Publications by authors named "Vannucchi A"

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) is currently the only treatment modality that is capable of curing myelofibrosis (MF). Although outcomes of AHSCT have improved vastly in recent years owing to advancements in HLA typing, conditioning regimens, and supportive care, it remains a procedure with a considerable risk in MF patients due to conditioning regimen related toxicity, higher rates of graft failure, infections, and graft versus host disease (GVHD). Recent progress in the treatment and prevention of GVHD with post-transplant cyclophosphamide has also rendered transplantation from alternative donors feasible and safer, thus improving access to patients without HLA-identical donors.

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Purpose: Anemia is a cardinal feature of myelofibrosis often managed with red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, which may contribute to negative prognostic, quality-of-life, and healthcare-related economic impacts. The Janus kinase (JAK) 1/JAK2/activin A receptor type 1 inhibitor momelotinib was approved for the treatment of patients with myelofibrosis and anemia based on clinical trial evidence of anemia, spleen, and symptom benefits illustrated using binomial response/nonresponse endpoints. In the present post hoc, descriptive analyses, the impact of momelotinib on RBC transfusion burden over time was further characterized across JAK inhibitor-naive and -experienced patients.

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We analyzed the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in 1508 patients with PV and found that those with an NLR ≥ 5 were generally older, had a longer disease history, and had higher cardiovascular risk factors, more arterial thrombosis, and more aggressive blood counts, indicating a more proliferative disease. NLR was an accurate predictor of mortality, with patients with NLR ≥ 5 having significantly worse overall survival and more than twice the mortality rate compared to those with NLR < 5. Multivariable models confirmed that increasing age, previous venous thrombosis and NLR ≥ 5 were strong predictors of death, further influenced by cardiovascular risk factors.

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This viewpoint summarizes findings from analyses of large personal patient databases of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) to assess the impact of thrombosis on mortality, disease progression, and second cancers (SC). Despite advances, the current incidence of arterial and venous thrombosis remains a challenge. These events appear to signal a more aggressive disease course, as evidenced by their association with myelofibrosis progression and mortality using multistate models and time-dependent multivariable analysis.

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  • Hepatoid thymic carcinoma (HTC) is a rare tumor that looks similar to liver cancer, specifically found in the thymus gland, and a new case has been identified in a 40-year-old man with polycythemia vera.
  • This case involved advanced analysis of the tumor's molecular profile, noting the presence of various proteins through immunohistochemistry and significant mutations identified via whole exome sequencing.
  • The study suggests that HTC may represent an evolutionary shift in tumor characteristics, combining features of both thymic carcinoma and hepatoid tumors, indicated by the unique mutation patterns found in the cells.
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  • * Before advancements in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), misdiagnosis was common, often failing to link symptoms with the underlying genetic causes.
  • * This report highlights the necessity of thorough genetic testing to correctly diagnose thalassemia, demonstrating how a reevaluation can reveal critical genetic factors that align with a patient's symptoms.
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  • - Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a serious syndrome linked to microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, low platelet count, and organ damage, particularly in the kidneys, and can be induced by the drug carfilzomib, used for treating multiple myeloma.
  • - The report details two cases of multiple myeloma patients who developed TMA while on carfilzomib treatment; both patients saw significant improvements in kidney function and platelet count after receiving eculizumab.
  • - In a review of 91 patients receiving carfilzomib, a 2.2% incidence of drug-induced TMA was found, highlighting the need for prompt recognition and management, which includes
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  • The study compared the effects of Ropeginterferon alfa-2b (Ropeg) and phlebotomy-only (Phl-O) on the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in 126 patients with low-risk polycythemia vera (PV).
  • Results showed that Ropeg significantly reduced NLR, driven mainly by a drop in neutrophils, and this reduction correlated with better symptom management and lower JAK2 variant allele frequency.
  • The findings suggest that monitoring NLR could be a useful tool for guiding Ropeg treatment in early-stage low-risk PV patients, particularly when distinguishing between treatment responders and non-responders.
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Polyethylene-glycolated -derived l-asparaginase (pegaspargase, pASP) is an essential component of paediatric-inspired regimens for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoma; nonetheless, is characterised by severe and potentially life-threatening toxicities, such as hypertriglyceridemia. Grades 3-4 events have been reported in ~1%-18% of paediatric patients and in sparse reports in adults. There is limited evidence on the safety of asparaginase rechallenge in patients experiencing severe pASP-related hypertriglyceridemia.

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  • Most patients with myelofibrosis who are treated with ruxolitinib eventually develop intolerance or relapse, leading to poor survival rates after stopping the drug; hence, the study evaluates fedratinib against best available therapy (BAT).
  • The FREEDOM2 trial was a phase 3, open-label study involving 201 patients with myelofibrosis who were either intolerant or had relapsed during ruxolitinib treatment, comparing fedratinib to BAT, with the main goal being the rate of spleen volume reduction after 6 cycles.
  • At the data cutoff, 36% of patients treated with fedratinib achieved a significant spleen volume reduction by the end of cycle
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  • JAK2V617F is the most common genetic mutation in Philadelphia-negative chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs), and researchers believe abnormalities in Chromosome 9 may influence the disease in patients with this mutation.
  • A specific group of MPN patients, called +9p patients, were found to have three copies of the JAK2 gene and nearby genes, leading to increased production of the immunosuppressive PD-L1 protein.
  • The study showed that these +9p patients have a distinct cancer profile, characterized by greater stem cell-like properties and an immune response that results in exhausted T cells, highlighting a complex interaction between +9p and JAK2V617F mutations.
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  • - A new framework for defining anemia severity and treatment response in myelofibrosis (MF) aims to improve clinical studies and comparisons as new drugs emerge in this area.
  • - The revised criteria will address gender differences in hemoglobin levels and update the definition of transfusion-dependent anemia (TDA) to align with current practices.
  • - The updated guidelines introduce specific eligibility thresholds for hemoglobin levels and establish distinct response criteria (major vs. minor) while maintaining a 12-week observation period on treatment.
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Despite 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.

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  • Some JAK inhibitors like ruxolitinib can worsen anemia in myelofibrosis patients; switching to momelotinib may be more beneficial for managing anemia while maintaining symptom control.
  • The SIMPLIFY-2 trial compared momelotinib with best available therapy (mostly ruxolitinib) in JAK inhibitor-experienced patients, revealing better transfusion independence rates in those switched to momelotinib.
  • Patients with lower baseline hemoglobin levels experienced greater improvements in mean hemoglobin and overall outcomes with momelotinib, suggesting it's a better option for those struggling with anemia.
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Myeloproliferative neoplasms represent a group of clonal hematopoietic disorders of which myelofibrosis (MF) is the most aggressive. In the context of myeloid neoplasms, there is a growing recognition of the dysregulation of immune response and T-cell function as significant contributors to disease progression and immune evasion. We investigated cytotoxic T-cell exhaustion in MF to restore immune response against malignant cells.

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  • People with essential thrombocythemia (ET) usually take low-dose aspirin once a day to avoid blood clots, but this isn't always effective because their platelet levels change quickly.
  • A study tested if taking aspirin twice a day would work better and found that it did help lower certain blood markers and symptoms over 20 months.
  • The results showed that twice-daily aspirin caused fewer major blood clots, didn't lead to significant bleeding problems, and made patients feel better overall compared to taking it once a day.
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The variant allele frequency (VAF) of driver mutations (JAK2, CALR) in myeloproliferative neoplasms is associated with features of advanced disease and complications. Ruxolitinib and interferon were reported to variably reduce the mutant VAF, but the long-term impact of molecular responses (MR) remains debated. We prospectively measured changes in JAK2 and CALR VAF in 77 patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia, treated with ruxolitinib for a median of 8 years, and assessed correlation with complete clinical and hematological response (CCHR) and outcomes.

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  • The phase 3b FREEDOM trial tested the drug fedratinib's effectiveness and safety in patients with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis who had low platelet counts and were previously treated with ruxolitinib.
  • Despite being cut short due to COVID-19, 38 patients were enrolled, and in the final efficacy analysis, 25.7% achieved the primary goal of spleen volume reduction, while 62.9% had the best overall response leading to symptom improvement.
  • The study found that fedratinib led to significant clinical responses with fewer gastrointestinal side effects compared to previous trials, and there were no cases of encephalopathy among participants.
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  • The ACE-536-MF-001 trial studied the effects of luspatercept on myelofibrosis patients, enrolling 95 participants divided into four groups based on their dependency on transfusions and anemia status.
  • The primary outcome measured was the anemia response rate, where 14%-26% of patients met the criteria based on their cohort, with significant hemoglobin increases noted, particularly in non-transfusion dependent patients.
  • Adverse events were common, with 94% of patients experiencing at least one; the most frequent were hypertension and other manageable issues, while the treatment showed consistent efficacy and safety results similar to previous studies.
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To recognize patients at high risk of refractory disease, the identification of novel prognostic parameters improving stratification of newly diagnosed Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) is still needed. This study investigates the potential value of metabolic and texture features, extracted from baseline 18F-FDG Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET) and Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography scan (CECT), together with clinical data, in predicting first-line therapy refractoriness (R) of classical HL (cHL) with mediastinal bulk involvement. We reviewed 69 cHL patients who underwent staging PET and CECT.

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