No abstract

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is defined by the presence of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) which results from a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 [t(9;22] that gives rise to a BCR-ABL1 fusion gene. CML occurs in 3 different phases (chronic, accelerated, and blast phase) and is usually diagnosed in the chronic phase. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy is a highly effective first-line treatment option for all patients with newly diagnosed chronic phase CML. This manuscript discusses the recommendations outlined in the NCCN Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of patients with chronic phase CML.

Purpose Patients with cancer often experience comorbidities that may affect their prognosis and outcome. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of comorbidities on the survival of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Patients and Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 600 consecutive patients with MDS who presented to MD Anderson Cancer Center from January 2002 to December 2004. The Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 (ACE-27) scale was used to assess comorbidities. Data on demographics, International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS), treatment, and outcome (leukemic transformation and survival) were collected. Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox regression were used to assess survival. A prognostic model incorporating baseline comorbidities with age and IPSS was developed to predict survival. Results Overall median survival was 18.6 months. According to the ACE-27 categories, median survival was 31.8, 16.8, 15.2, and 9.7 months for those with none, mild, moderate, and severe comorbidities, respectively (P < .001). Adjusted hazard ratios were 1.3, 1.6, and 2.3 for mild, moderate, and severe comorbidities, respectively, compared with no comorbidities (P < .001). A final pognostic model including age, IPSS, and comorbidity score predicted median survival of 43.0, 23.0, and 9.0 months for lower-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively (P < .001). Conclusion Comorbidities have a significant impact on the survival of patients with MDS. Patients with severe comorbidity had a 50% decrease in survival, independent of age and IPSS risk group. A comprehensive assessment of the severity of comorbidities helps predict survival in patients with MDS.

Nucleophosmin-1 mutations (NPM1+) occur in ∼30% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Although typically associated with favorable prognosis, the beneficial impact of NPM1+ decreases with increasing age in patients treated with standard intensive chemotherapy (IC) or hypomethylating agents (HMAs). This retrospective analysis compared outcomes of NPM1+ AML patients treated with 1 of 3 induction approaches: HMA plus BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax (VEN), HMA, or IC therapy. Composite complete response (CRc: CR + CR with incomplete count recovery) was seen in 96% (27/28), 36% (17/47), and 89% (204/228) of HMA + VEN, HMA, and IC patients, respectively (HMA + VEN vs HMA, P &lt; .001; HMA + VEN vs IC, P = .10). Older patients (age &gt;65 years) treated with HMA + VEN, HMA, or IC had CR rates of 88%, 28%, and 56%, respectively (HMA + VEN vs HMA, P &lt; .001; HMA + VEN vs IC, P = .01). Significant improvement in overall survival (OS) was seen in patients age &gt;65 years treated with HMA + VEN vs HMA (not reached [NR] vs 0.4 years; P &lt; .001) or IC (NR vs 0.93 years; P = .001). Older patients treated with HMA + VEN had OS of 80% after median 1-year follow-up, with estimated 2-year OS of 70%. In the multivariable Cox model analysis, HMA + VEN was associated with a 69% lower risk of death compared with IC (hazard ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.83; type I error–adjusted P = .038). HMA + VEN combinations demonstrated impressive results compared with traditional standard-of-care regimens in older patients with NPM1+ AML.

TP53 mutations are associated with adverse outcomes and shorter response to hypomethylating agents (HMAs) in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Limited data have evaluated the impact of the type, number, and patterns of TP53 mutations in response outcomes and prognosis of MDS. We evaluated the clinicopathologic characteristics, outcomes, and response to therapy of 261 patients with MDS and TP53 mutations. Median age was 68 years (range, 18-80 years). A total of 217 patients (83%) had a complex karyotype. TP53 mutations were detected at a median variant allele frequency (VAF) of 0.39 (range, 0.01-0.94). TP53 deletion was associated with lower overall response rate (ORR) (odds ratio, 0.3; P = .021), and lower TP53 VAF correlated with higher ORR to HMAs. Increase in TP53 VAF at the time of transformation was observed in 13 patients (61%), and previously undetectable mutations were observed in 15 patients (65%). TP53 VAF was associated with worse prognosis (hazard ratio, 1.02 per 1% VAF increase; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.03; P &lt; .001). Integration of TP53 VAF and karyotypic complexity identified prognostic subgroups within TP53-mutant MDS. We developed a multivariable model for overall survival that included the revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) categories and TP53 VAF. Total score for each patient was calculated as follows: VAF TP53 + 13 × IPSS-R blast score + 16 × IPSS-R cytogenetic score + 28 × IPSS-R hemoglobin score + 46 × IPSS-R platelet score. Use of this model identified 4 prognostic subgroups with median survival times of not reached, 42.2, 21.9, and 9.2 months. These data suggest that outcomes of patients with TP53-mutated MDS are heterogeneous and that transformation may be driven not only by TP53 but also by other factors.