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Identification of blast cells in the peripheral blood of patients with acute leukaemia using the Technicon H-1.

The Technicon H-1 counter represents a refinement of the cytochemistry-based technology of its predecessors, the H6000 and the Hemalog-D. It also has a new channel, the basophil-lobularity channel, which is said to enhance the sensitivity of leukaemic blast detection in comparison with previous instruments. To evaluate this facility, 35 adult patients with acute leukaemia at different phases of their disease were monitored for the presence of circulating leukaemic blasts during a 4-week period. The ability of the H-1 to detect blasts was compared to a careful manual review of a blood and bone marrow smear. Using the latter review as the standard, the sensitivity was 83.8% with a specificity of 78%. Exclusion of patients with severe leucopenia (less than 1.0 x 10(9)/l) increased the specificity to 89%, with little alteration in the sensitivity. We were unable to confirm the high degree of sensitivity claimed in previous reports. The H-1 blast flag, however, would appear useful for screening patients who are off therapy or on maintenance regimens.

Blast Crisis↗

Cardiac tamponade in the blastic crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia.

A 36-year-old man with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) developed hemorrhagic pericarditis with tamponade as a terminal manifestation of the blastic crisis. Cardiac tamponade should be kept in mind as an uncommon cause of death of CML patients. Based on a literature review, symptomatic pericarditis in patients with CML blast crisis suggests imminent death. This is in contrast to long-term survival for patients in the chronic phase.

Adult↗

Phase I-II trial of acivicin in adult acute leukemia.

Six patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia were treated with 9 mg/m2 or 11 mg/m2 of acivicin daily for seven days in a phase I-II trial. No responses were attained and further dose escalation was prohibited by neurotoxicity in 2 of 3 patients who received 11 mg/m2/day. Although acivicin appears to have limited potential as a single agent, laboratory evaluation of leukemic blasts in one patient revealed cell cycle (S-phase accumulation) and metabolic effects which suggest that acivicin may be effective as a modulator of other antileukemia agents such as cytosine arabinoside.

Aged↗

Mechanism of action of the inhibitory effect of nifedipine on the growth of cultured aortic cells from spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats.

1. To gain insight into the parameters which control vascular structure, we investigated the mechanisms whereby nifedipine, and other dihydropyridines, inhibit the growth of cultured fibroblasts isolated from the adventitia of the aorta of spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. 2. The effects of nifedipine on cell proliferation and on serum-induced DNA synthesis were determined by measuring the cell number and the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine, respectively. The mechanism of action of nifedipine was studied by adding the drug either to randomly growing cells or to quiescent, G0/G1 arrested and synchronized cells. The effects of varying the duration of drug treatment were also examined. 3. In randomly growing cultures nifedipine, like other dihydropyridines concentration-dependently inhibited cell proliferation; the rank order of effect (measured at a concentration of 10 microM) was nifedipine > nisoldipine > nitrendipine approximately nimodipine. 4. In G0/G1 arrested cell cultures, nifedipine concentration-dependently inhibited serum-induced [3H]-thymidine incorporation. In this respect it had similar effects in cell cultures from WKY and SHR. In both SHR and WKY cultures, nifedipine delayed the transition from G0/G1 to S phase, and inhibited serum-induced DNA synthesis possibly by acting on the early G1 phase. 5. In cell cultures from both SHR and WKY, serum-induced DNA synthesis was similarly (approximately 40%) inhibited after a 1 day treatment with 10 microM nifedipine. In contrast, after 5 days treatment with the drug, the inhibition of DNA synthesis was approximately 65% and approximately 10% in SHR and WKY cultures, respectively. The inhibitory effects of nifedipine against proliferation of fibroblasts were 25% and 60%, respectively,after 1 and 5 days of treatment, and were similar in cells derived from SHR and WKY. This indicates that 5 days treatment with nifedipine inhibited the proliferation of SHR and WKY fibro blasts by acting mostly on the early G1 phase and the M phase, respectively.6. Irrespective of the duration of treatment (1 or 5 days) with 10 microM nifedipine, the inhibition of DNA synthesis could be abolished and partially reduced by Bay K 8644 (1 microM) in WKY and SHR fibroblasts,respectively. In cell cultures from both SHR and WKY the inhibitory effects of a short term and of along term treatment with nifedipine against cell proliferation were reduced and unaffected, respectively by Bay K 8644.7. These results indicate that nifedipine inhibited cell proliferation and serum-induced DNA synthesis by altering the cell cycle through different mechanisms in SHR and WKY fibroblasts. They also suggest the existence in aortic fibroblasts of interactions between calcium channel blockers of the dihydropyridine series and the mitogenic signalling pathways of growth factors contained in serum.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗

[Efficacy and safety evaluation of imatinib in the treatment of patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia in accelerated phase].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of imatinib in the treatment of adult patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) in accelerated phase. METHODS: Thirty patients with CGL in accelerated phase were orally administered with imatinib 400 or 600 mg daily for 7 approximately 9 months. RESULTS: Hematological responses occurred in 28 of 30 patients (93.3%) in the treatment: 14 (46.7%) had a complete hematological response, 10 (33.3%) had a marrow response, and 4 (13.3%) returned to chronic phase. Bone pain and splenomegaly disappeared soon after the administration of imatinib. Eight patients relapsed 30 approximately 172 days after hematological responses. Six of them received imatinib with daily dose increment to 800 mg. Four of these 6 patients had no response and 2 returned to chronic phase again. The risk factors for relapse were blasts > or = 15% in bone marrow or in peripheral blood, extramedullary leukemia involvement, hemoglobin < 100 g/L before the administration of imatinib, and lack of a complete hematological response after the treatment. Cytogenetic remission occurred in 6 of 27 patients (21.4%) after 3 months treatment: 4 (14.3%) were complete cytogenetic response and 2 (7.1%) major cytogenetic response. Mild non-hematologic adverse effects occurred in most of the patients, but were manageable and tolerable, or disappeared automatically. Severe neutropenia or thrombocytopenia appeared in more than half of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Imatinib has substantial activity and is well-tolerated in the treatment of accelerated phase of CGL.

Adult↗

Cocultures of metastatic and host immune cells: selective effects of NAMI-A for tumor cells.

The effects of NAMI-A, [H2im][trans-RuCl4(dmso-S)(Him)], a new metal-based agent for treating tumor metastases, have been investigated in vitro on splenocytes, ConA- or LPS-activated T and B lymphoblasts, and thymocytes. Splenocytes and thymocytes exposed for 1 h to 0.01-0.1-mM NAMI-A do not change their mitochondrial functionality, cell cycle distribution, protein synthesis, and CD44 expression in comparison to untreated control samples. Instead, mitochondrial functionality increased 24 h after treatment in a fraction of splenocytes. The same treatment reduced mitochondrial functionality and S phase of the cell cycle in T and B blasts (already after 1 h treatment) and reduced CD44 expression on B blasts, 24 h after treatment. On cocultures of splenocytes and metastatic cells (metGM) (1:1), NAMI-A induces a selective depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential of metGM cells, while it stimulates splenocytes (mainly lymphocytes), as shown by the increase of the S phase, nitric oxide production, and adhesion onto metastatic cells. This, in turn, reduces the number of metastatic cells and results in the increased ratio between splenocytes and metGM in favor of diploid cells (doubling from one to two). Rosetting of leukocytes onto metastatic cells correlates with induction of CD54 expression on tumor cells after NAMI-A in vivo treatment, which in turn, might contribute to metastasis recognition by cytotoxic lymphocytes. The overall antimetastatic activity displayed by NAMI-A might therefore be the result of complex interactions with tumor cells, on which it displays selective antitumor activity, and with host immune cells through which it promotes activation of host immune defenses involved in tumor suppression.

Animals↗

[Functional activity and expression of P-glycoprotein in chronic myeloid leukemia].

AIM: To evaluate the prognostic significance of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Functional activity (rhodamine 123 test) and expression of Pgp (binding of UIC2 monoclonal antibodies by cells) were evaluated by flow cytofluorometry. A total of 141 samples of peripheral blood from 121 patients with various stages of CML were examined. RESULTS: The number of patients whose cells express functionally active Pgp increases during the blast crisis (BC) in comparison with the chronic phase (CP). Repeated testing of patients with BC and CP showed that Pgp-expressing cells can disappear from the peripheral blood of patients despite the treatment by Pgp preparations and substrates. However the number of cases with expression and functional activity of Pgp increases in the course of BC. Several patients in whom functionally active Pgp was not detected during diagnosis of BC had longer BC phase than patients with the active protein. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that active Pgp contributes to CML BC (presumably to patient's response to therapy) but this contribution is not decisive.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Malignant thymus tumour progressing into acute leukaemia with non-specific esterase activity.

We describe an 8-year-old girl who presented a massive mediastinal tumour of thymic origin. Surgical excision was unsuccessful. Irradiation treatment (4,500 rad) together with intensive combination chemotherapy resulted in regression of the tumour. After three months, an increase of blasts was observed in the peripheral blood and bone marrow. The terminal phase was characterized by acute leukaemia, which did not respond to chemotherapy. Despite the thymic origin of this malignancy, the blast cells contained non-specific esterase activity as determined by naphthol-AS-acetate as substrate. The NaF-sensitive form of this enzyme is a characteristic of monocytes-macrophages. Other monocyte-macrophage markers were, however, negative. We conclude that the NaF-sensitive naphthol-AS-acetate esterase is not limited to tumours of the monocyte-macrophage system.

Bone Marrow Examination↗

Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma: an unusual case of a gamma delta T-cell lymphoma with a blast-like terminal transformation.

We describe a case of a middle-aged women who presented with anemia and mild hepatosplenomegaly and who was found to have an unusual peripheral T-cell lymphoma with only subtle morphologically abnormal but mature-appearing cells noted in the blood and bone marrow. Less than 2 years after diagnosis the patient presented with an increasing white blood cell count to 26 x 10(9)/L, and numerous blasts were noted in the periphery. Flow cytometry studies showed cells with an unusual T-cell phenotype expressing the gamma delta T-cell receptor and restricted expression of the V delta 1 but not the V delta 2 protein, indicating the clonal nature of the proliferation. A clonal T-cell receptor gene rearrangement was seen with a V delta 1 probe. The patient died and was found at autopsy to have extensive hepatic sinusoidal infiltration by abnormal cells. The histopathologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular findings are those of "hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma." In spite of the striking morphologic change during the course of the patient's disease the same phenotype and clonal rearrangement were found both at initial diagnosis and during terminal phase, indicating that this change represented a blast-like transformation of the patient's original lymphoproliferative disorder.

Female↗

[Mixed blast crisis with the cytogenetic evidence of three clonal evolutions].

A 46-year-old man was diagnosed as having chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in chronic phase in Dec. 1985. In Dec. 1987, anemia and leukocytopenia progressed, and the percentage of blast cells increased in the bone marrow. The blast cells were lymphoblastoid and positive for TdT. It was treated as a lymphoid crisis with vincristine and prednisolone, and complete remission was achieved. However, the blasts (11%) were observed in the bone marrow in Mar. 1988, and the chromosomal analysis revealed 46, XY, t (2q-; 11q+), t (9q+; 22q-) in 13 out of 20 cells. In June, the percentage of the blasts increased again, but chromosomal analysis showed a different karyotype, 46, XY, t(2p-; 11p+), t(9q+; 22q-) which was observed in 9 out of 10 cells. Then, myeloblastoid cells increased rapidly in spite of the chemotherapy in Dec. 1988. The chromosomal analysis showed 46, XY, 2p-, 7q-, 9q+, 11p+, 22q- in all analyzed cells. The rearrangement of the bcr gene could be detected by the Southern blotting. The blasts were positive for CD7, CD11, CD13, CD33, CD36, CD41 and CD42, suggesting that the blasts had the surface phenotypes of both myeloid and megakaryocytoid-lineage. This is a case with the mixed blast crisis that changed from the lymphoid to the myelo-megakaryocytoid in nature, in which three clonal evolutions were observed during the clinical course.

Antigens, CD↗

Expression of nuclear envelope lamins A and C in human myeloid leukemias.

The lamins are intermediate filament proteins that form a fibrous layer at the periphery of the nucleus. Experiments in cell-free systems have suggested that mammalian lamins A and C mediate an interaction between chromatin and the inner nuclear membrane that is essential for the reformation of the nucleus after mitosis. Other investigations, however, have suggested that lamins A and C are absent from myeloid cells and myeloid leukemia cell lines. To further investigate this apparent paradox, highly sensitive Western blotting techniques were utilized in the present study to examine the expression of lamins A and C in a series of human myeloid leukemia cell lines and in bone marrow samples from patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) and chronic myelogenous leukemia. Western blotting revealed that HL-60 progranulocytic leukemia cells contained an average of 0.1 x 10(6) copies of lamins A and C per cell compared to 0.5 x 10(6) copies of lamin B1 (the quantitatively prominent human B-type lamin) per cell. During the process of phorbol ester-induced maturation to macrophages, the mRNA for lamins A and C increased in abundance, with a concomitant 4-fold increase in the average cellular content of these polypeptides. To rule out the possibility that the low but detectable levels of lamins A and C observed in untreated HL-60 cells reflected incipient maturation, the content of lamins A and C was analyzed in ANLL cell lines that do not mature toward granulocytes or monocytes. Lamins A and C were readily detected in cell lines (KG1a, HEL, Mo-7e) derived from patients with a variety of subtypes of ANLL. Expression of lamins A and C was not limited to myeloid cell lines. These polypeptides were also detectable in marrow samples from 9 of 26 patients with ANLL including at least 1 patient from each of the 5 subtypes of ANLL examined. In contrast, only 1 of 12 marrow samples from patients with aggressive phase chronic myelogenous leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis contained readily detectable lamins A and C. The implications of these findings for current hypotheses regarding the functions of the lamin polypeptides are discussed.

Blast Crisis↗

Cytotoxicity of lymphocytes and antibodies against autologous tumor cells in patients with myeloid leukaemias and preleukaemic disorders. III. Stage-dependence of oncovirus-specific immune response.

Lymphocyte and plasma samples from the quiescent and blastic phase of chronic granulocytic leukaemia (CGL) and from the blastosis and remission of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), were compared for cytotoxic activity. Target cells were collected from the blastic phases of diseases. 51Cr-release tests showed that the lymphocytes and plasma samples from blastic crisis of CGL had no cytotoxic activity for autologous blast cells. In contrast, cryopreserved lymphocytes and plasmas from the quiescent phase of CGL proved to be cytotoxic for the autologous tumor cells, and their effect could be blocked by native gp70 antigens of gibbon ape leukaemia virus (GaLV) and baboon endogenous virus (BaEV). A blocking effect was less frequently exerted by carbohydrate-free gp70 and p15(E) antigens. A similar relationship was found between the blastosis and remission stage of AML, however, out of the antigens of BaEV only the native gp70 showed a marked blocking effect.

Antibodies, Neoplasm↗

Lymphoid blast crisis in chronic myeloid leukaemia and Philadelphia positive acute lymphoid leukaemia.

Membrane markers (anti-ALL and anti-Ia antisera) and an enzyme marker (terminal transferase) have been used to define an L-type or "lymphoid" type of acute transformation in chronic myeloid leukaemia and Ph1 positive acute leukaemia. Patients with L-type ("lymphoid") blasts responded to regimens including vincristine and prednisolone (VP). The markers showed better correlation with survival than did the morphology of blasts. The clinical course of patients was variable; elimination Ph1 positive clone (and hypoplasia), return to the chronic phase and relapses (including meningeal leukaemia) were observed. In contrast, patients with myeloid blasts ("M" type of blast crisis) failed to respond to vincristine and prednisolone.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Anti-Ig-stimulated B lymphoblasts can be restimulated via their surface Ig.

Engaging AgR (surface Ig) on B lymphocytes leads to rapid inositol phosphate turnover and elevation of intracellular [Ca2+]. Continuous receptor occupancy (greater than 18 h) by anti-Ig leads to transit of most B lymphocytes from G0 to G1 stage of the cell cycle (blast transformation); a fraction of cells continue into S phase but do not proliferate continuously in the absence of growth factors. Prolonged exposure to ligand can induce receptor desensitization of some receptors. We therefore investigated whether such desensitization occurs in B cells activated by insolubilized anti-Ig. Resting B cells and anti-Ig-activated blasts were examined for their potential to elevate [Ca2+]i, maintain viability, and synthesize DNA in response to reexposure to anti-Ig. B cells and anti-Ig blasts had similar basal [Ca2+]i levels. Anti-Ig blasts retained the capacity to increase [Ca2+]i in response to anti-Ig; the magnitude of the increase was equal to or greater than that observed with resting B cells and occurred in more than 90% of cells. Isolated anti-Ig blasts subcultured in the presence of T cell-derived growth factors for 3 to 5 days responded to restimulation by anti-Ig with an increase in [Ca2+]i similar to that observed in freshly isolated blasts. The B cell and B lymphoblast ion channels were found to be permeable to Ca2+ but impermeable to Mn2+. Finally, blasts restimulated by anti-Ig retained viability and incorporated low levels of [3H]thymidine for 24 h. These results suggest that AgR on activated B lymphocytes can remain functionally coupled to intracellular signaling pathways and can participate in immune responses subsequent to initial activation.

Animals↗

Selective ablation of acute myeloid leukemia using antibody-targeted chemotherapy: a phase I study of an anti-CD33 calicheamicin immunoconjugate.

Leukemic blast cells express the CD33 antigen in most patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but this antigen is not expressed by hematopoietic stem cells. We conducted a study to determine whether normal hematopoiesis could be restored in patients with AML by selective ablation of cells expressing the CD33 antigen. In a dose escalation study, 40 patients with relapsed or refractory CD33(+) AML were treated with an immunoconjugate (CMA-676) consisting of humanized anti-CD33 antibody linked to the potent antitumor antibiotic calicheamicin. The capacity of leukemic cells to efflux 3, 3'-diethyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC2) was used to estimate pretreatment functional drug resistance. Leukemia was eliminated from the blood and marrow of 8 (20%) of the 40 patients; blood counts returned to normal in three (8%) patients. A high rate of clinical response was observed in leukemias characterized by low dye efflux in vitro. Infusions of CMA-676 were generally well tolerated, and a postinfusion syndrome of fever and chills was the most common toxic effect. Two patients who were treated at the highest dose level (9 mg/m2) were neutropenic >5 weeks after the last dose of CMA-676. These results show that an immunoconjugate targeted to CD33 can selectively ablate malignant hematopoiesis in some patients with AML.

Adult↗

[Relationship between blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemias and abnormality of p16 and calcitonin genes].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between homozygous deletions of p16 gene and calcitonin hypermethylation and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) blast crisis. METHODS: Semiquantitative multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect homozygous deletions of p16 gene and semiquantitative PCR to detect calcitonin gene hypermethylation in 53 CML patients. RESULTS: In 53 CML patients, homozygous deletion of p16 gene was found in none of them in chronic phase, while in 6.3% (1/16) of them in myeloid blast crisis, 66.7% (8/12) in lymphoid blast crisis, and 2/5 (40%) in mixed cell blast crisis. Calcitonin gene hypermethylation was found in 10% (2/20), 68.8%(11/16), 16.7%(2/12), and 40% (2/5), respectively. CONCLUSION: There is intimate relationship between homozygous deletions of p16 gene and CML in lymphoid blast crisis, between calcitonin gene hypermethylation and CML in myeloid blast crisis. Moreover, abnormality of both genes may be associated with mixed cell blast crisis in CML patients. Simultaneous detection of the two genes help early pickup CML patients in blast crisis.

Adult↗

Extramedullary disease in Ph'-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia: frequency, clinical features and prognostic significance.

Of 349 consecutive patients with Philadelphia-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (Ph' + CML), 14 (4%) developed extramedullary disease (EMD) during their illness. The sites of EMD were: bone (57%), lymph nodes (29%), skin and soft tissues (21%), central nervous system (14%). The median time from diagnosis of CML to the occurrence of EMD was 48 months. At the time of diagnosis of EMD, 7 patients were hematologically in chronic phase, while 7 showed features of accelerated or blastic CML. For patients lacking medullary blastic transformation criteria, the median time from diagnosis of EMD to blast crisis was 4 months. The overall median survival from development of EMD was 5 months. In conclusion, EMD may occur during the course of CML either in the context of a frank blastic transformation, or as an isolated tumoral infiltrate which heralds an impending blast crisis. Its recognition requires a prompt change to acute-phase chemotherapy.

Adult↗

Interleukin 2-induced proliferation of murine natural killer cells in vivo.

The growth factor, IL-2, was administered to mice to evaluate the in vivo responsiveness of NK cells to this factor. The immediate effects of this factor on NK cells were determined by examining cytotoxic activity at 18-24 h after a single treatment with rIL-2. Although moderate doses of rIL-2 (3 x 10(4) U) could be shown to activate existing cytotoxic cells on a per cell basis, higher doses (10(6) U) were required to elicit blast size killer cells. The elicited killer cells were characterized as NK cells by the following criteria: (a) they were readily induced in athymic mice; (b) they mediated killing of NK-sensitive YAC-1 target cells but not NK-resistant P815 target cells; and (c) they expressed the NK cell determinants asialo ganglio-n-tetraosylceramide and NK1.1, but not the T cell determinants CD3, L3T4, or Lyt-2. High-dose IL-2 treatment induced not only the appearance of blast size NK cells, but also the expansion of this population. After treatments, the number of large granular lymphocytes and the number of NK1.1+ cells were increased at least twofold. Analysis of DNA content within the NK1.1+ cell subset demonstrated that IL-2 preferentially drove NK1.1+ cells into S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle. The in vivo elicited blast lymphocytes were examined by Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization for expression of the IL-2-R p55 alpha chain gene. As previous work from this laboratory has demonstrated that NK cells proliferate in response to IFNs and IFN inducers in vivo, blast lymphocytes were also prepared after IFN treatments. The NK cells were not induced to express detectable levels of the alpha chain gene under any of the conditions examined. Blast T lymphocytes, isolated at times during viral infections when IL-2 production can be demonstrated in vitro, were induced to transcribe the alpha chain gene. Treatments of euthymic mice with high-dose IL-2 also induced transcription of the alpha chain gene in 41% of the non-B blast lymphocytes, but only background percentages of the NK1.1+ cells expressed the alpha chain gene. Transcription of the alpha chain gene was not induced in the NK cell-abundant athymic mice after IL-2 treatment. All of the in vivo elicited blast lymphocytes were induced to express IFN-gamma. Taken together, these data definitively demonstrate that IL-2 can induce NK cell proliferation and expansion in vivo. They also show that exposure to IL-2 in vivo, either by administration or endogenous production of the factor, induces transcription of the IL-2-R alpha chain gene in populations of cells containing T cell subsets. The results suggest, however, that murine NK cells are not induced to express high levels of the alpha chain gene in response to IL-2 in vivo.

Animals↗