[First results of Ph-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia therapy of adults according to the protocol of Research Group of Russian Hematological Centers ALL-2009].

AIM: To review results of 2-year experience in execution of the protocol on the treatment of adult acute Ph-negative lymphoblastic leukemia ALL-2009. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Of 111 patients registered in the study from November 2008 to December 2010 the analysis covered 96 patients from 23 hematological centers in 18 towns of the RF. RESULTS: Treatment according to the Protocol ALL-2009 resulted in achievement of a complete remission in 91.2% patients with low early lethality of 5.5%. Postremission lethality fell to 3.7% versus previous studies (22%). Overall 2-year survival and recurrence-free survival reached 77.6 and 78.4%, respectively. Detection of any chromosomic aberrations significantly affected recurrence-free survival: 74 vs 100% in patients with normal karyotype. CONCLUSION: Protocol All-2009 demonstrates high efficacy in moderate toxicity and good reproducibility in any hematologic center.

[Dynamic study of Bcl-2, Bax, p53, and ACE expression in CD34+ cells of peripheral blood and bone marrow in acute leukemia patients in the course of induction chemotherapy].

AIM: To determine unbalance in the system of programmed cell death in the cells CD34+ of the bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) before and after cytostatic impact in acute leukemia (AL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Flow cytoflowmetry estimated expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p53 and ACE in the cells CD34+ of BM and PB from 10 AL (4 AML and 6 ALL) patients. PB and BM samples were studied before polychemotherapy (PCT) and in the course of induction treatment: on day +8, +21 (blood only), +36 - 38. Control group consisted of 4 BM donors. RESULTS: The number of CD34+ cells expressing Bcl-2 in AL patients was 46,5 +/- 9,35 % in BM and 39,4 + 10,8 % in PB, in healthy donors - 9 and 32,8 %, respectively. Bax expression in AL patients' cells CD34+ of BM versus this expression in donors was 3 times higher (36,7 +/- 8,1 and 14,8%, respectively), of PC - 2 times lower (40,7 +/- 6,59 and 75,8%, respectively). Expression of p53 in AL patients was 36,8 +/- 9 % in BM and 26 +/- 7,4 % in PB, in donors - 28,2 and 65 %, respectively. ACE expression on the cells CD34+ in AL patients in early disease was 62 +/- 7,57 % in BM and 48 +/- 8,1 % in PB, in donors - 40 and 85 %, respectively. Moreover, there were significant changes in expression of Bcl-2 in BM and Bax, ACE and p53 in PB in the cells CD34+ in AL patients during and after induction PCT. CONCLUSION: The above changes evidence for unbalance of pro- and antiapoptosis proteins of regulators in AL patients. PCT changes profile of expression of these proteins, but not to the level of healthy donors.

[Toxicity of different treatment protocols for acute myeloid leukemias in adults: the results of four Russian multicenter studies].

AIM: To comparatively analyze the toxicity of 4 treatment protocols in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which were used in the Russian multicenter center in 1992 to 2009. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The information obtained in 4 Russian multicenter studies conducted in 33 hematology departments of 26 cities and towns of the Russian Federation in 1992 to 2009 was analyzed. Randomization was made in 243 patients with AML (median age 38 years) in 1992-1995, 396 patients (median age 39 years) in 1995-1999, 392 patients (median age 39 years) in 2001-2006, and 137 patients (median age 40 years) in 2006-2009. The analysis excluded patients with acute promyelocytic leukemias who were recruited in the AML-92 and AML-95 studies. These patients' statutory forms adequately filled in were 60-70% therefore toxicity was analyzed on the basis of the data of 631 patients. RESULTS: The baseline clinical and laboratory parameters in the patients enrolled in the studies in different years slightly differ in the count of leukocytes at the onset of the disease and in the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH): the recent studies revealed a larger number of high-risk group patients (leukocytes more than 30 10(9)(/l; LDH more than 500 units) possibly due to the later diagnosis of AML. During the studies, the number of complete remissions remained as before (55%) after the first course and increased from 65 to 78% after the second course using cytosine arabinoside in high doses. Despite treatment intensification, mortality in the induction period remained as before (19-21%). Remission mortality decreased from 18 to 10-13%. The long-term results of using the aggressive therapy did not differ from those obtained during the standard treatment protocols. The duration of leucopenia after standard induction courses during the all studies remained equal (17-19 days); the exclusion was a HAM course as the second induction course after which the duration of neutropenia was much more than that of the standard course (17 and 10 days, respectively). During the study years, there was an increase in platelet transfusion volumes (from 20 to 53 doses during the first course and from 7 to 28 doses during the second course) and a reduction in the percentage of severe hemorrhagic complications. The incidence of pneumonias remained at the same level (40-50%) during the induction courses and that of septic complications and necrotic enteropathy considerably decreased from 40-46 to 17-19%. The incidence of invasive aspergillosis during the current programs from AML treatment was 10% (two induction courses), that of invasive candidiasis was 4.7% (two induction courses). CONCLUSION; The long-term results of treatment for AML were virtually unchanged regardless significant therapy intensification. Mortality remained high during induction treatment and in the postremission period. Its cause is severe infectious complications developing during myelotoxic agranulocytosis. The results of the analysis provide the basis for developing a new AML treatment protocol that should take into account all the merits and demerits of the previous protocols and provide a toxicity-treatment efficiency balance.

[Prolonged bone marrow aplasia in patients with acute leukemia after chemotherapy].

AIM: To analyze the causes of prolonged hematopoietic tissue aplasias in patients with acute leukemias (AL) after chemotherapy courses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on 7 patients with acute myeloid leukemia, followed up at the Hematology Departments, Hematology Research Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, over the period 2003 to 2007, who had developed deep bone marrow aplasia (BMA) inadequate to cytostatic drug exposure during chemotherapy, were analyzed. The authors compared in all the patients the values of peripheral blood and bone marrow (BM) puncture specimens and the results of blood tests using the polymerase chain reaction at different AL development stages with the results of an immunohistochemical study using the markers of viruses of hepatitis C and B, a herpes group (EBV, CMV, HSV-1, HSV-2) and parvovirus B19. RESULTS: The marker of hepatitis C was detected in 6 of the 7 patients with prolonged BMA; 3 of these 6 patients showed a simultaneous infection with hepatitis B. Six of the 7 patients were found to have concomitant BM lesion with various herpes group viruses. Two patients had a resistant form of AL. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis C virus infection in patients and the resistant form of the disease were the principal causes of the development of BMA inadequate to cytostatic drug exposure. Affliction of abundant bone marrow cells with herpes group viruses was not a direct cause, but might substantially aggravate BMA.

[Results of the treatment of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia according to ALL-2005 protocol as a basis for new trials].

AIM: To analyse the results of the treatment according to ALL-2005 protocol for adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); on the basis of the summarized evidence on ALL treatment to propose principles for development of a new program of ALL treatment in 15-55-year-old patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five hematological centers (in Moscow, Saransk, Volgograd, Tambov, Kirov) participated in ALL-2005 protocol trial initiated in 2005. A total of 71 adult patients with ALL (age median 27 years) were treated. The results of the MB-2002 study with participation of 16 patients aged 16-23 years performed in the State Hematological Research Center (SHRC) were reviewed RESULTS: The results of the induction therapy according to ALL-2005 protocol conducted in Moscow SHRC were good: a complete remission was achieved in 90% patients, early lethality was 6%, resistance was observed in 4%. In regional centers lethality in remission was higher, 5-year overall survival was 28% (in SHRC it was 56%), recurrence-free survival in regional center was 22% versus 51%, respectively. Long-term response by ALL-2005 and MB-2002 in patients aged 19-23 was the same, but toxicity of ALL-2005 treatment was higher (no lethality and 5, 4% in induction and remission, respectively). CONCLUSION: The decision was made on design of a new protocol of treatment of Ph-negative ALL for patients aged from 15 to 55 years the main principles of which are the following: continuous treatment with modification of cytostatic drugs doses depending on myelosuppression severity; assessment of tumor cells sensitivity to prednisolone and its replacement for dexametasone throughout the treatment; prolongation of L-asparaginase treatment with elevation of its total dose; monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) for decision on late intensification in patients with MRD at late treatment stages (5 months).

[The results of a multicenter randomized trial on the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia of adults].

AIM: Systematization of the results of 20-year multicenter randomized trial of the efficacy of treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) of adults; presentation of the design of the study of the strategy of consolidation and maintenance therapy after high-dose consolidation initiated in 2007. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Treatment outcomes on the protocol AML-01.01 are presented for 354 AML patients from 29 hematological centers located in 22 towns of Russia and 2 towns of Ukraine. The patients were randomized into 3 groups by variant of therapy: 124 patients (62 males and 62 females; age median 42 years) received 4 courses of 7+3+VP-16 and 5 courses of maintenance therapy (7+3 with thioguanin); 130 patients (65 males and 65 females, age median 41 year) received 2 courses of 7+3+VP-16, 2 courses 7+3, maintenance--5 courses 7+3 with thioguanin; 126 patients (57 males and 68 females, age median 40 years) were given 2 courses of 7+3+VP-16, 2 HAD courses, treatment discontinuation. RESULTS: A complete remission after the first course of 7+3+VP-16 was achieved in 55% patients, after the second course--in 30% after the course 7+3+VP-16 or 7+3 with mitoxantron, in 70%--after NAM. Overall and recurrence-free survival were 18 and 35%; 30 and 20%; 36 and 30%, respectively. There was no significant difference in efficacy of the treatment scheme. CONCLUSION: The multivariate analysis has shown that a leading factor having impact on treatment results was the number of randomized patients: the less patients were randomized, the worse were the results.

[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.

[Invasive pulmonary aspergillesis].

AIM: To evaluate the results of therapy of invasive pulmonary aspergillesis (IPA) in one medical center from 2000 to 2005. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Diagnosis of IPA was made according to the International criteria. Incidence of verified IPA was 2%, probable--84%, possible--14%. RESULTS: IPA was diagnosed in 50 cases in 49 patients aged 16- 78 years, median 35. Most of the patients consisted of acute leukemia cases (54%). Intensive cytostatic therapy was given in 41% cases. In 54% IPA developed in critical neutropenia, median of duration of which being 29 days (3 to 144 days). 29 patients received glucocorticoid drugs. In diagnosis of IPA Aspergillus spp was isolated in 46% cases (A. fumigatus-59%, A. flavus-29%, A. niger-4%, A-versicolor-4%, in 1 (4%) case identification was not made. Positive antigen Aspergillus was detected in 27 cases. All the patients had pulmonary involvement detected at x-ray or computed tomography. Coincidence of pulmonary lesions seen at x-rays and computer tomograms was only in 30% patients. Cure was achieved in 44%, lethality was 56%. Overall survival in IPA for 90 days was 47%. Amphotericine was effective in 29%. Voriconasol--in 3 of 5 patients, kaspofungin--in 3 of 7. Surgical treatment was given to 4 patients. CONCLUSION: Lethality in IPA for 5 years when basic therapy was amfotericin B reached 56%. Reduction of lethality can be achieved due to early diagnosis of the infection and administration of voriconasol at the initial stage of IPA. It is necessary to conduct multicenter studies to ascertain indications for combined antifungal therapy.

[Somatic masks of depressions in leukemia]. / Somaticheskie maski depressii pri leikozakh.

AIM: To specify types of depressive conditions in a sample of leukemia patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 71 leukemia patients with depressions in the structure of which somatized disorders are an obligatory component of the depressive syndrome and determine clinical picture of the condition. This is the form of masking affective disorders. RESULTS: The patients had the following types of depression: somatized, hypochondriac, asthenic, depressive-delirium, hysteric depression. How to manage depression in leukemia patients is described.

[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%.

[Detection of minimal residual disease in patients with acute myeloid leukemia]. / Vyiavlenie minimal'noi ostatochnoi bolezni u bol'nykh ostrymi mieloidnymi leikozami.

AIM: Detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the study of its correlations with duration of recurrence-free interval. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bone marrow samples obtained from 37 AML patients before treatment were studied at two-color flow cytometry. The panel of monoclonal antibodies to T- and B-cell, myeloid antigens was used. The residual cells were estimated in 20 patients in remission. RESULTS: 78% cases were diagnosed to have an anomalous immunophenotype including coexpression of lymphoid and myeloid antigens, asynchronous expression of myeloid antigens. In the first remission the residual cells were detected in 20 patients due to aberrant antigen expression. The presence of MRD was stated if bone marrow contained more than 0.12% leukemic cells. The duration of the first remission and MRD correlated. 8 patients with MRD had remission for 3 to 6 months (median 4.7 months). 12 patients free of MRD were in remission for more than 6 months (for 8 to 26 months, median 19.7 months). The threshold level of the residual cells (0.12%) was confirmed statistically using the three-parameter probability model. CONCLUSION: This study confirms feasibility of using flow cytometry for detection of residual cells. MRD and duration of the first remission correlate. Long-term observation of large groups of AML patients will try the validity of the above statistical model.

[Superhigh doses of dexamethasone in treatment of refractory forms of acute lymphoblast leukemia of adults]. / Sverkhvysokie dozy deksametazona v lechenii refrakternykh form ostrogo limfoblastnogo leikoza vzroslykh.

AIM: Assessment of high-dose dexamethasone efficacy in combination with standard drugs (adriablastin, vincristin, alpha-asparaginase) in patients with refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A pilot multicenter trial with participation of hematological departments of Hematological Research Center (Moscow), municipal hospital N 1 (Krasnoyarsk), municipal hospital N 8 (Yaroslavl), Research Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (Kirov) included 34 patients (10 patients with late recurrences, 24--with primary resistant forms, early and secondary recurrences). RESULTS: In patients with late ALL recurrences a complete remission (CR) was achieved in 70% cases, the median being 10 months. In patients with primary resistant ALL, early and secondary recurrences CR reached 37.5%, the median was 14 months. CONCLUSION: The program HiDexa is highly effective: overall complete remission rate reached 47%, median of complete remission duration was 10 months. Dexamethasone in high doses must be used only intravenously.

[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.

[Invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients]. / Invazivnyi aspergillez u immunokomprometirovannykh bol'nykh.

AIM: To analyse results of treatment of invasive aspergillesis in immunocompromised patients for 2000-2002. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was made of patients who, when treated with antibiotics, exhibited foci in the lungs typical for invasive aspergillesis. Aspergillas were detected in the sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial wash-ups, aspergilla antigen (galactomannan) was detected in the blood. RESULTS: Invasive aspergillesis was diagnosed in 25 patients. 13 (52%) patients were treated with adjuvant glucocorticoids. 19 (76%) patients had neutropenia. All the patients had fever. Foci in the lungs were in 24 patients. Aspergillas were detected in 15 patients, a positive antigen galactomannan in 7 patients. A. Fumigatus, A flavus, A. Niger occurred in 67, 26.5 and 6.5% patients, respectively. All the patients received amphotericin B (median of the treatment reached 38 days, total dose 880-3500 mg). In 5 patients amphotericin B was replaced for liposomal amphotericin B because of high creatinine. 7 patients continued with itraconasol in a dose 400-600 mg/day. The foci were removed in 3 patients. The cure was achieved in 12 patients, 13 patients, 13 patients died (cause of death--respiratory insufficiency). CONCLUSION: Lethality in invasive aspergillesis in immunocompromised patients remains high--52%. Cultural detection of mycelial fungi was, as a rule, delayed. Early diagnosis of the disease requires monitoring of the aspergilla antigen in the blood and computer tomography of the chest especially in fever persisting in the treatment of wide-spectrum antibiotics.

[Liposomal daunorubicin and interferon-alfa in combination with all-retinoic acid--a new regime for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia]. / Liposomal'nyi daunorubitsin i interfron-al'fa v sochetanii s polnost'iu transretinoevoi kislotoi--novaia programma lecheniia ostrykh promielotsitarnykh leikozov.

AIM: To define duration and schemes of maintenance therapy, to evaluate cytarabine demand while treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with an original program 5D + Ifa + AT RA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The above treatment was conducted in 7 patients with APL (1 male, 6 females, 18-45 years, leukocytes 1.2-15.0 x 10(9)/l). RESULTS: Induction by 5D program was performed in 5 patients. A complete remission was achieved in 4 of them, molecular--in 3. One woman died. 5D consolidation was performed in 6 patients. After the first course of consolidation all the patients achieved molecular remission. Maintenance of remission with Ifa + ATRA was made in 5 patients. In one female the remission came to the end. Mean time of the follow-up was 18 months. The remission lasted 5-36 months. Monitoring of molecular remission has not found marker PML/RARa. CONCLUSION: Daunozom monotherapy leads to a complete remission after the first course in most of the patients. In the majority of them it was molecular. Maintenance with If + ATRA for 2 years maintains molecular remission for 5-36 months.