Prognostic Impact of Copy Number Alterations' Profile and AID/RAG Signatures in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) with BCR::ABL and without Recurrent Genetic Aberrations (NEG ALL) Treated with Intensive Chemotherapy.

Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is associated with poor outcomes. ALL is initiated by primary aberrations, but secondary genetic lesions are necessary for overt ALL. In this study, we reassessed the value of primary and secondary aberrations in intensively treated ALL patients in relation to mutator enzyme expression. RT-PCR, genomic PCR, and sequencing were applied to evaluate primary aberrations, while qPCR was used to measure the expression of RAG and AID mutator enzymes in 166 adult ALL patients. Secondary copy number alterations (CNA) were studied in 94 cases by MLPA assay. Primary aberrations alone stratified 30% of the patients (27% high-risk, 3% low-risk cases). The remaining 70% intermediate-risk patients included BCR::ABL1pos subgroup and ALL lacking identified genetic markers (NEG ALL). We identified three CNA profiles: high-risk bad-CNA (CNAhigh/IKZF1pos), low-risk good-CNA (all other CNAs), and intermediate-risk CNAneg. Furthermore, based on RAG/AID expression, we report possible mechanisms underlying the CNA profiles associated with poor outcome: AID stratified outcome in CNAneg, which accompanied most likely a particular profile of single nucleotide variations, while RAG in CNApos increased the odds for CNAhigh/IKZF1pos development. Finally, we integrated primary genetic aberrations with CNA to propose a revised risk stratification code, which allowed us to stratify 75% of BCR::ABL1pos and NEG patients.

The Clinical Tumor Lysis Syndrome in a Patient with Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia Undergoing Induction with Venetoclax and Azacitidine: A Case Report.

A combination of azacitidine and venetoclax (AZA-VEN) has been approved for the treatment of adult treatment-naïve acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. The protocol may also constitute an alternative for the treatment of patients with mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL), for which no established treatment guidelines exist. It may be anticipated, that alike in AML or chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the treatment of MPAL may be complicated by the tumor lysis syndrome (TLS). No case of TLS in MPAL after VEN has been however reported so far. Here, we present a case of a patient with MPAL, who received AZA-VEN. The patient had a substantial bulk of disease with generalized lymphadenopathy and increased white blood cell count. Despite preventive measures, the patient developed the clinical TLS, which was successfully treated. Based on the current case and other published cases, the incidence of TLS after AZA-VEN was established at 17%.

Atypical chronic myeloid leukaemia: A case of an orphan disease-A multicenter report by the Polish Adult Leukemia Group.

Atypical chronic myeloid leukaemia (aCML) belongs to myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms. Because of its rarity and changing diagnostic criteria throughout subsequent classifications, data on aCML are very scarce. Therefore, we at the Polish Adult Leukemia Group performed a nationwide survey on aCML. Eleven biggest Polish centres participated in the study. Altogether, 45 patients were reported, among whom only 18 patients (40%) fulfilled diagnostic criteria. Among misdiagnosed patients, myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative syndrome unclassifiable and chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia were the most frequent diagnoses. Thirteen patients were male, median age 64.6 years (range 40.4-80.9). The median parameters at diagnosis were as follows: white blood cell count 97 × 109 /L (23.8-342) with immature progenitors amounting at 27.5% (12-72), haemoglobin 8.6 g/dL (3.9-14.9), and platelet count 66 × 109 /L (34-833). Cytoreductive treatment was used in all patients, and 2 patients underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The median overall survival was 14.1 months (95% CI, 7.2), with median acute myeloid leukaemia-free survival of 13.3 months (95% CI, 3.6-22.6). Cumulative incidence of acute myeloid leukaemia transformation after 1 year in aCML group was 12.5% (95% CI, 0%-29.6%). To conclude, aCML harbours a poor prognosis. Treatment options are limited, with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation being the only curative method at present, although only a minority of patients are transplant eligible. Educational measures are needed to improve the quality of diagnoses.

Cytomorphology review of 100 newly diagnosed lower-risk MDS patients in the European LeukemiaNet MDS (EUMDS) registry reveals a high inter-observer concordance.

The European LeukemiaNet MDS (EUMDS) registry is collecting data of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients belonging to the IPSS low or intermediate-1 category, newly diagnosed by local cytologists. The diagnosis of MDS can be challenging, and some data report inter-observer variability with regard to the assessment of the MDS subtype. In order to ensure that correct diagnoses were made by the participating centres, blood and bone marrow slides of 10% of the first 1000 patients were reviewed by an 11-person panel of cytomorphologists. All slides were rated by at least 3 panel members (median 8 panel members; range 3-9). Marrow slides from 98 out of 105 patients were of good quality and therefore could be rated properly according to the WHO 2001 classification, including assessment of dysplastic lineages. The agreement between the reviewers whether the diagnosis was MDS or non-MDS was strong with an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.85. Six cases were detected not to fit the entry criteria of the registry, because they were diagnosed uniformly as CMML or AML by the panel members. The agreement by WHO 2001 classification was strong as well (ICC = 0.83). The concordance of the assessment of dysplastic lineages was substantial for megakaryopoiesis and myelopoiesis and moderate for erythropoiesis. Our data show that in general, the inter-observer agreement was high and a very low percentage of misdiagnosed cases had been entered into the EUMDS registry. Further studies including histomorphology are warranted.

[Portal vein thrombosis as the main symptom of unclassified JAK2-positive myeloproliferative neoplasm--case report]. / Zakrzepica ukladu wrotnego jako glówny objaw niesklasyfikowanego JAK2-dodatniego nowotworu mieloproliferacyjnego--opis przypadku.

We report a case of a patient with a diagnosis of myeloproliferative neoplasm, unclassifiable, manifested only portal vein thrombosis and followed by cirrhosis of the liver. 37-year-old patient, previously healthy, without congenital thrombophilia, without prior thrombosis, with normal peripheral blood morphology were signs of extensive portal vein system, with massive collateral circulation. Patient did not meet the criteria for diagnosis of any of the classic myeloproliferative neoplasms. Bone marrow examination revealed hyperplasia and presence of single polymorphic megakaryocytes. Positive JAK2V617F mutation status was typical for myeloproliferative neoplasm. Therefore, that the portal system thrombosis is, sometimes accompanying symptom of other myeloproliferative neoplasm, caused by mutations, including polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythaemia and primary myelofibrisis, one can assume that between this mutation and observed in this patient thrombosis is relationship, despite the absence of changes in peripheral blood. This may suggest that we are dealing with myeloproliferative neoplasm, in which platelets are indeed produced in normal numbers, but they are functionally activated, causing disturbances apparently unusual for cancer. This requires confirmation in further studies.

Refractory anaemia with ringed sideroblasts associated with marked thrombocytosis (RARS-T) with superimposed 5q-syndrome.

Refractory anaemia with ringed sideroblasts associated with marked thrombocytosis (RARS-T) is a rare entity belonging to myeloproliferative/myelodysplastic syndromes. Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with isolated del(5q) is a category of MDS characterized by better prognosis and specific morphology. Herein we describe a 69-year-old male with anaemia and thrombocytosis presenting with coexisting features of both these rare diseases. After the description of the clinical data, we summarize the histopathologic, cytogenetic and molecular findings, as well as introduced treatment. Next, we discuss possible diagnostic options with reference to the relevant literature.

[Angiogenesis in bone marrow of myelodysplastic syndrome patients]. / Angiogeneza w szpiku kostnym u chorych na zespoly mielodysplastyczne.

INTRODUCTION: Angiogenesis is an element of physiological and some pathological processes. Recently various investigators have reported that angiogenesis is associated not only with solid tumors but also with hematological malignancies. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess angiogenesis in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have measured bone marrow microvessel density (MVD) in 43 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients and in 10 subjects of group control--10 lymphoma patients (their bone marrow was free of disease). It was estimated by immunohistochemical method using anti-CD31 and anti-CD34 monoclonal antibodies. In 14 MDS patients and 6 healthy donors we also measured serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by immunoenzymatic method. RESULTS: Higher MVD numbers were found in MDS patients when compared to control bone marrows. The highest number of MVD was in RAEBt and CMML MDS subtypes according to FAB. There was no correlation between MVD and biological features of MDS patients except for the age (negative correlation). Bone marrow microvessel density does not influenced significantly on overall survival. The serum VEGF concentration in MDS patients was higher than in healthy donors, but the difference was not statistically significant. The VEGF levels did not correlate with MVD. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that angogenesis is enhanced in bone marrow MDS patients though its mechamism is not yet fully understood.