Autologous stem cell transplantation improves quality of life in economically challenged, brazilian multiple myeloma patients

OBJECTIVES: 1) To characterize the impact of multiple myeloma on the quality of life of patients treated in two public institutions in São Paulo State, Brazil, using a generic Short Form 36 Health Survey and a questionnaire specific for oncologic patients (QLQ-C30) upon diagnosis, after the clinical treatment, and at day +100 after autologous stem cell transplantation; 2) to evaluate whether autologous stem cell transplantation can improve the quality of life of our economically challenged population aside from providing a clinical benefit and disease control. METHODS: We evaluated 49 patients with multiple myeloma (a total of 70 interviews) using the two questionnaires. The scores upon diagnosis, post-treatment/pre-autologous stem cell transplantation, and at D+100 were compared using ANOVA (a comparison of the three groups), post hoc tests (two-by-two comparisons of the three groups), and paired t-tests (the same case at two different times). RESULTS: Of the included patients, 87.8 percent had a family budget under US $600 (economic class C, D, or E) per month. The generic Short Form 36 Health Survey questionnaire demonstrated that physical function, role-physical, and bodily pain indices were statistically different across all three groups, favoring the D+100 autologous stem cell transplantation group (ANOVA). The questionnaire specific for oncologic patients, the QLQ-C30 questionnaire, confirmed what had been demonstrated by the Short Form 36 Health Survey with respect to physical function and bodily pain, with improvements in role functioning, fatigue, and lack of appetite and constipation, favoring the D+100 autologous stem cell transplant group (ANOVA). The post hoc tests and paired t-tests confirmed a better outcome after autologous stem cell transplantation CONCLUSION: The questionnaire specific for cancer patients seems to be more informative than the generic Short Form 36 Health Survey questionnaire and reflects the real benefit of autologous stem cell transplantation in the quality of life of multiple myeloma patients in two public Brazilian institutions that provide assistance for economically challenged patients.

O papel da expressão de Bcl-2 em material obtido por PAAF no diagnóstico de doenças linfoproliferativas B / The role of Bcl-2 expression in fine needle aspiration specimens for the diagnostic accuracy in lymphoproliferative diseases

INTRODUÇÃO: O diagnóstico das doenças linfoproliferativas (DLP) tradicionalmente baseia-se no estudo histológico dos linfonodos (LN) acrescido de imuno-histoquímica. A imunofenotipagem (IFT) pela citometria de fluxo (CF) é uma ferramenta sensível e rápida, que pode ser aplicada nas DLP, em material obtido por punção aspirativa por agulha fina (PAAF) de LN. O Bcl-2 é um proto-oncogene que se expressa em várias DLP, porém em níveis especialmente elevados no linfoma folicular (LF). OBJETIVOS: Diagnosticar DLP, através de morfologia e imunofenotipagem por CF, em amostras obtidas por PAAF de LN. MATERIAL e MÉTODO: Amostras de 25 pacientes com adenopatias e de duas tonsilas reacionais foram analisadas pela morfologia e IFT, utilizando um painel inicial de AcMo (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, anti-kappa; e anti-lambda;), ampliado conforme a necessidade (CD5, CD10, CD11c, CD23, CD79b, sIgM, FMC-7 e Bcl-2). Os resultados foram comparados com a histologia. RESULTADOS:Dos 25 casos, quatro foram classificados como reacionais e 21 como DLP-B, havendo concordância com resultados histológicos em todos os casos. A intensidade média de fluorescência (IMF) da Bcl-2 no LF (19,92) foi maior que em outras DLP-B (11,93) e que nos controles (3,49) (p = 0,032). CONCLUSÃO:A PAAF de LN combinada com a citomorfologia e a IFT por CF permite uma rápida diferenciação entre os processos reacionais e linfoproliferativos B. A elevada expressão da Bcl-2 nos LFs pela citometria mostra sua utilidade no diagnóstico do tipo mais freqüente das DLP-B. A obtenção de células por PAAF requer treinamento e recomendamos mais de uma punção.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) is routinely made through histological and immunohistochemical analysis of lymph nodes. Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry (FC) is a sensitive and fast tool, which may be applied in samples obtained through fine needle aspiration for the diagnosis of LPD. Bcl-2 is a proto-oncogene that appears in several LPD and it has a significantly high expression in follicular lymphomas. OBJECTIVES: to diagnose LPD in FNA samples through morphology and flow cytometry immunophenotyping. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Samples from 25 patients with lymphadenopathies and 2 reactive tonsils were studied through morphology and immunophenotyping. The antigens expressions were evaluated by using a screening panel of monoclonal antibodies (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, light chains kappa; and lambda), followed by CD5, CD10, CD11c, CD23, CD79b, sIgM, FMC-7 and Bcl-2 when required. The results were compared with histology. RESULTS:Four out of 25 samples were reactive processes and 21were B-LPD. In all cases there was consistency with histological results. The mean fluorescence intensity of Bcl-2 in Follicular Lymphoma (19.92) was higher compared with other lymphoproliferative diseases (11.93) and controls (3.49) (p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: Fine needle aspiration of lymph nodes associated with cytomorphology and flow cytometry immunophenotyping allows a fast differentiation between reactive processes and B lymphoproliferative cases. The high expression of Bcl-2 by cytometry shows its usefulness in the diagnosis of the most frequent type of B-LPD. Fine needle aspiration sampling requires training and more than one aspiration is recommended.