Progress in Targeting the TGFβ Pathway

Signaling by the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily is important in the regulation of hematopoiesis and is dysregulated in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), contributing to ineffective hematopoiesis and clinical cytopenias. TGF-β, activins and growth differentiation factors exert inhibitory effects on red cell formation by activating canonical SMAD2/3 pathway signaling. SMAD2/3 overactivation is seen in numerous subtypes of MDS. Furthermore, reduced levels of inhibitory SMAD7 are

References

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Absence of FGFR3–TACC3 rearrangement in hematological malignancies with numerical chromosomal alteration

FGFR–TACC, found in different tumor types, is characterized by the fusion of a member of fibroblast grown factor receptor (FGFR) tyrosine kinase (TK) family to a member of the transforming acidic coiled-coil (TACC) proteins. Because chromosome numerical alterations, hallmarks of FGFR–TACC fusions are present in many hematological disorders and there are no data on the prevalence, we studied a series of patients with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome who presented numerical alterations using cytogenetic traditional analysis. None of the analyzed samples showed FGFR3–TACC3 gene fusion, so screening for this mutation at diagnosis is not recommended.     

Intravenous cidofovir treatment for recalcitrant warts in the setting of a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome

Cidofovir is an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate with broad-spectrum activity against DNA viruses, including human papilloma virus (HPV). However, data on the efficacy of cidofovir in an immunosuppressive setting remain contradictory. We report for the first time on the promotion of the healing of recalcitrant warts in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome with intravenous cidofovir treatment.     

Acute leukaemia in a defined geographic area – Incidence,clinical history and prognosis

A consecutive series of patients (1978–1981) comprising all patients with acute leukaemia from a population of 475000 inhabitants was reviewed. Thus, 94 patients were diagnosed as having acute leukaemia. No patients were lost from follow-up. The incidence figures of ALL and AML differed significantly from those of Sweden as a whole. 9 patients were < 15 years old. The median age of adult patients was 64 years, 60.8% being ≥ 60 years old. Of adult patients with AML, 20% had a preleukaemic history (chronic myeloproliferative disorders, myelodysplastic syndromes and others). None of 6 patients with leukaemia as a metamorphosis of a chronic myeloproliferative disorder achieved a complete remission. The overall remission rate of the remaining adult patients was 25%. Treated patients, 15–39 years old, with AML without any preleukaemic history, had a complete remission rate of 80% compared to 12% for patients ≥ 60 years old with the same diagnosis. Of 60 patients with ‘primary’ AML, 14 were not treated, mainly because of advanced age and complicating diseases. Most of these patients died within a week of admission.     

Correlation between bone marrow karyotype and the occurrence of erythroblast micronuclei and nuclear budding in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes

147 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes were investigated for the presence of micronuclei and nuclear budding in bone marrow erythroblasts. The patients were divided into subgroups on the basis of bone marrow karyotype, 31 healthy bone marrow donors constituted a control group. Patients with monosomy 7 or 7q- and patients with major karyotypic abnormalities (MAKA) had significantly more erythroblasts with micronuclei and nuclear budding than the control group. Patients with a 5q- chromosome as the sole karyotypic aberration had more micronuclei than the controls. For other patients with MDS the differences were statistically nonsignificant.     

A novel mutation in the last exon of ATRX in a patient with α-thalassemia myelodysplastic syndrome

Abstract:  We describe a patient with acquired alpha-thalassemia myelodysplastic syndrome (ATMDS). A previously healthy 66-year-old man presented with hemoglobin of 9.3 g/dL, mean corpuscular volume 59 fL, and a bone marrow aspirate with increased erythroid precursors and hypolobulated megakaryocytes. Hemoglobin H inclusions were seen in most red cells after 1% brilliant cresyl blue supravital stain of the peripheral blood. At the molecular level, we identified of a novel mutation in the most 3' exon of the ATRX gene ( C GA→ T GA substitution in codon 2407) resulting in a premature termination codon (p.R2407X). This case provides further evidence for a link between ATRX mutations and ATMDS, and suggests a possible role for the conserved Q-box element in ATRX function.     

Persistent bone marrow failure with dysplastic features following pentostatin therapy for hairy cell leukaemia

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have rarely been reported after treatment with nucleoside analogues, and mainly in patients who have also received alkylating agents. We report a patient who developed MDS (refractory anaemia with ring sideroblasts) after treatment with pentostatin (deoxycoformycin) alone.     

Expression and function of c-kit receptor in bone marrow mononuclear cells of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes

目的　了解骨髓增生异常综合征 (MDS)骨髓单个核细胞c kit受体的表达与功能。方法　采用免疫荧光方法测定c kit受体蛋白 (CD117)的表达 ;逆转录 聚合酶链反应方法测定c kitmRNA的表达 ;细胞培养检测c kit受体的功能。结果　CD117表达率正常人为 3 0 4 %± 1 4 9% ,MDS患者为 8 58%± 5 2 8% ,两者差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5) ;RA患者为 5 12 %± 2 13% ) ,RAEB RAEB t患者为 10 0 1%± 5 0 7% ,两者差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5) ;MDS继发白血病患者为 32 4 3%± 18 16 %。MDS患者c kit基因mRNA表达与CD117表达相一致。正常骨髓单个核细胞体外半固体培养 ,在加入造血干细胞因子、白细胞介素 3、红细胞生成素 (SCF IL 3 Epo)后形成的粒 巨噬细胞集落 (CFU GM)较仅加入IL 3 Epo显著增多 (P <0 0 5) ,红系爆式集落 (BFU E)数量极显著增多 ,且BFU E体积显著增大(P <0 0 1)。MDS患者在上述相同条件下CFU GM数量无明显变化 (P >0 0 5) ,与正常对照比较 ,CFU GM和BFU E数量均显著减少 (P <0 0 5)。结论　MDS患者骨髓单个核细胞CD117表达明显高于正常对照 ,且与病情进展相关 ;c kitmRNA表达与CD117表达相一致 ;MDS患者骨髓单个核细胞体外培养时 ,SCF协同IL 3、Epo促进造血干 祖细胞增殖分化能力较正常对照明     

MDS患者P15基因高度甲基化的研究

目的 :研究P15基因通过甲基化失活在骨髓增生异常综合征 (MDS)发病中的作用。方法 :用甲基化敏感的限制性核酸内切酶消化 ,结合聚合酶链反应 (PCR)技术。结果 :2 0例MDS患者中发现有 9例 (45 % )存在P15基因高度甲基化 ,且多为高危MDS (RAEB、RAEB_t) (P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :P15基因可通过甲基化而失活 ,可能与部分MDS的发生及发展有关。     

Initial transforming event in myelodysplastic syndromes may be viral: case for cytomegalovirus

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal hematopoietic disorders which begin in a pluripotential bone marrow (BM) stem cell. This early stem cell is believed to acquire a growth advantage over its neighbors as a result of an initial transforming event, the nature of which has remained obscure. In this paper, we propose that pathogens such as those belonging to the herpesvirus family of DNA viruses may play a role in the initial transformation of the stem cell. The case for cytomegalovirus (CMV) as a representative of this family of viruses is discussed at length and a molecular mechanism which may be involved in the oncogenic activity of CMV is proposed. No proof has been presented to implicate CMV directly in MDS, but circumstantial evidence which supports such a possibility is provided.