Influence of FLT3-ITD Mutation and ITD Length on the Outcome on Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the influence of FLT3-ITD mutation and ITD length on the overall survival (OS) and relapse free survival(RFS) in patients with non-M3 acute myeloid leukemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical features and therapeutic effect were retrospectively analyzed in 75 AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutation and 76 FLT3-ITD AML patients with a normal karotype from June 2011 to April 2016. Genomic DNA was amplified by PCR, and FLT3-ITD mutation length was analyzed by DNA sequencing in 40 patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutation had higher WBC count and the ratio of BM blast cells at initial diagnosis was also higher than those in AML patients without FLT3-ITD mutation (95.13 vs 10.85)(P<0.01); 72% vs 59%(P<0.01). The CR rates in AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutation less than those in AML patients without FLT3-ITD mutation(70.42% vs 94.7%)(P<0.01). OS (P<0.01) and RFS (P<0.01) were significantly increased in patients with AML who received allo-HSCT as compared with the patients who received consolidation chemotherapy and similar to AML patients without FLT3-ITD mutation who received HSCT. Patients with maintenance sorafenib after HSCT had longer OS (P<0.05) and RFS (P<0.05) than controls. ITDs exceeding 60 bp in length were associated with decreasing OS as compared with shorter ITD in AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutation (P<0.05). OS and RFS were similar among the 2 groups receiving consolidation chemotherapy. Besides, the patients with allo-HSCT had shorter ITDs and longer OS than ITDs exceeding 60 bp (P<0.05) and similar to AML patients without FLT3-ITD mutation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutation has poorer outcome, among which the prognosis was worse in patients with ITD exceeding 60 bp, and the chemotherapy alone can not improve the prognosis of FLT3-ITD. Allo-HSCT is an effective treatment for AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutation; Sorafenib appears to be an effective maintenance therapy after allo-HSCT in FLT3-ITD AML.</p>

Curative effect of Ranibizumab combined with laser photocoagulation for proliferative diabetic retinopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

·AIM:To investigate the clinical efficacy of Ranibizumab combined with laser photocoagulation in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). ·METHODS: Totally 80 patients (101 eyes) with PDR admitted to our hospital from October 2014 and October 2016 were selected and divided into the observation group and the control group, with 50 eyes and 51 eyes respectively. The patients in the control group (50 eyes) were treated with panretinal photocoagulation (PRP), and the patients in observation group (51 eyes) were treated with ranibizumab on the basis of PRP treatment. Best corrected visual acuity(BCVA) was compared before and after surgery 1, 3, and 6mo. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to examine the central macular thickness ( CMT ) and the area of neovascularization at each timepoints. Then the laser spot number,laser energy and energy density were compared between the two groups and the adverse reactions were recorded. · RESULTS: Postoperative BCVA of the two groups significantly increased, and the BCVA of observation group were significantly higher than that of the control group after surgery 1, 3, 6mo, the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 05). After treatment, the CMT and neovascularization area of the two groups significantly decreased, and those of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group after surgery 1, 3, 6mo, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The laser spot number, laser energy and energy density of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). There were 2 cases (2 eyes) in the observation group and 1 cases (1 eye) in the control group, whose intraocular pressure exceeded 28mmHg, while relieved rapidly after the treatment, and no obvious complications occurred in two groups. ·CONCLUSION:Ranibizumab combined with laser in the treatment of PDR is an effective and safe way to improve BCVA, reduce CMT, and eliminate new blood vessels with less required laser energy.

Promoter methylation and expression of death-associated protein kinase gene in acute leukemia / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical implications of death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) promoter methylation and DAPK gene expression in untreated patients with acute leukemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Methylation-specific PCR and RT-PCR were employed to detect the DAPK gene methylation and mRNA expression in the bone marrow of 60 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 55 patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and 17 normal subjects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positivity rate of DAPK methylation was significantly higher in ALL patients (29.1%) than in AML patients group (5%) and normal subjects (0%) (P<0.01). No correlation was found between DAPK gene methylation and the clinical features in ALL patients (P>0.05). DAPK mRNA expression level differed significantly among the 3 groups (P=0.000), and was the highest in normal subjects and the lowest in ALL patients. In ALL patients, the expression level of DAPK mRNA showed a significant inverse correlation with DAPK promoter methylation (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The methylation rate of DAPK gene is higher in untreated ALL patients than in AML patients and normal subjects. DAPK gene methylation is not correlated with the clinical features of ALL patients but is probably related with the low gene expression level of DAPK in these patients.</p>

Effect of DAPK overexpression on biological behaviors and caspase-3 expression in HL-60 cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of DAPK overexpression on the biological behaviors and caspase-3 expression in HL-60 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of DAPK mRNA was detected by RT-PCR leukemia cell lines K562, Molt4, U937, and HL-60 cells. HL-60 cells were transfected by a eukaryotic expression vector pReceiver-M29-DAPK via LipofectamineTM 2000, and the impact of DAPK overexpression on cell apoptosis, cell cycle, cell differentiation and caspase-3 expression were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>DAPK mRNA expression was positive in K562, Molt4 and U937 cells but negative in HL-60 cells. Significantly increased cell apoptosis was observed in pReceiver-M29-DAPK-transfected HL-60 cells by flow cytometry and Hoechst33342 staining. The cell cycle distribution and differentiation showed no significant changes after the transfection. The expression of caspase-3 was significantly increased in the cells after transfection.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DAPK gene overexpression promotes apoptosis of HL-60 cells without affecting the cell cycle and differentiation. Caspase-3 may be involved in the regulation of cell apoptosis.</p>

Clinical analysis of acute heart failure's risk factor for chronic myelogenous leukemia patient during the early stage of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The study was to analyze the acute heart failure's risk factors and clinical characteristics for the patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) during the early stage (within 100 d) of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 106 cases of CML received allo-HSCT were retrospectively studied in Nanfang Hospital from May 2003 to May 2013. On the basis of existence or absence of acute heart failure during early stage of allo-HSCT (100 d), the patients were divided into heart failure (15 cases) and control group (91 cases). Using Logistic univariate analysis, Fisher' exact test and Pearson X(2) test, the acute heart failure's risk factors and clinical characteristics of both groups were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median occurrence time of acute heart failure was 3 d (1 d before transplantation to 84 d after transplantation). Logistic univariate analysis indicated that the imatinib treatment history and time, and the prophylaxis regimens for GVHD with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) were all the poor prognostic factors for acute heart failure. Incidence of hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD), bacterial infection and adverse prognostic events including death in the heart failure group patients were statistically higher than that in control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acute heart failure mostly happened in the early stage after allo-HSCT, imatinib treatment and GVHD prophylaxis regimens with ATG are the poor prognostic factors for acute heart failure. The patients of heart failure group seem to have higher incidence of hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD), bacterial infection and deaths.</p>

Anti-apoptotic effect of Astragalus Polysaccharide on myeloid cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to assess the effect of Astragalus Polysaccharide (ASPS) on in-vitro hematopoiesis. CFU-GM assays were used to determine the effect of ASPS and thrombopoietin (TPO) on granulocytic-monocyte progenitor cells. The CFU assays were also used to investigate the effect of ASPS on the proliferation of HL-60 cells.HL-60 cells were cultured with serum-free RPMI 1640 medium and treated with or without of different concentrations of ASPS. After 72 h incubation, the number of cells were counted.In addition, the caspase-3 and JC-1 expression was determined by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI double staining. The results showed that ASPS (100, 200 µg/ml) and TPO (100 ng/ml) significantly promoted CFU-GM formation in vitro. Various concentrations of ASPS and TPO also promoted the colony formation of HL-60 cells, the largest effect of ASPS was observed at a concentration of 100 µg/ml. There were no synergistic effects between TPO and ASPS on cellular proliferation. The results also showed that ASPS significantly protected HL-60 cells from apoptosis in condition of serum-free medium culture, suppressed caspase 3 activation, and reduced the cell apoptosis. It is concluded that ASPS can significantly promote the formation of bone marrow CFU-GM and the proliferation of HL-60 cells, the optimal concentration of ASPS is at 100 µg/ml. In the absence of serum inducing apoptosis, ASPS also significantly reduced the apoptosis of HL-60 cells via suppressing the activation of caspase-3.

TEC promoter mediates P210(bcr/abl) gene expression in BaF3 cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

P210(bcr/abl) transgene mouse is a good model to research the chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), but the P210(bcr/abl) gene has a lethal effect on embryogenesis if driven by the constitutive promoter. So, the use of promoter which induces the special expression in hematopoietic tissue is the key to construct CML transgenic mice. This study was purposed to investigate the TEC promoter mediated P210(bcr/abl) gene expression in BaF3 cells. The CMVie promotes of IRES2-eGFP vector was replaced with the -364-+22 domain of TEC promoter cloned from mouse genome, and the P210(bcr/abl) gene was inserted into the EcoR I site of TEC-IRES2-eGFP vector. Then, the constructed vector was transfected into the BaF3 cells and 293 cells respectively. The expression levels of eGFP gene and P210(bcr/abl) gene in BaF3 and 293 cells were detected. The results showed that with fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry, the eGFP gene was found to be expressed in the BaF3 cells, the expression rate was 7.10%, 23.35%, 64.61% at 6, 24, 72 h respectively after transfection, but the fluorescence was not seen in 293 cells. A 372 bp fragment of BCR/ABL mRNA was amplified by RT-PCR in BaF3 cells, but not in 293 cells. It is concluded that the -364-+22 domain of TEC promoter can mediate high-effective and specific expression of related genes in hematopoietic tissue, which can be used to construct P210(bcr/abl) transgene mice model.

Stable interference on P210(bcr/abl) gene expression by lentiviral vector-delivered shRNA in vitro and in vivo / 中国实验血液学杂志

P210(bcr/abl) fusion gene is indispensable for generation and progression of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Small molecule inhibitors, such as imatinib, are effective for P210(bcr/abl) gene mediated CML, but drug resistance may occur. The unique fusion junction of P210(bcr/abl) gene is an attractive target for therapeutic intervention using RNA interference (RNAi). This study was purposed to constructed the BaF3 cell line by viral vector which can stably express P210(bcr/abl) shRNA and P210(bcr/abl) mRNA at the same time, and investigate the effect of lentiviral-victor-delivered shRNA on P210(bcr/abl) gene expression. The infective rate of lentiviral vector on BaF3 cells with P210(bcr/abl) gene was assayed by fluorescent microscopy; the cell proliferation ability was determined by trypan blue exclusion; the P210(bcr/abl) mRNA and protein expressions were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. The results found that stable expression of the P210(bcr/abl) shRNA resulted in obvious inhibition of P210(bcr/abl) mRNA and protein expression and increased sensitivity of these P210(bcr/abl) gene transformed Ba/F3 cells to imatinib. The IC(50) to imatinib in these cells decreased < 50% as compared with Ba/F3-P210(bcr/abl) cells which did not express P210(bcr/abl) mRNA. The survival time of the lethal dose irradiated mice induced by intravenous injection of these Ba/F3 cells was longer than the other group induced by Ba/F3-P210(bcr/abl). It is concluded that stable expression of shRNA targeting the P210(bcr/abl) gene fusion junction may potentiate the effects of conventional therapy for CML.

Study on efficiency and safety of dasatinib in Chinese patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia who are resistant or intolerant to imatinib / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficiency and safety of dasatinib in Chinese patients (pts) with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in chronic phase (CP), accelerated-phase (AP) or blast-phase (BP) who are resistant or intolerant to imatinib (IM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>119 CML pts received dasatinib 100 mg once daily for pts in CP or 70 mg twice daily for pts in AP/BP. The hematologic/cytogenetic response, progression-free-survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse effects (AE) of the pts were assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>59 pts in CP, 25 in AP and 35 in BP received dasatinib treatment. The median duration of dasatinib treatment were 19.32, 20.99 and 3.22 months respectively. Complete hematologic response (CHR), major cytogenetic response (MCyR) and complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) were achieved by 91.5%, 50.8% and 42.4% of pts in CP respectively. The median times to achieving MCyR was 12.1 weeks. None of the pts in CP achieved MCyR progressed or died till to last follow-up. CHR and major hematologic response (MaHR) were achieved by 52.0% and 84.0% of pts in AP, respectively. The median time to CHR and MaHR were 16.0 and 12.1 weeks, respectively. 10 pts in AP achieved MCyR and 9 of them were CCyR. The median duration of PFS was 25.7 months for pts in AP. For 35 pts in BP, the rates of CHR and MaHR were 17.1% and 31.4% respectively. Both of the median time to CHR and MaHR were 12.1 weeks and median time of duration of MaHR was 11.2 months. 8 pts in BP achieved MCyR and the median time of duration of MCyR was 13.2 months. The median duration of PFS and OS for the pts in BP were 4.3 and 16.7 months respectively. Grade 3-4 of hematologic AEs related to dasatinib were frequent but manageable by dose interruption/reduction or supportive care. 52.5% and 61.0% of pts in CP experienced grade 3-4 of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. More than 80% pts in AP/BP occurred grade 3-4 cytopenia. The common non-hematologic AEs related to dasatinib were including grade 1-2 pleural effusion, headache, pneumonia and diarrhea. The frequency of non-hematologic AE was higher in pts with AP/BP than in pts with CP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chinese pts with CML resistant or intolerant to IM treated by dasatinib can achieve relatively sustained hematologic and even cytogenetic remission and are well tolerated.</p>

Study on imatinib trough concentration, efficacy and their relation in chronic myelocytic leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine plasma imatinib concentration, intracellular imatinib concentration, and hOCT1 and ABCB1 mRNA expression in bone marrow cells of CML patients to further evaluate the potential usefulness of these measures as markers of imatinib efficacy and their clinical relationships.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty CML patients in chronic phase receiving imatinib were enrolled in this study, including 56 males and 24 females with a median age of 39.5 (6 - 76) years. Imatinib was administered at a median dose of 400 (200 - 800) mg/d orally per day with a median course of 24 (3 - 90) months. The intracellular imatinib concentrations in bone marrow cells of 28 patients were simultaneously determined. Real-time quantitative PCR with a taqman probe was used to assess hOCT1 and ABCB1 mRNA expression on bone marrow cells of 36 patients. Imatinib trough concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with a detectability of 2 - 10 000 µg/L. Serum α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) was measured by immune turbidimetry on a BNProspec protein analyzer (Dade Behring, USA). All patients were divided into MMR, CCyR, PCyR or drug-resistant groups according to response.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Plasma imatinib trough concentration of 80 patients was (1274.1 ± 559.1) (109.0 - 3400.0) µg/L. The plasma imatinib trough concentration of 59 (73.8%) patients with a dose of 400 mg/d was (1252.0 ± 569.5) (109 - 3400) µg/L, including 37 (62.7%) patients with concentrations of more than 1000 µg/L and 9 (15.2%) patients more than 800 µg/L. Plasma imatinib trough concentration in the MMR group \[(1531.9 ± 634.1) µg/L\] was significant higher than in the PCyR \[(812.8 ± 480.3) µg/L\] or drug-resistant group \[(875.2 ± 243.1) µg/L\] (P < 0.05). Plasma imatinib trough concentration in the CCyR group \[(1288.4 ± 498.2) µg/L\] was significant higher than in the PCyR group (P = 0.027). There was no significant difference between CCyR and MMR groups with regard to plasma imatinib trough concentration (P = 0.136). The intracellular imatinib concentration in bone marrow cells in the CCyR group \[12.6 (2.4 - 90.4) µg/L\] was significantly higher than drug-resistant \[6.6 (2.6 - 111.0) µg/L\] or PCyR \[2.7 (2.4 - 4.7) µg/L\] groups (P = 0.013). The hOCT1 mRNA expression on bone marrow cells in the CCyR group \[25.9(0.7 - 123.9) × 10(-5)\] was significantly higher than in drug-resistant \[7.8 (2.5 - 33.5) × 10(-5)\] or PCyR \[4.2 (1.4 - 11.9) × 10(-5)\] groups (P = 0.036). The ABCB1 mRNA expression on bone marrow cells in drug-resistant group \[136.7 (15.0 - 1604.9) × 10(-5)\] was significantly higher than in CCyR \[129.1 (12.9 - 783.3) × 10(-5)\] or PCyR \[34.4 (2.2 -108.2) × 10(-5)\] groups (P = 0.013). Plasma imatinib trough concentration was positively correlated with AGP (r = 0.446, P = 0.000) or dose (r = 0.346, P = 0.002). There were no significant correlations between plasma imatinib trough concentration and height, weight or body surface area (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences among different courses with regard to plasma imatinib trough concentration (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Clinical responses in CML patients were correlated with plasma and intracellular imatinib trough concentrations. Imatinib concentration was regulated by AGP and the activities of hOCT1 and ABCB1.</p>

Analysis of plasma trough level of imatinib in Chinese CML patients / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the relationship between plasma trough level of imatinib and clinical outcomes in Chinese CML patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Plasma trough levels in 416 CML patients who received imatinib orally in six general hospitals were assessed. The correlations of imatinib plasma trough level with baseline characteristics including age, weight and BSA, and clinical response were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Effects of age, body weight and BSA on imatinib plasma trough levels were not to be clinically significant. (2) Median imatinib plasma trough levels was 1271 (109-4329). Imatinib plasma trough level was related to dose of imatinib administration. Plasma trough levels at imatinib of dose < 400, 400 and > 400 mg were (969 ± 585), (1341 ± 595) and (1740 ± 748) µg/L (P < 0.01), respectively. (3) There was no statistic difference in imatinib plasma trough level with complete cytogenetic response [CCyR (1337 ± 571) µg/L vs no CCyR (1354 ± 689) µg/L, P = 0.255]. (4) Imatinib plasma trough level might be important for a good clinical response in some CML patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There was a large interpatient variability in imatinib plasma concentration in Chinese CML patients. No correlation of imatinib plasma trough level with CCyR was observed. However, higher doses of imatinib were shown to attain greater trough plasma concentration, suggesting that imatinib plasma trough level might be important for a good clinical response in some CML patients.</p>

Clinical significance of monitoring BK polyomavirus in patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to establish a method for rapid detecting BK polyomavirus (BKV) and to investigate the feasibility and value used in leukemia patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Primers were designed according to BKV gene sequence; the quantitative standards for BKV and a real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR for BKV were established. The BKV level in urine samples from 36 patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were detected by established method. The results showed that the standard of reconstructed plasmid and real time fluorescent quantitative PCR method were successfully established, its good specificity, sensitivity and stability were confirmed by experiments. BKV was found in 55.56% of urine samples, and the BKV load in urine was 2.46 × 10(4) - 7.8 × 10(9) copy/ml. It is concluded that the establishment of real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR for BKV detection provides a method for early diagnosis of the patients with hemorrhagic cystitis after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Reversal effect of LBH589 alone or in combination with bortezomib on drug-resistance in myeloid leukemia and its mechanism / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate reversal effect of histone deacetylase inhibitor LBH589 alone or in combination with proteasome inhibitor bortezomib on drug resistance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ex vivo cultures of HL-60/ADM cells and fresh refractory AML cells were treated with LBH589, bortezomib or their combination at varying concentrations. Proliferation capacity, apoptosis rate and reversal of drug resistance were evaluated by MTT assay, dual staining of Hoechst 33342 and Annexin VFITC/PI by flow cytometry, and adriamycin uptake rate with proliferation inhibition, respectively. The change of signal pathway at protein level was analyzed by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Synergistic cytotoxicity was observed in the combination treatment with LBH589 and bortezomib against HL-60/ADM cells, as well as the fresh AML cells, the most powerful synergy being observed at 21 nmol/L LBH589 plus 12 nmol/L bortezomib, with CI values of 0.531 and 0.498, respectively by Calcusyn software analysis. Moreover, the accumulation of adriamycin in HL-60/ADM cells was increased more in combination treatment [(64.81 +/- 3.69)%] than in either LBH589 [(28.96 +/- 2.52)%] or bortezomib [(37.29 +/- 3.71)%] alone (P < 0.05), and so did the uptake rate of adriamycin being (64.81 +/- 3.69)%, (28.96 +/- 2.52)% and (37.29 +/- 3.71)% respectively (P < 0.05). The combination treatment induced multiple apoptotic molecules co-action and intracellular drug accumulation contributed to the synergistic cytotoxicity, including caspase activation, PARP cleavage, XIAP downregulation, p53-dependent suppression of Bcl-2 and MRP1 expression via the inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Combination treatment of drug resistant AML cells with LBH589 and bortezomib produces a synergistic effect of in creating sensitivity to chemotherapy. The mechanism may be mainly resulted from inhibition of PI3K/ Akt/NF-kappaB signaling pathway.</p>

Molecular mechanism of imatinib-induced thrombocytopenia in treatment of patients with CML / 中国实验血液学杂志

Imatinib mesylate has been commonly used in the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, a significant number of CML patients treated with imatinib developed thrombocytopenia. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)/platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) plays a significant role in the regulation of thrombopoiesis. It is suggested that imatinib may block the PDGF/PDGFR and PI3-K/Akt pathway, then inducing the apoptosis of megakaryocytes and developing thrombocytopenia in these patients. In this review, the potential molecular mechanism of imatinib-induced thrombocytopenia in the treatment of CML patients is discussed, including imatinib and thrombocytopenia, PDGF/PDGFR and thrombopoiesis, potential mechanism of imatinib-induced thrombocytopenia in treatment of patients with CML and so on.

Research progress and application of BCR/ABL transgenic animal model / 中国实验血液学杂志

Transgenic animal model provide a good platform to research the pathogenesis and therapy of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). To date, a number of BCR/ABL transgenic animal models have been established using different promoter or tetracycline-controlling system. Some of them appear the characteristics of human CML, which have contributed greatly to research the pathogenesis and therapy of CML. In this article, the researching progress, advantage and drawback, application of BCR/ABL transgenic animal model are reviewed.

Expression and role of amyloid precrusor protein gene in acute myeloid leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its biological behaviour in AML cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expressions of APP mRNA in 85 AML and 20 nonmalignant hematological diseases patients (as control) were measured by real-time PCR. The expression of APP in AML cell lines was also examined by real-time PCR and Western blot and the results were compared with those in their original subtypes. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting APP gene were synthesized and transfected into HL-60 cell by lipofectamine 2000 for 24 h, 48h and 72 h. Cell growth was measured by trypan blue dye exclusion and MTT, differentiation by Wright-Giemsa staining, cell cycle by PI/RNase staining, apoptosis by Annexin V/PI and Hoechst33342 staining. Apoptosis-related protein NF-κB, bcl-2 and Caspase-3 were detected by Western blot after siRNAs transfection for 48 h. Sensitivity to adriamycin was measured by MTT.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of APP mRNA among AML subtypes differed significantly (P = 0.019), the highest expression subtype was M(2) with t(8;21) (median 0.1080), followed in order by AML-undefined (0.0467), M(3) (0.0266), M(2a) (0.0221), M(4a) (0.0167), M(5b) (0.0151), and M(4b) (0.0025). APP expression had no significant effect on AML clinical characteristics excepting for subtypes. The expression of APP in Kasumi-1 cells was significantly higher than that of U937 cells (P < 0.05), which was in agreement with APP expression in their original AML subtypes. After siRNAs transfection for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h, no significant difference in proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, cell cycle and sensitivity to adriamycin was detected between interfering group and control groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The APP mRNA expression was highest in M(2) with t(8;21) and lowest in M(5b). Down-regulation of APP expression has no significant effects on biological behaviour of HL-60 cells.</p>

Minimal residual disease monitoring in chronic myeloid leukemia patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization and real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR / 癌症

<p><b>BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE</b>Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RQ-PCR) are the common methods for monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. This study was to assess the value of monitoring BCR-ABL fusion gene level in CML patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) using FISH and RQ-PCR.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>BCR-ABL fusion gene levels were detected in the bone marrow of 31 patients with CML before and 3-48 months after allo-HSCT using FISH and RQ-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>BCR-ABL positive cells detected by FISH were decreased 3-30 months after allo-HSCT and BCR-ABL/ABL mRNA was reduced by 2 logarithmic units in RQ-PCR (P < 0.05). While no BCR-ABL positive cell was detected by FISH 30 months after allo-HSCT, BCR-ABL/ABL mRNA was detected by RQ-PCR and declined by more than 3 logarithmic units, (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Dynamic monitoring of BCR-ABL gene on molecular level in CML patients after allo-HSCT is useful in the early prediction of susceptibility to recurrence in the patients and in designing intervention, and is thus helpful in improving the overall survival rate after transplantation.</p>

Analysis of the risk factors of pulmonary fungal infections related to hematologic malignancies / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the risk factors of pulmonary fungal infections related to hematologic malignancies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective case-controlled study was conducted to analyze the patients with pulmonary fungal and bacterial infections in association with hematologic malignancies. The risk factors of pulmonary fungal infections related to hematologic malignancies were identified.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Three hundred and four cases (194 of pulmonary fungal infections and 110 of pulmonary bacterial infections) were enrolled in this study. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression show that such factors as corticosteroid, halo sign, previous fungal infections, ANC lower than 0.5 x 10(9)/L for over 10 days, nodus near pleura, transplantation (immunodepressant use), chemotherapy, and broad spectrum antibiotics were all the independent risk factors of pulmonary fungal infections related to hematologic malignancies.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There are many risk factors for pulmonary fungal infections related to hematologic malignancies, and early identification of these factors for timely antifungal treatment is of much clinical significance.</p>

Overview of chronic myelogenous leukemia and its current diagnosis and treatment patterns in 15 hospitals in China / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore demographic characteristics, current diagnosis and treatment patterns of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data of hospitalized CML patients in 2005 whole year and outpatient information (July 1 through September 30, 2006) from 15 hospitals throughout China were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 1824 CML cases were analyzed, including 722 inpatients and 1102 outpatients. The male/female ratio was 1.78:1. The median age at diagnosis was 40.02 (2.45 - 83.29) years old, 90.41% of the patients were diagnosed at chronic phase. Proportion of accelerated phase or blast crisis patients increased to 21.66% during study period. 93.20% of the patients received blood routine and bone marrow morphologic examination at diagnosis and in monitoring; 70.29% were performed cytogenetic analysis and 51.54% performed molecular measurement in addition. The most common therapy for CML treatment was hydroxycarbamide. The proportion of patients treated with imatinib and interferon was 37.45% and 25.55%, respectively. Of 722 inpatients, 164 (22.72%) received hemotopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The proportions of accelerated phase and blast crisis patients treated with imatinib were 48.28% and 48.42%, respectively, being significantly higher than that of chronic phase patients (35.9%) (P < 0.05). The mean imatinib dosage administered in the three phases patients did not differ significantly. Imatinib resistance rates were 6.87% and 16.28% for outpatient and inpatient, respectively. In the outpatient group, the primary resistance to imatinib occurred comparably to the secondary resistance (68.75%), while primary resistance was predominant in inpatient group (65.71%). The intolerance rates of imatinib for outpatient and inpatient were 3.21%, 11.63%, respectively. The majority of patients treated with imatinb were not monitored in time: 63.38% patients evaluated hematologic response after 3 months of treatment, proportions of patients received cytogenetic examination after 6 months and 12 months of treatment were 41.41% and 27.35%, respectively. Mean cost for HSCT was 213 092 +/- 125 890 RMB.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CML in China tends to afflict younger population than in Western countries. Most patients were diagnosed in the chronic phase. Due to restriction of financial support, only one third of CML patients were treated with imatinib, and the majority of the treated were not monitored in time. Clinicians should pay attention to resistance and intolerance to imatinib treatment in accelerated phase or blast crisis patients.</p>

CD56 and CD11b antigen expressions in patients with acute monocytic leukemia and the clinical implications / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expressions of cell surface differentiation antigen CD56 and CD11b antigen in acute monocytic leukemic (AML-M(5)) cells and their clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 113 cases of de nove adult AML-M(5) were examined genetically and immunologically using G-banding technique, interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (I-FISH) and flow cytometry immunophenotyping, and the results were analyzed in relation to their clinical data.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 113 cases, the expression rates of CD56 and CD11b was 28.32% and 73.45%, respectively. The CD56(+) patients had high CD11b expression, and the expression levels of CD11b and CD56 were positively correlated (P<0.05). The incidence of karyotypic abnormalities was 48.57% (55 cases) in these patients, including 25 (22.12%) with 11q23 aberrations. Twenty-five cases were positive for MLL gene abnormalities as found by I-FISH analysis. Compared with the patients positive for both CD56 and CD11b, those negative for both CD56 and CD11b showed increased peripheral blood white blood cell (WBC) count and also increased blast and progenitor cells in the bone marrow (P<0.05); the former patients often had karyotypic abnormalities, commonly involving 11q23 aberrations (P<0.05), whereas the latter patients presented more likely with extramedullary infiltration and refractory leukemia (P<0.01) with lowered complete remission rate and shortened median survival time (P<0.01). CD56-positive patients were more likely to have karyotypic abnormalities and refractory leukemia than CD11b-postive patients (P<0.05), but the peripheral blood WBC counts, bone marrow blast and progenitor cells, extramedullary infiltration, complete remission rate or median survival time showed no significant differences between them (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AML-M(5) patients with CD56 positivity and high expression of CD11b often have aberrant karyotypes, commonly involving 11q23/MLL gene abnormality. These patients frequently develop extramedullary infiltration and refractory leukemia often with poor prognosis.</p>