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Straube J, Janardhanan Y, Haldar R, Bywater MJ. Immune control in acute myeloid leukemia. Exp Hematol 2024:104256. [PMID: 38876254 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2024.104256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a genetically heterogeneous disease, in that a multitude of oncogenic drivers and chromosomal abnormalities have been identified and associated with the leukemic transformation of myeloid blasts. However, little is known as to how individual mutations influence the interaction between the immune system and AML cells and the efficacy of the immune system in AML disease control. In this review, we will discuss how AML cells potentially activate the immune system and what evidence there is to support the role of the immune system in controlling this disease. We will specifically examine the importance of antigen presentation in fostering an effective anti-AML immune response, explore the disruption of immune responses during AML disease progression, and discuss the emerging role of the oncoprotein MYC in driving immune suppression in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Straube
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Rohit Haldar
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Megan J Bywater
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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2
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Hasselbalch HC, Skov V, Kjaer L, Larsen MK. Proof of concept of triple COMBI therapy to prohibit MPN progression to AML. Br J Haematol 2024; 204:16-18. [PMID: 37957927 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Patients with accelerated or blast phase myeloproliferative neoplasms have a dismal prognosis. The report by de Castro et al. provides important information on the rationale and prospect for a novel therapeutic approach combining interferon-alpha2 with 5-azacytidine and a JAK1-2 inhibitor (ruxolitinib) to be explored in well-designed clinical trials. Commentary on: Castro et al. Ratio of stemness to interferon signalling as a biomarker and therapeutic target of myeloproliferative neoplasm progression to acute myeloid leukaemia. Br J Haematol 2024;204:206-220.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vibe Skov
- Department of Hematology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Lasse Kjaer
- Department of Hematology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
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3
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Deng S, Pan Y, An N, Chen F, Chen H, Wang H, Xu X, Liu R, Yang L, Wang X, Du X, Zhang Q. Downregulation of RCN1 promotes pyroptosis in acute myeloid leukemia cells. Mol Oncol 2023; 17:2584-2602. [PMID: 37746742 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Reticulocalbin-1 (RCN1) is expressed aberrantly and at a high level in various tumors, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), yet its impact on AML remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that RCN1 knockdown significantly suppresses the viability of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) from AML patients but does not affect the viability of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) from healthy donors in vitro. Downregulation of RCN1 also reduces the viability of AML cell lines. Further studies showed that the RCN1 knockdown upregulates type I interferon (IFN-1) expression and promotes AML cell pyroptosis through caspase-1 and gasdermin D (GSDMD) signaling. Deletion of the mouse Rcn1 gene inhibits the viability of mouse AML cell lines but not the hematopoiesis of mouse bone marrow. In addition, RCN1 downregulation in human AML cells significantly inhibited tumor growth in the NSG mouse xenograft model. Taken together, our results suggest that RCN1 may be a potential target for AML therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sisi Deng
- Shenzhen Bone Marrow Transplantation Public Service Platform, Shenzhen Institute of Hematology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University Health Sciences Center, China
| | - Yuming Pan
- Shenzhen Bone Marrow Transplantation Public Service Platform, Shenzhen Institute of Hematology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University Health Sciences Center, China
| | - Na An
- Shenzhen Bone Marrow Transplantation Public Service Platform, Shenzhen Institute of Hematology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University Health Sciences Center, China
| | - Fengyi Chen
- Shenzhen Bone Marrow Transplantation Public Service Platform, Shenzhen Institute of Hematology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University Health Sciences Center, China
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Health Sciences Center, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Shenzhen Bone Marrow Transplantation Public Service Platform, Shenzhen Institute of Hematology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University Health Sciences Center, China
| | - Heng Wang
- Shenzhen Bone Marrow Transplantation Public Service Platform, Shenzhen Institute of Hematology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University Health Sciences Center, China
- Department of Hematology, Shenzhen Longhua District Central Hospital, China
| | - Xiaojing Xu
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, China
| | - Rui Liu
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, China
| | - Linlin Yang
- Shenzhen Bone Marrow Transplantation Public Service Platform, Shenzhen Institute of Hematology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University Health Sciences Center, China
| | - Xiaomei Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Health Sciences Center, China
| | - Xin Du
- Shenzhen Bone Marrow Transplantation Public Service Platform, Shenzhen Institute of Hematology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University Health Sciences Center, China
| | - Qiaoxia Zhang
- Shenzhen Bone Marrow Transplantation Public Service Platform, Shenzhen Institute of Hematology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University Health Sciences Center, China
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4
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Mumme HL, Raikar SS, Bhasin SS, Thomas BE, Lawrence T, Weinzierl EP, Pang Y, DeRyckere D, Gawad C, Wechsler DS, Porter CC, Castellino SM, Graham DK, Bhasin M. Single-cell RNA sequencing distinctly characterizes the wide heterogeneity in pediatric mixed phenotype acute leukemia. Genome Med 2023; 15:83. [PMID: 37845689 PMCID: PMC10577904 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-023-01241-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL), a rare subgroup of leukemia characterized by blast cells with myeloid and lymphoid lineage features, is difficult to diagnose and treat. A better characterization of MPAL is essential to understand the subtype heterogeneity and how it compares with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Therefore, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) on pediatric MPAL bone marrow (BM) samples to develop a granular map of the MPAL blasts and microenvironment landscape. METHODS We analyzed over 40,000 cells from nine pediatric MPAL BM samples to generate a single-cell transcriptomic landscape of B/myeloid (B/My) and T/myeloid (T/My) MPAL. Cells were clustered using unsupervised single-cell methods, and malignant blast and immune clusters were annotated. Differential expression analysis was performed to identify B/My and T/My MPAL blast-specific signatures by comparing transcriptome profiles of MPAL with normal BM, AML, and ALL. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed, and significantly enriched pathways were compared in MPAL subtypes. RESULTS B/My and T/My MPAL blasts displayed distinct blast signatures. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that B/My MPAL profile overlaps with B-ALL and AML samples. Similarly, T/My MPAL exhibited overlap with T-ALL and AML samples. Genes overexpressed in both MPAL subtypes' blast cells compared to AML, ALL, and healthy BM included MAP2K2 and CD81. Subtype-specific genes included HBEGF for B/My and PTEN for T/My. These marker sets segregated bulk RNA-seq AML, ALL, and MPAL samples based on expression profiles. Analysis comparing T/My MPAL to ETP, near-ETP, and non-ETP T-ALL, showed that T/My MPAL had greater overlap with ETP-ALL cases. Comparisons among MPAL subtypes between adult and pediatric samples showed analogous transcriptomic landscapes of corresponding subtypes. Transcriptomic differences were observed in the MPAL samples based on response to induction chemotherapy, including selective upregulation of the IL-16 pathway in relapsed samples. CONCLUSIONS We have for the first time described the single-cell transcriptomic landscape of pediatric MPAL and demonstrated that B/My and T/My MPAL have distinct scRNAseq profiles from each other, AML, and ALL. Differences in transcriptomic profiles were seen based on response to therapy, but larger studies will be needed to validate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hope L Mumme
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sunil S Raikar
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Swati S Bhasin
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Beena E Thomas
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Taylor Lawrence
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Elizabeth P Weinzierl
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yakun Pang
- Department: Pediatrics - Hematology/Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Deborah DeRyckere
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Chuck Gawad
- Department: Pediatrics - Hematology/Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Daniel S Wechsler
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Christopher C Porter
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sharon M Castellino
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Douglas K Graham
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Manoj Bhasin
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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5
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Holicek P, Truxova I, Rakova J, Salek C, Hensler M, Kovar M, Reinis M, Mikyskova R, Pasulka J, Vosahlikova S, Remesova H, Valentova I, Lysak D, Holubova M, Kaspar P, Prochazka J, Kasikova L, Spisek R, Galluzzi L, Fucikova J. Type I interferon signaling in malignant blasts contributes to treatment efficacy in AML patients. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:209. [PMID: 36964168 PMCID: PMC10039058 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05728-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
While type I interferon (IFN) is best known for its key role against viral infection, accumulating preclinical and clinical data indicate that robust type I IFN production in the tumor microenvironment promotes cancer immunosurveillance and contributes to the efficacy of various antineoplastic agents, notably immunogenic cell death inducers. Here, we report that malignant blasts from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) release type I IFN via a Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)-dependent mechanism that is not driven by treatment. While in these patients the ability of type I IFN to stimulate anticancer immune responses was abolished by immunosuppressive mechanisms elicited by malignant blasts, type I IFN turned out to exert direct cytostatic, cytotoxic and chemosensitizing activity in primary AML blasts, leukemic stem cells from AML patients and AML xenograft models. Finally, a genetic signature of type I IFN signaling was found to have independent prognostic value on relapse-free survival and overall survival in a cohort of 132 AML patients. These findings delineate a clinically relevant, therapeutically actionable and prognostically informative mechanism through which type I IFN mediates beneficial effects in patients with AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Holicek
- Sotio Biotech, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Immunology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Cyril Salek
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Hematology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Marek Kovar
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Reinis
- Laboratory of Immunological and Tumour Models, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Romana Mikyskova
- Laboratory of Immunological and Tumour Models, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Hana Remesova
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Iva Valentova
- Sotio Biotech, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Immunology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Lysak
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty Hospital in Pilsen, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Holubova
- Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kaspar
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Prochazka
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Radek Spisek
- Sotio Biotech, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Immunology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Jitka Fucikova
- Sotio Biotech, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Department of Immunology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
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6
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Fan S, Pan TZ, Dou LP, Zhao YM, Zhang XH, Xu LP, Wang Y, Huang XJ, Mo XD. Preemptive interferon-α therapy could prevent relapse of acute myeloid leukemia following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A real-world analysis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1091014. [PMID: 36817493 PMCID: PMC9932895 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1091014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Measurable residual disease (MRD)-directed interferon-a treatment (i.e. preemptive IFN-α treatment) can eliminate the MRD in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Therefore, this study aimed to further assess its efficacy in a multicenter retrospective study in a real-world setting. Methods A total of 247 patientswho received preemptive IFN-α treatment were recruited from 4 hospitals in China. The protocols for MRD monitoring mainly based on quantitative polymerase chain reaction [qPCR] and multiparameter flow cytometry [MFC]. Results The median duration of IFN-α treatment was 56 days (range, 1-1211 days). The cumulative incidences of all grades acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), all grades chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), and severe cGVHD at 3 years after IFN-α therapy were 2.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.3-3.8%), 53.2% (95% CI, 46.8-59.7%), and 6.2% (95% CI, 3.1-9.2%), respectively. The cumulative incidence of achieving MRD negative state at 2 years after IFN-α treatment was 78.2% (95% CI, 72.6-83.7%). The 3-year cumulative incidences of relapse and non-relapse mortality following IFN-α therapy were 20.9% (95% CI, 15.5-26.3%) and 4.9% (95%CI, 2.0-7.7%), respectively. The probabilities of leukemia-free survival and overall survival at 3 years following IFN-α therapy were 76.9% (95% CI, 71.5-82.7%) and 84.2% (95% CI, 78.7-90.1%), respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that MRD positive state by qPCR and MFC before IFN-α treatment, high-risk disease risk index before allo-HSCT, and receiving identical sibling donor HSCT were associated with a higher risk of relapse and a poorer leukemia-free survival. Severe cGVHD was associated with an increased risk of non-relapse mortality. Discussion Thus, real-world data suggest that preemptive IFN-α is effective for treating patients with AML with MRD after allo-HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Fan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing, China
| | - Tian-Zhong Pan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Li-Ping Dou
- Department of Hematology, The First Medical Center of People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Min Zhao
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing, China
| | - Lan-Ping Xu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Huang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Mo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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7
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Babakhanlou R, Ravandi-Kashani F. SOHO State of the Art Updates and Next Questions |The Role of Maintenance Therapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. CLINICAL LYMPHOMA, MYELOMA & LEUKEMIA 2023; 23:1-7. [PMID: 36456394 DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2022.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive disease predominantly affecting the elderly population. Although, up to 65% of patients with AML achieve a complete remission with standard induction chemotherapy, the majority of patients will relapse and succumb to the disease. Although maintenance therapy is a component of standard management for various hematological malignancies, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) or multiple myeloma, past studies investigating the role of maintenance therapy in AML were unable to demonstrate an advantage in overall survival, and therefore, it has not been an established practice in the treatment of AML. For patients, who are not candidates for stem cell transplant, effective AML maintenance therapies are needed in order to reduce the risk of relapse. Over the past decades, many investigators have examined the role of various maintenance strategies in AML; with the intention to prolong remission and overall survival. This review will provide an overview of prior and ongoing approaches and strategies to maintenance therapy for AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrick Babakhanlou
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
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8
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Generation of Leukaemia-Derived Dendritic Cells (DCleu) to Improve Anti-Leukaemic Activity in AML: Selection of the Most Efficient Response Modifier Combinations. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158333. [PMID: 35955486 PMCID: PMC9368668 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DC) and leukaemia derived DC (DCleu) are potent stimulators of anti-leukaemic activity in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and can be generated from mononuclear cells in vitro following standard DC/DCleu-generating protocols. With respect to future clinical applications though, DC/DCleu-generating protocols specifically designed for application in a whole-blood-(WB)-environment must be established. Therefore, we developed ten new DC/DCleu-generating protocols (kits; Kit-A/-C/-D/-E/-F/-G/-H/-I/-K/-M) for the generation of DC/DCleu from leukaemic WB, containing calcium-ionophore, granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating-factor (GM-CSF), tumour-necrosis-factor-alpha, prostaglandin-E1 (PGE1), prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) and/or picibanil (OK-432). All protocols were evaluated regarding their performance in generating DC/DCleu using refined classification and/or ranking systems; DC/DCleu were evaluated regarding their performance in stimulating anti-leukaemic activity using a cytotoxicity fluorolysis assay. Overall, we found the new kits capable to generate (mature) DC/DCleu from leukaemic WB. Through refined classification and ranking systems, we were able to select Kit-I (GM-CSF + OK-432), -K (GM-CSF + PGE2) and -M (GM-CSF + PGE1) as the most efficient kits in generating (mature) DC/DCleu, which are further competent to stimulate immunoreactive cells to show an improved anti-leukaemic cytotoxicity as well. This great performance of Kit-I, -K and -M in mediating DC/DCleu-based anti-leukaemic immunity in a WB-environment in vitro constitutes an important and directive step for translating DC/DCleu-based immunotherapy of AML into clinical application.
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9
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Salmon JM, Todorovski I, Stanley KL, Bruedigam C, Kearney CJ, Martelotto LG, Rossello F, Semple T, Arnau GM, Zethoven M, Bots M, Bjelosevic S, Cluse LA, Fraser PJ, Litalien V, Vidacs E, McArthur K, Matthews AY, Gressier E, de Weerd NA, Lichte J, Kelly MJ, Hogg SJ, Hertzog PJ, Kats LM, Vervoort SJ, De Carvalho DD, Scheu S, Bedoui S, Kile BT, Lane SW, Perkins AC, Wei AH, Dominguez PM, Johnstone RW. Epigenetic Activation of Plasmacytoid DCs Drives IFNAR-Dependent Therapeutic Differentiation of AML. Cancer Discov 2022; 12:1560-1579. [PMID: 35311997 PMCID: PMC9355625 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-20-1145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Pharmacologic inhibition of epigenetic enzymes can have therapeutic benefit against hematologic malignancies. In addition to affecting tumor cell growth and proliferation, these epigenetic agents may induce antitumor immunity. Here, we discovered a novel immunoregulatory mechanism through inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDAC). In models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), leukemia cell differentiation and therapeutic benefit mediated by the HDAC inhibitor (HDACi) panobinostat required activation of the type I interferon (IFN) pathway. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) produced type I IFN after panobinostat treatment, through transcriptional activation of IFN genes concomitant with increased H3K27 acetylation at these loci. Depletion of pDCs abrogated panobinostat-mediated induction of type I IFN signaling in leukemia cells and impaired therapeutic efficacy, whereas combined treatment with panobinostat and IFNα improved outcomes in preclinical models. These discoveries offer a new therapeutic approach for AML and demonstrate that epigenetic rewiring of pDCs enhances antitumor immunity, opening the possibility of exploiting this approach for immunotherapies. SIGNIFICANCE We demonstrate that HDACis induce terminal differentiation of AML through epigenetic remodeling of pDCs, resulting in production of type I IFN that is important for the therapeutic effects of HDACis. The study demonstrates the important functional interplay between the immune system and leukemias in response to HDAC inhibition. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1397.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M. Salmon
- Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Izabela Todorovski
- Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kym L. Stanley
- Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Claudia Bruedigam
- Cancer Program, Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Conor J. Kearney
- Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Luciano G. Martelotto
- Single Cell Innovation Lab, Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fernando Rossello
- Single Cell Innovation Lab, Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Timothy Semple
- Molecular Genomics Core, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gisela Mir Arnau
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Molecular Genomics Core, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Magnus Zethoven
- Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael Bots
- Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Stefan Bjelosevic
- Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leonie A. Cluse
- Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter J. Fraser
- Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Veronique Litalien
- Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Eva Vidacs
- Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kate McArthur
- Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Antony Y. Matthews
- Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University Clayton Victoria, Australia
| | - Elise Gressier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nicole A. de Weerd
- Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University Clayton Victoria, Australia
| | - Jens Lichte
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Madison J. Kelly
- Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Simon J. Hogg
- Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul J. Hertzog
- Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University Clayton Victoria, Australia
| | - Lev M. Kats
- Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stephin J. Vervoort
- Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Daniel D. De Carvalho
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Stefanie Scheu
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sammy Bedoui
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Benjamin T. Kile
- Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Steven W. Lane
- Cancer Program, Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew C. Perkins
- Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Andrew H. Wei
- Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Pilar M. Dominguez
- Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Corresponding Authors: Ricky W. Johnstone, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia. Phone: 61-855-97133; E-mail: ; and Pilar M. Dominguez, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia. Phone: 61-481-880-373; E-mail:
| | - Ricky W. Johnstone
- Translational Haematology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Corresponding Authors: Ricky W. Johnstone, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia. Phone: 61-855-97133; E-mail: ; and Pilar M. Dominguez, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia. Phone: 61-481-880-373; E-mail:
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10
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Sakatoku K, Nakashima Y, Nagasaki J, Nishimoto M, Hirose A, Nakamae M, Koh H, Hino M, Nakamae H. Immunomodulatory and Direct Activities of Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b on Cancer Cells in Mouse Models of Leukemia. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:2246-2257. [PMID: 35441749 PMCID: PMC9277408 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Although ropeginterferon alfa‐2b has recently been clinically applied to myeloproliferative neoplasms with promising results, its antitumor mechanism has not been thoroughly investigated. Using a leukemia model developed in immunocompetent mice, we evaluated the direct cytotoxic effects and indirect effects induced by ropeginterferon alfa‐2b in tumor cells. Ropeginterferon alfa‐2b therapy significantly prolonged the survival of mice bearing leukemia cells and led to long‐term remission in some mice. Alternatively, conventional interferon‐alpha treatment slightly extended the survival and all mice died. When ropeginterferon alfa‐2b was administered to interferon‐alpha receptor 1–knockout mice after the development of leukemia to verify the direct effect on the tumor, the survival of these mice was slightly prolonged; nevertheless, all of them died. In vivo CD4+ or CD8+ T‐cell depletion resulted in a significant loss of therapeutic efficacy in mice. These results indicate that the host adoptive immunostimulatory effect of ropeginterferon alfa‐2b is the dominant mechanism through which tumor cells are suppressed. Moreover, mice in long‐term remission did not develop leukemia, even after tumor rechallenge. Rejection of rechallenge tumors was canceled only when both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were removed in vivo, which indicates that each T‐cell group functions independently in immunological memory. We show that ropeginterferon alfa‐2b induces excellent antitumor immunomodulation in hosts. Our finding serves in devising therapeutic strategies with ropeginterferon alfa‐2b.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuki Sakatoku
- Hematology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Nakashima
- Hematology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Joji Nagasaki
- Hematology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mitsutaka Nishimoto
- Hematology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Asao Hirose
- Hematology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mika Nakamae
- Hematology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hideo Koh
- Hematology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masayuki Hino
- Hematology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hirohisa Nakamae
- Hematology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
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11
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Ayyadurai VAS, Deonikar P, McLure KG, Sakamoto KM. Molecular Systems Architecture of Interactome in the Acute Myeloid Leukemia Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:756. [PMID: 35159023 PMCID: PMC8833542 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A molecular systems architecture is presented for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to provide a framework for organizing the complexity of biomolecular interactions. AML is a multifactorial disease resulting from impaired differentiation and increased proliferation of hematopoietic precursor cells involving genetic mutations, signaling pathways related to the cancer cell genetics, and molecular interactions between the cancer cell and the tumor microenvironment, including endothelial cells, fibroblasts, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, bone marrow stromal cells, and immune cells (e.g., T-regs, T-helper 1 cells, T-helper 17 cells, T-effector cells, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells). This molecular systems architecture provides a layered understanding of intra- and inter-cellular interactions in the AML cancer cell and the cells in the stromal microenvironment. The molecular systems architecture may be utilized for target identification and the discovery of single and combination therapeutics and strategies to treat AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. A. Shiva Ayyadurai
- Systems Biology Group, International Center for Integrative Systems, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA;
| | - Prabhakar Deonikar
- Systems Biology Group, International Center for Integrative Systems, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA;
| | | | - Kathleen M. Sakamoto
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
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12
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Shen MZ, Zhang XH, Xu LP, Wang Y, Yan CH, Chen H, Chen YH, Han W, Wang FR, Wang JZ, Zhao XS, Qin YZ, Chang YJ, Liu KY, Huang XJ, Mo XD. Preemptive Interferon-α Therapy Could Protect Against Relapse and Improve Survival of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Long-Term Results of Two Registry Studies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:757002. [PMID: 35154096 PMCID: PMC8831731 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.757002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
For allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) recipients, preemptive interferon-α (IFN-α) therapy is considered as a useful method to eliminate the minimal residual disease (MRD). Our purpose is to assess the long-term efficacy of preemptive IFN-α therapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients following allo-HSCT based on two registry studies (#NCT02185261 and #NCT02027064). We would present the final data and unpublished results of long-term clinical outcomes with extended follow-up. We adopted polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) to monitor MRD, and a positive result of bone marrow specimen examined by either of them would be identified as the MRD-positive status. Subcutaneous injections of recombinant human IFN-α-2b were performed for 6 cycles, and prolonged IFN-α therapy could be permitted at the request of patients. The median cycles were 3.5 (range, 0.5–30.5) cycles. A total of 9 patients suffered from grade ≥3 toxicities (i.e., infectious: n = 6; hematologic: n = 3). The 6-year cumulative incidences of relapse and non-relapse mortality following IFN-α therapy were 13.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.4–20.6%) and 3.9% (95%CI, 0.0–17.6%), respectively. The probability of disease-free survival at 6 years following IFN-α therapy was 83.1% (95%CI, 75.2–91.9%). The probability of overall survival at 6 years following IFN-α therapy was 88.3% (95%CI, 81.4–95.8%). The cumulative incidences of total chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and severe cGVHD at 6 years following IFN-α therapy were 66.2% (95%CI, 55.5–77.0%) and 10.4% (95%CI, 3.6–17.2%), respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that an alternative donor was associated with a lower risk of relapse and the better disease-free survival. Thus, preemptive IFN-α therapy could clear MRD persistently, prevent relapse truly, and improve long-term survival in AML patients following allo-HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Zhu Shen
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Zhang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Lan-Ping Xu
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Chen-Hua Yan
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Hong Chen
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Han
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Feng-Rong Wang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-Zhi Wang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Su Zhao
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Ya-Zhen Qin
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Ying-Jun Chang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Kai-Yan Liu
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Huang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Mo
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiao-Dong Mo,
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13
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Fan S, Shen MZ, Zhang XH, Xu LP, Wang Y, Yan CH, Chen H, Chen YH, Han W, Wang FR, Wang JZ, Zhao XS, Qin YZ, Chang YJ, Liu KY, Huang XJ, Mo XD. Preemptive Immunotherapy for Minimal Residual Disease in Patients With t(8;21) Acute Myeloid Leukemia After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Front Oncol 2022; 11:773394. [PMID: 35070977 PMCID: PMC8770808 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.773394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In patients with t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), recurrent minimal residual disease (MRD) measured by RUNX1-RUNX1T1 transcript levels can predict relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). This study aimed to compare the efficacy of preemptive interferon (IFN)-α therapy and donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) in patients with t(8;21) AML following allo-HSCT. We also evaluated the appropriate method for patients with different levels of RUNX1-RUNX1T1 transcripts. In this retrospective study, consecutive patients who had high-risk t(8;21) AML and received allo-HSCT were enrolled. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) age ≤65 years; (2) regained MRD positive following allo-HSCT. MRD positive was defined as the loss of a ≥4.5-log reduction and/or <4.5-log reduction in the RUNX1-RUNX1T1 transcripts, and high-level, intermediate-level, and low-level MRDs were, respectively, defined as <2.5-log, 2.5-3.5-log, and 3.5-4.5-log reductions in the transcripts compared with the pretreatment baseline level. Patients with positive RUNX1-RUNX1T1 could receive preemptive IFN-α therapy or DLI, which was primarily based on donor availability and the intentions of physicians and patients. The patients received recombinant human IFN-α-2b therapy by subcutaneous injection twice a week every 4 weeks. IFN-α therapy was scheduled for six cycles or until the RUNX1-RUNX1T1 transcripts were negative for at least two consecutive tests. The rates of MRD turning negative for patients with low-level, intermediate-level, and high-level RUNX1-RUNX1T1 receiving IFN-α were 87.5%, 58.1%, and 22.2%, respectively; meanwhile, for patients with intermediate-level and high-level RUNX1-RUNX1T1 receiving DLI, the rates were 50.0% and 14.3%, respectively. For patients with low-level and intermediate-level RUNX1-RUNX1T1, the probability of overall survival at 2 years was higher in the IFN-α group than in the DLI group (87.6% vs. 55.6%; p = 0.003). For patients with high levels of RUNX1-RUNX1T1, the probability of overall survival was comparable between the IFN-α and DLI groups (53.3% vs. 83.3%; p = 0.780). Therefore, patients with low-level and intermediate-level RUNX1-RUNX1T1 could benefit more from preemptive IFN-α therapy compared with DLI. Clinical outcomes were comparable between preemptive IFN-α therapy and DLI in patients with high-level RUNX1-RUNX1T1; however, they should be further improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Fan
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Meng-Zhu Shen
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Zhang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Lan-Ping Xu
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Chen-Hua Yan
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Hong Chen
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Han
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Feng-Rong Wang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-Zhi Wang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Su Zhao
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Ya-Zhen Qin
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Ying-Jun Chang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Kai-Yan Liu
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Huang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Mo
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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14
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Type 1 interferon to prevent leukemia relapse after allogeneic transplantation. Blood Adv 2021; 5:5047-5056. [PMID: 34607341 PMCID: PMC9152997 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021004908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Augmenting early GVL response by prophylactic type 1 IFN may reduce the rates of leukemic relapse after HCT in very high–risk AML. Reciprocal toxicities, including acute GVHD and nonrelapse mortality, were not increased after type 1 IFN treatment.
A potent graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) response is crucial in preventing relapse, the major impediment to successful allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). In preclinical studies, type 1 interferon (IFN-α) enhanced cross-presentation of leukemia-specific antigens by CD8α dendritic cells (DCs) and amplified GVL. This observation was translated into a proof-of-concept phase 1/2 clinical trial with long-acting IFN-α (pegylated IFN-α [pegIFNα]) in patients undergoing HCT for high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Patients with treatment-resistant AML not in remission or those with poor-risk leukemia were administered 4 dosages of pegIFNα every 14 days beginning at day −1 before HCT. Dose selection was established by adaptive design that continuously assessed the probability of dose-limiting toxicities throughout the trial. Efficacy was evaluated by determining the 6-month incidence of relapse at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Thirty-six patients (median age, 60 years) received pegIFNα treatment. Grade 3 or greater severe adverse events occurred in 25% of patients, establishing 180 μg as the MTD. In phase 2, the incidence of relapse was 39% at 6 months, which was sustained through 1-year post-HCT. The incidence of transplant-related mortality was 13%, and severe grade III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurred in 11%. Paired blood samples from donors and recipients after HCT revealed elevated levels of type 1 IFN with cellular response, the persistence of cross-presenting DCs, and circulating leukemia antigen-specific T cells. These data suggest that prophylactic administration of pegIFNα is feasible in the peri-HCT period. In high-risk AML, increased toxicity was not observed with preliminary evidence for reduction in leukemia relapse after HCT. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02328755.
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15
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Maintenance therapies in acute myeloid leukemia: the renaissance of an old therapeutic concept. Curr Opin Oncol 2021; 33:658-669. [PMID: 34341323 DOI: 10.1097/cco.0000000000000778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Disease relapse remains the major cause of death in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is driven by the persistence of leukemic cells following induction chemotherapy or allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT). Maintenance therapies to extend the duration of remission and to improve survival have been proposed for several years with mixed results but have experienced a renaissance recently. RECENT FINDINGS The oral hypomethylating agent CC-486 has been the first agent to show an overall survival (OS) benefit compared with observation in AML patients in remission following intensive chemotherapy who are not proceeding to allo-HCT. In the realm of postallo-HCT maintenance therapy, the FLT3 inhibitor sorafenib has yielded superior results in terms of OS and relapse-free survival in randomized trials compared with observation. Several open questions remain regarding patient selection, timing, duration and safety of maintenance therapies. Various targeted agents are currently tested in clinical trials and could potentially enable an even more individualized therapeutic approach. SUMMARY Maintenance therapies following intensive chemotherapy or allo-HCT offer a new therapeutic paradigm for an increasing number of AML patients and have been shown to result in an OS benefit in selected patients.
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16
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Kong J, Qin YZ, Zhao XS, Hou Y, Liu KY, Huang XJ, Jiang H. Profiles of NK cell subsets are associated with successful tyrosine kinase inhibitor discontinuation in chronic myeloid leukemia and changes following interferon treatment. Ann Hematol 2021; 100:2557-2566. [PMID: 34278524 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-021-04606-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that approximately 50% of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy with a sustained deep molecular response (DMR) (BCR-ABL1IS ≤ 0.01%) can achieve treatment-free remission (TFR, stopping TKI without relapse) and that prior interferon (IFN)-α therapy and higher NK cell counts at and after TKI discontinuation are associated with TFR. We recently reported that post-TKI discontinuation of IFN-α therapy could prevent molecular relapse (MR, BCR-ABL1IS > 0.1%). Here, we evaluated whether NK cells are associated with MR and investigated the effects of post-TKI discontinuation IFN-α therapy on lymphocyte subsets. A total of 34 patients measuring blood lymphocyte subclasses were included. In the 22 patients who did not receive IFN-α therapy, at 1 month after TKI discontinuation, the nonrelapsed patients showed a significantly higher proportion and count of NK cells than the relapsed patients. In particular, the proportion and count of CD56dim NK cells were significantly higher in the nonrelapsed patients than in the relapsed patients. In the 12 patients who received IFN-α therapy, the level of CD56bright NK cells increased significantly after 3 and 6 months of IFN-α therapy. In summary, NK cells, in particular CD56dim NK cells, were associated with MR after TKI discontinuation in patients with CML. Additionally, IFN-α therapy gradually increased the level of CD56bright NK cells in patients with CML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Kong
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Centre for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11, Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, People's Republic of China
| | - Ya-Zhen Qin
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Centre for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11, Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Su Zhao
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Centre for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11, Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Hou
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Centre for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11, Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai-Yan Liu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Centre for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11, Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Jun Huang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Centre for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11, Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Jiang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Centre for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11, Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Li BY, Tan W, Zou JL, He Y, Yoshida S, Jiang B, Zhou YD. Role of interferons in diabetic retinopathy. World J Diabetes 2021; 12:939-953. [PMID: 34326947 PMCID: PMC8311473 DOI: 10.4239/wjd.v12.i7.939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the major causes of visual impairment and irreversible blindness in developed regions. Aside from abnormal angiogenesis, inflammation is the most specific and might be the initiating factor of DR. As a key participant in inflammation, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) can be detected in different parts of the eye and is responsible for the breakdown of the blood-retina barrier and activation of inflammatory cells and other cytokines, which accelerate neovascularization and neuroglial degeneration. In addition, IFN-γ is involved in other vascular complications of diabetes mellitus and angiogenesis-dependent diseases, such as diabetic nephropathy, cerebral microbleeds, and age-related macular degeneration. Traditional treatments, such as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents, vitrectomy, and laser photocoagulation therapy, are more effective for angiogenesis and not tolerable for every patient. Many ongoing clinical trials are exploring effective drugs that target inflammation. For instance, IFN-α acts against viruses and angiogenesis and is commonly used to treat malignant tumors. Moreover, IFN-α has been shown to contribute to alleviating the progression of DR and other ocular diseases. In this review, we emphasize the roles that IFNs play in the pathogenesis of DR and discuss potential clinical applications of IFNs in DR, such as diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Yan Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
| | - Wei Tan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jing-Ling Zou
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yan He
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
| | - Shigeo Yoshida
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume 830-0011, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Bing Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
| | - Ye-Di Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
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18
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de Oliveira Lisboa M, Brofman PRS, Schmid-Braz AT, Rangel-Pozzo A, Mai S. Chromosomal Instability in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13112655. [PMID: 34071283 PMCID: PMC8198625 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromosomal instability (CIN), the increasing rate in which cells acquire new chromosomal alterations, is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Many studies highlighted CIN as an important mechanism in the origin, progression, and relapse of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The ambivalent feature of CIN as a cancer-promoting or cancer-suppressing mechanism might explain the prognostic variability. The latter, however, is described in very few studies. This review highlights the important CIN mechanisms in AML, showing that CIN signatures can occur largely in all the three major AML types (de novo AML, secondary-AML, and therapy-related-AML). CIN features in AML could also be age-related and reflect the heterogeneity of the disease. Although most of these abnormalities show an adverse prognostic value, they also offer a strong new perspective on personalized therapy approaches, which goes beyond assessing CIN in vitro in patient tumor samples to predict prognosis. Current and emerging AML therapies are exploring CIN to improve AML treatment, which includes blocking CIN or increasing CIN beyond the limit threshold to induce cell death. We argue that the characterization of CIN features, not included yet in the routine diagnostic of AML patients, might provide a better stratification of patients and be extended to a more personalized therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus de Oliveira Lisboa
- Core for Cell Technology, School of Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná—PUCPR, Curitiba 80215-901, Paraná, Brazil; (M.d.O.L.); (P.R.S.B.)
| | - Paulo Roberto Slud Brofman
- Core for Cell Technology, School of Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná—PUCPR, Curitiba 80215-901, Paraná, Brazil; (M.d.O.L.); (P.R.S.B.)
| | - Ana Teresa Schmid-Braz
- Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba 80060-240, Paraná, Brazil;
| | - Aline Rangel-Pozzo
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Cell Biology, CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2B7, Canada
- Correspondence: (A.R.-P.); (S.M.); Tel.: +1-(204)787-4125 (S.M.)
| | - Sabine Mai
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Cell Biology, CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2B7, Canada
- Correspondence: (A.R.-P.); (S.M.); Tel.: +1-(204)787-4125 (S.M.)
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19
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Gu Z, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Cao H, Lyu J, Wang X, Wylie A, Newkirk SJ, Jones AE, Lee M, Botten GA, Deng M, Dickerson KE, Zhang CC, An W, Abrams JM, Xu J. Silencing of LINE-1 retrotransposons is a selective dependency of myeloid leukemia. Nat Genet 2021; 53:672-682. [PMID: 33833453 PMCID: PMC8270111 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00829-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Transposable elements or transposons are major players in genetic variability and genome evolution. Aberrant activation of long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1 or L1) retrotransposons is common in human cancers, yet their tumor-type-specific functions are poorly characterized. We identified MPHOSPH8/MPP8, a component of the human silencing hub (HUSH) complex, as an acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-selective dependency by epigenetic regulator-focused CRISPR screening. Although MPP8 is dispensable for steady-state hematopoiesis, MPP8 loss inhibits AML development by reactivating L1s to induce the DNA damage response and cell cycle exit. Activation of endogenous or ectopic L1s mimics the phenotype of MPP8 loss, whereas blocking retrotransposition abrogates MPP8-deficiency-induced phenotypes. Expression of AML oncogenic mutations promotes L1 suppression, and enhanced L1 silencing is associated with poor prognosis in human AML. Hence, while retrotransposons are commonly recognized for their cancer-promoting functions, we describe a tumor-suppressive role for L1 retrotransposons in myeloid leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Gu
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yuxuan Liu
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yuannyu Zhang
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Hui Cao
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Junhua Lyu
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Xun Wang
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Annika Wylie
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Simon J Newkirk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA
| | - Amanda E Jones
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Michael Lee
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Giovanni A Botten
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Mi Deng
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kathryn E Dickerson
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Cheng Cheng Zhang
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Wenfeng An
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA
| | - John M Abrams
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jian Xu
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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20
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Activation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells promotes AML-cell fratricide. Oncotarget 2021; 12:878-890. [PMID: 33953842 PMCID: PMC8092344 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by the proliferation of immature myeloid blasts and a suppressed immune state. Interferons have been previously shown to aid in the clearance of AML cells. Type I interferons are produced primarily by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). However, these cells exist in a quiescent state in AML. Because pDCs express TLR 7–9, we hypothesized that the TLR7/8 agonist R848 would be able to reprogram them toward a more active, IFN-producing phenotype. Consistent with this notion, we found that R848-treated pDCs from patients produced significantly elevated levels of IFNβ. In addition, they showed increased expression of the immune-stimulatory receptor CD40. We next tested whether IFNβ would influence antibody-mediated fratricide among AML cells, as our recent work showed that AML cells could undergo cell-to cell killing in the presence of the CD38 antibody daratumumab. We found that IFNβ treatment led to a significant, IRF9-dependent increase in CD38 expression and a subsequent increase in daratumumab-mediated cytotoxicity and decreased colony formation. These findings suggest that the tolerogenic phenotype of pDCs in AML can be reversed, and also demonstrate a possible means of enhancing endogenous Type I IFN production that would promote daratumumab-mediated clearance of AML cells.
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21
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Karimdadi Sariani O, Eghbalpour S, Kazemi E, Rafiei Buzhani K, Zaker F. Pathogenic and therapeutic roles of cytokines in acute myeloid leukemia. Cytokine 2021; 142:155508. [PMID: 33810945 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2021.155508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease with high mortality that accounts for the most common acute leukemia in adults. Despite all progress in the therapeutic strategies and increased rate of complete remission, many patients will eventually relapse and die from the disease. Cytokines as molecular messengers play a pivotal role in the immune system. The imbalance release of cytokine has been shown to exert a significant influence on the progression of hematopoietic malignancies including acute myeloid leukemia. This article aimed to summarize current knowledge about cytokines and their critical roles in the pathogenesis, treatment, and survival of AML patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omid Karimdadi Sariani
- Department of Genetics, College of Science, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun Branch, Kazerun, Iran
| | - Sara Eghbalpour
- School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elahe Kazemi
- Biosensor Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - Farhad Zaker
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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22
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Redirecting the Immune Microenvironment in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061423. [PMID: 33804676 PMCID: PMC8003817 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Despite remarkable progress in the outcome of childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML), risk of relapse and refractory diseases remains high. Treatment of the chemo-refractory disease is restricted by dose-limiting therapy-related toxicities which necessitate alternative tolerable efficient therapeutic modalities. By disrupting its immune environment, leukemic blasts are known to gain the ability to evade immune surveillance and promote disease progression; therefore, many efforts have been made to redirect the immune system against malignant blasts. Deeper knowledge about immunologic alterations has paved the way to the discovery and development of novel targeted therapeutic concepts, which specifically override the immune evasion mechanisms to eradicate leukemic blasts. Herein, we review innovative immunotherapeutic strategies and their mechanisms of action in pediatric AML. Abstract Acute myeloid leukemia is a life-threatening malignant disorder arising in a complex and dysregulated microenvironment that, in part, promotes the leukemogenesis. Treatment of relapsed and refractory AML, despite the current overall success rates in management of pediatric AML, remains a challenge with limited options considering the heavy but unsuccessful pretreatments in these patients. For relapsed/refractory (R/R) patients, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) following ablative chemotherapy presents the only opportunity to cure AML. Even though in some cases immune-mediated graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect has been proven to efficiently eradicate leukemic blasts, the immune- and chemotherapy-related toxicities and adverse effects considerably restrict the feasibility and therapeutic power. Thus, immunotherapy presents a potent tool against acute leukemia but needs to be engineered to function more specifically and with decreased toxicity. To identify innovative immunotherapeutic approaches, sound knowledge concerning immune-evasive strategies of AML blasts and the clinical impact of an immune-privileged microenvironment is indispensable. Based on our knowledge to date, several promising immunotherapies are under clinical evaluation and further innovative approaches are on their way. In this review, we first focus on immunological dysregulations contributing to leukemogenesis and progression in AML. Second, we highlight the most promising therapeutic targets for redirecting the leukemic immunosuppressive microenvironment into a highly immunogenic environment again capable of anti-leukemic immune surveillance.
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23
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Deng DX, Wen JJ, Cheng YF, Zhang XH, Xu LP, Wang Y, Yan CH, Chen YH, Chen H, Han W, Wang FR, Wang JZ, Qin YZ, Liu KY, Huang XJ, Zhao XS, Mo XD. Wilms' tumor gene 1 is an independent prognostic factor for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:292. [PMID: 33740924 PMCID: PMC7980537 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08022-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sequential monitoring of Wilms' tumor gene 1 (WT1) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) could predict relapse in adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the prognostic role of WT1 in pediatric AML after allo-HSCT is unclear. Thus, we determined to see whether sequential monitoring of WT1 after allo-HSCT could predict relapse in AML children. METHODS Pediatric AML patients receiving allo-HSCT from January 21, 2012 to December 20, 2018 at the Peking University Institute of Hematology were included in this study. WT1 expression level was determined by TaqMan-based reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. WT1 sequential monitoring was performed 1, 2, 3, 4.5, 6, 9, and 12 months post-transplantation and at 6-month intervals thereafter. The primary end point was relapse. The secondary end points included disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and non-relapse mortality (NRM). Kaplan-Meier analysis was used for DFS and OS estimates, while competing risk analysis was used for estimating relapse and NRM. RESULTS Of the 151 consecutive patients included, the median age was 10 years (range, 1-17). The optimal cutoff value of WT1 within 1 year after allo-HSCT to predict relapse was 0.8% (80 WT1 copies/104 ABL copies), with a sensitivity of 60% and specificity of 79%. Compared with WT1 expression < 0.8%, WT1 expression ≥0.8% indicated significantly higher 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR, 35.1% vs. 11.3%; P = 0.001), lower 5-year disease-free survival (DFS, 60.4% vs. 80.8%; P = 0.009), and lower 5-year overall survival (OS, 64.9% vs. 81.6%; P = 0.038) rates. Multivariate analyses showed that WT1 was an independent risk factor for relapse (HR 2.89; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.25-6.71; P = 0.014). Both the CIR (5-year CIR: 8.3% vs. 11.3%; P = 0.513) and DFS (5-year DFS: 91.7% vs. 80.8%; P = 0.208) were comparable between patients achieving minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity after preemptive interferon-α (IFN-α) treatment and those without MRD after allo-HSCT, which were better than those of MRD-positive patients without preemptive therapies. CONCLUSIONS Sequential monitoring of WT1 could predict relapse in pediatric AML after allo-HSCT. WT1-directed immunotherapy may have the potential to prevent relapse and improve survival.
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MESH Headings
- Adolescent
- Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Bone Marrow/pathology
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Disease-Free Survival
- Female
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
- Humans
- Incidence
- Infant
- Kaplan-Meier Estimate
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/diagnosis
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/mortality
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy
- Male
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/epidemiology
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology
- Neoplasm, Residual
- Prognosis
- Risk Assessment/methods
- Transplantation, Homologous
- WT1 Proteins/analysis
- WT1 Proteins/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Dao-Xing Deng
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Juan-Juan Wen
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
- Department of Hematology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yi-Fei Cheng
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Zhang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Lan-Ping Xu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Chen-Hua Yan
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Hong Chen
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Han
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Feng-Rong Wang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-Zhi Wang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Ya-Zhen Qin
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Kai-Yan Liu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Huang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Su Zhao
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiao-Dong Mo
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China.
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24
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Rimando JC, Christopher MJ, Rettig MP, DiPersio JF. Biology of Disease Relapse in Myeloid Disease: Implication for Strategies to Prevent and Treat Disease Relapse After Stem-Cell Transplantation. J Clin Oncol 2021; 39:386-396. [PMID: 33434062 PMCID: PMC8462627 DOI: 10.1200/jco.20.01587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph C. Rimando
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO
| | - Matthew J. Christopher
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO
| | - Michael P. Rettig
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO
| | - John F. DiPersio
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO
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25
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Abstract
Recent advances in therapeutics coupled with steady improvements in supportive care for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have led to improved outcomes. Despite these advances, even in patients that achieve a complete remission with initial therapy high rates of relapse remain a clinical dilemma. For decades, investigators have attempted strategies of maintenance therapy to prolong both remission duration and overall survival in patients with AML. These approaches have included cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hypomethylating agents, and targeted small molecule therapy. Overall, the evidence in favor of maintenance therapy is limited. Recent strategies, especially with hypomethylating agents have begun to show promise as maintenance therapy in improving clinical outcomes. Ongoing and future studies will continue to elucidate the true role for maintenance therapy options in patients with AML. In this review we summarize prior and ongoing maintenance therapy approaches in AML and highlight some of the most promising strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tapan M. Kadia
- Department of Leukemia, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
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26
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Alsufyani A, Alanazi R, Woolley JF, Dahal LN. Old Dog, New Trick: Type I IFN-Based Treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Mol Cancer Res 2021; 19:753-756. [PMID: 33500358 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-20-0871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite strong biological rationale for the use of type-I IFNs for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), their usage is limited to few hematologic malignancies. Here, we propose that innate immune sensing machinery, particularly the stimulator of IFN genes pathway, may be exploited to deliver antileukemic effects in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Alsufyani
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
| | - Rehab Alanazi
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
| | - John F Woolley
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
| | - Lekh N Dahal
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom. .,MRC Centre for Drug Safety Science, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
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27
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Liu S, Luo X, Zhang X, Xu L, Wang Y, Yan C, Chen H, Chen Y, Han W, Wang F, Wang J, Liu K, Huang X, Mo X. Preemptive interferon-α treatment could protect against relapse and improve long-term survival of ALL patients after allo-HSCT. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20148. [PMID: 33214615 PMCID: PMC7677364 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77186-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Relapse was the major cause of treatment failure in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). We aimed to identify the efficacy and safety of preemptive interferon-α (IFN-α) treatment in ALL patients who had minimal residual disease (MRD) after allo-HSCT. Multiparameter flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction assays were applied for MRD monitoring. Recombinant human IFN-α-2b injections were administered subcutaneously twice weekly in every 4 weeks cycle. Twenty-four (35.3%), 5 (7.4%), 6 (8.8%), and 13 (19.1%) patients achieved MRD negativity at 1, 2, 3, and > 3 months, respectively, after treatment. Seven patients showed grade ≥ 3 toxicities after IFN-α treatment. The 4-year cumulative incidence of total acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), severe aGVHD, total chronic GVHD (cGVHD), and severe cGVHD after treatment was 14.7%, 2.9%, 40.0%, and 7.5%, respectively. The 4-year cumulative incidences of relapse and non-relapse mortality after treatment was 31.9% and 6.0%, respectively. The 4-year probabilities of disease-free survival and overall survival after IFN-α treatment were 62.1% and 71.1%, respectively. Thus, preemptive IFN-α treatment could protect against relapse and improve long-term survival for ALL patients who had MRD after allo-HSCT. The study was registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02185261 (09/07/2014).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sining Liu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Xueyi Luo
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Lanping Xu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Chenhua Yan
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Yuhong Chen
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Wei Han
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Fengrong Wang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Jingzhi Wang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Kaiyan Liu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
| | - Xiaojun Huang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Mo
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU029, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China.
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Xu K, Zhao S, Wang T, Tang X, Hua S, Chen S, Wang L. Successful therapy with interferon alpha-1b for a relapsing Epstein-Barr virus-positive mucocutaneous ulcer. J Dermatol 2020; 48:e3-e4. [PMID: 33180966 DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.15671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kejia Xu
- Department of, Dermatovenereology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Sha Zhao
- Department of, Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tingting Wang
- Department of, Dermatovenereology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xinyue Tang
- Department of, Dermatovenereology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - SiRui Hua
- Department of, Dermatovenereology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Siyu Chen
- Department of, Dermatovenereology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of, Dermatovenereology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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29
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Chen L, Li GP, Mi RH, Yuan FF, Ai H, Wang Q, Wang ZF, Wang GJ, Fan RH, Yin QS, Wei XD. [Combination of interferon alpha-1b, interleukin-2 and thalidomide as maintenance therapy on acute myeloid leukemia patients with negative minimal residual disease]. ZHONGHUA XUE YE XUE ZA ZHI = ZHONGHUA XUEYEXUE ZAZHI 2020; 41:766-769. [PMID: 33113610 PMCID: PMC7595861 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2727.2020.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L Chen
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University/Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - G P Li
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University/Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - R H Mi
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University/Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - F F Yuan
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University/Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - H Ai
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University/Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Q Wang
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University/Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Z F Wang
- First People's Hospital of Pingdingshan City, Pingdingshan 467000, China
| | - G J Wang
- First People's Hospital of Shangqiu City, Shangqiu 476000, China
| | - R H Fan
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University/Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Q S Yin
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University/Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - X D Wei
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University/Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
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30
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Jin N, Lera RF, Yan RE, Guo F, Oxendine K, Horner VL, Hu Y, Wan J, Mattison RJ, Weaver BA, Burkard ME. Chromosomal instability upregulates interferon in acute myeloid leukemia. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2020; 59:627-638. [PMID: 32557940 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.22880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromosome instability (CIN) generates genetic and karyotypic diversity that is common in hematological malignancies. Low to moderate levels of CIN are well tolerated and can promote cancer proliferation. However, high levels of CIN are lethal. Thus, CIN may serve both as a prognostic factor to predict clinical outcome and as a predictive biomarker. A retrospective study was performed to evaluate CIN in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Chromosome mis-segregation frequency was correlated with clinical outcome in bone marrow core biopsy specimens from 17 AML cases. Additionally, we induced chromosome segregation errors in AML cell lines with AZ3146, an inhibitor of the Mps1 mitotic checkpoint kinase, to quantify the phenotypic effects of high CIN. We observed a broad distribution of chromosome mis-segregation frequency in AML bone marrow core specimens. High CIN correlated with complex karyotype in AML, as expected, although there was no clear survival effect. In addition to CIN, experimentally inducing chromosome segregation errors by Mps1 inhibition in AML cell lines causes DNA damage, micronuclei formation, and upregulation of interferon stimulated genes. High levels of CIN appear to be immunostimulatory, suggesting an opportunity to combine mitotic checkpoint inhibitors with immunotherapy in treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Jin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Oncology/McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Robert F Lera
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Oncology/McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Rachel E Yan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Fen Guo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Kim Oxendine
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Vanessa L Horner
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Yang Hu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Oncology/McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jun Wan
- Department of Oncology/McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Physiology Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ryan J Mattison
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Oncology/McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Beth A Weaver
- Department of Oncology/McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Mark E Burkard
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Oncology/McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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31
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Oliai C, Schiller G. How to address second and therapy-related acute myelogenous leukaemia. Br J Haematol 2020; 188:116-128. [PMID: 31863469 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.16354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Secondary acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML), as compared to de novo AML, occurs in the more elderly population, is independently more resistant to cytotoxic chemotherapy, has a higher relapse rate, and a worse prognosis. Secondary AML (sAML) is a heterogeneous disease, both biologically and clinically, even within the World Health Organization subgroups of sAML. Outcomes are the poorest in subgroups with sAML arising from an antecedent haematologic disorder which has been previously treated (ts-AML), and sAML in patients <55 years of age. This review describes the suboptimal outcomes of contemporary therapy, to support the notion of an unmet need for innovative treatment strategies in sAML. Despite the recent approval of CPX-351, long-term outcomes for this high-risk disease remain dismal. Resistance mechanisms to intensive chemotherapy contribute to relapse. Targeted immune therapy may avoid multidrug resistance mechanisms, but are unlikely to provide long-term remission due to a complex and rapidly evolving clonal disease profile. Advances for sAML will likely be accomplished by CAR T cell therapy or bispecific antibodies providing a bridge to allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Therefore, focus should be placed on novel strategies that can augment the untargeted effector function of allogeneic grafts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caspian Oliai
- David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Division of Hematology & Oncology, Hematological Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Program, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gary Schiller
- David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Division of Hematology & Oncology, Hematological Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Program, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Abstract
The FLAMSA reduced intensity (RIC) concept, also known as "sequential therapy", is a conceptual platform for the treatment of leukemia separated in several parts: induction therapy, a sequence of antileukemic and immunosuppressive conditioning for allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and immune restitution supported by donor lymphocyte transfusions. The antileukemic part consists of fludarabine, cytosine arabinoside, and amsacrine (FLAMSA); non-cross reactive agents like fludarabine and amsacrine have been successfully used in cases of refractoriness and relapse. Immunosuppressive conditioning and transplantation follow after only 3 days of rest. This way, the toxicity of allogeneic transplantation could be reduced and the anti-leukemia effects by using allogeneic immune cells could be optimized. This review summarizes available data on efficacy and toxicity of this approach. Further, possible strategies for improvements are discussed in order to provide better chances for elderly and frail patients and patients with advanced and high-risk disease. Among others, several new agents are available that target molecular changes of leukemia for induction of remission and allow for bridging the time after transplantation until adoptive immunotherapy becomes safe and effective.
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33
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Pievani A, Biondi M, Tomasoni C, Biondi A, Serafini M. Location First: Targeting Acute Myeloid Leukemia Within Its Niche. J Clin Med 2020; 9:E1513. [PMID: 32443460 PMCID: PMC7290711 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9051513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive research and development of new treatments, acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-backbone therapy has remained essentially unchanged over the last decades and is frequently associated with poor outcomes. Eradicating the leukemic stem cells (LSCs) is the ultimate challenge in the treatment of AML. Emerging evidence suggests that AML remodels the bone marrow (BM) niche into a leukemia-permissive microenvironment while suppressing normal hematopoiesis. The mechanism of stromal-mediated protection of leukemic cells in the BM is complex and involves many adhesion molecules, chemokines, and cytokines. Targeting these factors may represent a valuable approach to complement existing therapies and overcome microenvironment-mediated drug resistance. Some strategies for dislodging LSCs and leukemic blasts from their protective niche have already been tested in patients and are in different phases of the process of clinical development. Other strategies, such as targeting the stromal cells remodeling processes, remain at pre-clinical stages. Development of humanized xenograft mouse models, which overcome the mismatch between human leukemia cells and the mouse BM niche, is required to generate physiologically relevant, patient-specific human niches in mice that can be used to unravel the role of human AML microenvironment and to carry out preclinical studies for the development of new targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Pievani
- Centro Ricerca M. Tettamanti, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (A.P.); (M.B.); (C.T.)
| | - Marta Biondi
- Centro Ricerca M. Tettamanti, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (A.P.); (M.B.); (C.T.)
| | - Chiara Tomasoni
- Centro Ricerca M. Tettamanti, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (A.P.); (M.B.); (C.T.)
| | - Andrea Biondi
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit, Fondazione MBBM/San Gerardo Hospital, 20900 Monza, Italy;
| | - Marta Serafini
- Centro Ricerca M. Tettamanti, Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (A.P.); (M.B.); (C.T.)
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34
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Rovatti PE, Gambacorta V, Lorentino F, Ciceri F, Vago L. Mechanisms of Leukemia Immune Evasion and Their Role in Relapse After Haploidentical Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. Front Immunol 2020; 11:147. [PMID: 32158444 PMCID: PMC7052328 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, the development of multiple strategies to allow the safe transfer from the donor to the patient of high numbers of partially HLA-incompatible T cells has dramatically reduced the toxicities of haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (haplo-HCT), but this was not accompanied by a similar positive impact on the incidence of post-transplantation relapse. In the present review, we will elaborate on how the unique interplay between HLA-mismatched immune system and malignancy that characterizes haplo-HCT may impact relapse biology, shaping the selection of disease variants that are resistant to the “graft-vs.-leukemia” effect. In particular, we will present current knowledge on genomic loss of HLA, a relapse modality first described in haplo-HCT and accounting for a significant proportion of relapses in this setting, and discuss other more recently identified mechanisms of post-transplantation immune evasion and relapse, including the transcriptional downregulation of HLA class II molecules and the enforcement of inhibitory checkpoints between T cells and leukemia. Ultimately, we will review the available treatment options for patients who relapse after haplo-HCT and discuss on how a deeper insight into relapse immunobiology might inform the rational and personalized selection of therapies to improve the largely unsatisfactory clinical outcome of relapsing patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier Edoardo Rovatti
- Unit of Immunogenetics, Leukemia Genomics and Immunobiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Gambacorta
- Unit of Immunogenetics, Leukemia Genomics and Immunobiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Unit of Senescence in Stem Cell Aging, Differentiation and Cancer, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Lorentino
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Ciceri
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Vago
- Unit of Immunogenetics, Leukemia Genomics and Immunobiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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35
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Sheppard AD, Lysaght J. Immunometabolism and Its Potential to Improve the Current Limitations of Immunotherapy. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2184:233-263. [PMID: 32808230 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0802-9_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The last century of research in tumor immunology has culminated in the advent of immunotherapy, most notably immune checkpoint inhibitors. These drugs have shown encouraging results across a multitude of malignancies and have shifted the paradigm of cancer treatment. However, no more than 40% of patients treated with these immune checkpoint blockade inhibitors respond. Thus, resistance is a barrier to therapy that remains poorly understood. All cells require energy and biosynthetic precursors for survival, growth, and functioning, where multiple metabolic pathways allow for flexibility in how nutrients are utilized. A defining hallmark of many cancers is altered cellular metabolism, creating an imbalanced demand for nutrients within the tumor microenvironment. Immunometabolism is increasingly understood to be vital to the functions and phenotypes of a myriad of immune cell subsets. In tumors, the high demand for nutrients by the tumor drives competition between tumor cells and infiltrating immune cells, culminating in dysfunctional immune responses. This chapter discusses the recent successes in cancer immunotherapy and highlights challenges to therapy. We also outline the major metabolic processes involved in the generation of an immune response, how this can become dysregulated in the context of the tumor microenvironment, and how this contributes to resistance to immunotherapy. Finally, we explore the potential for targeting immunometabolic pathways to improve immunotherapy, and examine current trials targeting various aspects of metabolism in an attempt to improve the outcomes from immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Sheppard
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Joanne Lysaght
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
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36
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Molica M, Breccia M, Foa R, Jabbour E, Kadia TM. Maintenance therapy in AML: The past, the present and the future. Am J Hematol 2019; 94:1254-1265. [PMID: 31429099 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.25620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Curative treatment in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) depends on successful induction therapy to achieve a complete remission (CR), and subsequent post-remission therapy to prevent relapse. High relapse rates after consolidation therapy and after allogeneic stem cell transplant contribute to suboptimal outcomes in AML patients, and continue to represent a difficult challenge. Effective maintenance therapy could play an important role in prolonging the remission interval in the post-consolidation setting, especially in high risk AML patients. Maintenance treatment approaches based on conventional chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hypomethylating agents, and targeted small molecules have been explored in this setting, but no data so far have been convincing enough to establish this approach as the standard of care. However, ongoing and future studies including novel targeted therapies may demonstrate promising efficacy that could facilitate incorporation of maintenance therapy into clinical practice. In this review we summarize previous and ongoing approaches of maintenance therapy in AML and discuss the most promising strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Molica
- Hematology, Department of Translational and Precision MedicineUniversity Sapienza Rome Roma Italy
| | - Massimo Breccia
- Hematology, Department of Translational and Precision MedicineUniversity Sapienza Rome Roma Italy
| | - Roberto Foa
- Hematology, Department of Translational and Precision MedicineUniversity Sapienza Rome Roma Italy
| | - Elias Jabbour
- Department of LeukemiaThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston Texas
| | - Tapan M. Kadia
- Department of LeukemiaThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston Texas
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[The role of CAR-T in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]. ZHONGHUA XUE YE XUE ZA ZHI = ZHONGHUA XUEYEXUE ZAZHI 2019; 40:340-343. [PMID: 31104451 PMCID: PMC7343021 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2727.2019.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Müller LME, Holmes M, Michael JL, Scott GB, West EJ, Scott KJ, Parrish C, Hall K, Stäble S, Jennings VA, Cullen M, McConnell S, Langton C, Tidswell EL, Shafren D, Samson A, Harrington KJ, Pandha H, Ralph C, Kelly RJ, Cook G, Melcher AA, Errington-Mais F. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells orchestrate innate and adaptive anti-tumor immunity induced by oncolytic coxsackievirus A21. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:164. [PMID: 31262361 PMCID: PMC6604201 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0632-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The oncolytic virus, coxsackievirus A21 (CVA21), has shown promise as a single agent in several clinical trials and is now being tested in combination with immune checkpoint blockade. Combination therapies offer the best chance of disease control; however, the design of successful combination strategies requires a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underpinning CVA21 efficacy, in particular, the role of CVA21 anti-tumor immunity. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the ability of CVA21 to induce human anti-tumor immunity, and identify the cellular mechanism responsible. METHODS This study utilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells from i) healthy donors, ii) Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patients, and iii) patients taking part in the STORM clinical trial, who received intravenous CVA21; patients receiving intravenous CVA21 were consented separately in accordance with local institutional ethics review and approval. Collectively, these blood samples were used to characterize the development of innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune responses following CVA21 treatment. RESULTS An Initial characterization of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, collected from cancer patients following intravenous infusion of CVA21, confirmed that CVA21 activated immune effector cells in patients. Next, using hematological disease models which were sensitive (Multiple Myeloma; MM) or resistant (AML) to CVA21-direct oncolysis, we demonstrated that CVA21 stimulated potent anti-tumor immune responses, including: 1) cytokine-mediated bystander killing; 2) enhanced natural killer cell-mediated cellular cytotoxicity; and 3) priming of tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, with specificity towards known tumor-associated antigens. Importantly, immune-mediated killing of both MM and AML, despite AML cells being resistant to CVA21-direct oncolysis, was observed. Upon further examination of the cellular mechanisms responsible for CVA21-induced anti-tumor immunity we have identified the importance of type I IFN for NK cell activation, and demonstrated that both ICAM-1 and plasmacytoid dendritic cells were key mediators of this response. CONCLUSION This work supports the development of CVA21 as an immunotherapeutic agent for the treatment of both AML and MM. Additionally, the data presented provides an important insight into the mechanisms of CVA21-mediated immunotherapy to aid the development of clinical biomarkers to predict response and rationalize future drug combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise M. E. Müller
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Leeds Institute of Medical Research (LIMR), University of Leeds, St. James’s University Hospital, Level 5, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building (WTBB), Leeds, LS9 7TF UK
| | - Matthew Holmes
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Leeds Institute of Medical Research (LIMR), University of Leeds, St. James’s University Hospital, Level 5, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building (WTBB), Leeds, LS9 7TF UK
| | - Joanne L. Michael
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Leeds Institute of Medical Research (LIMR), University of Leeds, St. James’s University Hospital, Level 5, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building (WTBB), Leeds, LS9 7TF UK
| | - Gina B. Scott
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Leeds Institute of Medical Research (LIMR), University of Leeds, St. James’s University Hospital, Level 5, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building (WTBB), Leeds, LS9 7TF UK
| | - Emma J. West
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Leeds Institute of Medical Research (LIMR), University of Leeds, St. James’s University Hospital, Level 5, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building (WTBB), Leeds, LS9 7TF UK
| | - Karen J. Scott
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Leeds Institute of Medical Research (LIMR), University of Leeds, St. James’s University Hospital, Level 5, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building (WTBB), Leeds, LS9 7TF UK
| | | | - Kathryn Hall
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Leeds Institute of Medical Research (LIMR), University of Leeds, St. James’s University Hospital, Level 5, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building (WTBB), Leeds, LS9 7TF UK
| | - Sina Stäble
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Leeds Institute of Medical Research (LIMR), University of Leeds, St. James’s University Hospital, Level 5, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building (WTBB), Leeds, LS9 7TF UK
| | - Victoria A. Jennings
- Translational Immunotherapy Team, The Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden Hospital/Institute of Cancer Research NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Matthew Cullen
- Haematological Malignancy Diagnostics Service, St. James’s University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Stewart McConnell
- Department of Haematology, St. James’s University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Catherine Langton
- Department of Haematology, St. James’s University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Emma L. Tidswell
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Leeds Institute of Medical Research (LIMR), University of Leeds, St. James’s University Hospital, Level 5, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building (WTBB), Leeds, LS9 7TF UK
| | - Darren Shafren
- School of Biomedical Science and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Adel Samson
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Leeds Institute of Medical Research (LIMR), University of Leeds, St. James’s University Hospital, Level 5, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building (WTBB), Leeds, LS9 7TF UK
| | - Kevin J. Harrington
- Translational Immunotherapy Team, The Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden Hospital/Institute of Cancer Research NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Hardev Pandha
- Surrey Cancer Research Institute, Leggett Building, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Christy Ralph
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Leeds Institute of Medical Research (LIMR), University of Leeds, St. James’s University Hospital, Level 5, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building (WTBB), Leeds, LS9 7TF UK
| | - Richard J. Kelly
- Department of Haematology, St. James’s University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Gordon Cook
- Section of Experimental Haematology, LIMR, University of Leeds, St. James’s University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Alan A. Melcher
- Translational Immunotherapy Team, The Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden Hospital/Institute of Cancer Research NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Fiona Errington-Mais
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Leeds Institute of Medical Research (LIMR), University of Leeds, St. James’s University Hospital, Level 5, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building (WTBB), Leeds, LS9 7TF UK
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Minimal residual disease-directed immunotherapy for high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Front Med 2019; 13:354-364. [PMID: 30680605 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-018-0665-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The efficacy of minimal residual disease (MRD)-directed immunotherapy, including interferon-α (IFN- α) treatment and chemotherapy plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-primed donor leukocyte infusion (chemo-DLI), was investigated in patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who were MRD-positive after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). High-risk MDS patients who received non-T-cell-depleted allo-HSCT at the Peking University Institute of Hematology and were MRD-positive after allo-HSCT were studied (n = 47). The MRD-positive status was considered if leukemia-associated aberrant immune phenotypes or Wilms' tumor gene 1 expression is present in a single bone marrow sample. The cumulative incidence of the relapse and non-relapse mortality 2 years after immunotherapy were 14.5% and 21.4% (P = 0.377) and 9.1% and 0.0% (P = 0.985) for patients in the IFN-α and chemo-DLI groups, respectively. The probability of disease-free and overall survival 2 years after immunotherapy were 76.4% and 78.6% (P = 0.891) and 84.3% and 84.6% (P = 0.972) for patients in the IFN-α and chemo-DLI groups, respectively. Persistent MRD after immunotherapy was associated with poor survival. Thus, the MRD-directed immunotherapy was effective for patients with high-risk MDS who were MRD-positive after allo-HSCT, and the efficacy was comparable between chemo-DLI and IFN-α treatment.
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Role of Interferon (IFN)α in “Cocktails” for the Generation of (Leukemia-derived) Dendritic Cells (DCleu) From Blasts in Blood From Patients (pts) With Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and the Induction of Antileukemic Reactions. J Immunother 2019; 42:143-161. [DOI: 10.1097/cji.0000000000000266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Modulation of phospho-proteins by interferon-alpha and valproic acid in acute myeloid leukemia. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2019; 145:1729-1749. [PMID: 31111215 PMCID: PMC6571093 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-019-02931-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Valproic acid (VPA) is suggested to be therapeutically beneficial in combination with interferon-alpha (IFNα) in various cancers. Therefore, we examined IFNα and VPA alone and in combinations in selected AML models, examining immune regulators and intracellular signaling mechanisms involved in phospho-proteomics. METHODS The anti-leukemic effects of IFNα and VPA were examined in vitro and in vivo. We mapped the in vitro phosphoprotein modulation by IFNα-2b and human IFNα-Le in MOLM-13 cells by IMAC/2D DIGE/MS analysis and phospho-flow cytometry, and in primary healthy and AML patient-derived PBMCs by CyTOF. In vivo, IFNα-Le and VPA efficacy were investigated in the immunodeficient NOD/Scid IL2γ-/- MOLM-13Luc+ mouse model and the syngeneic immunocompetent BNML rat model. RESULTS IFNα-2b and IFNα-Le differed in the modulation of phospho-proteins involved in protein folding, cell stress, cell death and p-STAT6 Y641, whereas VPA and IFNα-Le shared signaling pathways involving phosphorylation of Akt (T308), ERK1/2 (T202/T204), p38 (T180/Y182), and p53 (S15). Both IFNα compounds induced apoptosis synergistically with VPA in vitro. However, in vivo, VPA monotherapy increased survival, but no benefit was observed by IFNα-Le treatment. CyTOF analysis of primary human PBMCs indicated that lack of immune-cell activation could be a reason for the absence of response to IFNα in the animal models investigated. CONCLUSIONS IFNα-2b and IFNα-Le showed potent and synergistic anti-leukemic effects with VPA in vitro but not in leukemic mouse and rat models in vivo. The absence of IFNα immune activation in lymphocyte subsets may potentially explain the limited in vivo anti-leukemic effect of IFNα-monotherapy in AML.
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Kandimalla R, Gao F, Li Y, Huang H, Ke J, Deng X, Zhao L, Zhou S, Goel A, Wang X. RNAMethyPro: a biologically conserved signature of N6-methyladenosine regulators for predicting survival at pan-cancer level. NPJ Precis Oncol 2019; 3:13. [PMID: 31069256 PMCID: PMC6494854 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-019-0085-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulator-mediated RNA methylation in cancer progression and metastasis; yet its potential clinical significance, if any, remains unclear. In this first-of-its-kind study, we systematically evaluated the role of m6A regulators as potential disease biomarkers based on comprehensive analysis of gene expression profiles of 9770 cancer cell lines and clinical specimens from 25 publicly available datasets, encompassing 13 human cancers. We developed and established RNAMethyPro—a gene expression signature of seven m6A regulators, which robustly predicted patient survival in multiple human cancers. Pan-cancer analysis identified activated epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), as a highly conserved pathway in high-risk patients predicted by RNAMethyPro in 10 of the 13 cancer types. A network-based analysis revealed an intimate functional interplay between m6A regulators and EMT-associated factors via druggable targets such as XPO1 and NTRK1. Finally, the clinical significance of RNAMethyPro was further exemplified in colorectal cancer, where high-risk patients demonstrated strong associations with a mesenchymal subtype, activated stromal infiltration, and poor therapeutic response to targeted anti-EGFR therapy. In summary, RNAMethyPro is a novel, EMT-associated prognostic gene-expression signature in multiple human cancers and may offer an important clinical decision-making tool in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raju Kandimalla
- 1Center for Gastrointestinal Research; Center for Translational Genomics and Oncology, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute and Charles A Sammons Cancer Center, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Feng Gao
- 2Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,3The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Li
- 2Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hao Huang
- 2Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jia Ke
- 3The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Deng
- 2Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Linjie Zhao
- 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Shengtao Zhou
- 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Ajay Goel
- 1Center for Gastrointestinal Research; Center for Translational Genomics and Oncology, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute and Charles A Sammons Cancer Center, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Xin Wang
- 2Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,5Shenzhen Research Institute, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Sorafenib Therapy Is Associated with Improved Outcomes for FMS-like Tyrosine Kinase 3 Internal Tandem Duplication Acute Myeloid Leukemia Relapsing after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2019; 25:1674-1681. [PMID: 31009704 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2019.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The optimal therapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) who relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remains unclear. In this study we retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of sorafenib combined with other therapeutic strategies as salvage therapy for these patients. Eighty-three AML patients with FLT3-ITD relapsing after allo-HSCT were enrolled in this study. Fifty-three patients received salvage therapy containing sorafenib and 30 patients did not. Salvage therapy containing sorafenib was superior to that without sorafenib with respect to complete remission rates, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) (66.0% versus 30.0%, 46.8% versus 20.0%, and 44.9% versus 16.7%, respectively; P = .002, P = .003, and P = .001). Further subgroup analysis revealed that the OS and PFS of patients who received sorafenib combined with chemotherapy followed by donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) were superior to those receiving other therapeutic regimens, including sorafenib combined with chemotherapy, chemotherapy followed by DLI, and monochemotherapy (P = .003, P < .001). Multivariate analysis revealed that salvage therapy including sorafenib was the only protective factor for longer OS (P = .035; hazard ratio [HR], .526); salvage therapy including sorafenib and DLI were the protective factors for longer PFS (P = .011, HR, .423; P = .019, HR, .508). Our data suggest that sorafenib therapy is associated with improved outcomes for FLT3-ITD AML relapsing after allo-HSCT, and whether sorafenib combined with chemotherapy followed by DLI reveals an optimal efficacy merits further study.
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McMahon CM, Luger SM. Maintenance therapy in acute myeloid leukemia: What is the future? Semin Hematol 2019; 56:102-109. [DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Hasselbalch HC, Holmström MO. Perspectives on interferon-alpha in the treatment of polycythemia vera and related myeloproliferative neoplasms: minimal residual disease and cure? Semin Immunopathol 2019; 41:5-19. [PMID: 30203226 PMCID: PMC6323070 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-018-0700-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The first clinical trials of the safety and efficacy of interferon-alpha2 (IFN-alpha2) were performed about 30 years ago. Since then, several single-arm studies have convincingly demonstrated that IFN-alpha2 is a highly potent anti-cancer agent in several cancer types but unfortunately not being explored sufficiently due to a high toxicity profile when using non-pegylated IFN-alpha2 or high dosages or due to competitive drugs, that for clinicians at first glance might look more attractive. Within the hematological malignancies, IFN-alpha2 has only recently been revived in patients with the Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms-essential thrombocytosis, polycythemia vera, and myelofibrosis (MPNs)-and in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In this review, we tell the IFN story in MPNs from the very beginning in the 1980s up to 2018 and describe the perspectives for IFN-alpha2 treatment of MPNs in the future. The mechanisms of actions are discussed and the impact of chronic inflammation as the driving force for clonal expansion and disease progression in MPNs is discussed in the context of combination therapies with potent anti-inflammatory agents, such as the JAK1-2 inhibitors (licensed only ruxolitinib) and statins as well. Interferon-alpha2 being the cornerstone treatment in MPNs and having the potential of inducing minimal residual disease (MRD) with normalization of the bone marrow and low-JAK2V617F allele burden, we believe that combination therapy with ruxolitinib may be even more efficacious and hopefully revert disease progression in many more patients to enter the path towards MRD. In patients with advanced and transforming disease towards leukemic transformation or having transformed to acute myeloid leukemia, "triple therapy" is proposed as a novel treatment modality to be tested in clinical trials combining IFN-alpha2, DNA-hypomethylator, and ruxolitinib. The rationale for this "triple therapy" is given, including the fact that even in AML, IFN-alpha2 as monotherapy may revert disease progression. We envisage a new and bright future with many more patients with MPNs obtaining MRD on the above therapies. From this stage-and even before-vaccination strategies may open a new horizon with cure being the goal for some patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Carl Hasselbalch
- Department of Hematology, Zealand University Hospital, Sygehusvej 10, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Morten Orebo Holmström
- Department of Hematology, Zealand University Hospital, Sygehusvej 10, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
- Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Department of Hematology, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
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Sun W, Mo XD, Zhang XH, Xu LP, Wang Y, Yan CH, Chen H, Chen YH, Han W, Wang FR, Wang JZ, Liu KY, Huang XJ. Chemotherapy plus DLI for relapse after haploidentical HSCT: the biological characteristics of relapse influences clinical outcomes of acute leukemia patients. Bone Marrow Transplant 2018; 54:1198-1207. [PMID: 30518981 DOI: 10.1038/s41409-018-0406-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the prognostic factors in patients (n = 89) who experienced relapse and received chemotherapy plus donor leukocyte infusion (Chemo-DLI) after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT). Patients with early relapse (< 6 vs. > 6 months after haplo-HSCT), higher bone marrow blast count before chemo-DLI (> 20% vs. 5-19%), and without chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) after chemo-DLI had a higher rate of progressive disease (PD) and worse progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). In multivariate analysis, non-cGVHD after Chemo-DLI and high blast count predicted a higher risk of PD and poorer PFS, and non-cGVHD after Chemo-DLI and early relapse predicted poorer OS. The patients were stratified into three groups according to these three risk factors. Patients with all three risk factors (n = 14) had the highest PD rate and poorest survival compared with those with one or two risk factors (n = 63) or no risk factors (n = 12). Thus, early relapse, high leukemia burden before Chemo-DLI, and non-cGVHD after Chemo-DLI can predict outcomes in patients who have experienced relapse and received Chemo-DLI after haplo-HSCT. New therapeutic strategies should be identified for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Sun
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Mo
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Zhang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Lan-Ping Xu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Chen-Hua Yan
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Hong Chen
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Han
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Feng-Rong Wang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-Zhi Wang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Kai-Yan Liu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Huang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China. .,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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CGPS: A machine learning-based approach integrating multiple gene set analysis tools for better prioritization of biologically relevant pathways. J Genet Genomics 2018; 45:489-504. [PMID: 30292791 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2018.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 08/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Gene set enrichment (GSE) analyses play an important role in the interpretation of large-scale transcriptome datasets. Multiple GSE tools can be integrated into a single method as obtaining optimal results is challenging due to the plethora of GSE tools and their discrepant performances. Several existing ensemble methods lead to different scores in sorting pathways as integrated results; furthermore, it is difficult for users to choose a single ensemble score to obtain optimal final results. Here, we develop an ensemble method using a machine learning approach called Combined Gene set analysis incorporating Prioritization and Sensitivity (CGPS) that integrates the results provided by nine prominent GSE tools into a single ensemble score (R score) to sort pathways as integrated results. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, CGPS is the first GSE ensemble method built based on a priori knowledge of pathways and phenotypes. Compared with 10 widely used individual methods and five types of ensemble scores from two ensemble methods, we demonstrate that sorting pathways based on the R score can better prioritize relevant pathways, as established by an evaluation of 120 simulated datasets and 45 real datasets. Additionally, CGPS is applied to expression data involving the drug panobinostat, which is an anticancer treatment against multiple myeloma. The results identify cell processes associated with cancer, such as the p53 signaling pathway (hsa04115); by contrast, according to two ensemble methods (EnrichmentBrowser and EGSEA), this pathway has a rank higher than 20, which may cause users to miss the pathway in their analyses. We show that this method, which is based on a priori knowledge, can capture valuable biological information from numerous types of gene set collections, such as KEGG pathways, GO terms, Reactome, and BioCarta. CGPS is publicly available as a standalone source code at ftp://ftp.cbi.pku.edu.cn/pub/CGPS_download/cgps-1.0.0.tar.gz.
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Pei X, Huang X. New approaches in allogenic transplantation in AML. Semin Hematol 2018; 56:147-154. [PMID: 30926091 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Revised: 08/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disorder with high morbidity and mortality. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is an effective, and sometimes the only, curative postremission therapy for AML patients. Based on genetic risk classification, the published data have suggested that allo-SCT be recommended for high- and most intermediate-risk AML but not for low-risk AML in first complete remission (CR1). Recently, the role of allo-SCT in low-risk AML in CR1 is being established with the development of a risk-directed, minimal residual disease-based strategy. Though human leukocyte antigen-matched sibling transplantation remains the preferred therapeutic option for AML, modern approaches and developments pre-, peri- and post-transplant have facilitated other transplant modalities, especially haploidentical SCT, as promising valid alternative choices. In this paper, we review recent advances in allo-SCT for AML, weigh the benefits of allo-SCT for high-, intermediate-, and even low-risk AML in CR1, discuss the best choice of allo-SCT donor for the treatment of AML, and summarize new approaches for refractory and relapsed AML pre- or post-allo-SCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuying Pei
- Peking University People's Hospital & Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojun Huang
- Peking University People's Hospital & Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Mo XD, Wang Y, Zhang XH, Xu LP, Yan CH, Chen H, Chen YH, Qin YZ, Liu KY, Huang XJ. Interferon-α Is Effective for Treatment of Minimal Residual Disease in Patients with t(8;21) Acute Myeloid Leukemia After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Results of a Prospective Registry Study. Oncologist 2018; 23:1349-1357. [PMID: 30076280 DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2017-0692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2017] [Revised: 04/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND RUNX1-RUNX1T1 transcript levels were established as a powerful marker for predicting relapse in patients with t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We aimed to identify the efficacy of minimal residual disease (MRD)-directed interferon-alpha (IFN-α) treatment in patients with t(8;21) AML who were positive for MRD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT; n=42). SUBJECTS, MATERIALS, AND METHODS MRD-positive status was defined as a <4.5-log reduction from diagnosis in RUNX1-RUNX1T1 transcripts and/or the loss of a ≥4.5-log reduction after 3 months after HSCT. Patients with positive MRD received six cycles of IFN-α treatment (twice or thrice weekly of every 4 weeks cycle). RESULTS The 1-year cumulative incidence of severe acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease after MRD-directed IFN-α treatment was 7.1% and 4.8%, respectively. After the treatment, 15 (35.7%), 5 (11.9%), 3 (7.1%), and 9 (21.5%) patients achieved MRD negativity at 1, 2, 3, and >3 months, respectively. Three patients relapsed after the IFN-α treatment, in which the 1-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 7.2%. One patient died of severe infection at 460 days after treatment. The 1-year probabilities of event-free survival, disease-free survival, and overall survival after treatment were 76.0%, 92.4%, and 92.5%, respectively. The clinical outcomes in patients who received MRD-directed IFN-α treatment were significantly better than those of the MRD-positive patients without any interventions in the historical cohort. CONCLUSION MRD-directed IFN-α treatment is effective for patients with t(8;21) AML who were MRD-positive after allo-HSCT. The study was registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02027064. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE In patients with t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the presence of post-allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) minimal residual disease (MRD), measured by RUNX1-RUNX1T1 transcript levels, has been established as a powerful marker for predicting relapse. Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) could exert a relatively strong graft-versus-leukemia effect, and MRD-directed IFN-α treatment is effective for patients with t(8;21) AML who were MRD-positive after allo-HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Dong Mo
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Wang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Hui Zhang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lan-Ping Xu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen-Hua Yan
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan Chen
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Hong Chen
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ya-Zhen Qin
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai-Yan Liu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Jun Huang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Effects of preemptive interferon-α monotherapy in acute leukemia patients with relapse tendency after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a case-control study. Ann Hematol 2018; 97:2195-2204. [PMID: 29995264 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-018-3429-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Interferon-α (IFN-α) inhibits tumor growth and mimics graft-versus-leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). In the current case-control study, we compared treatment responses in acute leukemia patients with relapse tendency post-allo-HSCT receiving preemptive IFN-α after withdrawal of immunosuppressants (n = 31) vs. receiving no IFN-α (n = 67). In the IFN-α group, 25 patients responded to the treatment without progressing to hematological relapse. In the non-IFN-α group, only 22 patients responded to the treatment. The response rate differed significantly (80.6 vs. 32.8%, P < 0.001). The 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 31.6 and 61.2% in the IFN-α and the non-IFN groups, respectively (P = 0.006). The 2-year leukemia-free survival and overall survival rate was 57.4 vs. 28.4% (P < 0.001) and 67.6 vs. 32.9% (P = 0.001), respectively. Among the 31 patients in the IFN-α group, 18 patients (58.1%) developed graft-versus-host disease (GVHD): 6 acute and 12 limited chronic GVHD. Patients who developed GVHD had higher treatment response rate than patients without GVHD (88.9 vs. 53.8%, P = 0.022). In conclusion, preemptive IFN-α therapy is a safe and effective treatment to prevent disease progression in high-risk patients with relapse tendency post-allo-HSCT.
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