Original Article

Split Viewer

Blood Res 2023; 58(2):

Published online June 30, 2023

https://doi.org/10.5045/br.2023.2023066

© The Korean Society of Hematology

A survey evaluating hematology physicians’ perspectives on central nervous system prophylaxis

Ufuk Demirci1, Meltem Kurt Yüksel2, Hakkı Onur Kırkızlar1, Elif Birtaş Ateşoğlu3, Özgür Mehtap4, Ozan Salim5, Ahmet Muzaffer Demir1, Olga Meltem Akay3

Department of Haematology, 1Trakya University, Medical Faculty, Edirne, 2Ankara University, Medical Faculty, Ankara, 3Koç University, Medical Faculty, İstanbul, 4Kocaeli University, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli, 5Akdeniz University, Medical Faculty, Antalya, Turkey

Correspondence to : Ufuk Demirci, M.D.
Department of Haematology, Trakya University, Medical Faculty, Edirne 22030, Turkey
E-mail: ufukdemirci3232@gmail.com

Received: April 6, 2023; Revised: May 14, 2023; Accepted: May 17, 2023

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Background
Central nervous system (CNS) prophylactic options for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are administered differently in most centers. Unfortunately, there is still not a consensus on which patients, which regimen, for how many cycles, and when prophylaxis should be administered. Thus, this remains an unmet clinical need.
Methods
We administered a survey study under the Lymphoma Scientific Subcommittee of the Turkish Society of Haematology. The questions were directed to hematologists through the monkey survey system.
Results
The CNS International Prognostic Index score is a factor that clinicians frequently use when deciding on prophylaxis and is considered reliable. Although the perspective on anatomical risk factors is similar to that reported in the literature, breast involvement is still considered a critical risk factor in Turkey. Participants considered double or triple hit and double/triple expressor lymphoma as significant risk factors. Various methods have been used to demonstrate CNS relapses. Intrathecal prophylaxis is the preferred method.
Conclusion
There are diverse methodological and technical ideas. The controversial results reported in the literature on the effectiveness of CNS prophylaxis may explain this finding. Although CNS prophylactic methods for patients with DLBCL are still controversial, the effect of secondary CNS involvement on survival is inevitable. Standard practices followed by national guidelines may be effective in reducing the variety of application methods and creating homogeneous results for efficacy and survival follow-up studies.


Keywords: Prophylaxis, Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, High dosage methotrexate

Article

Original Article

Blood Res 2023; 58(2): 99-104

Published online June 30, 2023 https://doi.org/10.5045/br.2023.2023066

Copyright © The Korean Society of Hematology.

A survey evaluating hematology physicians’ perspectives on central nervous system prophylaxis

Ufuk Demirci1, Meltem Kurt Yüksel2, Hakkı Onur Kırkızlar1, Elif Birtaş Ateşoğlu3, Özgür Mehtap4, Ozan Salim5, Ahmet Muzaffer Demir1, Olga Meltem Akay3

Department of Haematology, 1Trakya University, Medical Faculty, Edirne, 2Ankara University, Medical Faculty, Ankara, 3Koç University, Medical Faculty, İstanbul, 4Kocaeli University, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli, 5Akdeniz University, Medical Faculty, Antalya, Turkey

Correspondence to:Ufuk Demirci, M.D.
Department of Haematology, Trakya University, Medical Faculty, Edirne 22030, Turkey
E-mail: ufukdemirci3232@gmail.com

Received: April 6, 2023; Revised: May 14, 2023; Accepted: May 17, 2023

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Background
Central nervous system (CNS) prophylactic options for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are administered differently in most centers. Unfortunately, there is still not a consensus on which patients, which regimen, for how many cycles, and when prophylaxis should be administered. Thus, this remains an unmet clinical need.
Methods
We administered a survey study under the Lymphoma Scientific Subcommittee of the Turkish Society of Haematology. The questions were directed to hematologists through the monkey survey system.
Results
The CNS International Prognostic Index score is a factor that clinicians frequently use when deciding on prophylaxis and is considered reliable. Although the perspective on anatomical risk factors is similar to that reported in the literature, breast involvement is still considered a critical risk factor in Turkey. Participants considered double or triple hit and double/triple expressor lymphoma as significant risk factors. Various methods have been used to demonstrate CNS relapses. Intrathecal prophylaxis is the preferred method.
Conclusion
There are diverse methodological and technical ideas. The controversial results reported in the literature on the effectiveness of CNS prophylaxis may explain this finding. Although CNS prophylactic methods for patients with DLBCL are still controversial, the effect of secondary CNS involvement on survival is inevitable. Standard practices followed by national guidelines may be effective in reducing the variety of application methods and creating homogeneous results for efficacy and survival follow-up studies.

Keywords: Prophylaxis, Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, High dosage methotrexate

Fig 1.

Figure 1.Reasons that physicians preferred CNS prophylaxis.
Blood Research 2023; 58: 99-104https://doi.org/10.5045/br.2023.2023066

Fig 2.

Figure 2.Preferred methods to detect CNS relapse.
Blood Research 2023; 58: 99-104https://doi.org/10.5045/br.2023.2023066

Fig 3.

Figure 3.Physicians’ choices for prophylaxis methods.
Blood Research 2023; 58: 99-104https://doi.org/10.5045/br.2023.2023066

Fig 4.

Figure 4.Physicians’ HD-MTX protocol options.
Blood Research 2023; 58: 99-104https://doi.org/10.5045/br.2023.2023066

Fig 5.

Figure 5.Number of courses for prophylaxis treatments.
Blood Research 2023; 58: 99-104https://doi.org/10.5045/br.2023.2023066
Blood Res
Volume 59 2024

Stats or Metrics

Share this article on

  • line

Related articles in BR

Blood Research

pISSN 2287-979X
eISSN 2288-0011
qr-code Download