phosphorus-radioisotopes and Primary-Myelofibrosis

Polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myleofibrosis are chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. MPNs are also associated with progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The "true" rate of transformation is not known mainly due to selection bias in clinical trials and underreporting in population-based studies. The outcome after transformation is dismal. The underlying mechanisms of transformation are incompletely understood and in part remain an area of controversy. There is an intrinsic propensity in MPNs to progress to AML/MDS, the magnitude of which is not fully known, supporting a role for nontreatment-related factors. High doses of alkylating agents, P(32) and combined cytoreductive treatments undoubtedly increase the risk of transformation. The potential leukemogenic role of hydroxyurea has been a matter of debate due to difficulties in performing large prospective randomized trials addressing this issue. The main focus of this review is to elucidate therapy-related leukemic transformation in MPNs with a special focus on the role of hydroxyurea.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Disease Progression; Humans; Hydroxyurea; Janus Kinase 2; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Mutation; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Survival Analysis; Thrombocythemia, Essential

The clinical course in both polycythaemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythaemia (ET) is characterized by significant thrombohaemorrhagic complications and variable risk of disease transformation into myeloid metaplasia with myelofibrosis or acute myeloid leukaemia. Randomized studies have shown that the risk of thrombosis was significantly reduced in ET with the use of hydroxyurea (HU) and in PV with the use of chlorambucil or 32P. However, the use of chlorambucil or 32P has been associated with an increased risk of leukaemic transformation. Subsequently, other studies have suggested that both HU and pipobroman may be less leukaemogenic and as effective as chlorambucil and 32P for preventing thrombosis in PV. However, the results from these prospective studies have raised concern that even HU and pipobroman may be associated with excess leukaemic events in both ET and PV. The recent introduction of anagrelide as a specific platelet-lowering agent, the demonstration of treatment efficacy with interferon-alpha, and the revived interest in using low-dose acetylsalicylic acid provide the opportunity to initiate prospective randomized studies incorporating these treatments.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aspirin; Chlorambucil; Disease Progression; Female; Hemorrhage; Humans; Hydroxyurea; Interferon-alpha; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Radiation-Induced; Male; Middle Aged; Phlebotomy; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Pipobroman; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Prospective Studies; Quinazolines; Thrombocythemia, Essential; Thrombosis

An analysis of the risk of progression towards leukemia, carcinoma and myelofibrosis was performed in 93 patients treated by 32P alone (PVSG protocols) since 1970-1979, 395 patients over the age of 65 years treated by 32P with or without maintenance therapy using hydroxyurea (French protocol) since 1980-1994, and 202 patients under the age of 65 treated by either hydroxyurea or pipobroman since 1980. The risk of leukemia, or myelodysplasia, or lymphoma in the 32P-treated patients was 10% at the 10th year, but increase after that time to reach a value of about 30% at the 20th year, in the surviving case. This risk was not dose-related. Despite a marked reduction of the cumulative 32P dose in the patients maintained by hydroxyurea, the actuarial risk was 19% at the 10th year. In the patients treated exclusively by non radio-mimetic agents (hydroxyurea or pipobroman) a risk of 10% at the 10th year was observed. The risk of carcinoma (excluding skin cancers) was about 15% at the 10th year in the 32P-treated cases, a value similar to that generally reported by the French statistics. There was no prevalence of digestive carcinomas. In contrast, the patients receiving 32P and hydroxyurea as maintenance had an excess risk: 29% at the 10th year. In the relatively young cases treated by non radio-mimetic agents, the risk was similar in both arms: 9% at the 10th year, similar to the expected incidence at this age. The risk of myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia was still relatively low at the 10th year, about 15% in all arms, but increased towards a value higher than 30% in the patients surviving at the 20th year. At the present time, but in only a few cases with long-term following, no myelo-fibrosis with splenic metaplasia has been observed in the pipobroman-treated cases. The present results, which need to be confirmed (the present analysis has been done in spring 95) suggest that:-the use of non radio-mimetic agents does not protect against leukemic transformation, which may be a consequence of the disease; rather than of the treatment,-maintenance therapy after initial use of 32P increases the risk of both leukemia and carcinoma,-and hydroxyurea does not delay the risk of developing myelo-fibrosis, in comparison with 32P alone.

Topics: Actuarial Analysis; Acute Disease; Carcinoma; Cause of Death; Disease Progression; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hydroxyurea; Incidence; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Radiation-Induced; Lymphoma; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced; Phlebotomy; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Pipobroman; Polycythemia Vera; Prevalence; Primary Myelofibrosis; Risk; Splenomegaly

Virtually every aspect concerning the occurrence of acute leukemia in polycythemia vera is controversial. However, a list of those factors believed to have importance in leukemogenesis in this disease includes: maleness, ethnic origin, the presence of myeloid metaplasia and/or early WBC precursors in the peripheral blood at the time of presentation, the influence of prolonged survival, and a possible dose-response relationship with 32P treatment. Many of the features of PV suggest that it is a malignant disease per se, with other factors (such as clones of cells, or altered host response) combining to increase the leukemogenic potential of the agents used to control the disease. It does appear that the incidence of AL in PV treated with 32P and/or x-ray is many times higher than that for PV treated with phlebotomy alone. However, overall survival for 32P-treated patients appears to be longer than that for phlebotomy treatment. Further, for both 32P and phlebotomy treatments, patients with AL do not die an an earlier age than do patients not developing this complication. Since the transformation of PV into AL has been described in more than 20 patients treated with phlebotomy alone, and in more than 30 patients treated with chemotherapy and phlebotomy, the question concerning the occurrence of AL in PV no longer appears to revolve around whether this is a function of the leukemogenicity of 32P or the effect of prolongation of survival. The occurrence of AL in multiple myeloma, lymphomas, other malignancies, and in nonmalignant diseases following treatment with myelosuppressive agents, forces one to consider the leukemogenic potential of any agent capable of suppressing the panmyelopathy of this disease, as well as the inherent tendency to AL of the "untreated" disease. Hopefully, the next decade will give us a more complete understanding of the complex interrelationships between PV, its treatment, and AL.

Topics: Female; Humans; Leukemia; Leukemia, Radiation-Induced; Male; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Radiotherapy; Sex Factors

Topics: Bone Marrow; Busulfan; Diagnosis, Differential; Erythropoiesis; Granulocytes; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Osteosclerosis; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Thrombocythemia, Essential

Topics: Acute Disease; Chromosome Aberrations; Chromosome Disorders; Chromosomes, Human, 19-20; Chromosomes, Human, 21-22 and Y; Humans; Leukemia; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis

Despite myelosuppression, polycythemic (PV) patients greater than 65 years of age have a high risk of vascular complications, and the leukemic risk exceeds 15% after 12 years. Is the addition of low-dose maintenance treatment with hydroxyurea (HU) after radiophosphorus (32P) myelosuppression able to decrease these complications? Since the end of 1979, 461 patients were randomized to receive (or not) low-dose HU (5 to 10 mg/kg/d), after the first 32P-induced remission, and were observed until death or June 1996. Maintenance treatment very significantly prolonged the duration of 32P-induced remissions and reduced the annual mean dose received to one-third. However, despite this maintenance, 25% of the patients had an excessive platelet count and the rate of serious vascular complications was not decreased, except in the most severe cases with short-term relapse of polycythemia. Furthermore, the leukemia rate was significantly increased beyond 8 years and a significant excess of carcinomas was also observed. The continuous use of HU did not decrease the risk of progression to myelofibrosis (incidence of 20% after 15 years). Life expectancy was shorter (a median of 9.3 years v 10.9 years with 32P alone), except in the most severe cases (initial 32P-induced remission lasting <2 years) in which maintenance treatment moderately prolonged the survival by reducing the vascular risk. In most cases of PV, in which the duration of the first 32P-induced remission exceeded 2 years, the introduction of HU maintenance did not reduce the vascular risk. Although it considerably decreased the mean dose of 32P received, HU maintenance therapy significantly increased the leukemia and cancer risks and reduced the mean life expectancy by 15%. However, in cases with more rapid recurrence, the introduction of maintenance treatment reduced the vascular risks and moderately prolonged survival. The use of HU as a maintenance therapy is therefore only justified in this situation.

Topics: Actuarial Analysis; Aged; Alkylating Agents; Combined Modality Therapy; Disease Progression; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hydroxyurea; Leukemia, Radiation-Induced; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced; Neoplasms, Second Primary; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Risk; Survival Analysis; Vascular Diseases

An analysis of the risk of progression towards leukemia, carcinoma and myelofibrosis was performed in 93 patients treated by 32P alone (PVSG protocols) since 1970-1979, 395 patients over the age of 65 years treated by 32P with or without maintenance therapy using hydroxyurea (French protocol) since 1980-1994, and 202 patients under the age of 65 treated by either hydroxyurea or pipobroman since 1980. The risk of leukemia, or myelodysplasia, or lymphoma in the 32P-treated patients was 10% at the 10th year, but increase after that time to reach a value of about 30% at the 20th year, in the surviving case. This risk was not dose-related. Despite a marked reduction of the cumulative 32P dose in the patients maintained by hydroxyurea, the actuarial risk was 19% at the 10th year. In the patients treated exclusively by non radio-mimetic agents (hydroxyurea or pipobroman) a risk of 10% at the 10th year was observed. The risk of carcinoma (excluding skin cancers) was about 15% at the 10th year in the 32P-treated cases, a value similar to that generally reported by the French statistics. There was no prevalence of digestive carcinomas. In contrast, the patients receiving 32P and hydroxyurea as maintenance had an excess risk: 29% at the 10th year. In the relatively young cases treated by non radio-mimetic agents, the risk was similar in both arms: 9% at the 10th year, similar to the expected incidence at this age. The risk of myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia was still relatively low at the 10th year, about 15% in all arms, but increased towards a value higher than 30% in the patients surviving at the 20th year. At the present time, but in only a few cases with long-term following, no myelo-fibrosis with splenic metaplasia has been observed in the pipobroman-treated cases. The present results, which need to be confirmed (the present analysis has been done in spring 95) suggest that:-the use of non radio-mimetic agents does not protect against leukemic transformation, which may be a consequence of the disease; rather than of the treatment,-maintenance therapy after initial use of 32P increases the risk of both leukemia and carcinoma,-and hydroxyurea does not delay the risk of developing myelo-fibrosis, in comparison with 32P alone.

Topics: Actuarial Analysis; Acute Disease; Carcinoma; Cause of Death; Disease Progression; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hydroxyurea; Incidence; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Radiation-Induced; Lymphoma; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced; Phlebotomy; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Pipobroman; Polycythemia Vera; Prevalence; Primary Myelofibrosis; Risk; Splenomegaly

Between 1980 and 1992, 237 polycythaemic patients aged 65 or more, or with high vascular risk factors were treated with 32P according to a protocol using, or not, maintenance therapy with low-dose hydroxy-urea (500 mg/day). The present follow-up covers 1448 years/patient. Maintenance therapy was seldom discontinued because of blood toxicity or gastrointestinal intolerance, but it was stopped in 20 percent of the cases because monitoring was difficult in very old patients. Maintenance therapy reduced the mean annual 32P dose by at least 50 percent. However, the actual risk of malignant blood diseases (myelodysplasia, acute leukaemia, lymphoma) was similar in the two arms of the protocol: 14 percent at the 10th year. Compared with the French population of the same age-groups, there was no excess of epithelial cancers in both arms. Maintenance therapy did not control platelet counts perfectly. The risk of severe vascular events was identical in both arms; probably no higher than expected at that age and significantly lower than in previously published data. The actuarial survival curves in both groups showed a 50 percent survival of about 11 years, i.e. very near to that of the reference French population (12.5 years) of similar sex and age.

Topics: Age Factors; Aged; Carcinoma; Cardiovascular Diseases; Female; Humans; Hydroxyurea; Injections, Intravenous; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Middle Aged; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia; Primary Myelofibrosis; Risk Factors

The PVSG study is unique in that it is prospective and composed of 432 patients randomized to three treatment arms. This study also provides the opportunity for serial studies of numerous sequential biopsies. Large numbers of cases with sequential biopsies covering the entire long course are essential to appreciate the full spectrum of tissue changes in this disease. The PVSG was initiated in 1967 and in mid-1985 approximately one third of the patients are alive and on protocol. For these reasons, the results must still be considered preliminary. Pretreatment biopsies from patients randomized in the PVSG have been analyzed for total cellularity, megakaryocyte concentration, and reticulin content. Considerable variation in these elements was found in these biopsies. Sequential posttreatment biopsies from these patients have also been studied and correlated with the clinical course of the disease. None of the morphologic parameters analyzed was shown to be of prognostic significance. Early in the course of PV the marrow reticulin content is almost always normal. The length of the developmental stage is unknown and the precise timing of the clinical onset may be difficult. Therefore, the 11% of patients that showed a significant increase in reticulin on initial evaluation may have had PV longer than was indicated clinically. If large numbers of sequential biopsies are studied, an increase in reticulin content can frequently be demonstrated during the active phase of the disease and before the onset of the spent phase. Currently 39 patients (9%) have developed the spent phase, or PPMM. PPMM occurred in about the same incidence in the patients treated with myelosuppressive therapy as by phlebotomy alone, the spent phase occurring in 16 patients treated by phlebotomy alone, 11 with chlorambucil, and 12 with 32P. The course of the reticulin fibrosis is slowly progressive. There is some evidence for regression in a few patients in the erythrocytotic phase, but sampling variation cannot be completely ruled out. At this time in the study, AL has developed in 37 patients (8.6%). The incidence of AL is quite low in the phlebotomy group (three cases). Presumably this represents the natural incidence in PV unmodified by therapeutic agents. The frequency is approximately equal and quite high in the chlorambucil and 32P groups. There are 19 cases in the chlorambucil-treated group and 15 in the 32P-treated group. The leukemias that developed in the PV patients occurred ei

Topics: Acute Disease; Aged; Bloodletting; Bone Marrow; Bone Marrow Cells; Chlorambucil; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Leukemia; Lymphoma; Megakaryocytes; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Reticulin; Retrospective Studies

Patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), including polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis, have a propensity to develop acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs). Using population-based data from Sweden, we assessed the role of MPN treatment and subsequent AML/MDS risk with special focus on the leukemogenic potential of hydroxyurea (HU).. On the basis of a nationwide MPN cohort (N = 11,039), we conducted a nested case-control study, including 162 patients (153 and nine with subsequent AML and MDS diagnosis, respectively) and 242 matched controls. We obtained clinical and MPN treatment data for all patients. Using logistic regression, we calculated odds ratios (ORs) as measures of AML/MDS risk.. Forty-one (25%) of 162 patients with MPNs with AML/MDS development were never exposed to alkylating agents, radioactive phosphorous (P(32)), or HU. Compared with patients with who were not exposed to HU, the ORs for 1 to 499 g, 500 to 999 g, more than 1,000 g of HU were 1.5 (95% CI, 0.6 to 2.4), 1.4 (95% CI, 0.6 to 3.4), and 1.3 (95% CI, 0.5 to 3.3), respectively, for AML/MDS development (not significant). Patients with MPNs who received P(32) greater than 1,000 MBq and alkylators greater than 1 g had a 4.6-fold (95% CI, 2.1 to 9.8; P = .002) and 3.4-fold (95% CI, 1.1 to 10.6; P = .015) increased risk of AML/MDS, respectively. Patients receiving two or more cytoreductive treatments had a 2.9-fold (95% CI, 1.4 to 5.9) increased risk of transformation.. The risk of AML/MDS development after MPN diagnosis was significantly associated with high exposures of P(32) and alkylators but not with HU treatment. Twenty-five percent of patients with MPNs who developed AML/MDS were not exposed to cytotoxic therapy, supporting a major role for nontreatment-related factors.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; Case-Control Studies; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Leukocyte Count; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Risk Factors; Thrombocythemia, Essential

In polycythemia vera (PV), treatment with chlorambucil and radioactive phosphorus (p32) increases the risk of leukemic transformation from 1% to 13-14%. This risk has been estimated to be 1-5.9% with hydroxyurea (HU) therapy. When compared with historical controls, the risk with use of HU does not appear to be statistically significant. The leukemogenic risk of HU therapy in essential thrombocytosis (ET) and in myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM) is unknown. HU remains the main myelotoxic agent in the treatment of PV, ET, and MMM. We studied 64 patients with these three disorders, seen at our institution during 1993-1995. The patients were studied for their clinical characteristics at diagnosis, therapies received, and development of myelodysplasia or acute leukemia (MDS/AL). Forty-two had PV, 15 ET, and 6 MMM, and 1 had an unclassified myeloproliferative disorder. Of the 42 patients with PV, 18 were treated with phlebotomy alone, 16 with HU alone, 2 with p32, 2 with multiple myelotoxic agents, and 2 with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). Two patients from the phlebotomy-treated group, one from the HU-treated group, and 1 from the multiple myelotoxic agent-treated group developed MDS/AL. In the larger group, 11 received no treatment or aspirin alone, 18 were treated with phlebotomy alone, 25 with HU, 5 with multiple myelotoxic agents, 2 with p32, 2 with IFN-alpha, and 1 with melphalan. Study of the entire group of 64 patients showed that only one additional patient (total of 5 out of 64) developed MDS/AL. This patient had been treated with HU alone. Statistical analysis did not show any association between clinical characteristics at diagnosis, or HU therapy, and development of MDS/AL (P=0.5). Thus, our data provide no evidence suggestive of increased risk of transformation to MDS/AL with HU therapy in PV, ET, and MMM. Larger, prospective studies are needed to study this issue further.

Topics: Acute Disease; Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts; Busulfan; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Chlorambucil; Cohort Studies; Disease Progression; Drug Therapy, Combination; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Humans; Hydroxyurea; Incidence; Interferon-alpha; Leukemia; Leukemia, Radiation-Induced; Male; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Phlebotomy; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Preleukemia; Primary Myelofibrosis; Retrospective Studies; Ribonucleotide Reductases; Risk; Thrombocythemia, Essential

The very-long-term follow-up of patients initially included in the PVSG protocols provides useful information. The excess risk of cancer after chlorambucil appears to persist for 5 years after stopping this treatment. The risk of leukaemia induced by marrow suppression (32P or chemotherapy) was marked before the 10th year, but low thereafter. Phlebotomy is unacceptable as permanent treatment because of the poor clinical tolerance and the frequency of vascular complications. This treatment is also associated with a risk of early progression towards myelofibrosis with myeloid splenomegaly. In the very long term, 15 years or more after the diagnosis, this complication is the major clinical risk, affecting almost 50% of our patients surviving at this time. The prevention of this type of complication could constitute one of the objectives of future protocols dealing with this disease.

Topics: Aged; Bloodletting; Chlorambucil; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Radiotherapy; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Diseases

With the very long life expectancy of Polycythaemia Vera late complications are often observed: progressive resistance to treatment, bad tolerance to maintenance by phlebotomy, progression towards myelofibrosis. Resistance to phosphorus 32 is reflected by a progressive reduction in the duration of remission and by a gradually decreasing remission rate. A complete resistance appears after a mean duration of disease of 7 years. In the maintenance treatment by hydroxyurea, there is a secondary resistance in one third of cases with a poor control of the excess platelets. Resistance to Pipobroman is less frequent (10%). The phosphorus resistance could be delayed by addition of maintenance treatment by Hydroxyurea. In the presence of resistance to 32 P, Hydroxyurea and Pipobroman often remain effective. In the case of resistance to Hydroxyurea or Pipobroman, we have several possibilities: inversion of chemotherapy, other chemotherapy as Busulfan, 32 phosphorus. Intolerance of phlebotomy as baseline treatment is almost constant. Three complications lead to discontinuation of phlebotomy: development of cardiovascular complications, raised platelet count to above 800,000 and often more than 1 million, progressive increase in the size of the spleen with appearance of signs of myeloid splenomegaly. Exclusive phlebotomies are not indicated as baseline treatment of Polycythaemia Vera. The progression towards myelofibrosis (spent phase, post polycythaemia myeloid splenomegaly) increases with the duration of the disease and the frequency of transformation differs according to the type of treatment. The time to transformation is much shorter in the patients treated by phlebotomy. The transformation towards myelofibrosis is demonstrated by bone marrow biopsy and isotope investigations (bone marrow scintigraphy and kinetic by iron 59 and chromium 51).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Bloodletting; Cardiovascular Diseases; Chronic Disease; Humans; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis

We have evaluated 230 patients with myeloproliferative disorders treated in the last 15 years with 32P. None of the patients affected by essential thrombocythaemia developed haematological complications. In the larger group of polycythaemia patients (214 subjects) only 38 patients (17 males and 21 females) developed complications. 60.5% of these subjects had a minor complications: 1.8% showed a thrombocytopenia lower than 100.10e9/lt, 2.3% anaemia with Hb lower than 10 g%, 2.6% leukopenia lower than 40.10e9/lt and 2.3% a pancytopenia. All these complications were transient and eventually treated with limited blood transfusions. We could not identify a correlation between the dose used and the development of such complications. We noted only that the occurrence of anaemia, given a similar dose, was more frequent in females. Only 7% of all patients presented a major complication after 32P administration. In this case too, there was no correlation with the dose administered. Myelofibrosis and chronic myeloid leukaemia resulted to be the more frequent complication (9 out of 15) but we could not clarify if they represented a natural evolution of polycythaemia vera or were due to the treatment with 32P. Acute leukaemia developed only in 5 patients and again we could not recognized a correlation with the dose administered. Moreover, the time from the diagnosis of polycythaemia vera the onset of acute leukaemia ranged widely. 32P has a definite effect on the prevention of thrombotic and haemorrhagic complications in polycythaemia patients since it prolongs their life but it also increases the incidence of acute leukaemia.

Topics: Anemia; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hematologic Diseases; Humans; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive; Leukopenia; Male; Middle Aged; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Radiotherapy; Thrombocytopenia

A 68-yr-old male with agnogenic myeloid metaplasia was given phosphorus-32-colloidal chromic phosphate intrapericardially for the treatment of malignant pericardial effusion. Technetium-99m-sulfur colloid was used to verify catheter placement and to visualize distribution within the pericardium. Estimated dosimetry for this mode of therapy is presented, and it is suggested that pericardial administration of phosphorus-32-colloidal chromic phosphate is the treatment of choice for malignant pericardial effusion.

Topics: Aged; Chromium; Chromium Compounds; Colloids; Humans; Male; Pericardial Effusion; Phosphates; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Primary Myelofibrosis

Natural killer (NK) cell number and activity were measured in 26 patients with myeloproliferative disorders and the results were compared with 16 age-matched control patients. The percent of Leu-11b-positive cells was 11% +/- 3% in the patients, compared with 12% +/- 4% in the control patients. Ten of 26 patients, however, had NK activity lower than all of the control values at three different effector to target cell ratios (E:T) (P less than 0.005). The values of those patients with low unstimulated NK activity remained low despite stimulation with interleukin-2 (IL-2) or alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN), whereas the values of those patients with normal unstimulated activity responded to IL-2 and alpha-IFN like the control patients. Three of the ten patients with low NK activity had a history of malignant neoplasms. None of the 16 patients with normal NK activity had a history of malignant neoplasms (P less than 0.05). We conclude that patients with myeloproliferative disorders frequently have low endogenous NK cell activity in vitro. The dysfunction of the NK system appears to be intrinsic because the relative number of NK cells was similar to control values and the response to stimulation with IL-2 and alpha-IFN was suboptimal. There may be a relationship between low NK activity and the development of malignant disease in such patients.

Topics: Bloodletting; Humans; Hydroxyurea; Interferon Type I; Interleukin-2; Killer Cells, Natural; Myeloproliferative Disorders; Neoplasms; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Thrombocytosis

The fate of the polycythaemic patient depends on the treatment employed which may determine the nature of the transformation commonly occurring late in the course of the disease. Treatment is, on the other hand, aimed at prevention of the most frequent complications, that is of thromboembolic processes. In the last 30 years the authors treated a total of 118 PV patients, of whom 60 have died. Initially 32P treatment was applied, which was modified later, because of acute leukaemia that had occurred in 9% of the treated cases, to a single 5 mC 32P+Myelobromol (DBM) treatment. Still later only DBM was administered in the form of stosstherapy (2500 mg per day over a period of 4 days). In the latter two groups, acute leukaemia occurred as few as two cases. The course of untreated polycythaemia vera is characterized by transformation into another myeloproliferative disease. This phenomenon occurs in 50% of the cases on drastic treatment and in patients treated with 32P. Of the patients who were alive when the report was finished 35% had been free of complications, while 5.2% were suffering from chronic granulocytic leukaemia (CGL), 34.5% from sclerotic osteo-myelofibrosis (OMF-SC) and 3.4% from chronic megakaryocytic granulocytiv leukaemia (CMGL). Of the 60 patients having died, 15% had suffered from other complications being predominantly of vascular nature. 11.8% of them died of AML, 10% of CGL, 26.7% of OMF-SC and 26.7% of CMGL. The terminal stage was characterized, in the majority of cases, by blastic crisis. Based on their own results and literary data authors recommend DBM treatment besides the indispensable phlebotomy.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Chlorambucil; Female; Humans; Leukemia; Leukemia, Radiation-Induced; Male; Middle Aged; Mitobronitol; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis

Topics: Acute Disease; Antigens, Neoplasm; Bloodletting; Chlorambucil; Chromosome Aberrations; Chromosome Disorders; Humans; Hydroxyurea; Leukemia; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors

14 patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and 1 patient with agnogenic myeloid metaplasia received (1-(2-chloroethyl)-cyclohexyl-nitrosourea (CCNU), 80 mg/m2, p.o., in a single dose once a month up to three times. Remission was achieved in 13 patients (86.6%) and easily maintained by low-dose busulfan (2 mg twice a week). The data on the treatment of ET reported in the literature have been reviewed and compared to our results.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Alkylating Agents; Busulfan; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Lomustine; Male; Middle Aged; Nitrosourea Compounds; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Primary Myelofibrosis; Thrombocytosis

Eleven patients have been observed with clinical features of both polycythaemia vera and myelofibrosis. Detailed follow-up and repeated haematological and isotopic investigations, including the assessment of erythropoietic distribution by 52Fe scanning, over a 10 year period, have indicated that patients who initially present with this syndrome may remain in a steady state for several years and that this transitional syndrome does not necessarily imply an active or irreversible transformation into classical myelofibrosis. Therapy with iron, folic acid, alkylating agents, splenectomy or splenic irradiation may reduce the extramedullary component of myeloproliferation and allow occasional patients to revert to more classical polycythaemia vera. Radioactive phosphorus (32P) therapy may be inappropriate in polycythaemic patients with dominant extramedullary erythropoiesis, as this form of therapy has a preferential medullary action and may selectively encourage extramedullary myeloproliferation.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Blood Cell Count; Busulfan; Female; Folic Acid; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Iron; Male; Middle Aged; Myeloproliferative Disorders; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis

Determining granulocyte kinetics with DF32P allows various parameters to be gained during the in-vitro marking, such as the total blood granulocyte pool, circulating granulocyte pool, marginal granulocyte pool, daily granulocyte exchange rate and half decay period of granulocytes. The half decay period of granulocytes, bone-marrow reserve in myelocytes, metamyelocytes and band cells as well as polymorphonuclear neutrophils can be determined by in-vitro marking, with DF32P being intravenously injected. The combination of both procedures with DF32P will reveal the half decay period, pool sizes and exchange rates of the proliferating myelocyte compartiment in bone-marrow and mature blood granulocytes. If 51Cr is used for determining granulocyte kinetics the surface activities of various organs, such as heart, liver, spleen, and lungs, can mainly be determined in addition to the half-life of leucocytes, indicating the degradation or storage of cells in certain areas of the body. In addition to normal values those findings are principally presented which were obtained with in-vitro marking by DF32P and 51Cr in chronic myeloid leukaemia, osteomyelofibrosis or osteomyelosclerosis respectively and in hypersplenism.

Topics: Cell Survival; Chromium Radioisotopes; Granulocytes; Half-Life; Humans; Hypersplenism; Isoflurophate; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukocyte Count; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Primary Myelofibrosis

A patient with familial erythrocytosis associated with Hemoglobin Rainier, and previously treated with 32P, developed myelofibrosis with a hyperdiploid chromosome clone in the myeloid cells (51,XX,+1,2q-(q33),+6,+9,+11,-19,+20q+,+mar 1.) This transformation from a benign disorder of differentiated erythrocytes to a malignant disorder may have been secondary to radiophosphorus therapy.

Topics: Chromosome Aberrations; Chromosome Disorders; Female; Hemoglobins, Abnormal; Humans; Karyotyping; Middle Aged; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia; Primary Myelofibrosis; Washington

The various myeloproliferative diseases have different symptoms, therapeutic problems, and prognoses. The most common of these disorders appears to be agnogenic myeloid metaplasia, which primarily affects older persons. The five-year survival rate at the Mayo Clinic for these patients is 58%, and the prognosis depends on the presence of symptoms, anemia, and thrombocytopenia and on the size of the liver. Androgen therapy is often necessary to control anemia, and splenectomy may be indicated.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Chlorambucil; Female; Humans; Male; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Myeloproliferative Disorders; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Thrombocythemia, Essential

The onset of postpolycythemic myeoloid metaplasia or spent polycythemia has been recognized for many years. As the result of many different series, the development of postpolycythemic myeolid metaplasia might be expected in from 15%-20% of patients with postpolycythemia vera. It appears that an etiologic role for sodium phosphate 32P may exist in this evolutionary pattern. About 70% of patients with PPMM will have symptoms with the onset of the syndrome. The major mechanisms producing symptoms result from (1) anemia, (2) pressure from massive splenomegaly, and (3) bleeding problems. Iron deficiency is a frequent cause of anemia in patients with PPMM. The major mechanism of anemia in these patients, however, relates to ineffective erythropoiesis and shortened red cell survival. Androgen trials for ineffective erythropoiesis seem worthwhile, although data on this point is too limited to draw any firm conclusions. A steroid trial for those patients with major hemolytic episodes is indicated. In those patients in whom adrenal steroid therapy fails to control major hemolysis, a consideration for splenectomy exists. Pressure-related manifestations secondary to massive splenomegaly have been treated with radiation therapy and oral alkylators. Although there is data to document amelioration of painful symptoms with associated shrinking of the spleen, long-term control of this problem has not been forthcoming. Again, patients who are medical failures in control of pressure-related manifestations may be considered for splenectomy. Bleeding problems may arise with PPMM secondary to thrombocytopenia, thrombocythemia, or qualitative platelet dysfunction. Adrenal steroids have met with some success in improving platelet counts in patients with life-threatening thrombocytopenia. Those patients who are medical failures with adrenal steroids in terms of thrombocytopenia might be candidates for splenectomy. Control of thrombocythemia has been observed with oral alkylator therapy and chlorambucil may have a special role in managing this complication. Qualitative platelet defects leading to severe bleeding are best managed with fresh platelet transfusions. Patients with PPMM in contrast to patients with agnogenic myeoloid metaplasia have a more lethal syndrome and shortened survivorship. Causes of death in patients with PPMM include cardiac problems, transition to acute leukemia, hemorrhage, and infection.

Topics: Anemia; Female; Humans; Iron; Male; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Prednisone; Primary Myelofibrosis; Splenomegaly

A review is presented of the clinical, physiopathological and therapeutic aspects of four varieties of chronic myeloproliferative syndrome: polycythemia vera, idiopathic thrombocythemia, chronic myelocytic leukemia and idiopathic myeloid metaplasia. Routine and experimental therapeutic approaches are discussed.

Topics: Aged; Bloodletting; Busulfan; Chlorambucil; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Male; Myeloproliferative Disorders; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Remission, Spontaneous; Thrombocytosis

Radionuclide studies of the erythron are valuable to the physician in evaluating the clinical situation in a wide variety of hematologic disorders. A complete and accurate analysis of the life cycle of the red cell can be obtained with a full iron kinetic study, in conjunction with a DF32P red-cell survival study. However, a complete iron kinetic study is not always necessary. It may be abbreviated by deleting the in vitro phase of the iron kinetic procedure. The abbreviated iron kinetic study is also done in conjunction with a DF32P red-cell survival study. It can easily be performed by injecting 59Fe-labeled plasma and monitoring externally over the spleen, liver, and sacrum. Measurements of red-cell survival may be obtained with either 51Cr or DF32P. Although 51Cr provides a relatively uniform label of circulating red cells and is convenient to count in vitro, its highly variable elution rate precludes an accurate measurement of erythrocyte survival. The 51Cr method provides only a rough index of circulating red-cell half-times as a measure of red-cell survival. DF32P, HOWEVER, IS A PERMANENT LABEL OF CIRCULATING RED CELLS. It provides a direct measurement of erythrocyte survival and permits in vivo labeling of red cells simply by means of direct intravenous injection. Because it has an elution rate that is virtually zero after minimal elution on the day of injection, and because it is not reutilized, DF32P is unquestionably the best agent known for the determination of red-cell survival. In addition to these diagnostic data, the complete iron kinetic study can provide data on the deposition of iron in storage and the rate of iron storage exchange. It can also determine if erythropoiesis is quantitatively abnormal and if the abnormality is located in the bone marrow or in other organs such as the liver or spleen. Although the study of hematologic disorders is one of the most rapidly developing areas of medical research, techniques that are currently available can provide an understanding of the life cycle of the red cell and valuable data that can be applied directly to the clinical situation. When performed accurately, these studies provide a thorough analysis of the pathophysiology of the erythron and are valuable clinical tools that can be used successfully in the diagnosis and evaluation of a broad spectrum of hematological disorders.

Topics: Anemia; Anemia, Hemolytic; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune; Anemia, Hypochromic; Anemia, Pernicious; Bone Marrow Diseases; Cell Survival; Chromium Radioisotopes; Erythrocytes; Hemochromatosis; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal; Hemosiderosis; Humans; Iron Radioisotopes; Isoflurophate; Isotope Labeling; Leukemia; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Radioisotopes; Radionuclide Imaging; Spherocytosis, Hereditary; Splenic Diseases; Vitamin E Deficiency

Three hundred and three cases of polycythaemia vera were treated between 1949 and 1961 using radioactive phosphorus, the minimum follow-up for the patients in the group being 12 years and the maximum 24 years. Two hundred and thirty three patients died, the median duration of survival after the first treatment with phosphorus being 10 years (i.e. 12 years after the diagnosis was made). 59 patients died of the vascular complications of polycythaemia, 76 of leukaemia or myelofibrosis. The total number of deaths due to vascular complications up to the tenth year exceeded the total number of deaths due to haematological complications (leukaemia or myeloid metaplasia). At the end of the 11th year the opposite was true. From the ninth year onwards, acute leukaemia and myelofibrosis represent more than 40 p.cent of deaths of known cause and the annual probability of death from a haematological cause for the surviving patients increases regularly until the fifteenth year when it reaches approximately 5 p.cent of the patients at risk. However the median survival of patients dying from acute leukaemia or myeloid splenomegaly is slightly longer than that of patients dying from other causes, this confirming that these disorders would appear to represent the terminal phase in the course of polycythaemia vera.

Topics: Acute Disease; Aged; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hemorrhage; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms; Leukemia; Male; Middle Aged; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Splenomegaly; Thrombosis

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Androgens; Blood Transfusion; Bloodletting; Busulfan; Chlorambucil; Cyclophosphamide; Humans; Myeloproliferative Disorders; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Spleen; Splenectomy; Thrombocytosis

Topics: Autopsy; Blood Platelets; Blood Sedimentation; Hemoglobins; Humans; Leukocyte Count; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Male; Middle Aged; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Primary Myelofibrosis; Time Factors

Topics: Acute Disease; Bloodletting; Female; Hemorrhage; Humans; Leukemia; Male; Middle Aged; Minnesota; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polycythemia Vera; Pressure; Primary Myelofibrosis; Retrospective Studies; Sex Factors; Splenectomy; Splenomegaly; Syndrome