Genetic variation in IL28B (IFNL3) and response to interferon-alpha treatment in myeloproliferative neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE: In myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), interferon-alpha (IFN-α) is an effective treatment with disease-modifying properties but currently with no clear predictors of treatment outcome. Recent genomewide association studies in chronic hepatitis C have found a strong influence of genetic polymorphism near the IL28B (IFNL3) gene in response to IFN-α treatment. In this study, we sought to evaluate the prognostic impact of IL28B rs12979860, rs8099917, and rs12980275 on IFN-α treatment response in myeloproliferative neoplasms. METHOD: We retrospectively evaluated 100 patients with MPN treated with IFN-α. The hematologic treatment response on IFN-α was compared between patients and correlated with host genetic variations in IL28B. The genotypes of IL28B were determined by allelic discrimination assays. RESULTS: The CC genotype of rs12979860 was found significantly associated with hematologic response in polycythemia vera (PV) with a complete response (CR) in 79% (CC) compared to 48% (non-CC), (P = .036). No association between the genotypes and treatment response on hydroxyurea was found. CONCLUSION: These results imply an effect of IL28B genotype on the outcome of IFN-α treatment in MPN.

Symptom burden profile in myelofibrosis patients with thrombocytopenia: Lessons and unmet needs.

Myelofibrosis is a myeloproliferative neoplasm associated with progressive cytopenias and high symptom burden. MF patients with thrombocytopenia have poor prognosis but the presence of thrombocytopenia frequently precludes the use of JAK2 inhibitors. In this study, we assessed quality of life and symptom burden in 418 MF patients with (n=89) and without (n=329) thrombocytopenia using prospective data from the MPN-QOL study group database, including the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form (MPN-SAF) and Total Symptom Score (MPN10). Thrombocytopenia, defined as platelet count <100×109/L (moderate 51-100×109/L; severe ≤50×109/L), was associated with anemia (76% vs. 45%, p<0.001), leukopenia (29% vs. 11%, p<0.001), and need for red blood cell transfusion (35% vs. 19%, p=0.002). Thrombocytopenic patients had more fatigue, early satiety, inactivity, dizziness, sad mood, cough, night sweats, itching, fever, and weight loss; total symptom scores were also higher (33 vs. 24, p<0.001). Patients with severe thrombocytopenia were more likely to have anemia (86% vs. 67%, p=0.04), leukopenia (40% vs. 20%, p=0.04), and transfusion requirements (51% vs. 20%, p=0.002) but few differences in symptoms when compared to patients with moderate thrombocytopenia. These results suggest that MF patients with thrombocytopenia experience greater symptomatic burden than MF patients without thrombocytopenia and may benefit from additional therapies.

Associations between gender, disease features and symptom burden in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms: an analysis by the MPN QOL International Working Group.

The myeloproliferative neoplasms, including polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia and myelofibrosis, are distinguished by their debilitating symptom profiles, life-threatening complications and profound impact on quality of life. The role gender plays in the symptomatology of myeloproliferative neoplasms remains under-investigated. In this study we evaluated how gender relates to patients' characteristics, disease complications and overall symptom expression. A total of 2,006 patients (polycythemia vera=711, essential thrombocythemia=830, myelofibrosis=460, unknown=5) were prospectively evaluated, with patients completing the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm-Symptom Assessment Form and Brief Fatigue Inventory Patient Reported Outcome tools. Information on the individual patients' characteristics, disease complications and laboratory data was collected. Consistent with known literature, most female patients were more likely to have essential thrombocythemia (48.6% versus 33.0%; P<0.001) and most male patients were more likely to have polycythemia vera (41.8% versus 30.3%; P<0.001). The rate of thrombocytopenia was higher among males than females (13.9% versus 8.2%; P<0.001) and males also had greater red-blood cell transfusion requirements (7.3% versus 4.9%; P=0.02) with shorter mean disease duration (6.4 versus 7.2 years, P=0.03). Despite there being no statistical differences in risk scores, receipt of most therapies or prior complications (hemorrhage, thrombosis), females had more severe and more frequent symptoms for most individual symptoms, along with overall total symptom score (22.8 versus 20.3; P<0.001). Females had particularly high scores for abdominal-related symptoms (abdominal pain/discomfort) and microvascular symptoms (headache, fatigue, insomnia, concentration difficulties, dizziness; all P<0.01). Despite complaining of more severe symptom burden, females had similar quality of life scores to those of males. The results of this study suggest that gender contributes to the heterogeneity of myeloproliferative neoplasms by influencing phenotypic profiles and symptom expression.

Symptomatic Profiles of Patients With Polycythemia Vera: Implications of Inadequately Controlled Disease.

PURPOSE: Polycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) associated with disabling symptoms and a heightened risk of life-threatening complications. Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of JAK inhibitor therapy in patients with PV patients who have a history of prior hydroxyurea (HU) use (including resistance or intolerance), phlebotomy requirements, and palpable splenomegaly. We aimed to determine how these features contribute alone and in aggregate to the PV symptom burden. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Through prospective evaluation of 1,334 patients with PV who had characterized symptom burden, we assessed patient demographics, laboratory data, and the presence of splenomegaly by disease feature (ie, known HU use, known phlebotomy requirements, splenomegaly). RESULTS: The presence of each feature in itself is associated with a moderately high symptom burden (MPN symptom assessment form [SAF] total symptom score [TSS] range, 27.7 to 29.2) that persists independent of PV risk category. In addition, symptoms incrementally increase in severity with the addition of other features. Patients with PV who had all three features (PV-HUPS) faced the highest total score (MPN-SAF TSS, 32.5) but had similar individual symptom scores to patients with known HU use (PV-HU), known phlebotomy (PV-P), and splenomegaly (PV-S). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that patients with PV who have any one of the features in question (known HU use, known phlebotomy, or splenomegaly) have significant PV-associated symptoms. Furthermore, it demonstrates that many PV symptoms remain severe independent of the number of features present.

Distinct clustering of symptomatic burden among myeloproliferative neoplasm patients: retrospective assessment in 1470 patients.

Symptom burden in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) is heterogeneous even among patients within the same MPN diagnosis. Using cluster analysis from prospectively gathered symptom burden data in 1470 international patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), or myelofibrosis (MF), we assessed for the presence of clusters and relationship to disease features and prognosis. In MF (4 clusters identified), clusters significantly differed by Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System (DIPSS) risk (P < .001), leukopenia (P = .009), thrombocytopenia (P < .001), and spleen size (P = .02). Although an association existed between clusters and DIPSS risk, high symptom burden was noted in some low and intermediate-1-risk MF patients. In PV (5 clusters identified), total symptom score increased across clusters (P < .001), but clusters did not significantly differ by PV risk or the risk assessment variable of age. Among ET patients (5 clusters identified), clusters differed by gender (P = .04), anemia (P = .01), and prior hemorrhage (P = .047). Total symptom score increased across clusters (P < .001), but clusters did not significantly differ by International Prognostic Score for ET risk including the risk assessment variables. Significant symptom heterogeneity exists within each MPN subtype, sometimes independent of disease features or prognosis.

Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) symptom assessment form total symptom score: prospective international assessment of an abbreviated symptom burden scoring system among patients with MPNs.

PURPOSE: Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) symptoms are troublesome to patients, and alleviation of this burden represents a paramount treatment objective in the development of MPN-directed therapies. We aimed to assess the utility of an abbreviated symptom score for the most pertinent and representative MPN symptoms for subsequent serial use in assessing response to therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form total symptom score (MPN-SAF TSS) was calculated as the mean score for 10 items from two previously validated scoring systems. Questions focus on fatigue, concentration, early satiety, inactivity, night sweats, itching, bone pain, abdominal discomfort, weight loss, and fevers. RESULTS: MPN-SAF TSS was calculable for 1,408 of 1,433 patients with MPNs who had a mean score of 21.2 (standard deviation [SD], 16.3). MPN-SAF TSS results significantly differed among MPN disease subtypes (P<.001), with a mean of 18.7 (SD, 15.3), 21.8 (SD, 16.3), and 25.3 (SD, 17.2) for patients with essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia vera, and myelofibrosis, respectively. The MPN-SAF TSS strongly correlated with overall quality of life (QOL; r=0.59; P<.001) and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) functional scales (all P<.001 and absolute r≥0.50 except social functioning r=0.48). No significant trends were present when comparing therapy subgroups. The MPN-SAF TSS had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α=.83). Factor analysis identified a single underlying construct, indicating that the MPN-SAF TSS is an appropriate, unified scoring method. CONCLUSION: The MPN-SAF TSS is a concise, valid, and accurate assessment of MPN symptom burden with demonstrated clinical utility in the largest prospective MPN symptom study to date. This new prospective scoring method may be used to assess MPN symptom burden in both clinical practice and trial settings.

Thrombotic and bleeding complications in four subpopulations of patients with essential thrombocythemia defined by c-Mpl protein expression and PRV-1 mRNA levels.

C-Mpl and PRV-1 expression was measured in a cohort of 48 patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET). A retrospective analysis was conducted to asses whether the presence of one or both markers correlates with a higher risk of developing thromboembolic complications. In this cohort, PRV-1 overexpression was associated with a significantly increased risk of thrombosis, whereas decreased c-Mpl expression was not. The results of this retrospective analysis must now be corroborated in a large, prospective trial of newly diagnosed patients.

The Jak2V617F mutation, PRV-1 overexpression, and EEC formation define a similar cohort of MPD patients.

Recently, a Jak2V617F mutation has been described in the vast majority of patients with polycythemia vera (PV) as well as in subsets of patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF). The question arises whether this mutation is observed in those patients with ET and IMF who have also displayed previously described molecular markers, notably the ability to form endogenous erythroid colonies (EECs), overexpression of polycythemia rubra vera 1 (PRV-1), and decreased c-Mpl expression. We therefore analyzed the Janus kinase 2 (Jak2) DNA sequence, EEC growth, PRV-1 expression, and c-Mpl (myeloproliferative) levels in a cohort of 78 myeloproliferative disorder (MPD) patients (42 ET, 22 PV, and 14 IMF). Presence of the Jak2V617F mutation was very highly correlated with PRV-1 overexpression and the ability to form EECs in all 3 subtypes of MPDs (P < .001). (

An elevated venous haemoglobin concentration cannot be used as a surrogate marker for absolute erythrocytosis: a study of patients with polycythaemia vera and apparent polycythaemia.

The diagnosis of polycythaemia vera (PV) has been established upon sets of clinical criteria, which require the presence of absolute erythrocytosis (AE). The most recent clinical criteria for PV, published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2001, also required AE, and stated that the measured red cell mass (RCM) could be replaced by a surrogate marker for AE; a haemoglobin (Hb) value of >18.5 g/dl in males and >16.5 g/dl in females. The present study evaluated the potential of venous haematocrit (Hct) and Hb values as possible surrogate markers for AE in a series of 77 consecutive patients with PV and 66 patients with apparent polycythaemia (AP), in all of whom the RCM had been previously determined. In only 35% of the male PV patients would Hb values >18.5 g/dl indicate the presence of AE. Conversely, 14% of male AP patients would be misdiagnosed as having AE. A Hb > 16.5 g/dl would predict the presence of AE in 63% of the female PV patients, but 35% of female AP cases would be misdiagnosed as having AE. However, when the Hct was > or =0.60 an AE was always present, and this was true for both male and female subjects.