTH. Thus we present the algorithm indications of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in adult patients with LLA. Rev.