Delineation of Molecular Lesions in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients at Diagnosis: Integrated Next Generation Sequencing and Cytogenomic Studies.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by a wide range of genetic defects. Cytogenetics, molecular and genomic technologies have proved to be helpful for deciphering the mutational landscape of AML and impacted clinical practice. Forty-eight new AML patients were investigated with an integrated approach, including classical and molecular cytogenetics, array-based comparative genomic hybridization and targeted next generation sequencing (NGS). Various genetic defects were identified in all the patients using our strategy. Targeted NGS revealed known pathogenic mutations as well as rare or unreported variants with deleterious predictions. The mutational screening of the normal karyotype (NK) group identified clinically relevant variants in 86.2% of the patients; in the abnormal cytogenetics group, the mutation detection rate was 87.5%. Overall, the highest mutation prevalence was observed for the NPM1 gene, followed by DNMT3A, FLT3 and NRAS. An unexpected co-occurrence of KMT2A translocation and DNMT3A-R882 was identified; alterations of these genes, which are involved in epigenetic regulation, are considered to be mutually exclusive. A microarray analysis detected CNVs in 25% of the NK AML patients. In patients with complex karyotypes, the microarray analysis made a significant contribution toward the accurate characterization of chromosomal defects. In summary, our results show that the integration of multiple investigative strategies increases the detection yield of genetic defects with potential clinical relevance.

Platelet Defects in Acute Myeloid Leukemia-Potential for Hemorrhagic Events.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), extensive bleeding is one of the most frequent causes of death. Impaired activation and aggregation processes were identified in previous studies on platelet behaviour associated with this disease. This study's aim was to examine platelet function in correlation with other haemorrhage risk factors (fever, sepsis, recent bleeding, uraemia, leucocytosis, haematocrit value, treatment). DESIGN AND METHODS: The analysis of platelet surface proteins (Glycoprotein Ib-IX (CD42b, CD42a), Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (CD41, CD61), p-selectin (CD62P), granulophysin (CD63)) was conducted by flowcytometry from samples of whole blood in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia in different stages of diagnosis and therapy (n = 22) in comparison with healthy human controls (n = 10). RESULTS AND INTERPRETATIONS: Our results show a significant decrease in fluorescence level associated with platelet activation markers (CD63 (14.11% vs. 40.78 % p < 0.05); CD62P (15.26% vs. 28.23% p < 0.05)); adhesion markers (CD42b (69.08% vs. 84.41% p < 0.05)) and aggregation markers (CD61 (83.79% vs. 98.62% p < 0.001)) in patients compared to controls. The levels of CD41 (80.62% vs. 86.31%, p = 0.290) and CD42a (77.98% vs. 94.15%, p = 0.99) demonstrate no significant differences in the two groups. CONCLUSION: The AML patients present changes in adhesion receptors and activation markers, suggesting a functional defect or denatured intracellular signalling in platelets. The exposed data indicate that flow cytometry can effectively identify multiple functional platelet impairments in AML pathogenesis.

POEMS syndrome complicated with multiple ischemic vascular events: case report and review of literature.

POEMS syndrome (acronym consisting of: polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, and skin changes) is an uncommon disorder associated with an underlying plasma cell dyscrasia. There is no single specific test for POEMS, and due to its rarity and heterogeneity, patients are often mis- or underdiagnosed. Castleman disease (CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder, closely related to POEMS syndrome; ~11%-30% of POEMS patients are associated with concomitant CD. In contrast to frequently published reports on vascular events in POEMS syndrome affecting coronary arteries or lower limbs, cases of cerebrovascular events are rarely mentioned in literature. We hereby report a patient with POEMS syndrome accompanied by CD who presented recurrent strokes and splenic infarction.

A Challenging Case of Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease Associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Review of the Literature.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is a rare disease that is frequently underdiagnosed due to clinical features that are similar to those of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or infectious reactive lymphadenopathy. An excisional biopsy is required. We report a young Caucasian female diagnosed with KFD with skin lesions, complicating with SLE. The clinical course, laboratory, and CT findings are described, as are histopathologic features, for a better recognition of this rare disorder in clinical practice.

Double transformation of a hematopoietic malignancy and severe associated thrombopathy. Case presentation and review of the literature.

We present the case of a patient with a double transformation during the evolution of chronic hematopoietic malignancy - JAK2 positive chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm; the first transformation had occurred previous to the presentation in our Department, but the second transformation was observed in evolution and it was into a rapidly evolving disease, followed by survival of less than one month. We underline the very poor prognosis -- overall survival of 2.5 years from initial presentation -- a much reduced survival for a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm, probably due also to multiple associated pathology. Also, the other interesting element of the case is related to the dysfunctional platelets -- hemorrhagic complication at increased platelet count, respectively thrombosis at platelet count under 20000/mmc.

Chronic myeloid leukemia therapy in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors--the first molecular targeted treatment.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia is the first malignant disorder with a specific genetic abnormality in the background. Known as a disease with an inexorable progression to acute leukemia for many years, its natural history has been dramatically improved by the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). They represent the first molecular targeted therapy addressed to a neoplastic disorder. From these new classes of drugs, Imatinib was the first drug ever used, and it remains the standard therapy for patients in chronic phase with CML, having a global survival of 86%, for 7 years. The 2nd generation of TKI (Dasatinib, Nilotinib) is indicated for the patients who are refractory or intolerant to Imatinib. The other TKI have good promises to be efficient on the mutations of BCR-ABL transcript, especially to non-responsive T315I mutation.

Splenectomy--a therapeutic option in splenic marginal zone cell lymphoma.

We present the case of a 65 years old male, admitted in the Hematology Department of the Universitary Emergency Hospital Bucharest, complaining of physical asthenia and weight loss; periodical medical examination has revealed splenomegaly and leucocytosis with lymphocytosis, persistent for the past 3 years. The clinical and paraclinical exam demonstrated splenomegaly (21 cm in diameter on computer tomography scan), hepatomegaly and generalized lymphadenopathies. The laboratory tests confirmed leucocytosis with lymphocytosis--a clonal population of B lymphocytes CD20+ CD19+ CD23+/- CD79b+(low), CD43+ FMC7+ CD5+ CD38+ ZAP70+ cyclin D1-. Lymph node and bone marrow biopsy together with flowcytometry established the diagnosis of Malignant non-Hodgkin Lymphoma--Atypical Splenic Marginal Zone B-cell lymphoma (aberrant expression of CD5) stage IVB, with leukemic picture, complicated with autoimmune hemolytic anemia with highly positive Coombs' tests. We performed therapeutic splenectomy, which was difficult because of the dimensions of the organ. The short term evolution was complicated by acute complete thrombosis of the splenic vein, but the long term evolution (1 year follow-up) was favorable--remission of anemia, significant improvement of performance status, decrease of leucocytosis and reduction of the tumoral mass.

Myeloma cells with asurophilic granules--an unusual morphological variant--case presentation.

We present the case of an 80-year-old man who was admitted for anemia, back pain and progressive weakness. After a workup of clinical and laboratory data, the final diagnosis was multiple myeloma. The bone marrow aspirate revealed 53% myeloma cells with peculiar and rare morphological features: numerous large asurophilic--bright red granules--mucopolizaccharides and immunoglobulins secreted and accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum, typically known as Russel bodies.