ICSH guidelines for the standardization of bone marrow immunohistochemistry

Abstract

Bone marrow (BM) tissue biopsy evaluation, including trephine biopsy and clot section, is an integral part of BM investigation and is often followed by ancillary studies, in particular immunohistochemistry (IHC). IHC provides in situ coupling of morphological assessment and immunophenotype. The number of different IHC tests that can be applied to BM trephine biopsies and the number of indications for IHC testing is increasing concurrently with the development of flow cytometry and molecular diagnostic methods. An international Working Party for the Standardization of Bone Marrow IHC was formed by the International Council for Standardization in Hematology (ICSH) to prepare a set of guidelines for the standardization of BM IHC based on currently available published evidence and modern understanding of quality assurance principles as applied to IHC in general. The guidelines were discussed at the ICSH General Assemblies and reviewed by an international panel of experts to achieve further consensus and represent further development of the previously published ICSH guidelines for the standardization of BM specimens handling and reports.

Pembrolizumab, pomalidomide, and low-dose dexamethasone for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

“…The data are preliminary and need confirmation in a larger cohort with additional studies assessing other features of the marrow microenvironment (DCs, NK cells, etc) to fully understand the mechanism of action. 6,9 So far, none of the biomarkers examined (PD-L1 on myeloma cells and PD-1 [34][35][36][37] In conclusion, combination immunotherapy with antibodies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and IMiDs provides a novel therapeutic approach for patients with MM refractory to current available therapies. The combination of pembrolizumab, pomalidomide, and low-dose dexamethasone shows promising durable clinical antimyeloma activity; the results are encouraging and support an ongoing phase 3 trial in patients with RRMM (NCT02576977).…”

Levels of Micro-Megakaryocyte and Mortality of Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndrome

“…At the time of analysis, 141 patients (70.5%) had died; 78 (60.4%) of the low-risk subgroup and 59 (91%) of the high-risk subgroup. In the low-risk subgroup, causes of death were an evolution to AML (14), disease progression (5), infection (14), and bleeding (2). In the high-risk subgroup the causes of death were evolution to AML (18), disease 11 progression 3, infection 13, and bleeding 5.…”

Bone Marrow Infiltration of Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma: Identification and Prognostic Impact of Histologic Patterns and Diagnostic Application of Ancillary Phenotypic and Molecular Analyses

“…All specimens were fixed in 4% formalin and paraffin embedded, and BM biopsy samples were decalcified with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as described elsewhere. 20 Hematoxylin-eosin-stained slides of each sample were reviewed and reclassified, if necessary. All LN and BM samples from patients with BM involvement by AITL were stained for the TFH markers BCL6, CD10, CXCL13, ICOS, and PD-1.…”