Flow cytometry (FCM) is used for quantification of minimal residual disease (MRD) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) through discriminating leukemic B-lymphoblasts from normal B-cell precursor counterparts "hematogones." Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1)/CD304 is a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor implicated in the progression of hematological malignancies. We evaluated NRP-1/CD304 as MRD and prognostic marker in pediatric precursor B-ALL using FCM. Seventy children with precursor B-ALL and 40 control children were enrolled. CD304 percentage and fluorescence intensity were significantly higher in precursor B-ALL at diagnosis compared with controls. In total, 28 of 70 (40%) precursor B-ALL patients at diagnosis were CD304 (group A), whereas 42/70 (60%) patients were CD304 (group B). Group A showed higher incidence of lymphadenopathy and TEL-AML1 fusion gene than group B. CD304 was reevaluated in group A patients at day 28 postinduction chemotherapy which revealed 12/28 (42.9%) patients with persistent CD304 expression (MRD; group A1) and 16/28 (57.1%) patients who turned CD304 (MRD; group A2). At diagnosis, group A1 showed lower incidence of TEL-AML1 fusion gene and higher risk stratification than group A2. NRP-1/CD304 expression by FCM is efficient in discriminating leukemic B-lymphoblasts from hematogones, a stable leukemia-associated phenotype for MRD monitoring, and a putative poor prognostic marker in pediatric precursor B-ALL.

STC1 gene expression at diagnosis might be a useful prognostic marker for clinical outcome and monitoring therapeutic response in patients with acute leukemia.

FICTION technique provides a sensitive tool for establishing clonal plasma cells (PC) infiltration of BM aspirates, and is amenable for use on archived as well as fresh smears.

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Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS) is a major oncological emergency involving metabolic perturbations. It occurs when tumor cells release their contents into the bloodstream, either spontaneously or in response to therapy. TLS is characterized by hyperuricemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia following massive lysis of malignant cells. Although this syndrome is well described, it is rarely seen or suspected in solid malignancies. The frequency and severity of TLS is partly dependent upon the biology of the disease and type of therapy administered. We report in this work two cases of tumor lysis syndrome occurring after chemotherapy for endocrine colon carcinoma with small metastatic cells.