clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02055781.

No abstract

We evaluated the outcomes and associated prognostic factors in 233 patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for primary myelofibrosis (MF) using reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). Median age at HCT was 55 years. Donors were: matched sibling donor (MSD), 34%; HLA-well-matched unrelated donors (URD), 45%; and partially/mismatched URD, 21%. Risk stratification according to Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System (DIPSS): low, 12%; intermediate-1, 49%; intermediate-2, 37%; and high, 1%. The probability of survival at 5-years was 47% (95% CI 40–53). In a multivariate analysis, donor type was the only independent factor associated with survival. Adjusted probabilities of survival at 5-years for MSD, well matched URD and partially matched/mismatched URD were 56% (95% CI 44–67), 48% (95% CI 37–58), and 34% (95% CI 21–47), respectively (p=0.002). Relative risks (RR) for NRM for well-matched URD and partially matched/mismatched URD were 3.92 (p=0.006) and 9.37 (p<0.0001), respectively. A trend towards increased NRM (RR 1.7, p=0.07) and inferior survival (RR 1.37, p=0.10) was observed in DIPSS-intermediate-2/high-risk patients compared to DIPSS-low/intermediate-1 risk patients. RIC HCT is a potentially curative option for patients with MF, and donor type is the most important factor influencing survival in these patients.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are hematologically diverse stem cell malignancies sharing phenotypic features of both myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative neoplasms. There are currently no standard treatment recommendations for most adult patients with MDS/MPN. To optimize efforts to improve the management and disease outcomes, it is essential to identify meaningful clinical and biologic end points and standardized response criteria for clinical trials. The dual dysplastic and proliferative features in these stem cell malignancies define their uniqueness and challenges. We propose response assessment guidelines to harmonize future clinical trials with the principal objective of establishing suitable treatment algorithms. An international panel comprising laboratory and clinical experts in MDS/MPN was established involving 3 independent academic MDS/MPN workshops (March 2013, December 2013, and June 2014). These recommendations are the result of this collaborative project sponsored by the MDS Foundation.

The Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) was developed for untreated myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients based on clinical data. We created and validated a new model that incorporates mutational data to improve the predictive capacity of the IPSS-R in treated MDS patients. Clinical and mutational data from treated MDS patients diagnosed between January 2000 and January 2012 were used to develop the new prognostic system. A total of 508 patients were divided into training (n=333) and validation (n=175) cohorts. Independent significant prognostic factors for survival included age, IPSS-R, EZH2, SF3B1 and TP53. Weighted coefficients for each factor were used to build the new linear predictive model, which produced four prognostic groups: low, intermediate-1, intermediate-2 and high with a median overall survival of 37.4, 23.2, 19.9 and 12.2 months, respectively, P<0.001. Significant improvement in the C-index of the new model (0.73) was observed compared with the IPSS-R (0.69). The new model predicted outcome both in a separate validation cohort and in another cohort of patients with paired samples at different time points during their disease course. The addition of mutational data to the IPSS-R makes it dynamic and enhances its predictive ability in treated MDS patients regardless of their initial or subsequent therapies.

In this cohort study, comorbidities influenced 1-year survival of patients with AML, and comorbidities are best captured by an augmented HCT-CI. The augmented HCT-CI, age, and cytogenetic/molecular risks could be combined into an AML composite model that could guide treatment decision-making and trial design in AML. Studying physical, cognitive, and social health might further clarify the prognostic role of aging. Targeting comorbidities with interventions alongside specific AML therapy might improve survival.

Momelotinib (MMB) is a JAK1/2 and ACVR1 inhibitor with demonstrated clinical activity in all 3 hallmarks of myelofibrosis (MF): anemia, constitutional symptoms, and splenomegaly. In this phase 2 open-label translational biology study (NCT02515630) of 41 transfusion-dependent patients with MF, we explored mechanisms underlying the favorable activity of MMB on MF-associated iron-restricted anemia, including its impact on serum hepcidin levels, and markers of iron storage and availability, erythropoiesis, and inflammation. A transfusion-independent response (TI-R), defined as red blood cell transfusion independence (TI) ≥12 weeks at any time on study, occurred in 17 patients (41%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 26%-58%), including 14 patients (34%; 95% CI, 20%-51%) who achieved TI-R by week 24. In addition, 78% of TI nonresponse (TI-NR) patients achieved a ≥50% decrease in transfusion requirement for ≥8 weeks. Adverse events (AEs) were consistent with previous studies of MMB in MF, with cough, diarrhea, and nausea as the most common. Twenty-one patients experienced grade ≥3 AEs, most commonly anemia and neutropenia. Consistent with preclinical data, daily MMB treatment led to an acute and persistent decrease in blood hepcidin associated with increased iron availability and markers of erythropoiesis. Baseline characteristics associated with TI-R were lower inflammation and hepcidin as well as increased markers of erythropoiesis and bone marrow function. Overall, the study demonstrates that MMB treatment decreases hepcidin in conjunction with improving iron metabolism and erythropoiesis, suggesting a mechanistic explanation for the reduced transfusion dependency observed in transfusion-dependent MF patients treated with MMB, thereby addressing the key unmet medical need in the MF population.

While allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has proven curative potential for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), relapse after HCT remains a problem. Pre-transplant cytoreduction with induction chemotherapy (IC) has been utilized to reduce relapse rates, but is associated with significant toxicity and mortality. Hypomethylating agents may achieve cytoreduction with limited toxicity; however, data on the effect of pre-HCT hypomethylation on post-HCT outcomes are limited. We retrospectively reviewed results in 68 patients who underwent allogeneic HCT for MDS or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) transformed from MDS. Thirty-five patients had received cytoreduction with azacitidine prior to HCT with either a high-dose (40%) or a reduced-intensity (60%) conditioning regimen, and 33 had undergone IC prior to HCT with high-dose conditioning. The estimated one-year overall survival was 57% in the azacitidine group and 36% in the IC group. The risk of post-HCT mortality (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.35–1.30), non-relapse mortality (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.41–2.34), and relapse (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.41–2.34) were lower in the azacitidine group compared to the IC group, but only the hazard for relapse was significantly lower. After adjustment for cytogenetic risk, IPSS, and donor, the rates of post-HCT relapse for the two cohorts were similar. While the current study was retrospective and non-randomized and needs to be interpreted in this context, the results add to the growing evidence that pre-HCT therapy with azacitidine is associated with less toxicity than IC, and may allow for similar post-HCT outcomes.