Venetoclax abrogates the prognostic impact of splicing factor gene mutations in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia.

Mutations in splicing factor (SF) genes SRSF2, U2AF1, SF3B1, and ZRSR2 are now considered adverse risk in the European LeukemiaNet 2022 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) risk stratification. The prognostic impact of SF mutations in AML has been predominantly derived from younger patients treated with intensive (INT) therapy. We evaluated 994 patients with newly diagnosed AML, including 266 (27%) with a SFmut. Median age was 67 years overall, with patients with SFmut being older at 72 years. SRSF2 (n = 140, 53%) was the most common SFmut. In patients treated with INT, median relapse-free survival (RFS) (9.6 vs 21.4 months, P = .04) and overall survival (OS) (15.9 vs 26.7 months, P = .06) were shorter for patients with SFmut than without SFwt, however this significance abrogated when evaluating patients who received venetoclax with INT therapy (RFS 15.4 vs 20.3 months, P = .36; OS 19.6 vs 30.7 months, P = .98). In patients treated with LI, median RFS (9.3 vs 7.7 months, P = .35) and OS (12.3 vs 8.5 months, P = .14) were similar for patients with and without SFmut , and outcomes improved in all groups with venetoclax. On multivariate analysis, SFmut did not affect hazards of relapse and death for INT arm but reduced both these hazards in LI arm. In a large AML data set with >60% of patients receiving venetoclax with LI/INT therapy, SFmut had no independent negative prognostic impact. Newer prognostic models that consider LI therapy and use of venetoclax among other factors are warranted.

Invasive mucorales sinusitis in a young patient with Emberger syndrome and newly diagnosed AML: A case report and literature review of invasive fungal infections in GATA2 deficiency.

Germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in the gene encoding the GATA2 transcription factor can result in profound reductions of monocytes, dendritic cells, natural killer cells and B cells. GATA2 PVs are associated with an increased risk of myeloid malignancies and a predisposition to nontuberculous mycobacterial and human papillomavirus infections. Additionally, invasive fungal infections (IFIs) have been reported in individuals with GATA2 PVs, even in the absence of myeloid malignancies. In this report, we present the case of a 40-year-old man with Emberger syndrome (GATA2 mutation, recently diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia [AML] and history of lymphedema with hearing loss) who developed Mucorales sinusitis while receiving his first course of remission induction chemotherapy. Additionally, we review the literature on all published cases of proven IFIs in patients with GATA2 PVs. Clinicians should be aware that patients with GATA2 PVs could be vulnerable to opportunistic IFIs, even in the absence of AML and antineoplastic therapy. Furthermore, the distinctly unusual occurrence of mucormycosis during the first course of induction chemotherapy for AML in our patient indicates that patients with germline GATA2 PVs receiving induction chemotherapy for AML might be at high risk for early onset of IFIs due to aggressive, opportunistic moulds.

Can we transfuse wisely in patients undergoing chemotherapy for acute leukemia or autologous stem cell transplantation?

BACKGROUND: Transfusion of 2 units of red blood cells (RBCs) for Hb ≤80 g/L is the prevailing liberal practice for patients undergoing intensive treatment for acute leukemia or hematopoietic transplant across North America. There is little evidence regarding optimal transfusion targets in these highly transfusion-dependent patient populations. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a retrospective pre-post cohort study of consecutive patients admitted to Kingston Health Sciences Center between April through December 2016 (pre) and April through December 2017 (post) for acute leukemia induction chemotherapy or high dose chemotherapy (HDCT) for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The pre-cohort was transfused using a liberal threshold (2 units of RBCs for Hb ≤80 g/L) and the post-cohort using a more restrictive threshold (1 unit RBCs for Hb ≤70 g/L), implemented with a computerized physician order entry form. Primary outcome was number of RBC units transfused per inpatient day. Secondary outcomes included inpatient mortality and select morbidity measures. RESULTS: 124 patients underwent 134 treatment courses: 62 courses of induction chemotherapy (pre = 26, post = 36) and 72 courses of HDCT for ASCT (pre = 39, post = 33). There was a significant decrease in median RBC utilization per admission in both patient populations: 10.5 versus 6.7 in the leukemia group (p = 0.01) and 2.0 versus 1.0 in the ASCT group (p = 0.04). This reduction was seen without a difference in inpatient mortality, length of stay, falls, serious bleeds, requirement for ICU, or time to engraftment post ASCT. CONCLUSIONS: A restrictive transfusion strategy in patients receiving intensive chemotherapy for acute leukemia or ASCT decreased inpatient RBC usage without increasing adverse inpatient events.