[Characteristics of stromal cell precursors in patients after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation].

UNLABELLED: AIM. To study the elements of the mesenchymal stromal cell compartment (multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MMSCs)) and their more mature progenies of fibroblast colony-forming units (CFU-F) in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS. The total production of MMSCs after 5 passages, the time of their growth, and the concentration of CFU-F in the bone marrow from patients were determined using the control sections before transplantation and over time for 2 years after allo-HSCT. What is more, the genetic affiliation of the MMSCs from the patients after allo-HSCT and their immunophenotype were studied. RESULTS: The MMSCs from the patients after allo-HSCT belong to a recipient and have the immunophenotype that meets the international standard for these cells. The total production of MMSCs in the cultures obtained from the bone marrow of the patients with hematologic diseases was decreased. Not all the samples from the patients after allo-HSCT are able to undergo 5 passages. In addition, the time of growth substantially increases and the total production of cells decreases in all the analyzed cultures. These indicators are gradually restored; however, they never achieve the mean values in donors. The concentration of CFU-F in the bone marrow from the patients are reduced as compared to that in the donors prior to transplantation and decreased still further after allo-HSCT. These cell precursors are not restored for at least 2 years following allo-HSCT. CONCLUSION. Both examined categories of the cell precursors of the stromal environment suffer from both the disease itself and allo-HSCT in the patients with hematologic diseases.

[Eight-year experience in treating aggressive mediastinal large B-cell lymphomas].

AIM: To make a differential diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with primary involvement of the mediastinal lymph nodes (LN) and primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMLBCL); to evaluate the efficiency of a modified NHL-BFM-90 (M-NHL-BFM-90) program in the treatment of the above nosological entities. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The investigation enrolled 60 patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) with primary involvement of mediastinal LN who had been treated at the Hematology Research Center, Ministry of Health of Russia, in 2004 to 2012. The diagnosis of PMLBCL and DLBCL with primary involvement of mediastinal LN was based on histological findings, the phenotype of tumor cells, and molecular evidence. Treatment was performed according to the M-NHL-BFM-90 program. Three pregnant women received predelivery polychemotherapy (PCT) according to the VACOP-B protocol and continued to have a DexaBEAM chemotherapy regimen 3-4 weeks postpartum. In case of a residual mass, all the patients underwent consolidation radiotherapy to the mediastinal area in a total focal dose of 36 Gy. RESULTS: The diagnosis of PMLBCL was established in 39 patients: 10 men and 29 women whose ages were 18 to 60 years (median age 30 years); DLBCL with primary involvement of mediastinal LN was verified in 21 patients: 8 men and 13 women whose age was 21 to 70 years (median age 30 years). After m-NHL-BFM-90 treatment protocol, 5-year overall survival rates in the patients with DLBCL with primary involvement of mediastinal LN and in those with PMLBCL were 95+/-5 and 86+/-6% and 5-year event-free survival rates were 95+/-5 and 78+/-7%, respectively. All the pregnant women diagnosed with PMLBCL who had received the VACOP-B --> delivery--> Dexa-BEAM PCT regimen during pregnancy achieved remission. The follow-up periods were 30, 36, and 42 weeks. CONCLUSION: The patients with new-onset LBCL and primary involvement of mediastinal LN are a heterogeneous group that includes patients having two different diagnoses: PMLBCL and DLBCL. The efficiency of high-dose PCT is different in the patients with DLBCL with primary involvement of mediastinal LN and in those with PMLBCL (in spite of their similar clinical features, similar epidemiological characteristics, and the presence of the same unfavorable prognostic factors at onset).

[Study of bone marrow microvessel density is one of the diagnostic approaches in patients with Ph-negative chronic myeloproliferative diseases].

AIM: To define an association of bone marrow microvessel density (MVD) with histological properties (the magnitude of fibrosis and quantification of megakaryocytes (MGKC)) in patients with Ph-negative chronic myeloproliferative diseases (CMPD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: MVD was analyzed in 93 patients with different forms of CMPD, by estimating histological parameters. True polycythemia (TP) was present in 28 patients; 20 patients had essential thrombocythemia (ET), 36 had subleukemic myelosis, out them 6 were in a prefibrotic stage, and 9 with diagnosed post-TP (ET) myelofibrosis. The grade of myelofibrosis was estimated from the degree of bone marrow fibrosis as 0, 1, 2, and 3 and the clusters of MGKC were in accordance with degrees: 0, 1, and 2. MVD was studied from the absolute number of CD34-positive vascular structures. RESULTS: In patients with TP, fibrosis was defined as grade 0 and 1 in 23 (82%) and 5 (18%) cases, respectively. The content of reticulin fiber was in the normal range in 19 (95%) of the 20 patients with ET. The clusters of MGKC of grades 1 and 2 showed an even distribution among patients with ET and those with TP. Fibrosis was absent in all the patients (n = 6) with prefibrotic-stage primary myelofibrosis (PMF). The patients with PMF had high MVD values [6.5 (range 2.8-22)] than those with TP [4.0 (range 1.76-10.2)] or ET [3.7 (range 2-8.5)] and the controls [3.2 (range 2-4.1)] (p < 0.001) confirming that angiogenesis is uninvolved at the onset of disease in patients with ET and those with TP. The patients with prefibrotic-stage PMF had higher values [6.0 (range 4.8-10.6)] than those with ET [3. 7 (range 2-8.5)] (p < 0.001). This suggests that angiogenesis is an early sign preceding the development of fibrosis. CONCLUSION: Bone marrow angiogenesis assessment (from MVD measurements) may be an additional criterion for the diagnosis of disease evolution and an additional criterion between ET and PMF in a prefibrotic stage.

[Dasatinib treatment of imatinib-resistant and imatinib-intolerant patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in a chronic phase].

AIM: To analyse resistance to imatinib therapy, efficacy and safety of dasatinib. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 18 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in a chronic stage received dasatinib for 9-30 months (median 30 months) to September 2008. RESULTS: Lethal outcomes during dasatinib treatment were absent. To September 2008, 16 (89%) patients were alive, 2 (11%) patients died of the disease progression after dasatinib discontinuation. A complete clinicohematological response was observed in all the patients. Major cytogenetic, complete cytogenetic, major molecular, complete molecular responses were achieved in 12 (67%), 10 (55%), 7 (39%) and 5 (28%) patients, respectively. Hematological and non-hematological toxicity occurred in 9 (50%) patients. Now 12 (67%) patients continue dasatinib treatment, in 6 (33%) patients the drug was discontinued. CONCLUSION: The results from trials in Russian Hematological Research Center are the same as in the international study. Dasatinib is effective and well tolerated therapeutic option for imatinib-resistant patients with a chronic phase of CML.

[Allogenic transplantation of hemopoietic stem cells in low-intensity regimes in patients with hematological malignancies].

AIM: To test feasibility of transplantation of hemopoietic stem cells (THSC) with conditioning in low-intensity regimen associated with minimal toxic complications and engraftment in patients with hematological malignancy (HM) from a high risk group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: THSC was performed in 33 patients aged 18 to 65 years. Most of the patients suffered from acute leukemia and advanced forms of myelodysplastic syndrome. All the patients had severe complications excluding standard transplantation. Pretransplantation preparation was based on fludarabine and moderate doses of busulfane. Engraftment was achieved in 94% patients. Of complications, there were primarily infections, relapses, graft versus host reactions (45, 24, 57.5%, respectively). Overall survival was 53%, relapse-free--67%, follow-up median 23.6 months. CONCLUSION: THSC after conditioning in the regime of low intensity is an effective method of HM treatment in patients with contraindications to standard transplantation. The main problem is a high risk to develop graft versus host reaction, especially a chronic form.

[Monitoring of minimal residual disease in patients with chronic myeloleukemia: clinical value of real-time polymerase chain reaction].

AIM: To quantitatively determine minimal residual disease (MRD) by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in patients with a chronic phase (CP) of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A molecular response was analyzed in 53 CML CP patients with incomplete and complete cptogenetic response (ICR and CCR) during imatinib therapy (median follow-up 36 months). BCR-ABL gene type p210 expression was quantitatively determined by real-time PCR under the TaqMan technology (an ICycler IQ device). The beta2 microglobulin (beta2M) gene was used as a reference gene. The results were expressed as the ratio: the number of BCR-ABL copies to that of beta2M x 10(5), as well as the difference of the common logarithm (lg) of the baseline expression level (BEL) and the result obtained: CEL lg-result lg. RESULTS: The study revealed a correlation of the results of real-time PCR with those of cytogenetic analysis and showed it possible to study not only bone marrow, but also peripheral blood. Some negative real-time PCR results were checked using more sensitive PCR techniques. MRD was identified in most CML patients showing ICR and CCR during imatinib therapy. The reduction in BCR-ABL transcript levels by less than 2 lg (as compared to BEL) was associated with a cytogenetic recurrence and that by less than 3 lg was associated with a permanent high cytogenetic response. In patients with a cytogenetic recurrence, the median of BCR-ABL transcript levels was higher than that in patients with a permanent stable or unstable cytogenetic response. An elevation of BCR-ABL transcript levels over time antedated the development of a cytogenetic recurrence. CONCLUSION: Quantitative monitoring by real-time PCR gives additional information on the dynamics of MRD in CML patients treated with glivec and permits improvement of study protocols for patients with CML at complete clinicohematological and cytogenetic remission.

[Recovery of polyclonial hemopoiesis in females with chronic myeloid leukemia with a complete cytogenetic response].

AIM: To study feasibility of hemopoiesis clonality determination in assessment of remission completeness in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR HUMARA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have examined 28 patients with newly diagnosed CML, 10 CML patients with a complete cytogenetic response (CCR) to therapy with imatinib mesilate and/or alpha-interferon, 24 healthy control females. Twelve patients with untreated CML were homozygous by HUMARA gene (human androgenic receptor gene) and were withdrawn from the study. Leukocytes of peripheral blood from all the patients were investigated with PCR HUMARA for mono- or polyclonal hemopoiesis. Clonality was defined as allele proportion (a/p) of polymorphic loci of HUMARA gene. Remission completeness was confirmed cytogenetically and by molecular methods. RESULTS: The value a/p in 10 patients with CCR varies from 0.69 to 1.33 and is similar to those in the control group. CONCLUSION: The PCR HUMARA technique adequately assesses reduction of Ph-positive clone in CML patients with CCR and points to polyclonal hemopoiesis.

[Monitoring of minimal residual disease in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia].

AIM: To study efficacy of different programs of maintenance therapy, to create the program of differential therapy of minimal residual disease (MRD) and molecular recurrences at all stages of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) basing on the results of monitoring. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 76 APL patients entered the trial. They received therapy by the protocols APL-97/98, APL-01, AIDA, 5D. Expression of chymeric oncogen PML/RARa in the disease onset was estimated by bone marrow and/or peripheral blood examination with RT-PCR. The study of chymeric oncogen PML/RARa was made once in two months. RESULTS: The program of differential therapy of APL is proposed on the basis of molecular-biological monitoring of expression of chymeric oncogen PML/RARa. The results of molecular monitoring of MRD correlated with development of molecular and hematological recurrences. Therapeutic policy is determined after diagnosis of molecular recurrence. Further therapy of APL is determined which allows a rise in overall and recurrence-free survival of the patients. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of maintenance therapy only with cytostatic drugs or their combination with ATRA is similar. The response to biological therapy with ATRA plus interferon-alpha is not sufficient. Molecular recurrences--probable or documented--are detected in maintenance therapy 2 months earlier, on the average, than hematological ones. Changes in the treatment policy in registration of molecular recurrence significantly diminish probability of hematological recurrence (from 36 to 0%, p = 0.001.

[Acute lymphoblastic leukemias with aberrations of BCR-ABL genes].

AIM: To develop an original therapeutic strategy in Ph-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In November 2001 Hematological Research Center (HRC) initiated the study of chimeric BCR-ABL gene. During the first stage of the study (November 2001-July 2004), 18 primary ALL patients were recruited in HRC, from July 2004 to January 2005--16 patients in HRC, N.N. Burdenko Central Military Hospital, regional Samara hospital. The diagnosis of Ph-positive ALL was established in detection of translocation t(9;22) by standard cytogenetic test or fluorescent hibridization in situ with double signal (D-FISH), or by polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription (RT-PCR). In detection of aberration of BCR-ABL gene the patients received stem hemopoietic cells, from June 2004 imatinib was added to chemotherapy in the period of induction and consolidation. RESULTS: Incidence rate of BCR-ABL-positive ALL by standard cytogenetic test and D-FISH makes up 20%, by RT-PCR--25%. Differences in chimeric transcripts detectability by different methods may be explained by different sensitivity of the methods. Complete hematological remissions were achieved in the majority of the patients (6 of 8) irrespective of imatinib administration. Achievement of molecular remission in BCR-ABL-positive ALL occurs also in standard chemotherapy but molecular remissions begin 2-4 months later than clinicohematological ones. CONCLUSION: In using imatinib combination with chemotherapy, molecular remission can be achieved simultaneously with hematological one. Long-term results will be analysed later.

[Three new mutations in the porphobilinogen deaminase gene, detected in acute intermittent porphyria patients from Russia]. / Tri novye mutatsii v gene porfobilinogendezaminazy, obnaruzhennye u bol'nykh ostroi peremezhaiushcheisia porfiriei iz Rossii.

Porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD) is a key enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway. Defects in the PBGD gene lead to an autosomal dominant disease, acute intermittent porphyria (AIP). Almost all AIP patients with rare exceptions are heterozygous for the defective gene. To date, at least 160 different mutations causing AIP are identified. Extensive investigations along this line are conducted in many countries of the world. In Russia these studies had not been hitherto performed. Here we report the results of molecular genetic examination of four Russian patients with AIP diagnosed from clinical symptoms. By direct sequencing of the PBGD gene or the corresponding cDNA, we have detected four mutations, three of which were not previously encountered in the world population. These are TAAG deletion in intron 7 between positions +2 and (IVS7 2-5 delTAAG); T deletion in the initiation codon ATG of exon 3, and the G for C replacement at position -1 of intron 5 (IVS5 as -1 G:C), which disrupts splicing. In addition, in one female patient, a known deletion CT in codon 68 was revealed. In two patients, expression of PBGD gene alleles was significantly disproportional, so that normal mRNA prevailed in one case and mRNA of nonerythroid type in the other. Deletion in intron 7 was easily detectable due to the formation of a heteroduplex fragment with abnormal electrophoretic mobility directly in PCR. This simple heteroduplex analysis allowed us to exclude AIP carriage in son and daughter of a female patient with the genetic defect.

[Expression of PRAME gene in multiple myeloma]. / Ekspressiia gena PRAME pri mnozhestvennoi mielome.

AIM: To determine clinical significance of PRAME gene expression in multiple myeloma (MM) and feasibility of its use as a marker of residual tumor clone. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 35 MM patients, of them 15 were newly diagnosed and 20 had resistance to previous therapy. PRAME was made if the patients received programmed therapy with high-dose chemotherapy (VD) and autologous transplantation of peripheral cell stem cells. 12 PRAME-positive patients were examined on the day +100, 5 patients--a year later. Monoclonal paraprotein was detected by electrophoresis and radial immunodiffusion of blood serum. Bone marrow affection was assessed at roentgenography and/or MRI. PRAME gene expression in bone marrow biopsy was measured by reverse transcription and PCR amplification. RESULTS: Activation of expression of PRAME gene in MM was found in 68.57% patients. It was higher in patients with MM duration more than 1 year and if they were treated before (85%) than in new cases (46.67%). Expression of PRAME tended to associate with activity of LDP of blood serum. After the above chemotherapy and autotransplantation transcript PRAME did not disappear in 8 of 12 cases. One year after the treatment, of 5 PRAME-positive patients 2 died, 1 had recurrence, 2 are in a compete clinicohematological remission. CONCLUSION: Frequent activation of transcription of the gene PRAME in MM, its assay can be used for monitoring of the disease course, assessment of remission completeness, detection of tumor cell contamination of preparations of autologous stem cells of peripheral blood.

[Allogenic bone marrow transplantation after reduced intensity conditioning regimens in therapy of patients with hemoblastoses]. / Allogennaia transplantatsiia kostnogo mozga posle rezhimov konditsionirovaniia ponizhennoi intensivnosti v terapii bol'nykh gemoblastozami.

AIM: To investigate effectiveness of allogenic transplantation of the bone marrow (TBM) in the treatment of hemoblastosis patients from a high risk group, the course of donor bone marrow retention, tolerance and antitumor activity of this therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 11 patients received TBM in low-intensity regimen in Hematological Research Center in 1999-2001. All the patients were from a high risk group. Conditioning was based on the combination of fludarabin with busulfan. The transplanted precursor cells were taken from the bone marrow and/or peripheral donor blood. The retention was controlled by differential agglutination of erythrocytes and amplification of hypervariable sites of DNA. Minimal residual disease was controlled by standard cytogenetical tests, fluorescent in situ hybridization or reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: All the patients tolerated pretransplantation conditioning well. By chimerism, signs of retention of donor bone marrow on day +30 after TBM were observed in 9 patients of 11. Acute graft versus host reaction developed in 5 patients. This reaction was treated conventionally with methylprednisone and cyclosporin A, in 4 cases with a good effect. A complete remission persists in 5 patients. Mean follow-up lasted for 241 days. CONCLUSION: Thus, transplantation was successful in 50% patients with an unfavourable prognosis who are still in a complete remission. This suggests efficacy of the above method of treatment.

[Cytomegaloviral infection in patients with hemoblastoses]. / Tsitomegalovirusnaia infektsiia u bol'nykh gemoblastozami.

AIM: To estimate the incidence of cytomegaloviral (CMV) infection and CMV disease in patients with acute leukemia at different stages of chemotherapy and in patients after transplantation of hemopoietic cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The trial was carried out in 33 patients with acute leukemia at different stages of chemotherapy, 20 patients subjected to transplantation of autologic hemopoietic cells and 21 patients who had received transplantation of allogenic hemopoietic cells. To study the dynamics of the CMV infection markers, enzyme immunoassay of the titer of the specific immunoglobulins M and G was made, detection of the viral antigen in immunofluorescence reaction and cultivation with fibroblast cell culture and determination of the cytomegalovirus DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Before chemotherapy, up to 90% patients with acute leukemia were infected with cytomegalovirus (similar rate of infection was observed in healthy donors of hemopoietic cells). By the time of transplantation all the patients were infected with cytomegalovirus. During chemotherapy of acute leukemia, the primary infection and reactivation of latent infection occurred in 30% patients, whereas CMV disease developed in 18% patients. In case of transplantation of autologic hemopoietic cells the rate of reactivation of CMV infection (15%) was one-half of that value in patients with acute leukemia (30%). Similar trend was observed in case of development of CMV disease (5% and 18%, respectively). In case of transplantation of allogenic hemopoietic cells the incidence of reactivation of CMV infection was three times higher than in case of transplantation of autologic hemopoietic cells (47.6% and 15%, respectively, p = 0.02). The incidence of development of CMV disease in case of transplantation of allogenic hemopoietic cells was also significantly higher than in case of transplantation of autologic hemopoietic cells (28.6% and 5%, respectively, p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cytomegalovirus is an infection agent responsible for severe complications of chemotherapy of acute leukemia and transplantation of hemopoietic cells in patients with hemoblastoses. Among hematological patients, the group of the highest risk of development of this complication includes recipients of transplantation of allogenic hemopoietic cells, particularly from seronegative donors.

[Allogenic bone marrow transplantation in chronic myeloid leukemias]. / Transplantatsiia allogennogo kostnogo mozga pri khronicheskom mieloleikoze.

AIM: To assess the role of allogenic bone marrow (ABM) transplantation in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 44 ABM transplantations were performed in 37 CML patients in the chronic phase and 7 patients in acceleration or blast crisis. RESULTS: A complete molecular remission was achieved in 26 (59%) patients: 67.6% after ABM transplantation in the chronic phase and only 14.3% after myelotransplantation in non-chronic phase. Follow-up was 8-150 months (median--59 months). Early lethality after ABM transplantation in the chronic phase was under 14%. A phase of the disease plays a key role in ABM transplantation. If it is made in a chronic phase, CML recurrence rate is low (in our series it was 14%), efficacy of donor's bone marrow lymphocyte transfusions is high. The second complete molecular remission was achieved in 3 of 4 cases of posttransplantation recurrences. Probability of maintenance of a complete remission after ABM transplantation in a chronic phase was 75%, recurrence-free survival--64%, uneventful survival 55% for 90 months. CONCLUSION: The experience of many years demonstrates high efficacy of ABM transplantation in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. It promotes long-term molecular remission the maintenance of which did not require therapy in 65% patients.

[Preliminary results of a multicenter randomized study on the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemias]. / Predvaritel'nye rezul'taty mnogotsentrovogo randomizirovannogo issledovaniia po lecheniiu ostrykh promielotsitarnykh leikozov.

AIM: To study efficacy of maintenance therapy of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in the APL treatment Russian multicenter trial. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The trial was made with participation of 18 hematological departments of clinics in Russia. A total of 68 APL patients entered the trial. The maintenance therapy consisted of 5-day courses of cytostatic drugs which alternated or did not alternate with 5-day courses of ATRA. Cytogenetic tests were made in 31 patients, t(15;17) was detected in 26 of them. Molecular examination conducted in 28 patients discovered chimeric transcript PML/RARa in 26 of them. Of 20 patients examined in Hematological Research Center, 7 (35%) had a bcr 1/2 variant of the transcript PML/RARa, 13 (65%)--bcr 3 variant. RESULTS: 65 patients were eligible for assessment. A complete remission was achieved in 90% cases. No resistance was observed. In follow-up within 30 months the recurrence rate was similar on both treatments. The results of the induction therapy and survival in patients with different variants of the transcripts were also similar. Overall 2.5 year survival for all the patients was 77%, recurrence-free--80%. The survival analysis in patients with leukocytosis higher and lower 10 x 10(9)/l found no statistical differences by the survival. Patients with hyperleukocytosis had higher early lethality than patients with leukocytes under 10 x 10(9)/l (25% vs 5.3%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The APL 06.01 protocol showed high efficacy of the relevant maintenance which provides a complete molecular remission in the majority of patients with probable recurrence-free 2.5 year survival 80%.