Objective: To assess the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with SIL-TAL1-positive T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) . Methods: The clinical data of 19 SIL-TAL1-positive T-ALL patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between January 2014 and February 2022 were retrospectively computed and contrasted with SIL-TAL1-negative T-ALL patients. Results: The median age of the 19 SIL-TAL1-positive T-ALL patients was 15 (7 to 41 years) , including 16 males (84.2%) . SIL-TAL1-positive T-ALL patients had younger age, higher WBC, and hemoglobin compared with SIL-TAL1-negative T-ALL patients. There was no discrepancy in gender distribution, PLT, chromosome abnormality distribution, immunophenotyping, and complete remission (CR) rate. The 3-year overall survival (OS) was 60.9% and 74.4%, respectively (HR=2.070, P=0.071) . The 3-year relapse-free survival (RFS) was 49.2% and 70.6%, respectively (HR=2.275, P=0.040) . The 3-year RFS rate of SIL-TAL1-positive T-ALL patients was considerably lower than SIL-TAL1-negative T-ALL patients. Conclusion: SIL-TAL1-positive T-ALL patients were connected to younger age, higher WBC, higher HGB, and poor outcome.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics* ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Protein 1/genetics* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Female ; Child

Humans ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics* ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics* ; Trans-Activators

BACKGROUND: Imatinib mesylate (IM) resistance is an emerging problem for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Previous studies found that connexin 43 (Cx43) deficiency in the hematopoietic microenvironment (HM) protects minimal residual disease (MRD), but the mechanism remains unknown. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry assays were employed to compare the expression of Cx43 and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in bone marrow (BM) biopsies of CML patients and healthy donors. A coculture system of K562 cells and several Cx43-modified bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) was established under IM treatment. Proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and other indicators of K562 cells in different groups were detected to investigate the function and possible mechanism of Cx43. We assessed the Ca 2+ -related pathway by Western blotting. Tumor-bearing models were also established to validate the causal role of Cx43 in reversing IM resistance. RESULTS: Low levels of Cx43 in BMs were observed in CML patients, and Cx43 expression was negatively correlated with HIF-1α. We also observed that K562 cells cocultured with BMSCs transfected with adenovirus-short hairpin RNA of Cx43 (BMSCs-shCx43) had a lower apoptosis rate and that their cell cycle was blocked in G0/G1 phase, while the result was the opposite in the Cx43-overexpression setting. Cx43 mediates gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) through direct contact, and Ca 2+ is the key factor mediating the downstream apoptotic pathway. In animal experiments, mice bearing K562, and BMSCs-Cx43 had the smallest tumor volume and spleen, which was consistent with the in vitro experiments. CONCLUSIONS Cx43 deficiency exists in CML patients, promoting the generation of MRD and inducing drug resistance. Enhancing Cx43 expression and GJIC function in the HM may be a novel strategy to reverse drug resistance and promote IM efficacy.
Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Cell Communication ; Connexin 43/genetics* ; Gap Junctions/metabolism* ; Imatinib Mesylate/therapeutic use* ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/pathology* ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Calcium/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a rare case of acute B-lymphocytic leukemia (B-ALL) with double Philadelphia chromosomes (Ph) and double derivative chromosome 9s [der(9)]. METHODS: A patient with double Ph and double der(9) B-ALL who presented at Shanghai Zhaxin Intergrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital in June 2020 was selected as the subject. Bone marrow morphology, flow cytometry, G-banding karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), genetic testing and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) were used to analyze bone marrow samples from the patient at various stages. RESULTS: At initial diagnosis, the patient's bone marrow morphology and flow immunotyping have both supported the diagnosis of B-ALL. G-banded karyotyping of the patient indicated double Ph, in addition with hyperdiploid chromosomes involving translocations between chromosomes 9 and 22. BCR-ABL1 fusion gene was positive. Genetic testing at the time of recurrence revealed presence of a heterozyous c.944C>T variant in the kinase region of the ABL1 gene. FISH showed a signal for ABL1-BCR fusion on both chromosome 9s. CMA showed that the mosaicism homozygosity ratio of chromosome 9 was about 40%, and the mosaicism duplication ratio of chromosome 22 was about 43%. CONCLUSION Since both der(9) homologs were seen in 40% of cells, the possible mechanism for the double der(9) in this patient may be similar to that of double Ph, which might have resulted from non-disjunction during mitosis in the Ph chromosome-positive cell clone.
Humans ; Philadelphia Chromosome ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence/methods* ; China ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics* ; Translocation, Genetic ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/genetics* ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9/genetics*

OBJECTIVES: To study the significance of E-cadherin and the association between E-cadherin methylation status and prognosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by examining the mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin and its gene methylation status in bone marrow mononuclear cells of children with ALL. METHODS: The samples of 5 mL bone marrow blood were collected from 42 children with ALL who were diagnosed for the first time at diagnosis (pre-treatment group) and on day 33 of induction chemotherapy (post-treatment group). RT-qPCR, Western blot, and methylation-specific PCR were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin and the methylation level of the E-cadherin gene. The changes in each index after induction chemotherapy were compared. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein expression levels of E-cadherin in the post-treatment group were significantly higher than those in the pre-treatment group (P<0.05), while the positive rate of E-cadherin gene methylation in the post-treatment group was significantly lower than that in the pre-treatment group (P<0.05). At the end of the test, the children with negative methylation had significantly higher overall survival rate and event-free survival rate than those with positive methylation (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS E-cadherin expression is associated with the development of ALL in children, and its decreased expression and increased methylation level may indicate a poor prognosis.
Child ; Humans ; Cadherins/genetics* ; DNA Methylation ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics* ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the gene mutation profile in children with acute lymphocyte leukemia (ALL) and to explore its prognostic significance. METHODS: Clinical data of 249 primary pediatric ALL patients diagnosed and treated in the Department of Hematological Oncology of Wuhan Children's Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to obtain gene mutation data and analyze the correlation between it and the prognosis of children with ALL. RESULTS: 227 (91.2%) were B-ALL, 22 (8.8%) were T-ALL among the 249 cases, and 178 (71.5%) were found to have gene mutations, of which 85 (34.1%) had ≥3 gene mutations. NRAS(23.7%), KRAS (22.9%),FLT3(11.2%), PTPN11(8.8%), CREBBP (7.2%), NOTCH1(6.4%) were the most frequently mutated genes, the mutations of KRAS, FLT3, PTPN11, CREBBP were mainly found in B-ALL, the mutations of NOTCH1 and FBXW7 were mainly found in T-ALL. The gene mutation incidence of T-ALL was significantly higher than that of B-ALL (χ²= 5.573，P＜0.05) and were more likely to have co-mutations (P＜0.05). The predicted 4-year EFS rate (47.9% vs 88.5%, P＜0.001) and OS rate (53.8% vs 94.1%, P＜0.001) in children with tp53 mutations were significantly lower than those of patients without tp53 mutations. Patients with NOTCH1 mutations had higher initial white blood cell count （128.64×10⁹/L vs 8.23×10⁹/L，P＜0.001）, and children with NOTCH1 mutations had a lower 4-year EFS rate than those of without mutations (71.5% vs 87.2%, P＝0.037). CONCLUSION Genetic mutations are prevalent in childhood ALL and mutations in tp53 and NOTCH1 are strong predictors of adverse outcomes in childhood ALL, with NGS contributing to the discovery of genetic mutations and timely adjustment of treatment regimens.
Child ; Humans ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics* ; Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics* ; Prognosis ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics* ; Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Mutation ; Lymphocytes

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence and mechanism of atorvastatin on glycolysis of adriamycin resistant acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell line HL-60/ADM. METHODS: HL-60/ADM cells in logarithmic growth phase were treated with different concentrations of atorvastatin, then the cell proliferation activity was measured by CCK-8 assay, the apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, the glycolytic activity was checked by glucose consumption test, and the protein expressions of PTEN, p-mTOR, PKM2, HK2, P-gp and MRP1 were detected by Western blot. After transfection of PTEN-siRNA into HL-60/ADM cells, the effects of low expression of PTEN on atorvastatin regulating the behaviors of apoptosis and glycolytic metabolism in HL-60/ADM cells were further detected. RESULTS: CCK-8 results showed that atorvastatin could inhibit the proliferation of HL-60/ADM cells in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner (r=0.872, r=0.936), and the proliferation activity was inhibited most significantly when treated with 10 μmol/L atorvastatin for 24 h, which was decreased to (32.3±2.18)%. Flow cytometry results showed that atorvastatin induced the apoptosis of HL-60/ADM cells in a concentration-dependent manner (r=0.796), and the apoptosis was induced most notably when treated with 10 μmol/L atorvastatin for 24 h, which reached to (48.78±2.95)%. The results of glucose consumption test showed that atorvastatin significantly inhibited the glycolytic activity of HL-60/ADM cells in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner (r=0.915, r=0.748), and this inhibition was most strikingly when treated with 10 μmol/L atorvastatin for 24 h, reducing the relative glucose consumption to (46.53±1.71)%. Western blot indicated that the expressions of p-mTOR, PKM2, HK2, P-gp and MRP1 protein were decreased in a concentration-dependent manner (r=0.737, r=0.695, r=0.829, r=0.781, r=0.632), while the expression of PTEN protein was increased in a concentration-dependent manner (r=0.531), when treated with different concentrations of atorvastatin for 24 h. After PTEN-siRNA transfected into HL-60/ADM cells, it showed that low expression of PTEN had weakened the promoting effect of atorvastatin on apoptosis and inhibitory effect on glycolysis and multidrug resistance. CONCLUSION Atorvastatin can inhibit the proliferation, glycolysis, and induce apoptosis of HL-60/ADM cells. It may be related to the mechanism of increasing the expression of PTEN, inhibiting mTOR activation, and decreasing the expressions of PKM2 and HK2, thus reverse drug resistance.
Humans ; Atorvastatin/pharmacology* ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase/pharmacology* ; Sincalide/metabolism* ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute/drug therapy* ; Doxorubicin/pharmacology* ; Apoptosis ; RNA, Small Interfering/pharmacology* ; Glycolysis ; Glucose/therapeutic use* ; Cell Proliferation

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical significance of translocator proteins (TSPO) gene in the treatment of FLT3-ITD/DNMT3A R882 double-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: Seventy-six patients with AML hospitalized in the Department of Hematology of the Affiliated People's Hospital of Ningbo University from June 2018 to June 2020 were selected, including 34 patients with FLT3-ITD mutation, 27 patients with DNMT3A R882 mutation, 15 patients with FLT3-ITD/DNMT3A R882 double mutation, as well as 19 patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) hospitalized during the same period as control group. RNA was routinely extracted from 3 ml bone marrow retained during bone puncture, and TSPO gene expression was detected by transcriptome sequencing (using 2-deltadeltaCt calculation). RESULTS: The expression of TSPO gene in FLT3-ITD group and DNMT3A R882 group at first diagnosis was 2.02±1.04 and 1.85±0.76, respectively, which were both higher than 1.00±0.06 in control group, but the differences were not statistically significant (P=0.671, P=0.821). The expression of TSPO gene in the FLT3-ITD/DNMT3A R882 group was 3.98±1.07, wich was significantly higher than that in the FLT3-ITD group and DNMT3A R882 group, the differences were statistically significant (P=0.032, P=0.021). The expression of TSPO gene in patients who achieved complete response after chemotherapy in the FLT3-ITD/DNMT3A R882 group was 1.19±0.87, which was significantly lower than that at first diagnosis, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.011). CONCLUSION TSPO gene may be used as an indicator of efficacy in FLT3-ITD /DNMT3A R882 double-mutated AML.
Humans ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases/genetics* ; DNA Methyltransferase 3A ; Mutation ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Nucleophosmin ; Prognosis ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3/genetics* ; Receptors, GABA/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE: To study the transcriptional regulation of SP1 on the scaffold protein ARRB1 and its influence on the progression of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). METHODS: pGL3-ARRB1-luc, pCDNA3.1-SP1 and other transcription factor plasmids that might be combined were constructed, and the binding of transcription factors to the promoter of ARRB1 was identified by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Stable cell lines with over-expressed SP1 (JK-SP1) was constructed by lentiviral transfection, and the expression correlation of SP1 with ARRB1 was demonstrated by RT-PCR and Western blot. Further, the apoptosis, cell cycle and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by flow cytometry. The effect of SP1 on propagation of leukemic cells was observed on NCG leukemic mice. RESULTS: The expression of fluorescein were enhanced by co-transfection with pCDNA3.1-SP1 and pGL3-ARRB1-luc plasmids in HEK293T cell line (P<0.001), meanwhile, compared with the control group, the expression of ARRB1 mRNA and protein were increased in JK-SP1 cells (both P<0.01). Further in vitro experiments showed that, compared with the control group, the apoptosis rate was higher (x=22.78%) , the cell cycle was mostly blocked in G₁ phase (63.00%), and the content of reactive oxygen species increased in JK-SP1 cells. And in vivo experiments showed that the mice injected with JK-SP1 cells through tail vein had a favorable overall survival time (average 33.8 days), less infiltration in liver and spleen tissue. CONCLUSION Transcription factor SP1 promotes the transcription and expression of ARRB1 by binding the the promoter of ARRB1 directly, thus delays the progress of T-ALL in vitro and in vivo. The study improves the pathogenesis of ARRB1 regulating the initiation and development of T-ALL, and provides theoretical basis for the development of new possible targeted drugs.
Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics* ; HEK293 Cells ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Transcription Factors ; T-Lymphocytes ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Sp1 Transcription Factor/metabolism*

Objective: To analyze the clinical features, efficacy and prognosis factors of core binding factor (CBF) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) children in South China. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Clinical data of 584 AML patients from 9 hospitals between January 2015 to December 2020 was collected. According to fusion gene results, all patients were divided into two groups: CBF-AML group (189 cases) and non-CBF-AML group (395 cases). CBF-AML group were divided into AML1-ETO subgroup (154 cases) and CBFβ-MYH11 subgroup (35 cases). Patients in CBF-AML group chosen different induction scheme were divided into group A (fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony stimulating factor and idarubicin (FLAG-IDA) scheme, 134 cases) and group B (daunorubicin, cytarabine and etoposide (DAE) scheme, 55 cases). Age, gender, response rate, recurrence rate, mortality, molecular genetic characteristics and other clinical data were compared between groups. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis and survival curve was drawn. Cox regression model was used to analyze prognostic factors. Results: A total of 584 AML children were diagnosed, including 346 males and 238 females. And a total of 189 children with CBF-AML were included, including 117 males and 72 females. The age of diagnosis was 7.3 (4.5,10.0)years, and the white blood cell count at initial diagnosis was 21.4 (9.7, 47.7)×10⁹/L.The complete remission rate of the first course (CR1) of induction therapy, relapse rate, and mortality of children with CBF-AML were significantly different from those in the non-CBF-AML group (91.0% (172/189) vs. 78.0% (308/395); 10.1% (19/189) vs. 18.7% (74/395); 13.2% (25/189) vs. 25.6% (101/395), all P<0.05). In children with CBF-AML, the CBFβ-MYH11 subgroup had higher initial white blood cells and lower proportion of extramedullary invasion than the AML1-ETO subgroup, with statistical significance (65.7% (23/35) vs. 14.9% (23/154), 2.9% (1/35) vs. 16.9% (26/154), both P<0.05). AML1-ETO subgroup had more additional chromosome abnormalities (75/154), especially sex chromosome loss (53/154). Compared with group B, group A had more additional chromosome abnormalities and a higher proportion of tumor reduction regimen, with statistical significance (50.0% (67/134) vs. 29.1% (16/55), 34.3% (46/134) vs. 18.2% (10/55), both P<0.05). Significant differences were found in 5-years event free survival (EFS) rate and 5-year overall survival (OS) rate between CBF-AML group and non-CBF-AML group ((77.0±6.4)%vs. (61.9±6.7)%,(83.7±9.0)%vs. (67.3±7.2)%, both P<0.05).EFS and OS rates of AML1-ETO subgroup and CBFβ-MYH11 subgroup in children with CBF-AML were not significantly different (both P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed in the AML1-ETO subgroup, CR1 rate and high white blood cell count (≥50×10⁹/L) were independent risk factors for EFS (HR=0.24, 95%CI 0.07-0.85,HR=1.01, 95%CI 1.00-1.02, both P<0.05) and OS (HR=0.24, 95%CI 0.06-0.87; HR=1.01, 95%CI 1.00-1.02; both P<0.05). Conclusions: In CBF-AML, AML1-ETO is more common which has a higher extramedullary involvement and additional chromosome abnormalities, especially sex chromosome loss. The prognosis of AML1-ETO was similar to that of CBFβ-MYH11. The selection of induction regimen group FLAG-IDA for high white blood cell count and additional chromosome abnormality can improve the prognosis.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Child ; Retrospective Studies ; RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein/genetics* ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit/therapeutic use* ; Prognosis ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics* ; Cytarabine/therapeutic use* ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics* ; Chromosome Aberrations