PTK2 expression and immunochemotherapy outcome in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Addition of rituximab (R) to fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC) has significantly improved patient outcomes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Whether baseline gene expression can identify patients who will benefit from immunochemotherapy over chemotherapy alone has not been determined. We assessed genome-wide expression of 300 pretreatment specimens from a subset of 552 patients in REACH, a study of FC or R-FC in relapsed CLL.

Gene mutations and treatment outcome in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: results from the CLL8 trial.

Mutations in TP53, NOTCH1, and SF3B1 were analyzed in the CLL8 study evaluating first-line therapy with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC) or FC with rituximab (FCR) among patients with untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). TP53, NOTCH1, and SF3B1 were mutated in 11.5%, 10.

Minimal residual disease quantification is an independent predictor of progression-free and overall survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a multivariate analysis from the randomized GCLLSG CLL8 trial.

Purpose: To determine the clinical significance of flow cytometric minimal residual disease (MRD) quantification in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in addition to pretherapeutic risk factors and to compare the prognostic impact of MRD between the arms of the German CLL Study Group CLL8 trial.

Patients And Methods: MRD levels were prospectively quantified in 1,775 blood and bone marrow samples from 493 patients randomly assigned to receive fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC) or FC plus rituximab (FCR). Patients were categorized by MRD into low- (< 10(-4)), intermediate- (≥ 10(-4) to <10(-2)), and high-level (≥ 10(-2)) groups.

Effect of FCGR2A and FCGR3A variants on CLL outcome.

Polymorphisms of activating Fc-γ receptors (FCGRs) on natural killer cells and macrophages result in variable affinity for immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibodies and subsequently modulate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity. Whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms of FCGRs correlate with survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients treated with a monoclonal antibody containing regimen is unclear. We assessed the FCGR3A and FCGR2A genotype of patients enrolled in the REACH trial, where patients received fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC) or rituximab plus FC (R-FC).

Modeling and Estimating Recall Processing Capacity: Sensitivity and Diagnostic Utility in Application to Mild Cognitive Impairment.

We investigate the potential for using latency-based measures of retrieval processing capacity to assess changes in perfomance specific to individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a reliable precursor state to Alzheimer's Disease. Use of these capacity measures is motivated in part by exploration of the effects of atrophy on a computational model of a basic hippocampal circuit. We use this model to suggest that capacity may be a more sensitive indicator of undelying atrophy than speed of processing, and test this hypothesis by adapting a standard behavioral measure of memory (the free and cued selective reminding test, FCSRT) to allow for the collection of cued recall latencies.

Rituximab plus fludarabine and cyclophosphamide prolongs progression-free survival compared with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide alone in previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Purpose: Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody that targets the CD20 cell surface antigen, has clinical activity in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other B-lymphocyte disorders when administered alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Promising results have previously been reported in nonrandomized studies in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). This trial was designed to compare chemoimmunotherapy with chemotherapy alone in patients with previously treated CLL.

Gender associations with chronic methylphenidate treatment and behavioral performance following experimental traumatic brain injury.

Evidence suggests that dopamine (DA) agonists improve cognition after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methylphenidate (MPH) is a DA agonist that blocks the dopamine transporter (DAT). Moreover, female sex hormones modulate DAT expression.

The effects of rituximab treatment during pregnancy on a neonate.

A 35-year old woman developed Burkitt's lymphoma and was treated with rituximab and CHOP therapy early during pregnancy. Monitoring of rituximab concentrations and B-cell counts in the child revealed a transient complete B-cell depletion associated with high rituximab cord blood concentrations. B-cell recovery was fast, showing a regular immunophenotype without loss of CD20 antigen, no functional deficits and adequate vaccination IgG titers.

Evaluation of estrous cycle stage and gender on behavioral outcome after experimental traumatic brain injury.

Female sex hormones are acutely neuroprotective in experimental models of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Because hormonal profiles are known to vary with estrous cycle stage, the purpose of this study was to evaluate how pre-injury estrous stage affects motor and cognitive performance after experimental TBI. We also sought to compare post-injury behavioral performance in males vs.