Single Cell Transcriptomic Profiling of Patient-Derived Xenografts of Mantle Cell Lymphoma Reveals a Special Tumor Cell Population: Seed Cells for Disease Dissemination and Progression

Abstract Introduction Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) patients often presents at later stages and progress through its disease course by frequent involvement of multiple dissemination sites including spleen, liver, bone marrow (BM), peripheral blood (PB), and gastrointestinal tract (GI). This devious behavior translates into high degree of clinicopathologic heterogeneity, which may compromise therapies and promote relapse. Therefore, dissecting the cellular and molecular profiling and trafficking is critical in understanding the role of tissue tropism and evolution patterns contributing to its biological behavior. Since it is almost unfeasible to perform spatiotemporal collection in patients, in this study we took advantage of PDX models with serial samples and single cell transcriptomic profiling to address this important biology issue for the first time on MCL. Method Orthotopic PDX models (n = 6) were established via intravenous (IV) inoculation of primary MCL patient samples collected from PB (n = 5) or from LN (n = 1). These mouse models displayed similar dissemination patterns as the parental tumors. Cells from the predominant site of generation 1 (G1) were used to pass onto next generations (up to G9). For heterotopic PDX models, subcutaneous (SC) models were generated in parallel from two independent lines (up to G6) and exhibited predominant tumor growth at primary injection site with tumor spread to secondary sites only at very late stage. PDX samples from IV models (spleen, liver, BM, PB) and SC models across generations (n = 36) were collected and subjected to scRNA-seq profiling together with parental patient samples (n = 6) and healthy donor PBMC samples (n = 2). Results All six PDX models at G1 faithfully mirrored parental samples by displaying similar cancer hallmarks. Interestingly, MYC and OXPHOS signaling were predominantly and progressively augmented with each IV passage, and to a lesser extent across SC passages, suggesting a higher degree of selection and evolution processes during orthotopic passage. With spatial collection at distinct dissemination sites (spleen, liver, BM and PB) within same generations, we revealed that heterogenous transcriptomic profiles were more evident across tissues than generations. Specifically, cancer hallmarks such as MYC (NES = 8.4, FDR < 0.01), OXPHOS (NES = 8.9, FDR < 0.01) and mTORC1 (NES = 6.6, FDR < 0.01) signaling were highly enriched in cells from PB, and to a lesser extent in spleen and liver when compared to the cells in BM. More intriguingly, 55-60% of tumor cells in PB clustered together and showed enhanced cancer hallmarks for tumor migration and invasion (NES = 7.9, FDR < 0.01), higher de-differentiation scores (cytoTRACE) and G0/G1 cell cycle stage. This suggests that these cells are quiescent, de-differentiated and disseminative. Importantly, a small fraction of cells from spleen (5-18%) and liver (12-18%), but not in BM, showed similar characteristics and clustered together with those from PB. Histopathologic analysis showed that tumor cells could be detected in blood only after cells settled and expanded in the spleen, liver or BM, whereas dissemination to LN, GI tract, lung and kidney were even later events. Therefore, it is likely that these disseminative MCL cells originate from tissues and represent the tumor seed cells for disease dissemination. More interestingly, the top differential expressed genes (DEGs) in these seed cells were also significantly upregulated in ibrutinib-resistant patients (p < 0.01), compared to that in ibrutinib-sensitive patients based on bulk RNA sequencing (n = 69). This indicates that these seed cells are more resistant to ibrutinib and may drive therapeutic relapse. Targetable molecules are under active investigation to eradicate this ibrutinib-resistant seed cells. Conclusion MCL tissue tropism results in distinct transcriptomic profiles. A special cell population of tumor seed cells was identified to be quiescent, de-differentiated and disseminative, and may drive tumor spread, disease progression and therapeutic resistance (Figure 1). These observations provide biological insights into MCL disease progression in multiple MCL sites. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Wang: InnoCare: Consultancy, Research Funding; CAHON: Honoraria; BeiGene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Dava Oncology: Honoraria; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; OMI: Honoraria; Acerta Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Oncternal: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Miltenyi Biomedicine GmbH: Consultancy, Honoraria; Chinese Medical Association: Honoraria; Celgene: Research Funding; Imedex: Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria; BioInvent: Research Funding; Physicians Education Resources (PER): Honoraria; The First Afflicted Hospital of Zhejiang University: Honoraria; Moffit Cancer Center: Honoraria; Newbridge Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Lilly: Research Funding; DTRM Biopharma (Cayman) Limited: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Juno: Consultancy, Research Funding; Loxo Oncology: Consultancy, Research Funding; VelosBio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Mumbai Hematology Group: Honoraria; CStone: Consultancy; Bayer Healthcare: Consultancy; Anticancer Association: Honoraria; Scripps: Honoraria; Hebei Cancer Prevention Federation: Honoraria; Clinical Care Options: Honoraria; BGICS: Honoraria; Molecular Templates: Research Funding.

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Radioimmunotherapy for Mantle Cell Lymphoma: 5-Year Follow-up of 90 Patients from the International RIT-Registry

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-124192 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 5263-5263

Author(s):

Karin Hohloch ◽

Christine Windemuth-Kieselbach ◽

Pier Luigi Zinzani ◽

Roberto E. Cacchione ◽

Wojciech Jurczak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Follicular Lymphoma ◽

Mantle Cell Lymphoma ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

Primary Therapy ◽

First Line ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Mantle Cell

To assess the efficacy of radioimmunotherapy (RIT) with 90yttrium-ibrutinib-tiuxetan (90Y-IT) in mantle cell lymphoma, data from 90 patients registered in the RIT Network with a median follow-up (FU) of 5.5 years after RIT were evaluated. 90Y-IT was given as first-line therapy in 45 (50%) (consolidation 44 pts., primary therapy 1 pt.) and at relapse in 45 (50%) patients (consolidation 24 pts., recurrence 12 pts., therapy refractory 3 pts., conditioning 2 pts., other 4 pts.). As a first-line treatment, 30 patients (pts.) (67%) achieved CR, 10 pts. (22%) PR%., 1 pt. (2%) PD, and for 4 pts. (9%) no response data was available. At relapse, CR was achieved in 17 pts. (38%), PR in 6 pts. (13%), SD in 2 pts. (4%), and 6 pts. (13%) had PD, while the response was not documented for 14 pts. (31%). After a median FU of 5.5 years, median PFS for all patients was 2.11 (95%CI: 1.03-2.32) years, and median OS was 4.05 (95%CI 2.79-7.21) years. Eleven pts. (12.2%) developed second malignancy. In conclusion, this is the largest report of MCL pts. treated with 90Y-IT to date. 90Y-IT was most often used as consolidation after first- and second-line chemotherapy and may improve the results achieved using chemoimmunotherapy alone. However, the results are less encouraging compared to treatment with small molecules such as ibrutinib. Disclosures Zinzani: TG Therapeutics: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Kyowa Kirin: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Portola: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Immune Design: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sandoz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celltrion: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Verastem: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Eusapharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy. Jurczak:Sandoz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Loxo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Research Funding; Servier: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Celtrion: Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Truemper:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Nordic Nanovector: Consultancy; Mundipharma: Research Funding; Janssen Oncology: Consultancy. Scholz:Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy; Hexal: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy; GILEAD: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi Sankio: Consultancy. OffLabel Disclosure: Yttrium 90 (90Y) Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin) is approved for treatment of patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma and as consolidation therapy after chemo(immuno)therapy of patients with follicular lymphoma.

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Ibrutinib-Lenalidomide-Rituximab in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Final Results from the Nordic Lymphoma Group MCL6 (PHILEMON) Phase II Trial

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2020-133298 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 36-36

Author(s):

Mats Jerkeman ◽

Martin Hutchings ◽

Riikka Räty ◽

Karin Fahl Wader ◽

Anna Laurell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Mantle Cell Lymphoma ◽

Research Funding ◽

Tp53 Mutation ◽

Phase Ii Trial ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

Molecular Remission ◽

Mantle Cell ◽

Grade 3

Introduction: In spite of improvements in treatment of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), this is still considered an incurable lymphoma entity, and the majority of patients eventually relapse. Ibrutinib is a very active agent in MCL, but in vitro has been shown to partially antagonize the activity of rituximab, by suppression of NK cell activity and subsequent ADCC. Lenalidomide, on the other hand, improves rituximab-induced ADCC. In this multi-centre open-label phase II trial, we evaluated safety and efficacy of this triplet combination in patients with relapsed or refractory MCL. Methods: Patients with MCL, relapsing after or refractory to at least one rituximab-containing chemotherapy regimen, WHO PS 0-3, and measurable disease were eligible. The primary endpoint was maximal overall response rate (ORR) measured with CT and PET/CT. Minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring by PCR was performed during follow-up, according to EuroMRD criteria. Ion Torrent sequencing of the most frequently mutated genes in MCL was performed on frozen tumor cells from bone marrow at time of relapse. Health-related quality of life was assessed by the EORTC-QLQ C30 questionnaire before and during treatment. Treatment schedule: Induction phase: Up to twelve 28-day cycles with: Lenalidomide 15 mg p o daily, days 1-21, Ibrutinib 560 mg p o days 1-28, Rituximab 375 mg/m2 i v day 1 in cycle 1, then 1400 mg s c (or 375 mg/m2i v) days 8, 15 and 22 in cycle 1, then day 1 in cycles 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. Maintenance phase: For patients in CR, PR or SD, not in need of other treatment, given until progression, cycle duration 56 days. Ibrutinib: 560 mg p o days 1-56, 2. Rituximab 1400 mg s c (or 375 mg/m2i v) day 1 of each cycle. Results: Accrual of 50 pts was completed in June 2016, at 10 centres in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. The median age was 69.5 years, with a median MIPI score of 6.2. Patients had received a median of two previous regimens, four had progressed after single agent ibrutinib, and three had received prior allo-SCT. A TP53 mutation was detected in 11 of 49 evaluable cases (22%), 8 cases were of blastoid/pleomorphic histology, and 22 of 40 evaluable cases had a Ki67 >30%. Treatment emergent-AEs of any grade in ≥20% of patients were rash (24%) and fatigue (20%). Five pts (10%) experienced rash grade 3, mainly during cycle 1. Hematological toxicity was generally of low grade, apart from grade 3-4 neutropenia in 5 patients. One patient died due to possible treatment-related toxicity (septic shock). In total, 27 patients achieved CR (54%) and 10 PR (20%). Among evaluable patients with a TP53 mutation, blastoid/pleomorphic histology or Ki67 >30%, the CR rates were 7/11 (64%), 15/8 (62%) and 11/22 (50%), respectively. After a median follow-up of 40 months, the median PFS is 18 months (95% CI 6.5-28), and median OS 47 months (95% CI 30-64). Patients with a detectable TP53 mutation at relapse (n=11) had a median PFS of 13 months (95% CI 4.2-21), whereas pts without a TP53 mutation had a median PFS of 34 months (95% CI 8.3-60). Of the 28 patients evaluable for MRD at 6 months, 15/27 (56%) patients achieved molecular remission in blood and 12/28 (43%) in bone marrow. After 12 months, MRD-negativity in BM was 68% (13/19). Out of 4 patients with TP53-mutated MCL, 2 were MRD-negative in BM after 12 months, as well as 2 out of 4 patients with blastoid/pleomorphic histology. By self-reported HRQOL, a lower level of emotional functioning (EF), as well as a higher level of pain (PA) at baseline, was associated with inferior PFS. In addition, low EF was associated with inferior OS. By a Cox regression multivariable analysis, including MIPI, TP53, histology, Ki67, EF and PA, only MIPI was prognostic for PFS or OS with this regimen. Conclusions: The combination of ibrutinib, lenalidomide and rituximab has been shown to be an active and well tolerated regimen in this cohort of high risk R/R MCL, associated with a high rate of molecular remission. The activity in TP53 mutated MCL is lower than in unmutated disease, but this regimen may still serve as an option for a bridge to an allogeneic transplantation or CAR-T therapy in this category of patients. Disclosures Jerkeman: Roche: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding. Hutchings:Genmab: Honoraria; Genmab: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Roche: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Daiichi: Research Funding; Sankyo: Research Funding; Genmab: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy; Takeda: Honoraria.

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Mantle cell lymphoma with t(11;14) and unmutated or mutated VH genes expresses AID and undergoes isotype switch events

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2003-05-1632 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 103 (7) ◽

pp. 2795-2798 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Gavin Babbage ◽

Richard Garand ◽

Nelly Robillard ◽

Niklas Zojer ◽

Freda K. Stevenson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mantle Cell Lymphoma ◽

Tumor Cells ◽

Germinal Center ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

Somatic Hypermutation ◽

Cytidine Deaminase ◽

Activation Induced Cytidine Deaminase ◽

Mantle Cell ◽

Vh Genes ◽

A Minor

Abstract Isotype switch commonly follows onset of somatic hypermutation in the germinal center (GC), with activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) as a prerequisite. Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) with t(11;14) includes a subset with unmutated (UM) and a minor subset with mutated (MUT) VH genes. Here, we investigated whether switch events and AID expression occur in MCL. In 4 of 6 UM and 4 of 7 MUT MCLs, alternative tumor-derived Cγ,α,ϵ transcripts were identified. AID transcripts, including a splice variant, were common to both subsets. AID expression correlated with switch in 8 of 8 cases, but in 3 of 5 cases it occurred with switch absent. Circle transcripts (Iγ-Cμ/Iα-Cμ) were identified in 5 of 7 evaluated cases. In 1 of 12 cases, 12% of tumor cells expressed immunoglobulin L-restricted surface IgA. Ongoing switch recombination events appear to be a feature of MCL, likely restricted to a minor tumor subpopulation, with occasional variant sIg expression. UM MCLs implicate origins from pre-GC B cells and reveal switch events at ectopic sites. (Blood. 2004;103:2795-2798)

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Autologous tumor cell vaccine induces antitumor T cell immune responses in patients with mantle cell lymphoma: A phase I/II trial

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.20191712 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 217 (9) ◽

Author(s):

Matthew J. Frank ◽

Michael S. Khodadoust ◽

Debra K. Czerwinski ◽

Ole A.W. Haabeth ◽

Michael P. Chu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Phase I ◽

Mantle Cell Lymphoma ◽

Tumor Cells ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

Cell Vaccine ◽

Autologous Tumor ◽

Mantle Cell ◽

T Cell Immune Responses

Here, we report on the results of a phase I/II trial (NCT00490529) for patients with mantle cell lymphoma who, having achieved remission after immunochemotherapy, were vaccinated with irradiated, CpG-activated tumor cells. Subsequently, vaccine-primed lymphocytes were collected and reinfused after a standard autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The primary endpoint was detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) within 1 yr after ASCT at the previously validated threshold of ≥1 malignant cell per 10,000 leukocyte equivalents. Of 45 evaluable patients, 40 (89%) were found to be MRD negative, and the MRD-positive patients experienced early subsequent relapse. The vaccination induced antitumor CD8 T cell immune responses in 40% of patients, and these were associated with favorable clinical outcomes. Patients with high tumor PD-L1 expression after in vitro exposure to CpG had inferior outcomes. Vaccination with CpG-stimulated autologous tumor cells followed by the adoptive transfer of vaccine-primed lymphocytes after ASCT is feasible and safe.

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Activity of Bendamustine (TREANDA™) in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Mantle Cell Lymphoma Cells with Alterations in DNA Damage Response Pathway.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v108.11.2510.2510 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 108 (11) ◽

pp. 2510-2510

Author(s):

Gaël Roué ◽

Mónica López-Guerra ◽

Pierre Milpied ◽

Patricia Pérez-Galán ◽

Neus Villamor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Mantle Cell Lymphoma ◽

Tumor Cells ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Low Grade ◽

Mantle Cell ◽

P53 Status

Abstract Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are two different types of mature B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). CLL has an indolent natural history and patients are very responsive to frontline chemotherapy. Unfortunately, multiple relapses are inevitable, and ultimately, no regimen or treatment strategy offers a distinct survival benefit over another. In contrast, patients with MCL generally experience a more aggressive course, with rapid disease progression and also without specific therapeutic options. Bendamustine hydrochloride (Treanda™) is a multifunctional, alkylating agent that exhibits single-agent activity in multiple hematologic and solid tumors. Recently, the combination of bendamustine with rituximab has demonstrated to be a highly active regimen in the treatment of low-grade lymphomas and MCL. However, very little is known about its mode of action. The ability of bendamustine to induce apoptosis in vitro in MCL and CLL cells and the mechanisms implicated in bendamustine-evoked cell death signaling were investigated. Bendamustine exerted cytostatic and cytotoxic effects in 11 MCL cell lines and primary tumor cells from 7 MCL patients and 10 CLL patients independent of their p53 status, and other gene alterations. In vitro treatment of cells with bendamustine induced activation of both p53-dependent and -independent signaling pathways that converged in all cases to the activation of the pro-apoptotic protein Noxa, conformational changes of Bax and Bak, and mitochondrial depolarization. These events led to cytosolic release of the mitochondrial apoptogenic factors cytochrome c, Smac/DIABLO and AIF, and activation of both caspase -dependent and -independent cell death. Genotoxic stress and caspase-independent cell death are often associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We observed that ROS production was a key step in the induction of apoptosis by bendamustine, since pre-incubation of tumor cells with ROS scavengers reverted all the typical hallmarks of apoptosis. Furthermore, bendamustine exerted a cytotoxic effect in p53 deleted CLL cases that were resistant to fludarabine treatment. These findings support the use of bendamustine as a therapeutic agent in MCL and CLL cells and also establish the basis for the use of bendamustine in lymphoid malignancies that show resistance to classic genotoxic agents that depend on cellular p53 status.

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Efficient Transfer of CD40L mRNA into Mantle Cell Lymphoma for the Production of a Whole Tumor Cell Vaccine.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v110.11.2591.2591 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 110 (11) ◽

pp. 2591-2591

Author(s):

Joshua D. Brody ◽

Linhong Li ◽

Stephanie Feller ◽

Joseph Fratantoni ◽

Ronald Levy

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

B Cells ◽

Mantle Cell Lymphoma ◽

Tumor Cells ◽

Residual Disease ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

Cell Vaccine ◽

Tumor Cell Vaccine ◽

Mantle Cell

Abstract Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with the worst long-term prognosis of any NHL subtype. Current therapeutic options are unsatisfactory. MCL patients’ malignant B cells are ineffective antigen-presenting cells (APCs), perhaps resulting from low level expression of the immune co-stimulatory molecules that are essential to activate T cells upon interaction with the T-cell receptor. The MCL cells can be engineered to be effective APCs and thereby function as a therapeutic cellular vaccine in combination with chemotherapy and/or stem cell transplantation to eradicate residual disease. However, primary MCL cells are difficult targets for gene transfer by both viral and non-viral methodologies. Ligation of CD40 resulting from co-culturing with hCD40L expressing murine fibroblasts was shown to be superior to a panel of other immune stimulants and cytokines in upregulating co-stimulatory markers and inducing anti-tumor T cell responses (Hoogendoorn et al. 2005). We now report on a technology platform, based on electroporation of mRNA for CD40L, for the introduction of CD40L protein expression and subsequent induction of immune co-stimulatory molecules by MCL tumor cells. Primary MCL malignant B cells were obtained from patients’ lymph node biopsies by mechanical dissociation, placed in single cell suspension and cryopreserved prior to modification. Full-length 5′-end capped hCD40L mRNA transcript was generated by in vitro transcription with a commercially available T7 polymerase kit. The transfected MCL cells were immunostained with fluorophore-conjugated monoclonal antibodies against hCD40L, hCD80 and 86 then analyzed by FACS. Data showed hCD40L could be detected in ≥ 80% of the transfected MCL cells as early as 2 hrs post transfection. At 3 days post manipulation, hDC40L expression could be detected on approximately 30% of the transfected MCL cells. Cell viability remained at approximately 80% during the 3 day in vitro culturing. FACS analysis of the immune co-stimulatory molecules revealed that forced expression of hCD40L caused an up-regulation of CD80/86, which was increased approximately 10 fold compared to the expression levels in naïve, non modified cells. The increased expression level of CD80/86 was maintained for 3 days. Furthermore, when the hCD40L modified MCL cells were mixed with allogeneic PBMC, they stimulated IFN-γ production at a level 4 fold higher than was observed with naïve, non modified MCL cells mixed with allogeneic PBMC. This provides proof-of-concept that MCL cells modified by mRNA-hCD40L transfection have the potential to be used as a cellular vaccine. Such transduced cells function to protect animals from tumor challenge. The process can be scaled up to produce >2×1010 modified tumor cells. This simple, non-viral cell manipulation system is practical and will be a useful tool for immunotherapy of human hematopoietic malignancies such as MCL.

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A Phase I/II Study of Lenalidomide in Combination with Rituximab in Relapsed/Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v114.22.2719.2719 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 114 (22) ◽

pp. 2719-2719 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Luhua Wang ◽

Luis Fayad ◽

Fredrick B. Hagemeister ◽

Sattva Neelapu ◽

Felipe Samaniego ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mantle Cell Lymphoma ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Progression Free Survival ◽

Phase 2 ◽

Employment Equity ◽

Mantle Cell ◽

Equity Ownership ◽

Grade 3

Abstract Abstract 2719 Poster Board II-695 Background: Rituximab directly targets CD20 positive lymphoma cells while lenalidomide targets the microenvironment. This combination was proven effective in vitro and in vivo in mantle cell lymphoma (Wu et al, Clin Cancer Res 2008; Zhang et al, Am J Hematol 2009). Clinically, lenalidomide (Habermann et al, Br J Haematol 2009) and rituximab have single-agent activity in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and may be an effective combination. The goal of our study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in phase 1 and evaluate the efficacy and safety of lenalidomide plus rituximab in patients with relapsed/refractory MCL in phase 2. Methods: Patients with relapsed/refractory MCL received lenalidomide on days 1–21 of every 28-day cycle, and rituximab (375 mg/m2) weekly during cycle 1. Dose escalation was used to determine the MTD with lenalidomide (10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 25 mg). Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as grade 3 or 4 non-hematologic, or grade 4 hematologic adverse events in cycle 1. Phase 2 has reached targeted enrolment with 45 patients treated at MTD. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate progression free survival rate and response duration. Median time to event in months with 95% confidence interval was calculated. Of 45 patients treated at the MTD, the median age was 66 (46–85), 91% were males. All patients had received prior rituximab and were enrolled regardless of prior rituximab sensitivity or resistance. Results: The median follow-up time for the censored observations was 11.4 months. Two DLTs occurred at 25 mg in phase 1 (hypercalcemia, non-neutropenic fever); therefore, the MTD was 20 mg. The grade 3–4 non-hematologic events included elevated AST, elevated ALT, fatigue, myalgia, tremors, ataxia, cough, deep vein thrombosis, dyspnea, edema (facial), infection, neuropathy sensory, rash, and respiratory failure. Grade 3–4 hematologic adverse events included neutropenia (37 events), neutropenic fever (4 events), and thrombocytopenia (16 events). There were no responses in patients treated at 10 mg or 15 mg. Thirty six patients (36) were evaluable for response. Nine (9) patients are too early in their treatment and are not yet eligible for response evaluation. Among the 36 evaluable patients, 11 (31%) patients achieved CR, 8 (22%) patients achieved PR, 3 (8%) patients had minor response, 6 (17%) patients had stable disease and 8 (22%) patients had progressive mantle cell lymphoma. The overall response rate (CR + PR) was 53%. Seventy eight (78%) patients achieved stable disease or better and benefited from oral Lenalidomide plus 4 doses of rituximab. The median time to response was 2 months (2–8), and the median duration of response for the 19 patients with CR or PR was 18 months (95% CI: 10.6, NA) (range1–30 months). The median progression free survival for all patients on phase 2 was 14 months (95% CI: 9.8, NA) (ranging from 1–32 months). Conclusion: Oral lenalidomide plus rituximab resulted in durable responses in relapsed/refractory MCL with a favourable toxicity profile. Disclosures: Wang: Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding. Hagemeister:Celgene Corporation: Consultancy. Samaniego:Celgene Corporation: Research Funding. Yi:Celgene Corporation: Research Funding. Shah:Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Elan: Consultancy; Millennium: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Bell:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Knight:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Zeldis:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

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Alternating Courses of 3x CHOP and 3x DHAP Plus Rituximab Followed by a High Dose ARA-C Containing Myeloablative Regimen and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT) Is Superior to 6 Courses CHOP Plus Rituximab Followed by Myeloablative Radiochemotherapy and ASCT In Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Results of the MCL Younger Trial of the European Mantle Cell Lymphoma Network (MCL net)

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v116.21.110.110 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 116 (21) ◽

pp. 110-110 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Olivier Hermine ◽

Eva Hoster ◽

Jan Walewski ◽

Vincent Ribrag ◽

Nicole Brousse ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Treatment Failure ◽

Mantle Cell Lymphoma ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

High Dose ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Overall Response ◽

Mantle Cell ◽

Grade 3

Abstract Abstract 110 Background: Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) has been characterized by poor long term prognosis with a median survival of only 3 to 4 years. However, outcome has improved during the last decades. In its first randomized trial, the MCL net demonstrated that myeloablative consolidation followed by ASCT resulted in a significant prolongation of PFS in advanced stage MCL (Dreyling et al Blood 2005). Recent phase II studies suggested that the addition of rituximab to CHOP like chemotherapy and/or high dose ARA-C may significantly improve remission rates and PFS. A French phase II trial using sequential R-CHOP/R-DHAP followed by ASCT showed an overall response rate of 95% with a CR rate of 61% translating into a median EFS of 83 months and a 75% survival rate at 5 years (Delarue et al ASH 2008). Methods: To evaluate the potential superiority of a high dose ARA-C containing regimen, the MCL net initiated a randomized trial comparing 6 courses of CHOP plus Rituximab followed by myeloablative radiochemotherapy (12 Gray TBI, 2×60mg/kg Cyclophosphamide) and ASCT (control arm A) versus alternating courses of 3x CHOP and 3x DHAP plus Rituximab followed by a high dose ARA-C containing myeloablative regimen (10 Gray TBI, 4×1,5 g/m2 Ara-C, 140mg/m2 melphalan) and ASCT (experimental arm B). Patient eligibility criteria included previously untreated MCL stage II-IV up to the age of 65 years. Histological diagnosis was confirmed by a central pathology review board. The primary end point time to treatment failure (TTF) was monitored continuously by a sequential procedure based on a one sided triangular test. Stable disease after induction, progression or death from any causes, were considered as treatment failure. Sample size was calculated to detect a hazard ratio of 52% for arm B with a power of 95%. Randomization was stopped as soon as a significant difference was observed between the two arms. Results: From July 2004 to May 2010, 497 patients were randomized in 4 countries (Germany, France, Poland, Belgium). The 391 patients evaluable for the primary analysis (19 no MCL, 87 not yet documented) displayed similar characteristics in both treatment arms: median age 55 vs 56 years, male 78% vs 79%, stage IV 85% vs 79%, B symptoms 43% vs 33%, ECOG >2 5% vs 5%, elevated LDH 37% vs 38%, and MIPI low/int/high risk 61%/25%/14% vs 62%/23%/15%, respectively. After induction overall response was similarly high in both arms (A: 90% vs B: 94%; p=0.19) and CR rate and combined CR/CRu rate were significantly higher in arm B (26% vs 39%; p=0.012 and 41% vs 60%; p=0.0003). The number of patients transplanted was similar in both arms (72% vs 73%) and after transplantation overall response and CR rates were comparable in both arms (97% vs 97% and 63% vs 65%, respectively). After a median follow up of 27 months, patients in arm B experienced a significantly longer TTF (49 months vs NR; p=0.0384, hazard ratio 0.68) mainly due to a lower number of relapses after CR/CRu/PR (20% vs 10%), whereas the rate of ASCT-related deaths in remission was similar in both arms (3% vs 4%). Although CR rate after ASCT was comparable in both arms, remission duration (RD) after ASCT was superior in Arm B (48m vs NR; p=0.047). Interestingly, for patients in CR after ASCT, RD after ASCT was also presumably superior in arm B (51 months vs NR; p=0.077). At the time of analysis overall survival was similar in both arms with medians not reached and 79% vs. 80% survival rates at 3 years (p=0.74). Safety after induction was comparable in both arms except for an increased grade 3/4 hematological toxicity (Hb 8% vs 28%, WBC 48% vs 75%, platelets 9% vs 74%, respectively), an excess of renal toxicity (creatinine grade 1/2: 8% vs 38%, grade 3/4: none vs 2%), and more frequent grade 1/2 nausea and vomiting in arm B. Toxicities of both conditioning regimen were similar, except for higher grade 3/4 mucositis (43% vs. 61%) in Arm B, and higher grade 1/2 liver toxicity and constipation in Arm A. Conclusions: High dose ARA-C in addition to R-CHOP+ASCT increases significantly complete response rates and TTF without clinically relevant increase of toxicity. Therefore, induction regimen containing high dose ARA-C followed by ASCT should become the new standard of care of MCL patients up to 65 years. Disclosures: Walewski: Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Stilgenbauer:Amgen: Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Boehringer-Ingelheim: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genzyme: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Mundipharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi Aventis: Research Funding. Feugier:roche: Consultancy, Honoraria. Bosly:Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Gisselbrecht:Roche: Research Funding.

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LFB-R603, a Third-Generation Monoclonal Anti-CD20 Antibody Displays An Additive Antitumor Activity with Antileukemic Chemotherapeutic Agents in Mouse Xenograft Models

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v118.21.1660.1660 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 118 (21) ◽

pp. 1660-1660 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Isabel Tourais Esteves ◽

Charles Dumontet ◽

Stéphanie Herveau ◽

Lina Reslan ◽

Frédérique Brune ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antitumor Activity ◽

Tumor Growth ◽

Mantle Cell Lymphoma ◽

Subcutaneous Injection ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽

Mantle Cell ◽

Cd20 Antibody ◽

Anti Cd20

Abstract Abstract 1660 LFB-R603, a next generation anti-CD20 antibody currently in clinical development, is characterized by a specific glycosylation pattern containing a high percentage of non fucosylated antibodies molecules at the Fc site. This pattern of glycosylation increases the affinity of antibodies for human FcγRIIIa, resulting in an increased antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) by human FcγRIIIa-expressing effector cells. This antibody is currently in a phase I clinical trial in B-CLL patients and its use is planned to be expanded to other non-hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) such as follicular and mantle cell lymphoma, as a single agent and in combination with chemotherapeutic agents. The antitumor efficacy of LFB-R603 was studied in comparison with rituximab in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic agents in two models of NHL developed in immuno-deficient mice. The RL cell line, derived from a patient with follicular lymphoma (FL), was xenografted in mice by subcutaneous injection. Tumor-bearing mice were treated intravenously during 4 weeks with the anti-CD20 antibodies used alone or in combination with suboptimal doses of cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg or bendamustine 30 mg/kg. LFB-R603 and rituximab displayed a dose-related antitumor activity. The tumor growth inhibition (TGI) was at day 30, 64% at 10 mg/kg, 84% at 30 mg/kg and 100% at 100 mg/kg for LFB-R603 compared with the untreated-group. For rituximab, the TGI was 84% at 30 mg/kg and 99% at 100 mg/kg. More interestingly, LFB-R603 at 100 mg/kg dose showed a significantly superior antitumor activity as a delay of 21 days in tumor growth was observed compared to rituximab (p=0.00001). The combination of LFB-R603 or rituximab at 60 mg/kg with cyclophosphamide enhanced the effect observed with the antileukemic agent only and the additive effect was similar for the two antibodies as a delay of 13 days in tumor growth was observed for both combination-treated groups compared with the cyclophosphamide-treated group (p=0.00001). However, LFB-R603 displayed a significant higher antitumor activity against RL xenografts than rituximab when combined with bendamustine as a tumor growth delay of 7 days was observed between the two treated-groups (p=0.00001). The NCEB cell line, derived from a patient with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), was xenografted in mice by subcutaneous injection. In this model, LFB-R603 and rituximab injected once weekly up to 3 weeks displayed a dose-related TGI activity. A higher activity of LFB-R603 compared to rituximab was observed at all tested doses (3, 10, 30 and 60 mg/kg). TGI values at day 51 were 91% for LFB-R603 at 3 mg/kg versus 40% for rituximab, 88% for LFB-R603 at 10 mg/kg versus 57 % for rituximab and 100% for LFB-R603 at 30 and 60 mg/kg versus 66% for rituximab when compared with untreated-group. In conclusion, LFB-R603 displayed a greater antitumor activity as compared to rituximab in two different non-clinical in vivo models of NHL, namely follicular and mantle cell lymphoma. Moreover, additive effects were obtained when LFB-R603 was combined with chemotherapeutic agents such as cyclophosphamide and bendamustine in the FL model. Disclosures: Tourais Esteves: LFB Biotechnologies: Employment. Dumontet:LFB Biotechnologies: Research Funding. Herveau:LFB Biotechnologies: Research Funding. Reslan:LFB Biotechnologies: Research Funding. Brune:LFB Biotechnologies: Employment. Van Overtvelt:LFB Biotechnologies: Employment. Salcedo:LFB Biotechnologies: Employment. Fournès:LFB Biotechnologies: Employment.

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Whole Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals Recurrent NOTCH1 Mutations in Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v118.21.436.436 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 118 (21) ◽

pp. 436-436 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Robert Kridel ◽

Barbara Meissner ◽

Sanja Rogic ◽

Merrill Boyle ◽

Adele Telenius ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Overall Survival ◽

Mantle Cell Lymphoma ◽

Cell Line ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

The Other ◽

Mantle Cell ◽

Whole Transcriptome ◽

Notch1 Mutations

Abstract Abstract 436 Background: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that is characterized by the hallmark t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation, as well as a high number of secondary chromosomal alterations. Further, a small number of genes such as TP53, ATM and CCND1 have been reported to be recurrently mutated in MCL, but do not fully explain the biology and do not adequately account for the wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, response to treatment and prognosis. The aim of this study was to discover new somatic mutations that could contribute to our understanding of the pathogenesis of MCL. Methods: In our discovery cohort, we sequenced the transcriptomes of 18 clinical samples (11 diagnostic and 7 progression biopsies) and 2 mantle cell lymphoma-derived cell lines (Mino and Jeko-1). For this purpose, whole transcriptome shotgun sequencing was performed on RNA extracted from fresh frozen tissue. We assembled an extension cohort of 103 diagnostic patient samples and 4 additional cell lines (Rec-1, Z-138, Maver-1, JVM-2), and performed Sanger sequencing of NOTCH1 exons 26, 27 and 34 on genomic DNA. We further exposed the 6 cell lines to 1 μM of the γ-secretase inhibitor XXI (compound E) for 7 days and measured cellular proliferation with an EdU incorporation assay. Survival analysis was carried out in the 113 patients with diagnostic biopsies and available outcome data. Results: NOTCH1 mutations were found in 14 out of 121 patient samples (11.6%) and in 2 out of 6 cell lines, Mino and Rec-1 (33.3%). The majority of these mutations (12 out of 14) lie in exon 34 that encodes the PEST domain of NOTCH1 and consist of either small frameshift-causing indels (10 cases) or nonsense mutations (2 cases). These mutations are predicted to cause truncations of the C-terminal PEST domain. To gain further insight into functional relevance, we treated 6 cell lines with compound E, an inhibitor of the γ-secretase complex that plays a critical role in the release of the intracellular domain of NOTCH1 after ligand-induced activation. In Rec-1, that harbours a NOTCH1 mutation, we observed a significant decrease in proliferation (mean percentage of cells in culture incorporating EdU decreasing from 47.5% to 1.4%, p<.001). No effect of compound E was observed in Mino, the other cell line with a NOTCH1 mutation, nor in the 4 cell lines that are wild type for NOTCH1. Outcome correlation analysis showed that NOTCH1 mutations are associated with poor overall survival (1.56 versus 3.86 years respectively, p=.001), but not with significantly shortened progression-free survival (0.88 versus 1.73 years respectively, p=.07). Discussion: We have identified recurrent mutations in NOTCH1 in a subset of patients with MCL (11.6%). The frequency and the pattern of mutations are strikingly similar to what has recently been reported in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the other major CD5 positive B-cell malignancy (Nature, 2011 Jun 5, 475:101–105 and J Exp Med, 2011 Jul 4, 208:1389–1401). NOTCH1 mutations are associated with adverse prognosis as evidenced by shortened overall survival. This latter finding, however, should ideally be validated in a larger and uniformly treated cohort. Finally, the sensitivity of the Rec-1 cell line to compound E suggests that NOTCH1 mutations could serve as the target for tailored therapy in mantle cell lymphoma. Disclosures: Sehn: Roche/Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Connors:Roche: Research Funding.

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