Prognostic significance of bone marrow fibrosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

INTRODUCTION

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the increase in the degree of fibrosis in the bone marrow and prognosis and mortality in newly diagnosed DLBCL.

METHODS

Bone marrow biopsy of 153 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients was determined by staining with reticulin, Masson's trichrome histochemical stain, and the degree of fibrosis was determined.

RESULTS

In the bone marrow biopsy performed at the time of diagnosis, bone marrow fibrosis (BMF) was observed in 70 patients. While BMF-1 was detected in 42 patients (60%), BMF-2 was detected in 25 patients (35%) and BMF-3 was detected in 3 patients (4%). As the degree of BMF increased, the median overall survival and median progression-free survival times were significantly shorter (p: 0.008), (p < 0.001). In patients with an increased degree of BMF, a significant decrease in leukocyte and neutrophil counts was observed after chemotherapy (p: 0.004). According to the results of the multivariate Cox regression model, it was determined that high NCCN-IPI risk (HR: 8.25; %95 CI: 1.09-62.52; p = 0.041) and being BMF ≥ 2 (HR: 3.75; %95 CI: 1.65-8.51; p = 0.002), increased the risk of death (p = 0.002, -2 loglikelihood = 392,553).

CONCLUSION

When the literature was reviewed, it was seen that this study was the first to define that bone marrow fibrosis grade 2 and above in DLBCL is a prognostic marker associated with worse survival. In the bone marrow pathology, which is examined to detect advanced disease in DLBCL, besides lymphomatous involvement, the detection of fibrosis grade is very important.

Broad Next-Generation Integrated Sequencing of Myelofibrosis Identifies Disease-Specific and Age-Related Genomic Alterations

PURPOSE

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are characterized by the overproduction of differentiated myeloid cells. Mutations in JAK2, CALR, and MPL are considered drivers of Bcr-Abl-ve MPN, including essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), prefibrotic primary myelofibrosis (prePMF), and overt myelofibrosis (MF). However, how these driver mutations lead to phenotypically distinct and/or overlapping diseases is unclear.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

To compare the genetic landscape of MF to ET/PV/PrePMF, we sequenced 1,711 genes for mutations along with whole transcriptome RNA sequencing of 137 patients with MPN.

RESULTS

In addition to driver mutations, 234 and 74 genes were found to be mutated in overt MF (N = 106) and ET/PV/PrePMF (N = 31), respectively. Overt MF had more mutations compared with ET/PV/prePMF (5 vs. 4 per subject, P = 0.006). Genes frequently mutated in MF included high-risk genes (ASXL1, SRSF2, EZH2, IDH1/2, and U2AF1) and Ras pathway genes. Mutations in NRAS, KRAS, SRSF2, EZH2, IDH2, and NF1 were exclusive to MF. Advancing age, higher DIPSS, and poor overall survival (OS) correlated with increased variants in MF. Ras mutations were associated with higher leukocytes and platelets and poor OS. The comparison of gene expression showed upregulation of proliferation and inflammatory pathways in MF. Notably, ADGRL4, DNASE1L3, PLEKHGB4, HSPG2, MAMDC2, and DPYSL3 were differentially expressed in hematopoietic stem and differentiated cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results illustrate that evolution of MF from ET/PV/PrePMF likely advances with age, accumulation of mutations, and activation of proliferative pathways. The genes and pathways identified by integrated genomics approach provide insight into disease transformation and progression and potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Prognostic value of ASXL1 mutations in patients with primary myelofibrosis and its relationship with clinical features: a meta-analysis

Additional sex combs like 1 (ASXL1) mutations are one of the most common molecular biological abnormalities in patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF), and the effect of these mutations on prognosis remains controversial. Hence, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the prognostic value and clinical characteristics of ASXL1 mutations in PMF patients. Eligible studies were systematically searched from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. We extracted the hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS), the number of patients transformed to acute leukemia, and clinical characteristics to carry out a meta-analysis by fixed effect model or random effect model according to the heterogeneity between studies. A total of 4501 PMF patients from 16 cohorts of 14 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The results revealed that ASXL1 mutations might predict a shorter OS (HR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.79-2.94, P < 0.00001) and a higher probability of transformation to acute leukemia (LFS: HR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.30-2.42, P = 0.0003; the rate of acute leukemia transformation: OR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.50-2.83, P < 0.00001). Furthermore, ASXL1 mutations were correlated with patients older than 65 years old, male, a lower level of platelet counts, and a higher risk of the international prognostic score system. These findings indicate that ASXL1 mutations have a significant adverse impact on the prognosis of PMF patients and may contribute to risk stratification and prognostic assessment for PMF patients.

Clinical impacts of the mutational spectrum in Japanese patients with primary myelofibrosis

Patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF) have a poorer prognosis than those with other subtypes of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). To investigate the relationship between gene mutations and the prognosis of Japanese PMF patients, we analyzed mutations in 72 regions located in 14 MPN-relevant genes (CSF3R, MPL, JAK2, CALR, DNMT3A, TET2, EZH2, ASXL1, IDH1/2, SRSF2, SF3B1, U2AF1, and TP53) utilizing a target resequencing platform. In our cohort, ASXL1 mutations were more frequently detected in both overt and prefibrotic PMF patients than other mutations. The frequency of ASXL1 mutations was slightly higher among overt PMF patients than among prefibrotic PMF patients (44.6% vs 25.0%, FDR = 0.472). Decision tree classification algorithms revealed that ASXL1, EZH2, and SRSF2 mutations were associated with a poor prognosis for overt PMF. Overall survival was significantly shorter in patients harboring ASXL1, EZH2, or SRSF2 mutations than in those without these mutations (p = 0.03). These results suggest that, as reported in Western countries, MIPSS70 is applicable to Japanese PMF patients and ASXL1, EZH2, and SRSF2 mutations may be utilized as surrogate markers of a poor prognosis.

A Prospective Pilot Study of Graft-versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis with Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide and Ruxolitinib in Patients with Myelofibrosis

INTRODUCTION

This prospective study evaluated a calcineurin inhibitor-free graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis regimen of ruxolitinib in combination with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy). Patents and Methods: Twenty patients with primary or secondary myelofibrosis were prospectively enrolled. Reduced intensity conditioning was performed, followed by allogeneic stem cell transplantation from related (n = 7) or unrelated (n = 13) donors. GVHD prophylaxis included only PTCy and ruxolitinib (45 mg) from day-7 to day-2, and 15 mg from day+5 to day+100. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02806375.

RESULTS

Primary engraftment was documented in 17 patients. One patient experienced primary graft failure and 2 died before engraftment. Eleven patients demonstrated severe poor graft function (SPGF), which required ruxolitinib dose reduction. The regimen was well tolerated, with grade 3-4 non-haematological toxicity in 30%, viral reactivation in 45%, and severe sepsis in 15% of patients. The incidence of acute GVHD grade II-IV was 25%, grade III-IV GVHD was 15%, and moderate chronic GVHD was 20%, with no severe cases. Only 2 patients required systemic steroids. Haematological relapse was documented in 1 patient. Two-year non-relapse mortality was 15%, 2-year overall survival was 85%, and 2-year event-free survival was 72%.

CONCLUSION

GVHD prophylaxis with PTCy and ruxolitinib is associated with low toxicity, good acute and chronic GVHD control, and low relapse incidence. However, the relatively high rate of SPGF should be taken into account. SPGF could possibly be mitigated by ruxolitinib dose reduction.

Increased incidence of infection in patients with myelofibrosis and transfusion-associated iron overload in the clinical setting

Transfusion-associated iron overload may lead to increased risk of infection, but its role in myelofibrosis (MF) has been scarcely explored. We evaluated 106 consecutive patients with primary or secondary MF. Up to 38% of patients were transfusion-dependent (TD) with a median of 14 RBC units received. Median observation time was 36 months (range 3-203). Forty-five percent of patients experienced one or more infectious episodes for a total of 69 infectious events, 13 (19%) of which were severe. The 60-month cumulative incidence of infection was 64.1 ± 6.5%. TD patients showed a higher incidence of infection (HR = 2.13, p = 0.019). Transfusion burden was markedly greater in TD patients with infectious complication (median 24 RBC units vs 15 RBC units; p = 0.012). The 60-month overall survival was 40 ± 5.9%. Lower International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) risk (p < 0.0001) and ruxolitinib (p = 0.027) were significantly correlated with higher survival. This real-world study showed increased infections in patients with higher transfusion burden. It may therefore be interesting to further investigate the role of iron chelation in improving infection-free survival in MF patients.

Higher AURKA and PLK1 expression are associated with inferior overall survival in patients with myelofibrosis

Aurora-kinase-A (AURKA), BORA and Polo-like-kinase-1 (PLK1) are regulating cell-cycle control and promotion of mitosis entry. AURKA contributes to Janus-kinase-2 (JAK2) activation and increased AURKA protein levels were reported in CD34+ and CD41+ cells of myeloproliferative neoplasm patients, leading to aneuploidy and aberrant megakaryopoiesis. We aimed to investigate AURKA, BORA and PLK1 mRNA expression in unfractionated bone-marrow aspirates of 43 patients with myelofibrosis (28 primary-/PMF, 15 secondary-myelofibrosis/SMF) and 12 controls and to assess their clinical correlations. AURKA expression did not significantly differ between myelofibrosis and controls (P = 0.466). Higher AURKA expression was significantly associated with higher absolute monocyte-count (P = 0.024) and shorter overall survival (HR = 3.77; P = 0.012). Patients with both PMF and SMF had lower BORA expression than controls (P = 0.009). Higher BORA expression was significantly associated with absence of constitutional symptoms (P = 0.049), absence of circulatory blasts (P = 0.047), higher monocyte- (P = 0.040) and higher eosinophil-counts (P = 0.016) and had neutral effect on survival (P > 0.05). PLK1 expression did not significantly differ between myelofibrosis and controls (P = 0.103). Higher PLK1 expression was significantly associated with higher white-blood-cell-count (P = 0.042) and inferior overall survival (HR = 5.87; P = 0.003). In conclusion, AURKA, BORA and PLK1 are involved in pathogenesis of myelofibrosis and may affect survival. Future studies investigating these interesting associations are warranted.

Efficacy and safety of ruxolitinib and hydroxyurea combination in patients with hyperproliferative myelofibrosis

Ruxolitinib is the only commercially available JAK1/2 inhibitor approved for the treatment of myelofibrosis-related splenomegaly and symptoms. During treatment, as rare conditions, leukocytosis and/or thrombocytosis could develop and the management of these situations is not well established. We report here 53 myelofibrosis patients that received a combination of hydroxyurea and ruxolitinib because of uncontrolled myeloproliferation. Both drugs were administered outside clinical trials. At 48 weeks, a significant reduction in leucocyte and platelet counts was observed (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04, respectively). Additionally, the spleen volume decreased from a median value of 10 cm below the left costal margin (range, 0-10) to 6 cm (range, 0-15). The rate of spleen response increased from 14% at the start of the combination to 45% after 48 weeks. The safety profile of the combination was consistent with that observed with ruxolitinib single agent. These data require further confirmation in large cohorts of patients prospectively assessed.

The evolving understanding of prognosis in post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis and post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis vs primary myelofibrosis

Myelofibrosis (MF) is the most aggressive of the classic Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). In some patients with essential thrombocytopenia or polycythemia vera, which are relatively benign MPNs, MF develops as a natural evolution of their disease, resulting in post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis (PET-MF) or post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis (PPV-MF). Presenting with the same clinical features, including debilitating symptoms and signs of bone marrow failure, PET/PPV-MF has traditionally been considered akin to primary myelofibrosis (PMF). However, recent observations that PET/PPV-MF may be a distinct clinical entity from PMF have triggered efforts to improve prognostication in these diseases. Novel predictive models that incorporate rapidly emerging clinical and molecular data are being developed to improve outcomes in patients with PMF or PET/PPV-MF. This review focuses on the major clinical features and prognostic classification systems used in PMF and PET/PPV-MF.

3023 Mayo Clinic Patients With Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: Risk-Stratified Comparison of Survival and Outcomes Data Among Disease Subgroups

OBJECTIVE

To document the Mayo Clinic decades-long experience with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and provide mature risk-stratified survival data and disease complication estimates.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All Mayo Clinic patients with World Health Organization-defined MPNs constituted the core study group and included those with polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF).

RESULTS

A total of 3023 consecutive patients (median age, 62 years; range, 18-96 years) were considered: 665 PV, 1076 ET, and 1282 PMF. From October 27, 1967, through December 29, 2017, 1631 deaths (54%), 183 leukemic transformations (6%), 244 fibrotic progressions (14%), and 516 thrombotic events (17%) were recorded. Median overall survival (OS) was 18 years for ET, 15 years for PV, and 4.4 years for PMF (P<.05 for all intergroup comparisons). Inferior survival was documented in patients with ET diagnosed more recently (post-1990) (P<.001), whereas survival data were time independent in PV and PMF. After conventional risk stratification, OS in low-risk ET and low-risk PV were superimposed (P=.89) but each differed significantly from that of age- and sex-matched controls (P<.001). Leukemia-free survival was similar for ET and PV (P=.22) and significantly worse with PMF (P<.001). Compared with ET, PV was associated with higher risk of fibrotic progression (P<.001). Thrombosis risk after diagnosis was highest in PV and lowest in PMF (P=.002 for PV vs ET; P=.56 for ET vs PMF; and P=.001 for PV vs PMF).

CONCLUSION

This study provides the most mature survival and outcomes data in MPNs and highlights MPN subgroup risk categorization as key in appraising disease natural history. The OS was only marginally better in ET compared with PV, and PV displayed a higher risk of thrombosis and fibrotic progression.

Ruxolitinib Therapy Followed by Reduced-Intensity Conditioning for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Myelofibrosis: Myeloproliferative Disorders Research Consortium 114 Study

We evaluated the feasibility of ruxolitinib therapy followed by a reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen for patients with myelofibrosis (MF) undergoing transplantation in a 2-stage Simon phase II trial. The aims were to decrease the incidence of graft failure (GF) and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) compared with data from the previous Myeloproliferative Disorders Research Consortium 101 Study. The plan was to enroll 11 patients each in related donor (RD) and unrelated donor (URD) arms, with trial termination if ≥3 failures (GF or death by day +100 post-transplant) occurred in the RD arm or ≥6 failures occurred in the URD. A total of 21 patients were enrolled, including 7 in the RD arm and 14 in the URD arm. The RD arm did not meet the predetermined criteria for proceeding to stage II. Although the URD arm met the criteria for stage II, the study was terminated owing to poor accrual and a significant number of failures. In all 19 transplant recipients, ruxolitinib was tapered successfully without significant side effects, and 9 patients (47%) had a significant decrease in symptom burden. The cumulative incidences of GF, NRM, acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and chronic GVHD at 24 months were 16%, 28%, 64%, and 76%, respectively. On an intention-to-treat basis, the 2-year overall survival was 61% for the RD arm and 70% for the URD arm. Ruxolitinib can be integrated as pretransplantation treatment for patients with MF, and a tapering strategy before transplantation is safe, allowing patients to commence conditioning therapy with a reduced symptom burden. However, GF and NRM remain significant.

Fatal Disseminated Tuberculosis during Treatment with Ruxolitinib Plus Prednisolone in a Patient with Primary Myelofibrosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

A 73-year-old man with primary myelofibrosis (PMF) was being treated with hydroxyurea, which was changed to ruxolitinib treatment because of worsening constitutional symptoms. Although ruxolitinib rapidly induced relief, he developed a high-grade fever. A comprehensive fever work-up found no apparent cause of the fever, except for PMF. Therefore, we increased the dose of ruxolitinib and added prednisolone, which was gradually withdrawn with resolution of the fever. However, the patient subsequently developed disseminated tuberculosis and died eight months after initiation of ruxolitinib. Our case highlights the importance of assessing and monitoring the immune status of patients receiving ruxolitinib.

Momelotinib therapy for myelofibrosis: a 7-year follow-up

One-hundred Mayo Clinic patients with high/intermediate-risk myelofibrosis (MF) received momelotinib (MMB; JAK1/2 inhibitor) between 2009 and 2010, as part of a phase 1/2 trial (NCT00935987); 73% harbored JAK2 mutations, 16% CALR, 7% MPL, 44% ASXL1, and 18% SRSF2. As of July 2017, MMB was discontinued in 91% of the patients, after a median treatment duration of 1.4 years. Grade 3/4 toxicity included thrombocytopenia (34%) and liver/pancreatic test abnormalities (<10%); grade 1/2 peripheral neuropathy occurred in 47%. Clinical improvement (CI) occurred in 57% of patients, including 44% anemia and 43% spleen response. CI was more likely to occur in ASXL1-unmutated patients (66% vs 44%) and in those with <2% circulating blasts (66% vs 42%). Response was more durable in the presence of CALR type 1/like and absence of very high-risk karyotype. In multivariable analysis, absence of CALR type 1/like (HR 3.0; 95% CI 1.2-7.6) and presence of ASXL1 (HR 1.9; 95% CI 1.1-3.2) or SRSF2 (HR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.5) mutations adversely affected survival. SRSF2 mutations (HR 4.7, 95% CI 1.3-16.9), very high-risk karyotype (HR 7.9, 95% CI 1.9-32.1), and circulating blasts ≥2% (HR 3.9, 95% CI 1.4-11.0) predicted leukemic transformation. Post-MMB survival (median 3.2 years) was not significantly different than that of a risk-matched MF cohort not receiving MMB.

Myelofibrosis: clinicopathologic features, prognosis, and management

Myelofibrosis is one of the BCR-ABL-negative clonal disorders that collectively are known as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). It is caused by the proliferation of clonal hematopoietic stem cells, which over time leads to characteristic clinical features. The disease presentation is heterogeneous, however, with 30% of patients initially asymptomatic. This variation in clinical phenotype warrants careful risk stratification to guide appropriate management, and prognostic risk scores are continually being refined. Considerable advancements have been made in the understanding of MPN pathogenesis, in particular recognition of the driver mutations JAK2 V617F, CALR, and MPL, which has led to the development of ruxolitinib, an inhibitor of Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) and JAK2 that has transformed therapy for myelofibrosis. Although ruxolitinib decreases symptoms and is associated with a survival advantage, it has no clear disease-altering activity, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant remains the sole curative option for myelofibrosis. Ongoing studies are evaluating newer JAK inhibitors, combinations of ruxolitinib with other targeted drugs, and targeted therapies that do not inhibit JAK. This review provides further detail regarding the clinical features, pathogenesis, risk stratification, and current management of myelofibrosis, including older and newer targeted treatments.

Between a rux and a hard place: evaluating salvage treatment and outcomes in myelofibrosis after ruxolitinib discontinuation

Ruxolitinib is a JAK1/2 inhibitor that is effective in managing symptoms and splenomegaly related to myelofibrosis (MF). Unfortunately, many patients must discontinue ruxolitinib, at which time treatment options are not well defined. In this study, we investigated salvage treatment options and clinical outcomes among MF patients who received and discontinued ruxolitinib outside the context of a clinical trial. Among 145 patients who received ruxolitinib, 23 died while on treatment, 58 remained on treatment at time of analysis, leaving 64 people available for analysis. Development of cytopenias was the most common reason for discontinuation (38%) after median treatment time of 3.8 months (mo). The majority of patients received some form of salvage therapy after ruxolitinib discontinuation (n = 42; 66%), with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHSCT) (n = 17), being most commonly employed. Lenalidomide, thalidomide, hydroxyurea, interferon, and danazol were used with similar frequency. The response rate to salvage treatment was 26% (8 responses) and responses were most often seen with lenalidomide or thalidomide. Improved outcomes were observed in patients who underwent alloHSCT or received salvage therapy compared to those who did not receive additional therapy. Median overall survival (OS) after ruxolitinib discontinuation was 13 months. These findings show that salvage therapy can provide clinical responses after ruxolitinib discontinuation; however, these responses are rare and outcomes in this patient population are poor. This represents an area of unmet clinical need in MF.

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Myelofibrosis

Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) is a category in the World Health Organization classification of myeloid tumors. BCR-ABL1-negative MPN is a subcategory that includes primary myelofibrosis (MF), post-essential thrombocythemia MF, and post-polycythemia vera MF. These disorders are characterized by stem cell-derived clonal myeloproliferation. Clinically, these diseases present with anemia and splenomegaly and significant constitutional symptoms such as severe fatigue, symptoms associated with an enlarged spleen and liver, pruritus, fevers, night sweats, and bone pain. Multiple treatment options may provide symptom relief and improved survival; however, allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HCT) remains the only potentially curative option. The decision for a transplant is based on patient prognosis, age, comorbidities, and functional status. This review describes the recent data on various peritransplantation factors and their effect on outcomes of patients with MF and new therapeutic areas, such as the use and timing of Janus kinase inhibitors with HCT and gives overall conclusions from the available data in the published literature.

Outcome of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients with Chronic and Advanced Phase Myelofibrosis

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a chronic progressive hematologic malignancy with a median overall survival (OS) of approximately 6 years. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the sole treatment approach that offers curative potential. The use of reduced-intensity conditioning regimens has expanded the application of HSCT to patients with MF up to age 70 years. Recent retrospective and prospective reports have suggested worse HSCT outcomes for patients with MF receiving an unrelated donor graft compared with those receiving a related donor graft. To identify patient- and HSCT-specific variables influencing outcomes, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 42 patients with chronic and advanced-phase MF who underwent HSCT at our institution. For this cohort, at a median follow-up of 43 months, progression-free survival (PFS) was 15 months and OS was 25 months. In multivariable analysis, the sole clinical variable that negatively influenced outcome was the use of an unrelated donor, with a median PFS and OS both of 11 months versus not yet reached in patients receiving a related donor graft. At 2 years, OS was 38% (95% confidence interval [CI], 20%-56%) and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was 53% (95% CI, 36%-78%) in the unrelated donor graft group, compared with 75% (95% CI, 46%-90%) and 21% (95% CI, 9%-47%) in the related donor graft group. There was no difference in the rates of grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease between the unrelated and related donor groups (38% versus 38%). Despite a more aggressive disease state, 2-year PFS and OS were both 42% (95% CI, 15%-67%) in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm-blast phase undergoing HSCT. Graft failure rate was higher in patients receiving a mismatched donor graft compared with those receiving a matched donor graft (60% versus 13%; P = .0398). Retransplantation of patients with graft failure resulted in long-term survival. Baseline splenomegaly did not affect transplantation outcomes. Given the particularly poor outcomes seen in the unrelated donor cohort here and elsewhere, a formal exploration of alternative hematopoietic stem cell sources is warranted.

Incidence, Survival and Prevalence Statistics of Classical Myeloproliferative Neoplasm in Korea

The nationwide statistical analysis of each disease of classical myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) in Korea has not been reported yet. To this end, we have analyzed incidence rates, survival rates and treatment pattern of polycythemia vera (PV), primary myelofibrosis (MF) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) using Korea National Cancer Incidence Database (KNCIDB) and Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database. Between 2003 and 2011, a total of 4,342 new cases of MPN were reported to the KNCIDB. ET was the most common, followed by MF and PV. The crude incidence rates for PV, MF, and ET have increased during the period, reaching 0.40, 0.15, and 0.84 per 100,000, respectively. Five-year relative survival rate of all MPN patients was 89.3%, with lowest relative survival rate with MF (53.1%). The prevalence of each disease estimated from HIRA data also increased during the study period. Notably, ET was found to be most prevalent. The prescription rate of hydroxyurea and phlebotomy to PV, MF and ET patients remained constant over the period, and the prescription rate of hydroxyurea was higher in patients with age over 60 years. This is the first Korean nationwide statistics of MPN, using central registry data. This set of data can be utilized to compare the Korean MPN status to international data and guidelines.

Pharmacoeconomics of ruxolitinib therapy in patients with myelofibrosis

BACKGROUND

Overall survival (OS) and other important clinical trial end-points seem increasingly more elusive in supporting rapid and efficient incorporation of innovative cancer drugs in clinical practice. This study proposes a clinical trial based pharmacoeconomic framework to assess the therapeutic and economic value of ruxolitinib in patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk myelofibrosis.

METHODS

Individual patient level 144 week follow-up data from the COMFORT-II trial was used to account for the crossover effect on overall survival. Lifetime treatment benefits and costs were estimated considering detailed patterns of both ruxolitinib dose adjustments and blood transfusion needs.

RESULTS

The authors estimate a 3.3 years increment in life expectancy (HR = 0.30; 95% CI = 0.17-0.55; p-value <0.001) and an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of €40,000 per life year gained with the use of ruxolitinib.

CONCLUSION

This study also demonstrates how valuable information from clinical trials can be used to support informed decisions about the early incorporation of innovative drugs.

Outcomes of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Patients with Myelofibrosis with Prior Exposure to Janus Kinase 1/2 Inhibitors

The impact of Janus kinase (JAK) 1/2 inhibitor therapy before allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has not been studied in a large cohort in myelofibrosis (MF). In this retrospective multicenter study, we analyzed outcomes of patients who underwent HCT for MF with prior exposure to JAK1/2 inhibitors. One hundred consecutive patients from participating centers were analyzed, and based on clinical status and response to JAK1/2 inhibitors at the time of HCT, patients were stratified into 5 groups: (1) clinical improvement (n = 23), (2) stable disease (n = 31), (3) new cytopenia/increasing blasts/intolerance (n = 15), (4) progressive disease: splenomegaly (n = 18), and (5) progressive disease: leukemic transformation (LT) (n = 13). Overall survival (OS) at 2 years was 61% (95% confidence interval [CI], 49% to 71%). OS was 91% (95% CI, 69% to 98%) for those who experienced clinical improvement and 32% (95% CI, 8% to 59%) for those who developed LT on JAK1/2 inhibitors. In multivariable analysis, response to JAK1/2 inhibitors (P = .03), dynamic international prognostic scoring system score (P = .003), and donor type (P = .006) were independent predictors of survival. Among the 66 patients who remained on JAK1/2 inhibitors until stopped for HCT, 2 patients developed serious adverse events necessitating delay of HCT and another 8 patients had symptoms with lesser severity. Adverse events were more common in patients who started tapering or abruptly stopped their regular dose ≥6 days before conditioning therapy. We conclude that prior exposure to JAK1/2 inhibitors did not adversely affect post-transplantation outcomes. Our data suggest that JAK1/2 inhibitors should be continued near to the start of conditioning therapy. The favorable outcomes of patients who experienced clinical improvement with JAK1/2 inhibitor therapy before HCT were particularly encouraging, and need further prospective validation.

Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation as Curative Therapy for Patients with Myelofibrosis: Long-Term Success in all Age Groups

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are chronic marrow disorders with variable prognoses. Most patients with polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, or even primary myelofibrosis (PMF) are successfully treated with conservative strategies for years or even decades, and recent data suggest that even in patients with high-risk disease, in particular those with PMF, life expectancy can be extended by treatment with janus kinase (JAK2) inhibitors. However, none of those modalities are curative, and after marrow failure develops, the disease "accelerates," or transforms to acute leukemia, the only option able to effectively treat and, in fact, cure MPN is allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Outcome is superior if HCT is performed before leukemic transformation occurs. Several reports document survival in unmaintained remission beyond 10 years. The most recent analyses show reduced regimen-related mortality (less than 10% or even 5% at day 100) and progressively improved survival with both HLA-identical sibling and unrelated donors. The development of low/reduced-intensity conditioning regimens has contributed to the improved success rate and has allowed successful HCT in patients in their seventh and even eighth decade of life. We propose, therefore, that HCT should be offered to fit patients in these age groups and should be covered by their respective insurance carriers.

Clinicopathologic features and prognostic indicators in Chinese patients with myelofibrosis

OBJECTIVE

To define the clinicopathologic features, outcome, and prognostic indicators of myelofibrosis (MF) in Asian patients.

METHODS

Two hundred and seventy consecutive Chinese patients (primary MF, n = 207; post-polycythemia vera MF, n = 27; and post-essential thrombocythemia MF, n = 36) from seven regional referral hospitals were analyzed.

RESULTS

The median overall survival (OS) for primary MF was 66 months. Multivariate analysis showed that age >65 years (P = 0.02), platelet count <100 × 10(9)/l (P = 0.001), and leukemic transformation (P = 0.001) negatively impacted on OS. The median OS of 63 patients with secondary MF was 44 months. In primary MF, the 10-year cumulative risk of leukemic transformation was 28%. On multivariate analysis, unfavorable karyotypes significantly predicted inferior leukemia-free survival (LFS) (P = 0.03). In secondary MF, the 10-year cumulative risk of leukemic transformation was 31%. Circulating blasts ≥1% significantly predicted inferior LFS (P = 0.04). The international prognostic scoring system (IPSS) and dynamic IPSS were not significant survival predictors in our cohort. Eighteen patients underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The median OS post-transplantation was merely 19 months.

DISCUSSION

Platelet count <100 × 10(9)/l, unfavorable karyotypes, and circulating blasts >1% were negative prognostic indicators. Conclusion Chinese MF patients were similar to Western patients in clinicopathologic features and outcome.

JAK2 V617F, MPL, and CALR Mutations in Korean Patients with Essential Thrombocythemia and Primary Myelofibrosis

Mutations in the calreticulin gene, CALR, have recently been discovered in subsets of patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) or primary myelofibrosis (PMF). We investigated Korean patients with ET and PMF to determine the prevalence, and clinical and laboratory correlations of CALR/JAK2/MPL mutations. Among 84 ET patients, CALR mutations were detected in 23 (27.4%) and were associated with higher platelet counts (P=0.006) and lower leukocyte counts (P=0.035) than the JAK2 V617F mutation. Among 50 PMF patients, CALR mutations were detected in 11 (22.0%) and were also associated with higher platelet counts (P=0.035) and trended to a lower rate of cytogenetic abnormalities (P=0.059) than the JAK2 V617F mutation. By multivariate analysis, triple-negative status was associated with shorter overall survival (HR, 7.0; 95% CI, 1.6-31.1, P=0.01) and leukemia-free survival (HR, 6.3; 95% CI, 1.8-22.0, P=0.004) in patients with PMF. The type 1 mutation was the most common (61.1%) type among all patients with CALR mutations, and tended toward statistical predominance in PMF patients. All 3 mutations were mutually exclusive and were never detected in patients with other myeloid neoplasms showing thrombocytosis. CALR mutations characterize a distinct group of Korean ET and PMF patients. Triple-negative PMF patients in particular have an unfavorable prognosis, which supports the idea that triple-negative PMF is a molecularly high-risk disease.

Therapeutic benefit of decitabine, a hypomethylating agent, in patients with high-risk primary myelofibrosis and myeloproliferative neoplasm in accelerated or blastic/acute myeloid leukemia phase

Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) transformed to acute myeloid leukemia (MPN-AML), MPN in accelerated phase (MPN-AP), and high-risk primary myelofibrosis (PMF) are associated with a poor response to therapy and very short survival. Several reports have suggested clinical activity of hypomethylating agents in these patients. We conducted a retrospective study of 21 patients with MPN-AML, 13 with MPN-AP and 11 with DIPSS-plus high-risk PMF treated with decitabine at our institution over the last 7 years and evaluated their clinical outcomes. Six patients (29%) with MPN-AML responded to decitabine (3 CR, 2 CRi, and 1 PR); median response duration was 7 months. The median overall survival (OS) was significantly higher in those who responded (10.5 vs 4 months). Among patients with MPN-AP, 8 patients (62%) benefited; the median response duration was 6.5 months. The median OS was 11.8 months in responders vs 4.7 months in non-responders. Among patients with DIPSS-plus high-risk PMF, 9 (82%) benefited; the median response duration was 9 months. The median OS was 32 months in responders vs 16.3 months in non-responders. Decitabine is a viable therapeutic option for patients with MPN-AML, MP-AP and high-risk PMF. Prospective clinical studies combining decitabine with other clinically active agents are needed to improve overall outcome.

Janus kinase-1 and Janus kinase-2 inhibitors for treating myelofibrosis

BACKGROUND

Myelofibrosis is a bone marrow disorder characterized by excessive production of reticulin and collagen fiber deposition caused by hematological and non-hematological disorders. The prognosis of myelofibrosis is poor and treatment is mainly palliative. Janus kinase inhibitors are a novel strategy to treat people with myelofibrosis.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the clinical benefits and harms of Janus kinase-1 and Janus kinase-2 inhibitors for treating myelofibrosis secondary to hematological or non-hematological conditions.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, the Cochrane Library 2014, Issue 11), Ovid MEDLINE (from 1946 to 13 November 2014), EMBASE (from 1980 to 12 January 2013), and LILACS (from 1982 to 20 November 2014). We searched WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and The metaRegister of Controlled Trials. We also searched for conference proceedings of the American Society of Hematology (from 2009 to October 2013), European Hematology Association (from 2009 to October 2013), American Society of Clinical Oncology (from 2009 to October 2013), and European Society of Medical Oncology (from 2009 to October 2013). We included searches in FDA, European Medicines Agency, and Epistemonikos. We handsearched the references of all identified included trials, and relevant review articles. We did not apply any language restrictions. Two review authors independently screened search results.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomized clinical trials comparing Janus kinase-1 and Janus kinase-2 inhibitors with placebo or other treatments. Both previously treated and treatment naive patients were included.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for overall survival, progression-free survival and leukemia-free survival, risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI for reduction in spleen size and adverse events binary data, and standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% CI for continuous data (health-related quality of life). Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included trials. Primary outcomes were overall survival, progression-free survival and adverse events.

MAIN RESULTS

We included two trials involving 528 participants, comparing ruxolitinib with placebo or best available therapy (BAT). As the two included trials had different comparators we did not pool the data. The confidence in the results estimates of these trials was low due to the bias in their design, and their limited sample sizes that resulted in imprecise results.There is low quality evidence for the effect of ruxolitinib on survival when compared with placebo at 51 weeks of follow-up (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.98) and compared with BAT at 48 weeks of follow-up (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.20 to 2.47). Similarly there was very low quality evidence for the effect of ruxolitinib on progression free survival compared with BAT (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.47 to 1.39).There is low quality evidence for the effect of ruxolitinib in terms of quality of life. Compared with placebo, the drug achieved a greater proportion of patients with a significant reduction of symptom scores (RR 8.82, 95% CI 4.40 to 17.69), and treated patients with ruxolitinib obtained greater MFSAF scores at the end of follow-up (MD -87.90, 95% CI -139.58 to -36.22). An additional trial showed significant differences in EORTC QLQ-C30 scores when compared ruxolitinib with best available therapy (MD 7.60, 95% CI 0.35 to 14.85).The effect of ruxolitinib on reduction in the spleen size of participants compared with placebo or BAT was uncertain (versus placebo: RR 64.58, 95% CI 9.08 to 459.56, low quality evidence; versus BAT: RR 41.78, 95% CI 2.61 to 669.75, low quality evidence).There is low quality evidence for the effect of the drug compared with placebo on anemia (RR 2.35, 95% CI 1.62 to 3.41), neutropenia (RR 3.57, 95% CI 1.02 to 12.55) and thrombocytopenia (RR 9.74, 95% CI 2.32 to 40.96). Ruxolitinib did not result in differences versus BAT in the risk of anemia (RR 1.35, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.99, low quality evidence) or thrombocytopenia (RR 1.20; 95% CI 0.44 to 3.28, low quality evidence). The risk of non-hematologic grade 3 or 4 adverse events (including fatigue, arthralgia, nausea, diarrhea, extremity pain and pyrexia) was similar when ruxolitinib was compared with placebo or BAT. The rate of neutropenia comparing ruxolitinib with standard medical treatment was not reported by the trial.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Currently, there is insufficient evidence to allow any conclusions regarding the efficacy and safety of ruxolitinib for treating myelofibrosis. The findings of this Cochrane review should be interpreted with caution as they are based on trials sponsored by industry, and include a small number of patients. Unless powered randomized clinical trials provide strong evidence of a treatment effect, and the trade-off between potential benefits and harms is established, clinicians should be cautious when administering ruxolitinib for treating patients with myelofibrosis.

A Cohort Mortality Study of Workers in a Second Soup Manufacturing Plant

The authors previously reported on mortality among workers in a Baltimore soup plant. Increased mortality was observed for cancers of the floor of the mouth, rectosigmoid colon/rectum/anus, epilepsy, and chronic nephritis. Here, the authors report on mortality on a second soup plant in the same locality. Excess mortality was similarly recorded for cancers of the tonsils/oropharynx, rectosigmoid colon/rectum/anus, and lung and myelofibrosis. Excess risk from cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, kidney, and infectious diseases was also observed. These 2 studies are important because firstly, to the authors' knowledge, they are the only reports of mortality in this occupational group in spite of their having a potential for exposure to hazardous carcinogenic agents. Secondly, there is no information on any exposure assessment in this industry. These 2 reports will draw attention to the need to conduct more detailed exposure and mortality investigations in this little-studied group.

Allogeneic transplantation for myelofibrosis: for whom, when, and what are the true benefits?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only potentially curative therapy for myelofibrosis. Despite improved outcomes, morbidity and mortality of HSCT remain high. Here we examine recent data on patient selection, timing, and outcomes of HSCT in myelofibrosis.

RECENT FINDINGS

While there is a general effort to restrict HSCT to transplant-eligible intermediate-2 and high-risk patients, this group has comparatively worse HSCT outcomes, largely driven by their high transplant-related mortality (TRM). When adjusted for age, reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) has shown superior outcomes compared with myeloablative conditioning (MAC), making RIC-HSCT a viable option for older patients. Emerging concepts include the use of ruxolitinib pretransplant, optimizing MAC to decrease toxicity, and use of posttransplant JAK2-mutant allele burden to guide prophylactic immunotherapy to prevent relapse. The recognition of prognostic significance of somatic mutations in the ASXL1, EZH2, SRSF2, and IDH1/2 genes, and the improved assessment of risk of leukemic transformation have added a new dimension to risk stratification.

SUMMARY

Improving our understanding of molecular genetics and leukemic transformation holds promise for more precise patient selection for HSCT. Although RIC-HSCT may reduce TRM, further studies are needed to optimize conditioning regimens and to define the optimal timing of HSCT.

Reduced-intensity hematopoietic cell transplantation for patients with primary myelofibrosis: a cohort analysis from the center for international blood and marrow transplant research

We evaluated outcomes and associated prognostic factors in 233 patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for primary myelofibrosis (MF) using reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC). The median age at RIC HCT was 55 yr. Donors were a matched sibling donor (MSD) in 34% of RIC HCTs, an HLA well-matched unrelated donor (URD) in 45%, and a partially matched/mismatched URD in 21%. Risk stratification according to the Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System (DIPSS) was 12% low, 49% intermediate-1, 37% intermediate-2, and 1% high. The probability of survival at 5 yr was 47% (95% confidence interval [CI], 40% to 53%). In a multivariate analysis, donor type was the sole independent factor associated with survival. Adjusted probabilities of survival at 5-yr were 56% (95% CI, 44% to 67%) for MSD, 48% (95% CI, 37% to 58%) for well-matched URD, and 34% (95% CI, 21% to 47%) for partially matched/mismatched URD (P = .002). The relative risk (RR) for NRM was 3.92 (P = .006) for well-matched URD and 9.37 (P < .0001) for partially matched/mismatched URD. Trends toward increased NRM (RR, 1.7; P = .07) and inferior survival (RR, 1.37; P = .10) were observed in DIPSS intermediate-2/high-risk patients compared with DIPSS low/intermediate-1 risk patients. Our data indicate that RIC HCT is a potentially curative option for patients with MF, and that donor type is the most important factor influencing survival in these patients.

Somatic mutations of calreticulin in myeloproliferative neoplasms

BACKGROUND

Approximately 50 to 60% of patients with essential thrombocythemia or primary myelofibrosis carry a mutation in the Janus kinase 2 gene (JAK2), and an additional 5 to 10% have activating mutations in the thrombopoietin receptor gene (MPL). So far, no specific molecular marker has been identified in the remaining 30 to 45% of patients.

METHODS

We performed whole-exome sequencing to identify somatically acquired mutations in six patients who had primary myelofibrosis without mutations in JAK2 or MPL. Resequencing of CALR, encoding calreticulin, was then performed in cohorts of patients with myeloid neoplasms.

RESULTS

Somatic insertions or deletions in exon 9 of CALR were detected in all patients who underwent whole-exome sequencing. Resequencing in 1107 samples from patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms showed that CALR mutations were absent in polycythemia vera. In essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis, CALR mutations and JAK2 and MPL mutations were mutually exclusive. Among patients with essential thrombocythemia or primary myelofibrosis with nonmutated JAK2 or MPL, CALR mutations were detected in 67% of those with essential thrombocythemia and 88% of those with primary myelofibrosis. A total of 36 types of insertions or deletions were identified that all cause a frameshift to the same alternative reading frame and generate a novel C-terminal peptide in the mutant calreticulin. Overexpression of the most frequent CALR deletion caused cytokine-independent growth in vitro owing to the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) by means of an unknown mechanism. Patients with mutated CALR had a lower risk of thrombosis and longer overall survival than patients with mutated JAK2.

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients with essential thrombocythemia or primary myelofibrosis that was not associated with a JAK2 or MPL alteration carried a somatic mutation in CALR. The clinical course in these patients was more indolent than that in patients with the JAK2 V617F mutation. (Funded by the MPN Research Foundation and Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro.).

JAK2 V617F genotype is a strong determinant of blast transformation in primary myelofibrosis

Purpose

The influence of JAK2 V617F mutation on blast transformation (BT) and overall survival (OS) in primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is controversial. In a large cohort of patients we applied competing risks analysis for studying the influence of JAK2V617F mutation on BT in PMF.

Patients and Methods

In 462 PMF–fibrotic type patients (bone marrow [BM] fibrosis grade >0) we computed the incidence of BT and death in the framework of Cox regression analysis and of Fine and Gray competing risks analysis for BT.

Results

At the Cox regression analysis, having either a wild-type (wt) or a homozygous JAK2V617F genotype were factors for BT (HR, 1.98 and 2.04, respectively, with respect to the heterozygous genotype), but not for OS. At the competing risks regression analysis, the risk for BT in wt and homozygous V617F patients increased with respect to Cox analysis, giving a sHR of 2.17 and 2.12, respectively. Correcting the results for the variables that could have influence on BT, JAK2V617F wt and homozygous genotypes remained independently associated with BT. In a validation cohort of 133 independent cases with PMF-prefibrotic type (BM fibrosis grade  = 0), the BT predictive model including JAK2V617F genotype and older age retained high discriminant capacity (C statistics, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.92).

Conclusion

The accumulation of mutated alleles in the JAK2V617F clone or the selective acquisition of a proliferative advantage in the wt clone are two relevant routes to BT in PMF. The influence of these results on treatment decisions with anti-JAK2 agents should be tested.

[Role of splenectomy in the treatment of myelofibrosis]

AIM

To evaluate the clinical and hematologic efficiency of splenectomy (SE) in patients with myelofibrosis (MF) resistant to conventional traditional treatment.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Case histories were retrospectively analyzed in 52 MF patients who had been followed up at the Hematology Research Center, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, in 2004 to 2012 and undergone therapeutic SE (47 patients with primary myelofibrosis, 4 with postpolycythemia myelofibrosis, and 1 with postthrombocythemia myelofibrosis). The mean age was 47 years at diagnosis and 53 years before surgery. The patients younger than 50 years of age constituted 60%. Massive and giant splenomegaly was detected in 37 (71%) patients. The spleen weighing 0.9 to 2.9 and 3 to 7 kg was removed in 15 (29%) and 35 (67%) patients, respectively. In 2 cases, the weight of the removed spleen was as much as 10 and 11 kg.

RESULTS

By the moment of SE, the disease duration averaged 76 (from 1 to 240) months. Twenty-one (40%) patients developed perioperative complications, including bleeding (15%), thrombosis (11.5%), and infectious complications (13.5%). There were no deaths from surgical interventions in the intra- and early postoperative periods. In more than 80% of the patients after SE, their general condition improved and the symptoms of intoxication disappeared; in the majority of patients, the therapeutic effect lasted about 2 years. In the follow-up period, 33 (63%) patients died; the time to death averaged 27 (1-84) months following SE. The causes of death were blast transformation in 27 (82%) patients and comorbidity in 6 (18%); 19 (37%) patients with an average post-SE follow-up of 37 (4-72) months continued hydroxyurea treatment. The median survival after SE was equal to 3 years; the median overall survival was 11 years.

CONCLUSION

SE is effective palliative care with an acceptable level of occurring complications for individual patients with MF. Contraindications to SE as blast crisis and severe comorbidities should be strictly taken into account.

Plasma cytokines in polycythemia vera: phenotypic correlates, prognostic relevance, and comparison with myelofibrosis

Plasma cytokine milieu is abnormal in primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and correlates with disease phenotype and prognosis. In this study, we show that several plasma cytokines are also abnormally expressed in polycythemia vera (PV; n = 65), compared to normal controls (n = 35), but with a significantly different pattern than that of PMF (n = 127). Direct phenotypic correlation in PV included levels of IL-12 with hematocrit; IL-1b, IL-2, IL-7, FGF-b, and HGF with leukocytosis; and IFN-α and IFN-γ with thrombocytosis. In univariate analysis, levels of 13 cytokines (out of 30 analyzed) correlated with survival but only MIP-1β remained significant on multivariable analysis that included the other cytokines as covariates. Increased level of MIP-1β (P < 0.01), older age (P < 0.01), and leukocytosis (P = 0.03) maintained their association with shortened survival, on multivariable analysis. This study provides preliminary observations that warrant a larger scale study and suggests the value of plasma cytokines as prognostic biomarkers in PV.

A3669G polymorphism of glucocorticoid receptor is a susceptibility allele for primary myelofibrosis and contributes to phenotypic diversity and blast transformation

The frequency of A3669G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of human glucocorticoid receptor has been reported increased in polycythemia vera. We investigated the frequency of A3669G SNP and its impact on disease phenotype and progression in 499 patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF). The distribution of the A3669G allele differed between PMF patients and 2 healthy control populations (odds ratio, 1.6 and 1.8). The variant allele at the homozygous state (G/G) was associated with higher white blood cell count, larger spleen index, and higher frequency of circulating CD34(+) cells at diagnosis. The latter association remained significant after correction for the JAK2V617F genotype. In patients JAK2V617F mutated, the G/G genotype was associated with shorter overall survival (77.6 months vs 298 months, P = .049) and blast transformation (BT)-free survival (76.7 months vs 261 months; P = .018). The latter association remained significant after correction for the known BT risk factors, such as age, sex, white blood cell count, percentage of blasts, IPSS prognostic score, and homozygosity for JAK2V617F (hazard ratio = 3.3; P = .006). In conclusion, the glucocorticoid receptor A3669G is a susceptibility allele for PMF: it contributes to confer the phenotype of excess myeloproliferation, and it cooperates with the JAK2V617F mutation in determining BT.

Evidence that prefibrotic myelofibrosis is aligned along a clinical and biological continuum featuring primary myelofibrosis

PURPOSE

In the WHO diagnostic classification, prefibrotic myelofibrosis (pre-MF) is included in the category of primary myelofibrosis (PMF). However, strong evidence for this position is lacking.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We investigated whether pre-MF may be aligned along a clinical and biological continuum in 683 consecutive patients who received a WHO diagnosis of PMF.

RESULTS

As compared with PMF-fibrotic type, pre-MF (132 cases) showed female dominance, younger age, higher hemoglobin, higher platelet count, lower white blood cell count, smaller spleen index and higher incidence of splanchnic vein thrombosis. Female to male ratio and hemoglobin steadily decreased, while age increased from pre-MF to PMF- fibrotic type with early and to advanced bone marrow (BM) fibrosis. Likely, circulating CD34+ cells, LDH levels, and frequency of chromosomal abnormalities increased, while CXCR4 expression on CD34+ cells and serum cholesterol decreased along the continuum of BM fibrosis. Median survival of the entire cohort of PMF cases was 21 years. Ninety-eight, eighty-one and fifty-six percent of patients with pre-MF, PMF-fibrotic type with early and with advanced BM fibrosis, respectively, were alive at 10 years from diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Pre-MF is a presentation mode of PMF with a very indolent phenotype. The major consequences of this contention is a new clinical vision of PMF, and the need to improve prognosis prediction of the disease.

JAK inhibition with ruxolitinib versus best available therapy for myelofibrosis

BACKGROUND

Treatment options for myelofibrosis are limited. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of ruxolitinib, a potent and selective Janus kinase (JAK) 1 and 2 inhibitor, as compared with the best available therapy, in patients with myelofibrosis.

METHODS

We assigned 219 patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk primary myelofibrosis, post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis, or post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis to receive oral ruxolitinib or the best available therapy. The primary end point and key secondary end point of the study were the percentage of patients with at least a 35% reduction in spleen volume at week 48 and at week 24, respectively, as assessed with the use of magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography.

RESULTS

A total of 28% of the patients in the ruxolitinib group had at least a 35% reduction in spleen volume at week 48, as compared with 0% in the group receiving the best available therapy (P<0.001); the corresponding percentages at week 24 were 32% and 0% (P<0.001). At 48 weeks, the mean palpable spleen length had decreased by 56% with ruxolitinib but had increased by 4% with the best available therapy. The median duration of response with ruxolitinib was not reached, with 80% of patients still having a response at a median follow-up of 12 months. Patients in the ruxolitinib group had an improvement in overall quality-of-life measures and a reduction in symptoms associated with myelofibrosis. The most common hematologic abnormalities of grade 3 or higher in either group were thrombocytopenia and anemia, which were managed with a dose reduction, interruption of treatment, or transfusion. One patient in each group discontinued treatment owing to thrombocytopenia, and none discontinued owing to anemia. Nonhematologic adverse events were rare and mostly grade 1 or 2. Two cases of acute myeloid leukemia were reported with the best available therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Continuous ruxolitinib therapy, as compared with the best available therapy, was associated with marked and durable reductions in splenomegaly and disease-related symptoms, improvements in role functioning and quality of life, and modest toxic effects. An influence on overall survival has not yet been shown. (Funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00934544.).

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of ruxolitinib for myelofibrosis

BACKGROUND

Ruxolitinib, a selective inhibitor of Janus kinase (JAK) 1 and 2, has clinically significant activity in myelofibrosis.

METHODS

In this double-blind trial, we randomly assigned patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk myelofibrosis to twice-daily oral ruxolitinib (155 patients) or placebo (154 patients). The primary end point was the proportion of patients with a reduction in spleen volume of 35% or more at 24 weeks, assessed by means of magnetic resonance imaging. Secondary end points included the durability of response, changes in symptom burden (assessed by the total symptom score), and overall survival.

RESULTS

The primary end point was reached in 41.9% of patients in the ruxolitinib group as compared with 0.7% in the placebo group (P<0.001). A reduction in spleen volume was maintained in patients who received ruxolitinib; 67.0% of the patients with a response had the response for 48 weeks or more. There was an improvement of 50% or more in the total symptom score at 24 weeks in 45.9% of patients who received ruxolitinib as compared with 5.3% of patients who received placebo (P<0.001). Thirteen deaths occurred in the ruxolitinib group as compared with 24 deaths in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.25 to 0.98; P=0.04). The rate of discontinuation of the study drug because of adverse events was 11.0% in the ruxolitinib group and 10.6% in the placebo group. Among patients who received ruxolitinib, anemia and thrombocytopenia were the most common adverse events, but they rarely led to discontinuation of the drug (in one patient for each event). Two patients had transformation to acute myeloid leukemia; both were in the ruxolitinib group.

CONCLUSIONS

Ruxolitinib, as compared with placebo, provided significant clinical benefits in patients with myelofibrosis by reducing spleen size, ameliorating debilitating myelofibrosis-related symptoms, and improving overall survival. These benefits came at the cost of more frequent anemia and thrombocytopenia in the early part of the treatment period. (Funded by Incyte; COMFORT-I ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00952289.).

TP53 mutations and polymorphisms in primary myelofibrosis

A total of 107 patients with chronic-phase primary myelofibrosis (PMF) were screened for TP53 mutations, which were detected in 4 (4%) cases: (i) E204E; GAG>GAA (silent exon 6); (ii) G245D; GGC>GAC (exon 7); (iii) R175H; CGC>CAC (exon 5); and (iv) six base insert (GGCGAG) after bp13767 (exon 6). Three (75%) of the four TP53-mutated cases also carried JAK2V617F whereas none were positive for MPL or IDH mutations. Two of the four TP53 mutated cases were also screened for TET2, ASXL1, DNMT3A, and EZH2 mutations and were negative. There was no significant difference in presenting features or survival between TP53 mutated and unmutated cases. TP53 exon 4 single nucleotide polymporphism (SNPs) data for codon 72 were available on 104 patients and included 56% with homozygous Arg72Arg, 33% with heterozygous Pro72Arg, and 11% with homozygous Pro72Pro. There were no significant differences among the three codon 72 genotypes in terms of presenting characteristics or survival.

One thousand patients with primary myelofibrosis: the mayo clinic experience

OBJECTIVE

To share our decades of experience with primary myelofibrosis and underscore the importance of outcomes research studies in designing clinical trials and interpreting their results.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One thousand consecutive patients with primary myelofibrosis seen at Mayo Clinic between November 4, 1977, and September 1, 2011, were considered. The International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS), dynamic IPSS (DIPSS), and DIPSS-plus were applied for risk stratification. Separate analyses were included for patients seen at time of referral (N=1000), at initial diagnosis (N=340), and within or after 1 year of diagnosis (N=660).

RESULTS

To date, 592 deaths and 68 leukemic transformations have been documented. Parameters at initial diagnosis vs time of referral included median age (66 vs 65 years), male sex (61% vs 62%), red cell transfusion need (24% vs 38%), hemoglobin level less than 10 g/dL (38% vs 54%), platelet count less than 100 × 10(9)/L (18% vs 26%), leukocyte count more than 25 × 10(9)/L (13% vs 16%), marked splenomegaly (21% vs 31%), constitutional symptoms (29% vs 34%), and abnormal karyotype (31% vs 41%). Mutational frequencies were 61% for JAK2V617F, 8% for MPLW515, and 4% for IDH1/2. DIPSS-plus risk distributions at time of referral were 10% low, 15% intermediate-1, 37% intermediate-2, and 37% high. The corresponding median survivals were 17.5, 7.8, 3.6, and 1.8 years vs 20.0, 14.3, 5.3, and 1.7 years for patients younger than 60 years of age. Compared with both DIPSS and IPSS, DIPSS-plus showed better discrimination among risk groups. Five-year leukemic transformation rates were 6% and 21% in low- and high-risk patients, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The current document should serve as a valuable resource for patients and physicians and provides context for the design and interpretation of clinical trials.

Long-term outcome of pomalidomide therapy in myelofibrosis

Ninety-four Mayo Clinic patients with myelofibrosis (MF) participated in two consecutive clinical trials of pomalidomide (0.5-3.5 mg/day), with or without prednisone. Overall anemia response was 27% and increased to 53% in JAK2V617F-positive patients with <10 cm palpable splenomegaly and <5% circulating blasts; response rate was 0% in mutation-negative patients with either ≥10 cm splenomegaly or ≥5% circulating blasts (P = 0.0001). Median duration of anemia response was 16 months. Treatment effect on splenomegaly was negligible. To date, pomalidomide therapy has been discontinued in 86 (91%) patients at a rate of 68% at 1 year and 89% at 2 years. Grade 1 sensory neuropathy developed in 4 (13%) of 30 patients treated for ≥1 year. Risk-adjusted survival in pomalidomide-treated primary MF patients (n = 72) was similar to their counterparts not exposed to the drug (n = 471; P = 0.19). Long-term follow-up of pomalidomide treatment in MF reveals palliative value for a select group of patients and treatment-emergent sensory neuropathy.

Autosomal monosomies among 24,262 consecutive cytogenetic studies: prevalence, chromosomal distribution and clinicopathologic correlates of sole abnormalities

Monosomal karyotype (MK) has recently been associated with poor prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). The objectives of the current study were to describe the prevalence and spectrum of autosomal monosomies in an unselected cohort of patients with known or suspected hematologic malignancies. Bone marrow cytogenetic studies (24,262) were performed at our institution between 1989 and 2009. An abnormal karyotype was demonstrated in 6,565 cases (~27%); of these, 1,365 (~21%) included autosomal monosomies that occurred as sole (n = 133; ~10%), part of two (n = 82; ~6%) or more (n = 1,150; ~84%) anomalies. All 22 autosomes were involved, but monosomy 7 was by far the most frequent, constituting ~80% of all isolated monosomies and the highest fraction of those with two or more abnormalities. Other recurrent sole monosomies included chromosomes 20 (~11%) and 21 (~4%). Monosomy 13 (~10%), 20 (~8%), 18 (~7%), 17 (~6%), 21 (~5%), 5 (~5%), and 12 (~4%) were also recurrent in the setting of ≥2 abnormalities. Bone marrow histology and clinical information were reviewed in all cases with isolated monosomy; associated clinical phenotypes were MDS (n = 60; 52 were -7), AML (n = 32; 31 were -7), myeloproliferative neoplasms (n = 16; 10 were -7), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML; n = 10; 9 were -7) and other nonmyeloid malignancies (n = 15; 4 were -7). Sole monosomy 20 (n = 14; six MDS, five MPN, and three nonmyeloid) was not seen in AML or CMML. Sole monosomy 21 was more frequent in nonmyeloid as opposed to myeloid cases.

[Stem cell transplantation in myelofibrosis]

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) offers the only potentially curative therapy for myelofibrosis, a malignant myeloproliferative disease. The transplant-related mortality is still high, 10-48%, but use of reduced-intensity conditioning is less toxic and allows transplantation to be performed up to 65-70 years of age. Fabourable treatment response will be attained at least in a third of patients, in another third the disease will progress, and nearly one third will succumb due to transplant complications. Thirteen patients with myelofibrosis underwent ASCT at our institution between 1999 and 2009. The outcome of the patients treated with reduced-intensity conditioning corresponds well with those reported in the literature.