The effect of comprehensive geriatric assessment on the therapeutic decision-makingin elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of using comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) in estimating if standard dose treatment is fit for the elderly patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma.Methods.Comprehensive geriatric assessments including three assessments of activity of daily living,instrumental activity of daily living and comorbidity scoring according to Cumulative Illness Rating Score for Geriatrics were adopted to assess if standard dose treatment is fit for the elderly patients in our prospective study.Thirty seven patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma,aged ＞70 years were enrolled in the study,and grouped into fit,unfit and frail groups according to comprehensive geriatric assessment scoring and their age.The treatment protocolswere not determined by comprehensive geriatric assessment scores,but by clinical judgments made by clinicians based on their clinical experience and disease features.The clinically effective response and overall survival (OS) were analyzed in the three groups.Results According to CGA scores,patients were grouped into fit [21 cases (56.8％)],unfit [7 (18.9％)] and frail [9 (24.3％)].37 cases received 213 courses of treatment at average 5.76 courses per case.The overall response (complete / partial remission) rates were [85.7％(18/21) vs.28.6％ (2/7) vs.44.4％ (4/9),x2=9.69,P=0.008] and median survival times were (44 months vs.10 months vs.9 months;x2 =7.03,P=0.03) among fit,unfit and frail groups with statistically significant differences.Total effective rate (achieving all clinical targets) in fit group of 21 cases were 100 ％ (12/12)with receiving standard dose therapy,and 66.7％ of(6/9)with low dose therapy(P=0.06).Overall response rate(total/partial remission) [85.7％(18/21) vs.28.6％(2/7) vs.44.4％(4/9),x2=9.69,P=0.008] and median survival (44 months vs.10 months vs.9 months;x2 =7.03,P=0.03) amongfit,unfit and frail groups.In fit group,the two-year overall survival was higher in patients receiving standard dose treatment than receivingpalliativetreatment,with statistical significance [83.3 ％ (10/12) vs.33.3 ％ (3/9),P =0.032],without significant hematologic toxicity observed between the subgroups.Conclusions Comprehensive geriatric assessment can identify if elderly patients diffuse large B cell lymphoma can acquire a satisfactory curative effect from a standard dose treatment ofimmunochemotherapy.

Monosomal karyotype among adult acute myeloid leukemia: clinical characteristic and prognostic analysis / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical characteristics and prognostic value of monosomal karyotype (MK) patients in adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively studied 45 patients of MK⁺ in newly-diagnosed adult AML in our center from Oct 2000 to Dec 2012. Clinical characteristics, cytogenetic data and prognostic features were analyzed in the cohort of MK⁺ patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MK was found in 45 patients (19.0%) of 237 newly-diagnosed adult AML with cytogenetic data available at diagnoses. Among these 45 cases, there were 28 male (62.2%) and 17 female (37.8%). Median age of MK⁺ patients at diagnose was 58(18-91) years old. The presence of -5(31.1%) and -7(17.8%) were the most common chromatid among MK⁺ AML patients. MK was much more prevalent among elderly patients. Among AML patients, the proportions of MK⁺ patients younger than 30, 30 to 59 and older than 60 years old groups were 11.5%, 17.7% and 22.4%, respectively. There was no difference between MK⁺ and MK⁻ patients in gender distribution (P=0.545). There was also no difference between MK⁺ and MK⁻ patients in the distribution of FAB castigation (P=0.239). Median survival of MK⁺ AML patients was 6.5 months. Cumulative 5-year overall survival (OS) of was 5.2%. Forty-three MK⁺ patients (43/45, 95.6%) also had a complex karyotype (CK). Two cases that did not meet the CK had not achieved complete remission (CR), and died within 6 months. There were 12 patients who were CK⁺ in 192 MK⁻ patients. The differences of OS and CR rates between MK⁺CK⁺ patients and MK⁻CK⁺ were statistically significant (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The increased detection rate of MK with age was associated with lower CR and OS in AML patients.</p>

Analysis of clinical characteristics and treatment effect of acute myeloid leukemia in elderly patients / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To explore the clinical and biological characteristics and treatment effect of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in elderly patients. Methods The clinical data of 62 patients over 60 years old with AML were retrospectively analyzed, and they were compared with those of 60 younger adult patients (18-59 years old) at the same period. Results In elderly patients, the complete remission (CR) rate was 27. 7% and the overall effective rate was 44.7%, which were lower than those of younger adult patients (74.1% and 87.9 %, 1-espectively, P＜0.01). The early death rate was 19.0% and the mortality rate during the first two induction chemotherapy was 29. 3% in the elderly, which were higher than those of younger adult patients (3. 3% and 6.7%, 1-espectively,P＜0.01). The 27.4% of elderly patients were diagnosed as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)-transformed AML, which were more than that of younger adult patients (10.0%, P＜0.05), and they had lower CR rate than those without MDS (P＜0. 05). The 28.2% of elderly patients had lymphoid antigen positive AML and 71.8% of patients showed CD34+ which were higher than those of younger adult patients (8. 1% and 48.6%, respectively, P＜0. 05), and they had lower CR rate than those of lymphoid antigen negative and those of CD34- AML (P＜0. 05). Elderly patients had less favorable and more unfavorable karyotypes than younger adult patients (45.7 % and 15.4 %, P＜0. 05). Conclusions The elderly patients with AML have more unfavorable prognostic factors than younger adult patients. They have lower CR rate and higher mortality rate. There are many specialties in elderly patients and the treatment strategy should be made more individually.

Clinical analysis of rituximab combined with chemotherapy for treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of rituximab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and the relationship of clinical prognosis with the International Prognostic Index (IPI) by the using rituximab in autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) for the patients of DLBCL. Methods 21 patients with DLBCL, 11 patients of them were at IPI low risk, and 3 patients were IPI at low intermediate risk, 3 patients were at IPI high intermediate risk, 4patients IPI high risk. Rituximab combined with CHOP regimen (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincfistine and prednisone) was given for 4～8 courses. 5 patients received APBSCT. The mobilizing regimen was rituximab combined with cyclophosphamide(CTX) and etoposide(VP16). The conditioning regimen were CBV(CTX combined with VP16 and carmustine). Results In 21 patients, the complete response rate was 61.9 %,with overall response rate 90.5 %. 2-year progression free survival was (69.74±10.43)%. 2-year overall survival was (84.44:1:8.35) %. The complete response rate was 92.9 % and overall response rate was 100 % in the patients IPI≤2. The overall response rate was 71.4 % in the patients with IPI≥3. The complete response rate was higher in the patients with IPI≤ 2 (P＜0.01). The amount of mononuclear cells (M NC) in harvest were 7.34 (4.6～8.53)×108/kg. The CD+34 cells in harvest were 8.82 (2.1～10.34)×1O6/kg. The mean time of neutrephil recovering to 0.5×109/L after APBSCT was +9 day. The mean time of platelet recovering to 20×109/L after APBSCT was +12 day. The major adverse reaction were infusion related response (14.3 %) and hematological toxieities. Conclusion The efficacy of rituximab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of DLBCL is effective, The complete response rate was higher in the patients with IPI≤2 than in the patients with IPI≥3.Using rituximab in mobilizing regimen, all patients had harvested enough CD+34 cells. Rituximab given at +1day did not affect the hematopoiesis reconstruction.

Experimental study on TCRbeta idiotypic antigenic determinants DNA vaccine to induce anti-lymphoma antibodies / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the anti-human CEM lymphoma cell activities induced by TCR idiotypic DNA vaccine containing different antigen determinants in BALB/c mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The specific rearranged gene fragment encoding TCRVbeta region of CEM cell line was obtained by RT-PCR technique. The PCR product was cloned into eukaryocytic expression vector pcDNA3, which was used as DNA vaccine and template for PCR amplifying different antigen determinant. Gene fragments encoding different antigen determinant were amplified and cloned into pcDNA3, separately. The experimental mice were immunized by intramuscular injection of the DNA vaccines. The specific anti-idiotype antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TCRbetaV of CEM cell line contains five antigen determinants. Specific anti-idiotype antibody was detected in all of the six mice immunized with DNA vaccine containing all the five determinants (the highest titer was 1:480). Although the antibody could also be detected in four of the six mice immunized with DNA vaccine containing four of the five antigen determinants, the antibody titer was lower (the highest titer was 1:80). DNA vaccine containing two of the five determinants could not induce the specific antibody.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The idiotypic DNA vaccine containing the whole TCRbetaV five antigen determinants could induce the specific anti-lymphoma idiotypic antibody in BALB/c mice.</p>

The Experimental Study on the TCR Idiotypic DNA Vaccine to Induce Antitumor Immune Response to Lymphocytic Malignancy / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was undertaken to investigate the anti-lymphocytic malignacy immunologic effects induced by TCR idiotypic DNA vaccine on BALB/c mice. CEM lymphoma cell line and BALB/c mice were used as models. The rearrangement gene fragment coding TCR Vbeta region of CEM cell line was obtained by RT-PCR technique. The PCR product was cloned into the eukaryocytic expression vector pcDNA3 to be used as DNA vaccine. The experimental animals were immunized by intramuscular injection with DNA vaccine. The specific anti-idiotypic antibody was detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The specific anti-idiotypic cellular immunity was detected by CTL activity assay using MTT method. The results showed that specific anti-idiotypic antibody in the immunized mice sera could be found since four weeks after immunization and came to the peak of titer on the sixth week. Using IL-6 as immunological adjuvant could significantly increase the antibody titers. It was concluded that the TCR idiotypic DNA vaccine could induce effectively the specific anti-lymphoma idiotypic antibody in BALB/c mice. Using IL-6 as immunological adjuvant could significantly increase the antibody titers induced by idiotipic DNA vaccine.