1q23.1 homozygous deletion and downregulation of Fc receptor-like family genes confer poor prognosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The identification of chromosome 1 translocations and deletions is a rare and poorly investigated event in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Nevertheless, the identification of novel additional molecular alterations is of great interest, opening to new prognostic and therapeutic strategies for such heterogeneous hematological disease. We here describe a patient affected by CLL with a mutated IGHV status, showing a balanced t(1;3)(q23.1;q21.3) translocation and a der(18)t(1;18)(q24.2;p11.32), accompanying the recurrent 13q14 heterozygous deletion in all analyzed cells at onset. By combining whole-genome sequencing, SNP array, RNA sequencing, and FISH analyses, we defined a 1q23.1 biallelic minimally deleted region flanking translocations breakpoints at both derivative chromosome 1 homologues. The deletion resulted in the downregulation of the Fc receptor-like family genes FCRL1, FCRL2, and FCRL3 and in the lack of expression of FCRL5, observed by RT-qPCR. The mutational status of TP53, NOTCH1, SF3B1, MYD88, FBXW7, and XPO1 was investigated by targeted next-generation sequencing, detecting a frameshift deletion within NOTCH1 (c.7544_7545delCT). We hypothesize a loss of tumor suppressor function for FCRL genes, cooperating with NOTCH1 mutation and 13q14 genomic loss in our patient, both conferring a negative prognosis, independently from the known biological prognostic factors of CLL.

The impact of Endocuff-assisted colonoscopy on adenoma detection in an organized screening program.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with biennial fecal occult blood test has been shown to reduce CRC mortality. For the effectiveness of the CRC screening program is crucial that a high-quality colonoscopy with a high adenoma detection rate (ADR) be performed. To improve ADR, various endoscopic devices have been developed. Endocuff, an endoscopic cap with finger-like projections, has been shown to improve ADR. The aim of this study was to compare in an organized CRC screening program ADR, advanced adenoma detection rate (AADR) and mean number of adenomas per patient (MAP) using standard colonoscopy (SC) and Endocuff-assisted colonoscopy (EAC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared performance of SC (in 2014) and EAC (in 2015) in consecutive participants in an organized CRC screening program. RESULTS: SC and EAC were performed in 546 (284 males) and 519 (293 males) subjects, respectively (mean age 60 years). Cecal intubation rate was 97.4 % for SC and 97.1 % for EAC and not significantly different ( P  = 0.7). ADR was 47 % for SC and 52 % for EAC, P  = 0.1. MAP in SC and EAC were 0.87 (range: 0 - 7) and 1.11 (range: 0 - 13) respectively, P  = 0.02. AADR rate was 25 % and 23 % for SC and EAC, respectively, P  = 0.5. CONCLUSION: Endocuff-assisted colonoscopy does not improve the number of patients with at least one adenoma but it may increase the number of detected adenomas per procedure.

FOXP1 and TP63 involvement in the progression of myelodysplastic syndrome with 5q- and additional cytogenetic abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: The progression of low-risk del(5q) myelodysplastic syndrome to acute myeloid leukemia is increased when associated with mutations of TP53, or with additional chromosomal abnormalities. However, to date the prognostic impact and molecular consequences of these rearrangements were poorly investigated. Single additional alterations to del(5q) by balanced chromosome rearrangements were rarely found in myelodysplasia. In particular, balanced alterations involving TP63 and FOXP1 genes were never reported in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report on a 79-year woman with an aggressive form of myelodysplastic syndrome with del(5q), no TP53 mutation, and a novel complex rearrangement of chromosome 3 in bone marrow cells. Our results revealed that the FOXP1 and TP63 genes were both relocated along chromosome 3. Strikingly, immunohistochemistry analysis showed altered protein levels, disclosing that this rearrangement triggered the expression of FOXP1 and TP63 genes. FOXP1 was also found activated in other patients with myelodysplasia and acute myeloid leukemia, showing that it is an important, recurrent event. CONCLUSIONS: We document an apparent role of FOXP1 and TP63, up to now poorly documented, in the progression of MDS in our patient who is lacking mutations in the TP53 tumor suppressor gene normally associated with poor outcome in myelodysplastic syndrome with 5q-. Finally, our results may suggest a possible broader role of FOXP1 in the pathogenesis and progression of myelodysplasia and acute myeloid leukemia.

Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma risk: the experience of the North-Eastern Italian Registry (EBRA).

OBJECTIVE: To establish the incidence and risk factors for progression to high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-IEN) or Barrett's esophageal adenocarcinoma (BAc) in a prospective cohort of patients with esophageal intestinal metaplasia [(BE)]. BACKGROUND: BE is associated with an increased risk of BAc unless cases are detected early by surveillance. No consistent data are available on the prevalence of BE-related cancer, the ideal surveillance schedule, or the risk factors for cancer. METHODS: In 2003, a regional registry of BE patients was created in north-east Italy, establishing the related diagnostic criteria (endoscopic landmarks, biopsy protocol, histological classification) and timing of follow-up (tailored to histology) and recording patient outcomes. Thirteen centers were involved and audited yearly. The probability of progression to HG-IEN/BAc was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method; the Cox regression model was used to calculate the risk of progression. RESULTS: HG-IEN (10 cases) and EAc (7 cases) detected at the index endoscopy or in the first year of follow-up were considered to be cases of preexisting disease and excluded; 841 patients with at least 2 endoscopies {median, 3 [interquartile range (IQR): 2-4); median follow-up = 44.6 [IQR: 24.7-60.5] months; total 3083 patient-years} formed the study group [male/female = 646/195; median age, 60 (IQR: 51-68) years]. Twenty-two patients progressed to HG-IEN or BAc (incidence: 0.72 per 100 patient-years) after a median of 40.2 (26.9-50.4) months. At multivariate analysis, endoscopic abnormalities, that is, ulceration or nodularity (P = 0.0002; relative risk [RR] = 7.6; 95% confidence interval, 2.63-21.9), LG-IEN (P = 0.02, RR = 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-11.43), and BE length (P = 0.01; RR = 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.30) were associated with BE progression. Among the LG-IEN patients, the incidence of HG-IEN/EAc was 3.17 patient-years, that is, 6 times higher than in BE patients without LG-IEN. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that in the absence of intraepithelial neoplastic changes, BE carries a low risk of progression to HG-IEN/BAc, and strict surveillance (or ablative therapy) is advisable in cases with endoscopic abnormalities, LG-IEN or long BE segments.

Subacute cognitive disorders as initial presentation of intravascular lymphoma: a case report and review of literature.

Intravascular lymphoma is a rare subtype of diffuse large B cell lymphoma, characterized by proliferation of mature B cells within the lumina of small and medium vessels of many organs, without parenchymal involvement. The clinical phenotype is extremely variegated; moreover, neurological symptoms such as encephalopathy and focal neurological deficits occur and often coincide with disease's debut. We described the clinical course of a patient with intravascular diffuse large B cell lymphoma presented with subacute cognitive decline without focal signs, later associated to aspecific general symptoms that rapidly evolved to a severe inexplicable encephalopathy accompanied to systemic failure.

Intrathecal liposomal cytarabine in combination with temozolomide in low-grade oligoastrocytoma with leptomeningeal dissemination.

Leptomeningeal dissemination of low-grade gliomas is an uncommon event. A 43-year old male presented with dizziness, gait ataxia, and diplopia. A nonenhancing lesion in the right cerebellar peduncle was identified, subtotally resected, and diagnosed as a grade II astrocytoma. After one year a nodular spread in the brain and leptomeninges was diagnosed, so the patient started chemotherapy with temozolomide and liposomal cytarabine. Complete remission was achieved after 12 months of treatment and the patient is still free from the disease after a follow-up of 24 months. We suggest that this combination may be a valuable treatment option.

Correlations between O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation status, 1p and 19q deletions, and response to temozolomide in anaplastic and recurrent oligodendroglioma: a prospective GICNO study.

PURPOSE: To date, no data are available on the relationship between 1p/19q deletions and the response to temozolomide (TMZ) in primary anaplastic oligodendroglioma (AO) and anaplastic oligoastrocytoma (AOA) recurrent after surgery and standard radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate correlations between 1p/19q deletions, O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation, and response rate to TMZ in this setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From June 2000 to February 2005, 67 patients were enrolled; 39 patients (58%) had AO and 28 patients (42%) had AOA. All patients received 150 to 200 mg/m2 of TMZ every 28 days. Chromosome 1p and 19q deletions were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization and MGMT promoter methylation was analyzed using methylation specific polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 46.3% (17 complete responses and 14 partial responses). The response rate was higher in patients with AO than in those with AOA (61.5% v 25%, P = .003). Combined 1p/19q allelic loss was found in 32 patients (47.8%), while MGMT methylation occurred in 37 (68.5%) of 54 assessable patients. 1p/19q loss was significantly correlated with response rate (P = .04), time-to-progression (P = .003), and overall survival (P = .0001). Despite the significant concordance found between MGMT promoter methylation and 1p/19q deletions (P = .02), MGMT promoter methylation showed only a borderline correlation with overall survival (P = .09). CONCLUSION: TMZ is active in anaplastic oligodendroglial tumors treated at first recurrence. In this setting, 1p/19q allelic loss is an important predictive and prognostic factor. Further studies on MGMT promoter methylation should be performed in randomized trials to test its correlation with survival.

Intra-thoracic desmoid tumour in a patient with a previous aortocoronary bypass.

BACKGROUND: Intra-thoracic desmoid tumours with mediastinal invasion are very rare. Although rare they have to be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of a thoracic mass and therapeutic options have to be weighted since surgical treatment may require wide excision. CASE PRESENTATION: A 48-year-old male diabetic, dyslipidaemic, former heavy smoker with psychiatric illness was operated by sternotomy for a triple aorto-coronary bypass 4 years before, presented with complains of recent onset such as constant and oppressive chest pain. At surgery a mass extending from the aortic arch into the entire anterior mediastinum and to most of the right pleural cavity was found. The mass was separated from sternal periosteum and vessels of aorto-coronary by pass were isolated starting from the aortic arch up to the pericardium. The histological examination revealed aggressive fibromatosis. CONCLUSION: Although technically demanding, radical surgical excision is actually the most indicated therapeutic approach for intra-thoracic desmoid tumours.

Survival following adjuvant PCV or temozolomide for anaplastic astrocytoma.

We compared survival in patients with anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) treated with adjuvant procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (PCV) with survival in patients treated with temozolomide. A retrospective analysis was made of patients with newly diagnosed AA treated with adjuvant postradiotherapy chemotherapy. Outcome analysis included progression-free survival and overall survival. The following prognostic factors were taken into account: patient age, extent of resection, performance status, presence of contrast enhancement in presurgical imaging, and type of adjuvant treatment. Among 109 AA patients, 49 were treated with PCV and 60 with temozolomide. The treatment groups were well matched for pretreatment characteristics, except for the presence of contrast enhancement. Age, extent of surgery, performance status, and presence of contrast enhancement were statistically significant prognostic factors according to the Cox model analysis of survival. Type of adjuvant chemotherapy was not a significant factor, either for progression-free survival or for overall survival. Hematological toxicity, nonhematological toxicity grades 3-4, and premature discontinuation due to toxicity were observed in 9%, 3% to 5%, and 37%, respectively, of cases in the PCV group versus 4% to 5%, 0, and 0, respectively, in the temozolomide group. Although the present study was not randomized, it was well designed, and it reports on two homogeneous and consecutive series of patients, for whom histology was verified to obtain survival data only for patients with AA following the recent WHO 2000 classification. Even if no survival advantage has been demonstrated for temozolomide versus PCV, we conclude that temozolomide should be preferred because of its greater tolerability.

Efficacy and feasibility of standard procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine chemotherapy in anaplastic oligodendroglioma and oligoastrocytoma recurrent after radiotherapy. A Phase II study.

BACKGROUND: To the authors' knowledge, there is a scarcity of accurate data regarding the feasibility of standard chemotherapy with procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (PCV) in a homogeneous series of patients with primary anaplastic oligodendroglioma (AO) and oligoastrocytoma (AOA) that was recurrent after surgery and standard radiotherapy. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the overall response rate, toxicity, and time to progression (TTP) with the use of standard PCV in this setting. METHODS: Between November 1994 and September 2000, 37 patients were enrolled in the current study. Of these, 23 had AO (62%) and 14 had AOA (38%). All patients received standard PCV comprised of lomustine (110 mg/m2) on Day 1, procarbazine (60 mg/m2) on Days 8-21, and vincristine (1.4 mg/m2, maximum total 2 mg) on Days 8 and 29. Cycles were repeated every 6 weeks. RESULTS: There were 11 complete responses (CR; 29.7%) and 11 partial responses (PR; 29.7%) reported and 8 patients had stable disease (SD; 21.6%). The response rate was higher in patients with AO compared with patients with AOA (77.2% vs. 22.7%; P = 0. 02). The median TTP, which was 12.3 months overall, was 30.3 months in patients who achieved a CR, 19.1 months in patients who achieved a PR, and 6.1 months in patients with SD. The median TTP was 18.6 months in AO patients and 6.14 in AOA patients. There were no cases of severe toxicity reported although in 16 patients (43%) who were free of disease progression, PCV was discontinued because of toxicity or inadequate recovery after 2 weeks of delay. CONCLUSIONS: PCV chemotherapy was reported to achieved a high response rate and TTP but incurred a high risk of persistent toxicity.

Aberrant methylation in the promoter region of the reduced folate carrier gene is a potential mechanism of resistance to methotrexate in primary central nervous system lymphomas.

We investigated the prevalence and prognostic role of CpG island methylation of the reduced folate carrier (RFC) gene promoter region in primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) in immunocompetent patients. Genomic DNA from 40 PCNSL was used for methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and bisulphite genomic sequencing of the RFC promoter region. Human immunodeficiency virus-negative systemic diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) were used as controls (n = 50). The impact on outcome of RFC promoter methylation was assessed in 37 PCNSL patients treated with high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX)-based chemotherapy +/- radiotherapy. RFC promoter methylation occurred in 12 of 40 (30%) PCNSL and in four of 50 (8%) DLBCL (P = 0.01). Of 37 PCNSL treated with HD-MTX-based chemotherapy, methylation occurred in nine cases (24%, M-PCNSL), while 28 cases (76%, U-PCNSL) were negative. Three M-PCNSL (33%) and 15 U-PCNSL (54%) achieved complete remission (CR) after primary chemotherapy. Logistic regression confirmed the independent association between CR rate and International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group score (P = 0.03), RFC promoter methylation (P = 0.07) and use of cytarabine (P = 0.08). The 3-year failure-free survival (FFS) and overall survival for M-PCNSL and U-PCNSL was 0% vs. 31 +/- 9% (P = 0.34) and 0% vs. 31 +/- 9% (P = 0.35) respectively. This is the first study to assess the methylation status of the RFC promoter in human tumour samples. RFC methylation is more common in PCNSL compared with systemic DLBCL, and is associated with a lower CR rate to HD-MTX-based chemotherapy. If confirmed in prospective trials on PCNSL treated with HD-MTX alone, these data may suggest the necessity for alternative strategies in M-PCNSL considering the increased risk of MTX resistance by tumour cells.

The treatment of adults with medulloblastoma: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: To assess in a prospective trial the value of prognostic factors and the outcome of medulloblastoma in adults. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients (> or =18 years) with a histologic diagnosis of medulloblastoma were staged according to Chang et al.'s classification (low risk: T1, T2, T3a, M0, and no residual disease after surgery; high risk: T3b-T4, any M+ or postoperative presence of residual tumor). In low-risk patients, treatment consisted of 36 Gy to the craniospinal axis, supplemented by a local tumor dose of 18.8 Gy (total dose of 54.8 Gy). In high-risk patients, 2 cycles of "up-front chemotherapy" were delivered before the same radiation therapy, followed by maintenance chemotherapy if M1, M2, or M3 disease was present. RESULTS: Over a 12-year period, 36 evaluable patients were enrolled. Progression-free survival (PFS) at 5 years was higher in low-risk patients compared to the high-risk group: 76% +/- 14% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 52%-100%) vs. 61% +/- 11% (95% CI = 42%-87%). Patients with M- disease showed a significantly better outcome than M+ patients, with 75% showing PFS at 5 years vs. 45% (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The overall PFS observed is comparable to that obtained in pediatric series and suggests that a more effective therapy must be developed for high-risk patients.

Temozolomide in patients with glioblastoma at second relapse after first line nitrosourea-procarbazine failure: a phase II study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of temozolomide (TMZ) in relationship to progression free survival at 6 months (PFS-6), median time to progression (TTP), response rate and toxicity, a phase II study was conducted in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) following surgery plus radiotherapy and a first-line regimen based on nitrosourea, procarbazine and vincristine. METHODS: Forty-two patients with GBM were administered TMZ at the dose of 150 mg/m(2)/daily for 5 days every 4 weeks. RESULTS: The PFS-6 and at 12 months (PFS-12) was 24% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 14-42%) and 8% (CI = 2-27%), respectively, with a median TTP of 11.7 weeks (CI = 9-22 weeks). The response was assessed in all 42 patients; we observed 2 complete responses (CR) (4.7%), 6 partial responses (PR) (14.3%), and 9 stable disease (SD) (21.4%), with CR+PR = 19% (CI = 7-31%). CONCLUSION: TMZ as a second line regimen is a valid option in patients with heavily pretreated GBM.