Monitoring of Patients with Autoimmune Cytopenias during Sars-Cov-2 Vaccination Campaign: The Experience of a Reference Center

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination have raised concern in immune mediated diseases, including autoimmune cytopenias (AIC, i.e. autoimmune hemolytic anemia, AIHA; autoimmune thrombocytopenia, ITP; autoimmune neutropenia, AIN; aplastic anemia, AA; and their combination, termed Evans syndrome, ES). The latter are highly heterogeneous conditions with variable severity and a clinical course marked by several relapses often triggered by immune-activating events (infections, traumas, surgery, etc.) including vaccines. Some reports of ITP and AIHA post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been described but no population studies have been conducted in AIC patients. Here we systematically studied a large series of 100 patients with AIC (44 AIHA, 38 ITP, 7 AIN, 6 ES, and 5 AA) prospectively followed at a reference center in Milan, Italy, who underwent SARS-CoV-2 vaccination from 24 th of March until the end of June 2021. Patients (median age 62 years, range 25-89, female/male ratio 1.7) were monitored with whole blood counts and LDH testing the week before and the week after each vaccination dose. Importantly, ongoing AIC therapy (38% of cases, including steroids, cyclosporine, eltrombopag, and complement inhibitor sutimlimab) were kept stable within the 2 weeks before vaccination. Patients mainly received Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine (N=88), followed by Moderna (N=10), and Astra-Zeneca (N=2). Table 1 summarizes hematologic trends and side effects observed after each dose in patients with ITP and AIHA. Regarding the former, a delta percentage reduction of 10% or higher was observed in up to 13% of cases after the first and the second dose, requiring therapy adjustment in 2 patients. They were two elderly male subjects on low dose eltrombopag treatment and experienced a severe/moderate relapse (platelets 28 and 21x10^9/L) with mucosal bleeding, after the 2 nd dose of Pfizer vaccine. Both had a concomitant trigger (1 hip fracture and 1 bronchitis reactivation) and were rescued by increasing eltrombopag dose and with the addition of prednisone 1 mg/Kg day. Regarding AIHA, 3 elderly patients experienced a clinically significant relapse (>10% Hb decrease): 1 female patient experienced an Hb reduction from 10.4 to 9.1 g/dL after the first dose of Pfizer vaccine, that required a slight increase of steroid dose (to 5 mg day prednisone) and remained stable after the second dose; 1 male subject had an Hb reduction from 13.9 to 9.1 g/d>L after the first dose of Moderna vaccine, requiring prednisone 0.5 mg/kg day; the third male patient experienced a severe relapse (Hb reduction by 47%, from 14 to 7.4 g/dL) with LDH increase to 2.3 x ULN after the second dose of Pfizer vaccine. The patient required high dose intravenous steroids and hemolysis improved in about 1 week. All patients had warm type AIHA and had complained no other triggers or non-hematologic adverse events. Patients with AIN, AA and ES had no significant changes in their hematologic values (1 AIN had a neutrophil decrease by 30% but was consistent with previous oscillations; 2 ES had a platelet or neutrophil decrease within the normal range) and required no treatment changes. Finally, the following non-hematologic adverse events were observed: fever (7%), pain at the injection site (15%) and arthralgia (<5%), without significant differences between the first and the second dose. These data show that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination may be associated with a mild decrease of hematologic values in about 10% of AIC cases. However, true ITP and AIHA relapses occurred in 5% of cases only, sometimes in the presence of a concomitant trigger, and were rapidly rescued with treatment adaptation. Overall, the hematologic monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine adopted in our survey appears appropriate to early detect and manage AIC reactivation, ensuring a safe vaccination campaign in this patient population. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Fattizzo: Annexon: Consultancy; Alexion: Speakers Bureau; Kira: Speakers Bureau; Momenta: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Apellis: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Bianchi: Agios pharmaceutics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Barcellini: Novartis: Honoraria; Bioverativ: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Agios: Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

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Efficacy and Safety of Cyclosporine Treatment in Autoimmune Cytopenias: The Experience of Two Italian Reference Centers

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2021-149043 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 3146-3146

Author(s):

Bruno Fattizzo ◽

Silvia Cantoni ◽

Rachele Zavaglia ◽

Juri Alessandro Giannotta ◽

Nicola Cecchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Oral Drug ◽

Pneumocystis Jirovecii Pneumonia ◽

Concomitant Treatment ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Autoimmune Cytopenias

Abstract Background: Autoimmune cytopenias (immune thrombocytopenia ITP, autoimmune hemolytic anemia AIHA, and chronic idiopathic neutropenia CIN) are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by the presence of autoantibodies directed against platelets (PLT), erythrocytes, and neutrophils (ANC). Frontline steroids are the mainstay of treatment, although most patients relapse and require 2 nd line therapies which slightly differ according to disease subtype. Rituximab is mainly effective in AIHA, although only a fraction of cases would experience long-term relapse-free. Splenectomy may be contraindicated due to age and risk of thrombotic and infectious complications and thrombopoietin-receptor agonists (TPO-RA), effective in more than 70% of ITP patients, may result in great PLT fluctuations and increased bone marrow reticulin fibrosis. Cyclosporine (CyA) is an immunosuppressant used for over 30 years in the post-transplant setting and in the treatment of aplastic anemia. It is a manageable oral drug with known toxicities and its plasma concentrations may be monitored to optimize treatment. However, few data exist about its efficacy in autoimmune cytopenias either used as single drug or in combination with other treatments. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CyA in a cohort of patients with ITP, AIHA, and CIN, followed at two reference hematology centers in Milan, Italy. Methods: Medical charts of consecutive patients treated with CyA 3-5 mg/ kg day in the last 20 years were evaluated. Responses were assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months, and divided into partial (PR, for Hb> 10 g/dL; PLT> 30x 109/L and ANC> 0.8 x 109/L) and complete (CR, for Hb> 12 g/dL; PLT> 100x109/L; ANC>1 x 109/L). Adverse events were recorded according to CTCAE criteria. Results: 41 patients, 27 ITP (66%), 11 AIHA (27%) and 3 CIN (7%), were included, 16 men (39%) and 25 women (61%), with a median age of 60 year (21-81). The median time from diagnosis to CyA start was of 10 years (5-15), with a median of 3 (1-8) previous therapy lines. Most patients were receiving concomitant treatment including steroids (N=13), IVIG (3), or TPO-RA (14). Reasons to start CyA included no response to previous treatments (N=27), platelets fluctuations (N=5) or bone marrow fibrosis (N=5) on TPO-RA, and contraindication for splenectomy (N=4). Median duration of CyA therapy was 5 years (1-9) and 34 patients (83%) responded: 34% CR, 44% PR at month+3; 39% CR and 39% PR at month+6; and 26%CR and 43%PR at month+12 (Figure 1). Specifically, median PLTs increased by 32 x10^9/L at month+3, by 121 x10^9/L at month+6, and by 43 x10^9/L at month+12. Median Hb improved by 0.5 g/dL at month+3, by 1 g/dL at month+6, and by 2,6 g/dL at month +12. Median ANC augmented by 0.7 x10^9/L at month +3, by 1.7 x10^9/L at month +6, and by 0.07 x10^9/L at month +12. Importantly, 9 patients could stop steroids, and 10 subjects discontinued or tapered TPO-RA (5 each). Better responses were observed in ITP patients with baseline bone marrow hypocellularity (p = 0.01), absence of reticulin fibrosis (p=0.02), and in those not previously splenectomized (p=0.04). Among AIHA cases, those with IgG+C direct antiglobulin test positivity showed higher percentage of non-response (67 versus 22% in IgG+). Adverse events were mainly G1-2, occurring in 52% of patients, and included asthenia, dyspnea, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, epistaxis, petechiae and an Escherichia Coli cystitis. Three patients on concomitant long-term steroids developed a G3 event (1 pulmonary embolism, 1 Aspergillus lung infection and 1 bronchitis), and 1 died for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. Conclusion: Cyclosporine was effective in about 80% of highly pretreated patients and allowed tapering/discontinuation of concomitant treatments in 63% of cases. Responses were higher in those with ITP, and hypocellular bone marrow without reticulin fibrosis. The occurrence of infectious episodes, including a fatal pneumonia, warrants careful surveillance in this heavily pretreated patient population. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Fattizzo: Kira: Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Momenta: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Annexon: Consultancy; Apellis: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Bianchi: Agios pharmaceutics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Barcellini: Agios: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bioverativ: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria; Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria.

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Obinutuzumab (GA101) in Combination with Pixantrone for the Treatment of Patients with Relapsed Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma: Report on an Ongoing Phase II Trial (GOAL)

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v128.22.5392.5392 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 128 (22) ◽

pp. 5392-5392 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Georg Hess ◽

Andreas Hüttmann ◽

Reinhard Marks ◽

Mathias Witzens-Harig ◽

Martin H. Dreyling ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adverse Events ◽

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

High Dose ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Grade 3

Abstract Background: Prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and other aggressive lymphoma entities has improved with the advent of Rituximab, and R-CHOP-21 and variants is SOC. Nevertheless, a substantial proportion of patients fail first line treatment. Salvage therapies are often effective. However, no more than 25-50% achieve a long term remission even when consolidative high dose chemotherapy (HDT) followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is applied. In case of failure or intolerance to HDT, regimen like Gemcitabine/Oxaliplatin are applied but show limited efficacy, indicating the need for new treatments. Obinutuzumab (GA101) is a type II anti-CD20 antibody. Superiority of Obinutuzumab could be demonstrated in xenograft models of mantle cell lymphoma and DLBCL. Although desirable, cumulative dose-related, progressive cardiotoxicity eliminates anthracyclins from higher treatment lines. With Pixantrone, a drug structurally related to anthracyclines and especially anthracenediones, a re-exposition against this drug class has been shown to be feasible. In 70 heavily pre-treated patients, a best ORR of 40% (20% CR/CRu) was observed (Pettengell et al). Experiences from further antibody drug combinations lead to the assumption that the effects of Pixantrone will be augmented by a monoclonal antibody without increasing toxicity. We thus initiated a trial combining both agents for the first time. The trial has opened in Q4/2015 and recruitment is ongoing. Overall, a total of up 70 patients will be enrolled for a number of 64 evaluable patients. Primary endpoint will be the objective overall response rate, with secondary endpoints being safety, PFS and OS. Methods: this is a multicenter, national, prospective trial. Inclusion criteria: patients were eligible if they had histologically proven DLBCL, FL grade IIIb or transformed indolent lymphoma, CD20 positive disease, no curative option available, relapsed disease, measurable disease, ECOG < 3, sufficient bone marrow reserve, no severe concomitant diseases and given informed consent. There was no upper limit or prior treatment lines. Treatment consisted of Pixantrone 50mg/m² day 1, 8 and 15 of each cycle, Obinutuzumab 1000 mg flat dose day 1, 8 and 15 of cycle one and day 1 of each subsequent cycle. A total of 6 cycles was planned with interim staging after 3 cycles. Results: 24 patients (pts) have been included until now. Concerning clinical characteristics, all were caucasian, 12 were female and the other 12 male and median age was 75 years. Most of the patients suffered from DLBCL (18 pts, 82%). Median number of prior therapies was 2 (1 to 6). Until now 55 evaluable cycles of chemotherapy (median 2 cycles (0 to 6)) have been performed. At this time, the treatment seems to be well tolerated, with no unforeseen side effects. Observed toxicity was predominantly hematologic. The following hematologic adverse events of grade 3/4 were noted: leukopenia (4 pts, 17%), neutropenia (6 pts, 25%), granulocytopenia (1 pts, 4%), as well as thrombocytopenia (2 pts). Non-hematologic grade 3/4 adverse events were observed in at least two patients: hypertension (2 pts) and pelvic pain (2 pts). Response: currently, best responses were 4 PR, 1 SD, and 8 PD in 13 patients evaluable so far. Four patients died, all after progression of lymphoma. Summary: the combination of Obinutuzumab and Pixantrone seems to be feasible and safe with early signs of efficacy. Updated results of this trial in progress with a focus on safety will be presented. Disclosures Hess: Janssen: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Roche, CTI, Pfizer, Celgene: Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria. Marks:Pfizer: Honoraria. Witzens-Harig:Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Dreyling:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Viardot:Amgen: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Roche: Honoraria; Takeda: Other: travel support; Pfizer: Honoraria. Keller:Spectrum Pharmaceutical: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria.

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Daratumumab As a Treatment for Adult Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Phase II Study with Safety Run-in (the DART Study)

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2021-151410 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 2088-2088

Author(s):

Galina Tsykunova ◽

Pal André Holme ◽

Hoa Thi Tuyet Tran ◽

Tor Henrik Anderson Tvedt ◽

Ludvig Andre Munthe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Platelet Count ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Plasma Cells ◽

Phase Ii Study ◽

Rescue Therapy ◽

Observational Period ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Autoimmune Cytopenias

Abstract Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is characterized by antibody-mediated platelet destruction and impaired platelet production. Residual long-lived autoreactive plasma cells may be a source of treatment resistance in autoimmune cytopenias. Antiplatelet-specific plasma cells have been detected in the spleen of the rituximab refractory ITP patients. These cells can also migrate and reside in bone marrow as long-lived plasma cells. Daratumumab, an anti-CD38 antibody, targets plasma cells and is approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Daratumumab has been successfully used to treat refractory autoimmune cytopenias in children and a few cases of post-transplant autoimmune cytopenias and refractory SLE in adults. We hypothesized that long-lived autoreactive plasma cells may be the source of treatment failure in some ITP patients. Based on that, we initiated a multicenter, open-label, dose-escalating phase II study with a safety run-in to evaluate the safety and efficacy of daratumumab in patients with ITP (NCT04703621). The first 3 patients were included in the safety run-in during Jan - May 2021. Study design and methods: Main inclusion criteria include age ≥18, primary ITP with a platelet count of ≤30X109/L, failure of corticosteroid therapy, and at least one second-line therapy including rituximab and/or TPO-RA. Main exclusion criteria include active bleeding, secondary ITP, concomitant autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Twenty-one patients will be included in the study. The safety run-in phase includes 3 patients who receive 4 weekly subcutaneous daratumumab injections followed by a 4-week observational period. Enrollment of the next patient in this phase occurs after the previous patient has completed treatment and an observational period. In cohort 1, 9 patients will receive 8 weekly injections. If the response rate is <100% and no severe adverse events appear, the subsequent 9 patients will receive 8 weekly daratumumab injections followed by 2 injections administered every other week. Standard premedication before all daratumumab injections consists of antihistamine, corticosteroid (methylprednisolone 100 mg or equivalent before the 1 st daratumumab injection and 60 mg or equivalent before subsequent injections), and paracetamol. Rescue ITP medications are allowed during the first 8 weeks of the study. Steroid or TPO-RA (eltrombopag or romiplostim) dosing must remain stable during the 2 weeks preceding the inclusion. Dose escalation is not allowed during the study. The primary endpoint is a platelet count >50x10 9/L in 2 measurements 12 weeks after treatment initiation for cohort 1, and 16 weeks for cohort 2, without rescue therapy after week 8. Safety will be assessed by the incidence and severity of adverse events. Secondary endpoints will include the number of weeks with platelet count >50x10 9/L between the end of treatment and end of study without rescue therapy or dose increments of corticosteroids. Time to treatment failure (TTF) is defined as time to first platelet count <30x10 9/L or administration of any platelet elevating therapy after achieving response. Exploratory endpoints include: role of anti-GPIIb/IIIa and Ib antibodies; serial characterization of various subsets of immunocompetent cells in the bone marrow and blood; measurement of HRQoL and fatigue Statistics: The primary outcome (treatment response) will be reported separately for each cohort and the entire study population, expressed by absolute numbers and rates with the corresponding 95% confidence interval. Daratumumab treatment will be considered "successful" if we observe a response rate of 30% or higher. Current enrollment status: As of July 10, 2021, 2 sites are open. Two patients have completed the safety run-in; one is close. One/two responded to treatment at week 12. Platelet response in all 3 patients is shown in Figure 1. No serious or grade 3 adverse events were reported. Cohort 1 will start in August 2021. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Tsykunova: Ablynx: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sobi: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy. Holme: bayer, Octapharma, Pfizer: Other: support to institution, Research Funding; Bayer, Novo Nordisk, Octapharma, Pfizer, Roche, Takeda, Sobi: Consultancy, Honoraria. Tran: Astra Zeneca: Consultancy; Novartis, Janssen, Abbvie, Takeda, CSL Bering: Consultancy. Tvedt: Ablynx,Alexion, Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Michel: Amgen,Novartis,UCB,Argenx,Rigel: Honoraria. Frederiksen: Novartis: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Alexion: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding. Bussel: CSL: Other: DSMB; UCB: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: DSMB; Principia/Sanofi: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Argenx: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; UptoDate: Honoraria; RallyBio: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Rigel: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Dova/Sobi: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Momenta/Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kuter: Rubius: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Actelion (Syntimmune), Agios, Alnylam, Amgen, Argenx, BioCryst, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), Caremark, CRICO, Daiichi Sankyo, Dova, Genzyme, Immunovant, Incyte, Kyowa-Kirin, Merck Sharp Dohme, Momenta, Novartis, Pfizer, Principia, Protalex, Protalix, Rigel: Consultancy, Other: grant support and consulting fees; Actelion (Syntimmune), Agios, Alnylam, Amgen, Argenx, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), Immunovant, Kezar, Principia, Protalex, Rigel, Takeda (Bioverativ), UCB: Research Funding; Platelet Disorder Support Association: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Up-to-Date: Patents & Royalties: Up-To-Date. Ghanima: Amgen, Novartis, Pﬁzer, Bristol Myers Squibb, SOBI, Griffols, Sanoﬁ: Honoraria; Bayer, BMS/Pﬁzer: Research Funding; Amgen, Novartis, Pﬁzer, Principia Biopharma Inc- a Sanoﬁ Company, Sanoﬁ, SOBI, Griffols, UCB, Argenx: Consultancy.

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Pozelimab, a Human Monoclonal Antibody Against Complement Factor C5, Provided Inhibition of Intravascular Hemolysis in Patients with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2021-146178 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 1128-1128

Author(s):

Jun-Ho Jang ◽

Jonathan Weyne ◽

Umesh Chaudhari ◽

Olivier Harari ◽

Jutta Miller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adverse Events ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Stock Options ◽

Complement Factor ◽

Intravascular Hemolysis ◽

Open Label ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Open Label Extension ◽

Clinically Significant ◽

Privately Held

Abstract INTRODUCTION Paroxysmal Nocturnal hemoglobuinuria (PNH) is a rare, acquired, life-threatening disorder characterised by intravascular hemolysis and increased risk of thrombosis. Current available treatments represent a significant burden to patients and include anti-complement factor 5 (C5) therapies, eculizumab and ravulizumab, both intravenous infusions, or more recently, twice weekly C3 inhibitor, Pegcetacoplan, a subcutaneous (SC) infusion treatment. Pozelimab (REGN3918), a fully human monoclonal immunoglobulin G4 antibody directed against C5, has been shown to bind with high affinity to wild-type and variant (R885H/C) human C5 and block its activity. In a healthy volunteer study (NCT03115996), SC administration of pozelimab was found to be generally well tolerated while providing complete inhibition of ex vivo-assessed hemolytic activity [Weyne J et al. Blood. 2018;S1:1039]. The data suggested that pozelimab may provide control of intravascular hemolysis in patients with active PNH, and thus could provide an important new alternative for patients supporting progression to a first-in-patient study of pozelimab in patients with active PNH. OBJECTIVE To demonstrate a clinically significant reduction in intravascular hemolysis by once-weekly SC administration of pozelimab over 26 weeks of treatment in patients with active PNH. METHODS This is a phase 2, open-label, single-arm, 26-week treatment study in 24 patients with active symptomatic PNH who are naïve to complement inhibitor therapy, or who have received prior treatment with a complement inhibitor but not within 6 months prior to the start of the study (NCT03946748). The treatment regimen consists of pozelimab as a single IV loading dose of 30 mg/kg followed thereafter by weekly SC 800 mg administrations. The effect of pozelimab on intravascular hemolysis (monitored via LDH levels) and transfusion avoidance, as well as safety, is to be assessed from baseline to week 26 (study day 183; only partial data were available for some patients at the time of abstract submission). Pozelimab pharmacodynamics was assessed utilizing a sheep red blood cell (RBC) complement activity assay (CH50) and rabbit RBC complement activity assay (AH50). RESULTS All 24 patients completed the 26-week treatment period with no study drug discontinuation and have been enrolled into an ongoing open-label extension study (NCT04162470). An interim analysis on the first 17 patients was previously reported. All 17 patients had at least 71 days of treatment, with 10 patients receiving treatment for up to 183 days. All enrolled patients had baseline LDH levels ≥2 x upper limit of normal (ULN). Participants were enrolled in two cohorts: Cohort A for dose confirmation and Cohort B for further evaluation of efficacy and safety. Interim Efficacy Analysis As previously reported, treatment with pozelimab led to a rapid and sustained reduction in LDH through study week 26. All 17 patients achieved LDH reduction to below the clinically significant threshold of LDH ≤1.5 x ULN. All but one patient achieved control of intravascular hemolysis (LDH ≤1.5 x ULN) at week 2, and all but one patient achieved normalization of LDH (LDH ≤1.0 x ULN) at week 4. Importantly, one patient who is a carrier of a C5 variant known to be resistant to blockade by eculizumab/ravulizumab demonstrated rapid and sustained normalization of LDH. Interim Safety As previously reported, no serious adverse events or adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation were reported. Common treatment-emergent adverse events included headache (4 patients; 23.5%) and nausea (2 patients; 11.8%). No breakthrough hemolysis events were observed. CONCLUSIONS Pozelimab administered SC once weekly led to the inhibition of intravascular hemolysis in patients with active PNH and was generally well-tolerated. An update to the previously reported interim analysis will be provided. Upon successful completion of the 26-week treatment period, patients are enrolled into an open-label extension study. Disclosures Weyne: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Chaudhari: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Harari: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Miller: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Dain: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Other: Contractor. Meagher: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Rodgers: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Perlee: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Morton: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Weinreich: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Yancopoulos: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Griffin: Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BioCryst Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sobi Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Apellis: Other: Educational grant support.

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A Phase I/II Dose-Escalation Study of Thiotepa-Based Immunochemotherapy in Relapsed/Refractory Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma; The Tier Trial

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-122830 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 2879-2879

Author(s):

Christopher P Fox ◽

Ayesha S Ali ◽

Dorothee Auer ◽

Steffi Thust ◽

Aimee E Jackson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adverse Events ◽

Phase I ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Primary Endpoint ◽

Dose Escalation ◽

Research Funding ◽

High Dose ◽

First Line ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Dose Escalation Study

BACKGROUND Outcomes for patients (pts) with primary CNS diffuse large B cell lymphoma (PCNSL) have improved over recent years, largely through optimisation of first-line methotrexate (MTX)-containing protocols and dose-intensive chemotherapy consolidation. However, 30-50% of pts experience refractory or relapsed (r/r) disease, which confers very poor outcomes and short survival. By contrast to systemic DLCBL, there is no accepted standard approach for r/r PCNSL. Thiotepa is an alkylating agent highly efficient at crossing the BBB and widely incorporated within high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDT-ASCT) protocols for PCNSL, but has not undergone dose-finding studies nor been incorporated within salvage regimens for PCNSL. The TIER study investigates the safety and efficacy of adding thiotepa, in a dose-escalation design, to the Rituximab, Ifosphamide and Etoposide (R-IE) salvage regimen1. METHODS TIER is an open label, phase I/II UK NCRI TAP study for pts with r/r PCNSL, previously treated with a high-dose MTX-based regimen. In phase I, the RP2D of thiotepa within the TIER combination was established using a 3+3 design, with dose escalations of 30, 40 and 50mg/m2 (dose level 2 (n=4), 3 (n=5) and 4 (n=27) respectively), given on day 5 of R-IE cycle1. The Phase II primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) after cycle 2 of TIER (C2) by centrally reviewed contrast-enhanced MRI2, on an intention-to-treat (ITT) basis. Further treatment and consolidation after the primary endpoint MRI was at the discretion of investigators. Key secondary end-points were 2-year PFS, EFS and OS. RESULTS Thirty-six pts were recruited from Jun 2015-Apr 2019 at 13 centres (characteristics: Table 1). The median number of prior lines was 2 (range 1-4) with 44% of patients deemed refractory to their previous line of therapy. During phase I (n=10) no dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed up to and including 50mg/m2 thiotepa, constituting the RP2D (n=27). 56 cycles of TIER were administered across both phases; 5 pts had >1 dose reductions. Median time between C1D1 and C2D1 was 24.7 days (range 22-38). Relative mean dose intensity of thiotepa, ifosphamide and etoposide was 71.8 (SD 44.9), 76.4 (SD 41.6), and 76.8 (SD 41.8) respectively. Further therapy after 2 cycles of TIER was delivered to 41.7% of pts (16.7% ASCT, 22.2% TIE, and 2.8% WBRT). The most common grade 3 / 4 adverse events were thrombocytopenia and neutropenia (47.2 and 55.6% occurring in 15 and 18 pts respectively). 17 serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in 12 pts, of which 4 were haematological. Of these, 13 were considered related to TIER. Commonly occurring non-haematological SAEs were respiratory tract infections (23.5%) and seizures (11.8%). At data lock, 10/27 pts had responded to treatment as assessed by local investigators (ORR 37%, CR rate 15%). 13 pts were non-evaluable (7 progressed prior to C2 scan, 2 withdrew consent, and 4 awaiting scans) and classed as non-responders. Following data lock, responses were reported for 3 further pts (2 by local investigators and 1 by central review), resulting in a provisional ORR of 13/27 (48%). For the ITT population, median OS time was 3.52 months (95% CI 2.50, 14.17), and median PFS 2.86 months (95%CI 2.34, 6.05) (Figure 1). 6 pts underwent ASCT consolidation after TIER, of whom 2 have relapsed. CONCLUSIONS This is an early analysis of data from the phase I/II TIER study for a heavily pre-treated group of r/r PCNSL; the first such dose-escalation study for this patient group. Phase I determined a RP2D of 50mg/m2 of thiotepa incorporated in the R-IE regimen. There were no DLTs and toxicities, consistent with an intensive ifosphamide-based regimen. ORR was 10 pts (37%) with 3 further responses reported after data lock. If confirmed by central review, the primary endpoint of activity (ORR 40%) will have been reached. However, notwithstanding the response endpoint, most pts experienced very poor survival outcomes. These data describe the feasibility of TIER as a salvage regimen for r/r PCNSL but question the utility of this approach as a standard option, given the short PFS and OS times, except for the minority of pts who received ASCT. Biological and imaging sub studies are underway to identify predictors of outcome. In the modern era of effective first line immunochemotherapy approaches, pts with r/r PCNSL remain a major area of unmet need for whom novel experimental approaches are urgently required. Disclosures Fox: Gilead: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Sunesis: Consultancy; Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Atara Biotherapeutics: Consultancy; Adienne: Other: Travel Support. Martinez-Calle:ABBVIE: Other: Travel support. Collins:Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria. Ferreri:Novartis: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Kite: Consultancy. Davies:BioInvent: Research Funding; Gilead: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Acerta Pharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; GSK: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; ADCT Therapeutics: Honoraria, Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MorphoSys AG: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Johnson:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Other: Travel, accomodations, expenses. Cwynarski:Adienne: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Other: conference and travel support , Speakers Bureau; Roche,: Consultancy, Other: conference and travel support, Speakers Bureau; Autolus: Consultancy; KITE: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy, Other: conference and travel support, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy; Atara: Consultancy; Janssen: Other: conference and travel support, Speakers Bureau.

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Rapid and Robust Mobilization of CD34+ HSCs without G-CSF Following Administration of Mgta-145 Alone or in Combination with Plerixafor

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-127523 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 1961-1961

Author(s):

John F. DiPersio ◽

Jonathan Hoggatt ◽

Steven Devine ◽

Lukasz Biernat ◽

Haley Howell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Single Dose ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Preliminary Data ◽

Research Funding ◽

Fold Change ◽

Employment Equity ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Cd34 Cells ◽

Equity Ownership

Background Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is the standard of care for mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). G-CSF requires 4-7 days of injections and often multiple aphereses to acquire sufficient CD34+ cells for transplant. The number of CD34+ HSCs mobilized can be variable and patients who fail to mobilize enough CD34+ cells are treated with the combination of G-CSF plus plerixafor. G-CSF use is associated with bone pain, nausea, headaches, fatigue, rare episodes of splenic rupture, and is contraindicated for patients with autoimmune and sickle cell disease. MGTA-145 (GroβT) is a CXCR2 agonist. MGTA-145, in combination with plerixafor, a CXCR4 inhibitor, has the potential to rapidly and reliably mobilize robust numbers of HSCs with a single dose and same-day apheresis for transplant that is free from G-CSF. MGTA-145 plus plerixafor work synergistically to rapidly mobilize HSCs in both mice and non-human primates (Hoggatt, Cell 2018; Goncalves, Blood 2018). Based on these data, Magenta initiated a Phase 1 dose-escalating study to evaluate the safety, PK and PD of MGTA-145 as a single agent and in combination with plerixafor. Methods This study consists of four parts. In Part A, healthy volunteers were dosed with MGTA-145 (0.0075 - 0.3 mg/kg) or placebo. In Part B, MGTA-145 dose levels from Part A were selected for use in combination with a clinically approved dose of plerixafor. In Part C, a single dose MGTA-145 plus plerixafor will be administered on day 1 and day 2. In Part D, MGTA-145 plus plerixafor will be administered followed by apheresis. Results MGTA-145 monotherapy was well tolerated in all subjects dosed (Table 1) with no significant adverse events. Some subjects experienced mild (Grade 1) transient lower back pain that dissipated within minutes. In the ongoing study, the combination of MGTA-145 with plerixafor was well tolerated, with some donors experiencing Grade 1 and 2 gastrointestinal adverse events commonly observed with plerixafor alone. Pharmacokinetic (PK) exposure and maximum plasma concentrations increased dose proportionally and were not affected by plerixafor (Fig 1A). Monotherapy of MGTA-145 resulted in an immediate increase in neutrophils (Fig 1B) and release of plasma MMP-9 (Fig 1C). Neutrophil mobilization plateaued within 1-hour post MGTA-145 at doses greater than 0.03 mg/kg. This plateau was followed by a rebound of neutrophil mobilization which correlated with re-expression of CXCR2 and presence of MGTA-145 at pharmacologically active levels. Markers of neutrophil activation were relatively unchanged (<2-fold vs baseline). A rapid and statistically significant increase in CD34+ cells occurred @ 0.03 and 0.075 mg/kg of MGTA-145 (p < 0.01) relative to placebo with peak mobilization (Fig 1D) 30 minutes post MGTA-145 (7-fold above baseline @ 0.03 mg/kg). To date, the combination of MGTA-145 plus plerixafor mobilized >20/µl CD34s in 92% (11/12) subjects compared to 50% (2/4) subjects receiving plerixafor alone. Preliminary data show that there was a significant increase in fold change relative to baseline in CD34+ cells (27x vs 13x) and phenotypic CD34+CD90+CD45RA- HSCs (38x vs 22x) mobilized by MGTA-145 with plerixafor. Mobilized CD34+ cells were detectable at 15 minutes with peak mobilization shifted 2 - 4 hours earlier for the combination vs plerixafor alone (4 - 6h vs 8 - 12h). Detailed results of single dose administration of MGTA-145 and plerixafor given on one day as well as also on two sequential days will be presented along with fully characterized graft analysis post apheresis from subjects given MGTA-145 and plerixafor. Conclusions MGTA-145 is safe and well tolerated, as a monotherapy and in combination with plerixafor and induced rapid and robust mobilization of significant numbers of HSCs with a single dose in all subjects to date. Kinetics of CD34+ cell mobilization for the combination was immediate (4x increase vs no change for plerixafor alone @ 15 min) suggesting the mechanism of action of MGTA-145 plus plerixafor is different from plerixafor alone. Preliminary data demonstrate that MGTA-145 when combined with plerixafor results in a significant increase in CD34+ fold change relative to plerixafor alone. Magenta Therapeutics intends to develop MGTA-145 as a first line mobilization product for blood cancers, autoimmune and genetic diseases and plans a Phase 2 study in multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2020. Disclosures DiPersio: Magenta Therapeutics: Equity Ownership; NeoImmune Tech: Research Funding; Cellworks Group, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding; RiverVest Venture Partners Arch Oncology: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; WUGEN: Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Macrogenics: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bioline Rx: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy; Amphivena Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Hoggatt:Magenta Therapeutics: Consultancy, Equity Ownership, Research Funding. Devine:Kiadis Pharma: Other: Protocol development (via institution); Bristol Myers: Other: Grant for monitoring support & travel support; Magenta Therapeutics: Other: Travel support for advisory board; My employer (National Marrow Donor Program) has equity interest in Magenta. Biernat:Medpace, Inc.: Employment. Howell:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Schmelmer:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Neale:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Boitano:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Cooke:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Goncalves:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Raffel:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Falahee:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Morrow:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Davis:Magenta Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership.

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Unexpected Toxicities When Nivolumab Was Given after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-123887 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 1956-1956

Author(s):

Amy Wang ◽

Justin Kline ◽

Wendy Stock ◽

Satyajit Kosuri ◽

Andrew S. Artz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Overall Survival ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Maintenance Therapy ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Relapsed Disease

Background:Treatment options are limited for patients (pts) with hematologic malignancies who relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). We hypothesized that checkpoint inhibitors may offer a novel approach for maintaining remission after allo-SCT. Data from pre-clinical studies have suggested a potential role for PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Zhang et al., Blood 2009), so it is possible that immunomodulation with checkpoint inhibitors could stimulate the donor anti-leukemia immune response and prevent disease relapse. However, the safety of checkpoint blockade early after allografting remains to be established. Methods:We conducted a pilot study to assess the tolerability and efficacy of Nivolumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, as maintenance therapy after allo-SCT (NCT02985554). Pts were eligible if they were post allo-SCT without evidence of relapse or active graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) or history of prior greater than stage I skin acute GVHD. Nivolumab was to be administered intravenously at 1mg/kg every 2 weeks for 4 doses followed by dosing every 12 weeks. Treatment started 4 weeks after routine immunosuppression was discontinued until 2 years after the transplant. The primary objective was to determine the tolerability of Nivolumab on this schedule. Secondary objectives were evaluation of adverse events, relapse, and overall survival. Results:Four pts were enrolled from December 2017 through November 2018. (Table 1)All pts experienced immune-related adverse events (irAE) from Nivolumab, and 2 (50%) pts experienced serious adverse events. (Table 2)One pt developed grade (G) 4 neutropenia soon after the first dose. (Figure 1)The absolute neutrophil count nadired at 20 cells/µL, at which point pegfilgrastim was administered. An interim bone marrow biopsy (BMBx) confirmed no evidence of relapsed disease. Full neutrophil recovery occurred approximately 3 months after the initial dose, and no subsequent toxicities occurred. Another pt developed G3 autoimmune encephalopathy concurrently with G2 transaminitis and G2 thrombocytopenia after one dose of Nivolumab. (Figure 2)Intravenous methylprednisolone (1mg/kg daily for 3 days) and immunoglobulin (2g/kg in 4 divided doses) were administered, followed by a 7-week steroid taper with full resolution of symptoms. Relapsed disease was ruled out by a BMBx. A third pt developed G2 skin rash approximately 10 days after the first dose of Nivolumab. Skin biopsy demonstrated drug hypersensitivity reaction vs GVHD, and the pt was treated with a 3-week prednisone course (starting at 1mg/kg followed by a taper). A mild flare recurred 2 weeks later, which was treated with topical steroids only. However, Nivolumab was not resumed. The fourth pt developed G2 elevated TSH approximately 2 months into therapy and after 4 doses of Nivolumab. Thyroid hormone replacement was initiated with subsequent symptom improvement and normalization of TSH over a 4-month period. As a result of these unexpected severe toxicities, the study was closed to further enrollment, and further Nivolumab administration ceased. Thus far, one pt (#1) relapsed after a total remission duration of 530 days; the remission duration after starting Nivolumab was 318 days. One pt has mild chronic skin GVHD. All 4 patients remain alive with a median overall survival of 2.3 years (range, 1.9-4.7). Conclusions:Even at low doses, the use of Nivolumab as maintenance therapy in the post allo-SCT setting was not tolerable at the current dosing and schedule due to an unexpected number of high grade irAEs. Additional studies of dose and timing after allo-SCT are needed to improve safety and tolerability, in conjunction with correlative studies to better understand the immunomodulatory processes in the post-transplant setting. Disclosures Kline: Merck: Honoraria; Merck: Research Funding. Stock:Kite, a Gilead Company: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; UpToDate: Honoraria; Research to Practice: Honoraria. Artz:Miltenyi: Research Funding. Larson:Agios: Consultancy; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Contracts for clinical trials; Celgene: Consultancy. Riedell:Novartis: Research Funding; Verastem: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bayer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Kite/Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Bishop:CRISPR Therapeutics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Kite: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Juno: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Liu:Arog: Other: PI of clinical trial; BMS: Research Funding; Agios: Honoraria; Novartis: Other: PI of clinical trial; Karyopharm: Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Nivolumab used as maintenance therapy in the post-transplant setting

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Therapy-Related Myeloid Neoplasm Has a Distinct Pro-Inflammatory Bone Marrow Microenvironment and Delayed DNA Damage Repair

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2020-137277 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 37-38

Author(s):

Monika M Kutyna ◽

Li Yan A Wee ◽

Sharon Paton ◽

Dimitrios Cakouros ◽

Agnieszka Arthur ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Damage ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

High Dose ◽

Cytotoxic Therapy ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Myeloid Neoplasm ◽

Myeloid Neoplasms ◽

Damage Repair

Introduction: Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN) are associated with extremely poor clinical outcomes in otherwise long-term cancer survivors. t-MN accounts for ~20% of cases of myeloid neoplasms and is expected to rise due to the increased use of chemotherapy/radiotherapy (CT/RT) and improved cancer survivorship. Historically, t-MN was considered a direct consequence of DNA damage induced in normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) by DNA damaging cytotoxics. However, these studies have largely ignored the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment and the effects of age and concurrent/previous cancers. Aim: We performed an exhaustive functional study of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) obtained from a comparatively large cohort of t-MN patients and carefully selected control populations to evaluate the long-term damage induced by cytotoxic therapy to BM microenvironment and its impact on malignant and normal haematopoiesis. Methods: Four different cohorts were used: (1) t-MN, in which myeloid malignancy occurred after CT/RT for a previous cancer (n=18); (2) patients with multiple cancer and in which a myeloid neoplasm developed following an independent cancer which was not treated with CT/RT (MC-MN; n=10); (3) primary MN (p-MN; n=7) untreated and without any prior cancer or CT/RT; (4) age-matched controls (HC; n=17). Morphology, proliferation, cellular senescence, differentiation potential and γH2AX DNA damage response was performed. Stem/progenitor supportive capacity was assessed by co-culturing haematopoietic stem cells on MSC feeder-layer in long-term culture initiating assay (LTC-IC). Cytokine measurements were performed using 38-plex magnetic bead panel (Millipore) and RNA sequencing libraries were prepared with Illumina TruSeq Total RNA protocol for 150bp paired-end sequencing on a NextSeq500 instrument. Functional enrichment analysis was performed using EnrichR software. Results: MSC cultured from t-MN patients were significantly different from HC, p-MN and MC-MN MSC according to multiple parameters. They exhibited aberrant morphology consisting of large, rounded and less adhesive cells compared to typical spindle-shaped morphology observed with controls. MSC from myeloid neoplasm also showed impaired proliferation, senescence, osteo- and adipogenic differentiation with t-MN MSC showing the greatest differences. DNA repair was dramatically impaired compared to p-MN and HC (Fig.1A). Importantly, these aberrant t-MN MSC were not able to support normal or autologous in vitro long-term haematopoiesis (Fig.1B). The biological characteristic and poor haematopoietic supportive capacity of MSC could be "cell-intrinsic" or driven by an altered paracrine inflammatory microenvironment. Interestingly, several inflammatory cytokines were higher in t-MN compared with marrow interstitial fluid obtained from p-MN patients (Fig.1Ci) and many of these including Fractalkine, IFNα2, IL-7 and G-CSF were also significantly higher in t-MN MSC conditional media (Fig.1Cii). Together, this data suggest that t-MN microenvironment is distinct from p-MN with paracrine production of pro-inflammatory milieu that may contribute to poor HSC supportive capacity. Preliminary whole transcriptome analysis revealed differential gene expression between t-MN and HC (Fig.1Di) and p-MN MSC. Importantly, the deregulated genes play critical role in cell cycle, DNA damage repair, and cellular senescence pathways explaining phenotypical characteristic of t-MN MSC (Fig.1Dii). Moreover CXCL12 expression, a key regulator of haematopoiesis, was significantly lower in t-MN compared to HC (p=0.002) and p-MN MSC (p=0.009), thus explaining poor HSC supportive capacity. The key difference between the p-MN, MC-MN and t-MN is prior exposure to CT/RT. To study this we obtained MSC from two t-MN patients for whom we had samples at the time of their primary cancer, post high-dose chemotherapy and at the time of t-MN. MSC displayed aberrant proliferation and differentiation capacity after high-dose cytotoxic therapy (2 to 4 years prior to developing t-MN) and remained aberrant at t-MN diagnosis (Fig.1E). Conclusions: BM-MSC from t-MN patients are significantly abnormal compared with age-matched controls and typical myeloid neoplasm. Importantly, prior CT/RT leads to long-term irreversible damage to the BM microenvironment which potentially contributes to t-MN pathogenesis. Disclosures Hughes: Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Hiwase:Novartis Australia: Research Funding.

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Conventional Immunochemotherapy (R-CHOEP) Vs High-Dose Immunochemotherapy (R-MegaCHOEP) in Younger Patients with High-Risk Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma: 10-Year Long-Term Follow-up of a German Lymphoma Alliance (GLA) Study

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-123637 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 1589-1589

Author(s):

Fabian Frontzek ◽

Marita Ziepert ◽

Maike Nickelsen ◽

Bettina Altmann ◽

Bertram Glass ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Advisory Board ◽

High Dose ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Scientific Advisory Board ◽

Scientific Advisory

Introduction: The R-MegaCHOEP trial showed that dose-escalation of conventional chemotherapy necessitating autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) does not confer a survival benefit for younger patients (pts) with high-risk aggressive B-cell lymphoma in the Rituximab era (Schmitz et al., Lancet Oncology 2012; 13, 1250-1259). To describe efficacy and toxicity over time and document the long-term risks of relapse and secondary malignancy we present the 10-year follow-up of this study. Methods: In the randomized, prospective phase 3 trial R-MegaCHOEP younger pts aged 18-60 years with newly diagnosed, high-risk (aaIPI 2-3) aggressive B-cell lymphoma were assigned to 8 cycles of CHOEP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubcine, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone) or 4 cycles of dose-escalated high-dose therapy (HDT) necessitating repetitive ASCT both combined with Rituximab. Both arms were stratified according to aaIPI, bulky disease, and center. Primary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS). All analyses were calculated for the intention-to-treat population. This follow-up report includes molecular data based on immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) for MYC (IHC: 31/92 positive [40-100%], FISH: 14/103 positive), BCL2 (IHC: 65/89 positive [50-100%], FISH: 23/111 positive) and BCL6 (IHC: 52/86 positive [30-100%], FISH: 34/110 positive) and data on cell of origin (COO) classification according to the Lymph2CX assay (GCB: 53/88; ABC: 24/88; unclassified: 11/88). Results: 130 pts had been assigned to R-CHOEP and 132 to R-MegaCHOEP. DLBCL was the most common lymphoma subtype (~80%). 73% of pts scored an aaIPI of 2 and 27% an aaIPI of 3. 60% of pts had an initial lymphoma bulk and in 40% more than 1 extranodal site was involved. After a median observation time of 111 months, EFS at 10 years was 57% (95% CI 47-67%) in the R-CHOEP vs. 51% in the R-MegaCHOEP arm (42-61%) (hazard ratio 1.3, 95% CI 0.9-1.8, p=0.228), overall survival (OS) after 10 years was 72% (63-81%) vs. 66% (57-76%) respectively (p=0.249). With regard to molecular characterization, we were unable to detect a significant benefit for HDT/ASCT in any subgroup analyzed. In total, 16% of pts (30 pts) relapsed after having achieved a complete remission (CR). 23% of all relapses (7 pts) showed an indolent histology (follicular lymphoma grade 1-3a) and 6 of these pts survived long-term. In contrast, of 23 pts (77%) relapsing with aggressive DLBCL or unknown histology 18 pts died due to lymphoma or related therapy. The majority of relapses occurred during the first 3 years after randomization (median time: 22 months) while after 5 years we detected relapses only in 5 pts (3% of all 190 pts prior CR). 11% of pts were initially progressive (28 pts) among whom 71% (20 pts) died rapidly due to lymphoma. Interestingly, the remaining 29% (8 pts) showed a long-term survival after salvage therapy (+/- ASCT); only 1 pt received allogeneic transplantation. The frequency of secondary malignancies was very similar in both treatment arms (9% vs. 8%) despite the very high dose of etoposide (total 4g/m2)in the R-MegaCHOEP arm. We observed 2 cases of AML and 1 case of MDS per arm. In total 70 pts (28%) have died: 30 pts due to lymphoma (12%), 22 pts therapy-related (11 pts due to salvage therapy) (9%), 8 pts of secondary neoplasia (3%), 5 pts due to concomitant disease (2%) and 5 pts for unknown reasons. Conclusions: This 10-year long-term follow-up of the R-MegaCHOEP trial confirms the very encouraging outcome of young high-risk pts following conventional chemotherapy with R-CHOEP. High-dose therapy did not improve outcome in any subgroup analysis including molecular high-risk groups. Relapse rate was generally low. Pts with aggressive relapse showed a very poor long-term outcome while pts with indolent histology at relapse survived long-term. Secondary malignancies occurred; however, they were rare with no excess leukemias/MDS following treatment with very high doses of etoposide and other cytotoxic agents. Supported by Deutsche Krebshilfe. Figure Disclosures Nickelsen: Roche Pharma AG: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Grants; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Grant; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Hänel:Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene: Other: advisory board; Novartis: Honoraria; Takeda: Other: advisory board; Roche: Honoraria. Truemper:Nordic Nanovector: Consultancy; Roche: Research Funding; Mundipharma: Research Funding; Janssen Oncology: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding. Held:Roche: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Acrotech: Research Funding; MSD: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding. Dreyling:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: scientific advisory board, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Consultancy, Other: scientific advisory board, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Other: scientific advisory board, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Mundipharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Other: scientific advisory board, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: scientific advisory board; Sandoz: Other: scientific advisory board; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: scientific advisory board, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Other: scientific advisory board. Viardot:Kite/Gilead: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Honoraria; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Rosenwald:MorphoSys: Consultancy. Lenz:Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Employment, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy. Schmitz:Novartis: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria; Celgene: Equity Ownership; Riemser: Consultancy, Honoraria.

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VTE Rates and Safety Analysis of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients Receiving Carfilzomib-Lenalidomide-Dexamethasone (KRD) with or without Rivaroxaban Prophylaxis

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-124403 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 1835-1835 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Katrina M Piedra ◽

Hani Hassoun ◽

Larry W. Buie ◽

Sean M. Devlin ◽

Jessica Flynn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Myeloma ◽

Venous Thromboembolism ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

High Dose ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Cancer Trial ◽

Oncology Research ◽

Increased Risk

Introduction Immunomodulatory agents (IMiD's) are associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), particularly when combined with high dose steroids. Studies evaluating the use of lenalidomide-bortezomib-dexamethasone (RVD) and carfilzomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone (KRD) in the frontline setting for multiple myeloma (MM) have reported a 6% and 24% incidence of thrombosis, respectively, despite primary thrombotic prophylaxis with aspirin (ASA) (Richardson, et al. Blood. 2010; Korde, et al. JAMA Oncol 2015). Recent data, including the Hokusai VTE Cancer Trial, have suggested that safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are preserved in the setting of treatment of solid malignancy-associated thrombosis (Raskob, et al. N Engl J Med. 2018; Mantha, et al. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2017). Despite this data, there is limited experience and use of DOACs in prevention of thromboses in the setting of hematologic malignancies, specifically MM. After careful review of literature, since early 2018, we changed our clinical practice and routinely placed newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) patients receiving KRD at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) on concomitant rivaroxaban 10 mg once daily, regardless of VTE risk stratification. In the following abstract, we present VTE rates and safety data for newly diagnosed MM patients receiving RVD with ASA vs. KRD with ASA vs. KRD with rivaroxaban prophylaxis. Methods This was an IRB-approved, single-center, retrospective chart review study. All untreated patients with newly diagnosed MM, receiving at least one cycle of RVD or KRD between January 2015 and October 2018 were included. The period of observation included the time between the first day of therapy until 90 days after completion of induction therapy. Patients were identified by querying the pharmacy database for carfilzomib or bortezomib administration and outpatient medication review of thromboprophylaxis with rivaroxaban or ASA. VTE diagnoses were confirmed by ICD-10 codes and appropriate imaging studies (computed tomography and ultrasound). Descriptive statistics were performed. Results During the observation period, 241 patients were identified to have received RVD or KRD in the frontline (99 RVD with ASA; 97 KRD with ASA; 45 KRD with rivaroxaban). Baseline characteristics were well distributed among the three arms, with a median age of 60 (30-94) in the RVD ASA arm, 62 (33-77) in the KRD ASA arm, and 60 (24-79) in the KRD rivaroxaban arm. Patients had International Staging System (ISS) stage 3 disease in 13% (N=13), 9.3% (N=9), and 11% (N=5) of the RVD ASA, KRD ASA, and KRD rivaroxaban arms, respectively. Median weekly doses of dexamethasone were higher in both KRD arms, 40 mg (20-40) vs. 20 mg (10-40) in the RVD ASA arm. The average initial doses of lenalidomide were 22 mg in the RVD ASA arm compared to 25 mg in both the KRD ASA and KRD rivaroxaban arms. After querying the pharmacy database, no patients were identified to have a history or concomitant use of erythropoietin stimulating agent (ESA) use. Treatment-related VTE's occurred in 4 patients (4.0%) in the RVD ASA arm, 16 patients (16.5%) in the KRD ASA arm, and in 1 patient (2.2%) in the KRD rivaroxaban arm. Average time to VTE was 6.15 months (Range 5.42, 9.73) after treatment initiation in the RVD ASA group, while it was 2.61 months (Range 0.43, 5.06) in the KRD ASA group and 1.35 months in the KRD rivaroxaban group. Minor, grade 1 bleeding events per the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) were identified in 1 (1.1%) patient in the RVD ASA arm, 5 (5.2%) patients in the KRD ASA arm, and 1 (2.2%) patient in the KRD rivaroxaban arm. Conclusion More efficacious MM combination therapies have been found to increase the risk of VTE when using ASA prophylaxis, indicating better thromboprophylaxis is needed. We found patients receiving ASA prophylaxis with KRD were more likely to experience a VTE and these events occurred earlier compared to patients receiving ASA prophylaxis with RVD. Importantly, the rate of VTE was reduced to the same level as ASA prophylaxis with RVD when low-dose rivaroxaban 10 mg daily was used with KRD, and without necessarily increasing bleeding risk. Our retrospective data support the development of prospective clinical trials further investigating DOAC use in thromboprophylaxis for NDMM patients receiving carfilzomib-based treatments. Figure Disclosures Hassoun: Novartis: Consultancy; Janssen: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Lesokhin:BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Research Funding; GenMab: Consultancy, Honoraria; Serametrix Inc.: Patents & Royalties; Genentech: Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy, Honoraria. Mailankody:Juno: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Takeda Oncology: Research Funding; CME activity by Physician Education Resource: Honoraria. Smith:Celgene: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Fate Therapeutics and Precision Biosciences: Consultancy. Landgren:Theradex: Other: IDMC; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Merck: Other: IDMC; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Off-label use of rivaroxaban for outpatient prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) will be explicitly disclosed to the audience.

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