scholarly journals Next-Generation RNA Sequencing-Based Analysis Identifies a Novel Set of Prognostic Micrornas (miRs) in Cytogenetically Normal Acute Myeloid Leukemia (CN-AML)

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 2694-2694
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Papaioannou ◽  
Deedra Nicolet ◽  
Kellie J Archer ◽  
Allison Walker ◽  
Krzysztof Mrózek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Random Forest ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Ohio State University ◽  
State University ◽  
Univariable Analysis ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
University Patents ◽  
Tcga Dataset ◽  
Cluster 2

Background: Aberrant expression levels of several miRs have been reported to independently associate with outcome of patients (pts) with CN-AML. In these reports, miR expression was profiled using microarray assays, which interrogate a selected subset of miRs. The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has allowed unbiased measurement of miR expression, but, to our knowledge, NGS has not been used to identify miRs associated with prognosis of AML pts. Here, we analyze small RNA sequencing (smRNA-seq) data from a large cohort of younger adults with CN-AML, for whom outcome data were available, with the goal to identify new prognostic miRs. Methods: We performed smRNA-seq in 281 younger adults (aged 18-59 y) with de novo CN-AML. Cytogenetic analyses were performed in Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB)/Alliance institutional laboratories using standard banding techniques; mutational analyses were done centrally using a targeted DNA sequencing platform. All pts were treated on frontline CALGB/Alliance protocols. Results: We first evaluated which miRs associated with overall survival (OS) in univariable analysis; we detected 9 such miRs. We then used a machine-learning approach, namely random forests, to identify miRs whose concomitant expression could generate an effective outcome predictor in CN-AML. To account for the effect of co-existing prognostic gene mutations, we included the European LeukemiaNet (ELN) risk group status in the random forest analyses. A total of 8 prognostic miRs were identified, 4 of which were also found to be prognostic in univariable analysis (underlined below), thus bringing the total number of unique prognostic miRs to 13: miR-511, miR-1193, miR-155, miR-4517, miR-3681, miR-2355, miR-628, miR-1266, miR-6715a, miR-1180, miR-6715b, miR-132, miR-146b. We used partitioning around medoids to divide our pts into clusters, based on the combined expression levels of the 13 prognostic miRs. Two such clusters were identified: cluster 1 comprised 173 pts and cluster 2 contained 108 pts. Regarding pretreatment and molecular features, pts in cluster 1 had lower percent of bone marrow blasts (P=.04), and had more frequently biallelic CEBPA mutations (P<.001) and less frequently internal tandem duplications of the FLT3 gene (P<.001), RUNX1 (P=.02) and WT1(P=.03) mutations than pts in cluster 2. In outcome analyses, pts in cluster 1 had a higher complete remission rate (CR; 91% vs 73%,P<.001) and a longer disease-free survival (DFS; 5-y rates 52% vs 16%, P<.001) and OS (5-y rates 60% vs 19%,P<.001). In multivariable analysis, cluster 1 status remained significantly associated with higher odds of achieving a CR (P=.001) and longer DFS (P<.001) and OS (P<.001), after adjusting for other covariates. Regarding accuracy of outcome prediction, our composite model had a concordance index of 0.687. When ranked according to importance for prognosis, miR-511 expression was the most significant determinant among the random forest model parameters. To evaluate the reproducibility of our findings, we performed analyses in the publicly available TCGA dataset (Ley et al. NEJM 2013;368:2059). Eighty-eight CN-AML pts with miR expression and survival data were available in the TCGA cohort. As TCGA pts are not classified according to ELN risk groups, we could not directly reproduce the random forest-based cluster analysis. However, a univariable analysis showed that miR-511 and miR-628 expression levels were also prognostic in the TCGA dataset. Next, we evaluated whether the identified prognostic miRs have functional relevance in AML. We focused on miR-511, which was the most important determinant of our outcome predictor and has not been previously studied in AML. Among 6 AML cell lines tested, MV4-11 had the most abundant expression of miR-511. Functional silencing of miR-511 in MV4-11 cells decreased both their viability (as measured by Annexin-PI staining and flow-cytometry, P=.004) and proliferative capacity (as measured by WST1 reagent degradation, P<.001). Conclusion: Unbiased profiling of miRs using smRNA-seq has identified a novel set of 13 miRs with prognostic significance in CN-AML. MiR expression-based cluster status independently associates with clinical outcome of CN-AML pts. Our preliminary in vitro experiments have shown that miR-511, whose association with prognosis was the strongest among the newly identified prognostic miRs, is functionally relevant in AML. Disclosures Uy: Astellas: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Curis: Consultancy; GlycoMimetics: Consultancy. Powell:Rafael Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding. Kolitz:Astellas: Research Funding; Boeringer-Ingelheim: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding. Byrd:Acerta: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Genentech: Research Funding; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; BeiGene: Research Funding; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

scholarly journals The Protein Kinase C Inhibitor MS-553 for the Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 2077-2077
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Muhowski ◽  
Amy M. Lehman ◽  
Sean D. Reiff ◽  
Janani Ravikrishnan ◽  
Rose Mantel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Funding ◽  
Ohio State University ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
State University ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
University Patents ◽  
Kinase C ◽  
Hla Dr ◽  
Bcr Signaling ◽  
Equity Ownership

Introduction: Treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has been transformed by small molecule inhibitors targeting the B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling cascade. The first-in-class small molecule inhibitor of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK), ibrutinib, is FDA approved as a frontline therapy for CLL. However, resistance to BTK inhibition has emerged in patients through acquisition of mutations in BTK or its immediate downstream target, PLCG2, emphasizing the need for alternative targets and therapies. BCR signaling remains intact in the presence of these mutations, making targeted inhibition of proteins downstream of BTK an attractive therapeutic strategy. Protein kinase C-β (PKCβ) is a downstream member of the BCR signaling pathway that we have previously demonstrated as an effective therapeutic target in CLL. MS-553 is a potent, ATP-competitive, reversible inhibitor of several PKC isoforms including PKCβ. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of MS-553 in primary CLL cells. Methods: Primary CLL cells were isolated by negative selection and treated with increasing concentrations of MS-553 to a maximum dose of 10 µM. BCR signaling changes were interrogated by change in target protein phosphorylation by immunoblot following a 24 hour drug incubation with and without phorbol ester stimulation (90 minutes) in CLL samples. Inhibition of CpG-mediated activation of CLL cells was measured using flow cytometry (CD86 and HLA-DR) in ibrutinib refractory patient samples at baseline and post-relapse due to the emergence of the p.C481S BTK mutation. CCL3 and CCL4 expression was measured by ELISA after 24 hours in primary CLL cells in the presence or absence of anti-IgM ligation. TNFα expression was also measured by ELISA in negatively selected, healthy donor T cells treated with MS-553 for 24 hours with or without anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 stimulation. Results: At 24 hours, 5 µM MS-553 inhibited downstream BCR signaling in primary CLL cells, demonstrated by 31% reduced phosphorylation of PKCβ (p=0.08, n=5) and several of its downstream targets including GSK3β (40%, p<.01, n=5) , ERK (46%, p=0.02, n=4) , and IκBα (56%, p=0.04, n=5) compared to vehicle treated, stimulated samples. CpG-mediated TLR9 stimulation increases expression of CD86 and HLA-DR in primary CLL cells. In baseline samples from ibrutinib treated patients, 10 µM MS-553 decreased expression of CD86 by 34% and HLA-DR by 91%. In matched patient samples post-relapse due to ibrutinib resistance, MS-553 (10 µM) maintained the ability to decrease expression of CD86 (49%) and HLA-DR (84%). Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression by primary CLL cells stimulated with anti-IgM decreased in the presence of 5 µM MS-553, with CCL3 decreasing by 36% (p=0.06, n=5) and CCL4 decreasing by 79% (p<.01, n=4) compared to vehicle treated, stimulated controls. TNFα expression by healthy T cells increased with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 stimulation; 1 µM MS-553 reduced TNFα expression by 97% compared to vehicle treated, stimulated controls (p<.01, n=9). Conclusions: MS-553 is a novel and potent inhibitor of PKC demonstrating in vitro efficacy in CLL. MS-553 is able to inhibit BCR signaling by blocking phosphorylation of PKCβ and its downstream targets. CpG-mediated activation is reduced with MS-553 treatment in ibrutinib refractory patient samples both at baseline and post-relapse. Inflammatory signaling by primary CLL cells is further abrogated by MS-553 in its ability to decrease CCL3 and CCL4 cytokine expression. In an ongoing phase I clinical trial of MS-553, patient samples show a potent and dose dependent decrease in PKCβ activity as measured by a clinical biomarker assay. Together, our results suggest that MS-553 targets PKCβ in primary CLL to inhibit signaling and survival, establishing MS-553 as a potential therapeutic for treating CLL. These data justify continued preclinical and clinical work in the development of MS-553 for the treatment of CLL. Disclosures Niesman: MingSight Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties. Zhang:MingSight Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties. Byrd:BeiGene: Research Funding; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Research Funding; BeiGene: Research Funding. Woyach:Verastem: Research Funding; Loxo: Research Funding; Morphosys: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding.

scholarly journals Targeting PRMT5 to Circumvent Acquired Ibrutinib Resistance in Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 4065-4065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelby Sloan ◽  
Fiona Brown ◽  
JI Hyun Chung ◽  
Alexander Prouty ◽  
Esther Wheeler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Funding ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Ohio State University ◽  
State University ◽  
University Patents ◽  
Mantle Cell ◽  
Ibrutinib Resistance ◽  
Dimethyl Arginine

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an incurable B-cell malignancy characterized by genetic dysregulation of cyclin D1 and activation of signaling pathways driving uncontrolled MCL cell proliferation and survival. Ibrutinib is an FDA-approved irreversible inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), a downstream target of the B-cell receptor (BCR) pathway. While ibrutinib exhibits significant single-agent therapeutic activity in patients with relapsed/refractory MCL, the vast majority of MCL patients on ibrutinib progress with aggressive disease and short survival (3-8 mo). Although ~80% of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients with acquired ibrutinib resistance have mutations in BTK and PLCγ2, this is uncommon in MCL suggesting alternative mechanisms driving this resistant phenotype. Understanding drug-resistance mechanisms and developing effective therapies for ibrutinib resistant (IR) MCL are urgently needed. The major type II protein arginine methyltransferase enzyme, PRMT5, catalyzes symmetric dimethylation of arginine residues on histone tails (H3R8 and H4R3) and other proteins. PRMT5 regulates a vast array of biologic functions including RNA processing, DNA damage response, signal transduction, and gene expression. Amplified PRMT5 activity drives the expression and activity of key oncogenes (MYC, CYCLIND1, NOTCH1) while silencing expression and activity of tumor suppressors (ST7, RBL2, and p53). Our group has shown PRMT5 is overexpressed and dysregulated in MCL and strategies aimed at selectively targeting PRMT5 show anti-tumor activity in preclinical lymphoma models. Here we describe the development of a novel patient derived xenograft (PDX) of IR-MCL and explore PRMT5 inhibition as an alternative therapeutic option to circumvent IR. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a 75 yo male patient diagnosed with acquired classic IR-MCL were engrafted intravenously into NSG mice. After 5 passages, all mice engrafted with 107 MCL cells developed histologically confirmed MCL infiltrating kidney, lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen and peripheral blood. Circulating human CD5+/CD19+ cells were detectable and quantifiable by flow cytometry by day 21 post-engraftment. Karyotype analysis confirmed the hallmark t(11;14)(q13;q32) of MCL while retaining nearly all cytogenetic abnormalities present in the patient's primary tumor including a deletion of chromosome 9, associated with deletion of MTAP, a therapeutic vulnerability for PRMT5-targeted therapy. Whole exome sequencing confirmed genomic stability with successive passages. Ex vivo cytotoxicity assays and protein pathway analysis further confirmed resistance to ibrutinib (IC50 >1 µM) with maintained hyper-phosphorylation of AKT (Ser473) and ERK (Thr202/Tyr204). Western blot analysis showed elevated levels of c-MYC, CYCLIND1, BCL2, and pERK. After validation of circulating disease at day 25 post engraftment, mice were treated with either a novel small molecule inhibitor of PRMT5 (PRT382, 10 mg/kg orally 4 days on 3 days off) or ibrutinib (75 mg/kg administered in drinking water, n=5 mice per treatment group). Treatment of this PDX model with PRT382 resulted in significantly decreased disease burden and improved median survival compared to control animals from 48 to 83 days, respectively (p=0.0045). We found no significant difference in survival (p= 0.6540) or circulating disease burden with ibrutinib therapy compared to control group. The full BTK occupancy of ibrutinib treated mice was validated using fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based assay. Ex vivo PDX MCL cells from PRT382-treated mice showed loss of symmetric dimethyl arginine with preservation of asymmetric dimethyl arginine levels, reduced H4(Sme2)R3 epigenetic marks, and elevated levels of BCL2, MYC, and pAKT/pERK. We developed a cell line (SEFA) allowing for in vitro mechanistic studies. We are currently investigating potential mechanisms responsible for circumventing IR-MCL by integrating genome-wide changes to chromatin accessibility and whole transcriptome analysis. This IR-MCL PDX mouse model serves as a useful tool to investigate mechanisms of drug resistance, provides a platform to explore novel pre-clinical therapeutic strategies to circumvent IR and demonstrates the therapeutic activity of PRMT5 targeted therapy in this aggressive disease. Disclosures Byrd: Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Genentech: Research Funding; BeiGene: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; BeiGene: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; BeiGene: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Vaddi:Prelude Therapeutics: Employment. Scherle:Prelude Therapeutics: Employment. Baiocchi:Prelude: Consultancy.

scholarly journals LC-Facseq: A Novel Method for Detecting Rare Resistant Clones in Leukemia

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 3377-3377
Author(s):  
Eileen Hu ◽  
Hatice Gulcin Ozer ◽  
Arletta Lozanski ◽  
Tzyy-Jye Doong ◽  
Chi-Ling Chiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cell Sorting ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Clonal Evolution ◽  
Ohio State University ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
State University ◽  
University Patents ◽  
Novel Method

Introduction: Targeted irreversible Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitors ibrutinib and acalabrutinib, have revolutionized treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). While BTK inhibition (BTKi) achieves durable responses in 90% of patients, only 10% achieve minimal residual disease (MRD) negative status. MRD positive patients have persistent residual CD5+CD19+ tumor B cells at approximately 1-5 /mm3 in peripheral blood. These cells may represent a subpopulation of B-cell lymphocytosis pre-malignant cells or may carry a BTK C481, PLCG2, or other CLL mutation that is ultimately responsible for disease relapse. Alternatively, MRD could be derived from the original clones present at initial disease presentation that are not dependent on BTK signaling. Readily available clinical DNA sequencing and MRD monitoring techniques lack the ability to characterize these cells adequately due to their rarity in peripheral blood. To address this problem, we developed a novel method for limited-cells using fluorescence activated cell sorting in tandem with next generation sequencing (LC-FACSeq) to characterize rare tumor subpopulations in the blood and bone marrow. LC-FACSeq may be useful not only for CLL but also other leukemias. Methods: LC-FACSeq uses fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) to isolate pure populations of rare tumor cells after which targeted deep sequencing is performed to monitor CLL-related mutations in NOTCH1, SF3B1, and TP53, as well as genes associated with BTKi relapse and resistance: BTK and PLCG2. For validation of this method, we generated libraries from DNA isolated from FACS isolated bulk (n >15000) versus n= 50, 100, 300, or 500 CD5+/CD19+ cells from CLL patients (n=5). Results: All samples analyzed had an average read depth of 1212 (SEM=56) per gene and an average coverage uniformity of 88.24% (SEM=.01). We show that showed that 300-cell LC-FACSeq libraries demonstrated comparable variant calling and minimal noise to standard libraries generated from purified DNA from bulk cells. Using samples from patients with previously identified BTK C481S mutations, we found that both sensitivity and specificity of LC-FACSeq for BTK C481S was 100%. Furthermore, LC-FACSeq reliably amplified BTK C481S signals from subclones as small as 6 in 300 total cells (2%) when mutated tumor cells were serially diluted into BTK wild type tumor cells. In using LC-FACSeq to retrospectively analyze four independent patients who developed Ibrutinib resistance, we found that we could see the emergence of small BTKi resistant subclones as early as 10 months before clinical detection. We next extended LC-FACSeq to examine the clonal architecture of long-term (> 12 months) ibrutinib-treated MRD positive patients. Median treatment time was 5 years. BTK C481S mutations were observed in the latest available on-treatment samples of only one patient. Using LC-FACSeq we observed canonical CLL-associated clonal mutations similar to those observed in previous studies. Of the 14 MRD positive patients, 7 showed subclonal changes in TP53, NOTCH1, POT1, SF3B1, and MYD88 over the course of ibrutinib treatment although we found no correlation or consensus in these clonal shifts. Conclusion: LC-FACSeq is a highly sensitive method of characterizing clonal evolution in rare cells. Our data shows that LC-FACSeq is useful for monitoring sequential acquisition of mutations conferring therapy resistance and clonal evolution in long-term ibrutinib treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. We also observe that in most cases, MRD clones after long-term ibrutinib treatment are genetically similar to disease clones from pretreatment baseline. Compared to current MRD monitoring strategies, the main advantages of LC-FACSeq are that 1) variants can be confidently called from rare sorted tumor populations and subpopulations, 2) library generation can be completed in less than a day in a diagnostic laboratory compared to the labor-intensive protocols of traditional NGS approaches, and 3) amplicon panels can be easily customized for application to other types of leukemia and lymphoma. (EH is supported by the Graduate Pelotonia Fellowship and the NIH F30) Disclosures Bhat: Janssen: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy. Rogers:Janssen: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Acerta Pharma: Consultancy. Woyach:AbbVie: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Loxo: Research Funding; Morphosys: Research Funding; Verastem: Research Funding. Lozanski:Beckman Coulter: Research Funding; Stemline Therapeutics Inc.: Research Funding; Genentec: Research Funding; Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding. Muthusamy:Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S. Byrd:Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Research Funding; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding; BeiGene: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding.

scholarly journals Genomic Analysis of Cellular Hierarchy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Using Ultrasensitive LC-FACS-Seq

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 186-186
Author(s):  
Caner Saygin ◽  
Arletta Lozanski ◽  
Tzyy-Jye Doong ◽  
Shelley Orwick ◽  
Deedra Nicolet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Ohio State University ◽  
Median Frequency ◽  
State University ◽  
University Patents ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
Acute Myeloid

Normal hematopoiesis is organized in a hierarchical manner and it has been hypothesized that acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is organized in a similar way with leukemia-initiating cells (LIC) at the top of the hierarchy, giving rise to more differentiated blasts to sustain AML. Therefore, elimination of LIC population is critical for cure. This may be accomplished via novel molecular targeted therapies. The mutational composition of LIC and non-LIC compartments in AML has not been fully elucidated and could provide new insights into biology and treatment. We investigated the distribution and variant allelic frequencies (VAFs) of recurrent gene mutations within these compartments in newly diagnosed CD34+ AML patients (pts). We studied a total of 88 pts. CD34- AML cases, defined as &lt;5% positivity on blasts, were excluded. Pre-treatment bone marrow or apheresis samples were sorted and sequenced with our ultrasensitive limited cell (LC)-FACS-seq method. First, we gated on CD45dimLin- leukemic population, followed by isolation of 300 cells from CD34+CD38- (LIC), CD34+CD38+ (non-LIC) and CD34- compartments. To compare with the bulk population, DNA was extracted from 500,000 CD45dimLin- leukemic blasts. All samples were sequenced with a 27-gene targeted panel. Extreme Limited Dilution Analysis (ELDA) platform was used for colony formation assays and estimation of stem cell frequencies. Clinical characteristics are summarized in Table 1. The median frequency of the LIC population was 0.5% (range, 0.01% - 69%). The prevalence of high LIC frequency (≥0.5%) was significantly higher in pts with adverse risk (AR) AML, as compared to intermediate (IR) and favorable risk groups (94% vs 34% vs 16%, respectively, p&lt;.001). When compared to pts with low LIC frequency (&lt;0.5%), those with high LIC frequency had worse overall survival (median, 9 months vs not reached, p=.003) and relapse-free survival (median, 4 vs 15 months, p=.01). In 10 pts who had serial relapse samples, LIC frequencies were increased at the time of relapse (p=.03). We re-validated the commonly used LIC markers with ELDA of primary AML cells. In one IR sample, stem cell frequencies in sorted CD34+CD38-, CD34+CD38+ and CD34- compartments were 1:3, 1:15 and 1:16, respectively (p&lt;.001). In one AR sample, stem cell frequencies were 1:1, 1:8, and 1:12, respectively (p&lt;.001). Using these markers, LICs and non-LICs were enriched and sequenced. The average number of mutations detected by sequencing of bulk samples was significantly lower than sorted LIC (3.17 vs 3.75, p&lt;.05) and non-LIC (3.17 vs 3.96, p&lt;.001) populations indicating the higher sensitivity of our method in detecting subclonal mutations. Mean VAFs were similar between LIC and non-LIC populations for NPM1 (42% vs 47%), DNMT3A (37% vs 41%), IDH1 (41% vs 48%), IDH2 (43% vs 48%), and U2AF1 (37% vs 42%) mutations. Mutations involving signaling pathways were more frequent in non-LICs, including FLT3-TKD (12% vs 23%, p&lt;.01), NRAS (17% vs 26%, p&lt;.01) and KRAS (13% vs 19%, p&lt;.05) mutations, which might be explained by their later acquisition during AML development. In addition, among 22 pts with CEBPA mutation, 16 (73%) harbored the mutation exclusively in non-LICs. Finally, 13 pts with TP53 mutations had different VAFs between compartments. Among 4 pts who had doubling of VAF from LIC to non-LIC compartment, 3 had subclones with del(17p) in LIC pool detected by FISH. LIC subclones harboring both del(17p) and TP53 mutation (i.e. loss of heterozygosity) propagated to drive leukemia. Relapse samples obtained from 6 pts were analyzed and compared with diagnosis. In all cases, we could identify LIC clones that persisted after chemotherapy and led to relapse (see example in Figure). Similarly, 3 pts who were primary refractory showed persistence of LIC clones that were resistant to treatment. On the contrary, 6 pts in whom LIC clones could be eradicated with treatment did not experience disease recurrence. LICs exist at a very low frequency in pre-treatment AML samples. The mutational composition of LIC-enriched compartment shows differences from blasts constituting the bulk of leukemia, which is consistent with the sequence of mutations observed during the evolution of AML. LC-FACS-seq is an ultrasensitive method to detect mutations in a tiny population of residual LICs in pts at remission. Therapies targeting mutations that are concentrated in LICs may re-shape the clonal hierarchy and impact on disease course. Disclosures Behbehani: Fluidigm corporation: Other: Travel funding. Byrd:Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Genentech: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Research Funding; BeiGene: Research Funding; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Research Funding; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Acerta: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Lozanski:Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding; Beckman Coulter: Research Funding; Stemline Therapeutics Inc.: Research Funding; Genentec: Research Funding.

scholarly journals A Multicenter Study of Ibrutinib Resistance Development and Intervention with Venetoclax in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 3049-3049
Author(s):  
Kerry A Rogers ◽  
Lai Wei ◽  
Seema A. Bhat ◽  
Dan Jones ◽  
Erlene K. Seymour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Response Assessment ◽  
Ohio State University ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
State University ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
University Patents ◽  
Secondary Endpoints

Background: Ibrutinib (ibr) for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared to other treatments, especially in high-risk patients (pts). However, resistance occurs and is associated with mutations in the drug binding target (BTK) and its immediate downstream target (PLCg2). These ibr resistance mutations (IRmut) are detectable months prior to developing progressive disease (PD) and predict clinical relapse. Prospectively determining the time from starting ibr to development of IRmut and from IRmut detection to PD will improve our understanding of how to manage these patients. Venetoclax (ven) is highly effective after ibr and decreases IRmut. Adding ven to ibr for ibr resistance is a rational choice as this combination is safe and effective in CLL. Adding an agent rather than stopping ibr avoids disease flare associated with ibr discontinuation. This phase 2 study was designed to follow CLL pts taking ibr and at high risk for resistance (observation cohort) and to test ven in combination with ibr for those who develop PD (intervention cohort). This will determine: the incidence of IRmut and PD in this population, the ORR with ibr/ven, and the ability of this combination to eliminate IRmut. Trial Design and Methods: This multisite study will open at 4 centers initially. Eligible pts are adults with CLL taking ibr for ≥12 months and at high risk for ibr resistance defined as having ≥2 prior treatments and del(17p)(p13.1) on FISH panel and/or a complex karyotype. Pts with known IRmut or who cannot continue ibr for any reason are excluded. Enrolled pts enter the observation cohort and are followed every 3 months with a clinic visit, blood counts, and testing for IRmut. Pts who develop IRmut will also have CT scans at their visits to detect PD. Those with IRmut who develop PD by iwCLL 2018 criteria will enter the intervention cohort. Pts in the intervention cohort will start ven in addition to ibr. Ven will be ramped-up over 5 weeks to a target dose of 400mg. Pts will take combination ibr/ven for 12 cycles of 28 days in length. After 12 cycles they will undergo response assessment and those achieving a complete remission (CR) with no detectable leukemia (uMRD) in both the blood and bone marrow will stop ven and continue ibr alone. Those who do not achieve CR with uMRD will continue ibr/ven until cycle 24 and undergo a second response assessment. If in a CR with uMRD after 24 cycles they continue on ibr alone. If a CR with uMRD is not achieved after 24 cycles patients continue ibr/ven until PD, intolerance, death, or end of study which is 30 months after the last patient enters the intervention cohort (Figure). In the intervention cohort all pts will be tested for IRmut in the blood every 3 months with bone marrow testing at response assessments. The study has co-primary endpoints of ORR to combination ibr/ven after 12 cycles and the rate of IRmut negative status at that time in the intervention cohort. ORR will be tested first using a single-stage phase 2 design with a null hypothesis that the rate is ≤50% versus the alternative hypothesis that it is ≥75%. Only if the combination is effective in ORR will the rate of IRmut negative status be formally tested. Constraining overall Type I and II errors to 0.10 using this sequential testing strategy, 26 evaluable pts are required and 28 will be accrued. Secondary endpoints for the intervention cohort are the PFS and overall survival since starting the combination ibr/ven and the incidence and type of adverse events with ibr/ven. Secondary endpoints in the observation cohort are the incidence of IRmut during ibr treatment and the PFS after developing an IRmut. We estimate that 180 pt-years of follow up for the observation cohort will be needed. The yearly rate of mutation development in this population is approximately 20%, therefore this will identify 36 pts with IRmut. Of those with IRmut, approximately 80% will remain eligible to enter the intervention cohort. Accrual to the observation cohort will stop once 28 pts enter the intervention cohort. Conclusion: This multicenter phase 2 trial examines the development of IRmut and clinical resistance to ibr in a cohort of high-risk CLL pts and will determine the efficacy of adding ven to ibr in those who develop PD. We expect to determine the natural course of molecular and clinical ibr resistance in CLL and if adding ven is an effective treatment strategy. Figure Disclosures Rogers: Acerta: Consultancy; Genentech: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding. Bhat:Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy. Stephens:Karyopharm: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding. Ye:Janssen: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Portola: Research Funding; MingSight: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding. Byrd:Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Research Funding; BeiGene: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding. Woyach:Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Loxo: Research Funding; Morphosys: Research Funding; Verastem: Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: This abstract discussion the use of combination ibrutinib and venetoclax in CLL.

scholarly journals Identification of Novel Synthetic Lethal Partners of NAMPT Inhibitor By CRISPR-Cas9 Screens in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 2072-2072
Author(s):  
Pu Zhang ◽  
Lindsey Brinton ◽  
James S. Blachly ◽  
John C. Byrd ◽  
Rosa Lapalombella
Keyword(s):  
Dna Repair ◽  
Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Colony Formation ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Ohio State University ◽  
State University ◽  
Synthetic Lethal ◽  
University Patents ◽  
Acute Myeloid

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematopoietic neoplasm arising from the clonal expansion of myeloid progenitors resulting in bone marrow failure. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is a rate‐limiting enzyme which regulates the generation of the metabolic enzyme substrate NAD+. NAD+ is key in several survival pathways in AML such as DNA repair and metabolic pathways. AML subtypes differ vastly in their inherent DNA repair and metabolic capacities. Since NAMPT is essential in single and double strand DNA repair, NAMPT inhibitors (NAMPTis) were used to block DNA repair as single agents or in combinational therapies in solid tumors. However the clinical experience with the first generation of NAMPTis suggests that higher doses will be needed in order to achieve efficacy, which are associated with high toxicity. We hypothesize that identification of critical synthetic lethal partners for NAMPTi will increase efficacy with lower doses. To this end, we conducted genome-wide CRISPR KO (loss-of-function) screens by using two libraries, GeCKO and Brunello, and identified, along with genes reported essential for AML survival, 16 genes whose knockout displays synergism or resistance, after a NAMPTi (KPT-9274) treatment in AML cells. According to their gene ontology (GO) functions, these co-essential candidates are involved in DNA damage repair and metabolism. Genetic depletion of co-essential genes, SIRT6, HDAC8 and DCPS, sensitizes AML cell lines, MOLM13, Kasumi-1 and MV4-11, to KPT-9274 treatment. In addition, preclinical inhibitor for HDAC8 (PCI-34051), in combination with KPT-9274, synergistically decreased AML primary cell survival in a dose-dependent manner and decreased colony formation in AML patient samples across multiple genotypes with a minimal decrease in colony formation of normal CD34+ hematopoietic cells. In addition, drug combo treatment of AML cells decreased re-plating capacity, implying attenuated self-renewal capacity. Drug combo also increased apoptotic cells as measured by Annexin/PI staining and induced myeloid differentiation as detected by CD45+CD34- staining. In DNA homologous recombination (HR) pathway, SIRT6 and HDAC8 deacetylate CtIP and Rad51 to promote DNA end resection at double strand breaks. Since NAMPT inhibition blocks the generation of NAD+ thus compromising downstream PARP1 mediated base excision repair (BER) as well as the Sirtuin1 (Sirt1) mediated, KU- dependent NHEJ and atypical Rad51-independent HR repair, we expect that inhibiting these HR pathway components (like SIRT6 and HDAC8) may shut down these compensatory repair pathways and sensitize AML subtypes to NAMPT inhibition. Indeed, Western blotting shows drug combo increased acetyl-P53, acetyl-Rad51, phosphor-γH2Ax and Chk1 compared NAMPT inhibition alone. The in vivo efficacy of these combinatorial therapies has been investigated on PDX mouse models established in our laboratory. We demonstrated that the dug combo successfully eliminated engrafted AML cells and conferred survival advantages to mice. Our study provides evidence that co-essential genes, SIRT6, HDAC8 and DCPS, are synthetic lethal partners for NAMPT inhibition to target drug-resistant AML cells, with minimal toxicity towards normal cells. Disclosures Byrd: BeiGene: Research Funding; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; BeiGene: Research Funding; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

scholarly journals Alliance A041701 - a Randomized Phase 2/3 Study of Conventional Chemotherapy +/- Uproleselan (GMI-1271) in Older Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Receiving Intensive Induction Chemotherapy

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1366-1366
Author(s):  
Geoffrey L. Uy ◽  
Jun Yin ◽  
Heidi D. Klepin ◽  
Shira Dinner ◽  
Anthony J. Jaslowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Ohio State University ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
State University ◽  
University Patents ◽  
Log Rank Test ◽  
Survival Pathways

Uproleselan (GMI-1271) is a novel antagonist of E-selectin, an adhesion molecule expressed on endothelial cells. E-selectin is expressed transiently in the normal vasculature during an inflammatory response and constitutively in the bone marrow (BM). Binding of E-selectin (E-sel) to sialyl Lex, the E-sel ligand (E-sel-L), on the leukemic cell surface activates cell survival pathways and promotes chemotherapy resistance in AML. In preclinical models, blockade of E-selectin with uproleselan disrupts the activation of cell survival pathways and enhanced the efficacy of chemotherapy across multiple AML tumor models. Furthermore, uproleselan protected against chemotherapy-induced mucositis by regulating macrophage trafficking to the site of injury in the gut lining. A previous phase I/II study of uproleselan added to chemotherapy in patients with untreated AML (older adults ≥60 yrs) and relapsed/refractory AML (≥ 18yrs) showed promising remission rates (CR/CRi) and survival outcomes, and reduced rates of mucositis. In the newly diagnosed older patients, high remission rates were achieved overall (CR/CRi 72%) and for the high risk subgroup with sAML (CR/CRi 69%). In this phase 2/3 study, we will test the addition of uproleselan to a standard daunorubicin/cytarabine regimen in older adults with previously untreated AML. The study will enroll patients age ≥ 60 yrs with untreated acute myeloid leukemia. Patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia, activating mutations in FLT3, or evidence of central nervous system involvement are excluded. Subjects are randomized to 7+3 induction (cytarabine + daunorubicin) +/- uproleselan. Subjects achieving a CR/CRi may receive up to 3 cycles of consolidation with intermediate dose cytarabine 2 gm/m2 IV d1-5 +/- uproleselan. The primary phase II objective is to compare the event-free survival (EFS). A sample size of 262 patients was selected for the phase II to detect an improvement in median EFS from 7 months to 11 months (HR= 0.64) with &gt; 95% power, using a log rank test. The phase III primary objective will compare overall survival (OS). For the phase III, a sample size of 335 evaluable patients per arm (670 total inclusive of patients enrolled in phase II) will provide &gt;90% power to detect an improvement in median OS from 12 months to 16 months (HR= 0.75), using a log-rank test. Correlative studies will measure E-selectin ligand on AML blasts and soluble E-selectin and will also measure minimal residual disease after remission induction by multiparameter flow cytometry. A comprehensive geriatric assessment will identify baseline measures associated with EFS and develop a risk model to predict OS among older adults receiving intensive AML therapy. The study is endorsed by SWOG and ECOG-ACRIN and opened to enrollment on 1/16/2019. Figure Disclosures Uy: Astellas: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Curis: Consultancy; GlycoMimetics: Consultancy. Dinner:Agios: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy. Strickland:Jazz: Consultancy; Sunesis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy; Astellas Pharma: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy. Liesveld:Onconova: Other: Data safety monitoring board; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Byrd:Acerta: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; BeiGene: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Research Funding; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Research Funding; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Stone:Argenx, Celgene, Takeda Oncology: Other: Data and Safety Monitoring Board/Committee: ; AbbVie, Actinium, Agios, Argenx, Arog, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Biolinerx, Celgene, Cornerstone Biopharma, Fujifilm, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, Ono, Orsenix, Otsuka, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Sumitomo, Trovagene: Consultancy; Novartis, Agios, Arog: Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Uproleselan in AML

scholarly journals Ibrutinib Treatment in CLL Patients Improves T Cell Function and Blinatumomab Redirected Cytotoxicity

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1049-1049
Author(s):  
Meixiao Long ◽  
Erich Williams ◽  
Clara Berard ◽  
Carolyn Cheney ◽  
Eileen Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Ohio State University ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
State University ◽  
Effector Cells ◽  
Treg Depletion ◽  
University Patents

Introduction:T cell engaging bispecific antibodies (T-BsAb) redirect cytotoxic T cells to tumor associated antigen (TAA)-positive target cells, leading to T-cell activation and lysis of target cells. Blinatumomab is the only T-BsAb approved by FDA. Numerous T-BsAb are undergoing clinical trials, targeting both hematological malignancies (e.g. BCMA, CD123 and CD33) and solid tumors (e.g. CEA, EpCAM, and GPC3). While these T-BsAbs represent a promising novel therapeutic approach, their efficacy remains modest. Ibrutinib is an irreversible inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) and induces durable remissions in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Our group has reported that ibrutinib has favorable immunomodulatory effects due to inhibition of interleukin-2 inducible T-cell kinase (ITK). Ibrutinib decreased key immunosuppressive checkpoint molecules and the frequency of regulatory T cells (Treg)(Long, Beckwith et al. 2017). Moreover, Ibrutinib significantly increased the number of the activated T cells by rescuing them from activation induced cell death (AICD). However, the function of ibrutinib 'rescued' T cells and their ability to mediate T-BsAb redirected cytotoxicity is unknown. Therefore we proceeded to study how ibrutinib treatment affects the functional competency of T cells by measuring their capability to mediate Blinatumomab redirected cytotoxicity. To examine T cell function post ibrutinib treatment, T cells were isolated from pre and post treatment PBMC samples by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), and used as effector cells with pre-treatment CLL B-cells as target cells. Blinatumomab redirected T-cell cytotoxicity against tumor cells and T cell survival were assayed by flow cytometry based methods. Effector cells (T cells) were labeled with CFSE. Target (CLL) cells were labeled with CellTrace Violet. They were co-cultured at an E:T ratio of 4:1 with Blinatumomab for 24 hours. Effector cells and target cells can be distinguished by different fluorescence labels. Apoptosis and cell death were evaluated by Annexin-V and PI staining. The number of viable target cells and effector cells were calculated by Countbright counting bead. Results: We observed that post-ibrutinib T cells demonstrated significantly superior cytotoxicity against autologous CLL cells in the presence of blinatumomab in three independent patient samples. Numbers of viable CLL cells co-cultured with post-ibrutinib T cells were lower when compared to those co-cultured with pre-ibrutinib T cells (33.6%, 68% and 55.1% reduction in viable CLL cells for the three patient samples, respectively). We also found that Treg depletion (by depleting CD25high/CD127low CD4+ T cells) further enhanced cytotoxicity for both pre and post-ibrutinib treatment T cells, with the numbers of viable CLL cells reduced another 30-40%. Moreover, compared to pre-ibrutinib T cells, post-ibrutinib treatment T cells again demonstrated superior cytotoxicity when Treg cells were depleted, with decreased numbers of viable CLL cells at the end of co-culture (43%, 69% and 49.4% reduction, respectively). We also observed that the numbers of viable T cells from pre-ibrutinib samples were much lower than post-ibrutinib samples (52.5%, 77.9% and 74% reduction in viable T cells, respectively). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that ibrutinib-rescued T cells are functionally competent. CLL patients' T cells post ibrutinib treatment demonstrated superior cytotoxicity against autologous leukemia cells compared to T cells from treatment baseline. Moreover, we show that increased T cell activity is not solely due to ibrutinib-related Treg depletion. Treg depletion in our experiments further enhanced the cytotoxicity of both post and pre-ibrutinib treatment T cells while post-ibrutinib T cells still demonstrated superior cytotoxicity (Fig 1). Lastly, T cells isolated from post-ibrutinib samples demonstrated significantly improved viability after in-vitro stimulation with blinatumomab, which is likely a result of reduced AICD. Disclosures Bhat: Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy. Rogers:Janssen: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Acerta Pharma: Consultancy. Woyach:Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Loxo: Research Funding; Morphosys: Research Funding; Verastem: Research Funding. Muthusamy:Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S. Byrd:Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Research Funding; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; BeiGene: Research Funding; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

scholarly journals Role of Mutant p53 in the Progression of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 2526-2526
Author(s):  
Janani Ravikrishnan ◽  
Tzung-Huei Lai ◽  
Elizabeth Muhowski ◽  
Lindsey Brinton ◽  
Katie Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Overall Survival ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Ohio State University ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Mutant P53 ◽  
State University ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
University Patents ◽  
Downstream Effectors

Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) have a variety of chromosomal abnormalities and mutations. At diagnosis, about 10% of CLL patients have deletions of chromosome 17 (Del17p) leading to the loss of one allele of tumor suppressor protein TP53, which increases to over 30% in relapsed/refractory disease. Additionally, 83% of patients with a Del17p acquire a mutation on their second TP53 allele at one of several sites within the DNA binding domain. While the consequence of some of these "hotspot" mutations (R175H, R179H, G245D, G248Q/W, Y220, R213X, R273H and R282H) has been described in solid tumors and AML, very little is known of their role in CLL. Clinically, patients with Del17p/Mutp53 have worse overall survival, increased disease progression and are more likely to relapse on the current targeted therapies such as ibrutinib. Although relapse to these treatments is largely due to acquired mutations in Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) or its downstream target PLCg2, we hypothesize that the biology of mutant 53 bearing CLL is a key driver of resistance and progression. Specifically, we aim to determine the molecular signature and downstream effectors that allow mutant p53 to drive the adverse biology associated with this subtype. Conversely, we hypothesize that targeting the mutant p53 pathway will lead to better outcomes and overall survival for patients bearing this adverse prognosis marker. We performed high-throughput Sequencing of DNA from 270 CLL patients with high coverage in the exonic regions of TP53 prior to ibrutinib therapy as well as during progression. At baseline, 40% of patients had mutations found in the DNA binding region with the most frequent occurring in R248Q, R175H and R273H. We then characterized each p53 mutant (n=106) functionally in terms of their ability to ability to activate p21, PUMA, and Bax which serve as cell cycle checkpoint and apoptotic effectors of wild type p53 in response to DNA damage. Most mutants were incompetent in upregulating p21, PUMA or Bax at the transcript level. A few mutants upregulated p21 protein in a p53 independent fashion. We then evaluated the consequence of mutant p53 in CLL. We performed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-Seq), open chromatin signatures (ATAC-Seq) and expression analysis (RNA-Seq) on CLL samples with R248Q or R175H as well as in wild-type (WT) p53 samples. Integration of ChIP, ATAC and RNA Seq profiles indicated that mutant p53 activated a unique transcriptomic profile not shared by wt p53 bearing CLL. Several genes that facilitated survival or progression were downstream targets of mutant p53. Of these, we identified PRKCB (PKC-beta), BCL2L1 (Bcl-xL), EZH2, MLL and MALAT as a potential key downstream effectors of mutant p53. To determine whether mutations at R248Q and R175H in p53 were causal in the observed increases in PKC-beta, Bcl-xL, EZH2, MLL, and MALAT we used CRISPR/Cas9 editing to introduce mutations at R175H and R248Q in the p53 wildtype CLL cell lines HG-3 and PGA-1. These were accomplished by electroporating sgRNA-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs). Western blotting of mutants revealed an increase in the mRNA and protein expression of PKC-beta, and BCL-xL in mutant p53 compared to WT. Levels of EZH2 and MLL were not increased in these cells indicating that PKC-beta and Bcl-xL may be direct transcriptional targets upregulated by mutations at R248Q and R175H in p53. Ongoing efforts will characterize the transcriptional profile of all p53 mutants in our cohort to determine whether they all have a unifying transcriptomic profile that confers a gain of function phenotype to this subtype of CLL. Disclosures Byrd: Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; BeiGene: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding; BeiGene: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau. Woyach:Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Loxo: Research Funding; Morphosys: Research Funding; Verastem: Research Funding.

scholarly journals Rapid Dose Escalation of Venetoclax in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Previously Treated with B-Cell Receptor Inhibitor Therapy

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 3045-3045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Koenig ◽  
Emily Dotson ◽  
Shane Sheredy ◽  
Seema A. Bhat ◽  
John C. Byrd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cell ◽  
Dose Escalation ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Tumor Lysis Syndrome ◽  
Cell Receptor ◽  
Tumor Burden ◽  
Ohio State University ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
State University ◽  
University Patents

Background B-cell receptor signaling inhibition (BCRi) is an effective treatment (trtmt) for patients (pts) with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but resistance develops. Venetoclax selectively inhibits anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), and has demonstrated efficacy in relapsed/refractory CLL pts, particularly after BCRi. Venetoclax is started at 20 mg daily and escalated weekly over 5 weeks to the goal dose to avoid acute tumor lysis syndrome. However, we observed that many pts with relapsed/refractory CLL relapsing on BCRi progress more quickly than this schedule allows; they may progress while still taking BCRi or vigorously after its discontinuation. Given the need to promptly attain goal venetoclax dose in this population, we developed a rapid dose escalation scheme for venetoclax and reviewed our experience to understand the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of this approach in a properly equipped university setting. Methods We retrospectively evaluated adult pts with relapsed/refractory CLL presenting to The Ohio State University who were treated with a "rapid dose escalation" of venetoclax. Charts were reviewed for previous and concomitant CLL treatments, tumor burden, prognostic factors, performance status, and co-morbidities. Venetoclax dosing was planned for a shorter time period than the 5 weeks described in the label dosing. The dose was increased as quickly as tolerated following the customary doses (20mg, 50mg, 100mg, 200mg, then 400mg). We reviewed the evaluated safety and efficacy outcomes with this approach. Results We treated 34 pts with rapid venetoclax dose escalation. Median age at venetoclax start was 54 years old and were 73.5% men. Pts had a median of 5 previous CLL trtmts (range 2-18). The most recent trtmt was single-agent BCRi in 18 cases, which overlapped with venetoclax in the majority. Only 6 pts had high tumor burden and the majority had low or medium tumor burden. Cytogenetic abnormalities at venetoclax start included: 17 (50.0%) pts with 17p deletion, 5 (14.7%) with 13q deletion, 6 (17.6%) with 11q deletion, and 3 (8.8%) with trisomy 12. Fifty percent of pts had a complex karyotype, and 76.5% had unmutated IGVH status. 24 (80%, n=30 pts that had testing done) pts had confirmed BTK/PLCу2 mutations. The mean time to goal venetoclax dose was 9.6 days (range 4-31); all but 1 pt reached goal dose. Eighteen (52.9%) pts developed tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) by lab criteria at doses from 20-400 mg, 5 pts developed TLS by clinical criteria, and 1 pt experienced grade 3 severity TLS (per Cairo-Bishop definition). Only 4 pts had an elevated uric acid requiring rasburicase. Seventy-three percent of pts achieved at least a partial remission, and 4 pts each had stable or progressive disease. Three pts died within 30 days: 1 from uncontrolled bleeding and neutropenia, 1 due to neutropenic sepsis with invasive fungal infection and gastric perforation, and 1 due to neutropenic septic shock and respiratory failure. Time to best response was mean 50.7 days (range 2-428). Median time to subsequent trtmt was 279.5 days (range 73-430). 23 pts (67.6%) had not progressed at 1 year, and 26 (76.5%) were surviving at 1 year. Conclusion/summary Rapid dose escalation of venetoclax in this pt population is safe and feasible. Despite a high percentage of patients developing TLS (52.9%), all patients recovered without lasting complications and all but one were able to achieve the goal dose of venetoclax. This dosing scheme achieved disease control with 67.6% remaining progression-free at 1 year and the majority of pts surviving. It is reasonable to implement venetoclax rapid dose escalation in the proper hospital setting with ample ancillary support. This approach may be needed for CLL patients with rapidly progressive disease on BCRi. Disclosures Dotson: Abbvie: Consultancy. Bhat:Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy. Byrd:Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Acerta: Research Funding; BeiGene: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; BeiGene: Research Funding; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau. Woyach:Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Loxo: Research Funding; Morphosys: Research Funding; Verastem: Research Funding. Awan:Genentech: Consultancy; Sunesis: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Rogers:AbbVie: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Acerta Pharma: Consultancy. OffLabel Disclosure: Venetoclax- we will be suggesting a faster increase from starting to maximum/goal dose than the dosing label recommends. This is in order to achieve faster disease control.

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