Acute Myelogenous Leukemia without Maturation with a Retinoic Alpha-Receptor Deletion: A Case Report

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by a t(15;17) which fuses the 17q retinoic acid alpha-receptor sequence to the 15q PML gene sequence. The resulting fusion product plays a role in the development and maintenance of APL, and is very rarely found in other acute myeloid leukemia (AML) subtypes. Rare complex APL genomic rearrangements have retinoic acid alpha-receptor sequence deletions. Here we report a retinoic acid alpha-receptor sequence deletion in a case of AML without differentiation. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a retinoic acid alpha-receptor sequence deletion in this AML subtype.Key words: Acute myelogenous leukemia without maturation, PML/RAR?, Deletion, t(15;17)(q22;q21), Acute promyelocytic leukemia, AML-M3, AML-M1     

CD19 Antigen in Leukemia and Lymphoma Diagnosis and Immunotherapy

The CD19 antigen plays an important role in clinical oncology. In normal cells, it is the most ubiquitously expressed protein in the B lymphocyte lineage. CD19 expression is induced at the point of B lineage commitment during the differentiation of the hematopoietic stem cell, and its expression continues through preB and mature B cell differentiation until it is finally down-regulated during terminal differentiation into plasma cells. CD19 expression is maintained in B-lineage cells that haw undergone neoplastic transformation, and therefore CD19 is useful in diagnosis of leukemias and lymphomas using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and flow cytometry. Interestingly, CD19 is also expressed in a subset of acute myelogenous leukemias (AMLs) indicating the close relationship between the lymphoid and myeloid lineages. Because B lineage leukemias and lymphomas rarely lose CD19 expression, and because it is not expressed in the pluripotent stem cell, it has become the target for a variety of immunotherapeutic agents, including immunotoxins. Treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) with anti-CD19 mAbs coupled to biological toxins has proven to be effective in vitro and in animal models, and has shown some promising results in Phase I clinical trials. Recently, the analysis of anti-CD19 effects on lymphoma cell growth has highlighted a novel mechanism of immunotherapy. Engagement of cell surface receptors like CD19 by mAbs can have anti-tumor effects, by the activation of signal transduction pathways which control cell cycle progression and programmed cell death (apoptosis).     

急性混合细胞性白血病八例的临床及生物学特征

 目的 研究急性混合细胞性白血病（MAL）的临床特征、实验室指标、治疗及预后。方法 对8例MAL骨髓标本均进行细胞形态学、免疫学、遗传学分析,运用急性淋巴细胞白血病化疗方案或兼顾髓、淋二系方案化疗。结果 FAB分型显示急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL-L2）3例,ALL-L1 4例,急性髓系白血病（AML-M1）1例,免疫分型显示MAL患者均有髓、淋二系表达,其中3例为T、B、髓3系共表达。染色体核型分析可见异常核型,但无特征性改变。该类患者大多数对治疗反应差,预后不良。结论 MAL具有独特的临床和生物学特征,通常预后较差。     

Laboratory and clinical applications of monoclonal antibodies for leukemias and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Important insights into leukocyte differentiation and the cellular origins of leukemia and lymphoma have been gained through the use of monoclonal antibodies that define cell surface antigens and molecular probes that identify immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes. Results of these studies have been combined with markers such as surface membrane and cytoplasmic immunoglobulin on B lymphocytes, sheep erythrocyte receptors on T lymphocytes, and cytochemical stains. After using all of the aforementioned markers, it is now clear that acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is heterogeneous. Furthermore, monoclonal antibodies that identify B cells, such as the anti-CD20 and anti-CD19 antibodies in combination with studies of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement, have demonstrated that virtually all cases of non-T-ALL are malignancies of B-cell origin. At least six distinct subgroups of non-T-ALL can now be identified. T-ALL is subdivided by the anti-CD7, anti-CD5, and antibodies that separate T lymphocytes subsets into three primary subgroups. Monoclonal antibodies are also useful in the subclassification of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and certain distinct markers can be correlated with morphological classification. Although monoclonal antibodies are useful in distinguishing acute myeloid from acute lymphoid leukemias, they have less certain utility in the subclassification of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Attempts to subclassify AML by differentiation-associated antigens rather than by the French-American-British (FAB) classification are underway in order to document the potential prognostic utility of surface markers. Therapeutic trials using monoclonal antibodies in leukemia and lymphoma have been reported. Intravenous infusion of unlabeled antibodies is the most widely used method; transient responses have been demonstrated. Antibodies conjugated to radionuclides have been quite successful in localizing tumors of less than 1 cm in some studies. Therapy trials with antibodies conjugated to isotopes, toxins, and drugs have shown promise. Purging of autologous bone marrow with monoclonal antibodies and complement in vitro has been used in ALL and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; preliminary data suggest that this approach may be an effective therapy and may circumvent many of the obstacles and toxicities associated with in vivo monoclonal antibody infusion.     

多参数流式细胞术在淋巴细胞白血病和非霍奇金淋巴瘤骨髓侵犯诊断的应用

背景与目的：骨髓形态学检查可诊断淋巴细胞白血病,结合淋巴结活检可诊断非霍奇金淋巴瘤(non—Hodgkin‘s lymphoma,NHL)侵犯骨髓,但形态学仅是初步的诊断,采用免疫分型而获得肿瘤细胞来源及发育阶段的资料是目前诊治淋巴系统恶性肿瘤所必需的。本研究探讨多参数流式细胞术(flow cytometry,FCM)在淋巴细胞白血病、NHL骨髓侵犯的诊断和免疫分型方面的应用价值。方法：取初治白血病患者骨髓标本11例和NHL患者骨髓侵犯的骨髓标本41例,以及2例分别表现为巨大纵隔肿块和腹部巨大肿块的患者因无法取得病理标本而取骨髓检测的骨髓标本2例。采用B细胞系列抗体、T细胞系列抗体、粒细胞系列抗体,按常规行FCM免疫表型检测,CD45结合两个系列单抗或阶段特异性单抗进行三色免疫荧光染色,CD45／SSC设门后可将骨髓细胞清晰地分出成熟细胞和幼稚细胞群,然后行FSC、SSC、McAb1-FITC、McAb2-PE、CD45-Cychrome五参数分析。结果：11例白血病患者骨髓形态学经FCM的免疫分型获得进一步确诊和分型。41例NHL骨髓侵犯标本免疫表型与其淋巴结病理免疫组化相符合的为80．5％(33／41),不相符的有19．5％(8／41),结合临床、病理、骨髓形态学诊断和骨髓FCM的结果,最终获得明确诊断。2例分别为巨大纵隔肿块和腹块的患者仅靠骨髓形态学和骨髓FCM确诊为T—NHL和B—NHL。结论：多参数FCM能进一步明确白血病和NHL骨髓侵犯的诊断,对急性淋巴细胞白血病和NHL的病例还可同时获得T或B细胞来源和细胞分化早期或后期的参数,有助于临床诊断、鉴别诊断和治疗方案的确定。     

Bone marrow involvement by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: the clinical significance of morphologic discordance between the lymph node and bone marrow. Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group.

Bone marrow specimens from 317 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) obtained at initial staging were evaluated for the presence of lymphoma or benign lymphoid aggregates. Thirty-two percent (102 patients) had lymphoma in their bone marrow, and 9% had benign lymphoid aggregates. Bone marrow lymphoma was present in 39% of low-grade, 36% of intermediate-grade, and 18% of high-grade lymphomas. The bone marrow was involved in 25% of patients with diffuse large-cell or immunoblastic NHL (ie, diffuse histiocytic lymphoma of Rappaport). Bone marrow involvement did not affect survival of patients with low-grade NHL, but survival was significantly shorter (P = .03) for patients with intermediate- and high-grade NHL with bone marrow involvement. Bone marrow involvement was equally common in B-cell and T-cell NHL (31% v 32%). However, patients with T-cell NHL and bone marrow involvement had shorter survival than B-cell NHL with marrow involvement (P = .02) or T-cell NHL without marrow involvement (P = .05). A high incidence of morphologic discordance between lymph node and bone marrow was observed (ie, 40%), always with a more aggressive subtype in the lymph node than in the bone marrow. Presence of large-cell lymphoma in the bone marrow predicted for short survival. Survival for patients with small-cell lymphoma in their bone marrow did not differ significantly from patients with negative bone marrows. We conclude that bone marrow involvement in large-cell NHL, especially in those of T-cell origin, portends a poor prognosis. However, the subgroup of patients with an aggressive histologic subtype of NHL in a lymph node biopsy and small-cell NHL in the bone marrow do not have a poorer outlook than those without bone marrow involvement.     

Possible involvement of neutrophils in a serum level increase of hepatocyte growth factor in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a potent angiogenic factor, increase during various haematological malignancies. In this study, we examined serum HGF in 59 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Serum HGF levels in NHL patients were increased, as were levels in patients with multiple myeloma, chronic myeloproliferative disorders, and myelodysplastic syndrome. Some 29 patients with T-cell lymphoma, including 20 with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, exhibited a significant increase in serum HGF, as did 23 with B-cell lymphoma. The levels of serum HGF correlated with increased neutrophil counts (r=0.487, p<0.0001), and also paralleled a neutrophil increase in NHL patients who received granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) at the nadir of neutrophil count following chemotherapy. Additionally, in in vitro experiments, HGF secretion from polymorphonuclear neutrophils and its expression in bone marrow myeloid cells were stimulated by G-CSF. Although HGF has been thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of NHL through its angiogenic activities, these results suggest that HGF production by neutrophils and myeloid lineage cells may also contribute to an increase in serum HGF in NHL patients.     

Minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia in Taiwan: predominantly occurs in children less than 3 years and adults between 51 and 70 years.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with minimal differentiation was usually referred to as acute undifferentiated leukemia in the past. With the help of immunophenotyping, this subtype of leukemia was shown to express myeloid antigens on the blasts and was designated AML-M0 by FAB Cooperative Study Group in 1991. Among the 423 consecutive newly diagnosed de novo AML at our institution, 12 (2.8%) were of M0 subtype. The proportion of M0 in AML was higher in children than in adults (8.2% vs 1.7%). Four other M0 patients referred from outside hospitals for immunophenotyping were also included in this study. There were two peaks in age distribution of these 16 patients: less than 3 years and between 51 and 70 years, respectively. Organomegaly was more common in patients with AML-M0 than in those with other subtypes (56.3% vs 29.2%, P = 0.025). The former patients had higher incidences of CD7 and CD34 expression on the leukemic cells than the latter ones (50% vs 16.9%, P = 0.003 and 69.2% vs 37.9%, P = 0.019, respectively). The patients with AML-M0 showed more frequent clonal chromosomal abnormalities in the leukemic cells than other AML patients (83.3% vs 53.9%, P = 0.039); the same is also true for complex cytogenetic aberrations (50% vs 11. 4%, P = 0.004). Adults with AML-M0 showed a lower complete remission (CR) rate and significantly poorer survival than those with non M0-AML. However there was no significant difference in outcome between the two groups of pediatric patients. In conclusion, AML-M0 is a unique subtype of leukemia that has distinct age distribution and shows different clinical and biological characteristics from other AML. Adult patients have poor prognosis. Whether pediatric patients had better outcome than adults needs to be clarified in further studies.     

急性髓细胞白血病微分化型流式细胞术免疫分型分析

目的探讨流式细胞术（FCM）检测免疫表型在诊断急性髓细胞白血病微分化型（AML—M0）中的意义。方法采用多色FCM分析14例AML—M0病例的各相关抗原表达情况。结果14例AML—M0中,仅1例依据骨髓细胞形态学作出诊断,其余13例均依靠FCM作出明确诊断。在AML—M0中,髓系抗原CD33 14例（100％）表达阳性,CD13和CD117 9例（64％）表达阳性,CD34和HLA—DR12例（86％）表达阳性,一般成熟髓系相关抗原如CD16、CD10、CD14等均阴性,B和T淋巴细胞特异抗原如CD79a和CD3均为阴性,少数原始细胞表达细胞内髓过氧化物酶（MPO）、TdT。常常表达一些淋系但并不特异的抗原如CD7、CD2或CD19,但比淋巴细胞白血病表达的荧光强度弱。结论FCM免疫分型在AML—M0诊断中至关重要。     

PCR-SSCP检测非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者骨髓克隆性T细胞受体基因重排及其临床意义

背景与目的：进一步了解非霍奇金淋巴瘤（non-Hodgkin‘s lymphoma,NHL)患者骨髓标本克隆T细胞受体（T cell receptor,TCR)基因重排情况及临床意义。方法：应用聚合酶链反应（polymerase chain reaction,PCR)联合单链构象多态性（single-strand conformation polymorphism,SSCP),分析43例NHL患者骨髓标本TCRVγI-Jγ基因重排情况。结果：43例NHL患者有26例（60．5％）存在克隆性TCRVγI－Jγ基因重排。16例骨髓形态学检查未发现淋巴瘤细胞浸润者中有3例（18．8％）发现克隆性TCRVγ－Jγ基因重排。此3例患者分别于4－9个月后行骨髓形态检查时发现淋巴瘤细胞浸润。27例骨髓形态学检查有淋巴瘤细胞浸润者有23例（85．2％）存在克隆性TCRVγI－Jγ基因重排阳性,26例PCR扩增阳性病例经SSCP分析发现7例（26．9）％存在寡／亚克隆重排。7例存在寡／亚克隆重排患者经3－11个月有5例（71．4％）发展为白血病,存在寡／亚克隆重排NHL患者1年内转化为白血病的发生率显著高于无寡／亚克隆重排患者（10．5％）（P＜0．005）。结论：应用PCR检测NHL患者骨髓标本克隆性TCRVγ－Jγ基因重排可较骨髓形态学检查更早发现NHL患者骨髓浸润微小病灶。具有寡／亚克隆NHL患者更易发展为白血病,还可发展为急性非淋巴细胞白血病。     

Minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia (AML-M0) with extensive erythrophagocytosis and del(20)(q11) chromosome abnormality

We describe an 84-year-old woman who presented severe pancytopenia and 36.6% of blasts accompanied with erythrophagocytosis in the bone marrow. According to cytochemical and immunological findings, a diagnosis of minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia (AML-M0) was established. Cytogenetic analysis revealed del(20)(q11) which were previously reported for one case each of ALL and MDS associated with cytophagocytosis by blasts, leading us to speculate a disease entity. Interestingly, a high expression of mRNA of TNF-alpha was detected by RT-PCR on the bone marrow mononuclear cells.     

髓系／NK前体细胞急性白血病1例的诊断分析

目的 分析1例髓系／NK前体细胞急性白血病（M／NKPAL）的诊断过程,提高对M／NKPAL的认识。方法 对1例M/NKPAL采用细胞涂片染色、细胞化学染色方法和流式细胞术进行细胞形态学和免疫表型分析,并应用细胞遗传学和PCR技术进行染色体核型分析及T细胞受体、白血病融合基因的检测,同时结合相关文献进行分析。结果骨髓原始细胞为90.4％,绝大部分白血病细胞形态学类似急性淋巴细胞白血病L2型,过氧化物酶染色阴性,偶见Auer小体。免疫表型为CD34、HLA-DR、CD33、CD7、CD56、CD38阳性和cyCD3弱表达,而cyMPO、CD3、CD4等阴性。存在染色体核型异常,未检测到克隆性T细胞受体基因重排和白血病相关的融合基因。结论M/NKPAL临床少见,诊断复杂,仅依据形态学难以诊断,应注意与伴有髓系抗原表达的T淋巴细胞白血病、急性髓细胞白血病微分化型、T／髓系混合表型急性白血病和母细胞性NK细胞白血病／淋巴瘤等相鉴别。     

Hybrid leukemia and the 5q-abnormality

Most cases of acute leukemia with deletions of chromosome 5q (5q-) are acute myelogenous leukemia. 5q- in acute lymphoid leukemia is rare. We studied a case of acute leukemia with 5q- using morphologic, cytochemical, immune and molecular techniques. Morphologic and cytochemical techniques were consistent with ALL (FAB L-2, PAS+, MPO-, ASD-). TdT was present. Immune studies suggested a T-cell phenotype (CD5+, CD7+); however, there was no rearrangement of the T beta-cell receptor gene. Surprisingly, the leukemia cells also expressed the CD13 myeloid antigen. Dual staining analysis showed co-expression of lymphoid and myeloid antigens on most cells. Based on these data and a review of previous reports we suggest that acute leukemia associated with the 5q- abnormality can occur in an immature stem cell resulting in a hybrid leukemia.     

Successful clinical use of an anti-HLA-DR monoclonal antibody for autologous bone marrow transplantation

It has been widely assumed that anti-HLA-DR antibodies react with pluripotent stem cells and cannot be used in bone marrow purging. We report a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in which an anti-HLA-DR antibody (AB4) was used for immunomagnetic purging and the subsequent autologous bone marrow transplantation resulted in rapid marrow engraftment with no serious complications. The results indicate that the AB4 antibody, which binds to an antigen encoded by the B3 gene of the DR region, can be safely used in the clinic in the purging of bone marrow from patients with AB4-positive tumors (non-T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and some cases of acute myelogenous leukemia.     

皮肤原发性间变性大细胞淋巴瘤合并急性髓细胞白血病一例并文献复习

 目的　探讨原发性皮肤间变性大细胞淋巴瘤（C-ALCL）伴发急性髓细胞白血病（AML）的病理形态、免疫表型特征及预后特点。方法　对1例C-ALCL伴AML进行HE形态学观察、免疫组化标记及随访,并结合相关文献进行探讨。结果　患者,女性,69岁。以右手指皮损为首发症状伴骨髓象异常就诊。皮损组织形态学表现为肿瘤细胞多形性,大小不一,细胞质丰富,核大,不规则,伴有多量中性粒细胞和嗜酸性粒细胞浸润。免疫表型瘤细胞均表达CD30、CD3、CD43,不表达ALK。血常规显示外周血WBC 15.5×109／L,每百个有核细胞中有原始细胞51个。骨髓穿刺检查示骨髓增生明显活跃,原始粒细胞78 %。诊断原发性C-ALCL伴AML,部分分化型（AML-M2a）。结论　C-ALCL合并AML非常罕见,诊断依赖于临床资料、组织病理学及免疫组化标记。治疗首选化疗,但预后较差。     

112例淋巴系统恶性肿瘤骨髓免疫表型分析

背景与目的:淋巴细胞白血病和淋巴瘤骨髓侵犯的诊断以细胞形态学为基础,而免疫分型可通过获得肿瘤细胞分化和发育阶段的信息使淋巴系统恶性肿瘤的诊断更为准确,为临床合理治疗和预后判断提供重要的科学依据.本研究应用多参数流式细胞术(flow cytometry,FCM)探讨淋巴细胞白血病和非霍奇金淋巴瘤(non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,NHL)骨髓侵犯的免疫表型特点.方法:收集112例病理确诊NHL并伴骨髓侵犯和淋巴细胞白血病患者的骨髓标本.应用FCM检测肿瘤细胞的免疫表型.结果:45例前驱B淋巴母细胞白血病/淋巴瘤(precursor B lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia,B-ALL/LBL)主要表达CD19、CD10、TdT、CD34、HLA-DR和CD20;32例前驱T淋巴母细胞白血病/淋巴瘤(precursor T lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia,T-ALL/LBL)主要表达胞内CD3(cytoplasmic CD3,CyCD3)、CD7、CD5、TdT、膜表面CD3(surface CD3,sCD3)和HLA-DR.77例前驱淋巴细胞肿瘤中,28例(36%)有髓系抗原CD13、CD33的表达;9例(20%)B-ALL/LBL病例有CD20与CD34共同表达,28例(87.5%)T-ALL/LBL病例有CyCD3与TdT共同表达.成熟淋巴细胞肿瘤35例,其中17例慢性淋巴细胞白血病/小淋巴细胞淋巴瘤主要表达CD19、CD20、CD5和HLA-DR,并有CD19与CD5共同表达.4例弥漫大B细胞性淋巴瘤主要表达CD19、CD20、CD10和HLA-DR.3例伯基特淋巴瘤主要表达CD19、CD10、CD20、SIgM.1例套细胞淋巴瘤表达CD5、CD19、CD20、HLA-DR.5例外周T细胞淋巴瘤(PTCL)主要表达sCD3、CD5、CD7、CD4或CD8.1例间变性大细胞淋巴瘤主要表达sCD3、HLA-DR.4例NK/T细胞肿瘤表达CD56、HLA-DR,也表达CD7或CD4或CD8.成熟淋巴细胞肿瘤不表达早期抗原如CD34、TdT.成熟淋巴细胞肿瘤可伴有髓系抗原CD13、CD33的表达.结论:淋巴系统恶性肿瘤侵犯骨髓采用形态学结合FCM免疫学分型可获得T、B细胞来源、肿瘤细胞分化阶段和异常抗原表达等参数,有助于临床诊断和微小残留病灶的检测.     

The in-vitro response of CD2-positive acute myelogenous leukemia to proliferation and differentiation inducing agents.

Acute mixed lineage leukemias (MLL) are a heterogeneous group of acute leukemias that express morphologic and/or immunophenotypic features of more than one hematopoietic cell line. The ontogenetic significance of this mixed lineage expression is unclear. We therefore studied the conviction of the lineage commitment in a group of MLL by examining the in-vitro response of five CD2+ (E-rosette receptor) acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) to a panel of proliferation and differentiation-inducing agents. Three of the five CD2+ AML were TdT-positive. Antigen receptor gene studies revealed no rearrangements at either the T beta or immunoglobulin heavy chain gene loci in any case. When blast-enriched cell populations were placed in short term suspension cultures with PHA, IL-2, PHA + IL-2, GM-CSF or TPA, three of the leukemias responded in a similar fashion while the remaining two cases showed no response. In the three MLL that responded to the in-vitro culture manipulations, features indicative of differentiation along the monocytic lineage pathway were observed. This differentiation was not pronounced in the presence of the phorbol ester TPA, and was manifested by loss of CD2 and CD7 expression, continued expression of myeloid antigens, and the development by the blasts of morphologic and cytochemical characteristics of monocytic cells. None of the five MLL showed any evidence of induced maturation along the T-lymphocyte line of differentiation with any of the agents used. rGM-CSF was the only exogenously added agent to induce proliferation; the proliferative response was slight and was seen in only one of the five leukemias. Therefore, the phenotypic expression of CD2 and CD7 in blasts from MLL is not indicative of irreversible commitment to T-lymphocyte development. The in-vitro loss of T-cell antigens in concert with the development of monocytic features in three of the five CD2+ AML in this study suggests the leukemic cells were preferentially committed to a non-lymphoid lineage differentiation pathway.     

Oncogene activation in human myeloid leukemia

We have studied by means of DNA-mediated gene transfer the activation of protooncogenes in human myeloid leukemias that represent various stages of myeloid differentiation. DNA from three cell lines, HL-60 (promyelocytic leukemia), Rc2a (myelomonocytic leukemia), and KG-1 (acute myeloblastic leukemia), was capable of transforming NIH/3T3 cells. Hybridization analysis indicated that, in all three tumor cell lines, the N-ras oncogene was activated. The cell lines U-937 ("histiocytic lymphoma") and K-562 (erythroblastic leukemia) yielded no transforming DNA. Fresh leukemia cells derived from an acute myelomonocytic leukemia patient and from a juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia patient contained an activated N-ras and c-Ki-ras oncogene, respectively. DNA from some other myelogenous leukemia patients was not able to transform NIH/3T3 cells. Our results indicate that hematopoietic tumors of the myeloid lineage may contain oncogenes active in NIH/3T3 cell transformation and that, in particular, the N-ras oncogene may be activated in tumors representing various stages of maturation.