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Lewis J, Guilcher GMT, Greenway SC. Reviewing the impact of hydroxyurea on DNA methylation and its potential clinical implications in sickle cell disease. Eur J Haematol 2024; 113:264-272. [PMID: 38831675 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.14247] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Hydroxyurea (HU) is the most common drug therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD). The clinical benefits of HU derive from its upregulation of fetal hemoglobin (HbF), which reduces aggregation of the mutated sickle hemoglobin protein (HbS) and reduces SCD symptoms and complications. However, some individuals do not respond to HU, or stop responding over time. Unfortunately, current understanding of the mechanism of action of HU is limited, hindering the ability of clinicians to identify those patients who will respond to HU and to optimize treatment for those receiving HU. Given that epigenetic modifications are essential to erythropoiesis and HbF expression, we hypothesize that some effects of HU may be mediated by epigenetic modifications, specifically DNA methylation. However, few studies have investigated this possibility and the effects of HU on DNA methylation remain relatively understudied. In this review, we discuss the evidence linking HU treatment to DNA methylation changes and associated gene expression changes, with an emphasis on studies that were performed in individuals with SCD. Overall, although HU can affect DNA methylation, research on these changes and their clinical effects remains limited. Further study is likely to contribute to our understanding of hematopoiesis and benefit patients suffering from SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Lewis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Cardiac Sciences and Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gregory M T Guilcher
- Department of Pediatrics and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Steven C Greenway
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Cardiac Sciences and Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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De Avila C, Martinez PA, Sendi P, Galvez Silva JR, Maher OM, Totapally BR. Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children with Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassemia Major: A National Database Study. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2024:1-15. [PMID: 39007895 DOI: 10.1080/08880018.2024.2378282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
In patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and beta-thalassemia major (TM), allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was considered the only curative treatment option with a good survival rate. However, with the recent approval of gene therapies, more information is needed to understand the benefits and risks of these interventions. We performed a retrospective analysis of the Kids Inpatient Database to describe demographic features, short-term complications, and hospital charges of patients with SCD and TM treated with HSCT during 2006-2019 in the United States. The database was filtered using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th and 10th edition codes to identify children under 20 years of age with SCD or TM who underwent HSCT. A total of 513 children with SCD or TM who received HSCT were analyzed. The prevalence of HSCT per 1000,000 U.S. population increased from 0.31 in 2006 to 1.99 in 2019 (p < 0.001). The median age of children with SCD who underwent HSCT was 10 (6-15) years, and that for TM was 6 (3-11.5) years (p < 0.001). The combined mortality rate was 4% (2.4%-6.6%) but higher in the TM group. The length-of-stay and total charges were higher in the TM population (p < 0.01). This study provides national data on HSCT among hospitalized children with SCD and TM in the United States, demonstrating an increasing use of HSCT between 2006 and 2019. Although hospital mortality of HSCT in these conditions is low, it still represents a challenge, especially in TM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila De Avila
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Paul A Martinez
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, FL, USA
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Prithvi Sendi
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, FL, USA
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jorge R Galvez Silva
- Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Ossama M Maher
- Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Balagangadhar R Totapally
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, FL, USA
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
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Pirenne F. Alloimmunization and hyperhemolysis in sickle cell disease. HEMATOLOGY. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEMATOLOGY. EDUCATION PROGRAM 2023; 2023:653-659. [PMID: 38066873 PMCID: PMC10727070 DOI: 10.1182/hematology.2023000499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Alloimmunization against red blood cell antigens and delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction (DHTR) are major barriers to transfusion in sickle cell disease (SCD). In SCD, DHTR is a potentially life-threatening. Blood group polymorphism in SCD patients, who are of African ancestry and frequently exposed to antigens they do not carry; an inflammatory clinical state; and occasional transfusion in acute situations are risk factors for alloimmunization and DHTR. In patients at risk, the transfusion indication must be balanced against the risk of developing DHTR. However, when transfusion is absolutely necessary, protocols combining the prevention of exposure to immunogenic antigens with immunosuppressive treatments must be implemented, and patients should be carefully monitored during posttransfusion follow-up. This close monitoring makes it possible to diagnose hyperhemolysis as soon as possible; to avoid retransfusion, which can exacerbate hemolysis; and to administer specific treatments, such as anticomplement therapy, in severe cases. Finally, in patients with severe disease, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may be indicated. However, transfusion is also required in this context, and its management is complex because these risks must be taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- France Pirenne
- Université Paris Est Créteil, INSERM U955, IMRB, Créteil, France
- Etablissement Français du Sang, Saint Denis, France
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Krishnamurti L, Neuberg D, Sullivan KM, Smith S, Eapen M, Walters MC. Enrollment Lessons from a Biological Assignment Study of Marrow Transplantation versus Standard Care for Adolescents and Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease: Considerations for Future Gene and Cellular Therapy Trials. Transplant Cell Ther 2023; 29:217-221. [PMID: 36270432 PMCID: PMC10539686 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2022.10.008] [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: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
We previously conducted a single-arm feasibility study (STRIDE1) of myeloablative bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). The trial identified donors before entry, enrolled well, and found no unexpected regimen-related toxicity. Although many single-arm studies have been published, there are no controlled trials of either BMT or gene therapy in SCD. Therefore, we designed a comparative trial by biological assignment (available donor versus no donor). This multicenter National Institutes of Health-funded study (Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network 1503; STRIDE2) enrolled patients between 2016 and 2021 at 35 sites. Lagging recruitment led to study closure, and here we report the impediments to accrual. The BMT regimen and entry criteria were from STRIDE1, and 2-year survival was the primary endpoint. To minimize selection bias from prior HLA typing, STRIDE2 excluded individuals with previously identified donors. Accrual was stopped at 69% of target (138 enrolled; assigned 28 with donor, 96 with no donor). Barriers to enrollment included lower than expected frequency of HLA-matched related and unrelated donors; loss of enrollees owing to previously identified donors; conventional care arm dissuading some seeking BMT; challenging short-term endpoints in SCD, including incomplete documentation of sickle pain episodes; state Medicaid (primary insurers of SCD) denial of BMT coverage for adult SCD despite the study having secured Coverage with Evidence Development from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services; slowed accrual in 2019 to 2021 during the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic; and restriction of BMT resourcing for nonmalignant diseases by academic medical (cancer) centers. Social obstacles and access to BMT centers also limited entry, as did practitioner and participant concerns over suitability, cost, and toxicity. Planning for future controlled trials of curative therapy in SCD and other nonmalignant diseases likely will meet these enrollment challenges. Lessons from this trial may aid the development of future comparative studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmanan Krishnamurti
- Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
| | | | | | - Shannon Smith
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Mary Eapen
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Mark C Walters
- Department of Pediatrics, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, Oakland, California
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Flor-Park MV, Ozahata MC, Moura ICG, Blatyta P, Kelly S, Oliveira CDL, Capuani L, Belisário AR, Carneiro-Proietti ABF, Araujo AS, Loureiro P, Maximo C, Rodrigues DOW, Mota RA, Sabino E, Custer B, Rocha V. Is Severity Score Associated With Indication for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Individuals With Sickle Cell Anemia? Transplant Cell Ther 2022; 28:708.e1-708.e8. [PMID: 35788087 PMCID: PMC10979754 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2022.06.024] [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: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Manifestations of sickle cell disease (SCD) begin early in childhood and cause morbidity and decreased life expectancy. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is curative but associated with risk of mortality attributable to the transplant. This risk should be counterbalanced with SCD morbidity and mortality. A severity score using a Bayesian network model was previously validated to predict the risk of death in adult individuals with SCD. The objective of this study is to calculate the severity scores of participants in a multicenter cohort of Brazilians with SCD, using a previously published Bayesian network-derived score, associated with risk of death and then compare the severity scores between participants with and without an indication for HSCT as defined by the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MoH) criteria. This is an observational, retrospective study. We analyzed 2063 individuals with sickle cell anemia from the Recipient Epidemiology and Donor Evaluation Study-III Brazil SCD cohort and applied a Bayesian network-derived score to compare candidates and non-candidates for HSCT according to the Brazilian MoH transplant criteria. Classical statistical methods were used to analyze data and make comparisons. We compared severity scores between cohort members with (n = 431) and without (n = 1632) HSCT indications according to Brazilian MoH. Scores were not different in adult participants with ≥1 HSCT indication when compared to those with no indication (mean 0.342 versus 0.292; median 0.194 versus 0.183, P = .354) and receiver operating characteristic curves did not demonstrate an obvious threshold to differentiate participants with or without HSCT indications. Severity score may predict risk of death but does not differentiate HSCT candidates. Current indications should be evaluated to ensure that patients with more severe disease who might benefit from HSCT are appropriately identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam V Flor-Park
- Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto da Criança, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | - Shannon Kelly
- Vitalant Research Institute, Epidemiology, San Francisco, California; University of California San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital, Oakland, California
| | | | - Ligia Capuani
- Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias da Faculdade de medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Aderson S Araujo
- Department of Hematology, Fundação de Hematologia e Hemoterapia de Pernambuco, HEMOPE, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Paula Loureiro
- Research Department, Fundação de Hematologia e Hemoterapia de Pernambuco, HEMOPE, Pernambuco, Brazil; Research Department, Universidade de Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Claudia Maximo
- Department of Hematology, Instituto Estadual de Hematologia Arthur de Siqueira Cavalcanti-HEMORIO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Rosimere A Mota
- Department of Hematology, Hemocentro Regional de Montes Claros, Fundação HEMOMINAS, Montes Claros, Brazil
| | - Ester Sabino
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical and Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Brian Custer
- Vitalant Research Institute, Epidemiology, San Francisco, California; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Vanderson Rocha
- Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Serviço de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular, São Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Medical Investigation (LIM 31) in Pathogenesis and Directed Therapy in Onco-Immuno-Hematology, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Haematology, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Sabarense AP, Silva CM, Muniz MBDSR, Viana MB. Follow-up of children with sickle cell anemia screened with transcranial Doppler and enrolled in a primary prevention program of ischemic stroke. Hematol Transfus Cell Ther 2021; 44:478-484. [PMID: 34210619 PMCID: PMC9605893 DOI: 10.1016/j.htct.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Stroke is a serious complication of sickle cell anemia (SCA). The transcranial Doppler (TCD) is the risk-screening tool for ischemic strokes. The objective of the study was to describe the clinical progression of children with SCA who presented with high risk for stroke by TCD or relevant changes by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and underwent the regular transfusion program (RTP) and/or hydroxyurea (HU) treatment between 2007 and 2018. Method This was a neonatal retrospective/prospective cohort study with children born between 1999 and 2014 with the homozygotic form (HbSS) or Sβ0-thalassemia who underwent TCD at least once. Results Of the 718 children screened during this period, 675 had HbSS and 43 Sβ0-thalassemia. In 54 children (7.5%), all with HbSS, a high-risk TCD (n = 45) or, when the TCD was inconclusive, an MRA with cerebral vasculopathy (n = 9) was used for detection. Of these, 51 started the RTP and the families of three refused treatment. Of the 43 children with a high-risk TCD who initiated the RTP, 29 (67.4%) reverted to low risk. In 18 of them (62%), HU was started at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) before transfusion discontinuation. None of these 29 patients had a stroke. Eight children (18.6%) maintained a high-risk TCD, even using the RTP/HU and two had a stroke. Conclusions The TCD was confirmed as a viable tool for tracking patients with a risk for stroke. The RTP was effective in preventing the primary event. New strategies are necessary to prevent stroke using HU and new drugs, in addition to bone marrow transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marcos Borato Viana
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (FM UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Núcleo de Ações e Pesquisa em Apoio Diagnóstico da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Nupad UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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Abstract
Despite sickle cell disease (SCD) being the most common and severe inherited condition worldwide, therapeutic options are limited. To date, hydroxyurea remains the main treatment option in SCD. However, in the last decade the numbers of interventional clinical trials focussing on therapies for SCD have increased significantly. Many new drugs with various pharmacological targets have emerged and, although the majority have failed to show benefit in clinical trials, some have produced encouraging results. It seems probable that more drugs will soon become available for the treatment of SCD. Furthermore, promising clinical trials with improved outcomes have recently changed the perspective of curative therapies in SCD. Nevertheless, the application of novel therapeutic agents and potential curative treatments will most likely be limited to high-income countries and, thus, will remain unavailable for the majority of people with SCD in the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina Nardo-Marino
- Centre for Haemoglobinopathies, Department of Haematology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Valentine Brousse
- Sickle Cell Disease Reference Center, Department of General Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Paris, France
| | - David Rees
- Department of Haematological Medicine, King's College London, King's College Hospital, London, UK
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