Pregnancy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus after cyclophosphamide therapy

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often affects females of reproductive age and Cyclophosphamide, an alkylating agent leading to premature ovarian insufficiency (POF) and labelled category D for pregnancy is used as induction therapy for severe manifestations of lupus. There have been multiple case series reflecting variable outcomes of pregnancies after cyclophosphamide use for cancers and autoimmune diseases. With increasing maternal age, we have an increasing population of lupus patients who may wish to conceive after having received cyclophosphamide therapy. The objective of our study was to improve our understanding of the impact of cyclophosphamide exposure on fertility and pregnancy outcomes in patients with SLE. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients who had received intravenous cyclophosphamide at our academic institute in the time period from 2000–2018 and identified 440 patients which included 157 female patients of reproductive age. There were 37 documented pregnancies after the cyclophosphamide infusion, of which 23 patients had successful outcomes; 4 elective abortion and 10 miscarriages. There were 17 patients who developed POF, of which 7 also had end stage renal disease. The average cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide in the patients who had successful pregnancy was 4080.37 mg compared to 2806.25 mg in those who had a miscarriage (p 0.164) and 5526.47 mg in those who developed POF (p 0.046). Using multiple regressions to evaluate risk factors impacting pregnancy outcomes, when taken as a set, the predictors including race, serological profile, exposure to steroids and Mycophenolate mofetil, age at cyclophosphamide infusion, age at pregnancy, and cumulative cyclophosphamide dose accounted for 46.29% of the variance in outcome of pregnancy (p 0.23) and 39.58% of the variance in development of premature ovarian failure (p 0.008). We noted statistical significance in the impact of maternal age at time of pregnancy (p 0.04) and duration of time between the last infusions to subsequent pregnancy (p 0.02) to pregnancy outcome. Our findings suggest that a longer time interval between the last cyclophosphamide infusion and subsequent pregnancy was favorable for a successful outcome and higher cumulative cyclophosphamide dose is more likely to be associated with premature ovarian failure.

Addition of Vincristine and Irinotecan to Vincristine, Dactinomycin, and Cyclophosphamide Does Not Improve Outcome for Intermediate-Risk Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Report From the Children’s Oncology Group

Purpose Intermediate-risk rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) includes patients with either nonmetastatic, unresected embryonal RMS (ERMS) with an unfavorable primary site or nonmetastatic alveolar RMS (ARMS). The primary aim of this study was to improve the outcome of patients with intermediate-risk RMS by substituting vincristine and irinotecan (VI) for half of vincristine, dactinomycin, and cyclophosphamide (VAC) courses. All patients received a lower dose of cyclophosphamide and earlier radiation therapy than in previous trials. Patients and Methods Patients were randomly assigned at study entry to either VAC (cumulative cyclophosphamide dose, 16.8 g/m2) or VAC/VI (cumulative cyclophosphamide dose, 8.4 g/m2) for 42 weeks of therapy. Radiation therapy started at week 4, with individualized local control plans permitted for patients younger than 24 months. The primary study end point was event-free survival (EFS). The study design had an 80% power (5% one-sided α-level) to detect an improved long-term EFS from 65% (with VAC) to 76% (with VAC/VI). Results A total of 448 eligible patients were enrolled in the study. At a median follow-up of 4.8 years, the 4-year EFS was 63% with VAC and 59% with VAC/VI ( P = .51), and 4-year overall survival was 73% for VAC and 72% for VAC/VI ( P = .80). Within the ARMS and ERMS subgroups, no difference in outcome by treatment arm was found. Severe hematologic toxicity was less common with VAC/VI therapy. Conclusion The addition of VI to VAC did not improve EFS or OS for patients with intermediate-risk RMS. VAC/VI had less hematologic toxicity and a lower cumulative cyclophosphamide dose, making VAC/VI an alternative standard therapy for intermediate-risk RMS.

Incidence of cervical human papillomavirus infection in systemic lupus erythematosus women

Objectives Our objective was to study the incidence, persistence and clearance of human papillomavirus infection in systemic lupus erythematosus women and assess risk factors for persistence of human papillomavirus infection. Methods We carried out a prospective, observational cohort study of 127 systemic lupus erythematosus women. Patients were evaluated at baseline and at three years. Traditional and systemic lupus erythematosus women-related disease risk factors were collected. Gynaecological evaluations and cervical cytology screening were made. Human papillomavirus detection and genotyping were made by polymerase chain reaction and linear array. Results The cumulative prevalence of human papillomavirus infection increased from 22.8% at baseline to 33.8% at three years; p = < 0.001: 20.1% of patients experienced 43 incident infections. The risk of any human papillomavirus infection was 10.1 per 1000 patient-months. At three years, 47 (88.6%) prevalent infections were cleared. Independent risk factors associated with incident human papillomavirus infection included more lifetime sexual partners (odds ratio = 1.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.11–3.0) and cumulative cyclophosphamide dose (odds ratio = 3.9, 95% confidence interval = 1.2–12.8). Conclusions In systemic lupus erythematosus women, the cumulative prevalence of human papillomavirus infection, including high risk-human papillomavirus and multiple human papillomavirus infections, may increase over time. Most persistent infections were low risk-human papillomavirus. The number of lifetime sexual partners and the cumulative cyclophosphamide dose were independently associated with incident human papillomavirus infection.

new bIologIcal model of moderate InhIbItIon of tumor and metastases growth wIth prolonged leukopenIa In mIce

A new biological model of moderate inhibition of tumor growth and metastases with prolonged leukopenia on C57Bl/6 mice with the Lewis Lung Carcinoma was designed. The model was created by the injection of cyclophosphamide (dose 83.3mg/kg) on 6th, 12th, 18th days after tumor cells transplantation on animals. Experiment showed that 3-fold cyclo-phosphamide use leads to growth of primary tumor and metastases inhibition. Tumor growth inhibition was 34% on 21st day after cyclophosphamide inject. The number of metastases decreased by 4.7times (p&#60;0,01). Metastatic area reduced. Metastasis frequency made 100%. In addition, the course of cyclophosphamide application caused inhibition of granulocytic and lymphoid hematopoiesis. The reducing the number of segmented neutrophils and lymphocytes was showed on the 3rd day after 1, 2 and 3 injections of cyclophosphamide. The model can be used to study the efficacy of drugs in tumor therapy and in correction of such toxic manifestation of chemotherapy as leukopenia.

Pulmonary function after treatment for embryonal brain tumors on SJMB03 that included craniospinal irradiation.

10021 Background: Treatment of children with embryonal brain tumors (EBT) includes craniospinal irradiation. There are limited data regarding the effect of radiation therapy (RT) on pulmonary function. Methods: Protocol SJMB03 enrolled patients 3 to 21 years of age with EBT. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) by spirometry, total lung capacity (TLC) by plethysmography and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO)] were obtained following completion of RT, prior to each of four courses of high-dose chemotherapy (cumulative cyclophosphamide dose, 16 g/m2), and 24 months after completion of treatment (ACT). Differences between PFTs obtained following the completion of RT and 24 months ACT were compared using exact Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Results: 303 eligible patients were enrolled between June 24, 2003 and March 1, 2010, 258 of whom had at least one PFT. Median age at diagnosis - 8.9 years (range, 3.1 to 20.4 years). Median spinal RT dose - 23.4 Gy (range, 23.4 to 50.4 Gy). Median cyclophosphamide dose was 16.24 g (range, 0 to 34.38 g). 24 months ACT, DLCO was < 75% predicted in 23% (27/115 evaluated), FEV1 was < 80% predicted in 21% (32/150 evaluated), FVC was < 80% predicted in 27% (46/168 evaluated) and TLC was < 80% predicted in 18% (24/135 evaluated) of patients. DLCO was significantly decreased 24 months ACT compared to the end of RT (median difference (MD) in % predicted, - 3.00%; p = 0.035). Race and cumulative cyclophosphamide dose were not significant predictors of DLCO. DLCO was significantly higher among males (p = 0.037) than females in a model that included time point, sex, RT dose group, RT dose*time interaction and age at diagnosis. The differences in FEV1 ((MD, - 1.00%), FVC (MD, 0.00%) and TLC (MD, -2.00%) were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Among patients with EBT treated with spinal RT, DLCO was significantly decreased 24 months after completion of treatment compared to immediately post-RT. TLC was decreased 24 months ACT, suggesting that a significant minority of patients have restrictive lung disease. Continued monitoring of this cohort to five years ACT is planned. Clinical trial information: NCT00085202.