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Simultaneous quantitative measurement of mRNA of the WT1, BAALC, EVI1, PRAME and HMGA2 genes in whole blood samples reflects the specific pathological proliferative activity in acute leukemia and their ratio is promising as a diagnostic marker. The transcriptome profile of acute leukemia cells is usually assessed using NGS or microarray techniques after a preliminary procedure for isolation of mononuclear cells. However, the results of using the multiplex PCR reaction for the simultaneous determination of all above mRNAs in whole blood samples have not been published so far. Determination of mRNA of WT1, BAALC, EVI1, PRAME and HMGA2 genes in venous blood level samples by multiplex RT-PCR. The study included 127 blood samples from patients who diagnosis of acute leukemia was subsequently confirmed. In the comparison group, 87 samples of patients without oncohematological diagnosis were selected, including 31 samples (K1) with a normal blood formula and 56 samples (K2) with a violation of the cellular composition - anemia, leukocytosis and thrombocytopenia. RNA isolation and reverse transcription were performed using the Ribozol-D and Reverta-L kits (TsNIIE, Russia). Determination of the mRNA expression level of the WT1, BAALC, EVI1, PRAME and HMGA2 genes by multiplex real-time PCR using a homemade multiplex PCR kit. The mRNA level was characterized by high interindividual variation and did not correlate with the rate of circulating leukocytes or blood blasts. Expression of WT1 mRNA was observed in whole blood only in one patient from the control group and in 112 (88%) patients with leukemia and was combined with a decrease in the level of HMGA2 mRNA expression and BAALC mRNA values. In contrast to the control groups, patients with leukemia had higher levels of BAALC mRNA in AML and ALL, increased PRAME mRNA in AML and APL, but lower levels of HMGA2 in APL.

To analyze the results of treatment in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) within protocols AML-17 and modified AML-17 (mOML-17) as part of two consecutive pilot studies in order to develop the best treatment strategy for AML patients aged below 60 years.The study included 89 AML patients who were aged below 60 years and received treatment within the AML-17 and mOML-17 protocols. Cytogenetic and molecular genetic studies were performed in all patients. The presence of mutations in the FLT3, NPM1, CEBPa genes was assessed by fragment analysis. 35 patients underwent a study for mutTP53, mutRUNX1 using next generation sequencing (NGS). The minimum residual population of tumor cells was evaluated by multicolor flow cytometry. Statistical analysis was performed using the procedures of the SAS 9.3 package.Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 89.7% of patients treated with intensive chemotherapy (CT) courses and in 52.4% of patients treated with low-dose CT courses. 8.8% of intensively treated patients were refractory to therapy, and 38% did not respond to low-dose exposure. The early mortality rate was 3%. The overall survival and disease-free 3-year survival for patients included in 2 consecutive studies was were 60% and 67%, respectively. The level of minimal residual disease (MRD) after the first course of induction CT was an important prognostic indicator. The three-year relapse-free survival for patients in whom CR was achieved after the first course of induction CT and in whom MRD was not detected (MRD-negative status was obtained) was 90% compared to 43% for patients who were MRD positive after the first course of induction CT (p=0.00001).The key factor that significantly affects the long-term results of therapy is the rate of MRD after the first course of induction CT.Цель. Проанализировать результаты терапии больных острыми миелоидными лейкозами (ОМЛ) по протоколам ОМЛ-17 и модифицированному ОМЛ-17 (мОМЛ-17) в рамках двух последовательных пилотных исследований с целью разработки оптимальной химиотерапевтической стратегии в лечении больных ОМЛ в возрасте до 60 лет. Материалы и методы. В исследование включены 89 больных ОМЛ в возрасте моложе 60 лет, получавших терапию согласно протоколам ОМЛ-17 и мОМЛ-17. Цитогенетическое и молекулярно-генетическое исследования осуществляли всем больным. Оценивали наличие мутаций в генах FLT3, NPM1, CEBPa методом фрагментного анализа. У 35 больных выполнили исследование на mutTP53, mutRUNX1 методом секвенирования нового поколения (next generation sequencing NGS). Минимальную остаточную популяцию опухолевых клеток оценивали методом многоцветной проточной цитометрии. Статистический анализ проводили с помощью процедур пакета SAS 9.3. Результаты. Полная ремиссия (ПР) достигнута у 89,7% больных, пролеченных по интенсивным программам, и у 52,4% больных, получивших низкодозное воздействие. Рефрактерными к терапии оказались 8,8% больных, пролеченных интенсивно, и 38% не ответили на низкодозное воздействие. Показатель ранней летальности составил 3%. Общая и безрецидивная 3-летняя выживаемость всех больных, включенных в 2 последовательных исследования, составили 60 и 67% соответственно. Значимым стал показатель минимальной остаточной болезни (МОБ) после 1-го курса индукционной терапии. Трехлетняя безрецидивная выживаемость тех больных, у кого ПР достигнута после 1-го индукционного курса и МОБ не выявлена (получен МОБ-негативный статус), составила 90% в сравнении с 43% у тех, у кого при достижении ПР после 1-го курса определялся МОБ-позитивный статус (р=0,00001). Заключение. Ключевой фактор, существенно влияющий на долгосрочные результаты терапии, это показатель МОБ после 1-го курса индукции.

Thrombotic complications are the most significant factors determining the prognosis in myeloproliferative neoplasms. Markers for assessing the risk of thrombosis are the number of leukocytes, platelets, hemoglobin level, hematocrit, age, molecular status, history of thrombosis, obesity, arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hereditary or acquired thrombophilia. The pathogenesis of thrombosis in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms is complex and multifactorial. In most cases, the etiological factor remains unknown. Currently, antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy is carried out on an individual basis. The algorithm for primary and secondary (after thrombosis) prevention requires development and testing. We present a clinical case of repeated arterial and venous thrombotic complications in a patient with primary myelofibrosis.Тромботические осложнения значимые факторы, определяющие прогноз при миелопролиферативных новообразованиях. Маркерами, позволяющими оценить риск развития тромбозов, являются количество лейкоцитов, тромбоцитов, уровень гемоглобина, гематокрит, возраст, молекулярный статус, тромбозы в анамнезе, ожирение, артериальная гипертензия, гиперлипидемия, наследственная или приобретенная тромбофилия. Патогенез тромбозов у больных с миелопролиферативными новообразованиями сложный и многофакторный. В большинстве случаев этиологический фактор остается неизвестным. В настоящее время терапия антиагрегантами и антикоагулянтами проводится в индивидуальном порядке. Алгоритм первичной и вторичной (после состоявшегося тромбоза) профилактики требует разработки и апробации. Мы представляем клиническое наблюдение повторные артериальные и венозные тромботические осложнения у больного с первичным миелофиброзом.

The study of activating mutations (NRAS,KRAS,FLT3,JAK2,CRLF2genes) of RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK and JAK/STAT signaling pathways in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in adult patients which are included in Russian multicenter clinical trials.Within the multicenter study there were 119 adult patients included withde novoB-ALL. The study was considered as prospective and retrospective. The group withBCR-ABL1-negative B-ALL consisted of up to 93 patients (45 male and 48 female, at the age of 17 to 59, the median age 31), they were treated according to the protocols ALL-2009, ALL-2016. The median follow-up lasted for 19 months (1119). The group withBCR-ABL1-positive B-ALL with up to 26 patients (10 male and 16 female, at the age of 23 to 78, the median age 34 years) was included in the study as well. The treatment was carried out according to the protocols ALL-2009 and ALL-2012 in combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The median follow-up lasted for 23 months (4120). The molecular analysis of activating mutations inNRAS,KRASgenes (RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway) andJAK2,CRLF2genes (JAK/STAT signaling cascade) was performed via Sanger sequencing. The internal tandem duplications (ITDs) inFLT3gene were studied by fragment analysis. The evaluation of CRLF2 expression was fulfilled via flow cytometry.Activating mutations inNRAS,KRAS,FLT3genes were found in 22 (23.6%) patients withBCR-ABL1-negative B-ALL. In total, 23 mutations were revealed in theNRAS(n=9),KRAS(n=12), andFLT3(n=2) genes, according to statistics that was significantly more frequent than withBCR-ABL1-positive B-ALL, these genes mutations were not identified in patients (p=0.007). The frequency of mutations detection inKRASandNRASgenes in patients withBCR-ABL1-negative B-ALL was comparable as 12.9% (12 of 93) to 9.7% (9 of 93), respectively (p=0.488). One patient was simultaneously revealed 2 mutations in theKRASgene (in codons 13 and 61).FLT3-ITD mutations were detected in 3.5% (2 of 57) cases ofBCR-ABL1-negative B-ALL. In patients withBCR-ABL1-positive B-ALLFLT3-ITD mutations were not assessed. Violations in the JAK/STAT signaling cascade were detected in 4 (4.3%) patients withBCR-ABL1-negative B-ALL. They were represented by the missense mutations ofJAK2gene (n=3) and the overexpression of CRLF2 (n=2); in one patient were detected the overexpression of CRLF2 and a mutation inJAK2gene simultaneously. No mutations were found inCRLF2gene. In patients withBCR-ABL1-positive B-ALL noJAK2mutations were detected. As long as analyzing demographic and clinical laboratory parameters between groups of patients with and without mutations, there were no statistically significant differences obtained. In the analyzed groups of patients, long-term therapy results did not differentiate according to the mutations presence inNRAS,KRAS,FLT3,JAK2genes. Also, substantive differences were not shown in the rate of the negative status achievement of the minimum residual disease between patients with and without activating mutations in the control points of the protocol (on the 70th, 133rd and 190th days).NRAS,KRAS,FLT3,JAK2activating mutations do not affect the long-term results of the therapy and the rate of the negative status achievement of the minimum residual disease in patients withBCR-ABL1-negative B-ALL treated by the Russian multicenter clinical trials.Цель.Изучение активирующих мутаций генов (NRAS,KRAS,FLT3,JAK2,CRLF2) сигнальных каскадов RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK и JAK/STAT при В-клеточном остром лимфобластном лейкозе (В-ОЛЛ) у взрослых больных, включенных в российские многоцентровые исследования. Материалы и методы.В многоцентровое исследование включены 119 взрослых пациентов с впервые установленным В-ОЛЛ. Исследование носило проспективный и ретроспективный характер. Группа сBCR-ABL1-негативным В-ОЛЛ составила 93 больных (48 женщин и 45 мужчин от 17 до 59 лет, медиана возраста 31 год), им проводили терапию по протоколам ОЛЛ-2009, ОЛЛ-2016. Медиана наблюдения составила 19 мес (1119). В группу сBCR-ABL1-позитивным В-ОЛЛ включены 26 пациентов (16 женщин и 10 мужчин от 23 до 78 лет, медиана возраста 34 года). Лечение проводили по протоколам ОЛЛ-2009 и ОЛЛ-2012 в сочетании с ингибиторами тирозинкиназ. Медиана наблюдения составила 23 мес (4120). Молекулярный анализ активирующих мутаций для геновNRAS,KRAS(сигнальный путь RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK) и геновJAK2,CRLF2(сигнальный путь JAK/STAT) проводился методом секвенирования по Сэнгеру. Внутренние тандемные повторы (ITD) генаFLT3 рецепторной внутриклеточной тирозинкиназы, приводящие к запуску целого каскада реакций, относящихся к различным сигнальным путям, включая RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK и JAK/STAT, исследованы методом фрагментного анализа. Экспрессию белка CRLF2 оценивали методом проточной цитофлуориметрии. Результаты.Активирующие мутации в генахNRAS,KRAS,FLT3обнаружены у 22 (23,6%) больныхBCR-ABL1-негативным В-ОЛЛ. В общей сложности выявлено 23 мутации в генахNRAS(n=9),KRAS(n=12),FLT3(n=2), что статистически значимо чаще, чем приBCR-ABL1-позитивном В-ОЛЛ, где мутации этих генов не выявлены ни у одного больного (р=0,007). Частота обнаружения мутаций в генахKRASиNRASу больныхBCR-ABL1-негативным В-ОЛЛ сопоставима 12,9% (12 из 93) и 9,7% (9 из 93) соответственно (р=0,488). У одного больного выявлено одновременно 2 мутации в генеKRAS(в кодонах 13 и 61). МутациюFLT3-ITD детектировали в 3,5% (2 из 57) случаевBCR-ABL1-негативных В-ОЛЛ. У больныхBCR-ABL1-позитивным В-ОЛЛ мутациюFLT3-ITD не оценивали. Нарушения в сигнальном каскаде JAK/STAT обнаружены у 4 (4,3%) больныхBCR-ABL1-негативным В-ОЛЛ. Они представлены миссенс-мутациями генаJAK2(n=3) и гиперэкспрессией CRLF2 (n=2), у одного больного обнаружены одновременно гиперэкспрессия CRLF2 и мутация в генеJAK2. В генеCRLF2мутации не выявлены. У больныхBCR-ABL1-позитивным В-ОЛЛ мутаций генаJAK2не выявлено. При анализе демографических и клинико-лабораторных показателей между группами больных с мутациями и без таковых статистически значимых различий не получено. В анализируемых группах больных долгосрочные результаты терапии в зависимости от наличия мутаций в генахNRAS,KRAS,FLT3,JAK2не различались. Также не показано значимых отличий в скорости достижения негативного статуса минимальной остаточной болезни между пациентами с активирующими мутациями и без в контрольные сроки протокола (на 70, 133 и 190-й день). Заключение.Активирующие мутации геновNRAS,KRAS,FLT3,JAK2не влияют на долгосрочные результаты терапии и скорость достижения негативного статуса минимальной остаточной болезни у больныхBCR-ABL1-негативным В-ОЛЛ при применении протоколов российского многоцентрового исследования.

Primary myelofibrosis is a myeloproliferative neoplasm that occurs de novo, characterized by clonal proliferation of stem cells, abnormal expression of cytokines, bone marrow fibrosis, hepatosplenomegaly as a result of extramedullary hematopoiesis, symptoms of tumor intoxication, cachexemia, peripheral blood leukoerythroblastosis, leukemic progression and low survival. Primary myelofibrosis is a chronic incurable disease. The aims of therapy: preventing progression, increasing overall survival, improving quality of life. The choice of therapeutic tactics is limited. Allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only method that gives a chance for a cure. The role of mutations in a number of genes in the early identification of candidates for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is being actively studied. The article describes the clinical case of the detection ofASXL1gene mutations in a patient with prefibrous primary myelofibrosis. The diagnosis was established on the basis of WHO criteria 2016. The examination revealed a mutation ofASXL1. Interferon alfa therapy is carried out, against the background of which clinico-hematological remission has been achieved. Despite the identified mutation, the patient is not a candidate for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Given the unfavorable prognostic value of theASXL1mutation, the patient is subject to active dynamic observation and aggressive therapeutic tactics when signs of disease progression appear.Первичный миелофиброз (ПМФ) представляет собой миелопролиферативное новообразование, которое возникает de novo, характеризуется клональной пролиферацией стволовых клеток, аномальной экспрессией цитокинов, фиброзом костного мозга, гепатоспленомегалией как следствие экстрамедуллярного гемопоэза, симптомами опухолевой интоксикации, кахексией, лейкоэритробластозом в периферической крови, лейкемической прогрессией и невысокой выживаемостью. ПМФ является хроническим неизлечимым заболеванием. Цели терапии: предупреждение прогрессии, увеличение общей выживаемости, улучшение качества жизни. Выбор лечебной тактики ограничен. Трансплантация аллогенных гемопоэтических стволовых клеток (алло-ТГСК) единственный метод, дающий шанс на излечение. В настоящее время активно изучается роль мутаций ряда генов в раннем выявлении кандидатов для алло-ТГСК. В статье представлено описание клинического случая выявления мутации гена ASXL1 у больного префиброзным ПМФ. Диагноз установлен на основании критериев Всемирной организации здравоохранения 2016 г. При обследовании выявлена мутация ASXL1. Проводится терапия интерфероном альфа, в результате которой достигнута клинико-гематологическая ремиссия. Несмотря на выявленную мутацию, пациент не является кандидатом для алло-ТГСК. Учитывая неблагоприятное прогностическое значение мутации ASXL1, пациент подлежит активному динамическому наблюдению и агрессивной терапевтической тактике при появлении признаков прогрессирования заболевания.

Infection caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a serious problem for patients with weakened immunity, including patients with hematopoietic depression. The cases of complications associated with cytomegalovirus require antiviral therapy. However, during the natural mutation process, especially with prolonged use of drugs in suboptimal doses, CMV strains resistant to the action of antiviral drugs (such as ganciclovir, valganciclovir) may occur. Hypothetically, the emergence of resistance in the virus may cause a more aggressive course of infection, the ineffectiveness of antiviral therapy and, as a result, an increase in the number of deaths. In this regard, timely detection of mutations that can potentially lead to the resistance of the virus to antiviral drugs during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), as well as during organ and tissue transplantation, may be important when making a therapeutic decision. We describe three clinical cases for which the dynamics of the appearance of a mutant strain of CMV by the UL97 gene, which correlates with the viral load and clinical picture, is analyzed.The aim of the study was to determine the timing of the occurrence of mutations in CMV phosphotransferase UL97 gene associated with resistance to antiviral drugs in patients with hemoblastoses after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell (allo-HSCs) transplantation.The study included 48 samples of CMV DNA isolated from the peripheral blood of three allo-HSCs recipients with CMV infection who were treated in the clinics of the FSBI «National Medical Research Center for Hematology» of the Ministry of Health of Russia with oncohematological diseases during 2015-2017. Patients received conditional codes (PR, PD, and FS). Mutations associated with antiviral therapy (AVT) resistance were identified in all patients. Sanger sequencing was used for mutation detection. The obtained DNA sequences were analyzed using Nucleotide BLAST and Genome compiler software. Mutations were searched in MRA mutation resistance analyzer software. The nucleotide sequences were compared with the UL97 reference sequence of the Merlin CMV strain using this software environment.For all patients in whom the virus strains containing C592G (PR), C607F (PD) and C603W (FS) mutations were detected, the timing of the mutation occurrence was determined at days 187, 124 and 1184, respectively. The emergence of mutations with a high resistance factor was shown to be accompanied by an increase in viral load (VL), the appearance of a clinical picture characteristic of CMV infection and a lack of an adequate response to therapy with ganciclovir and its derivatives.Using these results, it is proposed to develop the test system based on random polymerase chain reaction (rPCR) to detect mutations in the most frequently encountered codons: M460I/V, C592G, A591V, A594T/V, L595F/S, C603W. Given that the data on the prevalence of these mutations were obtained from foreign sources, it is advisable to conduct similar studies on the frequency of mutations in the UL97 gene among the population of the Russian Federation in order to improve the quality and accuracy of test systems.

The prevalence of multiple primary tumors has significantly increased last time. The question of choosing the optimal tactics of therapy today not fully resolved. Particular interest is the simultaneous detection of two neoplasms of similar origin in one study biopsy material. This publication presents a case of simultaneous diagnosis of myeloid sarcoma and mantle cell lymphoma in a 65-year-old patient, which required use of two different chemotherapy protocols. This example shows the need to use an extended diagnostic approach at all stages of the therapy, which allows choosing right tactics of therapy and achieving complete remission of two neoplasms.Распространенность первично-множественных опухолей в последнее время значимо выросла, но вопрос выбора оптимальной тактики терапии при данной нозологии по-прежнему остается нерешенным. Особый интерес представляет одномоментное, или симультанное, выявление двух новообразований родственного происхождения в одном и том же очаге или очагах поражения. В данной публикации представлен случай одномоментной диагностики миелоидной саркомы и лимфомы из клеток мантийной зоны у больной 65 лет, потребовавший последовательного применения двух различных подходов и схем химиотерапии. Этот пример демонстрирует необходимость внедрения расширенного диагностического подхода с применением гистологических, иммуногистохимических, цитогенетических, молекулярных методов исследования на всех этапах диагностики и лечения, что позволяет своевременно выбрать правильную тактику терапии и достичь полной ремиссии при длительных сроках наблюдения по двум новообразованиям при первично-множественных опухолях.

LiFraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a rare, autosomal dominant, hereditary disorder that is characterized by an increased risk for certain types of cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), particularly. Germline TP53 mutations are associated with LFS. Genetic counseling and follow-up is essential for patients with LFS and their relatives. Special therapeutic approaches are needed for treatment of oncological disease in these patients. The article presents a series of clinical cases of patients with ALL and SLF, considers general issues of diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with this hereditary genetic syndrome.Describe clinical observations of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and LFS and consider general issues of diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with LFS and ALL.TP53 gene mutations were screened using Sanger sequencing in 180 de novo patients with Ph-negative (B- and T-cell) and Ph-positive ALL treated by Russian multicenter protocols (ALL-2009, ALL-2012, ALL-2016) at the National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow, Russia, and at the hematology departments of regional clinics of Russia (multicenter study participants).TP53 gene mutations were found in 7.8% (n=14) of de novo ALL patients. In patients, whose biological material was available TP53 gene mutational status was determined in non-tumor cells (bone marrow and peripheral blood during remission, bone marrow samples after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation and in tissue of non-hematopoietic origin) for discriminating germline mutations. The analysis included 5 patients (out of 14 with TP53 mutations), whose non-tumor biological material was available for research. Germline status was confirmed in 4 out of 5 B-cell ALL (n=3), T-cell ALL (n=1) investigated patients.Practical value of the research is the observation that the greater part of TP53 gene mutations in patients with Ph-negative B-cell ALL are germinal and associated with LFS.Обоснование. Синдром ЛиФраумени (СЛФ) редкое доминантно наследуемое заболевание, характеризующееся генетической предрасположенностью к опухолям различной природы, в том числе к опухолям кроветворной ткани. Генетической основой СЛФ являются мутации гена TP53. Пациентам с СЛФ и их родственникам требуются генетическое консультирование с последующим наблюдением и выбор оптимальной терапевтической тактики в случае развития онкологического заболевания. Цель. Описать серию клинических наблюдений пациентов с острым лимфобластным лейкозом (ОЛЛ) и СЛФ и рассмотреть общие вопросы диагностики и лечения взрослых больных с этим наследственным генетическим синдромом. Материалы и методы. Исследование мутаций гена TP53 выполнено 180 больным de novo Ph-негативным (В- и Т-клеточным) и Ph-позитивным ОЛЛ, лечение которым проводили по протоколам российской исследовательской группы (ОЛЛ-2009, ОЛЛ-2012, ОЛЛ-2016) в ФГБУ НМИЦ гематологии и региональных клиниках участниках многоцентровых исследований. Результаты. Мутации гена TP53 обнаружены у 7,8% (n=14) больных de novo ОЛЛ. Для доказательства герминального характера мутаций и подтверждения СЛФ статус гена TP53 оценивали в ремиссии на образцах костного мозга и периферической крови, на образцах костного мозга после трансплантации аллогенных гемопоэтических стволовых клеток и в тканях некроветворного происхождения. Всего в анализ включены 5 больных (из 14, у которых обнаружены мутации), неопухолевый биологический материал которых доступен для исследования. Герминальный характер мутаций, свидетельствующий о наличии СЛФ, подтвержден у 4 из 5 В-клеточный ОЛЛ (n=3), Т-клеточный ОЛЛ (n=1) обследованных пациентов. Заключение. Таким образом, важным практическим выводом работы является наблюдение, что основная часть мутаций гена TP53 у больных Ph-негативным В-клеточным ОЛЛ носит герминальный характер и ассоциирована с CЛФ.

Standard therapy in hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is often impossible at the time of deep neutropenia/agranulocytosis with or without infectious complications; it is thus a complex therapeutic problem. Vemurafenib has been used to treat resistant HCL since 2012. Because vemurafenib does not have a myelotoxic effect, we thought that it could be used to treat HCL associated with deep neutropenia/agranulocytosis with or without the development of infectious complications as a preliminary stage before treatment with cladribine. We conducted a retrospective analysis of treatment with vemurafenib followed by a standard course of cladribine provided to 22 patients with deep neutropenia/agranulocytosis with or without infectious complications at diagnosis. Vemurafenib was provided to 22 patients with HCL. The response to therapy was evaluated by complete blood cell count (absolute neutrophil count [ANC], hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, absence of hairy cells), spleen size (assessed by ultrasound), and reduce infectious complications. After that, a standard course of cladribine was provided. Among the 22 patients, the male/female sex ratio was 2:1, and median (range) age was 52 (24-78) years. There were 7 patients with severe infectious manifestations admitted to the intensive care unit, including 1 patient during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The median (range) ANC at diagnosis was 0.3 (0.04-0.7) × 10

The detection of somatic mutations in the 9 exon of the calreticulin gene (CALR) is regulated by the clinical recommendations as a diagnostic criterion for chronic Ph-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Some methods of nucleic acids testing are used to identify CALR gene mutations with different requirements for special skills of personnel and expensive equipment. The purpose of this work is to compare the results of the detection of CALR gene mutations in venous blood samples by allele-specific RT-PCR with subsequent electrophoresis, fragment analysis and Sanger- or pyro- sequencing. We used 1284 blood samples of patients with suspected MPN and 20 blood donor samples. Mutations in the CALR gene of the I and II type were identified using PCR-RT with the original primers and TaqMan probes. Also, all samples were tested for mutations in the CALR gene by electrophoretic detection of PCR results in an agarose gel. The use of allele-specific RT-PCR followed by electrophoretic detection made it possible to determine clinically significant mutations in the CALR gene in 81 venous blood samples of JAK2- and MPL-negative patients, including 42 cases of type I mutation, 33 cases of type II mutation and 8 rare CALR mutations. Mutations in the 9 exon of the CALR gene were not detected in any of the 20 blood donor samples or in 121 blood samples of patients with polycythemia vera. In randomly selected 20 negative samples, CALR gene mutations were also not detected using Sanger sequencing. All positive samples were confirmed by fragment analysis, as well as with Sanger- sequencing and pyro- sequencing. The described combined approach to detect mutations of the CALR gene in peripheral blood samples can be used in clinical diagnostic laboratories that have a standard set of equipment for electrophoresis of nucleic acids and a PCR-RT. We also propose a confirmatory test based on the pyrosequencing of DNA using the system of genetic analysis "PyroMark Q24".

A photokinetic method of detection of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between special fluorescent labels is applied to study time-averaged spatial distribution of labeled proteins in protein assemblies. Prolonged irradiation of a sample at the absorption maximum of the energy donor initiates FRET-sensitized fluorescence photobleaching of the energy acceptor label, which was monitored by steady-state fluorimetric measurements. Kinetics of the acceptor photobleaching and kinetics of decreasing the efficiency of FRET from donors to unbleached acceptors were determined. The FRET efficiency was found from measuring sensitization of acceptor fluorescence. Analysis of the photokinetic data permits to estimate the time-averaged distribution of acceptors on donor-acceptor distances in the range of characteristic distances of FRET. Dynamic processes influencing donor-acceptor distances can be also investigated by the method. Application of the method is demonstrated by the studies of a complex of biotinylated IgM with streptavidin and aggregates composed of concanavalin A and sodium dodecyl sulphate. A new thiadicarbocyanine dye was used as the acceptor label. R-phycoerythrin and tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate were the donor labels. In the IgM-streptavidin complex, 16% of acceptors most contributed to FRET provided 90% of FRET efficiency, whereas acceptors made about the same time-averaged contribution to FRET in the concanavalin A aggregates.

PCR-based clonality assay of rearranged T-cell receptor genes gamma and beta (TCRG and TCRB) in a number of cases could be essential to discriminate between cutaneous T-cell lymphomas and reactive lymphoproliferative lesions in the skin. However, extraction of good-quality DNA from skin specimens (especially formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded) remains a challenge. Common procedures, being labour-intensive and time-consuming and requiring toxic solvents such as phenol and chloroform, still may end up with DNA sample of insufficient quality. We herewith present a simple and efficient method for DNA isolation based on ammonia extraction of tissue, followed by neutralization and simultaneous salting out of proteins with acetic acid. We have analysed 30 samples - 24 fresh (16 skin, two spleen and six lymph node) and six paraffin-embedded. Standard procedure (proteinase K digestion, followed by phenol/chloroform extraction) has been carried out simultaneously. We observed good PCR signal for TCRG rearrangements in 30 samples processed with the new protocol and only in 20 extracted with proteinase K/phenol/chloroform. For TCRB, the success rate was 29 of 30 with the new protocol, compared to 11 of 30 with conventional protocol. The proposed method of DNA extraction should improve the value of T-cell clonality assay, because insufficient DNA quality and quantity may bias analysis towards monoclonality and therefore cause false-positive results.

To compare diagnostic efficacy of B-cell clonality determination in application of different electrophoretic methods.B-cell clonality was determined with different techniques in 89 patients having B-cell lymphoma (n = 48), B-cell lymphoma in remission (n = 11), reactive processes (n = 24), lymphogranulomatosis and T-cell lymphoma (n = 6). Healthy donors served control. Clonality was defined by rearrangements of Ig heavy chain genes with usage of primers to FR2 region of Ig gene. Electrophoretic methods were the following: agarose electrophoresis and SSCP.Clonality was detected in the presence of more than 5.9% clonal cells from total count of mononuclear cells or more than 20% of clonal cells from total number of B-lymphocytes in the sample. We achieved detectability of B-clonality in B-cell tumors 87.5% (42 of 48 cases). False negative tests were also investigated with kits of primers to FR1 and FR3 regions, but clonality was not determined. Among reactive processes, non-B-cell tumors and healthy donors clonality was found in 1 of 41 cases. This patient had acute respiratory viral infection. Agarose electrophoresis and SSCP test results coincided.Determination of B-cell clonality with agarose electrophoresis proved to be a simple, reliable, cost-effective and reproducible method of differential diagnosis of tumor and reactive lymphoproliferation. This method is not suitable for verification of tumor remission or assessment of minimal residual disease because of its low sensitivity.

The present study was undertaken to assess the presence of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA and protein in circulating human blood monocytes and to study the TNF-alpha gene expression in human monocytes isolated by continuous Percoll gradient fractionation. The technique of RNA isolation directly from the blood samples was used to study TNF-alpha mRNA expression in circulating human blood leukocytes. It was shown that human blood leukocytes of healthy donors contained no presynthesized pool of TNF-alpha mRNA as well as no TNF-alpha protein. It was found that early pretreatment with cycloheximide interferes with TNF-alpha mRNA induction by Staphylococcus aureus.