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Our study shows that ER+/PR- breast cancer tumors are associated with a significantly higher Oncotype DX scores; this interprets into a higher risk of recurrence. Our data also show that the concordance between IHC and RT-PCR was 99.3% for ER and lower at 88.7% for PR.

Studies comparing the efficacy and cost of peripheral blood stem and progenitor cells mobilization with low-dose cyclophosphamide (LD-CY) and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) against plerixafor and G-CSF, in multiple myeloma (MM) patients treated in the novel therapy-era are not available. Herein, we report mobilization outcomes of 107 patients who underwent transplantation within 1-year of starting induction chemotherapy with novel agents. Patients undergoing mobilization with LD-CY (1.5 gm/m(2)) and G-CSF (n = 74) were compared against patients receiving plerixafor and G-CSF (n = 33). Compared to plerixafor, LD-CY was associated with a significantly lower median peak peripheral blood CD34+ cell count (68/µL vs. 36/µL, P = 0.048), and lower CD34+ cell yield on day 1 of collection (6.9 × 10(6)/kg vs. 2.4 × 10(6)/kg, P = 0.001). Six patients (8.1%) in the LD-CY group experienced mobilization failure, compared to none in the plerixafor group. The total CD34+ cell yield was significantly higher in the plerixafor group (median 11.6 × 10(6)/kg vs. 7 × 10(6)/kg; P-value = 0.001). Mobilization with LD-CY was associated with increased (albeit statistically non-significant) episodes of febrile neutropenia (5.4% vs. 0%; P = 0.24), higher use of intravenous antibiotics (6.7% vs. 3%; P = 0.45), and need for hospitalizations (9.4% vs. 3%; P = 0.24). The average total cost of mobilization in the plerixafor group was significantly higher compared to the LD-CY group ($28,980 vs. $19,626.5 P-value < 0.0001). In conclusion, in MM plerixafor-based mobilization has superior efficacy, but significantly higher mobilization costs compared to LD-CY mobilization. Our data caution against the use of LD-CY in MM patients for mobilization, especially after induction with lenalidomide-containing regimens.

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No significant difference exists in the antiemetic efficacy of the three 5-HT(3) antagonists studied in controlling CINV when administered in combination with dexamethasone. Choicce of antiemetic regimen should therefore be based on drug cost.

Our study in patients receiving third-generation adjuvant chemotherapy regimens did not show any significant change in percentage weight with chemotherapy. Premenopausal status was the only significant factor associated with weight gain. As expected, stage III or higher disease was associated with significant weight loss and lower RFS.

Modern chemoimmunotherapies have produced higher response rates and improved survival in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL); however, disease relapse remains a challenge. The availability of various post-remission maintenance or consolidation strategies, have led some to question the role of upfront autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) consolidation for MCL, in the chemoimmunotherapy-era. A one size fits all approach is no longer appropriate for MCL in first remission, and the choice of preferred post-remission (observation, maintenance or consolidation) strategy is increasingly becoming a factor of patient age, comorbidities and disease risk stratification. In select low-risk patients (based on Mantle cell lymphoma International Prognostic Index (MIPI)), observation following rituximab plus Hyper-CVAD-like inductions seems appropriate. Rituximab maintenance after anthracycline-based chemoimmunotherapies in elderly transplant ineligible patients has shown survival benefit and should be considered a valid option. Limited studies suggest feasibility of radioimmunotherapy consolidation in first remission; however, in the absence of randomized data, this modality remains investigational. In younger, transplant-eligible patients receiving cytarabinecontaining inductions, upfront consolidation with auto-HCT has shown survival benefit, and remains a standard-of-care option in the modern-era. Hyper-CVAD associated stem cell mobilization failure is an increasingly recognized problem, underscoring the need for alternative inductions, or consideration for early stem cell collection, when this induction regimen is used. Outcomes of high-risk MIPI patients remain suboptimal with currently available induction and post-remission strategies and represents an area where adoptive immunotherapy in the form of allogeneic-HCT warrants investigation. Incorporation of novel MoAbs and targeted agents (PI3K inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, BTK inhibitors and so on.) in maintenance and consolidation strategies will build on the significant therapeutic gains of last decade, in coming years.