Background: Sleep disruption is one of the most commonly reported quality of life concerns among cancer patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Despite the high percentage of patients reporting sleep concerns, relatively little research has characterized sleep problems or explored relationships with psychological factors. In addition, no studies have used actigraph technology to characterize sleep issues among transplant recipients. Method: Autologous HSCT recipients who were 6 to 18 months post-transplant were invited to participate. Patients completed self-report measures of cancer-related distress, fear of cancer recurrence, dysfunctional cognitions about sleep, and maladaptive sleep behaviors upon enrollment, wore an actigraph and completed a sleep log at home for 7 days, and completed a self-report measure of sleep disruption on day 7 of the study. Results: 84 autologous HSCT recipients (age M = 60, 45% female) were enrolled and provided complete data. Forty-one percent of patients met criteria for sub-clinical or clinical insomnia based on patient self-report. Examination of actigraph data indicated that certain aspects of sleep were poorer than others (wake after sleep onset M = 66 minutes; total sleep time M = 6.5 hours; sleep efficiency M = 78%; sleep onset latency M = 21 minutes). Measures of cancer-related distress, fear of cancer recurrence, cognitive distortions, and maladaptive behavioral patterns were related to subjectively reported sleep disruption, p’s < .05, but were not related to objectively measured sleep disruption. Further examination revealed that the cognitive and behavioral factors accounted for the largest unique variance in subjectively reported sleep disruption. Conclusion: Results from the present study suggest that many HSCT recipients continue to experience sleep disruption during the survivorship period following transplant. Cancer-specific factors, dysfunctional cognitions about sleep, and maladaptive sleep behaviors were related to self-reported sleep disruption and are ripe targets for a cognitive behavioral intervention.

No description available.

Alloreactivity between donor cells against disparate host tissue is a natural and normal physiologic phenomenon after engraftment. Consequently, GVHD is a universally expected side effect after allogeneic HSCT. An effective strategy to prevent severe or fatal acute GVHD is require if the transplant is to be successful. The HSCT field has witnessed significant progress in the prevention and treatment of acute GVHD. However, select interventions come at the cost of losing the alloimmune activity that prevents relapse, the GVL effect, as many of the mechanisms which cause GVHD are shared with those responsible for GVL. Current efforts are focused on therapeutic interventions that not only alleviate the burden of acute GVHD but does so in a way that maintains the GVL effect. This review will provide an up-to-date overview of our current understanding of the diagnosis, risk stratification, immunobiology of acute GVHD, summarize efforts to prevent and treat the disease, and provide a perspective on future directions.

Class of 2011 Abstract / OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of patient and hospital characteristics as well as selected comorbidities on inpatient mortality and charges in pediatric HSCT. We have determined the top 25 comorbidities reported during all inpatient stays for HSCT as well as for those stays ending in mortality. METHODS: All data was extracted from the AHRQ KID databases for the years 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006. Two regression analyses were performed to determine the contribution of various independent variables on mortality and charges. Subjects of this study included all cases of HSCT reported in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) KID as ICD-9 41.XX. RESULTS: Factors accounting for larger increases in cost included death during hospital stay, the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), pneumonia, and length of stay (LOS). The largest decreases in charges were seen for patients coming from a small or “micropolitan” location, patients cared for in teaching hospitals, and in hospitals with large bedsizes. Variables associated with increased risk of mortality on linear regression included development of DIC, sepsis, or pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Further study relating to HSCT is necessary to determine the contribution of specific comorbidities to mortality and charges. Importantly, DIC is associated with both greater risk of mortality and greater charges. It would be prudent to recommend increased monitoring and early treatment for DIC based on these results.

No description available.

Les mutations du gène codant pour la protéine XIAP (X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein) sont à l’origine du syndrome lymphoprolifératif lié à l’X de type 2 (XLP-2). Il s’agit d’un déficit immunitaire rare caractérisé par une susceptibilité anormale à l’infection par le virus d’Epstein Barr (EBV). De plus, certains patients déficients en XIAP peuvent souffrir d’une pathologie intestinale parfois sévère. XIAP est molécule anti-apoptique qui a aussi été impliquée dans la signalisation et les fonctions de récepteurs de l’immunité innée, les récepteurs NOD1 et NOD2. Mon travail de thèse a eu pour objectif de caractériser cette pathologie intestinale et ses mécanismes physiopathologiques. Pour cela, nous avons étudié une cohorte de patients déficients en XIAP présentant une pathologie inflammatoire intestinale. Nous avons également recherché des mutations de XIAP dans une cohorte d’enfants ayant présenté comme unique signe clinique une pathologie intestinale précoce. Sur 83 patients testés, 3 patients porteurs de mutations de XIAP ont été identifiés. Nous avons ensuite montré que cette pathologie intestinale est très proche sur les plans clinique et histologique de la maladie de Crohn, qui est une des principales affections inflammatoires de l’intestin chez l’adulte. La maladie de Crohn est associée à des facteurs environnementaux et une susceptibilité génétique, dont les polymorphismes dans le gène NOD2 qui représentent le facteur plus important identifié à ce jour. Nous avons ensuite montré que les monocytes des patients déficients en XIAP ont un défaut de production d’IL-8, de MCP-1 et d’IL-10 en réponse à la stimulation de la voie NOD2. Par contre, nous n’avons pas mis en évidence d’excès d’apoptose des cellules épithéliales digestives chez les patients. En revanche, ils présentaient un nombre diminué de leur lymphocytes T innés circulants, Enfin, au cours de cette étude, nous avons identifié pour la première fois des femmes vectrices d’une mutation de XIAP à l’état hétérozygote, ayant développé des manifestations inflammatoires intestinales. Chez ces patientes, l’inactivation du chromosome X, qui normalement est biaisée en faveur de l’allèle sain chez les vectrices asymptomatiques, est de façon inhabituelle biaisée vers l’allèle muté contribuant à une diminution de l’expression de XIAP dans les monocytes et une altération de la voie NOD2. Ce travail a permis de montrer que le déficit en XIAP est responsable d’une forme monogénique de la maladie de Crohn. Nos résultats suggèrent que le défaut d’activation des monocytes par NOD2 est un mécanisme important de la pathogénèse de la maladie. Sur le plan thérapeutique, la greffe de moelle osseuse semble indiquée dans les formes sévères, puisque le principal défaut identifié est une anomalie du compartiment hématopoïétique, et chez deux de nos patients, elle a permis en effet une amélioration franche de la pathologie digestive qui était très sévère. / Mutations in the gene encoding for XIAP (X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein) are causing the X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome type 2 (XLP-2). It is a rare immunodeficiency characterized by an abnormal susceptibility to infection with Epstein Barr virus (EBV). In addition, some XIAP-deficient patients may suffer from an intestinal disease that can be severe. XIAP is an anti-apoptotic molecule which has also been involved in the signaling and the functions of receptors of the innate immunity, NOD1 and NOD2. My thesis work aimed to characterize this intestinal pathology and its pathophysiology. For this, we studied a cohort of known XIAP-deficient patients with inflammatory bowel disease. We also looked for mutations of XIAP in a cohort of children who presented as the only clinical sign an early intestinal pathology. In 83 patients tested, three were identified as carrier of a XIAP mutation. We then showed that this intestinal pathology is clinically and histologically very close to Crohn’s disease, which is a major inflammatory bowel disease in adults. Crohn's disease is associated with environmental factors and genetic susceptibility, including polymorphisms in the NOD2 gene that represent the most important factor identified to date. We then showed that the monocytes from XIAP-deficient patients have a defect in production of IL-8, MCP-1 and IL-10 in response to stimulation of the NOD2 pathway. However, we did not reveal any excess of apoptosis in intestinal epithelial cells from XIAP-deficient patients. On the other hand, they showed a decreased number of their circulating innate T cells. Finally, during this study, we identified for the first time, female carriers of a mutation of XIAP in the heterozygous state, who developed intestinal inflammatory manifestations. In these patients, the inactivation of the X chromosome, which is normally biased toward the healthy allele in asymptomatic vectors, is biased to the unusually mutated allele contributing to a decrease of the expression of XIAP in monocytes and an alteration of the NOD2 pathway. This work showed that XIAP deficiency is responsible for a monogenic form of Crohn's disease. Our results suggest that the lack of monocyte activation by NOD2 is an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of the disease. Therapeutically, the bone marrow transplant seems indicated in severe cases, since the main identified defect is an abnormality of the hematopoietic compartment and in two of our patients, it allowed a clear improvement of the digestive pathology that was very severe.

La greffe de cellules souches hématopoïétiques est parfois le seul traitement curatif dans certaines pathologies pédiatriques telles que les leucémies, les sarcomes, les dédicits immunitaires ou les thalassémies. Le busulfan, un alkylant myéloablatif, fait partie de nombreux protocoles de conditionnement de greffe. C'est un médicament à marge thérapeutique étroite doté d'une forte variabilité pharmacocinétique, qui fait souvent l'objet d'un suivi thérapeutique pharmacologique afin d'optimiser la prise de greffe et d'éviter les risques de maladie veino-occlusive, principale toxicité du busulfan et responsable d'une morbidité et d'une mortalité importante. L'aire sous la courbe, dont il existe un intervalle cible recommandé, est aujourd'hui le paramètre pharmacocinétique utlisé pour effectuer le suivi thérapeutique du busulfan et l'adaptation posologique pendant le conditionnement.L'objectif de notre travail est d'étudier les relations entre la pharmacocinétique du busulfan et ses effets thérapeutiques et toxiques, en particulier la maladie veino-occlusive, et de développer des méthodes d'adaptation posologique pour optimiser l'usage de ce médicament chez l'enfant. Nos travaux ont conduit à plusieurs innovations méthodologiques, avec le développement et la validation d'un modèle pharmacocinétique de population non-paramétrique pour l'adaptation Bayésienne des posologies de busulfan en pédiatrie, et le développement d'une nouvelle méthode de détermination de la dose initiale maximisant la probabilité d'atteindre un intervalle cible d'exposition. Sur le plan clinique, nous avons pu mettre en évidence l'absence de bénéfice clinique de l'utilisation d'un intervalle cible d'exposition plus restreint que celui recommandé. Par ailleurs, nous avons identifié que la survenue de la MVO était liée à la concentration maximale de busulfan, et non à l'aire sous la courbe des concentrations en fonction du temps.L'ensemble de ces résultats est une contribution à l'amélioration de l'utilisation et du suivi thérapeutique pharmacologique du busulfan en onco-hématologie pédiatrique / Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation remains the only curative treatment in many pediatric diseases as leukemia, sarcoma, immunodeficiencies or thalassemia. Busulfan, a myeloablative alkylant, is the cornerstone of pre-transplant conditioning. It has a narrow therapeutic index and a large pharmacokinetic variability. For these reasons, therapeutic drug monitoring is required in order to optimize engraftment and avoid veno-occlusive disease, the main toxicity of busulfan which is responsible of significant morbidity and mortality. Today, the area under the curve, of which there is a target range recommended, is the pharmacokinetic parameter used to carry out therapeutic drug monitoring and dose adjustment during conditioning. Our objective is to investigate relationships between busulfan PK and clinical outcomes, especially veno-occlusive disease, and to develop methods of dose adjustment in order to optimize the use of this medication in children.Our work leaded to several methodological innovations, with the development and the validation of a non-parametric pharmacokinetic model for Bayesian dose adjustment of busulfan in pediatrics, and the development of a new method for the first dose determination maximizing the probability of achieving an exposure target range. From a clinical point a view, we highlighted the lack of clinical benefit in using an exposure target range narrower than those recommended. Furthermore, we identified that veno-occlusive incidence was correlated to the maximal concentration of busulfan, contrary to the area under the concentration-time curve.All of these results contribute to improving use and therapeutic monitoring of busulfan in pediatric onco-hematology

No description available.

Il est documenté que les enfants poursuivant une greffe de cellules souches hématopoïétiques présentent une altération du zinc plasmatique potentiellement défavorable à leur état clinique puisque ce minéral est impliqué dans l’hématopoïèse, la défense immunitaire, l’intégrité de la muqueuse digestive et la croissance. Ainsi, une carence en zinc pourrait affecter la reprise de l’hématopoïèse, la vulnérabilité aux infections, les diarrhées, les complications inflammatoires et la croissance de ces enfants. Actuellement, le zinc n’est pratiquement jamais dosé chez la clientèle pédiatrique du CHU Ste-Justine. Cette étude a documenté prospectivement le statut nutritionnel en zinc chez 21 sujets admis pour une GCSH dans ce centre. Sept différents moments ont été déterminés afin de suivre la tendance évolutive des taux plasmatiques de zinc et des paramètres d’intérêt (anthropométrie, biochimie et complications de la greffe) en fonction de la récupération fonctionnelle de la moelle osseuse. Au total, 43% des enfants ont présenté des taux de zinc plasmatique cliniquement associés à une carence (<9,9 μmol/L) à un moment ou l’autre de la période d’observation. Cependant, aucun moment n’a été identifié comme plus propice à cet avènement. L’altération du taux de zinc survient peu importe l’âge, le sexe, le type de greffe, le diagnostic ou la présence d’un soutien nutritionnel. Les apports habituels en zinc n’expliquent pas le statut déficient observé et l’usage d’une alimentation parentérale ne prévient pas l’occurrence de ce problème. Le statut nutritionnel précaire à l’admission pourrait servir à identifier les patients à risque d’une altération du statut en zinc car ceux-ci ont montré un plus faible poids pour l’âge (<25e percentile). De plus, des corrélations positives entre la préalbumine et les taux plasmatiques de zinc ont été identifiées. Cliniquement, un statut altéré en ce minéral a occasionné de plus longs et importants épisodes de diarrhées, une mucosite et une neutropénie prolongée, mais ces données ne diffèrent pas significativement de celles recueillies auprès de patients ayant présenté un statut normal en zinc. Cette étude permettra d’accorder une importance particulière à la surveillance du statut en zinc lors de la GCSH étant donné l’altération transitoire observée chez plusieurs individus et l’apparente augmentation des complications post-greffe associées à un tel état. Puisque l’influence des apports habituels en zinc ne suffit pas pour expliquer ce phénomène, davantage d’études sont nécessaires. / It has been previously documented that plasma zinc levels are lower in children who underwent a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Given the role of zinc in hematopoiesis, immune defense, intestinal integrity and growth, it is likely that zinc deficiency may negatively affect patient outcomes by influencing hematopoiesis recovery, vulnerability to infections, occurrence of diarrhea, inflammatory complications and growth. To date, monitoring of this trace element is not routinely done in children undergoing HSCT at Ste-Justine Hospital. In this prospective study, we assessed plasma zinc levels and zinc intakes in 21 children at seven different time points before and after HSCT. In addition, anthropometric and biochemistry parameters as well as complications were collected at the same time points. Our results showed a prevalence of zinc deficiency (<9.9 μmol/L) of 43%, however no specific time was associated with the occurrence of this deficiency. Gender, age, graft type, primary diagnosis and the use of a nutritional support did not significantly affect the prevalence of this deficiency state. Usual zinc intakes could not explain this impairment while the use of parenteral nutrition did not prevent its occurrence. A poor nutritional status at admission, defined by a low weight-for-age (<25th percentile), could help identifying high-risk patients. This association is strengthened by the positive correlation found between prealbumin and plasma zinc levels. Although an altered zinc status resulted in a longer duration of diarrhea and more stools per day as well as an extended period of mucositis and neutropenia, no significant difference was seen between patients with a normal and an impaired zinc status with regard to these outcomes. This study suggests the relevance of monitoring zinc nutritional status during HCST given the significant proportion of patients with impaired zinc status and the apparent increase in post-HCST complications seen in those patients. Since usual zinc intakes do not explain the alteration of zinc status of our study population, further studies are needed.

Immune cell niches are microenvironments that support the survival of specific hematopoietic cells. The size of a given niche is dependent on survival and proliferation signals provided. Modulation of niche size can be a useful therapeutic tool, and a better understanding of the factors that control the size of immune cell niches can lead to more targeted therapies. Here bone marrow and thymic niches were modulated with tyrosine kinase inhibition to achieve increased engraftment following stem cell transplantation (SCT). SCT resulting in mixed chimerism is curative for several benign blood diseases, but toxicities associated with myeloablative and cytotoxic conditioning regimens limit the application of SCT. Sunitinib inhibits multiple tyrosine kinases including KIT, an essential survival signal within the hematopoietic stem cell and thymic progenitor niches. Sunitinib therapy diminishes hematopoietic and thymic progenitor cells in mice and enhances accessibility of marrow and thymic niches to transplanted bone marrow. This provides a novel, non-cytotoxic approach to accomplish mixed hematopoietic chimerism. The observation that T cells undergo increased proliferation and accumulate in IL-7R deficient mice compared to other lymphopenic hosts raised questions about the factors that control the size of the T cell niche. Understanding these factors is useful in designing therapeutics to increase T cell responses for treatment of many diseases including cancer. Dendritic cells (DCs) are well known for their ability to modulate T cell responses; however, very little is known about the role of IL-7R signaling on DCs. The data presented here show that bone marrow derived DCs treated with IL-7 were less able to induce T cell proliferation in coculture. In vivo systems using CD11cDTR mice showed a role for IL-7 signaling on CD11c+ cells in T cell homeostasis. Together these data suggest that IL-7R signaling on DCs is important for regulating the size of the T cell niche.