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Cell Med 2019 4;11:2155179019873850. Epub 2019 Sep 4.

Department of Hematology, Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory on Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, P.R. China.

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a neoplastic cancer characterized by clonal expansion of leukemic cells in lymph organs and bone marrow. Lots of kinds of different chromosomal translocations can be found in those leukemic cells. However, the role of abnormal chromosomes and genes in leukemogenesis is not yet fully understood. Read More

Proc Inst Mech Eng H 2020 Jul 7:954411920938567. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.

Applying artificial intelligence techniques for diagnosing diseases in hospitals often provides advanced medical services to patients such as the diagnosis of leukemia. On the other hand, surgery and bone marrow sampling, especially in the diagnosis of childhood leukemia, are even more complex and difficult, resulting in increased human error and procedure time decreased patient satisfaction and increased costs. This study investigates the use of neuro-fuzzy and group method of data handling, for the diagnosis of acute leukemia in children based on the complete blood count test. Read More

Technol Cancer Res Treat 2020 Jan-Dec;19:1533033820934130

Department of Neurology, Shenzhen Longhua People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.

Background: T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a hematologic malignancy characterized by T-cell proliferation, and in many cases, the ectopic expression of the oncogenic transcription factor T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia protein 1 (TAL1). MicroRNA-7 has been shown to play a critical role in proliferation, migration, and treatment sensitivity in a diverse array of cancers. In this study, we sought to establish a novel link between microRNA-7 and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia oncogenesis. Read More

Cancer Res Treat 2020 Jul 3. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Department of Pathology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

Purpose: Forkhead box C1 (FOXC1) is critical for maintaining bone marrow microenvironments during hematopoiesis, but its role in hematological malignancies remains obscure. Here, we investigated whether FOXC1 regulates tumor dormancy and activation in the microenvironments of T and natural killer (NK) cell lymphomas.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and twenty cases of T and NK cell lymphomas were included; the immunohistochemical expression of FOXC1 was investigated in stromal cells, and numbers of FOXC1+ stromal cells were counted. Read More

Mol Cell Biol 2020 Jul 6. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Centre for Human Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

Precursor B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is caused by genetic lesions in developing B cells that function as drivers for accumulation of additional mutations in an evolutionary selection process. We investigated secondary drivers of leukemogenesis in a mouse model of B-ALL driven by PU.1/Spi-B deletion (Mb1-CreΔPB). Read More

Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2020 Jul;100(25):1973-1978

Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.

To discuss the application value of the simultaneous determination of methotrexate (MTX) and 7-hydroxymethotrexate (7-OHMTX) in the delayed elimination of MTX for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Cross sectional study. A total of 97 children who received 192 high-dose MTX treatments cycles in Lu Daopei Hospital from April to August 2019 were enrolled. Read More

JCO Glob Oncol 2020 Jul;6:1009-1016

Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushakthi Nagar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Purpose: Pegylated asparaginase is comparatively safer than native asparaginase in the management of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, the high price and nonavailability in low- and middle-income countries limits its use. In 2014, the first generic of pegaspargase (Hamsyl) was approved in India for use as a second-line treatment option for ALL. Read More

Front Oncol 2020 18;10:967. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Hematology Unit, Hematology and Oncology Department, "Annunziata" Hospital of Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy.

Currently, the prognosis of Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) patients relapsing after an allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) remains poor, with few therapeutic options available. Here we present the case of a 32 years old patient with dasatinib-resistant post-transplant molecular relapse of ALL, who received, as second-line therapy, the combination of ponatinib and donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI). The therapy was safe and the patient achieved a sustained minimal residual disease negative disease, still ongoing after 22 months, which was accompanied by several changes in the immune populations distribution within the bone marrow (i. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2020 17;11:839. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Department of Pediatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

A 7-month-old baby girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) presented with bulging anterior fontanelle after completing the first and second courses of high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) chemotherapy. Between courses, the infant recovered and was discharged. Prior to the third and fourth HD-MTX courses, the baby girl was administered infusions of dexamethasone, which prevented recurrence of neurological side effects observed after the first and second courses of HD-MTX. Read More

Rinsho Ketsueki 2020 ;61(6):673-681

Department of Pediatrics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences.

Several novel therapeutics that employ immunological mechanisms have been introduced in recent years for the treatment of hematological malignancies. To date, very few drugs have been introduced for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Nonetheless, three novel agents have been approved recently in the US, Europe, Australia, and Japan: blinatumomab, which kills CD19-positive leukemia cells via cytotoxic activity of the patient's autologous T cells; inotuzumab ozogamicin, which delivers the anti-cancer antibiotic calicheamicin via CD22 internalization after antibody binding; and tisagenlecleucel, which uses patient's T cells via anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptors. Read More

Rinsho Ketsueki 2020 ;61(6):657-664

Kyoto University, Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics.

Recent advances in genomic analysis technology have revolutionized precision medicine, especially with respect to the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of pediatric cancers. Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer; genetic abnormalities associated with ALL are useful for the diagnosis and risk stratification in patients with ALL. Thus, genomic medicine (clinical sequencing) in pediatric ALL at diagnosis would help in the improvement of prognostic prediction and risk stratification. Read More

Leukemia 2020 Jul 4. Epub 2020 Jul 4.

Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The Juliane Marie Centre, The University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Med Sci Monit 2020 Jul 3;26:e923271. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, Jiangsu, China (mainland).

BACKGROUND B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is the most common type of ALL. This study aimed to explore risk factors for relapse of childhood B-ALL. MATERIAL AND METHODS Total of 102 pediatric B-ALL patients were included in this study. Read More

Leuk Lymphoma 2020 Jul 3:1-9. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, Uniklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.

Minimal residual disease (MRD) is the strongest predictor of relapse in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). In BLAST study (NCT01207388), adults with BCP-ALL in remission with MRD after chemotherapy received blinatumomab, a CD19 BiTE immuno-oncotherapy, 15 µg/m/day for up to four 6-week cycles (4 weeks continuous infusion, 2 weeks off). Survival was evaluated for 110 patients, including 74 who received HSCT in continuous complete remission. Read More

Cancer Sci 2020 Jul 3. Epub 2020 Jul 3.

Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan.

Although next-generation sequencing-based panel testing is well-practiced in the field of cancer medicine for the identification of target molecules in solid tumors, the clinical utility and clinical issues surrounding panel testing in hematological malignancies have yet to be fully evaluated. We conducted a multicenter prospective clinical-sequencing study to verify the feasibility of a panel test for hematological tumors, including acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, multiple myeloma, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Out of 96 eligible patients, 79 patients (82%) showed potentially actionable findings, based on the clinical-sequencing assays. Read More

Pediatr Blood Cancer 2020 Jul 2:e28539. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of gabapentin at 20 mg/kg per day in the treatment of vincristine-related neuropathic pain.

Procedure: Children aged 1-18 years who developed vincristine-induced neuropathy on a St Jude frontline acute lymphoblastic leukemia trial were prospectively enrolled on a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II trial with two treatment arms: gabapentin plus opioid versus placebo plus opioid. Daily evaluations of morphine dose (mg/kg per day) and pain scores were conducted for up to 21 days; the values of the two arms were compared to assess analgesic efficacy. Read More

Cureus 2020 Jun 27;12(6):e8858. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Nephrology, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, BHR.

Acute appendicitis is a rare but important complication in children with leukemia. It can be difficult to diagnose, and it has a complicated disease course, especially in patients receiving chemotherapy. Awareness of these complications is critical, particularly in cases where surgical intervention is required. Read More

Front Pediatr 2020 16;8:307. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Oncology and Hematology, University Children's Hospital, Kraków, Poland.

High dose methotrexate (HD-Mtx) is highly effective and significantly improves overall acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients survival. The pharmacodynamics of Mtx depends on the polymorphism of genes encoding proteins engaged in the folate metabolism pathway. The aim of the current study is to determine the relationship between variants of folate metabolism-related genes and the frequency of acute toxicities of HD-Mtx. Read More

Leuk Res Rep 2020 18;14:100213. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Heartlands Hospital.

Herein we present a female patient aged 61 with Philadelphia negative acute lymphoblastic leukaemia demonstrating near haploid karyotype and abnormal TP53 expression at diagnosis, who relapsed with lineage switch as Acute Monocytic Leukemia post allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Molecular analysis established that both neoplasms were derived from the same founder clone. The leukemic lineage switch phenomenon has recently re-attracted interest as mechanism of leukemic evasion post treatment with chimeric antigen receptor T-cells but there is paucity of data on its presence post allograft or following novel antibody treatments such as Inotuzumab Ozogamicin or Blinatumomab. Read More

Haematologica 2020 Jul;105(7):1754-1757

Department of Pediatrics, The Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

J Transl Med 2020 Jul 1;18(1):265. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Division of Biomedical Informatics, Seoul National University Biomedical Informatics (SNUBI), Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea.

Background: NUDT15 and TPMT variants are strong genetic determinants of thiopurine-induced hematological toxicity that results in therapeutic failure in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, many patients with both wild-type (WT) NUDT15 and TPMT still suffer from thiopurine toxicity and therapeutic failure.

Methods: Whole-exome sequencing was done for discovery (N = 244) and replication (N = 76) cohorts. Read More

Pediatr Blood Cancer 2020 Jul 1:e28334. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.

Background: National drug shortages of essential medications for childhood cancer have increasingly posed a challenge in the treatment of patients. The efficacy of standardized supportive care practices to avoid treatment-related toxicities may be limited during these drug shortages. High-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) plays a critical role in modern treatment protocols for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and requires stringent supportive care measures to mitigate toxicity. Read More

Technol Cancer Res Treat 2020 Jan-Dec;19:1533033820928436

Laboratorio Juárez, Medicina de Laboratorio Clínico de Alta Especialidad, Biología Molecular e Investigación Clínica, Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, México.

Objective: To investigate the cellular and molecular epidemiology of acute leukemias in vulnerable populations of children and adolescents in Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico.

Material And Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study, conducted from 2014 to 2018 in which profiles of molecular and immunophenotypic aberrations were investigated in children and adolescents diagnosed with acute leukemia, by evaluating 28 molecular abnormalities by HemaVision-Q28 multiplex RT-PCR kit and standardized EuroFlow Immunophenotyping of bone marrow cells.

Results: We included 218 patients, with 82. Read More

Curr Hematol Malig Rep 2020 Jun 30. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Tremendous advances have been made in the treatment armamentarium for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in recent years, which have substantially improved outcomes for these patients. At the same time, unique toxicities have emerged, and without early intervention, are life-threatening. This article will review the novel therapies in acute leukemias and highlight the clinically relevant supportive care advances. Read More

Mol Cytogenet 2020 26;13:25. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Oncology Research Center, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil.

Copy number variations (CNVs) analysis may reveal molecular biomarkers and provide information on the pathogenesis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We investigated the gene copy number in childhood ALL by microarray and select three new recurrent CNVs to evaluate by real-time PCR assay: , and were selected due to high frequency of CNVs in ALL samples and based on their potential biological functions in carcinogenesis described in the literature. deletion was associated with patients with chromosomal translocations and is a potential tumor suppressor; and may act as an oncogene despite having a paradoxical behavior in carcinogenesis. Read More

J Blood Med 2020 18;11:205-212. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Saint Antoine Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France.

In the last decades, adults and pediatric obesity have become a major issue in developed countries. Considerable research has been conducted in patients with acute lymphoblastic (ALL) and myeloid leukemia (AML) with the aim of correlating body mass index (BMI) and outcomes in patients undergoing chemotherapy for hematological diseases. In adults, a high BMI has been associated with increased leukemia-related mortality. Read More

Blood Cancer J 2020 Jun 30;10(6):73. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.

B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) plays a critical role in regulating B-cell proliferation and survival. There is evidence for BCMA expression in various hematologic malignancies, suggesting that BCMA may play an important role as a biomarker or therapeutic target in these diseases. Given advances in understanding the role of BCMA in B-cell development and the promise of BCMA as a therapeutic target, a systematic review is needed to rigorously assess the evidence for BCMA expression and identify areas of consensus and future research. Read More

Leukemia 2020 Jun 30. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive malignancy of thymocytes and is largely driven by the NOTCH/MYC pathway. Yet, additional oncogenic drivers are required for transformation. Here, we identify protein tyrosine phosphatase type 4 A3 (PRL3) as a collaborating oncogenic driver in T-ALL. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2020 Jun 30;13(6). Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Department of CTVS, Army Hospital Research and Referral, New Delhi, Delhi, India.

BMC Cancer 2020 Jun 30;20(1):612. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Research and Development, Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, 1551 Eastlake Ave. E, Suite 200, Seattle, WA, 98102, USA.

Background: The clonoSEQ® Assay (Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation, Seattle, USA) identifies and tracks unique disease-associated immunoglobulin (Ig) sequences by next-generation sequencing of IgH, IgK, and IgL rearrangements and IgH-BCL1/2 translocations in malignant B cells. Here, we describe studies to validate the analytical performance of the assay using patient samples and cell lines.

Methods: Sensitivity and specificity were established by defining the limit of detection (LoD), limit of quantitation (LoQ) and limit of blank (LoB) in genomic DNA (gDNA) from 66 patients with multiple myeloma (MM), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), or chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and three cell lines. Read More

J Oncol Pharm Pract 2020 Jun 30:1078155220934853. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Introduction: Blinatumomab is a CD19/CD3 bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) antibody that simultaneously binds CD19 on the surface of B-cells and CD3 on the surface of T-cells, resulting in tumor cell lysis. It is approved for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and in patients with minimal residual disease after intensive induction chemotherapy. Relapse patterns after treatment with blinatumomab have not been well characterized. Read More

Leuk Lymphoma 2020 Jul 1:1-4. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Houston, TX, USA.

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2020 Jun 26. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Departments of Pediatric Oncology.

Introduction: Mixed-phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) accounts for 1.2% to 5% of acute leukemia across age groups with intermediate prognosis. We evaluated clinicoepidemiological profiles and outcomes of MPAL. Read More

Blood 2020 Jun 30. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, United States.

J Comp Eff Res 2020 Jun 30. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, USA.

We compared outcomes from a single-arm study of tisagenlecleucel with standard of care (SOC) regimens in pediatric and young adult patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The analysis included one tisagenlecleucel study, one blinatumomab study, one clofarabine monotherapy study, three studies of clofarabine combination regimens and two studies of other salvage chemotherapy. Matching-adjusted indirect comparison analyses were conducted. Read More

Exp Oncol 2020 06;42(2):126-129

Institute of Molecular Biology & Genetics of NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv 03680, Ukraine.

Aim: To determine ways of formation of abnormal karyotypes in two clinical cases of secondary acute leukemias of myeloid and lymphoid lineages.

Material And Methods: Bone marrow cells of one patient with therapy-related acute monoblastic/monocytic leukemia and one patient with therapy-related acute lymphoblastic leukemia were examined by cytogenetic GTG banding technique.

Results: An unusually large number of quantitative and structural anomalies of chromosomes in therapy-related acute monoblastic/monocytic leukemia have been established, which have many features in common with chromothripsis, namely instability of clones that manifested itself through quantitative anomalies (trisomy, monosomy, marker chromosomes, including chromosome 5), structural - t(9;11), deletions of the long arm of chromosomes 8 and 14, derivatives of chromosomes 3 and 7, ring chromosomes. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland;

Notch pathway signaling is implicated in several human cancers. Aberrant activation and mutations of Notch signaling components are linked to tumor initiation, maintenance, and resistance to cancer therapy. Several strategies, such as monoclonal antibodies against Notch ligands and receptors, as well as small-molecule γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs), have been developed to interfere with Notch receptor activation at proximal points in the pathway. Read More

Trends Cancer 2020 Jun 26. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille Inserm U1068, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France; Metronomics Global Health Initiative, Marseille, France.

Maintenance therapy sometimes relies on the use of metronomic chemotherapy (MC); that is, the continuous administration of low-dose chemotherapy. Maintenance therapy has been successfully used for decades in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and recent results have demonstrated improved outcomes in patients with pediatric high-risk rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) on maintenance therapy. Here, we review the use of metronomic maintenance therapy in pediatric cancer and discuss its mechanisms of action on the tumor microenvironment and cancer cells. Read More

Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 2020 Apr 23. Epub 2020 Apr 23.

Adult Hematology-Oncology Department, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Background: In adult B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL), CD20 expression has generally been associated with an adverse prognosis. Incorporating rituximab to standard of care is found to improve the outcome of CD20 BCP-ALL. The aim of this study is to estimate the prognostic effect of CD20 expression and the impact of rituximab in BCP-ALL in Saudi Arabia. Read More

Ter Arkh 2019 Jul 15;91(7):4-13. Epub 2019 Jul 15.

National Research Center for Hematology.

The paper describes the results of 15 consecutive Russian clinical trials in the treatment of different types of acute leukemias, conducted by Russian cooperative group within the last 27-years and included more than 25 hundred patients. It was shown that the 5-years overall survival in AML younger than 60 years patients improved from 20 to 33%, in ALL - from 38 to 65%, in APL - from 0 to 95%. The cooperative work resulted in balanced clinical recommendations and protocols, reproducible in regional hospitals. Read More

Iran J Parasitol 2020 Apr-Jun;15(2):187-195

Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: is a protozoan parasite that belongs to the family Coccidae. We aimed to evaluate IgG avidity and the changes of anti- immunoglobulins M (IgM) and G (IgG) in patients with acute leukemia and lymphoma.

Methods: Ninety eight patients with Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and lymphoma, selected from patients referring to Imam Reza Hospital of Tabriz (38°04'N 46°18'E), in terms of the presence of anti- IgM, IgG, IgG avidity antibodies and the major risk factors were evaluated. Read More

Front Genet 2020 12;11:598. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy in children with distinct characteristics among different subtypes. Although the etiology of ALL has not been fully unveiled, initiation of ALL has been demonstrated to partly depend on genetic factors. As indicated by several genome wide association studies (GWASs) and candidate gene analyses, ARID5B, a member of AT-rich interactive domain (ARID) protein family, is associated with the occurrence and prognosis of ALL. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2020 Jun 28;13(6). Epub 2020 Jun 28.

Critical Care, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Mortality remains high in septic shock with few new treatment options. Angiotensin II has been recently approved for use in septic shock due to promising results in the ATHOS-3 trial. However, patients with neutropenia were excluded in the trial. Read More

An Pediatr (Barc) 2020 Jun 9. Epub 2020 Jun 9.

Unidad de Patología Infecciosa e Inmunodeficiencias de Pediatría, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, España.

Cancer Treat Rev 2020 May 16;88:102026. Epub 2020 May 16.

Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.

Progress in cancer therapy changed the outcome of many patients and moved therapy from chemotherapy agents to targeted drugs. Targeted drugs already changed the clinical practice in treatment of leukemias, such as imatinib (BCR/ABL inhibitor) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), ibrutinib (Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), venetoclax (BCL2 inhibitor) in CLL and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or midostaurin (FLT3 inhibitor) in AML. In this review, we focused on DNA damage response (DDR) inhibition, specifically on inhibition of ATR-CHK1 pathway. Read More

Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2020 Jun 27. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

PAX5 is a member of the paired box (PAX) family of transcription factors involved in B-cell development. PAX5 has recently been described as a distinct genetic B-cell precursor (BCP) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) subtype with a favorable prognosis in adults. In contrast, an unfavorable outcome has been observed in children. Read More

Pediatr Radiol 2020 Jun 26. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Background: Intrathecal and intravenous chemotherapy, specifically methotrexate, might contribute to neural microstructural damage.

Objective: To assess, by diffusion tensor imaging, microstructural integrity of white matter in paediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) following intrathecal and intravenous chemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Eleven children diagnosed with de novo ALL underwent MRI scans of the brain with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) prior to commencement of chemotherapy and at 12 months after diagnosis, using a 3-tesla (T) MRI scanner. Read More

Blood Cancer J 2020 Jun 26;10(6):72. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, Children's Hospital Zurich, Lengghalde 5, Balgrist Campus AG, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland.

Despite rapid progress in genomic profiling in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), identification of actionable targets and prediction of response to drugs remains challenging. To identify specific vulnerabilities in ALL, we performed a drug screen using primary human ALL samples cultured in a model of the bone marrow microenvironment combined with high content image analysis. Among the 2487 FDA-approved compounds tested, anthelmintic agents of the class of macrocyclic lactones exhibited potent anti-leukemia activity, similar to the already known anti-leukemia agents currently used in induction chemotherapy. Read More

Leuk Res 2020 Jun 15;95:106405. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Peking University People's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100044, China. Electronic address:

Purpose: To investigate the effect of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) on the statural growth in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 344 children with ALL younger than 17 years old at diagnosis identified in pediatric department of Peking University People's Hospital. The children were divided into three groups: conventional chemotherapy group, imatinib group and dasatinib group. Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res 2020 Jun 23;1867(10):118785. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Department of Leukemia, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America; Section of Molecular Hematology and Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America.

The galectin LGALS1 is a glycan binding protein that regulates intracellular (e.g. signal transduction) and extracellular processes (e. Read More