Search

Background: Chronic pain services in the UK are required to provide services which meet the diverse needs of patients, but little is known about the access and use of these services by minority ethnic groups. Objective: To assess the available evidence regarding the ethnic profile of adults who access secondary and tertiary chronic pain services in the UK. Methods: A scoping review was conducted (August 2021–October 2021), comprising comprehensive literature searches using Embase, Medline and CINAHL databases and the grey literature. Studies were included if they reported on (i) access to chronic pain services in secondary and/or tertiary care in the UK, (ii) adults and (iii) stated the ethnicity of the involved participants. Studies were included if published between 2004 and 2021, as demographic data during this period would be broadly representative of the UK population, as per the 2021 UK census. A descriptive synthesis of the extracted data was performed. Results: The search yielded 124 records after duplicates were removed. Following title and abstract screening, 44 full texts were screened, ten of which were included in the review. Conclusions: This is the first review to explore access to chronic pain services for adults from minority ethnic groups in the UK. Given the limited number of studies that met the inclusion criteria, the review highlights the need for routine collection of ethnicity data using consistent ethnic categories within UK chronic pain services and increased involvement of minority ethnic groups within chronic pain research. Findings should inform future research that aims to improve access to UK chronic pain services for adults from minority ethnic groups.

Dans les syndromes myélodysplasiques (SMD) de faible risque, l’objectif du traitement est de corriger les cytopénies ou leurs conséquences. Les agents stimulant l’érythropoïèse (ASE) occupent une place importante dans la prise en charge de l’anémie. Dans ce chapitre, nous détaillerons la réponse aux ASE et les facteurs prédictifs de réponse aux ASE. Cependant, la recherche de nouvelles options thérapeutiques pour les SMD de bas risque, résistants aux ASE reste nécessaire car ces patients ont une incidence de transformation en leucémie aiguës myéloblastiques (LAM) supérieure. On peut retenir le luspatercept pour les SMD avec excès de sidéroblastes en couronne, le lénalidomide, et quelques molécules en cours d’essai comme l’imételstat ou le roxedustat. La thrombopénie se traite uniquement lorsqu’elle est symptomatique soit par androgénothérapie ou agonistes de thrombopoïétine (TPO) en accès restreint.

The EUROPE phase 2 trial investigated the predictive value of biomarkers on the clinical efficacy of single agent romiplostim (ROM) treatment in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic neoplasms (LR-MDS) and thrombocytopenia within the ‘European Myelodysplastic Neoplasms Cooperative Group‘ (EMSCO) network. A total of 77 patients with LR-MDS and a median platelet count of 25/nl were included, all patients received ROM at a starting dose of 750 μg by SC injection weekly. Thirty-two patients (42%) achieved a hematologic improvement of platelets (HI-P) with a median duration of 340 days. Neutrophil (HI-N) and erythroid (HI-E) responses were observed in three (4%) and seven (9%) patients, respectively. We could not confirm previous reports that HI-P correlated with baseline endogenous thrombopoietin levels and platelet transfusion history, but SRSF2mutation status and hemoglobin levels at baseline were significantly linked to HI-P. Sequential analysis of variant allelic frequency of mutations like SRSF2did not reveal an impact of ROM on clonal evolution in both responders and non-responders. In summary, our study confirms the safety and efficacy of ROM in LR-MDS patients and may allow to better define subgroups of patients with a high likelihood of response.

Face à la crise de notre système hospitalier et aux défis que rencontrent les chefs de service, nous avons entrepris de créer une communauté de chefs de service d’hématologie prêts à s’entraider. Un premier séminaire a eu lieu en janvier 2023 : celui-ci a regroupé une quinzaine de chefs de service et permis de créer le premier « noyau » de la communauté. Cette communauté naissante a ensuite continué de vivre et de s’entraider tout au long de l’année 2023. En janvier 2024, nous avons élargi notre communauté à d’autres chefs de service à l’occasion d’un deuxième séminaire qui a réuni 36 participants. Au cours de cette rencontre, nous avons pris le temps de réfléchir et d’échanger ensemble sur nos missions. Nous nous sommes appuyés sur des intervenants extérieurs ainsi que sur des méthodes de co-développement et de co-construction au cours de sessions plénières, d’ateliers en petits groupes, et de temps de convivialité. Nous avons ainsi pu découvrir et expérimenter le pouvoir de l’intelligence collective, la créativité, la force, et le soutien émanant d’un tel groupe. Cette communauté de pairs, constituée de chefs de service, se révèle être un puissant outil de soutien au management. L’expérience des uns nourrit et enrichit celle des autres. Nous espérons que notre initiative inspirera des chefs de service d’autres spécialités afin qu’ensemble nous puissions mieux répondre à nos missions de chefs de service et participer à la reconstruction de l’hôpital « à partir du terrain ».

INTRODUCTION

Background

Background: Our group recently reported, in a prospective multicentre phase 2 study of 31 patients with higher-risk (HR)-MDS or CMML receiving CPX-351 as first-line induction treatment 87% of overall responses (including 64.5% of CR/ CR according to ELN2017 criteria), and 93.5% of the patients could be bridged to transplant (GFM-CPX MDS trial, Peterlin et al. Lancet Haematol 2023). We had also previously reported, in AML, that the soluble forms of FLT3 ligand (FL) and IL6 could be prognostic factors of refractoriness to chemotherapy and overall survival (OS) (Peterlin et al. Cancer Medicine, 2021). A secondary objective of the GFM-CPX MDS trial was to assess the prognostic value of these two cytokines in HR-MDS/CMML receiving CPX-351.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of heterogeneous disorders caused by the accumulation of somatic mutations in the hematopoietic stem and progenitor compartment. Besides del(5q), SF3B1or TP53mutations, referred to as defining genetic abnormalities, mutation patterning hardly structured the classification of MDS. Mutations in epigenetic factors occur early in the development of clonal hematopoiesis leading to precocious alterations of DNA methylation implicated in oncogenesis. Convergent DNA methylation patterns related to both mutations and microenvironment imprinting may induce specific gene expression profiles and contribute to phenotypic variations. To refine a pathophysiological classification of lower-risk MDS, we combined genetic profiling to DNA methylation and transcriptome data.

Background-Common treatment approaches for R/R AML and to some extent HR MDS involve intensive chemotherapy regimens, typically combining high dose cytarabine with other drug(s), but these intensive regimens may not be suitable for unfit or elderly patients. To address this issue, a cytarabine prodrug called BST-236 has been developed, which delivers high doses of cytarabine while reducing systemic toxicity, making it a potential option for intensive chemotherapy in older and frail patients. This Phase II study aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of BST-236 in unfit patients with R/R AML or HR MDS previously treated with a non-intensive regimen.

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a myeloid hematological malignancy with overlapping features of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). The knowledge of the role of the tumor microenvironment (TME), particularly mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), in MDS pathogenesis is increasing. Generally, cancer is associated with a procoagulant state participating in tumor development. Monocytes release procoagulant, tissue factor (TF)–bearing microparticles. We hypothesized that MSCs and clonal monocytes release procoagulant extracellular vesicles (EVs) within the CMML TME, inducing a procoagulant state that could modify hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) homeostasis. We isolated and cultured MSCs and monocytes from CMML patients and MSCs from healthy donors (HDs). Their medium EVs and small EVs (sEVs) were collected after iterative ultracentrifugations and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis. Their impact on hemostasis was studied with a thrombin generation assay and fibrinography. CMML or HD HSCs were exposed to sEVs from either CMML or HD MSCs. CMML MSC sEVs increased HD HSC procoagulant activity, suggesting a transfer of TF from the CMML TME to HD HSCs. The presence of TF on sEVs was shown by electron microscopy and western blot. Moreover, CMML monocyte EVs conferred a procoagulant activity to HD MSCs, which was reversed by an anti-TF antibody, suggesting the presence of TF on the EVs. Our findings revealed a procoagulant “climate” within the CMML environment related to TF-bearing sEVs secreted by CMML MSCs and monocytes.

Face aux crises que traverse notre système hospitalier, les chefs de service sont contraints en permanence de s’adapter et de trouver des solutions pour continuer de prendre en charge les patients dans un contexte de pénurie de soignants. Face à ces enjeux, nous avons eu le désir d’initier la création d’une communauté de chefs de service capable de s’entraider, de partager ses expériences, de s’appuyer sur l’intelligence collective et, à terme, de contribuer à reconstruire l’hôpital à partir du « terrain ». Pour cela, nous avons organisé un séminaire de deux jours qui a rassemblé quatorze chefs de service d’hématologie partageant le même désir de questionner leurs organisations et de les faire évoluer dans une démarche collaborative. Ce séminaire, animé par un intervenant extérieur, a comporté de nombreux temps d’échange à la fois formels et informels, extrêmement riches. À l’issue de ce séminaire, les participants ont exprimé leur désir d’en faire profiter d’autres chefs de service en organisant des « séminaires collaboratifs des chefs de service ». Ces rencontres auront pour objectif de créer une véritable communauté de chefs de service capable de s’entraider pour améliorer nos organisations et faire émerger des idées nouvelles pour participer à la reconstruction de notre système de santé « par le bas ». Cette démarche est en parfaite adéquation avec la volonté actuelle des services publics de redonner une place plus importante aux services hospitaliers. Nous espérons que notre initiative inspirera également des chefs de service d’autres spécialités.

CPX-351, an encapsulated form of cytarabine and daunorubicin, has shown greater efficacy than the classic 3 + 7 treatment administration in secondary acute myeloid leukaemia. Given that higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia share similarities with secondary acute myeloid leukaemia, we aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of CPX-351 in this context.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare and highly aggressive leukemia for which knowledge on disease mechanisms and effective therapies are currently lacking. Only a handful of recurring genetic mutations have been identified and none is specific to BPDCN. In this study, through molecular cloning in an index case that presented a balanced t(3;5)(q21;q31) and molecular cytogenetic analyses in a further 46 cases, we identify monoallelic deletion of NR3C1 (5q31), encoding the glucocorticoid receptor (GCR), in 13 of 47 (28%) BPDCN patients. Targeted deep sequencing in 36 BPDCN cases, including 10 with NR3C1 deletion, did not reveal NR3C1 point mutations or indels. Haploinsufficiency for NR3C1 defined a subset of BPDCN with lowered GCR expression and extremely poor overall survival (P = .0006). Consistent with a role for GCR in tumor suppression, functional analyses coupled with gene expression profiling identified corticoresistance and loss-of-EZH2 function as major downstream consequences of NR3C1 deletion in BPDCN. Subsequently, more detailed analyses of the t(3;5)(q21;q31) revealed fusion of NR3C1 to a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) gene (lincRNA-3q) that encodes a novel, nuclear, noncoding RNA involved in the regulation of leukemia stem cell programs and G1/S transition, via E2F. Overexpression of lincRNA-3q was a consistent feature of malignant cells and could be abrogated by bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) protein inhibition. Taken together, this work points to NR3C1 as a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor in a subset of BPDCN and identifies BET inhibition, acting at least partially via lncRNA blockade, as a novel treatment option in BPDCN.

Patients with low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) that rapidly progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain a challenge in disease management. Using whole-exome sequencing of an MDS patient, we identified a somatic mutation in the BCORgene also mutated in AML. Sequencing of BCORand related BCORL1genes in a cohort of 354 MDS patients identified 4.2% and 0.8% of mutations respectively. BCORmutations were associated with RUNX1(P= .002) and DNMT3Amutations (P= .015). BCORis also mutated in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia patients (7.4%) and BCORL1in AML patients with myelodysplasia-related changes (9.1%). Using deep sequencing, we show that BCORmutations arise after mutations affecting genes involved in splicing machinery or epigenetic regulation. In univariate analysis, BCORmutations were associated with poor prognosis in MDS (overall survival [OS]: P= .013; cumulative incidence of AML transformation: P= .005). Multivariate analysis including age, International Prognostic Scoring System, transfusion dependency, and mutational status confirmed a significant inferior OS to patients with a BCORmutation (hazard ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-8.1; P= .008). These data suggest that BCORmutations define the clinical course rather than disease initiation. Despite infrequent mutations, BCORanalyses should be considered in risk stratification.

Patients with low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) that rapidly progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain a challenge in disease management. Using whole-exome sequencing of an MDS patient, we identified a somatic mutation in the BCOR gene also mutated in AML. Sequencing of BCOR and related BCORL1 genes in a cohort of 354 MDS patients identified 4.2% and 0.8% of mutations respectively. BCOR mutations were associated with RUNX1 (P = .002) and DNMT3A mutations (P = .015). BCOR is also mutated in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia patients (7.4%) and BCORL1 in AML patients with myelodysplasia-related changes (9.1%). Using deep sequencing, we show that BCOR mutations arise after mutations affecting genes involved in splicing machinery or epigenetic regulation. In univariate analysis, BCOR mutations were associated with poor prognosis in MDS (overall survival [OS]: P = .013; cumulative incidence of AML transformation: P = .005). Multivariate analysis including age, International Prognostic Scoring System, transfusion dependency, and mutational status confirmed a significant inferior OS to patients with a BCOR mutation (hazard ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-8.1; P = .008). These data suggest that BCOR mutations define the clinical course rather than disease initiation. Despite infrequent mutations, BCOR analyses should be considered in risk stratification.

Kubasch: Shire: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Giagounidis:AMGEN: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Götze:Celgene: Research Funding. Cony-Makhoul:Novartis: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Incyte Biosciences: Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy; BMS: Speakers Bureau. Laribi:takeda: Research Funding; novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; amgen: Research Funding; abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding. Park:Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Other: Travel expenses. Metzeler:Astellas: Honoraria; Otsuka Pharma: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria. Thiede:AgenDix GmbH: Other: Co-owner and CEO. Schlenk:PharmaMar: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accomodations, Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Roche: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Fenaux:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding. Platzbecker:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Geron: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Ades:Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Research Funding; takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; novartis: Research Funding; Celgene/BMS: Research Funding; jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.Romiplostim is a thrombopoietin receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Limitations of Use: Romiplostim is not indicated for the treatment of thrombocytopenia due to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or any cause of thrombocytopenia other than chronic ITP.

Cony-Makhoul: BMS: Speakers Bureau; Incyte Biosciences: Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy. Thepot:astellas: Honoraria; novartis: Honoraria; sanofi: Honoraria; celgene: Honoraria. Cluzeau:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz Pharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Menarini: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Stamatoulas Bastard:Takeda: Consultancy; Pfizer: Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES; Celgene: Honoraria. Fenaux:Jazz: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding. Park:Pfizer: Other: Travel expenses; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Context.The perhaps only CMML-specific Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) established hydroxyurea (HY) as the main treatment (Tx) for advanced proliferative CMML (Wattel Blood1996). In Europe, the only hypomethylating agent (HMA) approved in CMML is AZA in non proliferative CMML-2. Phase 2 trials reported the activity of decitabine (DAC) in advanced proliferative CMML (Braun Blood2011, Santini Leukemia2018). We performed a RCT of DAC (±HY during the first 3 cycles) vs HY alone in those pts.

Finding an effective treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains a challenge, and all cellular processes that are deregulated in AML cells should be considered in the design of targeted therapies. We show in our current study that the LKB1/AMPK/TSC tumor suppressor axis is functional in AML and can be activated by the biguanide molecule metformin, resulting in a specific inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) catalytic activity. This induces a multisite dephosphorylation of the key translation regulator, 4E-BP1, which markedly inhibits the initiation step of mRNA translation. Consequently, metformin reduces the recruitment of mRNA molecules encoding oncogenic proteins to the polysomes, resulting in a strong antileukemic activity against primary AML cells while sparing normal hematopoiesis ex vivo and significantly reducing the growth of AML cells in nude mice. The induction of the LKB1/AMPK tumor-suppressor pathway thus represents a promising new strategy for AML therapy.

The FOXO transcription factors are involved in multiple signaling pathways and have tumor-suppressor functions. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), deregulation of oncogenic kinases, including Akt, extra-signal–regulated kinase, or IκB kinase, is frequently observed, which may potentially inactivate FOXO activity. We therefore investigated the mechanism underlying the regulation of FOXO3a, the only FOXO protein constantly expressed in AML blast cells. We show that in both primary AML samples and in a MV4-11/FOXO3a-GFP cell line, FOXO3a is in a constant inactive state due to its cytoplasmic localization, and that neither PI3K/Akt nor extra-signal–regulated kinase–specific inhibition resulted in its nuclear translocation. In contrast, the anti-Nemo peptide that specifically inhibits IKK activity was found to induce FOXO3a nuclear localization in leukemic cells. Furthermore, an IKK-insensitive FOXO3a protein mutated at S644 translocated into the nucleus and activated the transcription of the Fas-L and p21Cip1 genes. This, in turn, inhibited leukemic cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. These results thus indicate that IKK activity maintains FOXO3a in the cytoplasm and establishes an important role of FOXO3a inactivation in the proliferation and survival of AML cells. The restoration of FOXO3a activity by interacting with its subcellular distribution may thus represent a new attractive therapeutic strategy for AML.

The deregulation of translation markedly contributes to the malignant phenotype in cancers, and the assembly of the translation initiating complex eIF4F is the limiting step of this process. The mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) is thought to positively regulate eIF4F assembly and subsequent oncogenic protein synthesis through 4E-BP1 phosphorylation. We showed here that the translation inhibitor 4EGI-1 decreased the clonogenic growth of leukemic progenitors and induced apoptosis of blast cells, with limited toxicity against normal hematopoiesis, which emphasize the importance of translation deregulation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) biology. However, the mTORC1 inhibitor RAD001 (a rapamycin derivate) did not induce AML blast cell apoptosis. We herein demonstrated that mTORC1 disruption using raptor siRNA or RAD001 failed to inhibit 4E-BP1 phosphorylation in AML. Moreover, RAD001 failed to inhibit eIF4F assembly, to decrease the proportion of polysome-bound c-Myc mRNA, and to reduce the translation-dependent accumulation of oncogenic proteins. We identified the Pim-2 serine/threonine kinase as mainly responsible for 4E-BP1 phosphorylation on the S65residue and subsequent translation control in AML. Our results strongly implicate an mTORC1-independent deregulation of oncogenic proteins synthesis in human myeloid leukemogenesis. Direct inhibition of the translation initiating complex thus represents an attractive option for the development of new therapies in AML.

Background:Ivosidenib (IVO) is an oral, targeted, small-molecule inhibitor of mutant IDH1 approved in the US for adult patients with unfit or relapse/refractory AML with IDH1 mutation. Little is known on its efficacy in patients with IDH1 mutated MDS. Here we report interim results of a Phase 2 study evaluating safety and efficacy of IVO in three different cohorts of MDS patients: Higher risk MDS having failed azacytidine (AZA) (cohort A, n=29), untreated higher risk MDS without life threatening cytopenias (ie ANC < 500/mm3 or any recent severe infections and/or platelets below 30,000/mm3 and any bleeding symptom,) as a first line treatment (cohort B, with the addition of AZA in non-Responders after 3 cycles, n=29) and lower risk MDS having failed EPO (cohort C, n=10). (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03503409).

Background:Allo HSCT is a potentially curative treatment in MDS which, in higher risk (IPSS high and int 2) MDS demonstrated an overall survival (OS) advantage over conventional treatment (especially HMAs) in retrospective (Koreth et al., JCO 2013) and prospective (Robin et al. leukemia 2015) studies. Retrospective studies, on the other hand, suggested no OS advantage for allo HSCT in lower risk MDS (IPSS low and int 1), except possibly in the “poorest” lower risk MDS subsets, as classified by the WPSS (Alessandrino et al. AMJH 2013) However, about 25% of lower risk MDS patients are reclassified as higher risk by the R-IPSS and a proportion of other lower risk MDS can also harbor some higher risk features that compromise their outcome. MDS-ALLO-RISK trial (clinicaltrial.gov NCT02757989), was designed to assess outcome of lower risk MDS patients with some high-risk features after HLA-matched donor HSCT.

We analyzed prognostic factors of response, response duration, and possible impact on survival of epoetin α, epoetin β, or darbepoetin α (DAR) with or without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in 403 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients. Sixty-two percent (40% major and 22% minor) and 50% erythroid responses were seen, and median response duration was 20 and 24 months according to IWG 2000 and 2006 criteria, respectively. Significantly higher response rates were observed with less than 10% blasts, low and int-1 International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS), red blood cell transfusion independence, serum EPO level less than 200 IU/L, and, with IWG 2006 criteria only, shorter interval between diagnosis and treatment. Significantly longer response duration was associated with major response (IWG 2000 criteria), IPSS low to INT-1, blasts less than 5%, and absence of multilineage dysplasia. Minor responses according to IWG 2000 were reclassified as “nonresponders” or “responders” according to IWG 2006 criteria. However, among those IWG 2000 minor responders, response duration did not differ between IWG 2006 responders and nonresponders. Multivariate adjusted comparisons of survival between our cohort and the untreated MDS cohort used to design IPSS showed similar rate of progression to acute myeloid leukemia in both cohorts, but significantly better overall survival in our cohort, suggesting that epoetin or DAR treatment may have a favorable survival impact in MDS.

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and mTORC1 pathways are frequently activated, representing potential therapeutic targets in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In 19 AML samples with constitutive PI3K/Akt activation, the rapamycin derivative inhibitor everolimus (RAD001) increased Akt phosphorylation. This mTOR C1-mediated Akt up-regulation was explained by an insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)/IGF-1 receptor autocrine loop: (1) blast cells expressed functional IGF-1 receptors, and IGF-1-induced Akt activation was increased by RAD001, (2) a neutralizing anti-IGF-1R α-IR3 monoclonal antibody reversed the RAD001-induced Akt phosphorylation, and (3) autocrine production of IGF-1 was detected in purified blast cells by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence. This RAD001-induced PI3K/Akt up-regulation was due to an up-regulated expression of the IRS2 adaptor. Finally, we observed that concomitant inhibition of mTORC1 and PI3K/Akt by RAD001 and IC87114 induced additive antiproliferative effects. Our results suggest that dual inhibition of the mTORC1 complex and the IGF-1/IGF-1R/PI3K/Akt pathway in AML may enhance the efficacy of mTOR inhibitors in treatment of this disease.

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K/Akt) pathway is activated in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and is promising for targeted inhibition. Ninety-two patients with primary AML were analyzed for PI3K/Akt constitutive activation. Fifty percent of the patients presented with constitutive PI3K activation (PI3K +). No difference was observed between PI3K +and PI3K −groups concerning age, sex, white blood cell count, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, bone marrow blast cells, French-American-British (FAB) classification, cytogenetics, RASor nucleophosmin (NPM) mutations. Slightly more FLT3-ITD was detected in the PI3K −group (P= .048). The complete remission rate was similar between the 2 groups. With a median follow-up of 26 months, we observed for PI3K +and PI3K −patients, respectively, 56% and 33% overall survival (P= .001) and 72% and 41% relapse-free survival (P= .001). Constitutive PI3K/Akt activity is a favorable prognosis factor in AML, even after adjustment for FLT3-ITD, and may confer a particular sensitivity to chemotherapy. A better understanding of the downstream effectors of the PI3K/Akt pathway is needed before targeting in AML.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) are characterized by peripheral blood cytopenia including anemia. We have investigated the implication of the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis in MDS-ineffective erythropoiesis by in vitro expansion of erythroid precursors from early stage (low and intermediate-1 International Prognosis Scoring System [IPSS]) MDS, advanced stage (intermediate-2 IPSS) MDS, and control bone marrow samples. We have previously shown that Fas and its ligand were overexpressed in early stage MDS erythroid cells. Here, we show that caspase-8 activity is significantly increased, whereas the expression of death receptors other than Fas, including the type 1 receptor for tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and the receptors for the TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), DR4 and DR5, was normal. We also observed that the adapter Fas-associated death domain (FADD) was overexpressed in early stage MDS erythroid cells. Transduction of early stage MDS-derived CD34+ progenitors with a FADD-encoding construct increased apoptosis of erythroid cells and dramatically reduced erythroid burst-forming unit (BFU-E) growth. Transduction of a dominant-negative (dn) mutant of FADD inhibited caspase-8 activity and cell death and rescued BFU-E growth without abrogating erythroid differentiation. These results extend the observation that Fas-dependent activation of caspase-8 accounts for apoptosis of early stage MDS erythroid cells and demonstrate for the first time that FADD is a valuable target to correct ineffective erythropoiesis in these syndromes.

Primary oculocerebral non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) of the immunocompetent patient is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, but early diagnosis and follow-up may improve prognosis. The eye, anatomically and embryologically part of the central nervous system (CNS), can be the primary site of the lymphomatous process. In patients with symptoms of atypical uveitis, vitrectomy can be of great help for early diagnosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma.

La protéine S100A8 est dérégulée dans de nombreux types de cancer. Dans les leucémies aiguës myéloïdes (LAM), son expression intracellulaire est associée à un pronostic défavorable. Bien qu’elle puisse être sécrétée et qu’elle exerce une activité d’alarmine, le rôle extracellulaire de la protéine S100A8 dans la niche hématopoïétique reste méconnu. Nous avons mesuré la protéine S100A8 par technique ELISA chez 78 plasmas médullaires, dont 50 LAM. La concentration en S100A8 ([S100A8]) est significativement plus élevée chez les patients atteints de LAM que chez les patients sains ou présentant des états pré-leucémiques (syndrome myéloprolifératif, syndrome myélodysplasique). Dans les LAM, nous montrons que la [S100A8] est significativement associée à la leucocytose. Fait intéressant, la [S100A8] est fortement corrélée avec le pourcentage de monocytes mais négativement corrélée avec le pourcentage de blastes médullaires. Ce lien entre la [S100A8] et monocytes a été confirmé par la corrélation avec le pourcentage de cellules CD36+ CD64+ CD14+ déterminé par immunophénotypage. De plus, la [S100A8] est plus élevée dans la leucémie aiguë monocytaire et myélomonocytaire (LAM4/5) que dans les autres sous-types de FAB. En analyse multivariée, la [S100A8] est principalement exprimée lorsque les blastes exprimaient des marqueurs monocytaires CD11c+, CD4+, CD3- ou CD117-. Pour confirmer l’origine monocytaire de la protéine S100A8, nous avons mesuré par cytométrie en flux la protéine S100A8 intracellulaire dans les blastes, les lymphocytes, les PNN, les promonocytes et les monocytes de patients atteints de LAM. Les blastes CD34+ expriment peu de S100A8 intracellulaire. La protéine S100A8 est significativement plus exprimée par les monocytes et les promonocytes, confirmant par une seconde approche l’origine monocytaire de la S100A8 dans les LAM. Pour finir, nous avons étudié l’impact pronostique de la [S100A8] qui semble associée à une diminution de la survie globale dans les LAM4/M5. En conclusion, nos travaux caractérisent la secrétion de S100A8 dans les plasmas médullaires et son rôle dans la leucémogenèse.

Introduction:Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and peripheral cytopenia. In about half of patients with lower-risk (LR) MDS, thrombocytopenia is present at the time of diagnosis and associated with shortened survival and an increased risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA) romiplostim has shown safety and marked efficacy in a still poorly-defined subset of LR-MDS patients with thrombocytopenia.

Park: Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.RAP-536

It can be challenging to decide which evidence synthesis software to choose when doing a systematic review. This article discusses some of the important questions to consider in relation to the chosen method and synthesis approach. Software can support researchers in a range of ways. Here, a range of review conditions and software solutions. For example, facilitating contemporaneous collaboration across time and geographical space; in-built bias assessment tools; and line-by-line coding for qualitative textual analysis. EPPI-Reviewer is a review software for research synthesis managed by the EPPI-centre, UCL Institute of Education. EPPI-Reviewer has text mining automation technologies. Version 5 supports data sharing and re-use across the systematic review community. Open source software will soon be released. EPPI-Centre will continue to offer the software as a cloud-based service. The software is offered via a subscription with a one-month (extendible) trial available and volume discounts for ‘site licences’. It is free to use for Cochrane and Campbell reviews. The next EPPI-Reviewer version is being built in collaboration with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence using ‘surveillance’ of newly published research to support ‘living’ iterative reviews. This is achieved using a combination of machine learning and traditional information retrieval technologies to identify the type of research each new publication describes and determine its relevance for a particular review, domain or guideline. While the amount of available knowledge and research is constantly increasing, the ways in which software can support the focus and relevance of data identification are also developing fast. Software advances are maximising the opportunities for the production of relevant and timely reviews.

A variant erythroferrone contributes to hepcidin modulation and systemic iron accumulation in patients with SF3B1-mutated myelodysplastic syndrome.

Ades: silent pharma: Consultancy; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; JAZZ: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Laribi:Novartis: Other: Grant and personal fees; Sandoz: Other: Grant; Teva: Other: Grant; Hospira: Other: Grant; Takeda: Other: Grant and personal fees; Roche: Other: Grant; Amgen: Other: Personal fees; Gilead: Other: Personal fees. Stamatoullas:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Cambridge, MA, USA: Consultancy. Beyne-Rauzy:Novartis: Research Funding. Cluzeau:MENARINI: Consultancy; CELGENE: Consultancy; JAZZ PHARMA: Consultancy. Quesnel:Sunesis: Honoraria; Astellas: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Celyad: Honoraria. Fenaux:Jazz: Honoraria, Research Funding; Otsuka: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Context:

Meunier: Novartis: Research Funding. Park:Novartis: Research Funding.

Fenaux: Celgene, Janssen, Novartis, Astex, Teva: Research Funding; Celgene, Novartis, Teva: Honoraria. Symeonidis:Genesis: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria. Almeida:Alexion: Speakers Bureau; BMS: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Shire: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Savic:Novo Nordisk: Other: Investigator. de Witte:Incyte: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding.