The MDS Beacon™

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health have found Campath (alemtuzumab) to be an effective treatment to increase low blood cell counts in Intermediate-1 myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients. The findings were presented yesterday at the 51^st annual American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans.

In MDS, developing blood cells fail to properly mature, resulting in a lower than normal number of healthy blood cells (a condition known as cytopenia).

Immunosuppressive agents like ATG and cyclosporine can increase the number of healthy blood cells in some MDS patients. However, the continued use of ATG in combination with cyclosporine has been associated with increased kidney damage.

Campath is another immunosuppressive agent that is currently used to treat B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

In their study, the researchers tested Campath in 22 Intermediate-1 and Intermediate-2 risk MDS patients. The patients received 10 mg of Campath by intravenous infusion for 10 days. Median follow-up was 11 months.

Results showed that 93 percent of Intermediate-1 and 40 percent of Intermediate-2 risk patients showed at least a partial response three months after starting the infusion. All patients who responded to Campath were no longer dependent on blood transfusions.

After nine months, 55 percent of patients had normal blood counts.

In addition, five of seven patients who initially showed cytogenetic, or chromosomal, abnormalities achieved complete response. One patient with monosomy 7 benefited from Campath with 3.8 years of continuous remission.

The share of patients who survived without relapsing was comparable to those in previous studies receiving ATG, or ATG and cyclosporine combination therapy. Relapse was defined as requiring additional treatment to Campath, including cyclosporine.

Two of the patients experienced decreased blood counts during therapy, though not below pre-treatment levels.  Two other patients progressed to leukemia, while another two patients developed other diseases.  One Intermediate-1 risk patient died due to disease progression.

The study authors concluded that Campath effectively produces long-lasting improved blood production in some Intermediate-1 MDS patients.

Although previous studies have shown that MDS patients who are most responsive to such treatment are younger in age, the authors point out that more research is necessary to identify how immunosuppressive treatments can be used appropriately for all MDS patients.

For more information, see abstract 116 on the 2009 ASH meeting Web site.