Alternate use of thrombopoietin receptor agonists in adult primary immune thrombocytopenia patients: A retrospective collaborative survey from Italian hematology centers.

Sequential use of the TPO-RAs romiplostim and eltrombopag in ITP patients failing either agent was retrospectively evaluated to assess efficacy and impact of clinical characteristics on outcome. Patients were grouped into 5 categories: efficacy issues: 1st TPO-RA failure; loss of response; non-efficacy issues: platelet fluctuations; patient's preference; adverse event development. Either one TPO-RA sequence was analyzed at 3 month and at last follow-up. 106/546 patients on TPO-RA underwent switch and 65% achieved, regained or maintained a short- term response independent of switch sequence, gender or age; lower response rates were associated with lines of previous therapy; disease duration lowers probability to respond. Clinically, patients switched for efficacy issue did not differ from those switched for non-efficacy issues. Response was achieved/regained in 57.8% of patients switched for efficacy issues, the lowest response rates were observed in non-responders to 1st TPO-RA; 80% of patients switched for non-efficacy issues maintained a response. Platelet fluctuation resolved in 44.4%. Of the 49 patients evaluable for long-term outcome, 27 were in response on therapy; 16 discontinued the TPO-RA for reasons other than efficacy, while only 6 were non responders. We confirm the efficacy of TPO-RA switch; once achieved, response to the 2nd TPO-RA seems durable.

Impact of ruxolitinib on the natural history of primary myelofibrosis: a comparison of the DIPSS and the COMFORT-2 cohorts.

The international prognostic scoring system (IPSS) provides reliable risk assessment in patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF). Recent clinical trials in PMF patients with intermediate-2 or high IPSS risk have shown a survival advantage of ruxolitinib over placebo (COMFORT-1) or best available therapy (COMFORT-2). Because crossover was allowed in these studies, we analyzed the cohort of ruxolitinib-naive patients used for developing the dynamic IPSS (DIPSS). By adopting ad hoc statistical analyses, we compared survival from diagnosis of 100 PMF patients receiving ruxolitinib within COMFORT-2 with that of 350 patients of the DIPSS study. Subjects were properly matched, and both left-truncation and right-censoring were accounted in order to compare higher IPSS risks exclusively. Patients receiving ruxolitinib had longer survival (5 years, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.9-7.8 vs 3.5 years, 95% CI: 3.0-3.9) with a hazard ratio of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.41-0.91; P = .0148). This observation suggests that ruxolitinib may modify the natural history of PMF.

Long-term outcomes of 107 patients with myelofibrosis receiving JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib: survival advantage in comparison to matched historical controls.

Ruxolitinib is JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor with established clinical benefit in myelofibrosis (MF). We analyzed long-term outcomes of 107 patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk MF receiving ruxolitinib at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) on phase 1/2 trial. After a median of 32 months of follow-up, 58 patients (54%) were still receiving ruxolitinib, with overall survival (OS) of 69%. The splenomegaly and symptom reductions achieved with ruxolitinib were sustained with long-term therapy. Therapy was well tolerated; discontinuation rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 24%, 36%, and 46%, respectively. OS of 107 MDACC patients was significantly better (P = .005) than that of 310 matched (based on trial enrollment criteria) historical control patients, primarily because of highly significant difference in OS in the high-risk subgroup (P = .006). Furthermore, among MDACC patients, those with high-risk MF experienced the same OS as those with intermediate-2 risk. Patients with ≥ 50% reduction in splenomegaly had significantly prolonged survival versus those with < 25% reduction (P < .0001). Comparison of discontinuation rates and reasons for stopping the therapy to those reported for other 51 patients in the phase 1/2 trial, and 155 ruxolitinib-treated patients in phase 3 COMFORT-I study, suggest that continued therapy with ruxolitinib at optimal doses contributes to the benefits seen, including OS benefit.

A prognostic model to predict survival in 867 World Health Organization-defined essential thrombocythemia at diagnosis: a study by the International Working Group on Myelofibrosis Research and Treatment.

Diagnosis of essential thrombocythemia (ET) has been updated in the last World Health Organization (WHO) classification. We developed a prognostic model to predict survival at diagnosis, named IPSET (International Prognostic Score for ET), studying patients with WHO-defined ET. Age 60 years or older, leukocyte count ≥ 11 × 10(9)/L, and prior thrombosis significantly affected survival, by multivariable Cox regression. On the basis of the hazard ratio, we assigned 2 points to age and 1 each to leukocyte count and thrombosis. So, the IPSET model allocated 867 patients into 3 risk categories with significantly different survival: low (sum of points = 0; median survival not reached), intermediate (sum = 1-2; median survival 24.5 years), and high (sum = 3-4, median survival 13.8 years). The IPSET model was further validated in 2 independent cohorts including 132 WHO-defined ET and 234 Polycythemia Vera Study Group-defined ET patients. The IPSET model was able to predict the occurrence of thrombosis, and not to predict post-ET myelofibrosis. In conclusion, IPSET, based on age ≥ 60 years, leukocyte count ≥ 11 × 10(9)/L, and history of thrombosis allows prognostic assessment of WHO-defined ET and the validation process makes IPSET applicable in all patients phenotypically appearing as ET.

Monosomal karyotype in primary myelofibrosis is detrimental to both overall and leukemia-free survival.

Survival in cytogenetically high-risk patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes is significantly worse in the presence of a monosomal karyotype (MK). The objective of the present study was to determine whether the same held true for primary myelofibrosis. Among 793 primary myelofibrosis patients seen at our institution, 62 displayed an unfavorable karyotype by way of complex karyotype (n = 41) or sole trisomy 8 (n = 21). Seventeen (41%) of the 41 patients with complex karyotype were classified as having an MK. Median survival was 6, 24, and 20 months in patients with MK, complex karyotype without monosomies, and sole trisomy 8, respectively (P < .0001). The corresponding 2-year leukemic transformation rates were 29.4%, 8.3%, and 0 (P < .0001); hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 6.9 (1.3-37.3) and 14.8 (1.7-130.8). The prognostic relevance of MK was not accounted for by the Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System. We conclude that MK in primary myelofibrosis is associated with extremely poor overall and leukemia-free survival.

Predictors of greater than 80% 2-year mortality in primary myelofibrosis: a Mayo Clinic study of 884 karyotypically annotated patients.

DIPSS-plus (the Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System-plus) includes 8 risk factors for survival in primary myelofibrosis. In the present study of 884 karyotypically annotated patients with primary myelofibrosis, we sought to identify 1 or 2 parameters that can reliably predict death in the first 2 years of disease. After a median of 8.2 years from time of referral to the Mayo Clinic, 564 deaths (64% of patients in the study) had been recorded. Risk factors associated with > 80% 2-year mortality included monosomal karyotype, inv(3)/i(17q) abnormalities, or any 2 of the following: circulating blasts > 9%, leukocytes ≥ 40 × 10(9)/L, or other unfavorable karyotype. Patients with any 1 of these risk profiles (n = 52) displayed significantly shorter overall survival than those otherwise belonging to a high-risk category per DIPSS-plus (n = 298); respective median survivals were 9 and 23 months (hazard ratio 2.2, 95% confidence interval 1.6-3.1; P < .01). The present information complements DIPSS-plus in the selection of primary myelofibrosis patients for high-risk treatment approaches.

New generation small-molecule inhibitors in myeloproliferative neoplasms.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are diseases that carry the JAK2 (V617F) mutation in about 70% of the patients. The purpose of this review is to describe the recent advances in the therapy of MPNs with JAK2 inhibitors. RECENT FINDINGS: Many drugs are now under investigations targeting different pathways critical for MPN development, such as the JAK-STAT (JAK2 inhibitors: INCB018424 or ruxolitinib, TG101348 or SAR302503, CYT387, SB1518, CEP701 and LY2784544) and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR (everolimus) pathways, or act through remodeling of chromatin with a key role in epigenetics (givinostat, panobinostat and vorinostat). The most relevant effects were spleen size reduction and relief of constitutional symptoms. SUMMARY: Patients who might benefit from JAK2 inhibitors in clinical practice are mostly those with splenomegaly or with constitutional symptoms. We should alert patients with lower hemoglobin levels that these therapies might, although temporarily, favor the need for red blood cell transfusions.

Caplacizumab use for immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: the Milan thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura registry.

•Data on caplacizumab use for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in Italy are missing.•Twenty-six Italian patients were treated with caplacizumab for an acute immune TTP episode.•Caplacizumab was effective in treating acute TTP in the Italian real-world clinical setting.•Two major bleeds leading to drug discontinuation were observed.

Prediction of thrombosis in post-polycythemia vera and post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis: a study on 1258 patients.

Patients with Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms are at high risk of thrombotic events (TEs). Predisposing factors have been identified in essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV) and primary myelofibrosis (primary MF, PMF), while yet not recognized in post PV/ET-MF (known as secondary MF, SMF). Within the 1258 SMF of the MYSEC (MYelofibrosis SECondary to PV and ET) dataset, 135 (10.7%) developed a TE at a median follow-up of 3.5 years (range, 1-21.4), with an incidence of 2.3% patients per year. Venous events accounted for two-thirds of the total. Cox multivariable analysis, supported by Fine-Gray models with death as competitive risk, showed that being on cytoreductive therapy at time of SMF evolution is associated with an absolute risk reduction of thrombosis equal to 3.3% within 3 years. Considering individually cytoreductive therapies, univariate regression model found that both conventional cytoreduction, mainly hydroxyurea, (HR 0.41, 95% CI: 0.26-0.65, p = 0.0001) and JAK inhibitors, mostly ruxolitinib, (HR 0.50, 95% CI: 0.24-1.02, p = 0.05) were associated with fewer thrombosis. Our study informs treating physicians of a non-low incidence of TEs in post PV/ET-MF and of the potential protective role of cytoreductive therapy in terms of thrombotic events.

Relapsing or refractory idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura-hemolytic uremic syndrome: the role of rituximab.

Idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura-hemolytic uremic syndrome (TTP-HUS) is a rare disease responsive to treatment with plasma exchange (PE) but with a high percentage of relapse or refractory patients. A severe deficiency of ADAMTS-13 (<5% of normal activity), congenital or caused by an autoantibody, may be specific for TTP and it has been proposed that severe ADAMTS-13 deficiency now defines TTP. B cells play a key role in both the development and the perpetuation of autoimmunity, suggesting that B-cell depletion could be a valuable treatment approach for patients with idiopathic TTP-HUS. This review of the literature focuses on the role of rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against CD20 antigen expressed by B lymphocytes, in patients with relapsing or refractory TTP-HUS with or without ADAMTS-13 deficiency, suggesting that rituximab may produce clinical remission in a significant proportion of patients. Rituximab therapy reduces plasma requirement and avoids complications related to salvage-immunosuppressive therapy. In conclusion, rituximab provides an effective, well-tolerated, and safe treatment option for patients with idiopathic TTP-HUS, thus giving an alternative approach to the current treatment based on PE.

Age and platelet count are IPSS-independent prognostic factors in young patients with primary myelofibrosis and complement IPSS in predicting very long or very short survival.

OBJECTIVES: The current study was designed to identify International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS)-independent prognostic factors in young patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF). The study also examined the overall risk profile of long-term (>15 yr) and short-term (<5 yr) survivors. METHODS: Study patients were selected from the Mayo Clinic database for PMF, and study eligibility included age <60 yr, minimum follow-up of 5 yr and availability of IPSS-relevant variables at time of diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 148 consecutive patients met the above-stipulated criteria. To date, 89 (60%) patients have died; 48 (32%) died within 5 yr of their diagnosis (short-term survivors). Median follow-up of patients who are alive was 9 yr (range 5-28) with a >15-yr survival documented in 16 patients (long-term survivors). Multivariable analysis identified unfavorable IPSS category (intermediate-2/high risk), age >50 yr and platelet count <100 x 10(9)/L as independent predictors of inferior survival (P < 0.01). Median survival in the absence of all three risk factors was approximately 18 yr and was shortened to 7 and 1.6 yr in the presence of 1 or > or = 2 risk factors, respectively (P < 0.01). Among long-term survivors, 69% were age < or = 50 yr, 100% had favorable IPSS profile and 100% displayed platelet count > or = 100 x 10(9)/L; the corresponding figures for short-term survivors were 29%, 50% and 65% (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Age and platelet count are IPSS-independent predictors of survival in young patients with PMF, and they complement the IPSS in identifying patients with very long or very short survival.

Chromosome 1 abnormalities in myeloid malignancies: a literature survey and karyotype-phenotype associations.

Chromosome 1 is the largest human chromosome and contains over 1600 known genes and 1000 novel coding sequences or transcripts. It is, therefore, not surprising that recurrent chromosome 1 abnormalities are regularly encountered in both neoplastic and non-neoplastic medical conditions. The current review is focused on myeloid malignancies where we summarize the relevant published literature and discuss specific karyotype-phenotype associations. We show that chromosome 1 abnormalities are most frequent in BCR-ABL-negative classic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN): polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). Specific abnormalities include duplications (e.g. 1q12-->1q32 in PV, 1q21-32-->1q32-44 in post-PV MF or PMF), deletions (e.g. 1p13-36-->pter in PV or PMF, 1q21 in PMF) and unbalanced translocations involving chromosome 6, such as der(6)t(1;6)(q21-25;p21.3-23), and other partner chromosomes involving 1q10/1p11 and 1q21-25 breakpoints. Although occasionally seen in chronic phase MPN, unbalanced 1;7 translocations, e.g. der(1;7)(q10;p10), are usually seen in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and post-MPN AML/MDS. These observations suggest that certain chromosome 1 regions, especially 1q21-1q32 and 1p11-13, might harbor oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes that are pathogenetically relevant to both chronic and advanced phases of MPN.

How should we determine length of anticoagulation after proximal deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs?

The current approach for deciding the duration of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) treatment after an episode of venous thrombo-embolism (VTE) is mainly based on the characteristic of the index event (3 months or longer in case of unknown/persistent risk factors, 3 months or less in case of removable causes). However, the length of anticoagulation should be tailored on the patient's risk for recurrent thrombosis as well as for bleeding, but such 'time for decision' is often unclear and the optimal duration of VKA remains debatable. The presence of persistent residual vein thrombosis and increased D-dimer levels after stopping therapy are predictors for recurrent deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Management strategies based on these parameters have been demonstrated to optimize the decision for VKA duration, as they establish the patient's intrinsic risk for recurrent events. This annotation discusses current practice and upcoming approaches regarding the length of VKA treatment after a first episode of DVT.

Correlation between leukocytosis and thrombosis in Philadelphia-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms.

The evidence that leukocytes may contribute to the pathogenesis of thrombosis in Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms is increasing but not definitive. To further enforces whether an increased leukocyte count is associated with thrombosis and whether this effect can be modulated by cytoreductive therapy, we analyzed the clinical course of 187 patients with Polycythemia Vera (PV) and Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) followed at two Italian Institutions over a period of 7 years. The association was measured at diagnosis or before thrombotic events: a multivariable analysis was carried out using data at baseline and time-dependent covariates. We found that white blood cells (WBC) count above 9.5 x 10(9)/L at diagnosis (baseline analysis) was associated with thrombosis during the follow-up (Hazard Ratio [HR] of 1.8, p 0.03). At the time-dependent analysis, therapy with hydroxyurea (HU), lowering by 35% the baseline WBC level, reduced such strength of association giving a HR of 1.3 (p value non significant). We found a trend between WBC level and thrombosis in untreated low-risk patients (RR of 1.9, 95% CI 0.9 to 3.1); in high-risk patients treated with HU this correlation was clearly lost (RR 1.1, 95% CI 0.2 to 2.7). Finally, we could not identify the presence of JAK2 (V617F) as a risk factor for thrombosis. Properly designed prospective studies should corroborate such results.

The influence of disease and comorbidity risk assessments on the survival of MDS and oligoblastic AML patients treated with 5-azacitidine: A retrospective analysis in ten centers of the "Rete Ematologica Lombarda".

5-Azacytidine is an effective therapy in high risk MDS and oligoblastic AML. This "real life" analysis was made on 185 patients treated with 5-azacytidine in 10 centers afferent to REL ("Rete Ematologica Lombarda"), a network in Lombardia region. The aim was to assess the influence of disease and comorbidity risk assessments on the survival. The results confirm the utility of 5-azacitidine in prolonging OS regardless of advanced age and the presence of comorbidities. They also encourage an early treatment since patients with IPSS-R High risk MDS have better outcome with respect to Very High risk ones. According to the IPSS cytogenetic risk, there was no difference in the outcome between Intermediate and High risk patients. Nevertheless, a poorer cytogenetic risk, according to the IPSS-R cytogenetic stratification, negatively influenced the outcome.

It is time to change thrombosis risk assessment for PV and ET?

Polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) are myeloproliferative neoplasms to be diagnosed according to the WHO classification. Molecular profiling must include the analysis of JAK2 (looking for the V617F point-mutation in PV and ET, screening exon 12 for mutations only in V617F-negative PV), CALR and MPL mutations (both in V617F-negative ET). The current risk stratification to predict thrombosis requires two parameters: age over 60 years and prior history of thrombosis. On the basis of these two risk factors patients can be stratified in low-risk and high-risk and receive a proper treatment. However, a modern stratification of thrombotic risk might consider "new" low-risk patients: conventional low-risk plus absence of leukocytosis from diagnosis onwards and a hematocrit level below 45% during the course of disease for PV; conventional low-risk plus absence of leukocytosis from diagnosis onwards, JAK2 negativity, CALR positivity, and absence of cardiovascular risk factors for ET.

Cerebral venous thrombosis and myeloproliferative neoplasms: results from two large databases.

INTRODUCTION: Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) include polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). Patients with MPNs are prone to develop arterial and venous thrombosis either at diagnosis or during follow-up; in particular splancnic vein is strongly associated with MPN. Conversely, presence of MPN is uncommon in patients with deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities and with pulmonary embolism. Only few studies with conflicting results have evaluated the prevalence of an underlying MPN in patients with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), and limited evidence exists on the incidence of CVT in patients with established MPN. METHODS: We assessed the frequency of MPNs in a series of 706 patients with cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT) and the frequency of CVT in a cohort of 2,143 MPNs patients. RESULTS: Twenty-seven CVT patients (3.8%) were diagnosed with MPN: 9 before CVT (1.3%), 4 concomitantly (0.6%), and 14 after CVT (2.0%). Nine CVT cases (0.4%) were diagnosed in the MPN cohort, with a slightly higher frequency in PV (five of 735, 0.7%) than in ET (three of 964, 0.3%) and in PMF (one of 444, 0.2%). CONCLUSION: Considering the analyses of these databases jointly, the results obtained suggest a weak association between CVT and MPNs and ultimately suggest that a thorough investigation looking for an underlying MPN may not be warranted in all the patients with CVT without overt myeloproliferative features.

Novel agents in indolent lymphomas.

Indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (iNHLs) include follicular lymphomas (FL), marginal-zone lymphoma, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/Waldenström macroglobulinemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma. First-line standard therapy in advanced, symptomatic iNHL consists of rituximab-based immunochemotherapy. The recent rediscovery of the 'old' chemotherapeutic agent bendamustine, an alkylating agent with a peculiar mechanism of action, has added a new effective and well-tolerated option to the therapeutic armamentarium in iNHL, increasing response rates and duration. However, patients invariably relapse and subsequent active and well-tolerated agents are needed. In recent years a large number of new targeted agents have been tested in preclinical and clinical experimentation in FL and indolent nonfollicular lymphoma (iNFL), including the new monoclonal antibodies binding CD20 or other surface antigens, immunoconjugates and bispecific antibodies. Moreover novel agents directed against intracellular processes such as proteasome inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors and agents that target the tumour microenvironment, notably the immunomodulatory agent lenalidomide, are under active clinical investigation. The development of these new drugs may change in the near future the approach to iNHL patients, leading to better tolerated and effective therapy regimens.