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4Service d'Hematologie, Hopital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France Abstract: Prior studies have shown that multidrug resistance gene products may be detected in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, and are associated with poor response to therapy. We studied whether P-170 expression was associated with in vitro daunorubicin (DNR) accumulation and sensitivity of leukemic clonogenic cells (CFU-L) to DNR in 16 newly diagnosed AML samples. P-170 expression was assessed by indirect immunofluorescence using the monoclonal antibody MRK16. DNR cellular content was measured by flow cytometry after short incubation with increasing concentrations of DNR, and was not correlated with P-170 expression, although there was a trend for higher values in P-170-negative samples. The sensitivity of CFU-L was studied in a semisolid culture assay by calculating the dose of DNR inhibiting the growth of 90% of CFU-L (D90). The D90 was significantly higher in P-170-positive than in P-170-negative samples (mean = 1.68 ± 0.42 pg/ml versus 0.97 ± 0.35 μg/ml respectively, p< 0.005). Eight of 9 cases achieving complete remission (CR) after intensive chemotherapy were P-170-negative, whereas 7 of 7 nonresponders were P-170-positive (p< 10−5). D90 was significantly lower for patients achieving CR than for those who did not achieve CR (1.12 ± 0.55 μg/ml versus 1.59 ± 0.37 μg/ml, p = 0.04). It is concluded that P-170 expression is correlated with in virto resistance of clonogenic cells to DNR and may be one mechanism of resistance to chemotherapy.

Between 1990 and 1996, we conducted a randomized trial in adults with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in order to compare relapse-free interval (RFI) after double induction (arm B), timed-sequential induction (arm C), or control “3 + 7” induction (arm A). Patients achieving complete remission (CR) after induction ± salvage received the same consolidation chemotherapy, which included a dosage stratification according to patient9s age (younger or older than 50 years). This long-term analysis was performed in 592 patients (arm A/B/C, 197/198/197 patients). Overall CR rate was 76% without differences between the 3 arms, even if a salvage course was less frequently needed in arm B. Treatment-related mortality, either during the induction or the postremission phase, was not significantly higher in arms B and C than in arm A. Among the 449 CR patients, 250 relapsed (arm A/B/C, 90/87/73 patients) without significant differences in RFI in arms B and C versus arm A ( P = .39 and .15, by the Gray test). However, when analyzing the 345 patients younger than 50, RFI was significantly improved in younger patients receiving timed-sequential induction ( P = .038 by the Gray test), while not in those receiving double induction. Event-free survival and overall survival were similar in the 3 randomization arms.

Pegylated recombinant human megakaryocyte growth and development factor (PEG-rHuMGDF) administered after acute myeloid leukemia (AML) chemotherapy (CT) failed to shorten the time of transfusion-dependent thrombocytopenia in a previous study. In this multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study we determined the effect of administration of PEG-rHuMGDF prior to CT and of administration prior, concurrent, and 1 day post CT on platelet recovery and transfusion requirements in patients receiving consolidation CT for de novo AML. Patients were randomized to receive either 30 microk/kg PEG-rHuMGDF as a single dose on day -6 ( n=37), placebo as a single dose on day -6 ( n=9), 30 microk/kg PEG-rHuMGDF administered on day -6 followed by 10 microg/kg on days -5 to day 6 (through CT and including the day after CT, n=35), or placebo administered on day -6 to day 6 ( n=9). The median times to transfusion-independent platelet recovery to >20x10(9)/l were 24.5 and 24.0 days in the PEG-rHuMGDF day -6 group and PEG-rHuMGDF day -6 to 6, respectively, compared to 21.0 days in the placebo group. There were no significant differences in the number of days of platelet transfusions between either PEG-rHuMGDF schedule or placebo. The PEG-rHuMGDF day -6 to 6 group had a delayed absolute neutrophil count (ANC) recovery compared to either placebo or PEG-rHuMGDF day -6 treated patients. Thus, alteration of the scheduling of PEG-rHuMGDF in terms of earlier dosing before and during chemotherapy did not improve platelet recovery but rather delayed hematopoietic reconstitution. Although unexpected, these observations may be of major relevance for the design of future clinical trials with recombinant thrombopoietins.

Item does not contain fulltext This study investigated the feasibility of allogeneic (alloSCT) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as postconsolidation therapy for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) or acute myeloid leukemia after MDS. Patients with a histocompatible sibling were candidates for alloSCT and the remaining patients for ASCT. Remission-induction therapy consisted of 1 or 2 courses with idarubicin, cytarabine, and etoposide, followed by one intensive consolidation course with cytarabine and mitoxantrone. Initially, bone marrow cells were used for ASCT. Subsequently, mobilized blood stem cells were used in an attempt to shorten posttransplantation hypoplasia. With a median follow-up of 3.6 years the 184 evaluable patients showed a 4-year survival rate of 26% and a median survival of 13 months. The remission-induction chemotherapy induced complete remission (CR) in 100 patients (54%). The 4-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 29% and the median DFS was 12 months. Twenty-eight of 39 patients (72%) with a donor were allografted in CR-1, including 2 patients who underwent transplantation in CR-1 without a consolidation course. Thirty-six of 59 patients (61%) without a donor received ASCT in CR-1. The 4-year DFS rates in the group of patients with or without a donor were 31% and 27%, respectively. The 4-year survival rates from CR were 36% and 33%, respectively. This large prospective study shows the feasibility of both alloSCT and ASCT. This treatment approach leads to a relatively high remission rate, and the majority of patients in remission received the SCT in CR-1. The ongoing study investigates whether this approach is better than treatment with chemotherapy only.

Objective The aims of our study performed in myeloma were to evaluate the performance and the safety of Systemix's high-speed clinical cell sorter, to assess the safety and efficacy of de-escalating cell dose cohorts of CD34 + Thy1 + hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) as autologous grafts by determining engraftment, and to assess the residual tumor cell contamination using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification assays of patient-specific complementarity determining region III (CDR III) analysis for residual myeloma cells. Materials and Methods The clinical trial was performed in 31 multiple myeloma patients, using purified human CD34 + Thy1 + HSCs mobilized from peripheral blood with cyclosphosphamide and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor to support a single transplant after high-dose melphalan 140 mg/m 2 alone (cohort 1) and with total body irradiation (TBI) (cohorts 2–5) after an HSC transplant cell dose de-escalation/escalation design. Results Twenty-three patients were transplanted. Engraftment data in the melphalan + TBI cohorts confirmed that HSC doses above the threshold dose of 0.8 × 10 6 CD34 + Thy1 + HSCs/kg provided prompt engraftment (absolute neutrophil count >0.5 × 10 9 /L day 10; platelet count >50 × 10 9 /L day 13). A higher rate of infections was observed in the early and late follow-up phases than usually reported after CD34 + selected or unselected autologous transplantation, which did not correlate with the CD34 + Thy1 + HSC dose infused. Successful PCR for CDR III could only be performed in five patients on initial apheresis product and final CD34 + Thy1 + HSC product and showed a median tumor log reduction >3.12. Conclusions CD34 + Thy1 + HSCs are markedly depleted or free of detectable tumor cells in multiple myeloma and are capable of producing fast and durable hematopoietic reconstitution at cell doses >0.8 × 10 6 CD34 + Thy1 + HSCs/kg. The delayed immune reconstitution observed is not different from that described in unselected autologous bone marrow and peripheral blood mononucleated cells transplants in multiple myeloma and may be corrected by addition of T cells either to the graft or to the patient in the posttransplant phase.

To determine the safety, biologic, and clinical benefits of pegylated recombinant human megakaryocyte growth and development factor (PEG-rHuMGDF; Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA) after myelosuppressive chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML),108 adult patients with de novo AML were randomized to receive either PEG-rHuMGDF (2.5 mu g/kg/d or 5 mu g/kg/d) for up to 21 doses (group A), a single dose of 2.5 mu g/kg PEG-rHuMGDF, 7 daily doses of 2.5 mu g/kg PEG-rHuMGDF (group B), or placebo. The greatest biologic activity was seen in group A with a median peak platelet count of 1,084 x 10(9)/L, occurring at a median 9 days after the last dose of study drug, compared with 517 x 10(9)/L and 396 x 10(9)/L in group B and placebo group, respectively. Thrombocytosis (platelets >1,000 x 10(9)/L) was seen at rates of 52%, 8%, and 9% in groups A, B, and placebo, respectively, but were not associated with any adverse event. There was no effect on median time to transfusion independent platelet recovery (greater than or equal to 20 x 10(9)/L). The median time to neutrophil recovery (greater than or equal to 500/mu L) and red blood cell transfusion requirements were similar in all groups, and there was no apparent stimulation of leukemia. PEG-rHuMGDF was biologically active and well tolerated. Further investigation of dose and scheduling is required, specifically earlier dosing before and during chemotherapy. (C) 1999 by The American Society of Hematology.

All transretinoic acid (ATRA) followed by daunorubicin (DNR)-AraC chemotherapy (CT) has improved the outcome of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) by comparison to CT alone. In a randomized trial, (1) we compared 2 induction schedules (ATRA followed by CT [ATRA-CT] and ATRA plus CT [ATRA+CT, with CT added on day 3 of ATRA treatment]) and (2) we assessed the role of maintenance treatment. Four hundred thirteen patients less than or equal to 75 years of age and with newly diagnosed APL were included. Induction treatment was stratified on white blood cell (WBC) count and age: patients less than or equal to 65 years of age and with an initial WBC count of less than or equal to 5,000/pL (n = 208) were randomized between ATRA-->CT and ATRA+CT (initially randomized patients); patients with a WBC count greater than (high WBC count group, n = 163) and patients 66 to 75 years of age with a WBC count greater than 5,000/mu L (elderly group, n = 42) were not initially randomized and received ATRA+CT from day 1 and ATRA-->CT, respectively. All patients achieving CR received 2 additional DNR-AraC courses (only 1 in patients 66 to 75 years of age) and were then randomized for maintenance between no treatment, intermittent ATRA (15 days every 3 months) for 2 years, continuous low-dose CT (6 mercaptopurine+methotrexate) for 2 years, or both, using a 2-by-2 factorial design. Overall, 381 (92%) of the patients achieved complete remission (CR), 31 (7%) suffered an early death, and only 1 patient had leukemic resistance. ATRA syndrome occurred in 64 patients (15%) and was fatal in 5 cases. The CR rate was similar in all induction treatment groups. Event-free survival (EFS) was significantly lower in the high WBC group (P = .0002) and close to significance in the elderly group (P = .086) as compared with initially randomized patients. Relapse at 2 years was estimated at 6% in the ATRA+CT group, versus 16% in the ATRA-->CT group (P = .04, relative risk [RR] = .41). EFS at 2 years was estimated at 84% in the ATRA+CT group, versus 77% in the ATRA-CT group (P = .1, RR = .62). Two hundred eighty-nine patients were randomized for maintenance. The 2-year relapse rate was 11% in patients randomized to continuous maintenance CT and 27% in patients randomized to no CT (P = .0002) end 13% in patients randomized to intermittent ATRA and 25% in patients randomized to no ATRA (P = .02). An additive effect of continuous maintenance CT and intermittent ATRA was seen, and only 6 of the 74 patients who received both maintenance treatments had relapsed. Overall survival was improved in patients who received maintenance CT (P = .01), and there was a trend for better survival in patients who received maintenance ATRA (P = .22). Our findings strongly suggest that early addition of chemotherapy to ATRA and maintenance therapy combining continuous CT end intermittent ATRA can reduce the incidence of relapse in APL. This effect already translates into significantly better survival for maintenance treatment with continuous CT. (C) 1999 by The American Society of Hematology.

Hypermethylation of the calcitonin gene has been described in various hematologic malignancies. In order to assess its frequency and potential usefulness as a marker for leukemic cells and to detect potential clinical correlations, 180 adult patients (aged > 15 years) with newly diagnosed acute leukemia including 133 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 47 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were tested for its presence in leukemic blasts at diagnosis by Southern blot technique and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 3 sets of primers (P550, P566, P1400), amplifying the most frequent sites of hypermethylation upstream or within the gene. In AML, 92 patients (69%) had hypermethylation detected by Southern blot at diagnosis. This hypermethylation could be confirmed by PCR in 18 of 36 tested cases (50%). Hypermethylation was not significantly associated to any clinical or hematological characteristic of the disease. In ALL, 44 patients (94%) had hypermethylation detected by Southern blot at diagnosis. This hypermethylation could be confirmed by PCR in 33 of the 43 tested cases (77%). Sensitivity of PCR assessed by dilution was 1 to 0.1%. Hypermethylation was not either significantly related to any clinical or hematologic characteristics of the disease. Seven ALL cases which were positive by PCR at diagnosis and achieved cytological CR could be tested during CR. Five cases were negative and did not relapse after 3 to 27 months in CR. One case was positive at the beginning of CR and became negative after autologous transplant. However, he relapsed after 9 months in CR, 3 months after the last negative test. PCR for Bcr/Abl was also negative at this time. We conclude that hypermethylation of the calcitonine gene is frequent at diagnosis in adult acute leukemia, particularly in ALL.

Fifty-three patients of median age 66 years (39 patients > 60 yrs), including 5 with FAB unclassified or secondary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at diagnosis, 14 with resistant AML, 19 in first and 15 in subsequent relapse, were treated with carboplatin (CBP), 200 mg/m2/day, as a continuous infusion, (days 3 to 7) with mitoxantrone (MIT) or idarubicin (IDA), (12 mg/m2/day) as an i.v. bolus, on days 1 to 3. Results were evaluated after one induction course. Overall, 15 patients (28% [95% confidence interval (CI), 17-42%], 8/28 with IDA and 7/25 with MIT) achieved complete remission (CR). There was no statistical difference between IDA and MIT arms. Fourty-nine percent (95% CI, 35-63%) had resistant disease (53% IDA versus 44% MIT respectively) and 23% (95% CI, 12-36%) died from toxicity (18% IDA versus 28% MIT). Median durations of neutrophils less than 0.5 x 10(9)/l and platelet counts less than 20 x 10(9)/l were 32 and 32 days respectively in the IDA arm and 31 and 26 days respectively in the MIT arm. Severe toxicity included infections (45%), diarrhea (21%), bleeding (9%), vomiting (7%), hyperbilirubinemia (6%), mucositis (4%) (no statistical difference was seen between both arms). Nephrotoxicity was observed in only one case in the IDA arm. Cardiac toxicity included reversible pulmonary oedema in one patient in the IDA arm. No severe ototoxicity was noted. CR patients received maintenance courses with 3 days of CBP and one day of IDA or MIT. Median survival was 2 months (range, 1-30+ months) and 2.5 months (range, 0.5-19.5 months), and median disease-free survival (DFS) 2 months (range, 1-30+ months) and 2.5 months (range, 1-14 months) in the IDA and MIT arms respectively. We conclude that CBP at a cumulative dosage of 1 g/m2 together with intercalating agents (IDA/MIT) has antileukemic efficacy in elderly patients.

With the aim of determining the ability of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) to improve prognosis in refractory and relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), the data of 45 patients resistant to previous conventional chemotherapy or in first relapse were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-seven patients presented with typical M3, five with variant form (M3v), and three with intermediate form. Seven patients died before any chemotherapy could be given. Thirty-five patients received one course of chemotherapy combining anthracyclines and cytarabine without (n = 22) or with ATRA (n = 13), according to different protocols. One elderly patient received only ATRA, and two patients received only low-dose cytarabine. Nine patients died within 4 weeks of relapse. A complete remission (CR) was achieved in 29 of the 38 patients retreated after first relapse or primary failure (76.3%, 95% CI: 60-89%). Among relapsed patients, four of five patients who had initially received ATRA therapy achieved a second CR when retreated by ATRA. The median second disease-free survival (DFS) was 23.3 months. Overall median survival was 7.8 months, with a 5-year survival rate of 29% (95% CI: 14-44%). Parameters found to be associated with decreased second CR rate were presence of hemorrhages and hemostatic disorder, and high levels of GGT at the time of relapse. Factors associated with short survival were WHO performance status1, high serum LDH levels, and coagulopathy at time of relapse. Use of ATRA at time of relapse (n = 14) was significantly associated with higher CR rates (p = 0.008), longer DFS (median not reached versus 7.9 months; p = 0.05), and longer survival after first relapse (median 32.3 months versus 4.4 months; p = 0.003). In the multivariate analysis, the only factor predictive of poor prognosis for overall survival was the absence of ATRA therapy at relapse. We conclude that ATRA is effective in the treatment of relapsed or refractory APL and appears superior to chemotherapy alone.

Sequential chemotherapy with vincristine, daunorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone doses was administered to 57 adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 51 (89%, 95% confidence intervals, [CI] 78-96%). Among patients achieving CR, 62% were in CR after one sequence of chemotherapy, 23% after two sequences, and 5% after three sequences. Six patients (11%) had resistant disease. All patients experienced profound myelosuppression. Median time to recovery of neutrophils0.5 x 10(9)/1 was 22 days (range: 5-89 days), and of platelets100 x 10(9)/1 21 days (range: 0-45 days). Nonhematologic WHO grade 3 or more side effects consisted predominantly of hyperbilirubinemia (7%), mucositis (5%), nausea and vomiting (2%), and cutaneous toxicity (1%). Severe infectious complications occurred in only 14% of cases. One patient (2%, 95% CI 0-9%) died of therapy-related toxicity while in early CR. We concluded that sequential use of prednisone seemed at least as effective as continuous administration at the expense of a few adverse side effects.

All transretinoic acid (ATRA) gives complete remission (CR) rates of 80 to 90% in newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). However, it has two major drawbacks (1) a rapid rise in WBC in some patients, with potentially fatal ATRA syndrome (2) rapid relapse with maintenance therapy using ATRA alone or low dose chemotherapy. The French APL group therefore designed a treatment approach with ATRA followed by intensive chemotherapy. The latter was administered after CR achievement with ATRA, or was rapidly added to ATRA in case of rapid rise in leukocyte counts. This combined approach, in a pilot study and in a randomized trial, proved superior to intensive chemotherapy alone, by slightly increasing the CR rate but more importantly by reducing the relapse rate. These results were confirmed by the Chinese, Japanese and New York groups. Our group (and other European groups) are now testing in a new randomized trial the better timing of ATRA and chemotherapy administration (ATRA followed by chemotherapy or ATRA plus chemotherapy) and the role (after an intensive consolidation) of maintenance treatment with intermittent ATRA, continuous low dose chemotherapy or both.

Rearrangement and overexpression of CCND1 (BCL1/PRAD1), a member of the cyclin G1 gene family, are consistent features of t(11q13)-bearing B- lymphoid tumors (particularly mantle-cell lymphoma [MCL]). Its deregulation is thought to perturb the G1-S transition of the cell cycle and thereby to contribute to tumor development. As suggested by previously published studies, rearrangement of the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of CCND1 may contribute to its activation in some lymphoid tumors. To define further the prevalence of such rearrangements, we report here the result of the molecular study of 34 MCL and six t(11q13)-associated leukemias using a set of probes specific to the different parts of the CCND1 transcript. We also sequenced the entire cDNA of the overexpressed CCND1 transcripts in a t(11q13)-associated leukemia. DNA from four of these 40 patients showed rearrangement of the 3′ UTR of CCND1 coexisting with major translocation cluster (MTC) rearrangement. Southern blot and sequence analyses showed that, as a result of these rearrangements, the 3′ AU- rich region containing sequences involved in mRNA stability and in translational control is eliminated. Moreover, the finding that the CCND1 mRNA half-life was greater than 3 hours (normal tissues, 0.5 hours) in three t(11q13)-associated cell lines stresses the importance of posttranscriptional derangement in the activation of CCND1. Finally, we did not observe any mutation in the coding frame of the CCND1 cDNA analyzed.

The BCL-2 proto-oncogene encodes a mitochondrial protein that blocks programmed cell death. High amounts of bcl-2 protein are found not only in lymphoid malignancies, but also in normal tissues characterized by apoptotic cell death, including bone marrow. Using a monoclonal antibody to bcl-2 protein, we analyzed 82 samples of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia. The number of bcl-2+ cells in each sample was heterogeneous (range, 0% to 95%), with a mean of 23%. The percentage of bcl-2+ cells was higher in M4 and M5 types, according to French- American-British classification, and in cases with high white blood cell counts. bcl-2 expression was also correlated with that of the stem cell marker CD34. In vitro survival of leukemic cells maintained in liquid culture in the absence of growth factors was significantly longer in cases with a high percentage of bcl-2+ cells. High expression of bcl-2 was associated with a low complete remission rate after intensive chemotherapy (29% in cases with 20% or more positive cells v 85% in cases with less than 20% positive cells, P < 10(-5)) and with a significantly shorter survival. In multivariate analysis, the percentage of bcl-2+ cells (or the blast survival in culture), age, and the percentage of CD34+ cells were independently associated with poor survival.

Thirty-four patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in complete remission (CR), 30 of them aged over 60, received maintenance therapy scheduling four courses of low-dose cytarabine (LDA) 20 mg/m2/day in two subcutaneous injections for 3 weeks every 6 weeks. Each course was stopped when hematologic toxicity occurred, and doses of LDA were subsequently reduced by 50% for the following courses. During the first course of LDA, 15 patients needed blood and four patients platelet transfusions. Overall, 28 patients received four courses of LDA: 11 did not require any dose reduction, while 14 required one dose reduction and three neeeded two successive dose reductions. Two patients were hospitalized during maintenance. Median disease-free survival (DFS) is 308 days, with 16% of patients surviving at 5 years. Seven patients relapsed during the 168 days of maintenance, while ten of the 27 patients remaining at risk on day 169 relapsed during the 168 days following maintenance. We conclude that in AML in CR, the maximal dose of LDA tolerated by ambulatory patients is 10 mg/m2/day for 3 weeks. LDA seemed to delay relapse; however, precise assessment of the efficacy of this approach would require a randomized trial.

To help understanding host-tumor relationships in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and better define indications for interleukin 2 (IL-2) therapy in this disease, we studied the relationship between the susceptibility of leukemic cells of 44 AML patients to lysis by autologous (26 cases) and/or allogeneic (41 cases) lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and characteristics of the leukemia. Lymphocytes were activated in the presence of 1000 u/ml recombinant IL-2 for 5 days. Lysis of AML cells was studied by 51 Cr release. Average lysis of AML cells by autologous LAK cells was 9 ± 13% and by allogeneic LAK cells 10 ± 9% with a significant correlation between lyses by both effectors ( p = 0.01). Autologous ( p = 0.005) and allogeneic ( p = 0.004) lyses were higher in patients with initial infection. Allogeneic lysis was correlated with initial WBC count ( p = 0.009), serum lactic-dehydrogenase level ( p = 0.05), and expression of CD13 ( p = 0.01). Autologous lysis was inversely correlated with expression of CD34 ( p = 0.003). Expression of adhesion molecules CD54 (ICAM-1) and CD58 (LFA-3) by the leukemic cells did not correlate with their lysis by LAK cells. Susceptibility of leukemic cells to lysis by LAK cells did not correlate with prognosis of the leukemia.

Heparin binding on polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) was characterized. Heparin binding was specific, rapid, saturable and reversible. One single class of heparin binding sites was found with a dissociation constant of 1.22 mumol/l and 7.7 x 10(6) sites per PMNL. The binding was independent of the anticoagulant activity of heparin. Heparin affinity chromatography on radio-iodinated cell lysates followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulphate revealed a 130 kD heparin binding protein. Heparin binding was inhibited by disodium salt of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. Cell surface bound heparin was functionally inactive and did not affect the inactivation of thrombin by antithrombin III. Our study demonstrates that heparin interacts with PMNL by a cell-surface binding protein. These instructions could be consistent with the modifications of some PMNL functional properties in the presence of heparin.

Surface markers were studied at first relapse in 66 cases of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), using a panel of five monoclonal antibodies directed to CD13, CD14, CD15, CD33 and CD34 antigens. At time of relapse, there was increased expression of CD33 (P = 0.002) and CD34 (P = 0.0001), and decreased expression of CD13 (P = 0.004) and CD15 (P = 0.0001) antigens by comparison to initial diagnosis. There was no strict correlation with the FAB classification. However, CD13 and CD33 expression changes preferentially affected granulocytic leukaemias. At relapse, CD14 and CD34 were significantly more expressed in monocytic than in granulocytic AML (P = 0.01 and 0.003 respectively). In a multivariate analysis, CD34 expression was associated with a low CR rate (P = 0.001) and short survival (P = 0.05), whereas CD15 expression was associated with long survival (P = 0.0004). These results suggest that AML tends to relapse with a less differentiated phenotype than observed at diagnosis and that AML with less differentiated phenotype is of poor prognosis after first relapse, as also observed at diagnosis.

A murine monoclonal antibody against human lysozyme (AHL MoAb) was produced and tested on normal and leukemic monocytes using flow cytometry. The antibody gave a positive reactivity on normal monocytes permeabilized by saponin (82% to 98% of positive cells) and a negative reactivity on normal permeabilized neutrophils. This monocyte-specific reactivity had not been observed using a polyclonal antibody. Nevertheless, immunoblotting detected lysozyme in both monocyte and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) lysates. The AHL MoAb, in the presence of lysozyme substrate (Micrococcus lysodeikticus cell walls), strongly inhibited the enzymatic activity. Flow cytometric analysis of leukemic cells isolated from patients suffering from different subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia (French-American-British [FAB] classification FAB M1–5) showed a highly significant positivity of FAB M5 for lysozyme compared with the other subtypes. The present results were consistent with the detection of a lysozyme epitope by AHL MoAb located near the catalytic site in monocytes. The same epitope was probably masked in PMNL granules.

To evaluate the clinical value of the expression of multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein (P-170) on the surface of acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) cells, we analyzed specimens from 150 newly diagnosed patients for staining with MRK16, a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) that binds to an external epitope of P-170. Other surface markers (CD13, CD14, CD15, and CD34) were studied by the same technique. A marker was considered positive when 20% or more cells were stained. Of 150 samples, 71 were P-170-positive. These cases did not differ from P-170-negative cases with regard to age, sex, initial white blood cell (WBC) counts, or French-American-British (FAB) type (except for M3 ANLL, which were more frequently negative). However, leukemias arising from previous myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and therapy- induced leukemias were more frequently P-170-positive. CD34 and P-170 expression were significantly associated. All patients were treated by intensive chemotherapy. Complete remission (CR) rates were significantly lower in P-170-positive (23/71, 32%) than in P-170- negative cases (64/79, 81%) (P less than 10(-5)). CD34 positivity was also associated with a low remission rate (P less than 10(-5)). Survival was shorter for P-170- and CD34-positive patients (P less than 10(-5)). The prognostic value of both markers was confirmed in multivariate analysis. CR duration was also shorter for P-170-positive cases, but the difference is less significant (P = .05). It is concluded that P-170 analysis may be an important tool for predicting the outcome of intensive chemotherapy in ANLL patients.

The observation of more frequent leukemias in immune deficiencies of the non-HLA restricted cytotoxic cell system and the participation of this system in the antileukemic effect of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) indicate that these cells play a role in the immune surveillance against AML. The demonstrated susceptibility of fresh AML cells to lysis by lymphokine-activated killer cells in vitro has triggered trials attempting to modulate the non-HLA-restricted cytotoxic cells in vivo in AML during the blastic phase as well as during complete remission. The relationships between AML and the non-specific cytotoxic cells and the potential modulation of these cells for the therapy of this disease are reviewed.

Intensive sequential chemotherapy with mitoxantrone, 12 mg/m2/d on days 1 through 3, etoposide, 200 mg/m2/d as a continuous infusion on days 8 through 10, and cytarabine, 500 mg/m2/d as a continuous infusion on days 1 through 3 and 8 through 10 was administered to 72 patients aged less than 60 years with previously treated acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Forty patients had refractory AML (nonresponse to prior therapy, early first relapse, or multiple relapse) and 32 had late first relapse. Sixty-one percent of patients, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 49% to 72%, achieved complete remission (CR), including 45% (CI: 30% to 62%) of refractory patients and 81% (CI: 64% to 93%) of late first relapse patients. Twenty-nine percent of patients (CI: 19% to 41%) did not respond to therapy and 10% (CI: 4% to 19%) died from therapy-related toxicity. Median duration of aplasia was 30 days. Nonhematologic WHO grade 3 or more toxicity included sepsis (57% of patients), vomiting (10%), mucositis (35%), diarrhea (7%), skin rash (6%), and hyperbilirubinemia (11%). Postinduction therapy was attempted in 36 of 44 CR patients: 16 of them received a second course of the same regimen, 7 received maintenance chemotherapy, 4 underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT), and 9 allogeneic BMT. At a median follow-up of 20 months, 23 of the 44 complete remitters have relapsed, 1 to 14 months after achievement of CR, including 19 of 31 patients not undergoing BMT. Median survival is 7 months with 16% (CI: 4% to 28%) projected survival at 47 months. Median disease-free survival is 6 months with 21% (CI: 3% to 39%) of CR patients projected to remain disease-free at 46 months. Twenty-six percent (CI: 13% to 43%) of the evaluable patients who did not receive transplantation had inversion of CR duration. Among patients younger than 50 years, there was no significant difference in disease-free survival between patients receiving postinduction chemotherapy and those receiving BMT. We conclude that this chemotherapy regimen is highly efficient and could be used as first-line therapy in young patients with AML.

Summary Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 42 patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) in complete remission (CR) and from normal donors were activated into LAK cells in the presence of 1000 U/ml of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2). Cytotoxicity of LAK cells was assayed against K562, Daudi, and Raji cell lines, and autologous and/or allogeneic thawed leukaemic blasts. Fresh unactivated PBMC from normal donors and AML patients served as controls. Mean f standard deviation (SD) percentage lysis of the different targets by patient LAK cells were: K562 61 ± 20%. Daudi 62 ± 23%, Raji 48 ± 24%, autologous blast cells 12 ± 16% and allogeneic blast cells 13 ± 10%. Lysis of the different targets by LAK cells from normal donors was similar to that achieved with LAK cells from AML patients. Overall there was a good correlation between the lysis of the different targets. There was no significant difference between the percentage lysis of autologous and allogeneic thawed blast cells, although LAK cells from seven out of the 18 patients tested were unable to lyse autologous leukaemic cells. Activity of patient LAK cells did not correlate with the initial characteristics of the patient nor with the time spent in CR before harvesting PBMC for activation. At the time of analysis, 32 patients were in continuing CR and 10 had relapsed. Multivariant analysis for prognostic factors showed that patients whose LAK cells had more lytic activity on K 562 (P=0·005) and fresh blast cell (P=0·02) targets had significantly less risk of relapse than patients with little inducible LAK cell activity. These observations are in favour of clinical trials of r-IL2 aimed at prolonging CR in AML.

In a cohort of 67 adult patients with newly diagnosed untreated acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), the initial clinical and biological parameters were submitted to multivariate analysis for potential prognostic significance. Median age of the patients was 40 years and the hematologic characteristics of the patients were those regularly seen. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 43 cases (64%). Fourteen patients died within 4 weeks of diagnosis, due to severe hemorrhage. Factors predictive of hemorrhagic death in the multivariate analysis were hyperuricemia (p = 0.001), splenomegaly (p = 0.009), anemia (p = 0.02), high serum levels of LDH (p = 0.02), increased prothrombin time (p = 0.04), and hypercreatininemia (p = 0.05). Pretreatment patient characteristics for poor prognosis and achieving CR were hyperuricemia (p = 0.0002), splenomegaly (p = 0.01), anemia (p = 0.02), and lymphadenopathy (p = 0.04). The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 15.6 months. Poor prognostic factors for DFS were hyperuricemia (p = 0.007), and splenomegaly (p = 0.03). Maintenance chemotherapy had no statistically significant impact on CR duration. Median survival duration was 10 months. Poor prognostic factors for survival were hyperuricemia (p = 0.0005), and elevated serum LDH levels (p = 0.01).

Influence of increased body mass index on drug toxicity in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia

Introduction: All trans retinoic acid has shown a remarkable eAectiveness in acute promyelocytic leukemia. These results have encouraged studies of treatment with ATRA in other acute myeloid leukemia subtypes. Patients and methods: In order to evaluate toxicity and antileukemic eAcacy of all ATRA in patients with relapsed or refractory non promyelocytic AML, 95 patients (median age, 58 years; range, 20 to 80 years), with unclassified AML according to the FAB classification or secondary AML at diagnosis, or refractory or relapsing AML, received induction therapy with Idarubicin, 10 mg/m 2 /day, for 3 days and cytarabine, 1000 mg/m 2 /12 h, for 6 days, alone or combined, on a randomized basis, with ATRA, 45 mg/m 2 /day, from day 1 to complete remission. Patients in CR received maintenance therapy with 6 monthly courses combining Ida, 10 mg/m 2 /day, intravenously, on day 1 with Ara-C100 mg/m 2 /day, subcutaneously, from day 1 to day 5. Results: Results were evaluated after one induction course. Overall 54 patients (57%, 26 with ATRA and 28 without ATRA) achieved CR including five patients treated at time of initial diagnosis, seven previously resistant, 38 in first relapse and four in further relapse. Thirty patients (31%) had resistant disease and 11 (12%) died from toxicity. Median time for neutrophil recovery to 0.5610 9 /l and platelets to 20610 9 /l was 31 and 21 days respectively. Severe toxicity (WHO grade 53) included infections (37%), diarrhea (9%), bleeding (3%), vomiting (16%), hyperbilirubinemia (5%), mucositis (6%) and hypercreatininemia (2%). No ATRA syndrome was noted in the ATRA arm. Median overall survival for the entire cohort was 6.3 months and median disease-free survival was 4.7 months. There were no statistical diAerences in terms of CR, DFS, and OS between the two arms. Conclusion: We conclude that ATRA in combination with Ida and Ara-C can be administered safely to high-risk AML patients. However, in this setting, ATRA did not oAer any advantage when compared to chemotherapy alone. The Hematology Journal (2002) 3, 49‐55. DOI: 10.1038/sj/thj/6200141

To assess the place of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in the advanced stage of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we retrospectively analyzed 379 consecutive patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT for advanced AML. The median follow-up of the entire cohort was 7.5 years. Sixty-nine patients (18%) were transplanted with primary resistant disease. Three hundred and ten (82%) were relapsed patients, 94 (30%) of whom were in untreated relapse, 67 (22%) in refractory relapse and 149 (48%) in 2nd or 3rd complete remission at time of transplantation. The 5-year probabilities of overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and transplant-related mortality (TRM) were 22 ± 4% 20 ± 4%, 45 ± 6%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, we demonstrated the favorable impact on OS, DFS and TRM of two factors over which we have no control (age

A dose-escalation study was realized in order to assess the maximally tolerated dose (MTD) of high-dose mitoxantrone in a single injection combined with cytarabine and etoposide (EMA regimen) in refractory or relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Between July 1997 and June 1998, 24 patients with relapsed or refractory AML entered the study. All but one patient had normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at baseline. Performance status according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria was less than two in all cases. All patients have been previously treated by mitoxantrone or anthracyclines. Four cohort of ten patients were scheduled with the following doses: (1) mitoxantrone 36 mg/m 2 on day 1; (2) mitoxantrone 45 mg/m 2 on day 1; (3) mitoxantrone 60 mg/m 2 on day 1; (4) mitoxantrone 75 mg/m 2 on day 1 in combination with cytarabine 500 mg/m 2 per day (days 1–3, and days 8–10), and etoposide 200 mg/m 2 per day (days 8–10). All patients received the full doses of the three drugs. The limiting toxicity was defined as WHO grade 4 nonhematologic toxicity and for impairment of cardiac function by Alexander's criteria (moderate or severe toxicity). The occurrence of limiting toxicity in at least three patients from the same dose level determined the MDT. No limiting toxicity was observed in mitoxantrone dose level 1. Two limiting toxicities were observed in mitoxantrone dose level 2 (one mucositis, one moderate cardiac toxicity), and three limiting toxicities in mitoxantrone dose level 3 (1 high transaminase levels, two moderate cardiac toxicities) ending the assay. Overall, 16 patients (67%) achieved complete remission (CR). One drug-addict patient died from cerebral hemorrhage due to severe aspergillosis and was not considered as a limiting toxicity. After EMA chemotherapy, 13 patients received subsequent chemotherapy courses involving anthracyclines or their derivatives. Six patients underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. No late toxicity occurred. The median survival of the entire cohort was 41.4 weeks. We conclude that (i) EMA chemotherapy using a single injection of mitoxantrone is effective in the treatment of refractory or relapsing AML; (ii) the recommended phase II dose of mitoxantrone is 45 mg/m 2 administered over 30 min as a single dose in combination with cytarabine and etoposide.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) presenting with hyperleukocytosis is generally of poor prognosis due to an increased early death rate and a lower response to initial chemotherapy. Between April 1985 and December 1995, all patients with newly diagnosed AML admitted to our institution with an initial white blood cell (WBC) count greater than 100 x 10(9)/l were scheduled to undergo leukapheresis. This represented 53 patients (median age 59 years, range 16-78 years) who underwent from 1 to 4 sets of leukapheresis (median 1). The median initial WBC count was 160 x 10(9)/l (range 100-480 x 10(9)/l). Morphologic subtypes, according to the French-American-British classification, showed 3 M0, 16 M1, 6 M2, 10 M4, 16 M5, and 2 unclassified cases of AML. In 21 patients (40%), leukapheresis did not reduce their WBC counts significantly, while 32 patients (60%) achieved a WBC count of less than 100 x 10(9)/l (median 71 x 10(9)/l) after leukapheresis. Analysis of cell cycle was performed on bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood leukemic cells before and after leukapheresis in three cases. In two of those cases, a recruitment of BM leukemic cells in the S phase was observed after leukapheresis. The median WBC count at the time of starting chemotherapy was 85 x 10(9)/l (range 23-264 x 10(9)/l). Complete remission was achieved in 55% (95% confidence interval 40-68%). Early death occurred in two cases. Median disease-free survival was 10 months, while median overall survival was 8 months. In this study, early death rate is lower than data previously published in the literature and almost all patients could receive chemotherapy. This might suggest a benefit of initial leukapheresis in the treatment of AML presenting with hyperleukocytosis.

The EMA86 study showed efficacy of intensive sequential chemotherapy with mitoxantrone, 12 mg/m2 day on days 1-3, etoposide, 200 mg/m2/day as a continuous infusion on days 8-10 and cytarabine (araC), 500 mg/m2/day as continuous infusion on days 1-3 and 8-10 (EMA regimen) in previously treated patients with AML. The goal of the EMA91 study was to determine whether administration of GM-CSF between the two sequences of EMA chemotherapy and during the second sequence could increase therapeutic efficacy by potentially increasing leukemic cell recruitment into the S phase of cell cycle before the second sequence. One hundred and ninety-two patients aged less than 65 years with previously treated AML received GM-CSF, 5 microg/kg/day or placebo from day 4 to day 8 of EMA chemotherapy. One hundred and twenty were refractory and 72 were in first relapse after a complete remission (CR) of more than 6 months duration. CR rates after one course of chemotherapy were 65% in the GM-CSF group (refractory: 51%; first relapse: 89%), not significantly different from the 59% CR rate (refractory: 46%; first relapse: 81%) in the placebo group. Median time to recovery of neutrophils was 38 and 37 days and median time to last platelet transfusion 32 and 32 days respectively in the GM-CSF and placebo groups. WHO grade > or = 3 non-hematologic toxicities were mainly sepsis (45% and 51%, respectively) and mucositis (34% and 31%) and did not differ between the two groups. Toxic death rate was 5% and 8%, respectively, in the GM-CSF and placebo groups. Patients achieving CR were scheduled to receive six courses of maintenance with reduced-dose EMA. Time to progression tended to be longer in the GM-CSF group (median 154 vs 115 days, progression-free rate at 18 months 33% vs 19%, P = 0.08), particularly in refractory patients (P = 0.06). However, at the current follow-up, this did not translate into a significantly longer disease-free survival and survival. Cell cycle studies showed increased recruitment of cells in the S phase between day 4 and day 8 in the GM-CSF group compared to placebo (P = 0.006). However, this did not significantly relate to prognosis in this cohort of patients. GM-CSF might marginally increase efficacy of sequential chemotherapy without increasing its toxicity in the absence of any detected relationship between this effect and observed leukemic cell recruitment into the cell cycle.

Bone marrow (BM) environment is thought to support the growth of myeloma cells and thus to play an important role in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM). Because interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an essential growth factor in MM, we have examined the effects of two myeloma cell lines (U266 and ARH-77) on the IL-6 production by BM stromal cells in a co-culture system. These cell lines strongly stimulate the IL-6 production and IL-6 triggering was partially dependent on physical contact between lines and stroma. The percentages of cell adhesion to stromal layers were 39% and 25% respectively for ARH77 and U266 cell lines. Inhibition studies with blocking monoclonal antibodies showed the importance of CD49d/CD106 and CD11a/CD54 interactions in the stimulation of IL-6 production by stromal cells. However, cell-to-cell contact was not an absolute requirement for IL-6 production. Cytokines, of which TNF-alpha and IL-1beta produced by MM or accessory cells, were also able to stimulate IL-6 production by fibroblasts and show additive effects. In adhesion assays, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were able to increase the adhesion of MM cells to stromal cells. CD54 was upregulated by IL-1beta, TNF-alpha or a contact with MM cells while CD106 expression was not, suggesting only a functional change of this molecule. However, the role of monoclonal antibodies, directed against these factors, confirmed the role of TNF-alpha in the IL-6 production by stromal cells, while any IL-1beta intervention was not shown in our co-culture system. IL-6 favoured and maintained adhesion of MM cells to stromal cells spontaneously since its reintroduction in the favoured co-culture system restored their decreased adhesion observed on a glutaraldehyde fixed stromal layer. Overall our data suggest a functional overlap between cytokines and adhesion molecules for the paracrine IL-6 production.

Thrombocytopenia is a major cause of morbidity following intensive chemotherapy for acute leukemia. Over recent years, there has been an increasing use of platelet transfusions which, although generally efficacious to prevent severe hemorrhage, have associated risks of transmitting blood-borne disease and of alloimmunization. Therefore, there is a clinical requirement for a drug that will reliably alleviate the thrombocytopenia associated with leukemia therapy. The c-mpl ligand thrombopoietin is the most interesting factor for the treatment of thrombocytopenia because of its lineage specificity. Phase I and II studies confirm its biological efficacy to induce rise in platelet count in patients with solid tumors and acute leukemia. Several other pleiotropic hematopoietic growth factors are also currently in clinical trials. These include interleukin-6, interleukin-3, interleukin-11, PIXY321 and stem cell factor. The effects of these cytokines appear to be modest at most and, with the exception of interleukin-11, their side effects are likely to limit their clinical application. Combinations of factors may prove more efficacious approaches to enhance platelet recovery.

Functional adhesion of blood and marrow leukemic cells from 14 acute myeloid leukemia patients presenting with hyperleukocytosis was evaluated by performing cytoadhesion assays on purified (extracellular matrix proteins) and non-purified supports (MRC5 fibroblastic cell line). Results, in 30-min chromium release assay, show a mean +/- S.D. adhesion to fibronectin, collagen, and laminin respectively of 30 +/- 17%, 20 +/- 13%, 25 +/- 17% for blood leukemic cells and 18 +/- 11%, 11 +/- 10%, 11 +/- 8% for marrow leukemic cells. These differences between blood and marrow cells were statistically significant (respectively P = 0.005, P = 0.01 and P = 0.002), while no difference was noted regarding adhesion to non-purified supports. The higher adhesion of blood blast cells to purified supports was observed regardless of CD34 expression. No significant difference was observed in the expression of cell surface VLA-molecules (CD29, CD49b, CD49d, CD49e, CD49f) between blood and marrow blast cells. The addition of GM-CSF or G-CSF induced increased adhesion of marrow blasts and decreased adhesion of blood blasts leading to a loss of the difference between blood and marrow cells. In a 60-min chromium release assay, marrow blasts adhered even more than blood leukemic cells to fibronectin. In contrast, marrow blasts from 'aleukemic' acute myeloid leukemia patients did not show any modification regarding their adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins when co-cultured with growth factors.

Adhesion molecules are involved in cell-cell interactions and therefore probably play a role in the differentiation and egress of cells from the bone marrow, which might be potentially important in the biology of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is known to induce in vitro and in vivo differentiation of APL cells and to favor their release from the bone marrow into the blood at initiation of therapy. In order to determine whether these effects might be mediated in part by modifications of beta1-integrin and pseudoimmunoglobulin expression on APL cells, the expression of these adhesion molecules on bone marrow (BM) blast cells from 24 APL patients was assayed at diagnosis by an indirect immunofluorescence method. CD49b, CD49d, CD49e, CD49f, CD54, CD58, and CD56 were expressed respectively on 18%+/-20% (0-66%), 40%+/-31% (0-96%), 48%+/-32% (0-97%), 29%+29% (1-94%), 51%+/-30% (5-98%), 37%+/-24% (1-85%) and 32%+/-31% (0-97%) of APL cells, with respectively 39%, 71%, 79%, 50%, 70%, 70%, and 53% positive cases (> or = 20% positive cells). Despite a wide variability between individual samples, the expression of beta1-integrins and that of pseudo-immunoglobulins tended to be higher in APL in comparison with that of a cohort of 63 patients with other AML subtypes with significant differences for CD54 expression (51%+/-30% vs 28%+/-27%, P=0.006) and CD56 expression (37%+/-24% vs 17%+/-19%, P=0.0003). An in vitro differentiation assay was performed in nine cases. Cells were harvested after 4-7 days of culture and studied for the expression of adhesion molecules. Granulocytic differentiation was marked by persistence of CD15 expression. Antigen expression was decreased after culture with ATRA for all beta1-integrins (except CD49b and CD49f) and pseudoimmunoglobulins (except CD54) tested. However, changes were statistically significant only for CD56 (P=0.04), CD49d (P=0.02) and CD49e (P=0.01). The modifications in the expression of the beta1-integrins and pseudo immunoglobulins were not specific to ATRA-induced differentiation, but commonly observed with differentiation. Furthermore, the modifications in the adhesive properties of APL cells to extracellular matrix proteins, observed on adhesion assays, were not statistically significant after ATRA-induced differentiation. Overall, the level of expression of beta1-integrins and pseudo-immunoglobulins was higher in APL than in other AML subtypes, and appeared modified with induced differentiation. This was not specific of ATRA, but might be involved in the general differentiation phenomenon. The modulation of adhesion molecules does not seem a sufficient requisite for the development of the retinoic acid syndrome, but could nevertheless be part of the increase in leukocyte counts observed during the first days of ATRA therapy.

In order to investigate the sensitivity of malignant target cells to lysis by LAK cells according to their clonogenic capacities and their position along the maturation pathway, we compared clonogenic and chromium release cytotoxicity assays performed on human hematopoietic cell lines using Effector: Target ratios of 1:1, 3:1, 6:1, 12:1, 24:1, 48:1 and 96:1, and studied the sensitivity of HL-60 and U937 human cell lines after exposure to different factors including GM-CSF, SCF, IFN, Retinoic acid (RA), DMSO, and TPA which are able to recruit cells into the cell cycle or to induce cell differentiation. There was a good correlation between the lysis of the target cells using 51Cr release and the growth inhibition in semisolid medium. The degree of inhibition was significantly higher using the colony growth assay (p = 0.006). Regarding the effects of culturing cell lines with proliferating and differentiating agents on the sensitivity of these cell lines to LAK cytolysis, a correlation was noted between the proliferative response of the U937 cell line and susceptibility to LAK cell lysis (p = 0.01), while results appeared close to significance with HL-60. The most significant effects were a decreased sensitivity of HL-60 to LAK lysis with RA (p0.001) and TPA (p0.001), and an increased susceptibility of U937 to LAK lysis with GM-CSF (p0.0001). In studies planned to investigate whether susceptibility of treated cells to LAK activity was a consequence of a downregulation of adhesion molecules expressed on target cell surface, the proportion of cells expressing adhesion molecules was not significantly changed, except for CD54 expression on HL-60 cells which showed a higher expression, after cells were treated with RA or DMSO. We conclude that clonogenic cells are more sensitive to LAK cell lysis and that cell line sensitivity to LAK cytolysis can be modulated by a variety of agents of potential therapeutic use. The poor correlation between adhesion molecules expression and sensitivity to LAK lysis suggests that molecules other than CD54, CD56, CD58, and CD106 may possibly be more central to the processes involved.

Although the presence of a chromosome 11q23 breakpoint is of recognized poor prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, its prognostic significance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been the object of conflicting reports, perhaps reflecting the possibility of different entities. It has been found that only typical and generally balanced 11q23 chromosomal anomalies involve the MLL gene while atypical and generally unbalanced do not. To determine whether these two categories of AML patients had different initial characteristics and evolution, supporting different pathogenetic mechanisms, we analyzed clinical and biologic characteristics of newly diagnosed AML patients with balanced 11q23 breakpoint and/or MLL rearrangement seen over a 10-year period in our institution and compared them to cases with unbalanced 11q23 anomaly seen over the same period. These two categories of patients were compared with newly diagnosed patients with normal karyotype and no MLL rearrangement when tested, seen over the same period of time and treated similarly. Over this period, 442 newly diagnosed adult (> 15 years) AML seen in our institution had a successful karyotype performed before any therapy. Thirty-six cases (8%) had a chromosome 11q23 breakpoint including 19 cases with a balanced translocation or inversion and 17 cases with an unbalanced anomaly. Eighty-seven recently diagnosed cases of AML, for whom frozen cellular material was available, were analyzed by Southern blot for the presence of MLL gene rearrangement. Fourteen cases (16% of the tested cases) had a rearrangement of the MLL gene, including seven cases with an apparently successful karyotype not showing any 11q23 breakpoint and two cases with no available karyotype. The only case with unbalanced 11q23 chromosomal anomaly which was tested had no MLL rearrangement. There was a clear-cut clinical difference between the 28 patients having a balanced 11q23 anomaly/MLL rearrangement and the 17 patients having an unbalanced chromosomal anomaly: AML with unbalanced 11q23 anomalies occurred in older patients (P = 0.07) tended to be less frequently associated with previous exposure to topoisomerase II-active drugs and with M4/M5 FAB cytological subtypes, were always associated with other chromosomal anomalies (P < 0.0001), expressed more frequently the CD34 antigen (P = 0.05) and were of considerably poorer prognosis for achievement of CR (P = 0.005) and survival (P = 0.0005). When compared to the control population, patients with balanced anomalies had more frequent history of toxic exposure (P = 0.0003) particularly to topoisomerase II-active drugs, tended to be more frequently of M4/M5 FAB subtypes (P = 0.07), expressed more frequently HLA-DR antigen (P = 0.02) and had shorter DFS (P = 0.02). Patients with unbalanced anomalies had more frequent splenomegaly (P = 0.009), lower WBC count (P = 0.04), and much poorer prognosis for CR achievement (P = 0.0001), survival (P < 0.0001) and DFS (P = 0.01). This study confirms the high frequency of 11q23 chromosomal breakpoint/MLL rearrangement in adult AML and the probable existence of two different entities with different clinical features according to the presence of a balanced or unbalanced cytogenetic abnormality, the latter being not associated with MLL rearrangement.

In order to potentially mobilize and harvest the Ph cells observed in most patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) during interferon-alpha (IF-alpha) therapy, G-CSF (filgrastim), 5 microg/kg/d, was administered subcutaneously together with IF-alpha to 30 CML patients in haematological remission but with various degrees of cytogenetic remission, after IF-alpha therapy. Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) were harvested using standard aphereses from day 5 of G-CSF Patients underwent one to four (median three) aphereses. Median total yields/kg were 7.6 (range 3.8-25) x 10(8) MNC, 3.4 (0-140) x 10(6) CD34+ cells, and 17 (1.1-107) x 10(4) CFU-GM. No patient had a significant increase in the percentage of Ph+ cells in the bone marrow under G-CSF therapy. The percentage of Ph+ cells in apheresis products tended to decrease between the first and the last apheresis (P = 0.05). 14 patients who were not responsive to IF-alpha were transplanted after conditioning with busulphan 16 mg/kg and melphalan 140 mg/m2. Median time to neutrophils > 0.5 x 10(9)/l was 20 d (16-114 d) and to platelets > 50 x 10(9)/l 18 d (12-149 d). Nine patients had a major cytogenetic response post graft, which correlated with the amount of Ph+ cells reinfused with the graft (P = 0.02). We conclude that this procedure is feasible, allowing the harvest of enough PBSC, some of them Ph- in patients who responded to IF-alpha, to allow autologous transplantation.

Recurrent anomalies of the short arm of chromosome 9, including interstitial deletions and translocations, have often been described. Recently two cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, known as P16 (INK4A/MTS1) and P15 (INK4B/MTS2), which map to 9p21, have been found deleted in a wide range of tumors and particularly in leukemic cells. We report here Southern blot analyses of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (P16, P15, P21, and P27) status in primary tumoral cells of 121 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemias, 85 patients with acute myeloid leukemias and 42 patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemias. P16 inactivation was found in 25 of 38 T-ALLs and in 28 of 83 B-lineage ALLs. In eight cases (three T-ALLs and five B-lineage ALLs), one or both alleles of P16 locus were rearranged. In these cases, breakpoints occurred within the two major breakpoints cluster regions previously described in T-ALLs. Homozygous P16 deletions were observed in two of 85 AMLs but in none of the 42 B-CLL cases tested. Our results suggest that P16 inactivation are the most frequent event observed in ALL (44%), are quite rare in AML (

Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured in 58 adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) using an ELISA method in order to find potential clinical correlations. Detectable average levels were 57 +/- 68 pg/ml and 52 patients (90%) had higher cytokine levels than normal donors. IL-6 levels (115 +/- 102 pg/ml versus 36 +/- 40 pg/ml, p = 0.0001) were higher in patients with fever of apparently non infectious origin, and higher levels were associated with higher percentage of blasts in the peripheral blood (R = 0.29, p = 0.04) and in the bone marrow (R = 0.39, p = 0.003), elevated serum LDH level (R = 0.36, p = 0.01), hyperbilirubinemia (R = 0.36, p = 0.008), elevated serum GGT level (R = 0.46, p = 0.003), and elevated serum GOT (R = 0.36, p = 0.008) and GPT levels (R = 0.44, p = 0.004). Highest IL-6 levels were observed in FAB M1 (86 +/- 112 pg/ml), M3 (73 +/- 69 pg/ml), and M6 (92 +/- 60 pg/ml) AML subtypes. Serum IL-6 levels in AML might be related to both non specific inflammatory reactions and the specific biology of the disease.

To the Editor: Aplan et al[1][1] recently reported a site-specific DNA cleavage induced by topoisomerase II (Topo II) inhibitors within the MLL gene breakpoint cluster region on chromosome 11q23. The finding was initially identified by Southern blot analysis of circulating blasts taken from a case

We describe a patient with AML with a monocytic component who developed a T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. Lymphoma was diagnosed 9 months following AML diagnosis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of phenotypically documented T-cell lymphoma following AML. The questions relating to the pathogenesis of the two malignancies are discussed.

Timed sequential chemotherapy (TSC) combining mitoxantrone on days 1–3, etoposide on days 8–10 and cytarabine on days 1–3 and 8–10, was administered to 240 patients with advanced acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Sixty one percent of patients, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 54 to 67%, achieved complete remission (CR), including 47% (CI: 38–55%) of refractory patients and 78% (CI: 70–86%) of late first relapse patients (p < 0.0001). Thirty percent of patients did not respond to therapy and 9% died from toxicity. Median duration of neutropenia was 32 days and of thrombocytopenia 29 days. Severe non hematologic toxicity included sepsis in 45% of patients and mucositis in 27%. Post-remission therapy varied but included maintenance chemotherapy in most patients, a second course of TSC in 27, autologous stem cell transplantation in 17 and allogeneic transplantation in 20. Median survival of patients who were not transplanted was 7 months with 13% (CI: 7–19%) survival at 5 years. Median disease-free survival (DFS) was 9 months with 13% (CI: 6–20%) DFS at 5 years. Previous refractoriness was the main factor associated with poor prognosis for achieving CR, DFS and survival in a multivariate analysis. There was no difference in DFS between patients receiving the different modalities of intensive post-remission therapy. These results confirm initial reports on TSC and show that some patients with first relapse off therapy can enjoy prolonged DFS using chemotherapy only.

Expression of CD56 was analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence method on bone marrow samples from 94 newly diagnosed patients with acute leukemia (AL), including 59 acute myelogenous leukemias (AML) and 35 acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL). CD56 was expressed on 17 +/- 18% (range: 0-72%) of AML cells and 24 +/- 24% (range: 0-98%) of ALL cells, without significant differences between FAB subtypes in AML, nor immunologic subtypes in ALL. Expression of CD56 was not associated with any clinical or biological characteristic at diagnosis, nor with prognosis in AML or ALL. We do not confirm previously described relationships between CD56 expression and initial characteristics and evolution of acute leukemia.

We entered 26 patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in a pilot study of all-transretinoic acid (ATRA) followed by intensive chemotherapy. Median age was 46 (range 25 to 63). No patient presented with leukocytes > 10 x 10(9)/L or had the microgranular APL variant. Cytogenetic analysis (25 patients) found a t(15;17) in 24 cases. Patients were scheduled to receive ATRA (45 mg/m2/d) until complete remission, followed by an intensive daunorubicin (DNR) + Ara C course (“4 + 7” course), then three “2 + 5” DNR + Ara C courses and maintenance chemotheapy. However, the “4 + 7” course was administered in emergency if hyperleukocytosis rapidly developed to prevent leukostasis. Twenty-five patients (96%) achieved CR, 14 with ATRA alone and 11 after the addition of the “4 + 7” course on day 2 to 30 of treatment, because leukocytes rapidly increased (9 cases), because of resistance to ATRA (1 case), and development of organomegaly (1 case). The remaining patient died on day 6, from CNS bleeding. Apart from hyperleukocytosis, side effects were usually moderate. In the 11 patients who could be studied in vitro, a very good correlation was found between in vivo and vitro differentiation and proliferation of APL blasts with ATRA. Three patients were allografted after the “4 + 7” course. Four patients did not receive this course but received the subsequent “2 + 5” courses and maintenance. The remaining patients followed the scheduled protocol. Three patients relapsed after 8, 11, and 15 months (including one allografted patient). Two patients died in CR, after 6 and 17 months. The other 20 patients remained in CR after 18+ to 34+ months (median 21). Actuarial disease free interval (DFI) and event free survival (EFS) were 87% and 77%, respectively, after 18 months. These results were compared to those obtained in our previous APL 84 trial with chemotherapy alone in newly diagnosed APL (after excluding patients included in this trial who presented with hyperleukocytosis). In APL 84 trial, the CR rate was 76%, the actuarial DFI and EFS were 59% and 48% after 18 months, respectively. Differences with the pilot study of ATRA followed by chemotherapy were significant for DFI (P = .02), EFS (P = .006), but not for CR rate (P = .08). Although this is a historical comparison, these results suggest that ATRA followed by chemotherapy may prove superior to chemotherapy alone in newly diagnosed APL, by slightly increasing the CR rate, but perhaps more importantly by reducing the relapse rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Anaphylactoid reaction to cyclophosphamide administration in a 85-year old woman is described. Symptomatology was restricted to bronchospasm, which regressed within one hour. This incomplete and rapidly regressive symptomatology might be explained by previous administration of methylprednisolone. No anaphylactoid symptoms were observed following continuation of therapy with ifosfamide.

In order to detect possible relationships between cytogenetic abnormalities and morphologic features in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), 48 patients with MDS were investigated. Clonal cytogenetic abnormalities were present in bone marrow cells from 27 patients (56%). The most frequent single anomaly was del (5 q) (10 cases), followed by monosomy 7 (3 cases), trisomy 8 (3 cases) and del (20 q) (2 cases). Complex anomalies were present in 6 patients. Morphologically, according to the French-American-British (FAB) classification: 17 cases were considered as refractory anemia (RA), 17 as RA with excess of blasts (RAEB), 2 as RAEB in transformation, 2 as acquired idiopathic sideroblastic anemia and 10 as chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. With regard to the FAB classification, del (5 q) was often associated with RA and complex cytogenetic anomalies with RAEB. When myelodysplasia was studied in individual myeloid lineages, del (5 q) was associated with hypolobulated megakaryocytes, monosomy 7 with micromegakaryocytes and complex chromosomal anomalies with the association of two or more features of dysmegakaryocytopoiesis. Del (11 q) was associated with increased iron storage and del (20 q) with marked dyserythropoiesis. No correlation was observed between cytogenetic anomalies and features of dysgranulocytopoiesis.