ABSTRACT Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy is a novel therapeutic modality for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with robust outcomes in patients with refractory or relapsed disease. At the same time, CAR-T cell therapy is associated with unique and potentially fatal toxicities, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurological toxicities (ICANS). This manuscript aims to provide a consensus of specialists in the fields of Hema- tology Oncology and Cellular Therapy to make recommendations on the current scenario of the use of CAR-T cells in patients with ALL.

ABSTRACT Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients should be routinely revaccinated after transplantation. We evaluated the difficulties met in the revaccination program and how a prospective and tailored follow-up could help to overcome these obstacles. HSCT recipients (n=122) were prospectively followed up and categorized into Group 1 (n=72), recipients who had already started the revaccination program, and Group 2 (n=50), recipients starting their vaccines. Whenever a difficulty was reported, interventions and subsequent evaluations were performed. Reported problems were related to patient compliance, HSCT center and/or vaccination center. Problems related to patient compliance were less frequent than those related to HSCT center modifications of previous recommendations, or to errors made by the vaccination center. The main gap found was vaccination delays (81.9%). Advisory intervention was needed in 64% and 46% of Group 1 and Group 2, respectively (p=0.05), and was partially successful in around 70% of the cases. Total resolution was achieved in more than 35% in both groups. Improvements are needed in the Brazilian vaccination program for HSCT recipients to assure a complete and updated revaccination schedule. HSCT centers should assign nurses and transplant infectious disease specialist physicians to organize the revaccination schedule and to monitor the program development.

INTRODUÇÃO: Pacientes submetidos a transplante de células hematopoiéticas recebem altas doses de quimioterapia e radioterapia que podem causar imunossupressão e doenças orais graves.OBJETIVO: Apresentar um protocolo de avaliação de doenças orais antes e após transplante de células hematopoiéticas.MÉTODO: Estudo clínico prospectivo de 65 pacientes com idade acima de 18 anos, com doenças hematológicas submetidas a transplante de células hematopoiéticas, divididos em dois grupos: A (transplante alogênico, 34 pacientes) e B (transplante autólogo). Foram realizadas três avaliações odontológicas: período antes do transplante (momento 1), uma semana (momento 2) e 100 dias após o transplante (momento 3). Em cada momento as alterações orais foram pontuadas e classificadas como leve, moderada e grave.RESULTADOS: As alterações orais mais frequentes foram: gengivite, pericoronite do terceiro molar e úlceras. Entretanto nos momentos dois e três a principal doença foi a mucosite associada a toxicidades das drogas usadas na imunossupressão.CONCLUSÃO: Mucosite foi principal alteração, com a pontuação mais alta e com maior risco de complicações. Gengivites, úlceras e pericoronites foram outras alterações com risco menor de complicações.

INTRODUCTION: Patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation receive high doses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which cause severe immunosuppression.OBJECTIVE: To report an oral disease management protocol before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.METHODS: A prospective study was carried out with 65 patients aged > 18 years, with hematological diseases, who were allocated into two groups: A (allogeneic transplant, 34 patients); B (autologous transplant, 31 patients). A total of three dental status assessments were performed: in the pre-transplantation period (moment 1), one week after stem cell infusion (moment 2), and 100 days after transplantation (moment 3). In each moment, oral changes were assigned scores and classified as mild, moderate, and severe risks.RESULTS: The most frequent pathological conditions were gingivitis, pericoronitis in the third molar region, and ulcers at the third moment assessments. However, at moments 2 and 3, the most common disease was mucositis associated with toxicity from the drugs used in the immunosuppression.CONCLUSION: Mucositis accounted for the increased score and potential risk of clinical complications. Gingivitis, ulcers, and pericoronitis were other changes identified as potential risk factors for clinical complications.

The graft-versus-host disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Aiming at contributing to the understanding of the role of myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and natural killer cells in chronic graft-versus-host disease, we examined biopsies of jugal mucosa of 26 patients with acute myeloid leukemia who had undergone allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Half of these patients developed oral chronic graft-versus-host disease. Microscopic sections were immunohistochemically stained for anti-CD1a, anti-CD123 and anti-CD56. We calculated the number of immunostained cells in the corium per square millimeter and applied the Mann-Whitney test. Results showed a statistically significant increase of myeloid dendritic cells (CD1a+; p=0,02) and natural killer cells (CD56; p=0,04) in patients with oral chronic graft-versus-host disease. CD123 immunostaining showed no statistical difference between groups. It was concluded that myeloid dendritic cells and natural killer cells participate in the development of oral chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Doença enxerto contra hospedeiro é observada principalmente em pacientes transplantados de células de origem hematopoiéticas e se expressa por sinais e sintomas cutâneos ou sistêmicos. Clinicamente, a Doença enxerto contra hospedeiro é classificada em aguda ou crônica. As do tipo crônico ocorrem em até 70% dos pacientes e suas manifestações têm impacto importante na morbidade e na qualidade de vida. Os autores relatam caso com extenso comprometimento cutâneo, oral e de anexos cutâneos em paciente com Doença enxerto contra hospedeiro crônica expressa por inúmeras lesões de padrão liquenóide e de atrofia cutânea.

Graft-versus-host disease is observed mainly in recipients of hematopoietic cell transplantation and is expressed by cutaneous or systemic signals and symptoms. Graft-versus-host disease is clinically classified as acute or chronic. Chronic Graft-versus-host disease occurs in up to 70% of hematopoietic cell transplanted patients and its clinical manifestations have important impact on morbidity and quality of life. The authors report an expressive cutaneous, oral and adnexal involvement in a patient with chronic Graft-versus-host disease with multiple lesions of lichenoid and atrophic pattern.

O linfoma Hodgkin(LH) é uma malignidade hematológica que conta com um armamentário terapêutico selecionado de acordo com o estadiamento e a classificação prognóstica de cada doente. A sobrevida dos pacientes tratados para o LH clássico vem aumentando significativamente, com taxas de cura entre 80%-85%. Entretanto, 20%-25% são refratários aos tratamentos iniciais e cerca de 30% recaem após ter alcançado resposta completa. Os pacientes considerados com falha à terapia de primeira linha ainda têm uma segunda chance de cura se apresentarem quimiossensibilidade aos esquemas de salvamento, seguido por uma das modalidades de transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas (TCTH). O TCTH autólogo representa uma estratégia atrativa para os pacientes com LH que falham ao tratamento convencional de primeira linha. Os resultados em termos de sobrevidas livre de doença e global são superiores aos esquemas de salvamento com quimioterapia convencional. Este procedimento tem finalidade curativa para 50% dos pacientes em segunda remissão quimiossensíveis e pode levar a remissões duráveis naqueles com mais de duas linhas de terapia. Atualmente, o TCTH alogênico, basicamente com condicionamento de intensidade reduzida (RIC), está indicado em pacientes com recaída precoce após o TCTH autólogo ou em pacientes bastante jovens com refratariedade a mais de duas linhas de tratamento convencional.

Hodgkin's Lymphoma is a hematologic malignancy with a wide range of therapeutic options that must be chosen according to the stage and the prognostic classification of each patient. The overall survival of patients treated for classic Hodgkin's Lymphoma is increasing significantly, with current cure rates being between 80% and 85%. Nevertheless, 20% to 25% are refractory to the initial treatment and about 30% relapse after having reached a complete response. Patients that have failed standard therapy still have a second chance of cure if they present chemosensitivity to cure schemes, followed by one type of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (TCTH). Autologous TCTH is an attractive strategy for Hodgkin's Lymphoma patients that fail in the conventional standard therapy. The results in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival are higher than the cure schemes with conventional chemotherapy. This procedure addresses the cure in 50% of chemosensitive patients in second remission, and can lead to lasting remissions for those with more than two lines of treatment. Today, allogeneic TCTH, basically with reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) is indicated for patients with premature relapse after autologous TCTH or for young patients refractory to one or more lines of conventional treatment.

O transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas (TCTH) é o tratamento de escolha para leucemias agudas de alto risco. Apesar da melhora na sobrevida destes pacientes, a recidiva continua sendo a maior causa de óbito pós-transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os resultados dos transplantes realizados em crianças com leucemia aguda em duas instituições brasileiras. Realizou-se estudo retrospectivo de 208 pacientes transplantados entre 1990-2007. Mediana de idade: 9 anos; 119 pacientes com leucemia linfoide aguda (LLA) e 89 com leucemia mieloide aguda (LMA). Doença precoce: CR1 e CR2. Doença avançada: >CR3, doença refratária ou recidivada. Noventa pacientes vivos entre 258-6.068 dias (M:1.438), com sobrevida global (SG) de 45% (3 anos) e a sobrevida livre de recaída (SLR) 39% (três anos). 14/195 pacientes tiveram falha primária de pega (8%). Não houve diferença na sobrevida global e sobrevida livre de recaída entre pacientes com leucemia linfoide aguda e leucemia mieloide aguda, entre transplantes aparentados e não aparentados, tampouco entre as fontes de células utilizadas. O desenvolvimento da doença do enxerto contra hospedeiro (DECH) aguda ou crônica também não influenciou a sobrevida global e sobrevida livre de recaída. Pacientes com leucemia linfoide aguda condicionados com irradiação corporal total (TBI) apresentaram melhor sobrevida global e sobrevida livre de recaída (p<0,001). Cento e dezoito pacientes morreram entre 1-1.654 dias pós-transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas (M:160). Mortalidade relacionada a transplante (MRT) (dia+100): 16%. Incidência cumulativa de recaída: 40% (3 anos). Pacientes com doença avançada tiveram menor sobrevida global e sobrevida livre de recaída (três anos)(p<0,001). Na análise multivariada, o status da doença foi o principal fator associado ao aumento da sobrevida global e sobrevida livre de recaída. Nossos resultados mostram que é possível se atingir uma boa sobrevida para pacientes com doença precoce e também mostram a baixa eficácia naqueles com doença avançada.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell transplantation (HSCT) is the treatment of choice for patients with high-risk leukemia. In spite of this, relapse remains a major cause of death of these patients. Our objective was to analyze the outcomes of patients with acute leukemia submitted to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in two Brazilian institutions. A retrospective study of 208 patients transplanted between 1990 and 2007 with a median age of 9 years (range: 1-18 years) was made. One hundred and nineteen patients had acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and 89 had acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Early disease was considered for CR1 and CR2 cases and advanced disease >CR3 and refractory and relapse disease. Ninety patients are alive between 258 and 6068 days after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (M: 1438 days). The overall survival (OS) was 45% (3 years) and event free survival (EFS) was 39% (3 years). Primary graft failure occurred in 14/195 patients (8%). There were no differences in the overall survival and event free survival between patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia, between sources of cells used or between those who developed acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). When comparing transplants from related and unrelated donors, there was no difference in the overall survival. Patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia receiving the total body irradiation (TBI) conditioning regimen had better overall survival and event free survival (p<0.001). One hundred and eighteen patients died between 0 and 1654 days after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (M: 160 days). Transplantation-related-mortality (TRM) at D+100 was 16% and cumulative incidence of relapse was 40% (3 years). Patients with advanced disease had lower 3-year overall survival and event free survival (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that disease status was the most significant factor associated with higher event free survival and overall survival . Our results show that children and adolescents transplanted with early disease can achieve considerable overall survival and also highlights the inefficacy of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for patients with advanced disease.

O sucesso crescente dos transplantes de órgãos sólidos (TOS) e de células tronco-hematopoiéticas (TCTH) e as novas drogas imunossupressoras fizeram dos transplantes a primeira opção terapêutica para muitas doenças que afetam milhares de pessoas em todo o mundo. Também os populosos países em desenvolvimento investiram no crescimento de seus programas de transplante e desde então começaram a vivenciar o impacto das doenças tropicais negligenciadas (DTNs) nestes pacientes. Revisamos os dados da literatura sobre a epidemiologia das DTNs de maior impacto clinico e social que afetam receptores de transplante de países em desenvolvimento, ou que podem representar um risco para receptores de transplante vivendo em outras regiões não afetadas por estas doenças. Tuberculose, hanseníase, doença de Chagas, malaria, leishmaniose, dengue, febre amarela e sarampo são os tópicos incluídos nesta revisão. Além disso, revisamos retrospectivamente a experiência referente ao manejo das DTNs do Serviço de Transplante de Medula Óssea da Fundação Amaral Carvalho, atualmente o maior centro de TCTH alogênico do Brasil.

The rising success rate of solid organ (SOT) and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and modern immunosuppression make transplants the first therapeutic option for many diseases affecting a considerable number of people worldwide. Consequently, developing countries have also grown their transplant programs and have started to face the impact of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in transplant recipients. We reviewed the literature data on the epidemiology of NTDs with greatest disease burden, which have affected transplant recipients in developing countries or may represent a threat to transplant recipients living in other regions. Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Chagas disease, Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Dengue, Yellow fever and Measles are the topics included in this review. In addition, we retrospectively revised the experience concerning the management of NTDs at the HSCT program of Amaral Carvalho Foundation, a public transplant program of the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Dados do Registro Internacional de Transplante de Medula Óssea, International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry (IBMTR) contribuem para o progresso do transplante de medula óssea (TMO) em todo o mundo. Neste artigo relatamos a experiência brasileira em leucemia mielóide aguda e comparamos os resultados do TMO com os dados internacionais. Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo com dados de tratamento de LMA com o TMO de 16 instituições brasileiras. A análise estatística dos transplantes da modalidade autogênica (TMO auto) e alogênica (TMO alo) foi realizada com o método de Kaplan-Meier e log-rank. Todos os valores de p foram bicaudados. Foram avaliados os dados de 731 pacientes (205 TMO auto e 526 TMO alo). A mediana de sobrevida global dos pacientes submetidos ao TMO auto foi superior à dos submetidos ao TMO alo (1.035 vs 466 dias, p=0,0012). A origem das células-tronco (OCT) no TMO alo em 73% dos pacientes foi de medula óssea (CTMO), em 23% de sangue periférico (CTSP) e em 4% de cordão umbilical. No TMO auto, a OCT foi 63% de CTSP, 22% CTMO e 15% de ambas as fontes. A OCT não teve impacto na sobrevida global (SG). Não houve diferença na SG também entre os pacientes segundo a classificação FAB no TMO alo, mas os pacientes com LMA M3 com o TMO auto tiveram SG longa. Como esperado, a principal causa de óbito entre os pacientes do TMO auto foi relacionada à recidiva de doença (60%), enquanto no TMO alo as principais causas foram a doença enxerto versus hospedeiro e infecções (38%). Em ambos os grupos foi observada SG mais longa nos pacientes tratados em primeira remissão completa (1RC) quando comparados aos de segunda remissão (2RC) e outras fases (p<0,0001), tendo sido observado SG mais longa nos pacientes com LMA de novo quando comparados aos de LMA secundária. No TMO alo a SG foi mais longa com doadores aparentados (538 versus 93 dias p=0,001). A SG foi mais curta nos pacientes que utilizaram irradiação corpórea total no regime de condicionamento (p=0,0001). No TMO alo foram observados mais pacientes com doença avançada (60%) enquanto no grupo de TMO auto 24% eram da morfologia M3, o que pode explicar a diferença de SG entre os grupos. O resultado do estudo está em concordância com os dados do IBMTR. Considerando a natureza do estudo, retrospectivo e multicêntrico, os resultados devem ser analisados com cautela.

Data from the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry (IBMTR) contribute for the improvement of Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) worldwide. We studied the Brazilian experience in BMT for AML to compare this with international data. We performed a retrospective study by sending questionnaires to 16 BMT centers regarding clinical and treatment variables. Statistical analyses concerning autologous BMT (autoBMT) and allogeneic BMT (alloBMT) were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. All p-values were two-tailed. We collected data from 731 patients (205 autoBMT and 526 alloBMT). Median overall survival (OS) for autoBMT patients was longer than alloBMT patients (1035 vs. 466 days, p=0.0012). AlloBMT stem cell source (SCS): 73% bone marrow stem cell (BMSC), 23% peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) and 4% umbilical cord blood. Among the autoBMT patients, the SCS was 63% PBSC, 22% BMSC and 15% both. The SCS did not impact on OS. There was no difference in OS between different FAB classifications in the alloBMT group, but in the autoBMT the M3 patients had longer survival. As expected, the main cause of mortality among autoBMT patients was related to disease relapse (60%), while in the alloBMT, to infection (38%). In both groups we found longer OS in first complete remission (1CR) compared to second (2CR) and other (p<0.0001), and longer OS in de novo AML than in secondary. In the alloBMT group we found more patients with advanced disease (60%), while in the autoBMT group, we found more M3 patients (24%), which could explain the difference in OS. Most of our results are in accordance with IBMTR data. One should consider the fact that this is a retrospective study and our findings should be analysed with caution.