Leukemia Research Reports

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells have unveiled a promising therapeutic horizon for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM). Nevertheless, immune impairment induced by cellular therapies, previous treatments and MM itself could promote infectious events. COVID-19 could evolve into a life-threating infection in R/R MM patients who often have suboptimal responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Here, we describe a case of severe and long-lasting COVID-19 pneumonia after CAR T-cell therapy for R/R MM requiring a complex clinical management...

Venetoclax is an approved treatment for relapsed/refractory Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN). We report a unique case of venetoclax monotherapy used for front-line induction and as a bridge to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Venetoclax therapy resulted in rapid complete resolution of skin lesions, however, treatment interruption due to neutropenia led to brisk cancer recurrence. Fortunately, the patient responded to re-challenge and was able to undergo HCT. Venetoclax is active in the first-line treatment setting for BPDCN, however its effect on blood counts and durability of response should be further studied...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.lrr.2022.100357.].

To evaluate the specific prognostic value of CAs, we conducted an analysis of 923 symptomatic multiple myeloma patients. Among this cohort, 480 patients had complete data set of high-risk CAs by interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization at diagnosis. In the high-risk group analysis, the median OS of patients without CAs ( n  = 338, 72 %) was 6.5 years, patients with del(17p) ( n  = 42, 9 %) was 4.4 years, patients with t(4;14) or t(14;16) ( n  = 72, 15 %) was 4...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) with testicular involvement is a rare presentation and only a few cases have been described in the literature. We present a case of MCL with testicular involvement and the first analysis of all previously reported cases assessing trends in immunohistochemical features, prognostic indicators, and survival. Our data suggest that among all MCL, testicular MCL is more likely to present with aggressive features: blastoid/pleomorphic morphology, high Ki-67 proliferative index, and CNS involvement...

BACKGROUND: The nonrandom recurrence of chromosomal abnormalities in multiple myeloma (MM) raises the possibility that they play a role in the pathophysiology and development of the disease. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) can identify a high frequency of certain abnormalities without the need for the proliferative and infiltrative index of malignant plasma cells required for conventional cytogenetic analysis. In this study, we describe the association between clinico-biological characteristics and chromosomal abnormalities in 30 Moroccan patients...

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable haematological malignancy which relies heavily on bone marrow biopsies for disease monitoring and prediction of treatment response. In recent years, liquid biopsy derived cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has emerged as alternative for invasive biopsies. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using cfDNA for the detection of oncogenic mutations in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway genes NRAS, KRAS, and BRAF in MM patients. Matched peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirates were collected from thirteen MM patients at various disease stages...

Ophthalmic and neurologic involvement are rare complications of CLL, with few cases reported in the literature. We report a case of CLL with leukemic infiltration of the optic nerve and review of literature focusing on management and outcomes. A patient with heavily pretreated CLL presented to our hospital with progressive eye pain and was found to have infiltrative optic neuritis. CSF analysis confirmed involvement with CLL. After systemic treatment with R-CHOP and high-dose methotrexate, along with intrathecal cytarabine and hydrocortisone, she experienced significant improvement and was discharged home...

Allogeneic stem cell transplant can have high morbidity and mortality in patients with myelofibrosis (MF) and multiple myeloma (MM). This phase 2 study used a novel myeloablative regimen of split-dose busulfan, fludarabine, and then post-transplant cyclophosphamide. Four patients with MF and 2 with MM were enrolled. At 1 year, non-relapse mortality was 33.3%, and overall survival was 50%. Incidence of acute and chronic GVHD was 33.3% and 16.7%, respectively. Those surviving beyond 1 year (MF = 1, MM = 2) had durable remissions with a median follow-up of 42 months...

We describe genomic findings in an AML case with isochromosome 7p, i(7)(p10), in which SNP array analysis uncovered an additional 7.07-Mb 20q deletion not detected by karyotyping. Several AML cases with i(7)(p10) as an isolated cytogenetic finding have been previously reported. Based on consequent loss of 7q, we propose that AML with i(7)(p10) represents a distinct entity belonging in the WHO group -7/7q-, which represents one of the genetic abnormalities defining AML, myelodysplasia-related. Additionally, the focal del(20q) identified here adds support for a specific common region of deletion in 20q in myeloid malignancies, implicating a small number of candidate genes...

A 65-year-old woman was referred to the hospital for further investigation of weight loss, hyperproteinemia, and anemia. Serum immunofixation electrophoresis revealed IgM-κ M protein. Bone marrow examination revealed an increase in the number of B -cells with immunoglobulin kappa light-chain restriction. Although the MYD88 L265P mutation was identified in bone marrow mononuclear cells, which suggested the diagnosis of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM), a fusion signal of IgH-MALT1, which is commonly observed in extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, was also identified...

NPM1 mutation, as a founding genetic event, cooperates with other gene mutations, such as DNMT3A and FLT3 , to promote the development of acute myeloid leukemia. NPM1 mutation, however, has been reported to be mutually exclusive with RUNX1 mutation in acute myeloid leukemia cases. In this study, we analyzed mutation panel testing data from a relatively large cohort of rare AML cases with both NPM1 and RUNX1 mutations. We describe the dynamic process of the emergence of these mutations, as well as molecular genetic features and clinical outcome of these patients...

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the most common B-cell leukemias, occurring because of abnormal proliferation of non-functional B-lymphocytes. Progressive disease is commonly complicated by anemia, thrombocytopenia, infections as well as secondary malignancies. Bone marrow fibrosis is infrequently co-occurred along with CLL. Although multiple explanations have been proposed for this association, the etiology remains unclear in most cases. Bone marrow fibrosis occurring as a complication of CLL itself, however, is a rare entity...

CEBPA variants are frequently recurring in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The prognostic significance of CEBPA mutations has recently undergone a major shift in the 5th edition of WHO classification of hematological neoplasms and ELN 2022 classification. Whereas prior iterations did not specify the type of CEBPA mutation, the updated schema specify that only mutations localized to the C-terminal basic zipper (bZIP) domain are considered prognostically favorable. This change is based primarily on three recently published large datasets evaluating the prognostic significance of mutation location in CEBPA mutant AML...

Splenic diffuse red pulp small B-cell lymphoma (SDRPL) is a rare entity. Diagnosis is typically achieved with splenectomy and most patients remain in remission after this intervention. Hemoglobin value less than 10 g/dL and NOTCH1, TP53, and MAP2K1 gene mutations at diagnosis have been associated with worse outcome. Progression after splenectomy of SDRPL is possible, although transformation to aggressive lymphoma has rarely been reported. We herein report the case of a patient formerly diagnosed with SDRPL with gene mutations involving CREBBP, NOTCH1, ARID2, and TNFRSF14 who transformed to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma six months after splenectomy...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Therapy-related leukemias(t-leukemia) are late complications arising from chemotherapy and radiotherapy. t-leukemia have a poor prognosis and are more difficult to treat compared to de novo leukemias. The authors present three cases of t-leukemia seen in our hospital in a three year period and discuss new updates concerning the treatment of t-leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: Transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) is a transient, clonal myeloproliferative disorder unique to Down Syndrome (DS) babies. It is characterized by increased peripheral blasts and presence of GATA1 mutation. The clinical spectrum ranges from jaundice and hepatosplenomegaly to multi-organ failure and death. Here we present a case of a premature baby with DS diagnosed to have TAM with extramedullary involvement at birth who had a fatal outcome. CASE REPORT: A 30...

INTRODUCTION: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by Philadelphia chromosome resulting in the fusion between the BCR gene, located on chromosome 22, and the ABL gene on chromosome 9. The prognostic significance of BCR-ABL transcript variants in CML is controversial. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the clinico-hematological presentation and evolution of the disease, response to treatment and survival according to transcript type in chronic phase CML patients. RESULTS: The median age of our population was 50 years with a slight female predominance (sex-ratio 0...