| 1. |
- Bergh, Ann-Charlotte, et al.
(författare)
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B cell receptor signaling suppressor SHP-1 is active in CLL lymph node and peripheral blood
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 expression and activity is downregulated or lost in several leukemias and lymphomas due to DNA promotor hypermethylation, catalytic site mutation or oxidation, or phosphorylation at inhibitory sites, implying a negative role of SHP-1 in development of leukemias/lymphomas. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), B cell receptor (BcR) and microenvironment signal levels are important in the pathogenesis. Considering that SHP-1 is a BcR signaling suppressor, we hypothesized that SHP-1 would be down-regulated and/or inactivated in the proliferative center lymph node (LN) cells. We analyzed PTPN6 (SHP-1) gene expression, SHP-1 protein expression and phosphorylation status in matched CD5+/CD19+ peripheral blood (PB) and LN cells from 6 CLL patients, and in comparison, BcR (anti-IgM) in vitro triggered CLL PB cells from 10 patients. Gene expression of PTPN6 was significantly higher in PB compared to LN CLL cells in 50% of the cases. SHP-1 protein expression level and phosphorylation at SHP-1Y536 and SHP-1S591 were, however, equal in PB and LN samples. SHP-1 phosphorylation at Y536 and S591, in PB CLL cells cultured ex vivo was significantly reduced upon BcR engagement in all patient samples. These results indicate that in vivo BcR signaling in CLL is paralyzed.
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| 2. |
- Bergh, Ann-Charlotte, 1980-
(författare)
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Importance of microenvironment and antigen in the regulation of growth and survival of CLL cells
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells rapidly die when put in culture implying that microenvironmental signals delivered by accessory cells confer CLL cells with a growth advantage. Recent findings show that CLL cells are antigen experienced and antigen binding play a critical role in the pathogenesis of the disease. The overall aim of this thesis was to study the influence of the microenvironment and antigen binding in CLL.In paper I, we studied the influence of the small redox-regulatory molecule thioredoxin (Trx) on CLL cell survival and proliferation. We found Trx to be highly expressed in CLL lymph nodes (LNs), secreted from stromal cells surrounding proliferating CLL cells in proliferation centers, indicating growth promoting properties. Secreted Trx was also shown to protect CLL cells from apoptosis.In paper II, oxidized LDL was added to subset #1 CLL cells. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, we could not observe activation and proliferation of CLL cells. Instead subset #1 CLL cells were unresponsive/anergic through the B cell receptor (BcR). This anergic state could however be overcome by “wash out” of bound antigen or addition of toll-like receptor 9 stimulation in some patients.Gene expression profiles differ between groups of CLL patients and in peripheral blood (PB) and LN compartment, due to different microenvironments. However, it is not known whether these differences also apply for DNA methylation. In paper III, we identified various genes that were alternatively methylated between IGHV mutated (M) and unmutated (UM) groups. For example prognostic genes, CLLU1 and LPL, genes involved in B cell signaling, IBTK, as well as numerous TGF-β and NF-κB/TNF pathway genes.The intensity and duration of BcR signals are fine-tuned by enhancing or inhibitory coreceptors. SHP-1 inhibits BcR-signals by dephosphorylation. In paper IV, we compared the expression and activity of SHP-1 in CLL cells from LN with matched PB samples. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, SHP-1 activity/phosphorylation status in PB and LN, did not differ significantly.This thesis, add another piece to the puzzle, on how the microenvironment and antigens influence CLL pathogenesis. Since great variations among individuals are seen, further studies in different groups of patients are necessary to elucidate the importance of antigen for the development of CLL.
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| 3. |
- Bergh, Ann-Charlotte, et al.
(författare)
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Silenced B-cell receptor response to autoantigen in a poor-prognostic subset of chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- 2014
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Ingår i: Haematologica. - : Ferrata Storti Foundation. - 0390-6078 .- 1592-8721. ; 99:11, s. 1722-1730
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia B-cells express auto/xeno-antigen-reactive antibodies that bind to self-epitopes and resemble natural IgM antibodies in their repertoire. One of the antigenic structures recognized is oxidation-induced malonedialdehyde present on low-density lipoprotein, apoptotic blebs, and on certain microbes. The poor-prognostic stereotyped subset #1 (Clan I IGHV genes-IGKV1(D)-39) express IgM B-cell receptors that bind oxidized low-density lipoprotein. In this study, we have used for the first time this authentic cognate antigen, since it is more faithful to B-cell physiology than anti-IgM, for analysis of downstream B-cell receptor-signal transduction events. Multivalent oxidized low-density lipoprotein showed specific binding to subset #1 IgM/IgD B-cell receptors, whereas native low-density lipoprotein did not. The antigen-binding induced prompt receptor-clustering, followed by internalization. However, the receptor-signal transduction was silenced, revealing no Ca2+ mobilization or cell-cycle entry, while phosphorylated extracellular-regulated kinase1/2 basal levels were high and could not be elevated further by oxidized low-density lipoprotein. Interestingly, B-cell receptor responsiveness was recovered after 48 hours culture in the absence of antigen in half of the cases. Toll-like receptor 9-ligand was found to breach the B-cell receptor-signaling incompetence in 5 of 12 cases pointing to intra-subset heterogeneity. Altogether, this study supports B-cell receptor-unresponsiveness to cognate self-antigen on its own in poor-prognostic subset #1 chronic lymphocytic leukemia indicating that these cells proliferate by other mechanisms that may override B-cell receptor-silencing brought about in a context of self-tolerance/anergy. These novel findings have implications for the understanding of chronic lymphocytic leukemia pathobiology and therapy.
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| 4. |
- Bergh, Jonas C. S., et al.
(författare)
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Docetaxel, trastuzumab, pertuzumab versus trastuzumab emtansine as neoadjuvant treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer : results from the Swedish PREDIX HER2 trial identifying a new potential de-escalation standard?
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Oncology. - : American Society of Clinical Oncology. - 0732-183X .- 1527-7755. ; 37:15, s. 501-501
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Neoadjuvant therapy produces high rates of pathological complete response (pCR) and is the standard of care in HER2 positive breast cancer; however, the optimal treatment regimen remains to be established. Methods: In this randomized phase II study patients ≥18 years with HER2 positive breast cancer > 20mm or verified lymph node metastases were randomized to 6 courses of docetaxel, trastuzumab and pertuzumab (DTP, group A) or trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1, group B), q 21 days. The protocol allowed switch to the competing treatment upon lack of response or drug-related severe toxicity. Patients received postoperative epirubicin+cyclophosphamide, trastuzumab for a total of one year and endocrine therapy. Accrual was completed in October 2018 after randomization of 202 patients, data on pCR were available for 190 at the time for this abstract submission. Median age, 52 years (26-74), menopausal status, histological type and grade were well balanced between the treatment groups. 62.6% of the tumors were hormone receptor (HR) positive. Results: Primary endpoint was pathological objective response. 190 patients completed the protocol-specified preoperative treatment. pCR was achieved in 45.3% of patients, 46.4% in patients treated with DTP and 44.1% with T-DM1 (chi-sq., p = 0.75). In HR-positive tumors, pCR was obtained in 35.3% of patients, 35.9% in group A vs. 34.6% in group B (p = 0.87); in HR-negative tumors, the overall pCR rate was 62.0%, 66.7% in group A vs. 57.9% in group B (p = 0.45). Severe (grade 3/4) toxicity was reported at 68 occasions related to DTP, compared with 16 related to T-DM1, 26 vs. 3 caused by febrile neutropenia. Significantly better quality of life was reported by patients treated with T-DM1. Conclusions: Our data on TDM-1 demonstrates similar efficacy and less toxicity, in particular for patients with HER2 and HR positive cancers, being a potential new standard for neoadjuvant therapy. Clinical trial information: NCT02568839.
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| 5. |
- Brandberg, Yvonne, et al.
(författare)
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Health-related quality of life in the Swedish PREDIX HER2 trial, evaluating docetaxel, trastuzumab, pertuzumab versus trastuzumab emtansine as neoadjuvant treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer.
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Oncology. - : American Society of Clinical Oncology. - 0732-183X .- 1527-7755. ; 37:15, s. 583-583
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Neoadjuvant therapy combining docetaxel, trastuzumab and pertuzumab (DTP) was compared to trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) in the randomized phase 2 PREDIX HER2 trial. Patients, ≥18 years with HER2 positive breast cancer, ≥20mm or with verified lymph node metastases, were randomized to six courses of DTP (Standard arm) or T-DM1 (Experimental arm). Primary endpoint was pathological objective response to primary medical therapy at post-treatment surgery. Health related quality of life (HRQoL) was a secondary outcome, and is of specific interest as there was no difference between the randomization groups regarding the main endpoint (results presented in a separate abstract sent to ASCO 2019, Bergh et al.). Methods: Of 202 randomized patients, 190 are available for evaluation at this point. HRQoL was measured, using EORTC QLQ-C30 + EORTC QLQ-BR23, at baseline before randomization and after six courses. Results: No differences between the randomization arms were found at baseline. Results after six courses, based on 163 patients (86%) and adjusted to baseline values, revealed statistical significant differences (p≤0.01), favoring the experimental T-DM1 arm on 7 out of 15 of the EORTC QLQ-C30 variables (Physical functioning, Role functioning, Social functioning, Global quality of Life, Fatigue, Dyspnea, and Diarrhea). For the breast cancer specific questionnaire (EORTC-BR23), the experimental arm scored statistically significantly better on 5 out of 7 subscales (Body image, Sexual functioning, Sexual enjoyment, Systemic therapy side effects and Upset by hair loss). All of the statistical significant differences were of moderate or large clinical significance (≥10 scale scores). No differences between the randomization arms were found for the remaining HRQoL variables. Conclusions: The experimental arm reported better HRQoL than the control arm after six courses. Trastuzumab emtansine may be a useful treatment alternative due to better HRQoL and lower toxicity. Clinical trial information: NCT02568839.
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| 6. |
- Bäckman, Eva, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
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Thioredoxin, produced by stromal cells retrieved from the lymph node microenvironment, rescues chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells from apoptosis in vitro
- 2007
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Ingår i: Haematologia. - : Ferrata Storti Foundation (Haematologica). - 0017-6559 .- 1568-5594 .- 0390-6078 .- 1592-8721. ; 92:11, s. 1495-1504
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and Objectives: The redox-regulatory protein thioredoxin has several functions including transcriptional regulation, and antioxidant, cytokine, and chemokine activities. We have previously shown that extracellular thioredoxin protects B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells from apoptosis in vitro. In this study we were interested to determine whether thioredoxin is produced by cells surrounding the CLL cells in the in vivo microenvironment and whether this cell-derived thioredoxin has any leukemia growth-promoting effect in vitro. Design and Methods: Lymph nodes from CLL patients (n=25) were analyzed for thioredoxin expression by immunohistology. Stromal cells purified from the lymph nodes were analyzed for thioredoxin secretion at the single cell level using an ELIspot assay. The survival effect of the stromal-derived thioredoxin was tested by co-culturing stromal- and CLL cells with and without Fab-fragments of an anti-thioredoxin antibody. Results: The results indicated that the thioredoxin production correlated with the amount of proliferating cells and was mainly localized to the proliferation centers (pseudofollicles) in the CLL lymph nodes. The leukemia cells per se showed minimal thioredoxin levels; in contrast, stromal cells strongly expressed thioredoxin. Purified primary stromal cells, which secreted extracellular thioredoxin, significantly protected the CLL cells from undergoing apoptosis in 72 h co-cultures. Interestingly, this anti-apoptotic effect could be abrogated by addition of Fab-fragments of an anti- thioredoxin antibody. Interpretation and Conclusions: In conclusion, we have shown that stromal cells in the lymph node microenvironment produce thioredoxin and that the thioredoxin production is localized to the proliferation centers of the CLL lymph nodes. In addition, thioredoxin produced by purified stromal cells rescued CLL cells from apoptosis in vitro.
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| 7. |
- Cahill, Nicola, et al.
(författare)
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450K-array analysis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells reveals global DNA methylation to be relatively stable over time and similar in resting and proliferative compartments
- 2013
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Ingår i: Leukemia. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-5551 .- 0887-6924. ; 27:1, s. 150-158
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the microenvironment influences gene expression patterns; however, knowledge is limited regarding the extent to which methylation changes with time and exposure to specific microenvironments. Using high-resolution 450K arrays, we provide the most comprehensive DNA methylation study of CLL to date, analyzing paired diagnostic/follow-up samples from IGHV-mutated/untreated and IGHV-unmutated/treated patients (n = 36) and patient-matched peripheral blood and lymph node samples (n = 20). On an unprecedented scale, we revealed 2239 differentially methylated CpG sites between IGHV-mutated and unmutated patients, with the majority of sites positioned outside annotated CpG islands. Intriguingly, CLL prognostic genes (for example, CLLU1, LPL, ZAP70 and NOTCH1), epigenetic regulator (for example, HDAC9, HDAC4 and DNMT3B), B-cell signaling (for example, IBTK) and numerous TGF-beta and NF-kappa B/TNF pathway genes were alternatively methylated between subgroups. Contrary, DNA methylation over time was deemed rather stable with few recurrent changes noted within subgroups. Although a larger number of non-recurrent changes were identified among IGHV-unmutated relative to mutated cases over time, these equated to a low global change. Similarly, few changes were identified between compartment cases. Altogether, we reveal CLL subgroups to display unique methylation profiles and unveil methylation as relatively stable over time and similar within different CLL compartments, implying aberrant methylation as an early leukemogenic event. Leukemia (2013) 27, 150-158; doi:10.1038/leu.2012.245
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Gejervall, Ann-Louise, 1963, et al.
(författare)
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Electro-acupuncture versus conventional analgesia: a comparison of pain levels during oocyte aspiration and patients' experiences of well-being after surgery
- 2005
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Ingår i: Hum Reprod. ; 20:3, s. 728-35
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The primary aims were to compare the pain-relieving effect and post-operative well-being between electro-acupuncture analgesia (EA) and conventional analgesia (CA) comprising opiates. Further aims were to compare time for mobilization, and costs for time and drug consumption. METHODS: In all, 160 women undergoing IVF were randomized, according to a computer-generated list, to EA or CA. Well-being was evaluated with the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Pain and subjective expectations and experiences were recorded on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Time and drug consumption were recorded. RESULTS: Although VAS pain ratings were significantly higher at oocyte aspiration (P < 0.0001) and after retrieval (P < 0.01) in the EA than in the CA group, they were similar 60 min after surgery. Both groups had similar STAI well-being scores. The EA group was significantly less tired and confused than the CA group after oocyte aspiration. No significant differences in time and costs for drug consumption were noted. CONCLUSION: EA cannot generally be recommended as a pain-relieving method at oocyte aspiration but might be an alternative for women desiring a non-pharmacological method. An advantage of EA is less post-operative tiredness and confusion compared with CA.
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