An exploratory clinical trial of bortezomib in patients with lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) are characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and an increased risk of transformation. Few effective therapies are available for lower risk MDS patients, especially after the failure of hypomethylating agents. MDS progenitor cells are dependent on the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) for survival, which makes it an attractive therapeutic target. As a proteosomal inhibitor, bortezomib is thought to have inhibitory activity against NF-κB. We designed a proof-of-principle study of subcutaneous (SC) bortezomib in lower risk MDS patients with evidence of NF-κB activation in their bone marrow. Fifteen patients were treated, their median age was 71 (range 56-87), 33% were low and 67% int-1 by IPSS, median number of prior therapies was 2, all patients were transfusion dependent. Baseline median pp65 percentage was 31% and 11 patients had evidence of ring sideroblasts (RS). SC bortezomib was safe, well tolerated with no excess toxicity. Three patients out of the 15 (20%) had evidence of response with hematologic improvement (HI-E). Bortezomib caused a decrease in pp65 levels in 7 out of 13 evaluable patients (54%, P = .025). Of interest, unexpectedly, we observed a significant decrease in RS in 7 out of 10 (70%) evaluable patients during treatment. In conclusion, this study suggests that NF-κB activation, measured by pp65 levels, may be a useful biomarker in MDS. Bortezomib is safe in this patient population but has modest clinical activity. The role of the proteasome in the genesis of RS needs further study.

The development of T-cell malignancies in patients with pre-existing myeloproliferative neoplasms: a report of three cases.

Secondary acute myeloid leukaemia complicating the natural disease course of pre-existing Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (PN-MPN) is well documented and associated with treatment challenges and significant morbidity. The incidence of a T-cell malignancy developing in patients with pre-existing PN-MPN is uncommon, with one case documented in the literature. We present two cases of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) and one case of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) that developed in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF), respectively. All malignancies were advanced at diagnosis and exhibited disease progression, regardless of the mutational status of the underlying ET/PMF, presence of cytogenetic abnormalities, type of T-cell neoplasm or systemic chemotherapy utilised. The median time to diagnosis of AITL or T-ALL from the onset of MPN was 4.5 years (range: 6 months-10 years). This single institutional case series demonstrates the possibility of an association between T-cell neoplasms and PN-MPNs.

A review of supportive care and recommended preventive approaches for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most prevalent type of adult leukemia encountered in the western world. Patients with CLL are typically older, with a median age in the 70s, and are at risk for certain complications due to the disease itself and due to the therapies imparted for this. Patients with CLL are at a higher risk of infections, partly due to disease and partly due to the immune dysfunction induced by treatment, such as purine analogous-based chemoimmunotherapy, which leads to lymphocyte depletion. Infections are a leading cause of complications and death in CLL patients. Also, CLL patients have been shown to have a higher incidence of other malignancies. Despite this knowledge, there are no definite guidelines as to what is the best approach to manage or prevent these associated complications of CLL. In this review, the authors discuss the data available and outline recommendations as to the best way to approach this issue in daily practice.