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Biomedical subjects

D C Arthur

Publications and source records attributed to D C Arthur.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Leukemia cutis treated with total skin irradiation.

An infant with acute monoblastic leukemia who presented with an extramedullary mass and involvement of the bone marrow, cerebrospinal fluid, and skin is described. After achieving remission, she later developed a relapse that was isolated in the skin. Superficial electron beam irradiation to the total skin surface was administered as therapy for the relapse. She remains in remission 12 months following this treatment. The isolated nature of the skin relapse, in addition to the fact that the relapse did not involve a previously irradiated field, suggests that the skin may have harbored the leukemic cells since the time of diagnosis. Cytogenetic data is presented that lends further support to this hypothesis.

Bone Marrow↗

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with related donors other than HLA MLC-matched siblings, and the use of antithymocyte globulin, prednisone, and methotrexate for prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease.

Fifteen patients ranging in age from 1-29 years (median age 9 years) had bone marrow transplantations (BMT) from related donors other than HLA mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) identical siblings. Donors were selected on the basis of HLA similarity and low reactivity in the MLC. Posttransplant immunosuppression consisting of methotrexate (MTX), antithymocyte globulin (ATG), and prednisone was used in an effort to decrease graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Seven children were treated for aplastic anemia, 7 for hematologic malignancy, and 1 for osteopetrosis. Primary engraftment failure contributed to death in 3 patients, all of whom had aplastic anemia. Nine of 12 engrafted patients developed moderate-to-severe acute graft-versus-host disease. Of the 15 patients, 7 developed interstitial pneumonitis. Three patients demonstrated mixed chimerism (at or beyond 3 months posttransplant). Two of the seven patients treated for aplastic anemia are currently alive six months and more than five years posttransplant; the latter patient has chronic GVHD. Four of the seven patients treated for hematologic malignancy are currently alive more than 500 days posttransplantation. Three have chronic GVHD. Analysis of patient outcome according to the degree of similarity in histocompatibility testing revealed that patients with low reactivity in the MLC (less than 5% relative response in both directions) had a better prognosis (5/6, 83% long-term survival) than patients with maximum donor vs. recipient mixed lymphocyte culture relative response greater than 5% (1/9, 12% long-term survival), P = .016.

Adolescent↗

Pretransplant conditioning with busulfan (Myleran) and cyclophosphamide for nonmalignant diseases. Assessment of engraftment following histocompatible allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Four pediatric patients with diseases potentially curable by bone marrow transplantation (BMT)--i.e., common variable immune deficiency, Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS), mucopolysaccharidosis type VI, and mucopolysaccharidosis type I received a conditioning regimen consisting of busulfan and cyclophosphamide prior to BMT from HLA-identical, mixed leukocyte culture (MLC)-unreactive siblings. Only one of the four patients achieved full engraftment. Of the remaining three patients, one experienced failure of engraftment, and two had persistent mixed chimerism. Although no serious complications were directly related to the preparative therapy, the doses of busulfan and cyclophosphamide previously described to be adequate for conditioning children with WAS were completely effective in only one of three pediatric patients in this series. Despite a higher dose of busulfan (16 mg/kg), mixed chimerism was observed in a subsequent patient. Of 13 evaluable patients in the literature in whom busulfan and cyclophosphamide had been used as preconditioning regimens for a variety of nonmalignant conditions, eight demonstrated lack of complete and sustained engraftment. On the other hand, clinical improvement has accompanied partial engraftment in some cases. We conclude that additional immunosuppressive and/or myeloablative conditioning is necessary if complete engraftment is attempted in histocompatible allogeneic BMT for many of the nonmalignant disorders.

Adolescent↗

Extramedullary presentation of the blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukaemia.

We report the clinical histories and a multiparameter pathological study of the extramedullary lesions of seven patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia in whom the initial clinical presentation of blast crisis (BC) was in an extramedullary site (lymph nodes in six, mandibular mass in one). Bone marrow BC was demonstrated simultaneously or within a few months in four patients. Three patients received chemotherapy only, four underwent bone marrow transplant. Six patients died within 1 year from diagnosis of extramedullary BC, one is alive without disease. The longest survivals (12+, 12, 11 months) were those of patients who never developed bone marrow BC and were recipients of bone marrow transplant. Studies of extramedullary disease included: histology; histochemistry for chloracetate esterase (CAE) and lysozyme; assays for TdT; electron microscopy; immunofluorescence for Fc-receptors, immunoglobulins and lymphoid and myeloid antigens by a panel of monoclonal antibodies; and cytogenetics. Three cases were classified as myeloid BC based on histochemistry and/or ultrastructure and immunology (OKM1+, MCS2+, IG10+); two as lymphoid BC (CAE-, lysozyme-, TdT+), one of them expressing a T-cell phenotype. Cytogenetic analysis of extramedullary lesions and simultaneous or subsequent bone marrows demonstrated identical karyotypes in three patients and significantly different karyotypes in one.

Adult↗

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms as markers of engraftment in allogeneic marrow transplantation.

We have used DNA hybridization techniques employing restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) to quantitate the level of donor cell engraftment in bone marrow transplantation recipients. The genetic origin of the bone marrow cells and various peripheral blood populations was analyzed in 14 patients. We found at least one informative polymorphism for each donor-recipient pair. Additional markers of engraftment included cytogenetic analysis, HLA typing, and red cell typing. By DNA analysis, four patients had complete engraftment, five had partial engraftment, and five had no evidence of donor cell engraftment. In three cases, DNA analysis permitted detection of minor populations (5% to 10%) of donor or host cells. Eight of fourteen patients were evaluable for chimerism posttransplant by cytogenetic analysis. In five cases, cytogenetic results were completely concordant with DNA analyses. In two cases of apparent autologous recovery, as assessed using RFLPs, a small number of cells of donor karyotype was seen. In one other case, a small number of cells of host karyotype was not detected by RFLP studies. HLA typing in three partially engrafted patients was purely either of donor or host type. Red cell typing was discordant with DNA and/or cytogenetic results in four of eight cases. We conclude that DNA analysis at a limited number of informative genetic loci is useful for quantitating the degree of engraftment in multiple populations of nondividing cells following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Adolescent↗

Therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome: a clinical and morphologic study of 65 cases.

This study consists of 65 patients (pts) who developed a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) (39 pts) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (26 pts) following chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy; the interval from the onset of therapy to bone marrow abnormality ranged from 11 to 192 months (median, 58). Thirty-three patients had been previously treated for lymphoproliferative diseases, 29 for carcinoma, and three for a nonneoplastic disorder. Approximately 30% of the cases presenting in the MDS phase evolved to AML in one to 12 months (median, 3.5). The AML in 49% of the cases was not readily classified according to French-American-British (FAB) criteria; the primary difficulty in classification related to the involvement of multiple cell lines. Among the cases that could be classified, all FAB types were represented except for M1; M2 was the most frequent type. Clonal chromosome abnormalities were found in marrow specimens from 22 of 24 (92%) patients studied with G banding; 11 had abnormalities of chromosomes 5 and/or 7. The median survival for all patients was four months with no significant difference between those treated and not treated with antileukemic therapy. The median survival was three months for the patients presenting with AML, six months for the patients with AML following an MDS, and four months for the patients with an MDS that did not evolve to AML. The findings in the present study suggest that there are three stages of therapy-related panmyelosis: (1) pancytopenia with associated myelodysplastic changes, (2) a frank MDS, and (3) overt AML. Many patients will present in the stage of overt AML that differs from de novo AML primarily by the high incidence of trilineage involvement, difficulty in classification, frequent cytogenetic abnormalities, and poor response to antileukemic therapy. The myelodysplastic phase, with or without evolution to acute leukemia, is a highly lethal disease with a median survival comparable to that of the patients who present with AML.

Adolescent↗

Granulated T cell lymphocytosis with neutropenia: malignant or benign chronic lymphoproliferative disorder?

The clinical, morphological, immunologic, and cytogenetic features of seven cases of chronic granulated T cell lymphocytosis with neutropenia were studied. The disorder was characterized by moderate blood and bone marrow lymphocytosis, neutropenia, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, splenomegaly, absence of lymphadenopathy, and a chronic, relatively stable clinical course. The proliferative lymphocytes manifested a cytotoxic/suppressor T lymphocyte phenotype. In two of four cases studied, blood lymphocytes showed clonal chromosome abnormalities. One patient treated with pulse steroid therapy had reversal of lymphocytosis and severe neutropenia with subsequent resolution of an intractable infection. The lymphocytosis and neutropenia recurred when steroids were withdrawn. Six of the seven patients were living three months to 17 years from diagnosis; one died at 4.3 years of an unrelated cause. Five of the patients, including the two with lymphocyte chromosome abnormalities, had persistent lymphocytosis and neutropenia from three months to 13 years from diagnosis. In two patients, the disease appears to have undergone spontaneous regression. No differences in clinical presentation or the morphological or immunologic characteristics of the proliferative lymphocytes were apparent between those patients with lymphocyte chromosome abnormalities and persistent disease and those who had a spontaneous regression. The finding of clonal chromosome abnormalities in the blood lymphocytes of two of the patients in this study suggests a neoplastic origin for chronic granulated T cell lymphocytosis with neutropenia. However, apparent spontaneous regression in two patients, one after 11 years, lends support to a chronic reactive or immunoregulatory disorder as the etiology. It is probable that cases of granulated T cell lymphocytosis with neutropenia, although morphologically and immunologically similar, are biologically heterogeneous.

Adult↗

Human acute leukemia cell line with the t(4;11) chromosomal rearrangement exhibits B lineage and monocytic characteristics.

A cell line, designated RS4;11, was established from the bone marrow of a patient in relapse with an acute leukemia that was characterized by the t(4;11) chromosomal abnormality. The cell line and the patient's fresh leukemic cells both had the t(4;11)(q21;q23) and an isochromosome for the long arm of No. 7. Morphologically, all cells were lymphoid in appearance. Ultrastructurally and cytochemically, approximately 30% of the cells possessed myeloid features. The cells were strongly positive for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. They were HLA-DR positive and expressed surface antigens characteristic for B lineage cells, including those detected by anti-B4, BA-1, BA-2, and PI153/3. Immunoglobulin gene analysis revealed rearrangements of the heavy chain and kappa chain genes. The cells lacked the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen and antigenic markers characteristic of T lineage cells. The cells reacted with the myeloid antibody 1G10 but not with other myeloid monoclonal antibodies. Treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate induced a monocyte-like phenotype demonstrated by cytochemical, functional, immunologic, and electron microscopic studies. The expression of markers of both early lymphoid and early myeloid cells represents an unusual phenotype and suggests that RS4;11 represents a cell with dual lineage capabilities. To our knowledge, RS4;11 is the first cell line established from t(4;11)-associated acute leukemia.

Adult↗

There are differences in cytogenetic abnormalities among histologic subtypes of the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Although many recurring chromosome abnormalities have been found in malignant lymphoma (ML) in recent years, their relationship to histology remains largely undefined. We have correlated, in the same tumor mass, chromosome findings with histology, defined by the International Working Formulation for Clinical Usage, in 120 patients. We find differences among histologies in the frequency of normal metaphases and the modal number of the predominant abnormal clone. In addition, most histologies have been significantly (P less than .01) associated with specific chromosome abnormalities. In particular, ML, follicular, predominantly small cleaved cell was associated with t(14;18)(q32;q21); ML, follicular, mixed small cleaved cell and large cell with t(14;18)(q32;q21) and trisomy 8; ML, follicular, predominantly large cell with trisomy 7 and breaks in 17q21-q25; ML, diffuse, mixed small cell and large cell with breaks in 11p; ML, diffuse, large cell with trisomy 21 and breaks in 2q and 9q; ML, large cell, immunoblastic with breaks at 6q21; and ML, small noncleaved cell with t(8;14)(q24;q32). Only the associations with t(14;18) and t(8;14) have been previously reported. The associated chromosome abnormality usually occurred in 30% to 70% of a given histology, raising the possibility that cytogenetics may add important prognostic information in lymphoma as it does in the acute leukemias.

Adolescent↗

Folate metabolism and chromosomal stability in the fragile X syndrome.

Folate metabolism and the effects of folic acid on chromosome stability were studied in four related patients with the fragile X syndrome. In three adults, uptake and subsequent utilization of folate compounds for conversion of deoxyuridylate to thymidylate by marrow cells and stimulated lymphocytes, and the affinity and maximal transport velocity of erythrocyte membrane carriers, were normal. Numbers of sister chromatid exchanges and double-stranded DNA breaks were comparable in cells from patients and control subjects, but both were increased after incubation in folate-deficient media. In vitro expression of the fragile site was strikingly reduced by oral folate therapy. It is concluded that the folate-sensitive chromosomal defect in this syndrome is limited to a specific site, Xq28, and there is no generalized tendency to frequent DNA breaks or recombination. Although expression was modified by folic acid treatment in the patients, no consistent abnormality of folate metabolism could be identified.

Adult↗

Banded chromosome analysis in patients with treatment-associated acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

We have analyzed G-banded metaphase chromosomes from 20 patients with treatment-associated acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (t-ANLL). Nine patients were previously treated for hematologic malignancies and 11 for solid tumors. The interval from initial therapy to t-ANLL ranged from 35 to 182 mo (median 75.5 mo). Medial age at diagnosis of t-ANLL was 58.5 years. Clonal chromosome abnormalities were found in 19 patients (95%). Loss or partial deletion of the long arm of chromosomes #5 and/or #7 were most common, occurring in nine patients. These abnormalities were associated with hypodiploid complex karyotypes. Other nonrandom abnormalities recurring among karyotypes with abnormalities of chromosome #5 included loss of one #18, partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome #2, ring chromosomes, and a Philadelphia (Ph1) chromosome. We also identified a group of five patients whose only karyotypic abnormality was addition of whole chromosomes. The remaining five patients had other karyotypic abnormalities, the most common of which were structural rearrangements in a pseudodiploid clone. Combined data from our study and the three previously published large series of patients with t-ANLL studied with banding suggest a relationship between karyotype and intensity of prior therapy, with abnormalities of chromosomes #5 and #7 occurring more often in the intensively treated patients.

Adult↗

Transformation of chronic myelogenous leukemia: clinical, morphologic, and cytogenetic features.

The morphologic, cytogenetic, and clinical features of 58 patients with transformation of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1) positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) were evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of blood and marrow findings: blast crisis and subacute transformation. The evolution of the leukemic process in 41 patients was classified as blast crisis based on one of three criteria: 30% or more blasts in blood and/or marrow smears, intramedullary focus of blast transformation in a marrow trephine biopsy, or blast transformation in an extramedullary site. The 17 patients with subacute transformation of CML had a deteriorating clinical and hematologic picture but did not manifest any of the criteria for blast crisis. The blood and marrow findings in this group of patients were characterized by several qualitative and quantitative changes, including anemia, thrombocytopenia, decreasing leukocyte count, increasing basophilia, myelofibrosis, dysplastic alterations in hematopoietic cells, and increased blasts which, however, never exceeded 25%. Chromosome abnormalities in addition to the Ph1 were found in 65% of the patients with blast crisis and 86% of the patients with subacute transformation. The 41 patients with blast crisis had a median survival of nine weeks; the 17 with subacute transformation had a median survival of 26 weeks. The shortest median survival for patients with blast crisis, four weeks, occurred in the patients with myeloid blast crisis with chromosome abnormalities in addition to the Ph. The longest median survival, 52 plus weeks, occurred in patients with lymphoid blast crisis with only the Ph1 at transformation.

Bone Marrow↗

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation as treatment for accelerating chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Sixteen patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) when they presented with or developed objective signs suggesting acceleration of disease. Patients have been followed for a median of 515 days (range 216-806 days). Seven patients are alive from 319 to 732 days (median 538 days). Four patients are in complete remission 501-732 days after BMT. Three patients have developed cytogenetic evidence of relapse after BMT; however, these patients are alive and not dependent on therapy and have normal activity levels at 319, 515, and 550 days following BMT. Three additional patients have developed cytogenetic and hematologic evidence of relapse after BMT, progressed to blast crisis, and died. Six patients have died of other causes. Allogeneic BMT can eradicate the abnormal clone and provide normal hematopoiesis when performed during the accelerated phase of CML; however, this approach is associated with relapse and with relatively high mortality. The long-term efficacy of this approach and the relative efficacy of transplant during acceleration rather than during the chronic phase of CML have yet to be established.

Adolescent↗

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induced polyclonal and monoclonal B-cell lymphoproliferative diseases occurring after renal transplantation. Clinical, pathologic, and virologic findings and implications for therapy.

Nineteen renal allograft recipients developed B-cell lymphoproliferative diseases. Clinically there were two groups: a) young patients (mean age, 23 years) who presented soon (mean, 9 months) after transplantation or antirejection therapy with fever, pharyngitis, and lymphadenopathy resembling infectious mononucleosis, and b) older patients (mean age, 48 years) who presented later (mean, 6 years) after transplantation with localized tumor masses. Histologically, the diseases were classified as polymorphic diffuse B-cell hyperplasia (PDBH) or polymorphic B-cell lymphoma (PBL). Immunologic cell typing revealed either polyclonal or monoclonal B-cell proliferations. Malignant transformation of polyclonal proliferations in two patients was suggested by the finding of clonal cytogenetic abnormalities. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) specific serology, staining of biopsy specimens for the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen, and EBV DNA molecular hybridization studies implicated EBV as the cause of both PDBH and PBL. Acyclovir, an antiviral agent that blocks EBV replication in vitro, inhibited oropharyngeal shedding of EBV and caused complete remission in four patients with polyclonal B-cell proliferations. The monoclonal tumors were acyclovir resistant. We suggest that surgical treatment, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy may be more appropriate therapy in selected patients with acyclovir resistant tumors. Therapeutic decisions require not only documentation of the viral etiology of these tumors, but also immunologic and cytogenetic analysis to determine the stage of tumor evolution in individual patients.

Adolescent↗

Retinoic acid treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia: in vitro and in vivo observations.

We describe in vitro studies and a therapeutic trial of retinoic acid (RA) in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) refractory to chemotherapy. Bone marrow promyelocytes from the patient, prior to RA, matured morphologically in liquid culture with RA (97% maturing myeloid cells compared with 26% in control cultures at 7 days). RA-cultured cells displayed leukocyte alkaline phosphatase activity and cytoplasmic maturation (by electron microscopy). Retinoic-acid-treated cells, compared to controls, demonstrated increased functional maturation, with phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan (90% versus 10%) and production of superoxide (measured by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction) in response to phorbol ester, opsonized zymosan, or the chemotaxin F-met-leu-phe. There was no evidence of active proliferation in the cultures. RA-treated cells continued to show 15;17 chromosomal translocation after 7 days in culture. The patient was treated with oral 13-cis-retinoic acid (100 mg/sq m/day) for 13 days. During that time, the peripheral white blood count rose from 300 cu mm to 6,700 cu mm, and the maturing myeloid cell count rose from 54 cu mm to 3,800 cu mm. Bone marrow maturing cells increased from 1.8% to 8.0%. Despite the increasing number of maturing myeloid cells, the patient died on day 13 from disseminated candidiasis. These data confirm that RA induces maturation of leukemic promyelocytes in vitro and suggest that similar maturation is achievable in vivo. We suggest that oral retinoic acid may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of APL.

Adult↗