@article {1745, title = {A Phase II study on the safety and efficacy of a single dose of pegfilgrastim for mobilization and transplantation of autologous hematopoietic stem cells in pediatric oncohematology patients.}, journal = {Transfusion}, volume = {51}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Nov}, pages = {2480-7}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on the use of pegfilgrastim in pediatric patients as a mobilizing agent in association with chemotherapy.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, Phase II study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single dose of 100 {\textmu}g/kg pegfilgrastim in mobilizing peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) in pediatric patients. The primary endpoint of the study was the percentage of good mobilizers with pegfilgrastim (blood peak of CD34+ cells >= 20 {\texttimes} 10(6) /L). The results were compared with a historical control group.

RESULTS: Thirty of 36 recruited patients were classified as good mobilizers (83\%). The median value of circulating CD34+ at leukapheresis was 143 {\texttimes} 10(6) /L (range, 20 {\texttimes} 10(6) -1988 {\texttimes} 10(6) /L). No significant adverse effects were associated with the use of pegfilgrastim and no patient was withdrawn from using the drug. A blood peak of 20 {\texttimes} 10(6) /L or more CD34+ was observed in 33 of 36 control patients (92\%) and the median CD34+ count at leukapheresis was 158 {\texttimes} 10(6) /kg (range, 28 {\texttimes} 10(6) -4529 {\texttimes} 10(6) /kg; p = 0.7). No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of toxicity or other variables of mobilization. As at October 2008, 23 patients of the pegfilgrastim group and 32 patients of the filgrastim group underwent autologous transplant. No significant differences were found in terms of early toxicity, myeloid recovery, and Day 100 survival.

CONCLUSION: A single dose of 100 {\textmu}g/kg pegfilgrastim was safe and effective for PBSC collection in pediatric patients. We suggest that these results support the use of pegfilgrastim for pediatric patients.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization, Humans, Infant, Male, Neoplasms, Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation, Prospective Studies, Recombinant Proteins, Transplantation, Autologous}, issn = {1537-2995}, doi = {10.1111/j.1537-2995.2011.03157.x}, author = {Cesaro, Simone and Zanazzo, Andrea Giulio and Frenos, Stefano and Luksch, Roberto and Pegoraro, Anna and Tridello, Gloria and Dallorso, Sandro} } @article {1636, title = {Morbidity of pandemic H1N1 influenza in children with cancer.}, journal = {Pediatr Blood Cancer}, volume = {55}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Aug}, pages = {226-8}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: To define the mortality and the current impact of the H1N1 pandemic in pediatric hematology-oncology centers, we performed a specific survey.

PROCEDURE: Pharyngeal swabs from patients with fevers of unknown origin, flu-like symptoms or bronchopneumonia were screened for H1N1 using PCR.

RESULTS: Sixty-two patients with documented H1N1 infection were reported: 16 had recently stopped therapy, 2 were at the diagnosis stage, and 44 were receiving therapy. The clinical course was severe (requiring ICU admission) in only 1 patient, moderate (requiring hospital admission) in 38, and mild in the remaining 23 (37\%), treated as outpatients. While none of the patients died of H1N1-related complications, two patients died of progressive cancer; in all of the remaining cases, symptoms resolved within 11 days. The clinical course was complicated by respiratory distress or bronchopneumonia in 10 cases. Oseltamivir was given to 82\% of patients. Chemotherapy was temporarily withdrawn in 54\% of cases for a median time of 21 days (range, 4-43 days).

CONCLUSION: H1N1 infection in children with cancer was not reported as the cause of death in any case but resulted in reduced intensity of anti-cancer therapy.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Antineoplastic Agents, Cause of Death, Child, Child, Preschool, Data Collection, Disease Outbreaks, Humans, Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype, Influenza, Human, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin, Morbidity, Neoplasms, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult}, issn = {1545-5017}, doi = {10.1002/pbc.22619}, author = {Caselli, D{\'e}sir{\'e}e and Carraro, Francesca and Castagnola, Elio and Ziino, Ottavio and Frenos, Stefano and Milano, Giuseppe Maria and Livadiotti, Susanna and Cesaro, Simone and Marra, Nicoletta and Zanazzo, Giulio and Meazza, Cristina and Cellini, Monica and Aric{\`o}, Maurizio} } @article {1637, title = {Multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in children undergoing chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.}, journal = {Haematologica}, volume = {95}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Sep}, pages = {1612-5}, abstract = {

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one leading gram-negative organism associated with nosocomial infections. Bacteremia is life-threatening in the immunocompromised host. Increasing frequency of multi-drug-resistant (MDRPA) strains is concerning. We started a retrospective survey in the pediatric hematology oncology Italian network. Between 2000 and 2008, 127 patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia were reported from 12 centers; 31.4\% of isolates were MDRPA. Death within 30 days of a positive blood culture occurred in 19.6\% (25/127) of total patients; in patients with MDRPA infection it occurred in 35.8\% (14/39). In the multivariate analysis, only MDRPA had significant association with infection-related death. This is the largest series of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia cases from pediatric hematology oncology centers. Monitoring local bacterial isolates epidemiology is mandatory and will allow empiric antibiotic therapy to be tailored to reduce fatalities.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Antineoplastic Agents, Bacteremia, Child, Child, Preschool, Drug Resistance, Multiple, Female, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Humans, Immunocompromised Host, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Italy, Male, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas Infections, Retrospective Studies, Young Adult}, issn = {1592-8721}, doi = {10.3324/haematol.2009.020867}, author = {Caselli, D{\'e}sir{\'e}e and Cesaro, Simone and Ziino, Ottavio and Zanazzo, Giulio and Manicone, Rosaria and Livadiotti, Susanna and Cellini, Monica and Frenos, Stefano and Milano, Giuseppe M and Cappelli, Barbara and Licciardello, Maria and Beretta, Chiara and Aric{\`o}, Maurizio and Castagnola, Elio} }