Adverse outcome in follicular lymphoma is associated with MYC rearrangements but not MYC extra copies.

Follicular lymphomas (FLs) with MYC rearrangements (MYC-R) and extra copies of MYC (MYC-EC) are rare and the prognosis impact is uncertain. We conducted a retrospective study including 321 FL patients, among whom 259 (81%) had no 8q24 alterations and 62 (19%) were assigned to 8qAlt. Forty-five cases were classified as MYC-EC and six as MYC-R.

Prognostic value of PINI index in patients with multiple myeloma.

Background: The Prognostic Inflammatory and Nutritional Index (PINI) is a simple scoring system that aggregates two blood markers of inflammatory [C-reactive protein (CRP) and orosomucoid] and of nutritional (albumin and prealbumin) states. It is used in routine practice in geriatric medicine, especially in hospitalized elderly patients. This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of PINI index in multiple myeloma (MM), a malignancy of the elderly.

Targeted treatment and new agents in diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

The outcome of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has completely changed with the introduction of rituximab in combination with chemotherapy. This was the first targeted therapy, and it led the way to new antibodies targeting cell surface receptors and to small molecules targeting one or several key proteins of the cellular machinery. Those new therapeutic small molecules are targeting the different pathways of apoptosis, proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulators, histone deacetylase inhibitors, mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, heat shock protein inhibitors, PKC inhibitors, antiangiogenic agents, Syk inhibitors, and farnesyl transferase inhibitors.

In vivo model of follicular lymphoma resistant to rituximab.

Purpose: Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common subtype of indolent lymphomas. Rituximab is widely used alone or in combination therapy for the treatment of FL. Despite its well-established clinical efficacy, a subpopulation of patients does not respond to rituximab and most patients will relapse after therapy.

Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.

In the past years, new developments have occurred both in the understanding of the biology of Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia (WM) and in therapeutic options for WM. WM is a B-cell disorder characterized primarily by bone marrow infiltration with lymphoplasmacytic cells, along with demonstration of an IgM monoclonal gammopathy. Despite advances in therapy, WM remains incurable, with 5-6 years median overall survival of patients in symptomatic WM.

Serum immunoglobulin free light chain correlates with tumor burden markers in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.

The serum IgM level has been utilised as a marker of tumor progression and to assess response to therapy in patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM). However, there are many limitations to the IgM protein level. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of known tumor burden markers and prognostic factors with serum free light chain (sFLC) in 98 patients with WM.

Long-term outcome in acquired aplastic anemia treated with an intensified dose schedule of horse antilymphocyte globulin in combination with androgens.

Aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare hematopoietic stem cell disease, which can be treated with horse antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) for patients not eligible for bone marrow transplantation. ALG gives about 60% overall survival rate (OS) after 5 years, a 30% of persistent complete remission and a 20% early death rate related to failure. ALG has been incriminated in the emergence of 10 to 20% therapy-related AML/MDS (t-AML/MDS) with the usual doses.