Flavonoids are a category of plant-derived compounds which exhibit a large number of health-related effects. One of the most well-known and studied flavonoids is kaempferol, which can be found in a wide variety of herbs and plant families. Apart from their anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory effects, kaempferol and its associated compounds also exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal activities. The development of drugs and treatment schemes based on these compounds is becoming increasingly important in the face of emerging resistance of numerous pathogens as well as complex molecular interactions between various drug therapies. In addition, many of the kaempferol-containing plants are used in traditional systems all over the world for centuries to treat numerous conditions. Due to its variety of sources and associated compounds, some molecular mechanisms of kaempferol antimicrobial activity are well known while others are still under analysis. This paper thoroughly documents the vegetal and food sources of kaempferol as well as the most recent and significant studies regarding its antimicrobial applications.

B-cell precursor acute lyphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a common pediatric malignancy and patients may have significant benefits from monoclonal antibodies therapy with increased survival rates. Positive CD20 expression is identified in about half of these patients and its presence may serve as a prognostic factor in disease evolution. We performed a retrospective study including 114 patients diagnosed with B-ALL and evaluated the expression of CD20 through flow cytometry at diagnosis and on day 15. Additional immunophenotypic analyses as well as cytogenetic and molecular genetic analyses were also performed. We observed an increase in the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD20 between diagnosis—1.9 (1.2–3.26) and day 15: 6.17 (2.14–27.4), (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, we assessed that both diagnosis and day 15 CD20 MFI had an impact on RFS and OS, respectively, for cut-off values of >8.08 at diagnosis and >28.65 at day 15. In conclusion, CD20 expression appears to be a poor prognostic feature of B-ALL in pediatric patients. In this study, stratification of the outcome by the intensity of CD20 has implications concerning the allocation to rituximab-based chemotherapy and may offer new, potentially useful information for pediatric patients with B-ALL.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were originally discovered as a part of the innate immune response of the host to bacteria. They form a web-like structure that can immobilize microorganisms or exhibit direct antimicrobial properties, such as releasing reactive oxygen species (ROS). NETs are established when neutrophils undergo a sort of cellular death following exposure to ROS, chemokines, cytokines, or other soluble factors. This process results in the release of the neutrophil’s DNA in a web-like form, which is decorated with citrullinated histones (H3/H4-cit), neutrophil elastase (NE), and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Emerging studies have put into perspective that NETs play an important role in oncology as they were shown to influence tumor growth, malignant initiation, and proliferation, mediate the transition from endothelial to mesenchymal tissue, stimulate angiogenesis or metastasis, and can even help cancer cells evade the immune response. The role of NETs in cancer therapy resides in their ability to form and act as a mechanical barrier that will provide the primary tumor with a reduced response to irradiation or pharmaceutical penetration. Subsequently, cancer cells are shown to internalize NETs and use them as a strong antioxidant when pharmaceutical treatment is administered. In this review, we explored the role of NETs as part of the tumor microenvironment (TME), in the context of malignant epitheliomas, which are capable of an autonomous production of CA215, a subvariant of IgG, and part of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) superfamily. Studies have shown that CA215 has a functional Fc subdivision able to activate the Fc-gamma-RS receptor on the surface of neutrophils. This activation may afterward stimulate the production of NETs, thus indicating CA215 as a potential factor in cancer therapy surveillance.

Multiple myeloma is a hematologic neoplasm caused by abnormal proliferation of plasma cells. Sequencing studies suggest that plasma cell disorders are caused by both cytogenetic abnormalities and oncogene mutations. Therefore, it is necessary to detect molecular abnormalities to improve the diagnosis and management of MM. The main purpose of this study is to determine whether NGS, in addition to cytogenetics, can influence risk stratification and management. Additionally, we aim to establish whether mutational analysis of the CD138 cell population is a suitable option for the characterization of MM compared to the bulk population. Following the separation of the plasma cells harvested from 35 patients newly diagnosed with MM, we performed a FISH analysis to detect the most common chromosomal abnormalities. Consecutively, we used NGS to evaluate NRAS, KRAS, BRAF, and TP53 mutations in plasma cell populations and in bone marrow samples. NGS data showed that sequencing CD138 cells provides a more sensitive approach. We identified several variants in BRAF, KRAS, and TP53 that were not previously associated with MM. Considering that the presence of somatic mutations could influence risk stratification and therapeutic approaches of patients with MM, sensitive detection of these mutations at diagnosis is essential for optimal management of MM.

Background/Objectives: Light-chain amyloidosis (AL Amyloidosis) is a rare systemic plasma cell disorder in which misfolded light chains form amyloid fibrils that damage vital organs. Diagnosis is often delayed because of variable presentation and overlap with other plasma cell diseases. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 23 patients diagnosed between 2022 and 2025 at the Fundeni Clinical Institute. All cases underwent free light-chain testing, serum immunofixation, immunohistochemistry, and bone marrow analysis. Since 2022, next-generation flow cytometry (NGF) has been applied to detect clonal plasma cells and characterize their immunophenotype. Results: NGF confirmed clonality in 21 of 23 patients (91.3%), including two cases undetected by conventional assays. Serum immunofixation was positive in 69.6% and immunohistochemistry in 78.3%. Among clonal cases, λ restriction predominated (71.4%). Detection was highest when NGF was combined with standard methods, especially in patients with dFLC < 100, where negative immunofixation was more frequent (p = 0.027). Conclusions: Multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) provides highly sensitive detection of small clonal plasma cell populations often missed by standard assays, offering a valuable tool for early and accurate diagnosis of low-burden plasma cells in AL amyloidosis. Integrating MFC into routine evaluation improves diagnostic accuracy, identifies overlooked clonal populations, and supports earlier, more informed clinical decisions.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a biologically heterogeneous plasma cell malignancy in which prognosis is strongly influenced by cytogenetic abnormalities. Recent updates from the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG), along with the European Hematology Association (EHA) and European Myeloma Network (EMN), have refined the definition of high-risk (HR) disease by integrating TP53 alterations, chromosome 1 abnormalities, and specific combinations of cytogenetic lesions. However, validation of these criteria in real-world patient populations remains limited. We conducted a retrospective, single-center study including 738 patients diagnosed with MM between 2017 and 2025, of whom 408 had available fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) data at diagnosis. Patients were reclassified according to the latest IMWG/IMS high-risk criteria proposed in international literature. Cytogenetic abnormalities, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes, including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), response rates, and relapse, were analyzed. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. A total of 103 patients (25%) were reclassified as high-risk according to IMWG/IMS high-risk criteria. Cytogenetic HR abnormalities were identified in 17.2% of cases, with del(17p) being the most frequent (14.7%). Median OS and PFS in HR patients were 52.4 months and 16 months, respectively, compared with 68.4 months and 28 months in standard-risk patients (log-rank test p values of 0.0197 and 0.0004, respectively). Although overall response rates were high (83% in HR vs. 91% in standard-risk), relapse remained frequent in HR patients. Outcomes varied significantly according to cytogenetic complexity. Isolated del(17p) was associated with improved survival compared with cases harboring additional abnormalities, while double-hit and triple-hit profiles demonstrated inferior outcomes. The presence of chromosome 1 abnormalities, particularly in combination with IGH translocations, further worsened prognosis. Among HR patients, 44% underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), including 10 cases of TANDEM ASCT. No survival benefit was observed for TANDEM compared with single ASCT, with median OS of 52.9 vs. 78.3 months, respectively (log-rank test p values of 0.2516). Our real-world analysis supports the prognostic relevance of the updated IMS/IMWG high-risk criteria in MM. Cytogenetic complexity, rather than individual abnormalities alone, is a key determinant of outcome. Despite high response rates achieved with modern therapies, survival remains inferior in HR patients. TANDEM ASCT did not confer additional benefit in this cohort, supporting a more individualized approach to treatment intensification.