Hypothesis: a possible role for interferon in the treatment of idiopathic myelofibrosis

Does anything work for anaemia in myelofibrosis?

Anaemia is a common finding at diagnosis in myelofibrosis, and becomes a symptomatic problem in most patients with time. There are several treatment options for specific anaemia treatment, none of which has been tested in large, randomized, controlled trials. However, as myelofibrosis is not a disease with spontaneous remissions, even non-randomized trials carry weight. In this survey, the existing evidence will be analysed, both for the commonly used treatments like erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, androgens and thalidomide and for the new drugs in the area, and conclusions will be drawn concerning standard clinical anaemia treatment in myelofibrosis, which according to evidence from studies has a 40-50% chance of response in patients with not too advanced disease.

Advances in the management of myelofibrosis

BACKGROUND

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a rare and serious hematologic malignancy classified as a Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN). The disease is more common in males and in older individuals. Of the MPNs, MF presents with the most severe morbidity and greatest mortality. Although the cause of MF is unknown, it is thought to occur from acquired mutations that target the hematopoietic stem cell.

METHODS

We reviewed the current literature pertaining to the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment of MF. The strengths and limitations of present treatment options as well as the emerging clinical experience with Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitors are explored.

RESULTS

Diagnosis is often one of exclusion and is facilitated using the World Health Organization or International Working Group for Myelofibrosis Research and Treatment criteria, depending on whether primary or secondary MF is suspected. Treatment is complicated by a lack of disease familiarity of general practitioners and the advanced age of presenting patients. Although allogeneic stem cell transplant offers a potential cure, most treatments for this condition are limited to symptomatic management, with little to no effect on survival. Appropriate patient assessment and risk stratification are essential for predicting outcomes and allowing treating physicians to tailor therapy accordingly.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant advances have been made in understanding the pathophysiology of MF, leading to novel therapeutic approaches. The discovery of the JAK2 mutation and the development of JAK2 inhibitors provide clinicians with a new effective treatment option. Ruxolitinib is the first JAK1/2 inhibitor approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with intermediate- or high-risk MF. In clinical studies, ruxolitinib produced a significantly greater reduction in spleen size and improved quality of life compared with placebo or best available therapy. Several future therapies, including combination therapies with ruxolitinib, are currently under investigation.

Comparative effects of interferon and hydroxyurea on bone marrow fibrosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia

Therapy-related changes of the bone marrow fiber content remain a controversial issue in hematopathology. This conflict of opinion firstly depends on difficulties to determine the quantity of fibers exactly (semiquantitative grading, morphometry, reference to cellularity). Secondly, the appropriate selection of patients with specific monotherapies including hydroxyurea (HU) and interferon-alpha (IFN) seems to present some problems. Finally, assessment of myelofibrosis is further biased by the different endpoints of sequential examinations. The latter shortcoming can be improved upon by the calculation of the myelofibrosis progression/regression index which describes the ratio between difference of fiber density and observation time. Using strictly defined therapeutic regimens and intervals between sequential trephine biopsies a stimulating effect of IFN administration on bone marrow fibrosis in Ph1+-chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has been found. This result is comparable with the failure of this agent to improve myelofibrosis (and splenomegaly) in a considerable number of patients with allied subtypes of chronic myeloproliferative disorders. This is in contrast to the effect HU exerts which is a more fibrolytic or even stabilizing influence on bone marrow fibrosis. This phenomenon is readily demonstrable by the assessment of dynamic features (myelofibrosis progression index). In addition, patients showing a rapid progression of myelofibrosis during IFN and HU treatment of Ph1+-CML are generally associated with a poor risk outcome and a significant worsening of survival.

Idiopathic myelofibrosis--an update with particular reference to clinical aspects and prognosis

Idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) is characterized by excessive accumulation of connective tissue in the bone marrow as part of a clinical syndrome which in its classical form is featured by leukoerythroblastic anemia and huge splenomegaly at the time of diagnosis. An acute variant of the disease exists being featured by pancytopenia, nor or minimal splenomegaly and a rapidly fatal clinical course. This review describes the relationship of IMF to other chronic myeloproliferative disorders and highlights current concepts of the pathogenesis of bone marrow fibrosis, implicating the intramedullary release of various growth factors, including platelet-derived growth factor beta. In a subgroup of patients bone marrow fibrosis may develop consequent to autoimmune bone marrow damage. The clinical and laboratory findings in some of the larger series of patients are presented and the reasons for the highly variable clinical presentation and prognosis are critically discussed. It is proposed that studies on prognosis in IMF are based upon simple prognostic staging systems, which should include the Hb-concentration, platelet count, spleen size and the presence/absence of osteomyelosclerosis on X-ray. Using these parameters the patients are easily categorized into three prognostic groups with highly different survival times.