Dose-enhanced immunochemotherapy followed by first-line autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for young patients with high-risk aggressive B-cell lymphoma: an efficacy and prognostic factor analysis / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of dose-enhanced immunochemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in young patients with newly diagnosed high-risk aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to examine the clinical and survival data of young patients with high-risk aggressive B-cell lymphoma who received dose-enhanced immunochemotherapy and ASCT as first-line treatment between January 2011 and December 2018 in Blood Diseases Hospital. Results: A total of 63 patients were included in the study. The median age range was 40 (14-63) years old. In terms of the induction therapy regimen, 52 cases received R-DA-EP (D) OCH, and the remaining 11 received R-HyperCVAD/R-MA. Sixteen (25.4% ) patients achieved partial response in the mid-term efficacy assessment, and ten of them were evaluated as complete response after transplantation. The median follow-up was 50 (8-112) months, and the 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate were (83.9±4.7) % and (90.4±3.7) % , respectively. Univariate analysis demonstrated that age-adjusted international prognostic index ≥2 scores was a negative prognostic factor for OS (P=0.039) , and bone marrow involvement (BMI) was an adverse prognostic factor for OS (P<0.001) and PFS (P=0.001) . However, multivariate analysis confirmed that BMI was the only independent negative predictor of OS (P=0.016) and PFS (P=0.001) . Conclusions: The use of dose-enhanced immunochemotherapy in combination with ASCT as first-line therapy in the treatment of young, high-risk aggressive B-cell lymphoma results in good long-term outcomes, and BMI remains an adverse prognostic factor.

Cdc37 Expression in Multiple Myeloma and Its Role in Cell Proliferation / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the expression of cell division cycle protein 37 (Cdc37) in multiple myeloma (MM) and its effect on MM cell proliferation.@*METHODS@#The expression of Cdc37 mRNA in CD138@*RESULTS@#Cdc37 was highly expressed in newly diagnosed CD138@*CONCLUSION@#Cdc37 is highly expressed in newly diagnosed MM patients. Inhibition of Cdc37 results in decreased proliferation activity and G

Clinical Analysis of Patients with MGUS, Primary Light Chain Amyloidosis, Multiple Myeloma or Multiple Myeloma with Concurrent Amyloidosis / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To summarize and compare the clinical baseline characteristics of patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), primary light chain amyloidosis (pAL), multiple myeloma (MM), or MM with concurrent amyloidosis, especially the differences in cytogenetic abnormalities.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 15 cases of MGUS, 34 cases of pAL, 842 cases of MM and 23 cases of MM with concurrent amyloidosis were analyzed and compared retrospectively.@*RESULTS@#Cytogenetic statistics showed that the incidence of t (11; 14) in the four groups (MGUS vs pAL vs MM vs MM with concurrent amyloidosis) was 0%, 33.3%, 16.4%, and 15.8%, respectively (P=0.037); that of 13q deletion was 20.0%, 14.7%, 45.8% and 56.5%, respectively (P<0.001); gain of 1q21 was 50.0%, 12.5%, 47.4% and 40.9%, respectively (P=0.001). Proportion of pAL patients with 0, 1 and≥2 cytogenetic abnormalities (including 13q deletion, 17p deletion, 1q21 amplification and IgH translocation) accounted for 41.9%, 41.9% and 16.1%, respectively; while the proportion of the same category in MM was 17.6%, 27.3%, and 55.2% respectively; this ratio of MM with concurrent amyloidosis was more similar to MM. Subgroup analysis showed that genetic abnormalities (including 13q deletion, 17p deletion and 1q21 amplification) were comparable within t (11; 14) negative and positive groups. Compared with positive cases, t(11; 14) negative patients with MM or MGUS were more likely to have 13q deletions and multiple genetic abnormalities.@*CONCLUSION@#Clinical characteristics of pAL, especially cytogenetic abnormalities, are significantly different from MM with concurrent amyloidosis. It suggests that although the onset characteristics are similar, actually the two diseases belong to different disease subtypes which should be carefully predicted and identified.

The prognostic significance of POD24 in 106 cases with splenic marginal lymphoma with bone marrow invasion / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To explore the effect of progression of disease within 24 months (POD24) on overall survival (OS) of splenic marginal lymphoma (SMZL) with bone marrow invasion, and to compare the clinical characteristics between POD24 SMZL with non-POD24 SMZL patients. Methods: The SMZL patients with bone marrow invasions were retrospectively analyzed between January 2002 and January 2017 treated in our institute, and the patients with sufficient follow-up time to judge POD24 were evaluated the clinical characteristics and prognosis, patients who died of non-progressive factors were excluded. Results: 106 patients were enrolled with a median age of 57 (25-79) years old. ①Clinical characteristics: All patients presented with bone marrow invasion and splenomegaly, 59.4% (63/106) with huge spleen, 14.8% (15/101) with hepatomegaly. Complex karyotype were found in 22.7% (18/79) patients; 13q deletion, 11q (ATM) deletion, 17p (TP53) deletion, and CEP12 abnormality patients presented with the percentage of 5.1% (4/78) , 1.3% (1/72) , 2.5% (2/80) , and 7.5% (4/53) , respectively.②Survival analysis: Univariate analysis showed that POD24, HGB less than 100 g/L and FISH detection of trisomy 12 were poor prognostic factors of OS. Multivariate analysis showed that only POD24 had independent prognostic significance[HR=20.116 (95%CI 2.226-181.820) , P=0.008]. ③Subgroup features: Patients with POD24 had significantly higher rates of mediastinal lymphadenopathy (63.6%vs 18.9%, P=0.005) and complex karyotype (50.0%vs 17.9%, P=0.024) than those without POD24. While the incidence of abdominal lymphadenopathy, anemia, thrombocytopenia, the lower albumin, and the increasing lactate dehydrogenase were higher in POD24 patients, but with no statistically difference. Conclusion: POD24 is an independent prognostic factor of the OS in SMZL. SMZL patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy and complex karyotypes when diagnosed have a higher risk of POD24.

Clinical Analysis of B-CLPD with Cytopemia as the Predominant Characteristic / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical characteristics and therapeutic responte of patients with B-CLPD mainly manifested as cytopenia, so as to deeply understand this disease.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 13 B-CLPD patients with hematocytopenia as main manifestation, and the absolute count of lymphocytes＜5×10/L, absence of hepatosplenic lymph-nodes and extramedullary invasion tin our department fron 2003 to 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical characteristics, therapeutic efficacy and adverse reactions of 3 patients were summarized.@*RESULTS@#The median age of patients was 59 (43-76) years old, the median of lymphocyte was 1.86 (0.69-4.8) ×10/L, the levels of LDH and β2-microglubulin were normal in most patients, the monolineage and multilencage hematopoietic failure of different degrees existed in most all patients. The lymphocyte ratio in patients was 18.5%-94.0%, CD20 was positive in all patients, and yet the CD5-positive and CD-negative existed in 7 and 6 cases respectively. There was no significant difference in ratio of lymphocyte invasion among different immunophemtype. The FISH detection showed that there were no high risk genetic types. 92.3% of patients received rituximab treatment, most of them received chemotherapy of rituximab combined with C0P/CHOP like regimen, only 2 patients received fludarabine for comparatively short course. The analysis indicated that 8 out of 13 patients showed a certain theropeutic efficacy, however the drug-related hematopoietic suppression occurred in both 2 patients treated with fludarabin.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The B-CLPD accompanied with hematocytopenia often displays bone marrow hypohematopoiesis of different degree and easily confuses with the congenital and acquired hemotopoietic faiture diseases. The rituximab treatment may be more appropreate for these patients, but for patients received chemotherapy containing fludarabin, the persistant hematopoietic failure must be especially watched out.

Clinical analysis of 24 patients of hairy cell leukemia treated by cladribine / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To investigate the curative effect of hairy cell leukemia by clatabine. Methods: The clinical data of 24 patients with hairy cell leukemia treated by cladribine from November 2006 to October 2017 were analyzed retrospectively, then the curative effect and adverse drug reaction were analyzed. Results: ① A total of 24 patients including 22 male and 2 female, and the median age was 49.5 years (range 33 to 76) at diagnosis. There were 20 patients with of splenomegaly (4 patients with mild splenomegaly, 4 moderate splenomegaly, and 12 massive splenomegaly), 3 patients with enlargement of lymph nodes, and 1 patients who had undergone splenectomy. Five patients were pancytopenia, 15 were cytopenia in 2 lineages, and 4 patients were cytopenia only in one lineage. The median ratio of HCL cells detected by flow cytometry in bone marrow was 21.79% (0.69%-68.96%). BRAF mutation was detected in 15 patients by first generation or next generation sequencing technology. ② Among 24 patients, 20 were treated with cladribine alone (one course in 19 patients, 2 courses in 1 patient), and 4 patients were treated with cladribine combined with rituximab (one course in 3 patients, 2 courses in 1 patient). Excepting 5 patients whose follow-up time was not reaching 6 months, 19 patients were evaluated for efficacy in 6-12 months after treatment: 9 patients obtained CR, 9 obtained unconfirmed CR (Cru), the other 1 obtained PR, the CR/CRu rate was 94.7%, the overall response rate (ORR) was 100.0%. ③ All the 24 patients appeared 2-4 grade hematological adverse reactions after cladribine treatment, which were mainly grade 3/4 neutropenia (66.67%) and grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia (29.2%). All the adverse reactions were controlled or recovered spontaneously. ④ After the median follow-up time of 15 (3-133) months, no progression, recurrence or death occurred in the patients. Both median OS and PFS were not reached. Conclusion: This study suggests that treatment of HCL with cladribine has high response rate, controllable adverse reactions and the good prognosis.

Prognostic factors in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients with 1q21 amplification/gain treated with bortezomib-based regimens followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To explore the prognostic factors in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients with 1q21 amplification/gain treated with bortezomib-based regimens followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) . Methods: We retrospectively assayed 35 NDMM patients with 1q21 amplification/gain who received bortezomib-based chemotherapy followed by ASCT and maintenance therapy between January 2008 and August 2015. Results: ①The median age of 35 patients were 49(33-63)years old. Ratio of male to female was 22∶13. Monosomy1q21 amplification/gain was only seen in 3(8.6%) patients, the other 32 patients were with additional cytogenetic abnormalities including 13q14 deletion, t(11,14), t(4,14), t(14,16), 17p deletion and complex karyotype aberrations. ②The complete remission (CR) rate was 57.0% (20/35), the very good partial remission(VGPR) rate was 37.1%(13/35) and the partial remission (PR) rate was 5.7%(2/35) after ASCT. At a median follow-up of 24 (8-85) months, 3-year estimated progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rate were (66.5±9.7)% and (69.6±9.9)%, respectively. ③As 13 patients with high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities, the median PFS and OS time was 26 and 28 months. The 3-year estimated PFS and OS was (28.0±15.9)% and (36.5±16.4)%, respectively. Another 22 patients without other high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities, the median PFS and OS time was 54 months and not reached. The 3-year estimated PFS and OS was (71.5±12.7)% and (92.3±7.4)% in this group, respectively. The presence of additional other high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities resulted in significantly shortened PFS (χ(2)=5.404, P=0.020) and OS (χ(2)=7.596, P=0.006) compared with no high-risk cytogenetic patients. Conclusion: NDMM patients with isolated1q21 amplification/gain were rarely and usually had additional other cytogenetic abnormalities. The outcomes in this group treated with bortezomib-based chemotherapy followed by ASCT and maintenance therapy were satisfied, additional other high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities made PFS and OS further shortened.

Role of minimal residual disease detection by multiparameter flow cytometry in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: an analysis of 106 patients / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To assess the feasibility and prognostic value of the minimal residual disease (MRD) evaluated by multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) in the newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients of China. Methods: Clinical data of 106 consecutively newly diagnosed MM patients with MRD data were retrospectively analyzed in a single center in China from June 2013 to June 2015. Results: ① Of 106 patients, 48 (45.3%) achieved MRD negativity. The median time to MRD-negative was 3 months. More patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) achieved MRD negativity compared with non-ASCT patients (62.2% vs 36.2%, χ(2)=6.536, P=0.011). ② Of 48 patients in complete remission (CR), 7 (14.6%) was MRD positive, 5 of them showed disease progression (PD) during the follow-up, and 3 died. The median progression free survival (PFS) was 19 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 28 months, both were significantly shorter than the CR patients with MRD-negative (P<0.05). ③At a median follow-up of 38 months, MRD-negative patients showed significantly superior outcomes compared with MRD positive ones, the PFS was not reach versus 17 months and the OS was not reach for both (P<0.001). Patients were grouped into 4 categories according to their MRD levels: 1% or higher, 0.1% to less than 1%, 0.01% to less than 0.1%, or negative. It showed that the outcomes (PFS and OS) tended to be improved along with the tumor depletion. ④ Multivariate prognostic analysis showed that MRD was a powerful independent prognostic factor for PFS[HR=0.133 (95% CI 0.062-0.288) , P<0.001] and OS[HR=0.156 (95% CI 0.050-0.484) , P=0.001]. According to MRD and cytogenetics, the patients were classified into 4 groups. High risk patients with MRD negative presented a significantly better outcome than high risk patients with MRD-positive, and a similar one to the standard risk patients with MRD-negative. Conclusions: MRD negativity by MFC was more popular in MM patients undergoing ASCT. MRD was an independent prognostic factor in MM. And the prognosis of MM patients can be stratified according to the level of MRD. MRD-negative patients with high risk cytogenetics presented a similar outcome to the standard risk ones. MRD by MFC should therefore be considered more widely applied in the clinic.

Role of miR137-MITF in Prognostic Analysis of Multiple Myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>UNLABELLED</b>Objectiive：To explore the effect of miR137 target gene MITF on the prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The target genes of miR137 were predicted by software, the GFP analysis was carried out for detecting MITF as the prognosis of multiple myeloma. The cell line overexpressing miR137 in MM cell line was constructed. Real-time qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of MITF in this cell line.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The target genes of miR137 were MITF, BUE2H, SH3BP5 and KLF12. High expression of MITF in MM patients showed a good prognosis according to GFP analysis, but no significant difference was detected between the different subgroups. MITF expression was higher in MM cell line that over expressed miR137.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The miR137-MITF is an important index in judging the prognosis of multiple myeloma.</p>

Clinical feature and efficacy of patients with multiple myeloma and renal impairment treated with bortezomib based chemotherapy / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the efficacy and safety of bortezomib (btz) based chemotherapy in multiple myeloma (MM) patients with renal-function impairment (RI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-six MM patients with impaired renal function treated with bortazomib based regimens in our single center were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median age was 59 (ranged 30-77) years. 39.3% were κ-restricted MM, while 57.1% were λ-restricted MM. Nine patients were IgD-MM, and 14 were light chain MM. Median creatinine clearance (CrCl) was 25.33 (7.23-59.55) ml/min. The number of patients with mild, moderate and severe RI was 6, 35 and 15, respectively. Overall response rate of MM was 82.4% (≥MR), including 32.4% complete response (CR), 17.6% very good partial response (VGPR) and 26.5% partial response (PR). The rate of renal response was 89.3%, including 62.5% CR, 14.3% PR and 12.5% minor response (MR). A median time of optimal response was 25.5 (ranged 5-240) days. There was no significant difference in the median overall survival and the time to progress in different RI groups. Adverse events observed were similar to those patients with normal renal function previously reported. Most adverse events were manageable, 55.6% patients developed peripheral neuropathy and 10 patients discontinued bortezomib.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The incidence of RI is higher in patients with IgD-MM and λ restricted MM. Bortezomib based treatment is a highly effective and safe option in MM patients with impaired renal function. In this analysis, renal function was improved in a substantial proportion of patients. Peripheral neuropathy is the major adverse events which limit its use in MM patients.</p>

Prognostic value of serum IL-6 in patients with multiple myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of serum IL-6 (sIL-6) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The sIL-6 level in 288 patients with MM was retrospectively analyzed, and the clinical characteristics and prognosis in patients with different IL-6 level were compared. The newly diagnosed patients with MM were divided into two groups: the low sIL-6 group (sIL-6 < 100 pg/ml) and the high sIL-6 group (sIL-6 ≥ 100 pg/ml). The results showed that high sIL-6 level was more common in patients with ECOG score>3, myeloma bone disease (MBD) between grade 2 to 4, and high creatinine level. There was no significant differences in age, abnormal karyotype percentage, chromosome 13q14 abnormality percentage, CD138(+)/CD38(+) cells percentage and the level of calcium, phosphorus, albumin, C-reactive protein, β2-MG, lactate dehydrogenase, hemoglobin, platelet between the two groups at diagnosis, and also no significant difference in response to initial induction chemotherapy among the two groups. The overall survival was significantly different between the low and high IL-6 groups (P = 0.04, 35 m vs 29 m), but no difference in time to progress between the two groups (P = 1.93, 23 m vs 14 m). It is concluded that the sIL-6 level correlates with the clinical characteristics and prognosis. Radioimmunoassay is an appropriate measurement for human IL-6 in serum, and suitable for clinical application.

Clinical and laboratory features of T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia in China / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical and laboratory characteristics and survival of Chinese patients with T- cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eleven patients with T-PLL admitted in our hospital from Jan 2006 to Oct 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 11 patients, nine were males and two females, with the median age of 56.0(19-69) years old. All the patients, except for three, presented with leukocytosis. The incidence of hyperleukocytosis (1/11) was less frequent than that in the British series (75%) (P=0.000). Lymphocyte counts in peripheral blood were increased in 9 of the 11 patients with the median absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) of 17.22(0.58-148.83)×10⁹/L. Superficial lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly were the most common physical signs. It was common that serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and beta 2 microglobulin(β2-MG)were higher than normal level. All cases were positive for CD2/CD3/CD5/TCRαβ, negative for CD1a /HLA-DR and TdT, and most of them were strong positive for CD7 expression. By chromosome analyses, most cases. (9/10) have normal chromosome. This rate is significantly higher than that of the British and American series (3% and 25%, respectively) (P=0.000, P=0.001). The 14q11 abnormality and trisomy 8q, which are common among Western cases, were not observed in any of our cases. With a median follow-up of 23.0 months, three patients died. Two year progress free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 53.3% and 50%, respectively. There were 3 patients with PFS over a number of years, whether it should be considered as the T-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (T-CLL) is worthy of further studies.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The common clinical manifestations of T-PLL patients were increased lymphocyte counts and lymphadenopathy as well as splenomegaly. And most cases have high level of blood LDH and β2- MG and normal chromosome karyotype.</p>

Expression of B7-H1 gene in leukemia cells and its clinical significance / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was purposed to investigate the expression of B7-H1 gene in leukemia cells and its clinical significance. The expression of B7-H1 mRNA was detected by SYBR Green I real-time quantitative PCR in a panel of 9 leukemia cell lines, 4 leukemia cell lines induced with IFN-γ, the bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) from 59 initial leukemia patients and 10 dendritic cells (DC) derived from BMMNC of initial leukemia patients, 2 solid tumour cell lines and BMMNC from 10 normal persons. The correlation between the clinical features of 59 acute leukemia patients and the expression level of B7-H1 mRNA in leukemia cells was analyzed. The results showed that the lower level of B7-H1 mRNA expression was found in leukemia cell lines and primary acute leukemia cells, but the expression level of B7-H1 mRNA was up-regulated significantly in the leukemia cell lines induced by IFN-γ and DC derived from BMMNC of leukemia patients. The expression level of B7-H1 mRNA in non complete remission (CR) patients after therapy was significantly higher than that in CR patients. It is concluded that the expression level of B7-H1 mRNA in leukemia cells is lower, but is up-regulated when affected by some factors. A correlation exists between the expression level of B7-H1 gene in leukemia cells and response of patients to therapy.

The significances of 13q14 deletion for development and prognosis of multiple myeloma / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the incidence and clinical significance of chromosome 13q14 deletion in multiple myeloma (MM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Bone marrow samples were collected from 132 newly diagnosed MM patients referred to our hospital. Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (i-FISH) combined with magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) were performed on chromosome 13q14 (RB-1).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) i-FISH was used to investigate CD138-enriched bone marrow MM cells and revealed a 13q14 deletion rate of 51.5% (68/132), while conventional cytogenetic (CC) analysis revealed 13q deletions/monosomy 13 (Δ13) only of 5.0%(6/120). (2) Univariate analysis showed that 13q14 deletion rate by i-FISH > 25%, bone marrow plasma cells > 50%, ISS stage and β(2)-MG ≥ 5.5 mg/L were associated with shorter overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis revealed that 13q14 deletion rate by i-FISH > 25% was an independent unfavorable factor (P = 0.042). (3) Patients treated with bortezomib had a much better response than those treated with traditional chemotherapy (P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in OS between patients received bortezomib with and without 13q14 deletion (P > 0.05), indicating that bortezomib could reverse the poor prognosis of 13q14 deletion.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>(1) i-FISH followed CD138 cell sorting appears to be a highly sensitive method for detecting 13q14 deletion. (2) 13q14 deletion rate by i-FISH > 25% is an independent unfavorable factor. (3) Bortezomib could reverse the poor prognosis of 13q14 deletion.</p>

Analysis of the international staging system of multiple myeloma and its comparison with the DS and IFM staging system in 122 Chinese patients / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To verify applicability of the International Staging System (ISS) for multiple myeloma (MM) to 112 Chinese MM patients and compare ISS with Durie-Salmon (DS) and Intergroup Francophone du Myeloma (IFM) staging system in predicting prognosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>112 previously untreated MM patients in Blood Diseases Hospital of CAMS were analyzed according to ISS retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1) Serum beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG) > or = 3.5 mg/L was an independent adverse prognostic factor for overall survival (OS), and serum albumin <35 g/L predicted for time to progression (TTP), 2) In the 58 cases having cytogenetic data, chromosome 13 aberration (Delta 13) was the only independent adverse prognostic factor for OS; 3) Factors significantly related to serum beta2-MG were serum creatinine, 24h urinary protein,body mass index (BMI) and performance status (PS); and those related to serum albumin were hemoglobin level, percentage of bone marrow plasma cells, lactate dehydrogenase(LDN), fever, PS, class of M-protein, serum phosphorus and BMI; 4) All traditional prognostic factors had no statistical difference between ISS stage II and III excepting for serum beta2-MG and creatinine, and 5/6 Delta 13 patients were classified to ISS stage II; 5) The median OS of ISS stage I, II, III were 69, 23 and 26 months (m) respectively, being no statistical difference between stage II and III; for DS system, 89.5% of patients were classified in stage III, being no statistical difference for OS between the stage I/II and III; while for IFM system, the median OS of low-, intermediate- and high-risk group were 69, 40 and 8 months respectively, being statistically different between high-risk and intermediate/ low-risk groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>From the result of our limited analysis, the staging of ISS II and III seems unsuitable for Chinese MM patients. The IFM staging system ,which incorporates delta 13, is more effective than ISS, and DS staging system in predicting prognosis.</p>

Outcome of bortezomib plus chemotherapy with or without stem cell transplantation for treatment of multiple myeloma / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the efficacy and adverse reaction of bortezomib plus chemotherapy with or without stem cell transplantation (SCT) for treatment of multiple myeloma (MM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-one MM patients were treated with bortezomib plus dexamethasone or thalidomide or DTPACE, followed by SCT. Response to bortezomib was evaluated according to the European Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) criteria. Adverse events were graded according to the WHO criteria.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>1) 5 discontinued the bortezomib therapy because of acute renal failure or acute tumor lysis syndrome and 3 died. In 26 evaluable patients received 99 courses of therapy. The overall response rate (ORR) to bortezomib was 80.8%, and was 100.0% in 15 newly diagnosed patients and 54.6% in 11 relapsed/refractory patients. All of the 6 newly diagnosed patients treated with bortezomib plus DTPACE followed by SCT achieved CR. 2) In 7 newly diagnosed patients completed 8 cycles bortezomib treatment, the diseases were improved more and more with the courses of treatment. Chromosome 13 deletion did not exert a negative impact on response. 3) 6 of 7 patients completed 8 cycles treatment without SCT relapsed in 1-3 month after discontinued therapy; only 1 of 6 such patients received SCT relapsed with the rest keeping on CR at 6-11 month follow-up. 4) The most common adverse events were 1-2 grade and tolerable 3 patients had to reduce the bortezomib dosage because of peripheral neuropathy or sinus bradycardia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Bortezomib in combination with chemotherapy with or without SCT is an effective therapy with manageable toxicities for MM patients.</p>

The analysis of prognostic variables in 123 patients with multiple myeloma / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the prognostic value of biological features and therapy-related factors in multiple myeloma (MM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>123 patients with newly diagnosed MM between January 1998 and May 2005 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Biological features at presentation and therapy-related factors were analysed. The overall survival (OS) and time to progression (TTP) were estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and the distribution of OS and TTP were compared using log-rank test. Cox regression was used to identify the independent prognostic factors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The univariate analysis indicated that more immature plasma cells in bone marrow biopsy, C-reactive protein >8. Omg/L, CD117 expression, serum beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG) (3.5 approximately 5.5 mg/L), abnormal cytogenetics aberration of chromosome 13 (Delta13), hypodiploid, poor response to chemotherapy, interferon(IFN) therapy less than 6 months were associated with shorter OS(P <0.05). Lytic bone lesions at presentation, more immature plasma cells in bone marrow biopsy, serum beta2-MG (3.5 approximately 5.5 mg/L), poor response to chemotherapy, and IFN therapy less than 6 months as well as abnormal cytogenetics, hypodiploid and Delta13 were associated with shorter TTP (P <0.05). (2) Multivariable COX analysis indicated IFN therapy more than 6 months was a protective factor for OS and TTP, and more immature plasma cells in bone marrow biopsy was an independent poor prognostic factor for TTP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The morphology of myeloma cells is useful for assessing the prognosis. And IFN therapy more than 6 months could lengthen OS and TTP.</p>

Long-term survival analysis in 170 cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to investigate various factors influencing long-term survival in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. A single institutional retrospective study with long-term follow-up was performed to better define the prognostic factors and a rationale for the use of ATRA, chemotherapy, and As(2)O(3) in the treatment of newly diagnosed APL patients. Newly diagnosed patients with APL entering complete remission (CR) were followed up for 6 to 185 months (n = 170) from January 1990 to December 2004. Univariate and multivariate analysis of 8 potential factors influencing survival and prognosis were carried out with Log-Rank and Cox regression method, including sex, age, initial WBC count, the level of lactic hydrogenase (LDH), first induction regimen, time from induction therapy to CR, post-remission therapy, negative or positive rate of PML-RAR alpha and follow-up of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that the estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were 80.9% +/- 4.0% and 71.0% +/- 4.0% respectively. The 23 patients relapsed at the median time of 15 months (6 - 70) after CR. Univariate analysis revealed that initial WBC count, first induction regimen, time from induction therapy to CR, type of post-remission therapy and persistent negative RT-PCR in remission were important prognostic factors for long-term survival. Multivariate study demonstrated that only type of post-remission therapy was associated with RFS and OS. It is concluded that the post-remission treatment combining ATRA, As(2)O(3) and chemotherapy would significantly improve the long-term survival of APL patients entering CR(1).