APL的发病分子机制和治疗进展

急性前髓细胞性白血病(APL)是急性髓细胞样白血病(AML)的一个亚型,它的分子生物学特征为95%的患者有15号染色体前髓细胞性白血病基因(PML)与17号染色体视黄酸受体(RARα)基因的融合易位表达.维甲酸(ATRA)单药治疗能使APL患者达90%的缓解率,化疗药物与ATRA的联合应用更能降低患者复发率,改善生存;三氧化二砷(ATO)能使复发患者缓解率达到90%.这篇文章主要综述APL的发病分子机制和治疗进展.     

急性白血病基因突变与多步骤发病机制和临床相关性

急性髓细胞白血病(AML)是一组在发病机制和临床行为方面差异较大的疾病.在急性早幼粒细胞白血病中(APL),PML-RARα是APL的关键驱动(driver)突变,具有显性负的调控作用,影响髓系分化、凋亡和DNA复制和修复,其特殊结构使其成为全反式维甲酸和三氧化二砷的靶标.随着第二代测序技术的发展,在AML中发现了一些新的基因突变,其中DNA甲基转移酶3A(DNMT3A)突变是与表观遗传学相关的、与AML较差预后有关的基因事件.在1185例AML的基因分析中,研究发现与表观遗传学相关的第Ⅲ类突变与老年、高WBC及较差的临床预后有关.AML的发病是多步骤的,涉及不同通路上不同分子事件的相互作用,目前认为影响转录因子和信号传导通路的分子事件相互作用是AML完全发病的重要模式之一.     

急性髓系白血病的分子机制和靶向治疗

急性髓系白血病(AML)是一类具有异质性的造血系统恶性肿瘤,其分子机制涉及基因组和表观遗传学多个层面的改变.急性早幼粒细胞白血病(APL)是AML中的特殊类型,全反式维甲酸(ATRA)和亚砷酸(ATO)的联合应用使APL成为白血病靶向治疗史上最成功的范例.四十年来AML的标准化疗方案几近未变,近年来靶向新药的涌现和免疫...     

Daxx在急性白血病的表达及意义

目的研究Daxx在急性白血病(AL)中的表达及其与AL的分型、临床特征、疗效及预后的关系.方法应用免疫组织化学方法检测88例初治AL骨髓细胞Daxx蛋白的表达情况,分析其与FAB分型、临床特征、疗效及预后的关系.结果急性髓细胞白血病(AML)骨髓细胞中Daxx的表达显著高于正常对照组(P<0.05)与急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)组(P<0.05).在AML亚型中,Daxx在M3中的表达显著高于M1,M2,M3,M4和M5.采用逐步回归法分析,校正其它参数,Daxx的表达与初诊时的白细胞数及骨髓原始细胞数目呈正相关,与疗效呈负相关. 结论 Daxx在急性髓细胞白血病中广泛表达,其表达的紊乱可能在AML的发病中起作用,还与AML的某些临床特征、疗效及预后密切相关.     

基于生物信息学分析SCHIP1在急性髓系白血病中的表达及其临床意义

通过数据挖掘和生物信息学分析手段,探讨施旺膜蛋白相互作用因子1(schwannomin interacting protein 1,SCHIP1)基因在急性髓系白血病患者中的表达情况及其临床意义。首先,对Oncomine数据库中收录的所有急性髓系白血病(acute myloid leukaemia,AML)数据集进行荟萃分析,筛选出目标基因SCHIP1并进一步分析其在AML病人中的表达变化。随后,从GEO数据库中下载含生存信息的AML数据集源文件,分析SCHIP1表达对疾病的预后作用。另外,利用TCGA数据库对SCHIP1的表达情况进行亚组分析及与FLT3基因突变、PML/RARα融合基因和RAS活化等高危因素进行相关性分析。最后,利用GEPIA2工具验证SCHIP1的表达情况、预后意义及与FLT3、PML基因表达的相关性。结果发现Oncomine数据库中收录了44个AML数据集,总计共3534个样本数据。其中5个数据集共1188个样本包含“Cancer vs.Normal”的mRNA表达数据,对其进行荟萃分析显示SCHIP1位于显著高表达分子的第17位。生存分析显示,SCHIP1表达量与AML患者总体生存率呈负相关。亚组分析显示SCHIP1在M0/M1/M2中较M3/M6中表达更高,但与年龄、性别和种族无关。另外,相关性研究分析显示SCHIP1与FLT3基因突变弱相关,但与PML/RARα融合基因和RAS活化等高危因素无显著相关性。这些结果表明SCHIP1在急性髓系白血病中高表达,且其高表达与患者的生存预后呈显著负相关。因此,SCHIP1可作为疾病的预后生物标志物,并有望成为AML的精准治疗靶点。     

基因芯片整合方法在预报儿童急性髓性白血病亚型中的应用

对急性髓性白血病（AML）病人进行明确的亚型分类,有助于制定合适的治疗方案并预测其治疗效果。之前研究表明基因芯片技术在白血病亚型分类中已取得了较好效果,但由于儿童AML发病率较低,相应的芯片分析研究较少,因此目前用于构建儿童AML亚型分类模型的数据相对不足,是否可以应用现有的成人分类模型数据来对儿童AML进行预报还有待研究。应用基因芯片整合分析方法,对来自不同实验的研究成人或儿童AML亚型分类的基因芯片数据进行整合,应用支持向量机分析整合后数据集的亚型预报准确率。结果表明整合后的芯片数据在儿童AML亚型分类预报中的准确率达到97．24％,特征基因分析结果也说明在同一种AML亚型中,对于来自不同年龄组的样本,其特征基因有较高的表达相似性。     

自噬与急性早幼粒细胞白血病

急性早幼粒细胞白血病(APL)是急性髓性白血病的一种亚型,其分子特征是具有t(15;17)(q22;q21)染色体易位,并形成融合肿瘤蛋白,进而阻止早幼粒细胞分化成熟。全反式维甲酸(ATRA)和三氧化二砷(ATO)作为经典的治疗APL的药物,能够通过转录调节并激活泛素-蛋白酶体通路,促进融合肿瘤蛋白降解,发挥其临床抗白血病的功效。最近的研究发现,ATRA与ATO均能够诱导APL细胞自噬,且自噬在融合肿瘤蛋白降解及诱导早幼粒细胞分化中发挥至关重要的作用。我们简要综述近年来APL的研究进展及自噬在APL治疗中的作用。     

急性白血病的P16基因表达分析

应用免疫组织化学方法．对61例急性白血病患者P16基因表达进行检测和分析。结果表明：AML和ALL患者的P16表达均显著低于对照组（P＜0.001）,ALLP16表达又显著低于AML（P＜0．05）。AL亚型中P16表达率以M2最高,L3最低。比较耐药组和药敏组,P16表达两组间有显著差异（P＜0．05）,但初诊组与复发组、缓解组与未缓解组比较未见统计学差异（P＞0．05）。上述结果提示：P16基因表达异常在急性白血病的发生、发展中起重要作用,但与白血病患者的治疗和预后无明显关系。     

异基因造血干细胞移植治疗耳道复发的急性早幼粒细胞白血病一例并文献复习

目的:探讨急性早幼粒细胞白血病(APL)髓外复发的相关因素及治疗。方法:对1例APL缓解后耳道复发患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析,并复习相关文献。结果:患者2015年8月诊断为APL(低危型),经诱导后达完全缓解,随后进行巩固、维持治疗,并多次行腰椎穿刺术及椎管内注射化疗药物预防中枢神经系统白血病。2017年3月发现左外耳道新生物,活检确诊外耳道髓系肉瘤,示髓外复发。随后出现骨髓复发。经诱导巩固化疗后行异基因造血干细胞移植,存活至今。结论:对于髓外复发的急性早幼粒细胞白血病,其预后较差,异基因造血干细胞移植治疗有较好疗效。     

The use of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has been shown to be even more effective than all-trans retinoid (ATRA) in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The combination of induction of apoptosis, induction of differentiation and inhibiting the proliferation, and killing of APL cells could be the main cellular mechanisms of As2O3 in APL treatment. As2O3 may affect APL cells by disturbing the activities of some important intracorporal enzymes, regulating the related gene expression and arresting the progression of cell cycle.     

ATRA-induced upregulation of Beclin 1 prolongs the life span of differentiated acute promyelocytic leukemia cells

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) results from a blockade of granulocyte differentiation at the promyelocytic stage. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) induces clinical remission in APL patients by enhancing the rapid differentiation of APL cells and the clearance of PML-RARα, APL's hallmark oncoprotein. In the present study, we demonstrated that both autophagy and Beclin 1, an autophagic protein, are upregulated during the course of ATRA-induced neutrophil/granulocyte differentiation of an APL-derived cell line named NB4 cells. This induction of autophagy is associated with downregulation of Bcl-2 and inhibition of mTOR activity. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of BECN1 expression enhances apoptosis triggered by ATRA in NB4 cells but does not affect the differentiation process. These results provide evidence that the upregulation of Beclin 1 by ATRA constitutes an anti-apoptotic signal for maintaining the viability of mature APL cells, but has no crucial effect on the granulocytic differentiation. This finding may help to elucidate the mechanisms involved in ATRA resistance of APL patients, and in the ATRA syndrome caused by an accumulation of mature APL cells.     

ATRA-induced upregulation of Beclin 1 prolongs the life span of differentiated acute promyelocytic leukemia cells

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) results from a blockade of granulocyte differentiation at the promyelocytic stage. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) induces clinical remission in APL patients by enhancing the rapid differentiation of APL cells and the clearance of PML-RARα, APL’s hallmark oncoprotein. In the present study, we demonstrated that both autophagy and Beclin 1, an autophagic protein, are upregulated during the course of ATRA-induced neutrophil/granulocyte differentiation of an APL-derived cell line named NB4 cells. This induction of autophagy is associated with downregulation of Bcl-2 and inhibition of mTOR activity. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of BECN1 expression enhances apoptosis triggered by ATRA in NB4 cells but does not affect the differentiation process. These results provide evidence that the upregulation of Beclin 1 by ATRA constitutes an anti-apoptotic signal for maintaining the viability of mature APL cells, but has no crucial effect on the granulocytic differentiation. This finding may help to elucidate the mechanisms involved in ATRA resistance of APL patients, and in the ATRA syndrome caused by an accumulation of mature APL cells.     

Cyclic AMP can promote APL progression and protect myeloid leukemia cells against anthracycline-induced apoptosis

We show that cyclic AMP (cAMP) elevating agents protect blasts from patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) against death induced by first-line anti-leukemic anthracyclines like daunorubicin (DNR). The cAMP effect was reproduced in NB4 APL cells, and shown to depend on activation of the generally cytoplasmic cAMP-kinase type I (PKA-I) rather than the perinuclear PKA-II. The protection of both NB4 cells and APL blasts was associated with (inactivating) phosphorylation of PKA site Ser118 of pro-apoptotic Bad and (activating) phosphorylation of PKA site Ser133 of the AML oncogene CREB. Either event would be expected to protect broadly against cell death, and we found cAMP elevation to protect also against 2-deoxyglucose, rotenone, proteasome inhibitor and a BH3-only mimetic. The in vitro findings were mirrored by the findings in NSG mice with orthotopic NB4 cell leukemia. The mice showed more rapid disease progression when given cAMP-increasing agents (prostaglandin E₂ analog and theophylline), both with and without DNR chemotherapy. The all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-induced terminal APL cell differentiation is a cornerstone in current APL treatment and is enhanced by cAMP. We show also that ATRA-resistant APL cells, believed to be responsible for treatment failure with current ATRA-based treatment protocols, were protected by cAMP against death. This suggests that the beneficial pro-differentiating and non-beneficial pro-survival APL cell effects of cAMP should be weighed against each other. The results suggest also general awareness toward drugs that can affect bone marrow cAMP levels in leukemia patients.     

FLT3 and NPM-1 mutations in a cohort of acute promyelocytic leukemia patients from India

Background:

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with t (15;17) is a distinct category of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is reported to show better response to anthracyclin based chemotherapy. A favorable overall prognosis over other subtypes of AML has been reported for APL patients but still about 15% patients relapse.

Methods:

This study evaluated the presence of Famus like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) and nucleophosmin-1 (NPM1) gene mutations in a cohort of 40 APL patients. Bone marrow/peripheral blood samples from patients at the time of diagnosis and follow-up were processed for immunophenotyping, cytogenetic markers and isolation of DNA and RNA. Samples were screened for the presence of mutations in FLT3 and NPM1 genes using polymerase chain reaction followed by sequencing.

Results:

Frequency of FLT3/internal tandem duplication and FLT3/tyrosine kinase domain was found to be 25% and 7% respectively. We observed a high frequency of NPM1 mutation (45%) in the present population of APL patients.     

Curing APL through PML/RARA degradation by As2O3

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a hematological malignancy driven by the PML/RARA oncogene. The prognosis for patients with APL was revolutionized by two treatments: retinoic acid (RA) and As(2)O(3) (arsenic trioxide). These were both shown a posteriori to target PML/RARA, explaining their exquisite specificity for APL. Arsenic, as a single agent, cures up to 70% of patients, whereas APL patients treated with the combination of RA and As(2)O(3) reach a stunning 90% cure rate. Recent physiopathological models highlight the key role of RA- and As(2)O(3)-triggered PML/RARA degradation, and the molecular mechanisms underlying As(2)O(3)-induced PML/RARA degradation have been recently clarified. As discussed below, arsenic binding, oxidation, sumoylation on PML nuclear bodies, and RNF4-mediated ubiquitination all contribute to the As(2)O(3)-triggered catabolism of PML/RARA.