Viral metagenomics applied to blood donors and recipients at high risk for blood-borne infections

International audienceBackground. Characterisation of human-associated viral communities is essential for epidemiological surveillance and to be able to anticipate new potential threats for blood transfusion safety. In high-resource countries, the risk of blood-borne agent transmission of well-known viruses (HBV, HCV, HIV and HTLV) is currently considered to be under control. However, other unknown or unsuspected viruses may be transmitted to recipients by blood-derived products. To investigate this, the virome of plasma from individuals at high risk for parenterally and sexually transmitted infections was analysed by high throughput sequencing (HTS). Materials and methods. Purified nucleic acids from two pools of 50 samples from recipients of multiple transfusions, and three pools containing seven plasma samples from either HBV-, HCV- or HIV-infected blood donors, were submitted to HTS. Results. Sequences from resident anelloviruses and HPgV were evidenced in all pools. HBV and HCV sequences were detected in pools containing 3.8x10(3) IU/mL of HBV-DNA and 1.7x10(5) IU/mL of HCV-RNA, respectively, whereas no HIV sequence was found in a pool of 150 copies/mL of HIV-RNA. This suggests a lack of sensitivity in HTS performance in detecting low levels of virus. In addition, this study identified other issues, including laboratory contaminants and the uncertainty of taxonomic assignment of short sequence. No sequence suggestive of a new viral species was identified. Discussion. This study did not identify any new blood-borne virus in high-risk individuals. However, rare and/or viruses present at very low titre could have escaped our protocol. Our results demonstrate the positive contribution of HTS in the detection of viral sequences in blood donations

An open-label, unit dose-finding study of AMG 531, a novel thrombopoiesis-stimulating peptibody, in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura

Abstract The objective of this open label, phase 1-2, multicentre trial was to evaluate the safety of AMG 531, a novel thrombopoiesis-stimulating peptibody, and its effect on platelet counts in adults with immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Four patients were assigned to each of four unit-dose cohorts: 30, 100, 300 or 500 microg, administered subcutaneously on days 1 and 15 (or day 22 if the day 15 platelet count was >50 x 10(9)/l). Safety was assessed by adverse event (AE) monitoring, clinical laboratory studies and antibody assays. Platelet response was defined as a platelet count double the baseline value and between 50 and 450 x 10(9)/l. Sixteen patients (10 women) were enrolled. The 500-microg cohort was discontinued because the first patient's platelet count became unacceptably high. AEs were generally expected and mild or moderate; the most frequent was headache (eight of 16 patients). Two patients experienced serious AEs related to AMG 531 (severe headache and elevated serum lactic dehydrogenase; thrombocytopenia). Platelet responses occurred with all doses and with a dose equivalent to >/=1 microg/kg in eight of 11 patients. In summary, patients tolerated AMG 531 well at the doses tested. No anti-AMG or antithrombopoietin antibodies were detected. Doses equivalent to >/=1 microg/kg increased platelet count

Efficacy and Safety of Erythropoietic-Stimulating Agents with Ruxolitinib in Myelofibrosis Patients : A Retrospective Analysis on 45 Patients. on Behalf of the French Intergroup of Myeloproliferative Disorders (FIM)

58th Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American-Society-of-Hematology (ASH), San Diego, CA, DEC 03-06, 2016International audienceBackgroundRuxolitinib is a current therapeutic option, which has demonstrated rapid and durable reduction in splenomegaly and improved disease-related symptoms in patients (pts) with primary myelofibrosis (PMF), post-polycythemia vera-MF (PPV-MF), and post-essential thrombocythemia-MF (PET-MF). Anemia is another frequent issue in MF, which may be managed by the use of ESA, leading to a 40-50% response rate in small studies. Consistent with its JAK2 signalling inhibition, ruxolitinib therapy has been shown to be detrimental on the hemoglobin level, increasing the depth of anemia or transfusion need, especially during the first 12-24 weeks of treatment in the COMFORT studies.Despite potential antagonistic mechanisms of action on JAK2, some responses on anemia have been reported with the addition of ESA to ruxolitinib in a small subset of pts in the COMFORT II study. The present study aimed to better assess the efficacy of ESA on anemia related to ruxolitinib and tolerance of this combination in a larger cohort of pts treated for MF in general practice.MethodsWe performed an observational study on patients with MF previously or currently treated with concomitant ESA and Ruxolitinib in French centers members of the FIM. Informed consent was provided by the pts. Data collected included characteristics of the disease, treatment, responses to ruxolitinib and ESA. They are reported according to the IWG-MRT/ELN 2013 criteria.ResultsThis analysis was performed in July 2016, on the 45 first consecutive pts in 11 centers. Median age at diagnosis was 73 (range 42- 89), 30 (67%) were men. Twenty-five pts (56%) had primary MF, 11 (24%) PET-MF and 9 (20%) PPV-MF, overall diagnosed between 2004 and 2016. IPSS risk categories were low/int-1 and int-2/high in 16 (36%) and 28 (64%) pts, respectively. Twenty-nine (64%) were JAK2V617F positive, 5 harbored MPL mutation and 8 had CALR mutations.Median time between MF diagnosis and ruxolitinib was 21 (0-109) months and median follow-up from ruxolitinib starting was 13 (2 - 53) months. At time of ruxolitinib initiation 32 (71%) pts were transfusion independent and 13(29%) had transfusion need. Ten additional pts became transfusion dependent after ruxolitinib initiation. Other causes of anemia were renal insufficiency n=7, surgery n=1, 1 cytoreductive therapy with hydroxyurea.Type of ESA were darbepoetin alfa, [n=26]; epoetin alfa, [n=3], epoetin beta [n=8], epoetin zeta [n=4], epoeitin theta [n=4], with a median duration of exposure to ESA of 15 months [1-92mo]. ESA was introduced either before ruxolitinib (n= 17), simultaneously (n= 4) or afterward (n= 24) after a median of 2 months [1-26mo].Response rate to ruxolitinib were in accordance with previous reports: For splenomegaly, 33 (73%) of pts achieved at least a partial response, 8 (17%) were stable and 4 (9%) were progressive. Thirty pts (67%) had at least partial response on constitutional symptoms.Response assessment of anemia according to IWG-MRT/ELN 2013 criteria: 7 pts (16%) achieved a RBC transfusion independency, 13 (29%) pts had an increase in hemoglobin level of Hb >2g/dl (2 pts achieved both criteria), which results in 40% of objective responses. The median time to best response on anemia after ESA initiation was 3 [1-84] months.For safety, a pulmonary embolism occurred in one patient possibly related to ESA, no other adverse event occurred, in particular no spleen enlargement was described.At time of analysis, 36/45 pts were still alive: 1 underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplant, 34 were still treated with ruxolitinib whereas 28 patients were still undergoing ESA therapy.ConclusionsThis retrospective analysis is the largest cohort describing the use of concomitant ESA with ruxolitinib therapy in "real life". We report 40 % of objective responses, consistent with ESA response rates without ruxolitinib for MF related anemia. Tolerance seemed acceptable without hampering efficiency of ruxolitinib. Our results suggest that ESA should be considered as a possible therapeutic for anemia in myelofibrosis patients treated with ruxolitinib

Frequent FGFR3 Mutations in Papillary Non-Invasive Bladder (pTa) Tumors

We recently identified activating mutations of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) in bladder carcinoma. In this study we assessed the incidence of FGFR3 mutations in a series of 132 bladder carcinomas: 20 carcinoma in situ (CIS), 50 pTa, 19 pT1, and 43 pT2–4. All 48 mutations identified were identical to the germinal activating mutations that cause thanatophoric dysplasia, a lethal form of dwarfism. The S249C mutation, found in 33 of the 48 mutated tumors, was the most common. The frequency of mutations was higher in pTa tumors (37 of 50, 74%) than in CIS (0 of 20, 0%; P < 0.0001), pT1 (4 of 19, 21%; P < 0.0001) and pT2–4 tumors (7 of 43, 16%; P < 0.0001). FGFR3 mutations were detected in 27 of 32 (84%) G1, 16 of 29 (55%) G2, and 5 of 71 (7%) G3 tumors. This association between FGFR3 mutations and low grade was highly significant (P < 0.0001). FGFR3 is the first gene found to be mutated at a high frequency in pTa tumors. The absence of FGFR3 mutations in CIS and the low frequency of FGFR3 mutations in pT1 and pT2–4 tumors are consistent with the model of bladder tumor progression in which the most common precursor of pT1 and pT2–4 tumors is CIS

Impact of induction regimen and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation on outcome in younger adults with acute myeloid leukemia with a monosomal karyotype

Monosomal karyotype confers a poor prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Here, we determined the impact of the type of remission-induction chemotherapy and the impact of having a donor in younger acute myeloid leukemia patients with a monosomal karyotype included in two phase III trials. In the first trial patients were randomized to receive either daunorubicin, mitoxantrone, or idarubicin in addition to standard-dose cytarabine and etoposide for induction chemotherapy. In the second trial patients were randomized to standard-dose cytarabine or high-dose cytarabine induction, both with daunorubicin and etoposide. In both trials, patients who achieved a complete remission with or without complete hematologic recovery underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation if they had a donor; otherwise, they underwent autologous transplantation. In comparison to patients with intermediate-risk cytogenetics without a monosomal karyotype (n=1,584) and with adverse cytogenetics without a monosomal karyotype (n=218), patients with a monosomal karyotype (n=188) were more likely not to achieve a complete remission with or without count recovery [odds ratio=2.85, 95% confidence interval (95%, CI): 2.10-3.88] and had shorter overall survival [hazard ratio, (HR)=2.44, 95% CI: 2.08-2.88]. There was no impact of the type of anthracycline or of the dose of cytarabine on outcomes in patients with a monosomal karyotype. Among monosomal karyo type patients who achieved a complete remission with or without count recovery, HLA-identical related donor availability was associated with longer survival from complete remission with or without count recovery (HR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.37-0.95). ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: AML-10: NCT00002549; AML-12: NCT00004128.status: publishe

Cytogenetic clonal heterogeneity is not an independent prognosis factor in 15-60-year-old AML patients: results on 1291 patients included in the EORTC/GIMEMA AML-10 and AML-12 trials

The presence of cytogenetic clonal heterogeneity has been associated with poor prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here, we reassessed this association. The study cohort consisted of all patients with an abnormal karyotype randomized in the EORTC/GIMEMA AML-10 and AML-12 trials. Abnormal karyotypes were classified as no subclones present (cytogenetic abnormality in a single clone), defined subclones present (presence of one to three subclones), and composite karyotypes (CP) (clonal heterogeneity not allowing enumeration of individual subclones). The main endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Among 1291 patients with an abnormal karyotype, 1026 had no subclones, 226 at least 1 subclone, and 39 a CP. Patients with defined subclones had an OS similar to those with no subclones (hazard ratio (HR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88-1.26), but CP patients had a shorter OS (HR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.11-2.26). However, in a multivariate Cox model stratified by protocol and adjusted for age, cytogenetic risk group, secondary versus primary AML, and performance status, clonal heterogeneity lost its prognostic importance (HR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.91-1.32 for defined subclones versus no subclones; HR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.67-1.38 for CP versus no subclones). Also, the impact of having a donor on DFS was similar in the three clonal subgroups. In summary, in patients with cytogenetic abnormality, presence of subclones had no impact on OS. The dismal outcome in patients with a CP was explained by the known predictors of poor prognosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: AML-10: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00002549, retrospectively registered July 19, 2004; AML12: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00004128, registered January 27, 2003.status: publishe

Cytogenetic clonal heterogeneity is not an independent prognosis factor in 15-60-year-old AML patients: results on 1291 patients included in the EORTC/GIMEMA AML-10 and AML-12 trials.

The presence of cytogenetic clonal heterogeneity has been associated with poor prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here, we reassessed this association. The study cohort consisted of all patients with an abnormal karyotype randomized in the EORTC/GIMEMA AML-10 and AML-12 trials. Abnormal karyotypes were classified as no subclones present (cytogenetic abnormality in a single clone), defined subclones present (presence of one to three subclones), and composite karyotypes (CP) (clonal heterogeneity not allowing enumeration of individual subclones). The main endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Among 1291 patients with an abnormal karyotype, 1026 had no subclones, 226 at least 1 subclone, and 39 a CP. Patients with defined subclones had an OS similar to those with no subclones (hazard ratio (HR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88-1.26), but CP patients had a shorter OS (HR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.11-2.26). However, in a multivariate Cox model stratified by protocol and adjusted for age, cytogenetic risk group, secondary versus primary AML, and performance status, clonal heterogeneity lost its prognostic importance (HR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.91-1.32 for defined subclones versus no subclones; HR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.67-1.38 for CP versus no subclones). Also, the impact of having a donor on DFS was similar in the three clonal subgroups. In summary, in patients with cytogenetic abnormality, presence of subclones had no impact on OS. The dismal outcome in patients with a CP was explained by the known predictors of poor prognosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: AML-10: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00002549, retrospectively registered July 19, 2004; AML12: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00004128, registered January 27, 2003