Objective:The study aims to establish a perfect BCR-ABL (P210) internal quality control system and ensure the long-term stability and comparability of the detection results between laboratories and to popularize and apply it in the three hospitals.Methods:The Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (H1) prepared a set of the BCR-ABL (P210) quality control substances to establish and improve internal quality control system. We went to other three participating hospitals (H2, H3, and H4) to inspect quality control before the measurement. In addition, we mailed 25 sets of quality control substances to each of the hospital for detection. The slope and intercept of the standard curve of each hospital and the detection results were analyzed and statistically judged using the Levey-Jennings quality control chart combined with the Westgard multirule theory. Then, we made a quality control evaluation.Results:①An internal quality control system for the BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels monitoring was successfully established for the quality inspection before the measurement, statistical judgment during the measurement, and evaluation after the measurement. ② Both the slope and intercept of the standard curve of the four hospitals was under control. ③The multicenter quality control substance judgment results were as follows: for H1 hospital, two times of "1 2s" warning were found in the middle-level quality control substance, which was judged as being under control; for H2 hospital, one time of "1 2s" warning was found for each quality control substance, which was judged as being "2 2s" out of control; for H3 hospital, its high-level quality control substance violated the "1 3s" rule, and low-level quality control substance appeared "1 2s" warning, which was judged as "1 3s" out of control; and all quality control substances were under control in H4 hospital. ④The quality control evaluation and correction were as follows: two hospitals were under control, and the other two hospitals had an "out of control." We found out the reason for the out of control and corrected them. ⑤The comparisons of the original values of the multicenter quality control substance were as follows: there were statistical differences in the results of high-level quality control substance among the four hospitals, and no significant difference was found in the results of the medium-level and low-level quality control substance. ⑥The comparisons of the IS values of the multicenter quality control substance were as follows: the IS values of the three quality control substance in H2 and H3 hospitals were significantly higher than those of H1 hospital, and H2 hospital was significantly higher than H3 hospital. Conclusion:A perfect and stable internal quality control system for the BCR-ABL (P210) transcripts has been established, which can effectively ensure the accuracy and stability of the clinical detection results. This internal quality control system has been successfully popularized and applied in other hospitals.

Objective:To examine the survival rates and clinical characteristics of people with newly discovered non-M 3 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who carry the ASXL1 gene mutation. Methods:From January 2016 to April 2021, the clinical information of patients with newly diagnosed non-M 3 AML at Shandong University's Qilu Hospital was retrospectively examined, and their clinical characteristics and survival were compared and analyzed. Gene mutation was detected by next-generation sequencing. Results:① The study included 256 AML patients who were initially diagnosed and had complete data, including 47 cases of ASXL1 gene mutation-positive (ASXL1 +) patients and 209 cases of ASXL1 gene mutation-negative (ASXL1 -) patients. All patients were divided into three groups: elderly (≥60 years old, n=92) , middle-aged (45-59 years old, n=92) , and young (≤44 years old, n=72) . ②WBC, and age were higher in patients with ASXL1 mutations compared to ASXL1 - patients, while complete response after the first round of treatment (CR 1) was lower ( P<0.05) . In the elderly group, WBC and the proportion of aberrant cells in nuclear cells in ASXL1 + patients were higher than those in ASXL1 - patients ( P<0.05) . In the young group, the WBC of ASXL1 + patients was higher than that of ASXL1 - patients ( z=-2.314, P=0.021) . ③IDH2 mutation and ASXL1 mutation was related ( P=0.018, r=0.34) . In ASXL1 + patients, the proportion of peripheral blasts in the high VAF group (VAF>40% ) was higher than that in the low VAF group (VAF<20% ) , and the proportion of aberrant nuclear cells was higher in the duplication and replacement mutation patients than in the deletion mutation patients ( P<0.05) . ④The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of ASXL1 + patients were shorter than those of ASXL1 - patients (median, 10 months vs 20 months, 10 months vs 17 months; P<0.05) . The proportion number of aberrant cells in nuclear cells (≥20% ) , complex karyotypes, and TET2 mutation were all independent risk variables that had an impact on the prognosis of ASXL1 + patients, according to multivariate analysis ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:ASXL1-mutated non-M 3 AML patients have higher WBC in peripheral blood, a higher proportion of aberrant cells in nuclear cells, lower CR 1 rate, and shorter OS and PFS. Additionally, a poor prognosis is linked to higher VAF, duplication, and substitution mutations in the ASXL1 gene, as well as the high proportion of aberrant cells in nuclear cells, complex karyotype, and TET2 mutation.

Objective:To explore the influence of storage and delivery conditions of the peripheral blood samples from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) on the real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) detection of the BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels.Methods:The peripheral blood samples of 84 CML patients were collected. The same sample was divided into different groups according to storage time (0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h) , temperature (room temperature, 18-24 ℃; low temperature, 2-8 ℃) , and vibration conditions (3, 6, and 12 h) . RQ-PCR was used to detect BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels of the different groups. This study logarithmically transformed (log 10N) the original data [BCR-ABL copy number, ABL copy number, and BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels]. Results:①Agarose gel electrophoresis showed significant RNA degradation of samples after storage for 48 and 72 h at room temperature. ②Among the overall samples, the BCR-ABL copy number of the samples stored at room temperature for 48 and 72 h was significantly lower than that of the samples stored at low temperature ( P<0.05) . However, the BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels had no significant difference between samples stored at low temperature and room temperature. ③No significant changes were noted in the BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels at different storage times (6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h) regardless of storage temperature ( P>0.05) compared with that at baseline (0 h, -0.56±1.51) . ④ The BCR-ABL copy number of the overall sample only decreased significantly ( P<0.05) at 48 h (2.93±1.59) and 72 h (2.79±1.42) compared with that at baseline (0 h, 3.35±1.60) when stored at room temperature. The ABL copy number in the overall sample decreased significantly at 48 and 72 h (whether low and room temperature; P<0.05) . However, no significant changes were noted in the BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels after vibration for 3 h (-1.29±1.81) , 6 h (-1.24±1.72) , and 12 h (-1.18±1.68; P>0.05) compared with that at baseline (0 h, -0.60±1.37) . Conclusion:Sample storage time, storage temperature, and vibration can interfere with the results of BCR-ABL and ABL copy number but have no significant effect on the quantitative determination of BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels. This study provides strong support for the feasibility of transregional transportation of peripheral blood samples from patients with CML.

Objective: To investigate the current status and real performance of the detection of RUNX1-RUNX1T1 fusion transcript levels and WT1 transcript levels in China through interlaboratory comparison. Methods: Peking University People’s Hospital (PKUPH) prepared the samples for comparison. That is, the fresh RUNX1-RUNX1T1 positive (+) bone morrow nucleated cells were serially diluted with RUNX1-RUNX1T1 negative (-) nucleated cells from different patients. Totally 23 sets with 14 different samples per set were prepared. TRIzol reagent was added in each tube and thoroughly mixed with cells for homogenization. Each laboratory simultaneously tested RUNX1-RUNX1T1 and WT1 transcript levels of one set of samples by real-time quantitative PCR method. All transcript levels were reported as the percentage of RUNX1-RUNX1T1 or WT1 transcript copies/ABL copies. Spearman correlation coefficient between the reported transcript levels of each participated laboratory and those of PKUPH was calculated. Results: ①RUNX1-RUNX1T1 comparison: 9 samples were (+) and 5 were (-) , the false negative and positive rates of the 20 participated laboratories were 0 (0/180) and 5% (5/100) , respectively. The reported transcript levels of all 9 positive samples were different among laboratories. The median reported transcript levels of 9 positive samples were from 0.060% to 176.7%, which covered 3.5-log. The ratios of each sample’s highest to the lowest reported transcript levels were from 5.5 to 12.3 (one result which obviously deviated from other laboratories’ results was not included) , 85% (17/20) of the laboratories had correlation coefficient ≥0.98. ②WT1 comparison: The median reported transcript levels of all 14 samples were from 0.17% to 67.6%, which covered 2.6-log. The ratios of each sample’s highest to the lowest reported transcript levels were from 5.3-13.7, 62% (13/21) of the laboratories had correlation coefficient ≥0.98. ③ The relative relationship of the reported RUNX1-RUNX1T1 transcript levels between the participants and PKUPH was not always consistent with that of WT1 transcript levels. Both RUNX1-RUNX1T1 and WT1 transcript levels from 2 and 7 laboratories were individually lower than and higher than those of PKUPH, whereas for the rest 11 laboratories, one transcript level was higher than and the other was lower than that of PKUPH. Conclusion The reported RUNX1-RUNX1T1 and WT1 transcript levels were different among laboratories for the same sample. Most of the participated laboratories reported highly consistent result with that of PKUPH. The relationship between laboratories of the different transcript levels may not be the same.

Objective To investigate the role of Th17 cells in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) pathogenesis. Methods 33 CML patients [15 newly diagnosed (ND)- and 18 chronic-phase (CP)- CML patients] and 15 healthy controls were enrolled. The percentage of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood (PB) of CML and controls were evaluated by flow cytometry. RORC mRNA expressions were examined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The levels of IL-17 in PB of CML and controls were measured by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). The relationships between Th17 cells and clinical characteristics in CML were analyzed. Results The percentage of Th17 cells in PB of ND-CML patients [(0.71±0.41) %] was significantly lower than that of CP-CML patients [(4.08±0.74) %, P<0.05] and healthy controls [(3.18±1.32) %, P<0.05]. The mRNA level of RORC in PB of ND-CML patients (0.043 3±0.040 5) was significantly decreased compared with that in CP-CML patients (0.086 1±0.052 3, P<0.05) and healthy controls (0.091 0±0.058 4, P<0.05). The levels of IL-17 in PB of ND-CML patients [(1.43±0.22) pg/ml] and CP-CML patients [(1.36±0.19) pg/ml] were slightly higher than that of healthy controls [(1.23±0.14) pg/ml, P< 0.05]. The percentage of Th17 cells had significantly negative correlations with white blood cell counts in PB or bcr-abl (IS). Conclusion Th17 cells may play an important role in CML pathogenesis, which has potential implication for immunotherapy of this malignancy.

Objective To set internal quality control system of BCR-ABL(P210) transcript levels for real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR).Methods Using K562 cells and HL-60 cells,we prepared high-and low-level BCR-ABL internal quality control substance.The BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels of internal quality control substance have been determined for 184 times together with clinical samples from August 2013 to October 2015.The slope rate,intercept and correlation coefficient of standard curve were calculated according to different reagent lots (lots number 20130303,20131212,20140411 and 20150327 are called R1、R2、R3 and R4 for short respectively),and the detection results of quality control substance were calculated according to different reagent lots and quality control substance lots (lots number 20130725,20140611 are called Q 1、Q2 for short respectively).Then the results were analyzed by Levey-Jennings quality control chart combined with Westgard multi-rules theory.Results ①We analyzed the slope rate and intercept of standard curve.Fifty-three times of the R1 reagent detection,80 times of the R3 reagent detection and 14 times of the R4 reagent detection were all under control.For 37 times detection of R2 reagent,the slope rate was out of control for 6 times.It was lower than-x-s for the 2-8 tests and upper the average for the 12-37 tests.The intercept was out of control for 9 times,upper the-x+s for the 1-8 tests and lower the average for the 12-37 tests.②According to the detection results of quality control substance,for Q1 quality control substance,49 tests by R1 reagent were under control,and 1 out of 23 tests by R2 reagent was out of control.For Q2 quality control substance,14 tests by R2 reagent detection,72 tests by R3 reagent detection and 14 tests by R4 reagent were all under control.Conclusion The preparation of high-and low-level quality control substance using K562 and HL-60 cells was convenient and the detection results were reliable and stable.The application of quality control substance combined with slope rate and intercept in the internal quality control may contribute to quality assurance forquantitative detection of BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels.

OBJECTIVETo detect JAK2 V617F mutation burden and its clinical implications in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN).

METHODSJAK2 V617F mutation burden were detected by using MGB Taqman probes and its clinical significance were retrospectively studied in 415 MPN patients.

RESULTSJAK2 V617F was found in 56.9% of all patients [83.5% in polycythemia vera (PV), 55.9% in essential thrombocythemia (ET), 41.9% in primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and 64.7% in MPN-unclassifiable)]. The majority of patients carried heterozygous JAK2 V617F mutation and homozygote was found only in 12 cases (4 in PV, 4 in MPN-U, 2 in PMF, 1 in ET, and 1 in chronic neutrophilic leukemia). Most patients (68.8%) were lower mutation burden (mutation burden<50%), but PV had the highest burden, the moderate burden in PMF and the least in ET. The patient's age and WBC count were significantly correlated with higher mutation burden in PV. WBC count was significantly related to higher mutation burden in ET. WBC count, Hb level and the platelet count were significantly related to higher mutation burden in PMF.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation burden of JAK2 V617F from high to low was PV, ET and PMF. The majority of JAK2 V617F mutation was heterozygous. JAK2 V617F mutation burden was positively correlated with age, WBC, Hb and platelet counts.

Homozygote ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; Leukocyte Count ; Mutation ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; Platelet Count ; Polycythemia Vera ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombocythemia, Essential

OBJECTIVETo revalidate the conversion factor（CF）for the conversion of BCR-ABL （P210）transcript levels to the international scale（BCR- ABLIS）in chronic myeloid leukemia（CML） which validated before.

METHODSPeking University People's Hospital（PKUPH）prepared the exchange samples for revalidation of CFs of 15 laboratories which validated nine or eighteen months ago. The fresh BCR-ABL（P210）（+）bone morrow or peripheral blood nucleated cells were diluted with BCR-ABL （P210）（-）cells to achieve different BCR- ABL levels, totally 16 sets and 24 samples per set were prepared. TRIzol reagent was added in each tube. Each laboratory tested BCR-ABL transcript levels of one set of samples. Agreement between BCR-ABLIS of each laboratory and PKUPH was assessed by the Bland- Altman method. For laboratories which did not meet the criteria of revalidation, linear regression equation was derived after the samples with maximum BCR-ABL deviation were removed until R²>0.98, then new CF was calculated.

RESULTS10 laboratories met the revalidation criteria with both bias within ±1.4 fold and 95% limits of agreement within ±6 folds, and their CFs still could be used for accurately conversion of BCR-ABLIS. New CFs were recalculated as of 1.8-6.3 folds of their previous CFs in 5 laboratories not met the criteria.

CONCLUSIONRevalidation of CF by sample exchange among laboratories was necessary for accurate and continuous application of BCR-ABLIS, which not only tested the validity of CF acquired before but also calculated new available CFs for those with invalid CFs.

Bone Marrow Cells ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo validate the conversion factor (CF) for the conversion of BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels to the international scale in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

METHODSIn 2012, the international reference laboratory in Adelaide, Australia (IMVS) sent two batches of RNA samples, 30 samples per batch, to Peking University People's Hospital (PKUPH). By comparing BCRABL (P210) transcript levels reported by the two laboratories, CF of PKUPH was calculated and validated by IMVS. In 2013, PKUPH prepared the exchange samples for validation of CF of 9 hospitals who have calculated CFs before. The fresh BCR-ABL (P210) (+) cells were serially diluted by BCR-ABL (P210) (-) cells to prepare 22 kinds of samples with different BCR-ABL transcript levels, each kind had 10 parallel samples. Trizol reagent was added in each tube. Ten hospitals tested BCR-ABL transcript levels of one set of 22 samples. Agreement between BCR-ABL transcript levels of each laboratory and PKUPH was assessed by the Bland-Altman method.

RESULTSPKUPH successfully validated its CF with bias 1.1 fold and 95% limits of agreement between -4.7 and 4.9 fold. Of 9 hospitals whose validation performed by sample exchanges with PKUPH, 6 hospitals successfully validated their CF with bias ≤±1.4 fold and 95% limits of agreement within ±6 fold.

CONCLUSIONValidation of CF examined the stability of the detection of BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels, which was necessary for the valid conversion of BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels to the international scale in CML.

Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; standards ; Transcription, Genetic

Objective To address the standard first-line management under the new diagnostic criteria in adult immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted involving 178 adult ITP patients treated with high-dose dexamethasone or prednisone in Qilu Hospital from March 2004 to November 2009 using new diagnostic criteria. Results The median age was 41 years with a male/female ratio of 0. 73: 1. Among the 178 ITP patients, 87 were newly diagnosed, 30 persistent ITP, 58 chronic ITP, and 3 unable to follow up. The efficacy rates among 167 patients able to assess in the three groups were 77.4% ( 65/84 ), 64. 0% ( 16/25 ) and 62. 1% ( 36/58 ) respectively, and their complete remission (CR) rates were 57. 1% (48/84), 36. 0% (9/25) and 32. 8% (19/58). The efficacy rate and CR rate of the newly diagnosed ITP category were significantly higher than those of the chronic ITP category (x2 = 3. 917, P ＜ 0. 05 ;x2 = 8. 186, P ＜ 0. 01 ). The patients treated with high-dose dexamethasone or prednisone therapy had no significant differences in sex, age or blood platelet count before treatment.Moreover, the short or long term response rates and the CR rates between the two therapies had no statistically significant differences while the former had a shorter onset time ( F = 10. 34, P ＜ 0. 01 ).Conclusions The study sets up a basis for the application of the recommended new definition and outcome criteria for adult ITP. Dexamethasone therapy is favored as first-line therapy.