[Clinico-immunological characteristics of lymphoid tumors in children].

The clinical and immunological characteristics of lymphoid tumors were compared in 591 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Comprehensive investigation of a tumor cell by using cytological, morphological, and immunological studies revealed the most significant criteria for differential diagnosis of ALL and NHL in children and showed the specific features of the site of a tumor and the extent of its growth in ALL and NHL in relation to the immunological affiliation of a tumor cell. The predominance of immature forms, such as stem-cell CD34+, pre-pre-B, pre-B and less commonly T-cell forms with almost none peripheral B- and T-cell markers could be immunophenotypically detected in ALL.

[Histiocytosis-related proliferative disorders in children].

Differential diagnosis was established by complex morphological examination in 290 pediatric patients with Langerhans cell, sinus or malignant histiocytosis. An immunologic study was performed in one-third of patients. Clinical symptoms and results of therapy are presented.

[Diagnosis and treatment of large-cell anaplastic lymphoma in children].

Thirty eight children with large-cell anaplastic lymphomas have been recently treated at the Pediatric Department of Malignant Lymphomas, Russian Cancer Research Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. Cytoimmunological studies have revealed that 24 patients had 4 types of cellular elements of large-cell anaplastic lymphoma: Kil(+), Kil(+)B, B-cell, and T-cell lymphomas in 11, 2, 8, and 3 children, respectively. Intensive chemotherapy was performed in relation to the immunophenotype.

[Diagnostic criteria and prognosis of mediastinal lesions in children with lymphosarcoma].

Treatment for mediastinal lymphosarcoma was given to 71 patients, aged 3-14 years, at the Institute's Clinics during 1982-1991. In that group, there were more males than females (3.4:1), mean duration of the condition of 3 months, T-cell immunity pattern (89.

[Social and medical aspects of multimodality therapy for lymphogranulomatosis in children].

The high efficiency of treatment of lymphogranulomatosis in children by the currently available protocols determines the necessity of assessing them in terms of the quality of further life. The opportunity of creating a life and having the offspring, that of getting education and a profession are one of the main characteristics of the quality of life. The data on the reproductive function and social adaptation of 443 children receiving multimodality treatment for lymphogranulomatosis by 3 protocols (from 1976, 1978, and 1987).

[Histiocytic proliferative diseases in children].

The course of histioproliferative diseases was analyzed in 308 children treated at the All-Union Cancer Research Center, USSR AMS. Of these, there were 8 children with benign proliferation (Rosai-Dorfman disease). Histiocytosis-X was revealed in 232 children.

[Treatment of lymphogranulomatosis in children].

The authors analyze the results of the treatment of 366 children afflicted with lymphogranulomatosis. All the patients received treatment from 1976 to 1990 according to three combined programs. The necessity is demonstrated of the individual treatment with regard to the predictors.

[Clinico-morphological characteristics of lymphogranulomatosis in young children].

Cases of lymphogranulomatosis underwent a clinico-morphological analysis in 67 children aged 1 year to 3 years 11 months. The morphological features of the process and distinctive traits of the clinical picture of the disease in infants were defined. The 5-year survival in patients undergoing the current treatment programs was estimated.

[Use of alpha interferon preparations in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children during remission].

The Soviet alpha-interferon drugs (human leukocytic interferon, reaferon) were used in the program of the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (during remission). The treatment was found to be more effective with an increase of its duration, relapse-free course of the disease (69.4-82.

[Effects of immunologic markers on prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in young children].

Altogether 77 children aged up to 3 years with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were examined for the immunological phenotype of blast cells. L1, L1/L2, L2/L1, L2 variants of ALL and the undifferentiated one were established in accordance with criteria of the FAB classification. T1, zero and Ia immunosubvariants were recorded most frequently.

[Immunologic correction using thymus gland preparation (T-activin) in the programmed treatment of patients with non-lymphoid leukemia].

Data have been presented on the observation of 80 children with acute myeloid leukemia, among them 26 patients who, in addition to chemotherapy, were given tactivin treatment. The authors have proved the necessity of long-term tactivin administration in acute myeloid leukemia (no less than 2-3 years). that permits not only reducing the incidence of intercurrent diseases, but also increasing the duration of the remission period.

[Clinical course and prognosis in T-cell lymphoblastic tumors in children typed with Soviet-produced monoclonal antibodies].

Correlation analysis of the clinical course and prognosis was made in 56 children with T-cell lymphoblastic tumors (acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphosarcoma) typed with the use of monoclonal antibodies obtained in this country. The frequency of T-cell marker detection among all immunological subvariants in acute lymphoid leukemia and lymphosarcoma proved to be similar (36.6 and 37%, respectively).

[High methotrexate doses in the treatment program for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphosarcoma in children].

Tolerability and efficacy of high-dose methotrexate was studied in 70 pediatric patients with lymphoblastic tumors (acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma). Methotrexate was given by 24-hour infusion of 500-1000 mg/m2 (total dose-700-3000 mg) after remission had been achieved. An antidote--calcium folinate--was administered 24 hours postinfusion.

[Malignant histiocytosis in children].

The analysis of peculiarities of clinical course and morphology of malignant (acute) histiocytosis in 50 pediatric patients made a case for identification of the disease as separate pathology of histiocytic sarcoma type. Clinical course features include: lymphadenopathy, involvement of bones and--less frequently--lungs, skin and subcutaneous fat, marked fever and weight loss. Cytologic and histologic examination show polymorphic tumor cells of varying degree of differentiation, with blasts predominating.

[Immunologic prognosis in hemoblastoses in children].

The diagnostic value of monoclonal antibodies is discussed. The expression of ICO-GM1 and ICO-G2 myeloid antigens in pediatric patients with nonlymphoblastic leukemia was associated with poor prognosis whereas patients with the expression of T-cell markers fared better. The prognostic value of the antigens was not altered by brief cytotoxic treatment.

[Scanning microcalorimetry of the blood].

The age dependence of haemoglobin denaturation temperature in the composition of erythrocytes is established. Children have a much more expressed correlation of this temperature depending on the type and stage of disease than the adult. It is found that children ill with leukemia have haemoglobin, the value of heat denaturation of which is decreased about 15-25% in relation to the norm.

[Late (after 5-year remission) recurrences of acute leukemia in children (a cooperative study)].

Cooperative investigations were conducted in seven Pediatric Hematologic Clinics (in Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Minsk and Tbilisi) to study the nature of late (after five years of remission) relapses of acute leukemia that were diagnosed in 21.6% of cases (in 80 out of 371 children) with long-term remissions. Late relapses in most patients occurred on the 6-7th year of remission.

[Results of the use of human leukocytic interferon in the treatment program in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children].

Soviet preparation of human leucocytic interferon (HLI) was injected to 112 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at different stages of the treatment program. The results obtained have evidenced that HLI produces a direct antitumor effect, intensifies the effectiveness of inductive chemotherapy and the treatment program leading to the prolongation of the remission period and survival of the patients, as well as induces activation of natural and antitumor resistance of the body.

[Results of active immunotherapy of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia using cultured lymphoblast cell lines during remission].

The paper is concerned with the use of continuous cultures of lymphoblast lines in 16 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia under remission in order to raise the efficacy of routine treatment. In the group under study, the remission appeared to be threefold longer than in 17 controls who received only chemotherapy at all the treatment stages. Immunologic studies revealed the stimulating effect of immunotherapy with a two-four-fold increase in the levels of serum IgG and IgM accompanied by the appearance of and increment in the spectrum of cytotoxic antibodies.