Ofatumumab demonstrates activity against rituximab-sensitive and -resistant cell lines, lymphoma xenografts and primary tumour cells from patients with B-cell lymphoma.

Ofatumumab is a new monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting a novel membrane-proximal epitope on CD20. To better define ofatumumab's activity, we conducted pre-clinical studies in rituximab-sensitive cell lines (RSCL), rituximab-resistant cell lines (RRCL), ofatumumab-exposed cell lines (OECLs), primary lymphoma cells, and a lymphoma xenograft model. RRCL and OECL were generated by repeated exposure of sensitive cells to escalating doses of rituximab or ofatumumab ± human serum.

Postoperative fluid collection after hybrid debranching and endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objective: Hybrid thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (H-TEVAR) to include visceral and renal debranching has emerged as a potential therapeutic option for thoracoabdominal aneurysms (TAAA). This study was performed to characterize the frequently noted development of postoperative fluid collections surrounding the bypass grafts.

Methods: All patients undergoing H-TEVAR from 2000-2010 (n = 39, 43.

Higher response to lenalidomide in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in nongerminal center B-cell-like than in germinal center B-cell-like phenotype.

Background: There is a need to develop novel therapies for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and to identify biomarkers predictive for therapeutic response. Lenalidomide was previously shown to induce an overall response rate (ORR) of 28% in patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL. It is currently unknown if response rates differ between patients with different DLBCL subtypes.

Distinct cellular and therapeutic effects of obatoclax in rituximab-sensitive and -resistant lymphomas.

Bcl-2 proteins represent a rheostat that controls cellular viability. Obatoclax, a BH3-mimetic, has been designed to specifically target and counteract anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. We evaluated the biological effects of obatoclax on the anti-tumour activity of rituximab and chemotherapy agents.

Open arch reconstruction in the endovascular era: analysis of 721 patients over 17 years.

Objective: Recent advancements in thoracic endovascular aortic repair, such as branched endografts or hybrid debranching/thoracic endovascular aortic repair, have extended the option of endoluminal therapy into the realm of the aortic arch. A contemporary assessment of open arch repair to provide long-term data for comparative analysis for these newer therapies is timely, warranted, and presented in this article.

Methods: Since the inception of our thoracic endovascular aortic repair program in 1993, 721 patients (mean age of 59.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α protein expression is associated with poor survival in normal karyotype adult acute myeloid leukemia.

We examined the predictive impact of HIF-1α protein expression on clinical outcome of 84 normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia (NK-AML) patients (median age 66.5 years) at our institute. Thirty percent of NK-AML cells expressed cytoplasmic HIF-1α.

Late outcomes following open and endovascular repair of blunt thoracic aortic injury.

Background: Previous studies have focused on early outcomes of open (descending thoracic aortic repair [DTAR]) and endovascular (thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair [TEVAR]) repair of blunt aortic injury (blunt thoracic aortic injury [BTAI]). Late results remain ill-defined and are the focus of this study.

Methods: One hundred nine patients (1992-2010) underwent repair for BTAI.

Genomic, immunophenotypic, and NPM1/FLT3 mutational studies on 17 patients with normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia (AML) followed by aberrant karyotype AML at relapse.

Normal karyotype (NK) is the most common cytogenetic group in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) diagnosis; however, up to 50% of these patients at relapse will have aberrant karyotype (AK) AML. To determine the etiology of relapsed AK AML cells, we evaluated cytogenetic, immunophenotypic, and molecular results of 17 patients with diagnostic NK AML and relapsed AK AML at our institute. AK AML karyotype was diverse, involving no favorable and largely (8 of 17) complex cytogenetics.

Plasma cell leukaemia and other aggressive plasma cell malignancies.

Extramedullary plasma cell cancers, such as plasma cell leukaemia (PCL) and multiple extramedullary plasmacytomas (MEP) are very aggressive malignancies. These can be primary (de-novo) or secondary due to progressive prior multiple myeloma (MM). Recent reports suggest an increase in incidence of these disorders.

Recurrent deletion of 9q34 in adult normal karyotype precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The prognosis of adult normal karyotype (NK) precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) has not improved over the last decade, mainly because separation into distinct molecular subsets has been lacking and no targeted treatments are available. We screened the genome of blasts from 10 adult NK B-ALL patients for novel genomic alterations by array comparative genomic hybridization and verified our results with fluorescent in situ hybridization and gene expression profile with the same probes. The results demonstrate cryptic deletions of 9q34 involving SET, PKN3, NUP188, ABL1, and NUP214 in three of the samples.

Hybrid debranching with endovascular repair for thoracoabdominal aneurysms: a comparison with open repair.

Background: Hybrid visceral-renal debranching procedures with endovascular repair have recently been proposed as a less invasive alternative to conventional thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) surgery. This study provides a concurrent assessment of hybrid and open TAAA repair.

Methods: One hundred two consecutive patients (mean age, 63.

The challenge of associated intramural hematoma with endovascular repair for penetrating ulcers of the descending thoracic aorta.

Background: The presence of penetrating aortic ulcers (PAUs) of the descending thoracic aorta has been associated with a poor long-term prognosis. Although early results have suggested acceptable outcomes for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for PAU, few studies have described the late outcomes of this approach.

Methods: From 1993 to 2009, 37 patients (43.

A comparative analysis of open and endovascular repair for the ruptured descending thoracic aorta.

Background: Successful repair of the ruptured (non-traumatic) descending thoracic aorta (rTA) remains a formidable clinical challenge. Although effective for rTA, traditional open repair (DTAR) has significant associated morbidity. With expanding indications for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), we describe our experience with TEVAR and DTAR in this high-risk setting to elucidate their evolving roles.

Long-term results of percutaneous management of malperfusion in acute type B aortic dissection: implications for thoracic aortic endovascular repair.

Objective: Open repair for acute type B dissection with malperfusion is associated with significant morbidity. Thoracic aortic endovascular repair has been proposed as a less-invasive therapy for acute type B dissection with malperfusion. Benefits of thoracic aortic endovascular repair include the potential for false lumen thrombosis.

Late outcomes of endovascular aortic repair for the infected thoracic aorta.

Background: Untreated infectious thoracic aortic pathology (ITAP) has a dismal prognosis. Despite its high rates of morbidity in this setting, conventional open repair remains the gold standard therapy. Understanding the limitations of open repair, we describe outcomes for one of the largest series of ITAP treated with thoracic endovascular repair.

A population-based analysis of endovascular versus open thoracic aortic aneurysm repair.

Objective: The perioperative outcomes of open surgical and endovascular repair of intact thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) during the last 3 months of 2005 were compared using a national administrative database.

Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used to identify patients undergoing open aneurysm repair (OAR) or endovascular TAA repair (TEVAR) from October 1 to December 31, 2005. Patient demographic data, length of stay, hospital charges, patient disposition, and mortality were examined.

Rituximab-based therapy for gemcitabine-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome in a patient with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a case report.

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to describe the management and outcome of an unusual complication of a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent. Gemcitabine is a known risk factor for hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can often have a rapidly fatal clinical course despite intervention with steroids, plasmapheresis and hemodialysis.

Methods: A retrospective report of the first case of gemcitabine-related HUS, in a patient with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, treated with a variety of standard therapies in addition to rituximab is presented.

Operative delay for peripheral malperfusion syndrome in acute type A aortic dissection: a long-term analysis.

Background: We previously reported an improvement in early mortality for patients presenting with acute type A dissection with malperfusion using a strategy of initial percutaneous intervention to restore end-organ perfusion and delayed operative repair after resolution of the malperfusion syndrome. This study evaluates the late outcomes with this approach.

Methods: A total of 196 patients were admitted with acute type A dissection (1997-2007).

A single-center experience treating renal malperfusion after aortic dissection with central aortic fenestration and renal artery stenting.

Objective: Patients with aortic dissection were studied to define (1) anatomic and physiologic derangements in renal artery blood flow, (2) differences in clinically suspected renal malperfusion and true functional malperfusion, and (3) variations in endovascular interventions for the treatment of renal malperfusion.

Methods: The cohort comprised 165 patients (mean age, 58 years) with dissections who were thought to have malperfusion sufficient to require arteriography. They were treated from 1996 to 2004 for acute (n = 115) or chronic (n = 50) aortic dissections (75 had type A, 90 had type B lesions).

A comparison of open and endovascular descending thoracic aortic repair in patients older than 75 years of age.

Background: Thoracic aortic endovascular repair (TEVAR) holds great promise in the elderly population. We conducted a concurrent comparison of TEVAR with open descending thoracic aneurysm repair (DTAR) in elderly patients to determine the more appropriate therapeutic option.

Methods: Since 1993, 93 patients aged 75 years and older have undergone open (n = 41) or endovascular (n = 52) descending aortic repair.