GH/IGF-1 axis in a large cohort of ß-thalassemia major adult patients: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: GH deficit (GHD) could represent an endocrine issue in ß-Thalassemia Major (ßTM) patients. GH/IGF-1 axis has not been extensively explored in ßTM adults, so far. We aim to assess GHD and IGF-1 deficiency prevalence in ßTM adult population, focusing on the relationship with liver disease. METHODS: Cross-sectional multi-centre study conducted on 81 adult ßTM patients (44 males, mean age 41 ± 8 years) on transfusion and chelation therapy. GHD was investigated by GHRH + arginine test. IGF-1 levels, routine biochemical exams, Fibroscan, Hepatic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and pituitary MRI were collected. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were affected by GHD and 63 were not (nGHD) according to GHRH + arginine test, while basal GH levels did not differ. GHD was associated with a higher BMI and a worse lipid profile (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed regarding liver function between the two groups. Pituitary MRI scan was normal except for one case of empty sella. The 94.4% and 93.6% of GHD and nGHD, respectively, presented lower IGF-1 levels than the reference range, and mean IGF-1 SDS was significantly lower in GHD patients. CONCLUSION: GHD is frequent in adult ßTM patients and is associated with higher BMI and worse lipid profile. nGHD patients present lower IGF-1 levels as well. There was no relationship between IGF-1 levels and liver disease. Further, multicentric studies with larger cohorts and standardized diagnostic protocols are needed.

Pharmacogenetics and induction/consolidation therapy toxicities in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients treated with AIEOP-BFM ALL 2000 protocol.

Drug-related toxicities represent an important clinical concern in chemotherapy, genetic variants could help tailoring treatment to patient. A pharmacogenetic multicentric study was performed on 508 pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients treated with AIEOP-BFM 2000 protocol: 28 variants were genotyped by VeraCode and Taqman technologies, deletions of GST-M1 and GST-T1 by multiplex PCR. Toxicities were derived from a central database: 251 patients (49.4%) experienced at least one gastrointestinal (GI) or hepatic (HEP) or neurological (NEU) grade III/IV episode during the remission induction phase: GI occurred in 63 patients (12.4%); HEP in 204 (40.2%) and NEU in 44 (8.7%). Logistic regression model adjusted for sex, risk and treatment phase revealed that ITPA rs1127354 homozygous mutated patients showed an increased risk of severe GI and NEU. ABCC1 rs246240 and ADORA2A rs2236624 homozygous mutated genotypes were associated to NEU and HEP, respectively. These three variants could be putative predictive markers for chemotherapy-related toxicities in AIEOP-BFM protocols.

Lymphocytes subsets reference values in childhood.

Immunophenotyping of blood lymphocyte subsets and activation markers is a basic tool in the diagnostic process of primary immunodeficiency diseases, its use becoming more and more widespread as the knowledge about these illnesses increases. However, the availability of reliable reference values, which need to be age-matched for the pediatric population, is a pre-requisite for the reliable interpretation of immunophenotyping data. Aim of this study is to analyze the lymphocyte subsets and activation markers distribution in children aged 0-18 years referring to the University Hospital of Padova and to create age-matched reference values expressed by percentiles, thus providing a valuable guideline for the interpretation of the immunophenotype.

Genotypic characterization of common acute lymphoblastic leukemia may improve the phenotypic classification.

The reactivity of five anti-B monoclonal antibodies (McAb)-OKB2 (CD24), B4 (CD19), Leu12 (CD19), BA1 (CD24), B1 (CD20)--as well as the presence of cytoplasmic immunoglobulins (CyIg) were assessed in 100 cases of common acute lymphoblastic leukemia (cALL) at presentation (TdT+, J5 [CD10]+, HLA-Dr+). All cases studied revealed one or more B-cell related markers and a hierarchy in their expression was documented: OKB2 was positive in all cases tested (100%), B4 was expressed in 96.4% of cases, Leu12 in 95.8%, BA1 in 94.9%, B1 in 18.3%, and CyIg in 23%. Further evidence of the B-cell origin of cALL was obtained by molecular analyses at the DNA level which demonstrated the presence of an Ig heavy chain gene rearrangement in all 37 cases assessed, while 37.8% showed a light chain gene reorganization. A genomic subclassification of cALL demonstrated that the majority of cases showed an immature molecular configuration with one (8.1%) or both (54.1%) Ig heavy chain alleles rearranged and a germ-line configuration of the light chain genes; 27% revealed a heavy chain gene involvement and one k allele rearranged. Only four cases (10.8%) showed a more mature configuration with both k alleles rearranged or a gamma chain gene involvement. This study confirms that cALL is characterized by the proliferation of immature B-lineage-committed elements and indicates that the leukemic cells are blocked at different levels of B-differentiation which may be recognized with the use of multiple phenotypic or genotypic B-cell-related markers.

Molecular characterization of Ph' + hybrid acute leukemia.

The configuration of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH), T-cell receptor (TcR) beta and gamma chain regions, and the major breakpoint cluster region (M-bcr) genes were analysed in four cases of Ph' + acute leukemia (AL). Monoclonal rearrangements of the IgH region were detected in three cases exhibiting two phenotypically distinct cell populations (i.e. one lymphoid and one myeloid. In one of these cases, identical genetic events were observed by molecular analysis of FACS separated blasts. Multi-lineage rearrangements involving also the TcR gamma gene were observed in a biphenotypic AL showing co-expression of markers. The lack of rearrangements within the M-bcr gene, together with demonstration in one case of the Ph' + AL specific p190 protein product, pointed against the occurrence of chronic myeloid leukemias presenting in blastic transformation. Our results imply that such cases are to be considered as true AL and should therefore be included in the definition of hybrid AL.

Successful treatment of secondary acute myeloid leukemia relapsing after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with donor lymphocyte infusion failed to prevent recurrence of primary disease: a case report.

We report a case of therapy-related secondary acute myeloid leukemia occurring in a patient during treatment for anaplastic large cell lymphoma. In spite of response to induction chemotherapy and prompt bone marrow transplantation from his matched sister, the patient experienced an early leukemia relapse within 3 months of the transplant. Treatment with oral etoposide for 3 weeks followed by donor lymphocyte infusion achieved a 7-month remission from leukemia without any further treatment. Unfortunately, the patient suffered a recurrence of the primary anaplastic large cell lymphoma that was treated by resuming chemotherapy and local radiotherapy. The patient died 20 months after DLI, still in CR for his leukemia, due to ALCL progression.

Cytogenetic t(11;17)(q13;q21) in a pediatric ependymoma. Is 11q13 a recurring breakpoint in ependymomas?

Cytogenetic studies on a supratentorial ependymoma from a 1-year-old boy showed a t(11;17)(q13;q21). This is the second ependymoma reported with a rearrangement at 11q13; to our knowledge the 11q13 is the first recurring breakpoint reported in ependymoma.

Normal thrombopoietin and its receptor (c-mpl) genes in children with essential thrombocythemia.

BACKGROUND: Following the observation of thrombopoietin (TPO) gene abnormalities as the cause of familiar cases of thrombocythemia similar derangements of TPO and/or its receptor (c-mpl) might be surmised to be at the root of increased platelet count also in non-familiar (sporadic) cases. Although this was not demonstrated in adults, little data exist about childhood. PROCEDURES: We studied the molecular biology of TPO and c-mpl in seven children with non-familiar essential thrombocythemia (ET) and one child with secondary thrombocytosis (ST). Plasma TPO content was measured using a commercially available kit. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood by standard methods and TPO and c-mpl genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. RESULTS: Plasma TPO levels were normal in all our patients. No alteration was detected in either coding region, including the flanking intronic sequences of TPO and c-mpl genes. As compared to the published normal sequence of the TPO gene, one allelic base change in a non-coding region of intron 1 was found in all children with ET and ST, but this was reported as a common finding in normal subjects as well. CONCLUSIONS: High platelet count in our series of sporadic ET of childhood is not due to an abnormality either of TPO or c-mpl gene.

Unrelated bone marrow transplantation for high-risk anaplastic large cell lymphoma in pediatric patients: a single center case series.

OBJECTIVES: The use of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in NHL patients is not yet clearly defined, especially in children and adolescents, but this option offers the advantages of a tumor-free graft and the possible induction of a graft-vs.-tumor effect. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report the results of four consecutive pediatric patients affected by anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and treated with allogeneic stem cell transplantation from an unrelated donor. The conditioning regimen was based on total body irradiation given in association with etoposide in three patients, and with thiotepa and cyclophoshamide in one patient. Graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporin, a short course of methotrexate and rabbit antithymocyte globulin. RESULTS: All patients had rapid engraftment within 3-4 wk for neutrophils and platelets, and achieved a stable full donor chimerism that has been maintained to the last follow-up visit. One patient later developed a restrictive pneumonopathy. This patient had been heavily pretreated during the course of the disease having suffered four relapses and had received a cumulative dose of bleomycin of 160 mg/m(2). After a follow-up of 11-42 months, all patients are alive in complete hematological and molecular remission; and three of them without any chronic GVHD. CONCLUSIONS: The increasing number of volunteer bone marrow donors and the reduced toxicity of unrelated stem cell transplantation, especially in children, make this therapeutic option worth more extensive investigation in the treatment of high-risk failure ALCL, although more data is needed to evaluate the long-term benefits. In this regard, the presence of factors predictive of worst outcome such as an early relapse (within 12 months from diagnosis), a refractory or relapsing ALCL and the persistent detection on blood or bone marrow of nucleophosmin-anaplastic lymphoma kinase protein (NPM-ALK) transcript may help select the patients eligible to allogeneic related or unrelated stem cell transplantation.

Thymic dysfunction in childhood T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a possible linkage with a primary thymus involvement.

Experimental models, clinical and histopathological observations suggest a thymic origin of childhood T acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). We studied thymic epithelial function in childhood T-ALL as compared to normal controls in order to improve our understanding of the cellular immunodeficiency mechanisms operating in a thymus-linked malignant process. The levels of Facteur Thymique Sérique (FTS) were measured in 9 patients at diagnosis, according to the rosette inhibition assay of Dardenne & Bach (1975). This method is based on the capacity of human serum containing FTS activity to confer on rosette-forming cells (RFC) from adult thymectomized mice a sensitivity to azathioprine identical to that of normal mouse RFC. All patients presented low age-corrected titres of FTS. No zinc deficiency was found, suggesting that low FTS levels are not related to unexpressed FTS biological activity. Plasma from all the children studied contained factors capable of inhibiting the biological activity of FTS in vitro. However, the nature of this inhibitor has not yet been elucidated. Our study shows the presence of a thymic dysfunction in childhood T-ALL, which could partially explain the immunodeficiency described in these patients. The linkage of the leukemic process with a primitive thymic involvement is discussed.

High-dose cytosine arabinoside and viridans streptococcus sepsis in children with leukemia.

We report three cases of fulminant sepsis due to viridans streptococci in leukemic children treated with high-dose cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C). The major predisposing factors to this occurrence are the presence of oropharingeal mucositis, which is the entry of streptococci into the bloodstream, and the use of antibiotic prophylactic regimens against gram-negative bacteria. In order to avoid fatal events during viridans streptococci sepsis, specific measures such as penicillin prophylaxis or early antibiotic treatment are needed. We suggest that the prompt empiric use of a glycopeptide antibiotic in addition to the conventional association of a beta-lactam plus an aminoglycoside may significantly decrease the mortality rate due to fulminant streptococci sepsis while the patient is severely neutropenic. In this regard, our current policy considers the addition of an anti-gram-positive antibiotic to the first-choice fever treatment in neutropenic patients who have received high-dose Ara-C.

Microsatellite analysis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Genetic alterations, including genomic instability, represent possible steps towards a malignant transformation. One approach to delineate replication errors in cancer cells is to determine alterations of microsatellites that are short tandem repeat sequences dispersed throughout the human genome. We have investigated whether genomic instability may be a possible event in the leukemogenic process by evaluating the pattern of instability in 41 cases of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-two samples of genomic DNA (41 at diagnosis and 41 at remission) were analyzed by PCR with microsatellite markers chosen on five different chromosomes (2, 10, 11, 13, 18) known to be frequently involved in tumors of various origins. Since deletions of the short arm of chromosome 12 are relatively common in children with ALL, we also analyzed one region flanked by the microsatellite marker D12S308 on 12p. This area encompasses a genetic locus which contains the putative suppressor gene KIP1. RESULTS: A pattern of MI at one or two loci on different chromosomes could be documented in 4 of the 41 cases analyzed (9.7%). Three were common ALL and 1 was a T-ALL. One case showed two concomitant sites of instability, while 1 revealed two additional bands by using simultaneously microsatellite markers D2S123 and D18S58. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that genetic instability of microsatellite repeat sequences occurs in a proportion of childhood ALL. Mismatched repair errors documented in hereditary and sporadic solid tumors may thus be involved in hematological malignancies. While in such cases the pattern of genomic instability appears indicative of a mutator phenotype and of a potential predisposition towards a leukemic transformation, other genomic loci close to cytogenetic and molecular alterations known to occur in ALL need to be investigated in depth in cases with an apparently non mutated phenotype.

Features of essential thrombocythaemia in childhood: a study of five children.

Essential thrombocythaemia (ET) is usually considered a disease of the middle-aged but, with the advent of automated platelet counting, ET is diagnosed with increasing frequency in young adults and, even more rarely, in children. We report five paediatric patients (four girls and one boy, mean age 89 months) diagnosed with ET in agreement with Polycythaemia Vera Study Group criteria. The patients had a persistent thrombocytosis over 900 x 10(9)/l and, at the time of diagnosis, their platelet count ranged between 1,112 and 3,178 x 10(9)/l. A 9-month-old girl had thrombosis of the inferior cava vein, two children had headaches and two others remained asymptomatic throughout the follow-up period. Megakaryocytes in the bone marrow were increased in number. The chromosomal analysis was normal, and bcr rearrangement was always negative. None of the patients had spontaneous BFU-E or altered levels of serum erythropoietin and thrombopoietin. Two patients showed alteration of platelet aggregation, and all had decreased levels of intraplatelet serotonin. In spite of the diagnosis of ET in our patients, we are not sure that the cases reported here are really myeloproliferative disorders. The features could suggest that the cases observed may be affected by an 'idiopathic thrombocytosis' without myeloproliferation. Possible variants of ET are described in young adults, and the heterogeneous nature of ET is also suggested by our paediatric patients. Only careful long-term follow-up of patients such as these will clarify the natural history of these disorders and suggest therapeutic management.

Unusual leukemic presentation of rhabdomyosarcoma: report of two cases with immunological, ultrastructural and cytogenetical studies.

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow infiltration occurs rarely at presentation of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) or other childhood solid tumors. This possibility leads to misdiagnosis of leukemia and incorrect therapies might be administered. METHODS: We report two patients presenting with diffuse bone marrows involvement by neoplastic cells. Initial studies were not consistent with a diagnosis of leukemia and the cases were further studied extensively by indirect immunofluorescence, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy and cytogenetics. RESULTS: In both cases blast cells were large, poorly differentiated, with immunological reactivity to the anti-desmin antibody. Ultrastructural findings of muscular features and chromosomal translocation t(2;13) (q37;q14) further confirmed the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma of the alveolar subtype. This was then confirmed histologically in one patient. CONCLUSION: This study stresses the utility of analyzing cases of morphologically undifferentiated marrow blast cells by various techniques, as well as investigating for different types of both hematological and solid neoplasms.

Biological and clinical features of B-precursor childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia showing CD2 and/or E-rosette co-expression.

BACKGROUND: Co-expression of the T-associated marker CD2 or E-rosette in non-T acute leukemia has rarely been reported. In this paper the incidence of such co-expression, together with its biologic features and clinical relevance, was evaluated in a large series of childhood "common" acute lymphoblastic leukemia (cALL) cases. METHODS: This analysis was performed retrospectively on 306 cases of childhood non-T ALL. CD2 and/or E-rosette co-expression with other non-T markers was usually shown by a clear overlap between the percentages of T and non-T markers, by the great difference between positivity for CD2 or E-rosette and other T markers, and by double staining for CD2 and CD10 in one case. Two cases were further studied by a panel of nine different CD2 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) representative of different epitopes. DNA analysis for the configuration of Ig and TCR genes (beta, gamma, and delta locus) was carried out in three cases. RESULTS: Eleven out of 306 cases (3.6%) showed CD2 and/or E-rosette co-expression in otherwise typical cALL. Data obtained in two cases with the use of nine different CD2 Mabs showed a different pattern of reactivity between leukemic B cells and normal T cells. The configuration of Ig and TCR genes was compatible with B-lineage ALL. CONCLUSIONS: CD2 and/or E-rosette co-expression was observed in a small subset of acute leukemias showing immunophenotypic and genotypic features of B-lineage ALL. A pattern of reactivity different from that seen in normal T cells was observed in the two cases tested with a large panel of CD2 MAbs. No association was found with other known prognostic factors, and 8 of these 11 patients have been in first continuous remission for 36-93 months.

Immunocytochemical evidence of common-ALL antigen in null-ALL.

4 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), diagnosed as null-ALL by indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies, were similarly investigated using a sensitive immunoperoxidase method. The Avidin-Biotin system was employed. The immunoenzymatic results were in agreement with those obtained with immunofluorescence techniques for all antigens except common-ALL (C-ALL). The C-ALL antigen, recognized by the J5 antibody, was detected only by the immunoperoxidase method on cell membranes of the 4 ALL. This paper discusses the possibility of false negative results in testing for C-ALL antigen by conventional indirect immunofluorescence as suggested by refined immunocytochemical screening. Moreover, the ability of the immunoperoxidase system to identify antigens on cell membranes, even at very low density, is discussed. The clinical significance of the presence of C-ALL antigen at weak intensity in cases of null-ALL is also considered.

The immunophenotype in infant acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: correlation with clinical outcome. An Italian multicentre study (AIEOP).

A detailed analysis of immunophenotype of 112 infants aged less than 18 months with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) was performed. Patients were divided into three groups on the basis of age at presentation (under 6 months: group 1: 6-12 months: group 2; 13-18 months: group 3). There were three cases of T-ALL (2.6%). The proportion of other subtypes was: common ALL in 59 patients (52.68%), pre-B ALL in 15 patients (13.3%), pre-pre-B ALL in 27 (24.1%) and acute undifferentiated leukaemia (AUL) in eight patients (7.14%). In non-T ALL, positivity to CD10 (corresponding to C-ALL and pre-B ALL) was distributed in the three age groups as follows: 38.88% (group I) 65.38% (group II) and 86.36% (group III). Conversely, immature phenotypes (pre-pre-B and AUL) were found more often in the younger patients of groups I and II, as well as anomalous phenotypes, such as the presence of myeloid antigens (MyAg) and of CD7. Prognostic significance was evaluated as event-free survival (EFS) by statistical analysis. A better outcome in CD10-positive ALL than in CD10-negative ones (48% v. 25% of long-term survivors) was demonstrated in all infants. Similarly, EFS was significantly better in MyAg-negative than in MyAg-positive cases. These results were confirmed also when adjusting for white blood cell count. This allowed the identification of CD10-negative, MyAg-positive ALL, which were relatively more frequent in infants and had a poorer clinical outcome with the current therapies. This study stresses the prognostic relevance of the immunological study in infant leukaemias and its utility in choosing different therapeutic modalities for poor risk phenotypes.