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R Mick

Publications and source records attributed to R Mick.

123 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Morphologic and cytochemical characterization of adult lymphoid leukemias which express myeloid antigen.

Cancer and Leukemia Group B demonstrated that adults with acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) possessing blast cells with myeloid antigens (My+ALL), as identified by monoclonal antibodies against CD13 and CD33, have a worse prognosis than those lacking myeloid antigens (My-ALL). Consequently, we further studied this group of adults with ALL to determine if these immunological groups could be distinguished by morphological and cytochemical criteria. Bone marrow films were classified according to French-American-British Co-operative Group Criteria, assessed for myelodysplasia, and examined for blasts with azurophilic granules. More cases of My+ALL had L2 morphology than did My-ALL (68% vs. 49%, p = 0.04), and more cases of My+ALL were positive for acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (61% vs. 31%, p = 0.03). The presence of myelodysplastic changes was not significantly different in My+ALL (13%) as compared to My-ALL (5%), but more cases of My+ALL had unusual blasts (monocytoid features and cytoplasmic buds) than did My-ALL (19% vs. 0%, p less than 0.01). In addition, more cases of My+ALL had greater than 5% of the blasts with azurophilic granules (42% vs. 13%, p = 0.01). In the My+ALL group the presence of azurophilic granules was associated with a longer median survival (13.5 months vs. 1.5 months, p less than 0.01). We conclude that My+ALL can be suspected when cases possess L2 morphology, unusual blasts, positive staining for acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase, and greater than 5% azurophilic granules. In addition, the poor risk group (My+ALL) can be further subdivided into better and poorer risk subgroups based on the presence of azurophilic granules.

Adolescent↗

A comparative study of dibromomannitol and busulfan in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. A study of cancer and leukemia group B.

In a prospective, randomized trial the effectiveness of dibromomannitol (DBM), a brominated sugar alcohol derivative, was compared to busulfan in previously untreated patients. One hundred thirty-one patients were evaluated for response and survival. The effective dose of DBM was 4 mg/kg. The persistence of sensitivity to either DBM or busulfan was shown in a quantified fashion. Despite initial reports of the alleged unique effectiveness of DBM in treating chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), this study did not disclose any advantage of DBM over busulfan. Multivariate analysis investigating the importance of prognostic factors in CML indicated that age, sex, splenomegaly, and initial platelet count were important for predicting survival. Determination of such factors in CML are valuable in deciding those patients who could benefit from alternative forms of therapy. It also insures that study results are related to treatment rather than selection of patients with favorable or unfavorable prognostic factors.

Adolescent↗

Clinical importance of myeloid antigen expression in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

To determine the clinical importance of immunophenotypes in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), we prospectively studied 76 patients with this condition. Before treatment, lymphoblasts were tested for reactivity with monoclonal antibodies to B-cell, T-cell, and myeloid (My) antigens. Unexpectedly, myeloid antigens (MCS-2 or MY9) were identified in 25 patients (33 percent), usually in conjunction with B-cell or T-cell antigens. Among My+ patients, 15 (60 percent) expressed B-cell antigens (B+T-My+); all 6 tested had rearranged immunoglobulin genes. Five patients (20 percent) expressed T-cell antigens (B-T+My+), and one My+ patient expressed both B-cell and T-cell antigens. Only myeloid antigens (B-T-My+) were expressed in four patients (16 percent); three who were tested had germ-line immunoglobulin and T-cell-receptor gene configurations. Although no significant differences in presenting clinical features were found, My+ patients had fewer complete remissions than My- patients (35 vs. 76 percent, P less than 0.01). No differences in response or survival were observed between My+ and My- patients expressing T-cell antigens. However, among those expressing B-cell antigens, My+ patients had fewer complete remissions (29 vs. 71 percent, P = 0.02) and shorter survival (P = 0.03; median, 8.1 vs. greater than 26 months). These findings indicate that expression of myeloid antigen identifies a high-risk group of patients with adult ALL for whom alternative forms of treatment should be investigated.

Adult↗

The reproducibility of acute lymphoblastic leukemia phenotype determinations: evaluation of monoclonal antibody and conventional hematopoietic markers.

Peripheral blood and/or bone marrow lymphoblasts from 25 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were tested with a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) and conventional hematopoietic markers by three different laboratories. The results were analysed to evaluate the reproducibility of ALL phenotype determinations. Specimens were transported between laboratories by 24-h courier service and were classified on the basis of indirect immunofluorescence MoAb reactivities as follows: B-lineage ALL (BA-1+T-MCS-2-); T-lineage ALL (T+BA-1-MCS-2-); myeloid antigen ALL (MCS-2+BA-1-CALLA-T-) and unclassified ALL (BA-1-MCS-2-CALLA-T-). Conventional marker studies for surface immunoglobulin (sIg), cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (cIg), sheep erythrocyte rosette formation (E) and nuclear terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) were also performed. In the cases with sufficient marker data to permit classification, 90% (18/20) were identically classified by different laboratories and this concordance was statistically significant (p less than 0.05). The agreement between laboratories for individual MoAb and conventional marker analyses was statistically significant (p less than 0.05) for all markers with the exception of BA-2, cIg and TdT determinations. Six of 7 discordant BA-2 cases represented BA-2+ evaluations which had subsequent BA-2- results following specimen transportation. These findings suggest instability of the BA-2 antigen to transport conditions. A similar pattern of positive to negative evaluations following transportation was observed in 5/5 discordant results involving other MoAbs. Disagreement between laboratories for cIg and TdT determinations implies that the detection of cytoplasmic or nuclear antigens may be more prone to subjective interpretation than cell surface antigen marker analyses. Our findings suggest that immunofluorescence marker studies employing MoAbs to cell surface antigens are in general highly reproducible. Our results also indicate that specimen storage conditions and the cellular location of target antigens are important variables which may affect the reproducibility of ALL phenotype determinations.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

First-trimester serum prolactin levels in normal and complicated pregnancies.

Subfractional activities and some properties of beta-glucuronidase were studied at different ontogenetic stages of the human placenta. Maximum activity was localized in normal pregnancies rose from 13.58 ng/ml in the 6th week to 52.46 ng/ml in the 15th week of gestation with marked individual variability. In tubal pregnancies, serum hPRL was low and did not increase over a period of 3--6 weeks. In women with spontaneous abortion, hPRL levels often were in the normal range with a drop only immediately prior to expulsion of the fetus. In patients with missed abortion the drop in serum prolactin levels seemed to coincide with the death of the conceptus.

Abortion, Missed↗

[Influence of an active attitude towards induction of labour, on the occurrence of pathological amniotic fluid - a comparison of the birth years 1967 and 1976 (author's transl)].

An analysis was made of discolored amniotic fluid when our attitude changed towards artificial birth induction. Whereas during 1967 only 8.2% of all births were induced, the total birth inductions during the second comparable year increased to 23.5%. This active interference at the end of the gestation period made it possible to reduce the occurrence of discolored amniotic fluid cases from 13.6% to 6.4%. It was thereby established that the lowered perinatal mortality was partially due to this very significantly reduced occurrence of discolored amniotic fluid. The increased surgical termination of pregnancy, in this group lowered the infant mortality from 2,1% to 0,9%. Based on our observations we feel that in a secured gestation period close to the end of term, active obestrical interference is indicated and in cases of discolored amniotic fluid immediate assistance in terminating the pregnancy is required.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Treatment of early chronic lymphocytic leukemia: intermittent chlorambucil versus observation.

The effect of early therapy on the course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has not been established. Fifty-nine patients with indolent Rai stage I and II CLL were randomized to receive intermittent chlorambucil once a month or to receive no treatment. The two groups were comparable in entry characteristics. At 5 years from randomization there was no significant difference in survival between the two groups although the proportion of patients exhibiting active disease 5 years after randomization is 70 per cent in the untreated group and 55 per cent in the treated group. In this study, early treatment of CLL with intermittent chlorambucil did not result in a survival advantage for patients with indolent stage I and II CLL.

Aged↗

Overexpression of BCL-x protein in primary breast cancer is associated with high tumor grade and nodal metastases.

PURPOSE: Dysregulation of genes that control apoptosis can contribute to tumor progression and increased drug resistance. The BCL2 gene and its family member BCL-x as well as the TP53 genes regulate apoptosis and have been shown to have a direct effect on the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation and chemotherapeutic agents. METHODS: The expression of BCL-x, a BCL2-related protein that is a potent inhibitor of apoptosis, was investigated by immunohistochemical and immunoblot methods in 43 primary untreated breast carcinomas, in conjunction with BCL2 and TP53. RESULTS: BCL-x protein was overexpressed in 18 of 42 (43%) invasive breast cancers when compared with adjacent normal breast epithelium. Western blot analysis of eight primary breast cancers and five breast cancer cell lines indicated that BCL-xL was the predominant BCL-x protein expressed. Overexpression of BCL-x protein in these tumors was associated with higher tumor grade and increased number of positive nodes. In contrast, BCL2 protein was overexpressed in 19 of 42 tumors (45%) and was strongly correlated with estrogen receptor positivity, lower tumor grade, smaller tumor size, and lower stage. TP53 protein immunostaining was detected in 12 of 40 tumors (29%) and was inversely correlated with BCL2 expression and ER positivity. There was no correlation between the level of BCL-x protein expression and age, tumor size, ER status, and TP53 status. At a median follow-up time of 216 weeks, there was a trend toward decreased overall survival in patients with tumors overexpressing BCL-x. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that expression of BCL-x protein is increased in a significant fraction of invasive breast cancers. In contrast to BCL2 expression, up-regulation of BCL-x protein may be a marker of tumor progression. Additional data including larger numbers of patients, more uniform treatments, and longer follow-up are needed to define the prognostic significance of overexpression of BCL-x during breast cancer progression.

Adult↗