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[Response rate of AML-XH-99 protocol in the treatment of 82 childhood acute myeloid leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes of childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with AML-XH-99 protocol and explore how to improve the event-free survival (EFS) rate. METHODS: Eighty-two patients entered AML-XH-99 clinical trial. Survival rates were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier method with SPSS. RESULTS: Among the 82 patients, 58 (70.7%) achieved complete remission (CR) after one course treatment, and the total CR rate was 84.1%. The overall 5 year EFS rate was (46.1 +/- 9.1)% and disease-free survival (DFS) rate was (54.3 +/- 10.3)% over a median observation period of 23 months. The 5 year EFS rate of 56 patients received high-dose cytarabine(HD-Ara-C) as intensification therapy was (47.2 +/- 12.9)%. Relapse occurred in 19 patients (26.0%) with a median time of 10 months (ranges 2 approximately 53 months), 28 patients died. CONCLUSION: AML-XH-99 protocol resulted in a higher CR rate, especially one course CR rate, which was one of the key factors for long-term EFS and HD-Ara-C intensification therapy was effective in the treatment of childhood AML.

Adolescent↗

Sequential administration of gemtuzumab ozogamicin and conventional chemotherapy as first line therapy in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a phase II study (AML-15) of the EORTC and GIMEMA leukemia groups.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the elderly is associated with low rates of response to conventional chemotherapy and long-term survival, highlighting the need for innovative treatment strategies. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) is an immunoconjugate that has shown activity in relapsed AML with a favorable safety profile. The aim of this collaborative trial was to assess the feasibility, safety, and antileukemic activity of administering GO followed by conventional chemotherapy as first line therapy in patients aged 61-75 years with AML. DESIGN AND METHODS: Eligible patients received frontline treatment with GO 9 mg/m2 infused intravenously on days 1 and 15. Following response assessment to GO, patients were started on conventional chemotherapy consisting of the MICE regimen (mitoxantrone, cytarabine, etoposide). No further treatment was planned for complete responders. RESULTS: Among the 57 evaluable patients, 38 (67%) completed the entire sequential treatment as planned. The overall response rate to the entire induction sequence was 54.4% (31/57), with complete remission (CR) in 35.1% and complete remission with incomplete platelet recovery (CRp) in 19.3%. Rates of failure due to treatment-related mortality or resistant disease were 14.1% (3 toxic deaths during the GO segment, 5 during MICE) and 29.9%, respectively. An initial response to GO was documented in 20 patients (35.1%), with CR in 22.8% and CRp in 12.3%; 6 additional patients entered a partial remission. Reversible myelosuppression and liver toxicity were the main adverse events during both segments of induction. Frontline GO was associated with modest mucosal and gastrointestinal toxicity, but grade 3-4 pancytopenia was universal and prolonged. Hepatic veno-occlusive disease developed in 3 patients after GO and 2 after MICE, resulting in 4 deaths from liver failure. One-year survival at follow-up was 34%. Twelve patients continue in CR/CRp after a median of 226 days. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: The sequential combination of GO and conventional chemotherapy is a feasible and active treatment strategy for older patients with untreated AML. This novel regimen is now being compared in a phase III trial (AML-17).

Acute Disease↗

[Plasma concentration of the shed form of L-selectin (sL-selectin) in patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and its relation to the clinical course].

L-selectin plays a critical role in the initiation of normal leukocyte attachment to activated endothelium. It is expressed on most normal leukocytes and is also detectable on blast cells in ALL and AML. The shed form of L-selectin (sL-selectin) is found in plasma. High plasma sL-selectin levels were detectable in patients with AML and correlated with disease activity and poor prognosis. Little information is available on the clinical and prognostic significance of sL-selectin in ALL. The study was undertaken to determine sL-selectin levels during clinical course of patients with ALL and AML and to assess its role as a disease activity and prognostic factor. Heparinized plasma was obtained from 83 patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia, including 30 with ALL, 50 with AML, 3 with biphenotypic leukemia and 19 healthy people. For some patients additional samples were taken in complete remission (CR) and relapse. sL-selectin was assayed using an ELISA method. The mean plasma sL-selectin concentration in all patients with acute leukemia was significantly higher than and in normals. Concentration of s-selectin L in patients with CR was significantly lower than at presentation and in the range of normals. sL-selectin plasma concentration in relapse was comparable to that from diagnosis. There was no significant difference in sL-selectin concentration between patients who entered CR after induction treatment and without CR. Patients with extramedullary disease had higher sL-selectin than patients without that manifestation. Monitoring of the sL-selectin concentration maybe useful for evaluating leukemia activity in both ALL and AML patients.

Adult↗

[Clinical course of the disease and the level of WT1 mRNA in 191 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML): joint research by 23 institutions in Japan].

We evaluated the clinical course of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the levels of WT1 mRNA in 191 AML patients. Of 114 previously untreated patients with AML, 107 cases were positive for WT1 mRNA (93.9% : 107/114). WT1 mRNA expression-levels declined to below 50 copies/microg RNA ("negative") after remission was achieved in all 66 patients who achieved remission and 84.8% (47/54) cases were "negative" at the end of the follow-up periods. On the other hand, WT1 mRNA was expressed in 87.0% of non-remission cases (47/54), maintaining 50 copies/microg of RNA or higher ("positive"). In all 29 cases who relapsed during the follow-up observation period after achieving remission, WT1 mRNA levels declined transiently approximately around the time of achieving remission and then rose again when the disease relapsed. Moreover, we determined the time of elevation of WT1 mRNA in 29 relapsed cases. In 79.3% of relapsed cases (23/29), WT1 mRNA levels rose above 200 copies/microg RNA, 43 days (median) before the diagnosis of "relapse". Given the percent of the correct diagnosis, WT1 mRNA at 200 copies/microg RNA appeared to be a reasonable cut-off level for early detection of AML-relapse. The WT1 mRNA level reflected the clinical condition. Taken together, these findings indicate that WT1 mRNA levels allow us to detect the presence of so-called "minimal residual disease" (leukemic cells) that cannot be detected by morphological examination. Besides these promising data, this kit is suitable for routine monitoring of AML because this kit utilizes peripheral blood as a test specimen, reducing the patient's burden at the time of collection of clinical samples as compared with bone marrow aspirate.

Adult↗

Recombinant human GM-CSF following chemotherapy in high-risk AML.

Chemotherapy (CT) induced critical neutropenia remains a major dose limiting problem in acute leukemias. In order to reduce the phase of risk we gave recombinant human GM-CSF to 30 patients at high risk of early death with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 19 patients with untreated AML and 1 patient with AML late relapse were 65+ years of age and were treated for CT by the TAD9 regimen. 10 patients at all ages had AML early or second relapse and received S-HAM CT. Starting on day 4 after CT GM-CSF 250 micrograms/m2/d was given by continuous i.v. infusion until neutrophils recovered. GM-CSF reduced the median recovery time of neutrophils by 4 days in the TAD9 and 9 days in the S-HAM CT group when compared to controls. After the CT induced aplasia 3 patients with AML showed a regrowth of their blasts which after the stop of GM-CSF was reversible in 1 patient and unaffectedly continued in 2 patients. 57% of patients attained a complete remission, and the median age of the responders was 65 (34-84) years. Remission duration was not found to be reduced. Thus, GM-CSF reduces CT toxicity with a low risk of promoting the disease and may allow more effective antileukemic treatment.

Adult↗

The role of methylcellulose on colony growth of human myeloid leukemic progenitors (AML-CFU).

The use of a semisolid support like methylcellulose (MC) in a clonogenic assay prevents cell migration and nonspecific aggregation. However, the inhibitory effect of MC on myeloid cell lines has been reported. To assess the effect of MC on human leukemic progenitor cell growth (acute myeloblastic leukemia colony-forming units, AML-CFU), increasing concentrations of MC (0.36%, 0.72%, and 1.44%) were added in a double-feeder culture system. T-lymphocyte-depleted leukemic cells from 12 patients with AML were cultured in the presence of 2.5% phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in a liquid and a semisolid (MC) medium over a leukocyte feeder layer. The leukemic nature of the colonies was confirmed by cytogenetic studies. The median cloning efficiency in the optimal MC assay system was significantly higher (217 leukemic colony-forming units [CFU-L]/5 x 10(4) cells) than the one obtained in the liquid assay system (72.5 CFU-L/5 x 10(4) cells). However, three patterns of growth were observed: 1) colony formation was significantly better in MC than in the liquid assay system (seven of ten cases), 2) there was no difference in growth response (three of ten cases), and 3) colony formation was significantly better in the liquid assay system (one of ten cases). In the semisolid assay system, colony growth was dependent on MC concentration and varied among individual patients. A striking feature was the partial reduction of AML-CFU growth at 1.44% MC, with complete inhibition in 4/11 cases. This phenomenon was not observed for normal progenitors cultured under the same conditions. Cytological evaluation of AML-CFU showed an incomplete maturation to the myelocyte state, accompanied occasionally by macrophagic differentiation. In contrast, maturation of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit (CFU-GM) clones was harmonious, resulting in greater than 40% polynuclear cells, even from a 7-day culture. Despite a variable clonal response of leukemic progenitors from individual patients, we conclude that 0.72% MC is the optimal concentration of MC in our system, allowing clonal growth of AML-CFU.

Cell Division↗

SSCP detection of N-ras promoter mutations in AML patients.

Activation of the N-ras gene via coding region mutations has been previously documented in 25% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Since overexpression of normal N-ras is also transforming in vitro, the N-ras promoter of AML patients was analyzed for the presence of promoter mutations that may affect expression of the N-ras gene. Single-stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) was used to analyze samples from 26 AML patients and 13 normal subjects. A novel polymorphism at position 390 within the N-ras promoter was observed in both AML patients and normal samples at an overall frequency of 26%. In addition, two of 26 patients had single-base substitutions within protein binding sites that altered the binding of transcription factors to the promoter. One patient had a T-->A mutation at position 520 within an AP-1 binding site; the other had an A-->G mutation at position 409 within a protein binding region adjacent to a Myb binding site. The data suggest that in addition to coding region mutations in the N-ras gene, mutations in the promoter region that could alter regulation of N-ras expression provide an alternative mechanism of involvement of N-ras in AML.

Base Sequence↗

[Diagnosis and treatment strategy for de novo AML with trilineage myelodysplasia].

The findings of morphologically dysplastic features in hematopoietic cells in de novo AML has been known as AML with trilineage myelodysplasia (AML/TMDS). We analyzed the clinical data and treatment outcomes of 230 de novo AML patients treated with the Japan Adult Leukemia Study Group AML-87 protocol. Forty (17%) patients had AML/TMDS. It was detected in 21% to 34% of patients with M2, M4 and M6, and never seen in patients with M3 and M5. The median age was 48.5 years in the TMDS group and was 48 years in the patients without TMDS, respectively. Platelet count was higher in the TMDS group than that in the TMDS. AML/TMDS was also characterized by fewer blasts in the bone marrow. The complete remission (CR) rate was 63% and 81% in AML patients with and without TMDS, respectively; these rates being significantly different (p = 0.05). The predicted 5-year survival rate of the 40 patients with TMDS was significantly worse than that of the 190 patients without TMDS (9% vs 33%, p = 0.0005). The multivariate analysis revealed that the AML/TMDS was an unfavorable factor in the achievement of CR and in the prediction of longer survival.

Adolescent↗

Cumulative chemotherapy increases mafosfamide toxicity for normal progenitor cells in AML patients: rationale for cryopreserving adapted-dose purged marrow early in first complete remission.

To evaluate whether conditions for adapted dose mafosfamide (mafo) purging vary with accumulating chemotherapy, we studied the sensitivity of bone marrow CFU-GM in a total of 30 patients at different stages of treatment. We determined the dose of 95% CFU-GM growth-inhibition by mafo (ID95) in 23 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 7 patients with lymphoid malignancies in first or second complete remission (CR). Sixteen AML patients were studied in early first CR prior to intensive consolidation with high-dose cytarabine (HDAC) and had a median ID95 of 130 (range 90-190) micrograms mafo/ml; the median ID95 in 3 of 7 AML-CR1 and 4 of 7 AML-CR2 patients who previously had HDAC therapy was 75 (range 55-110) micrograms/ml whereas a control group of 7 patients with lymphoid malignancies in CR1 showed a median ID95 of 100 (range 80-160) micrograms/ml. In AML the difference between patients in CR1 prior to HDAC and patients in CR1 after HDAC late consolidation or in CR2 was highly significant (p = 0.0006). We conclude that accumulating chemotherapy pre-treatment, in particular HDAC intensive consolidation, increases mafo toxicity for non-leukemic bone marrow CFU-GM and conversely decreases the mafo concentration applicable for adjusted-dose purging to eliminate residual leukemic cells. Hence mafo purging appears to be more efficient when done in early CR1 compared with later stages of disease.

Adult↗

Soluble Fc gamma RIII is present in lower concentrations in the serum of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML): a retrospective study.

Fc gamma RIII is a low affinity immunoglobulin G receptor expressed by neutrophils, natural killer cells, and macrophages. Soluble forms of Fc gamma RIII have been identified in serum, plasma, and other body fluids. Previous studies showed that Fc gamma RIII appeared late in myeloid differentiation. This retrospective study was designed to measure the concentration of soluble Fc gamma RIII in serum from patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), a disease generally characterized by granulocytopenia and an increase in circulating myeloblasts and occasionally promyelocytes. Frozen serum samples from patients with AML and from age-matched normal donors were obtained from the Biological Carcinogenesis Branch Repository of the National Cancer Institute. We used an ELISA to measure the concentration of soluble Fc gamma RIII in these serum samples and observed significantly lower concentrations of soluble Fc gamma RIII in the serum of AML patients. The mean concentration of soluble Fc gamma RIII was 9.5 nM in normals (n = 48) and 5.4 nM in AML patients (n = 46), (p < 0.0005). Whether this difference is due to defects in granulopoiesis in these patients or to other parameters of the disease is unknown at this time. Our retrospective study should provide the basis for subsequent investigation of patients with AML to correlate soluble Fc gamma RIII concentrations with the clinical status of the patients.

Adolescent↗

Peripheral blood and bone marrow changes after treatment with ATRA and G-CSF in AML, APL and blast crisis following Vaquez's disease.

The aim of the present study was to better understand the possibility of utilizing growth factors of the myelomonocytic line in acute leukemias. The study is an examination of morphological changes and marker behavior in peripheral and bone marrow cells in AML and APL during treatment both with all-transretinoic acid (ATRA) alone and in association with chemotherapy and G-CSF. The same treatment was carried out in a patient who had been diagnosed with Vaquez's disease 15 years earlier and currently presented a bone marrow and peripheral picture of AML (80% myeloblasts) with thrombocytopenia. We observed that treatment with ATRA, alone or in association with chemotherapy, was followed by a remission of AML and especially of APL, with amelioration of the general condition of the patients. The addition of G-CSF to ATRA at the end of chemotherapy, during consequent pancytopenia, produced a rapid increase in mature peripheral granulocytes and an apparent medullary complete remission, which was more prolonged in APL than in AML; there was no increase in peripheral blasts. Discontinuation of G-CSF was followed by a relapse in the patient with AML. A patient with Vaquez's disease, in remission for 15 years and presenting a progressive increase in bone marrow and peripheral myeloblasts, did not have a positive response to the administration of ATRA; however, the association of G-CSF to ATRA was followed by a complete remission. The morphological changes observed in bone marrow and peripheral granulocytes (with changes in the main cellular markers: CD11b, CD13, CD14, CD15, CD34) seemed to express progressive modification of the single elements towards differentiation, with progressive bone marrow reduction and peripheral disappearance of blasts. The data agree with the changes observed in in vitro blasts cultured in the presence of ATRA and G-CSF.

Adult↗

Late acquisition of BCR::ABL1 during clonal evolution of SAMD9-associated MDS with phenotypic shift from AML to B-ALL.

We describe a unique case of SAMD9-associated myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with monosomy 7 that evolved over 16&#xa0;years into BCR::ABL1-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and subsequently manifested as B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Genomic analysis at AML diagnosis revealed a germline SAMD9 mutation together with somatic RUNX1 and PPM1D mutations, supporting stepwise clonal evolution, with BCR::ABL1 emerging as a late leukemogenic event. The dominant leukemic population at AML onset showed myeloid morphology and immunophenotype, whereas a minor CD19+CD10+ population was already detectable. Following venetoclax and azacitidine therapy, the dominant leukemic phenotype shifted to B-ALL while retaining BCR::ABL1 positivity. Detection of the Philadelphia chromosome in mature neutrophils at both AML onset and ALL relapse supported multilineage involvement of a multipotent BCR::ABL1-positive clone. Ponatinib achieved disease control. This case highlights late acquisition of BCR::ABL1 during SAMD9-associated clonal evolution and therapy-driven phenotypic shift within a shared Ph-positive leukemic stem-cell hierarchy.

Humans↗

Cytogenetics and age are major determinants of outcome in intensively treated acute myeloid leukemia patients older than 60 years: results from AMLSG trial AML HD98-B.

To assess the prognostic impact of cytogenetics in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receiving intensive induction and consolidation treatment according to a single protocol specifically designed for patients above age 60, pretreatment samples from 361 patients registered for the AML HD98-B trial of the German-Austrian AML Study Group were analyzed by chromosome banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization, and cytogenetic findings were correlated with outcome. Using a proportional hazards model with backward selection, 3 prognostic subgroups were identified based on the influence of cytogenetic abnormalities on overall survival (OS): low-risk, t(15;17), and inv(16) in 25 of 361 patients (7%); standard-risk, normal karyotype, t(8;21), t(11q23), +8 within a noncomplex karyotype, and +11 within a noncomplex karyotype in 208 of 361 patients (58%); high-risk, all other aberrations in 128 of 361 patients (35%). On multivariate analysis, high-risk cytogenetics (hazard ratio [HR], 2.24) and age above 70 years (HR, 2.34) were independent prognostic factors affecting OS, and stratification according to these parameters demonstrated that a large subgroup of patients (55%), characterized by age 70 or older or high-risk cytogenetics, or both, had very unfavorable treatment results despite intensive chemotherapy. Thus, karyotype and age are major determinants of outcome in elderly patients with AML.

Acute Disease↗

Risk Prognostication After Hypomethylating Agents Combined With Venetoclax in AML: The PRISM Risk Model.

PURPOSE: As risk stratification for patients with AML treated with lower-intensity venetoclax-based therapy remains suboptimal, we developed and validated a prognostic model integrating clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular features. METHODS: We assembled a multinational data set comprising 2,092 adults with newly diagnosed AML treated with hypomethylating agents plus venetoclax (HMA + VEN). One thousand nine hundred eighteen patients with complete data were randomly divided into training (70%) and internal validation (30%) cohorts. Two independent external validation cohorts were assembled (n = 500 and n = 222). Modeling overall survival (OS), Elastic Net regression was applied in 1,000 bootstrap samples from the training cohort to select variables for a Ridge regression, which generated a continuous Prognostic Risk Integration for Survival Modeling (PRISM) score and risk categories based on tertiles (PRISM-3: low, moderate, high). These PRISM indices were then computed for the validation cohorts and compared with the 4-gene classifier (based on mutations in FLT3-ITD, N/KRAS, and TP53). RESULTS: PRISM integrated 17 clinical and genomic variables and demonstrated a linear association with OS. PRISM-3 stratified survival consistently across all cohorts (median OS: 25.1-28.8 months for low risk, 12.5-14.7 months for moderate risk, and 5.8-6.7 months for high risk; P < .001). Compared with the 4-gene classifier, PRISM-3 reassigned approximately 40% of patients (and >50% of those with favorable risk) and demonstrated significantly better discrimination in validation cohorts (C-index 0.63-0.65 v 0.59-0.61; P < .05). CONCLUSION: PRISM is a validated prognostic model for patients with AML receiving HMA + VEN that improves survival risk stratification beyond current standard tools and supports individualized, risk-adapted clinical decision making. The model, the PRISM-AML Risk Calculator, is publicly available.

Humans↗

Residual disease monitoring in childhood acute myeloid leukemia by multiparameter flow cytometry: the MRD-AML-BFM Study Group.

PURPOSE: Monitoring of residual disease (RD) by flow cytometry in childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may predict outcome. However, the optimal time points for investigation, the best antibody combinations, and most importantly, the clinical impact of RD analysis remain unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five hundred forty-two specimens of 150 children enrolled in the AML-Berlin-Frankfurt-Muenster (BFM) 98 study were analyzed by four-color immunophenotyping at up to four predefined time points during treatment. For each of the 12 leukemia-associated immunophenotypes and time points, a threshold level based on a previous retrospective analysis of another cohort of children with AML and on control bone marrows was determined. RESULTS: Regarding all four time points, there is a statistically significant difference in the 3-year event-free survival (EFS) in those children presenting with immunologically detectable blasts at 3 or more time points. The levels at bone marrow puncture (BMP) 1 and BMP2 turned out to have the most significant predictive value for 3-year-EFS: 71% +/- 6% versus 48% +/- 9%, P(Log-Rank) = .029 and 70% +/- 6% versus 50% +/- 7%, P(Log-Rank) = .033), resulting in a more than two-fold risk of relapse. In a multivariate analysis, using a combined risk classification based on morphologically determined blasts at BMP1 and BMP2, French-American-British classification, and cytogenetics, the influence of immunologically determined RD was no longer statistically significant. CONCLUSION: RD monitoring before second induction has the same predictive value as examining levels at four different time points during intensive chemotherapy. Compared with commonly defined risk factors in the AML-BFM studies, flow cytometry does not provide additional information for outcome prediction, but may be helpful to evaluate the remission status at day 28.

Adolescent↗

AML, Myelodysplasia-Related: Beyond Classification-Toward Precision Decision-Making.

Acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplasia-related (AML-MR), represents a genetically defined and clinically heterogeneous entity characterized by myelodysplasia-related gene (MRG) mutations, specific cytogenetic abnormalities, and frequently a previous history of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or MDS/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS-MPN). The transition from the World Health Organization (WHO) 2016 classification to the 2022 WHO and International Consensus Classification (ICC) systems reflects a paradigm shift from morphology-based definitions toward genomics-driven disease entities. However, while diagnostic precision has improved, translation of these classifications into clinically actionable strategies remains incomplete. This review critically examines the biological and prognostic implications of MRG mutations, their interaction with key molecular subgroups such as NPM1- and FLT3-mutated AML, and their impact on therapeutic decision-making. We highlight unresolved issues, including the context-dependent prognostic value of MRG mutations, limitations of static risk stratification, and the need to integrate measurable residual disease (MRD), genomics, and patient fitness into therapeutic algorithms. At the clinical level, many studies have explored the sensitivity of AML-MR to various induction treatments in both younger and older AML patients, with significant improvements in survival. The main objective of these different induction therapy strategies is to achieve a complete remission with minimal toxicity, particularly in older patients, allowing patients to proceed to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the only curative option so far.

AML MDS-related↗

MDS and AML with trisomy 8 as the sole chromosome aberration show different sex ratios and prognostic profiles: a study of 115 published cases.

A number of chromosome aberrations occur nonrandomly as the sole aberration in malignant and premalignant hematological disorders. They imply very different prognoses. For most of them the survival consequences have been established. For trisomy 8, which is the most frequent numerical aberration in myeloid disorders, the prognostic implications have not been investigated. In order to clarify survival in patients with trisomy 8 as the sole aberration, the literature was searched for such cases. In 115 patients survival data were available. In 103 (89.6%), a myeloid disorder had been diagnosed. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) occurred in 100 cases (87.0%). The median survival was found to be 17.1 months. On multivariate survival analysis (Cox), age above 60 and a leukemic diagnosis were found to be independent adverse prognostic indicators. MDS patients survived significantly longer (median 21 months) than AML patients (median 15 months). In MDS age and in AML the trisomy 8 clonal size was an independent prognostic factor. An unexpected observation was a clear male preponderance in trisomy 8 MDS (about two-thirds of cases). In trisomy 8 AML an approximate 1:1 ratio was found. Browsing of Mitelman's catalog confirmed these ratios.

Adolescent↗

Immunophenotypic differences between diagnosis and relapse in childhood AML: Implications for MRD monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Determination of antigen expression patterns is, in addition to morphologic analysis, essential to the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The present study was performed to determine (a) the degree of changes in immunophenotype and their consequences on the monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) in childhood AML and (b) whether certain clusters of changes in antigen expression patterns exist between diagnosis and relapse. METHODS: Bone marrow specimens of 48 children enrolled in the German AML-BFM-93/98 (Acute Myeloid Leukemia-Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster) studies were analyzed immunologically, morphologically, and genetically at diagnosis and at first relapse. RESULTS: The immunophenotypes by flow cytometry differed by at least one antigen between samples at presentation and relapse in 42 of 48 children (88%). More children displayed an immature phenotype at relapse (43 of 47, 91.5%, vs. 37 of 48, 77%; P = 0.05) with expression of CD34 and/or CD117. This was reflected by a gain of markers that are associated with lineage immaturity in 18 of 25 (72%) of cases, whereas the loss of such antigens was observed in 6 of 25 (24%) patients. We did not observe significant changes for lineage specific markers, with comparable occurrences of loss or gain of myeloid and lymphoid antigens in the sample pairs. Only minimal changes were seen for morphologic and genetic features. CONCLUSION: An antigenic shift was observed in 88% of cases in this study. The antibody panels used for MRD monitoring in childhood AML should therefore not be restricted to the immunophenotype detected at presentation but should include in particular markers of lineage immaturity. The clinical observation of a shift toward a more immature phenotype of the myeloblasts is consistent with the model of a clonal evolution of a leukemic stem cell.

Acute Disease↗