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Open Access 01-01-2014 | Review Article

Lenalidomide as a disease-modifying agent in patients with del(5q) myelodysplastic syndromes: linking mechanism of action to clinical outcomes

Authors: Aristoteles Giagounidis, Ghulam J. Mufti, Pierre Fenaux, Ulrich Germing, Alan List, Kyle J. MacBeth

Published in: Annals of Hematology | Issue 1/2014

Abstract

Deletion of the long arm of chromosome 5, del(5q), is the most prevalent cytogenetic abnormality in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). In isolation, it is traditionally associated with favorable prognosis compared with other subtypes of MDS. However, owing to the inherent heterogeneity of the disease, prognosis for patients with del(5q) MDS is highly variable depending on the presence of factors such as additional chromosomal abnormalities, >5 % blasts in the bone marrow (BM), or transfusion dependence. Over recent years, the immunomodulatory drug lenalidomide has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in patients with del(5q) MDS. Advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease have suggested that lenalidomide targets aberrant signaling pathways caused by haplosufficiency of specific genes in a commonly deleted region on chromosome 5 (e.g., SPARC, RPS14, Cdc25C, and PP2A). As a result, the agent specifically targets del(5q) clones while also promoting erythropoiesis and repopulation of the bone marrow in normal cells. This review discusses recent developments in the understanding of the mechanism of action of lenalidomide, and how this underlies favorable outcomes in patients with del(5q) MDS. In addition, we discuss how improved understanding of the mechanism of disease will facilitate clinicians’ ability to predict/monitor response and identify patients at risk of relapse.

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Title: Lenalidomide as a disease-modifying agent in patients with del(5q) myelodysplastic syndromes: linking mechanism of action to clinical outcomes
Authors: Aristoteles Giagounidis
Ghulam J. Mufti
Pierre Fenaux
Ulrich Germing
Alan List
Kyle J. MacBeth
Publication date: 01-01-2014
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Annals of Hematology / Issue 1/2014
Print ISSN: 0939-5555
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0584
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-013-1863-5

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