Perls' Stain Guidelines from the French-Speaking Cellular Hematology Group (GFHC).

In order to standardize cellular hematology practices, the French-speaking Cellular Hematology Group (Groupe Francophone d'Hématologie Cellulaire, GFHC) focused on Perls' stain. A national survey was carried out, leading to the proposal of recommendations on insoluble iron detection and quantification in bone marrow. The criteria presented here met with a "strong professional agreement" and follow the suggestions of the World Health Organization's classification of hematological malignancies.

Flow cytometry detection of CD138 expression continuum between monotypic B and plasma cells is associated with both high IgM peak levels and MYD88 mutation and contributes to diagnosis of Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

Background: Differential diagnosis of Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) with other indolent B-cell malignancies is still a challenge. Here, we propose an original and simple analysis of routine flow cytometry (FCM) unraveling the characteristic ongoing plasma cell (PC) differentiation of WM tumor B-cells.

Methods: FCM analysis of both B-cells and PC was performed on a series of 77 patients with IgM peak.

Harmonisation of full blood count reports, recommendations of the French-speaking cellular haematology group (GFHC).

Aims: To propose recommendations related to the presentation, content and formulation of full blood count analysis reports.

Methods: Strong professional agreement among a group of experts from the French-Speaking Cellular Haematology Group (GFHC) was obtained.

Results: The following two proposals emerged from the consensus: (1) stratification of comments into three parts upon the discovery of an anomaly in blood cell analysis and (2) selection and/or redefinition of the terms recommended for designating the cell types found in normal and pathological peripheral blood.

Prognostic impact of day 15 blast clearance in risk-adapted remission induction chemotherapy for younger patients with acute myeloid leukemia: long-term results of the multicenter prospective LAM-2001 trial by the GOELAMS study group.

Early response to chemotherapy has a major prognostic impact in acute myeloid leukemia patients treated with a double induction strategy. Less is known about patients treated with standard-dose cytarabine and anthracycline. We designed a risk-adapted remission induction regimen in which a second course of intermediate-dose cytarabine was delivered after standard "7+3" only if patients had 5% or more bone marrow blasts 15 days after chemotherapy initiation (d15-blasts).

Polycythemia vera transforming to acute myeloid leukemia and complex abnormalities including 9p homogeneously staining region with amplification of MLLT3, JMJD2C, JAK2, and SMARCA2.

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a clonal stem cell disorder characterized by an excessive erythrocyte production. At diagnosis, a normal karyotype is found in < or =80% of cases, but an abnormal karyotype frequently develops with evolution. Trisomy 9 and gains on 9p are some of the most frequent cytogenetic abnormalities, together with trisomy 8 and del(20q) in both PV and idiopathic myelofibrosis.

Confirmation of a novel recurrent association: BCR-ABL t(9;22) and t(19;21).

Association of a t(9;22)(q34;q11), BCR/ABL-positive, with a dic(19;21)(p13;p13) has been described in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in relapse, raising the question of whether this association is recurrent. Described here are two cases, one of myeloproliferative disease and one of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, both presenting a masked t(9;22) and t(19;21). Chromosomal rearrangements were ascertained by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using locus-specific probes, multicolor FISH, and bacterial artificial chromosome array.

In vivo expression pattern of MICA and MICB and its relevance to auto-immunity and cancer.

Non-conventional MHC class I MIC molecules interact not with the TCR, but with NKG2D, a C-type lectin activatory receptor present on most NK, gammadelta and CD8(+) alphabeta T cells. While this interaction is critical in triggering/calibrating the cytotoxic activity of these cells, the actual extent of its in vivo involvement, in man, in infection, cancer or autoimmunity, needs further assessment. The latter has gained momentum along with the reported expansion of peripheral CD4(+)CD28(-)NKG2D(+) T cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Telehematology: a pilot experience of cytological diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia via the Internet. A GOELAMS study.

Although modern communication technology is well developed, telehematology does not readily lend itself to practical laboratory use. Multicenter therapeutic protocols may offer preferential opportunities. The cytologists of the AML-2001 protocol established an innovative organization to demonstrate the reliability of the diagnostic assessment of acute myeloid leukemia through a rapid and decentralized exchange of information via the internet and to define the conditions optimizing expert diagnosis.

Cytogenetic studies of a series of 43 consecutive secondary myelodysplastic syndromes/acute myeloid leukemias: conventional cytogenetics, FISH, and multiplex FISH.

We report a series of 43 consecutive therapy-related myelodysplastic syndromes (t-MDS) or acute myeloid leukemias (t-AML) observed for 6 years. This series consisted of 26 women and 17 men, ages ranging from 9 to 85 years. These cases were classified into three groups according to the primary diagnosis.