I. Moors MD

Big Children or Small Adults? Leukaemia Treatment in Adolescence and Young Adulthood

SUMMARY

The outcome of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) has improved dramatically over the last decades by using paediatric and paediatric-inspired protocols in this age group. The outcome of different paediatric, paediatric-inspired and adult-based regimens are compared in this review. Despite pre-existing fear among clinicians to use these high-intensity paediatric regimens in AYAs, toxicities seem manageable, with treatment-related mortality comparable to that seen with adult protocols. In paediatric protocols, the use of allogeneic stem cell transplantation is restricted to certain high-risk groups and prophylactic cranial irradiation is omitted. In recent years, evaluation of minimal residual disease is increasingly used as prognostic marker and as a tool to guide therapy. In Philadelphia-positive ALL, the use of tyrosine-kinase inhibitors has completely changed prognosis and therapeutic decisions.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(3):88–97)

P.14.2 KIT D816 mutation in myeloid neoplasms: look out for systemic mastocytosis associated hematologic neoplasms (SM-AHN)

P.21 Disseminated nocardiosis in a patient with multiple myeloma treated with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone

P.41 Bone marrow hot pockets mimicking sclerotic bone metastases in a patient with aplastic anemia

O.4 An in-depth investigation of the causes of treatment failure in AML

Impact of new treatment guidelines pertaining to the indication for allogeneic stem cell transplantation in intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukaemia at Ghent University Hospital: A retrospective analysis

SUMMARY

Since several years, it has become clear that intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukaemia patients in an acceptable clinical condition can benefit from allogeneic stem cell transplantation thanks to the improvement in relapse free survival. This study retrospectively analysed the outcome of all intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukaemia patients treated with intensive chemotherapy at the Ghent University Hospital between 01-01-2013 and 30-04-2017 in an effort to determine the impact of a new in-hospital treatment guideline adopted in April 2015. This guideline recommends all intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukaemia patients who are fit for intensive therapy to proceed to allogeneic stem cell transplantation in first complete remission. Unfortunately, we could not demonstrate an improvement in the relapse free survival after implementation of the treatment guideline. Nevertheless, exploratory analysis of the entire group suggests a survival benefit from allogeneic stem cell transplantation, with significantly improved relapse free survival and a trend towards a better overall survival.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2018;9(7):285–9)

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm with skin, bone marrow involvement and transverse myelitis: a case report

SUMMARY

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm is a highly aggressive myeloid neoplasm with a high rate of central nervous system recurrence. We present a case to illustrate central nervous system involvement and possible treatment options.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2018;9(6):237–41)