L. Michaux MD, PhD

P1.06 Bilateral Bell’s palsy leading to the diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Treatment of mantle cell lymphomas: recommendations of the Belgian Hematological Society

Summary

Mantle cell lymphoma was recognised in the nineties and is characterised by the t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation which results in overexpression of cyclin D1.¹ This disease represents approximately 6% of all non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Mantle cell lymphoma generally affects patients over 60 years-old. Most patients have advanced disease (>70 % Ann Arbor stage IV). Several efforts have been made to predict outcome in mantle cell lymphoma. The cell-proliferation marker Ki-67, the Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and minimal residual disease are prognostic tools. For young patients, chemoimmunotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy plus stem cell transplantation is the treatment of choice. For the main group of older patients, chemo-immunotherapy followed by maintenance with rituximab is the gold standard. In relapses, temsirolimus is actually registered and new drugs, such as ibrutinib, are currently evaluated with promising preliminary results.^2–5

(BELG J HEMATOL 2014;5(3):89–96)

Cytogenetic and genomic assessment of selected lymphoproliferative disorders

Summary

Chronic mature B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, i.e. B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and plasma cell dyscrasias such as multiple myeloma, have a variable disease course. Clinical staging systems and several biological parameters have been used to estimate tumour burden and predict prognosis. In addition, cytogenetic aberrations have prognostic significance and are therefore investigated in the routine evaluation of these diseases. In this doctoral study, we evaluated available techniques, which can be applied to detect cytogenetic abnormalities in the routine investigation of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and multiple myeloma. Next, we characterised cytogenetic entities, in particular translocations involving immunoglobulin genes and the proto-oncogenes BCL2 and MYC and investigated clonal evolution in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2014;5(1):25–30)

The cytogenetic and molecular diagnosis of haematological malignancies: an overview of current techniques

Summary

The presence, number and/or type of chromosomal aberrations represent an independent predictor of prognosis in several haematological disorders. Therefore, (cyto)genetic analysis is now routinely performed in many haematological malignancies. Different techniques are available to detect chromosomal abnormalities. Conventional cytogenetic analysis can be performed, and also interphase fluorescent in situ hybridisation is widely used. In addition, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification and more recently analysis by means of different array-platforms have been used in research and routine setting. Newly developed techniques, such as next-generation sequencing are only available for research purposes thus far. All these techniques are complementary, and each technique has its own (dis)advantages.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2014;5(1):3–11)

P4.16 Pneumomediastinum as a complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

P4.14 Autologous stem cell transplantation for late-onset nemaline myopathy and gammopathy

P4.04 Allogeneic stem cell transplantation for patients with myelofibrosis: a single center experience