Piezo antigens define a new blood group system, enasidenib in mutant-IDH2 relapsed/refractory AML, and breakthrough COVID-19 despite prophylaxis in B-cell malignancies

In this week’s episode, we’ll discuss new research revealing that the mechanosensory ion channel Piezo1 is the elusive carrier molecule of the Er blood group antigens, thus establishing a new blood group system. Next, we review results of a randomized phase 3 trial of enasidenib versus conventional treatment in late-stage mutant-IDH2 relapsed or refractory AML. Although the primary endpoint of overall survival was not met, investigators say the risk benefit ratio remains positive. Finally, we’ll review a study showing a clinically significant risk of breakthrough COVID-19 infections in patients with B-cell malignancies despite vaccination and pre-exposure prophylaxis with tixagevimab-cilgavimab during the Omicron era. However, hospitalization rates in the study were low and no deaths were reported.

Released January 12, 2023

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The articles highlighted in this episode are listed below:

• Missense mutations in PIEZO1, which encodes the Piezo1 mechanosensor protein, define Er red blood cell antigens

  Authors: Vanja Karamatic Crew, Louise A. Tilley, Timothy J. Satchwell, Samah A. AlSubhi, Benjamin Jones, Frances A. Spring, Piers J. Walser, Catarina Martins Freire, Nicoletta Murciano, Maria Giustina Rotordam, Svenja J. Woestmann, Marwa Hamed, Reem Alradwan, Mouza AlKhrousey, Ian Skidmore, Sarah Lewis, Shimon Hussain, Jane Jackson, Tom Latham, Mark D. Kilby, William Lester, Nadine Becker, Markus Rapedius, Ashley M. Toye, Nicole M. Thornton

• PIEZO1: now also featuring blood group antigens

  Author: Christoph Gassner

• Enasidenib vs conventional care in older patients with late-stage mutant-IDH2 relapsed/refractory AML: a randomized phase 3 trial

  Authors: Stéphane de Botton, Pau Montesinos, Andre C. Schuh, Cristina Papayannidis, Paresh Vyas, Andrew H. Wei, Hans Ommen, Sergey Semochkin, Hee-Je Kim, Richard A. Larson, Jaime Koprivnikar, Olga Frankfurt, Felicitas Thol, Jörg Chromik, Jenny Byrne, Arnaud Pigneux, Xavier Thomas, Olga Salamero, Maria Belen Vidriales, Vadim Doronin, Hartmut Döhner, Amir T. Fathi, Eric Laille, Xin Yu, Maroof Hasan, Patricia Martin-Regueira, Courtney D. DiNardo

• IDH2 inhibition in AML

  Author: Eytan M. Stein

• Efficacy of tixagevimab-cilgavimab in preventing SARS-CoV-2 for patients with B-cell malignancies

  Authors: James A. Davis, Katelynn Granger, Kiera Roubal, Deidra Smith, Kelly J. Gaffney, Mary McGann, Alyssa Cendagorta, Aswani Thurlapati, Amanda Herbst, Lindsey Hendrickson, Hamza Hashmi, Brian T. Hess

• COVID-19 prophylaxis: half-full or half-empty glass?

  Authors: Lydia Scarfò, Antonio Cuneo