Sample records for acute lymphoblastic leukemias

  1. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

    MedlinePlus

    ... Email this page Print this page My Cart Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is ... Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) Other diseases What is acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)? ALL is a fast-growing ...

  2. Alemtuzumab and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Untreated Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2014-03-20

    Acute Undifferentiated Leukemia; B-cell Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; B-cell Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; L1 Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; L1 Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; L2 Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; L2 Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Philadelphia Chromosome Negative Adult Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Adult Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Childhood Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; T-cell Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; T-cell Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  3. Bortezomib and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Young Patients With Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2016-11-30

    B-cell Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; B-cell Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; T-cell Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; T-cell Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  4. Stages of Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    MedlinePlus

    ... Childhood ALL Treatment Childhood AML Treatment Research Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version General Information About Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Go to Health Professional Version Key ...

  5. Risk-Based Classification System of Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-02-22

    Adult B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Adult T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Childhood B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Childhood T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  6. Targeted Therapy in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-04-13

    Acute Myeloid Leukemia Arising From Previous Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia; Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  7. Sapanisertib in Treating Patients With Relapsed and/or Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-05-23

    Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Remission; B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia With t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2); BCR-ABL1; B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Philadelphia Chromosome Negative; Blasts 10 Percent or More of Bone Marrow Nucleated Cells; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Refractory Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  8. Treatment Option Overview (Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia)

    MedlinePlus

    ... Childhood ALL Treatment Childhood AML Treatment Research Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version General Information About Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Go to Health Professional Version Key ...

  9. Treatment Options for Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    MedlinePlus

    ... Childhood ALL Treatment Childhood AML Treatment Research Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version General Information About Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Go to Health Professional Version Key ...

  10. General Information about Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    MedlinePlus

    ... Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version General Information About Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Go to Health ... the PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board . Clinical Trial Information A clinical trial is a study to answer ...

  11. General Information about Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    MedlinePlus

    ... Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version General Information About Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Go to Health ... the PDQ Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board . Clinical Trial Information A clinical trial is a study to answer ...

  12. Combination Chemotherapy and Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Children With Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-10-07

    L1 Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; L2 Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Non-T, Non-B Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; T-cell Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  13. Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Young Patients With Newly Diagnosed T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-01-24

    Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Adult T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Ann Arbor Stage II Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage II Childhood Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage II Contiguous Adult Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage II Non-Contiguous Adult Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage III Adult Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage III Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage III Childhood Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage IV Adult Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage IV Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage IV Childhood Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Childhood T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  14. Decitabine in Treating Children With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia or Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-01-22

    Childhood Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia With Maturation (M2); Childhood Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (M3); Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  15. Etoposide, Prednisone, Vincristine Sulfate, Cyclophosphamide, and Doxorubicin Hydrochloride With Asparaginase in Treating Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-04-20

    B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; B Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent B Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Recurrent T Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma; Refractory B Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Refractory T Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; T Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

  16. Brain Function in Young Patients Receiving Methotrexate for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-07-19

    Childhood B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Childhood T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Cognitive Side Effects of Cancer Therapy; Long-Term Effects Secondary to Cancer Therapy in Children; Neurotoxicity Syndrome; Psychological Impact of Cancer; Untreated Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  17. Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Donor Stem Cell Transplant in Treating Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-04-20

    Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Remission; Adult B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Adult B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia With t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2); BCR-ABL1; Adult L1 Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Adult L2 Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Adult T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  18. Biological Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Acute or Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, or Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Who Are Undergoing Stem Cell Transplantation

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-03-27

    Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With 11q23 (MLL) Abnormalities; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(15;17)(q22;q12); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21)(q22;q22); B-cell Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; B-cell Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Childhood Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Childhood Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia; Essential Thrombocythemia; Polycythemia Vera; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Anemia With Excess Blasts; Refractory Anemia With Excess Blasts in Transformation; Relapsing Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia; T-cell Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; T-cell Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  19. Risk-Adapted Chemotherapy in Treating Younger Patients With Newly Diagnosed Standard-Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Localized B-Lineage Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-03-19

    Adult B Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Childhood B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Childhood B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia With t(9;22)(q34;q11.2); BCR-ABL1; Childhood B Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Down Syndrome; Stage I B Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Stage II B Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  20. Blinatumomab and Combination Chemotherapy or Dasatinib, Prednisone, and Blinatumomab in Treating Older Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-06-01

    Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia With t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2); BCR-ABL1; B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Philadelphia Chromosome Negative; Philadelphia Chromosome Positive; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Refractory Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  1. Treosulfan, Fludarabine Phosphate, and Total-Body Irradiation Before Donor Stem Cell Transplant in Treating Patients With High-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-04-05

    Accelerated Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Remission; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Remission; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With 11q23 (MLL) Abnormalities; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Del(5q); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(15;17)(q22;q12); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21)(q22;q22); Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Remission; Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Remission; Childhood Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Childhood Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia; de Novo Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Secondary Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  2. Dasatinib and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Young Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2016-09-08

    Adult B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia With t(9;22)(q34;q11.2); BCR-ABL1; Childhood B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia With t(9;22)(q34;q11.2); BCR-ABL1; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  3. Myeloblastic and lymphoblastic markers in acute undifferentiated leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis.

    PubMed

    Shumak, K H; Baker, M A; Taub, R N; Coleman, M S

    1980-11-01

    Blast cells were obtained from 17 patients with acute undifferentiated leukemia and 13 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis. The blasts were tested with anti-i serum in cytotoxicity tests and with antisera to myeloblastic leukemia-associated antigens in immunofluorescence tests. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TDT) content of the blasts was also measured. Lymphoblasts react strongly with anti-i, do not react with anti-myeloblast serum, and have high levels of TDT; myeloblasts react weakly with anti-i, do not react with anti-myeloblast serum, and have very low levels of TDT. Of the 17 patients with acute undifferentiated leukemia, there were six with blasts which reacted like lymphoblasts, six with blasts which reacted like myeloblasts, and five with blasts bearing different combinations of these lymphoblastic and myeloblastic markers. Eight of the 11 patients with lymphoblastic or mixed lymphoblastic-myeloblastic markers, but only one of the six with myeloblastic markers, achieved complete or partial remission in response to therapy. Thus, in acute undifferentiated leukemia, classification of blasts with these markers may be of prognostic value. Of the 13 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crises, the markers were concordant (for myeloblasts) in only two cases. Three of the 13 patients had TDT-positive blasts, but the reactions of these cells with anti-i and with anti-myeloblast serum differed from those seen with lymphoblasts from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Although the cell involved in "lymphoid" blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia is similar in many respects to that involved in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, these cells are not identical.

  4. Entinostat and Clofarabine in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed, Relapsed, or Refractory Poor-Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Bilineage/Biphenotypic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2014-07-16

    Acute Leukemias of Ambiguous Lineage; Philadelphia Chromosome Negative Adult Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  5. Obesity in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common malignancy in childhood. Continuous progress in risk-adapted treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia has secured 5-year event-free survival rates of approximately 80% and 8-year survival rates approaching 90%. Almost 75% of survivors, however, have a chronic health condition negatively impacting on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Obesity can be considered one of the most important health chronic conditions in the general population, with an increasing incidence in patients treated for childhood cancers and especially in acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors who are, at the same time, more at risk of experiencing precocious cardiovascular and metabolic co-morbidities. The hypothalamic-pituitary axis damage secondary to cancer therapies (cranial irradiation and chemotherapy) or to primary tumor together with lifestyle modifications and genetic factors could affect long-term outcomes. Nevertheless, the etiology of obesity in acute lymphoblastic leukemia is not yet fully understood. The present review has the aim of summarizing the published data and examining the most accepted mechanisms and main predisposing factors related to weight gain in this particular population. PMID:22284631

  6. Association of ARID5B gene variants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Yemeni children.

    PubMed

    Al-Absi, Boshra; Noor, Suzita M; Saif-Ali, Riyadh; Salem, Sameer D; Ahmed, Radwan H; Razif, Muhammad Fm; Muniandy, Sekaran

    2017-04-01

    Studies have shown an association between ARID5B gene polymorphisms and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, the association between ARID5B variants and acute lymphoblastic leukemia among the Arab population still needs to be studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between ARID5B variants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Yemeni children. A total of 14 ARID5B gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in 289 Yemeni children, of whom 136 had acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 153 were controls, using the nanofluidic Dynamic Array (Fluidigm 192.24 Dynamic Array). Using logistic regression adjusted for age and gender, the risks of acute lymphoblastic leukemia were presented as odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. We found that nine SNPs were associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia under additive genetic models: rs7073837, rs10740055, rs7089424, rs10821936, rs4506592, rs10994982, rs7896246, rs10821938, and rs7923074. Furthermore, the recessive models revealed that six SNPs were risk factors for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: rs10740055, rs7089424, rs10994982, rs7896246, rs10821938, and rs7923074. The gender-specific impact of these SNPs under the recessive genetic model revealed that SNPs rs10740055, rs10994982, and rs6479779 in females, and rs10821938 and rs7923074 in males were significantly associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk. Under the dominant model, SNPs rs7073837, rs10821936, rs7896246, and rs6479778 in males only showed striking association with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The additive model revealed that SNPs with significant association with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were rs10821936 (both males and females); rs7073837, rs10740055, rs10994982, and rs4948487 (females only); and rs7089424, rs7896246, rs10821938, and rs7923074 (males only). In addition, the ARID5B haplotype block (CGAACACAA) showed a higher risk for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The haplotype (CCCGACTGC) was

  7. Antileukemic Efficacy of Continuous vs Discontinuous Dexamethasone in Murine Models of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Ramsey, Laura B.; Janke, Laura J.; Payton, Monique A.; Cai, Xiangjun; Paugh, Steven W.; Karol, Seth E.; Kamdem, Landry Kamdem; Cheng, Cheng; Williams, Richard T.; Jeha, Sima; Pui, Ching-Hon; Evans, William E.; Relling, Mary V.

    2015-01-01

    Osteonecrosis is one of the most common, serious, toxicities resulting from the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In recent years, pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia clinical trials have used discontinuous rather than continuous dosing of dexamethasone in an effort to reduce the incidence of osteonecrosis. However, it is not known whether discontinuous dosing would compromise antileukemic efficacy of glucocorticoids. Therefore, we tested the efficacy of discontinuous dexamethasone against continuous dexamethasone in murine models bearing human acute lymphoblastic leukemia xenografts (n = 8 patient samples) or murine BCR-ABL+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Plasma dexamethasone concentrations (7.9 to 212 nM) were similar to those achieved in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia using conventional dosages. The median leukemia-free survival ranged from 16 to 59 days; dexamethasone prolonged survival from a median of 4 to 129 days in all seven dexamethasone-sensitive acute lymphoblastic leukemias. In the majority of cases (7 of 8 xenografts and the murine BCR-ABL model) we demonstrated equal efficacy of the two dexamethasone dosing regimens; whereas for one acute lymphoblastic leukemia sample, the discontinuous regimen yielded inferior antileukemic efficacy (log-rank p = 0.002). Our results support the clinical practice of using discontinuous rather than continuous dexamethasone dosing in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. PMID:26252865

  8. Imatinib Mesylate and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-05-02

    Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia With t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2); BCR-ABL1; BCR-ABL1 Fusion Protein Expression; Minimal Residual Disease; Philadelphia Chromosome Positive; T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  9. Flavopiridol in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-06-03

    Adult Acute Basophilic Leukemia; Adult Acute Eosinophilic Leukemia; Adult Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia (M7); Adult Acute Minimally Differentiated Myeloid Leukemia (M0); Adult Acute Monoblastic Leukemia (M5a); Adult Acute Monocytic Leukemia (M5b); Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia With Maturation (M2); Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia Without Maturation (M1); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With 11q23 (MLL) Abnormalities; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21)(q22;q22); Adult Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia (M4); Adult Erythroleukemia (M6a); Adult Pure Erythroid Leukemia (M6b); Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Relapsing Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

  10. Acute Central Nervous System Complications in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Baytan, Birol; Evim, Melike Sezgin; Güler, Salih; Güneş, Adalet Meral; Okan, Mehmet

    2015-10-01

    The outcome of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia has improved because of intensive chemotherapy and supportive care. The frequency of adverse events has also increased, but the data related to acute central nervous system complications during acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment are sparse. The purpose of this study is to evaluate these complications and to determine their long term outcome. We retrospectively analyzed the hospital reports of 323 children with de novo acute lymphoblastic leukemia from a 13-year period for acute neurological complications. The central nervous system complications of leukemic involvement, peripheral neuropathy, and post-treatment late-onset encephalopathy, and neurocognitive defects were excluded. Twenty-three of 323 children (7.1%) suffered from central nervous system complications during acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment. The majority of these complications (n = 13/23; 56.5%) developed during the induction period. The complications included posterior reversible encephalopathy (n = 6), fungal abscess (n = 5), cerebrovascular lesions (n = 5), syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (n = 4), and methotrexate encephalopathy (n = 3). Three of these 23 children (13%) died of central nervous system complications, one from an intracranial fungal abscess and the others from intracranial thrombosis. Seven of the survivors (n = 7/20; 35%) became epileptic and three of them had also developed mental and motor retardation. Acute central neurological complications are varied and require an urgent approach for proper diagnosis and treatment. Collaboration among the hematologist, radiologist, neurologist, microbiologist, and neurosurgeon is essential to prevent fatal outcome and serious morbidity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Expression of HER2/Neu in B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Sergio; Pomerantz, Alan; Demichelis-Gomez, Roberta; Barrera-Lumbreras, Georgina; Barrales-Benitez, Olga; Aguayo-Gonzalez, Alvaro

    2016-01-01

    The expression of HER2/neu in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia has been reported in previous studies. The objective of this research was to study the expression of HER2/neu on the blasts of patients with acute leukemia from the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran. From June 2015 to February 2016, a HER2/neu monoclonal antibody was added to the panel of antibodies that we routinely use in patients with acute leukemia. An expression of ≥ 30% was considered positive. We studied 33 patients: 19 had de novo leukemia (57.6%), three (9.1%) were in relapse, and in 11 (33.3%) their status could not be specified. Seventeen patients (51.5%) were classified as B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a median expression of HER2/neu of 0.3% (range 0-90.2). Three patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia were positive for HER2/neu: 89.4%, 90.9%, and 62.4%. The first and third patient had de novo B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The second patient was in second relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplant. All three patients were categorized as high-risk at the time of diagnosis. In the studied Mexican population, we found a positive expression of HER2/neu in 17% of the B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, similar to previous studies in which the expression was found in 15-50%.

  12. Venetoclax and Vincristine Liposomal in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory T-cell or B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-06-07

    B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Lymphoblasts 5 Percent or More of Bone Marrow Nucleated Cells; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  13. [Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children: history of drug therapy management].

    PubMed

    Bauters, T; Benoit, Y

    2014-12-01

    The last forty years have witnessed major improvements in the survival of pediatric cancer patients with an evolution of acute tymphoblastic leukemia as an untreatable disease to acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a survival rate of more than 90%. This has become possible due to improvements in the various modalities of cancer therapy and supportive care. The aim of this commentary is to give an overview of the history of pharmacological treatment for children with acute Lymphoblastic leukemia.

  14. Nilotinib and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2015-10-29

    B-cell Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, BCR-ABL1 Positive; Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Adult Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  15. Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Bortezomib in Treating Younger Patients With Newly Diagnosed T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Stage II-IV T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-06-27

    Adult T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Ann Arbor Stage II Adult Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage II Childhood Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage III Adult Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage III Childhood Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage IV Adult Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Ann Arbor Stage IV Childhood Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Childhood T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  16. 211^At-BC8-B10 Before Donor Stem Cell Transplant in Treating Patients With High-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or Myelodysplastic Syndrome

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-02-21

    Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Remission; Acute Myeloid Leukemia Arising From Previous Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Remission; CD45-Positive Neoplastic Cells Present; Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia; Myelodysplastic Syndrome With Excess Blasts; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  17. An early thymic precursor phenotype predicts outcome exclusively in HOXA-overexpressing adult T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a Group for Research in Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia study.

    PubMed

    Bond, Jonathan; Marchand, Tony; Touzart, Aurore; Cieslak, Agata; Trinquand, Amélie; Sutton, Laurent; Radford-Weiss, Isabelle; Lhermitte, Ludovic; Spicuglia, Salvatore; Dombret, Hervé; Macintyre, Elizabeth; Ifrah, Norbert; Hamel, Jean-François; Asnafi, Vahid

    2016-06-01

    Gene expression studies have consistently identified a HOXA-overexpressing cluster of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias, but it is unclear whether these constitute a homogeneous clinical entity, and the biological consequences of HOXA overexpression have not been systematically examined. We characterized the biology and outcome of 55 HOXA-positive cases among 209 patients with adult T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia uniformly treated during the Group for Research on Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (GRAALL)-2003 and -2005 studies. HOXA-positive patients had markedly higher rates of an early thymic precursor-like immunophenotype (40.8% versus 14.5%, P=0.0004), chemoresistance (59.3% versus 40.8%, P=0.026) and positivity for minimal residual disease (48.5% versus 23.5%, P=0.01) than the HOXA-negative group. These differences were due to particularly high frequencies of chemoresistant early thymic precursor-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia in HOXA-positive cases harboring fusion oncoproteins that transactivate HOXA Strikingly, the presence of an early thymic precursor-like immunophenotype was associated with marked outcome differences within the HOXA-positive group (5-year overall survival 31.2% in HOXA-positive early thymic precursor versus 66.7% in HOXA-positive non-early thymic precursor, P=0.03), but not in HOXA-negative cases (5-year overall survival 74.2% in HOXA-negative early thymic precursor versus 57.2% in HOXA-negative non-early thymic precursor, P=0.44). Multivariate analysis further revealed that HOXA positivity independently affected event-free survival (P=0.053) and relapse risk (P=0.039) of chemoresistant T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. These results show that the underlying mechanism of HOXA deregulation dictates the clinico-biological phenotype, and that the negative prognosis of early thymic precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia is exclusive to HOXA-positive patients, suggesting that early treatment intensification is currently

  18. T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma syndrome with eosinophilia and acute myeloid leukemia.

    PubMed

    Lamb, Lawrence S; Neuberg, Ronnie; Welsh, Jeff; Best, Robert; Stetler-Stevenson, Maryalice; Sorrell, April

    2005-05-01

    This case represents an example of an unusual T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma syndrome associated with eosinophilia and myeloid malignancy in a young boy. This case is one of only five reported "leukemic" variants of the disease and demonstrates the importance of considering this poor prognostic diagnosis in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This case also illustrates the importance of an interactive multidisciplinary approach to the laboratory evaluation of a leukemia patient. Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  19. PS-341 in Treating Patients With Refractory or Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Blast Phase, or Myelodysplastic Syndrome

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-01-22

    Adult Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (M3); Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Anemia With Excess Blasts; Refractory Anemia With Excess Blasts in Transformation; Relapsing Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

  20. Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Young Patients With Newly Diagnosed High-Risk B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Ph-Like TKI Sensitive Mutations

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-06-25

    B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Central Nervous System Leukemia; Ph-Like Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Testicular Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  1. The role of ZAP70 kinase in acute lymphoblastic leukemia infiltration into the central nervous system.

    PubMed

    Alsadeq, Ameera; Fedders, Henning; Vokuhl, Christian; Belau, Nele M; Zimmermann, Martin; Wirbelauer, Tim; Spielberg, Steffi; Vossen-Gajcy, Michaela; Cario, Gunnar; Schrappe, Martin; Schewe, Denis M

    2017-02-01

    Central nervous system infiltration and relapse are poorly understood in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We examined the role of zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 in preclinical models of central nervous system leukemia and performed correlative studies in patients. Zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 expression in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells was modulated using short hairpin ribonucleic acid-mediated knockdown or ectopic expression. We show that zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 regulates CCR7/CXCR4 via activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases. High expression of zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells resulted in a higher proportion of central nervous system leukemia in xenografts as compared to zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 low expressing counterparts. High zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 also enhanced the migration potential towards CCL19/CXCL12 gradients in vitro CCR7 blockade almost abrogated homing of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells to the central nervous system in xenografts. In 130 B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 117 T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 and CCR7/CXCR4 expression levels were significantly correlated. Zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 expression correlated with central nervous system disease in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and CCR7/CXCR4 correlated with central nervous system involvement in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. In multivariate analysis, zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 expression levels in the upper third and fourth quartiles were associated with central nervous system involvement in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (odds ratio=7.48, 95% confidence interval, 2.06-27.17; odds ratio=6.86, 95% confidence interval, 1.86-25.26, respectively). CCR7 expression in the upper fourth quartile correlated with central

  2. Acute myelofibrosis and acute lymphoblastic leukemia in an elderly patient with previously treated multiple myeloma.

    PubMed

    Gonzalez, Maria M; Kidd, Laura; Quesada, Jorge; Nguyen, Nghia; Chen, Lei

    2013-01-01

    Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell neoplasm involving the bone marrow with organ damage and/or a monoclonal protein (M-spike in the serum and/or urine). This neoplasm typically affects adults over the age of 50. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a hematological disorder involving at least 20% lymphoblasts in the bone marrow of the B-cell lineage. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia most commonly affects young children with 75% of cases occurring in children less than 6 years old. This case report describes a patient diagnosed with MM in 2000 who achieved a complete remission in 2006 after chemotherapy. Four years later, the patient presented with sudden pancytopenia. A bone marrow biopsy was obtained revealing a B lymphoblastic leukemia in an extensively fibrotic marrow without evidence of MM. A diagnosis of ALL with myelofibrosis is rare in the adult population, acute myelofibrosis (AMF) is more commonly associated with myeloproliferative disorders, and the development of acute leukemia in myeloma is rare. To the best of our knowledge, the presence of MM, ALL, and myelofibrosis in one patient has never been reported.

  3. Pharmacogenetics in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Cheok, Meyling H.; Pottier, Nicolas; Kager, Leo

    2009-01-01

    Progress in the treatment of acute leukemia in children has been remarkable, from a disease being lethal four decades ago to current cure rates exceeding 80%. This exemplary progress is largely due to the optimization of existing treatment modalities rather than the discovery of new antileukemic agents. However, despite these high cure rates, the annual number of children whose leukemia relapses after their initial therapy remains greater than that of new cases of most types of childhood cancers. The aim of pharmacogenetics is to develop strategies to personalize treatment and tailor therapy to individual patients, with the goal of optimizing efficacy and safety through better understanding of human genome variability and its influence on drug response. In this review, we summarize recent pharmacogenomic studies related to the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. These studies illustrate the promise of pharmacogenomics to further advance the treatment of human cancers, with childhood leukemia serving as a paradigm. PMID:19100367

  4. Non-infectious chemotherapy-associated acute toxicities during childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia therapy

    PubMed Central

    Schmiegelow, Kjeld; Müller, Klaus; Mogensen, Signe Sloth; Mogensen, Pernille Rudebeck; Wolthers, Benjamin Ole; Stoltze, Ulrik Kristoffer; Tuckuviene, Ruta; Frandsen, Thomas

    2017-01-01

    During chemotherapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, all organs can be affected by severe acute side effects, the most common being opportunistic infections, mucositis, central or peripheral neuropathy (or both), bone toxicities (including osteonecrosis), thromboembolism, sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, endocrinopathies (especially steroid-induced adrenal insufficiency and hyperglycemia), high-dose methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity, asparaginase-associated hypersensitivity, pancreatitis, and hyperlipidemia. Few of the non-infectious acute toxicities are associated with clinically useful risk factors, and across study groups there has been wide diversity in toxicity definitions, capture strategies, and reporting, thus hampering meaningful comparisons of toxicity incidences for different leukemia protocols. Since treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia now yields 5-year overall survival rates above 90%, there is a need for strategies for assessing the burden of toxicities in the overall evaluation of anti-leukemic therapy programs. PMID:28413626

  5. Immune thrombocytopenic purpura in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and mumps.

    PubMed

    Kurekci, A Emin; Atay, A Avni; Demirkaya, Erkan; Sarici, S Umit; Ozcan, Okan

    2006-03-01

    Immune thrombocytopenic purpura in childhood is characterized by a typical history of acute development of purpura and bruising in an otherwise healthy child. In children it usually follows a viral infection (eg, mumps, rubella) or immunization. We report for the first time a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who developed immune thrombocytopenic purpura due to mumps during the maintenance phase of acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment.

  6. Role of CXCR4-mediated bone marrow colonization in CNS infiltration by T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Jost, Tanja Rezzonico; Borga, Chiara; Radaelli, Enrico; Romagnani, Andrea; Perruzza, Lisa; Omodho, Lorna; Cazzaniga, Giovanni; Biondi, Andrea; Indraccolo, Stefano; Thelen, Marcus; Te Kronnie, Geertruy; Grassi, Fabio

    2016-06-01

    Infiltration of the central nervous system is a severe trait of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Inhibition of CXC chemokine receptor 4 significantly ameliorates T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in murine models of the disease; however, signaling by CXC chemokine receptor 4 is important in limiting the divagation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells out of the perivascular space into the central nervous system parenchyma. Therefore, Inhibition of CXC chemokine receptor 4 potentially may untangle T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells from retention outside the brain. Here, we show that leukemic lymphoblasts massively infiltrate cranial bone marrow, with diffusion to the meninges without invasion of the brain parenchyma, in mice that underwent xenotransplantation with human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells or that developed leukemia from transformed hematopoietic progenitors. We tested the hypothesis that T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia neuropathology results from meningeal infiltration through CXC chemokine receptor 4-mediated bone marrow colonization. Inhibition of leukemia engraftment in the bone marrow by pharmacologic CXC chemokine receptor 4 antagonism significantly ameliorated neuropathologic aspects of the disease. Genetic deletion of CXCR4 in murine hematopoietic progenitors abrogated leukemogenesis induced by constitutively active Notch1, whereas lack of CCR6 and CCR7, which have been shown to be involved in T cell and leukemia extravasation into the central nervous system, respectively, did not influence T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia development. We hypothesize that lymphoblastic meningeal infiltration as a result of bone marrow colonization is responsible for the degenerative alterations of the neuroparenchyma as well as the alteration of cerebrospinal fluid drainage in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia xenografts. Therefore, CXC chemokine receptor 4 may constitute a pharmacologic target for T cell acute lymphoblastic

  7. Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)—Health Professional Version

    Cancer.gov

    Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL; also called acute lymphocytic leukemia) is an aggressive cancer that can progress quickly without treatment. Treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant, and targeted therapy. Get detailed information about the molecular genetics, prognosis, and treatment of ALL in this clinician summary.

  8. Tanespimycin and Cytarabine in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia, or Myelodysplastic Syndromes

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-09-27

    Accelerated Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Adult Acute Basophilic Leukemia; Adult Acute Eosinophilic Leukemia; Adult Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia (M7); Adult Acute Minimally Differentiated Myeloid Leukemia (M0); Adult Acute Monoblastic Leukemia (M5a); Adult Acute Monocytic Leukemia (M5b); Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia With Maturation (M2); Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia Without Maturation (M1); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With 11q23 (MLL) Abnormalities; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21)(q22;q22); Adult Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia (M4); Adult Erythroleukemia (M6a); Adult Pure Erythroid Leukemia (M6b); Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia; de Novo Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Anemia With Excess Blasts in Transformation; Relapsing Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Secondary Myelodysplastic Syndromes

  9. Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Treating Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Lymphocytic Lymphoma, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or Acute Myeloid Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-06-03

    Extranodal Marginal Zone B-cell Lymphoma of Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue; Nodal Marginal Zone B-cell Lymphoma; Noncontiguous Stage II Marginal Zone Lymphoma; Noncontiguous Stage II Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Recurrent Marginal Zone Lymphoma; Recurrent Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma; Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia; Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma; Stage III Marginal Zone Lymphoma; Stage III Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma; Stage IV Marginal Zone Lymphoma; Stage IV Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma

  10. Temsirolimus, Dexamethasone, Mitoxantrone Hydrochloride, Vincristine Sulfate, and Pegaspargase in Treating Young Patients With Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2015-07-09

    Childhood B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Childhood T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Mature T-Cell and NK-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

  11. Vincristine and fine motor function of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed

    Sabarre, Cheryl L; Rassekh, Shahrad R; Zwicker, Jill G

    2014-10-01

    Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia receive vincristine, a chemotherapy drug known to cause peripheral neuropathy. Yet, few studies have examined the association of vincristine to fine motor function. This study will describe the fine motor skills and function of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on maintenance vincristine. A prospective case series design assessed manual dexterity and parent-reported fine motor dysfunction of 15 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in relation to cumulative vincristine exposure. Almost half of the participants had below-average fine motor skills compared to age-related norms, and 57% of parents observed functional motor problems in their children. No significant associations were found between vincristine, manual dexterity, and functional motor skills. Early detection and intervention for fine motor difficulties is suggested. Research with a larger sample is necessary to further explore the association of vincristine and fine motor function in this clinical population.

  12. Textural characteristics of bone marrow blast nucleus images with different variants of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nikitaev, V. G.; Pronichev, A. N.; Polyakov, E. V.; Mozhenkova, A. V.; Tupitsin, N. N.; Frenkel, M. A.

    2018-01-01

    The paper describes the method of recognition of T - and B - variants of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in microscopic images of blood cells. The method is based on the use of texture characteristics of images. Experimental recognition accuracy evaluation is obtained from the sample of 38 patients (17 with T-ALL and 21 with B-ALL variants of acute lymphoblastic leukemia). The obtained results show the possibility of applying of the proposed approach to the differential diagnosis of T- and B- variants of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

  13. Frequencies and prognostic impact of RAS mutations in MLL-rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia in infants

    PubMed Central

    Driessen, Emma M.C.; van Roon, Eddy H.J.; Spijkers-Hagelstein, Jill A.P.; Schneider, Pauline; de Lorenzo, Paola; Valsecchi, Maria Grazia; Pieters, Rob; Stam, Ronald W.

    2013-01-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in infants represents an aggressive malignancy associated with a high incidence (approx. 80%) of translocations involving the Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) gene. Attempts to mimic Mixed Lineage Leukemia fusion driven leukemogenesis in mice raised the question whether these fusion proteins require secondary hits. RAS mutations are suggested as candidates. Earlier results on the incidence of RAS mutations in Mixed Lineage Leukemia-rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia are inconclusive. Therefore, we studied frequencies and relation with clinical parameters of RAS mutations in a large cohort of infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. Using conventional sequencing analysis, we screened neuroblastoma RAS viral (v-ras) oncogene homolog gene (NRAS), v-Ki-ras Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog gene (KRAS), and v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 gene (BRAF) for mutations in a large cohort (n=109) of infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients and studied the mutations in relation to several clinical parameters, and in relation to Homeobox gene A9 expression and the presence of ALL1 fused gene 4-Mixed Lineage Leukemia (AF4-MLL). Mutations were detected in approximately 14% of all cases, with a higher frequency of approximately 24% in t(4;11)-positive patients (P=0.04). Furthermore, we identified RAS mutations as an independent predictor (P=0.019) for poor outcome in Mixed Lineage Leukemia-rearranged infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia, with a hazard ratio of 3.194 (95% confidence interval (CI):1.211–8.429). Also, RAS-mutated infants have higher white blood cell counts at diagnosis (P=0.013), and are more resistant to glucocorticoids in vitro (P<0.05). Finally, we demonstrate that RAS mutations, and not the lack of Homeobox gene A9 expression nor the expression of AF4-MLL are associated with poor outcome in t(4;11)-rearranged infants. We conclude that the presence of RAS mutations in Mixed Lineage Leukemia

  14. Bone involvement at diagnosis as a predictive factor in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Tragiannidis, A; Vasileiou, E; Papageorgiou, M; Damianidou, L; Hatzipantelis, E; Gombakis, N; Giannopoulos, A

    2016-01-01

    Bone involvement represents a common symptom at diagnosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and its prognostic value is not entirely clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate bone involvement at diagnosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia as a predictive factor and to correlate its presence with other demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 97 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosed from January 2005 to December 2014. The mean age of patients was 5.7 years, and 83 (85.6 %) of them were diagnosed with B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Among the 97 children, 46 (47.4 %) reported bone involvement at the time of diagnosis. Among children with B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia 43/83 (51.8 %) reported bone involvement, while among children with T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia only 3/14 (21.4 %) (p =0.04). Bone involvement was registered more frequently among males (30/59; 50.8 %) in comparison to females (16/38; 42.2 %) (p =0.414). The mean white blood cell count at diagnosis was lower among children with bone involvement (109,800/mm 3 vs. 184,700/mm 3 ) (p =0.092). The mean age of patients with bone involvement was four years, which differs significantly from those without bone involvement (p =0.029). Moreover, children with bone involvement at diagnosis were prednisone "good responders" (79.5 %) when compared with those without bone involvement (58.8 %) (p =0.046). Additionally, mean serum phosphate values were higher at diagnosis among children with bone involvement (5.3 mg/dl vs. 4.8 mg/dl, p =0.035). The presence of bone involvement at diagnosis is related with immunophenotype of B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia, lower mean age, lower mean white blood cell count and good prednisone response. According to presented data, we conclude that the presence of bone involvement at diagnosis represents a positive predictive factor for outcome/survival. Hippokratia 2016, 20(3): 227-230.

  15. Bone involvement at diagnosis as a predictive factor in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Tragiannidis, A; Vasileiou, E; Papageorgiou, M; Damianidou, L; Hatzipantelis, E; Gombakis, N; Giannopoulos, A

    2016-01-01

    Background: Bone involvement represents a common symptom at diagnosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and its prognostic value is not entirely clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate bone involvement at diagnosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia as a predictive factor and to correlate its presence with other demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 97 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosed from January 2005 to December 2014. The mean age of patients was 5.7 years, and 83 (85.6 %) of them were diagnosed with B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Results: Among the 97 children, 46 (47.4 %) reported bone involvement at the time of diagnosis. Among children with B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia 43/83 (51.8 %) reported bone involvement, while among children with T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia only 3/14 (21.4 %) (p =0.04). Bone involvement was registered more frequently among males (30/59; 50.8 %) in comparison to females (16/38; 42.2 %) (p =0.414). The mean white blood cell count at diagnosis was lower among children with bone involvement (109,800/mm3 vs. 184,700/mm3) (p =0.092). The mean age of patients with bone involvement was four years, which differs significantly from those without bone involvement (p =0.029). Moreover, children with bone involvement at diagnosis were prednisone “good responders” (79.5 %) when compared with those without bone involvement (58.8 %) (p =0.046). Additionally, mean serum phosphate values were higher at diagnosis among children with bone involvement (5.3 mg/dl vs. 4.8 mg/dl, p =0.035). Conclusions: The presence of bone involvement at diagnosis is related with immunophenotype of B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia, lower mean age, lower mean white blood cell count and good prednisone response. According to presented data, we conclude that the presence of bone involvement at diagnosis represents a positive predictive factor for

  16. Laboratory Treated T Cells in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, or Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-10-24

    CD19-Positive Neoplastic Cells Present; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia; Recurrent Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma; Recurrent Mantle Cell Lymphoma; Recurrent Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma; Recurrent Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma; Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia; Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma; Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma; Refractory Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma; Refractory Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma

  17. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia mimicking Wilms tumor at presentation.

    PubMed

    Singh, Amitabh; Mandal, Anirban; Guru, Vijay; Seth, Rachna

    2016-09-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the commonest malignancy of childhood, is known to manifest with a myriad of atypical presentations. Nephromegaly is a rare presentation of childhood ALL with hepatic mass being even rarer. We present a 3 year-old child with unilateral renal mass and hepatic mass lesion with normal blood counts, initially suspected to have metastatic Wilms tumor based on clinical, radiological and WT1 positivity on immunocytochemistry of renal mass. He was later diagnosed as ALL with peripheral blood flowcytometry and bone marrow examination. Renomegaly at presentation of acute leukemia is not necessarily due to leukemic infiltration and rarely leads to renal impairment. The radiological differential of such a renal mass includes both benign and malignant entities including metastasis. Over-expression of WT1 mRNA has been found in a number of solid tumors and hematological malignancies and is far from being diagnostic of Wilms tumor. Again, a small number of children with acute leukemia may have a deceptively normal complete blood count at presentation. Though, initial all (clinical, radiological, hematological, and immunocytological) parameters pointed towards a diagnosis of Wilms tumor in our case, the subsequent development of thrombocytopenia and lymphocytic leukocytosis prompted further investigation and final diagnosis of ALL. WT1 positivity is a known phenomenon in childhood ALL and undifferentiated lymphoblasts may be positive for WT1 and negative for Leucocyte common antigen. Acute leukemia with renal and hepatic mass with normal blood counts at presentation is a diagnostic challenge.

  18. Carfilzomib and Hyper-CVAD in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Lymphoma

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-03-01

    Contiguous Stage II Adult Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Noncontiguous Stage II Adult Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Stage I Adult Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Stage III Adult Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Stage IV Adult Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  19. Donor Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant and Pretargeted Radioimmunotherapy in Treating Patients With High-Risk Advanced Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or Myelodysplastic Syndrome

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-08-28

    Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia; Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, Unclassifiable; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Anemia With Excess Blasts; Refractory Cytopenia With Multilineage Dysplasia; Refractory Cytopenia With Multilineage Dysplasia and Ringed Sideroblasts; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  20. Donor Umbilical Cord Blood Transplant With or Without Ex-vivo Expanded Cord Blood Progenitor Cells in Treating Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, or Myelodysplastic Syndromes

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-03-05

    Acute Biphenotypic Leukemia; Acute Erythroid Leukemia; Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Remission; Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia; Acute Myeloid Leukemia Arising From Previous Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Remission; Blasts Under 10 Percent of Bone Marrow Nucleated Cells; Blasts Under 5 Percent of Bone Marrow Nucleated Cells; Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, BCR-ABL1 Positive; Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia; Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Myelodysplastic Syndrome With Excess Blasts; Pancytopenia; Refractory Anemia; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  1. New decision support tool for acute lymphoblastic leukemia classification

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Madhukar, Monica; Agaian, Sos; Chronopoulos, Anthony T.

    2012-03-01

    In this paper, we build up a new decision support tool to improve treatment intensity choice in childhood ALL. The developed system includes different methods to accurately measure furthermore cell properties in microscope blood film images. The blood images are exposed to series of pre-processing steps which include color correlation, and contrast enhancement. By performing K-means clustering on the resultant images, the nuclei of the cells under consideration are obtained. Shape features and texture features are then extracted for classification. The system is further tested on the classification of spectra measured from the cell nuclei in blood samples in order to distinguish normal cells from those affected by Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The results show that the proposed system robustly segments and classifies acute lymphoblastic leukemia based on complete microscopic blood images.

  2. CREBBP knockdown enhances RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling in Ras pathway mutated acute lymphoblastic leukemia but does not modulate chemotherapeutic response.

    PubMed

    Dixon, Zach A; Nicholson, Lindsay; Zeppetzauer, Martin; Matheson, Elizabeth; Sinclair, Paul; Harrison, Christine J; Irving, Julie A E

    2017-04-01

    Relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality in young people and new therapeutic strategies are needed to improve outcome. Recent studies have shown that heterozygous inactivating mutations in the histone acetyl transferase, CREBBP , are particularly frequent in relapsed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and associated with a hyperdiploid karyotype and KRAS mutations. To study the functional impact of CREBBP haploinsufficiency in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, RNA interference was used to knock down expression of CREBBP in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines and various primagraft acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. We demonstrate that attenuation of CREBBP results in reduced acetylation of histone 3 lysine 18, but has no significant impact on cAMP-dependent target gene expression. Impaired induction of glucocorticoid receptor targets was only seen in 1 of 4 CREBBP knockdown models, and there was no significant difference in glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis, sensitivity to other acute lymphoblastic leukemia chemotherapeutics or histone deacetylase inhibitors. Importantly, we show that CREBBP directly acetylates KRAS and that CREBBP knockdown enhances signaling of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in Ras pathway mutated acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells, which are still sensitive to MEK inhibitors. Thus, CREBBP mutations might assist in enhancing oncogenic RAS signaling in acute lymphoblastic leukemia but do not alter response to MEK inhibitors. Copyright© Ferrata Storti Foundation.

  3. Tacrolimus and Methotrexate With or Without Sirolimus in Preventing Graft-Versus-Host Disease in Young Patients Undergoing Donor Stem Cell Transplant for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Complete Remission

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2016-12-16

    B-cell Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Remission; Graft Versus Host Disease; L1 Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; L2 Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; T-cell Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  4. [Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Norway 1992-2000].

    PubMed

    Kolmannskog, Svein; Flaegstad, Trond; Helgestad, Jon; Hellebostad, Marit; Zeller, Bernward; Glomstein, Anders

    2007-05-31

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common malignancy in childhood. The survival rate has increased steadily over the last 40 years. All children aged 0-15 years and diagnosed in Norway in the period 1992-2000, were included in the study (n = 301). The patients were followed up until 1.1. 2005. The diagnosis was made in 301 children, 33 new cases per year (range 24 to 40) on average. The peak incidence was between 2 and 5 years. Four of 6 infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and all 4 with mature B-cell leukemia are alive. Two of the remaining 291 children died before treatment was started. 289 were all treated according to the common Nordic NOPHO-ALL 1992 protocol. All children achieved remission (99.7%), except for one who died before remission was achieved. 55 children (19%) relapsed. Radiation to the brain as part of central nervous system prophylaxis was given to just 10% of the children. The 10-year event-free survival (p-EFS) was 76%, and 244 of 289 (84%) were alive 4-13 years after the diagnosis was made. The data are comparable with the best international results.

  5. Immature MEF2C-dysregulated T-cell leukemia patients have an early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia gene signature and typically have non-rearranged T-cell receptors

    PubMed Central

    Zuurbier, Linda; Gutierrez, Alejandro; Mullighan, Charles G.; Canté-Barrett, Kirsten; Gevaert, A. Olivier; de Rooi, Johan; Li, Yunlei; Smits, Willem K.; Buijs-Gladdines, Jessica G.C.A.M.; Sonneveld, Edwin; Look, A. Thomas; Horstmann, Martin; Pieters, Rob; Meijerink, Jules P.P.

    2014-01-01

    Three distinct immature T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia entities have been described including cases that express an early T-cell precursor immunophenotype or expression profile, immature MEF2C-dysregulated T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cluster cases based on gene expression analysis (immature cluster) and cases that retain non-rearranged TRG@ loci. Early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases exclusively overlap with immature cluster samples based on the expression of early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia signature genes, indicating that both are featuring a single disease entity. Patients lacking TRG@ rearrangements represent only 40% of immature cluster cases, but no further evidence was found to suggest that cases with absence of bi-allelic TRG@ deletions reflect a distinct and even more immature disease entity. Immature cluster/early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases are strongly enriched for genes expressed in hematopoietic stem cells as well as genes expressed in normal early thymocyte progenitor or double negative-2A T-cell subsets. Identification of early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases solely by defined immunophenotypic criteria strongly underestimates the number of cases that have a corresponding gene signature. However, early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia samples correlate best with a CD1 negative, CD4 and CD8 double negative immunophenotype with expression of CD34 and/or myeloid markers CD13 or CD33. Unlike various other studies, immature cluster/early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients treated on the COALL-97 protocol did not have an overall inferior outcome, and demonstrated equal sensitivity levels to most conventional therapeutic drugs compared to other pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. PMID:23975177

  6. Deletions of the long arm of chromosome 5 define subgroups of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    La Starza, Roberta; Barba, Gianluca; Demeyer, Sofie; Pierini, Valentina; Di Giacomo, Danika; Gianfelici, Valentina; Schwab, Claire; Matteucci, Caterina; Vicente, Carmen; Cools, Jan; Messina, Monica; Crescenzi, Barbara; Chiaretti, Sabina; Foà, Robin; Basso, Giuseppe; Harrison, Christine J.; Mecucci, Cristina

    2016-01-01

    Recurrent deletions of the long arm of chromosome 5 were detected in 23/200 cases of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Genomic studies identified two types of deletions: interstitial and terminal. Interstitial 5q deletions, found in five cases, were present in both adults and children with a female predominance (chi-square, P=0.012). Interestingly, these cases resembled immature/early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia showing significant down-regulation of five out of the ten top differentially expressed genes in this leukemia group, including TCF7 which maps within the 5q31 common deleted region. Mutations of genes known to be associated with immature/early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, i.e. WT1, ETV6, JAK1, JAK3, and RUNX1, were present, while CDKN2A/B deletions/mutations were never detected. All patients had relapsed/resistant disease and blasts showed an early differentiation arrest with expression of myeloid markers. Terminal 5q deletions, found in 18 of patients, were more prevalent in adults (chi-square, P=0.010) and defined a subgroup of HOXA-positive T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia characterized by 130 up- and 197 down-regulated genes. Down-regulated genes included TRIM41, ZFP62, MAPK9, MGAT1, and CNOT6, all mapping within the 1.4 Mb common deleted region at 5q35.3. Of interest, besides CNOT6 down-regulation, these cases also showed low BTG1 expression and a high incidence of CNOT3 mutations, suggesting that the CCR4-NOT complex plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of HOXA-positive T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with terminal 5q deletions. In conclusion, interstitial and terminal 5q deletions are recurrent genomic losses identifying distinct subtypes of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. PMID:27151989

  7. Deletions of the long arm of chromosome 5 define subgroups of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    La Starza, Roberta; Barba, Gianluca; Demeyer, Sofie; Pierini, Valentina; Di Giacomo, Danika; Gianfelici, Valentina; Schwab, Claire; Matteucci, Caterina; Vicente, Carmen; Cools, Jan; Messina, Monica; Crescenzi, Barbara; Chiaretti, Sabina; Foà, Robin; Basso, Giuseppe; Harrison, Christine J; Mecucci, Cristina

    2016-08-01

    Recurrent deletions of the long arm of chromosome 5 were detected in 23/200 cases of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Genomic studies identified two types of deletions: interstitial and terminal. Interstitial 5q deletions, found in five cases, were present in both adults and children with a female predominance (chi-square, P=0.012). Interestingly, these cases resembled immature/early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia showing significant down-regulation of five out of the ten top differentially expressed genes in this leukemia group, including TCF7 which maps within the 5q31 common deleted region. Mutations of genes known to be associated with immature/early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, i.e. WT1, ETV6, JAK1, JAK3, and RUNX1, were present, while CDKN2A/B deletions/mutations were never detected. All patients had relapsed/resistant disease and blasts showed an early differentiation arrest with expression of myeloid markers. Terminal 5q deletions, found in 18 of patients, were more prevalent in adults (chi-square, P=0.010) and defined a subgroup of HOXA-positive T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia characterized by 130 up- and 197 down-regulated genes. Down-regulated genes included TRIM41, ZFP62, MAPK9, MGAT1, and CNOT6, all mapping within the 1.4 Mb common deleted region at 5q35.3. Of interest, besides CNOT6 down-regulation, these cases also showed low BTG1 expression and a high incidence of CNOT3 mutations, suggesting that the CCR4-NOT complex plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of HOXA-positive T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with terminal 5q deletions. In conclusion, interstitial and terminal 5q deletions are recurrent genomic losses identifying distinct subtypes of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Copyright© Ferrata Storti Foundation.

  8. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and adolescents: prognostic factors and analysis of survival

    PubMed Central

    Lustosa de Sousa, Daniel Willian; de Almeida Ferreira, Francisco Valdeci; Cavalcante Félix, Francisco Helder; de Oliveira Lopes, Marcos Vinicios

    2015-01-01

    Objective To describe the clinical and laboratory features of children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated at three referral centers in Ceará and evaluate prognostic factors for survival, including age, gender, presenting white blood cell count, immunophenotype, DNA index and early response to treatment. Methods Seventy-six under 19-year-old patients with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with the Grupo Brasileiro de Tratamento de Leucemia da Infância – acute lymphoblastic leukemia-93 and -99 protocols between September 2007 and December 2009 were analyzed. The diagnosis was based on cytological, immunophenotypic and cytogenetic criteria. Associations between variables, prognostic factors and response to treatment were analyzed using the chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Overall and event-free survival were estimated by Kaplan–Meier analysis and compared using the log-rank test. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independent prognostic factors. Results The average age at diagnosis was 6.3 ± 0.5 years and males were predominant (65%). The most frequently observed clinical features were hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. Central nervous system involvement and mediastinal enlargement occurred in 6.6% and 11.8%, respectively. B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia was more common (89.5%) than T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A DNA index >1.16 was found in 19% of patients and was associated with favorable prognosis. On Day 8 of induction therapy, 95% of the patients had lymphoblast counts <1000/μL and white blood cell counts <5.0 × 109/L. The remission induction rate was 95%, the induction mortality rate was 2.6% and overall survival was 72%. Conclusion The prognostic factors identified are compatible with the literature. The 5-year overall and event-free survival rates were lower than those reported for developed countries. As shown by the multivariate analysis, age and baseline white

  9. Advances in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Randolph, Tim R

    2004-01-01

    Current literature. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a stem cell disorder characterized by an overproduction of lymphoblasts in the bone marrow that eventually spill into circulation, producing lymphocytosis. As with the other acute leukemias, the most common symptoms experienced by patients include fatigue, bleeding, and recurrent infections resulting from the suppression of normal hematopoiesis in the bone marrow by the accumulating blasts. ALL primarily affects children and exhibits the best response to standard chemotherapy as compared to acute myeloblastic leukemias (AML). Further, remission rates are highest among ALL patients, many of whom are experiencing sustained remissions suggesting cure. In light of early treatment successes, researchers began to investigate modifications of standard treatment regimens to accommodate variability in weight, age, and response to therapy among children with ALL. Individualized treatment plans were implemented where some patients received a reduced intensity course of therapy to minimize drug toxicity while others received drug intensification to maximize response. More recently, research efforts have been directed at the elucidation of leukemogenic mechanisms implicated in ALL to identify specific protein mutants that can be used to design drugs tailored to interfere with the activity of these mutant protein targets. Identification of chimeric proteins produced from chromosomal translocations and gene expression profiles from microarray analyses are the primary techniques used to identify the potential therapeutic targets. Several reliable prognostic indicators have been identified and are being used to improve therapeutic planning and outcome prediction in ALL patients. Individualized treatment regimens have been developed based on the specific characteristics of each patient to minimize treatment related adverse events and maximize response. Through the use of cytogenetic, molecular, and microarray testing, ALL

  10. Altered brain function in new onset childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia before chemotherapy: A resting-state fMRI study.

    PubMed

    Hu, Zhanqi; Zou, Dongfang; Mai, Huirong; Yuan, Xiuli; Wang, Lihong; Li, Yue; Liao, Jianxiang; Liu, Liwei; Liu, Guosheng; Zeng, Hongwu; Wen, Feiqiu

    2017-10-01

    Cognitive impairments had been reported in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, what caused the impairments needed to be demonstrated, chemotherapy-related or the disease itself. The primary aim of this exploratory investigation was to determine if there were changes in brain function of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia before chemotherapy. In this study, we advanced a measure named regional homogeneity to evaluate the resting-state brain activities, intelligence quotient test was performed at same time. Using regional homogeneity, we first investigated the resting state brain function in patients with new onset childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia before chemotherapy, healthy children as control. The decreased ReHo values were mainly founded in the default mode network and left frontal lobe, bilateral inferior parietal lobule, bilateral temporal lobe, bilateral occipital lobe, precentral gyrus, bilateral cerebellum in the newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients compared with the healthy control. While in contrast, increased ReHo values were mainly shown in the right frontal lobe (language area), superior frontal gyrus-R, middle frontal gyrus-R and inferior parietal lobule-R for acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients group. There were no significant differences for intelligence quotient measurements between the acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient group and the healthy control in performance intelligence quotient, verbal intelligence quotient, total intelligence quotient. The altered brain functions are associated with cognitive change and language, it is suggested that there may be cognition impairment before the chemotherapy. Regional homogeneity by functional magnetic resonance image is a sensitive way for early detection on brain damage in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Copyright © 2017 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)—Patient Version

    Cancer.gov

    Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment is usually chemotherapy given in phases and determined by risk group. Radiation therapy, targeted therapy and stem cell transplant are sometimes used. Learn more about newly diagnosed and recurrent ALL in this expert reviewed summary.

  12. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in patients with Down syndrome with a previous history of acute myeloid leukemia.

    PubMed

    Tomizawa, Daisuke; Endo, Akifumi; Kajiwara, Michiko; Sakaguchi, Hirotoshi; Matsumoto, Kimikazu; Kaneda, Makoto; Taga, Takashi

    2017-08-01

    Patients with Down syndrome (DS) are predisposed to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in early and later childhood, respectively, but rarely experience both. We herein discuss four patients with DS with ALL and a history of AML who were treated with various chemotherapies, one of whom later received a bone marrow transplantation. Three patients survived and remain in remission. One patient died of fulminant hepatitis during therapy. No common cytogenetic abnormalities in AML and ALL besides constitutional +21 were identified, indicating that the two leukemia types were independent events. However, the underlying pathomechanism of these conditions awaits clarification. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  13. CD19/CD22 Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells and Chemotherapy in Treating Children or Young Adults With Recurrent or Refractory CD19 Positive B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-11-20

    B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; CD19 Positive; Minimal Residual Disease; Philadelphia Chromosome Positive; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  14. Delayed Neurotoxicity Associated with Therapy for Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cole, Peter D.; Kamen, Barton A.

    2006-01-01

    Most children diagnosed today with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) will be cured. However, treatment entails risk of neurotoxicity, causing deficits in neurocognitive function that can persist in the years after treatment is completed. Many of the components of leukemia therapy can contribute to adverse neurologic sequelae, including…

  15. Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)—Health Professional Version

    Cancer.gov

    Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant, and targeted therapy. Get detailed information about the molecular genetics, prognosis, and treatment of ALL in this summary for clinicians.

  16. Nanomedicine approaches in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Tatar, Andra-Sorina; Nagy-Simon, Timea; Tomuleasa, Ciprian; Boca, Sanda; Astilean, Simion

    2016-09-28

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the malignancy with the highest incidence amongst children (26% of all cancer cases), being surpassed only by the cancers of the brain and of the nervous system. The most recent research on ALL is focusing on new molecular therapies, like targeting specific biological structures in key points in the cell cycle, or using selective inhibitors for transmembranary proteins involved in cell signalling, and even aiming cell surface receptors with specifically designed antibodies for active targeting. Nanomedicine approaches, especially by the use of nanoparticle-based compounds for the delivery of drugs, cancer diagnosis or therapeutics may represent new and modern ways in the near future anti-cancer therapies. This review offers an overview on the recent role of nanomedicine in the detection and treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia as resulting from a thorough literature survey. A short introduction on the basics of ALL is presented followed by the description of the conventional methods used in the ALL detection and treatment. We follow our discussion by introducing some of the general nano-strategies used for cancer detection and treatment. The detailed role of organic and inorganic nanoparticles in ALL applications is further presented, with a special focus on gold nanoparticle-based nanocarriers of antileukemic drugs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Yttrium Y 90 Anti-CD45 Monoclonal Antibody BC8 Followed by Donor Stem Cell Transplant in Treating Patients With High-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or Myelodysplastic Syndrome

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-03-19

    Acute Myeloid Leukemia Arising From Previous Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Anemia With Excess Blasts; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  18. Veliparib and Temozolomide in Treating Patients With Acute Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-04-20

    Accelerated Phase of Disease; Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Acute Myeloid Leukemia Arising From Previous Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13.1q22); CBFB-MYH11; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13.1;q22); CBFB-MYH11; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21); (q22; q22.1); RUNX1-RUNX1T1; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(9;11)(p22.3;q23.3); MLLT3-KMT2A; Adult Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia With PML-RARA; Adult B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Adult B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia With t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2); BCR-ABL1; Adult T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Alkylating Agent-Related Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Blastic Phase; Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Recurrent Disease; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  19. The use of optical microscope equipped with multispectral detector to distinguish different types of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pronichev, A. N.; Polyakov, E. V.; Tupitsyn, N. N.; Frenkel, M. A.; Mozhenkova, A. V.

    2017-01-01

    The article describes the use of a computer optical microscopy with multispectral camera to characterize the texture of blasts bone marrow of patients with different variants of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: B- and T- types. Specific characteristics of the chromatin of the nuclei of blasts for different types of acute lymphoblastic leukemia were obtained.

  20. Biology of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): clinical and therapeutic relevance.

    PubMed

    Graux, Carlos

    2011-04-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a heterogeneous disease comprising several clinico-biological entities. Karyotyping of leukemic cells identifies recurrent chromosome rearrangements. These are usually translocations that activate genes encoding transcription factor regulating B- or T-cell differentiation. Gene expression-array confirms the prognostic relevance of ALL subgroups identified by specific chromosomal rearrangements and isolates new subgroups. Analysis of genomic copy number changes and high throughput sequencing reveal new cryptic deletions. The challenge is now to understand how these cooperative genetic lesions interact in order to have the molecular rationales needed to select new therapeutic targets and to develop and combine inhibitors with high levels of anti-leukemic specificity. The aim of this paper is to provide some data on the biology of acute lymphoblastic leukemia which are relevant in clinical practice. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Tumor suppressors BTG1 and IKZF1 cooperate during mouse leukemia development and increase relapse risk in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

    PubMed

    Scheijen, Blanca; Boer, Judith M; Marke, René; Tijchon, Esther; van Ingen Schenau, Dorette; Waanders, Esmé; van Emst, Liesbeth; van der Meer, Laurens T; Pieters, Rob; Escherich, Gabriele; Horstmann, Martin A; Sonneveld, Edwin; Venn, Nicola; Sutton, Rosemary; Dalla-Pozza, Luciano; Kuiper, Roland P; Hoogerbrugge, Peter M; den Boer, Monique L; van Leeuwen, Frank N

    2017-03-01

    Deletions and mutations affecting lymphoid transcription factor IKZF1 (IKAROS) are associated with an increased relapse risk and poor outcome in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, additional genetic events may either enhance or negate the effects of IKZF1 deletions on prognosis. In a large discovery cohort of 533 childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, we observed that single-copy losses of BTG1 were significantly enriched in IKZF1 -deleted B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia ( P =0.007). While BTG1 deletions alone had no impact on prognosis, the combined presence of BTG1 and IKZF1 deletions was associated with a significantly lower 5-year event-free survival ( P =0.0003) and a higher 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse ( P =0.005), when compared with IKZF1 -deleted cases without BTG1 aberrations. In contrast, other copy number losses commonly observed in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, such as CDKN2A/B, PAX5, EBF1 or RB1 , did not affect the outcome of IKZF1 -deleted acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. To establish whether the combined loss of IKZF1 and BTG1 function cooperate in leukemogenesis, Btg1 -deficient mice were crossed onto an Ikzf1 heterozygous background. We observed that loss of Btg1 increased the tumor incidence of Ikzf1 +/- mice in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, murine B cells deficient for Btg1 and Ikzf1 +/- displayed increased resistance to glucocorticoids, but not to other chemotherapeutic drugs. Together, our results identify BTG1 as a tumor suppressor in leukemia that, when deleted, strongly enhances the risk of relapse in IKZF1 -deleted B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and augments the glucocorticoid resistance phenotype mediated by the loss of IKZF1 function. Copyright© Ferrata Storti Foundation.

  2. IKAROS Gene Deleted B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Mexican Mestizos: Observations in Seven Patients and a Short Review of the Literature.

    PubMed

    Ruiz-Delgado, Guillermo José; Cantero-Fortiz, Yahveth; León-Peña, Andrés Aurelio; León-González, Mónica; Nuñez-Cortés, Ana Karen; Ruiz-Argüelles, Guillermo José

    2016-01-01

    In B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, one of the most frequent cytogenetic alterations is the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome. Recently, newly identified genetic alterations have been studied, among them the IKZF1 deletion. IKZF1 encodes IKAROS, a zinc finger protein that plays an important role in hematopoiesis involving the regulation process of adhesion, cellular migration, and as a tumor suppressor. We aimed to study the impact of IKAROS deletion in the evolution and prognosis of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. At a single center we prospectively studied patients diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and screened for IKZF1 deletion using the multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification method. We did a descriptive analysis of patients positive for the IKZF1 deletion to determine its impact on the evolution of the disease and survival rate. Between 2010 and 2015, 16 Mexican mestizo patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia were prospectively screened for IKZF1 deletion; seven (43%) were positive and were included for further analysis. The age range of patients was 13-60 years; six were males and one female. All cases had type B acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Of the seven patients, two died, three were lost to follow-up, and two continue in complete remission with treatment. Results are worse than those in a group of patients with non-mutated IKAROS B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia previously studied in our center. Although this is a small sample, the presence of IKAROS deletion in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients could represent a poor-prognosis marker and was probably related to therapy failure. It is also possible that this variant of leukemia may be more prevalent in Mexico. More studies are needed to define the role of IKZF1 deletion in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and the real prevalence of the disease in different populations.

  3. Neurodevelopmental Sequelae of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Its Treatment

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Janzen, Laura A.; Spiegler, Brenda J.

    2008-01-01

    This review will describe the neurocognitive outcomes associated with pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and its treatment. The literature is reviewed with the aim of addressing methodological issues, treatment factors, risks and moderators, special populations, relationship to neuroimaging findings, and directions for future research.…

  4. Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)—Health Professional Version

    Cancer.gov

    For acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the 5-year survival rate has improved significantly since 1975. Get information about risk factors, signs, diagnosis, molecular features, survival, risk-based treatment assignment, and induction and postinduction therapy for children and adolescents with newly diagnosed and recurrent ALL.

  5. Variation in CDKN2A at 9p21.3 influences childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk

    PubMed Central

    Sherborne, Amy L; Hosking, Fay J; Prasad, Rashmi B; Kumar, Rajiv; Koehler, Rolf; Vijayakrishnan, Jayaram; Papaemmanuil, Elli; Bartram, Claus R; Stanulla, Martin; Schrappe, Martin; Gast, Andreas; Dobbins, Sara E; Ma, Yussanne; Sheridan, Eamonn; Taylor, Malcolm; Kinsey, Sally E; Lightfoot, Tracey; Roman, Eve; Irving, Julie A E; Allan, James M; Moorman, Anthony V; Harrison, Christine J; Tomlinson, Ian P; Richards, Sue; Zimmermann, Martin; Szalai, Csaba; Semsei, Ágnes F; Erdelyi, Daniel J; Krajinovic, Maja; Sinnett, Daniel; Healy, Jasmine; Neira, Anna Gonzalez; Kawamata, Norihiko; Ogawa, Seishi; Koeffler, H Phillip; Hemminki, Kari; Greaves, Mel; Houlston, Richard S

    2012-01-01

    Using data from a genome-wide association study of 907 individuals with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (cases) and 2,398 controls and with validation in samples totaling 2,386 cases and 2,419 controls, we have shown that common variation at 9p21.3 (rs3731217, intron 1 of CDKN2A) influences acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk (odds ratio = 0.71, P = 3.01 × 10−11), irrespective of cell lineage. PMID:20453839

  6. Epigenetic inactivation of TWIST2 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia modulates proliferation, cell survival and chemosensitivity

    PubMed Central

    Thathia, Shabnam H.; Ferguson, Stuart; Gautrey, Hannah E.; van Otterdijk, Sanne D.; Hili, Michela; Rand, Vikki; Moorman, Anthony V.; Meyer, Stefan; Brown, Robert; Strathdee, Gordon

    2012-01-01

    Background Altered regulation of many transcription factors has been shown to be important in the development of leukemia. TWIST2 modulates the activity of a number of important transcription factors and is known to be a regulator of hematopoietic differentiation. Here, we investigated the significance of epigenetic regulation of TWIST2 in the control of cell growth and survival and in response to cytotoxic agents in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Design and Methods TWIST2 promoter methylation status was assessed quantitatively, by combined bisulfite and restriction analysis (COBRA) and pyrosequencing assays, in multiple types of leukemia and TWIST2 expression was determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis. The functional role of TWIST2 in cell proliferation, survival and response to chemotherapy was assessed in transient and stable expression systems. Results We found that TWIST2 was inactivated in more than 50% of cases of childhood and adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia through promoter hypermethylation and that this epigenetic regulation was especially prevalent in RUNX1-ETV6-driven cases. Re-expression of TWIST2 in cell lines resulted in a dramatic reduction in cell growth and induction of apoptosis in the Reh cell line. Furthermore, re-expression of TWIST2 resulted in increased sensitivity to the chemotherapeutic agents etoposide, daunorubicin and dexamethasone and TWIST2 hypermethylation was almost invariably found in relapsed adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (91% of samples hypermethylated). Conclusions This study suggests a dual role for epigenetic inactivation of TWIST2 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, initially through altering cell growth and survival properties and subsequently by increasing resistance to chemotherapy. PMID:22058208

  7. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia terminating as histiocytic medullary reticulosis.

    PubMed

    Shreiner, D P

    1975-02-24

    A young man with acute lymphoblastic leukemia was treated with vincristine sulfate, prednisone, and intrathecally injected methotrexate sodium for central nervous system involvement. A good remission was induced, but three months later he had hepatosplenomegaly, an enlarging mediastinal mass, and progressive anemia. Histiocytic medullary reticulosis was confirmed by a bone marrow biopsy specimen. The patient died of respiratory failure because of infiltration of the lungs by malignant histiocytes.

  8. Pure erythroid leukemia following precursor B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Xu, Min; Finn, Laura S; Tsuchiya, Karen D; Thomson, Blythe; Pollard, Jessica; Rutledge, Joe

    2012-01-01

    Therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia is an unfortunate sequel to current multimodal intensive chemotherapy. The patient described was diagnosed with pure erythroleukemia, AML-M6b, during therapy for precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of this unusual association.

  9. Inhibiting Polo-like kinase 1 causes growth reduction and apoptosis in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

    PubMed Central

    Hartsink-Segers, Stefanie A.; Exalto, Carla; Allen, Matthew; Williamson, Daniel; Clifford, Steven C.; Horstmann, Martin; Caron, Huib N.; Pieters, Rob; Den Boer, Monique L.

    2013-01-01

    This study investigated Polo-like kinase 1, a mitotic regulator often over-expressed in solid tumors and adult hematopoietic malignancies, as a potential new target in the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Polo-like kinase 1 protein and Thr210 phosphorylation levels were higher in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n=172) than in normal bone marrow mononuclear cells (n=10) (P<0.0001). High Polo-like kinase 1 protein phosphorylation, but not expression, was associated with a lower probability of event-free survival (P=0.042) and was a borderline significant prognostic factor (P=0.065) in a multivariate analysis including age and initial white blood cell count. Polo-like kinase 1 was necessary for leukemic cell survival, since short hairpin-mediated Polo-like kinase 1 knockdown in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines inhibited cell proliferation by G2/M cell cycle arrest and induced apoptosis through caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Primary patient cells with a high Polo-like kinase 1 protein expression were sensitive to the Polo-like kinase 1-specific inhibitor NMS-P937 in vitro, whereas cells with a low expression and normal bone marrow cells were resistant. This sensitivity was likely not caused by Polo-like kinase 1 mutations, since only one new mutation (Ser335Arg) was found by 454-sequencing of 38 pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases. This mutation did not affect Polo-like kinase 1 expression or NMS-P937 sensitivity. Together, these results indicate a pivotal role for Polo-like kinase 1 in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia and show potential for Polo-like kinase 1-inhibiting drugs as an addition to current treatment strategies for cases expressing high Polo-like kinase 1 levels. PMID:23753023

  10. Assessing Compliance With Mercaptopurine Treatment in Younger Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in First Remission | Division of Cancer Prevention

    Cancer.gov

    This randomized phase III trial studies compliance to a mercaptopurine treatment intervention compared to standard of care in younger patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission. Assessing ways to help patients who have acute lymphoblastic leukemia to take their medications as prescribed may help them in taking their medications more consistently and may improve

  11. BMS-214662 in Treating Patients With Acute Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndrome, or Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-01-22

    Adult Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (M3); Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Childhood Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Anemia With Excess Blasts; Refractory Anemia With Excess Blasts in Transformation; Relapsing Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

  12. Targeted sequencing identifies associations between IL7R-JAK mutations and epigenetic modulators in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Vicente, Carmen; Schwab, Claire; Broux, Michaël; Geerdens, Ellen; Degryse, Sandrine; Demeyer, Sofie; Lahortiga, Idoya; Elliott, Alannah; Chilton, Lucy; La Starza, Roberta; Mecucci, Cristina; Vandenberghe, Peter; Goulden, Nicholas; Vora, Ajay; Moorman, Anthony V.; Soulier, Jean; Harrison, Christine J.; Clappier, Emmanuelle; Cools, Jan

    2015-01-01

    T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia is caused by the accumulation of multiple oncogenic lesions, including chromosomal rearrangements and mutations. To determine the frequency and co-occurrence of mutations in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, we performed targeted re-sequencing of 115 genes across 155 diagnostic samples (44 adult and 111 childhood cases). NOTCH1 and CDKN2A/B were mutated/deleted in more than half of the cases, while an additional 37 genes were mutated/deleted in 4% to 20% of cases. We found that IL7R-JAK pathway genes were mutated in 27.7% of cases, with JAK3 mutations being the most frequent event in this group. Copy number variations were also detected, including deletions of CREBBP or CTCF and duplication of MYB. FLT3 mutations were rare, but a novel extracellular mutation in FLT3 was detected and confirmed to be transforming. Furthermore, we identified complex patterns of pairwise associations, including a significant association between mutations in IL7R-JAK genes and epigenetic regulators (WT1, PRC2, PHF6). Our analyses showed that IL7R-JAK genetic lesions did not confer adverse prognosis in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases enrolled in the UK ALL2003 trial. Overall, these results identify interconnections between the T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia genome and disease biology, and suggest a potential clinical application for JAK inhibitors in a significant proportion of patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. PMID:26206799

  13. Letter regarding Zhao et al. entitled " DPYD gene polymorphisms are associated with risk and chemotherapy prognosis in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia".

    PubMed

    Deenen, Maarten J; Henricks, Linda M; Sonke, Gabe S; Schellens, Jan Hm; Meulendijks, Didier

    2017-06-01

    Zhao et al. investigated the association between germline genetic polymorphisms in DPYD, the gene encoding dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, and (1) the risk of developing pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia and (2) outcome of acute lymphoblastic leukemia following the treatment with 5-fluorouracil plus oxaliplatin (FOLFOX). The authors found that the common DPYD variant c.85T>C (rs1801265, DPYD*9A) was significantly associated with (1) risk of developing pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia, (2) complete response rate, (3) event-free survival, and (4) treatment-related toxicity. The authors conclude that patients carrying the c.85T>C C allele have an increased risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia and have inferior outcome, and that DPYD c.85T>C can be used as a guide for individualized treatment and the decision to utilize 5-fluorouracil in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. In our view, the published article gives rise to multiple critical issues regarding the study's rationale and the methodology used, which strongly question the validity of the authors' conclusions.

  14. Incidence and risk factors for central nervous system relapse in children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Cancela, Camila Silva Peres; Murao, Mitiko; Viana, Marcos Borato; de Oliveira, Benigna Maria

    2012-01-01

    Background Despite all the advances in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, central nervous system relapse remains an important obstacle to curing these patients. This study analyzed the incidence of central nervous system relapse and the risk factors for its occurrence in children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Methods This study has a retrospective cohort design. The studied population comprised 199 children and adolescents with a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia followed up at Hospital das Clinicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (HC-UFMG) between March 2001 and August 2009 and submitted to the Grupo Brasileiro de Tratamento de Leucemia da Infância - acute lymphoblastic leukemia (GBTLI-LLA-99) treatment protocol. Results The estimated probabilities of overall survival and event free survival at 5 years were 69.5% (± 3.6%) and 58.8% (± 4.0%), respectively. The cumulative incidence of central nervous system (isolated or combined) relapse was 11.0% at 8 years. The estimated rate of isolated central nervous system relapse at 8 years was 6.8%. In patients with a blood leukocyte count at diagnosis ≥ 50 x 109/L, the estimated rate of isolated or combined central nervous system relapse was higher than in the group with a count < 50 x 109/L (p-value = 0.0008). There was no difference in cumulative central nervous system relapse (isolated or combined) for the other analyzed variables: immunophenotype, traumatic lumbar puncture, interval between diagnosis and first lumbar puncture and place where the procedure was performed. Conclusions These results suggest that a leukocyte count > 50 x 109/L at diagnosis seems to be a significant prognostic factor for a higher incidence of central nervous system relapse in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. PMID:23323068

  15. huJCAR014 CAR-T Cells in Treating Adult Patients With Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma or Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-05-25

    Adult B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; BCL2 Gene Rearrangement; BCL6 Gene Rearrangement; CD19 Positive; Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Not Otherwise Specified; MYC Gene Rearrangement; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma; Recurrent Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma; Recurrent Mediastinal (Thymic) Large B-Cell Cell Lymphoma; Refractory Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma; Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma; Refractory Mediastinal (Thymic) Large B-Cell Cell Lymphoma; Transformed Recurrent Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

  16. An Initial Reintegration Treatment of Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lurie, Michelle; Kaufman, Nadeen

    2001-01-01

    Evaluated the cognitive, psychological, and social adjustment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients and assessed how their needs could best be met through reintegration programs focusing on learning/ educational needs. Findings from three case studies highlight the need for ALL patients to be provided with comprehensive programs…

  17. Comparison between qualitative and real-time polymerase chain reaction to evaluate minimal residual disease in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Paula, Francisco Danilo Ferreira; Elói-Santos, Silvana Maria; Xavier, Sandra Guerra; Ganazza, Mônica Aparecida; Jotta, Patricia Yoshioka; Yunes, José Andrés; Viana, Marcos Borato; Assumpção, Juliana Godoy

    2015-01-01

    Minimal residual disease is an important independent prognostic factor that can identify poor responders among patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The aim of this study was to analyze minimal residual disease using immunoglobulin (Ig) and T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements by conventional polymerase chain reaction followed by homo-heteroduplex analysis and to compare this with real-time polymerase chain reaction at the end of the induction period in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Seventy-four patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were enrolled. Minimal residual disease was evaluated by qualitative polymerase chain reaction in 57 and by both tests in 44. The Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox methods and the log-rank test were used for statistical analysis. Nine patients (15.8%) were positive for minimal residual disease by qualitative polymerase chain reaction and 11 (25%) by real-time polymerase chain reaction considering a cut-off point of 1×10(-3) for precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 1×10(-2) for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Using the qualitative method, the 3.5-year leukemia-free survival was significantly higher in children negative for minimal residual disease compared to those with positive results (84.1%±5.6% versus 41.7%±17.3%, respectively; p-value=0.004). There was no significant association between leukemia-free survival and minimal residual disease by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Minimal residual disease by qualitative polymerase chain reaction was the only variable significantly correlated to leukemia-free survival. Given the difficulties in the implementation of minimal residual disease monitoring by real-time polymerase chain reaction in most treatment centers in Brazil, the qualitative polymerase chain reaction strategy may be a cost-effective alternative. Copyright © 2015 Associação Brasileira de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular. Published by Elsevier

  18. Clinical updates in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Al Ustwani, Omar; Gupta, Neha; Bakhribah, Hatoon; Griffiths, Elizabeth; Wang, Eunice; Wetzler, Meir

    2016-03-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a clonal disease characterized by B or T lineage. Here we cover the clinical manifestations, pathophysiology and therapy for ALL. Additionally, we will discuss the evidence for minimal residual disease assessment, novel molecular targets and newly developed targeted therapies. The separation of ALL into Philadelphia chromosome positive and recently into Philadelphia-like disease represents the most exciting developments in this disease. Finally, the advent of new immunotherapeutic approaches led us to predict that in few years, ALL therapy might be based heavily on non-chemotherapeutic approaches. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Cytomegalovirus retinitis diagnosed after completion of chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in an adolescent.

    PubMed

    Han, Seung Beom; Lee, Jin Hee; Lee, Jae Wook; Chung, Nack-Gyun; Cho, Bin; Kang, Jin Han; Kim, Hack-Ki; Lee, Jin Hae; Lee, Won Ki

    2015-03-01

    Although cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is usually diagnosed in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients among patients with hematologic and oncologic disease, it can also occur in acute leukemia patients who have not received hematopoietic cell transplantation. However, CMV retinitis diagnosed after completion of chemotherapy for acute leukemia has not previously been reported. A 17-year-old boy was diagnosed with CMV retinitis 3 months after completion of chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and his retinitis was assumed to be caused by a delayed immune reconstitution after chemotherapy. The patient was treated with intravenous and intravitreous ganciclovir therapy, and subsequently underwent surgery for retinal detachment.

  20. Genes commonly deleted in childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: association with cytogenetics and clinical features

    PubMed Central

    Schwab, Claire J.; Chilton, Lucy; Morrison, Heather; Jones, Lisa; Al-Shehhi, Halima; Erhorn, Amy; Russell, Lisa J.; Moorman, Anthony V.; Harrison, Christine J.

    2013-01-01

    In childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, cytogenetics is important in diagnosis and as an indicator of response to therapy, thus playing a key role in risk stratification of patients for treatment. Little is known of the relationship between different cytogenetic subtypes in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia and the recently reported copy number abnormalities affecting significant leukemia associated genes. In a consecutive series of 1427 childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, we have determined the incidence and type of copy number abnormalities using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. We have shown strong links between certain deletions and cytogenetic subtypes, including the novel association between RB1 deletions and intrachromosomal amplification of chromosome 21. In this study, we characterized the different copy number abnormalities and show heterogeneity of PAX5 and IKZF1 deletions and the recurrent nature of RB1 deletions. Whole gene losses are often indicative of larger deletions, visible by conventional cytogenetics. An increased number of copy number abnormalities is associated with NCI high risk, specifically deletions of IKZF1 and CDKN2A/B, which occur more frequently among these patients. IKZF1 deletions and rearrangements of CRLF2 among patients with undefined karyotypes may point to the poor risk BCR-ABL1-like group. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated in a large representative cohort of children with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia that the pattern of copy number abnormalities is highly variable according to the primary genetic abnormality. PMID:23508010

  1. Severe neurotoxicity following intrathecal methotrexate with nitrous oxide sedation in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Löbel, U; Trah, J; Escherich, G

    2015-03-01

    Systemic and intrathecal methotrexate is widely used in treatment protocols for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Its side effects vary in characteristics, intensity and time of onset, and depend on the administration route. Interactions with several drugs are known. Side effects of nitrous oxide sedation, often used for moderately painful procedures, typically occur after long time use and include neurological symptoms. We present a child who experienced a severe and long-lasting neurotoxicity after the third intrathecal application of methotrexate with short sedation by nitrous oxide during induction therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Symptoms completely resolved after 12 months. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  2. Recognition of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells in microscopic images using k-means clustering and support vector machine classifier.

    PubMed

    Amin, Morteza Moradi; Kermani, Saeed; Talebi, Ardeshir; Oghli, Mostafa Ghelich

    2015-01-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common form of pediatric cancer which is categorized into three L1, L2, and L3 and could be detected through screening of blood and bone marrow smears by pathologists. Due to being time-consuming and tediousness of the procedure, a computer-based system is acquired for convenient detection of Acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Microscopic images are acquired from blood and bone marrow smears of patients with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia and normal cases. After applying image preprocessing, cells nuclei are segmented by k-means algorithm. Then geometric and statistical features are extracted from nuclei and finally these cells are classified to cancerous and noncancerous cells by means of support vector machine classifier with 10-fold cross validation. These cells are also classified into their sub-types by multi-Support vector machine classifier. Classifier is evaluated by these parameters: Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy which values for cancerous and noncancerous cells 98%, 95%, and 97%, respectively. These parameters are also used for evaluation of cell sub-types which values in mean 84.3%, 97.3%, and 95.6%, respectively. The results show that proposed algorithm could achieve an acceptable performance for the diagnosis of Acute lymphoblastic leukemia and its sub-types and can be used as an assistant diagnostic tool for pathologists.

  3. Aberrant Signaling Pathways in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Bongiovanni, Deborah; Saccomani, Valentina

    2017-01-01

    T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive disease caused by the malignant transformation of immature progenitors primed towards T-cell development. Clinically, T-ALL patients present with diffuse infiltration of the bone marrow by immature T-cell blasts high blood cell counts, mediastinal involvement, and diffusion to the central nervous system. In the past decade, the genomic landscape of T-ALL has been the target of intense research. The identification of specific genomic alterations has contributed to identify strong oncogenic drivers and signaling pathways regulating leukemia growth. Notwithstanding, T-ALL patients are still treated with high-dose multiagent chemotherapy, potentially exposing these patients to considerable acute and long-term side effects. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of the signaling pathways relevant for the pathogenesis of T-ALL and the opportunities offered for targeted therapy. PMID:28872614

  4. Blinatumomab and Nivolumab With or Without Ipilimumab in Treating Patients With Poor-Risk Relapsed or Refractory CD19+ Precursor B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-05-14

    B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia With t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2); BCR-ABL1; CD19-Positive Neoplastic Cells Present; Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia; Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia With t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2); BCR-ABL1; Recurrent B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Refractory B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  5. Mitochondrial DNA in Residual Leukemia Cells in Cerebrospinal Fluid in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Egan, Kathryn; Kusao, Ian; Troelstrup, David; Agsalda, Melissa; Shiramizu, Bruce

    2010-01-01

    This feasibility study was designed to assess the ability to measure mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cells that contributed to minimal disease/persistent or residual disease (MD/PRD) from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Increase in mtDNA copies in cancer cells has been suggested to play a role in MD/PRD. CSF as well as blood specimens from 6 children were assayed for MD/PRD and mtDNA copy numbers by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Of 7 MD/PRD-positive specimens, 6 had increased mtDNA copy numbers; while 11 MD/PRD-negative specimens had no increase in mtDNA copy numbers, p < 0.003. This is the first proof-of-concept study to measure mtDNA copy numbers in MD/PRD-positive CSF specimens from children with ALL. Increase of mtDNA copy numbers in MD/PRD childhood ALL cells and its significance as a mechanism for recurrence requires further investigation. Keywords Minimal residual disease; Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Central nervous system; Cerebrospinal fluid; Mitochondria PMID:21331151

  6. MS-275 and GM-CSF in Treating Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndrome and/or Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia or Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2017-06-16

    Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Remission; Adult Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia (M7); Adult Acute Minimally Differentiated Myeloid Leukemia (M0); Adult Acute Monoblastic Leukemia (M5a); Adult Acute Monocytic Leukemia (M5b); Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia With Maturation (M2); Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia Without Maturation (M1); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With 11q23 (MLL) Abnormalities; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21)(q22;q22); Adult Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia (M4); Adult Erythroleukemia (M6a); Adult Pure Erythroid Leukemia (M6b); Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia; de Novo Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, Unclassifiable; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Anemia; Refractory Anemia With Excess Blasts; Refractory Anemia With Ringed Sideroblasts; Refractory Cytopenia With Multilineage Dysplasia; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Secondary Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  7. Successful Treatment of Disseminated Cryptococcal Infection in a Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patient During Induction

    PubMed Central

    Heath, Jessica L.; Yin, Dwight E.; Wechsler, Daniel S.; Turner, David A.

    2015-01-01

    Disseminated cryptococcal infection is rarely reported in the setting of pediatric acute leukemia, despite the immunocompromised state of these patients. However, when present, disseminated cryptococcal infection poses treatment challenges and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment of invasive fungal disease in a child with acute leukemia requires a delicate balance between anti-fungal and anti-neoplastic therapy. This balance is particularly important early in the course of leukemia, since both the underlying disease and overwhelming infection can be life threatening. We describe the successful management of life-threatening disseminated cryptococcosis in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during induction therapy. PMID:22258349

  8. High incidence of symptomatic hyperammonemia in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia receiving pegylated asparaginase.

    PubMed

    Heitink-Pollé, Katja M J; Prinsen, Berthil H C M T; de Koning, Tom J; van Hasselt, Peter M; Bierings, Marc B

    2013-01-01

    Asparaginase is a mainstay of treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Pegylation of asparaginase extends its biological half-life and has been introduced in the newest treatment protocols aiming to further increase treatment success. Hyperammonemia is a recognized side effect of asparaginase treatment, but little is known about its incidence and clinical relevance. Alerted by a patient with severe hyperammonemia after introduction of the new acute lymphoblastic leukemia protocol, we analyzed blood samples and clinical data of eight consecutive patients receiving pegylated asparaginase (PEG-asparaginase) during their treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. All patients showed hyperammonemia (>50 μmol/L) and seven patients (88 %) showed ammonia concentrations > 100 μmol/L. Maximum ammonia concentrations ranged from 89 to 400 μmol/L. Symptoms varied from mild anorexia and nausea to headache, vomiting, dizziness, and lethargy and led to early interruption of PEG-asparaginase in three patients. No evidence of urea cycle malfunction was found, so overproduction of ammonia through hydrolysis of plasma asparagine and glutamine seems to be the main cause. Interestingly, ammonia concentrations correlated with triglyceride values (r = 0.68, p < 0.0001), suggesting increased overall toxicity.The prolonged half-life of PEG-asparaginase may be responsible for the high incidence of hyperammonemia and warrants future studies to define optimal dosing schedules based on ammonia concentrations and individual asparagine and asparaginase measurements.

  9. B cell markers in Ph1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Alimena, G; De Rossi, G; Gastaldi, R; Guglielmi, C; Mandelli, F

    1980-01-01

    A case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) where the blast cells had B cell markers and displayed the presence of a typical Ph1 chromosome, originated by a standard t (9;22) translocation, is reported. Cytological and clinical aspects during the entire course of the disease were consistent with the diagnosis of ALL. Evidence of differentiation along a well-defined lymphoid cell line in a Ph1-positive cell confirms the presence of the Ph1 chromosome in conditions other than chronic granulocytic leukemia and shows that it possibly does not occur in an exclusively undifferentiated totipotent stem cell.

  10. High CD45 surface expression determines relapse risk in children with precursor B-cell and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated according to the ALL-BFM 2000 protocol

    PubMed Central

    Cario, Gunnar; Rhein, Peter; Mitlöhner, Rita; Zimmermann, Martin; Bandapalli, Obul R.; Romey, Renja; Moericke, Anja; Ludwig, Wolf-Dieter; Ratei, Richard; Muckenthaler, Martina U.; Kulozik, Andreas E.; Schrappe, Martin; Stanulla, Martin; Karawajew, Leonid

    2014-01-01

    Further improvement of outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia could be achieved by identifying additional high-risk patients who may benefit from intensified treatment. We earlier identified PTPRC (CD45) gene expression as a potential new stratification marker and now analyzed the prognostic relevance of CD45 protein expression. CD45 was measured by flow cytometry in 1065 patients treated according to the ALL-BFM-2000 protocol. The 75th percentile was used as cut-off to distinguish a CD45-high from a CD45-low group. As mean CD45 expression was significantly higher in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia than in B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (P<0.0001), the analysis was performed separately in both groups. In B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia we observed a significant association of a high CD45 expression with older age, high initial white blood cell count, ETV6/RUNX1 negativity, absence of high hyperdiploidy (P<0.0001), MLL/AF4 positivity (P=0.002), BCR/ABL1 positivity (P=0.007), prednisone poor response (P=0.002) and minimal residual disease (P<0.0001). In T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia we observed a significant association with initial white blood cell count (P=0.0003), prednisone poor response (P=0.01), and minimal residual disease (P=0.02). Compared to CD45-low patients, CD45-high patients had a lower event-free survival rate (B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: 72±3% versus 86±1%, P<0.0001; T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: 60±8% versus 78±4%, P=0.02), which was mainly attributable to a higher cumulative relapse incidence (B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: 22±3% versus 11±1%, P<0.0001; T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: 31±8% versus 11±3%, P=0.003) and kept its significance in multivariate analysis considering sex, age, initial white blood cell count, and minimal residual disease in B-cell-precursor- and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and additionally presence of ETV6/RUNX1

  11. High CD45 surface expression determines relapse risk in children with precursor B-cell and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated according to the ALL-BFM 2000 protocol.

    PubMed

    Cario, Gunnar; Rhein, Peter; Mitlöhner, Rita; Zimmermann, Martin; Bandapalli, Obul R; Romey, Renja; Moericke, Anja; Ludwig, Wolf-Dieter; Ratei, Richard; Muckenthaler, Martina U; Kulozik, Andreas E; Schrappe, Martin; Stanulla, Martin; Karawajew, Leonid

    2014-01-01

    Further improvement of outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia could be achieved by identifying additional high-risk patients who may benefit from intensified treatment. We earlier identified PTPRC (CD45) gene expression as a potential new stratification marker and now analyzed the prognostic relevance of CD45 protein expression. CD45 was measured by flow cytometry in 1065 patients treated according to the ALL-BFM-2000 protocol. The 75(th) percentile was used as cut-off to distinguish a CD45-high from a CD45-low group. As mean CD45 expression was significantly higher in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia than in B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (P<0.0001), the analysis was performed separately in both groups. In B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia we observed a significant association of a high CD45 expression with older age, high initial white blood cell count, ETV6/RUNX1 negativity, absence of high hyperdiploidy (P<0.0001), MLL/AF4 positivity (P=0.002), BCR/ABL1 positivity (P=0.007), prednisone poor response (P=0.002) and minimal residual disease (P<0.0001). In T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia we observed a significant association with initial white blood cell count (P=0.0003), prednisone poor response (P=0.01), and minimal residual disease (P=0.02). Compared to CD45-low patients, CD45-high patients had a lower event-free survival rate (B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: 72 ± 3% versus 86 ± 1%, P<0.0001; T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: 60 ± 8% versus 78 ± 4%, P=0.02), which was mainly attributable to a higher cumulative relapse incidence (B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: 22 ± 3% versus 11 ± 1%, P<0.0001; T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: 31 ± 8% versus 11 ± 3%, P=0.003) and kept its significance in multivariate analysis considering sex, age, initial white blood cell count, and minimal residual disease in B-cell-precursor- and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and additionally

  12. High Throughput Drug Sensitivity Assay and Genomics- Guided Treatment of Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-02-28

    Acute Leukemia of Ambiguous Lineage; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Refractory Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  13. Iodine I 131 Monoclonal Antibody BC8, Fludarabine Phosphate, Cyclophosphamide, Total-Body Irradiation and Donor Bone Marrow Transplant in Treating Patients With Advanced Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-05-14

    Acute Myeloid Leukemia Arising From Previous Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Remission; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Remission; CD45-Positive Neoplastic Cells Present; Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Refractory Anemia With Excess Blasts; Refractory Anemia With Ring Sideroblasts; Refractory Cytopenia With Multilineage Dysplasia; Refractory Cytopenia With Multilineage Dysplasia and Ring Sideroblasts

  14. ZFX controls propagation and prevents differentiation of acute T-lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Weisberg, Stuart P.; Smith-Raska, Matthew R.; Esquilin, Jose M.; Zhang, Ji; Arenzana, Teresita L.; Lau, Colleen M.; Churchill, Michael; Pan, Haiyan; Klinakis, Apostolos; Dixon, Jack E.; Mirny, Leonid A.; Mukherjee, Siddhartha; Reizis, Boris

    2014-01-01

    Summary Tumor-propagating cells in acute leukemia maintain a stem/progenitor-like immature phenotype and proliferative capacity. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) originate from different lineages through distinct oncogenic events such as MLL fusions and Notch signaling, respectively. We found that Zfx, a transcription factor that controls hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal, controls the initiation and maintenance of AML caused by MLL-AF9 fusion and of T-ALL caused by Notch1 activation. In both leukemia types, Zfx prevents differentiation and activates gene sets characteristic of immature cells of the respective lineages. In addition, endogenous Zfx contributes to gene induction and transformation by Myc overexpression in myeloid progenitors. Key Zfx target genes include the mitochondrial enzymes Ptpmt1 and Idh2, whose overexpression partially rescues the propagation of Zfx-deficient AML. These results show that distinct leukemia types maintain their undifferentiated phenotype and self-renewal by exploiting a common stem cell-related genetic regulator. PMID:24485662

  15. Association between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Serbian children.

    PubMed

    Damnjanovic, Tatjana; Milicevic, Radomir; Novkovic, Tanja; Jovicic, Olivera; Bunjevacki, Vera; Jekic, Biljana; Lukovic, Ljiljana; Novakovic, Ivana; Redzic, Danka; Milasin, Jelena

    2010-05-01

    Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) regulates the metabolism of folate and methionine, essential components of DNA synthesis and methylation. Polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene have been associated with susceptibility to some types of cancer. We investigated a possible association of MTHFR polymorphisms (677C>T and 1298A>C) and increased risk for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 78 affected children. The frequencies of both MTHFR 677 genotypes and alleles were significantly different between patients and controls. A significant association between CT/TT individuals and reduced risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia was found. The odds ratios were 0.53 (95% confidence interval, 032-0.89) and 0.30 (95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.81). Polymorphism 1298 did not show statistical difference between patients and controls.

  16. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a comprehensive review and 2017 update

    PubMed Central

    Terwilliger, T; Abdul-Hay, M

    2017-01-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the second most common acute leukemia in adults, with an incidence of over 6500 cases per year in the United States alone. The hallmark of ALL is chromosomal abnormalities and genetic alterations involved in differentiation and proliferation of lymphoid precursor cells. In adults, 75% of cases develop from precursors of the B-cell lineage, with the remainder of cases consisting of malignant T-cell precursors. Traditionally, risk stratification has been based on clinical factors such age, white blood cell count and response to chemotherapy; however, the identification of recurrent genetic alterations has helped refine individual prognosis and guide management. Despite advances in management, the backbone of therapy remains multi-agent chemotherapy with vincristine, corticosteroids and an anthracycline with allogeneic stem cell transplantation for eligible candidates. Elderly patients are often unable to tolerate such regimens and carry a particularly poor prognosis. Here, we review the major recent advances in the treatment of ALL. PMID:28665419

  17. MicroRNA-101 regulates T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia progression and chemotherapeutic sensitivity by targeting Notch1.

    PubMed

    Qian, Lu; Zhang, Wanggang; Lei, Bo; He, Aili; Ye, Lianhong; Li, Xingzhou; Dong, Xin

    2016-11-01

    The present study aimed to investigate the role of microRNA (miR)-101 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia progression and chemoresistance. Furthermore, a novel target gene of miR-101 was identified. Here, we confirmed that miR-101 was significantly downregulated in the blood samples of patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) compared with the healthy controls, as determined by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTqPCR) analysis. The in vitro experiments demonstrated that miR-101 significantly repressed the proliferation and invasion, and induced potent apoptosis in Jurkat cells, as determined by CCK-8, flow cytometer and cell invasion assays. Luciferase assay confirmed that Notch1 was a target gene of miR-101, and western blotting showed that miR-101 suppressed the expression of Notch1 at the protein level. Moreover, functional restoration assays revealed that Notch1 mediates the effects of miR-101 on Jurkat cell proliferation, apoptosis and invasion. miR-101 enhanced the sensitivity of Jurkat cells to the chemotherapeutic agent adriamycin. Taken together, our results show for the first time that miR-101 acts as a tumor suppressor in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and it could enhance chemotherapeutic sensitivity. Furthermore, Notch1 was identified to be a novel target of miR-101. This study indicates that miR-101 may represent a potential therapeutic target for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia intervention.

  18. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia of childhood monitored by bacteriocin and flowcytometry.

    PubMed

    Musclow, C E; Farkas-Himsley, H; Weitzman, S S; Herridge, M

    1987-04-01

    Bacteriocin and flowcytometric analysis of 106 blood samples from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were correlated with clinical stages of disease. Bacteriocins interacted selectively with malignant, and not with normal, lymphocytes causing cell cycle perturbation which was rapidly and objectively recorded by the flowcytometer. The patients were grouped as: (A) newly-diagnosed (15); (B) early induction (11); (C) remission with viral infection (7); (D) remission (64); (E) bone marrow relapsed (5); (F) extramedullary relapsed (3); (G) non-malignant pediatric controls (8). Bacteriocin reacted usually with groups A, B, C, E and not with groups D, F and G. Repeated testing correlated well with the clinical status. Blood from 7 patients in remission and from 3 normal individuals, each with transient viral infection, reacted with bacteriocin. A quantitative correlation between peripheral blood blasts or surface markers for ALL and bacteriocin reactivity was not established. Unexpected results were obtained only in 13% (false-positive 11% and false-negative 3%). This test can be recommended for preliminary diagnosis and possibly prognosis of lymphoblastic leukemia and provides means of monitoring progress during chemotherapy.

  19. Dasatinib in Treating Young Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Solid Tumors or Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia That Did Not Respond to Imatinib Mesylate

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-02-04

    Accelerated Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Childhood Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, BCR-ABL1 Positive; Meningeal Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Relapsing Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Unspecified Childhood Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific

  20. Cytokine Release Syndrome After Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Fitzgerald, Julie C; Weiss, Scott L; Maude, Shannon L; Barrett, David M; Lacey, Simon F; Melenhorst, J Joseph; Shaw, Pamela; Berg, Robert A; June, Carl H; Porter, David L; Frey, Noelle V; Grupp, Stephan A; Teachey, David T

    2017-02-01

    Initial success with chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cell therapy for relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia is leading to expanded use through multicenter trials. Cytokine release syndrome, the most severe toxicity, presents a novel critical illness syndrome with limited data regarding diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. We sought to characterize the timing, severity, and intensive care management of cytokine release syndrome after chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cell therapy. Retrospective cohort study. Academic children's hospital. Thirty-nine subjects with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cell therapy on a phase I/IIa clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01626495). All subjects received chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cell therapy. Thirteen subjects with cardiovascular dysfunction were treated with the interleukin-6 receptor antibody tocilizumab. Eighteen subjects (46%) developed grade 3-4 cytokine release syndrome, with prolonged fever (median, 6.5 d), hyperferritinemia (median peak ferritin, 60,214 ng/mL), and organ dysfunction. Fourteen (36%) developed cardiovascular dysfunction treated with vasoactive infusions a median of 5 days after T cell therapy. Six (15%) developed acute respiratory failure treated with invasive mechanical ventilation a median of 6 days after T cell therapy; five met criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome. Encephalopathy, hepatic, and renal dysfunction manifested later than cardiovascular and respiratory dysfunction. Subjects had a median of 15 organ dysfunction days (interquartile range, 8-20). Treatment with tocilizumab in 13 subjects resulted in rapid defervescence (median, 4 hr) and clinical improvement. Grade 3-4 cytokine release syndrome occurred in 46% of patients following T cell therapy for relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Clinicians should be aware of expanding use of this breakthrough therapy and

  1. Total Marrow and Lymphoid Irradiation and Chemotherapy Before Donor Transplant in Treating Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndrome or Acute Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-03-27

    Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Complete Remission; Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Remission; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Complete Remission

  2. Leukemia cell-rhabdovirus vaccine: personalized immunotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Conrad, David P; Tsang, Jovian; Maclean, Meaghan; Diallo, Jean-Simon; Le Boeuf, Fabrice; Lemay, Chantal G; Falls, Theresa J; Parato, Kelley A; Bell, John C; Atkins, Harold L

    2013-07-15

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains incurable in most adults. It has been difficult to provide effective immunotherapy to improve outcomes for the majority of patients. Rhabdoviruses induce strong antiviral immune responses. We hypothesized that mice administered ex vivo rhabdovirus-infected ALL cells [immunotherapy by leukemia-oncotropic virus (iLOV)] would develop robust antileukemic immune responses capable of controlling ALL. Viral protein production, replication, and cytopathy were measured in human and murine ALL cells exposed to attenuated rhabdovirus. Survival following injection of graded amounts of ALL cells was compared between cohorts of mice administered γ-irradiated rhabdovirus-infected ALL cells (iLOV) or multiple control vaccines to determine key immunotherapeutic components and characteristics. Host immune requirements were assessed in immunodeficient and bone marrow-transplanted mice or by adoptive splenocyte transfer from immunized donors. Antileukemic immune memory was ascertained by second leukemic challenge in long-term survivors. Human and murine ALL cells were infected and killed by rhabdovirus; this produced a potent antileukemia vaccine. iLOV protected mice from otherwise lethal ALL by developing durable leukemia-specific immune-mediated responses (P < 0.0001), which required an intact CTL compartment. Preexisting antiviral immunity augmented iLOV potency. Splenocytes from iLOV-vaccinated donors protected 60% of naïve recipients from ALL challenge (P = 0.0001). Injecting leukemia cells activated by, or concurrent with, multiple Toll-like receptor agonists could not reproduce the protective effect of iLOV. Similarly, injecting uninfected irradiated viable, apoptotic, or necrotic leukemia cells with/without concurrent rhabdovirus administration was ineffective. Rhabdovirus-infected leukemia cells can be used to produce a vaccine that induces robust specific immunity against aggressive leukemia.

  3. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cells for the Treatment of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Tomuleasa, Ciprian; Fuji, Shigeo; Berce, Cristian; Onaciu, Anca; Chira, Sergiu; Petrushev, Bobe; Micu, Wilhelm-Thomas; Moisoiu, Vlad; Osan, Ciprian; Constantinescu, Catalin; Pasca, Sergiu; Jurj, Ancuta; Pop, Laura; Berindan-Neagoe, Ioana; Dima, Delia; Kitano, Shigehisa

    2018-01-01

    Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell technology has seen a rapid development over the last decade mostly due to the potential that these cells may have in treating malignant diseases. It is a generally accepted principle that very few therapeutic compounds deliver a clinical response without treatment-related toxicity, and studies have shown that CAR T-cells are not an exception to this rule. While large multinational drug companies are currently investigating the potential role of CAR T-cells in hematological oncology, the potential of such cellular therapies are being recognized worldwide as they are expected to expand in the patient to support the establishment of the immune memory, provide a continuous surveillance to prevent and/or treat a relapse, and keep the targeted malignant cell subpopulation in check. In this article, we present the possible advantages of using CAR T-cells in treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia, presenting the technology and the current knowledge in their preclinical and early clinical trial use. Thus, this article first presents the main present-day knowledge on the standard of care for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Afterward, current knowledge is presented about the use of CAR T-cells in cancer immunotherapy, describing their design, the molecular constructs, and the preclinical data on murine models to properly explain the background for their clinical use. Last, but certainly not least, this article presents the use of CAR T-cells for the immunotherapy of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, describing both their potential clinical advantages and the possible side effects. PMID:29515572

  4. Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cells for the Treatment of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Tomuleasa, Ciprian; Fuji, Shigeo; Berce, Cristian; Onaciu, Anca; Chira, Sergiu; Petrushev, Bobe; Micu, Wilhelm-Thomas; Moisoiu, Vlad; Osan, Ciprian; Constantinescu, Catalin; Pasca, Sergiu; Jurj, Ancuta; Pop, Laura; Berindan-Neagoe, Ioana; Dima, Delia; Kitano, Shigehisa

    2018-01-01

    Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell technology has seen a rapid development over the last decade mostly due to the potential that these cells may have in treating malignant diseases. It is a generally accepted principle that very few therapeutic compounds deliver a clinical response without treatment-related toxicity, and studies have shown that CAR T-cells are not an exception to this rule. While large multinational drug companies are currently investigating the potential role of CAR T-cells in hematological oncology, the potential of such cellular therapies are being recognized worldwide as they are expected to expand in the patient to support the establishment of the immune memory, provide a continuous surveillance to prevent and/or treat a relapse, and keep the targeted malignant cell subpopulation in check. In this article, we present the possible advantages of using CAR T-cells in treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia, presenting the technology and the current knowledge in their preclinical and early clinical trial use. Thus, this article first presents the main present-day knowledge on the standard of care for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Afterward, current knowledge is presented about the use of CAR T-cells in cancer immunotherapy, describing their design, the molecular constructs, and the preclinical data on murine models to properly explain the background for their clinical use. Last, but certainly not least, this article presents the use of CAR T-cells for the immunotherapy of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, describing both their potential clinical advantages and the possible side effects.

  5. S1312, Inotuzumab Ozogamicin and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-04-09

    Acute Leukemias of Ambiguous Lineage; B-cell Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Adult Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Burkitt Lymphoma

  6. Treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Milone, Jorge H; Enrico, Alicia

    2009-12-01

    The presence of the Philadelphia chromosome is a poor prognosis factor in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), in both children and adults. Using molecular techniques of the gen bcr/abl, it is possible to detect the abnormality, in up to the 40% of adult patients. The unsatisfactory results with conventional chemotherapy schemes have determined the intensification of the treatments and the consideration of allogenic bone marrow transplants as the best therapeutic instance. The development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors have become a therapeutic improvement in the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL, being combined with chemotherapy schemes, only in a selected group of patients, even in therapeutic programs that include transplant.

  7. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a 4- to 9-year follow-up study.

    PubMed

    Madadi, Firooz; Shamsian, Bibi Shahin; Alavi, Samin; Madadi, Firoozeh; Eajazi, Alireza; Aslani, Afshin

    2011-10-05

    Avascular necrosis of the femoral head is usually seen in children aged 1.5 to 10 years, reaching a peak incidence between the ages of 4 and 9. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head is a known complication of corticosteroid therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. There are few reports in the literature regarding the natural history of this condition, and there is no consensus on its management. This study examined the natural history of avascular necrosis of the femoral head in children with leukemia. From 1993 to 2006, a total of 865 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were admitted to the hematology-oncology ward of a children's hospital. The diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia was established by bone marrow aspiration. Based on clinical and radiographic findings, avascular necrosis of the femoral head was found in 7 patients; these patients underwent follow-up for 4 to 9 years. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head was clinically symptomatic in all of the children, and they had advanced radiographic collapse of the femoral head. However, the head of the femur was not at risk in any patient based on clinical and radiographic findings. Patients received supportive treatment such as abduction brace and physiotherapy. After 4 to 9 years of follow-up, clinical and radiographic results were satisfactory. Provided that the head of the femur is not at risk, avascular necrosis of the femoral head in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia may be successfully managed with nonoperative care. Copyright 2011, SLACK Incorporated.

  8. 7-Hydroxystaurosporine and Perifosine in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Leukemia, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia or High Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-09-27

    Accelerated Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Adult Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia (M7); Adult Acute Minimally Differentiated Myeloid Leukemia (M0); Adult Acute Monoblastic Leukemia (M5a); Adult Acute Monocytic Leukemia (M5b); Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia With Maturation (M2); Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia Without Maturation (M1); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With 11q23 (MLL) Abnormalities; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(15;17)(q22;q12); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21)(q22;q22); Adult Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia (M4); Adult Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (M3); Adult Erythroleukemia (M6a); Adult Pure Erythroid Leukemia (M6b); Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasms; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Relapsing Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia; T-cell Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  9. Prosthetic Management of Hard Palate Perforation in a Child with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Chouksey, Gunjan C; Dholam, Kanchan P

    2017-01-01

    Palatal perforation is an uncommon complication seen in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia undergoing chemotherapy. This may impact basic functions, such as speech, swallowing, chewing, affecting the quality of life (QOL). Prosthetic rehabilitation of the palatal perforation with obturator can optimally restore function, thereby improving and enhancing the QOL of these patients. PMID:28900336

  10. [Long-term destiny of adolescents and young adults with de novo acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with a pediatric protocol type].

    PubMed

    López-Hernández, Manuel Antonio; Alvarado-Ibarra, Martha; Álvarez-Veral, José Luis; Ortiz-Zepeda, Maricela; Guajardo-Leal, Martha Lilia; Cota-Range, Xochitl

    The prognosis, in the long term, of adolescents and young adults with acute de novo lymphoblastic leukemia, treated with a pediatric type protocol. To analyze the efficacy and tolerability of a chemotherapy regimen of pediatric type on patients 15-35 years old with de novo acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Ph(-). A retrospective study of patients received from 2001 to 2013, without initial infiltration of the central nervous system. They received the regimen called LALÍN. Terminal goals: frequency of initial remission, probability of survival free of leukemia and event-free survival for five years. We included 101 patients; there were 29 relapses and 19 deaths. There was initial remission in 97% of the cases; survival free of leukemia of 0.58 and event-free survival 0.44. No difference in patients aged 16-21 years vs. 22-35 (p > 0.55). Negative prognostic factors: abnormal karyotypes, except hyperdiploids (p = 0.001); > 5% of blasts, on 14 day induction (p = 0. 0001); delay in the punctuality of the courses of the chemotherapy regimen (p = 0.0001). A pediatric type regimen is applicable to patients aged from 16 to 35 years with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, without greater toxicity and a best survival free of leukemia. The count of > 5% of blasts and the delay in the execution of the stages of the chemotherapy regimen are the stronger negative prognostic factors.

  11. Advances in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia therapy.

    PubMed

    Aldoss, Ibrahim; Stein, Anthony S

    2018-05-01

    Progress in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment has been met with challenge until recently. A steady improvement in outcomes is being witnessed among adults with ALL, and it will be enhanced further with early referral of newly diagnosed ALL patients to specialized centers, enrolling more ALL adults in clinical trials, adopting pediatric-inspired ALL regimens in younger adults, tailoring treatments according to minimal residual disease response and disease genetics, incorporating novel therapies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors in frontline regimens, early referral to transplant when indicated, expanding the donor pool, and developing more effective salvage therapies for relapsed/refractory ALL. In this review, we will discuss the most significant advances in treating adult ALL observed in the last five years that have the potential to enhance adult ALL treatment and outcome.

  12. Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Integrating Genomics into Therapy

    PubMed Central

    Tasian, Sarah K; Loh, Mignon L; Hunger, Stephen P

    2015-01-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common malignancy of childhood, is a genetically complex entity that remains a major cause of childhood cancer-related mortality. Major advances in genomic and epigenomic profiling during the past decade have appreciably enhanced knowledge of the biology of de novo and relapsed ALL and have facilitated more precise risk stratification of patients. These achievements have also provided critical insights regarding potentially targetable lesions for development of new therapeutic approaches in the era of precision medicine. This review delineates the current genetic landscape of childhood ALL with emphasis upon patient outcomes with contemporary treatment regimens, as well as therapeutic implications of newly identified genomic alterations in specific subsets of ALL. PMID:26194091

  13. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adolescents and young adults.

    PubMed

    Ribera, Josep-Maria; Oriol, Albert

    2009-10-01

    Today, long-term survival is achieved in more than 80% of children 1 to 10 years old with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, cure rates for adults and adolescents and young adults (AYA) with ALL remain relatively low, at only 40% to 50%. Age is a continuous prognostic variable in ALL, with no single age at which prognosis deteriorates markedly. Within childhood ALL populations, older children have shown inferior outcomes, whereas younger adults have shown superior outcomes among adult ALL patients. The type of treatment (pediatric-based versus adult-based) for AYA has recently been a matter of debate. In this article the biology and treatment of ALL in AYA is reviewed.

  14. Outcome after relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adult patients included in four consecutive risk-adapted trials by the PETHEMA Study Group.

    PubMed

    Oriol, Albert; Vives, Susana; Hernández-Rivas, Jesús-María; Tormo, Mar; Heras, Inmaculada; Rivas, Concepción; Bethencourt, Concepción; Moscardó, Federico; Bueno, Javier; Grande, Carlos; del Potro, Eloy; Guardia, Ramon; Brunet, Salut; Bergua, Juan; Bernal, Teresa; Moreno, Maria-José; Calvo, Carlota; Bastida, Pilar; Feliu, Evarist; Ribera, Josep-Maria

    2010-04-01

    About one half of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are not cured of the disease and ultimately die. The objective of this study was to explore the factors influencing the outcome of adult patients with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We analyzed the characteristics, the outcome and the prognostic factors for survival after first relapse in a series of 263 adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (excluding those with mature B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia) prospectively enrolled in four consecutive risk-adapted PETHEMA trials. The median overall survival after relapse was 4.5 months (95% CI, 4-5 months) with a 5-year overall survival of 10% (95% CI, 8%-12%); 45% of patients receiving intensive second-line treatment achieved a second complete remission and 22% (95% CI, 14%-30%) of them remained disease free at 5 years. Factors predicting a good outcome after rescue therapy were age less than 30 years (2-year overall survival of 21% versus 10% for those over 30 years old; P<0.022) and a first remission lasting more than 2 years (2-year overall survival of 36% versus 17% among those with a shorter first remission; P<0.001). Patients under 30 years old whose first complete remission lasted longer than 2 years had a 5-year overall survival of 38% (95% CI, 23%-53%) and a 5-year disease-free survival of 53% (95% CI, 34%-72%). The prognosis of adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who relapse is poor. Those aged less than 30 years with a first complete remission lasting longer than 2 years have reasonable possibilities of becoming long-term survivors while patients over this age or those who relapse early cannot be successfully rescued using the therapies currently available.

  15. Outcome after relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adult patients included in four consecutive risk-adapted trials by the PETHEMA Study Group

    PubMed Central

    Oriol, Albert; Vives, Susana; Hernández-Rivas, Jesús-María; Tormo, Mar; Heras, Inmaculada; Rivas, Concepción; Bethencourt, Concepción; Moscardó, Federico; Bueno, Javier; Grande, Carlos; del Potro, Eloy; Guardia, Ramon; Brunet, Salut; Bergua, Juan; Bernal, Teresa; Moreno, Maria-José; Calvo, Carlota; Bastida, Pilar; Feliu, Evarist; Ribera, Josep-Maria

    2010-01-01

    Background About one half of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are not cured of the disease and ultimately die. The objective of this study was to explore the factors influencing the outcome of adult patients with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Design and Methods We analyzed the characteristics, the outcome and the prognostic factors for survival after first relapse in a series of 263 adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (excluding those with mature B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia) prospectively enrolled in four consecutive risk-adapted PETHEMA trials. Results The median overall survival after relapse was 4.5 months (95% CI, 4–5 months) with a 5-year overall survival of 10% (95% CI, 8%–12%); 45% of patients receiving intensive second-line treatment achieved a second complete remission and 22% (95% CI, 14%–30%) of them remained disease free at 5 years. Factors predicting a good outcome after rescue therapy were age less than 30 years (2-year overall survival of 21% versus 10% for those over 30 years old; P<0.022) and a first remission lasting more than 2 years (2-year overall survival of 36% versus 17% among those with a shorter first remission; P<0.001). Patients under 30 years old whose first complete remission lasted longer than 2 years had a 5-year overall survival of 38% (95% CI, 23%–53%) and a 5-year disease-free survival of 53% (95% CI, 34%–72%). Conclusions The prognosis of adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who relapse is poor. Those aged less than 30 years with a first complete remission lasting longer than 2 years have reasonable possibilities of becoming long-term survivors while patients over this age or those who relapse early cannot be successfully rescued using the therapies currently available. PMID:20145276

  16. Gene polymorphisms in folate metabolizing enzymes in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: effects on methotrexate-related toxicity and survival

    PubMed Central

    Ongaro, Alessia; De Mattei, Monica; Della Porta, Matteo Giovanni; Rigolin, GianMatteo; Ambrosio, Cristina; Di Raimondo, Francesco; Pellati, Agnese; Masieri, Federica Francesca; Caruso, Angelo; Catozzi, Linda; Gemmati, Donato

    2009-01-01

    Background The antifolate agent methotrexate is an important component of maintenance therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, although methotrexate-related toxicity is often a reason for interruption of chemotherapy. Prediction of toxicity is difficult because of inter-individual variability susceptibility to antileukemic agents. Methotrexate interferes with folate metabolism leading to depletion of reduced folates. Design and Methods The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of polymorphisms for folate metabolizing enzymes with respect to toxicity and survival in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with methotrexate maintenance therapy. To this purpose, we evaluated possible associations between genotype and hematologic and non-hematologic toxicity and effects on survival at 2 years of follow-up in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Results Polymorphisms in the genes encoding for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR 677C>T) and in dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR 19 bp deletion) significantly increased the risk of hepatotoxicity in single (odds ratio 5.23, 95% confidence interval 1.13–21.95 and odds ratio 4.57, 95% confidence interval 1.01–20.77, respectively) and in combined analysis (odds ratio 6.82, 95% confidence interval 1.38–33.59). MTHFR 677C>T also increased the risk of leukopenia and gastrointestinal toxicity, whilst thymidylate synthase 28 bp repeat polymorphism increased the risk of anemia (odds ratio 8.48, 95% confidence interval 2.00–36.09). Finally, patients with MTHFR 677TT had a decreased overall survival rate (hazard ratio 2.37, 95% confidence interval 1.46–8.45). Conclusions Genotyping of folate polymorphisms might be useful in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia to optimize methotrexate therapy, reducing the associated toxicity with possible effects on survival. PMID:19648163

  17. International reference analysis of outcomes in adults with B-precursor Ph-negative relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Gökbuget, Nicola; Dombret, Hervè; Ribera, Jose-Maria; Fielding, Adele K.; Advani, Anjali; Bassan, Renato; Chia, Victoria; Doubek, Michael; Giebel, Sebastian; Hoelzer, Dieter; Ifrah, Norbert; Katz, Aaron; Kelsh, Michael; Martinelli, Giovanni; Morgades, Mireia; O’Brien, Susan; Rowe, Jacob M.; Stieglmaier, Julia; Wadleigh, Martha; Kantarjian, Hagop

    2016-01-01

    Adults with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia have an unfavourable prognosis, which is influenced by disease and patient characteristics. To further evaluate these characteristics, a retrospective analysis of 1,706 adult patients with Ph-negative relapsed/refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosed between 1990–2013 was conducted using data reflecting the standard of care from 11 study groups and large centers in Europe and the United States. Outcomes included complete remission, overall survival, and realization of stem cell transplantation after salvage treatment. The overall complete remission rate after first salvage was 40%, ranging from 35%–41% across disease status categories (primary refractory, relapsed with or without prior transplant), and was lower after second (21%) and third or greater (11%) salvage. The overall complete remission rate was higher for patients diagnosed from 2005 onward (45%, 95% CI: 39%–50%). One- and three-year survival rates after first, second, and third or greater salvage were 26% and 11%, 18% and 6%, and 15% and 4%, respectively, and rates were 2%–5% higher among patients diagnosed from 2005. Prognostic factors included younger age, longer duration of first remission, and lower white blood cell counts at primary diagnosis. This large dataset can provide detailed reference outcomes for patients with relapsed/refractory Ph-negative B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 02003612 PMID:27587380

  18. The molecular genetic makeup of acute lymphoblastic leukemia | Office of Cancer Genomics

    Cancer.gov

    Abstract: Genomic profiling has transformed our understanding of the genetic basis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Recent years have seen a shift from microarray analysis and candidate gene sequencing to next-generation sequencing. Together, these approaches have shown that many ALL subtypes are characterized by constellations of structural rearrangements, submicroscopic DNA copy number alterations, and sequence mutations, several of which have clear implications for risk stratification and targeted therapeutic intervention.

  19. Pharmacogenetics predictive of response and toxicity in acute lymphoblastic leukemia therapy.

    PubMed

    Mei, Lin; Ontiveros, Evelena P; Griffiths, Elizabeth A; Thompson, James E; Wang, Eunice S; Wetzler, Meir

    2015-07-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a relatively rare disease in adults accounting for no more than 20% of all cases of acute leukemia. By contrast with the pediatric population, in whom significant improvements in long term survival and even cure have been achieved over the last 30years, adult ALL remains a significant challenge. Overall survival in this group remains a relatively poor 20-40%. Modern research has focused on improved pharmacokinetics, novel pharmacogenetics and personalized principles to optimize the efficacy of the treatment while reducing toxicity. Here we review the pharmacogenetics of medications used in the management of patients with ALL, including l-asparaginase, glucocorticoids, 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate, vincristine and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Incorporating recent pharmacogenetic data, mainly from pediatric ALL, will provide novel perspective of predicting response and toxicity in both pediatric and adult ALL therapies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Oral Microbiota Distinguishes Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Pediatric Hosts from Healthy Populations

    PubMed Central

    Zhou, Xuedong; You, Meng; Du, Qin; Yang, Xue; He, Jingzhi; Zou, Jing; Cheng, Lei; Li, Mingyun; Li, Yuqing; Zhu, Yiping; Li, Jiyao; Shi, Wenyuan; Xu, Xin

    2014-01-01

    In leukemia, oral manifestations indicate aberrations in oral microbiota. Microbiota structure is determined by both host and environmental factors. In human hosts, how health status shapes the composition of oral microbiota is largely unknown. Taking advantage of advances in high-throughput sequencing, we compared the composition of supragingival plaque microbiota of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) pediatric patients with healthy controls. The oral microbiota of leukemia patients had lower richness and less diversity compared to healthy controls. Microbial samples clustered into two major groups, one of ALL patients and another of healthy children, with different structure and composition. Abundance changes of certain taxa including the Phylum Firmicutes, the Class Bacilli, the Order Lactobacillales, the Family Aerococcaceae and Carnobacteriaceae, as well as the Genus Abiotrophia and Granulicatella were associated with leukemia status. ALL patients demonstrated a structural imbalance of the oral microbiota, characterized by reduced diversity and abundance alterations, possibly involved in systemic infections, indicating the importance of immune status in shaping the structure of oral microbiota. PMID:25025462

  1. EphB4-HSA Fusion Protein and Cytarabine /or Liposomal Vincristine in Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Acute Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-05-08

    Acute Myeloid Leukemia Arising From Previous Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Blasts 5 Percent or More of Bone Marrow Nucleated Cells; Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasm; Philadelphia Chromosome Positive; Recurrent Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, BCR-ABL1 Positive; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia; T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  2. HA-1 T TCR T Cell Immunotherapy for the Treating of Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Leukemia After Donor Stem Cell Transplant

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-04-30

    HLA-A*0201 HA-1 Positive Cells Present; Minimal Residual Disease; Recurrent Acute Biphenotypic Leukemia; Recurrent Acute Undifferentiated Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Refractory Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

  3. Dexamethasone exposure and asparaginase antibodies affect relapse risk in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Kawedia, Jitesh D.; Liu, Chengcheng; Pei, Deqing; Cheng, Cheng; Fernandez, Christian A.; Howard, Scott C.; Campana, Dario; Panetta, John C.; Bowman, W. Paul; Evans, William E.; Pui, Ching-Hon

    2012-01-01

    We have previously hypothesized that higher systemic exposure to asparaginase may cause increased exposure to dexamethasone, both critical chemotherapeutic agents for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Whether interpatient pharmaco-kinetic differences in dexamethasone contribute to relapse risk has never been studied. The impact of plasma clearance of dexamethasone and anti–asparaginase antibody levels on risk of relapse was assessed in 410 children who were treated on a front-line clinical trial for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and were evaluable for all pharmacologic measures, using multivariate analyses, adjusting for standard clinical and biologic prognostic factors. Dexamethasone clearance (mean ± SD) was higher (P = 3 × 10−8) in patients whose sera was positive (17.7 ± 18.6 L/h per m2) versus nega-tive (10.6 ± 5.99 L/h per m2) for anti–asparaginase antibodies. In multivariate analyses, higher dexamethasone clearance was associated with a higher risk of any relapse (P = .01) and of central nervous system relapse (P = .014). Central nervous system relapse was also more common in patients with anti–asparaginase antibodies (P = .019). In conclusion, systemic clearance of dexamethasone is higher in patients with anti–asparaginase antibodies. Lower exposure to both drugs was associated with an increased risk of relapse. PMID:22117041

  4. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults

    PubMed Central

    Ribera, Josep-Maria

    2011-01-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most frequent neoplastic disease in children, being a rare disease in adults. Many of the advances in pediatric ALL have been through modifications in the doses and schedules of available agents as opposed to the introduction of new compounds. In recent years some improvements in the outcome of ALL in adults have occurred. Application of pediatric regimens to young and middle-aged adults shows promise to improve outcome. Advances in the supportive care of patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), the use of alternative sources of hematopoietic stem cells and the use of reduced-intensity conditioning regimens will expand the number of patients who can benefit from this therapeutic modality. The evaluation of minimal residual disease will further stratify risk classification and redefine the role of therapeutic modalities such as SCT or biologic agents. New drugs such as thyrosin kinase inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies have led to incremental improvements in outcome. Advances in the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of the disease provide hope that targeted therapies can more effectively treat the disease with less toxicity. PMID:22053271

  5. Allopurinol Use During Maintenance Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Avoids Mercaptopurine-related Hepatotoxicity.

    PubMed

    Giamanco, Nicole M; Cunningham, Bethany S; Klein, Laura S; Parekh, Dina S; Warwick, Anne B; Lieuw, Kenneth

    2016-03-01

    6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) is the mainstay of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoblastic lymphoma. It is metabolized into the pharmacologically active, 6-thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGN), and 6-methyl mercaptopurine nucleotides (6-MMPN), which is associated with hepatotoxicity that jeopardizes antileukemic therapy. Allopurinol alters the metabolism of 6-MP to increase 6-TGN levels and decreases 6-methyl mercaptopurine nucleotides levels. We report 2 cases in which combination therapy of allopurinol with 6-MP was used successfully to avoid hepatotoxicity while delivering adequate 6-TGN levels. We suggest that this combination therapy can be used safely to change the metabolite production in patients who develop excessive hepatotoxicity.

  6. Deletion of IKZF1 and Prognosis in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia | Office of Cancer Genomics

    Cancer.gov

    NCI's TARGET Initiative reported the discovery of a novel genetic marker for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the January 7, 2009, advance online edition of The New England Journal of Medicine. The genetic alteration identified, IKZF1, should improve clinicians' ability to identify high-risk patients and better assign these patients to appropriate therapy.

  7. Modern Immunotherapy of Adult B-Lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with Monoclonal Antibodies and Chimeric Antigen Receptor Modified T Cells

    PubMed Central

    Maino, Elena; Scattolin, Anna Maria; Viero, Piera; Sancetta, Rosaria; Pascarella, Anna; Vespignani, Michele; Bassan, Renato

    2015-01-01

    The introduction of newer cytotoxic monoclonal antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor modified T cells is opening a new age in the management of B-lineage adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This therapeutic change must be very positively acknowledged because of the limits of intensive chemotherapy programs and allogeneic stem cell transplantation. In fact, with these traditional therapeutic tools the cure can be achieved in only 40–50% of the patients. The failure rates are particularly high in the elderly, in patients with post-induction persistence of minimal residual disease and especially in refractory/relapsed disease. The place of the novel immunotherapeutics in improving the outcome of adult patients with B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia is reviewed. PMID:25574360

  8. Prognosis of children with mixed phenotype acute leukemia treated on the basis of consistent immunophenotypic criteria

    PubMed Central

    Mejstrikova, Ester; Volejnikova, Jana; Fronkova, Eva; Zdrahalova, Katerina; Kalina, Tomas; Sterba, Jaroslav; Jabali, Yahia; Mihal, Vladimir; Blazek, Bohumir; Cerna, Zdena; Prochazkova, Daniela; Hak, Jiri; Zemanova, Zuzana; Jarosova, Marie; Oltova, Alexandra; Sedlacek, Petr; Schwarz, Jiri; Zuna, Jan; Trka, Jan; Stary, Jan; Hrusak, Ondrej

    2010-01-01

    Background Mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) represents a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. The European Group for the Immunological Classification of Leukemias (EGIL) scoring system unambiguously defines MPAL expressing aberrant lineage markers. Discussions surrounding it have focused on scoring details, and information is limited regarding its biological, clinical and prognostic significance. The recent World Health Organization classification is simpler and could replace the EGIL scoring system after transformation into unambiguous guidelines. Design and Methods Simple immunophenotypic criteria were used to classify all cases of childhood acute leukemia in order to provide therapy directed against acute lymphoblastic leukemia or acute myeloid leukemia. Prognosis, genotype and immunoglobulin/T-cell receptor gene rearrangement status were analyzed. Results The incidences of MPAL were 28/582 and 4/107 for children treated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia regimens, respectively. In immunophenotypic principal component analysis, MPAL treated as T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia clustered between cases of non-mixed T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia, while other MPAL cases were included in the respective non-mixed B-cell progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia or acute myeloid leukemia clusters. Analogously, immunoglobulin/T-cell receptor gene rearrangements followed the expected pattern in patients treated as having acute myeloid leukemia (non-rearranged, 4/4) or as having B-cell progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (rearranged, 20/20), but were missing in 3/5 analyzed cases of MPAL treated as having T-cell acute lymphobastic leukemia. In patients who received acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment, the 5-year event-free survival of the MPAL cases was worse than that of the non-mixed cases (53±10% and 76±2% at 5 years, respectively, P=0.0075), with a more pronounced difference among B lineage cases

  9. Clinical and Genetic Risk Factors for Acute Pancreatitis in Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Chengcheng; Yang, Wenjian; Devidas, Meenakshi; Cheng, Cheng; Pei, Deqing; Smith, Colton; Carroll, William L.; Raetz, Elizabeth A.; Bowman, W. Paul; Larsen, Eric C.; Maloney, Kelly W.; Martin, Paul L.; Mattano, Leonard A.; Winick, Naomi J.; Mardis, Elaine R.; Fulton, Robert S.; Bhojwani, Deepa; Howard, Scott C.; Jeha, Sima; Pui, Ching-Hon; Hunger, Stephen P.; Evans, William E.; Loh, Mignon L.

    2016-01-01

    Purpose Acute pancreatitis is one of the common causes of asparaginase intolerance. The mechanism is unknown, and genetic predisposition to asparaginase-induced pancreatitis has not been previously identified. Methods To determine clinical risk factors for asparaginase-induced pancreatitis, we studied a cohort of 5,185 children and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, including 117 (2.3%) who were diagnosed with at least one episode of acute pancreatitis during therapy. A genome-wide association study was performed in the cohort and in an independent case-control group of 213 patients to identify genetic risk factors. Results Risk factors associated with pancreatitis included genetically defined Native American ancestry (P < .001), older age (P < .001), and higher cumulative dose of asparaginase (P < .001). No common variants reached genome-wide significance in the genome-wide association study, but a rare nonsense variant rs199695765 in CPA2, encoding carboxypeptidase A2, was highly associated with pancreatitis (hazard ratio, 587; 95% CI, 66.8 to 5166; P = 9.0 × 10−9). A gene-level analysis showed an excess of additional CPA2 variants in patients who did versus those who did not develop pancreatitis (P = .001). Sixteen CPA2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were associated (P < .05) with pancreatitis, and 13 of 24 patients who carried at least one of these variants developed pancreatitis. Biologic functions that were overrepresented by common variants modestly associated with pancreatitis included purine metabolism and cytoskeleton regulation. Conclusion Older age, higher exposure to asparaginase, and higher Native American ancestry were independent risk factors for pancreatitis in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Those who inherit a nonsense rare variant in the CPA2 gene had a markedly increased risk of asparaginase-induced pancreatitis. PMID:27114598

  10. Acute leukemias of ambiguous lineage.

    PubMed

    Béné, Marie C; Porwit, Anna

    2012-02-01

    The 2008 edition of the WHO Classification of Tumors of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues recognizes a special category called "leukemias of ambiguous lineage." The vast majority of these rare leukemias are classified as mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL), although acute undifferentiated leukemias and natural killer lymphoblastic leukemias are also included. The major immunophenotypic markers used by the WHO 2008 to determine the lineage for these proliferations are myeloperoxidase, CD19, and cytoplasmic CD3. However, extensive immunophenotyping is necessary to confirm that the cells indeed belong to 2 different lineages or coexpress differentiation antigens of more than 1 lineage. Specific subsets of MPAL are defined by chromosomal anomalies such as the t(9;22) Philadelphia chromosome BCR-ABL1 or involvement of the MLL gene on chromosome 11q23. Other MPAL are divided into B/myeloid NOS, T/myeloid NOS, B/T NOS, and B/T/myeloid NOS. MPAL are usually of dire prognosis, respond variably to chemotherapy of acute lymphoblastic or acute myeloblastic type, and benefit most from rapid allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

  11. CD22: A Promising Target for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment | Center for Cancer Research

    Cancer.gov

    There are about 4,000 new cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the United States each year. Great improvements have been made in the treatment of ALL, but many patients suffer from side effects of standard therapy and continue to die of this disease. One of the most promising therapeutic strategies includes engineering T cells with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)

  12. Management of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in young adults.

    PubMed

    Muffly, Lori S; Reizine, Natalie; Stock, Wendy

    2018-02-01

    Substantial interest in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in young adults (YAs) and investigations focused on this patient population have resulted in therapeutic advancements that are changing the management paradigm and improving outcomes. The pediatric ALL approach is feasible and effective when administered by medical oncologists. Advanced diagnostics and minimal residual disease measurements aid in prognostication and have resulted in shifting recommendations regarding allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant in first remission. Blinatumomab, inotuzumab, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies are transforming the treatment of relapsed/refractory ALL. This comprehensive review of the current management of ALL in YAs summarizes recent scientific developments and clinical trial findings related to ALL biology, frontline management approaches, novel therapies, and supportive care specific to this patient population. Finally, a practical guide to modern YA management for practicing clinicians is provided.

  13. Febrile neutropenia in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: single center experience

    PubMed Central

    Özdemir, Nihal; Tüysüz, Gülen; Çelik, Nigar; Yantri, Leman; Erginöz, Ethem; Apak, Hilmi; Özkan, Alp; Yıldız, İnci; Celkan, Tiraje

    2016-01-01

    Aim: An important life-threatening complication of intensive chemotherapy administered in children with leukemia is febrile neutropenia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and consequences of febrile neutropenia attacks in children who were treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Material and Methods: Nighty-six children who received chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in our center between January 1995 and December 2010 were included in the study. The data related to demographic characteristics, treatment features, relapse and febrile neutropenia incidences, risk factors, culture results and prognosis were retrospectively evaluated from the patients’ files. Results: A total of two hundred-ninety nine febrile neutropenia attacks observed in the patients during initial treatment and relapse treatment were evaluated. When the incidence of febrile neutropenia was evaluated by years, it was observed that the patients treated after year 2000 had statistically significantly more febrile neutopenia attacks compared to the patients treated before year 2000. When the incidences of febrile neutropenia during initial treatment and during relapse treatment were compared, it was observed that more febrile neutropenia attacks occured during relapse treatment. Fifty-nine percent of all febrile neutropenia attacks were fever of unknown origin. Eighty microorganisms grew in cultures during febrile neutropenia throughout treatment in 75 patients; 86% were bacterial infections (50% gram positive and 50% gram negative), 8% were viral infections and 6% were fungal infections. Coagulase negative staphylococcus (n=17) was the most frequent gram positive pathogen; E. Coli (n=17) was the most commonly grown gram negative pathogen. Conclusions: In this study, it was found that an increase in the incidence of febrile neutropenia occured in years. Increments in treatment intensities increase the incidence of febrile neutropenia while improving

  14. The significance of PTEN and AKT aberrations in pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Zuurbier, Linda; Petricoin, Emanuel F.; Vuerhard, Maartje J.; Calvert, Valerie; Kooi, Clarissa; Buijs-Gladdines, Jessica G.C.A.M.; Smits, Willem K.; Sonneveld, Edwin; Veerman, Anjo J.P.; Kamps, Willem A.; Horstmann, Martin; Pieters, Rob; Meijerink, Jules P.P.

    2012-01-01

    Background PI3K/AKT pathway mutations are found in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but their overall impact and associations with other genetic aberrations is unknown. PTEN mutations have been proposed as secondary mutations that follow NOTCH1-activating mutations and cause cellular resistance to γ-secretase inhibitors. Design and Methods The impact of PTEN, PI3K and AKT aberrations was studied in a genetically well-characterized pediatric T-cell leukemia patient cohort (n=146) treated on DCOG or COALL protocols. Results PTEN and AKT E17K aberrations were detected in 13% and 2% of patients, respectively. Defective PTEN-splicing was identified in incidental cases. Patients without PTEN protein but lacking exon-, splice-, promoter mutations or promoter hypermethylation were present. PTEN/AKT mutations were especially abundant in TAL- or LMO-rearranged leukemia but nearly absent in TLX3-rearranged patients (P=0.03), the opposite to that observed for NOTCH1-activating mutations. Most PTEN/AKT mutant patients either lacked NOTCH1-activating mutations (P=0.006) or had weak NOTCH1-activating mutations (P=0.011), and consequently expressed low intracellular NOTCH1, cMYC and MUSASHI levels. T-cell leukemia patients without PTEN/AKT and NOTCH1-activating mutations fared well, with a cumulative incidence of relapse of only 8% versus 35% for PTEN/AKT and/or NOTCH1-activated patients (P=0.005). Conclusions PI3K/AKT pathway aberrations are present in 18% of pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. Absence of strong NOTCH1-activating mutations in these cases may explain cellular insensitivity to γ-secretase inhibitors. PMID:22491738

  15. Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy in a neonate with congenital acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Baker, Steven K; Lipson, David M

    2010-04-01

    We report the case of a 46-day-old boy with a fulminant vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy after treatment for congenital acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Flaccid paralysis developed at the end of the first phase of induction, requiring intubation and ventilation for 51 days. Treatment was initiated with levocarnitine, N-acetylcysteine, and pyridoxine and progressive reversal of the neuropathy occurred over the next 4 months. Potential differences in pathogenesis and presentation of vincristine neurotoxicity and Guillian-Barre syndrome in the neonate are discussed.

  16. GTI-2040 in Treating Patients With Relapsed, Refractory, or High-Risk Acute Leukemia, High-Grade Myelodysplastic Syndromes, or Refractory or Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2015-12-03

    Acute Undifferentiated Leukemia; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With 11q23 (MLL) Abnormalities; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(15;17)(q22;q12); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21)(q22;q22); Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; de Novo Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Relapsing Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Secondary Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  17. Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Carroll, William L; Bhojwani, Deepa; Min, Dong-Joon; Raetz, Elizabeth; Relling, Mary; Davies, Stella; Downing, James R; Willman, Cheryl L; Reed, John C

    2003-01-01

    The outcome for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has improved dramatically with current therapy resulting in an event free survival exceeding 75% for most patients. However significant challenges remain including developing better methods to predict which patients can be cured with less toxic treatment and which ones will benefit from augmented therapy. In addition, 25% of patients fail therapy and novel treatments that are focused on undermining specifically the leukemic process are needed urgently. In Section I, Dr. Carroll reviews current approaches to risk classification and proposes a system that incorporates well-established clinical parameters, genetic lesions of the blast as well as early response parameters. He then provides an overview of emerging technologies in genomics and proteomics and how they might lead to more rational, biologically based classification systems. In Section II, Drs. Mary Relling and Stella Davies describe emerging findings that relate to host features that influence outcome, the role of inherited germline variation. They highlight technical breakthroughs in assessing germline differences among patients. Polymorphisms of drug metabolizing genes have been shown to influence toxicity and the best example is the gene thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) a key enzyme in the metabolism of 6-mercaptopurine. Polymorphisms are associated with decreased activity that is also associated with increased toxicity. The role of polymorphisms in other genes whose products play an important role in drug metabolism as well as cytokine genes are discussed. In Sections III and IV, Drs. James Downing and Cheryl Willman review their findings using gene expression profiling to classify ALL. Both authors outline challenges in applying this methodology to analysis of clinical samples. Dr. Willman describes her laboratory's examination of infant leukemia and precursor B-ALL where unsupervised approaches have led to the identification of

  18. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) (For Parents)

    MedlinePlus

    ... October 2012 More on this topic for: Parents Kids Teens Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) Cancer Center Leukemia Neutropenia Stem Cell Transplants Cancer Center Chemotherapy When Cancer Keeps ...

  19. DEREGULATION OF DUX4 AND ERG IN ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Jinghui; McCastlain, Kelly; Yoshihara, Hiroki; Xu, Beisi; Chang, Yunchao; Churchman, Michelle L.; Wu, Gang; Li, Yongjin; Wei, Lei; Iacobucci, Ilaria; Liu, Yu; Qu, Chunxu; Wen, Ji; Edmonson, Michael; Payne-Turner, Debbie; Kaufmann, Kerstin B.; Takayanagi, Shin-ichiro; Wienholds, Erno; Waanders, Esmé; Ntziachristos, Panagiotis; Bakogianni, Sofia; Wang, Jingjing; Aifantis, Iannis; Roberts, Kathryn G.; Ma, Jing; Song, Guangchun; Easton, John; Mulder, Heather L.; Chen, Xiang; Newman, Scott; Ma, Xiaotu; Rusch, Michael; Gupta, Pankaj; Boggs, Kristy; Vadodaria, Bhavin; Dalton, James; Liu, Yanling; Valentine, Marcus L; Ding, Li; Lu, Charles; Fulton, Robert S.; Fulton, Lucinda; Tabib, Yashodhan; Ochoa, Kerri; Devidas, Meenakshi; Pei, Deqing; Cheng, Cheng; Yang, Jun; Evans, William E.; Relling, Mary V.; Pui, Ching-Hon; Jeha, Sima; Harvey, Richard C.; Chen, I-Ming L; Willman, Cheryl L.; Marcucci, Guido; Bloomfield, Clara D.; Kohlschmidt, Jessica; Mrózek, Krzysztof; Paietta, Elisabeth; Tallman, Martin S.; Stock, Wendy; Foster, Matthew C.; Racevskis, Janis; Rowe, Jacob M.; Luger, Selina; Kornblau, Steven M.; Shurtleff, Sheila A; Raimondi, Susana C.; Mardis, Elaine R.; Wilson, Richard K.; Dick, John E.; Hunger, Stephen P; Loh, Mignon L.; Downing, James R.; Mullighan, Charles G.

    2016-01-01

    Chromosomal rearrangements deregulating hematopoietic transcription factors are common in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).1,2 Here, we show that deregulation of the homeobox transcription factor gene DUX4 and the ETS transcription factor gene ERG are hallmarks of a subtype of B-progenitor ALL that comprises up to 7% of B-ALL. DUX4 rearrangement and overexpression was present in all cases, and was accompanied by transcriptional deregulation of ERG, expression of a novel ERG isoform, ERGalt, and frequent ERG deletion. ERGalt utilizes a non-canonical first exon whose transcription was initiated by DUX4 binding. ERGalt retains the DNA-binding and transactivating domains of ERG, but inhibits wild-type ERG transcriptional activity and is transforming. These results illustrate a unique paradigm of transcription factor deregulation in leukemia, in which DUX4 deregulation results in loss-of-function of ERG, either by deletion or induction of expression of an isoform that is a dominant negative inhibitor of wild type ERG function. PMID:27776115

  20. Dietary resveratrol does not delay engraftment, sensitize to vincristine, or inhibit growth of high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells in NOD/SCID mice

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with translocation t(4;11) is a high-risk leukemia found in 60-85% of infants with ALL and is often refractory to conventional chemotherapeutics after relapse. Although resveratrol is able to kill high-risk leukemia in vitro, this agent has not been evaluated agai...

  1. Effect of Pre-treatment Nutritional Status, Folate and Vitamin B12 Levels on Induction Chemotherapy in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Tandon, Sneha; Moulik, Nirmalya Roy; Kumar, Archana; Mahdi, Abbas Ali; Kumar, Ashutosh

    2015-05-01

    To evaluate pre-treatment undernutrition, and folate and B12 deficiency in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and their correlation with complications and outcome of induction chemotherapy. Observational study. Tertiary care teaching hospital in Northern India. 50 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Children were assessed for nutritional status (Weight for age Z-score, serum albumin, folate and B12) at presentation, and were followed-up during induction for bone marrow response, counts and outcome. Folate and B12 were repeated twice at monthly intervals after induction. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done to determine the association of nutritional parameters with the outcome variables. Baseline undernutrition was observed in 66%, hypo-albuminemia in 32.6%, folate deficiency in 41.3% and B12 deficiency in 36.9% of included children. Significant decline in folate levels was noted on serial assays during chemotherapy (P=0.001). Folate deficient children had higher risk for delayed marrow recovery and counts on day 14 (P=0.007 and P=0.001). Hypoalbuminemia (P=0.04), B12 deficiency (P=0.001) and folate (P=0.03) deficiency were associated with toxic deaths during induction. Baseline nutritional deficiencies negatively influence the outcome and occurrence of complications during induction chemotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

  2. A reliable Raman-spectroscopy-based approach for diagnosis, classification and follow-up of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Managò, Stefano; Valente, Carmen; Mirabelli, Peppino; Circolo, Diego; Basile, Filomena; Corda, Daniela; de Luca, Anna Chiara

    2016-04-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia type B (B-ALL) is a neoplastic disorder that shows high mortality rates due to immature lymphocyte B-cell proliferation. B-ALL diagnosis requires identification and classification of the leukemia cells. Here, we demonstrate the use of Raman spectroscopy to discriminate normal lymphocytic B-cells from three different B-leukemia transformed cell lines (i.e., RS4;11, REH, MN60 cells) based on their biochemical features. In combination with immunofluorescence and Western blotting, we show that these Raman markers reflect the relative changes in the potential biological markers from cell surface antigens, cytoplasmic proteins, and DNA content and correlate with the lymphoblastic B-cell maturation/differentiation stages. Our study demonstrates the potential of this technique for classification of B-leukemia cells into the different differentiation/maturation stages, as well as for the identification of key biochemical changes under chemotherapeutic treatments. Finally, preliminary results from clinical samples indicate high consistency of, and potential applications for, this Raman spectroscopy approach.

  3. Invasive fungal infection caused by geotrichum capitatum in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a case study and literature review

    PubMed Central

    Gao, Guang-Xun; Tang, Hai-Long; Zhang, Xuan; Xin, Xiao-Li; Feng, Juan; Chen, Xie-Qun

    2015-01-01

    Geotrichum capitatum infection has a very low incidence rate with atypical clinical symptoms, making diagnosis difficult, and it has a poor prognosis. The incidence is even more rare in China. This paper reports the first case of infection caused by G. capitatum during bone marrow suppression after chemotherapy in a Chinese patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In addition, it reports a systematic literature review of diagnosis and treatment. The patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia was confirmed to be infected with G. capitatum, involving lung, liver and skin, through a blood culture test. Caspofungin, amphotericin B loposome, and a combination therapy of amphotericin B liposome and voriconazole were used in succession for treatment. Despite normal body temperature and a slight improvement of clinical symptoms with the combination therapy treatment, the patient died 40 days after chemotherapy due to heart and lung failure. PMID:26550401

  4. Nanoparticle targeted therapy against childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Satake, Noriko; Lee, Joyce; Xiao, Kai; Luo, Juntao; Sarangi, Susmita; Chang, Astra; McLaughlin, Bridget; Zhou, Ping; Kenney, Elaina; Kraynov, Liliya; Arnott, Sarah; McGee, Jeannine; Nolta, Jan; Lam, Kit

    2011-06-01

    The goal of our project is to develop a unique ligand-conjugated nanoparticle (NP) therapy against childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). LLP2A, discovered by Dr. Kit Lam, is a high-affinity and high-specificity peptidomimetic ligand against an activated α4β1 integrin. Our study using 11 fresh primary ALL samples (10 precursor B ALL and 1 T ALL) showed that childhood ALL cells expressed activated α4β1 integrin and bound to LLP2A. Normal hematopoietic cells such as activated lymphocytes and monocytes expressed activated α4β1 integrin; however, normal hematopoietic stem cells showed low expression of α4β1 integrin. Therefore, we believe that LLP2A can be used as a targeted therapy for childhood ALL. The Lam lab has developed novel telodendrimer-based nanoparticles (NPs) which can carry drugs efficiently. We have also developed a human leukemia mouse model using immunodeficient NOD/SCID/IL2Rγ null mice engrafted with primary childhood ALL cells from our patients. LLP2A-conjugated NPs will be evaluated both in vitro and in vivo using primary leukemia cells and this mouse model. NPs will be loaded first with DiD near infra-red dye, and then with the chemotherapeutic agents daunorubicin or vincristine. Both drugs are mainstays of current chemotherapy for childhood ALL. Targeting properties of LLP2A-conjugated NPs will be evaluated by fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry, MTS assay, and mouse survival after treatment. We expect that LLP2A-conjugated NPs will be preferentially delivered and endocytosed to leukemia cells as an effective targeted therapy.

  5. Case-control study of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and residential radon exposure.

    PubMed

    Lubin, J H; Linet, M S; Boice, J D; Buckley, J; Conrath, S M; Hatch, E E; Kleinerman, R A; Tarone, R E; Wacholder, S; Robison, L L

    1998-02-18

    Several ecologic analyses have shown significant positive associations between mean indoor radon concentrations and risk of leukemia at all ages (acute myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia) and for children (all leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL]). As part of an age-matched, case-control study of childhood ALL in the United States, we investigated the association between the incidence of ALL in children under age 15 years and indoor radon exposure. Radon detectors were placed in current and previous homes of subjects where they resided for 6 months or longer. Children were included in analyses if radon measurements covered 70% or more of the 5-year period prior to diagnosis for case subjects (or from birth for case subjects under age 5 years) and the corresponding reference dates for control subjects. Radon levels could be estimated for 97% of the exposure period for the eligible 505 case subjects and 443 control subjects. Mean radon concentration was lower for case subjects (65.4 becquerels per cubic meter [Bqm(-3)]) than for control subjects (79.1 Bqm(-3)). For categories less than 37, 37-73, 74-147, and 148 or more Bqm(-3) of radon exposure, relative risks based on matched case-control pairs were 1.00, 1.22, 0.82, and 1.02, respectively, and were similar to results from an unmatched analysis. There was no association between ALL and radon exposure within subgroups defined by categories of age, income, birth order, birth weight, sex, type of residence, magnetic field exposure, parental age at the subject's birth, parental occupation, or parental smoking habits. In contrast to prior ecologic studies, the results from this analytic study provide no evidence for an association between indoor radon exposure and childhood ALL.

  6. Mutational landscape, clonal evolution patterns, and role of RAS mutations in relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Oshima, Koichi; Khiabanian, Hossein; da Silva-Almeida, Ana C.; Tzoneva, Gannie; Abate, Francesco; Ambesi-Impiombato, Alberto; Sanchez-Martin, Marta; Carpenter, Zachary; Penson, Alex; Perez-Garcia, Arianne; Eckert, Cornelia; Nicolas, Concepción; Balbin, Milagros; Sulis, Maria Luisa; Kato, Motohiro; Koh, Katsuyoshi; Paganin, Maddalena; Basso, Giuseppe; Gastier-Foster, Julie M.; Devidas, Meenakshi; Loh, Mignon L.; Kirschner-Schwabe, Renate; Palomero, Teresa; Rabadan, Raul; Ferrando, Adolfo A.

    2016-01-01

    Although multiagent combination chemotherapy is curative in a significant fraction of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients, 20% of cases relapse and most die because of chemorefractory disease. Here we used whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing to analyze the mutational landscape at relapse in pediatric ALL cases. These analyses identified numerous relapse-associated mutated genes intertwined in chemotherapy resistance-related protein complexes. In this context, RAS-MAPK pathway-activating mutations in the neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog (NRAS), kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), and protein tyrosine phosphatase, nonreceptor type 11 (PTPN11) genes were present in 24 of 55 (44%) cases in our series. Interestingly, some leukemias showed retention or emergence of RAS mutant clones at relapse, whereas in others RAS mutant clones present at diagnosis were replaced by RAS wild-type populations, supporting a role for both positive and negative selection evolutionary pressures in clonal evolution of RAS-mutant leukemia. Consistently, functional dissection of mouse and human wild-type and mutant RAS isogenic leukemia cells demonstrated induction of methotrexate resistance but also improved the response to vincristine in mutant RAS-expressing lymphoblasts. These results highlight the central role of chemotherapy-driven selection as a central mechanism of leukemia clonal evolution in relapsed ALL, and demonstrate a previously unrecognized dual role of RAS mutations as drivers of both sensitivity and resistance to chemotherapy. PMID:27655895

  7. Frequency, risk factors, and outcomes of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus colonization and infection in patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia: different patterns in patients with acute myelogenous and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Ford, Clyde D; Lopansri, Bert K; Haydoura, Souha; Snow, Greg; Dascomb, Kristin K; Asch, Julie; Bo Petersen, Finn; Burke, John P

    2015-01-01

    OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency, risk factors, and outcomes for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization and infection in patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia. DESIGN Retrospective clinical study with VRE molecular strain typing. SETTING A regional referral center for acute leukemia. PATIENTS Two hundred fourteen consecutive patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia between 2006 and 2012. METHODS All patients had a culture of first stool and weekly surveillance for VRE. Clinical data were abstracted from the Intermountain Healthcare electronic data warehouse. VRE molecular typing was performed utilizing the semi-automated DiversiLab System. RESULTS The rate of VRE colonization was directly proportional to length of stay and was higher in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Risk factors associated with colonization include administration of corticosteroids (P=0.004) and carbapenems (P=0.009). Neither a colonized prior room occupant nor an increased unit colonization pressure affected colonization risk. Colonized patients with acute myelogenous leukemia had an increased risk of VRE bloodstream infection (BSI, P=0.002). Other risk factors for VRE BSI include severe neutropenia (P=0.04) and diarrhea (P=0.008). Fifty-eight percent of BSI isolates were identical or related by molecular typing. Eighty-nine percent of bloodstream isolates were identical or related to stool isolates identified by surveillance cultures. VRE BSI was associated with increased costs (P=0.0003) and possibly mortality. CONCLUSIONS VRE colonization has important consequences for patients with acute myelogenous leukemia undergoing induction therapy. For febrile neutropenic patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, use of empirical antibiotic regimens that avoid carbapenems and include VRE coverage may be helpful in decreasing the risks associated with VRE BSI.

  8. CD22: A Promising Target for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment | Center for Cancer Research

    Cancer.gov

    There are about 4,000 new cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the United States each year. Great improvements have been made in the treatment of ALL, but many patients suffer from side effects of standard therapy and continue to die of this disease. One of the most promising therapeutic strategies includes engineering T cells with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that alters T cell specificity and function to recognize tumor antigens.

  9. Measuring Vincristine-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Lavoie Smith, Ellen M.; Li, Lang; Hutchinson, Raymond J.; Ho, Richard; Burnette, W. Bryan; Wells, Elizabeth; Bridges, Celia; Renbarger, Jamie

    2014-01-01

    Background Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN) is difficult to quantify in children. Objective The study objective was to examine the reliability, validity, and clinical feasibility of several VIPN measures for use in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Interventions/Methods Children (N = 65) aged 1–18 years receiving vincristine at four academic centers participated in the study. Baseline and pre-vincristine VIPN assessments were obtained using the Total Neuropathy Score-Pediatric Vincristine (TNS-PV), the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, the Balis grading scale, and the FACES pain scale. TNS-PV scores (n = 806) were obtained over 15 weeks. Blood was obtained at several time-points to quantify pharmacokinetic parameters. Results Cronbach’s alpha for a reduced TNS-PV scale was 0.84. TNS-PV scores correlated with cumulative vincristine dosage (r = 0.53, p = 0.01), pharmacokinetic parameters (r = 0.41, p = 0.05), and grading scale scores (r = 0.46 – 0.52; p = 0.01). FACES scores correlated with the TNS-PV neuropathic pain item (r = 0.48; p = 0.01), and were attainable in all ages. A 2-item V-Rex score (vibration and reflex items) was the most responsive to change (es 0.65, p < 0.001). TNS-PV scores were attainable in 95% of children ≥ 6 years. Conclusions The TNS-PV is reliable and valid for measuring VIPN. It is sensitive to change over time (15 weeks) and feasible for use in children ≥ 6 years of age. Implications for Practice The TNS-PV may be a useful tool for assessing vincristine toxicity in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. PMID:23842524

  10. Clofarabine and Melphalan Before Donor Stem Cell Transplant in Treating Patients With Myelodysplasia, Acute Leukemia in Remission, or Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-03-22

    Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Remission; Acute Myeloid Leukemia Arising From Previous Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Remission; Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Secondary Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia; Therapy-Related Myelodysplastic Syndrome

  11. Diet-induced obesity accelerates acute lymphoblastic leukemia progression in two murine models.

    PubMed

    Yun, Jason P; Behan, James W; Heisterkamp, Nora; Butturini, Anna; Klemm, Lars; Ji, Lingyun; Groffen, John; Müschen, Markus; Mittelman, Steven D

    2010-10-01

    Obesity is associated with an increased incidence of many cancers, including leukemia, although it is unknown whether leukemia incidence is increased directly by obesity or rather by associated genetic, lifestyle, health, or socioeconomic factors. We developed animal models of obesity and leukemia to test whether obesity could directly accelerate acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) using BCR/ABL transgenic and AKR/J mice weaned onto a high-fat diet. Mice were observed until development of progressive ALL. Although obese and control BCR/ABL mice had similar median survival, older obese mice had accelerated ALL onset, implying a time-dependent effect of obesity on ALL. Obese AKR mice developed ALL significantly earlier than controls. The effect of obesity was not explained by WBC count, thymus/spleen weight, or ALL phenotype. However, obese AKR mice had higher leptin, insulin, and interleukin-6 levels than controls, and these obesity-related hormones all have potential roles in leukemia pathogenesis. In conclusion, obesity directly accelerates presentation of ALL, likely by increasing the risk of an early event in leukemogenesis. This is the first study to show that obesity can directly accelerate the progression of ALL. Thus, the observed associations between obesity and leukemia incidence are likely to be directly related to biological effects of obesity. ©2010 AACR.

  12. Recent advances in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and adolescents: an expert panel discussion.

    PubMed

    Asselin, Barbara L; Gaynon, Paul; Whitlock, James A

    2013-12-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common form of childhood leukemia, representing 75% to 80% of cases of acute leukemia among children. Dramatic improvements in the cure rates and survival outcomes for children with ALL have been seen over the past several decades; currently the 5-year survival rate for childhood ALL is more than 80%. These improvements have come about because of advances in the understanding of the molecular genetics and pathogenesis of the disease, incorporation of risk-adapted therapy, and the advent of new targeted agents. Scientific advances have provided new insights into leukemogenesis, drug resistance, and host pharmacogenomics, identified novel subtypes of leukemia, and suggested potential targets for therapy. At the same time novel monoclonal antibodies, small molecule inhibitors, chemotherapeutics, and cell-based treatment strategies have been developed and investigated. In this article, experts will discuss some of the current challenges and future directions in the treatment of pediatric ALL. The authors will offer expert guidance to practicing oncologists on how to best incorporate newer treatment approaches into the care of children and adolescents with ALL. The most important ongoing clinical trials in the area will also be reviewed.

  13. Comparison of long-term outcome between white and Vietnamese children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia according to the FRALLE 2000 protocol.

    PubMed

    Vu Hoang, Phuong Thu; Ambroise, Jérôme; Dang Chi, Vu Luan; Dekairelle, Anne-France; Dupont, Sophie; Huynh, Nghia; Nguyen, Tan Binh; Robert, Annie; Gala, Jean-Luc; Vermylen, Christiane

    2014-10-01

    To compare the relapse-free survival (RFS) in Vietnamese (n=141) and white (n=94) children living in Vietnam and Belgium, respectively, and treated in their own country for acute lymphoblastic leukemia according to the same FRALLE 2000 protocol. RFS was significantly worse in Vietnamese children (hazards ratio=4.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.16-9.3; P<0.01). The 5-year RFS was 83.8% (95% CI, 76.3%-92.0%) and 47.8% (95% CI, 35.6%-64.2%) for white and Vietnamese children, respectively. In the latter group, relapses occurred in bone marrow and cerebrospinal fluid at a much earlier stage. The outcome was compared at first relapse only because of different treatments afterward, according to the country. Both series were similar for sex, age at diagnosis, initial white blood cell count, cytogenetic abnormalities, and corticosensitivity at day 8. Higher frequency of L2-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (P<0.001) but lower frequency of T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (P=0.004) were observed in Vietnamese children. Several factors may contribute to the poor RFS in Vietnamese children, which include the time interval before the first intrathecal therapy and differences in the management of drug-related toxicity. However, additional contribution of socioeconomic factors and/or variations in pharmacogenetic polymorphisms in Vietnamese patients cannot currently be ruled out.

  14. Treatment of Young Adults with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Kansagra, Ankit; Litzow, Mark

    2017-06-01

    Young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are a distinctive category of patients, with substantial difference in disease biology and response to therapy; hence, they pose unique challenges and issues beyond those faced by children and older adults. Despite inferior survival compared to children, there is growing evidence to suggest that young adults have improved outcomes when treated with pediatric-based approaches. With better supportive care and toxicity management and multidisciplinary team and approach, we have made great improvement in outcomes of young adults with ALL. However, despite significant progress, patients with persistence of minimal residual disease have a poor prognosis. This review discusses current controversies in the management of young adults with ALL, outcomes following pediatric and adult protocols, and the role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation. We also explore recent advances in disease monitoring and highlight our approach to incorporation of novel therapies in the management of young adults with ALL.

  15. Adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Stock, Wendy

    2010-01-01

    During the last decade, increasing attention has been paid to a unique group of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who lie at the crossroad of therapeutic care by pediatric and adult hematologists/oncologists. ALL is a disease that affects infants, children, adolescents, and adult patients. With current therapies, the vast majority of children with ALL are now long-term survivors; unfortunately, the same good results have not yet been obtained for adults with ALL. This review will describe current controversies surrounding the treatment of adolescents and young adults with ALL--a group who finds themselves in the transition from "pediatric" to "adult" treatment approaches. The review focuses on recent insights into disease biology, prognostic factors, and treatment outcomes that have led to a series of prospective clinical trials specifically designed for adolescents and younger adults (AYAs) with ALL. These trials have been designed to provide important new clinical, psychosocial, and biological insights, and to further improve the survival of this challenging and unique group of patients.

  16. Germline Genetic IKZF1 Variation and Predisposition to Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Churchman, Michelle L; Qian, Maoxiang; Te Kronnie, Geertruy; Zhang, Ranran; Yang, Wenjian; Zhang, Hui; Lana, Tobia; Tedrick, Paige; Baskin, Rebekah; Verbist, Katherine; Peters, Jennifer L; Devidas, Meenakshi; Larsen, Eric; Moore, Ian M; Gu, Zhaohui; Qu, Chunxu; Yoshihara, Hiroki; Porter, Shaina N; Pruett-Miller, Shondra M; Wu, Gang; Raetz, Elizabeth; Martin, Paul L; Bowman, W Paul; Winick, Naomi; Mardis, Elaine; Fulton, Robert; Stanulla, Martin; Evans, William E; Relling, Mary V; Pui, Ching-Hon; Hunger, Stephen P; Loh, Mignon L; Handgretinger, Rupert; Nichols, Kim E; Yang, Jun J; Mullighan, Charles G

    2018-05-14

    Somatic genetic alterations of IKZF1, which encodes the lymphoid transcription factor IKAROS, are common in high-risk B-progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and are associated with poor prognosis. Such alterations result in the acquisition of stem cell-like features, overexpression of adhesion molecules causing aberrant cell-cell and cell-stroma interaction, and decreased sensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Here we report coding germline IKZF1 variation in familial childhood ALL and 0.9% of presumed sporadic B-ALL, identifying 28 unique variants in 45 children. The majority of variants adversely affected IKZF1 function and drug responsiveness of leukemic cells. These results identify IKZF1 as a leukemia predisposition gene, and emphasize the importance of germline genetic variation in the development of both familial and sporadic ALL. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Children’s Oncology Group’s 2013 Blueprint for Research: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Hunger, Stephen P.; Loh, Mignon L.; Whitlock, James A.; Winick, Naomi J.; Carroll, William L.; Devidas, Meenakshi; Raetz, Elizabeth A.

    2014-01-01

    Approximately 90% of the 2,000 children, adolescents, and young adults enrolled each year in Children’s Oncology Group acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) trials will be cured. However, high-risk subsets with significantly inferior survival remain, including infants, newly diagnosed patients with age ≥10 years, white blood count ≥50,000/µl, poor early response or T-cell ALL, and relapsed ALL patients. Effective strategies to improve survival include better risk stratification, optimizing standard chemotherapy and combining targeted therapies with cytotoxic chemotherapy, the latter of which is dependent upon identification of key driver mutations present in ALL. PMID:23255467

  18. Total Marrow and Lymphoid Irradiation, Fludarabine, and Melphalan Before Donor Stem Cell Transplant in Treating Participants With High-Risk Acute Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndrome

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-06-01

    Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Remission; Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Remission; Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipient; Minimal Residual Disease; Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  19. Loss of p19Arf in a Rag1−/− B-cell precursor population initiates acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Hauer, Julia; Mullighan, Charles; Morillon, Estelle; Wang, Gary; Bruneau, Julie; Brousse, Nicole; Lelorc'h, Marc; Romana, Serge; Boudil, Amine; Tiedau, Daniela; Kracker, Sven; Bushmann, Frederic D.; Borkhardt, Arndt; Fischer, Alain; Hacein-Bey-Abina, Salima

    2011-01-01

    In human B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), RAG1-induced genomic alterations are important for disease progression. However, given that biallelic loss of the RAG1 locus is observed in a subset of cases, RAG1's role in the development of B-ALL remains unclear. We chose a p19Arf−/−Rag1−/− mouse model to confirm the previously published results concerning the contribution of CDKN2A (p19ARF /INK4a) and RAG1 copy number alterations in precursor B cells to the initiation and/or progression to B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). In this murine model, we identified a new, Rag1-independent leukemia-initiating mechanism originating from a Sca1+CD19+ precursor cell population and showed that Notch1 expression accelerates the cells' self-renewal capacity in vitro. In human RAG1-deficient BM, a similar CD34+CD19+ population expressed p19ARF. These findings suggest that combined loss of p19Arf and Rag1 results in B-cell precursor leukemia in mice and may contribute to the progression of precursor B-ALL in humans. PMID:21622646

  20. CD200/BTLA deletions in pediatric precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated according to the EORTC-CLG 58951 protocol

    PubMed Central

    Ghazavi, Farzaneh; Clappier, Emmanuelle; Lammens, Tim; Suciu, Stefan; Caye, Aurélie; Zegrari, Samira; Bakkus, Marleen; Grardel, Nathalie; Benoit, Yves; Bertrand, Yves; Minckes, Odile; Costa, Vitor; Ferster, Alina; Mazingue, Françoise; Plat, Geneviève; Plouvier, Emmanuel; Poirée, Marilyne; Uyttebroeck, Anne; van der Werff-ten Bosch, Jutte; Yakouben, Karima; Helsmoortel, Hetty; Meul, Magali; Van Roy, Nadine; Philippé, Jan; Speleman, Frank; Cavé, Hélène; Van Vlierberghe, Pieter; De Moerloose, Barbara

    2015-01-01

    DNA copy number analysis has been instrumental for the identification of genetic alterations in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Notably, some of these genetic defects have been associated with poor treatment outcome and might be relevant for future risk stratification. In this study, we characterized recurrent deletions of CD200 and BTLA genes, mediated by recombination-activating genes, and used breakpoint-specific polymerase chain reaction assay to screen a cohort of 1154 cases of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia uniformly treated according to the EORTC-CLG 58951 protocol. CD200/BTLA deletions were identified in 56 of the patients (4.8%) and were associated with an inferior 8-year event free survival in this treatment protocol [70.2% ± 1.2% for patients with deletions versus 83.5% ± 6.4% for non-deleted cases (hazard ratio 2.02; 95% confidence interval 1.23–3.32; P=0.005)]. Genetically, CD200/BTLA deletions were strongly associated with ETV6-RUNX1-positive leukemias (P<0.0001), but were also identified in patients who did not have any genetic abnormality that is currently used for risk stratification. Within the latter population of patients, the presence of CD200/BTLA deletions was associated with inferior event-free survival and overall survival. Moreover, the multivariate Cox model indicated that these deletions had independent prognostic impact on event-free survival when adjusting for conventional risk criteria. All together, these findings further underscore the rationale for copy number profiling as an important tool for risk stratification in human B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT00003728. PMID:26137961

  1. CD200/BTLA deletions in pediatric precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated according to the EORTC-CLG 58951 protocol.

    PubMed

    Ghazavi, Farzaneh; Clappier, Emmanuelle; Lammens, Tim; Suciu, Stefan; Caye, Aurélie; Zegrari, Samira; Bakkus, Marleen; Grardel, Nathalie; Benoit, Yves; Bertrand, Yves; Minckes, Odile; Costa, Vitor; Ferster, Alina; Mazingue, Françoise; Plat, Geneviève; Plouvier, Emmanuel; Poirée, Marilyne; Uyttebroeck, Anne; van der Werff-Ten Bosch, Jutte; Yakouben, Karima; Helsmoortel, Hetty; Meul, Magali; Van Roy, Nadine; Philippé, Jan; Speleman, Frank; Cavé, Hélène; Van Vlierberghe, Pieter; De Moerloose, Barbara

    2015-10-01

    DNA copy number analysis has been instrumental for the identification of genetic alterations in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Notably, some of these genetic defects have been associated with poor treatment outcome and might be relevant for future risk stratification. In this study, we characterized recurrent deletions of CD200 and BTLA genes, mediated by recombination-activating genes, and used breakpoint-specific polymerase chain reaction assay to screen a cohort of 1154 cases of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia uniformly treated according to the EORTC-CLG 58951 protocol. CD200/BTLA deletions were identified in 56 of the patients (4.8%) and were associated with an inferior 8-year event free survival in this treatment protocol [70.2% ± 1.2% for patients with deletions versus 83.5% ± 6.4% for non-deleted cases (hazard ratio 2.02; 95% confidence interval 1.23-3.32; P=0.005)]. Genetically, CD200/BTLA deletions were strongly associated with ETV6-RUNX1-positive leukemias (P<0.0001), but were also identified in patients who did not have any genetic abnormality that is currently used for risk stratification. Within the latter population of patients, the presence of CD200/BTLA deletions was associated with inferior event-free survival and overall survival. Moreover, the multivariate Cox model indicated that these deletions had independent prognostic impact on event-free survival when adjusting for conventional risk criteria. All together, these findings further underscore the rationale for copy number profiling as an important tool for risk stratification in human B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT00003728. Copyright© Ferrata Storti Foundation.

  2. Genetic loss of SH2B3 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Perez-Garcia, Arianne; Ambesi-Impiombato, Alberto; Hadler, Michael; Rigo, Isaura; LeDuc, Charles A; Kelly, Kara; Jalas, Chaim; Paietta, Elisabeth; Racevskis, Janis; Rowe, Jacob M; Tallman, Martin S; Paganin, Maddalena; Basso, Giuseppe; Tong, Wei; Chung, Wendy K; Ferrando, Adolfo A

    2013-10-03

    The SH2B adaptor protein 3 (SH2B3) gene encodes a negative regulator of cytokine signaling with a critical role in the homeostasis of hematopoietic stem cells and lymphoid progenitors. Here, we report the identification of germline homozygous SH2B3 mutations in 2 siblings affected with developmental delay and autoimmunity, one in whom B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) developed. Mechanistically, loss of SH2B3 increases Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling, promotes lymphoid cell proliferation, and accelerates leukemia development in a mouse model of NOTCH1-induced ALL. Moreover, extended mutation analysis showed homozygous somatic mutations in SH2B3 in 2 of 167 ALLs analyzed. Overall, these results demonstrate a Knudson tumor suppressor role for SH2B3 in the pathogenesis of ALL and highlight a possible link between genetic predisposition factors in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity and leukemogenesis.

  3. [Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a genomic perspective].

    PubMed

    Jiménez-Morales, Silvia; Hidalgo-Miranda, Alfredo; Ramírez-Bello, Julián

    In parallel to the human genome sequencing project, several technological platforms have been developed that let us gain insight into the genome structure of human entities, as well as evaluate their usefulness in the clinical approach of the patient. Thus, in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common pediatric malignancy, genomic tools promise to be useful to detect patients at high risk of relapse, either at diagnosis or during treatment (minimal residual disease), and they also increase the possibility to identify cases at risk of adverse reactions to chemotherapy. Therefore, the physician could offer patient-tailored therapeutic schemes. A clear example of the useful genomic tools is the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the thiopurine methyl transferase (TPMT) gene, where the presence of two null alleles (homozygous or compound heterozygous) indicates the need to reduce the dose of mercaptopurine by up to 90% to avoid toxic effects which could lead to the death of the patient. In this review, we provide an overview of the genomic perspective of ALL, describing some strategies that contribute to the identification of biomarkers with potential clinical application. Copyright © 2017 Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez. Publicado por Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.

  4. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)

    MedlinePlus

    ... JD, eds. Lanzkowsky's Manual of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology . 6th ed. Cambridge, MA: Elsevier Academic Press; 2016: ... Cancer Network website. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Version 4.2017. www.nccn. ...

  5. Diagnosis of intrachromosomal amplification of chromosome 21 (iAMP21) by molecular cytogenetics in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Duployez, Nicolas; Boudry-Labis, Elise; Decool, Gauthier; Grzych, Guillaume; Grardel, Nathalie; Abou Chahla, Wadih; Preudhomme, Claude; Roche-Lestienne, Catherine

    2015-10-01

    Intrachromosomal amplification of chromosome 21 (iAMP21) defines a distinct cytogenetic subgroup of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) with poor prognosis that should be investigated in routine practice. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-array provides a useful method to detect such cases showing a highly characteristic profile.

  6. Mutation of the NPM1 gene contributes to the development of donor cell-derived acute myeloid leukemia after unrelated cord blood transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Rodríguez-Macías, Gabriela; Martínez-Laperche, Carolina; Gayoso, Jorge; Noriega, Víctor; Serrano, David; Balsalobre, Pascual; Muñoz-Martínez, Cristina; Díez-Martín, José L; Buño, Ismael

    2013-08-01

    Donor cell leukemia (DCL) is a rare but severe complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Its true incidence is unknown because of a lack of correct recognition and reporting, although improvements in molecular analysis of donor-host chimerism are contributing to a better diagnosis of this complication. The mechanisms of leukemogenesis are unclear, and multiple factors can contribute to the development of DCL. In recent years, cord blood has emerged as an alternative source of hematopoietic progenitor cells, and at least 12 cases of DCL have been reported after unrelated cord blood transplantation. We report a new case of DCL after unrelated cord blood transplantation in a 44-year-old woman diagnosed as having acute lymphoblastic leukemia with t(1;19) that developed acute myeloid leukemia with normal karyotype and nucleophosmin (NPM1) mutation in donor cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of NPM1 mutation contributing to DCL development. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. SB-715992 in Treating Patients With Acute Leukemia, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, or Advanced Myelodysplastic Syndromes

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-01-10

    Acute Undifferentiated Leukemia; Adult Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia (M7); Adult Acute Minimally Differentiated Myeloid Leukemia (M0); Adult Acute Monoblastic Leukemia (M5a); Adult Acute Monocytic Leukemia (M5b); Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia With Maturation (M2); Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia Without Maturation (M1); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With 11q23 (MLL) Abnormalities; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(15;17)(q22;q12); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21)(q22;q22); Adult Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia (M4); Adult Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (M3); Adult Erythroleukemia (M6a); Adult Pure Erythroid Leukemia (M6b); Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; de Novo Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Refractory Anemia With Excess Blasts; Refractory Anemia With Excess Blasts in Transformation; Relapsing Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Secondary Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Untreated Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  8. Supporting Caregivers of Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia via a Smartphone App: A Pilot Study of Usability and Effectiveness.

    PubMed

    Wang, Jingting; Yao, Nengliang; Shen, Min; Zhang, Xiaoyan; Wang, Yuanyuan; Liu, Yanyan; Geng, Zhaohui; Yuan, Changrong

    2016-11-01

    Smartphone applications are widely used for self-help interventions in adult cancer survivors. However, applications for parents of pediatric cancer patients are limited. We developed an applications to assist parents of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The aim of this study is to evaluate the app's usability and effectiveness in a preliminary way. A stepwise approach and mixed methods were used. The application was initially tested by healthcare providers, and their comments and suggestions were used to develop an updated version. This version was tested by parents of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Comments and nonverbal expressions of parents were recorded during a 2-week pilot test. The qualitative study was followed by a quantitative study using audit log data from the administration portal to understand how parents use the application. Six healthcare providers and 15 parents participated. Parents gained a greater knowledge of leukemia, confidence in caregiving, social support, and information on how to reduce stress. Over usability was rated as stable, useful, simple, and self-explanatory. No software failure occurred. Applications have the potential to support caregivers of pediatric cancer patients. We plan to address limitations and perform an empirical interventional study to examine its clinical effectiveness.

  9. Population pharmacokinetics of intravenous Erwinia asparaginase in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

    PubMed

    Sassen, Sebastiaan D T; Mathôt, Ron A A; Pieters, Rob; Kloos, Robin Q H; de Haas, Valérie; Kaspers, Gertjan J L; van den Bos, Cor; Tissing, Wim J E; Te Loo, Maroeska; Bierings, Marc B; Kollen, Wouter J W; Zwaan, Christian M; van der Sluis, Inge M

    2017-03-01

    Erwinia asparaginase is an important component in the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A large variability in serum concentrations has been observed after intravenous Erwinia asparaginase. Currently, Dutch Childhood Oncology Group protocols dose alterations are based on trough concentrations to ensure adequate asparaginase activity (≥100 IU/L). The aim of this study was to describe the population pharmacokinetics of intravenous Erwinia asparaginase to quantify and gather insight into inter-individual and inter-occasion variability. The starting dose was evaluated on the basis of the derived population pharmacokinetic parameters. In a multicenter prospective observational study, a total of 714 blood samples were collected from 51 children (age 1-17 years) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The starting dose was 20,000 IU/m 2 three times a week and adjusted according to trough levels from week three onwards. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed using NONMEM ® A 2-compartment linear model with allometric scaling best described the data. Inter-individual and inter-occasion variability of clearance were 33% and 13%, respectively. Clearance in the first month of treatment was 14% higher ( P <0.01). Monte Carlo simulations with our pharmacokinetic model demonstrated that patients with a low weight might require higher doses to achieve similar concentrations compared to patients with high weight. The current starting dose of 20,000 IU/m 2 might result in inadequate concentrations, especially for smaller, lower weight patients, hence dose adjustments based on individual clearance are recommended. The protocols were approved by the institutional review boards. (Registered at NTR 3379 Dutch Trial Register; www.trialregister.nl). Copyright© Ferrata Storti Foundation.

  10. Predicting the neurobehavioral side effects of dexamethasone in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Warris, Lidewij T; van den Akker, Erica L T; Aarsen, Femke K; Bierings, Marc B; van den Bos, Cor; Tissing, Wim J E; Sassen, Sebastiaan D T; Veening, Margreet A; Zwaan, Christian M; Pieters, Rob; van den Heuvel-Eibrink, Marry M

    2016-10-01

    Although dexamethasone is an effective treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), it can induce a variety of serious neurobehavioral side effects. We hypothesized that these side effects are influenced by glucocorticoid sensitivity at the tissue level. We therefore prospectively studied whether we could predict the occurrence of these side effects using the very low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (DST) or by measuring trough levels of dexamethasone. Fifty pediatric patients (3-16 years of age) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were initially included during the maintenance phase (with dexamethasone) of the Dutch ALL treatment protocol. As a marker of glucocorticoid sensitivity, the salivary very low-dose DST was used. A post-dexamethasone cortisol level <2.0nmol/L was considered a hypersensitive response. The neurobehavioral endpoints consisted of questionnaires regarding psychosocial and sleeping problems administered before and during the course of dexamethasone (6mg/m(2)), and dexamethasone trough levels were measured during dexamethasone treatment. Patients with a hypersensitive response to dexamethasone had more behavioral problems (N=11), sleeping problems, and/or somnolence (N=12) (P<0.05 for all three endpoints). The positive predictive values of the DST for psychosocial problems and sleeping problems were 50% and 30%, respectively. Dexamethasone levels were not associated with neurobehavioral side effects. We conclude that neither the very low-dose DST nor measuring dexamethasone trough levels can accurately predict dexamethasone-induced neurobehavioral side effects. However, patients with glucocorticoid hypersensitivity experienced significantly more symptoms associated with dexamethasone-induced depression. Future studies should elucidate further the mechanisms by which neurobehavioral side effects are influenced by glucocorticoid sensitivity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Prediction of intellectual deficits in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Trautman, P.D.; Erickson, C.; Shaffer, D.

    1988-06-01

    Possible predictors of reported lower cognitive functioning in irradiated children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were investigated. Thirty-four subjects, 5-14 years old, with ALL in continuous complete remission and without evidence of current or past central nervous system disease, were examined 9-110 months after diagnosis, using standard measures of intelligence and academic achievement. Subjects with a history of post-irradiation somnolence syndrome were significantly older at diagnosis than nonsomnolent subjects. Intelligence (IQ) was found to be unrelated to history of somnolence syndrome. IQ and achievement were unrelated to age at irradiation, irradiation-examination interval, and radiation dosages. The strongest predictor of IQmore » by far is parental social class. The importance of controlling for social class differences when searching for treatment effects on IQ and achievement is stressed.« less

  12. Childhood pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with translocation t(1;19)(q21.1;p13.3) and two additional chromosomal aberrations involving chromosomes 1, 6, and 13: a case report.

    PubMed

    Wafa, Abdulsamad; As'sad, Manar; Liehr, Thomas; Aljapawe, Abdulmunim; Al Achkar, Walid

    2017-04-07

    The translocation t(1;19)(q23;p13), which results in the TCF3-PBX1 chimeric gene, is one of the most frequent rearrangements observed in B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It appears in both adult and pediatric patients with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia at an overall frequency of 3 to 5%. Most cases of pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia carrying the translocation t(1;19) have a typical immunophenotype with homogeneous expression of CD19, CD10, CD9, complete absence of CD34, and at least diminished CD20. Moreover, the translocation t(1;19) correlates with known clinical high risk factors, such as elevated white blood cell count, high serum lactate dehydrogenase levels, and central nervous system involvement; early reports indicated that patients with translocation t(1;19) had a poor outcome under standard treatment. We report the case of a 15-year-old Syrian boy with pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with abnormal karyotype with a der(19)t(1;19)(q21.1;p13.3) and two yet unreported chromosomal aberrations: an interstitial deletion 6q12 to 6q26 and a der(13)t(1;13)(q21.1;p13). According to the literature, cases who are translocation t(1;19)-positive have a significantly higher incidence of central nervous system relapse than patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia without the translocation. Of interest, central nervous system involvement was also seen in our patient. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of childhood pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with an unbalanced translocation t(1;19) with two additional chromosomal aberrations, del(6)(q12q26) and t(1;13)(q21.3;p13), which seem to be recurrent and could influence clinical outcome. Also the present case confirms the impact of the translocation t(1;19) on central nervous system relapse, which should be studied for underlying mechanisms in future.

  13. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children.

    PubMed

    Sadananda Adiga, M N; Chandy, S; Ramachandra, N; Appaji, L; Aruna Kumari, B S; Ramaswamy, G; Savithri, H S; Krishnamoorthy, L

    2010-01-01

    Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a critical enzyme in folate metabolism and is involved in DNA synthesis, DNA repair and DNA methylation. Genetic polymorphisms of this enzyme have been shown to impact several diseases, including cancer. Leukemias are malignancies arising from rapidly proliferating hematopoietic cells having great requirement of DNA synthesis. This case-control study was undertaken to analyze the association of the MTHFR gene polymorphisms 677 C"T and 1298 A"C and the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children. Eighty-six patients aged below 15 years with a confirmed diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 99 matched controls were taken for this study. Analysis of the polymorphisms was done using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Frequency of MTHFR 677 CC and CT were 85.9% and 14.1% in the controls, and 84.9% and 15.1% in the cases. The 'T' allele frequency was 7% and 7.5% in cases and controls respectively. The frequency of MTHFR 1298 AA, AC, and CC were 28.3%, 55.6% and 16.1% for controls and 23.3%, 59.3% and 17.4% for cases respectively. The 'C' allele frequency for 1298 A-->C was 43.9% and 47% respectively for controls and cases. The odds ratio (OR) for C677T was 1.08 (95% CI 0.48-2.45, p = 0.851) and OR for A1298C was 1.29 (95% CI 0.65-2.29, p = 0.46) and OR for 1298 CC was 1.31 (95% CI 0.53-3.26, p = 0.56). The OR for the combined heterozygous status (677 CT and 1298 AC) was 1.94 (95% CI 0.58-6.52, p = 0.286). The prevalence of 'T' allele for 677 MTHFR polymorphism was low in the population studied. There was no association between MTHFR 677 C-->T and 1298 A-->C gene polymorphisms and risk of ALL, which may be due to the small sample size.

  14. Diagnosis of intrachromosomal amplification of chromosome 21 (iAMP21) by molecular cytogenetics in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Duployez, Nicolas; Boudry-Labis, Elise; Decool, Gauthier; Grzych, Guillaume; Grardel, Nathalie; Abou Chahla, Wadih; Preudhomme, Claude; Roche-Lestienne, Catherine

    2015-01-01

    Key Clinical Message Intrachromosomal amplification of chromosome 21 (iAMP21) defines a distinct cytogenetic subgroup of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) with poor prognosis that should be investigated in routine practice. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-array provides a useful method to detect such cases showing a highly characteristic profile. PMID:26509013

  15. Novel in vivo model of inducible multidrug resistance in acute lymphoblastic leukemia with chromosomal translocation t(4;11)

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with translocation t(4;11) is found in 60-85% of infants with ALL and is classified as high-risk due to the generally poor prognosis for survival. Using the SEM cell line established from a patient with t(4;11) ALL, we evaluated the resistance of these cells to the...

  16. Postinduction minimal residual disease monitoring by polymerase chain reaction in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Paganin, Maddalena; Fabbri, Giulia; Conter, Valentino; Barisone, Elena; Polato, Katia; Cazzaniga, Giovanni; Giraldi, Eugenia; Fagioli, Franca; Aricò, Maurizio; Valsecchi, Maria Grazia; Basso, Giuseppe

    2014-11-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer. Monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) provides information for patient stratification and individual risk-directed treatment. Cooperative studies have documented that measurement of blast clearance from the bone marrow during and after induction therapy identifies patient populations with different risk of relapse. We explored the possible contribution of measurements of MRD during the course of treatment. We used RQ-PCR to detect MRD in 110 unselected patients treated in Italy in the International Collaborative Treatment Protocol for Children and Adolescents With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (AIEOP-BFM ALL 2000). The trial took place in AIEOP centers during postinduction chemotherapy. Results were categorized as negative, low positive (below the quantitative range [< 5 × 10(-4)]), or high positive (≥ 5 × 10(-4)). Patients with at least one low-positive or high-positive result were assigned to the corresponding subgroup. Patients who tested high positive, low positive, or negative had significantly different cumulative incidences of leukemia relapse: 83.3%, 34.8%, and 8.6%, respectively (P < .001). Two thirds of positive cases were identified within 4 months after induction-consolidation therapy, suggesting that this time frame may be most suitable for cost-effective MRD monitoring, particularly in patients who did not clear their disease at the end of consolidation. These findings provide further insights into the dynamic of MRD and the ongoing effort to define molecular relapse in childhood ALL. © 2014 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

  17. [Treatment results with ALL-BFM-95 protocol in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Hungary].

    PubMed

    Müller, Judit; Kovács, Gábor; Jakab, Zsuzsanna; Rényi, Imre; Galántai, Ilona; Békési, Andrea; Kiss, Csongor; Nagy, Kálmán; Kajtár, Pál; Bartyik, Katalin; Masát, Péter; Magyarosy, Edina

    2005-01-09

    In Hungary children (from 1 to 18 years of age) with de novo acute lymphoblastic leukemia were treated from January 1996 to October 2002, according to protocol ALL-BFM-95. The aim of this study was to evaluate the experience with this protocol, the treatment results according to the risk groups and to compare the Hungarian data with the international results. Patients were stratified into 3 risk groups, based on initial white blood cell count, age, immunology, cytogenetics and response to treatment: standard, medium and high risk group. Three hundred sixty eight children entered the study (male-female ratio was 1.27:1, median age 6 years and 4 months). 110 (29.9%) children were in the standard, 210 (57.1%) in the medium and 48 (13%) in the high risk group. Duration of the chemotherapy was 2 years, except of the boys in the standard risk group, their maintenance therapy was 1 year longer. The overall complete remission rate was 93.2%. 20 (5.4%) children died in induction and 5 (1.4%) were non-responders. The 5-year overall survival for all patients was 78.5%, in the standard risk group 93.2%, in the medium risk group 78.4% and in the high risk group 44.5% with a minimum follow up of 1.19 years and median follow up of 4.85 years. From the 368 patients 272 (73.9%) are still in their first complete clinical remission and other 18 children are alive after relapse. In 14.7% of the patients relapse was diagnosed; the most common site was the bone marrow. In one patient second malignancy occurred. The 5-year event free survival for all patients was 72.6%, in the standard risk group 87.6%, in the medium risk group 72.1% and in the high risk group 39.9%. The treatment outcome of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia improved remarkably over the last decades. 78% of children suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia could be cured with the ALL-BFM-95 protocol. The Hungarian results are comparable to those achieved by other leukaemia study groups in the world regarding

  18. New targeted therapies for relapsed pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Pierro, Joanna; Hogan, Laura E; Bhatla, Teena; Carroll, William L

    2017-08-01

    The improvement in outcomes for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the greatest success stories of modern oncology however the prognosis for patients who relapse remains dismal. Recent discoveries by high resolution genomic technologies have characterized the biology of relapsed leukemia, most notably pathways leading to the drug resistant phenotype. These observations open the possibility of targeting such pathways to prevent and/or treat relapse. Likewise, early experiences with new immunotherapeutic approaches have shown great promise. Areas covered: We performed a literature search on PubMed and recent meeting abstracts using the keywords below. We focused on the biology and clonal evolution of relapsed disease highlighting potential new targets of therapy. We further summarized the results of early trials of the three most prominent immunotherapy agents currently under investigation. Expert commentary: Discovery of targetable pathways that lead to drug resistance and recent breakthroughs in immunotherapy show great promise towards treating this aggressive disease. The best way to treat relapse, however, is to prevent it which makes incorporation of these new approaches into frontline therapy the best approach. Challenges remain to balance efficacy with toxicity and to prevent the emergence of resistant subclones which is why combining these newer agents with conventional chemotherapy will likely become standard of care.

  19. Spectral karyotyping reveals a comprehensive karyotype in an adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Guo, Bo; Zhu, Hong Li; Li, Su Xia; Lu, Xue Chun; Fan, Hui; Da, Wan Ming

    2012-01-01

    Cytogenetic abnormalities are frequently detected in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Comprehensive karyotype was related to poor prognosis frequently in ALL. We present a comprehensive karyotype in an adult ALL by spectral karyotyping (SKY) and R-banding. SKY not only confirmed the abnormalities previously seen by R-banding but also improved comprehensive karyotype analysis with the following result 47,XY,+9, ins(1;5)(q23;q23q34) t(6;7)(q23;p13). Our report demonstrated that SKY is able to provide more information accurately for prediction of disease prognosis in adult ALL with comprehensive karyotype. PMID:27298606

  20. Clofarabine-based combination chemotherapy for relapse and refractory childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Arakawa, Yuki; Koh, Katsuyoshi; Aoki, Takahiro; Kubota, Yasuo; Oyama, Ryo; Mori, Makiko; Hayashi, Mayumi; Hanada, Ryoji

    2014-11-01

    Clofarabine, one of the key treatment agents for refractory and relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), achieves a remission rate of approximately 30% with single-agent clofarabine induction chemotherapy. However, a remission rate of approximately 50% was reported with a combination chemotherapy regimen consisting of clofarabine, etoposide, and cyclophosphamide. We treated two cases with refractory and relapsed ALL with combination chemotherapy including clofarabine; one was an induction failure but the other achieved remission. Both cases developed an infectious complication (NCI-CTCAE grade 3) and body pain with infusion. Prophylactic antibiotic and opioid infusions facilitated avoiding septic shock and pain. Further investigation of such cases is required.

  1. Targetable kinase-activating lesions in Ph-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia | Office of Cancer Genomics

    Cancer.gov

    Publication Abstract:  Philadelphia chromosome-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-like ALL) is characterized by a gene-expression profile similar to that of BCR-ABL1-positive ALL, alterations of lymphoid transcription factor genes, and a poor outcome. The frequency and spectrum of genetic alterations in Ph-like ALL and its responsiveness to tyrosine kinase inhibition are undefined, especially in adolescents and adults. We performed genomic profiling of 1725 patients with precursor B-cell ALL and detailed genomic analysis of 154 patients with Ph-like ALL.

  2. Identification of residual leukemic cells by flow cytometry in childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: verification of leukemic state by flow-sorting and molecular/cytogenetic methods.

    PubMed

    Øbro, Nina F; Ryder, Lars P; Madsen, Hans O; Andersen, Mette K; Lausen, Birgitte; Hasle, Henrik; Schmiegelow, Kjeld; Marquart, Hanne V

    2012-01-01

    Reduction in minimal residual disease, measured by real-time quantitative PCR or flow cytometry, predicts prognosis in childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We explored whether cells reported as minimal residual disease by flow cytometry represent the malignant clone harboring clone-specific genomic markers (53 follow-up bone marrow samples from 28 children with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia). Cell populations (presumed leukemic and non-leukemic) were flow-sorted during standard flow cytometry-based minimal residual disease monitoring and explored by PCR and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization. We found good concordance between flow cytometry and genomic analyses in the individual flow-sorted leukemic (93% true positive) and normal (93% true negative) cell populations. Four cases with discrepant results had plausible explanations (e.g. partly informative immunophenotype and antigen modulation) that highlight important methodological pitfalls. These findings demonstrate that with sufficient experience, flow cytometry is reliable for minimal residual disease monitoring in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, although rare cases require supplementary PCR-based monitoring.

  3. Clinical characteristics and genetic analysis of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a Japanese retrospective study by the Kyushu-Yamaguchi Children's Cancer Study Group.

    PubMed

    Moritake, Hiroshi; Kamimura, Sachiyo; Nunoi, Hiroyuki; Nakayama, Hideki; Suminoe, Aiko; Inada, Hiroko; Inagaki, Jiro; Yanai, Fumio; Okamoto, Yasuhiro; Shinkoda, Yuichi; Shimomura, Maiko; Itonaga, Nobuyoshi; Hotta, Noriko; Hidaka, Yasufumi; Ohara, Osamu; Yanagimachi, Masakatsu; Nakajima, Noriko; Okamura, Jun; Kawano, Yoshifumi

    2014-07-01

    This present study sought to analyze acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) registered in Kyushu-Yamaguchi Children's Cancer Study Group studies conducted between 1996 and 2007. Four of 357 patients, including two of 318 patients with B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) and two of 39 of those with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), were identified. HLH was observed more frequently in the T-ALL patients than in the BCP-ALL patients (P = 0.061). The mean age of 13.0 years at the diagnosis of leukemia in the HLH + ALL group was significantly higher than the 6.05 years observed in the remaining ALL groups (P = 0.001). A female predisposition was noted, as all four patients were female (P = 0.043). In two of four patients, the leukemic cells exhibited deletions on the long arm of chromosome 6 (P = 0.003). Three patients suffered from HLH during maintenance therapy. Parvovirus B19 infection and cytomegalovirus reactivation were identified as causes of HLH in one and two patients, respectively. All four patients are currently in complete remission, although one developed relapse of leukemia after receiving maintenance therapy. Based on the genetic analyses, non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in UNC13D, syntaxin 11, and STXBP2 were identified in all patients. Clinicians should therefore be aware of the risk of HLH during maintenance therapy, especially in older T-ALL patients with SNPs in familial HLH causative genes.

  4. Brain Activity Associated With Attention Deficits Following Chemotherapy for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Fellah, Slim; Cheung, Yin T; Scoggins, Matthew A; Zou, Ping; Sabin, Noah D; Pui, Ching-Hon; Robison, Leslie L; Hudson, Melissa M; Ogg, Robert J; Krull, Kevin R

    2018-05-21

    The impact of contemporary chemotherapy treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia on central nervous system activity is not fully appreciated. Neurocognitive testing and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were obtained in 165 survivors five or more years postdiagnosis (average age = 14.4 years, 7.7 years from diagnosis, 51.5% males). Chemotherapy exposure was measured as serum concentration of methotrexate following high-dose intravenous injection. Neurocognitive testing included measures of attention and executive function. fMRI was obtained during completion of two tasks, the continuous performance task (CPT) and the attention network task (ANT). Image analysis was performed using Statistical Parametric Mapping software, with contrasts targeting sustained attention, alerting, orienting, and conflict. All statistical tests were two-sided. Compared with population norms, survivors demonstrated impairment on number-letter switching (P < .001, a measure of cognitive flexibility), which was associated with treatment intensity (P = .048). Task performance during fMRI was associated with neurocognitive dysfunction across multiple tasks. Regional brain activation was lower in survivors diagnosed at younger ages for the CPT (bilateral parietal and temporal lobes) and the ANT (left parietal and right hippocampus). With higher serum methotrexate exposure, CPT activation decreased in the right temporal and bilateral frontal and parietal lobes, but ANT alerting activation increased in the ventral frontal, insula, caudate, and anterior cingulate. Brain activation during attention and executive function tasks was associated with serum methotrexate exposure and age at diagnosis. These findings provide evidence for compromised and compensatory changes in regional brain function that may help clarify the neural substrates of cognitive deficits in acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors.

  5. Diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia from intracerebral hemorrhage and blast crisis. A case report and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Naunheim, Matthew R; Nahed, Brian V; Walcott, Brian P; Kahle, Kristopher T; Soupir, Chad P; Cahill, Daniel P; Borges, Lawrence F

    2010-09-01

    Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) contributes significantly to the morbidity and mortality of patients suffering from acute leukemia. While ICH is often identified in autopsy studies of leukemic patients, it is rare for ICH to be the presenting sign that ultimately leads to the diagnosis of leukemia. We report a patient with previously undiagnosed acute precursor B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who presented with diffuse encephalopathy due to ICH in the setting of an acute blast crisis. The diagnosis of ALL was initially suspected, because of the hyperleukocytosis observed on presentation, then confirmed with a bone marrow biopsy and flow cytometry study of the peripheral blood. Furthermore, detection of the BCR/ABL Philadelphia translocation t(9:22)(q34:q11) in this leukemic patient by fluorescent in situ hybridization permitted targeted therapy of the blast crisis with imatinib (Gleevec). Understanding the underlying etiology of ICH is pivotal in its management. This case demonstrates that the presence of hyperleukocytosis in a patient with intracerebral hemorrhage should raise clinical suspicion for acute leukemia as the cause of the ICH.

  6. Impact of a Vitamin D Replacement Algorithm in Children and Young Adults With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Young, Jennifer; Welin, Elizabeth; Braeutigam, Carina; Gilger, Elizabeth; Lane, Adam; Salloum, Ralph

    2018-05-04

    Pediatric cancer patients have a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. Children and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are at high risk for associated poor bone outcomes due to contributing effects of chemotherapy and supportive care. Evidence-based vitamin D guidelines are lacking in this population. This is a retrospective study following the implementation of an institutional guideline for standardized monitoring and supplementing vitamin D based on 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and patient age. Goal 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was defined as ≥30 ng/mL and levels were checked every 3 months. Over a period of 22 months, 69 patients (median age, 6.7 y) were included. At diagnosis, 42 patients (60.8%) were insufficient. Among insufficient patients at diagnosis, 83.3% became sufficient at first repeat level following supplementation. At completion of the study 95.6% of patients were sufficient. Insufficiency was more common in winter than summer at baseline (74.3% vs. 47.1%, P=0.03), though the impact of seasonality was overcome following the algorithm. Throughout the study 4 patients had supratherapeutic but nontoxic levels. Vitamin D replacement guidelines implemented in the pediatric and young adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia population markedly increased the percentage of vitamin D sufficient patients in a short period of time.

  7. D-lactic acidosis mediated neuronal encephalopathy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient: an under diagnosis.

    PubMed

    Mendu, Damodara Rao; Fleisher, Martin; McCash, Samuel I; Pessin, Melissa S; Ramanathan, Lakshmi V

    2015-02-20

    D-lactic acidosis, also referred as D-lactate encephalopathy, has been reported in patients with short bowl syndrome (SBS). The neurologic symptoms include altered mental status, slurred speech, and ataxia. Onset of neurological symptoms is accompanied by metabolic acidosis and high anion gap. We present here a case of D-lactic acidosis in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who developed severe neurological symptoms and metabolic acidosis due to vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection, and elevated D-lactic acid. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Gene expression overlap affects karyotype prediction in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    DOE PAGES

    Martin, S. B.; Mosquera-Caro, M. P.; Potter, J. W.; ...

    2007-04-05

    Leukemia is the most common childhood malignancy in the United States. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) accounts for 75% of new leukemia cases in children. Although the outcome for children with ALL has improved dramatically over the past three decades, 25% of children with ALL still develop recurrent disease. Current risk classification schemes in pediatric ALL use clinical and laboratory parameters such as age and initial white blood cell count, as well as the presence of specific ALL-associated cytogenetic or molecular genetic abnormalities. Stratification based on cytogenetic analysis and molecular genetic detection consider B precursor ALL translocations such as t(12;21)(TEL-AML1), t(1;19)(E2A-PBX1)more » and t(9;22)(BCR-ABL), as well as numerical imbalances such as hyperdiploidy, specific chromosome trisomies or hypodiploidy. Despite such efforts, current diagnosis and risk classification schemes in pediatric ALL remain imprecise. In particular, it is likely that a significant number of higher-risk children are currently overtreated and could be cured with less intensive regimens, resulting in fewer toxicities and long-term side effects. Finally and conversely, a significant number of children in lower-risk categories still relapse and precise means to prospectively identify them have remained elusive.« less

  9. Levofloxacin in Preventing Infection in Young Patients With Acute Leukemia Receiving Chemotherapy or Undergoing Stem Cell Transplantation

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-05-07

    Acute Leukemias of Ambiguous Lineage; Bacterial Infection; Diarrhea; Fungal Infection; Musculoskeletal Complications; Neutropenia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Untreated Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Other Myeloid Malignancies

  10. Cerebral venous thrombosis in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma during induction chemotherapy with l-asparaginase: The GRAALL experience.

    PubMed

    Couturier, Marie-Anne; Huguet, Françoise; Chevallier, Patrice; Suarez, Felipe; Thomas, Xavier; Escoffre-Barbe, Martine; Cacheux, Victoria; Pignon, Jean-Michel; Bonmati, Caroline; Sanhes, Laurence; Bories, Pierre; Daguindau, Etienne; Dorvaux, Véronique; Reman, Oumedaly; Frayfer, Jamile; Orvain, Corentin; Lhéritier, Véronique; Ifrah, Norbert; Dombret, Hervé; Hunault-Berger, Mathilde; Tanguy-Schmidt, Aline

    2015-11-01

    Central nervous system (CNS) thrombotic events are a well-known complication of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) induction therapy, especially with treatments including l-asparaginase (l-ASP). Data on risk factors and clinical evolution is still lacking in adult patients. We report on the clinical evolution of 22 CNS venous thrombosis cases occurring in 708 adults treated for ALL or lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL) with the Group for Research on Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (GRAALL)-induction protocol, which included eight L-ASP (6,000 IU/m(2) ) infusions. The prevalence of CNS thrombosis was 3.1%. CNS thrombosis occurred after a median of 18 days (range: 11-31) when patients had received a median of three l-ASP injections (range: 2-7). Patients with CNS thrombosis exhibited a median antithrombin (AT) nadir of 47.5% (range: 36-67%) at Day 17 (range: D3-D28), and 95% of them exhibited AT levels lower than 60%. There were no evident increase in hereditary thrombotic risk factors prevalence, and thrombosis occurred despite heparin prophylaxis which was performed in 90% of patients. Acquired AT deficiency was frequently detected in patients with l-ASP-based therapy, and patients with CNS thrombosis received AT prophylaxis (45%) less frequently than patients without CNS thrombosis (83%), P = 0.0002). CNS thrombosis was lethal in 5% of patients, while 20% had persistent sequelae. One patient received all planned l-ASP infusions without recurrence of CNS thrombotic whereas l-ASP injections were discontinued in 20 patients during the management of thrombosis without a significant impact on overall survival (P = 0.4). © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  11. [Acute lymphoblastic leukemia of T progenitors: from biology to clinics].

    PubMed

    Genescà, Eulàlia; Ribera, Jordi; Ribera, Josep-Maria

    2015-03-09

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in children and the main cause of morbidity among childhood blood disorders. There are 2 subtypes according to the affected lymphoid progenitor: B-ALL and T-ALL. The T-ALL is the less common and, although historically was associated with poor prognosis in both adults and children, at present, treatment outcomes do not differ significantly between the 2 types of ALL. The T-ALL subtype is the most complex and heterogeneous at the genetic level and currently the one with less new therapeutic alternatives available. This trend is changing thanks to the remarkable progress upon understanding its biology. This review summarizes the most recent and important biological findings in T-ALL and their possible therapeutic implications. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  12. Bioelectrical Impedance Measurement for Predicting Treatment Outcome in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-04-26

    Acute Undifferentiated Leukemia; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With 11q23 (MLL) Abnormalities; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Del(5q); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(15;17)(q22;q12); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21)(q22;q22); Mast Cell Leukemia; Myeloid/NK-cell Acute Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  13. Total Marrow and Lymphoid Irradiation and Chemotherapy Before Donor Stem Cell Transplant in Treating Patients With High-Risk Acute Lymphocytic or Myelogenous Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-03-15

    Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With 11q23 (MLL) Abnormalities; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Del(5q); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(15;17)(q22;q12); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21)(q22;q22); Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  14. Identification of CD34+ and CD34− leukemia-initiating cells in MLL-rearranged human acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Aoki, Yuki; Watanabe, Takashi; Saito, Yoriko; Kuroki, Yoko; Hijikata, Atsushi; Takagi, Masatoshi; Tomizawa, Daisuke; Eguchi, Mariko; Eguchi-Ishimae, Minenori; Kaneko, Akiko; Ono, Rintaro; Sato, Kaori; Suzuki, Nahoko; Fujiki, Saera; Koh, Katsuyoshi; Ishii, Eiichi; Shultz, Leonard D.; Ohara, Osamu; Mizutani, Shuki

    2015-01-01

    Translocation of the mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) gene with AF4, AF9, or ENL results in acute leukemia with both lymphoid and myeloid involvement. We characterized leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) in primary infant MLL-rearranged leukemia using a xenotransplantation model. In MLL-AF4 patients, CD34+CD38+CD19+ and CD34−CD19+ cells initiated leukemia, and in MLL-AF9 patients, CD34−CD19+ cells were LICs. In MLL-ENL patients, either CD34+ or CD34− cells were LICs, depending on the pattern of CD34 expression. In contrast, in patients with these MLL translocations, CD34+CD38−CD19−CD33− cells were enriched for normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with in vivo long-term multilineage hematopoietic repopulation capacity. Although LICs developed leukemic cells with clonal immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IGH) rearrangement in vivo, CD34+CD38−CD19−CD33− cells repopulated recipient bone marrow and spleen with B cells, showing broad polyclonal IGH rearrangement and recipient thymus with CD4+ single positive (SP), CD8+ SP, and CD4+CD8+ double-positive (DP) T cells. Global gene expression profiling revealed that CD9, CD32, and CD24 were over-represented in MLL-AF4, MLL-AF9, and MLL-ENL LICs compared with normal HSCs. In patient samples, these molecules were expressed in CD34+CD38+ and CD34− LICs but not in CD34+CD38−CD19−CD33− HSCs. Identification of LICs and LIC-specific molecules in primary human MLL-rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia may lead to improved therapeutic strategies for MLL-rearranged leukemia. PMID:25538041

  15. Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Progress Through Collaboration

    PubMed Central

    Yang, Jun J.; Hunger, Stephen P.; Pieters, Rob; Schrappe, Martin; Biondi, Andrea; Vora, Ajay; Baruchel, André; Silverman, Lewis B.; Schmiegelow, Kjeld; Escherich, Gabriele; Horibe, Keizo; Benoit, Yves C.M.; Izraeli, Shai; Yeoh, Allen Eng Juh; Liang, Der-Cherng; Downing, James R.; Evans, William E.; Relling, Mary V.; Mullighan, Charles G.

    2015-01-01

    Purpose To review the impact of collaborative studies on advances in the biology and treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children and adolescents. Methods A review of English literature on childhood ALL focusing on collaborative studies was performed. The resulting article was reviewed and revised by the committee chairs of the major ALL study groups. Results With long-term survival rates for ALL approaching 90% and the advent of high-resolution genome-wide analyses, several international study groups or consortia were established to conduct collaborative research to further improve outcome. As a result, treatment strategies have been improved for several subtypes of ALL, such as infant, MLL-rearranged, Philadelphia chromosome–positive, and Philadelphia chromosome–like ALL. Many recurrent genetic abnormalities that respond to tyrosine kinase inhibitors and multiple genetic determinants of drug resistance and toxicities have been identified to help develop targeted therapy. Several genetic polymorphisms have been recognized that show susceptibility to developing ALL and that help explain the racial/ethnic differences in the incidence of ALL. Conclusion The information gained from collaborative studies has helped decipher the heterogeneity of ALL to help improve personalized treatment, which will further advance the current high cure rate and the quality of life for children and adolescents with ALL. PMID:26304874

  16. Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Progress Through Collaboration.

    PubMed

    Pui, Ching-Hon; Yang, Jun J; Hunger, Stephen P; Pieters, Rob; Schrappe, Martin; Biondi, Andrea; Vora, Ajay; Baruchel, André; Silverman, Lewis B; Schmiegelow, Kjeld; Escherich, Gabriele; Horibe, Keizo; Benoit, Yves C M; Izraeli, Shai; Yeoh, Allen Eng Juh; Liang, Der-Cherng; Downing, James R; Evans, William E; Relling, Mary V; Mullighan, Charles G

    2015-09-20

    To review the impact of collaborative studies on advances in the biology and treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children and adolescents. A review of English literature on childhood ALL focusing on collaborative studies was performed. The resulting article was reviewed and revised by the committee chairs of the major ALL study groups. With long-term survival rates for ALL approaching 90% and the advent of high-resolution genome-wide analyses, several international study groups or consortia were established to conduct collaborative research to further improve outcome. As a result, treatment strategies have been improved for several subtypes of ALL, such as infant, MLL-rearranged, Philadelphia chromosome-positive, and Philadelphia chromosome-like ALL. Many recurrent genetic abnormalities that respond to tyrosine kinase inhibitors and multiple genetic determinants of drug resistance and toxicities have been identified to help develop targeted therapy. Several genetic polymorphisms have been recognized that show susceptibility to developing ALL and that help explain the racial/ethnic differences in the incidence of ALL. The information gained from collaborative studies has helped decipher the heterogeneity of ALL to help improve personalized treatment, which will further advance the current high cure rate and the quality of life for children and adolescents with ALL. © 2015 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

  17. Osteolytic bone lesions, severe hypercalcemia without circulating blasts: unusual presentation of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Bechir, Achour; Haifa, Regaieg; Atef, Ben Abdelkader; Emna, Bouslema; Asma, Achour; Nesrine, Ben Sayed; Yosra, Ben Youssef; Abdrrahim, Khelif

    2017-01-01

    Hypercalcemia and severe osteolytic lesions are rare complications of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in childhood. We report a case of a 3 years old boy who presented with prolonged fever, nausea, vomiting and increasing lower limbs pain. Skeletal X-rays and CT scan showed severe osteolytic lesions of the skull and extremities. Her physical examination showed multiple cervical lymph nodes. In laboratory tests, he had severe hypercalcemia. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) was not elevated. Despite the absence of circulating blasts, bone marrow biopsy revealed B-precursor (ALL). Hypercalcemia was initially treated with intravenous isotonic sodium chloride solution and diuretics but the serum calcium level normalized only after the beginning of corticosteroids and chemotherapy. The child responded initially to chemotherapy and eventually relapsed and died of septic shock. Acute leukemia must be considered in differential diagnosis in patients with hypercalcemia. A detailed examination even when there no circulating blasts in their peripheral blood smear, and if in doubt bone marrow aspiration should must be taken into consideration. PMID:28690758

  18. AZD1775 sensitizes T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells to cytarabine by promoting apoptosis over DNA repair.

    PubMed

    Ford, James B; Baturin, Dmitry; Burleson, Tamara M; Van Linden, Annemie A; Kim, Yong-Mi; Porter, Christopher C

    2015-09-29

    While some children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have excellent prognoses, the prognosis for adults and children with T cell ALL is more guarded. Treatment for T-ALL is heavily dependent upon antimetabolite chemotherapeutics, including cytarabine. Targeted inhibition of WEE1 with AZD1775 has emerged as a strategy to sensitize cancer cells to cytarabine and other chemotherapeutics. We sought to determine if this strategy would be effective for T-ALL with clinically relevant anti-leukemia agents. We found that AZD1775 sensitizes T-ALL cells to several traditional anti-leukemia agents, acting synergistically with cytarabine by enhancing DNA damage and apoptosis. In addition to increased phosphorylation of H2AX at serine 139 (γH2AX), AZD1775 led to increased phosphorylation of H2AX at tyrosine 142, a signaling event associated with promotion of apoptosis over DNA repair. In a xenograft model of T-ALL, the addition of AZD1775 to cytarabine slowed leukemia progression and prolonged survival. Inhibition of WEE1 with AZD1775 sensitizes T-ALL to several anti-leukemia agents, particularly cytarabine and that mechanistically, AZD1775 promotes apoptosis over DNA repair in cells treated with cytarabine. These data support the development of clinical trials including AZD1775 in combination with conventional chemotherapy for acute leukemia.

  19. AZD1775 sensitizes T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells to cytarabine by promoting apoptosis over DNA repair

    PubMed Central

    Burleson, Tamara M.; Van Linden, Annemie A.; Kim, Yong-Mi; Porter, Christopher C.

    2015-01-01

    While some children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have excellent prognoses, the prognosis for adults and children with T cell ALL is more guarded. Treatment for T-ALL is heavily dependent upon antimetabolite chemotherapeutics, including cytarabine. Targeted inhibition of WEE1 with AZD1775 has emerged as a strategy to sensitize cancer cells to cytarabine and other chemotherapeutics. We sought to determine if this strategy would be effective for T-ALL with clinically relevant anti-leukemia agents. We found that AZD1775 sensitizes T-ALL cells to several traditional anti-leukemia agents, acting synergistically with cytarabine by enhancing DNA damage and apoptosis. In addition to increased phosphorylation of H2AX at serine 139 (γH2AX), AZD1775 led to increased phosphorylation of H2AX at tyrosine 142, a signaling event associated with promotion of apoptosis over DNA repair. In a xenograft model of T-ALL, the addition of AZD1775 to cytarabine slowed leukemia progression and prolonged survival. Inhibition of WEE1 with AZD1775 sensitizes T-ALL to several anti-leukemia agents, particularly cytarabine. Mechanistically, AZD1775 promotes apoptosis over DNA repair in cells treated with cytarabine. These data support the development of clinical trials including AZD1775 in combination with conventional chemotherapy for acute leukemia. PMID:26334102

  20. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia relapsing after first-line pediatric-inspired therapy: a retrospective GRAALL study.

    PubMed

    Desjonquères, A; Chevallier, P; Thomas, X; Huguet, F; Leguay, T; Bernard, M; Bay, J-O; Tavernier, E; Charbonnier, A; Isnard, F; Hunault, M; Turlure, P; Renaud, M; Bastié, J-N; Himberlin, C; Lepretre, S; Lioure, B; Lhéritier, V; Asnafi, V; Beldjord, K; Lafage-Pochitaloff, M; Béné, M C; Ifrah, N; Dombret, H

    2016-12-09

    The outcome of adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph- ALL) relapsing after pediatric-inspired front-line therapy is ill known. Here 229 relapsing Ph- ALL younger adults (18-63 years) treated within the Group for Research on Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (GRAALL)-2003/-2005 trials were considered. Salvage regimens consisted of potentially curative therapies in 194 cases, low-intensity therapies in 21, allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) in 6 and best supportive care in 8. Overall, 77 patients received allo-SCT after relapse. The median follow-up was 3.1 years. A second complete remission (CR2) was achieved in 121 patients (53%). In multivariate analysis, only younger age <45 years (P=0.008) and CR1 duration ⩾18 months (P=0.009) predicted CR2. Overall survival (OS) at 2 and 5 years was 19.3% (14-24%) and 13.3% (8-18%), respectively. In CR2 patients, disease-free survival (DFS) at 2 and 5 years was 29.0% (21-38%) and 25% (17-33%). In multivariate analysis, CR1 duration ⩾18 months and allo-SCT after relapse were associated with longer DFS (P<0.009 and P=0.004, respectively) and longer OS (P=0.004 and P<0.0001, respectively). In conclusion, although younger adults relapsing after pediatric-inspired ALL therapies retain a poor outcome, some of them may be cured if CR1 duration ⩾18 months and if allo-SCT can be performed in CR2. New therapies are definitely needed for these patients.

  1. [Epigenetic alterations in acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

    PubMed

    Navarrete-Meneses, María Del Pilar; Pérez-Vera, Patricia

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer. It is well-known that genetic alterations constitute the basis for the etiology of ALL. However, genetic abnormalities are not enough for the complete development of the disease, and additional alterations such as epigenetic modifications are required. Such alterations, like DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNA regulation have been identified in ALL. DNA hypermethylation in promoter regions is one of the most frequent epigenetic modifications observed in ALL. This modification frequently leads to gene silencing in tumor suppressor genes, and in consequence, contributes to leukemogenesis. Alterations in histone remodeling proteins have also been detected in ALL, such as the overexpression of histone deacetylases enzymes, and alteration of acetyltransferases and methyltransferases. ALL also shows alteration in the expression of miRNAs, and in consequence, the modification in the expression of their target genes. All of these epigenetic modifications are key events in the malignant transformation since they lead to the deregulation of oncogenes as BLK, WNT5B and WISP1, and tumor suppressors such as FHIT, CDKN2A, CDKN2B, and TP53, which alter fundamental cellular processes and potentially lead to the development of ALL. Both genetic and epigenetic alterations contribute to the development and evolution of ALL. Copyright © 2017 Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez. Publicado por Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.

  2. Constitutional abnormalities of IDH1 combined with secondary mutations predispose a patient with Maffucci syndrome to acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Hirabayashi, Shinsuke; Seki, Masafumi; Hasegawa, Daisuke; Kato, Motohiro; Hyakuna, Nobuyuki; Shuo, Takuya; Kimura, Shunsuke; Yoshida, Kenichi; Kataoka, Keisuke; Fujii, Yoichi; Shiraishi, Yuichi; Chiba, Kenichi; Tanaka, Hiroko; Kiyokawa, Nobutaka; Miyano, Satoru; Ogawa, Seishi; Takita, Junko; Manabe, Atsushi

    2017-12-01

    Maffucci syndrome is a nonhereditary disorder caused by somatic mosaic isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 or 2 (IDH1 or IDH2) mutations and is characterized by multiple enchondromas along with hemangiomas. Malignant transformation of enchondromas to chondrosarcomas and secondary neoplasms, such as brain tumors or acute myeloid leukemia, are serious complications. A 15-year-old female with Maffucci syndrome developed B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). A somatic mutation in IDH1 was detected in hemangioma and leukemic cells. KRAS mutation and deletion of IKZF1 were detected in leukemic cells. Patients with Maffucci syndrome may, therefore, be at risk of BCP-ALL associated with secondary genetic events that affect lymphocyte differentiation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  3. Cytogenetic study of a patient with infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia using GTG-banding and chromosome painting.

    PubMed

    Alter, D; Mark, H F

    2000-10-01

    Numerical and structural chromosomal abnormalities occur in up to 90% of cases of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Two-thirds of these abnormalities are recurrent. The most common abnormalities are pseudodiploidy and t(1;19), occurring 40 and 5-6% of the time. Hyperdiploidy has the best prognosis, with an 80-90% 5-year survival. The 4;11 translocation has the worst prognosis, with a 10-35% 5-year survival. We report a patient with infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia and nonrecurrent rearrangements of chromosomes 10 and 11. Structural rearrangements between chromosomes 10 and 11 have been observed in 0.5% of all cases of childhood ALL with cytogenetic abnormalities. The identification of the apparently unique structural abnormalities was achieved using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with chromosome 10- and chromosome 11-specific painting probes as an adjunct to conventional cytogenetics. As is often the case, suboptimal preparations often preclude unequivocal identification of complex rearrangements by conventional banding techniques. The cytogenetic diagnosis of our patient was established as 46,XY, der(10)-t(10;11)(p15;q14)t(10;11)(q25;p11), der(11)t(10;11)(p15;q14)t(10;11)-(q25;p11). The benefits of FISH serve to increase the resolution of detection for chromosomal abnormalities and the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of childhood ALL. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

  4. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adolescents and young adults.

    PubMed

    Burke, Patrick W; Douer, Dan

    2014-01-01

    The cure rate of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children is 80%, compared to less than half in adults. A major proportion of this cure rate drop occurs in adolescents and young adults (AYAs). The age range defining this population varies between studies, biological characteristics are different from both younger children and older adults, and AYAs are treated either by pediatric or adult oncologists, who often apply different treatment approaches to the same ALL patient population. The outcome of AYAs aged 15-21 years treated by more contemporary pediatric protocols is similar to that of younger children but is inferior when using adult regimens. This motivated studying AYA patients, including those above the age of 21 years, with pediatric or 'pediatrics-inspired' regimens that intensified nonmyelosuppressive drugs such as vincristine, steroids and asparaginase, with very promising preliminary results. Discovering new mutations in AYA ALL will help stratify patients into risk subgroups and identify targets for novel agents. This, together with fine-tuning pediatric chemotherapy principles will hopefully finally decrease the cure rate gap between children and AYAs - and even older adults. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  5. Recent advances in the management of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Starý, Jan; Hrušák, Ondřej

    2016-01-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy in childhood. Despite enormous improvement of prognosis during the last half century, ALL remains a major cause of childhood cancer-related mortality. During the past decade, whole genomic methods have enhanced our knowledge of disease biology. Stratification of therapy according to early treatment response measured by minimal residual disease allows risk group assignment into different treatment arms, ranging from reduction to intensification of treatment. Progress has been achieved in academic clinical trials by optimization of combined chemotherapy, which continues to be the mainstay of contemporary treatment. The availability of suitable volunteer main histocompatibility antigen-matched unrelated donors has increased the rates of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) over the past two decades. Allogeneic HSCT has become an alternative treatment for selected, very-high-risk patients. However, intensive treatment burdens children with severe acute toxic effects that can cause permanent organ damage and even toxic death. Immunotherapeutic approaches have recently come to the forefront in ALL therapy. Monoclonal antibodies blinatumomab and inotuzumab ozogamicin as well as gene-modified T cells directed to specific target antigens have shown efficacy against resistant/relapsed leukemia in phase I/II studies. Integration of these newer modalities into combined regimens with chemotherapy may rescue a subset of children not curable by contemporary therapy. Another major challenge will be to incorporate less toxic regimens into the therapy of patients with low-risk disease who have a nearly 100% chance of being cured, and the ultimate goal is to improve their quality of life while maintaining a high cure rate. PMID:29098074

  6. Grouped gene selection and multi-classification of acute leukemia via new regularized multinomial regression.

    PubMed

    Li, Juntao; Wang, Yanyan; Jiang, Tao; Xiao, Huimin; Song, Xuekun

    2018-05-09

    Diagnosing acute leukemia is the necessary prerequisite to treating it. Multi-classification on the gene expression data of acute leukemia is help for diagnosing it which contains B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BALL), T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (TALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, selecting cancer-causing genes is a challenging problem in performing multi-classification. In this paper, weighted gene co-expression networks are employed to divide the genes into groups. Based on the dividing groups, a new regularized multinomial regression with overlapping group lasso penalty (MROGL) has been presented to simultaneously perform multi-classification and select gene groups. By implementing this method on three-class acute leukemia data, the grouped genes which work synergistically are identified, and the overlapped genes shared by different groups are also highlighted. Moreover, MROGL outperforms other five methods on multi-classification accuracy. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  7. Treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and adolescents: peaks and pitfalls.

    PubMed

    Seibel, Nita L

    2008-01-01

    Survival of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is often described as the success story for oncology. The improvements in the treatment of ALL represent the work of cooperative groups at their best. Fifty years ago a pediatric oncologist would have never considered using the term "cure" in a discussion with a family whose child was diagnosed with ALL. Today the term is not only used in the initial discussion but referred to frequently thereafter. However, as we all know, cure is not assured and is not obtained without sequelae. This review will focus on the improvements in treatment for newly diagnosed ALL in children and adolescents according to risk group and some of the challenges that remain despite the improved outcome.

  8. Phase II trial of vindesine in patients with acute leukemia.

    PubMed

    Sklaroff, R B; Arlin, Z; Young, C W

    1979-01-01

    Vindesine was administered to 18 patients with acute leukemia who had failed conventional chemotherapy. Each course of therapy consisted of an iv bolus infusion at a dose of 1-2 mg/m2 given daily x 5-10 days. Of 13 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, two had partial remissions which lasted 2 and 3 months and five had minor responses. One of three patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia and one of two patients with blastic crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia each had a minor response. The data suggest that vindesine has activity in the treatment of acute leukemia.

  9. Cannabis extract treatment for terminal acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a Philadelphia chromosome mutation.

    PubMed

    Singh, Yadvinder; Bali, Chamandeep

    2013-09-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the white blood cells and is typically well treated with combination chemotherapy, with a remission state after 5 years of 94% in children and 30-40% in adults. To establish how aggressive the disease is, further chromosome testing is required to determine whether the cancer is myeloblastic and involves neutrophils, eosinophils or basophils, or lymphoblastic involving B or T lymphocytes. This case study is on a 14-year-old patient diagnosed with a very aggressive form of ALL (positive for the Philadelphia chromosome mutation). A standard bone marrow transplant, aggressive chemotherapy and radiation therapy were revoked, with treatment being deemed a failure after 34 months. Without any other solutions provided by conventional approaches aside from palliation, the family administered cannabinoid extracts orally to the patient. Cannabinoid resin extract is used as an effective treatment for ALL with a positive Philadelphia chromosome mutation and indications of dose-dependent disease control. The clinical observation in this study revealed a rapid dose-dependent correlation.

  10. Transplantation Outcomes for Children with Hypodiploid Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Mehta, Parinda A; Zhang, Mei-Jie; Eapen, Mary; He, Wensheng; Seber, Adriana; Gibson, Brenda; Camitta, Bruce M; Kitko, Carrie L; Dvorak, Christopher C; Nemecek, Eneida R; Frangoul, Haydar A; Abdel-Azim, Hisham; Kasow, Kimberly A; Lehmann, Leslie; Gonzalez Vicent, Marta; Diaz Pérez, Miguel A; Ayas, Mouhab; Qayed, Muna; Carpenter, Paul A; Jodele, Sonata; Lund, Troy C; Leung, Wing H; Davies, Stella M

    2015-07-01

    Children with hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have inferior outcomes despite intensive risk-adapted chemotherapy regimens. We describe 78 children with hypodiploid ALL who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation between 1990 and 2010. Thirty-nine (50%) patients had ≤ 43 chromosomes, 12 (15%) had 44 chromosomes, and 27 (35%) had 45 chromosomes. Forty-three (55%) patients underwent transplantation in first remission (CR1) and 35 (45%) underwent transplantation in ≥ second remission (CR2). Twenty-nine patients (37%) received a graft from a related donor and 49 (63%) from an unrelated donor. All patients received a myeloablative conditioning regimen. The 5-year probabilities of leukemia-free survival, overall survival, relapse, and treatment-related mortality for the entire cohort were 51%, 56%, 27%, and 22%, respectively. Multivariate analysis confirmed that mortality risks were higher for patients who underwent transplantation in CR2 (hazard ratio, 2.16; P = .05), with number of chromosomes ≤ 43 (hazard ratio, 2.15; P = .05), and for those who underwent transplantation in the first decade of the study period (hazard ratio, 2.60; P = .01). Similarly, treatment failure risks were higher with number of chromosomes ≤ 43 (hazard ratio, 2.28; P = .04) and the earlier transplantation period (hazard ratio, 2.51; P = .01). Although survival is better with advances in donor selection and supportive care, disease-related risk factors significantly influence transplantation outcomes. Copyright © 2015 American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Generation of human acute lymphoblastic leukemia xenografts for use in oncology drug discovery

    PubMed Central

    Holmfeldt, Linda

    2015-01-01

    The establishment of reproducible mouse models of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is necessary to provide in vivo therapeutic models that recapitulate human ALL, and for amplification of limiting amounts of primary tumor material. A frequently used model is the primary xenograft model that utilizes immunocompromised mice and involves injection of primary patient tumor specimens into mice, and subsequent serial passaging of the tumors by retransplants of cells harvested from the mouse bone marrow and spleen. The tumors generated can then be used for genomic profiling, ex vivo compound testing, mechanistic studies and retransplantation. This unit describes detailed procedures for the establishment and maintenance of primary ALL xenograft panels for potential use in basic research or translational studies. PMID:25737157

  12. Blinatumomab activity in a patient with Down syndrome B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Wadhwa, Aman; Kutny, Matthew A; Xavier, Ana C

    2018-02-01

    Persistent minimal residual disease (MRD) after consolidation may indicate chemotherapy insensitivity in B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BP-ALL). Given the strong association of MRD and outcome in non-Down syndrome (non-DS) BP-ALL, it is likely that MRD levels are also of prognostic significance in DS BP-ALL. We report here the successful use of blinatumomab, a bispecific T-cell engager antibody construct, in a patient with DS BP-ALL and persistent MRD at the end of consolidation. Blinatumomab has been shown to have excellent results in patients with relapsed/refractory BP-ALL. This patient had no significant toxicity and achieved MRD negativity after only one cycle of blinatumomab. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  13. Protracted Administration of L-Asparaginase in Maintenance Phase Is the Risk Factor for Hyperglycemia in Older Patients with Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Yoshida, Hideki; Imamura, Toshihiko; Saito, Akiko M.; Takahashi, Yoshihiro; Suenobu, So-ichi; Hasegawa, Daiichiro; Deguchi, Takao; Hashii, Yoshiko; Kawasaki, Hirohide; Endo, Mikiya; Hori, Hiroki; Suzuki, Nobuhiro; Kosaka, Yoshiyuki; Kato, Koji; Yumura-Yagi, Keiko; Hara, Junichi; Oda, Megumi; Sato, Atsushi; Horibe, Keizo

    2015-01-01

    Although L-asparaginase related hyperglycemia is well known adverse event, it is not studied whether the profile of this adverse event is affected by intensification of L-asparaginase administration. Here, we analyzed the profile of L-asparaginase related hyperglycemia in a 1,176 patients with pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated according to the Japan Association of Childhood Leukemia Study ALL-02 protocol using protracted L-asparaginase administration in maintenance phase. We determined that a total of 75 L-asparaginase related hyperglycemia events occurred in 69 patients. Although 17 events (17/1176, 1.4%) developed in induction phase, which was lower incidence than those (10–15%) in previous reports, 45 events developed during the maintenance phase with protracted L-asparaginase administration. Multivariate analysis showed that older age at onset (≥10 years) was a sole independent risk factor for L-asparaginase-related hyperglycemia (P<0.01), especially in maintenance phase. Contrary to the previous reports, obesity was not associated with L-asparaginase-related hyperglycemia. These findings suggest that protracted administration of L-asparaginase is the risk factor for hyperglycemia when treating adolescent and young adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. PMID:26317422

  14. The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in pediatric lymph-node acute lymphoblastic leukemia involvement.

    PubMed

    Cistaro, Angelina; Saglio, Francesco; Asaftei, Sebastian; Fania, Piercarlo; Berger, Massimo; Fagioli, Franca

    2011-01-01

    In pediatric oncology, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is emerging as an essential diagnostic tool in characterizing suspicious neoplastic lesions and staging malignant diseases. Most studies regarding the possible role of FDG-PET/CT in the management of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients are limited to adults. Here we report a pediatric patient with recurrent ALL, in which FDG-PET/CT was used both to define more precisely the cause of lymphadenopathy and to assess the effect of the second-line therapy.

  15. Systemic Exposure to Thiopurines and Risk of Relapse in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Children’s Oncology Group Study

    PubMed Central

    Bhatia, Smita; Landier, Wendy; Hageman, Lindsey; Chen, Yanjun; Kim, Heeyoung; Sun, Can-Lan; Kornegay, Nancy; Evans, William E; Angiolillo, Anne L; Bostrom, Bruce; Casillas, Jacqueline; Lew, Glen; Maloney, Kelly W; Mascarenhas, Leo; Ritchey, A. Kim; Termuhlen, Amanda M; Carroll, William L; Wong, F Lennie; Relling, Mary V

    2015-01-01

    Importance Variability in prescribed 6-mercaptopurine and lack of adherence to 6-mercaptopurine could result in intra-individual variability in systemic exposure to 6-mercaptopurine (measured as erythrocyte thioguanine nucleotide levels) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The impact of intra-individual variability in systemic exposure to 6-mercaptopurine on relapse risk is unknown. Objective To determine impact of high intra-individual variability in 6-mercaptopurine systemic exposure on relapse risk in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Design Prospective longitudinal design; daily adherence monitoring, 6-mercaptopurine dose-intensity and erythrocyte thioguanine nucleotide levels (pmol/8*10^8 erythrocytes) measured for 6 consecutive months per patient; cohort followed for a median of 6.7 years from diagnosis. Setting Children’s Oncology Group study (COG-AALL03N1); 94 participating institutions; ambulatory care setting. Participants Participants included 742 children meeting the following eligibility criteria: diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia at ≤21 years; in first continuous remission at study entry; receiving self/parent/caregiver-administered oral 6-mercaptopurine during maintenance. Median age at diagnosis: 5 years; 68% were male; 43% with NCI-based high-risk disease. Main Outcome Measures Adherence measured electronically using Medication Event Monitoring System that recorded date/time of each 6-mercaptopurine bottle opening; adherence rate defined as ratio of days of 6-mercaptopurine bottle opened to days when 6-mercaptopurine prescribed. 6-mercaptopurine doses actually prescribed were divided by planned protocol doses (75mg/m2/day) to compute average monthly dose-intensity. Electronically-monitored adherence (68,716 person-days), 6-mercaptopurine dose-intensity (120,439 person-days) and monthly erythrocyte thioguanine nucleotide levels (n=3,944 measurements) contributed to the analysis. Using intra-individual coefficients of

  16. Impact of cytogenetic abnormalities in adults with Ph-negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Lafage-Pochitaloff, Marina; Baranger, Laurence; Hunault, Mathilde; Cuccuini, Wendy; Lefebvre, Christine; Bidet, Audrey; Tigaud, Isabelle; Eclache, Virginie; Delabesse, Eric; Bilhou-Nabéra, Chrystèle; Terré, Christine; Chapiro, Elise; Gachard, Nathalie; Mozziconacci, Marie-Joelle; Ameye, Geneviève; Porter, Sarah; Grardel, Nathalie; Béné, Marie C; Chalandon, Yves; Graux, Carlos; Huguet, Françoise; Lhéritier, Véronique; Ifrah, Norbert; Dombret, Hervé

    2017-10-19

    Multiple cytogenetic subgroups have been described in adult Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative B-cell precursor (BCP) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), often comprising small numbers of patients. In this study, we aimed to reassess the prognostic value of cytogenetic abnormalities in a large series of 617 adult patients with Ph-negative BCP-ALL (median age, 38 years), treated in the intensified Group for Research on Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (GRAALL)-2003/2005 trials. Combined data from karyotype, DNA index, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and polymerase chain reaction screening for relevant abnormalities were centrally reviewed and were informative in 542 cases (88%), allowing classification in 10 exclusive primary cytogenetic subgroups and in secondary subgroups, including complex and monosomal karyotypes. Prognostic analyses focused on cumulative incidence of failure (including primary refractoriness and relapse), event-free survival, and overall survival. Only 2 subgroups, namely t(4;11)/ KMT2A-AFF1 and 14q32/ IGH translocations, displayed a significantly worse outcome in this context, still observed after adjustment for age and after censoring patients who received allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) in first remission at SCT time. A worse outcome was also observed in patients with low hypodiploidy/near triploidy, but this was likely related to their higher age and worse tolerance to therapy. The other cytogenetic abnormalities, including complex and monosomal karyotypes, had no prognostic value in these intensive protocols designed for adult patients up to the age of 60 years. © 2017 by The American Society of Hematology.

  17. Parvovirus B19 infection in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during induction therapy.

    PubMed

    McNall, R Y; Head, D R; Pui, C H; Razzouk, B I

    2001-01-01

    Immunocompromised children, including those undergoing chemotherapy treatment of malignant disease, are at particular risk for infection with parvovirus B19. However, these patients' attenuated immune responses may obscure the serologic and clinical manifestations of the infection. The authors describe a patient undergoing induction therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia whose parvovirus B19 infection was identified by the incidental detection of giant pronormoblasts and absence of normal mature erythroid precursors, characteristic of parvovirus infection, on a routine bone marrow examination. Intravenous immunoglobulin was administered and the patient's aplastic anemia resolved completely within 3 weeks. This highlights the importance of alertness to the possibility of parvovirus infection in children with cancer.

  18. Impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms of cytarabine metabolic genes on drug toxicity in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Gabor, Krisztina Mita; Schermann, Geza; Lautner-Csorba, Orsolya; Rarosi, Ferenc; Erdelyi, Daniel J; Endreffy, Emoke; Berek, Krisztina; Bartyik, Katalin; Bereczki, Csaba; Szalai, Csaba; Semsei, Agnes F

    2015-04-01

    Cytarabine (cytosine arabinoside, ara-C) is a chemotherapeutical agent used in the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Adverse drug reactions, such as interpatient variability in sensitivity to ara-C, are considerable and may cause difficulties during chemotherapy. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can play a significant role in modifying nucleoside-drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and thus the development of adverse effects. Our aim was to determine whether polymorphisms in genes encoding transporters and enzymes responsible for the metabolism of ara-C are associated with toxicity and clinical outcome in a patient population with childhood ALL. We studied 8 SNPs in the CDA, DCK, DCTD, SLC28A3, and SLC29A1 genes in 144 patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated according to ALLIC BFM 1990, 1995 and 2002 protocols. DCK rs12648166 and DCK rs4694362 SNPs were associated with hematologic toxicity (OR = 2.63, CI 95% = 1.37-5.04, P = 0.0036 and OR = 2.53, CI 95% = 1.34-4.80, P = 0.0044, respectively). Our results indicate that DCK polymorphisms might be important genetic risk factors for hematologic toxicity during ALL treatment with ara-C. Individualized chemotherapy based on genetic profiling may help to optimize ara-C dosing, leading to improvements in clinical outcome and reduced toxicity. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  19. Morphological and immunological criteria of minimal residual disease detection in children with B-cell precursors acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Beznos, O. A.; Grivtsova, L. Yu; Popa, A. V.; Shervashidze, M. A.; Serebtyakova, I. N.; Tupitsyn, N. N.; Selchuk, V. U.; Grebennikova, O. P.; Titova, G. V.

    2018-01-01

    One of the key factors of prognosis and risk stratification in patients with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) is minimal residual disease (MRD). Identification of MRD on the day 15th is one of the most significant in prognosis of the disease. We compared data of a morphological and flow cytometry results of assessment of a bone marrow (BM) at the day 15th of induction chemotherapy in children with BCP-ALL.

  20. Genetic heterogeneity of RPMI-8402, a T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line

    PubMed Central

    STOCZYNSKA-FIDELUS, EWELINA; PIASKOWSKI, SYLWESTER; PAWLOWSKA, ROZA; SZYBKA, MALGORZATA; PECIAK, JOANNA; HULAS-BIGOSZEWSKA, KRYSTYNA; WINIECKA-KLIMEK, MARTA; RIESKE, PIOTR

    2016-01-01

    Thorough examination of genetic heterogeneity of cell lines is uncommon. In order to address this issue, the present study analyzed the genetic heterogeneity of RPMI-8402, a T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell line. For this purpose, traditional techniques such as fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry were used, in addition to more advanced techniques, including cell sorting, Sanger sequencing and massive parallel sequencing. The results indicated that the RPMI-8402 cell line consists of several genetically different cell subpopulations. Furthermore, massive parallel sequencing of RPMI-8402 provided insight into the evolution of T-ALL carcinogenesis, since this cell line exhibited the genetic heterogeneity typical of T-ALL. Therefore, the use of cell lines for drug testing in future studies may aid the progress of anticancer drug research. PMID:26870252

  1. Heterogeneous breakpoints in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and the dic(9;20)(p11~13;q11) show recurrent involvement of genes at 20q11.21

    PubMed Central

    An, Qian; Wright, Sarah L.; Moorman, Anthony V.; Parker, Helen; Griffiths, Mike; Ross, Fiona M.; Davies, Teresa; Harrison, Christine J.; Strefford, Jon C.

    2009-01-01

    The dic(9;20)(p11~13;q11) is a recurrent chromosomal abnormality in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Although it results in loss of material from 9p and 20q, the molecular targets on both chromosomes have not been fully elucidated. From an initial cohort of 58 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with this translocation, breakpoint mapping with fluorescence in situ hybridization on 26 of them revealed breakpoint heterogeneity of both chromosomes. PAX5 has been proposed to be the target gene on 9p, while for 20q, FISH analysis implicated the involvement of the ASXL1 gene, either by a breakpoint within (n=4) or centromeric (deletion, n=12) of the gene. Molecular copy-number counting, long-distance inverse PCR and direct sequence analysis identified six dic(9;20) breakpoint sequences. In addition to the three previously reported: PAX5-ASXL1, PAX5-C20ORF112 and PAX5-KIF3B; we identified three new ones in this study: sequences 3’ of PAX5 disrupting ASXL1, and ZCCHC7 disrupted by sequences 3’ of FRG1B and LOC1499503. This study provides insight into the breakpoint complexity underlying dicentric chromosomal formation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and highlights putative target gene loci. PMID:19586940

  2. Heterogeneous breakpoints in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and the dic(9;20)(p11-13;q11) show recurrent involvement of genes at 20q11.21.

    PubMed

    An, Qian; Wright, Sarah L; Moorman, Anthony V; Parker, Helen; Griffiths, Mike; Ross, Fiona M; Davies, Teresa; Harrison, Christine J; Strefford, Jon C

    2009-08-01

    The dic(9;20)(p11-13;q11) is a recurrent chromosomal abnormality in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Although it results in loss of material from 9p and 20q, the molecular targets on both chromosomes have not been fully elucidated. From an initial cohort of 58 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with this translocation, breakpoint mapping with fluorescence in situ hybridization on 26 of them revealed breakpoint heterogeneity of both chromosomes. PAX5 has been proposed to be the target gene on 9p, while for 20q, FISH analysis implicated the involvement of the ASXL1 gene, either by a breakpoint within (n=4) or centromeric (deletion, n=12) of the gene. Molecular copy-number counting, long-distance inverse PCR and direct sequence analysis identified six dic(9;20) breakpoint sequences. In addition to the three previously reported: PAX5-ASXL1, PAX5-C20ORF112 and PAX5-KIF3B; we identified three new ones in this study: sequences 3' of PAX5 disrupting ASXL1, and ZCCHC7 disrupted by sequences 3' of FRG1B and LOC1499503. This study provides insight into the breakpoint complexity underlying dicentric chromosomal formation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and highlights putative target gene loci.

  3. Clonal selection in xenografted human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia recapitulates gain of malignancy at relapse.

    PubMed

    Clappier, Emmanuelle; Gerby, Bastien; Sigaux, François; Delord, Marc; Touzri, Farah; Hernandez, Lucie; Ballerini, Paola; Baruchel, André; Pflumio, Françoise; Soulier, Jean

    2011-04-11

    Genomic studies in human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have revealed clonal heterogeneity at diagnosis and clonal evolution at relapse. In this study, we used genome-wide profiling to compare human T cell ALL samples at the time of diagnosis and after engraftment (xenograft) into immunodeficient recipient mice. Compared with paired diagnosis samples, the xenograft leukemia often contained additional genomic lesions in established human oncogenes and/or tumor suppressor genes. Mimicking such genomic lesions by short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown in diagnosis samples conferred a selective advantage in competitive engraftment experiments, demonstrating that additional lesions can be drivers of increased leukemia-initiating activity. In addition, the xenograft leukemias appeared to arise from minor subclones existing in the patient at diagnosis. Comparison of paired diagnosis and relapse samples showed that, with regard to genetic lesions, xenograft leukemias more frequently more closely resembled relapse samples than bulk diagnosis samples. Moreover, a cell cycle- and mitosis-associated gene expression signature was present in xenograft and relapse samples, and xenograft leukemia exhibited diminished sensitivity to drugs. Thus, the establishment of human leukemia in immunodeficient mice selects and expands a more aggressive malignancy, recapitulating the process of relapse in patients. These findings may contribute to the design of novel strategies to prevent or treat relapse.

  4. Infusion of Expanded Cord Blood Cells in Addition to Single Cord Blood Transplant in Treating Patients With Acute Leukemia, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, or Myelodysplastic Syndromes

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-03-26

    Acute Biphenotypic Leukemia; Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Remission; Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Remission; Blasts Under 10 Percent of Bone Marrow Nucleated Cells; Blasts Under 5 Percent of Bone Marrow Nucleated Cells; Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, BCR-ABL1 Positive; Cytogenetic Abnormality; High Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Myelodysplastic Syndrome With Excess Blasts; Pancytopenia; Refractory Anemia

  5. Image-based RNA interference screening reveals an individual dependence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia on stromal cysteine support

    PubMed Central

    Marovca, Blerim; Vonderheit, Andreas; Grotzer, Michael A.; Eckert, Cornelia; Cario, Gunnar; Wollscheid, Bernd; Horvath, Peter

    2014-01-01

    Interactions with the bone marrow microenvironment are essential for leukemia survival and disease progression. We developed an imaging-based RNAi platform to identify protective cues from bone marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) that promote survival of primary acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Using a candidate gene approach, we detected distinct responses of individual ALL cases to RNA interference with stromal targets. The strongest effects were observed when interfering with solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2) expression, which forms the cystine transporter xc− when associated with SLC7A11. Import of cystine and metabolism to cysteine by stromal cells provides the limiting substrate to generate and maintain glutathione in ALL. This metabolic interaction reduces oxidative stress in ALL cells that depend on stromal xc−. Indeed, cysteine depletion using cysteine dioxygenase resulted in leukemia cell death. Thus, functional evaluation of intercellular interactions between leukemia cells and their microenvironment identifies a selective dependency of ALL cells on stromal metabolism for a relevant subgroup of cases, providing new opportunities to develop more personalized approaches to leukemia treatment. PMID:25415224

  6. RAG-mediated recombination is the predominant driver of oncogenic rearrangement in ETV6-RUNX1 acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Papaemmanuil, Elli; Rapado, Inmaculada; Li, Yilong; Potter, Nicola E; Wedge, David C; Tubio, Jose; Alexandrov, Ludmil B; Van Loo, Peter; Cooke, Susanna L; Marshall, John; Martincorena, Inigo; Hinton, Jonathan; Gundem, Gunes; van Delft, Frederik W; Nik-Zainal, Serena; Jones, David R; Ramakrishna, Manasa; Titley, Ian; Stebbings, Lucy; Leroy, Catherine; Menzies, Andrew; Gamble, John; Robinson, Ben; Mudie, Laura; Raine, Keiran; O’Meara, Sarah; Teague, Jon W; Butler, Adam P; Cazzaniga, Giovanni; Biondi, Andrea; Zuna, Jan; Kempski, Helena; Muschen, Markus; Ford, Anthony M; Stratton, Michael R; Greaves, Mel; Campbell, Peter J

    2014-01-01

    The ETV6-RUNX1 fusion gene, found in 25% of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), is acquired in utero but requires additional somatic mutations for overt leukemia. We used exome and low-coverage whole-genome sequencing to characterize secondary events associated with leukemic transformation. RAG-mediated deletions emerge as the dominant mutational process, characterized by recombination signal sequence motifs near the breakpoints; incorporation of non-templated sequence at the junction; ~30-fold enrichment at promoters and enhancers of genes actively transcribed in B-cell development and an unexpectedly high ratio of recurrent to non-recurrent structural variants. Single cell tracking shows that this mechanism is active throughout leukemic evolution with evidence of localized clustering and re-iterated deletions. Integration of point mutation and rearrangement data identifies ATF7IP and MGA as two new tumor suppressor genes in ALL. Thus, a remarkably parsimonious mutational process transforms ETV6-RUNX1 lymphoblasts, targeting the promoters, enhancers and first exons of genes that normally regulate B-cell differentiation. PMID:24413735

  7. Resveratrol given intraperitoneally does not inhibit growth of high-risk t(4;11) acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells in NOD/SCID mouse model

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The efficacy of the phytochemical resveratrol as a preventive agent against the growth of t(4;11) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was evaluated in NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/J mice engrafted with the human t(4;11) ALL line SEM. SEM cells were injected into the tail vein and engraftment was monitored by ...

  8. Detection of central nervous system leukemia in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

    PubMed

    Pine, Sharon R; Yin, Changhong; Matloub, Yousif H; Sabaawy, Hatem E; Sandoval, Claudio; Levendoglu-Tugal, Oya; Ozkaynak, M Fevzi; Jayabose, Somasundaram

    2005-02-01

    Accurate detection of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) could have profound prognostic and therapeutic implications. We examined various cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) preservation methods to yield adequate DNA stability for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis and developed a quantitative real-time PCR assay to detect occult CNS leukemia. Sixty CSF specimens were maintained in several storage conditions for varying amounts of time, and we found that preserving CSF in 1:1 serum-free RPMI tissue culture medium offers the best stability of DNA for PCR analysis. Sixty CSF samples (30 at diagnosis and 30 at the end of induction therapy) from 30 children with ALL were tested for CNS leukemic involvement by real-time PCR using patient-specific antigen receptor gene rearrangement primers. Six of thirty patient diagnosis samples were PCR-positive at levels ranging from 0.5 to 66% leukemic blasts in the CSF. Four of these patients had no clinical or cytomorphological evidence of CNS leukemia involvement at that time. All 30 CSF samples drawn at the end of induction therapy were PCR-negative. The data indicate that real-time PCR analysis of CSF is an excellent tool to assess occult CNS leukemia involvement in patients with ALL and can possibly be used to refine CNS status classification.

  9. Detection of Central Nervous System Leukemia in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

    PubMed Central

    Pine, Sharon R.; Yin, Changhong; Matloub, Yousif H.; Sabaawy, Hatem E.; Sandoval, Claudio; Levendoglu-Tugal, Oya; Ozkaynak, M. Fevzi; Jayabose, Somasundaram

    2005-01-01

    Accurate detection of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) could have profound prognostic and therapeutic implications. We examined various cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) preservation methods to yield adequate DNA stability for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis and developed a quantitative real-time PCR assay to detect occult CNS leukemia. Sixty CSF specimens were maintained in several storage conditions for varying amounts of time, and we found that preserving CSF in 1:1 serum-free RPMI tissue culture medium offers the best stability of DNA for PCR analysis. Sixty CSF samples (30 at diagnosis and 30 at the end of induction therapy) from 30 children with ALL were tested for CNS leukemic involvement by real-time PCR using patient-specific antigen receptor gene rearrangement primers. Six of thirty patient diagnosis samples were PCR-positive at levels ranging from 0.5 to 66% leukemic blasts in the CSF. Four of these patients had no clinical or cytomorphological evidence of CNS leukemia involvement at that time. All 30 CSF samples drawn at the end of induction therapy were PCR-negative. The data indicate that real-time PCR analysis of CSF is an excellent tool to assess occult CNS leukemia involvement in patients with ALL and can possibly be used to refine CNS status classification. PMID:15681484

  10. Fungal discitis due to Aspergillus terreus in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed Central

    Park, K. U.; Lee, H. S.; Kim, C. J.; Kim, E. C.

    2000-01-01

    We report a case of Aspergillus terreus discitis which developed in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia following induction chemotherapy. A. terreus was isolated from sputum, one month earlier, but the physician did not consider it significant at the time. Magnetic resonance imaging study showed the involvement of L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 intervertebral discs. Etiology was established by means of histology and culturing a surgical specimen of disc materials. Our patient survived after a surgical debridement and amphotericin B administration with a total dose of 2.0 g. Discitis caused by Aspergillus terreus is a very rare event. A. terreus is one of the invasive Aspergillus species. The pathogenetic mechanism is discussed and the literature is reviewed. PMID:11194199

  11. Fungal discitis due to Aspergillus terreus in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Park, K U; Lee, H S; Kim, C J; Kim, E C

    2000-12-01

    We report a case of Aspergillus terreus discitis which developed in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia following induction chemotherapy. A. terreus was isolated from sputum, one month earlier, but the physician did not consider it significant at the time. Magnetic resonance imaging study showed the involvement of L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 intervertebral discs. Etiology was established by means of histology and culturing a surgical specimen of disc materials. Our patient survived after a surgical debridement and amphotericin B administration with a total dose of 2.0 g. Discitis caused by Aspergillus terreus is a very rare event. A. terreus is one of the invasive Aspergillus species. The pathogenetic mechanism is discussed and the literature is reviewed.

  12. The genomic landscape of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and young adults.

    PubMed

    Mullighan, Charles G

    2014-12-05

    Our understanding of the genetic basis of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been greatly advanced by genomic profiling and sequencing studies. These efforts have characterized the genetic basis of recently described and poorly understood subtypes of ALL, including early T-cell precursor ALL, Philadelphia chromosome-like (Ph-like) ALL, and ALL with intrachromosomal amplification of chromosome 21, and have identified several rational therapeutic targets in high-risk ALL, notably ABL1-class and JAK-STAT inhibitors in Ph-like ALL. Deep sequencing studies are also refining our understanding of the genetic basis of clonal heterogeneity and relapse. These studies have elucidated the nature of clonal evolution during disease progression and identified genetic changes that confer resistance to specific therapeutic agents, including CREBBP and NT5C2. Genomic profiling has also identified common and rare inherited genetic variants that influence the risk of developing leukemia. These efforts are now being extended to ALL in adolescents and adults with the goal of fully defining the genetic landscape of ALL to further improve treatment outcomes in high-risk populations. © 2014 by The American Society of Hematology. All rights reserved.

  13. T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia associated with complex karyotype and SET-NUP214 rearrangement: a case study and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Lee, Sang-Guk; Park, Tae Sung; Cho, Sun Young; Lim, Gayoung; Park, Gwang Jin; Oh, Seung Hwan; Cho, Eun Hae; Chong, So Young; Huh, Ji Young

    2011-01-01

    SET-NUP214 rearrangements have been rarely reported in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), acute undifferentiated leukemia, and acute myeloid leukemia, and most documented cases have been associated with normal karyotypes in conventional cytogenetic analyses. Here, we describe a novel case of T-ALL associated with a mediastinal mass and a SET-NUP214 rearrangement, which was masked by a complex karyotype at the time of initial diagnosis. Using multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis, we detected a cryptic SET-NUP214 rearrangement in our patient. As only 11 cases (including the present study) of T-ALL with SET-NUP214 rearrangement have been reported, the clinical features and treatment outcomes have not been fully determined. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the incidence of SET-NUP214 rearrangement in T-ALL patients and the treatment responses as well as prognosis of these patients.

  14. The evolving role of chemotherapy and hematopoietic cell transplants in Ph-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults.

    PubMed

    Litzow, M R; Fielding, A K; Luger, S M; Paietta, E; Ofran, Y; Rowe, J M; Goldstone, A H; Tallman, M S; Lazarus, H M

    2017-12-01

    The introduction of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) into the treatment of patients with Ph or BCR-ABL1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia has revolutionized the treatment of this poor prognosis acute leukemia. The combination of TKI with chemotherapy has improved response rates and allowed more patients to proceed to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (alloHCT). Older patients have excellent responses to TKI and corticosteroids or in combination with minimal chemotherapy. This raises the question as to whether patients require full-intensity chemotherapy with TKI to achieve molecular remissions. The pediatricians have proposed that cure is achievable without alloHCT in children. These results have suggested that many patients may not require traditional chemotherapy in addition to TKI to achieve remission, and that patients who achieve a negative minimal residual disease state may not require alloHCT. The data in support of these questions is presented here and a suggested future clinical trial design based on these data is proposed.

  15. Suppressed neutrophil function in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Tanaka, Fumiko; Goto, Hiroaki; Yokosuka, Tomoko; Yanagimachi, Masakatsu; Kajiwara, Ryosuke; Naruto, Takuya; Nishimaki, Shigeru; Yokota, Shumpei

    2009-10-01

    Infection is a major obstacle in cancer chemotherapy. Neutropenia has been considered to be the most important risk factor for severe infection; however, other factors, such as impaired neutrophil function, may be involved in susceptibility to infection in patients undergoing chemotherapy. In this study, we analyzed neutrophil function in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Whole blood samples were obtained from 16 children with ALL at diagnosis, after induction chemotherapy, and after consolidation chemotherapy. Oxidative burst and phagocytic activity of neutrophils were analyzed by flow cytometry. Oxidative burst of neutrophils was impaired in ALL patients. The percentage of neutrophils with normal oxidative burst after PMA stimulation was 59.0 +/- 13.2 or 70.0 +/- 21.0% at diagnosis or after induction chemotherapy, respectively, which was significantly lower compared with 93.8 +/- 6.1% in healthy control subjects (P = 0.00004, or 0.002, respectively); however, this value was normal after consolidation chemotherapy. No significant differences were noted in phagocytic activity in children with ALL compared with healthy control subjects. Impaired oxidative burst of neutrophils may be one risk factor for infections in children with ALL, especially in the initial periods of treatment.

  16. From the outside, from within: Biological and therapeutic relevance of signal transduction in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Oliveira, Mariana L; Akkapeddi, Padma; Alcobia, Isabel; Almeida, Afonso R; Cardoso, Bruno A; Fragoso, Rita; Serafim, Teresa L; Barata, João T

    2017-10-01

    T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematological cancer that arises from clonal expansion of transformed T-cell precursors. In this review we summarize the current knowledge on the external stimuli and cell-intrinsic lesions that drive aberrant activation of pivotal, pro-tumoral intracellular signaling pathways in T-cell precursors, driving transformation, leukemia expansion, spread or resistance to therapy. In addition to their pathophysiological relevance, receptors and kinases involved in signal transduction are often attractive candidates for targeted drug development. As such, we discuss also the potential of T-ALL signaling players as targets for therapeutic intervention. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. IKZF1 deletion is an independent predictor of outcome in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated according to the ALL-BFM 2000 protocol.

    PubMed

    Dörge, Petra; Meissner, Barbara; Zimmermann, Martin; Möricke, Anja; Schrauder, André; Bouquin, Jean-Pierre; Schewe, Denis; Harbott, Jochen; Teigler-Schlegel, Andrea; Ratei, Richard; Ludwig, Wolf-Dieter; Koehler, Rolf; Bartram, Claus R; Schrappe, Martin; Stanulla, Martin; Cario, Gunnar

    2013-03-01

    IKZF1 gene deletions have been associated with a poor outcome in pediatric precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. To assess the prognostic relevance of IKZF1 deletions for patients treated on Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster Study Group trial ALL-BFM 2000, we screened 694 diagnostic acute lymphoblastic leukemia samples by Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification. Patients whose leukemic cells bore IKZF1 deletions had a lower 5-year event-free survival (0.69±0.05 vs. 0.85±0.01; P<0.0001) compared to those without, mainly due to a higher cumulative incidence of relapses (0.21±0.04 vs. 0.10±0.01; P=0.001). Although IKZF1 deletions were significantly associated with the P2RY8-CRLF2 rearrangement, their prognostic value was found to be independent from this association. Thus, IKZF1 deletion is an independent predictor of treatment outcome and a strong candidate marker for integration in future treatment stratification strategies on ALL-BFM protocols. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00430118.

  18. Use of allopurinol in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia to reduce skewed thiopurine metabolism.

    PubMed

    Brackett, Julienne; Schafer, Eric S; Leung, Daniel H; Bernhardt, M Brooke

    2014-06-01

    Mercaptopurine (6-MP), a critical component of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy, is metabolized to 6-thioguanine (6-TGN) which is responsible for its anti-leukemic effect, and to 6-methylmercaptopurine nucleotides (6-MMPN/6-MMP) which can be hepatotoxic. Some patients preferentially metabolize 6-MP to 6-MMPN which may increase the risk of liver injury, reduce serum levels of 6-TGN and potentially increase the risk of relapse. The addition of allopurinol to oral 6-MP has been shown to optimize metabolism towards 6-TGN in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, this use has not been reported in patients undergoing treatment for ALL. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  19. The biology, pathogenesis and clinical aspects of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children with Down syndrome.

    PubMed

    Lee, P; Bhansali, R; Izraeli, S; Hijiya, N; Crispino, J D

    2016-09-01

    Children with Down syndrome (DS) are at a 20-fold increased risk for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (DS-ALL). Although the etiology of this higher risk of developing leukemia remains largely unclear, the recent identification of CRLF2 (cytokine receptor like factor 2) and JAK2 mutations and study of the effect of trisomy of Hmgn1 and Dyrk1a (dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A) on B-cell development have shed significant new light on the disease process. Here we focus on the clinical features, biology and genetics of ALL in children with DS. We review the unique characteristics of DS-ALL on both the clinical and molecular levels and discuss the differences in treatments and outcomes in ALL in children with DS compared with those without DS. The identification of new biological insights is expected to pave the way for novel targeted therapies.

  20. Circular RNA PVT1 expression and its roles in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Hu, Jiaojiao; Han, Qi; Gu, Yan; Ma, Jinlong; McGrath, Mary; Qiao, Fengchang; Chen, Baoan; Song, Chunhua; Ge, Zheng

    2018-04-25

    The roles of circular RNA PVT1 (circPVT1) are explored in the patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The circPVT1 level was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. The apoptotic cells were examined by the annexin V assay in lentiviral shRNA knockdown cells. circPVT1 was highly expressed in ALL compared with normal bone marrow samples. circPVT1 expression was also significantly higher in ALL cell lines. circPVT1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis through suppression of its neighbor gene c-Myc, and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein expression. circPVT1 is upregulated in ALL. Silencing circPVT1 results in cell growth arrest and apoptosis of the cells. Our results also suggested a therapeutic potential of targeting circPVT1 in ALL.

  1. Genetically Modified T-cell Immunotherapy in Treating Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Persistent/Recurrent Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-03-02

    Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Remission; Acute Biphenotypic Leukemia; Early Relapse of Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Late Relapse of Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm; Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Interleukin-3 Receptor Subunit Alpha Positive; Minimal Residual Disease; Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Untreated Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  2. Relapsed or refractory pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: current and emerging treatments.

    PubMed

    Martin, Alissa; Morgan, Elaine; Hijiya, Nobuko

    2012-12-01

    Relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatrics. With contemporary chemotherapy, >85% of patients with newly diagnosed ALL survive. Unfortunately, 20% of these patients will relapse and for these children, outcomes remain poor despite our best known chemotherapy protocols. Most of these children will achieve a second complete remission, but maintaining this remission remains difficult. Because relapsed ALL is such a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, it is the focus of much research interest. Efforts have been made and continue to focus on understanding the underlying biology that drives relapse. The role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in relapsed ALL remains unclear, but many clinicians still favor this for high-risk patients given the poor prognosis with current chemotherapy alone. It is important to use new drugs with little cross-resistance in the treatment of relapsed ALL. New classes of agents are currently being studied. We also discuss prognostic factors and the biology of relapsed ALL.

  3. Stages of Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia

    MedlinePlus

    ... in the past. Having had treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the past. Being exposed to radiation from an atomic bomb or to the chemical benzene . Having a history of a blood disorder such as myelodysplastic syndrome . Signs and symptoms of adult AML include fever, ...

  4. Unrelated umbilical cord blood transplant for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first and second complete remission: a comparison with allografts from adult unrelated donors

    PubMed Central

    Marks, David I.; Woo, Kwang Ahn; Zhong, Xiaobo; Appelbaum, Frederick R.; Bachanova, Veronika; Barker, Juliet N.; Brunstein, Claudio G.; Gibson, John; Kebriaei, Partow; Lazarus, Hillard M.; Olsson, Richard; Perales, Miguel-Angel; Pidala, Joseph; Savani, Bipin; Rocha, Vanderson; Eapen, Mary

    2014-01-01

    Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation has an established role in the treatment of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia whose survival when recipients of grafts from adult unrelated donors approaches that of recipients of grafts from sibling donors. Our aim was to determine the role of mismatched unrelated cord blood grafts in transplantation for 802 adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first or second complete remission. Using Cox regression we compared outcomes after 116 mismatched single or double cord blood transplants, 546 peripheral blood progenitor cell transplants and 140 bone marrow transplants. The characteristics of the recipients and their diseases were similar except cord blood recipients were younger, more likely to be non-Caucasians and more likely to have a low white blood cell count at diagnosis. There were differences in donor-recipient human leukocyte antigen-match depending on the source of the graft. Most adult donor transplants were matched at the allele-level considering human leukocyte antigens-A, -B, -C and –DRB1. In contrast, most cord blood transplants were mismatched and considered antigen-level matching; 57% were mismatched at two loci and 29% at one locus whereas only 29% of adult donor transplants were mismatched at one locus and none at two loci. There were no differences in the 3-year probabilities of survival between recipients of cord blood (44%), matched adult donor (44%) and mismatched adult donor (43%) transplants. Cord blood transplants engrafted slower and were associated with less grade 2–4 acute but similar chronic graft-versus-host disease, relapse, and transplant-related mortality. The survival of cord blood graft recipients was similar to that of recipients of matched or mismatched unrelated adult donor grafts and so cord blood should be considered a valid alternative source of stem cells for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the absence of a matched unrelated adult donor. PMID:24056817

  5. Genotype-Specific Minimal Residual Disease Interpretation Improves Stratification in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    O’Connor, David; Enshaei, Amir; Bartram, Jack; Hancock, Jeremy; Harrison, Christine J.; Hough, Rachael; Samarasinghe, Sujith; Schwab, Claire; Vora, Ajay; Wade, Rachel; Moppett, John; Moorman, Anthony V.; Goulden, Nick

    2018-01-01

    Purpose Minimal residual disease (MRD) and genetic abnormalities are important risk factors for outcome in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Current risk algorithms dichotomize MRD data and do not assimilate genetics when assigning MRD risk, which reduces predictive accuracy. The aim of our study was to exploit the full power of MRD by examining it as a continuous variable and to integrate it with genetics. Patients and Methods We used a population-based cohort of 3,113 patients who were treated in UKALL2003, with a median follow-up of 7 years. MRD was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction analysis of Ig/TCR gene rearrangements, and patients were assigned to a genetic subtype on the basis of immunophenotype, cytogenetics, and fluorescence in situ hybridization. To examine response kinetics at the end of induction, we log-transformed the absolute MRD value and examined its distribution across subgroups. Results MRD was log normally distributed at the end of induction. MRD distributions of patients with distinct genetic subtypes were different (P < .001). Patients with good-risk cytogenetics demonstrated the fastest disease clearance, whereas patients with high-risk genetics and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia responded more slowly. The risk of relapse was correlated with MRD kinetics, and each log reduction in disease level reduced the risk by 20% (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.83; P < .001). Although the risk of relapse was directly proportional to the MRD level within each genetic risk group, absolute relapse rate that was associated with a specific MRD value or category varied significantly by genetic subtype. Integration of genetic subtype–specific MRD values allowed more refined risk group stratification. Conclusion A single threshold for assigning patients to an MRD risk group does not reflect the response kinetics of the different genetic subtypes. Future risk algorithms should integrate genetics with MRD to accurately identify patients with the

  6. The genomic landscape of pediatric and young adult T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia | Office of Cancer Genomics

    Cancer.gov

    Genetic alterations that activate NOTCH1 signaling and T cell transcription factors, coupled with inactivation of the INK4/ARF tumor suppressors, are hallmarks of T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), but detailed genome-wide sequencing of large T-ALL cohorts has not been carried out. Using integrated genomic analysis of 264 T-ALL cases, we identified 106 putative driver genes, half of which had not previously been described in childhood T-ALL (for example, CCND3, CTCF, MYB, SMARCA4, ZFP36L2 and MYCN).

  7. Researchers Identify Genomic Alterations Associated with Drug-Targetable Kinase Activation in Ph-like Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia | Office of Cancer Genomics

    Cancer.gov

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most prevalent cancer among children and young adults, and standard treatments within this population generally result in favorable outcomes. By contrast, one particular subtype of this disease, Philadelphia chromosome-like ALL (Ph-like ALL), is associated with inferior outcomes. Ph-like ALL exhibits a gene expression profile similar to chromosome 9:22 translocation positive ALL, yet it lacks the characteristic BCR-ABL fusion protein.

  8. Effects of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on Ceruloplasmin Oxidase, Copper and Several Markers of Oxidative Damage, in Children.

    PubMed

    Mehdi, Wesen Adel; Yusof, Faridah; Mehde, Atheer Awad; Zainulabdeen, Jwan Abdulmohsin; Raus, Raha Ahmed; Abdulbari, Alaa Shawqi

    2015-01-01

    Acute leukaemia is characterized by fast growth of abnormal clones of haemopoietic precursor cells inside bone marrow leading to undue accumulation in the bone marrow. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common form of childhood cancer. The study concerned 50 children diagnosed with ALL (mean age, 8.55±2.54) compared to 40 healthy controls (mean age, 8.00±1.85). The Hb, serum copper, ceruloplasmin oxidase, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), total antioxidant activity (TAA) and protein were measured in all groups. One proteinous component was isolated by gel filtration chromatography from the precipitate produced by polyethylene glycol. Significantly higher levels of AOPP, copper and decrease in total antioxidant activity were noted in the cases. Statistical analysis also showed a significant increase (p<0.01) in the activity of serum ceruloplasmin oxidase in patients with ALL compared to normal subjects. The maximum velocity (Vmax) and Michaelis constant had values of 104.2 U/L and 11.7 mM, respectively. The ΔH* values for ceruloplasmin oxidase in ALL patients were positive, confirming the reaction to be endothermic. The results from this study showed a significant increase in AOPP, ceruloplasmine oxidase and decrease in total antioxidant activity .These parameters may play a role in development of DNA damage in childhood patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The ΔS* and ΔG* values were negative, these refer that the reaction of ES formation is spontaneous, but needs energy in a so-called endergonic reaction. Also the negative ΔS* value of ceruloplasmin oxidase indicates that the complex [ES*] is further modulated through increasing structure arrangement.

  9. The molecular genetic makeup of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Mullighan, Charles G

    2012-01-01

    Genomic profiling has transformed our understanding of the genetic basis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Recent years have seen a shift from microarray analysis and candidate gene sequencing to next-generation sequencing. Together, these approaches have shown that many ALL subtypes are characterized by constellations of structural rearrangements, submicroscopic DNA copy number alterations, and sequence mutations, several of which have clear implications for risk stratification and targeted therapeutic intervention. Mutations in genes regulating lymphoid development are a hallmark of ALL, and alterations of the lymphoid transcription factor gene IKZF1 (IKAROS) are associated with a high risk of treatment failure in B-ALL. Approximately 20% of B-ALL cases harbor genetic alterations that activate kinase signaling that may be amenable to treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including rearrangements of the cytokine receptor gene CRLF2; rearrangements of ABL1, JAK2, and PDGFRB; and mutations of JAK1 and JAK2. Whole-genome sequencing has also identified novel targets of mutation in aggressive T-lineage ALL, including hematopoietic regulators (ETV6 and RUNX1), tyrosine kinases, and epigenetic regulators. Challenges for the future are to comprehensively identify and experimentally validate all genetic alterations driving leukemogenesis and treatment failure in childhood and adult ALL and to implement genomic profiling into the clinical setting to guide risk stratification and targeted therapy.

  10. A disseminated infection with the antifungal-multiresistant teleomorphic fungus Neocosmospora vasinfecta in a patient with acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Gabriel, Frédéric; D'Almeida, Mahussi; Albert, Olivier; Fitton-Ouhabi, Valérie; Noël, Thierry; Accoceberry, Isabelle

    2013-02-09

    We report on a fatal invasive infection due to the ascomycetous fungus Neocosmospora vasinfecta, in a 20-year-old European patient suffering from an acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The infection could not be controlled by a bitherapy combining liposomal amphotericin B and voriconazole. This is the second case of disseminated infection reported with this unusual fungus, which develops under its teleomorphic state, is fully resistant to all systemic antifungals, and which is known to live in tropical countries.

  11. A disseminated infection with the antifungal-multiresistant teleomorphic fungus Neocosmospora vasinfecta in a patient with acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Gabriel, Frédéric; D’Almeida, Mahussi; Albert, Olivier; Fitton-Ouhabi, Valérie; Noël, Thierry; Accoceberry, Isabelle

    2013-01-01

    We report on a fatal invasive infection due to the ascomycetous fungus Neocosmospora vasinfecta, in a 20-year-old European patient suffering from an acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The infection could not be controlled by a bitherapy combining liposomal amphotericin B and voriconazole. This is the second case of disseminated infection reported with this unusual fungus, which develops under its teleomorphic state, is fully resistant to all systemic antifungals, and which is known to live in tropical countries. PMID:24432214

  12. High-resolution Antibody Array Analysis of Childhood Acute Leukemia Cells*

    PubMed Central

    Kanderova, Veronika; Kuzilkova, Daniela; Stuchly, Jan; Vaskova, Martina; Brdicka, Tomas; Fiser, Karel; Hrusak, Ondrej; Lund-Johansen, Fridtjof

    2016-01-01

    Acute leukemia is a disease pathologically manifested at both genomic and proteomic levels. Molecular genetic technologies are currently widely used in clinical research. In contrast, sensitive and high-throughput proteomic techniques for performing protein analyses in patient samples are still lacking. Here, we used a technology based on size exclusion chromatography followed by immunoprecipitation of target proteins with an antibody bead array (Size Exclusion Chromatography-Microsphere-based Affinity Proteomics, SEC-MAP) to detect hundreds of proteins from a single sample. In addition, we developed semi-automatic bioinformatics tools to adapt this technology for high-content proteomic screening of pediatric acute leukemia patients. To confirm the utility of SEC-MAP in leukemia immunophenotyping, we tested 31 leukemia diagnostic markers in parallel by SEC-MAP and flow cytometry. We identified 28 antibodies suitable for both techniques. Eighteen of them provided excellent quantitative correlation between SEC-MAP and flow cytometry (p < 0.05). Next, SEC-MAP was applied to examine 57 diagnostic samples from patients with acute leukemia. In this assay, we used 632 different antibodies and detected 501 targets. Of those, 47 targets were differentially expressed between at least two of the three acute leukemia subgroups. The CD markers correlated with immunophenotypic categories as expected. From non-CD markers, we found DBN1, PAX5, or PTK2 overexpressed in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemias, LAT, SH2D1A, or STAT5A overexpressed in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias, and HCK, GLUD1, or SYK overexpressed in acute myeloid leukemias. In addition, OPAL1 overexpression corresponded to ETV6-RUNX1 chromosomal translocation. In summary, we demonstrated that SEC-MAP technology is a powerful tool for detecting hundreds of proteins in clinical samples obtained from pediatric acute leukemia patients. It provides information about protein size and reveals differences

  13. Mixed-phenotype acute leukemia: state-of-the-art of the diagnosis, classification and treatment.

    PubMed

    Cernan, Martin; Szotkowski, Tomas; Pikalova, Zuzana

    2017-09-01

    Mixed-phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) is a heterogeneous group of hematopoietic malignancies in which blasts show markers of multiple developmental lineages and cannot be clearly classified as acute myeloid or lymphoblastic leukemias. Historically, various names and classifications were used for this rare entity accounting for 2-5% of all acute leukemias depending on the diagnostic criterias used. The currently valid classification of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemia published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2016 refers to this group of diseases as MPAL. Because adverse cytogenetic abnormalities are frequently present, MPAL is generally considered a disease with a poor prognosis. Knowledge of its treatment is limited to retrospective analyses of small patient cohorts. So far, no treatment recommendations verified by prospective studies have been published. The reported data suggest that induction therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia followed by allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation is more effective than induction therapy for acute myeloid leukemia or consolidation chemotherapy. The establishment of cooperative groups and international registries based on the recent WHO criterias are required to ensure further progress in understanding and treatment of MPAL. This review summarizes current knowledge on the diagnosis, classification, prognosis and treatment of MPAL patients.

  14. Recurrent DUX4 fusions in B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia of adolescents and young adults.

    PubMed

    Yasuda, Takahiko; Tsuzuki, Shinobu; Kawazu, Masahito; Hayakawa, Fumihiko; Kojima, Shinya; Ueno, Toshihide; Imoto, Naoto; Kohsaka, Shinji; Kunita, Akiko; Doi, Koichiro; Sakura, Toru; Yujiri, Toshiaki; Kondo, Eisei; Fujimaki, Katsumichi; Ueda, Yasunori; Aoyama, Yasutaka; Ohtake, Shigeki; Takita, Junko; Sai, Eirin; Taniwaki, Masafumi; Kurokawa, Mineo; Morishita, Shinichi; Fukayama, Masashi; Kiyoi, Hitoshi; Miyazaki, Yasushi; Naoe, Tomoki; Mano, Hiroyuki

    2016-05-01

    The oncogenic mechanisms underlying acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adolescents and young adults (AYA; 15-39 years old) remain largely elusive. Here we have searched for new oncogenes in AYA-ALL by performing RNA-seq analysis of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative AYA-ALL specimens (n = 73) with the use of a next-generation sequencer. Interestingly, insertion of D4Z4 repeats containing the DUX4 gene into the IGH locus was frequently identified in B cell AYA-ALL, leading to a high level of expression of DUX4 protein with an aberrant C terminus. A transplantation assay in mice demonstrated that expression of DUX4-IGH in pro-B cells was capable of generating B cell leukemia in vivo. DUX4 fusions were preferentially detected in the AYA generation. Our data thus show that DUX4 can become an oncogenic driver as a result of somatic chromosomal rearrangements and that AYA-ALL may be a clinical entity distinct from ALL at other ages.

  15. Profile of blinatumomab and its potential in the treatment of relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Ribera, Josep-Maria; Ferrer, Albert; Ribera, Jordi; Genescà, Eulàlia

    2015-01-01

    The CD19 marker is expressed on the surface of normal and malignant immature or mature B-cells. On the other hand, immunotherapy involving T-cells is a promising modality of treatment for many neoplastic diseases including leukemias and lymphomas. The CD19/CD3-bispecific T-cell-engaging (BiTE®) monoclonal antibody blinatumomab can transiently engage cytotoxic T-cells to CD19+ target B-cells inducing serial perforin-mediated lysis. In the first clinical trial, blinatumomab showed efficacy in non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, but the most important trials have been conducted in relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and in ALL with minimal residual disease. Encouraging reports on the activity of blinatumomab in R/R Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-cell precursor ALL led to its approval by the US Food and Drug Administration on December 3, 2014 after an accelerated review process. This review focuses on the profile of blinatumomab and its activity in R/R ALL. PMID:26170691

  16. Childhood lymphoblastic leukemia adverse drug reactions: study of risk factors and therapy prognosis by optical methods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zyubin, A.; Lavrova, A.; Babak, S.; Malaschenko, V.; Borisova, A.; Opryshko, N.

    2016-10-01

    The treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can result in the side-effects such as kidney affection, hepatic failure and tissue hypoxia. We study dynamics of special biochemical marker of these pathologies - adenosine triphosphate, that is well-known substance of energy metabolism. We use methods of confocal microscopy for determining the cellular and mitochondrial concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Quantitative values of adenosine triphosphate were calculated for each patient and correlation with degree of side-effects had been done. The application of confocal microscopy for studying of side-effects and therapy of lymphoblastic leukemia is discussed.

  17. Brain size and neuropsychological functioning in long-term survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Mulcahy Levy, Jean M; Hunger, Stephen P

    2013-10-01

    With the increased survival of pediatric cancer patients the interest in the late effects of treatments is rapidly increasing. Long-term survival rates for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) now approach 90%. Treatment for ALL includes intensified central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy, which is associated with risks for long-term neurocognitive effects. It is becoming clear that current therapies can have not only a detrimental effect on IQ, processing speed, and memory, but also on structural changes that lead to permanent alterations of the organization of the CNS. Understanding how the CNS is affected by the treatments is a critical step in evaluating current therapies and developing interventions to decrease the incidence and severity of long-term changes in brain anatomy and function.

  18. Brain size and neuropsychological functioning in long-term survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Mulcahy Levy, Jean M

    2013-01-01

    With the increased survival of pediatric cancer patients the interest in the late effects of treatments is rapidly increasing. Long-term survival rates for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) now approach 90%. Treatment for ALL includes intensified central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy, which is associated with risks for long-term neurocognitive effects. It is becoming clear that current therapies can have not only a detrimental effect on IQ, processing speed, and memory, but also on structural changes that lead to permanent alterations of the organization of the CNS. Understanding how the CNS is affected by the treatments is a critical step in evaluating current therapies and developing interventions to decrease the incidence and severity of long-term changes in brain anatomy and function. PMID:26835308

  19. The role of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a Brazilian mixed population.

    PubMed

    Zanrosso, Crisiane Wais; Hatagima, Ana; Emerenciano, Mariana; Ramos, Flávio; Figueiredo, Alexandre; Félix, Têmis Maria; Segal, Sandra L; Giugliani, Roberto; Guigliani, Roberto; Muniz, Maria Tereza Cartaxo; Pombo-de-Oliveira, Maria S

    2006-04-01

    The polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene are associated with leukemogenesis. In order to investigate the influence of two polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene, 677C>T and 1298A>C, on the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) we performed a case-control study in children from different Brazilians' regions. Genotyping of 176 ALL and 199 unselected healthy subjects was performed using PCR-RFLP assay. There was no association between the 677C>T or 1298A>C and risk of ALL in total case-control sample. However, 677T allele was linked to a decrease risk of ALL [odds ratio (OR), 0.43; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.22-0.86], whereas the 1298A>C polymorphism presents an elevated risk factor [OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.01-3.99] in non-White children. Our investigation provides interesting data concerning the opposite effect of A1298C polymorphisms, particularly in the light of relatively scarce data regarding the MTHFR role in leukemia susceptibility in different populations.

  20. SYK as a New Therapeutic Target in B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Uckun, Fatih M.; Qazi, Sanjive

    2014-01-01

    The identification of SYK as a master regulator of apoptosis controlling the activation of the PI3-K/AKT, NFκB, and STAT3 pathways—three major anti-apoptotic signaling pathways in B-lineage leukemia/lymphoma cells—prompts the hypothesis that rationally designed inhibitors targeting SYK may overcome the resistance of malignant B-lineage lymphoid cells to apoptosis and thereby provide the foundation for more effective multi-modality treatment regimens for poor prognosis B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BPL). In recent preclinical proof-of-concept studies, a liposomal nanoparticle (LNP) formulation of a SYK substrate-binding site inhibitor, known as C61, has been developed as a nanomedicine candidate against poor prognosis and relapsed BPL. This nanoscale formulation of C61 exhibited a uniquely favorable pharmacokinetics and safety profile in mice, induced apoptosis in radiation-resistant primary leukemic cells taken directly from BPL patients as well as in vivo clonogenic BPL xenograft cells, destroyed the leukemic stem cell fraction of BPL blasts, and exhibited potent in vivo anti-leukemic activity in xenograft models of aggressive BPL. Further development of C61-LNP may provide the foundation for new and effective treatment strategies against therapy-refractory BPL. PMID:24851191

  1. Cytosine arabinoside influx and nucleoside transport sites in acute leukemia.

    PubMed

    Wiley, J S; Jones, S P; Sawyer, W H; Paterson, A R

    1982-02-01

    Although cytosine arabinoside (araC) can induce a remission in a majority of patients presenting with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), a minority fail to respond and moreover the drug has less effect in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The carrier-mediated influx of araC into purified blasts from patients with AML, ALL, and acute undifferentiated leukemia (AUL) has been compared to that of normal lymphocytes and polymorphs. Blasts showed a larger mediated influx of araC than mature cells, since mean influxes for myeloblasts and lymphoblasts were 6- and 2.3-fold greater than polymorphs and lymphocytes, respectively. Also, the mean influx for myeloblasts was fourfold greater than the mean for lymphoblasts. The number of nucleoside transport sites was estimated for each cell type by measuring the equilibrium binding of [(3)H]nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR), which inhibits nucleoside fluxes by binding with high affinity to specific sites on the transport mechanism. The mean binding site numbers for myeloblasts and lymphoblasts were 5- and 2.8-fold greater, respectively, than for the mature cells of the same maturation series. The mean number of NBMPR binding sites for myeloblasts was fourfold greater than for lymphoblasts. Patients with AUL were heterogeneous since blasts from some gave values within the myeloblastic range and others within the lymphoblastic range. The araC influx correlated closely with the number of NBMPR binding sites measured in the same cells on the same day. Transport parameters were measured on blasts from 15 patients with AML or AUL who were then treated with standard induction therapy containing araC. Eight patients entered complete remission, while seven failed therapy, among whom were the three patients with the lowest araC influx (<0.4 pmol/10(7) cells per min) and NBMPR binding (<3,000 sites/cell) for the treated group. In summary, myeloblasts have both higher araC transport rates and more nucleoside transport sites than lymphoblasts

  2. Anti-CD22-chimeric antigen receptors targeting B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Haso, Waleed; Lee, Daniel W; Shah, Nirali N; Stetler-Stevenson, Maryalice; Yuan, Constance M; Pastan, Ira H; Dimitrov, Dimiter S; Morgan, Richard A; FitzGerald, David J; Barrett, David M; Wayne, Alan S; Mackall, Crystal L; Orentas, Rimas J

    2013-02-14

    Immune targeting of B-cell malignancies using chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) is a promising new approach, but critical factors impacting CAR efficacy remain unclear. To test the suitability of targeting CD22 on precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL), lymphoblasts from 111 patients with BCP-ALL were assayed for CD22 expression and all were found to be CD22-positive, with median CD22 expression levels of 3500 sites/cell. Three distinct binding domains targeting CD22 were fused to various TCR signaling domains ± an IgG heavy chain constant domain (CH2CH3) to create a series of vector constructs suitable to delineate optimal CAR configuration. CARs derived from the m971 anti-CD22 mAb, which targets a proximal CD22 epitope demonstrated superior antileukemic activity compared with those incorporating other binding domains, and addition of a 4-1BB signaling domain to CD28.CD3 constructs diminished potency, whereas increasing affinity of the anti-CD22 binding motif, and extending the CD22 binding domain away from the membrane via CH2CH3 had no effect. We conclude that second-generation m971 mAb-derived anti-CD22 CARs are promising novel therapeutics that should be tested in BCP-ALL.

  3. A novel 2,6-diisopropylphenyl-docosahexaenoamide conjugate induces apoptosis in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Altenburg, Jeffrey D.; Harvey, Kevin A.; McCray, Sharon

    2011-07-29

    Highlights: {yields} 2,6-Diisopropylphenyl-docosahexaenoamide conjugates (DIP-DHA) inhibits the proliferation of T-cell leukemic cell lines. {yields} DIP-DHA resulted in increased activation of caspase-3, and caspase-7. {yields} DIP-DHA significantly downregulated CXCR4 surface expression. -- Abstract: We have previously characterized the effects of 2,6-diisopropylphenyl-docosahexaenoamide (DIP-DHA) conjugates and their analogs on the proliferation and progression of breast cancer cell lines. For this study, we investigated the effects of the DIP-DHA conjugate on 2 representative T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell lines: CEM and Jurkat. Treatment of both cell lines with DIP-DHA resulted in significantly greater inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis than thatmore » of parent compounds, 2,6-diisopropylphenol (DIP) or docosahexaenoate (DHA). Treatment of the cells with DIP-DHA resulted in increased activation of caspase-3, and caspase-7. Furthermore, induction of apoptosis in both cell lines was reversed in the presence of a caspase family inhibitor. Treatment with DIP-DHA reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. These observations suggest that the effects are driven by intrinsic apoptotic pathways. DIP-DHA treatment also downregulated surface CXCR4 expression, an important chemokine receptor involved in cancer metastasis that is highly expressed in both CEM and Jurkat cells. In conclusion, our data suggest that the DIP-DHA conjugate exhibits significantly more potent effects on CEM and Jurkat cells than that of DIP or DHA alone. These conjugates have potential use for treatment of patients with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.« less

  4. Reinduction therapy for adult acute leukemia with adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisone: a Southwest Oncology Group study.

    PubMed

    Elias, L; Shaw, M T; Raab, S O

    1979-08-01

    In an attempt to improve remissions and survivals in previously treated patients with adult acute leukemia, we gave Adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisone for induction therapy, followed by 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate for maintenance therapy to patients attaining complete remission (CR). The study group consisted of 18 patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), ten with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and one with acute undifferentiated leukemia. Only one patient had previously received Adriamycin. Overall, there were ten CRs and two partial remissions. The five CRs and one partial remission in patients with AML occurred among those with one prior induction attempt; none of the eight AML patients with more than one prior induction attempt responded. The actuarial median duration of CR was 15 weeks and was similar for AML and acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. Responders had a longer median survival (30 weeks) than nonresponders (9 weeks). Thus, although a reasonable number of responses in previously treated patients were obtained with this program, improvements in maintenance therapy are clearly needed.

  5. Life-threatening hypophosphatemia and/or phosphate depletion in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a rare case report.

    PubMed

    Soyoral, Yasemin; Aslan, Mehmet; Ebinc, Senar; Dirik, Yaren; Demir, Cengiz

    2014-11-01

    Acute severe hypophosphatemia can be life threatening and is associated with mortality and impaired cardiac and respiratory function. Several conditions including decreased absorption or increased urinary phosphate excretion, shifts from the extracellular to intracellular compartments, and phosphate consumption by rapidly proliferating cells are known to induce moderate to severe acute hypophosphatemia. Although hypophosphatemia and/or phosphate depletion in patients with acute or chronic myeloid leukemia have been reported in the literature, hypophosphatemia due to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is very rare. We report a case of history of ALL complicated by life-threatening hypophosphatemia manifesting as generalized muscle weakness, fatigue, acute shortness of breath, and difficulty in standing up and walking for 3 days. Serum inorganic phosphate levels were consistently low (0.06 mmol/L). The patient was hospitalized and thought to have a relapsed ALL.Anticancer agents and oral phosphate (660 mg twice daily) were administered. On the second day of treatment, the patient began to improve, and the patient gradually fully recovered within 5 days.We suggested that this hypophosphatemia was induced by a shift of phosphorus into leukemic cells that rapidly replicated in the tissues and excessive cellular phosphate consumption by rapidly proliferating cells. Serum phosphate levels should always be monitored,especially in suspected life-threatening manifestation in relapsed ALL.

  6. Treatment Option Overview (Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia)

    MedlinePlus

    ... in the past. Having had treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the past. Being exposed to radiation from an atomic bomb or to the chemical benzene . Having a history of a blood disorder such as myelodysplastic syndrome . Signs and symptoms of adult AML include fever, ...

  7. Treatment Options for Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia

    MedlinePlus

    ... in the past. Having had treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the past. Being exposed to radiation from an atomic bomb or to the chemical benzene . Having a history of a blood disorder such as myelodysplastic syndrome . Signs and symptoms of adult AML include fever, ...

  8. Apatinib exhibits anti-leukemia activity in preclinical models of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Deng, Manman; Zha, Jie; Jiang, Zhiwu; Jia, Xian; Shi, Yuanfei; Li, Peng; Chen, Xiao Lei; Fang, Zhihong; Du, Zhiqiang; Xu, Bing

    2018-02-28

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a clonal malignant disorder characterized by an uncontrolled proliferation of immature B or T lymphocytes. Extensive studies have suggested an involvement of angiogenesis signaling in ALL progression and resistance to treatment. Thus, targeting angiogenesis with anti-angiogenic drugs may be a promising approach for ALL treatment. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of Apatinib, a novel receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor selectively targeting VEGFR-2 in ALL cells. ALL cell lines were treated with different concentration of Apatinib and then CCK8 assay, flow cytometry were used to determine the IC 50 value and cell apoptosis, respectively. The effect of Apatinib against primary ALL cells from 11 adult patients and normal counterparts were also analyzed by apoptosis with flow cytometry. Next, we used western bolting and mass cytometry (CyTOF) assay to explore the underlying mechanism of the cytotoxicity of Apatinib. Finally, the anti-leukemia activity was further evaluated in an in vivo xenograft model of ALL. Our results showed that Apatinib significantly inhibited cell growth and promoted apoptosis in both B and T lineage ALL cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The IC 50 values of Apatinib against Nalm6, Reh, Jurkat and Molt4 for 48 h were 55.76 ± 13.19, 51.53 ± 10.74, 32.43 ± 5.58, 39.91 ± 9.88 μmol/L, and for 72 h were 30.34 ± 2.65, 31.96 ± 3.92, 17.62 ± 5.90, and 17.65 ± 2.17 μmol/L respectively. Similarly, Apatinib shows cytotoxic activity against primary adult ALL cells while sparing their normal counterparts in vitro. Moreover, Apatinib suppressed ALL growth and progression in an in vivo xenograft model. Mechanistically, Apatinib-induced cytotoxicity was closely associated with inhibition of VEGFR2 and its downstream signaling cascades, including the PI3 K, MAPK and STAT3 pathways. Our study indicates that Apatinib exerts its anti-leukemia effect by inducing

  9. Mapping of four distinct BCR-related loci to chromosome region 22q11: order of BCR loci relative to chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia breakpoints

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Croce, C.M.; Huebner, K.; Isobe, M.

    1987-10-01

    A probe derived from the 3' region of the BCR gene (breakpoint cluster region gene) detects four distinct loci in the human genome. One of the loci corresponds to the complete BCR gene, whereas the other contain a 3' segment of the gene. After HindIII cleavage of human DNA, these four loci are detected as 23-, 19-, 13-, and 9-kikobase-pair fragments, designated BCR4, BCR3, BCR2, and BCR1, respectively, with BCR1 deriving from the original complete BCR gene. All four BCR loci segregate 100% concordantly with human chromosome 22 in a rodent-human somatic cell hybrid panel and are located at chromosomemore » region 22q11.2 by chromosomal in situ hybridization. The BCR2 and BCR4 loci are amplified in leukemia cell line K562 cells, indicating that they fall within the amplification unit that includes immunoglobulin lambda light chain locus (IGL) and ABL locus on the K562 Philadelphia chromosome (Ph/sup 1/). Similarly, in mouse-human hybrids retaining a Ph/sup 1/ chromosome derived from an acute lymphoblastic leukemia-in the absence of the 9q/sup +/ and 22, only BCR2 and BCR4 loci are retained. Thus, the order of loci on chromosome 22 is centromere ..-->.. BCR2, BCR4, and IGL ..-->.. BCR1 ..-->.. BCR3 ..-->.. SIS, possibly eliminating BCR2 and BCR4 loci as candidate targets for juxtaposition to the ABL gene in the acute lymphoblastic leukemia Ph/sup 1/ chromosome.« less

  10. Molecular characterization of acute lymphoblastic leukemia with high CRLF2 gene expression in childhood.

    PubMed

    Schmäh, Juliane; Fedders, Birthe; Panzer-Grümayer, Renate; Fischer, Susanna; Zimmermann, Martin; Dagdan, Elif; Bens, Susanne; Schewe, Denis; Moericke, Anja; Alten, Julia; Bleckmann, Kirsten; Siebert, Reiner; Schrappe, Martin; Stanulla, Martin; Cario, Gunnar

    2017-10-01

    A high-level expression of the CRLF2 gene is frequent in precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pB-ALL) and can be caused by different genetic aberrations. The presence of the most frequent alteration, the P2RY8/CRLF2 fusion, was shown to be associated with a high relapse incidence in children treated according to ALL-Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (BFM) protocols, which is poorly understood. Moreover, the frequency of other alterations has not been systematically analyzed yet. CRLF2 mRNA expression and potential genetic aberrations causing a CRLF2 high expression were prospectively assessed in 1,105 patients treated according to the Associazione Italiana Ematologia Oncologia Pediatrica (AIEOP)-BFM ALL 2009 protocol. Additionally, we determined copy number alterations in selected B-cell differentiation genes for all CRLF2 high-expressing pB-ALL cases, as well as JAK2 and CRLF2 mutations. A CRLF2 high expression was detected in 26/178 (15%) T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cases, 21 of them (81%) had been stratified as high-risk patients by treatment response. In pB-ALL, a CRLF2 high expression was determined in 91/927 (10%) cases; the P2RY8/CRLF2 rearrangement in 44/91 (48%) of them, supernumerary copies of CRLF2 in 18/91 (20%), and, notably, the IGH/CRLF2 translocation was detected in 16/91 (18%). Remarkably, 7 of 16 (44%) patients with IGH/CRLF2 translocation had already relapsed. P2RY8/CRLF2- and IGH/CRLF2-positive samples (70 and 94%, respectively) were characterized by a high frequency of additional deletions in B-cell differentiation genes such as IKZF1 or PAX5. Our data suggest that this high frequency of genetic aberrations in the context of a high CRLF2 expression could contribute to the high risk of relapse in P2RY8/CRLF2- and IGH/CRLF2-positive ALL. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  11. Emerging biological therapies to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Huguet, Françoise; Tavitian, Suzanne

    2017-03-01

    Various settings of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represent unmet medical needs: first remission at high risk of relapse, such as persistent minimal residual disease (MRD); relapse/refractoriness (R/R); elderly patients. Biological therapies targeting widely-shared antigens of blast cells have entered the clinic in B-cell precursor (BCP)-ALL. Area covered: Results of phase II/III trials of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) and phase I/II trials of adoptive cell therapy by chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T cells (CAR-T cells) are presented. Rituximab, a naked anti-CD20 MoAb, improves the results of chemotherapy in Philadelphia chromosome-negative BCP-ALL. Inotuzumab ozogamicin, an anti-CD22 immunotoxin, yields complete remission (CR) rates of 80% in R/R patients and in elderly newly diagnosed patients. Blinatumomab, a bispecific anti-CD19 and anti-CD3 agent redirects effector T cells towards B leukemic cells, is approved in R/R patients (40% CR, duration 6 months) and under investigation in MRD+ CR patients (80% negativation). Autologous anti-CD19 CAR-T cells undergo proliferation and persistence in the recipient. In limited series, they salvage more than 80% of advanced patients. Cytokine-release syndrome, encephalopathy and B-cell aplasia are shared, to varying extents, by blinatumomab and CAR-T cells. Expert opinion: Despite technological, ethical and clinical issues, biological therapies are currently changing the paradigm of treatment in BCP-ALL, and seem promised to dramatic developments.

  12. Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Indicators of Early Immune Stimulation: A Childhood Leukemia International Consortium Study

    PubMed Central

    Rudant, Jérémie; Lightfoot, Tracy; Urayama, Kevin Y.; Petridou, Eleni; Dockerty, John D.; Magnani, Corrado; Milne, Elizabeth; Spector, Logan G.; Ashton, Lesley J.; Dessypris, Nikolaos; Kang, Alice Y.; Miller, Margaret; Rondelli, Roberto; Simpson, Jill; Stiakaki, Eftichia; Orsi, Laurent; Roman, Eve; Metayer, Catherine; Infante-Rivard, Claire; Clavel, Jacqueline

    2015-01-01

    The associations between childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and several proxies of early stimulation of the immune system, that is, day-care center attendance, birth order, maternally reported common infections in infancy, and breastfeeding, were investigated by using data from 11 case-control studies participating in the Childhood Leukemia International Consortium (enrollment period: 1980–2010). The sample included 7,399 ALL cases and 11,181 controls aged 2–14 years. The data were collected by questionnaires administered to the parents. Pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated by unconditional logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, study, maternal education, and maternal age. Day-care center attendance in the first year of life was associated with a reduced risk of ALL (odds ratio = 0.77, 95% confidence interval: 0.71, 0.84), with a marked inverse trend with earlier age at start (P < 0.0001). An inverse association was also observed with breastfeeding duration of 6 months or more (odds ratio = 0.86, 95% confidence interval: 0.79, 0.94). No significant relationship with a history of common infections in infancy was observed even though the odds ratio was less than 1 for more than 3 infections. The findings of this large pooled analysis reinforce the hypothesis that day-care center attendance in infancy and prolonged breastfeeding are associated with a decreased risk of ALL. PMID:25731888

  13. Plasma Hsp90 Level as a Marker of Early Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Engraftment and Progression in Mice

    PubMed Central

    de Vasconcellos, Jaíra Ferreira; Brandalise, Silvia Regina; Nowill, Alexandre Eduardo; Yunes, José Andrés

    2015-01-01

    Current monitoring of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in living mice is based on FACS analysis of blood hCD45+ cells. In this work, we evaluated the use of human IGFBP2, B2M or Hsp90 as soluble markers of leukemia. ELISA for B2M and IGFBP2 resulted in high background levels in healthy animals, precluding its use. Conversely, plasma levels of Hsp90 showed low background and linear correlation to FACS results. In another experiment, we compared Hsp90 levels with percentage of hCD45+ cells in blood, bone marrow, liver and spleen of animals weekly sacrificed. Hsp90 levels proved to be a superior method for the earlier detection of ALL engraftment and correlated linearly to ALL burden and progression in all compartments, even at minimal residual disease levels. Importantly, the Hsp90/hCD45+ ratio was not altered when animals were treated with dexamethasone or a PI3K inhibitor, indicating that chemotherapy does not directly interfere with leukemia production of Hsp90. In conclusion, plasma Hsp90 was validated as a soluble biomarker of ALL, useful for earlier detection of leukemia engraftment, monitoring leukemia kinetics at residual disease levels, and pre-clinical or mouse avatar evaluations of anti-leukemic drugs. PMID:26068922

  14. Genetic alterations activating kinase and cytokine receptor signaling in high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Roberts, Kathryn G.; Morin, Ryan D.; Zhang, Jinghui; Hirst, Martin; Zhao, Yongjun; Su, Xiaoping; Chen, Shann-Ching; Payne-Turner, Debbie; Churchman, Michelle; Harvey, Richard C.; Chen, Xiang; Kasap, Corynn; Yan, Chunhua; Becksfort, Jared; Finney, Richard P.; Teachey, David T.; Maude, Shannon L.; Tse, Kane; Moore, Richard; Jones, Steven; Mungall, Karen; Birol, Inanc; Edmonson, Michael N.; Hu, Ying; Buetow, Kenneth E.; Chen, I-Ming; Carroll, William L.; Wei, Lei; Ma, Jing; Kleppe, Maria; Levine, Ross L.; Garcia-Manero, Guillermo; Larsen, Eric; Shah, Neil P.; Devidas, Meenakshi; Reaman, Gregory; Smith, Malcolm; Paugh, Steven W.; Evans, William E.; Grupp, Stephan A.; Jeha, Sima; Pui, Ching-Hon; Gerhard, Daniela S.; Downing, James R.; Willman, Cheryl L.; Loh, Mignon; Hunger, Stephen P.; Marra, Marco; Mullighan, Charles G.

    2012-01-01

    SUMMARY Genomic profiling has identified a subtype of high-risk B-progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) with alteration of IKZF1, a gene expression profile similar to BCR-ABL1-positive ALL and poor outcome (Ph-like ALL). The genetic alterations that activate kinase signaling in Ph-like ALL are poorly understood. We performed transcriptome and whole genome sequencing on 15 cases of Ph-like ALL, and identified rearrangements involving ABL1, JAK2, PDGFRB, CRLF2 and EPOR, activating mutations of IL7R and FLT3, and deletion of SH2B3, which encodes the JAK2 negative regulator LNK. Importantly, several of these alterations induce transformation that is attenuated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, suggesting the treatment outcome of these patients may be improved with targeted therapy. PMID:22897847

  15. Acute Activation of Metabolic Syndrome Components in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients Treated with Dexamethasone

    PubMed Central

    Warris, Lidewij T.; van den Akker, Erica L. T.; Bierings, Marc B.; van den Bos, Cor; Zwaan, Christian M.; Sassen, Sebastiaan D. T.; Tissing, Wim J. E.; Veening, Margreet A.; Pieters, Rob; van den Heuvel-Eibrink, Marry M.

    2016-01-01

    Although dexamethasone is highly effective in the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), it can cause serious metabolic side effects. Because studies regarding the effects of dexamethasone are limited by their small scale, we prospectively studied the direct effects of treating pediatric ALL with dexamethasone administration with respect to activation of components of metabolic syndrome (MetS); in addition, we investigated whether these side effects were correlated with the level of dexamethasone. Fifty pediatric patients (3–16 years of age) with ALL were studied during a 5-day dexamethasone course during the maintenance phase of the Dutch Childhood Oncology Group ALL-10 and ALL-11 protocols. Fasting insulin, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides levels were measured at baseline (before the start of dexamethasone; T1) and on the fifth day of treatment (T2). Dexamethasone trough levels were measured at T2. We found that dexamethasone treatment significantly increased the following fasting serum levels (P<0.05): HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and insulin. In addition, dexamethasone increased insulin resistance (HOMA-IR>3.4) from 8% to 85% (P<0.01). Dexamethasone treatment also significantly increased the diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Lastly, dexamethasone trough levels (N = 24) were directly correlated with high glucose levels at T2, but not with other parameters. These results indicate that dexamethasone treatment acutely induces three components of the MetS. Together with the weight gain typically associated with dexamethasone treatment, these factors may contribute to the higher prevalence of MetS and cardiovascular risk among survivors of childhood leukemia who received dexamethasone treatment. PMID:27362350

  16. Second Malignant Neoplasms After Treatment of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Schmiegelow, Kjeld; Levinsen, Mette Frandsen; Attarbaschi, Andishe; Baruchel, Andre; Devidas, Meenakshi; Escherich, Gabriele; Gibson, Brenda; Heydrich, Christiane; Horibe, Keizo; Ishida, Yasushi; Liang, Der-Cherng; Locatelli, Franco; Michel, Gérard; Pieters, Rob; Piette, Caroline; Pui, Ching-Hon; Raimondi, Susana; Silverman, Lewis; Stanulla, Martin; Stark, Batia; Winick, Naomi; Valsecchi, Maria Grazia

    2013-01-01

    Purpose Second malignant neoplasms (SMNs) after diagnosis of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are rare events. Patients and Methods We analyzed data on risk factors and outcomes of 642 children with SMNs occurring after treatment for ALL from 18 collaborative study groups between 1980 and 2007. Results Acute myeloid leukemia (AML; n = 186), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS; n = 69), and nonmeningioma brain tumor (n = 116) were the most common types of SMNs and had the poorest outcome (5-year survival rate, 18.1% ± 2.9%, 31.1% ± 6.2%, and 18.3% ± 3.8%, respectively). Five-year survival estimates for AML were 11.2% ± 2.9% for 125 patients diagnosed before 2000 and 34.1% ± 6.3% for 61 patients diagnosed after 2000 (P < .001); 5-year survival estimates for MDS were 17.1% ± 6.4% (n = 36) and 48.2% ± 10.6% (n = 33; P = .005). Allogeneic stem-cell transplantation failed to improve outcome of secondary myeloid malignancies after adjusting for waiting time to transplantation. Five-year survival rates were above 90% for patients with meningioma, Hodgkin lymphoma, thyroid carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and parotid gland tumor, and 68.5% ± 6.4% for those with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Eighty-nine percent of patients with brain tumors had received cranial irradiation. Solid tumors were associated with cyclophosphamide exposure, and myeloid malignancy was associated with topoisomerase II inhibitors and starting doses of methotrexate of at least 25 mg/m2 per week and mercaptopurine of at least 75 mg/m2 per day. Myeloid malignancies with monosomy 7/5q− were associated with high hyperdiploid ALL karyotypes, whereas 11q23/MLL-rearranged AML or MDS was associated with ALL harboring translocations of t(9;22), t(4;11), t(1;19), and t(12;21) (P = .03). Conclusion SMNs, except for brain tumors, AML, and MDS, have outcomes similar to their primary counterparts. PMID:23690411

  17. Combination therapeutics of Nilotinib and radiation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia as an effective method against drug-resistance.

    PubMed

    Kaveh, Kamran; Takahashi, Yutaka; Farrar, Michael A; Storme, Guy; Guido, Marcucci; Piepenburg, Jamie; Penning, Jackson; Foo, Jasmine; Leder, Kevin Z; Hui, Susanta K

    2017-07-01

    Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is characterized by a very poor prognosis and a high likelihood of acquired chemo-resistance. Although tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy has improved clinical outcome, most ALL patients relapse following treatment with TKI due to the development of resistance. We developed an in vitro model of Nilotinib-resistant Ph+ leukemia cells to investigate whether low dose radiation (LDR) in combination with TKI therapy overcome chemo-resistance. Additionally, we developed a mathematical model, parameterized by cell viability experiments under Nilotinib treatment and LDR, to explain the cellular response to combination therapy. The addition of LDR significantly reduced drug resistance both in vitro and in computational model. Decreased expression level of phosphorylated AKT suggests that the combination treatment plays an important role in overcoming resistance through the AKT pathway. Model-predicted cellular responses to the combined therapy provide good agreement with experimental results. Augmentation of LDR and Nilotinib therapy seems to be beneficial to control Ph+ leukemia resistance and the quantitative model can determine optimal dosing schedule to enhance the effectiveness of the combination therapy.

  18. Inhibition of IRAK1/4 sensitizes T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia to chemotherapies

    PubMed Central

    Li, Zhaoyang; Younger, Kenisha; Gartenhaus, Ronald; Joseph, Ann Mary; Hu, Fang; Baer, Maria R.; Brown, Patrick; Davila, Eduardo

    2015-01-01

    Signaling via the MyD88/IRAK pathway in T cells is indispensable for cell survival; however, it is not known whether this pathway functions in the progression of T acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Here, we determined that compared with thymic and peripheral T cells, T-ALL cells from patients have elevated levels of IRAK1 and IRAK4 mRNA as well as increased total and phosphorylated protein. Targeted inhibition of IRAK1 and IRAK4, either with shRNA or with a pharmacological IRAK1/4 inhibitor, dramatically impeded proliferation of T-ALL cells isolated from patients and T-ALL cells in a murine leukemia model; however, IRAK1/4 inhibition had little effect on cell death. We screened several hundred FDA-approved compounds and identified a set of drugs that had enhanced cytotoxic activity when combined with IRAK inhibition. Administration of an IRAK1/4 inhibitor or IRAK knockdown in combination with either ABT-737 or vincristine markedly reduced leukemia burden in mice and prolonged survival. IRAK1/4 signaling activated the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAF6, increasing K63-linked ubiquitination and enhancing stability of the antiapoptotic protein MCL1; therefore, IRAK inhibition reduced MCL1 stability and sensitized T-ALL to combination therapy. These studies demonstrate that IRAK1/4 signaling promotes T-ALL progression through stabilization of MCL1 and suggest that impeding this pathway has potential as a therapeutic strategy to enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy. PMID:25642772

  19. [Late sequelae of central nervous system prophylaxis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: high doses of intravenous methotrexate versus radiotherapy of the central nervous system--review of literature].

    PubMed

    Zając-Spychała, Olga; Wachowiak, Jacek

    2012-01-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common malignancy in children. All current therapy regimens used in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia include prophylaxis of the central nervous system. Initially it was thought that the best way of central nervous system prophylaxis is radiotherapy. But despite its effectiveness this method, may cause late sequelae and complications. In the programme currently used in Poland to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia, prophylactic radiotherapy has been reduced by 50% (12 Gy) and is used only in patients stratified into the high risk group and in patients diagnosed as T-cell ALL (T-ALL). Complementary to radiotherapy, intrathecal methotrexate is given alone or in combination with cytarabine and hydrocortisone is given, as well as systemic chemotherapy with intravenous methotrexate is administered in high or medium doses (depending on risk groups and leukemia immunophenotype). Recent studies have shown that high dose irradiation of the central nervous system impairs cognitive development causing memory loss, visuomotor coordination impairment, attention disorders and reduction in the intelligence quotient. It has been proved that the degree of cognitive impairment depends on the radiation dose directed to the medial temporal lobe structures, particularly in the hippocampus and the surrounding cortex. Also, methotrexate used intravenously in high doses, interferes with the metabolism of folic acid which is necessary for normal development and the optimal functioning of neurons in the central nervous system. It has been proved that patients who have been treated with high doses of methotrexate are characterized by reduced memory skills and a lower intelligence quotient. The literature data concerning long term neuroanatomical abnormalities and neuropsychological deficits are ambiguous, and there is still no data concerning current methods of central nervous system prophylaxis with low doses of irradiation in

  20. The evolution of clinical trials for infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Kotecha, R S; Gottardo, N G; Kees, U R; Cole, C H

    2014-01-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in infants has a significantly inferior outcome in comparison with older children. Despite initial improvements in survival of infants with ALL since establishment of the first pediatric cooperative group ALL trials, the poor outcome has plateaued in recent years. Historically, infants were treated on risk-adapted childhood ALL protocols. These studies were pivotal in identifying the need for infant-specific protocols, delineating prognostic categories and the requirement for a more unified approach between study groups to overcome limitations in accrual because of low incidence. This subsequently led to the development of collaborative infant-specific studies. Landmark outcomes have included the elimination of cranial radiotherapy following the discovery of intrathecal and high-dose systemic therapy as a superior and effective treatment strategy for central nervous system disease prophylaxis, with improved neurodevelopmental outcome. Universal prospective identification of independent adverse prognostic factors, including presence of a mixed lineage leukemia rearrangement and young age, has established the basis for risk stratification within current trials. The infant-specific trials have defined limits to which conventional chemotherapeutic agents can be intensified to optimize the balance between treatment efficacy and toxicity. Despite variations in therapeutic intensity, there has been no recent improvement in survival due to the equilibrium between relapse and toxicity. Ultimately, to improve the outcome for infants with ALL, key areas still to be addressed include identification and adaptation of novel prognostic markers and innovative therapies, establishing the role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in first complete remission, treatment strategies for relapsed/refractory disease and monitoring and timely intervention of late effects in survivors. This would be best achieved through a single unified

  1. Targeting connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia preclinical models: anti-CTGF monoclonal antibody attenuates leukemia growth.

    PubMed

    Lu, Hongbo; Kojima, Kensuke; Battula, Venkata Lokesh; Korchin, Borys; Shi, Yuexi; Chen, Ye; Spong, Suzanne; Thomas, Deborah A; Kantarjian, Hagop; Lock, Richard B; Andreeff, Michael; Konopleva, Marina

    2014-03-01

    Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) is involved in extracellular matrix production, tumor cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and metastasis. Recent studies have shown that CTGF expression is elevated in precursor B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and that increased expression of CTGF is associated with inferior outcome in B-ALL. In this study, we characterized the functional role and downstream signaling pathways of CTGF in ALL cells. First, we utilized lentiviral shRNA to knockdown CTGF in RS4;11 and REH ALL cells expressing high levels of CTGF mRNA. Silencing of CTGF resulted in significant suppression of leukemia cell growth compared to control vector, which was associated with AKT/mTOR inactivation and increased levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27. CTGF knockdown sensitized ALL cells to vincristine and methotrexate. Treatment with an anti-CTGF monoclonal antibody, FG-3019, significantly prolonged survival of mice injected with primary xenograft B-ALL cells when co-treated with conventional chemotherapy (vincristine, L-asparaginase and dexamethasone). Data suggest that CTGF represents a targetable molecular aberration in B-ALL, and blocking CTGF signaling in conjunction with administration of chemotherapy may represent a novel therapeutic approach for ALL patients.

  2. Acute respiratory infections in children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Hakim, Hana; Dallas, Ronald; Zhou, Yinmei; Pei, Dequing; Cheng, Cheng; Flynn, Patricia M; Pui, Ching-Hon; Jeha, Sima

    2016-03-01

    Knowledge regarding the incidence, clinical course, and impact of respiratory viral infections in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is limited. A retrospective cohort of patients with newly diagnosed ALL who were treated on the Total Therapy XVI protocol at St Jude Children's Research Hospital between 2007 and 2011 was evaluated. Of 223 children, 95 (43%) developed 133 episodes of viral acute respiratory illness (ARI) (incidence, 1.1 per 1000 patient-days). ARI without viral etiology was identified in 65 patients (29%) and no ARI was detected in 63 patients (28%). There were no significant associations noted between race, sex, age, or ALL risk group and the development of ARI. Children receiving induction chemotherapy were found to be at the highest risk of viral ARI (incidence, 2.3 per 1000 patient-days). Influenza virus was the most common virus (38%) followed by respiratory syncytial virus (33%). Of 133 episodes of viral ARI, 61% of patients were hospitalized, 26% experienced a complicated course, 80% had their chemotherapy delayed, and 0.7% of patients died. Twenty-four patients (18%) developed viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), 5 of whom (21%) had complications. Patients with viral LRTI had a significantly lower nadir absolute lymphocyte count; were sicker at the time of presentation; and were more likely to have respiratory syncytial virus, to be hospitalized, and to have their chemotherapy delayed for longer compared with those with viral upper respiratory tract infections. Despite the low incidence of viral ARI in children with ALL, the associated morbidity, mortality, and delay in chemotherapy remain clinically significant. Viral LRTI was especially associated with high morbidity requiring intensive care-level support. Cancer 2016;122:798-805. © 2015 American Cancer Society. © 2015 American Cancer Society.

  3. Anti-CD22–chimeric antigen receptors targeting B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Haso, Waleed; Lee, Daniel W.; Shah, Nirali N.; Stetler-Stevenson, Maryalice; Yuan, Constance M.; Pastan, Ira H.; Dimitrov, Dimiter S.; Morgan, Richard A.; FitzGerald, David J.; Barrett, David M.; Wayne, Alan S.; Mackall, Crystal L.

    2013-01-01

    Immune targeting of B-cell malignancies using chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) is a promising new approach, but critical factors impacting CAR efficacy remain unclear. To test the suitability of targeting CD22 on precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL), lymphoblasts from 111 patients with BCP-ALL were assayed for CD22 expression and all were found to be CD22-positive, with median CD22 expression levels of 3500 sites/cell. Three distinct binding domains targeting CD22 were fused to various TCR signaling domains ± an IgG heavy chain constant domain (CH2CH3) to create a series of vector constructs suitable to delineate optimal CAR configuration. CARs derived from the m971 anti-CD22 mAb, which targets a proximal CD22 epitope demonstrated superior antileukemic activity compared with those incorporating other binding domains, and addition of a 4-1BB signaling domain to CD28.CD3ζ constructs diminished potency, whereas increasing affinity of the anti-CD22 binding motif, and extending the CD22 binding domain away from the membrane via CH2CH3 had no effect. We conclude that second-generation m971 mAb-derived anti-CD22 CARs are promising novel therapeutics that should be tested in BCP-ALL. PMID:23243285

  4. Do polymorphisms of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene affect the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia?

    PubMed

    Pereira, Tiago Veiga; Rudnicki, Martina; Pereira, Alexandre Costa; Pombo-de-Oliveira, Maria S; Franco, Rendrik França

    2006-01-01

    Meta-analysis has become an important statistical tool in genetic association studies, since it may provide more powerful and precise estimates. However, meta-analytic studies are prone to several potential biases not only because the preferential publication of "positive'' studies but also due to difficulties in obtaining all relevant information during the study selection process. In this letter, we point out major problems in meta-analysis that may lead to biased conclusions, illustrating an empirical example of two recent meta-analyses on the relation between MTHFR polymorphisms and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia that, despite the similarity in statistical methods and period of study selection, provided partially conflicting results.

  5. In Vivo T Cell Depletion with Myeloablative Regimens on Outcomes after Cord Blood Transplantation for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children.

    PubMed

    Ponce, Doris M; Eapen, Mary; Sparapani, Rodney; O'Brien, Tracey A; Chan, Ka Wah; Chen, Junfang; Craddock, John; Schultz, Kirk R; Wagner, John E; Perales, Miguel-Angel; Barker, Juliet N

    2015-12-01

    The inclusion of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) in cord blood transplantation is controversial. We evaluated outcomes according to ATG inclusion in 297 children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who received myeloablative total body irradiation-based conditioning and either single-unit (74%) or double-unit (26%) grafts. Ninety-two patients (31%) received ATG and 205 (69%) did not. ATG recipients were more likely to be cytomegalovirus seronegative. The incidences of day 100 grades II to IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD; 30% versus 54%, P = .0002) and chronic GVHD (22% versus 43%, P = .0008) were lower with ATG compared with non-ATG regimens. However, day 100 grades III to IV acute GVHD was comparable (11% versus 17%, P = .15). The 3-year incidences of transplant-related mortality (16% versus 17%, P = .98), relapse (17% versus 27%, P = .12), and leukemia-free survival (66% versus 55%, P = .23) in ATG and non-ATG recipients were similar. There were no differences in viral reactivation between treatment groups (60% versus 58%, P = .83). Therefore, the data suggest that incorporation of ATG with myeloablative conditioning regimens may be useful in reducing the risk of acute and chronic GVHD without any deleterious effect on transplant-related mortality, relapse, or leukemia-free survival in children and adolescents with ALL. Copyright © 2015 American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. [Androgens and prolonged complete remissions in acute non lymphoblastic leukemias. Results of a systematic treatment with stanozolol associated with chemotherapy (author's transl)].

    PubMed

    Sotto, J J; Hollard, D; Schaerer, R; Bensa, J C; Seigneurin, D

    1975-01-01

    An androgen (stanozolol: 0,15 mg/kg/d) was systematically associated to the treatment of acute non lymphoblastic leukemias, since the beginning of induction therapy (vincristin, daunorubicin, prednisone) and throughout the maintenance period (6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate). Thirty-six patients less than 60 years old (median age: 44 years) presenting with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia were entered to the study. Sixteen achieved complete remission (C.R.), i.e. 44% of the whole and 53% of treated patients. Out of 16 patients with complete remission, 4 relapsed during the observation period which lasted 4-1/2 years. The stability of the hematologic equilibrium in patients in C.R. is the main finding of the present study. The actuarial curve of the duration of the first complete remission reaches a "plateau"; after the 8th month only one relapse was observed in 9 patients. The rate of C.R. at 2 years is 76 +/- 23%. As compared to the results from other schedules of treatment, this rate appears significantly better, specially in the case of immunotherapy (p less than 0,001). A prospective randomized study is now suggested as to confirm this result; its therapeutic and theoretical basis and perspectives are discussed.

  7. Current status and future clinical directions in the prevention and treatment of relapse following hematopoietic transplantation for acute myeloid and lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Craddock, Charles; Hoelzer, Dieter; Komanduri, Krishna V

    2018-05-31

    In recent years we have seen a dramatic evolution of therapeutic approaches in the management of acute leukemia with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). For both acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), alloHCT provides the best chance of long-term disease-free survival for significant subsets of patients. During this interval, we have witnessed an evolution of HCT from a therapy based on high-dose conditioning to our current understanding that its success depends both on cytoreduction and graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effects mediated by adoptively transferred donor immune cells. Improvements in conditioning, infectious disease monitoring and management, histocompatibility testing and graft selection have successively improved outcomes, primarily due to a reduction in non-relapse mortality. Unfortunately, disease relapse remains a significant cause of treatment failure in both AML and ALL. Here, two distinguished experts, Prof. Charles Craddock and Prof. Dieter Hoelzer, reflect on the significant challenge of disease relapse following allogeneic HCT for AML and ALL, respectively. This is a review of the biology, current approaches, and future directions in the field and reflects concepts that were presented at the Third International Workshop on Biology, Prevention, and Treatment of Relapse after Stem Cell Transplantation held in Hamburg, Germany in November 2016 under the auspices of the EBMT and the ASBMT.

  8. Targeting the 5T4 oncofetal glycoprotein with an antibody drug conjugate (A1mcMMAF) improves survival in patient-derived xenograft models of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    McGinn, Owen J; Krishnan, Shekhar; Bourquin, Jean-Pierre; Sapra, Puja; Dempsey, Clare; Saha, Vaskar; Stern, Peter L

    2017-06-01

    Outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia is prognosticated from levels of minimal residual disease after remission induction therapy. Higher levels of minimal residual disease are associated with inferior results even with intensification of therapy, thus suggesting that identification and targeting of minimal residual disease cells could be a therapeutic strategy. Here we identify high expression of 5T4 in subclonal populations of patient-derived xenografts from patients with high, post-induction levels of minimal residual disease. 5T4-positive cells showed preferential ability to overcome the NOD- scid IL2Rγ null mouse xenograft barrier, migrated in vitro on a CXCL12 gradient, preferentially localized to bone marrow in vivo and displayed the ability to reconstitute the original clonal composition on limited dilution engraftment. Treatment with A1mcMMAF (a 5T4-antibody drug conjugate) significantly improved survival without overt toxicity in mice engrafted with a 5T4-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line. Mice engrafted with 5T4-positive patient-derived xenograft cells were treated with combination chemotherapy or dexamethasone alone and then given A1mcMMAF in the minimal residual disease setting. Combination chemotherapy was toxic to NOD- scid IL2Rγ null mice. While dexamethasone or A1mcMMAF alone improved outcomes, the sequential administration of dexamethasone and A1mcMMAF significantly improved survival ( P =0.0006) over either monotherapy. These data show that specifically targeting minimal residual disease cells improved outcomes and support further investigation of A1mcMMAF in patients with high-risk B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia identified by 5T4 expression at diagnosis. Copyright© Ferrata Storti Foundation.

  9. Targeting the 5T4 oncofetal glycoprotein with an antibody drug conjugate (A1mcMMAF) improves survival in patient-derived xenograft models of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    McGinn, Owen J.; Krishnan, Shekhar; Bourquin, Jean-Pierre; Sapra, Puja; Dempsey, Clare; Saha, Vaskar; Stern, Peter L.

    2017-01-01

    Outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia is prognosticated from levels of minimal residual disease after remission induction therapy. Higher levels of minimal residual disease are associated with inferior results even with intensification of therapy, thus suggesting that identification and targeting of minimal residual disease cells could be a therapeutic strategy. Here we identify high expression of 5T4 in subclonal populations of patient-derived xenografts from patients with high, post-induction levels of minimal residual disease. 5T4-positive cells showed preferential ability to overcome the NOD-scidIL2Rγnull mouse xenograft barrier, migrated in vitro on a CXCL12 gradient, preferentially localized to bone marrow in vivo and displayed the ability to reconstitute the original clonal composition on limited dilution engraftment. Treatment with A1mcMMAF (a 5T4-antibody drug conjugate) significantly improved survival without overt toxicity in mice engrafted with a 5T4-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line. Mice engrafted with 5T4-positive patient-derived xenograft cells were treated with combination chemotherapy or dexamethasone alone and then given A1mcMMAF in the minimal residual disease setting. Combination chemotherapy was toxic to NOD-scidIL2Rγnull mice. While dexamethasone or A1mcMMAF alone improved outcomes, the sequential administration of dexamethasone and A1mcMMAF significantly improved survival (P=0.0006) over either monotherapy. These data show that specifically targeting minimal residual disease cells improved outcomes and support further investigation of A1mcMMAF in patients with high-risk B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia identified by 5T4 expression at diagnosis. PMID:28341731

  10. Human immunodeficiency virus-associated precursor T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma: report of a case and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Lorenzon, Debora; Perin, Tiziana; Bulian, Pietro; De Re, Valli; Caggiari, Laura; Michieli, Mariagrazia; Manuele, Rosa; Spina, Michele; Gattei, Valter; Fasan, Marco; Tirelli, Umberto; Canzonieri, Vincenzo

    2009-07-01

    We describe a case of human immunodeficiency virus-associated T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma in a 43-year-old Italian man with a history of human immunodeficiency virus infection lasting 9 years. Immunoperoxidase stains showed that neoplastic cells were positive for CD3, TdT, CD45, CD10, CD1a, CD2, CD7, CD5, and CD43 (focal). The proliferation rate was approximately 70%, assessed by Ki-67/MIB-1 staining. Flow cytometry of the marrow aspirate revealed an intermediate/cortical T-lymphoblastic phenotype: negative for surface CD3 and positive for cytoplasmic CD3, CD1a, TdT, CD2, CD7, CD5, and CD8, with partial coexpression of dimCD4. Analysis of T-cell receptor gamma polymerase chain reaction products showed clonality. T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma is a very rare occurrence in the clinical setting of human immunodeficiency virus infection. It is not listed in the World Health Organization classification of lymphomas associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Only 4 cases of human immunodeficiency virus-associated T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma are reported in the current medical literature.

  11. Recent Advances in the Biology and Treatment of T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Hefazi, Mehrdad; Litzow, Mark R

    2018-06-15

    This article provides an overview of the current knowledge regarding the biology and treatment of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and highlights the most recent findings in this field over the past 5 years. Remarkable progress has been made in the genomic landscape of T-ALL over the past few years. The discovery of activating mutations of NOTCH1 and FBXW7 in a majority of patients has been a seminal observation, with several early phase clinical trials currently exploring these as potential therapeutic targets. Characterization of early T cell precursor ALL, incorporation of minimal residual disease assessment into therapeutic protocols, and use of pediatric-intensive regimens along with judicious use of allogeneic HCT have significantly improved risk stratification and treatment outcomes. Improved risk stratification and the use of novel targeted therapies based on recent genomic discoveries are expected to change the therapeutic landscape of T-ALL and hopefully improve the outcomes of this historically poor prognosis disease.

  12. Leydig-cell function in children after direct testicular irradiation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Brauner, R.; Czernichow, P.; Cramer, P.

    To assess the effect of testicular irradiation on testicular endocrine function, we studied 12 boys with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who had been treated with direct testicular irradiation 10 months to 8 1/2 years earlier. Insufficient Leydig-cell function, manifested by a low response of plasma testosterone to chorionic gonadotropin or an increased basal level of plasma luteinizing hormone (or both), was observed in 10 patients, 7 of whom were pubertal. Two of these patients had a compensated testicular endocrine insufficiency with only high plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone. Testosterone secretion was severely impaired in three pubertal boys studied more than fourmore » years after testicular irradiation. A diminished testicular volume indicating tubular atrophy was found in all pubertal patients, including three who had not received cyclophosphamide or cytarabine. These data indicate that testosterone insufficiency is a frequent complication of testicular irradiation, although some patients continue to have Leydig-cell activity for several years after therapy.« less

  13. The acute monocytic leukemias: multidisciplinary studies in 45 patients.

    PubMed

    Straus, D J; Mertelsmann, R; Koziner, B; McKenzie, S; de Harven, E; Arlin, Z A; Kempin, S; Broxmeyer, H; Moore, M A; Menendez-Botet, C J; Gee, T S; Clarkson, B D

    1980-11-01

    The clinical and laboratory features of 37 patients with variants of acute monocytic leukemia are described. Three of these 37 patients who had extensive extramedullary leukemic tissue infiltration are examples of true histiocytic "lymphomas." Three additional patients with undifferentiated leukemias, one patient with refractory anemia with excess of blasts, one patient with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, one patient with B-lymphocyte diffuse "histiocytic" lymphoma and one patient with "null" cell, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-positive lymphoblastic lymphoma had bone marrow cells with monocytic features. Another patient had dual populations of lymphoid and monocytoid leukemic cells. The true monocytic leukemias, acute monocytic leukemia (AMOL) and acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMMOL), are closely related to acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) morphologically and by their response to chemotherapy. like AML, the leukemic cells from the AMMOL and AMOL patients form leukemic clusters in semisolid media. Cytochemical staining of leukemic cells for nonspecific esterases, presence of Fc receptor on the cell surface, phagocytic ability, low TdT activity, presence of surface "ruffles" and "ridges" on scanning EM, elevations of serum lysozyme, and clinical manifestations of leukemic tissue infiltration are features which accompanied monocytic differentiation in these cases.

  14. Pharmacogenetic Predictors of Treatment-Related Toxicity Among Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Maxwell, Rochelle R; Cole, Peter D

    2017-06-01

    The aim of this review is to summarize the most recent and most robust pharmacogenetic predictors of treatment-related toxicity (TRT) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Multiple studies have examined the toxicities of the primary chemotherapeutic agents used to treat childhood ALL in relation to host genetic factors. However, few results have been replicated independently, largely due to cohort differences in ancestry, chemotherapy treatment protocols, and definitions of toxicities. To date, there is only one widely accepted clinical guideline for dose modification based on gene status: thiopurine dosing based on TPMT genotype. Based on recent data, it is likely that this guideline will be modified to incorporate other gene variants, such as NUDT15. We highlight genetic variants that have been consistently associated with TRT across treatment groups, as well as those that best illustrate the underlying pathophysiology of TRT. In the coming decade, we expect that survivorship care will routinely specify screening recommendations based on genetics. Furthermore, clinical trials testing protective interventions may modify inclusion criteria based on genetically determined risk of specific TRTs.

  15. Oral or parenteral administration of curcumin does not prevent the growth of high-risk t(4;11) acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells engrafted into a NOD/SCID mouse model

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The efficacy of orally and parenterally administered curcumin was evaluated in NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/J mice engrafted with the human t(4;11) acute lymphoblastic leukemia line SEM. SEM cells were injected into the tail vein and engraftment was monitored by flow cytometry. Once engraftment was observed...

  16. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)

    MedlinePlus

    ... del paciente Transplant process Diseases treated by transplant Acute myeloid leukemia Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) ... SCID) Sickle cell disease (SCD) Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) Other diseases Treatment decisions Learn ...

  17. Trisomy 13 in a patient with common acute lymphoblastic leukemia: description of a case and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Spirito, Francesca R; Mancini, Marco; Derme, Valentina; Cimino, Giuseppe; Testi, Anna Maria; Tafuri, Agostino; Vitale, Antonella; Foà, Robin

    2003-07-01

    Trisomy 13 occurring as a single cytogenetic abnormality has been associated with undifferentiated or biphenotypic acute leukemias and with an adverse prognostic outcome. We describe for the first time a case of B-cell common acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with trisomy 13 at diagnosis in an 18-year-old boy. The leukemic cells did not express myelocytic or T-cell associated antigens and no molecular abnormalities were detected. Following treatment, according to the GIMEMA ALL 0496 protocol, the patient achieved a brief (2 months) complete remission. At relapse, cytogenetic analysis showed karyotypic evolution that included two novel subclones carrying a del(6q), a del(7q), and an add(17q) in association with trisomy 13. In addition, immunophenotypic analysis revealed the coexpression of the CD33 and CD7 antigens on common ALL blasts, in accordance with other reported cases that displayed a predominant biphenotypic leukemia profile. The patient failed to obtain a second remission and died soon after due to infective complications. This report indicates that trisomy 13 can be found also in B-lineage ALL and underlines that this cytogenetic abnormality may identify a subgroup of male patients with clonal evolution potential and an adverse clinical outcome.

  18. Changes of CSF-protein pattern in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during prophylactic CNS therapy (Berlin protocol)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Siemes, H.; Rating, D.; Siegert, M.

    1980-01-01

    The cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)-protein profiles of ten children with previously untreated acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were investigated by agarose gel electrophoresis. The profiles were determined at diagnosis and during the fifth to eighth week of treatment when preventive therapy for central nervous system (CNS) leukemia (skull irradiation, intrathecal methotrexate (ithMTX) was administered. The profiles were compared with those obtained from a control group of 67 children and those from 42 patients with acute aseptic meningitis. The data from the latter group demonstrated the CSF-protein pattern of partial blood-CSF barrier (B-CSF-B) breakdown. The children with ALL showed no or onlymore » minor signs of a B-CSF-B impairment at diagnosis and after four weeks of systemic treatment. However, CSF changes indicative of a lesion of the B-CSF-B increased in all children continuously during CNS prophylaxis. The protein profile at the end of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy was very similar to that in patients with acute aseptic meningitis. These observations point to neurotoxic side effects on the CNS barrier system with the combination of cranial radiation and ithMTX. A striking finding was restricted heterogeneity of gamma-globulin, observed in the CSF of nine out of the ten children with ALL before or during treatment. The significance of this abnormality is unknown.« less

  19. Absence of Genomic Ikaros/IKZF1 Deletions in Pediatric B-Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Qazi, Sanjive; Ma, Hong; Uckun, Fatih M

    2013-01-01

    Here we report the results of gene expression analyses using multiple probesets aimed at determining the incidence of Ikaros/IKZF1 deletions in pediatric B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BPL). Primary leukemia cells from 122 Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)+ BPL patients and 237 Ph− BPL patients as well as normal hematopoietic cells from 74 normal non-leukemic bone marrow specimens were organized according to expression levels of IKZF1 transcripts utilizing two-way hierarchical clustering technique to identify specimens with low IKZF1 expression for the 10 probesets interrogating Exons 1 through 4 and Exon 8. Our analysis demonstrated no changes in expression that would be expected from homozygous or heterozygous deletions of IKZF1 in primary leukemic cells. Similar results were obtained in gene expression analysis of primary leukemic cells from 20 Ph+ positive and 155 Ph− BPL patients in a validation dataset. Taken together, our gene expression analyses in 534 pediatric BPL cases, including 142 cases with Ph+ BPL, contradict previous reports that were based on SNP array data and suggested that Ph+ pediatric BPL is characterized by a high frequency of homozygous or heterozygous IKZF1 deletions. Further, exon-specific genomic PCR analysis of primary leukemia cells from 21 high-risk pediatric BPL patients and 11 standard-risk pediatric BPL patients, and 8 patients with infant BPL did not show any evidence for homozygous IKZF1 locus deletions. Nor was there any evidence for homozygous or heterozygous intragenic IKZF1 deletions. PMID:24478816

  20. Establishment of a new human pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line (KMO-90) with 1;19 translocation carrying p53 gene alterations.

    PubMed

    Sotomatsu, M; Hayashi, Y; Kawamura, M; Yugami, S; Shitara, T

    1993-10-01

    A new human pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line (KMO-90) was established from the bone marrow sample of a 12-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) carrying 1;19 chromosome translocation. KMO-90 cells expressed HLA-DR, CD10, CD19, and CD22 antigens. These cells had also cytoplasmic immunoglobulin lacking surface immunoglobulin, indicating that these had a pre-B phenotype. Chromosome analysis of this cell line showed 48, XX, +8, +19, t(1;19)(q23;p13). Southern blot analysis showed the same sized rearrangements of the E2A gene in KMO-90 cells as those in the original leukemic cells. By means of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis, we detected E2A/PBX1 fusion transcripts in KMO-90 cells. KMO-90 is useful when studying the role of the 1;19 translocation in the etiology of pre-B ALL. Furthermore, we studied alterations of the p53 gene in this cell line by polymerase chain reaction, single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. KMO-90 cells were identified to have a point mutation at codon 177 (CCC-->TCC) of the p53 gene, suggesting that alterations of the p53 gene may have an important role in the establishment of this cell line.

  1. Clinical Utility of Ammonia Concentration as a Diagnostic Test in Monitoring of the Treatment with L-Asparaginase in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Czogała, Małgorzata; Balwierz, Walentyna; Sztefko, Krystyna; Rogatko, Iwona

    2014-01-01

    L-asparaginase (ASP) is an enzyme used as one of the basic regimens in the acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy. Because of the possibility of the enzyme inactivation by antibodies, monitoring of ASP activity is essential. The aim of the study was to examine if plasma concentration of ammonia, a direct product of the reaction catalyzed by ASP, can be used in the assessment of ASP activity. A group of 87 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated in the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology in Krakow was enrolled to the study. ASP activity and ammonia concentration were measured after ASP administrations during induction. A positive correlation was found between the ammonia concentration and ASP activity (R = 0.44; P < 0.0001) and between the medium values of ammonia concentration and ASP activity (R = 0.56; P < 0.0001). The analysis of ROC curves revealed the moderate accuracy of the ammonia concentration values in the ASP activity assessment. It was also found that the medium value of ammonia concentrations can be useful in identification of the patients with low (<100 IU/L) and undetectable (<30 IU/L) ASP activity. The plasma ammonia concentration may reflect ASP activity and can be useful when a direct measurement of the activity is unavailable. PMID:25157375

  2. Novel immunotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of acute leukemia (myeloid and lymphoblastic)

    PubMed Central

    Ishii, Kazusa; Barrett, Austin J.

    2016-01-01

    There have been major advances in our understanding of the multiple interactions between malignant cells and the innate and adaptive immune system. While the attention of immunologists has hitherto focused on solid tumors, the specific immunobiology of acute leukemias is now becoming defined. These discoveries have pointed the way to immune interventions building on the established graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect from hematopoietic stem-cell transplant (HSCT) and extending immunotherapy beyond HSCT to individuals with acute leukemia with a diversity of immune manipulations early in the course of the leukemia. At present, clinical results are in their infancy. In the coming years larger studies will better define the place of immunotherapy in the management of acute leukemias and lead to treatment approaches that combine conventional chemotherapy, immunotherapy and HSCT to achieve durable cures. PMID:26834952

  3. Current Concepts in Pediatric Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Bernt, Kathrin M.; Hunger, Stephen P.

    2014-01-01

    The t(9;22)(q34;q11) or Philadelphia chromosome creates a BCR–ABL1 fusion gene encoding for a chimeric BCR–ABL1 protein. It is present in 3–4% of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL), and about 25% of adult ALL cases. Prior to the advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), Ph+ ALL was associated with a very poor prognosis despite the use of intensive chemotherapy and frequently hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) in first remission. The development of TKIs revolutionized the therapy of Ph+ ALL. Addition of the first generation ABL1 class TKI imatinib to intensive chemotherapy dramatically increased the survival for children with Ph+ ALL and established that many patients can be cured without HSCT. In parallel, the mechanistic understanding of Ph+ ALL expanded exponentially through careful mapping of pathways downstream of BCR–ABL1, the discovery of mutations in master regulators of B-cell development such as IKZF1 (Ikaros), PAX5, and early B-cell factor (EBF), the recognition of the complex clonal architecture of Ph+ ALL, and the delineation of genomic, epigenetic, and signaling abnormalities contributing to relapse and resistance. Still, many important basic and clinical questions remain unanswered. Current clinical trials are testing second generation TKIs in patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL. Neither the optimal duration of therapy nor the optimal chemotherapy backbone are currently defined. The role of HSCT in first remission and post-transplant TKI therapy also require further study. In addition, it will be crucial to continue to dig deeper into understanding Ph+ ALL at a mechanistic level, and translate findings into complementary targeted approaches. Expanding targeted therapies hold great promise to decrease toxicity and improve survival in this high-risk disease, which provides a paradigm for how targeted therapies can be incorporated into treatment of other high-risk leukemias. PMID:24724051

  4. Systematic chemical and molecular profiling of MLL-rearranged infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia reveals efficacy of romidepsin

    PubMed Central

    Cruickshank, M N; Ford, J; Cheung, L C; Heng, J; Singh, S; Wells, J; Failes, T W; Arndt, G M; Smithers, N; Prinjha, R K; Anderson, D; Carter, K W; Gout, A M; Lassmann, T; O'Reilly, J; Cole, C H; Kotecha, R S; Kees, U R

    2017-01-01

    To address the poor prognosis of mixed lineage leukemia (MLL)-rearranged infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (iALL), we generated a panel of cell lines from primary patient samples and investigated cytotoxic responses to contemporary and novel Food and Drug Administration-approved chemotherapeutics. To characterize representation of primary disease within cell lines, molecular features were compared using RNA-sequencing and cytogenetics. High-throughput screening revealed variable efficacy of currently used drugs, however identified consistent efficacy of three novel drug classes: proteasome inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. Gene expression of drug targets was highly reproducible comparing iALL cell lines to matched primary specimens. Histone deacetylase inhibitors, including romidepsin (ROM), enhanced the activity of a key component of iALL therapy, cytarabine (ARAC) in vitro and combined administration of ROM and ARAC to xenografted mice further reduced leukemia burden. Molecular studies showed that ROM reduces expression of cytidine deaminase, an enzyme involved in ARAC deactivation, and enhances the DNA damage–response to ARAC. In conclusion, we present a valuable resource for drug discovery, including the first systematic analysis of transcriptome reproducibility in vitro, and have identified ROM as a promising therapeutic for MLL-rearranged iALL. PMID:27443263

  5. The effect of race on the CYP3A-mediated metabolism of vincristine in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Sims, Rosalyn P

    2016-02-01

    The purpose of this preliminary study was to compare racial background and CYP3A distribution in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients as it relates to vincristine-related neurotoxicity. Patients with B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated at Children's Hospital of Michigan were eligible to participate in this study. Determination of the CYP3A variant for each patient was done using Qiagen DNA Blood Mini Kit and polymerase chain reaction amplification. Patients were monitored during their leukemia treatment course for vincristine-related neurotoxicity. Fifty-four patients were enrolled. Twenty-nine Caucasian patients (81%) and 13 African-American patients (77%) experienced neurotoxicity. CYP3A genotyping was done for 52 patients. Two African-American and two Caucasian patients were homozygous A/A for the CYP3A5*3 polymorphism. Three of these patients (75%) experienced grade 2 neuropathy. Two Caucasian patients and one African-American patient were heterozygous A/G. Two of these patients (66.7%) experienced grade 2 or 3 neuropathy. Thirty-five patients (67.3%) were homozygous for the mutant inactive G/G allele for CYP3A5*3, eight African-American and 27 Caucasian patients. Of these, six of the African-American patients (75%) and 22 of the Caucasian patients (81.5%) experienced neuropathy. The CYP3A5*3 genotype causes very low expression of the CYP3A5 protein and hence decreased vincristine metabolism. In this study, patients who expressed CYP3A5*3 had an increased incidence of vincristine-related neurotoxicity. Overall, a greater percentage of Caucasian patients had documented incidences of neurotoxicity. A larger sample size and more detailed gene analysis are needed for future studies. © The Author(s) 2014.

  6. Bilateral parotid gland enlargement and palpable nephromegaly in infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia: case report and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Saha, Aniket; Dandekar, Smita; Milla, Sarah; Roman, Elizabeth; Bhatla, Teena

    2014-04-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in infants below 1 year of age accounts for 2.5% to 5% of childhood ALL. Most children with ALL present with fever, bruising, mucosal bleeding, bone pain, pallor, hepatosplenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy. Common sites of extramedullary involvement at diagnosis include liver, spleen, lymph nodes, brain, and testes. Nephromegaly has also been reported. We present a novel case of bilateral parotid enlargement along with bilateral palpable nephromegaly in a patient with newly diagnosed infant ALL. This unique presentation highlights the importance of considering ALL in the differential diagnosis of parotid enlargement especially when associated with abnormal blood counts.

  7. Secondary histiocytic sarcoma may cause apparent persistence or recurrence of minimal residual disease in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Alten, Julia; Klapper, Wolfram; Leuschner, Ivo; Eckert, Cornelia; Beier, Rita; Vallo, Elisabeth; Krause, Martin; Claviez, Alexander; Vieth, Simon; Bleckmann, Kirsten; Möricke, Anja; Schrappe, Martin; Cario, Gunnar

    2015-09-01

    Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare disease with poor prognosis which may develop subsequent to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Here we report two children treated within the AIEOP-BFM ALL 2009 trial: one patient succumbed to fulminant hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis triggered by HS during ALL maintenance therapy, the other patient had a smoldering course of HS for over 2 years, and subsequently died after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. In both cases, HS and ALL were clonally related and apparent return of minimal residual disease (MRD) was detected by qPCR in bone marrow. Thus, HS should be considered in ALL when MRD appears to persist or reappear. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  8. Extramedullary Relapse of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Presenting as Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: A Case Report.

    PubMed

    Robillard, Diana T; Kutny, Matthew A; Chewning, Joseph H; Arbuckle, Janeen L

    2017-06-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy. Relapse of ALL occurs in 15%-20% of patients, with 2%-6% occurring exclusively in extramedullary sites. Relapse of ALL in gynecologic organs is extremely rare. We present a case of a 12-year-old girl with a history of ALL who was referred to the pediatric gynecology clinic with abnormal uterine bleeding. She was determined to have an extramedullary uterine relapse of her ALL. Abnormal uterine bleeding in the setting of childhood malignancy is a frequent reason for consultation to pediatric and adolescent gynecology services. This bleeding is commonly attributed to thrombocytopenia due to bone marrow suppressive chemotherapeutic agents. However, as shown in this report, abnormal uterine bleeding might be a manifestation of an extramedullary relapse. Copyright © 2017 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Evolution of Tumor Clones in Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Smirnova, S Yu; Sidorova, Yu V; Ryzhikova, N V; Sychevskaya, K A; Parovichnikova, E N; Sudarikov, A B

    2016-01-01

    Clonal instability of a tumor cell population in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may complicate the monitoring of a minimal residual disease (MRD) by means of patient-specific targets identified at the disease onset. Most of the data concerning the possible instability of rearranged clonal TCR and IG genes during disease recurrence were obtained for ALL in children. The appropriate features of adult ALL, which are known to differ from those of childhood ALL in certain biological characteristics and prognosis, remain insufficiently studied. The aim of this study was to assess the stability of IG and TCR gene rearrangements in adult ALL. Rearrangements were identified according to the BIOMED-2 protocol (PCR followed by fragment analysis). Mismatch in clonal rearrangements at onset and relapse was identified in 83% of patients, indicating clonal instability during treatment. Clonal evolution and diversity of IG and TCR gene rearrangements may be one of the tumor progression mechanisms. New rearrangements may emerge due to residual VDJ-recombinase activity in tumor cells. Also, many clonal IG and TCR gene rearrangements may be present at different levels at a diagnosis, but less abundant clones may be "invisible" due to limited detection sensitivity. Later, major clones may disappear in the course of chemotherapy, while others may proliferate. Investigation of clonal evolution and heterogeneity in ALL and their impact on the treatment efficacy will contribute to the identification of new prognostic factors and the development of therapeutic approaches.

  10. Lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities in acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors.

    PubMed

    Morel, Sophia; Leahy, Jade; Fournier, Maryse; Lamarche, Benoit; Garofalo, Carole; Grimard, Guy; Poulain, Floriane; Delvin, Edgard; Laverdière, Caroline; Krajinovic, Maja; Drouin, Simon; Sinnett, Daniel; Marcil, Valérie; Levy, Emile

    2017-05-01

    Survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common cancer in children, are at increased risk of developing late cardiometabolic conditions. However, the mechanisms are not fully understood. This study aimed to characterize the plasma lipid profile, Apo distribution, and lipoprotein composition of 80 childhood ALL survivors compared with 22 healthy controls. Our results show that, despite their young age, 50% of the ALL survivors displayed dyslipidemia, characterized by increased plasma triglyceride (TG) and LDL-cholesterol, as well as decreased HDL-cholesterol. ALL survivors exhibited lower plasma Apo A-I and higher Apo B-100 and C-II levels, along with elevated Apo C-II/C-III and B-100/A-I ratios. VLDL fractions of dyslipidemic ALL survivors contained more TG, free cholesterol, and phospholipid moieties, but less protein. Differences in Apo content were found between ALL survivors and controls for all lipoprotein fractions except HDL 3 HDL 2 , especially, showed reduced Apo A-I and raised Apo A-II, leading to a depressed Apo A-I/A-II ratio. Analysis of VLDL-Apo Cs disclosed a trend for higher Apo C-III 1 content in dyslipidemic ALL survivors. In conclusion, this thorough investigation demonstrates a high prevalence of dyslipidemia in ALL survivors, while highlighting significant abnormalities in their plasma lipid profile and lipoprotein composition. Special attention must, therefore, be paid to these subjects given the atherosclerotic potency of lipid and lipoprotein disorders. Copyright © 2017 by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  11. Characterization of CD22 Expression in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Shah, Nirali N.; Stetler-Stevenson, Maryalice; Yuan, Constance M.; Richards, Kelly; Delbrook, Cindy; Kreitman, Robert J.; Pastan, Ira; Wayne, Alan S.

    2015-01-01

    Background CD22 is a B-lineage differentiation antigen that has emerged as a leading therapeutic target in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Procedure Properties of CD22 expression relevant to therapeutic targeting were characterized in primary samples obtained from children and young adults with relapsed and chemotherapy refractory B-precursor (pre-B) ALL. Results CD22 expression was demonstrated in all subjects (n=163) with detection on at least 90% of blasts in 155 cases. Median antigen site density of surface CD22 was 3,470 sites/cell (range 349 – 19,653, n=160). Blasts from patients with known 11q23 (MLL) rearrangement had lower site density (median 1,590 sites/cell, range 349-3,624, n=20 versus 3,853 sites/cell, range 451-19,653, n=140; p=<0.0001) and 6 of 21 cases had sub-populations of blasts lacking CD22 expression (22% – 82% CD22+). CD22 expression was maintained in serial studies of 73 subjects, including those treated with anti-CD22 targeted therapy. The levels of soluble CD22 in blood and marrow by ELISA were low and not expected to influence the pharmacokinetics of anti-CD22 directed agents. Conclusions These characteristics make CD22 an excellent potential therapeutic target in patients with relapsed and chemotherapy-refractory ALL, although cases with MLL rearrangement require close study to exclude the presence of a CD22-negative blast population. PMID:25728039

  12. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a 2-year-old girl whose mother was previously diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome: a case report.

    PubMed

    Castro-Jiménez, Miguel Ángel; Cortés-Sánchez, Carlos Efraín; Rueda-Arenas, Ernesto; Tibaduiza-Buitrago, Lucy Adela

    2015-04-15

    The role of maternal exposures and conditions in the origin of childhood cancer has been a subject of growing interest, but current evidence is inconclusive. We present a case detected in a multicenter case-control study evaluating the association between parental risk factors and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The patient is a Colombian girl who was diagnosed with ALL-L1 when she was 2 years old. Her mother had been diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome before pregnancy and had also been treated with subcutaneous injections of heparin. Other potentially relevant maternal and patient exposures are also reported in this paper. We hypothesize that the maternal autoimmune disease could be a contributor in the causality network of the daughter's leukemia. However, the role of other exposures cannot be excluded.

  13. The Association Between Motor Skills and Academic Achievement Among Pediatric Survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Balsamo, Lyn M; Sint, Kyaw J; Neglia, Joseph P; Brouwers, Pim; Kadan-Lottick, Nina S

    2016-04-01

    Assess the association between fine motor (FM) and visual-motor integration (VMI) skills and academic achievement in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors. In this 28-site cross-sectional study of 256 children in first remission, a mean of 8.9 ± 2.2 years after treatment for standard-risk precursor-B ALL, validated measures of FM, VMI, reading, math, and intelligence were administered at mean follow-up age of 12.8 ± 2.5 years.   VMI was significantly associated with written math calculation ability (p < .0069) after adjusting for intelligence (p < .0001). VMI was more strongly associated with math in those with lower intelligence (p = .0141). Word decoding was also significantly associated with VMI but with no effect modification by intelligence. FM skills were not associated with either reading or math achievement. These findings suggest that VMI is associated with aspects of math and reading achievement in leukemia survivors. These skills may be amenable to intervention. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  14. [Leading causes of death during the induction therapy in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

    PubMed

    Aguilar-Hernández, Máximo; Fernández-Castillo, Gabriela; Núñez-Villegas, Nora Nancy; Pérez-Casillas, Ruy Xavier; Núñez-Enríquez, Juan Carlos

    2017-01-01

    Leukemias are the leading cause of childhood cancer. In most developed countries 1-2% of patients die during remission induction; however, in developing countries, this figure is higher and the causes of death apparently vary among the populations studied. The aim was to determine the cause of death during remission induction in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the hospital "Dr. Gaudencio González Garza" of Centro Médico Nacional La Raza from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2014. A retrospective cohort study was carried out and a descriptive statistical analysis was performed. During the study period, a total of 463 patients with ALL were diagnosed, out of which 5.4% died (n = 25). Among the patients who died, 64% (n = 16) were female and 60% had high-risk clinical features at diagnosis. The main causes of death were septic shock and bleeding. Early mortality was five times higher than the one reported for developed countries, while the causes of death did not differ. Close monitoring is necessary to detect and promptly treat complications secondary to chemotherapy toxicity in Mexican pediatric patients with ALL.

  15. A scanning electron microscopic study of 34 cases of acute granulocytic, myelomonocytic, monoblastic and histiocytic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Polliack, A; McKenzie, S; Gee, T; Lampen, N; de Harven, E; Clarkson, B D

    1975-09-01

    This report describes the surface architecture of leukemic cells, as seen by scanning electron microscopy in 34 patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia. Six patients with myeloblastic, 4 with promyelocytic, 10 with myelomonocytic, 8 with monocytic, 4 with histiocytic and 2 with undifferentiated leukemia were studied. Under the scanning electron microscope most leukemia histiocytes and monocytes appeared similar and were characterized by the presence of large, well developed broad-based ruffled membranes or prominent raised ridge-like profiles, resembling ithis respect normal monocytes. Most cells from patients with acute promyelocytic or myeloblastic leukemia exhibited narrower ridge-like profiles whereas some showed ruffles or microvilli. Patients with myelomonocytic leukemia showed mixed populations of cells with ridge-like profiles and ruffled membranes whereas cells from two patients with undifferentiated leukemia had smooth surfaces, similar to those encountered in cells from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It appears that nonlymphoblastic and lymphoblastic leukemia cells (particularly histiocytes and monocytes) can frequently be distinquished on the basis of their surface architecture. The surface features of leukemic histiocytes and monocytes are similar, suggesting that they may belong to the same cell series. The monocytes seem to have characteristic surface features recognizable with the scanning electron microscope and differ from most cells from patients with acute granulocytic leukemia. Although overlap of surface features and misidentification can occur, scanning electron microscopy is a useful adjunct to other modes of microscopy in the study and diagnosis of acute leukemia.

  16. Phenotypic and genotypic analyses of blastic cell population suggest that pure B-lymphoblastic leukemia may arise from myelodysplastic syndrome.

    PubMed

    Pajor, L; Matolcsy, A; Vass, J A; Méhes, G; Marton, E; Szabó, F; Iványi, J L

    1998-01-01

    The case history of a 70-year-old man with myelodysplastic syndrome terminated into acute leukemia in 22 months is presented. The leukemic cells exhibited multifocal acid phosphatase positivity and expressed TdT, CD45, CD34 and HLA-DR but not myeloid, monocytic or megakaryocytic differentiation antigenes. The genotypic analysis revealed clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement. These phenotypic and genotypic analyses of the blastic cell population suggest that myelodysplastic syndrome may transform to pure acute lymphoblastic leukemia of B-cell origin.

  17. Rituximab in B-Lineage Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Maury, Sébastien; Chevret, Sylvie; Thomas, Xavier; Heim, Dominik; Leguay, Thibaut; Huguet, Françoise; Chevallier, Patrice; Hunault, Mathilde; Boissel, Nicolas; Escoffre-Barbe, Martine; Hess, Urs; Vey, Norbert; Pignon, Jean-Michel; Braun, Thorsten; Marolleau, Jean-Pierre; Cahn, Jean-Yves; Chalandon, Yves; Lhéritier, Véronique; Beldjord, Kheira; Béné, Marie C; Ifrah, Norbert; Dombret, Hervé

    2016-09-15

    Treatment with rituximab has improved the outcome for patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Patients with B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may also have the CD20 antigen, which is targeted by rituximab. Although single-group studies suggest that adding rituximab to chemotherapy could improve the outcome in such patients, this hypothesis has not been tested in a randomized trial. We randomly assigned adults (18 to 59 years of age) with CD20-positive, Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative ALL to receive chemotherapy with or without rituximab, with event-free survival as the primary end point. Rituximab was given during all treatment phases, for a total of 16 to 18 infusions. From May 2006 through April 2014, a total of 209 patients were enrolled: 105 in the rituximab group and 104 in the control group. After a median follow-up of 30 months, event-free survival was longer in the rituximab group than in the control group (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45 to 0.98; P=0.04); the estimated 2-year event-free survival rates were 65% (95% CI, 56 to 75) and 52% (95% CI, 43 to 63), respectively. Treatment with rituximab remained associated with longer event-free survival in a multivariate analysis. The overall incidence rate of severe adverse events did not differ significantly between the two groups, but fewer allergic reactions to asparaginase were observed in the rituximab group. Adding rituximab to the ALL chemotherapy protocol improved the outcome for younger adults with CD20-positive, Ph-negative ALL. (Funded by the Regional Clinical Research Office, Paris, and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00327678 .).

  18. Fetal Growth and Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Findings from the Childhood Leukemia International Consortium (CLIC)

    PubMed Central

    Milne, Elizabeth; Greenop, Kathryn R.; Metayer, Catherine; Schüz, Joachim; Petridou, Eleni; Pombo-de-Oliveira, Maria S.; Infante-Rivard, Claire; Roman, Eve; Dockerty, John D.; Spector, Logan G.; Koifman, Sérgio; Orsi, Laurent; Rudant, Jérémie; Dessypris, Nick; Simpson, Jill; Lightfoot, Tracy; Kaatsch, Peter; Baka, Margarita; Faro, Alessandra; Armstrong, Bruce K.; Clavel, Jacqueline; Buffler, Patricia A.

    2013-01-01

    Positive associations have been reported between measures of accelerated fetal growth and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We investigated this association by pooling individual-level data from 12 case-control studies participating in the Childhood Leukemia International Consortium. Two measures of fetal growth – weight-for-gestational-age and proportion of optimal birth weight (POBW) – were analysed. Study-specific odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using multivariable logistic regression, and combined in fixed effects meta-analyses. Pooled analyses of all data were also undertaken using multivariable logistic regression. Subgroup analyses were undertaken when possible. Data on weight for gestational age were available for 7,348 cases and 12,489 controls from all 12 studies and POBW data were available for 1,680 cases and 3,139 controls from three studies. The summary ORs from the meta-analyses were 1.24 (95% CI 1.13, 1.36) for children who were large for gestational age relative to appropriate for gestational age, and 1.16 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.24) for a one standard deviation increase in POBW. The pooled analyses produced similar results. The summary and pooled ORs for small-for-gestational-age children were 0.83 (95% CI: 0.75, 0.92) and 0.86 (95% CI 0.77, 0.95) respectively. Results were consistent across subgroups defined by sex, ethnicity and immunophenotype, and when the analysis was restricted to children who did not have high birth weight. The evidence that accelerated fetal growth is associated with a modest increased risk of childhood ALL is strong and consistent with known biological mechanisms involving insulin like growth factors. PMID:23754574

  19. Outcome of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children with down syndrome-Polish pediatric leukemia and lymphoma study group report.

    PubMed

    Zawitkowska, Joanna; Odój, Teresa; Drabko, Katarzyna; Zaucha-Prażmo, Agnieszka; Rudnicka, Julia; Romiszewski, Michał; Matysiak, Michał; Kwiecińska, Kinga; Ćwiklińska, Magdalena; Balwierz, Walentyna; Owoc-Lempach, Joanna; Derwich, Katarzyna; Wachowiak, Jacek; Niedźwiecki, Maciej; Adamkiewicz-Drożyńska, Elżbieta; Trelińska, Joanna; Młynarski, Wojciech; Kołtan, Andrzej; Wysocki, Mariusz; Tomaszewska, Renata; Szczepański, Tomasz; Płonowski, Marcin; Krawczuk-Rybak, Maryna; Ociepa, Tomasz; Urasiński, Tomasz; Mizia-Malarz, Agnieszka; Sobol-Milejska, Grażyna; Karolczyk, Grażyna; Kowalczyk, Jerzy

    2017-05-01

    Children with Down syndrome (DS) have a 20-fold increased risk of developing leukemia compared with the general population. The aim of the study was to analyze the outcome of patients diagnosed with Down syndrome and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Poland between the years 2003 and 2010. A total of 1848 children were diagnosed with ALL (810 females and 1038 males). Of those, 41 (2.2%) had DS. The children were classified into three risk groups: a standard-risk group-14 patients, an intermediate-risk group-24, a high-risk group-3. All patients were treated according to ALLIC 2002 protocol. The median observation time of all patients was 6.1 years, and in patients with DS 5.3 years. Five-year overall survival (OS) was the same in all patients (86% vs 86%, long-rank test, p = .9). The relapse-free survival (RFS) was calculated as 73% in patients with DS and 81% in patients without DS during a median observation time (long-rank test, p = .3). No statistically significant differences were found in the incidence of nonrelapse mortality between those two groups of patients (p = .72). The study was based on children with ALL and Down syndrome who were treated with an identical therapy schedule as ALL patients without DS, according to risk group. This fact can increase the value of the presented results.

  20. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms: association with risk for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia in north Indians.

    PubMed

    Sood, Swati; Das, Reena; Trehan, Amita; Ahluwalia, Jasmina; Sachdeva, Man Updesh; Varma, Neelam; Bansal, Deepak; Marwaha, Ram Kumar

    2010-05-01

    Genetic polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene have been associated with the development of acute leukemias and various malignancies. We conducted a case-control study in 95 north Indian children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 255 controls, to investigate the role of MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms as risk factors in the development of ALL. PCR-RFLP on genomic DNA was carried out to determine C677T and A1298C genotypes. The frequency of MTHFR C677T for the T allele was found to be 23.2% among patients and 18.2% among controls. The frequency of the C allele in MTHFR A1298C was 44.2% among cases and 48.2% in controls. Patients showed a higher frequency of heterozygosity for the MTHFR C677T polymorphism as compared to controls (40% vs 27.8%; OR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.02-2.91, p = 0.02), and the A1298C polymorphism did not show any difference in genotype frequency between cases and controls. MTHFR 677CC/1298AC genotype frequencies showed a statistically significant difference between cases and controls (OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.34-1.01, p = 0.04). In conclusion, our study in north Indian controls and patients with pediatric ALL showed increased frequency for MTHFR C677T in the heterozygous state and no significant difference in the frequency of A1298C genotype between the two groups.

  1. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in second remission or relapse.

    PubMed

    Lin, K H; Jou, S T; Chen, R L; Lin, D T; Lui, L T; Lin, K S

    1994-01-01

    Most children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are successfully treated by chemotherapy. For those patients, who relapse on therapy, bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is considered most appropriate after a subsequent remission is achieved. Three boys with ALL aged from 9 to 13 years met these criteria and received BMT from their HLA-compatible sisters after marrow ablation with total body irradiation 12 Gy plus high dose cytosine arabinoside 3 gm/m2/12h x 12 doses and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis with cyclosporine plus short course methotrexate from March 10, 1989 to May 23, 1992. Filgrastim (rhG-CSF) was used to hasten the recovery of granulocyte in one patient. All three patients got full engraftment and two had grade 1 acute GVHD. None of them developed chronic GVHD. Two patients have disease-free survival over 51 and 12 months respectively post BMT without further chemotherapy. One patient died of recurrent refractory leukemia 5 months after BMT. The toxicity of this conditioning regimen included photophobia, conjunctivitis and erythematous skin rashes. One patient who received filgrastim from day 1 to 21 developed severe bone pain. However, this patient had faster recovery of granulocyte count than the other two patients. The preliminary results of this work favors BMT for children with recurrent ALL whose ultimate survival is usually poor when treated with chemotherapy. Further efforts are necessary to investigate new methods for reducing leukemic relapse in ALL patients undergoing BMT.

  2. Heterogeneity in acute undifferentiated leukemia.

    PubMed

    LeMaistre, A; Childs, C C; Hirsch-Ginsberg, C; Reuben, J; Cork, A; Trujillo, J M; Andersson, B; McCredie, K B; Freireich, E; Stass, S A

    1988-01-01

    From January 1985 to May 1987, we studied 256 adults with newly diagnosed acute leukemia. Acute undifferentiated leukemia (AUL) was diagnosed in 12 of the 256 (4.6%) cases when lineage could not be delineated by light microscopy and light cytochemistry. To further characterize the blasts, immunophenotyping, ultrastructural myeloperoxidase (UMPO), and ultrastructural platelet peroxidase parameters were examined in 10, 11, and 6 of the 12 cases, respectively. Five cases demonstrated UMPO and were reclassified as acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). Of the six UMPO-negative cases, three had a myeloid and one had a mixed immunophenotype. One UMPO-negative patient with a myeloid immunophenotype was probed for the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (JH) and the beta chain of the T-cell receptor gene (Tcr beta) with no evidence of rearrangement. Six cases were treated with standard acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) chemotherapy and failed to achieve complete remission (CR). Various AML chemotherapeutic regimens produced CR in only 3 of the 12 cases. One case was treated with gamma interferon and the other 2 with high-dose Ara-C. Our findings indicate a myeloid lineage can be detected by UMPO (5/12) in some cases of AUL. A germline configuration with JH and Tcr beta in one case as well as a myeloid immunophenotype in 3 UMPO-negative cases raises the possibility that myeloid lineage commitment may occur in the absence of myeloid peroxidase (MPO) cytochemical positivity.

  3. Characterization of leukemias with ETV6-ABL1 fusion

    PubMed Central

    Zaliova, Marketa; Moorman, Anthony V.; Cazzaniga, Giovanni; Stanulla, Martin; Harvey, Richard C.; Roberts, Kathryn G.; Heatley, Sue L.; Loh, Mignon L.; Konopleva, Marina; Chen, I-Ming; Zimmermannova, Olga; Schwab, Claire; Smith, Owen; Mozziconacci, Marie-Joelle; Chabannon, Christian; Kim, Myungshin; Frederik Falkenburg, J. H.; Norton, Alice; Marshall, Karen; Haas, Oskar A.; Starkova, Julia; Stuchly, Jan; Hunger, Stephen P.; White, Deborah; Mullighan, Charles G.; Willman, Cheryl L.; Stary, Jan; Trka, Jan; Zuna, Jan

    2016-01-01

    To characterize the incidence, clinical features and genetics of ETV6-ABL1 leukemias, representing targetable kinase-activating lesions, we analyzed 44 new and published cases of ETV6-ABL1-positive hematologic malignancies [22 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (13 children, 9 adults) and 22 myeloid malignancies (18 myeloproliferative neoplasms, 4 acute myeloid leukemias)]. The presence of the ETV6-ABL1 fusion was ascertained by cytogenetics, fluorescence in-situ hybridization, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and RNA sequencing. Genomic and gene expression profiling was performed by single nucleotide polymorphism and expression arrays. Systematic screening of more than 4,500 cases revealed that in acute lymphoblastic leukemia ETV6-ABL1 is rare in childhood (0.17% cases) and slightly more common in adults (0.38%). There is no systematic screening of myeloproliferative neoplasms; however, the number of ETV6-ABL1-positive cases and the relative incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and myeloproliferative neoplasms suggest that in adulthood ETV6-ABL1 is more common in BCR-ABL1-negative chronic myeloid leukemia-like myeloproliferations than in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The genomic profile of ETV6-ABL1 acute lymphoblastic leukemia resembled that of BCR-ABL1 and BCR-ABL1-like cases with 80% of patients having concurrent CDKN2A/B and IKZF1 deletions. In the gene expression profiling all the ETV6-ABL1-positive samples clustered in close vicinity to BCR-ABL1 cases. All but one of the cases of ETV6-ABL1 acute lymphoblastic leukemia were classified as BCR-ABL1-like by a standardized assay. Over 60% of patients died, irrespectively of the disease or age subgroup examined. In conclusion, ETV6-ABL1 fusion occurs in both lymphoid and myeloid leukemias; the genomic profile and clinical behavior resemble BCR-ABL1-positive malignancies, including the unfavorable prognosis, particularly of acute leukemias. The poor outcome suggests that treatment with

  4. Characterization of leukemias with ETV6-ABL1 fusion.

    PubMed

    Zaliova, Marketa; Moorman, Anthony V; Cazzaniga, Giovanni; Stanulla, Martin; Harvey, Richard C; Roberts, Kathryn G; Heatley, Sue L; Loh, Mignon L; Konopleva, Marina; Chen, I-Ming; Zimmermannova, Olga; Schwab, Claire; Smith, Owen; Mozziconacci, Marie-Joelle; Chabannon, Christian; Kim, Myungshin; Frederik Falkenburg, J H; Norton, Alice; Marshall, Karen; Haas, Oskar A; Starkova, Julia; Stuchly, Jan; Hunger, Stephen P; White, Deborah; Mullighan, Charles G; Willman, Cheryl L; Stary, Jan; Trka, Jan; Zuna, Jan

    2016-09-01

    To characterize the incidence, clinical features and genetics of ETV6-ABL1 leukemias, representing targetable kinase-activating lesions, we analyzed 44 new and published cases of ETV6-ABL1-positive hematologic malignancies [22 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (13 children, 9 adults) and 22 myeloid malignancies (18 myeloproliferative neoplasms, 4 acute myeloid leukemias)]. The presence of the ETV6-ABL1 fusion was ascertained by cytogenetics, fluorescence in-situ hybridization, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and RNA sequencing. Genomic and gene expression profiling was performed by single nucleotide polymorphism and expression arrays. Systematic screening of more than 4,500 cases revealed that in acute lymphoblastic leukemia ETV6-ABL1 is rare in childhood (0.17% cases) and slightly more common in adults (0.38%). There is no systematic screening of myeloproliferative neoplasms; however, the number of ETV6-ABL1-positive cases and the relative incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and myeloproliferative neoplasms suggest that in adulthood ETV6-ABL1 is more common in BCR-ABL1-negative chronic myeloid leukemia-like myeloproliferations than in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The genomic profile of ETV6-ABL1 acute lymphoblastic leukemia resembled that of BCR-ABL1 and BCR-ABL1-like cases with 80% of patients having concurrent CDKN2A/B and IKZF1 deletions. In the gene expression profiling all the ETV6-ABL1-positive samples clustered in close vicinity to BCR-ABL1 cases. All but one of the cases of ETV6-ABL1 acute lymphoblastic leukemia were classified as BCR-ABL1-like by a standardized assay. Over 60% of patients died, irrespectively of the disease or age subgroup examined. In conclusion, ETV6-ABL1 fusion occurs in both lymphoid and myeloid leukemias; the genomic profile and clinical behavior resemble BCR-ABL1-positive malignancies, including the unfavorable prognosis, particularly of acute leukemias. The poor outcome suggests that treatment with

  5. Body composition and phase angle in Russian children in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tseytlin, G. Ja; Khomyakova, I. A.; Nikolaev, D. V.; Konovalova, M. V.; Vashura, A. Yu; Tretyak, A. V.; Godina, E. Z.; Rudnev, S. G.

    2010-04-01

    Elevated degree of body fatness and changes in other body composition parameters are known to be common effects of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. In order to study peculiarities of somatic growth and development in ALL survivors, we describe the results of BIA body composition analysis of 112 boys and 108 girls aged 5-18 years in remission from ALL (remission time range 1-13 years) compared to data from the same number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n=220). Detrimental effect on height in ALL boys was observed, whereas girls experienced additional weight gain compared to healthy subjects. In ALL patients, resistance, body fat, and percent body fat were significantly increased. The reactance, phase angle, absolute and relative values of skeletal muscle and body cell mass were significantly decreased. Principal component analysis revealed an early prevalence of adiposity traits in the somatic growth and development of ALL girls compared to healthy controls.

  6. Prognostic Value of Cd95, Active Caspase-3, and Bcl-2 Expression in Adult Patients With De Novo Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Montiel-Cervantes, Laura Arcelia; Reyes-Maldonado, Elba; Garcia-Chavez, Jaime; Hernandez-Caballero, Alvaro; Molina-Aguilar, Rubiraida; Garcia-Ruiz Esparza, Miriam America; Vela-Ojeda, Jorge

    2018-04-18

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is an aggressive malignant disease with high mortality rates in adults. The expression levels of CD95, active caspase-3, and Bcl-2 were determined in 111 patients with de novo acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and correlated with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The immunophenotyped ok leukemia and the expression of CD95, active caspase-3, and Bcl-2, were determined by flow cytometry. Apoptotic variables were correlated by Spearman test, and survival by Kaplan-Meier method. Log-rank test was used to compare survival curves. From a total of 111 patients, 56 cases were B-ALL, 16 T-ALL, 16 B-ALL/CD33 + , and 23 ambiguous lineage-AL (AmbLin-AL). The median expression of CD95 (61.5%) and active-caspase-3 (19.4%) was higher in T-ALL (p < 0.05), whereas Bcl-2 was lower in T-ALL (p < 0.038). There was a highly significant correlation in B-ALL, B-ALL/CD33 + and AmbLin-AL between CD95 and Bcl-2, CD95-Active caspase-3, and Bcl-2-Active caspase-3; while in T-ALL, there was only a correlation between CD95-Active caspase-3, and Bcl-2-Active caspase-3. OS and DFS were better for T-ALL than the other groups, especially in patients having higher values of CD95 and active caspase 3, and lower values of Bcl-2. The worse survival rates were observed in patients with B-ALL/CD33 + , and AmbLin-AL. The prognosis of ALL in adults is influenced by the expression levels of Bcl-2, active-caspase-3, and CD95. Copyright © 2018 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. DNA methylation as a potential mediator of environmental risks in the development of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Timms, Jessica A; Relton, Caroline L; Rankin, Judith; Strathdee, Gordon; McKay, Jill A

    2016-04-01

    5-year survival rate for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has risen to approximately 90%, yet the causal disease pathway is still poorly understood. Evidence suggests multiple 'hits' are required for disease progression; an initial genetic abnormality followed by additional secondary 'hits'. It is plausible that environmental influences may trigger these secondary hits, and with the peak incidence of diagnosis between 2 and 5 years of age, early life exposures are likely to be key. DNA methylation can be modified by many environmental exposures and is dramatically altered in cancers, including childhood ALL. Here we explore the potential that DNA methylation may be involved in the causal pathway toward disease by acting as a mediator between established environmental factors and childhood ALL development.

  8. DNA methylation as a potential mediator of environmental risks in the development of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Timms, Jessica A; Relton, Caroline L; Rankin, Judith; Strathdee, Gordon; McKay, Jill A

    2016-01-01

    5-year survival rate for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has risen to approximately 90%, yet the causal disease pathway is still poorly understood. Evidence suggests multiple ‘hits’ are required for disease progression; an initial genetic abnormality followed by additional secondary ‘hits’. It is plausible that environmental influences may trigger these secondary hits, and with the peak incidence of diagnosis between 2 and 5 years of age, early life exposures are likely to be key. DNA methylation can be modified by many environmental exposures and is dramatically altered in cancers, including childhood ALL. Here we explore the potential that DNA methylation may be involved in the causal pathway toward disease by acting as a mediator between established environmental factors and childhood ALL development. PMID:27035209

  9. JAK2 aberrations in childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    de Goffau-Nobel, Willemieke; Hoogkamer, Alex Q.; Boer, Judith M.; Boeree, Aurélie; van de Ven, Cesca; Koudijs, Marco J.; Besselink, Nicolle J.M.; de Groot-Kruseman, Hester A.; Zwaan, Christian Michel; Horstmann, Martin A.; Pieters, Rob; den Boer, Monique L.

    2017-01-01

    JAK2 abnormalities may serve as target for precision medicines in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). In the current study we performed a screening for JAK2 mutations and translocations, analyzed the clinical outcome and studied the efficacy of two JAK inhibitors in primary BCP-ALL cells. Importantly, we identify a number of limitations of JAK inhibitor therapy. JAK2 mutations mainly occurred in the poor prognostic subtypes BCR-ABL1-like and non- BCR-ABL1-like B-other (negative for sentinel cytogenetic lesions). JAK2 translocations were restricted to BCR-ABL1-like cases. Momelotinib and ruxolitinib were cytotoxic in both JAK2 translocated and JAK2 mutated cells, although efficacy in JAK2 mutated cells highly depended on cytokine receptor activation by TSLP. However, our data also suggest that the effect of JAK inhibition may be compromised by mutations in alternative survival pathways and microenvironment-induced resistance. Furthermore, inhibitors induced accumulation of phosphorylated JAK2Y1007, which resulted in a profound re-activation of JAK2 signaling upon release of the inhibitors. This preclinical evidence implies that further optimization and evaluation of JAK inhibitor treatment is necessary prior to its clinical integration in pediatric BCP-ALL. PMID:29163799

  10. Pharmacogenetic determinants of mercaptopurine disposition in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Adam de Beaumais, Tiphaine; Jacqz-Aigrain, Evelyne

    2012-09-01

    The backbone of drug therapy used in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children includes 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP). Intracellular metabolism of this prodrug is a key component of the therapeutic response. Many metabolizing enzymes are involved in 6-MP disposition and active 6-MP metabolites are represented by 6-thioguanine nucleotides (6-TGN) and methylated metabolites primarily methylated by the thiopurine S-methyltransferase enzyme (TPMT). The genetic polymorphism affecting TPMT activity displays an important inter-subject variability in metabolites pharmacokinetics and influences the balance between 6-MP efficacy and toxicity: patients with high 6-TGN levels are at risk of myelosuppression while patients with high levels of methylated derivates are at hepatotoxic risk. However, the genetic TPMT polymorphism does not explain all 6-MP adverse events and some severe toxicities leading to life-threatening conditions remain unexplained. Additional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding enzymes involved in 6-MP metabolism and 6-MP transporters may also be responsible for this inter-individual 6-MP response variability. This review presents the pharmacogenetic aspects of 6-MP metabolism in great detail. We have focused on published data on ALL treatment supporting the great potential of 6-MP pharmacogenetics to improve efficacy, tolerance, and event-free survival rates in children with ALL.

  11. Genetic evaluation of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Iraq using FTA cards.

    PubMed

    Al-Kzayer, Lika'a Fasih Y; Sakashita, Kazuo; Matsuda, Kazuyuki; Al-Hadad, Salma Abbas; Al-Jadiry, Mazin Faisal; Abed, Wisam Majeed; Abdulkadhim, Jaafar M H; Al-Shujairi, Tariq Abadi; Hasan, Janan Ghalib; Al-Abdullah, Hussam M Salih; Al-Ani, Mouroge H; Saber, Paiman Ali I; Inoshita, Toshi; Kamata, Minoru; Koike, Kenichi

    2012-09-01

    Genetic examination of childhood leukemia has not been available in Iraq. We here report the frequency of TEL-AML1, E2A-PBX1, MLL-AF4, and BCR-ABL chimeric transcripts in 264 Iraqi children newly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), using FTA cards impregnated with bone marrow aspirate or whole blood. The diagnosis of ALL was made according to standard French-American-British morphologic criteria. Based on the results of storage temperature and duration, most of the FTA samples were preserved at 4°C for up to 6 weeks in five Iraqi hospitals and then transferred to Japan for molecular analysis. Nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was adopted for the analysis. TEL-AML1 chimeric transcript product was found in 32 (12.1%) of 264 ALL patients. Eleven (4.2%) patients, 4 (1.5%) patients, and 11 (4.2%) patients had E2A-PBX1 mRNA, MLL-AF4 mRNA, and BCR-ABL mRNA, respectively. One patient had both TEL-AML1 and E2A-PBX1 fusion genes. The incidence of TEL-AML1 in Iraqi ALL children appears to be similar to or slightly higher than those of Jordan (12%) and Kuwait (7%). The prevalence and clinical findings of ALL patients with either E2A-PBX1 or BCR-ABL were comparable to the data reported elsewhere. International collaboration via FTA cards may be helpful to improve diagnosis and management of patients with hematological malignancies in low-income and underdeveloped countries. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  12. Unilateral optic disk edema with central retinal artery and vein occlusions as the presenting signs of relapse in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Salazar Méndez, R; Fonollá Gil, M

    2014-11-01

    A 39-year-old man with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (LAL Ph+) developed progressive vision loss to no light perception in his right eye. He had optic disk edema and later developed central artery and vein occlusions. Pan-photocoagulation, as well as radiotherapy of the whole brain were performed in several fractions. Unfortunately the patient died of hematological relapse 4 months later. Optic nerve infiltration may appear as an isolated sign of a leukemia relapse, even before a hematological relapse occurs. Leukemic optic neuropathy is a critical sign, not only for vision, but also for life, and radiotherapy should be immediately performed before irreversible optic nerve damage occurs. Copyright © 2013 Sociedad Española de Oftalmología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

  13. Potential of gene expression profiling in the management of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Bhojwani, Deepa; Moskowitz, Naomi; Raetz, Elizabeth A; Carroll, William L

    2007-01-01

    Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a heterogeneous disease. Current treatment approaches are tailored according to the clinical features of the host, genotypic features of the leukemic blast, and early response to therapy. Although these approaches have been successful in dramatically improving outcomes, approximately 20% of children with ALL still relapse and many of these children do not have an identifiable adverse risk factor at presentation. Further insights into the biologic basis of the disease may contribute to novel, rational treatment strategies. Childhood ALL has served as an example for demonstrating the feasibility and potential of high-throughput technologies such as global gene expression or transcript profiling. In the last decade or so, utilization of these techniques has grown exponentially. As the methodology undergoes refinement and validation, it is plausible that microarrays may be used in the routine management of childhood ALL in the next few years. This article discusses the numerous applications to date of gene expression profiling in childhood ALL. Multiple investigators have made it evident that microarrays can be used as a single platform for the accurate classification of ALL into the various cytogenetic subtypes. Additional promising utilities include prediction of early response to therapy, overall outcome, and adverse effects. Identification of patients who are predicted to have an unfavorable outcome may allow for early intervention such as intensification of therapy or avoidance of drugs that are associated with specific secondary effects such as therapy-related acute myelogenous leukemia. Knowledge has been gained into pathways contributing to leukemogenesis and chemoresistance. Therapeutic targets have been identified, some of which are entering clinical trials following validation in additional preclinical models. These newer methods of genome analyses complemented by studies involving the proteome as well as host

  14. Characterization of CD22 expression in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Shah, Nirali N; Stevenson, Maryalice Stetler; Yuan, Constance M; Richards, Kelly; Delbrook, Cindy; Kreitman, Robert J; Pastan, Ira; Wayne, Alan S

    2015-06-01

    CD22 is a B-lineage differentiation antigen that has emerged as a leading therapeutic target in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Properties of CD22 expression relevant to therapeutic targeting were characterized in primary samples obtained from children and young adults with relapsed and chemotherapy refractory B-precursor (pre-B) ALL. CD22 expression was demonstrated in all subjects (n = 163) with detection on at least 90% of blasts in 155 cases. Median antigen site density of surface CD22 was 3,470 sites/cell (range 349-19,653, n = 160). Blasts from patients with known 11q23 (MLL) rearrangement had lower site density (median 1,590 sites/cell, range 349-3,624, n = 20 versus 3,853 sites/cell, range 451-19,653, n = 140; P = <0.0001) and 6 of 21 cases had sub-populations of blasts lacking CD22 expression (22%-82% CD22 +). CD22 expression was maintained in serial studies of 73 subjects, including those treated with anti-CD22 targeted therapy. The levels of soluble CD22 in blood and marrow by ELISA were low and not expected to influence the pharmacokinetics of anti-CD22 directed agents. These characteristics make CD22 an excellent potential therapeutic target in patients with relapsed and chemotherapy-refractory ALL, although cases with MLL rearrangement require close study to exclude the presence of a CD22-negative blast population. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

  15. Severe Hypertriglyceridemia During Therapy For Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Bhojwani, Deepa; Darbandi, Rashid; Pei, Deqing; Ramsey, Laura B.; Chemaitilly, Wassim; Sandlund, John T.; Cheng, Cheng; Pui, Ching-Hon; Relling, Mary V.; Jeha, Sima; Metzger, Monika L.

    2014-01-01

    Background Asparaginase and steroids can cause hypertriglyceridemia in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). There are no guidelines for screening or management of patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia (>1000 mg/dL) during ALL therapy. Patients and Methods Fasting lipid profiles were obtained prospectively at 4 time-points for 257 children consecutively enrolled on a frontline ALL study. Risk factors were evaluated by the exact chi-square test. Details of adverse events and management of hypertriglyceridemia were extracted retrospectively. Results Eighteen of 257 (7%) patients developed severe hypertriglyceridemia. Older age and treatment with higher doses of asparaginase and steroids on the standard/high-risk arm were significant risk factors. Severe hypertriglyceridemia was not associated with pancreatitis after adjustment for age and treatment arm or with osteonecrosis after adjustment for age. However, patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia had a 2.5 to 3 times higher risk of thrombosis compared to patients without, albeit the difference was not statistical significant. Of the 30 episodes of severe hypertriglyceridemia in 18 patients, 7 were managed conservatively while the others with pharmacotherapy. Seventeen of 18 patients continued to receive asparaginase and steroids. Triglyceride levels normalized after completion of ALL therapy in all 12 patients with available measurements. Conclusion Asparaginase- and steroid-induced transient hypertriglyceridemia can be adequately managed with dietary modifications and close monitoring without altering chemotherapy. Patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia were not at increased risk of adverse events, with a possible exception of thrombosis. The benefit of pharmacotherapy in decreasing symptoms and potential complications requires further investigation. PMID:25087182

  16. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and glutathione S-tranferase gene polymorphisms in secondary mixed phenotype acute leukemia: a case report.

    PubMed

    Skoric, Dejan; Ivana, Joksic; Tanja, Radic; Jovana, Jakovljevic; Petar, Ivanovski; Tatjana, Simic

    2014-04-01

    Therapy-induced leukemia is a well-known clinical syndrome occurring as a late complication in patients treated with cytotoxic therapy. We herein present results of analysis of common gene polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes in a 10-year-old boy who developed very rare type of cancer, mixed phenotype acute leukemia, 6 years after treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Impairment in function of GST and MTHFR enzymes found in our patient may have contributed to the development of secondary mixed phenotype acute leukemia, although precise mechanism remains elusive.

  17. [Effects of birth order, maternal abortion and mode of delivery on childhood acute leukemia risk: a meta-analysis].

    PubMed

    Zou, Guobin; Sha, Xia

    2014-03-01

    To evaluate the associations between birth order, maternal abortion and mode of delivery and childhood acute leukemia risk. Multiple electronic databases were searched to identify relevant studies up to March 2013 using the search terms "childhood leukemia", "acute lymphoblastic leukemia", "acute myeloid leukemia","birth order", "abortion", "miscarriage", "cesarean", "birth characteristics" and "prenatal risk factor". Data from cohort and case-control studies were analyzed using the Stata software. Twenty-three studies were included in this meta-analysis according to the selection criteria. No significant associations were identified for birth order and mode of delivery (birth order = 2: OR = 0.97, 95%CI: 0.89-1.05; birth order = 3: OR = 1.00, 95%CI: 0.91-1.11; birth order ≥ 4: OR = 1.02, 95%CI: 0.87-1.20; mode of delivery: OR = 1.05, 95%CI: 0.96-1.15). However, there was a significant association between maternal abortion and childhood acute leukemia risk (spontaneous abortion: OR = 1.21, 95%CI: 1.05-1.41; induced abortion: OR = 1.23, 95%CI: 1.07-1.43). Furthermore, the stratified analysis by disease subtypes showed that spontaneous and induced abortions were significantly associated with the risks of childhood acute myeloid leukemia (OR = 1.71, 95%CI: 1.09-2.70) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (OR = 1.23, 95%CI: 1.05-1.42), respectively. This meta-analysis revealed that maternal abortion might contribute to the childhood acute leukemia risk.

  18. Copy number abnormality of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines based on their genetic subtypes.

    PubMed

    Tomoyasu, Chihiro; Imamura, Toshihiko; Tomii, Toshihiro; Yano, Mio; Asai, Daisuke; Goto, Hiroaki; Shimada, Akira; Sanada, Masashi; Iwamoto, Shotaro; Takita, Junko; Minegishi, Masayoshi; Inukai, Takeshi; Sugita, Kanji; Hosoi, Hajime

    2018-05-21

    In this study, we performed genetic analysis of 83 B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cell lines. First, we performed multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis to identify copy number abnormalities (CNAs) in eight genes associated with B-ALL according to genetic subtype. In Ph + B-ALL cell lines, the frequencies of IKZF1, CDKN2A/2B, BTG1, and PAX5 deletion were significantly higher than those in Ph - B-ALL cell lines. The frequency of CDKN2A/2B deletion in KMT2A rearranged cell lines was significantly lower than that in non-KMT2A rearranged cell lines. These findings suggest that CNAs are correlated with genetic subtype in B-ALL cell lines. In addition, we determined that three B-other ALL cell lines had IKZF1 deletions (YCUB-5, KOPN49, and KOPN75); we therefore performed comprehensive genetic analysis of these cell lines. YCUB-5, KOPN49, and KOPN75 had P2RY8-CRLF2, IgH-CRLF2, and PAX5-ETV6 fusions, respectively. Moreover, targeted capture sequencing revealed that YCUB-5 had JAK2 R683I and KRAS G12D, and KOPN49 had JAK2 R683G and KRAS G13D mutations. These data may contribute to progress in the field of leukemia research.

  19. Detection and management of minimal residual disease in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Schrappe, Martin

    2014-12-05

    The detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) has become part of the state-of-the-art diagnostics to guide treatment both in pediatric and adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This applies to the treatment of de novo and recurrent ALL. In high-risk ALL, MRD detection is considered an important tool to adjust therapy before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Precise quantification and quality control is instrumental to avoid false treatment assignment. A new methodological approach to analyzing MRD has become available and is based on next-generation sequencing. In principle, this technique will be able to detect a large number of leukemic subclones at a much higher speed than before. Carefully designed prospective studies need to demonstrate concordance or even superiority compared with those techniques in use right now: detection of aberrant expression of leukemia-specific antigens by flow cytometry of blood or bone marrow, or detection of specific rearrangements of the T-cell receptor or immunoglobulin genes by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction using DNA of leukemic cells. In some cases with known fusion genes, such as BCR/ABL, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction has been used as additional method to identify leukemic cells by analyzing RNA in patient samples. MRD detection may be used to modulate treatment intensity once it has been demonstrated at well-defined informative checkpoints that certain levels of MRD can reliably predict the risk of relapse. In addition, MRD is used as end point to determine the activity of a given agent or treatment protocol. If activity translates into antileukemic efficacy, MRD may be considered a surrogate clinical end point. © 2014 by The American Society of Hematology. All rights reserved.

  20. Evaluation of the miRNA profiling and effectiveness of the propolis on B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line.

    PubMed

    Yilmaz, Ugur Cem; Bagca, Bakiye Goker; Karaca, Emin; Durmaz, Asude; Durmaz, Burak; Aykut, Ayca; Kayalar, Husniye; Avci, Cigir Biray; Susluer, Sunde Yilmaz; Gunduz, Cumhur; Cogulu, Ozgur

    2016-12-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the most frequent causes of death from cancer. Since the discovery of chemotherapeutic agents, ALL has become a model for improvement of survival. In parallel to this, serious side effects were observed and new natural therapeutic options has been discussed. One of these substances is called propolis which is a resinous substance gathered by honeybees. In the molecular era, miRNAs have been shown to play crucial roles in the development of many clinical conditions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Aydın propolis on 81 human miRNA activity in CCRF-SB leukemia cell line. Apoptotic effects of propolis on cell lines were also evaluated and apoptosis were found to be induced 1.5 fold in B-cell leukemia cells. The expression of 63 miRNAs (46 miRNAs were downregulated, 19 miRNAs were upregulated) in propolis treated leukemia cells have changed significantly (p<0.05). In conclusion propolis has changed expression of miRNAs which have epigenetic effects on leukemic cells. It is thought that it can be a promising agent for ALL treatment for future studies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  1. RUNX1 promotes cell growth in human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia by transcriptional regulation of key target genes.

    PubMed

    Jenkins, Catherine E; Gusscott, Samuel; Wong, Rachel J; Shevchuk, Olena O; Rana, Gurneet; Giambra, Vincenzo; Tyshchenko, Kateryna; Islam, Rashedul; Hirst, Martin; Weng, Andrew P

    2018-05-04

    RUNX1 is frequently mutated in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The spectrum of RUNX1 mutations has led to the notion that it acts as a tumor suppressor in this context; however, other studies have placed RUNX1 along with transcription factors TAL1 and NOTCH1 as core drivers of an oncogenic transcriptional program. To reconcile these divergent roles, we knocked down RUNX1 in human T-ALL cell lines and deleted Runx1 or Cbfb in primary mouse T-cell leukemias. RUNX1 depletion consistently resulted in reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. RUNX1 upregulated variable sets of target genes in each cell line, but consistently included a core set of oncogenic effectors including IGF1R and NRAS. Our results support the conclusion that RUNX1 has a net positive effect on cell growth in the context of established T-ALL. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  2. Vorinostat, Cytarabine, and Etoposide in Treating Patients With Relapsed and/or Refractory Acute Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndromes or Myeloproliferative Disorders

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-05-01

    Accelerated Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Adult Acute Basophilic Leukemia; Adult Acute Eosinophilic Leukemia; Adult Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia (M7); Adult Acute Minimally Differentiated Myeloid Leukemia (M0); Adult Acute Monoblastic Leukemia (M5a); Adult Acute Monocytic Leukemia (M5b); Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia With Maturation (M2); Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia Without Maturation (M1); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With 11q23 (MLL) Abnormalities; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(15;17)(q22;q12); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21)(q22;q22); Adult Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia (M4); Adult Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (M3); Adult Erythroleukemia (M6a); Adult Pure Erythroid Leukemia (M6b); Atypical Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, BCR-ABL1 Negative; Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia; Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia; Chronic Neutrophilic Leukemia; de Novo Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Essential Thrombocythemia; Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, Unclassifiable; Polycythemia Vera; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Primary Myelofibrosis; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Relapsing Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Secondary Myelodysplastic Syndromes

  3. Cell cycle regulatory gene abnormalities are important determinants of leukemogenesis and disease biology in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Stock, W; Tsai, T; Golden, C; Rankin, C; Sher, D; Slovak, M L; Pallavicini, M G; Radich, J P; Boldt, D H

    2000-04-01

    To test the hypothesis that cell cycle regulatory gene abnormalities are determinants of clinical outcome in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), we screened lymphoblasts from patients on a Southwest Oncology Group protocol for abnormalities of the genes, retinoblastoma (Rb), p53, p15(INK4B), and p16(INK4A). Aberrant expression occurred in 33 (85%) patients in the following frequencies: Rb, 51%; p16(INK4A), 41%; p53, 26%. Thirteen patients (33%) had abnormalities in 2 or more genes. Outcomes were compared in patients with 0 to 1 abnormality versus patients with multiple abnormalities. The 2 groups did not differ in a large number of clinical and laboratory characteristics. The CR rates for patients with 0 to 1 and multiple abnormalities were similar (69% and 54%, respectively). Patients with 0 to 1 abnormality had a median survival time of 25 months (n = 26; 95% CI, 13-46 months) versus 8 months (n = 13; 95% CI, 4-12 months) for those with multiple abnormalities (P <.01). Stem cells (CD34+lin-) were isolated from adult ALL bone marrows and tested for p16(INK4A) expression by immunocytochemistry. In 3 of 5 patients lymphoblasts and sorted stem cells lacked p16(INK4A) expression. In 2 other patients only 50% of sorted stem cells expressed p16(INK4A). By contrast, p16 expression was present in the CD34+ lin- compartment in 95% (median) of 9 patients whose lymphoblasts expressed p16(INK4A). Therefore, cell cycle regulatory gene abnormalities are frequently present in adult ALL lymphoblasts, and they may be important determinants of disease outcome. The presence of these abnormalities in the stem compartment suggests that they contribute to leukemogenesis. Eradication of the stem cell subset harboring these abnormalities may be important to achieve cure.

  4. Cellular kinetics of CTL019 in relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Maude, Shannon L.; Porter, David L.; Frey, Noelle; Wood, Patricia; Han, Xia; Waldron, Edward; Chakraborty, Abhijit; Awasthi, Rakesh; Levine, Bruce L.; Melenhorst, J. Joseph; Grupp, Stephan A.; June, Carl H.; Lacey, Simon F.

    2017-01-01

    Tisagenlecleucel (CTL019) is an investigational immunotherapy that involves reprogramming a patient’s own T cells with a transgene encoding a chimeric antigen receptor to identify and eliminate CD19-expressing cells. We previously reported that CTL019 achieved impressive clinical efficacy in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), including the expansion and persistence of CTL019 cells, which correlates with response to therapy. Here, we performed formal cellular kinetic analyses of CTL019 in a larger cohort of 103 patients treated with CTL019 in 2 different diseases (ALL and CLL). CTL019 was measured in peripheral blood and bone marrow, using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry. CTL019 levels in peripheral blood typically peaked at 10 to 14 days postinfusion and then declined slowly over time. Patients with complete response (CR)/CR with incomplete count recovery had higher levels of CTL019 in peripheral blood, with greater maximal concentration and area under the curve values compared with nonresponding patients (P < .0001 for each). CTL019 transgene levels were measurable up to 780 days in peripheral blood. CTL019 trafficking and persistence were observed in bone marrow and cerebrospinal fluid. CTL019 expansion correlated with severity of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and preinfusion tumor burden in pediatric ALL. The results described here are the first detailed formal presentation of cellular kinetics across 2 diseases and highlight the importance of the application of in vivo cellular kinetic analyses to characterize clinical efficacy and CRS severity associated with CTL019 therapy. PMID:28935694

  5. Discovery and identification of potential biomarkers of pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Shi, Linan; Zhang, Jun; Wu, Peng; Feng, Kai; Li, Jing; Xie, Zhensheng; Xue, Peng; Cai, Tanxi; Cui, Ziyou; Chen, Xiulan; Hou, Junjie; Zhang, Jianzhong; Yang, Fuquan

    2009-01-01

    Background Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a common form of cancer in children. Currently, bone marrow biopsy is used for diagnosis. Noninvasive biomarkers for the early diagnosis of pediatric ALL are urgently needed. The aim of this study was to discover potential protein biomarkers for pediatric ALL. Methods Ninety-four pediatric ALL patients and 84 controls were randomly divided into a "training" set (45 ALL patients, 34 healthy controls) and a test set (49 ALL patients, 30 healthy controls and 30 pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients). Serum proteomic profiles were measured using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (SELDI-TOF-MS). A classification model was established by Biomarker Pattern Software (BPS). Candidate protein biomarkers were purified by HPLC, identified by LC-MS/MS and validated using ProteinChip immunoassays. Results A total of 7 protein peaks (9290 m/z, 7769 m/z, 15110 m/z, 7564 m/z, 4469 m/z, 8937 m/z, 8137 m/z) were found with differential expression levels in the sera of pediatric ALL patients and controls using SELDI-TOF-MS and then analyzed by BPS to construct a classification model in the "training" set. The sensitivity and specificity of the model were found to be 91.8%, and 90.0%, respectively, in the test set. Two candidate protein peaks (7769 and 9290 m/z) were found to be down-regulated in ALL patients, where these were identified as platelet factor 4 (PF4) and pro-platelet basic protein precursor (PBP). Two other candidate protein peaks (8137 and 8937 m/z) were found up-regulated in the sera of ALL patients, and these were identified as fragments of the complement component 3a (C3a). Conclusion Platelet factor (PF4), connective tissue activating peptide III (CTAP-III) and two fragments of C3a may be potential protein biomarkers of pediatric ALL and used to distinguish pediatric ALL patients from healthy controls and pediatric AML patients. Further studies with additional

  6. Leu-9 (CD 7) positivity in acute leukemias: a marker of T-cell lineage?

    PubMed

    Ben-Ezra, J; Winberg, C D; Wu, A; Rappaport, H

    1987-01-01

    Monoclonal antibody Leu-9 (CD 7) has been reported to be a sensitive and specific marker for T-cell lineage in leukemic processes, since it is positive in patients whose leukemic cells fail to express other T-cell antigens. To test whether Leu-9 is indeed specific for T-cell leukemias, we examined in detail 10 cases of acute leukemia in which reactions were positive for Leu-9 and negative for other T-cell-associated markers including T-11, Leu-1, T-3, and E-rosettes. Morphologically and cytochemically, 2 of these 10 leukemias were classified as lymphoblastic, 4 as myeloblastic, 2 as monoblastic, 1 as megakaryoblastic, and 1 as undifferentiated. The case of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia is the first reported case to be Leu-9 positive. None of the 10 were TdT positive. Of six cases (two monoblastic, one lymphoblastic, one myeloblastic, one megakaryoblastic, and one undifferentiated) in which we evaluated for DNA gene rearrangements, only one, a peroxidase-positive leukemia, showed a novel band on study of the T-cell-receptor beta-chain gene. We therefore conclude that Leu-9 is not a specific marker to T-cell lineage and that, in the absence of other supporting data, Leu-9 positivity should not be used as the sole basis of classifying an acute leukemia as being T-cell derived.

  7. Acute myeloid leukemia targets for bispecific antibodies

    PubMed Central

    Hoseini, S S; Cheung, N K

    2017-01-01

    Despite substantial gains in our understanding of the genomics of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), patient survival remains unsatisfactory especially among the older age group. T cell-based therapy of lymphoblastic leukemia is rapidly advancing; however, its application in AML is still lagging behind. Bispecific antibodies can redirect polyclonal effector cells to engage chosen targets on leukemia blasts. When the effector cells are natural-killer cells, both antibody-dependent and antibody-independent mechanisms could be exploited. When the effectors are T cells, direct tumor cytotoxicity can be engaged followed by a potential vaccination effect. In this review, we summarize the AML-associated tumor targets and the bispecific antibodies that have been studied. The potentials and limitations of each of these systems will be discussed. PMID:28157217

  8. Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML) (For Parents)

    MedlinePlus

    ... Radiation Chemotherapy Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Leukemia Neutropenia Stem Cell Transplants Caring for a Seriously Ill Child Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Cancer Center Chemotherapy Some Kinds of Cancer Kids Get When Cancer Keeps You Home Cancer: Readjusting ...

  9. CAR-T cells and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Liu, Jun; Zhang, Xi; Zhong, Jiang F; Zhang, Cheng

    2017-10-01

    Relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has a low remission rate after chemotherapy, a high relapse rate and poor long-term survival even when allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is performed. Chimeric antigen receptors redirected T cells (CAR-T cells) can enhance disease remission with a favorable outcome for relapsed/refractory ALL, though some cases quickly relapsed after CAR-T cell treatment. Thus, treatment with CAR-T cells followed by allo-HSCT may be the best way to treat relapsed/refractory ALL. In this review, we first discuss the different types of CAR-T cells. We then discuss the treatment of relapsed/refractory ALL using only CAR-T cells. Finally, we discuss the use of CAR-T cells, followed by allo-HSCT, for the treatment of relapsed/refractory ALL.

  10. Dexamethasone and High-Dose Methotrexate Improve Outcome for Children and Young Adults With High-Risk B-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Report From Children’s Oncology Group Study AALL0232

    PubMed Central

    Devidas, Meenakshi; Chen, Si; Salzer, Wanda L.; Raetz, Elizabeth A.; Loh, Mignon L.; Mattano, Leonard A.; Cole, Catherine; Eicher, Alisa; Haugan, Maureen; Sorenson, Mark; Heerema, Nyla A.; Carroll, Andrew A.; Gastier-Foster, Julie M.; Borowitz, Michael J.; Wood, Brent L.; Willman, Cheryl L.; Winick, Naomi J.; Hunger, Stephen P.; Carroll, William L.

    2016-01-01

    Purpose Survival for children and young adults with high-risk B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia has improved significantly, but 20% to 25% of patients are not cured. Children’s Oncology Group study AALL0232 tested two interventions to improve survival. Patients and Methods Between January 2004 and January 2011, AALL0232 enrolled 3,154 participants 1 to 30 years old with newly diagnosed high-risk B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia. By using a 2 × 2 factorial design, 2,914 participants were randomly assigned to receive dexamethasone (14 days) versus prednisone (28 days) during induction and high-dose methotrexate versus Capizzi escalating-dose methotrexate plus pegaspargase during interim maintenance 1. Results Planned interim monitoring showed the superiority of the high-dose methotrexate regimens, which exceeded the predefined boundary and led to cessation of enrollment in January 2011. At that time, participants randomly assigned to high-dose methotrexate during interim maintenance 1 versus those randomly assigned to Capizzi methotrexate had a 5-year event-free survival (EFS) of 82% versus 75.4% (P = .006). Mature final data showed 5-year EFS rates of 79.6% for high-dose methotrexate and 75.2% for Capizzi methotrexate (P = .008). High-dose methotrexate decreased both marrow and CNS recurrences. Patients 1 to 9 years old who received dexamethasone and high-dose methotrexate had a superior outcome compared with those who received the other three regimens (5-year EFS, 91.2% v 83.2%, 80.8%, and 82.1%; P = .015). Older participants derived no benefit from dexamethasone during induction and experienced excess rates of osteonecrosis. Conclusion High-dose methotrexate is superior to Capizzi methotrexate for the treatment of high-risk B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia, with no increase in acute toxicity. Dexamethasone given during induction benefited younger children but provided no benefit and was associated with a higher risk of osteonecrosis among participants 10 years and

  11. B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia and cystinuria in a patient with duplication 22q11.21 detected by chromosomal microarray analysis.

    PubMed

    Chang, Vivian Y; Quintero-Rivera, Fabiola; Baldwin, Erin E; Woo, Kathy; Martinez-Agosto, Julian A; Fu, Cecilia; Gomperts, Brigitte N

    2011-03-01

    Duplication 22q11.2 syndrome is the result of a microduplication of the same chromosomal region that is deleted in DiGeorge and Velocardiofacial syndromes. We describe a patient with dysmorphic features who was diagnosed with pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and developed cystinuria and pancreatitis during treatment. Duplication 22q11.2 has not been previously described in association with hematologic abnormalities. Chromosomal microarray technology was used to diagnose duplication 22q11.2 syndrome. In this era of advanced genomics, this technology has become an important method for helping to determine the molecular basis of diseases, best treatments and ultimately patient outcomes. Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  12. The relationship between cognitive and neuroimaging outcomes in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia with chemotherapy only: A systematic review.

    PubMed

    Hearps, Simone; Seal, Marc; Anderson, Vicki; McCarthy, Maria; Connellan, Madeleine; Downie, Peter; De Luca, Cinzia

    2017-02-01

    Cognitive late-effects have been identified in patients treated with chemotherapy-only protocols for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), yet the underlying neuropathology is not well understood. This review synthesized recent findings from eight articles investigating the relationship between neurocognitive and neuroimaging outcomes for patients treated for ALL with chemotherapy-only protocols. Reported cognitive domains, imaging methods, and neuroanatomy examined were variable. Despite this, 62.5% (n = 5) of the reviewed studies found a significant relationship between cognitive and imaging outcomes. Greater understanding of the effects of treatment on neuroanatomy and cognitive outcomes is critical for proactively managing ALL cognitive late-effects. Research directions are suggested. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  13. Chemo-sensitivity in a panel of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines, YCUB series, derived from children.

    PubMed

    Goto, Hiroaki; Naruto, Takuya; Tanoshima, Reo; Kato, Hiromi; Yokosuka, Tomoko; Yanagimachi, Masakatsu; Fujii, Hisaki; Yokota, Shumpei; Komine, Hiromi

    2009-10-01

    Sensitivity to 10 anticancer drugs was evaluated in 6 childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) cell lines. Authenticity of newly established cell lines was confirmed by genomic fingerprinting. The line YCUB-5R established at relapse was more resistant to 4-hydroperoxy-cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, L-asparaginase, topotecan, fludarabine, and etoposide than YCUB-5 from the same patient at diagnosis. Of the drugs tested, etoposide and SN-38 (irinotecan) showed highest efficacy in the panel, with 50% growth inhibition at 0.22-1.8 microg/ml and 0.57-3.6 ng/ml, respectively. This cell line panel offers an in vitro model for the development of new therapies for childhood BCP-ALL.

  14. Association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms and the relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a meta-analysis.

    PubMed

    He, H-R; Chen, S-Y; You, H-S; Hu, S-S; Sun, J-Y; Dong, Y-L; Lu, J

    2014-10-01

    Relapse is a threat in patients treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) activity may affect the sensitivity of patients to folate-based chemotherapeutic drugs, thus influencing the relapse risk. Two polymorphisms of the gene encoding MTHFR, C677T and A1298C, alter MTHFR enzyme activity and may be associated with ALL relapse. The aim of this meta-analysis was to clarify the correlation between the C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and ALL relapse. To this end, data were collected from studies of the association between these two polymorphisms and ALL relapse. Analysis of the data revealed a serious contradiction among the results. A recessive model demonstrated that the ALL relapse risk was significantly increased in carriers of the 677 TT genotype, especially for pediatric ALL, but was unaffected by the A1298C polymorphism. These findings confirm that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism could be considered as a good marker of the pediatric ALL relapse risk.

  15. Feasibility and Initial Effectiveness of Home Exercise During Maintenance Therapy for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Esbenshade, Adam J.; Friedman, Debra L.; Smith, Webb A.; Jeha, Sima; Pui, Ching-Hon; Robison, Leslie L.; Ness, Kirsten K.

    2014-01-01

    Purpose Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are at increased risk of obesity and deconditioning from cancer therapy. This pilot study assessed feasibility/initial efficacy of an exercise intervention for ALL patients undergoing maintenance therapy. Methods Participants were children with ALL, age 5-10 years, receiving maintenance therapy, in first remission. A 6-month home-based intervention, with written and video instruction, was supervised with weekly calls from an exercise coach. Pre- and post-study testing evaluated strength, flexibility, fitness and motor function. Results Seventeen patients enrolled (participation 63%). Twelve (71%) finished the intervention, completing 81.7±7.2% of prescribed sessions. Improvements ≥5% occurred in 67% for knee and 75% for grip strength, 58% for hamstring/low-back and 83% for ankle flexibility, 75% for the 6-minute-walk-test, and 33% for performance on the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Version 2. Conclusions This pilot study demonstrated that exercise intervention during ALL therapy is feasible and has promise for efficacy. PMID:24979081

  16. Can we incorporate geriatric assessment in the management of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in older adults?

    PubMed

    Loh, Kah Poh; Liesveld, Jane L; O'Dwyer, Kristen M

    2018-04-05

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is an uncommon disease. Approximately 14% of new ALL cases occur in adults aged 60 and over, and the three-year overall survival in this population is poor at 12.8%. Older adults with ALL are heterogeneous in terms of their underlying health status, which can make treatment selection challenging given the disease rarity and limited inclusion of older patients in clinical trials. A comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is a compilation of tools to assess multiple domains such as physical function and cognition, and may assist in guiding treatment selection and supportive care interventions. However, studies on the use of CGA are limited in older adults with ALL. In this review, we discuss the utility of CGA in patients with various hematologic malignancies. Using two patient cases of ALL, we also describe how CGA may be use to guide treatment and supportive care interventions. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Revisiting the biology of infant t(4;11)/MLL-AF4+ B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Bueno, Clara; Prieto, Cristina; Acha, Pamela; Stam, Ronald W.; Marschalek, Rolf; Menéndez, Pablo

    2015-01-01

    Infant B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) accounts for 10% of childhood ALL. The genetic hallmark of most infant B-ALL is chromosomal rearrangements of the mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) gene. Despite improvement in the clinical management and survival (∼85-90%) of childhood B-ALL, the outcome of infants with MLL-rearranged (MLL-r) B-ALL remains dismal, with overall survival <35%. Among MLL-r infant B-ALL, t(4;11)+ patients harboring the fusion MLL-AF4 (MA4) display a particularly poor prognosis and a pro-B/mixed phenotype. Studies in monozygotic twins and archived blood spots have provided compelling evidence of a single cell of prenatal origin as the target for MA4 fusion, explaining the brief leukemia latency. Despite its aggressiveness and short latency, current progress on its etiology, pathogenesis, and cellular origin is limited as evidenced by the lack of mouse/human models recapitulating the disease phenotype/latency. We propose this is because infant cancer is from an etiologic and pathogenesis standpoint distinct from adult cancer and should be seen as a developmental disease. This is supported by whole-genome sequencing studies suggesting that opposite to the view of cancer as a “multiple-and-sequential-hit” model, t(4;11) alone might be sufficient to spawn leukemia. The stable genome of these patients suggests that, in infant developmental cancer, one “big-hit” might be sufficient for overt disease and supports a key contribution of epigenetics and a prenatal cell of origin during a critical developmental window of stem cell vulnerability in the leukemia pathogenesis. Here, we revisit the biology of t(4;11)+ infant B-ALL with an emphasis on its origin, genetics, and disease models. PMID:26463423

  18. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase in the diagnosis of leukemia and malignant lymphoma.

    PubMed

    Kung, P C; Long, J C; McCaffrey, R P; Ratliff, R L; Harrison, T A; Baltimore, D

    1978-05-01

    Neoplastic cells from 253 patients with leukemia and 46 patients with malignant lymphoma were studied for the presence of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) by biochemical and fluorescent antibody technics. TdT was detected in circulating blast cells from 73 of 77 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 24 of 72 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia examined during the blastic phase of the disorder and in cell suspensions of lymph nodes from nine of nine patients with diffuse lymphoblastic lymphoma. Blast cells from six of 10 patients with acute undifferentiated leukemia were TdT positive, but the enzyme was found in only two of 55 patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia. TdT was not detected in other lymphocytic or granulocytic leukemias or in other types of malignant lymphomas. The fluorescent antibody assay for TdT permits rapid and specific identification of the enzyme in single cells. The TdT assay is clinically useful in confirming the diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, evaluating patients with blastic chronic myelogenous leukemia, and distinguishing patients with lymphoblastic lymphoma, whose natural history includes rapid extranodal dissemination, from patients with other poorly differentiated malignant lymphomas.

  19. The MLL recombinome of acute leukemias in 2017.

    PubMed

    Meyer, C; Burmeister, T; Gröger, D; Tsaur, G; Fechina, L; Renneville, A; Sutton, R; Venn, N C; Emerenciano, M; Pombo-de-Oliveira, M S; Barbieri Blunck, C; Almeida Lopes, B; Zuna, J; Trka, J; Ballerini, P; Lapillonne, H; De Braekeleer, M; Cazzaniga, G; Corral Abascal, L; van der Velden, V H J; Delabesse, E; Park, T S; Oh, S H; Silva, M L M; Lund-Aho, T; Juvonen, V; Moore, A S; Heidenreich, O; Vormoor, J; Zerkalenkova, E; Olshanskaya, Y; Bueno, C; Menendez, P; Teigler-Schlegel, A; Zur Stadt, U; Lentes, J; Göhring, G; Kustanovich, A; Aleinikova, O; Schäfer, B W; Kubetzko, S; Madsen, H O; Gruhn, B; Duarte, X; Gameiro, P; Lippert, E; Bidet, A; Cayuela, J M; Clappier, E; Alonso, C N; Zwaan, C M; van den Heuvel-Eibrink, M M; Izraeli, S; Trakhtenbrot, L; Archer, P; Hancock, J; Möricke, A; Alten, J; Schrappe, M; Stanulla, M; Strehl, S; Attarbaschi, A; Dworzak, M; Haas, O A; Panzer-Grümayer, R; Sedék, L; Szczepański, T; Caye, A; Suarez, L; Cavé, H; Marschalek, R

    2018-02-01

    Chromosomal rearrangements of the human MLL/KMT2A gene are associated with infant, pediatric, adult and therapy-induced acute leukemias. Here we present the data obtained from 2345 acute leukemia patients. Genomic breakpoints within the MLL gene and the involved translocation partner genes (TPGs) were determined and 11 novel TPGs were identified. Thus, a total of 135 different MLL rearrangements have been identified so far, of which 94 TPGs are now characterized at the molecular level. In all, 35 out of these 94 TPGs occur recurrently, but only 9 specific gene fusions account for more than 90% of all illegitimate recombinations of the MLL gene. We observed an age-dependent breakpoint shift with breakpoints localizing within MLL intron 11 associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and younger patients, while breakpoints in MLL intron 9 predominate in AML or older patients. The molecular characterization of MLL breakpoints suggests different etiologies in the different age groups and allows the correlation of functional domains of the MLL gene with clinical outcome. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the MLL recombinome in acute leukemia and demonstrates that the establishment of patient-specific chromosomal fusion sites allows the design of specific PCR primers for minimal residual disease analyses for all patients.

  20. The MLL recombinome of acute leukemias in 2017

    PubMed Central

    Meyer, C; Burmeister, T; Gröger, D; Tsaur, G; Fechina, L; Renneville, A; Sutton, R; Venn, N C; Emerenciano, M; Pombo-de-Oliveira, M S; Barbieri Blunck, C; Almeida Lopes, B; Zuna, J; Trka, J; Ballerini, P; Lapillonne, H; De Braekeleer, M; Cazzaniga, G; Corral Abascal, L; van der Velden, V H J; Delabesse, E; Park, T S; Oh, S H; Silva, M L M; Lund-Aho, T; Juvonen, V; Moore, A S; Heidenreich, O; Vormoor, J; Zerkalenkova, E; Olshanskaya, Y; Bueno, C; Menendez, P; Teigler-Schlegel, A; zur Stadt, U; Lentes, J; Göhring, G; Kustanovich, A; Aleinikova, O; Schäfer, B W; Kubetzko, S; Madsen, H O; Gruhn, B; Duarte, X; Gameiro, P; Lippert, E; Bidet, A; Cayuela, J M; Clappier, E; Alonso, C N; Zwaan, C M; van den Heuvel-Eibrink, M M; Izraeli, S; Trakhtenbrot, L; Archer, P; Hancock, J; Möricke, A; Alten, J; Schrappe, M; Stanulla, M; Strehl, S; Attarbaschi, A; Dworzak, M; Haas, O A; Panzer-Grümayer, R; Sedék, L; Szczepański, T; Caye, A; Suarez, L; Cavé, H; Marschalek, R

    2018-01-01

    Chromosomal rearrangements of the human MLL/KMT2A gene are associated with infant, pediatric, adult and therapy-induced acute leukemias. Here we present the data obtained from 2345 acute leukemia patients. Genomic breakpoints within the MLL gene and the involved translocation partner genes (TPGs) were determined and 11 novel TPGs were identified. Thus, a total of 135 different MLL rearrangements have been identified so far, of which 94 TPGs are now characterized at the molecular level. In all, 35 out of these 94 TPGs occur recurrently, but only 9 specific gene fusions account for more than 90% of all illegitimate recombinations of the MLL gene. We observed an age-dependent breakpoint shift with breakpoints localizing within MLL intron 11 associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and younger patients, while breakpoints in MLL intron 9 predominate in AML or older patients. The molecular characterization of MLL breakpoints suggests different etiologies in the different age groups and allows the correlation of functional domains of the MLL gene with clinical outcome. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the MLL recombinome in acute leukemia and demonstrates that the establishment of patient-specific chromosomal fusion sites allows the design of specific PCR primers for minimal residual disease analyses for all patients. PMID:28701730

  1. Infectious complications in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group protocol: A 16-year tertiary single-institution experience.

    PubMed

    Li, Meng-Ju; Chang, Hsiu-Hao; Yang, Yung-Li; Lu, Meng-Yao; Shao, Pei-Lan; Fu, Chun-Min; Chou, An-Kuo; Liu, Yen-Lin; Lin, Kai-Hsin; Huang, Li-Min; Lin, Dong-Tsamn; Jou, Shiann-Tarng

    2017-10-01

    Infection is a major complication in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during chemotherapy. In this study, the infection characteristics were determined and risk factors analyzed based on the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group (TPOG) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) protocol. We retrospectively reviewed fever events during chemotherapy in 252 patients treated during two consecutive clinical trials at a single institution between 1997 and 2012. Patients were classified as standard, high, and very high risk by treatment regimen according to the TPOG definitions. We analyzed the characteristics and risk factors for infection. Fever occurred in 219 patients (86.9%) with a mean of 2.74 episodes per person. The fever events comprised 64% febrile neutropenia, 39% clinically documented infections, and 44% microbiologically documented infections. The microbiologically documented infections were mostly noted during the induction phase and increased in very high risk patients (89 vs. 24% and 46% in standard-risk and high-risk patients, respectively). Younger age and higher risk (high-risk and very high risk groups) were risk factors for fever and microbiologic and bloodstream infections. Female gender and obesity were additive risk factors for urinary tract infection (odds ratios = 3.52 and 3.24, P < 0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively). Infections developed primarily during the induction phase, for which younger age and higher risk by treatment regimen were risk factors. Female gender and obesity were additive risk factors for urinary tract infection. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  2. Ex vivo drug response profiling detects recurrent sensitivity patterns in drug-resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Frismantas, Viktoras; Dobay, Maria Pamela; Rinaldi, Anna; Tchinda, Joelle; Dunn, Samuel H; Kunz, Joachim; Richter-Pechanska, Paulina; Marovca, Blerim; Pail, Orrin; Jenni, Silvia; Diaz-Flores, Ernesto; Chang, Bill H; Brown, Timothy J; Collins, Robert H; Uhrig, Sebastian; Balasubramanian, Gnana P; Bandapalli, Obul R; Higi, Salome; Eugster, Sabrina; Voegeli, Pamela; Delorenzi, Mauro; Cario, Gunnar; Loh, Mignon L; Schrappe, Martin; Stanulla, Martin; Kulozik, Andreas E; Muckenthaler, Martina U; Saha, Vaskar; Irving, Julie A; Meisel, Roland; Radimerski, Thomas; Von Stackelberg, Arend; Eckert, Cornelia; Tyner, Jeffrey W; Horvath, Peter; Bornhauser, Beat C; Bourquin, Jean-Pierre

    2017-03-16

    Drug sensitivity and resistance testing on diagnostic leukemia samples should provide important functional information to guide actionable target and biomarker discovery. We provide proof of concept data by profiling 60 drugs on 68 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) samples mostly from resistant disease in cocultures of bone marrow stromal cells. Patient-derived xenografts retained the original pattern of mutations found in the matched patient material. Stromal coculture did not prevent leukemia cell cycle activity, but a specific sensitivity profile to cell cycle-related drugs identified samples with higher cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo as leukemia xenografts. In patients with refractory relapses, individual patterns of marked drug resistance and exceptional responses to new agents of immediate clinical relevance were detected. The BCL2-inhibitor venetoclax was highly active below 10 nM in B-cell precursor ALL (BCP-ALL) subsets, including MLL -AF4 and TCF3-HLF ALL, and in some T-cell ALLs (T-ALLs), predicting in vivo activity as a single agent and in combination with dexamethasone and vincristine. Unexpected sensitivity to dasatinib with half maximal inhibitory concentration values below 20 nM was detected in 2 independent T-ALL cohorts, which correlated with similar cytotoxic activity of the SRC inhibitor KX2-391 and inhibition of SRC phosphorylation. A patient with refractory T-ALL was treated with dasatinib on the basis of drug profiling information and achieved a 5-month remission. Thus, drug profiling captures disease-relevant features and unexpected sensitivity to relevant drugs, which warrants further exploration of this functional assay in the context of clinical trials to develop drug repurposing strategies for patients with urgent medical needs. © 2017 by The American Society of Hematology.

  3. Gain-of-function mutations in interleukin-7 receptor-α (IL7R) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemias

    PubMed Central

    Shochat, Chen; Tal, Noa; Bandapalli, Obul R.; Palmi, Chiara; Ganmore, Ithamar; te Kronnie, Geertruy; Cario, Gunnar; Cazzaniga, Giovanni; Kulozik, Andreas E.; Stanulla, Martin; Schrappe, Martin; Biondi, Andrea; Basso, Giuseppe; Bercovich, Dani; Muckenthaler, Martina U.

    2011-01-01

    Interleukin-7 receptor α (IL7R) is required for normal lymphoid development. Loss-of-function mutations in this gene cause autosomal recessive severe combined immune deficiency. Here, we describe somatic gain-of-function mutations in IL7R in pediatric B and T acute lymphoblastic leukemias. The mutations cause either a serine-to-cysteine substitution at amino acid 185 in the extracellular domain (4 patients) or in-frame insertions and deletions in the transmembrane domain (35 patients). In B cell precursor leukemias, the mutations were associated with the aberrant expression of cytokine receptor-like factor 2 (CRLF2), and the mutant IL-7R proteins formed a functional receptor with CRLF2 for thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). Biochemical and functional assays reveal that these IL7R mutations are activating mutations conferring cytokine-independent growth of progenitor lymphoid cells. A cysteine, included in all but three of the mutated IL-7R alleles, is essential for the constitutive activation of the receptor. This is the first demonstration of gain-of-function mutations of IL7R. Our current and recent observations of mutations in IL7R and CRLF2, respectively suggest that the addition of cysteine to the juxtamembranous domains is a general mechanism for mutational activation of type I cytokine receptors in leukemia. PMID:21536738

  4. T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma in macedonian patients with Nijmegen breakage syndrome.

    PubMed

    Kocheva, S A; Martinova, K; Antevska-Trajkova, Z; Coneska-Jovanova, B; Eftimov, A; Dimovski, A J

    2016-07-01

    Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) is a rare autosomal recessive chromosomal instability disorder characterized by microcephaly, immunodeficiency, radiosensitivity and a very high predisposition to malignancy. The gene responsible for the disease, NBS1 , is located on chromosome 8q21 and encodes a protein called nibrin. After identification of the gene, a truncating 5 bp deletion, 657-661delACAAA, was identified as the disease-causing mutation in patients with the NBS. In this report, we describe two patients with NBS and T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma in a Macedonian family. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first family with NBS reported from Macedonia. Both children presented with microcephaly, syndactyly and the development of T cell lymphoblastic lekemia/lymphoma at the age of 7 and 10 years, respectively. The molecular analysis of NBS1 genes in our patients showed homozygosity for the 657del5 mutation in the NBS1 gene. The parents were heterozygotes for the 657del5 mutation and they had no knowledge of a consanguineous relationship. The first child was treated with the International Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (BFM)-Non Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) protocol and achieved a complete remission that lasted for 21 months. Subsequently, he developed a medullar relapse with hyperleukocytosis and died due to lethal central nervous system (CNS) complications. The second child was treated according to the International Collaborative Treatment Protocol for Children and Adolescents with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 2009 (AIOP-BFM ALL 2009) protocol. Unfortunately, remission was not achieved.

  5. Family Characteristics as Risk Factors for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

    PubMed Central

    Zwahlen, Marcel; Brazzola, Pierluigi; Niggli, Felix; Kuehni, Claudia

    2010-01-01

    Background To date, few risk factors for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have been confirmed and the scientific literature is full of controversial “evidence.” We examined if family characteristics, particularly maternal and paternal age and number of older siblings, were risk factors for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methodology/Principal Findings In this population-based nationwide matched case-control study, patients 0–14 years of age with ALL diagnosed 1991–2006 and registered in the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry were linked with their census records of 1990 and 2000. Eight controls per case were selected from the census. The association between family characteristics and ALL was analyzed by conditional logistic regressions. We found that increasing maternal age was associated with incidence of ALL in the offspring (OR per 5-year increase in maternal age 1.18, 95% CI 1.05–1.31; p = 0.004), remaining stable (trend OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.99–1.31; p = 0.060) after adjustment for other risk factors. The association with paternal age was weaker (OR per 5-year increase 1.14, 95% CI 1.01–1.28, p = 0.032) and disappeared after adjustments. Number of older siblings was not associated with risk of ALL in the overall group of children aged 0–14 years at diagnosis. However, we found a negative trend between number of older siblings and ALL diagnosed at age 0–4 years (OR per sibling 0.85, 95% CI 0.68–1.06; p = 0.141) and a positive trend for ALL diagnosed at age 5–9 (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.05–1.72; p = 0.019), with some evidence for an effect modification (p-value for interaction  = 0.040). Conclusions As in other studies, increasing maternal, but not paternal age was associated with risk of ALL. We found only a weak association with the number of older siblings, suggesting a delay in disease manifestation rather than a decrease in incidence. PMID:20957179

  6. The Stoplight Program: A Proactive Physical Therapy Intervention for Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Tanner, Lynn; Sencer, Susan; Hooke, Mary C

    Chemotherapy may cause neuromuscular impairments that can have life-long effects. The Stoplight Program (SLP) was developed as a proactive physical therapy (PT) intervention directed at impairments in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In this program evaluation, we assessed the feasibility of the SLP delivered as part of standard care and identified body function and activity patterns in patients who received the intervention. Children ages 1 to 22 years, diagnosed with ALL, received an assessment by a physical therapist as part of usual care. The SLP intervention used 3 levels to categorize the impairment levels and intensity of PT. Of the children (n = 135) screened, 46% completed 5 intervention visits and 32% completed the program and met discharge criteria. At initial assessment, 46% of children ages 1 to 5 years and 67% of children ages 6 to 22 years had abnormal motor function. Those completing the program tested within the healthy norms. Research is needed on variables that influence adherence to a PT program and the range of functional impairment and activity limitations in this population.

  7. Preservation of high glycolytic phenotype by establishing new acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines at physiologic oxygen concentration.

    PubMed

    Sheard, Michael A; Ghent, Matthew V; Cabral, Daniel J; Lee, Joanne C; Khankaldyyan, Vazgen; Ji, Lingyun; Wu, Samuel Q; Kang, Min H; Sposto, Richard; Asgharzadeh, Shahab; Reynolds, C Patrick

    2015-05-15

    Cancer cells typically exhibit increased glycolysis and decreased mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and they continue to exhibit some elevation in glycolysis even under aerobic conditions. However, it is unclear whether cancer cell lines employ a high level of glycolysis comparable to that of the original cancers from which they were derived, even if their culture conditions are changed to physiologically relevant oxygen concentrations. From three childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients we established three new pairs of cell lines in both atmospheric (20%) and physiologic (bone marrow level, 5%) oxygen concentrations. Cell lines established in 20% oxygen exhibited lower proliferation, survival, expression of glycolysis genes, glucose consumption, and lactate production. Interestingly, the effects of oxygen concentration used during cell line initiation were only partially reversible when established cell cultures were switched from one oxygen concentration to another for eight weeks. These observations indicate that ALL cell lines established at atmospheric oxygen concentration can exhibit relatively low levels of glycolysis and these levels are semi-permanent, suggesting that physiologic oxygen concentrations may be needed from the time of cell line initiation to preserve the high level of glycolysis commonly exhibited by leukemias in vivo. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  8. How I treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia in older adolescents and young adults

    PubMed Central

    Curran, Emily

    2015-01-01

    At the intersection between children and older adults, the care of adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) poses unique challenges and issues beyond those faced by other age groups. Although the survival of AYA patients is inferior to younger children, growing evidence suggests that AYA patients have improved outcomes, with disease-free survival rates of 60% to 70%, when treated with pediatric-based approaches. A holistic approach, incorporating a multidisciplinary team, is a key component of successful treatment of these AYA patients. With the appropriate support and management of toxicities during and following treatment, these regimens are well tolerated in the AYA population. Even with the significant progress that has been made during the last decade, patients with persistence of minimal residual disease (MRD) during intensive therapy still have a poor prognosis. With new insights into disease pathogenesis in AYA ALL and the availability of disease-specific kinase inhibitors and novel targeted antibodies, future studies will focus on individualized therapy to eradicate MRD and result in further improvements in survival. This case-based review will discuss the biology, pharmacology, and psychosocial aspects of AYA patients with ALL, highlighting our current approach to the management of these unique patients. PMID:25805810

  9. Steroid-induced glaucoma in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a possible complication.

    PubMed

    Yamashita, Takehiro; Kodama, Yuichi; Tanaka, Minoru; Yamakiri, Keita; Kawano, Yoshifumi; Sakamoto, Taiji

    2010-03-01

    To evaluate the ocular hypertensive response to repetitive cycles of high-dose systemic corticosteroid in young patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Five patients up to 6 years of age with ALL who received chemotherapy between November 2003 and March 2005 were examined. As maintenance therapy, they received oral or intravenous dexamethasone 6 to 12 mg/m²/day for 2 weeks, followed by 1-week taparing and 5 weeks break were used in 1 cycle. The duration of maintenance therapy was 15 cycles for 2.5 to 3 years. Comprehensive ophthalmic check-up, including best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), and slit-lamp and fundus examinations, were performed. All patients were followed up until final cycle. Symmetrical IOP rise >21 mm Hg was observed in all patients. Right IOP increased to a maximum of mean 39.6 ± 7.2 mm Hg. (range: 28 to 47). The range of cycle to reach a maximal IOP was 5th to 11th. All patients were maintained IOP control with antiglaucoma medications. However, 1 patient already had severe glaucomatous optic atrophy at the time of consultation. Systemic corticosteroid in childhood-ALL treatment has a risk for IOP elevation. Periodical and careful ophthalmic check-up is necessary, especially in patients with dexamethasone.

  10. How I treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia in older adolescents and young adults.

    PubMed

    Curran, Emily; Stock, Wendy

    2015-06-11

    At the intersection between children and older adults, the care of adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) poses unique challenges and issues beyond those faced by other age groups. Although the survival of AYA patients is inferior to younger children, growing evidence suggests that AYA patients have improved outcomes, with disease-free survival rates of 60% to 70%, when treated with pediatric-based approaches. A holistic approach, incorporating a multidisciplinary team, is a key component of successful treatment of these AYA patients. With the appropriate support and management of toxicities during and following treatment, these regimens are well tolerated in the AYA population. Even with the significant progress that has been made during the last decade, patients with persistence of minimal residual disease (MRD) during intensive therapy still have a poor prognosis. With new insights into disease pathogenesis in AYA ALL and the availability of disease-specific kinase inhibitors and novel targeted antibodies, future studies will focus on individualized therapy to eradicate MRD and result in further improvements in survival. This case-based review will discuss the biology, pharmacology, and psychosocial aspects of AYA patients with ALL, highlighting our current approach to the management of these unique patients. © 2015 by The American Society of Hematology.

  11. Withaferin A activates stress signalling proteins in high risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Shi, Li-Huan; Wu, Xi-Jun; Liu, Jun-Shan; Gao, Yin-Bo

    2015-01-01

    Withaferin A, the principal bio-active component isolated from the Withaniasomnifera, has shown promising anti-leukemic activity in addition to anti-invasive and anti-metastatic activity. The present study demonstrates the effect of withaferin A on the cell cycle status and the phosphorylation/activation of proteins involved in signal transduction in t(4;11) and non-t(4;11) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell lines after treatment with withaferin A. The cells after treatment with the vehicle or 25 μM withaferin A for 1, 2, 4 and 8 h were examined using flow cytometric analysis. The results revealed that withaferin A treatment induced cell growth arrest at the S to G2/M phase transition of the cell cycle. Withaferin A treatment also induced the phosphorylation of stress signalling proteins, including the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, the c-Jun N-terminal kinase, c-Jun, the heat shock protein 27 and protein kinase B within 0 to 16 h. These results were observed using multiplex technology and Western blotting analysis. Thus withaferin A induces stress response leading to cell death. Therefore, withaferin A can be a potent therapeutic agent for the treatment of high risk ALL with chromosomal translocation t(4;11). PMID:26884834

  12. Withaferin A activates stress signalling proteins in high risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Shi, Li-Huan; Wu, Xi-Jun; Liu, Jun-Shan; Gao, Yin-Bo

    2015-01-01

    Withaferin A, the principal bio-active component isolated from the Withaniasomnifera, has shown promising anti-leukemic activity in addition to anti-invasive and anti-metastatic activity. The present study demonstrates the effect of withaferin A on the cell cycle status and the phosphorylation/activation of proteins involved in signal transduction in t(4;11) and non-t(4;11) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell lines after treatment with withaferin A. The cells after treatment with the vehicle or 25 μM withaferin A for 1, 2, 4 and 8 h were examined using flow cytometric analysis. The results revealed that withaferin A treatment induced cell growth arrest at the S to G2/M phase transition of the cell cycle. Withaferin A treatment also induced the phosphorylation of stress signalling proteins, including the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, the c-Jun N-terminal kinase, c-Jun, the heat shock protein 27 and protein kinase B within 0 to 16 h. These results were observed using multiplex technology and Western blotting analysis. Thus withaferin A induces stress response leading to cell death. Therefore, withaferin A can be a potent therapeutic agent for the treatment of high risk ALL with chromosomal translocation t(4;11).

  13. Rhizobium etli asparaginase II: an alternative for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment.

    PubMed

    Huerta-Saquero, Alejandro; Evangelista-Martínez, Zahaed; Moreno-Enriquez, Angélica; Perez-Rueda, Ernesto

    2013-01-01

    Bacterial L-asparaginase has been a universal component of therapies for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia since the 1970s. Two principal enzymes derived from Escherichia coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi are the only options clinically approved to date. We recently reported a study of recombinant L-asparaginase (AnsA) from Rhizobium etli and described an increasing type of AnsA family members. Sequence analysis revealed four conserved motifs with notable differences with respect to the conserved regions of amino acid sequences of type I and type II L-asparaginases, particularly in comparison with therapeutic enzymes from E. coli and E. chrysanthemi. These differences suggested a distinct immunological specificity. Here, we report an in silico analysis that revealed immunogenic determinants of AnsA. Also, we used an extensive approach to compare the crystal structures of E. coli and E. chrysantemi asparaginases with a computational model of AnsA and identified immunogenic epitopes. A three-dimensional model of AsnA revealed, as expected based on sequence dissimilarities, completely different folding and different immunogenic epitopes. This approach could be very useful in transcending the problem of immunogenicity in two major ways: by chemical modifications of epitopes to reduce drug immunogenicity, and by site-directed mutagenesis of amino acid residues to diminish immunogenicity without reduction of enzymatic activity.

  14. Extreme Spindles and Leukoencephalopathy after Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment: An Undescribed Association.

    PubMed

    Kanda, Paulo Afonso Medeiros; Kanda, Rafael Guimarães; Mei, Paulo Afonso; Cury, Ivan José

    2015-12-01

    We report a case of a child whose EEG demonstrated extreme spindles (ES) after acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment. This finding has not been reported previously. In 1962, Gibbs and Gibbs described the ES EEG pattern due to its high amplitude (200 to 400 μV). ES are a rare spindle variant that is found in EEGs of 0.05% of normal children (average age, 3 years, with a range of 1 to 12 years), and are even rarer after 11 years. Moreover due to changes in the white matter of the frontal lobe, ES have been associated with such conditions as cerebral palsy and mental retardation, residual brain damage, undefined infections, infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy, Menkes' kinky-hair syndrome, congenital muscular dystrophy, hydrocephalus, porencephaly, epilepsy, progressive cerebellar degeneration, and mycoplasma encephalitis. Methotrexate has a notably toxic effect on the central nervous system, with leukoencephalopathy being the most common form. In our case, frontocentral ES were associated with hyperintense lesions in the white matter of the frontal lobe. Lesional deafferentation can be the substrate for an almost continuous ES, since both initiation and termination of spindle oscillations are thought to originate in thalamocortical neurons. Thus, we postulate that in some cases a partial functional cortical differentiation could generate ES.

  15. A prospective cohort study determining the prevalence of thrombotic events in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and a central venous line who are treated with L-asparaginase: results of the Prophylactic Antithrombin Replacement in Kids with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treated with Asparaginase (PARKAA) Study.

    PubMed

    Mitchell, Lesley G; Andrew, Maureen; Hanna, Kim; Abshire, Thomas; Halton, Jacqueline; Anderson, Ron; Cherrick, Irene; Desai, Sunil; Mahoney, Donald; McCuster, Patricia; Wu, John; Dahl, Gary; Chait, Peter; de Veber, Gabrielle; Lee, Kyong-Jin; Mikulis, David; Ginsberg, Jeffrey; Way, Cliford

    2003-01-15

    Thrombotic events (TEs) are serious secondary complications in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who receive L-asparaginase (ASP) therapy; however, the prevalence of TEs has not been established. The primary objective of the Prophylactic Antithrombin Replacement in Kids with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treated with Asparaginase (PARKAA) Study was to determine the prevalence of TEs. The secondary objective was to detect any association of TEs with the presence of congenital or acquired prothrombotic disorders. Children with ALL were screened for TEs at the end of ASP treatment using bilateral venograms, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and echocardiography. Symptomatic TEs were confirmed by appropriate radiographic tests. All tests were read by a blinded central adjudication committee. Twenty-two of 60 children had TEs, a prevalence of 36.7% (95% confidence interval, 24.4-48.8%). TEs were located in the sinovenous system of the brain in 1 patient, the right atrium in 3 patients, and the upper central venous system in 19 patients. TEs detected by venography resulted in 1) 25-100% occlusion, with 1 in 3 patients showing occlusion of > 75% of the greatest vessel dimension, and 2) the presence of collaterals in 60% of patients, with 40% categorized as major. No children with TEs were positive for factor V Leiden or prothrombin gene 20201A, and four of eight children with antiphospholipid antibodies had a TE. The prevalence of TEs is exceedingly high in this population, and it is likely that the extent of occlusion is likely clinically significant. No trend was seen toward an association between TEs and the presence of congenital prothrombotic disorders. A trend was seen toward an association between TEs and antiphospholipid antibodies. Carefully designed clinical trials of primary prophylaxis for the prevention of TEs are required in this patient population. Copyright 2003 American Cancer Society

  16. Recent trends in survival of adult patients with acute leukemia: overall improvements, but persistent and partly increasing disparity in survival of patients from minority groups

    PubMed Central

    Pulte, Dianne; Redaniel, Maria Theresa; Jansen, Lina; Brenner, Hermann; Jeffreys, Mona

    2013-01-01

    The survival of younger patients with acute leukemia has improved in the early 21st century, but it is unknown whether people of all ethnic and racial backgrounds have benefited equally. Using cancer registry data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program, we assessed trends in 5-year relative survival for patients aged 15 years or more with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloblastic leukemia divided by racial and ethnic group, including non-Hispanic whites, African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asian-Pacific Islanders in the 1990s and the early 21st century. Modeled period analysis was used to obtain the most up-to-date estimates of survival. Overall, the 5-year survival increased from 31.6% in 1997-2002 to 39.0% in 2003-2008 for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and from 15.5% in 1991-1996 to 22.5% in 2003-2008 for those with acute myeloblastic leukemia. Nevertheless, among patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, age-adjusted 5-year relative survival rates remained lower for African-Americans and Hispanics than for non-Hispanic whites. Among patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia, the increase in survival was greatest (from 32.6% in 1991-1996 to 47.1% in 2003-2008) for younger patients (15-54 years), and was more pronounced for non-Hispanic whites (+16.4% units) than for other patients (+10.8% units). Increases in survival are observed in all ethnic or racial groups. Nevertheless, among patients with acute leukemias, disparities in survival persist between non-Hispanic white people and people of other ethnic or racial groups. Disparities are increasing in younger patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia. Improvements in access to treatment, especially for minority patients, may improve outcomes. PMID:22929974

  17. Oxidative stress and neurobehavioral problems in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy.

    PubMed

    Stenzel, Stephanie L; Krull, Kevin R; Hockenberry, Marilyn; Jain, Neelam; Kaemingk, Kris; Miketova, Petra; Moore, Ida M

    2010-03-01

    Neurobehavioral problems after chemotherapy treatment for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have been a recent focus of investigation. This study extended previous research that suggested oxidative stress as a potential mechanism for chemotherapy-induced central nervous system injury by examining early markers of oxidative stress in relation to subsequent neurobehavioral problems. Oxidized and unoxidized components of phosphatidylcholine (PC) were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid of 87 children with ALL at diagnosis, induction, and consolidation. Behavioral assessments were conducted postconsolidation and at the end of chemotherapy. Results revealed a significant association between physiologic reactivity (high vs. low PC changes from diagnosis) and behavioral outcomes (high vs. low pathology). Elevated oxidized PC fraction change was predictive of increased problems with aggression at the end of therapy as well as postconsolidation adaptability. Furthermore, symptoms of hyperactivity systematically changed over time in relation to both unoxidized PC and oxidized PC fraction reactivity. These findings suggest that symptoms of behavioral problems occur early in the course of chemotherapy and that increases in the cerebrospinal fluid PC markers of oxidative stress during induction and consolidation may help to predict certain future behavioral problems.

  18. Parental Perceptions of Obesity and Obesity Risk Associated With Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Jones, Gary L; McClellan, Wendy; Raman, Sripriya; Sherman, Ashley; Guest, Erin; August, Keith

    2017-07-01

    The prevalence of obesity and related comorbidities in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is well established and ranges anywhere from 29% to 69% depending on the study. We sought to explore the awareness of parents of survivors of childhood ALL regarding the increased risk of obesity and their perceptions regarding the overall health of their child. One hundred twenty-one parents of 99 survivors of pediatric ALL completed surveys regarding perceptions of obesity risk in survivors. Eighty percent of parents of overweight and obese survivors correctly identified their child as "a little overweight" or "overweight." Few parents recalled discussing weight gain (21%) or obesity risk (36%) with their practitioner. Parents that did recall having these discussions and/or reported a decreased level of posttherapy activity in their child were more likely to be concerned about their child's weight status. Improved awareness and education regarding the risk of obesity and associated comorbid conditions may provide an avenue for future prevention of obesity in survivors of pediatric ALL. Discussion and education regarding a healthy lifestyle, including proper diet and exercise, should be incorporated early in routine patient visits.

  19. Distinct gene expression profiles determine molecular treatment response in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Cario, Gunnar; Stanulla, Martin; Fine, Bernard M; Teuffel, Oliver; Neuhoff, Nils V; Schrauder, André; Flohr, Thomas; Schäfer, Beat W; Bartram, Claus R; Welte, Karl; Schlegelberger, Brigitte; Schrappe, Martin

    2005-01-15

    Treatment resistance, as indicated by the presence of high levels of minimal residual disease (MRD) after induction therapy and induction consolidation, is associated with a poor prognosis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We hypothesized that treatment resistance is an intrinsic feature of ALL cells reflected in the gene expression pattern and that resistance to chemotherapy can be predicted before treatment. To test these hypotheses, gene expression signatures of ALL samples with high MRD load were compared with those of samples without measurable MRD during treatment. We identified 54 genes that clearly distinguished resistant from sensitive ALL samples. Genes with low expression in resistant samples were predominantly associated with cell-cycle progression and apoptosis, suggesting that impaired cell proliferation and apoptosis are involved in treatment resistance. Prediction analysis using randomly selected samples as a training set and the remaining samples as a test set revealed an accuracy of 84%. We conclude that resistance to chemotherapy seems at least in part to be an intrinsic feature of ALL cells. Because treatment response could be predicted with high accuracy, gene expression profiling could become a clinically relevant tool for treatment stratification in the early course of childhood ALL.

  20. Dental anomalies and dental age assessment in treated children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Khojastepour, L; Zareifar, S; Ebrahimi, M

    2014-01-01

    This cross sectional study was performed to evaluate dental ages and incidence of dental anomalies in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). A total of 25 ALL patient who passed at least 2 years of chemotherapy and 25 healthy sex and age matched children were evaluated. Dental age as well as dental anomalies in shape, size, number, and structure was recorded based on their panoramic radiographies which were taken for dental purposes. The number of dental anomalies significantly increased in ALL treated children. Seven ALL cases (28%) in compression to only one (4%) in control group had at least one dental anomaly. However, there was neither statistically significant differences between the mean of dental (p=0.32) and chronologic age (p=0.12) in both groups, nor between dental age of cases and control group (p=0.62).The age at the onset of treatment as well as treatment durations has not affected dental age and the incidence of dental anomalies significantly (p<0.05). Chemotherapy in children results in emergence of dental anomaly. Dental age, maturity, and development process however seems to be independent from chemotherapy.

  1. Management of Concurrent Pregnancy and Acute Lymphoblastic Malignancy in Teenaged Patients: Two Illustrative Cases and Review of the Literature

    PubMed Central

    Johnson, Liza-Marie; Church, Christopher L.; Gomez-Garcia, Wendy C.; Popescu, Marcela I.; Margolin, Judith F.; Ribeiro, Raul C.

    2014-01-01

    The usual age range of acute lymphoblastic malignancies (acute lymphoblastic leukemia and advanced-stage lymphoblastic lymphoma) includes teenagers and young adults (<22 years of age) and coincides with the age of fertility. Concurrence of acute lymphoblastic malignancy with pregnancy is therefore most likely to happen during the younger childbearing ages. However, the therapeutic challenges posed by the dual diagnosis of lymphoblastic malignancy and pregnancy have not specifically been studied in the context of age, and management guidelines for pregnant young patients are lacking. Inconsistency in defining the legal decision-making rights of pregnant teenaged patients adds a further level of complexity in this age group. Management of this challenging combination in the young patient therefore entails unique ethical considerations. Here we present two illustrative cases of teenage pregnancy complicated by acute lymphoblastic malignancy, review the available literature, and offer suggestions for the therapeutic management of such cases in adolescent and young adult patients. Importantly, practical management recommendations are provided in the context of clinical ethics principles that are universally applicable, including in developing countries, where the highest incidence of adolescent pregnancies has been documented. PMID:25538861

  2. Repression of BIM mediates survival signaling by MYC and AKT in high-risk T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Reynolds, C; Roderick, J E; LaBelle, J L; Bird, G; Mathieu, R; Bodaar, K; Colon, D; Pyati, U; Stevenson, K E; Qi, J; Harris, M; Silverman, L B; Sallan, S E; Bradner, J E; Neuberg, D S; Look, A T; Walensky, L D; Kelliher, M A; Gutierrez, A

    2014-09-01

    Treatment resistance in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is associated with phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) deletions and resultant phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)-AKT pathway activation, as well as MYC overexpression, and these pathways repress mitochondrial apoptosis in established T-lymphoblasts through poorly defined mechanisms. Normal T-cell progenitors are hypersensitive to mitochondrial apoptosis, a phenotype that is dependent on the expression of proapoptotic BIM. In a conditional zebrafish model, MYC downregulation induced BIM expression in T-lymphoblasts, an effect that was blunted by expression of constitutively active AKT. In human T-ALL cell lines and treatment-resistant patient samples, treatment with MYC or PI3K-AKT pathway inhibitors each induced BIM upregulation and apoptosis, indicating that BIM is repressed downstream of MYC and PI3K-AKT in high-risk T-ALL. Restoring BIM function in human T-ALL cells using a stapled peptide mimetic of the BIM BH3 domain had therapeutic activity, indicating that BIM repression is required for T-ALL viability. In the zebrafish model, where MYC downregulation induces T-ALL regression via mitochondrial apoptosis, T-ALL persisted despite MYC downregulation in 10% of bim wild-type zebrafish, 18% of bim heterozygotes and in 33% of bim homozygous mutants (P=0.017). We conclude that downregulation of BIM represents a key survival signal downstream of oncogenic MYC and PI3K-AKT signaling in treatment-resistant T-ALL.

  3. Veliparib and Topotecan With or Without Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Leukemia, High-Risk Myelodysplasia, or Aggressive Myeloproliferative Disorders

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-04-20

    Adult Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia; Adult Acute Monoblastic Leukemia; Adult Acute Monocytic Leukemia; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13.1q22); CBFB-MYH11; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Maturation; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Minimal Differentiation; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13.1;q22); CBFB-MYH11; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21); (q22; q22.1); RUNX1-RUNX1T1; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(9;11)(p22.3;q23.3); MLLT3-KMT2A; Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia Without Maturation; Adult Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia; Adult Erythroleukemia; Adult Pure Erythroid Leukemia; Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia; de Novo Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Essential Thrombocythemia; Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Cell Neoplasm; Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Philadelphia Chromosome Negative, BCR-ABL1 Positive Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Polycythemia Vera; Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Recurrent Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Recurrent Disease; Secondary Myelodysplastic Syndrome

  4. Alterations of the bone marrow stromal microenvironment in adult patients with acute myeloid and lymphoblastic leukemias before and after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

    PubMed

    Shipounova, Irina N; Petinati, Nataliya A; Bigildeev, Alexey E; Drize, Nina J; Sorokina, Tamara V; Kuzmina, Larisa A; Parovichnikova, Elena N; Savchenko, Valeri G

    2017-02-01

    Bone marrow (BM) derived adult multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MMSCs) and fibroblast colony-forming units (CFU-Fs) of 20 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 15 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) before and during 1 year after receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) were studied. The growth characteristics of MMSCs of all patients before allo-HSCT were not altered; however, relative expression level (REL) of some genes in MMSCs, but not in CFU-Fs, from AML and ALL patients significantly changed. After allo-HSCT, CFU-F concentration and MMSC production were significantly decreased for 1 year; REL of several genes in MMSCs and CFU-F-derived colonies were also significantly downregulated. Thus, chemotherapy that was used for induction of remission did not impair the function of stromal precursors, but gene expression levels were altered. Allo-HSCT conditioning regimens significantly damaged MMSCs and CFU-Fs, and the effect lasted for at least 1 year.

  5. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: are Egyptian children adherent to maintenance therapy?

    PubMed

    Khalek, Elhamy Rifky Abdel; Sherif, Laila M; Kamal, Naglaa Mohamed; Gharib, Amal F; Shawky, H M

    2015-01-01

    BACKGROUND, AIMS, SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Poor adherence to oral maintenance chemotherapy can cause relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). A multicenter study for the evaluation of adherence to oral 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) maintenance chemotherapy for childhood ALL in Egypt to identify contributing factors and possible steps to promote adherence. The study included 129 children with ALL in complete remission receiving 6-MP single daily oral dose in the evening. Evaluation was done through specific questionnaires for the patients as well as serum 6-MP measurements. Nonadherence was detected in around 56% by questionnaires and around 50% by serum 6-MP level measurement. There was a highly significant correlation between nonadherence as found by the questionnaire and 6-MP level (P - 0.001). Nonadherence was significantly associated with low socioeconomic standard, noneducation and low educational level and large family size by both methods. High cost to come for follow-up visits was significant by questionnaire but not by 6-MP measurement. Adolescent age, the higher number of siblings, lack of written instructions, long time spent per visit, were all associated with higher rates of nonadherence, although none reached statistical significance. Nonadherence is a real problem in pediatric patients. Specific questionnaires can be an excellent reliable method for the routine follow-up of these children, and drug level assay can be requested only for confirmation. This protocol is especially effective in developing countries where financial resources may be limited. Every effort should be made to uncover its true incidence, contributing factors, and best methods of intervention.

  6. Integrative epigenomic analysis identifies biomarkers and therapeutic targets in adult B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Geng, Huimin; Brennan, Sarah; Milne, Thomas A.; Chen, Wei-Yi; Li, Yushan; Hurtz, Christian; Kweon, Soo-Mi; Zickl, Lynette; Shojaee, Seyedmehdi; Neuberg, Donna; Huang, Chuanxin; Biswas, Debabrata; Xin, Yuan; Racevskis, Janis; Ketterling, Rhett P.; Luger, Selina M.; Lazarus, Hillard; Tallman, Martin S.; Rowe, Jacob M.; Litzow, Mark R.; Guzman, Monica L.; Allis, C. David; Roeder, Robert G.; Müschen, Markus; Paietta, Elisabeth; Elemento, Olivier; Melnick, Ari M.

    2012-01-01

    Genetic lesions such as BCR-ABL1, E2A-PBX1 and MLL rearrangements (MLLr) are associated with unfavorable outcomes in adult B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Leukemia oncoproteins may directly or indirectly disrupt cytosine methylation patterning to mediate the malignant phenotype. We postulated that DNA methylation signatures in these aggressive B-ALLs would point towards disease mechanisms and useful biomarkers and therapeutic targets. We therefore performed DNA methylation and gene expression profiling on a cohort of 215 adult B-ALL patients enrolled in a single phase III clinical trial (ECOG E2993) and normal control B-cells. In BCR-ABL1-positive B-ALL, aberrant cytosine methylation patterning centered around a cytokine network defined by hypomethylation and overexpression of IL2RA(CD25). The E2993 trial clinical data showed that CD25 expression was strongly associated with a poor outcome in ALL patients regardless of BCR-ABL1 status, suggesting CD25 as a novel prognostic biomarker for risk stratification in B-ALL. In E2A-PBX1-positive B-ALL, aberrant DNA methylation patterning was strongly associated with direct fusion protein binding as shown by the E2A-PBX1 ChIP sequencing (ChIP-seq), suggesting that E2A-PBX1 fusion protein directly remodels the epigenome to impose an aggressive B-ALL phenotype. MLLr B-ALL featured prominent cytosine hypomethylation, which was linked with MLL fusion protein binding, H3K79 dimethylation and transcriptional upregulation, affecting a set of known and newly identified MLL fusion direct targets with oncogenic activity such as FLT3 and BCL6. Notably, BCL6 blockade or loss of function suppressed proliferation and survival of MLLr leukemia cells, suggesting BCL6 targeted therapy as a new therapeutic strategy for MLLr B-ALL. PMID:23107779

  7. Mutations in RIT1 cause Noonan syndrome with possible juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia but are not involved in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Cavé, Hélène; Caye, Aurélie; Ghedira, Nehla; Capri, Yline; Pouvreau, Nathalie; Fillot, Natacha; Trimouille, Aurélien; Vignal, Cédric; Fenneteau, Odile; Alembik, Yves; Alessandri, Jean-Luc; Blanchet, Patricia; Boute, Odile; Bouvagnet, Patrice; David, Albert; Dieux Coeslier, Anne; Doray, Bérénice; Dulac, Olivier; Drouin-Garraud, Valérie; Gérard, Marion; Héron, Delphine; Isidor, Bertrand; Lacombe, Didier; Lyonnet, Stanislas; Perrin, Laurence; Rio, Marlène; Roume, Joëlle; Sauvion, Sylvie; Toutain, Annick; Vincent-Delorme, Catherine; Willems, Marjorie; Baumann, Clarisse; Verloes, Alain

    2016-08-01

    Noonan syndrome is a heterogeneous autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in at least eight genes involved in the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway. Recently, RIT1 (Ras-like without CAAX 1) has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of some patients. We report a series of 44 patients from 30 pedigrees (including nine multiplex families) with mutations in RIT1. These patients display a typical Noonan gestalt and facial phenotype. Among the probands, 8.7% showed postnatal growth retardation, 90% had congenital heart defects, 36% had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a lower incidence compared with previous report), 50% displayed speech delay and 52% had learning difficulties, but only 22% required special education. None had major skin anomalies. One child died perinatally of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia. Compared with the canonical Noonan phenotype linked to PTPN11 mutations, patients with RIT1 mutations appear to be less severely growth retarded and more frequently affected by cardiomyopathy. Based on our experience, we estimate that RIT1 could be the cause of 5% of Noonan syndrome patients. Because mutations found constitutionally in Noonan syndrome are also found in several tumors in adulthood, we evaluated the potential contribution of RIT1 to leukemogenesis in Noonan syndrome. We screened 192 pediatric cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemias (96 B-ALL and 96 T-ALL) and 110 cases of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemias (JMML), but detected no variation in these tumoral samples, suggesting that Noonan patients with germline RIT1 mutations are not at high risk to developing JMML or ALL, and that RIT1 has at most a marginal role in these sporadic malignancies.

  8. Effects of Guided Written Disclosure Protocol on mood states and psychological symptoms among parents of off-therapy acute lymphoblastic leukemia children.

    PubMed

    Martino, Maria Luisa; Freda, Maria Francesca; Camera, Flavia

    2013-06-01

    This study assesses the effects of Guided Written Disclosure Protocol on psychological distress in mothers and fathers of off-therapy acute lymphoblastic leukemia children. An experimental group participated in the writing intervention with a control group subject only to test-taking standards. The Symptom Questionnaire and Profile of Mood States were administered at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. Guided Written Disclosure Protocol had significant effects on the progressive reduction of anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, hostility, tension-anxiety, and fatigue-inertia within the experimental group. However, the control group distress levels tended to worsen over time. The mediating role of emotional processing was highlighted.

  9. [Prognostic significance of the cyclic AMP concentration in acute leukemias].

    PubMed

    Paietta, E; Mittermayer, K; Schwarzmeier, J D

    1979-01-01

    In patients with acute leukemia (myeloblastic, lymphoblastic, undifferentiated) proliferation kinetics and cyclic adenosine-3', 5'-monophosphate (cAMP) concentration of the leukemic cells were studied for their significance in the prediction of responsiveness to cytostatic therapy. Patients with good clinical response had significantly faster turnover and lower cAMP-levels than those who failed to respond to treatment.

  10. 17-N-Allylamino-17-Demethoxygeldanamycin in Treating Young Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Solid Tumors or Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2013-06-03

    Acute Undifferentiated Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Unspecified Childhood Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific

  11. Facial manifestations of Epstein-Barr virus-related lymphoproliferative disease in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission: Two atypical presentations.

    PubMed

    Lu, Benjamin Y; Kojima, Lisa; Huang, Mary S; Friedmann, Alison M; Ferry, Judith A; Weinstein, Howard J

    2016-11-01

    Epstein-Barr virus-related lymphoproliferative disease (EBV-LPD) rarely occurs in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), who have not received hematopoietic transplantation. We describe EBV-LPD manifesting as facial lesions in two children with ALL in remission. One patient was a 16-year-old male with T-cell ALL with an EBV-positive angiocentric polymorphous lip lesion presenting as right-sided facial swelling. The other patient was a 12-year-old male with B-cell ALL with an EBV-positive polymorphous lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate presenting as bilateral dacryoadenitis. Neither patient had known primary immunodeficiencies. Both cases improved with immunosuppressant de-escalation. These cases suggest that immunosuppression induced by maintenance chemotherapy is sufficient to promote EBV-LPD. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  12. Oral or parenteral administration of curcumin does not prevent the growth of high-risk t(4;11) acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells engrafted into a NOD/SCID mouse model

    PubMed Central

    ZUNINO, SUSAN J.; STORMS, DAVID H.; NEWMAN, JOHN W.; PEDERSEN, THERESA L.; KEEN, CARL L.; DUCORE, JONATHAN M.

    2013-01-01

    In this study, the efficacy of orally and parenter-ally administered curcumin was evaluated in non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice (NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/J mice) engrafted with the human t(4;11) acute lymphoblastic leukemia line, SEM. SEM cells were injected into the tail vein and engraftment was monitored by flow cytometry. Once engraftment was observed, the chemotherapeutic potential was examined by injecting mice intraperitoneally with curcumin (5 mg/kg body weight) dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or DMSO alone (control) every other day, or vincristine (0.5 mg/kg body weight) 3 times per week for 4 weeks (n=16 per group). The intraperitoneal administration of curcumin did not inhibit the growth of the leukemia cells. To determine the efficacy of oral curcumin, mice were fed a control diet or a diet containing 0.5% w/w curcumin 3 weeks prior to the injection of the leukemia cells and throughout the experimental period (n=16 per group). To determine whether dietary curcumin can enhance the efficacy of a conventional chemotherapeutic agent, vincristine was injected intraperitoneally into leukemic mice fed the different diets. Dietary curcumin did not delay the engraftment or growth of leukemia cells, or sensitize the cells to vincristine. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses of mouse sera showed that curcumin rapidly metabolized to glucuronidated and sulfated forms within 1 h post-injection and these were the major curcumin metabolites found in the sera of the mice fed the curcumin diet. In contrast to the findings in previous in vitro models, the current data indicate that orally or parenterally administered curcumin is not a potent preventive agent against high-risk t(4;11) acute lymphoblastic leukemia. PMID:23232667

  13. Blinatumomab for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Kaplan, Jason B; Grischenko, Marina; Giles, Francis J

    2015-12-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a potentially fatal disease that involves clonal expansion of early lymphoid progenitor cells. Much of drug development for ALL treatment involves targeting antigens of the clonal cell surface. Blinatumomab belongs to an emerging class of anti-cancer therapeutics referred to as bispecific T-cell engaging antibodies. The Food and Drug Administration approved its use in relapsed or refractory adult Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-cell precursor ALL in December of 2014. Blinatumomab contains both an anti-CD3 and anti-CD19 arm, allowing for the juxtaposition of CD3+ T-cells to malignant CD19+ B-cells, thereby resulting in granzyme- and perforin-mediated B-cell apoptosis. Preclinical studies suggest that blinatumomab's efficacy is related to the effector-to-target ratio and to the difference between its affinity for CD19 and CD3. Preclinical and early phase clinical studies have allowed for the characterization of the pharmacokinetics of blinatumomab, including the determination of its short half-life. The metabolic pathway has not been fully characterized but is thought to be similar to that of other antibodies. Phase I and II studies led to the identification of an ideal stepwise dose, involving long-term continuous intravenous infusion (CIVI), to optimize its efficacy and reduce the risk of certain toxicities. A high remission rate and duration were noted among a relapsed/refractory population of patients. The results of clinical trials have identified cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity, among others, as serious drug-related toxicities, leading to the institution of a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy. Blinatumomab represents a significant addition to the treatment options for ALL, but it is not without its limitations, of which are its short-half life, necessitating long-term CIVI, and the eventual emergence of CD19-negative clones. Continual development of the agent involves assessing its role in the frontline

  14. Quantitation of human thymus/leukemia-associated antigen by radioimmunoassay in different forms of leukemia.

    PubMed

    Chechik, B E; Jason, J; Shore, A; Baker, M; Dosch, H M; Gelfand, E W

    1979-12-01

    Using a radioimmunoassay, increased levels of a human thymus/leukemia-associated antigen (HThy-L) have been detected in leukemic cells and plasma from most patients with E-rosette-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and a number of patients with E-rosette-negative ALL, acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), acute monomyelocytic leukemia (AMML), and acute undifferentiated leukemia (AVL). Low levels of HThy-L have been demonstrated in white cells from patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia (stable phase) and in mononuclear cells from patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia. The relationship between HThy-L and differentiation of hematopoietic cells is discussed.

  15. EZH2 mutations and promoter hypermethylation in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Schäfer, Vivien; Ernst, Jana; Rinke, Jenny; Winkelmann, Nils; Beck, James F; Hochhaus, Andreas; Gruhn, Bernd; Ernst, Thomas

    2016-07-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy in children and young adults. The polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) has been identified as one of the most frequently mutated epigenetic protein complexes in hematologic cancers. PRC2 acts as an epigenetic repressor through histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3), catalyzed by the histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 protein (EZH2). To study the prevalence and clinical impact of PRC2 aberrations in an unselected childhood ALL cohort (n = 152), we performed PRC2 mutational screenings by Sanger sequencing and promoter methylation analyses by quantitative pyrosequencing for the three PRC2 core component genes EZH2, suppressor of zeste 12 (SUZ12), and embryonic ectoderm development (EED). Targeted deep next-generation sequencing of 30 frequently mutated genes in leukemia was performed to search for cooperating mutations in patients harboring PRC2 aberrations. Finally, the functional consequence of EZH2 promoter hypermethylation on H3K27me3 was studied by Western blot analyses of primary cells. Loss-of-function EZH2 mutations were detected in 2/152 (1.3 %) patients with common-ALL and early T-cell precursor (ETP)-ALL, respectively. In one patient, targeted deep sequencing identified cooperating mutations in ASXL1 and TET2. EZH2 promoter hypermethylation was found in one patient with ETP-ALL which led to reduced H3K27me3. In comparison with healthy children, the EZH2 promoter was significantly higher methylated in T-ALL patients. No mutations or promoter methylation changes were identified for SUZ12 or EED genes, respectively. Although PRC2 aberrations seem to be rare in childhood ALL, our findings indicate that EZH2 aberrations might contribute to the disease in specific cases. Hereby, EZH2 promoter hypermethylation might have functionally similar consequences as loss-of-function mutations.

  16. Update on the Use of l-Asparaginase in Infants and Adolescent Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Andrade, Augusto F; Borges, Kleiton S; Silveira, Vanessa S

    2014-01-01

    Great improvements have been made in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment in the past decades, especially due to the use of l-asparaginase (l-ASP). Despite the significant success rate, several side effects mainly caused by toxicity, asparaginase silent inactivation, and cellular resistance, encourage an open debate regarding the optimal dosage and formulation of l-ASP. Alternative sources of asparaginases have been constantly investigated in order to overcome hypersensitivity clinical toxicity. Additionally, genomic modulation as gene expression profiling, genetic polymorphisms, and epigenetic changes is also being investigated concerning their role in cellular resistance to l-ASP. Understanding the mechanisms that mediate the resistance to l-ASP treatment may bring new insights into ALL pathobiology and contribute to the development of more effective treatment strategies. In summary, this review presents an overview on l-ASP data and focuses on cellular mechanisms underlying resistance and alternative therapies for the use of asparaginase in childhood ALL treatment. PMID:25210485

  17. Supporting Parents' Pain Care Involvement With Their Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Qualitative Interpretive Description.

    PubMed

    Bettle, Amanda; Latimer, Margot; Fernandez, Conrad; Hughes, Jean

    Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia experience pain from the disease, treatment, and procedures. Parents can be effective in managing their child's pain, but little is systematically known about how they do this. Appreciative inquiry was used to frame the study within a strengths-based lens and interpretive descriptive methods were used to describe pain sources, parents' pain care role, and key structures supporting parents pain care involvement. Eight paediatric oncology clinic nurses and 10 parents participated. Six key themes per group were identified. Parent themes included establishing therapeutic relationships, relearning how to care for my child, overcoming challenges and recognizing pain, learning parent specific strategies, empowering to take active pain care role, and maintaining relationships. Nurse themes included establishing therapeutic relationships, preparing parents to care for their child, facilitating pain assessment, teaching parents best pain care, empowering parents, and maintaining relationships. These findings can be used to guide clinical practice and future research.

  18. Driving Toward Precision Medicine for Acute Leukemias: Are We There Yet?

    PubMed

    Chung, Clement; Ma, Hilary

    2017-09-01

    Despite recent progress in the understanding of the molecular basis of acute leukemias, treatment options for these diseases have not changed significantly over the last few decades. We present a nonexhaustive summary of the current cytogenetic and molecular changes associated with acute leukemias in disease prognostication and potential targeted therapies. An emerging paradigm is that many genetic or molecular alterations target similar signal transduction, transcriptional, and epigenetic pathways. Some of these targets may be used as predictive biomarkers for the development of novel targeted therapies that depart significantly from conventional chemotherapy, the current mainstay for the treatment of acute leukemias. Established leukemia-specific predictive biomarkers for precision medicine include those genetic lesions such as BCR-ABL1 for Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia and PML-RARα for acute promyelocytic leukemia. Evidence indicates that targeted therapy for FLT-ITD gene mutations with small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors can extend its use from relapsed disease to up-front induction therapy. Core-binding factor acute myeloid leukemia in adults predicts benefit with high-dose cytarabine in the absence of KIT mutation. Although risk-adapted therapy based on genetic abnormalities in acute leukemias has allowed the beginning of personalized treatment and selective use of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the prognostic and/or predictive value of many novel mutations of the acute leukemic genome is yet to be elucidated. Many challenges lie ahead in targeted therapies due to overlapping of chromosomal and molecular lesions as well as other limiting factors. Future work should focus on the understanding of pathogenetic changes that lead to leukemogenesis, which may guide the rational design of new targeted therapies and make the drive toward precision medicine for acute leukemias one step closer. © 2017 Pharmacotherapy Publications

  19. Improving results of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first complete remission: an analysis from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

    PubMed Central

    Giebel, Sebastian; Labopin, Myriam; Socié, Gerard; Beelen, Dietrich; Browne, Paul; Volin, Liisa; Kyrcz-Krzemien, Slawomira; Yakoub-Agha, Ibrahim; Aljurf, Mahmoud; Wu, Depei; Michallet, Mauricette; Arnold, Renate; Mohty, Mohamad; Nagler, Arnon

    2017-01-01

    Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation is widely used to treat adults with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The aim of this study was to analyze whether the results changed over time and to identify prognostic factors. Adult patients treated between 1993 and 2012 with myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation from HLA matched sibling (n=2681) or unrelated (n=2178) donors in first complete remission were included. For transplantations from sibling donors performed between 2008 and 2012, 2-year probabilities of overall survival were: 76% (18–25 years old), 69% (26–35 and 36–45 years old) and 60% (46–55 years old). Among recipients of transplantations from unrelated donors, the respective survival rates were 66%, 70%, 61%, and 62%. In comparison with the 1993–2007 period, significant improvements were observed for all age groups except for the 26–35-year old patients. In a multivariate model, transplantations performed between 2008 and 2012, when compared to 1993–2007, were associated with significantly reduced risks of non-relapse mortality (Hazard Ratio 0.77, P=0.00006), relapse (Hazard Ratio 0.85, P=0.007), treatment failure (Hazard Ratio 0.81, P<0.00001), and overall mortality (Hazard Ratio 0.79, P<0.00001). In the analysis restricted to transplantations performed between 2008 and 2012, the use of total body irradiation-based conditioning was associated with reduced risk of relapse (Hazard Ratio 0.48, P=0.004) and treatment failure (Hazard Ratio 0.63, P=0.02). We conclude that results of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia improved significantly over time. Total body irradiation should be considered as the preferable type of myeloablative conditioning. PMID:27686376

  20. The anti-tumor role of NK cells in vivo pre-activated and re-stimulated by interleukins in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Jin, Fengyan; Lin, Hai; Gao, Sujun; Hu, Zheng; Zuo, Song; Sun, Liguang; Jin, Chunhui; Li, Wei; Yang, Yanping

    2016-01-01

    Although natural killer cells (NK cells) were traditionally classified as members of the innate immune system, NK cells have recently been found also to be an important player in the adaptive immune systems. In this context, in vitro activation of NK cells by cytokines leads to generation of NK cells with memory-like properties characterized by increased interferon-γ (IFNγ) production. However, it remains to be defined whether these memory-like NK cells exist in vivo after cytokine activation. Furthermore, it is also unclear whether such memory-like NK cells induced in vivo by cytokines could have effective anti-leukemia response. To address these issues, we used an in vivo pre-activation and re-stimulation system that was able to produce NK cells with increased IFNγ secretion. It was found that after in vivo pre-activation and re-stimulation with interleukins (ILs), NK cells retained a state to produce increased amount of IFNγ. Of note, whereas this intrinsic capacity of enhanced IFNγ production after in vivo IL pre-activation and re-stimulation could be transferred to the next generation of NK cells and was associated with prolonged survival of the mice with acute lymphoid leukemia. Moreover, the anti-leukemia activity of these memory-like NK cells was associated with IFNγ production and up-regulation of NK cells activation receptor-NK Group 2 member D (NKG2D). Together, these findings argue strongly that in vivo IL pre-activation and re-stimulation is capable to induce memory-like NK cells as observed previously in vitro, which are effective against acute lymphoblastic leukemia, likely via NKG2D-dependent IFNγ production, in intact animals. PMID:27816971

  1. The anti-tumor role of NK cells in vivo pre-activated and re-stimulated by interleukins in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Jin, Fengyan; Lin, Hai; Gao, Sujun; Hu, Zheng; Zuo, Song; Sun, Liguang; Jin, Chunhui; Li, Wei; Yang, Yanping

    2016-11-29

    Although natural killer cells (NK cells) were traditionally classified as members of the innate immune system, NK cells have recently been found also to be an important player in the adaptive immune systems. In this context, in vitro activation of NK cells by cytokines leads to generation of NK cells with memory-like properties characterized by increased interferon-γ (IFNγ) production. However, it remains to be defined whether these memory-like NK cells exist in vivo after cytokine activation. Furthermore, it is also unclear whether such memory-like NK cells induced in vivo by cytokines could have effective anti-leukemia response. To address these issues, we used an in vivo pre-activation and re-stimulation system that was able to produce NK cells with increased IFNγ secretion. It was found that after in vivo pre-activation and re-stimulation with interleukins (ILs), NK cells retained a state to produce increased amount of IFNγ. Of note, whereas this intrinsic capacity of enhanced IFNγ production after in vivo IL pre-activation and re-stimulation could be transferred to the next generation of NK cells and was associated with prolonged survival of the mice with acute lymphoid leukemia. Moreover, the anti-leukemia activity of these memory-like NK cells was associated with IFNγ production and up-regulation of NK cells activation receptor-NK Group 2 member D (NKG2D). Together, these findings argue strongly that in vivo IL pre-activation and re-stimulation is capable to induce memory-like NK cells as observed previously in vitro, which are effective against acute lymphoblastic leukemia, likely via NKG2D-dependent IFNγ production, in intact animals.

  2. Clonal and microclonal mutational heterogeneity in high hyperdiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    de Smith, Adam J.; Ojha, Juhi; Francis, Stephen S.; Sanders, Erica; Endicott, Alyson A.; Hansen, Helen M.; Smirnov, Ivan; Termuhlen, Amanda M.; Walsh, Kyle M.; Metayer, Catherine; Wiemels, Joseph L.

    2016-01-01

    High hyperdiploidy (HD), the most common cytogenetic subtype of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), is largely curable but significant treatment-related morbidity warrants investigating the biology and identifying novel drug targets. Targeted deep-sequencing of 538 cancer-relevant genes was performed in 57 HD-ALL patients lacking overt KRAS and NRAS hotspot mutations and lacking common B-ALL deletions to enrich for discovery of novel driver genes. One-third of patients harbored damaging mutations in epigenetic regulatory genes, including the putative novel driver DOT1L (n=4). Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)/Ras/MAPK signaling pathway mutations were found in two-thirds of patients, including novel mutations in ROS1, which mediates phosphorylation of the PTPN11-encoded protein SHP2. Mutations in FLT3 significantly co-occurred with DOT1L (p=0.04), suggesting functional cooperation in leukemogenesis. We detected an extraordinary level of tumor heterogeneity, with microclonal (mutant allele fraction <0.10) KRAS, NRAS, FLT3, and/or PTPN11 hotspot mutations evident in 31/57 (54.4%) patients. Multiple KRAS and NRAS codon 12 and 13 microclonal mutations significantly co-occurred within tumor samples (p=4.8×10−4), suggesting ongoing formation of and selection for Ras-activating mutations. Future work is required to investigate whether tumor microheterogeneity impacts clinical outcome and to elucidate the functional consequences of epigenetic dysregulation in HD-ALL, potentially leading to novel therapeutic approaches. PMID:27683039

  3. Sorafenib inhibits therapeutic induction of necroptosis in acute leukemia cells.

    PubMed

    Feldmann, Friederike; Schenk, Barbara; Martens, Sofie; Vandenabeele, Peter; Fulda, Simone

    2017-09-15

    Induction of necroptosis has emerged as an alternative approach to trigger programmed cell death, in particular in apoptosis-resistant cancer cells. Recent evidence suggests that kinase inhibitors targeting oncogenic B-RAF can also affect Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase (RIP)1 and RIP3. Sorafenib, a multi-targeting kinase inhibitor with activity against B-RAF, is used for the treatment of acute leukemia. In the present study, we therefore investigated whether Sorafenib interferes with therapeutic induction of necroptosis in acute leukemia. Here, we report that Sorafenib inhibits necroptotic signaling and cell death in two models of necroptosis in acute leukemia. Sorafenib significantly reduces Second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (Smac) mimetic-induced necroptosis in apoptosis-resistant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells as well as Smac mimetic/Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)α-induced necroptosis in FADD-deficient acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Sub- to low micromolar concentrations of Sorafenib corresponding to its plasma levels reported in cancer patients are sufficient to inhibit necroptosis, emphasizing the clinical relevance of our findings. Furthermore, Sorafenib blocks Smac mimetic-mediated phosphorylation of mixed-lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) that marks its activation, indicating that Sorafenib targets components upstream of MLKL such as RIP1 and RIP3. Intriguingly, Sorafenib reduces the Smac mimetic/TNFα-stimulated interaction of RIP1 with RIP3 and MLKL, demonstrating that it interferes with the assembly of the necrosome complex. Importantly, Sorafenib significantly protects primary, patient-derived AML blasts from Smac mimetic-induced necroptosis. By demonstrating that Sorafenib limits the anti-leukemic activity of necroptosis-inducing drugs in acute leukemia cells, our study has important implications for the use of Sorafenib in the treatment of acute leukemia.

  4. Age but not Philadelphia positivity impairs outcome in older/elderly patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Sweden.

    PubMed

    Kozlowski, Piotr; Lennmyr, Emma; Ahlberg, Lucia; Bernell, Per; Hulegårdh, Erik; Karbach, Holger; Karlsson, Karin; Tomaszewska-Toporska, Beata; Åström, Maria; Hallböök, Heléne

    2017-08-01

    Older/elderly patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are poorly represented in clinical trials. Using Swedish national leukemia registries, we investigated disease/patient characteristics, treatment choices, outcome, and the impact of an age-adapted protocol (introduced in 2009) in this population-based study of patients aged 55-85 years, diagnosed with ALL 2005-2012. Of 174 patients, 82% had B-phenotype, 11% Burkitt leukemia (excluded), and 7% T-phenotype. Philadelphia chromosome positivity (Ph+) occurred in 35%. Of the 155 B- and T-ALL patients, 80% were treated with intensive protocols, and 20% with a palliative approach. Higher age and WHO performance status ≥2 influenced the choice of palliation. Intensive, palliative, and both approaches resulted in complete remission rate 83/16/70% and 3-year overall survival (OS) 32/3/26%. The age-adapted protocol did not improve outcome. With intensive treatment, platelet count ≤35×10 9 /L and age ≥75 years were adverse prognostic factors for OS, Ph+ was not. Male sex was an adverse prognostic factor in the 55-64 year age-group. We report a high frequency of Ph+ in older/elderly patients, with no evidence of poorer outcome compared to Ph-negative disease. Overall prognosis for elderly patients with ALL remains dismal, despite the use of age-adapted treatment. © 2017 The Authors. European Journal of Haematology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  5. Predictive value of minimal residual disease in Philadelphia-chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with imatinib in the European intergroup study of post-induction treatment of Philadelphia-chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia, based on immunoglobulin/T-cell receptor and BCR/ABL1 methodologies

    PubMed Central

    Cazzaniga, Giovanni; De Lorenzo, Paola; Alten, Julia; Röttgers, Silja; Hancock, Jeremy; Saha, Vaskar; Castor, Anders; Madsen, Hans O.; Gandemer, Virginie; Cavé, Hélène; Leoni, Veronica; Köhler, Rolf; Ferrari, Giulia M.; Bleckmann, Kirsten; Pieters, Rob; van der Velden, Vincent; Stary, Jan; Zuna, Jan; Escherich, Gabriele; zur Stadt, Udo; Aricò, Maurizio; Conter, Valentino; Schrappe, Martin; Valsecchi, Maria Grazia; Biondi, Andrea

    2018-01-01

    The prognostic value of minimal residual disease (MRD) in Philadelphia-chromosome-positive (Ph+) childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors is not fully established. We detected MRD by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) of rearranged immunoglobulin/T-cell receptor genes (IG/TR) and/or BCR/ABL1 fusion transcript to investigate its predictive value in patients receiving Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (BFM) high-risk (HR) therapy and post-induction intermittent imatinib (the European intergroup study of post-induction treatment of Philadelphia-chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (EsPhALL) study). MRD was monitored after induction (time point (TP)1), consolidation Phase IB (TP2), HR Blocks, reinductions, and at the end of therapy. MRD negativity progressively increased over time, both by IG/TR and BCR/ABL1. Of 90 patients with IG/TR MRD at TP1, nine were negative and none relapsed, while 11 with MRD<5×10−4 and 70 with MRD≥5×10−4 had a comparable 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse of 36.4 (15.4) and 35.2 (5.9), respectively. Patients who achieved MRD negativity at TP2 had a low relapse risk (5-yr cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR)=14.3[9.8]), whereas those who attained MRD negativity at a later date showed higher CIR, comparable to patients with positive MRD at any level. BCR/ABL1 MRD negative patients at TP1 had a relapse risk similar to those who were IG/TR MRD negative (1/8 relapses). The overall concordance between the two methods is 69%, with significantly higher positivity by BCR/ABL1. In conclusion, MRD monitoring by both methods may be functional not only for measuring response but also for guiding biological studies aimed at investigating causes for discrepancies, although from our data IG/TR MRD monitoring appears to be more reliable. Early MRD negativity is highly predictive of favorable outcome. The earlier MRD negativity is achieved, the better the prognosis. PMID

  6. [Value of immunologic phenotyping of acute leukemias in children].

    PubMed

    Vannier, J P; Bene, M C

    1989-10-01

    Immunologic typing has demonstrated considerable heterogeneity among the acute leukemias. The most significant recent advance has been development of monoclonal antibody techniques. Some markers identified using these techniques seem to be specific for a given stage of maturation of one lymphoid or myeloid cell line. Most acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALLs) are malignant proliferations whose differentiation appears to have become 'stuck' at one stage of maturation. Results of immunologic typing correlate well with the other clinical and biological data. For prognostic purposes, several patterns can be identified. Among B line ALLs, four varieties have been differentiated, i.e., CD10 negative ALLs, common ALLs, pre-B ALLs, and B ALLs. T ALLs include a broad spectrum of heterogeneous proliferations whose immunologic classification is made difficult by the large number of phenotypes encountered. Among acute myeloblastic leukemias (AMLs), some highly undifferentiated forms have been recognized, by means of immunologic typing, as originating in one of the myeloid cell lines. However, the nosologic and prognostic significance of these studies is less obvious than in ALLs.

  7. The impact of high-dose methotrexate on intracellular 6-mercaptopurine disposition during interval therapy of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Adam de Beaumais, T; Dervieux, T; Fakhoury, M; Medard, Y; Azougagh, S; Zhang, D; Yakouben, K; Jacqz-Aigrain, E

    2010-09-01

    Low-dose methotrexate (MTX) therapy is the cornerstone treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and may enhance the activation of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) to 6-thioguanine nucleotides (6-TGN). Yet, data have established that high-dose MTX (HDMTX) hampers the accumulation of 6-TGN in red blood cells (RBC) and lymphoblasts. To clarify the pharmacokinetic interactions between these two antimetabolites, we serially measured RBC 6-TGN and MTX polyglutamates (MTXPG) levels following repeated courses of HDMTX (5 g/m(2) over 24 h) with daily oral 6-MP (25 mg/m(2)) during interval therapy in 20 children with ALL. HDMTX produced a rapid reduction in RBC 6-TGN 24 h after the start of MTX, and this effect was sustained at least by the third day (median decrease -21%; P < 0.001). However, a return to pre-infusion of 6-TGN levels was observed by the time of the following HDMTX course 14 days later (P < 0.001). RBC MTX polyglutamates accumulation followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics but was not associated with the change in pre-infusion 6-TGN levels which remained stable during the interval period. HDMTX does not appear to enhance 6-MP activation to 6-TGN. Moreover, given that the deleterious effect of HDMTX on intracellular 6-MP disposition has been shown to be several folds greater in lymphoblasts than in RBC. Our data warrant additional studies elucidating the optimal MTX dose synergizing with 6-MP.

  8. Successful Single-Lung Transplant for Severe Lung Graft-Versus-Host Disease Two Years After Sibling Allograft for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Case Report.

    PubMed

    Irhimeh, M R; Musk, M; Cooney, J P

    2016-11-01

    Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has been performed as a successful life-saving treatment for hematological and neoplastic diseases. Despite the predictable long-term survival rates in BMT, pulmonary complications reduce the survival rates significantly mainly because of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This report briefly discusses a successful lung transplantation case for severe lung GVHD after allograft for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This case report supports the scarce evidence in the literature for the importance of lung transplantation as a therapeutic option for patients who develop respiratory failure secondary to BMT. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  9. Evaluation of Structural Factors Potentially Implicated in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A report of the MIGICCL.

    PubMed

    López-Sánchez, Dulce María; Méndez-Tenorio, Alfonso; Roacho-Pérez, Jorge Alberto; Rangel-López, Angélica

    2016-10-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in the pediatric population; ∼80% of the cases show some translocation. Translocations that result in ALL are due to chromosome breaks. However, the exact mechanisms that cause these breaks have not been well studied. A detailed search of the breakpoints associated with ALL reported in the NCBI database shows that some are concentrated in limited regions of the chromosome, whereas others are scattered throughout. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the structural factors involved in chromosomal breaks in ALL. We performed several bioinformatic studies on the sequences where chromosomal breakpoints have been reported in search of rearrangements: areas of high similarity, thermodynamic stability, composition and conformation of the DNA. Certain factors may influence chromosome breaks and are capable of predicting the propensity towards these types of events. These findings may be useful in the design of molecular techniques able to detect these changes in ALL. Copyright © 2016 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. Blinatumomab vs historical standard therapy of adult relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Gökbuget, N; Kelsh, M; Chia, V; Advani, A; Bassan, R; Dombret, H; Doubek, M; Fielding, A K; Giebel, S; Haddad, V; Hoelzer, D; Holland, C; Ifrah, N; Katz, A; Maniar, T; Martinelli, G; Morgades, M; O'Brien, S; Ribera, J-M; Rowe, J M; Stein, A; Topp, M; Wadleigh, M; Kantarjian, H

    2016-01-01

    We compared outcomes from a single-arm study of blinatumomab in adult patients with B-precursor Ph-negative relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R ALL) with a historical data set from Europe and the United States. Estimates of complete remission (CR) and overall survival (OS) were weighted by the frequency distribution of prognostic factors in the blinatumomab trial. Outcomes were also compared between the trial and historical data using propensity score methods. The historical cohort included 694 patients with CR data and 1112 patients with OS data compared with 189 patients with CR and survival data in the blinatumomab trial. The weighted analysis revealed a CR rate of 24% (95% CI: 20–27%) and a median OS of 3.3 months (95% CI: 2.8–3.6) in the historical cohort compared with a CR/CRh rate of 43% (95% CI: 36–50%) and a median OS of 6.1 months (95% CI: 4.2–7.5) in the blinatumomab trial. Propensity score analysis estimated increased odds of CR/CRh (OR=2.68, 95% CI: 1.67–4.31) and improved OS (HR=0.536, 95% CI: 0.394–0.730) with blinatumomab. The analysis demonstrates the application of different study designs and statistical methods to compare novel therapies for R/R ALL with historical data. PMID:27662202

  11. L-Asparaginase encapsulated intact erythrocytes for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

    PubMed

    Kwon, Young Min; Chung, Hee Sun; Moon, Cheol; Yockman, James; Park, Yoon Jeong; Gitlin, Scott D; David, Allan E; Yang, Victor C

    2009-11-03

    As a primary drug for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), encapsulation of L-asparaginase (ASNase) into red blood cells (RBC) has been popular to circumvent immunogenicity from the exogenous protein. Unlike existing methods that perturbs RBC membranes, we introduce a novel method of RBC-incorporation of proteins using the membrane-translocating low molecular weight protamine (LMWP). Confocal study of fluorescence-labeled LMWP-ovalbumin, as a model protein conjugate, has shown significant fluorescence inside RBCs. Surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy of the RBCs loaded with LMWP-ASNase was indistinguishable with normal RBCs. These drug loaded RBCs also closely resembled the profile of the native erythrocytes in terms of osmotic fragility, oxygen dissociation and hematological parameters. The in vivo half-life of enzyme activity after administering 8 units of RBC/LMWP-ASNase in DBA/2 mice was prolonged to 4.5+/-0.5 days whereas that of RBCs loaded with ASNase via a hypotonic method was 2.4+/-0.7 days. Furthermore, the mean survival time of DBA/2 mice bearing mouse lymphoma cell L5178Y was improved by approximately 44% compared to the saline control group after treatment with the RBC loaded enzymes. From these data, an innovative, novel method for encapsulating proteins into intact and fully functional erythrocytes was established for potential treatment of ALL.

  12. Blinatumomab vs historical standard therapy of adult relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Gökbuget, N; Kelsh, M; Chia, V; Advani, A; Bassan, R; Dombret, H; Doubek, M; Fielding, A K; Giebel, S; Haddad, V; Hoelzer, D; Holland, C; Ifrah, N; Katz, A; Maniar, T; Martinelli, G; Morgades, M; O'Brien, S; Ribera, J-M; Rowe, J M; Stein, A; Topp, M; Wadleigh, M; Kantarjian, H

    2016-09-23

    We compared outcomes from a single-arm study of blinatumomab in adult patients with B-precursor Ph-negative relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R ALL) with a historical data set from Europe and the United States. Estimates of complete remission (CR) and overall survival (OS) were weighted by the frequency distribution of prognostic factors in the blinatumomab trial. Outcomes were also compared between the trial and historical data using propensity score methods. The historical cohort included 694 patients with CR data and 1112 patients with OS data compared with 189 patients with CR and survival data in the blinatumomab trial. The weighted analysis revealed a CR rate of 24% (95% CI: 20-27%) and a median OS of 3.3 months (95% CI: 2.8-3.6) in the historical cohort compared with a CR/CRh rate of 43% (95% CI: 36-50%) and a median OS of 6.1 months (95% CI: 4.2-7.5) in the blinatumomab trial. Propensity score analysis estimated increased odds of CR/CRh (OR=2.68, 95% CI: 1.67-4.31) and improved OS (HR=0.536, 95% CI: 0.394-0.730) with blinatumomab. The analysis demonstrates the application of different study designs and statistical methods to compare novel therapies for R/R ALL with historical data.

  13. Low depressive symptom and mental distress scores in adult long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Harila, Marika J; Niinivirta, Tomi I T; Winqvist, Satu; Harila-Saari, Arja H

    2011-04-01

    Childhood cancer survivors are thought to be at risk of psychological difficulties. We examined the prevalence of depressive symptoms and mental well-being in adult long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at a mean age of 20 years after the cessation of therapy. Depressive symptoms were assessed with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21) and mental distress with General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) among 73 ALL survivors and 146 healthy controls. The ALL survivors obtained significantly lower BDI scores (P=0.046) compared with the controls, indicating less depressive symptoms among the ALL survivors. BDI scores indicated a significantly less frequent moderate or severe depression in the ALL survivors compared with the controls (P=0.039). BDI scores indicated no depression in 80.8% of the ALL survivors and 73.3% of the control group. The female ALL survivors obtained lower BDI scores than did the female controls (P=0.005). No difference was found in GHQ-12 scores between the survivors and the controls. Survivors of ALL reported fewer depressive symptoms and equal mental well-being compared with healthy controls. Our findings support the idea that childhood leukemia survivors' subjective experience of well-being is possibly affected by repressive adaptive style.

  14. Psychological Impact of Chemotherapy for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on Patients and Their Parents

    PubMed Central

    Sherief, Laila M.; Kamal, Naglaa M.; Abdalrahman, Hadel M.; Youssef, Doaa M.; Alhady, Mohamed A Abd; Ali, Adel SA; Elbasset, Maha Aly Abd; Hashim, Hiatham M.

    2015-01-01

    Abstract To assess the self-esteem of pediatric patients on chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and psychological status of their parents. The psychological status of 178 children receiving chemotherapy for ALL and their parents was assessed using parenting stress index (PSI) to determine the degree of stress the parents are exposed to using parent's and child's domains. Self-esteem Scale was used to determine the psychological status of patients. The study revealed significant low level of self-esteem in 84.83% of patients. Their parents had significant psychological stress. PSI was significantly associated with parents’ low sense of competence, negative attachment to their children, feeling of high restriction, high depression, poor relation to spouse, high social isolation variables of parent's domains. It was significantly associated with low distraction, negative parents’ reinforcement, low acceptability, and high demanding variables of child's domains. Long duration of disease was the most detrimental factor among demographic data of the patients. Chemotherapy for ALL has a significant impact on the psychological status of both patients and their parents with high prevalence of low self-esteem in children and high degree of stress in their parents. PMID:26705211

  15. Psychological Impact of Chemotherapy for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on Patients and Their Parents.

    PubMed

    Sherief, Laila M; Kamal, Naglaa M; Abdalrahman, Hadel M; Youssef, Doaa M; Abd Alhady, Mohamed A; Ali, Adel S A; Abd Elbasset, Maha Aly; Hashim, Hiatham M

    2015-12-01

    To assess the self-esteem of pediatric patients on chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and psychological status of their parents.The psychological status of 178 children receiving chemotherapy for ALL and their parents was assessed using parenting stress index (PSI) to determine the degree of stress the parents are exposed to using parent's and child's domains. Self-esteem Scale was used to determine the psychological status of patients.The study revealed significant low level of self-esteem in 84.83% of patients. Their parents had significant psychological stress. PSI was significantly associated with parents' low sense of competence, negative attachment to their children, feeling of high restriction, high depression, poor relation to spouse, high social isolation variables of parent's domains. It was significantly associated with low distraction, negative parents' reinforcement, low acceptability, and high demanding variables of child's domains. Long duration of disease was the most detrimental factor among demographic data of the patients.Chemotherapy for ALL has a significant impact on the psychological status of both patients and their parents with high prevalence of low self-esteem in children and high degree of stress in their parents.

  16. Treating relapsed or refractory Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia: liposome-encapsulated vincristine

    PubMed Central

    Davis, Tyler; Farag, Sherif S

    2013-01-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains a disease with poor outcomes in adults. While induction chemotherapy achieves a complete remission in almost 90% of patients, the majority will relapse and die of their disease. Relapsed ALL is associated with a high reinduction mortality and chemotherapy resistance, with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation offering the only therapy with curative potential. However, there is no efficacious and well tolerated standard regimen accepted as a “bridge” to allogeneic stem cell transplantation or as definitive treatment for patients who are not transplant candidates. Vincristine is an active drug in patients with ALL, but its dose intensity is limited by neurotoxicity, and its full potential as an anticancer drug is thus not realized. Encapsulation of vincristine into sphingomyelin and cholesterol nanoparticle liposomes facilitates dose-intensification and densification to enhanced target tissues with reduced potential for toxicity. Vincristine sulfate liposome injection (VSLI) is associated with significant responses in clinically advanced ALL, and has recently been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of relapsed and clinically advanced Philadelphia chromosome-negative ALL. This review provides an overview of the preclinical and clinical studies leading to the approval of VSLI for the treatment of relapsed and refractory ALL, and suggests potential areas of future clinical development. PMID:24072970

  17. Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: refusal and abandonmentof treatment in the southeast of Iran.

    PubMed

    Naderi, Majid; Esmaeili Reykande, Samira; Tabibian, Shadi; Alizadeh, Shaban; Dorgalaleh, Akbar; Shamsizadeh, Morteza

    2016-04-19

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) accounts for 25% of all malignancies in children. ALL treatment has standard protocols, and treatment abandonment is a main cause of treatment failure. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the relationship between socioeconomic status and rate as well as cause of abandoned treatment in children with ALL in the southeast of Iran. This retrospective, descriptive cohort study was conducted with ALL patients at the Ali Asghar Hospital in the city of Zahedan. The study population included 22 children with different subtypes of ALL who had abandoned their treatment. A structural questionnaire was filled out by patients or their parents. Results were assessed using descriptive and analytical tests. The rate of treatment abandonment was 24.4% (22 patients).We had 18 ALL-L1 (78.3%) and four ALL-L2 (17.4%) patients. Reasons for treatment abandonment were low family income, transportation difficulties, the father's education status, conviction about ALL's incurability, and reference to spiritual means, respectively. Low family income, transportation difficulties, the father's education status, belief about ALL's incurability, and reference to spiritual means were the most common associations with ALL treatment abandonment in that order. Financial problems in this part of the country can impose high costs to the healthcare system.

  18. Defined, serum/feeder-free conditions for expansion and drug screening of primary B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Jiang, Zhiwu; Wu, Di; Ye, Wei; Weng, Jianyu; Lai, Peilong; Shi, Pengcheng; Guo, Xutao; Huang, Guohua; Deng, Qiuhua; Tang, Yanlai; Zhao, Hongyu; Cui, Shuzhong; Lin, Simiao; Wang, Suna; Li, Baiheng; Wu, Qiting; Li, Yangqiu; Liu, Pentao; Pei, Duanqing; Du, Xin; Yao, Yao; Li, Peng

    2017-12-05

    Functional screening for compounds represents a major hurdle in the development of rational therapeutics for B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). In addition, using cell lines as valid models for evaluating responses to novel drug therapies raises serious concerns, as cell lines are prone to genotypic/phenotypic drift and loss of heterogeneity in vitro . Here, we reported that OP9 cells, not OP9-derived adipocytes (OP9TA), support the growth of primary B-ALL cells in vitro . To identify the factors from OP9 cells that support the growth of primary B-ALL cells, we performed RNA-Seq to analyze the gene expression profiles of OP9 and OP9TA cells. We thus developed a defined, serum/feeder-free condition (FI76V) that can support the expansion of a range of clinically distinct primary B-ALL cells that still maintain their leukemia-initiating ability. We demonstrated the suitability of high-throughput drug screening based on our B-ALL cultured conditions. Upon screening 378 kinase inhibitors, we identified a cluster of 17 kinase inhibitors that can efficiently kill B-ALL cells in vitro . Importantly, we demonstrated the synergistic cytotoxicity of dinaciclib/BTG226 to B-ALL cells. Taken together, we developed a defined condition for the ex vivo expansion of primary B-ALL cells that is suitable for high-throughput screening of novel compounds.

  19. Mouse xenograft modeling of human adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia provides mechanistic insights into adult LIC biology

    PubMed Central

    Dey, Aditi; Castleton, Anna Z.; Schwab, Claire; Samuel, Edward; Sivakumaran, Janani; Beaton, Brendan; Zareian, Nahid; Zhang, Christie Yu; Rai, Lena; Enver, Tariq; Moorman, Anthony V.; Fielding, Adele K.

    2014-01-01

    The distinct nature of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adults, evidenced by inferior treatment outcome and different genetic landscape, mandates specific studies of disease-initiating mechanisms. In this study, we used NOD/LtSz-scid IL2Rγ nullc (NSG) mouse xenotransplantation approaches to elucidate leukemia-initiating cell (LIC) biology in primary adult precursor B (pre-B) ALL to optimize disease modeling. In contrast with xenografting studies of pediatric ALL, we found that modification of the NSG host environment using preconditioning total body irradiation (TBI) was indispensable for efficient engraftment of adult non-t(4;11) pre-B ALL, whereas t(4;11) pre-B ALL was successfully reconstituted without this adaptation. Furthermore, TBI-based xenotransplantation of non-t(4;11) pre-B ALL enabled detection of a high frequency of LICs (<1:6900) and permitted frank leukemic engraftment from a remission sample containing drug-resistant minimal residual disease. Investigation of TBI-sensitive stromal-derived factor-1/chemokine receptor type 4 signaling revealed greater functional dependence of non-t(4;11) pre-B ALL on this niche-based interaction, providing a possible basis for the differential engraftment behavior. Thus, our studies establish the optimal conditions for experimental modeling of human adult pre-B ALL and demonstrate the critical protumorogenic role of microenvironment-derived SDF-1 in regulating adult pre-B LIC activity that may present a therapeutic opportunity. PMID:24825861

  20. Dronabinol has preferential antileukemic activity in acute lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemia with lymphoid differentiation patterns.

    PubMed

    Kampa-Schittenhelm, Kerstin Maria; Salitzky, Olaf; Akmut, Figen; Illing, Barbara; Kanz, Lothar; Salih, Helmut Rainer; Schittenhelm, Marcus Matthias

    2016-01-16

    It has been previously demonstrated in several cancer models, that Dronabinol (THC) may have anti-tumor activity--however, controversial data exists for acute leukemia. We have anecdotal evidence that THC may have contributed to disease control in a patient with acute undifferentiated leukemia. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the antileukemic efficacy of THC in several leukemia cell lines and native leukemia blasts cultured ex vivo. Expression analysis for the CB1/2 receptors was performed by Western immunoblotting and flow cytometry. CB-receptor antagonists as well as a CRISPR double nickase knockdown approach were used to evaluate for receptor specificity of the observed proapoptotic effects. Meaningful antiproliferative as well as proapoptotic effects were demonstrated in a subset of cases--with a preference of leukemia cells from the lymphatic lineage or acute myeloid leukemia cells expressing lymphatic markers. Induction of apoptosis was mediated via CB1 as well as CB2, and expression of CB receptors was a prerequisite for therapy response in our models. Importantly, we demonstrate that antileukemic concentrations are achievable in vivo. Our study provides rigorous data to support clinical evaluation of THC as a low-toxic therapy option in a well defined subset of acute leukemia patients.

  1. CD20 positivity and white blood cell count predict treatment outcomes in Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients ineligible for pediatric-inspired chemotherapy.

    PubMed

    Isshiki, Yusuke; Ohwada, Chikako; Sakaida, Emiko; Onoda, Masahiro; Aotsuka, Nobuyuki; Tanaka, Hiroaki; Fukazawa, Motoharu; Cho, Ryuko; Sugawara, Takeaki; Kawaguchi, Takeharu; Hara, Satoru; Yokota, Akira

    2017-11-01

    The efficacy of conventional chemotherapy and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) has been controversial as post-remission therapies for adult Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. We retrospectively analyzed 96 adolescent and adult cases of Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia to evaluate whether allo-HSCT should be performed after first complete remission (1CR). In total, 34 patients received chemotherapy followed by allo-HSCT (HSCT group) and 62 received chemotherapy alone (chemotherapy group). No significant differences in the event-free survival (EFS) or overall survival were observed between the two groups. In the chemotherapy group, use of pediatric regimens was significantly associated with favorable EFS, while high white blood cell (WBC) count and CD20 positivity were associated with poor outcome. In patients who received pediatric regimens, subsequent allo-HSCT did not influence EFS. In patients who received conventional chemotherapy (adult regimen), subsequent allo-HSCT did not improve EFS. High WBC count and CD20 positivity were also significantly associated with poor EFS in patients who received adult regimens. Patients with low WBC count and absence of CD20 who received adult regimens did not benefit from allo-HSCT. Allo-HSCT may not be required in the pediatric regimen-eligible patients; however, pediatric regimen-ineligible patients with either CD20 positivity or high WBC count should receive allo-HSCT after achieving 1CR. This study was registered at http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/ as #C000016287. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

  2. Evidence-based guidelines for the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in adults with Philadelphia chromosome–positive or BCR-ABL–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a Canadian consensus

    PubMed Central

    Couban, S.; Savoie, L.; Mourad, Y. Abou; Leber, B.; Minden, M.; Turner, R.; Palada, V.; Shehata, N.; Christofides, A.; Lachance, S.

    2014-01-01

    Adult Philadelphia chromosome–positive (Ph+) or BCR-ABL–positive (BCR-ABL+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all) is an acute leukemia previously associated with a high relapse rate, short disease-free survival, and poor overall survival. In adults, allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant in first remission remains the only proven curative strategy for transplant-eligible patients. The introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (tkis) in the treatment of patients with Ph+ or BCR-ABL+ all has significantly improved the depth and duration of complete remission, allowing more patients to proceed to transplantation. Although tkis are now considered a standard of care in this setting, few randomized trials have examined the optimal use of tkis in patients with Ph+ all. Questions of major importance remain, including the best way to administer these medications, the choice of tki to administer, and the schedule and the duration to use. We present the results of a systematic review of the literature with consensus recommendations based on the available evidence. PMID:24764712

  3. Evidence of B cell immune responses to acute lymphoblastic leukemia in murine allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients treated with donor lymphocyte infusion and/or vaccination.

    PubMed

    Mullen, Craig A; Campbell, Andrew; Tkachenko, Olena; Jansson, Johan; Hsu, Yu-Chiao

    2011-02-01

    These experiments explored mechanisms of control of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using a murine model of MHC-matched, minor histocompatibility antigen-mismatched transplantation. The central hypothesis examined was that addition of active vaccination against leukemia cells would substantially increase the effectiveness of allogeneic donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) against ALL present in the host after transplantation. Although vaccination did increase the magnitude of type I T cell responses against leukemia cells associated with DLI, it did not lead to substantial improvement in long-term survival. Analysis of immunologic mechanisms of leukemia progression demonstrated that the failure of vaccination was not because of antigen loss in leukemia cells. However, analysis of survival provided surprising findings that, in addition to very modest type I T cell responses, a B cell response that produced antibodies that bind leukemia cells was found in long-term survivors. The risk of death from leukemia was significantly lower in recipients that had higher levels of such antibodies. These studies raise the hypothesis that stimulation of B cell responses after transplantation may provide a novel way to enhance allogeneic graft-versus-leukemia effects associated with transplantation. Copyright © 2011 American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Humanized CD7 nanobody-based immunotoxins exhibit promising anti-T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia potential

    PubMed Central

    Yu, Yuan; Li, Jialu; Zhu, Xuejun; Tang, Xiaowen; Bao, Yangyi; Sun, Xiang; Huang, Yuhui; Tian, Fang; Liu, Xiaomei; Yang, Lin

    2017-01-01

    Background Nanobodies, named as VHHs (variable domain of heavy chain of HCAb [heavy-chain antibodies]), are derived from heavy-chain-only antibodies that circulate in sera of camelids. Their exceptional physicochemical properties, possibility of humanization, and unique antigen recognition properties make them excellent candidates for targeted delivery of biologically active components, including immunotoxins. In our previous efforts, we have successfully generated the monovalent and bivalent CD7 nanobody-based immunotoxins, which can effectively trigger the apoptosis of CD7-positive malignant cells. To pursue the possibility of translating those immunotoxins into clinics, we humanized the nanobody sequences (designated as dhuVHH6) as well as further truncated the Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE)-derived PE38 toxin to produce a more protease-resistant form, which is named as PE-LR, by deleting majority of PE domain II. Methods and results Three new types of immunotoxins, dhuVHH6-PE38, dVHH6-PE-LR, and dhuVHH6-PE-LR, were successfully constructed. These recombinant immunotoxins were expressed in Escherichia coli and showed that nanobody immunotoxins have the benefits of easy soluble expression in a prokaryotic expression system. Flow cytometry results revealed that all immunotoxins still maintained the ability to bind specifically to CD7-positive T lymphocyte strains without binding to CD7-negative control cells. Laser scanning confocal microscopy revealed that these proteins can be endocytosed into the cytoplasm after binding with CD7-positive cells and that this phenomenon was not observed in CD7-negative cells. WST-8 experiments showed that all immunotoxins retained the highly effective and specific growth inhibition activity in CD7-positive cell lines and primary T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells. Further in vivo animal model experiments showed that humanized dhuVHH6-PE38 immunotoxin can tolerate higher doses and extend the survival of NOD-Prkdcem26Il

  5. Early mortality in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a developing country: the role of malnutrition at diagnosis. A multicenter cohort MIGICCL study.

    PubMed

    Martín-Trejo, Jorge Alfonso; Núñez-Enríquez, Juan Carlos; Fajardo-Gutiérrez, Arturo; Medina-Sansón, Aurora; Flores-Lujano, Janet; Jiménez-Hernández, Elva; Amador-Sanchez, Raquel; Peñaloza-Gonzalez, José Gabriel; Alvarez-Rodriguez, Francisco Javier; Bolea-Murga, Victoria; Espinosa-Elizondo, Rosa Martha; de Diego Flores-Chapa, José; Pérez-Saldivar, Maria Luisa; Rodriguez-Zepeda, María Del Carmen; Dorantes-Acosta, Elisa María; Núñez-Villegas, Nora Nancy; Velazquez-Aviña, Martha Margarita; Torres-Nava, José Refugio; Reyes-Zepeda, Nancy Carolina; González-Bonilla, César Raúl; Flores-Villegas, Luz Victoria; Rangel-López, Angélica; Rivera-Luna, Roberto; Paredes-Aguilera, Rogelio; Cárdenas-Cardós, Rocío; Martínez-Avalos, Armando; Gil-Hernández, Ana Elena; Duarte-Rodríguez, David Aldebarán; Mejía-Aranguré, Juan Manuel

    2017-04-01

    The role of malnutrition at diagnosis as a predictor of early mortality in Mexican leukemia children remains controversial. The objective of present study was to investigate whether malnutrition was a predictor of early mortality during the first year of treatment in Mexican acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) children through the first population-based study. A total of 794 newly diagnosed ALL pediatric patients from public hospitals of Mexico City were enrolled. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was constructed and adjusted by patient's age at diagnosis, gender, hospital of treatment, and socioeconomic status. Early mortality was high (12.1%) and malnutrition by different indicators was not associated with mortality at induction phase and at 6th month; a high risk of dying (RR = 2.08; 95% CI: 1.08-4.01) was observed in the group of malnourished children with a high-risk ALL.

  6. Unusually long survival after autografting in second partial remission of translocation t(4;11) acute infant leukemia.

    PubMed

    Emminger, W; Emminger-Schmidmeier, W; Ambros, P; Haas, O A; Höcker, P; Köller, U; Gadner, H

    1991-10-01

    About 70% of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia may be cured by conventional chemotherapy. The prognosis is considerably worse in infant leukemia with a translocation t(4;11). We report an infant with a diagnosis of cytochemically undifferentiated acute hybrid leukemia (pre pre B-ALL coexpressing one myelomonocytic marker) and t(4;11). Initial clinical presentation and the course of the disease were typical for t(4;11) acute leukemia. After an early hematologic relapse intensive chemotherapy resulted only in a second partial remission 7 months after initial diagnosis. Subsequent bone marrow transplantation with 16 mg/kg busulfan and 200 mg/kg cyclophosphamide followed by the infusion of autologous purged bone marrow resulted in a continuous second remission which has lasted 46 months so far.

  7. Growth factor independence-1 antagonizes a p53-induced DNA damage response pathway in lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Khandanpour, Cyrus; Phelan, James D.; Vassen, Lothar; Schütte, Judith; Chen, Riyan; Horman, Shane R.; Gaudreau, Marie-Claude; Krongold, Joseph; Zhu, Jinfang; Paul, William E.; Dührsen, Ulrich; Göttgens, Bertie; Grimes, H. Leighton; Möröy, Tarik

    2013-01-01

    Summary Most patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) fail current treatments highlighting the need for better therapies. Since oncogenic signaling activates a p53-dependent DNA-damage response and apoptosis, leukemic cells must devise appropriate countermeasures. We show here that growth factor independence 1 (Gfi1) can serve such a function, since Gfi1 ablation exacerbates p53 responses, and lowers the threshold for p53-induced cell death. Specifically, Gfi1 restricts p53 activity and expression of pro-apoptotic p53 targets such as Bax, Noxa (Pmaip1) and Puma (Bbc3). Subsequently, Gfi1 ablation cures mice from leukemia and limits the expansion of primary human T-ALL xenografts in mice. This suggests that targeting Gfi1 could improve the prognosis of patients with T-ALL or other lymphoid leukemias. PMID:23410974

  8. miR-187-5p Regulates Cell Growth and Apoptosis in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia via DKK2.

    PubMed

    Lou, Ye; Liu, Lei; Zhan, Lihui; Wang, Xuewei; Fan, Hua

    2016-01-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy and causes a high rate of mortality in affected adults. Many subtypes of ALL exist with disruptions in distinct genetic pathways, including those regulated by miRNAs. Here we identify miR-187-5p as being highly upregulated in B-cell ALL and a driver of cellular proliferation and suppressor of apoptosis. We show that miR-187-5p directly targets the 3'-UTR of DKK2 to mediate these effects. We further determine that inhibition of DKK2 by miR-187-5p in Nalm-6 B cells leads to inappropriate activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Together, these findings reveal that the miR-187-5p-DKK2 pathway regulates Wnt/β-catenin signaling, cell growth, and apoptosis. Our findings provide the first evidence of a role for miR-187-5p in promotion of B-cell ALL.

  9. Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in Three Pediatric Cases with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Case Series and Review of the Literature.

    PubMed

    Demir, Sevliya Öcal; Çeliker, Hande; Karaaslan, Ayşe; Kadayifci, Eda Kepenekli; Akkoç, Gülşen; Atıcı, Serkan; Yakut, Nurhayat; Şenay, Emel; Kazokoğlu, Haluk; Koç, Ahmet; Bakır, Mustafa; Soysal, Ahmet

    2016-11-22

    Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is typically diagnosed in patient with AIDS and those who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant. However, it may develop in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who have not undergone hematopoietic cell transplantation. To increase awareness of CMV retinitis in this group, we describe 3 patients ages 3, 9, and 12, with ALL who developed CMV retinitis. The diagnosis of CMV retinitis was made on the basis of ophthalmological findings suggesting typical retinal lesions. In 2 cases, CMV DNAemia was present, while in 1 patient CMV DNA was detected only in vitreous fluid using the PCR technique. All cases were treated with intravenous ganciclovir for 2 or 3 weeks as induction therapy, followed by oral valganciclovir prophylaxis. Initially, active retinitis lesions resolved in all cases; however, in 1 patient CMV retinitis relapsed 3 times during follow-up. In this case, by using foscarnet therapy, satisfactory responses were achieved and the progression of CMV retinitis lesions stopped and eventually regressed.

  10. Detection of a new heterozygous germline ETV6 mutation in a case with hyperdiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Duployez, Nicolas; Abou Chahla, Wadih; Lejeune, Sophie; Marceau-Renaut, Alice; Letizia, Guillaume; Boyer, Thomas; Geffroy, Sandrine; Peyrouze, Pauline; Grardel, Nathalie; Nelken, Brigitte; Michel, Gérard; Bertrand, Yves; Preudhomme, Claude

    2018-01-01

    ETV6 is a target of recurrent aberrations in sporadic and familial acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Here, we report on a new pedigree with a germline ETV6 mutation in which the index patient and his father developed high hyperdiploid (HeH) ALL and polycythemia vera at age 13 and 51, respectively. The index patient achieved durable complete remission without transplantation but had persistent moderate thrombocytopenia without bleeding tendency. To determine the prevalence of ETV6 alterations in HeH-ALL, we screened 81 unrelated subjects with HeH-ALL by single nucleotide polymorphism array and high-throughput sequencing for the ETV6 gene. Overall, ETV6 microdeletions and mutations were identified in 9% of cases, all of which were somatic and considered as secondary events. Apart from the index patient, no germline ETV6 aberration was identified. Finally, we reviewed the literature for ETV6 germline aberrations and predispositions to ALL. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  11. Phloridzin docosahexaenoate, a novel flavonoid derivative, suppresses growth and induces apoptosis in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.

    PubMed

    Arumuggam, Niroshaathevi; Melong, Nicole; Too, Catherine Kl; Berman, Jason N; Rupasinghe, Hp Vasantha

    2017-01-01

    The overall clinical outcome in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) can be improved by minimizing risk for treatment failure using effective pharmacological adjuvants. Phloridzin (PZ), a flavonoid precursor found in apple peels, was acylated with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) yielding a novel ester known as phloridzin docosahexaenoate (PZ-DHA). Here, we have studied the cytotoxic effects of PZ-DHA on human leukemia cells using in vitro and in vivo models. The inhibitory effects of PZ-DHA were tested on human Jurkat T-ALL cells in comparison to K562 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells and non-malignant murine T-cells. PZ-DHA, not PZ or DHA alone, reduced cell viability and ATP levels, increased intracellular LDH release, and caused extensive morphological alterations in both Jurkat and K562 cells. PZ-DHA also inhibited cell proliferation, and selectively induced apoptosis in Jurkat and K562 cells while sparing normal murine T-cells. The cytotoxic effects of PZ-DHA on Jurkat cells were associated with caspase activation, DNA fragmentation, and selective down-regulation of STAT3 phosphorylation. PZ-DHA significantly inhibited Jurkat cell proliferation in zebrafish larvae; however, the proliferation of K562 cells was not affected in vivo . We propose that PZ-DHA-induced cytotoxic response is selective towards T-ALL in the presence of a tumor-stromal microenvironment. Prospective studies evaluating the combinatorial effects of PZ-DHA with conventional chemotherapy for T-ALL are underway.

  12. Phloridzin docosahexaenoate, a novel flavonoid derivative, suppresses growth and induces apoptosis in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

    PubMed Central

    Arumuggam, Niroshaathevi; Melong, Nicole; Too, Catherine KL; Berman, Jason N; Rupasinghe, HP Vasantha

    2017-01-01

    The overall clinical outcome in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) can be improved by minimizing risk for treatment failure using effective pharmacological adjuvants. Phloridzin (PZ), a flavonoid precursor found in apple peels, was acylated with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) yielding a novel ester known as phloridzin docosahexaenoate (PZ-DHA). Here, we have studied the cytotoxic effects of PZ-DHA on human leukemia cells using in vitro and in vivo models. The inhibitory effects of PZ-DHA were tested on human Jurkat T-ALL cells in comparison to K562 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells and non-malignant murine T-cells. PZ-DHA, not PZ or DHA alone, reduced cell viability and ATP levels, increased intracellular LDH release, and caused extensive morphological alterations in both Jurkat and K562 cells. PZ-DHA also inhibited cell proliferation, and selectively induced apoptosis in Jurkat and K562 cells while sparing normal murine T-cells. The cytotoxic effects of PZ-DHA on Jurkat cells were associated with caspase activation, DNA fragmentation, and selective down-regulation of STAT3 phosphorylation. PZ-DHA significantly inhibited Jurkat cell proliferation in zebrafish larvae; however, the proliferation of K562 cells was not affected in vivo. We propose that PZ-DHA-induced cytotoxic response is selective towards T-ALL in the presence of a tumor-stromal microenvironment. Prospective studies evaluating the combinatorial effects of PZ-DHA with conventional chemotherapy for T-ALL are underway. PMID:29312799

  13. Adolescents and Young Adults with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Impact of Care at Specialized Cancer Centers on Survival Outcome

    PubMed Central

    Wolfson, Julie; Sun, Can-Lan; Wyatt, Laura; Stock, Wendy; Bhatia, Smita

    2017-01-01

    Background Adolescents and young adults (AYA: 15-39y) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) experience inferior survival when compared to children. Impact of care at NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCC; or Children's Oncology Group sites [COG]) on survival disparities remains unstudied. Methods Using the Los Angeles Cancer registry, we identified 1,870 ALL or AML patients between 1 and 39y at diagnosis. Cox regression analyses assessed risk of mortality; younger age+CCC/COG served as the referent group. Logistic regression was used to determine odds of care at CCC/COG, adjusting for variables above. Results ALL outcome: AYAs at non-CCC/COG experienced inferior survival (15-21y: HR=1.9, p=0.005; 22-29y: HR=2.6, p<0.001; 30-39y: HR=3.0, p<0.001). Outcome at CCC/COG was comparable between children and young AYAs (15-21y: HR=1.3, p=0.3; 22-29y: HR=1.2, p=0.2) but was inferior for 30-39yo (HR=3.4, p<0.001). AML outcome: AYAs at non-CCC/COG experienced inferior outcome (15-21y: HR=1.8, p=0.02; 22-39y: HR=1.4, p=0.06). Outcome at CCC/COG was comparable between children and 15-21yo (HR=1.3, p=0.4) but was inferior for 22-39yo (HR=1.7, p=0.05). Access: 15-21yo were less likely to use CCC/COG than children (p<0.001). In 22-39yo, public/uninsured (ALL: p=0.004; AML<0.001), African-American/Hispanics (ALL: p=0.03), and 30-39yo (ALL: p=0.03) were less likely to use CCC/COG. Conclusions Poor survival in AYAs with ALL and AML is mitigated by care at CCC/COG. Barriers to CCC/COG care include public/uninsured, and African-American/Hispanic race/ethnicity. Impact Care at CCC/COG explains, in part, inferior outcomes in AYAs with ALL and AML. Key sociodemographic factors serve as barriers to care at specialized centers. PMID:28209594

  14. Mutations in epigenetic regulators are involved in acute lymphoblastic leukemia relapse following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

    PubMed Central

    Lai, Xiaoyu; Li, Caihua; Shi, Jimin; Tan, Yamin; Fu, Shan; Wang, Yebo; Zhu, Ni; He, Jingsong; Zheng, Weiyan; Yu, Xiaohong; Cai, Zhen; Huang, He

    2016-01-01

    Although steady improvements to chemotherapeutic treatments has helped cure 80% of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases, chemotherapy has proven to be less effective in treating the majority of adult patients, leaving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) as the primary adult treatment option. Nevertheless relapse are the leading cause of death following allo-HSCT. The genetic pathogenesis of relapse following allo-HSCT in Philadelphia chromosome- negative ALL (Ph− ALL) remains unexplored. We performed longitudinal whole-exome sequencing analysis in three adult patients with Ph− B-cell ALL (Ph− B-ALL) on samples collected from diagnosis to relapse after allo-HSCT. Based on these data, we performed target gene sequencing on 23 selected genes in 58 adult patients undergoing allo-HSCT with Ph− B-ALL. Our results revealed a significant enrichment of mutations in epigenetic regulators from relapsed samples, with recurrent somatic mutations in SETD2, CREBBP, KDM6A and NR3C1. The relapsed samples were also enriched in signaling factor mutations, including KRAS, PTPN21, MYC and USP54. Furthermore, we are the first to reveal the clonal evolution patterns during leukemia relapse after allo-HSCT. Cells present in relapsed specimens were genetically related to the diagnosed tumor, these cells therefore arose from either an existing subclone that was not eradicated by allo-HSCT therapy, or from the same progenitor that acquired new mutations. In some cases, however, it is possible that leukemia recurrence following allo-HSCT could result from a secondary malignancy with a distinct set of mutations. We identified novel genetic causes of leukemia relapse after allo-HSCT using the largest generated data set to date from adult patients with Ph− B-ALL. PMID:26527318

  15. Mutations in epigenetic regulators are involved in acute lymphoblastic leukemia relapse following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

    PubMed

    Xiao, Haowen; Wang, Li-Mengmeng; Luo, Yi; Lai, Xiaoyu; Li, Caihua; Shi, Jimin; Tan, Yamin; Fu, Shan; Wang, Yebo; Zhu, Ni; He, Jingsong; Zheng, Weiyan; Yu, Xiaohong; Cai, Zhen; Huang, He

    2016-01-19

    Although steady improvements to chemotherapeutic treatments has helped cure 80% of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases, chemotherapy has proven to be less effective in treating the majority of adult patients, leaving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) as the primary adult treatment option. Nevertheless relapse are the leading cause of death following allo-HSCT. The genetic pathogenesis of relapse following allo-HSCT in Philadelphia chromosome- negative ALL (Ph- ALL) remains unexplored. We performed longitudinal whole-exome sequencing analysis in three adult patients with Ph- B-cell ALL (Ph- B-ALL) on samples collected from diagnosis to relapse after allo-HSCT. Based on these data, we performed target gene sequencing on 23 selected genes in 58 adult patients undergoing allo-HSCT with Ph- B-ALL. Our results revealed a significant enrichment of mutations in epigenetic regulators from relapsed samples, with recurrent somatic mutations in SETD2, CREBBP, KDM6A and NR3C1. The relapsed samples were also enriched in signaling factor mutations, including KRAS, PTPN21, MYC and USP54. Furthermore, we are the first to reveal the clonal evolution patterns during leukemia relapse after allo-HSCT. Cells present in relapsed specimens were genetically related to the diagnosed tumor, these cells therefore arose from either an existing subclone that was not eradicated by allo-HSCT therapy, or from the same progenitor that acquired new mutations. In some cases, however, it is possible that leukemia recurrence following allo-HSCT could result from a secondary malignancy with a distinct set of mutations. We identified novel genetic causes of leukemia relapse after allo-HSCT using the largest generated data set to date from adult patients with Ph- B-ALL.

  16. Diagnostic value of CD117 in differential diagnosis of acute leukemias.

    PubMed

    Ahmadi, Abbas; Poorfathollah, Ali-Akbar; Aghaiipour, Mahnaz; Rezaei, Mansour; Nikoo-ghoftar, Mahin; Abdi, Mohammad; Gharib, Alireza; Amini, Amir

    2014-07-01

    C-kit receptor (CD117) and its ligand, stem cell factor, play a key role in normal hematopoiesis. It has been demonstrated that its expression extremely increases in leukemias with myeloid commitment. We analyzed findings on CD117 expression together with other myeloid related markers in 203 de novo acute leukemias, referred to Iranian immunophenotyping centers: Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO) and Baghiatallah Hospital (BH). All cases were characterized based on the French American British cooperative group (FAB) and European Group for Immunological Classification of Leukemias (EGIL). The cases comprised of 111 acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), 86 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and 6 acute undifferentiated leukemia (AUL). CD117 was positive in 75 % of AML and 50 % of AUL, whereas none of the ALL cases was positive for this marker. Although CD117 was positive in 100 % of M5a cases, no M5b positive was found (p = 0.036). The calculated specificity for myeloid involvement was 100 % for CD117 and CD33, and 98 % for CD13 and CD15 (p < 0.001). The calculated sensitivity for myeloid involvement was 83, 76, 64, and 41 % for CD13, CD117, CD33, and CD15, respectively (p < 0.001). We concluded that CD117 expression is a specific and rather sensitive marker for differential diagnosis between AML and ALL, and except for M5 subtypes, it fails to determine FAB subtypes; lack of expression in M5 can identify M5b. Therefore, it should be included in the routine primary panel for diagnosis of acute leukemias.

  17. Blinatumomab versus Chemotherapy for Advanced Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Kantarjian, Hagop; Stein, Anthony; Gökbuget, Nicola; Fielding, Adele K; Schuh, Andre C; Ribera, Josep-Maria; Wei, Andrew; Dombret, Hervé; Foà, Robin; Bassan, Renato; Arslan, Önder; Sanz, Miguel A; Bergeron, Julie; Demirkan, Fatih; Lech-Maranda, Ewa; Rambaldi, Alessandro; Thomas, Xavier; Horst, Heinz-August; Brüggemann, Monika; Klapper, Wolfram; Wood, Brent L; Fleishman, Alex; Nagorsen, Dirk; Holland, Christopher; Zimmerman, Zachary; Topp, Max S

    2017-03-02

    Blinatumomab, a bispecific monoclonal antibody construct that enables CD3-positive T cells to recognize and eliminate CD19-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) blasts, was approved for use in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL on the basis of single-group trials that showed efficacy and manageable toxic effects. In this multi-institutional phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned adults with heavily pretreated B-cell precursor ALL, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive either blinatumomab or standard-of-care chemotherapy. The primary end point was overall survival. Of the 405 patients who were randomly assigned to receive blinatumomab (271 patients) or chemotherapy (134 patients), 376 patients received at least one dose. Overall survival was significantly longer in the blinatumomab group than in the chemotherapy group. The median overall survival was 7.7 months in the blinatumomab group and 4.0 months in the chemotherapy group (hazard ratio for death with blinatumomab vs. chemotherapy, 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55 to 0.93; P=0.01). Remission rates within 12 weeks after treatment initiation were significantly higher in the blinatumomab group than in the chemotherapy group, both with respect to complete remission with full hematologic recovery (34% vs. 16%, P<0.001) and with respect to complete remission with full, partial, or incomplete hematologic recovery (44% vs. 25%, P<0.001). Treatment with blinatumomab resulted in a higher rate of event-free survival than that with chemotherapy (6-month estimates, 31% vs. 12%; hazard ratio for an event of relapse after achieving a complete remission with full, partial, or incomplete hematologic recovery, or death, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.71; P<0.001), as well as a longer median duration of remission (7.3 vs. 4.6 months). A total of 24% of the patients in each treatment group underwent allogeneic stem-cell transplantation. Adverse events of grade 3 or higher were reported in 87% of the patients in the

  18. Safety and tolerability of intrathecal liposomal cytarabine as central nervous system prophylaxis in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Valentin, Angelika; Troppan, Katharina; Pfeilstöcker, Michael; Nösslinger, Thomas; Linkesch, Werner; Neumeister, Peter

    2014-08-01

    Central nervous system recurrence in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) occurs in up to 15% of patients and is frequently associated with poor outcome. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a slow-release liposomal formulation of cytarabine for intrathecal (IT) meningeal prophylaxis in patients suffering from ALL. Forty patients aged 20-77 years (median 36) were preventively treated with a total of 96 (range 1-6) single doses containing 50 mg of liposomal cytarabine on a compassionate use basis. After a median observation period of 23 months (range 2-118) only two patients experienced a combined medullary-leptomeningeal disease recurrence after primary diagnosis. Except for headache grade 2 in two patients, no specific toxicity attributable to IT liposomal cytarabine application was noted. Long-term neurological side effects were not observed. IT liposomal cytarabine therapy with concomitant dexamethasone appears to be feasible and well tolerated.

  19. The activity of the inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase affects toxicity of 6-mercaptopurine during maintenance therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Japanese children.

    PubMed

    Tanaka, Yoichi; Manabe, Atsushi; Nakadate, Hisaya; Kondoh, Kensuke; Nakamura, Kozue; Koh, Katsuyoshi; Utano, Tomoyuki; Kikuchi, Akira; Komiyama, Takako

    2012-05-01

    The association between inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPA) activity and toxicity of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) was retrospectively evaluated in 65 Japanese children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Patients with an ITPA activity of less than 126 μmol/h/gHb presented with hepatotoxicity more frequently than those with higher ITPA activity (p<0.01). The average 6-MP dose during maintenance therapy administered to two patients with the ITPA deficiency was lower than that given to the other patients. Measuring ITPA activity is important for ensuring the safety of maintenance therapy for Asians with ALL because thiopurine S-methyl transferase mutations are rare in the Asian population. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Pediatric precursor B acute lymphoblastic leukemia: are T helper cells the missing link in the infectious etiology theory?

    PubMed

    Bürgler, Simone; Nadal, David

    2017-12-01

    Precursor B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL), the most common childhood malignancy, arises from an expansion of malignant B cell precursors in the bone marrow. Epidemiological studies suggest that infections or immune responses to infections may promote such an expansion and thus BCP-ALL development. Nevertheless, a specific pathogen responsible for this process has not been identified. BCP-ALL cells critically depend on interactions with the bone marrow microenvironment. The bone marrow is also home to memory T helper (Th) cells that have previously expanded during an immune response in the periphery. In secondary lymphoid organs, Th cells can interact with malignant cells of mature B cell origin, while such interactions between Th cells and malignant immature B cell in the bone marrow have not been described yet. Nevertheless, literature supports a model where Th cells-expanded during an infection in early childhood-migrate to the bone marrow and support BCP-ALL cells as they support normal B cells. Further research is required to mechanistically confirm this model and to elucidate the interaction pathways between leukemia cells and cells of the tumor microenvironment. As benefit, targeting these interactions could be included in current treatment regimens to increase therapeutic efficiency and to reduce relapses.

  1. Essential role for cyclic-AMP responsive element binding protein 1 (CREB) in the survival of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    van der Sligte, Naomi E; Kampen, Kim R; ter Elst, Arja; Scherpen, Frank J G; Meeuwsen-de Boer, Tiny G J; Guryev, Victor; van Leeuwen, Frank N; Kornblau, Steven M; de Bont, Eveline S J M

    2015-06-20

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) relapse remains a leading cause of cancer related death in children, therefore, new therapeutic options are needed. Recently, we showed that a peptide derived from Cyclic-AMP Responsive Element Binding Protein (CREB) was highly phosphorylated in pediatric leukemias. In this study, we determined CREB phosphorylation and mRNA levels showing that CREB expression was significantly higher in ALL compared to normal bone marrow (phosphorylation: P < 0.0001, mRNA: P = 0.004). High CREB and phospho-CREB expression was correlated with a lower median overall survival in a cohort of 140 adult ALL patients. ShRNA mediated knockdown of CREB in ALL cell lines blocked leukemic cell growth by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Gene expression array analysis showed downregulation of CREB target genes regulating cell proliferation and glucose metabolism and upregulation of apoptosis inducing genes. Similar to CREB knockdown, the CREB inhibitor KG-501 decreased leukemic cell viability and induced apoptosis in ALL cell lines, as well as primary T-ALL samples, with cases showing high phospho-CREB levels being more sensitive than those with lower phospho-CREB levels. Together, these in vitro findings support an important role for CREB in the survival of ALL cells and identify this transcription factor as a potential target for treatment.

  2. Visual Attention and Math Performance in Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Richard, Annette E; Hodges, Elise K; Heinrich, Kimberley P

    2018-01-24

    Attentional and academic difficulties, particularly in math, are common in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Of cognitive deficits experienced by survivors of childhood ALL, attention deficits may be particularly responsive to intervention. However, it is unknown whether deficits in particular aspects of attention are associated with deficits in math skills. The current study investigated relationships between math calculation skills, performance on an objective measure of sustained attention, and parent- and teacher-reported attention difficulties. Twenty-four survivors of childhood ALL (Mage = 13.5 years, SD= 2.8 years) completed a computerized measure of sustained attention and response control and a written measure of math calculation skills in the context of a comprehensive clinical neuropsychological evaluation. Parent and teacher ratings of inattention and impulsivity were obtained. Visual response control and visual attention accounted for 26.4% of the variance observed among math performance scores after controlling for IQ (p < .05). Teacher-rated, but not parent-rated, inattention was significantly negatively correlated with math calculation scores. Consistency of responses to visual stimuli on a computerized measure of attention is a unique predictor of variance in math performance among survivors of childhood ALL. Objective testing of visual response control, rather than parent-rated attentional problems, may have clinical utility in identifying ALL survivors at risk for math difficulties. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  3. The Role of Histone Protein Modifications and Mutations in Histone Modifiers in Pediatric B-Cell Progenitor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Janczar, Szymon; Janczar, Karolina; Pastorczak, Agata; Harb, Hani; Paige, Adam J. W.; Zalewska-Szewczyk, Beata; Danilewicz, Marian; Mlynarski, Wojciech

    2017-01-01

    While cancer has been long recognized as a disease of the genome, the importance of epigenetic mechanisms in neoplasia was acknowledged more recently. The most active epigenetic marks are DNA methylation and histone protein modifications and they are involved in basic biological phenomena in every cell. Their role in tumorigenesis is stressed by recent unbiased large-scale studies providing evidence that several epigenetic modifiers are recurrently mutated or frequently dysregulated in multiple cancers. The interest in epigenetic marks is especially due to the fact that they are potentially reversible and thus druggable. In B-cell progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) there is a relative paucity of reports on the role of histone protein modifications (acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation) as compared to acute myeloid leukemia, T-cell ALL, or other hematologic cancers, and in this setting chromatin modifications are relatively less well studied and reviewed than DNA methylation. In this paper, we discuss the biomarker associations and evidence for a driver role of dysregulated global and loci-specific histone marks, as well as mutations in epigenetic modifiers in BCP-ALL. Examples of chromatin modifiers recurrently mutated/disrupted in BCP-ALL and associated with disease outcomes include MLL1, CREBBP, NSD2, and SETD2. Altered histone marks and histone modifiers and readers may play a particular role in disease chemoresistance and relapse. We also suggest that epigenetic regulation of B-cell differentiation may have parallel roles in leukemogenesis. PMID:28054944

  4. The novel calicheamicin-conjugated CD22 antibody inotuzumab ozogamicin (CMC-544) effectively kills primary pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.

    PubMed

    de Vries, J F; Zwaan, C M; De Bie, M; Voerman, J S A; den Boer, M L; van Dongen, J J M; van der Velden, V H J

    2012-02-01

    We investigated whether the newly developed antibody (Ab) -targeted therapy inotuzumab ozogamicin (CMC-544), consisting of a humanized CD22 Ab linked to calicheamicin, is effective in pediatric primary B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) cells in vitro, and analyzed which parameters determine its efficacy. CMC-544 induced dose-dependent cell kill in the majority of BCP-ALL cells, although IC(50) values varied substantially (median 4.8 ng/ml, range 0.1-1000 ng/ml at 48 h). The efficacy of CMC-544 was highly dependent on calicheamicin sensitivity and CD22/CMC-544 internalization capacity of BCP-ALL cells, but hardly on basal and renewed CD22 expression. Although CD22 expression was essential for uptake of CMC-544, a repetitive loop of CD22 saturation, CD22/CMC-544 internalization and renewed CD22 expression was not required to achieve intracellular threshold levels of calicheamicin sufficient for efficient CMC-544-induced apoptosis in BCP-ALL cells. This is in contrast to studies with the comparable CD33 immunotoxin gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, in which complete and prolonged CD33 saturation was required for apoptosis induction. These data suggest that CMC-544 treatment may result in higher response rates in ALL compared with response rates obtained in AML with Mylotarg, and that therefore clinical studies in ALL, preferably with multiple low CMC-544 dosages, are warranted.

  5. Interphase FISH for BCR-ABL1 rearrangement on neutrophils: A decisive tool to discriminate a lymphoid blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia from a de novo BCR-ABL1 positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Balducci, Estelle; Loosveld, Marie; Rahal, Ilhem; Boudjarane, John; Alazard, Emilie; Missirian, Chantal; Lafage-Pochitaloff, Marina; Michel, Gérard; Zattara, Hélène

    2018-02-01

    Discrimination between lymphoid blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and de novo BCR-ABL1 positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represents a diagnostic challenge because this distinction has a major incidence on the management of patients. Here, we report an uncommon pediatric case of ALL with cryptic ins(22;9)(q11;q34q34) and p190-type BCR-ABL1 transcript. We performed interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for BCR-ABL1 rearrangement on blood neutrophils, which was positive consistent with the diagnosis of lymphoid blast crisis of CML. This case illustrates the major interest of interphase FISH for BCR-ABL1 rearrangement on blood neutrophils as a decisive method to discriminate a lymphoid blast crisis of CML from a de novo BCR-ABL1 positive ALL. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  6. Application of the whole-transcriptome shotgun sequencing approach to the study of Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Iacobucci, I; Ferrarini, A; Sazzini, M; Giacomelli, E; Lonetti, A; Xumerle, L; Ferrari, A; Papayannidis, C; Malerba, G; Luiselli, D; Boattini, A; Garagnani, P; Vitale, A; Soverini, S; Pane, F; Baccarani, M; Delledonne, M; Martinelli, G

    2012-01-01

    Although the pathogenesis of BCR–ABL1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is mainly related to the expression of the BCR–ABL1 fusion transcript, additional cooperating genetic lesions are supposed to be involved in its development and progression. Therefore, in an attempt to investigate the complex landscape of mutations, changes in expression profiles and alternative splicing (AS) events that can be observed in such disease, the leukemia transcriptome of a BCR–ABL1-positive ALL patient at diagnosis and at relapse was sequenced using a whole-transcriptome shotgun sequencing (RNA-Seq) approach. A total of 13.9 and 15.8 million sequence reads was generated from de novo and relapsed samples, respectively, and aligned to the human genome reference sequence. This led to the identification of five validated missense mutations in genes involved in metabolic processes (DPEP1, TMEM46), transport (MVP), cell cycle regulation (ABL1) and catalytic activity (CTSZ), two of which resulted in acquired relapse variants. In all, 6390 and 4671 putative AS events were also detected, as well as expression levels for 18 315 and 18 795 genes, 28% of which were differentially expressed in the two disease phases. These data demonstrate that RNA-Seq is a suitable approach for identifying a wide spectrum of genetic alterations potentially involved in ALL. PMID:22829256

  7. Factors Associated with Long-Term Risk of Relapse after Unrelated Cord Blood Transplantation in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Remission.

    PubMed

    Page, Kristin M; Labopin, Myriam; Ruggeri, Annalisa; Michel, Gerard; Diaz de Heredia, Cristina; O'Brien, Tracey; Picardi, Alessandra; Ayas, Mouhab; Bittencourt, Henrique; Vora, Ajay J; Troy, Jesse; Bonfim, Carmen; Volt, Fernanda; Gluckman, Eliane; Bader, Peter; Kurtzberg, Joanne; Rocha, Vanderson

    2017-08-01

    For pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), relapse is an important cause of treatment failure after unrelated cord blood transplant (UCBT). Compared with other donor sources, relapse is similar or even reduced after UCBT despite less graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We performed a retrospective analysis to identify risk factors associated with the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse after UCBT. In this retrospective, registry-based study, we examined the outcomes of 640 children (<18 years) with ALL in first complete remission (CR1; n = 257, 40%) or second complete remission (CR2; n = 383, 60%) who received myeloablative conditioning followed by a single-unit UCBT from 2000 to 2012. Most received antithymocyte globulin (88%) or total body irradiation (TBI; 69%), and cord blood grafts were primarily mismatched at 1 (50%) or 2 + (34%) HLA loci. Considering patients in CR1, the rates of 5-year overall survival (OS), leukemia-free survival (LFS), and relapse were 59%, 52%, and 23%, respectively. In multivariate analysis (MVA), acute GVHD (grades II to IV) and TBI protected against relapse. In patients in CR2, rates of 5-year OS, LFS, and the cumulative incidence of relapse were 46%, 44%, and 28%, respectively. In MVA, longer duration from diagnosis to UCBT (≥30 months) and TBI were associated with decreased relapse risk. Importantly, receiving a fully HLA matched graft was a strong risk factor for increased relapse in MVA. An exploratory analysis of all 640 patients supported the important association between the presence of acute GVHD and less relapse but also demonstrated an increased risk of nonrelapse mortality. In conclusion, the impact of GVHD as a graft-versus-leukemia marker is evident in pediatric ALL after UCBT. Strategies that promote graft-versus-leukemia while harnessing GVHD should be further investigated. Copyright © 2017 The American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights

  8. Dietary resveratrol does not delay engraftment, sensitize to vincristine or inhibit growth of high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells in NOD/SCID mice.

    PubMed

    Zunino, Susan J; Storms, David H; Newman, John W; Pedersen, Theresa L; Keen, Carl L; Ducore, Jonathan M

    2012-12-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with translocation t(4;11) is a high-risk leukemia found in 60-85% of infants with ALL and is often refractory to conventional chemotherapeutics after relapse. To evaluate the efficacy of dietary resveratrol in vivo, 5-week-old NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/J mice were fed a control diet or a diet containing 0.2% w/w resveratrol. After 3 weeks of dietary treatment, mice were engrafted with the human t(4;11) ALL line SEM by tail vein injection. Engraftment was monitored by evaluating the presence of human CD19+ cells in peripheral blood using flow cytometry. Relative to control diet, dietary resveratrol did not delay the engraftment of the leukemia cells. To determine if dietary resveratrol could increase efficacy of a chemotherapeutic agent, vincristine was injected intraperitoneally into leukemic mice fed the control or supplemented diet. Survival curves and monitoring the percentage of human leukemia cells in peripheral blood showed that resveratrol did not inhibit leukemia cell growth or influence the activity of vincristine. Mass spectrometric analysis of mouse serum revealed that the majority of resveratrol was present as glucuronidated and sulfated metabolites. These data do not support the concept that dietary resveratrol has potential as a preventative agent against the growth of high-risk t(4;11) ALL.

  9. Dietary resveratrol does not delay engraftment, sensitize to vincristine or inhibit growth of high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells in NOD/SCID mice

    PubMed Central

    ZUNINO, SUSAN J.; STORMS, DAVID H.; NEWMAN, JOHN W.; PEDERSEN, THERESA L.; KEEN, CARL L.; DUCORE, JONATHAN M.

    2012-01-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with translocation t(4;11) is a high-risk leukemia found in 60–85% of infants with ALL and is often refractory to conventional chemotherapeutics after relapse. To evaluate the efficacy of dietary resveratrol in vivo, 5-week-old NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/J mice were fed a control diet or a diet containing 0.2% w/w resveratrol. After 3 weeks of dietary treatment, mice were engrafted with the human t(4;11) ALL line SEM by tail vein injection. Engraftment was monitored by evaluating the presence of human CD19+ cells in peripheral blood using flow cytometry. Relative to control diet, dietary resveratrol did not delay the engraftment of the leukemia cells. To determine if dietary resveratrol could increase efficacy of a chemotherapeutic agent, vincristine was injected intraperitoneally into leukemic mice fed the control or supplemented diet. Survival curves and monitoring the percentage of human leukemia cells in peripheral blood showed that resveratrol did not inhibit leukemia cell growth or influence the activity of vincristine. Mass spectrometric analysis of mouse serum revealed that the majority of resveratrol was present as glucuronidated and sulfated metabolites. These data do not support the concept that dietary resveratrol has potential as a preventative agent against the growth of high-risk t(4;11) ALL. PMID:23041950

  10. Genomic and transcriptional landscape of P2RY8-CRLF2-positive childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Vesely, C; Frech, C; Eckert, C; Cario, G; Mecklenbräuker, A; zur Stadt, U; Nebral, K; Kraler, F; Fischer, S; Attarbaschi, A; Schuster, M; Bock, C; Cavé, H; von Stackelberg, A; Schrappe, M; Horstmann, M A; Mann, G; Haas, O A; Panzer-Grümayer, R

    2017-01-01

    Children with P2RY8-CRLF2-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia have an increased relapse risk. Their mutational and transcriptional landscape, as well as the respective patterns at relapse remain largely elusive. We, therefore, performed an integrated analysis of whole-exome and RNA sequencing in 41 major clone fusion-positive cases including 19 matched diagnosis/relapse pairs. We detected a variety of frequently subclonal and highly instable JAK/STAT but also RTK/Ras pathway-activating mutations in 76% of cases at diagnosis and virtually all relapses. Unlike P2RY8-CRLF2 that was lost in 32% of relapses, all other genomic alterations affecting lymphoid development (58%) and cell cycle (39%) remained stable. Only IKZF1 alterations predominated in relapsing cases (P=0.001) and increased from initially 36 to 58% in matched cases. IKZF1’s critical role is further corroborated by its specific transcriptional signature comprising stem cell features with signs of impaired lymphoid differentiation, enhanced focal adhesion, activated hypoxia pathway, deregulated cell cycle and increased drug resistance. Our findings support the notion that P2RY8-CRLF2 is dispensable for relapse development and instead highlight the prominent rank of IKZF1 for relapse development by mediating self-renewal and homing to the bone marrow niche. Consequently, reverting aberrant IKAROS signaling or its disparate programs emerges as an attractive potential treatment option in these leukemias. PMID:27899802

  11. Health-related quality of life in Japanese children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during and after chemotherapy.

    PubMed

    Kobayashi, Kyoko; Nakagami-Yamaguchi, Etsuko; Hayakawa, Akira; Adachi, Souichi; Hara, Junichi; Tokimasa, Sadao; Ohta, Hideaki; Hashii, Yoshiko; Rikiishi, Takeshi; Sawada, Machiko; Kuriyama, Kikuko; Kohdera, Urara; Kamibeppu, Kiyoko; Kawasaki, Hirohide; Oda, Megumi; Hori, Hiroki

    2017-02-01

    Quality of life (QOL) as a treatment outcome has not yet been evaluated among patients receiving a specific treatment regimen by treatment phase in a consistent manner. This exploratory cross-sectional study evaluated the QOL of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receiving one of the most popular treatment regimens in Japan (Japan Association of Childhood Leukemia Study ALL-02 revised protocol). Children aged 5-18 years with newly diagnosed B-cell precursor ALL were included. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory ™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales (PedsQL-J) were completed by children with ALL and their siblings, as well as by age- and sex-matched healthy controls. PedsQL Cancer Module (PedsQL-C) scores were also collected from children with ALL. QOL in children with ALL of the consolidation phase group was significantly decreased compared with that of healthy controls, except in the area of emotional functioning. Regarding the maintenance phase group, QOL impairment was noted in the physical and school functioning, but no differences were noted in social functioning. The off-treatment group had a large effect size only for physical functioning, and the social functioning score was even better in children with ALL than in matched controls. QOL of children with ALL differed with treatment phase. Effect size varied with function and treatment phase. QOL may change with the progression of treatment, and the timing of these changes varied according to function and problem. © 2016 Japan Pediatric Society.

  12. Vorinostat With or Without Isotretinoin in Treating Young Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Solid Tumors, Lymphoma, or Leukemia

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2014-06-16

    Childhood Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (M3); Childhood Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor; Childhood Burkitt Lymphoma; Childhood Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Childhood Diffuse Large Cell Lymphoma; Childhood Immunoblastic Large Cell Lymphoma; Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Recurrent Childhood Grade III Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis; Recurrent Childhood Large Cell Lymphoma; Recurrent Childhood Lymphoblastic Lymphoma; Recurrent Childhood Medulloblastoma; Recurrent Childhood Small Noncleaved Cell Lymphoma; Recurrent Childhood Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor; Recurrent Neuroblastoma; Recurrent/Refractory Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma; Relapsing Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia; Unspecified Childhood Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific

  13. The effects of Dexamethasone on sleep in young children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Rosen, Gerald; Harris, Anne K.; Liu, Meixia; Dreyfus, Jill; Krueger, James; Messinger, Yoav H.

    2016-01-01

    Purpose Corticosteroids, which are a mainstay in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), have a well-documented adverse effect on sleep. We sought to characterize the effects of dexamethasone on sleep over an entire 28-day treatment cycle using actigraphy, an objective measure of sleep. Methods The sleep of 25 children aged 2–9 years (mean 4.5 years) with ALL treated with dexamethasone were evaluated during maintenance chemotherapy using a within-subject experimental design, actigraphy, and standardized questionnaires to assess sleep, sleep problems, and fatigue. Results During the five days of dexamethasone treatment, sleep time increased during the night (535 vs. 498 min; p = 0.004) and daytime napping increased the following day (14 vs. 0 min; p = 0.002), and the number of wake episodes during the night was lower (14 vs. 20; p = ≤ 0.001). However, when assessed individually, sleep-onset time, efficiency, and wake after sleep onset during the night were unchanged during dexamethasone treatment; when the cumulative effect of all of these factors was assessed, there was a statistically and clinically significant increase in nighttime sleep duration during dexamethasone treatment. Conclusions During the five days of treatment with dexamethasone, an increase in nighttime sleep as well as daytime napping was observed in young children with ALL. The increases in sleep duration return to baseline one day after the discontinuation of dexamethasone. PMID:25799940

  14. Identification of a novel functional JAK1 S646P mutation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Hu, Liangding; Ning, Hongmei; Jiang, Min; Wang, Danhong; Liu, Tingting; Zhang, Bin; Chen, Hu

    2017-01-01

    The survival rate of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is approaching 90%, while the prognosis of adults remains poor due to the limited therapeutic approaches. In order to identify new targets for ALL, we performed whole-exome sequencing on four adults with B-ALL and discovered a somatic JAK1 S646P mutation. Sanger sequencing of JAK1 was conducted on 53 ALL patients, and two cases exhibited A639G and P960S mutations separately. Functional studies demonstrated that only JAK1 S646P mutation could activate multiple signaling pathways, drive cytokine-independent cell growth, and promote proliferation of malignant cells in nude mice. Moreover, a high sensitivity to the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib was observed in S646P mutant model. Exploration in a total of 209 ALL cases showed that JAK1 mutations occur at a frequency of 10.5% in T-ALL (2/19) and 1.6% in B-ALL (3/190). Collectively, our results suggested that JAK1 S646P is an activating mutation in vitro and in vivo. JAK-STAT pathway might represent a promising therapeutic target for ALL. PMID:28410228

  15. Identification of a novel functional JAK1 S646P mutation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Li, Qian; Li, Botao; Hu, Liangding; Ning, Hongmei; Jiang, Min; Wang, Danhong; Liu, Tingting; Zhang, Bin; Chen, Hu

    2017-05-23

    The survival rate of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is approaching 90%, while the prognosis of adults remains poor due to the limited therapeutic approaches. In order to identify new targets for ALL, we performed whole-exome sequencing on four adults with B-ALL and discovered a somatic JAK1 S646P mutation. Sanger sequencing of JAK1 was conducted on 53 ALL patients, and two cases exhibited A639G and P960S mutations separately. Functional studies demonstrated that only JAK1 S646P mutation could activate multiple signaling pathways, drive cytokine-independent cell growth, and promote proliferation of malignant cells in nude mice. Moreover, a high sensitivity to the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib was observed in S646P mutant model. Exploration in a total of 209 ALL cases showed that JAK1 mutations occur at a frequency of 10.5% in T-ALL (2/19) and 1.6% in B-ALL (3/190). Collectively, our results suggested that JAK1 S646P is an activating mutation in vitro and in vivo. JAK-STAT pathway might represent a promising therapeutic target for ALL.

  16. Specific expression of novel long non-coding RNAs in high-hyperdiploid childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Drouin, Simon; Caron, Maxime; St-Onge, Pascal; Gioia, Romain; Richer, Chantal; Oualkacha, Karim; Droit, Arnaud; Sinnett, Daniel

    2017-01-01

    Pre-B cell childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pre-B cALL) is a heterogeneous disease involving many subtypes typically stratified using a combination of cytogenetic and molecular-based assays. These methods, although widely used, rely on the presence of known chromosomal translocations, which is a limiting factor. There is therefore a need for robust, sensitive, and specific molecular biomarkers unaffected by such limitations that would allow better risk stratification and consequently better clinical outcome. In this study we performed a transcriptome analysis of 56 pre-B cALL patients to identify expression signatures in different subtypes. In both protein-coding and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), we identified subtype-specific gene signatures distinguishing pre-B cALL subtypes, particularly in t(12;21) and hyperdiploid cases. The genes up-regulated in pre-B cALL subtypes were enriched in bivalent chromatin marks in their promoters. LncRNAs is a new and under-studied class of transcripts. The subtype-specific nature of lncRNAs suggests they may be suitable clinical biomarkers to guide risk stratification and targeted therapies in pre-B cALL patients. PMID:28346506

  17. Proteomic changes in a childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line during the adaptation to vincristine.

    PubMed

    Guzmán-Ortiz, Ana Laura; Aparicio-Ozores, Gerardo; Valle-Rios, Ricardo; Medina-Contreras, Oscar; Patiño-López, Genaro; Quezada, Héctor

    Relapse occurs in approximately 20% of Mexican patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In this group, chemoresistance may be one of the biggest challenges. An overview of complex cellular processes like drug tolerance can be achieved with proteomic studies. The B-lineage pediatric ALL cell line CCRF-SB was gradually exposed to the chemotherapeutic vincristine until proliferation was observed at 6nM, control cells were cultured in the absence of vincristine. The proteome from each group was analyzed by nanoHPLC coupled to an ESI-ion trap mass spectrometer. The identified proteins were grouped into overrepresented functional categories with the PANTHER classification system. We found 135 proteins exclusively expressed in the presence of vincristine. The most represented functional categories were: Toll receptor signaling pathway, Ras Pathway, B and T cell activation, CCKR signaling map, cytokine-mediated signaling pathway, and oxidative phosphorylation. Our study indicates that signal transduction and mitochondrial ATP production are essential during adaptation of leukemic cells to vincristine, these processes represent potential therapeutic targets. Copyright © 2017 Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez. Publicado por Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.

  18. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for isolated extramedullary relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children.

    PubMed

    Gabelli, Maria; Zecca, Marco; Messina, Chiara; Carraro, Elisa; Buldini, Barbara; Rovelli, Attilio Maria; Fagioli, Franca; Bertaina, Alice; Lanino, Edoardo; Favre, Claudio; Rabusin, Marco; Prete, Arcangelo; Ripaldi, Mimmo; Barberi, Walter; Porta, Fulvio; Caniglia, Maurizio; Santarone, Stella; D'Angelo, Paolo; Basso, Giuseppe; Locatelli, Franco

    2018-06-13

    Relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may occur in extramedullary sites, mainly central nervous system (CNS) and testis. Optimal post-remissional treatment for isolated extramedullary relapse (IEMR) is still controversial. We collected data of children treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for ALL IEMR from 1990 to 2015 in Italy. Among 281 patients, 167 had a relapse confined to CNS, 73 to testis, 14 to mediastinum, and 27 to other organs. Ninety-seven patients underwent autologous HSCT, 79 received allogeneic HSCT from a matched family donor, 75 from a matched unrelated donor, and 30 from an HLA-haploidentical donor. The 10-year overall survival was 56% and was not influenced by gender, ALL blast immune-phenotype, age, site of relapse, duration of first remission, and type of HSCT. In multivariable analysis, the only prognostic factors were disease status at HSCT and year of transplantation. Patients transplanted in third or subsequent complete remission (CR) had a risk of death 2.3 times greater than those in CR2. Children treated after 2000 had half the risk of death than those treated before that year. Our results suggest that both autologous and allogeneic HSCT may be considered for the treatment of pediatric ALL IEMR after the achievement of CR2.

  19. Three case reports of radiation-induced glioblastoma after complete remission of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Kajitani, Takumi; Kanamori, Masayuki; Saito, Ryuta; Watanabe, Yuko; Suzuki, Hiroyoshi; Watanabe, Mika; Kure, Shigeo; Tominaga, Teiji

    2018-04-01

    Radiation therapy is sometimes performed to control intracranial acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but may lead to radiation-induced malignant glioma. The clinical, radiological, histological, and molecular findings are described of three cases of radiation-induced glioblastoma after the treatment for ALL. They received radiation therapy at age 6-8 years. The latency from radiation therapy to the onset of radiation-induced glioblastoma was 5-10 years. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated diffuse lesions with multiple small enhanced lesions in all cases. Histological examination showed that the tumors consisted of mainly small round astrocytic atypical cells in one case, and astrocytic atypical cells with elongated cytoplasm and nuclear pleomorphism with small cell component in two cases. Microvascular proliferation was present in all cases. Immunohistochemical analysis for B-Raf V600E, and mutational analysis for the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1, IDH2, and H3F3A gene revealed the wild-type alleles in all three cases. The integrated diagnoses were IDH wild-type glioblastoma, and local irradiation and concomitant temozolomide were performed. After the initial treatment, significant shrinkage of the diffuse lesion and enhanced lesion was found in all cases. Radiation-induced glioblastoma occurring after the treatment for ALL had unique clinical, radiological, histological, and molecular characteristics in our three cases.

  20. Oxidative Stress, Motor Abilities, and Behavioral Adjustment in Children Treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Hockenberry, Marilyn J; Krull, Kevin R; Insel, Kathleen C; Harris, Lynnette L; Gundy, Patricia M; Adkins, Kristin B; Pasvogel, Alice E; Taylor, Olga A; Koerner, Kari M; Montgomery, David W; Ross, Adam K; Hill, Adam; Moore, Ida M

    2015-09-01

    To examine associations among oxidative stress, fine and visual-motor abilities, and behavioral adjustment in children receiving chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
. A prospective, repeated-measures design
. Two pediatric oncology settings in the southwestern United States. 89 children with ALL were followed from diagnosis to the end of chemotherapy. Serial cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected during scheduled lumbar punctures and analyzed for oxidative stress biomarkers. Children completed fine motor dexterity, visual processing speed, and visual-motor integration measures at three time points. Parents completed child behavior ratings at the same times. Oxidative stress, fine motor dexterity, visual processing, visual-motor integration, and behavioral adjustment
. Children with ALL had below-average fine motor dexterity, visual processing speed, and visual-motor integration following the induction phase of ALL therapy. By end of therapy, visual processing speed normalized, and fine motor dexterity and visual-motor integration remained below average. Oxidative stress measures correlated with fine motor dexterity and visual-motor integration. Decreased motor functioning was associated with increased hyperactivity and anxiety
. Oxidative stress occurs following chemo-therapy for childhood ALL and is related to impaired fine motor skills and visual symptoms
. Early intervention should be considered to prevent fine motor and visual-spatial deficits, as well as behavioral problems.

  1. [Cellular immunophenotypes in 97 adults with acute leukemia].

    PubMed

    Piedras, J; López-Karpovitch, X; Cárdenas, M R

    1997-01-01

    To analyze hematopoietic cell surface antigen reactivity in acute leukemia (AL) by flow cytometry and identify acute mixed-lineage leukemias (AMLL) employing the most widely accepted criteria. Ninety seven patients with de novo AL were studied. Cell surface antigens were investigated with monoclonal antibodies directed to: B lymphoid (CD10, CD19, CD20, CD21, CD22); T lymphoid (CD2, CD3, CD5, CD7); and myeloid (CD13, CD14, CD15, CD33, CD41) cell lineages. Maturation cell-associated antigens (CD34, HLA-DR and TdT) were also studied. Twelve patients unclassified by cytomorphology could be classified by immunophenotype. Using cytomorphologic, cytochemical and immunophenotypic data, 54 cases corresponded to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 43 were acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). In All there were 63% B lineage, 15% T, 7% T/B, 6% undifferentiated and 9% mixed-lineage (coexpression of two or more myeloid-associated antigens). In AML, myeloid immunophenotype was observed in 86% undifferentiated in 2%, and mixed-lineage in 12% (coexpression of two or more lymphoid-associated antigens). In addition, 26% of ALL cases and 12% of AML cases expressed a single myeloid and lymphoid antigen respectively. The most common aberrant antigens in ALL and AML were CD13 and CD7 respectively. The highest frequency of CD34 antigen expression (90%) was detected in patients with AMLL. Flow cytometric immunophenotypic analysis allowed to: a) establish diagnosis in cytomorphologically unclassified cases; b) identify AMLL with a frequency similar to that reported in other series; and c) confirm the heterogeneity of AL.

  2. CD26: A Prognostic Marker of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children in the Post Remission Induction Phase.

    PubMed

    Mehde, Atheer Awad; Yusof, Faridah; Adel Mehdi, Wesen; Zainulabdeen, Jwan Abdulmohsin

    2015-01-01

    ALL is an irredeemable disease due to the resistance to treatment. There are several influences which are involved in such resistance to chemotherapy, including oxidative stress as a result of the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and presence of hypodiploid cells. Cluster of differentiation 26 (CD26), also known as dipeptidyl peptidase-4, is a 110 kDa, multifunctional, membrane-bound glycoprotein. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of serum CD26 in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients in the post remission induction phase, as well as the relationship between CD26 activity and the oxidative stress status. CD26, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI), in addition to activity of related enzymes myeloperoxidase, glutathione- s-transferase and xanthine oxidase, were analysed in sixty children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in the post remission induction phase. The study showed significant elevation in CD26, TOS and OSI levels in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in the post remission induction phase in comparison to healthy control samples. In contrast, myeloperoxidase, glutathione-s-transferase and xanthine oxidase activities were decreased significantly. A significant correlation between CD26 concentration and some oxidative stress parameters was evident in ALL patients. Serum levels of CD26 appear to be useful as a new biomarker of oxidative stress in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in the post remission induction phase, and levels of antioxidants must be regularly estimated during the treatment of children with ALL.

  3. Clinical course of sepsis in children with acute leukemia admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit.

    PubMed

    Singer, Kanakadurga; Subbaiah, Perla; Hutchinson, Raymond; Odetola, Folafoluwa; Shanley, Thomas P

    2011-11-01

    To describe the clinical course, resource use, and mortality of patients with leukemia admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with sepsis and nonsepsis diagnoses over a 10-yr period. Retrospective analysis. Tertiary medical-surgical pediatric intensive care unit at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan. All patients with leukemia admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2008. None; chart review. Clinical course was characterized by demographics, leukemia diagnosis, phase of therapy, leukocyte count on admission, presence of sepsis, steroid administration, intensity of care, and Pediatric Risk of Mortality score on admission to the pediatric intensive care unit. The primary outcome was survival to pediatric intensive care unit discharge. Among 68 single admissions to the pediatric intensive care unit with leukemia during the study period, 33 (48.5%) were admitted with sepsis. Admission to the pediatric intensive care unit for sepsis was associated with greater compromise of hemodynamic and renal function and use of stress dose steroids (p = .016), inotropic and/or vasopressor drugs (p = .01), and renal replacement therapy (p = .028) than nonsepsis admission. There was higher mortality among children with sepsis than other diagnoses (52% vs. 17%, p = .004). Also, mortality among children with sepsis was higher among those with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (60% vs. 44%) compared with acute myelogenous leukemia. Administration of stress dose steroids was associated with higher mortality (50% vs. 17%, p = .005) and neutropenia. Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and sepsis showed the greatest mortality and resource use. Patients with acute leukemia and sepsis had a much higher mortality rate compared with previously described sepsis mortality rates for the general pediatric intensive care unit patient populations. Patients who received steroids had an increased mortality rate, but given the

  4. Inferior outcomes for black children with high risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia and the impact of socioeconomic variables.

    PubMed

    Walsh, Alexandra; Chewning, Joseph; Li, Xuelin; Dai, Chen; Whelan, Kimberly; Madan-Swain, Avi; Waterbor, John; Baskin, Monica L; Goldman, Frederick D

    2017-02-01

    While significant improvements have been made for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the United States over the past 20 years, black patients continue to have inferior outcomes. The full impact of socioeconomic variables on outcomes in this minority population is not entirely understood. Disease characteristics, demographic, and socioeconomic status (SES) variables were collected on black (n = 44) and white (n = 178) patients diagnosed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to evaluate the influence of SES and insurance status on survival. As a cohort, 5-year overall survival (OS) was 87% (82-91%), with a median follow-up of 99 months. In univariable analysis, black race was not significantly associated with a higher risk of death or relapse and death. White and black patients with standard-risk leukemia had excellent outcomes, with 97% (91-99%) and 96% (75-99%) 5-year OS, respectively. In contrast, for high-risk disease, white patients had a statistically significant improved 5-year OS rates compared with black patients (79% [68-87%] vs. 52% [28-72%]). Black children were more likely to have public insurance, and, in multivariable analysis, this was associated with a trend toward an improved outcome. Black patients also had poorer census tract-level SES parameters, but these variables were not associated with survival. Our study demonstrates significantly inferior outcomes for black children with high-risk leukemia. These outcome disparities were not related to SES variables, including poverty or private insurance coverage, suggesting the involvement of other factors and highlighting the need for a prospective investigative analysis. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  5. Eating behavior during dexamethasone treatment in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Warris, Lidewij T; van den Akker, Erica L T; Bierings, Marc B; van den Bos, Cor; Aarsen, Femke K; Zwaan, Michel C; Tissing, Wim J E; Veening, Margreet A; Pieters, Rob; van den Heuvel-Eibrink, Marry M

    2017-12-01

    Large prospective studies on dexamethasone-induced changes in eating behavior, energy, and nutrient intake are lacking in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We prospectively studied eating behavior, energy, nutrient intake, and the effect on leptin and adiponectin levels during dexamethasone administration in children with ALL. Parents of patients with ALL (3-16 years) completed a dietary diary for their child during 4 days of dexamethasone (6 mg/m 2 ) administration. Energy intake and nutrient intake (energy percentage = E%) were assessed and compared with the recommended intake. The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire for Children was completed before start and after 4 days of dexamethasone administration by patients of 7-12 years of age. Fasting leptin and adiponectin levels were also measured before start and after 4 days of dexamethasone administration. Energy intake per day(kcal) (N = 44) increased significantly during dexamethasone (median day 1: 1,103 (717-1,572) versus day 4: 1,482 (1,176-1,822), P < 0.01), including an increase in total protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, and sodium intake. Intake of saturated fat (median day 4: 12 E%) and salt (median day 4: 1.9 g/day) exceeded the healthy range for age and gender. With respect to eating behavior, dexamethasone significantly decreased restrained eating (P = 0.04). Leptin levels as well as adiponectin levels increased significantly during the dexamethasone course. Four days of dexamethasone treatment significantly increased energy intake, including excessive saturated fat and salt intake, and changed eating behavior in children with ALL. Nutritional and behavioral interventions during dexamethasone treatment are recommended to stimulate a healthy lifestyle. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  6. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms and therapy response in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Aplenc, Richard; Thompson, Jennifer; Han, Peggy; La, Mei; Zhao, Huaqing; Lange, Beverly; Rebbeck, Timothy

    2005-03-15

    A significant portion of patients treated for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) relapse. We hypothesized that common polymorphisms with moderate effect sizes and large attributive risks could explain an important fraction of ALL relapses. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is central to folate metabolism and has two common functional polymorphisms (C677T and A1298G). Methotrexate (MTX), which interrupts folate metabolism, is a mainstay of pediatric ALL therapy. MTX inhibits the synthesis of dTMP needed for DNA replication by blocking the conversion of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate by MTHFR. We hypothesized that a deactivating MTHFR allele would increase ALL relapse risk by potentially increasing 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate and dTMP, enhancing DNA synthesis and thus opposing MTX. To test this hypothesis, we genotyped 520 patients on the Children's Cancer Study Group ALL study, CCG-1891. The MTHFR C677T variant allele was statistically significantly associated with relapse (chi2 = 4.38, P = 0.036). This association remained significant (hazard ratio = 1.82, P = 0.008), controlling for important covariates, and was more predictive of relapse than other predictors, including day 7 bone marrow response. The MTHFR C677T variant allele was not associated with an increased risk of toxicity or infection. The MTHFR A1298G polymorphism was not associated with altered risks of relapse, toxicity, or infection. Haplotype analysis showed six common haplotypes that did not provide additional information predictive for relapse. These data provide evidence that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism is a common genetic variant conferring a moderate relative risk and a high attributable risk for relapse in pediatric ALL patients.

  7. Thiotepa-based conditioning versus total body irradiation as myeloablative conditioning prior to allogeneic stem cell transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A matched-pair analysis from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

    PubMed

    Eder, Sandra; Canaani, Jonathan; Beohou, Eric; Labopin, Myriam; Sanz, Jaime; Arcese, William; Or, Reuven; Finke, Juergen; Cortelezzi, Agostino; Beelen, Dietrich; Passweg, Jakob; Socié, Gerard; Gurman, Gunhan; Aljurf, Mahmoud; Stelljes, Matthias; Giebel, Sebastian; Mohty, Mohamad; Nagler, Arnon

    2017-10-01

    The optimal conditioning regimen to employ before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is still undecided, and while cyclophosphamide/total body irradiation (Cy/TBI) is the most commonly used myeloablative regimen, there are concerns regarding long-term toxicity for patients conditioned with this regimen. Thiotepa-based conditioning is an emerging radiation-free regimen with recent publications indicative of comparable clinical outcomes to TBI-based conditioning. In this analysis of the acute leukemia working party of the EBMT, we performed a retrospective matched-pair analysis, evaluating the outcome of adult patients with ALL who received thiotepa-based conditioning (n = 180) with those receiving Cy/TBI conditioning (n = 540). The 2-year leukemia-free survival and overall survival (OS) rates of both conditioning regimens were comparable, 33% for thiotepa [95% confidence interval (CI): 26.4-42.8] versus 39% for Cy/TBI (95% CI: 34.8-44.5] (P = .33) and 46.5% [95% CI: 38.6-56.1] versus 48.8% [95% CI: 44.2-54] (P = .9), respectively. There was no significant difference between the two regimens in the incidence of either acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) or chronic GVHD. Multivariate analysis demonstrated increased relapse incidence for thiotepa conditioning compared to Cy/TBI (HR = 1.78, 95% CI, 1.07-2.95; P = .03) which did not affect OS. Our results indicate that thiotepa-based conditioning may not be inferior to Cy/TBI for adult patients with ALL. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  8. Lack of association between polymorphisms in genes MTHFR and MDR1 with risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Kreile, Madara; Rots, Dmitrijs; Piekuse, Linda; Cebura, Elizabete; Grutupa, Marika; Kovalova, Zhanna; Lace, Baiba

    2014-01-01

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a complex disease caused by interactions between hazardous exogenous or/and endogenous agents and many mild effect inherited susceptibility mutations. Some of them are known, but their functional roles still requireinvestigation. Age is a recognized risk factor; children with disease onset after the age of ten have worse prognosis, presumably also triggered by inherited factors. The MDR1 gene polymorphisms rs1045642, rs2032582 and MTHFR gene polymorphisms rs1801131 and rs1801133 were genotyped in 68 ALL patients in remission and 102 age and gender matched controls; parental DNA samples were also available for 42 probands. No case control association was found between analyzed polymorphisms and a risk of childhood ALL development. Linkage disequilibrium was not observed in a family-based association study either. Only marginal association was observed between genetic marker rs2032582A and later disease onset (p=0.04). Our data suggest that late age of ALL onset could be triggered by mild effect common alleles.

  9. A systematic review and meta-analysis of MTHFR polymorphisms in methotrexate toxicity prediction in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Lopez-Lopez, E; Martin-Guerrero, I; Ballesteros, J; Garcia-Orad, A

    2013-12-01

    Methotrexate (MTX) is an important component of therapy used to treat childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, C677T and A1298C, affect MTHFR activity. A large body of studies has investigated the potential role of MTHFR SNPs in MTX toxicity in pediatric ALL. However, the results are controversial. In this review and meta-analysis, we critically evaluate the relationship between the C677T and A1298C polymorphisms of MTHFR and MTX toxicity in pediatric ALL. The majority of published reports do not find associations between MTHFR polymorphisms and toxicity in pediatric ALL. When associations are reported, often the results are contradictory to each other. The meta-analysis confirms a lack of association. In conclusion, MTHFR, C677T and A1298C polymorphisms do not seem to be good markers of MTX-related toxicity in pediatric ALL.

  10. Copy number profiling of adult relapsed B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia reveals potential leukemia progression mechanisms.

    PubMed

    Ribera, Jordi; Zamora, Lurdes; Morgades, Mireia; Mallo, Mar; Solanes, Neus; Batlle, Montserrat; Vives, Susana; Granada, Isabel; Juncà, Jordi; Malinverni, Roberto; Genescà, Eulàlia; Guàrdia, Ramon; Mercadal, Santiago; Escoda, Lourdes; Martinez-Lopez, Joaquín; Tormo, Mar; Esteve, Jordi; Pratcorona, Marta; Martinez-Losada, Carmen; Solé, Francesc; Feliu, Evarist; Ribera, Josep-Maria

    2017-11-01

    The outcome of relapsed adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains dismal despite new therapeutic approaches. Previous studies analyzing relapse samples have shown a high degree of heterogeneity regarding gene alterations without an evident relapse signature. Bone marrow or peripheral blood samples from 31 adult B-cell precursor ALL patients at first relapse, and 21 paired diagnostic samples were analyzed by multiplex ligation probe-dependent amplification (MLPA). Nineteen paired diagnostic and relapse samples of these 21 patients were also analyzed by SNP arrays. A trend to acquire homozygous CDKN2A/B deletions and a significant increase in the number of copy number alterations (CNA) was observed from diagnosis to first relapse. Evolution from an ancestral clone was the main pattern of clonal evolution. Relapse samples were extremely heterogeneous regarding CNA frequencies. However, CDKN2A/B, PAX5, ETV6, ATM, IKZF1, VPREB1, and TP53 deletions and duplications of 1q, 8q, 17q, 21, X/Y PAR1, and Xp were frequently detected at relapse. Duplications of genes involved in cell proliferation, drug resistance and stem cell homeostasis regulation, as well as deletions of KDM6A and STAG2 genes emerged as specific alterations at relapse. Genomics of relapsed adult B-cell precursor ALL is highly heterogeneous, although some recurrent lesions involved in essential pathways deregulation were frequently observed. Selective and simultaneous targeting of these deregulated pathways may improve the results of current salvage therapies. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  11. Genomic characterization of pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia reveals novel recurrent driver mutations

    PubMed Central

    Spinella, Jean-François; Cassart, Pauline; Richer, Chantal; Saillour, Virginie; Ouimet, Manon; Langlois, Sylvie; St-Onge, Pascal; Sontag, Thomas; Healy, Jasmine; Minden, Mark D.; Sinnett, Daniel

    2016-01-01

    T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with variable prognosis. It represents 15% of diagnosed pediatric ALL cases and has a threefold higher incidence among males. Many recurrent alterations have been identified and help define molecular subgroups of T-ALL, however the full range of events involved in driving transformation remain to be defined. Using an integrative approach combining genomic and transcriptomic data, we molecularly characterized 30 pediatric T-ALLs and identified common recurrent T-ALL targets such as FBXW7, JAK1, JAK3, PHF6, KDM6A and NOTCH1 as well as novel candidate T-ALL driver mutations including the p.R35L missense mutation in splicesome factor U2AF1 found in 3 patients and loss of function mutations in the X-linked tumor suppressor genes MED12 (frameshit mutation p.V167fs, splice site mutation g.chrX:70339329T>C, missense mutation p.R1989H) and USP9X (nonsense mutation p.Q117*). In vitro functional studies further supported the putative role of these novel T-ALL genes in driving transformation. U2AF1 p.R35L was shown to induce aberrant splicing of downstream target genes, and shRNA knockdown of MED12 and USP9X was shown to confer resistance to apoptosis following T-ALL relevant chemotherapy drug treatment in Jurkat leukemia cells. Interestingly, nearly 60% of novel candidate driver events were identified among immature T-ALL cases, highlighting the underlying genomic complexity of pediatric T-ALL, and the need for larger integrative studies to decipher the mechanisms that contribute to its various subtypes and provide opportunities to refine patient stratification and treatment. PMID:27602765

  12. [Local involvement of the optic nerve by acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

    PubMed

    Bernardczyk-Meller, Jadwiga; Stefańska, Katarzyna

    2005-01-01

    The leucemias quite commonly involve the eyes and adnexa. In some cases it causes visual complants. Both, the anterior chamber of the eye and the posterior portion of the globe may sites of acute or chronic leukemia and leucemic relapse. We report an unique case of a 14 years old leucemic patient who suffered visual loss and papilloedema, due to a unilateral local involvement within optic nerve, during second relapse of acute lymphocytic leuemia. In spite of typical treatment of main disease, the boy had died. The authors present typical ophthalmic features of the leucemia, too.

  13. Lineage Switching in Acute Leukemias: A Consequence of Stem Cell Plasticity?

    PubMed Central

    Dorantes-Acosta, Elisa; Pelayo, Rosana

    2012-01-01

    Acute leukemias are the most common cancer in childhood and characterized by the uncontrolled production of hematopoietic precursor cells of the lymphoid or myeloid series within the bone marrow. Even when a relatively high efficiency of therapeutic agents has increased the overall survival rates in the last years, factors such as cell lineage switching and the rise of mixed lineages at relapses often change the prognosis of the illness. During lineage switching, conversions from lymphoblastic leukemia to myeloid leukemia, or vice versa, are recorded. The central mechanisms involved in these phenomena remain undefined, but recent studies suggest that lineage commitment of plastic hematopoietic progenitors may be multidirectional and reversible upon specific signals provided by both intrinsic and environmental cues. In this paper, we focus on the current knowledge about cell heterogeneity and the lineage switch resulting from leukemic cells plasticity. A number of hypothetical mechanisms that may inspire changes in cell fate decisions are highlighted. Understanding the plasticity of leukemia initiating cells might be fundamental to unravel the pathogenesis of lineage switch in acute leukemias and will illuminate the importance of a flexible hematopoietic development. PMID:22852088

  14. A grounded theory of the process of adherence to oral chemotherapy in Hispanic and caucasian children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Landier, Wendy; Hughes, Cynthia B; Calvillo, Evelyn R; Anderson, Nancy L R; Briseño-Toomey, Deborah; Dominguez, Leticia; Martinez, Alex M; Hanby, Cara; Bhatia, Smita

    2011-01-01

    Children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receive treatment that relies on daily self- or parent/caregiver-administered oral chemotherapy for approximately 2 years. Despite the fact that pediatric ALL is uniformly fatal without adequate treatment, nonadherence to oral chemotherapy has been observed in up to one third of patients. Little is known about the reasons for nonadherence in these patients. This study used Straussian grounded theory methodology to develop and validate a model to explain the process of adherence to oral chemotherapy in children and adolescents with ALL. Thirty-eight semistructured interviews (with 17 patients and 21 parents/caregivers) and 4 focused group discussions were conducted. Three stages were identified in the process of adherence: (a) Recognizing the Threat, (b) Taking Control, and (c) Managing for the Duration. Doing Our Part was identified as the core theme explaining the process of adherence and involves the parent (or patient) taking responsibility for assuring that medications are taken as prescribed. Understanding the association between taking oral chemotherapy and control/cure of leukemia (Making the Connection) appeared to mediate adherence behaviors.

  15. Protection against vaccine preventable diseases in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    de de la Fuente Garcia, Isabel; Coïc, Léna; Leclerc, Jean-Marie; Laverdière, Caroline; Rousseau, Céline; Ovetchkine, Philippe; Tapiéro, Bruce

    2017-02-01

    The objective of this retrospective study was to assess protection against vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Clinical characteristics and vaccination records were collected. Antibodies against VPDs were measured after completion of chemotherapy and after a booster dose of vaccine. Immunization status of household members was evaluated. Sixty children were included. Median interval between the end of chemotherapy and enrolment in the study was 13 months (range 1-145). At ALL diagnosis, 81.3% of the children were up to date with their vaccination schedule. This proportion decreased to 52.9% at enrolment. Among the parents, 21% were up to date with their immunization schedule and 42% had received seasonal influenza vaccination. After chemotherapy, less than 50% of the patients were seroprotected against tetanus, diphtheria, polio 3, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and mumps and no more than 80% were seroprotected against polio 1 and 2, measles, rubella, and varicella. After a booster dose of vaccine, the rate of protection increased to over 90% for each of the following antigens: TT, DT, polio 1, Hib, measles, and rubella. Nevertheless, polio 3, mumps, and varicella-zoster virus antibodies titers/concentrations remained below seroprotective thresholds in over 20% of the patients. After chemotherapy for ALL, most of the children were not protected against VPDs. As the majority mounted a robust response to booster vaccines, efforts need to be done to improve protection against VPDs by implementing a systematic vaccine booster schedule. This could also be helped by reinforcing household members' immunization. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  16. Altered Resting State Functional Connectivity in Young Survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

    PubMed Central

    Kesler, Shelli R.; Gugel, Meike; Pritchard-Berman, Mika; Lee, Clement; Kutner, Emily; Hosseini, S.M. Hadi; Dahl, Gary; Lacayo, Norman

    2014-01-01

    Background Chemotherapy treatment for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been associated with long-term cognitive impairments in some patients. However, the neurobiologic mechanisms underlying these impairments, particularly in young survivors, are not well understood. This study aimed to examine intrinsic functional brain connectivity in pediatric ALL and its relationship with cognitive status. Procedure We obtained resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) and cognitive testing data from 15 ALL survivors age 8–15 years and 14 matched healthy children. The ALL group had a history of intrathecal chemotherapy treatment but were off-therapy for at least 6 months at the time of enrollment. We used seed-based analyses to compare intrinsic functional brain network connectivity between the groups. We also explored correlations between connectivity and cognitive performance, demographic, medical, and treatment variables. Results We demonstrated significantly reduced connectivity between bilateral hippocampus, left inferior occipital, left lingual gyrus, bilateral calcarine sulcus, and right amygdala in the ALL group compared to controls. The ALL group also showed regions of functional hyperconnectivity including right lingual gyrus, precuneus, bilateral superior occipital lobe, and right inferior occipital lobe. Functional hypoconnectivity was associated with reduced cognitive function as well as younger age at diagnosis in the ALL group. Conclusions This is the first study to demonstrate that intrinsic functional brain connectivity is disrupted in pediatric ALL following chemotherapy treatment. These results help explain cognitive dysfunction even when objective test performance is seemingly normal. Children diagnosed at a younger age may show increased vulnerability to altered functional brain connectivity. PMID:24619953

  17. Computer-aided diagnosis of leukoencephalopathy in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Glass, John O.; Li, Chin-Shang; Helton, Kathleen J.; Reddick, Wilburn E.

    2005-04-01

    The purpose of this study was to use objective quantitative MR imaging methods to develop a computer-aided diagnosis tool to differentiate white matter (WM) hyperintensities as either leukoencephalopathy (LE) or normal maturational processes in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia with intravenous high dose methotrexate. A combined imaging set consisting of T1, T2, PD, and FLAIR MR images and WM, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid a priori maps from a spatially normalized atlas were analyzed with a neural network segmentation based on a Kohonen Self-Organizing Map. Segmented regions were manually classified to identify the most hyperintense WM region and the normal appearing genu region. Signal intensity differences normalized to the genu within each examination were generated for two time points in 203 children. An unsupervised hierarchical clustering algorithm with the agglomeration method of McQuitty was used to divide data from the first examination into normal appearing or LE groups. A C-support vector machine (C-SVM) was then trained on the first examination data and used to classify the data from the second examination. The overall accuracy of the computer-aided detection tool was 83.5% (299/358) with sensitivity to normal WM of 86.9% (199/229) and specificity to LE of 77.5% (100/129) when compared to the readings of two expert observers. These results suggest that subtle therapy-induced leukoencephalopathy can be objectively and reproducibly detected in children treated for cancer using this computer-aided detection approach based on relative differences in quantitative signal intensity measures normalized within each examination.

  18. Omics techniques and biobanks to find new biomarkers for the early detection of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in middle-income countries: a perspective from Mexico.

    PubMed

    Aguirre-Guillén, William Alejandro; Angeles-Floriano, Tania; López-Martínez, Briceida; Reyes-Morales, Hortensia; Zlotnik, Albert; Valle-Rios, Ricardo

    Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) affects the quality of life of many children in the world and particularly in Mexico, where a high incidence has been reported. With a proper financial investment and with well-organized institutions caring for those patients, together with solid platforms to perform high-throughput analyses, we propose the creation of a Mexican repository system of serum and cells from bone marrow and blood samples derived from tissues of pediatric patients with ALL diagnosis. This resource, in combination with omics technologies, particularly proteomics and metabolomics, would allow longitudinal studies, offering an opportunity to design and apply personalized ALL treatments. Importantly, it would accelerate the development of translational science and will lead us to further discoveries, including the identification of new biomarkers for the early detection of leukemia. Copyright © 2017 Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez. Publicado por Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.

  19. Blinatumomab, a Bi-Specific Anti-CD19/CD3 BiTE® Antibody for the Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Perspectives and Current Pediatric Applications

    PubMed Central

    Hoffman, Lindsey M.; Gore, Lia

    2014-01-01

    Leukemia is the most common childhood malignancy and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represents the largest sub-type. Despite remarkable improvements over the last 40 years, standard therapy fails in 10–20% of newly diagnosed patients. Survival for children with relapsed ALL is poor, and the development and implementation of novel therapeutic strategies in pediatric ALL are critical to further advancements. Immunotherapeutic approaches have been central to more novel ALL therapies. However, more recent innovation in antibody engineering has improved potency and efficacy, and antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are an especially attractive option in severely immunocompromised patients. An even more sophisticated antibody design is that of bi-specific T-cell engaging or BiTE® antibodies, which directly recruit effector T cells to augment the anti-neoplastic effect. This review focuses on blinatumomab, a bi-specific anti-CD19/CD3 antibody that has shown efficacy in adult patients with precursor B-ALL and is currently being evaluated in the pediatric setting. PMID:24744989

  20. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene haplotypes affect toxicity during maintenance therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Japanese patients.

    PubMed

    Tanaka, Yoichi; Manabe, Atsushi; Nakadate, Hisaya; Kondoh, Kensuke; Nakamura, Kozue; Koh, Katsuyoshi; Kikuchi, Akira; Komiyama, Takako

    2014-05-01

    Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of daily 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and low-dose weekly methotrexate (MTX) combination treatment and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) haplotypes on toxicity during maintenance therapy in Japanese childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We retrospectively analyzed the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and influence of haplotypes on toxicity in 73 patients. Patients with the MTHFR 677TT and 677CT + 1298AC were associated with severe liver toxicity (p = 0.014, odds ratio [OR] = 3.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.27-11.46) and more rapid onset of liver toxicity (p = 0.010). Patients with MTHFR 677TT and 677CT + 1298AC were associated with lower frequency of 6-MP and MTX dose reduction due to leukopenia (p < 0.05). No difference was observed in average drug doses in the MTHFR genotypes. In conclusion, the MTHFR C677T and A1298C haplotypes might be useful for monitoring adverse effects in childhood ALL maintenance therapy in Japanese patients.