Chlorambucil and ascorbic acid-mediated anticancer activity and hematological toxicity in Dalton's ascites lymphoma-bearing mice.

Chlorambucil is an anticancer drug with alkylating and immunosuppressive activities. Considering various reports on the possible antioxidant/protective functions of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), it was aimed at to explore the modulatory effect of ascorbic acid on therapeutic efficacy and toxicity induced by chlorambucil. Dalton’s ascites lymphoma tumor serially maintained in Swiss albino mice were used for the present experiments. The result of antitumor activity showed that combination treatment with ascorbic acid and chlorambucil exhibited enhanced antitumor activity with 170% increase in life span (ILS), which is significantly higher as compared to chlorambucil alone (ILS 140%). Analysis of apoptosis in Dalton’s lymphoma tumor cells revealed a significantly higher apoptotic index after combination treatment as compared to chlorambucil alone. Blood hemoglobin content, erythrocytes and leukocytes counts were decreased after chlorambucil treatment, however, overall recovery in these hematological values was noted after combination treatment. Chlorambucil treatment also caused morphological abnormalities in red blood cells, majority of which include acanthocytes, burr and microcystis. Combination treatment of mice with ascorbic acid plus chlorambucil showed less histopathological changes in kidney as compared to chlorambucil treatment alone, thus, ascorbic acid is effective in reducing chlorambucil-induced renal toxicity in the hosts. Based on the results, for further devel­opment, hopefully into the clinical usage, the administration of ascorbic acid in combination with chlorambucil may be recommended.

Proteinograma sérico de cães sadios e com linfoma obtido por eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida (SDS-PAGE) / Serum protein concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs with lymphoma by means of sodium dodecil sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)

Foram avaliadas amostras de soro sanguíneo de 10 cães sadios e de 12 com linfoma, utilizando-se a eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida contendo dodecil sulfato de sódio. Houve diferença entre as médias dos teores de proteína total de cães sadios, 7,68g/dL±0,46 e de cães com linfoma, 7,93g/dL±2,49. As concentrações de IgA e IgG não foram diferentes entre os grupos. Os teores das proteínas de pesos moleculares 142000, 110000, 52000, 49000, 24000 e 18000 dáltons foram mais elevados em cães com linfoma. Os cães com linfoma apresentaram concentrações mais elevadas de ceruloplasmina, 43,95mg/dL±18,19, e haptoglobina, 554mg/dL±449,51, e menores de albumina, 2908mg/dL±476,67, em comparação aos cães sadios (ceruloplasmina: 3,42mg/dL±7,44; haptoglobina: 94,54mg/dL±59,50 e albumina: 4207mg/dL±206,18). Conclui-se que concentrações séricas mais elevadas de ceruloplasmina e haptoglobina e menores de albumina podem estar associadas ao linfoma em cães.

Blood serum samples of ten healthy dogs and 12 dogs with lymphoma were evaluated by means of sodium dodecil sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. There was difference in total protein concentrations among healthy dogs, 7.68g/dL±0.46 and dogs with lymphoma, 7.93g/dL±2.49 values of immunoglobulins A and G presented no difference between groups. Serum proteins with molecular weights 142,000; 110,000; 52,000; 49,000; 24,000; and 18,000 Daltons presented increased concentrations in dogs with lymphoma. Dogs with lymphoma presented increased ceruloplasmin (43.95mg/dL±18.19) and haptoglobin (554mg/dL±449.51) values and lesser albumin concentration (2,908mg/dL±476.67) when compared to healthy dogs (ceruloplasmin: 3.42mg/dL±7.44; haptoglobin: 94.54mg/dL±59.50, and albumin: 4,207mg/dL±206.18). In conclusion, increased ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin and lesser albumin serum concentrations are possibly related to lymphoma in dogs.

Serum level of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in children with malignant lymphoma

Toestimate the serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [s-ICAM-1] in children newly diagnosed with lymphoma and to correlate levels of s-ICAM-1 in lymphoma patients with clinical stage, pathological types, clinical and laboratory data and patient outcome. Thirty-five children with newly-diagnosed malignant lymphoma [Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, NHL: 23], Hodgkin's disease [HD: 12], and 8 apparently healthy subjects of matched age and sex taken as a control group were studied. For the patients and control group, the following tests were performed: complete blood count, and the following biochemical investigations: liver function tests, lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], and soluble ICAM-1 estimation using ELISA. In addition, for patients, pathological examination of lymph node biopsy for pathological grading, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy were done. Patients were observed for over 12 months or until death. Serum ICAM-1 increased more in HD and NHL than in the control group [p < 0.000]; also s-ICAM-1 increased in advanced stages and high-grade NHL [p < 0.008, 0.04, respectively]. LDH levels were higher in patients compared to controls [p < 0.000]. There was a positive correlation between high levels of s-ICAM-1 and increased levels of LDH in HD [r = 0.72, p < 0.008] and a positive correlation between high levels of s-ICAM-1 and increased ALT in NHL patients. A positive correlation between s-ICAM-1 levels and the presence of B symptoms in HD and NHL, and a positive correlation between elevated s-ICAM-1 levels and worse outcome in HD and NHL were detected. The data indicate that in children with malignant lymphoma, high serum levels of ICAM-1 correlated with tumor aggressiveness, and quantification of s-ICAM-1 levels may identify a subgroup of children with worse prognosis. Therefore, detection of s-ICAM-1 levels in children with malignant lymphoma might represent an additional disease-associated marker for use in the clinical management of the patients

Tumores sólidos en niños / Solid tumors in children

El pronóstico y la posibilidad de sobrevida y curación en el cáncer han mejorado progresivamente en los últimos 20 a 30 años. En Chile, el avance y mejores resultados de sobrevida han sido evidentes desde la creación del grupo cooperativo nacional (PINDA) en 1988, siendo la sobrevida total de los niños oncológicos alrededor de 65 por ciento. El médico general juega un rol fundamental en la sospecha y diagnóstico precoz, pilares fundamentales para el tratamiento oportuno y buenos resultados. Revisaremos algunos conceptos generales de etiopatogenia, diagnóstico y tratamiento de los tumores sólidos en niños.

study on copper and zinc in the serum of some cancer patients

Many reposts had suggested that copper and zinc may reflect diseases activity in lymphoma. Also, zinc helps in the function of WBCs in immune system. Whole blood samples were taken from 6 healthy donors and 10 patients suffering from different types of cancer. Serum copper and zinc were measured by using XRF method. Serum copper of cancer patients is higher than that of controls [P < 0.05] while serum zinc concentration is lower in patients than that of controls. Therefore, these two elements can be used as additional tests in diagnosis and managing cancer patients

Splenic lymphocytes with circulating villous lymphocytes--a case report.

A 25 years old male presented with hepatomegaly splenomegaly and fever. He was diagnosed as splenic lymphoma with circulating villous lymphocytes (SLVL) on morphology, cytochemistry and immunocytochemistry performed on peripheral blood and bone marrow smears. Case is being presented because of rarity and unusual presentation at young age.

Utilidad de la relación cobre/zinc en pacientes con linfoma o leucemias aguda o crónica / Serum copper and zinc levels and Cu/Zn ration in lymphoma and acute and chronic leukemia

Objetivo. Conocer si la relación cobre/zinc (cobre elevado, zinc bajo) se encuentra aumentada en pacientes con neoplasias malignas hematológicas comparada con sujetos controles sanos de edad y sexo similares. Metodología. Se estudiaron 44 pacientes con neoplasias hemato-concológicas de reciente diagnóstico, sin tratamiento previo: 17 linfomas (11 no-Hodgkin), 15 con leucemia aguda (10 mieloblásticas) y 12 con leucemia crónica (8 granulocíticas). También se incluyeron 95 sujetos controles sanos. Se utizó un espectrofotómetro de absorción atómica (Perkin Elmer modelo 2380) para la cuantificación de los niveles séricos de cobre y zinc. Resultados. Los niveles séricos de cobre (µg/dL) fueron significativamente menores en los sujetos controles(54.4 ñ 8.9, p< 0.05), en comparación con los pacientes con linfoma (93.7 ñ 37.5), con leucemia aguda (80.6 ñ 44.6) y con leucemia crónica (95.7 ñ 28.9) mientras que los niveles séricos de zinc (µg/dL) resultaron significativamente mayores en sujetos controles (100.4 ñ 14, p< 0.05) en comparación con los pacientes con linfoma (77.2 ñ 22.6), leucemia aguda (66 ñ 15.6) o leucemia crónica (74.8 ñ 14.7). La relación cobre/zinc resultó ser significativamente más baja en sujetos controles (0.54 ñ 0.13, p< 0.05) que en pacientes con linfoma (1.21 ñ 0.5), leucemia aguda (1.22 ñ 0.7) o leucemia crónica (1.28 ñ 0.4). Veintitrés pacientes falleciron durante el seguimiento (media de 13 meses) observándose que sus niveles séricos de zinc fueron significativamente más bajos (68 ñ 28) que en los pacientes que sobrevivieron (76 ñ 15, p< 0.05). Conclusión. La relación sobre/zinc se encuentra significativamente elevada en pacientes con neoplasias malignas hematológicas

Comparative analysis of the phagocytic power and immunoglobulin status in hemopoietic malignancies and solid tumors

This study was carried out to evaluate the phagocytic activity of neutrophils and immunoglobulins among patients with ALL, lymphomas and some solid tumors. This study involved 107 patients who presented to National Cancer Institute [ALL, NHL, solid tumors and normal controls]. All patient groups showed a statistically significant decrease of phagocytic power of neutrophils in comparison to control group, pre and post-treatment. Also, solid tumors showed significantly lower post-treatment than pre-treatment levels. The NBT test showed lower levels in remission as compared to pre- treatment ones in all groups except in ALL, where it showed higher levels in remission. In ALL, there was a significant decrease in IgA level [pre and post treatment] than controls. There was a significant increase of IgM levels in patients with HD in remission than pre- treatment levels. In solid tumors, pre-treatment Ig status showed significant increase in IgM level. Lymphoma group [HD and NHL] showed non- significant change in all Ig levels in pre and post-treatment states, except for IgM in HD. In ALL group, the pre-treatment and remission Ig levels were significantly lower than those of lymphomas and solid Tumors

Study of foetal antigen in haematological malignancy.

Forty patients with different varieties of leukaemia and lymphoma were studied before and after therapy. Red cells and lymphocytes from each patient were tested for foetal antigen by lectin-agglutination test. The antigen was detectable on red cells in all untreated cases, the highest titre being found in chronic myeloid leukaemia. The titre showed significant reduction after treatment in all cases. We conclude that foetal antigen on red cells is a useful diagnostic aid in haematological malignancy and is a good indicator of the outcome of therapy.

prognostic value of phosphohexose isomerase in childhood leukemia and lymphomas

Serum phosphohexose isomerase [P.H.I.] activity was measured in 12 children suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia [A.L.L.], 8 children having acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia [A.N.L.L.], 17 children suffering from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [N.H.L.] and 20 aparently healthy children of comparable age and sex as controls. Significantly increased activity of P.H.I. was observed in children with leukemias and lymphomas compared to controls. Children with A.N.L.L. had significantly higher P.H.I. activity than those with A.L.L. Follow up of the children during various stages of therapy showed significant decrease of P.H.I. after induction of remission. The levels were evidently elevated again several months before clinical and/or hematological relapses. It could be concluded that P.H.I. can be helpful adjuvant marker in childhood leukemias and lymphomas. Also, it can of therapy and to detect the early relapse

Serum immunoglobulins in leukaemia and malignant lymphoma.

The serum immunoglobulin levels were studied in 25 healthy control subjects and 23 cases of leukaemia (6 cases of acute lymphatic leukaemia, 5 cases of acute myeloid leukaemia, 2 cases of chronic lymphatic leukaemia and 10 cases of chronic myeloid leukaemia) and 17 cases of malignant lymphoma (13 cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma and 4 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma). The mean levels of IgG, IgA and IgM in 25 control subjects were 1573.56 +/- 91.45 mg/dl, 209.64 +/- 12.55 mg/dl and 109.81 +/- 10.03 mg/dl respectively, those in 23 cases of leukaemia were 1338.23 +/- 109.74 mg/dl, 195.53 +/- 20.72 mg/dl and 127.47 +/- 13.29 mg/dl respectively and those in 17 cases of malignant lymphoma were 996.99 +/- 99.50 mg/dl, 147.47 +/- 19.61 mg/dl and 129.35 +/- 19.95 mg/dl respectively. The mean levels of IgG and IgA were found to be decreased in cases of leukaemia with elevated levels of IgM, however, it was found to be insignificant (p less than 0.4). The mean IgG, IgA and IgM levels were found to be almost identical in different leukaemia irrespective of cytological types except in 2 cases of chronic lymphatic leukaemia which showed low levels of IgG and IgA. The mean levels of IgG and IgA were found to be significantly decreased in malignant lymphoma (p less than 0.02). IgM levels were found to be increased in 3 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Serum haptoglobin level in patients with malignant lymphoma and its clinical significance.

Serum haptoglobin level and its phenotypes were studied in 208 normal people and 176 malignant lymphoma patients consisting of 112 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) and 64 Hodgkin's Disease (HD) at Tata Memorial Hospital, Bombay and were correlated with the clinical stages of the lymphomas. Haptoglobin (Hp) levels were also estimated in the patients at different intervals during their chemotherapy. Hp level was found significantly increased to 147.83 +/- 8.67 in NHL and 173.57 +/- 13.31 in HD as compared to 67.46 +/- 2.53 in the controls. The phenotypic and gene frequencies in the lymphoma patients did not differ significantly from those of the controls. All the clinical stages, except stage I, of NHL and HD revealed significant rise in Hp level when compared with the controls. When different clinical stages of NHL and HD were compared separately, HD showed significant rise in HP level over the NHL only in Stage IV (p less than 0.05). Significant reduction in Hp level was observed when the disease regressed due to chemotherapy but it again increased with the relapse of the disease. Thus, the study of serum haptoglobin levels at intervals in lymphoma patients would help to understand the regression or relapse of the disease and also the prognosis.