Cytokine profiling in 128 patients with transient abnormal myelopoiesis: a report from the JPLSG TAM-10 trial.

ABSTRACT: Transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) occurs in 10% of neonates with Down syndrome (DS). Although most patients show spontaneous resolution of TAM, early death occurs in ∼20% of cases. Therefore, new biomarkers are needed to predict early death and determine therapeutic interventions. This study aimed to determine the association between clinical characteristics and cytokine levels in patients with TAM. A total of 128 patients with DS with TAM enrolled in the TAM-10 study conducted by the Japanese Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group were included in this study. Five cytokine levels (interleukin-1b [IL-1b], IL-1 receptor agonist, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-13) were significantly higher in patients with early death than in those with nonearly death. Cumulative incidence rates (CIRs) of early death were significantly associated with high levels of the 5 cytokines. Based on unsupervised consensus clustering, patients were classified into 3 cytokine groups: hot-1 (n = 37), hot-2 (n = 42), and cold (n = 49). The CIR of early death was significantly different between the cytokine groups (hot-1/2, n = 79; cold, n = 49; hot-1/2 CIR, 16.5% [95% confidence interval (CI), 7.9-24.2]; cold CIR, 2.0% [95% CI, 0.0-5.9]; P = .013). Furthermore, cytokine groups (hot-1/2 vs cold) were independent poor prognostic factors in the multivariable analysis for early death (hazard ratio, 15.53; 95% CI, 1.434-168.3; P = .024). These results provide valuable information that cytokine level measurement was useful in predicting early death in patients with TAM and might help to determine the need for therapeutic interventions. This trial was registered at UMIN Clinical Trials Registry as #UMIN000005418.

The hematopoietic microenvironment of the fetal liver and transient abnormal myelopoiesis associated with Down syndrome: A review.

Transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) in neonates with Down syndrome is a distinct form of leukemia or preleukemia that mirrors the hematological features of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia. However, it typically resolves spontaneously in the early stages. TAM originates from fetal liver (FL) hematopoietic precursor cells and emerges due to somatic mutations in GATA1 in utero. In TAM, progenitor cells proliferate and differentiate into mature megakaryocytes and granulocytes. This process occurs both in vitro, aided by hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) produced in the FL, and in vivo, particularly in specific anatomical sites like the FL and blood vessels. The FL's hematopoietic microenvironment plays a crucial role in TAM's pathogenesis and may contribute to its spontaneous regression. This review presents an overview of current knowledge regarding the unique features of TAM in relation to the FL hematopoietic microenvironment, focusing on the functions of HGFs and the pathological features of TAM.

Tumour lysis syndrome in a neonate with transient abnormal myelopoiesis.

BACKGROUND: Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is an oncological emergency associated with hematological malignancies or highly proliferative solid tumors, commonly after chemotherapy. It is rarely associated with transient abnormal myelopoiesis. OBSERVATION: We report a rare case of a neonate with transient abnormal myelopoiesis and tumor lysis syndrome, complicated with concomitant heart failure due to an underlying atrioventricular septal defect. Hyperhydration was contraindicated due to heart failure. The patient was managed conservatively with full recovery. CONCLUSION: Tumor lysis syndrome should be suspected in neonates with transient abnormal myelopoiesis with electrolyte abnormalities. Treatment options should be considered carefully for their risks and benefits.

[SFCE harmonization workshops: Neonatal acute myeloid leukemia]. / Orientation et prise en charge de la leucémie aiguë myéloïde néonatale : recommandations du comité leucémies de la SFCE.

Neonatal acute myeloid leukemias (AML) occurred within the first 28 days of life and constitute only a small proportion of all AL. They are distinguished from leukemias of older children by their clinical presentation, which frequently includes cutaneous localizations ("blueberry muffin rash syndrome") and a leukocytosis above 50 ×109/L. This proliferation may be transient, causing a transient leukemoid reaction in a background of constitutional trisomy 21 ("Transient Abnormal Myelopoieseis" or TAM) or Infantile Myeloproliferative Disease in the absence of constitutional trisomy 21 ("Infantile Myeloproliferative Disease" or IMD). In cases of true neonatal AML, the prognosis of patients is poor. Overall survival is around 35 % in the largest historical series. This poor prognosis is mainly due to the period of onset of this pathology making the use of chemotherapy more limited and involving many considerations, both ethical and therapeutic. The objective of this work is to review this rare pathology by addressing the clinical, biological, therapeutic and ethical particularities of patients with true neonatal AML or transient leukemoid reactions occurring in a constitutional trisomy 21 (true TAM) or somatic background (IMD).

Myeloid Proliferations Associated with Down Syndrome: Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Forty Cases from Five Large Academic Institutions.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia is significantly increased in children with Down syndrome (DS). Within the revised 2016 WHO edition, these entities are jointly classified as myeloid leukemia associated with DS (ML-DS). Additionally, infants with DS may develop transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) which is histomorphologically similar to ML-DS. While TAM is self-limiting, it is associated with an increased risk of subsequently developing ML-DS. Differentiating TAM and ML-DS is challenging but clinically critical. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of ML-DS and TAM cases collected from five large academic institutions in the USA. We assessed clinical, pathological, immunophenotypical, and molecular features to identify differentiating criteria. RESULTS: Forty cases were identified: 28 ML-DS and 12 TAM. Several features were diagnostically distinct, including younger age in TAM (p < 0.05), as well as presentation with clinically significant anemia and thrombocytopenia in ML-DS (p < 0.001). Dyserythropoiesis was unique to ML-DS, as well as structural cytogenetic abnormalities aside from the constitutional trisomy 21. Immunophenotypic characteristics of TAM and ML-DS were indistinguishable, including the aberrant expression of CD7 and CD56 by the myeloid blasts. DISCUSSION: The findings of the study confirm marked biological similarities between TAM and ML-DS. At the same time, several significant clinical, morphological, and genetic differences were observed between TAM and ML-DS. The clinical approach and the differential diagnosis between these entities are discussed in detail.

A rare case of hepatic sinusoidal occlusive syndrome in a premature neonate with trisomy 21.

Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) may lead to multiple hematological and hepatobiliary manifestations including the development of transient abnormal myelopoiesis. While many cases resolve, transient abnormal myelopoiesis may lead to significant morbidity and mortality in a small percentage of patients. This condition may present a diagnostic challenge for physicians and currently there is only limited data on effective treatments, particularly with low blast percent transient abnormal myelopoiesis. We present a case of a neonate with trisomy 21 and multiple congenital anomalies who consequently developed hepatic failure with evidence of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension likely due to transient abnormal myelopoiesis. This clinical scenario highlights the need for additional evaluation for transient abnormal myelopoiesis associated hepatic disorder and possibly hepatic sinusoidal occlusive syndrome among trisomy 21 neonates particularly with low blast percentage.

Common Blood Test Indices for Predicting Transient Abnormal Myelopoiesis-Related Mortality in Infants with Down Syndrome.

Transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) can cause early death in children with Down syndrome, and liver failure is the most common cause of death. The aim of this single-center retrospective study was to identify a quantitative index for predicting TAM-related mortality at the time of diagnosis. Of the 462 children with Down syndrome admitted to our hospital from 1992 to 2021, we studied 12 infants with TAM-related death and 31 survivors who were diagnosed with TAM. In the death and survival groups, the median gestational ages were 34.9 and 37.1 weeks, respectively (p = 0.12). At diagnosis, the white blood cell (WBC) counts were 99.2 and 36.2 × 109/L (p = 0.011), the hemoglobin concentrations were 131 and 159 g/L (p = 0.009), and the serum albumin concentrations were 23 and 31 g/L (p < 0.001), respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the abilities of the WBC count, hemoglobin, and serum albumin at diagnosis to predict survival were 0.75, 0.76, and 0.85, respectively. The serum albumin concentration threshold of 28 g/L at diagnosis had sensitivity of 0.79 and specificity of 0.82. Gestational age and serum albumin concentration were entered into a logistic regression model. The serum albumin concentration was an independent indicator of TAM-related death (adjusted odds ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.93; p = 0.005). In conclusion, a low serum albumin concentration at diagnosis may be a good predictor of TAM-related death.

Bullous eruptions in transient abnormal myelopoiesis with normal phenotype.

Cutaneous lesions are common manifestation of congenital leukaemia especially myeloid type with incidence of 25%-50% in reported cases. It is relatively rare in transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) seen in trisomy 21 (~10%). The rashes seen in leukaemia and TAM are different. We report a case with a rare presentation of confluent bullous eruption in a phenotypically normal neonate with trisomy 21 restricted to haematopoietic blast cells. This rash resolved rapidly after low-dose cytarabine therapy with normalisation of total white cell counts. The risk of Down syndrome-associated myeloid leukaemia in such cases is still high (19%-23%) in first 5 years and rare thereafter.

Paraneoplastic leukemoid syndrome in squamous cell carcinoma of the forearm.

The paraneoplastic leukemoid reaction is a rare haematological paraneoplastic syndrome, which is typically seen with solid tumours and squamous cell carcinomas. As an indication of bone marrow infiltration and malignancy involvement, it indicates a poor outcome and a grave prognosis. We report a woman in her 50s, who presented with an ulcer over the right forearm. Biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma. The patient underwent radiological investigations, which showed the presence of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. Incidentally, the patient was found to have leucocytosis, which was attributed to a paraneoplastic leukemoid reaction, after ruling out all other causes of leukemoid reaction. Due to metastatic disease, the patient was planned for palliative radiotherapy and the best supportive care.

Epithelioid Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Sarcoma with Leukemoid Reaction.

Epithelioid inflammatory myofibroblastic sarcoma (EIMS) is a rare and aggressive inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT) variant. This report identifies the first case of EIMS with leukemoid reaction. This is also the first case in which pancreatic infiltration occurred from the disease onset. A 14-year male patient presented with an 18×18×10 cm mass at the retroperitoneal space and a white blood cell (WBC) count of 85×109/L. The mass and the invaded tissues were surgically removed with tumour-free margins. Histopathology and bone marrow aspiration confirmed the diagnosis of EIMS with leukemoid reaction. The tumour recurred with hepatic and pulmonary metastasis one month after the surgery. WBC count also increased progressively with the tumour recurrence. There is no consensus on the treatment of EIMS. Since ALK rearrangement presents in all the EIMS cases, surgical resection combined with crizotinib or other targeted drugs may improve the prognosis. Key Words: Sarcoma, Soft tissue neoplasms, Leukemoid reaction, Crizotinib.

Myeloid leukemoid reaction after initial azacitidine therapy for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

The development of myeloid leukocytosis in leukemia patients during antileukemic treatment requires a differential diagnosis between myeloid leukemoid reaction and leukemia progression. We herein report the case of an 80-year-old Japanese man with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) who developed marked myeloid leukocytosis (36.3 × 109/L) with 32.5% monocytes and 48% neutrophils about 4 weeks after the initial 5-azacitidine (AZA) treatment. The leukocytosis was unlikely to be attributed to infection and adverse drug reaction. As it resolved in a few days without any interventions, the transient myeloid leukocytosis was confirmed to be a myeloid leukemoid reaction. After four cycles of AZA treatment, leukemic blasts in the bone marrow decreased and the patient became transfusion-independent. Interestingly, levels of serum G-CSF showed a similar trend to the myeloid leukocytosis, while those of serum GM-CSF and IL-17 were undetectable throughout the clinical course, suggesting that a differentiation response to AZA treatment might lead to the myeloid leukemoid reaction. Our case implies that a marked but transient myeloid leukemoid reaction mimicking CMML progression can develop during AZA treatment, which requires careful clinical monitoring and differential diagnosis.

"TAM"ing of the shrew-challenges in the diagnosis of Neonatal leukemia with Down's syndrome -A case report with literature review.

The latest WHO (2017) classification describes the hematological abnormalities of Down's syndrome as a separate entity under 'Myeloid proliferations associated with Down's syndrome'. It includes Transient Abnormal Myelopoiesis and Myeloid leukemia of Down's syndrome. Here we report a case of a 3 days old neonate with Down's syndrome, presenting with a leukemic blood picture. The baby had icterus, fever and hepatosplenomagaly. Peripheral blood showed megakaryoblasts and giant platelets. A diagnosis of transient abnormal myelopoiesis was made by confirming with karyotyping and immunophenotyping. We attempt to address all the diagnostic challenges faced by a clinician and pathologist same, upon encountering such a case,by following an algorithmic approach. The mandatory need for follow up and cytogenetic studies in identifying high risk cases that will become myeloid leukemia of Down's syndrome are stressed. Our case also throws light upon the significance of identification of GATA1 mutation in diagnosing and prognostication of such cases.

A sensitive and inexpensive high-resolution melting-based testing algorithm for diagnosis of transient abnormal myelopoiesis and myeloid leukemia of Down syndrome.

Patients with Down syndrome (DS) are commonly affected by a pre-leukemic disorder known as transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM). This condition usually undergoes spontaneous remission within the first 2 months after birth; however, in children under 5, 20%-30% of cases evolve to myeloid leukemia of Down syndrome (ML-DS). TAM and ML-DS are caused by co-operation between trisomy 21 and acquired mutations in the GATA1 gene. Currently, only next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based methodologies are sufficiently sensitive for diagnosis in samples with small GATA1 mutant clones (≤10% blasts). Alternatively, this study presents research on a new, fast, sensitive, and inexpensive high-resolution melting (HRM)-based diagnostic approach that allows the detection of most cases of GATA1 mutations, including silent TAM. The algorithm first uses flow cytometry for blast count, followed by HRM and Sanger sequencing to search for mutations on exons 2 and 3 of GATA1. We analyzed 138 samples of DS patients: 110 of asymptomatic neonates, 10 suspected of having TAM, and 18 suspected of having ML-DS. Our algorithm enabled the identification of 33 mutant samples, among them five cases of silent TAM (5/110) and seven cases of ML-DS (7/18) with blast count ≤10%, in which GATA1 alterations were easily detected by HRM. Depending on the type of genetic variation and its location, our methodology reached sensitivity similar to that obtained by NGS (0.3%) at a considerably reduced time and cost, thus making it accessible worldwide.

Trastornos mieloproliferativos y leucemia en síndrome de Down. Presentación de dos casos clínicos en el período neonatal / Myeloproliferative disorders and leukemia related to Down syndrome. Report of two clinical cases in neonatal period

ElsíndromedeDownpredisponeatrastornosmieloproliferativos. Se estima que del 5 % al 30 % de los neonatos con esta condición desarrollarán mielopoyesis anormal transitoria. El tratamiento no está estandarizado; la exanguinotransfusión y la citarabina podrían ser efectivos. Se describen dos casos de pacientes con síndrome de Down, quienes durante el período neonatal presentaron leucemia mieloide aguda y mielopoyesis anormal transitoria, los tratamientos utilizados y sus desenlaces. Se considera que la sospecha y el diagnóstico temprano de esta entidad son factores determinantes en el pronóstico.

Down syndrome predisposes to haematological disorders. It is estimated that 5-30% of neonates with this condition will develop transient abnormal myelopoiesis. Treatment is not standardized; exchange transfusion and the use of cytarabine could be effective. We present two clinical cases of patients with Down syndrome, who during the neonatal period showed acute myeloid leukemia and transient abnormal myelopoiesis, the treatments used and their outcomes. Suspicion and early diagnosis of this entity are considered determining factors in prognosis.

[Myeloproliferative disorders and leukemia related to Down syndrome. Report of two clinical cases in neonatal period]. / Trastornos mieloproliferativos y leucemia en síndrome de Down. Presentación de dos casos clínicos en el período neonatal.

Down syndrome predisposes to haematological disorders. It is estimated that 5-30% of neonates with this condition will develop transient abnormal myelopoiesis. Treatment is not standardized; exchange transfusion and the use of cytarabine could be effective. We present two clinical cases of patients with Down syndrome, who during the neonatal period showed acute myeloid leukemia and transient abnormal myelopoiesis, the treatments used and their outcomes. Suspicion and early diagnosis of this entity are considered determining factors in prognosis.

El síndrome de Down predispone a trastornos mieloproliferativos. Se estima que del 5 % al 30 % de los neonatos con esta condición desarrollarán mielopoyesis anormal transitoria. El tratamiento no está estandarizado; la exanguinotransfusión y la citarabina podrían ser efectivos. Se describen dos casos de pacientes con síndrome de Down, quienes durante el período neonatal presentaron leucemia mieloide aguda y mielopoyesis anormal transitoria, los tratamientos utilizados y sus desenlaces. Se considera que la sospecha y el diagnóstico temprano de esta entidad son factores determinantes en el pronóstico.

Trisomy 21, transposition of the great arteries and abnormal myelopoiesis.

Down syndrome is a well-recognised genetic condition associated with several comorbidities. Although CHD is common in Down syndrome, transposition of the great arteries is exceptionally rare. We describe a neonate with Down syndrome who presented with transient abnormal myelopoiesis and transposition of the great arteries. Down syndrome may accelerate pulmonary hypertension in transposition of the great arteries and is associated with poor outcomes.