Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia

FTY720 produces caspase-independent cell death of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

“…20 FTY720 produced a marked reduction in cellular proliferation of ALL cell lines as measured by 3 H-thymidine incorporation, with IC 50 values ranging from 1.4 μM for ALL1 to 4.0 μM for LK63 (Fig. 1A).…”

“…Proliferation was measured by 3 H-thymidine incorporation as previously described in reference 48. Briefly, cells were plated in quadruplicate and after 24 h, 1 μCi of 3 H-thymidine (PerkinElmer, NET027Z005MC) was added per well.…”

“…2 In 20-40% of adults and 2-5% of childhood patients with ALL, the disease is caused by the BCR/ABL proto-oncogene (Philadelphia positive, Ph + ALL), with a historically poor prognosis, although the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in combination chemotherapy has significantly improved survival. 3 In addition, current chemotherapeutic protocols for ALL are complex and prolonged, and result in significant toxicities in many patients. New therapeutic strategies are therefore required for ALL patients who relapse or who have high risk features for relapse at diagnosis.…”

Detection of Meningeosis neoplastica by real-time quantitation of telomerase activity

“…Despite the low incidence of Meningeosis neoplastica, discrimination between non-malignant and malignant cytology is of vital importance for the patient due to fundamentally differential therapeutic regimens (anti-infective, immunosuppressive or no therapy vs. anti-neoplastic therapy). Leptomeningeal involvement is present in about 6% of patients diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukaemia (2) and develops in about 5% of patients with solid tumours (3,4).…”

Toxic non-resorptive internal hydrocephalus as a result of haemorrhagic ventriculitis during induction chemotherapy of Bcr-Abl positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

“…CNS prophylaxis with intrathecal therapy and CNS radiation has significantly improved the outcome of patients with ALL [1]. Nevertheless, several authors have reported neurotoxicity and adverse effects on the CNS after the administration of intrathecal chemotherapy and/or cranial irradiation.…”