A Combined Score of Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Assessment by Flow Cytometry, Cytogenetic and Molecular Markers As Well As Age Predicts Outcome and Can Potentially Guide MRD-Based Therapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 934-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Köhnke ◽  
Daniela Sauter ◽  
Katharina Ringel ◽  
Jan Braess ◽  
Wolfgang Hiddemann ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 934 Background: Induction chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been shown to successfully induce complete remission in over 70% of patients. However, a majority of patients experience subsequent relapse. Assessment of minimal residual disease (MRD) by flow cytometry at time of aplasia, after induction and after consolidation therapy has been shown to be of prognostic relevance for relapse free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). However, studies utilizing MRD diagnostics to guide therapeutic decisions in adult AML (excluding APL) are yet to be performed. Methods: From the database at the Laboratory of Leukemia Diagnostics at our clinic datasets of 583 patients with newly diagnosed AML treated between 2000 and 2011 were analyzed. Patients with biphenotypic acute leukemia, M3 according to FAB classification, as well as those not treated with intensive induction chemotherapy were excluded. To be eligible for further analysis, at least two samples of bone marrow blood (at primary diagnosis and at one further timepoint during or after treatment) had to be available for MRD assessment by 3-color-flow cytometry at our laboratory. Cytogenetic and molecular risk stratification was performed at our clinic and assigned in accordance to the European LeukemiaNet (ELN) guidelines. We used Cox Proportional Hazards Regression to determine prognostic factors for OS and RFS and Kaplan-Meier estimator to determine OS and RFS of the proposed score. Results: Data of 217 Patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were therefore eligible for further analysis. 171 (78,8%) patients achieved CR after induction therapy. Of these patients, 120 had flow cytometry data available at time of aplasia and were included in further analysis. The median age was 54,5 y and the median OS 1007 days. Here, only “favorable” ELN risk stratification was associated with significantly longer OS (favorable vs. intermediate-I, Intermediate-II & adverse, Hazard Ratio, HR 0,36, 95% CI 0,19–0,69, p=0,0019), whereas RFS did not yield a significant difference (HR 0,64, 0,37-1,13, p=0,125). Age > 60y was associated with significantly shorter OS (HR 2,07, 1,23-3,47, p=0,0058) and RFS (HR 1,83, 1,11-3,01, p=0,018). And though leukemia-associated phenotypes (LAIP) ≥0,15% at time of aplasia were not predictive of OS (HR 1,32, 0,79–2,23, p=0,293) they were highly predictive of shorter RFS (HR 2,15, 1,30–3,55, p=0,003). Combining these three factors in a simple prognostic score (ELN risk group “favorable” = 0 points, “intermediate-I”, “intermediate-II” or “adverse” = 1 point; age > 60y = 1 point; LAIP at time of aplasia ≥0,15% = 1 point, see table I) identified three distinct groups (0 points: good, 1 point: intermediate, 2–3 points: poor, see table II) which were predictive of both OS and RFS (see figures 1 and 2). Interestingly, this score was capable of identifying a small group of patients with a very good prognosis (n=18, median OS and RFS not reached after >6 years) while at the same time equally dividing up the remaining patients within the intermediate and poor prognosis group (n=52 vs. 50, median OS 1182 vs. 677 days, median RFS 1180 vs. 334 days). Conclusion: MRD based therapeutic decisions and risk-adapted therapy have long been suggested in management of adult AML. Here, we propose a prognostic score for patients with AML achieving CR under intensive induction chemotherapy. The addition of MRD Flow to established genetic prognostic markers as well as age improves the prediction of relapse free and overall survival. Application of this score in therapeutic decisions could assist the treating physician and avoid over-treatment. To further evaluate our proposed prognostic score, it has to be applied in a prospective study for further evaluation and determination of its clinical significance. These data will be the basis for therapeutic trials guided by MRD assessment. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 4909-4909
Author(s):  
Pierre Hirsch ◽  
Ruoping Tang ◽  
Christophe Marzac ◽  
Fanny Fava ◽  
Jean-Yves Perrot ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4909 Background: A major issue in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. The role of ABC proteins, and specially ABCB1 (PgP/mdr1), in this resistance has been well established, and higher ABC proteins' activity, assessed with functional tests, has been associated with poorer complete remission rates and poorer overall prognosis (Marzac et al, Haematologica, 2011). Furthermore, the evaluation of molecular minimal residual disease (MRD), using mutated nucleophosmin (NPM1)expression quantification has been related to patients' global prognosis (Krönke et al, J. Clin. Oncol., 2011), and to response to treatments. In this study, we evaluate the impact of ABC proteins' activity on MRD after one course of induction chemotherapy, in 26 patients with NPM1 mutated AML. Material and methods: We retrospectively identified 26 AML patients with NPM1 mutation treated in our center and with MRD data. MRD was evaluated as the ratio of NPM1 mutated allele and total NPM1, using PCR DNA quantification and the delta delta Ct method. MRD was measured at the time of diagnosis and after one course of anthracycline-based induction chemotherapy. ABC proteins' activity was evaluated at the time of diagnosis using JC1 +/− cyclosporine A assay (Legrand et al, Blood, 2001). Correlations between ABC proteins' activity and the level of post induction MRD were evaluated with the Mann-Whitney test. Survival was evaluated using the Cox model. For all analyses, P values were considered significant when lower than 0. 05. Results: Median age at diagnosis was 53 years old. Twenty-two patients had normal cytogenetic analysis at diagnosis, and the other 4 patients had intermediate prognosis cytogenetic analysis. Nine patients harboured FLT3-ITD mutation. Median ABC proteins' activity was 0. 11 (0 – 0. 77). After one course of induction chemotherapy, 3 patients did not reach cytological complete remission. In 17 patients MRD level after induction therapy was inferior to 1 %, in 11 patients MRD was inferior to 0. 1 % and in 7 patients MRD was inferior to 0. 01 %. Overall, higher MRD level after induction (defined by MRD level higher than 0. 1 %) was associated with poorer prognosis for disease free survival (HR= 4. 25 [95% CI 1. 049–17. 27]; p=0. 04), and for overall survival HR=11. 25 [95% CI 1. 22–103. 23]; p=0. 03). Higher ABC proteins' activity was associated with higher MRD levels post induction, and patients who did not reach MRD level lower than 0. 1 % had significantly higher ABC proteins' activity than other patients (p=0. 008). ABC proteins' activity was also associated with overall survival in our patients (p=0. 04). Conclusion: Higher ABC proteins' activity is associated with higher MRD levels after one course of induction chemotherapy in 26 NPM1 mutated AML patients, and is also associated with poorer overall survival. The poorer prognosis associated with high ABC proteins' activity in AML seems to be in part related to direct resistance to chemotherapy. These data should be confirmed in larger studies. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 1470-1470
Author(s):  
Lorena Lobo Figueiredo Pontes ◽  
Leandro F. Dalmazzo ◽  
Luciana Correa Oliveira de Oliveira ◽  
Bárbara A Santana-Lemos ◽  
Felipe M Furtado ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 1470 Investigation of minimal residual disease (MRD) after remission induction (RI) therapy provides important information for risk assessment in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The presence of immature and chemotherapy-resistant leukemic stem cells (LSC) within the bulk of AML blasts at diagnosis and in post-induction bone marrow (BM) may lead to relapses. Nevertheless, whether the frequency of cells with LSC characteristics and their clearance after induction is correlated with prognosis has not been established. Using four-color multiparametric flow cytometry (MFC), BM quantification of leukemic associated phenotypes (LAPs) and LSCs was performed at diagnosis and after the first RI from 37 AML patients, excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia, with a median age of 48 years and a male/female ratio of 0.95. All patients received the conventional daunorrubicin and cytarabin (3 + 7) RI chemotherapy. Complete remission (CR) was defined as BM blast count inferior to 5%. Thirty-three patients were classified according to the European Leukemia Net recommendation and 9/32 (28.1%) patients were allocated in favorable, 14/32 (43.8%) in intermediate and 9/32 (28.1%) in poor cytogenetic/molecular risk group. FLT3-ITD mutation was detected in 9/33 (27.3%) and 5/28 (17.9%) carried NPM1 mutation. MRD identification was performed on 20 erythrocyte-lysed whole BM samples after staining with a panel of directly conjugated monoclonal antibodies. Five patients were excluded from this analysis because a LAP could not be identified. Blasts gating was performed considering the low expression of CD45 and sideward scatter (SSC) and CD34 expression (these latter, when more than 20% of blasts were detected at diagnosis). Within this population, the following LAPs were investigated: CD15/CD117, HLA-DR/CD13, HLA-DR/CD33, CD2/CD56, CD19/CD11b, CD42a/CD33, CD64/CD11c or CD14/CD11c. LSCs were selected by the same CD45dim × SSC gating strategy and defined as CD34+/CD38−/CD123+. After staining procedures, at least one hundred thousand events were acquired in a FACScalibur flow cytometer and analysis was performed using the Cell Quest software. LAP and LSC quantification, at diagnosis and at days 21 to 30 of RI, was analyzed as a categorical variable defined as lower or higher than the median and was compared to the following variables: age (< or > 60 years old); WBC count (< or > 30 × 103); cytogenetic/molecular risk; and morphological CR. The comparison between LAP and LSC quantification at both time points was also assessed. Comparison of categorical variables was performed using Fisher's exact test or Yates' corrected chi-square for two or more variables, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 13.0 software and P < 0.05 was considered to be significant. LSC quantification at diagnosis was found at varying frequencies across different cytogenetic/molecular risk groups, being higher at the poor risk group (P = 0.041). Of note, 100% of the poor risk patients had high levels of LSC at diagnosis. In addition, the presence of FLT3-ITD mutation was associated with higher amounts of the LSC population at diagnosis (P = 0.043). The most frequent detected LAP was CD45dim/CD34+/HLA-DR+/CD13+. Low or high expression of the LAP was not correlated with the prognostic variables at diagnosis. CR rate was 83.33% and was not different in the groups with high or low levels of LSC at diagnosis. However, LAP and LSC quantification after RI were found to be correlated (P = 0.018), suggesting that the LSC subpopulation can be useful for MRD monitoring at this early treatment time-point. Therefore, LSC quantification by MFC at diagnosis can identify patients at high risk of relapse and offers the opportunity to study the stem cell compartment after chemotherapy. These findings are particularly important for the intermediate normal karyotype risk group patients, who frequently do not have specific molecular targets for MRD monitoring. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (19) ◽  
pp. 2709-2716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Krönke ◽  
Richard F. Schlenk ◽  
Kai-Ole Jensen ◽  
Florian Tschürtz ◽  
Andrea Corbacioglu ◽  
...  

Purpose To evaluate the prognostic value of minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with NPM1 mutation (NPM1mut). Patients and Method RNA-based real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) specific for the detection of six different NPM1mut types was applied to 1,682 samples (bone marrow, n = 1,272; blood, n = 410) serially obtained from 245 intensively treated younger adult patients who were 16 to 60 years old. Results NPM1mut transcript levels as a continuous variable were significantly associated with prognosis after each treatment cycle. Achievement of RQ-PCR negativity after double induction therapy identified patients with a low cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR; 6.5% after 4 years) compared with RQ-PCR–positive patients (53.0%; P < .001); this translated into significant differences in overall survival (90% v 51%, respectively; P = .001). After completion of therapy, CIR was 15.7% in RQ-PCR–negative patients compared with 66.5% in RQ-PCR–positive patients (P < .001). Multivariable analyses after double induction and after completion of consolidation therapy revealed higher NPM1mut transcript levels as a significant factor for a higher risk of relapse and death. Serial post-treatment assessment of MRD allowed early detection of relapse in patients exceeding more than 200 NPM1mut/104 ABL copies. Conclusion We defined clinically relevant time points for NPM1mut MRD assessment that allow for the identification of patients with AML who are at high risk of relapse. Monitoring of NPM1mut transcript levels should be incorporated in future clinical trials to guide therapeutic decisions.


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 5733-5733
Author(s):  
Olga Pérez-López ◽  
Teresa Caballero-Velázquez ◽  
Enrique Colado ◽  
Sara Alonso ◽  
José González-Campos ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Several studies have shown that the minimal residual disease (MRD) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients has a prognostic value after induction and consolidation therapy. Nevertheless the relapse is the most important cause of treatment failure in these patients, although they achieved a negative MRD, and even after an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Nowadays, the value of the MRD before allogeneic BMT is still controversial. Method Multicentric study where we have studied correlative AML patients who went under an allo-HSCT in a situation of complete response, between 2012 and April'18. The MRD was analyzed by 8-coloured multiparametric flow cytometry, at least with 2 tubes per patient and 1,000,000 events per tube. We evaluated the prognostic value of the MRD before allo-HSCT. Results Between January'12 and April'18 we have gathered 90 allogeneic BMT in AML patients who were in CR, with a median age of 45 years old (17 - 66). The pre-HSCT situation was 1st complete remission (CR) in 75 patients and 2nd CR in 15. In 45 patients the conditioning regimen was myeoablative. In the group of patients (67) where we could know the risk group at diagnosis, the distribution was: low risk 18%, intermediate risk 59.7% and high risk 22.4%. The 46.7% of the donors were not related. In the last follow-up after allo-HSCT 24 patients have suffered a relapse (26.7%) and 41 (45.5%) have died (17 cases of mortality related to the transplant and 24 not related). In the global analysis the median follow-up of the overall survival (OS) was 37.5 months. Among the 90 patients, MRD was valuable in 86. Ten of 59 patients (16.9%) with negative MRD relapsed vs 12/27 (44.4%) with positive MRD, p= 0.016. If we consider only patients in 1st CR, 9/50 (18%) patients with negative MRD relapsed vs 10/22 (45.5%) with positive MRD, p= 0.02. This statistically significant difference does not exist if we consider only patients in 2nd CR. The median follow-up of OS and event free survival (EFS) was not reached in the negative MRD group and 571 days and 299 days in the positive MRD group. OS and EFS at 2 years after transplantation were 65% and 64% in the negative MRD group and 42% and 37% in the positive MRD group, p= 0.03 and p= 0.008 respectively (figure 1). Conclusions The detected MRD by 8-colour multiparametric flow cytometry previous an allo-HSCT in patients with AML in 1st CR is a prognostic factor in terms of relapse. Patients with a positive MRD before the allo-HSCT have a poorer OS and EFS than the patients with a negative MRD. Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 7-7
Author(s):  
Reyes María Martín-Rojas ◽  
Gillen Oarbeascoa ◽  
Rebeca Bailén ◽  
Ignacio Gómez-Centurión ◽  
Luis Miguel Juarez ◽  
...  

¶ Martin-Rojas RM and Oarbeascoa G contributed equally to this work. INTRODUCTION Relapse is the main cause of treatment failure after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The evaluation of minimal residual disease (MRD) could provide a more accurate assessment of the depth of response, and therefore identify patients with higher risk of relapse. AIMS The aim of our study was to analyze the impact of pre-HSCT flow cytometry (FCM) and molecular MRD together with chimerism and MRD in the early post-HSCT period in patients with AML. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study in patients with complete remission AML who underwent a HSCT between 2008 and 2019 in our center. MRD was analyzed by flow cytometry in bone marrow aspirates and by quantitative RT-PCR (NMP1, RUNX1-RUNX1T1, CBFB-MYH11, KMT2A-MLLT3, WT1) in bone marrow aspirates and/or peripheral blood. MRD was determined within the 30 days preceding the HSCT and at day +30 and +90 post-HSCT. Bone marrow and selected CD34+ lineage chimerism was analyzed by STR (AmpFISTR SGM Plus, Thermo Fisher) at days +30 and +90 post-HSCT. This study was approved by our Institutional Ethics Committee. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 24 and R version 3.5.1. RESULTS A total of 115 patients were analyzed. Pre-HSCT MRD was negative in 58 patients (50.4%) and positive in 57 patients (49.6%). We found no statistically significant differences in the characteristics between the two groups (Table 1). Median follow up was 39 months (IQR 10.4-55.8). 3-year overall survival (OS) for patients with pre-HSCT negative MRD was 72.5% versus 70.3% in patients with positive MRD (p=0.41), with an event free survival (EFS) of 66.9% versus 66.1 (p=0.48) respectively (Figure 1). Median time to the beginning of immunosuppression withdrawal was 82.5 days (IQR 59-93) for patients with negative MRD and 68 days (IQR 55.3-85.3) for patients with positive MRD (p&lt;0.001). The cumulative incidence of grade II-IV acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) and moderate-severe chronic GVHD did not show statistically significant differences based on the MRD status. Similarly, the cumulative incidence of relapse and the 2-year mortality was not significantly different between the two groups. Patients with negative MRD at day +30 showed a 2-year OS of 83.5% versus 58.1% in patients with positive MRD (p=0.03) and a EFS of 79.9% versus 48.6% (Figure 2). The cumulative incidence of relapse was more elevated in patients with positive MRD (29.8% versus 13.6%) at day +30. Patients with mixed chimerism (MC) at day +30 showed a significantly lower 3-year OS and EFS than patients with complete chimerism (CC). Likewise, the cumulative incidence of relapse was significantly higher in patients with MC, both if detected in bone marrow aspirate and in CD34+ cells. The multivariate analysis revealed that MRD status at day +30 post-HSCT was an independent prognostic factor for EFS (HR 3.74; 95% CI 1.38-10.1; p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS Patients with AML presenting a positive MRD in the early post-HSCT period and those who show a MC at day +30 post-HSCT have lower EFS, with positive MRD at day +30 being an independent prognostic factor for EFS. The evaluation of MRD and chimerism in the early post-HSCT period is useful to identify patients with higher risk of relapse, who may take advantage of preemptive measures. Disclosures Kwon: Gilead, Novartis, Pfizer, Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria.


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