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A Baruchel

Publications and source records attributed to A Baruchel.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Imerslund's disease. Clinical and biological aspects. Apropos of 6 cases].

BACKGROUND: Imerslund syndrome, a recessive autosomal disease, initially described by Imerslund and Grasbeck in 1960, associates megaloblastic anemia and proteinuria. CASE REPORT: We report on six cases, studied in five different families. All patients (mean age: 3.5 years) had clinical symptoms of anemia, three had malabsorption, proteinuria was present in five, at the time of diagnosis. Hemogram and decreased serum vitamin B12 levels were consistent with the diagnosis in all cases. Intra-muscular injections of cyanocobalamine was instituted on a life-time basis and the long term prognosis is good. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis should be evoked when the three typical features are present: macrocytic anemia, decreased serum B12 level and proteinuria. It will be confirmed by the bone marrow megaloblastic aspects and the Schilling test findings.

Anemia, Megaloblastic↗

Prognostic factors for survival after high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with relapsing Hodgkin's disease: analysis of 280 patients from the French registry. Société Française de Greffe de Moëlle.

High-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has been widely proposed for patients with relapsed Hodgkin's disease (HD). From 1982 to 1993, we selected (from the French registry for bone marrow transplantation) 280 patients, who underwent ASCT for relapsed HD after initial treatment including chemotherapy. Patient characteristics at diagnosis were: sex ratio (M/F): 1.5; median age: 30 years (5-59 years), stage I, II: 43%; III, IV: 57%; 32% had chemotherapy, 68% chemo+ radiotherapy. All patients achieved complete remission after first-line therapy and subsequently relapsed. The median interval between diagnosis and high-dose therapy was 34 months. First relapse occurred in 78% of the patients at a median end-of-treatment to relapse time of 18 months. All patients received salvage chemotherapy before high-dose therapy, and the median time between relapse and high-dose therapy was 5 months. After this regimen, 84% of the patients were considered to have chemosensitive relapse. Conditioning regimens were: BEAM: 60%; CBV/BEAC: 26%. Transplant-related mortality was 6%. With a median follow-up of 3 years after high-dose therapy, overall and progression-free survivals at 4 years were 66 and 60%, respectively. Neither the conditioning regimen nor the stem cell source affected survival. Good prognostic factors for survival were: chemosensitivity of relapse (P < 0.01) and first relapse vs further relapse (P < 0.05). For 214 patients in first relapse, other significant factors for survival were: end-of-treatment to relapse interval < 12 months (P < 0.05) and nodal vs extranodal relapse (P < 0.001). These two prognostic factors were used to validate a prognostic model with three significantly different subgroups: 0 (n = 59), 1 (n = 125), or 2 factors (n = 30) with 4-year survival, respectively, at 93, 59 and 43% (P < 0.001). Salvage therapy can be tailored in patients with relapsing HD: conventional treatment in the good prognosis group (0 factor), high-dose therapy after response to second line regimen (1 factor) and more intensive treatments for the bad prognosis group (2 factors).

Adolescent↗

The majority of myeloid-antigen-positive (My+) childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemias express TEL-AML1 fusion transcripts.

The t(12:21) translocation fuses the TEL and AML1 genes and has been found in up to 28% of paediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemias (BCP-ALL). The AML1 gene is a transcription factor which regulates expression of several myeloid differentiation associated genes. A molecular analysis of TEL-AML1, E2A-PBX1, MLL-AF4, BCR-ABL expression and an immunophenotypic study of CD13/CD33 myeloid antigen expression have been performed prospectively on tumour cells from 96 paediatric BCP-ALL patients. Percentages of CD13 or CD33 expressing leukaemic cells were found to be higher in TEL-AML1 positive cases (n = 22) than in TEL-AML1 negative (n = 74) cases (P<0.001). In 22/96 cases (23%) >10% of neoplastic cells were found to express at least one of the two markers. In 14 of these cases (63%), TEL-AML1 expression was detected, whereas t(4;11), t(11;19) and t(9;22) translocations were found by molecular methods in only three cases (14%). In four cases (18%) no molecular marker was found. These data show that TEL-AML1 expression is significantly associated with myeloid antigen expression by leukaemic cells and suggests that the prognostic significance of myeloid antigen expression in paediatric ALLs should be re-evaluated in the light of molecular cytogenetic markers.

Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic↗

In vivo infusion of anti-LFA-1 and anti-CD2 antibodies prevents graft failure after HLA partially incompatible bone marrow transplantation in children with high risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from matched sibling donors is the therapy of choice for children with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children. It is however not available to more than two-thirds of patients who lack a matched donor. Here, we review the outcome of 28 patients with high-risk ALL who were transplanted in France with alternative marrow sources such as HLA-phenoidentical unrelated volunteers and HLA-partially incompatible relatives. For these patients, we tested the possibility to prevent T-depleted marrow graft rejection by infusing in vivo two monoclonal antibodies directed against adhesion receptors i.e., LFA-1 and CD2. Two previous multicenter trials in children transplanted with partially incompatible bone marrow for inborn errors of metabolism showed their efficacy in this setting. Twenty eight patients were enrolled in this study and followed for a median of 4.4 years. Bone marrow engraftment occurred in 81% of the evaluable patients. Post-transplantation leukaemic relapse was the most frequent cause of death in this group of patients, and occurred in 39% of patients. The second most frequent complication was infectious disease, while an EBV-induced B-lymphocyte proliferative disorder occurred in four patients. In conclusion, T-cell-depletion combined with infusion of anti-LFA-1 and anti-CD2 antibodies is efficient in preventing graft failure and GVHD in this group of children with high-risk leukaemia undergoing partially incompatible BMT. The overall DFS is not improved in contrast to what has been previously observed in patients with immunodeficiencies transplanted with a similar rejection prophylaxis. Other approaches are therefore needed aiming either at preserving donor T-cell mediated immunity or accelerating immune reconstitution.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

G-CSF activates STAT pathways in Kasumi-1 myeloid leukemic cells with the t(8; 21) translocation: basis for potential therapeutic efficacy.

In an attempt to find new agents that promote differentiation and have therapeutic potential in acute myeloid leukemias, we have studied the effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) on the Kasumi-1 AML2 t(8; 21) cell line. Upon incubation with rhG-CSF (0.2-2000 ng/ml), Kasumi-1 cells showed a peak of cell growth, with a subsequent decrease of cell survival after 4 days of culture. At that time, more than 80% of the cell population expressed myeloid differentiation antigens (CD11b, CD13, CD15 and CDw85), and increased G-CSF receptors. Gel shift assays were performed with nuclear extracts of Kasumi-1 cells after 1, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 min incubations with G-CSF and oligonucleotides containing the high-affinity SIF-binding site. At least three specific complexes were obtained, and shown by supershift assays to be STAT3/STAT3, STAT1/STAT3 and STAT1/STAT1 dimers. These results suggest that in G-CSF-sensitive Kasumi-1 cells, normal JAK-STAT pathways are activated, providing a further molecular basis for the effect of G-CSF in these cells.

Apoptosis↗

Juvenile chronic myelomonocytic leukemias: molecular and novel therapeutic basis.

Myelomonocytic leukemias of children represent a distinct disorder from chronic myelogenous leukemia and adult myelomonocytic leukemias. The prognosis is poor and no therapy has proved to be yet effective. This review summarizes the molecular and cellular characteristics of this disease which may allow to design more targetted therapeutic agents.

Child↗

TEL-AML1 fusion RNA as a new target to detect minimal residual disease in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

It has recently been shown that the t(12;21)(p13;q22) translocation fuses two genes, TEL on chromosome 12 and AML1 on chromosome 21. We have evaluated the frequency of this newly described translocation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and the feasibility of minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of TEL-AML1 transcripts. Thirty-nine adult- and 45 childhood-ALLs consecutively diagnosed in a single center were included in this study. TEL-AML1 fusion transcripts were searched for in the 39 adult- and 45 childhood-ALLs for which material was available. BCR-ABL, E2A-PBX1, and MLL-AF4 transcripts were also studied by PCR in these cases. TEL-AML1 transcripts were found in 8 out of 35 (23%) childhood B-cell precursor ALLs (BCP-ALLs). TEL-AML1 transcripts were detected in only 1 of 31 adult BCP-ALLs (P = .04, Fisher's exact test). Nevertheless, in this adult case, TEL-AML1 transcripts were found at a low level in 2 of 3 different samples. BCR-ABL, E2A-PBX1, and MLL-AF4 transcripts were found in 12, 3, and 1 cases of 31 adult BCP-ALLs, and in 1, 2, and 1 cases of 35 childhood BCP-ALLs, respectively. TEL-AML1 transcripts were never found associated with any other fusion transcripts. Taken together, the four types of chimeric transcripts were detected in 12 of 35 (34%) childhood BCP-ALL cases. No TEL-AML1 transcripts were detected in 11 T-cell ALLs (4 adults and 5 children), nor in 2 B-cell (slg+) ALLs. MRD was evaluated in 21 samples collected in 9 TEL-AML1+ childhood BCP-ALL cases during therapy (median follow-up = 200 days). Of 8 patients evaluated after induction therapy, 4 showed detectable but low levels of MRD. Of 7 patients serially evaluated, only one showed persistence of detectable MRD. This study shows that TEL-AML1 transcripts are frequently detected in pediatric BCP-ALLs and that these transcripts are molecular targets that will simplify the strategy of MRD monitoring in childhood BCP-ALL.

Adolescent↗

[Treatment of acute lymphoid leukemia in children].

Nowadays 95% of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) achieved complete remission within four to six weeks and 70% are completely cured. An important principle is that treatment should vary to prognosis and intensification of prognostic factors is of paramount importance. Leukemic patients with a good prognosis should be spared of toxic treatment. In contrast, intensive treatment should be the rule for patients with reduced probability of long term survival. In most of the protocols, induction is followed by consolidation and intensification. Duration of maintenance treatment is 18 to 24 months. Central nervous system prophylaxis associates intrathecal treatment and high dose methotrexate whereas skull irradiation must be limited to children who have high risk of meningeal relapse. Marrow relapses remain a very difficult problem. With a new induction treatment, a second remission can be achieved in 75 to 90% of patients. Bone marrow transplantation is the treatment of choice for relapses occurring on treatment. For CNS relapses skull irradiation is mandatory with a new intensive treatment in order to avoid bone marrow relapse. During treatment peculiar attention must be payed to the occurrence of bacterial infection. These infections are related to white blood cell aplasia, antibiotics must be started immediately and in some cases the use of growth factors is discussed. Immune deficiency during maintenance treatment increases the risk of viral infections. Most of the surviving children have a good quality of life without major impairment of physical, intellectual or psychological functions.

Adolescent↗

Induction chemotherapy followed by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation or aggressive consolidation chemotherapy in childhood acute myeloblastic leukemia. A prospective study from the French Society of Pediatric Hematology and Immunology (SHIP).

In the LAME89/91 protocol, children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who achieved complete remission (CR) after induction chemotherapy, were treated either with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) if they had an HLA-compatible related donor or with chemotherapy including high-dose cytarabine. The objectives of this study were to describe the overall results of this strategy and to compare the two post-remission arms. Two hundred and thirty-one children were enrolled in the protocol. Induction chemotherapy consisted of a combination of cytarabine and mitoxantrone. A CR was achieved in 204 children (88%).

Acute Disease↗

A phase II trial of partially incompatible bone marrow transplantation for high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children: prevention of graft rejection with anti-LFA-1 and anti-CD2 antibodies. Société Française de Greffe de Moelle Osseuse.

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from matched sibling donors has been useful for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children with a poor prognosis but is not available to more than two-thirds of patients who do not have a matched allogeneic donor. This study was undertaken to assess one strategy of marrow graft rejection prevention when alternative marrow sources such as HLA-phenoidentical unrelated volunteers and HLA-partially incompatible relatives were used. Results have been compared with two matched groups of children with the same risks factors and disease status who underwent HLA-genoidentical or autologous BMT. The conditioning regimen was the same for the three groups of patients; in the study group anti-LFA-1 and anti-CD2 monoclonal antibodies combined with T-cell depletion of the marrow was added to prevent graft rejection and graft-versus-host disease. Nineteen patients were included and followed for a median of 25 months (14 months to 3 years). Bone marrow engraftment occurred in 83% of the evaluable patients. Post-transplantation infectious diseases were the most frequent causes of death in the study group, occurring in 31% of patients. No fatal infections occurred in the two control groups. Post-transplantation relapse of leukaemia occurred in 26% of study group's patients, in 58% of autologous BMT control group's patients and 5% of HLA-genoidentical allogeneic group's patients. The event-free survival was 83% in the HLA-genoidentical control group, and 30% and 24% in the study group and in the autologous control group, respectively. In conclusion, a high rate of engraftment was achieved by the use of anti-LFA-1 and anti CD2 antibodies. Occurrence of a long-lasting immunodeficiency, however, led to a high incidence of lethal infections and relapses. Combined approaches are therefore to be investigated accelerating immune reconstitution after transplantations of T-depleted HLA partially incompatible marrow.

Adolescent↗

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation vs aggressive post-remission chemotherapy for children with acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission. A prospective study from the French Society of Pediatric Hematology and Immunology (SHIP).

The objective of this study was to compare allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) with high-dose cytarabine containing chemotherapy in children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission (CR). One hundred and seventy-one children were enrolled on the LAME89/91 protocol. Induction chemotherapy was a combination of cytarabine and mitoxantrone. After achieving CR, patients who had an HLA-identical sibling donor underwent allogeneic BMT. Children not eligible for BMT received post remission chemotherapy which included two consolidation courses, the second consolidation consisting of high-dose cytarabine with amsacrine and asparaginase. CR was achieved in 149 children (87%). Thirty-two had an HLA-identical sibling donor and were eligible for BMT. These 32 patients, as well as an additional child who had a one antigen HLA-mismatched father, received BMT during first CR. Consequently, 33 patients were analyzed in the BMT group and 116 in the chemotherapy group. The 4-year probability of relapse was 26 +/- 15% in the BMT group and 47 +/- 10% in the chemotherapy group (P = 0.04). The risk of therapy-related death was 3% for BMT and 7.7% for chemotherapy. Disease-free survival (DFS) was 72 +/- 15% in the BMT group and 48 +/- 10% in the chemotherapy group (p = 0.02). We conclude that allogeneic BMT from a matched sibling donor is the treatment of choice for reducing the relapse risk and for increasing DFS in children with AML in first CR.

Amsacrine↗

[Bone marrow autograft in the treatment of cutaneous lymphoma].

INTRODUCTION: The prognosis of advanced stage or high grade cutaneous lymphomas is very poor in case of recurrence after conventional polychemotherapy. Recent studies have confirmed the importance of intensified treatment with autologous bone marrow transplantation in case of recurrence. We used this method in patients with a cutaneous lymphoma with poor prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven patients with a high-grade or disseminated cutaneous lymphoma were given an autologous bone marrow graft in case of recurrence after one or more polychemotherapy protocols. In 4 patients, treatment included total body irradiation and high-dose chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide/etoposide, or aracytine/melphalan) and in the 3 others chemotherapy alone (BEAM or BEAC) was used prior to transplantation. RESULTS: Two complete remissions of 46 and 34 months duration after graft were achieved without complementary treatment. One patient had partial remission. Recurrence was observed in 2 patients 5 months after the graft and in 1 other 30 months later. Prolonged complete remission was observed in patients given total body irradiation and the early recurrences in those given chemotherapy alone. DISCUSSION: This pilot study demonstrates that patients with a poor prognosis cutaneous lymphoma can achieve prolonged complete remission by therapy intensification using autologous bone marrow transplantation after total body irradiation.

Adolescent↗

An interstitial 11q23 deletion proven to be a rearrangement interrupting the MLL gene in an infant with acute myeloblastic leukemia.

Chromosome studies of an infant with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), classified as M2 in the FAB nomenclature revealed an unusual karyotype with del(11)(q23) and a marker chromosome resembling a small chromosomal fragment present in all metaphase cells examined. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed the splitting of a YAC probe containing a part of MLL between the del(11) and mar chromosomes. Painting showed that the mar chromosome contained DNA sequences from chromosome 11, but that the centromeric region was not marked by a chromosome 11-specific alphoid probe. The chromosomal breakpoint was located within the MLL gene by Southern blot experiments. The deletion of 11q was thus interstitial. This case illustrates the importance of associating cytogenetics, several FISH techniques, and molecular studies to analyze unusual karyotypes in leukemia.

Chromosome Aberrations↗

Molecular analysis of clonality in Castleman's disease.

Castleman's disease (CD) is a rare atypical lymphoproliferative disorder that is morphologically and clinically heterogenous and is associated with a risk of developing malignant lymphoma. We report the clonality status of CD tissues in 34 patients, including 14 patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Four patients presented a localized form and 30 presented a multicentric form. Two cases were associated with B-cell lymphoma, 3 cases with Hodgkin's disease, and 9 cases (8 HIV+) with Kaposi's sarcoma. Histologically, 8 cases were of the hyaline-vascular type and 26 were of the plasma cell or mixed types. The Ig and T-cell receptor (TCR) V(D)J rearrangements were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot. Clonal IgH rearrangements were detected in only 4 cases, ie, 2 associated with B-cell lymphoma, 1 with Hodgkin's disease, and 1 case without malignancy. A TCR gamma rearrangement of restricted junctional size was amplified in 1 HIV+ case. Finally, polyclonal VH-JH and V gamma-J gamma rearrangements were detected in the large majority of the cases, irrespective of pathologic subtypes, clinical forms, and HIV status. The lymphoid component in CD is therefore commonly reactive, and the rare occurrence of detectable monoclonal lymphoid contingents may be caused by secondary molecular events.

Adult↗

Assessment of clonal evolution at Ig/TCR loci in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia by single-strand conformation polymorphism studies and highly resolutive PCR derived methods: implication for a general strategy of minimal residual disease detection.

Junctional sequences of immunoglobulin (Ig)/T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements are used as patient-specific PCR targets for the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in acute lymphoblastic leukaemias (ALLs). Clonal evolution of gene rearrangements is a major pitfall of this strategy. Using high-resolution PCR-based analyses (including denaturing gel electrophoresis and single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP)) we have compared Ig/TCR gene rearrangements at presentation and relapse in a series of ALLs. These methods allow an unambigous comparison of rearrangements taking into account junctional size and nucleotide sequence information and allow a precise assessment of the clonal evolution. V gamma-J gamma and V delta 1-J delta 1 rearrangements were analysed in 12 T-ALLs. VH-JH, V gamma-J gamma, V delta 2-D delta 3 and, in selected cases, DH-JH rearrangements were studied in 14 B-lineage ALLs. Clonal evolution, regarding major rearrangements, occurs for at least one of these loci in 2/12 T-ALLs and in 5/14 B-lineage ALLs. Clonal evolution is more marked for minor rearrangements than for major ones. As shown using SSCP analysis, rearrangements observed at relapse are sometimes found in minor clones at presentation which are therefore selected in vivo by a proliferative advantage. These data, as well as those from the available literature, suggest the use of at least two patient-specific probes to detect MRD in ALLs. A general strategy including selected Ig/TCR rearrangements and chromosomal abnormalities as PCR targets is proposed.

Adolescent↗

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in second remission: factors predictive of survival, relapse and graft-versus-host disease.

Between 1983 and 1993, 42 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in second complete remission (CR) underwent an allogeneic HLA-identical bone marrow transplant (BMT; there was one family mismatched graft). The conditioning regimens varied, consisting of cyclophosphamide (CY) and total body irradiation (TBI; n = 10); CY, TBI, Ara C, VP-16 (n = 11); TBI, Ara C, melphalan (n = 20) (TAM) or other (n = 1). Cyclosporine A (CsA) (n = 15) or CsA and methotrexate (MTX) (n = 24) were the main regimens for prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Nineteen of 42 patients are alive in CR ranging from 1 to 72 months after BMT with a median follow-up of 36 months. The 4-year actuarial survival rate was 53%. The actuarial relapse rate was 17%. Twenty three patients died: 4 patients of leukemic relapse, 9 of infection, 2 of acute GVHD, 2 of multiorgan failure after chronic GVHD, 2 of a secondary tumour and 4 patients died of other causes. Several pre- and post-transplant characteristics were analyzed to determine predictive factors for survival, relapse and GVHD. The relapse rate was significantly influenced by the type of conditioning regimen with no relapse in the TBI, Ara C, melphalan group. The analysis of long-term sequelae shows that there are no severe complications in this last group. Our results confirm that allogeneic BMT can lead to long-term survival for children with ALL in second CR and suggest an advantage of using the TAM conditioning regimen in the eradication of the leukemic disease.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Treatment of relapsed or refractory acute leukemia in childhood with bisantrene combined with high dose aracytine.

Bisantrene is an anthracene derivative which has demonstrated activity in acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and in lymphoma. The present study was designed to assess the reinduction rate and toxicity of bisantrene (250 mg/m2/d x 5) associated with aracytine (100 mg/m2 twice a day x 5) in refractory and relapsed acute childhood leukemia. Patients who relapsed after bone marrow transplantation were eligible. Twenty-six children were included. Diagnoses were as follows: 13 AML, 9 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and 4 undifferentiated leukemia (AUL). All patients had been very highly pretreated, especially with anthracyclines, and most of them were of poor prognosis. The overall response rate was 46% with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 27-65%. According to diagnosis, complete remission (CR) rates are: AML: 5/13, ALL: 5/9, and AUL: 2/4. Four children died, three from infection and one from acute lysis syndrome. The major toxicity was infection with grade 3 and 4 episodes occurring in 42% of patients. No significant cardiac toxicity was noted. Hepatic and renal toxicity was noted. Hepatic and renal toxicity were limited and transient. Bisantrene in association with aracytine is effective in both AML and ALL of childhood. Bisantrene should be evaluated with a five-day schedule in other pediatric malignancies. In children with acute leukemia previously treated with high dose aracytine, new combination regimen is warranted.

Adolescent↗