Luspatercept in Patients with Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Patients with anemia and lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes in whom erythropoiesis-stimulating agent therapy is not effective generally become dependent on red-cell transfusions. Luspatercept, a recombinant fusion protein that binds transforming growth factor ß superfamily ligands to reduce SMAD2 and SMAD3 signaling, showed promising results in a phase 2 study. METHODS: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned patients with very-low-risk, low-risk, or intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (defined according to the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System) with ring sideroblasts who had been receiving regular red-cell transfusions to receive either luspatercept (at a dose of 1.0 up to 1.75 mg per kilogram of body weight) or placebo, administered subcutaneously every 3 weeks. The primary end point was transfusion independence for 8 weeks or longer during weeks 1 through 24, and the key secondary end point was transfusion independence for 12 weeks or longer, assessed during both weeks 1 through 24 and weeks 1 through 48. RESULTS: Of the 229 patients enrolled, 153 were randomly assigned to receive luspatercept and 76 to receive placebo; the baseline characteristics of the patients were balanced. Transfusion independence for 8 weeks or longer was observed in 38% of the patients in the luspatercept group, as compared with 13% of those in the placebo group (P<0.001). A higher percentage of patients in the luspatercept group than in the placebo group met the key secondary end point (28% vs. 8% for weeks 1 through 24, and 33% vs. 12% for weeks 1 through 48; P<0.001 for both comparisons). The most common luspatercept-associated adverse events (of any grade) included fatigue, diarrhea, asthenia, nausea, and dizziness. The incidence of adverse events decreased over time. CONCLUSIONS: Luspatercept reduced the severity of anemia in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes with ring sideroblasts who had been receiving regular red-cell transfusions and who had disease that was refractory to or unlikely to respond to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents or who had discontinued such agents owing to an adverse event. (Funded by Celgene and Acceleron Pharma; MEDALIST ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02631070; EudraCT number, 2015-003454-41.).

Primary immune thrombocytopenia in very elderly patients: particularities in presentation and management: results from the prospective CARMEN-France Registry.

Data about the presentation and the management of primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in very elderly patients (VEPs; aged ≥80 years) are lacking. The aim of the present study was to describe ITP in this subgroup. The data source was the prospective CARMEN-France registry. Patients included between 2013 and 2018 were selected. ITP presentation and management in VEPs was compared to elderly patients (EPs; aged 65-79 years). We assessed factors associated with bleeding at ITP onset in VEPs. Of 541 patients, 184 were included: 87 in the VEP group and 97 in the EP group. The mean age was 85·7 years in the VEP group. Comorbidities were more frequent in the VEP group (67·4% vs. 47·9%). The median platelet count at ITP onset was similar but severe bleeding tended to be more frequent in VEPs (10·3% vs. 4·1%, P = 0·1) as well as mortality. Exposure to ITP drugs, response to first-line treatment, need of second-line treatment, evolution towards persistency, occurrence of bleeding, infection and thrombosis did not differ between groups. In VEPs, factors associated to bleeding were female sex [odds ratio (OR) 4·75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·31-17·32] and platelet count of <20 × 109 /l (OR 10·05, 95% CI 4·83-67·39). Exposure to anticoagulants was strongly associated with severe bleeding (OR 7·61, 95% CI 1·77-32·83).

A randomised phase II study of azacitidine (AZA) alone or with Lenalidomide (LEN), Valproic acid (VPA) or Idarubicin (IDA) in higher-Risk MDS or low blast AML: GFM's "pick a winner" trial, with the impact of somatic mutations.

In order to improve the outcome observed with azacitidine (AZA) in higher-risk Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), its combination with other drugs in MDS must be evaluated. So far, no combination has not been shown to be more effective than AZA alone. AZA-PLUS was a phase II trial that, in a "pick a winner" approach, randomly assigned patients with higher-risk MDS, CMML and low blast count AML to: AZA; AZA plus lenalidomide; AZA plus Valproic Acid or AZA plus Idarubicin. 322 patients were included. After six cycles, 69 (21.4%) CR + PR were observed with no benefit from any combination. Median EFS and OS were 17.2 and 19.7 months in the whole cohort, respectively, with no difference across randomised arms. Infection and rates of hospitalisation during the first six cycles were higher in the AZA-LEN And AZA-IDA arm, related to increased myelosuppression. Factors associated with better response were IPSS, favourable or intermediate karyotype, haemoglobin, lower circulating blast count, fibrinogen level and lower LDH, while poorer survival was seen in therapy-related MDS and, in the case of TP53, PTPN11 or CSF3R mutation. The combinations used did not improve the outcome obtained with AZA alone. However, our "pick a winner" randomised strategy may remain useful with potentially more active drugs to be tested in combination with AZA.

Venous thromboembolism during systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases associated with myelodysplastic syndromes, chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms: a French multicentre retrospective case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) are associated with systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases (SIADs) in 10-30% of cases. The aims of this study were (i) to evaluate the prevalence of venous thromboembolism VTE in patients presenting with both MDS/CMML and SIADs, (ii) to describe risk factors associated with thrombosis, and (iii) to analyse the impact of VTE on overall survival and transformation to acute myeloid leukaemia in comparison to patients with MDS/CMML-associated SIADs without VTE. METHODS: This retrospective multicentre case-control study was conducted among patients with MDS/CMML and dysimmune disorders and featured in the French retrospective database of the French Network of Dysimmune Disorders Associated with Hemopathies (MINHEMON), diagnosed with MDS/CMML and dysimmune disorders. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 16 months (5-48) VTE occurred in 35 patients (21.6 %) whereas 127 patients did not. Among those with VTE, 8 patients (22.9%) experienced two or more VTE. Common prothrombotic risk factors were not significantly different in patients with or without VTE. CMML was more frequent in patients without VTE (37 % vs. 14.3%, p=0.01), whereas myelodysplasic/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS/MPN) was higher in VTE patients (20 % vs. 5.5 %, p=0.01). In a multivariate analysis, only MDS/CMML progression at the time of VTE (odds ratio 28.82, 95 % CI (5.52-530.70) was significantly associated with VTE. When treated with an anticoagulation therapy, bleeding occurred in 19.4% of cases (6/31). Overall survival was not significantly different between patients with and without VTE (p=0.68). Leukaemia-free survival between groups was not significantly different (p=0.83). CONCLUSIONS: VTE is a common complication in MDS/CMML-associated SIADSs with an increased risk of bleeding when treated by anticoagulants. In the MDS/CMML subgroup, SIADS flares and MDS/CMML progression seem to be prothrombotic risk factors.

Eltrombopag for myelodysplastic syndromes or chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia with no excess blasts and thrombocytopenia: a French multicentre retrospective real-life study.

Despite a moderate prevalence in low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML), thrombocytopenia remains a risk of severe bleeding and therapeutic options are still limited. There are only a few studies with eltrombopag (ELT), a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, in those patients. In this retrospective multicentre study, ELT was used in 50 patients with MDS and 11 with CMML, with no excess of marrow blasts and platelet counts of <50 × 109 /l in a 'real-life' situation. Platelet response occurred in 47 (77%) patients. The median (range) duration of response was 8 (0-69) months. None of the eight still responders who discontinued ELT had relapsed, at a median (range) of 16 (6-23) months after ELT discontinuation. Although 36% of the patients were anti-coagulated or anti-aggregated only 10% of patients had Grade ≥3 bleeding events. Thrombotic events were observed in six (10%) patients, who all but one had a medical history of arterial or venous thrombosis. Progression to acute myeloid leukaemia occurred in four (7%) patients. In this first 'real-life' study, ELT was effective and generally well tolerated in patients with MDS/CMML without excess blasts.

Clinical spectrum, outcome and management of immune thrombocytopenia associated with myelodysplastic syndromes and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) are associated with systemic inflammatory or autoimmune diseases in 10-20 % of cases. Among them, immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) has been reported but large studies assessing this association are missing. Whether such patients have a particular phenotype and require particular management is unclear. This study analyzes the clinical spectrum, outcome and therapeutic management of patients with ITP associated with MDS or CMML, in comparison (i) to patients with primary ITP without MDS/CMML and (ii) to patients with MDS/CMML without ITP. Forty-one MDS/CMML-associated ITP patients were included, with chronic ITP in 26 (63%) patients, low-risk myelodysplasia in 30 (73%) patients and CMML in 24 (59%) patients. An associated autoimmune disease was noted in 10 (24%) patients. In comparison to primary ITP patients, MDS/CMML-associated ITP patients had a higher occurrence of severe bleeding despite similar platelet counts at diagnosis. First-line treatment consisted of glucocorticoids (98%) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) (56%). Response achievement with IVIg was more frequent in primary ITP than in MDS/CMML-associated ITP patients. Response rates to second-line therapies were not statistically different between primary ITP and MDS/CMMLassociated ITP patients. Ten percent (n=4) of patients with MDS/CMML-associated ITP had multirefractory ITP versus none in primary ITP controls. After a median follow-up of 60 months, there was no difference in overall survival between MDS/CMML-associated ITP and primary ITP patients. Leukemia-free-survival was significantly better in MDS/CMMLassociated ITP patients than in MDS/CMML without ITP MDS/CMML-associated ITP have a particular outcome with more severe bleeding and multirefractory profile than primary ITP, similar response profile to primary ITP therapy except for IVIg, and less progression toward acute myeloid leukemia than MDS/CMML without ITP.

Impact of a comprehensive geriatric assessment on decision-making in older patients with hematological malignancies.

OBJECTIVE: Hematological treatment decisions in older adults with hematological malignancies are complex. Our objective is to study the impact of a comprehensive geriatric assessment on hematological treatment decision in older patients and the factors associated with change in treatment plan. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of patients aged 65 years and above with hematological malignancies, hospitalized between 2008 and 2019 at the University Cancer Institute of Toulouse. They were assessed by a geriatrician/nurse team using a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). A penalized logistic regression model with elastic net regularization was used to identify factors associated with change in hematological treatment plan. RESULTS: A total of 424 patients were included. Main hematological malignancies were lymphoma (36.1 %), acute myeloid leukemia (26.9 %) and myelodysplastic syndrome (19.8%). Change in hematological treatment plan was suggested after CGA for 92 patients (21.7%). Factors associated with change in treatment plan were functional impairment according to ADL and IADL scale, mobility impairment, the presence of comorbidity defined by the Charlson score >1 and increasing age. CONCLUSION: A CGA has a significant impact on hematological treatment decision in older patients. Functional and mobility impairment, comorbidities and age are predictive factors of change in treatment plan.

Small Private Online Course in Teaching Oncology-Feedback After 1 Year: What Lessons?

In response to the complexity of medical care in oncology, 2 years ago, we designed a new teaching method (SPOC, Small Private Online Course) to improve cancer treatment and its management by emphasizing the community-hospital interface. The educational objective of this study was to evaluate after 1 year if the interest for this teaching remained constant over the long term to meet both educational and financial requirements. We designed a questionnaire including 18 questions grouped in 3 main parts describing the profile of the participants, his/her own experience, and the current utilization of the SPOC. Of 1574 participants of the 2 first sessions, 182 (11.5%) completed the questionnaire after 1 year. The majority of respondents were between the ages of 31 and 60 and belonged to a paramedical group (47.81%). After 1 year, 84.6% participants were satisfied or very satisfied with the content of the SPOC, 83.6% would recommended it, and 67% would be interested in using an updated SPOC again. Only 4.9% kept some contacts with other participants and 4.9% with teachers. 31.3% considered that the SPOC had a medium impact on their professional activity, 33.5% a lot, and 2.7% completely whereas 24.7% considered that it had little impact. The evaluation at 1 year showed that this digital learning method had a global positive impact on the professional practice of the participants. This study highlighted the empowerment of participants after this kind of teaching, but the network between participants was not enhanced.

Impact of red blood cell transfusion dose density on progression-free survival in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes.

Progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) treated with red blood cell transfusions is usually reduced, but it is unclear whether transfusion dose density is an independent prognostic factor. The European MDS Registry collects prospective data at 6-monthly intervals from newly diagnosed lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes patients in 16 European countries and Israel. Data on the transfusion dose density - the cumulative dose received at the end of each interval divided by the time since the beginning of the interval in which the first transfusion was received - were analyzed using proportional hazards regression with time-varying co-variates, with death and progression to higher-risk MDS/acute myeloid leukemia as events. Of the 1,267 patients included in the analyses, 317 died without progression; in 162 patients the disease had progressed. PFS was significantly associated with age, EQ-5D index, baseline World Health Organization classification, bone marrow blast count, cytogenetic risk category, number of cytopenias, and country. Transfusion dose density was inversely associated with PFS (P<1×10-4): dose density had an increasing effect on hazard until a dose density of 3 units/16 weeks. The transfusion dose density effect continued to increase beyond 8 units/16 weeks after correction for the impact of treatment with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, lenalidomide and/or iron chelators. In conclusion, the negative effect of transfusion treatment on PFS already occurs at transfusion densities below 3 units/16 weeks. This indicates that transfusion dependency, even at relatively low dose densities, may be considered as an indicator of inferior PFS. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00600860.

A phase II study of guadecitabine in higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and low blast count acute myeloid leukemia after azacitidine failure.

High-risk myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia patients have a very poor survival after azacitidine failure. Guadecitabine (SGI-110) is a novel subcutaneous hypomethylating agent which results in extended decitabine exposure. This multicenter phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of guadecitabine in high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and low blast count acute myeloid leukemia patients refractory or relapsing after azacitidine. We included 56 patients with a median age of 75 years [Interquartile Range (IQR) 69-76]. Fifty-five patients received at least one cycle of guadecitabine (60 mg/m2/d subcutaneously days 1-5 per 28-day treatment cycles), with a median of 3 cycles (range, 0-27). Eight (14.3%) patients responded, including two complete responses; median response duration was 11.5 months. Having no or few identified somatic mutations was the only factor predicting response (P=0.035). None of the 11 patients with TP53 mutation responded. Median overall survival was 7.1 months, and 17.9 months in responders (3 of whom had overall survival >2 years). In multivariate analysis, IPSS-R (revised International Prognostic Scoring System) score other than very high (P=0.03) primary versus secondary azacitidine failure (P=0.01) and a high rate of demethylation in blood during the first cycle of treatment (P=0.03) were associated with longer survival. Thus, guadecitabine can be effective, sometimes yielding relatively prolonged survival, in a small proportion of high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome/low blast count acute myeloid leukemia patients who failed azacitidine. (Trial registered at clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 02197676).

Azacitidine improves outcome in higher-risk MDS patients with chromosome 7 abnormalities: a retrospective comparison of GESMD and GFM registries.

Treatment with azacitidine (AZA) has been suggested to be of benefit for higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (HR-MDS) patients with chromosome 7 abnormalities (Abn 7). This retrospective study of 235 HR-MDS patients with Abn 7 treated with AZA (n = 115) versus best supportive care (BSC; n = 120), assessed AZA treatment as a time-varying variable in multivariable analysis. A Cox Regression model with time-interaction terms of overall survival (OS) at different time points confirmed that, while chromosome 7 cytogenetic categories (complex karyotype [CK] versus non-CK) and International Prognostic Scoring System risk (high versus intermediate-2) retained poor prognosis over time, AZA treatment had a favourable impact on OS during the first 3 years of treatment compared to BSC (Hazard ratio [HR] 0·5 P < 0·001 at 1 year, 0·7 P = 0·019 at 2 years; 0·73 P = 0·029 at 3 years). This benefit was present in all chromosome 7 categories, but tended to be greater in patients with CK (risk reduction of 82%, 68% and 53% at 1, 3 and 6 months in CK patients; 79% at 1 month in non-CK patients, P < 0·05 for all). AZA also significantly improved progression-free survival (P < 0·01). This study confirms a time-dependent benefit of AZA on outcome in patients with HR-MDS and cytogenetic abnormalities involving chromosome 7, especially for those with CK.

Effect of lenalidomide treatment on clonal architecture of myelodysplastic syndromes without 5q deletion.

Non-del(5q) transfusion-dependent low/intermediate-1 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients achieve an erythroid response with lenalidomide in 25% of cases. Addition of an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent could improve response rate. The impact of recurrent somatic mutations identified in the diseased clone in response to lenalidomide and the drug's effects on clonal evolution remain unknown. We investigated recurrent mutations by next-generation sequencing in 94 non-del(5q) MDS patients randomized in the GFM-Len-Epo-08 clinical trial to lenalidomide or lenalidomide plus epoetin ß. Clonal evolution was analyzed after 4 cycles of treatment in 42 cases and reanalyzed at later time points in 18 cases. The fate of clonal architecture of single CD34(+)CD38(-) hematopoietic stem cells was also determined in 5 cases. Mutation frequency was >10%: SF3B1 (74.5%), TET2 (45.7%), DNMT3A (20.2%), and ASXL1 (19.1%). Analysis of variant allele frequencies indicated a decrease of major mutations in 15 of 20 responders compared with 10 of 22 nonresponders after 4 cycles. The decrease in the variant allele frequency of major mutations was more significant in responders than in nonresponders (P < .001). Genotyping of single CD34(+)CD38(-) cell-derived colonies showed that the decrease in the size of dominant subclones could be associated with the rise of founding clones or of hematopoietic stem cells devoid of recurrent mutations. These effects remained transient, and disease escape was associated with the re-emergence of the dominant subclones. In conclusion, we show that, although the drug initially modulates the distribution of subclones, loss of treatment efficacy coincides with the re-expansion of the dominant subclone. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01718379.

Pretreatment with standard-dose intravenous methylprednisolone does not improve outcomes in newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

OBJECTIVE: To assess the benefits and harms to initiate corticosteroids with intravenous methylprednisolone at a conventional dose (1 mg/kg/d) to treat adults with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). METHODS: Population stemmed from the prospective multicenter CARMEN registry and included newly diagnosed hospitalized ITP adults with platelet counts<30 × 109 /L. We compared the patients treated with conventional-dose methylprednisolone (CDMP) before continuing with oral prednisone to patients treated with just conventional-dose oral prednisone (CDOP). The primary outcome was the time until response. Secondary outcomes were time until complete response, response rate, complete response rate, duration of hospital stay, and occurrence of adverse drug reactions. Analyzes were adjusted for propensity score and for exposure to intravenous immunoglobulin. RESULTS: Among the included 87 patients, the median time to response was 3 days in the CDMP group vs 4 in the CDOP group (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.35; 95%CI: 0.76-2.41). The CDMP group had an earlier complete response (aHR: 2.29; 95%CI: 1.20-4.36). There was no difference between the groups regarding other secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Initiating methylprednisolone at a conventional dose provided no significant benefit compared to giving oral prednisone only to adults with ITP.

Prospective evaluation of the effect of deferasirox on hematologic response in transfusion-dependent patients with low-risk MDS and iron overload.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the reduction of transfusions rate in transfusion-dependent patients with low-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with iron overload treated with deferasirox. METHODS: Prospective observational study. Primary endpoint was reduction in transfusion requirements (RTR) at 3 months, (assessed on 8-week period). Secondary endpoints were hematologic improvement according to International Working Group (IWG) 2006 criteria at 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients were evaluable. After 3 months of chelation, no effect was seen on transfusion requirement (5.9 packed red blood cells (PRBC) vs 5.8 before chelation). According to the Kaplan-Meier analysis, the probability of RTR at 3, 6, and 12 months was assessed as 3.5%, 9.1%, and 18.7%, respectively. Median duration of RTR was 182 days. However, during the 12-month follow-up after deferasirox initiation, 17 patients (31.5%) achieved minor erythroid response [HI-E] according to IWG criteria, 10 of whom having achieved Hb improvement at month 12. CONCLUSION: After 3 months of treatment, deferasirox had no impact on transfusion requirement in regularly transfused patients with low-risk MDS. However, deferasirox could induce 31% of erythroid response during the 12-month follow-up period thus suggesting that iron chelation therapy with deferasirox may induce an effect on hematopoiesis in a subset of patients with MDS and iron overload.

Newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenia adults: Clinical epidemiology, exposure to treatments, and evolution. Results of the CARMEN multicenter prospective cohort.

The clinical epidemiology of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is not well known in adults. This study was aimed at assessing the clinical epidemiology of incident ITP adults, the factors associated with chronicity and exposure to treatments. This study was conducted in the CARMEN registry, a multicentric prospective cohort aimed at including all newly diagnosed ITP adults in the French Midi-Pyrénées region, South of France (3 million inhabitants) from June 2013. Descriptive analyses and multivariate logistic regression models were conducted. Out of 121 newly diagnosed ITP until December 2014, 113 patients were followed in the region and gave informed consent. Median age was 65 years. Half of the patients were female, 20.3% had a secondary ITP, 50.4% had a Charlson's score ≥1, median platelet count was 17 × 109 /L; 50.9% had bleeding symptoms, including 2 severe gastrointestinal tract and 1 intracranial bleedings; 21.4% had another autoimmune disease and 20.3% experienced an infection within the six weeks before ITP onset. Persistency and chronicity rates were 68.2% and 58.7%, respectively. Antinuclear antibodies were associated with chronicity (OR: 2.89, 95% CI: 1.08-7.74). Sixty-eight (60.2%) patients were treated during the week following the diagnosis. Factors associated with the use of intravenous corticosteroids were secondary ITP and high bleeding score. Those associated with the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) were a high bleeding score and low platelet count. In conclusion, severe bleeding is rare at ITP onset. Associated autoimmune diseases and recent infections were frequent. Antinuclear antibodies seem predictors of chronicity. Intravenous corticosteroids and IVIg were frequently used.

A randomized phase II trial of azacitidine +/- epoetin-ß in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes resistant to erythropoietic stimulating agents.

The efficacy of azacitidine in patients with anemia and with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes, if relapsing after or resistant to erythropoietic stimulating agents, and the benefit of combining these agents to azacitidine in this setting are not well known. We prospectively compared the outcomes of patients, all of them having the characteristics of this subset of lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome, if randomly treated with azacitidine alone or azacitidine combined with epoetin-ß. High-resolution cytogenetics and gene mutation analysis were performed at entry. The primary study endpoint was the achievement of red blood cell transfusion independence after six cycles. Ninety-eight patients were randomised (49 in each arm). Median age was 72 years. In an intention to treat analysis, transfusion independence was obtained after 6 cycles in 16.3% versus 14.3% of patients in the azacitidine and azacitidine plus epoetin-ß arms, respectively (P=1.00). Overall erythroid response rate (minor and major responses according to IWG 2000 criteria) was 34.7% vs. 24.5% in the azacitidine and azacitidine plus epoetin-ß arms, respectively (P=0.38). Mutations of the SF3B1 gene were the only ones associated with a significant erythroid response, 29/59 (49%) versus 6/27 (22%) in SF3B1 mutated and unmutated patients, respectively, P=0.02. Detection of at least one "epigenetic mutation" and of an abnormal single nucleotide polymorphism array profile were the only factors associated with significantly poorer overall survival by multivariate analysis. The transfusion independence rate observed with azacitidine in this lower-risk population, but resistant to erythropoietic stimulating agents, was lower than expected, with no observed benefit of added epoetin, (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 01015352).

Prognostic value of self-reported fatigue on overall survival in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: a multicentre, prospective, observational, cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The clinical presentation of myelodysplastic syndromes is highly variable and so accurate prediction of outcomes in these patients is crucial. We aimed to assess whether self-reported fatigue severity predicts overall survival beyond gold-standard prognostic indices in patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes. METHODS: We did a multicentre, prospective, observational, cohort study of patients from 37 centres in Europe, USA, and east Asia. Adults (≥18 years) with myelodysplastic syndromes were consecutively enrolled within 6 months of diagnosis with an intermediate-2-risk or high-risk score according to the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS). Patients were enrolled irrespective of older age, comorbidities, performance status, and progression from a lower IPSS risk score category. All patients had to complete a quality of life assessment at baseline. With use of univariate and then multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, we constructed a multivariate model of how prognostic variables, including IPSS and fatigue score from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaire-core 30, predicted overall survival. The primary endpoint was overall survival by baseline self-reported fatigue scale ratings. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00809575. FINDINGS: Between Nov 10, 2008, and Aug 13, 2012, we enrolled 280 patients with a median age of 71 years (IQR 64-77). The median follow-up was 15 months (IQR 8-27), and the last patient was assessed Feb 16, 2015. The median overall survival from diagnosis was 17 months (95% CI 15-19). In univariate analysis, the baseline factors that were significantly associated with reduced overall survival were increasing age, transfusion dependency (defined as having received at least one red blood cell transfusion every 8 weeks over a period of 4 months), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of two or more, increased white blood cell count, high-risk IPSS score, and higher self-reported fatigue severity. In multivariate analysis, baseline factors independently associated with reduced overall survival were high-risk IPSS score (hazard ratio [HR] 2·525, 95% CI 1·357-4·697; p=0·0035) and a higher score for fatigue (1·110, 1·040-1·170, for every ten points of fatigue deterioration; p=0·0007). In further multivariate models for survival, including either the WHO-based prognostic scoring system or the revised version of the IPSS classification, fatigue remained a statistically significant independent prognostic factor with a HR of 1·120 (1·050-1·180, p=0.0003) and a HR of 1·130 (1·060-1·190, p=0·0002), respectively. INTERPRETATION: In patients with newly diagnosed higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes, self-reported fatigue severity provides prognostic information for survival independent from gold-standard risk classifications. Our findings suggest that fatigue assessment should be included in routine diagnostic investigation for these patients and considered as a standard baseline stratification factor in future randomised controlled trials. FUNDING: Associazione Italiana contro le Leucemie, Linfomi e Mieloma (AIL).

Ribavirin for Chronic Hepatitis Prevention among Patients with Hematologic Malignancies.

Findings among a cohort of 26 patients who had hematologic malignancies and hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection support that HEV can induce chronic hepatitis. However, a 3-month course of ribavirin can induce a rapid viral clearance, reducing the risk for chronic hepatitis and enabling continuation of cytotoxic treatments for underlying malignancies.

Prevalence, severity and correlates of fatigue in newly diagnosed patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

The primary objective of this study was to investigate factors associated with fatigue severity in newly diagnosed patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The secondary objectives were to assess symptom prevalence and to examine the relationships between fatigue, quality of life (QoL) and overall symptom burden in these patients. The analyses were conducted in 280 higher-risk MDS patients. Pre-treatment patient-reported fatigue was evaluated with the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue scale and QoL was assessed with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Female gender (P = 0·018), poor performance status (i.e., ECOG of 2-4) (P < 0·001) and lower levels of haemoglobin (Hb) (P = 0·026) were independently associated with higher fatigue severity. The three most prevalent symptoms were as follows: fatigue (92%), dyspnoea (63%) and pain (55%). Patients with higher levels of fatigue also had greater overall symptom burdens. The mean global QoL scores of patients with the highest versus those with the lowest levels of fatigue were 29·2 [standard deviation (SD), 18·3] and 69·0 (SD, 18·8), respectively and this difference was four times the magnitude of a clinically meaningful difference. Patient-reported fatigue severity revealed the effects of disease burden on overall QoL more accurately than did degree of anaemia. Special attention should be given to the female patients in the management of fatigue.