title: Infliximab chimaeric anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha monoclonal antibody treatment for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.
abstract: Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is believed to play a major role in apoptotic death of bone marrow cells in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We explored the efficacy and safety profile of infliximab chimaeric anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody treatment in two MDS patients. They both had low-/intermediate-risk MDS, isolated anaemia and elevated circulating levels of TNF-alpha. Infliximab produced no adverse side-effects and resulted in sustained erythroid responses, one major and one minor. Laboratory studies indicated a remarkable decrease in the percentage of apoptotic stem cells in the bone marrow. This preliminary report indicates that infliximab may have an application as MDS therapy and warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Regina Apostolorum Hospital, Albano Laziale, Italy. roberto.stasi@libero.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stasi
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amadori
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D009504:Neutrophils; D010976:Platelet Count; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006454:Hemoglobins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000069285:Infliximab