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Front Oncol 2018 8;8:147. Epub 2018 May 8.

Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.

Macrophages (MPs) are heterogeneous, multifunctional, myeloid-derived leukocytes that are part of the innate immune system, playing wide-ranging critical roles in basic biological activities, including maintenance of tissue homeostasis involving clearance of microbial pathogens. Tumor-associated MPs (TAMs) are MPs with defined specific M2 phenotypes now known to play central roles in the pathophysiology of a wide spectrum of malignant neoplasms. Also, TAMs are often intrinsic cellular components of the essential tumor microenvironment (TME). Read More

Blood Adv 2018 05;2(9):1022-1031

Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

Optimal donor selection is critical for successful allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Donor sex and parity are well-established risk factors for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), with male donors typically associated with lower rates of GVHD. Well-matched unrelated donors (URDs) have also been associated with increased risks of GVHD as compared with matched sibling donors. Read More

Indian J Pathol Microbiol 2018 Jan-Mar;61(1):58-65

Department of Pathology, Tata Memorial Hospital; Department of Pathology, Hematopathology Laboratory, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Background: 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of hematolymphoid neoplasms (HLN) has classified them based on morphology, results of various ancillary techniques, and clinical features. There are no studies looking at the applicability of WHO classification.

Aims: The aim of the study was to calculate proportions of all HLN subtypes seen during 1-year period based on 2008 WHO classification of HLN and study applicability and also shortcomings of practices in a tertiary care center in India. Read More

Hematology 2018 Sep 1;23(8):486-495. Epub 2018 Mar 1.

a Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biologicas , Instituto Politecnico Nacional , Ciudad de México , Mexico.

Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) activity may contribute to carcinogenesis. The c-Kit receptor, a member of the RTK family, is expressed in immature haematopoietic system cells. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) presents incompletely differentiated lymphoblasts, and consequently, c-Kit expression can be detected in these cells. Read More

Infect Dis (Lond) 2018 07 20;50(7):489-494. Epub 2017 Dec 20.

e Universidad Abierta Interamericana (UAI), CABA , Buenos Aires , Argentina.

Background: Voriconazole is a second-generation triazole. It has excellent bioavailability and broad antifungal spectrum; thus, it is an attractive option for patients at high risk of invasive fungal infections (IFIs). Comparing efficacy and safety of voriconazole with other antifungals in prophylaxis or treatment of IFIs would be useful to draw conclusions regarding prevention and therapeutics of these infections. Read More

Blood 2017 09 15;130(13):1585-1596. Epub 2017 Aug 15.

College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

Multiple candidate gene-association studies of non-HLA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and outcomes after blood or marrow transplant (BMT) have been conducted. We identified 70 publications reporting 45 SNPs in 36 genes significantly associated with disease-related mortality, progression-free survival, transplant-related mortality, and/or overall survival after BMT. Replication and validation of these SNP associations were performed using DISCOVeRY-BMT (Determining the Influence of Susceptibility COnveying Variants Related to one-Year mortality after BMT), a well-powered genome-wide association study consisting of 2 cohorts, totaling 2888 BMT recipients with acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or myelodysplastic syndrome, and their HLA-matched unrelated donors, reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research. Read More

Environ Res 2017 10 20;158:167-173. Epub 2017 Jun 20.

Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 801 NE 13th St., CHB 309, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Although childhood cancer is a leading cause of childhood mortality in the US, evidence regarding the etiology is lacking. The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between benzene, a known carcinogen, and childhood acute leukemia.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study including cases diagnosed with acute leukemia between 1997 and 2012 (n = 307) from the Oklahoma Central Cancer Registry and controls matched on week of birth from birth certificates (n = 1013). Read More

Zhongguo Shi Yan Xue Ye Xue Za Zhi 2017 Jun;25(3):688-692

Department of Clinical Laboratorial Examination, Hainan Provincial People's Hospital, Haikou 570102, Hainan Province, China.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between dynamic change of IL-32 level and disease development in the patients with acute leukemia(AL) and to explore its clinical significance.

Methods: The serum IL-32 levels and IL-32 mRNA expression in 82 cases of AL and 30 healthy persons were measured by ELISA and real-time PCR.

Results: Compared with healthy persons, the serum IL-32 protein level and IL-32 mRNA expression in AL, acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) and acute non-lymphocytic leukemia(ANLL) groups all were significantly higher(P<0. Read More

Arch Med Res 2016 11;47(8):607-614

International Agency for Research on Cancer, Section of Environment and Radiation, Lyon, France; Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Unit of Survivorship, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Childhood leukemia is the most common cancer diagnosed in children worldwide. However, only a few causes have been established so far, mainly some genetic syndromes and high doses of ionizing radiation. Major efforts have been undertaken to study the relationship between environmental factors and the risk of childhood leukemia, inspired by geographical variation in incidence rates. Read More

Haematologica 2017 05 25;102(5):941-947. Epub 2017 Jan 25.

Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA

The effects of inter-unit HLA-match on early outcomes with regards to double cord blood transplantation have not been established. Therefore, we studied the effect of inter-unit HLA-mismatching on the outcomes of 449 patients with acute leukemia after double cord blood transplantation. Patients were divided into two groups: one group that included transplantations with inter-unit mismatch at 2 or less HLA-loci (n=381) and the other group with inter-unit mismatch at 3 or 4 HLA-loci (n=68). Read More

Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2017 Feb 31;40(1):33-45. Epub 2016 Oct 31.

Laboratory of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (LBB), Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Purpose: Despite vast improvements that have been made in the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the majority of infant ALL patients (~80 %, < 1 year of age) that carry a chromosomal translocation involving the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene shows a poor response to chemotherapeutic drugs, especially glucocorticoids (GCs), which are essential components of all current treatment regimens. Although addressed in several studies, the mechanism(s) underlying this phenomenon have remained largely unknown. A major drawback of most previous studies is their primary focus on individual genes, thereby neglecting the putative significance of inter-gene correlations. Read More

Am J Hematol 2017 Jan 7;92(1):7-11. Epub 2016 Dec 7.

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

Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling plays a crucial role in oncogene-mediated tumor growth and proliferation. Buparlisib (BKM120) is an oral pan-class I PI3K inhibitor. This phase I study was conducted to determine the dose limiting toxicity (DLT) and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of BKM120 in patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory acute leukemias. Read More

N Engl J Med 2016 Sep;375(10):944-53

From the Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (F.M., T.G., A.W., M.E.F., K.D., R.W., M.M., J.H.D., M.S., A.D., B.M.S., R.S., E.P., F.R.A., C.D.), and the Departments of Medicine (F.M., B.W., M.E.F., M.M., J.H.D., M.S., B.M.S., R.S., E.P., F.R.A.) and Pediatrics (A.W., A.D., C.D.), University of Washington - both in Seattle.

Background: The majority of patients in need of a hematopoietic-cell transplant do not have a matched related donor. Data are needed to inform the choice among various alternative donor-cell sources.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we compared outcomes in 582 consecutive patients with acute leukemia or the myelodysplastic syndrome who received a first myeloablative hematopoietic-cell transplant from an unrelated cord-blood donor (140 patients), an HLA-matched unrelated donor (344), or an HLA-mismatched unrelated donor (98). Read More

Cancer Lett 2015 Dec 13;369(1):134-43. Epub 2015 Aug 13.

Stem Cell Laboratory, Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, National Cancer Institute (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Para o Controle do Câncer (INCT), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by myeloid precursor proliferation in the bone marrow, apoptosis reduction and differentiation arrest. Although there are several studies in this field, events related to disease initiation and progression remain unknown. The malignant transformation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) is thought to generate leukemic stem cells, and this transformation could be related to changes in mesenchymal stromal cell (hMSC) signaling. Read More

Am J Clin Pathol 2015 Sep;144(3):393-410

From the Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston; and

Objectives: This session of the 2013 Society of Hematopathology/European Association for Haematopathology Workshop was dedicated to B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL)/lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) with recurrent translocations and not otherwise specified.

Methods: In this review, we summarize the cases discussed during the workshop, review the pertinent and most recent literature on the respective topics, and provide a few key points that may aid in the workup of patients with B-ALL/LBL.

Results: Many of the submitted cases showed interesting diagnostic, immunophenotypic, or clinical aspects of B-ALL with BCR/ABL1, MLL-associated, and other recurrent chromosomal abnormalities. Read More

Indian J Pathol Microbiol 2015 Jul-Sep;58(3):377-80

Department of Hematology, SGPGI, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare, aggressive neoplasm classified under "acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and related precursor neoplasm" by current WHO classification. Elderly male are commonly affected with cutaneous lesion being the hallmark of disease presentation. The disease progresses rapidly and sooner or later involves bone marrow and peripheral blood. Read More

Toxicol Lett 2015 Nov 7;239(1):32-40. Epub 2015 Aug 7.

Health and Safety Laboratory, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9JN, UK. Electronic address:

The KG1 myeloid leukaemia was used as source of dendritic cells (DC) to discriminate between respiratory and contact sensitising chemicals. A cocktail of cytokines was used to differentiate KG1 to dendritic like cells (termed dKG1) and the effects of nine chemicals (respiratory and contact sensitisers) and an irritant control on surface marker expression, 'antigen presenting' function and cytokine expression investigated. The stability of these chemicals when dissolved was characterised using MALDI ToF MS. Read More

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2015 Nov 26;21(11):2008-16. Epub 2015 Jul 26.

Department of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major infectious complication after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Recently, it was reported that CMV reactivation is associated with a decreased risk of relapse in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of early CMV reactivation on the incidence of disease relapse after allo-HSCT in a large cohort of patients. Read More

Am J Hematol 2015 Sep 1;90(9):755-68. Epub 2015 Jun 1.

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

Long-term efficacy and safety of bosutinib (≥4 years follow-up from last enrolled patient) were evaluated in an ongoing phase 1/2 study in the advanced leukemia cohort with prior treatment failure (accelerated-phase [AP, n = 79] chronic myeloid leukemia [CML], blast-phase [BP, n = 64] CML, acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL, n = 24]). Fourteen AP, 2 BP, and 1 ALL patient remained on bosutinib at 4 years (vs. 38, 8, 1 at 1 year); median (range) treatment durations: 10. Read More

Mol Cancer 2015 Apr 19;14:90. Epub 2015 Apr 19.

Domain of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-7-1 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, 739-8521, Japan.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that some long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in certain diseases, such as cancer. The lncRNA, CCDC26, is related to childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML) because its copy number is altered in AML patients.

Results: We found that CCDC26 transcripts were abundant in the nuclear fraction of K562 human myeloid leukemia cells. Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2015 May 26;174(5):675-86. Epub 2015 Mar 26.

Department of Paediatrics, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland,

Unlabelled: In a prospective multicentre study of bloodstream infection (BSI) from November 01, 2007 to July 31, 2010, seven paediatric cancer centres (PCC) from Germany and one from Switzerland included 770 paediatric cancer patients (58% males; median age 8.3 years, interquartile range (IQR) 3.8-14. Read More

Expert Opin Drug Saf 2015 May 12;14(5):655-65. Epub 2015 Feb 12.

Instituto Nacional de Cancerología Mexico , Ave. San Fernando 22, Seccion XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City , Mexico.

Introduction: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogeneous clonal disorder characterized by deregulation of apoptosis, dysplastic features in hematopoietic precursors, peripheral blood cytopenias and an increased risk for transformation to acute leukemia. Roughly 20% of MDS are therapy related (t-MDS), and this is considered an independent adverse prognostic factor.

Areas Covered: This review based on a comprehensive literature search provides an overview on the main features of t-MDS, including its epidemiology, risk factors, molecular pathogenesis, prognostic classifications and therapy. Read More

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2015 Jan;36(1):47-53

2Division of Infectious Diseases,LDS Hospital and the University of Utah,Salt Lake City,Utah.

OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency, risk factors, and outcomes for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization and infection in patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia. DESIGN Retrospective clinical study with VRE molecular strain typing. SETTING A regional referral center for acute leukemia. Read More

Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi 2014 Sep;53(9):710-4

Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China. Email:

Objective: To investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) before transplantation on clinical outcomes of haploidentical allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 253 adult patients with acute or chronic leukemia who received haploidentical allo-HSCT from August 2008 to September 2011. All conditioning regimens were myeloablative and bulsufan based. Read More

Leuk Res 2015 Jan 15;39(1):88-91. Epub 2014 Nov 15.

Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, "Ca' Granda" Foundation IRCCS, University of Milan, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milano, Italy. Electronic address:

We analyzed appearance of non transferrin bound iron (NTBI) in 30 transplant eligible patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) during conventional chemotherapy treatment program and evaluated possible relationship with transfusional body iron intake, iron parameters and clinical complications. For each course, serum samples for NTBI detection were taken prior to chemotherapy, during treatment and during subsequent bone marrow myelosuppression: NTBI was assessed by HPLC. Appearance of NTBI was observed from the start of induction treatment and was still detectable during bone marrow myelosuppression; the recovery of the bone marrow function coincided with the disappearance of NTBI. Read More

Int J Clin Exp Pathol 2014 15;7(6):3196-201. Epub 2014 May 15.

Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Rearrangements of the MLL gene located at chromosome 11q23 are common chromosomal abnormalities associated with acute leukemias. In vast majority of cases with MLL gene rearrangements, only one chromosome 11 or a single MLL allele got involved. We report two very unusual cases of myeloid neoplasms with homozygous inv(11)(q21q23) and biallelic MLL rearrangement. Read More

Tumour Biol 2014 Jul 11;35(7):6763-8. Epub 2014 Apr 11.

Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Pasdaran Boulevard, Sanandaj, Iran,

C-kit receptor (CD117) and its ligand, stem cell factor, play a key role in normal hematopoiesis. It has been demonstrated that its expression extremely increases in leukemias with myeloid commitment. We analyzed findings on CD117 expression together with other myeloid related markers in 203 de novo acute leukemias, referred to Iranian immunophenotyping centers: Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO) and Baghiatallah Hospital (BH). Read More

Hum Mol Genet 2014 Jun 31;23(12):3278-88. Epub 2014 Jan 31.

Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China and

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recently found to be pervasively transcribed in human genome and link to diverse human diseases. However, the expression patterns and regulatory roles of lncRNAs in hematopoietic malignancies have not been reported. Here, we carried out a genome-wide lncRNA expression study in MLL-rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia (MLL-r ALL) and established lncRNA/messenger RNA coexpression networks to gain insight into the biological roles of these dysregulated lncRNAs. Read More

Int J Hyg Environ Health 2014 Jul 25;217(6):662-8. Epub 2013 Dec 25.

Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

There are few established causes of leukemia, the most common type of cancer in children. Studies in adults suggest a role for specific environmental agents, but little is known about any effect from exposures in pregnancy to toxics in ambient air. In our case-control study, we ascertained 69 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 46 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) from California Cancer Registry records of children Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2013 Nov 26;441(2):431-7. Epub 2013 Oct 26.

Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 406-840, Republic of Korea; Gachon Medical Research Institute, Gil Medical Center, Incheon 405-760, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Although the kinase receptor TrkA may play an important role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), its involvement in other types of leukemia has not been reported. Furthermore, how it contributes to leukemogenesis is unknown. Here, we describe a molecular network that is important for TrkA function in leukemogenesis. Read More

Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2014 Jun;14(5):706-12

5 Pyramidon str 190 05, Municipality of Marathon, Athens, Greece.

Statins have pleiotropic properties and might exert an effect even in the field of cancer. Statins competitively inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme (HMG-CoA) reductase, the major rate-limiting enzyme that controls the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid. Specifically, inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase by statins has been proved to prevent the synthesis of mevalonic acid, a precursor of non-steroidal isoprenoids, which are lipid attachment molecules for small G proteins, such as Ras, Rho and Rac. Read More

Oncol Rep 2013 Dec 25;30(6):2587-92. Epub 2013 Sep 25.

Section for Cancer Cytogenetics, Institute for Medical Informatics, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

Sequential combination of cytogenetics and RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) has been shown to be an efficient approach to detect pathogenetically important fusion genes in neoplasms carrying only one or a few chromosomal rearrangements. We performed RNA-Seq on an acute myeloid leukemia in a 2-year-old girl with the karyotype 46,XX,add(1)(p36), der(2)t(2;3)(q21;q21),del(3)(q21),der(10)t(1;10)(q32;q24),der(16)(2qter-->2q21::16p11-->16q24::16p11-->16pter)[13]/46,XX[2] and identified a cryptic FUS/ERG fusion gene. PCR and direct sequencing verified the presence of the FUS-ERG chimeric transcript in which exon 7 of FUS from 16p11 (nt 904 in sequence with accession number NM_004960 version 3) was fused in frame to exon 8 of ERG from sub-band 21q22. Read More

Rev Bras Hematol Hemoter 2013 ;35(1):68-70

Hospital Dr. Amaral Carvalho, Jaú, SP, Brazil.

Myeloid sarcomas are extramedullary solid tumors composed of immature granulocytic precursor cells. In association with acute myeloid leukemia and other myeloproliferative disorders, they may arise concurrently with compromised bone marrow related to acute myeloid leukemia, as a relapsed presentation, or occur as the first manifestation. The testicles are considered to be an uncommon site for myeloid sarcomas. Read More

Int J Cancer 2013 Oct 6;133(8):1892-9. Epub 2013 Jul 6.

Unit of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy.

Our study is aimed at investigating the association between common childhood infectious diseases (measles, chickenpox, rubella, mumps and pertussis) and the risk of developing leukaemia in an adult population. A reanalysis of a large population-based case-control study was carried out. Original data included 1,771 controls and 649 leukaemia cases from 11 Italian areas. Read More

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2013 Apr 17;19(4):607-15. Epub 2013 Jan 17.

Department of Hematology, Sasebo City General Hospital, Sasebo, Japan.

Although allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is performed as a curative option in adult T cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL) patients, its high transplantation-related mortality raises a serious issue. The clinical features of infectious complications after transplantation are not well known. To analyze the impact of infections after allo-SCT for ATL, we retrospectively compared infectious complications in 210 patients at 3 institutions in Nagasaki prefecture between 1997 and 2009. Read More

Cancer Genet 2012 Dec 11;205(12):653-6. Epub 2012 Dec 11.

Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.

Improvements in chemotherapy and medical support of patients treated with chemotherapy and radiation have led to an ever-increasing number of cancer survivors. Unfortunately, a small fraction of these patients develop secondary hematologic malignancies as a consequence of their exposure to genotoxic anti-cancer regimens. Most of these are myeloid malignancies, therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) or myelodysplasia (t-MDS); however, a small but growing body of literature exists, which describes therapy-related acute lymphoblastic leukemias (t-ALL). Read More

Stat Med 2013 May 22;32(12):2114-26. Epub 2012 Nov 22.

Department of Statistics, University of California at Irvine, CA, USA.

High-throughput scientific studies involving no clear a priori hypothesis are common. For example, a large-scale genomic study of a disease may examine thousands of genes without hypothesizing that any specific gene is responsible for the disease. In these studies, the objective is to explore a large number of possible factors (e. Read More

APMIS 2013 Feb 3;121(2):85-94. Epub 2012 Jul 3.

Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

DNMT3A, a DNA methyltransferase that functions for de novo methylation, is important in development and many cellular processes related to tumorigenesis. Somatic mutations of DNMT3A gene, including recurrent mutations in its Arg-882, were recently reported in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), strongly suggesting its role in development of AML. To see whether DNMT3A mutation occurs in other malignancies as well, we analyzed DNMT3A in 916 cancer tissues from 401 hematologic malignancies (AML, acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL), multiple myelomas and lymphomas) and 515 carcinomas (lung, breast, prostate, colorectal and gastric carcinomas) using a single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) assay. Read More

Br J Haematol 2012 Nov 21;159(4):454-61. Epub 2012 Sep 21.

University of Calgary and Calgary Laboratory Services, Calgary, AB, Canada.

T-lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) are neoplasms derived from immature lymphoid cells of T-cell lineage. These neoplasms are biologically similar, but significant differences may exist between the two given their clinical differences. Although ample data regarding the immunophenotypic characterization T-ALL are available, there is a paucity of such data in children and adolescents with T-LBL. Read More

PLoS One 2012 23;7(7):e41485. Epub 2012 Jul 23.

Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America.

The clinical importance of erythroid predominance in bone marrow of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is controversial. These cases represent a heterogeneous group of diseases that historically have been classified into different categories. We studied 313 AML patients and specifically compared the clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular features of cases of AML with erythroid predominance, arbitrarily defined as ≥50% erythroid precursors, to AML cases without erythroid predominance. Read More

Minerva Pediatr 2012 Aug;64(4):385-94

Service of Pediatric Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Second University of the Studies in Naples, Naples, Italy.

Aim: The present clinical study was carried out in order to evaluate in a perspective way the incidence of the infections caused by CVC, the micro-organisms mostly involved in the infectious process, the condition of aplasia in patients when blood cultures show positiveness and the incidence of removals expressed as number of performed removals/number of positive blood culture.

Methods: Between January 2003 and December 2009 452 blood cultures from CVC were carried out on 120 patients affected by acute lymphoblastyic and myelougenous leukemia (38), Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (17) and solid tumors (65), with an average of 65 blood cultures per year showing an average positiveness of 21 cases/year. The blood cultures were performed, in hyperpyrexia, when there was a clinical suspicion of infection from CVC. Read More

Am J Clin Pathol 2012 Mar;137(3):395-402

Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a relatively common form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that has an excellent prognosis. In contrast, secondary acute myeloid leukemias, including therapy-related AML and AML with myelodysplasia-related changes, have a relatively poor prognosis. We identified 9 cases of APL at our institution in which there was a history of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, chronic immunosuppression, or antecedent myelodysplastic syndrome. Read More

Curr Med Chem 2012 ;19(5):683-96

Department of Experimental Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence, Viale G.B. Morgagni, 50, 50134 Firenze, Italy.

Leukemias, as other cancers, bear several genetic alterations of tumor-related genes, such as point mutations, translocations, epigenetic modifications, often accompanied by gene amplification or inactivation. The identification of tumor-related genes provides considerable insight into the biology of leukemias and opens the way to more specific pharmacological treatments. These genes comprise several ion channels and pumps, as the transport mechanisms associated with volume control, proliferation and apoptosis are often altered in cancers. Read More

Cancer 2012 Aug 16;118(16):3962-7. Epub 2011 Dec 16.

Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) occurring in patients with a history of prior chemotherapy/radiotherapy exposure has been previously reported to be rare, accounting for <2.5% of ALL cases.

Methods: All cases of adult ALL with a history of prior cytotoxic or radiation therapy at a leukemia referral center over a 13-year period were analyzed. Read More

Pathology 2012 Jan;44(1):29-32

Departments of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Aims: Germline mutation of NF2 gene is a feature of neurofibromatosis type 2 familial cancer syndrome. Also, somatic point mutations of NF2 mutation have been reported in tumours originated from nerve structures. A recent study revealed that NF2 gene was mutated in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) as well, suggesting a possibility that NF2 gene might be somatically mutated in other human cancers. Read More

Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2012 Feb 10;51(2):196-206. Epub 2011 Nov 10.

Department of Clinical Genetics, University and Regional Laboratories, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Sweden.

Previous cytogenetic studies of myeloid and acute lymphoblastic leukemias in children with Down syndrome (ML-DS and DS-ALL) have revealed significant differences in abnormality patterns between such cases and acute leukemias in general. Also, certain molecular genetic aberrations characterize DS-related leukemias, such as GATA1 mutations in ML-DS and deregulation of the CRLF2 gene in DS-ALL. Whether microdeletions/microduplications also vary between DS and non-DS cases is presently unclear. Read More

Br J Haematol 2012 Jan 3;156(1):76-88. Epub 2011 Nov 3.

Centre for Human Genetics, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.

The PRDM16 (1p36) gene is rearranged in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with t(1;3)(p36;q21), sharing characteristics with AML and MDS with MECOM (3q26.2) translocations. We used fluorescence in situ hybridization to study 39 haematological malignancies with translocations involving PRDM16 to assess the precise breakpoint on 1p36 and the identity of the partner locus. Read More

J Antimicrob Chemother 2011 Sep 5;66(9):2140-5. Epub 2011 Jul 5.

Department of Haematology, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.

Background: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are considered a major problem among patients undergoing acute leukaemia (AL) induction treatment. PROphylaxis of Fungal invasive Infections in Leukaemia-Caspofungin (PROFIL-C) is a multicentre study aiming to assess the comparative yield of using caspofungin versus standard policy (SP) regimens and the overall impact of IFI in routine clinical care conditions.

Methods: All AL patients receiving IFI prophylaxis according to local SP were prospectively included in the study by Northern Italy Leukaemia Group (NILG) centres. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011 May 25;108(19):7956-61. Epub 2011 Apr 25.

Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.

Rearrangements of the MLL (ALL1) gene are very common in acute infant and therapy-associated leukemias. The rearrangements underlie the generation of MLL fusion proteins acting as potent oncogenes. Several most consistently up-regulated targets of MLL fusions, MEIS1, HOXA7, HOXA9, and HOXA10 are functionally related and have been implicated in other types of leukemias. Read More

Cancer 2011 Sep 1;117(17):4009-17. Epub 2011 Mar 1.

Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Center Health Sciences Center, Houston, Texas, USA.

Background: Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive B-lymphoblastic leukemia exhibits immunophenotypic, karyotypic, and molecular genetic heterogeneity. The prognostic significance of these parameters was assessed in the context of intensive tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-based chemotherapy.

Methods: The authors studied 65 adult patients with Ph-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who received treatment with TKI-based therapy, correlated their clinicopathologic heterogeneity with patient outcome, and compared the findings with those from 60 adult patients with diploid B-cell ALL who received similar chemotherapy without a TKI. Read More