Decitabine in older patients with AML: quality of life results of the EORTC-GIMEMA-GMDS-SG randomized phase 3 trial.

ABSTRACT: We hypothesized that fit older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with decitabine (DEC) would report better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes than those receiving intensive chemotherapy (IC). We conducted a phase 3 randomized trial to compare DEC (10-day schedule) with IC (3+7) in older fit patients with AML. HRQoL was a secondary end point, and it was assessed with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) in conjunction with its elderly module (EORTC QLQ-ELD14). The following scales were a priori selected for defining the primary end point: physical and role functioning, fatigue, pain, and burden of illness. HRQoL was assessed at baseline, at regeneration from cycle 2, and at 6 and 12 months after randomization, and also before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and 100 days after transplantation. Overall, 606 patients underwent randomization. At 2 months, the risk of HRQoL deterioration was lower in the DEC arm than in the 3+7 arm; 76% (95% confidence interval [CI], 69-82) vs 88% (95% CI, 82-93); odds ratio, 0.43 (95% CI, 0.24-0.76; P = .003). No statistically significant HRQoL differences were observed between treatment arms at the long-term evaluation combining assessments at 6 and 12 months. HRQoL deteriorations between baseline and after allo-HSCT were observed in both arms. However, these deteriorations were not clinically meaningful in patients randomized to DEC, whereas this was the case for those in the 3+7 arm, in 4 of 5 primary HRQoL scales. Our HRQoL findings suggest that lower-intensity treatment with DEC may be preferable to current standard IC (3+7) in fit older patients with AML. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02172872.

Monosomal karyotype and chromosome 17p loss or TP53 mutations in decitabine-treated patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

TP53 aberrations reportedly predict favorable responses to decitabine (DAC) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We evaluated clinical features and outcomes associated with chromosome 17p loss or TP53 gene mutations in older, unfit DAC-treated AML patients in a phase II trial. Of 178 patients, 25 had loss of 17p in metaphase cytogenetics; 24 of these had a complex (CK+) and 21 a monosomal karyotype (MK+). In analyses in all patients and restricted to CK+ and MK+ patients, 17p loss tended to associate with higher rates of complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR), or antileukemic effect (ALE). Despite favorable response rates, there was no significant OS difference between patients with or without loss of 17p in the entire cohort or in the CK+ and MK+ cohort. TP53 mutations were identified in eight of 45 patients with material available. Five of the eight TP53-mutated patients had 17p loss. TP53-mutated patients had similar rates of CR/PR/ALE but shorter OS than those with TP53 wild type (P = 0.036). Moreover, patients with a subclone based on mutation data had shorter OS than those without (P = 0.05); only one patient with TP53-mutated AML had a subclone. In conclusion, 17p loss conferred a favorable impact on response rates, even among CK+ and MK+ patients that however could not be maintained. The effect of TP53 mutations appeared to be different; however, patient numbers were low. Future research needs to further dissect the impact of the various TP53 aberrations in HMA-based combination therapies. The limited duration of favorable responses to HMA treatment in adverse-risk genetics AML should prompt physicians to advance allografting for eligible patients in a timely fashion.

Fetal hemoglobin induction during decitabine treatment of elderly patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia: a potential dynamic biomarker of outcome.

Hematologic responses to hypomethylating agents are often delayed in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia. Fetal hemoglobin is a potential novel bio-marker of response: recently, we demonstrated that a high fetal hemoglobin level prior to decitabine treatment was associated with superior outcome. Here we investigated whether early fetal hemoglobin induction during decitabine treatment also had prognostic value, and studied the potential of decitabine to induce erythroid differentiation and fetal hemoglobin expression in vitro Fetal hemoglobin levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (n=16) and acute myeloid leukemia (n=37) before treatment and after each course of decitabine. Levels above 1.0% were considered induced. Patients achieving complete or partial remission as best response had attained a median fetal hemoglobin of 1.9% after two courses of treatment, whereas the median value in patients who did not reach complete or partial remission was 0.8% (P=0.015). Fetal hemoglobin induction after two courses of decitabine treatment was associated with early platelet doubling (P=0.006), and its subsequent decrease with hematologic relapse. In patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, induction of fetal hemoglobin after course 2 of treatment was associated with longer overall survival: median of 22.9 versus 7.3 months in patients with or without induction of fetal hemoglobin, respectively [hazard ratio=0.2 (95% confidence interval: 0.1-0.9); P=0.03]. In vitro decitabine treatment of two bi-potential myeloid leukemia cell lines (K562 and HEL) resulted in induction of an erythroid (not megakaryocytic) differentiation program, and of fetal hemoglobin mRNA and protein, associated with GATA1 gene demethylation and upregulation. In conclusion, fetal hemoglobin may provide a useful dynamic biomarker during hypomethylating agent therapy in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia.

Elevated fetal haemoglobin is a predictor of better outcome in MDS/AML patients receiving 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (Decitabine).

Although azanucleoside DNA-hypomethylating agents (HMAs) are routinely used for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukaemia (MDS/AML), very few outcome predictors have been established. Expression of the ß-like globin gene locus is tightly regulated by DNA methylation, is HMA-sensitive in vitro, and fetal haemoglobin (HbF) expression is under study as a potential biomarker for response of MDS patients to azacitidine. We determined HbF expression in 16 MDS and 36 AML patients receiving decitabine (DAC). Pre-treatment HbF was already elevated (>1·0% of total haemoglobin) in 7/16 and 12/36 patients, and HbF was induced by DAC in 81%/54% of MDS/AML patients, respectively. Elevated pre-treatment HbF was associated with longer median overall survival (OS): 26·6 vs. 8·6 months for MDS (hazard ratio [HR] 8·56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1·74-42·49, P = 0·008, with similarly longer progression-free and AML-free survival), and 10·0 vs. 2·9 months OS for AML (HR 3·01, 95% CI 1·26-7·22, P = 0·014). In a multivariate analysis, the prognostic value of HbF was retained. Time-dependent Cox models revealed that the prognostic value of treatment-induced HbF induction was inferior to that of pre-treatment HbF. In conclusion, we provide first evidence for in vivo HbF induction by DAC in MDS/AML, and demonstrate prognostic value of elevated pre-treatment HbF, warranting prospective, randomized studies.

Implementation of erythroid lineage analysis by flow cytometry in diagnostic models for myelodysplastic syndromes.

Flow cytometric analysis is a recommended tool in the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes. Current flow cytometric approaches evaluate the (im)mature myelo-/monocytic lineage with a median sensitivity and specificity of ~71% and ~93%, respectively. We hypothesized that the addition of erythroid lineage analysis could increase the sensitivity of flow cytometry. Hereto, we validated the analysis of erythroid lineage parameters recommended by the International/European LeukemiaNet Working Group for Flow Cytometry in Myelodysplastic Syndromes, and incorporated this evaluation in currently applied flow cytometric models. One hundred and sixty-seven bone marrow aspirates were analyzed; 106 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, and 61 cytopenic controls. There was a strong correlation between presence of erythroid aberrancies assessed by flow cytometry and the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes when validating the previously described erythroid evaluation. Furthermore, addition of erythroid aberrancies to two different flow cytometric models led to an increased sensitivity in detecting myelodysplastic syndromes: from 74% to 86% for the addition to the diagnostic score designed by Ogata and colleagues, and from 69% to 80% for the addition to the integrated flow cytometric score for myelodysplastic syndromes, designed by our group. In both models the specificity was unaffected. The high sensitivity and specificity of flow cytometry in the detection of myelodysplastic syndromes illustrates the important value of flow cytometry in a standardized diagnostic approach. The trial is registered at www.trialregister.nl as NTR1825; EudraCT n.: 2008-002195-10.

Decitabine improves progression-free survival in older high-risk MDS patients with multiple autosomal monosomies: results of a subgroup analysis of the randomized phase III study 06011 of the EORTC Leukemia Cooperative Group and German MDS Study Group.

In a study of elderly AML patients treated with the hypomethylating agent decitabine (DAC), we noted a surprisingly favorable outcome in the (usually very unfavorable) subgroup with two or more autosomal monosomies (MK2+) within a complex karyotype (Lübbert et al., Haematologica 97:393-401, 2012). We now analyzed 206 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients (88 % of 233 patients randomized in the EORTC/GMDSSG phase III trial 06011, 61 of them with RAEBt, i.e. AML by WHO) with cytogenetics informative for MK status.. Endpoints are the following: complete/partial (CR/PR) and overall response rate (ORR) and progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Cytogenetic subgroups are the following: 63 cytogenetically normal (CN) patients, 143 with cytogenetic abnormalities, 73 of them MK-negative (MK-), and 70 MK-positive (MK+). These MK+ patients could be divided into 17 with a single autosomal monosomy (MK1) and 53 with at least two monosomies (MK2+). ORR with DAC in CN patients: 36.1 %, in MK- patients: 16.7 %, in MK+ patients: 43.6 % (MK1: 44.4 %, MK2+ 43.3 %). PFS was prolonged by DAC compared to best supportive care (BSC) in the CN (hazard ratio (HR) 0.55, 99 % confidence interval (CI), 0.26; 1.15, p = 0.03) and MK2+ (HR 0.50; 99 % CI, 0.23; 1.06, p = 0.016) but not in the MK-, MK+, and MK1 subgroups. OS was not improved by DAC in any subgroup. In conclusion, we demonstrate for the first time in a randomized phase III trial that high-risk MDS patients with complex karyotypes harboring two or more autosomal monosomies attain encouraging responses and have improved PFS with DAC treatment compared to BSC.

Extended follow up of high-dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation after vincristine, doxorubicin, dexamethasone induction in amyloid light chain amyloidosis of the prospective phase II HOVON-41 study by the Dutch-Belgian Co-operative Trial Group for Hematology Oncology.

In a prospective multicenter phase II study, we evaluated the effect of three courses of vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone followed by high-dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation on an intention-to-treat basis. Sixty-nine newly diagnosed patients with amyloid light chain amyloidosis were included between November 2000 and January 2006: 37 men and 32 women with a median age of 56 years, including 46% of patients with cardiac and 22% of patients with involvement of 3 or 4 organs. Initial results presented in 2008 showed a 4-year overall survival rate of 62% among all the patients, while the 4-year survival rate after transplantation was 78%. Here we report the long-term follow-up data after a median follow up of 115 months of the patients still alive. Median survival of all patients was 96 months from registration and for the transplanted patients ten years from the date of transplantation. Twelve (12%) patients died during induction therapy with vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone, including 8 patients (12%) due to treatment-related mortality. Two patients died within one month following high-dose melphalan. We conclude that vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone should not be applied as induction therapy for intensification in amyloid light chain amyloidosis. However, a 2-step approach consisting of a non-intensive less toxic induction therapy followed by high-dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation may result in extended survival in newly diagnosed patients with amyloid light chain amyloidosis (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 01207094).

Decitabine versus best supportive care in older patients with refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEBt) - results of a subgroup analysis of the randomized phase III study 06011 of the EORTC Leukemia Cooperative Group and German MDS Study Group (GMDSSG).

In the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)/GMDSSG phase III trial 06011, we compared decitabine (15 mg/m(2) every 8 h for 3 days) with best supportive care (BSC) in patients ≥60 years with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) by French-American-British (FAB) criteria. Here, we reinvestigate trial 06011 for the activity and efficacy specifically in patients with refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEBt). Response rates in the decitabine arm (N = 40) were as follows: complete or partial remission, 15 %; hematologic improvement, 15 %; resistant disease, 30 %. RAEBt patients in the decitabine arm had longer progression-free survival (PFS; hazard ratio (HR) 0.30, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.18-0.51; median, 6.2 vs 2.8 months) and overall survival (OS; HR 0.68, 95 % CI 0.42-1.11; median, 8.0 vs 6.0 months) than in the BSC arm (N = 35). Censoring at allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the OS difference between the treatment groups increased, particularly among patients aged 60-74 years (HR 0.48, 95 % CI 0.26-0.89). After regrouping the study cohort according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (i.e., ≥20 % blasts) in the decitabine arm (N = 27) also had longer PFS than in the BSC arm (N = 23) (HR 0.46, 95 % CI 0.26-0.83; median, 6.2 vs 2.8 months). In conclusion, 3-day decitabine displays clinical activity and efficacy in MDS and/or AML with 5-30 % blood or 20-30 % marrow blasts.

The efficiency of therapeutic erythrocytapheresis compared to phlebotomy: a mathematical tool for predicting response in hereditary hemochromatosis, polycythemia vera, and secondary erythrocytosis.

Recently, therapeutic erythrocytapheresis (TE) was suggested to be more efficient in depletion of red blood cells (RBC) compared to manual phlebotomy in the treatment of hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), polycythemia vera (PV), and secondary erythrocytosis (SE). The efficiency rate (ER) of TE, that is, the increase in RBC depletion achieved with one TE cycle compared to one phlebotomy procedure, can be calculated based on estimated blood volume (BV), preprocedural hematocrit (Hct(B)), and delta-hematocrit (ΔHct). In a retrospective evaluation of 843 TE procedures (in 45 HH, 33 PV, and 40 SE patients) the mean ER was 1.86 ± 0.62 with the highest rates achieved in HH patients. An ER of 1.5 was not reached in 37.9% of all procedures mainly concerning patients with a BV below 4,500 ml. In 12 newly diagnosed homozygous HH patients, the induction phase duration was medially 38.4 weeks (medially 10.5 procedures). During the maintenance treatment of HH, PV, and SE, the interval between TE procedures was medially 13.4 weeks. This mathematical model can help select the proper treatment modality for the individual patient. Especially for patients with a large BV and high achievable ΔHct, TE appears to be more efficient than manual phlebotomy in RBC depletion thereby potentially reducing the numbers of procedures and expanding the interprocedural time period for HH, PV, and SE.

A phase 2 multicentre study of siltuximab, an anti-interleukin-6 monoclonal antibody, in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Interleukin-6 (IL6) plays a central role in multiple myeloma pathogenesis and confers resistance to corticosteroid-induced apoptosis. We therefore evaluated the efficacy and safety of siltuximab, an anti-IL6 monoclonal antibody, alone and in combination with dexamethasone, for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who had ≥ 2 prior lines of therapy, one of which had to be bortezomib-based. Fourteen initial patients received siltuximab alone, 10 of whom had dexamethasone added for suboptimal response; 39 subsequent patients were treated with concurrent siltuximab and dexamethasone. Patients received a median of four prior lines of therapy, 83% were relapsed and refractory, and 70% refractory to their last dexamethasone-containing regimen. Suppression of serum C-reactive protein levels, a surrogate marker of IL6 inhibition, was demonstrated. There were no responses to siltuximab but combination therapy yielded a partial (17%) + minimal (6%) response rate of 23%, with responses seen in dexamethasone-refractory disease. The median time to progression, progression-free survival and overall survival for combination therapy was 4.4, 3.7 and 20.4 months respectively. Haematological toxicity was common but manageable. Infections occurred in 57% of combination-treated patients, including ≥ grade 3 infections in 18%. Further study of siltuximab in modern corticosteroid-containing myeloma regimens is warranted, with special attention to infection-related toxicity.

10-day decitabine versus 3 + 7 chemotherapy followed by allografting in older patients with acute myeloid leukaemia: an open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Many older patients with acute myeloid leukaemia die or cannot undergo allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) due to toxicity caused by intensive chemotherapy. We hypothesised that replacing intensive chemotherapy with decitabine monotherapy could improve outcomes. METHODS: This open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial was conducted at 54 hospitals in nine European countries. Patients aged 60 years and older who were newly diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia and had not yet been treated were enrolled if they had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 or less and were eligible for intensive chemotherapy. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive decitabine or standard chemotherapy (known as 3 + 7). For the decitabine group, decitabine (20 mg/m2) was administered for the first 10 days in the first 28-day cycle, followed by 28-day cycles consisting of 5 days or 10 days of decitabine. For the 3 + 7 group, daunorubicin (60 mg/m2) was administered over the first 3 days and cytarabine (200 mg/m2) over the first 7 days, followed by 1-3 additional chemotherapy cycles. Allogeneic HSCT was strongly encouraged. Overall survival in the intention-to-treat population was the primary endpoint. Safety was assessed in all patients who received the allocated treatment. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02172872, and is closed to new participants. FINDINGS: Between Dec 1, 2014, and Aug 20, 2019, 606 patients were randomly assigned to the decitabine (n=303) or 3 + 7 (n=303) group. Following an interim analysis which showed futility, the IDMC recommended on May 22, 2019, that the study continued as planned considering the risks and benefits for the patients participating in the study. The cutoff date for the final analysis presented here was June 30, 2021. At a median follow-up of 4·0 years (IQR 2·9-4·8), 4-year overall survival was 26% (95% CI 21-32) in the decitabine group versus 30% (24-35) in the 3 + 7 group (hazard ratio for death 1·04 [95% CI 0·86-1·26]; p=0·68). Rates of on-protocol allogeneic HSCT were similar between groups (122 [40%] of 303 patients for decitabine and 118 [39%] of 303 patients for 3+7). Rates of grade 3-5 adverse events were 254 (84%) of 302 patients in the decitabine group and 279 (94%) of 298 patients in the 3 + 7 group. The rates of grade 3-5 infections (41% [125 of 302] vs 53% [158 of 298]), oral mucositis (2% [seven of 302] vs 10% [31 of 298]) and diarrhoea (1% [three of 302] vs 8% [24 of 298]) were lower in the decitabine group than in the 3 + 7 group. Treatment-related deaths were reported for 12% (35 of 302) of patients in the decitabine group and 14% (41 of 298) in the 3 + 7 group. INTERPRETATION: 10-day decitabine did not improve overall survival but showed a better safety profile compared with 3 + 7 chemotherapy in older patients with acute myeloid leukaemia eligible for intensive chemotherapy. Decitabine could be considered a better-tolerated and sufficiently efficacious alternative to 3 + 7 induction in fit older patients with acute myeloid leukaemia without favourable genetics. FUNDING: Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

A multicenter phase II trial of decitabine as first-line treatment for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia judged unfit for induction chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of acute myeloid leukemia of older, medically non-fit patients still poses a highly unmet clinical need, and only few large, prospective studies have been performed in this setting. Given the established activity of hypomethylating agents such as 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (decitabine) in myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia with 20-30% bone marrow blasts, we investigated whether this drug is also active in patients with more than 30% blasts. DESIGN AND METHODS: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of decitabine in patients over 60 years old with untreated acute myeloid leukemia ineligible for induction chemotherapy, 227 patients (median age, 72 years), many with comorbidities, adverse cytogenetics and/or preceding myelodysplastic syndrome were treated with this hypomethylating agent. During the initial decitabine treatment (135 mg/m(2) total dose infused intravenously over 72 hours every 6 weeks), a median of two cycles was administered (range, 1-4). All-trans retinoic acid was administered to 100 patients during course 2. Fifty-two patients who completed four cycles of treatment subsequently received a median of five maintenance courses (range, 1-19) with a lower dose of decitabine (20 mg/m(2)) infused over 1 hour on 3 consecutive days every 4-6 weeks. RESULTS: The complete and partial remission rate was 26%, 95% CI (20%, 32%), and an antileukemic effect was noted in 26% of patients. Response rates did not differ between patients with or without adverse cytogenetics; patients with monosomal karyotypes also responded. The median overall survival from the start of decitabine treatment was 5.5 months (range, 0-57.5+) and the 1-year survival rate was 28%, 95%CI (22%,34%). Toxicities were predominantly hematologic. CONCLUSIONS: Decitabine is well tolerated by older, medically non-fit patients with acute myeloid leukemia; myelosuppression is the major toxicity. The response rate and overall survival were not adversely influenced by poor-risk cytogenetics or myelodysplastic syndrome. Because of these encouraging results, randomized studies evaluating single-agent decitabine versus conventional treatment are warranted. The study is registered with the German Clinical Trials Registry, number DRKS00000069.

Platelet doubling after the first azacitidine cycle is a promising predictor for response in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients in the Dutch azacitidine compassionate named patient programme.

The efficacy of azacitidine in the treatment of high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) (20-30% blasts) has been demonstrated. To investigate the efficacy of azacitidine in daily clinical practice and to identify predictors for response, we analysed a cohort of 90 MDS, CMML and AML patients who have been treated in a Dutch compassionate named patient programme. Patients received azacitidine for a median of five cycles (range 1-19). The overall response rate (complete/partial/haematological improvement) was 57% in low risk MDS, 53% in high risk MDS, 50% in CMML, and 39% in AML patients. Median overall survival (OS) was 13·0 (9·8-16·2) months. Multivariate analysis confirmed circulating blasts [Hazard Ratio (HR) 0·48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·24-0·99; P = 0·05] and poor risk cytogenetics (HR 0·45, 95% CI 0·22-0·91; P = 0·03) as independent predictors for OS. Interestingly, this analysis also identified platelet doubling after the first cycle of azacitidine as a simple and independent positive predictor for OS (HR 5·4, 95% CI 0·73-39·9; P = 0·10). In conclusion, routine administration of azacitidine to patients with variable risk groups of MDS, CMML and AML is feasible, and subgroups with distinct efficacy of azacitidine treatment can be identified.

Myeloablative allogeneic versus autologous stem cell transplantation in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first remission: a prospective sibling donor versus no-donor comparison.

While commonly accepted in poor-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the role of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is still disputed in adult patients with standard-risk ALL. We evaluated outcome of patients with ALL in first complete remission (CR1), according to a sibling donor versus no-donor comparison. Eligible patients (433) were entered in 2 consecutive, prospective studies, of whom 288 (67%) were younger than 55 years, in CR1, and eligible to receive consolidation by either an autologous SCT or an allo-SCT. Allo-SCT was performed in 91 of 96 patients with a compatible sibling donor. Cumulative incidences of relapse at 5 years were, respectively, 24 and 55% for patients with a donor versus those without a donor (hazard ratio [HR], 0.37; 0.23-0.60; P < .001). Nonrelapse mortality estimated 16% (+/- 4) at 5 years after allo-SCT. As a result, disease-free survival (DFS) at 5 years was significantly better in the donor group: 60 versus 42% in the no-donor group (HR: 0.60; 0.41-0.89; P = .01). After risk-group analysis, improved outcome was more pronounced in standard-risk patients with a donor, who experienced an overall survival of 69% at 5 years (P = .05). In conclusion, standard-risk ALL patients with a sibling donor may show favorable survival following SCT, due to both a strong reduction of relapse and a modest nonrelapse mortality. This trial is registered with http://www.trialregister.nl under trial ID NTR228.

Efficacy of escalated imatinib combined with cytarabine in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: In order to improve the molecular response rate and prevent resistance to treatment, combination therapy with different dosages of imatinib and cytarabine was studied in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in the HOVON-51 study. DESIGN AND METHODS: Having reported feasibility previously, we hereby report the efficacy of escalated imatinib (200 mg, 400 mg, 600 mg or 800 mg) in combination with two cycles of intravenous cytarabine (200 mg/m(2) or 1000 mg/m(2) days 1 to 7) in 162 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 55 months, the 5-year cumulative incidences of complete cytogenetic response, major molecular response, and complete molecular response were 89%, 71%, and 53%, respectively. A higher Sokal risk score was inversely associated with complete cytogenetic response (hazard ratio of 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-0.79, P<0.001). A higher dose of imatinib and a higher dose of cytarabine were associated with increased complete molecular response with hazard ratios of 1.60 (95% confidence interval, 0.96-2.68, P=0.07) and 1.66 (95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.72, P=0.04), respectively. Progression-free survival and overall survival rates at 5 years were 92% and 96%, respectively. Achieving a major molecular response at 1 year was associated with complete absence of progression and a probability of achieving a complete molecular response of 89%. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of intravenous cytarabine to imatinib as upfront therapy for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia is associated with a high rate of complete molecular responses (Clinicaltrials.Gov Identifier: NCT00028847).

Hb Den Haag [beta45(CD4)Phe-->Tyr]. A new hemoglobin variant observed during early pregnancy diagnostics.

During a second pilot study, intended to explore the possibility of a country wide implementation of carrier diagnostics for hemoglobinopathies in The Netherlands, we observed a new abnormal hemoglobin (Hb) variant in three members of a family of Scandinavian origin living in the Dutch city of The Hague (Den Haag). The proband, a 34-year-old female presented with low Hb, packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell (RBC) values but was normocytic and normochromic. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed a partially separated fraction following Hb A. Molecular diagnostics disclosed a TTT>TAT transversion at HBB:c.137 causing a Phe-->Tyr single amino acid substitution at position 45 of the beta-globin gene. Previously described heterozygous mutations at the same position [Hb Cheverly (Phe-->Ser) and Hb Arta (Phe-->Cys)] were reported to be associated with mild chronic hemolysis similar to this case. We describe the hematological features of the six family members, the biochemical and molecular data and we discuss the possible consequences in combination with the common beta-thalassemia (beta-thal) trait.

Long-term follow-up of a population based cohort with monoclonal proteinaemia.

Prospective studies on the risk of malignant transformation in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and factors predictive of survival are lacking. The Dutch Comprehensive Cancer Centre West, comprising 1.6 million inhabitants, initiated a prospective hospital-based cohort study on 1464 patients with newly diagnosed M-proteinaemia, median age 73 (17-103) years. M-protein related diagnoses, patients' characteristics, laboratory investigations, bone marrow examinations and skeletal X-rays were registered with a yearly follow-up. Main endpoints were death, or new diagnoses of multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were compared with age- and gender-matched survival data from the total Dutch population. Cumulative malignant transformation was corrected for death using a competing risk model. Risk factors for transformation or death were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses. In 1007 MGUS-patients, malignant transformation was associated with rising M-protein levels, IgA and IgM isotype and occurred at a yearly rate of 0.4%. All MGUS patients survived less than a matched cohort of the Dutch population, even in the absence of M-protein-associated comorbidity. Serum albumin levels at entry appeared highly predictive for survival. M-proteinaemia is not an innocent symptom. Although malignant transformation occurs rarely, survival is shortened irrespective of comorbidity.

The clinical impact of platelet refractoriness: correlation with bleeding and survival.

BACKGROUND: Despite supportive care with platelet (PLT) transfusions, bleeding complications occur in a substantial number of patients with thrombocytopenia due to cytotoxic therapy. Moreover, refractoriness to PLT transfusions remains a frequently encountered problem. The clinical impact of PLT transfusion failure was investigated in 117 patients, part of a randomized PLT transfusion trial, which excluded patients with HLA and/or HPA alloantibodies. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Between October 2003 and April 2005, a multicenter randomized controlled trial, testing the clinical efficacy of PLTs stored in plasma compared to PLT additive solution (PAS II), was performed. Using multiple regression analysis of observational data of patients randomized in one of the participating centers, the occurrence of PLT transfusion refractoriness was analyzed for a relation with bleeding complications and patient survival. RESULTS: PLT transfusion failure occurred at least once in 49.6 percent of the patients. Mild to moderate bleeding complications occurred in 19 percent of the patients. PLT transfusion failure was, independently from thrombocytopenia, positively associated with bleeding complications (odds ratio, 3.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-11). Moreover, patients experiencing one or more 24-hour PLT transfusion failures had, compared to patients always showing a sufficient 24-hour increment, a significantly reduced median survival of 491 days (interquartile range [IQR], 156-858 days) versus 825 days (IQR, 355-996 days), respectively. In a Cox regression model, the effect on survival was independent of therapy, diagnosis, and age. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that PLT transfusion failure might be a sensitive clinical marker for the occurrence of bleeding and impaired patient survival. PLT transfusion failure, bleeding complications, and decreased survival could be manifestations of a more severe degree of endothelial damage.