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BACKGROUND: Voltage-dependent anion selective channels (VDACs) are the most abundant mitochondrial outer membrane proteins, encoded in mammals by three genes, VDAC1, 2 and 3, mostly ubiquitously expressed. As 'mitochondrial gatekeepers', VDACs control organelle and cell metabolism and are involved in many diseases. Despite the presence of numerous VDAC pseudogenes in the human genome, their significance and possible role in VDAC protein expression has not yet been considered. RESULTS: We investigated the relevance of processed pseudogenes of human VDAC genes, both in physiological and in pathological contexts. Using high-throughput tools and querying many genomic and transcriptomic databases, we show that some VDAC pseudogenes are transcribed in specific tissues and pathological contexts. The obtained experimental data confirm an association of the VDAC1P8 pseudogene with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). CONCLUSIONS: Our in-silico comparative analysis between the VDAC1 gene and its VDAC1P8 pseudogene, together with experimental data produced in AML cellular models, indicate a specific over-expression of the VDAC1P8 pseudogene in AML, correlated with a downregulation of the parental VDAC1 gene.

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BACKGROUND: The use of markers has stimulated the development of more appropriate targeted therapies for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We assessed the use and prevalence of biological and genetic markers of CLL and AML in the homogeneous Hispanic population of Puerto Rico. METHODS: We used the Puerto Rico CLL/AML Population-Based Registry, which combines information from linked databases. Logistic regression models were used to examine factors associated with biological and genetic testing. RESULTS: A total of 926 patients 18 years or older diagnosed with CLL (n = 518) and AML (n = 408) during 2011-2015 were included in this analysis. Cytogenetic testing (FISH) was reported for 441 (85.1%) of the CLL patients; of those, 24.0% had the presence of trisomy 12, 9.5% carried deletion 11q, 50.3% carried deletion 13q, and 6.3% carried deletion 17p. Regarding AML, patients with cytogenetics and molecular tests were considered to determine the risk category (254 patients), of which 39.8% showed poor or adverse risk. Older age and having more comorbidities among patients with CLL were associated with a lower likelihood of receiving a FISH test. CONCLUSIONS: Although prognostic genetic testing is required for treatment decisions, the amount of testing in this Hispanic cohort is far from ideal. Furthermore, some tests were not homogeneously distributed in the population, which requires further exploration and monitoring. This study contributes to the field by informing the medical community about the use and prevalence of biological and genetic markers of CLL and AML. Similarly, it has the potential to improve the management of CLL and AML through benchmarking.

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BACKGROUND: Acute leukemia involving lymphocytic and myeloid cells is cancer with a high mortality rate. Swift and timely diagnosis might be a potential approach to improving patient prognosis and survival. The microRNA (miRNA) signatures are emerging nowadays for their promising diagnostic potential. MiRNA levels from bone marrow can be used as prognostic biomarkers. METHODS: The current study was designed to evaluate if the microRNAs and tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) profiling of hematopoietic bone marrow could help in acute leukemia early detection. Also, we assessed the DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) expression and its possible epigenetic effects on miRNAs plus TSGs expression levels. The expression levels of ten miRNAs and four TSGs involved in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) as well as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were quantified in 43 and 40 bone marrow samples of ALL and AML patients in comparison with cancer-free subjects via real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis of miRNAs was performed in the study groups. Further, the correlation between the DNMT3A and TSGs was calculated. RESULTS: Significant differences were detected in the bone marrow expression of miRNAs and TSGs (P < 0.05) between acute leukemia patients and healthy group. ROC analysis confirmed the ability of miR-30a, miR-101, miR-132, miR-129, miR-124, and miR-143 to discriminate both ALL and AML patients with an area under the ROC curve of ≥ 0.80 (P < 0.001) and high accuracy. The correlation between DNMT3A and P15/P16 TSGs revealed that DNMT3A plays a vital role in epigenetic control of TSGs expression. Our findings indicated that the downregulation of bone marrow miRNAs and TSGs was accompanied by acute leukemia development. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that this study could contribute to introducing useful biomarkers for acute leukemia diagnosis.

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PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a costly disease, and its impact is greater in developing countries (DC). We will review the current concept of what are DC, compare the differences in the epidemiology and economic burden of this disease between developed and DC, and finally, analyze the barriers and possible solutions that DC should implement to achieve better results. RECENT FINDINGS: DC is a frequently misunderstood name. The way we use to measure human development is changing, and multidimension metrics better define what are DC. With this in mind, we show the differences in the AML epidemiology and the impact of economic burden in DC. We analyze the barriers to access therapy from a clinician point of view, to show that most DC shared similar challenges but with a diverse healthcare structure. Finally, we provide several possible solutions for a more integrated and timely treatment that allows better results not only in terms of survival but with a better quality of life. The economic burden of AML treatment in DC is high, and the results are poor. It is crucial to face this challenge and propose new treatment approaches to achieve better results.

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Introducción: La leucemia mieloide aguda representa el 80 por ciento de las leucemias agudas entre los adultos; el tratamiento de inducción a la remisión, para los pacientes menores de 60 años, está basado en la combinación de antraciclinas y arabinósido de citosina. Objetivo: incorporar las altas dosis de antraciclinas al tratamiento de inducción de la leucemia mieloide aguda no promielocítica en pacientes adultos menores de 60 años. Método: Se realizó un estudio cuasiexperimental en 41 pacientes con este diagnóstico, atendidos en el servicio de Adultos del Instituto de Hematología e Inmunología, desde septiembre del 2013 hasta diciembre del 2016. A todos los pacientes se les realizó estudios morfológicos, inmunológicos, citogenéticos y moleculares al inicio de la enfermedad y ecocardiografía para determinar la fracción de eyección y de acortamiento del ventrículo izquierdo al año de finalizado el tratamiento, para determinar la cardiotoxicidad por el uso de las altas dosis de antraciclinas. Resultados: La distribución por edad fue mayor en el grupo de 46 a 52 años representado por el 26,8 por ciento de los casos y predominó el sexo masculino 60,9 por ciento. En el 85 por ciento de los casos la enfermedad apareció de novo. Según los criterios morfológicos de la clasificación Franco Británico Americana el 31,7 por ciento correspondió a la variante M1, en estrecha relación con las determinaciones por citometría de flujo, para esta variedad. Los genes más comúnmente involucrados fueron el NPM1 y el AML/ETO, para el 24 por ciento y 22 por ciento, respectivamente. El 56,1 por ciento de los pacientes alcanzó la remisión hematológica con un solo ciclo de tratamiento y el 14,6 por ciento, necesitó realizar un segundo esquema de inducción. No se reportaron eventos de cardiotoxocidad por antraciclina durante el tratamiento, ni al año de culminado este. Conclusiones: Con el uso de las altas dosis de antraciclina se lograron remisiones hematológicas, sin toxicidad cardiovascular demostrada(AU)

Introduction: Acute myeloid leukemia represents 80 percent of acute leukemias among adults; the induction treatment to obtain remission in patients under 60 years old is based on the combination of anthracyclines and cytosine arabinoside. Objective: to incorporate the high doses of anthracyclines to the treatment of induction of non-promyelocytic acute myeloid leukemia in adult patients under 60 years of age. Method: We conducted a quasi-experimental study in 41 patients with this diagnosis, at the adult clinic service of the Institute of Hematology and Immunology, from september 2013 to december 2016. Morphological, immunological, cytogenetic and molecular studies were carried out at the beginning of the disease and also echocardiography was performed to determine the ejection fraction and shortening of the left ventricle a year after the end of treatment, to determine cardiotoxicity due to the use of high doses of anthracyclines. Results: The distribution by age was higher in the group of 46 to 52 years represented by 26.8 percent of the cases and the male sex predominated 60.9 percent. In 85 percent of the cases the disease appeared de novo. According to the morphological criteria of the French American British classification, 31.7 percent corresponded to the M1 variant, in close relation with the determinations by flow cytometry, for this variety. The genes most commonly involved were NPM1 and AML / ETO, for 24 percent and 22 percent respectively. 56.1 percent of patients achieved hematological remission with a single treatment cycle and 14.6 percent of patients needed a second induction scheme. No anthracycline cardiotoxicity events were reported during the treatment, nor a year after the treatment, in the patients evaluated. Conclusions: With the use of high doses of anthracycline, have been hematological remissions, without demonstrated cardiovascular toxicity(AU)

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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Acute leukemia (AL) is a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by a disorganized clone proliferation of hematopoietic cells. Thymidine kinase (TK) is a cell enzyme involved in DNA synthesis and is considered a cellular proliferation marker in some solid tumors. METHODS: A cross-sectional prospective and comparative study was performed in the Federico Gomez Children's Hospital in Mexico (HIMFG, in Spanish) in 125 samples of patients of the HIMFG with AL and 138 samples of children without leukemia. Serum TK levels were determined for both groups. RESULTS: Of the children with AL, 90 presented B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL); 13, T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL); and 22, acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A median (m) TK level of 23.7 IU (IQR 17-35.7) was observed in the group without AL and 91 IU (IQR 98-392) in the AL group. This difference was statistically significant (p <0.0001). When analyzing TK levels according to the type of leukemia, the m was as follows: 68 IU (IQR 35-118) for B-ALL, 470 IU (IQR 88-750) for AML, and 1678 IU (IQR 288-2108) for T- ALL. CONCLUSION: TK is an enzyme showing heterogeneous levels in B-ALL although it is significantly increased in 90% of patients with T-ALL and AML.

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