Tonsillar mapping of determinants found on normal lymphoreticular (T,B,K, immature and macrophage) and myeloblastic leukemia cells.

A monoclonal immunocytochemical method with 25 monoclonal antibodies was used to study the distribution in human tonsil of determinants expressed on T cells (mature and immature), Langerhans cells, B cells, killer/natural killer cells, macrophages, immature myeloid and lymphoblastic leukemia cells. Many of the respective determinants were found to have a discrete topographic distribution in normal reactive tonsil. The common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen and a determinant found on myeloblastic leukemia cells (My10) were not found in the specimens of the tonsil examined.

Experimental chemotherapy in children with cancer--a parent's view.

Parental attitude and the parents' perceptions of a child's responsibilities were measured by mailing a questionnaire to 156 parents of cured children of the Pediatric Oncology Center, University of Groningen. Simplistically, the questionnaire concerned parental judgment on (1) the role of the child in decisions about experimental therapy, (2) what information should be related to the child and by whom, (3) parental attitudes toward experimental therapy, and (4) the parents' opinions about ethical aspects of proposing experimental therapy. A high response rate (87.

Acid phosphatase positivity in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia.

The Pediatric Oncology Group analyzed 103 cases of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) with an acid phosphatase stain and with a series of immunologic markers. As reported by others, the authors demonstrated a high correlation of acid phosphatase (AP) positivity and T-ALL. However, a subset of T-ALL was acid phosphatase negative, and some non-T, non-B, non-pre-B-ALL cases were AP positive.

Analysis of histiocytosis X infiltrates with monoclonal antibodies directed against cells of histiocytic, lymphoid, and myeloid lineage.

Surface markers expressed on histiocytosis X (HX) cells were studied using 18 monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) and an in situ indirect immunoperoxidase technique. Specimens of skin (five biopsies from three cases) and lymph node (one case) were studied. Our study confirmed previous findings of an OKT6+ HLA DR+ Leu 3a+ phenotype of HX cells in skin and indicated that lymph node HX cells can also have this phenotype.

The French-American-British (FAB) classification of leukemia. The Pediatric Oncology Group experience with lymphocytic leukemia.

The Pediatric Oncology Group institutions initiated extensive subclassification of cases of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) at diagnosis into laboratory-designated categories. Included was a French-American-British (FAB) classification of all new patients, which was reviewed by a central six-member committee. In addition, on the basis of immunologic criteria, patients were defined as having T-, B-, pre-B-, or "null" cell leukemia.

Pattern perception in infants: effects of structure and transformation.

Four experiments on pattern perception in 4-month-old infants are reported. The first two experiments examined the perception of pattern structure as defined by Garner (1974). Although the infants did not show an immediate preference for well-structured patterns (Experiment 1), during habituation they showed a reliable decrement in looking only to well-structured patterns (Experiment 2).

Natural history of histiocytosis X: a Pediatric Oncology Group Study.

The best therapy for patients with histiocytosis X with disease involvement other than isolated bone lesions but without organ dysfunction is unclear. This retrospective study was undertaken to define the natural history of this group of patients. In 25 of the 92 studied patients, there was no progression of the disease after diagnosis.

An analysis of the presence of Fc receptors on bone marrow lymphoblasts in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A Pediatric Oncology Group study.

The presence or absence of the Fc receptor (FcR) on bone marrow lymphoblasts was evaluated in 279 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by member institutions of the Pediatric Oncology Group (POG). The case material was classified as follows: 19 cases of positive (greater than or equal to 20% +), 24 additional cases as intermediate (greater than or equal to 10% but less than 20%), and the remaining 236 cases as negative (less than 10%). Intermediate and positive cases were relatively equally distributed between null cell leukemia and pre-B-cell leukemia, and there were one intermediate and two positive T-cell cases.

Comparison of maintenance treatment regimens for first central nervous system relapse in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia. A Pediatric Oncology Group study.

Eighty-seven children with central nervous system (CNS) leukemia were randomized to receive either induction intrathecal chemotherapy (ITC) and cranial irradiation (CRT) plus maintenance ITC, or induction ITC and craniospinal irradiation (CSpRT) with no maintenance ITC. ITC consisted of six weekly injections of methotrexate, hydrocortisone, and arabinosylcytosine. Also, intensification of systemic induction and maintenance chemotherapy was given.

Monoclonal antibody definition of T cell acute leukemia: a Pediatric Oncology Group study.

Leukemic blasts from 774 children with newly diagnosed acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) have been phenotyped by microcytotoxicity testing with a panel of monoclonal antibodies and heteroantisera as part of a Pediatric Oncology Group classification study of acute leukemia. One hundred twenty-two cases, or 16% were designated as T cell leukemia based on the reactivity of blast cells with previously well-characterized antisera (PT) against a T lymphocyte-associated antigen. Using this antisera-based definition as a standard, we looked for a monoclonal antibody combination that would be a suitable substitute.

Lymphedema secondary to filariasis.

A 1-year-old immunodeficient boy developed brawny edema of the left foot. Lymphoscintigraphy revealed no evidence of left inguinal activity following pedal injection of Tc-99m-Sn phosphate. Over the next two months, the patient developed lymphedema on the right and repeat scintigraphy demonstrated no movement of isotope from the dorsum of either foot.

Peripheral neuroepithelioma in childhood.

Peripheral neuroepithelioma is a rare and controversial neoplasm that may occur at any age. Fifteen of the 38 previously reported cases have involved children from birth to 17 years of age. The authors observed the course of a 3-month-old girl who presented with an enlarging mass in the left arm and manifested hepatic metastases at the time of diagnosis.

Pediatric oncology group utilization of immunologic markers in the designation of acute lymphocytic leukemia subgroups: influence on treatment response.

The clinical application of blast cell immunophenotype testing is important in childhood ALL for the following reasons. (1) Knowledge of the immunologic group is important in predicting prognosis. Prognostic grouping may prove to be accomplished best by using a combination of traditional risk factors and immunologic phenotyping.

Leiomyoma presenting as prolonged fever, anemia, and thrombocytosis.

The manifestations of leiomyoma of the large bowel in a 2-year-old boy included prolonged fever, anemia, and thrombocytosis. This parallels the previously reported case in an adult. Awareness of these features may suggest the diagnosis in future patients, and thereby offer opportunities to study the pathogenesis of these abnormalities before surgery.

The flag sign of chemotherapy.

A case of horizontal pigmented bands developing within the hair of a patient on intermittent high-dose methotrexate chemotherapy is presented.

Neuroblastoma: therapy for infants with good prognosis.

Therapy was designed to achieve a high cure rate and to prevent serious therapeutic side effects for 11 infants younger than one year old with neuroblastoma who had a favorable prognosis (Evans Stages I, II, III, and IV-S). It consisted of surgery alone if the tumor was totally removed (one infant) and of surgery and low doses of cytoxan and vincristine for a period of 1 year if the tumor was incompletely removed (seven infants). In addition, radiation therapy was applied to unresected dumbbell tumors (three infants).

Properdin factor B and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).

One hundred-sixty-four ALL patients were compared to 545 controls for differences in phenotype and gene frequencies at the Properdin factor B locus. In addition, 90 of the ALL patients were immune phenotyped. A significant association with the Bf F allele and ALL was found, resulting in an estimated relative risk of 3.

Modified LSA2-L2 treatment in 53 children with E-rosette-positive T-cell leukemia: results and prognostic factors (a Pediatric Oncology Group Study).

In an attempt to improve the poor outlook for children with T-cell leukemia (T-ALL), the Southwest Oncology Group, Pediatric Division, used a modified LSA2-L2 multidrug regimen to treat 53 patients with E-rosette-positive T-ALL. This regimen was chosen because of its demonstrated efficacy in T-cell (mediastinal) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Complete remission (CR) rate was 88%.

CNS prophylaxis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: comparison of two methods a Southwest Oncology Group study.

Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were randomized to one of two treatment options for CNS prophylaxis. All patients received intrathecal therapy over a one-year period with methotrexate, hydrocortisone and cytosine arabinoside. One-half of the patients also received 2400 rad cranial radiation over 2 1/2 weeks.