Prognostic significance of the proportion of Ki-67-positive cells in adult T-cell leukemia
Article Abstract:
Many studies have examined the cellular DNA content of cancers in order to obtain a more precise diagnostic tool. However, other means exist to examine the state of proliferation of malignant cells. One such method is using antibodies to stain cell nuclei for the presence of the Ki-67 antigen. This antigen appears to be present in proliferating cells, but not in mature cells which have ceased replication. The potential value of Ki-67 as a prognostic indicator was examined in 42 patients with acute adult T-cell leukemia and 15 patients with chronic adult T-cell leukemia. Six patients with preleukemic abnormalities were also evaluated for the presence of this antigen. While there were no differences in the number of leukemic cells between the acute and chronic cases, there were large differences in the percentage of cells staining positive for the Ki-67 antigen. Nineteen percent of the cells of the acute patients were positive, in contrast with only 3 percent of the cells of the chronic patients. Fewer than 2 percent of cells were positive in every patient with preleukemic abnormalities. A plot of the survival of the patients against the percentage of Ki-67-positive cells revealed an inverse correlation; the patients with the higher percentages of positive cells tended to survive fewer months than the patients with a smaller percentage of positive cells. The authors also indicate that, in their experience, Ki-67-positive leukemic cells provide an indicator of disease progression. They suggest that this antigen might serve as a useful means of evaluating disease progression and response to treatment in patients with adult T-cell leukemia. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Cancer
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0008-543X
Year: 1991
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An intensive chemotherapy of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma: CHOP followed by etoposide, vindesine, ranimustine, and mitoxantrone with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support
Article Abstract:
An intensive combination chemotherapy regimen supplemented by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) may increase survival rates in patients with adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). In 81 patients with ATLL, 35.8% had a complete response to CHOP followed by etoposide, vindesine, ranimustine, and mitoxantrone and 38.3% had a partial response. They were given G-CSF to raise low white blood cell and platelet counts to prevent infection. Median survival time was 8.5 months and the 13 still alive at the end of the study survived a median of 29.1 months. There were few serious side effects.
Publication Name: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 1077-9450
Year: 1996
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Prevalence of HTLV-I in leprosy patients in two sanatoriums in Japan
Article Abstract:
Sexual transmission of the virus and infection from contaminated needles used for vaccinations may explain the high rate of human T-cell leukemia virus I (HTLV-I) infection among patients at two leprosy sanatoriums in Japan. Researchers found that 8.4% of 450 leprosy patients at one facility and 8.6% of 394 patients at another facility tested positive for HTLV-I. The sanatoriums are located in regions where HTLV-I prevalence is less than 1%. Shared needles for vaccinations in 1960-1980, and transmission between married partners, likely resulted in the higher rates of the infection.
Publication Name: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 1077-9450
Year: 1998
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