Effect of low-level BCR-ABL1 kinase domain mutations identified by next-generation sequencing in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Kinase domain mutations in BCR-ABL1 are associated with resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) allows detection of low-level kinase domain mutations, but its relevance in clinical practice remains debated. We aimed to examine the clinical effects of low-level kinase domain mutations identified using NGS in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia. METHODS: In this population-based study, we included consecutive patients newly diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia treated with first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and patients identified at the time of resistance to first-line treatment with imatinib at six institutions (teaching hospitals and district hospitals) in southeast England. We screened patients for BCR-ABL1 kinase domain mutations using NGS, irrespective of patient response to tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy. When we detected a mutation with NGS, we retrospectively analysed all previous samples to establish the date of first occurrence and subsequent kinetics of the mutant subclone (or subclones). The primary endpoints of this study were progression-free and event-free survival at 5 years. FINDINGS: Between Feb 1, 2007, and Dec 31, 2014, we screened 121 patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia for BCR-ABL1 kinase domain mutation. 99 consecutive patients were newly diagnosed, with available sequential RNA stored. The remaining 22 patients were diagnosed between June 1, 1999, and June 30, 2006, and were screened at the time of resistance to first-line treatment with imatinib. Imatinib was the first-line treatment for 111 patients, nilotinib for seven patients, and dasatinib for three patients. We detected a kinase domain mutation in 25 (21%) of 121 patients. Low-level kinase domain mutations were first identified in 17 (68%) of 25 patients with mutation. For patients with a complete cytogenetic response, 13 (14%) of 93 patients screened had a mutation. Five (71%) of the seven patients with a clinically relevant mutation lost complete cytogenetic response compared with 15 (17%) of 86 patients without a clinically relevant mutation (80 patients without mutation and six patients with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor-sensitive mutation, p=0·0031). Patients harbouring a mutant clone had poorer 5-year progression-free survival (65·3% [95% CI 40·5-81·8] vs 86·9% [75·8-93·2]; p=0·0161) and poorer 5-year event-free survival (22·2% [CI 5·6-45·9] vs 62·0% [50·4-71·6]; p<0·0001) than did patients without a mutation. We identified a kinase domain mutation in four (10%) of 41 patients with samples available at 3 months after starting first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment; all four subsequently progressed to accelerated phase disease compared with only three (8%) of 37 without a mutation (p<0·0001). INTERPRETATION: NGS reliably and consistently detected early appearance of kinase domain mutations that would not otherwise be detected by Sanger sequencing. For the first time, to our knowledge, we report the presence of kinase domain mutations after only 3 months of therapy, which could have substantial clinical implications. NGS will allow early clinical intervention and our findings will contribute to the establishment of new recommendations on the frequency of kinase domain mutation analysis to improve patient clinical care. FUNDING: None.

Anti-C(w) alloimmunization presenting as hydrops fetalis.

UNLABELLED: C(w) is a low frequency red cell antigen that belongs to the Rh blood groups system. While not uncommon, anti-C(w) is rarely associated with clinically significant haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). When it does occur, it is often subclinical or of mild to moderate clinical severity. In the majority of pregnancies it is considered to be a naturally occurring antibody and has not been reported to cause hydrops fetalis or stillbirth. We report a case of anti-C(w) alloimmunization, which was associated with significant anaemia and hydrops fetalis, presenting at 35 wk gestation. CONCLUSION: Pregnancies affected by anti-C(w) merit closer scrutiny. Consideration should be given to performing more frequent antenatal ultrasound assessments to detect hydrops fetalis. This may help to support the need for more invasive procedures (cordocentesis and intrauterine transfusions).

The use of recombinant factor VIIa in controlling surgical bleeding in non-haemophiliac patients.

Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa, NovoSeven) is effective and appears safe in the management of bleeding episodes and provision of surgical cover in haemophilia patients with inhibitors. Additionally, rFVIIa has been considered as a universal haemostatic agent, prompting its use in the management of severe uncontrolled surgical bleeding in patients without pre-existing coagulopathies. Recombinant FVIIa has been used in 5 patients (aged 2.5 to 73.0 years; median 48 years) with uncontrolled bleeding during or after open-heart surgery. Satisfactory haemostasis was achieved with a single dose or rFVIIa 30 microg/kg, that resulted in reduction of blood loss from a mean of 4,170 ml (650-8,000 ml) to 262.5 ml (220-334 ml). No significant adverse events were reported. Recombinant FVIIa was also successfully used in controlling post-surgical bleeding in two patients with Crohn's disease, one patient with bleeding duodenal ulcer and another with false thoracic aneurysm. It was also effective in controlling bleeding post-splenectomy in a patient with chronic myeloid leukaemia, and following anterior exenteration in a patient with cervical carcinoma. A randomised study comparing the efficacy of a single perioperative dose of rFVIIa with placebo in patients undergoing transabdominal prostatectomy was conducted by Levi and colleagues [6]. An interim analysis showed a significant reduction in mean blood loss from 2,450 +/- 350 ml to 1,400 +/- 190 ml between placebo and rFVIIa groups respectively (p = 0.007). Among trauma patients, Kenet et al. reported success in treating uncontrolled bleeding from a gun-shot wound to the inferior vena cava, using two doses of rFVIIa 60 microg/kg [7]. This treatment has subsequently been used in 6 surgical patients with uncontrolled bleeding and in 7 cases of traumatic bleeding, with remarkable results. In conclusion, rFVIIa appears to be effective and safe in the management of uncontrolled surgical and traumatic haemorrhage in patients not known to have inherited coagulopathy.