Ferritin level at diagnosis is not correlated with poorer survival in non RBC transfusion dependent lower risk de novo MDS

Role of Iron and Iron Overload in the Pathogenesis of Invasive Fungal Infections in Patients with Hematological Malignancies

Iron is an essential trace metal necessary for the reproduction and survival of fungal pathogens. The latter have developed various mechanisms to acquire iron from their mammalian hosts, with whom they participate in a continuous struggle for dominance over iron. Invasive fungal infections are an important problem in the treatment of patients with hematological malignancies, and they are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis of invasive clinical infections in these patients is complex, and the treatment, which must occur as early as possible, is difficult. There are several studies that have shown a possible link between iron overload and an increased susceptibility to infections. This link is also relevant for patients with hematological malignancies and for those treated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The role of iron and its metabolism in the virulence and pathogenesis of various invasive fungal infections is intriguing, and so far, there is some evidence linking invasive fungal infections to iron or iron overload. Clarifying the possible association of iron and iron overload with susceptibility to invasive fungal infections could be important for a better prevention and treatment of these infections in patients with hematological malignancies.

A Systematic Literature Review of the Relationship between Serum Ferritin and Outcomes in Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Anemia is the most common form of cytopenia in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), who require chronic red blood cell transfusions and may present high serum ferritin (SF) levels as a result of iron overload. To better understand the potential effects of high SF levels, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify evidence on the relationship between SF levels and clinical, economic, or humanistic outcomes in adult patients with MDS. Of 267 references identified, 21 were included. No studies assessing SF levels and their relationship with humanistic or economic outcomes were identified. Increased SF levels were an indicator of worse overall survival and other worsened outcomes; however, the association was not consistently significant. SF levels were a significant prognostic factor for relapse incidence of MDS and showed a significant positive correlation with number of blood units transfused but were not associated with progression to acute myeloid leukemia or the time to transformation. Higher SF levels were also an indicator of a lower likelihood of leukemia-free survival, relapse-free survival, and event-free survival. The SLR suggests that SF levels are associated with clinical outcomes in MDS, with higher levels correlated with number of blood units transfused, frequently indicating worse outcomes.

EnvIRONmental Aspects in Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Systemic iron overload is multifactorial in patients suffering from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Disease-immanent ineffective erythropoiesis together with chronic red blood cell transfusion represent the main underlying reasons. However, like the genetic heterogeneity of MDS, iron homeostasis is also diverse in different MDS subtypes and can no longer be generalized. While a certain amount of iron and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are indispensable for proper hematological output, both are harmful if present in excess. Consequently, iron overload has been increasingly recognized as an important player in MDS, which is worth paying attention to. This review focuses on iron- and ROS-mediated effects in the bone marrow niche, their implications for hematopoiesis and their yet unclear involvement in clonal evolution. Moreover, we provide recent insights into hepcidin regulation in MDS and its interaction between erythropoiesis and inflammation. Based on Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (TET2), representing one of the most frequently mutated genes in MDS, leading to disturbances in both iron homeostasis and hematopoiesis, we highlight that different genetic alteration may have different implications and that a comprehensive workup is needed for a complete understanding and development of future therapies.

Myelodysplastic syndromes: a review of therapeutic progress over the past 10 years

INTRODUCTION

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a range of bone marrow disorders, with patients affected by cytopenias and risk of progression to AML. There are limited therapeutic options available for patients, including hypomethylating agents (azacitidine/decitabine), growth factor support, lenalidomide, and allogeneic stem cell transplant.

AREAS COVERED

This review provides an overview of the progress made over the past decade for emerging therapies for lower- and higher-risk MDS (MDS-HR). We also cover advances in prognostication, supportive care, and use of allogeneic SCT in MDS.

EXPERT OPINION

While there have been no FDA-approved therapies for MDS in the past decade, we anticipate the approval of luspatercept based on results from the MEDALIST trial for patients with lower-risk MDS (MDS-LR) and ringed sideroblasts who have failed or are ineligible for erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs). With growing knowledge of the biologic and molecular mechanisms underlying MDS, it is anticipated that new therapies will be approved in the coming years.

In myelodysplastic syndrome cases, what should be the level of ferritin which has prognostic value?

OBJECTIVES

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a highly mortal disease in which anemia is unresponsive to treatment. In this study, the effect of basal ferritin values on prognosis and survival was investigated in MDS patients without history of transfusion.

METHODS

Data were retrospectively analyzed for 62 MDS cases. The cases were divided into two groups according to ferritin values.

RESULTS

The mean survival time was 61.1±4.8 months. During the follow-up period, 34 (54.8%) patients deceased. Median ferritin level was 358ng/mL. The serum ferritin (SF) level associated with mortality was determined as 400ng/mL (ROC area for SF was 0.731 with a cutoff value of 400; sensitivity and specificity were 70.7% and 68.2%, respectively) (P=0.002). There were 29 (46.8%) patients with serum ferritin levels of ≥400ng/mL. Patients with serum ferritin levels≥400ng/mL had low survival rates. Ferritin≥400ng/mL was associated with six times increased mortality (P=0.001).

CONCLUSION

Although the acceptable ferritin level at the start of chelation therapy is 1000ng/mL, the fact that 400ng/mL value is associated with survival in our study suggests that it may be useful to start chelation therapy in the early period. Further case studies on the subject are required.

Role of serum ferritin level on overall survival in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: Results of a meta-analysis of observational studies

BACKGROUND

The role of serum ferritin (SF) as a prognostic factor has been analyzed in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but the prognostic role of elevated SF levels is still controversial in lower risk MDS patients. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of all available published literature to evaluate whether elevated SF levels are associated with a worse overall survival (OS) among patients with low risk MDS.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A systematic bibliographic search of relevant studies was undertaken in accordance with guidelines for meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology. Electronic databases were searched through July 2016 for studies examining the level of SF as a prognostic factor in the adults affected by MDS.

RESULTS

Six articles were included in the meta-analysis. A significant association between OS and SF was achieved for the threshold of SF≥1000 ng/mL, when the only study that used SF cut-off ≥2000 ng/mL was not included in the meta-analysis (RR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.06-1.67). The estimated risk was 2.58 (95% CI = 1.41-4.74) when a SF cut-off≥500 ng/mL was considered.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings underlined a worse survival in patients with MDS who had higher SF levels. The association was stronger and achieved statistical significance after stratification of analyses in which we excluded cut-offs of SF level considered as outliers. These results suggest that negative impact on OS already exist at SF level ≥500 ng/mL. Prospective studies, are needed to better understand this relationship and, above all, to clarify whether earlier iron chelation therapy could improve patients' OS.

Serum ferritin is an independent prognostic factor in Chinese with myelodysplastic syndromes classified as IPSS Intermediate-1

BACKGROUND

The International Prognostic Staging System (IPSS) for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) was developed predominately in patients of European ancestry and is not validated in Asians. In a recently revised IPSS (IPSS-R), several new prognostic variables are included, i.e. age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score (ECOG PS), serum ferritin and lactate dehydrogenase. Chinese with MDS offer a unique opportunity to distinguish the prognostic impacts of haemoglobin (HGB) concentration, red blood cell (RBC) transfusions and serum ferritin because in China, patients rarely receive RBC transfusions unless the HGB concentration is <6.0 g/dl.

METHODS

We studied prognostic variables in 191 untreated Chinese primary patients with MDS intermediate-1 (INT-1) in the IPSS.

RESULTS

Serum ferritin level ≥500 µg/l at diagnosis was a strong independent predictor of survival. Although baseline serum ferritin level was inversely correlated with baseline HGB, it was the serum ferritin, not the baseline HGB level, that was significantly correlated with survival in Chinese patients. A new prognostic scoring system including the ECOG PS, absolute neutrophil level, serum ferritin, percentage of bone marrow blasts and poor karyotype was developed for Chinese with IPSS INT-1 MDS.

CONCLUSIONS

This revised scoring system identified a subgroup of Chinese with MDS and INT-1 IPPS who have a poor prognosis and may benefit from more intensive therapy.

Revised international prognostic scoring system for myelodysplastic syndromes

The International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) is an important standard for assessing prognosis of primary untreated adult patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). To refine the IPSS, MDS patient databases from international institutions were coalesced to assemble a much larger combined database (Revised-IPSS [IPSS-R], n = 7012, IPSS, n = 816) for analysis. Multiple statistically weighted clinical features were used to generate a prognostic categorization model. Bone marrow cytogenetics, marrow blast percentage, and cytopenias remained the basis of the new system. Novel components of the current analysis included: 5 rather than 3 cytogenetic prognostic subgroups with specific and new classifications of a number of less common cytogenetic subsets, splitting the low marrow blast percentage value, and depth of cytopenias. This model defined 5 rather than the 4 major prognostic categories that are present in the IPSS. Patient age, performance status, serum ferritin, and lactate dehydrogenase were significant additive features for survival but not for acute myeloid leukemia transformation. This system comprehensively integrated the numerous known clinical features into a method analyzing MDS patient prognosis more precisely than the initial IPSS. As such, this IPSS-R should prove beneficial for predicting the clinical outcomes of untreated MDS patients and aiding design and analysis of clinical trials in this disease.