Direct comparison of adenosine and adenosine 5'-triphosphate as pharmacologic stress agents in conjunction with Tl-201 SPECT: Hemodynamic response, myocardial tracer uptake, and size of perfusion defects in the same subjects.

Background: Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), a potent and inexpensive coronary vasodilator, was introduced as a pharmacologic stress agent for thallium 201 single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). However, there has been no direct comparison of ATP and adenosine as myocardial stressors in the same subjects.

Methods And Results: Thirty-six patients underwent consecutive Tl-201 SPECT imaging with adenosine and ATP in a randomly assigned order.

Non-CD34+ cells, especially CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and CD56+ natural killer cells, rather than CD34 cells, predict early engraftment and better transplantation outcomes in patients with hematologic malignancies after allogeneic peripheral stem cell transplantation.

The effect of the transplant dose of each cell subset on engraftment kinetics and transplantation outcomes was evaluated in HLA-identical allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Sixty-nine patients were included in this retrospective study. Engraftment kinetics, transplantation outcomes, and immune reconstitution up to 1 year after transplantation were analyzed according to the transplant dose of CD34+ and non-CD34+ cells, including natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T (Tc) cells.

The association between multidrug resistance-1 gene polymorphisms and outcomes of allogeneic HLA-identical stem cell transplantation.

The impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms of two loci (C3435T and G2677T/A) of the multidrug resistance-1 gene (MDR1) was investigated in 82 patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). The GG genotype on G2677T/A loci was associated with higher non-relapse mortality than was the non-GG genotype (67% vs. 32%, p=0.

Clinical role of Bcl-2, Bax, or p53 overexpression in peripheral T-cell lymphomas.

Apoptosis pathways are known to be involved in the pathogenesis of peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs). As such, the current study attempted to investigate the overexpression of Bcl-2, Bax, or p53 with respect to the progression of PTCL. Paraffin-embedded specimens from 74 patients were analyzed immunohistochemically for Bcl-2, Bax, or p53 overexpression including PTCL-unspecified (n=45), extranodal natural killer cell/T-cell lymphoma (n=10), angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (n=7), anaplastic large cell lymphoma (n=7), and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (n=5).

Unpredicted severe toxicity after 5-fluorouracil treatment due to dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency.

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the catabolism of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Thus, patients with a DPD deficiency are at risk of developing severe 5-FU-associated toxicity. A 37-year-old female with gastric cancer underwent a curative operation, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of 5-FU and epirubicin.

Clinical significance of platelet count at day +60 after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Thrombocytopenia (TP) is a frequent complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) and regarded as a poor prognostic factor, especially in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), although various factors were related to the development of TP after allogeneic SCT. Sixty-three patients receiving allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) were stratified according to platelet count (PC) at day +60 and analyzed in terms of overall survival (OS) and the incidence of non-relapse mortality (NRM). Ten patients (15.

Predicting outcomes of HLA-identical allogeneic stem cell transplants from variable number of tandem repeat disparity between donors and recipients.

Background And Objectives: Detecting differences in the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) between a recipient and a donor has already been used to monitor the degree of chimerism after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Alongside major histocompatibility complex disparity, the disparity of various polymorphous proteins encoded by several genes may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in allogenic SCT. However, the biological effect of VNTR disparity has scarcely been studied.

Survival benefit of asymptomatic cytomegalovirus reactivation after HLA-identical allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation (CMV-R) is associated with increased morbidity after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). However, after the introduction of ganciclovir preemptive therapy, CMV-R can be successfully controlled if the recipient's immunity recovers. Although many investigations have already focused on CMV-R as a risk factor, data related to the impact of asymptomatic CMV-R on transplant outcomes is scarce.

Prognostic scoring model based on multi-drug resistance status and cytogenetics in adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Clinical heterogenicity exists within an acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient group with the same cytogenetic risk. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) is also regarded as one of the potential prognostic factors for AML. Accordingly, the prognostic scoring model can be generated based on both consideration of cytogenetic risk and the MDR status for AML.

Biweekly irinotecan and cisplatin as second-line chemotherapy in pretreated patients with advanced gastric cancer: a multicenter phase II study.

The current phase II study was conducted to evaluate the response rate and safety of a combination regimen of biweekly irinotecan plus cisplatin in pretreated patients with advanced gastric cancer. Patients with previously treated metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer received intravenous irinotecan 70 mg/m2 and cisplatin 30 mg/m2 on day 1 and 15 every 4-week cycle. Thirty-two patients were enrolled in the current study.

Multidrug resistance-1 gene polymorphisms associated with treatment outcomes in de novo acute myeloid leukemia.

Multidrug resistance-1 (MDR-1) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified as associated with the treatment outcomes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in Caucasians; yet, similar evidence is lacking for Asian populations. A total of 101 AML patients were enrolled in the current study. Two MDR1 SNPs (C3435T and G2677T/A) were analyzed with PCR/RFLP assay.

c-kit Expression and mutations in peripheral T cell lymphomas, except for extra-nodal NK/T cell lymphomas.

The present study evaluated the expression and mutations of c-kit in peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs), except for extra-nodal NK/T cell lymphomas, as a potential target for treatment with imatinib mesylate. Fifty-two patients diagnosed with PTCLs (peripheral T-cell lymhoma, unspecified, 38 cases; angioimmunoblastic T-cell, 7 cases; anaplastic large cell, 7 cases) were enrolled. The immunohistochemistry was performed using standard procedures with anti-c-kit monoclonal IgG, while the c-kit mutations were analysed on paraffin-embedded specimens using PCR-single-stranded conformational polymorphism followed by direct DNA sequencing.

CHOP plus etoposide and gemcitabine (CHOP-EG) as front-line chemotherapy for patients with peripheral T cell lymphomas.

Objective: The present study evaluated the feasibility of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) plus etoposide and gemcitabine (CHOP-EG) as front-line chemotherapy in patients with peripheral T cell lymphomas (PTCLs).

Patients And Methods: Twenty-six patients with newly diagnosed PTCLs were enrolled into the pilot study. Treatment consisted of classical CHOP plus etoposide 100 mg/m(2) intravenously (i.

Phase II trial of amsacrine plus intermediate-dose Ara-C (IDAC) with or without etoposide as salvage therapy for refractory or relapsed acute leukemia.

Objective: The current trial attempted to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a salvage therapy consisting of amsacrine plus intermediate-dose Ara-C (IDAC) with or without etoposide for acute leukemia patients in refractory or relapsed states.

Methods: A total of 51 patients with refractory or relapsed acute leukemia were included in the current trial. Twenty-nine patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) received a salvage therapy of amsacrine plus IDAC and etoposide, while 22 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) received amsacrine plus IDAC.

Transplantation with higher dose of natural killer cells associated with better outcomes in terms of non-relapse mortality and infectious events after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation from HLA-matched sibling donors.

Background: Little is known about the role of the CD56+ natural killer (NK) cell dose on the outcome of allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Recently, higher dose of NK cells has been associated with a lower incidence of severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The current study attempted to evaluate the effect of the NK cell dose on transplant outcomes in allogeneic PBSCT setting.

Multidrug resistance as a potential prognostic indicator in acute myeloid leukemia with normal karyotypes.

Introduction: Approximately 45% of adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have normal karyotypes and therefore lack structural abnormalities that can assist in the localization and characterization of molecular defects. The current study attempted to evaluate the potential prognostic role of multidrug resistance (MDR), regarded as one of the potential prognostic factors for the outcome of overall AML, for AML with normal karyotypes.

Method And Materials: A functional MDR assay was performed in pretreatment samples from AML patients with normal karyotypes.

Clinical implications of angiogenic factors in patients with acute or chronic leukemia: hepatocyte growth factor levels have prognostic impact, especially in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

The present study evaluated the serum levels of known angiogenic factors and analysed their prognostic significance in patients with acute or chronic leukemia. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were performed to quantify the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), angiogenin, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in stored samples obtained before treatment from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML; 30 patients), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL; 10 patients), and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML; 14 patients). The levels of VEGF, HGF, angiogenin, and MMP-9 were all significantly higher in patients with CML than in healthy individuals.

Phase II study of docetaxel and capecitabine in patients with metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer.

Objectives: A phase II study was conducted to evaluate the response rate and safety of a combination regimen of docetaxel plus capecitabine in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Patients And Methods: Patients with previously untreated metastatic or recurrent measurable gastric cancer received i.v.

Prognostic factors identifiable at the time of onset of acute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Background And Objectives: Current grading systems of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) cannot effectively identify patients with poor prognosis at the onset of acute GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Design And Methods: In a retrospective analysis, we evaluated the prognostic value of various clinical parameters at the initiation of treatment in 83 patients who developed systemic treatment-requiring acute GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Results: Forty-three of 83 patients (52%) experienced initial treatment failure (40 required secondary treatment due to lack of response and 3 died) and 43 (52%) experienced treatment success, defined as completion of treatment (initial and, if given, secondary) within 100 days.

Retrospective multicenter study of allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation followed by reduced-intensity conditioning or conventional myeloablative regimen.

This retrospective study compared the results of reduced-intensity conditioning stem cell transplantation (RIST) and a conventional myeloablative regimen (CST) followed by allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. In this respect, 63 RISTs and 41 CSTs were performed at 5 transplantation centers in Korea between April 1998 and December 2002. The RIST group had more adverse pretransplant characteristics.

IL-10 promoter gene polymorphism associated with the occurrence of chronic GVHD and its clinical course during systemic immunosuppressive treatment for chronic GVHD after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Background: The current study attempted to evaluate the association between IL-10 promoter gene polymorphism and transplant outcomes including the occurrence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and its clinical course during systemic immunosuppressive treatment (IST) among 60 recipients of cytokine-mobilized peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) from HLA-matched sibling donors.

Methods: We analyzed 3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in proximal region of IL-10 promoter gene (-1082/-819/-592).

Results: In the current study, only two haplotypes (1082*A/819*T/592*A [ATA] and 1082*A/819*C/592*C [ACC]) were found.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in neurofibromatosis type I: unusual presentation of intraabdominal or intrathoracic mass.

A malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is an extremely rare soft tissue tumor in the general population. On the other hand, there is a higher incidence of MPNST in patients with neurofibromatosis type I (von Recklinghausen's disease). The common sites are the extremities, trunk, head and neck.

Daunorubicin efflux assay in determining multidrug resistance of patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

We evaluated the predictive value of mdr1 mRNA RT-PCR, P-glycoprotein (Pgp), and Daunorubicin efflux assays as regards achieving complete remission (CR), overall survival (OS), and leukemia-free survival (LFS) in 72 patients with AML. mdr1 mRNA, Pgp, and Efflux were expressed in 55.6%, 36.

Phase II study of cyclophosphamide,epirubicin, vincristine, prednisone, and etoposide (CEOP-E) for aggressive non-Hodgkin 's lymphoma.

The main objectives of the current study were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a CEOP-E regimen for patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Fifty-one consecutive patients with newly diagnosed aggressive NHL were enrolled in the study. Median age of patients was 57 (range, 18-75) yr old, and male to female ratio was 1.

Parameters for predicting allogeneic PBSCT outcome of acute myeloid leukemia: cytogenetics at presentation versus disease status at transplantation.

In addition to the clinical disease status at transplantation, the cytogenetic risk at presentation also provides critical information for predicting the prognosis or deciding the future therapeutic strategy. As such, the current study examined various parameters, including the cytogenetics at presentation and clinical disease status at transplantation, regarding their effect on the transplant outcomes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients in an allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) setting. A total of 36 patients receiving an allogeneic PBSCT from matched sibling donors were included in a state of first complete remission (CR) (n=22, 61%) or beyond the first CR (n=14, 39%).