Dina Khalaf
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Previous Organizations / Institutes
The organizations / institutes from the scholar's other articles in the past ten years
Research Subjects
Dina Khalaf has a total of 86 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
Lisa Chodirker
4 shared publications- Alejandro Garcia-Horton
Department of Oncology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
3 shared publications - Brian Leber
McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
3 shared publications - Lee Mozessohn
Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3 shared publications - Liying Zhang
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ohio, Canada
3 shared publications - Alexandre Mamedov
Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada
2 shared publications
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 25 August 2026
- Published by Elsevier in Blood Neoplasia
- Vol. 3 (4)
A comparison of overall survival and quality of life in patients with MDS treated with azacytidine vs decitabine
- 25 August 2026
- Published by Elsevier in Blood Neoplasia
- Vol. 3 (4)
Open AccessA comparison of overall survival and quality of life in patients with MDS treated with azacytidine vs decitabine
- Open Access
- 18 February 2025
- Published by MDPI AG in Current Oncology
- Vol. 32 (2) , 118
Outcomes of Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate real-world clinical outcomes and transplant-related complications of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Methods: This was a single-centre, retrospective analysis of relapsed and refractory (R/R) HL patients who received an alloSCT between 1 January 2016 and 29 February 2024 in Hamilton, Ontario. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), non-relapse mortality (NRM), and graft-versus-host disease/relapse-free survival (GRFS). Results: Twenty-one patients were identified, with thirteen (62%) pre-treated with programmed death 1 (PD-1) blockade with either nivolumab or pembrolizumab. Seventeen (81%) patients underwent related haploidentical donor transplants, while four (19%) patients received a matched unrelated donor transplant. The 2-year OS and PFS rates were 79% (95% CI: 53–92%) and 63% (95% CI: 37–81%), respectively. Trends towards improved OS, PFS, NRM, and GRFS in PD-1-inhibitor-exposed patients were observed. All PD-1-inhibitor-exposed patients who were in complete remission proceeding to alloSCT remained alive at the last follow-up visit. Among the nine patients in partial remission at the time of alloSCT, three deaths were reported, with a 2-year OS of 61%. Conclusions: Our outcome data of a single-centre, heavily pre-treated cohort of Canadian patients confirm that alloSCT with post-transplant cyclophosphamide-based immunosuppression, which has been associated with improvements in PFS, remains a safe and feasible treatment option for patients with R/R HL in the era of checkpoint inhibitor use.
- 18 February 2025
- Published by MDPI AG in Current Oncology
- Vol. 32 (2) , 118
Open AccessOutcomes of Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate real-world clinical outcomes and transplant-related complications of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Methods: This was a single-centre, retrospective analysis of relapsed and refractory (R/R) HL patients who received an alloSCT between 1 January 2016 and 29 February 2024 in Hamilton, Ontario. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), non-relapse mortality (NRM), and graft-versus-host disease/relapse-free survival (GRFS). Results: Twenty-one patients were identified, with thirteen (62%) pre-treated with programmed death 1 (PD-1) blockade with either nivolumab or pembrolizumab. Seventeen (81%) patients underwent related haploidentical donor transplants, while four (19%) patients received a matched unrelated donor transplant. The 2-year OS and PFS rates were 79% (95% CI: 53–92%) and 63% (95% CI: 37–81%), respectively. Trends towards improved OS, PFS, NRM, and GRFS in PD-1-inhibitor-exposed patients were observed. All PD-1-inhibitor-exposed patients who were in complete remission proceeding to alloSCT remained alive at the last follow-up visit. Among the nine patients in partial remission at the time of alloSCT, three deaths were reported, with a 2-year OS of 61%. Conclusions: Our outcome data of a single-centre, heavily pre-treated cohort of Canadian patients confirm that alloSCT with post-transplant cyclophosphamide-based immunosuppression, which has been associated with improvements in PFS, remains a safe and feasible treatment option for patients with R/R HL in the era of checkpoint inhibitor use.
- Open Access
- 14 November 2024
- Published by Elsevier in Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
- Vol. 31 (2) , 77.e1-77.e20
Early Mixed Donor Chimerism is a Strong Negative Prognostic Indicator in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant for AML and MDS
- 14 November 2024
- Published by Elsevier in Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
- Vol. 31 (2) , 77.e1-77.e20
Open AccessEarly Mixed Donor Chimerism is a Strong Negative Prognostic Indicator in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant for AML and MDS
- Open Access
- 1 April 2023
- Published by American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in JCO Oncology Practice
- Vol. 19 (4) , e559-e569
Impact of Frailty on Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs of Care in Myelodysplastic Syndromes
PURPOSE: The role of frailty in affecting survival in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is increasingly recognized. Despite this, a paucity of data exists on the association between frailty and other clinically meaningful outcomes including health care resource utilization and costs of care. METHODS: We linked the Ontario subset of the prospective Canadian MDS registry (including baseline patient/disease characteristics) to population-based health system administrative databases. Baseline frailty was calculated from the 15-item MDS-specific frailty scale (FS-15). Primary outcomes were public health care utilization and 30-day standardized costs of care (2019 Canadian dollars) determined for each phase of disease (initial, continuation, and terminal phases). Negative binomial regression was used to assess the association between frailty and health care costs with Poisson regression to explore predictors of hospitalization. RESULTS: Among 461 patients with complete FS-15 scores, 374 (81.1%) had a hospitalization with a mean length of stay of 10.6 days. Controlling for age, comorbidities, Revised International Prognostic Scoring System, and transfusion dependence, the FS-15 was independently associated with hospitalization during the initial ( P = .02) and continuation ( P = .01) phases but not the terminal disease phase ( P = .09). The mean 30-day standardized cost per patient was $8,499 (median, $6,295; interquartile range, $2,798-$11,996), largely driven by cancer clinic visits and hospitalization. On multivariable analysis, the FS-15 was independently associated with costs of care during the initial disease phase ( P = .02). CONCLUSION: We demonstrate an association between frailty and clinically meaningful outcomes including hospitalization and costs of care in patients with MDS. Our results suggest that baseline frailty may help to inform patients and physicians of expected outcomes.
- 1 April 2023
- Published by American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in JCO Oncology Practice
- Vol. 19 (4) , e559-e569
Open AccessImpact of Frailty on Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs of Care in Myelodysplastic Syndromes
PURPOSE: The role of frailty in affecting survival in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is increasingly recognized. Despite this, a paucity of data exists on the association between frailty and other clinically meaningful outcomes including health care resource utilization and costs of care. METHODS: We linked the Ontario subset of the prospective Canadian MDS registry (including baseline patient/disease characteristics) to population-based health system administrative databases. Baseline frailty was calculated from the 15-item MDS-specific frailty scale (FS-15). Primary outcomes were public health care utilization and 30-day standardized costs of care (2019 Canadian dollars) determined for each phase of disease (initial, continuation, and terminal phases). Negative binomial regression was used to assess the association between frailty and health care costs with Poisson regression to explore predictors of hospitalization. RESULTS: Among 461 patients with complete FS-15 scores, 374 (81.1%) had a hospitalization with a mean length of stay of 10.6 days. Controlling for age, comorbidities, Revised International Prognostic Scoring System, and transfusion dependence, the FS-15 was independently associated with hospitalization during the initial ( P = .02) and continuation ( P = .01) phases but not the terminal disease phase ( P = .09). The mean 30-day standardized cost per patient was $8,499 (median, $6,295; interquartile range, $2,798-$11,996), largely driven by cancer clinic visits and hospitalization. On multivariable analysis, the FS-15 was independently associated with costs of care during the initial disease phase ( P = .02). CONCLUSION: We demonstrate an association between frailty and clinically meaningful outcomes including hospitalization and costs of care in patients with MDS. Our results suggest that baseline frailty may help to inform patients and physicians of expected outcomes.
- Open Access
- 5 November 2020
- Published by American Society of Hematology in Blood
- Vol. 136 (Supplement) , 41-43
Fatigue, However Measured, Continues to Refine Prognosis in Higher Risk MDS: An MDS-CAN Study
Background: The incorporation of patient-reported outcomes with traditional disease risk classification, was found to strengthen survival prediction in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). A recently reported model, FA-IPSS(h), found that patients' reported fatigue, assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life-Core 30 (QLQ-C30), among higher-risk IPSS population, further stratifies them into distinct sub-groups with different survival outcomes (Efficace et al, 2018). Compared to the IPSS, the revised IPSS (IPSS-R) is more refined in prognostic assessment and an IPSS-R score of > 3.5 may identify higher risk disease (Pfeilstocker et al, 2016). The Edmonton Symptom Self Assessment Scale (ESAS) Global Fatigue Scale (GFS), is a single-item fatigue rating scale (0-10, with 10 being the highest degree), which has been previously recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network to screen for fatigue in all cancer populations. Aims: (1) to validate the FA-IPSS(h), among the Canadian MDS registry (2) investigate whether a modified index, integrating higher risk by IPSS-R with patient reported fatigue according to the GFS, is able to identify individual subgroups with divergent overall survival (OS). Methods: All adult patients diagnosed with MDS with an IPSS-R score >3.5 within 6 months before the date of registration were eligible for this analysis. Fatigue was assessed both by the QLQ-C30 questionnaire and the GFS. Frailty was assessed by the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) 9 point Rockwood clinical frailty scale. Survival was calculated using standard Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: This analysis included 331 patients. Median age was 73 years (range, 30-98 years), 65.7% were male, median blast % was 6% (range, 0-30), median IPSS-R score was 5.2 (range, 3.5-10) and 55% had high and intermediate-2 (Int-2) IPSS risk, 68% had high and very high IPSS-R risk disease, 66% were exposed to a hypomethylating agent. Median fatigue scores increased with Rockwood frailty scores. The median QLQ-C30 fatigue score was 33 (interquartile range (IQR), 22-55.6) and 4 (IQR, 2-6) by the GFS with 59% recording high fatigue (>4). At a median follow-up of 17 months (IQR, 9-30 months), 233 deaths were observed. The actuarial median OS was 19.3 months (95% CI, 16.5-21.7). We applied the FA-IPSS(h) using QLQ-C30 fatigue cutoffs of 45 (figure 1a) and found a significant difference in OS (p3.5 + Low Fatigue (3.5 + High Fatigue (≥45) (n=96). We found a significant difference in OS between these 2 groups, median OS 19.5 months (95% CI, 17.2-24.3) in group A versus 15.2 months (95% CI, 11.9-22.0) in group B (p=0.02) (figure 1b). We found similar results with these refinements, using the QLQ-C30 cutoff of 33 (the median in our patient population) (p4), was able to distinguish OS using the IPSS (p3.5 (p=0.005) (figure 1d). Conclusions: We were able to externally validate the FA-IPSS (h) using a threshold QLQ-C30 fatigue score of 45, as originally described and 33 (Canadian median), using both the IPSS and IPSS-R (score >3.5) classifications to define higher risk MDS. The easier to deploy ESAS GFS score of >4 further discriminates survival using the IPSS and IPSS-R. This emphasizes the power of self-reported fatigue at refining OS predictions in higher risk MDS and further bolsters the importance of considering patient related outcomes in global assessments. Disclosures: Geddes: Taiho: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Keating:Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Hoffman La Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Servier: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Shire: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Taiho: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Leber:Lundbeck: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Otsuka Pharmaceutical: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS/Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Takeda/Palladin: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Treadwell: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;...
- 5 November 2020
- Published by American Society of Hematology in Blood
- Vol. 136 (Supplement) , 41-43
Open AccessFatigue, However Measured, Continues to Refine Prognosis in Higher Risk MDS: An MDS-CAN Study
Background: The incorporation of patient-reported outcomes with traditional disease risk classification, was found to strengthen survival prediction in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). A recently reported model, FA-IPSS(h), found that patients' reported fatigue, assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life-Core 30 (QLQ-C30), among higher-risk IPSS population, further stratifies them into distinct sub-groups with different survival outcomes (Efficace et al, 2018). Compared to the IPSS, the revised IPSS (IPSS-R) is more refined in prognostic assessment and an IPSS-R score of > 3.5 may identify higher risk disease (Pfeilstocker et al, 2016). The Edmonton Symptom Self Assessment Scale (ESAS) Global Fatigue Scale (GFS), is a single-item fatigue rating scale (0-10, with 10 being the highest degree), which has been previously recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network to screen for fatigue in all cancer populations. Aims: (1) to validate the FA-IPSS(h), among the Canadian MDS registry (2) investigate whether a modified index, integrating higher risk by IPSS-R with patient reported fatigue according to the GFS, is able to identify individual subgroups with divergent overall survival (OS). Methods: All adult patients diagnosed with MDS with an IPSS-R score >3.5 within 6 months before the date of registration were eligible for this analysis. Fatigue was assessed both by the QLQ-C30 questionnaire and the GFS. Frailty was assessed by the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) 9 point Rockwood clinical frailty scale. Survival was calculated using standard Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: This analysis included 331 patients. Median age was 73 years (range, 30-98 years), 65.7% were male, median blast % was 6% (range, 0-30), median IPSS-R score was 5.2 (range, 3.5-10) and 55% had high and intermediate-2 (Int-2) IPSS risk, 68% had high and very high IPSS-R risk disease, 66% were exposed to a hypomethylating agent. Median fatigue scores increased with Rockwood frailty scores. The median QLQ-C30 fatigue score was 33 (interquartile range (IQR), 22-55.6) and 4 (IQR, 2-6) by the GFS with 59% recording high fatigue (>4). At a median follow-up of 17 months (IQR, 9-30 months), 233 deaths were observed. The actuarial median OS was 19.3 months (95% CI, 16.5-21.7). We applied the FA-IPSS(h) using QLQ-C30 fatigue cutoffs of 45 (figure 1a) and found a significant difference in OS (p3.5 + Low Fatigue (3.5 + High Fatigue (≥45) (n=96). We found a significant difference in OS between these 2 groups, median OS 19.5 months (95% CI, 17.2-24.3) in group A versus 15.2 months (95% CI, 11.9-22.0) in group B (p=0.02) (figure 1b). We found similar results with these refinements, using the QLQ-C30 cutoff of 33 (the median in our patient population) (p4), was able to distinguish OS using the IPSS (p3.5 (p=0.005) (figure 1d). Conclusions: We were able to externally validate the FA-IPSS (h) using a threshold QLQ-C30 fatigue score of 45, as originally described and 33 (Canadian median), using both the IPSS and IPSS-R (score >3.5) classifications to define higher risk MDS. The easier to deploy ESAS GFS score of >4 further discriminates survival using the IPSS and IPSS-R. This emphasizes the power of self-reported fatigue at refining OS predictions in higher risk MDS and further bolsters the importance of considering patient related outcomes in global assessments. Disclosures: Geddes: Taiho: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Keating:Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Hoffman La Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Servier: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Shire: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Taiho: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Leber:Lundbeck: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Otsuka Pharmaceutical: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS/Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Takeda/Palladin: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Treadwell: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;...
- Open Access
- 23 July 2019
- Published by Wiley in JIMD Reports
- Vol. 49 (1) , 37-42
A case of secondary acute myeloid leukemia on a background of glycogen storage disease with chronic neutropenia treated with granulocyte colony stimulating factor
Congenital neutropenias due to mutations in ELANE, SBDS or HAX1 or in the setting of glycogen storage disease (GSD) which is caused by SLC37A4 mutation, often require prolonged granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) therapy to prevent recurrent infections and hospital admission. There has been emerging evidence that prolonged exposure to G-CSF in cases with congenital neutropenia other than GSD is associated with transformation to myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia.
- 23 July 2019
- Published by Wiley in JIMD Reports
- Vol. 49 (1) , 37-42
Open AccessA case of secondary acute myeloid leukemia on a background of glycogen storage disease with chronic neutropenia treated with granulocyte colony stimulating factor
Congenital neutropenias due to mutations in ELANE, SBDS or HAX1 or in the setting of glycogen storage disease (GSD) which is caused by SLC37A4 mutation, often require prolonged granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) therapy to prevent recurrent infections and hospital admission. There has been emerging evidence that prolonged exposure to G-CSF in cases with congenital neutropenia other than GSD is associated with transformation to myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia.
- Open Access
- 16 November 2012
- Published by American Society of Hematology in Blood
- Vol. 120 (21) , 699
The Independent Effects of Frailty and Comorbidity On the Quality of Life in MDS Patients
Abstract 699
- 16 November 2012
- Published by American Society of Hematology in Blood
- Vol. 120 (21) , 699
Open AccessThe Independent Effects of Frailty and Comorbidity On the Quality of Life in MDS Patients
Abstract 699