Volume 92, Issue 6 pp. 527-536
Original Article

Deferasirox for transfusion-dependent patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: safety, efficacy, and beyond (GIMEMA MDS0306 Trial)

Emanuele Angelucci

Corresponding Author

Emanuele Angelucci

Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Ospedale Oncologico di Riferimento Regionale “Armando Businco”, Cagliari, Italy

Correspondence Emanuele Angelucci, MD, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Ospedale Oncologico di Riferimento Regionale “Armando Businco”, Via Edward Jenner Cagliari, 09121 Italy. Tel: +39 070 6092061; Fax: +39 070 6092065;

e-mail: [email protected]

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Valeria Santini

Valeria Santini

Division of Hematology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

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Anna Angela Di Tucci

Anna Angela Di Tucci

Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Ospedale Oncologico di Riferimento Regionale “Armando Businco”, Cagliari, Italy

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Giulia Quaresmini

Giulia Quaresmini

Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy

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Carlo Finelli

Carlo Finelli

Division of Hematology, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy

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Antonio Volpe

Antonio Volpe

Division of Hematology, San Giuseppe Moscati Hospital, Avellino, Italy

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Giovanni Quarta

Giovanni Quarta

Division of Hematology, Ospedale A. Perrino, Brindisi, Italy

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Flavia Rivellini

Flavia Rivellini

UO Medicina Interna e Onco-Ematologica P.O. “Umberto I”, Nocera Inferiore, Italy

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Grazia Sanpaolo

Grazia Sanpaolo

Division of Hematology, IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

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Daniela Cilloni

Daniela Cilloni

Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

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Flavia Salvi

Flavia Salvi

Division of Hematology, A.O. Nazionale Santi Antonio e Biagio e C. Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy

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Giovanni Caocci

Giovanni Caocci

Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, R. Binaghi Hospital, Cagliari, Italy

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Alfredo Molteni

Alfredo Molteni

Division of Hematology, Niguarda Ca’ Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy

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Daniele Vallisa

Daniele Vallisa

Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Hospital of Piacenza, Piacenza, Italy

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Maria Teresa Voso

Maria Teresa Voso

Division of Hematology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy

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Susanna Fenu

Susanna Fenu

Division of Hematology, San Giovanni Hospital, Rome, Italy

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Lorenza Borin

Lorenza Borin

Division of Hematology, Monza, Italy

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Giancarlo Latte

Giancarlo Latte

Division of Hematology, S. Francesco Hospital, Nuoro, Italy

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Giuliana Alimena

Giuliana Alimena

Division of Hematology, “Sapienza”University of Rome, Rome, Italy

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Sergio Storti

Sergio Storti

Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Campobasso University, Campobasso, Italy

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Alfonso Piciocchi

Alfonso Piciocchi

GIMEMA Data Center, GIMEMA Foundation, Rome, Italy

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Paola Fazi

Paola Fazi

GIMEMA Data Center, GIMEMA Foundation, Rome, Italy

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Marco Vignetti

Marco Vignetti

GIMEMA Data Center, GIMEMA Foundation, Rome, Italy

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Sante Tura

Sante Tura

University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

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First published: 03 March 2014
Citations: 85
Presented at: Oral Presentation at 54th American Society of Hematology annual meeting (Atlanta 2012).

Abstract

Background

In the absence of randomized, controlled trial data to support iron chelation therapy in transfusion-dependent patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), continued evidence from large prospective clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of iron chelation therapy in this patient population is warranted.

Methods

The safety and efficacy of deferasirox was examined in a prospective, open-label, single-arm, multicenter trial of transfusion-dependent patients with International Prognostic Scoring System low- or intermediate-1-risk MDS and evidence of transfusion-related iron overload. The effects of deferasirox therapy on hematological response and disease progression were also examined.

Results

Of 159 participants enrolled from 37 Italian centers, 152 received ≥1 dose of deferasirox (initiated at 10–20 mg/kg/day and titrated as appropriate), and 68 completed the study. Of 84 patients who discontinued deferasirox therapy, 22 died during the trial, and 28 withdrew due to an adverse event (AE). Fourteen treatment-related grade 3 AEs occurred in 11 patients, whereas no grade 4 or 5 drug-related AEs were reported. Significant risks for dropout were a higher serum ferritin level at baseline, a higher MDS-Specific Comorbidity Index, and a shorter diagnosis–enrollment interval. Median serum ferritin level fell from 1966 ng/mL to 1475 ng/mL (P < 0.0001). The cumulative incidence of transfusion independence, adjusted for death and disease progression, was 2.6%, 12.3%, and 15.5% after 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively.

Conclusions

Deferasirox therapy in transfusion-dependent patients with MDS was moderately well tolerated and effectively lowered serum ferritin levels. Positive hematological responses were observed, and a subset of patients achieved transfusion independence.

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