Unusual presentation of extramedullary blast crisis in chronic myeloid leukemia:A case report

BACKGROUND Extramedullary blast crisis in chronic myeloid leukemia(CML)is an uncommon occurrence of leukemic blast infiltration in regions other than the bone marrow.Malignant infiltration of the serosal membranes should be considered in cases where CML presents with ascites or pleural effusion.CASE SUMMARY A 23-year-old female with CML presented with progressively worsening ascites and pleural effusion despite first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment.Her blood work indicated leukocytosis with myelocyte bulge and 2%blasts.Analysis of the patient’s bone marrow confirmed the chronic phase of CML.Abdominal ultrasound revealed hepatosplenomegaly with ascites.The fluid investigation of both ascites and pleural effusion revealed a predominance of neutrophils with exudate.However,no acid-fast bacilli or growth was observed after culturing.Although hydroxyurea reduced cell counts,there was no observed effect on ascites or pleural effusion.Repeat investigation of the ascitic and pleural fluid revealed a polymorphous myeloid cell population consisting of myelocytes,metamyelocytes,band forms,neutrophils and a few myeloblasts.Extramedullary blast crisis was suspected,and mutation analysis was performed.We switched the patient to dasatinib.The patient’s symptoms were relieved,and ascites and pleural effusion diminished.CONCLUSION Serosal membrane involvement in CML is extremely rare.In this case,the patient responded well to dasatinib treatment.

The combination therapy of imatinib and dasatinib achieves long-term molecular response in two imatinib-resistant and dasatinibintolerant patients with advanced chronic myeloid leukemia

For patients with chronic myeloid leukemia（CML） failing imatinib therapy,second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors（TKIs） are recommended.Here,we describe two patients with advanced CML who failed imatinib therapy and did not tolerate the recommended dose of dasatinib,but then achieved a major molecular response with the combination of imatinib and dasatinib with no significant extramedullar/ toxicity.Our observations suggest that combination of TKIs may provide an additive/synergistic antileukemic effect.

Chronic myeloid leukemia-from the Philadelphia chromosome to specific target drugs:A literature review

Chronic myeloid leukemia(CML)is a myeloproliferative neoplasm and was the first neoplastic disease associated with a well-defined genotypic anomaly―the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome.The advances in cytogenetic and molecular assays are of great importance to the diagnosis,prognosis,treatment,and monitoring of CML.The discovery of the breakpoint cluster region(BCR)-Abelson murine leukemia(ABL)1 fusion oncogene has revolutionized the treatment of CML patients by allowing the development of targeted drugs that inhibit the tyrosine kinase activity of the BCR-ABL oncoprotein.Tyrosine kinase inhibitors(known as TKIs)are the standard therapy for CML and greatly increase the survival rates,despite adverse effects and the odds of residual disease after discontinuation of treatment.As therapeutic alternatives,the subsequent TKIs lead to faster and deeper molecular remissions;however,with the emergence of resistance to these drugs,immunotherapy appears as an alternative,which may have a cure potential in these patients.Against this background,this article aims at providing an overview on CML clinical management and a summary on the main targeted drugs available in that context.

Synchronous diagnosis and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia:Two case reports

BACKGROUND The concurrence of acute myeloid leukemia(AML)and chronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL)is rare.Previous reports of such cases have focused mainly on clinical diagnosis and characteristics,so the mechanism remains unclear,and therapy options have been poorly explored.CASE SUMMARY Here,we report two cases of synchronous AML and CLL.Flow cytometry revealed two distinct abnormal cell populations(myeloblasts and lymphoid cells)according to scatter characteristics.CD5-positive B cell lymphoma with myeloid leukemia invasion was observed on lymph node biopsy.Chemotherapy regimens indicated for both AML and CLL were used in our patients,and our patients achieved complete response after chemotherapy.Next-generation sequencing of 88 genes was performed.CONCLUSION We conclude that early mutation and dysregulation at the hematopoietic stem cell stage and the accumulation of multiple rearrangements may cause the concurrence of CLL and AML.The treatment of infection and combination therapy aimed at the CLL component are significant in the management of patients with concurrent CLL and AML.

Monitoring and Analysis of Chinese Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients Who Have Stopped Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Therapy

Discontinuation of tyrosine kinase inhibitor(TKI)therapy after achieving a persistent deep molecular response(DMR)is an urgently needed treatment goal for chronic myeloid leukemia(CML)patients and has been included in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network(NCCN)guidelines(version 2.2017)for CML.Indeed,various studies have confirmed the feasibility of discontinuing TKI therapy.In this study,we analyzed data from 45 CML patients who had discontinued TKI therapy.Univariate analysis was performed to predict factors that were potentially related to treatment-free remission(TFR)and identify the differences between early relapse and late relapse.Out of the 45 patients,20 exhibited molecular relapse after a median follow-up of 18 months(range,1-54 months),and the estimated TFR at 24 months was 40%.The univariate analysis revealed that a high Sokal score and interruptions or dose reductions during TKI treatment were the only baseline factors associated with poor outcomes.Our results indicate that TKI discontinuation could be successfully put into practice in China.

Time-series Analysis in Imatinib-resistant Chronic Myeloid Leukemia K562-cells under Different Drug Treatments

Chronic myeloid leukemia（CML） is characterized by the accumulation of active BCR-ABL protein. Imatinib is the first-line treatment of CML; however, many patients are resistant to this drug. In this study, we aimed to compare the differences in expression patterns and functions of time-series genes in imatinib-resistant CML cells under different drug treatments. GSE24946 was downloaded from the GEO database, which included 17 samples of K562-r cells with（n=12） or without drug administration（n=5）. Three drug treatment groups were considered for this study： arsenic trioxide（ATO）, AMN107, and ATO＋AMN107. Each group had one sample at each time point（3, 12, 24, and 48 h）. Time-series genes with a ratio of standard deviation/average（coefficient of variation） 〉0.15 were screened, and their expression patterns were revealed based on Short Time-series Expression Miner（STEM）. Then, the functional enrichment analysis of time-series genes in each group was performed using DAVID, and the genes enriched in the top ten functional categories were extracted to detect their expression patterns. Different time-series genes were identified in the three groups, and most of them were enriched in the ribosome and oxidative phosphorylation pathways. Time-series genes in the three treatment groups had different expression patterns and functions. Time-series genes in the ATO group（e.g. CCNA2 and DAB2） were significantly associated with cell adhesion, those in the AMN107 group were related to cellular carbohydrate metabolic process, while those in the ATO＋AMN107 group（e.g. AP2M1） were significantly related to cell proliferation and antigen processing. In imatinib-resistant CML cells, ATO could influence genes related to cell adhesion, AMN107 might affect genes involved in cellular carbohydrate metabolism, and the combination therapy might regulate genes involved in cell proliferation.

A novel t(3;12)(q21;p13) translocation in a patient with accelerated chronic myeloid leukemia after imatinib and nilotinib therapy

The acquisition of secondary chromosomal aberrations in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) karyotype signifies clonal evolution associated with the progression of the disease to its accelerated or blastic phase. Therefore, these aberrations have clinical and biological significance. T(3;12)(q26;p13), which is a recurrent chromosomal aberration observed in myeloid malignancies, is typically associated with dysplasia of megakaryocytes, multilineage involvement, short duration of any blastic phase, and extremely poor prognosis. We have identified a recurrent reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 3 and 12 with different breakpoint at bands 3q21 in the malignant cells from a 28-year-old man. The patient was initially diagnosed as having Ph+ CML in the chronic phase. The t(3;12)(q21;p13) translocation occurred 4 years after the patient was first diagnosed with CML while undergoing tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy. We confirmed the t(3;12)(q21;p13) translocation via fluorescence in situ hybridization assay by using whole-chromosome paint probes for chromosomes 3 and 12. Our findings demonstrate that, similar to other recurrent translocations involving 3q26 such as t(3;3) and t(3;21), the t(3;12)(q21;p13) translocation is implicated not only in myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia but also in the progression of CML. These findings extend the disease spectrum of this cytogenetic aberration.

The m^(6)A regulator KIAA1429 stabilizes RAB27B mRNA and promotes the progression of chronic myeloid leukemia and resistance to targeted therapy

Chronic myeloid leukemia(CML)is a common adult leukemia.Both the acute phase of the disease and the adverse effects of anti-cancer treatments can lead to a poor prognosis.The N6-methyladenine(m^(6)A)modification plays an important regulatory role in various physiological and pathological processes.KIAA1429 is a known m^(6)A regulator,but the biological role of KIAA1429 in CML is unclear.In this study,we observed that the m^(6)A levels and KIAA1429 expression were significantly up-regulated in patients with blast phase CML.Notably,KIAA1429 regulated the total level of RNA m^(6)A modification in the CML cells and promoted the malignant biological behaviors of CML cells,including proliferation,migration,and imatinib resistance.Inhibiting KIAA1429 in CML cells reduced the stability of RAB27B mRNA through the m^(6)A/YTHDF1 axis,consequently inhibiting CML proliferation and drug efflux,ultimately increasing the sensitivity of CML cells to imatinib.Moreover,the knockdown of RAB27B also inhibited the proliferation and drug resistance of CML cells and promoted their apoptosis.Rucaparib,a recently developed anti-cancer agent,suppressed the expression of KIAA1429 and CML cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis.Rucaparib also inhibited the tumorigenesis of CML cells in vivo.The combined use of rucaparib and imatinib enhanced the sensitivity of CML cells to imatinib.Our study provides evidence that elevated KIAA1429 expression in the blast phase of CML enhances the stability of RAB27B mRNA through the m^(6)A/YTHDF1 axis to up-regulate RAB27B expression,thereby promoting CML progression.Rucaparib exerts inhibitory effects on KIAA1429 expression and thus reduces CML progression.

Gene Expression Pattern of Signal Transduction in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

To explore the transcriptional gene expression profiles of signaling pathway in Chronic myeloid leukemia （CML）, a series of cDNA microarray chips were tested. The results showed that differentially expressed genes related to singal transduction in CML were screened out and the genes involved in Phosphoinositide 3-kinases （PI3K）, Ras-MAPK （mitogen-activated protein kinase） and other signaling pathway genes simultaneously. The results also showed that most of these genes were up-expression genes , which suggested that signal transduction be overactivated in CML. Further analysis of these differentially expressed signal transduction genes will be helpful to understand the molecular mechanism of CML and find new targets of treatment.

MDR1 Haplotypes and G2677T/A Polymorphism Predict Imatinib Response in Tunisian Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Background: The role of human multidrug resistance gene (MDR1) SNPs in the interindividual variability of imatinib mesylate (IM) response has received considerable attention. We aimed to study the association between SNPs of the MDR1 gene (C1236T, G2677T/A, C3435T) and IM response in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. Method: A retrospective case-control study was conducted on 48 patients with CML undergoing IM therapy. All patients were genotyped using PCR-RFLP method. Results: The genotype and allele frequencies of C1236T and C3435T were not significantly different between CML patients responders and non-responders to IM (p > 0.05). The frequencies of 2677T allele and 2677TT genotype were significantly increased in CML patients IM responders which as compared with IM non-responders (50% vs 26.9%, p = 0.013 and 27.3% vs 3.8%, p = 0.029 respectively). Whereas the 2677AA genotype and CAC haplotype were found only in CML patients IM non-responders (15.4%). Conclusion: Pretreatment genotyping of G2677A/T appears to be useful for predicting IM resistance, which may allow the best choice of drug treatment for CML patients.

Priapism secondary to chronic myeloid leukemia treated by a surgical cavernosa-corpus spongiosum shunt: Case report

Priapism secondary to chronic myeloid leukemia(CML)is rarely observed in the clinic.Here,we present an 18-year-old patient with priapism for over 72 h due to hyperleukocytosis.Emergent interventions such as therapeutic aspiration and intracorporal injection of phenylephrine failed before a surgical corpora cavernosa-corpus spongiosum shunt was inserted to relieve symptoms.During hospitalization,bone marrow aspiration confirmed the diagnosis of CML.

Development of plasma cell dyscrasias in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia:A case report

BACKGROUND Chronic myeloid leukemia(CML)is a clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder.Plasma cell dyscrasias are a rare heterogeneous group of hematological disorders.The co-occurrence of CML and plasma cell dyscrasias in the same patient is an extremely rare incident and has been reported in several cases in the literature.CASE SUMMARY In the present report,we described a rare case of the co-occurrence of CML and plasma cell dyscrasias in a 48-year-old man,and we discussed the reason why monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance progressed to smoldering multiple myeloma and eventually to multiple myeloma while being treated with dasatinib for CML.The tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment and cytogenetic change may contribute to this phenomenon,and clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential may lead to both CML and multiple myeloma cells in a patient.Future studies are warranted to further explain the hidden reasons.CONCLUSION This case highlights that gene translocation may contribute to initiation and sustainability of clonal proliferation.Moreover,the treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitor and cytogenetic change may contribute to progression from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance to smoldering multiple myeloma and eventually to multiple myeloma.

Horn of plenty:Value of the international registry for pediatric chronic myeloid leukemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia(CML)in minors is a rare disease which can be effectively treated by tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs)since the year 2000.A majority of pediatricians will encounter one or two CML patients in the course of their careers and will typically have to rely on written information along with their own intuition to provide care.Knowledge of response to TKIs and of agespecific side effects has an impact on the design of pediatric CML trials in many ways aiming to contribute toward greater predictability of clinical improvements.Information from a registry on a rare disease like CML offers the enormous benefit of enabling treating physicians to interact and share their collective experience.The International Registry on Pediatric CML(IR-PCML)was founded at Poitiers/France almost 10 years ago.Since then,the number of collaboration centers and in parallel of registered patients continuously increased(>550 patients as of December 2019).Ideally,from a given treatment center in a country data are transferred to a national coordinator who interacts with the IR-PCML.In the sense of quality assurance,the registry can offer dissemination of knowledge on state-of-the-art diagnostics(including reference appraisal),optimal treatment approaches,and follow-up procedures within a network that is exerting its strength via participation.With continuous growth during the recent years,very rare subgroups of patients could be identified(e.g.,CML diagnosed at age<3 years,children presenting with specific problems at diagnosis or during course of treatment)which had not been described before.Publications coming from the IR-PCML disseminated this useful information derived from patients who robustly participate and share information about their disease,among themselves and with their caregivers and clinicians.Patient input driving the collection of data on this rare leukemia is the basis for the considerable success of bringing new therapeutics into clinical use.

About a Case of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and Pregnancy

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) associated with pregnancy is a very rare situation (less than one case per 100,000 pregnancies). It raises a serious ethical and therapeutic problem because chemotherapy during pregnancy can expose the fetus to various complications such as congenital malformations, abortion and intra uterine growth restriction. Inhibitors of tyrosine kinase are the most widely used molecules but without much certainly about their non-teratogenic effects. This is a report case of pregnancy occurring in a patient with Imatinib for CML replaced by Hydrea who gave birth to a healthy newborn with no congenital malformation.

Hematobiological Profile of Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia at the Diagnosis in Yaoundé: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative blood neoplasia, characterized by the presence of a translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 leading to the formation of the Philadelphia chromosome. Data on the biological profile of patients with CML at diagnosis are still lacking in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from January 2001 to July 2016 among patients recently diagnosed with CML at the Yaounde University Teaching Hospital, the Yaoundé Central Hospital and the Yaoundé General Hospital. Analyzed variables included socio-demographic, clinical presentation, the diagnosis means, biological parameters (hematological and biochemical). Sampling was consecutive. Results: We included 132 (76 males) patients with CML with a median age of 39.2 years at diagnosis. The 31 - 45 years age group was the most represented, with 40.9% of the study population. A risk factor was found in only 5 (3.8%) of patients. Clinical manifestations were recorded in only 27 (20.45%) patients, with fatigue being the commonest (10.6%). Almost all patients (128, 96.9%) have performed the karyotype while 22 (16.7%) have performed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and 4 (3.0%) the PCR. At diagnosis, 66% of the patients were in the chronic phase (CP), 11.3% in accelerated phase (AP), and 22.7% in blast crisis (BC). All patients presented hyperleukocytosis, with a white blood cell mean of 128,362/mm3. Anemia was common (77.3%), usually moderate (61.4%). Thrombocytopenia was rare (8.3%), as far as basophilia (1.2%). Among those patients, mean values of creatinine, Glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glycemia were normal while activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), plasma uric acid level, gamma glutamic transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and inflammatory parameters (ESR and CRP) were increased. Conclusion: Patients with CML presented at their diagnosis hyperleukocytosis and anemia as hematological clues. Other biological anomalies include increased signs of cellular destruction (plasma uric acid level, LDH), coagulation perturbation and inflammatory syndrome. The chronic phase of the disease was common.

Clinical Effect of Imatinib,Nilotinib,and Dasatinib on Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase

The study was conducted to explore the effect of imatinib,nilotinib,and dasatinib in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia(CML)patients.Around 66 patients with CML in chronic phase were selected,subsequently the patients were subdivided into 3 groups with 22 patients in each group:Group A were treated with imatinib;Group B were treated with nilotinib;and Group C were treated with dasatinib.The study showed that,at 18 months of treatment,compared with group A,the molecular biology remission rates of group B and group C were significantly higher,p<0.05;at 6 months and 18 months of treatment,compared with group A,the complete cytogenetic remission rates of group B and group C were significantly higher,p<0.05;and compared with group A,the incidences of vomiting,headache and edema in groups B and C were significantly lower,p<0.05.However,no significant different p>0.05 were observed in the complete hematologic remission rates,and the incidences of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia among the three groups.In summary,nilotinib and dasatinib are effective in the treatment of patients with CML in the chronic phase,which is significantly better than imatinib treatment.

Clinical Efficacy of Dasatinib in the Treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Patients with Different Clinical Stages

Objective:To study the efficacy of dasatinib treatment in different clinical stages of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia(CML).Methods:A total of 80 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia(CML)were selected for experimental research.According to different clinical stages,they were divided into chronic phase,accelerated phase and blast phase,and all of them were treated with dasatinib.Results:The complete cytogenetic response remission rate,complete hematologic remission rate,and major molecular biological remission rate in the chronic phase were significantly higher.Besides,the overall survival time and relapse-free survival time in the chronic phase were significantly longer,and the mortality during the follow-up period in the chronic phase was also significantly higher.Furthermore,the incidence of hematological adverse reactions of gradesⅢtoⅣin the chronic phase was significantly lower compared with the corresponding data of patients in the accelerated phase and blast phase with P<0.05.Conclusion:Different clinical stages of CML patients have different curative effects of dasatinib,which can effectively treat patients in chronic stage.

Hepatitis B reactivation in chronic myeloid leukemia patients receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitor

Hepatitis B virus(HBV) reactivation is a well-recognized complication in patients with chronic HBV infection receiving cytotoxic or immunosuppressive chemotherapy.Imatinib mesylate and nilotinib are selective Bcr/Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitors,which are now widely used in the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.Although HBV reactivation induced by imatinib mesylate has been reported,nilotinib-related HBV reactivation has not been reported in the English literature.We report here 2 cases of HBV reactivation in chronic myeloid leukemia patients receiving imatinib mesylate and a novel case of nilotinib related HBV reactivation.

Efficacy and Safety of Generic Dasatinib as a Second-line Treatment for Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia:a Multicenter Retrospective Study in Hubei Province,China

Dasatinib is a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)and it could be used as a second-line treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).Yinishu,a generic dasatinib made in China,was approved by the China Food and Drug Administration in 2013 and it costs much less than the patented dasatinib SPRYCEL.The present study aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of Yinishu as a second-line treatment for CML by comparing the baseline clinical characteristics,rates of adverse events and efficacy between Yinishu and SPRYCEL groups. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the rates of optimal response between Yinishu and SPRYCEL for patients who started second-line treatment because of treatment failure.For patients who started second-line treatment because of intolerance of first-line treatment, their levels of BCR-ABL1/ABL1 on the international scale (BCR-ABL^IS)was maintained very low throughout the course of Yinishu treatment.Drug-related adverse events occurred with the same frequency in these two groups.It was confirmed that Yinishu was effective and safe as a second- line treatment for CML patients.Yinishu may be more suitable for patients who are economically unable to pay for the patented dasatinib SPRYCEL.