A novel nomogram and risk classification system for predicting overall survival in head and neck squamous cell cancer with distant metastasis at initial diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most invasive cancer types globally, and distant metastasis (DM) is associated with a poor prognosis. The objective of this study was designed to construct a novel nomogram and risk classification system to predict overall survival (OS) in HNSCC patients presenting with DM at initial diagnosis. METHODS: HNSCC patients with initially diagnosed DM between 2010 and 2015 were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Firstly, all patients were randomly assigned to a training cohort and validation cohort (8:2), respectively. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the prognostic factors associated with OS. Then, the nomogram based on the prognostic factors and the predictive ability of the nomogram were assessed by the calibration curves, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and decision curve analysis (DCA). Finally, a risk classification system was established according to the nomogram scores. RESULTS: A total of 1240 patients initially diagnosed with HNSCC with DM were included, and the 6-, 12- and 18-month OS of HNSCC with DM were 62.7%, 40.8% and 30%, respectively. The independent prognostic factors for HNSCC patients with DM included age, marital status, primary site, T stage, N stage, bone metastasis, brain metastasis, liver metastasis, lung metastasis, surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Based on the independent prognostic factors, a nomogram was constructed to predict OS in HNSCC patients with DM. The C-index values of the nomogram were 0.713 in the training cohort and 0.674 in the validation cohort, respectively. The calibration curves and DCA also indicated the good predictability of the nomogram. Finally, a risk classification system was built and it revealed a statistically significant difference among the three groups of patients according to the nomogram scores. CONCLUSIONS: Factors associated with the overall survival of HNSCC patients with DM were found. According to the identified factors, we generated a nomogram and risk classification system to predict the OS of patients with initially diagnosed HNSCC with DM. The prognostic nomogram and risk classification system can help to assess survival time and provide guidance when making treatment decisions for HNSCC patients with DM.

Downregulated Dicer expression predicts poor prognosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in the western world. Alterations in microRNAs (miRNAs) expression have been proposed to play a role in CLL pathogenesis. Dicer and Drosha are the main regulators of miRNA biogenesis, and deregulation of their expression has been indicated as a possible cause of miRNA alterations observed in various cancers. To investigate the role of Dicer and Drosha in CLL, we assessed the expression of Dicer and Drosha and their correlation with other prognostic factors, including Binet stages, immunoglobulin heavy chain variable gene (IGHV) mutation status, TP53 mutation status, ZAP-70 protein and CD38 expression level in 165 CLL patients by using real-time polymerase chain reaction methods. Patients with unmutated IGHV genes had significantly lower expression of Dicer than patients with IGHV mutations. The lower expression level of Dicer was also significantly associated with higher level of CD38 and ZAP-70, and more aggressive Binet stage. We also analyzed Dicer expression in different cytogenetic subgroups. Lower Dicer level was found in patients with unfavorable cytogenetic aberrations (deletion in 17p13 or 11q22.3) in contrast to higher level in good risk cytogenetics (deletion in 13q14 as the sole abnormality). Furthermore, the lower expression of Dicer in CLL shows a strong association with shorter overall survival (OS) (P = 0.0046) as well as with reduced treatment free survival (TFS) (P = 0.0006). By contrast, no differences in the expression of Drosha among these groups of patients were observed. Our data suggest that Dicer expression may play an important role in the progression and prognosis of CLL.

Assessment of clonality in T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia: flow cytometric T cell receptor Vß repertoire and T cell receptor gene rearrangement.

The usefulness of flow cytometric variable ß-chain repertoire (FC-Vß) and T-cell receptor gene rearrangement (TCR-GR) analyses for differentiating T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGLL) from reactive T-large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) lymphocytosis has been insufficiently studied to date. In this study, we analyzed the diagnostic value of TCR-GR and FC-Vß analysis in T-LGLL, and compared these results. In our study, FC-Vß analysis was positive in all cases of T-LGLL, and clonality assessment of FC-Vß had equal sensitivity and specificity to GeneScanning analysis but was more sensitive than heteroduplex analysis. Suspected T-cell clonality can best be addressed by evaluating two TCR targets (TCRß and TCRγ), either in parallel or consecutively. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) mutation may provide a diagnostic tool for classifying some cases of T-LGL lymphocytosis as true T-LGLL. Our results further demonstrate a significant correlation of STAT3 mutation with pure red cell aplasia, neutropenia, hepatomegaly, ß2-microglobulin and anemia.

Comparison of efficacy for postoperative chemotherapy and concurrent radiochemotherapy in patients with IIIA-pN2 non-small cell lung cancer: an early closed randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of postoperative concurrent radiochemotherapy (POCRT) on IIIA-pN2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still unclear. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to compare POCRT with postoperative chemotherapy (POCT) alone in terms of survival and relapse patterns. METHODS: Patients with completely resected IIIA-pN2 NSCLC were randomized into POCRT or POCT groups. Chemotherapy consisted of paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)) and cisplatin (60 mg/m(2)) administered intravenously for four cycles on day 1, 22, 43, and 64. Patients in the POCRT group received radiotherapy (50.4 Gy/28 fractions) concurrently with the first 2 cycles of chemotherapy. RESULTS: This study recruited 140 participants and was closed early because of slow accrual. Data were analyzed for 135 of them including 66 cases in the POCRT group and 69 cases in the POCT group. Patients were followed-up for a median period of 45 months. The POCRT group had a median survival (MS) of 40 months and a 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of 37.9%. The POCT group had a MS of 28 months and a 5-year OS rate of 27.5%. The hazard ratio for death in the POCRT group was 0.69 (95% CI: 0.457-1.044, P=0.073). We observed a disease-free survival (DFS) of 28 months and a 5-year DFS rate of 30.3% in the POCRT group. Likewise, we observed a DFS of 18 months and a 5-year DFS rate of 18.8% in the POCT group. The recurrence hazard ratio in the POCT group was 1.49 (95% CI: 1.008-2.204, P=0.041). Subgroup analysis revealed that POCRT significantly increased the OS rate of the patients with ≥2 pN2 lymph nodes (P=0.021). The POCRT group had a significantly lower local relapse (P=0.009) and distant metastasis (P=0.05) rates as compared to that of the POCT group. One case died of pyemia and 9 cases suffered from grade 3 and 4 acute radiation esophagitis. The two groups had similar and tolerable hematologic toxicities. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with POCT, POCRT increased both local/regional and distant DFS rate of the patients with IIIA-pN2 NSCLC, but not the OS rate. Considering the relatively small sample size of the current study, caution should be taken when adopting the conclusions.

Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation following myeloablative conditioning regimens in hematologic diseases with G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood stem cells grafts without T cell depletion: a single center report of 38 cases.

Many Chinese patients with hematologic diseases, who need allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), lack a human leukocyte antigen-matched donor. To save these patients and to avoid collecting donor bone marrow graft, we adopted haploidentical peripheral blood HSCT with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilized peripheral blood stem cells as the grafts without ex vivo T cell depletion. Thirty-eight patients were enrolled, and they received myeloablative preconditioning. Thirty-five patients attained a successful neutrophil and platelet recovery. The median time for the neutrophil recovery was 16 days (range of 10-23 days), and the median time for the platelet recovery was 19 days (range of 10-66 days). During the follow-up at a median time of 33.1 weeks (range of 1.1-412.6 weeks), eleven (28.9 %) patients developed aGVHD grade I-II and seven (18.4 %) patients developed aGVHD grade III-IV. The incidence of cGVHD was 27.6 %, and nine (23.7 %) patients died within the first 100 days after transplantation. The cumulative survival proportions at 1 and 2 years were 52.51 ± 8.57 % and 43.76 ± 9.11 %, respectively. These results suggested that the G-CSF-primed peripheral blood stem cell grafts, without in vitro T cell depletion, could be an appropriate stem cell source for Haplo-HSCT.

[Clinical study on high-dose etoposide with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for mobilization of autologous peripheral blood stem cells in patients with hematologic malignancies].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectivity and safety of single high-dose (HD) etoposide (Vp16) with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for mobilization of autologous peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) in patients with hematologic malignancies. METHODS: 80 patients of hematologic malignancies including 20 patients with acute leukemia (AL), 23 with multiple myeloma (MM), 35 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 2 with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) received Vp16 (1.6 g/m(2)) continuous intravenous infusion for 10 hrs on day 1. G-CSF at 10 µg/kg once daily subcutaneous injection began to use on day of ANC lower than 1×10(9)/L and continued until PBSC collection was completed. Autologous PBSC (APBSC) was collected on day of WBC greater than 5×10(9)/L and continuing until the collection goal was met (target value: MNC ≥ 6.0×10(8)/kg and CD34(+) ≥ 2.0×10(6)/kg). The patients received APBSC after conditioning regimen. The number of the cells collection, time of hematopoietic reconstruction, adverse effect and so on were observed during the course of stem cell mobilization and collection. RESULTS: PBSC was collected on day 11 (range: 7 - 25 days) of after Vp16 administration with a median collection time of 2 (range 1 - 5). 3/80 patients with AML got stem cell mobilization failure. 5 of 6 patients who failed to mobilize before got successful stem cell mobilization, 1/6 patient with AML-M(5) got a second failure after the mobilization of VP16 whose first time's mobilization using Ara-C did not succeed. The median number of CD34(+) cells collected in 77 patients who got successful mobilization was 4×10(6)/kg \[range (1.59 - 24.68)×10(6)/kg\]. The collection of 20 patients with AL and 23 with MM were got detection for minimal residual disease, no pollution of tumor cells were happened. All patients could tolerate the whole course of stem cell mobilization. 29/80 (36.25%) patients got a 4 grade leucopenia, 19/80 (23.75%) patients got infection. CONCLUSION: Single high-dose etoposide with G-CSF for mobilization of APBSC has a higher achievement ratio, a controllable adverse effect, a promising hematopoiesis recovery, which is an effective and safe mobilizing regimen for patients with hematologic malignancies.

Polymorphisms and haplotypes in multidrug resistance 1 gene are not associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia susceptibility and prognostic parameters of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Chinese population.

The human multidrug resistance (MDR1, ABCB1) gene encodes P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which affects the pharmacokinetics of many drugs. Here, we investigated whether common MDR1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (C1236T, C3435T, and G2677T/A) affect predisposition to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Genotyping was performed in 150 patients with CLL and 117 controls using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays. Haplotypes were inferred using the PHASE algorithm. We found comparable allele and genotype frequencies among patients with CLL and controls. Moreover, patient and control groups did not differ regarding MDR1 haplotype distribution (p = 0.97). Furthermore, no correlation was shown between the MDR1 1236, 3435, or 2677 genotypes and Binet stage, unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region (IGHV) status, CD38 expression, ZAP-70 expression, and p53 deletion. In conclusion, our results do not support a major influence of MDR1 variants on the risk of CLL, and these genomic polymorphisms are not associated with clinical prognostic factors in Chinese patients with CLL.

[Change of cytokine expressions on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in patients with bone marrow failure syndromes and its significance].

This study was aimed to investigate the expressions of multiple cytokines on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in patients with aplastic anemia (AA) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and its significance. The semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expressions of IL-1ß, SCF, G-CSF at mRNA level in bone marrow MSC of patients with AA and MDS. The real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) technique was used to detect the mRNA expression of TPO in bone marrow MSC of AA and MDS patients. The results indicated that the expression of SCF in AA group was much lower than that in the normal control group (p < 0.05), and the expression of TPO in AA group was higher than that in the normal control group (p < 0.05), while the expression of IL-1ß of AA had no significant difference when compared with the normal control group (p > 0.05). Compared with normal control group, the expressions of SCF of MDS patients was lower (p < 0.05), but the expressions of IL-1ß and TPO did not show significant difference (p > 0.05). The expressions of IL-1ß, SCF and TPO were no significant difference between AA and MDS groups (p > 0.05). Neither the AA patients, MDS patients nor the normal control group had the expression of G-CSF. It is concluded that the expression of SCF and TPO in bone marrow MSC of AA patients are obviously abnormal, the expression of SCF is also abnormal in bone marrow MSC of MDS patients.

[Progressive transformation of lymph node germinal centers: a case report and literature review.].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the understanding of progressive transformation of lymph node germinal centers (PTGC) and to explore its clinical, histopathologic and immunohistochemical features and the differential diagnosis between the related disease of germinal center hyperplasia. METHODS: The clinical manifestation, laboratory bindings, treatment and outcome of a patient with PTGC were presented. RESULTS: The main manifestation of the patient was painless peripheral lymphadenopathy. Histopathologic examination of an axillary lymph node showed reactive follicular hyperplasia and the progressive transformation changes germinal centers. The borderline between the germinal center and the mantle layer was obscured. The cells in the progressive transforming germinal centers were positive for CD20(+), CD5(+), CDw75(+). CONCLUSION: PTGC is a rare lymphoid disorder. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry are important basis of the diagnosis.

[Effects of proteasome inhibitor bortezomib on NF-kappaB activity and ICAM-1 mRNA expression of K562 cells].

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade, PS-341) on the activation of NF-kappaB and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in K562 cells. The K562 cells were incubated in the culture of RPMI 1640 with 10% calf serum in 12-well plates and exposed to 0, 10, 20, 30, 50 and 100 nmol/L of bortezomib for 6 hours. The activation of NF-kappaB was analyzed by SP immunohistochemistry, meanwhile RT-PCR was performed to detect expression of ICAM-1. The results showed that the activation of NF-kappaB and the expression of ICAM-1 in K562 cells decreased significantly after bortezomib treatment. The inhibitory effect on ICAM-1 was probably related with the activity suppression of NF-kappaB. It is concluded that proteasome inhibitor bortezomib downregulates the expression of K562 cell ICAM-1 by inhibiting the activity of NF-kappaB, which provides a new way for the target therapy in acute leukemia.

[Clinical study of bortezomib in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of multiple myeloma].

The objective of study was to evaluate the efficiency and safety of bortezomib for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Bortezomib in combination with dexamethasone was administered as first-line treatment in all 7 newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma. The patients with refractory myeloma were treated with bortezomib in combination with dexamethasone or with other traditional agents such as mitoxantrone and thalidomide. The results showed that according to the EMBT criteria, out of 7 patients one achieved complete response (CR), five achived partial response (PR) and one achived minor response (MR). The 3 patients with refractory/relapsed myeloma achieved PR (2/3) and MR (1/3). The overall response rate (CR + PR) was 80%. The most frequent adverse events observed were thrombocytopenia in three patients, diarrhea and peripheral neuropathy in one respectively. In conclusion, bortezomib demonstrates efficiency in the treatment of new-diagnosed and refractory/relapsed multiple myeloma, and the side effects from treatment are acceptable and manageable.

[Effects of As2O3, dexamethasone and thalidomide on apoptosis and cytoplasmic [Ca2+] of myeloma cell line U266].

To investigate the influence of As2O3, dexamethasone (Dex) and thalidomide (Thal) on apoptosis-induced myeloma cell line U266 cytoplasmic calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i), U266 cells were incubated in the culture of RPMI 1640 with 15% FBS in 24-well plate and exposed to different concentrations of As2O3, Dex and Thal for 8 hours, respectively, then cell apoptosis was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry (FCM) with Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining, and cytoplasmic free calcium were detected on FCM through Fluo-3/AM loading. The results indicated that (1) apoptotic cells were gradually increased with enhancement of As2O3, Dex and Thal concentrations; (2) apoptotic cell rates increased from 0.56% in control to 31.54%, 28.35% and 21.97% respectively after treatment with As2O3, Dex and Thal; (3) As2O3, Dex induced U266 cell apoptosis accompanied with raise of [Ca2+]i; (4) [Ca2+]i had no statistically significant changes in Thal-induced apoptotic U266 cells. It is concluded that the raise of [Ca2+]i is one of the mechanisms for As2O3 and Dex-induced U266 cells apoptosis, whereas Thal-induced U266 apoptosis has no significant relation to [Ca2+]i changes.

[Expression of HOXB4 in cord blood progenitor cells expanded in vitro].

HOXB4, a member of homeobox gene family, is closely related to the self-renewing and proliferative ability of primitive hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (PHSC/PHPC). This study was aimed to investigate the self-renewing level of cord blood progenitor cells (CBPC) expanded in vitro. The HOXB4 expression at mRNA level was assayed by using real time RT-PCR. The results indicated that as culture prolonged, the total cells, CD34(+) cells greatly increased, however the HOXB4 expression gradually declined, even down to undetectable level similar to that of mature lymphocytes. Meanwhile, it was shown that CD34(+) cells co-cultured with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) could abate the decline of HOXB4 expression. It is concluded that the self-renewing potential of CD34(+) cells gradually decreased during expansion in vitro, co-culture with BM-MSC was helpful to CD34(+) cell expansion and slowed the loss trend of its self-renewal.

[Effects of proteasome inhibitor PS-341 on the multiple cytokine expressions of mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow in patients with multiple myeloma].

To explore the effects of proteasome inhibitor PS-341 on the cytokine expressions of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), MSCs of 11 patients were cultured in medium of RPMI 1640 containing 10% FBS. When cells grew to 5 x 10(5) - 1 x 10(6), cells were exposed to 50 nmol/L PS-341 for 4 hours, then harvested. The expressions of IL-6, IL-1beta and SCF were detected by RT-PCR. The results indicated that after treatment with PS-341 the expressions of IL-6, IL-1beta and SCF of MSCs decreased markedly, especially that of IL-1beta, compared with control (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). There were obviously differences of IL-1beta expression between refractory/relapsed group and complete remission (CR) group and IL-1beta expression was inhibited more seriously in CR group, whereas there were no significant differences of IL-6 and SCF expression between two groups; IL-1beta expression of patients treated with PS-341 was not detected; there were not effects of IL-1beta expression on expressions of IL-6 and SCF. It is concluded that proteasome inhibitor PS-341 downregulated the expressions of IL-6, IL-1beta and SCF of MSCs in patients with MM.