Hematology Times
5th International Congress on MPD & MDS
Pomalidomide treats anemia associated with myelofibrosis
Bone marrow biopsy
showing myelofibrosis The immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) pomalidomide works well in the treatment of anemia associated with myelofibrosis, according to Ayalew Tefferi, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In a phase 2 randomized, multicenter, double-blind, adaptive design study, Dr Tefferi evaluated the safety and therapeutic activity of pomalidomide. This drug has demonstrated significant activity in the treatment of refractory multiple myeloma and myelofibrosis. ... [Read Article] Is there a rationale for iron chelation therapy in MDS?
Bone marrow aspirate
showing MDS Is there a rationale for chelation therapy in MDS patients? asked Eliezer Rachmilewitz, MD, of The Edith Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, Israel. He posed the question at the 5th International Congress on Myeloproliferative Diseases and Myelodysplastic Syndromes held November 5-7, 2009. Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), particularly those with refractory anemia (RA) and refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RARS) with relatively long survival, are dependent on red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. That makes them potentially vulnerable to organ damage and life-threatening iron deposition, mainly in the liver, heart, and endocrine glands. ... [Read Article] JAK2 V617F can get lost in transformation from MPD to AML
Anthony Green, PhD
New research shows that patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) that are positive for the JAK2 V617F mutation can transform to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that is JAK2 wild type. However, researchers have yet to determine the exact mechanism by which this phenomenon occurs. Anthony Green, PhD, FRCP, FRCPath, of Cambridge Institute for Medical Research in the UK, presented this unpublished research at the 5th International Congress on Myeloproliferative Diseases and Myelodysplastic Syndromes, which took place November 5-7. ... [Read Article] Peg-IFN could become new standard therapy in MPD
Steven Jean-Jacques Kiladjian, MD, PhD
Updated results of the PVN-1 trial have researchers wondering if pegylated interferon alpha 2a (peg-IFN α2a) could replace standard therapy for myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs). Peg-IFN α2a elicited a hematologic response rate of 100% and a complete response rate of 91% at 1 year of follow up. The drug showed significant activity against the MPD clone, and only 8% of patients discontinued the drug due to side effects, which is superior to results typically seen with IFNs. ... [Read Article] There is no science to support conventional practices in CML
Hagop Kantarjian, MD
Conventional treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is in need of serious revision, according to a speaker at the 5th International Congress on Myeloproliferative Diseases and Myelodysplastic Syndromes. Hagop Kantarjian, MD, of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, said there is a lack of scientific data to support many of the practices common in CML treatment. And in fact, there is evidence to suggest these practices are inappropriate. ... [Read Article] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
