Publication
Effects of lenalidomide on the bone marrow microenvironment in acute myeloid leukemia: Translational analysis of the HOVON103 AML/SAKK30/10 Swiss trial cohort
Journal Paper/Review - Mar 2, 2021
Brune Magdalena M, Cogliatti Sergio B., Ossenkoppele Gert J, Löwenberg Bob, Rudolf Christina Biaggi, Li Qiyu, Passweg Jakob, Mazzuchelli Luca, Medinger Michael, Tzankov Alexandar, Fehr Martin, Grobholz Rainer, Stussi Georg, Lundberg Pontus, Vela Visar, Heim Dominik, Manz Markus G, Haralambieva Eugenia, Pabst Thomas, Banz Yara, Bargetzi Mario, Dutch-Belgian Hemato-Oncology Cooperative Group (HOVON) and Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK)
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PubMed
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Citation
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Journal
Publication Date
Issn Electronic
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Brief description/objective
This translational study aimed at gaining insight into the effects of lenalidomide in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Forty-one AML patients aged 66 or older of the Swiss cohort of the HOVON-103 AML/SAKK30/10 study were included. After randomization, they received standard induction chemotherapy with or without lenalidomide. Bone marrow biopsies at diagnosis and before the 2nd induction cycle were obtained to assess the therapeutic impact on leukemic blasts and microenvironment. Increased bone marrow angiogenesis, as assessed by microvessel density (MVD), was found at AML diagnosis and differed significantly between the WHO categories. Morphological analysis revealed a higher initial MVD in AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC) and a more substantial decrease of microvascularization after lenalidomide exposure. A slight increase of T-bet-positive TH1-equivalents was identifiable under lenalidomide. In the subgroup of patients with AML-MRC, the progression-free survival differed between the two treatment regimens, showing a potential but not significant benefit of lenalidomide. We found no correlation between the cereblon genotype (the target of lenalidomide) and treatment response or prognosis. In conclusion, addition of lenalidomide may be beneficial to elderly patients suffering from AML-MRC, where it leads to a reduction of microvascularization and, probably, to an intensified specific T cell-driven anti-leukemic response.