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MDS-RS patients are characterized by chronic anemia and a low risk of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) progression and they generally become Red Blood Cell (RBC) transfusion dependent (TD).We performed a retrospective "real-life" observational study of 6 months in 100 MDS-RS TD patients, recruited in 12 French centers, to describe transfusion characteristics, and evaluate the frequency and causes of hospitalizations, health costs, and morbidity, associated with transfusion dependency, in a French population of RBC transfusion-dependent MDS-RS patients.79% of the patients had high transfusion burden (HTB) and 21% low transfusion burden (LTB). HTB patients had a longer disease duration (6 vs. 3.7 years, p = 0.0078), more frequent iron chelation (82% vs. 50%, p = 0.0052) and higher serum ferritin (p = 0.03). During the 6-month study period, 22% of the patients required inpatient hospitalization, 36% of them for symptomatic anemia requiring emergency RBC transfusion. The 6-month median transfusion costs, including the cost of the day care facility, transportation to and from the hospital, iron chelation, and lab tests, was 16,188€/patient.MDS-RS represents the archetypal type of chronically transfused lower-risk MDS. Most of those patients have a high transfusion burden and thus frequently need visits to the hospital's day care facility, and frequent hospitalizations, with an overall high median treatment cost. Those costs should be compared with costs of new treatments potentially able to avoid RBC transfusion dependence and to reduce the complications of chronic anemia in MDS-RS patients.

Supplemental table 1: Sequence of hydrolysis probes and primers used for the ddPCR.

Purpose:Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) discontinuation is an emerging goal in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) management and several studies have demonstrated the feasibility of safely stopping imatinib. A sustained deep molecular response on long-term TKI is critical prior to attempting treatment-free remission. Reproducible results from several studies reported recently, failed to identify robust and reproducible predictive factors for the selection of the best candidates for successful TKI cessation.Patients and Methods:We conducted a prospective national phase II study evaluating the cessation of imatinib after at least 2 years of MR4.5 obtained on imatinib first-line in patients with chronic phase CML.Results:A total of 218 patients with de novo chronic phase CML were involved in the study. The median follow-up after imatinib cessation was 23.5 (1–64) months, 2 patients died from unrelated causes, and 107 experienced a confirmed increase in BCR-ABL1 levels defined as molecular recurrence. The molecular recurrence-free survival was 52% [95% confidence interval (CI), 45%–59%] at 6 months, and 50% (95% CI, 43%–57%) at 24 months. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was used to evaluate more accurately low levels of BCR-ABL1 in 175 of 218 patients at imatinib cessation. To apply positive BCR-ABL1/ABL1 ratios on the international scale (IS), a conversion factor was calculated for ddPCR and the significant cut-off point was established at 0.0023%IS. In a multivariate analysis, the duration of TKI (≥74.8 months) and ddPCR (≥0.0023%IS) were the two identified predictive factors of molecular recurrence, with P = 0.0366 (HR, 0.635; 95% CI, 0.415–0.972] and P = 0.008 (HR, 0.556; 95% CI, 0.360–0.858), respectively.Conclusions:We conclude that the duration of TKI and residual leukemic cell load as determined by ddPCR are key factors for predicting successful treatment-free remission for patients with de novo chronic phase CML.See related commentary by Yan et al., p. 6561

Superior rates of deep molecular response (DMR) have been reported with the combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and pegylated-interferon-alpha (Peg-IFN) in patients with newly diagnosed chronic phase-chronic myeloid leukaemia (CP-CML). In this setting, this study investigated the efficacy and safety of dasatinib combined to Peg-IFN-α2b (Dasa-PegIFN, NCT01872442). A total of 79 patients (age ≤65 years) started dasatinib; 61 were eligible for Peg-IFNα-2b add-on therapy at month 3 for a maximum 21-months duration. Dasatinib was continued thereafter. The primary endpoint was the cumulative rate of molecular response 4.5 log (MR

Lenalidomide is efficient in reducing red blood cell transfusion dependency and markedly lowering platelet counts in MDS/MPN‐RS‐T in the context of major platelet counts.

Guidelines for tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-treated chronic phase-chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) management are essentially based on data from clinical research trials; however, real-world data should be valuable for optimizing such recommendations. Here, we analyzed the data collected in the French CML Observatory database, a multicenter real-world cohort (n = 646), using a first-line "intention-to-treat" analysis strategy. This cohort included patients treated with first-line imatinib (n = 484), nilotinib (n = 103), dasatinib (n = 17), imatinib and interferon (n = 9), or second-generation (2G)-TKIs and interferon (n = 29). The cumulative incidence of major molecular response (MMR), MR4, MR4.5 and MR5 confirmed the faster response kinetics with 2G-TKIs. Multivariate analysis identified being a woman and residual disease at month 6 as the main predictive factors of deep molecular response (DMR). Moreover, 30% of patients met the criteria for treatment discontinuation (5 years of treatment and ≥ 2 years of DMR), but only 38% of them stopped treatment. Among the 92 patients who actually discontinued treatment due to optimal response, 31.5% relapsed (48% of them after 6 months of TKI discontinuation). Multivariate analysis identified age and TKI duration as factors positively correlated with treatment-free remission maintenance. Late ( 6 months) relapses were more frequent in patients with the e14a2 BCR::ABL transcript. Relapse rate was higher in patients who stopped TKI before than after 5 years of treatment (52.6% vs 26%; p = 0.040). These results advocate caution concerning early treatment withdrawal, including in patients receiving 2G-TKIs. This still recruiting database is a valuable source of information for the real-world follow-up of patients with CML.

Purpose: Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) discontinuation is an emerging goal in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) management and several studies have demonstrated the feasibility of safely stopping imatinib. A sustained deep molecular response on long-term TKI is critical prior to attempting treatment-free remission. Reproducible results from several studies reported recently, failed to identify robust and reproducible predictive factors for the selection of the best candidates for successful TKI cessation. Patients and Methods: We conducted a prospective national phase II study evaluating the cessation of imatinib after at least 2 years of MR4.5 obtained on imatinib first-line in patients with chronic phase CML. Results: A total of 218 patients with de novo chronic phase CML were involved in the study. The median follow-up after imatinib cessation was 23.5 (1–64) months, 2 patients died from unrelated causes, and 107 experienced a confirmed increase in BCR-ABL1 levels defined as molecular recurrence. The molecular recurrence-free survival was 52% [95% confidence interval (CI), 45%–59%] at 6 months, and 50% (95% CI, 43%–57%) at 24 months. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was used to evaluate more accurately low levels of BCR-ABL1 in 175 of 218 patients at imatinib cessation. To apply positive BCR-ABL1/ABL1 ratios on the international scale (IS), a conversion factor was calculated for ddPCR and the significant cut-off point was established at 0.0023%IS. In a multivariate analysis, the duration of TKI (≥74.8 months) and ddPCR (≥0.0023%IS) were the two identified predictive factors of molecular recurrence, with P = 0.0366 (HR, 0.635; 95% CI, 0.415–0.972] and P = 0.008 (HR, 0.556; 95% CI, 0.360–0.858), respectively. Conclusions: We conclude that the duration of TKI and residual leukemic cell load as determined by ddPCR are key factors for predicting successful treatment-free remission for patients with de novo chronic phase CML. See related commentary by Yan et al., p. 6561

The effectiveness of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has made it possible to consider treatment discontinuation in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) patients that achieve an excellent response. However, a few of the patients included in the Europe Stop Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (EURO-SKI) trial reported musculoskeletal pain shortly after stopping TKIs, considered as a withdrawal syndrome (WS). To identify factors that may predispose to TKI WS, we analysed the pharmacovigilance declarations for the 6 months after stopping TKIs in a large cohort of CML (n = 427) that combined the French patients included in the STop IMatinib 2 (STIM2; n = 224) and EURO-SKI (n = 203) trials. Among these patients, 23% (99/427) developed TKI WS after stopping imatinib (77/373; 20·4%), nilotinib (12/29; 41·4%) or dasatinib (10/25; 40%). WS concerned mainly the upper body joints, and required multiple symptomatic treatments in 30% of patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified two risk factors: duration of TKI treatment [risk ratio (RR) = 1·68 (1·02-2·74)] with a 93-month cut-off time, and history of osteoarticular symptoms [RR = 1·84 (1·04-3·28)]. These findings confirm that WS is a TKI class effect. CML patients should be carefully screened before treatment initiation to identify pre-existent osteoarticular symptoms. Moreover, before TKI discontinuation, patients should be informed of the possibility of WS, particularly after a long treatment period.

RNA splicing factors are frequently altered in cancer and can act as both oncoproteins and tumour suppressors. They have been found mutated or deregulated, justifying the growing interest in the targeting of splicing catalysis, splicing regulatory proteins, and/or specific, key altered splicing events. We recently showed that the DNA methylation alterations of CD34+CD15− chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) cells affect, among others, alternative splicing genes, suggesting that spliceosome actors might be altered in chronic-phase (CP)-CML. We investigated the expression of 12 spliceosome genes known to be oncogenes or tumour suppressor genes in primary CP-CML CD34+ cells at diagnosis (n = 15). We found that CP-CML CD34+ cells had a distinct splicing signature profile as compared with healthy donor CD34+ cells or whole CP-CML cells, suggesting: (i) a spliceosome deregulation from the diagnosis time and (ii) an intraclonal heterogeneity. We could identify three profile types, but there was no relationship with a patient’s characteristics. By incubating cells with TKI and/or a spliceosome-targeted drug (TG003), we showed that CP-CML CD34+ cells are both BCR::ABL and spliceosome dependent, with the combination of the two drugs showing an additive effect while sparing healthy donors cells. Our results suggest that the spliceosome may be a new potential target for the treatment of CML.

Simple Summary The tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib was the first targeted therapy to show clinical efficacy against chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) through inhibition of the breakpoint cluster region–Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog (BCR-ABL), which is responsible for the disease. Two other generations of TKIs have succeeded imatinib, offering additional therapeutic solutions for a growing number of patients with imatinib-resistant CML. However, these clinical approaches although very effective, generate many unwanted side effects because of their daily administration. Attempts to stop TKI when the disease is no longer detectable at the molecular level, unfortunately result in relapses in more than half of cases. This highlights the presence of undetectable leukemia cells, recognized as leukemic stem cells (LSCs) that are TKI insensitive. It therefore appears necessary to identify new biochemical pathways in LSCs, the targeting of which would make re-sensitization to TKIs possible. The results presented here demonstrate that targeting the protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) pathway represents a valid alternative for LSC elimination. Abstract Numerous combinations of signaling pathway blockades in association with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment have been proposed for eradicating leukemic stem cells (LSCs) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but none are currently clinically available. Because targeting protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) was demonstrated to eliminate cancer stem cells (CSCs) in solid tumors, we evaluated the efficacy of PKCδ inhibition in combination with TKIs for CML cells. We observed that inhibition of PKCδ by a pharmacological inhibitor, by gene silencing, or by using K562 CML cells expressing dominant-negative (DN) or constitutively active (CA) PKCδ isoforms clearly points to PKCδ as a regulator of the expression of the stemness regulator BMI1. As a consequence, inhibition of PKCδ impaired clonogenicity and cell proliferation for leukemic cells. PKCδ targeting in K562 and LAMA-84 CML cell lines clearly enhanced the apoptotic response triggered by any TKI. A strong synergism was observed for apoptosis induction through an increase in caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation and significantly decreased expression of the Bcl-xL Bcl-2 family member. Inhibition of PKCδ did not modify BCR-ABL phosphorylation but acted downstream of the oncogene by downregulating BMI1 expression, decreasing clonogenicity. PKCδ inhibition interfered with the clonogenicity of primary CML CD34+ and BCR-ABL-transduced healthy CD34+ cells as efficiently as any TKI while it did not affect differentiation of healthy CD34+ cells. LTC-IC experiments pinpointed that PKCδ inhibition strongly decreased the progenitors/LSCs frequency. All together, these results demonstrate that targeting of PKCδ in combination with a conventional TKI could be a new therapeutic opportunity to affect for CML cells.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm caused by the acquisition of BCR-ABL1 fusion in a hematopoietic stem cell. We identified the ENOX2 gene as up-regulated in BCR-ABL1-expressing UT-7 cell lines through a transcriptome assay. The oncofoetal ENOX2 protein (Ecto-Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Oxidase Disulfide Thiol Exchanger 2) is expressed on the external plasma membrane surface of cancer cells and can be released in cancer patients’ serum. Considering these data, we studied ENOX2 expression in CML cell lines and patients using quantitative RT-PCR, western-blots, the ELISA method, and transcriptomic dataset reanalysis. We confirmed increased ENOX2 mRNA expression in the BCR-ABL1-expressing UT-7 cell line. Comparable results were obtained in CML patients at diagnosis. Western-blot analyses on UT-7 and TET-inducible Ba/F3 cell lines established the up-regulation of ENOX2 protein. BCR-ABL1 has been found to induce ENOX2 overexpression in a kinase-dependent manner. In a series of 41 patients with CML, ELISA assays showed a highly significant increase of ENOX2 protein levels in the plasma of patients with CML (p < 0.0001) as compared to controls (n=28). Transcriptomic dataset (GSE4170) reanalyzes have shown specific ENOX2 mRNA overexpression in the chronic phase of the disease. Bioinformatic analyses identified several genes whose mRNA expression was positively correlated to ENOX2. Some of them encode proteins involved in cellular functions compatible with the growth deregulation observed in CML. All in all, our results demonstrate for the first time the upregulation of a secreted Redox protein in a BCR-ABL1-dependent manner in CML. Our data suggest that ENOX2 (through its transcriptional program) plays a significant role in the BCR-ABL1 leukemogenesis. Further studies are required to clarify the relationship between BCR-ABL1 and ENOX2.

Contains fulltext : 237720.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) We present a noninvasive Web-based app to help exclude or diagnose myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a bone marrow (BM) disorder with cytopenias and leukemic risk, diagnosed by BM examination. A sample of 502 MDS patients from the European MDS (EUMDS) registry (n > 2600) was combined with 502 controls (all BM proven). Gradient-boosted models (GBMs) were used to predict/exclude MDS using demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were used to evaluate the models, and performance was validated using 100 times fivefold cross-validation. Model stability was assessed by repeating its fit using different randomly chosen groups of 502 EUMDS cases. AUC was 0.96 (95% confidence interval, 0.95-0.97). MDS is predicted/excluded accurately in 86% of patients with unexplained anemia. A GBM score (range, 0-1) of less than 0.68 (GBM < 0.68) resulted in a negative predictive value of 0.94, that is, MDS was excluded. GBM ≥ 0.82 provided a positive predictive value of 0.88, that is, MDS. The diagnosis of the remaining patients (0.68 ≤ GBM < 0.82) is indeterminate. The discriminating variables: age, sex, hemoglobin, white blood cells, platelets, mean corpuscular volume, neutrophils, monocytes, glucose, and creatinine. A Web-based app was developed; physicians could use it to exclude or predict MDS noninvasively in most patients without a BM examination. Future work will add peripheral blood cytogenetics/genetics, EUMDS-based prospective validation, and prognostication.

Iron overload due to red blood cell transfusions is associated with morbidity and mortality in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients. Many studies suggested improved survival after iron chelation therapy, but valid data are limited. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of iron chelation on overall survival and hematological improvement in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients in the European MDS registry. We compared chelated patients with a contemporary, non-chelated control group within the European MDS registry, that met the eligibility criteria for starting iron chelation. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess overall survival, treating receipt of chelation as a time-varying variable. Additionally, chelated and non-chelated patients were compared using a propensity-score matched model. Of 2200 patients, 224 received iron chelation. The hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval for overall survival for chelated patients, adjusted for age, sex, comorbidity, performance status, cumulative red blood cell transfusions, IPSS-R, and presence of ringed sideroblasts was 0.50 (0.34-0.74). The propensity-score analysis, matched for age, sex, country, red blood cell transfusion intensity, ferritin level, comorbidity, performance status, and IPSS-R and additionally corrected for cumulative red blood cell transfusions and presence of ringed sideroblasts, demonstrated a significantly improved overall survival for chelated patients with a hazard ratio of 0.42 (0.27-0.63) compared to non-chelated patients. Up to 39% of chelated patients reached an erythroid response. In conclusion, our results suggest that iron chelation may improve overall survival and hematopoiesis in transfused lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00600860.

Progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) treated with red blood cell transfusions is usually reduced, but it is unclear whether transfusion dose density is an independent prognostic factor. The European MDS Registry collects prospective data at 6-monthly intervals from newly diagnosed lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes patients in 16 European countries and Israel. Data on the transfusion dose density - the cumulative dose received at the end of each interval divided by the time since the beginning of the interval in which the first transfusion was received - were analyzed using proportional hazards regression with time-varying co-variates, with death and progression to higher-risk MDS/acute myeloid leukemia as events. Of the 1,267 patients included in the analyses, 317 died without progression; in 162 patients the disease had progressed. PFS was significantly associated with age, EQ-5D index, baseline World Health Organization classification, bone marrow blast count, cytogenetic risk category, number of cytopenias, and country. Transfusion dose density was inversely associated with PFS (P-4): dose density had an increasing effect on hazard until a dose density of 3 units/16 weeks. The transfusion dose density effect continued to increase beyond 8 units/16 weeks after correction for the impact of treatment with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, lenalidomide and/or iron chelators. In conclusion, the negative effect of transfusion treatment on PFS already occurs at transfusion densities below 3 units/16 weeks. This indicates that transfusion dependency, even at relatively low dose densities, may be considered as an indicator of inferior PFS. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00600860.

Background The ultimate goal of chronic myeloid leukemia management in the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) era for patients who obtain deep molecular responses is maintaining a durable off-treatment response after treatment discontinuation; this situation is called treatment-free remission (TFR). Knowledge accumulated during the last 10 years justifies moving TFR strategies from research to clinical practice. Methods Twenty experts from the French Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Study Group (France Intergroupe des Leucemies Myeloides Chroniques), including 17 hematologists, 2 molecular biologists, and 1 cytogeneticist, critically reviewed published data with the goal of developing evidence-based recommendations for TKI discontinuation in clinical practice. Results Clinically relevant questions were addressed, including the selection of candidate patients (with known prognostic factors for outcomes taken into account), detailed monitoring procedures during the treatment-free phase, a definition of relapse requiring therapy resumption, and monitoring after treatment reintroduction. Conclusions This work presents consensus statements with the aim of guiding physicians and biologists by means of pragmatic recommendations for safe TKI discontinuation in daily practice. Cancer 2018;124:2956-63. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

Despite the high efficiency of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), some patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) will display residual disease that can become resistant to treatment, indicating intraclonal heterogeneity in chronic-phase CML (CP-CML). To determine the basis of this heterogene-ity, we conducted the first exhaustive characterization of the DNA methyla-tion pattern of sorted CP-CML CD34 + CD15 A (immature) and CD34 A CD15 + (mature) cells at diagnosis (prior to any treatment) and compared it to that of CD34 + CD15 A and CD34 A CD15 + cells isolated from healthy donors (HD). In both cell types, we identified several hundreds of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) showing DNA methylation changes between CP-CML and HD samples, with only a subset of them in common between CD34 + CD15 A and CD34 A CD15 + cells. This suggested DNA methylation variability within the same CML clone. We also identified 70 genes that could be aberrantly repressed upon hypermethylation and 171 genes that could be aberrantly expressed upon hypomethylation of some of these DMRs in CP-CML cells, among which 18 and 81, respectively, were in CP-CML CD34 + CD15 A cells only. We then validated the DNA methylation and expression defects of selected candidate genes. Specifically, we identified GAS2, a candidate oncogene, as a new example of gene the hypomethylation of which is associated with robust overexpression in CP-CML cells. Altogether, we demonstrated that DNA methylation abnormalities exist at early stages of CML and can affect the transcriptional landscape

'MDS with isolated del(5q)' is a subtype of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) with characteristic morphological and genomic features. Clinically, MDS with isolated del(5q) is uniquely responsive to immunomodulatory agents, with lenalidomide (LEN) approved for treating anemia in this indication. Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESA) and red cell transfusion (RBCT) are other options for anemia management. The EUMDS Registry is an international prospective registry of newly diagnosed patients (within 100 days of diagnosis) with IPSS Low/Int-1-risk MDS (plus higher-risk MDS from 2017) recruiting since 1 st April 2008, currently at 146 sites in 17 countries. We describe the largest prospective Registry series of 'MDS with del(5q)' patients, with data from diagnosis. Methods Comparative analyses of baseline characteristics for categorical variables compared different groups by chi 2 test, and for continuous variables by Kruskal-Wallis test. p values are given with Bonferonni correction applied. Results Baseline characteristics Of 2469 EUMDS patients, 197 (8%) met the WHO 2016 classification criteria for 'MDS with isolated del5q'. Median follow up is 4.3 yrs. 77% were female (34% for all EUMDS patients), and median age was 73y. In comparison to EUMDS patients lacking del(5q), patients with MDS with isolated del(5q) were lower risk at diagnosis (IPSS and IPSS-R, p Interventional management To date, 168/197 patients received active intervention and the following sequence of interventions was observed, in order of frequency of initial intervention, RBCT>ESA>LEN: RBCT (n=96), - then ESA (42) then LEN (21) - then LEN (32) then ESA (5) ESA (n=55), - then RBCT (30) then LEN (13) - then LEN (9) then RBCT (6) LEN (n=17), - then ESA (3) then RBCT (2) - then RBCT (2) then ESA (2) Ninety-two patients have received LEN. In comparison with those not (yet) treated with LEN, LEN treated patients were younger (mean 70y vs 75y, p Adverse events were considered but proved too difficult to evaluate from the Registry data. For example, anticoagulant treatment data was collected, but not the specific indication. Outcome No difference in outcome (OS or PFS) was noted for patients treated with LEN vs. not (Figure, OS - adjusted Hazard Ratio, age and sex, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.67 [95% CI:0.35-1.29], lenalidomide treatment as a time-dependent variable). Conclusion EUMDS is uniquely placed to describe 'real-world' management of patients with 'MDS with isolated del(5q)' from diagnosis. To date, the largest (retrospective) case series reported had a median age 5 years younger than EUMDS, most likely representing referral bias(1). EUMDS demonstrates that most patients with MDS with isolated del(5q) require interventional therapy, and that more than half of transfusion dependent patients have received LEN. Further analysis of interventions and response will be presented. 1. Germing U, Lauseker M, Hildebrandt B, Symeonidis A, Cermak J, Fenaux P, et al. Survival, prognostic factors and rates of leukemic transformation in 381 untreated patients with MDS and del(5q): A multicenter study. Leukemia 2012;26(6):1286-92. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Fenaux: Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; JAZZ: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Syros Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria. Symeonidis: Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; GSK: Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; MSD: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Demo: Research Funding; WinMedica: Research Funding; Astellas: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sanofi/Genzyme: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; GenesisPharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Kotsianidis: Novartis Hellas: Consultancy, Other: NONE, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy, Other: NONE, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol Hellas: Consultancy, Other: NONE, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen Hellas: Consultancy, Other: NONE, Speakers Bureau; Genesis: Consultancy, Other: NONE; Astellas: Other: NONE, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Mittelman: Janssen · Roche · Novartis · Takeda · Medison / Amgen · Neopharm / Celgene / BMS · Abbvie · Gilead: Research Funding; Novartis · Takeda · Fibrogen · Celgene / BMS · Onconova · Geron: Other: Clini; Onconova · Novartis · Takeda · Silence: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MDS HUB: Consultancy; Celgene / BMS · Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Sanz: Helsinn Healthcare: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, accommodations, and expenses; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, accommodations, and expenses, Speakers Bureau; Gilead Sciences: Other: Travel, accommodations, and expenses; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, accommodations, and expenses, Research Funding. Stauder: Celgene/BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel support; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Germing: Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: advisory activity, Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria. van Marrewijk: EUMDS Registry: Current Employment; Novartis: Other: Educational Grants; BV Oncology Europe: Other: Educational Grants; Amgen Limited: Other: Educational Grants; Celgene International: Other: educational grants; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Other: educational grants; Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Other: educational grants; MDS-RIGHT: Other: project budgets. de Witte: Amgen: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding.

Aims: Combining 2GTKI+pegylated IFN-a (Peg-IFN) represents an attractive approach for first-line treatment of CP CML, while providing somewhat light additional AEs, it induces high rates of deep molecular responses. We evaluated nilotinib (NIL) alone versus NIL+Peg-IFN in newly diagnosed CP-CML patients (pts) in a randomised phase III trial (PETALs, EudraCT 2013-004974-82) and analysed here the proportion of patients reaching Treatment-Free Remission (TFR) and outcome. Methods: Newly diagnosed CP CML pts ≤65 years, without vascular history were randomized 1:1 to get NIL 300 mg BID alone [M0 to M72 (unless TFR), arm A] vs Peg-IFN alone for 30 days (M-1→M0) 30 mg/wk, prior to NIL 300 mg BID + Peg-IFN 30 mg/wk 2 wks, upgraded to 45 mg/wk thereafter, for up to 2 y (M0 to M24, arm B) followed by NIL alone until M72 unless TFR. The primary endpoint was the rate of MR4.5 by M12, and after amendment, the trial was extended to 72 months follow-up in order to add, as a secondary endpoint, the TFR rate in pts reaching MR4.5 ≥2 y. The trigger for treatment resumption was loss of MMR. All molecular assessments were centralised until M36, and in case of TFR, MR4.5 was centrally confirmed at M0 TFR, and further molecular follow-up was then performed locally. All molecular quantifications are expressed as BCR-ABL1/ABL1 (IS) in % with ≥32,000 copies of ABL1 as control in the central lab and in the local labs all involved to the pluri-annual French external quality controls. Results are analysed in intention-to-treat. Results: As previously reported, 200 pts were randomized (99 in A, 101 in B), 130 M and 35 F in each arm, median age of 46 (18-66) y. The median follow-up (FU) since diagnosis is now 47.5 (33.77-62.39) Mo. and the median FU since discontinuation is 9.86 (5.8-23) Mo. in arm A and 15.57 (12.62-22.77) Mo. in arm B. Sokal and ELTS scores were high in 25% and 2.5%, intermediate in 33% and 16.5% and low in 42% and 81% pts respectively, equally balanced. All pts harboured a "Major" BCR transcript. We have previously shown that by M12, the rate of MR4.5 was 15.9% vs 21.5% (primary endpoint met, p=0.049) and that the overall cumulative incidence of MR4.5 was somewhat superior in arm B (54.6 [43.7-65.5] %) vs A (44 [31.5-54] %), p=0.05. Two pts died, one from myeloid blast crisis before TFR (arm A), one from a solid tumour (arm A). Overall, 40 pts (20%) reached the TFR criteria, 21 in arm A with a median FU of 9.86 (5.8-23) Mo. and 19 in arm B with a median FU since Nilo cessation of 15.57 (12.62-22.77) Mo, partly related to slightly different time for obtaining sustained MR4.5 in favour of arm B (16 vs 13 Mo.). For these 40 pts reaching TFR criteria, there was no statistical difference in terms of age at diagnosis and age at TFR, gender, Sokal, ELTS, FU since diagnosis, undetectability at cessation, BCR-ABL1 levels at 3 Mo. after cessation between the 2 arms. The survival without loss of MMR after cessation is illustrated in Figure 1. It looks superior in arm B over arm A, but did not reach statistical difference (p=0.445), but the FU is very short after cessation yet, especially in arm A. Once NIL was resumed in the pts that failed TFR, all pts recovered MMR within 6 Mo., with no difference between arms (p=1.00). In univariate analysis, we did not identify significant factor impacting on the TFR success (age at cessation, sex, undetectability at cessation, Sokal, ELTS) except the BCR-ABL1 value at M3-TFR (undetectable versus detectable, HR 7.15 [2.06-24.75], p=0.002), and the duration of MR4.5 before discontinuation (HR 1.11 [1.03-1.19], p=0.004). During this TFR phase 7 SAEs were reported in arm A (2 pregnancies, 1 obstructive sleep apnea, 1 fever episode, 1 carotid stenosis and 1 femoral stenosis in the same patient at 2 Mo. after cessation, 1 lung carcinoid tumor) and 2 in arm B (1 persistent atrial fibrillation, 1 cholecystectomy). Conclusions: The combination of NIL + Peg-IFN induces higher MR4.5 rates by M36 in newly diagnosed CP CML pts that may translate in higher successful TFR rates, however a longer follow-up is needed to see consistent significant differences. Updated data will be presented. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Nicolini: Kartos Therapeutics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses, Research Funding; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sun Pharma Ltd.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Honoraria. Etienne: Incyte: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Huguet: Novartis: Other: Advisor; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Other: Advisor; Celgene: Other: Advisor; BMS: Other: Advisor; Amgen: Other: Advisor; Pfizer: Other: Advisor. Guerci-Bresler: Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Speakers Bureau. Charbonnier: Incyte: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Rousselot: Incyte, Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding. Deconinck: Stemline Therapetutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Imunogen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Chugai: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Pfizer: Other: Travel Grants, Research Funding; Abbevie: Research Funding. Rea: Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

BACKGROUND Several studies have demonstrated that approximately one-half of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who receive treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and achieve and maintain a deep molecular response (DMR) are able to successfully discontinue therapy. In patients who have a molecular relapse, a DMR is rapidly regained upon treatment re-initiation. METHODS The authors report the results from RE-STIM, a French observational, multicenter study that evaluated treatment-free remission (TFR) in 70 patients who re-attempted TKI discontinuation after a first unsuccessful attempt. After the second TKI discontinuation attempt, the trigger for treatment re-introduction was the loss of a major molecular response in all patients. RESULTS The median follow-up was 38.3 months (range, 4.7-117 months), and 45 patients (64.3%) lost a major molecular response after a median time off therapy of 5.3 months (range, 2-42 months). TFR rates at 12, 24, and 36 months were 48% (95% confidence interval [CI], 37.6%-61.5%), 42% (95% CI, 31.5%-55.4%), and 35% (95% CI, 24.4%-49.4%), respectively. No progression toward advanced-phase CML occurred, and no efficacy issue was observed upon TKI re-introduction. In univariate analysis, the speed of molecular relapse after the first TKI discontinuation attempt was the only factor significantly associated with outcome. The TFR rate at 24 months was 72% (95% CI, 48.8%-100%) in patients who remained in DMR within the first 3 months after the first TKI discontinuation and 36% (95% CI, 25.8%-51.3%) for others. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to demonstrate that a second TKI discontinuation attempt is safe and that a first failed attempt at discontinuing TKI does not preclude a second successful attempt. Cancer 2017;123:4403-10. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Purpose Imatinib (IM) can safely be discontinued in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who have had undetectable minimal residual disease (UMRD) for at least 2 years. We report the final results of the Stop Imatinib (STIM1) study with a long follow-up. Patients and Methods IM was prospectively discontinued in 100 patients with CML with UMRD sustained for at least 2 years. Molecular recurrence (MR) was defined as positivity of BCR-ABL transcript in a quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay confirmed by a second analysis point that indicated an increase of one log in relation to the first analysis point at two successive assessments or loss of major molecular response at one point. Results The median molecular follow-up after treatment discontinuation was 77 months (range, 9 to 95 months). Sixty-one patients lost UMRD after a median of 2.5 months (range, 1 to 22 months), and one patient died with UMRD at 10 months. Molecular recurrence-free survival was 43% (95% CI, 33% to 52%) at 6 months and 38% (95% CI, 29% to 47%) at 60 months. Treatment was restarted in 57 of 61 patients with MR, and 55 patients achieved a second UMRD with a median time of 4 months (range, 1 to 16 months). None of the patients experienced a CML progression. Analyses of the characteristics of the study population identified that the Sokal risk score and duration of IM treatment were significantly associated with the probability of MR. Conclusion With a median follow-up of more than 6 years after treatment discontinuation, the STIM1 study demonstrates that IM can safely be discontinued in patients with a sustained deep molecular response with no late MR.

Background: Most IPSS low and int1 (lower) risk MDS patients with isolated del(5q) develop RBC TD or need treatment for symptomatic anemia early after diagnosis (median time to transfusion/treatment of 20 months, López Cadenas et al abstract 3180 ASH, 2016). Lenalidomide (LEN) is a reference treatment in MDS-del(5q) but approved in many countries only when RBC-TD occurs. LEN directly targets the del(5q) clone improving anemia and quality of life. Limited data also suggest a role of LEN in non-TD patients with del(5q) (Oliva et al Cancer Med 2015), but no randomized trial has assessed the efficacy and tolerance of early LEN treatment in this MDS subset. Material: The Sintra-Rev clinical trial is a phase III European multicenter study in low-risk MDS-del(5q) patients with anemia (Hb Results: Main clinical characteristics of the 61 patients (ITT population) included (Feb-2010 to Feb-2018) are summarized in Table 1: 82% females, median age 72 years (range 37-89), median time since diagnosis 3.6 months, median Hb at inclusion 9.8 g/dL (7.1 - 11.7) g/dL and 93% patients had isolated del(5q). Four patients were excluded due either to screening failure (1 pat) or failure to complete at least 12w of treatment (3 pat). Fifty-seven patients were included in the ITT evaluable population for efficacy and 59 for safety (2 patients did not receive any drug). Median time on treatment was 66 weeks (3-121), 95w in the LEN arm and 42w in the placebo arm (p=0.392). Forty-seven percent patients in the LEN arm successfully completed the study compared to 33% in the placebo arm. After a median follow up of 25.6 months (Q1 16-Q3 39), median OS was not achieved. Among the 57 patients evaluable for efficacy, median time to TD was 75.7 mo for the LEN patients and 25.9 mo for the placebo arm (HR 2.703, 95CI1.162-6.286, p=0.021, figure 1). HI-E response was observed in 72.5% of LEN patients compared to 0% in the placebo arm (p Fifty-eight patients developed at least one adverse event (AE) during the trial (no differences between the LEN and placebo arm), related to the drug 86.8% in the LEN and 33.3% in the placebo arm, respectively (p Conclusions: In this interim analysis we confirm that low dose LEN (5 mg) in anemic non-TD low risk MDS del(5q) patients prolongs the period of time to TD (75.7 mo vs 25.9 mo), improves Hb levels (72.5% of ER) and induces clonal responses (70% complete CyR), ie potentially more responses than in historical series of MDS del(5q) treated with LEN at time of TD, with a manageable safety profile, and no increased progression rate. Longer follow up will be required to assess the effect of early treatment with LEN, and particularly the effect of the early reduction of the del(5q) clone size, on long-term outcomes. Disclosures Hernandez-Rivas: Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AstraZeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Rovi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene/BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Thepot:astellas: Honoraria; novartis: Honoraria; sanofi: Honoraria; celgene: Honoraria. Sanz:LaHoffman Roche Ltd.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda Pharmaceutical Ltd.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Helsinn: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. 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. Platzbecker:BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Geron: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria. Götze:Celgene: Research Funding. Fenaux:BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria, Research Funding. Diez-Campelo:Celgene-BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. OffLabel Disclosure: LEN IN ANEMIC BUT NOT TD PATIENTS WITH LOW RISK MDS AND DEL(5Q)

Data on outcome in older (≥70 years) patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia after treatment with arsenic trioxide (ATO) compared with standard chemotherapy (CTX) is scarce. We evaluated 433 patients (median age, 73.4 years) treated either with ATO+ all-trans retinoic acid (ATO/ATRA; n = 26), CTX/ATRA + ATO during consolidation (CTX/ATRA/ATO; n = 148), or with CTX/ATRA (n = 259). Median follow-up for overall survival (OS) was 4.8 years. Complete remissions (CR) were achieved in 92% with ATO/ATRA and 82% with CTX/ATRA; induction death rates were 8% and 18%, respectively. For analysis of postremission outcomes we combined the ATO/ATRA and CTX/ATRA/ATO groups (ATO/ATRA ± CTX). Cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) was significantly lower after ATO/ATRA ± CTX compared with CTX/ATRA (P P = 0.20). High (>10 × 109/l) white blood cell (WBC) counts at diagnosis were associated with higher CIR (P P = 0.48). ATO, when added to ATRA or CTX/ATRA is feasible and effective in elderly patients for remission induction and consolidation, particularly in patients with high WBC at diagnosis.

International audience; BACKGROUND: Data on Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) prevalence are scarce. Here we provide an estimation of the prevalence of CML in France for the year 2014 using French national health insurance data.METHODS: We selected patients claiming reimbursement for tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) or with hospital discharge diagnoses for CML, BCR/ABL-positive or with full reimbursement of health care expenses for myeloid leukemia. We built an algorithm which we validated on a random sample of 100 potential CML patients by comparing the results obtained using the algorithm and the opinion of two hematologists who reviewed the patient demographics and sequence of care abstracted from claims data (internal validity). For external validity, we compared the number of incident CML patients identified using the algorithm with those recorded in French population-based cancer registries in departments covered by such a registry.RESULTS: We identified 10 789 prevalent CML patients in 2014, corresponding to a crude prevalence rate of 16.3 per 100 000 inhabitants [95% confidence interval (CI) 16.0-16.6]: 18.5 in men [18.0-19.0] and 14.2 in women [13.8-14.6]. The crude CML prevalence was less than 1.6 per 100 000 [1.2-2.0] under age 20, increasing to a maximum of 48.2 [45.4-51.2) at ages 75-79. It varied from 10.2 to 23.8 per 100 000 across French departments. The algorithm showed high internal and external validity. Concordance rate between the algorithm and the hematologists was 96%, and the numbers of incident CML patients identified using the algorithm and the registries were 162 and 150, respectively.CONCLUSION: We built and validated an algorithm to identify CML patients in administrative healthcare databases. In addition to prevalence estimation, the algorithm could be used for future economic evaluations or pharmaco-epidemiological studies in this population.

The efficacy of azacitidine in patients with anemia and with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes, if relapsing after or resistant to erythropoietic stimulating agents, and the benefit of combining these agents to azacitidine in this setting are not well known. We prospectively compared the outcomes of patients, all of them having the characteristics of this subset of lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome, if randomly treated with azacitidine alone or azacitidine combined with epoetin-β. High-resolution cytogenetics and gene mutation analysis were performed at entry. The primary study endpoint was the achievement of red blood cell transfusion independence after six cycles. Ninety-eight patients were randomised (49 in each arm). Median age was 72 years. In an intention to treat analysis, transfusion independence was obtained after 6 cycles in 16.3% versus 14.3% of patients in the azacitidine and azacitidine plus epoetin-β arms, respectively (P=1.00). Overall erythroid response rate (minor and major responses according to IWG 2000 criteria) was 34.7% vs. 24.5% in the azacitidine and azacitidine plus epoetin-β arms, respectively (P=0.38). Mutations of the SF3B1 gene were the only ones associated with a significant erythroid response, 29/59 (49%) versus 6/27 (22%) in SF3B1 mutated and unmutated patients, respectively, P=0.02. Detection of at least one “epigenetic mutation” and of an abnormal single nucleotide polymorphism array profile were the only factors associated with significantly poorer overall survival by multivariate analysis. The transfusion independence rate observed with azacitidine in this lower-risk population, but resistant to erythropoietic stimulating agents, was lower than expected, with no observed benefit of added epoetin, (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 01015352).

Sustained deep molecular responses in patients switched to nilotinib due to persistent BCR-ABL1 on imatinib: final ENESTcmr randomized trial results

International audience; No abstract available

IF 2.436 (2017); International audience; Ponatinib represents a remarkable progress in the treatment of heavily pretreated chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and de novo Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL patients despite significant toxicity in clinical trials. To date, "real-life" data remain few and the use of ponatinib in this setting and its consequences remain mostly unknown. We report, within a national observational study, the use of ponatinib in unselected CML patients who had previously failed ≥2 lines of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy (or one line if an Abelson (ABL)T315I mutation was identified), in real-life conditions (2013-2014) in a compassionate program. Our analysis has been focused on 48 chronic phase CML patients recorded. With a median follow-up of 26.5 months since ponatinib initiation, the overall survival (OS) rates (80.5% at 3 years) and cumulative incidence of major molecular response (81.8% at 18 months) were similar to those of the phase II study, with no influence of BCR-ABL mutations nor the reason of ponatinib prescription. A specific subanalysis of the preexisting cardiovascular risk factors and events occurring on ponatinib is described. These events occurred after a median time on ponatinib of 5.8 months (excluding hypertension) and were observed in 29/48 patients (47%), even in those already on anti-aggregants/coagulants. The majority were not severe and resolved, but two cases were fatal. Other hematological or nonhematological nonvascular adverse events were similar to those previously described in trials. This observational study reports similar rates of survival, molecular responses, and a slight increase in the cardiovascular toxicity of ponatinib in real-life conditions, prompting improved control of cardiovascular risk factors and selection of patients.

Convincing clinical and experimental evidence is converging on the essential role of NK (Natural Killer) cells in the recognition and eradication of tumors. Recent studies emphasized the role of NK cells in the immune control of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a malignancy arising from hematopoietic stem cells, and the treatment of which has been revolutionized by the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Three major findings are emerging: 1) the impairment of the numbers and function of NK cells at diagnosis, 2) the restoration of the NK cell function and numbers during remissions induced with TKI therapies and 3) the potential role of the more mature NK CD56

Convincing clinical and experimental evidence is converging on the essential role of NK (Natural Killer) cells in the recognition and eradication of tumors. Recent studies emphasized the role of NK cells in the immune control of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a malignancy arising from hematopoietic stem cells, and the treatment of which has been revolutionized by the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Three major findings are emerging: 1) the impairment of the numbers and function of NK cells at diagnosis, 2) the restoration of the NK cell function and numbers during remissions induced with TKI therapies and 3) the potential role of the more mature NK CD56dim cell population in maintaining relapse-free survival after stopping TKI therapy. Immunological control of CML by NK cells which has been suspected for several decades is thus a new field of investigation for future therapies.

Prognosis of lower-risk (International Prognostic Scoring System [IPSS] low/intermediate-1) myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is heterogeneous and relies on steady-state assessment of cytopenias. We analyzed relative drops in neutrophil and platelet counts during the first 6 months of follow-up of lower-risk MDS patients. We performed a landmark analysis of overall survival (OS) of lower-risk MDS patients prospectively included in the European LeukaemiaNet MDS registry having a visit at 6 +/- 1 month from inclusion to assess the prognostic relevance of relative drops in neutrophils and platelets, defined as (count at landmark - count at inclusion)/count at inclusion. Of 2102 patients, 807 were eligible for the stringent 6-month landmark analysis. Median age was 73 years. Revised IPSS was very low, low, and intermediate/higher in 26%, 43%, and 31% of patients, respectively. A relative drop in platelets >25% at landmark predicted shorter OS (5-year OS, 21.9% vs 48.6% with platelet drop 25% had no significant impact on OS. We built a classifier based on red blood cell transfusion dependence (RBC-TD) and relative platelet drop >25% at landmark. Patients with none (62%), either (27%), or both criteria (11%) had 5-year OS of 53.3%, 32.7%, and 9.0%, respectively (P < 10(-4)). This classifier was validated in an independent cohort of 335 patients. Combining relative platelet drop >25% and RBC-TD at 6 months from diagnosis provides an inexpensive and noninvasive way to predict outcome in lower-risk MDS. This study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00600860.

Item does not contain fulltext Baseline characteristics, disease-management and outcome of 1000 lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients within the European LeukaemiaNet MDS (EUMDS) Registry are described in conjunction with the validation of the revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R). The EUMDS registry confirmed established prognostic factors, such as age, gender and World Health Organization 2001 classification. Low quality of life (EQ-5D visual analogue scale score) was significantly associated with reduced survival. A high co-morbidity index predicted poor outcome in univariate analyses. The IPSS-R identified a large group of 247 patients with Low (43%) and Very low (23%) risk score within the IPSS intermediate-1 patients. The IPSS-R also identified 32 High or Very high risk patients within the IPSS intermediate-1 patients. IPSS-R was superior to the IPSS for predicting both disease progression and survival. Seventy percent of patients received MDS-specific treatment or supportive care, including red blood cell transfusions (51%), haematopoietic growth factors (58%) and iron chelation therapy (8%), within 2 years of diagnosis; while 30% of the patients only required active monitoring. The IPSS-R proved its utility as a more refined risk stratification tool for the identification of patients with a very good or poor prognosis and in this lower-risk MDS population.

BACKGROUND Omacetaxine, a protein synthesis inhibitor, is indicated in the United States for the treatment of patients with chronic-phase (CP) or accelerated-phase (AP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with resistance and/or intolerance to 2 or more tyrosine kinase inhibitors. METHODS The final analysis, with 24 months of follow-up, included additional efficacy and safety analyses to assess the benefit of long-term omacetaxine administration (1.25 mg/m2 twice daily for 14 days every 28 days followed by 7 days every 28 days) in CP-CML and AP-CML patients receiving >3 cycles. RESULTS Eighteen percent of CP-CML patients achieved a major cytogenetic response (MCyR) with a median duration of 12.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.5 months to not reached [NR]); responses were maintained for ≥12 months in 3 of 14 responders, and the median overall survival (OS) was 40.3 months (95% CI, 23.8 months to NR). Among patients with AP-CML, 14% achieved or maintained a major hematologic response for a median of 4.7 months (95% CI, 3.6 months to NR); MCyR was not achieved, and the median OS was 14.3 months (95% CI, 6.7-18.7 months). In patients with CP-CML and patients with AP-CML who received >3 cycles of treatment (n = 50 and n = 14, respectively), the median OS was 49.3 months (95% CI, 23.8 months to NR) and 24.6 months (95% CI, 12-37.2 months), respectively. Grade 3 or higher hematologic toxicities were the major side effects (79% and 73% for CP-CML and AP-CML, respectively), with discontinuation due to toxicity in 10% of CP patients and in 5% of AP patients. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the long-term administration of omacetaxine is feasible with dose adjustments to manage toxicities and that omacetaxine provides a durable benefit for some patients. Cancer 2015;121:1637–1644. © 2015 American Cancer Society.

Les syndromes myelodysplasiques (SMD) sont des affections clonales des cellules souches pluripotentes, caracterisees par une hematopoiese inefficace, responsable de cytopenies sanguines qui contrastent avec une moelle generalement riche. De plus, les SMD evoluent frequemment en leucemie aigue myeloide (LAM) et constituent les plus frequents des etats preleucemiques de l’adulte.Les SMD predominent chez le sujet âge, avec une mediane d’âge au diagnostic de l’ordre de 70 [...]