Maintenance Therapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) poses significant challenges due to its high relapse rates despite initial successful induction chemotherapy. Maintenance therapy aims to prevent disease recurrence, particularly in high-risk patients. This review explores current maintenance treatments, their impacts on patient outcomes, and ongoing studies shaping the treatment landscape for AML. Hypomethylating agents like azacitidine and decitabine have shown promise in improving relapse-free and overall survival, particularly in older patients with AML ineligible for transplantation. Combination regimens involving azacitidine and venetoclax have demonstrated encouraging outcomes post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Targeted therapies, particularly FLT3 inhibitors like midostaurin and quizartinib, have shown significant benefits in improving survival outcomes, especially in FLT3-mutated AML cases. Gilteritinib and sorafenib also exhibit the potential to reduce relapse rates post-transplant. Isocitrate dehydrogenase inhibitors, including ivosidenib and enasidenib, present novel options for postchemotherapy and posttransplantation maintenance. Immunotherapies, such as Wilms tumor 1 peptide-based vaccines and checkpoint inhibitors, are being explored, although results vary. Despite ongoing research, the role of maintenance chemotherapy remains uncertain, with inconsistent outcomes across trials. The approval of oral azacitidine represents a significant advancement, emphasizing the need for further investigation into personalized maintenance approaches. In conclusion, the evolving landscape of maintenance therapy and integrating targeted therapies in AML offers promising avenues for improving patient outcomes.

PARP Inhibitors in Prostate Cancer.

Treatment of metastatic prostate cancer has evolved significantly over the past decade. Palliative therapy has, historically, consisted of androgen deprivation, chemotherapy and different radiation therapy approaches. More recently, breakthrough therapy with the use of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors has led to significant improvement in the outcome of patients with metastatic prostate cancer who harbor certain genetic mutations. This concise review focuses on the 3 PARP inhibitors that have shown activity in metastatic prostate cancer.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia as Secondary Malignancy Following the Treatment of Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Case Series.

Secondary malignancies are relatively common and clinically important phenomena following both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The majority of these cases are acute leukemias, the occurrence of which have been thoroughly documented and studied. More rarely, chronic myeloid leukemias (CML) may arise subsequent to treatment of a primary malignancy. Literature review on such developments following treatment of Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL) is scant. Herein, the authors present three cases of CML diagnosed within five years of treatment initiation for Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL); one of the three patients had CML with atypical variant carrying a rare mutation with BCR-JAK2 fusion.

Evaluating ivosidenib for the treatment of relapsed/refractory AML: design, development, and place in therapy.

Improvements in the last decade in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have emphasized that treatment regimens should be personalized with agents that can selectively target genetic abnormalities if present. Neomorphic mutations in isoform 1 of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1) result in the formation of the onco-metabolite R-2-hydroxyglutarate, which drives leukemic transformation by affecting processes such as chromatin remodeling, the cellular defense against oxidative stress and cell survival. Preclinical studies with small molecule inhibitors have validated mutant IDH1 as a molecular target, and a recent Phase 1 clinical trial with the first mutant IDH1 inhibitor ivosidenib has prompted approval by the US Food and Drug Association for the treatment of patients with IDH1-mutated AML in the relapsed and refractory setting due to impressive results. This approval has given a group of patients, that otherwise has a very poor prognosis and limited options, new hope, and it is to be expected that more indications for ivosidenib will follow soon. These developments highlight the potential of precision medicine in AML, with more agents currently under evaluation in clinical trials. Although the first reports have also already emerged describing acquired resistance for these mutant IDH inhibitors, combination treatment might overcome this problem, which could drastically change the treatment landscape of AML over the next few years.

Novel Immunotherapeutic Agents for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B-cell malignancy characterized by the abnormal proliferation of clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow leading to end-organ manifestations. Despite the advancement in the therapy and care of patients with MM, relapse and resistance to standard therapy remain significant. The development of immunotherapy as a treatment modality for many types of cancers has led investigators to explore its use in MM in order to elicit myeloma-targeted immune responses, especially given that immune dysregulation is an underlying feature in the pathogenesis and progression of MM. In this concise review, we discuss the different advances in the immune-based therapy of MM, from immunomodulation, vaccines, to monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive T-cell therapies, and future promising therapies under investigation.

Directed Therapies in Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase-rearranged Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements were first implicated as driving mutations in non-small cell lung cancer in 2007. Since then, a number of novel, small-molecule inhibitors directed against the ALK receptor have demonstrated superiority over standard chemotherapies in the treatment of ALK rearrangement-positive lung cancer. Of considerable importance when considering such therapies is the ability of each to overcome mutations conferring acquired resistance, as well as penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), the most common site of metastasis and traditionally the most difficult to breach. Herein is a review of the efficacy, indications, and degree of CNS penetration for the ALK-targeting agents crizotinib, ceretinib, alectinib, brigatinib, and lorlatinib, as well as a summary of ongoing clinical trials comparing these drugs.

Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome (Veno-occlusive Disease) Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: Insights and Therapeutic Advances.

Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is a rare fatal clinical entity seen following hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). It is more commonly reported to occur following allogeneic HSCT compared to autologous HSCT. Historically, it is known as hepatitis following HSCT. It is thought that endothelial damage to the hepatic venules leading to occlusion of the terminal hepatic venules and hepatic sinusoids is the trigger for the development of SOS. Several risk factors have been associated with this condition. Some of these risk factors are patient related while others are transplant process related. Given the high mortality of this condition, early identification of high-risk patients with severe disease is of utmost importance. The management of SOS varies depending on the severity of the disease. Mild to moderate disease has a good outcome with supportive measures alone, while severe presentation of the disease requires a more aggressive management. Defibrotide is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved therapy and it is reserved for severe cases of SOS. The role of defibrotide as a prophylactic therapy remains under investigation.

The role of mutant IDH1 and IDH2 inhibitors in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.

For decades, researchers have looked into the pathophysiology of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). With the advances in molecular techniques, the two-hit hypothesis was replaced by a multi-hit model, which also emphasizes the importance of aberrant epigenetic regulation in the pathogenesis of AML. IDH1 and IDH2 are two isoforms of isocitrate dehydrogenase that perform crucial roles in cellular metabolism. Somatic mutations in either of these two genes impart a neomorphic enzymatic activity upon the encoded enzymes resulting in the ability to convert α-ketoglutarate (αKG) into the oncometabolite R2-hydroxyglutarate (R2-HG), which can competitively inhibit multiple αKG-dependent dioxygenases. Inhibition of various classes of αKG-dependent dioxygenases results in dramatic epigenetic changes in hematopoietic cells, which has been found to directly impair differentiation. In addition to a global dysregulation of gene expression, other mechanisms have been described through which R2-HG promotes leukemic transformation including the induction of B cell lymphoma 2 dependency and stimulation of the EglN family of prolyl 4-hydroxylases (EglN). Due to the fact that mutations in IDH1 and IDH2 are acquired early during AML clonal evolution as well as because these mutations tend to remain stable during AML progression, the pharmaceutical industry has prompted the development of specific mutant IDH enzyme inhibitors. More recently, the FDA approved the first mutant IDH2 inhibitor, enasidenib (AG-221), for patients with relapsed or refractory IDH2-mutated AML (RR-AML). This has brought a lot of excitement to researchers, clinicians, and patients, especially because the treatment of AML remains challenging and is still associated with a high mortality.

PD-1 signaling and inhibition in AML and MDS.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are clinically and molecularly heterogeneous clonal myeloid disorders with a poor prognosis especially in the relapsed refractory setting and in patients above the age of 60. While allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a potentially curative approach, high relapse, morbidity, and mortality rates necessitate the development of alternative therapies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors unmask tumoral immune tolerance and have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant hematologic and solid malignancies. The rationale for the investigation of those agents in AML and MDS is supported by an observed increased expression of programmed cell death 1 protein (PD-1) and ligand 1 (PD-L1) in the hematopoietic microenvironment of AML and MDS, and its association with low TP53 and a poor prognosis. Early clinical experience in combination with a hypomethylating agent has shown encouraging responses; however, larger clinical trials are needed to determine the role of checkpoint inhibition in myeloid malignancies.

Erdheim-Chester Disease: Comprehensive Review of Molecular Profiling and Therapeutic Advances.

The revised 2016 World Health Organization classification introduced Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) as a provisional entity within the histiocytic and dendritic cell neoplasms separate from the juvenile xanthogranuloma family based on distinct molecular features. However, evolving knowledge regarding the molecular and genetic aberrations in addition to common clinical features of ECD support the classification of ECD together with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). Accordingly, ECD can be thought of as an inflammatory myeloid clonal disorder based on the detection of various activating mutations along the mitogen activated protein kinase-extracellular signal regulated kinase (MAPK-ERK) pathway with most notable variant being a valine to a glutamic acid substitution at amino acid 600 in the B-rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma protein (BRAFV600E). In this group, targeted therapy with a B-Raf inhibitor alone or combined with a MAPK-ERK (MEK) inhibitor has shown promising results based on several case reports. Currently, two phase II trials with BRAF inhibitors are underway and could potentially change the standard of care. MEK inhibitors may also be efficacious in ECD harboring mutations in MAP2K1; other potential targetable aberrations include programed cell death receptor 1 and mutations in phosphoinositide 3-kinase.

Acute Graft Versus Host Disease: A Comprehensive Review.

Acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) remains the second leading cause of death following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (AHSCT). Over the last five years, the progress in understanding the pathophysiology of this immune based-process helped redefine graft versus host reaction and opened new possibilities for novel preventive and therapeutic approaches. The evolution in the field of immunology widened the horizons for hematopoietic stem cell transplant leading to the availability of different stem cell sources for potential graft and incorporation of novel conditioning regimens. There is conflicting data about the impact of the graft source and the conditioning regimen used in the process of AHSCT on the incidence of aGVHD. Many studies have reported increased risk of chronic GVHD (cGVHD) and to a less extent aGVHD with the use of peripheral blood stem cell and bone marrow compared to umbilical cord stem cell. The conditioning regimen, either myeloablative, non-myeloablative or reduced intensity may have different impact on the incidence of GVHD. Several preventive modalities have been adopted by different transplant centers but, to date, there is no standardized regimen. As for treatment, immunosuppression using steroids remains the first line of intervention. Several novel therapeutic options are being investigated for treatment of steroid-refractory aGVHD including the use of mesenchymal stem cells, anti thymocyte globulin and extra corporeal photophoresis. This review discusses the pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical features, and advances in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of aGVHD.

Safety of BTZ retreatment for patients with low-grade peripheral neuropathy during the initial treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Neuropathy is an important complication that may limit treatment options for patients with multiple myeloma. Previous studies have focused on treatment efficacy and have shown that retreatment with bortezomib (BTZ) is an effective treatment option. The goal of this study was to focus on the clinical manifestations of peripheral neuropathy (PN) and to retrospectively compare the incidence and severity of PN between the initial BTZ regimen and upon retreatment. Furthermore, this study evaluated how certain factors affect BIPN, which will help determine what conditions should be considered prior to retreatment. METHODS: Charts were reviewed from 93 patients who were retreated with a BTZ-containing regimen after previously being treated with this drug. RESULTS: Among the patients who developed PN, most patients in the study had low-grade neuropathy during the initial BTZ treatment (n = 52, 68%). The results showed no evidence of cumulative toxicity, and there was no significant difference in the incidence and severity of PN upon retreatment. Factors such as the presence of baseline PN, number of prior treatments, dose of BTZ, and comorbidities did not increase the severity of PN upon retreatment. The lapse of time between the two regimens also did not affect the severity of PN. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that retreatment with BTZ may be a feasible option, without additional risks of PN, for MM patients even with peripheral neuropathy during their initial treatment with this drug.

Immune-based Therapies for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer has evolved tremendously over the past decade. Specifically, immune checkpoint inhibitors have become an increasingly interesting target of pharmacological blockade. These immune inhibitors have shown promising results in front-line therapy and after failure of multiple lines, as well as in monotherapy and combination with other therapies. Vaccination in non-small cell lung cancer is also an emerging field of research that holds promising results for the future of immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer. This review presents a concise update on the most recent data regarding the role of checkpoint inhibitors as well as vaccination in non-small cell lung cancer.

Anaemia with inflammation responding to lenalidomide.

We present a case of a 73-year-old woman with transfusion-dependent anaemia thought to be secondary to an unidentifiable inflammatory condition. Anaemia evaluation including multiple bone marrow biopsies was unrevealing, with the exception of a non-specific elevation of her erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. She had no identifiable inflammatory condition and did not meet the criteria for myelodysplastic syndrome. She was empirically treated with lenalidomide and achieved a complete response, suggesting that this immunomodulatory drug could potentially have a role in treating a subgroup of patients with immune-mediated anaemia.

Case of CML lymphoid blast crisis presenting as bilateral breast masses.

A woman aged 42 years with a 1-month history of rapidly expanding bilateral breast masses presented with severe leucocytosis, anaemia, blurry vision, headaches and shortness of breath. Evaluation revealed chronic myeloid leukaemia in lymphoid blast crisis with extramedullary leukaemia involving her breasts.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Current Concepts.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukemia in adults, and while in early, asymptomatic stages treatment is not indicated, the threat to the quality of life and increased mortality of patients posed by more advanced-stage disease necessitate therapeutic intervention. Guidelines of when and how to treat are not well-established because CLL is a disease of the elderly and it is important to balance preservation of functional status and control of the disease. Advances in molecular and genetic profiling has led to the ability to identify sub-groups of patients with CLL whose disease may respond to selected therapy. This review discusses current standard therapies in the major sub-groups of CLL based on age and functional status, in both the front-line and relapsed/refractory settings. It also provides a concise review of novel agents that have shown considerable efficacy in CLL.

Emerging therapies in multiple myeloma.

The treatment of multiple myeloma has evolved significantly over the past 2 decades due to the use of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation, and the subsequent introduction of the immunomodulatory agents (thalidomide and lenalidomide) and the proteasome inhibitor (bortezomib). The median overall survival of multiple myeloma patients has increased significantly with patients younger than age 50 years experiencing a 10-year survival rate of around 40%. However, despite the increased effectiveness of the first-line agents, the majority of patients will eventually relapse and become drug resistant. Promising novel therapies have recently emerged and are being used to treat relapsed and refractory patients. This review will cover the clinical data regarding these emergent therapies that include new generation of proteasome inhibitors (carfilzomib, ixazomib, oprozomib, and marizomib), immunomodulatory drugs (pomalidomide), monoclonal antibodies (elotuzumab and daratumumab), signal transduction modulator (perifosine), and histone deacetylase inhibitors (vorinostat and panobinostat).

Granulocytic sarcoma in a patient with chronic myeloid leukaemia in complete haematological, cytogenetic and molecular remission.

Granulocytic sarcoma, also known as myeloid sarcoma, is an extramedullary tumour composed of immature myeloid cells. Granulocytic sarcoma is typically found in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia, accelerated phase or blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, or as an isolated event without bone marrow involvement. We present a case of granulocytic sarcoma in a patient with chronic myeloid leukaemia in the setting of complete haematological, molecular and cytogenetic remission. Our patient was first treated with imatinib for chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukaemia. After maintaining remission for 42 months, he developed a granulocytic sarcoma in his spine. In this case report, we describe our case, along with the three other cases reported in the literature. In addition to being a rare diagnosis, this case demonstrates the importance of being vigilant in diagnosing the cause of back pain and atypical symptoms in patients with a history of leukaemia.

Erdheim-Chester disease: a comprehensive review.

Erdheim-Chester disease is a rare form of non-Langerhans' cell histiocytosis characterized by multi-system infiltration by xanthogranulomas composed of foamy histiocytes surrounded by fibrosis. Approximately 400 cases have been reported in the literature, and the recent increase in the number of cases is likely due to the increased awareness of its associated morbidity and mortality. The etiology of this disease remains unknown, the clinical course is variable and treatment is still not well-established. The objective of this review is to describe the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of this rare disorder, and to review its prognosis and treatment. Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare form of non-Langerhans' cell histiocytosis. It was first described in 1930. Approximately 400 cases have been reported in the literature.

Complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Infection, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and to a lesser extent sinusoidal obstructive syndrome (SOS) represent the major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). During the last decade, progress in prevention and treatment of these complications led to improvement in the outcome of these patients. Despite the fact that nonmyeloablative regimens have been increasingly used in elderly patients and in patients with co-morbidities, the nonrelapse related mortality remains a challenge and long-term follow-up is required. The objective of this manuscript is to provide an updated concise review of the complications of AHSCT and of the available treatment interventions.