A Recurrent Cryptic MED14-HOXA9 Rearrangement in an Adult Patient With Mixed-Phenotype Acute Leukemia, T/myeloid, NOS.

To define the fusion genes in T/myeloid mixed-phenotype acute leukemia (T/M MPAL), we performed transcriptome sequencing of diagnostic bone marrow samples from 20 adult patients. Our analysis identified a second instance of a recurrent MED14-HOXA9 chimeric gene resulting from the in-frame fusion of exon 23 of MED14 and exon 1 of HOXA9, the first in an adult patient. The MED14-HOXA9 fusion gene was detected in both the diagnostic and relapsed blasts with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing. The patient received combined conventional chemotherapy but suffered relapse at 11 months and died of disease progression one year after the initial diagnosis. Our data suggest that MED14-HOXA9 is a cryptic recurrent aberration in T/M MPAL, which might indicate an aggressive clinical course and inferior outcome after conventional chemotherapy. Further studies will be carried out to reveal the effects of the MED14-HOXA9 fusion on the differentiation and proliferation of leukemia stem cells, as well as suitable treatment strategies for this emerging entity.

[The variation and clinical significance of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria clone in patients with aplastic anemia before and after immunosuppressive therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the evolution of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) clone and its clinical significance before and after immunosuppressive therapy (IST) in patients with aplastic anemia (AA). METHODS: A total of 186 patients diagnosed as AA were enrolled in this study. Among them, 55 patients were diagnosed as severe AA (SAA) and treated with cyclosporine (CsA) plus anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), 131 were diagnosed as non SAA (NSAA) and treated with CsA alone. All patients were screened for PNH clone by flow cytometry before treatment and followed up for 18-76 months, with a median time of 22 months. RESULTS: Positive PNH clones were detected in 10 SAA (18.9%) patients, significantly more than that of NSAA group [9 patients (7.4%), t = 5.041, P = 0.025]. The proportions of PNH clones in SAA group at 6, 12, 24 and > 24 months were 13.38%, 14.88%, 20.00% and 18.85%, respectively, also significantly higher than those of NSAA patients (5.67%, 5.31%, 5.47% and 9.08%, all P values < 0.05). Clinical response rates were comparable in both ATG+CsA or CsA alone groups no matter PNH clone was positive or negative. CONCLUSIONS: PNH clone are detectable in AA patients either treated with ATG plus CsA or CsA alone, and more significant by ATG plus CsA. Whether PNH clone occurred before or after IST does not affect the therapeutic efficacy.

[Changes of transcription factors Bcl-6, Foxp3 and RORγt in CD4(+) cells in bone marrow of immuno-related hematocytopenia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible mechanism of transcription factors B cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl-6) , forkhead/winged helix transcription factor 3 (Foxp3) and retinoic acid related orphan receptor (RORγt) in CD4(+) T cells for immuno-related hematocytopenia (IRH). METHODS: CD4(+) T cells were harvested from 40 IRH patients, 38 aplastic anemia subjects and 25 normal controls and separated by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS). Then the expressions of transcription factors of Foxp3, RORγ and Bcl-6 in CD4(+) T cells were measured by real time fluorescent quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR). RESULTS: Auto-antibody was detected on CD34(+) cells (67.5% (27/40) ), CD15(+) cells (65.0% (26/40)), GlyA(+) cells (75.0% (30/40) ), auto-antibody involving three, two or one myeloid cell were detected in 27.5% (11/40), 52.5% (21/40), 20.0% (8/40) of IRH patients. Compensatory increase of Foxp3 mRNA was found in IRH (0.124 (0.073-0.198) vs 0.071 (0.046-0.118), P < 0.05). The expression of Bcl-6 was higher (2.243 (0.854-4.544) vs 1.211 (0.131-2.816), P < 0.05). Compared to aplastic anemia, the expression of RORγt was lower in IRH (0.133 (0.068-0.189) vs 0.290 (0.138-0.480), P < 0.01) and the ratio of Treg/Th17 shifted to Th17 in patients with aplastic anemia (Foxp3/RORγt ratio,0.500 (0.240-0.795) vs 0.975 (0.483-1.416), P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: As one kind of bone marrow failures caused by autoantibody to bone marrow cells, IRH may occur due to a high expression of Bcl-6 in CD4(+) T cells, its immunopathogenesis is different from that of aplastic anemia.

Three times spontaneous remission of severe aplastic anemia following granulocyte transfusion from related donors: a case report and literature review.

Aplastic anemia (AA) is a bone marrow failure disease caused by abnormal activation of T lymphocytes, resulting in the apoptosis of hematopoietic cells and bone marrow failure. Currently, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), immunosuppressive - therapy (IST), and supportive care (e.g. transfusion adjuvant therapy, hematopoietic growth factors, and prevention of infection) are the main treatments of AA. Granulocyte transfusion has recently been accepted as an useful adjuvant therapy of HSCT and intensive IST. This article reported a severe AA patient who failed to respond to IST, but achieved spontaneous remission three times after granulocyte transfusions from related donors. Such cases have rarely been reported. Existence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) cross between the patient and his relatives may influence the T cell-mediated immunity, which might explain this patient's recovery.

[Lower risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients with transfusion dependent treated by dose-reduced decitabine].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dose-reduced decitabine for the lower risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients with transfusion dependent. METHODS: Twenty-five cases of lower risk (low or intermediate-1 risk in IPSS risk group) MDS patients with transfusion dependence from November 2009 to September 2012 were treated by dose-reduced decitabine (20 mg/m(2) intravenously once daily for 3 days). And their efficacy, side effects, quality-of-life and survival rate were evaluated. RESULTS: Among them, the responses included complete remission (CR, n = 3, 12%), transfusion independence (n = 4, 16%), hematologic improvement (HI, n = 8, 32%) and stable disease (SD, n = 2, 8%). And the overall response rate (ORR) was 68% (17/25) . Among 11 cases available for cytogenetic evaluation, 1 achieved partial cytogenetic remission (PRc). IV grade hematologic toxicity rate was 48% (12/25) and III-IV grade infection rate 20% (5/25). No severe hematologic toxicity was observed. After treatment, the Karnofsky performance score (KPS) increased from 47 ± 16 to 66 ± 22 (P = 0.001); more patients were reclassified as WPSS ≤ 1 (44%vs 16%, P = 0.031) or MDACC score ≤ 7 (64% vs 8%, P = 0.022). The median follow-up time was 467(14-881) d. The 100 and 600-day expected survive rates of low and intermediate -1 risk in IPSS risk group were 100% versus 95.2% and 100% versus 90.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Dose-reduced decitabine is well-tolerated and effective in transfusion dependent MDS patients in IPSS-lower risk. There is a low rate of severe hematologic toxicity and early mortality. It may prolong their survival time.