Co-circulation of diverse paramyxoviruses in an urban African fruit bat population

Bats constitute a reservoir of zoonotic infections and some bat paramyxoviruses are capable of cross-species transmission, often with fatal consequences. Determining the level of viral diversity in reservoir populations is fundamental to understanding and predicting viral emergence. This is particularly relevant for RNA viruses where the adaptive mutations required for cross-species transmission can be present in the reservoir host. We report the use of non-invasively collected, pooled, neat urine samples as a robust sample type for investigating paramyxoviruses in bat populations. Using consensus PCR assays we have detected a high incidence and genetic diversity of novel paramyxoviruses in an urban fruit bat population over a short period of time. This may suggest a similarly unique relationship between bats and the members of the family Paramyxoviridae as proposed for some other viral families. Additionally, the high rate of bat–human contact at the study site calls for the zoonotic potential of the detected viruses to be investigated further.

Health behaviors and cancer screening practices in long-term survivors of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT): a report from the BMT Survivor Study

Patients undergoing HCT are at increased risk of chronic health conditions, including second malignant neoplasms and cardiovascular disease. Little is known about health behaviors and cancer screening practices among HCT survivors that could moderate the risk of these conditions. The BMTSS examined health behaviors and cancer screening practices in individuals who underwent HCT between 1976 and 1998, and survived 2+ years. Health behavior was deemed high-risk if an individual was a current smoker and if they reported risky alcohol intake (≥4 drinks/day [males], ≥ 3 drinks/day [females]) on days of alcohol consumption. Cancer screening assessment was per American Cancer Society recommendations. There were 1040 survivors: 42.7% underwent allogeneic HCT; 43.8% were female; median time from HCT: 7.4 years (range 2.0–27.7 years). Median age at study participation: 43.8 years (range 18.3–73.0 years). Multivariate regression analysis revealed younger age (<35 years) at study participation (Odds Ratio [OR]=4.7; p<0.01) and lower education (<college: OR=2.1; p<0.01) to be significantly associated with high-risk behavior. Survivors were significantly less likely to report high-risk behavior (OR=0.5; p<0.01), and more likely to have had a screening mammogram (OR=2.8; p=0.05) when compared to gender-matched sibling controls (N=309).

Comparative analysis of BU and CY versus CY and TBI in full intensity unrelated marrow donor transplantation for AML, CML and myelodysplasia

We retrospectively compared clinical outcomes in 1593 T-replete unrelated donor (URD) marrow transplant recipients with AML, MDS and CML who received myeloablative conditioning regimens of either BU and CY (BuCy), standard-dose Cy/TBI (1000-1260 cGy) or high-dose Cy/TBI (1320-1500 cGy). Subjects were drawn from patients transplanted between 1991 and 1999 facilitated by the National Marrow Donor Program. Patients who received high-dose Cy/TBI regimens were slightly younger, more likely to receive a mismatched transplant and to have intermediate or advanced disease compared with patients in the BuCy or standard-dose TBI group. Neutrophil recovery was significantly higher in the standard-dose CY/TBI group compared with the high-dose Cy/TBI or BuCy group. Patients who received the high-dose Cy/TBI regimen had an increased risk of developing grades III-IV aGVHD when compared with the control group who received BuCy (P = 0.011). OS, disease-free survival (DFS), TRM and relapse were not significantly different between any of the regimens. We conclude that BuCy, standard-dose and high-dose Cy/TBI regimens have equivalent efficacy profiles for OS, DFS, TRM and relapse risk in patients undergoing T-replete URD marrow transplantation for AML, CML and MDS.

Disease-specific hematopoietic cell transplantation: nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen for dyskeratosis congenita

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is characterized by reticular skin pigmentation, oral leukoplakia and abnormal nails. Patients with DC have very short telomeres and approximately one-half have mutations in telomere biology genes. A majority of patients with DC develop BM failure (BMF). Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) represents the only known cure for BMF in DC, but poses significant toxicities. We report six patients who underwent allogeneic HCT with a novel nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen specifically designed for DC patients. Graft sources included related PBSCs (1), unrelated BM (2) and unrelated double umbilical cord blood (3). Complete donor engraftment was achieved in five of six patients. One patient had initial autologous hematopoietic recovery, which was followed by a second transplant that resulted in 88% donor chimerism. With a median follow-up of 26.5 months, four patients are alive, three of whom were recipients of unrelated grafts. We conclude with this small study that encouraging short-term survival can be achieved with HCT in patients with DC using a preparative regimen designed to promote donor engraftment and minimize life-threatening disease-specific complications such as pulmonary fibrosis. Long-term follow-up will be crucial with respect to individualized patient care with each of the transplanted individuals.

Allo-hematopoietic cell transplantation for Ph chromosome-positive ALL: impact of imatinib on relapse and survival

The utility of imatinib in either the pre- or post-transplant period for Ph chromosome-positive (Ph+) ALL is uncertain. In addition, there have been recent concerns regarding imatinib and cardiac toxicity. We investigated the outcome of 32 patients with Ph+ ALL who received an allo-hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) at the University of Minnesota between 1999 and 2006. The median age at HCT was 21.9 years (range: 2.8-55.2). All patients were conditioned with CY and TBI. GVHD prophylaxis was CsA based. Of the 32 patients, 15 received imatinib therapy pre- or post-HCT (imatinib group) and 17 patients received either no imatinib (n=11) or only after relapse (n=6) (non-imatinib group). Overall survival, relapse-free survival and relapse at 2 years was 61, 67 and 13% for the imatinib group as compared with 41, 35 and 35% for the non-imatinib group (P=0.19, 0.12 and 0.20, respectively). Cardiac toxicity and TRM at 2 years were similar between groups. Thus, patients treated with imatinib in either the pre- or post-transplant setting had trends toward improved outcomes and no increase in cardiac toxicity. We suggest that imatinib be included in the peri-transplant management of all patients with Ph+ ALL.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation for Chediak-Higashi syndrome

We reviewed outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in 35 children with Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS). Twenty-two patients had a history of the life-threatening accelerated phase of CHS before HCT and 11 were in accelerated phase at transplantation. Thirteen patients received their allograft from an human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling, 10 from an alternative related donor and 12 from an unrelated donor. Eleven recipients of HLA-matched sibling donor, three recipients of alternative related donor and eight recipients of unrelated donor HCT are alive. With a median follow-up of 6.5 years, the 5-year probability of overall survival is 62%. Mortality was highest in those with accelerated phase disease at transplantation and after alternative related donor HCT. Only four of 11 patients with active disease at transplantation are alive. Seven recipients of alternative related donor HCT had active disease at transplantation and this may have influenced the poor outcome in this group. Although numbers are limited, HCT appears to be effective therapy for correcting and preventing hematologic and immunologic complications of CHS, and an unrelated donor may be a suitable alternative for patients without an HLA-matched sibling. Early referral and transplantation in remission after accelerated phase disease may improve disease-free survival.

Prevalence of conception and pregnancy outcomes after hematopoietic cell transplantation: report from the Bone Marrow Transplant Survivor Study

We conducted a retrospective study to describe the magnitude of compromise in reproductive function and investigate pregnancy outcomes in 619 women and partners of men treated with autologous (n=241) or allogeneic (n=378) hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) between 21 and 45 years of age, and surviving 2 or more years. Median age at HCT was 33.3 years and median time since HCT 7.7 years. Mailed questionnaires captured pregnancies and their outcomes (live birth, stillbirth, miscarriage). Thirty-four patients reported 54 pregnancies after HCT (26 males, 40 pregnancies; eight females, 14 pregnancies), of which 46 resulted in live births. Factors associated with reporting no conception included older age at HCT (> or =30 years: odds ratio (OR)=4.8), female sex (OR=3.0), and total body irradiation (OR=3.3). Prevalence of conception and pregnancy outcomes in HCT survivors were compared to those of 301 nearest-age siblings. Although the risk for not reporting a conception was significantly increased among HCT survivors (OR=36), survivors were not significantly more likely than siblings to report miscarriage or stillbirth (OR=0.7). Although prevalence of conception is diminished after HCT, if pregnancy does occur, outcome is likely to be favorable. Patients should be counseled prior to transplant regarding strategies to preserve fertility.

Autologous stem cell transplantation for high-risk Ewing's sarcoma and other pediatric solid tumors

The prognosis for many pediatric and young adult patients with solid tumors that have metastasized at the time of diagnosis or have relapsed after therapy remains very poor. The steep dose-response curve of many of these tumors to alkylating agents makes myeloablative chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) an attractive potential therapy. The role of ASCT for these high-risk patients is yet to be conclusively determined. We have transplanted 36 patients on two consecutive protocols with a variety of histological diagnoses. Overall survival (OS) was 63% (95% CI: 47-79%) at 1 year and 33% (95% CI: 16-50%) at 3 years. Patients with a diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma (ES) or desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) had significantly better survival than those with other diagnoses with estimated 3-year OS of 54% (95% CI: 29-79%) for this group of patients (P = 0.03). There were two transplant-related deaths both attributable to hepatic veno-occlusive disease. Median follow-up among survivors is 3.5 years (range: 0.6-7.9 years). These data justify continued investigation of ASCT as a consolidation therapy in patients with metastatic or relapsed ES and DSRCT.

The changing window of conditions that promotes germination of two fire ephemerals, Actinotus leucocephalus (Apiaceae) and Tersonia cyathiflora (Gyrostemonaceae)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Following a period of burial, more Actinotus leucocephalus (Apiaceae) and Tersonia cyathiflora (Gyrostemonaceae) seeds germinate in smoke water. The main aim of this study was to determine whether these fire-ephemeral seeds exhibit annual dormancy cycling during burial. This study also aimed to determine the effect of dormancy alleviation on the range of light and temperature conditions at which seeds germinate, and the possible factors driving changes in seed dormancy during burial.

METHODS

Seeds were collected in summer, buried in soil in mesh bags in autumn and exhumed every 6 months for 24 months. Germination of exhumed and laboratory-stored (15 degrees C) seeds was assessed at 20 degrees C in water or smoke water. Germination response to light or dark conditions, incubation temperature (10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 degrees C), nitrate and gibberellic acid were also examined following burial or laboratory storage for 24 months. In the laboratory seeds were also stored at various temperatures (5, 15, 37 and 20/50 degrees C) for 1, 2 and 3 months followed by germination testing in water or smoke water.

KEY RESULTS

The two species exhibited dormancy cycling during soil burial, producing low levels of germination in response to smoke water when exhumed in spring and high levels of germination in autumn. In autumn, seeds germinated in both light and dark and at a broader range of temperatures than did laboratory-stored seeds, and some Actinotus leucocephalus seeds also germinated in water alone. Dormancy release of Actinotus leucocephalus was slow during dry storage at 15 degrees C and more rapid at higher temperatures (37 and 20/50 degrees C); weekly wet/dry cycles further accelerated the rate of dormancy release. Cold stratification (5 degrees C) induced secondary dormancy. By contrast, no Tersonia cyathiflora seeds germinated following any of the laboratory storage treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Temperature and moisture influence dormancy cycling in Actinotus leucocephalus seeds. These factors alone did not simulate dormancy cycling of Tersonia cyathiflora seeds under the conditions tested.

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the parotid region occurring in childhood and adolescence. A report from the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group

BACKGROUND

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the parotid region is rare and to the authors' knowledge little information is available regarding the site of tumor origin, clinical presentation, and outcome in these patients. Therefore, the authors reviewed the files of all patients with RMS of the parotid region who were registered on the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Studies (IRS) I-IV.

METHODS

Patient charts and the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group (IRSG) database were reviewed.

RESULTS

Sixty-two patients presenting with a mass in the parotid region were identified. None of the tumors was localized exclusively to the parotid gland, so the primary site was referred to as the "parotid region." The tumor invaded a parameningeal site in 30 patients. These cases have been designated as parameningeal-parotid tumors to distinguish them from 32 cases that did not invade a parameningeal site and were designated as nonparameningeal-parotid tumors. The majority of patients had Group III tumors in both the nonparameningeal-parotid and parameningeal-parotid subgroups. However, although there were 16 patients with Group I or II tumors in the nonparameningeal-parotid subgroup, no patients with Group I or II tumors were found in the parameningeal-parotid subgroup (P = 0.001). Fifty-six of 62 patients (90%) received radiotherapy. The parameningeal primary site designation resulted in intensification of both chemotherapy and radiotherapy for patients with parameningeal-parotid RMS. The 5-year failure-free survival rate was 81% and the 5-year survival rate was 84%. There were no deaths reported among patients with Group I or II tumors. The 5-year failure-free survival did not appear to differ when comparing patients with parameningeal-parotid tumors with patients with nonparameningeal-parotid tumors (P = 0.21).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment as defined by the IRS protocols has been reported to be highly effective for patients with RMS of the parotid region. Outcome for the more aggressively treated patients with parameningeal-parotid RMS appears similar to that for patients with nonparameningeal-parotid RMS.

Successful treatment of refractory Langerhans cell histiocytosis with unrelated cord blood transplantation

A 2-month-old girl presented for treatment with a diffuse rash, interstitial pneumonia, otorrhea, and lymphadenopathy. Skin biopsy confirmed Langerhans cell histocytosis by electron microscopy. After receiving multiple courses of chemotherapy, only marginal improvement was achieved, with progressive marrow and liver involvement. The decision was made to pursue a human leukocyte antigen-identical unrelated cord blood transplantation. Two years after transplant, the bone marrow was clear of Langerhans cell histocytosis and 100% donor engraftment. The poor prognosis of patients with an inadequate response to therapy and the presence of organ dysfunction (marrow and liver) substantiated the decision to pursue an unrelated cord blood transplantation.

Role of high-dose chemotherapy with hematopoietic stem cell rescue in the treatment of metastatic or recurrent rhabdomyosarcoma

PURPOSE

This review summarizes the published data on the use of high-dose chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell rescue (HSCR) in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Three hundred eighty-nine patients were identified from 22 articles selected by computer generated searching of MEDLINE (1979-present). One hundred seventy-seven patients had stage 4 disease and were treated during first complete remission (CRI). The remaining patients were treated during CR1/first partial remission (PR1) (110 patients), CR2/PR2 (53 patients), CR2 (12 patients), CR3 (1 patient), or treated with disease (36 patients).

RESULTS

Patients treated during CR1 or CR1/PR1 had event-free survival (EFS) rates ranging from 24% to 29% at 3 to 6 years from diagnosis and overall survival (OS) rates ranging from 20% to 40% at 2 to 6 years after diagnosis according to data provided as Kaplan-Meier estimates. Studies without Kaplan-Meier estimates (n = 32) indicate that 12 patients (38%) with stage IV RMS treated during CR1 or CR1/PR1 were surviving 7 to 60 months from diagnosis, similar to patients with stage IV RMS treated on Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Studies II or III. Patients treated during CR2, CR3, or with evidence of disease had a worse outcome with an estimated 3 years OS of 12% (n = 51). Studies without Kaplan-Meier estimates (n = 27) indicate that four patients (15%) treated during CR2, CR3, or with disease were surviving 17 to 33 months after transplant.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on these data, there does not appear to be a significant advantage to undergoing high-dose chemotherapy with HSCR for patients with relapsed or refractory high-risk RMS. Clearly, there is a need for incorporating new treatment strategies for patients with high-risk RMS.

Busulfan pharmacokinetics do not predict relapse in acute myeloid leukemia

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of busulfan (BU) pharmacokinetics on survival, grades II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), non-relapse mortality (NRM) and relapse in a group composed of 45 children (<18 years) and seven adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission and undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Fifty-two patients underwent autologous (n = 25) or allogeneic (n = 27) SCT. The median age was 8.9 years (range 0.6-53 years). Conditioning therapy consisted of BU and cyclophosphamide. Improved disease-free survival was found in those patients with a steady-state concentration of BU (CssBU) below the median (<578 mg/ml, P = 0.05), and the same trend was noted for overall survival (P = 0.07). This was secondary to a higher incidence of NRM in the group of patients with CssBU above the median (P = 0.06). There was no significant correlation with CssBU and relapse (P = 0.31). No association between CssBU and GVHD was found in allogeneic patients (P = 0.30). Relapse was evaluated among the subgroups of age (< or >10 years) and transplant type (allogeneic or autologous) with no statistically significant association observed among these factors. Multiple regression analysis for relapse revealed no significant correlation with CssBU above or below the median, age, or transplant type. In this study, CssBU below the median did not correlate with an inferior outcome for patients with AML. Pharmacokinetic dosing of BU may be important for prevention of NRM but does not appear to influence the risk of relapse in this largely pediatric population with AML.

Benefit of intensified therapy for patients with local or regional embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma: results from the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study IV

PURPOSE

To compare failure-free survival (FFS) and survival for patients with local or regional embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma treated on the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS)-IV with that of comparable patients treated on IRS-III.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were retrospectively classified as low- or intermediate-risk. Low-risk patients were defined as those with primary tumors at favorable sites, completely resected or microscopic residual, or orbit/eyelid primaries with gross residual disease and tumors less than 5 cm at unfavorable sites but completely resected. Intermediate-risk patients were all other patients with local or regional tumors.

RESULTS

Three-year FFS improved from 72% on IRS-III to 78% on IRS-IV for patients with intermediate-risk embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (P =.02). Subset analysis revealed two groups that benefited most from IRS-IV therapy. FFS at 3 years for patients with resectable node-positive or unresectable (group III) embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma arising at certain favorable sites (head and neck [not orbit/eyelid or parameningeal] and genitourinary [not bladder or prostate]) improved from 72% on IRS-III to 92% on IRS-IV (P =.01). Similarly, 3-year FFS for patients with completely resected tumor or with only microscopic disease remaining (group I or II) at unfavorable sites improved from 71% on IRS-III to 86% on IRS-IV (P =.04). Only patients with unresectable embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (group III) at unfavorable sites had no improvement in outcome on IRS-IV (3-year FFS for IRS-III and IRS-IV, 72% and 75%, respectively; P =.31).

CONCLUSION

IRS-IV therapy benefited certain subgroups of patients with intermediate-risk embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. A doubling of the intensity of cyclophosphamide (or ifosfamide equivalent) dosing per cycle between IRS-III and IRS-IV is thought to be a key contributing factor for this improvement.

Novel genomic imbalances in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma revealed by comparative genomic hybridization and fluorescence in situ hybridization: an intergroup rhabdomyosarcoma study

A comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) approach provides identification of genomic gains and losses in a tumor specimen in a single experiment. Only 11 embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas (E-RMS) have previously been subjected to CGH. The underlying genetic events in this histologic subtype are not well defined. In this investigation, 12 E-RMS specimens from 10 patients entered into Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS) I-IV and two local patients were analyzed by CGH and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Gains of chromosomes or chromosomal regions 2 (50%), 7 (42%), 8 (67%), 11 (42%), 12 (58%), 13q21 (33%), and 20 (33%) and losses of 1p35-36.3 (42%), 6 (33%), 9q22 (33%), 14q21-32 (25%), and 17 (25%) were most prominent. Chromosomal regions 1p35-36.3 and 9q22 represent novel regions of loss. Importantly, loss of 9q22 corresponds to the locus of a putative tumor suppressor gene (PTCH), which has been shown to play a role in rhabdomyosarcoma in a mouse model of Gorlin syndrome. Loss of 1p36 corresponds to the locus for PAX7, a paired box containing gene characteristically altered in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Moreover, loss of 1p36 is prominent in another common pediatric soft tissue tumor, neuroblastoma. Gains of 2, 7, 8, 12, and 13 and loss of 14 were seen in the sole prior E-RMS CGH series; thus, these data provide important confirmatory results. In contrast to this previous study, however loss, not gain, of chromosome 17 was observed in the current study. Chromosome 17 loss correlates well with previous descriptions of frequent allelic loss of 17p (TP53) in E-RMS. In summary, CGH and FISH analyses of 12 E-RMS specimens revealed novel genomic imbalances that may be useful in directing further molecular studies for the determination of E-RMS critically involved genes.

Pulmonary cytolytic thrombi: a newly recognized complication of stem cell transplantation

Over the past 5 years we have recognized a new pulmonary complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) associated with fever and pulmonary nodules termed 'pulmonary cytolytic thrombi' (PCT). Retrospective analysis of medical and radiographic records and pathologic material from 13 HSCT recipients with PCT and a review of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Database for all patients with radiographic evidence of pulmonary nodules or who underwent open-lung biopsy from 1 January 1993 to 31 December 1998 (n = 1228) were performed. The median age of patients with PCT was 11.9 years (range, 1.3-29.7 years). All patients developed fever at a median of 72 days (range, 8-343 days) post transplant, followed by pulmonary nodules on chest CT. Eleven patients were receiving therapy for active GVHD (acute, grades I-IV (n = 10); extensive chronic (n = 1)). Biopsy of the pulmonary nodules revealed a unique pattern of necrotic, basophilic thromboemboli with amorphous material suggestive of cellular breakdown products. This was descriptively labeled 'pulmonary cytolytic thrombi'. Immunohistochemical staining revealed entrapped leukocytes and disrupted endothelium, but was negative for histiocytes. Cultures and immunohistochemical stains were negative for infectious agents. Empiric therapy included systemic corticosteroids (n = 9) and amphotericin (n = 7). Nine patients survive with resolution of PCT at a median follow-up of 1.5 years. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 293-300.

High spontaneous IL-10 production in unrelated bone marrow transplant recipients is associated with fewer transplant-related complications and early deaths

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is a potent inhibitor of proliferative T cell responses toward alloantigens, and suppresses the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines which are important in cellular activation and recruitment to sites of inflammation. Because of these properties, we hypothesized that high IL-10 production in patients prior to BMT may predict a better outcome. To investigate this, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were obtained from 58 recipients (11 autologous, 25 related donor (RD), and 22 unrelated donor (URD)), prior to conditioning therapy. PBMNC were cultured for 24 h in the presence and absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and culture supernatants were assayed for IL-10 using an ELISA method. Spontaneously produced and LPS-stimulated IL-10 levels were correlated with the development of transplant-related complications (TRC) including grade II-IV acute GVHD, veno-occlusive disease, idiopathic pneumonia syndrome and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome, and with death before day 100. For the autologous group, there were no TRC and only one death prior to day 100; therefore, no statistical comparisons to IL-10 levels could be made. In the RD group, 36% developed one or more TRC and 24% died before day 100; however, there were no statistically significant associations between spontaneous or LPS-induced IL-10 levels. In URD patients 41% developed TRC and 55% died prior to day 100. In this group, higher levels of spontaneous IL-10 production were associated with a lower overall occurrence of TRC (P = 0.03) and early death (P = 0.04). Our data would indicate that higher levels of IL-10 production prior to URD BMT may predict fewer TRC, as well as early deaths. The hypothesis that high IL-10 production prior to BMT may decrease complications following URD BMT warrants further testing.

Autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's disease in children and adolescents

PURPOSE

To determine the treatment outcome and clinical factors that are of prognostic significance for children and adolescents with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's disease (HD) who received treatment with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifty-three consecutive children and adolescents 21 years of age or younger with relapsed or refractory HD underwent HSCT.

RESULTS

At day 100 after transplantation, 29 patients (55%) were in a complete remission or maintained a continuous complete response, six (11%) had a partial response, and 11 (21%) failed to respond or had progressive disease. The failure-free survival (FFS) at 5 years was 31%, and overall survival was 43%. Twenty-one patients died of progressive HD, and nine died secondary to transplantation-related complications, including two secondary leukemias. Prognostic factors important for FFS were normal pretransplantation lactate dehydrogenase levels (5-year FFS = 42%), compared with patients with elevated LDH levels (5-year FFS = 0%) (P < .001), and disease sensitivity at the time of HSCT with FFS in untreated relapse, sensitive disease, and resistant disease 44%, 35%, and 9%, respectively (P = .06). There was no statistically significant difference in FFS or overall survival between age subgroups that were analyzed (< 13, 13 to 18, 19 to 21) or in comparison with an adult cohort.

CONCLUSION

HSCT is an effective treatment modality that can result in long-term cures and should be considered for children and adolescents with relapsed HD.

Diet and immunological memory of lines of White Leghorn chickens divergently selected for antibody response to sheep red blood cells

Antibody responses to a first, second, and third injection with SRBC, and growth were studied in lines of White Leghorn chickens selected for high (HA) or low (LA) 5-d antibody titers to an i.v. inoculation with 0.1 mL of a 0.25% suspension of SRBC. The experiment involved parallel studies on two groups of chicks hatched from the same matings of parental lines HA and LA at a 14-d interval. Chicks of each age-line subclass were fed either a high or low nutrient density diet from hatch onwards. When chicks of Hatches 1 and 2 were 28 and 14 d of age (doa) respectively, they were injected with 0.1 mL of 0.25% suspension of SRBC, and antibody titers measured 3 and 6 d later. A second and a third injection of the same concentration of SRBC was given to chicks of each age-line-diet subclass at 10-d intervals and antibody titers measured 3 and 6 d after each injection in different chicks randomly sampled from each age-line-diet subclass. After the first injection, antibody (primary) responses of HA chicks were higher than those of LA chicks regardless of age and diet. This difference (HA > LA) observed for the primary response was seldom evident in the responses to the second (secondary) and third (tertiary) injections. Antibody responses of LA chicks after the second and third injections were anamnestic. For HA chicks given the first injection at 28 doa, neither the secondary nor tertiary responses suggested anamnestic capacities, whereas there was apparent memory exhibited by the secondary and tertiary responses of HA chicks initially injected at 14 doa. The LA chicks were significantly heavier than HA chicks at all ages. Even though the higher nutrient density diet increased BW of chicks of both lines, its effect on memory responses was sporadic. The results of this experiment show that, even though divergent selection has been successful in the primary responses, correlated responses in immunological memory were not always observed, suggesting that the two types of responses might be under different genetic control.

Adamantinoma-like Ewing's sarcoma: genomic confirmation, phenotypic drift

Ewing's sarcoma, a highly malignant neoplasm, is characterized by an 11;22 translocation [t(11;22) (q24;q12)], resulting in the fusion of genes FLII and EWS. Adamantinoma of extragnathic bones, a low-grade malignant neoplasm with epithelial features, is not typically considered in the differential diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma. In this study, three osseous Ewing's sarcomas with histological, immunohistochemical, or ultrastructural epithelial features were subjected to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and sequencing studies for the Ewing's sarcoma molecular rearrangement. (Two of the three cases were originally described as adamantinomas or nontypical Ewing's sarcoma before the availability of genetic characterization.) In addition, traditional cytogenetic analysis and a unique combined interphase molecular cytogenetic/ immunocytochemical approach with bicolor 11;22 translocation breakpoint flanking probes (cosmids) and pancytokeratin antibodies were performed on one neoplasm. At(11;22) (q24;q12) was found in one neoplasm and a type II EWS/FLI-1 fusion transcript was detected in all three neoplasms. The combined genetic/immunocytochemical approach revealed the presence of the 11 ;22 translocation in the nuclei of cytokeratin immunoreactive cells. These genotypic and phenotypic findings delineate a novel Ewing's sarcoma histologic variant, "adamantinoma-like Ewing's sarcoma."

Successful correction of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis with related or unrelated bone marrow transplantation

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening disorder of immune regulation leading to widespread lymphocytic and hemophagocytic infiltration of vital organs. Apparent cure has only been achieved with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). This report describes 20 consecutive patients, who underwent either matched sibling donor (n = 4) or unrelated donor (URD; n = 16) BMT. Age at the time of BMT was 0.4 to 5.3 years (median, 0.8 years). Central nervous system disease was present at diagnosis in 13 patients. At BMT, 14 patients were in a clinical remission, whereas 6 patients had active HLH. All patients were engrafted after cytoreduction with busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide. The probability of grade II-III acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) for all patients was 57% (95% confidence limit [CL], 0.28, 0.86), and 73% (95% CL, 0.44, 1.0) in URD patients. The overall probability of survival at 3 years was 45% (95% CL, 0.23, 0.67) and 44% (95% CL, 0.19, 0.68) when URD BMT was evaluated separately. Favorable BMT outcome was associated with clinical remission status at the time of BMT. The preparative regimen was well tolerated, and in the 9 surviving patients it provided durable engraftment and was effective at eradicating the underlying disease.

Marshall-Stickler phenotype associated with von Willebrand disease

We report on 6 individuals from three different kindreds with Marshall-Stickler (MS) phenotype, with characteristic orofacial abnormalities, arthropathy, deafness, and eye findings, all of whom were discovered to have a mild bleeding diathesis and coagulation-study findings consistent with mild von Willebrand disease (vWD). MS syndrome has been linked in some cases to the type II procollagen gene (COL2A1) on chromosome 12q, and to the collagen XI gene (COL11A2) on chromosome 6. The von Willebrand factor (vWF) is encoded by a 180-Kb gene located on the short arm of chromosome 12. This is the first reported association of these two disorders.