[Acute myelogenous leukemia [AML-M3] in a patient with Sjogren's syndrome]

Sjogren's syndrome [SS] is a systemic autoimmune disease that presents with sicca symptoms of the main mucosal surfaces. The spectrum of disease extends from sicca syndrome to systemic involvement and may be complicated by the development of lymphoma. Many types of malignant and pseudo malignant diseases have been reported, but the most important is non Hodgkin lymphoma. We here present a 45 year-old woman with SS that referred with pancytopenia. By molecular and histochemical techniques a diagnosis of acute myeloblastic leukemia of M3 type [AML-M3] was made for this patient

Arsenic trioxide compound modulates multiple myeloma phenotypes: Assessment on cell line models

Recent evidences suggest that multiple myeloma phenotypes [MMPs] are involved in the infiltration of multiple myeloma-affected marrow foci. In this study, the effects of arsenic trioxide on the invasive and angiogenic phenotypes of multiple myeloma [MM] cell line were assessed on a dose-response and time-course basis. Multiple myeloma cell line, Karpas 707, was treated with step-wise elevated concentrations of arsenic trioxide compound at 24, 48, and 72 h intervals. Cytotoxicity was assessed with a colorimetric assay. Potential antiinvasive phenotype was analyzed with MMP-2 zymography. To verify directly the anti angiogenic effect, F1 endothelial cell line was also treated with arsenic and the dose-dependent cytotoxicity was assessed with a colorimetric assay. Apoptotic properties of arsenic trioxide compound were investigated using TUNEL assay. The significant dose-dependent inhibitory effects of arsenic trioxide on MMP-2 were seen at given concentrations. Cytotoxicity analysis revealed much higher cell death than untreated cells [P< 0.01], both in Karpas 707 and F1 endothelial cell lines. Colectively, this study showed that arsenic trioxide might potentially elicit anti-invasive anti-angiogenesis properties in the treatment of myeloma dissemination process. In addition, the concurrent inhibition of MMPs activity and endothelial cell proliferation could compose the scenario of neoangiogenesis inhibition in the marrow-infiltrated foci

Primary gastric lymphoma: clinicopathologic study of gastric lyphoma cases and the treatment option of choice

Lymphoma may involve the gastrointestinal tract either primarily or as a manifestation of extensively disseminated systemic disease. Stomach being the most frequent site of primary gastroin-testinal lyphoma, followed by the small bowel and colon respectively [1 and 2 and 3]. For diagnosis of pi-mary small intestinal lymphoma [PSIL], one most satisfies the criteria specified by Dawson and co-workers.[5] Gastric lymphoma is a common presentation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Controversy reigns about many aspects of its classification and management, especially regarding roles for surgical resection. The aim of this study is evaluation of 5 years survival and methods of treatment of primary gastric lymphoma in a group of Iranian patients. The authors review the clinical features, staging, pathology, prognosis, and management of 30 patients with an emphasis on the role of chemotherapy, surgical resection and radiotherapy of 71 gastrointestinal lymphoma cases. A total of 30 patients [19 male and 11 female] with a mean age of 51 years and a range of 34 - 68 years were included in the study. The frequency of primary gastric lymphoma in our series was 42% of the total of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma. The overall survival rate was 47.8% at 5 years. Stag-ing usually was completed using noninvasive techniques. Patients with stage I or II disease were treated with Surgery [gastric resection] and chemotherapy showed improved Free Disease Survival [FDS] of 67% at 5 years. The five-year survival for stage I, II, III and IV patients were 87%, 61%, 25%, and 11% respectively, and the five-year survival for low grade and high grade were 91% and 56%, respec-tively. Stage III or IV and inoperable primary gastric lymphoma were treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy showed improved Free Disease Survival [FDS] of 67% at five years. The five-year sur-vival for stage I, II, III, IV were 87%, 61%, 25% and 11% respectively, and the five year survival for low grade and high grade were 91% and 56% respectively. Early stage disease and high-grade Lymphoma have a better prognosis and patients who have complete surgical removal of primary tumor and chemotherapy