Prevention and treatment of high-risk acute myeloid leukemia recurrence after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation / 器官移植

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a group of highly-heterogeneous clonal diseases. Chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are considered as effective treatment for AML. For high-risk AML patients, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an effective therapeutic option. However, some AML patients may still face the problem of disease recurrence after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. A majority of recurrent patients cannot be effectively treated by chemotherapy or secondary transplantation, which is the main cause of death after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Therefore, it is of significance to strengthen follow-up of AML patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and implement appropriate measures to prevent postoperative recurrence. In this article, the monitoring, drug prevention and cell therapy of recurrence after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in high-risk AML patients were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for improving clinical prognosis of high-risk AML patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Screening and functional verification of key genes in acute myeloid leukemia / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective:To explore the key genes related to the development, progression and prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) based on bioinformatics, and to analyze their functions.Methods:The chip expression profile GSE84881 data set of AML patients including 19 AML samples and 4 normal tissue samples was downloaded from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. GEO online tool GEO2R was used to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEG). The DAVID online database was used to make gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of DEG. The STRING online database was used to analyze the protein interaction (PPI) network of DEG, and the key genes were screened by using the Cytoscape software. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to build co-expressed network and obtain the central genes.LC-Bio online platform was used to construct Venn diagram and the key genes and central genes in PPI were crossed to finally obtain the true key genes. RNA-seq datasets GSE2191 and GSE90062 of human tissues were downloaded from GEO database to verify the screened key genes. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the effects of key genes on the overall survival (OS) of AML based on the data of GEPIA database.Results:A total of 247 DEG were identified in GSE84881 data set, including 112 up-regulated genes and 135 down-regulated genes. According to the results of GO enrichment analysis, 247 DEG were mainly enriched in the regulation of signal transduction and cell proliferation in the biological process (BP); the cell composition (CC) revealed that these genes were mainly involved in the cytoplasm and exosomes; the molecular function (MF) analysis showed that these genes were mainly enriched in protein binding and calcium binding. Further KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that these 247 DEG were mainly involved in NOD-like receptor signal pathway and interleukin 17 (IL-17) signal pathway. And then the 12 key genes were obtained from PPI. WGCNA software was used to screen 13 central genes from GSE84881 dataset and finally 1 real key gene EGF was obtained after taking intersection. Kaplan-Meier method showed that OS time of AML patients in EGF high expression group was decreased than that in EGF low expression group, and the difference was statistically significant( P = 0.044). Conclusions:EGF may be an important diagnosis and treatment target of AML and may become a potential biomarker for clinical treatment and prognosis prediction of AML.

Clinical study of unrelated mismatched hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for β-thalassemia major / 中华器官移植杂志

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of unrelated mismatched hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)for thalassemia major.Methods:For this retrospective cohort study, 15 patients with β-thalassemia major underwent unrelated mismatched HSCT between January 2018 and April 2022. There were 8 males and 7 females with a median age of 7(3-12)years and a median ferritin level of 3 417.3(223-14 485)μg/L. The conditioning regimens on the basis of fludarabine(Flu), busulfan(Bu)and cyclophosphamide(CTX)and GVHD prophylaxis on the basis of cyclosporine(CsA), mycophenolate mofetil(MMF), anti-human thymocyte immunoglobulin(ATG)plus low-dose post-cyclophosphamide(PTCy)and mesenchymal stem cells were offered.Results:Up until April 1, 2022, 15 children were successfully implanted during a median follow-up period of 24.1(11-49)months and all of them achieved stable donor chimerism. The median time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment were 12(11-22)and 14(8-38)days respectively. Except for 2 deaths, 13 cases survived. The estimated 2-year probability of overall survival(OS)and thalassemia-free survival(TFS)were both 86.67%. There were 5 cases of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) below grade Ⅱ, 2 cases of grade Ⅲ to Ⅳ aGVHD, and 3 cases of localized chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) after transplantation. No gengralized cGVHD occurred. Both cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus were activated in five recipients.Conclusions:Unrelated mismatched donor HSCT is both safe and feasible for thalassemia major.

Progress of molecular markers in adult acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignant tumor dominated by B-cell or T-cell proliferation, of which 80% is the malignant proliferation of B-lymphocytes, and it can be more commonly seen in children. Studies have found that ALL is often accompanied by abnormal molecular biological phenotypes. The study of the molecular biological characteristics of ALL helps the precise diagnosis, prognostic analysis, pathogenesis research and the discovery of new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. This article summarizes several molecular markers of adult acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia discovered in recent years, and reviews the clinical significance.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation of non-cryopreserved sibling umbilical cord blood for major thalassaemia in children: a report of 9 cases / 中华器官移植杂志

Objective:To explore the safety and advantages of non-cryopreserved sibling umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for major thalassaemia in children.Methods:From October 2016 to June 2021, 9 patients with major beta thalassaemia received non-cryopreserved hematopoietic stem cell transplantation of sibling umbilical cord blood at Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University. The pretreatment scheme, the process of stem cell implantation and follow-up were analyzed and summarized.Results:Among the 9 cases, there were 5 males and 4 females with a median age of 4(2~11)years. Median level of ferritin was 2 997(1 936~5 512)μg/L. At gestational weeks 12~16, each patient's mother underwent villi testing to confirm that the donor without thalassaemia major was complete HLA-matched with the patient. All of them received an intensive conditioning regimen made up of cyclophosphamide(CTX), fludarabine and busulfan(Bu). Graft-versus-host disease(GVHD) was prevented by cyclosporine A(CSA)and mycophenolate mofetil(MMF)with or without methotrexate(MTX). Except for one failed implant, 8 cases were successfully engrafted. Median time of neutrophil implantation was 19.5(15~26)days, median time of platelet implantation 32(22~34)days and median time of erythrocyte implantation 30.5(18~37)days. Up until September 1, 2021, the median follow-up period was 27(3~59)months and the rate of successful engraftment 88.89%. There was no transplant-related mortality. Overall survival was 100% and thalassaemia-free survival 88.89%. Two patients developed grades Ⅱ skin acute GVHD(22.2%). No grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ GVHD or chronic GVHD occurred. Epstein-Barr virus infection occurred in 1 case.No infection of cytomegalovirus occurred.Conclusions:For major thalassaemia in children, stem cell transplantation of non-cryopreserved sibling cord blood is both safe and feasible with a high implantation rate and a low incidence of GVHD.

Efficacy and security of a new cladribine-based conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with major thalassemia / 中华器官移植杂志

Objective@#To observe the efficacy and safety of intensive cladribine-based conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in children with major thalassemia.@*Methods@#Retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 12 children with major thalassemia undergoing allo-HSCT from March 2017 to July 2018. All of them were diagnosed definitely and the median age at transplantation was 5 years (range: 2-13 years), including HSCT from HLA-matched unrelated donor (n=8), HLA8/10-matched unrelated donor (n=1), HLA-matched sibing donor (n=2) and haploidentical donor (n=1). They received a new intensive conditioning regimen of cyclophosphamide (CTX), cladribine, busulfan (Bu) and antithymocytic globulin. The median doses of mononuclear cell (MNC) and CD34 positive cell were 10.97×108/kg (range: 5.72-12.49×108/kg) and 12.2×106/kg (range: 6.7-22×106/kg). Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was prevented by cyclosporine A (CSA), methotrexate (MTX) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF).@*Results@#Engraftment succeeded (n=11) and failed (n=1). The median time of neutrophil and platelet engraftment was 11 days (range: 8-17 days) and 13 days (range: 8-37 days) respectively. There were grade II acute GVHD (n=6) and grade IV intestinal acute GVHD (n=1) at 35 days post-transplantation. The latter one finally died of severe infection at 70 days post-transplantation. Two recipients of DLI developed limited chronic GVHD. Three cases (25%) developed cytomegaloviremia. None suffered from severe transplantation-related complications, such as cytomegalovirus diseases, hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD), hemorrhagic cystitis or septicemia, etc. The median follow-up time was 15(8-18) months. Among 11 survivors, ten became transfusion-independent.@*Conclusions@#Cladribine-based conditioning regimen is both safe and effective for allo-HSCT in children with major thalassemia. However, vigorous immunosuppression may increase the risks of infection and viral activation after transplantation.

Efficacy and security of a new cladribine-based conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with major thalassemia / 中华器官移植杂志

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of intensive cladribine-based conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT ) in children with major thalassemia .Methods Retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 12 children with major thalassemia undergoing allo-HSCT from March 2017 to July 2018 .All of them were diagnosed definitely and the median age at transplantation was 5 years (range:2-13 years ) , including HSCT from HLA-matched unrelated donor (n= 8 ) , HLA8/10-matched unrelated donor (n=1) ,HLA-matched sibing donor (n=2) and haploidentical donor (n=1) .They received a new intensive conditioning regimen of cyclophosphamide (CTX ) , cladribine , busulfan (Bu ) and antithymocytic globulin .The median doses of mononuclear cell (MNC) and CD34 positive cell were 10 .97 × 108/kg (range:5 .72-12 .49 × 108/kg) and 12 .2 × 106/kg (range:6 .7-22 × 106/kg) .Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was prevented by cyclosporine A (CSA) ,methotrexate (MTX) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) .Results Engraftment succeeded (n= 11) and failed (n= 1) .The median time of neutrophil and platelet engraftment was 11 days (range:8-17 days) and 13 days (range:8-37 days) respectively .There were grade II acute GVHD (n= 6) and grade IV intestinal acute GVHD (n=1) at 35 days post-transplantation .The latter one finally died of severe infection at 70 days post-transplantation .Two recipients of DLI developed limited chronic GVHD .Three cases ( 25％ ) developed cytomegaloviremia . None suffered from severe transplantation-related complications , such as cytomegalovirus diseases , hepatic veno-occlusive disease ( HVOD ) , hemorrhagic cystitis or septicemia ,etc .The median follow-up time was 15(8-18) months .Among 11 survivors ,ten became transfusion-independent .Conclusions Cladribine-based conditioning regimen is both safe and effective for allo-HSCT in children with major thalassemia . However , vigorous immunosuppression may increase the risks of infection and viral activation after transplantation .

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for β-thalassemia major patients using a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen / 中华器官移植杂志

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of reduced-intensity conditioning regimen used in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for children with β-thalassemia major.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 15 children with β-thalassemia major undergoing allogeneic HSCT with a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen from March 2013 to March 2017.Fifteen patients were diagnosed definitely,and the median age at transplantation was 5 years (range:3-6 years),including 11 with HSCT from unrelated donors (UDs),3 of HLA 8/10 matched and 8 of HLA10/10 matched.The remaining 4 patients out of 15 with HSCT were from related donors with HLA matched,3 donors were siblings and 1 was mother.All patients used a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen.The median mononuclear cell (MNC) dose and CD34 positive cell dose were 11.4 × 108/kg (range:4.8-20 × 108/kg)and 9.8 × 106/kg (range:5.9-27.2 × 106/kg),respectively.Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was prevented by cyclosporine A,methotrexate,MMF and ATGf.Results All 15 patients had successful engraftment.Median time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment was 12 days (range:9-21 days) and 15 days (range:10-25 days) respectively.Two patients developed grades Ⅱ acute GVHD and 4 patients developed chronic GVHD from unrelated donors,while there was no acute GVHD and 1 patient developed chronic GVHD from related donors.No patients suffered from serious transplantation-related complications,such as hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD),hemorrhagic cystitis,EB virus reactivation,CMV reactivation and hepatitis C,etc.The median follow-up time was 24 months (range:2-48 months).All patients were healthy and became transfusion-independent.Conclusion The reduced-intensity conditioning regimen proved to be safe and effective for children with β-thalassemia major given allogeneic HSCT.

Targeting miR155 restores chemotherapy sensitivity in drug-resistant myeloma cell-line RPMI8226/DOX cells / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To explore the mechanism of abnormal expression of microRNA155 (miR155) in myeloma drug-resistance to probe the possibility of inhibiting miR155 expression to restore chemotherapy sensitivity and its molecular mechanism in drug-resistant myeloma cells.@*Methods@#Drug-resistant myeloma cell-line RPMI8226/DOX was established by culturing RPMI8226 cells with continuous low concentration and intermittent gradually increasing concentration of doxorubicin in vitro; The levels of miR155 mRNA were measured by qRT-PCR, and both proteins FOXO3a and BCL-2 expressions were detected by Western blot in cell-lines RPMI8226/S and RPMI8226/Dox. RPMI8226/DOX cells were transfected by miR155 inhibitor and mimic using gene transfer method, and then CCK-8 was used to measure proliferation and inhibition ratio, the changes of miR155 expression were detected by RT-PCR. Proteins FOXO3a and BCL-2 were detected by Western blot.@*Results@#Comparing with RPMI8226 cells, the level of miR155 mRNA was obviously up-regulated with the relative expression of 26.860±2.340, together with increased expression of Bcl-2 protein but decreased expression of FOXO3a in RPMI8226/DOX cells. After 72 h treatment with miR155 inhibitor, the inhibition rate of transfection was 64.57%, miR155 expression decreased sharply, the level of FOXO3a expression was upregulated while BCL-2 expression decreased, chemotherapy sensitivity was restored on cell-line RPMI8226/DOX with reversed drug-resistance ratio of 2.518.@*Conclusions@#The abnormal expression of miR155 was closely associated with myeloma drug-resistance, targeting inhibition of miR155 expression could restore chemotherapy sensitivity by increasing FOXO3a expression in drug-resistant myeloma cells.

Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with severe aplastic anemia / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:The main therapy of severe aplastic anemia in children is immunosuppressive therapy or stem celltransplantation, but the latter one is restricted due to few donor sources. Haploidentical hematopoietic stem celltransplantation is commonly used in leukemia, but it is stil rarely reported in the treatment of aplastic anemia. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of haploidentical hematopoietic stem celltransplantation combined with placenta-derived mesenchymal stem celltransplantation for children with severe aplastic anemia. METHODS:A 7-year-old girl who had been confirmed as having severe aplastic anemia for 1.5 years received a cotransplantation of haploidentical hematopoietic stem cells combined with placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells on July 9th , 2012. The donor was her mother. The preconditioning regimen consisted of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and anti-thymocyte globulin. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Time of neutrophil recovery (>0.5×10 9/L) was+9 days, and hematopoietic reconstruction was complete at+12 days. The short tandem repeat analysis showed 100%donor’s genotype at+100 days. Immunosuppressive drugs were stopped at+8 months, and no acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease occurred. With a fol ow-up of 18 months, she was in the disease-free survival period. Our findings suggest that the cotransplantation of al ogeneic haploidentical hematopoietic stem cells and placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells is a new effective approach for children with severe aplastic anemia, which is worth exploring in the future.

Haploidentical hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia in first relapse after complete remission by standard induction chemotherapy / 中华器官移植杂志

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of haploidentical hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (Haplo-PBSCT) for acute myeloid leukemia in first relapse after complete remission by standard induction chemotherapy. Methods Eighty-nine cases of AML in first relapse after complete remission by standard DA/Hi-Ara-C regimens induction chemotherapy were evaluated retrospectively. Fiftythree cases were grafted by haplo-PBSCT and 26 cases were treated with iDA/Mid-Ara-C or MA/ Mid- Ara-C agents. Results The second remission rate in haplo-PBSCT group and continuous chemotherapy group was 86. 7 % (46/53 cases) and 38. 1% (9/23 cases) respectively (P＜0. 01). Survival postprogression (SPP) at 36th month was 43. 4 % (23/53 cases) in haplo-PBSCT group and 11.5 % (3/26 cases) in continuous chemotherapy group (P ＜ 0. 05). Conclusion Haplo-PBSCT could significantly increase the second remission rate and prolong the survival time of patients with acute myeloid leukernia in first relapse after complete remission by standard induction chemotherapy.

Activated Notch1 signaling inhibits growth of EC109 cell line and its mechanism / 中国癌症杂志

Background and purpose: It has been reported that activation of Notch1 could strongly inhibit proliferation of HPV (human papilloma virus)-positive HeLa cells by down-regulation of the E6 and E7 genes. The aim of this paper was to investigate the role of the Notch signaling pathway in growth arrest of EC109 cells in vitro and the molecular mechanism. Methods: EC109 cell lines, a well differentiated human ESCC (esophageal squamous cell carcinoma) cell line with HPV18-positive, was used in the study. Exogenous intracellular domain of Notch1(ICN) was transfected into cultured EC109 cells by lipofectamine transfection, the proliferation of the transfected cells was measured by an MTT assay. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. Human papilloma virus type 18 (HPV18) E6/E7 mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR, and p53 protein expression was detected by Western blot.Results: Activation of Notchl signaling resulted in inhibition of EC109 cell proliferation with the induction of G_2/ M arrest. There was a significant difference in terms of the percentage of G_2/M phase cells among the ICN-transfected group (42.57±1.57)% and the non-transfected group (1.88±0.66)% or the empty plasmid transfected group (1.99±1.02)% (P<0.01). Down modulation of HPV18 E6/E7 gene expression and upregulation of p53 expression was (2.15±0.23) in ICN-transfected group higher than non- transfected group (0.45±0.07) and empty plasmid transfected group (0.46±0.02) (P<0.01). Conclusion: Repression of HPV18 E6/E7 expression by Notch1 signaling results in growth suppression of HPV18-positive EC109 cells with concomitant activation of p53-mediated pathways.

Clinical Research of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring for CsA in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To explore the clinical role of two-hour(C2)of CsA in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.METHODS:The whole blood CsA concentration of 9 patients of C0 and 12 of C2 were determined by FPIA method . RESULTS: The satisfactory immunosuppressive concentration was found as follow: C0 was 200～400 ?g?L-1and C2 was 500～700 ?g?L-1.Both C0 and C2 could predict the acute rejection and side-effects,but C2 is more effective.CONCLUSION:The factors that affect the whole blood concentration of CsA were complex. CsA blood concentration monitoring can be used to guide rational use of CsA,but C2 is more effective than C0.