OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristic changes of the plasma cytokine profile in Chinese patients with idiopathic multicentric Castleman diseases (iMCD). METHODS: The plasma samples from 22 patients with confirmed diagnosis of iMCD were collected before treatments; Specimens from 17 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, 10 non Hodgkin's lymphoma, and 15 healthy donors were used as control. Seventeen kinds of cytokines were measured by cytokine beads array (CBA) and ELISA respectively. RESULTS: Six cytokines were measured by ELISA. The concentrations of IL-2, IL-6, IL-21 and VEGF were significantly higher in the plasma of iMCD patients than those of the healthy donors (P＜0.01) and the level of IL-21 was highest in the iMCD group. There was no significant difference in the levels of IL-1β and IL-4 between the iMCD and healthy donor groups. Thirteen cytokines were measured by CBA assay, besides IL-6 level was confirmed to be higher in iMCD group than that in healthy controls (P＜0.01）, IL-12-p70 and IL-33 levels were also higher in iMCD group than those in control group (P＜0.05）, no significant difference of the rest cytokines was found between iMCD and the control group. CONCLUSION IL-6 and VEGF has shown to involved in the pathogenesis of iMCD, the results of preliminary study imply the role of IL-2 、IL-21、IL-12-p70 and IL-33 in this rare lymphoproliferative disease. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism of these cytokines, which may shed some light on the identification of novel therapeutic targets against iMCD.
Castleman Disease ; Cytokines ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-1beta ; Plasma

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical manifestations pathologic features, treatment options and prognosis of patients with bone lymphoma. METHODS: The clinical characteristics, pathologic features, treatment and prognosis of 34 BL patients diagnosed by histopathologic method or/and PET-CT and treated in first hospital of peking university from January 2004 to April 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The median age of 34 BL patients was 56 years old, the male and female ratio was 1.43∶1 (24 /10). Among 34 patients, the patients with primary bone lymphoma(PBL) were 8 cases, the patients with secondary bone lymphoma(SBL) was 26 cases, the PBL and SBL ratio was 0.31∶1. Bone lymphoma lacks typical systemic symptoms, and its onset began mostly from bone pain and pathologic bone fracture. The most frequent pathological type of bone lymphoma in our study was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), accounting for 55.88%. At present, the conventional treatment for bone lymphoma includes chemotherapy, or chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy and surgery, as well as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The average and median OS time of BL patients were 349 years and 3 years respectively, meanwhile the OS rate for three years and two years were 56.25% and 78.16%, respectively. Factors that affect survival of BL patients were PBL and SBL classification, pathological type, blood LDH level, and treatment methods. CONCLUSION Bone lymphoma is usually concealed onset，an adequate and adequate combination therapy can improve the survival rate and transplantation therapy plays an important role. Primary bone lymphoma is rare, the prognosis of patients with primary bone lymphoma is good, whereas the prognosis of patients with secondary bone lymphoma is poor.
Bone Neoplasms ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo analyze the incidence of bone marrow involvement in patients with different pathological types of lymphoma.

METHODSThe results of bone marrow tests including bone marrow aspiration(BMA), flow cytometry detection, bone marrow biopsy(BMB) and F-FDG PET/CT, were analyzed retrospectively in 702 cases of newly diagnosed lymphoma with bone marrow assessment in our hospital from October 2000 to September 2016. If one of the above-mentioned 4 tests showed positive, the lymphoma patient was judged as bone marrow involved.

RESULTSThe incidence of bone marrow involvement (BMI ) in the patients with NHL was much higher than that in patients with HL [32.6 %(201/616) vs 15%(13/86)](P<0.05). For patients with NHL, the incidence of bone marrow involvement in B-cell lymphoma was higher than that in T-cell lymphoma (37.0% vs 22.6%)(P<0.05). According to different pathological types, the incidences of BMI in the patient with mantle cell lymphoma, hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follical lymphoma (FL) were 88% (25/22), 100% (5/5), 21.8% (56/257), and 38.5% (15/39) , respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of bone marrow involvement varies in different pathological types of lymphoma.Bone marrow assessment has significant importance for stading of newly diagnosed lymphoma patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of CD160 on the surface of human natural killer (NK) cells and its possible relationship with hematological malignancies.

METHODSCD160 expression on human leukemia cell line NK92 cells was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. The proliferation characteristics and cell surface markers of this cell line were determined. Cytotoxicity of NK92 against 2 human myeloid leukemia cell lines, K562 and THP-1 was analyzed ex vivo. CD160 blocking antibody CL1-R2 was employed to clarify its role in NK cell mediated cytolysis. Then, the expression of CD160 on NK cells in peripheral blood from various patients with hematological malignancies were measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe mRNA and protein levels of CD160 expressions on NK92 cells were confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The flow cytometry results demonstrated that the strong positive expression of CD160 could be detected on the NK92 cell surface. NK92 could effectively kill K562 and THP-1 cells, while the cytolysis effect was abrogated in the presence of CD160 blocking antibody CL1-R2. The high levels of HVEM were expressed on both target cells, but the HLA class I molecules were absent on K562. The expression of CD160 on CD3CD56 NK cells in peripheral blood from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) recipients was significant lower than that in the normal controls (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe cytolysis function of human NK cells is mediated partially by CD160 molecule. The decrease of CD160 expression on NK cells from patients with various hematological malignancies implies that down-regulation of CD160 expression may be a novel mechanism of tumor immune escape.

OBJECTIVETo explore the prognostic value of interimF-FDG PET/CT (i-PET/CT) scan for the patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

METHODSA total of 70 cases of initially diagnosed of DLBCL by 158F-FDG PET/CT scans in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The 5-point scale, the Lugano classification and maximum standardized uptake value induction (ΔSUVmax) criteria were used respectively to assess i-PET/CT scans. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to determine an optimal cutoff for ΔSUVmax. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) times were estimated as prognostic indicators using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression.

RESULTSOptimal cutoff to predict progression or death was 62% for ΔSUVmax. The positive predictive value (PPV) for 2-year PFS and OS of i-PET/CT diagnosed by 5-point scale was low, and could be improved by using the Lugano classification with decreased sensitivity or ΔSUVmax criteria. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the Lugano classification and ΔSUVmax were good predictors for PFS and OS, respectively, while the 5-point scale could only predict OS. Cox regression univariate analysis showed that the International Prognostic Index (IPI) score was better to predict PFS than 5-point scale, but worse than the three assessments in predicting OS. COX regression multivariate analysis showed that ΔSUVmax<62% was an independent risk factor of prognosis, while the Lugano classification was only the OS independent prognostic predictor.

CONCLUSIONAssessing i-PET/CT by 5-point scale is a limited value for predicting PFS and OS in DLBCL patients. The Lugano classification is recommended to discriminate the patients with poorer outcomes. The ΔSUVmax criteria for i-PET/CT of DLBCL patients is an independent prognostic predictor for PFS and OS, better than the IPI score.

OBJECTIVETo assess the safety and efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in treating patients with relapsed and refractory lymphoma.

METHODSThirty-one consecutive patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma received allo-HSCT. Used conditioning regimens included conditioning based on BEAM regimen(12 cases), conditioning based on modified Bu/Cy regimen(11 cases), conditioning based on Cy/TBI regemen(6 cases) and conditioning of Bu/Cy regimen(1 case). For provention of GVHD, the MMF was used on the basis of classcal protocol consisting of CsA combined with MTX. The infused HSC included the HLA-matched related HSC(11 cases), HLA nonidentical related HSC(13 cases) and HLA-matched unrelated HSC(6 cases). The bone marrow plus peripheral blood HSC were infused in 21 cases, while only peripheral blood HSC were infused in 9 cases. Among the 31 cases of relapse/refractory lymphoma, 18 patients were male and 13 were female, 4 cases were Hodgkin's lymphoma and 27 cases were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. ALL of the 31 patients were qualified, as they were not in complete remission (CR) or in advanced stage at the time of transplantation.

RESULTSTwenty-seven evaluable patients showed the engraftment of both neutrophil and platelet at a median of 12 days(range 10-20) and 13 days(range 9-34) respectively, 9 cases developed II-IV aGVHD, and cGVHD was observed in 3 patients, 5 patients can not achieve CR at 3 months after transplantation, and 6 patients relapsed after CR, the median follow-up of all the 31 patients after transplantation was 11.5 months (ranged, 0-141 months), and the 2-year OS was 46.1%±9.5% with median survival of 40 (9-141) months in the 15 survivors. The age (P<0.05), disease status before transplantation (P=0.020) and remission after transplantation(P=0.000) were significantly related with survival. Cox's proportional hazards regression model analysis showed that the age (P=0.041) and disease statue (P=0.020) before allo-HSCT were independent predictive factors for survival.

CONCLUSIONAllo-HSCT is an optimal treatment strategy for the patients with relapsed and refractory lymphoma who failed to most, if not all, available options.

Histologic transformation (HT) is a frequent event in the clinical course of patients with indolent lymphoma with dismal outcome. The diagnosis of HT is based on clinical manifestation, PET-CT and pathologic biopsy, and the latter is a golden standard for HT. There are contradictory data about the impact of initial management on the risk of transformation. Patients who present with HT did not receive R-CHOP or chemotherapy-naive, should receive this regimen. For the subset of patients received R-CHOP prior to HT, the second line chemotherapy for DLBCL should be adopted. Consolidation with HDT-ASCT should be considered for the suitable young patients. The radio-immunotherapy and novel drugs showed a bright perspective for the patients with HT.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between surface markers of CD56 and CD19 and karyotypes and prognosis in multiple myeloma.

METHODSA total of 126 cases of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in the first hospital of Peking university from 2011 to 2015 were enrolled in this study. Cytogenetic abnormalities and immunophenotypes were detected by using fluorescence in situ hybridization and flow cytometry respectively before chemotherapy. Bone marrow smear was used for detection of abnormal plasma cell infiltration. By combining with their basic data, the relationship between immunophenotypes, cytogenetics and prognosis of MM was analyzed.

RESULTS(1) The median of myeloma cells in the 126 patients was 0.24（0.01-0.97）; the median of myeloma cells in 116 patients who have immunophenotype datas was 0.25（0.01-0.97）； the median of myeloma cells in CD19 positive patients was 0.11（0.01-0.53）; the median of myeloma cells in CD19 negative patients was 0.26（0.01-0.97）. The median of myeloma cells in CD19 positive patients was much lower than that in CD19 negative patients（P=0.036）. (2)In 116 patients detected by the immunophenotype, the myeloma cells expressed CD19,CD20,CD56 and CD117. Compared with CD56 negative patients(45/116,38.79%),CD56 positive patients(71/116,61.21%) had a clearly favorable disease outcome（OS was 53.0 month vs 31.0 month,P=0.016; PFS was 37.5 months vs 18.4 months, P=0.036）. (3)CD19 positive patients was 16.38%（19/116）,CD19 negative patients was 83.62%（97/116）； CD19 positive MM and CD19 negative MM had no difference in OS and PFS. (4)CD117 positive rate in CD19 positive patients was 42.11%(8/19), the CD117 positive rate in CD19 negative patients was 18.57%(18/97), the CD19 expression positively correlated with CD117 expression. (5)FISH detection was done for 67 newly diagnosed MM patients, 8 patients showed normal karyotypes(11.94%), 59 patients had abnormal karyotypes(88.06%). The most common abnormal karyotypes were IgH rearragement which occurred in 47 patients(70.15%). Other abnormal karyotypes included 1q21+, del(13q14),del(13q14.3),del(17p13) . These abnormal karyotypes occurred in 37 patients（55.22%）,31 patients（46.27%）,33 patients（49.25%） and 13 patients（19.40%） respectively. In comparison with CD19 negative MM patients, the incidence rate of 1q21+ and del(13q14.3) was significantly lower in CD19 positive patients(1q21+:33.33% vs 61.54%,P=0.016; del(13q14.3): 33.33% vs 53.85%,P=0.043）.

CONCLUSIONThe prognosis of CD56 positive MM patients is better than that of CD56 negative MM patients, CD19 negative MM has more abnormal karyotypes and bone marrow infiltration,but they have no statistical prognostic differences.

OBJECTIVETo analyse the clinical features and prognostic significance of cross-lineage antigen expression in patients with acute myeloid leukemia(AML) in order to establish individualized treatment for a better outcome and prognosis.

METHODSA total of 227 cases (exduding M3) were detected by flow cytometry for immune phenotype. The CD7(-)CD56(-)CD19(-) AML served as control. The clinical features, treatment response and prognosis of CD7(+) group, CD56(+) group and CD19(+) group were compared.

RESULTSThe detection rate of CD56(+),CD7(+) and CD19(+) in AML was 15.9%, 25.1% and 11.0%, respectively. There were no differences between CD56(+) AML, CD7(+) AML, CD19(+) AML, and CD56(-)CD7(-)CD19(-) AML in the proportion of blast cells, white blood cell count, hemoglobin level, platelet count and MDS transformed AML rate. The CR after the first course chemotherapy and cumulative CR in CD56(+) AML patients were lower than those in the control group (20.0% vs 58.1%, P=0.0099; 73.3% vs 87.5%, P=0.04). The median time of CR in CD56(+) AML was longer than that in the control group (118 days vs 46 days, P=0.04). The PFS time and OS time of CD56(+) AML were shorter than those in the control group (245 days vs 580 days, P=0.037; 494 days vs 809 days, P=0.04). The CR after the first course chemotherapy and cumulative CR in CD19(+) AML patients were higher than those in the control group(75.0% vs 58.1%, P=0.46; 100% vs 87.5%, P=0.02). The median time of CR in CD19(+) AML was shorter than that in the control group (28 days vs 46 days, P=0.02). The PFS time and OS time of CD19(+) AML tended to be longer than those in the control group (P=0.13, P=0.07, respectively). The median PFS and OS were not reached at the time of last follow-up. The CR after the first course chemotherapy, cumulative CR and median time to CR in CD7(+) AML patients were not different from those in the control group (53.1% vs 58.1%, P=0.67; 87.1% vs 87.5%, P=0.44; 50 days vs 46 days, P=0.44). No differences of PFS and OS were observed between CD7(+) AML and the control.

CONCLUSIONCD56(+) AML patients respond poorly to treatment, frequently relapse after complete remission and have a low survival rate. These patients need more intensive chemotherapy or in combination with other treatments. The interval of MRD detection should be shortened to find out relapse earlier. CD19(+) AML patients have a good treatment outcome and often accompanies with AML1/ETO fusion gene, which is known to be a good prognostic marker. Aberrant expression of CD7 on AML cells is not a poor prognostic factor in this study.