Novel prognostic predictor of haemoglobin-platelet index in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified: Anaemia and thrombocytopenia are associated with IL-6 production in lymphoma cells.

We previously reported that a novel haemoglobin-platelet index (HPI) based on anaemia and thrombocytopenia was useful to predict the prognosis of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (DLBCL NOS). Here, we analyse the utility of HPI in a new validation cohort with DLBCL NOS (n  = 94). As a result, we confirm that HPI was effective for differentiating progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival in this validation cohort. So, we further compare the utility of HPI with previously reported prognostic markers such as the National Comprehensive Center Network-International Prognostic Index (NCCN-IPI), Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), and platelet-albumin (PA) score, using a larger number of 160 patients consisting of the derivation cohort (n  = 66) and a validation cohort (n  = 94). As a result, the patients with a higher HPI score had significantly worse outcomes, and HPI predicted the prognosis of DLBCL NOS independently of NCCN-IPI. HPI was more sensitive than GPS and almost the same as PA score in predicting PFS. Moreover, the patients whose lymphoma cells were positive for interleukin-6 (IL-6) (75/111 cases) judged by immunohistochemical staining had significantly lower haemoglobin levels and platelet counts than IL-6-negative cases (36/111 cases), suggesting the involvement of IL-6 produced by lymphoma cells in anaemia and thrombocytopenia in DLBCL NOS patients.

Association between the confluent form of pancreatic and bile duct and histopathological findings in pancreaticobiliary maljunction: A case series study.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) is a congenital anomaly wherein the persistent reflux of the pancreatic juice into the biliary tract induces biliary tract cancer. The prediction criteria for gallbladder carcinogenesis have been reported previously through results obtained from examining carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic cases with the parameters that classified each confluent form in PBM. This study aimed to validate these previous study results and provide new recommendations for gallbladder carcinogenesis prevention. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with PBM underwent hepaticojejunostomy. The prediction criteria for gallbladder carcinogenesis consist of three elements. The confluent forms that satisfied none or one of the three criteria were defined as a low score group, and those that satisfied two or three were defined as the high score group. Immunohistology and pathological search were performed on the gallbladders' sections in both groups to evaluate chronic inflammation. RESULTS: The cases with dysplasia, positive Ki67 labeling index, and gallbladder cancer were more common in the high score group and tended to have more lymphocyte infiltration. These findings indicate that the degree of inflammation and cell proliferation might be more severe in the high score group than in the low score group. CONCLUSIONS: There is a close relationship between the confluent form and the histopathological findings of the gallbladder in patients with PBM. The confluent forms observed in the high score group might have an additional correlation with increased proliferation activity and subsequent malignant transformation of the gallbladder epithelium.

Patient-based prediction algorithm of relapse after allo-HSCT for acute Leukemia and its usefulness in the decision-making process using a machine learning approach.

Although allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a curative therapy for high-risk acute leukemia (AL), some patients still relapse. Since patients simultaneously have many prognostic factors, difficulties are associated with the construction of a patient-based prediction algorithm of relapse. The alternating decision tree (ADTree) is a successful classification method that combines decision trees with the predictive accuracy of boosting. It is a component of machine learning (ML) and has the capacity to simultaneously analyze multiple factors. Using ADTree, we attempted to construct a prediction model of leukemia relapse within 1 year of transplantation. With the model of training data (n = 148), prediction accuracy, the AUC of ROC, and the κ-statistic value were 78.4%, 0.746, and 0.508, respectively. The false positive rate (FPR) of the relapse prediction was as low as 0.134. In an evaluation of the model with validation data (n = 69), prediction accuracy, AUC, and FPR of the relapse prediction were similar at 71.0%, 0.667, and 0.216, respectively. These results suggest that the model is generalized and highly accurate. Furthermore, the output of ADTree may visualize the branch point of treatment. For example, the selection of donor types resulted in different relapse predictions. Therefore, clinicians may change treatment options by referring to the model, thereby improving outcomes. The present results indicate that ML, such as ADTree, will contribute to the decision-making process in the diversified allo-HSCT field and be useful for preventing the relapse of leukemia.

Novel prognostic index based on hemoglobin level and platelet count for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified in the R-CHOP era.

The international prognostic index (IPI) is a broadly utilized clinical tool to aid in predicting the prognosis of patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). However, since this score was developed before the development of rituximab, and the introduction of combined rituximab plus CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) (R-CHOP) therapy for NHL has dramatically improved clinical outcomes, the IPI may be inadequate to assess prognosis in the R-CHOP era. In the present study, we assessed the utility of hemoglobin (Hb) level and platelet count to predict prognosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (DLBCL, NOS), the largest category of aggressive NHL. A total of 89 patients newly diagnosed with nodal DLBCL, NOS and treated with R-CHOP therapy were included. The blood count results at diagnosis were statistically analyzed. Available biopsy specimens were immunostained for interleukin (IL)-6. Hb levels lower than 120 g/L (p = 0.0133) and platelet counts lower than 135 × 109/L (p = 0.0233) were associated with worse overall survival (OS). Based on those levels as cutoff values, a hemoglobin-platelet (HP) index was calculated by assigning 1 point for an Hb level or a platelet count lower than the cutoff. The patients were divided into three groups based on the HP index: high, with a score of 2 (n = 8); intermediate, with a score of 1 (n = 39); and low, with a score of 0 (n = 42). A higher HP index was associated with worse OS (p = 0.0055). Patients with IL-6-positive tumors had significantly lower Hb levels than those with IL-6-negative tumors (p = 0.0264), suggesting that abnormal production of IL-6 by lymphoma cells is associated with anemia. On the other hand, there was no association between the platelet counts and the IL-6 expression in the lymphoma cells. In a multivariate analysis, the HP index predicted OS rate independently of the IPI. Since the HP index is based on inexpensive and broadly available laboratory values, we believe that this index will have great utility in clinical practice, and the addition of this index to IPI could more precisely predict prognosis.

Tumor necrosis factor- and interleukin-6-producing high-grade B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified in the pleura.

A 65-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with left-sided chest and back pain and dyspnea. Computed tomography demonstrated a marked circumferential left pleural thickening. A thoracoscopic pleural biopsy led to a diagnosis of high-grade B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (HGBL, NOS). Lymphoma cells were positive for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6. This is the first case report of TNF- and IL-6-producing aggressive HGBL, NOS in the pleura, in which radiological findings mimicked pleural mesothelioma. The aggressive tumor progression in the present case may have been caused by abnormal cytokine production from lymphoma cells.

Refinement of the Glasgow Prognostic Score as a pre-transplant risk assessment for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

The Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-specific Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI) is a widely used tool for pre-transplant risk assessment. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is performed on patients with diverse backgrounds, highlighting the need for other predictors to complement the HCT-CI and support bedside decision-making. There is a strong body of evidence supporting the use of pre-transplant serum ferritin (SF) in risk assessments of allogeneic HCT. We additionally found that the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), which assesses inflammatory biomarkers and predicts survival of patients with solid organ malignancies, is a useful predictive marker for overall survival (OS) and non-relapse mortality (NRM) in allogeneic HCT, independent of HCT-CI and SF. In this study, we refined the GPS by adding pre-transplant SF to improve its prognostic ability and enable better stratification; we call this revised index the HCT-specific revised Glasgow Prognostic Score (HCT-GPS). We observed that the HCT-GPS more accurately predicted NRM and early-term OS than the GPS. Moreover, the HCT-GPS provides an independent prognostic factor adjusted for the HCT-CI and disease status, and stratifies patients into four risk groups by OS and NRM. Thus, the HCT-GPS is a useful index for predicting early-term complications after allogeneic HCT in patients with hematopoietic diseases.

The Glasgow Prognostic Score as a pre-transplant risk assessment for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Evaluation methods, such as scoring systems for predicting complications in advance, are necessary for determining the adaptation of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and selecting appropriate conditioning regimens. The Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-specific Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI), which is based on functions of main organs, is a useful tool for pre-transplant risk assessments and has been widely applied in determining treatment strategies for patients with hematological diseases. However, as allogeneic HCT is performed on patients with diverse backgrounds, another factor, which reinforces the HCT-CI, is required to evaluate pre-transplant risk assessments. The Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), which assesses the combined C-reactive protein and albumin, was reported to predict survival of patients with solid-organ malignancies independently of receiving chemo/radiotherapy and stages of cancer. In this study, we applied the GPS for pre-transplant risk assessments for allogeneic HCT. The GPS successfully stratified the patients into three risk groups of overall survival (OS) and non-relapse mortality (NRM). Moreover, the GPS could predict outcomes independently of the HCT-CI for OS and NRM in multivariate analysis. The GPS is considered to be a useful tool and reinforces the HCT-CI for determining adaptation of allogeneic HCT for patients with hematopoietic neoplasms.

Cystic lesions of the parotid gland: radiologic-pathologic correlation according to the latest World Health Organization 2017 Classification of Head and Neck Tumours.

The latest World Health Organization 2017 Classification of Head and Neck Tumours includes a new chapter on tumors and tumor-like lesions of the neck and lymph nodes. Tumor-like lesions include a variety of cystic lesions of the parotid gland. Cystic lesions of the parotid gland can be divided into three groups: non-neoplastic cysts, benign tumors with macrocystic change, and malignant tumors with macrocystic change. It is important to distinguish these lesions from one another because treatment and patient management differ among the three groups. The purpose of this review is to describe the magnetic resonance imaging and scintigraphy findings and the histopathologic characteristics of each parotid gland lesion based on the latest World Health Organization 2017 Classification of Head and Neck Tumours and to summarize the key points of differential diagnosis for cystic lesions of the parotid gland.

The Addition of Low-dose Thalidomide to Bortezomib and Dexamethasone for Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

Five cases were treated by adding daily low-dose thalidomide (50 mg) to bortezomib and dexamethasone therapy for refractory multiple myeloma. This therapy was effective in four cases, with an improvement of bone pain and regression of M-protein. One case was treated with cyclophosphamide, thalidomide, and dexamethasone, adding bortezomib after starting the three-drug combination therapy. This patient has remained in a stable disease state since the beginning of this therapy. Regarding the other four cases, a partial response and a prolonged survival for approximately one year were noted. Peripheral neuropathy did not increase after thalidomide addition. Adding low-dose thalidomide may safely improve the responses for multiple myeloma refractory to bortezomib and dexamethasone.

[Multiple organ failure presumably due to alkylating agents used as preconditioning drugs for autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in an acute promyelocytic leukemia].

A 52-year-old male was diagnosed as having acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in 2006. He received induction chemotherapy including all-trans retinoic acid and initially achieved a complete remission (CR). After several courses of consolidation therapy combining anthracyclines and cytarabine, he maintained CR. In 2009, an APL relapse was diagnosed, and he was treated with arsenic trioxide. Since he achieved a second CR, he underwent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT) with a conditioning regimen consisting of busulfan and melphalan. At four months after auto-PBSCT, he developed a pneumothorax and acute respiratory failure. He died despite intensive therapy. Autopsy findings included various atypical and apoptotic cells in his pulmonary tissue. These changes were confirmed in multiple organs throughout the body, suggesting them to be drug-induced. The findings in this case suggested multiple organ failure due to alkylating agents.

Enhancement of the antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte-inducing ability in the PMDC11 leukemic plasmacytoid dendritic cell line via lentiviral vector-mediated transduction of the caTLR4 gene.

The aim of the present study was to enhance the efficiency of leukemia immunotherapy by increasing the antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte-inducing ability of leukemia cells. The leukemic plasmacytoid dendritic cell line PMDC05 containing the HLA-A02/24 antigen, which was previously established in our laboratory (Laboratory of Hematology and Oncology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan), was used in the present study. It exhibited higher expression levels of CD80 following transduction with lentiviruses encoding the CD80 gene. This CD80-expressing PMDC05 was named PMDC11. In order to establish a more potent antigen-presenting cell for cellular immunotherapy of tumors or severe infections, PMDC11 cells were transduced with a constitutively active (ca) toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene using the Tet-On system (caTLR4-PMDC11). CD8(+) T cells from healthy donors with HLA-A02 were co-cultured with mutant WT1 peptide-pulsed PMDC11, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated PMDC11 or caTLR4-PMDC11 cells. Interleukin (IL)-2 (50 IU/ml) and IL-7 (10 ng/ml) were added on day three of culture. Priming with mutant WT1 peptide-pulsed PMDC11, LPS-stimulated PMDC11 or caTLR4-PMDC11 cells was conducted once per week and two thirds of the IL-2/IL-7 containing medium was replenished every 3-4 days. Immediately prior to the priming with these various PMDC11 cells, the cultured cells were analyzed for the secretion of interferon (IFN)-γ in addition to the percentage and number of CD8(+)/WT1 tetramer(+) T cells using flow cytometry. caTLR4-PMDC11 cells were observed to possess greater antigen-presenting abilities compared with those of PMDC11 or LPS-stimulated PMDC11 cells in a mixed leukocyte culture. CD8 T cells positive for the WT1 tetramer were generated following 3-4 weeks of culture and CD8(+)/WT1 tetramer+ T cells were markedly increased in caTLR4-PMDC11-primed CD8(+) T cell culture compared with PMDC11 or LPS-stimulated PMDC11-primed CD8(+) T cell culture. These CD8(+) T cells co-cultured with caTLR4-PMDC11 cells were demonstrated to secrete IFN-γ and to be cytotoxic to WT1-expressing target cells. These data suggested that the antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-inducing ability of PMDC11 was potentiated via transduction of the caTLR4 gene. The present study also suggested that caTLR4-PMDC11 cells may be applied as potent antigen-presenting cells for generating antigen-specific CTLs in adoptive cellular immunotherapy against tumors and severe viral infections.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging findings in a patient with struma ovarii.

In this report, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of struma ovarii (SO) in a patient who underwent diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the pelvis and subsequent histological analysis is described. The solid portion of SO showed a high apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, indicating unrestricted diffusion, and each loculus of SO showed different ADC values due to the different viscosity of the cyst contents in each loculus. These unique and characteristic DWI findings may serve as a helpful sign in making the correct diagnosis of SO when DWI findings are interpreted in conjunction with conventional MRI findings.

Activation of the leukemia plasmacytoid dendritic cell line PMDC05 by Toho-1, a novel IDO inhibitor.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a rate-limiting enzyme for tryptophan metabolism and plays an immunosuppressive role. Antigen-presenting cells, when activated, increase the expression of IDO, which results in the suppression of subsequent immune reaction. A novel IDO inhibitor, Toho-1, was explored for its applicability to immunotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the effects of Toho-1 on antigen presentation and antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-inducing ability of leukemia plasmacytoid dendritic cell line PMDC05, which was established in our laboratory. RESULTS: While antigen presentation-associated molecules in PMDC05 cells were increased by stimulation with lipopolysaccharide and interferon-γ, IDO mRNA and protein expression were also enhanced. Such treatment of PMDC05 cells in combination with Toho-1 enhanced the antigen-presenting and CTL-inducing ability of PMDC05 cells. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the ability of Toho-1 to potentiate antigen-presenting cells and its applicability in immunotherapy of cancer.

Epithelioid myoepithelioma of the accessory parotid gland: pathological and magnetic resonance imaging findings.

Tumors of the accessory parotid gland (APG) are rare, and pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common benign APG tumor subtype. Myoepithelioma of the APG is much rarer than PA, and to date, only 5 cases have been sporadically reported in the English literature. We describe the clinicopathological and MRI findings of an epithelioid myoepithelioma of the APG that was treated in our hospital. The patient's only clinical symptom was a slow-growing and painless mid-cheek mass. The tumor was suspected to be PA before surgery based on the following MRI findings: (1) a well-circumscribed and lobulated contour, (2) isointensity and hyperintensity relative to the muscle on T1- and T2-weighted images (WIs), respectively, (3) good enhancement on contrast-enhanced T1-WIs, (4) peripheral hypointensity on T2-WIs, and (5) a gradual time-signal intensity curve enhancement pattern on gadolinium-enhanced dynamic MRI. The tumor was completely resected via a standard parotidectomy approach, and the postoperative pathological examination of the tumor, including immunohistochemistry, confirmed the diagnosis of epithelioid myoepithelioma. As it is hardly possible to distinguish myoepithelioma from PA and low-grade malignant tumors preoperatively, a pathological examination using frozen sections is helpful for surgical strategy-related decisions.

Increased apoptotic neuronal cell death and cognitive impairment at early phase after traumatic brain injury in aged rats.

Progressive age-associated increases in cerebral dysfunction have been shown to occur following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Moreover, levels of neuronal mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes in the aged brain are reduced, resulting in free radical-induced cell death. It was hypothesized that cognitive impairment after TBI in the aged progresses to a greater degree than in younger individuals, and that damage involves neuronal degeneration and death by free radicals. In this study, we investigated the effects of free radicals on neuronal degeneration, cell death, and cognitive impairment in 10-week-old (young group) and 24-month-old rats (aged group) subjected to TBI. Young and aged rats received TBI with a pneumatic controlled injury device. At 1, 3 and 7 days after TBI, immunohistochemistry, lipid peroxidation and behavioral studies were performed. At 1, 3 and 7 days post-TBI, the number of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine-, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal- and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-positive cells, and the levels of malondialdehyde around the damaged area after TBI significantly increased in the aged group when compared with the young group (P < 0.05). In addition, the majority of ssDNA-positive cells in both groups co-localized with neuronal cells around the damaged area. There was a significant decrease in the number of surviving neurons and an increase in cognitive impairment after TBI in the aged group when compared with the young group (P < 0.05). These results indicate that following TBI, high levels of free radicals are produced in the aged rat brain, which induces neuronal degeneration and apoptotic cell death around the damaged area, resulting in cognitive impairment.

Neuroprotective effect of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate in rats when administered pre- or post-traumatic brain injury.

Our previous study indicated that consuming (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) before or after traumatic brain injury (TBI) eliminated free radical generation in rats, resulting in inhibition of neuronal degeneration and apoptotic death, and improvement of cognitive impairment. Here we investigated the effects of administering EGCG at various times pre- and post-TBI on cerebral function and morphology. Wistar rats were divided into five groups and were allowed access to (1) normal drinking water, (2) EGCG pre-TBI, (3) EGCG pre- and post-TBI, (4) EGCG post-TBI, and (5) sham-operated group with access to normal drinking water. TBI was induced with a pneumatic controlled injury device at 10 weeks of age. Immunohistochemistry and lipid peroxidation studies revealed that at 1, 3, and 7 days post-TBI, the number of 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine-, 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal- and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-positive cells, and levels of malondialdehyde around the damaged area were significantly decreased in all EGCG treatment groups compared with the water group (P < 0.05). Although there was a significant increase in the number of surviving neurons after TBI in each EGCG treatment group compared with the water group (P < 0.05), significant improvement of cognitive impairment after TBI was only observed in the groups with continuous and post-TBI access to EGCG (P < 0.05). These results indicate that EGCG inhibits free radical-induced neuronal degeneration and apoptotic death around the area damaged by TBI. Importantly, continuous and post-TBI access to EGCG improved cerebral function following TBI. In summary, consumption of green tea may be an effective therapy for TBI patients.

Appearance of neural stem cells around the damaged area following traumatic brain injury in aged rats.

We have previously reported free radical production after traumatic brain injury (TBI), which induces neural stem cell (NSC) degeneration and death. However, the effects of aging on NSC proliferation around the damaged area following TBI have not been investigated. Therefore, in this study, we used 10-week (young group) and 24-month-old (aged group) rat TBI models to investigate the effects of aging on NSC proliferation around damaged tissue using immunohistochemical and ex vivo techniques. Young and aged rats received TBI. At 1, 3 and 7 days after TBI, immunohistochemical and lipid peroxidation studies were performed. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the number of nestin-positive cells around the damaged area after TBI in the aged group decreased significantly when compared with those in the young group (P < 0.01). However, the number of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine-, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal- and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-positive cells and the level of peroxidation around the damaged area after TBI significantly increased in the aged group, compared with those in the young group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, almost all ssDNA-positive cells in young and aged groups co-localized with NeuN and nestin staining. Ex vivo studies revealed that neurospheres, which differentiated into neurons and glia in culture, could only be isolated from injured brain tissue in young and aged groups at 3 days after TBI. These results indicate that, although there were fewer NSCs that have the potential to differentiate into neurons and glia, these NSCs escaped free radical-induced degeneration around the damaged area after TBI in the aged rat brain.

Enhancement of antigen presenting ability in the leukemic plasmacytoid dendritic cell line (PMDC05) by lentiviral vector-mediated transduction of CD80 gene.

PMDC05, a leukemic plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) line which was established in our laboratory, showed a capacity of generating antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). In order to enhance an antigen presenting ability of PMDC05, PMDC05 was transduced with CD80 gene by lentiviral vector, which was named as PMDC11. PMDC11 displayed a strong antigen presenting ability even without any stimulation, and by culturing with stimulators such as calcium ionophore PMDC11 gained a more potent antigen presenting ability. Our data suggested PMDC11 could be applied as antigen presenting cells more efficiently in adoptive cellular immunotherapy for tumors and severe infections in comparison with PMDC05.