A Case of Primary MALT Lymphoma of the Breast / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Primary malignant lymphoma of the breast is rare. The incidence of primary malignant lymphomas of the breast is 0.04% to 0.5% of all malignant tumors of the breast and 0.07% of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and comprises 1.7% of extranodal malignant lymphomas that occur in Western countries. The incidence of mucosa- associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the breast is reported to be between 0% and 75% of all primary malignant breast lymphomas in United States and Japan, but the incidence in Korea is unknown. MALT is characterized by indolent behavior and good has a prognosis. The authors report on a patient who has a primary MALT lymphoma of the breast. She was treated by surgical excision, which was followed by radiation therapy. Histologically, her lymphoma type transformed into a diffuse large B-cell tumor after 10months. She received combination chemotherapy and achieved a complete state of remission. She then underwent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation along with high dose chemotherapy. To our knowledge, this is the first case report in the literature in Korea.

Quantitation of the Early Apoptotic Cells Using Flow Cytometry / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: There is a strong evidence that administration of anti-tumor drugs triggers apoptotic death of target cells. Therefore, quantitation of the 0early apoptotic cells could provide a very useful information for clinicians planning anti-tumor strategies. Therefore, we measured the amount of early apoptotic cells using annexin-FITC/PI dual fuorescence method by which early changes of apoptotic cell membrane could be detected. We also measured DNA content of apoptotic cells by PI single stain and performed DNA fragment assay simultaneously. METHODS: HL-60 cell line were cultured under 100, 200 ng/mL adriamycin for 12, 24, 36, 48 hours. Quantitation of the early apoptotic cells was done using flow cytometry with annexin-FITC and Propidium iodide (PI) dual fluorescence stain. And DNA content of the HL-60 cells was measured using PI single stain after fixing the cells. DNA ladder assay was also performed by agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: The early apoptotic cells were 40.5% at adriamycin 100 ng/mL, after 24 hours culture and the secondary necrotic cells were 94.7% at adriamycin 200 ng/mL after 48 hours culture. There was a good correlation between annexin-PI stain and DNA content analysis. We could find DNA fragmentation on agarose gel electrophoresis. CONCLUSION: Quantitation of the early apoptotic cells using flow cytometry with annexin-PI dual fluorochrome stain and the DNA content analysis with PI single stain could be a good parameter for anti-apoptotic strategies.

Clinical Characteristics and Therapeutic Efficacy of Low Dose Cytarabine in High Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome / 대한혈액학회지

BACKGROUND: High risk myelodysplastic syndrome has various clinical courses and refractoriness to various therapies. It is important to analyze clinical characteristics and therapeutic responses in high risk myelodysplastic syndrome. METHODS: Sixty nine cases of primary high risk myelodysplastic syndrome at diagnosis were enrolled in this study at Kyungpook National University Hospital and Taegu Hyosung- Catholic University Hospital from January 1987 to June 1996. We have investigated the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes after low dose cytarabine chemotherapy. RESULTS: 1) The median age of the patients was 48 years. Male to female ratio was 2.1:1. The each numbers of RAEB, CMML and RAEB-T patients were 38, 11 and 20, respectively. 2) The most common chief complaint was dyspnea on exertion. General weakness, fever and dizziness were also observed. The most common physical finding was pallor. 3) The peripheral blood findings showed anemia in 65 cases (94.2%), thrombocytopenia in 64 cases (92.8%), leukopenia in 32 cases (46.4%) and pancytopenia in 26 cases (37.7%). 4) Twenty two cases transformed to acute myelogenous leukemia during the follow-up periods. Chemotherapy was done in 18 cases among 22 cases of transformed acute myelogenous leukemia. Complete remission was achieved in 3 cases (16.7%), partial remission in 4 cases (22.2%) and no response in 11 cases (61.1%). 5) Forty seven cases were treated by low dose cytarabine chemotherapy. Complete response was achieved in 11 cases (23.4%), partial response in 13 cases (27.7%) and no response in 23 cases (48.9%). Median duration of complete response was 12 weeks. 6) We made score system, which based on Sanz score and Gattermann score, according to age, hemoglobin, platelet and bone marrow blast. Overall survival was higher in group A (score or = 6). Complete response of low dose cytarabine chemotherapy was higher in group A than group B but overall survival according to low dose cytarabine chemotherapy was not different in group A and group B. CONCLUSION: Low dose cytarabine chemotherapy was not effective in survival benefit. Score system according to prognostic factors was important to predict therapeutic response and prognosis. In the future, more intensive therapeutic plan and analysis of prognostic factors should be considered.