PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Andreeff

Publications and source records attributed to M Andreeff.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Acanthamoeba meningoencephalitis after bone marrow transplantation.

Two patients presented with fever and nodular pulmonary infiltrates 9 and 6 months after marrow transplantation for leukemia. The second patient also had painful subcutaneous nodules that subsequently ulcerated. Both had a history of sinusitis and both had recently been treated with corticosteroids. During treatment with antibacterial and antifungal antibiotics, they developed rapid mental deterioration, coma and/or seizures. CT findings included hydrocephalus with extensive cortical and periventricular hypodensities in the first patient, and hydrocephalus with a cerebellar hemorrhage and edema in the second patient. Cerebrospinal fluid had a low glucose and elevated protein levels with few erythrocytes and little or no pleocytosis. Despite therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics, including coverage for opportunistic infections, both patients died. Autopsy revealed Acanthamoeba species causing necrotizing meningoencephalitis, pneumonitis and adrenalitis in the first patient and causing necrotizing meningoencephalitis and dermatitis in the second patient. While these are the only reported cases of disseminated Acanthamoeba infection in marrow transplant recipients, a review of the literature suggests that this organism may be a new cause of opportunistic infections.

Acanthamoeba↗

Preliminary results of treatment with filgrastim for relapse of leukemia and myelodysplasia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Patients whose leukemia relapses after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation have a poor prognosis; few respond to further chemotherapy, and almost none survive over the long term. We present preliminary observations on the use of filgrastim (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) for relapse after transplantation. METHODS: Seven female patients with leukemia (one with chronic myelogenous leukemia, five with acute myelogenous leukemia, and one with a myelodysplastic syndrome that transformed into acute myelogenous leukemia) whose disease relapsed within 360 days after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation received filgrastim (5 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day by subcutaneous injection) to reinduce remission by stimulating residual donor marrow cells. Cytogenetic analysis of bone marrow, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and determination of restriction-fragment--length polymorphisms were used to assess response and chimerism. RESULTS: Three of the seven patients had a complete hematologic and cytogenetic remission, with reestablishment of hematopoiesis of donor origin. Mild chronic graft-versus-host disease developed in one patient, and acute graft-versus-host disease in none. One patient had a relapse 12 months after treatment, and two others remained in remission after 10 and 11 months. In two of the patients with a response, fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated stimulation of donor cells without differentiation of the leukemic clone. CONCLUSIONS: Filgrastim may be effective in selected cases of leukemic relapse after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Adolescent↗

Fluorescent in situ hybridization and cytogenetic studies of trisomy 12 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Cytogenetic studies (CG) of 475 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cases showed trisomy 12 in 6.1% or 26% of patients with abnormal karyotypes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) detected trisomy 12 in 35% of 117 CLL patients. Only 34.6% of cases detected by FISH were detected by CG. Twelve patients had low levels of trisomic cells (4% to 11%) relative to clonal B cells (47.5% to 86%), suggestive of clonal evolution. Untreated patients with trisomy 12 were predominantly male (P < .05) and had an increased incidence of splenomegaly (P < .03). Patients with trisomy 12 were more likely to be previously treated and had advanced Binet stage compared with those without trisomy 12. The median survival was shorter in patients with trisomy 12 (7.8 years) and patients with other chromosomal abnormalities without trisomy 12 by FISH (5.5 years) than in patients with diploid karyotypes (14.4 years). The response to fludarabine was similar to that of patients with diploid karyotypes, but there was a trend for earlier disease progression. FISH detected residual disease in all patients with trisomy 12 in complete (n = 6) or partial remission (n = 4). As few as 1 trisomic cell in 5,000 was detected by performing FISH on fluorescence-activated cell sorter-sorted cells. Trisomy 12 was absent in T cells in patients with trisomy 12. We conclude that FISH identifies trisomy 12 approximately 2.6 times more often than CG, readily identifies minimal residual disease, and predicts for a shorter median survival.

Antigens, CD↗

Induction of differentiation in myeloid leukemia cell lines and acute promyelocytic leukemia cells by liposomal all-trans-retinoic acid.

All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) induces complete remissions in the majority of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Despite continuous p.o. ATRA administration, many patients relapse after a short remission duration. In these patients, ATRA plasma concentrations were found to be very low, which was related to induction of retinoic acid-binding protein and increased drug catabolism by cytochrome P-450-mediated reactions. An i.v. ATRA formulation, which can be achieved by encapsulating ATRA into liposomes, may have the potential to overcome these unwanted effects. We investigated the ability of liposomal ATRA (L-ATRA) to induce differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cell lines (HL-60, KG-1, and THP-1). Cellular differentiation, as assessed by morphological criteria and by the expression of a mature myeloid cell surface antigen (CD11b on HL-60 and KG-1 cells), was induced by culture in the presence of L-ATRA. The ability of L-ATRA-treated HL-60 cells to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium demonstrated that they were functionally differentiated cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed significant growth inhibition of the cells after L-ATRA treatment. Following culture with L-ATRA, cells from five patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia were found to be morphologically and immunophenotypically mature myeloid cells. L-ATRA was as effective as free ATRA in inducing differentiation of the cell lines and of the cells from patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. We conclude that L-ATRA effectively induces differentiation and may be a useful parenteral ATRA formulation for overcoming the pharmacological mechanisms that lead to "retinoid resistance."

Cell Cycle↗

Genetic therapy of human neoplastic disease.

Molecular biology has provided clinical investigators and basic scientists with the tools to identify those changes present within neoplastic hematopoietic and epithelial cells that lead to the evolution of unregulated patterns of cell growth. This information has made possible the development of therapy that involves genetic modification of either the normal hematopoietic cells (for chemoprotection), or the tumor cells themselves to suppress the growth of these cells. This article will summarize the clinical and laboratory data that is evolving in this area.

Animals↗

Dose-escalation trial of M195 labeled with iodine 131 for cytoreduction and marrow ablation in relapsed or refractory myeloid leukemias.

PURPOSE: Mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) M195 (anti-CD33) is reactive with most myeloid leukemia cells, monocytes, and hematopoietic progenitors, but not with other hematopoietic cells or stem cells nor with nonhematopoietic human tissues. A therapeutic dose-escalation study of M195 labeled with iodine 131 was conducted in patients with relapsed or refractory myeloid leukemias. METHODS: Twenty-four patients (16 relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemias, five blastic myelodysplastic syndromes [MDS], two chemotherapy-related secondary leukemias, and one blastic chronic myelogenous leukemia [CML]), including seven who had failed to respond to prior bone marrow transplantation (BMT), received from 50 mCi/m2 to 210 mCi/m2 of 131I-M195 in divided doses. RESULTS: In 22 patients, whole-body gamma-imaging demonstrated marked uptake of antibody into all areas of bone marrow. Twenty-three patients (96%) demonstrated decreases in peripheral-blood cell counts, with decreased percentage of bone marrow blasts seen in 83% of cases. Eighty-nine percent of bone marrow biopsies examined quantitatively demonstrated substantial decreases in the number of blasts, with greater than 99% of blasts killed in some patients. The two cases that failed to demonstrate leukemic cytoreduction occurred in the first two dose levels. For 131I doses of 135 mCi/m2 or greater, pancytopenia was profound and lasted for at least 12 days. Eight patients had sufficient marrow cytoreduction to proceed to BMT. Three of these achieved marrow remission, one of 6+, and one of 9 months' duration. Two patients in blastic phase temporarily reverted to their original myelodysplastic states. Thirty-seven percent of assessable patients developed human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA). In two patients with HAMA who were re-treated, plasma 131I-M195 levels could not be maintained and no therapeutic effect resulted. Significant nonhematologic toxicity (hepatic) was seen in one patient and the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) was not reached. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that safe leukemic cytoreduction can be achieved with 131I-M195 even in multiply relapsed or chemotherapy-refractory leukemias. This agent may be useful as part of a preparative regimen for BMT.

Adolescent↗

Subpopulations of normal peripheral blood and bone marrow cells express a functional multidrug resistant phenotype.

The multidrug-resistance gene, MDR1 is expressed in many normal tissues, but little is known about its expression in normal hematopoietic cells. Using the monoclonal antibody C219 and flow cytometric analysis, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) was found to be expressed in all peripheral blood (PB) subpopulations (CD4, CD8, CD14, CD19, CD56) except granulocytes. To specifically determine MDR1 gene expression, these PB subpopulations were isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and analyzed for MDR1 mRNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All subsets were positive by PCR, but only minimal MDR1 mRNA was detected in monocytes and granulocytes. Significant efflux of Rhodamine-123 (Rh-123), a measure of P-gp function, was detected in CD4+, CD8+, CD14+, CD19+, and CD56+ cells but not in granulocytes. Next, PCR-analysis was performed on FACS-sorted bone marrow (BM) cells to assess MDR1 expression in different maturational stages. Precursors (CD34+), early and late myeloid cells (CD33+/CD34+, CD33+/CD34-) as well as lymphocytes of the B-cell lineage (CD19+/CD10+, CD19+/CD10-) expressed the MDR1 gene. BM monocytic cells (CD33++/CD34-) were negative, and a very weak signal was detected in erythroid cells (glycophorin A+). Significant Rh-123 efflux was found in CD34+, CD10+, CD33+, and CD33++ BM cells, but not in glycophorin A+ cells. We conclude that PB and BM lymphocytes, PB monocytes, BM progenitors, and immature myeloid cells, but not late BM monocytes, erythroid cells, and PB granulocytes, express MDR1 mRNA and a functional P-gp. These results have to be taken into account when MDR1 expression is determined in tumor samples containing normal blood cells.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Hexamethylene bisacetamide in myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myelogenous leukemia: a phase II clinical trial with a differentiation-inducing agent.

Hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) is a potent inducer of differentiation of a number of transformed cell lines in vitro. We report results of a phase II clinical trial in 41 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) to whom HMBA was administered by continuous infusion for 10 days and repeated after an interval of 18 to 75 days. HMBA induced a complete remission (CR) in three patients and a partial remission (PR) in six patients. The median duration of CR was 6.8 months (range 1.3 to 16 months) and 3.7 months for PR (range 1 to 7 months). No significant difference was observed between responders and nonresponders with respect to the mean HMBA plasma levels, which were 0.86 +/- 0.04 mmol/L and 0.87 +/- 0.12 mmol/L, respectively. In certain patients morphologic and chromosome analyses provided evidence that HMBA induced differentiation of transformed hematopoietic precursors. The most prominent toxicity was thrombocytopenia, generally reversible on cessation of administration of HMBA.

Acetamides↗

Clinical implications of decreased retinoblastoma protein expression in acute myelogenous leukemia.

The retinoblastoma (RB) protein levels in blast-enriched mononuclear fractions from the peripheral blood of 33 newly diagnosed patients with acute myelogenous leukemia were studied. Ten patients who had previously been treated were also analyzed, nine of whom had achieved prior complete remission. Low RB protein expression was found in 13 of 43 (30%) of the acute myelogenous leukemia patients as determined by Western blotting and immunochemical analysis. Of particular interest among the 20 newly diagnosed patients treated with the same therapeutic regimen, the median survival was 39 days for those with low RB protein expression compared to 333 days for those with high levels of RB protein expression in their leukemic cells (P less than or equal to 0.02). This preliminary study suggests that decreases of RB protein expression in peripheral blood of myeloid leukemic cells occur frequently and may be associated with shortened survival of acute myelogenous leukemia patients.

Blotting, Western↗

The phosphorylation of retinoblastoma gene product in human myeloid leukemia cells during the cell cycle.

Counterflow centrifugal elutriation and immunoblotting techniques were used to study the expression of the retinoblastoma (RB) gene during the cell cycle of BV173 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells. Our data showed that Rb protein started to be phosphorylated at early G1 phase, became hyperphosphorylated when cells progressed to late G1 and S phases during cell cycle, and remained hyperphosphorylated throughout S and G2/M phases. Our data suggest that Rb phosphorylation starts at a more distal point to the G1/S phase boundary in human myeloid leukemia BV173 cells rather than at a point more proximal to the G1/S boundary, as seen in HeLa cells.

Cell Line↗

Proliferation of hematopoietic cells is accompanied by suppressed expression of heat shock protein 70.

In this study, we have examined the synthesis of heat shock protein (HSP70) in leukemia cells from acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients and in mononuclear cells from normal individuals, before and after growth factor stimulation. We have shown that the HSP70 protein was expressed in these cells in the absence of temperature elevation. Stimulation of proliferation of AML cells by the growth factors interleukin-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and stimulation of normal lymphocytes by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) resulted in decreased synthesis of HSP70, suggesting that high levels of HSP70 are associated with cellular differentiation.

Bone Marrow↗

High incidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation during remission induction of adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

We determined the incidence and complications of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) at presentation and during remission induction of previously untreated adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or de novo Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL (PCALL) seen at Memorial Hospital between January 1, 1978 and December 31, 1989. DIC was diagnosed in the presence of (1) low fibrinogen (less than or equal to 160 mg/dL), (2) prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and falling fibrinogen, or (3) prolonged PT and positive fibrin split products (FSP). L-Asparaginase was not used during remission induction. Among adequately screened patients with ALL, DIC was detected in 7 of 58 (12%) before initiation of chemotherapy and in 35 of 45 (78%) during remission induction. DIC was not simply the result of infection because clinical and laboratory signs of infection were absent in 16 patients, whereas only 2 of the 22 febrile patients with DIC had positive cultures. Among the 38 patients with DIC at presentation or during remission induction, serious complications were seen in 13 in temporal association with DIC (pulmonary embolus in one, sagittal sinus thrombosis in three, and serious hemorrhage in nine) and were major factors in the deaths of three patients. Among the 10 patients with thorough screening but no evidence of DIC there was only one hemorrhage during the same time interval. In patients with PCALL, DIC was detected in 9% at presentation and in 80% during remission induction. We conclude that DIC is rare at presentation but common during remission induction of adult ALL and PCALL and may be associated with significant thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications. We suggest daily screening for DIC during the first 14 days of remission induction. The treatment of DIC in ALL and PCALL should be a subject of future clinical studies.

Adult↗

Treatment of de novo acute myelogenous leukemia with recombinant granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor in combination with standard induction chemotherapy: effect of granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor on white blood cell counts.

GM-CSF is a major regulator of myelopoiesis. Recombinant human GM-CSF (250 micrograms/m2 per day i.v.) was used prior to chemotherapy ("3 + 7" scheme) to recruit leukemic blasts in vivo (de novo AML patients, n = 20) into the chemotherapy sensitive phases of the cell cycle. The stimulatory effect of GM-CSF on peripheral blood AML blasts was associated with a rapid redistribution of leukemic blood cells and with an increase in "S-phase positive" cells. Standard induction chemotherapy ("3 + 7") following GM-CSF induced complete aplasia in 19/20 patients. In the same patients, rhGM-CSF (given after chemotherapy) was found to shorten the time of complete aplasia compared to historical controls whereas post-chemotherapy- and follow-up data suggest no significant differences for CCR and survival. Together, our studies show that GM-CSF can safely be administered to AML patients in combination with induction chemotherapy to recruit leukemic cells into the cell cycle.

Adult↗

Flow cytometric analysis of cytokinetics of L3-acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma.

Cell kinetic differences have been described between acute lymphoblastic leukemia with L1 and L2 morphology. We now report cytokinetic and DNA ploidy findings of the rare L3 B-cell leukemia/lymphoma. Flow cytometry analysis of nineteen samples was performed by simultaneous DNA-RNA staining with acridine orange. RNA and DNA indices and cell cycle distributions were calculated. The RNA-index of the G0/G1 cells was 17.9 +/- 8.7 and the number of cells in S phase and S + G2M were 21 +/- 10.6 and 28.0 +/- 13.9 percent respectively. DNA aneuploidy was found in 6/19 (31.6%) and in two cases multiple aneuploid cell lines were observed. DNA aneuploidy and multiple abnormal stemlines adversely affected survival (p less than 0.05), while kinetic parameters did not affect survival (p greater than 0.05). The cytokinetic data are significantly different (S phase and RNA-I; p less than 0.001) than previously reported for the L1 and L2 ALL. Abnormal DNA stemlines were found in cases with no detected cytogenetic abnormalities. This study confirms that L3 ALL is characterized by significantly increased proliferation and provides a means for a flow cytometric identification of this subtype as compared to L1 and L2 ALL.

Adult↗