14q12 translocation in a non-Burkitt lymphoma.

Chromosome analysis was performed on cells from a patient of null cell lymphoma, well-differentiated type. A 14q12 translocation was observed in all the banded cells. In addition, there were multiple chromosome abnormalities. This case will be useful in considering the significance of the 14q1(1-3) translocation in malignant lymphoma disease.</p

Presence of antibodies against adult T cell leukemia antigen in the patients with chronic respiratory diseases.

The presence of antibodies against adult T cell leukemia antigen (ATLA) was studied in 59 patients with chronic respiratory diseases. Of 13 patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis, 3, who developed adult T cell leukemia, had the anti-ATLA antibody and 8 had the related, anti-ATLA-like antibody. Of 13 cases of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, 8 had the anti-ATLA-like antibody. Except for only one case, these antibodies were not detected in 33 patients with bronchial asthma or sarcoidosis and 20 healthy adults examined. These results suggested that the test of these antibodies would be useful for the diagnosis of diffuse panbronchiolitis and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia which frequently develop lung cancers.</p

Production of a macromomycin (MCR)-monoclonal antibody conjugate and its biological activity.

Macromomycin (MCR), an unique membrane-reactive anticancer antibiotic, was incubated with murine monoclonal anti-HLA IgG1 antibody (H-1) in the presence of carbodiimide. The resulting mixture was fractionated with a Sephadex G-200 column. The first and second fractions were shown to contain MCR-(H-1) conjugate by the elution profile, as well as by the Sarcina lutea growth inhibition assay and Ouchterlony double-diffusion method. A membrane immunofluorescence test with anti-MCR and anti-mouse IgG antibodies demonstrated specific localization of MCR-(H-1) on the surface of HLA-bearing NALL -1 cells. MCR-(H-1) inhibited the growth of HLA-lacking NS-1 cells statistically less effectively than MCR alone (p less than 0.01). On the other hand, the conjugate and free MCR equally inhibited the growth and 3H-TdR incorporation of HLA-bearing NALL -1 cells. These results indicate that the antibody-bound MCR retained both MCR and antibody activities, and thus exerted antibody-targeting MCR cytotoxicity in vitro.</p

Detection of HTLV-I pX Gene by Polymerse Chain Reaction Using Newly Designed Primers

Newly designed oligonucleotide primers, KI-7 and KI-8 for the human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) pX gene were synthesized using an automated DNA synthesizer. Previously known HTLV-I-infected cell lines, MT-1 and MT-2, were used as positive controls and HTLV-I-uninfected cell lines, Molt-4, SBC-3, ABC-1, and EBC-1, as negative controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 17 patients with anti-HTLV-I antibody and 10 healthy individuals without anti-HTLV-I antibody were studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with KI-7 and KI-8. All DNA samples from HTLV-I-infected cell lines and 17 patients with anti-HTLV-I antibodies showed positive signals of the HTLV-I pX gene. None of the DNA samples from HTLV-I-uninfected cell lines or 10 healthy individuals showed positive signals. When serially diluted DNA of MT-2 cells were amplified by 35 cycles of PCR, the detection limit of the pX gene by using the primer pairs was DNA from about 1.5 MT-2 cells. Specificity and detectable capacity of primer pairs, KI-7 and KI-8 were confirmed to be enough to use for the diagnosis of HTLV-I infection.</p

Overexpression of Interleukin-2 Receptor α mRNA in Pulmonary Lymphocytes of Lung Cancer Patients Associated with Interstitial Pulmonary Shadow

The activity of pulmonary lymphocytes was evaluated by the detection of interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor alpha mRNA expression in lung cancer patients associated with diffuse interstitial shadow on roentgenograms of their lungs. Reverse transcription coupled with the polymerase chain reaction was used to detect mRNA expression. In 5 of 6 patients, IL-2R alpha mRNA expression was increased in pulmonary lymphocytes compared with 4 normal controls. The expression in this mRNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes was almost undetectable in either normal controls or these patients. These results suggest that pulmonary lymphocytes in patients with lung cancer associated with diffuse interstitial shadows are activated and may promote the inflammatory process generating pulmonary fibrosis

Detection of the pX gene of human T-lymphotropic virus type I in respiratory diseases with diffuse interstitial pulmonary shadows and lung cancer.

The presence of the HTLV-I gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was studied by polymerase chain reaction in 42 patients including 16 with lung cancer, 12 with diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB), 11 with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP), and 3 with pneumoconiosis and hematological malignancy. Sequences equal to a part of the pX gene were found in 44% of the lung cancer cases, 50% of the DPB cases, 55% of the IIP cases, and 100% of the cases of pneumoconiosis and leukemia. In the lung cancer cases, detection of the pX gene was frequently associated with the existence of diffuse interstitial pulmonary shadows. The pX gene was detected in 100% of patients with anti-HTLV-I antibody, 50% of patients with HTLV-I-related reaction and 14% of patients who tested seronegative. It may be inferred from the results that respiratory diseases that produce diffuse interstitial pulmonary shadows are closely associated with HTLV-I infection and that the HTLV-I-related reaction to the immunofluorescent test might reflect the latent infection state of HTLV-I.</p

Heterotransplantation of human leukemic B-cell, T-cell and null-cell lines in hamsters.

Human leukemic B-cell (BALL-1), T-cell (TALL-1) and null-cell (NALL-1) lines have been established from three patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). To study the heterotransplantability and in vivo growth characteristics, attempts were made to transplant these ALL cell lines into newborn Syrian hamsters treated with rabbit anti-hamster thymocyte serum. Intraperitoneal implantation of 1.8-3.5 x 10(7) cells gave rise to invasive tumors in all recipients after 15 to 41 days. In addition to a common in vivo feature of mesenteric and retroperitoneal tumors, BALL-1 line was characterized by infiltration of the skin, massive ascites and bone marrow invasion. TALL-1 cells infiltrated various organs including the lymph nodes, liver, gallbladder, spleen, bone marrow, central nervous system and eyes. NALL-1 line grew slowly, producing the least tumors, although there were distant metastases in the lungs. Tumor cells were detected in the blood of 2 of 3 BALL-1-bearing hamsters and in the blood of 4 of 5 TALL-1-bearing hamsters. Thus, these three ALL cell lines were found to exhibit a characteristic biological behavior in hamsters, which might be related to the different cell lineage.</p

A case of hand mirror cell variant of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

A 30 year old female patient diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with hand mirror like configuration of lymphoblastic-lymphocytic cells is reported. Although the leukemia was resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic regimens, the patient always looked well and survived for more than 20 months. Surface marker analysis showed that the cell was non-T, non-B, and not reactive to antiserum against common ALL antigen. A cytogenetic study of all the analyzable metaphases of the direct bone marrow preparation had a normal female karyotype. The clinical and hematological course is described. The immunological significance and the influence of hand mirror cell on chemosensitivity and prognosis are discussed.</p

Aclarubicin in the treatment of elderly patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

Thirteen previously untreated patients aged 70 and above with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia were treated with aclarubicin (ACR) alone. Among 10 cases (3, acute myelocytic leukemia; 4, acute myelomonocytic leukemia; 2, acute monocytic leukemia; and one, acute erythroleukemia) in which an evaluation was possible, 5 cases (3, acute myelomonocytic leukemia; and 2, acute monocytic leukemia) obtained complete remission (CR). The CR rate was 83% in 6 patients with acute myelomonocytic leukemia or acute monocytic leukemia. The median CR duration and survival was 7.5 and 10 + months, respectively. Although side effects of the drug on digestive system such as nausea, vomiting and anorexia were observed in all patients, they were controllable by conventional treatments. The results suggest that ACR is effective for the clinical management of elderly patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, especially those with acute myelomonocytic leukemia or acute monocytic leukemia.</p