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The Nikolas Symposia and histiocytosis

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 5, pages 488–494 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Histiocytoses are a group of rare diseases that involve histiocytes (literally tissue cells (Greek), but in reality tissue-resident macrophages and dendritic cells), which are derived from bone-marrow stem cells. Histiocytoses pose problems similar to those of other rare diseases of childhood. Individual physicians see few cases, disease material is hard to collect and families suffer from lack of information and understanding. In this article, we describe how a series of 'think tank' meetings, the Nikolas Symposia, which have concentrated on Langerhans cell histiocytosis, have furthered our understanding of this enigmatic disease.

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Figure 1: Magnetic resonance imaging scans showing permanent damage to areas of the brain and bones of the skull.
Figure 2: Radiolabelled monoclonal antibody to CD1a localizing to active Langerhans cell histiocytosis lesions in the bones of the skull.
Figure 3: Immunohistology of Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the entire Kontoyannis family, especially Elizabeth, Paul and Nikolas, for their undying enthusiasm and practical support for the Nikolas Symposia. They would also like to thank D. Moustaka for her dedication as the secretary of the symposium series.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Jenner Institute, High Street, Compton, RG20 7NN, Bershire, UK

    Peter C. L. Beverley

  2. the Department of Paediatrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Room J6-222, PO Box 9600 2300, Leiden, RC, The Netherlands

    R. Maarten Egeler

  3. the Department of Paediatrics and Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Room 2M5, 1650 Orleans Street, Baltimore, 21231, Maryland, USA

    Robert J. Arceci

  4. the Department of Oncology and Haematology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, 9 Sciennes Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1LF, UK

    Jon Pritchard

Authors
  1. Peter C. L. Beverley
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  2. R. Maarten Egeler
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  3. Robert J. Arceci
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  4. Jon Pritchard
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter C. L. Beverley.

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Related links

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DATABASES

Entrez Gene

CCR6

CCR7

CD40L

GM-CSF

IL-1

IL-3

IL-6

M-CSF

TP53

RANKL

TNFα

OMIM

haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Langerhans cell histiocytosis

Letterer–Siwe disease

FURTHER INFORMATION

Histiocyte Society

Nikolas Symposia

WHO International Classification of Diseases

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Beverley, P., Egeler, R., Arceci, R. et al. The Nikolas Symposia and histiocytosis. Nat Rev Cancer 5, 488–494 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc1632

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