Infliximab chimaeric anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha monoclonal antibody treatment for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes

Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is believed to play a major role in apoptotic death of bone marrow cells in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We explored the efficacy and safety profile of infliximab chimaeric anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody treatment in two MDS patients. They both had low-/intermediate-risk MDS, isolated anaemia and elevated circulating levels of TNF-alpha. Infliximab produced no adverse side-effects and resulted in sustained erythroid responses, one major and one minor. Laboratory studies indicated a remarkable decrease in the percentage of apoptotic stein cells in the bone marrow. This preliminary report indicates that infliximab may have an application as MDS therapy and warrants further investigation.