Back to Authors

Guglielmelli, Paola

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1809-284X

A5013539196 | I4210115393

Mayo Clinic

Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi

Citations 67

LNK Mutation Studies In Chronic- and Blast-Phase Myeloproliferative Neoplasms and JAK2 Mutation-Negative Erythrocytosis

Blood | October 12, 2019 | Volume: 116 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 4105-4105

10.1182/blood.v116.21.4105.4105

Abstract Abstract 4105 Background: JAK2 mutations are found in approximately 99% of patients with polycythemia vera (PV) and 60% of those with essential thrombocythemia (ET) or primary myelofibrosis (PMF). It is currently assumed that other mutations relevant to JAK signaling contribute to the pathogenesis of JAK2 mutation-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). The same might hold true for some cases of “idiopathic erythrocytosis” associated with subnormal serum erythropoietin level (sEpo). LNK is a plasma membrane-bound adaptor protein whose function includes inhibition of wild-type and mutant JAK2 phosphorylation. LNK exon 2 mutations were recently described in two patients with JAK2V617F-negative ET or PMF. Both mutations involved the LNK pleckstrin homology (PH) domain; one was a 5 base-pair deletion and missense mutation leading to a premature stop codon (603_607delGCGCT; 613C>G) and the other a missense mutation (622G>C; glutamic acid to glutamine substitution; E208Q). Objectives: i) To estimate the prevalence of LNK mutations in chronic and blast phase MPN ii) To determine if LNK mutations are mutually exclusive of other MPN-associated mutations iii) To test the hypothesis that LNK mutations might contribute to the pathogenesis of JAK2 mutation-negative PV or otherwise unexplained erythrocytosis Methods: LNK mutation analysis was performed on bone marrow or blood cells using modified primers for amplifying the SH2 and PH domains, using previously published methods (Oh et al. Blood First Edition Paper, prepublished online April 19, 2010; DOI 10.1182/blood-2010-02-270108). Results: LNK mutation studies were performed in 172 patients; paired chronic-blast phase samples were analyzed in 26 cases. Diagnoses in the 172 study patients were as follows: 78 chronic-phase MPN (39 JAK2V617F-positive PV, 25 PMF and 14 ET) enriched for TET2, IDH, JAK2V617F, or MPL mutations, 61 blast-phase MPN (41 blast-phase PMF, 11 blast-phase PV and 9 blast-phase ET), 25 JAK2V617F-negative PV and 8 “unexplained erythrocytosis” associated with subnormal sEpo and negative for Epo receptor (EPOR) mutations. Ten novel heterozygous LNK mutations, all but one affecting exon 2 in the PH domain, were identified: 6 missense mutations involving codons 215, 220, 223, 229 and 234, one nonsense mutation involving codon 208 (622G>T leading to glutamic acid to a stop codon substitution; E208X), one synonymous mutation involving codon 208, and 2 deletion mutations involving exon 2 (685-691_delGGCCCCG) or exon 5 (955_delA). LNK mutations were most frequent in blast-phase MPN, occurring in 6 (9.8%) of the 61 informative patients; chronic-phase sample analysis in 4 of these revealed the same mutation in only one case. Mutant LNK was detected in chronic-phase samples only in 2 additional patients with blast-phase MPN. Among the 8 LNK-mutated blast-phase MPN cases, 7 had blast-phase PMF. The clinical phenotype in the remaining 2 LNK-mutated patients was that of an isolated erythrocytosis without overt features of PV. JAK2V617F was documented in 3 and IDHR140Q in 1 LNK-mutated patients. Conclusions: LNK mutations i) target an exon 2 ‘hot spot' in the PH domain spanning residues E208-D234, ii) might be most prevalent in blast-phase PMF iii) are not mutually exclusive of JAK2 or IDH mutations and iv) might be part of the “missing link” in the pathogenesis of JAK2 mutation-negative “idiopathic” erythrocytosis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The Impact of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs) on Patients' Quality of Life and Productivity: Results from the International MPN Landmark Survey

Blood | October 12, 2019 | Volume: 128 | Issue: 22 | Pages: 4267-4267

10.1182/blood.v128.22.4267.4267

Abstract Background Myelofibrosis (MF), polycythemia vera (PV), and essential thrombocythemia (ET) are myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) whose associated disease burden includes a range of debilitating symptoms, thrombosis, hemorrhage, and shortened survival. To enhance patient care, it is important to understand the impact of MPNs in patients' lives; however, little is known regarding how these conditions affect patients' quality of life (QOL), activities of daily living, productivity, and emotional well-being. The US LANDMARK survey (Mesa et al. BMC Cancer 2016) captured data for US patients. Here, we present an interim analysis of results of another MPN LANDMARK survey conducted in the rest of the world. Methodology MPN LANDMARK survey is a cross-sectional survey of MPN patients across 6 countries (Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Italy, and UK). Patients completed an online questionnaire to measure MPN related symptoms experienced over the past 12 months and the impact of their condition on their QOL and ability to work. Additional questions related to employment productivity and activity impairment (including absenteeism and loss of productivity over the past 7 days). Patients included in this interim analysis had completed the survey by July 18, 2016, with enrollment continuing in all countries. Results Patients: Overall, 437 patients had completed the survey (98 MF, 121 PV, 218 ET). For MF and PV, the male to female gender split was relatively even (54% male for each), whereas an expected greater proportion of ET patients was female (70%). Patients with MF were significantly older than PV and ET patients (mean ages, 62, 59, and 55 years, respectively) and more had been diagnosed within 2 years of experiencing their symptoms (83% MF, 67% PV, 71% ET). MPN Symptoms (Table): Most patients (94%) experienced MPN-related symptoms in the past 12 months. The most commonly reported symptom among all subtypes was fatigue (69% MF, 62% PV, 73% ET), incidence of other common symptoms varied depending on disease subtype (MF: shortness of breath [38%], bruising [36%], night sweats [35%], early satiety [33%]; PV: night sweats [36%], trouble concentrating [36%], trouble sleeping [34%], dizziness [34%]; ET: trouble sleeping [37%], dizziness [37%], bruising [35%], night sweats [35%]). When asked which symptom patients would most like to have resolved, most patients preferred to have feeling of fatigue/tiredness improved across all disease subtypes (31% MF, 30% PV, 33% ET). Patients experienced an average of 6.4 symptoms at diagnosis but this progressed to an average of 7.6 symptoms since diagnosis after a median time of 6 years. QOL: A majority of patients indicated that they experienced a reduction in QOL due to MPN symptoms (87% MF, 71% PV, 73% ET) with 33% and 26% of MF and ET patients expressing that their condition has caused emotional hardship, and one-third of patients with PV reporting that they have felt worried or anxious about their disease (39%). MPN Impact on Activity/Employment: Patients reported a high impact on their ability to work, 12% reported voluntarily leaving their job, 10% had taken early retirement, 10% had moved onto disability living allowance, 8% moved to a lower paid job, and 2% experienced involuntary loss of work (Table). Of the patients who were in full-time or part-time employment at the time of the survey (MF [n=17]), PV [n=41], ET [n=98]), approximately, 40% had been absent from work within the past 7 days; this was the highest in MF patients (41% MF, 38% PV, 33% ET). On an average, over the past 7 days, MF patients had missed 3.1 hours from work, PV patients 2.3 hours and ET patients 2 hours. Across all subgroups, a substantial proportion of patients reported impairment in work (mean: 34% MF, 33% PV, 31% ET) and overall activity (mean: 46% MF, 42% PV, 39% ET). Conclusions This interim analysis from the MPN LANDMARK survey indicates that MPN patients experience a high burden of disease, including a high prevalence of symptoms, an increase in the number of symptoms from diagnosis and reduction of their emotional well-being, QOL, and ability to work. These results are consistent with those from the previous US LANDMARK survey with the addition of novel data on how MPNs impact work. When treating MPN patients, care should be taken in trying to manage a patient's disease burden, so as to minimize the impact on a patient's daily life. Further results from additional survey responses will be presented at the congress. Disclosures Harrison: Baxaltra: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte Corporation: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Shire: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Koschmieder:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Foltz:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Koehler:Novartis Inc. (Germany): Consultancy, Other: Training. Komatsu:Shire: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Boothroyd:Novartis: Employment, Equity Ownership. Spierer:Novartis: Employment. Ronco:Novartis: Employment. Taylor-Stokes:Adelphi Real World: Employment. Waller:Adelphi Real World: Employment. Mesa:Celgene: Research Funding; Galena: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; CTI: Research Funding; Ariad: Consultancy; Incyte: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding.
Driver Mutations and Prognosis in 1118 Patients with Primary Myelofibrosis

Blood | October 12, 2019 | Volume: 126 | Issue: 23 | Pages: 2801-2801

10.1182/blood.v126.23.2801.2801

Abstract Background : In primary myelofibrosis (PMF), ̴ 88% of patients harbor JAK2, CALR or MPL, with respective mutational frequencies of approximately 60%, 22% and 6%; ̴ 12% are wild type for all three driver mutations and are labelled as being "triple negative" (Blood. 2014;124:2507). It is now well-established that CALR-mutated patients with PMF display significantly better survival, compared to all the other mutational categories; in addition, preliminary data have suggested inferior survival for "triple-negative" cases (Leukemia. 2014;28:1472; Blood. 2014;124:1062) and the possibility that the favorable impact of CALR mutations might be restricted to CALR type 1 or type 1-like variants (Blood. 2014;124:2465). In the current study, we sought to clarify the prognostic impact of driver mutations, and CALR variants, on overall (OS) and leukemia-free (LFS) survival, in a two-center study involving 1118 patients. Methods: A total of 1118 patients with PMF from the Mayo Clinic (n =722) and University of Florence, Italy (n =396) were included in the current study. Study patients were selected based on availability of mutation information. PMF diagnosis was according to World Health Organization criteria (Blood. 2009;114:937). Previously published methods were used for CALR, JAK2 and MPL mutation analyses and determination of CALR variants (Blood. 2014;124:2465). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was considered from the date of first referral for the Mayo cohort and date of diagnosis for the Florence cohort. Leukemic transformation events replaced death as the uncensored variable during LFS analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression model was used for multivariable analysis. Results : Analysis was first conducted on the Mayo cohort of 722 patients (median age 64 years; 64% males). DIPSS-plus risk distributions were 14% low, 17% intermediate-1, 37% intermediate-2 and 33% high. All patients were annotated for JAK2/CALR/MPL mutations as well as CALR variants; 477 harbored JAK2, 139 CALR and 41 MPL mutations; 65 patients were triple-negative. The 139 CALR -mutated patients included type 1/type 1-like (n =115) and type 2/type 2-like (n =24). At a median follow-up time of 3.1 years, 439 (61%) deaths and 63 (8.7%) blast transformations were documented. In univariate analysis, survival in patients with CALR type 1/type 1-like mutations was significantly longer than every other mutational category: HR (95% CI) were for triple-negative 2.7 (1.8-4.0), JAK2 2.7 (2.0-3.7), CALR type 2/type 2-like 2.3 (1.3-4.2) and MPL 1.9 (1.1-3.1) (Figure 1); these differences were sustained during multivariable analysis that included ASXL1 mutations (n =480) and DIPSS-plus, and were also apparent in the Florence cohort of 396 cases that included 251 JAK2, 53 CALR type 1/type 1-like, 21 CALR type 2/type 2-like, 50 triple-negative and 21 MPL mutated cases (Figure 2). There was no difference in survival among the Mayo cohort across mutational categories not including CALR type 1/type 1-like variants (p=0.33). Because specific driver mutations in PMF differentially cluster with age and sex, multivariable analysis including these two parameters was also performed and confirmed the significant survival advantage of CALR type 1/type 1-like over triple-negative, JAK2 and CALR type 2/type 2-like mutated cases. Based on the above information, we divided driver mutational categories into "type 1/type 1-like" (median survival 10.3 years) and "all other mutational categories" (median survival 3.9 years; p<0.01). The difference in survival between these two groups remained significant (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.5-2.9) during multivariable analysis that included both DIPSS-plus (P<0.01) and ASXL1 mutation (HR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.2). LFS was similar between these two groups (p=0.4) but it was inferior in triple-negative cases compared to CALR type 1/type 1-like variants (HR 2.8, 95% CI 1.3-6.2), MPL (HR 4.6; 95% CI 1.04-20.4) and JAK2 (HR 2.5, 95% CI 1.3-4.8) but not CALR type 2/type 2-like variants (p=0.56). There was no difference in LFS among mutational categories not including triple-negative cases (p=0.33). Conclusions : In PMF, driver mutations might be classified into two prognostically distinct categories: "favorable" (type 1/type 1-like) and "unfavorable" (all other mutational categories). In addition, triple-negative cases might be at a higher risk of leukemic transformation. Disclosures Pardanani: Stemline: Research Funding. Vannucchi:Novartis: Other: Research Funding paid to institution (University of Florence), Research Funding; Shire: Speakers Bureau; Baxalta: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau.
Effect of the Number of Prognostically Relevant Mutated Genes on Survival and Leukemia Progression in Primary Myelofibrosis

Blood | October 12, 2019 | Volume: 122 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 104-104

10.1182/blood.v122.21.104.104

Abstract Background The median survival (OS) of patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF; 6.5y) is significantly shortened compared to reference population (Cervantes et al, JCO 2012; 30:2981). OS is predicted by the four risk categories of IPSS, Dynamic-IPSS and DIPSS-plus score, nevertheless pts heterogeneity persists within these categories, necessitating improved risk stratification. We recently reported that pts harboring mutations in any one of the prognostically relevant ASXL1, EZH2, IDH1/2 and SRSF2 genes constitute a IPSS-and DIPPS-plus independent Molecular High Risk category (MHR+) characterized by significant reduction of OS and leukemia free survival (LFS) (Vannucchi et al, Leukemia 2013). The aim of this work was to analyze the impact of the number of prognostically relevant mutated genes on OS and LFS in PMF. Patients and methods Two independent cohorts are included, a “test cohort” from Europe, analyzed at diagnosis, and a “validation cohort” from Mayo Clinic, analyzed at any time after diagnosis. Mutation analysis was performed in DNA from whole blood or granulocytes using RTQ-PCR, HRM and direct sequencing; all mutations were confirmed at least twice. The prognostic value of the molecular variables with regard to OS and LFS was analyzed by Cox regression. Test cohort It included 490 pts (median age 61y; males = 301) risk stratified by IPSS into high (n=74, 15%), intermediate-2 (n=93, 19% ), intermediate-1 (n=147, 30%) and low (n=176, 36%). The median follow-up was 3.63y (95% CI, 0.06-28.33); 161 pts died (33.0%), of whom 76 (15.6%) had progressed to acute leukemia after a median of 3.4y (0.04-28.3) from diagnosis. One hundred forty-six pts (29.8%) presented at least one of the four aforementioned mutated genes and were classified as MHR+. The OS of MHR+ pts was significantly reduced compared to patients with no mutations (n=344): 80.7 vs 148.9 mo (HR 2.2, CI95% 1.6-3.03). One hundred twelve (22.8%) pts had 1 mutation and 34 (6.9%) had 2 or more mutations. In univariate analysis presence of 2 or more mutated genes was significantly more detrimental for OS (29.5mo; HR 4.12, IC95% 2.6-6.4) than having 1 mutated gene (84.2mo; HR 1.8, IC95% 1.2-2.5) compared with having no mutations (148.9mo). Multivariate analysis results adjusted for IPSS indicated that having two or more mutations was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR 2.9, 95% CI 1.8-4.5). Notably, the prognostic relevance of harboring two or more mutations involved both lower (low and intermediate-1; HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.3-2.6) and higher (intermediate-2 and high; HR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1) categories of IPSS. Also LFS resulted significantly shorter (129mo; HR 3.1, 95%CI 1.9-4.8) in MHR+ pts compared with pts with no adverse mutations (323mo). Having 2 or more mutations correlated with greater reduction of LFS (79.6mo; HR 7.02, CI95% 3.9-12.6) than having one mutation only (133.9mo; HR 2.2, IC95% 1.3-3.7) as compared with no mutations (323.2mo). Multivariate analysis showed that IPSS high risk category (HR 4.5; 95% CI 2.3-8.8) and two or more mutated genes (HR 5.3; 95% CI 2.9-9.8) predicted independently for a significant reduction in LFS. The negative impact on LFS of having 2 or more mutated genes compared to one or no mutations was maintained in the lower (HR 6.4, 95% CI 2.6-15.2) and higher (HR 5.5, 95% CI 2.3-12.8) risk categories. Validation cohort Validation cohort included 262 patients (median age 64 years; males = 167) risk stratified by DIPSS-plus into high (n=89, 34%), intermediate-2 (n=92, 35%), intermediate-1 (n=46, 18%) and low (n=34, 13%). One hundred forty-six pts (56%) displayed none of the four aforementioned mutations, 93 (36%) harbored one mutation whereas 23 (9%) harbored two or more mutations. In univariate analysis, having two or more mutations (HR 3.7; 95% CI 2.2-6.1) was significantly more detrimental for OS than having no mutations, which is more favorable than having one mutation (HR 1.9; 95% CI 1.4-2.7). When adjusted for DIPSS-plus, the presence of two or more mutations retained its significance (HR 2.1; 95% CI 1.3-3.6) and outperformed ASXL1 mutation alone in its prognostic relevance Conclusions Overall, these results show that the number of prognostically relevant mutated genes correlate with OS and LFS in pts with PMF, suggesting that screening for these mutations might help to improve risk stratification. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis Associated With Myeloproliferative Neoplasms. A Study Of The IWG-MRT In 475 Subjects

Blood | October 12, 2019 | Volume: 122 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 1582-1582

10.1182/blood.v122.21.1582.1582

Abstract Philadelphia-negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) include Polycythemia Vera (PV), Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) and Myelofibrosis Primary (PMF) and secondary to PV and ET (PPV-, PET-MF); included are also some less characterized entities defined as unclassified MPN (U-MPN). Risk of arterial and venous thrombosis is increased in MPN patients, and thrombosis is one of most important causes of mortality and morbidity. The risk of venous thrombosis in unusual sites, such as splanchnic vessels (SVT), is particularly associated with MPN; SVT can lead to complications such as portal hypertension, esophageal and gastric varices, ascites and hepatic failure. A recent meta-analysis reported that a MPN is the underlying cause of portal vein thrombosis in 31.5% and of Budd Chiari syndrome in 40.9% of cases (Smalberg, 2012). A significant association of SVT with JAK2V617F mutated MPN was reported (Dentali, 2009) but study of other correlations has been hampered by heterogeneity of available patient cohorts comprising relatively small number of cases. We conducted a retrospective multicenter study collecting clinical and biological data of patients (pts) with SVT associated with MPN diagnosed according to WHO2008 criteria, aiming to describe patients’ characteristics, trends and prognostic factors, and their potential implications for clinical practice. Data were collected from 15 international hematology centers in the framework of IWG-MRT. We collected 475 cases of pts with portal, splenic or mesenteric vein thrombosis (75.2%) or Budd Chiari syndrome (24.8%) associated with MPN. In 32% of cases, simultaneous involvement of portal (69.1% of total thrombosis), splenic (30.5%) and mesenteric (25.3%) veins occurred, and in 1.7% they were associated with Budd Chiari syndrome. Frequency of MPN subtype: 38.1% ET (n=181), 34.9% PV (n=166), 16.2% MF (n=77), 10.8% U-MPN (n=51). Median follow-up 87.9 mo (range 0.5-430); female 61.3% (n=292; P<0.0001 vs male); median age at MPN diagnosis (dg) 44.4 y (range 12-90), at SVT dg 44.9 y (range 17-85). In 229 cases (48%) MPN and SVT dg were coincident, while in 104 (22%) SVT occurred before MPN dg (median 40 mo, range 5-335) and in 129 (27%) during MPN follow up (median 79 mo, range 5-394). JAK2V617F mutational status is available for 361 pts: 99% PV, 84.7% ET, 88.1% PMF and 92.9% U-MPN pts were JAK2V617F positive, with a mean allele burden of 56±27.4%, 33.1±25.5%, 39.3±19.4% and 23.8±11.9%, respectively. Erythropoietin-independent colonies (EEC) were present at diagnosis in 80/110 evaluated cases (72.7%), 38/47 PV (84.4%), 32/45 ET (71.1%), 8/11 PMF (72.7%) and 2/7 U-MPN (28.6%). A concurrent thrombophilic state was found in 38.9% of cases. A 12.3% of pts experienced a recurrence of SVT after a median of 29 mo (range 1-378.3) and 35.8% developed thrombosis in other sites (17.7% arterial, 19.3% venous). Esophageal varices were found in 70.6% from which 31.9% bled. MF transformation occurred in 32/166 PV (19%) and in 23/181 ET (13%) pts, with median time to progression of 122.3 mo (range 5.4-377.3) and 125.1 mo (range 39.3-255.3), respectively. Evolution to acute leukemia (AL) occurred in 12 pts (2.7%), of which 2 PMF, 6 PV and 4 ET. In 3 PV and 1 ET pts a PPV and PET-MF transformation occurred before AL. After SVT, 77% of pts received anticoagulation, 23.5% antiaggregant therapy and 1.5% both; 68.8% received cytotoxic drugs, 11.4% of pts were treated with trans jugular porto-systemic shunt. No differences in survival were noted with these approaches. Beta blocker therapy was used in 48.5% of pts and correlated with improved survival (p=0.041) At last follow up 70/473 pts (14.8%) died; causes of death are evolution to AL (16.4%), other cancers (14.5%), disease progression without AL (12.7%), SVT (10.9%), hepatic failure and venous thrombosis other than SVT (9.1% each), heart failure and arterial thrombosis (7.3% each), hemorrhage (5.5%), renal failure and infection (3.6% each). After 10 y follow up 8/166 PV (5%), 14/181 ET (8%), 14/77 PMF (18%) and 1/51 U-MPN (1.96%) pts died (p<0.01). Survival was significantly affected by occurrence of thrombosis other than SVT (p<0.0001) but not recurrence in splanchnic vessels (p=0.068). This large study confirms the strong association between JAK2V617F-mutated MPN and SVT and identifies the category of U-MPN as the prognostically more favorable; thrombosis at sites outside the splanchnic vasculature remains the leading cause of death. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Normal Karyotype Primary Myelofibrosis (NK-PMF): Clinical and Molecular Prognostication In 690 Patients

Blood | October 12, 2019 | Volume: 122 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 1587-1587

10.1182/blood.v122.21.1587.1587

Abstract Background The Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System-plus (DIPSS-plus) uses eight adverse factors to predict survival in primary myelofibrosis (PMF): age >65 years, hemoglobin <10 g/dL, leukocytes >25 x 109/L, circulating blasts 31%, constitutional symptoms, red cell transfusion need, platelets <100 x 109/L and unfavorable karyotype (J Clin Oncol. 2011;29:392). The latter two also predicted leukemic transformation. Most recently, an international study of 879 PMF patients identified ASXL1, SRSF2, EZH2 and IDH1/2 mutations as inter-independent predictors of shortened overall or leukemia-free survival (Leukemia 2013Apr 26 doi: 101038/leu2013119. 2013). Molecular prognostication is now well established for acute myeloid leukemia with normal karyotype (NK). There is currently little information on clinical or molecular prognostication in NK-PMF. Methods Diagnosis of PMF was according to WHO criteria. The study population included all referrals to the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA or the University of Florence, Florence, Italy. Information on clinical and laboratory parameters and karyotype was available in all study patients, at time of referral, which coincided with time of sample collection for mutation screening. The current study considered only those patients with NK-PMF. ASXL1, EZH2, SRSF2, IDH1/2 and JAK2 mutations were performed on variable number of patients depending on bone marrow or granulocyte DNA availability. Clinical parameters examined for prognostic relevance included those listed for DIPSS-plus, less unfavorable karyotype. Results A total of 690 patients with NK-PMF patients were studied. Median age was 65 years (14-89). The percentage of patients with age >65 years was 48%, red cell transfusion dependent 35%, hemoglobin <10 g/dL 49%, platelets <100 x 10(9)/L 19%, leukocyte count >25 x 10(9)/L 15%, circulating blasts ≥1% 49% and constitutional symptoms 33%. At a median follow-up of 29 months, 351 (51%) deaths and 39 (6%) leukemic transformations were recorded. Mutational frequencies and clinical correlates The respective frequencies (mutated/number of patients studied) of JAK2V617F, ASXL1, EZH2, SRSF2 and IDH1/2 mutations were 60% (284/473), 34% (72/214), 8% (14/179), 15% (37/249) and 5% (14/262). There was no significant association between JAK2V617F and any one of the aforementioned mutations. Inter-mutation association was evident only between SRSF2 and IDH1/2 (p=0.0005). Each one of the DIPSS-plus risk parameters was examined for correlation with a specific mutation: ASXL1 was associated with leukocyte count >25 x 10(9)/L (p<0.0001) and circulating blasts ≥1% (p=0.0005); EZH2 with leukocyte count >25 x 10(9)/L (p=0.008); and SRSF2 with age >65 years (p=0.0007), transfusion need (p=0.04) and hemoglobin <10 g/dL (p=0.03). JAK2V617F was associated with age>65 years (p=0.003) and leukocyte count >25 x 10(9)/L (p=0.02). Predictors of overall and leukemia-free survival In univariate analysis, all 7 DIPSS-plus parameters, as well as ASXL1, EZH2, SRSF2 and IDH1/2 mutations showed significant association with shortened survival: When each of these analyses was adjusted for age, all except constitutional symptoms and SRSF2 mutations retained their significance. Multivariable analysis of the six age-independent DIPSS-plus variables identified all but transfusion-need as independent predictors of inferior survival. A similar analysis restricted to mutations identified ASXL1 and EZH2 as being independently adverse. When both mutations and DIPSS-plus variables were included in the multivariable model, only four parameters remained significant: age >65 years (HR 4.2; p<0.0001), platelets <100 x 10(9)/L (HR 3.4; p<0.0001), ASXL1 mutations (HR 2.2; p=0.0001) and EZH2 mutations (HR 2.7; p=0.001). A similar analysis identified SRSF2 mutations (HR 5.9; p=0.0003) and platelets <100 x 10(9)/L (HR 4.3; p=0.005) as the only predictors of leukemia-free survival. Conclusions In NK-PMF, molecular markers might be prognostically more useful than conventional models that rely on clinical features. In the current study, thrombocytopenia was the only clinical variable, other than age, with additional value to molecular prediction of survival and leukemic transformation. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Mayo alliance prognostic system for mastocytosis: clinical and hybrid clinical-molecular models

Blood Advances | November 9, 2018 | Volume: 2 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 2964-2972

10.1182/bloodadvances.2018026245 | PMID 30413432

Abstract Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a clinically heterogeneous disease with prognosis chiefly assigned based on World Health Organization (WHO) morphologic subclassification. We assessed the feasibility of developing contemporary risk models for SM based on clinical and integrated clinical-genetics information. Diagnosis of SM was per WHO criteria, and karyotype and next-generation sequencing data were available in a subset of the total 580 patients (median age, 55 years; range, 18-88 years) seen at the Mayo Clinic between 1968 and 2015. Morphologic subcategories were indolent/smoldering in 291 (50%) and “advanced” in 289 (50%): SM with an associated hematological neoplasm in 199, aggressive SM in 85, and mast cell leukemia in 5. Multivariable analysis of clinical variables identified age &gt;60 years, advanced SM, thrombocytopenia &lt;150 × 109/L, anemia below sex-adjusted normal, and increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as independent risk factors for survival; respective hazard ratios (HRs) 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were 2.5 (1.9-3.4), 2.7 (1.8-4.0), 2.5 (1.9-3.4), 2.2 (1.6-3.1), and 2.1 (1.5-3.0). In addition, ASXL1 (HR, 4.5; 95% CI, 2.6-7.6), RUNX1 (HR, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.3-10.8), and NRAS (HR, 5.0, 95% CI, 1.5-13.2) mutations were independently associated with inferior survival. Combined clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular risk factor analysis confirmed the independent prognostic contribution of adverse mutations (2.6, 1.6-4.4), advanced SM (4.0, 1.8-10.0), thrombocytopenia (2.8, 1.7-4.5), increased ALP (2.1, 1.2-4.0), and age &gt;60 years (2.2, 1.3-3.6). These data were subsequently used to develop clinical and hybrid clinical-molecular risk models. The current study advances 2 complementary risk models for SM and highlights the independent prognostic contribution of mutations.
MIPSS70+ Version 2.0: Mutation and Karyotype-Enhanced International Prognostic Scoring System for Primary Myelofibrosis

Journal of Clinical Oncology | April 30, 2018 | Volume: 36 | Issue: 17 | Pages: 1769-1770

10.1200/jco.2018.78.9867 | PMID 29708808

JAK2 exon 12 mutated polycythemia vera: Mayo‐Careggi MPN Alliance study of 33 consecutive cases and comparison with JAK2V617F mutated disease

American Journal of Hematology | December 24, 2017 | Volume: 93 | Issue: 4 | Pages: No page available

10.1002/ajh.25017 | PMID 29274140

Polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia: algorithmic approach

Current Opinion in Hematology | November 30, 2017 | Volume: 25 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 112-119

10.1097/moh.0000000000000402 | PMID 29194068

Purpose of review To describe an algorithm-based approach, whenever available, to the diagnosis, the risk stratification criteria informing therapy and the current management of polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia. Recent findings Description of recurrent genetic abnormalities in driver genes, including Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2), myeloproliferative leukemia and calreticulin, a better appreciation of the key diagnostic role of bone marrow features, results of large epidemiologic studies and a few but landmark controlled clinical trials produced in the last decade, all resulted in a reappraisal of the approach to polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia. Summary The revised 2017 WHO classification of polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia allows early diagnosis and accurate distinction from other chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms, particulary prefibrotic myelofibrosis. The prognostic value of selected mutations is being appreciated and JAK2V617F mutation is currently incorporated as risk variable in prognostic system for essential thrombocythemia. Risk-adjusted stratification is used to select therapeutic approaches that include target agents. However, there is not yet a curative approach to these hematologic neoplasms, and although their management has much improved in the last decades, the associated morbidity and mortality remains significant and may be worsened by toxicities of therapeutic agents. Therefore, several clinically relevant endpoints remain unmet.