Xiong Ni

Clinical and biological characteristics of adult biphenotypic acute leukemia in comparison with that of acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a case series of a Chinese population

Biphenotypic acute leukemia is rare, necessitating large series to provide information on prognosis. In this paper Xu and colleagues review Chinese experience with this conditions. The findings of this study indicate that the prognosis of biphenotypic acute leukemia patients is poor when compared with de novo acute myeloid leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia. See related perspective article on page 891 and related review article on page 984. Background Biphenotypic acute leukemia is a rare disorder that is difficult to diagnose. It displays features of both myeloid and lymphoid lineage. There is still a lack of studies in biphenotypic acute leukemia in a Chinese population. We present here a comprehensive investigation of the clinical and biological characteristics, and outcome of biphenotypic acute leukemia in our hospital in over a seven year period. Design and Methods We retrospectively analyzed 452 adult acute leukemia patients diagnosed according to French-American-British (FAB) classification and biphenotypic acute leukemia diagnosed according to European Group for the Immunological Characterization of Leukemias (EGIL) classification, respectively. Biological characteristics, response to treatment, and outcome were examined in biphenotypic acute leukemia patients and compared with that in acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with complete follow-up profiles diagnosed in the same period. Results Of 452 acute leukemia patients, 21 cases (4.6%) were diagnosed as biphenotypic acute leukemia. Among them, 14 (66.7%) were B lymphoid and myeloid, 5 (23.8%) were T lymphoid and myeloid, one (4.8%) was T/B lymphoid and one (4.8%) was trilineage differentiation. When compared with acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, patients with biphenotypic acute leukemia showed significantly higher incidence of CD34 antigen expression, unfavorable karyotypes, and extramedullary infiltration (p<0.05). In this cohort of patients with biphenotypic acute leukemia, t(9;22) was the most common abnormality in chromosome structure. The median disease-free survival and overall survival in biphenotypic acute leukemia patients was five months and ten months, respectively, significantly shorter than those in acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients (p<0.05). Conclusions The prognosis of biphenotypic acute leukemia patients is poor when compared with de novo acute myeloid leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Biphenotypic acute leukemia patients showed a much higher incidence of CD34 antigen expression, complex abnormal karyotype, extramedullary infiltration, relapse, and resistance to therapy after relapse.

Antibodies from donor B cells perpetuate cutaneous chronic graft-versus-host disease in mice

Cutaneous sclerosis is one of the most common clinical manifestations of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). Donor CD4(+) T and B cells play important roles in cGVHD pathogenesis, but the role of antibodies from donor B cells remains unclear. In the current studies, we generated immunoglobulin (Ig)H(µγ1) DBA/2 mice whose B cells have normal antigen-presentation and regulatory functions but cannot secrete antibodies. With a murine cGVHD model using DBA/2 donors and BALB/c recipients, we have shown that wild-type (WT) grafts induce persistent cGVHD with damage in the thymus, peripheral lymphoid organs, and skin, as well as cutaneous T helper 17 cell (Th17) infiltration. In contrast, IgH(µγ1) grafts induced only transient cGVHD with little damage in the thymus or peripheral lymph organs or with little cutaneous Th17 infiltration. Injections of IgG-containing sera from cGVHD recipients given WT grafts but not IgG-deficient sera from recipients given IgH(µγ1) grafts led to deposition of IgG in the thymus and skin, with resulting damage in the thymus and peripheral lymph organs, cutaneous Th17 infiltration, and perpetuation of cGVHD in recipients given IgH(µγ1) grafts. These results indicate that donor B-cell antibodies augment cutaneous cGVHD in part by damaging the thymus and increasing tissue infiltration of pathogenic Th17 cells.

FISH+CD34+CD38- cells detected in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia patients can predict the clinical outcome.

BackgroundIn acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the leukemia initiating cells (LICs) or leukemia stem cells (LSCs) is found within the CD34+CD38- cell compartment. The LICs subpopulation survives chemotherapy and is most probable the cause of minimal residual disease (MRD), which in turn is thought to cause relapse. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of the percentage of LICs in blasts at diagnosis.Design and methodsThe percentage of LICs in the blast population was determined at diagnosis using a unique Flow-FISH analysis, which applies fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis on flow cytometry sorted cells to distinguish LICs within the CD34+CD38- cell compartment. Fourty-five AML patients with FISH-detectable cytogenetic abnormalities treated with standardized treatment program were retrospectively included in the study. Correlations with overall survival (OS), events-free survival (EFS) and cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) were evaluated with univariate and multivariate analysis.ResultsThe percentage of LICs is highly variable in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, ranged from 0.01% to 52.8% (median, 2.1%). High LIC load (≥1%) negatively affected overall survival (2-year OS: 72.57% vs. 16.75%; P = 0.0037) and events-free survival (2-year EFS: 67.23% vs. 16.33%; P = 0.0018), which was due to an increased cumulative incidence of relapse (2-year CIR: 56.7% vs. 18.0%; P = 0.021). By multivariate analysis, high LIC load retained prognostic significance for OS and EFS.ConclusionsIn the present study, we established the Flow-FISH protocol as a useful method to distinguish normal and leukemic cells within the CD34+CD38- cell subpopulation. The high percentage of LICs at diagnosis was significantly correlated with increased risk of poor clinical outcome.

Characteristics of acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes: A retrospective analysis in a cohort of Chinese patients.

We retrospectively analyzed 449 patients with AML under the WHO classification of AML 2008 and probed implications of this classification in diagnosis and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia‐related changes (AML‐MRC) among them. The clinical presentations, biological features, treatments, and prognosis of patients diagnosed with AML‐MRC were analyzed and compared with those of AML not otherwise specified (AML‐NOS). In all patients, 115 (25.6%) were diagnosed as AML‐MRC including 64 males and 51 females with median onset age of 48 years (range from 17 to 78). Their complete remission (CR) rate was 60.9% and relapse rate was 57.1%. The observed median overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) were 10 and 5 months, respectively, which was significantly shorter than those of AML‐NOS patients (P < 0.05). The prognosis of AML‐MRC patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)‐related cytogenetics sole was similar to those with history of MDS or myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS/MPN). Patients with MDS‐related cytogenetic abnormalities and/or history of MDS or MDS/MPN predisposed significantly shortened CR, OS, and DFS than AML‐MRC patients with only multilineage dysplasia (MLD) and AML‐NOS patients (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that age, cytogenetics, and history of MDS or MDS/MPN were independent prognostic factors. Patient diagnosed as AML‐MRC presented distinctive clinical and biological features. Presence of MLD does not change the prognosis. Am. J. Hematol. 89:874–881, 2014.

Bortezomib in combination with epirubicin, dexamethasone and thalidomide is a highly effective regimen in the treatment of multiple myeloma: a single-center experience

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of bortezomib combined with epirubicin, dexamethasone, and thalidomide (BADT) for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). The BADT regimen consisted of a maximum of eight 4-week cycles of: intravenous bortezomib (1.0 mg/m2) and intravenous epirubicin (12 mg/m2) on days 1, 4, 8, and 11; dexamethasone (20 mg) on days 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, and 12; and oral thalidomide (100 mg/m2) on days 1–28. Twelve patients with MM were included in the study, of whom four had not been previously treated and eight had been previously treated with at least one cycle of a systemic combined regimen. All the patients completed at least two cycles of treatment, with an average of five cycles; the complete response (CR) rate was 83.3% (10/12) and stabilization of disease was 16.7% (2/12). The average number of cycles required to achieve CR was 1.9 (range 1–6). In three patients, mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells allowed a sufficient quantity of CD34+ cells to be harvested for future autotransplantation. The main adverse reactions included peripheral neuropathy (4/12), thrombocytopenia (3/12), electrocardiographic abnormalities (4/12), neutropenia (5/12), and liver function impairment (4/12), primarily grade I–II. Infection occurred in four patients with neutropenia, including one patient who developed sepsis. The estimated 1-year overall survival rate was 91.7 ± 8.0%, and the estimated 1-year disease-free survival was 75.0 ± 12.5%. BADT is a highly effective combined regimen, with acceptable toxicity, for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

HAG regimen improves survival in adult patients with hypocellular acute myeloid leukemia

Background Hypocellular acute myeloid leukemia (Hypo-AML) is a rare disease entity. Studies investigating the biological characteristics of hypo-AML have been largely lacking. We examined the clinical and biological characteristics, as well as treatment outcomes of hypo-AML in our institutes over a seven years period. Design and Methods We retrospectively analyzed data on 631 adult AML patients diagnosed according to the French-American-British (FAB) classification and WHO classification of tumors of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissue, including 43 patients with hypo-AML. Biological variables, treatment outcomes and follow-up data on hypo-AML patients were analyzed. Results Out of 631 AML patients, 47 (7.4%) were diagnosed as hypo-AML, out of which 43 patients were evaluable. Compared with non-hypocellular AML, hypo-AML patients tended to be older (P = 0.05), more likely to present with leukocytopenia (P < 0.01) and anterior hematological diseases (P = 0.02). The overall complete remission (CR) rate, disease free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) in hypo-AML patients were comparable to those in non-hypo AML patients. Twenty-seven (62.8%) patients with hypocellular AML were treated with the standard regimen of anthracyclines and cytarabine (XA) (associated CR rate: 51.9%; median OS: 7 months; median DFS: 6.5 months). Sixteen (37.2%) patients were treated with a priming regimen containing homoharringtonine, cytarabine and G-CSF (HAG) (associated CR rate: 81.25%; median OS: 16 months; median DFS: 16 months). Conclusions The overall prognosis of hypo-AML was not inferior to that of non-hypo AML. HAG regimen might increase response rates and improve survival in hypo-AML patients.