Suspected coexistence of perianal necrotizing sweet syndrome in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia:A case report

BACKGROUND Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia(CMML)complicated with Sweet syndrome(SS)is a rare hematological neoplasm.However,cases of concomitant development of perianal necrotizing SS(NSS)have not been reported.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of a 49-year-old male patient who underwent sequential procedures for hemorrhoids and perianal abscess.He developed postoperative incision infection and was referred to the department where the authors work.Initially,perianal necrotizing fasciitis secondary to incision infection after perianal abscess surgery was suspected.Despite receiving antibiotic therapy and undergoing surgical debridement,deeper necrotic areas formed in the patient’s perianal wounds,accompanied by persistent high fever.Blood and fungal cultures yielded negative results.The final diagnosis was corrected to be CMML with suspected concomitant perianal NSS.CONCLUSION CMML with perianal NSS is a rare condition,often misdiagnosed as perianal abscess or perianal necrotizing fasciitis.Conventional antibiotic therapy and surgical debridement are ineffective in managing this condition.

Network pharmacology to decipher the mechanism of Danggui Longhui Wan against chronic myeloid leukemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia(CML)is a hematopoietic myeloproliferative disorder.The Chinese prescription Danggui Longhui Wan(DGLHW)has been utilized in CML treatment,but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.In this study,we gathered 794 constituents,1249 drug targets,1654 disease genes and 129 intersection genes.GO and KEGG were used to analyze the function of these genes.Compatibility of prescription study showed that monarch drug,minister drug,assistant and guide drug played a synergistic role in the treatment of CML.In addition,we obtained 20 hub genes and 12 key components.Molecular docking indicated that the main compounds and core proteins had good binding ability.The results of this study also showed that DGLHW might play a role in the treatment of CML by affecting MAPK,PI3K/AKT,FoxO and p53 signaling pathways.

THE ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDY OF NON－HODGKIN＇S LYMPHOMA CELL，CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC AND HAIRY CELL LEUKEMIA

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cell leukemia (NHLCL),chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and hairy cell leukemia (HLC) are the diseases very similar to each other. The differential diagnosis is very difficult,especially when there are small lymphoid cells in Periphcral blood and bone marrow under light microscope. We have observed 34 cases with electron microscope. The studies were correlated with clinical manifestation, cytology, pathology and immunologic histochemistry. Ultrastructural features strongly indicated the difference in three various diseases, although all the immunologic markers showed B-cell type.It is concluded that electron microscopic examination is of a definite significance in the diaguosis and successful treatment.

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.

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma presenting multiple lymphomatous polyposis

Multiple lymphomatous polyposis (MLP) is an unusual form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma characterized by polyps throughout the gastrointestinal tract. It has been reported that most MLP are observed in cases with mantle cell lymphoma of B-cell type. We herein present a case of a 66-year-old man with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). Colonoscopy revealed MLP throughout the colon and histopathological findings of ATLL cell infiltration. The patient died despite combination of chemotherapy. The literature of manifestations of colonic involvement of ATLL isreviewed and the importance of endoscopic evaluation to differentiate ATLL intestinal lesions from opportunistic infectious enterocolitis is discussed.

Eighty-year-old man with rare chronic neutrophilic leukemia caused by CSF3R T618I mutation:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUNDChronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) is a rare bone marrow proliferative tumorand a heterogeneous disorder. In 2016, the World Health Organization includedactivating mutations in the CSF3R gene as one of the diagnostic criteria, withCSF3R T618I being the most common mutation. The disease is often accompaniedby splenomegaly, but no developmental abnormalities and significant reticularfibrosis, and no Ph chromosome and BCR-ABL fusion gene. So, it is difficult todiagnose at the first presentation in the absence of classical symptoms. Herein wedescribe a rare CNL patient without splenomegaly whose initial diagnostic cluewas neutrophilic hyperactivity.CASE SUMMARYThe patient is an 80-year-old Han Chinese man who presented with one month offatigue and fatigue aggravation in the last half of the month. He had nosplenomegaly, but had persistent hypofibrinogenemia, obvious skin bleeding, andhemoptysis, and required repeated infusion of fibrinogen therapy. After manyrelevant laboratory examinations, histopathological examination, and sequencinganalysis, the patient was finally diagnosed with CNL [CSF3R T618I positive:c.1853C>T (p.T618I) and c.2514T>A (p.C838)].CONCLUSIONThe physical examination and blood test for tumor-related genes are insufficientto establish a diagnosis of CNL. Splenomegaly is not that important, buthyperplasia of interstitial neutrophil system and activating mutations in CSF3Rare important clues to CNL diagnosis.

A novel mouse model of adult T-cell leukemia cell invasion into the spinal cord

Adult T-cell leukemia( ATL) is a mature T-cell malignancy caused by human T-cell leukemia virus type I infection, and 10%-25% of patients show central nervous system( CNS) involvement. CNS involvement significantly reduces survival and there are no effective treatments for CNS involvement. Therefore, an appropriate animal model is required to evaluate the inhibitory effects of novel drugs on the progression of ATL with CNS involvement. Here, we established a mouse model of ATL with CNS involvement using NOD.Cg-Prkdc~ (scid) Il2 rg ^(tm1Wjl)/SzJ mice inoculated with ATL cells intramuscularly in the postauricular region, and these mice showed paraparesis. Of the 10 mice inoculated with ATL cells intramuscularly(I.M.) at 5 weeks of age, 8(80%) showed paraparesis, whereas none of the 10 mice inoculated with ATL cells subcutaneously(S.C.) showed paraparesis. In the I.M. group, PCR detected HTLV-1-specific genes in the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae; however, in the S.C. group, the vertebrae were negative for HTLV-1 genes. Histological analysis revealed a particularly high incidence of tumors, characterized by accumulation of the injected cells, in the thoracic vertebrae of mice in the I.M. group. Tumor cell infiltration was relatively high in the bone marrow. Spinal cord compression caused by invasion of the tumor mass outside the pia mater was observed in the thoracic vertebrae of the spinal cord. In conclusion, we have reported a mouse model of tumor growth with paraparesis that may be used to assess novel therapeutic agents for ATL with CNS involvement.

Focal lymphoblastic transformation of chronic myelogenous leukemia develops into erythroid leukemia:A case report

BACKGROUND We present a case of focal lymphoblastic transformation to erythroid leukemia following acute myeloblastic transformation in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia(CML)and discuss its mechanism of occurrence and development.CASE SUMMARY The presence of the Philadelphia(Ph)chromosome was identified through karyotype analysis,while the BCR-ABL fusion gene was detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction of the peripheral blood sample.Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to detect the expression of the BCRABL gene in the lymphoma.Antigen expression and gene mutations in the primitive cells were detected by flow cytometry.The analysis confirmed the presence of CML along with focal lymphoblastic transformation to erythroid leukemia.Additionally,the patient was found to have secondary erythroid leukemia,along with multiple new gene mutations and abnormalities in complex karyotypes of chromosomes.CONCLUSION Our findings suggest a possible molecular basis for the focal lymphoblastic transformation secondary to myeloblastic transformation in patients with CML.

Two Cases of Tuberculosis Manifesting as Cutaneous Solitary Mass in Patients with Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem worldwide and a large number of fatal cases are still reported. Immunocompetent individuals are naturally susceptible to TB, and immunocompromised patients have a greater risk of infection. Although patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) are in an immunosuppressed condition, there is only one reported case of TB accompanied with ATL in the English- language literature in the field of dermatology. Here, we report two patients with chronic-type ATL infected with TB manifesting as cutaneous solitary masses. Case 1 was a 58-year-old woman diagnosed with lumbar abscess with pulmonary TB. Case 2 was an 84-year-old woman diagnosed with tuberculous lymphadenitis in the left cervical region. It is important to raise the differential diagnosis of TB and perform tissue culture for acid-fast bacilli as well as Interferon-Gamma release assay test when dermatologists encounter mass lesions in patients with ATL.

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.

Resveratrol Induces Apoptosis and Autophagy in T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells by Inhibiting Akt/mTOR and Activating p38-MAPK

Objective To explore the effects of resveratrol-induced apoptosis and autophagy in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia （T-ALL） cells and potential molecular mechanisms. Methods The anti-proliferation effect of resveratrol-induced, apoptosis and autophagy on T-ALL cells were detected by using MTI- test, immunofluorescence, electronic microscope, and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blotting was performed for detecting changes of apoptosis-associated proteins, cell cycle regulatory proteins and state of activation of Akt, mTOR, p70S6K, 4E-BP1, and p38-MAPK. Results Resveratrol inhibited the proliferation and dose and time-dependent manner. It also induced cyclin-dependent kinase （CDK） inhibitors p21 and induced apoptosis and autophagy in T-ALL cells in a cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase via up regulating p27 and down regulating cyclin A and cyclin D1. Western blotting revealed that resveratrol significantly decreased the expression of antiapoptotic proteins （Mcl-1 and Bcl-2） and increased the expression of proapoptotic proteins （Bax, Bim, and Bad）, and induced cleaved-caspase-3 in a time-dependent manner. Significant increase in ratio of LC3-11/LC3-1 and Beclin 1 was also detected. Furthermore, resveratrol induced significant dephosphorylation of Akt, mTOR, p70S6K, and 4E-BP1, but enhanced specific phosphorylation of p38-MAPK which could be blocked by SB203580. When autophagy was suppressed by 3-MA, apoptosis in T-ALL cells induced by resveratrol was enhanced. Conclusion Our findings have suggested that resveratrol induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy in T-ALL cells through inhibiting Akt/mTOR/p7OS6K/4E-BP1 and activating p38-MAPK signaling pathways. Autophagy might play a role as a self-defense mechanism in T-ALL cells treated by resveratrol. Therefore, the reasonable inhibition of autophagy in T-ALL cells may serve as a promising strategy for resveratrol induced apoptosis and can be used as adjuvant chemotherapy for T-ALL.

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.

Targeting chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells in the tumor microenviroment: A review of the in vitro and clinical trials to date

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL) is the most common leukemia in the western world. Despite significantadvances in therapy over the last decade CLL remains incurable. Current front-line therapy often consists of chemoimmunotherapy-based regimens, most commonly the fludarabine, cyclophosphamide plus rituximab combination, but rates of relapse and refractory disease are high among these patients. Several key signaling pathways are now known to mediate the survival and proliferation of CLL cells in vivo, the most notable of which are the pathways mediated by the B-cell receptor(BCR) and cytokine receptors. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease, the underlying biology of the CLL-cell and the roles of the tumour microenvironment has provided the rationale for trials of a range of novel, more targeted therapeutic agents. In particular, clinical trials of ibrutinib and idelalisib, which target the Brutons tyrosine kinase and the delta isoform of phosphoinositol-3 kinase components of the BCR signaling pathway respectively, have shown extremely promising results. Here we review the current literature on the key signaling pathways and interactions of CLL cells that mediate the survival and proliferation of the leukemic cells. For each we describe the results of the recent clinical trials and in vitro studies of novel therapeutic agents.

Serum LDH level may predict outcome of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients with a 17p deletion： a retrospective analysis of prognostic factors in China

Objective： This study aims to evaluate the natural history of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia （CLL） and a 17p deletion （17p-） and identify the predictive factors within this subgroup. Methods： The sample of patients with CLL were analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization for deletions in chromosome bands 1 lq22, 13q14 and 17p13; trisomy of bands 12q13; and translocation involving band 14q32. The data from 456 patients with or without a 17p- were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Results： The overall response rate （ORR） in patients with a 17p- was 56.9%, and patients with a high percentage of 17p- （defined as more than 25% of cells harbouring a 17p-） had a lower ORR. The median overall survival （OS） in patients with a 17p- was 78.0 months, which was significantly shorter than the OS in patients without this genetic abnormality （median 162.0 months, P〈0.001）. Within the subgroup with a 17p-, the progression-free survival was significantly shorter in patients at Binet stage B-C and patients with elevated lactate dehydrogenase （LDH）, B symptoms, unmutated IGHVand a high percentage of 17p-. Conclusions： These results indicated that patients with a 17p- CLL have a variable prognosis that might be predicted using simple clinical and laboratory characteristics.

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.

Gene mutations in a patient with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and changes upon progression to acute myeloid leukemia and during treatment

Objective Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia(CMML) has been categorized as an uncommon hematological malignancy with overlapping features of myelodysplastic syndromes(MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms that have an inherent risk of progressing to acute myeloid leukemia(AML). Methods This study presents a case of confirmed CMML combined with M protein, in which the molecular changes upon progression to AML and under decitabine(DAC) plus bortezomib therapy were reported by tracking variant allele frequency(VAF) of mutations in a series of bone marrow samples. Results First, variable sensitivity of clones was observed during DAC treatment, and incomplete mutation clearance may be associated with low overall response rate and unsustained response. Secondly, DAC cannot prevent the new genetic alterations and accumulation of genetic progression on treatment, leading to acute transformation. Finally, autoimmunity was found to have acted as an important pathogenetic factor, increasing the additive mutations that further drive the clonal evolution in CMML. Conclusion Overall, changes in mutations and clonal architecture during CMML progression or treatment are predictive of an early evaluation of therapeutic strategies in CMML.

Role of Ikaros in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Ikaros is a zinc finger transcriptional regulator encoded by the Ikzf1 gene.Ikaros displays crucial functions in the hematopoietic system and its loss of function has been linked to the development of lymphoid leukemia.In particular,Ikaros has been found in recent years to be a major tumor suppressor involved in human B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.Its role in T-cell leukemia,however,has been more controversial.While Ikaros deficiency appears to be very frequent in murine T-cell leukemias,loss of Ikaros appears to be rare in human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL).We review here the evidence linking Ikaros to T-ALL in mouse and human systems.

LONG-TERM EFFECT OF HOMOHARRINGTONINE ON CHRONIC GRANULOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

Objective: To observe the long-term effect of homoharringtonine (HHT) on chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) and its pharmacological mechanism. Methods: 76 patients with newly diagnosed early chronic phase CGL received treatment of merely 1.5 mg/m2 daily HHT for induction remission and long-term maintenance treatment. The apoptosis rate of bone marrow CD34+ cells induced by HHT was assayed with flow cytometer. Results: 86.8% patients achieved CHR, 13.2% patients PHR and 31.8% patients got cytogenetic response in HHT treatment group, which was longer than 31 (8-54) months in hydroxyurea (HU) group (P<0.05). The effect of apoptosis induction HHT was stronger on CGL-CP patients bone marrow CD34+ cells than on normal person bone marrow CD34+ cells. Conclusion: HHT is a very effective drug for remission induction and long-term maintenance treatment in early chronic phase CGL patients.

Coexistence of breakpoint cluster region-Abelson1 rearrangement and Janus kinase 2 V617F mutation in chronic myeloid leukemia: A case report

BACKGROUND The Janus kinase 2(JAK2) V617 F mutation is common in patients with breakpoint cluster region-Abelson1(BCR-ABL1)-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms,including polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis, but is rarely detected in BCR-ABL1-positive chronic myeloid leukemia(CML) patients. Here, we report a CML patient with both a BCR-ABL1 rearrangement and JAK2 V617 F mutation.CASE SUMMARY A 45-year-old Chinese woman was admitted to our department with a history of significant thrombocytosis for 20 d. Color Doppler ultrasound examination showed mild splenomegaly. Bone marrow aspiration revealed a karyotype of 46,XX, t(9;22)(q34;q11.2) in 20/20 metaphases by cytogenetic analysis,rearrangement of BCR-ABL1(32.31%) by fluorescent polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and mutation of JAK2 V617 F(10%) by PCR and Sanger DNA sequencing.The patient was diagnosed with CML and JAK2 V617 F mutation. Following treatment with imatinib for 3 mo, the patient had an optimal response and BCRABL1(IS) was 0.143%, while the mutation rate of JAK2 V617 F rose to 15%.CONCLUSION Emphasis should be placed on the detection of JAK2 mutation when CML is diagnosed to distinguish JAK2 mutation-positive CML and formulate treatment strategies.