Translocation t(1;11)(p32;q23) with MLL-EPS15 fusion gene formation in acute leukemias: a review and 6 new case reports. Approaches to minimal residual disease monitoring

We performed clinical and laboratory characterization of patients with rare translocation t(1;11)(p32;q23) leading to MLL-EPS15 fusion gene formation. Study cohort consisted of 33 primary acute leukemia (AL) cases including 6 newly diagnosed and 27 patients previously described in literature. Among study group patients t(1;11)(p32;q23) was found most frequently in infant AL cases (median age 8 months). In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) male/female ratio was 1:3, in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) it was 1:1. Additional cytogenetic aberrations in 38 % of patients were revealed. The most frequent breakpoint position in EPS15 gene was intron 1. Four different types of MLLEPS15 fusion gene transcripts were detected. Primers-probe-plasmid combination for MLL-EPS15 fusion gene transcript monitoring by realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) was developed and successfully applied. In 3 patients RQ-PCR was done on genomic DNA for absolute quantification of MLL-EPS15 fusion gene. High qualitative concordance rate (92 %) was noted between minimal residual disease data obtained in cDNA and genomic DNA for MLL-EPS15 fusion detection.</p

Treatment results of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia with epigenetic drugs addition

Background. Currently, overall survival rate for pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) do not exceed 70 %. The intensity of modern AML chemotherapeutic programs has reached its limit, and further chemotherapy dose escalation for treatment results improvement is impossible, because it fraught with life-threatening complications. It is investigating a new ways of tumor treatment for improvement of AML patient’s survival level: therapeutic efficacy of targeted and epigenetic drugs.Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of epigenetic drugs (azacitidine, decitabine, all-trans-retinoid acid and valproic acid) in combination with AML-BFM 2004 protocol for treatment of pediatric AML.Materials and methods. 80 patients with primary AML diagnosis were enrolled the study. Age was ranged from 8 months to 17 years (median 6.7 ± 0.6 years). From June 2012 to January 2018 all patients were subdivided in two treatment groups. 1st group included 34 patients treated with NII POH AML 2012 protocol, 2nd group – 46 patients treated by AML-BFM 2004 protocol.Results. 3-year relapse-free survival in 1st group, regardless of prognostic risk group, was 66.7 ± 11.7 %, 2nd group – 68.9 ± 9.9 %. Eventfree survival (EFS) for patients from 1st group was 66.7 ± 11.7 %, form 2nd group – 50.4 ± 10.2 %. Overall survival in 1st group was 66.7 ± 14.3 %, 2nd group – 66.9 ± 7.5 %. For patients with unfavorable risk from 1st treatment group 3-year relapse-free survival was 69.1 ± 11.9 %, 2nd – 64.9 ± 11.3 % (p = 0,8). EFS – 69.1 ± 11.9 and 44.8 ± 11.3 % respectively (p = 0,13). 3-year overall survival for patients with unfavorable risk group was 69.4 ± 14.6 and 64.4 ± 7.9 % in 1st and 2nd treatment groups respectively.Conclusion. The efficacy of decitabine in “window” regimen was higher in contrast to azacitidine; epigenetic therapy with AML-BFM 2004 protocol allow us to achieve a higher EFS, because of induction mortality and infection-related death decrease – EFS in 1st group was 16 % higher than in 2nd. Besides, EFS in unfavorable risk group, who treated with epigenetic drugs, was 25 % higher – 69.1 ± 11.9 % and 44.8 ± 11.3 % in 1st and 2nd groups respectively (p = 0.13). Nevertheless, overall survival in both groups was the same – 66 % (1st – 66.7 ± 14.3 % and 2nd – 66.9 ± 7.5 %)

Epilepsy in children with lymphoproliferative syndrome

There are considerable variations in the reported incidence of early and late epilepsy in children with lymphoproliferative diseases. The etiology of seizures in pediatric patients with hemoblastosis during  polychemotherapy can be diverse: dysmetabolic, infectious, toxic, ischemic, posthemorrhagic. The  treatment strategy selected by the neurologist largely depends on the causes of the paroxysmal  conditions. When choosing the anti-seizure therapy one should consider the course of hemoblastoses  and the possible effects of polychemotherapy. The article presents pediatric cases and the analysis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia with developing epileptic seizures