A new recurring chromosome 13 abnormality in two older patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia: An Indian experience.

We report here two cases of trisomy 13 in acute myeloid leukemia M1 subtype. short-term unstimulated bone marrow and peripheral blood lymphocyte culture showed 47, XY, +13 in all metaphase plates and trisomy 13 was confirmed with whole chromosome paint probes. Trisomy 13 in AML-M1 is a rare numerical abnormality. This is the first Indian report of sole trisomy 13 in AML-M1. Here, we present two cases of elder male patients, which may constitute a distinct subtype.

Clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 in breast cancer.

Background: Invasion and metastasis are the most strenuous problems in the management of breast cancer. These events require diverse proteolytic enzymes, among which MMP-2 and MMP-9 play a significant role in degradation of type IV collagen, the major component of the basement membrane. Therefore, the major objective of the study is to evaluate the clinical usefulness of MMP-2 and MMP-9 with respect to malignant tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis in breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Gelatin zymography was performed on 157 tissue extracts of malignant and adjacent normal breast tissues as well as negative and positive lymph nodes from 49 breast cancer patients. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS statistical software (version 10). Results: ProMMP-2 levels were significantly higher in adjacent normal tissues. Active MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were higher in malignant breast tissues. Activation ratios of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly higher in malignant breast tissues and in patients with lymph node metastasis. ProMMP-2, active MMP-2, and active MMP-9 could significantly discriminate between malignant and adjacent normal breast tissues. The MMP-2 activation ratio showed significant discriminatory efficacy between patients with and without lymph node metastasis and significant association with increased risk of lymph node metastasis in node-negative patients. Conclusion: The results indicate significant clinical utility of these proteolytic enzymes in malignant tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis in breast cancer.

A case of acute myeloid leukemia-M2 with trisomy 4 in addition to t(8;21).

t(8;21)(q22;q22) is the most frequently observed karyotypic abnormality associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), specifically in FAB-M2. Short-term unstimulated bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood lymphocyte culture showed 47,XX, +4,t(8;21) in all metaphase plates; and interphase and metaphase results of AML-ETO fusion was positive and trisomy of 4 was confirmed with WCP probes. Trisomy 4 in AML with t(8;21) is a rare numerical abnormality. Here we present such case of patient which may constitute a distinctive subtype.

Recombinant alpha-interferon therapy in multiple myeloma.

Three patients with multiple myeloma were treated with recombinant alpha-interferon (r IFN-alpha 2b Intron AR) along with combination chemotherapy i.e. melphelan and prednisolone. In one case it was given as an initial therapy, while the other two patients had refractory and relapsing disease respectively. IFN-alpha 2b was given in the dose of 2 x 10(6) Mu/m2 by subcutaneous injection thrice in a week for six months in two patients and for three months in one patient. All three patients experienced improvement in bone pains; partial response with reduction in the paraprotein level was seen in one patient; while there was no radiological, biochemical or haematological improvement in two patients. Side effects noted were flu like syndrome in all three patients and urticaria in one patient. They were treated symptomatically and did not require cessation of interferon therapy.