J. Rodhain

Alpha interferon in the treatment of symptomatic myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia.

2 patients with myelofibrosis and myeloid metaplasia had symptomatic splenomegaly and were treated with interferon alpha‐2c (IFN alpha‐2c). The splenic pain and pressure symptoms disappeared, accompanied by a decrease in the size of the spleen. However, the peripheral blood count worsened and no improvement in the bone marrow fibrosis could be observed.

Immunodetection of small cell lung cancer metastases in bone marrow using three monoclonal antibodies

Detection of bone marrow metastases by indirect immunofluorescence methods was investigated using three monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) raised against small cell lung cancer (SCLC). These antibodies, designated anti-LCA1, -LCA2 and -LCA3, recognize three different antigens on the surface of SCLC cells. Eighty-four bone marrow samples from 74 different patients were studied. Whereas tumor cells were found in 32 (38%) by MoAb staining, only 10 (12%) were positively identified using conventional morphological methods. Nine out of the morphologically positive specimens showed reactivity with at least two monoclonal antibodies. Among the 32 samples proven positive by immunofluorescence, an important antigenic variability was noted. Anti-LCA1 recognized tumor cells in 62%, anti-LCA2 and anti-LCA3 in 53%. Due to the recognition of bone marrow involvement by fluorescence methods in 26% of the 34 patients classified as limited disease, a new subgroup of limited disease patients was defined whose prognosis remains undetermined. Our results confirm the utility of immunodetection in the diagnosis of SCLC bone marrow metastases and emphasize the advantage of using a panel of MoAbs with different antigenic specificities. Further study is needed to determine the prognostic significance of bone marrow involvement established by immunodetection.

A variant of the congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia type II with structural abnormalities in the granulocytic series.

Typical features of congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia (CDA) were found in a 13-year-old girl admitted for chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis. The findings on light microscopy were in agreement with those described in CDA type II, whereas on electron microscopy, the ultrastructure findings were compatible with both types I and II. The acidified serum lysis test (Ham test) performed with eight normal sera was negative. The patients red blood cells showed an increased agglutinability with anti-i antibodies. Morphological changes were also shown in the mature neutrophilic granulocyte suggesting that the primary disorder exists already in the multipotent stem cell.

A panel of antibodies for the immunostaining of Bouin's fixed bone marrow trephine biopsies.

AIMS: To assess a panel of antibodies on Bouins fixed bone marrow trephine (BMT) biopsies. These biopsies are widely used in routine diagnosis of various haematological malignancies and may be the sole material available in many centres; however, information regarding the immunostaining of this material is lacking. METHODS: Biopsies were taken from 72 patients presenting with various haematological malignancies (leukaemia, 38; lymphoma, 14; multiple myeloma, 20). A panel of antibodies was assessed on Bouins fixed BMT biopsies by the alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase method. RESULTS: Three B (MB2, LN-2, Ki-B5) and two T cell lineage antibodies (UCHL-1, CD3-r) reliably identified lymphoid cells, while MPO-r, Leu-M1/CD15, and KP-1/CD68 recognised cells from the myeloid or histiocytic/macrophage series. Reed-Sternberg cells were stained by LN-2, Leu-M1, and CD30. Antibodies specific for plasma cells (VS38) and hairy cells (DBA.44) gave a variable pattern of staining. Among the proliferation markers, proliferative cell nuclear antigen but not Ki-67 related antibodies were effective. CONCLUSION: This study presents a panel of antibodies with reactivity not restricted to common fixatives that are also suitable for Bouins fixed BMT biopsies.

P-glycoprotein positive, drug resistant invasive lymphoepithelial thymoma: treatment response to chemotherapy with cyclosporin and quinine.

A case of invasive drug resistant thymoma, expressing P-glycoprotein, which showed noticeable clinical response to chemotherapy and the multidrug resistance modulating agents cyclosporin and quinine is reported. A 46 year old man presented with severe left shoulder pain and a diagnosis of invasive lymphoepithelial thymoma was made following chest x ray and a computed tomography scan. The patient underwent extensive chemotherapy without resolution of the tumour. More than 90% of the malignant epithelial cells were strongly positive for P-glycoprotein and based on this observation, cyclosporin and quinine were added to the chemotherapy regimen. The mediastinal mass completely resolved and the size of the pleural metastasis decreased substantially. The patient, however, died of an intercurrent infection. This case report highlights the feasibility and efficacy of using cyclosporin and quinine in combination with VAD chemotherapy in the treatment of invasive thymoma.

Membrane marker studies with anti-T, anti-Ia (DR) and anti-myeloblast antisera in acute leukaemias

Abstract Hetero-antisera reacting specifically with all cells of the T lineage, with Ia-like (DR) antigens or with myeloblasts were used as diagnostic aids in the classification of 64 acute leukaemias. The anti-myeloblast proved particularly useful in discriminating early myeloblasts from atypical lymphoblasts and undifferentiated blasts.

Breakpoints of 11q25 in three similar cases of B non Hodgkin's lymphoma.

We report three cases of small B cell non Hodgkins lymphoma, two with plasmacytoid differentiation, presenting with a similar clinical picture and identical immunophenotype, who cytogenetically had breakpoints involving band 11q25. We suggest that this breakpoint may define a group of lymphomas closely related to the diffuse small cleaved cell lymphomas with t(11;14)(q13;q32).

Chimiotherapie des stades avances de la maladie de Hodgkin stades III b et IV

SummaryIn a series of 38 patients treated for advanced Hodgkin’s disease with the MOPP combination chemotherapy of DeVita, Serpick and Carbone, the complete remission rate was 84%. In this series 1/4 of the patients had been previously treated with other methods. Most of them, with a relapse of their disease, had a larger extension of their disease in comparison with the initial stage.In the evaluation of complete remission, the persistence of a splenomegaly (3 patients) is not necessarily a sign of incomplete remission; the histological study of the three spleens demonstrated no involvement of Hodgkin’s disease.The treatment is generally well tolerated. For the whole group, no more than an average decrease of 10 to 15% of the theoretical dose, mainly of the alkylating agents, was applied. The decrease was more important in patients who didn’t respond to the treatment; this allows us to suppose that haematological intolerance is a factor in bad prognosis.With a view to determining the best therapy for mai...