Application of an immune-magnetic cell sorting method for CD138-positive plasma cells in FISH analysis of multiple myeloma

INTRODUCTION

Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of multiple myeloma (MM) may indiscriminately count signals of nonplasma cells, thus decreasing specificity and sensitivity. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of an immune-magnetic sorting method for plasma cells in FISH analysis of MM and define optimal sample preparation conditions.

METHODS

Plasma cells were purified using EasySep(®) CD138 Positive Selection Cocktail and Magnetic Nanoparticles (Invitrogen). We compared FISH results with and without plasma cell purification for three sample preparation methods: direct harvest, 24-h culture, and 96-h culture with interleukin-4 in five newly diagnosed MM patients. Archived fixed bone marrow cells of 17 MM patients were also studied.

RESULTS

The percentage of abnormal cells identified was significantly higher with plasma cell purification than without purification (median, 88.0%; range, 84.0-100.0%vs. 15.0%, 12.5-29.5%, respectively). The three sample preparation methods showed comparable results. Immune-magnetic sorting also significantly increased the percentage of abnormal cells identified in FISH analysis of archived fixed bone marrow cells (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Immune-magnetic CD138-positive cell sorting significantly increased the percentage of abnormal cells identified in FISH analysis of MM samples for all sample preparation methods. This method could also be applied for retrospective FISH analysis of archived fixed bone marrow cells.

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma from skin or soft tissue: suggestion of treatment from multinational retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

Clinical features and outcomes of extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKL) arising from extranasal sites are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to study the prognosis and treatment outcome of skin/soft tissue primary ENKL.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This multicenter retrospective study included 48 patients with skin/soft tissue primary ENKL diagnosed from 1993 to 2010.

RESULTS

Patients with Ann Arbor stage I, T1-2N0M0 by International Society for Cutaneous Lymphomas-European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer TNM (tumour-node-metastasis) stage, International prognostic index score of 0-1, and a Korean prognostic index (KPI) score of 0-1 were associated with better survival. Four of five patients with T1-2N0M0 disease achieved complete response with radiation alone. In disseminated disease, only 6 of 13 patients responded to anthracycline-containing chemotherapy, and all the two patients receiving SMILE showed response.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we identified the prognostic value of KPI, and we suggest a treatment recommendation according to the TNM (tumour-node-metastasis) stage. Radiotherapy with/without chemotherapy seemed to be optimal in localized disease. In advanced stages, a more aggressive treatment regimen with newer agents should be sought.

Photovoltaics Informatics: Harnessing Energy Science via Data-driven Approaches

We discuss our current research focus on photovoltaic (PV) informatics, which is dedicated to functionality enhancement of solar materials through data management and data mining-aided, integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) for rapid screening and identification of multi-scale processing/structure/property/performance relationships. Our current PV informatics research ranges from transparent conducting oxides (TCO) to solar absorber materials. As a test bed, we report on examples of our current data management system for PV research and advanced data mining to improve the performance of solar cells such as CuInxGa1-xSe2 (CIGS) aiming at low-cost and high-rate processes. For the PV data management, we show recent developments of a strategy for data modeling, collection and aggregation methods, and construction of data interfaces, which enable proper archiving and data handling for data mining. For scientific data mining, the value of high-dimensional visualizations and non-linear dimensionality reduction is demonstrated to quantitatively assess how process conditions or properties are interconnected in the context of the development of Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films as the TCO layers for CIGS devices. Such relationships between processing and property of TCOs lead to optimal process design toward enhanced performance of CIGS cells/devices.

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSARs) for Materials Science

The field of combinatorial synthesis and “artificial intelligence” in materials science is still in its infancy. In order to develop and accelerated strategy in the discovery of new materials and processes, requires the need to integrate both the experimental aspects of combinatorial synthesis with the computational aspects of information based design of materials. In biology and organic chemistry, this has been accomplished by developing descriptors which help to specify “quantitative structure- activity relationships” at the molecular level. If materials science is to adopt these strategies as well, a similar framework of “QSARs” is required. In this paper, we outline some approaches that can lay the foundations for QSARs in materials science.

Combinatorial Materials Design through Database Science

Large scale materials databases have been traditionally used for search and retrieval of experimental and theoretical data. In this paper, three different cases are used to illustrate applications of statistical techniques in databases that extend beyond searching. A complete large scale database of molten salts is visualized for pattern seeking. In the second case, a large virtual combinatorial library of chalcopyrite semiconductors is developed from a small experimental and theoretical dataset. This involves selecting statistically appropriate parameters based on the physics of the materials. In the third case, ‘secondary’ descriptors are developed for a zeolites database to better understand the topology of mesoporous structures and as a materials design tool. These examples serve to demonstrate how databases can be used to identify important combinations of parameters relevant to combinatorial experimentation.

Optimal timing of G-CSF administration for effective autologous stem cell collection

The best time of G-CSF administration for PBPC collection remains to be defined. We aimed to identify optimal G-CSF administration timing for efficient autologous stem cell collection. A total of 262 lymphoma or multiple myeloma patients, who underwent PBPC collection from January 2000 to March 2008, were included. PBPCs were mobilized with chemotherapy followed by lenograstim at 10 μg/kg/day. Patients received lenograstim at 2000 hours, about half a day before leukapheresis (PM group) before November 2004, and at 0600 hours, 3 h before apheresis (AM group) subsequently. In the AM group, the median number of total collected CD34+ cells/kg was greater over a shorter duration of apheresis, and the median number of collected CD34+ cells/kg at first leukapheresis was larger. Stem cell collection efficacy (ratio of total collected CD34+ cells/kg per number of leukapheresis procedures) was higher, and proportion of patients who yielded an optimum harvest was larger. The statistically significant between-group difference was observed only in patients with high-dose CY chemotherapy for stem cell mobilization in subgroup analysis. The present study showed that G-CSF injection 3 h before apheresis improved the efficacy of autologous stem cell collection.

Immunoglobulin D multiple myeloma: response to therapy, survival, and prognostic factors in 75 patients

BACKGROUND

To analyze the clinical features, outcomes including efficacy of treatment, and prognostic factors of patients with immunoglobulin D multiple myeloma (IgD MM).

DESIGN AND METHODS

Seventy-five patients diagnosed with IgD MM were selected from the Korean Myeloma Registry database (www.myeloma.or.kr).

RESULTS

Median age was 57 years and the main presenting features were bone pain (77%). Renal function impairment and hypercalcemia were present in 40 (53%) and 20 (27%) patients. Sixty-seven patients (89%) had lambda light chains. Forty-eight patients (64%) were of stage III by International Staging System. Twenty-six patients (53%) had chromosomal abnormalities mostly by conventional cytogenetics. Thirty-nine patients (54%) were treated with vincristine, adriamycin, and dexamethasone chemotherapy; the overall response rate (ORR) of 56%. Sixteen patients (22%) received first-line chemotherapy including new drugs (bortezomib or thalidomide), with an ORR of 81%. At a median follow-up time of 28.6 months, median overall survival (OS) was 18.5 months. Age, extramedullary plasmacytoma, del(13) or hypoploidy, serum β(2) microglobulin level, and platelet count were significant prognostic factors for OS.

CONCLUSIONS

IgD MM is an aggressive disease that is usually detected at an advanced stage. Despite a positive initial response, survival after relapse was dismal. Intensive treatment strategies before and following stem cell transplantation may improve outcomes in younger patients.