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Julie M Vose

Publications and source records attributed to Julie M Vose.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The International Consensus Classification of Mature Lymphoid Neoplasms: a report from the Clinical Advisory Committee.

Since the publication of the Revised European-American Classification of Lymphoid Neoplasms in 1994, subsequent updates of the classification of lymphoid neoplasms have been generated through iterative international efforts to achieve broad consensus among hematopathologists, geneticists, molecular scientists, and clinicians. Significant progress has recently been made in the characterization of malignancies of the immune system, with many new insights provided by genomic studies. They have led to this proposal. We have followed the same process that was successfully used for the third and fourth editions of the World Health Organization Classification of Hematologic Neoplasms. The definition, recommended studies, and criteria for the diagnosis of many entities have been extensively refined. Some categories considered provisional have now been upgraded to definite entities. Terminology for some diseases has been revised to adapt nomenclature to the current knowledge of their biology, but these modifications have been restricted to well-justified situations. Major findings from recent genomic studies have impacted the conceptual framework and diagnostic criteria for many disease entities. These changes will have an impact on optimal clinical management. The conclusions of this work are summarized in this report as the proposed International Consensus Classification of mature lymphoid, histiocytic, and dendritic cell tumors.

Advisory Committees↗

Bulky lymphadenopathy with poor clinical outcome is associated with ATM downregulation in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients irrespective of 11q23 deletion.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is the most common B-cell leukemia among older populations in Western countries. The clinical course of B-CLL is heterogeneous: in some patients the disease course is indolent, in others it is aggressive. The B-CLL subgroups with chromosome 11q23 deletion have been associated with aggressive disease course involving ATM deletion, extensive bulky lymphadenopathy (BLA), and inferior clinical outcome. Using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, we found that ATM was consistently underexpressed in B-CLL patients with BLA, irrespective of 11q23 deletion status. In addition, B-CLL patients who presented with BLA had a significantly shorter time to treatment (2 months) than did patients without BLA (74 months). Moreover, gene expression analysis in B-CLL patients with and without BLA revealed differences in expression for genes involved in apoptosis, cell cycle, and cell adhesion. These results indicate an association between BLA and reduced expression of ATM, suggesting a role for ATM in disease progression in B-CLL.

Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins↗

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for Hodgkin's disease in a patient with dysfibrinogenemia and thrombosis.

INTRODUCTION: Dysfibrinogenemia is a disorder of fibrinogen structure and is associated with a functional abnormality. Since fibrinogen is a key component of both the procoagulant and fibrinolytic pathways, defects in fibrinogen function can be associated with increased risk for both hemorrhage and thrombosis. Management of patients with dysfibrinogenemia and a thrombotic tendency usually involves long-term anticoagulation. CASE: A 36-year-old male with relapsed nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's was found to have a prolonged prothrombin time, low fibrinogen activity and a normal fibrinogen antigen during evaluation for a hematopoietic peripheral blood stem cell transplant. His past medical history was significant for an acute myocardial infarction and two episodes of acute pancreatitis. His father had dysfibrinogenemia complicated by multiple thrombotic episodes. A trans-esophageal echocardiogram revealed two thrombi, one each in the superior vena cava and the descending aorta. He was treated with enoxaparin and received peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. An effort was made to maintain his fibrinogen activity levels at 200 mg/dL using cryoprecipitate. A month following the transplant he developed a new thrombus in the right internal jugular vein, while on enoxaparin and he was started on argatroban and cryoprecipitate followed by fondaparinux. A repeat echocardiogram six weeks later demonstrated that the burden of thrombus both in the right atrium and descending aorta was significantly lower. DISCUSSION: This is the first case report of a patient with dysfibrinogenemia undergoing peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Conventional anticoagulant therapy and cryoprecipitate seem to be a reasonable management strategy to prevent thrombosis in a patient with dysfibrinogenemia and a thrombophilic tendency. Secondly, fondaparinux can be used in cases of failure of therapy with low molecular weight heparins and may actually be superior to low molecular weight heparins, especially in patients with dysfibrinogenemia.

Adult↗

Haematological malignancies developing in previously healthy individuals who received haematopoietic growth factors: report from the Research on Adverse Drug Events and Reports (RADAR) project.

Pegylated recombinant human megakaryocyte growth and development factor (PEG-rHuMGDF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) promote haematopoietic progenitor cell maturation. We reviewed the findings for healthy volunteers/donors who developed haematological malignancies following PEG-rHuMGDF or G-CSF administration. Information was reviewed for three of 538 volunteers who received PEG-rHuMGDF in clinical trials and two of 200 donors who underwent G-CSF mobilised stem cell harvesting procedures for sibling stem cell transplants. Mantle cell, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia were diagnosed 1-5 years after PEG-rHuMGDF exposure among three volunteers. For one patient, thrombocytopenia due to autoantibodies to PEG-rHuMGDF developed shortly after PEG-rHuMGDF administration and persisted until chemotherapy was administered. All three achieved complete remission, although one patient relapsed. Acute myeloid leukaemia was diagnosed 4 and 5 years after G-CSF mobilisation in two donors who underwent peripheral blood stem cell donation for sibling allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Following intensive chemotherapy, one died from acute leukaemia and the second is in complete remission. Controversy exists over the appropriateness of administering haematopoietic growth factors to healthy individuals. While a causal relationship with haematological malignancies cannot be demonstrated, long-term follow-up among healthy individuals who receive haematopoietic growth factors is needed.

Adult↗

Molecular diagnosis of Burkitt's lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: The distinction between Burkitt's lymphoma and diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma is crucial because these two types of lymphoma require different treatments. We examined whether gene-expression profiling could reliably distinguish Burkitt's lymphoma from diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma. METHODS: Tumor-biopsy specimens from 303 patients with aggressive lymphomas were profiled for gene expression and were also classified according to morphology, immunohistochemistry, and detection of the t(8;14) c-myc translocation. RESULTS: A classifier based on gene expression correctly identified all 25 pathologically verified cases of classic Burkitt's lymphoma. Burkitt's lymphoma was readily distinguished from diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma by the high level of expression of c-myc target genes, the expression of a subgroup of germinal-center B-cell genes, and the low level of expression of major-histocompatibility-complex class I genes and nuclear factor-kappaB target genes. Eight specimens with a pathological diagnosis of diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma had the typical gene-expression profile of Burkitt's lymphoma, suggesting they represent cases of Burkitt's lymphoma that are difficult to diagnose by current methods. Among 28 of the patients with a molecular diagnosis of Burkitt's lymphoma, the overall survival was superior among those who had received intensive chemotherapy regimens instead of lower-dose regimens. CONCLUSIONS: Gene-expression profiling is an accurate, quantitative method for distinguishing Burkitt's lymphoma from diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma.

Adolescent↗

Clinical relevance of soluble HLA-I and beta2-microglobulin levels in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease.

Plasma levels of beta-2 microglobulin (beta2M), a subunit of the human leukocyte antigen-class I (HLA-I) molecule, correlate negatively with outcome in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin's disease (HD). We examined the clinical relevance of soluble HLA-I (sHLA-I) levels in NHL and HD. Sera from consecutive NHL (n=65) and HD (n=37) patients were analyzed in a blinded manner. NHL and HD patients had significantly higher levels of sHLA-1 and beta2M than control subjects. In NHL patients, sHLA-I levels correlated with clinical behavior in a fashion similar to that of beta2M. However, multivariate analysis incorporating beta2M, sHLA-I, and international prognostic index (IPI) indicated that NHL patients with elevated (>312.6mug/100mL) sHLA-I levels had significantly shorter survival, independent of IPI score as well as beta2M. In HD patients, beta2M but not sHLA-I levels were associated with clinical behavior. These findings not only establish the role of sHLA-I as an independent tumor marker in NHL that can be used to stratify patients, but also suggest that beta2M and sHLA-I may reflect different biological processes in HD and NHL. Further studies are needed to assess whether the immunomodulatory properties of sHLA-I may be responsible for its divergence from beta2M as an indicator of clinical behavior in HD.

Adolescent↗

Mutation and genomic deletion status of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and p53 confer specific gene expression profiles in mantle cell lymphoma.

Although mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) frequently harbors inactivated ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and p53 alleles, little is known about the molecular phenotypes caused by these genetic changes. We identified point mutations and genomic deletions in these genes in a series of cyclin D1-positive MCL cases and correlated genotype with gene expression profiles and overall survival. Mutated and/or deleted ATM and p53 alleles were found in 56% (40/72) and 26% (21/82) of the cases examined, respectively. Although MCL patients with inactive p53 alleles showed a significant reduction in median overall survival, aberrant ATM status did not predict for survival. Nevertheless, specific gene expression signatures indicative of the mutation and genomic deletion status of each gene were identified that were different from wild-type cases. These signatures were comprised of a select group of genes related to apoptosis, stress responses, and cell cycle regulation that are relevant to ATM or p53 function. Importantly, we found the molecular signatures are different between cases with mutations and deletions, because the latter are characterized by loss of genes colocalized in the same chromosome region of ATM or p53. This information on molecular phenotypes may provide new areas of investigation for ATM function or may be exploited by designing specific therapies for MCL cases with p53 aberrations.

Apoptosis↗

BCL2 expression is a prognostic marker for the activated B-cell-like type of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: The role of BCL2 as a predictor of survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is controversial. DLBCL is heterogeneous, and the expression of BCL2 is variable within the two major subgroups of DLBCL, germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) and activated B-cell-like (ABC) DLBCL, as well as primary mediastinal DLBCL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, we investigated the correlation of BCL2 expression with survival in the two major subgroups of DLBCL, as well as the mechanisms of BCL2 expression. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between BCL2 protein expression and overall survival within the GCB subgroup, but BCL2 expression had a significant adverse effect on overall survival within the ABC subgroup (P = .008). This correlation was also observed at the mRNA level (P < .04). The difference remained significant when the analyses were performed at different cutoff values. The t(14;18) was frequently observed in the GCB subgroup and was highly associated with BCL2 expression. Patients with ABC DLBCL did not exhibit t(14;18) but had a markedly higher frequency of chromosome 18q21 amplification, on which BCL2 resides. Thus, alternative mechanisms such as 18q21 amplification or activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway, as reported previously, seem to be mainly responsible for the upregulation of BCL2 expression in the ABC subgroup. CONCLUSION: Treating all DLBCL as a single entity ignores the mechanistic differences in BCL2 upregulation and obscures the prognostic significance of BCL2 expression. Hence, the significance of BCL2 and other biomarkers should be assessed in the context of DLBCL subgroups in future studies.

Aged↗

Personalized immunotherapy for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a promising approach.

The efficacy of immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of lymphoid malignancies has been demonstrated in recent years. In patients with B-cell lymphomas, particularly indolent lymphoma, the use of passive immunotherapy, such as the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab, has made an impressive impact on patient outcome. Personalized immunotherapy, a method that triggers the immune system to mount a response against tumor cells, has shown promising results in early clinical trials in hematologic malignancies. This therapeutic modality appears safe, with the most common adverse events being transient, local reactions at the site of injection. Furthermore, personalized immunotherapy has the potential to generate immunologic memory, which could provide prolonged remission. Currently, 3 large phase III studies are evaluating the efficacy and safety of personalized immunotherapy in patients with follicular lymphoma. It is hoped that the results of these studies will lead to the incorporation of this promising approach into the standard treatment of patients with lymphoma.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Effect of body mass index on mortality of patients with lymphoma undergoing autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation.

High-dose therapy with autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) is frequently used to improve outcomes in lymphoma. However, small studies suggest a survival disadvantage among obese patients. Using a retrospective cohort analysis, we studied the outcomes of 4681 patients undergoing auto-HCT for Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma between 1990 and 2000 according to body mass index (BMI). Four groups categorized by BMI were compared by using Cox proportional hazards regression to adjust for other prognostic factors. A total of 1909 patients were categorized as normal weight (BMI 18-25 kg/m2), 121 as underweight (BMI<18 kg/m2), 1725 as overweight (BMI>25-30 kg/m2), and 926 as obese (BMI>30 kg/m2) at the time of HCT. Outcomes evaluated included overall survival, relapse, transplantation-related mortality (TRM), and lymphoma-free survival. TRM was similar among the normal, overweight, and obese groups; the underweight group had a higher risk of TRM (relative risk [RR], 2.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59-3.82; P<0.0001) compared with the normal-BMI group. No differences in relapse were noted. Overall mortality was higher in the underweight group (RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.17-1.88; P=.001) and lower in the overweight (RR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.79-0.96; P=.004) and obese (RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.67-0.86; P<.0001) groups compared with the normal-BMI group. In light of our inability to find differences in survival among overweight, obese, and normal-weight patients, obesity alone should not be viewed as a contraindication to proceeding with auto-HCT for lymphoma when it is otherwise indicated.

Adolescent↗

Effect of linkage of transduction domain sequences to a lymphoma idiotype DNA vaccine on vaccine effectiveness.

Patient idiotype-specific vaccines for treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have shown promise in clinical trials, encouraging efforts to enhance the effectiveness of idiotype vaccines further. It has previously been found that for some other types of experimental vaccines, the addition of transduction domains has improved vaccine immunogenicity. Transduction domains are short amino acid sequences that are capable of increasing transport through cellular membranes. In this study, we tested murine B cell 38C13 lymphoma idiotype DNA vaccines with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Tat-derived transduction sequences for efficacy against 38C13 challenge. The rate of tumor onset was similar for the idiotype and transduction domain-conjugated idiotype vaccine groups. At days 22-23 postchallenge, the number of surviving mice was significantly higher in the group that had received a DNA vaccine consisting of the 38C13 idiotype sequence plus modified Tat transduction sequence, in comparison with the group that received idiotype-only vaccines. Although the overall survival difference was not statistically significant following day 24, a trend toward an increased survival rate for mice receiving idiotype plus Tat-derived transduction domains was maintained through day 106 postchallenge. Thus, the addition to idiotype vaccines of specific sequences that facilitate intracellular transport may have potential to improve the effectiveness of such vaccines.

Animals↗

Lymphoma 2006: classification and treatment.

The past 20 years have brought significant advances in our ability to manage patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. More precise classification systems, improvements in diagnosis and staging, and effective new treatments have improved outcomes and made cure a reasonable goal for many patients with these disorders. In this overview of the progress seen in the field over the past 2 decades, we describe a variety of advances for specific lymphomas, including diagnostic methods such as gene array studies and immunophenotyping and new treatment approaches.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Dendritic cell-based therapy for mantle cell lymphoma.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a B cell malignancy that is resistant to conventional therapies. High-dose therapy (HDT) followed by stem cell transplantation is effective in inducing remission. However, residual lymphoma cells are eventually responsible for the subsequent relapse. Effective therapeutic strategies to eliminate the residual lymphoma is required. In this study, we have examined the in vitro and in vivo anti-lymphoma effects of MCL-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that were generated using dendritic cells (DCs) fused with MCL cells for immunostimulation. Dendritic cells were generated in vitro using dendritic cell-specific medium, cytomorphology, immunophenotypes and functional capabilities of the generated DCs were studied. Such DCs were then used for the preparation of DC-MCL hybrids and the DC-MCL hybrids were used to generate CTLs against MCL cells and tested for their MCL-specific cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. The CTLs demonstrated MCL-specific cytotoxicity in vitro against GRANT-519, a human MCL cell line. These CTLs did not show significant effect against an irrelevant target. To test the in vivo therapeutic effect of DC-MCL hybrid-stimulated CTLs, a preclinical model consisting of NOD-SCID mice bearing Granta 519 was developed. The NOD-SCID mice bearing Granta-519 MCL tumors were treated with DC-MCL hybrids and the same donor T lymphocytes. There was an increase in survival (60% in mice treated with DC-MCL hybrid approach compared to 20% in the untreated group). Histological analysis of liver from control and treated mice displayed a decrease in the number of the tumor nodules in the treatment group. These results indicate the potential of DC-based therapy for the treatment of MCL.

Animals↗

Advances in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Part 1 of a 3-part series: Aggressive lymphomas.

The treatment of patients with aggressive lymphomas has improved significantly in recent years, primarily due to the introduction of targeted therapy with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab in combination with chemotherapy. Rituximab has significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with aggressive lymphomas, even those with high-risk disease. Ongoing research aims to determine the optimal uses of rituximab for inducing and maintaining remission in a variety of settings. Another important area of focus has been the investigation into prognostic and predictive factors. Assessing each patient according to different prognostic factors allows clinicians to best determine a patient's risk and develop a suitable therapy. Microarray analysis is being used in this area to determine gene expression patterns associated with responses to therapy and, ultimately, to identify specific genes associated with various outcomes. The identification of relevant genes could indicate specific patients that might benefit from targeted therapy, and may reveal additional therapeutic targets. These investigations have already identified several candidate genes that may be appropriate targets for therapy, such as Bcl-2, protein kinase C-beta, and nuclear factor-kappa B. The future of therapy for aggressive lymphomas will likely involve identifying the molecular profile for each patient and designing an appropriate targeted therapy based on their specific situation. Recent and ongoing studies are moving us closer towards that goal.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

The role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has become an increasingly important treatment modality for hematologic malignancies. Autologous stem cell transplantation has become the standard of care in relapsed high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients who respond to reinduction therapy. The exact role of allogeneic transplantation in DLBCL is still unknown and it appears to be useful in only a select group of patients. The exact role of hematopoietic stem cell transplant in follicular lymphoma is evolving. The treatment of mantle cell lymphoma is challenging and stem cell transplantation may play an important role, as our understanding of the biology and natural history of this disease improves. This review focuses on studies evaluating the role of stem cell transplantation in non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Tositumomab and iodine-131 tositumomab produces durable complete remissions in a subset of heavily pretreated patients with low-grade and transformed non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

PURPOSE: This study is an integrated efficacy analysis of the five clinical trials of tositumomab and iodine-131 tositumomab in patients with relapsed or refractory low-grade, follicular, or transformed low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) that resulted in the regulatory approval of the iodine-131 tositumomab by the US Food and Drug Administration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This integrated analysis included 250 patients. Patients received a single course of iodine-131 tositumomab. Responses were assessed by an independent panel of radiologists and oncologists. RESULTS: Response rates in the five trials ranged from 47% to 68%; complete response rates ranged from 20% to 38%. With a median follow-up of 5.3 years, the 5-year progression-free survival was 17%. Eighty-one (32%) of 250 patients had a time to progression of > or = 1 year (termed durable response population). For the durable response population, 44% had not progressed at > or = 2.5 to > or = 9.5 years and had a median duration of response of 45.8 months. The median duration of complete response was not reached. The durable response population had many poor prognostic characteristics, including bone marrow involvement (41%), bulky disease > or = 5 cm (49%), and transformed histology (23%). Forty-three percent of the patients had been treated with more than four prior therapies and 36% had not responded to their most recent therapy. CONCLUSION: The tositumomab and iodine-131 tositumomab therapeutic regimen produces high response rates in patients with relapsed or refractory low-grade, follicular, and transformed low-grade NHL, with a sizable subgroup of patients achieving long-term durable responses.

Adult↗

Phase I/II study of galiximab, an anti-CD80 antibody, for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma.

PURPOSE: This multicenter, dose-escalation study evaluates the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of galiximab (anti-CD80 monoclonal antibody) in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients had follicular lymphoma that had relapsed or failed to respond to primary therapy; the majority (90%) presented with stage III or IV disease. Four weekly intravenous infusions of galiximab were administered at doses of 125, 250, 375, or 500 mg/m2. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients received galiximab treatment and were evaluated for safety; 35 were assessable for response. Antibody infusions were safe and well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicities. A total of 22 (60%) of 37 patients experienced adverse events related to galiximab. All but one of the events were grade 1 or 2; the most common were fatigue, nausea, and headache. Cytopenias were rare; only one patient experienced anemia and febrile neutropenia, which were unrelated to galiximab and resolved after treatment. No patient developed antigaliximab antibody formation. The mean serum half-life ranged from 13 to 24 days. The overall response rate was 11% (two complete responses and two partial responses). Time to best response was delayed (months 3, 6, 9, and 12). Twelve patients (34%) maintained stable disease. Nearly half of all patients (49%) had a decrease in indicator lesions. Two responders remain on study without progression (22 and 24.4 months). CONCLUSION: The favorable safety profile of galiximab and evidence of single-agent biologic activity and dose-dependent pharmacokinetics support further evaluation of galiximab as a treatment for follicular lymphoma, possibly in combination with other lymphoma therapies.

Adult↗