OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in the treatment of acute monocytic leukemia (AML-M5) and the related factors that affecting the prognosis of the patients. METHODS: The clinical data of 71 patients with AML-M5 treated with allo-HSCT in Zhujiang Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University from April 2009 to October 2019 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. The incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), cumulative overall survival (OS) rate, cumulative progression-free survival (PFS) rate, transplantation-related mortality (TRM), relapse rate and the risk factors affecting prognosis in the patients were analyzed. RESULTS: 66 patients obtained hematopoietic reconstruction after transplantation, the median time of granulocyte implantation was 12 (9-26) d, and the median time of megakaryocytic implantation was 13 (8-72) d. The incidence of acute GVHD and chronic GVHD was 33.8% (24/71) and 36.6% (26/71), respectively. The median follow-up time was 13.81 (0.16 to 112.54) months; the median OS and PFS was 31.27 and 26.07 months, respectively. The cumulative OS of the patients in 1 and 3 years after transplantation was 64.9% and 48.6%, respectively, and the cumulative PFS of the patients in 1 and 3 years was 55.0% and 39.5%, respectively. The cumulative relapse rate of the patients in 1 and 3 years was 24% and 40%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that pre-transplantation relapse was the independent risk factor affecting OS (HR=2.32, 95%CI:1.17-4.62, P=0.02) and PFS (HR=3.08, 95%CI:1.61-5.90, P=0.001) of the patients; invasive fungal disease after transplantation was the independent risk factor affecting OS (HR=2.71, 95% CI:1.32-5.56, P=0.007) and PFS (HR=2.87, 95%CI=1.40-5.86, P=0.004) of the patients; FLT3 mutation was the independent risk factor affecting PFS (HR=2.13, 95%CI=1.07-4.24, P=0.03) of the patients. CONCLUSION AML-M5 is the intermediate or high-risk leukemia, and allo-HSCT can improve the survival prognosis of the patients. Pre-transplantation relapse and invasive fungal disease after transplantation are the important factors affecting the efficacy of allo-HSCT in patients with AML-M5.
Child ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Patients ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Myeloid sarcoma, characterized by the presence of immature myeloid cells occurring at an extramedullary site, is a rare manifestation of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Spinal cord compression as an initial presentation of AML is very rare with only a few reported cases. We discuss a case of a 22-year-old male who presented with bicytopenia and paraplegia. Workups were consistent with AML with monocytic differentiation. Chromosomal analysis revealed loss of Y and t (8;21). Spinal cord MRI showed intradural extramedullary-enhancing soft tissue lesions at levels T2 to T7 and L5 to S1, suspected to be myeloid sarcoma. Patient, however, succumbed to severe nosocomial infection prior to initiation of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Human ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; Sarcoma, Myeloid ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: To clone the promoter sequence of acute monocytic leukemia new antigen gene.MLAA-34 and identify its promoter core region. METHODS: The full-length fragment of MLAA-34 gene promoter region was amplified by PCR, then was ligated into pGL3-Basic vector, and the recombinant plasmid was cloned. Constructed a series of MLAA-34 gene promoter 5' flanking region truncated plasmid. These recombinant plasmids were transfected into U937 and HEK293 cells, and the dual luciferase reporter gene was used to detect the promoter activity of each fragment to determine the minimum active region. Transcription factor binding sites were analyzed by bioinformatics methods. RESULTS: The recombinant plasmid containing MLAA-34 promoter sequence and its truncated plasmid were successfully constructed, and the promoter activity was significantly increased as compared with the empty vector (P＜0.001). The minimal active region of MLAA-34 located between 402 bp and 200 bp. It contained multiple transcription factor binding sites such as E2F1, MZF-1, SP1, USF2 and STAT3. CONCLUSION The promoter of luciferase reporter gene has been successfully constructed with different deletion fragments of MLAA-34, and its core promoter region may contain multiple transcription factor sequence.
Adult ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Genes, Reporter ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; genetics ; Luciferases ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the molecular genetics of 81 patients with acute monocytic leukemia (AML). METHODS: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was employed to detect MLL gene rearrangements. Combined mutations of 17 genes were detected by DNA-based PCR and Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Sixty seven patients were found to harbor at least one mutation. The most commonly mutated gene was NPM1 (n=18), which was followed by FLT3-ITD (n=16), NRAS (n=16), DNMT3A (n=15), TET2 (n=12), RUNX1 (n=11) and KRAS (n=9). Based on the functions of mutated genes, the most frequently involved genes were those involved in DNA methylation (38.27%), tyrosine kinase receptor signaling (32.1%), transcription regulation (28.4%), and RAS pathway (24.7%). Single gene mutation predominated in patient with cytogenetic abnormalities, while coexistence of 2 mutations have predominated in patient with normal cytogenetic findings. Stratified by cytogenetic findings, patients with single gene mutations (intermediate-risk group) had significantly higher complete remission (CR) rates than those with ≥2 gene mutations (unfavorable-risk group) (91.7% vs. 57.6% , 87.5% vs. 25.0%, P =0.0319, 0.0117, respectively). CONCLUSION Over 80% of AML patients were found to harbor at least one mutation. Their clinical phenotype and prognosis may be impacted by the synergy of MLL gene rearrangement and multiple mutations. For patients under the same risk stratification, the number of mutations is reversely correlated with the CR rate.
Cytogenetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Mutation ; Prognosis ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3

The KMT2A (formerly MLL) gene is associated with at least 10% of all cases of acute leukemia. More than 80 translocation partner genes of KMT2A have been discovered to date, six of which have been identified on the long arm of chromosome 17. Among these, the MLLT6 (formerly AF17) gene is located at 17q12 and fuses with the KMT2A gene in rare cases of acute leukemia. We report here a case of AML with a KMT2A/MLLT6 fusion that was confirmed using molecular genetic methods. According to a literature review, this is the first reported case of AML with a KMT2A/MLLT6 fusion in Korea.
Arm ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; Korea ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; Molecular Biology

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of detecting the rearrangement of mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene in children with acute mononuclear leukemia (AML). METHODS: Dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probe was used to detect MLL gene rearrangement in 68 children with AML by interphase FISH. The results were compared with that of conventional G banding chromosomal analysis. RESULTS: Among the 68 children, 28 were detected by FISH with positive hybridization signals, with a detection rate for MLL gene rearrangement being 41.2%. Twelve (17.6%) reciprocal translocations and interruption of 11q23 were detected by G banding analysis. The difference in the detection rates between the two methods was statistically significant (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION The sensitivity of FISH assay for MLL gene rearrangement was significantly higher than that of G banding chromosomal karyotyping. Combined use of both methods for children with AML can improve the detection rate of MLL gene rearrangements and provide crucial clues for clinical diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
Child ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; Gene Rearrangement ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; genetics ; Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein ; genetics ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the transcriptional regulation of transcription factor MZF-1 on acute monocytic leukemia-related gene MLAA-34. METHODS: The effect of MZF-1 on the transcriptional activity of MLAA-34 gene promoter was analyzed by luciferase reporter gene detection system and site-directed mutation technique. The EMSA and ChIP assay were used to verify whether MZF-1 directly and specifically binds to the core region of MLAA-34 promoter. The over-expression vector and interference vector of MZF-1 were constructed to transfect U937 cells, and RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the transcription and expression changes of MLAA-34 gene. RESULTS: The transcription factor MZF-1 had a regulatory effect on MLAA-34 gene expression, and the relative luciferase activity was decreased after MZF-1 binding point mutation (P<0.01). EMSA and ChIP experiments demonstrated that MZF-1 could directly bind to MLAA-34 promoter and play a regulatory role. In the over-expression test, the increase of MZF-1 could up-regulate the expression of MLAA-34 (P<0.05). In the interference test, the decrease of MZF-1 could down-regulate the expression of MLAA-34 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Transcription factor MZF-1 can bind to the transcriptional regulatory region on the promoter of MLAA-34 gene and promote the transcription of MLAA-34 gene in acute monocytic leukemia.
Antigens, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, Reporter ; Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha ; Humans ; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Transcription, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo report on a case of therapy-related acute monocytic leukemia(t-AML) with t(11;17) (q23;q21)/MLL-AF17q after successful treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL) with t(15;17) (q22;q21)/PML-RARα.

METHODSA MICM method (bone marrow morphology(M), immunophenotype(I), cytogenetics(C), and molecular biology(M)) was used for the diagnosis and classification of the disease at the time of onset and transformation.

RESULTSThe patient was initially identified with typical morphology and immunophenotype of APL. She has carried t(15;17)(q22;q21) and PML-RARα fusion gene but was without t(11;17)(q23;q21) or MLL gene abnormalities. After 13 months of successful treatment, she has transformed to AML with typical morphology and immunophenotype. t(11;17)(q23;q21) and MLL-AF17q fusion gene were detected in her bone marrow sample, while no PLZF-RARα fusion gene was detected by real-time quantitative reverse-transcription PCR(RQ-PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH).

CONCLUSIONt-AML is a serious complication after successful treatment of APL. t(11;17)(q23;q21) is not specific for the diagnosis of variant APL and can also be detected in t-AML. RQ-PCR and FISH are essential for the diagnosis of such patients.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; genetics ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; genetics

Leukemia is a hematological malignant disease with various clinical symptoms. Due to the fatal nature of the disease, early detection is important. Oral manifestations include ulcers and gingival enlargement with bleeding. Moreover, myeloid sarcoma or opportunistic infections may also occur. This report introduces a 31-year-old male presenting with generalized gingival enlargement with bleeding and another 81-year-old female with neoplasm on the left retromolar area. Both were diagnosed as acute monocytic leukemia. These cases implicate that gingival enlargement or mucosal lesion in the oral cavity may represent underlying systemic diseases. Related to this, it has to be reminded that making timely diagnosis and referral according to the clinical findings is crucial.
Adult ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; Male ; Mouth ; Opportunistic Infections ; Oral Manifestations ; Referral and Consultation ; Sarcoma, Myeloid ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by the breakdown of tooth-supporting tissues, leading to tooth loss. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans are major etiologic bacterium causing aggressive periodontitis. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a hydrophilic gall bladder acid, has been used as an effective drug for various diseases related to immunity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of UDCA on the inflammatory response induced by A. actinomycetemcomitans. METHODS: A human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1) was differentiated to macrophage- like cells by treatment with phorbol 12-mystristate 13-acetate (PMA) and used for all experiments. The cytotoxic effect of UDCA was examined by MTT assay. THP-1 cells were pretreated with UDCA for 30 min before A. actinomycetemcomitans infection and the culture supernatant was analyzed for various cytokine production by ELISA. The effect of UDCA on bacterial growth was examined by measuring optical densities using a spectrophotometer. RESULTS: UDCA showed no cytotoxic effect on THP-1 cells, up to 80 µM Ed highlight: Please confirm technical meaning. UDCA pretreatment inhibited the A. actinomycetemcomitans-induced IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-17A secretion in a dosedependent manner. UDCA also inhibited IL-21 production at 60 µM. The production of IL-12 and IL-4 was not influenced by A. actinomycetemcomitans infection. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that UDCA inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines involved in innate and Th17 immune responses in A. actinomycetemcomitans-infected THP-1-derived macrophages, which suggests its possible use for the control of aggressive periodontitis.
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans* ; Aggregatibacter* ; Aggressive Periodontitis ; Cell Line ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukin-4 ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; Macrophages ; Periodontitis ; Tooth Loss ; Urinary Bladder ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid*