Adhesion molecules expression on B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells

Background and Abnormalities in the expression of cell adhesion molecules [CAM] are thought to influence the patterns of intranodal growth and hematogenous spread of malignant cells in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia [CLL]. Therefore, the characterization of some CAM phenotypic of the neoplastic clones in CLL may help to identify their role in staging and prognostic implications. In this work the expression of cell adhesion molecules of the Ig superfamily [ICAM- 1, CD54] and of selectin family [L-selectin-CD62L] of circulating malignant cells in patients with B-CLL were studied and whether the staging and tumor burden could be explained by their expression. Patients and Peripheral blood lymphocytes were obtained from 32 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia [B-CLL] at different stages, and from 13 healthy normal control. The expression of CAM was analyzed by fiowcytometry using mnonoclonal antibodies against CD54 and CD62L. There is significant differences in the mean expression of CD54 and CD62L [p < 0.001 and < 0.001] between CLL patients [13.25 +/- 8.72 and 24.6 +/- 10.6] and control group [3.66 +/- 1.27 and 1.69 +/- 0.24] respectively. Patients with positive ICAM-l 10/32 [31.2%] and L-Selectin 15/32 [46.9%] had more stage IV [7/10 and 10/15] than stage 11 [1/10-1/15] and stage III [2/10-4/15] respectively. There was non significant differences in the expression of CD54 and CD62L between patients who achieved in comparison to who failed remission. There was positive correlation between ICAM-1 and L-selectin expression and CD5, CDI9 and Rai stage [tau-b 0.359, 0.406, 0.254, p = 0.005, 0.001, 0.04] for ICAM-1 [tau-b 0.389, 0.254, 0.309, p = 0.002, 0.04, 0.001] for L-selection and there was no correlation regarding response to treatment. Patients with positive ICAM-1 and L-selectin expression had more advanced stage than patients with negative expression. There is positive correlation between ICAM-1 and L-selectin and stage of the disease and tumor burden and no correlation with response to treatment

Prognostic and therapeutic value of immunological classification of lymphoma

This study included 38 patients of newly diagnosed untreated non Hodgkin's lymphomas, during the period from December 1987 till the end of August 1991. Their ages ranges from 18 to 65 years. 23 were males and 15 were females. Six patients had low grade NHL, 19 intermediate and 13 high grade. Treatment of patients with low grade NHL consisted of COP regimen chemotherapy, while in case of intermediate and high grade COPP or CHOP chemotherapy was given. No significant difference in the response rate was detected between the 3 grades, however, a significant difference was found in the 3-year actuarial survival, with higher survival in the low compared with the intermediate and high grade [p 0.03]. B-cell subtype was the commonest immunological phenotype in these cases [71%], while T-cell and null cells phenotypes represented 26.6% and 2.6% of cases, respectively. There was no significant difference in response rate or actuarial survival between B, T or null cell immunological phenotypes

Effectiveness and response predicition of pre-emptive modified CMV chemotherapy in invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder

The effectiveness of pre-emptive [neoadjuvant] chemotherapy and prediction of tumor response were explored in 79 patients who had inasive transitional cell carcinoma [T. C. C.] of the urinary bladder in a prospective study. Patients were blindly randomized into 2 groups. Arm I included 35 patients who received 2 cycles of paraplatin, methotrexate and vinblastine [P. M. V] prior to radical cystectomy. While in arm II, 44 patients had radical cystectomy alone. The effectiveness of P.M.V. in relation to tumour cell type, stage, regional lymph nodal involvement, and D. N. A. ploidy were studied. Following P. M. V. complete response [CR] was achieved in 48% of patients who had pure T. C. C. while mixed tumors had no CR. pathologic down staging [PDS] was documented in 29% of arm I and 5% of arm II patients [p < 0.05]; Locoregional lymph nodal spread was evident among arm I and II patients in 3 and 14% respectively. [P > 0.05] D. N. A. ploidy in relation to tumour response was studied using rapid flow cytometry technique in bladder wash outs before initiation of treatment and before cystectomy in arm I patients. Aneuploid tumors responded better than diploid ones. Moreover, favourable response was associated with a shift to diploid pattern. In conclusion, P. M. V is highly effective against pure T. C. C. it had PDS in almost one third of patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Moreover, in this particular group of patients, the leco-regional lymph node involvement dropped to only 3%. We beleive that D. N. A. ploidy may become a clinically usefull predictor for positive chemotherapeutic response and consequently, it identifies certain sub-population of patients who must be suitable for neoadjuvant chemotherapy in insasive T.C.C. of the urinary bladder

Hepatocellular carcinoma in Egypt: analysis of 192 cases

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most malignant tumors affecting humans with steadily increasing incidence all over the world. A detailed analysis of 192 cases is reported. 72% of cases, aged between 50 and 69 years, with male to female ratio of 3.8/1. Most of the cases were of the well or moderately differentiated type. All cases were diagnosed at an advanced stage and metastasis was detected at presentation in about one third of patients. The results of treatment were in general disappointing. So, the attention should be directed towards prevention, also screening programs for early detection in high risk patients may lead to early diagnosis and change the clinical course of the disease leading to early and proper management

Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

To investigate a potential role for hepatitis C virus [HCV] in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC], sera from 49 patients were assayed for antibody to HCV antigen [anti-HCV]. In addition, samples were tested for hepatitis B virus [HBV] markers for comparison. Results were compared to that of a control group of 45 healthy, non paid, blood donors. 53.1% of HCC patients were found to be positive for anti-HCV had no relation to HBV markers. It is concluded that, hepatitis C antibody is prevalent among the HCC patients, and this may suggest a causal association