Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating condition with an estimated mortality of 30,000 patients a year worldwide. The median reported survival time since onset ranges from 24 to 48 ...months. Riluzole is the only currently approved mildly efficacious treatment. Riluzole received marketing authorization in 1995 in the USA and in 1996 in Europe. In the years that followed, over 60 molecules have been investigated as a possible treatment for ALS. Despite significant research efforts, the overwhelming majority of human clinical trials (CTs) have failed to demonstrate clinical efficacy. In the past year, oral masitinib and intravenous edaravone have emerged as promising new therapeutics with claimed efficacy in CTs in ALS patients. Given their advanced phase of clinical development one may consider these drugs as the most likely near-term additions to the therapeutic arsenal available for patients with ALS. In terms of patient inclusion, CT with masitinib recruited a wider, more representative, less restrictive patient population in comparison to the only successful edaravone CT (edaravone eligibility criteria represents only 18% of masitinib study patients). The present manuscript reviews >50 CTs conducted in the last 20 years since riluzole was first approved. A special emphasis is put on the analysis of existing evidence in support of the clinical efficacy of edaravone and masitinib and the possible implications of an eventual marketing authorisation in the treatment of ALS.
Summary
Erythroid cells undergo a highly complex maturation process, resulting in dynamic changes that generate red blood cells (RBCs) highly rich in haemoglobin. The end stages of the erythroid cell ...maturation process primarily include chromatin condensation and nuclear polarization, followed by nuclear expulsion called enucleation and clearance of mitochondria and other organelles to finally generate mature RBCs. While healthy RBCs are devoid of mitochondria, recent evidence suggests that mitochondria are actively implicated in the processes of erythroid cell maturation, erythroblast enucleation and RBC production. However, the extent of mitochondrial participation that occurs during these ultimate steps is not completely understood. This is specifically important since abnormal RBC retention of mitochondria or mitochondrial DNA contributes to the pathophysiology of sickle cell and other disorders. Here we review some of the key findings so far that elucidate the importance of this process in various aspects of erythroid maturation and RBC production under homeostasis and disease conditions.
Mitochondria play many functions in the process of erythropoiesis and RBC production under homeostatic conditions, and their impairment contributes to disease. Mitochondrial bioenergetics, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), haeme metabolism and some regulators of apoptosis mediate erythroid maturation or specifically erythroid enucleation. Processes involved in mitochondrial clearance by autophagy (known as mitophagy) are also key to erythroid maturation. Notably, abnormal retention of mitochondria, or clearance of mitochondrial DNA, in erythroid cells is found to be critically involved in the pathogenesis of human disorders.
Midostaurin is a multikinase inhibitor that includes mutant and nonmutant KIT D816V as a target. Its use in patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis, including mast-cell leukemia, produced ...responses in 60%, with a median overall survival of 28.7 months.
Systemic mastocytosis is a myeloid neoplasm that is caused by the accumulation of abnormal mast cells in the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and skin.
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The
KIT
D816V mutation, which is detected in approximately 90% of patients, encodes a constitutively activated receptor tyrosine kinase that drives disease pathogenesis.
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,
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The World Health Organization (WHO) classification of advanced systemic mastocytosis includes aggressive systemic mastocytosis, systemic mastocytosis with an associated hematologic neoplasm (also termed systemic mastocytosis with an associated hematologic non–mast-cell-lineage disease), and mast-cell leukemia (Table S1 in the Supplementary Appendix, available with the full text of this article at NEJM.org).
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Symptoms are caused . . .
Mastocytosis is a term used to denote a heterogeneous group of conditions defined by the expansion and accumulation of clonal (neoplastic) tissue mast cells in various organs. The classification of ...the World Health Organization (WHO) divides the disease into cutaneous mastocytosis, systemic mastocytosis, and localized mast cell tumors. On the basis of histomorphologic criteria, clinical parameters, and organ involvement, systemic mastocytosis is further divided into indolent systemic mastocytosis and advanced systemic mastocytosis variants, including aggressive systemic mastocytosis and mast cell leukemia. The clinical impact and prognostic value of this classification has been confirmed in numerous studies, and its basic concept remains valid. However, refinements have recently been proposed by the consensus group, the WHO, and the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis. In addition, new treatment options are available for patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis, including allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and multikinase inhibitors directed against KIT D816V and other key signaling molecules. Our current article provides an overview of recent advances in the field of mastocytosis, with emphasis on classification, prognostication, and emerging new treatment options in advanced systemic mastocytosis.
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The use of rituximab every 2 months for 3 years after immunochemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation prolonged progression-free and overall survival among patients with mantle-cell ...lymphoma.
Summary Background Reports of an increased risk of lymphoproliferative disorders in patients receiving thiopurines for inflammatory bowel disease are controversial. We assessed this risk in a ...prospective observational cohort study. Methods 19 486 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, of whom 11 759 (60·3%) had Crohn's disease and 7727 (39·7%) had ulcerative colitis or unclassified inflammatory bowel disease, were enrolled in a nationwide French cohort by 680 gastroenterologists, who reported details of immunosuppressive therapy during the observation period, cases of cancer, and deaths. The risk of lymphoproliferative disorder was assessed according to thiopurine exposure. Median follow-up was 35 months (IQR 29–40). Findings At baseline, 5867 (30·1%) of patients were receiving, 2809 (14·4%) had discontinued, and 10 810 (55·5%) had never received thiopurines. 23 new cases of lymphoproliferative disorder were diagnosed, consisting of one case of Hodgkin's lymphoma and 22 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoproliferative disorder. The incidence rates of lymphoproliferative disorder were 0·90 per 1000 (95% CI 0·50–1·49) patient-years in those receiving, 0·20/1000 (0·02–0·72) patient-years in those who had discontinued, and 0·26/1000 (0·10–0·57) patient-years in those who had never received thiopurines (p=0·0054). The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio of lymphoproliferative disorder between patients receiving thiopurines and those who had never received the drugs was 5·28 (2·01–13·9, p=0·0007). Most cases associated with thiopurine exposure matched the pathological range of post-transplant disease. Interpretation Patients receiving thiopurines for inflammatory bowel disease have an increased risk of developing lymphoproliferative disorders. Funding Programme Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique National ( AOM05157 ), Association François Aupetit, Délégation Inter-régionale de la Recherche clinique Ile de France-Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Ligue contre le Cancer, and Fonds de Recherche de la Société Nationale Française de Gastro-entérologie.
Sickle cell disease (SCD), considered the most common monogenic disease worldwide, is a severe hemoglobin disorder. Although the genetic and molecular bases have long been characterized, the ...pathophysiology remains incompletely elucidated and therapeutic options are limited. It has been increasingly suggested that innate immune cells, including monocytes, neutrophils, invariant natural killer T cells, platelets and mast cells, have a role in promoting inflammation, adhesion and pain in SCD. Here we provide a thorough review of the involvement of these novel, major protagonists in SCD pathophysiology, highlighting recent evidence for innovative therapeutic perspectives.
A trial involving 523 patients with mantle-cell lymphoma randomly assigned patients to receive bendamustine plus rituximab or these drugs plus ibrutinib. At a median follow-up of 7 years, the median ...progression-free survival with ibrutinib was nearly 81 months, as compared with 53 months without ibrutinib.
Summary Background Mantle cell lymphoma is characterised by a poor long-term prognosis. The European Mantle Cell Lymphoma Network aimed to investigate whether the introduction of high-dose cytarabine ...to immunochemotherapy before autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) improves outcome. Methods This randomised, open-label, parallel-group, phase 3 trial was done in 128 haemato-oncological hospital departments or private practices in Germany, France, Belgium, and Poland. Patients aged 65 years or younger with untreated stage II–IV mantle cell lymphoma were centrally randomised (1:1), with computer-assisted random block selection, to receive either six courses of R-CHOP (rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) followed by myeloablative radiochemotherapy and ASCT (control group), or six courses of alternating R-CHOP or R-DHAP (rituximab plus dexamethasone, high-dose cytarabine, and cisplatin) followed by a high-dose cytarabine-containing conditioning regimen and ASCT (cytarabine group). Patients were stratified by study group and international prognostic index. The primary outcome was time to treatment failure from randomisation to stable disease after at least four induction cycles, progression, or death from any cause. Patients with stage II–IV mantle cell lymphoma were included in the primary analysis if treatment was started according to randomisation. For safety analyses, patients were assessed according to the treatment actually started. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT00209222. Findings Of 497 patients (median age 55 years IQR 49–60) randomised from July 20, 2004, to March 18, 2010, 234 of 249 in the control group and 232 of 248 in the cytarabine group were included in the primary analysis. After a median follow-up of 6·1 years (95% CI 5·4–6·4), time to treatment failure was significantly longer in the cytarabine group (median 9·1 years 95% CI 6·3–not reached, 5 year rate 65% 95% CI 57–71) than in the control group (3·9 years 3·2–4·4, 40% 33–46; hazard ratio 0·56; p=0·038). During induction immunochemotherapy, patients who received high-dose cytarabine had increased grade 3 or 4 haematological toxicity (haemoglobin 71 29% of 241m vs 19 8% of 227 controls; platelets 176 73% of 240 vs 21 9% of 225), grade 3 or 4 febrile neutropenia (39 17% of 230 vs 19 8% of 224), and grade 1 or 2 renal toxicity (creatinine 102 43% of 236 vs 22 10% of 224). The number of ASCT-related deaths was similar (eight 3·4%) in both groups. Interpretation Immunochemotherapy containing high-dose cytarabine followed by ASCT should be considered standard of care in patients aged 65 years or younger with mantle cell lymphoma. Funding European Commission, Lymphoma Research Foundation, and Roche.
Treatment of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) in younger patients remains a challenge. We report results of a phase 2 trial using cytarabine and rituximab as induction regimen before autologous stem cell ...transplantation. Patients younger than 66 years with stage 3 or 4 MCL were included. Treatment consisted of 3 courses of CHOP21 with rituximab at the third one and 3 of R-DHAP. Responding patients were eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation with TAM6 or BEAM. Sixty patients were included. Median age was 57 years. Characteristics of patients were: BM involvement 85%, leukemic disease 48%, gastrointestinal involvement 52%, Performance Status > 16%, lactate dehydrogenase > 1N 38%, Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (low 55%, intermediate 38%, high 13%). The overall response rate was 93% after (R)-CHOP and 95% after R-DHAP. Although uncommon after (R)-CHOP (12%), 57% of patients were in complete response after R-DHAP. With median follow-up of 67 months, median event-free survival is 83 months, and median overall survival is not reached. Five-year overall survival is 75%. Comparison with a previous study without rituximab shows improvement of outcome (median event-free survival, 51 vs 83 months). No toxic death or unexpected toxicities were observed. This study confirms that induction with rituximab and cytarabine-based regimens is safe and effective in MCL patients. This regimen is currently compared with R-CHOP21 induction in a multicentric European protocol.
•Treatment of young patients with mantle cell lymphoma requires induction chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation.•Higher efficacy without excess toxicity is obtained with high-dose cytarabine and rituximab before stem cell transplantation.
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