High feasibility and antileukemic efficacy of fludarabine, cytarabine, and idarubicin (FLAI) induction followed by risk-oriented consolidation: A critical review of a 10-year, single-center experience in younger, non M3 AML patients.

About 105 consecutive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients treated with the same induction-consolidation program between 2004 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Median age was 47 years. The first induction course included fludarabine (Flu) and high-dose cytarabine (Ara-C) plus idarubicin (Ida), with or without gemtuzumab-ozogamicin (GO) 3 mg/m(2) (FLAI-5). Patients achieving complete remission (CR) received a second course without fludarabine but with higher dose of idarubicin. Patients not achieving CR received an intensified second course. Patients not scheduled for early allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (HSCT) where planned to receive at least two courses of consolidation therapy with Ara-C. Our double induction strategy significantly differs from described fludarabine-containing regimens, as patients achieving CR receive a second course without fludarabine, to avoid excess toxicity, and Ara-C consolidation is administrated at the reduced cumulative dose of 8 g/m(2) per cycle. Toxicity is a major concern in fludarabine containing induction, including the recent Medical Research Council AML15 fludarabine, cytarabine, idaraubicin and G-CSF (FLAG-Ida) arm, and, despite higher anti-leukemic efficacy, only a minority of patients is able to complete the full planned program. In this article, we show that our therapeutic program is generally well tolerated, as most patients were able to receive subsequent therapy at full dose and in a timely manner, with a 30-day mortality of 4.8%. The omission of fludarabine in the second course did not reduce efficacy, as a CR rate of 83% was achieved and 3-year disease-free survival and overall survival (OS) were 49.6% and 50.9%, respectively. Our experience shows that FLAI-5/Ara-C + Ida double induction followed by risk-oriented consolidation therapy can result in good overall outcome with acceptable toxicity. Am. J. Hematol. 91:755-762, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Variant Philadelphia translocations: molecular-cytogenetic characterization and prognostic influence on frontline imatinib therapy, a GIMEMA Working Party on CML analysis.

Variant Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome translocations have been reported in 5%-10% of patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Variant translocations may involve one or more chromosomes in addition to 9 and 22, and can be generated by 2 different mechanisms, 1-step and 2-step rearrangements, as revealed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The prognostic significance of the occurrence of variant translocations has been discussed in previous studies. The European LeukemiaNet recommendations do not provide a "warning" for patients with variant translocations, but there is limited information about their outcome after therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. To identify the role of variant translocations in early chronic phase (CP) CML patients treated with imatinib mesylate, we performed an analysis in a large series of 559 patients enrolled in 3 prospective imatinib trials of the Gruppo Italiano Malattie EMatologiche dell'Adulto (GIMEMA) Working Party on CML. Variant translocations occurred in 30 patients (5%). Our data show that the presence of variant translocations has no impact on the cytogenetic and molecular response or on outcome, regardless of the involvement of different mechanisms, the number of involved chromosomes, or the presence of deletions. Therefore, we suggest that patients with variant translocations do not constitute a "warning" category in the imatinib era. This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00514488 and NCT00510926.

Endothelial colony-forming cells from patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders lack the disease-specific molecular clonality marker.

Two putative types of circulating endothelial progenitor cells have been recently identified in vitro: (1) endothelial colony-forming cell (ECFC) and (2) colony-forming unit-endothelial cell (CFU-EC). Only the former is now recognized to belong to endothelial lineage. We have used the ECFC and CFU-EC assays to readdress the issue of the clonal relation between endothelial progenitor cells and hematopoietic stem cells in patients with Philadelphia-positive and Philadelphia-negative chronic myeloproliferative disorders. Both ECFCs and CFU-ECs were cultured from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and either BCR-ABL rearrangement or JAK2-V617F mutation were assessed in both types of endothelial colonies. We found that ECFCs lack the disease-specific markers, which are otherwise present in CFU-ECs, thus reinforcing the concept that the latter belongs to the hematopoietic lineage, and showing that in chronic myeloproliferative disorders the cell that gives rise to circulating ECFC has a distinct origin from the cell of the hematopoietic malignant clone.

Seventeen years of experience with ATRA-based therapy for acute promyelocytic leukaemia: long-term follow-up of patients treated at S. Martino Hospital, Genoa.

We conducted a long-term follow-up retrospective study on 91 consecutive newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) patients. Induction and consolidation therapy were well-tolerated by most patients. Of the 79 patients who were initially treated with the all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-containing regimens, there were 3 haemorrhagic deaths during the first period of therapy (4%) and one in consolidation which was due to infection. Following consolidation, molecular assessment of response was performed on 67 patients, and 66 were found to have achieved cytogenetic and molecular remission (98%). After a median follow-up of 100 months (12-192), 10 of the 75 patients who achieved complete remission (13%) relapsed. Seventy-eight percent of the patients were expected to be alive at 14 years from diagnosis, i.e., 90 and 48% of patients of intermediate-low risk and high risk at presentation, respectively (p=0.0009). Sixty-nine patients were in molecular remission after first-line and/or salvage therapy (74%). To date, 4 patients out of the 91 have undergone salvage allogeneic transplant (4%).

Direct intrabone transplant of unrelated cord-blood cells in acute leukaemia: a phase I/II study.

BACKGROUND: Cord-blood transplants are associated with delayed or failed engraftment in about 20% of adult patients. The aim of this phase I/II study was to establish the safety and efficacy of a new administration route (intrabone) for cord-blood cells, measured by the donor-derived neutrophil and platelet engraftment. METHODS: Adult patients with acute leukaemia, for whom an unrelated stem-cell transplantation was indicated and no suitable unrelated human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-matched donor had been identified, were included in the study and underwent a cord-blood transplant in San Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy. Eight patients were in first complete remission, ten in second complete remission, and 14 had advanced-stage, refractory disease. HLA matching was 5/6, 4/6, and 3/6 for 9, 22, and one patient, respectively. Cord-blood cells were concentrated in four 5-mL syringes, and were infused in the superior-posterior iliac crest under rapid general anaesthesia. Median transplanted cell dose was 2.6 x 10(7)/kg (range 1.4-4.2). The primary endpoint was the probability of neutrophil and platelet recovery after intrabone cord-blood transplantantion. Secondary endpoints included the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease, relapse, and overall survival. This trial is registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov website, number NCT 00696046. FINDINGS: Between March 31, 2006, and Jan 25, 2008, 32 consecutive patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (n=20) or acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (n=12) underwent a cord-blood transplant (median age 36 years [range 18-66]). No complications occurred during or after the intrabone infusion of cells. Four patients with advanced-stage disease died within 12 days of the procedure. Median time to recovery of neutrophils in 28 patients (>/=0.5 x 10(9)/L) was 23 days (range 14-44) and median time to recovery of platelets in 27 patients (>/=20 x 10(9)/L) was 36 days (range 16-64). All patients were fully chimeric from 30 days after transplantation to the last follow-up visit, suggesting an early complete donor engraftment. No patient developed grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease. Causes of death were transplant related (n=5), infection (n=7), and relapse (n=4). 16 patients were alive and in haematological remission at a median follow-up of 13 months (range 3-23). INTERPRETATION: Our preliminary data suggest that direct intrabone cord-blood transplantation overcomes the problem of graft failure even when low numbers of HLA-mismatched cord-blood cells are transplanted, thus leading to the possibility of use of this technique in a large number of adult patients.

HMGA2 overexpression in polycythemia vera with t(12;21)(q14;q22).

Chromosomal translocations involving the 12q14 band are rarely detected in hematological disorders, and are usually correlated with HMGA2 gene expression. HMGA2 is highly expressed during embryonic cell growth and differentiation, and regulates transcription and chromatin organization, but is rarely detectable in adult tissues. We describe a case of polycythemia vera with a t(12;21)(q14;q22). The 12q14 breakpoint was characterized by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis using the bacterial artificial chromosome RP11-366L20 containing 3' sequences of the HMGA2 gene. Qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed the presence of high levels of HMGA2 gene expression, which were temporarily reduced with hydroxyurea therapy. The present case confirms that involvement of the 12q14 band may be associated with HMGA2 overexpression in chronic Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative disease, regardless of the partner chromosome involved in the translocation. Such overexpression may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease, which otherwise of itself shows a favorable and stable course.

Molecular analysis of the Imatinib-induced complete cytogenetic response in chronic myelogenous leukemia.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between clonal and normal haematopoiesis in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Thirteen female patients who reached complete cytogenetic response (CCR) after Imatinib treatment were studied. Although all the study patients exhibited a polyclonal pattern of X inactivation, p210 BCR/ABL transcript remained detectable in all cases by nested RT-PCR. This study also demonstrated the presence of p190 transcript in nine out of 13 study patients. A longer follow-up analysis is needed to clarify the prognostic value of these results. The recent observation that clonal cytogenetic abnormalities may occur in CML patients in polyclonal remission after imatinib suggests that a neoplastic stem cell lacking BCR/ABL rearrangement may acquire further cytogenetic alterations other than Philadelphia chromosome.

Masked Philadelphia chromosome due to atypical BCR/ABL localization on the 9q34 band and duplication of the der(9) in a case of chronic myelogenous leukemia.

The cytogenetic studies and molecular evaluation of a Philadelphia chromosome negative chronic myelogenous leukemia patient with trisomy 21 (100% metaphases) and trisomy 9 (50% metaphases) at diagnosis are described. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed an atypical location of the BCR/ABL fusion signal on 9q, which was duplicated in cells with trisomy 9 simulating a double Ph. The patient was successfully treated with Glivec (also known as Gleevec; Novartis, Basel, Switzerland) and achieved complete hematological and cytogenetic response as well as a reduction of BCR/ABL transcripts detected by real-time quantitative PCR.

Combined assessment of WT1 and BAALC gene expression at diagnosis may improve leukemia-free survival prediction in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

Several genes with relevant pathogenetic and prognostic value have been identified in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Overexpression of WT1 at diagnosis has been associated with increased progression to acute myeloid leukemia and reduced leukemia free survival. Conversely, few data are available on the prognostic value of BAALC gene overexpression in AML and MDS patients. We evaluated the prognostic value of the combined expression of WT1 and BAALC genes at diagnosis in 86 MDS patients who had been stratified according to IPSS and R-IPSS scoring systems. Our results suggest that in the whole group of patients, low levels of both WT1 and BAALC were associated with a favorable outcome (3-year LFS 74.5%, median not reached), whereas patients presenting high expression levels of both genes had the worst prognosis (3-year LFS 0%, median 12 months, p<0.001). More specifically, molecular profiling was especially useful for intermediate 1 and intermediate-2/high risk groups. This study suggests that evaluating WT1 and BAALC gene expression at diagnosis may improve standard risk stratification and possibly refine the therapeutic approach for MDS patients.

Uncommon cytogenetic findings in a case of splenic marginal zone lymphoma with aggressive clinical course.

The majority of splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) patients experience an indolent clinical course; however, some cases transform to a high-grade lymphoma. Cytogenetic analyses have shown that chromosome 7 is the most frequently altered chromosome and, in some cases, 7q deletion has been found as a single aberration, suggesting its association with the development of SMZL. We studied one patient showing clinical features of SMZL with an aggressive course. Immunophenotypic, conventional and molecular cytogenetic techniques were applied to support the diagnosis. The immunophenotype of peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed the presence of 90% B-lymphocytes. Cytogenetic analysis indicated the presence of a stem-line lacking normal chromosomes 7, but showing a der(7) and a ring, and a side-line with additional aberrations: t(2;22), add(8). Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis revealed a loss of the 7q32 region. Nonclonal rearrangements involving chromosome 7 were also detected. Chromosome 7 rearrangements were studied to investigate their evolution during the development of the pathology. We have shown that in this patient both chromosomes 7 underwent different rearrangements leading to a loss of the 7q32 region and that the ring chromosome originated from chromosome 7 and was associated with a t(7;7) (p22;q31). We conclude that not only the 7q deletion but also the proneness of chromosome 7 to rearrange might have played a role in the progression of this SMZL.

Standard and variant Philadelphia translocation in a CML patient with different sensitivity to imatinib therapy.

Most chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients show the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) arising from the reciprocal t(9;22), but 5-10% present variants of this translocation involving different breakpoints besides 9q34 and 22q11. WE REPORT THE NON SIMULTANEOUS OCCURRENCE OF TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PH TRANSLOCATION IN A CML PATIENT: a t(9;22)(q34;q11) standard and a three-way variant t(9;11;22)(q34;p15;q11). Bone marrow cells with standard translocation did not have BCR/ABL kinase domain (KD) mutations and were sensitive to imatinib therapy. In contrast, bone marrow cells with the variant translocation showed two BCR/ABL KD mutations and were resistant to imatinib, thus inducing transformation to the blast phase and karyotype evolution.

WT1 overexpression at diagnosis may predict favorable outcome in patients with de novo non-M3 acute myeloid leukemia.

We reviewed the frequency and prognostic significance of FLT3 (fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor-3) and NPM (nucleophosmin) gene mutations and WT1 (Wilms' tumor) and BAALC (brain and acute leukemia, cytoplasmic) gene expression in 100 consecutive patients with intermediate and poor cytogenetic risk de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receiving conventional anthracycline-AraC based therapy. We observed a strict relationship between unfavorable karyotype and BAALC >1000 (p = 0.0001). Multivariate analysis of 81 patients with intermediate karyotype revealed that younger age (p = 0.00009), NPM gene mutation (p = 0.002), and WT1 >75th percentile (>2365) (p = 0.003) were independent, positive factors for complete remission (CR). WT1 expression above 2365 was correlated also to longer event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) in the same subset of patients (p = 0.003 and p = 0.02, respectively); the same finding occurred in younger patients with AML with intermediate karyotype (p = 0.008 and p = 0.01, respectively). In patients with intermediate karyotype, FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD) negatively affected EFS (EFS at 30 months: 30% vs. 6% in FLT3-ITD negative and FLT3 positive patients, respectively; p = 0.01) and OS (OS at 30 months: 38% vs. 20%, p = 0.03). The positive prognostic value of high WT1 expression does not have a clear explanation; it may be implicated either with WT1 anti-oncogenic function, or with the stimulating effect of WT1 oncogene on the leukemic cellular cycle, possibly associated with an enhanced response to chemotherapy.

A BCR-JAK2 fusion gene as the result of a t(9;22)(p24;q11) in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia.

We report the occurrence of a BCR-JAK2 fusion gene in a case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) resulting from a t(9;22)(p24;q11) translocation as the sole cytogenetic abnormality. The BCR-JAK2 fusion gene has the same breakpoint in BCR as is found in the BCR/ABL p210. The chimeric gene is the result of a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22, which implies a double break on chromosome 9; this has allowed generating an in-frame fusion transcript. Previously, BCR-JAK2 rearrangement was observed in a single case with atypical chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), but in that case the breakpoint in the BCR was different.

Adding low-dose gemtuzumab ozogamicin to fludarabine, Ara-C and idarubicin (MY-FLAI) may improve disease-free and overall survival in elderly patients with non-M3 acute myeloid leukaemia: results of a prospective, pilot, multi-centre trial and comparison with a historical cohort of patients.

We report the final results of a prospective multi-centre trial testing the combination of chemotherapy (fludarabine, cytosine arabinoside and idarubicin; FLAI) followed by low-dose gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO), for induction treatment of patients with CD33+ acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Forty-six consecutive patients were treated: the median age was 66 (range: 60-80) years; the karyotype was unfavourable in 12 patients (26%), intermediate in 33 (71%) and favourable in one (3%). Eleven major infectious complications were recorded. There was one early death. Of the 45 evaluable patients, 24 achieved a complete response (CR; 52%), 66% and 33% in good-intermediate/poor karyotype patients. Median duration of CR was 7 (3-24) months. The cumulative incidence of relapse was 37% with an actuarial 2-year survival of 54%. These results were compared with 47 patients matched for age and karyotype who received FLAI, without GO. The proportion of patients achieving CR was comparable. However, patients with de novo AML receiving GO (n = 26) had a significantly lower risk of relapse at 2 years when compared with patients not receiving GO (n = 35) (40% vs. 80%, P = 0.01) and significantly better overall 2-year survival (40% vs. 14%P = 0.02). Patients with secondary AML had comparable outcome whether or not they received GO. This GO-based induction chemotherapy has a good toxicity profile. In keeping with a recent prospective randomised trial, the addition of GO seems to prolong disease-free survival.