Cytomegalovirus colitis--a severe complication after standard chemotherapy

We report on a case of cytomegalovirus (CMV) enterocolitis occurring in a 65-year-old patient after a first course of standard chemotherapy for a small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Colonic biopsies showed typical inclusion bodies, CMV IgM and IgG antibodies were found in the serum, and polymerase chain reaction for CMV-DNA was positive. Lymphopenia and diminished CD4 T-cell counts were observed. Diarrhoea ceased under ganciclovir treatment, the patient recovered, but died several months later of metastatic lung cancer. Significant immunosuppression leading to severe colitis by CMV infection or reactivation can occur after standard chemotherapy.     

Cytomegalovirus colitis after administration of docetaxel-5-fluorouracil-cisplatin chemotherapy for locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer.

We present the case of a patient with a locally advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma who developed a severe cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis after his first chemotherapy course with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), docetaxel and cisplatin. The most probable cause of his CMV colitis is the impaired immunity during a phase of neutropenia after the chemotherapy. Although there was amelioration of the colitis and clinical status after treatment with ganciclovir, the patient later deteriorated and died due to recurrent bacterial infections. This is the third reported case of CMV colitis treated with ganciclovir in a patient with a solid tumour. It is the first report of CMV colitis after docetaxel containing chemotherapy.Although CMV colitis is most frequently observed in immunosuppressed patients such as those with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), transplants and corticosteroid treatment, it has also been reported in less immunosuppressed (elderly, malnourished, ...) and even non-immunosuppressed patients. CMV infection should therefore be included in the differential diagnosis of GI disease in all patients, and when suspected, the clinician should pursue appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.     

Effective treatment of a peripheral T-cell lymphoma/lymphoepitheloid cell variant (Lennert's lymphoma) refractory to chemotherapy with the CD-52 antibody alemtuzumab

Lymphoepitheloid cell lymphoma (Lennert's lymphoma) is a rare malignant disease usually affecting patients at advanced age. Although classified as a “low-grade” lymphoma in the past, the clinical course is highly unfavorable and currently available chemotherapeutic regimens have given disappointing results. We present the case of a 74-year-old male suffering from disseminated Lennert's lymphoma. The patient underwent standard treatment approaches including chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP); fludarabin and cyclophosphamide; and ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide (ICE). Due to progressive disease with all these regimens, chemotherapy was discontinued. As cells stained highly positive for CD52, immunotherapy with alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) was started using a standard dosing regime of 30 mg every third day. Although the patient received prophylactic anti-infective medication, leucocytopenia with reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was observed and the administration of alemtuzumab had to be stopped temporarily. Re-assessment of disease 5 weeks after the start of alemtuzumab disclosed a significant reduction of all thoracic and abdominal lesions, and therapy with alemtuzumab was continued after normalization of the number of CMV copies and is currently ongoing. Our observations indicate clinical activity of alemtuzumab in the treatment of Lennert's lymphoma, including even bulky nodal disease, particularly for patients who have failed conventional therapies.     

Successful treatment of cytomegalovirus colitis with ganciclovir in a patient with adult T cell leukemia lymphoma: case report.

An 84-year-old patient with adult T cell leukemia lymphoma (ATLL) developed diarrhea on day 5 of chemotherapy and was diagnosed with cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis. Sigmoidoscopy revealed multiple superficial erosions surrounded by a flare. Computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonogram of the abdomen revealed marked thickening of the colonic mucosa. There were 186 CMV antigen-positive leukocytes per 31,000 white blood cells (WBC). A colonic biopsy specimen showed typical CMV nuclear inclusions. Immunohistological study of the specimen was positive for CMV antigen. Administration of ganciclovir (DHPG) 500 mg/day for 14 days improved the diarrhea and other symptoms. On day 30 of the chemotherapy, the patient developed diarrhea again but was diagnosed with pseudomembranous colitis instead of CMV colitis. At that time, CMV antigenemia and a histologic study for CMV were negative. The stool was positive for Clostridium difficile toxin antigen. ATLL patients are believed to be immunocompromised hosts and often develop opportunistic infections such as CMV infection. Most suffer from CMV pneumonia at the end of their course of therapy. Few gastrointestinal (GI) CMV infections are seen in ATLL patients and details of CMV colitis have never been reported. When an ATLL patient develops diarrhea that barely responds to conventional therapy, CMV colitis and pseudomembranous colitis should be listed in the differential diagnosis.     

Two Ocular Infections during Conventional Chemotherapy in a Patient with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Case Report

Viral retinitis due to cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is rare in patients with acute leukemia who did not receive hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We report a case of CMV retinitis that developed in a 49-year-old patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The patient was treated with salvage chemotherapy using a hyper-CVAD regimen and did not receive hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The incidence of CMV retinitis in this subgroup of patients is not described in literature. He had a very complicated course during chemotherapy but was successfully treated, with preservation of visual acuity, and to date he is in complete remission. Interestingly, prior to CMV retinitis, the patient had been diagnosed with and treated for candida retinitis. This case shows the importance of eye examination and care in patients diagnosed with hematological malignancies.Key Words: Cytomegalovirus retinitis, Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Chemotherapy, Hyper-CVAD, Candida     

Cytomegalovirus Retinitis and Retinal Detachment following Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy for Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is a rare end-organ disease of CMV infection and is a marker of severe immunosuppression, especially in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. In multiple myeloma (MM) patients, CMV retinitis has been reported in the post-transplant setting, with an incidence lower than 0.2%, and in patients receiving lenalidomide. Here, we describe the first case of CMV retinitis in myeloma patients following B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T (BCMA CAR-T) cell therapy. In addition to CMV, the patient developed multiple infections including a mouth ulcer, pneumonia, and fungal enteritis. While the complete remission (CR) status of MM was maintained, he regained a visual acuity of 20/1000 after appropriate ophthalmologic treatment. This single case illustrates the potential of BCMA CAR-T therapy to induce profound humoral immunosuppression, and demonstrates an imperative need for an established standard of monitoring and prophylaxis of post-CAR-T infections.     

Effect of chemotherapy on colony-forming unit-granulocyte macrophage from bone marrow and peripheral blood in patients with lung cancer.

The effects of chemotherapy on the growth of colony forming unit-granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM) from the bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) of 8 patients with lung cancer were studied by using recombinant interleukin-3, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor. After chemotherapy, the kinetics of CFU-GM depend on the type of chemotherapeutic regimens used: a rebound overshoot of CFU-GM in the PB was seen in the 4 patients treated with cisplatin plus etoposide (PVP) but not in the 4 patients treated with cisplatin plus mitomycin plus vindesine (CMV). In the BM, the recovery of CFU-GM was more retarded in patients treated with CMV relative to that seen in patients treated with PVP. The results obtained in simultaneous cultures revealed the differences between CMV and PVP in the kinetics of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. Determination of the optimal timing of in vivo use of hematopoietic growth factors after cytoreductive chemotherapy requires careful experimental design.     

Phase I/II combined chemoimmunotherapy with carcinoembryonic antigen-derived HLA-A2-restricted CAP-1 peptide and irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin in patients with primary metastatic colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: We conducted a phase I/II randomized trial to evaluate the clinical and immunologic effect of chemotherapy combined with vaccination in primary metastatic colorectal cancer patients with a carcinoembryonic antigen-derived peptide in the setting of adjuvants granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, CpG-containing DNA molecules (dSLIM), and dendritic cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: HLA-A2-positive patients with confirmed newly diagnosed metastatic colorectal cancer and elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were randomized to receive three cycles of standard chemotherapy (irinotecan/high-dose 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin) and vaccinations with CEA-derived CAP-1 peptide admixed with different adjuvants [CAP-1/granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor/interleukin-2 (IL-2), CAP-1/dSLIM/IL-2, and CAP-1/IL-2]. After completion of chemotherapy, patients received weekly vaccinations until progression of disease. Immune assessment was done at baseline and after three cycles of combined chemoimmunotherapy. HLA-A2 tetramers complexed with the peptides CAP-1, human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I TAX, cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp65, and EBV BMLF-1 were used for phenotypic immune assessment. IFN-gamma intracellular cytokine assays were done to evaluate CTL reactivity. RESULTS: Seventeen metastatic patients were recruited, of whom 12 completed three cycles. Therapy resulted in five complete response, one partial response, five stable disease, and six progressive disease. Six grade 1 local skin reactions and one mild systemic reaction to vaccination treatment were observed. Overall survival after a median observation time of 29 months was 17 months with a survival rate of 35% (6 of 17) at that time. Eight patients (47%) showed elevation of CAP-1-specific CTLs. Neither of the adjuvants provided superiority in eliciting CAP-1-specific immune responses. During three cycles of chemotherapy, EBV/CMV recall antigen-specific CD8+ cells decreased by an average 14%. CONCLUSIONS: The presented chemoimmunotherapy is a feasible and safe combination therapy with clinical and immunologic efficacy. Despite concurrent chemotherapy, increases in CAP-1-specific T cells were observed in 47% of patients after vaccination.     

CMV front-line chemotherapy in transitional bladder carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Despite standard treatment, surgery and/or radiotherapy, mostpatients with muscle invasive bladder carcinoma die early ofdistant metastasis. CMV chemotherapy has demonstrated a highresponse rate with moderate toxicity in advanced bladder carcinoma.In an attempt to eradicate undetectable metastatic disease andto avoid cystectomies, 36 patients were given up-front CMV MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients were 34 males and 2 females with a median age of62 years (45–75); performance status 0–1 (WHO) in34 patients; histology: 34 transitional carcinomas and 2 anaplasticcarcinomas (grade II: 8, grade III: 28). Clinical staging wasT_2-3a: 19 patients, T_3b: 14 patients and T₄: 3 patients. Nineteenpatients had complete trans-urethral resections (TUR) at diagnosis. The multimodal protocol started with 3 CMV courses (cisplatin100 mg/m2 i.v. d 1, methotrexate 30 mg/m2 i.v. d 1, 8 and vinblastine4 mg/m² i.v. d 1, 8 every 3 weeks). Patients who yielded clinicalcomplete responses (cCR) by cystoscopy, TUR biopsies and imagingtechniques were given 3 additional courses. Cystectomy was performedin non-cCR patients and as salvage treatment. RESULTS: Following 3 CMV cycles, 29 patients (81%) responded (20 cCRand 9 cPR) and 7 (19%) did not (NR). Currently, with a medianfollow-up of 23.5 months (13–59), 13 have died and 23are alive, 12 of whom retain their bladders. The projected overallsurvival is 51% at 4.5 years. Grade 3–4 hematologicaltoxicity was presented in 8% of the cycles. No toxic deathswere observed. CONCLUSION: The CMV regimen, after TUR, produces a high response rate withtolerable toxicity. Bladders could be preserved in half of theCR patients. bladder carcinoma, bladder preservation, neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, CMV regimen     

Artesunate in the treatment of metastatic uveal melanoma--first experiences

Artesunate (ART) is a derivative of artemisinin, the active principle of the Chinese herb Artemisia annua L. Artesunate is approved for the treatment of multidrug-resistant malaria and has an excellent safety profile. It has been shown that Artesunate, apart from its anti-malarial activity, has cytotoxic effects on a number of human cancer cell lines, including leukemia, colon cancer and melanoma. We report on the first long-term treatment of two cancer patients with ART in combination with standard chemotherapy. These patients with metastatic uveal melanoma were treated on a compassionate-use basis, after standard chemotherapy alone was ineffective in stopping tumor growth. The therapy-regimen was well tolerated with no additional side effects other than those caused by standard chemotherapy alone. One patient experienced a temporary response after the addition of ART to Fotemustine while the disease was progressing under therapy with Fotemustine alone. The second patient first experienced a stabilization of the disease after the addition of ART to Dacarbazine, followed by objective regressions of splenic and lung metastases. This patient is still alive 47 months after first diagnosis of stage IV uveal melanoma, a situation with a median survival of 2-5 months. Despite the small number of treated patients, ART might be a promising adjuvant drug for the treatment of melanoma and possibly other tumors in combination with standard chemotherapy. Its good tolerability and lack of serious side effects will facilitate prospective randomized trials in the near future.     

A pilot study of carboplatin augmentation therapy for patients with poor risk acute non-lymphocytic leukemia.

Eleven patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia and persistent leukemia on a bone marrow done 6 days after the start of standard induction chemotherapy with daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside were given augmentation chemotherapy with carboplatin as a continuous intravenous infusion over 3 days. Nine of the 11 patients (82%) entered complete remission. The hematologic and non-hematologic toxicities encountered by these patients were similar to those seen after conventional therapy alone with the exception of peripheral neuropathy in one patient. Of the two induction failures, one patient died of treatment-related toxicity and one patient had resistant leukemia.     

Rare presentation of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder isolated to gastroesophageal junction

Post transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) represents a life threatening disorder occurring after transplantation, ranging from a polyclonal mononucleosis like illness to a monomorphic high grade neoplasm with cytologic and histopathologic evidence indicative of transformation to lymphoma. PTLD of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) subtype, isolated to the esophagus is a rare diagnosis. We describe the first case of an immunocompromised adult patient diagnosed with DLBCL-PTLD limited to his esophagus without an associated mass or locoregional lymphadenopathy on imaging since the institution of the revised Cheson criteria, which includes positron emission tomography-computed tomography as the standard staging modality. Even more unique to our case was the suggestion of underlying cytomegalovirus (CMV) gastritis leading to a hypothesis about a less well understood relationship between CMV and Epstein Barr virus (EBV). In the post transplant setting, immunocompromised state, or EBV positive state, upper gastrointestinal symptoms should prompt investigation with an upper endoscopy (EGD). Additionally, specific to our case, the fact that the patients’ presentation was suspicious for CMV gastritis raises the possibility that the CMV infection predated his PTLD increasing his risk of acquiring PTLD. This reemphasizes the importance and diagnostic utility of early screening with EGD in patients after transplantation.     

Cardiotoxicity from intensive chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy in breast cancer.

Cardiac function was evaluated in 86 breast cancer patients after standard chemotherapy, followed by ablative chemotherapy and chest irradiation. One patient died of subacute heart failure 3 months after ablative chemotherapy. At a minimum of 1 year''s follow-up (range 1-11 years) left vertricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was marginally abnormal in 4 of 27 disease-free survivors. One exceptional patient who received two transplantations is alive, with serious heart failure occurring after the second ablative chemotherapy. Including this patient, the percentage of patients free of clinical and subclinical cardiac dysfunction at 7 years is 78% (95% CI 61-95%). After ablative chemotherapy, cardiotoxicity was rarely life-threatening. The impact of subclinical cardiotoxicity in the long term is not clear and needs continued evaluation.     

膦甲酸钠预防及抢先治疗造血干细胞移植中巨细胞病毒感染的临床研究

目的 观察膦甲酸钠用于异基因造血干细胞移植(allo-HSCT)预防及抢先治疗巨细胞病毒(CMV)感染的疗效及安全性.方法 回顾性分析2014年10月至2016年12月96例接受allo-HSCT患者临床资料.采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应(RQ-PCR)监测患者血浆巨细胞病毒(CMV)-DNA情况至移植后6个月,预防及抢先治疗分别采用膦甲酸钠每天60 mg/kg和每天120 mg/kg.观察CMV血症、CMV病发生情况,分析CMV感染的影响因素,分析膦甲酸钠治疗效果和安全性,评估患者生存情况.结果96例患者中42例(43.8%)移植后发生CMV感染,中位感染时间42 d.膦甲酸钠治疗的42例CMV感染患者中,疗效显著36例(85.7%),进展为CMV病6例(14.3%),其中CMV转阴5例,因CMV间质性肺炎死亡1例.半相合移植及Ⅱ~Ⅳ度移植物抗宿主病(GVHD)患者CMV血症发病率升高(χ2=3.834,P<0.05;χ2=16.807,P<0.001).膦甲酸钠不良反应轻微,无明显中性粒细胞减少.发生CMV血症42例中,死亡12例(28.6%),未发生CMV血症54例中,死亡6例(11.1%),两组总生存率差异无统计学意义(χ2=3.546,P=0.06).结论 应用膦甲酸钠对allo-HSCT患者预防及抢先治疗CMV感染的疗效确切,耐受性良好,尤其适用于造血未完全恢复的患者.     

Hemophagocytic syndrome complicating T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a novel t(11;14)(p15;q11) chromosome translocation

A case of hemophagocytic syndrome that developed in a patient with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with a novel chromosome translocation involving 14q11 is reported. A 15-year-old boy with T-cell ALL in relapse showed leukemic cells with an abnormal karyotype of 46,XY,-15,t(11;14)(p15;q11), +der(15)t(15;?)(p11;?). Pancytopenia and extensive hemophagocytosis by macrophages in the bone marrow were observed after reinduction chemotherapy and again at the terminal stage. At autopsy, infiltration of such cells was also found in other organs. The findings suggested occurrence of hemophagocytic syndrome probably associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The t(11;14)(p15;q11) may be a novel translocation specific for T-cell ALL, and conceivably, the association of T-cell ALL with the histiocytosis in this patient may not have been coincidental.     

Ventriculo-lumbar perfusion chemotherapy with methotrexate and cytosine arabinoside for meningeal dissemination of malignant disease

Ventriculolumbar perfusion chemotherapy with methotrexate (MTX) and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) was performed in six patients with meningeal dissemination of malignant disease. Ten mg of MTX and 40 mg of Ara-C were injected via Ommaya reservoir every 12 hours for 3 days. During perfusion, we observed nausea and vomiting, low grade fever, confusion, nystagmus, paresthesia or numbness of the lower extremities, and multicranial nerve impairment, which disappeared soon after perfusion chemotherapy. After treatment, one patient developed bacterial meningitis, and two developed MTX-induced interstitial pneumonitis, which was cured by steroid therapy. Signs and symptoms due to involvement of the cerebrum, cranial nerves and spinal cord or spinal roots, improved more than by standard intrathecal chemotherapy. Laboratory cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings, i.e., cell count and cytological appearance, also improved more than by standard intrathecal chemotherapy. EEG, CT scan and MRI data revealed a worsening of EEG findings in one patient, and a small lesion on MRI, which was not seen by CT scan, disappeared after treatment in two patients.     

Kaposi's sarcoma in immunosuppression. Possibly the result of a dual viral infection

Kaposi's sarcoma of the gingiva and skin developed in an HIV-negative renal transplant patient while he was receiving cyclosporine therapy. The Kaposi's sarcoma developed shortly after the patient had an acute infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV). Electron microscopy of the tumor's established cell line showed two types of virus-like particles. CMV DNA was identifiable in the cell line whereas infectious CMV could be isolated only after repeated passages (only after 3 months of culture). The other virus could not be identified, but did not appear to be either HIV or papilloma virus. The patient's tumor regressed after the discontinuation of cyclosporine therapy and the recovery from the acute CMV infection.     

Delivering Chemotherapy to a Metastatic Poor Risk Testicular Cancer Patient on Hemodialysis

A standard curative intent approach of chemotherapy treatment for metastatic testicular cancer has been well established. However, there is little guidance for patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) who require chemotherapy for this disease. Thus, we describe our treatment approach and rationale for a patient on HD with poor risk metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell tumor involving the testicle, lymph nodes, liver, and bone. After orchiectomy, five cycles of cisplatin and modified dose etoposide were delivered and strategically timed with HD. Treatment was complicated by significant neuropathy. Surgical resection of two liver lesions was performed after chemotherapy. Ten years post-chemotherapy, he remains free of clinical, biochemical, or radiological recurrence. While our patient remains free of disease after this treatment, the optimal chemotherapy and dialysis dose and schedule to maximize cure and minimize toxicity remains unknown.     

A Stopping Rule for Standard Chemotherapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer: Lessons from a Survey of Maryland Medical Oncologists

The sequential administration of standard chemotherapy regimens to treat metastatic breast cancer may keep patients and oncologists from considering other important, but more psychologically difficult, issues such as the patient's declining health or approaching death. This practice also utilizes health care resources for ever-decreasing individual patient benefit. If generally agreed-upon rules or guidelines were developed about stopping standard chemotherapy after a limited number of regimens, oncologists could recommend treatment discontinuation with greater confidence. Also, resources could be redirected.

To inform the development of guidelines on when to stop chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer, we surveyed fully trained Maryland medical oncologists about their knowledge and beliefs about chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. The survey instrument included openended questions and clinical vignettes. There was consensus about the value of first-line chemotherapy. Even though oncologists employed second-line chemotherapy, they were unenthusiastic about it. The frequent utilization of second-line regimens probably reflects an effort to offer marginal regimens to patients who want them.

Based on these data, it is suggested that standard chemotherapy be stopped after breast cancer fails to stabilize or respond on a standard regimen. Patients who wish further treatment could be referred for investigational therapy if it is available and if they are eligible.     

Lack of reactivation of cytomegalovirus retinitis in an AIDS patient, during and after stopping long-term cidofovir treatment: case report

The case of an AIDS patient with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis who was treated with cidofovir for 17 consecutive months, without any adverse effect, is presented. In the context of antiretroviral therapy, cidofovir therapeutic regimen was 5 mg/kg of body weight for 2 weeks and 5 mg/kg thereafter every other week. Probenecid, hydration and monitoring for proteinuria were also used to prevent nephrotoxicity. The patient stopped maintenance therapy for CMV retinitis after the permanent rise of CD4+ cells above 100 c/mm3. For more than 10 months after drug withdrawal the patient remains free of retinitis.