Low-dose Etoposide Research Articles

Successful management of infection and macrophage activation syndrome patient using low-dose etoposide: A case report

Successful management of infection and macrophage activation syndrome patient using low-dose etoposide: A case report

GPATCH4 contributes to nucleolus morphology and its dysfunction impairs cell viability

The nucleolus serves a multifaceted role encompassing not only rRNA transcription and ribosome synthesis, but also the intricate orchestration of cell cycle regulation and the modulation of cellular senescence. G-patch domain containing 4 (GPATCH4) stands as one among the nucleolar proteins; however, its functional significances remain still unclear. In order to elucidate the functions of GPATCH4, we examined the effects of its dysfunction on cellular proliferation, alterations in nucleolar architecture, apoptotic events, and cellular senescence. Through experimentation conducted on cultured neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, the reduction of GPATCH4 caused inhibition of cellular proliferation, concurrently fostering escalated apoptotic susceptibilities upon exposure to high-dose etoposide. In the realm of nucleolar morphology comparisons, a discernible decline was noted in the count of nucleoli per nucleus, concomitant with a significant expansion in the area occupied by individual nucleoli. Upon induction of senescence prompted by low-dose etoposide, GPATCH4 knockdown resulted in decreased cell viability and increased expression of senescence-associated markers, namely senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-GAL) and p16. Furthermore, GPATCH4 dysfunction elicited alterations in the gene expression profile of the ribosomal system. In sum, our findings showed that GPATCH4 is a pivotal nucleolar protein that regulates nucleolar morphology and is correlated with cell viability.

Combination of Decitabine and Etoposide Is Highly Effective in Treating p53-Mutated MDS/AML Via Activating Notch Signaling

The elderly MDS/AML patients, especially those with TP53 mutations, remain very difficult to treat and resistant to chemotherapy. A total of 105 elderly (age above 60 years) high risk MDS (n = 84, IPSS-R score > 4.5) or AML-MRC (n = 21) patients' records were collected from three medical centers across China and retrospectively analyzed. Decitabine and low dose etoposide was found to be superior to standard decitabine alone in MDS/AML patients with higher ORR (70.0% vs 52.7%) after two cycles of treatment, the longer median durations of ORR (24.0 months vs 12 months) and CR (38.0 months vs 24.0 months), and longer event-free survival (13 months vs 9 months, p = 0.023), without significant improvement in overall survival (20 months vs 15 months, p = 0.059). Other than the TP53 mutation, no other gene mutation (including NRAS, DNMT3A, TET2, EZH2, ASXL1, RUNX1) in the D+E group could reliably predict OS and EFS when compared to wild type phenotype. Patients with TP53 mutations showed higher response rate after two cycles of D+E therapy and had prolonged overall survival (Mutation vs WT: 31 months vs 9 months, p=0.012) and event-free survival (Mutation vs WT: 24 months vs 5 months, p = 0.022) compared with p53 wild type patients in D+E group from multivariate survival analyses. P53 mutated patients receiving D+E treatment also had significantly improved OS (31 months vs 12 months, p = 0.00) and EFS (24 months vs 8 months, p = 0.00) compared to patients receiving decitabine treatment. Moreover, we found decitabine and etoposide greatly reduced TP53 mutant AML tumor burden in the NSG mice xenografts (tumor burden: 92% reduction in p53-null xenograft mice, 65% reduction in p53-wild-type xenograft mice on day 20 after leukemia cells administration, p < 0.0001). It was found that TP53 mutant cells and p53 gene-editing MOLM13 cells showed terminal neutrophil differentiation in the combo of decitabine and etoposide, demonstrating the expected changes in cell-surface CD11b expression and neutrophil functional assays such as phagocytosis. Combo of decitabine and etoposide showed much higher percentage of differentiation marker expression compared to single drug decitabine or etoposide treatment. However, neither the p53 gene-edited THP-1 cells nor the TP53 wild type cell lines displayed markers of terminal differentiation, such as elevated CD11b expression or phagocytosis. Furthermore, the percentage of CD11b-positive cells increased significantly in p53-mutated primary cells while insignificantly in TP53 wild type cells. Decitabine and etoposide induced significant differentiation thus killing p53 mutated myeloid tumor cells and primary patients' cells in vitro. We also uncovered the underlying mechanism that why D+E could induce significant differentiation in TP53 Mutant while not in TP53 wild type myeloid tumors. Notch1 signaling pathway was activated after D+E treatment in TP53 Mutant myeloid tumors, which was consistently correlated with drug-induced myeloid differentiation. Notch1 knockout or Notch inhibitor incubation abrogated drug induced differentiation in TP53 Mutant myeloid tumors. The activation of the Notch1 signaling pathway has been observed to induce disease regression and decrease leukemia stem cells in AML mice as well as significant apoptosis in the AML patient sample. We also found D+E could upregulate transcription factor transcripts such as ETS1, ETS2, which could bind specifically to PSEN1 (PS1) promoter and activate its transcription directly. PS1 represent catalytic subunit of γ-secretase complexes and is responsible for Notch recognition. While in TP53 wild type AML cells, p53 might interact with p300. p300 acts as a coactivator of Ets1 and Ets2, competition for binding to p300 with p53 may confront p300 recruitment and repress ETS transcription activation directly, which might exert its effect on PS1 repression, thus inhibiting γ-secretase complex activity. In short, integrated p53 could repress PSEN1 transcription thus interfering gamma secretase complex activity, Notch recognition and cleavage as well as abrogating drug induced Notch activation and myeloid differentiation, which could be achieved in p53 mutated state. Combination of decitabine and etoposide regimen is also relatively safe and tolerable in elderly patients, which may open up a new path of therapy in the p53 mutated AML/MDS.

ANGI-10. METRONOMIC 5 DRUG ANTI-ANGIOGENESIS THERAPY FOR RECURRENT EPENDYMOMA

Abstract Low dose continuous (metronomic) anti-angiogenesis therapy is a treatment regimen currently under investigation for chemo-refractory tumors to target tumor vasculature. This effect has been shown to improve survival in primary brain tumors such as medulloblastoma. The Dana Farber Antiangiogenic Chemotherapy Phase II Trial and MEMMAT trial are investigations into outcomes of metronomic anti-angiogenesis therapy for children with recurrent ependymoma, among other primary brain tumors. We retrospectively report 9 pediatric patients diagnosed between the ages of 1 and 8 with surgery and radiation refractory posterior fossa ependymoma that were treated with 5 drug metronomic anti-angiogenesis therapy including celecoxib, thalidomide, fenofibrate, and alternating low dose etoposide and cyclophosphamide. For one patient, we added bevacizumab every other week. 7 patients had anaplastic presentation of ependymoma. All patients either had gross total resection or multiple subtotal resections. Tumor markers include GFAP, S100, EMA, OLIG 2, CD99, and Ki-67. Side effects were primarily hematologic but also included muscle pain, constipation, and dizziness, however treatment was tolerated well overall. The primary reason for stopping treatment early was progression of disease, no patients stopped therapy for side effects. There was no change in response to therapy based on tumor markers found. 2-year survival was 78% and 2-year progression free survival was 56%. 3/9 patients have no recurrent disease, two of these patients had anaplastic ependymoma and 1 presented with metastatic disease to the spine. We show improved outcomes with a minimal side effect profile for metronomic anti-angiogenesis therapy in pediatric patients with recurrent ependymoma refractory to surgical and radiation therapy.

Treatment outcomes of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia in Western Kenya before and after the implementation of the SIOP PODC treatment guideline.

The Pediatric Oncology in Developing Countries (PODC) committee of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) published a pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-specific adapted treatment guideline for low- and middle-income countries. We evaluated the outcomes of children with AML at a large Kenyan academic hospital before (period 1) and after (period 2) implementing this guideline. Records of children (≤17 years) newly diagnosed with AML between 2010 and 2021 were retrospectively studied. In period 1, induction therapy comprised two courses with doxorubicin and cytarabine, and consolidation comprised two courses with etoposide and cytarabine. In period 2, a prephase with intravenous low-dose etoposide was administered prior to induction therapy, induction course I was intensified, and consolidation was adapted to two high-dose cytarabine courses. Probabilities of event-free survival (pEFS) and overall survival (pOS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. One-hundred twenty-two children with AML were included - 83 in period 1 and 39 in period 2. Overall, 95 patients received chemotherapy. The abandonment rate was 19% (16/83) in period 1 and 3% (1/39) in period 2. The early death, treatment-related mortality, complete remission, and relapse rates in periods 1 and 2 were 46% (29/63) versus 44% (14/32), 36% (12/33) versus 47% (8/17), 33% (21/63) versus 38% (12/32), and 57% (12/21) versus 17% (2/12), respectively. The 2-year pEFS and pOS in periods 1 and 2 were 5% versus 15% (p = .53), and 8% versus 16% (p = .93), respectively. The implementation of the SIOP PODC guideline did not result in improved outcomes of Kenyan children with AML. Survival of these children remains dismal, mainly attributable to early mortality.

A multicenter, phase II trial of maintenance sirolimus in combination with metronomic chemotherapy in children and adolescents with high-risk solid tumors.

TPS10072 Background: Risk of relapse for children with high-risk solid tumors (ST) remains unacceptably high despite aggressive multimodal therapy. Maintenance therapy is an emerging option to improve outcomes. Sirolimus, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin, is a potent immunosuppressant with antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects. Low-dose metronomic chemotherapy along with the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib also decreases neovascularization in in vitro and in vivo systems. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of sirolimus in combination with celecoxib and etoposide alternating with cyclophosphamide was determined in a phase I study in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory ST. The regimen was well-tolerated and showed best response of stable disease in 8/18 subjects and partial response in 1/18. The efficacy of this regimen in relapsed/refractory ST is being tested in a Phase II study (NCT02574728). We hypothesize that patients with high-risk ST administered a 12-month course of this maintenance regimen will have improved 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) when compared to matched historical patients who were observed following completion of upfront therapy. Methods: This is a phase II study of sirolimus in combination with celecoxib and alternating low-dose etoposide and cyclophosphamide delivered as maintenance therapy. Sirolimus will be given at the MTD of 2mg/m2/day with celecoxib 100mg twice daily and oral etoposide 50mg/m2/day (max 100mg) alternating every 21 days with oral cyclophosphamide 2.5mg/kg/day (max 100mg). This study includes: 1) a prospective cohort of patients with high-risk ST in first complete remission (CR), 2) a prospective cohort of patients with recurrent ST in second CR, and 3) a historical cohort matched 2:1 with cohort 1 on diagnosis, age, metastatic sites, and date of diagnosis treated with observation following upfront therapy. The study will enroll up to 38 patients in cohort 1. Eligible subjects are children (1-30 years) with a diagnosis of high-risk extracranial ST (metastatic sarcoma, desmoplastic small round cell tumor, malignant rhabdoid tumor) in first CR or any ST in second CR. Patients enrolled in upfront clinical trials are excluded. Primary endpoint is 2-year PFS of cohort 1 compared to the historical cohort. Secondary endpoints are median PFS of cohort 1, 2-year PFS and overall survival of cohorts 1 and 2, incidence of severe toxicities, and feasibility of completing the 12-month course following standard upfront therapy. Exploratory objectives include evaluation of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in this population of patients in CR or with minimal disease burden and correlation of clinically obtained tumor molecular profiling with outcomes. As of January 2023, 12 subjects are enrolled, 9 in cohort 1 and 3 in cohort 2. Clinical trial information: NCT04469530 .

Senescence induces proteolytically-active PAPP-A secretion and association with extracellular vesicles in human pre-adipocytes

Senescence is a cellular response to various stressors characterized by irreversible cell cycle arrest, resistance to apoptosis and expression of a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Interestingly, studies where senescent cells were deleted in mice produced beneficial effects similar to those where the zinc metalloproteinase, PAPP-A, was deleted in mice. In this study, we investigated the effect of senescence on PAPP-A secretion and activity in primary cultures of adult human pre-adipocytes. Cultured pre-adipocytes were isolated from subcutaneous (Sub) and omental (Om) fat. Senescence was induced with low dose etoposide. PAPP-A protein was measured by an ultrasensitive PAPP-A ELISA. PAPP-A proteolytic activity was measured by a specific substrate cleavage assay. Senescence significantly increased PAPP-A levels in both Sub and Om conditioned medium (CM) 8- to 15-fold over non-senescent CM. Proteolytic activity reflected PAPP-A protein with 12- to 18-fold greater activity in senescent CM versus non-senescent CM. Furthermore, PAPP-A was found at high levels on the surface of extracellular vesicles secreted by senescent pre-adipocytes and was proteolytically active. In conclusion, we identified enzymatically active PAPP-A as a component of human pre-adipocyte SASP. This recognition warrants further investigation of PAPP-A as a new biomarker for senescence and a potential therapeutic target to control of the spread of senescence in adipose tissue.

Short-term, low-dose etoposide in refractory adult-onset Still’s disease-associated macrophage activation syndrome

In this study, we modified the classical regimen of the hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis-04 protocol and evaluated the efficacy and safety of short-term, low-dose etoposide in patients with refractory macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) associated with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD). A total of 17 patients with refractory AOSD-associated MAS were enrolled and received short-term, low-dose etoposide (100mg twice a week for four times). Another 11 patients, who were not treated with etoposide, were included as historical controls. Patient information, such as clinical manifestations, laboratory results, treatments, and short-term prognosis, were recorded and analyzed. In this case series, 88.24% of the patients with MAS who were treated with short-term, low-dose etoposide had a favorable response in 3weeks, which was significantly higher (p = 0.017) than that in the patients with MAS who were treated without etoposide (45.45%). The 90-day survival rate after the onset of MAS was significantly higher (p = 0.0029) among the patients in the short-term etoposide group (16/17, 94.12%) than in the control group (5/11, 45.45%). The regimen of short-term (2weeks), low-dose etoposide was highly effective in the treatment for patients with refractory AOSD-associated MAS with an acceptable safety profile. Key Points • There is no high level evidence to guide the management of refractory MAS-associated AOSD patients. • This study was the first to propose and confirm the efficacy and safety of short-term, low-dose etoposide in the treatment of refractory MAS-associated AOSD patients.

Clinical characteristics, management, and outcome of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia patients with brain metastasis: A 10-year experience at the Philippine General Hospital

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics, management, and outcome of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) patients with brain metastasis.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a 10-year descriptive study that included all patients with brain metastasis from GTN. Patients' sociodemographic and clinicopathological profiles were described. Using Kaplan–Meier survival curve, the survival time was determined.RESULTS: From January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019, there were 33 GTN patients with brain metastasis. Four were excluded from the study due to incomplete records. Twenty-nine patients were included in the study. Nineteen (65.51%) patients presented with neurologic symptoms upon diagnosis and one (3.44%) during treatment. All received etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin, oncovin (EMACO) as first-line treatment. Five (17.24%) patients were given induction chemotherapy with low-dose etoposide–cisplatin. Seventeen (58.62%) patients underwent whole-brain radiation and two (6.89%) were given intrathecal methotrexate. Thirteen patients (44.82%) achieved biochemical remission with EMACO chemotherapy. Four patients (13.79%) had resistance to EMACO and were given Etoposide Cisplatin Etoposide Methotrexate Actinomycin (EP EMA). Four patients (13.79%) underwent an adjunctive hysterectomy. Four patients (13.79%) died during treatment. One patient (3.44%) was unable to continue her chemotherapy because she got pregnant before her first consolidation course. There were eight early deaths (<4 weeks of admission) and hence were excluded in the analysis. Three patients who went into biochemical remission relapsed on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd months after their last consolidation course, respectively. The median follow-up time was 27 months. After excluding early deaths, the survival rate between 3 and 7 years after treatment is at 61.9%. The mean survival time was 5.43 years. Six surviving patients were contacted. Five (17.24%) of them had resumed their everyday life, and one is currently undergoing chemotherapy.CONCLUSION: The study was able to document brain metastasis from GTN to be 14.28% (29/203) among metastatic high-risk admissions. The biochemical remission rate from first-line treatment was of 61.90% (13/21) and resistance rate was 19.04% (4/21). Lost to follow up after achieving biochemical remission was a challenge encountered.

Assessing acute myeloid leukemia susceptibility in rearrangement-driven patients by DNA breakage at topoisomerase II and CCCTC-binding factor/cohesin binding sites.

An initiating DNA double strand break (DSB) event precedes the formation of cancer-driven chromosomal abnormalities, such as gene rearrangements. Therefore, measuring DNA breaks at rearrangement-participating regions can provide a unique tool to identify and characterize susceptible individuals. Here, we developed a highly sensitive and low-input DNA break mapping method, the first of its kind for patient samples. We then measured genome-wide DNA breakage in normal cells of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with KMT2A (previously MLL) rearrangements, compared to that of nonfusion AML individuals, as a means to evaluate individual susceptibility to gene rearrangements. DNA breakage at the KMT2A gene region was significantly greater in fusion-driven remission individuals, as compared to nonfusion individuals. Moreover, we identified select topoisomerase II (TOP2)-sensitive and CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF)/cohesin-binding sites with preferential DNA breakage in fusion-driven patients. Importantly, measuring DSBs at these sites, in addition to the KMT2A gene region, provided greater predictive power when assessing individual break susceptibility. We also demonstrated that low-dose etoposide exposure further elevated DNA breakage at these regions in fusion-driven AML patients, but not in nonfusion patients, indicating that these sites are preferentially sensitive to TOP2 activity in fusion-driven AML patients. These results support that mapping of DSBs in patients enables discovery of novel break-prone regions and monitoring of individuals susceptible to chromosomal abnormalities, and thus cancer. This will build the foundation for early detection of cancer-susceptible individuals, as well as those preferentially susceptible to therapy-related malignancies caused by treatment with TOP2 poisons.

Survival Benefit and Efficiency of Low Dose Decitabine With CEG Regimen Compared to Decitabine Alone in the Elderly MDS – A Multicenter, Retrospective Study

BackgroundDecitabine are used in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), but none trials reported overall survival improvement. MethodsHigh-risk MDS and MDS transformed AML (sAML) patients (IPSS-R > 4.5, age above 60 years) in 6 medical centers of China were treated and compared a new regimen (decitabine with CEG) consisted of low dose decitabine (15 mg/m2, days 1-3), low dose etoposide (30 mg/m2, days 4,6,8,10,12), cytarabine (10 mg/m2 per day, days 4-12) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF, 5ug/kg, adjusted by patients’ WBC level, 12 hours prior to decitabine administration) with decitabine alone. The endpoints were death and disease progression. ResultsThe baseline characteristics of these 2 groups were equivalent and none patients received prior chemotherapy. The treatment response rate (P= .048) and progression free survival (PFS, P = .030) all demonstrated significant improvement compared with decitabine alone. Decitabine with CEG regimen had attained a CR rate of 45.7%, a median OS of 36 (19-53) months and a median PFS of 34 (16.7-51.3) months in high-risk MDS patients, a CR rate of 40% in sAML. While decitabine alone only attained a median OS of 26 (24.5-27.5) months and a CR rate of 18.2% as well as a median progression free survival of 20 (17.6-22.4) months in MDS patients. Treatment response to CR or PR and TP53 mutation were 2 prognostic factor for OS and PFS in decitabine with CEG regimen. ConclusionDecitabine with CEG regimen showed some promising advantage in elderly, high-risk MDS.

Low-dose oral etoposide is an active option for patients with heavily pre-treated thymic epithelial tumors.

9074 Background: Platinum based regimens are used in the first line setting for advanced Thymic Epithelial Tumors (TETs). Angiogenesis plays an important role in TETs: VEGF is overexpressed in TETs, and associated with aggressiveness and advanced stage. Etoposide inhibits angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo by decreasing VEGF production and microvessel density. The aim of this study is to assess the activity of metronomic oral etoposide, with identification of circulating predictive and pharmacodynamics biomarkers. Methods: Patients with advanced platinum pretreated TET referred from 2014 to 2019 at Rare Tumors Reference Center of Naples, were prospectively enrolled in this study. Oral etoposide 50 mg daily for 3 weeks on and 1 week off every 28 days, has been delivered until progression of disease, complete response or unacceptable toxicity. Response rate (RR), progression free survival (PFS), toxicity and ratio between time to etoposide progression (TTPe) and time to previous best treatment progression (TTPp) were evaluated. Serum samples were prospectively obtained from ten patients with simultaneously radiological assessment. cfDNA quantification was assessed using Qubit Fluorometric Quantitation. Results: 21 patients were enrolled: median age 59 years range (41 - 88); 70% male, 60% T (4 B1, 3 B2, 4 B3, 1 B1-B2); 40% had TC. A median of 5 (range 1-9) prior therapy regimens had been administered. Median follow-up since etoposide was 5 years (range 0.5-5). Obtaining an overall response rate of 85%, 3 patients achieved complete response and 15 partial response. Median PFS was 16 months [95%CI 3-60] with respectively a median PFS of 12 for T (95%CI 3-38) and 19 for TC (95%CI 6-60). No grade 3-4 related events occurred, G1-2 myelotoxicity has been registered in 20% of patients. Therapy is still ongoing for 15 patients and all are still alive. Median TTPe was 16 months, TTPp was 9 months and TTPe / TTPp ratio equal to 1.7. The median cfDNA of 8 responder patients, before starting therapy, was 2.2 ng/μl (0.178-5.24), dropping dramatically at radiological response to 0.5 ng/μl (0.323-2.56). 2 out of 3 non-responder patients had a median baseline value of 2.49 ng/μl, increasing to 4.6 ng/μl at progression. Variation of circulating VEGF correlates with radiological response. Conclusions: Taking into account that other antiangiogenic drugs, showing some activity in second and further lines treatment, are very expensive and associated with several side effects, we suggest that low dose oral etoposide might become the preferred treatment option in heavily pretreated TETs.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis and Graft Failure Following Unrelated Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation in Children.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is closely correlated with graft failure and poor prognosis. Because of its rarity, the incidence, risk factors, and optimal treatment strategy are unclear. We analyzed data from cases of HLH following umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) performed for pediatric patients at our center. Among 66 UCBT recipients, 5 developed HLH and imminent graft failure. The median time of diagnosis of HLH was 22 (range, 19 to 30) days after UCBT, and the cumulative incidence of HLH was 7.6% (95% confidence interval, 2.8-15.7) at day 60. In univariate analysis, the cumulative incidence of HLH was significantly higher in patients with infused CD34 cells <1.0×10/kg than in patients with higher CD34 cells. Patients with preengraftment infection showed a trend toward higher incidence of HLH compared with patients without any infection. All 5 patients with HLH received corticosteroids and low-dose etoposide (VP-16), with or without high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin. Following these treatments, successful engraftment was observed in 2 patients. Corticosteroids and low-dose VP-16 may be worthy of a trial before attempting salvage hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Further analyses are required to identify risk factors and to develop methods for prophylaxis, diagnosis, and treatment of HLH.

A Rapid Cytologic Double Staining of Epstein-Barr Virus–encoded Small RNA and Cell Surface Markers for Diagnosis of Epstein-Barr Virus–associated Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

A 3-year-old boy was clinically diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. We identified EBV-infected CD8-positive T-lymphocytes by cytologic double staining of the peripheral blood for EBV-encoded small RNA and cell surface markers. The patient was subsequently administered immunosuppressive therapy with a reduced dose of etoposide because of previous organ damage. EBV clearance was confirmed by serial quantification of cell-fractionated EBV-DNA, whereas EBV-DNA persisted in the plasma for 18 weeks. Immunochemotherapy with low-dose etoposide combined with serial viral load monitoring is a potential therapeutic option for severe EBV-hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis cases with organ damage.

Successful treatment of mycosis fungoides (tumor stage) with low-dose oral etoposide in combination with local electron beam radiation therapy : Report of two cases

Successful treatment of mycosis fungoides (tumor stage) with low-dose oral etoposide in combination with local electron beam radiation therapy : Report of two cases

One-Day Low-Dose Etoposide Is an Effective Chemomobilization Regimen with Minimal Toxicity for Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: A Multicenter Study from Tertiary Hospitals in Korea

PurposeAutologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is widely used as a part of induction treatment for transplantation-eligible patients with multiple myeloma. For successful ASCT, mobilizing hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow to peripheral blood is essential because collecting a sufficient number of stem cells using apheresis is mandatory. As a method for mobilization, chemomobilization consisting of high-dose chemotherapy plus granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) or G-CSF alone (G-mobilization) has been used. However, the mobilization failure still remains a problematic issue. Given repeated mobilization attempts increase medical costs and the risk of morbidity related with apheresis, the mobilization process should be efficient. Chemomobilization is more effective than G-mobilization, however, chemomobilization has the risk of complication such as febrile neutropenia or chemotherapy-induced second malignancy. Thus, we compared the efficacy and safety of our new chemomobilization regimen, one-day low-dose etoposide with that of two-day low-dose etoposide, one-day high-dose cyclophosphamide, and G-mobilization.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 234 patients who underwent ASCT for MM between 2008 and 2018 in four tertiary hospitals in Korea. One-day low-dose etoposide regimen (E1) was the intravenous (IV) administration of etoposide (375 mg/m2) over 4 hours whereas two-day low-dose etoposide (E2) was the same dose of etoposide on 1st and 2nd day in outpatient clinic. G-CSF administration was started around on 10th day until the end of collection. In G-mobilization regimen (G), the injection of G-CSF was started four days (day -4) before initiation of apheresis (day 0), and G-CSF once a day was maintained untill the end of collection. One-day high-dose cyclophosphamide regimen (C) was the IV administration of cyclophosphamide (3.5 g/m2) on 1st day and the daily injection of G-CSF from 2nd day until the end of stem cell collection. Peripheral blood stem cell collection was started when CD34-positive cells or hematopoietic progenitor cells were more than 5000/μL in peripheral blood, or white blood cell count was more than 5000/μL. In this study, we defined the ‘adequate mobilization’ as CD34-positive cells more than 4ⅹ106/kg, and ‘mobilization failure’ as a collected CD34-positive cells less than 2ⅹ106/kg. Neutrophil and platelet engraftment was defined as more than 500/μL and 20,000/μL on consecutive two days, respectively.Results31 patients received single dose etoposide (E1) between 2016 and 2018 whereas 28 patients received double dose etoposide (E2) between 2011 and 2018. The other two regimens were used in 105 (C, 2008-2015) and 70 patients (G, 2008-2017) according to physicians' decision. The comparison of four regimens showed the median CD34-positive cells of E1 regimen was 5.57ⅹ106/kg that was comparable to that of E2 and C (Table 1). The number of CD34-positive cells on 1st day of apheresis was 4.03ⅹ106/kg in E1 regimen, and it was higher than that of C and G (3.32 and 1.79ⅹ106/kg, respectively). As a result, E1 regimen achieved ‘adequate mobilization’ in 100% of patients (n=30) like E2 regimen (n=28, 100%). Mobilization failure did not occur in E1 and E2 regimens whereas 4-10% of patients experienced mobilization failure in C and G regimens (Table 1). All patients receiving E1 and E2 regimen but one patient in E1 could collect more than 4ⅹ106/kg of CD34-positive cells within three cycles of apheresis. The occurrence of febrile neutropenia was extremely lower in E1 regimen (7%) than E2 and C regimens (43% and 34%, respectively, p<0.001). Both neutrophil and platelet engraftment were the fastest in E1 (the median 9 days after ASCT, p<0.001).ConclusionsOne-day low-dose etoposide administration could be effective for chemomobilization in myeloma patients with reduced risk of complication compared to two-day low-dose etoposide, high-dose cyclophosphamide and G-mobilization. [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

DNA damage response induced by Etoposide promotes steroidogenesis via GADD45A in cultured adrenal cells

Glucocorticoid production is regulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) via the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway in the adrenal cortex, but the changes in steroidogenesis associated with aging are unknown. In this study, we show that cell-autonomous steroidogenesis is induced by non-ACTH- mediated genotoxic stress in human adrenocortical H295R cells. Low-dose etoposide (EP) was used to induce DNA damage as a genotoxic stress, leading to cellular senescence. We found that steroidogenesis was promoted in cells stained with γH2AX, a marker of DNA damaged cells. Among stress-associated and p53-inducible genes, the expression of GADD45A and steroidogenesis-related genes was significantly upregulated. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that GADD45A accumulated in the nuclei. Metabolite assay using cultured media showed that EP-treated cells were induced to produce and secrete considerable amounts of glucocorticoid. Knockdown of GADD45A using small interfering RNA markedly inhibited the EP-induced upregulation of steroidogenesis-related gene expression, and glucocorticoid production. A p38MAPK inhibitor, but not a PKA inhibitor, suppressed EP-stimulated steroidogenesis. These results suggest that DNA damage itself promotes steroidogenesis via one or more unprecedented non-ACTH-mediated pathway. Specifically, GADD45A plays a crucial role in the steroidogenic processes triggered by EP-stimulated genotoxic stress. Our study sheds new light on an alternate mechanism of steroidogenesis in the adrenal cortex.

Mycosis fungoides treated with a combination of topical psoralen and ultraviolet A, interferon gamma-1a, and low-dose etoposide therapy : A case report

Mycosis fungoides treated with a combination of topical psoralen and ultraviolet A, interferon gamma-1a, and low-dose etoposide therapy : A case report

Comparison of the modified low-dose cytarabine and etoposide with decitabine therapy for elderly acute myeloid leukemia patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy.

To overcome unsatisfactory results of classical low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) of cytarabine ≤20 mg twice daily (BID) subcutaneously for 10 days for patients with elderly acute myeloid leukemia (eAML), we evaluated a modified LDAC (mLDAC) of cytarabine 20 mg/m2 BID subcutaneously plus etoposide 50 mg BID orally for 14 days. To determine its feasibility, we compared outcomes of 77 and 42 eAML patients who received, respectively, mLDAC and decitabine (DAC; 20 mg/m2 intravenously daily for 5 days), which has shown better outcomes compared to those of classical LDAC. Most of baseline characteristics of two groups were well balanced. The mLDAC group had a higher complete response (CR) rate compared to the DAC group (46.8% vs. 19.0%, P < 0.01). Unlike the classical LDAC, mLDAC induced CR in patients with adverse cytogenetics, with its rate similar to that of the DAC group (33.3% vs. 20.0%; P = 0.58). Meanwhile, mucositis, neutropenic fever and invasive aspergillosis were more frequently observed in the mLDAC group, with no difference in early mortality between two groups (P > 0.05). The median overall survival rates of the mLDAC and DAC groups were comparable (8.7 vs 8.3 months, respectively, P = 0.35), presumably because the advantage of higher CR rate in the mLDAC group was offset by beneficial effects of marrow response, which is observed dominantly in the DAC group. Our results suggested that the outcomes of classical LDAC could be improved by modest modifications, to be comparable to those of DAC.

Effectiveness of low-dose oral etoposide treatment in patients with recurrent and platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity profile of oral etoposide (50 mg/day, days 1–14, every 3 weeks) in recurrent platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). 52 recurrent platinum-resistant EOC patients followed up in four centres between April 2000 and December 2013 were analysed retrospectively. There was response in a total of 21 patients [partial response (PR) and stable disease (SD)], 12 of them used etoposide in second and third, and 9 of them used it in fourth- to fifth-lines of treatment. The overall response rate was 19.2% and clinical benefit rate was 40.4% [PR (19.2%), SD (21.2%)]. Median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was 9.95 months (95%CI, 0.2–19.7 months) and 3.2 months (95%CI 2.6–3.8 months), respectively. Grade III–IV haematologic and non-haematologic adverse events were observed in 7 (13.4%) patients. We consider that oral etoposide (50 mg/day, days 1–14, every 3 weeks) is an effective treatment with a manageable adverse effect profile in recurrent platinum-resistant EOC patients.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject: Oral etoposide is an effective option for recurrent EOC patients at a dose of 50–100 mg/m2/day (1–21 days, every 28 days) regimen. However, it has a high toxicity rate.What the results of this study add: Oral etoposide at a dose of 50 mg/kg (1–14 days, every 21 days) is an effective treatment with a manageable toxicity profile in platinum- resistant ovarian cancer patients when it is used as ≤4th-line palliative setting.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research: We need trials evaluating the effect of low-dose oral etoposide combination with bevacizumab or other chemotherapy agents (irinotecan and gemcitabine) in platinum-resistant EOC patients.