Comparison of disease and risk classifications of AML before and after incorporation of NGS analysis of bone marrow samples.

Mutation profiling by next-generation sequencing (NGS) has facilitated understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and has been incorporated into the new disease classification (International Consensus Classification; ICC) and risk classification (European LeukemiaNet [ELN] 2022; ELN2022). We compared disease subtypes between the previous disease classification (4th edition of the WHO classification; WHO-4) and the ICC in 91 patients with AML diagnosed at our institution. We also compared disease risk classifications using the previous risk classification (ELN2017) and the ELN2022.

Characteristics of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Japan: Comprehensive analysis of the CLLRSG-01 study.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is rare in Japan. We conducted the nationwide, prospective observational study CLLRSG-01 to clarify the current state of CLL in Japan and to make accurate international comparisons by preparing naturally air-dried smears like those used in other countries. Of the 201 untreated patients enrolled and evaluated, 119 were diagnosed with CLL and 82 with non-CLL mature B-cell neoplasms, based on the WHO classification.

Venetoclax-Azacitidine Bridging PTCy-haplo-PBSCT for Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Mutations.

Venetoclax and azacitidine combination therapy (VEN+AZA) is a promising novel therapy for elderly or unfit patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Recently, VEN+AZA with subsequent allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been reported, and human leukocyte antigen-haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation using posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy-haplo-PBSCT) from related donors appears to be a suitable option. Here, we report two elderly patients with refractory AML harboring an mutation, who were successfully treated with VEN+AZA bridged to PTCy-haplo-PBSCT.

Immunoreactivity to WT1 peptide vaccine is associated with prognosis in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia: follow-up study of randomized phase II trial of OCV-501, an HLA class II-binding WT1 polypeptide.

We previously conducted a randomized phase II trial of OCV-501, a WT1 peptide presented by helper T cells, in elderly AML (acute myeloid leukemia) patients in first remission, indicating no difference in 2-year disease-free survival (DSF) between the OCV-501 and placebo groups. Here, we analyzed 5-year outcome and biomarkers. Five-year DFS was 36.

Successful treatment of relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia with venetoclax in a patient with severe chronic kidney disease.

Venetoclax is a promising new drug for relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, venetoclax use had not been reported in severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. We report the first case of relapsed CLL in a severe CKD patient that was successfully treated with venetoclax.

Patient's age and D-dimer levels predict the prognosis in patients with TAFRO syndrome.

Objectives: To identify prognostic factors for TAFRO syndrome, a rare inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology characterized by thrombocytopenia, anasarca, fever, reticulin myelofibrosis, renal dysfunction, and organomegaly.

Methods: Data of patients with TAFRO syndrome were extracted from a Japanese patient registry. Patients were divided into groups according to the clinical and laboratory parameters at initial presentation.

Identification of the BRAF V600E mutation in Japanese patients with hairy cell leukemia and related diseases using a quenching probe method.

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare B-cell lymphoid malignancy that is difficult to distinguish from other morphological variants. The frequency of HCL has not been determined accurately in Japan. Recent studies revealed that the BRAF V600E mutation is the causal genetic event in HCL.

Dose-adjusted EPOCH chemotherapy for untreated peripheral T-cell lymphomas: a multicenter phase II trial of West-JHOG PTCL0707.

The standard CHOP therapy for peripheral T-cell lymphoma has resulted in unsatisfactory outcomes and it is still not clear what is the optimal front-line therapy. We conducted a multicenter phase II study of dose-adjusted etoposide, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide with vincristine and prednisone (EPOCH) for untreated peripheral T-cell lymphoma patients. In this prospective study, 41 patients were treated with dose-adjusted-EPOCH as initial therapy: peripheral T-cell lymphoma-not otherwise specified, n=21; angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, n=17; anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma, n=2; and anaplastic lymphoma kinase-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma, n=1.

Reduced frequency treatment with bortezomib plus dexamethasone for elderly patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma: a phase 2 study of the Japanese Myeloma Study Group (JMSG-0902).

Bortezomib is one of the most widely used novel drugs for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). However, twice-weekly intravenous administration is associated with innegligible adverse events and treatment discontinuation. We therefore evaluated the long-term efficacy and feasibility of reduced frequency treatment with intravenous bortezomib in elderly patients with relapsed and/or refractory MM.

Clinicopathologic analysis of TAFRO syndrome demonstrates a distinct subtype of HHV-8-negative multicentric Castleman disease.

Multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) describes a heterogeneous group of disorders involving systemic inflammation, characteristic lymph node histopathology, and multi-organ dysfunction because of pathologic hypercytokinemia. Whereas Human Herpes Virus-8 (HHV-8) drives the hypercytokinemia in a cohort of immunocompromised patients, the etiology of HHV-8-negative MCD is idiopathic (iMCD). Recently, a limited series of iMCD cases in Japan sharing a constellation of clinical features, including thrombocytopenia (T), anasarca (A), fever (F), reticulin fibrosis (R), and organomegaly (O) has been described as TAFRO syndrome.

Clinicopathologic analysis of 6 lymphomatoid gastropathy cases: expanding the disease spectrum to CD4-CD8+ cases.

Lymphomatoid gastropathy, which was first reported in 2010, is a rare NK-cell proliferation of cyCD3, CD4, CD5, CD8, CD56 phenotypes with unknown etiology. The diagnosis is challenging, as there is histopathologic similarity to malignant lymphoma. In the 2010 report on 10 cases, all lesions were located in the stomach, and all regressed without any therapy.

Clinicopathological analysis of 17 primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma of the γδ phenotype from Japan.

Primary cutaneous γδ T-cell lymphoma (PCGD-TCL) is an aggressive lymphoma consisting of clonal proliferation of mature activated γδ T-cells of a cytotoxic phenotype. Because primary cutaneous γδ T-cell lymphoma is a rare disease, there are few clinicopathological studies. In addition, T-cell receptor (TCR) γδ cells are typically immunostained in frozen sections or determined by TCRβ negativity.

Clinical significance of sIL-2R levels in B-cell lymphomas.

Elevated soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in sera is observed in patients with malignant lymphoma (ML). Therefore, sIL-2R is commonly used as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for ML, but the mechanisms responsible for the increase in sIL-2R levels in patients with B-cell lymphomas have not yet been elucidated. We first hypothesized that lymphoma cells expressing IL-2R and some proteinases such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the tumor microenvironment can give rise to increased sIL-2R in sera.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer with multiple bone metastases and disseminated intravascular coagulation successfully treated by combination chemotherapy of S-1 plus docetaxel].

Advanced gastric cancer (AGC) accompanied by disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC)has a poor prognosis, and has no established therapy. Here, we report a case of a 69-year-old woman referred to our hospital due to severe anemia and thrombocytopenia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy demonstrated an AGC in the cardiac part of the stomach, which was histologically diagnosed as poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma.

Retrospective analysis of prognostic factors for angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma: a multicenter cooperative study in Japan.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a major type of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). To elucidate the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of AITL in Japan, we retrospectively analyzed 207 patients with AITL. The median patient age was 67 years (range, 34-91 years), with 73% of patients older than 60 years.

Calcineurin inhibitor-induced irreversible neuropathic pain after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The calcineurin inhibitors (CIs) cyclosporine A and tacrolimus are essential for graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis but are associated with adverse effects, including neurotoxicity. We report a case of irreversible CI-induced neuropathic pain following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The patient developed dysesthesia, electric shock-like pain, and severe itching followed by intractable analgesic-resistant pain in the lower extremities.