Summary
Many veterans and doctors have long questioned whether Agent Orange (AO) exposure during the Vietnam War contributed to cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a type of blood cancer.

The contaminated chemical is linked to several cancers, but a link to MDS was unclear. This created real barriers for exposed veterans with MDS who are seeking care and disability benefits.

Key points
Outpatient low-dose VenAza plus itraconazole reduced early mortality and hospitalizations while maintaining treatment efficacy.

Highlights
    
Heme biosynthesis enzymes are variably suppressed in AML
    
Heme levels are linked with altered leukemic transcriptional programs via BACH1
    
Heme biosynthesis is a selective dependency in AML, both in vitro and in vivo
    
Heme starvation disrupts complex IV, inducing copper accumulation and cuproptosis

Abstract

Key Points
Ivosidenib, venetoclax ± azacitidine either rapidly selects evolved, resistant leukemic clones or eradicates leukemic clones.

Resistant clones express RNA signatures of stemness, branched-chain amino acid metabolism, and menin targets.

Highlights
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Single-cell RNA-sequencing performed on 16 lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (LR-MDS) bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BMMCs)
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A 30-gene signature distinguishes LR-MDS hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from Healthy HSPCs
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Vesicular trafficking-related gene modules are enriched in MDS
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