ABSTRACT Introduction: Improving survival of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in adult patients has been a challenge. Despite intensive chemotherapy treatment, overall survival is poor. However, several studies demonstrate that young adult patients have better survival when treated with pediatric-based intensive regimens. Considering these results, We decided to treat newly diagnosed ALL patients according to age and risk factors. The goal of this study was to describe the results of this intensive chemotherapy treatment approach for ALL adult patients diagnosed at our institution. Methods: Fifty-eight ALL patients, diagnosed from 2004 to 2013, were included in the analysis. Patients were assigned to either the St. Jude Total Therapy XIIIB high-risk arm (St Jude) or the CALGB 8811 (CALGB). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used for the survival analyses and the Cox proportional hazard regression, for multivariable analysis. Results: The overall survival was 22.9% at 10 years. The St. Jude improved survival, compared to the CALGB (p = 0.007), with 32.6% vs. 7.4% survival rate at 10 years. However, no survival benefit was found for patients younger than 20 years old (p = 0.32). The multivariable analysis demonstrated that undetectable minimal residual disease (MRD) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) had beneficial impact on survival (p = 0.0007 and p = 0.004, respectively). Conclusion: ALL is a disease of poor prognosis for adults. The joint effort to standardize treatment and seek solutions is the way to start improving this scenario.

RESUMO Introdução: A leucemia promielocítica aguda (LPA) écausada pela translocação t(15;17)(q24;q21), cujo produto éa oncoproteína de fusão PML-RARa (leucemia promielocítica-receptor alfa do ácido retinoico). A morfologia dos promielócitos leucêmicos é habitualmente característica, com presença de faggot cells (células em maços ou feixes) e granulações citoplasmáticas grosseiras; o imunofenótipo é característico na maioria dos casos. Porém, o diagnóstico laboratorial definitivo deve ser feito pela detecção da t(15;17) ou pela oncoproteína PML-RARa. Objetivos: Comparar a citomorfologia, a citometria de fluxo e a citogenética clássica de amostras de medula óssea de pacientes com LPA atendidos no Complexo Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná (CHC-UFPR), bem como descrever as possíveis discrepâncias entre as metodologias. Método: Análise retrospectiva dos casos de LPA atendidos no CHC-UFPR entre janeiro de 2000 e julho de 2018. Resultados: Dos 88 pacientes (42 homens e 46 mulheres; média de idade: 34 anos), 42,1% apresentaram prognóstico de alto risco. A citometria de fluxo foi realizada em 83 casos (94,3%); o cariótipo, em 79 casos (89,7%), mas a translocação foi confirmada em apenas 53 (60,2%) casos. Dos 28 pacientes com cariótipo não conclusivo, 14 (15,9%) tinham a presença do transcrito PML-RARa. No total, 35 pacientes (39,8%) realizaram a pesquisa do gene PML-RARa por biologia molecular. Quarenta e cinco pacientes (51,1%) obtiveram diagnóstico concordante entre as metodologias (morfologia, citometria de fluxo e citogenética). A sobrevida global foi de 67% em 4,8 anos;com 29 óbitos. Conclusão: A confirmação genética foi realizada em 76,1% das amostras, sendo 60,2%por citogenética e 15,9% por biologia molecular. Houve discordância entre as metodologias e baixa sensibilidade da citogenética convencional, o que demonstra a importância da realização de técnicas moleculares para confirmação diagnóstica.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is caused by t(15;17)(q24;q21) translocation, which product is the fusion oncoprotein PML-RARa (promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor alpha). The morphology of leukemic promyelocytes is usually characteristic, with the presence of faggot cells and coarse cytoplasmic granulations; immunophenotype is characteristic in most cases. However, definitive laboratory diagnosis should be performed by detecting t(15;17) or by PML-RARa fusion protein. Objectives: To compare cytomorphology, flow cytometry, and classical cytogenetic of bone marrow samples from patients with APL, treated at the Complexo Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná (CHC-UFPR), as well as describe the possible discrepancies between the methodologies. Method: Retrospective analysis of APL cases treated at the CHC-UFPR from January 2000 to July 2018. Results: Eighty-eight patients (42 man/ 46 woman; mean age: 34 years), 42.1% of them presented a high-risk prognosis. Flow cytometry was performed in 83 cases (94.3%); karyotype was performed in 79 cases (89.7%), but translocation t(15;17) was confirmed in only 53 cases (60.2%). From the 28 patients with a non-conclusive karyotype; fourteen (15.9%) of them presented the PML-RARa transcript in the molecular analysis. In total, 35 patients (39 8%) performed research of the PML-RARa gene by molecular biology. Only 45 patients (51.1%) presented concordant diagnosis among the three technical exams (morphology, flow cytometry and cytogenetics). Overall survival was 67% at 4.8 years, with 29 deaths. Conclusion: Genetic confirmation was observed in 76.1% of samples, 60.2% by conventional cytogenetics and 15.9% by molecular biology. There was a disagreement between the methodologies, and a low sensibility of the conventional cytogenetics, demonstrating the importance of performing molecular techniques for diagnostic confirmation.

RESUMEN Introducción: La leucemia promielocítica aguda (LPA) es causada por la translocación t(15;17)(q24;q21), cuyo producto es la oncoproteína de fusión PML-RARa (proteína de la leucemia promielocítica-receptor alfa de ácido retinoico). La morfología de los promielocitos leucémicos suele ser típica, con presencia de células faggot (células en haces) y gruesasgranulaciones citoplásmicas; el inmunofenotipo es característico en la mayor parte de los casos. No obstante, el diagnóstico final de laboratorio debe ser hecho por la detección de la t(15;17) o por la oncoproteína PML-RARa. Objetivos: Comparar la citomorfología, la citometría de flujo y la citogenética clásica de muestras de médula ósea de pacientes con LPA asistidos en el Complexo Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná (CHC-UFPR), así como describir lasposibles discrepancias entre los métodos. Método: Análisis retrospectivo de los casos de LPA asistidos en el CHC-UFPR entre enero de 2000 y julio de 2018. Resultados: De los 88 pacientes (42 hombres y 46 mujeres; edad promedio: 34 anos), 42,1% presentaron pronóstico de alto riesgo. Citometría de flujo se realizó en 83 casos (94,3%); cariotipo en 79 casos (89,7%),pero la translocación se confirmó en sólo53 (60,2%) casos. Entre los28 pacientes con cariotipo no concluyente, 14 (15,9%) presentaron el transcripto PML-RARa. En total, 35 pacientes (39,8%) realizaron la pesquisa del gen PML-RARa por biología molecular. Cuarenta y cinco pacientes (51,1%) tuvieron diagnóstico acorde entre los métodos (morfología, citometría de flujo y citogenética). La supervivencia global fue de 67% en 4,8 anos, con 29 muertes. Conclusión: Hubo confirmación genética en 76,1% de las muestras, siendo 60,2% por citogenética y 15,9%por biología celular. Hubo desacuerdo entre los métodos y baja sensibilidad de la citogenética convencional, lo que demuestra la importancia de la realización de técnicas moleculares para confirmación diagnóstica.

BACKGROUND: The lack of standardization of clinical diagnostic criteria, classification and severity scores of chronic graft-versus-host disease led the National Institutes of Health to propose consensus criteria for the purpose of clinical trials. METHODS: Here we describe a one-day workshop model conducted by the Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease Brazil-Seattle Consortium Study Group to train investigators interested in participating in multicenter clinical trials in Brazil. Workshop participants included eight transplant physicians, one dermatologist, two dentists, three physical therapists and one psychologist from five institutions. Workshop participants evaluated nine patients with varying degrees of severity of mucocutaneous lesions and other manifestations of the disease followed by a training session to review and discuss the issues encountered with the evaluation and scoring of patients and in the methods used to evaluate grip strength and the 2-minute walk test. RESULTS: Most participants had difficulties in rating the percentage of each type of mucocutaneous lesion and thought 20 minutes was insufficient to evaluate and record the scores of each patient using the National Institutes of Health criteria and other cutaneous assessments. Several specific areas of difficulties encountered by the evaluators were: 1) determining the percentage of erythema in movable and non-movable sclerosis, 2) whether to score all cutaneous findings in a particular area or just the dominant lesion; 3) clarification of the definition of poikiloderma in chronic graft-versus-host disease; 4) discrepant interpretation of the mouth score and 5) clarification on the methodology used for the evaluation of grip strength and the 2-minute walk tests. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this workshop support the need to train investigators participating in clinical trials on chronic graft-versus-host disease.

BACKGROUND: New criteria for the diagnosis and classification of chronic graft-versus-host disease were developed in 2005 for the purpose of clinical trials with a consensus sponsored by the National Institute of Health. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to present the results of a multicenter pilot study performed by the Brazil-Seattle chronic graft-versus-host disease consortium to determine the feasibility of using these criteria in five Brazilian centers. METHODS: The study was performed after translation of the consensus criteria into Portuguese and training. A total of 34 patients with National Institute of Health chronic graft-versus-host disease were enrolled in the pilot study between June 2006 and May 2009. RESULTS: Of the 34 patients, 26 (76%) met the criteria of overlap syndrome and eight (24%) the classic subcategory. The overall severity of disease was moderate in 21 (62%) and severe in 13 (38%) patients. The median time from transplant to onset of chronic graft-versus-host disease was 5.9 months (Range: 3 - 16 months); the median time for the overlap syndrome subcategory was 5.9 months (Range: 3 - 10 months) and for the classic subcategory, it was 7.3 months (Range: 3 - 16 months). At a median follow up of 16.5 months (Range: 4 - 39 months), overall survival was 75%. CONCLUSIONS: It was feasible to use the National Institute of Health consensus criteria for the diagnosis and scoring of chronic graft-versus-host disease in a Brazilian prospective multicenter study. More importantly, a collaborative hematopoietic cell transplantation network was established in Brazil offering new opportunities for future clinical trials in chronic graft-versus-host disease and in other areas of research involving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

O transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas (TCTH) é o tratamento de escolha para leucemias agudas de alto risco. Apesar da melhora na sobrevida destes pacientes, a recidiva continua sendo a maior causa de óbito pós-transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os resultados dos transplantes realizados em crianças com leucemia aguda em duas instituições brasileiras. Realizou-se estudo retrospectivo de 208 pacientes transplantados entre 1990-2007. Mediana de idade: 9 anos; 119 pacientes com leucemia linfoide aguda (LLA) e 89 com leucemia mieloide aguda (LMA). Doença precoce: CR1 e CR2. Doença avançada: >CR3, doença refratária ou recidivada. Noventa pacientes vivos entre 258-6.068 dias (M:1.438), com sobrevida global (SG) de 45% (3 anos) e a sobrevida livre de recaída (SLR) 39% (três anos). 14/195 pacientes tiveram falha primária de pega (8%). Não houve diferença na sobrevida global e sobrevida livre de recaída entre pacientes com leucemia linfoide aguda e leucemia mieloide aguda, entre transplantes aparentados e não aparentados, tampouco entre as fontes de células utilizadas. O desenvolvimento da doença do enxerto contra hospedeiro (DECH) aguda ou crônica também não influenciou a sobrevida global e sobrevida livre de recaída. Pacientes com leucemia linfoide aguda condicionados com irradiação corporal total (TBI) apresentaram melhor sobrevida global e sobrevida livre de recaída (p<0,001). Cento e dezoito pacientes morreram entre 1-1.654 dias pós-transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas (M:160). Mortalidade relacionada a transplante (MRT) (dia+100): 16%. Incidência cumulativa de recaída: 40% (3 anos). Pacientes com doença avançada tiveram menor sobrevida global e sobrevida livre de recaída (três anos)(p<0,001). Na análise multivariada, o status da doença foi o principal fator associado ao aumento da sobrevida global e sobrevida livre de recaída. Nossos resultados mostram que é possível se atingir uma boa sobrevida para pacientes com doença precoce e também mostram a baixa eficácia naqueles com doença avançada.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell transplantation (HSCT) is the treatment of choice for patients with high-risk leukemia. In spite of this, relapse remains a major cause of death of these patients. Our objective was to analyze the outcomes of patients with acute leukemia submitted to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in two Brazilian institutions. A retrospective study of 208 patients transplanted between 1990 and 2007 with a median age of 9 years (range: 1-18 years) was made. One hundred and nineteen patients had acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and 89 had acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Early disease was considered for CR1 and CR2 cases and advanced disease >CR3 and refractory and relapse disease. Ninety patients are alive between 258 and 6068 days after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (M: 1438 days). The overall survival (OS) was 45% (3 years) and event free survival (EFS) was 39% (3 years). Primary graft failure occurred in 14/195 patients (8%). There were no differences in the overall survival and event free survival between patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia, between sources of cells used or between those who developed acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). When comparing transplants from related and unrelated donors, there was no difference in the overall survival. Patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia receiving the total body irradiation (TBI) conditioning regimen had better overall survival and event free survival (p<0.001). One hundred and eighteen patients died between 0 and 1654 days after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (M: 160 days). Transplantation-related-mortality (TRM) at D+100 was 16% and cumulative incidence of relapse was 40% (3 years). Patients with advanced disease had lower 3-year overall survival and event free survival (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that disease status was the most significant factor associated with higher event free survival and overall survival . Our results show that children and adolescents transplanted with early disease can achieve considerable overall survival and also highlights the inefficacy of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for patients with advanced disease.