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Background: Anthracycline-containing intensive chemotherapy remains a standard frontline approach for medically fit patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We retrospectively evaluated an exploratory anthracycline-sparing regimen combining fludarabine, cytarabine, and venetoclax (FLA-VEN), with midostaurin added in FLT3-mutated cases, in selected patients with intermediate- or adverse-risk AML. Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 24 consecutive adults with newly diagnosed intermediate- or adverse-risk AML treated between March 2024 and March 2026. Patients with favorable-risk AML were excluded. The primary endpoints were complete remission (CR) and safety. Secondary endpoints included hematologic recovery, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) rate, relapse incidence, transplant-related mortality (TRM), and overall survival (OS). Results: The median age was 49 years (range, 22–64), and 16.7% of patients were aged ≥60 years. FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) mutations were present in 8 patients (33.3%). Following one induction cycle, 21 of 24 patients (87.5%) achieved CR. Among FLT3-ITD-mutated patients, 7 of 8 (87.5%) achieved CR, and FLT3-ITD became undetectable by the available polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragment assay in all seven responders before transplantation. The 60-day mortality rate was 0/24 (0%). Median neutrophil and platelet recovery times were 17 and 21 days, respectively. Twenty-one patients (87.5%) underwent allo-HSCT in first remission. With a database cutoff of 30 August 2026, Kaplan–Meier estimated OS was 83.3% (95% CI, 61.5–93.4%) at 12 months. The longer-term 24-month OS estimate was 54.4% (95% CI, 25.5–76.3%); however, this estimate was imprecise because only five patients remained at risk at 24 months. Median OS was not reached. Conclusions: In this small exploratory cohort, anthracycline-free and G-CSF-free FLA-VEN, with or without midostaurin, was associated with high remission rates, no early mortality, and frequent bridging to allo-HSCT. These findings support prospective controlled evaluation of this anthracycline-sparing strategy.

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a biologically heterogeneous disease characterized by variable clinical outcomes. The introduction of targeted therapies, particularly the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax, has significantly improved treatment outcomes in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) CLL. However, real-world data on the safety and effectiveness of venetoclax-based regimens remain limited. Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study, 147 adult patients with R/R CLL treated with venetoclax between April 2019 and August 2025 were analyzed. Venetoclax was administered as monotherapy or in combination with rituximab, obinutuzumab, or ibrutinib. Adverse events were graded according to CTCAE v4.0, and treatment responses were assessed based on IWCLL criteria. Survival outcomes, including overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results: The median age at venetoclax initiation was 64 years, and patients had received a median of two prior lines of therapy. Combination therapy was administered in 78.9% of patients. The overall response rate was 83.0%, including complete remission in 65.3% of patients. Grade ≥ 3 hematologic adverse events included neutropenia (18.4%), thrombocytopenia (14.3%), and anemia (7.5%). Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) occurred in 28.6% of patients, predominantly during the dose ramp-up phase. At a median follow-up of 61 months, median OS and PFS were both 60 months. Bulky disease was associated with inferior survival outcomes. Conclusions: Venetoclax-based therapy is effective and well tolerated in patients with R/R CLL in a real-world setting. High response rates and durable survival outcomes were observed despite the inclusion of patients with high-risk clinical and biological features. These findings support the use of venetoclax as a key component of modern CLL treatment strategies and highlight the importance of real-world evidence in optimizing patient management.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia and evaluate the nutritional status in geriatric patients hospitalized at the Internal Medicine Clinic. Material and Method: A total of 105 patients (54 female and 51 male) aged ≥ 65 years (mean age: 74 ± 6 years) hospitalized between November 2015 and January 2016 were consecutively enrolled in this prospective and observational clinical study. Muscle mass was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance device, muscle function by walking test, and strength by hand grip test. Patients were diagnosed with sarcopenia, pre-sarcopenia, and nonsarcopenic. Mini nutritional assessment (MNA) test was used to define malnutrition. Results: The number of patients diagnosed with sarcopenia and pre-sarcopenia was 49 (46.7%) and 5 (4.8%), respectively. The prevalence of sarcopenia was higher in female patients than male patients (61.1% vs. 31.4%; p=0.006). The prevalence of malnutrition in patients with sarcopenia and without sarcopenia were 51%, 10%, and the rate of patients at risk of malnutrition with sarcopenia and without sarcopenia was 37%, 49%, respectively. The prevalence of malnutrition was significantly higher in patients with sarcopenia (p

Objective: Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) is a key treatment for hematological malignancies and immune disorders. Cryopreservation of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) ensures transplant success. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a widely used cryoprotectant but can cause infusion-related toxicities. CryoFit® DMSO aims to enhance cell viability while reducing adverse effects. This study evaluates its efficacy and safety in auto-SCT. Material and Method: A single-center, retrospective study was conducted on 80 patients who underwent auto- SCT with CD34+ HSCs cryopreserved using CryoFit® DMSO. Mobilization was performed using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) ± chemotherapy and plerixafor when required. CD34+ cells were quantified via flow cytometry before cryopreservation. Post-transplant engraftment, transfusion needs, and infusion-related side effects were assessed. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0. Results: The median patient age was 58.5 years (range: 19-75) and 53.8% (n=43) of the cohort sample was female. Multiple myeloma was the most common diagnosis (57.5%). The median collected CD34+ cell count was 5.8 x 106/ kg (range: 3.2-14). Post-thaw viability was 98% (range: 90-99.5%). Neutrophil and platelet engraftment occurred at medians of 13 and 17 days, respectively. The median hospitalization duration was 24 days (range: 15-60). Infusion-related adverse effects occurred in 26.3% of patients, primarily nausea/vomiting (15%), all manageable. Conclusion: CryoFit® DMSO effectively preserves CD34+ HSCs with high post-thaw viability and favorable engraftment. Mild infusion-related toxicities were observed but were transient. The results support its continued use in auto-SCT. Further multicenter studies are required to optimize cryopreservation protocols.

Introduction: Cyclosporine‐A (CsA) and post transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) are common agents used for graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis in Haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (haplo‐HCT). However, the impact of CsA cessation timing in the posttransplant setting on clinical outcomes is uncertain. We aimed to investigate the impact of a novel approach that integrated early CsA cessation with PTCy utilization.Patients and Methods: This study was a single arm retrospective study carried out at a tertiary referral hospital hematology and bone marrow transplantation center between 2009 and 2022. The patients who received haplo‐HCT with ATG, PTCy and CsA as GVHD prophylaxis were included. CsA was planned for cessation starting at day 45 to day 60. Acute and chronic GVHD were evaluated and graded. CsA blood concentrations and its impact on acute and chronic GVHD was evaluated.Results: Thirty‐one patients composed of 19 (61.3%) male and 12 (38.7%) female patients with a median age of 31 years (20–58). Busulfan and TBI based conditioning regimens were the most utilized regimens. The majority of donors were first degree relatives. Stem cell origin was peripheral blood for all patients. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of ATG, CsA and PTCy. Acute GVHD was observed in 9 (29%) cases, whereas chronic GVHD was seen in 3 (9.7%) cases, with 2 of them having overlapping GVHD. Age, gender, number of chemotherapy lines, transplant characteristics, infused CD34 cell count, and engraftment durations were similar among patients with and without GVHD. Patients with GVHD had similar 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th week CsA concentrations compared to patients without GVHD (p > 0.05). The presence of GVHD was not associated with worse progression free survival and overall survival (p = 0.6, p = 0.5, respectively). CMV reactivation was more common in the GVHD group.Conclusion: In the current study, we did not find an impact of CsA concentration on GVHD and post‐transplant outcomes in Haplo‐HCT setting. Therefore, together with the use of PTCy, early CsA cessation can be an option; further studies are needed to understand all aspects of this approach.

Objective: We present data of patients with relapsed/ refractory T cell lymphomas treated with brentuximab vedotin in real-world practice. Patients and methods: This study is an observational, multi-center, retrospective study. The data of patients (n: 17) treated with brentuximab vedotin alone from January 2014 until July 2020 in thirteen centers from Turkey were collected. Results: Bv was given as salvage chemotherapy to 17 patient with median age 53. Nine (52.9%) patients had diagnosis of peripheral T cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified; 8 (47.1%) patients had anaplastic large T cell lymphoma. The median follow-up of the cohort was 20 months. Nine (52.9%) patients had complete response, 5 (29.5%) had partial response, 3 (17.6%) had progressive disease. The safety results aligned with the established profile of brentuximab vedotin, included 2 pneumonia and 1 thrombocytopenia with grade 4. Median progression free survival of the cohort was10 months. Brentuximab vedotin cycle and response to brentuximab vedotin therapy were found to have effect on the univariate analysis. Conclusion: In patients with relapsed/ refractory T cell lymphomas, brentuximab vedotin seems to have convincing antitumor activity with favorable safety profile.

INTRODUCTION: Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a well-established consolidation treatment for many hematologic cancers which delivers prolonged survival. A subset of patients’ adequate stem cell harvest is not achievable with a solitary use of granulocyte colony-stimulating agents (G-CSF). Generally, chemomobilization is employed for patients failing G-CSF and its most feared complication febrile neutropenia (FN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here, we aimed to investigate the impact of the FN in chemomobilization on apheresis outcomes and engraftment. One hundred and eighty-three patients with the diagnosis of lymphoma or myeloma who underwent chemomobilization between 2015 and 2020 were included in the study. RESULTS: Forty-three patients experienced FN. All patients received G-CSF. All myeloma patients were mobilized with 4 g/m² cyclophosphamide, but it was heterogeneous for lymphoma patients. The precollection blood counts, harvested CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs)/kg, apheresis count, and engraftment durations were recorded. Preapheresis leukocyte and platelet were lower in the FN group (P = 0,004 and P = 0,001). Peripheral CD34 HSCs and total harvested CD34 HSCs were similar among groups (P = 0.25 and P = 0.9). More apheresis was needed in the FN group, but it was not significant (P = 0.07). Undergoing ASCT was similar (P = 0.7); however, platelet and neutrophil engraftment durations were slower in the FN group (P = 0.05 and P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Harvesting sufficient CD34+ HSCs from patients with FN is still feasible; however, FN treatment should begin promptly, and further apheresis sessions may be required.

This study was conducted to retrospectively investigate the pregnancy outcomes of patients who underwent stem cell transplantation (SCT). We also aimed at determining the reasons for avoiding pregnancy despite prolonged remission. The study population consisted of patients who became pregnant after autologous or allogeneic SCT at Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtarslan Oncology Hospital between 2009 and 2020 for hematologic diseases. Data from 83 patients who had undergone allogeneic or autologous SCT were available for analysis. A total of 18 pregnancies occurred in 14 of these patients. To compare pregnancy outcomes, pregnant patients who received care at Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Maternity Hospital were selected as the control group. No pregnancy occurred in 69 of the patients whose data were analyzed. Of these 69 patients, 48 (69.6%) did not want to become pregnant. The most common reason for not wanting a pregnancy was due to the fact that the patient was not married [21 patients (30.4%)]. The pregnancy rate was higher in the HL group than in other hematologic malignancies [8 patients (57.1%)]. Twelve (85.7%) of the patients who became pregnant did so after autologous SCT and 2 (14.3%) after allogeneic SCT. The cumulative incidence of obstetric complications was higher in pregnancies after SCT than in the control group, and the prevalence of low birth weight was observed more frequently. Patients who became pregnant after SCT have a higher rate of pregnancy complications. However, these patients achieve similar live birth rates as the healthy population. Many patients have concerns about pregnancy and should be counseled appropriately.

The incidence and prevalence of obesity are increasing rapidly throughout the world. Various methods have been developed to evaluate obesity. A body shape index (aBSI) is based on waist circumference adjusted for height and weight. High BSI values have been found to be associated with early mortality. It is known that obesity is associated with inflammation and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we examined the relationship between aBSI, inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 and cardiovascular disease in patients with stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease. Methods. One hundred twenty patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional observational study. The mean aBSI value was 0.0870. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the mean value of aBSI as there is no currently defined cut-off value for BSI. Those with aBSI ≤ 0.087 were allocated to group I, and those with aBSI> 0.0870 to group II. Results. Patients in group II had more cardiovascular disease than in group I. In partial Spearman correlation analysis, the presence of cardiovascular disease was correlated with aBSI (r = 0.36, p = 0.0001). aBSI higher than 0.0986 predicted cardiovascular disease in our cohort: the area under the curve (CI 95%) for aBSI was 0.715 (0.602-0.829). Conclusions. The relationship between aBSI and inflammation could not be shown. But we found that high aBSI is associated with increased cardiovascular disease. Further studies are needed to recommend the routine clinical use of aBSI as a cardiovascular disease marker.