IgH and TCRgamma gene rearrangements, cyclin A1 and HOXA9 gene expression in biphenotypic acute leukemias

In this study we investigated IgH and TCRgamma gene rearrangements, cyclin A1 and HOXA9 gene expression as well as the in vitro growth of biphenotypic acute leukemia (BAL) blasts in relation to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The aim of the study was to correlate BAL morphology and its biological parameters in order to get information that might be used for additional stratification of BAL. This rare form of AL was identified in a total of 10 patients, comprising 4.3% of adult and 3.0% of pediatric patients with de novo AL referred to our institution during the 1999-2003 period. Our results indicate that IgH and TCRgamma gene rearrangements correlated well with lymphoid BAL morphology, whereas the expression of cyclin A1 correlated with myeloid and undifferentiated BAL morphology. Surprisingly, HOXA9 expression, a marker associated with myeloid cell lineage, showed no strong correlation with BAL morphology. Finally, in vitro growth of blasts during a 7-day culture showed autonomous cell growth in 3/10 AML and 3/8 myeloid BAL samples tested, but not in any of the AL with lymphoid features. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to extend research to a broader spectrum of cell markers.

Evaluation of Mixed Chimerism in Bone Marrow Transplantation Program in Croatia

In this study we monitored mixed chimerism in 36 patients with various hematologic disorders. All of them underwent a classic conditioning regimen, 31 patients for related bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and 5 patients for unrelated BMT. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood, and samples were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified for 5 short tandem repeat (STR) loci (TH01, VWA31, FES/FPS, F13A01, and SE33) and for one variable number of tandem repeats locus (D1S80). Samples were run on a 6% polyacrylamide gel in an automated ALFexpress sequencer. In all 36 donor-recipient pairs we found differences for at least two STR loci. In most cases the difference was observed for SE33 and D1S80 loci. Mixed chimerism (MC) was detected in 18 patients: 4 with unrelated BMT and 14 with related sibling donors. In 11 patients MC was detected in the early period after BMT, but was soon followed by full donor chimerism (FDC) in peripheral blood. In 5 cases patients MC appearing after FDC was established, and was predictive for the relapse. One patient showed alternating MC and FDC, but at the end showed only recipient cells and graft rejection. In conclusion, the PCR-STR analysis is a highly informative, fast, and simple screening method for monitoring chimerism in a BMT program.

Haematological malignancies in childhood in Croatia: investigating the theories of depleted uranium, chemical plant damage and 'population mixing'

Some of potential causes proposed to explain the reported increase of haematological malignancies in childhood during or after the war period in several countries include depleted uranium, chemical pollution and population mixing theory. The aim of this study was to define the population of Croatian children aged 0-14 years who were potentially exposed to each of those risks during the war and to investigate any possible association between the exposure and the incidence of haematological malignancies. The authors analyzed the data reported by the Cancer Registry of Croatia during the pre-war period (1986-1990), war period (1991-1995) and post-war period (1996-1999). In the group of 10 counties potentially exposed to depleted uranium and two counties where chemical war damage occurred, no significant difference in incidence of the studied haematological malignancies was noted in comparison to pre-war period. The incidence of lymphatic leukaemia significantly increased in four counties where population mixing had occurred during the war period, supporting the 'mixing theory'. In those counties, the incidence of Hodgkin's lymphoma decreased during and after the war. In Croatia as a whole, decreases in incidence of myeloid leukaemias during war and non-Hodgkin lymphoma after the war were noted.

Morganella morganii causing fatal sepsis in a platelet recipient and also isolated from a donor's stool

Bacterial contamination of blood products causes significant patient morbidity and mortality. Contaminated platelet transfusion is a frequent cause of bacteraemia and sepsis because of the storage conditions of platelets. A fatal case of Morganella morganii platelet transfusion associated with sepsis is described, along with procedures traced back to the isolation of M. morganii from a donor's stool. Molecular typing was performed, and the same M. morganii strain was found in blood and post-mortem organ cultures of platelet recipient and platelet bag and in the donor's stool. The route of contamination is unknown. The contamination could be due to either insufficient venipuncture site disinfection or the donor's transient bacteraemia. Patient died 5 days after the transfusion.

The presence of an HLA-identical sibling donor has no impact on outcome of patients with high-risk MDS or secondary AML (sAML) treated with intensive chemotherapy followed by transplantation: results of a prospective study of the EORTC, EBMT, SAKK and GIMEMA Leukemia Groups (EORTC study 06921)

This report used the framework of a large European study to investigate the outcome of patients with and without an HLA-identical sibling donor on an intention-to-treat basis. After a common remission-induction and consolidation course, patients with an HLA-identical sibling donor were scheduled for allogeneic transplantation and patients lacking a donor for autologous transplantation. In all, 159 patients alive at 8 weeks from the start of treatment were included in the present analysis. In total, 52 patients had a donor, 65 patients did not have a donor and in 42 patients the availability of a donor was not assessed. Out of 52 patients, 36 (69%) with a donor underwent allogeneic transplantation (28 in CR1). Out of 65 patients, 33 (49%) received an autograft (27 in CR1). The actuarial survival rates at 4 years were 33.3% (s.e. = 6.7%) for patients with a donor and 39.0% (s.e. = 6.5%) for patients without a donor (P = 0.18). Event-free survival rates were 23.1% (s.e. = 6.2%) and 21.5% (s.e. = 5.3%), respectively (P = 0.66). Correction for alternative donor transplants did not substantially alter the survival of the group without a donor. Also, the survival in the various cytogenetic risk groups was not significantly different when comparing the donor vs the no-donor group. This analysis shows that patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and secondary acute myeloid leukemia may benefit from both allogeneic and autologous transplantation. We were unable to demonstrate a survival advantage for patients with a donor compared to patients without a donor.

Are human platelet alloantigens (HPA) minor transplantation antigens in clinical bone marrow transplantation?

The role of human platelet alloantigens (HPA) in clinical bone marrow allotransplantation was investigated. The leading hypothesis was that HPA alloepitopes act as minor histocompatibility antigens and aggravate graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). To exclude the effect of MHC disparity, only HLA identical donor-recipient pairs were entered into the study. The influence of HPA compatibility on overall survival, occurrence of relapses and haematopoietic recovery was also investigated. A total of 223 patients who received a graft from an HLA-identical sibling, genotyped for HPA -1, -2, -3, -4 and -5, were observed over a post-transplant period of 24 months following the protocol recommended by EBMT. The data from patients having received grafts from HPA compatible donors were compared to data from patients having received grafts that were mismatched in HPA allotypes in the GVH direction. Analysis of the incidence of acute and chronic (GVHD), overall survival, relapse incidence, haematopoietic recovery and some other clinical parameters did not reveal any significant difference between the HPA-matched and -mismatched groups of patients, regardless of their age. Our results give no evidence that HPA-1, -2, -3 and -5 alloantigens should be considered minor transplantation antigens in clinical bone marrow transplantation.

Myeloma kidney: pathogenesis and treatment

Renal failure frequently complicates the course of multiple myeloma. Factors that determine the development of myeloma kidney include a high rate of light chain excretion, biochemical characteristics of light chain, and concurrent volume depletion. There are two main pathogenetic mechanisms; i.e. direct tubular toxicity and intratubular cast formation. Therapeutic measures include chemotherapy, bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, hyperhydration, plasmapheresis, dialysis, solving of hypercalcemia, treatment of anemia with erythropoietin, and avoidance of nephrotoxic drugs and radiocontrast agents. Experimental approach includes administration of colchicines and alkalinization of the urine.

Long-term results of conventional-dose salvage chemotherapy in patients with refractory and relapsed Hodgkin's disease (Croatian experience)

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to analyze outcome of patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) in whom first-line chemotherapy with mustine/vincristine/procarbazine/prednisone (MOPP) had failed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 1982 to December 1989 among 210 patients treated with MOPP and radiotherapy to initial bulky sites, 65 patients were primary refractory to or relapsed after initial treatment.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine of 65 patients (44%) were primary refractory to initial chemotherapy, 20 relapsed within 12 months after complete remission (CR) and 16 relapsed after CR that lasted more than 12 months. Patients with primary refractory HD and early relapse (<12 months after CR) were treated with doxorubicin/bleomycin/vinblastine/darcarbazine. In patients with late relapse (>12 months after CR) MOPP was repeated. The median follow-up for all patients was 115 months. The overall response rate was 63%. Thirty-three patients (51%) achieved a second CR and eight patients (12%) partial response. Remission rate was greatest in patients with late relapse (CR >12 months) (75 versus 55% for early relapse versus 35% for primary refractory HD) (P <0.01). At 10 years, overall and failure-free survival rates were 21 and 16%, respectively. Patients who were in first remission longer than 12 months had a superior overall survival (37 versus 18% for early relapse) and failure-free survival (24 versus 10% for early relapse). No patient with primary refractory HD was alive beyond 52 months after initial treatment failure (P <0.01). Main prognostic factors were duration of the first remission and tumor bulk at relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirm previous observations that a significant proportion of patients with HD who experience induction treatment failure cannot be cured with conventional treatment and probably need more aggressive therapy.

Chemotherapy only compared to chemotherapy followed by transplantation in high risk myelodysplastic syndrome and secondary acute myeloid leukemia; two parallel studies adjusted for various prognostic factors

Comparisons of the effectiveness of chemotherapy and transplantation in AML in first complete remission (CR) have focused almost exclusively on patients with de novo disease. Here we used Cox modelling to compare these strategies in patients with MDS and s-AML treated by the Leukemia Group of the EORTC or at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. All patients were aged 15-60. The 184 EORTC patients received conventional dose ara-C + idarubicin + etoposide for remission induction, and after one consolidation course, were scheduled to receive an allograft, or an autograft if a sibling donor was unavailable. The 215 MDA patients received various high-dose ara-C containing induction regimens, and in CR, continued to receive these regimens at reduced dose for 6-12 months. CR rates were 54% EORTC and 63% MDA (P = 0.09). Sixty-five of the 100 EORTC patients who entered CR received a transplant in first CR. Disease-free survival in patients achieving CR was superior in the EORTC cohort, the 4-years DFS rates were 28.9% (s.e. = 4.8%) EORTC vs 17.3% (s.e. = 3.7%) MDA (P = 0.017). Survival from CR was not significantly different in the EORTC and MDA groups, as was survival from start of treatment. After accounting for prognostic factors the conclusions were unchanged. Despite various problems with the analysis discussed below, the data suggest that neither transplantation nor chemotherapy, as currently practised, can be unequivocally recommended for these patients in first CR and that questions as to the superior modality may be less important than the need to improve results with both.

Bone marrow immunoscintigraphy in haematological patients with pancytopenia: preliminary results

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical value of bone marrow immunoscintigraphy using the (99m)Tc labelled anti-NCA-95 antigranulocyte antibodies (AGAb) and of AGAb bone marrow uptake ratio (UR) in the initial diagnostic work-up of diseases with depression of the bone marrow. Twenty-four whole-body bone marrow scans were performed in 23 patients (11 women, 12 men; median age 46 years, range 17-74 years) 5 h after i.v. injection of 370 MBq of AGAb. The UR was calculated from the posterior view drawing an irregular region of interest around the sacroiliac and a background areas. The mean UR in pancytopenic patients was 2.3+/-1.5 (range 0.3-5.8), thus being significantly lower (P=0.45 x 10(-6)) than the mean UR in a control group of 50 patients (mean UR 7.3+/-2.3; range 4.4-12.6) obtained previously. Considering patient age, there was no overlap between UR of pancytopenic patients and the respective normal ranges. The bone marrow appearance on scans seemed to be characteristic for the different haematological diseases investigated. In six patients with myelofibrosis, bone marrow scans demonstrated diffusely decreased bone marrow activity and prominent splenic uptake, possibly related to extramedullary haematopoiesis. In aplastic anaemia, highly reduced and patchy marrow uptake was observed in four patients (five scans), in one of them persisting even after blood cell counts had recovered to the near-normal range. In another two patients with aplastic anaemia, diffusely decreased bone marrow uptake was obtained. In patients with myeloid leukaemia, bone marrow patterns were almost normal probably because the target antigen is often expressed on neoplastic myeloid cells, too. Bone marrow extension was a common finding in these patients. There is an obvious differentiation between haematological patients with pancytopenia and normal subjects by means of AGAb bone marrow uptake ratio. The distinct patterns of AGAb distribution may be indicative for particular haematological diseases.

Reed-Sternberg cells in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin's disease

Hodgkin/Reed Stemberg (HRS) cells mediate the classical features of Hodgkin's disease. However, because of their rarity in tumor tissue, little is known about their origin and function. Recent advances in biotechnology, including the single cell manipulation, enabled the insight into the biology of HRS cell. It has been demonstrated that in the great majority of cases they are of germinal center B cell origin, with highly developed interactive network with adjacent cells via expression of cell adhesion molecules, tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, and elaboration of different cytokines.

Trastuzumab in the treatment of advanced breast cancer: single-center experience

A significant number of women with advanced breast cancer fail to respond to standard-dose chemotherapy. From the beginning of 1999, 17 women with HER2 positive advanced breast cancer received Herceptin as monotherapy or in combination with paclitaxel or other non-anthracyclines. Eight (47%) women previously received high-dose chemotherapy followed by haematopoiesis stem cell rescue. Three women received Herceptin alone, eleven Herceptin plus paclitaxel and three Herceptin and some of the other non-anthracyclines (CCNU, cisplatin and gemcitabine). In the group of patients who received Herceptin monotherapy, one has partial response (PR), one stable disease (SD) and in the third patient the disease progressed. Out of three patients who received Herceptin in combination with other non-anthracyclines, two have SD and one progressed. In the group of 11 women who received Herceptin + Taxol, 7 (64%) patients achieved PR, 2 (18%) SD, and 2 (18%) had disease progression. Grade 3-4 neutropenia has been observed in four (23%) women. Febrile neutropenia was observed in two cases and resolved completely when antibiotics were introduced. Other grade 3 toxicity that has been noted is peripheral neuropathy in three (18%) patients, diarrhoea in four (23%) and onycholysis in one (6%). Serial heart ultrasound showed no significant decline in left ventricular ejection fraction. According to our preliminary experience, Herceptin therapy showed promising results in women with metastatic breast cancer.

Intensive chemotherapy followed by allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) and acute myeloid leukemia following MDS

This study investigated the feasibility of allogeneic (alloSCT) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as postconsolidation therapy for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) or acute myeloid leukemia after MDS. Patients with a histocompatible sibling were candidates for alloSCT and the remaining patients for ASCT. Remission-induction therapy consisted of 1 or 2 courses with idarubicin, cytarabine, and etoposide, followed by one intensive consolidation course with cytarabine and mitoxantrone. Initially, bone marrow cells were used for ASCT. Subsequently, mobilized blood stem cells were used in an attempt to shorten posttransplantation hypoplasia. With a median follow-up of 3.6 years the 184 evaluable patients showed a 4-year survival rate of 26% and a median survival of 13 months. The remission-induction chemotherapy induced complete remission (CR) in 100 patients (54%). The 4-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 29% and the median DFS was 12 months. Twenty-eight of 39 patients (72%) with a donor were allografted in CR-1, including 2 patients who underwent transplantation in CR-1 without a consolidation course. Thirty-six of 59 patients (61%) without a donor received ASCT in CR-1. The 4-year DFS rates in the group of patients with or without a donor were 31% and 27%, respectively. The 4-year survival rates from CR were 36% and 33%, respectively. This large prospective study shows the feasibility of both alloSCT and ASCT. This treatment approach leads to a relatively high remission rate, and the majority of patients in remission received the SCT in CR-1. The ongoing study investigates whether this approach is better than treatment with chemotherapy only.

Effect of opioid peptide methionine-enkephalin in long-term cultures of human bone marrow

Methionine enkephalin, an opioid peptide belonging to the family of neuropeptides, has been shown to function as a neurotransmitter, hormone and growth factor. The present work explored its effects in long-term culture of bone marrow cells, harvested from a patient with acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL-L3) in the second complete remission. Nine cultivation flasks were established and maintained for five weeks, with medium renewal once a week. At each re-feeding, methionine-enkephalin was added to the cultures in final concentrations 10(-8), 10(-10) or 10(-12) M, and granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (GM-CFU) were determined among the harvested, nonadherent cell populations. The total number of nonadherent cells was 8% to 42% higher in the treated cultures than in the control, nontreated cultures, and the GM-CFU counts were three to four times higher. Those changes, although evident, did not reach statistical significance because of the small group sizes. In 1 of 9 cultures the adherent cell layer was atypical, the cell population consisted of small cells resembling the lymphoblasts, and the cell count was 2-8 times higher than in the controls. That aberrant culture has presumably arisen from residual leukemic cells remaining in the bone marrow after chemotherapy. The findings support the idea that opioid peptides, including methionine-enkephalin, participate in regulation of hematopoiesis. Two mechanisms may have accounted for the observed effects of enkephalin on cultured bone marrow cells: an indirect action, via interleukins secreted from the stromal cells upon stimulation of the opioid receptors, or a direct action on hematopoietic precursors.

Effects of a membrane-metallopeptidase blocking agent thiorphan in long-term cultures of human bone marrow

Thiorphan [(DL-3-mercapto-2-benzylpropanoyl)-glycine], a drug blocking the activity of membrane metalloendopeptidase EC 3.4.24.11 (CD10, CALLA), was added to long-term cultures of human bone marrow. Progression of the cultures was assessed by cell counts, cytology and clonogenic (GM-CFU) ability of the non-adherent cells in the supernatant and by morphology of the adherent stromal layer. A stimulatory effect on hematopoiesis was noted.

Thiorphan, an inhibitor of neutral endopeptidase/enkephalinase (CD10/CALLA) enhances cell proliferation in bone marrow cultures of patients with acute leukemia in remission

Thiorphan, (DL-mercapto-2-benzylpropanoyl)-glycine is a potent and specific inhibitor of membrane metallo-endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11, CD10). We explored its effects in short-term clonal cultures of the bone marrow from 10 patients with acute leukemia in remission. The cell suspensions were incubated with thiorphan (10(-13) to 10(-5) M) and seeded for the granulocyte/macrophage-colony forming unit (GM-CFU) assay. In normal bone marrow samples the median seeding efficiency was 119 colonies and clusters per 10(5) cells and thiorphan caused slight stimulation of the clonal growth in concentrations above 10(-9) M. In the leukemic samples, the median seeding efficiency varied from 10 to 366 colonies and clusters per 10(5) seeded cells. Meaningful alterations of the clonal growth were noted in 32 out of 83 thiorphan-treated cultures (39%). In those 32 cultures the stimulatory effects outnumbered the inhibitory effects (24 versus 8). Thus, thiorphan stimulated the progenitor cell proliferation in bone marrow samples from the normal donor and from the patients with acute leukemia in remission. Thiorphan binding to CD10 might interfere with the processing of neuropeptide hemoregulatory factors and thus influence the progenitor cell proliferation.