ABSTRACT
The prognostic significance of the ETV6/RUNX1-fusion and of the accompanying aberrations is disputable; whether co-existing sub-clones are responsible for delayed MRD-clearance and thus, moderate outcome, remains to be clarified. We studied, in a paediatric cohort of 119 B-ALLs, the relation between the ETV6/RUNX1 aberration and the co-existing subclones with (a) presenting clinical/biological features, (b) early response to treatment(MRD) and (c) long-term outcome over a 12-year period. Patients were homogeneously treated according to BFM-based-protocols. 27/119 patients (22.7%) were ETV6/RUNX1-positive; 19/27 (70.4%) harbored additional genetic abnormalities while 9/19 (33.3%) presented with clonal heterogeneity. The most common abnormalities were del12p13 (37%), 3-6×21q22 (22.2%), del9p21 (18.5%) and 2-3xETV6/RUNX1 (18.5%). MRDd15-positivity (≥10-3) was detected in 44% of the cohort; the corresponding MRD among patients carrying subclones rises to 88.9%. Common features of all relapses were sub-clonal diversity, FCM-MRDd15-positivity and additional del(9p21) while there were no censored relapses among ETV6/RUNX1-positive patients with sole translocation and absence of additional aberrations, within a median follow-up time of 90 months. In our study, the presence of clonal heterogeneity and impaired FCM-MRD clearance among ETV6/RUNX1-positive patients, ultimately influenced prognosis. Longer follow-up is needed in order to further validate these initial results.
Subject(s)
Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit/genetics , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets/genetics , Repressor Proteins/genetics , Acute Disease , Child, Preschool , Clonal Evolution , Cohort Studies , Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit/metabolism , Female , Humans , Male , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/metabolism , Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/pathology , Prognosis , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets/metabolism , Repressor Proteins/metabolism , Retrospective Studies , ETS Translocation Variant 6 ProteinSubject(s)
Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins/genetics , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13/genetics , Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/diagnosis , Chromosome Deletion , Clonal Evolution , Fatal Outcome , Female , Gene Deletion , Humans , Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics , Male , Middle Aged , SiblingsABSTRACT
Integration of surface plasmon structures using semiconductor materials is limited due to the difficulties encountered in maintaining the resonance conditions upon packaging. We propose here a technology process allowing us to bond two semiconductors, such as gallium nitride (GaN) and gallium arsenide (GaAs), through a thin metal layer. This solution allows the excitation of a surface plasmon wave in an integrated classical Kretschmann configuration. The Letter presents various metal bonding conditions employed for Au deposited on both GaN/sapphire and GaAs substrates aiming at semiconductor-metal-semiconductor interfaces transparent at telecom wavelengths. The process conditions for the bondings are optimized using Ti/Au (3 nm/30 nm) layers on each of the wafers to be bonded under an applied pressure of 500 mbar at a low temperature of 250°C.
ABSTRACT
We report a simple method for the micro-nano integration of flexible, vertically aligned multiwalled CNT arrays sandwiched between a top and bottom carbon layer via a porous alumina (Al(2)O(3)) template approach. The electromechanical properties of the flexible CNT arrays have been investigated under mechanical stress conditions. First experiments show highly sensitive piezoresistive sensors with a resistance decrease of up to â¼35% and a spatial resolution of <1 mm. The results indicate that these CNT structures can be utilized for tactile sensing components. They also confirm the feasibility of accessing and utilizing nanoscopic CNT bundles via lithographic processing. The method involves room-temperature processing steps and standard microfabrication techniques.