Analysis of proliferative lesions of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissue in the female productive tract / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective To study the clinicopathologic features,diagnosis and differential diagnosis of tumors of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissue in the female productive tract. Methods Eleven cases of myeloid sarcoma and leukemia, 9 of non Hodgkin lymphoma(NHL),13 of cervical lymphoma-like lesions were selected from Peking University People′s Hospital from January 2006 to August 2017. According to WHO classification of tumors of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues(2008)and updated classification(2016),the cases were studied by microscopy,immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.Results In 20 cases of tumors of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissue,the mean and median age was 48.5 and 56 years old(range:16-77 years old).In cases of lymphoma-like lesion of uterine cervix,the mean and median age was 45.9 and 48 years old(range:23-62 years old).The patients with neoplasm present as fever,fatigue, hypogastralgia, colporrhagia and mass etc. Eight cases had history of acute myeloid leukemia, and 3 had myeloid leukemia while pregnancy. One case of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma(CLL/SLL)had history of ovary small cell carcinoma and high grade serous carcinoma resected with chemotherapy.One case of diffuse large B cell lymphoma(DLBCL)had history of renal transplantation. Lactic dehydrogenase(LDH)was elevated in 9 cases(9/18).The cases of lymphoma-like lesion present as contact bleeding in most cases and all located in cervix. Four cases of neoplasm located in vulva, 1 in vagina,4 in cervix, 4 in uterine corpus, 8 in ovary and 2 in placenta.Clinical staging of NHL: 4 case was stageⅠ,1 case of stageⅢ,and 4 cases of stageⅣ.Pathological morphology:9 cases were myeloid sarcoma, 2 cases were placenta invaded by myeloid leukemia. Six cases were DLBCL, and 1 case was CLL/SLL, 1 case was mucosa associated lymphoid tissuse lymphoma(MALToma), and 1 case was anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Resected mass, chemotherapy was performed in tumors of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissue. Five cases of myeloid sarcoma and 2 of NHL died. In 13 cases of lymphoma-like lesion of uterine cervix, the general condition was good as following up. Conclusions The clinical history, pathological morphology and immunohistochemistry are very important for diagnosing tumors of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissue in the female productive tract.Resection with chemotherapy is recommended in treatment. The prognosis of lymphoma-like lesion of uterine cervix is good,and should be differentiated from lymphoma.

Outcomes of adult patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia received idarubicin plus cytarabine regimen as induction chemotherapy / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To explore outcomes in adult with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) received IA10 (10 mg/m2 d1-3 idarubicin plus cytarabine 100 mg/m2 d1-7) regimen as induction chemotherapy.@*Methods@#From January 2008 to February 2016, data of consecutive newly-diagnosed AML (non-M3) adults treated with IA10 who achieved morphologic leukemia-free state (MLFS) but not accepted allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) were assessed retrospectively.@*Results@#A total of 198 patients were included in this study with 96 (48.5%) male and a median age of 42 years old (range, 18-62 years old). Using the SWOG cytogenetic classification, 45 (22.7%), 104 (52.5%), 24 (12.1%) and 25 (12.6%) patients belonged to favorable, intermediate, unfavorable and unknown categories, respectively. 6 (3.0%) patients had monosomal karyotype, and 28 (14.1%) positive FLT3-ITD mutation. A complete remission (CR, defined as MLFS with ANC ≥ 1×109/L and PLT ≥ 100×109/L) achieved in 168 (84.8%) patients, a CRp (defined as MLFS with incomplete PLT recovery) in 16 (8.1%) and a CRi (defined as MLFS with incomplete ANC and PLT recovery) in 14 (7.1%). With a median follow-up period of 15 months (range, 1 to 70 months) in survivors, the probabilities of cumulative incident of relapse (CIR), disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates at 2-year were 45.2%, 46.9% and 62.9%, respectively; the median durations of relapse, DFS and OS were 34, 20 and 37 months respectively. At the time of achieving first MLFS, multivariate analyses showed that positive FLT3-ITD mutation and CRi were common adverse factors affecting CIR, DFS and OS; unfavorable-risk of SWOG criteria was an adverse factor affecting CIR and DFS; monosomal karyotype was associated with shorter OS. After first consolidation therapy, FLT3-ITD mutation positive and unfavorable-risk of SWOG criteria had negatively impact on CIR, DFS and OS; peripheral blasts ≥ 0.50 and positive MRD (defined as RQ-PCR WT1 mRNA ≥ 0.6% or any level of abnormal blast population detected by flow cytometry) after first consolidation therapy were common adverse factors affecting CIR and DFS; CRi was an adverse factor affecting DFS and OS.@*Conclusions@#In adult with de novo AML received IA10 regimen as induction regimen, unfavorable molecular markers or cytogenetics at diagnosis and CRi independently predicted poor outcome. In addition, a higher percentage of peripheral blasts, monosomal karyotype and positive MRD after first consolidation therapy had negatively impact on outcomes.

Tumors of lymphoid and hematopoietic tissue of spleen: a clinicopathologic analysis of 53 cases / 中华病理学杂志

Objective@#To study the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the tumors of lymphoidand hematopoietic tissue of the spleen(TLTS).@*Methods@#Fifty-three cases of TLTS were selected from the pathologic files from Peking University People′s Hospital from April 2002 to April 2017. According to WHO classification of tumors of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues (2008) and its updated classification (2016), the cases were studied by microscopy, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, combined with the bone marrow biopsy and clinical examination.@*Results@#In 53 cases of TLTS, the male to female ratio was 3.4∶1.0; the mean age was 55.4 years (range 21-76 years), and all patients presented with variable degree of splenomegaly. Laboratory examination showed increased percentage of lymphocyte in peripheral blood in 22 cases, and elevated serum LDH level in 24 cases. Abnormal blood counts were seen in 26 cases pre-operatively, in which 22 cases showed complete or partial correction of these abnormalities post-operatively (84.6%, 22/26). The clinical symptoms included abdominal pain or distension, fatigue, fever, and weight loss, etc. Seventeen cases presented with lymphadenopathy of abdomen or other sites. Bone marrow biopsy was performed in 30 cases, and 19 cases were involved by tumor (63.3%). Of all 53 cases, 43 were diagnosed as primary splenic lymphoma (PSL), and the remaining 10 cases as secondary TLTS. According to Ann Arbor staging, 14 cases were stages Ⅰ or Ⅱ, 6 were stage Ⅲ and 28 were stage Ⅳ. By histopathologic classification, 43 cases of PSL were splenic B-cell marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL; 48.8%, 21/43), diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL; 23.3%, 10/43), splenic diffuse red pulp small B-cell lymphoma (11.6%, 5/43), mantle cell lymphoma (9.3%, 4/43), follicular lymphoma (4.7%, 2/43), and composite lymphoma (CL, DLBCL and classical Hodgkin lymphoma; 2.3%, 1/43). The remaining 10 cases were chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (4 cases), hairy cell leukaemia (1 case), hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTL; 5 cases), with lesions in other sites. Of the 53 cases of TLTS, 47 were B cell neoplasm (88.7%, 47/53), and the T cell neoplasms were all HSTL(5 cases, 9.4%, 5/53), 1 case was composite lymphoma. In 11 cases of TLTS, EBER in situ hybridization was performed and all cases were negative. Forty eight cases had follow-up data, and the median survival period was 17.0 months(range: 1-96 months). The survival of patients with SMZL and DLBCL were 25.7 and 18.6 months respectively. Thirteen patients died (27.1%, 13/48). The prognosis of those with elevated LDH level, high clinical stage, B symptoms and older than 60 years of age was worse. And the prognosis of DLBCL was worse than that of SMZL. There was no statistically significant difference between these factors and prognosis (P>0.05).@*Conclusions@#Most TLTS cases present with splenomegaly and abnormal blood counts, and complete or partial remission of blood counts isseen after splenectomy. The most common pathologic types of TLTS are SMZL and DLBCL. Definite diagnosis of TLTS could be made by combining clinical features, histopathology, immunophenotype, genetics, bone marrow biopsy and laboratory examination.

Factors associated with early treatment response in adults with acute myeloid leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To explore the factors influencing early treatment responses in adult with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) .@*Methods@#Data of consecutive newly-diagnosed AML (non-acute promyelocytic leukemia) adults were analyzed retrospectively. To assess the impact of clinical characteristics at diagnosis and induction regimen on achieving morphologic leukemia-free state (MLFS) , blood counts and minimal residual leukemia (MRD, positive MRD defined as RQ-PCR WT1 mRNA ≥0.6% and/or any level of abnormal blast population detected by flow cytometry) at the time of achieving MLFS.@*Results@#739 patients were included in this study. 406 (54.9%) patients were male, with a median age of 42 years (range, 18-65 years) . In the 721 evaluable patients, MLFS was achieved in 477 (66.2%) patients after the first induction regimen and 592 (82.1%) within two cycles. A total of 634 patients (87.9%) achieved MLFS, including 534 (84.2%) achieving a complete remission (CR, defined as MLFS with ANC ≥ 1×109/L and PLT ≥ 100×109/L) , 100 (15.8%) achieving a CRi (defined as MLFS with incomplete ANC or PLT recovery) , respectively. 260 (45.9%) patients of 566 (89.3%) who detected MRD at the time of achieving MLFS had positive MRD. Multivariate analyses showed that female gender, favorable-risk of SWOG criteria, IA10 and HAA/HAD as induction regimen were factors associated with achieving early MLFS. In addition, low bone marrow blasts, HGB ≥ 80 g/L, PLT counts<30×109/L and mutated NPM1 without FLT3-ITD were factors associated with achieving MLFS after the first induction regimen; Negative FLT3-ITD mutation was factor associated with achieving MLFS within two cycles. PLT counts ≥30×109/L and IA10, IA8 or HAA/HAD as induction chemotherapy were factors associated with achieving CR. Female gender, favorable-risk of SWOG criteria, FLT3-ITD mutation negative, mutated NPM1 without FLT3-ITD were factors associated with negative MRD.@*Conclusions@#Female gender, favorable molecular markers or cytogenetics, and standard-dose induction regimen were key factors associated with higher probability of early and deep responses in adults with AML.

Minimal residual disease level predicts outcomes in the non-favorable risk patients with acute myeloid leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To explore impact of minimal residual leukemia (MRD) on outcomes in the non-favorable risk adults with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) .@*Methods@#From January 2008 to February 2016, data of consecutive newly-diagnosed non-favorable risk adults with AML (non-APL) according to SWOG criteria who achieved morphologic leukemia-free state (MLFS) and received continuous chemotherapy were assessed retrospectively.@*Results@#292 AML patients were enrolled, 150 (51.4%) were male. Median age was 46 years (range, 18-65 years) . Using the SWOG cytogenetic classification, 186 (63.7%) , 49 (16.8%) and 57 (19.5%) patients belonged to intermediate, unfavorable and unknown categories, respectively. With a median follow-up period of 15 months (range, 1 to 94 months) in survivors, the probabilities of cumulative rates of relapse (CIR) , disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) at 2-years were 51.6%, 42.6% and 60.0%, respectively. Multivariate analyses showed that MRD positive (defined as Q-PCR WT1 mRNA ≥0.6% or any level of abnormal blast population detected by flow cytometry) after achieving MLFS and PLT<100×109/L were common adverse factors affecting CIR and DFS. In addition, positive FLT3-ITD mutation and CRp/CRi had negatively impact on CIR, DFS and OS. Monosomal karyotype was adverse factors affecting CIR and OS. Age ≥44 years and unfavorable-risk of SWOG criteria were associated with shorter DFS.@*Conclusions@#MRD level after achieving MLFS had prognostic significance on outcomes in non-favorable adults with AML who received continuous chemotherapy after achieving MLFS.

Prognostic significance of blood count at the time of achieving morphologic leukemia-free state in adults with acute myeloid leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To explore prognostic significance of blood count at the time of achieving first morphologic leukemia-free state[complete remission (CR, ANC ≥1×109/L and PLT ≥100×109/L) , CR with incomplete PLT recovery (CRp) and CR with incomplete ANC and PLT recovery (CRi) ]in adult patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) .@*Methods@#From January 2008 to February 2016, data of consecutive newly-diagnosed AML (non-APL) adults who received continuous chemotherapy in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively.@*Results@#352 patients were included in the study. 179 (50.9%) were male. Median age was 44 (17-65) years. Using the SWOG cytogenetic classification, 87 (24.7%) , 171 (48.6%) , 46 (13.1%) and 48 (13.6%) patients belonged to favorable, intermediate, unfavorable and unknown categories, respectively. 16 (4.5%) had monosomal karyotype and 41 (11.6%) had FLT3-ITD mutation positive. Best response achieved at the time of achieving first morphologic leukemia-free state was CR in 299 (84.9%) patients, CRp in 26 (7.4%) and CRi in 27 (8.1%) . With a median follow-up period of 16 (2-94) months in survivors, the probabilities of cumulative incident of relapse (CIR) rate, disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) at 30 months were 47.5%, 46.0% and 58.6%, respectively. Multivariate analyses showed that non-CR (CRp or CRi) , was associated with high relapse rate, shorter DFS and OS. In addition, intermediate or high risk of SWOG cytogenetic classification and FLT3-ITD positive were common unfavorable factors affecting CIR, DFS and OS. Peripheral blast ≥60% at diagnosis was adverse factors affecting DFS. Age ≥48 years and bone marrow blasts ≥67% were associated with shorter OS.@*Conclusion@#Blood count at the time of achieving morphologic leukemia-free state was one of the key markers associated with treatment outcomes in adults with AML.

Prognostic significance of early assessment of minimal residual disease in acute myeloid leukemia with mutated NPM1 patients / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To explore prognostic significance of early assessment of minimal residual leukemia (MRD) in adult patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with mutated NPM1.@*Methods@#The response, NPM1 mutated transcript level after induction chemotherapy and the first 2 cycles of consolidation chemotherapy, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in 137 patients with AML with NPM1 mutations of A, B and D were retrospectively analyzed.@*Results@#Data of 137 patients were collected, 67 were male, the median age was 49 years (16-67 years) , 107 (78.1%) had normal karyotype, 57 (41.6%) had positive FLT3-ITD mutation, the median NPM1 mutated transcript level at diagnosis was 84.1%. Among the 134 evaluable patients, 115 (85.8%) achieved a complete remission (CR) . Multivariate analyses revealed that WBC<100×109/L (OR=0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.9, P=0.027) and first induction therapy with "IA10" protocol (OR=0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.8, P=0.015) were factors associated with achieving a CR. With a median follow-up period of 24 months (range, 2 to 91 months) in 77 survived CR patients, the probabilities of DFS and OS at 3 years were 48.0% and 63.9%, respectively. Multivariate analyses showed that positive FLT3-ITD (HR=3.2, 95% CI 1.6-6.7, P=0.002) , high MRD level after 2 cycles of consolidation chemotherapy (NPM1 mutation transcript level <3-log reduction from the individual baseline, HR=23.2, 95% CI 7.0-76.6, P<0.001) and chemotherapy or autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) rather than allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT) (HR=2.6, 95% CI 1.0-6.6, P=0.045) were the unfavorable factors affecting DFS, high MRD level at the time of achieving the first CR (NPM1 mutation transcript level <2-log reduction from the individual baseline, OR=2.5, 95% CI 1.0-6.1, P=0.040) and after 2 cycles of consolidation chemotherapy (HR=4.5, 95% CI 2.0-10.3, P<0.001) were the unfavorable factors affecting OS. Furthermore, DFS and OS rates at 3 years in those receiving chemotherapy or auto-HSCT were 39.7% and 59.1%, respectively; positive FLT3-ITD and high MRD level after 2 cycles of consolidation chemotherapy were independent factors associated with both shorter DFS (HR=3.5, 95% CI 1.6-7.6, P=0.002 and HR=8.9, 95% CI 3.8-20.7, P<0.001) and OS (HR=2.7, 95% CI 1.1-6.9, P=0.036 and HR=3.1, 95% CI 1.2-8.0, P=0.021) ; meanwhile, high MRD level at the time of achieving the first CR associated with shorter OS (HR=3.1, 95% CI 1.2-8.0, P=0.022) .@*Conclusion@#Positive FLT3-ITD mutation and high MRD level after induction or consolidation chemotherapy associated with poor outcomes in AML patients with mutated NPM1.

Outcome of patients with adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia between 2000 and 2013: experience from single center / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the outcomes of patients with adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) over the last 14 years by taking 2006 as the demarcation point.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2000 to December 2013, 477 consecutive hospitalized patients with adult ALL were retrospectively analyzed, including 276 (57.9%) with Ph negative B-ALL (Ph⁻-B-ALL) B-ALL, 69 (14.5%) with T-ALL and 132 (27.7%) with Ph positive ALL (Ph⁺-ALL); 111 (23.3%) before 2006 and 366 (76.7%) after 2006. Among 435 patients who achieved complete remission (CR), 248 (57.0%) received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and 187 remained on chemotherapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With a median follow-up period of 19 months in all patients and 35 months in living patients, overall CR rate was 92.0%. Of 435 CR patients, the cumulative incidences of 5-year relapse, disease-free survival( DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 42.5%, 46.2% and 47.6%, respectively. Compared with the patients hospitalized before 2006: ① the Ph+-ALL patients hospitalized after 2006 achieved a higher overall CR rate (P=0.036). There was no difference for CR rates of Ph--B-ALL and T-ALL patients between before and after 2006. ②The CR patients hospitalized after 2006 had higher 5-year DFS and OS rates (P=0.001; P < 0.001), including higher 5-year OS rate in Ph⁻-B-ALL patients (P=0.046), and higher 5-year DFS and OS rates in both T-ALL (P=0.013; P=0.036) and Ph⁺-ALL patients (P=0.003; P < 0.001) , especially in those Ph⁺-ALL patients who received imatinib from the beginning of the induction chemotherapy (P < 0.001; P < 0.001) ③The patients who received allo-HSCT after 2006 had higher 5-year DFS and OS rates (P=0.001; P < 0.001), but there was no difference for the outcomes in those who remained on chemotherapy before and after 2006. After 2006, Ph⁺-ALL patients who received imatinib from the beginning of the induction chemotherapy had the highest 5-year DFS and OS rates compared with Ph⁻-B-ALL and T-ALL patients (P=0.009; P=0.001) . Multivariate analysis showed that allo-HSCT and imatinib were two important factors affecting the outcomes of ALL patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The outcomes of ALL patients improved significantly over the last 14 years, especially in Ph⁺-ALL ones.</p>

Clinical features and prognosis in MLL-AF10 positive acute leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical features and prognosis of acute leukemia patients with the mixed lineage leukemia（MLL）gene rearrangements AF10 positive.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>6 cases with MLL-AF10 positive were analyzed retrospectively, related literatures were reviewed to clarify MLL-AF10 patients'clinical features and prognosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median age of 6 cases was 19.5 years old, 5 patients with fever onset, the onset white blood cells of 4 patients were less than 10×10⁹/L. 5 cases were as M₅ and 1 case M₄ according to FAB classification, the level of fusion gene（RQ-PCR）was 0.23%-22.60% when diagnosed, 4 cases had concomitant WT1 gene mutation, flow cytometry disclosed myeloid phenotype. Of 5 evaluated patients achieved the first complete remission after conventional chemotherapy, 2 cases of complex karyotype died, one case died of sepsis in induction, another died from failing of transplantation. 4 out of 5 transplant recipients gained long term survival.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The MLL-AF10 positive patients were mostly young men, the majority FAB classification was M5 or M4, often onset with fever, low white blood cells and low level of fusion gene, usually associated with WT1 mutation. Conventional chemotherapy produced a high response rate, but easy to relapse, while the complex karyotype had a poor prognosis, allo-HSCT may have the potential to improve the prognosis of MLL-AF10 positive patients.</p>

Comparison of 10 mg/m² or 8 mg/m² idarubicin plus cytarabine regimen as induction chemotherapy for adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacy and toxicity of 10 mg/m² or 8 mg/m² idarubicin (Ida) combined with cytarabine (IA"3+7"regimen) as induction chemotherapy for adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 2004 to October 2013, 335 adult AML (non acute promyelocytic leukemia) patients receiving the IA regimen as induction chemotherapy were enrolled, including 198 cases with 10 mg/m² Ida and 137 cases with 8 mg/m² Ida for 3 days. We compared the hematologic response, hematologic side effects and prognosis between the two regimens.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Except for 4 early deaths, the complete remission (CR) rate after the first cycle of induction chemotherapy was 72.5%, 10.0% partial remission (PR) and 82.5% overall remission (OR) rate. The CR and OR rates were higher in the 10 mg/m² Ida group than the 8 mg/m² Ida group (CR: 78.9% vs 63.5%, P=0.003; OR: 88.2% vs 75.4%, P=0.007). Multivariate analysis showed that female, HGB≥100 g/L, FLT3-ITD mutation negative and 10 mg/m² Ida were favorable factors for CR. All patients presented cytopenias of grade Ⅳ. There was no differences on the recovery time of ANC≥0.5×10⁹/L and PLT≥20×10⁹/L after induction chemotherapy. Within a median follow-up of 14 (1-118) months, 98 (29.3%) patients relapsed, 92 (27.5%) died. The disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) at 3 years were 53.2% and 58.9%, respectively. DFS and OS at 3-year were 34.2% and 37.4% in the chemotherapy cohort, 74.5% and 81.2% in the transplant cohort. 10 mg/m² Ida was an independent favorite factor for DFS (P=0.040) and OS (P=0.007).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>As compared to 8 mg/m², 10 mg/m² Ida significantly improved the CR, with the same extent of hematological side effects, and was an independent favorite factor for DFS and OS.</p>

Prognostic factors of adult Philadelphia chromosome negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the prognostic factors in adult Philadelphia chromosome negative acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (Ph⁻ ALL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From December 1999 to December 2013, 353 consecutive hospitalized 18-65-year-old adult Ph⁻ ALL patients were retrospectively analyzed. Induction therapy was CODP±L-asparaginase (L-Asp) regimen, and consolidation therapy included CODP and high dose methotrexate or revised Hyper-CVAD A and B regimens for 8 cycles. 178 patients (50.4%) performed allo-HSCT after three to five cycles of consolidation treatment, and 172 patients didn't receive allo-HSCT. The median follow-up was 39.9 months (2.0 to 171.0 months) for the 184 survivors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Three patients (0.85%) happened early death. CR rate after the first cycle of induction chemotherapy was 77.4% (271/350) among evaluated 350 patients. Overall CR rate was 92.9% (325/350). WBC ≥ 100.0 × 10⁹/L (P=0.010) and hepatomegaly/splenomegaly/lymphadenopathy (P=0.036) were independent adverse factors for overall CR. Among the 325 CR patients, 117 patients developed relapse, cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) at 5 years was 43.2%, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates at 5 years were 44.7% and 45.6% respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that harboring central nervous system leukaemia (CNSL) at diagnose (P=0.004, P=0.002, P<0.001, respectively), induction regimen without L-Asp (P=0.023, P=0.009, P=0.004, respectively), time to CR more than 4 weeks (P=0.034, P=0.024, P=0.003, respectively), and non-allo-HSCT (P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively) were adverse factors of relapse, DFS and OS. In addition, high WBC count at diagnosis (≥ 30.0 × 10⁹/L for B lineage and ≥ 100.0 × 10⁹/L for T lineage) was poor factor of DFS (P=0.044). Based on the four adverse prognostic factors of DFS above mentioned (including WBC at diagnose, harboring CNSL at diagnose, induction regimen with or without L-Asp, time to CR more than 4 weeks), patients were grouped into low risk (no factor), intermediate risk (one factor), and high risk (at least two factors). Non-allo-HSCT and allo-HSCT had similar outcomes in low risk subgroup. Allo-HSCT significantly improved OS and DFS in intermediate and high risk subgroups rather than non-allo-HSCT (all P values < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In adult Ph- ALL patients, high WBC count at diagnosis (≥ 30.0 × 10⁹/L for B lineage and ≥ 100.0 × 10⁹/L for T lineage), CNSL at diagnosis, induction regimen without L-Asp, time to CR more than 4 weeks and non-allo-HSCT were adverse prognostic factors. Allo-HSCT improved OS and DFS in patients with more than one of the first four adverse prognosis factors.</p>

The relationship between induction chemotherapy cycles and prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between induction chemotherapy cycles to achieve complete remission (CR) and prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia(AML).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From April 2004 to December 2013, 397 adult patients with newly diagnosed AML (acute promyelocytic leukemia excluded) received the idarubicin combined with cytarabine (IA)"3+7" regimen as the first induction chemotherapy were enrolled in the study. Therapeutic effect, relapse and survival of these patients were discussed. Patients underwent continuous consolidation chemotherapy, and some eligible patients received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in the first complete remission.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 397 patients, 347 evaluable patients achieved CR after 1-4 cycles induction chemotherapy.The median follow-up was 18.0 (2.4-115.4) months in survivors, the cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) at 3 years were 33.0%, 58.6% and 67.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that unfavorable cytogenetics, more cycles to achieve CR and post-remission treatment without allo-HSCT were independent risk factors affecting DFS and OS. FLT3-ITD mutation positive was another independent risk factor affecting DFS. There was no statistic difference between patients who achieved CR after one cycle (n=255) and two cycles (n=73) treatment in DFS and OS (P>0.05). DFS and OS in patients who achieved CR after 3 or 4 cycles(n=19)were significantly lower than the above two groups (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis among 183 patients who received consistent chemotherapy showed that achieving CR within 2 cycles was the favorable factor affecting DFS and OS (P=0.001, P=0.035).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Achieving CR within 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy was associated with better prognosis among adult CR patients with AML.</p>

Highlights of lymphoma research: reports from the 56th American Society of Hematology annual meeting / 白血病·淋巴瘤

The top three highlights of lymphoma research in the 56th American Society of Hematology annual meeting were introduced:programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) pathway blocking which protects T cells from exhaustion and enhances the tumor surveillance achieved a high response rate in the heavily treated refractory and relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma.Maintenance of brentuximab vedotin,a conjugation of an antiCD30 monoclonal antibody and a microtubule-disrupting agent,post autologous transplantation of relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma effectively decreased the incidence of disease progression.The interim PET-CT response-adapted-protocol changing did not improve the outcome of the patients with aggressive lymphoma.

Molecular response and prognostic factors of patients with Philadelphia chromosome/BCR-ABL-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated by imatinib with chemotherapy / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the molecular response and prognostic factors of patients with Philadelphia chromosome/BCR-ABL-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (Ph⁺ ALL) treated by imatinib with chemotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From May 2006 to July 2012, 82 adult Ph⁺ ALL patients were enrolled in the study. Forty-eight patients combined imatinib in, and 34 patients after induction therapy. Forty-nine patients underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) after 3 to 5 cycles of consolidation therapy. The molecular response of BCR-ABL mRNA was evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR in every chemotherapy course ending.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The complete remission (CR) rate after the first cycle of induction chemotherapy was 76.8% (63/82), with overall CR rate of 92.7% (76/82). The CR rate in the patients combined imatinib in was higher than of those combined imatinib after the first cycle of induction chemotherapy (93.8% vs 52.9%, P<0.001). 55.3% patients BCR-ABL decreased >1 log after induction therapy. Among 76 CR patients, cumulative incidence of relapse was 27.6%, the probabilities of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) at 3 years were 60.5% and 70.2%, respectively. allo-HSCT was an independent favorable factor for decrease of leukemia relapse (P<0.001). allo-HSCT, imatinib combined in the first cycle of induction therapy and female were independent favorable factors for DFS (P<0.01, 0.05 and 0.01, respectively), BCR-ABL mRNA reduction at least 1 log from baseline after the first induction therapy and allo-HSCT were independent favorable factors for OS (P=0.011 and 0.027, respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Imatinib combined in the first cycle of induction therapy, BCR-ABL mRNA reduction at least 1 log from baseline after the first induction therapy and allo-HSCT improved outcomes of Ph⁺ ALL patients.</p>