IPSS-M risk and specific sex-associated somatic mutations predict response to ESA therapy in LR-MDS: building a new score

M Marco G. Raddi (1Myelodysplastic Syndromes Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Hematology, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy) S Sophie Park (16CHU Grenoble Alpes - Hopital Michallon, La Tronche, France) M Michaela Fontenay (7Université Paris Cité and Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France) O Olivier Kosmider (11Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8104, INSERM U1016, Institut Cochin, Université de Paris Cité, Paris, France) M Maria Diez Campelo (5Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain) J Juan C. Berrocal (6Department of Hematology, Hospital Clínico de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain) M Marie Sebert (1Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France) L Lionel Adès U Uwe Platzbecker M Matteo G. Della Porta G Giorgio Mattiuz (1MDS Unit, Hematology, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy) S Sven De Pourcq (1MDS Unit, Hematology, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy) L Lorenzo Tofani (7University of Florence, Department of Statistics, Informatics, Applications (L.T,B.B.), Firenze, Italy) G Giulia Maggioni (2Humanitas Research Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Milan, Italy) E Elena Tofacchi (1MDS Unit, Hematology, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy) A Angela Consagra (30University of Florence, MDS Unit, Hematology, AOU Careggi - Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy) L Luca Rigodanza (1MDS Unit, Hematology, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy) G Gloria Andreossi (11University of Florence, Florence, Italy) C Cristina Amato (1MDS Unit, Hematology, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy) M Mathieu Meunier (2Fi LMC, Lyon, France) C Celia Orlando (3Department of Hematology, University Hospital of Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France) E Emmanuelle Clappier (2Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France) N Nicolas Chapuis (4Laboratory of Hematology, Hôpital Cochin, Université Paris Cité and Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris Centre, Paris, France) P Pierre Walczak (7Department of Hematology, Hôpital Saint Louis, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, and Université Paris Cité and Leukemia Institute Paris Saint-Louis, Paris, France) K Katharina Zoldan (8Department for Hematology, Cell Therapy and Hemostaseology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany) A Anne Sophie Kubasch (16University Hospital of Leipzig, Department of Hematology, Dresden, Germany) V Valeria Santini (7DMSC University of Florence, AOUC, MDS Unit, Hematology, Florence, Italy)

Abstract

Abstract Acquired somatic mutations are incorporated in the classification and prognosis of myelodysplastic syndromes/neoplasms (MDSs). However, the predictive role of molecular features in MDS needs to be elucidated, especially in the lower-risk subtypes (LR-MDS), where treatment has become heterogeneous and predictive biomarkers are lacking. In this study, we investigated genetic markers associated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) response in LR-MDS. A European cohort of 535 patients with LR-MDS was analyzed using targeted next-generation sequencing (t-NGS) to calculate molecular prognostic scores (International Prognostic Scoring System, molecular [IPSS-M]). The integration of IPSS-M score among the 2 known variables, serum erythropoietin (sEPO) and transfusion dependence (TD), refined the capability to predict response (area under the curve [AUC], 0.71 vs 0.63, P = .0004). Based on these 3 variables, a molecular predictive score, which we named ESA-PSS-M (–0.05 × [sEPO U/L] –4.5 × [IPSS-M score] –5 × [TD (yes = 1; no = 0)]; specificity 76%; sensitivity 57%), was generated and validated in an external cohort (n = 223 patients with LR-MDS). Despite the impact of IPSS-M score, no single mutated gene was linked to ESA response; however, when we stratified cases by sex at birth, the X-linked STAG2 gene mutations were significantly associated with ESA resistance in males with LR-MDS (odds ratio, 0.13; P = .003). To our knowledge, this is the first study based on a large multicenter cohort of patients suggesting that the integration of IPSS-M score and sex-specific mutations can characterize ESA resistance and guide first-line (1L) therapeutic choices for anemic LR-MDS (ie, ESAs vs luspatercept).

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 146, Issue 14
Published October 02, 2025
Pages 1693-1706
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (27)

M

Marco G. Raddi

1Myelodysplastic Syndromes Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Hematology, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy

S

Sophie Park

16CHU Grenoble Alpes - Hopital Michallon, La Tronche, France

M

Michaela Fontenay

7Université Paris Cité and Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France

O

Olivier Kosmider

11Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR8104, INSERM U1016, Institut Cochin, Université de Paris Cité, Paris, France

M

Maria Diez Campelo

5Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

J

Juan C. Berrocal

6Department of Hematology, Hospital Clínico de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain

M

Marie Sebert

1Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France

L

Lionel Adès

U

Uwe Platzbecker

M

Matteo G. Della Porta

G

Giorgio Mattiuz

1MDS Unit, Hematology, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy

S

Sven De Pourcq

1MDS Unit, Hematology, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy

L

Lorenzo Tofani

7University of Florence, Department of Statistics, Informatics, Applications (L.T,B.B.), Firenze, Italy

G

Giulia Maggioni

2Humanitas Research Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Milan, Italy

E

Elena Tofacchi

1MDS Unit, Hematology, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy

A

Angela Consagra

30University of Florence, MDS Unit, Hematology, AOU Careggi - Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy

L

Luca Rigodanza

1MDS Unit, Hematology, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy

G

Gloria Andreossi

11University of Florence, Florence, Italy

C

Cristina Amato

1MDS Unit, Hematology, AOU Careggi, University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, Italy

M

Mathieu Meunier

2Fi LMC, Lyon, France

C

Celia Orlando

3Department of Hematology, University Hospital of Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France

E

Emmanuelle Clappier

2Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France

N

Nicolas Chapuis

4Laboratory of Hematology, Hôpital Cochin, Université Paris Cité and Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris Centre, Paris, France

P

Pierre Walczak

7Department of Hematology, Hôpital Saint Louis, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, and Université Paris Cité and Leukemia Institute Paris Saint-Louis, Paris, France

K

Katharina Zoldan

8Department for Hematology, Cell Therapy and Hemostaseology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany

A

Anne Sophie Kubasch

16University Hospital of Leipzig, Department of Hematology, Dresden, Germany

V

Valeria Santini

7DMSC University of Florence, AOUC, MDS Unit, Hematology, Florence, Italy