Total genomic alteration as measured by SNP-array-based molecular karyotyping is predictive of overall survival in a cohort of MDS or AML patients treated with azacitidine

Metaphase cytogenetics (MC) has a major role in the risk stratification of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) and can affect the choice of therapies. Azacitidine (AZA) has changed the outcome of patients with MDS or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) unfit for intensive chemotherapy. Identification of patients without the benefit of AZA would allow AZA combination or other drugs in first-line treatments. New whole-genome scanning technologies such as single nucleotide polymorphism microarray (SNP-A)-based molecular karyotyping (MK) improve the risk stratification in MDS and AML. Maintenance of genomic integrity is less than three megabases (Mbs) total disruption of the genome correlated with better overall survival (OS) in patients with lower-risk MDS. In this SNP-A study, we aimed at defining a cutoff value for total genomic copy number (CN) alterations (TGA) influencing the median OS in a cohort of 51 higher-risk MDS/AML patients treated with AZA. We observed that the relative risk of worse OS increased >100 Mb of TGA, as detected by SNP-A-based MK (8 and 15 months respectively, P=0.02). Our data suggest that precise measurement of TGA could provide predictive information in poor and very poor revised International Prognostic Scoring system (IPSS-R) patients treated with AZA.     

A call for action: Increasing enrollment of untreated patients with higher‐risk myelodysplastic syndromes in first‐line clinical trials

Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) have changed the landscape of the management of patients with higher‐risk myelodysplastic syndromes (HR‐MDS). HMAs have improved hematopoiesis and quality of life and, in the case of azacitidine, prolonged survival in a large randomized trial. However, multiple real‐life and registry analyses have demonstrated minimal survival gains at the population level after the approval of HMAs. Furthermore, the 24‐month median survival observed with azacitidine in the landmark AZA‐001 trial has not been replicated in population‐based studies or in other clinical trials using azacitidine monotherapy arms. Herein, we critically review the accumulating data suggesting that the actual survival impact of HMAs, especially azacitidine, in patients with HR‐MDS is significantly lower than what was observed in the AZA‐001 trial and what often is quoted to patients, and discuss the potential explanations for this discrepancy. We also present the rationale for why front‐line clinical trial enrollment should be always considered and discussed with every newly diagnosed patient with HR‐MDS rather than defaulting to the routine use of HMAs. Finally, we review the challenges to wider‐scale enrollment in front‐line HR‐MDS clinical trials and suggest solutions to accelerate this process with the ultimate goal of achieving a real and substantial change in the natural history of this aggressive malignancy. Cancer 2017;123:3662–3672. © 2017 American Cancer Society     

骨髓增生异常综合征患者骨髓来源间充质干细胞的成骨分化特点及其临床意义

目的：探讨骨髓增生异常综合征（myelodysplastic syndrome,MDS)患者骨髓来源间充质干细胞( mesenchymal stemcell, MSC)成骨分化特点及其临床意义。方法: 骨髓标本取自河北大学附属医院血液内科30 例未经治疗的新诊断的MDS患者。分离培养MDS患者及正常人的MSC,体外培养并观察MSC的形态学特点。在适当条件下诱导MSC向成骨细胞和成脂细胞分化,茜素红染色观察成骨诱导分化第14 天钙结节形成情况,实时荧光定量PCR法检测未分化MSC中成骨分化转录因子Ostefix、RUNX2 以及参与造血细胞向白血病细胞转化的Jagged-1 的mRNA表达水平。结果：MDS患者的骨髓来源的MSC表现为细胞体积增大、分化潜能下降。与对照组相比,成骨分化转录因子Osterix 和RUNX2 表达水平明显下降(均P<0.05);茜素红染色结果显示,MDS组钙结节含量也明显少于正常对照组,而Jagged-1 的表达水平明显升高(均P<0.05)。结论：MDS骨髓来源的MSC细胞体积增大、成骨分化能力明显减弱以及Jagged-1 的表达水平升高,可能在MDS造血功能衰竭和向急性髓系白血病转化的过程中发挥了重要作用。     

Validation of a scoring system to establish the probability of myelodysplastic syndrome in patients with unexplained cytopenias or macrocytosis

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders primarily seen in the elderly that are characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and a propensity to develop AML. Clinicians may be hesitant to refer older patients with unexplained cytopenias and/or macrocytosis for a bone marrow biopsy (BM), and consequently undiagnosed patients may be deprived access to effective treatments. Previously, we described factors which were independently predictive of a diagnosis of MDS at time of bone marrow: age ≥65, mean cell volume (MCV), red cell distribution width (RDW), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and suggested a scoring system to calculate the post-test probability of MDS [1]. In this study we validate this scoring system in a cohort of 313 individuals who underwent bone marrow examinations for the investigation of unexplained cytopenias and or macrocytosis over a 3 year period at our institution (2006–2008). Thirty-two percent of all patients were diagnosed with MDS and 9% had suspected MDS. The post-test likelihood of a diagnosis of MDS increased from 12% when none of the four identified factors were present to 48% when 3 or more factors were present. This scoring system can be used to guide the diagnostic testing of patients presenting with unexplained cytopenias or macrocytosis.     

The clinical significance of soluble CD86 levels in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome

BACKGROUND: Levels of the soluble form of CD86 (sCD86) are elevated in a proportion of patients with leukemia. Although it is a potential modulator of antitumor responses, the significance of sCD86 in patients with hematologic malignancies is unknown. METHODS: The authors evaluated sCD86 levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (n = 57 patients) and patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) (n = 40 patients) and analyzed the relation between sCD86 levels and various clinical parameters. RESULTS: Levels of sCD86 were elevated (> 2.32 ng/mL) relative to normal donors (0.22-2.32 ng/mL; n = 51 patients) in 25% of patients with AML and in 27% of patients with MDS. Patients with AML who had elevated sCD86 levels had significantly lower complete remission (CR) rates compared with patients with AML who had normal sCD86 levels. In multivariate analysis using sCD86 as a continuous variable and including the interaction of age and sCD86 as a variable, sCD86 was a significant prognostic factor (P = 0.014) independent of cytogenetics. Further analysis demonstrated that, in patients with AML age 60 years and younger, but not in patients older than 60 years, elevated sCD86 levels were associated with significantly shorter survival (P = 0.04). There was no correlation between sCD86 levels and CR rates or survival in patients with MDS. CONCLUSIONS: The presence in patients with AML of elevated levels of circulating sCD86 were associated with lower CR rates and poor survival. The prognostic significance of sCD86 was independent of cytogenetics but was modulated by age, in that it was independently significant only in younger patients. The results suggest that sCD86 may play a role in modulating immune responses associated with the progression of AML.     

Outcomes after induction chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia arising from myelodysplastic syndrome

BACKGROUND:

Secondary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) from an antecedent myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)/myeloproliferative neoplasm is associated with a poor prognosis. The authors evaluated predictive factors in patients with secondary AML treated with anthracycline‐based induction therapy.

METHODS:

This was a retrospective review of secondary AML patients treated with induction therapy. Age, International Prognostic Scoring System, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, cytogenetics, duration of MDS/myeloproliferative neoplasm, and prior MDS/myeloproliferative neoplasm treatment were evaluated for their impact on complete response (CR), CR with low platelets, and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS:

The authors evaluated 61 secondary AML patients who received induction chemotherapy; 59% (36 patients) achieved CR/CR with low platelets (95% confidence interval [CI], 46%‐71%), and median OS was 6.5 (95% CI, 3.9‐8.1) months. Three factors were associated with lower CR/CR with low platelets and OS: poor risk cytogenetics, prior treatment with hypomethylating agents or lenalidomide, and longer time to transformation to AML. Of those treated with hypomethylating agents or lenalidomide, 32% achieved CR/CR with low platelets versus 78% in the group not treated with a hypomethylating agent or lenalidomide (odds ratio [OR], 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04‐0.42). Median OS for those treated with a hypomethylating agent or lenalidomide was 3.7 versus 10.5 months for those not treated with a hypomethylating agent or lenalidomide (P < .0001). The CR/CR with low platelets rate for those with intermediate risk cytogenetics was 70% versus 35% for those with poor risk (OR, 4.33; 95% CI, 1.38‐13.6). Those with poor risk cytogenetics had a median OS of 2.8 versus 7.5 months for those with intermediate risk (P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Prior treatment with hypomethylating agents or lenalidomide, poor risk cytogenetics, and longer time to transformation to AML are independent negative predictive factors for response and OS in patients with secondary AML after induction therapy. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

Cytogenetic characteristics of 665 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome in China: A single-center report

The karyotype is highly important for diagnosis and prognosis in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The objective of the present study was to investigate the cytogenetic characteristics of patients with MDS in China. The karyotypes of 665 Chinese patients with MDS were analyzed, and it was identified that 298 cases (298/665, 44.8%) had abnormal karyotypes. Among the 298 patients with abnormal karyotypes, the 75 patients with trisomy 8 (+8) constituted the most common subset (75/298, 25.2%). The incidence of abnormal karyotypes was significantly higher in patients who were ≥51 years old compared with those <51 years old, (54.8 vs. 34.7%, respectively; P<0.05). Based on World Health Organization (WHO) classification-based Prognostic Scoring System (WPSS) criteria, the incidence of poor-prognosis karyotypes was significantly higher (17.4 vs. 5.4%; P<0.05) in the older patient group, and based on the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) criteria, the incidence of poor-/very poor-prognosis karyotypes was also significantly higher (17.4 vs. 6.6%; P<0.05) in patients ≥51 years old compared with younger ones. Based on the WHO classification of MDS subtypes, the incidence of abnormal karyotypes in patients with high percentages of bone marrow (BM) blasts [excess blasts (EB)-I + EB-II, ≥5% blasts] was significantly higher than that in patients with low percentages of BM blasts (those with single lineage dysplasia + multilineage dysplasia, <5% blasts) (62.5 vs. 36.0%; P<0.05). The incidence of poor-prognosis karyotypes based on WPSS criteria was significantly higher in patients with high percentages of BM blasts than those with low percentages (22.0 vs. 6.9%, respectively; P<0.05), and the incidence of poor-/very poor-prognosis karyotypes based on IPSS-R criteria was also significantly higher (23.0 vs. 7.4%, respectively; P<0.05). These results demonstrate that +8 is the most common abnormal karyotype in Chinese patients with MDS. Age and the percentage of BM blasts are associated with the incidence of both abnormal karyotypes and karyotypes with poor prognosis. The results of cytogenetic abnormalities in this study will supplement the data on patients of MDS in China.     

骨髓增生异常综合症发病机制和临床治疗的研究进展

骨髓增生异常综合症（ＭＤＳ）发病的病理生理学机制尚不完全清楚,主要与ＭＤＳ的高度异常性有关。已知与ＭＤＳ发病相关的一些机制,如多种遗传学、表观遗传学、造血干细胞和造血微环境的异常等。随着对ＭＤＳ发病机制研究的进展,出现了一些新的治疗策略和新的治疗药物,作者拟就近年来有关新的进展作一介绍。     

Predicting survival of patients with hypocellular myelodysplastic syndrome: Development of a disease-specific prognostic score system

BACKGROUND:

Although most patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) exhibit bone marrow hypercellularity, a subset of them present with a hypocellular bone marrow. Specific factors associated with poor prognosis have not been investigated in patients with hypocellular MDS.

METHODS:

The authors studied a cohort of 253 patients with hypocellular MDS diagnosed at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between 1993 and 2007 and a cohort of 1725 patients with hyper‐/normocellular MDS diagnosed during the same time period.

RESULTS:

Patients with hypocellular MDS presented more frequently with thrombocytopenia (P < .019), neutropenia (P < .001), low serum β‐2 microglobulin (P < .001), increased transfusion dependency (P < .001), and intermediate‐2/high‐risk disease (57% vs 42%, P = .02) compared with patients with hyper‐/normocellular MDS. However, no difference in overall survival was observed between the 2 groups (P = .28). Multivariate analysis identified poor performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group ≥2), low hemoglobin (<10 g/dL), unfavorable cytogenetics (?7/7q or complex), increased bone marrow blasts (≥5%), and high serum lactate dehydrogenase (>600 IU/L) as adverse independent factors for survival.

CONCLUSIONS:

A new prognostic model based on these factors was built that segregated patients into 3 distinct risk categories independent of International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) score. This model is independent from the IPSS, further refines IPSS‐based prognostication, and may be used to develop of risk‐adapted therapeutic approaches for patients with hypocellular MDS. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.     

Income and outcome in myelodysplastic syndrome: The prognostic impact of SES in a single-payer system

We examined the prognostic impact of SES, estimated by census median household income, in 312 adult MDS patients. Age, progression to AML, use of recombinant erythropoietin, WHO diagnosis and IPSS risk category were independent predictors of survival but there was no association between SES and survival. Unexpectedly, progression to AML was more prevalent in the highest income quartile (HR 3.96 for highest vs. lowest; p = 0.0032). The previously demonstrated association of low SES with poor outcome MDS in the United States may have been driven primarily by reduced access to care rather than other SES-linked factors such as co-morbidity.     

The incidence,risk factors,and survival of acute myeloid leukemia secondary to myelodysplastic syndrome: A population‐based study

To determine the incidence, risk factors, and relative survival of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) secondary to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Retrospective analysis of all patients with new MDS onset in the SEER‐18 database from 2001 to 2013. We identified 36 558 patients with primary MDS. The rate of secondary AML (sAML) was 3.7% among patients 40 years or younger and 2.5% among those older than 40 (P = .039). The median transformation interval was significantly shorter for the younger group (4.04 vs 13.1 mo; P < .001). For both age groups, median overall and cancer‐specific survival were significantly longer for patients who did not develop sAML. Although the younger patients survived longer than the older patients, sAML development had a more negative effect on the survival of younger patients. Female sex, age, and World Health Organization (WHO) type MDS with single lineage dysplasia (MDS‐SLD) were associated with a decreased risk of sAML for older but not younger patients. Among older patients with MDS, a married status, Black race, female sex, shorter time to sAML, and WHO type MDS‐SLD or MDS with ringed sideroblasts were favorable prognostic factors for survival. In the SEER database, the rate of sAML among patients with MDS is lower than that in previous reports, but these patients still have worse survival. Risk assessment should include clinical and demographic factors.     

骨髓增生异常综合征细胞形态学与荧光原位杂交检测染色体异常的相关性

目的：总结分析骨髓增生异常综合征（MDS）细胞形态学异常与异常克隆的相关性。方法回顾性分析山西医科大学第二医院血液科120例临床诊断为MDS且荧光原位杂交（FISH）检测及形态学资料完整的病例,总结MDS常见的核型异常（-5／5q-、-7／7q-、20q-、+8、-Y及复杂核型）与细胞形态学异常间可能的相关性。结果FISH检测发现克隆性染色体异常62例（51.7%）。核型异常组中5q-、-5及复杂核型组巨核系发育异常明显,单圆核巨核细胞[5q-组为87.5%（7／8）,-5组为100.0%（2／2）,复杂核型组为83.3%（5／6）]及小巨核细胞[5q-组为75.0%（6／8）,-5组为100.0%（2／2）,复杂核型组为66.7%（4／6）]检出率明显增高,与其余核型组检出率比较,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。各异常核型组粒系及红系形态学发育异常检出率差异均无统计学意义（均P＞0.05）。高危组、中危组、低危组核型异常检出率分别为100.0%（4／4）、53.9%（55／102）、21.4%（3／14）,高危组与低危组间、低危组与中危组间核型异常比例差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论异常克隆与形态学改变可能相关,其中5q-、-5及复杂核型的形态学发育异常多表现在巨核系细胞中。     

全基因组芯片检测在MDS诊断及预后中的应用

目的:探讨全基因组芯片(SNP-A)检测在骨髓增生异常综合征(MDS)患者诊断方面的特异性、敏感性及预后中的应用价值.方法:对2019年09月到2020年04月期间我院诊治的20例初诊MDS患者,依据修订的国际预后积分系统(IPSS-R)对患者进行危险度分组,应用SNP-A对MDS患者进行全基因组范围DNA拷贝数的变异...     

Prognostic factors and a scoring system for survival after radiotherapy for metastases to the spinal column: a review of 544 patients at Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital

BACKGROUND: To optimize selection of a radiotherapy schedule for patients with spinal metastases, the authors analyzed prognostic factors and developed a scoring system to predict survival in such patients. METHODS: Five-hundred forty-four patients with spinal metastases received radiotherapy at Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital between September 2002 and November 2006. Prognostic factors for survival were studied using a Cox proportional hazards model, and a scoring system was developed based on regression coefficients: Three points were given for an unfavorable tumor type and bad performance status (> or =3); 2 points were given for hypercalcemia, visceral metastases, and previous chemotherapy; and 1 point was given for multiple bone metastases and age > or =71 years. RESULTS: The overall survival rates after 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months were 49%, 32%, and 19%, respectively, and the median survival was 5.9 months (95% confidence interval, 4.9-6.8 months). In total, 503 patients (93%) were followed for > or =12 months or until death. These patients were separated into Groups A, B, and C based on scores of 0 to 4, 5 to 9, and 10 to 14, respectively. These groups included 24%, 57%, and 19% of patients, respectively; and the mean median survival for Groups A, B, and C was 27.1 months, 5.4 months, and 1.8 months, respectively. Overall survival rates after 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months were 89%, 77%, and 54% in Group A; 46%, 22%, and 9% in Group B; and 7%, 4%, and 0% in Group C, respectively (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The scoring system was able to predict the survival of patients with spinal metastases and may be useful for selecting an optimal radiotherapy schedule.