Usefulness of FDG-PET in diagnosing primary lymphoma of the liver

This case report shows for the first time the usefulness of positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) in the diagnosis of primary non Hodgkin's lymphoma of the liver. Results of FDG-PET, which in contrast to other imaging techniques offers the advantage of screening the whole body, demonstrated a high glycolytic activity of a solitary mass in the liver with central necrosis (loss of glycolytic activity), but no spread of lymphoma to the body. These results were confirmed by ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and were biopsy proven. From our findings we conclude that in patients with liver masses with high uptake of FDG, lack of liver dysfunction and absence of signs indicating other malignancies, a primary lymphoma of the liver should be considered as a possible diagnosis.

Karyotype abnormalities and their clinical significance in blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia

We examined karyotypes and their prognostic significance in a series of 122 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis. Of 73 patients cytogenetically examined at the onset of blast crisis 63% had developed secondary cytogenetic abnormalities in addition to the Philadelphia chromosome. These newly emerging abnormalities included a double Philadelphia chromosome in 20 patients, a trisomy 8 in 17, and an isochromosome 17q in 11 patients. Development of such additional karyotypic abnormalities was significantly associated with a shorter median survival and less response to cytoreductive treatment and was significantly more common in nonlymphoid blast crisis than in the lymphoid-type blast crisis. Thus, assessment of karyotypes at the onset of chronic myeloid leukemia blast crisis appears to be of prognostic significance for both remission duration and survival.

Randomized studies with interferon in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and comparative molecular aspects. German CML Study Group

Four randomized prospective studies on interferon alpha (IFN) in CML report varying degrees of prolongation of the chronic phase of CML and of survival as compared to conventional therapies. There is agreement that IFN prolongs survival as compared to standard busulfan. There is disagreement, however, as to which degree IFN is superior to hydroxyurea. Whereas the randomized studies of the Italian cooperative group and of the British MRC find a statistically significant survival advantage of IFN over hydroxyurea of about 20 months, this difference is only 10 months in the German randomized study and not significant. One reason for this difference might be the more intensive treatment schedule for the hydroxyurea control group in the German study. Other reasons might be differences in risk profiles between the patient groups studied and in strategies of IFN therapy. About 1% of the human genome consists of retroviral or retroviral-like sequences. By analogy to animal models, endogenous retroviruses might also have pathogenic potential in human disease. The transposon-like structure of retroviruses that enables them to integrate at almost any position in the host genome and the capability of retroviruses to serve as efficient vehicles of cellular genes are in support of a pathogenic potential. Furthermore, particles resembling retroviruses have been observed long ago in human embryonic and malignant tissues and cell lines. Sequence information and the transcriptional activity of the endogenous sequences argue against the possibility that these sequences are only fossil relics of early evolutionary periods. Most of the sequences appear to be inactivated by stop codons or frameshifts, making the genomic localization of open reading frames with biological activity difficult. Up to now, mutagenesis by insertion of retroviral-like sequences in sporadic cases of human disease appears to be the only example of pathogenic relevance of retroviruses in man.

Molecular response of CML patients treated with interferon-alpha monitored by quantitative Southern blot analysis. German chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) Study Group

We analysed 459 samples from 206 chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) patients at diagnosis and during or after treatment with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) by quantitative Southern blot analysis for BCR rearrangement. In a minority (2%) of Ph-positive patients, no BCR rearrangement was detectable due to breakpoints outside the major breakpoint cluster region (M-bcr) or possibly due to M-bcr deletions. Results from 235 samples were compared with the proportion of Ph-positive metaphases found in contemporaneous bone marrow specimens analysed by conventional cytogenetics. The rank correlation between both methods was 0.82 (P < 0.001). The proportion of CML cells in samples determined by Southern blot analysis (BCR ratio) was significantly different between cytogenetically-defined minor, partial, and complete response groups (P < 0.001). Empirically-derived cut-off points in the BCR ratio were introduced in order to define molecular response groups for comparison to standard cytogenetic response groups: a BCR ratio of 0% was defined as complete molecular response and ratios of 1-24%, 25-50%, and > 50% were defined as partial, minor, and no molecular response, respectively. Using these cut-off points the concordance between both methods was 67% (P < 0.0001), a major cytogenetic response could be predicted or excluded in more than 90% of cases (P < 0.0001). Our findings demonstrated that quantitative Southern blot was as sensitive as cytogenetics and as peripheral blood samples are suitable for this technique it should be considered as the method of choice for routine monitoring IFN-alpha therapy in CML patients.

Comparative analysis of the impact of risk profile and of drug therapy on survival in CML using Sokal's index and a new score. German chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)-Study Group

Survival times in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) may vary widely depending on the risk profiles of patients. This fact is frequently not, or not sufficiently, considered in evaluating survival in CML, and some studies do not report risk profiles. Therefore we analysed the relative impact of risk profile and therapy on survival using the median survival times of therapy groups and of risk groups of the three-arm randomized German CML Study I (interferon alpha v hydroxyurea v busulphan; median survival times 65 v 56 v 45 months, n = 490, median observation time 70.4 months). The impact of risk profile (Sokal) on survival as determined by the survival difference between high and low risk patients (40 months) was twice the maximum survival difference between treatment groups (20 months). A similar ratio was obtained after stratification for therapy and for risk profile. Since Sokal's index has been reported to prognostically discriminate IFN-treated patients less well than chemotherapy-treated patients, a new score with better discrimination of IFN-treated patients was also used. The results were similar for both scores. We conclude that the risk profile at diagnosis is still more important for survival of CML patients than therapy. Therefore patients should be stratified according to risk profile for comparisons of survival times between studies and treatment arms.

The abundant presence of Söderström bodies in cytology smears of fine-needle aspirates contributes to distinguishing high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from carcinoma and sarcoma

Söderström bodies, also termed lymphoglandular bodies (LGB) and detectable in fine-needle aspiration cytology smears, have long been accepted as indicative of lymphoid tissues. To investigate the validity of this association, we examined 588 cytologic smears from high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), carcinoma, and sarcoma. Slides with lymphocytes in the vicinity of carcinoma and sarcoma cells had been excluded. Two independent observers scored smears to number, size, color, form, and smear background of the LGB. In 68 of 359 (19%) nonlymphoid malignancies rare (defined as < 1 LGB per high-power field) or occasional LGB (defined as 1-20 LGB per high-power field) were detectable. Half of these tumors consisted of melanomas, small cell lung carcinomas, and teratomas; the other half encompassed undifferentiated sarcomas. However, none of the smears obtained from carcinoma or sarcoma tissue had abundant LGB (defined as > 20 LGB per high-power field). When number of LGB was estimated to be abundant, the sensitivity for diagnosing a lymphoma was 54%; however, specificity was 100%. The difference in showing LGB between high-grade NHL and carcinoma/sarcoma was highly significant (p = 0.0001). The presence of abundant LGB in cytologic smears strongly suggests the diagnosis of lymphoma, while the absence of LGB nearly excludes this diagnosis. No trends were observed with the other criteria which were tested. LGB in aspiration cytology smears from malignant tumors thus represent a useful tool to distinguish high-grade NHL from carcinoma and sarcoma.

Quantitative analysis of cobblestone area-forming cells in bone marrow of patients with aplastic anemia by limiting dilution assay

In the past, the analysis of primitive human hematopoietic progenitor cells with repopulating activity was limited by lack of appropriate in vitro assay systems. It was recently shown that cobblestone area-forming cells (CAFC) giving rise to cobblestone areas after 5 weeks in long-term marrow cultures (LTMC) represent a population of pluripotent progenitor cells with long-term marrow-repopulating activity. We have used a microtiter limiting dilution-type human LTMC system to quantitate the frequency of CAFC (week 5) in aplastic anemia (AA). In bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) of healthy donors (n = 36) we observed a mean frequency of 84.4 CAFC per 10(5) BM-MNC (95% confidence interval limits, 66.4 to 102.4). The mean frequency of CAFC in BM of 31 AA patients was 6.6 per 10(5) BM-MNC (95% confidence interval limits, 5.3 to 7.9; n = 47). This frequency is significantly lower as compared with controls (P < .0001). The frequency of CAFC was reduced not only in pancytopenic AA patients (6.2 per 10(5) BM-MNC; P < .0001 v control), but also in patients in remission after immunosuppression (7.6; P < .0001 v control; P = .1 v pancytopenic AA patients). The CAFC frequency did not correlate with the severity or duration of the disease and did not predict response to immunosuppressive treatment. In summary, the frequency of primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells, as measured by the CAFC assay, is significantly reduced in AA. CAFC remain severely reduced even after hematologic recovery after immunosuppressive treatment. The low frequency of CAFC in remission patients is in keeping with other data pointing to a persisting defect of hematopoiesis in patients in remission after immunosuppressive treatment.

Long-term interleukin-3 and intensive immunosuppression in the treatment of aplastic anemia

We have assessed in a phase I/II clinical study the tolerability and efficacy of long-term application of recombinant human interleukin-3 (rh-IL-3) in combination with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporin A (CSA) in 13 patients with aplastic anemia who were refractory to or relapsed after previous immunosuppressive treatment. Four cohorts of three patients were consecutively enrolled so that they received rh-IL-3 on days 9, 6, 3 and 1 after start of ATG/CSA treatment. Yeast-derived recombinant human IL-3 was administered by daily subcutaneous injection until day 90 at a dosage of 250 micrograms/m2. Long-term application of rh-IL-3 was well tolerated. The combination of rh-IL-3 with immunosuppression did not modify the known toxicities of ATG and CSA. Incidence and severity of rh-IL-3-related adverse events was less than in other phase I/II trials of rh-IL-3 as single-agent therapy. One might speculate that co-medication with CSA alleviates rh-IL-3-induced side effects. Three of eight patients with refractory AA and all four patients with relapsed AA responded to the combined treatment within four months. The median time to response was 91.5 days. There was evidence for an rh-IL-3-dependent response in two patients. Long-term rh-IL-3 did not cause stem cell exhaustion. One patient died early during the course of the study from EBV-driven lymphoproliferative disease. Two patients developed acute myeloid leukemia 4 and 22 months after cessation of rh-IL-3. In conclusion, long-term rh-IL-3 in combination with immunosuppression is well tolerated. The response rate to the combined treatment in refractory and relapsed AA was high. Recombinant human IL-3-dependent responses suggest efficacy. A prospective randomized trial comparing immunosuppression alone versus a combination with rh-IL-3 is warranted.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis: retrospective analysis of prognostic factors in 90 patients

Ninety patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis were reviewed to identify significant prognostic associations. At diagnosis of blast crisis the main clinical, laboratory, and cytogenetic data were recorded and evaluated for prognostic significance. At the time of the analysis 89 patients had died, with a median survival of 11 weeks from diagnosis of blast crisis. Patient characteristics demonstrated in the univariate analysis to have significant association with shorter survival were: thrombocythemia, leukocyte count above 20 x 10(9), Karnofsky index < 50%, nonlymphoid blast cell morphology, cytogenetic clonal evolution, the presence of a double Philadelphia chromosome or trisomy 8, and no response to therapy. In 17 of 59 patients (29%) evaluable for response to therapy a complete or partial remission was achieved. These responders had a significantly longer median survival (25 weeks) as compared with nonresponders (9 weeks). Response to therapy was significantly better in lymphoid blast crisis and in patients without clonal evolution. In a multivariate analysis containing all significant variables of the univariate analysis two parameters retained their prognostic significance: response to therapy and trisomy 8. In spite of the short overall survival in blast crisis, the determination of prognostic factors may be a useful tool for the clinician planning therapy, especially new therapeutic approaches.

The present state of pathophysiology and therapeutic trials in polycythemia vera

Polycythemia vera shares basic features of pathogenesis with other subtypes of the group of chronic myeloproliferative disorders. All myelopoietic cells are derived from one transformed hemopoietic stem cell. Genetic instability of mitotic clonal cells explains the risk of leukemic transformation, which may be enhanced by cytoreductive treatment. Recent data show that erythroid hyperplasia is not due to erythropoietin hypersensitivity, but rather to abnormal stimulation by other cytokine growth factors. Treatment as established by clinical trials has almost normalized life expectancy in older patients, but the optimal strategy for subgroups of patients is still unknown. For younger patients, new and potentially curative approaches should be investigated.

[A case-based and multi-media computer learning program on the topic of myocardial infarct, angina pectoris and mitral valve stenosis]

BACKGROUND

Principles in the field of cognitive psychology and problem-based learning together with recent progress in multimedia technologies are providing the basis for the development of case-based and computer-assisted learning systems. With reference to the information-overload of theoretical and factual knowledge in medical education these programs can be an efficient tool to satisfy the current need for new, practical, skill-related forms of knowledge transfer.

METHODS

Apple-Macintosh Computers were selected to develop interactive, multimedia patient-simulations on mitral stenosis, angina pectoris and myocardial infarction.

INSTRUCTIONAL AIM AND CONTENTS

The user acquires knowledge and skills about the leading symptoms, differential diagnoses, the use and analysis of laboratory examinations and the process of diagnostic reasoning while working through the computer-simulated cases.

PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN AND CONCLUSION

Important pedagogical principles associated with computer-assisted learning were employed in the program. Clinical situations can be simulated repeatedly and for every student in an authentic manner. Therefore the program can serve as a preparation for and a supplement to practical clinical education. Compared to conventional teaching media the development of instructional multimedia software requires a tremendous amount of time and resources. Thus, controlled studies are important to objectify the overall advantages such programs can have.

Essential thrombocythemia and pregnancy

A review of the literature disclosed 106 pregnancies (preg.) in 57 women with essential thrombocythemia (ET). The success rate (baby alive) was 57% (60 live births/106 preg.), the rate of miscarriage 43% (46 miscarriages/106 preg.). The most frequent complication was spontaneous abortion during the first trimester in 36% (38 abortions/106 preg.). Other complications such as intrauterine death and stillbirth after the 28th week, which occurred in 5% (7/106), premature delivery in 8% (8/106), pre-eclampsia in 4% (4/106), and fetal growth retardation in 4% (4/106) were rarer events. Placental infarction due to thrombosis seems to be the most consistent pathological event as far as the fetus is concerned. Maternal hemorrhage occurred in 4% (3 minor and 1 major bleeding) and only 2 minor maternal thrombotic episodes have been observed. Interestingly, a decline in platelet count has been observed in 14 women and was associated with a successful preg, in 13/14 cases (93%). Aspirin (ASS) was the most frequently used drug in 47 of 93 recorded cases (51%). In 16 evaluable women treated with ASS the live birth rate was higher (12/16 preg., 75%) than for 21 untreated women (9/21 preg., 43%). In 5 cases interferon alpha (IFN) has been used successfully. In summary, 57% of women with ET had a live birth, maternal complications happened in 6%. Promising treatment modalities might be ASS and IFN. However, no definitive answer can be given on the ideal management for women with ET during pregnancy. A European register should be set up.

Current aspects of drug therapy in Philadelphia-positive CML: correlation of tumor burden with survival

One therapeutic concept in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) assumes that a reduction of clonal genetically unstable cells also reduces the rate of secondary genetic changes and thereby postpones blast crisis. According to this concept, the degree of reduction of tumor burden should correlate with a prolongation of survival. The recent literature, in particular on controlled studies of IFN, hydroxyurea or intensive chemotherapy is reviewed and analyzed with regards to this concept. In chronic phase CML, intensity of treatment as determined by the degrees of WBC suppression, and, more recently, of cytogenetic remission, as measures of the reduction of tumor burden appear to correlate directly with survival. The superiority of a therapeutic regimen in chronic phase CML seems to primarily depend on whether its pharmacology permits a sufficiently high dosage to achieve the necessary reduction of tumor burden. The concept underlies present strategies that try to prolong survival in CML by IFN alone or in combination with intensive chemotherapy, by hydroxyurea, alone or in combination with IFN, and by high-dose chemotherapy followed by autografting.

Randomized study of the combination of hydroxyurea and interferon alpha versus hydroxyurea monotherapy during the chronic phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML Study II). The German CML Study Group

It is the long-term goal of the German CML Study Group and of the Süddeutsche Hämoblastosegruppe (SHG) to improve survival of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). In a first randomized study (CML Study I) monotherapies with hydroxyurea or interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) were compared with a standard busulfan regimen with regard to duration of the chronic phase and survival. The main results of this study were published, 1-3 and a long-term follow up is planned. In a second randomized study the effect of the combination of IFN-alpha and hydroxyurea versus hydroxyurea monotherapy on survival is being investigated. This paper provides a first preliminary report on the study concept, patient recruitment, state of documentation and initial patients' characteristics 9 months after closure of the study.

Antibodies to interferon-alpha: a novel type of autoantibody occurring after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Antibodies to IFN-alpha have been recognized as a novel type of autoantibody developing after allogeneic BMT. Ninety-six patients undergoing BMT for various hematologic disorders were followed for the presence of spontaneous IFN-alpha antibodies until 12 years after transplantation. Seven of them (7.3%) developed IFN-alpha antibodies occurred late after BMT (> or = 15 months), rose to very high titers in some patients, and persisted for years despite combined immunosuppressive treatment. They were oligo- or polyclonal in nature, predominantly IgG with a broad IgG subclass distribution, and neutralized the antiviral and antiproliferative activity of various natural and recombinant IFN-alpha types including the patients' endogenous IFN-alpha in vitro. All antibody-positive recipients suffered from chronic GVHD (n = 5) or chronic viral hepatitis (n = 2), but the only significant association was with prior severe aplastic anemia (3/9, 33%; P = 0.022). There was no discernible HLA association of IFN antibody development. Although the clinical relevance of the IFN-alpha antibodies is uncertain they may interfere with cellular defence mechanisms and immune regulation after BMT.

Allogenic bone marrow transplantation or chemotherapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission: a decision analysis approach

The methodology of decision analysis was originally developed to improve clinical decisions of physicians for individual patients. However, it is also well suited to support consensus procedures. We have used this methodology to analyse the question whether allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or consolidation chemotherapy (CCT) should be used as first line postremission treatment in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Main risk factors relevant for the outcome after BMT and CCT are therapy-related mortality and leukemic relapse, respectively. If the possibility of salvage BMT for patients relapsing after CCT is included, the outcomes of the two strategies come rather close. However, they are clearly different in subtypes of leukemia with high or low risk of relapse, and in patients at high risk for BMT-related mortality. Sensitivity analysis considering the variation of more than one risk factor provides valuable information for decision making for both individual patients and particular subgroups of patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

New diagnostic imaging procedures in Hodgkin's disease

A variety of new diagnostic imaging methods have been developed in recent years for patients with Hodgkin's disease in an attempt to improve the detection of spleen and bone marrow involvement within the scope of staging and to discriminate between fibrosis and vital lymphoma after treatment. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy has been performed only in a small number of patients to date and further studies must be conducted. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as the established method, has shown its potential in several studies in detecting both spleen and bone marrow involvement; MRI investigations, however, only visualize a limited portion of the body and therefore must be performed in areas of clinically suspected disease. Immunoscintigraphy with radiolabeled antibodies is still in a preclinical or at most early clinical stage of evaluation and first results have to be confirmed in a controlled trial. Positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F]fluorodeoxy-glucose (FDG) is a technique which is still not a routine clinical procedure. However, whole-body FDG-PET seems to be a promising method in staging and follow-up of lymphoma, because it offers the unique capability of visualising metabolic activity throughout the entire body. Long-term multicenter studies are necessary to confirm these promising initial data. In the future, wholebody FDG-PET will probably be the technique of choice for immunoscintigraphic studies with radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies and studies on the pharmacokinetics of cytostatic compounds.

Autologous platelet transfusion in alloimmunized patients with acute leukemia

Seventy-eight transfusions of autologous platelets were given to eight alloimmunized patients receiving curative chemotherapy for acute leukemia. Platelets were collected at regeneration of hematopoiesis after a chemotherapy cycle, cryopreserved with 5% dimethylsulfoxide in liquid nitrogen, and retransfused during bone marrow aplasia following the next treatment cycle. The in vitro platelet recovery after freezing, thawing, and washing was 85 +/- 4%. The in vivo corrected count increment 1 h after autologous platelet transfusions was 11 +/- 5 x 10(9)/l. With the exception of moderate urticaria and slight nausea each after one transfusion, no immediate or chronic side effects occurred. The bleeding time was shortened and hemorrhage during bone marrow aplasia was prevented in all alloimmunized patients by autologous platelet transfusions.

Emergence of CD52-, phosphatidylinositolglycan-anchor-deficient T lymphocytes after in vivo application of Campath-1H for refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

CD52 is a phosphatidylinositolglycan (PIG)-anchored glycoprotein (PIG-AP) expressed on normal T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, and the majority of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. We observed the emergence of CD52- T cells in 3 patients after intravenous treatment with the humanized anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody Campath-1H for refractory B-cell lymphoma and could identify the underlaying mechanism. In addition to the absence of CD52, the PIG-AP CD48 and CD59 were not detectable on the CD52- T cells in 2 patients. PIG-AP-deficient T-cell clones from both patients were established. Analysis of the mRNA of the PIG-A gene showed an abnormal size in the T-cell clones from 1 of these patients, suggesting that a mutation in the PIG-A gene was the cause of the expression defect of PIG-AP. An escape from an immune attack directed against PIG-AP+ hematopoiesis has been hypothesized as the cause of the occurrence of PIG-AP-deficient cells in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and aplastic anemia. Our results support the hypothesis that an attack against the PIG-AP CD52 might lead to the expansion of a PIG-anchor-deficient cell population with the phenotypic and molecular characteristics of PNH cells.