The scientific rationale for this study is the evolving understanding that iron-induced tissue damage is not only a process of progressive bulking of organs through high-volumes iron deposition, but also a reactive iron species related "toxic" damage. Iron mediated damage can occur prior reaching high iron storage thresholds derived from thalassemia major setting, free toxic iron species being already present when transferrin saturation \>60-70% (25); therefore a timely early adoption of iron chelation may be of benefit before overt iron overload is seen. Our hypothesis is that early and low dose DFX-FCT is better tolerated and is able to prevent iron accumulation and consequently tissue iron related damage, by consistently suppressing iron reactive oxygen species (NTBI and LPI). If this hypothesis is confirmed this approach could contribute to an improvement of clinical practice of patients managements. Additionally this approach might also be a contribute in preventing future iron overloaded related complication, in this already frail and co-treated patient population.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
11
Fixed dose of 3.5 mg/kg/day of DFX FCT
S.O.D. Ematologia Policlino Careggi
Florence, FI, Italy
Medicina Interna II Divisione di Ematologia, Ospedale S. Luigi Gonzaga
Orbassano, TO, Italy
Ematologia - Spedali Civili
Brescia, Italy
Ospedale Businco
Cagliari, Italy
Ospedale San Martino
Genova, Italy
Ospedale Niguarda
Milan, Italy
Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova
Padova, Italy
AO Bianchi Melacrino Morelli
Reggio Calabria, Italy
Ospedale S. Eugenio
Roma, Italy
Istituto clinico Humanitas
Rozzano (MI), Italy
Change of hepatic iron
Change of hepatic iron from the baseline according to baseline hepatic iron level: For patients with baseline LIC ≤5 mg/g dry weight (dw) ± 1.5 mg/g dw. For patients with baseline LIC \>5 mg/g dw ±20%
Time frame: 1 year
Definition of iron overload
The baseline iron status of MDS patients at the beginning of their transfusion story is today unknown. This study is the first unbiased and direct measurement of iron stress and oxidative stress in MDS patients at the beginning of the transfusion story. Baseline iron status will be described by classical iron markers: serum ferritin (ng/ml), transferritin saturation (%), liver and pancreas iron concentration by MRI (mg/g dry weight). Total body iron stores will be calculated (mg/kg) with the published formula (N Engl J Med 2000; 343:327-331). Tissue reactive oxygen species will be measured in the patient's plasma as follows: non-transferrin bound iron= micromoles/L, Labile Plasma Iron= micromoles/L. Oxidative stress will be measured by Malonildialdehyde (MDA). Levels in plasmas= micromoles/L.
Time frame: 1 year
Efficacy of treatment
Absolute change in hepatic iron concentration EOS versus baseline.
Time frame: 1 year
Evolution of iron overload serologic markers
Absolute and relative changes in serum ferritin and transferrin saturation from baseline to every visit during the whole treatment period
Time frame: 1 year
Evolution of toxic serum iron forms
Presence and quantitative evolution of toxic serum iron forms (iron tissue reactive species) under low dose DFX therapy
Time frame: 1 year
Relationship between NTBI and LPI with serum ferritin and liver and pancreas iron overload
Prevention of iron overload will be studied by the difference iron parameters end of therapy - baseline by liver iron concentration (mg/g dry weight), pancreas iron concentration (mg/g dry weight), total body iron stores (mg/kg) calculated the N Engl J med 2000 343:327-331 formula = liver iron concentration x 10.6. Serum ferritin = ng/ml. Relationship between suppression of tissue iron species and prevention of iron accumulation (observational study) will be measured by the: NTBI/LPI values (micromoles/L), Differences end of study - baseline quantitative parameters of iron loading (liver and pancreas iron concentration and total body iron stores).
Time frame: 1 year
Overall safety of deferasirox
Evaluate the overall safety of deferasirox FCT formulation in patients with lower risk MDS at the beginning of their transfusional history
Time frame: 1 year
Leukemic transformation
Leukemic transformation (progression to leukemia or higher rIPSS scores)
Time frame: 1 year
Hemopoietic response
Percentage of patients with hematologic improvements in term of erythroid response following IWG 2006 criteria.
Time frame: 1 year
Costs analysis
Treatment cost will be compared with standard approach cost (14 mg/kg/day. DFX-FCT after 20 units of packed red cells units and serum ferritin\> 1000 ng/ml over one year of treatment). For comparison literature and matched FISM registry data will be used. Unit of measurement will be 2019 USD and Euros.
Time frame: 1 year
Study of biological cellular damage
Biological cellular damage will be measured by presence and level of oxidative stress determined at baseline, during and at end of study and compared with ongoing treatment by: Malonildialdehyde (MDA) plasma levels (micromoles/L).
Time frame: 1 year
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