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Francesco Volzone

Bio: Francesco Volzone is an academic researcher from University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. The author has contributed to research in topics: Multiple myeloma & Medicine. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 24 publications receiving 404 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 2007-Blood
TL;DR: Overrepresentation of specific H pylori genotypes in ITP suggests a possible role for bacterium-related factors in the disease pathogenesis and suggests a sustained platelet recovery in a proportion of patients with ITP by H plyori eradication alone.

90 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Low‐intensity intratechal prophylaxis through liposomal cytarabine was effective because the CNS failure rate was low (3·4%) and without severe neurological toxicities, and improving outcomes in elderly patients remains a priority.
Abstract: Specific trials on adult Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and 'unclassifiable' lymphomas with features intermediate between BL and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (BL/DLBCL) are advocated which include substantial numbers of older patients, to improve treatment feasibility, while countering risks of systemic and central nervous system (CNS) recurrences. We prospectively evaluated a modified CODOX-M/IVAC (CODOX-M: cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, high-dose methotrexate; IVAC: ifosfamide, etoposide and high-dose cytarabine) regimen by the addition of rituximab (R) and liposome-encapsulated cytarabine (D) to increase antitumour activity and halve the number of intrathecal treatments. Thirty adults (40% >60years) with BL (n=15) and BL/DLBCL (n=15) were accrued. Primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), CNS recurrence, and liposomal cytarabine-associated toxicity. Eighty percent of patients received the whole treatment programme, the remaining cases received at least three full courses. Application of the RD-CODOX-M/IVAC regimen resulted in remarkable 4-year PFS (78%) and complete remission (CR) rates (93%). However, PFS was significantly lower in patients older than 60years as compared to younger ones (49%vs 93%, P=0·03; median, 36months), despite high actual dose-intensity, CR rate and tolerability. Reduced-intensity intratechal prophylaxis through liposomal cytarabine was effective because the CNS failure rate was low (3·4%) and without severe neurological toxicities. The RD-CODOX-M/IVAC strategy is feasible and highly effective, but improving outcomes in elderly patients remains a priority.

73 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: R‐COMP‐14 is feasible and ensures a substantial DFS to poor‐risk DLBCL patients who would have been denied anthracycline‐based treatment due to cardiac morbidity and the Age‐adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index predicted both treatment discontinuation rate and TTF.
Abstract: This Phase II study assessed feasibility and efficacy of a biweekly R-COMP-14 regimen (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, non-pegylated liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) in untreated elderly patients with poor-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and moderate to high ‘life threat’ impact NIA/NCI cardiac comorbidity. A total of 208 courses were delivered, with close cardiac monitoring, to 41 patients (median age: 73 years, range: 62–82; 37% >75 years) at a median interval of 15·6 (range, 13–29) days; 67% completed all six scheduled courses. Response rate was 73%, with 68% complete responses (CR); 4-year disease-free survival (DFS) and time to treatment failure (TTF) were 72% and 49%, respectively. Failures were due to early death (n = 3), therapy discontinuations (no-response n = 2; toxicity n = 6), relapse (n = 6) and death in CR (n = 3). Incidence of cardiac grade 3–5 adverse events was 7/41 (17%; 95% confidence interval: 8–31%). Time to progression and overall survival at 4-years were 77% and 67%, respectively. The Age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (aaCCI) correlated with failures (P = 0·007) with patients scoring ≤7 having a longer TTF (66% vs. 29%; P = 0·009). R-COMP-14 is feasible and ensures a substantial DFS to poor-risk DLBCL patients who would have been denied anthracycline-based treatment due to cardiac morbidity. The aaCCI predicted both treatment discontinuation rate and TTF.

54 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
25 Feb 2010-Blood
TL;DR: BCR-ABL-specific T lymphocytes were detected in all patients, more frequently in bone marrow than in peripheral blood samples and resulted significantly associated with lower minimal residual disease values (P < .001), whereas absent at leukemia relapse.

43 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Mar 2007-Leukemia
TL;DR: The detection of Aspergillus DNA through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is still hampered by the difficulties in understanding the fungal DNA release and kinetics other than by technical barriers.
Abstract: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a leading cause of infection-related mortality in hematologic patients, with death rate ranging from 50 to 90%.1 The reason for this extremely poor outcome is because of the difficulties in a timely and undoubted diagnosis, which still relies on a very high degree of suspicion. The current diagnostic tools are limited by invasiveness, slowness, relative insensitiveness, lack of standardization and unpredictable kinetics.2 The most widely studied test, Galctomannan antigenemia (GM), has been demonstrated to be highly variable in performance, with sensitivity ranging between 29 and 100%, and is affected by several factors related either to the fungus or to the host.2 Furthermore, the detection of Aspergillus DNA through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is still hampered by the difficulties in understanding the fungal DNA release and kinetics other than by technical barriers.2 For all these reasons, establishing an early diagnosis of IA remains a challenge.1, 2

33 citations


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01 Oct 2004
TL;DR: The nature and function of the immune response to fungi is an exciting challenge that might set the stage for new approaches to the treatment of fungal diseases, from immunotherapy to vaccines.
Abstract: Fungal diseases represent an important paradigm in immunology, as they can result from either a lack of recognition by the immune system or overactivation of the inflammatory response. Research in this field is entering an exciting period of transition from studying the molecular and cellular bases of fungal virulence to determining the cellular and molecular mechanisms that maintain immune homeostasis with fungi. The fine line between these two research areas is central to our understanding of tissue homeostasis and its possible breakdown in fungal infections and diseases. Recent insights into immune responses to fungi suggest that functionally distinct mechanisms have evolved to achieve optimal host-fungus interactions in mammals.

992 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: These guidelines on the management of HSV, VZV and EBV infection in patients with hematological malignancies and after SCT were prepared by the European Conference on Infections in Leukemia following a predefined methodology.
Abstract: These guidelines on the management of HSV, VZV and EBV infection in patients with hematological malignancies and after SCT were prepared by the European Conference on Infections in Leukemia following a predefined methodology. A PubMed search was conducted using the appropriate key words to identify studies pertinent to management of HSV, VZV and EBV infections. References of relevant articles and abstracts from recent hematology and SCT scientific meetings were also reviewed. Prospective and retrospective studies identified from the data sources were evaluated, and all data deemed relevant were included in this analysis. The clinical and scientific background was described and discussed, and the quality of evidence and level of recommendation were graded according to the Centers for Disease Control criteria.

334 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
05 Feb 2009-Blood
TL;DR: The detection and eradication of H pylori infection should be considered in the work-up of patients with seemingly typical ITP, and the response rate tended to be higher in countries with a high background prevalence of Hpylori infections and in patients with milder degrees of thrombocytopenia.

303 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review presents data from normal PC up to human myeloma cell lines in order to define different entities of MM based on expression of CD19, CD20, CD27 and CD117; and identify new therapeutic targets.
Abstract: The aim of this review is to integrate non-exhaustive relevant data on the phenotype of human plasma cells (PC), including normal, reactive and malignant (multiple myeloma, MM) PC. This review focuses on (i) a universal marker of both normal and malignant plasma cells, CD138; (ii) markers related to malignancy i.e., CD19, CD27, CD28, and CD56; (iii) markers associated with signaling and severity of MM (CD45, CD221). Finally, this review presents data from normal PC up to human myeloma cell lines in order to: (i) define different entities of MM based on expression of CD19, CD20, CD27 and CD117; and (ii) identify new therapeutic targets.

267 citations