Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0023418 (leukemia)
 93,477 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Wild-type Wilms' tumor gene WT1 is highly expressed not only in hematopoietic malignancies, including leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), but also in various kinds of solid tumors. Human cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) which could specifically lyse WT1-expressing tumor cells with HLA class I restriction were generated in vitro. We have also demonstrated that mice immunized with the WT1 peptide or WT1 cDNA rejected challenges by WT1-expressing tumor cells and survived with no signs of auto-aggression to normal organs which physiologically expressed WT1 in prophylactic and therapeutic models. Furthermore, we and others detected IgM and IgG WT1 antibodies in the patients with hematopoietic malignancies, indicating that WT1 protein was highly immunogenic, and that immunoglobulin class-switch-inducing WT1-specific cellular immune responses were elicited in the patients. CD8+ WT1-specific CTLs were also detected in peripheral blood or tumor-draining lymph nodes of cancer patients. These results provided us with the rationale for elicitation of CTL responses targeting the WT1 product for cancer immunotherapy. On the basis of the findings mentioned above, we performed a phase I clinical trial of WT1 peptide cancer vaccine for the patients with malignant neoplasms. These results strongly suggested that WT1 peptide cancer vaccine had efficacy in the clinical setting, because clinical responses, including reduction of leukemic blast cells or regression of tumor masses, were observed after the WT1 vaccination in patients with hematopoietic malignancies or solid cancers. The power of TAA-derived cancer vaccine may be enhanced by combination with stronger adjuvants, helper peptide, or conventional treatments such as molecular-target-based drugs.
 ...
PMID:Development of WT1 peptide cancer vaccine against hematopoietic malignancies and solid cancers. 1691 59

Aggressive natural killer cell leukemia (ANKL) is a rare Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated fulminating disease that is widely disseminated at diagnosis. Because of its typically extranodal presentation, differing degrees of NK cell involvement, and varying bone marrow pathology, ANKL can be confused with a reactive process. These features, coupled with a rapidly fatal course, have hampered systematic study of the pathogenesis of ANKL. Nine cases of ANKL were diagnosed and characterized by a single laboratory over a 2-year period. Constant features at presentation included disseminated disease, high fever, bone marrow involvement, and a high lactate dehydrogenase index. All cases were positive for EBV early region protein and negative for latent membrane protein 1, and all had a germline T-cell receptor gene configuration. Peripheral blood counts were variable, with severe thrombocytopenia being the most frequently encountered abnormality (7 of 9 cases). Hematophagocytosis, dyserythropoiesis, and stromal degeneration were the most frequent findings in the bone marrow. Neoplastic cells in the bone marrow were consistently CD2+, CD56+, CD45+, CD34-, CD117-, CD4-, and surface CD3-. Most cases were HLA-DR+ (8/9) and CD8- (8/9). Complex clonal cytogenetic abnormalities were found in 8 of 9 cases. Because of its aggressive course, rapid and accurate diagnosis of ANKL is essential for a better understanding of the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of the disease.
 ...
PMID:Aggressive natural killer cell leukemia: report of a Chinese series and review of the literature. 1726 97

We report the case of an elderly patient affected by Philadelphia positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (Ph(+) ALL) who developed meningeal leukaemia during imatinib monotherapy, despite bone marrow molecular remission. Aggressive central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy in combination with continued imatinib treatment might be, at the moment, the most effective salvage therapy for imatinib-responsive elderly patients with isolated CNS relapse. In view of the inefficacy of imatinib at preventing meningeal leukaemia for its poor penetration into the CNS, CNS prophylactic therapy should always be an integral part of any imatinib-based treatment strategy for Ph(+) ALL.
 ...
PMID:What is the best salvage therapy for treatment of isolated CNS relapse in elderly patients with imatinib-responsive Ph(+) ALL? 1746 30

Aggressive natural killer cell leukemia (ANKL) is a very rare condition and when reported occurs almost exclusively in adults. We report a pediatric case of ANKL that presented with hemophagocytic syndrome, preceding the onset of leukemia by 12 weeks. Clinical and laboratory findings are discussed, along with morphology, immunophenotyping and cytogenetics, as well as the association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). This case is noteworthy for the expression of CD8 on the malignant cells, the cytogenetic findings that include abnormalities of chromosomes 6 and 7, as well as the age of the patient.
 ...
PMID:Aggressive natural killer cell leukemia presenting with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. 1785 64

We describe a 44-yr-old Japanese woman with persistent polyclonal T-cell proliferation and recalcitrant clinical course of haemophagocytic syndrome (HPS). T cells bearing alphabeta T-cell receptors (TCR) expressed increased amounts of CD95 and of CD45RO, which are phenotypically memory T cells. The TCR repertoire was broad and diverse. Regardless of CD95 expression, these cells were resistant to CD95-mediated apoptosis. Aggressive natural killer cell leukaemia (ANKL) without an association with Epstein-Barr virus was detected 1 month after therapeutic splenectomy that followed 3 yr of immunosuppressive therapy against HPS. The immunophenotype of these leukaemia cells was CD56, CD16(dim), CD7, CD45RA and they expressed some CD2, CD8 and HLA-DR. Moreover, hyperdiploid clones with complex chromosomal abnormalities were also detected. Latent NK-cell malignancy seemed to cause the CD95-resistant memory T-cell proliferation and splenectomy resulted in overt ANKL progression. There should be careful consideration of the risks versus benefits of splenectomy in HPS, in light of the possibility of fatal leukaemia/lymphoma progression.
 ...
PMID:Aggressive NK cell leukaemia after splenectomy: association with CD95-resistant memory T-cell proliferation and recalcitrant clinical course of haemophagocytic syndrome. 1851 Jul 5

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) was not detected in Florida pumas (Puma concolor coryi) in almost 20 yr of surveillance; however, the finding of two FeLV antigen-positive pumas during the 2002-2003 capture season led to an investigation of FeLV in the population. Between January 1990 and April 2007, the proportion of pumas testing FeLV antibody positive increased, with antibody-positive pumas concentrated in the northern portion of puma range. Five of 131 (4%) pumas sampled between July 2000 and April 2007 were viremic, with all cases clustered in Okaloacoochee Slough (OKS). Clinical signs and clinical pathology at capture were absent or included lymphadenopathy, moderate-to-severe anemia, and lymphopenia. All viremic pumas died; causes of death were septicemia (n=2), intraspecific aggression (n=2), and anemia/dehydration (n=1). Outcome after FeLV exposure in pumas was similar to that in domestic cats, with evidence of regressive, latent, and persistent infections. Management of the epizootic included vaccination, and as of April 2007, 52 free-ranging pumas had received one or more inoculations. Vaccinations were concentrated in OKS and in a band between OKS and the remainder of the puma population. There have been no new cases since July 2004; however, the potential for reintroduction of the virus remains.
 ...
PMID:Epizootiology and management of feline leukemia virus in the Florida puma. 1868 39

Aggressive natural killer (NK) cell leukemia (ANKL) is a prototype of an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoid malignancy, which is characterized by a fulminant clinical course and a median survival interval <2 months. EBV negativity in ANKL is uncommon, and the characteristics of EBV-negative ANKL are not well defined. We compared the clinicopathological characteristics of EBV-negative ANKL patients (group 1, n = 2) with those of EBV-positive ANKL patients (group 2, n = 14) and reviewed the literature for reports on EBV-negative ANKL cases. EBV-negative and EBV-positive ANKL patients had similar clinical and pathological characteristics, but EBV-negative patients had a longer survival than EBV-positive patients (11.5 vs. 1.5 months, respectively). EBV-negative patients achieved complete remission, but tumors often relapsed after a short interval. In conclusion, EBV-negative ANKL is an uncommon malignancy that pursues a less aggressive clinical course than EBV-positive ANKL.
 ...
PMID:Aggressive natural killer cell leukemia: is Epstein-Barr virus negativity an indicator of a favorable prognosis? 1915 74

Since the initial description of the disease, the life-threatening coagulopathy associated with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) has been the defining clinical characteristic. Historically, this uncommon subtype of acute myeloid leukaemia has been associated with a high mortality rate during induction therapy, most frequently attributable to haemorrhage. Since the introduction of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) into the therapy of all patients with APL, disease-free survival and overall survival have improved dramatically, such that the disease is now highly curable. However, induction mortality remains a major problem and haemorrhage still accounts for the majority of such early deaths. Pathogenesis of the coagulopathy is complex and includes disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), fibrinolysis and proteolysis. As a result, while the predominant clinical manifestation of the coagulopathy is haemorrhage, thromboembolic events may occur both at presentation and during therapy. A major recent finding is the high expression of annexin II in the leukaemic cells from patients with APL. Annexin II is a protein with high affinity for plasminogen and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), and also acts as a cofactor for plasminogen activation by tPA. As a result, both plasminogen and tPA are increased on the cell surface of the leukaemic cell, increasing plasmin activity. Annexin II is expressed in high amounts in cerebral microvascular endothelial cells, perhaps accounting for the relatively high incidence of intracranial haemorrhage in APL compared with other sites. Microparticles are cell-derived membrane fragments originating from normal cells or released from malignant cells involved in activating coagulation. Recent studies have found that microparticles containing tissue factor, tPA, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and annexin II have been found in the plasma of APL patients, suggesting a role in pathogenesis of the coagulopathy. Treatment of the coagulopathy remains primarily supportive. Aggressive transfusions of platelets and cryoprecipitate appear to be important. There is no clear role for the routine use of heparin or antifibrinolytic therapy. The most important factor may be the early introduction of ATRA at the first suspicion of a diagnosis of APL, before it is confirmed genetically.
 ...
PMID:The coagulopathy of acute promyelocytic leukaemia revisited. 1928 82

Severe hyperleukocytosis caused by acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is associated with an increased risk of early death due to the intracranial haemorrhage. We report on a boy who presented with ALL with an extremely high leukocyte count, who developed neurological deterioration due to multiple intracerebral haemorrhages. Adequate measures for managing this medical emergency include appropriate supportive measures and initiation of therapy to prevent symptoms of leukostasis. Aggressive measures as a decompressive craniectomy should be considered to improve the poor outcome observed in this subset of patients.
 ...
PMID:Severe hyperleukocytosis and multifocal intracranial haemorrhage: not always a fatal outcome. 1946 7

This article presents the findings of qualitative research exploring the psycho-social effects of corticosteroid use in pediatric hematology patients during continuation therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The findings are from a 5-year longitudinal study that documented the experience of treatment for childhood leukemia and related disorders from the perspective of the child patient and their family from the point of diagnosis to 1 year post-treatment. To date, scant information on the serious emotional side-effects of corticosteroid administration for children with ALL during the continuation period is available. This is concerning in light of the many serious challenges corticosteroid use poses to families of children with ALL. For this group of parents, dealing with the impact of corticosteroids on their child was reported as the major and only treatment-related stress during the continuation period of treatment for ALL. The impact of these drugs, described in very negative terms, was considered exacerbated by the fact that during the continuation period they are repeatedly administered in 5-week cycles. Anger and aggression, both passive and in acts of physical violence, in combination with temper tantrums and uncontrollable behavior were major concerns. Under the influence of corticosteroids the children could be moody, grumpy, confused, emotionally labile, depressed, sullen and withdrawn. The children could quickly switch from one emotional state to another, such as from aggression to emotionality. They could experience trouble with sleeping and talk excessively. The parents outlined a range of positive strategies for coping with the difficult behavior. The authors make a number of recommendations aimed at assisting parents to deal with the impact of the administration of corticosteroids in continuation therapy, including increasing the awareness on the part of health care providers of the side-effects of these drugs and their impact on the child with ALL and their family; provision of information to families on the effects of corticosteroid use; and, ensuring that professional counseling assistance is available when required.
 ...
PMID:Corticosteroids during continuation therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: the psycho-social impact. 2012 77


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>