Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is marked by the BCR::ABL1 fusion gene. Monitoring tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy response is crucial for treatment management, thus, limitations in Reverse Transcription quantitative PCR's (RT-qPCR) accuracy and sensitivity led to the exploration of alternative methods like digital PCR (dPCR). This study evaluated dPCR efficacy in detecting Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) in CML patients undergoing TKI therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose Of Review: Myelofibrosis (MF) includes prefibrotic primary MF (pre-PMF), overt-PMF and secondary MF (SMF). Median overall survival (OS) of pre-PMF, overt-PMF and SMF patients is around 14 years, seven and nine years, respectively. Main causes of mortality are non-clonal progression and transformation into blast phase.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite increased understanding of the genomic landscape of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs), the pathological mechanisms underlying abnormal megakaryocyte (Mk)-stromal crosstalk and fibrotic progression in MPNs remain unclear. We conducted mass spectrometry-based proteomics on mice with Romiplostim-dependent myelofibrosis to reveal alterations in signaling pathways and protein changes in Mks, platelets, and bone marrow (BM) cells. The chemokine Platelet Factor 4 (PF4)/Cxcl4 was up-regulated in all proteomes and increased in plasma and BM fluids of fibrotic mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe evaluated RDW in a single-center series of 61 consecutive patients with primary and secondary MF at diagnosis and during treatment with ruxolitinib (RUX) and examined any possible prognostic impact. Elevated RDW values were present in all but 4 patients at diagnosis with a median RDW of 18.9%.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Intermittent treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is an option for elderly chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients who are often candidates for life-long treatment.
Materials And Methods: The Italian phase III multicentric randomized Optimize TKIs Multiple Approaches (OPTkIMA) study aimed to evaluate if a progressive de-escalation of TKIs is able to maintain the molecular remission (MR) and to improve Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in CML elderly patients.
Results: A total of 215 patients in stable MR/MR were randomized to receive an intermittent TKI schedule 1 month ON-1 month OFF for 3 years (FIXED arm; n = 111) vs.
BACKGROUND: Whether phlebotomy alone can adequately maintain target hematocrit in patients with low-risk polycythemia vera (PV) remains elusive. METHODS: In a phase 2 open-label randomized trial, we compared ropeginterferon alfa-2b (ropeg; 100 μg every 2 weeks) with phlebotomy only regarding maintenance of a median hematocrit level (≤45%) over 12 months in the absence of progressive disease (primary end point). In follow-up, crossover to the alternative treatment group was allowed if the primary end point was not met.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn patients with low-risk polycythemia vera, exposure to low-dose Ropeginterferon alfa-2b (Ropeg) 100 µg every 2 weeks for 2 years was more effective than the standard treatment of therapeutic phlebotomy in maintaining target hematocrit (HCT) (< 45%) with a reduction in the need for phlebotomy without disease progression. In the present paper, we analyzed drug survival, defined as a surrogate measure of the efficacy, safety, adherence, and tolerability of Ropeg in patients followed up to 5 years. During the first 2 years, Ropeg and phlebotomy-only (Phl-O) were discontinued in 33% and 70% of patients, respectively, for lack of response (12 in the Ropeg arm vs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe introduction of TKIs into the therapeutic armamentarium of CML has changed the disease paradigm, increasing long-term survival from 20% to over 80%, with a life expectancy now approaching that of the general population. Although highly effective, TKIs also have a toxicity profile that is often mild to moderate, but sometimes severe, with multiple kinases involved in the development of adverse events (AEs). Among others, cardiovascular AEs observed in TKI-treated CML patients may represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, and their pathogenesis is still only partially understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBCR::ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are classically represented by polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis. BCR::ABL1-negative MPNs are significantly associated with morbidity and mortality related to an increased risk of thrombo-hemorrhagic events. They show a consistent association with splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), either represented by the portal, mesenteric or splenic vein thrombosis, or Budd-Chiari Syndrome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Imatinib, dasatinib, and nilotinib are tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) approved in Italy for frontline treatment of chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML). The choice of TKI is based on a combined evaluation of the patient's and the disease characteristics. The aim of this study was to analyze the use of frontline TKI therapy in an unselected cohort of Italian patients with CP-CML to correlate the choice with the patient's features.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is a benign condition, listed among primary cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders. Its typical picture consists of relapsing-remitting papular lesions and it can be encountered in the course of a hematologic disease, at times representing its first manifestation. Hypereosinophilic syndromes are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by persistent peripheral blood hypereosinophilia that may lead to life-threatening organ damage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurrent treatment of essential thrombocythemia (ET) should primarily prevent thrombo-hemorrhagic events, without increasing the rate of fibrotic progression or leukemic evolution, and secondarily control microvascular symptoms. Unlike other classic BCR::ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms, ET is frequently diagnosed in adolescents and young adults (AYA), defined as individuals aged 15 to 39 years, in up to 20% of patients. However, since the current risk stratification of this disease is based on models, including that of ELN, IPSET-Thrombosis and its revised version, mainly applied to an older patients' population, international guidelines are needed that specifically consider how to evaluate the prognosis of AYAs with ET.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHere, we reviewed clinical-morphological data and investigated mutational profiles by NGS in a single-center series of 58 consecutive MPN-SVT patients admitted to our hospital between January 1979 and November 2021. We identified 15.5% of PV, 13.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTKIs long-term treatment in CML may lead to persistent adverse events (AEs) that can promote relevant morbidity and mortality. Consequently, TKIs dose reduction is often used to prevent AEs. However, data on its impact on successful treatment-free remission (TFR) are quite scarce.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who present a sustained deep molecular response (DMR) for a stable period of time might benefit from discontinuing tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). A significant number of patients seem able to reach this stage due to the availability of TKIs. However, many patients remain reluctant about TKI discontinuation and may refuse treatment interruption.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe evaluated CD34 cells in a single-centre series of 49 consecutive patients with myelofibrosis (MF) at baseline and during ruxolitinib therapy and examined any association with spleen response. The median (range) absolute number of circulating CD34 cells was 0.0835 (0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe spectrum of TKI-related adverse events (AEs) is variable. Pleural effusion (PE) is a frequent AE attributable to dasatinib treatment, while it is only rarely associated with nilotinib. The pathogenetic mechanism leading to PE during nilotinib therapy is still unknown and its management has not yet been defined.
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