Chemotherapy with rituximab followed by high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with mantle cell lymphoma.

Background: The authors evaluated the efficacy of chemotherapy combined with rituximab followed by high-dose therapy (HDT) plus autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of 34 patients who were treated in 2 departments of hematology, including 29 patients (85%) who received first-line treatment. Rituximab was administered as 4 injections just before harvest in 25 patients (73%) or simultaneously with chemotherapy in 9 patients (27%).

Cytogenetic analysis delineates a spectrum of chromosomal changes that can distinguish non-MALT marginal zone B-cell lymphomas among mature B-cell entities: a description of 103 cases.

The purpose of this study was to document the frequency and distribution of karyotypic changes present at diagnosis in 103 non-MALT marginal zone cell lymphoma (MZL) patients. This cytogenetic analysis of a large cohort extends previous observations and allows the identification of new cytogenetic features. Abnormalities identified in more than 15% of patients included +3/+3q (37%), 7q deletions (31%), +18/+18q (28%), 6q deletions (19%), +12/+12q (15%) and 8p deletions (15%).

Single agent rituximab in patients with follicular or mantle cell lymphoma: clinical and biological factors that are predictive of response and event-free survival as well as the effect of rituximab on the immune system: a study of the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK).

Background: Predictive factors of rituximab efficacy and its effect on the immune system are still not defined.

Patients And Methods: Three hundred and six patients with follicular or mantle cell lymphoma received four weekly doses of rituximab (induction) and no further treatment (arm A) or four more doses at 2-month intervals (arm B).

Results: Response rate to induction was 44%.

Prevalence of anticentromere F protein autoantibodies in 347 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

An association between autoimmunity and hematological malignancies has been reported including the detection of antinuclear autoantibodies (ANAs) in patients suffering from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), with a high prevalence of ANAs directed to components of the mitotic apparatus or the mitosis-associated proteins. Previous studies have demonstrated that one of the targets of such ANAs could be the CENP-F protein, especially in some carcinomas. The prevalence and specificity of anti-CENP-F autoantibodies (aAbs) thus were analyzed in 347 patients with different histological subgroups of NHL before any treatment of NHL, along with 150 controls.

[Pathological and clinical correlations in primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas: a series of 44 cases].

Aims: histological and clinical relationship study of 44 cases of primary cutaneous B cell lymphoma, classified according to WHO classification.

Materials And Methods: histological, immunological and molecular analysis was correlated with clinical data.

Results: 33 cases (75%) were marginal zone B-cell lymphomas (MZL), with head and trunk predominance (median age = 54 years).

[Terminolateral esophagojejunostomy after gastrectomy with the biofragmentable anastomosis ring in the dog model].

Introduction: Esophagojejunostomy after total gastrectomy still remains a high risk anastomosis with a considerable morbidity and mortality. The majority of these anastomoses are performed by the intraluminal stapler technique, yet stenoses are a known late complication even after an uneventful postoperative course. In the present study, the osophagojejunostomy with the biofragmentable anastomosis ring (BAR) was examined in dogs.

Long-term results of the R-CHOP study in the treatment of elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a study by the Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte.

Purpose: To analyze the long-term outcome of patients included in the Lymphome Non Hodgkinien study 98-5 (LNH98-5) comparing cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) to rituximab plus CHOP (R-CHOP) in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Patients And Methods: LNH98-5 was a randomized study that included 399 previously untreated patients, age 60 to 80 years, with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Patients received eight cycles of classical CHOP (cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m(2), doxorubicin 50 mg/m(2), vincristine 1.

Analysis of VH genes in marginal zone lymphoma reveals marked heterogeneity between splenic and nodal tumors and suggests the existence of clonal selection.

Background And Objectives: To clarify the relationship between splenic (SMZL) and nodal marginal zone (NMZL) lymphomas, we analyzed immunoglobulin variable heavy chain (VH) gene usage and mutation patterns in these tumors.

Design And Methods: VH genes were cloned and sequenced from 49 lymphoma samples (35 SMZL and 14 NMZL).

Results: A biased usage of VH gene was found with overrepresentation of VH1 in SMZL cases (13/35) and VH4 in NMZL cases (7/14).

[News in therapeutic management of chronic lymphoid leukemia].

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia follows an extremely variable clinical course with survival range from months to decades. Some patients present minimal symptoms and others organomegaly requiring rapidly therapy. Therapeutic options take into account efficacy, toxicity and prognostic factors.

Clinicopathologic features of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia and marginal zone lymphoma: are they distinct or the same entity?

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) is considered in the World Health Organization classification as a clinical syndrome associated with monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) M secretion, mainly observed in patients with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) and occasionally with other small B-cell lymphomas. Some authors consider it a rare distinct lymphoproliferative disorder with primary bone marrow infiltration and IgM monoclonal gammopathy. As LPL shares important morphologic and immunophenotypic overlaps with marginal zone B-cell lymphomas (MZLs) in cases showing plasmacytic maturation, it remains unclear if they constitute unique or distinct entities.

Usefulness of QT-interval parameters for cardiovascular risk stratification in type 2 diabetic patients with arterial hypertension.

QT-interval parameters are potential indicators of increased cardiovascular risk. We evaluated prospectively their prognostic value, in relation to other risk markers, for cardiovascular fatal and nonfatal events in a cohort of 271 hypertensive type 2 diabetic outpatients. QT intervals were measured from 12-lead standard ECGs obtained on admission and maximum rate-corrected QT-interval duration and QT-interval dispersion (QTd) calculated.

Hepatitis C virus infection and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a cross-sectional study in Lyon, France.

Objectives: The role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the pathogenesis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is controversial. A high prevalence of HCV infection in patients with NHL has been reported in Italy and Japan. By contrast, several studies in Northern Europe and Canada have not found any increased prevalence of HCV in B-cell NHL, suggesting a possible geographic variation.

Second treatment with rituximab in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: efficacy and toxicity on 41 patients treated at CHU-Lyon Sud.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the effect of a second treatment with rituximab for patients who progressed after a response to a first treatment. We analysed the charts of 41 patients treated at CHU Lyon-Sud between 1997 and May 2003. Patients were treated with rituximab alone or with a combination of rituximab and chemotherapy.

Molecular profiling of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma identifies robust subtypes including one characterized by host inflammatory response.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogeneous disease with recognized variability in clinical outcome, genetic features, and cells of origin. To date, transcriptional profiling has been used to highlight similarities between DLBCL tumor cells and normal B-cell subtypes and associate genes and pathways with unfavorable outcome. To identify robust and highly reproducible DL-BCL subtypes with comprehensive transcriptional signatures, we used a large series of newly diagnosed DLBCLs, whole genome arrays, and multiple clustering methods.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of hypertensive patients in the internal medicine outpatient clinic of a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro.

Context: Hypertension is one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors but its control is still a challenge for physicians all around the world. For blood pressure control to be improved, it is important to guarantee the quality of attendance provided for hypertensive patients, especially in teaching hospitals, where future physicians are being trained.

Objective: To characterize the profile of hypertensive patients attending the internal medicine outpatient clinic of a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro,describing their cardiovascular risk and identifying flaws in the treatment provided for severely hypertensive patients, in order to implement an arterial hypertension management program.

Profiles and prognostic values of serum LDH isoenzymes in patients with haematopoietic malignancies.

Serum lacticodehydrogenase (LDH) is commonly increased in patients with haematopoietic malignancies and has been shown to be a prognostic factor in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and myeloma. We have examined the LDH isoenzyme content in serum of 326 patients, including 252 patients with NHL (202 at diagnosis and 50 at relapse), 28 patients with Hodgkin's disease, 17 patients with CLL, 16 patients with myeloproliferative syndromes and 13 patients with multiple myeloma. Among these, 160 pts (49%) had increased serum LDH.

Mortality and predictors of mortality in a cohort of Brazilian type 2 diabetic patients.

Objective: To investigate mortality rates and predictors of mortality in Brazilian type 2 diabetic patients.

Research Design And Methods: A prospective follow-up study was carried out with 471 type 2 diabetic outpatients. Primary end points were all-cause, diabetes-related, and cardiovascular deaths.

Maintenance therapy with a monthly injection of alemtuzumab prolongs response duration in patients with refractory B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (B-CLL/SLL).

Alemtuzumab, the monoclonal anti-CD52 antibody, has clinical activity in B-cell and T-cell malignancies at the dose of 30 mg three times weekly for 9-12 weeks. This standard regimen induced responses usually shorter than 6 months. To prolong time to progression, we initialized a phase II study with an identical initial scheme until partial response, followed by a maintenance therapy lasting at least 4 months.

Subclinical late cardiomyopathy after doxorubicin therapy for lymphoma in adults.

Purpose: To assess the cardiac status of the long-term survivors and to estimate the incidence and the features of subclinical cardiotoxicity induced after conventional treatment with doxorubicin for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed a group of patients who previously received doxorubicin-based chemotherapy for lymphoma. Echocardiograms were performed at least 5 years after therapy with anthracyclines.

T-wave axis deviation as an independent predictor of mortality in chronic Chagas' disease.

The T-wave axis shift has been reported to represent a general marker of ventricular repolarization abnormalities and a potential indicator of increased risk for cardiovascular mortality. We assessed the prognostic importance of the T-wave axis deviation for mortality rate in patients with chronic Chagas' disease. In a long-term follow-up prospective study, 738 adult outpatients in the chronic phase of Chagas' disease were enrolled.

Rituximab-related late-onset neutropenia after autologous stem cell transplantation for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, is increasingly used in the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Late-onset neutropenia in relation to rituximab has been recently described. In this report, we present six cases occurring after stem cell transplantation and discuss the potential impact of this complication.

Allele-specific binding to the -308 single nucleotide polymorphism site in the tumour necrosis factor-alpha promoter.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) promoter region may modulate TNF-alpha gene transcriptional activity by modifying the binding of transcription factors. Here we confirm that a specific DNA complex binds preferentially the variant TNF2 allele in various cell types and demonstrate that activating protein (AP)-2, myeloid zinc finger gene 1 (MZF-1) and Sp1 are not involved in this complex.