Real World Outcomes of Adult B-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients Treated with Inotuzumab Ozogamicin

Background: Inotuzumab ozogamicin (InO) is an antibody-drug conjugate composed of anti-CD22 antibody conjugated to the cytotoxic agent calicheamicin, which is approved for relapsed/ refractory (RR) B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), based on efficacy demonstrated in a randomized control trial. We sought to investigate the safety and efficacy of InO in the "real world" setting. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study in collaboration with 11 U.S. academic institutions, and evaluated the outcome of patients (pts) with RR B-cell ALL, who received InO outside of clinical trials. These pts were evaluated for response to InO, duration of response, overall survival (OS) and toxicity. Demographic and disease characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared via log-rank test. Duration of response was estimated among pts who achieve complete remission (CR)/CR with incomplete count recovery (CRi). Results: From June 2016 to May 2019, 84 pts with RR-B cell ALL were identified. Baseline characteristics are summarized in Table 1. The median age of pts at InO initiation was 50 years (yrs) (range, 20-87). Twenty-two (27.5%) pts had t(9;22) (Ph+ve) and 6 (7.5%) pts had t(4;11) (MLL gene) chromosomal abnormalities. Nine (11%) and 20 (25%) pts had CNS disease at diagnosis and at relapse, respectively. Median number of therapies prior to InO was 2 (range, 0-7), 40 (48%) pts had ≥ 3 therapies and 23 (27%) pts had allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) prior to InO. Forty (48%) pts received blinatumomab prior to InO. Fourteen (17%) pts received InO in combination with chemotherapy and/ or tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). Overall response rate (CR/CRi) was 63%; 44% had CR with minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity by flow cytometry. Response rate in Ph+ve B-cell ALL was 73%. Twenty-three (27%) pts were successfully bridged to allo-HCT. Median response duration with InO was 11.5 months (mo); 32.5% had sustained response at 2 yrs (Fig. 1a). Median response duration post InO, censored at allo-HCT was not reached (NR) (51% in remission at 2 yrs) (Fig. 1b). Median OS after InO was 11.6 mo and 32% were alive at 2 yrs (Fig. 1c). Median OS post InO, censored at of allo-HCT was 13.6 mo (Fig. 1d). Median OS after InO in Ph+ve pts was NR (71% alive at 1 yr). Forty-nine percent, 27%, 6% and 5% of pts discontinued InO due to progression, allo-HCT, adverse events and maintenance therapy, respectively. Nineteen (30%) pts had dose interruptions. In terms of toxicities, 14 (17%) and 7 (8%) pts had grade (G)1-2 and G3 transaminases secondary to InO, respectively. One pt each had G2 and G3 pancreatitis, respectively. One (1%) and 2 (2%) pts had G2 and G4 veno-occlusive disease secondary to InO, respectively. Two of these pts were treated with defibrotide. Two (2%) pts died due to InO toxicity. A complete description of adverse events are summarized in Table 1. Conclusion: Our real-world data obtained by multicenter collaboration suggest that InO was well tolerated and had significant efficacy in this heavily treated patient population of RR B-cell ALL. Disclosures Liedtke: Celator: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Genentech/Roche: Research Funding; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; IQVIA/Jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Prothena: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Caelum: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BlueBirdBio: Research Funding; Adaptive: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios: Research Funding; Amgen/Onyx: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Aldoss:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Other: travel/accommodation/expenses, Speakers Bureau; Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria; AUTO1: Consultancy; Helocyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel/accommodation/expenses. Curran:Incyte: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding. Podoltsev:Celgene: Other: Grant funding, Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; AI Therapeutics: Research Funding; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Sunesis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Samus Therapeutics: Research Funding; Arog Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Kartos Therapeutics: Research Funding; Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Yang:AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy. Mattison:Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Advani:Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Macrogenics: Research Funding; Glycomimetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Abbvie: Research Funding. Atallah:Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Jazz: Consultancy; Helsinn: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Helsinn: Consultancy.

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Real World Outcomes of Adult B-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients Treated with Blinatumomab

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-125466 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 3809-3809 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Talha Badar ◽

Aniko Szabo ◽

Anjali S. Advani ◽

Martha Wadleigh ◽

Shukaib Arslan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Real World ◽

Research Funding ◽

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Philadelphia Chromosome ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Rank Test ◽

Advisory Committees

Background Blinatumomab is a bispecific T cell antibody construct, that binds and allows CD-3 positive cytotoxic T cells to recognize and eradicate CD19-positive acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) blasts. The drug is approved for patient (pts) with relapsed/ refractory (RR) B-cell ALL and those with minimal residual disease (MRD) based on efficacy in clinical trials. We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of blinatumomab in the "real world" setting. Methods We conducted a retrospective multicenter study in collaboration with 11 U.S. academic institutions, and evaluated the outcome of RR B-cell ALL pts, who received blinatumomab outside of clinical trials. These pts were evaluated for response, duration of response (DOR), overall survival (OS) from the time of blinatumomab initiation and toxicity. DOR was estimated among pts who had achieved complete remission (CR)/CR with incomplete count recovery (CRi). Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared via log-rank test. Results From December 2014 to May 2019, 239 pts with B-cell ALL were identified. Baseline characteristics are summarized in Table 1. The median age of pts at blinatumomab initiation was 48 years (yrs) (range, 18-85). Sixty-one (26%) pts had Philadelphia chromosome [t(9;22)] positive (Ph+ve) disease. Sixty-one (26%) pts had ≥ 3 prior therapies and 46 (19%) pts had allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) prior to blinatumomab. Twenty-two (9%) pts received inotuzumab ozagamicin prior to blinatumomab. Twenty-nine (12%) pts received blinatumomab in combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). Twelve (5%) pts received blinatumomab for MRD. Response rate (CR/CRi) in pts with RR disease was 61%; 44% had CR with MRD negativity by flow cytometry. Rate of CR/CRi in Ph+ve B-cell ALL was 74.5%. Among 12 pts who received Blinatumomab for MRD, 9 (75%) pts achieved MRD negativity. Overall 113 (48%) pts were successfully bridged to allo-HCT. Median DOR in pts with RR disease was 32.1 months (95% CI; 9.5-not reached [NR]) (Fig. 1a) and when censored at allo-HCT was 14.8 months (95% CI; 5.2-NR) (Fig. 1b). Median OS in pts with RR disease after blinatumomab was 12.7 months (95% CI; 9.2 -17.9) (Fig. 1c) and when censored at allo-HCT was 8.6 months (95% CI; 6.4-11.6) (Fig.1d). Median OS after blinatumomab in RR B-cell ALL Ph+ve pts was NR (59% alive at 2 yr). Among pts who received blinatumomab for MRD, median DOR was NR and 54% sustained MRD negativity at 2 yrs. Median OS was 34.7 months (95% CI; 8.8-34.7) in group of pts who received blinatumomab for MRD. Seven (3%) pts discontinued blinatumomab due to adverse events and 40 (21%) pts had dose interruptions. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) of any grade (G) was reported in higher number of pts (93 [39%]) compared to clinical trials, though G3-4 CRS appears to be similar (G1-2 [36%], G3-4 [3%]). Forty-four (44%) pts were treated with steroids and 8 (8%) pts required tocilizumab with steroids for CRS. Ninety-three percent of pts had complete resolution of CRS. CNS toxicities were observed in 31 (13%) pts, among them 60% (n= 19) had G3-4 toxicities. Hepatic toxicities were observed in 84 (35%) pts as outlined in Table 1. Six (2.5%) pts died due to blinatumomab induced toxicities. Conclusion: Our real-world data with multicenter collaboration suggest that overall blinatumomab was well tolerated and had led to significant response in pts with RR B-cell ALL. Disclosures Advani: Amgen: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Macrogenics: Research Funding; Kite Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Glycomimetics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Aldoss:AUTO1: Consultancy; Helocyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel/accommodation/expenses; Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Other: travel/accommodation/expenses, Speakers Bureau. Podoltsev:Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Research Funding; Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Sunesis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Celgene: Other: Grant funding, Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; AI Therapeutics: Research Funding; Samus Therapeutics: Research Funding; Arog Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Kartos Therapeutics: Research Funding. Curran:Incyte: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding. Yang:Agios: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Research Funding. Mattison:Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Liedtke:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; IQVIA/Jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Genentech/Roche: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celator: Research Funding; Caelum: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BlueBirdBio: Research Funding; Amgen/Onyx: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Adaptive: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios: Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Prothena: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Atallah:Helsinn: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Jazz: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Helsinn: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy.

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Distinct Gene Expression Signatures in Patients with Richter's Syndrome and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with Prior Exposure to Ibrutinib

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2020-136172 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 30-31

Author(s):

Hanyin Wang ◽

Shulan Tian ◽

Qing Zhao ◽

Wendy Blumenschein ◽

Jennifer H. Yearley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Activation ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

B Cell Activation ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Upregulated Genes

Introduction: Richter's syndrome (RS) represents transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) into a highly aggressive lymphoma with dismal prognosis. Transcriptomic alterations have been described in CLL but most studies focused on peripheral blood samples with minimal data on RS-involved tissue. Moreover, transcriptomic features of RS have not been well defined in the era of CLL novel therapies. In this study we investigated transcriptomic profiles of CLL/RS-involved nodal tissue using samples from a clinical trial cohort of refractory CLL and RS patients treated with Pembrolizumab (NCT02332980). Methods: Nodal samples from 9 RS and 4 CLL patients in MC1485 trial cohort were reviewed and classified as previously published (Ding et al, Blood 2017). All samples were collected prior to Pembrolizumab treatment. Targeted gene expression profiling of 789 immune-related genes were performed on FFPE nodal samples using Nanostring nCounter® Analysis System (NanoString Technologies, Seattle, WA). Differential expression analysis was performed using NanoStringDiff. Genes with 2 fold-change in expression with a false-discovery rate less than 5% were considered differentially expressed. Results: The details for the therapy history of this cohort were illustrated in Figure 1a. All patients exposed to prior ibrutinib before the tissue biopsy had developed clinical progression while receiving ibrutinib. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering using the 300 most variable genes in expression revealed two clusters: C1 and C2 (Figure 1b). C1 included 4 RS and 3 CLL treated with prior chemotherapy without prior ibrutinib, and 1 RS treated with prior ibrutinib. C2 included 1 CLL and 3 RS received prior ibrutinib, and 1 RS treated with chemotherapy. The segregation of gene expression profiles in samples was largely driven by recent exposure to ibrutinib. In C1 cluster (majority had no prior ibrutinb), RS and CLL samples were clearly separated into two subgroups (Figure 1b). In C2 cluster, CLL 8 treated with ibrutinib showed more similarity in gene expression to RS, than to other CLL samples treated with chemotherapy. In comparison of C2 to C1, we identified 71 differentially expressed genes, of which 34 genes were downregulated and 37 were upregulated in C2. Among the upregulated genes in C2 (majority had prior ibrutinib) are known immune modulating genes including LILRA6, FCGR3A, IL-10, CD163, CD14, IL-2RB (figure 1c). Downregulated genes in C2 are involved in B cell activation including CD40LG, CD22, CD79A, MS4A1 (CD20), and LTB, reflecting the expected biological effect of ibrutinib in reducing B cell activation. Among the 9 RS samples, we compared gene profiles between the two groups of RS with or without prior ibrutinib therapy. 38 downregulated genes and 10 upregulated genes were found in the 4 RS treated with ibrutinib in comparison with 5 RS treated with chemotherapy. The top upregulated genes in the ibrutinib-exposed group included PTHLH, S100A8, IGSF3, TERT, and PRKCB, while the downregulated genes in these samples included MS4A1, LTB and CD38 (figure 1d). In order to delineate the differences of RS vs CLL, we compared gene expression profiles between 5 RS samples and 3 CLL samples that were treated with only chemotherapy. RS samples showed significant upregulation of 129 genes and downregulation of 7 genes. Among the most significantly upregulated genes are multiple genes involved in monocyte and myeloid lineage regulation including TNFSF13, S100A9, FCN1, LGALS2, CD14, FCGR2A, SERPINA1, and LILRB3. Conclusion: Our study indicates that ibrutinib-resistant, RS-involved tissues are characterized by downregulation of genes in B cell activation, but with PRKCB and TERT upregulation. Furthermore, RS-involved nodal tissues display the increased expression of genes involved in myeloid/monocytic regulation in comparison with CLL-involved nodal tissues. These findings implicate that differential therapies for RS and CLL patients need to be adopted based on their prior therapy and gene expression signatures. Studies using large sample size will be needed to verify this hypothesis. Figure Disclosures Zhao: Merck: Current Employment. Blumenschein:Merck: Current Employment. Yearley:Merck: Current Employment. Wang:Novartis: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Innocare: Research Funding. Parikh:Verastem Oncology: Honoraria; GlaxoSmithKline: Honoraria; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; Ascentage Pharma: Research Funding; Genentech: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding. Kenderian:Sunesis: Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; Humanigen: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Tolero: Research Funding; Lentigen: Research Funding; Juno: Research Funding; Mettaforge: Patents & Royalties; Torque: Consultancy; Kite: Research Funding; Novartis: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding. Kay:Astra Zeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Acerta Pharma: Research Funding; Juno Theraputics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Dava Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Oncotracker: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sunesis: Research Funding; MEI Pharma: Research Funding; Agios Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Meyer Squib: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Tolero Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Rigel: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Morpho-sys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cytomx: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Braggio:DASA: Consultancy; Bayer: Other: Stock Owner; Acerta Pharma: Research Funding. Ding:DTRM: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Merck: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Octapharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MEI Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; alexion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Beigene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

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IKZF3 Overexpression Phenocopies Gain-of-Function Mutation in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2020-137085 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 9-9

Author(s):

Shanye Yin ◽

Gregory Lazarian ◽

Elisa Ten Hacken ◽

Tomasz Sewastianik ◽

Satyen Gohil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Dna Binding ◽

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Bcr Signaling ◽

Experimental Group

A hotspot mutation within the DNA-binding domain of IKZF3 (IKZF3-L162R) has been identified as a putative driver in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL); however, its functional effects are unknown. We recently confirmed its role as a CLL driver in a B cell-restricted conditional knock-in model. IKZF3 mutation altered mature B cell development and signaling capacity, and induced CLL-like disease in elderly mice (~40% penetrance). Moreover, we found IKZF3-L162R acts as a gain-of-function mutation, altering DNA binding specificity and target selection of IKZF3, and resulting in overexpression of multiple B-cell receptor (BCR) genes. Consistent with the murine data, RNA-sequencing analysis showed that human CLL cells with mut-IKZF3 [n=4] have an enhanced signature of BCR-signaling gene expression compared to WT-IKZF3 [n=6, all IGHV unmutated] (p<0.001), and also exhibited general upregulation of key BCR-signaling regulators. These results confirm the role of IKZF3 as a master regulator of BCR-signaling gene expression, with the mutation contributing to overexpression of these genes. While mutation in IKZF3 has a clear functional impact on a cardinal CLL-associated pathway, such as BCR signaling, we note that this driver occurs only at low frequency in patients (~3%). Because somatic mutation represents but one mechanism by which a driver can alter a cellular pathway, we examined whether aberrant expression of IKZF3 could also yield differences in BCR-signaling gene expression. We have observed expression of the IKZF3 gene to be variably dysregulated amongst CLL patients through re-analysis of transcriptomic data from two independent cohorts of human CLL (DFCI, Landau et al., 2014; ICGC, Ferreira et al., 2014). We thus examined IKZF3 expression and BCR-signaling gene expression, or the 'BCR score' (calculated as the mean expression of 75 BCR signaling-associate genes) in those cohorts (DFCI cohort, n=107; ICGC cohort, n=274). Strikingly, CLL cells with higher IKZF3 expression (defined as greater than median expression) had higher BCR scores than those with lower IKZF3 expression (<median) (p=0.0015 and p<0.0001, respectively). These findings were consistent with the notion that IKZF3 may act as a broad regulator of BCR signaling genes, and that IKZF3 overexpression, like IKZF3 mutation, may provide fitness advantage. In support of this notion, our re-analysis of a gene expression dataset of 107 CLL samples (Herold Leukemia 2011) revealed that higher IKZF3 expression associated with poorer prognosis and worse overall survival (P=0.035). We previously reported that CLL cells with IKZF3 mutation appeared to increase in cancer cell fraction (CCF) with resistance to fludarabine-based chemotherapy (Landau Nature 2015). Instances of increase in mut-IKZF3 CCF upon treatment with the BCR-signaling inhibitor ibrutinib have been reported (Ahn ASH 2019). These studies together suggest an association of IKZF3 mutation with increased cellular survival following either chemotherapy or targeted treatment. To examine whether higher expression of IKZF3 was associated with altered sensitivity to ibrutinib, we performed scRNA-seq analysis (10x Genomics) of two previously treatment-naïve patients undergoing ibrutinib therapy (paired samples, baseline vs. Day 220). We analyzed an average of 11,080 cells per patient (2000 genes/cell). Of note, following ibrutinib treatment, remaining CLL cells expressed higher levels of IKZF3 transcript compared to pretreatment baseline (both p<0.0001), whereas no such change was observed in matched T cells (n ranging between 62 to 652 per experimental group, p>0.05), suggesting that cells with high expression of IKZF3 were selected by ibrutinib treatment. Moreover, we showed that ibrutinib treatment resulted in consistent upregulation of BCR-signaling genes (e.g., CD79B, LYN, GRB2, FOS, RAC1, PRKCB and NFKBIA) (n ranging between 362 to 1374 per experimental group, all p<0.0001), which were likewise activated by mutant IKZF3. Altogether, these data imply that IKZF3 mutation or overexpression may influence upregulation of BCR-signaling genes and enhance cellular fitness even during treatment with BCR-signaling inhibitors. We highlight our observation that IKZF3 mutation appears to be phenocopied by elevated IKZF3 expression, and suggest that alterations in mRNA or protein level that mimic genetic mutations could be widespread in human cancers. Disclosures Kipps: Pharmacyclics/ AbbVie, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Oncternal Therapeutics, Inc., Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) - The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM): Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Genentech/Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; VelosBio: Research Funding; Oncternal Therapeutics, Inc.: Other: Cirmtuzumab was developed by Thomas J. Kipps in the Thomas J. Kipps laboratory and licensed by the University of California to Oncternal Therapeutics, Inc., which provided stock options and research funding to the Thomas J. Kipps laboratory, Research Funding; Ascerta/AstraZeneca, Celgene, Genentech/F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Gilead, Janssen, Loxo Oncology, Octernal Therapeutics, Pharmacyclics/AbbVie, TG Therapeutics, VelosBio, and Verastem: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Wu:BionTech: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding.

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Phase II Study Of Anti-CD19 Antibody Drug Conjugate (SAR3419) In Combination With Rituximab: Clinical Activity and Safety In Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (NCT01470456)

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v122.21.4395.4395 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 122 (21) ◽

pp. 4395-4395 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Bertrand Coiffier ◽

Catherine Thieblemont ◽

Sophie de Guibert ◽

Jehan Dupuis ◽

Vincent Ribrag ◽

...

Keyword(s):

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

Clinical Activity ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Large B Cell Lymphoma ◽

Duration Of Response ◽

Grade 3

Abstract Background SAR3419 is a humanized anti-CD19 antibody conjugated to maytansin DM4, a potent cytotoxic agent. SAR3419 targets CD19, an antigen expressed in the majority of B cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). The recommended dose for single agent SAR3419 was previously determined to be 55 mg/m2 administered IV every week for 4 weeks, then bi-weekly. In phase I, clinical activity was shown mainly in patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). (Trial funded by Sanofi). Methods Patients (pts) with a CD20+ and CD19+ DLBCL relapsing or refractory (R/R) after at least 1 standard treatment including rituximab and not candidate for or who already underwent transplantation, were eligible. Refractory disease was defined as unresponsive to or progressing within 6 months of regimen completion. Fresh (or recent formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded) biopsy was required before SAR3419 start. Pts received 375 mg/m2 of rituximab (R) IV and 55 mg/m² of SAR3419 on day 1, 8, 15, 22 (35-day cycle 1), followed by bi-weekly R and SAR3419 at the same doses for 2 additional 28-day cycles, provided there was no disease progression or other study discontinuation criteria met. The primary objective was the overall response rate (ORR) following Cheson 2007 criteria, with the first tumor assessment being done 42 days after the last study treatment administration. Secondary objectives were: safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), duration of response (DOR), progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and correlation of the antitumor and biological activity of the combination with tumor biomarker status. Results Fifty-three pts were enrolled, 52 treated. Median age was 66.5 years (range 38-85), 50% were male; 23%, 33% and 40% of patients had received 1, 2 or ≥3 prior chemo/immunotherapy regimens for DLBCL, respectively. Of the enrolled patients, 3.8% had received no prior regimen for DLBCL and therefore were excluded from primary analysis for efficacy. Seventy-three percent had stage III/IV disease, 59% had elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and 63% had bulky disease. Sixty percent were refractory to first regimen (primary refractory), 16% were refractory to last regimen and 24% were relapsed pts. The ORR in the per-protocol population (n=45) was 31.1% (80% confidence interval (CI): 22.0% to 41.6%). Among the 14 responders, 5 had progressed at the time of analysis, with duration of response beyond 6 months for 3 of them. The ORR was 58.3% (80% CI: 36.2% to 78.1%) for patients with relapsed DLBCL (n=12), 42.9% (80% CI: 17.0% to 72.1%) for pts refractory to last regimen (n=7) and 15.4% (80% CI: 6.9% to 28.4%) for primary refractory pts (n=26). Overall survival and PFS data are not yet mature. Biomarkers and PK data will be presented at the meeting. The most common (≥10%) all grades non-hematologic treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were asthenia (25.0%), nausea (21.2%), cough (19.2%), diarrhea (17.3%), weight decrease (17.3%), vomiting (15.4%), dyspnea (15.4%), abdominal pain (13.5%), back pain (13.5%), pyrexia (13.5%) and constipation (11.5%). Related grade 3-4 TEAEs were: 1 syncope, 1 bronchospasm, 2 neutropenia and 1 anemia. No TEAEs led to treatment discontinuation, no grade 3-4 peripheral neuropathy or grade 3-4 ocular events were observed. Two pts experienced grade 2 keratitis, both rapidly recovered with local treatment. Hematological toxicity was moderate, with grade 3-4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in 15.7% and 9.8% pts, respectively. No complications related to neutropenia were reported. Grade 3 transaminase increase was observed in 1 patient. Conclusions The combination of SAR3419 plus R showed moderate ORR in R/R DLBCL; however the study population was of poor prognosis (60% refractory to first line therapy). In the relapsed DLBCL patients a higher ORR was observed. SAR3419 plus R presented with a favorable safety profile. Further investigations on biomarker expression are ongoing to identify a sub-group of pts who could have better benefited from this combination. Disclosures: Coiffier: Sanofi: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Off Label Use: Phase II of SAR3419. Ribrag:Johnson & Johnson: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Cartron:LFB: Honoraria; GSK: Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Casasnovas:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Hatteville:Sanofi: Employment. Zilocchi:Sanofi: Employment. Oprea:Sanofi: Employment. Tilly:Amgen: Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Takeda: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.

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A Novel Approach to Identify a Putative Leukemia Stem Cell Population in Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) and Distinguish Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive ALL from Lymphoid Blast Crisis Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v128.22.2912.2912 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 128 (22) ◽

pp. 2912-2912

Author(s):

Jonathan M. Gerber ◽

Lawrence J. Druhan ◽

David Foureau ◽

Elizabeth Jandrisevits ◽

Amanda Lance ◽

...

Keyword(s):

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Myeloid Leukemia ◽

Research Funding ◽

Blast Crisis ◽

Philadelphia Chromosome ◽

Chronic Phase ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Aldh Activity ◽

Advisory Committees

Abstract Introduction: Recent evidence supports the clinical significance of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the identification of LSCs in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) has proved challenging, as transplantation studies in immunocompromised mice have yielded conflicting results. The distinction between Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) ALL and lymphoid blast crisis (LBC) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is also controversial. We previously identified a clinically relevant CD34+CD38- population of LSCs with intermediate (int) levels of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity (CD34+CD38-ALDHint) in AML [Gerber, et al. Blood, 2012]. This population was not present in healthy controls and could be distinguished from normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which had higher levels of ALDH activity (CD34+CD38-ALDHhigh). We hypothesized that the same approach could be used to identify a putative LSC population in ALL. Furthermore, in contrast to most cases of AML, the chronic phase CML stem cell was found to reside in the same CD34+CD38-ALDHhigh population as normal HSCs [Gerber, et al. Am J Hematol, 2011]. We therefore also hypothesized that the presence of BCR/ABL mutations in the CD34+CD38-ALDHhigh population might help distinguish LBC CML from Ph+ ALL. Methods: Bone marrow and/or peripheral blood specimens were collected at diagnosis from patients with B cell ALL or LBC CML on an IRB-approved protocol. A total of 7 patients were evaluated: 2 Ph- ALL, 2 Ph+ ALL, and 3 LBC CML patients. CD34+ cells were isolated by magnetic bead and column selection, then analyzed by flow cytometry with respect to CD38 expression and ALDH activity. Sorted cell populations were analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for leukemia-specific abnormalities. Polymerase chain reaction was performed on clinical samples to determine the presence of a p190 vs. p210 transcript. Results: All patients harbored an aberrant CD34+CD38-ALDHint population, similar to that previously seen in AML. This population was ≥95% positive for BCR/ABL by FISH in all Ph+ ALL and LBC CML cases. It was similarly positive (≥75%) for other leukemia-specific FISH abnormalities (including trisomy 4, 8, 10, 12, and/or 21) in all four ALL cases, as well as one LBC CML case. Conversely, the CD34+CD38-ALDHhigh population (which typically contains the normal HSCs) lacked any of the other cytogenetic abnormalities in all of the cases, irrespective of Ph status or a diagnosis of ALL vs. CML. Notably, the CD34+CD38-ALDHhigh population was negative for BCR/ABL in the Ph+ ALL cases but was >95% positive for BCR/ABL by FISH in the LBC CML cases. The B cell differentiation marker, CD19, was expressed on the CD34+CD38-ALDHint but not the CD34+CD38-ALDHhigh population in all ALL cases, both Ph- and Ph+. In contrast, CD19 expression was variable in the LBC CML cases. Both Ph+ ALL cases possessed a p190 BCR/ABL transcript, whereas all of the LBC CML cases contained a p210 transcript. Also of note, the CD34+CD38-ALDHint population was persistently detectable in one of the LBC CML patients while in complete remission after induction therapy; that patient subsequently relapsed. Conclusions: An abnormal CD34+CD38-ALDHint population was identified in all cases of B cell ALL and LBC CML. This population is analogous to a previously identified, clinically relevant LSC population in AML and may represent a putative LSC population in ALL. The CD34+CD38-ALDHhigh population was normal by FISH in the ALL cases but contained the BCR/ABL mutation in the LBC CML cases, thus permitting distinction between Ph+ ALL and LBC CML (which also differed based on the presence of p190 vs. p210 transcripts, respectively). Additionally, clonal evolution from chronic phase to lymphoid blast crisis CML was apparent, based on the acquisition of additional cytogenetic abnormalities unique to the CD34+CD38-ALDHint population as compared to the CD34+CD38-ALDHhigh population. The presence of CD19 on the putative LSCs in the four cases of ALL suggest that CD19-directed therapies may target the LSCs and thus may have curative potential in those cases. This assay may serve as a means to evaluate other possible therapeutic targets. Lastly, the detection of the abnormal CD34+CD38-ALDHint population may have utility as a minimal residual disease assay for monitoring response to treatment. These findings warrant validation in a larger patient cohort. Disclosures Gerber: Janssen: Research Funding; Alexion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Spectrum: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Seattle Genetics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Grunwald:Alexion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Medtronic: Equity Ownership; Janssen: Research Funding; Ariad: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Forma Therapeutics: Research Funding. Avalos:Seattle Genetics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

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Axl Regulates Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Signaling in B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Dual Targeting in CLL Therapy

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v124.21.831.831 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 124 (21) ◽

pp. 831-831

Author(s):

Sutapa Sinha ◽

Justin Boysen ◽

Charla Secreto ◽

Steven L. Warner ◽

Neil E. Kay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

B Cells ◽

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

High Affinity ◽

Fgfr Signaling ◽

Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Abstract B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an incurable disease and represents a significant health problem in the western world. We and others have reported that primary CLL B-cells spontaneously produce increased levels of proangiogenic basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in vitro and that most CLL plasma contains elevated levels of bFGF. However, the precise role of bFGF in CLL pathobiology is not clearly understood. In this study we investigated the functional implication of the FGF/FGF receptor (FGFR) signaling axis in CLL B-cell biology. We have detected expression of FGFR1 and FGFR3 with comparatively higher levels of the latter receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), but no or notably low levels of FGFR2/FGFR4, by flow cytometry and Western blot analyses in primary CLL B-cells. This observation was further supported by detection of FGFR1/FGFR3 transcripts in CLL B-cells by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Although both FGFR1 and FGFR3 in CLL B-cells remain as constitutively phosphorylated, we found significantly higher levels of phosphorylation on FGFR3 and thus this latter receptor is likely the predominant RTK of the FGFR family in these leukemic B-cells. Of note, in vitro stimulation of FGFRs with recombinant bFGF was unable to increase total phosphorylation on FGFRs from their constitutive basal levels in CLL B-cells. Further analysis using a bFGF neutralizing antibody suggested that FGFR phosphorylation in CLL B-cells is likely independent of bFGF ligation. We then interrogated the mechanism of how FGFRs were being phosphorylated and/or maintained at the observed constitutive levels of phosphorylation in CLL B-cells. Our previous studies established that Axl is a critical RTK in CLL B-cells since it acts as a docking site for multiple cellular kinases/lipase, an observation supported by earlier literatures in human malignancies. Given this, Axl is likely capable of cross talk with other RTKs including FGFRs to regulate FGFR-signaling in CLL B-cells. Therefore, in an effort to determine whether Axl is functionally associated with FGFR, we examined if these two RTKs exist in the same molecular complex in CLL B-cells. Indeed, immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that Axl formed a complex with FGFR3 in CLL B-cells, suggesting that Axl is likely functionally linked to the FGFR signaling. In this regard we found that Axl inhibition, using a high-affinity Axl inhibitor (TP-0903; Tolero Pharmaceuticals), resulted in significant reduction of total FGFR phosphorylation in CLL B-cells. Additionally, siRNA-mediated partial depletion of Axl in CLL B-cells reduced total FGFR phosphorylation. In contrast, inhibition of FGFR phosphorylation using a high-affinity FGFR inhibitor could not alter phosphorylation levels on Axl RTK in CLL B-cells. Together, these findings suggest that Axl has a dominant role in the regulation of FGFR signaling in CLL B-cells. To find out if inhibition of FGFR can induce apoptosis in CLL B-cells we used a specific inhibitor for FGFR (TKI-258; Novartis) to treat CLL B-cells. Here we found a substantial level of apoptosis induction in the leukemic B-cells with a mean LD50 dose of ~2.5 μM. Interestingly, Axl inhibition by TP-0903 induced a robust level of apoptosis in CLL B-cells in the nanomolar dose range with a mean LD50 dose of 0.14 mM. Thus Axl inhibition exerts a very robust cytotoxic effect on CLL B-cell survival likely targeting both Axl and FGFR signaling pathways via Axl inhibition. In conclusion, we have detected expression of constitutively active FGFR1 and 3 in primary CLL B-cells and that inhibition of FGFR signaling induces considerable levels of CLL B-cell apoptosis albeit lower than that observed on Axl RTK inhibition. Interestingly, our findings here suggest that Axl forms an active RTK complex with FGFR and that Axl inhibition modifies FGFR phosphorylation levels. Thus it is likely that Axl RTK can regulate FGFR signaling in the CLL B-cells. In total these observations suggest that the finding of robust induction of apoptosis in CLL B-cells is as a result of targeting two signaling pathways with Axl inhibition: Axl and FGFR. These studies further support investigation of Axl inhibition as a way to develop a more effective and efficient therapeutic intervention for CLL patients. Disclosures Warner: Tolero Pharmaceuticals: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Kay:Genetech: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Hospira: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

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Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia B Cells Display IgM and IgD Isotype-Restricted Features That Affect Association with Co-Receptors, BCR Signaling, and Leukemic B-Cell Growth In Vivo

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-99-119989 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 3124-3124

Author(s):

Andrea Nicola Mazzarello ◽

Marcus Dühren-von Minden ◽

Eva Gentner ◽

Palash Chandra Maity ◽

Gerardo Ferrer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

B Cells ◽

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Cell Size ◽

Metabolic Activity ◽

Research Funding ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Bcr Signaling

Abstract The leukemic cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are highly dependent on B-cell receptor (BCR) mediated signaling. Despite this and the fact that >90% of CLL clones co-express IgM and IgD, the composition and molecular mechanisms regulating BCR signaling regarding the two isotypes and the co-receptors with which they associate is lacking. Here we have addressed these issues. First, using Imaging Flow Cytometry, we evaluated BCR organization on the surface membrane of CLL cells from 11 patients who had participated in a 2H2O-labeling study that determined in vivoCLL B-cell birth rates (BR). We found that in all cases mIgM resided in more and larger surface clusters than mIgD. Also, a statistically significant, direct correlation was observed for IgM density and in vivoCLL-cell BR, with patients exhibiting more recently-divided cells having the highest expression of IgM. This was not the case for IgD. BCR signaling requires co-receptors that can co-localize differently with the two isotypes. Thus, we tested co-localization of stimulatory (CD20) and inhibitory (CD22) co-receptors with mIgM and mIgD, using the proximity ligation assay technique that discriminates 10 to 40 nm distances. Higher IgM:CD20 and lower IgD:CD20 co-localization ratios directly associated with in vivo BR. Conversely, patients whose CLL B cells showed greater IgM to CD22 co-localization ratios had lower BRs. Thus, association of IgM with stimulatory versus inhibitory co-receptors correlated with positive or negative regulation of CLL growth in vivo. Next, we questioned the extent that the observed differences in BCR organization affected the entire clone by measuring a marker of single cell metabolic activity - cell size. IgM and BR associated with entire clonal populations that were skewed toward larger, more active cells. Similarly, high BR CLLs displayed an increased mitochondrial maximal respiration and glycolytic activity and capacity, based on measurements of oxygen consumption rate and extracellular acidification rate, respectively. Since our findings supported a link between IgM- but not IgD-BCRs, growth rate in vivoand clonal metabolic activity, we questioned whether intrinsic, constitutive CLL BCR autonomous signaling differed for these two isotypes. To address this, we examined the signaling capacities of CLL-derived BCRs expressed as IgM or IgD isotypes, while maintaining the original IGHV-D-J and IGLV-J rearrangements. We used B cells that do not express endogenous BCR-related molecules but do express an inducible ERT2- SLP-65 fusion protein which enables examining Ca++influx. All BCRs expressed as IgM effectively mobilized Ca++ without need for an external ligand, indicating autonomous signaling. In contrast, BCRs expressed as IgD did not signal autonomously but required crosslinking with anti-BCR. Thus, only mIgM BCRs naturally transduce a signal in the absence of antigen. To determine the extent that BCR signaling influences clonal activity and in vivoBR, we compared cell size of CLL B cells taken from patients before and after 4 weeks of treatment with the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, ibrutinib (iBTK). Ibrutinib had a strong treatment effect on cell activity, reducing overall cell size in 10/11 patients. A comparison of single cell areas for patients with lower (BR = 0.54%) and higher (BR = 1.42%) BRs showed an overall reduction of the median cell size for both cases. Thus, iBTK treatment leads to an equilibration of the cell size profile among the cases differing in BR, indicating that ibrutinib acts proportionally more potently on more metabolically active CLL B cells. Likewise, these findings are consistent with BCR signaling, transduced through BTK, being responsible for the increased cellular activity of aggressive CLL clones. In conclusion, increased mIgM density and proximity of mIgM to stimulatory receptors is linked to greater metabolic activity clones and increased rate of proliferationin vivo. Conversely, proximity of mIgM to inhibitory receptors has the opposite correlations.Moreover, only mIgM carries out autonomous signaling, providing another biologic trait linking all these features. Thus, our data support a tight, isotype-dependent regulation of BCR signaling and its consequences for CLL B cells. Further understanding these mechanisms should help generate novel therapies to modify the quality of BCR-transduced signaling and thus cell fate. Disclosures Barrientos: Gilead: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics/AbbVie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Rai:Cellectis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche/Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Chiorazzi:AR Pharma: Equity Ownership; Janssen, Inc: Consultancy.

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Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients with Richter Transformation

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-99-113127 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 1857-1857

Author(s):

Yucai Wang ◽

Marcella Tschautscher ◽

Kari G. Chaffee ◽

Timothy G. Call ◽

Jose F. Leis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

High Intensity ◽

Research Funding ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Novel Agents ◽

First Line ◽

Advisory Committees

Abstract Introduction: Richter transformation (RT) refers to transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) to an aggressive lymphoma, most commonly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Most studies on the management of RT were either small retrospective series or early phase non-randomized trials before the era of novel agents. The natural history, prognostication and optimal treatment of patients with RT remain undefined. Here we report the clinical characteristics and outcomes of a large series of RT from a single center. Methods: Biopsy-confirmed RT (limited to non-Hodgkin lymphoma) diagnosed from 4/1993 to 4/2018 were identified from the Mayo Clinic CLL database. Clinical characteristics, treatment information and follow-up data were abstracted by chart review. Overall survival (OS) was defined as time from RT diagnosis to death from any cause and analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Statistical analysis was done in SAS 9.4. Results: A total of 204 patients with CLL who developed RT were identified. The median age at CLL diagnosis was 62 years (range 22-85), and 148 (73%) were male. The median time to transformation was 4.7 years (range 0-34.5). Prior to RT, 68 (33.3%) patients received no treatment for CLL, 109 (53.4%) received chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) only, and 27 (13.2%) received at least one novel agent (idelalisib, ibrutinib, or venetoclax) for CLL. The median lines of CLL therapy prior to RT was 2 (range 0-13). The median age at RT diagnosis was 69 years (range 30-88). Pathology of RT was DLBCL and high grade B-cell lymphoma in 193 (94.6%) and 11 (5.4%) patients, respectively. The median LDH was 306 IU/L (range 99-9000). 62/125 (49.6%) patients had bulky disease (≥ 5 cm), and the median PET SUVmax was 13.9 (range 2.9-30.0). 45/131 (34.4%) patients had del(17p) or TP53 mutation, 12 (9.2%) had del(11q), 21 (16.0%) had trisomy 12, 27 (20.6%) had del(13q), and 25 (19.1%) had normal FISH. The CLL and RT were clonally related in 12/21 (57.1%) patients. For the transformed lymphoma, cell of origin by Han's algorithm was germinal center B cell-like (GCB) and non-GCB in 31/100 (31.0%) and 69/100 (69.0%) patients, respectively. EBV was positive in 14/52 (26.9%) patients. The median Ki-67 was 80% (range 10-100). Myc and Bcl-2 were positive by IHC in 31/43 (72.1%) and 83/103 (80.6%) patients, respectively; 27/56 (48.2%) were double-expressors. MYC, BCL2, and BCL6 rearrangement was positive by FISH in 18/68 (26.5%), 10/34 (29.4%), and 4/31 (12.9%) patients, respectively; 8/66 (12.1%) were double/triple-hit. The most common first-line treatment (Table 1 notes) of RT was R-CHOP-like regimen (n=114, 65.5%). Other treatments included R-EPOCH-like (n=6, 3.4%), high-intensity chemotherapy (n=15, 8.6%), novel agents (eg, ibrutinib, venetoclax, pembrolizumab; n=19, 10.9%), other chemotherapy (n=12, 6.9%), and palliative therapy (n=8, 4.6%). Response to first-line treatment was CR in 57 (38.0%), PR in 33 (22.0%), SD in 18 (12.0%), and PD in 42 (28.0%) patients. The median OS of the entire cohort after RT diagnosis was 12.0 months. The median OS for patients who received no prior CLL treatment, CIT only or at least one novel agent for CLL were 65.5, 7.3, and 12.0 months, respectively (P<0.0001; Figure 1). Of note, in patients who received CIT only for CLL, ~10% and 60% received high-intensity and R-CHOP/R-EPOCH-like chemotherapy, respectively, as first-line RT therapy. In contrast, in patients who had prior novel agents for CLL, 56% and 26% were treated with novel agents and R-CHOP/R-EPOCH-like chemotherapy, respectively, as first-line RT therapy. Patients with or without del(17p)/TP53 mutation had a median OS of 8.3 and 12.8 months, respectively (P=0.046). Patients who were treated with high intensity chemotherapy, R-CHOP/R-EPOCH-like regimens, novel agents, and other therapies for RT had a median OS of 35.1, 14.4, 10.9 and 6.1 months, respectively (P=0.02; Figure 2). OS comparisons by CLL/RT clonal relationship, double expressor or double/triple-hit status are shown in Table 1, with no significant differences noted. Conclusions: Over two thirds of RT were the non-GCB subtype, and about half were Myc/Bcl-2 double expressors. Patients who developed RT without prior CLL therapies had a significantly better OS. In contrast, patients who had received prior CLL therapies had poor outcomes. Myc/Bcl-2 double expressor and MYC/BCL2/BCL6 double/triple hit status had no impact on OS. Disclosures Kenderian: Humanigen: Research Funding; Novartis: Patents & Royalties; Tolero Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Kay:Infinity Pharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios Pharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Morpho-sys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Tolero Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Acerta: Research Funding; Cytomx Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Parikh:Janssen: Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; Gilead: Honoraria; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Research Funding. Ding:Merck: Research Funding.

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Very Few Interventions after Tumor Lysis Monitoring in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Who Are Started on Venetoclax in the Real-World Setting- Suggests Less Intensive Monitoring Maybe Safe for Low-Risk Patients

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2021-145714 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 1557-1557

Author(s):

Ashley Matuszfisher ◽

Rupali Bose ◽

Danielle Boselli ◽

Gray Magee ◽

Tommy Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Board Of Directors ◽

Real World ◽

Research Funding ◽

Calcium Supplementation ◽

Tumor Burden ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Phosphate Binders ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Tumor Lysis ◽

Unplanned Hospitalizations

Abstract Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the most common lymphoid malignancies in adults. Venetoclax, an orally administered B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) inhibitor, is a FDA approved therapy offering durable responses. Due to risk of tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) upon venetoclax initiation, a strict dose escalation schedule with frequent laboratory monitoring is recommended in the package insert (PI). Real world data reflecting adherence to this schedule and frequency of interventions resulting from intense monitoring are not described. Methods: Retrospective review of the Levine Cancer Institute database identified 73 consecutive patients with CLL who were initiated on venetoclax between July 2017 and March 2021. This included those initiated at the central academic site and regional academic-hybrid community sites. In the first two weeks of venetoclax, ramp up dosing and TLS labs (creatinine, potassium, calcium, phosphorous and uric acid) were evaluated for compliance consistent with the PI. Compliance required labs to be performed pre-dose, and at 6-8 hours and 24 hours after the initial 20 mg and 50 mg doses on weeks 1 and 2. The consequent interventions within these first 2 weeks, based on TLS labs, were then recorded. Patients who strictly adhered to all these laboratory checks at the various timepoints were considered compliant. Those who missed even a single lab or time point were considered non-compliant. Tumor lysis was measured by standard criteria using the Cairo-Bishop definition. The following Interventions were recorded: rasburicase administration, renal replacement therapy, ED visits, unplanned hospitalizations, ICU admissions, unplanned administration of IV fluids, the use of calcium supplementation, phosphate binders, treatment for hyperkalemia, dose reduction or holding of venetoclax. Baseline patient, disease, and treatment characteristics were summarized and described; rates of compliance were compared between tumor burden categories using Fisher's Exact test. Results : Baseline characteristics of the 73 identified patients were: 64% male, 79% white and 19% black, median age at venetoclax initiation was 67 (44 - 84). There were 49% of patients in the low tumor burden category, 44% in the medium tumor burden category and 6% in the high tumor burden category. Compliance with TLS labs during the first 2 weeks was 66% overall (n=48), with compliance between the tumor burden categories being 75% in high, 66% in medium and 67% in low (P>0.99). Interventions occurred in 6 (8%) of the patients, with all interventions occurring in the medium or high tumor burden group. These interventions included administration of IV fluids (n=2), calcium supplementation (n=1), phosphate binders (n=2) and holding of venetoclax (n=1). None of these 6 patients requiring an intervention had clinical or laboratory TLS. None of the 73 patients required rasburicase administration, renal replacement therapy, ED visits, unplanned hospitalizations, or ICU admissions during this 2 week ramp up period. Of the 6 patients requiring interventions, 4 patients had TLS labs performed by the PI versus 2 patients who did not. Clinical and laboratory TLS in the PI-compliant group was recorded. None of these patients had clinical TLS and 1 patient met the criteria for laboratory criteria TLS based on a 25% change from baseline in phosphorus and uric acid, however, labs remained in normal range. There were no deaths during the venetoclax ramp up. Conclusion: Compliance with the strict TLS lab monitoring during venetoclax initiation is not universal, likely due to real world patient and institutional barriers. The intervention rates during the first 2 weeks were low, with no patients in the low tumor burden category requiring an intervention. These results suggest that a less strict laboratory monitoring schedule may be safe in patients with low tumor burden CLL. If the safety is confirmed prospectively, it would make the venetoclax initiation less cumbersome and result in increased access to venetoclax for patients with low burden CLL. Disclosures Hu: Kite: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BeiGene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cellectar: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Moyo: Seattle Genetics: Consultancy. Park: Teva: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; G1 Therapeutics: Consultancy; Morphosys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Rafael Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Advisory Board; Gilead: Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Research Funding. Copelan: Amgen: Consultancy. Avalos: Juno Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMJ Best Practice: Patents & Royalties: Royalties from a co-authored article on evaluation of neutropenia. Symanowski: Carsgen: Consultancy; Immatics: Consultancy, Other: DSMB Member; Eli Lilly: Consultancy, Other: DSMB Member. Jacobs: AbbVie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Verastem: Consultancy; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy; MEI Pharma: Research Funding; TeneoBio: Research Funding; SecuraBio: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Consultancy; Jannsen: Speakers Bureau. Ghosh: Genmab: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Epizyme: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; Adaptive Biotech: Consultancy, Honoraria; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharma: Consultancy, Honoraria; Genentech: Research Funding.

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BI 836826, a Novel Fc-Engineered Antibody in Combination with Phosphoinositide-3-Kinase Inhibitor for Treatment of High Risk Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Lymphoma

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v128.22.2767.2767 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 128 (22) ◽

pp. 2767-2767

Author(s):

Deborah M Stephens ◽

Kyle A. Beckwith ◽

Priscilla Do ◽

Carolyn Cheney ◽

Xiaokui Mo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

B Cells ◽

Cell Viability ◽

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Research Funding ◽

Single Agent ◽

Annexin V ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Advisory Committees

Abstract Background Targeting new antigens in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and lymphoma may increase flexibility in the clinic and help circumvent resistance. The tetraspanin CD37 domain mediates transduction of survival and apoptotic signals (Lapalombella et al.,Cancer Cell, 2014), and has been clinically validated by recent trials of otlertuzumab (TRU-016) in CLL and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma . Ligation of CD37 by this reagent simultaneously induced pro-apoptotic signaling and inhibited pro-survival signaling of phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ (PI3Kδ), which introduces a unique opportunity to use combination strategies employing activation of CD37 and inhibition of PI3Kδ. A new agent BI 836826 is an Fc-engineered anti-CD37 IgG1 that displays improved effector activities as well as crosslinker-independent direct cytotoxicity. We have evaluated the efficacy of BI 836826 combined with the PI3Kδ-selective inhibitor idelalisib in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cell lines and primary human CLL B-cells in the University and then by industry to validate the synergistic finding initially reported. Methods Cell viability assays usedCellTiterGlo to measure inhibition of antibody, isotype control, idelalisib or a combination of antibody and compound over 72h in culture. The cell viability of vehicle is measured at the time of dosing (T0) and after seventy-two hours (T72). A GI reading of 0% represents no growth inhibition, GI 100% represents complete growth inhibition, and a GI 200% represents complete death of all cells in the culture well. Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide measure by flow cytometry was used to assess enhanced killing of primary CLL cells, with incubation of BI 836826 (0.1 µg/mL) and/or idelalisib (1 µM) at 37°C for 24 hours. Trastuzumab included as a non-specific IgG1 control. Data was reported as percentage of viable cells (Annexin V negative, PI negative) normalized to untreated control. Results DLBCL cell lines were variably sensitive to single agent BI 836826. In most of the cell lines tested, the cell viability was inhibited by 40%-50% with BI 836826 in the concentration range of 1-1000 ng/mL (Figure 1A). A synergistic effect was noted in several DLBCL cell lines when BI 836826 was combined with idelalisib. When the maximal effect of BI 836826 was greater than isotype control (GI% > 12, dotted line) and the effect of idelalisib showed a GI50 < 1uM, 3/5 cell lines showed synergy in combination (red dot, Figure 1B). A shift in the EC50of idelalisib can be seen with the addition of increasing amounts of BI 836826 (Figure 1C). In primary CLL B-cell cultures, 1 µM idelalisib displayed weak single agent activity following 24-hour incubation. The cytotoxicity of BI 836826 at 0.1 µg/mL was more variable, although treatment of samples from most CLL patients resulted in 20-50% B-cell death. The combination of these 2 agents resulted in enhanced cytotoxic activity (Figure 2A), and this effect was not attenuated by the presence of del(17)(p13.1), as there was no significant difference in cytotoxicity against these cells compared to those with lower risk cytogenetics (Figure 2B,C). Additionally, the combination was beneficial in CLL B-cells isolated from patients who were refractory to ibrutinib (Figure 2D). Conclusions This collaborative industry and academic endeavor with cross validation of initial mechanistic studies of synergy between CD37 and idelalisib demonstrates that addition of idelalisib to BI 836826 augments cytotoxicity against DLBCL cell lines and primary human CLL B-cells in an additive-to-synergistic manner. In addition, it maintains efficacy against CLL B-cells with del(17)(p13.1) and those from ibrutinib-refractory patients. Further exploration of this therapeutic strategy in clinical trials is strongly warranted. Disclosures Jones: AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Awan:Innate Pharma: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Novartis Oncology: Consultancy. Grosmaire:Gilead: Employment. Jones:Gilead: Employment. DiPaolo:Gilead: Employment. Tannheimer:Gilead Sciences: Employment. Heider:4Boehringer Ingelheim RCV: Employment.

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