SummaryThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of neonatal thymectomy in the functional capacity of the immune system. We selected a group of 23 subjects, who had undergone thymectomy in their first 30 days of life, during an intervention for congenital heart disease. Several parameters of the immune system were evaluated during their first 3 years of life. Lymphocyte populations and subpopulations (including naive, memory and effector subpopulations), T cell receptor (TCR) Vb repertoire, response of T cells following in vitro stimulation by mitogen, quantification of immunoglobulins, TCR excision circles (TRECS) and interleukin (IL)-7 were measured. We found that neonatal thymectomy produces long-term diminution in total lymphocyte counts, especially in naive CD4+ and CD8 + T cells. Additionally, TRECS were decreased, and plasma IL-7 levels increased. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between absolute CD4 + T cells and IL-7 (r = -0·470, P = 0·02). The patients did not suffer more infectious events than healthy control children, but thymectomy in neonates resulted in a significant decrease in T lymphocyte levels and TRECS, consistent with cessation of thymopoiesis. This could produce a compromise in immune function later in life, especially if the patients suffer T cell depletion and need a reconstitution of immune function.

The study included 1848 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)patients treated with chemotherapy/rituximab. The aims were to validate the National Comprehensive Cancer Network International Prognostic Index (NCCN-IPI) and explore the effect of adding high Beta-2 microglobulin (β2M), primary extranodal presentation and intense treatment to the NCCN-IPI variables in order to develop an improved index. Comparing survival curves, NCCN-IPI discriminated better than IPI, separating four risk groups with 5-year overall survival rates of 93%, 83%, 67% and 49%, but failing to identify a true high-risk population. For the second aim the series was split into training and validation cohorts: in the former the multivariate model identified age, lactate dehydrogenase, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, Stage III-IV, and β2M as independently significant, whereas the NCCN-IPI-selected extranodal sites, primary extranodal presentation and intense treatments were not. These results were confirmed in the validation cohort. The Grupo Español de Linfomas/Trasplante de Médula ósea (GELTAMO)-IPI developed here, with 7 points, significantly separated four risk groups (0, 1-3, 4 or ≥5 points) with 11%, 58%, 17% and 14% of patients, and 5-year overall survival rates of 93%, 79%, 66% and 39%, respectively. In the comparison GELTAMO IPI discriminated better than the NCCN-IPI. In conclusion, GELTAMO-IPI is more accurate than the NCCN-IPI and has statistical and practical advantages in that the better discrimination identifies an authentic high-risk group and is not influenced by primary extranodal presentation or treatments of different intensity.

Tisagenlecleucel (tisa‐cel) is a second‐generation autologous CD19‐targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T‐cell therapy approved for relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B‐cell lymphoma (LBCL). The approval was based on the results of phase II JULIET trial, with a best overall response rate (ORR) and complete response (CR) rate in infused patients of 52% and 40%, respectively. We report outcomes with tisa‐cel in the standard‐of‐care (SOC) setting for R/R LBCL. Data from all patients with R/R LBCL who underwent leukapheresis from December 2018 until June 2020 with the intent to receive SOC tisa‐cel were retrospectively collected at 10 Spanish institutions. Toxicities were graded according to ASTCT criteria and responses were assessed as per Lugano 2014 classification. Of 91 patients who underwent leukapheresis, 75 (82%) received tisa‐cel therapy. Grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity occurred in 5% and 1%, respectively; non‐relapse mortality was 4%. Among the infused patients, best ORR and CR were 60% and 32%, respectively, with a median duration of response of 8.9 months. With a median follow‐up of 14.1 months from CAR T‐cell infusion, median progression‐free survival and overall survival were 3 months and 10.7 months, respectively. At 12 months, patients in CR at first disease evaluation had a PFS of 87% and OS of 93%. Patients with an elevated lactate dehydrogenase showed a shorter PFS and OS on multivariate analysis. Treatment with tisa‐cel for patients with relapsed/refractory LBCL in a European SOC setting showed a manageable safety profile and durable complete responses.

2004 Background: Patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma receive postoperative standard therapy with radiotherapy (RT), and concomitant and up to six cycles of maintenance temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy (TMZ/RT→TMZ). Marizomib is a novel, irreversible and brain-penetrant pan-proteasome inhibitor with encouraging findings in preclinical models and early-stage clinical trials for patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma. Therefore, a phase 3 trial was designed to explore the activity of marizomib in addition to TMZ/RT→TMZ. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03345095 Methods: EORTC 1709/CCTG CE.8 is a multicenter, randomized, controlled, open label phase 3 superiority trial. Eligibility criteria included histologically confirmed newly diagnosed glioblastoma and a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) > 70. Eligible patients were stratified for institution, age, KPS as well as extent of surgery, and centrally randomized in a 1:1 ratio. The primary objective of this study is to compare overall survival (OS) in patients receiving marizomib in addition to standard treatment with patients receiving standard treatment only. Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival (PFS), safety, neurocognitive function, and quality of life. Results: The study was opened at 49 EORTC sites in Europe, 23 CCTG sites in Canada, and 8 sites in the US. Patient enrolment started in June 2018 and was close to completion at the time of a planned interim analysis in September 2020. A total of 749 patients (of the planned 750) were randomized when the IDMC recommended to discontinue enrollment. Age, KPS and extent of resection were well balanced between the 2 study arms. No difference in median OS was observed between the standard arm (15.9 months) and the marizomib arm (15.7 months; HR = 0.99). Median PFS was 6.1 vs. 6.2 months (HR = 1.02). Patients in the marizomib group had more often grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE) compared to the standard therapy group (42.6% vs. 20.5%), including ataxia, hallucinations and headache. Conclusions: The addition of marizomib to standard radiochemotherapy did not improve OS or PFS in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Final survival analyses including determination of MGMT promoter methylation status and analyses of other secondary endpoints are ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT03345095.

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