Home >> Tag Archives: Mast cell disease/mastocytosis

Tag Archives: Mast cell disease/mastocytosis

Higher stakes in systemic mastocytosis​

June 2021—Mastocytosis is not for quitters. Not at any point, from considering the possible diagnosis, to doing a complement of stains, to looking for mutations beyond KIT D816V, to being curious about the presence of mast cells even after making a diagnosis of another myeloid disease. Patients have already learned this grueling lesson. They can easily spend years seeking answers before their disease is properly identified. Pathologists can speed up that process—and the time to do so is now, says Tracy George, MD, chief medical officer and incoming president of ARUP Laboratories, and medical director of hematopathology. Notes Dr. George: “There’s some exciting stuff going on with systemic mastocytosis.” New targeted KIT inhibitors appear to be quite effective, including at least one agent for advanced systemic mastocytosis that has been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration. “We anticipate there’s going to be approval by the FDA this summer,” says Dr. George, who’s been involved in the clinical trials for avapritinib (Blueprint Medicines).

Read More »

Quizzed in Ansbach, then key to a drug trial for mast cell disease

September 2016—In December 2007, American hematopathologist Tracy I. George, MD, spent a weekend in the small town of Ansbach in central Bavaria in the laboratory of Hans-Peter Horny, MD, whom she calls “the father of mast cell pathology.” Dr. Horny was at that time a privately practicing hematopathologist after having spent most of his career in academia. Plans for an international clinical trial were underway to evaluate the investigational drug midostaurin in advanced systemic mastocytosis, a rare group of diseases for which there was no effective therapy, and Dr. Horny would be the study pathologist. Dr. George, who had been diagnosing mast cell diseases for several years, wanted to take part as well.

Read More »
CAP TODAY
X