Unique gene expression and clinical characteristics are associated with the 11q23 deletion in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Chromosome abnormalities influence prognosis and tumour progression in B-cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL). This study sought to determine whether these different disease subgroups were associated with unique gene expression patterns. Thirty-four cases of CLL were screened for the 11q23, 13q14, 17p13 deletions, and trisomy 12 by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Immunological and clinical effects of post-transplant G-CSF versus placebo in T-cell replete allogeneic blood transplant patients: results from a randomized double-blind study.

Background: Immunological and clinical effects of post-transplant growth factor administration have not been well studied. This report describes the outcome and immune functions of a total of 50 HLA-matched related donor allogeneic blood stem-cell transplantation patients who received post-transplant G-CSF (10 microg/kg) or placebo.

Methods: Immune status, including number of lymphocyte subsets and their functions, and serum immunoglobulin levels and clinical status--including GvHD, rate of relapse, event-free survival, and overall survival--were determined in the patients enrolled in this study.

Increased apoptosis in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells as a result of cyclin D3 down regulation.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a clonal B cell malignancy of morphologically mature, functionally immature B cells. B-cell CLL cells are known to be resistant to killing by anticancer and other agents. This resistance is associated with alterations in apoptosis and cell cycle regulated genes.

Increased cytotoxicity against B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia by cellular manipulations: potentials for therapeutic use.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by profound immune dysfunction and a marked resistance to apoptosis. Understanding the cellular biology of immune effector cells from CLL patients as well as leukemic target cells is essential to developing immune mediated therapeutic strategies for CLL. In this study, an immortal CLL cell line called WSU-CLL has been used to study the characteristics of B-cell CLL as a tumor target for natural killer (NK), activated natural killer, and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells.

Blood stem cell transplantation: factors influencing cellular immunological reconstitution.

Recovery of immune function following stem cell transplantation is necessary for a good outcome. Immune recovery is facilitated by transplanting higher numbers of cells than neutrophil or platelet reconstitution requires. Estimates from studies in the allogeneic setting suggest the minimum stem cell dose to achieve optimal lymphocyte recovery is about 10(7) CD34+ cells/kg.