Factors affecting hematologic recovery and infection in high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with high-risk solid tumor / 소아과

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors affecting hematologic recovery and infection in high-dose chemotherapy(HDCT) and autologous stem cell transplantation(ASCT) in patients with high-risk solid tumor. METHODS: From January 2004 to December 2005, 72 HDCTs and ASCTs were applied to children with high-risk solid tumor at Samsung Medical Center. Medical records of these 72 HDCTs and ASCTs were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The single most powerful predictor of neutrophil and platelet recovery was the number of transplanted CD34+ cells. The duration of high fever was significantly longer in young patients, in patients treated with total body irradiation and/or thiotepa, and in patients transplanted with lower CD34+ cell dose(1x10(6)/kg per transplantation. Therefore, it is important not to defer the appropriate time for HDCT for an additional collection of hematopoietic stem cells if the number of collected CD34+ cells is >1x10(6)/kg per transplantation.

Usefulness of Chimeric Transcript in the Diagnosis of Pediatric Solid Tumors

Pediatric solid tumors have many similarity among different tumors. These tumors present small round cell types, and cause frequent diagnostic problems in pediatric pathology. An important advance in the investigation of these small round cell tumors has been the identification of consistent chromosomal translocations associated with several types of tumor. Eighteen patients with soft tissue sarcoma were available for review. Seventeen cell lines were also included in this study. The RNA from the specimens were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). PAX3-FKHR fusion was present in four of five alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma and PAX7-FKHR fusion was detected in one of five alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. None of the specimens expressed more than one chimeric transcript. EWS-FLI1 or EWS-ERG fusions were detected in all seven Ewings' sarcoma. No specimens showed EWS-WT1 fusion. These results corresponded well to the histopathologic diagnosis. There were no differences in the histologic appearances of tumors with the more frequent PAX3-FKHR or EWS-FLI1 fusions compared with those containing the variant PAX7-FKHR or EWS-ERG fusions. RT-PCR assay for chimeric transcript is an useful tool for a rapid and objective diagnosis of pediatric solid tumors. Through these tools, we can approach genetically to the differential diagnosis of undifferentiated small round tumors.