Publications by authors named "Berta Gonzalez Martinez"

Introduction: Total body irradiation (TBI) is part of the myeloablative conditioning for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in malignant hematologic disorders. This therapy has recently shown improved survival in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) compared to chemotherapy-based regimens. However, side effects are a significant limitation, especially in the pediatric population.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a breakthrough in hematologic malignancies, such as acute B lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Monitoring this treatment is recommended, although standardized protocols have not been developed yet. This work compares two flow cytometry monitoring strategies and correlates this technique with qPCR method.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Loss of B-cell aplasia (BCA) is linked to the effectiveness of CD19 CAR-T therapy for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, with most relapses occurring in the first months post-infusion, particularly in patients with high tumor burden (HTB).
  • A study of 73 patients showed that those with HTB had significantly lower event-free survival (EFS) rates (19.3%) compared to those with low tumor burden (LTB) (67.2%), and relapses were more likely to be CD19-negative in the HTB group.
  • The findings suggest that BCA loss is associated with a higher risk of CD19-positive relapses and that patients with HTB might benefit from additional
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Treatment targeting CD19 by a chimeric antigen receptor expressed on T cells (anti-CD19 CAR-T) has led to a breakthrough in the management and treatment of relapsed and refractory B- cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). After infusion, the efficacy of anti-CD19 CAR-T is monitored by bone marrow negative minimal residual disease and the absence of peripheral CD19 B lymphocytes (B-cell aplasia). In patients who have received an allogenic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) prior to treatment with anti-CD19 CAR-T, monitoring lineage-specific chimerism could be helpful.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

X-linked Agammaglobulinemia is a primary immunodeficiency caused by mutations in BTK, a tyrosine kinase essential for B lymphocytes differentiation. Patients usually have very low or absent B lymphocytes and are not able to develop humoral specific responses. Here we present a boy, diagnosed with XLA due to a mutation on the promoter region of the gene, whose phenotype is characterised by low percentage of B cells, hypogammaglobulinemia, oscillating neutropenia, antibodies responses to some antigens after vaccination and IgE-mediated allergy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) constitutes the second most common haematological malignancy in the paediatric population. Current treatment regimens are based on the administration of polychemotherapy, combining high doses of cytarabine with anthracyclines and topoisomerase inhibitors. Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an option for high-risk patients with AML (and for intermediate-risk patients if a sibling donor is available).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF