Detection Of Relapse In Patients Research Articles

Variations in serum alkaline DNase activity: a new means to assess early detection of relapse in patients treated for acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia

Our previously published clinical results on various malignancies indicated that the variations in serum alkaline DNase activity (SADA) could be a sensitive test for therapeutic monitoring of human malignancies. In the present study, the clinical efficacy of SADA detecting relapse in 32 acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) patients in remission was tested. The observation period ranged from 3 to 17 months. A simple and rapid biochemical technique based on spectrophotometric measurements was used to assay SADA. Of the 32 patients, 17 remained in remission and had less than a 15% variation in SADA levels. They had no clinical symptoms of recurrence at any time. In the remaining 15 patients, after a period of stability, a progressive decrease in SADA, with variations of more than 15%, was observed without any treatment. At that time, no abnormalities of clinical parameters were detected in these patients. A recurrence of disease as evidenced by routine examinations was found relatively late after the first decrease in SADA in all 15 patients (range 1.5 to 5.5 months). These results suggest that periodic measurements of SADA during the posttherapeutic course can be used as a means to assess early detection of an eventual recurrence.

Variations in Serum Alkaline DNase Activity: A New Means to Assess Early Detection of Relapse in Patients Treated for Acute Nonlymphoblastic Leukemia

Our previously published clinical results on various malignancies indicated that the variations in serum alkaline DNase activity (SADA) could be a sensitive test for therapeutic monitoring of human malignancies. In the present study, the clinical efficacy of SADA detecting relapse in 32 acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) patients in remission was tested. The observation period ranged from 3 to 17 months. A simple and rapid biochemical technique based on spectrophotometric measurements was used to assay SADA. Of the 32 patients, 17 remained in remission and had less than a 15% variation in SADA levels. They had no clinical symptoms of recurrence at any time. In the remaining 15 patients, after a period of stability, a progressive decrease in SADA, with variations of more than 15%, was observed without any treatment. At that time, no abnormalities of clinical parameters were detected in these patients. A recurrence of disease as evidenced by routine examinations was found relatively late after the first decrease in SADA in all 15 patients (range 1.5 to 5.5 months). These results suggest that periodic measurements of SADA during the posttherapeutic course can be used as a means to assess early detection of an eventual recurrence.

Histone H1 degrees is synthesized by human lymphocytic leukemia cells but not by normal lymphocytes

Using a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis system (sodium dodecyl sulphate/acetic acid-urea-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide) coupled with fluorography, we investigated the synthesis of H1 isoproteins in leukemic cells obtained from peripheral blood of eight children suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (four T-ALL, three common ALL, and one B-ALL) and in normal peripheral lymphocytes. H1 degrees was synthesized in leukemic cells but not in normal lymphocytes. Inhibition of DNA synthesis with hydroxyurea and 1-beta-D- arabinofuranosylcytosine induced an increase of relative synthesis of H1 degrees in leukemic cells but did not induce any detectable synthesis of H1 degrees in normal lymphocytes. H1 degrees synthesis was also undetectable in peripheral lymphocytes of leukemic children in complete remission after chemotherapy and in lymphocytes of a homozygotic twin of a leukemic patient. H1 degrees may be a marker of malignant transformation of lymphocytes and as such could be of use for early detection of relapse in patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia in apparent complete remission.

Histone H1° Is Synthesized by Human Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells But Not by Normal Lymphocytes

AbstractUsing a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis system (sodium dodecyl sulphate/acetic acid-urea-hexadecyltrime-thylammonium bromide) coupled with fluorography, we investigated the synthesis of H1 isoproteins in leukemic cells obtained from peripheral blood of eight children suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (four T-ALL, three common ALL, and one B-ALL) and in normal peripheral lymphocytes. H1° was synthesized in leukemic cells but not in normal lymphocytes. Inhibition of DNA synthesis with hydroxyurea and 1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine induced an increase of relative synthesis of H1° in leukemic cells but did not induce any detectable synthesis of H1° in normal lymphocytes. H1° synthesis was also undetectable in peripheral lymphocytes of leukemic children in complete remission after chemotherapy and in lymphocytes of a homozygotic twin of a leukemic patient. H1° may be a marker of malignant transformation of lymphocytes and as such could be of use for early detection of relapse in patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia in apparent complete remission.

Clinical detection of bone marrow relapse in patients with small cell bronchogenic carcinoma (SCC)

Clinical detection of bone marrow relapse in patients with small cell bronchogenic carcinoma (SCC)

Enrichment of cell populations containing terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity by free flow electrophoresis.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) is an enzyme that has been utilized as a biochemical marker for following certain leukemia patients during treatment and remission. The potential usefulness of this enzyme in predicting the onset of relapse before any morphological indications has been demonstrated in chronic myelogenous leukemia patients in blast phase of the disease. In order to be able to detect low levels of TdT activity, especially during remission phase, we have used the technique of free flow electrophoresis to enrich cell populations containing TdT. With this technique we have achieved up to 20-fold enrichment of TdT-positive cell populations from normal human bone marrow, cells from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast phase of the disease. TdT positive cells were not detected in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia and B cell lines. This technique should prove to be useful in early detection of relapse in patients in remission and for enrichment of cell populations containing other biochemical markers.

Enrichment of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity by cell separation.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase is a unique DNA polymerase that can carry out DNA synthesis on an initiator molecule in the absence of a template. The usefulness of this enzyme as a biological marker for following patients during treatment and remission has been suggested. The potential usefulness of this enzyme in predicting the onset of relapse before any morphological indications has been demonstrated in chronic myelogenous leukemia patients in blast phase of the disease. In order to be able to detect low levels of TdT activity especially during remission phase, we have used cell separation techniques which can enrich cell populations containing TdT activity. A number of cell separation techniques have been developed to separate different cell types. We have used the techniques of unit gravity sedimentation and free flow electrophoresis to achieve enrichment of TdT positive cell populations. Our results show that up to 20 fold enrichment of TdT activity in normal human bone marrow can be accomplished by using cell separation techniques. With the use of free flow electrophoresis, we have achieved enrichment of TdT positive cell populations from normal human bone marrow, cells from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast phase of the disease. No TdT positive cells were detected in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia. These cell separation techniques should prove to be useful in early detection of relapse in patients in remission.