Malignant Stem Cells in Patients with 5q Deletion Myelodysplasia

Clonal malignant stem cells persisted in the bone marrow of patients with del(5q) myelodysplasia who had achieved clinical remission on lenalidomide therapy.

The presence of treatment-resistant cancer stem cells has been proposed as a mechanism for disease progression or relapse in many cancer types. Investigators have now explored that possibility in seven patients with myelodysplastic syndrome characterized by chromosome 5q deletion, also called del(5q) myelodysplasia, who had achieved clinical response (i.e., transfusion independence) on lenalidomide therapy.

At baseline and while on treatment, the patients' bone-marrow aspirates were assessed for the presence of clonal stem cells (CD34⁺, CD90⁺, and CD38^–/low) and clonal progenitor cells (CD34⁺, CD38⁺). Key findings included the following:

During lenalidomide treatment, progenitor cells were efficiently targeted and depleted, whereas stem cells…

Reviewing Author

Michael E. Williams, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee

Michael E. Williams, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee