SF3B1 and IGHV gene mutation status predict poor prognosis in Japanese CLL patients.

The incidence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is low in Japan. The clinical course ranges from very indolent to rapidly progressive. Recently, several reports have indicated that mutation of the splicing factor 3b, subunit 1 (SF3B1) gene in CLL is predictive of a poor prognosis. Here, we investigated the SF3B1 mutational status of Japanese CLL patients and clarified the association between SF3B1 mutational status and prognostic factors. One hundred and two patients that were referred to our institutions between 1999 and 2013 were enrolled. Mutation analysis of SF3B1 (n = 87) and of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IGHV) (n = 102) was performed at diagnosis. FISH analysis of del(11)(q22) was performed for 17 patients. Seven patients have SF3B1 mutation (8.0 %: K700E, 5/7; G742D, 1/7 and Y623C, 1/7). The median survival times for patients with mutated and non-mutated SF3B1 were 53 and 130 months, respectively. Overall survival of the mutated SF3B1 group was significantly lower than that of the non-mutated group (p = 0.0187). No relationship was observed between IGHV mutational status and SF3B1 mutation. There was no patient with SF3B1 mutation in the IGHV1-69 population (0/2). In conclusion, mutation of SF3B1 at diagnosis in Japanese CLL patients is predictive of a poor prognosis.

Long-term outcome of patients with acquired chronic pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) following immunosuppressive therapy: a final report of the nationwide cohort study in 2004/2006 by the Japan PRCA collaborative study group.

Immunosuppressive therapy has been employed as the initial treatment for acquired chronic pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), such as idiopathic, thymoma-associated, or large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukaemia-associated PRCA, which is thought to be immune-mediated. To explore the overall long-term outcome following immunosuppression and to identify the risk factors for death in these disorders, we conducted nationwide surveys in Japan 2004 and 2006, and identified a total of 185 patients with acquired chronic PRCA, including 72 idiopathic, 41 thymoma-associated and 14 LGL leukaemia-associated cases of PRCA for whom data was available. The present study evaluated 127 patients with these three subsets of PRCA. The median overall survival has not yet been reached in idiopathic PRCA. The estimated median overall survival times in patients with thymoma-associated and LGL leukaemia-associated PRCA were 142·1 and 147·8 months, respectively. Twenty-two deaths were reported, and the response to induction therapy and relapse of anaemia were found to be associated with death. The major causes of death were infection in seven patients and organ failure in another seven patients. The results suggest that maintenance therapy and the management of infectious complications are crucial for improving the prognosis of chronic PRCA.

Prognostic importance of the soluble form of IL-2 receptorα (sIL-2Rα) and its relationship with surface expression of IL-2Rα (CD25) of lymphoma cells in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with CHOP-like regimen with or without rituximab: a retrospective analysis of 338 cases.

We evaluated the prognostic significance of the serum level of the soluble form of interleukin-2 receptorα (sIL-2Rα) and investigated its association with CD25 expression on tumor cells in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Three hundred and thirty-eight adult patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL were eligible for this retrospective study. 32.2% of patients were treated with CHOP-like regimen and 67.8% with R-CHOP-like regimen. CD25 expression on the surface of tumor cells was evaluated in 143 cases and its relationship with sIL-2Rα level was also investigated. Both overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were poorer in patients with higher sIL-2Rα, in both R-CHOP and CHOP groups. sIL-2Rα > 1,000 U/mL and performance status (PS) ≥ 2 were independently associated with poorer OS, and sIL-2Rα > 1,000 U/mL, age > 60 years, and ≥ 2 extranodal sites were independently associated with poorer PFS in the R-CHOP group. The sIL-2Rα level was higher in the CD25-positive group than in the CD25-negative group in stage 3 or 4 disease (p = 0.010). Multiple linear regression analysis showed CD25 expression to be independently correlated with sIL-2Rα levels. High sIL-2Rα is an important risk factor for survival in DLBCL treated with not only CHOP-like, but also R-CHOP-like regimens, regardless of the tumor's expression of CD25.

Genetic differences between Asian and Caucasian chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a common hematological malignancy in Western countries. However, this disease is very rare in Asian countries. It is not clear whether the mechanisms of development of CLL in Caucasians and Asians are the same. We compared genetic abnormalities in Asian and Caucasian CLL using 250k GeneChip arrays. Both Asian and Caucasian CLL had four common genetic abnormalities: deletion of 13q14.3, trisomy 12, abnormalities of ATM (11q) and abnormalities of 17p. Interestingly, trisomy 12 and deletion of 13q14.3 were mutually exclusive in both groups. We also found that deletions of miR 34b/34c (11q), caspase 1/4/5 (11q), Rb1 (13q) and DLC1 (8p) are common in both ethnic groups. Asian CLL more frequently had gain of 3q and 18q. These suggest that classic genomic changes in the Asian and Caucasina CLL are same. Further, we found amplification of IRF4 and deletion of the SP140/SP100 genes; these genes have been reported as CLL-associated genes by previous genome-wide-association study. We have found classic genomic abnormalities in Asian CLL as well as novel genomic alteration in CLL.

Development of IgG4-related disease 10 years after chemotherapy for diffuse large B cell lymphoma and longstanding bronchial asthma.

Reported is a rare case IgG4-related disease that developed 10 years after combination chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A 59-year-old Japanese man with longstanding bronchial asthma was referred to our hospital for bilateral hilar lymph node enlargement. The initial diagnosis was diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) by supraclavicular lymph node biopsy. Serum IgG was high (4550 mg/dL) at diagnosis. The patient achieved complete response following six cycles of combination chemotherapy. Ten years later, bilateral submaxillary gland swelling was observed. Serum IgG and IgG4 were 2909 and 1470 mg/dL, respectively. The patient was diagnosed with IgG4-related disease by submandibular lymph node biopsy. Due to the difficulty in distinguishing IgG4-related disease from DLBCL through imaging findings alone, pathological confirmation of such lesions by biopsy is mandatory before proceeding to treatment.

Age-related Epstein-Barr Virus-positive lymphoproliferative disorders of the orbit and maxillary sinus : a case report.

We report a rare case of age-related Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (aEBVBLPD) primarily involving the orbit and maxillary sinus. Lesions in the left orbit and maxillary sinus were observed in a 59-year-old man presenting with pain in the left orbit and maxilla. Owing to the presence of Reed-Sternberg-like cells, the initial diagnosis was nodular sclerosis-type Hodgkin's lymphoma. Clinical stage was IIAE, and response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy was favorable. Further immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization analyses of the Reed-Sternberg-like giant cells revealed CD30, CD15, CD20, Bob-1, Oct-2, EBV-encoded RNAs (EBERs) and latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) expression. The characteristics of the present case, which included immunohistochemical findings, sites of primary lesions, absence of other lymph node lesions and relatively old age, suggested aEBVBLPD. Owing to the similarity in morphology, higher frequency at extranodal sites and poor prognosis, aEBVBLPD represents a differential diagnostic issue from classical Hodgkin's lymphoma when Reed-Sternberg cells are positive for EBV.

[Retrospective survey on the clinical features of non-Hodgkin lymphomas in Gunma Prefecture, Japan].

We retrospectively investigated pathological types, clinical backgrounds, treatments and prognoses in 726 adult patients with newly diagnosed malignant lymphoma in Gunma Prefecture. They consisted of 679 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-cell type, 603; T- and NK-cell type, 76) of which 376 patients had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and 47 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. When comparing the prognosis of DLBCL between patients receiving rituximab (R-CHOP group; n=212) and not using rituximab (CHOP group; n=126), both 3-year overall survival (73.5% vs 61.7%, p=0.010) and 3-year progression-free survival (65.1% vs 45.8%, p<0.001) were statistically better in the R-CHOP group compared to the CHOP group. Our results suggest that more than half of patients were DLBCL and the rituximab-containing regimen results in an improved prognosis for DLBCL patients.

Circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells in patients with primary and Helicobacter pylori-associated immune thrombocytopenia.

OBJECTIVES: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the production of autoreactive antibodies against platelet antigens. Although dysfunction of multiple aspects of cellular immunity is considered to be important in the pathogenesis of ITP, it has not been clarified which cell types play a principal role. METHODS: We enrolled 46 untreated patients with chronic ITP and 47 healthy adult volunteers, and investigated by flow cytometry the percentage and absolute number of cells in their peripheral blood that participate in the regulation of cellular immunity. These included plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs), natural killer (NK) cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, regulatory T (Treg) cells, and Th17 cells. RESULTS: We found a significant reduction in the absolute number of pDCs, but not of mDCs, in patients with ITP when compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001). Reduced numbers of circulating pDCs were observed in both Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-positive and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-negative patients with ITP. In contrast, there were no significant differences in the numbers of circulating Treg cells, Th17 cells, NK cells, or NKT cells. Interestingly, we observed increases in the number of pDCs after H. pylori eradication by antibiotics in responders but not in non-responders, while pDCs and mDCs decreased markedly after prednisolone therapy in both responders and non-responders. In patients without treatment, low pDC numbers persisted during the observational period. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that the number of circulating pDCs is low in patients with primary and H. pylori-associated ITP and that it changes depending on treatment modality. Further investigation is warranted with regard to the role of pDCs in the immunopathogenesis of ITP.

TCL1A gene involvement in T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia in Japanese patients.

T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare type of peripheral T-cell leukemia. In this study, we examined the clinical and biological characteristics of 11 Japanese patients with T-PLL. Median age was 74 years, with male predominance. Median lymphocyte frequency was 85.3% in blood. Physical characteristics were splenomegaly (36.4%), tiny lymph adenopathy (63.6%), skin lesion (9.1%) and pleural effusion (27.3%). Median survival was 30.1 months, despite treatment with various chemotherapeutic modalities. Although complex chromosomal abnormalities were observed in 5 of 11 cases (45.5%), typical 14q32 and Xq28 abnormalities were not detected. TCL1A mRNA expression was observed in 6 of 11 cases (54.5%) on real-time quantitative PCR. In 5 of these 6 cases, flow cytometric analysis and/or immunohistochemistry confirmed the expression of TCLA1 protein. Split signals for the TCL1 region on fluorescence in situ hybridization confirmed rearrangement in 3 out of 7 cases evaluated. These cases corresponded to cases that were positive for TCL1A expression, suggesting that rearrangement of the TCL1 region induced high expression of TCL1A gene. In summary, a substantial number of T-PLL cases in Japan had abnormal expression of TCL1A, probably due to rearrangement of TCL1 region. Expression and/or rearrangement of TCL1A may, therefore, be a useful marker for diagnosing T-PLL, regardless of chromosomal abnormalities.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia accompanied by megaloblastic anemia showing atypical clinical features.

Leukocytosis, splenomegaly, and an increased vitamin B(12) level are characteristic findings of chronic myelogenous leukemia in the chronic phase (CML-CP). Here, we report a patient with CML-CP accompanied by megaloblastic anemia. A 61-year-old man consulted our hospital because of anemia and thrombocytopenia. On physical examination, there were no remarkable findings; there was no hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory findings were: hemoglobin 6.0 g/dl; MCV 113.6 fl; platelet count 100×10(9)/l; white cell count 8.66×10(9)/l; and LDH 1,236 IU/l. Peripheral blood smear demonstrated hypersegmented neutrophils and megalocytes with emergence of myeloblasts, giant metamyelocytes, and nucleated red cells. Vitamin B(12) and folic acid levels were low. Bone marrow examination showed megaloblastic change in the erythroblasts and myeloid hyperplasia. Following vitamin B(12) and folic acid administration, anemia and thrombocytopenia rapidly improved; thereafter, marked leukocytosis became evident. Based on the presence of t(9;22)(q34;q11) on cytogenetic study and a positive result for Major bcr/abl fusion gene, a diagnosis of CML-CP was established. This case illustrates that ineffective erythropoiesis results in anemia and thrombocytopenia in CML with vitamin B12 and/or folic acid deficiency.

Long-term follow-up of EBV-positive lymphoproliferative disorders in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

We report a woman in her early thirties with a long-term history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and prednisolone administration, who progressed to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD). Treatment for SLE consisted of 1 mg/kg/ day prednisolone followed by 5 mg/day of maintenance therapy. Lymph node biopsies were performed when the patient was in her early thirties, mid-forties, and late fifties. Histologically, the initial lymph node lesion was characterized by numerous enlarged, coalescing lymphoid follicles. The second biopsy showed effacement of the follicles and expansion of the paracortical area. A polymorphous population of small- to medium-sized lymphocytes, plasma cells, and immunoblasts had diffusely infiltrated the paracortical area. In the third lymph node biopsy, fibrous collagen bands divided the epithelioid cell granulomas into nodules. There were numerous Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells in the epithelioid cell granuloma. In situ hybridization demonstrated there were no EBV-infected lymphocytes in the first biopsy; however, EBER(+) cells were detected in the second and third biopsy specimens. The current findings illustrate the natural progression in a patient with a long-term history of EBV(+) B-cell LPD in which the immunodeficiency was caused by SLE and probably her aging, which together resulted in histological change.

Differences in the JAK2 and MPL mutation status in the cell lineages of the bcr/abl-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm subtypes.

OBJECTIVE: While the somatic mutation of Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2) and the thrombopoietin receptor (c-MPL) gene are thought to affect the pathogenesis of bcr/abl negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), the relationship between the mutation and the clinical features remain obscure. METHODS: The mutation status of these genes in granulocytes, platelets, T-cells, and erythroid colonies (BFU-E) was obtained from 115 MPN patients, and then the clinical features of the MPN subtypes were compared. RESULTS: The JAK2-V617F mutation was observed in three lineages of granulocytes, platelets, and BFU-E in almost all polycythemia vera (PV) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) patients. In contrast, 68% of essential thrombocythemia (ET) patients have the JAK2-V617F mutation in at least one of the lineages, of which 70% of these patients have the JAK2-V617F mutation in three lineages; the remaining ET patients with the JAK2-V617F mutation only exhibited the mutation in one or two lineages. Further, the ET patients that exhibited the JAK2-V617F mutation in three lineages had higher WBC and granulocyte counts as compared to the ET patients that did not have the JAK2-V617F mutation or only had the mutation in one or two lineages. Concerning the MPL gene, two ET patients had the MPL-W515L gene mutation in their platelets, although the lineage of the JAK2-V617F mutation involved differed from case to case. CONCLUSION: The progenitor cells that are involved with the JAK2-V617F mutation in MPNs are different in each subtype and this difference may also affect the clinical features of MPNs.

[Glossitis by mixed infection of cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus during therapy for pure red cell aplasia complicated with Good syndrome].

A 64-year-old man with a 10-year history of Good syndrome had been treated with periodic replacement of γ-globulin. He also had a 6-year history of lichen planus of the tongue. In 2009, the patient was diagnosed as having pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) based on bone marrow aspiration. Thymectomy was not effective. Then, immunosuppressive therapy with PSL and cyclosporine was initiated. Twenty days after treatment painful ulcer appeared on the left side of the tongue. Biopsy specimen of the ulcer demonstrated cells infected with cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus. Cytomegalovirus antigenemia was also positive. The tongue ulcer promptly improved after gancyclovir administration for a few weeks. Viral glossitis should be considered as part of the differential diagnoses of oral lesions not only in patients with HIV infection but also in those under immunosuppressive therapy.

Interleukin-17F gene polymorphism in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia.

INTRODUCTION: IL-17F is a novel inflammatory cytokine and plays an important role in some autoimmune diseases. We investigated the association between chronic ITP and the frequency of the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs763780 (7488T/C), which causes a His-to-Arg substitution at amino acid 161. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined 102 patients (men/women, 40/62; median age, 42) diagnosed with chronic ITP and 188 healthy controls (men/women, 78/110; median age, 38). Genotyping was determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, patients with chronic ITP had a significantly lower frequency of the IL-17F 7488CC genotype (0% vs. 4.8%, P<0.05). The number of IL-17F 7488C alleles among the patients with chronic ITP was also significantly lower than in the control group (8.7% vs. 15.2% OR=0.48, 95%CI=0.27-0.84, P=0.016). Furthermore, patients with the IL-17F 7488TT genotype showed a severe thrombocytopenic state (platelet count<10×10(9) /L) at diagnosis than those with the IL-17F 7488TC genotype (20.9% vs. 0%, P=0.04). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the IL-17F 7488 T allele is significantly associated with the development of chronic ITP, suggesting a role for IL-17F in the pathogenesis of chronic ITP.

Flow cytometric detection of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression in a subpopulation of bone marrow cells.

Telomerase activity has been found in most common cancers, thus indicating that telomerase detection may be a useful marker in cancer diagnosis. The telomeric amplification protocol (TRAP) assay and RT-PCR are customarily used to detect telomerase activity and the expression of the associated genes in cells. However, these methods do not provide any information about telomerase activation at an individual cell level. To analyze cells separately, those cells have to be isolated by sometimes complicated method. The immunohistochemical detection of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is useful to detect telomerase positive cells in a background of non-cancerous cells. A method has been developed for the detection of intranuclear hTERT protein, in a subpopulation of hematopoietic cells, using concurrent staining of a cell surface antigen and multicolor flow cytometry. Only mouse monoclonal anti-hTERT antibody demonstrated the specific positivity in immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescent flow cytometry. Human leukemia and myeloma cell lines showed 100% positivity, whereas normal neutrophils showed 0% positivity. hTERT expression was analyzed in hematopoietic precursor cells of bone marrow samples using concurrent staining of surface CD34 antigen and intracellular hTERT protein and multi-parameter flow cytometry. CD34 positive cells demonstrated higher expression of hTERT than CD34 negative cells. A quick, easy and sensitive assay for determining the hTERT protein expression has been developed. Using this method and the multi-parameter nature of flow cytometry and its ability to identify cellular subpopulations will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms regarding the activation of telomerase.

Successful treatment with reduced-intensity stem cell transplantation for secondary myelofibrosis following polycythemia vera.

Ten years after being diagnosed with polycythemia vera, a 55-year-old woman required frequent blood transfusion due to secondary myelofibrosis. She underwent reduced-intensity stem cell transplantation (RIST) from an HLA-identical sibling donor. Since mixed chimerae were identified in the peripheral blood at day 35, cyclosporine was withdrawn. At day 73, she developed acute graft-versus-host disease of the liver, while simultaneous resolution of splenomegaly occurred and complete donor chimerism in the peripheral blood was achieved. Frequent red blood cell transfusion was required until day 300 after transplantation. Thus, RIST for an older patient with secondary myelofibrosis was successful without severe treatment-related morbidity. This case suggests that RIST could be an effective treatment modality for secondary myelofibrosis.

Successful treatment by all-trans retinoic acid in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia complicated by liver cirrhosis and polycystic kidney.

Although all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is widely used in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), there is little data as to whether or not ATRA is useful for patients with liver and renal failure. A 63-year-old APL patient, complicated by Child-Pugh class A liver cirrhosis and chronic renal failure (creatinine 3.2 mg/dL), was successfully treated with 45 mg/m(2)/day of ATRA. With three courses of chemotherapy, complete remission has been maintained for four years in this patient. Serum trough and maximum ATRA concentration, and the area under the curve (AUC) were not elevated. These observations suggest that full-dose ATRA therapy might be safely applicable to such a complicated case with APL.

Pure red cell aplasia accompanied by autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a patient with type A viral hepatitis.

A rare case of acute hepatitis A associated with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is reported. A 55-year-old woman consulted a doctor because of common cold-like symptoms and she was referred to our hospital in January 2007. Laboratory findings showed a marked elevation of serum transaminase and total bilirubin levels (AST 9,605 IU/l, ALT 5,546 IU/l and T-bil 4.14 mg/dl), and prolonged prothrombin time, findings which suggested the risk of progression to fulminant hepatitis, and she was treated with plasmapheresis and hemodialysis filtration on the first and second hospital days. She was diagnosed with severe acute hepatitis A based on the elevation of serum IgM anti-hepatitis A virus. On the 20th hospital day, her hemoglobin level began to decrease in spite of improving transaminase levels without any signs of gastrointestinal bleeding. Bilirubin and LDH elevation, haptoglobin decline and a positive direct Coombs test were detected and these findings indicated AIHA complication; however, the reticulocyte count decreased and bone marrow showed marked erythroid hypoplasia so the co-existence of PRCA was diagnosed. After oral prednisolone administration (1 mg/kg/day), her hemolytic anemia rapidly improved.

[Development of an extramedullary plasmacytoma despite disappearing M protein in multiple myeloma by bortezomib treatment].

A 65-year-old male with IgG-kappa multiple myeloma was treated with melphalan-prednisolone (MP) and obtained a minimal response. Five months after the initiation of MP, he developed back pain, renal failure, hypercalcemia and increased plasma cells in the bone marrow. He was treated with bortezomib. After 2 cycles, he developed a peripheral neuropathy, and the dose of bortezomib was decreased to 1.0 mg/m(2). After 5 cycles, serum monoclonal protein was not detected by immunofixation, and the percentage of bone marrow plasma cells decreased to less than 5%. In March 2007, he developed lumbago again, and MRI of the lumbar vertebrae showed a tumor at the para pediculus arcus vertebrae. Immunohistochemistry of the biopsied tumor demonstrated monoclonal plasma cell infiltration. The patient was treated with local radiation therapy. Bortezomib is a new and effective agent for refractory/relapsed multiple myeloma. It has also been reported that bortezomib is effective for solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP). However, in the patient reported here, although bortezomib induced a complete response with regard to the serum monoclonal protein and the percentage of bone marrow plasma cells, EMP developed in the parapediculus arcus vertebrae. Herein, we document a case of EMP development during successful bortezomib therapy.