Correlation of circulating tumor DNA EGFR mutation levels with clinical outcomes in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a promising biomarker for non-invasive epidermal growth factor receptor mutations (EGFRm) detection in lung cancer patients, but existing methods have limitations in sensitivity and availability. In this study, we used the ΔCt value (mutant cycle threshold [Ct] value-internal control Ct value) generated during the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to convert super-amplification-refractory mutation system (superARMS) from a qualitative method to a semi-quantitative method named reformed-superARMS (R-superARMS), and evaluated its performance in detecting EGFRm in plasma ctDNA in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.@*METHODS@#A total of 41 pairs of tissues and plasma samples were obtained from lung adenocarcinoma patients who had known EGFRm in tumor tissue and were previously untreated. EGFRm in ctDNA was identified by using superARMS. Through making use of ΔCt value generated during the detection process of superARMS, we indirectly transform this qualitative detection method into a semi-quantitative PCR detection method, named R-superARMS. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the data were performed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to estimate the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Fisher exact test was used for categorical variables.@*RESULTS@#The concordance rate of EGFRm in tumor tissues and matched plasma samples was 68.3% (28/41). At baseline, EGFRm-positive patients were divided into two groups according to the cut-off ΔCt value of EGFRm set at 8.11. A significant difference in the median OS (mOS) between the two groups was observed (EGFRm ΔCt ≤8.11 vs. >8.11: not reached vs. 11.0 months; log-rank P = 0.024). Patients were divided into mutation clearance (MC) group and mutation incomplete clearance (MIC) group according to whether the ΔCt value of EGFRm test turned negative after 1 month of treatment. We found that there was also a significant difference in mOS (not reached vs. 10.4 months; log-rank P = 0.021) between MC group and MIC group. Although there was no significant difference in PFS between the two groups, the two curves were separated and the PFS of MC group tended to be higher than the MIC group (not reached vs. 27.5 months; log-rank P = 0.088). Furthermore, EGFRm-positive patients were divided into two groups according to the cut-off of the changes in ΔCt value of EGFRm after 1 month of treatment, which was set at 4.89. A significant difference in the mOS between the two groups was observed (change value of ΔCt >4.89 vs. ≤4.89: not reached vs. 11.0 months; log-rank P = 0.014).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Detecting EGFRm in ctDNA using R-superARMS can identify patients who are more likely sensitive to targeted therapy, reflect the molecular load of patients, and predict the therapeutic efficacy and clinical outcomes of patients.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae capsular polysaccharides inhibit phagocytosis and membrane molecules expression of dendritic cells / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To study the influences of Mycoplasma penumoniae capsular polysaccharide (CPS) on the phagocytosis and membrane molecules expression of the human peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived dendritic cells by binding to dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN),so as to know the effect of CPS on the maturation of dendritic cells.Methods:M.pneumoniae strain was cultivated and CPS was extracted.Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were separated and induced to dendritic cells,then identified the cells by flow cytometry and observation under the microscope.CPS was used to treat dendritic cells or cells pretreated with DC-SIGN monoclonal antibody,and then FITC-dextran phagocytosis and surface markers CD83,HLA-DR,CD80 and CD86 were detected by flow cytometry.Results:The dendritic cells tended to form colony groups.The positive rate of CD11c molecule in the cultured dendritic cells was about 86.27％.After stimulated by CPS,the FITC-dextran fluorescence mean intake by dendritic cells were increased (P＜0.05),while the cell surface membrane molecules CD83,HLA-DR,CD80 and CD86 were decreased significantly when compared with the PBS treated control cells(P＜0.05).When blocked DC-SIGN with the monoclonal antibody,the FITC-dextran fluorescence mean and membrane molecules expression had no statistical difference with the control cells(P＞0.05).Conclusion:M.pneumoniae CPS can promote the phagocytic function of DC and inhibit the expression of CD83,HLA-DR,CD80 and CD86.

The study on relationship between age and cytogenetic subgroups in 640 patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the cytogenetic characteristics of different age subgroups in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and to explore the relationship between age and cytogenetics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between January 2004 and December 2011, Bone marrow (BM) samples from 640 patients with de novo AML were analyzed retrospectively. The analyses were performed according to standard culturing and banding techniques, and clonal abnormalities were defined and described according to the International System for Human Cytogenetic Nomenclature (ISCN 2009). The cytogenetic subtypes were performed as normal, balanced, and unbalanced karyotypes. In the last group, the age distribution of complex and monosome karyotypes were further analyzed. The patients were divided into 8 age groups: 0 - 9, 10 - 19, 20 - 29, 30 - 39, 40 - 49, 50 - 59, 60 - 69, and ≥ 70 year old groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The distribution of normal, balanced, and unbalanced karyotypes showed age specific characteristics. The incidence of normal karyotype increased from 6.67% (0 ∼ 9 year old) to 58.33% (≥ 70) (χ(2) = 20.68, P = 0.001) and balanced karyotype decreased from 73.33% (0 ∼ 9) to 11.11% (≥ 70) (χ(2) = 48.22, P < 0.01). The frequency of unbalanced karyotypes increased from 20.0% (0 ∼ 9) to 30.56% (≥ 70) (χ(2) = 18.963, P = 0.008). The frequency of complex karyotype was 6.67% in 0 - 9 year old group, followed by 0% in 10 - 19 and 20 - 29 year old group, and from 1.72% to 11.11% from 30 - 39 to ≥ 70 year old group (χ(2) = 8.341, P = 0.08). Monosome karyotype was only detected in patients in 30 year old or older groups. Although an increased tendency was observed with ages, there was no significant difference (χ(2) = 4.778, P = 0.311).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The different age profiles of the cytogenetic subtypes may indicate the different mechanisms of the pathogenesis of AML, which may also offer beneficial information for etiological research of AML.</p>

Clinical analysis of recombinant activated factor VIIa for 18 patients with severe bleeding / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To find a kind of quick and effective haemostasis to decrease the mortality of severe bleeding.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>18 severe bleeding patients with different cause received recombinant activated factor VIIa (rFVIIa) were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of total 18 cases with severe bleeding, 13 cases cured, 3 cases were effective, 2 cases ineffective. The total clinical effective rate is 88.89%. After using rFVIIa, the PT, APTT and fibrinogen level of 6 DIC patients returned to normal within 12 hours; 13 patients whose the amount of bleeding can be evaluated stopped bleeding quickly. The fastest onset time was 10 min.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>rFVIIa can stanch severe bleeding for a variety of reasons rapidly and effectively, including coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, and obstetric hemorrhage. Application of rFVIIa may decrease mortality, when conventional treatment is not valid.</p>