Measurable (Minimal) Residual Disease in Myelodysplastic Neoplasms (MDS): Current State and Perspectives.

Myelodysplastic Neoplasms (MDS) have been traditionally studied through the assessment of blood counts, cytogenetics, and morphology. In recent years, the introduction of molecular assays has improved our ability to diagnose MDS. The role of Measurable (minimal) Residual Disease (MRD) in MDS is evolving, and molecular and flow cytometry techniques have been used in several studies. In this review, we will highlight the evolving concept of MRD in MDS, outline the various techniques utilized, and provide an overview of the studies reporting MRD and the correlation with outcomes.

Antibiotic use during cytarabine consolidation in acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients undergoing consolidation chemotherapy with intermediate or high-dose cytarabine (IDAC/HiDAC) are often placed on prophylactic antibacterials. This practice is largely based on the benefits of prophylaxis (PPX) during induction chemotherapy. However, recent concerns regarding antibacterial prophylaxis have emerged including risk of Clostridioides difficile colitis, medication toxicities, and the potential for fostering multidrug-resistant pathogens. We therefore retrospectively explored whether antibacterial PPX is beneficial during cytarabine consolidation. Adult AML patients who received IDAC/HiDAC at our institution from January 2007 to March 2018 were evaluated for receipt of antibacterial PPX. The primary endpoint was rate of febrile neutropenia (FN); secondary endpoints were rates of unplanned hospitalization, bacteremia, infection from resistant organisms, C. difficile colitis, and death from infection. One hundred twenty patients with data from 229 IDAC/HiDAC cycles were included. Patients who received antibacterial PPX were more often hospitalized during cytarabine cycle 1 (C1) than those who received no PPX. Patients who received PPX had significantly more episodes of bacteremia, in addition to infections from resistant, predominantly Gram-positive organisms during cycle 1 of consolidation than those without PPX. Antibacterial PPX during IDAC/HiDAC consolidation treatment at our institution did not decrease the rates of FN, hospitalization, or bacteremia and was associated with higher risk of infection from drug-resistant bacteria in C1. Prospective studies examining antibacterial prophylaxis during cytarabine consolidation for AML patients are necessary, with strong consideration made for institution-specific protocols.

The next generation of therapy for multiple myeloma: a review of ongoing clinical trials utilizing ClinicalTrials.gov.

The therapeutic armamentarium for multiple myeloma has grown significantly over the past decade. We characterized ongoing multiple myeloma clinical trials utilizing ClinicalTrials.gov . A search of ClinicalTrials.gov on 21 April 2017 returned 239 therapeutic interventional trials in multiple myeloma. A majority (84.1%) of trials are early-phase (I/II). Immunotherapies are significantly more likely to be studied in Phase I trials than Phase II trials (p = 0.0049). Primary sponsor (academic, cooperative group, industry) is significantly associated with phase of trial (p = 0.0334). Quality of life assessment is included as a secondary objective in only 10.1% of trials. Areas of need are continued advancement of immunotherapies, late-phase studies utilizing a triplet control group, and an objective focus on quality of life.