p38αMAPK interacts with and inhibits RARα: suppression of the kinase enhances the therapeutic activity of retinoids in acute myeloid leukemia cells.

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is the only clinically useful differentiating agent, being used in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The use of ATRA in other types of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) calls for the identification of novel strategies aimed at increasing its therapeutic activity. Here, we provide evidence that pharmacological inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase, p38α, or silencing of the corresponding gene sensitizes APL and AML cell lines, as well as primary cultures of AML blasts to the anti-proliferative and cyto-differentiating activity of ATRA and synthetic retinoids. P38α inhibits ligand-dependent transactivation of the nuclear retinoic acid receptor, RARα, and the derived chimeric protein expressed in the majority of APL cases, PML-RARα. Inhibition is the consequence of ligand-independent binding of p38α, which results in stabilization of RARα and PML-RARα via blockade of their constitutive degradation by the proteasome. The inhibitory effect requires a catalytically active p38α and direct physical interaction with RARα and PML-RARα. Ser-369 in the E-region of RARα is essential for the binding of p38α and the ensuing functional effects on the activity of the receptor.

Human platelet lysate allows expansion and clinical grade production of mesenchymal stromal cells from small samples of bone marrow aspirates or marrow filter washouts.

We compared two protocols for the expansion of human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) starting from diagnostic samples of BM aspirates (2-5 ml) or using the remnants in the bag and filter at the end of the BM infusions. The protocols differed in the presence of either 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) or 5% platelet lysate (PL). We obtained a significantly (P=0.02) better expansion with PL, obtaining a median 1010-fold compared to 198-fold with a selected batch of FBS and in fewer days (29.8 in PL versus 41.4 in FBS). Overall, we recovered a variable number from 54.8 x 10(6) to 365 x 10(6) hMSCs in PL versus a variable number from 2.7 x 10(6) to 31 x 10(6) in FBS. No difference could be found in terms of gross morphology, differentiation potential, surface markers and immunological properties (inhibition of allogeneic PHA response and mixed lymphocyte reaction) of cells expanded with PL or FBS. The preparations were found within the range of acceptability for all the quality control criteria. Due to the clinical grade nature of the PL and the reproducibility of separate preparations, we propose this method to obtain hMSCs even from minute amounts of BM cells.

Rapid and massive expansion of cord blood-derived cytokine-induced killer cells: an innovative proposal for the treatment of leukemia relapse after cord blood transplantation.

We have used a standardized 21-day expansion protocol to produce cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells starting from very small amounts of nucleated cells (approximately 15 x 10(6) cells) isolated from cord blood. Mononuclear cells are stimulated with anti CD3 (OKT3) and IFNgamma and then expanded with IL-2. Moreover, we show that washouts of cord blood units bags (at the end of the infusion) may be sufficient to yield almost 500 x 10(6) CIK by the same expansion protocol. CIK cells show strong cytotoxic activity against a variety of tumor target cell lines including B and T lymphomas and myeloid leukemias. More importantly, expanded cord blood-derived CIK cells are cytotoxic against fresh leukemic blasts and express perforin, granzyme and NKG2D molecule at high levels. The same in vitro protocol has already been used to expand CIK cells from peripheral blood of adult donors under GMP conditions and therefore these observations open up the possibility of imagining a future clinical application of leukemia relapse following cord blood transplantation with CIK cells obtained from the same cord blood unit.

Characterization of CD20-transduced T lymphocytes as an alternative suicide gene therapy approach for the treatment of graft-versus-host disease.

We have previously proposed the CD20 molecule as a novel suicide gene for T lymphocytes in the context of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, because CD20 can be used both as a selection marker and as a killer gene after exposure to the anti-CD20 therapeutic antibody rituximab. We now report on preclinical studies using this novel system, in which the best transduction protocol, reproducibility, yield, feasibility, and functionality of the transduced T lymphocytes have been investigated with a large donor series. Wild-type human CD20 cDNA was transduced into human T lymphocytes, using a Moloney-derived retroviral vector. Alternative protocols were tested by employing either one or four spinoculations (in which cells are centrifuged in the presence of retroviral vector supernatant) and stimulating T cells with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or anti-CD3/CD28. One spinoculation alone was sufficient to obtain approximately 30% CD20-positive cells within four experimental days. Four spinoculations significantly increased transduction to 60%. A small difference in transduction efficiency was observed between the two stimulation methods, with PHA being superior to anti-CD3/CD28. Transduced cells could be purified on immunoaffinity columns, with purity reaching 98% and yield being on average 50%. Finally, 86-97% of immunoselected T lymphocytes could be killed in vitro with rituximab and complement. More importantly, the CD20 transgene did not alter the functionality of T lymphocytes with respect to allogeneic recognition and cytotoxic response, anti-Epstein-Barr virus cytotoxic response, antigenic response to tetanus toxoid antigen, interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, and interferon gamma production; chemotaxis in the presence of stromal cell-derived factor 1, phenotype for several activation markers including HLA-DR, CD25, CD69, and CD95, and T cell repertoire.

CD20 levels determine the in vitro susceptibility to rituximab and complement of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: further regulation by CD55 and CD59.

Complement-dependent cytotoxicity is thought to be an important mechanism of action of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab. This study investigates the sensitivity of freshly isolated cells obtained from 33 patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), 5 patients with prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL), and 6 patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) to be lysed by rituximab and complement in vitro. The results showed that in B-CLL and PLL, the levels of CD20, measured by standard immunofluorescence or using calibrated beads, correlated linearly with the lytic response (coefficient greater than or equal to 0.9; P <.0001). Furthermore, the correlation remained highly significant when the 6 patients with MCL were included in the analysis (coefficient 0.91; P <.0001), which suggests that CD20 levels primarily determine lysis regardless of diagnostic group. The role of the complement inhibitors CD46, CD55, and CD59 was also investigated. All B-CLL and PLL cells expressed these molecules, but at different levels. CD46 was relatively weak on all samples (mean fluorescence intensity less than 100), whereas CD55 and CD59 showed variability of expression (mean fluorescence intensity 20-1200 and 20-250, respectively). Although CD55 and CD59 levels did not permit prediction of complement susceptibility, the functional block of these inhibitors demonstrated that they play an important role in regulating complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Thus, lysis of poorly responding B-CLL samples was increased 5- to 6-fold after blocking both CD55 and CD59, whereas that of high responders was essentially complete in the presence of a single blocking antibody. These data demonstrate that CD20, CD55, and CD59 are important factors determining the in vitro response to rituximab and complement and indicate potential strategies to improve the clinical response to this biologic therapy.

Risk-oriented postremission strategies in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: prospective confirmation of anthracycline activity in standard-risk class and role of hematopoietic stem cell transplants in high-risk groups.

INTRODUCTION: Although definite risk classes are well known, risk-adapted modulation of first-line therapy is seldom attempted in adult ALL. So, a prospective validation of the therapeutic efficacy of a protocol (or a component thereof) in specific risk groups is uncommon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1996-1999 a risk-oriented program (08/96) was evaluated in 102/121 unselected patients (median age 35 years, blast count 0-450 x 10(9)/l, 100 B(lin) (lineage), 21 T(lin)) responsive to induction therapy. The standard risk (SR) class was B(lin) CD10+ Ph- with blasts < 10 x 10(9)/l (prior studies: disease-free survival (DFS) rate 52% at five years with dose-intensive anthracycline-containing programs). The SR protocol was therefore anthracycline-rich (early consolidation cycles with total idarubicin 96 mg/m2), and comprised long-term maintenance. High-risk (HR) patients were eligible to the following three options: allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from related family donor; short sequence with high-dose cyclophosphamide-cytarabine-methotrexate followed by melphalan/total body irradiation with autologous HSCT; or T(lin) ALL chemotherapy regimen inclusive of high-dose cytarabine and methotrexate. RESULTS: Treatment realization and three-year DFS rates according to risk class, HR subset and postremission treatment intensity were the following. SR group (n = 28): realization rate 93%, DFS 68.5%. HR group (n = 74): realization rate 80%, DFS 39% (P = 0.052 vs SR category). In HR group, three-year DFS rates by disease subtype were the following. B(lin) Ph- (n = 35) 43%; Ph+ (n = 19) 13% at 2.7 years (P = 0.006 vs other HR subtypes); T(lin) (n = 18) 59.5%. And DFS rates by treatment intensity were: allograft (n = 21) 40%; autograft (n = 28) 27%; shift to SR protocol (n = 13) 52% (P = ns vs allograft/autograft); T(lin) program (n = 10) 57%. Matched analyses of treatment protocols and disease subtypes suggested a possible therapeutic role of the autograft regimen in B(lin) Ph- ALL with a blast count < 25 x 10(9)/l, and of T(lin) protocol for T(lin) ALL. Comparisons with retrospective control cohorts were confirmatory of anthracycline activity in SR subclass. CONCLUSION: The intended strategy was applicable to the majority of study patients, confirming the value of anthracyclines in SR class and, preliminarily, the usefulness a T(lin)-specific treatment. Apart from the case of Ph+ ALL, the indications for high-dose procedures with HSCT remains largely undetermined in this study.

Need for an accurate molecular diagnosis to assess the donor origin of leukemia relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Leukemia relapse occurring in donor cells after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been reported in rare cases. Cytogenetic analysis and molecular probing of variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) have been used to confirm this unusual event in the few cases so far reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that extensive molecular characterization of leukemic cells at diagnosis and relapse may be necessary to avoid many technical pitfalls possibly leading to an erroneous diagnosis of leukemia relapse in donor cells after allogeneic transplantation. DESIGN AND METHODS: We report the case of a 49- year old man who received an allogeneic transplantation from his HLA-identical sister because of BCR-ABL+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). After having achieved complete hematologic and molecular remission, two years later an overt leukemia relapse occurred with cytogenetic findings suggesting a leukemia relapse in donor cells. The donor or patient origin of leukemic cells at relapse was further investigated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) karyotyping, reverse transcription (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of BCR-ABL chimeric transcripts, PCR amplification of several VNTRs and the Y chromosome-specific DYS14 sequence and finally by amplification, cloning and sequencing of the CDRIII region of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene. RESULTS: At the time of relapse, conventional and FISH karyotyping revealed the presence of a Phl+ chromosome and a female karyotype in all the 25 metaphases analyzed and PCR amplification of the Y chromosome-specific DYS14 sequence was negative. Moreover, the molecular evaluation of hematopoietic chimerism performed by the NZ-22 VNTR allowed us to demonstrate that at the time of relapse, a consistent proportion of hematopoietic cells was of donor origin. However, the molecular cloning and sequencing of the CDRIII region of the immunoglobuin heavy chain (IgH) gene rearrangement in leukemic blasts at diagnosis and relapse demonstrated their identity thus formally proving the patient origin of both leukemic clones. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: While the simplest interpretation of the apparent female karyotype at relapse is the consequence of a loss of the Y chromosome which in leukemic blasts took place along with duplication of an X-chromosome, this case strongly emphasizes the need for accurate and extensive molecular characterization to prove the donor origin of a leukemia relapse after allogeneic transplantation.

Biologic response of B lymphoma cells to anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab in vitro: CD55 and CD59 regulate complement-mediated cell lysis.

The chimeric anti-CD20 MAb rituximab has recently become a treatment of choice for low-grade or follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (FL) with a response rate of about 50%. In this report, we have investigated the mechanism of action of rituximab on 4 FL and 1 Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cell lines, 3 fresh FL samples and normal B cells in vitro. Rituximab efficiently blocks the proliferation of normal B cells, but not that of the lymphoma lines. We did not detect significant apoptosis of the cell lines in response to rituximab alone. All cell lines were targets of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). On the other hand, human complement-mediated lysis was highly variable between cell lines, ranging from 100% lysis to complete resistance. Investigation of the role of the complement inhibitors CD35, CD46, CD55, and CD59 showed that CD55, and to a lesser extent CD59, are important regulators of complement-mediated cytotoxicity (CDC) in FL cell lines as well as in fresh cases of FL: Blocking CD55 and/or CD59 function with specific antibodies significantly increased CDC in FL cells. We conclude that CDC and ADCC are major mechanisms of action of rituximab on B-cell lymphomas and that a heterogeneous susceptibility of different lymphoma cells to complement may be at least in part responsible for the heterogeneity of the response of different patients to rituximab in vivo. Furthermore, we suggest that the relative levels of CD55 and CD59 may become useful markers to predict the clinical response. (Blood. 2000;95:3900-3908)

Genetic modification of human T cells with CD20: a strategy to purify and lyse transduced cells with anti-CD20 antibodies.

A retroviral vector has been constructed that contains the human CD20 cDNA under the control of the Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MuLV) LTR. Freshly isolated mononuclear cells are infected for three consecutive days in the presence of PHA and hrlL-2, and a mean 15.9% of the cells (range, 6.5 to 31.7%) acquire a CD3+CD20+ phenotype. Transduced T lymphocytes grow and expand in vitro for up to 3 weeks like mock-infected cells and, as observed for the T lymphoblastoid CEM cell line, CD20 expression is maintained for several months with no change in the growth curve of the cells. CD20-expressing CEM and fresh T lymphocytes can be positively immunoselected on columns using different anti-CD20 antibodies. Exposure to monoclonal chimeric anti-CD20 IgG1(kappa) Rituximab antibody (Roche), in the presence of complement, results in effective and rapid killing of the transduced CD3+CD20+ human T cells in vitro. This approach represents a new and alternative method to gene manipulation with "suicide" genes for the production of drug-responsive T cell populations, a crucial step for the future management of graft-versus-host disease in bone marrow transplant patients.

Epstein-Barr virus-negative lymphoproliferate disorders in long-term survivors after heart, kidney, and liver transplant.

BACKGROUND: Solid organ transplant patients undergoing long-term immunosuppression have high risk of developing lymphomas. The pathogenesis of the late-occurring posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) have not yet been extensively investigated. METHODS: We studied 15 patients who developed PTLD after a median of 79 months (range 22-156 months) after organ transplant. Clonality, presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome, and genetic lesions were evaluated by Southern blot analysis or polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: All monomorphic PTLD and two of three polymorphic PTLD showed a monoclonal pattern. Overall, 44% of samples demonstrated the presence of the EBV genome. Within monomorphic PTLD, the EBV-positive lymphomas were even lower (31%). A c-myc gene rearrangement was found in two cases (13%), whereas none of the 15 samples so far investigated showed bcl-1, bcl-2, or bcl-6 rearrangement. The modulation of immunosuppression was ineffective in all patients with monomorphic PTLD independent of the presence of the EBV genome. The clinical outcome after chemotherapy was poor because of infectious complications and resistant disease. With a median follow-up of 4 months, the median survival time of these patients was 7 months. CONCLUSIONS: Late occurring lymphomas could be considered an entity distinct from PTLD, occurring within 1 year of transplant, because they show a histological and clinical presentation similar to lymphomas of immunocompetent subjects, are frequently negative for the EBV genome, are invariably clonal, and may rearrange the c-myc oncogene. New therapeutic strategies are required to reduce the mortality rate, and new modalities of long-lasting immunosuppression are called for.

Primary effusion lymphoma after heart transplantation: a new entity associated with human herpesvirus-8.

Deep immunosuppression and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection promote the emergence of lymphoproliferative disorders in patients undergoing solid organ transplantation. In the last few years a new herpesvirus, named human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8), has been identified in Kaposi's sarcoma and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) developing in AIDS patients. Subsequently, the same viral DNA sequences have been identified in almost all cases of Kaposi's sarcoma emerged outside HIV infection, thus suggesting their possible pathogenetic role in this tumor. Similarly, the association between HHV-8 and PEL also emerged in cases without HIV infection, even though the total number of these patients is still limited. Here, we focus on the emergence of this unusual lymphoma in patients undergoing solid organ transplant and underline once again its association with the HHV-8. Moreover, despite the characteristic local growth of this peculiar type of lymphoma, we demonstrate at the molecular level, an early neoplastic spread to the bone marrow suggesting the need to investigate in more detail the origin of the disease, as well as the molecular mechanisms controlling its systemic dissemination.

Leucocyte alkaline phosphatase identifies terminally differentiated normal neutrophils and its lack in chronic myelogenous leukaemia is not dependent on p210 tyrosine kinase activity.

Leucocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) is a marker of post-mitotic granulocytes and its activity is reduced or absent in chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) granulocytes as a consequence of LAP messenger RNA (mRNA) deficiency. We provide evidence that along the granulocytic maturation in normal marrow, the acquisition of LAP surface expression, identified by the monoclonal antibody 1B12.1, was restricted to CD11bbright/CD16bright positive cells. Moreover, in normal granulocytes, exposure to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in vitro and in vivo increased the cell surface expression of LAP. Although G-CSF was able to induce the LAP surface expression in CML granulocytes, the inhibition of p210 tyrosine kinase activity by genistein or CGP75148B failed to restore LAP mRNA expression and LAP protein synthesis. In conclusion, the acquisition of LAP protein on the cell surface of granulocytes follows CD16 antigen expression and can be considered as the last marker of terminally differentiated neutrophils. G-CSF is a potent regulator of the LAP mRNA expression and protein synthesis in normal and CML-derived neutrophils. The lack of direct activity of p210 tyrosine kinase on LAP mRNA expression in CML neutrophils supports the notion that the LAP defect in this disease could be related to a precocious and uncontrolled release of white blood cells from the bone marrow into the blood stream.

Rapid retroviral infection of human haemopoietic cells of different lineages: efficient transfer in fresh T cells.

In order to develop a clinically feasible gene marking approach, we have used the recently described PINCO retroviral expression system, composed of the enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) cDNA driven by Moloney MLV LTR and packaged in the Phoenix amphotropic cell line. Two T, five B, one erythromyeloid and three myeloid cell lines were successfully infected with % GFP+ cells ranging from 4% to 79%, showing a lineage-dependent difference in infection susceptibility, with the myeloid cells being the least efficiently infected. We also infected normal mononuclear peripheral cells cultured in PHA and rhIL-2 for 2 d, and obtained an average of 30% GFP+ cells, all present within the CD3+ population, with CD4+ and CD8+ cells being equally infected. Finally, the tonsillar purified B population showed lower levels of infectivity (6%) whereas high susceptibility was shown by normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (57%). Highly purified CD34+ cells were also susceptible, varying from 6% to 10% GFP+ cells. Immature myeloid/erythroid progenitors have been infected which stably expressed the GFP protein during further differentiation in culture. The GFP+ T cells were FACS-sorted rapidly upon infection, subsequently cultured and the fluorescence intensity monitored. In all cases the difference in percentage of GFP+ cells did not correlate with the percentage of S/G2/M cycling cells as determined at the moment of infection or with the expression levels of Ram-1 amphotrophic receptor. The improved safety of this retroviral system, the rapidity of the technique, the high efficiency of infection with respect to normal T lymphocytes (in this last case higher than previously reported) and the lack of need for in vitro selection make this system favourable for clinical development.

Outcome assessment of age group-specific (+/- 50 years) post-remission consolidation with high-dose cytarabine or bone marrow autograft for adult acute myelogenous leukemia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To assess outcome of an age-adapted post-remission strategy for adult patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML, FAB-M3 excluded), including autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) or high-dose cytarabine (HIDAC) consolidation. DESIGN AND METHODS: AML patients in first complete remission (CR) after doxorubicin-cytarabine-thioguanine (DoxAT) chemotherapy were scheduled to receive two identical early consolidation courses followed by HIDAC (1 g/m2/bd for 6 days), if aged > 50 years, or HiDAC plus total body irradiation (TBI) plus ABMT if aged < 50 years, the bone marrow being harvested prior to the HiDAC/TBI regimen and unpurged. Results were examined by treatment intention and in actual treatment groups, by selected pretreatment and therapy-related variables, and compared with age and disease matched historical patients treated with DoxAT consolidation without additional HIDAC or ABMT. RESULTS: One-hundred and eight (70%) of 153 patients achieved a response and were evaluable after a follow-up of 3.3-8.8 years. According to treatment intention, long-term relapse-free survival (RFS) was significantly improved in both age groups compared with controls (< 50 years: 41% vs 15%, p < 0.05; > 50 years: 33% vs 22%, p < 0.005). Actually, 41 patients proceeded to ABMT and 24 to the HIDAC cycle (including 5 aged < 50 years), 23 had early consolidation only (1: refusal; 1: inadequate marrow harvest; 21: complications), 10 relapsed and 2 died very early into remission, 7 were submitted to an allogeneic BMT, and one denied any post-remission therapy. The long-term RFS rates for ABMT and HIDAC groups were 53% and 54% (47% for 19 patients aged > 50), respectively, significantly better than for historical patients or those unable to go beyond early consolidation (p < 0.005, adjusted for early adverse events). Overall 5-year survival rate was 40% (p < 0.0001), 54% for CR patients, 60% after ABMT, and 65% after HIDAC. Relative to the ABMT and HIDAC intensive treatment groups, only the presence of hepatosplenomegaly at diagnosis was associated with a significantly worse outcome like that of the control study. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: This age-adapted double post-remission consolidation strategy with ABMT (allo-BMT) or HIDAC was applicable to only about two thirds of responders and was effective in about half these cases, regardless of patient age or specific treatment modality. While the loss of CR patients from treatment realization was unrelated to the study design and depended mainly on recurrence of AML and toxic complication, the exact place of ABMT vs HIDAC consolidation remains unsettled, calling for a new study in comparable patient and risk groups.

A new combination of carboplatin, high-dose cytarabine and cross-over mitoxantrone or idarubicin for refractory and relapsed acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: High-dose cytarabine (HIDAC) and new anthracycline-type drugs (mitoxantrone, idarubicin) are the mainstay of several active regimens against relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The present study was undertaken to assess the feasibility, toxicity, and antileukemic activity of carboplatin (CBDCA) added to a combination of the two former agents. DESIGN AND METHODS: Two regimens (R) of CBDCA plus HIDAC and either mitoxantrone or idarubicin (crossover) were sequentially evaluated. R-1 consisted of CBDCA 300 mg/m2/d (24-hour infusion) on days 1-4, HIDAC 1 g/m2/bd on days 1-5, and mitoxantrone/idarubicin 12/6 mg/m2/d on days 1-3, followed by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). R-2, an attenuated-toxicity regimen, consisted of CBDCA and G-CSF as above, HIDAC on alternate days (1, 3, 5), and mitoxantrone/idarubicin 8/5 mg/m2/dose. Intended post-remission therapy included a similar, lower intensity course and a myeloablative phase supported by an allogeneic or autologous blood cell transplant. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (median age 53 years, one child) formed the study group: 10 (34%) had a primary refractory disease (8 to idarubicin-cytarabine-etoposide, ICE), 6 (21%) were at second or subsequent relapse, and 5 (17%) had a first remission lasting < 12 months. In addition, 4 patients (14%) had received prior HIDAC and 10 (34%) were relapsing after a bone marrow/blood cell transplant. Twelve patients were treated with R-1 and 17 with R-2. The complete response rate was 25% with R-1 and 53% with R-2, due to a significantly lower death rate by pancytopenic complications (p = 0.023). The probability of response by risk class was: primary refractory 30% (43% with R-2), > 2nd relapse 33% (50% with R-2), 1st relapse < 12 months 40% (50% with R-2), 1st relapse > 12 months 50% (75% with R-2), prior HIDAC 75%, and prior transplant 30% (33% with R-2). Seven patients could undergo an autologous (n = 5) or allogeneic (n = 2) bone marrow/peripheral blood cell transplant after one consolidation cycle. Overall survival was 4.2 months, significantly longer in responders (complete and partial: median 11 months) than non-responders (p < 0.001). Median duration of complete remission was 10 months and 2-year probability 0.31, but no patient remained disease-free at 3 years. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: R-2 was well tolerated, exerted a significant activity in high-risk AML, and is amenable to further improvements. However, the lack of long-term disease-free survivors indicates the need for innovative post-remission strategies.

Innovative two-step negative selection of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized circulating progenitor cells: adequacy for autologous and allogeneic transplantation.

A major obstacle in purifying either autologous or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells from granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilized circulating progenitor cells (CPC) is represented by the huge cellularity present in each apheretic product. To obtain a significant debulking of unwanted cells from the leukapheresis, we developed a modified protocol of immune rosetting whereby human ABO-Rh- compatible red blood cells (RBCs) are treated with chromium chloride and then coated with murine monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against leukocyte antigens. When experiments were performed with leukaphereses obtained from normal donors or from T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) patients, RBCs were coated with murine MoAbs against human mature myeloid cells (CD11b) and T cells (CD6); whereas, in the case of patients with B-precursor ALL, B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL), or multiple myeloma (MM), RBCs were coated with anti-CD11b only. After incubation with CPC, rosetting cells (myeloid precursor cells, granulocytes, monocytes, and T cells) were removed by Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation with a blood cell processor apparatus, COBE (Lakewood, CO) 2991. After this step, a significant reduction of the initial cellularity was consistently obtained (range, 72% to 97%), whereas the median absolute recovery of the CD34+ cells was above 85% (range, 64 to 100), with a 10-fold relative enrichment ranging from 3% to 41%. In a second step, CPC can be further purged of contaminating T or B cells by incubation with lymphoid-specific magnetic microbeads (anti-CD2 and -CD7 to remove T cells; anti-CD19 to remove B cells) and elution through a type-D depletion column (composed of ferromagnetic fiber) inserted within a SuperMACS separator device (Miltenyi Biotech, Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany). By this approach, a highly effective (three to four logs) T-cell depletion was achieved in all experiments performed with normal donors or T-ALL patients (median loss of CD3+ cells: 99.8% [range 99.2 to 100]) and an equally efficient B-cell depletion was obtained from B-precursor ALL, B-NHL, or MM patients. At the end of the procedure the T- or B-cell depleted fraction retained a high proportion of the initial hematopoietic CD34+ stem cells, with a median recovery above 70% (range 48% to 100%) and an unmodified clonogenic potential. In five patients (two follicular NHL and three ALL) the purified fraction of stem cells was found disease free at the molecular level as assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the t(14;18) chromosome translocation or clono-specific DNA sequences of IgH or T-cell receptor gamma and delta chain genes. Purified autologous and allogeneic CPCs were transplanted in three and six patients, respectively, who showed a prompt and sustained hematologic engraftment. In conclusion, this method represents a simple and reproducible two-step procedure to obtain a highly efficient purging of T or B cells from G-CSF expanded and mobilized CPCs. This approach might lead to the eradication of the neoplastic clone in the autologous stem cell inoculum as well as for T-cell depletion during allogeneic transplantation.

Flow cytometry of leucocyte alkaline phosphatase in normal and pathologic leucocytes.

Leucocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) is an enzyme expressed on the external aspect of the neutrophilic granulocyte plasma membrane, and represents a specific marker for the fully differentiated granulocyte. In this report we characterize 1B12.1, a monoclonal antibody raised against human bone alkaline phosphatase, by its ability to recognize the LAP protein. As assessed by Western blot analysis, following electrophoresis under non-reducing conditions, the antibody specifically reacts with LAP upon forced expression of the protein in simian COS-7 fibroblasts. In addition, the 1B12.1 antibody recognizes partially purified LAP isolated from peripheral blood granulocytes. With this antibody we developed a quantitative flow-cytometry-based method for the determination of LAP. Double fluorescence flow cytometry demonstrated that the LAP protein was present in relatively high amounts in neutrophilic granulocytes, but not in monocytes, natural killer cells, or B and T lymphocytes of normal individuals. The protein was completely absent in granulocytes obtained from chronic myeloid leukaemia and paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria patients. Higher than normal levels of LAP protein were evident in neutrophilic granulocytes of patients suffering from polycythaemia vera, essential thrombocythaemia and severe aplastic anaemia. However, the highest amounts of LAP protein were present in the granulocytes of normal individuals treated with G-CSF for the isolation of peripheral blood stem cells.

Redundant functions of B-Myb and c-Myb in differentiating myeloid cells.

We show in this report that the human myeloid leukemia cell line GFD8 is a useful model to compare the biological function of the structurally related c-Myb and B-Myb proto-oncogenes and to investigate the c-myb domains required for this function. GFD8 cells are dependent for growth on granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and differentiate in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). We have stably transfected this cell line with constructs constitutively expressing c-Myb or B-Myb. Deregulated expression of both c-Myb and B-Myb inhibited the differentiation observed in response to PMA and, in particular, the induction of the CD11b and CD11c antigens on the cell surface, and the induction of adherence. Furthermore, c-Myb and B-Myb enhanced expression of CD13 upon PMA treatment. Although deregulated Myb expression did not alter the growth factor dependence of the cells, it led to an increase in G2 relative to G1 arrest in cells induced to differentiate in response to PMA, whereas control vector-transfected cells were blocked mostly in G1. This decrease in G1 block took place despite normal induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor protein p21 (CIP1/WAF1). Thus, GFD8 cells stably expressing the human B-Myb protein behaved in a manner indistinguishable from those stably expressing C-Myb for both differentiation and cell cycle parameters. In agreement with these findings and differently from most previous reports, transactivation assays show that B-myb can indeed act as a strong activator of transcription. Finally, we demonstrated that although the DNA-binding domain of c-myb is required for both the differentiation block and the shift in cell cycle after PMA treatment, phosphorylation by casein kinase II and mitogen-activated protein kinase at positions 11 and 12 or 532 of c-myb, respectively, are not. We conclude that c-Myb and B-Myb may activate a common cellular program in the GFD8 cell line involved in both differentiation and cell cycle control.

The role of idarubicin in adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: from drug resistance studies to clinical application.

Idarubicin (4-demethoxydaunorubicin) is more potent and less cardiotoxic than daunorubicin or doxorubicin. These properties suggested a role in acute myelogenous leukaemia, that was confirmed by prospective randomized trials. In acute lymphoblastic leukaemia of adults, on the contrary, there is very little information regarding idarubicin. We have used idarubicin since 1991 and found, in a retrospective comparison with a doxorubicin regimen, a decreased incidence of primarily refractory disease. The role of idarubicin in the postremission phase could not be assessed in detail but an early intensive use of anthracyclines, either idarubicin or doxorubicin, was associated with an improved outcome in early-B CD10+ and t(9;22)/BCR-leukaemias. Concurrent in vitro studies demonstrated that idarubicin, at pharmacologically relevant concentrations, was less sensitive to P-glycoprotein-mediated drug efflux than daunorubicin and was a more effective agent to use with cyclosporin-A to circumvent this drug resistance mechanism. Idarubicin is a very effective drug for the early management of adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and may be presently considered (along with cyclosporin-A or other modulator) as the reference anthracycline for cases overexpressing the P-glycoprotein drug resistance mechanism.

G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells for allogeneic transplantation of resistant or relapsing acute leukemias.

Peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) were mobilized by G-CSF in normal HLA identical siblings and used for allogeneic transplantation in eight patients with refractory or relapsed acute leukemias. G-CSF administration was well tolerated and no significant side-effects were registered. The number of circulating WBC peaked at day 5 after G-CSF (range: 22.6-74.6 x 10(9)/l) with a median of 65 CD34+ cells/microl (38-155). As a consequence of leukaphereses, platelets progressively decreased, reaching the nadir after the last procedure (84-205 x 10(9)/l). A mean of two aphereses (1-3) were performed between day +4 and +7 during which 10 liters of blood were processed each time by a cell separator. Conditioning regimens were: fractionated total body irradiation (FTBI) plus either HDAra-C (2 g/m2 x 2/day for 6 days) (n=5) or melphalan (110 mg/m2) (n= 1) and busulfan (4 mg/kg/day for 4 days) and melphalan (110 mg/m2) in two patients relapsed after a previous FTBI-based allogeneic or autologous BMT. At transplantation, a median of 6.9 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg (4.2-16.5) and 279 x 10(6) CD3+ cells/kg (161-786) were infused. Engraftment of both neutrophils (> or v=1.5 x 10(9)/l) and platelets (> or v=20 x 10(9)/l) was observed in all patients after a median time of 18 days (range: 11-20 and 10-26, respectively). The evaluation of engraftment after transplantation was accomplished by PCR analysis of four hypervariable genomic regions (VNTR) (ApoB, ApoC2, YNZ-22, and MCT 118) which allowed to demonstrate the condition of donor chimaera in all patients after transplantation. As far as the clinical outcome, two patients died of interstitial pneumonitis at day +243 and +69 and two patients died at day +62 and +152 of pulmonary aspergillosis. Four patients remain alive in remission between day +88 and +287 with grade 0-l GVHD. Allogeneic PBPC transplantation is associated with a complete hematologic recovery and despite the infusion of a large amount of mature CD3+ lymphocytes, apparently acute GVHD is not worse than expected after transplantation of bone marrow progenitors.