Between 3/1990 and 5/2000, 249 patients with AML were treated at the Ho Chi Minh center for hematology and blood transfusion. The results were the following: complete remission achieved in 63% patients treated with 7&3 protocol, 77% with 7&3&5 protocol, 8% with Ara-C+ Purinethol protocol and 2% with Ara-C or Purinethol alone protocol. Overall survival at 12 months of patients treated with 7& 3, 7&3&5, and Ara-C+ Purinethol protocol were 32%, 69% and 16%, respectively. Conclusion, induction chemotherapy with 7&3 and 7&3&5 protocols achieved better results in patients with AML.
Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy

Induction chemotherapy of 7-3-5 protocol (cytarabine, daunorubicin, etoposide) in acute myeloid leukemia. Between October 1998 and October 1999, 10 patients with AML (4M, 6F, median age 31) were treated with induction chemotherapy of 7-3-5 protocol at the blood transfusion and hematology center, HCM city. A complete remission was achieved in 9 of 10 patients. 1 patient died from transfusion- associated graft- versus- host disease. The median time to recover ANC> 05x 109/1 and platelets> 20x109/1 were 16 days. Oral mucositis was mild in 2 patients. 7-3-5 protocol may be more effective than 7-3 protocol in response rate and prolonged remission but toxicity was similar.
Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute ; therapy ; therapeutics

Intense myelofibrosis is rarely associated with de novo acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) except in acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia (AML-M7) where there is diffuse marrow fibrosis as a consequence of proliferation of neoplastic myeloid cells. AML associated with significant myelofibrosis developing both de novo or secondary to primary (idiopathic) myelofibrosis is characterised by a fulminant course and extremely poor prognosis, primarily due to treatment-resistant disease. The prognostic value of degree of marrow fibrosis in de novo AML has been poorly investigated. We describe a case of extensive myelofibrosis associated with acute erythroblastic leukaemia (AML-M6) that responded to induction therapy of the leukaemia.
Myelofibrosis ; Acute ; Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute ; therapeutic aspects ; prognostic

From 11/1997 to 8/2000, 11 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were performed autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation without cryopreservation. PBSC were mobilized by high-dose cyclophosphamide plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.When WBC count reached>5x109/l, leukapheresis was started and continued for 3 consecutive days. As soon as the third collection was finished, mephalan was given as a conditioning regimen. 24-42 hours after giving melphalan, the collected PBSC which were preserved at +40C were reinfused. Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor was given during the nardir period until the an ANC> 1x 109/l for 3 consecutive days. All the patients were engrafted with the mean no time to recover ANC> 0.5x109/l and platelet count > 20x109/l was 14 days and 33.8 days. Overall survival and disease free survival at 2 years were 77.7% and 76.1% respectively. In conclusion, autologous PBSC transplantation without cryopreservation in AML is simple and economic method which may be applied in developing countries.
Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation

A case of granulocytic sarcoma involving the uterine cerivx as the primary manifestation, before the peripheral blood and bone marrow showed evidences of overt leukemia, is presented. Six weeks after the onset of the genital tract symptom the patient developed acute myelogenous leukemia. The uterine tumor was initially believed to be a histiocytic lymphoma. The diagnosis of granulocytic sarcoma was confirmed by the naphthol AS-D chloracetate stain for esterase, which was performed on the uterine cervix and obturator lymphnodes taken by hysterectomy and pelvic node dissection. The literatrue was reviewed with emphasis on the differential diagnosis of granulocytic sarcoma and histiocytic lymphoma, and the clinical and pathological problems that arise when the tumor presents at an unusual location and without peripheral blood manifestation of leukemia.
Adult ; Cervix Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Human ; Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute/diagnosis* ; Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute/pathology ; Leukemia, Myeloid/diagnosis* ; Lymphoma/diagnosis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of autologous transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) mobilized with high-dose consolidation chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Twenty patients received myeloablative chemotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy including total body irradiation followed by the infusion of PBSC. PBSC were collected by large-volume leukaphereses. The mean number of mononuclear cells and CD34-positive cells infused were 7.2 x 10(8)/kg (range, 2.2-16.6), and 6.6 x 106/kg (range, 2.1-27.7), respectively. Engraftment failure was not seen in the enrolled patients. The median time to neutrophil (> or = 500/microL) and platelet recovery (> or = 50,000/microL) from the transplant was 12 days (range, 8-20) and 28 days (range, 10-600), respectively. The 2-year probability of disease-free survival (DFS) and relapse were 43% and 57% for patients with AML transplanted in first complete remission (CR1). The outcome of the patients transplanted in the advanced status was significantly worse than the patients transplanted in CR1 (P=0.04). Most relapses occurred within 1 year after transplantation. Fatal hepatic veno-occlusive disease was observed in one case. Other transplantation-related toxicities were mild. Our results demonstrated that autologous transplantation of high-dose consolidation chemotherapy-mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells is feasible in the patients with AML in CR1. To further reduce the risk of leukemia relapse, much effort should be contributed to the field of ex vivo purging and post-transplant immunotherapy.
Adult ; Female ; Hematopoiesis ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*/adverse effects ; Human ; Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute/therapy* ; Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute/mortality ; Male ; Middle Age ; Transplantation, Autologous

The expression of the WT-1 gene which is found exclusively in human leukemic blasts frequently disappears from bone marrow of leukemia patients in complete remission (CR). Using semiquantitative RT-PCR, we investigated the expression of the WT-1 gene in peripheral bloods (PBs) of 33 patients with acute leukemia (AML 26; ALL 7) and monitored its expression after achievement of CR. None of the 6 normal controls expressed detectable levels of WT-1 transcripts (< 10(-4), background level), whereas 31 (93.9%) of 33 patients expressed variable levels of WT-1 transcripts (range, 10(-4) to 10(1)) at diagnosis. The level of WT-1 expression was not different between AML and ALL. By monitoring WT-1 gene expression in PB of 31 patients during CR, 5 patients relapsed (two from the 18 patients with undetectable levels of WT-1 gene expression and three from the 13 with WT-1 gene expression in low levels). Three of the 5 relapsed patients showed preceding reappearance or rise of WT-1 gene expression. From these results, we reconfirmed that the WT-1 gene is a pan-acute leukemic marker, which can be used to monitor minimal residual leukemia (MRL) after chemotherapy or in patients with CR.
Gene Expression/physiology* ; Human ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Acute/genetics* ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Acute/blood* ; Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute/genetics* ; Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute/blood* ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Nephroblastoma/genetics* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transcription, Genetic ; Tumor Markers, Biological

Muscle involvement in acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis is uncommon. Herein, we report a case of acute febrile neutrophilic myositis, without cutaneous involvement, as the first manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia. The patient was a 35-year-old male, referred due to painful swelling of the left upper arm and fever. The overlying skin looked normal, and a muscle biopsy revealed dense infiltrates, predominantly composed of mature neutrophils, edema and tissue necrosis. All culture reports were negative, and he was finally diagnosed as having acute febrile neutrophilic myositis, associated with acute myeloid leukemia. Corticosteroid treatment resulted in the progressive regression of the fever, myalgia and swelling.
Neutrophils/*metabolism ; Myositis/*etiology/metabolism ; Male ; Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Fever/etiology ; Adult

Myelodysplastic syndrome is a closely related group of acquired bone marrow disorders characterized by ineffective and dysplastic hematopoiesis. These clonal disorders frequently progress to acute leukemia. Acute myelomonocytic leukemia with eosinophilia is characterized by an increase in abnormal eosinophils in the bone marrow, relatively good clinical course and inv (16) chromosomal abnormality. We experienced one case of refractory anemia with excess blasts which progressed to refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation and finally to acute myelomonocytic leukemia with eosinophilia showing peculiar chromosomal abnormalities of der (1;7).
Adult ; Anemia/pathology ; Anemia/genetics ; Anemia/etiology ; Bone Marrow/pathology ; Case Report ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16* ; Disease Progression ; Eosinophilia/pathology ; Eosinophilia/genetics* ; Eosinophilia/etiology ; Human ; Inversion (Genetics)* ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute/pathology ; Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute/genetics* ; Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute/etiology ; Male ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/pathology ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/genetics* ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/complications

Lymphadenopathy is a relatively uncommon finding of minimally differentiated acute myelogenous leukemia (AML-MO). We experienced a case of AML-MO in a 57-year-old man initially presented with multiple cervical lymphadenopathy. Bone marrow aspiration revealed myeloblasts, which were negative for myeloperoxidase, Sudan black B, Periodic acid-Schiff, non-specific esterase and double esterase reaction. In cell surface marker studies, CD13, CD14, CD33, CD34, CD45 and HLA-DR were present. CT scan of neck demonstrated multiple lymphadenopathy at both internal jugular chains, spinal accessory chains and submandibular area. He died about two weeks after diagnosis without specific treatment.
Case Report ; Fatal Outcome ; Human ; Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute/*complications/pathology ; Lymphatic Diseases/*complications/pathology ; Male ; Middle Age ; Neck ; Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed