Cholesterol Levels in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Low cholesterol levels may be accompanied by solid tumors or hematological malignancies such as multiple myeloma. Decreased cholesterol levels have been reported in some experimental studies about chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It may be associated with tumoral cell metabolism. Herein, we examine blood lipid profiles of patients with newly diagnosed CLL (284 male, 276 female, mean age 64 ± 11 years) as defined by National Cancer Institute criteria. The control group consisted of 71 healthy subjects with mean age 55 ± 9 years (28 male, 43 females). 60% of patients with Binet A, while 25% were Binet C. Decreased levels of total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were observed in patients with CLL than control group (p < 0,001). There was no statistical significance between CLL and control group for triglycerides (TG) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), also between HDL-C, VLDL, TG and grades. Cholesterol may metabolized by abnormal lymphocytes in CLL patients.

The associations of HLA-A, -B, DRB1 alleles and haplotypes in Turkish lymphoma patients.

A significant association between lymphomas and HLA alleles has been shown in previous studies. However, the frequency of HLA alleles and haplotypes has not been studied in Turkish lymphoma patients. We studied HLA-A, -B, -DRB1 alleles and haplotypes in 80 adult lymphomas and 360 unrelated normal subjects by PCR-SSOP method using Luminex technology. The allele frequencies of HLA-A*29, B*07, and DRB1*11 were higher in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) compared with the controls [OR; 5.65 (95%CI; 2.16-14.81), P=0.001], [OR; 3.00 (95%CI; 1.50-5.99), P=0.003)], and [OR; 1.80 (95%CI; 1.08-3.01), P=0.002); respectively]. In patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) HLA-B*51 and DRB1*04 allele frequencies were higher than controls [OR; 2.25 (95%CI; 1.27-4.00), P=0.007] and [OR; 2.14 (95%CI; 1.20-3.78), P=0.01]. The most frequently observed haplotypes were A*02 B*35 DRB1*11 (7.50% vs. 1.89%) in HL patients, A*02 B*51 DRB1*11 (5.00% vs. 1.96%) in NHL patients, and A*02 B*35 DRB1*13 (2.19%) in the controls. We detected four haplotypes specific to NHL, five haplotypes to HL patients. Seven haplotypes were unique to controls. Our findings suggest that in HL patients, HLA-A*29, B*07, and DRB1*11 alleles, and in NHL patients, HLA-B*51 and DRB1*04 alleles might be presumptive predisposing factors.

The Prognostic Significance of Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: The soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a soluble form of the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor expressed in various immune and cancer cells. The levels of suPAR have been demonstrated to correlate with prognosis in various cancers. This study was intended to investigate serum suPAR levels and their effect on prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty newly diagnosed patients with AML and 29 healthy individuals were enrolled. Serum suPAR levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Serum suPAR levels were significantly higher in patients with AML than in healthy individuals (9±5.9 ng/mL and 2.4±1.4 ng/mL, respectively; p<0.001). Positive correlation was determined between suPAR levels and white blood cell counts (p<0.01). Serum suPAR levels were lower in patients who achieved complete response than in patients not achieving complete response (5.5±2.2 ng/mL and 12±6.6 ng/mL, respectively; p<0.001). The median overall survival was longer in patients with serum suPAR levels below 6.71 ng/mL than in those with serum suPAR levels above 6.71 ng/mL (12.6±13.2 months and 1.71±0.6 months, respectively; p=0.02). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that suPAR had independent prognostic value (95% confidence interval: 1.029-6.259; p<0.05) in AML. CONCLUSION: Serum suPAR levels can be used as a prognostic marker in AML.

The indicator of hypoxia in acute leukemia: Ischemia-modified albumin.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxia plays an important role in the development and progression of hematologic malignancies. OBJECTIVE: This study was intended to investigate the effectiveness of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) for demonstrating hypoxia in patients with acute leukemia. METHODS: Blood specimens were collected from 132 subjects (44 acute leukemia patients, 40 iron deficiency anemia (IDA) patients and 48 healthy controls). Serum levels of IMA and malondialdehyde (MDA) were analyzed using conventional methods. RESULTS: Serum levels of IMA were higher in patients with acute leukemia than in those with IDA and healthy controls (acute leukemia patients; 0.69 ± 0.14 ABSUs, IDA patients; 0.61 ± 0.09 ABSUs, controls; 0.50 ± 0.09 ABSUs, respectively). There was a negative correlation between serum IMA levels and hemoglobin (Hb) values (r = - 0.312) and between serum IMA levels and hematocrit (Hct) values, (r = - 0.305) in patients with acute leukemia. Serum levels of MDA were higher in patients with acute leukemia than in those with IDA. But there was no difference in patients with acute leukemia and IDA compared to healthy controls (acute leukemia patients; 2.23 ± 1.82 nmol/mL, IDA patients; 1.36 ± 0.94 nmol/mL, healthy controls; 1.79 ± 0.78 nmol/mL, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: IMA can be effective for demonstrating hypoxia in patients with acute leukemia.

Turkish Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Study: Retrospective Sectional Analysis of CML Patients.

OBJECTIVE: here have been tremendous changes in treatment and follow-up of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the last decade. Especially, regular publication and updating of NCCN and ELN guidelines have provided enermous rationale and base for close monitorization of patients with CML. But, it is stil needed to have registry results retrospectively to evaluate daily CML practices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this article, we have evaluated 1133 patients' results with CML in terms of demographical features, disease status, response, resistance and use of second-generation TKIs. RESULTS: The response rate has been found relatively high in comparison with previously published articles, and we detected that there was a lack of appropriate and adequate molecular response assessment. CONCLUSION: We concluded that we need to improve registry systems and increase the availability of molecular response assessment to provide high-quality patient care. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None declared.

The expression of LMO2 protein in acute B-cell and myeloid leukemia.

LIM domain only-2 (LMO2) is an important regulator of hematopoietic stem cell development. LMO2 is also expressed in blast cells of different types of acute leukemia. Here, we analyzed the LMO2 protein expression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and examined whether the LMO2 protein expression can predict outcomes of patients with acute leukemia. Patients with acute B-ALL (22 cases) and AML (57 cases) were examined using immunohistochemistry for LMO2 on paraffin-embedded bone marrow biopsies. We report that LMO2 protein is expressed in a significant proportion of B-ALL and AML and the staining of LMO2 protein does not predict survival in acute leukemia.

Association of gastrointestinal stromal tumor and acute myeloid leukemia preceded by myelodysplastic syndrome with refractory anemia.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. GISTs are believed to be related to mutational activation of receptor tyrosine kinases, KIT, or platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha. The coexistence of GISTs with other neoplasms has been extensively addressed in the literature. The most common second neoplasms are colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and neoplasms derived from lymphoid tissue. In this case report, we describe a patient affected by GIST and acute myeloid leukemia preceded by myelodysplastic syndrome with refractory anemia. The clinicopathological characteristics of the patient are discussed and the literature is reviewed.