Hb J-Cape Town [alpha92(FG4)Arg-->Gln (alpha1), CGG-->CAG] in Southern Italy found in a patient with erythrocytosis.

A high oxygen affinity hemoglobin (Hb) variant, Hb J-Cape Town [alpha92(FG4)Arg-->Gln (alpha1), CGG-->CAG] was identified in a 30-year-old woman patient from Cosenza (Southern Italy) who had previously been diagnosed with juvenile polycythemia in other hospitals. The occurrence of the variant Hb was assessed by both cation exchange chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses. A detailed structural and functional characterization of the variant was performed at both the protein and DNA level.

Myeloablative chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell infusion may overcome the adverse prognostic impact of FLT3 (foetal liver tyrosine kinase 3) mutations in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia and normal karyotype.

In this study, we analysed the prognostic relevance of foetal liver tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutations in 73 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with normal karyotype, who survived induction and consolidation and received autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after successful mobilization of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC). There were 44 males and 29 females with a median age of 54 years (range 20-77). Overall, 16 out of 73 autografted patients (22%) had FLT3 mutations.

Feasibility of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Most studies showing that autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is feasible in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) referred to highly selected patients considered as eligible after complete remission (CR) achievement and bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection. This study evaluated the feasibility of ASCT from 155 consecutive AML patients aged over 60 years (median age 72 years, range 61 - 94) programmed to receive ASCT by using PBSCs after CR achievement. Overall, 90 out of 155 patients (58%) were judged as eligible for aggressive chemotherapy and 45 (50%) achieved CR.

Presence of FLT3 mutations does not impair stem cell mobilization and feasibility of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia.

Fetal liver tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutations represent a powerful prognostic indicator in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Further, interaction between FLT3 and its ligand plays a role in normal hematopoiesis. Accordingly, FLT3 mutations may affect mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) and feasibility of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in AML.

Therapeutic results in patients with relapsed diffuse large B cell Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma achieving complete response only after autologous stem cell transplantation.

Forty patients with relapsed diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) autografted in partial response (PR) (n = 23) or in refractory relapse (RR) (n = 17) achieved complete remission (CR) after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Salvage treatment consisted of ifosphamide, epirubicin and etoposide (IEV) in 33 patients and Cisplatinum, ARA-C and dexamethasone (DHAP) in 7 patients. All PR and 8 RR patients were conditioned with BEAM, while 9 RR cases received the BCV regimen.

Hb Cardarelli [beta86(F2)Ala-->Pro]: a new unstable and hyperaffine variant in association with beta(+)-thalassemia.

Hb Cardarelli [beta86(F2)Ala-->Pro] is a new unstable and high oxygen affinity variant found in several members of a family from Naples, Southern Italy. A detailed structural and functional characterization of the variant was performed on two subjects, at both the protein and DNA level. The first patient exhibited 43% of the variant hemoglobin (Hb) without major hematological problems.

De novo acute myeloid leukemia with multilineage dysplasia: treatment results and prognostic evaluation from a series of 44 patients treated with fludarabine, cytarabine and G-CSF (FLAG).

Objectives: To evaluate therapeutic results and prognostic factors from a series of 44 patients affected by de novo acute myeloid leukemia with multilineage dysplasia (MD-AML), treated with the combination of fludarabine, cytarabine and G-CSF (FLAG).

Methods: Forty-four patients with de novo MD-AML were treated with the FLAG regimen. The median age was 61 yr (range 31-75 yr).