Inflammatory functional iron deficiency common in myelofibrosis, contributes to anaemia and impairs quality of life. From the Nordic MPN study Group.

OBJECTIVES: The study investigates the hypothesis that inflammation in myelofibrosis (MF) like in myeloma and lymphoma, may disturb iron distribution and contribute to anaemia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 80 MF and 23 ET patients was performed. RESULTS: About 35% of anaemic MF patients had functional iron deficiency (FID) with transferrin saturation <20 and normal or elevated S-ferritin (<500 µg/L). In ET, FID was rare. In MF patients with FID, 70.6% were anaemic, vs 29.4% in patients without FID (P = 0.03). Hepcidin was significantly higher in MF patients with anaemia, including transfusion-dependent patients, 50.6 vs 24.4 µg/L (P = 0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between Hb and inflammatory markers in all MF patients: IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α, (P < 0.01-0.03), LD (P = 0.004) and hepcidin (P = 0.03). These correlations were also seen in the subgroup of anaemic MF patients (Table ). Tsat correlated negatively with CRP (P < 0.001). Symptom burden was heavier in MF patients with FID, and MPN-SAF quality of life scores correlated with IL-6 and CRP. CONCLUSIONS: The inflammatory state of MF disturbs iron turnover, FID is common and contributes to anaemia development and impairment of QoL. Anaemic MF patients should be screened for FID.

Genetic variation in IL28B (IFNL3) and response to interferon-alpha treatment in myeloproliferative neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE: In myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), interferon-alpha (IFN-α) is an effective treatment with disease-modifying properties but currently with no clear predictors of treatment outcome. Recent genomewide association studies in chronic hepatitis C have found a strong influence of genetic polymorphism near the IL28B (IFNL3) gene in response to IFN-α treatment. In this study, we sought to evaluate the prognostic impact of IL28B rs12979860, rs8099917, and rs12980275 on IFN-α treatment response in myeloproliferative neoplasms. METHOD: We retrospectively evaluated 100 patients with MPN treated with IFN-α. The hematologic treatment response on IFN-α was compared between patients and correlated with host genetic variations in IL28B. The genotypes of IL28B were determined by allelic discrimination assays. RESULTS: The CC genotype of rs12979860 was found significantly associated with hematologic response in polycythemia vera (PV) with a complete response (CR) in 79% (CC) compared to 48% (non-CC), (P = .036). No association between the genotypes and treatment response on hydroxyurea was found. CONCLUSION: These results imply an effect of IL28B genotype on the outcome of IFN-α treatment in MPN.

Increased incidence of another cancer in myeloproliferative neoplasms patients at the time of diagnosis.

Several studies have reported an increased incidence of coexistent cancer in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), and myelosuppressive treatment has been speculated to be one of the causes. In this study, we have concentrated on malignancies diagnosed before the MPN diagnosis to eliminate the possible influence of MPN treatment. The patients were recruited from the Swedish and Norwegian cancer registries. One thousand seven hundred and 45 patients from the Swedish MPN Quality Registry and 468 patients from the Norwegian National Cancer Registry were included in this study covering a 3-yr period. The results show that primary concurrent cancer is higher among patients with MPN compared to the general population. When pooled together, the Swedish and the Norwegian cohort showed increased prevalence of all types of cancer in general compared with the general population, standard prevalence ratio (SPR) of 1.20 (95% CI 1.07-1.34). Significantly high SPRs were reached for skin malignant melanoma [1.89 (95% CI 1.33-2.62)], prostate cancer [1.39 (95% CI 1.11-1.71)], and hematologic cancer [1.49 (95% CI 1.00-2.12)]. In the polycythemia vera group, the risk of having prior malignant melanoma of the skin was significant, with an SPR of 2.20 (95% CI 1.17-3.77). For patients with essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis, no significant risks were found. Coexisting cancers have a high impact on the treatment strategies of MPN, as it narrows down the treatment options. Chronic inflammation, as a common denominator of MPN with other cancers, can catalyze each other's existence and progression.

[Primary myelofibrosis--pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment]. / Primær myelofibrose--patogenese, diagnostikk og behandling.

BACKGROUND: Primary myelofibrosis is a malignant myeloproliferative disease. It is characterised by proliferation of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow, dysregulated cytokine production and reactive fibrosis that causes bone marrow failure. The purpose of this article is to provide an up-to-date presentation of the pathophysiology, diagnostics and treatment of the disease. METHOD: The article is based on the authors' own experience and on a selection of articles identified through many years of experience of treating patients with myelofibrosis. RESULTS: The molecular mechanisms that trigger the disease remain unidentified, but mutations in two genes (JAK2 and MPL) occur in 70% of patients and result in increased production of haematopoietic cells. Diagnosis is based on clinical examination, bone marrow histology and molecular biological examinations. The clinical course of primary myelofibrosis varies. Life expectancy depends on a number of factors and is severely decreased by high-risk disease. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is the only treatment with a curative potential, but only a minority of patients are eligible for it. If transplantation is not possible, therapy is symptomatic. JAK2-inhibitors are new drugs that counteract cytokine production and cell proliferation. Ruxolitinib is the first approved JAK2 inhibitor and has proved effective on symptoms and quality of life. INTERPRETATION: Medical inhibition of the JAK2 gene and associated JAK-STAT signalling pathway is a step forward in treatment. However, stem cell transplantation remains the only potentially curative treatment for myelofibrosis.

Dasatinib crosses the blood-brain barrier and is an efficient therapy for central nervous system Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemia.

Although imatinib, a BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is used to treat acute Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph(+)) leukemia, it does not prevent central nervous system (CNS) relapses resulting from poor drug penetration through the blood-brain barrier. Imatinib and dasa-tinib (a dual-specific SRC/BCR-ABL kinase inhibitor) were compared in a preclinical mouse model of intracranial Ph(+) leukemia. Clinical dasatinib treatment in patients with CNS Ph(+) leukemia was assessed. In preclinical studies, dasatinib increased survival, whereas imatinib failed to inhibit intracranial tumor growth. Stabilization and regression of CNS disease were achieved with continued dasa-tinib administration. The drug also demonstrated substantial activity in 11 adult and pediatric patients with CNS Ph(+) leukemia. Eleven evaluable patients had clinically significant, long-lasting responses, which were complete in 7 patients. In 3 additional patients, isolated CNS relapse occurred during dasatinib therapy; and in 2 of them, it was caused by expansion of a BCR-ABL-mutated dasatinib-resistant clone, implying selection pressure exerted by the compound in the CNS. Dasatinib has promising therapeutic potential in managing intracranial leukemic disease and substantial clinical activity in patients who experience CNS relapse while on imatinib therapy. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as CA180006 (#NCT00108719) and CA180015 (#NCT00110097).

Rituximab for primary chronic cold agglutinin disease: a prospective study of 37 courses of therapy in 27 patients.

Conventional therapies for primary chronic cold agglutinin disease (CAD) are ineffective, but remissions after treatment with the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab have been described in a small, prospective trial and in some case reports. In this study we report on 37 courses of rituximab administered prospectively to 27 patients. Fourteen of 27 patients responded to their first course of rituximab, and 6 of 10 responded to re-treatment. In both groups combined, responses were achieved after 20 of 37 courses, giving an overall response rate of 54%. We observed 1 complete and 19 partial responses. Two nonresponders and 3 patients who experienced relapse received second-line therapy with interferon-alpha combined with a new course of rituximab, and 1 nonresponder and 2 patients who experienced relapse achieved partial responses. Responders achieved a median increase in hemoglobin levels of 40 g/L (4 g/dL). Median time to response was 1.5 months, and median observed response duration was 11 months. We conclude that rituximab is an effective and well-tolerated therapy for CAD. Histologic and flow cytometric findings suggest that some of the effect may be mediated by mechanisms other than the elimination of clonal lymphocytes. We were unable to predict responses from the hematologic, immunologic, or histologic parameters before therapy.