The Epstein Criteria Predict for Organ-Confined But Not Insignificant Disease and a High Likelihood of Cure at Radical Prostatectomy

Background

Few reports attempt to validate the role of Epstein criteria in selecting patients for an active surveillance protocol.

Objective

To determine the performance of the Epstein biopsy criteria for predicting pathologic end points and biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS) in men with early stage prostate cancer (PCa) treated by radical prostatectomy (RP).

Design, setting, and participants

Between October 1999 and January 2007, 746 consecutive patients were biopsied, and then underwent RP at our tertiary care institution. Two hundred sixty-eight patients met the entry criteria of Gleason 6 disease only on initial biopsy with complete pathologic information.

Measurements

Primary end point was insignificant disease. Insignificant disease was defined using a classical (organ-confined, Gleason score <6, and tumor volume <0.5 cm³) and more liberal (organ-confined, Gleason <6 tumor of any volume) formulation. Secondary end points included organ-confined disease and bRFS.

Results and limitations

One hundred thirty-six men (51%) met the Epstein biopsy criteria, and 167 (62%) had organ-confined cancer. Insignificant disease by the classical and liberal definitions was present in 68 (25%) and 92 (34%) patients, respectively. Cases meeting Epstein biopsy criteria were more likely to have insignificant disease by either definition (p < 0.001) and more likely to have organ-confined tumors (p < 0.001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) varied widely among the end points, with sensitivity (74%) and NPV (86%) best for the classical definition of insignificant disease and specificity (74%) and PPV (92%) best for organ-confined disease. The estimated 5-yr bRFS was 100% for those meeting Epstein biopsy criteria compared to 83% for those not meeting these criteria.

Conclusions

The Epstein biopsy criteria predict for a high likelihood of organ-confined disease and the absence of biochemical failure up to 5 yr after RP. These criteria are insufficiently robust to predict the presence of biologically insignificant disease.     

鼻咽癌患者鼻咽组织和血清中EBV检测

目的：比较血清爱泼斯坦－巴尔病毒（ＥＢＶ）抗体滴定度测定与癌组织ＥＢＶ基因组检测对鼻咽癌（ＮＰＣ）的诊断价值。方法：１４６例患者采用双盲法测定血清ＥＢＶ－ＶＣＡ－ＩｇＡ,ＥＢＶ－ＥＡ－ＩｇＡ和活检组织ＥＢＶ－ＤＮＡ（ＰＣＲ）。全组病例按活检病理检查结果分析：ＮＰＣ组,非ＮＰＣ组（对照组）。结果：ＮＰＣ组中ＥＢＶ－ＤＮＡ（ＰＣＲ）,ＥＢＶ－ＶＣＡ－ＩｇＡ和ＥＢＶ－ＥＡ－ＩｇＡ的阳性率分别为９０．８％     

bcl-2、P 5 3基因及Epstein-Barr病毒在鼻咽癌中的表达

目的探讨鼻咽癌组织中p53、bcl-2、EBV表达情况及与主要临床指标间关系.方法免疫组化检测p53、bcl-2蛋白,多聚酶链反应(PCR)检测EBV.结果慢性炎性组织中p53、bcl-2及EBV阳性率分别为7.7%、23.1%和7.7%,明显低于鼻咽癌组织中的阳性率(分别为75.9%、88.9%和87.0%)(P<0.01).三者在鼻咽癌组织中共同阳性率为72.2%,p53、bcl-2明显正相关(r＝0.78,P<0.01).鼻咽癌伴颈淋巴结转移组p53阳性率(90.0%)明显高于无颈淋巴结转移组(58.3%)(P<0.01),临床Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ期p53阳性率(分别为92.9%、78.9%和100%)均明显高于临床I期(38.5%)(P<0.01),且表达强度有增加的趋势.结论p53、bcl-2及EBV可作为鼻咽癌早期诊断的辅助指标之一,p53阳性的鼻咽癌患者较易发生颈淋巴结转移,随着鼻咽癌病程的发展,p53表达率及表达强度均增加,三者在鼻咽癌发生发展中起着重要作用.     

Continuous in vitro production of IgA by a human colostral immortalized cell line

Breast milk samples from 8 postpartum mothers were collected and incubated with Epstein-Barr virus, immortalizing their B-lymphocytes and giving rise to lymphoblastoid cell lines. Three samples showed no growing lymphocytes and five samples gave rise to transformed cell lines. IgA positive cells were selected from one such cell line by rosetting with anti-IgA-coated sheep erythrocytes. The emerging cell line was similarly reselected giving rise to an IgA-surface positive lymphoblastoid cell line. Monoclonal IgA-producing cell lines were obtained by cloning in the soft agar method. IgA is continuously secreted by the cell lines which have been growing in vitro for more than 24 mth.     

EBV—DNA检测在儿童EB病毒感染中的临床意义

目的探讨荧光定量PCR检测EB病毒（EBV）对诊断和治疗EBV感染的临床意义。方法应用荧光定量聚合酶链反应病毒核酸扩增方法,对儿科2010—06～2012—06以发热为主诉的患儿205例,检测外周血EB病毒DNA栽量,结合常规外周血及异型淋巴细胞检查,对照首发临床表现,分析荧光定量PCR检测发热患儿感染EBV的临床价值。结果205例发热患儿中,外周血EBV—DNA阳性42例,阳性率20．5％。荧光定量PCR检测EB病毒能早期反映EBV感染。结论荧先定量PCR检测EBv—DNA有助于早期诊断EBV感染,能减少诊疗的盲目性,对临床有一定指导意义。     

Pediatric lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis in an HIV-negative child with pulmonary Epstein-Barr virus infection

Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis (LIP) in children has been most commonly associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated LIP without HIV infection has been reported only in adults. EBV associated LIP has been reported in children, but only with concurrent HIV infection. We report a case of EBV associated, HIV negative LIP in a child.     

Effect of plasma exchange on the circulating IL-6 levels in a patient with fatal hemophagocytic syndrome associated with bile ductopenia

We report here the case of a patient suffering from hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) associated with bile ductopenia. A 24-year old man was admitted after suffering fever, sore throat and general malaise for 7 days and jaundice for 2 days. Clinical studies showed hepatic dysfunction with hyperbilirubinemia. Epstein-Barr viral DNA from two bone marrow samples was detected. Bone marrow aspiration disclosed findings of HPS. Liver biopsy showed centrilobular cholestasis with lack of interlobular bile duct. Repeated therapeutic plasma exchange was effective for decreasing serum bilirubin and interleukin-6 levels. The patient received liver transplantation, however, he finally died of alveolar hemorrhage resulting from disseminated intravascular coagulation and acute rejection.     

Age-related immune cell dynamics influence outcomes after allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation

An efficient immunological reconstitution construes the pillar for the success of allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in haematological disorders. Factors influencing post-transplant immune recovery have been largely investigated across multiple cohorts issuing heterogeneous results. Differences in outcomes in adult and paediatric populations suggest an age-related contribution to post-transplant immune reconstitution; however, it is unclear how recipient and donor age may affect the dynamics of single immune cells. Here, we retrospectively collected and analysed immunological data of 174 patients (58 children and 116 adults) consecutively transplanted for haematological disorders in our centre. We show that trajectories of specific immune cells were strictly dependent on recipient age and pretransplant virus exposure, with the strongest effect seen on T CD4+ and B-cell counterparts, while donor age and transplant platforms had a minimal impact. This mirrored different kinetics of immune reconstitution in adult and paediatric patients, with major divergences in immune cell composition in late post-transplant phases, featuring better survival, relapse-free survival and cumulative incidence of pathogen-specific infections in younger patients. Altogether, these findings underpin the importance of recipient age on post-transplant immune cell recovery and define the basic dynamics of the immune reconstitution in paediatric and adult populations as a benchmark for future studies.     

Hydrochlorothiazide-induced hepatotoxicity: A rare case of DILI

Thiazide diuretics are prescribed daily and rarely hepatotoxic. We report the case of 86-year-old woman who was admitted in hospital for jaundice after taking hydrochlorothiazide. All differential diagnoses have been eliminated. The liver biopsy was compatible with drug-induced hepatitis. Clinical and biological manifestations improved after discontinuation of the treatment. The reported case is compared to three other cases in the literature.     

The role of Epstein–Barr virus in cancer

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), discovered > 40 years ago from a Burkitt’s lymphoma biopsy, was the first virus to be directly associated with human cancer. EBV has two distinct life cycles in the human host; a lytic form of infection that produces new infectious virions, and a latent form of infection that allows the virus to persist in a dormant state for the lifetime of the host. EBV has evolved a life cycle that mimics the natural differentiation pathway of antigen-activated B cells, giving the virus access to its site of latent infection, the resting memory B cell. By steering infected cells through the various stages of lymphocyte differentiation, EBV is able to enter a cell type suitable for long-term latent persistence and periodic reactivation. However, its presence in various stages of B-cell development, and its ability to infect certain epithelial cells, can have pathogenic consequences, and can contribute to the development of a diverse group of lymphomas and carcinomas. The presence of EBV in the tumour cells of EBV-associated cancers might provide a basis for specific therapy. This article focuses on the contributions that the virus may play in different types of human cancer, particularly Burkitt’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, lymphomas and lymphoproliferative diseases in the immunocompromised, and nasopharyngeal and gastric carcinoma.