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Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy 2023The approach to myelofibrosis (MF) has been revolutionized in recent years, overcoming the traditional therapies, often not very effective. Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
The approach to myelofibrosis (MF) has been revolutionized in recent years, overcoming the traditional therapies, often not very effective. Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi - from ruxolitinib up to momelotinib) were the first class of drugs with considerable results.
AREAS COVERED
Ongoing, new molecules are being tested that promise to give hope even to those patients not eligible for bone marrow transplants who become intolerant or are refractory to JAKi, for which therapeutic hopes are currently limited. Telomerase, murine double minute 2 (MDM2), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase δ (PI3Kδ), BCL-2/xL, and bromodomain and extra-terminal motif (BET) inhibitors are the drugs with promising results in clinical trials and close to closure with consequent placing on the market, finally allowing JAK to look beyond. The novelty of the MF field was searched in the PubMed database, and the recently completed/ongoing trials are extrapolated from the ClinicalTrial website.
EXPERT OPINION
From this point of view, the use of new molecules widely described in this review, probably in association with JAKi, will represent the future treatment of choice in MF, leaving, in any case, the potential new approaches actually in an early stage of development, such as the use of immunotherapy in targeting CALR, which is coming soon.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Janus Kinase Inhibitors; Primary Myelofibrosis; Antineoplastic Agents; Nitriles; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Janus Kinase 2
PubMed: 37341682
DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2023.2228695 -
Annals of Hematology Jun 2024Ruxolitinib is beneficial in patients with myelofibrosis (MF) and polycythemia vera (PV). Information on ruxolitinib adherence is scant. The Ruxolitinib Adherence in... (Clinical Trial)
Clinical Trial
Ruxolitinib is beneficial in patients with myelofibrosis (MF) and polycythemia vera (PV). Information on ruxolitinib adherence is scant. The Ruxolitinib Adherence in Myelofibrosis and Polycythemia Vera (RAMP) prospective multicenter study (NCT06078319) included 189 ruxolitinib-treated patients. Patients completed the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS) and Distress Thermometer and Problem List (DTPL) at the earliest convenience, after registration in the study, and at later timepoints. At week-0, low adherence (ARMS > 14) and high distress (DT ≥ 4) were declared by 49.7% and 40.2% of patients, respectively. The main reason for low adherence was difficult ruxolitinib supply (49%), intentional (4.3%) and unintentional (46.7%) non-take. In multivariable regression analysis, low adherence was associated to male sex (p = 0.001), high distress (p < 0.001), and treatment duration ≥ 1 year (p = 0.03). Over time, rates of low adherence and high distress remained stable, but unintentional non-take decreased from 47.9% to 26.0% at week-48. MF patients with stable high adherence/low distress were more likely to obtain/maintain the spleen response at week-24. Low adherence to ruxolitinib represents an unmet clinical need that require a multifaceted approach, based on reason behind it (patients characteristics and treatment duration). Its recognition may help distinguishing patients who are truly refractory and those in need of therapy optimization.
Topics: Humans; Primary Myelofibrosis; Nitriles; Pyrimidines; Pyrazoles; Male; Polycythemia Vera; Female; Prospective Studies; Aged; Middle Aged; Italy; Medication Adherence; Aged, 80 and over; Adult
PubMed: 38478023
DOI: 10.1007/s00277-024-05704-0 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2023Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) is a heterogenous group of hematological malignancies including polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary...
INTRODUCTION
Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) is a heterogenous group of hematological malignancies including polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). V617F is the most frequent driver mutation in all three entities, but in PMF and ET mutations in and are also frequent. Mutations seen in additional genes are also often the same regardless of subtype of MPN. The aim of this study was to analyze a population based MPN cohort for genetic variants with prognostic value that can guide clinical decisions.
METHODS
MPN patients from Western Sweden diagnosed between 2008-2013 (n=248) were screened for mutations in 54 genes associated with myeloid malignancy.
RESULTS
Mutations in the genes and correlated significantly with impaired overall survival but did not correlate to increased risk for vascular events, neither before nor after diagnosis. Rather, mutations in these genes showed an association with disease transformation. Several recurrent gene variants with allele frequency close to 50% were confirmed to be germline. However, none of these variants was found to have an earlier onset of MPN.
DISCUSSION
In conclusion, we identified gene mutations to be independent markers of impaired survival in MPN. This indicates the need for more individualized assessment and treatment of MPN patients and a wider gene mutation screening already at diagnosis. This could ensure the identification of patients with high-risk mutations early on. In addition, several genetic variants were also identified as germline in this study but gave no obvious clinical relevance. To avoid conclusions from non-informative genetic variants, a simultaneous analysis of normal cell DNA from patients at diagnosis should be considered.
PubMed: 37637067
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1190305 -
Clinical Cancer Research : An Official... Sep 2023Myelofibrosis (MF) is a clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by systemic symptoms, cytopenias, organomegaly, and bone marrow fibrosis. JAK2 inhibitors afford...
PURPOSE
Myelofibrosis (MF) is a clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by systemic symptoms, cytopenias, organomegaly, and bone marrow fibrosis. JAK2 inhibitors afford symptom and spleen burden reduction but do not alter the disease course and frequently lead to thrombocytopenia. TGFβ, a pleiotropic cytokine elaborated by the MF clone, negatively regulates normal hematopoiesis, downregulates antitumor immunity, and promotes bone marrow fibrosis. Our group previously showed that AVID200, a potent and selective TGFβ 1/3 trap, reduced TGFβ1-induced proliferation of human mesenchymal stromal cells, phosphorylation of SMAD2, and collagen expression. Moreover, treatment of MF mononuclear cells with AVID200 led to increased numbers of progenitor cells (PC) with wild-type JAK2 rather than JAK2V617F.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
We conducted an investigator-initiated, multicenter, phase Ib trial of AVID200 monotherapy in 21 patients with advanced MF.
RESULTS
No dose-limiting toxicity was identified at the three dose levels tested, and grade 3/4 anemia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 28.6% and 19.0% of treated patients, respectively. After six cycles of therapy, two patients attained a clinical benefit by IWG-MRT criteria. Spleen and symptom benefits were observed across treatment cycles. Unlike other MF-directed therapies, increases in platelet counts were noted in 81% of treated patients with three patients achieving normalization. Treatment with AVID200 resulted in potent suppression of plasma TGFβ1 levels and pSMAD2 in MF cells.
CONCLUSIONS
AVID200 is a well-tolerated, rational, therapeutic agent for the treatment of patients with MF and should be evaluated further in patients with thrombocytopenic MF in combination with agents that target aberrant MF intracellular signaling pathways.
Topics: Humans; Primary Myelofibrosis; Myeloproliferative Disorders; Janus Kinase 2; Cytokines; Immunologic Factors; Thrombocytopenia
PubMed: 37439808
DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-23-0276 -
Turkish Journal of Haematology :... Aug 2023The impact of allele burden on clinical course in Philadelphia-negative (Ph-negative) myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) is not clear. We analyzed the clinical impact...
OBJECTIVE
The impact of allele burden on clinical course in Philadelphia-negative (Ph-negative) myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) is not clear. We analyzed the clinical impact of allele burden in a relatively large series of patients with Ph-negative MPNs and long-term follow-up.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 228 patients with Ph-negative MPNs, including 118 with essential thrombocythemia (ET), 84 with primary myelofibrosis (PMF), and 26 with polycythemia vera (PV), were analyzed. The JAK2 MutaScreen assay was used to quantify allele burden in genomic DNA.
RESULTS
In PV cases, high allele burden was associated with a trend towards inferior overall survival. In ET, high allele burden was associated with lower hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, higher lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, larger spleen size, and increased bleeding and mortality rates. In PMF, high allele burden was associated with higher leukocyte counts and larger spleen size. In the entire cohort, high allele burden was associated with higher leukocyte and lower platelet counts, higher LDH levels, larger spleen size, higher percentage of bleeding events, higher death rate, and inferior overall survival.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that high allele burdens are associated with more severe disease in PV and ET. In PMF, high allele burdens were associated with more pronounced myeloproliferative phenotypes. In Ph-negative MPNs, high allele burdens were associated with more aggressive phenotypes. Our data with a long follow-up period support the possibility of allele burden being used as a marker for predicting clinical phenotype in cases of Ph-negative MPNs.
Topics: Humans; Alleles; Primary Myelofibrosis; Myeloproliferative Disorders; Polycythemia Vera; Thrombocythemia, Essential; Splenomegaly; Janus Kinase 2; Mutation
PubMed: 37584526
DOI: 10.4274/tjh.galenos.2023.2023.0169 -
Blood Reviews Nov 2023We report 634 patients who underwent unmanipulated haploidentical (HAPLO) bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in two Centers. The diagnosis was acute myeloid leukemia... (Review)
Review
We report 634 patients who underwent unmanipulated haploidentical (HAPLO) bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in two Centers. The diagnosis was acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (n = 251), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)(n = 107), myelodysplastic syndrome and myelofibrosis (MDS + MF) (n = 125) and chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (n = 151). Median age was 52 years (16-74). Graft versus host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis was intravenous cyclosporin (CSA) starting on day 0, oral mycophenolate on day +1, and post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCY) on days +3 + 5. Primary graft failure was seen in 23 patients (3,6%); 17 /23 (74%) were rescued with second HAPLO graft, and were alive at one year. The cumulative incidence of acute GvHD grade II-IV was 29% and 3% for grade III-IV; the cumulative incidence of moderate severe chronic GvHD was 23%: older donor and patients age were significant predictors of both acute and chronic GvHD. The overall non relapse mortality (NRM) at 2 years was 19%: 8%, 21% and 30% in patients aged <40, 41-60 > 60 years. Disease free survival (DFS) at 5 years was 64% for acute leukemia in first remission, 51% for acute leukemia CR2, 25% for acute leukemia advanced disease and 49% for MDS/MPN. We confirm, on a relatively large number of patients, that unmanipulated HAPLO BMT with PTCY on days +3 + 5, mostly after a myeloablative conditioning regimen, is followed by a low incidence of graft failure and grade III-IV GvHD; moderate severe chronic GvHD is 23% and NRM at 2 years 19%; 5 year DFS is influenced by remission status of the underlying disease.
Topics: Humans; Middle Aged; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Bone Marrow; Cyclophosphamide; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Graft vs Host Disease; Recurrence; Transplantation Conditioning; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
PubMed: 36435691
DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2022.101031 -
Current Hematologic Malignancy Reports Aug 2023Myelofibrosis (MF) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by bone marrow fibrosis, megakaryocyte atypia, and inflammatory cytokine overproduction, resulting in... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Myelofibrosis (MF) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by bone marrow fibrosis, megakaryocyte atypia, and inflammatory cytokine overproduction, resulting in progressive cytopenias, splenomegaly, and high symptom burden. Current backbone of care includes JAK inhibitor (JAKi) therapy, which offers limited benefits and significant discontinuation rates. Targeting the epigenetic modifiers bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins is a novel approach for harnessing the expression of genes involved in critical oncogenic signalling pathways implicated in MF and other malignancies. Here, we review preclinical and clinical data on Pelabresib (CPI-0610), an investigational oral small-molecule potent BET-inhibitor being explored in MF.
RECENT FINDINGS
BET inhibition has been shown to target multiple MF driver mechanisms in preclinical studies, with synergistic results using combination therapy with JAKi. Pelabresib is currently being evaluated in the phase II MANIFEST study as monotherapy and in combination with ruxolitinib for MF. Interim data showed favourable responses in symptoms and spleen volume after 24 weeks of treatment, with correlated improvements in bone marrow fibrosis and mutant allele fraction reduction. Based on these encouraging results, the Phase III MANIFEST-2 study was initiated. Pelabresib offers a much-needed innovative treatment approach for patients with MF, either as monotherapy or in combination with the current standard of care.
Topics: Humans; Primary Myelofibrosis; Antineoplastic Agents; Benzazepines; Isoxazoles
PubMed: 37195585
DOI: 10.1007/s11899-023-00696-6 -
American Journal of Hematology Jan 2024Contemporary risk models in primary myelofibrosis (PMF) include the mutation (MIPSS70) and mutation/karyotype enhanced (MIPSS70 plus/v2.0) international prognostic...
The prognostic contribution of CBL, NRAS, KRAS, RUNX1, and TP53 mutations to mutation-enhanced international prognostic score systems (MIPSS70/plus/plus v2.0) for primary myelofibrosis.
Contemporary risk models in primary myelofibrosis (PMF) include the mutation (MIPSS70) and mutation/karyotype enhanced (MIPSS70 plus/v2.0) international prognostic scoring systems. High molecular risk (HMR) mutations incorporated in one or both of these models include ASXL1, SRSF2, EZH2, IDH1/2, and U2AF1Q157; the current study examines additional prognostic contribution from more recently described HMR mutations, including CBL, NRAS, KRAS, RUNX1, and TP53. In a cohort of 363 informative cases (median age 58 years; 60% males), mutations included JAK2 61%, CALR 24%, MPL 6%, ASXL1 29%, SRSF2 10%, U2AF1Q157 5%, EZH2 10%, IDH1/2 4%, TP53 5%, CBL 5%, NRAS 7%, KRAS 4%, and RUNX1 4%. At a median follow-up of 4.6 years, 135 (37%) deaths and 42 (11.6%) leukemic transformations were recorded. Univariate analysis confirmed significant survival impact from the original MIPSS70/plus/v2.0 HMR mutations as well as CBL (HR 2.8; p < .001), NRAS (HR 2.4; p < .001), KRAS (HR 2.1; p = .01), and TP53 (HR 2.4; p = .004), but not RUNX1 mutations (HR 1.8; p = .08). Multivariate analysis (MVA) that included both the original and more recently described HMR mutations confirmed independent prognostic contribution from ASXL1 (HR 1.8; p = .007), SRSF2 (HR 4.3; p < .001), U2AF1Q157 (HR 2.9, p = .004), and EZH2 (HR 2.4; p < .001), but not from IDH1/2 (p = .3), TP53 (p = .2), CBL (p = .3), NRAS (p = .8) or KRAS (p = .2) mutations. The lack of additional prognostic value from CBL, NRAS, KRAS, RUNX1, and TP53 was further demonstrated in the setting of (i) MVA of mutations and karyotype, (ii) MVA of MIPSS70/plus/v2.0 composite scores and each one of the recently described HMR mutations, except TP53, and iii) modified MIPSS70/plus/plus v2.0 that included CBL, NRAS, KRAS, and TP53 as part of the HMR constituency, operationally referred to as "HMR+" category. Furthermore, "HMR+" enhancement of MIPSS70/plus/plus v2.0 did not result in improved model performance, as measured by C-statistics. We conclude that prognostic integrity of MIPSS70/plus/plus v2.0, as well as their genetic components, was sustained and their value not significantly upgraded by the inclusion of more recently described HMR mutations, including CBL, NRAS, KRAS, and RUNX1. Additional studies are needed to clarify the apparent additional prognostic value of TP53 mutation and its allelic state.
Topics: Male; Humans; Middle Aged; Female; Prognosis; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); Primary Myelofibrosis; Mutation; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Membrane Proteins; GTP Phosphohydrolases
PubMed: 37846894
DOI: 10.1002/ajh.27136 -
Blood Cancer Journal Nov 2023SRSF2 mutations are found in association with JAK2V617F in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), most frequently in myelofibrosis (MF). However, the contribution of SRSF2...
SRSF2 mutations are found in association with JAK2V617F in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), most frequently in myelofibrosis (MF). However, the contribution of SRSF2 mutation in JAK2V617F-driven MPN remains elusive. To investigate the consequences of SRSF2 and JAK2 mutations in MPN, we generated Cre-inducible Srsf2Jak2 knock-in mice. We show that co-expression of Srsf2 mutant reduced red blood cell, neutrophil, and platelet counts, attenuated splenomegaly but did not induce bone marrow fibrosis in Jak2 mice. Furthermore, co-expression of Srsf2 diminished the competitiveness of Jak2 mutant hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. We found that Srsf2 mutant reduced the TGF-β levels but increased the expression of S100A8 and S100A9 in Jak2 mice. Furthermore, enforced expression of S100A9 in Jak2 mice bone marrow significantly reduced the red blood cell, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels. Overall, these data suggest that concurrent expression of Srsf2 and Jak2 mutants reduces erythropoiesis but does not promote the development of bone marrow fibrosis in mice.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Janus Kinase 2; Mutation; Myeloproliferative Disorders; Neoplasms; Polycythemia; Primary Myelofibrosis; Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors
PubMed: 38012156
DOI: 10.1038/s41408-023-00947-y -
British Journal of Haematology Jan 2024Evidence-based guidelines for rare diseases, such as myelofibrosis (MF), continue to prove challenging to develop, and decision-making for MF is complex. The British...
Evidence-based guidelines for rare diseases, such as myelofibrosis (MF), continue to prove challenging to develop, and decision-making for MF is complex. The British Society for Haematology (BSH) has created a pragmatic symptom-guided risk-adapted framework on all aspects of management of MF and shared best practices on the use of JAK inhibitors, transplantation and other conventional therapies in the management of myelofibrosis. Commentary on: McLornan et al. The management of myelofibrosis: A British Society for Haematology Guideline. Br J Haematol 2024;204:136-150.
Topics: Humans; Primary Myelofibrosis; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Janus Kinase Inhibitors
PubMed: 38083995
DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19257