Oncologic markers in patients with colorectal cancer after a complex therapy.

The authors present a prospective study on a value of oncologic markers CEA and CA 19-9 in patients after curative therapy for colorectal adenocarcinoma. During a five-year follow-up in 320 patients, a significant elevation of CEA or CA 19-9 was documented in 71 patients (22.8 %), and resulted in tumour detection in 39/71 patients (55 %). Although the levels were defined as false positive in 32 patients (45 %), the importance of CEA and CA 19-9 monitoring is documented by elevated levels of oncomakers in 39/55 patients (71%) with metastases or local-regional recurrence of colorectal adenocarcinoma. (Tab. 3, Ref: 21.)

Karyotypic abnormalities and their clinical aspects in multiple myeloma.

Chromosome studies were done on 56 patients with multiple myeloma to investigate their chromosomal abnormalities and to evaluate their clinical significance. Abnormal karyotype was found in 25 patients (44.6%), no relationship was seen between the frequency of chromosomal aberrations and age, sex, immunoglobulin isotype, bone marrow plasmocyte number and previous cytostatic therapy. Hyperdiploid and hypodiploid karyotypes were present in 10 and 13 patients, the chromosomes 1, 11 and 14 most often participated in structural rearrangements. Good relationship was observed between the frequency of chromosomal aberrations and the clinical stage and activity of the disease. In most of the patients with resistance to chemotherapy, abnormal karyotypes were observed. After the cytogenetic examination, the survival was significantly shorter for patients in whom an abnormal karyotype was identified (median survival 19 months) than for patients in whom only normal metaphases were observed (median survival 42 months).

[Cytogenetic study in multiple myeloma. I. Chromosome findings in 56 patients]. / Cytogenetické vysetrení u mnohotného myelomu. I. Chromozomální nálezy u 56 nemocných.

The authors submit the results of cytogenetic examination of 56 patients with multiple myeloma. Chromosome changes were found in 25, i.e. 45% patients. Structural changes were found most frequently in chromosomes no. 1, 11 and 14, numerical changes in chromosomes 3, 4, 9, 11, 14, 16, 19, 21, 22, X and Y. Marker chromosomes were present above all in hyperdiploid mitoses. The authors did not detect a relationship of chromosome changes and the type of produced monoclonal immunoglobulin, nor a statistically significant difference in the frequency of chromosomal changes in treated and untreated patients. Hyperploidy and complex rearrangements of chromosomes were observed mainly during progression of the disease. In three of four patients with developed secondary plasmocellular leukaemia the authors found a chromosomal change 14q+, in two as a result of translocation 11/14.

[Cytogenetic study in multiple myeloma. II. Clinical significance of chromosomal changes]. / Cytogenetické vysetrení u mnohotného myelomu. II. Klinický význam chromozomálních zmen.

The authors evaluated in a group of 56 patients with multiple myeloma the clinical impact of assessed chromosomal changes. They found a close relationship between the frequency of chromosomal deviations and the extent and activity of the disease. The authors did not detect a relationship between the frequency of karyotypic changes and the number of plasmocytes in bone marrow nor a significant difference in the incidence of hypodiploidy in different immunochemical types of multiple myeloma. Patients with chromosomal changes had a reduced response to cytostatic treatment. The authors revealed a prognostic importance of chromosomal changes, in particular of hyperdiploidy and the concurrent incidence of numerical and structural deviations. The authors discuss the relationship of monosomia of the X chromosome and the Y chromosome to the clinical picture of the disease and chromosomal findings in secondary myeloblastic leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and secondary plasmocellular leukaemia.

Cytogenetic studies in polycythemia vera.

A group of 54 patients with the original diagnosis of polycythemia vera were subjected to cytogenetic examination. Six (17.6%) of the 34 cases examined in the period of the advanced phase of the polycythemia vera had a chromosomal change. Thirteen (65%) of the 20 patients undergoing the cytogenetic examination in the period when the polycythemia vera turned into another myeloproliferative disease showed chromosomal aberration. This suggests a relationship between the number of chromosomal changes and the transformation of the disease. No connection between the cytogenetic changes and myelosuppressive cures could be confirmed in our material. The chromosomal change 20q- considered to be the most frequent kind in the polycythemia vera was not discovered until in patients with the polycythemia vera transformed into a different myeloproliferative disease.