Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematopoietic malignancy characterized by great heterogeneity and clonal nature. In recent years, rapidly evolving next-generation sequencing methods provided a deep insight into the mutational background of AML. It was shown that ~ 44 % of AML patients harbor mutations in genes that regulate DNA methylation. So far, many researchers have tried to evaluate the prognostic significance of DNA methylation changes in AML, however, due to a great inconsistency in these studies, none of the reported markers were implemented into clinical practice. The aim of this work was to further investigate the DNA methylation changes in AML patients with specific mutations and their prognostic effect. Next, we wanted to develop a new approach for a complex evaluation of prognostically significant DNA methylation aberrations. In our first project, we assessed the overall DNA methylation, hydroxymethylation, and gene expression in AML patients with mutations in either DNMT3A or IDH1/2 or their combinations. We discovered that each genetic aberration is connected with a distinct pattern of DNA hydroxy-/methylation changes that are not entirely reflected in altered gene expression. Patients with mutations in both genes exhibited a mixed DNA methylation profile most similar to healthy...

Acute myeloid leukemia(AML) is the most common acute leukemia among adults in the United states with approximately 19,940 people being diagnosed of this disease in 2020 and 11,180 deaths. It is a heterogenous group of malignancy characterized by clonal expansion of blast with myeloid lineage in the bone marrow, peripheral blood and/or other tissues. Our patient is a 79-year-old male who presented to the hospital with reports of sharp, throbbing low back pain for one month, moderately controlled with pain medications. He reported 5 lb. weight loss with decreased appetite over one month but denied other constitutional symptoms. MRI Lumbar spine revealed multiple foci of marrow signal abnormality compatible with extensive metastatic disease. CT chest, abdomen and pelvis did not show any lesions concerning for primary or metastatic malignancy. CBC revealed normal WBC count, platelet count and hemoglobin level (with macrocytosis, MCV 104.7). Initial work up including Vitamin B12 and folic acid level, TSH, SPEP/IFE, serum light chain ratio and quantitative immunoglobulins were within normal limits. Pathology from a CT guided bone biopsy of the L spine lesion was concerning for high grade myeloid neoplasm. Patient had a bone marrow biopsy done at another hospital which was read as most consistent with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with monocytic differentiation, with findings of hypocellular marrow, extensive fibrosis with focal areas of large clusters of immature cells, positive for MPO, CD33, CD43 and CD 56, Ki-67 of 60-80%. Cytogenetics showed an abnormal male karyotype with trisomy 8. FISH was negative for other AML or MDS related abnormalities. Given the above findings of AML and advanced age, patient was started on treatment with hypomethylating agent Decitabine along with BCL-2 inhibitor, Venetoclax. A repeat bone marrow biopsy after two cycles of the above regimen revealed progressive disease with extensive fibrosis and 80-90% blast on a core biopsy sample. Due to poor response to above regimen, lack of effective treatment options in older patients with AML and declining functional status, decision was made to pursue best supportive care. AML usually presents with symptoms of fevers, fatigue, dyspnea or bleeding. Skeletal lesions are usually associated with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, or other solid organ malignancies and rare in AML. Extra medullary involvement of AML is known to happen in 2.5%-9% of patients and is termed as Myeloid Sarcoma. Due to the low incidence, prospective study data is limited. This entity is treated similarly to AML, depending on risk stratification by cytogenetics, age and targetable mutations which also govern its prognosis. This case highlights the importance of increased awareness and high index of suspicion among medical providers regarding this atypical presentation of AML since if missed or misdiagnosed could delay treatment and lead to poor outcomes.

No description available.

In patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), cytarabine-based chemotherapy usually achieves remission, but this is commonly followed by relapse and chemo-resistance. In this study, we aim to establish next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based microRNA expression profiling and pathway analysis to identify pathways regulated differentially between chemo-sensitive and -resistant AML as potential therapeutic targets. MicroRNA expression profiles differ significantly between chemo-sensitive and chemo-resistant AML cells and reflect differences in the activity of intracellular signaling cascades. Alterations in signaling pathway activities contribute to treatment resistance and thus represent potential drug targets. Our microRNA-led approach indicates a role for activin receptor type 2A in ARA-C resistance of AML cells and suggests activin receptor signaling to be a candidate pathway for targeted therapy.

No description available.

AML is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow characterized by the presence of highly proliferative and abnormally differentiated myeloblasts. Previous work from the Bhatia lab utilized the orthotopic xenograft model in order to isolate a population of leukemic regenerating cells (LRC) that exists prior to relapse. Affymatrix analysis of LRCs revealed up-regulation of 248 genes that can act as unique targets to prevent relapse. In order to screen compounds against all 248 targets, it is important to develop an in vitro model that is able to appropriately recapture the functional and molecular markers of LRCs. Primary AML samples were treated with 5-doses of 0.15 μM, 1 μM AraC, or DMSO control and several outcomes were measured. In vitro AraC treatment was not able to recapitulate the progenitor frequency curve and CD34 expression curve observed in vivo. Additionally, we were not able to see a consistent increase in select LRC targets DRD2, GLUT2, FUT3, and FASL via flow cytometry. Despite an increase in the mRNA levels of LRC genes 24h after treatment with 0.15 μM AraC, long term analysis could not be completed due to poor RNA quality and low expression of LRC-targets. Primary AML cells were co-culture with mouse MS-5 stromal cell line order to study the effects of mesenchymal stromal cells on AML response to AraC. Co-culture with MS-5 cells had different effects on select primary AML cells. AML 14939 showed an increase in CD34 and LRC targets DRD2 and FUT3 following AraC treatment when co-cultured with MS-5 cells; while A374 showed no differences between DMSO and AraC treated groups. Overall, these findings suggest the LRC signature is not induced by treatment with AraC alone. Complex interactions between AML cells and their bone marrow niche during AraC treatment plays an important role in the development of LRCs prior to AML relapse. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / AML is a cancer of blood cells characterized by the presence of rapidly dividing cancer cells termed myeloblasts. AML has a high rate of disease relapse. The Bhatia lab modelled AML relapse in a mouse and discovered an unique population of cells that exist prior to relapse termed LRCs. LRCs express distinctive genes that can act as targets for the development of new therapies to prevent relapse. In order to screen potential relapse preventing compounds, we set out to recapture AML relapse using cells in a dish. AML cells from patients were treated with chemotherapy reagent AraC and the number of cancer progenitors and the expression of specific LRC proteins were measured. AraC did not increase the level of 3 out of 4 LRC proteins studied. We determined the LRCs were not caused by AraC treatment, and the physiology of the bone marrow environment plays an important role in inducing relapse.

Yes / The HOX genes encode a family of transcription factors that have key roles in both development and malignancy. Disrupting the interaction between HOX proteins and their binding partner, PBX, has been shown to cause apoptotic cell death in a range of solid tumors. However, despite HOX proteins playing a particularly significant role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the relationship between HOX gene expression and patient survival has not been evaluated (with the exception of HOXA9), and the mechanism by which HOX/PBX inhibition induces cell death in this malignancy is not well understood. In this study, we show that the expression of HOXA5, HOXB2, HOXB4, HOXB9, and HOXC9, but not HOXA9, in primary AML samples is significantly related to survival. Furthermore, the previously described inhibitor of HOX/PBX dimerization, HXR9, is cytotoxic to both AML-derived cell lines and primary AML cells from patients. The mechanism of cell death is not dependent on apoptosis but instead involves a regulated form of necrosis referred to as necroptosis. HXR9-induced necroptosis is enhanced by inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) signaling, and HXR9 combined with the PKC inhibitor Ro31 causes a significantly greater reduction in tumor growth compared to either reagent alone. / Funded in part through a grant to RA from the Cultural Bureau of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

No description available.

Introdução: O Transplante Alogênico de Célula Tronco Hematopoiética (TCTH alogênico) é um procedimento de alto potencial curativo para a Leucemia Mielóide Aguda (LMA), principalmente pelo efeito “graft versus leukemia” (GVL), que leva a redução do risco de recaída. Atualmente, os pacientes com LMA de risco intermediário são submetidos ao procedimento caso possuam doador aparentado. Pacientes sem doador aparentado disponível são submetidos a tratamento de consolidação com quimioterapia, com maior chance de recaída da doença. Acredita-se que os pacientes submetidos ao TCTH tenham maiores sobrevida global e livre de doença, a despeito das altas taxas de morbimortalidade. A classificação de risco é extremamente importante para escolha terapêutica pós remissão. Assim, a realização da pesquisa de marcadores moleculares, para refinar a estratificação prognóstica, tem importância especial no grupo de risco intermediário, complementando a avaliação citogenética, e auxiliando na decisão terapêutica, sendo cada vez mais necessária, apesar de não disponível em todos os centros. Material e métodos: Foram avaliados os pacientes com LMA de risco intermediário em primeira Remissão Completa (1RC) do Serviço de Hematologia e TCTH do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre do período de 01 de abril de 1999 a 01 de outubro de 2014, com pelo menos 1 ano de seguimento após o tratamento, através de revisão de prontuários. Os dados foram dispostos no programa Excel e posteriormente exportados para o programa SPSS v. 18.0 para análise estatística. Resultados: Foram avaliados 69 pacientes, sendo 45 pacientes submetidos a consolidação com quimioterapia (“QT”) e 24 submetidos a TCTH Alogênico (“TCTH Alogênico”). A média de idade do grupo “QT” foi de 47,8 anos e do grupo “TCTH Alogênico” foi de 35,5 anos, com diferença estatisticamente significativa (P<0,001). Não houve diferença na distribuição entre o sexo. A mediana de tempo de seguimento do grupo “QT” foi de 1,1 anos (intervalo interquartil de 0,4 a 2,5 ) e no grupo “TCTH Alogênico” foi de 2,7 anos (intervalo interquartil de 0,4 a 5,5), sem diferença estatisticamente significativa na distribuição dos tempos de seguimento entre os grupos (P=0,236). A sobrevida do grupo “QT” em 12 meses foi de 52,3% e no grupo “TCTH Alogênico” foi de 62,5%. Aos 24 meses, a sobrevida do grupo “QT” foi de 31,7% e no grupo “TCTH Alogênico” foi de 58,3% e em 5 anos de 21,1% e 53,8%, respectivamente. O teste do Long-Rank aponta uma diferença estatisticamente significativa nas sobrevidas entre os grupos após 5 anos, com Hazard Ratio (HR) para óbito de 2,2 (IC 95%: 1,1-4,2), P=0,027, porém ao ajustarmos a relação pela idade esta associação perde significância estatística (HR:1,6 IC95%:1 - 1,1; P=0,246) Discussão: Os dados evidenciaram melhor sobrevida no grupo submetido à TCTH alogênico, porém o grupo submetido ao procedimento apresentava média de idade menor. No entanto, apesar da perda da significância estatística, o HR corrigido para idade permanece maior para o grupo sem TCTH, o que pode dever-se ao “n” pequeno da amostra. Identificar quais pacientes terão benefício com TCTH torna-se cada vez mais um desafio. O uso de marcadores moleculares são importantes no refinamento da estratificação de risco do grupo de risco intermediário, podendo auxiliar nessa decisão. Além disso, com o advento da possibilidade de condicionamentos não mieloablativos como alternativa aos pacientes mais velhos e com escore de comorbidades pior e a melhor terapia de suporte, talvez possamos ser menos conservadores na indicação desse procedimento, identificando assim aqueles que poderão obter melhores resultados no tratamento de uma doença tão agressiva e grave. / Background: Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a high potentially curative procedure to Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), mainly by the “graft-versus-leukemia” (GVL) effect, which leads to reduced risk of relapse. Nowadays, intermediate risk AML patients are submitted to this procedure if a matched sibling donor is available. Patients without a sibling donor are submitted to consolidation with chemotherapy, with a greater chance of relapse. It is believed that patients submitted to allo-HSCT have a greater overall survival and disease-free survival, even though it presents high morbidity and mortality rates. Risk stratification is extremely important to post-remission treatment choice. Molecular markers research is especially important in intermediate risk group, complementing cytogenetic evaluation to a better prognostic stratification and, although it is still not available in all health centers, it is more and more necessary. Materials and Methods: We evaluated intermediate risk AML patients in first Complete Remission (CR1) at the Hematology Service and Bone Marrow Transplantation from Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre from April 1st 1999 to October 1st 2014, and which had, at least, a one year follow-up after treatment, by conducting a medical record review. Data was inserted in Microsoft Excel 2010 spreadsheets and after exported to SPSS v. 18.0 to statistical analysis. Results: Among the 69 patients analyzed, 45 were submitted to consolidation with chemotherapy (Intermediate risk AML – non allo-HSCT) and 24 of then submitted to allo-HSCT (Intermediate risk AML – allo-HSCT). The average age of Intermediate risk AML – non allo-HSCT was 47.8 years old and Intermediate risk AML – allo-HSCT was 35.5 years old, with statistically significance difference (P<0,001). There was no difference regard sex of patients. The median follow-up in the Intermediate risk AML – non allo-HSCT was 1.1 years (interquartile rage of 0.4 to 2.5) and in the Intermediate risk AML – allo-HSCT was 2.7 years (interquartile rage of 0.4 to 5.5), with no statistically significance difference in follow-up time distribution between groups (P=0.236). Intermediate risk AML – non allo-HSCT survival in 12 months was 52.3% and in the Intermediate risk AML – allo-HSCT was 62.5%. In 24 months, Intermediate risk AML – non allo-HSCT survival was 31.7% and in Intermediate risk AML – allo HSCT survival was 58.3% and in 5 years it was 21.1% and 53.8% respectively. Long- Rank test indicates a statistically significant difference in survival between groups after 5 years, with hazard ratio (HR) for death of 2.2 (IC95% 1.1 – 4.2), P=0.027, but when we adjust the relation to age, this association loses statistical significance (HR:1.6 95%CI: 1 – 1.1; P=0.246). Discussion: Data showed a better survival rate to the group submitted to allo-HSCT, but the group presented a lower average age. However, despite de loss of statistical significance, Hazard Ratio (HR), adjusted to age remains higher to the non allo-HSCT group. It can be explained by the small number of the sample. Identifying which patients will benefit from allo-HSCT becomes increasingly challenging. The use of molecular markers are important in the refinement of risk stratification in intermediate risk group, assisting in the decision. Moreover, with the advent of the possibility of nonmyeloablative conditioning as an alternative to older patients and with worst rates of comorbidity, and the better supporting therapy, we may be less conservative in indicating this procedure, identifying the patients who may obtain better results during treatment of such aggressive and serious disease.

Introdução: O Transplante Alogênico de Célula Tronco Hematopoiética (TCTH alogênico) é um procedimento de alto potencial curativo para a Leucemia Mielóide Aguda (LMA), principalmente pelo efeito “graft versus leukemia” (GVL), que leva a redução do risco de recaída. Atualmente, os pacientes com LMA de risco intermediário são submetidos ao procedimento caso possuam doador aparentado. Pacientes sem doador aparentado disponível são submetidos a tratamento de consolidação com quimioterapia, com maior chance de recaída da doença. Acredita-se que os pacientes submetidos ao TCTH tenham maiores sobrevida global e livre de doença, a despeito das altas taxas de morbimortalidade. A classificação de risco é extremamente importante para escolha terapêutica pós remissão. Assim, a realização da pesquisa de marcadores moleculares, para refinar a estratificação prognóstica, tem importância especial no grupo de risco intermediário, complementando a avaliação citogenética, e auxiliando na decisão terapêutica, sendo cada vez mais necessária, apesar de não disponível em todos os centros. Material e métodos: Foram avaliados os pacientes com LMA de risco intermediário em primeira Remissão Completa (1RC) do Serviço de Hematologia e TCTH do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre do período de 01 de abril de 1999 a 01 de outubro de 2014, com pelo menos 1 ano de seguimento após o tratamento, através de revisão de prontuários. Os dados foram dispostos no programa Excel e posteriormente exportados para o programa SPSS v. 18.0 para análise estatística. Resultados: Foram avaliados 69 pacientes, sendo 45 pacientes submetidos a consolidação com quimioterapia (“QT”) e 24 submetidos a TCTH Alogênico (“TCTH Alogênico”). A média de idade do grupo “QT” foi de 47,8 anos e do grupo “TCTH Alogênico” foi de 35,5 anos, com diferença estatisticamente significativa (P<0,001). Não houve diferença na distribuição entre o sexo. A mediana de tempo de seguimento do grupo “QT” foi de 1,1 anos (intervalo interquartil de 0,4 a 2,5 ) e no grupo “TCTH Alogênico” foi de 2,7 anos (intervalo interquartil de 0,4 a 5,5), sem diferença estatisticamente significativa na distribuição dos tempos de seguimento entre os grupos (P=0,236). A sobrevida do grupo “QT” em 12 meses foi de 52,3% e no grupo “TCTH Alogênico” foi de 62,5%. Aos 24 meses, a sobrevida do grupo “QT” foi de 31,7% e no grupo “TCTH Alogênico” foi de 58,3% e em 5 anos de 21,1% e 53,8%, respectivamente. O teste do Long-Rank aponta uma diferença estatisticamente significativa nas sobrevidas entre os grupos após 5 anos, com Hazard Ratio (HR) para óbito de 2,2 (IC 95%: 1,1-4,2), P=0,027, porém ao ajustarmos a relação pela idade esta associação perde significância estatística (HR:1,6 IC95%:1 - 1,1; P=0,246) Discussão: Os dados evidenciaram melhor sobrevida no grupo submetido à TCTH alogênico, porém o grupo submetido ao procedimento apresentava média de idade menor. No entanto, apesar da perda da significância estatística, o HR corrigido para idade permanece maior para o grupo sem TCTH, o que pode dever-se ao “n” pequeno da amostra. Identificar quais pacientes terão benefício com TCTH torna-se cada vez mais um desafio. O uso de marcadores moleculares são importantes no refinamento da estratificação de risco do grupo de risco intermediário, podendo auxiliar nessa decisão. Além disso, com o advento da possibilidade de condicionamentos não mieloablativos como alternativa aos pacientes mais velhos e com escore de comorbidades pior e a melhor terapia de suporte, talvez possamos ser menos conservadores na indicação desse procedimento, identificando assim aqueles que poderão obter melhores resultados no tratamento de uma doença tão agressiva e grave. / Background: Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a high potentially curative procedure to Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), mainly by the “graft-versus-leukemia” (GVL) effect, which leads to reduced risk of relapse. Nowadays, intermediate risk AML patients are submitted to this procedure if a matched sibling donor is available. Patients without a sibling donor are submitted to consolidation with chemotherapy, with a greater chance of relapse. It is believed that patients submitted to allo-HSCT have a greater overall survival and disease-free survival, even though it presents high morbidity and mortality rates. Risk stratification is extremely important to post-remission treatment choice. Molecular markers research is especially important in intermediate risk group, complementing cytogenetic evaluation to a better prognostic stratification and, although it is still not available in all health centers, it is more and more necessary. Materials and Methods: We evaluated intermediate risk AML patients in first Complete Remission (CR1) at the Hematology Service and Bone Marrow Transplantation from Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre from April 1st 1999 to October 1st 2014, and which had, at least, a one year follow-up after treatment, by conducting a medical record review. Data was inserted in Microsoft Excel 2010 spreadsheets and after exported to SPSS v. 18.0 to statistical analysis. Results: Among the 69 patients analyzed, 45 were submitted to consolidation with chemotherapy (Intermediate risk AML – non allo-HSCT) and 24 of then submitted to allo-HSCT (Intermediate risk AML – allo-HSCT). The average age of Intermediate risk AML – non allo-HSCT was 47.8 years old and Intermediate risk AML – allo-HSCT was 35.5 years old, with statistically significance difference (P<0,001). There was no difference regard sex of patients. The median follow-up in the Intermediate risk AML – non allo-HSCT was 1.1 years (interquartile rage of 0.4 to 2.5) and in the Intermediate risk AML – allo-HSCT was 2.7 years (interquartile rage of 0.4 to 5.5), with no statistically significance difference in follow-up time distribution between groups (P=0.236). Intermediate risk AML – non allo-HSCT survival in 12 months was 52.3% and in the Intermediate risk AML – allo-HSCT was 62.5%. In 24 months, Intermediate risk AML – non allo-HSCT survival was 31.7% and in Intermediate risk AML – allo HSCT survival was 58.3% and in 5 years it was 21.1% and 53.8% respectively. Long- Rank test indicates a statistically significant difference in survival between groups after 5 years, with hazard ratio (HR) for death of 2.2 (IC95% 1.1 – 4.2), P=0.027, but when we adjust the relation to age, this association loses statistical significance (HR:1.6 95%CI: 1 – 1.1; P=0.246). Discussion: Data showed a better survival rate to the group submitted to allo-HSCT, but the group presented a lower average age. However, despite de loss of statistical significance, Hazard Ratio (HR), adjusted to age remains higher to the non allo-HSCT group. It can be explained by the small number of the sample. Identifying which patients will benefit from allo-HSCT becomes increasingly challenging. The use of molecular markers are important in the refinement of risk stratification in intermediate risk group, assisting in the decision. Moreover, with the advent of the possibility of nonmyeloablative conditioning as an alternative to older patients and with worst rates of comorbidity, and the better supporting therapy, we may be less conservative in indicating this procedure, identifying the patients who may obtain better results during treatment of such aggressive and serious disease.