Post-Transplant Complications Pulmonary Toxicity Syndrome Following CDEP (Cyclophosphamide, Dexamethasone, Etoposide, Cisplatin) Chemotherapy
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Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 28, 399–403 2001 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved 0268–3369/01 $15.00 www.nature.com/bmt Post-transplant complications Pulmonary toxicity syndrome following CDEP (cyclophosphamide, dexamethasone, etoposide, cisplatin) chemotherapy A Fassas1,3, I Gojo1, A Rapoport1, M Cottler-Fox1,3, B Meisenberg2, JC Papadimitriou2 and G Tricot1,3 1Department of Medicine, Division of Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplantation, Greenebaum Cancer Center; and 2Department of Pathology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA Summary: development of this pulmonary toxicity syndrome (PTS). This is further supported by the lack of correlation between We report on three patients with multiple myeloma who severity of PTS in case of BCNU-based high-dose chemo- developed drug-induced pneumonitis 1–2. months fol- therapy with age, tobacco use or baseline pulmonary func- lowing maintenance (post autologous transplantation) tion, suggesting that other factors play a role in PTS, in chemotherapy with CDEP (cyclophosphamide, dexame- addition to chemotherapy exposure.3 thasone, etoposide, cisplatin) and 6–20 months after From this perspective, it was intriguing to observe three exposure to carmustine (BCNU) 300 mg/m2, used in patients, with a history of either proven (two) or suspected combination with melphalan 140 mg/m2, as pre-trans- (one) fungal pneumonia, who developed typical clinical, plant conditioning regimen. All patients had either a radiographic and histologic features of PTS 5–11 weeks proven (two) or suspected (one) fungal pneumonia and after treatment with CDEP (cyclophosphamide, dexame- were treated with liposomal amphotericin B. Dyspnea, thasone, etoposide, cisplatin) chemotherapy, a fairly com- fever and cough were the prominent clinical symptoms, monly used regimen which has not so far been associated while air-space disease with ground glass appearance with non-infective pulmonary toxicity. These patients had was seen radiographically. Histologic features typical a dramatic response to a brief course of corticosteroids. for drug-induced lung injury were detected. All patients There was no evidence of fungal infection at the time of had a dramatic, clinical and radiographic response to a PTS diagnosis. brief course of corticosteroids. Although CDEP-induced pneumonitis appears to be a rare complication, its early recognition and prompt treatment, as well as its possible Patients and methods association with preceding fungal infection may have important clinical implications. Bone Marrow Transplan- Between August 1997 and February 2000, 231 patients tation (2001) 28, 399–403. underwent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplan- Keywords: non-infective pulmonary toxicity; CDEP tation (APBSCT), at our institution, for a variety of hemato- chemotherapy; fungal infection logic malignancies (multiple myeloma, 87; non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 64; Hodgkin’s disease, 11; others, 14) and solid tumors (breast carcinoma, 46; others, nine). In the vast majority (200 patients), the same conditioning regimen of Drug-induced pulmonary toxicity, not associated with BCNU at 300 mg/m2 and melphalan at 140 mg/m2 infection, is a well-described complication of different (BCNU/MEL) was applied, followed by post-transplant chemotherapeutic agents. Among them, carmustine chemotherapy starting 3 months after the APBSCT and (BCNU), cyclophosphamide, bleomycin, busulphan, mel- administered every 3 months × four courses during the year 1 phalan and total body irradiation have been implicated. following transplant (or until disease relapse). The regi- Furthermore, combinations of various agents (even the ones mens used for the post-transplant chemotherapy were rarely associated with the syndrome) may potentially lead cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m2 by continuous i.v. infusion 2 to lung injury through drug interactions. Additionally, over 24 h for 4 days, dexamethasone 40 mg p.o. daily for unrecognized host–drug interactions may contribute to the 4 days, etoposide 30 mg/m2 by continuous i.v. infusion over 24 h for 4 days and cisplatin 15 mg/m2 by continuous i.v. infusion over 24 h for 4 days (CDEP), for courses 1 and Correspondence: Dr A Fassas, Myeloma and Transplantation Center, Uni- 3, alternating with dexamethasone 40 mg p.o. daily for 4 versity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W Markham Street, Little days, taxol 135 mg/m2 by i.v. infusion over 6 h on day 2 Rock, AR, 72205, USA 2 3Current address: Myeloma and Transplantation Research Center, Univer- and cisplatin 75 mg/m by i.v. infusion over 24 h on day sity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA 3 of the cycle, for courses 2 and 4. The feasibility and Received 25 September 2000, accepted 15 May 2001 toxicity data on 50 patients with multiple myeloma treated Non-infectious pulmonary toxicity after CDEP chemotherapy A Fassas et al 400 with such an approach have been previously reported.4 Nystatin was discontinued in mid-November 1999, after no Eight patients (4%) developed non-infective, pulmonary further change was documented by serial computed tom- toxicity syndrome (seven lung-biopsy proven, one ography (CT) scans. Of note, the patient remained severely suspected). All had been exposed to BCNU during the pre- anemic and thrombocytopenic during the entire post-trans- transplant conditioning. While in five patients the syndrome plant period, requiring frequent red cell and platelet trans- occurred in temporal proximity to BCNU exposure (32– fusions. Despite the stormy post-transplant course and the 98 days after administration), the remaining three patients good control of his disease (with bone marrow plasma- experienced this complication 6–20 months following the cytosis р5%) maintenance chemotherapy consisting of pre-transplant conditioning and interestingly enough within CDEP was administered between 10 and 14 December 1–2. months after treatment with CDEP. The clinical 1999. Additional stem cells were infused at the completion history of these patients is presented. of this chemotherapy. Prophylaxis with itraconazole was initiated, but no prophylaxis against PCP was given. On 10 Patient 1 January 2000, the patient presented with new onset dys- pnea, malaise, non-productive cough and severe hypoxemia A 56-year-old man was diagnosed with nonsecretory mul- (PO2: 55 mmHg at room air). No blood products were tiple myeloma, stage II-A, in January 1999. He had a 20 transfused during the preceding 48 h. No fever was docu- pack-year history of smoking, but quit smoking approxi- mented. Chest CT showed a new infiltrate (Figure 1a). mately 17 years prior to diagnosis. Following two courses Bronchoscopy showed scant clear secretions in otherwise of pulse dexamethasone and mobilization chemotherapy normal airways. BAL failed to reveal any pathogens while consisting of cyclophosphamide 4500 mg/m2 and etoposide the transbronchial biopsy was consistent with chemo- 2000 mg/m2 (CTX/VP16), he received APBSCT on 27 May therapy-induced pneumonitis. Rapid and dramatic sympto- 1999, after conditioning with BCNU/MEL. Delayed matic and objective improvement (as evidenced by resol- engraftment, despite an excellent collection of stem cells, ution of dyspnea, weaning off supplemental oxygen, prompted the infusion of additional stem cells on day +19, correction of hypoxemia and resolution of the radiographic with ANC finally reaching 1500/l on day +31. Evaluation picture) occurred after a brief course of oral corticosteroids. for persistent neutropenic fevers revealed pulmonary nod- Due to the recent history of fungal pneumonia, a relatively ules. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was negative for low dose of methylprednisolone (total 24 mg/day) was pathogens (Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), chosen and symptoms recurred on fast tapering. Reinsti- Legionella, acid fast bacilli, viral and fungal pathogens). tution of corticosteroids and much slower tapering led again Empiric treatment with liposomal amphotericin B was to complete resolution of the symptoms. The patient experi- initiated. A repeat bronchoscopy with BAL was performed enced no subsequent reactivation of fungal pneumonia. for evaluation of hemoptysis on 6 August 1999; silver stains of cytologic specimens were positive for fungal Patient 2 elements consistent with aspergillus. Liposomal nystatin A 53-year-old woman, without prior history of smoking, was introduced with improvement in the radiologic picture. was diagnosed with IgA multiple myeloma, stage III- Figure 1 Improvement of pulmonary infiltrates following treatment with corticosteroids. Upper panel, pre-treatment; lower panel, post-treatment. Bone Marrow Transplantation Non-infectious pulmonary toxicity after CDEP chemotherapy A Fassas et al 401 B, in March 1998. Following three courses of VAD and mobilization chemotherapy with CTX/VP16, she received APBSCT on 6 August 1998, after conditioning with BCNU/MEL. She achieved complete hematologic recovery and a partial remission of the myeloma. In November 1998, she was given CDEP chemotherapy, which was compli- cated by pneumonia with extensive bilateral infiltrates. Bronchoscopy with BAL was performed; cultures of the specimens grew Candida tropicalis only. The same patho- gen, ie Candida tropicalis, was also identified in blood cul- tures. Further maintenance chemotherapy was therefore held. Relapsing disease in September 1999, prompted the administration of a second APBSCT on 14 October 1999, after conditioning with melphalan 200 mg/m2. Prophylaxis with itraconazole was initiated prior to the transplantation