| 1. |
- Amini, Rose-Marie, et al.
(author)
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Altered profile of immune regulatory cells in the peripheral blood of lymphoma patients
- 2019
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In: BMC Cancer. - : BMC. - 1471-2407. ; 19
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Regulatory immune cells may modulate the lymphoma microenvironment and are of great interest due to the increasing prevalence of treatment with immunotherapies in lymphoma patients. The aim was to explore the composition of different immune regulatory cell subsets in the peripheral blood of newly diagnosed lymphoma patients in relation to treatment outcome. Methods: Forty-three newly diagnosed patients with lymphoma were included in the study; 24 with high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBCL) and 19 with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Peripheral blood was prospectively collected and immune regulatory cells were identified by multi-color flow cytometry and analyzed in relation to healthy blood donors and clinical characteristics and outcome. Results: The percentage of CD3-positive T-cells was lower (p=0.03) in the peripheral blood of lymphoma patients at diagnosis compared to healthy blood donors regardless of lymphoma subtype, although statistically, neither the percentage of monocytes (p=0.2) nor the T-cell/monocyte ratio (p=0.055) differed significantly. A significant decrease in the percentage of a subset of regulatory NK cells (CD7(+)/CD3(-)/CD56(bright)/CD16(dim/-)) was identified in the peripheral blood of lymphoma patients compared to healthy blood donors (p=0.003). Lymphoma patients also had more granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) (p=0.003) compared to healthy blood donors, whereas monocytic MDSCs did not differ significantly (p=0.07). A superior disease-free survival was observed for cHL patients who had an increase in the percentage of granulocytic MDSCs (p=0.04). Conclusions: An altered profile of immune cells in the peripheral blood with a decrease in T-cells and regulatory NK-cells was observed in newly diagnosed lymphoma patients. CHL patients with higher percentages of regulatory NK cells and higher percentages of granulocytic MDSCs might have a better outcome, although the number of patients was low.
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| 2. |
- Löf, Liza, et al.
(author)
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Flow Cytometric Measurement of Blood Cells with BCR-ABL1 Fusion Protein in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
- 2017
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 7:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized in the majority of cases by a t(9;22)(q34;q11) translocation, also called the Philadelphia chromosome, giving rise to the BCR-ABL1 fusion protein. Current treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors is directed against the constitutively active ABL1 domain of the fusion protein, and minimal residual disease (MRD) after therapy is monitored by real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) of the fusion transcript. Here, we describe a novel approach to detect and enumerate cells positive for the BCR-ABL1 fusion protein by combining the in situ proximity ligation assay with flow cytometry as readout (PLA-flow). By targeting of the BCR and ABL1 parts of the fusion protein with one antibody each, and creating strong fluorescent signals through rolling circle amplification, PLA-flow allowed sensitive detection of cells positive for the BCR-ABL1 fusion at frequencies as low as one in 10,000. Importantly, the flow cytometric results correlated strongly to those of RQ-PCR, both in diagnostic testing and for MRD measurements over time. In summary, we believe this flow cytometry-based method can serve as an attractive approach for routine measurement of cells harboring BCR-ABL1 fusions, also allowing simultaneously assessment of other cell surface markers as well as sensitive longitudinal follow-up.
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| 3. |
- Modvig, S, et al.
(author)
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Minimal residual disease quantification by flow cytometry provides reliable risk stratification in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- 2019
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In: Leukemia. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 0887-6924 .- 1476-5551. ; 33:6, s. 1324-1336
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Minimal residual disease (MRD) measured by PCR of clonal IgH/TCR rearrangements predicts relapse in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and serves as risk stratification tool. Since 10% of patients have no suitable PCR-marker, we evaluated flowcytometry (FCM)-based MRD for risk stratification. We included 274 T-ALL patients treated in the NOPHO-ALL2008 protocol. MRD was measured by six-color FCM and real-time quantitative PCR. Day 29 PCR-MRD (cut-off 10-3) was used for risk stratification. At diagnosis, 93% had an FCM-marker for MRD monitoring, 84% a PCR-marker, and 99.3% (272/274) had a marker when combining the two. Adjusted for age and WBC, the hazard ratio for relapse was 3.55 (95% CI 1.4-9.0, p = 0.008) for day 29 FCM-MRD ≥ 10-3 and 5.6 (95% CI 2.0-16, p = 0.001) for PCR-MRD ≥ 10-3 compared with MRD < 10-3. Patients stratified to intermediate-risk therapy on day 29 with MRD 10-4-<10-3 had a 5-year event-free survival similar to intermediate-risk patients with MRD < 10-4 or undetectable, regardless of method for monitoring. Patients with day 15 FCM-MRD < 10-4 had a cumulative incidence of relapse of 2.3% (95% CI 0-6.8, n = 59). Thus, FCM-MRD allows early identification of patients eligible for reduced intensity therapy, but this needs further studies. In conclusion, FCM-MRD provides reliable risk prediction for T-ALL and can be used for stratification when no PCR-marker is available.
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| 4. |
- Thörn, Ingrid, 1957-, et al.
(author)
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Analysis of IG/TCR gene rearrangements in Swedish childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosed 2002-2006: a multi-centre study supporting the applicability of real-time-PCR for minimal residual disease assessment
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Minimal residual disease (MRD) detection during the early treatment phase has become an important stratification parameter in many childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment protocols. Here we aimed to address the applicability of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) of rearranged antigen receptor genes as an MRD method in a multi-centre setting. From a Swedish population-based cohort of 334 ALL cases diagnosed during 2002-2006, we analysed 279 diagnostic samples (84%) by screening for rearranged immunoglobulin (IG) and T-cell receptor (TCR) genes. Allele-specific oligonucleotides were designed for each patient rearrangement, and the sensitivity and quantitative level was determined for each target. The analyses were performed at five different centres while interpretation of the results was performed at consensus meetings. Overall, clonal IG/TCR rearrangements were detected in 97% (236/244) of B-cell precursor ALL (BCP ALL) and 94% (33/35) of T-ALL. A sensitive RQ-PCR analysis (≤ 10-4) was obtained in 89% (216/244) of BCP ALL and in 74% (26/35) of T-ALL. With the stratification threshold of ≥10-3 for identification of high-risk patients, 93% of BCP ALL and 86% of T-ALL reached this quantitative range by at least one target gene. Taken together, this national multi-centre study supports the use of RQ-PCR analysis as a robust method for MRD detection in the majority of childhood ALL cases.
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| 5. |
- Thörn, Ingrid, 1957-
(author)
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Minimal Residual Disease Assessment in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
- 2009
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Traditionally, response to treatment in hematological malignancies is evaluated by light microscopy of bone marrow (BM) smears, but due to more effective therapies more sensitive methods are needed. Today, detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) using immunological and molecular techniques can be 100 times more sensitive than morphology. The main aim of this thesis was to compare and evaluate three currently available MRD methods in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): (i) real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) of rearranged antigen receptor genes, (ii) multicolor flow cytometry (FCM) of leukemia-associated immunophenotypes and (iii) real-time quantitative PCR of fusion gene transcripts (RT-PCR). In paper I, we assessed the applicability of RQ-PCR in a population-based cohort of childhood ALL diagnosed in Sweden between 2002-2006. Clonal IG/TCR rearrangements were identified in the 96% of the 279 ALL cases. Using RQ-PCR, the quantitative range of 10-3 was reached in 93% of B-cell precursor (BCP) ALL and 86% of T-cell ALL (T-ALL) by at least one target gene. In paper II, we compared MRD detection using both RQ-PCR and FCM in the context of NOPHO ALL-2000 protocol. By applying the stratification threshold of ≥0.1% MRD late during induction therapy (day 29), we could demonstrate that both methods can predict the risk of BM relapse but not extramedullary relapse. However, the threshold of ≥0.2% MRD appears to be more optimal using RQ-PCR in BCP ALL, whilst in T-ALL, the results indicate that RQ-PCR is preferable for MRD assessment. The stability of RNA in vitro is a critical factor when using sensitive molecular techniques such as MRD detection. In paper III, we evaluated the influence on MRD detection when blood is collected in tubes with RNA stabilization reagents (PAX gene Vacutatiner®) compared to collection in EDTA-tubes (non-stabilized). We analyzed 68 matched samples from chronic myeloid leukemia patients and the results indicated that non-stabilized blood processed within 30 hours is preferable for MRD detection. In paper IV, follow-up samples from eight children with Philadelphia positive (Ph+) ALL were evaluated with the three available MRD methods. MRD measured by the fusion gene transcripts (BCR-ABL1) appeared to be the most sensitive method, however, precise quantification can be difficult and the other methods are thus complementary. In conclusion, all three applied MRD methods are useful and correlate to each other, although not necessary exchangeable in individual patients. We also conclude that MRD assessment by RQ-PCR, based on rearranged IG/TCR genes and multicolor FCM are predictive for identification of high risk childhood ALL patients.
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| 6. |
- Thörn, Ingrid, 1957-, et al.
(author)
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Minimal residual disease assessment in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia : Results of a Swedish multi-centre study comparing real-time PCR and multi-colour flow cytometry
- 2009
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In this Swedish multi-center study of early treatment response in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), we evaluated the concordance between multicolour flow cytometry (FCM) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) for assessment of minimal residual disease (MRD). Multiple time points (i.e. day 15, 29, 50 and 106) were evaluated with the NOPHO (Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology) ALL 2000 treatment protocol as backbone. During 2002-2006, 334 children were diagnosed with ALL, where 228 had paired samples taken at any of the four time points. With the detection level of 0.1%, the concordance between RQ-PCR and FCM was 90% in the 726 paired samples analyzed. At day 29, the correlation between the methods was greater with MRD levels >0.1% (rs=0.7, p<0.001) than below (rs=0.2, p=0.024). MRD levels higher than 0.1% at day 29 was a significant predictor of higher risk of having a bone marrow relapse. This was true both for BCP ALL and T-ALL analysed with either FCM or RQ-PCR, although RQ-PCR was a better discriminator than FCM in T-ALL. However, using the NOPHO ALL 2000 protocol, our data indicate that a higher cut-off value (0.2%) should be applied in BCP ALL when using RQ-PCR as MRD method. In contrast, MRD levels ≥ 0.1%, analysed with either method late during induction therapy, was not a predictor of isolated extramedullary relapse. We therefore conclude that MRD assessment by RQ-PCR based IG/TCR rearrangement and multicolour FCM monitoring can be used as a clinical tool if the aim is to find childhood ALL cases with increased risk of having bone marrow relapses.
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| 7. |
- Thörn, Ingrid, 1957-, et al.
(author)
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Monitoring minimal residual disease with flow cytometry, antigen-receptor gene rearrangements and fusion transcript quantification in Philadelphia-positive childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- 2009
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In: Leukemia Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0145-2126 .- 1873-5835. ; 33:8, s. 1047-1054
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this study, we followed minimal residual disease (MRD) in eight children with Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) using (i) flow cytometry (FCM), (ii) real-time quantitative PCR of IG/TCR gene rearrangements and (iii) RT-PCR detecting fusion gene transcripts. In six of the eight cases the kinetics of MRD clearance was comparable. One of the two discordant cases could be explained by presence of an alternative fusion transcript. The other discordant case showed high BCR-ABL1 RNA level while the other methods did not detect any MRD. In our limited material quantitative RT-PCR of fusion gene transcripts seemed particularly useful to measure MRD in Ph+ ALL. However, BCR-ABL1 expression may not reflect the percentage of leukemic cells as FCM and IG/TCR rearrangement quantification do, and these methods are thus complementary.
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