Effects of imatinib mesylate on the levels of endocrine hormones / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To measure the levels of hormones in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients receiving imatinib mesylate (IM) and evaluate the effects of IM on endocrine system.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>69 patients with CML while taking IM were enrolled and a total of 86 peripheral blood samples were detected. The levels of total triiodothyronine (TT3), total tetraiodothyronine (TT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), testosterone, progesterone, estradiol (E2), plasma total cortisol (PTC) at 8:00-10:00 am measured. Concentration of hormones in different groups were measured to evaluate the effects of IM on endocrine system and relationships with its administration duration, plasma concentration and clinical symptoms.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Of the 7 types of hormones, an elevation of TSH level was found in 14 patients (20.3%), a decrease of TT3 and testosterone in 8 patients (11.6%) and 8 males (18.6%), respectively. (2) A significant decline of TT3 and testosterone was observed in all patients divided by different administration duration. Negative correlation was seen between TT3 level and duration of administration (r=-0.273, P=0.010), which was also found for testosterone (r=-0.302, P=0.025). (3) There was no correlation between serum levels of the seven hormones and concentration of IM.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IM affect the levels of thyroid and sex hormones in some patients with clinical manifestations: a decrease of TT3, testosterone and testosterone, an increase of TSH, which have relationship with the duration of administration.</p>

Early detection of MRD in peripheral blood after induction chemotherapy of newly diagnosed patients with AML and its correlation with curative effects / 中国实验血液学杂志

The purpose of this study was to detect the minimal residual disease (MRD) in peripheral blood of newly diagnosed patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) on day 8 of induction chemotherapy and analyze the correlation between day 8 MRD (D8RD) and therapeutic effectiveness. 29 adult patients (13 males and 16 females, aged 16 - 75 years, median 41 years) with AML diagnosed and treated in West China Hospital from September 2009 to June 2010 were analyzed and followed up in the study. The leukemia-associated aberrant immunophenotype (LAIP) of all the patients were detected by multiparameter flow cytometry (FCM) before therapy. The level of MRD in the peripheral blood at day 8 of induction chemotherapy was detected by FCM based on the LAIP. The overall survival curve was drawn by calculation using Kaplan-Meier method using, and the comparison between different groups was carried out by Log-rank test. The results indicated that after first course therapy, the levels of peripheral D8RD in 7 out of 29 AML cases were lower than 0.01% (negative group), and that in another 22 cases were higher than 0.01% (0.08% - 55%, positive group). The sex, age, WBC, LDH, percentage of bone marrow blasts at diagnosis in these groups were not statistically different. 6 cases achieved CR (86%) in D8RD negative group, and also 6 cases achieved CR (27%) in D8RD positive group, CR rate in D8RD negative group was higher than in D8RD positive group (86% vs 27%, P < 0.05). The median follow-up of 29 cases lasted for 15 months; the 1-year overall survival rate of D8RD negative and D8RD positive groups was 100% and 39.4%, respectively (P < 0.01). It is concluded that MRD level in peripheral blood at day 8 of induction chemotherapy is an early index to predict clinical efficacy of induction therapy in AML.

Immunophenotype characteristics and prognosis of acute leukemia patients with cross expressing lymphoid and myeloid lineage associated antigens / 中国实验血液学杂志

The aim of study was to investigate the immunophenotype characteristics and prognosis of acute leukemia patients with cross-expressing lymphoid and myeloid lineage-associated antigens. The immunophenotypes of leukemic cells were examined by using flow cytometry. All patients were classified into several groups according to FAB subtypes and immunophenotyping. The cross-expressed antigens analyzed for AML included CD2, CD7, CD19, CD56 and other co-expressed lymphoid antigens. The myeloid antigens analyzed for ALL included CD13 and co-expressed CD13/CD33. ALL and AML patients without expression of cross-expressing antigens were selected as control. Complete remission (CR) ratio and relapse-free survival (RFS) of patients in all groups were compared. The results indicated that among 161 patients analyzed, 91 cases of AML with cross-expressing lymphoid and myeloid antigens included that 24 cases of AML expressed lymphoid surface marker-CD7, namely CD7(+) AML, 14 cases of AML only expressed lymphoid surface marker-CD19, namely CD19(+) AML, 8 cases of AML expressed lymphoid surface marker-CD2 (including CD2/CD19 co-expressed), namely CD2(+) AML, 10 cases of AML expressed lymphoid surface marker-CD56 (including CD56/CD19 or CD56/CD2 co-expressed), namely CD56(+) AML, 16 cases of AML expressed two or more lymphoid surface markers, namely Ly ≥ 2(+) AML, 9 cases of ALL expressed myeloid surface markers CD13, namely CD13(+) ALL, 10 cases of ALL expressed myeloid surface markers CD13 and CD33, namely CD13/CD33(+) ALL. 29 cases of ALL did not expressed myeloid surface markers, namely My(-) ALL, and 41 case of AML did not expressed lymphoid surface markers, namely Ly(-) AML. CR ratio and RFS of Ly ≥ 2(+) AML patients were lower than those of Ly(-) AML patients. RFS of CD56(+) AML patients was lower, but CR ratio had no significant difference, when compared with Ly(-) AML patients. CR ratio and RFS of other AML patients with cross-expressing antigens had no significant difference when compared with Ly(-) AML patients. CR ratio and RFS of CD13(+) ALL and CD13/CD33(+) ALL patients had no significant difference when compared with My(-) ALL patients. It is concluded that the importance of cross-expressing antigens for prognosis of patients should be analyzed concretely. CD56(+) AML and Ly ≥ 2(+) AML have bad prognosis, while other cross-expressed lymphoid and myeloid lineage-associated antigens have no impact on prognosis of acute leukemia patients.

Influence of hOCT1 polymorphism on imatinib mesylate effectiveness in chronic myelogenous leukemia patients / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlation between hOCT1 polymorphism and imatinib mesylate (IM) effectiveness in chronic myelogenous leukemia(CML) patients, and to provide for the clinical individual personalized therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-three CML and 23 non-CML patients were enrolled in this study. Blood or bone marrow samples were collected. Amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify the polymorphisms gene segment of hOCT1-P283L, R287G and M408V and their frequencies were statistically analysed. With clinical outcomes, the correlation between hOCT1 polymorphism and IM effectiveness in CML was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) For 74 Han Chinese, the allele frequencies of hOCT1-P283L, R287G and M408V were 39.86%, 29.05% and 45.27%, respectively. (2) The genotypes of hOCT1-P283L, R287G and M408V in 2 Tibetan Chinese were CC, CC, AG and CC, CG, AG, respectively. (3) In the CML patients with IM optimal response, the frequencies of 283T and 287G allele were predominant (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in the frequency distribution of hOCT1-M408V genotype and allele among the 3 different response groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>(1) Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (cSNP) P283L, R287G and M408V were found in the hOCT1 gene from 76 Chinese. (2) hOCT1 gene polymorphism is associated with the long-term molecular response of CML patients received IM therapy, indicating that the polymorphisms of hOCT1-283T, 287G may be good predictors for IM response. (3) There is no correlation between the polymorphisms of hOCT1-P283L, R287G, M408V and secondary IM resistance in CML patients.</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>

Role of gammadeltaT cells in pathogenesis of acquired pure red cell aplastic anemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was purposed to investigate the changes in quantum and function of gammadelta T cell subsets, and to explore its significance in pathogenesis of acquired pure red cell aplastic anemia (A-PRCA). Eleven patients were diagnosed as A-PRCA based on bone marrow smear and biopsy, and were treated with cyclosporine A and glucosidorum tripterygll totorum. The flow cytometry technique was used for analyses of T cells subsets and gammadelta T cells. Furthermore, peripheral mononuclear cells (MNC) isolated from A-PRCA patients were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium (10(5) cells/ml) containing 10% FCS, phytohemagglutinin (PHA, 10 microg/ml), and recombinant human interleukin-2 (rIL-2, 50 U/ml) for two weeks, then gammadelta T cells were isolated with the TCRgammadelta Microbead Kit from cultured cells. The collected gammadelta T cells were incubated with normal control bone marrow MNC in RPMI 1640 medium (37 degrees C, 5% CO2 atmosphere) for CFU-E, CFU-GM, and BFU-E colony assay. The result showed that compared with the control group, CD3(+), CD8(+) cells increased significantly in the patient group (P < 0.05), the CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio decreased and reversed, and gammadelta T cells were significantly increased in patient group (P < 0.05). After treatment with cyclosporine A, 9 out of 11 patients got good response, and CD3(+), CD8(+) cells in the responding patient decreased, the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) returned to normal, and gammadelta T cells also decreased to normal range. Moreover, in vitro culture, the gammadelta T cells isolated from A-PRCA patients showed an inhibiting action to CFU-E and BFU-E but not to CFU-GM in a dose-dependent manner. It is concluded that gammadelta T cells increase in A-PRCA patients, and decrease in parallel to normal range with significant improvement of anemia symptoms after immune suppressive therapy. The gammadelta T cells isolated from A-PRCA patients showed an inhibiting action to CFU-E and BFU-E but not to CFU-GM in vitro culture, suggesting that gammadelta T cells may bring an impact on the research of A-PRCA pathogenesis. Cyclosporine A demonstrated better therapeutic effect on A-PRCA patients.

Effect of arsenic trioxide on bone marrow stromal cells of patients with multiple myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

To explore the effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on growth and secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of bone marrow stroma cells (BMSC) from the patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Specimens of bone marrow aspiration from MM patients were used to establish BMSC cultures. BMSC and human MM cell line CZ-1 were cultured together or alone in the absence or presence of As2O3 at various concentrations (1-20.0 micromol/L). Cell growth inhibition was assessed by MTT assay, cytokines in the culture supernatants were measured with ELISA. The results showed that As2O3 had cytostatic effect on CZ-1 with fifty percent growth inhibition (IC50) for 48 hours at 2.3 micromol/L. As2O3 did not inhibit the growth of BMSC. High levels of IL-6 and VEGF have been found in the culture supernatants of BMSC from MM patients. Cytokine production of BMSC treated with As2O3 significantly decreased as compared with controls (P < 0.05). Excitingly, even the increased cytokine production triggered by adhesion of MM cell and BMSC was also inhibited by As2O3. It is concluded that As2O3 has no inhibitory effect on cell growth of BMSC, but inhibit the production of IL-6 and VEGF by BMSC.

Immune regulatory effect of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on T lymphocyte / 中国实验血液学杂志

To investigate the immune regulatory effects of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on alloantigen T lymphocyte in vitro, human MSCs were isolated and expanded from bone marrow cells, and identified with cell morphology, and the phenotypes were assessed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. As the stimulation factor of T lymphocytes proliferation, either PHA or dendritic cells isolated from cord blood were cocultured with CD2(+) T lymphocytes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by magnetic beads with or without MSC in 96-well plats for seven days. T cell proliferation was assessed by [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation using a liquid scintillation counter. T cell subsets, Th1, Th2, Tc1 and Tc2 were analyzed by flow cytometry after co-culture of CD2(+) T cells with MSCs for 10 days. The results showed that a significant decrease of CD2(+) T cell proliferation was evident when MSC were added back to T cells stimulated by DC or PHA, and an increase of Th2 and Tc2 subsets were observed after co-culture of MSC with T lymphocytes. It is suggested that allogeneic MSC can suppress T cell proliferation in vitro and the cause of that was partly depend on interaction of cells and the alteration of T cell subsets.

Analysis of T cell subsets and CD3zeta chain expression in myelodysplastic syndrome patients / 中国实验血液学杂志

Immune mediated suppression of hematopoiesis has been considered as one of the most important mechanisms leading to pancytopenia in myelodysplastic syndromes. This research was aimed at evaluating immune state of the MDS patients, analyzing the peripheral blood T cell subsets and CD3zeta chain expression and searching the possible reasons of hematopoietic disorders in 11 cases of MDS. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from 11 patients whose diagnosis was confirmed according to the new WHO diagnostic criteria. Flow cytometry was used for the counts of IFNgamma(+)CD4(+) cell (Th1), IL4(+)CD4(+) cell (Th2), IFNgamma(+)CD8(+) cell (Tc1), and IL4(+)CD8(+) cell (Tc2), and for the analysis of expression of CD3zeta chain in T cell subsets. The results showed that CD8(+) cells increased significantly in MDS patients; there was no significant difference between Th1/Th2, Tc1/Tc2 ratios of T cell subsets and normal control; CD3zeta chain, the functional protein in the signal transduction pathway of T cell, was over expressed in the CD8(+) cell. In conclusion, research indicates that abnormal changes of T cell subgroups exist in peripheral blood of MDS patients. Enhancement of CD8(+) cells and over-expression of CD3zeta chain are important features, which suggest that CD8(+) cells play the most critical role in the pathologic process as compared with other T cell subsets. The over active immunity mediated by T cell subset may be one of the major mechanisms resulting in cytopenia in MDS.