Real life experience with alemtuzumab treatment of patients with lower-risk MDS and a hypocellular bone marrow.
Immunosuppressive therapy is a therapeutic option for selected low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients. Besides standard treatment protocols that include ATG and CSA, the humanized CD52 antibody alemtuzumab has been shown to have efficacy in MDS treatment. We report our experience with alemtuzumab in nine MDS RCMD patients. All patients had a hypocellular bone marrow with a blast count <5 % and were classified as intermediate-1 according to the IPSS. We found a response in five patients (60 %); three patients achieved a complete remission 3 and 6 months after the treatment with alemtuzumab, and two patients showed a haematological improvement. Alemtuzumab was administered in a 10-mg dosage for 10 days. Treatment was well tolerated, and no severe side effects were observed. We could confirm the finding that the alemtuzumab is effective and save selected MDS patients. Due to the promising results, further studies, especially with regard to long-term survival and risk of leucemic progression should be initiated.
Department of Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany, Judith.Neukirchen@med.uni-duesseldorf.de.
Judith
J
Neukirchen
Uwe
U
Platzbecker
Katja
K
Sockel
Antonis
A
Tsamaloukas
Rainer
R
Haas
Ulrich
U
Germing
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D000074301:CD52 Antigen; D002452:Cell Count; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D000090205:DNA Methyltransferase 3A; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000074301:CD52 Antigen; C000613862:CD52 protein, human; C000717967:DNMT3A protein, human; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; D000090205:DNA Methyltransferase 3A