Localized large B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL6 rearrangements as an unexpected finding in an appendectomy specimen.

Large B-cell lymphomas (LBLs) comprise a genetically heterogeneous group of clinically aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas, frequently exhibiting overlapping features with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt's lymphoma. We report a case of a 24-year-old, previously healthy male with a classical clinical presentation of acute appendicitis. The pathologic examination discovered a large B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL6 rearrangements in the excised appendix.

Importance of endocrine treatment adherence and persistence in breast cancer survivorship: a systematic review.

Purpose: Adjuvant endocrine treatment is essential for treating luminal subtypes of breast cancer, which constitute 75% of all breast malignancies. However, the detrimental side effects of treatment make it difficult for many patients to complete the guideline-required treatment. Such non-adherence may jeopardize the lifesaving ability of anti-estrogen therapy.

Outcomes After Spigelian Hernia Repair: A Nationwide Database Study.

Background: Spigelian hernia is a rare hernia of the abdominal wall. Due to lack of evidence, there is no standard recommendation for surgical technique of Spigelian hernia repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes after open and laparoscopic, elective and emergency repair of Spigelian hernias on a nationwide basis.

Enhanced recovery after abdominal wall reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) are evidence-based protocols associated with improved patient outcomes. The use of ERAS pathways is well documented in various surgical specialties. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the efficacy of ERAS protocols in patients undergoing abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR).

International external quality assurance of JAK2 V617F quantification.

External quality assurance (EQA) programs are vital to ensure high quality and standardized results in molecular diagnostics. It is important that EQA for quantitative analysis takes into account the variation in methodology. Results cannot be expected to be more accurate than limits of the technology used, and it is essential to recognize factors causing substantial outlier results.

Impact of Graft-Versus-Graft Natural Killer Cell Alloreactivity on Single Unit Dominance After Double Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation.

Background: Natural killer (NK) cell alloreactivity is favored after double umbilical cord blood transplantation (dUCBT) in which cord blood (UCB) units and patients are often HLA class I mismatched. Generally, only 1 UCB unit persists after dUCBT. We hypothesize, that NK cell alloreactivity mediated by killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR)-HLA interactions may explain the dominance of 1UCB unit over the other after dUCBT.

Acute cytotoxicity of MIRA-1/NSC19630, a mutant p53-reactivating small molecule, against human normal and cancer cells via a caspase-9-dependent apoptosis.

Although numerous studies have focused on the mechanisms of action of the candidate chemotherapeutic drug MIRA-1/NSC19630, initially described as a mutant p53-reactivating small molecule, the issue of its toxicological evaluation remains open. Here, we devised a strategy to examine the effects of MIRA-1 on a variety of human normal cells and cancer cell lines. First, we demonstrated a massive and rapid (within 2 hours) MIRA-1 apoptotic effect on human normal primary epithelial cells as shown using an intestinal mucosa explant assay.

Complete donor T cell chimerism predicts lower relapse incidence after standard double umbilical cord blood reduced-intensity conditioning regimen allogeneic transplantation in adults.

Double umbilical cord blood (dUCB) allogeneic transplantation after a low-dose total body irradiation, cyclophosphamide, and fludarabine (TCF)-based reduced-intensity conditioning regimen (RIC) is increasingly used in adults lacking a suitable related or unrelated donor. Currently, there are little data regarding the long-term outcome of CD3(+) T cell chimerism (TCC) in this particular setting. Thirty-six adults with various hematological diseases who received dUCB allogeneic transplants conditioned with TCF were included in this retrospective study.

Human herpesvirus 6 reactivation before engraftment is strongly predictive of graft failure after double umbilical cord blood allogeneic stem cell transplantation in adults.

Our main objective was to determine new factors associated with engraftment and single-unit predominance after double umbilical cord blood (UCB) allogeneic stem-cell transplantation. Engraftment occurred in 78% of cases in this retrospective study including 77 adult patients. Three-year overall survival, disease-free survival, relapse incidence, and nonrelapse mortality were 55 ± 6%, 44 ± 6%, 33 ± 5%, and 23 ± 4%, respectively.

PRIMA-1Met induces myeloma cell death independent of p53 by impairing the GSH/ROS balance.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of p53 reactivation and induction of massive apoptosis (PRIMA-1(Met)) in inducing myeloma cell death, using 27 human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs) and 23 primary samples. Measuring the lethal dose (LD50) of HMCLs revealed that HMCLs displayed heterogeneous sensitivity, with an LD50 ranging from 4 μM to more than 200 μM. The sensitivity of HMCLs did not correlate with myeloma genomic heterogeneity or TP53 status, and PRIMA-1(Met) did not induce or increase expression of the p53 target genes CDKN1A or TNFRSF10B/DR5.

NOTCH2 and FLT3 gene mis-splicings are common events in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML): new potential targets in AML.

Our previous studies revealed an increase in alternative splicing of multiple RNAs in cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) compared with CD34(+) bone marrow cells from normal donors. Aberrantly spliced genes included a number of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and genes involved in regulation of apoptosis, cell cycle, and cell differentiation. Among the most commonly mis-spliced genes (>70% of AML patients) were 2, NOTCH2 and FLT3, that encode myeloid cell surface proteins.

New chondrosarcoma cell lines and mouse models to study the link between chondrogenesis and chemoresistance.

Chondrosarcomas are cartilage-forming, poorly vascularized tumors. They represent the second malignant primary bone tumor of adults after osteosarcoma, but in contrast to osteosarcoma they are resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, surgical excision remaining the only therapeutic option. Few cell lines and animal models are available, and the mechanisms behind their chemoresistance remain largely unknown.

The translocation t(4;14) can be present only in minor subclones in multiple myeloma.

Purpose: Although the translocation t(4;14) is supposed to be a primary event in multiple myeloma, we have been surprised to observe that in large relapse series of patients, the t(4;14) can be observed only in subpopulations of plasma cells, in contrast to what is seen at diagnosis. This observation raised the question of possible subclones harboring the translocation that would be observable only at the time of relapse.

Experimental Design: To address this issue, we analyzed by FISH a cohort of 306 patients for whom we had at least two samples obtained at different disease phases.