• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2153-2158
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• 2014

Beclin 1 is a key factor for initiation and regulation of autophagy, which is a cellular catabolic process involved in tumorigenesis. To investigate the role of alternative splicing of Beclin1 in the regulation of autophagy in leukemia cells, Beclin1 mRNA from 6 different types of cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 2 healthy volunteers was reversely transcribed, subcloned, and screened for alternative splicing. New transcript variants were analyzed by DNA sequencing. A transcript variant of Beclin 1 gene carrying a deletion of exon 11, which encoded a C-terminal truncation of Beclin 1 isoform, was found. The alternative isoform was assessed by bioinformatics, immunoblotting and subcellular localization. The results showed that this variable transcript is generated by alternative 3' splicing, and its translational product displayed a reduced activity in induction of autophagy by starvation, indicating that the spliced isoform might function as a dominant negative modulator of autophagy. Our findings suggest that the alternative splicing of Beclin 1 might play important roles in leukemogenesis regulated by autophagy.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.167-172
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• 2009

Methotrexate (MTX) in one of the antineoplastic drug and it is known to effective to management of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children, management of choriocarcinoma and related trophoblastic tumors in women, management of carcinomas of the breast, tongue, pharynx, and tests, maintenance of remission in leukemia and treatment of serve, debilitating psoriasis. Intermediate to high-dose methotrexate administration followed by leucovorin rescue is effective in treatment of carcinoma of the lung and osteogenic sarcoma. Intrathecal administration is effective in treating meningeal leukemia or lymphoma. There are FPIA (Fluorescence polarization immunoassay) and EMIT (Enzyme multiplied immunotechique) methods that measure for MTX. We evaluated the FPIA and EMIT methods. MTX were measured by Hitachi-7600 P-module using EMIT and FPIA using TDX in the sera 60 patients. The performance characteristics evaluated were, light influence, linearity, comparison with FPIA. Also, precision evaluated were three level controls through put following CLSI evaluation protocols (EP10-A). When the MTX value of $4.16{\pm}5.78{\mu}{\mu}mol/L$ (mean, SD) by the Hitachi-7600 P-module was compared with that of $4.05{\pm}5.47{\mu}{\mu}mol/L$ by FPIA, coefficients of correlation of 0.988 was obtained. The regression equation was Y (Hitachi-7600 P-module) = 0.9408 x (FPIA) + 0.1316 (r=0.9885, n=60). CVs of MTX measured by Hitachi 7600 P-module was 6.78% at $0.33{\mu}{\mu}mol/L$, 0.96% at $1.16{\mu}{\mu}mol/L$, and 0.96% at $8.04{\mu}{\mu}mol/L$. The precision was excellent in each group. The linearity was acceptable. We evaluated that MTX is light-sensitive on prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Comparing with the FPIA using TDX, the Hitachi-7600 P-module using EMIT showed good coefficient of correlation and precision. Therefore the Hitachi-7600 P-module can replace the FPIA for quantitative analysis of MTX.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.73-77
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• 2008

Purpose : p16 gene, mapped to the 9p21 chromosomal region, has emerged as a candidate tumor suppressor gene in human neoplasm. It is an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase and inhibits Rb phosphorylation. In a variety of tumors including childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), deletion and/or mutation of the p16 gene has been found. Despite their high frequency, the prognostic importance of p16 alterations is still controversial in ALL and has been reported to be either unfavorable or similar to that of other patients. We studied the correlation between loss of p16 protein confirmed by immunohistochemical staining and clinical outcomes of patients diagnosed as ALL. Methods : We performed an immunohistochemical staining for p16 protein in 74 cases of bone marrow biopsy slide initially diagnosed as ALL between January 1998 and December 2006. We reviewed the clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment outcomes retrospectively. Results : Of 74 slides, 12 were negative for p16 protein. Seven were males and 5 were females with a median age at diagnosis was 5.8 (1.3-18.8) years. Initial WBC were 17,225 $(500-403,300)/{\mu}L$. By immunologic surface marker analysis, 7 patients were early pre-B CALLA (+) and 5 patients were T-cell ALL. Two patients of intermediate risk group had relapsed and died. Three patients had family history of breast cancer. Four patients died and overall survival rates were $53.5{\pm}18.7%$. Conclusion : Loss of p16 protein is supposed to be an independent risk factor of childhood ALL associated with poor outcomes. In clinical setting, the clinician must take into account p16 status, not only at the genomic but also at the protein level. Further clinical experience on thoroughly investigated cases will help a better understanding between p16 status and clinical outcomes.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2008

Purpose : In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) grafted from HLA-matched parents. Methods : Seven children with acute leukemia (4 acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 3 acute myeloid leukemia) in first complete remission received allogeneic HSCT from their respective parents at the St. Marys Hospital between April, 1999 and October, 2005. The median age of patients at transplantation was 5 years (range, 1-11 years; 2 male, 5 female) and the median age of donors was 35 years (range, 30-41 years; 5 male, 2 female). We investigated the clinical outcomes such as engraftment, acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), transplant-related morbidity and mortality, relapse and survival. Results : Median time from transplantation to last follow-up was 69.5 months (range, 18.8-96.5 months). All patients were successfully engrafted, with a median time of 11 days (range, 10-16 days) and 26 days (range, 13-39 days) for neutrophil and platelet recovery, respectively. Grade II acute GVHD occurred in 3, and grade III acute GVHD in 1 of 7 recipients. Extensive chronic GVHD developed in 2, and limited chronic GVHD in 1 of 7 recipients. Death from transplant-related complications occurred in 1, and relapse occurred in 1 of 7 recipients. Estimated 5-year overall survival was $83{\pm}15%$. Conclusion : The clinical outcomes of recipients who underwent HSCT from HLA-matched parents were comparable to those of patients who received HSCT grafted from HLA-matched sibling donors in childhood leukemia. HLA typing of parents, as well as siblings will increase the likelihood of finding an HLA-matched family donor for patients who need HSCT.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7917-7922
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• 2015

DNA ploidy is an important prognostic parameter in paediatric B-ALL, but the significance of the S-phase fraction is unclear. In present study, DNA ploidy was assessed in 40 pediatric B-ALL cases by flow cytometry. The DI (DNA index) and percentage of cells in S-phase were calculated using Modfit software. Aneuploidy was noted in 26/40 (65%) cases. A DI of 1.10-1.6 (hyperdiploidy B) was noted in 20/40 (50%) and 6/40 (15%) had a DI>1.60 (triploid and tetraploid range). Some 14/40 (35%) cases had a diploid DI between 0.90-1.05. None of the cases had a DI <0.90 (hypodiploid) or in the 1.06-1.09 (hyperdiploid A) range. The mean S-phase fraction was 2.6%, with 24/40 (60%) having low and 16/40 (40%) high S-phase fractions. No correlation was noted with standard ALL risk and treatment response factors with DI values or S-phase data, except for a positive correlation of low S-phase with high NCI risk category (p=0.032). Overall frequency of hyperdiploidy in our cohort of B-ALL patients was very high (65%). No correlation between hyperdiploidy B and low TLC or common B-phenotype was observed in our study as 42% cases with DI 1.10-1.6 had TLC> $50{\times}10^9$ and 57.1% CD 10 negativity. The study also highlighted that S-phase fraction analysis does not add any prognostic information and is not a useful parameter for assessment in ALL cases. However, larger studies with long term outcome analysis are needed to derive definitive conclusions.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to determine whether any pretreatment parameters were associated with pharmacological effect or toxicity parameters after vincristine administration and to describe a mathematical model, which explains the interpatient pharmacodynamic variability. The relationship between patient characteristics and vincristine dose and hematological toxicity were evaluated. 68 pediatric and adolescence patients and 107 adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were treated with vincristine $1.5mg/m^2/day$ IV and other anticancer drugs as scheduled. Complete blood counts and other blood test results were obtained. The input variables were age, gender, weight, lean body weight (LBW), height, body surface area, vincristine dose and total vincristine dose. The outcome measures were nadir values (white blood cells, absolute neutrophil counts, hemoglobin, and platelets); the absolute decrease, relative decrease, and survival fraction of blood cells. Polynomial regression analysis was carried out to determine the other significant covariates. The variability of $WBC_{nadir}$ was modeled with good precision and accuracy with a two-covariate model. This model should be validated and improved on with further clinical data. We believe that such pharmacodynamic modeling should be explored further to determine its performance and clinical relevance compared with modeling using pharmacokinetic parameter.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.200-208
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• 2017

Actinobacteria are prolific producers of a large number of natural products with diverse biological activities. In the present study, an actinobacterium isolated from sunflower rhizosphere soil sample collected from Medak, Andhra Pradesh, South India was identified as Amycolatopsis thermoflava strain SFMA-103. A pigmented secondary metabolite in culture broth was extracted by using methanol and it was further purified by silica gel column chromatography with methanol-chloroform solvent system. Structural elucidation studies based on UV-visible, 1D and 2D-NMR, FT-IR, and mass spectroscopic analyses confirmed the structure as 1-methoxy-3-methyl-8-hydroxy-anthraquinone. It showed significant in vitro anticancer activity against lung cancer and lymphoblastic leukemia cells with $IC_{50}$ values of 10.3 and $16.98{\mu}M$, respectively. In addition, 1-methoxy-3-methyl-8-hydroxy-anthraquinone showed good free radical scavenging activity by DPPH method with an $EC_{50}$ of $18.2{\mu}g/ml$. It also showed other promising superoxide radical scavenging, nitric oxide radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation activities. This is a first report of anti-proliferative and antioxidant activities of 1-methoxy-3-methyl-8-hydroxy-anthraquinone isolated from A. thermoflava strain SFMA-103 which may find potential application in biotechnological and pharmaceutical fields.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8247-8252
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• 2016

Background: The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) degrades a variety of proteins which attach to specific signals. The ubiquitination pathway facilitates degradation of damaged proteins and regulates growth and stress responses. This pathway is altered in various cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and breast cancer. Recently it has been reported that expression of newly characterized human genes, UBE2Q1 and UBE2Q2, putative members of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme family (E2), has been also changed in colorectal cancer. Epigenetics is one of the fastest-growing areas of science and nowadays has become a central issue in biological studies of diseases. According to the lack of information about the role of epigenetic changes on gene expression profiling of UBE2Q1 and UBE2Q2, and the presence of CpG islands in the promoter of these two human genes, we decided to evaluate the promoter methylation status of these genes as a first step. Materials and Methods: The promoter methylation status of UBE2Q1 and UBE2Q2 was studied by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) in tumor samples of 60 colorectal cancer patients compared to adjacent normal tissues and 20 non-malignant controls. The frequency of the methylation for each gene was analyzed by chi-square method. Results: MSP results revealed that UBE2Q2 gene promoter were more unmethylated, while a higher level of methylated allele was observed for UBE2Q1 in tumor tissues compared to the adjacent normal tissues and the non malignant controls. Conclusions: UBE2Q1 and UBE2Q2 genes show different methylation profiles in CRC cases.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2017

Background: L-asparaginase (L-ASP) is a critical agent for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma, which is associated with serious toxicities including hypersensitivity, pancreatitis and thrombosis. Methods: To evaluate the toxicity of L-ASP in real clinical settings, we included the patients with L-ASP adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported in a regional pharmacovigilance center of Seoul St. Mary's hospital from January 2014 to December 2015. Results: A total of 83 cases of L-ASP related ADRs were reported in 54 patients. Of these 83 cases, 65 cases (78.3%, 65/83) were spontaneously reported and 18 cases (21.7%, 18/83) were detected by further medical records review. Of the patients with ADRs, pediatric patients accounted for 83.3% of the cases (45/54) and median age was 9 years. The most common clinical manifestations of ADRs were hematology manifestations (31.3%, 26/83), followed by hepatobiliary manifestations (18.1%, 15/83). Thirty-four serious ADRs were reported in 19 patients. The sserious ADR group showed significantly longer hospitalization and higher rate of discontinuation of L-ASP than the non-serious ADR group (p = 0.005, 0.03). The most common clinical manifestations of serious ADRs were hepatobiliary manifestations (41.2%, 14/34). In total, 8 cases (9.6%, 8/83) of unlabeled ADRs were identified. They were serious ADRs. Conclusion: We identified unlabeled serious ADRs of L-ASP. Also, correlations were observed between serious ADRs and length of hospitalization, discontinuation rate respectively. Further investigations and developed spontaneous ADR reporting systems are needed to evaluate these correlations.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3155-3160
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• 2016

Background: L-asparaginase (ASNase) is commonly used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma. This study was designed to describe the incidence of toxicity associated with ASNase in Asian adults. Secondary objectives were to investigate the management and impact of toxicity on subsequent ASNase use, and to compare the actual management against current recommendations. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective, multi-center, observational study, Asian patients ${\geq}18$ years old who received ${\geq}1$ dose of the native E. coli ASNase from 2008 to 2013 were included. Patients were excluded if they did not receive ASNase. Endpoints of this study were development of specific toxicities, whether ASNase was discontinued or re-challenged, and developmentg of recurrent toxicity. All data analyses were performed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: A total of 56 patients were analyzed. Mean (${\pm}SD$) age was 36.2 (${\pm}15.2$) years old, with 62.5% being males, 55.4% with ALL and 28.6% with NK/T-cell lymphoma. Hypersensitivity (12.5%) was associated with the highest incidence of toxicity (6 out of 7 patients had Grade 3 and 4 toxicity), followed by 10.7% for hepatic transaminitis, 3.6% for non-CNS thrombosis and 1.8% each for hyperbilirubinemia and pancreatitis. Hypersensitivity recurred in the 3 patients who were re-challenged with E. coli ASNase. Conclusions: ASNase is associated with a wide range of toxicities, with hypersensitivity being the most commonly observed among Asian adult patients.