Dr. Ellen Ritchie recently participated in an OncLive discussion on the latest modifications to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). WHO classification is the standard diagnostic system utilized by medical institutions worldwide, including here at Weill Cornell Medicine. Recent advances in our understanding of the biological course of MDS have warranted revision to its WHO classification, which was last updated in 2008. In particular, mutational and cytogenetic analyses have to led to refinement of diagnostic terms for MDS. These modifications include a distinction between single versus multilineage dysplasia and elimination of the term “cytopenia.”
The OncLive discussion centered on implications of the new classification on the prognosis and treatment of MDS. While the WHO classification is just one of many factors to consider when evaluating the prognosis of the disorder, the panelists agree that the new modifications will make it easier to determine an appropriate course of treatment for their patients. To learn more, click here or watch the video below.
December is an exciting month here at the Leukemia Program, as each year, our doctors and researchers are invited to attend and present their work at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). This important meeting provides the opportunity to network with thousands of hematology specialists from all over the world.
This year, the 58th ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition is being held December 3-6 in San Diego, California. We are very proud to play an integral role in research that is changing the way leukemia is diagnosed, tracked and treated. The below abstracts are being presented in oral or poster sessions by the Leukemia Program’s physicians, researchers, and collaborators.
The Weill Cornell Leukemia Program has recently opened a new clinical trial for men and women who have been diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) or Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMMoL) . The study sponsor is TetraLogics Pharmaceuticals and the principal investigator at Weill Cornell is Dr. Ellen Ritchie. For more information about the study, please call Katherine Hassfurter, RN at (212) 746-4882 or e-mail kah9068@med.cornell.edu.
Key Eligibility
Men and women age 18 and older
Subjects that have not been treated with hypomethylating agents for MDS or CMMoL
Histologically confirmed diagnosis of the following conditions:
– Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
– Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMMoL)
Life expectancy of at least 3 months
ECOG score of 0 or 1
Detailed eligibility reviewed when you contact the study team
Study Details
This is a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial for men and women with high risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) or Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMMoL). The study is evaluating an experimental drug called Birinapant.
Birinapant is being studied as a potential new treatment for MDS or CML. Birinapant removes certain chemicals (proteins) in a cancer cell which leads to the death of cancer cells. From laboratory and animal studies, birinapant is more likely to cause the death of cancer cells than normal cells. Studies combining birinapant with chemotherapy in the human cancer cell laboratory models showed that the addition of birinapant to chemotherapy can result in further blocking of cancer growth, or overcoming cancer resistance to chemotherapy. In previous research studies, birinapant has shown to be well-tolerated when given alone or in combination with other chemotherapy drugs.
The purpose of this study is to to compare the safety and efficacy (how well it works) of azacitidine plus an investigational drug (birinapant) versus azacitidine plus a placebo (an inactive substance), in patients with higher-risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) or Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMMoL).
Weill Cornell Leukemia Program 