[Clinico-immunological characteristics of lymphoid tumors in children]. / Kliniko-immunomorfologicheskaia kharakteristika limfoidnykh opukholei u detei.

The clinical and immunological characteristics of lymphoid tumors were compared in 591 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Comprehensive investigation of a tumor cell by using cytological, morphological, and immunological studies revealed the most significant criteria for differential diagnosis of ALL and NHL in children and showed the specific features of the site of a tumor and the extent of its growth in ALL and NHL in relation to the immunological affiliation of a tumor cell. The predominance of immature forms, such as stem-cell CD34+, pre-pre-B, pre-B and less commonly T-cell forms with almost none peripheral B- and T-cell markers could be immunophenotypically detected in ALL. NHL was, on the contrary, characterized by the prevalence of mature immunological subtypes with peripheral B- and T-cell markers and much less frequently pre-B and pre-T cells and at the same time there was no CD34 antigen in the tumor cells. Anaplastic giant lymphoma was a peculiar type of NHL characterized by the presence of large cells having marked anaplasia and expression on the surface of CD30 antigen. A comprehensive study of lymphoid tumors in children showed that immunophenotyping was of great value, whose results were associated with the specific feature of tumor growth and prognosis, which should be borne in mind while planning antitumor therapy programmes.

Type D retrovirus specific sequences in lymphocytes of the children with Burkitt-type lymphoma and their parents.

Type D retroviruses cause immunodeficiency in monkey. Earlier we have revealed genetical and serological markers of type D retroviruses in children with Burkitt-type lymphoma. Using PCR/Southern blotting assay we have found sequences related to MPMV in PBMC's DNA from children with Burkitt-type lymphoma and from their parents. Moreover, the data on sequencing of virus specific sequences from one ill child and from his mother have been presented.

[Diagnostic criteria and prognosis of mediastinal lesions in children with lymphosarcoma]. / Kriterii diagnostiki i prognoza pri porazhenii sredosteniia u detei, bol'nykh limfosarkomoi.

Treatment for mediastinal lymphosarcoma was given to 71 patients, aged 3-14 years, at the Institute's Clinics during 1982-1991. In that group, there were more males than females (3.4:1), mean duration of the condition of 3 months, T-cell immunity pattern (89.9%), enlarged anterior mediastinal lymph nodes and thymus, pleural lesions including pleuritis, mean mediastinal-thoracic index of 0.5, compression syndrome, elevated concentration of lactate dehydrogenase and presence of tumor cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. Among major negative factors of prognosis were inadequate therapy, pleural lesions and stage IV tumor.

Markers of type D retroviruses in children with Burkitt's-type lymphoma.

Antibodies to gag-coded proteins of type D retroviruses have been detected in children with lymphadenopathy [1]. We tested 41 HIV noninfected children with lymphoproliferative diseases (27 cases of Burkitt's-type lymphoma, six cases of Hodgkin's disease, four cases of T-cell lymphoma, three cases of lymphoblastic lymphoma and one case of large-cell anaplastic lymphoma) for the presence of type D retroviral serological and genetical markers. Twenty-five healthy donors were tested as a control. DNA samples from peripheral blood lymphocytes were analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blotting for the presence of type D retroviral related sequences. MPMV pro-pol specific sequences have been detected in 18 out of 27 children with Burkitt's-type lymphoma. By means of Western blotting, six patients positive in PCR/Southern blotting analysis were also found to contain Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) specific antibodies, in their sera. All children with other lymphoproliferative diseases as well as healthy donors were negative in PCR/Southern blotting and Western blotting analysis. These data suggest the possible association of type D retroviral markers with Burkitt's-type lymphoma of children.

[Prognosis of lymphogranulomatosis in children with mediastinal damage]. / Prgnoz limfogranulomatoza pri porazhenii sredosteniia u detei.

From 1982 to 1991, a total of 132 children with lymphogranulomatosis involving the mediastinum were studied. The comparative analysis of their survival was made on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings which might affect prognosis. Factorial analysis identified 9 unfavourable factors significantly influencing the survival rates. Their predictive value was defined from the informative rate (IR) and distributed in the following decreasing order: patient incompliance, Stage IV, the mediastinal thoracic index of more than 50%, the histological types: modular sclerosis and lymphoid depletion, the patient age of over 10 years, higher haptoglobulin and ceruloplasmin levels, leukocytosis (greater than 8 x 10(9)) g/l, diseases of the lung and pleura. The findings show it expedient to consider the above unfavorable factors in defining a risk group to apply a differential approach to treating patients with lymphogranulomatosis involving the mediastinum.

[Treatment and prognosis of lymphoblastic lymphosarcoma in children]. / Lechenie i prognoz limfoblastnoi limfosarkomy u detei.

Analysis was made of the results of the treatment of 18 children afflicted with lymphoblastic lymphosarcoma, with estimation of predictors influencing the patients' survival (from 1980 to 1986). The most important predictors influencing the 2-year relapse-free survival were found to be the stage, localization of the process, the presence of the symptoms of intoxication and biological activity. The data obtained were used later in the treatment of 160 children during 1986 to 1989. The results of the 2-year survival of this patients' group appreciably differ from those derived before.

[Lymphosarcoma of the oropharynx and nasopharynx in children]. / Limfosarkoma roto- i nosoglotki u detei.

From 1983 to 1989, 22 patients aged 3 to 15 years with oro- and rhinopharyngeal lymphosarcomas were under observation. This number accounted for 10% of the total children's population with the same disease, with the observation period being the same. As a result of the examination, stage II was diagnosed in 13, stage III in 5, and stage IV in 4 patients. All the patients received chemo- and radiotherapy for 6-18 months. The relapse-free survival amounted to 50 months on the average, the total one to 52 months. It is stressed that early diagnosis and adequate therapy allow the cure of the majority of children with oro- and rhinopharyngeal lymphosarcomas.

[High methotrexate doses in the treatment program for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphosarcoma in children]. / Povyshennye dozy metotreksata v programme lecheniia ostrogo limfoblastnogo leikoza i limfosarkomy u detei.

Tolerability and efficacy of high-dose methotrexate was studied in 70 pediatric patients with lymphoblastic tumors (acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma). Methotrexate was given by 24-hour infusion of 500-1000 mg/m2 (total dose-700-3000 mg) after remission had been achieved. An antidote--calcium folinate--was administered 24 hours postinfusion. Major adverse side-effects involved were stomatitis, hepatotoxicity and fever. Survival in the study group was higher than in controls.

[Clinical course and prognosis in T-cell lymphoblastic tumors in children typed with Soviet-produced monoclonal antibodies]. / Klinicheskoe techenie i prognoz T-kletochnykh limfoblastnykh opukholei u detei, tipirovannykh otechestvennymi monoklonal'nymi antitelami.

Correlation analysis of the clinical course and prognosis was made in 56 children with T-cell lymphoblastic tumors (acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphosarcoma) typed with the use of monoclonal antibodies obtained in this country. The frequency of T-cell marker detection among all immunological subvariants in acute lymphoid leukemia and lymphosarcoma proved to be similar (36.6 and 37%, respectively). In acute lymphoid leukemia type T1 of tumor cells prevailed (58%), while in lymphosarcoma type T3 (63%). T2 and T3-cell lymphoblastic tumors were characterized by the most severe clinical course.

[Immunologic prognosis in hemoblastoses in children]. / Immunoprognozirovanie pri gemoblastozakh u detei.

The diagnostic value of monoclonal antibodies is discussed. The expression of ICO-GM1 and ICO-G2 myeloid antigens in pediatric patients with nonlymphoblastic leukemia was associated with poor prognosis whereas patients with the expression of T-cell markers fared better. The prognostic value of the antigens was not altered by brief cytotoxic treatment. The prognosis for non-T-cell ICO-II+ type childhood lymphosarcoma was worse as compared to Ia+ICO-II- lymphoma subset. It was concluded that the biology of malignant cells and degree of cell differentiation (as assessed immunologically) affects treatment outcome significantly and should be considered in individualizing therapy for childhood lymphosarcoma and leukemia.