Mobilisation with G-CSF in healthy donors promotes a high but temporal deregulation of genes.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M C del Cañizo.
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Studies evaluating the effects of previous chemotherapy on stem-cell yield and hematological recovery after autologous peripheral-blood progenitor-cell transplantation (PBPCT) have shown conflicting results. We have retrospectively analyzed 103 consecutive lymphoma patients treated with the BEAM regimen and autologous PBPCT. The impact of the different chemotherapeutic drugs (cumulative doses) on stem-cell yield and transplant-related toxicity was investigated. Highly significant differences in platelet recovery (>20 x 10(9)/l) were observed between patients receiving less or more than 750 mg/m(2) of etoposide before transplant (15 vs 29 days, P=0.001), and between patients receiving less or more than 1.2 x 10(6)/kg CD34(+) cells (27 vs 14 days, P<0.001). Differences in neutrophil engraftment between groups were not clinically significant. Pre-transplant cumulative doses of etoposide >750 mg/m(2) were associated with low CD34(+) cell collections on multivariate analysis. The actuarial incidence of transplant-related mortality (TRM) was 14% at 5 years. Pre-transplant cumulative doses of etoposide >350 mg/m(2) and previous administration of procarbazine were found to be independent prognostic factors for TRM.
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative therapy for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs). We have analyzed the outcome of 81 patients who underwent an allogeneic transplant from an HLA-identical sibling donor. The overall survival (OS) was 31% and disease-free survival was 30% at 5.8 years. Transplant-related complications were the cause of death in 44% and disease progression in 16% of patients. Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) grades II-IV occurred in 32 cases (39%). Extensive chronic GVHD (cGVHD) was observed in 27% of patients. When the log-rank test was performed, we observed that patients transplanted more than 6 months after diagnosis, and those transplanted with bone marrow (BM) displayed a shorter survival (P=0.009 and 0.005, respectively). Patients who developed cGVHD showed a trend towards better OS (P=0.07). Patients receiving BM had a higher incidence of aGVHD (65 vs 50%) and less cGVHD (52 vs 30%), although the differences did not reach statistical significance. Moreover, patients who received PB-HSC displayed a faster engraftment (P=0.000) and showed a significantly lower early transplant-related mortality (14 vs 42%; P=0.006) and longer OS (P=0.005). In summary, our results show that hematopoietic transplantation should be performed as soon as possible in MDS patients and that PB is preferable to BM as a source of HSC.
Recombinant(R) interferon alpha (r-IFN-alpha) has been shown to be an effective drug for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). However, higher response rates can be achieved using cytarabine along with r-IFN-alpha. YNK01 is a derivative of cytosine arabinoside for oral administration. So far, the only published experience with continuous YNK01 was in advanced CML (10 cases). We have performed a pilot study to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combined therapy r-IFN-alpha and daily oral YNK01 in patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML. Ten previously untreated patients were included in the study. Among those patients evaluable for cytogenetic response, 87% (seven out of eight) reached a major cytogenetic response with four reaching complete cytogenetic response (50%). The most significant side-effects were gastrointestinal. Macrocytic anaemia was observed in three patients. In conclusion, continuous oral administration of YNK01 in combination with IFN-alpha is safe and can result in high-cytogenetic response rates.
Pathological rupture of the spleen is a rare but well recognized complication in hematological malignancies. Early clinical recognition of this life-threatening complication is necessary for rapid intervention. Here, we report on the case of a 26-year-old woman with acute promyelocytic leukemia who presented rupture of the spleen on day +2 of treatment with ATRA plus idarrubicin. In patients with acute leukemia, the presence of a painful abdomen and a sudden drop in hemoglobin levels, should alert of a possible splenic rupture, even without additional symptoms. This would facilitate an early treatment intervention with no modification to the chemotherapy schedule.
BACKGROUND: Atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (aCML) is an infrequent chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by leukocytosis, absence of Philadelphia chromosome or BCR-ABL rearrangement, and marked myeloid dysplasia. Some cases have an absolute monocytosis but can be distinguished from chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) by the presence of a higher percentage (> 15%) of circulating immature granulocytes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a series of 11 patients with a diagnosis of aCML according to the FAB proposals we have analyzed the most relevant clinical, hematological and cytogenetic characteristics. RESULTS: The median age was 65 years (16-84). All but one case showed, at time of diagnosis, leukocytosis (median WBC was 36 x 10(9)/l), 55% had moderate anemia and 36% had thrombocytopenia. Most cases had marked dysplasia, particularly in the granulocytic lineage (82% of the cases), and all cases showed bone marrow red hypoplasia. Cytogenetic abnormalities were present in 9 out of the 11 patients. Trisomy 8 was observed in three cases and other clonal chromosomal abnormalities included deletions of 5q, 13q, 17p, 12q, and 11q as well as a t(6;8)(p23;q22) translocation. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) studies failed to demonstrate ETV-6 gene involvement. The median survival time from diagnosis was only 14 months (range 3-56 months). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that aCML is a rare disease which is characterized by leukocytosis, with dysgranulopoiesis, BM erythroid hypoplasia, chromosomal, though not recurrent, abnormalities and poor prognosis.
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Secondary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are increasingly being reported after autologous transplantation. Transient dysplastic changes have also been observed after this type of treatment. However, to the best of our knowledge no systematic morphological analysis has been performed to determine the influence of stem cell transplantation on bone marrow morphology. In 53 patients undergoing autologous transplantation, we evaluated the bone marrow, before and 6 and 12 months after the transplant, in order to analyze the appearance of dyshemopoietic changes, assessed according to a pre-established score. We also studied 25 bone marrow samples obtained at the time of diagnosis, prior to treatment, but we did not find morphological atypia. Six months after transplant, cellularity and thrombopoiesis had decreased in 38% and 49% of patients respectively, although 1 year after the process they were normal in most cases. Myelodysplasia was already present in bone marrow before transplantation and continued to be in evidence for a long time afterwards. This suggests that chemotherapy and radiotherapy used prior to transplantation are responsible for dysplastic changes. The myeloid line was the most affected with 100% of patients showing dysgranulopoiesis 1 year after autografting. Cytopenias were observed in 51% and 44% of patients 6 and 12 months after transplantation. Moreover, concomitant presence of cytopenia and myelodysplasia was observed in 37.7% of patients at 6 months after transplantation and 25% at 12 months, and therefore they could be diagnosed with MDS. These data contrast with the incidence of secondary MDS reported in earlier publications. According to these findings, the value of the French-American-British Co-operative Group criteria for the diagnosis of MDS following autologous transplantation is questionable. Moreover, since dyshemopoietic features are almost always present after autologous transplant, morphological criteria are not useful for early recognition of patients with secondary MDS after transplantation.
The aim of the present study was to assess which factors influence hematopoietic function long term after transplantation. For this purpose, we have analyzed a series of 79 patients who underwent autologous transplantation. None of them received any further chemotherapy or radiotherapy after transplant. All patients were disease-free 1 year after autologous transplantation. Late impairment of hematopoietic function was defined as the presence of non-transient peripheral blood cytopenias, detected 6 and 12 months after autografting. Before transplantation, 38.7% of patients showed peripheral blood cytopenias. Six and 12 months after transplantation, cytopenias presented in 44.2% and 42.4% of patients, respectively. Cases displaying cytopenias 6 months after transplantation had received a significantly lower dose of CFU-GM and CD34+ cells than patients without cytopenias (P = 0.012 and P = 0.04, respectively). The same correlation, with even higher statistical significance, was observed 12 months after transplant (P = 0.007 and P = 0.005). Alkylating agents and radiotherapy administered prior to transplantation and age did not seem to influence the presence of permanent cytopenias. The incidence did not vary significantly according to the stem cell source (bone marrow or peripheral blood). The number of CFU-GM and CD34+ cells infused was the most important factor for maintenance of adequate hematopoiesis.
Immunophenotypic investigation of minimal residual disease (MRD) has traditionally been based on the investigation of phenotypic aberrants at diagnosis to be used later as a target for MRD detection. This approach has several shortcomings (it is only applicable to patients with aberrant phenotypes, requires a diagnostic sample, and is patient-specific) and therefore a search for simpler alternatives is warranted. The present study is based on the hypothesis that in precursor-B-ALL patients the persistence of residual leukaemic cells may induce abnormalities in the precursor-B-cell compartment in bone marrow (BM) and these could be used as a criteria to predict relapse. These abnormalities may include: (1) the presence of an increase in the frequencies of immature B cells (CD34+/CD19+ or CD20-/CD19+) or (2) the existence of an altered B-cell differentiation pathway due to a blockade or to the presence of B cells outside the normal pathway. A total of 180 BM samples from 45 consecutive precursor-B-ALL patients who achieved morphological complete remission (CR) were analysed by multiparametric flow cytometry. Our results show that a significant increase in immature B-cell subsets or an altered B-cell differentiation predicts a high relapse rate (P<0.01) and a shorter disease-free survival (P<0.01). Moreover, abnormalities in either of these two criteria detected at specific time points during follow-up (end of induction, maintenance, or after treatment) were associated with a significantly shorter disease-free survival (P<0.01). In summary, the investigation of abnormalities in B-cell differentiation is a relatively simple and cheap approach for predicting relapse in precursor-B-ALL patients.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Patients with malignancies receive chemotherapy to induce tumor remission which could damage hematopoiesis and adversely influence hematopoietic reconstitution after transplantation. In the present study we used a long-term culture (LTBMC) system and clonogenic assays to evaluate the marrow damage in patients selected to receive peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients - 20 with breast cancer (BC), 9 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 6 with Hodgkin's disease (HD) - were included. Bone marrow aspiration was performed one day prior to the initiation of the conditioning therapy. CFU-GM were cultured in methylcellulose with PHA-LCM. Delta assays of plastic adherent progenitor cells (PD) were performed according to Gordon's method. LTBMC were established for 5 weeks. RESULTS: There were fewer CFU-GM from all patient groups than from normal BM (p<0.05). In contrast, the number of immature progenitor cells (PD) was not decreased. The total number of CFU-GM produced by LTBMC patients was significantly reduced (p<0.05). The adherent layer from patients was often qualitatively different. In order to know whether the hematopoietic damage could affect hematopoietic reconstitution, we correlated culture data with time taken to reach peripheral cell counts. A negative correlation (r= - 0.71) was found between percentage of stromal layer and time taken to reach 20x10(9) platelets/L (tplat= 20x3-0.08% stromal layer). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: We can conclude that prior to PBSCT, hematopoietic function is impaired at both the level of committed progenitor cells and that of BM stroma. This damage could influence platelet recovery.
BACKGROUND: In order to find out the effect of peripheral blood (PB) hematopoietic progenitor cells on immune reconstitution the present study compares, through a randomized trial, some lymphoid subsets after peripheral blood (PBT) or bone marrow (BMT) autologous transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve patients suffering from malignant hematological disorders were included (6 BMT and 6 PBT). From these patients 14 lymphoid and natural killer (NK) subsets were sequentially analyzed using appropriate dual staining. NK activity was analyzed by measuring Cr51 release from the K562 cell line. Studies were done in days and -6, +10, +17, +24, +31, +38, +52, +66, +90, +120, +180 and +360 after transplantation. RESULTS: The CD8+ cell regeneration was produced mainly by activated cells (CD38+), and no differences were observed between BMT and PBT, but CD8+ HLADR+ cells were higher in the PBT group. During the first year after transplantation CD4+ lymphoid cells were never within normal range, and its recovery was due to the memory subset (CD4+/CD45RO+). The CD19+ lymphocytes began their regeneration after the first month and it was produced mainly by by the CD19+/CD5+ subset. NK cells recovered faster in patients who underwent PBT, but NK activity was similar in both subgroups of patients and it was within normal range from day +17 until the end of the study. CONCLUSION: T, B and NK lymphoid reconstitution do not differ significantly between patients that receive BM or PB as hemathopoietic rescue, but PB seems influence a faster reconstitution of cytotoxic subsets (CD8+/HLADR+ and NK lymphoid cells).
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The in vitro growth characteristics of a large series of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients and their relationship with other clinical and biological disease characteristics were analysed. Patients with AML were studied, 181 with de novo AML and 45 with secondary AML (24 myelodysplastic syndrome, sAML-MDS, 21 myeloproliferative disorder, sAML-MPD). Leukaemic colony forming units (L-CFU) were assayed by plating peripheral blood (PB) blast cells in methyl-cellulose and using LCM-PHA as stimulant. In each case parallel cultures were made with and without stimulating factors. Plating efficiency (PE) was defined as the number of clusters plus colonies/10(5) cells plated. Autonomous growth (AG) was the number of colonies plus clusters growing without stimulant. The autonomous proliferative index (API) was calculated as the number of clusters + colonies without stimulating factor divided by the number of clusters + colonies with stimulating factor. No significant differences in the PE between de novo and secondary AML were found. Autonomous growth was significantly higher in sAML-MPD. The FAB subtype M3 leukaemias displayed a significantly greater PE and a significantly lower API when compared with the other FAB subgroups (P=0.0002). Upon analysing the relationship with the immunophenotype, only CD33 expression showed a significant relationship with the in vitro growth pattern; CD33+ cases displayed a higher PE (P=0.0002) and AG (P=0.0003) than CD33- cases. When patients were grouped according to the level of rh123 efflux (MDR1) it was observed that cases with >30% elimination showed a higher AG and API than those with <30% (P=0.03). Finally we found that patients with higher API (>0.05) displayed a significantly shorter overall survival as compared with patients with API<0.05 (P=0.04). The in vitro study properties of clonogenic cells produces relevant clinical information of leukaemic cell biology in AML patients.
In the present paper, we evaluate tolerability, outcome and prognostic factors in patients with poor prognosis non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin's disease (HD) when uniformly treated with BCNU, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan (BEAM) and autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). On hundred and forty-eight patients with NHL (n = 112) or HD (n = 36) received BEAM followed by infusion of bone marrow (n = 55), peripheral blood stem cells (n = 79) or both (n = 14). Twenty-eight patients had low-grade lymphoma (LGL), 68 intermediate- and 16 high-grade lymphoma (IGL). Within the NHL group, 21 patients were in 2nd or subsequent complete remission (CR) at transplant, 34 had sensitive disease and 11 resistant disease; 46 patients were transplanted in 1st CR due to the presence of > or = 2 adverse prognostic features at diagnosis or to a slow CR. Of the HD patients at transplant 17 had active disease, 16 were in > or = 2 CR and three in 1st CR. The overall percentage of toxic deaths was 5.4%, while in the group of patients transplanted with PBSC it was only 1.3%. NHL patients: 78% were in CR following ASCT, including 25 out of 45 patients (56%) who were transplanted with active disease. Only two of the 11 patients transplanted with resistant disease achieved CR. Incidence of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) at 3 years was 65 and 75%, respectively. As far as histology was concerned, OS was significantly better for patients with LGL in comparison with IGL (88 vs 56%) (P = 0.002). DFS was significantly higher for patients transplanted in first CR or first partial remission (PR) than it was for those transplanted in a later CR or PR (86 vs 53%) (P = 0.02). Multivariate analysis for OS showed that histology, bulky disease, poor performance status at transplant and achievement of CR were independent prognostic factors. In addition, a high number of infused MNC was associated with poor DFS. HD patients: 30 (83%) were in CR after transplantation, with 25 maintaining CR at the end of the study. Only one of the four patients transplanted with resistant disease reached CR. Incidence of OS and DFS at 3 years was 78 and 81%. DFS was similar for patients transplanted with early or late relapse (95 and 93%). With multivariate analysis, the only independent variable for OS was CR after transplant. In conclusion, the present results demonstrate the efficacy and low toxicity of the BEAM regimen in high-risk lymphoma patients with sensitive disease. Other strategies should be investigated for patients with refractory lymphoma.
Haemopoietic growth factors (HGFs) have been shown to accelerate recovery from severe neutropenia after autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) but their effect on immune reconstitution is not well defined. The present study compares, through randomized trial, the in vivo effect of GM-CSF and G-CSF administration on the immune recovery of patients who underwent ABMT. For that purpose, we have sequentially analysed 14 different T, B and NK lymphoid cell subsets using appropriate dual staining during the first year following transplant (days +6, +17, +31, +66, +90, +120, +180, +360). 24 patients with lymphoproliferative disorders (20 lymphomas and four multiple myelomas) and who had undergone ABMT were included in the study. The median age was 43 years (range 22-62 years). All lymphoma patients were homogenously conditioned with BEAM. Our results show that both GM-CSF and G-CSF aid T-cell (CD3+/alpha beta) recovery though their contribution varies depending on the T-cell subset analysed. G-CSF contributed to a significantly faster recovery of CD8+ cells (P = 0.03). The CD8+ cell regeneration was produced mainly by activated cells (CD38+/HLA-DR+) which lacked the CD11b antigen. In contrast, GM-CSF favoured the regeneration of CD4+ cells (through both the CD45RO+ and CD45RA+ subset), leading to a higher CD4+:CD8+ ratio (P = 0.007). No statistically significant differences were detected in the three groups of patients as regards both the recovery of NK cells and NK activity. Furthermore, the use of HGF did not seem to exert a significant influence on the recovery of B lymphocytes. This recovery was based on the CD5+ subpopulation that showed a rapid rise after the first month. We suggest that G-CSF and GM-CSF not only influence myeloid recovery, but also regeneration of the immune system after ABMT.
AIM: To evaluate the validity of the colony forming unit-granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM) assay for predicting relapse in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). METHODS: The study population comprised 32 patients with AML in remission, followed for a median of 18 months. A mean of four studies was carried out per patient. Three patterns of in vitro growth based on the number of CFU-GM in normal bone marrow were defined: 1 = normal (normal number of CFU-GM and a cluster:colony ratio < 2); 2 = hypoplastic (low number of CFU-GM and a cluster:colony ratio < 2); 3 = anomalous (low or normal number of CFU-GM and a cluster:colony ratio > 2). RESULTS: Eleven patients relapsed, all of whom had previously displayed an abnormal CFU-GM pattern: anomalous in nine and hypoplastic in two. The remaining 25 patients were in complete remission at the time of writing, 16 of whom had a normal growth pattern. The other nine had anomalous (eight patients) or hypoplastic (one patient) growth. The latter may be false positive results. The in vitro growth pattern was not constant during follow up analysis. All 15 patients in whom the growth pattern switched from abnormal to normal remain in complete remission. By contrast, of the five cases in whom the pattern changed from normal to abnormal, three have relapsed and the other two had other indicators of relapse. The growth pattern remained unchanged in the remaining 16 patients. CONCLUSION: The present data show that the sequential investigation of the CFU-GM growth pattern may be of value in predicting relapse in patients with AML.