Clinical Edge Journal Scan

Key clinical point: An exercise and diet intervention had no significant impact on fatigue in women with breast cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Major finding: Based on the general cancer-related fatigue score using the MFI-20 questionnaire, general fatigue levels were not significantly different between groups of breast cancer patients randomized to an Adapted Physical Activity Diet (APAD) program and controls (P = 0.274).

Study details: The data come from a randomized, controlled trial of 360 adult women with early breast cancer designed to evaluate the impact of an exercise and nutrition intervention on fatigue during 6 months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the INCa-DGOS and by a Montpellier Cancer SIRIC grant. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose. 

Citation: Jacot W et al. Nutrients. 2020 Oct 9. doi: 10.3390/nu12103081.

Key clinical point: An exercise and diet intervention had no significant impact on fatigue in women with breast cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Major finding: Based on the general cancer-related fatigue score using the MFI-20 questionnaire, general fatigue levels were not significantly different between groups of breast cancer patients randomized to an Adapted Physical Activity Diet (APAD) program and controls (P = 0.274).

Study details: The data come from a randomized, controlled trial of 360 adult women with early breast cancer designed to evaluate the impact of an exercise and nutrition intervention on fatigue during 6 months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the INCa-DGOS and by a Montpellier Cancer SIRIC grant. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose. 

Citation: Jacot W et al. Nutrients. 2020 Oct 9. doi: 10.3390/nu12103081.

Key clinical point: An exercise and diet intervention had no significant impact on fatigue in women with breast cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Major finding: Based on the general cancer-related fatigue score using the MFI-20 questionnaire, general fatigue levels were not significantly different between groups of breast cancer patients randomized to an Adapted Physical Activity Diet (APAD) program and controls (P = 0.274).

Study details: The data come from a randomized, controlled trial of 360 adult women with early breast cancer designed to evaluate the impact of an exercise and nutrition intervention on fatigue during 6 months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the INCa-DGOS and by a Montpellier Cancer SIRIC grant. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose. 

Citation: Jacot W et al. Nutrients. 2020 Oct 9. doi: 10.3390/nu12103081.

Key clinical point: A prognostic signature including 8 DNA repair-related genes (MDC1, RPA3, MED17, DDB2, SFPQ, XRCC4, CYP19A1, and PARP3) predicted overall survival in breast cancer patients

Major finding: The areas under the curve were for 3-year survival and 5-year survival were 0.717 and 0.772, respectively, in the GSE9893 data set, and 0.691 and 0.718, respectively, in the GSE42568 data set.

Study details: The data come from 1,096 women with breast cancer; gene expression profiles and clinical data were collected from a Chinese health database between October 9, 2019, and February 3, 2020.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Citation: Zhang D et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Oct 5. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.14622.

Key clinical point: A prognostic signature including 8 DNA repair-related genes (MDC1, RPA3, MED17, DDB2, SFPQ, XRCC4, CYP19A1, and PARP3) predicted overall survival in breast cancer patients

Major finding: The areas under the curve were for 3-year survival and 5-year survival were 0.717 and 0.772, respectively, in the GSE9893 data set, and 0.691 and 0.718, respectively, in the GSE42568 data set.

Study details: The data come from 1,096 women with breast cancer; gene expression profiles and clinical data were collected from a Chinese health database between October 9, 2019, and February 3, 2020.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Citation: Zhang D et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Oct 5. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.14622.

Key clinical point: A prognostic signature including 8 DNA repair-related genes (MDC1, RPA3, MED17, DDB2, SFPQ, XRCC4, CYP19A1, and PARP3) predicted overall survival in breast cancer patients

Major finding: The areas under the curve were for 3-year survival and 5-year survival were 0.717 and 0.772, respectively, in the GSE9893 data set, and 0.691 and 0.718, respectively, in the GSE42568 data set.

Study details: The data come from 1,096 women with breast cancer; gene expression profiles and clinical data were collected from a Chinese health database between October 9, 2019, and February 3, 2020.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Citation: Zhang D et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Oct 5. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.14622.

Key clinical point: The use of textured implants in reconstructive surgery after breast cancer mastectomy was significantly associated with lower rates of disease-free survival compared to smooth implants, but no difference was noted in local and regional recurrence-free survival based on implant texture.

Major finding: Rates of disease-free survival were significantly lower among breast cancer patients who received textured breast implants compared to those who received smooth implants (hazard ratio 3.054); the association was even stronger among patients with stage II or III tumors (HR 8.874).

Study details: The data come from a cohort study of 650 women representing 687 cases of breast cancer who were treated at a single center in South Korea between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2016.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Citation: Lee K-T et al. JAMA Surg. 2020 Oct 7. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2020.4124.

Key clinical point: The use of textured implants in reconstructive surgery after breast cancer mastectomy was significantly associated with lower rates of disease-free survival compared to smooth implants, but no difference was noted in local and regional recurrence-free survival based on implant texture.

Major finding: Rates of disease-free survival were significantly lower among breast cancer patients who received textured breast implants compared to those who received smooth implants (hazard ratio 3.054); the association was even stronger among patients with stage II or III tumors (HR 8.874).

Study details: The data come from a cohort study of 650 women representing 687 cases of breast cancer who were treated at a single center in South Korea between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2016.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Citation: Lee K-T et al. JAMA Surg. 2020 Oct 7. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2020.4124.

Key clinical point: The use of textured implants in reconstructive surgery after breast cancer mastectomy was significantly associated with lower rates of disease-free survival compared to smooth implants, but no difference was noted in local and regional recurrence-free survival based on implant texture.

Major finding: Rates of disease-free survival were significantly lower among breast cancer patients who received textured breast implants compared to those who received smooth implants (hazard ratio 3.054); the association was even stronger among patients with stage II or III tumors (HR 8.874).

Study details: The data come from a cohort study of 650 women representing 687 cases of breast cancer who were treated at a single center in South Korea between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2016.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Citation: Lee K-T et al. JAMA Surg. 2020 Oct 7. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2020.4124.

Key clinical point: Vacuum-assisted biopsy accurately predicted residual disease in breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Major finding: The overall false negative rate using vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) was 18.7%; in a subgroup of patients with a complete/partial response and imaging abnormalities of 2 cm or smaller, the false negative rate was 3.2% and the negative predictive value was 97.4% for an overall accuracy of 89.5% with VAB.

Study details: The data come from a diagnostic study of 166 women with breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by image-guided biopsy.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.  

Citation: Tasoulis MK et al. JAMA Surg. 2020 Oct 7. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2020.4103.

Key clinical point: Vacuum-assisted biopsy accurately predicted residual disease in breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Major finding: The overall false negative rate using vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) was 18.7%; in a subgroup of patients with a complete/partial response and imaging abnormalities of 2 cm or smaller, the false negative rate was 3.2% and the negative predictive value was 97.4% for an overall accuracy of 89.5% with VAB.

Study details: The data come from a diagnostic study of 166 women with breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by image-guided biopsy.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.  

Citation: Tasoulis MK et al. JAMA Surg. 2020 Oct 7. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2020.4103.

Key clinical point: Vacuum-assisted biopsy accurately predicted residual disease in breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Major finding: The overall false negative rate using vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) was 18.7%; in a subgroup of patients with a complete/partial response and imaging abnormalities of 2 cm or smaller, the false negative rate was 3.2% and the negative predictive value was 97.4% for an overall accuracy of 89.5% with VAB.

Study details: The data come from a diagnostic study of 166 women with breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by image-guided biopsy.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.  

Citation: Tasoulis MK et al. JAMA Surg. 2020 Oct 7. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2020.4103.

Key clinical point: Outcomes including recurrence, disease-free survival, and overall survival were similar for breast cancer patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) with nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) or skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. 

Major finding: Breast cancer patients who underwent IBR with NSM/SSM as surgical treatment showed similar rates of overall survival at 5 years compared to those who underwent conventional mastectomy (92.0% vs. 89.3%).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective, case-control study of 1,266 breast cancer patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by immediate breast reconstruction or conventional mastectomy at a single center between January 1, 2010, and November 30, 2016.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Citation: Wu Z-Y et al. JAMA Surg. 2020 Oct 14. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2020.4132.

Key clinical point: Outcomes including recurrence, disease-free survival, and overall survival were similar for breast cancer patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) with nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) or skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. 

Major finding: Breast cancer patients who underwent IBR with NSM/SSM as surgical treatment showed similar rates of overall survival at 5 years compared to those who underwent conventional mastectomy (92.0% vs. 89.3%).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective, case-control study of 1,266 breast cancer patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by immediate breast reconstruction or conventional mastectomy at a single center between January 1, 2010, and November 30, 2016.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Citation: Wu Z-Y et al. JAMA Surg. 2020 Oct 14. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2020.4132.

Key clinical point: Outcomes including recurrence, disease-free survival, and overall survival were similar for breast cancer patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) with nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) or skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. 

Major finding: Breast cancer patients who underwent IBR with NSM/SSM as surgical treatment showed similar rates of overall survival at 5 years compared to those who underwent conventional mastectomy (92.0% vs. 89.3%).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective, case-control study of 1,266 breast cancer patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by immediate breast reconstruction or conventional mastectomy at a single center between January 1, 2010, and November 30, 2016.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Citation: Wu Z-Y et al. JAMA Surg. 2020 Oct 14. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2020.4132.

Key clinical point: Breast cancer subtypes may be associated with race and ethnicity; certain subtypes were significantly more common in Black women and infiltrating duct carcinoma compared to White women, but lobular carcinoma, and tubular adenocarcinoma were less common in Hispanic women compared to nonHispanic White women.

Major finding: The incidence of HR-negative and ERBB2-positive; HR-positive and ERBB2-positive; and triple negative breast cancer was significantly higher among Black women compared to nonHispanic White women, but the incidence of the HR-positive and ERBB2-negative subtype in Black women was lower (incidence rate ratios of 1.12, 1.46, 2.07, and 0.86, respectively). 

Study details: The data come from a population-based cohort study of 239,211 women with breast cancer diagnosed between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015.

Disclosures: The study was supported by grants to the researchers from several organizations including the Natural Science Foundation of China, the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation, the Special Research Fund for Central Universities, Peking Union Medical College, the Beijing Hope Run Special Fund of Cancer Foundation of China, and the PhD Innovation Fund of Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Citation: Kong X et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Oct 19. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.20303.

Key clinical point: Breast cancer subtypes may be associated with race and ethnicity; certain subtypes were significantly more common in Black women and infiltrating duct carcinoma compared to White women, but lobular carcinoma, and tubular adenocarcinoma were less common in Hispanic women compared to nonHispanic White women.

Major finding: The incidence of HR-negative and ERBB2-positive; HR-positive and ERBB2-positive; and triple negative breast cancer was significantly higher among Black women compared to nonHispanic White women, but the incidence of the HR-positive and ERBB2-negative subtype in Black women was lower (incidence rate ratios of 1.12, 1.46, 2.07, and 0.86, respectively). 

Study details: The data come from a population-based cohort study of 239,211 women with breast cancer diagnosed between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015.

Disclosures: The study was supported by grants to the researchers from several organizations including the Natural Science Foundation of China, the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation, the Special Research Fund for Central Universities, Peking Union Medical College, the Beijing Hope Run Special Fund of Cancer Foundation of China, and the PhD Innovation Fund of Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Citation: Kong X et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Oct 19. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.20303.

Key clinical point: Breast cancer subtypes may be associated with race and ethnicity; certain subtypes were significantly more common in Black women and infiltrating duct carcinoma compared to White women, but lobular carcinoma, and tubular adenocarcinoma were less common in Hispanic women compared to nonHispanic White women.

Major finding: The incidence of HR-negative and ERBB2-positive; HR-positive and ERBB2-positive; and triple negative breast cancer was significantly higher among Black women compared to nonHispanic White women, but the incidence of the HR-positive and ERBB2-negative subtype in Black women was lower (incidence rate ratios of 1.12, 1.46, 2.07, and 0.86, respectively). 

Study details: The data come from a population-based cohort study of 239,211 women with breast cancer diagnosed between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015.

Disclosures: The study was supported by grants to the researchers from several organizations including the Natural Science Foundation of China, the Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation, the Special Research Fund for Central Universities, Peking Union Medical College, the Beijing Hope Run Special Fund of Cancer Foundation of China, and the PhD Innovation Fund of Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Citation: Kong X et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Oct 19. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.20303.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has afflicted over 44 million individuals across the planet and been responsible for over 1 million deaths, particularly in high-risk populations. As a result of the overall advanced age, frailty and pre-existing comorbidities of patients with MDS, SARS-Cov2 was feared to be particularly dangerous in this patient population. A recent study by Mossuto et al describes the outcomes of patients with MDS with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the Coronavirus outbreak in Italy. Among a total of 5326 patients with MDS followed during the study period, 63 (1.18%) had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. With a median age of 73 years, the mortality rate among these patients was 52% compared to that of the non-MDS population (24%), and was particularly high on male MDS patients (73% of total deaths). Respiratory failure was the cause of death in all the MDS patients with ARDS in 50% of deceased patients, and with majority of patients who were able to recover having lower risk IPSS-R categories. Interestingly, no differences in mortality or severity of infection were observed based on the type of therapy received for their MDS. These findings are not surprising given the underlying inflammation and immunosuppression in patients with MDS. Until the development of COVID-19 vaccines has been completed, identification of high-risk populations and specific guidelines for the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with MDS remains of paramount importance.

Clonal hematopoiesis is a known cardiovascular risk factor which has been associated with increased risk of cardiac and cerebrovascular events. Recent studies have also associated MDS with higher than expected cardiovascular comorbidities and cardiovascular-related deaths. In accordance to prior publications by Naqvi et al, a recent study by Faber et al retrospectively evaluated 236 MDS patients and studied the associations of somatic mutations with cardiovascular risk. Overall, the authors observed that 27% of patients in their study population developed vascular event, and that ASXL1 mutations were predictive of vascular disease by multivariate analysis (with an odds ratio of 4.2). This data further supports the biological connection between comorbidities and hematopoietic clonal disorders, the role of inflammaging and the need to maximize cardiovascular risk factor care in patients with MDS and develop specific therapies targeting both the disease biology and the underlying mechanisms leading to increased cardiovascular risk.

Guillermo Montalban Bravo, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

The current COVID-19 pandemic has afflicted over 44 million individuals across the planet and been responsible for over 1 million deaths, particularly in high-risk populations. As a result of the overall advanced age, frailty and pre-existing comorbidities of patients with MDS, SARS-Cov2 was feared to be particularly dangerous in this patient population. A recent study by Mossuto et al describes the outcomes of patients with MDS with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the Coronavirus outbreak in Italy. Among a total of 5326 patients with MDS followed during the study period, 63 (1.18%) had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. With a median age of 73 years, the mortality rate among these patients was 52% compared to that of the non-MDS population (24%), and was particularly high on male MDS patients (73% of total deaths). Respiratory failure was the cause of death in all the MDS patients with ARDS in 50% of deceased patients, and with majority of patients who were able to recover having lower risk IPSS-R categories. Interestingly, no differences in mortality or severity of infection were observed based on the type of therapy received for their MDS. These findings are not surprising given the underlying inflammation and immunosuppression in patients with MDS. Until the development of COVID-19 vaccines has been completed, identification of high-risk populations and specific guidelines for the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with MDS remains of paramount importance.

Clonal hematopoiesis is a known cardiovascular risk factor which has been associated with increased risk of cardiac and cerebrovascular events. Recent studies have also associated MDS with higher than expected cardiovascular comorbidities and cardiovascular-related deaths. In accordance to prior publications by Naqvi et al, a recent study by Faber et al retrospectively evaluated 236 MDS patients and studied the associations of somatic mutations with cardiovascular risk. Overall, the authors observed that 27% of patients in their study population developed vascular event, and that ASXL1 mutations were predictive of vascular disease by multivariate analysis (with an odds ratio of 4.2). This data further supports the biological connection between comorbidities and hematopoietic clonal disorders, the role of inflammaging and the need to maximize cardiovascular risk factor care in patients with MDS and develop specific therapies targeting both the disease biology and the underlying mechanisms leading to increased cardiovascular risk.

Guillermo Montalban Bravo, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

The current COVID-19 pandemic has afflicted over 44 million individuals across the planet and been responsible for over 1 million deaths, particularly in high-risk populations. As a result of the overall advanced age, frailty and pre-existing comorbidities of patients with MDS, SARS-Cov2 was feared to be particularly dangerous in this patient population. A recent study by Mossuto et al describes the outcomes of patients with MDS with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the Coronavirus outbreak in Italy. Among a total of 5326 patients with MDS followed during the study period, 63 (1.18%) had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. With a median age of 73 years, the mortality rate among these patients was 52% compared to that of the non-MDS population (24%), and was particularly high on male MDS patients (73% of total deaths). Respiratory failure was the cause of death in all the MDS patients with ARDS in 50% of deceased patients, and with majority of patients who were able to recover having lower risk IPSS-R categories. Interestingly, no differences in mortality or severity of infection were observed based on the type of therapy received for their MDS. These findings are not surprising given the underlying inflammation and immunosuppression in patients with MDS. Until the development of COVID-19 vaccines has been completed, identification of high-risk populations and specific guidelines for the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with MDS remains of paramount importance.

Clonal hematopoiesis is a known cardiovascular risk factor which has been associated with increased risk of cardiac and cerebrovascular events. Recent studies have also associated MDS with higher than expected cardiovascular comorbidities and cardiovascular-related deaths. In accordance to prior publications by Naqvi et al, a recent study by Faber et al retrospectively evaluated 236 MDS patients and studied the associations of somatic mutations with cardiovascular risk. Overall, the authors observed that 27% of patients in their study population developed vascular event, and that ASXL1 mutations were predictive of vascular disease by multivariate analysis (with an odds ratio of 4.2). This data further supports the biological connection between comorbidities and hematopoietic clonal disorders, the role of inflammaging and the need to maximize cardiovascular risk factor care in patients with MDS and develop specific therapies targeting both the disease biology and the underlying mechanisms leading to increased cardiovascular risk.

Guillermo Montalban Bravo, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Key clinical point: Gene mutations involving ASXL1 were significantly associated with increased risk of vascular events in adults with myelodysplastic syndrome, but Trisomy 8 appeared to have a protective effect.

Major finding: Overall, the incidence of vascular disease in the study population was 27%; mutations in the ASXL1 in particular were significant predictors of vascular disease in multivariate analysis (odds ratio 4.2); however, both elevated ferritin and Trisomy 8 were significantly associated with a lower risk of vascular disease in low-risk MDS patients (P = .043 and P = .036, respectively).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective analysis of 236 MDS patients aged 18 years and older who were seen and treated at a single center between 2010 and 2018.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.  

Citation: Faber MG et al. eJHaem. 2020 Sept 28. doi: 10.1002/jha2.101.

Key clinical point: Gene mutations involving ASXL1 were significantly associated with increased risk of vascular events in adults with myelodysplastic syndrome, but Trisomy 8 appeared to have a protective effect.

Major finding: Overall, the incidence of vascular disease in the study population was 27%; mutations in the ASXL1 in particular were significant predictors of vascular disease in multivariate analysis (odds ratio 4.2); however, both elevated ferritin and Trisomy 8 were significantly associated with a lower risk of vascular disease in low-risk MDS patients (P = .043 and P = .036, respectively).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective analysis of 236 MDS patients aged 18 years and older who were seen and treated at a single center between 2010 and 2018.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.  

Citation: Faber MG et al. eJHaem. 2020 Sept 28. doi: 10.1002/jha2.101.

Key clinical point: Gene mutations involving ASXL1 were significantly associated with increased risk of vascular events in adults with myelodysplastic syndrome, but Trisomy 8 appeared to have a protective effect.

Major finding: Overall, the incidence of vascular disease in the study population was 27%; mutations in the ASXL1 in particular were significant predictors of vascular disease in multivariate analysis (odds ratio 4.2); however, both elevated ferritin and Trisomy 8 were significantly associated with a lower risk of vascular disease in low-risk MDS patients (P = .043 and P = .036, respectively).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective analysis of 236 MDS patients aged 18 years and older who were seen and treated at a single center between 2010 and 2018.

Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.  

Citation: Faber MG et al. eJHaem. 2020 Sept 28. doi: 10.1002/jha2.101.

Key clinical point: Myelodysplastic syndrome patients who had a slower luspatercept apparent clearance (CL/F) were more likely to achieve erythroid responses, suggesting potential as an early efficacy marker.

Major finding: Luspatercept given over a dose range of 0.125 mg/kg-1.75 mg/kg yielded linear and time-invariant pharmacokinetics when given to MDS patients with anemia subcutaneously once every 3 weeks; the odds of transfusion independence at a minimum of 8 weeks increased with time-averaged exposure and plateaued at 1.0 mg/kg-1.75 mg/kg.

Study details: The data come from a review of several studies including 260 adults with anemia caused by myelodysplastic syndromes.

Disclosures: The studies in the review were funded by Bristol Myers Squibb or Acceleron. Lead author Dr. Chen and several coauthors are employees of Bristol Myers Squibb.

Citation: Chen N et al. CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol. 2020 June 30. doi: 10.1002/psp4.12521.

Key clinical point: Myelodysplastic syndrome patients who had a slower luspatercept apparent clearance (CL/F) were more likely to achieve erythroid responses, suggesting potential as an early efficacy marker.

Major finding: Luspatercept given over a dose range of 0.125 mg/kg-1.75 mg/kg yielded linear and time-invariant pharmacokinetics when given to MDS patients with anemia subcutaneously once every 3 weeks; the odds of transfusion independence at a minimum of 8 weeks increased with time-averaged exposure and plateaued at 1.0 mg/kg-1.75 mg/kg.

Study details: The data come from a review of several studies including 260 adults with anemia caused by myelodysplastic syndromes.

Disclosures: The studies in the review were funded by Bristol Myers Squibb or Acceleron. Lead author Dr. Chen and several coauthors are employees of Bristol Myers Squibb.

Citation: Chen N et al. CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol. 2020 June 30. doi: 10.1002/psp4.12521.

Key clinical point: Myelodysplastic syndrome patients who had a slower luspatercept apparent clearance (CL/F) were more likely to achieve erythroid responses, suggesting potential as an early efficacy marker.

Major finding: Luspatercept given over a dose range of 0.125 mg/kg-1.75 mg/kg yielded linear and time-invariant pharmacokinetics when given to MDS patients with anemia subcutaneously once every 3 weeks; the odds of transfusion independence at a minimum of 8 weeks increased with time-averaged exposure and plateaued at 1.0 mg/kg-1.75 mg/kg.

Study details: The data come from a review of several studies including 260 adults with anemia caused by myelodysplastic syndromes.

Disclosures: The studies in the review were funded by Bristol Myers Squibb or Acceleron. Lead author Dr. Chen and several coauthors are employees of Bristol Myers Squibb.

Citation: Chen N et al. CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol. 2020 June 30. doi: 10.1002/psp4.12521.

Key clinical point: Approximately half of transfusion-dependent MDS patients said they had not discussed ways to reduce the need for transfusions with their doctors and 74% said there were no alternatives to blood transfusions.

Major finding: Among adults with MDS, those with disease duration less than 5 years cited transfusion reactions as their greatest concern; those with longer disease duration cited iron overload. However, a majority of 71% of the patients ranked their quality of life as good or excellent. MDS physicians reported that they would be most likely to offer blood transfusions as primary therapy to patients who were older than 80 years, frail, had lower risk MDS, or had other significant comorbidities.

Study details: The data come from a pair of cross-sectional surveys including 157 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients and 109 MDS physicians.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation through a grant from Celgene. Lead author Dr. King was supported in part by The Maren Research Award Scholarship through the University of Florida.

Citation: King D et al. Leuk Res. 2020 July 15. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2020.106425.

Key clinical point: Approximately half of transfusion-dependent MDS patients said they had not discussed ways to reduce the need for transfusions with their doctors and 74% said there were no alternatives to blood transfusions.

Major finding: Among adults with MDS, those with disease duration less than 5 years cited transfusion reactions as their greatest concern; those with longer disease duration cited iron overload. However, a majority of 71% of the patients ranked their quality of life as good or excellent. MDS physicians reported that they would be most likely to offer blood transfusions as primary therapy to patients who were older than 80 years, frail, had lower risk MDS, or had other significant comorbidities.

Study details: The data come from a pair of cross-sectional surveys including 157 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients and 109 MDS physicians.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation through a grant from Celgene. Lead author Dr. King was supported in part by The Maren Research Award Scholarship through the University of Florida.

Citation: King D et al. Leuk Res. 2020 July 15. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2020.106425.

Key clinical point: Approximately half of transfusion-dependent MDS patients said they had not discussed ways to reduce the need for transfusions with their doctors and 74% said there were no alternatives to blood transfusions.

Major finding: Among adults with MDS, those with disease duration less than 5 years cited transfusion reactions as their greatest concern; those with longer disease duration cited iron overload. However, a majority of 71% of the patients ranked their quality of life as good or excellent. MDS physicians reported that they would be most likely to offer blood transfusions as primary therapy to patients who were older than 80 years, frail, had lower risk MDS, or had other significant comorbidities.

Study details: The data come from a pair of cross-sectional surveys including 157 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients and 109 MDS physicians.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation through a grant from Celgene. Lead author Dr. King was supported in part by The Maren Research Award Scholarship through the University of Florida.

Citation: King D et al. Leuk Res. 2020 July 15. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2020.106425.