Factors influencing severe cytopenia in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients receiving initial second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors and its impact on treatment responses and outcomes / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To explore the influencing covariates of severe neutrophils and/or thrombocytopenia and their effect on treatment response and outcome in patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) receiving initial second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (2G-TKI) . Methods: Data from consecutive patients aged ≥18 years with newly diagnosed CP-CML who received initial 2G-TKI at Peking University People's Hospital from September 2008 to November 2021 were interrogated. Binary logistic regression models and Fine-Gray and Cox regression models were applied. Results: Data from 267 patients who received initial 2G-TKI, including nilotinib (n=239, 89.5% ) and dasatinib (n=28, 10.5% ) , were interrogated. The median age was 36 (range, 18-73) years, and 156 (58.4% ) patients were male. At a median treatment period of 1.0 (0.1-3.0) month, 43 (16.1% ) patients developed grade ≥3 neutrophils and/or thrombocytopenia and recovered within 1.0 (0.1-24.6) month. Male (OR=2.9, 95% CI 1.2-6.8; P=0.018) , age of ≥36 years (OR=3.2, 95% CI 1.4-7.2, P=0.005) , a spleen below a costal margin of ≥7 cm (OR=2.8, 95% CI 1.2-6.6, P=0.020) , and a hemoglobin (HGB) level of <100 g/L (OR=2.9, 95% CI 1.3-6.8, P=0.012) at diagnosis were significantly associated with grade ≥ 3 neutrophils and/or thrombocytopenia. Based on their regression coefficients, male, age of ≥36 years, a spleen below a costal margin of ≥7 cm, and an HGB level of <100 g/L were given 1 point to form a predictive system. All patients were divided into three risk subgroups, and the incidence of severe cytopenia significantly differed among the three groups (P < 0.001) . Grade ≥3 neutrophils and/or thrombocytopenia for >2 weeks was significantly associated with lower cumulative incidences of complete cytogenetic response (CCyR, HR=0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.7, P<0.001) and major molecular response (MMR, HR=0.4, 95% CI 0.3-0.8, P=0.004) and was not significantly associated with failure, progression, and survival. Conclusion: Male, advanced age, a large spleen, and a low HGB level were significantly associated with severe cytopenia. The four covariates were used to establish a prediction model, in which the incidence of severe cytopenia among different risk groups was significantly different. Severe cytopenia for >2 weeks was a negative factor for responses but not for outcomes.

Combination of socio-demographic and clinical co-variates for predicting treatment responses and outcomes in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To explore the impacts of socio-demographic and clinical co-variates on treatment responses and outcomes in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase (CML-CP) receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and identified the predictive models for them. Methods: Data of newly diagnosed adult patients with CML-CP receiving first-line TKI and having complete socio-demographic data and clinical information were reviewed. Cox model was used to identify the independent variables associated with complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) , major molecular response (MMR) , molecular response 4 (MR(4)) and molecular response 4.5 (MR(4.5)) , as well as failure-free survival (FFS) , progression-free survival (PFS) , overall survival (OS) and CML-related OS. Results: A total of 1414 CML-CP patients treated with first-line imatinib (n=1176) , nilotinib (n=170) or dasatinib (n=68) were reviewed. Median age was 40 (18-83) years and 873 patients (61.7% ) were males. Result of the multivariate analysis showed that lower educational level (P<0.001-0.070) and EUTOS long-term survival intermediate or high-risk (P<0.001-0.009) were significantly associated with lower cumulative incidences of CCyR, MMR, MR(4) and MR(4.5), as well as the inferior FFS, PFS, OS and CML-related OS. In addition, those who were males, from rural households, had white blood cells (WBC) ≥120×10(9)/L, hemoglobin (HGB) <115 g/L and treated with first-line imatinib had significantly lower cumulative incidences of cytogenetic and/or molecular responses. Being single, divorced or widowed, having, rural household registration, WBC≥120×10(9)/L, HGB<15 g/L, and comorbidity (ies) was significantly associated with inferior FFS, PFS, OS, and/or CML-related OS. Thereafter, the patients were classified into several subgroups using the socio-demographic characteristics and clinical variables by cytogenetic and molecular responses, treatment failure and disease progression, as well as overall survival and CML-related OS, respectively. There were significant differences in treatment responses and outcomes among the subgroups (P<0.001) . Conclusion: Except for clinical co-variates, socio-demographic co-variates significantly correlated with TKI treatment responses and outcomes in CML-CP patients. Models established by the combination of independent socio-demographic and clinical co-variates could effectively predict the responses and outcome.

Application of Two-parameter Scoring System Based on CD105 and CD117 in MDS Diagnosis / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the value of flow cytometric scoring system in the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).@*METHODS@#The phenotypes of erythroid and immature cells were analyzed retrospectively in 130 MDS patients, 19 healthy controls and 89 pathological controls, all of them were well clinically immunophenotyped. The 4-parameter scoring system reported in the literature was studied, including myeloblast-related cluster size, B-progenitor-related cluster size, lymphocyte to myeloblast CD45 ratio, and granulocyte to lymphocyte side scatter ratio. The two flow cytomatric parameters of the erythroid scoring system were analyzed, including CD36 coefficient of variation (CV) and CD71CV. According to our previous study, the percentage of CD117CD105 myeloid progenitor cells and the proportion of CD105 cells in CD117 cells were selected to establish a two-parameter scoring system, and compared with the four-parameter scoring system and the erythroid scoring system.@*RESULTS@#The sensitivity of the four-parameter scoring system and the erythroid scoring system for the diagnosis of low-risk MDS was 43.5% and 63.0%, and the specificity was 87.0% and 63.9%, respectively. After combining the two scoring systems, the sensitivity to diagnose low-risk MDS was 73.9% and the specificity was 62.0%. The sensitivity of the two-parameter scoring system for the diagnosis of low-risk MDS was 76.1% with a specificity of 81.5%. Combined with the four-parameter scoring system, the sensitivity was increased to 78.3%, but the specificity was reduced to 71.3%. After combining with the erythroid scoring system, the sensitivity reached 87.0%, but the specificity was reduced to 54.6%.@*CONCLUSION@#Using the two-parameter scoring system alone can achieve great sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of low risk MDS.

Expression of WT1 and PRAME gene in bone marrow and peripheral blood samples of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to explore the transcription level of WT1 and PRAME two genes in bone marrow and peripheral blood samples of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS) and their relationship with bone marrow dysplasia and karyotype. The quantitative expression of WT1 and PRAME transcripts detected by RQ-PCR in the bone marrow samples of 203 MDS patients and 19 aplastic anemia(AA), 6 other benign anemia(BA), 4 paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria(PNH) patients from July 2009 to June 2012 and 14 healthy donors, and in 92 peripheral blood samples. The results showed that WT1 and PRAME expression levels in both BM and PB samples of MDS group were higher than those in normal controls, AA, and BA patients (BM: WT1:P = 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, PRAME: P = 0.048, 0.000, 0.064; PB: WT1:P = 0.012, 0.000, 0.011, PRAME: P = 0.020, 0.004, 0.003). What is more, this expression in high risk MDS group (RAEB1, RAEB2, MDS-AML) were higher than those in low risk group (RCUD, RCMD, MDS-U) and AA and BA. The WT1 and PRAME mRNA expression levels in PB and BM were well correlated (WT1:r = 0.6028, P = 0.001; PRAME: r = 0.7628, P = 0.000), as well as the WT1 expression levels in BM samples with the Karyotype (P = 0.049). In addition, the same positive rate of WT1 or PRAME expression existed in BM and PB samples of MDS patients. It is concluded that the WT1 and PRAME gene expression levels in both BM and PB samples of MDS patients are higher than those in healthy controls, AA and other benign anemia patients, and increase with the progression of the disease. The WT1 and PRAME transcripts constitute good molecular markers for the clinical diagnosis and prognosis and monitoring minimal residual disease after treatment of MDS. What is more, when bone marrow is not so convenient to get, the transcript levels of PB samples can be detected.

Immunophenotypic and clinical characteristic analysis of NPM1 mutated acute myeloid leukemia with a normal karyotype / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was purposed to compare the immunophenotypic and clinical characteristics of NPM1 mutated acute myeloid leukemia with a normal karyotype under the similar constituent ratio of FAB subtypes. Immunophenotyping and NPM1 gene mutation type-A,B and D and other leukemic related fusion genes were detected by multiparameter flow cytometry and real time RT-PCR or PCR, respectively. 77 AML patients with a normal karyotype (NK) and mutated NPM1 gene (NPM1m(+)AML) detected by immunophenotyping assay were included in this study. 55 cases without NPM1 mutation (NPM1m(-)AML) and with normal karyotype were served as negative control. The results showed that there was significant difference between NPM1m(+)AML and NPM1m(-)AML in terms of sex, white blood count, platelet counts, blast, WT1 expression level, FLT3-ITD mutation positive rate and response to treatment. The characteristic immunophenotype is lower expression of early differentiation-associated antigens (CD34, HLA-DR, CD117, CD38), lymphocytic antigens (CD7, CD4, CD19, CD2) and higher expression of CD33 and CD123 (P < 0.05). When above features was further analyzed between the M1/2 and M4/5 subgroups in NPM1m(+)AML patients, the M1/2 cases retained a higher frequency in women and a higher WT1 expression level (P < 0.05) . Monocytic differentiation-associated antigens including HLA-DR and lymphocytic antigens CD7 were higher expressed and CD117 was lower expressed in M4/5 subgroup (P < 0.05). It is concluded that under condition of similar constituent ratio of M1/2 and M4/5 subtype and normal karyotype, NPM1m(+)AML patients have higher WT1 expression level and better response to treatment. The major immunophenotype features of NPM1m(+)AML patients are lower expression of early differentiation antigens and lymphoid lineage antigens and higher expression of CD33 and CD123. Monocytic differentiation-associated antigens only higher are expressed in M4/5 cases when compared with M1/2 cases within NPM1m(+) AML patients.

Immunophenotypic characteristics of peripheral blood cells in normal elderly men / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to distinguish abnormal cells and to diagnose hematologic diseases through recognizing antigen expression pattern and percentage of peripheral blood cells in normal elderly men. Antigen expression of blast cells, granulocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, nucleated red blood cells and plasma cells was detected by seven-color flow cytometry in a total of 88 peripheral blood samples from normal elderly men, aged median 82 years old, from 70 to 98 years. Groups were divided according to age, region and underlying diseases, and the percentages of different subgroup cells were examined to confirm whether the differences were significant or not. The results showed that the median proportion of CD34(+) blast cells in peripheral blood from normal elderly men were 0.017% (0.015%-0.020%), with high expression of HLA-DR, CD33, CD13 and CD117, low expression of myeloid antigens, such as CD15, CD11b and CD16, while lymphoid antigens were seldom positive, including CD7, CD19 and CD56. Dim-expression of CD38 was found in peripheral blood blast cells, CD38(dim)+/- cell percentage in blast cells was 61.36% ± 18.26%. In the differentiation and development of granulocytes, CD16(-), CD13(+) CD16(+) (intermediate) and CD16(+) (strong) CD13(+) cells appeared in sequence from immature to mature granulocytes, whose median proportions in nuclear cells were 0.04%, 0.30% and 61.30%, respectively. The percentages of immature monocytes, such as CD64(+) CD14(-) and HLA-DR(+) CD11b(-) cells, were from 0.00% to 0.10% and from 0.07% to 0.68%, separately. No significant differences were found between different subgroups (P > 0.05). It is concluded that the immunophenotypic characteristics and referential percentages of CD34(+) blast cells, granulocytes and monocytes with different development stages in peripheral blood from normal elderly men are recognized, which can help to discriminate abnormal cells.

Expression of PML-RARα is up-regulated during ATRA and arsenics combined induction without influence on long-term prognosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

The early molecular kinetics during all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) plus arsenic-based induction therapy and its prognostic value for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) remain unclear. This study was purposed to investigate the molecular and cytogenetic kinetics and its clinical significance in treatment of APL with ATRA plus arsenic-based induction. The molecular and cytogenetic kinetics was assessed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in 32 newly diagnosed APL patients. The results showed that the median PML-RARα transcript levels (PML-RARα/ABL) were very significantly up-regulated at 14 days of induction therapy compared with that of pre-treatment (40.10% vs 57.74%, P < 0.01), and then decreased at 28 days of induction therapy and at the end of consolidation therapy (6.97% and 0%), respectively. The total of 65.62% and 31.25% patients showed up-regulation of PML-RARα transcript at 14 and 28 days after induction, as compared with pretreatment. The PML-RARα copies per APL cell before treatment, and at 14 and 28 days after induction were calculated as 0.9, 2.2, 1.4 by the formula of PML-RARA/ABL(%)×2/APL cells (%). With the median follow-up time of 22 months, 32 patients were still in continuous clinical remission and no molecular relapse occurred. Up-regulation of PML-RARa expression during the induction had no effect on outcomes of APL patients. It is concluded that up-regulation of PML-RARa expression is a common event during induction therapy with ATRA plus arsenics. Up-regulation of PML-RARa expression during induction therapy hasn't influenced the long-term prognosis of APL.

The immunophenotypic and clinical characteristics of NPM1 mutated acute myeloid leukemia patients / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the immunophenotypic and clinical characteristics between NPM1 mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (NPM1m(+)AML) and unmutated AML(NPM1m(-)AML) not otherwise characterized (NOS) under similar FAB subtypes constituent ratio.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunophenotyping and NPM1 gene mutation type-A, B and D and other leukemic related fusion genes were detected by multiparameter flow cytometry and real time RT-PCR or PCR, respectively. 104 AML patients with NPM1m(+)AML and performed immunophenotyping assay were included, 97 with NPM1m(-)AML.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were significant difference between the two groups at presentation in terms of sex, white blood count(WBC), platelet counts (PLT), blast ratio, normal karyotype ratio, WT1 expression level, FLT3-ITD mutation positive rate and remission rate of first course of induction therapy (P < 0.05). On the immunophenotype, the expression of early differentiation antigens (CD34, HLA-DR, CD117, CD38), lymphocytic antigens (CD7, CD4, CD19, CD2), myeloid and monocytic differentiation-associated antigens (CD13, CD14, CD15) were lower, and that of CD33 as well as CD123 were higher in NPM1m(+)AML patients. Among them, only CD34, HLA-DR, CD7, and CD4 positive cases were significantly lower in NPM1m(+)AML group than in NPM1m(-)AML group (P < 0.05), the rest of them had significant difference in the number of positive cells (P < 0.05). Above features were further analyzed between the M1/M2 and M4/M5 subgroups. M1/M2 cases retained the women prominent and had a higher WT1 expression level (P < 0.05). The expression of monocytic differentiation-associated antigens including HLA-DR and lymphocytic antigens were higher and that of CD117 were lower in M4/M5 subtype (P < 0.05). Among them, the positive rates of HLA-DR, CD64, CD11b, CD10, CD15, and CD4 were significantly higher in M4/M5 than in M1/M2 in NPM1m(+)AML group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The most clinical characteristics in NPM1m(+)AML patients are consistent with reports, but some immunophenotype are different to the previous reports under similar FAB subtypes constituent ratio. The major immunophenotypic features of NPM1m(+)AML patients are lower expression of progenitor, myeloid and lymphoid lineage antigens. Monocytic differentiation-associated antigens are only higher expression in M4/M5 cases when comparison with M1/M2 cases within NPM1m(+)AML group.</p>

Clinical characteristics of splenic marginal zone lymphoma with abnormal complete blood count / 中国实验血液学杂志

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and laboratorial characteristics of splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) with an abnormal complete blood count (CBC). Data of 19 newly diagnosed SMZL patients with abnormal CBC were analyzed retrospectively. Seven patients were diagnosed by using splenic histology, 12 patients who did not undergo splenectomy were diagnosed on the basis of typical clinical presentation and cytologic, immunophenotypic and histologic characteristics of peripheral blood and bone marrow, according to SBLG guidelines. The results showed that leukocytosis (≥ 10.0×10(9)/L) was seen in 5 cases (26.3%); leukocytopenia (< 4.0×10(9)/L) was found in 6 cases (31.6%), hemoglobin concentration less than 120 g/L was found in 14 cases (73.7%) and thrombocytopenia was found in 11 (57.9%) patients. Fourteen (73.7%) patients had cytopenia in one or more lineage. As a specific morphologic character, villous lymphocytes were found in 10 (52.6%) patients. Similar immunophenotype was determined by histology in both bone marrow and spleen. Various histological infiltration patterns including intrasinusoidal pattern were found in bone marrow. Nine out of 16 (56.3%) patients displayed an increase of serum monoclonal immunoglobin. Autoimmune phenomena was found in 12 out of 15 (80.0%) patients. Splenectomy, as the only treatment could not achieve a ≥ 50% improvement of CBC in 4 patients, and then was judged as no response. Splenectomy followed by chemotherapy achieved partial response (PR) in 1 patient. Overall response rate of the therapeutic strategies with Rituximab was 100.0% (11/11). Furthermore, complete response was achieved in 9 out of 11 (81.8%) patients. It is concluded that SMZL with abnormal CBC has a higher incidence of cytopenia, bone marrow involvement and autoimmune phenomena. Therapeutic strategies consisting of Rituximab show a better efficacy.

Characteristics of two cases of Burkitt lymphoma/leukemia with concurrent t(8;14) and t(14;18) / 中国实验血液学杂志

This article aimed to report two cases of Burkitt lymphoma/leukemia with concurrent t(8;14) and t(14;18). Morphology, immunophenotype, cytogenetics and molecular biology (MICM) methods were applied to diagnosis. The results showed that the two cases were both acute lymphocytic leukemia L3 type according to FAB criteria. Conventional cytogenetic technique or interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) demonstrated that t(8;14) and t(14;18) were detected concurrently in both patients. CD20, CD10, FMC7, CD38 and CD19 were expressed in both patients by immunophenotyping. According to MICM, they were both diagnosed as Burkitt lymphoma/leukemia. The first patient died in one month after chemotherapy, and the second patient survived 19 months after rituximab- combined high-dose chemotherapy and subsequently allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In conclusion, t(8;14) and t(14;18) may present simultaneously in Burkitt lymphoma/leukemia and indicate poor prognosis. Rituximab-combined chemotherapy and subsequently HSCT could improve the outcomes of such cases.

Pregnancy outcome among patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the pregnancy outcome among patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data associated with pregnancy, delivery and neonate from the patients or patient's spouse who conceived while receiving TKIs were collected retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two young female patients (who had been on imatinib therapy for 90 and 91 months, respectively) and spouses of 10 male patients (involving 7 patients who had received imatinib for a median of 60 months and 3 who had received dasatinib for 2.5 months to 7 months, respectively) with median age of 33.5 years (range 26 - 46 years) conceived and gave birth to 12 babies. One woman took imatinib throughout her pregnancy except one month. The other one took imatinib throughout her pregnancy and had breast-fed while on imatinib therapy for nearly half a year postpartum. Among the 12 babies, one was born prematurely with low birth weight and hypospadias (surgical repair after birth), the others were all healthy with no congenital defects. The median age of the children at the date of this report is 17.5 months (range 3 to 101 months), and they all have a normal pattern of growth and development.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Conception among patients with CML while receiving TKIs may result in normal pregnancies. The possible effects of TKIs on birth abnormalities cannot be ruled out. It is recommended that childbearing female patients should be advised to practice adequate methods of contraception and should not breast-feed while on TKIs therapy. In cases of accidental pregnancy, risk/benefit evaluations must be carried out carefully on an individual basis. No special precautions apply for male patients being treated with imatinib.</p>

Characteristics of 11 patients with acute myeloid leukemia accompanied with karyotype aberration t(6;9) / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to investigate the characteristics of 11 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) accompanying with karyotype t(6;9). The laboratorial and clinical data were analyzed retrospectively, including immunophenotype analysis and result analysis of real-time quantitative PCR detection. The results showed that a high prevalence of M2 was observed. Among 11 cases, 6 of M2, 2 of M4, 2 of M5 and 1 of MDS-RAEBT were found according to FAB criteria. Ten patients had high counts of peripheral white blood cells. Bone marrow dysplasia was seen in only 2 cases, and basophilia occurred in 4 cases. Six patients carried additional cytogenetic aberrations apart from t(6;9). Immunophenotypic analysis showed that all patients were positive for CD117, CD33, CD13, HLA-DR, CD38 and CD123. No NPM1 mutation was observed in all patients and a high level of WT1 was detected in all patients (7/7), out of 7 patients FLT3-ITD mutation was detected in only 3 patients. Follow-up details were available for 7 patients, one of whom died before chemotherapy, and the remaining 6 patients all had no response to IA or DA regimen. Among the 6 patients, 3 did not response to subsequently chemotherapy and all died from infections in a short period after diagnosis, the other 3 patients achieved a complete remission after alternative chemotherapy, but 2 relapsed in a short time and died. It is concluded that AML with cytogenetic aberration of t(6,9) is a distinct disease with a very poor prognosis. The first line chemotherapy such as IA or DA regimen is not effective to such patients, and the effective treatment needs further study.

Administration of imatinib in the first 90 days after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Relapse happens frequently after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) in the patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph(+) ALL). Detection of the minimal residual disease (MRD) before and after allo-HCT is associated with higher relapse rate. Early administration of imatinib after allo-HCT may prevent recurrent Ph(+) ALL. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of imatinib in preventing hematological relapse when imatinib was administrated in the first 90 days after allo-HCT.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients with Ph(+) ALL that underwent allo-HCT were enrolled in a prospective study. A TaqMan-based real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) technique was used to detect the MRD (bcr-abl transcript levels). Imatinib therapy was initiated prior to 90 days after allo-HCT if the patient's absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was above 1.0 × 10(9)/L (without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration) and the platelet count was greater than 50.0 × 10(9)/L, or if the bcr-abl transcript levels were elevated in two consecutive tests, or if the bcr-abl transcript levels were ≥ 10(-2) after the initial engraftment. The initial daily dose of imatinib was 400 mg/d for adults and 260 mg/m(2) for children (younger than 17 years). Imatinib was administered for at least 1 month and the bcr-abl TaqMan results were negative for 3 consecutive tests, or complete molecular remission (CR(mol)) was sustained for at least 3 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From May 2005 to October 2008, 29 patients were enrolled in this study, of whom, 19 patients were male and 10 were female. The median age of the enrolled patients was 33 years (range 6 - 50 years). Imatinib therapy was started at a median time of 60 days (range 20 - 122 days) post HCT (only one patient started Imatinib therapy at 122nd day after HCT). Twenty-five adult patients could tolerate a dose of 300 - 400 mg/d of imatinib, and three children tolerated a dose of 260 mg×m(-2)×d(-1). Sixty-eight percent of the patients experienced various adverse events during imatinib therapy, hematological toxicity being the most common adverse event. The median duration of imatinib treatment was 3 months (range 7 days-18 months). During the median follow-up of 24 months (range 16.0 - 54.5 months), 3 out of 27 patients that could be evaluated for efficacy died from relapse. The 3-year probability of relapse for the evaluated patients was (11.3 ± 0.61)%. The relapse rates among the subgroup of positive and negative bcr-abl patients before allo-HCT were 13.6% and 0, respectively (P > 0.05). The relapse rates among the subgroups of bcr-abl positive and negative patients after allo-HCT were 20.0% and 5.9%, respectively (P > 0.05). The relapse rates among the patients in first complete remission (CR(1)) and second complete remission/non-remission (CR(2)/NR) before transplantation were 0 and 31.4%, respectively (P < 0.05). The 3-year probability of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) for the all enrolled patients were (75.3 ± 8.1)%. The 3-year probabilities for OS and DFS among the subgroup of patients in CR(1) and CR(2)/NR before transplantation were (87.7 ± 8.2)% and (54.6 ± 15.0)%, respectively (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Administration of imatinib at a dose of 300 - 400 mg/d in the first 90 days after allo-HCT is feasible in Ph(+) ALL patients. With this treatment, bcr-abl positive patients before or after transplantation do not have a higher relapse rate after allo-HCT compared with the bcr-abl negative patients. Because of lower relapse rate and better OS and DFS, we recommend that Ph(+) ALL patients receive allo-HCT in CR₁.</p>

STI571 used in treating acute myeloid leukemia with Philadelphia chromosome / 中国实验血液学杂志

The objective was to use STI571, a kind of tyrosine kinase inhibitor, to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with Philadelphia chromosome. 2 AML cases with Philadelphia chromosome, were collected to observe effect of STI571. One of them was given STI571 after routine chemotherapy failed to respond to treatment, other case received routine chemotherapy only. Both of them underwent HLA-matched/mismatched sibling hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The results showed that cytogenetic and hematologic CR was acquired in case 1 with STI571 while another one gained hematologic CR by accepting routine chemotherapy. Recovery of hemopoiesis was found at 18 and 11 days after HSCT respectively without serious graft-versus-host-disease. The case 1 has been surviving in disease-free state for 5 months since HSCT. The case 2 died from interstitial pneumonia at 8 months after HSCT. In conclusion, STI571 is one of choice for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome positive AML.

Studies of treatment strategy and prognosis on acute myeloid leukemia with chromosome 8 and 21 translocation / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between the biological features and the treatment efficacy and prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia subtype M2 (AML-M2) patients with chromosome 8 and 21 translocation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By using Cox regression model and Kaplan-Meier analyses, prognostic factors in 54 cases of de novo adult AML with t(8;21) in our institute from 1990 to 2003 were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The complete remission (CR) rates were 81.9% for all M2 patients, 82.4% for patients with normal karyotype, 88.5% for patients with t(8;21) [P > 0.05 for normal karyotype vs t(8;21)], 100.0% for 28 patients with t(8;21) alone and 75.0% for 24 patients with additional chromosome abnormalities (P < 0.01). The actuarial 3 year overall survival(OS) was 26% for M2 patients with normal karyotype, 25% for patients with t(8;21) [P > 0.05 for normal karyotype vs t(8;21)], in whole t(8;21) group, 46.4% for patients with t(8;21) alone and 0% for patients with additional chromosome abnormalities (P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors showed that chromosome abnormalities besides t(8;21) was the only factor affecting CR, disease-free survival (DFS) and OS. DFS of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and intermediate-dose cytarabine/high dose cytarabine (IDAC) groups were better than the group received routine dose cytarabine as postremission therapy (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AML with t(8;21) is not a single defined AML subset, and patients with additional chromosome abnormalities have a worse prognosis. HSCT and IDAC could improve the outcome. HSCT is the best choice for patients with high risks, especially with additional chromosome abnormalities.</p>