Down-regulation of CXCR4 and CD62L in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells is triggered by B-cell receptor ligation and associated with progressive disease.

Progressive cases of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are frequently associated with lymphadenopathy, highlighting a critical role for signals emanating from the tumor environment in the accumulation of malignant B cells. We investigated on CLL cells from 30 untreated patients the consequence of B-cell receptor (BCR) triggering on the membrane expression of CXCR4 and CD62L, two surface molecules involved in trafficking and exit of B-lymphocytes from lymph nodes. BCR stimulation promoted a strictly simultaneous down-regulation of CXCR4 and CD62L membrane expression to a variable extent.

Effective graft-versus-leukaemia effect after allogeneic stem cell transplantation using reduced-intensity preparative regimens in Fanconi anaemia patients with myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukaemia.

Allogeneic transplantation is the only curative treatment for Fanconi anaemia (FA) patients who develop myeloid malignancies. Dose-intensive preparative regimens, to decrease disease recurrence, lead to unacceptable transplant-related toxicity in FA. We report the outcome of three FA patients with such malignancies who underwent transplantation with reduced-intensity preparative regimens.