SummaryParoxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) clones are frequently detected in patients with aplastic anaemia (AA). To evaluate the prognostic role of PNH clone presence we conducted a prospective study in 125 AA patients treated with combined immunosuppressive therapy (IST). Seventyfour patients (59%) had a PNH clone (PNH+ patients) at diagnosis, with a median clone size of 0Á60% in granulocytes and 0Á15% in red blood cells. The response rate at 6 months was higher in PNH+ patients than that in PNH-patients, both after first-and second-line IST: 68% vs. 45%, P = 0Á0164 and 53% vs. 13%, P = 0Á0502 respectively. Moreover, 42% of PNH+ patients achieved complete remission compared with only 16% of PNH-patients (P = 0Á0029). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, PNH clone presence (odds ratio 2Á56, P = 0Á0180) and baseline absolute reticulocyte count (ARC) ≥30 9 10 9 /l (odds ratio 5Á19, P = 0Á0011) were independent predictors of response to treatment. Stratification according to PNH positivity and ARC ≥30 9 10 9 /l showed significant distinctions for cumulative incidence of response, overall and failure-free survival. The results of this prospective study confirmed the favourable prognostic value of PNH clone presence in the setting of IST for AA.

This multicenter cross-sectional study (n=226) validated the Russian-language M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI-R) in Russian cancer patients with hematological malignancies or solid tumors. The Russian-language Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36-R) also was used for validation. Factor analysis found three underlying constructs for symptom items--general, treatment-related, and affective symptoms--with Cronbach alphas of 0.86, 0.68, and 0.90, respectively. Convergent validity was established by comparing MDASI-R items with SF-36-R subscales. The MDASI-R detected significant differences in symptom severity and interference levels by performance status, supporting known-group validity. The most prevalent symptoms were fatigue, sleep disturbance, pain, sadness, and poor appetite; 53% of the sample reported one to four moderate-to-severe symptoms (>or=5 on 0-10 scale). Symptoms interfered most with work and general activity. Medical professionals underestimated the severity of pain, fatigue, and distress. The MDASI-R is valid and reliable for measuring symptom severity and interference in Russian cancer patients.

To validate the Russian version of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI-R) and to examine predictors of inadequate pain management, 221 Russian patients with advanced-stage hematological malignancies or solid tumors completed the BPI-R and a Russian-language Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36-R). Factor analysis of the BPI-R found two underlying constructs, pain severity and pain interference, with Cronbach alphas of 0.93 and 0.95, respectively. Concurrent validity was established by comparing BPI-R items with SF-36-R scales. The BPI-R detected significant differences in pain severity and interference levels by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, supporting known-group validity. Determination of the Pain Management Index revealed that 68% of the patients were inadequately treated by World Health Organization standards. Having advanced-stage disease and not receiving chemotherapy predicted inadequate pain management in a multivariate logistic regression model. The Russian version of the BPI is psychometrically sound in its reliability and validity.

Background: Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms are characterized by clonal hematopoiesis and persistent inflammatory reaction. In this study, the clinical significance and prognostic impact of several inflammatory markers were evaluated in patients with BCR/ABL-negative myeloproliferative malignancies. Methods: Serum levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and lymphoid-associated activation markers - soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and immunoglobulin-free light chains (FLC) - were evaluated in patients with primary myelofibrosis (MF), post-polycythemia vera MF, and post-essential thrombocythemia MF, and compared with the levels in healthy donors. Results: In 57 MF patients, sIL-2R excess correlated with transfusion-dependent anemia (p = 0.03) and splenomegaly (p = 0.02). There were no statistically significant correlations between sIL-2R and IL-8 levels, but the plasma concentration of κ-FLC positively correlated with the IL-8 level (p = 0.027). In univariate analysis, increased levels of IL-8 (p = 0.016) and sIL-2R (p = 0.010) significantly reduced 1-year overall survival. Only elevated sIL-2R rate retained significance (p = 0.02) in multivariate analysis when Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System plus (DIPSSplus) risk stratification was added. Conclusion: We observed an association between FLC and proinflammatory cytokine hyperexpression. Serum cytokine levels and FLC might be a promising approach to predicting and monitoring treatment response in MF patients.

Background: Anticomplement C5 therapy with eculizumab is the standard of treatment of patients (pts) with active hemolytic PNH. However, there are few data on long-term complement inhibition efficacy and current PNH prognosis from real-world clinical practice. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term eculizumab efficacy and PNH outcomes in the large cohort in Russia. Methods: As of August 1, 2018, a total of 354 pts with hemolytic PNH were observed in the I.P. Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University in cooperation with the local hematological service in 75 regions of Russia (n=344), as well as in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Tajikistan (n=10) (Table 1). The analysis was conducted in the whole cohort and separately in the prospective phase after November 2011 with the eculizumab availability in Russia. We analyzed indications and access to anticomplement C5 therapy according to National guidelines (2014), frequency and causes of discontinuation of therapy, cumulative incidence of independence from transfusions with allo-HSCT as competing risk, frequency of breakthrough hemolysis (BTH) and intensive extravascular hemolysis, overall survival (OS) and causes of mortality. Results: According to the current National guidelines (2014), 323 pts had at least one indication for therapy with eculizumab: thrombosis (n=89, 25 %), transfusion-dependent hemolytic anemia (n=261, 74 %), acute kidney injury (AKI, n=69, 19 %), chronic kidney disease (CKD, n=244/304, 80 %) including CKD stage ≥ 2 (n=66/304, 22 %), pulmonary hypertension (n=66/265, 25 %) and pregnancy (n=22). Due to differences in regional support for rare diseases, only 204 (63%) pts had access to therapy with eculizumab. In addition, 19 pts received novel anti-C5 agent in clinical trial and were excluded from analysis. Allogeneic HSCT was performed in 24 pts, including 2 cases of MDS/AML evolved from AA/PNH and 17 cases of severe AA/PNH with eculizumab bridging in the prospective phase. With the median duration of eculizumab therapy of 3.4 years (0.2-6.1) the independence from RBC transfusions (TI) was achieved in 109 of 154 initially transfused pts (71 %) with a cumulative incidence of 61 % (95 % CI, 52-68) and 69 % (95 % CI, 60-76) after 12 and 24 months of therapy respectively. The median hemoglobin level at last follow-up were 6.6 (4.0-9.7), 10.5 (range, 7.1-15.4) and 12.1 g/dl (8.9-14.0) in patients who did not reach the TI, who reached the TI and were never transfused, respectively (p =0.0001). BTH was documented in 36 of 184 evaluated pts (20 %), including 16 and 20 cases with and without obvious triggers respectively. Intensive extravascular hemolysis with bilirubin level > 2xULN persisted in 31 % pts. Temporary or permanent discontinuation of eculizumab treatment occurred in 58 pts due to death (n=11), allogeneic BMT (n=17), spontaneous clone reduction (n = 4), absence of new indications 6 months after delivery (n=4), and terminating access to treatment (n=22). All pts of the latter group developed a relapse of intensive intravascular hemolysis, which in 3 cases was complicated by AKI (n=1), stroke (n=1) and myocardial infarction (n=1). OS was assessed in the prospective phase after 2011. A total of 24/203 (12 %) pts died which resulted in 5-year OS of 87% (CI 95 %, 81-92). Treatment with eculizumab significantly improved OS (Fig.1). The 5-year OS rate was 91% (CI 95 %, 85-98) in pts treated with eculizumab and 74 % (CI 95 %, 63-85) in never-treated pts (p=0.0003). There were significant differences in the causes of death between pts receiving and not receiving eculizumab: related to thrombosis 1/7 (14 %) vs 9/17 (53 %), AA and MDS 4/7 (57%) vs 5/17 (29 %). Conclusions: The results of the study show both the high efficacy and limitations of treatment with eculizumab for PNH in real-world practice. Prospectively confirmed significant improvement of the overall survival on eculizumab stress the need for faster and wider access to costly therapy. Nevertherless, a number of limitations, including BTH and extravascular hemolysis, lack of control of bone marrow failure and further clonal evolution, determine the relevance of next-generation complement inhibitors and risk-adjusted allogeneic HSCT as a curative option. Disclosures Kulagin: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Consultancy, Honoraria.

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