Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Cell Rep 2019 Apr;27(3):690-698.e4

Division of Cell Signalling & Immunology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland, UK. Electronic address:

AMPK acts downstream of the tumor suppressor LKB1, yet its role in cancer has been controversial. AMPK is activated by biguanides, such as metformin and phenformin, and metformin use in diabetics has been associated with reduced cancer risk. However, whether this is mediated by cell-autonomous AMPK activation within tumor progenitor cells has been unclear. Read More

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Systemic corticosteroids are widely used for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoblastic lymphoma. Anecdotal case reports demonstrate bradycardia in patients receiving corticosteroids; however, a more in-depth analysis is lacking. This study aimed to describe the incidence, timing, and outcomes of bradycardia in children with ALL receiving corticosteroids during induction chemotherapy at our center from 2010 to 2016. Read More

J Cell Physiol 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Center for Research and Training in Skin Disease and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

l-Asparaginases hydrolyzing plasma l-asparagine and l-glutamine has attracted tremendous attention in recent years owing to remarkable anticancer properties. This enzyme is efficiently used for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphosarcoma and emerged against ALL in children, neoplasia, and some other malignancies. Cancer cells reduce the expression of l-asparaginase leading to their elimination. Read More

Blood 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, United States

Approximately 10% of NUP98-PHF23 (NP23) mice develop an aggressive acute lymphoblastic leukemia of B1-lymphocyte progenitor origin (pro B-1 ALL), accompanied by somatic frameshift mutations of the BCL6 interacting corepressor (Bcor) gene, most commonly within a 9 bp "hot spot" in Bcor exon 8. To determine whether experimentally engineered Bcor mutations would lead to pro B-1 ALL, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to introduce a Bcor frameshift mutation into NP23 hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells through the use of Bcor small guide RNAs (Bcor sgRNA). Recipient mice transplanted with NP23 bone marrow (BM) or fetal liver (FL) cells that had been transduced with a Bcor sgRNA developed pro B-1 ALL, characterized by a B-1 progenitor immunophenotype, clonal Igh gene rearrangement, and Bcor indel mutation, whereas control recipients did not. Read More

BMC Cancer 2019 Apr 16;19(1):358. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea.

Background: Micafungin is a well-tolerated and effective prophylactic antifungal agent used in hematologic diseases. In this prospective trial, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of prophylactic micafungin during first induction chemotherapy in patients with acute leukemia. We also compared outcomes of prophylactic micafungin with those of prophylactic posaconazole in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Read More

Cancer Cell 2019 Apr;35(4):649-663.e10

Department of Oncology UNIL CHUV, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland. Electronic address:

The BCR-ABL1 fusion protein is the cause of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and of a significant fraction of adult-onset B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cases. Using mouse models and patient-derived samples, we identified an essential role for γ-catenin in the initiation and maintenance of BCR-ABL1 B-ALL but not CML. The selectivity was explained by a partial γ-catenin dependence of MYC expression together with the susceptibility of B-ALL, but not CML, to reduced MYC levels. Read More

Prep Biochem Biotechnol 2019 Apr 16:1-7. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

b Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil.

L-Asparaginase (L-ASNase) is an important enzyme used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia, recombinantly produced in a prokaryotic expression system. Exploration of alternatives production systems like as extracellular expression in microorganisms generally recognized as safe (such as Pichia pastoris Glycoswitch) could be advantageous, in particular, if this system is able to produce homogeneous glycosylation. Here, we evaluated extracellular expression into Glycoswitch using two different strains constructions containing the asnB gene coding for Erwinia chrysanthemi L-ASNase (with and without His-tag), in order to find the best system for producing the extracellular and biologically active protein. Read More

Oncol Lett 2019 May 8;17(5):4423-4428. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Ward 6, Department of Pediatrics, The People's Hospital of Pingyi County, Linyi, Shandong 273300, P.R. China.

Effect of high-dose methotrexate (MTX) on children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with different subtypes and disease courses was investigated. A retrospective analysis of 207 children with ALL who were admitted to the People's Hospital of Pingyi County from March 2014 to June 2017 was carried out. According to the subtype of the disease, the children were divided into two groups. Read More

Onco Targets Ther 2019 25;12:2187-2191. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Department of Hematology, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China,

Background: CD19-modified CAR-T cells greatly influence responses in patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, recurrence remains a challenge, and reinfusion of CAR-T cells is not always effective. Sequential infusion of humanized CD19-modified and CD22-modified CAR-T cells may overcome this issue and induce remission. Read More

Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus 2019 Apr 19;35(2):369-370. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Department of Internal Medicine, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012 India.

Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus 2019 Apr 29;35(2):364-366. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Saint Vincent Cancer and Wellness Center, 1 Eaton Place, Worcester, MA 01608 USA.

Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus 2019 Apr 1;35(2):240-247. Epub 2018 Sep 1.

Department of Hemato-Oncology, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Sector-5, Rohini, New Delhi, 110085 India.

Philadelphia positive ALL (Ph + ALL) is an aggressive leukemia associated with lower remission rates and poor survival. Current treatment approach for Ph + ALL is chemotherapy along with TKI and CNS directed therapy followed by Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (Allo-SCT). To analyze outcome of Ph + ALL with or without Allo-SCT in the era of universal TKI uses. Read More

Exp Hematol 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Centre for Human Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Division of Genetics and Development, Children's Health Research Institute, Lawson Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address:

The most frequently occurring genetic abnormality in pediatric B-ALL is the t(12;21) chromosomal translocation that results in a ETV6-RUNX1 (also known as TEL-AML1) fusion gene. Expression of ETV6-RUNX1 induces a preleukemic condition leading to acquisition of secondary driver mutations, but the mechanism is poorly understood. SPI-B (encoded by SPIB) is an important transcriptional activator of B cell development and differentiation. Read More

Cancer 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.

Background: The outcome of older patients with newly diagnosed, Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is poor. The combination of targeted therapy with low-intensity chemotherapy is safe and effective. The objective of the current analysis was to compare the outcome of patients who received a combination of inotuzumab ozogamicin plus low-intensity chemotherapy (mini-hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dexamethasone [mini-HCVD]) with or without blinatumomab versus the outcome of those who received the standard, intensive, hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (HCVAD) regimen. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Apr;98(15):e15204

Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China.

Rationale: Second diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is uncommon. To our knowledge, primary middle ear DLBCL which presents CD20-negative and coexpression of MYC and BCL-2 has not been reported yet.

Patient Concerns: A 20-year-old Chinese man complained fever and weakness for 2 months. Read More

JNCI Cancer Spectr 2019 Mar 9;3(1):pkz007. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Background: Pediatric cancer incidence has been steadily increasing over the last several decades with the largest increases reported in infants. Few evaluations have looked at international pediatric cancer incidence trends in the youngest children. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate trends in cancer incidence in children under 5 years of age, overall and by type, using data from () from 1988 to 2012 (CI5 volumes VII-XI). Read More

Ochsner J 2019 ;19(1):49-53

The University of Queensland Faculty of Medicine, Ochsner Clinical School, New Orleans, LA.

Pediatric spinal deformity surgeries are challenging operations that require considerable expertise and resources. The unique anatomy and rarity of these cases present challenges in surgical training and preparation. We present a case series illustrating how 3-dimensional (3-D) printed models were used in preoperative planning for 3 cases of pediatric spinal deformity surgery. Read More

Indian J Nephrol 2019 Mar-Apr;29(2):144-146

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Kalawati Saran Children Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Pharmacogenomics 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1C5, Canada.

Aim: To identify genetic markers associated with late treatment-related skeletal morbidity in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Patients & Methods: To this end, we measured the association between reduction in bone mineral density or vertebral fractures prevalence and variants from 1039 genes derived through whole exome sequencing in 242 childhood ALL survivors. Top-ranking variants were confirmed through genotyping, and further explored with stratified analyses and multivariable models. Read More

Am J Clin Nutr 2019 Mar;109(Supplement_7):757S-771S

USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, Alexandria, VA.

Background: During the Pregnancy and Birth to 24 Months Project, the US Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services initiated a review of evidence on diet and health in these populations.

Objectives: The aim of these systematic reviews was to examine the relation of 1) never versus ever feeding human milk, 2) shorter versus longer durations of any human milk feeding, 3) shorter versus longer durations of exclusive human milk feeding, and 4) feeding a lower versus higher intensity of human milk to mixed-fed infants with acute childhood leukemia, generally, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, specifically.

Methods: The Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review team conducted systematic reviews with external experts. Read More

Pharmacoeconomics 2019 Apr 13. Epub 2019 Apr 13.

Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.

As part of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's (NICE's) Single Technology Appraisal (STA) process, Novartis submitted evidence on the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of tisagenlecleucel for treating paediatric and young adult patients (under the age of 25 years) with relapsed or refractory (r/r) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). This article presents a summary of the Evidence Review Group's (ERG's) independent review of the evidence submission, the committee's deliberations, and the subsequent development of NICE guidance for the use of tisagenlecleucel on the National Health Service (NHS) in England. Tisagenlecleucel is a chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cell (CAR-T) product, the first of this emerging therapeutic class to be considered by NICE in this indication. Read More

Br J Haematol 2019 Apr 13. Epub 2019 Apr 13.

Division of Clinical Research, Research Centre, Instituto Nacional de Câncer-INCA, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

Blood Adv 2019 Apr;3(8):1230-1243

Division of Cancer Medicine, Department of Cellular Therapy, and.

T cells modified to express chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting CD19 (CD19CAR) have produced remarkable clinical responses in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. CD19CAR T-cell therapy has also demonstrated prominent effects in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) patients. However, a subset of patients who relapse after CD19CAR T-cell therapy have outgrowth of CD19 tumor cells. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2019 Apr 13;19(1):111. Epub 2019 Apr 13.

Huntsman Cancer Institute, Cancer Control and Population Sciences, 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.

Background: As survivorship care plan (SCP) use among childhood cancer survivors and their families has not been extensively researched, we report on their experiences with receiving an SCP after the completion of therapy.

Methods: Eligible patients had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, completed therapy, and had no evidence of disease at enrollment. Patients aged 7 or older (N = 13) and at least one parent (N = 23 for 20 total patients) were surveyed and completed assessments at enrollment (Time 1, T1), SCP delivery (Time 2, T2), and follow-up (Time 3, T3) (retention 90. Read More

Pract Radiat Oncol 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania.

Vision loss caused by leukemic infiltration of the optic nerve is an oncologic emergency. To maintain vision, radiotherapy must be initiated quickly. However, many pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients with ophthalmic and central nervous system (CNS) relapse receive intrathecal methotrexate and/or cytarabine. Read More

J Clin Oncol 2019 Apr 12:JCO1801877. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

2 University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Purpose: Asparaginase is an essential drug in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy and is frequently given for months to obtain continuous asparagine depletion. We randomly assigned patients to continuous versus intermittent pegylated-asparaginase (PEG-asp) treatment, hypothesizing there would be decreased toxicity with unchanged efficacy.

Methods: Children (median age, 4. Read More

Cytogenet Genome Res 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

The IKZF1 gene is formed by 8 exons and encodes IKAROS, a transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes that control cell cycle progression and cell survival. In general, 15-20% of the patients with preB acute lymphoblastic leukemia (preB ALL) harbor IKZF1 deletions, and the frequency of these deletions increases in BCR-ABL1 or Ph-like subgroups. These deletions have been associated with poor treatment response and the risk of relapse. Read More

Cancer Sci 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

Activating mutations in cytokine receptors and transcriptional regulators govern aberrant signal transduction in T-cell lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). However, the roles played by suppressors of cytokine signaling remain incompletely understood. We examined the regulatory roles of SOCS5 in T-ALL cellular signaling networks and leukemia progression. Read More

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.

CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory hematologic malignancies, especially B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. As CART immunotherapy expands from clinical trials to FDA-approved treatments, a consensus among oncologists and hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) physicians is needed to identify which patients may benefit from consolidative HCT post-CART therapy. Here, we review CD19 CART therapy and the outcomes of published clinical trials, highlighting the use of post-CART HCT and the pattern of relapse after CD19 CART. Read More

Interdiscip Sci 2019 Apr 10. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a hematologic tumor caused by cell cycle aberrations due to accumulating genetic disturbances in the expression of transcription factors (TFs), signaling oncogenes and tumor suppressors. Though survival rate in childhood ALL patients is increased up to 80% with recent medical advances, treatment of adults and childhood relapse cases still remains challenging. Here, we have performed bioinformatics analysis of 207 ALL patients' mRNA expression data retrieved from the ICGC data portal with an objective to mark out the decisive genes and pathways responsible for ALL pathogenesis and aggression. Read More

Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi 2019 ;153(4):147-154

Division of Hygienic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are caused by a fusion protein, BCR-ABL, which induces cellular transformation by activating the signaling molecules, STAT5 and Akt. The specific BCR-ABL inhibitors including imatinib, nilotinib, and dasatinib, are clinically utilized in the treatment with CML and ALL patients. Although these BCR-ABL inhibitors are initially successful in the treatment of leukemia, many patients develop drug resistance due to the appearance of the gatekeeper mutation of BCR-ABL, T315I. Read More

Biomol Ther (Seoul) 2019 Apr 2. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Medicine, Clinic III - Hematology, Oncology, Palliative Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock 18057.

Nitrogen-containing heterocycles such as quinoline, quinazolinones and indole are scaffolds of natural products and have broad biological effects. During the last years those structures have been intensively synthesized and modified to yield new synthetic molecules that can specifically inhibit the activity of dysregulated protein kinases in cancer cells. Herein, a series of newly synthesized isoquinolinamine (FX-1 to 8) and isoindoloquinazolinone (FX-9, FX-42, FX-43) compounds were evaluated in regards to their anti-leukemic potential on human B- and T- acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Read More

Clin Adv Hematol Oncol 2019 Mar;17(3):166-175

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.

Patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R ALL) have dismal outcomes, with survival of less than 6 months, and treatment options in the salvage setting have been limited to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy with minimal activity. Advances in the development of novel targeted therapies have significantly improved outcomes in R/R ALL. Blinatumomab, inotuzumab ozogamicin, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy constitute new treatment modalities that are challenging the historical regimens and paving a new path for treating patients with R/R ALL. Read More

Health Psychol Open 2019 Jan-Jun;6(1):2055102919838902. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Instituto de Investigaciones Clinicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela.

We conducted a non-randomized, open-label clinical trial to assess whether a psychoneuroimmunology-based intervention enhanced immunity in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia undergoing chemotherapy. In total, 16 children (44% female) received psychoneuroimmunology-based intervention, whereas 12 (50% female) received health psychoeducation (controls). The primary outcome was immunity markers, being clinical conditions the secondary outcome. Read More

Oncogene 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Department of Radiotherapy/GROW, School for Developmental Biology & Oncology and Comprehensive Cancer Centre Maastricht MUMC+, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive cancer arising from T-cell progenitors. Although current treatments, including chemotherapy and glucocorticoids, have significantly improved survival, T-ALL remains a fatal disease and new treatment options are needed. Since more than 60% of T-ALL cases bear oncogenic NOTCH1 mutations, small molecule inhibitors of NOTCH1 signalling; γ-secretase inhibitors (GSI), are being actively investigated for the treatment of T-ALL. Read More

Leukemia 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany.

AAPS J 2019 Apr 8;21(3):50. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Division of Hematology, Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, USA.

The advent of the genome editing era brings forth the promise of adoptive cell transfer using engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells for targeted cancer therapy. CAR T cell immunotherapy is probably one of the most encouraging developments for the treatment of hematological malignancies. In 2017, two CAR T cell therapies were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration: one for the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and the other for adult patients with advanced lymphomas. Read More

NPJ Genom Med 2019 4;4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

1Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

The response of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to dexamethasone predicts the long-term remission outcome. To explore the mechanisms of dexamethasone resistance in B cell ALL (B-ALL), we generated dexamethasone-resistant clones by prolonged treatment with dexamethasone. Using RNA-sequencing and high-throughput screening, we found that dexamethasone-resistant cells are dependent on receptor tyrosine kinases. Read More

Cancer Cell Int 2019 27;19:73. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

1Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Bd. MDC7, Tampa, USA.

Background: Pediatric cancer survival rates overall have been improving, but neuroblastoma (NBL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), two of the more prevalent pediatric cancers, remain particularly challenging. One issue not yet fully addressed is distinctions attributable to age of diagnosis.

Methods: In this report, we verified a survival difference based on diagnostic age for both pediatric NBL and pediatric ALL datasets, with younger patients surviving longer for both diseases. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2019 Apr 9;20:482-488. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Hospital de Santa Maria, CHLN - EPE, Lisboa, Portugal.

BACKGROUND Osteomyelitis (OM) due to carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPKp) is a very rare but severe condition, particularly among patients with hematologic malignancies and stem cell transplant recipients, who are especially at risk of developing nosocomial infections caused by this bacterium. CASE REPORT We describe 2 cases of acute and chronic OM by CPKp in adults with hematologic disorders. Patient 1, with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, developed bacteremia due to multidrug CPKp after induction chemotherapy. Read More

J Immunol 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637;

Lymphoid specification is the process by which hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and their progeny become restricted to differentiation through the lymphoid lineages. The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors E2A and Lyl1 form a complex that promotes lymphoid specification. In this study, we demonstrate that Tal1, a Lyl1-related basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that promotes T acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is required for HSC specification, erythropoiesis, and megakaryopoiesis, is a negative regulator of murine lymphoid specification. Read More

Int J Equity Health 2019 Apr 8;18(1):54. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Unidad de Investigación en Epidemiología Clínica, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional SXXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Avenida Cuauhtémoc 330, Col. Doctores, Ciudad de México, Mexico.

Following publication of the original article [1], the author reported her name has been erroneously spelled as Blanca E. Pelcastre. The full name is Blanca E. Read More

Mol Cancer 2019 Apr 8;18(1):84. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Key Laboratory of Fujian-Taiwan Animal Pathogen Biology, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), defined as the transcripts longer than 200 nt without protein-coding capacity, have been found to be aberrantly expressed in diverse human diseases including cancer. A reciprocal translocation between chromosome 9 and 22 generates the chimeric Bcr-Abl oncogene, which is associated with several hematological malignancies. However, the functional relevance between aberrantly expressed lncRNAs and Bcr-Abl-mediated leukemia remains obscure. Read More

J Oncol Pharm Pract 2019 Apr 8:1078155219839219. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

2 Department of Pediatrics, Paediatric Hemato Oncologist, Bharati Hospital & Research center, Pune, Maharashtra, India.

Methotrexate is extensively used in the treatment of various malignancies and autoimmune conditions. Methotrexate is associated with several toxicities, while hypersensitivity reactions to methotrexate are unusual, but have been reported in adult cancer patients. Hereby, we detail the case of a child with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who developed a hypersensitivity reaction to high-dose methotrexate infusion (HDMTX) during the fourth cycle of HDMTX. Read More

J Cell Biochem 2019 Apr 7. Epub 2019 Apr 7.

Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Despite an old history behind the identification of the leading role of c-Myc in leukemogenesis, the road to constructing a therapeutic perspective for this molecule in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is yet mesmerizing. This study was designed to provide a better outlook for the anticancer property of 10058-F4, an appealing inhibitor of c-Myc, in pre-B ALL cell lines either in the context of monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs. Our results declared that abrogation of c-Myc decreased the proliferative capacity of pre-B ALL-derived cells through halting the transition of the cells from G1 phase, and reducing the replicative potential of both REH and Nalm-6 cells, at least partly, through c-Myc-mediated suppression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase. Read More

Br J Haematol 2019 Apr 7. Epub 2019 Apr 7.

Department of Pediatrics and the Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

While survival in paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is excellent, survival following relapse is poor. Previous studies suggest proteasome inhibition with chemotherapy improves relapse ALL response rates. This phase 2 Children's Oncology Group study tested the hypothesis that adding the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib to chemotherapy increases complete response rates (CR2). Read More

Blood Res 2019 Mar 21;54(1):45-51. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Pediatrics, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Background: Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) is a subset of ALL with poor prognosis. Here, we analyzed the outcomes and prognostic factors of children with Ph+ ALL who received imatinib and chemotherapy followed by allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in first complete remission (CR).

Methods: Thirty-one Ph+ ALL patients (female 10) diagnosed from January 2005 to December 2016 were included in the study. Read More

Blood Res 2019 Mar 21;54(1). Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Laboratoire d'Hématologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.

Oncotarget 2019 Mar 5;10(19):1756-1757. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Laurence C. Cheung: Telethon Kids Cancer Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.