The Korean journal of internal medicine

The Korean Association of Internal Medicine (대한내과학회)
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No benefit of hypomethylating agents compared to supportive care for higher risk myelodysplastic syndrome

  • Sohn, Sang Kyun (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Kyungpook National University Hospital) ;
  • Moon, Joon Ho (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Kyungpook National University Hospital) ;
  • Lee, In Hee (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Kyungpook National University Hospital) ;
  • Ahn, Jae Sook (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Hyeoung Joon (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital) ;
  • Chung, Joo Seop (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Pusan National University Hospital) ;
  • Shin, Ho Jin (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Pusan National University Hospital) ;
  • Park, Sung Woo (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Pusan National University Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Won Sik (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Inje University Busan Baik Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Sang Min (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Inje University Busan Baik Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Hawk (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Ulsan University Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Ho Sup (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Kosin University Gospel Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Yang Soo (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Kosin University Gospel Hospital) ;
  • Cho, Yoon Young (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center) ;
  • Bae, Sung Hwa (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center) ;
  • Lee, Ji Hyun (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Dong-A University Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Sung Hyun (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Dong-A University Hospital) ;
  • Song, Ik Chan (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Chungnam National University Hospital) ;
  • Kwon, Ji Hyun (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Chungbuk National University Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Yoo Jin (Department of Hematology/Oncology, Kyungpook National University Hospital)
  • Received : 2016.12.21
  • Accepted : 2017.04.05
  • Published : 2018.11.01
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Abstract

Background/Aims: This study evaluated the role of hypomethylating agents (HMA) compared to best supportive care (BSC) for patients with high or very-high (H/VH) risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) according to the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System. Methods: A total of 279 H/VH risk MDS patients registered in the Korean MDS Working Party database were retrospectively analyzed. Results: HMA therapy was administered to 205 patients (73.5%), including 31 patients (11.1%) who then received allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), while 74 patients (26.5%) received BSC or allo-HCT without HMA. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were $53.1%{\pm}10.7%$ for allo-HCT with HMA, $75%{\pm}21.7%$ for allo-HCT without HMA, $17.3%{\pm}3.6%$ for HMA, and $20.8%{\pm}6.9%$ for BSC groups (p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, only allo-HCT was related with favorable OS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.356; p = 0.002), while very poor cytogenetic risk (HR, 5.696; p = 0.042), age ${\geq}65years$ (HR, 1.578; p = 0.022), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) 2 to 4 (HR, 2.837; p < 0.001), and transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (HR, 1.901; p = 0.001) all had an adverse effect on OS. Conclusions: For the H/VH risk group, very poor cytogenetic risk, age ${\geq}65years$, ECOG PS 2 to 4, and AML transformation were poor prognostic factors. HMA showed no benefit in terms of OS when compared to BSC. Allo-HCT was the only factor predicting a favorable long-term outcome. The use of HMA therapy did not seem to have an adverse effect on the transplantation outcomes. However, the conclusion of this study should be carefully interpreted and proven by large scale research in the future.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : Kyungpook National University

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