Wes (Janice) Brown

All Publications

• Incidence and Impact of Cytomegalovirus in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients at a Single Center over the Last Decade Johnsrud, J. J., Nguyen, I. T., Domingo, W., Tang, Y., Raval, A., Brown, J. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2020: S346–S347

  View details for Web of Science ID 000516887900529

• Letermovir Prophylaxis in Patients at High Risk for CMV Disease Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Nguyen, I. T., Johnsrud, J. J., Brown, J., Domingo, W. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2020: S347–S348

  View details for Web of Science ID 000516887900531

• Letermovir Prophylaxis Decreases Burden of CMV in Patients at High Risk for CMV Disease Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplant. Biology of blood and marrow transplantation : journal of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Johnsrud, J. J., Nguyen, I. T., Domingo, W. n., Narasimhan, B. n., Efron, B. n., Brown, J. W. 2020

  Abstract

  Despite effective therapies, CMV continues to have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients. At particular risk are recipients of alternative grafts such as umbilical cord blood (UCB), haploidentical transplants (haplo), or patients conditioned with T-cell depleting regimens such as anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG). With the approval of letermovir, its impact on high risk patients is of particular interest. To evaluate the impact of letermovir prophylaxis at our center we performed a retrospective analysis of 114 high risk patients who received letermovir as prophylaxis (LET PPX) between January 2018 through December 2019, including 30 UCB and 22 haplo recipients, compared to 637 historical controls with comparable risk between January 2013 and December 2019. By D+100, letermovir prophylaxis significantly decreased the incidence of both CMV DNAemia compared to controls (45.37% vs 74.1%; P <.001) and clinically significant CMV infection (12.04% vs 48.82%; P <.001). The impact of LET PPX was even more profound on the incidence of clinically significant CMV infection (CSI) defined as the administration of antiviral therapy either as preemptive therapy for CMV DNAemia or treatment for CMV disease. CSI was significantly lower in haplo recipients on LET PPX compared to controls (13.64% vs 73.33%; P= .02) and UCB recipients on LET PPX compared to controls (3.45% vs 37.5%; P <.001). No patients on LET primary PPX developed CMV disease in any treatment group by D+100, compared to controls (0% vs 5.34%, respectively; P= .006). Patients on LET PPX had fewer hospitalizations involving initiation of anti-CMV therapy compared to controls (0.93% vs 15.23%, respectively). Our analysis of the largest cohort of patients at high risk for CMV reactivation published to date demonstrates that letermovir prophylaxis significantly reduces the number of patients who receive CMV-active antiviral therapy for either DNAemia or disease due to CMV.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.bbmt.2020.07.002

  View details for PubMedID 32653623

• Non-Genotoxic Anti-CD117 Antibody Conditioning Results in Successful Hematopoietic Stem Cell Engraftment in Patients with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Agarwal, R., Dvorak, C. C., Kwon, H., Long-Boyle, J. R., Prohaska, S. S., Brown, J. W., Le, A., Guttman-Klein, A., Weissman, I. L., Cowan, M. J., Logan, A. C., Weinberg, K. I., Parkman, R., Roncarolo, M., Shizuru, J. A. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2019

  View details for DOI 10.1182/blood-2019-126239

  View details for Web of Science ID 000518218500805

• Eremothecium coryli bloodstream infection in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia: first case report of human infection DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE Multani, A., Rustagi, A., Epstein, D. J., Gomez, C. A., Budvytiene, I., Banaei, N., Brown, J. M., Liu, A. Y. 2019; 95 (1): 77–79

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2019.03.011

  View details for Web of Science ID 000483427000016

• Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analyses of dose selection for rezafungin prophylaxis against invasive fungal infections in blood and marrow transplantation Brown, J., Lakota, E. A., Flanagan, S., Sandison, T., Ong, V., Rubino, C. M. NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. 2019: 430

  View details for Web of Science ID 000487707800537

• Eremothecium coryli bloodstream infection in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia: first case report of human infection. Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease Multani, A. n., Rustagi, A. n., Epstein, D. J., Gomez, C. A., Budvytiene, I. n., Banaei, N. n., Brown, J. M., Liu, A. Y. 2019

  Abstract

  Eremothecium coryli is a dimorphic fungus of the Saccharomycetes class. While species within this class are known to cause human infection, Eremothecium species have previously only been known as phytopathogens and never been isolated from a human sample. Here, we report the first known case of human E. coryli infection.

  View details for PubMedID 31005402

• Evaluation of Romyelocel-L Myeloid Progenitor Cells to Decrease Infections in De Novo AML Patients Receiving High-Dose Ara-C-Based Induction Therapy Ravandi, F., Abboud, C. N., Akard, L., Gill, S. I., Hsu, J. W., Kambhampati, S., Khan, I., Liu, D., Stock, W., Brown, J. W., Bashey, A., Borthakur, G., DiNardo, C. D., Holland, H., Kadia, T. M., Kantarjian, H. M., Morris, L. E., Solomon, S. R., Mamelok, R., Panuganti, S., Van Syoc, R., Wong, A., Zimmerman, D., Solh, M. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2018

  View details for DOI 10.1182/blood-2018-99-117231

  View details for Web of Science ID 000454837604078

• Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Analyses to Provide Rezafungin Prophylaxis Dose Selection for Prevention of Invasive Fungal Infections for Bone Marrow Transplant Patients Lakota, E. A., Flanagan, S., Sandison, T., Brown, J. W., Rubino, C. M. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2018

  View details for DOI 10.1182/blood-2018-99-110300

  View details for Web of Science ID 000454837606063

• Inactivated varicella zoster vaccine in autologous haemopoietic stem-cell transplant recipients: an international, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial LANCET Winston, D. J., Mullane, K. M., Cornely, O. A., Boeckh, M. J., Brown, J., Pergam, S. A., Trociukas, I., Zak, P., Craig, M. D., Papanicolaou, G. A., Velez, J. D., Panse, J., Hurtado, K., Fernsler, D. A., Stek, J. E., Pang, L., Su, S., Zhao, Y., Chan, I. F., Kaplan, S. S., Parrino, J., Lee, I., Popmihajlov, Z., Annunziato, P. W., Arvin, A., V212 Protocol 001 Trial Team 2018; 391 (10135): 2116–27

  Abstract

  Recipients of autologous haemopoietic stem-cell transplants (auto-HSCT) have an increased risk of herpes zoster and herpes zoster-related complications. The aim of this study was to establish the efficacy and safety of an inactivated varicella zoster vaccine for the prevention of herpes zoster after auto-HSCT.In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial, participants were recruited from 135 medical centres (ie, stem-cell transplant centres and hospitals) in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Patients were eligible if they were aged 18 years or older, scheduled to receive an auto-HSCT within 60 days of enrolment, and had a history of varicella infection or were seropositive for antibodies to varicella zoster virus, or both. Exclusion criteria included a history of herpes zoster within the previous year of enrolment, and intended antiviral prophylaxis for longer than 6 months after transplantation. Participants were randomly assigned according to a central randomisation schedule generated by the trial statistician, to receive either the inactivated-virus vaccine from one of three consistency lots, a high-antigen lot, or placebo, stratified by age (<50 vs ≥50 years) and intended duration of antiviral prophylaxis after transplantation (≤3 months vs >3 to ≤6 months). Participants, investigators, trial staff, and the funder's clinical and laboratory personnel were masked to group assignment. Participants were given four doses of inactivated vaccine or placebo, with the first dose 5-60 days before auto-HSCT, and the second, third, and fourth doses at about 30, 60, and 90 days after transplantation. The primary efficacy endpoint was the incidence of herpes zoster, confirmed by PCR or adjudication by a masked clinical committee, or both, assessed in all participants randomly assigned to the vaccine consistency lot group or placebo group who received at least one dose of vaccine and had auto-HSCT. Safety was assessed in all randomised participants who received at least one dose of vaccine and had follow-up data. A prespecified vaccine efficacy success criterion required the lower bound of the 95% CI be higher than 25% for the relative reduction of the hazard ratio of herpes zoster infection in participants given the vaccine from one of the consistency lots compared with those given placebo. This trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01229267) and EudraCT (2010-020150-34).Between Dec 7, 2010, and April 25, 2013, 560 participants were randomly assigned to the vaccine consistency lot group, 106 to the high-antigen lot group, and 564 to the placebo group. 249 (44%) of patients in the vaccine consistency lot group, 35 (33%) in the high-antigen lot group, and 220 (39%) in the placebo group discontinued before study end, mostly because of death or withdrawal. 51 participants were excluded from the primary efficacy endpoint analyses because they did not undergo auto-HSCT or were not vaccinated, or both (22 [4%] in the vaccine consistency lot group, and 29 [5%] in the placebo group). Mean follow-up for efficacy was 2·4 years (SD 1·3) in the vaccine consistency lot group and 2·3 years (SD 1·3) in the placebo group. 42 (8%) of 538 participants in the vaccine consistency lot group (32·9 per 1000 person-years) and 113 (21%) of 535 in the placebo group (91·9 per 1000 person-years) had a confirmed case of herpes zoster. The estimated vaccine efficacy was 63·8% (95% CI 48·4-74·6), meeting the pre-specified success criterion. For the combined vaccine groups versus the placebo group, the proportion of patients with serious adverse events (216 [33%] of 657 vs 181 [33%] of 554; risk difference 0·2%, 95% CI -5·1 to 5·5) and serious vaccine-related adverse events (five [1%] vs five [1%]; risk difference 0·1%, -1·4 to 1·1) were similar. Vaccine-related injection-site adverse events occurred more frequently in participants given vaccine than those given placebo (191 [29%] vs 36 [7%]; risk difference 22·6%, 95% CI 18·5-26·6; p<0·0001).This study shows for the first time in a large phase 3 trial that early vaccination of auto-HSCT recipients during the peri-transplant period can be effective for the prevention of an opportunistic infection like herpes zoster and that the vaccine is well tolerated.Merck & Co., Inc.

  View details for PubMedID 29856344

• Echinocandin prophylaxis in patients undergoing haematopoietic cell transplantation and other treatments for haematological malignancies. The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy Epstein, D. J., Seo, S. K., Brown, J. M., Papanicolaou, G. A. 2018; 73 (suppl_1): i60–i72

  Abstract

  Antifungal prophylaxis is the standard of care for patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy for haematological malignancy or haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Prophylaxis with azoles reduces invasive fungal infections and may reduce mortality. However, breakthrough infections still occur, and the use of azoles is sometimes complicated by pharmacokinetic variability, drug interactions, adverse events and other issues. Echinocandins are highly active against Candida species, including some organisms resistant to azoles, and have some clinical activity against Aspergillus species as well. Although currently approved echinocandins require daily intravenous administration, the drugs have a favourable safety profile and more predictable pharmacokinetics than mould-active azoles. Clinical data support the efficacy and safety of echinocandins for antifungal prophylaxis in haematology and HCT patients, though data are less robust than for azoles. Notably, sparse evidence exists supporting the use of echinocandins as antifungal prophylaxis for patients with significant graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) after HCT. Two drugs that target (1,3)-β-d-glucan are in development, including an oral glucan synthase inhibitor and an echinocandin with unique pharmacokinetics permitting subcutaneous and weekly administration. Echinocandins are a reasonable alternative to azoles and other agents for antifungal prophylaxis in patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy for haematological malignancy or those receiving HCT, excluding those with significant GvHD.

  View details for PubMedID 29304213

• Letermovir Prophylaxis for Cytomegalovirus in Hematopoietic-Cell Transplantation NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE Marty, F. M., Ljungman, P., Chemaly, R. F., Maertens, J., Dadwal, S. S., Duarte, R. F., Haider, S., Ullmann, A. J., Katayama, Y., Brown, J., Mullane, K. M., Boeckh, M., Blumberg, E. A., Einsele, H., Snydman, D. R., Kanda, Y., DiNubile, M. J., Teal, V. L., Wan, H., Murata, Y., Kartsonis, N. A., Leavitt, R. Y., Badshah, C. 2017; 377 (25): 2433–44

  Abstract

  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection remains a common complication after allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation. Letermovir is an antiviral drug that inhibits the CMV-terminase complex.In this phase 3, double-blind trial, we randomly assigned CMV-seropositive transplant recipients, 18 years of age or older, in a 2:1 ratio to receive letermovir or placebo, administered orally or intravenously, through week 14 after transplantation; randomization was stratified according to trial site and CMV disease risk. Letermovir was administered at a dose of 480 mg per day (or 240 mg per day in patients taking cyclosporine). Patients in whom clinically significant CMV infection (CMV disease or CMV viremia leading to preemptive treatment) developed discontinued the trial regimen and received anti-CMV treatment. The primary end point was the proportion of patients, among patients without detectable CMV DNA at randomization, who had clinically significant CMV infection through week 24 after transplantation. Patients who discontinued the trial or had missing end-point data at week 24 were imputed as having a primary end-point event. Patients were followed through week 48 after transplantation.From June 2014 to March 2016, a total of 565 patients underwent randomization and received letermovir or placebo beginning a median of 9 days after transplantation. Among 495 patients with undetectable CMV DNA at randomization, fewer patients in the letermovir group than in the placebo group had clinically significant CMV infection or were imputed as having a primary end-point event by week 24 after transplantation (122 of 325 patients [37.5%] vs. 103 of 170 [60.6%], P<0.001). The frequency and severity of adverse events were similar in the two groups overall. Vomiting was reported in 18.5% of the patients who received letermovir and in 13.5% of those who received placebo; edema in 14.5% and 9.4%, respectively; and atrial fibrillation or flutter in 4.6% and 1.0%, respectively. The rates of myelotoxic and nephrotoxic events were similar in the letermovir group and the placebo group. All-cause mortality at week 48 after transplantation was 20.9% among letermovir recipients and 25.5% among placebo recipients.Letermovir prophylaxis resulted in a significantly lower risk of clinically significant CMV infection than placebo. Adverse events with letermovir were mainly of low grade. (Funded by Merck; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02137772 ; EudraCT number, 2013-003831-31 .).

  View details for PubMedID 29211658

• Rate of Rise of EBV Viral Load By Quantitative PCR after Allogeneic Transplantation Correlates with PTLD Facilitates Timely Institution of Rituximab Muffly, L. S., Shiraz, P., Nguyen, I. T., Brown, J. M. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2016

  View details for Web of Science ID 000394452506195

• Improved Survival of High Risk Patients with Parainfluenza Virus Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Role of Aerosolized Ribavirin Nguyen, I. T., Shashidhar, S., Brown, J. M. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2016

  View details for Web of Science ID 000394452705114

• Isavuconazole treatment for mucormycosis: a single-arm open-label trial and case-control analysis LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES Marty, F. M., Ostrosky-Zeichner, L., Cornely, O. A., Mullane, K. M., Perfect, J. R., Thompson, G. R., Alangaden, G. J., Brown, J. M., Fredricks, D. N., Heinz, W. J., Herbrecht, R., Klimko, N., Klyasova, G., Maertens, J. A., Melinkeri, S. R., Oren, I., Pappas, P. G., Racil, Z., Rahav, G., Santos, R., Schwartz, S., Vehreschild, J. J., Young, J. H., Chetchotisakd, P., Jaruratanasirikul, S., Kanj, S. S., Engelhardt, M., Kaufh, A., Ito, M., Lee, M., Sasse, C., Maher, R. M., Zeiher, B., Vehreschild, M. J. 2016; 16 (7): 828-837

  Abstract

  Mucormycosis is an uncommon invasive fungal disease with high mortality and few treatment options. Isavuconazole is a triazole active in vitro and in animal models against moulds of the order Mucorales. We assessed the efficacy and safety of isavuconazole for treatment of mucormycosis and compared its efficacy with amphotericin B in a matched case-control analysis.In a single-arm open-label trial (VITAL study), adult patients (≥18 years) with invasive fungal disease caused by rare fungi, including mucormycosis, were recruited from 34 centres worldwide. Patients were given isavuconazole 200 mg (as its intravenous or oral water-soluble prodrug, isavuconazonium sulfate) three times daily for six doses, followed by 200 mg/day until invasive fungal disease resolution, failure, or for 180 days or more. The primary endpoint was independent data review committee-determined overall response-ie, complete or partial response (treatment success) or stable or progressive disease (treatment failure)-according to prespecified criteria. Mucormycosis cases treated with isavuconazole as primary treatment were matched with controls from the FungiScope Registry, recruited from 17 centres worldwide, who received primary amphotericin B-based treatment, and were analysed for day-42 all-cause mortality. VITAL is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00634049. FungiScope is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01731353.Within the VITAL study, from April 22, 2008, to June 21, 2013, 37 patients with mucormycosis received isavuconazole for a median of 84 days (IQR 19-179, range 2-882). By day 42, four patients (11%) had a partial response, 16 (43%) had stable invasive fungal disease, one (3%) had invasive fungal disease progression, three (8%) had missing assessments, and 13 (35%) had died. 35 patients (95%) had adverse events (28 [76%] serious). Day-42 crude all-cause mortality in seven (33%) of 21 primary-treatment isavuconazole cases was similar to 13 (39%) of 33 amphotericin B-treated matched controls (weighted all-cause mortality: 33% vs 41%; p=0·595).Isavuconazole showed activity against mucormycosis with efficacy similar to amphotericin B. Isavuconazole can be used for treatment of mucormycosis and is well tolerated.Astellas Pharma Global Development, Basilea Pharmaceutica International.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/S1473-3099(16)00071-2

  View details for PubMedID 26969258

• Infections after Transplantation of Bone Marrow or Peripheral Blood Stem Cells from Unrelated Donors BIOLOGY OF BLOOD AND MARROW TRANSPLANTATION Young, J. H., Logan, B. R., Wu, J., Wingard, J. R., Weisdorf, D. J., Mudrick, C., Knust, K., Horowitz, M. M., Confer, D. L., Dubberke, E. R., Pergam, S. A., Marty, F. M., Strasfeld, L. M., Brown, J. (., Langston, A. A., Schuster, M. G., Kaul, D. R., Martin, S. I., Anasetti, C. 2016; 22 (2): 359-370

  Abstract

  Infection is a major complication of hematopoietic cell transplantation. Prolonged neutropenia and graft-versus-host disease are the 2 major complications with an associated risk for infection, and these complications differ according to the graft source. A phase 3, multicenter, randomized trial (Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network [BMT CTN] 0201) of transplantation of bone marrow (BM) versus peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) from unrelated donors showed no significant differences in 2-year survival between these graft sources. In an effort to provide data regarding whether BM or PBSC could be used as a preferential graft source for transplantation, we report a detailed analysis of the infectious complications for 2 years after transplantation from the BMT CTN 0201 trial. A total of 499 patients in this study had full audits of infection data. A total of 1347 infection episodes of moderate or greater severity were documented in 384 (77%) patients; 201 of 249 (81%) of the evaluable patients had received a BM graft and 183 of 250 (73%) had received a PBSC graft. Of 1347 infection episodes, 373 were severe and 123 were life-threatening and/or fatal; 710 (53%) of these episodes occurred on the BM arm and 637 (47%) on the PBSC arm, resulting in a 2-year cumulative incidence 84.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 79.6 to 89.8) for BM versus 79.7% (95% CI, 73.9 to 85.5) for PBSC, P = .013. The majority of these episodes, 810 (60%), were due to bacteria, with a 2-year cumulative incidence of 72.1% and 62.9% in BM versus PBSC recipients, respectively (P = .003). The cumulative incidence of bloodstream bacterial infections during the first 100 days was 44.8% (95% CI, 38.5 to 51.1) for BM versus 35.0% (95% CI, 28.9 to 41.1) for PBSC (P = .027). The total infection density (number of infection events/100 patient days at risk) was .67 for BM and .60 for PBSC. The overall infection density for bacterial infections was .4 in both arms; for viral infections, it was .2 in both arms; and for fungal/parasitic infections, it was .04 and .05 for BM and PBSC, respectively. The cumulative incidence of infection before engraftment was 47.9% (95% CI, 41.5 to 53.9) for BM versus 32.8% (95% CI, 27.1 to 38.7) for PBSC (P = .002), possibly related to quicker neutrophil engraftment using PBSC. Infections remain frequent after unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplantation, particularly after BM grafts.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.bbmt.2015.09.013

  View details for PubMedID 26409243

• Cryopreserved Ex Vivo-Expanded Allogeneic Myeloid Progenitor Cell Product Protects Neutropenic Mice From a Lethal Fungal Infection CELL TRANSPLANTATION Domen, J., Christensen, J. L., Gille, D., Smith-Berdan, S., Fong, T., Brown, J. Y., Sedello, A. K. 2016; 25 (1): 17–33

  Abstract

  Severe neutropenia induced by chemotherapy or conditioning for hematopoietic cell transplantation often results in morbidity and mortality due to infection by opportunistic pathogens. A system has been developed to generate ex vivo-expanded mouse myeloid progenitor cells (mMPCs) that produce functional neutrophils in vivo upon transplantation in a pathogen challenge model. It has previously been demonstrated that transplantation of large numbers of freshly isolated myeloid progenitors from a single donor provides survival benefit in radiation-induced neutropenic mice. In the present work, an ex vivo-expanded and cryopreserved mMPC product generated from an allogeneic donor pool retains protective activity in vivo in a lethal fungal infection model. Infusion of the allogeneic pooled mMPC product is effective in preventing death from invasive Aspergillus fumigatus in neutropenic animals, and protection is dose dependent. Cell progeny from the mMPC product is detected in the bone marrow, spleen, blood, and liver by flow cytometry 1 week postinfusion but is no longer evident in most animals 4 weeks posttransplant. In this model, the ex vivo-generated pooled allogeneic mMPC product (i) expands and differentiates in vivo; (ii) is functional and prevents death from invasive fungal infection; and (iii) does not permanently engraft or cause allosensitization. These data suggest that an analogous ex vivo-expanded human myeloid progenitor cell product may be an effective off-the-shelf bridging therapy for the infectious complications that develop during hematopoietic recovery following hematopoietic cell transplantation or intensive chemotherapy.

  View details for DOI 10.3727/096368915X687688

  View details for Web of Science ID 000369557000002

  View details for PubMedID 25812169

• Peritoneal Coccidioidomycosis: a Rare Case Report and Review of the Literature JOURNAL OF GASTROINTESTINAL AND LIVER DISEASES Storage, T. R., Segal, J., Brown, J. 2015; 24 (4): 527-530

  Abstract

  Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection endemic to the southwestern United States that typically causes a self-limited pulmonary illness. Extrapulmonary dissemination is extremely rare and typically localized to the skin, bone, and meninges. The gastrointestinal system has generally been thought to be spared from this disease. This report describes a patient who was initially diagnosed with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis with mediastinal lymphadenopathy and skin dissemination. Ten months after completion of treatment, he presented with nonspecific abdominal pain and diffuse musculoskeletal and constitutional symptoms. Radiographic imaging revealed near resolution of previously noted thoracic findings but new peritoneal thickening and enhancement suggestive of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Laparoscopic biopsies confirmed Coccidioides immitis by culture and histology without evidence of other abnormalities. This case is unique for several reasons. It is one of a relatively small number of cases that describes a diagnosis of peritoneal coccidioidomycosis and the first case identified in which a healthy patient developed extensive peritoneal disease in spite of near-complete resolution of pulmonary and skin manifestations after appropriate treatment. This case underscores the complexity of this disease and motivates more investigation into pathophysiology and treatment considerations of coccidioidomycosis in the gastrointestinal system. We will review the risk factors associated with dissemination, the interpretation of serologies, the characteristics of patients with peritoneal involvement, and finally, the current treatment guidelines.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000367491500020

• Phase 1 Clinical Investigation of Human Myeloid Progenitor Cells (CLT-008) As a Supportive Care Measure during Chemotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Wieduwilt, M. J., Cerny, J., Akard, L., Ustun, C., Ravandi, F., Rossetti, J. M., Hill, B. T., Brown, J., Kellerman, L., Van Syoc, R., Reed, W., Andreadis, C. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2014

  View details for Web of Science ID 000349233804224

• Gastrointestinal Mucormycosis Initially Manifest as Hematochezia from Arterio-Enteric Fistula DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES Cloyd, J. M., Brown, J., Sinclair, T., Jenks, D., Desai, J., Longacre, T., Chandra, V., Shelton, A. 2014; 59 (12): 2905-2908

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10620-014-3239-7

  View details for Web of Science ID 000345322100008

• Letermovir for Cytomegalovirus Prophylaxis in Hematopoietic-Cell Transplantation NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE Chemaly, R. F., Ullmann, A. J., Stoelben, S., Richard, M., Bornhaeuser, M., Groth, C., Einsele, H., Silverman, M., Mullane, K. M., Brown, J., Nowak, H., Koelling, K., Stobernack, H. P., Lischka, P., Zimmermann, H., Ruebsamen-Schaeff, H., Champlin, R. E., Ehninger, G., AIC246 Study Team 2014; 370 (19): 1781–89

  Abstract

  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a leading cause of illness and death in patients who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation. Available treatments are restricted by clinically significant toxic effects and drug resistance.In this phase 2 study, we evaluated the effect of letermovir (also known as AIC246), a new anti-CMV drug with a novel mechanism of action, on the incidence and time to onset of prophylaxis failure in CMV-seropositive recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplants from matched related or unrelated donors. From March 2010 through October 2011, we randomly assigned 131 transplant recipients in a 3:1 ratio to three sequential study cohorts according to a double-blind design. Patients received oral letermovir (at a dose of 60, 120, or 240 mg per day, or matching placebo) for 12 weeks after engraftment. The primary end point was all-cause prophylaxis failure, defined as discontinuation of the study drug because of CMV antigen or DNA detection, end-organ disease, or any other cause. Patients underwent weekly surveillance for CMV infection.The reduction in the incidence of all-cause prophylaxis failure was dose-dependent. The incidence of prophylaxis failure with letermovir, as compared with placebo, was 48% versus 64% at a daily letermovir dose of 60 mg (P=0.32), 32% at a dose of 120 mg (P=0.01), and 29% at a dose of 240 mg (P=0.007). Kaplan-Meier time-to-onset profiles for prophylaxis failure showed a significant difference in the comparison of letermovir at a dose of 240 mg per day with placebo (P=0.002). The safety profile of letermovir was similar to placebo, with no indication of hematologic toxicity or nephrotoxicity.Letermovir, as compared with placebo, was effective in reducing the incidence of CMV infection in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplants. The highest dose (240 mg per day) had the greatest anti-CMV activity, with an acceptable safety profile. (Funded by AiCuris; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01063829.).

  View details for PubMedID 24806159

• Tolerability of Foscarnet As a Continuous Infusion for Treatment of Herpesvirus Infections Brown, J. M., Chang, A., Lee-Lam, F., Tan, S. K., Shashidhar, S. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2014: S191–S192

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.bbmt.2013.12.315

  View details for Web of Science ID 000331155400289

• Comparative cost-effectiveness analysis of voriconazole and fluconazole for prevention of invasive fungal infection in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH-SYSTEM PHARMACY Mauskopf, J., Chirila, C., Graham, J., Gersten, I. D., Leather, H., Maziarz, R. T., Baden, L. R., Bolanos-Meade, J., Brown, J. Y., Walsh, T. J., Horowitz, M. H., Kurtzberg, J., Marr, K. A., Wingard, J. R. 2013; 70 (17): 1518–27

  Abstract

  The cost-effectiveness of voriconazole versus fluconazole prophylaxis against fungal infections in hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients is investigated.A decision-analytic model was developed to estimate the drug costs associated with planned or supplemental prophylaxis and empirical therapy and the costs of treating suspected or documented invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in HCT recipients. Published clinical trial data on 599 patients who received 100-180 days of prophylactic therapy with voriconazole or fluconazole were used to model specified IFI-prevention and mortality outcomes; 6-month, 12-month, and lifetime incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were estimated, with a bootstrap analysis performed to reffect the uncertainty of the clinical trial data.Estimated mean total prophylaxis and IFI-related costs associated with voriconazole versus fluconazole prophylaxis over 12 months were higher in the entire study population and among patients receiving HCT for diagnoses other than acute myeloid leukemia (AML) but were not significantly different for patients with AML. The cost per IFI avoided ($66,919) and the cost per life-year gained ($5,453) were lower among patients with AML who received voriconazole relative to the full study population. ICERs were more favorable for voriconazole over a 6-month time frame and when modeling was conducted using generic price data. Assuming a threshold value of $50,000 for one year of life gained, the calculated probability of voriconazole being cost-effective was 33% for the full study population and 85% for the AML subgroup.The decision model indicated that voriconazole prophylaxis was cost-effective for patients undergoing allogeneic HCT for AML.

  View details for DOI 10.2146/ajhp120599

  View details for Web of Science ID 000323803800015

  View details for PubMedID 23943184

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4019750

• Successful Surgical and Medical Treatment of Rhizopus Osteomyelitis Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation ORTHOPEDICS Vashi, N., Avedian, R., Brown, J., Arai, S. 2012; 35 (10): E1556-E1561

  Abstract

  Mucormycosis has been reported in otherwise healthy individuals; however, it is primarily seen in immunocompromised patients, such as those with diabetes mellitus, malignancy, or chronic graft-versus-host disease, and has a high mortality rate. Because most cases of mucormycosis are associated with contiguous rhinocerebral infection, only 5 cases of isolated musculoskeletal Rhizopus infection have been reported in the literature. One patient underwent hematopoietic cell transplant, which resulted in a fatal outcome.This article describes the successful treatment of isolated Rhizopus osteomyelitis in a patient who underwent hematopoietic cell transplant using a combined surgical and medical approach. A 33-year-old woman with pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia underwent hematopoietic cell transplant with few complications but developed chronic graft-versus-host disease 8 months posttransplant. She was treated with high-dose steroids for 6 weeks before she was admitted for severe right tibial pain in the absence of trauma. Early detection, aggressive therapies, and a multidisciplinary surgical and medical team allowed for the microbiologically confirmed resolution of the infection. Treatment included multiagent antimicrobial therapy with amphotericin B, daptomycin, and ertapenem. Several surgical irrigation and debridement procedures were also performed, with the eventual placement of amphotericin-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate cement beads and small fragment titanium screws. The patient continued taking postoperative antifungal treatment for 7 months after discharge. Six months following the discontinuation of antifungal therapy, the team's multidisciplinary approach achieved a continued resolution of the patient's infection and a return to a fully ambulatory and radiographically proven recovery without limb loss.

  View details for DOI 10.3928/01477447-20120919-30

  View details for Web of Science ID 000309814600019

  View details for PubMedID 23027498

• Prophylactic rituximab after allogeneic transplantation decreases B-cell alloimmunity with low chronic GVHD incidence BLOOD Arai, S., Sahaf, B., Narasimhan, B., Chen, G. L., Jones, C. D., Lowsky, R., Shizuru, J. A., Johnston, L. J., Laport, G. G., Weng, W., Benjamin, J. E., Schaenman, J., Brown, J., Ramirez, J., Zehnder, J. L., Negrin, R. S., Miklos, D. B. 2012; 119 (25): 6145-6154

  Abstract

  B cells are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic GVHD (cGVHD). We hypothesized that prophylactic anti-B-cell therapy delivered 2 months after transplantation would decrease allogeneic donor B-cell immunity and possibly the incidence of cGVHD. Therefore, in the present study, patients with high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (n = 22) and mantle-cell lymphoma (n = 13) received a total lymphoid irradiation of 80 cGy for 10 days and antithymocyte globulin 1.5 mg/kg/d for 5 days. Rituximab (375 mg/m(2)) was infused weekly on days 56, 63, 70, and 77 after transplantation. The incidence of acute GVHD was 6%. The cumulative incidence of cGVHD was 20%. Nonrelapse mortality was 3%. Rituximab treatment after allogeneic transplantation significantly reduced B-cell allogeneic immunity, with complete prevention of alloreactive H-Y Ab development in male patients with female donors (P = .01). Overall survival and freedom from progression at 4 years for chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients were 73% and 47%, respectively; for mantle-cell lymphoma patients, they were 69% and 53%, respectively.

  View details for DOI 10.1182/blood-2011-12-395970

  View details for PubMedID 22563089

• Co-transplantation of pure blood stem cells with antigen-specific but not bulk T cells augments functional immunity PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Mueller, A. M., Shashidhar, S., Kuepper, N. J., Kohrt, H. E., Florek, M., Negrin, R. S., Brown, J. M., Shizuru, J. A. 2012; 109 (15): 5820-5825

  Abstract

  Impaired immunity is a fundamental obstacle to successful allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Mature graft T cells are thought to provide protection from infections early after transplantation, but can cause life-threatening graft-vs.-host disease. Human CMV is a major pathogen after transplantation. We studied reactivity against the mouse homologue, murine CMV (MCMV), in lethally irradiated mice given allogeneic purified hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) or HSCs supplemented with T cells or T-cell subsets. Unexpectedly, recipients of purified HSCs mounted superior antiviral responses compared with recipients of HSC plus unselected bulk T cells. Furthermore, supplementation of purified HSC grafts with CD8(+) memory or MCMV-specific T cells resulted in enhanced antiviral reactivity. Posttransplantation lymphopenia promoted massive expansion of MCMV-specific T cells when no competing donor T cells were present. In recipients of pure HSCs, naive and memory T cells and innate lymphoid cell populations developed. In contrast, the lymphoid pool in recipients of bulk T cells was dominated by effector memory cells. These studies show that pure HSC transplantations allow superior protective immunity against a viral pathogen compared with unselected mature T cells. This reductionist transplant model reveals the impact of graft composition on regeneration of host, newly generated, and mature transferred T cells, and underscores the deleterious effects of bulk donor T cells. Our findings lead us to conclude that grafts composed of purified HSCs provide an optimal platform for in vivo expansion of selected antigen-specific cells while allowing the reconstitution of a naive T-cell pool.

  View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1120237109

  View details for PubMedID 22440752

• Sirolimus and mycophenolate mofetil as GVHD prophylaxis in myeloablative, matched-related donor hematopoietic cell transplantation BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION Johnston, L., Florek, M., Armstrong, R., McCune, J. S., Arai, S., Brown, J., Laport, G., Lowsky, R., Miklos, D., Shizuru, J., Sheehan, K., Lavori, P., Negrin, R. 2012; 47 (4): 581-588

  Abstract

  We investigated sirolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as GVHD prophylaxis in patients with advanced hematological malignancies receiving myeloablative hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) from HLA-identical sibling donors. On the basis of pre-study stopping rules, the trial was closed to accrual after enrollment of 11 adult patients. In all, 7 of the 11 patients received BU-containing preparative regimens. Sirolimus was discontinued in three patients because of the toxicity-related events of severe sinusoidal obstructive syndrome, portal vein thrombosis, altered mental status and in one patient because of the risk of poor wound healing. In all, 6 of the 11 patients developed grade II-IV acute GVHD (AGVHD) a median of 15.5 days post HCT. Two of three patients with grade IV AGVHD had sirolimus discontinued by 9 days post HCT. All patients responded to AGVHD therapy without GVHD-related deaths. There were two non-relapse- and two relapse-related deaths. At a median follow-up of 38 months (2-47 months), 7 of 11 patients were alive without disease. MMF and sirolimus GVHD prophylaxis did not reduce the risk of AGVHD, however, there were no GVHD-related deaths. The severe toxicities in the patients receiving the BU-containing preparative regimens limited the continued use of sirolimus and MMF for the prevention of AGVHD.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/bmt.2011.104

  View details for Web of Science ID 000302576700018

  View details for PubMedID 21552302

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3163055

• Graft T Cells Retard Stem Cell Derived Lymphoid Organ Reconstitution and Immune Function After Allogeneic Transplantation 53rd Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American-Society-of-Hematology (ASH) Mueller, A. M., Kohrt, H. E., Shashidhar, S., Florek, M., Kuepper, N. J., Brown, J. (., Shizuru, J. A. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2011: 1722–22

  View details for Web of Science ID 000299597106199

• Invasive Non-Aspergillus Mold Infections in Transplant Recipients, United States, 2001-2006 EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES Park, B. J., Pappas, P. G., Wannemuehler, K. A., Alexander, B. D., Anaissie, E. J., Andes, D. R., Baddley, J. W., Brown, J. M., Brumble, L. M., Freifeld, A. G., Hadley, S., Herwaldt, L., Ito, J. I., Kauffman, C. A., Lyon, G. M., Marr, K. A., Morrison, V. A., Papanicolaou, G., Patterson, T. F., Perl, T. M., Schuster, M. G., Walker, R., Wingard, J. R., Walsh, T. J., Kontoyiannis, D. P. 2011; 17 (10): 1855-1864

  Abstract

  Recent reports describe increasing incidence of non-Aspergillus mold infections in hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) and solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. To investigate the epidemiology of infections with Mucorales, Fusarium spp., and Scedosporium spp. molds, we analyzed data from the Transplant-Associated Infection Surveillance Network, 23 transplant centers that conducted prospective surveillance for invasive fungal infections during 2001-2006. We identified 169 infections (105 Mucorales, 37 Fusarium spp., and 27 Scedosporium spp.) in 169 patients; 124 (73.4%) were in HCT recipients, and 45 (26.6%) were in SOT recipients. The crude 90-day mortality rate was 56.6%. The 12-month mucormycosis cumulative incidence was 0.29% for HCT and 0.07% for SOT. Mucormycosis incidence among HCT recipients varied widely, from 0.08% to 0.69%, with higher incidence in cohorts receiving transplants during 2003 and 2004. Non-Aspergillus mold infections continue to be associated with high mortality rates. The incidence of mucormycosis in HCT recipients increased substantially during the surveillance period.

  View details for DOI 10.3201/eid1710.110087

  View details for Web of Science ID 000295897300009

  View details for PubMedID 22000355

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3311117

• Early CMV Viremia Is Associated with Impaired Viral Control following Nonmyeloablative Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation with a Total Lymphoid Irradiation and Antithymocyte Globulin Preparative Regimen BIOLOGY OF BLOOD AND MARROW TRANSPLANTATION Schaenman, J. M., Shashidhar, S., Rhee, C., Wong, J., Navato, S., Wong, R. M., Ho, D. Y., Arai, S., Johnston, L., Brown, J. M. 2011; 17 (5): 693-702

  Abstract

  The reconstitution of immune function after hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) plays an important role in the control of viral infections. Both donor and recipient cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus has been shown to contribute to effective immune function; however, the influence of a nonmyeloablative preparative (NMA) regimen using total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) and antithymocyte globulin (ATG) on antiviral immune reconstitution has not yet been described. In 117 recipients of NMA HCT patients following ATG and TLI, not unexpectedly, CMV viremia was seen in approximately 60% of the seropositive patients regardless of donor serostatus, and recipient seropositivity significantly increased the odds of CMV viremia after transplant in a multivariate analysis. The administration of ATG and TLI resulted in a strikingly earlier viremia in the posttransplant period when compared to the previously reported timing of viremia following myeloablative preparative regimens, especially for transplant recipients who were seropositive for CMV with seronegative donors. Furthermore, early viremia in the setting of a CMV naïve donor was associated with a delay in functional antiviral control. These observations demonstrate the dynamic nature of immunity in relation to CMV antigen exposure in the complex environment resulting from NMA conditions where both donor and residual recipient immune response affect viral control.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.bbmt.2010.08.010

  View details for Web of Science ID 000290061500012

  View details for PubMedID 20736077

• Long-term outcomes in patients with high-risk myeloid malignancies following matched related donor hematopoietic cell transplantation with myeloablative conditioning of BU, etoposide and CY BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION Naik, S., Wong, R., Arai, S., Brown, J., Laport, G., Lowsky, R., Miklos, D., Shizuru, J., Blume, K., Negrin, R., Johnston, L. 2011; 46 (2): 192-199

  Abstract

  Patients with high-risk or advanced myeloid malignancies have limited effective treatment options. These include high-dose therapy followed by allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). We report a single-institution, long-term follow-up of 96 patients, median age 50 (range, 20-60) years, who received HLA-matched related HCT between 1992 and 2007. All patients were treated with a uniform preparatory regimen intended to enhance the widely used regimen of BU and CY that included: BU 16.0 mg/kg (days -8 to -5), etoposide 60 mg/kg (day -4), CY 60 mg/kg (day -2) with GVHD prophylaxis of CsA or FK506 and prednisone. Disease status at transplantation was high-risk AML (n=41), CML in second chronic phase or blast crisis (n=8), myelofibrosis and myeloproliferative disorders (n=8), and myelodysplasia (n=39). Thirty-six percent (n=35) of patients received BM whereas 64% (n=61) received G-CSF-mobilized PBPC. With a median follow-up of 5.6 years (range, 1.6-14.6 years) actuarial 5-year OS was 32% (95% CI 22-42) and 5-year EFS was 31% (95% CI 21-41). Relapse rate was 24% (95% CI 15-33) at 2 and 5 years. Nonrelapse mortality was 29% (95% CI 20-38) at day 100 and 38% (95% CI 29-47) at 1 year. Cumulative incidence of acute (grade II-IV) and extensive chronic GVHD was 27% (95% CI 18-36) and 29% (95% CI 18-40), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in OS (31 vs 32%, P=0.89) or relapse rates (17 vs 28%, P=0.22) for recipients of BM vs PBPC, respectively. These results confirm that patients with high-risk or advanced myeloid malignancies can achieve long-term survival following myeloablative allogeneic HCT with aggressive conditioning.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/bmt.2010.114

  View details for PubMedID 20498648

• Treatment of Acyclovir-Resistant Herpes Simplex Virus with Continuous Infusion of High-Dose Acyclovir in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Patients BIOLOGY OF BLOOD AND MARROW TRANSPLANTATION Kim, J. H., Schaenman, J. M., Ho, D. Y., Brown, J. M. 2011; 17 (2): 259-264

  Abstract

  Infection because of herpes simplex virus (HSV) that is resistant to acyclovir (ACV) poses treatment challenges in hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) patients. We present a series of patients with ACV-resistant HSV following HCT who were successfully treated with continuous infusion high-dose ACV after failing standard treatment regimens for ACV-resistant HSV.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.bbmt.2010.06.020

  View details for Web of Science ID 000287350400010

  View details for PubMedID 20615475

• Combined Effects of Interleukin-7 and Stem Cell Factor Administration on Lymphopoiesis after Murine Bone Marrow Transplantation BIOLOGY OF BLOOD AND MARROW TRANSPLANTATION Chung, B., Min, D., Joo, L. W., Krampf, M. R., Huang, J., Yang, Y., Shashidhar, S., Brown, J., Dudl, E. P., Weinberg, K. I. 2011; 17 (1): 48-60

  Abstract

  The decreased ability of the thymus to generate T cells after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a clinically significant problem. Interleukin (IL)-7 and stem cell factor (SCF) induce proliferation, differentiation, and survival of thymocytes. Although previous studies have shown that administration of recombinant human IL-7 (rhIL-7) after murine and human BMT improves thymopoiesis and immune function, whether administration of SCF exerts similar effects is unclear. To evaluate independent or combinatorial effects of IL-7 and SCF in post-BMT thymopoiesis, bone marrow (BM)-derived mesenchymal stem cells transduced ex vivo with the rhIL-7 or murine SCF (mSCF) genes were cotransplanted with T cell-depleted BM cells into lethally irradiated mice. Although rhIL-7 and mSCF each improved immune reconstitution, the combination treatment had a significantly greater effect than either cytokine alone. Moreover, the combination treatment significantly increased donor-derived common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) in BM, suggesting that transplanted CLPs expand more rapidly in response to IL-7 and SCF and may promote immune reconstitution. Our findings demonstrate that IL-7 and SCF might be therapeutically useful for enhancing de novo T cell development. Furthermore, combination therapy may allow the administration of lower doses of IL-7, thereby decreasing the likelihood of IL-7-mediated expansion of mature T cells.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.bbmt.2010.07.027

  View details for Web of Science ID 000286173400003

  View details for PubMedID 20713165

• Randomized, double-blind trial of fluconazole versus voriconazole for prevention of invasive fungal infection after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation BLOOD Wingard, J. R., Carter, S. L., Walsh, T. J., Kurtzberg, J., Small, T. N., Baden, L. R., Gersten, I. D., Mendizabal, A. M., Leather, H. L., Confer, D. L., Maziarz, R. T., Stadtmauer, E. A., Bolanos-Meade, J., Brown, J., DiPersio, J. F., Boeckh, M., Marr, K. A., Blood & Marrow Transplant Clinical 2010; 116 (24): 5111–18

  Abstract

  Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is a serious threat after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT). This multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial compared fluconazole (N = 295) versus voriconazole (N = 305) for the prevention of IFI in the context of a structured fungal screening program. Patients undergoing myeloablative allogeneic HCT were randomized before HCT to receive study drugs for 100 days, or for 180 days in higher-risk patients. Serum galactomannan was assayed twice weekly for 60 days, then at least weekly until day 100. Positive galactomannan or suggestive signs triggered mandatory evaluation for IFI. The primary endpoint was freedom from IFI or death (fungal-free survival; FFS) at 180 days. Despite trends to fewer IFIs (7.3% vs 11.2%; P = .12), Aspergillus infections (9 vs 17; P = .09), and less frequent empiric antifungal therapy (24.1% vs 30.2%, P = .11) with voriconazole, FFS rates (75% vs 78%; P = .49) at 180 days were similar with fluconazole and voriconazole, respectively. Relapse-free and overall survival and the incidence of severe adverse events were also similar. This study demonstrates that in the context of intensive monitoring and structured empiric antifungal therapy, 6-month FFS and overall survival did not differ in allogeneic HCT recipients given prophylactic fluconazole or voriconazole. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00075803.

  View details for DOI 10.1182/blood-2010-02-268151

  View details for Web of Science ID 000285141200008

  View details for PubMedID 20826719

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3012532

• Adoptively Transferred Mature T Cells Exhibit Diminished Reactivity to Murine Cytomegalovirus Compared to Nascent Donor T Cells and Impair Functional Immune Recovery After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation 52nd Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American-Society-of-Hematology (ASH) Mueller, A. M., Shashidhar, S., Brown, J., Shizuru, J. A. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2010: 1531–31

  View details for Web of Science ID 000289662204152

• A 39-Year-Old Woman With Lupus, Myositis, and a Recalcitrant Vasculopathy ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH Sokolove, J., Copland, A., Shirvani, S., Brown, J., Posley, K., Chung, L. 2010; 62 (9): 1351-1356

  View details for DOI 10.1002/acr.20236

  View details for Web of Science ID 000281913400022

  View details for PubMedID 20506174

• Utility of Influenza Vaccination for Oncology Patients JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY Pollyea, D. A., Brown, J. M., Horning, S. J. 2010; 28 (14): 2481-2490

  Abstract

  Every fall and winter, patients with cancer and their families ask oncologists whether they should be vaccinated for influenza. This season, with escalating concerns regarding the novel H1N1 influenza virus and its recently approved vaccine, this question has become more frequent and increasingly urgent. The purpose of this article is to review evidence related to the ability of patients with cancer to mount protective immunological responses to influenza vaccination. The literature on immunogenicity in pediatric and adult patients, those with solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, untreated and actively treated patients, and patients receiving biologic agents is summarized and reviewed. In addition, we report on potential strategies to improve the efficacy of influenza vaccination in patients with cancer, such as the timing of vaccination, use of more than a one-shot series, increasing the antigen dose, and the use of adjuvant therapies. We conclude that there is evidence that patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy are able to respond to influenza vaccination, and because this intervention is safe, inexpensive, and widely available, vaccination for seasonal influenza and the novel H1N1 strain is indicated.

  View details for DOI 10.1200/JCO.2009.26.6908

  View details for Web of Science ID 000277389600024

  View details for PubMedID 20385981

• Prospective Surveillance for Invasive Fungal Infections in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients, 2001-2006: Overview of the Transplant-Associated Infection Surveillance Network (TRANSNET) Database CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES Kontoyiannis, D. P., Marr, K. A., Park, B. J., Alexander, B. D., Anaissie, E. J., Walsh, T. J., Ito, J., Andes, D. R., Baddley, J. W., Brown, J. M., Brumble, L. M., Freifeld, A. G., Hadley, S., Herwaldt, L. A., Kauffman, C. A., Knapp, K., Lyon, G. M., Morrison, V. A., Papanicolaou, G., Patterson, T. F., Perl, T. M., Schuster, M. G., Walker, R., Wannemuehler, K. A., Wingard, J. R., Chiller, T. M., Pappas, P. G. 2010; 50 (8): 1091-1100

  Abstract

  The incidence and epidemiology of invasive fungal infections (IFIs), a leading cause of death among hematopoeitic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients, are derived mainly from single-institution retrospective studies.The Transplant Associated Infections Surveillance Network, a network of 23 US transplant centers, prospectively enrolled HSCT recipients with proven and probable IFIs occurring between March 2001 and March 2006. We collected denominator data on all HSCTs preformed at each site and clinical, diagnostic, and outcome information for each IFI case. To estimate trends in IFI, we calculated the 12-month cumulative incidence among 9 sequential subcohorts.We identified 983 IFIs among 875 HSCT recipients. The median age of the patients was 49 years; 60% were male. Invasive aspergillosis (43%), invasive candidiasis (28%), and zygomycosis (8%) were the most common IFIs. Fifty-nine percent and 61% of IFIs were recognized within 60 days of neutropenia and graft-versus-host disease, respectively. Median onset of candidiasis and aspergillosis after HSCT was 61 days and 99 days, respectively. Within a cohort of 16,200 HSCT recipients who received their first transplants between March 2001 and September 2005 and were followed up through March 2006, we identified 718 IFIs in 639 persons. Twelve-month cumulative incidences, based on the first IFI, were 7.7 cases per 100 transplants for matched unrelated allogeneic, 8.1 cases per 100 transplants for mismatched-related allogeneic, 5.8 cases per 100 transplants for matched-related allogeneic, and 1.2 cases per 100 transplants for autologous HSCT.In this national prospective surveillance study of IFIs in HSCT recipients, the cumulative incidence was highest for aspergillosis, followed by candidiasis. Understanding the epidemiologic trends and burden of IFIs may lead to improved management strategies and study design.

  View details for DOI 10.1086/651263

  View details for Web of Science ID 000275645900003

  View details for PubMedID 20218877

• Treatment of Severe Acyclovir-Resistant Herpes Simplex Virus Infection with Continuous Infusion of High Dose Acyclovir Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Kim, J. H., Schaenman, J., Ho, D. Y., Brown, J. M. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2009: 876

  View details for Web of Science ID 000272725802592

• Prophylactic Rituximab after Reduced Intensity Conditioning Transplantation Results in Low Chronic Gvhd 50th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Hematology/ASH/ASCO Joint Symposium Arai, S., Sahaf, B., Jones, C., Zhender, J., Lowsky, R., Strober, S., Shizuru, J., Negrin, R., Johnston, L., Laport, G., Schaenman, J., Brown, J., Weng, W., Letsinger, R., Wong, R., Lavori, P., Miklos, D. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2008: 178–78

  View details for Web of Science ID 000262104700467

• Functional Control of CMV Reactivation Is Profoundly Influenced by CMV Serostatus after Nonmyeloablative Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Following a TLI-ATG Preparative Regimen 50th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Hematology/ASH/ASCO Joint Symposium Schaenman, J., Vana, M. L., Rhee, C., Wong, J., Navato, S., Johnston, L. J., Wong, R. M., Ho, D. Y., Brown, J. (. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2008: 780–80

  View details for Web of Science ID 000262104702571

• Comparison of polymerase chain reaction of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and plasma identifies patients who control cytomegalovirus infection after hematopoietic cell transplantation CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES Vana, M. L., Formankova, D., Cha, S., Sharma, A., Potena, L., Brown, J. M., Mocarski, E. S. 2008; 47 (4): 535-539

  Abstract

  By use of an automated polymerase chain reaction test of plasma and a qualitative polymerase chain reaction assay on polymorphonuclear leukocytes, we identified a subgroup of hematopoietic cell transplant recipients who were able to control cytomegalovirus infection early after hematopoietic cell transplantation without antiviral therapy. Thirty-one percent of patients had cytomegalovirus DNA detected by qualitative polymerase chain reaction assay but had no cytomegalovirus DNA detected by the automated test; this group maintained a lower peak cytomegalovirus load, compared with the group of patients who had cytomegalovirus DNA detected by both tests (P = .03), suggesting a greater degree of functional immune reconstitution.

  View details for DOI 10.1086/590151

  View details for Web of Science ID 000257755700020

  View details for PubMedID 18611158

• Safety and immunogenicity of a bivalent cytomegalovirus DNA vaccine in healthy adult subjects 11th International CMV and Betaherpes Virus Workshop Wloch, M. K., Smith, L. R., Boutsaboualoy, S., Reyes, L., Han, C., Kehler, J., Smith, H. D., Selk, L., Nakamura, R., Brown, J. M., Marbury, T., Wald, A., Rolland, A., Kaslow, D., Evans, T., Boeckh, M. UNIV CHICAGO PRESS. 2008: 1634–42

  Abstract

  VCL-CB01, a candidate cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA vaccine that contains plasmids encoding CMV phosphoprotein 65 (pp65) and glycoprotein B (gB) to induce cellular and humoral immune responses and that is formulated with poloxamer CRL1005 and benzalkonium chloride to enhance immune responses, was evaluated in a phase 1 clinical trial.VCL-CB01 was evaluated in 44 healthy adult subjects (22 CMV seronegative and 22 CMV seropositive) 18-43 years old. Thirty-two subjects received 1- or 5-mg doses of vaccine on a 0-, 2-, and 8-week schedule, and 12 subjects received 5-mg doses of vaccine on a 0-, 3-, 7-, and 28-day schedule.Overall, the vaccine was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events. Local reactions included mild to moderate injection site pain and tenderness, induration, and erythema. Systemic reactions included mild to moderate malaise and myalgia. All reactions resolved without sequelae. Through week 16 of the study, immunogenicity, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay and/or ex vivo interferon (IFN)-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot assay, was documented in 45.5% of CMV-seronegative subjects and in 25.0% of CMV-seropositive subjects who received the full vaccine series, and 68.1% of CMV-seronegative subjects had memory IFN-gamma T cell responses at week 32.The safety and immunogenicity data from this trial support further evaluation of VCL-CB01.

  View details for DOI 10.1086/588385

  View details for Web of Science ID 000256315300002

  View details for PubMedID 18444883

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC2956065

• The impact of regulatory T cells on T-cell immunity following hematopoietic cell transplantation BLOOD Nguyen, V. H., Shashidhar, S., Chang, D. S., Ho, L., Kambham, N., Bachmann, M., Brown, J. M., Negrin, R. S. 2008; 111 (2): 945-953

  Abstract

  Regulatory T cells (Tregs) prevent graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) by inhibiting the proliferation and function of conventional T cells (Tcons). However, the impact of Tregs on T-cell development and immunity following hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is unknown. Using a murine GvHD model induced by Tcons, we demonstrate that adoptive transfer of Tregs leads to (1) abrogration of GvHD, (2) preservation of thymic and peripheral lymph node architecture, and (3) an accelerated donor lymphoid reconstitution of a diverse TCR-Vbeta repertoire. The resultant enhanced lymphoid reconstitution in Treg recipients protects them from lethal cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection. By contrast, mice that receive Tcons alone have disrupted lymphoid organs from GvHD and remain lymphopenic with a restricted TCR-Vbeta repertoire and rapid death on MCMV challenge. Lymphocytes from previously infected Treg recipients generate secondary response specific to MCMV, indicating long-term protective immunity with transferred Tregs. Thymectomy significantly reduces survival after MCMV challenge in Treg recipients compared with euthymic controls. Our results indicate that Tregs enhance immune reconstitution by preventing GvHD-induced damage of the thymic and secondary lymphoid microenvironment. These findings provide new insights into the role of Tregs in affording protection to lymphoid stromal elements important for T-cell immunity.

  View details for DOI 10.1182/blood-2007-07-103895

  View details for PubMedID 17916743

• Rituximab infusion two months after nonmyeloablative transplantation maintains B-cell disease control with minimal GVHD. 48th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Hematology Arai, S., Sahaf, B., Jones, C., Zehnder, J., Lowsky, R., Strober, S., Shizuru, J., Negrin, R., Johnston, L., Laport, G., Goldstein, K., Brown, J. (., Miklos, D. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2006: 823A–823A

  View details for Web of Science ID 000242440003696

• CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T cells enhance immune reconstitution following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation by protecting thymic and lymphoid compartments from graft-versus-host disease damage without impacting T cell repertoire development. 48th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Hematology Nguyen, V. H., Chang, D., Shashidhar, S., Bachmann, M., Contag, C. H., Brown, J. M., Negrin, R. S. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2006: 25A–25A

  View details for Web of Science ID 000242440000071

• Cytomegalovirus MCK-2 controls mobilization and recruitment of myeloid progenitor cells to facilitate dissemination BLOOD Noda, S., Aguirre, S. A., Bitmansour, A., Brown, J. M., Sparer, T. E., Huang, J., Mocarski, E. S. 2006; 107 (1): 30-38

  Abstract

  Murine cytomegalovirus encodes a secreted, pro-inflammatory chemokine-like protein, MCK-2, that recruits leukocytes and facilitates viral dissemination. We have shown that MCK-2-enhanced recruitment of myelomonocytic leukocytes with an immature phenotype occurs early during infection and is associated with efficient viral dissemination. Expression of MCK-2 drives the mobilization of a population of leukocytes from bone marrow that express myeloid marker Mac-1 (CD11b), intermediate levels of Gr-1 (Ly6 G/C), platelet-endothelial-cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1, CD31), together with heterogeneous levels of stem-cell antigen-1 (Sca-1, Ly-6 A /E). Recombinant MCK-2 mediates recruitment of this population even in the absence of viral infection. Recruitment of this cell population and viral dissemination via the bloodstream to salivary glands proceeds normally in mice that lack CCR2 and MCP-1 (CCL2), suggesting that recruitment of macrophages is not a requisite component of pathogenesis. Thus, a systemic impact of MCK-2 enhances the normal host response and causes a marked increase in myelomonocytic recruitment with an immature phenotype to initial sites of infection. Mobilization influences levels of virus dissemination via the bloodstream to salivary glands and is dependent on a myelomonocytic cell type other than mature macrophages.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000234235200012

  View details for PubMedID 16046529

• Enhanced immune reconstitution and function by CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. 47th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Hematology Nguyen, V. H., Shashidhar, S., Zeiser, R., Ho, L., Brown, J. M., Negrin, R. S. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2005: 23A–23A

  View details for Web of Science ID 000233426000065

• Neutropenic mice can be protected from fungus infection by ex vivo expanded allogeneic myeloid progenitors. 47th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Hematology Domen, J., Wahedi, M., Danenberg, E., Smith-Berdan, S., Christensen, J., Fong, T., Brown, J. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2005: 851A–851A

  View details for Web of Science ID 000233426005358

• Protection against lethal Aspergillus fumigatus infection in mice by allogeneic myeloid progenitors is not major histocompatibility complex restricted 45th Annual Meeting and Exhibition of the American-Society-of-Hematology Arber, C., Bitmansour, A., Shashidhar, S., Wang, S., Tseng, B., Brown, J. M. UNIV CHICAGO PRESS. 2005: 1666–71

  Abstract

  Invasive fungal infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after myelotoxic chemotherapy or radiation exposure. The resulting depletion of myeloid precursors under these conditions appears to be the factor that limits approaches to accelerate immune reconstitution. In a murine model of myeloablation after radiation exposure, we demonstrated that highly purified common myeloid and granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (CMPs/GMPs) accelerated myeloid recovery and, thus, enhanced innate immunity as measured by survival after a lethal challenge with Aspergillus fumigatus. Of greatest significance was the demonstration that the protection afforded by CMPs/GMPs was not major histocompatibility complex restricted. Furthermore, the effect of CMP/GMP cellular therapy was additive with that of liposomal amphotericin B treatment. These observations greatly expand the potential donor pool and, thus, the clinical utility of CMP/GMP cellular therapy in patients with myeloid depletion.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000232333000022

  View details for PubMedID 16206084

• Risks and outcomes of invasive fungal infections in pediatric patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION Dvorak, C. C., Steinbach, W. J., Brown, J. M., Agarwal, R. 2005; 36 (7): 621-629

  Abstract

  Invasive fungal infections (IFI) are the leading cause of infectious mortality in adult patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) after myeloablative conditioning, but the extent of this problem in the pediatric population is unclear. We retrospectively examined risk factors for IFI among 120 consecutive pediatric patients undergoing allogeneic HCT at a single center. The incidence of proven or probable IFI in pediatric patients during the first year after allogeneic HCT was 13%, comparable to the rate reported in adult patients; however, unlike IFI in adult patients, the majority of IFI in children occurred within the first month after transplantation. The primary risk factors for IFI were duration of neutropenia, age greater than 10 years, transplant for severe aplastic anemia or Fanconi anemia, and high-dose corticosteroid administration for 10 days or longer. IFI were more likely to be successfully treated (42%, 5/12 patients) in pediatric HCT recipients when compared to previous reports of adult recipients. Nonrelapse mortality was estimated at 17% (20/120 patients) after allogeneic HCT, of which 35% (seven patients) were directly attributed to IFI. Thus, IFI is a significant cause of nonrelapse mortality in children undergoing allogeneic HCT and more effective strategies are needed to prevent and treat IFI.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/sj.bmt.1705113

  View details for Web of Science ID 000231877200009

  View details for PubMedID 16044133

• Stepwise development of committed progenitors in the bone marrow that generate functional T cells in the absence of the thymus JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Garcia-Ojeda, M. E., Dejbakhsh-Jones, S., Chatterjea-Matthes, D., Mukhopadhyay, A., Bitmansour, A., Weissman, I. L., Brown, J. M., Strober, S. 2005; 175 (7): 4363-4373

  Abstract

  We identified committed T cell progenitors (CTPs) in the mouse bone marrow that have not rearranged the TCRbeta gene; express a variety of genes associated with commitment to the T cell lineage, including GATA-3, T cell-specific factor-1, Cbeta, and Id2; and show a surface marker pattern (CD44+ CD25- CD24+ CD5-) that is similar to the earliest T cell progenitors in the thymus. More mature committed intermediate progenitors in the marrow have rearranged the TCR gene loci, express Valpha and Vbeta genes as well as CD3epsilon, but do not express surface TCR or CD3 receptors. CTPs, but not progenitors from the thymus, reconstituted the alphabeta T cells in the lymphoid tissues of athymic nu/nu mice. These reconstituted T cells vigorously secreted IFN-gamma after stimulation in vitro, and protected the mice against lethal infection with murine CMV. In conclusion, CTPs in wild-type bone marrow can generate functional T cells via an extrathymic pathway in athymic nu/nu mice.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000232092600027

  View details for PubMedID 16177077

• Treatment of verruca vulgaris with topical cidofovir in an immunlocompromised patient: a case report and review of the literature TRANSPLANT INFECTIOUS DISEASE Cha, S., Johnston, L., Natkunam, Y., Brown, J. 2005; 7 (3-4): 158-161

  Abstract

  Lesions caused by verrucus vulgaris are commonly refractory to therapy and may become large, painful, or disfiguring in immunocompromised patients. Cidofovir is a potent nucleoside analog antiviral agent shown to have in vitro and in vivo activity against a broad spectrum of DNA viruses. We report a successful use of topical cidofovir to treat verruca vulgaris lesions in a highly immunocompromised patient, who was not considered a candidate for conventional therapy.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000236936200012

  View details for PubMedID 16390407

• Exogenous administration of immunomodulatory therapies in hematopoietic cell transplantation: an infectious diseases perspective CURRENT OPINION IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES Brown, J. M. 2005; 18 (4): 352-358

  Abstract

  In contrast to the recipient of a solid organ transplantation, the immunological competence of recipients of hematopoietic cell transplantation does not correlate well with the administration of non-corticosteroid immunosuppressive agents. This apparent paradox reflects the unique and dynamic conglomeration of factors that affect immune reconstitution after hematopoietic cell transplantation. The following is the second part of a review of the recent primary literature regarding exogenous immunomodulatory influences as they pertain to infections in the setting of hematopoietic cell transplantation.The main themes of published primary research from 2004 to the present include the influence of exogenously administered immunomodulatory agents on infectious complications after hematopoietic cell transplantation.The use of immunomodulatory agents such as monoclonal antibodies directed against lymphocyte antigens in the treatment of hematopoietic malignancy has greatly expanded during the past decade. Separate trials of the potential utility of these agents, particularly in the reduction of graft-versus-host disease, in the setting of hematopoietic cell transplantation have yielded encouraging results. Given the infancy of these new approaches, it is not possible to make definitive statements regarding the relative risk of serious infection with each therapy. It is clear that a reduction in regimen-related non-infectious complications or mortality does not necessarily ensure a reduction in clinically significant infections. Improvements in early diagnostic and therapeutic options for these infections now bring us to an era of understanding pathogens such as cytomegalovirus as probes of the functional reconstitution of immunity.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000230812700011

  View details for PubMedID 15985834

• The influence of the conditions of hematopoietic cell transplantation on infectious complications CURRENT OPINION IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES Brown, J. M. 2005; 18 (4): 346-351

  Abstract

  The multitude of factors that influence the risk of infection after hematopoietic cell transplantation has been further complicated by the rapid evolution of this therapy in the past 5 years. The degree to which functional immune reconstitution has been achieved reflects the equilibrium reached by the immune systems of the recipient and donor in the context of host non-hematopoietic tissue. Thus immunomodulatory influences on the recipient and the transplanted graft, both before and after hematopoietic cell transplantation, have a profound influence on the incidence and severity of infection. This review of the recent literature contributes to our understanding of how the conditions of hematopoietic cell transplantation influence the timing and nature of infectious complications.The main themes of published primary research from 2004 to the present focus on non-myeloablative conditioning regimens and their effects on immune reconstitution after hematopoietic cell transplantation.A plethora of clinical trials are ongoing, focused on the outcome after conditioning regimens designed to result in less regimen-related toxicity while preserving or enhancing the graft-versus-tumor effect. Given the infancy of these new approaches, it is not possible to make definitive statements regarding the relative risk of serious infection with each therapy. It is clear that a reduction in regimen-related non-infectious complications or mortality does not necessarily ensure a reduction in clinically significant infections. Improvements in early diagnostic and therapeutic options for these infections now bring us to an era of understanding pathogens as probes of the functional reconstitution of immunity.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000230812700010

  View details for PubMedID 15985833

• Single infusion of myeloid progenitors reduces death from Aspergillus fumigatus following chemotherapy-induced neutropenia BLOOD Bitmansour, A., Cao, T. M., Chao, S., Shashidhar, S., Brown, J. M. 2005; 105 (9): 3535-3537

  Abstract

  Hematopoietic progenitors committed to the myeloid lineage, the common myeloid and granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (CMP/GMP), have been shown to protect against opportunistic pathogens following myeloablative radiation; however, the efficacy of this approach has not been studied in the setting of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. In this mouse model, the infusion of CMP/GMP on the day after 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) administration (D+1) resulted in a significant increase in the number of splenic neutrophils by D+8 when compared with 5-FU-only controls (P = .02), the majority of which were CMP/GMP-derived (54%). Moreover, 19% and 28% of neutrophils in the blood and bone marrow, respectively, were CMP/GMP-derived. Survival following intranasal challenge with the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus was significantly higher in CMP/GMP-infused mice than the controls (56% and 33% respectively; P = .019). Thus, a single infusion of CMP/GMP enhances tissue neutrophil content and increases survival against a lethal challenge with A fumigatus in the setting of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.

  View details for DOI 10.1182/blood-2004-2004-07-2676

  View details for Web of Science ID 000228797400029

  View details for PubMedID 15576478

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC1895020

• Rapamycin (sirolimus) for treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease BIOLOGY OF BLOOD AND MARROW TRANSPLANTATION Johnston, L. J., Brown, J., Shizuru, J. A., Stockerl-Goldstein, K. E., Stuart, M. J., Blume, K. G., Negrin, R. S., Chao, N. J. 2005; 11 (1): 47-55

  Abstract

  We conducted a phase II trial in 19 chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) patients with rapamycin, calcineurin inhibitors, and prednisone with the goals of controlling cGVHD, reducing prednisone use, and defining the safety of this regimen. Rapamycin was begun as second-line (n = 9) or more than second-line (n = 10) therapy. With a median follow-up of 42 months, 16 patients were evaluable for response. Nine patients discontinued rapamycin because of poor compliance/patient request (n = 2) or an adverse event (n = 7), 3 of whom were not evaluable because of withdrawal at < or =1 month or noncompliance. The adverse events included serum creatinine > or =2.4 mg/dL (n = 4), hemolytic uremic syndrome (n = 2), and relapse of malignancy (n = 1). Fifteen of 16 evaluable patients had a clinical response. Five of the 16 discontinued the drug, and 1 died of relapsed leukemia. Of the 10 patients who continued rapamycin, 2 discontinued and 1 successfully tapered all systemic immunosuppression. Three of the 10 developed progressive cGVHD with tapering immunosuppression; all responded to resumption of prior medications. Four of the 10 patients required alternate therapy for persistent or progressive cGVHD while receiving rapamycin; prednisone was discontinued (n = 2) or tapered at the time of progressive disease (n = 2). Seventeen of 19 original patients were alive. One death was due to relapsed malignancy, and 1 was due to congestive heart failure. In this report of rapamycin as cGVHD therapy, there is evidence of rapamycin's efficacy. Given the significant toxicities described, investigation of altered administration of rapamycin and calcineurin inhibitors should be pursued in future cGVHD trials.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.bbmt.2004.10.004

  View details for PubMedID 15625544

• Effective containment of human respiratory syncytial virus infections in a bone marrow transplantation program resulting from the combined implementation of molecular epidemiology, infection control, and early treatment strategies. Cha, S. S., Stuart, M. J., Poutanen, S., Madison, S., Baron, E. J., Erdman, D., Brown, J. M. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2004: 611A–612A

  View details for Web of Science ID 000225127502226

• Fungal infections in bone marrow transplant patients CURRENT OPINION IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES Brown, J. M. 2004; 17 (4): 347-352

  Abstract

  Invasive fungal infections have become the leading infectious cause of death in recipients of hematopoietic cell transplantation. Several factors have led to a renaissance in the study of invasive fungal infections. The growing incidence of both commonly encountered as well as emerging pathogens and the lethality of these infections coupled with the unprecedented number of available broad-spectrum antifungal drugs has lent a renewed vigor and enthusiasm to attempts to understand the pathogenesis of these diseases and, by doing so, improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The following is a review of the primary research published from 2003 to the present that is pertinent to invasive fungal infection in the setting of hematopoietic cell transplantation.The main themes of published primary research during 2003 to the present include the efficacy and tolerability of antifungal prophylaxis, epidemiologic analyses of risk factors following nonmyeloablative preparative regimens, and more-detailed analyses of nonmyeloid immune responses.Although few definitive recommendations emerged from the studies during the review period, these investigations do contribute to a greater understanding of the immunobiology of invasive fungal infection and of the utility and limitations of newer antifungal agents in the prophylaxis or treatment of invasive fungal infection.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/01.qco0000136935.13662.af

  View details for Web of Science ID 000223033000011

  View details for PubMedID 15241080

• Common lymphoid progenitors from MHC-mismatched donors engraft without inducing GVHD. Arber, C., BitMansour, A., Brown, J. M. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2003: 951A

  View details for Web of Science ID 000186536703541

• MHC-mismatched marine committed myeloid progenitors engraft and protect against invasive aspergillosis. Arber, C., BitMansour, A., Brown, J. M. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2003: 941A

  View details for Web of Science ID 000186536703504

• Regulation of common lymphoid progenitors (CLP) by common gamma (gamma(C)) and C-kit signals in vivo. 45th Annual Meeting and Exhibition of the American-Society-of-Hematology Dudl, E., Toyama, A., Arber, C., Bitmansour, A., Brown, J., Chung, B., Price, M., Brown, J. M., Weinberg, K. I. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2003: 50A–50A

  View details for Web of Science ID 000186536700164

• Common lymphoid progenitors rapidly engraft and protect against lethal murine cytomegalovirus infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation BLOOD Arber, C., Bitmansour, A., Sparer, T. E., Higgins, J. P., Mocarski, E. S., Weissman, I. L., Shizuru, J. A., Brown, J. M. 2003; 102 (2): 421-428

  Abstract

  Lymphoid deficiency after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) results in increased susceptibility to infection; however, transplantation of mature lymphocytes frequently results in a serious complication known as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Here we demonstrate in mice that both congenic as well as allogeneic transplantation of low numbers of highly purified common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs)-a rare population of lymphoid-lineage-committed bone marrow cells-accelerates immune reconstitution after lethal irradiation and rescue with hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). After congenic transplantation, 3 x 10(3) CLPs protected against murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection at a level roughly equivalent to 107 unfractionated lymph node cells. In the allogeneic model of matched unrelated donor HSC transplantation, cotransplantation of 3 x 10(3) CLPs protected thymus-bearing as well as thymectomized hosts from MCMV infection and attenuated disease severity. Immunohistochemistry in combination with antibody depletion of T and natural killer (NK) cells confirmed that CLP-derived as well as residual host lymphocytes contribute to antiviral protection. Importantly, transplantation of allogeneic CLPs provided a durable antiviral immunity without inducing GVHD. These data support the potential for composing grafts with committed progenitors to reduce susceptibility to viral infection following HCT.

  View details for DOI 10.1182/blood-2002-12-3834

  View details for Web of Science ID 000184083500010

  View details for PubMedID 12663447

• Myeloid progenitors protect against invasive aspergillosis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation BLOOD Bitmansour, A., Burns, S. M., Traver, D., Akashi, K., Contag, C. H., Weissman, I. L., Brown, J. M. 2002; 100 (13): 4660-4667

  Abstract

  Myelotoxic treatments for oncologic diseases are often complicated by neutropenia, which renders patients susceptible to potentially lethal infections. In these studies of murine hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), cotransplantation of lineage-restricted progenitors known as common myeloid progenitors (CMP) and granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (GMP) protects against death following otherwise lethal challenge with either of 2 pathogens associated with neutropenia: Aspergillus fumigatus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cotransplantation of CMP/GMP resulted in a significant and rapid increase in the absolute number of myeloid cells in the spleen, most of which were derived from the donor CMP/GMP. Despite persistent peripheral neutropenia, improved survival correlated with the measurable appearance of progenitor-derived myeloid cells in the spleen. A marked reduction or elimination of tissue pathogen load was confirmed by culture and correlated with survival. Localization of infection by P aeruginosa and extent of disease was also assessed by in vivo bioluminescent imaging using a strain of P aeruginosa engineered to constitutively express a bacterial luciferase. Imaging confirmed that transplantation with a graft containing hematopoietic stem cells and CMP/GMP reduced the bacterial load as early as 18 hours after infection. These results demonstrate that enhanced reconstitution of a tissue myeloid pool offers protection against lethal challenge with serious fungal and bacterial pathogens.

  View details for DOI 10.1182/blood-2002-05-1552

  View details for Web of Science ID 000179759800058

  View details for PubMedID 12393415

• Prophylactic administration of liposomal amphotericin B is superior to treatment in a murine model of invasive aspergillosis after hematopoietic cell transplantation Meeting of the American-Society-for-Blood-and-Marrow-Transplantation Bitmansour, A., Brown, J. M. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2002: 134–37

  Abstract

  With use of a novel model of invasive Aspergillus fumigatus, the efficacy of prophylactic versus therapeutic administration of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) was tested in C57BL/6 mice. After lethal irradiation and transplantation of whole bone marrow (d 0), animals were challenged with conidia either intravenously or via nasal instillation on d +3 and divided into 3 groups: group I received 5% dextrose in water throughout the study period; group II received L-AmB, 5 mg/kg, beginning on d +4; and group III received L-AmB, 5 mg/kg on d -4, d -2, d 0, and d +2, then daily starting d +4. Groups I and II did not survive intravenous challenge, whereas group III had a 40% survival rate. After nasal instillation of conidia, the survival was 25%, 35%, and 85% for mice in groups I, II, and III, respectively. These results demonstrate that prophylactic administration of L-AmB increased early survival against lethal challenge with A. fumigatus, compared with therapy instituted after infection.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000176307800022

  View details for PubMedID 12089676

• Immunity to infections following hematopoietic cell transplantation CURRENT OPINION IN IMMUNOLOGY Brown, J. M., Weissman, I. L., Shizuru, J. A. 2001; 13 (4): 451-457

  Abstract

  Hematopoietic cell transplantation has progressed from the use of unpurified bone marrow cells or mobilized peripheral blood cells to the use of purified stem cells and progenitor cells. These kinds of transplants can be designed to provide not only hematopoietic rescue but also augmented innate and acquired immunity.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000169648600010

  View details for PubMedID 11498301

• Voriconazole for salvage treatment of invasive aspergillosis Schlamm, H. T., Corey, L., Brown, J., Perfect UNIV CHICAGO PRESS. 2000: 265

  View details for Web of Science ID 000088950900354

• Increased transplant-related mortality following high-dose sequential chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) using the Ceprate SC stem cell concentration system for multiple myeloma (MM). Stockerl-Goldstein, K. E., Brown, J. M., O'Brien, R. M., Negrin, R. S., Hu, W. W., JOHNSTON, L. J., Shizuru, J. A., Taylor, T. L., Blume, K. G. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 1999: 608A–608A

  View details for Web of Science ID 000083790302753

• Reassessing the organization of the UL42-UL43 region of the human cytomegalovirus strain AD169 genome VIROLOGY Mocarski, E. S., Prichard, M. N., TAN, C. S., Brown, J. M. 1997; 239 (1): 169-175

  Abstract

  A polymorphism in the UL42-UL43 region of the human cytomegalovirus genome has been characterized by nucleotide sequence analysis, revealing a 929-bp insertion following nt 54,612 relative to the published strain AD169-UK genome sequence (M.S. Chee et al., 1990, Curr. Top. Microbiol Immunol. 154, 125-170). Although AD169-UK exhibited polymorphism in this genomic region, other CMV strains (Towne, Toledo, and AD169-ATCC) carried only the newly characterized longer form. The additional sequence altered the assignment of UL42 and UL43 open reading frames. UL42 decreased in size from 157 to 125 codons, retaining 76 of the previously reported carboxyl terminal codons, and UL43 increased in size from 187 to 423 codons, retaining 185 of the previously reported amino terminal codons. This additional sequence makes UL43 a more conserved betaherpesvirus US22 family member. Only AD169-UK exhibited restriction fragment length polymorphism in this region, suggesting that a deletion occurred during the propagation of this strain in cell culture. The additional sequence should be considered a bona fide part of the cytomegalovirus genome and the AD169 genome size should be corrected to 230,283 bp.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000071139000016

  View details for PubMedID 9426456

• SELECTABLE INSERTION AND DELETION MUTAGENESIS OF THE HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS GENOME USING THE ESCHERICHIA-COLI GUANOSINE PHOSPHORIBOSYL TRANSFERASE (GPT) GENE JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY Greaves, R. F., Brown, J. M., VIEIRA, J., Mocarski, E. S. 1995; 76: 2151-2160

  Abstract

  We describe the mutagenesis of the IRSI-US5 region of the human cytomegalovirus genome, demonstrating the potential of the E. coli guanosine phosphoribosyl transferase (gpt) gene as a selectable marker for insertion and deletion mutagenesis of high passage (AD169, Towne) as well as low passage (Toledo) strains of virus. Despite evidence suggesting that the US3 gene product may play a regulatory role, disruption of this gene with a gpt insert had no effect on growth of any of these strains of virus in resting or dividing human fibroblasts, or in human thymus plus liver implants in SCID-hu mice. Transcripts of the gpt gene, under control of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase promoter adjacent to the US3 enhancer in the viral genome, accumulated with delayed early (beta) kinetics. Mutants with deletions in the IRS1 and US3-US5 regions were isolated by back-selection against gpt with the drug 6-thioguanine by growing virus in human Lesch-Nyhan (hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase deficient) skin fibroblasts immortalized with human papillomavirus oncogenes. Thus, we demonstrate a dependable method for insertion and deletion mutagenesis that can be applied to any region of the viral genome.

  View details for Web of Science ID A1995RT16600005

  View details for PubMedID 7561752

• DRAMATIC INTERSTRAIN DIFFERENCES IN THE REPLICATION OF HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IN SCID-HU MICE JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES Brown, J. M., Kaneshima, H., Mocarski, E. S. 1995; 171 (6): 1599-1603

  Abstract

  The ability of a low-passage strain (Toledo) and laboratory strains (AD169 and Towne) of human cytomegalovirus to replicate in SCID-hu (thymus plus liver) mice were compared. At a time of peak replication, 14 days after inoculation, the Toledo strain grew 2-3 orders of magnitude better than any laboratory strain, a difference reflecting the number of infected thymic stromal cells in the implants. The growth property of the Toledo strain was stable through serial passage and plaque purification. The AD169-ATCC strain failed to grow at all, while an independently maintained stock of this strain obtained from the United Kingdom replicated to low levels, suggesting that divergence had occurred during propagation in different locations. This work predicts the existence of viral genetic determinant(s) for growth in tissues that are lost during propagation in culture.

  View details for Web of Science ID A1995RB29800030

  View details for PubMedID 7769298