Pediatric chronic myeloid leukemia in myeloid blast crisis

ABSTRACT Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) accounts for 2-3% of childhood leukemias. About 5% of cases present in a blastic phase of CML which clinically and morphologically mimics more common acute leukemias of childhood. We report a case of a 3-year-old male who presented with gradual onset swelling of the abdomen and extremities along with generalized weakness. Examination revealed massive splenomegaly, pallor, and pedal edema. Initial workup showed anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukocytosis (120,000/uL) with a blast percentage of 35%. Blasts were positive for CD13, CD33, CD117, CD34 and HLA-DR, and stained negative for Myeloperoxidase and Periodic Acid Schiff. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was positive for b3a2/e14a2 junction BCR-ABL1 transcript and negative for RUNX1-RUNX1T1/t(8;21), clinching the diagnosis of CML in myeloid blast crisis. The patient expired within 17 days of diagnosis and initiation of therapy.

Efficacy and safety of flumatinib in treatment of imatinib-resistant or imatinib-intolerant patients with chronic myeloid leukemia / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of flumatinib in the treatment of imatinib-resistant or imatinib-intolerant patients with chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML-CP).Methods:The clinical data of 9 CML-CP patients who received flumatinib after imatinib resistance or intolerance in Jining No. 1 People's Hospital from April 2020 to May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were evaluated for the hematologic, cytogenetic and molecular responses, progression-free survival (PFS), event-free survival (EFS), and adverse reactions.Results:Among 9 CML-CP patients, there were 4 imatinib-resistant patients and 5 imatinib-intolerant patients. The median duration of flumatinib exposure was 17 months (1-25 months). Except for 1 case who discontinued flumatinib early due to grade 4 thrombocytopenia and other adverse reactions, 7 of the remaining 8 cases achieved the best response at 3, 6 and 12 months of flumatinib therapy. By the end of follow-up in April 2022, 7, 7 and 6 patients achieved complete cytogenetic response (CCyR), major molecular response (MMR) and molecular response 4.5 (MR4.5), respectively. The median time to achieving CCyR, MMR and MR4.5 was 4.5 months (3-6 months), 12 months (3-12 months) and 15 months (3-21 months), respectively. Within 17 months (11-25 months) of follow-up, 7 of the 9 patients had EFS and 8 patients with continuous flumatinib had PFS. Among 9 patients treated with flumatinib, hematologic adverse reactions were observed in 6 cases, and grade 3-4 hematologic adverse reactions occurred in 2 cases. Non-hematologic reactions events mainly included diarrhea (4 cases), muscle ache (2 cases), fatigue (2 cases) and liver damage (2 cases), which were all grade 1-2.Conclusions:Flumatinib is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of imatinib-resistant or imatinib-intolerant CML-CP patients.

Brazilian chronic myeloid leukemia working group recommendations for discontinuation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in chronic myeloid leukemia in clinical practice

ABSTRACT Introduction: Treatment-free remission (TFR) is a new goal of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) therapy. TFR is feasible when the patient has achieved a deep and stable molecular response and met the criteria required to ensure its success. Treatment discontinuation should not be proposed to the CML patient if minimum conditions are not met. In Brazil, for example, molecular tests (BCR::ABL1) are not broadly available, making it difficult to monitor the patients adequately. Objective: In this sense, providing TFR recommendations for Brazilian physicians are therefore necessary. These recommendations include the main criteria checklist to start the TKIs treatment discontinuing process in patients diagnosed with CML and the population-eligible characteristics for treatment discontinuation. Method: Age, risk score at diagnosis, TKI treatment duration, BCR::ABL1 transcripts type, depth of the molecular response for treatment discontinuation, treatment adherence, patient monitoring and withdrawal syndrome are essential factors to consider in TFR. After TKI discontinuation, BCR::ABL1 transcripts monitoring should be more frequent. When a major molecular response loss is observed during the monitoring of a patient in TFR, the TKI treatment should be resumed. Conclusion: These recommendations should serve as a basis for medical professionals interested in proposing TKI discontinuation for CML patients in clinical practice. It is important to highlight that, despite the benefits of TFR for the patients and the health system, it should only be feasible following the minimum standards proposed in this recommendation.

Respuesta molecular profunda con ponatinib en leucemia mieloide crónica en fase crónica con resistencia a imatinib y dasatinib: Reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura / Profound molecular response with ponatinib in chronic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia with resistance to imatinib and dasatinib: Case report and review of the literature

RESUMEN Se reporta el caso de una mujer quien a la edad de 54 años fue diagnosticada de leucemia mieloide crónica en fase crónica; inició tratamiento con inhibidor de tirosina cinasa de primera generación, y evidenció falla por ausencia de respuesta hematológica y citogenética. A pesar del cambio de tratamiento a un inhibidor de tirosina cinasa de segunda generación (dasatinib), no fue posible alcanzar niveles óptimos de respuesta, documentándose la positividad para la mutación T315I en dominio ABL de la tirosina cinasa desregulada BCR/ABL, frente a la cual el único medicamento que muestra actividad es ponatinib. Luego de iniciar tratamiento con ponatinib, se evidenciaron niveles óptimos de respuesta citogenética y molecular, así como una adecuada calidad de vida de la paciente.

SUMMARY We report the case of a woman who at the age of 54 years was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase; she began treatment with a first-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and evidenced failure due to the absence of a hematological and cytogenetic response. Despite changing treatment to a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (dasatinib), it was not possible to achieve optimal levels of response, documenting positivity for the T315I mutation in the ABL domain of the deregulated BCR/ABL tyrosine kinase, compared to ponatinib, the only drug that shows activity. After starting treatment with ponatinib, optimal levels of cytogenetic and molecular response were evidenced, as well as an adequate quality of life for the patient.

Progress of immunological surveillance in the treatment-free remission of chronic myelogenous leukemia / 白血病·淋巴瘤

With the wide application of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), to obtain treatment-free remission (TFR) has gradually become the long-term goal for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Self-renewing leukemia stem cells during disease progression are related with the recurrence, and surveillance of residual leukemic cells is hypothesized to be one of the critical factors in successful TFR. On the way to obtain TFR, many breakthroughs have been made in innate and adaptive immunity of CML cells. This paper reviews the immune function of CML patients, the role of the immune markers in maintaining TFR, and the exploration of TKI combined with new immunomodulator therapy to achieve a greater degree of TFR.

Progress of treatment-free remission in chronic myeloid leukemia / 白血病·淋巴瘤

The application of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), a target therapy of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), has greatly improved the prognosis of patients with CML. However, uninterrupted treatment with TKI affects the quality of life and aggravates the economic burden of patients. Achieving treatment-free remission (TFR) has become the current research direction of CML treatment. This paper reviews the relevant foreign literature on the discontinuation of TKI in recent years.

Progress in molecular resistance mechanisms of targeted therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Resistance or drug-resistant recurrence of targeted tumor therapy is a complex and multi-factorial process, with the final result of tumor clones that can evade treatment or have relative proliferation advantages under treatment pressure being selectively retained. The BCR::ABL1 fusion gene is the primary molecular abnormality of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and the development and application of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) targeting the BCR::ABL1 fusion protein pioneered the era of small molecule targeted therapeutics. Several TKI have been approved for clinical application or in development. Although most CML patients manifest an excellent response to TKI treatment, there are still some patients with poor primary response or relapse with drug resistance. With the increase in the number of patients with long-term maintenance therapy and the sequential use of multiple TKI, the resistance of TKI has become more complicated. This article introduces the research progress of CML molecular resistance mechanisms in recent years and shares the relevant cutting-edge reports at the 63rd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in 2021.

Impacto econômico da interrupção do tratamento com inibidor de tirosina quinase em pacientes com leucemia mieloide crônica em um hospital federal referência em oncologia / Economic impact of discontinuing treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitor in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia at a federal hospital reference in oncology

Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto econômico da descontinuação do tratamento da leucemia mieloide crônica (LMC) com inibidores da tirosina quinase (ITQs) em primeira ou segunda linha. Métodos: O modelo incluiu pacientes com diagnóstico de LMC em tratamento com ITQs que iniciaram o tratamento até 2012, em condições elegíveis no ano de 2015. Foi considerado um horizonte temporal de cinco anos sob a perspectiva do sistema público de saúde. Custos associados ao tratamento, como medicamento, monitoramento e manejo de eventos adversos, foram analisados. A avaliação foi composta por dois cenários: o cenário referência, com uso contínuo do medicamento, e o cenário comparador, com a interrupção do tratamento medicamentoso. Ambos os cenários consideraram as tecnologias disponíveis no período de 2015 a 2019. A análise de sensibilidade propôs variações nos cenários com a finalidade de avaliar a robustez do modelo. Além disso, uma extrapolação para nível nacional foi realizada, utilizando dados epidemiológicos para a obtenção do número de pacientes. Resultados: Foram selecionados 268 pacientes que iniciaram o tratamento até 2012. Desses, 65 foram elegíveis à descontinuação. A análise econômica mostrou uma economia de R$ 670.558,10 no primeiro ano, uma economia acumulada em cinco anos de R$ 3.665.355,98 e de R$ 66.517.232,80 no contexto institucional e nacional, respectivamente. A análise de sensibilidade foi favorável em todos os cenários propostos. Conclusões: A descontinuidade do tratamento da LMC mostrou-se, economicamente, uma importante oportunidade sob a perspectiva do sistema de saúde em flexibilizar novos investimentos tecnológicos e/ou ampliação de cesso, além da melhoria na qualidade de vida do paciente.

Objective: To assess the economic impact of discontinuing treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with first or second line tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ITQs). Methods: The model included patients diagnosed with CML undergoing treatment with ITQs who started treatment until 2012, under eligible conditions in the year 2015. A 5-year time horizon was considered from the perspective of the public health system. Costs associated with treatment, such as medication, monitoring and handling adverse events were analyzed. The evaluation consisted of two scenarios, the reference scenario with continuous use of the drug and the comparator scenario with the interruption of drug treatment. Both scenarios considered the technologies available in the period from 2015 to 2019. The sensitivity analysis proposed variations in the scenarios in order to assess the robustness of the model. In addition, an extrapolation to the national level was performed, using epidemiological data to obtain the number of patients. Results: 268 patients who started treatment until 2012 were selected. Of these, 65 were eligible for discontinuation. The economic analysis showed savings of R$ 670,558.10 in the first year, accumulated savings in five years of R$ 3,665,355.98 and R$ 66,517,232.80 in the institutional and national context, respectively. The sensitivity analysis was favorable in all the proposed scenarios. Conclusions: The discontinuity of CML treatment proved to be, economically, an important opportunity from the perspective of the health system in making new technological investments and / or expanding access more flexible, in addition to improving the patient's quality of life

Myeloid sarcoma: an uncommon presentation of myeloid neoplasms; a case series of 4 rare cases reported in a tertiary care institute

Myeloid sarcoma (MS) is a rare extramedullary neoplasm of myeloid cells, which can arise before, concurrently with, or following hematolymphoid malignancies. We report 04 such cases of MS, diagnosed in this institute over a period of 6 years, during various phases of their respective myeloid neoplasms/leukemias. These cases include MS occurring as a relapse of AML (Case 1), MS occurring as an initial presentation of CML (Case 2), MS occurring during ongoing chemotherapy in APML (Case 3), and MS presenting as a progression of MDS to AML (Case 4). In the absence of relevant clinical history and unemployment of appropriate immunohistochemical (IHC) studies, these cases have a high risk of being frequently misdiagnosed either as Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) or small round cell tumors or undifferentiated carcinomas, which may further delay their management, making an already bad prognosis worse. This case series has been designed to throw light on the varied presentation of MS and the lineage differentiation of its neoplastic cells through the application of relevant IHC markers along with their clinical correlation.

Progress of hematologic malignancy related gene mutations in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disease characterized by heterotopic Ph chromosome. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) has significantly improved the prognosis of patients with CML. Cytogenetic and molecular monitoring for assessing the therapeutic efficacy of TKI to guide disease management has become an important component of CML therapy. However, the expanded genomic analysis of the disease diagnosis, transformation and drug resistance has not been fully explored in CML research. The paper reviews the frequency and type of gene mutations at initial diagnosis and the time of treatment failure and transformation, and investigates the relationship between genetic mutations and the prognosis of CML patients in the diagnosis and treatment.

Study on the mechanism of circular permuted tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand reversing the resistance to imatinib in chronic myeloid leukemia cells / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective:To explore the mechanism of circular permuted tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (CPT) reversing the resistance to imatinib in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells.Methods:Five patients with CML in the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from 2016 to 2020 were selected, and heparinized bone marrow blood samples were collected at the first diagnosis and imatinib resistance phase, and mononuclear cells were isolated. The mononuclear cells collected at the first diagnosis were named A1-E1, and the mononuclear cells collected after imatinib resistance were named A2-E2. Human CML wild-type K562 cell line (K562-W) was given gradually increasing small doses of low-concentration imatinib to obtain imatinib-resistant K562 cells (K562-R). K562-R cells were cultured with 20 μg/L CPT and these cells were set as CPT-K562-R group. The CCK-8 method was used to detect the half inhibitory concentration ( IC50) of cells for imatinib. K562-W and K562-R cells were used to establish CML xenografts nude mice models, then the nude mice were divided into K562-W, K562-R and CPT-K562-R xenograft groups. Imatinib was perfused orally in all three groups, and CPT was injected subcutaneously in the CPT-K562-R group at the same time. The tumor volume of the three groups of nude mice before and 4 weeks after treatment with imatinib, and the survival time of the three groups of nude mice were compared. Western blot was used to detect the changes of tyrosine protein kinase receptor B4 (EphB4) and myeloid cell leukemia protein 1 (Mcl-1) protein levels in bone marrow mononuclear cells, K562 cell line and transplanted tumor tissues of CML patients. Results:The expressions of EphB4 protein in A2-E2 cells of 5 patients with CML were higher than those in A1-E1 cells (all P < 0.01). The IC50 of K562-W, K562-R and CPT-K562-R cells for imatinib were (0.160±0.015) mg/L, (5.450±0.460) mg/L, (0.300±0.035) mg/L, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 390.65, P < 0.01). In cells of K562-W group, EphB4 and Mcl-1 proteins were expressed at low levels (0.54±0.02 and 0.70±0.08); in cells of K562-R group, the expressions of EphB4 and Mcl-1 proteins were enhanced (3.04±0.11 and 2.88±0.04); in cells of CPT-K562-R group, the expressions of EphB4 and Mcl-1 proteins decreased (0.57±0.03 and 0.38±0.04). Before imatinib treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in the tumor volumes of nude mice among the K562-W, K562-R and CPT-K562-R xenograft groups ( F = 0.39, P = 0.68), suggesting the transplanted tumors formed in nude mice were balanced; after imatinib treatment, the difference in the tumor volumes among the three groups were statistically significant ( F = 26.16, P < 0.01). The survival time of nude mice in the K562-W, K562-R and CPT-K562-R xenograft groups was (18.5±3.3) d, (10.0±2.4) d and (17.5±1.6) d, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 20.45, P < 0.01). In K562-W xenograft group, both EphB4 and Mcl-1 proteins were expressed at low levels (0.55±0.06 and 0.67±0.06); in K562-R xenograft group, the expressions of EphB4 and Mcl-1 proteins were enhanced (1.95±0.08 and 6.21±0.53); the expressions of EphB4 and Mcl-1 in CPT-K562-R xenograft group decreased (0.59±0.04 and 0.37±0.04) and were close to their expressions in K562-W xenograft group. Conclusion:CPT may enhance the sensitivity of CML to imatinib by inhibiting the expressions of EphB4 and Mcl-1, and this may be a targeted pathway for imatinib therapy.

Renal tuberculosis in an imatinib-treated chronic myeloid leukemia / Tuberculose renal em paciente com leucemia mieloide crônica tratado com imatinibe

ABSTRACT Imatinib, which inhibits tyrosine kinase activity of Bcr-Abl protein, is a standard form of treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Through its immunomodulatory effect it affects T cell function in a number of ways. It inhibits antigen-induced T cell activation and proliferation. Antigen-specific T-cells and macrophages are vital for protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Here we present a case of renal tuberculosis associated with imatinib therapy in the maintenance phase of CML. With granulomatous interstitial nephritis and positive tubercular DNA on renal biopsy, the condition was successfully treated with anti-tubercular therapy. This case provides support to the hypothesis that imatinib therapy in CML increases the susceptibility to tuberculosis and strict vigilance is required to enable its early detection and treatment.

RESUMO O imatinibe, um inibidor da atividade da tirosina-quinase da proteína BCR-ABL, faz parte do padrão de tratamento para leucemia mieloide crônica (LMC). Por conta de seu efeito imunomodulador, o imatinibe afeta a função dos linfócitos T de várias maneiras ao inibir a sua ativação e proliferação induzidas por antígenos. Linfócitos T e macrófagos antígeno-específicos são vitais para a proteção contra o Mycobacterium tuberculosis. O presente artigo relata um caso de tuberculose renal associada a terapia com imatinibe na fase de manutenção da LMC. Com nefrite intersticial granulomatosa e positividade para DNA de M. tuberculosis na biópsia renal, o paciente foi tratado com sucesso com terapia antituberculínica. O presente caso corrobora a hipótese de que a terapia com imatinibe na LMC aumenta a suscetibilidade à tuberculose, exigindo vigilância rigorosa para permitir sua detecção e tratamento precoces.

Analysis of the efficacy and influencing factors of nilotinib or dasatinib as second- or third-line treatment in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase and accelerated phase / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To explore the efficacy and prognosis of nilotinib or dasatinib as second- or third-line treatment in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the chronic phase (CP) and accelerated phase (AP) . Methods: From January 2008 to November 2018, the data of CML patients who failed first- or second-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) -therapy received nilotinib or dasatinib as second-line and third-line therapy were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 226 patients receiving nilotinib or dastinib as second-line (n=183) and third-line (n=43) therapy were included in this study. With a median follow-up of 21 (range, 1-135) months, the cumulative rates of complete hematological response (CHR) , complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and major molecular response (MMR) were 80.4%, 56.3%and 38.3%, respectively in those receiving TKI as second-line TKI therapy. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 78.7%and 93.1%, respectively. Multivariate analyses showed that Sokal high risk, female gender, the best response achieved <CHR on the first-line TKI-therapy, the interval from diagnosis to switching to second-line TKI ≥18 months, AP or hematologic failure, or non-specific mutation of BCR-ABL kinase domain before second-line TKI therapy, developing severe hematologic toxicity during the second-line TKI therapy were variables associated with poor responses or outcomes on second-line TKI therapy. With a median follow-up of 6 (range, 3-129) months, the cumulative CHR, CCyR and MMR were 95.7%, 29.3%, and 18.6%, respectively in those receiving the third-line TKI therapy. The 2-year PFS and OS rates were 66.8% and 93.8%, respectively. The patients with an interval from diagnosis to starting TKI ≥6 months, achieving no cytogenetic response on the second-line TKI, the interval from diagnosis to starting second-line TKI ≥60 months, and progression to AP before the third-line TKI therapy had lower probabilities of responses and unfavorable outcomes. Conclusions: The efficacy of dasatinib and nilotinib as second- or third-line TKI-therapy were active in the CML patients with TKI-resistance. The best response achieved on previous TKI-therapy, the disease phase before switching TKI, and the severe hematologic toxicity developing on the current TKI-therapy were associated with the responses and outcomes.

Analysis of the efficacy and influencing factors of nilotinib or dasatinib as second- or third-line treatment in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase and accelerated phase / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To explore the efficacy and prognosis of nilotinib or dasatinib as second- or third-line treatment in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the chronic phase (CP) and accelerated phase (AP) .@*Methods@#From January 2008 to November 2018, the data of CML patients who failed first- or second-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) -therapy received nilotinib or dasatinib as second-line and third-line therapy were retrospectively reviewed.@*Results@#A total of 226 patients receiving nilotinib or dastinib as second-line (n=183) and third-line (n=43) therapy were included in this study. With a median follow-up of 21 (range, 1-135) months, the cumulative rates of complete hematological response (CHR) , complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and major molecular response (MMR) were 80.4%, 56.3%and 38.3%, respectively in those receiving TKI as second-line TKI therapy. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 78.7%and 93.1%, respectively. Multivariate analyses showed that Sokal high risk, female gender, the best response achieved <CHR on the first-line TKI-therapy, the interval from diagnosis to switching to second-line TKI ≥18 months, AP or hematologic failure, or non-specific mutation of BCR-ABL kinase domain before second-line TKI therapy, developing severe hematologic toxicity during the second-line TKI therapy were variables associated with poor responses or outcomes on second-line TKI therapy. With a median follow-up of 6 (range, 3-129) months, the cumulative CHR, CCyR and MMR were 95.7%, 29.3%, and 18.6%, respectively in those receiving the third-line TKI therapy. The 2-year PFS and OS rates were 66.8% and 93.8%, respectively. The patients with an interval from diagnosis to starting TKI ≥6 months, achieving no cytogenetic response on the second-line TKI, the interval from diagnosis to starting second-line TKI ≥60 months, and progression to AP before the third-line TKI therapy had lower probabilities of responses and unfavorable outcomes.@*Conclusions@#The efficacy of dasatinib and nilotinib as second- or third-line TKI-therapy were active in the CML patients with TKI-resistance. The best response achieved on previous TKI-therapy, the disease phase before switching TKI, and the severe hematologic toxicity developing on the current TKI-therapy were associated with the responses and outcomes.

Diagnosis and treatment progress of chronic myeloid leukemia / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has made a milestone progress due to the development of the first generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor(TKI). Nowadays, most clinical trials in CML focus on discontinuation, even the second discontinuation, and the third generation TKI against T315I mutation. The conventional treatments are more focused on decreasing BCR-ABL transcripts rapidly. At the same time, the treatment management of some special patients has been valued.

Treatment progress of chronic myeloid leukemia / 白血病·淋巴瘤

A great progress has been made in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) owing to the first generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). Nowadays, more and more hematologists are eager to understand how to rapidly reduce the BCR-ABL transcripts level, and to get the standard therapeutic reactions, which emerges the second generation TKI. However, the first and second generation TKI have the potential of drug resistance, and thus the third and fourth generation TKI may resolve this problem. Imatinib drug discontinuation trial emphasizes the importance of digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the probability of the second treatment-free remission.

Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloid neoplasms in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia during tyrosine kinase inhibtor-therapy / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To compare the clinical features between the 2 cohorts developing myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeIogenous Ieukemia in Philadelphia chromosome-negative cells (Ph- MDS/AML) and maintaining disease stable in the patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid Ieukemia (Ph+ CML) who had clonal chromosomal abnormalities in Philadelphia chromosome-negative metaphases (CCA/Ph-) during tyrosine kinase inhibtor (TKI) - therapy.@*Methods@#We retrospectively analyzed Ph+ CML patients who developed CCA/Ph- during TKI-therapy from May 2001 to December 2017.@*Results@#Data of CCA/Ph- 63 patients, including 7 progressing to Ph- MDS/AML and 56 remaining disease stable were collected. Compared with those with stable disease, patients with Ph-MDS/AML had lower hemoglobin (P=0.007) and platelet (P=0.006) counts, and higher proportion of peripheral blasts (P<0.001) when the first time CCA/Ph- was detected, and more mosonomy 7 abnormality (5/7, 71.4%) when MDS or AML was diagnosed; meanwhile, trisomy 8 (32/56, 57.1%) was more common in those with stable disease. Outcome of the patients with Ph- MDS/AML were poor. However, most of those with CCA/Ph- and stable disease had optimal response on TKI-therapy.@*Conclusions@#A few patients with Ph+ CML developed CCA/Ph- during TKI-therapy, most of them had stable disease, but very few patients developed Ph- MDS/AML with more common occurrence of monosomy 7 or unknown cytopenia. Our data suggested the significance of monitoring of peripheral blood smear, bone marrow morphology and cytogenetic analysis once monosomy 7 or unknown cytopenia occurred.

Comparison of nilotinib vs imatinib as frontline therapy in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To compare the cytogenetic and molecular responses, outcomes and severe hematologic toxicity of nilotinib and imatinib as frontline therapy in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP) .@*Methods@#Newly diagnosed CML-CP patients were consecutively recruited from January 2006 to December 2018 who received nilotinib and imatinib as first-line treatment. Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.@*Results@#A total of 524 patients were classified into 439 (83.8%) receiving imatinib and 85 (16.2%) receiving nilotinib. Comparing with imatinib group, patients in nilotinib group were much younger (P=0.019) and more with intermediate and high Sokal risks (P<0.001) , WBC ≥100×109/L (P<0.001) , HGB<120 g/L (P<0.001) , blast cells in bone marrow (P=0.026) , splenomegaly (P<0.001) by physical examination at diagnosis, and longer interval from diagnosis to TKI treatment (P=0.003) . With a median TKI duration of 57 (range 3-153) months, the probabilities of complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) (P=0.011) , major molecular response (MMR) (P=0.001) and MR4.5 (P=0.046) were much higher in nilotinib group than those in imatnib according to each risk group. There is no statistical significance on probabilities of failure free survival (FFS) , progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) at 6 years between the two groups. Multivariate analyses showed that imatinib was an adverse factor associated with achieving CCyR (OR=0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.8, P=0.001) , MMR (OR=0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.9, P=0.032) and MR4.5 (OR=0.6, 95%CI 0.5-0.9, P=0.032) and poor FFS (OR=1.9, 95%CI 1.0-3.4, P=0.041) . In addition, Sokal score was an independent factor affecting cytogenetic and molecular responses, treatment failure, disease progression and survival. Male, WBC ≥100×109/L or HGB<120 g/L at diagnosis were significantly associated with lower cytogenetic and molecular response rates and/or poor FFS. The severe hematologic adverse events were not associated with different TKIs.@*Conclusions@#Nilotinib reaches to the faster and deeper cytogenetic and molecular responses and significantly improves FFS than imatinib in newly diagnosed patients with CML-CP.

Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloid neoplasms in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia during tyrosine kinase inhibtor-therapy / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To compare the clinical features between the 2 cohorts developing myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeIogenous Ieukemia in Philadelphia chromosome-negative cells (Ph(-) MDS/AML) and maintaining disease stable in the patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid Ieukemia (Ph(+) CML) who had clonal chromosomal abnormalities in Philadelphia chromosome-negative metaphases (CCA/Ph(-)) during tyrosine kinase inhibtor (TKI) - therapy. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed Ph(+) CML patients who developed CCA/Ph(-) during TKI-therapy from May 2001 to December 2017. Results: Data of CCA/Ph(-) 63 patients, including 7 progressing to Ph(-) MDS/AML and 56 remaining disease stable were collected. Compared with those with stable disease, patients with Ph(-)MDS/AML had lower hemoglobin (P=0.007) and platelet (P=0.006) counts, and higher proportion of peripheral blasts (P<0.001) when the first time CCA/Ph(-) was detected, and more mosonomy 7 abnormality (5/7, 71.4%) when MDS or AML was diagnosed; meanwhile, trisomy 8 (32/56, 57.1%) was more common in those with stable disease. Outcome of the patients with Ph(-) MDS/AML were poor. However, most of those with CCA/Ph(-) and stable disease had optimal response on TKI-therapy. Conclusions: A few patients with Ph(+) CML developed CCA/Ph(-) during TKI-therapy, most of them had stable disease, but very few patients developed Ph(-) MDS/AML with more common occurrence of monosomy 7 or unknown cytopenia. Our data suggested the significance of monitoring of peripheral blood smear, bone marrow morphology and cytogenetic analysis once monosomy 7 or unknown cytopenia occurred.

Comparison of nilotinib vs imatinib as frontline therapy in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To compare the cytogenetic and molecular responses, outcomes and severe hematologic toxicity of nilotinib and imatinib as frontline therapy in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP) . Methods: Newly diagnosed CML-CP patients were consecutively recruited from January 2006 to December 2018 who received nilotinib and imatinib as first-line treatment. Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 524 patients were classified into 439 (83.8%) receiving imatinib and 85 (16.2%) receiving nilotinib. Comparing with imatinib group, patients in nilotinib group were much younger (P=0.019) and more with intermediate and high Sokal risks (P<0.001) , WBC ≥100×10(9)/L (P<0.001) , HGB<120 g/L (P<0.001) , blast cells in bone marrow (P=0.026) , splenomegaly (P<0.001) by physical examination at diagnosis, and longer interval from diagnosis to TKI treatment (P=0.003) . With a median TKI duration of 57 (range 3-153) months, the probabilities of complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) (P=0.011) , major molecular response (MMR) (P=0.001) and MR(4.5) (P=0.046) were much higher in nilotinib group than those in imatnib according to each risk group. There is no statistical significance on probabilities of failure free survival (FFS) , progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) at 6 years between the two groups. Multivariate analyses showed that imatinib was an adverse factor associated with achieving CCyR (OR=0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.8, P=0.001) , MMR (OR=0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.9, P=0.032) and MR(4.5) (OR=0.6, 95%CI 0.5-0.9, P=0.032) and poor FFS (OR=1.9, 95%CI 1.0-3.4, P=0.041) . In addition, Sokal score was an independent factor affecting cytogenetic and molecular responses, treatment failure, disease progression and survival. Male, WBC ≥100×10(9)/L or HGB<120 g/L at diagnosis were significantly associated with lower cytogenetic and molecular response rates and/or poor FFS. The severe hematologic adverse events were not associated with different TKIs. Conclusions: Nilotinib reaches to the faster and deeper cytogenetic and molecular responses and significantly improves FFS than imatinib in newly diagnosed patients with CML-CP.