12th Congress of the European Hematology ... - Haematologica

induced significant apoptosis (mean value 32±12%), colony growth
reduction (mean value of 34,2 vs 76,5) and proliferation rate inhibition
(48%±17) in EphA3+ cells compared to normal controls and to EphA3
negative cells in which we were unable to observed any significant effect.
Similar effects were observed after incubation with a specific antibody
blocking the receptor. No kinase domain mutations were found in EphA3
overexpressing cells. Conclusions. EphA3 is abnormally expressed in different
hematological malignancies with a significant overexpression in
CMPD as compared to normal controls. The inhibition of EphA3 phosphorylation
induced by Dasatinib or by the antibody results in growth
arrest and apoptosis of EphA3 overexpressing cells. Therefore, EphA3
may represent a potential candidate for a molecular therapy in chronic
myeloproliferative disorders
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AUTOMATED FISH ANALYSIS PREDICTS GOOD OUTCOME IN CML PATIENTS WITH
IMATINIB-INDUCED REMISSION AND DETECTS VERY LOW LEVEL LEUKAEMIC CELL
POPULATION WITH DOUBLE BCR-ABL REARRANGEMENT
G. Calabrese, 1 R. Di Lorenzo, 2 S. Pulini, 2 D. Fantasia, 3 P. Guanciali-
Franchi, 1 R. Di Gianfilippo, 3 D. Romagno, 3 M. Alfonsi, 1 G. Fioritoni, 2
G. Palka1 1 Medical Genetic, University of Chieti, CHIETI; 2 Department of Hematology,
PESCARA; 3 Human Genetic, PESCARA, Italy
Background.Minimal residual disease (MRD) analysis is essential for
establishing the efficacy of therapy in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
patients. Aims. Seventy-six patients with CML, 69 in chronic phase, 1
in accelerate phase, and 6 in blastic crisis, were treated with imatinib
mesylate (IM). We used automated FISH analysis to evaluate the MRD
as a predictor of efficacy of IM therapy. Methods. The patients were
studied for a 18-66 months follow up period using cytogenetics and
FISH analysis with a dual-fusion BCR-ABL probe, and an automated
FISH imaging system for rare cell events (BioView-Duet). Before IM
treatment 50 patients showed Ph chromosome in all examined cells
while in the remaining 26 patients a normal clone was also found.
Results. Complete or partial cytogenetic remission rate [CCR or PCR:
t(9;22) absent or