The aim of this work was to study radiation and the effects of temperature on conductivity properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based potassium hydroxide (KOH) and propylene carbonate (PC), where the ionic conduction preferentially occurs in the amorphous phase by free radicals ions through gamma-irradiation. Alkaline composite polymer electrolyte (ACPE) consisting of PVA, KOH and PC of different concentration ratios were prepared by solvent-casting technique. The ACPE were irradiated with different doses from 5 kGy up to 200 kGy. The conductivity properties of the electrolyte films were measured at different frequencies in the range 20 Hz to 1 MHz using LCR meter. The results showed that the conductivity properties were dependent on the radiation dose, temperature and the concentration of the polymer blends.
Radiation ; asparaginase/prednisone/vincristine ; Personal Computers ; Temperature ; Concentration

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the long-term survival of children and adolescents with lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) treated by a modified NHL-BFM-90 protocol.

METHODSFrom March 1998 to November 2010, 107 untreated patients with LBL (age <18 years) were enrolled and stratified into three groups (R1, R2 and R3), according to the stage of disease and response to induction chemotherapy. All patients received different intensive chemotherapy regimens based on a modified NHL-BFM-90 protocol. Total treatment duration was 2 years.

RESULTSOf the 107 patients, 79 were boys and 28 were girls, with a median age of 10 years (range 2.5-18 years). Six patients (5.6%) were stage I/II, 101 (94.4%) stage III/IV. The R1, R2 and R3 groups accounted for 5.6%, 71.0% and 23.4%, respectively. 75.7% of the patients had T-LBL, and 24.3% was B-LBL. At a median follow-up duration of 60 months (range 1-186 months), 24 patients died. The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 75.5% and 77.8 % for all patients, 100.0% and 100.0% for group R1, 84.5% and 87.5 % for R2, 44.0% and 44.0% for R3, 72% and 73.5% for T-LBL, 86.4% and 88.5% for B-LBL, respectively. Myleosuppression was the major toxicity and need aggressive management.

CONCLUSIONThe modified NHL-BFM-90 protocol is an effective therapy for children and adolescents with LBL in low and intermediate risk. T-LBL had the similar outcomes as B-LBL did. The patients in high-risk group had a poor survival and new protocols are needed.

Adolescent ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Asparaginase ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Daunorubicin ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Prednisone ; Treatment Outcome ; Vincristine

OBJECTIVETo analyze clinical features and outcomes of non-upper aerodigestive tract NK/T-cell lymphoma (NUAT-NKTCL).

METHODSClinical data of 44 patients with NUAT-NKTCL diagnosed at Peking University Cancer Hospital between 1999 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 44 patients, there were 31 males and 13 females with a median age of 39 years (range, 15 to 82 years). 27 patients (61.4%) were stage III/IV, 28(63.6%) with B symptoms, 12(27.3%) ECOG ≥ 2, 18 (40.9%) IPI score ≥ 3, and 48.8% patients had elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase. The common primary sites were skin (21/44, 47.2%) and intestinal tract (11/44, 25.0%). All the 44 patients received systemic chemotherapy. After a median follow-up of 13.5 months (range, 0.3-121.0 months), 32 patients died, and the median overall survival (OS) was 16 months with 1-year OS rate as 54.1%. CR rate of the 26 patients received CHOP or CHOPE regimens as the first line chemotherapy was 19.2% (5/26). Then L-asparaginase (L-ASP)- based regimens were used for salvage treatment, with CR rate of 47.7% and the median OS of 13 months. CR rate of the other 18 patients received L-ASP-based regimens in the firstline therapy was 55.6% (10/18) with the median OS of 16 months. Using L-ASP in firstline treatment obviously improved CR rate (P=0.015), but did not affect OS (P=0.774).

CONCLUSIONAlthough L-ASP improved the efficacy of NUAT-NKTCL, but the prognosis remained dismal. Thus, more effective treatment strategies are required for NUAT-NKTCL.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Asparaginase ; Cyclophosphamide ; Doxorubicin ; Etoposide ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prednisone ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Salvage Therapy ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Vincristine ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the short-term efficacy, overall survival (OS), and safety in newly diagnosed extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) patients with L-asparaginase based regimens or CHOP regimen in combination with radiotherapy as first-line treatment.

METHODSOf the total 181 patients diagnosed by imaging and pathology, 69 patients received CHOP regimen and 112 patients received L-asparaginase based regimens. All the patients received radical radiotherapy(RT)after 6 cycles of chemotherapy.

RESULTSThe overall response rates of L-asparaginase-based group and CHOP group were 90.2% and 72.5%, respectively (P=0.002). The 1, 2, 5-year OS and progression-free survival (PFS) in L-asparaginase-based group were 96.0%, 88.3%, 65.1% and 94.2%, 79.8%, 50.0%, respectively. The 1, 2, 5-year OS and PFS in CHOP group were 82.6%, 61.9%, 28.4% and 63.8%, 44.0%, 21.0% (P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONCompared with CHOP regimen, L-asparaginase-based chemotherapy is more effective and safe for newly diagnosed nasal-type ENKTL.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Asparaginase ; administration & dosage ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use

Secondary brain tumors after cranial irradiation have been reported in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We report a case of secondary oligodendroglioma, occurring in a 19-year-old male, 12 years after the diagnosis of ALL. He was treated with vincristine, asparaginase, doxorubicin, methotrexate, prednisone, 6-mercaptopurine and cytarabine followed by prophylactic cranial irradiation at the age of 7 years. After treatment of ALL was completed at the age of 10 years, he showed symptoms of seizure, headache and decreased visual acuity at the age of 19 years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed a mass lesion which was revealed as low-grade oligodendroglioma by stereotactic biopsy. He was treated with cranial radiotherapy, followed by 4 cycles of chemotherapy composed of PCV (procarbazine, methyl-1-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (CCNU), and vincristine) for oligodendroglioma, and sodium valproate for seizure control. The patient showed stable disease and no recurrence of seizure 8 months after treatment.
6-Mercaptopurine ; Asparaginase ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cranial Irradiation ; Cytarabine ; Doxorubicin ; Headache ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Methotrexate ; Oligodendroglioma ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Prednisone ; Recurrence ; Seizures ; Survivors ; Valproic Acid ; Vincristine ; Visual Acuity ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo provide guidance for the high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and to understand the impact of SLCO1B1c.521T>C (rs4149056) variant on methotrexate (MTX) pharmacokinetics and clinical outcome in children with ALL.

METHODEighty-two children with ALL in Division of Hematology of Wuhan Children's Hospital from January 2008 to February 2013 were enrolled. All patients were genotyped for rs4149056 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) into wild-type group (TT genotype) and variant group (TC/CC genotype). According to the ALL-BFM 2000 protocol, all patients received intravenous infusion of MTX every ten days at 3 to 5 g/m(2). Leucovorin rescue was performed after 36 hours of the MTX administration and its dose was adjusted according to the MTX plasma concentration at 48 hours. The concentrations of MTX and its metabolite at 24, 48 and 72 h were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with solid phase extraction. Population pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by the NLME software. The pharmacokinetics, toxicity and leucovorin rescue was compared. The relapse rate within 5 years and event-free survival were followed up.

RESULTEighty-two pediatric patients were classified into two groups: variant group including 20 TC genotype carriers and one CC genotype carrier, wild-type group included 61 patients with TT genotype. Compared with wild-type group, plasma concentration of MTX at 48 and 72 h increased significantly [48 h: (1.00±1.41) vs.(0.34±0.17) µmol/L, t=2.131, P=0.046; 72 h: (0.31±0.26) vs.(0.08±0.04) µmol/L; t=3.995, P=0.001]. Area under the concentration time curve (AUC48-∝) of MTX significantly increased in variant group [(23.18±19.91) vs.(5.66±2.01) h·µmol/L] (t=4.025, P=0.001). Time above the MTX safety threshold (TC>0.1 µmol/L) increased significantly in variant group [(95.3±22.0) vs.(67.1±7.5) h, t=5.880, P<0.001]. Rescue dosage of leucovorin in variant group was higher than that in wild-type group [(312.7±287.8) vs.(140.6±27.5) mg/m2, t=2.614, P=0.017]. The children carrying rs4149056 C allele suffered from a higher frequency of serious adverse effect [gastrointestinal toxicity: 33% (7/21) vs. 5% (3/61);hepatic toxicity: 24% (5/21) vs. 2% (1/61)]. The difference was statistically significant (χ2=9.275, 8.289, all P<0.05). Hospital stay of variant group was significantly longer than that of wild-type [(4.95±1.43) vs. (4.05±0.22) d, t=2.881, P=0.009]. The relapse rate within 5 years of variant group and wild-type group were 9% (2/21) and 13% (8/61), respectively. There were no significant differences in the event-free survival between the two groups (χ2=0.001, P=0.971).

CONCLUSIONThe SLCO1B1 c.521T>C variant was an important determinant of MTX pharmacokinetics. An appropriate leucovorin dose raise in variant group was beneficial to reducing the serious toxicity and did not affect the long-term clinical outcome.

Alleles ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Asparaginase ; Child ; Daunorubicin ; Disease-Free Survival ; Genotype ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; administration & dosage ; Methotrexate ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Organic Anion Transporters ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Prednisone ; Solute Carrier Organic Anion Transporter Family Member 1b1 ; Treatment Outcome ; Vincristine

Pediatric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a highly aggressive disease with unique clinical characteristics. This study analyzed the germinal-center type B-cell (GCB) classification and clinical characteristics of Chinese pediatric DLBCL. A total of 76 patients with DLBCL newly diagnosed in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between February 2000 and May 2011, with an age younger than 18 years, were included in the analysis. The male/female ratio was 3.47:1. The median age was 12 years (range, 2 to 18 years), and 47 (61.8%) patients were at least 10 years old. Of the 76 patients, 48 (63.2%) had stage III/IV disease, 9 (11.8%) had bone marrow involvement, 1 (1.3%) had central nervous system (CNS) involvement, and 5 (6.6%) had bone involvement. The GCB classification was assessed in 45 patients: 26 (57.8%) were classified as GCB subtype, and 19 (42.2%) were classified as non-GCB subtype. The modified B-NHL-BFM-90/95 regimen was administered to 50 patients, and the 4-year event-free survival (EFS) rate was 85.8%. Among these 50 patients, 31 were assessed for the GCB classification: 17 (54.8%) were classified as GCB subtype, with a 4-year EFS rate of 88.2%; 14 (45.2%) were classified as non-GCB subtype, with a 4-year EFS rate of 92.9%. Our data indicate that bone marrow involvement and stage III/IV disease are common in Chinese pediatric DLBCL patients, whereas the percentage of patients with the GCB subtype is similar to that of patients with the non-GCB subtype. The modified B-NHL-BFM-90/95 protocol is an active and effective treatment protocol for Chinese pediatric patients with DLBCL.
Adolescent ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Asparaginase ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Daunorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germinal Center ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Survival Rate ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of modified BFM-90 regimen originated from Germany authors in the treatment of Chinese childhood and adolescent lymphoblastic lymphoma.

METHODSThirty-six untreated lymphoblastic lymphoma patients aged from 3 to 18 years were included, with 1 patient in stage II , 9 in stage III and 26 in stage IV. Of these 36 patients, 28 (77.7%) were diagnosed as T cell phenotype, 26 (72. 2%) were found to have mediastinal mass, 21 (58. 3%) had bone marrow involvement. All patients received chemotherapy of modified BFM-90 regimen consisting of induction remission, central nerve system prophylaxis, re-induction remission and maintenance therapy. Total treatment duration was two years. The difference from standard BFM-90 is that we omitted cranial radiotherapy but gave regular high dose methotrexate (MTX) iv infusion and intrathecal MTX therapy during maintenance therapy period. Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate survival rate.

RESULTSOf 36 patients, 32 (88%) achieved complete remission (CR) , 1 (2. 7%) partial remission (PR) with an overall response rate of 90.7%. One patient had disease progression ( DP). Two patients received autologous stem cell transplantation at CR1, and two patients received radiotherapy to mediastinum. Totally, 5 patients relapsed, while 2 of them were still alive after salvage chemotherapy. The other 3 died of tumor progression. Two patients died during induction remission, 1 of fungal septicemia, the other of cerebral hemorrhage; one PR and one DP patient died of disease, therefore, totally 7 patients died at last. Median follow-up time was 28 months. Overall three-year survival rate was 78. 3%. The major toxicity was myelosuppression.

CONCLUSIONModified BFM-90 protocol can improve the efficacy and survival of Chinese childhood and adolescent lymphoblastic lymphoma with tolerable toxicity. However, this modified protocol should only be used in experienced cancer center or hematological unit.

Adolescent ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asparaginase ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; therapeutic use ; Daunorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Mercaptopurine ; therapeutic use ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; ethnology ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Remission Induction ; Treatment Outcome ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUND: Because of the relative paucity of data regarding the clinical outcome in adult patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in Korea, we analyzed clinical courses in adult ALL patients treated with VPD (L) regimen (vincristine, prednisolone, daunorubicin, L-asparaginase) at the Seoul National University Hospital, and evaluated prognostic factors influencing the outcome. METHODS: Patients with ALL newly diagnosed between October 1994 and June 2000 at our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Fifty-three patients were evaluable. Induction chemotherapy consisted of VPD with (46 cases) or without L-asparaginase (7 cases). After complete remission (CR), consolidation therapy, CNS prophylaxis and maintenance chemotherapy were administered. RESULTS: Ages ranged from 16 to 67 (median 30). CR rate was 86.8% (46/53) and no significant prognostic factor was found for the CR rate. With a median follow-up time of 27.2 months (range 12.9~83.0 months) in living patients, the median overall survival (OS) for all cases was 16.7 months (13.4~20.1 months, 95% C.I.) and the estimated 4-year OS rate was 25.4%+/-8.9%. The median relapse-free survival (RFS) was 12.2 months (8.4~16.0 months, 95% C.I.), and 3-year RFS rate was 29.9%+/-10.2%. Poor prognostic factors for OS were Ph chromosome (p=0.005) and T-cell immunophenotype (p=0.03). For RFS they were Ph chromosome (p=0.01) and the presence of a mediastinal mass (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Despite an initial excellent response to the VPD (L) regimen, newer therapeutic strategies, including more intensive postremission therapies, are urgently needed because of the high relapse rate. Future therapeutic approaches need to be stratified according to several prognostic factors.
Administration, Oral ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Asparaginase/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Disease-Free Survival ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Doxorubicin/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Maximum Tolerated Dose ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis/*drug therapy/*mortality ; Prednisone/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Probability ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome ; Vincristine/*administration & dosage/adverse effects

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEPrecursor T lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) is a highly aggressive lymphoma. Myeloid antigen expression was found in some of the patients, and its clinical significance is worth studying. This study was to compare the clinical features, short-term efficacy and survival of T-LBL patients with or without myeloid antigen expression so as to evaluate its prognostic significance.

METHODSForty-five T-LBL patients, with a median age of 14 years, were treated at Sun Yet-sen University Cancer Center between January 2000 and July 2008. These patients were divided into myeloid antigen-positive group (My(+) group) and myeloid antigen-negative group (My(-) group) based on the flow cytometric (FCM) analysis in bone marrow or pleural fluid. Myeloid antigen expression and its correlation with the short-term efficacy and overall survival were assessed in the two groups.

RESULTSThere were 18 patients (40.0%) in the My(+) group and 27 (60.0%) in the My(-) group. The myeloid antigen expression was negatively correlated with the initial level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), but not with other clinical features. The remission rate was lower in the My(+) group than in the My(-) group (38.8% vs. 70.3%, P = 0.028). The 2-year overall survival rate was lower in the My(+) group than in the My(-) group (51.9% vs. 78.7%, P = 0.036). By age subgroup analysis, there were no differences in response and survival rate among children and adolescents with or without myeloid antigen expression. But the remission rate and the 2-year overall survival rate were significantly lower in adult patients with myeloid antigen expression than in patients without it. Univariate and multivariate analysis demonstrated that age and myeloid antigen expression were adverse prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONMyeloid antigen expression is a predictor of a poor response to chemotherapy, and adverse prognostic factor in adult T-LBL, but not in children with T-LBL.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Antigens, CD7 ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Asparaginase ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Cyclin D3 ; metabolism ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; therapeutic use ; Daunorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Etoposide ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Mercaptopurine ; therapeutic use ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Remission Induction ; Survival Rate ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult