Genomic Landscape and Clonal Heterogeneity Underlying Progression and Relapse In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Abstract Despite recent advances and improvement in treatment options, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is still an incurable disease. Recent advancement in parallel sequencing technology has provided better understanding of genetic landscape and clonal architecture underlying disease course. Furthermore, mutation status of TP53, SF3B1, NOTCH1, and BIRC3 has improved current CLL risk stratification. In order to better understand the genetic basis and clonal evolution underlying disease progression we analyzed a homogeneously treated cohort of CLL cases at multiple time points before and after therapy. We performed WES in 30 sequential samples from 12 CLL cases. All 12 cases received PCR (pentostatin, cyclophosphamide and rituximab) based chemoimmunotherapy as initial treatment. Of these 12 cases, two had samples available both >6 months prior to enrollment and at treatment initiation, seven patients who experienced relapse had samples available at both treatment initiation and at and the time of relapse, and three patients had samples >6 months prior to enrollment, at treatment initiation, and at relapse. These cases were previously characterized by aCGH/FISH. R function Mclust and kernel density estimate (KDE) plots were used to identify subclonal heterogeneity. An average of 102-fold depth coverage was obtained with an average of 80% of the targeted regions being covered by at least 30X. Overall, we detected a total of 219 nonsynonymous Single Nucleotide Variants (SNV) and indels (average 19, range 11-33). Del13q (42%) was identified as most prevalent copy number abnormality followed by trisomy 12 (33%), del11q and del17p (17% each). Recurrent mutations were identified in NOTCH1 (33%), DDX3X (25%), TP53, SF3B1 XPO1 and MED12 (17% each). Other tumor implicated genes such as CARD11, NOTCH2, NOTCH4, DIS3, TRAF2, NFKBID, CHK2 and RB1 were found mutated in individual cases. In all 12 cases we identified at least one relevant cytogenetic abnormalities (del11q32, del13q14, del17p13, trisomy 12) and/or a mutated driver gene. Interestingly we found NOTCH1, DDX3X and XPO1 mutated at a significantly higher prevalence than previous studies (10%, 2% and 4%, respectively). Since all cases in our cohort correspond to individuals with progressive disease, a plausible explanation for the higher prevalence of mutations in our cohort is that these mutations are associated with disease progression. By WES we identified multiple subclones in 58% of cases (7 of 12 cases), as compared to previously identified 33% (4 of 12 cases) by CGH/FISH. In 5 chemotherapy naïve cases, no significant increase in genomic complexity was detected with disease progression. In contrast, 5 out of 10 cases with samples analyzed before CIT and at the time of relapse had changes in clonal dynamics, with initially dominant subclones diminishing in response to therapy and the available empty niche being occupied by expansion of another “fitter” subclone at the time of relapse. No acquisition of tumor associated gene mutations was seen post therapy or associated with relapse in 9 of 10 cases. In the remaining case we identified an interesting example of convergent evolution. The pre-therapy sample was comprised of a unique clone characterized with del11q13, mutations in SF3B1 (G742D) and DDX3X (pE196fs). After therapy that clone was either eradicated or reduced to below detection level. Interestingly another clone emerged after relapse that harbored an independent del11q22 and mutations affecting different aminoacids of SF3B1 (K700E) and DDX3X (pL21fs). The strong selection of impairment in these genes during disease progression suggests a key role of these pathways/genes in the pathogenesis of this patient. In conclusion, these studies provide additional insight into the genomic landscape and clonal architecture in a cohort of homogeneously treated CLL cases before and after therapy. Stable clonal architecture was seen in prior to treatment, whereas clonal evolution leading to increased tumor heterogeneity occurred after the under selection selective pressure of therapy in relapsed cases. Early identification of tumoral heterogeneity and underlying genetic abnormalities might provide better targets for therapy to decrease the likelihood of relapse. Disclosures: Fonseca: Medtronic: Consultancy; Otsuka: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Genzyme: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Lilly: Consultancy; Onyx: Consultancy, Research Funding; Binding Site: Consultancy; Millennium: Consultancy; AMGEN: Consultancy; Cylene: Research Funding; Prognostication of MM based on genetic categorization of the disease: Prognostication of MM based on genetic categorization of the disease, Prognostication of MM based on genetic categorization of the disease Patents & Royalties. Shanafelt:Genentech: Research Funding; Glaxo-Smith-Kline: Research Funding; Cephalon: Research Funding; Hospira: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Polyphenon E International: Research Funding.

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Clonal Evolution In Patients With Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v122.21.1643.1643 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 122 (21) ◽

pp. 1643-1643

Author(s):

Sameer A. Parikh ◽

Kari G. Rabe ◽

Stephanie A. Smoley ◽

Anne E. Wiktor ◽

Curtis A. Hanson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Overall Survival ◽

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Mayo Clinic ◽

Research Funding ◽

Clonal Evolution ◽

Clinical Importance ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Risk Category ◽

Time Interval ◽

Trisomy 12

Abstract Background Although the clinical importance of del 17p13 in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is well recognized, the implications of when this defect is identified are less clearly defined. In particular, the distinction between the identification of del 17p13 at the time of diagnosis and secondary acquisition of del 17p13 during the course of the disease are poorly characterized. Methods We identified all patients with CLL cared for at the Mayo Clinic between 1/1/2000 and 12/31/2012 who underwent baseline fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) testing prior to receiving treatment. The Results of repeat FISH testing were reviewed to identify cases with clinically ascertained clonal evolution. Results A total of 1757 patients with newly diagnosed CLL were seen at Mayo Clinic prior to receiving treatment. Among these, 1243 had FISH testing performed prior to treatment and within 36 months of diagnosis. The median time from diagnosis to initial FISH was 0.8 months (11.5 to 35.4 months). The Results of baseline FISH testing among these patients is as follows: 486 (39%) had del 13q14, 234 (19%) had trisomy 12, 115 (9%) had del 11q23, 59 (5%) had del 17p13, 15 (1%) had other (e.g., del6q) and 334 (37%) had no abnormalities detected. Among these patients, 344 (28%) underwent repeat FISH testing during the course of their disease. Repeat FISH testing was typically performed for clinical suspicion of karyotype evolution or prior to therapy selection in patients with a long time interval between first prognostic FISH and initiation of treatment. Among these 344 patients, 41 (12%) acquired new cytogenetic abnormalities on repeat FISH. Classification of these 344 patients by the Dohner classification at diagnosis and time of follow-up FISH is shown in Table 1. Among the 41 pts who acquired a new FISH detectable genetic abnormality, the newly acquired defect resulted in a change in Dohner FISH risk category for 39 patients including 15/41 (37%) who acquired a del 17p13. Baseline clinical and prognostic characteristics of patients who developed clonal evolution to those who did not are shown in Table 2. Patients with unmutated immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGHV) gene mutation status (p<0.0001) and CD49d (p=0.003) expression were more likely to experience clonal evolution. Among the 319 patients who did not have del 17p13 on baseline FISH, 15 (5%) acquired del 17p13 during the course of their disease. The overall survival from the date del 17p13 was identified is shown for those with del 17p13 at diagnosis (n=59) compared to those who acquired del 17p13 later in the course of the disease (n=15) in Figure 1A. Similarly, among 339 patients who did not have del 6q23 on baseline FISH, 9 (3%) acquired del 6q23 during the course of their disease. The overall survival from the date del 6q23 was identified is shown for those with del 6q23 at diagnosis (n=11) and those who acquired del 6q23 later in the course of the disease (n=9) in Figure 1B. Conclusion Acquired cytogenetic evolution is clinically ascertained by FISH during the course of the disease in approximately 12% of patients. The newly acquired defects in these patients result in a change in Dohner classification for in >90% of these patients including ∼37% who acquire del 17p13. The clinical implications of del 17p13 is influenced by the timing of ascertainment with markedly shorter survival for those who acquire del 17p13 during the course of the disease relative to those with this defect at diagnosis. Disclosures: Shanafelt: Genentech: Research Funding; Glaxo-Smith-Kline: Research Funding; Cephalon: Research Funding; Hospira: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Polyphenon E International: Research Funding.

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High Clonal Complexity of Resistance Mechanisms Occurring at Progression after Single-Agent Targeted Therapy Strategies in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2020-137411 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 15-16

Author(s):

Ella R Thompson ◽

Tamia Nguyen ◽

Yamuna Kankanige ◽

Mary Ann Anderson ◽

Sasanka M. Handunnetti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Single Cell ◽

Disease Progression ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Single Cell Analysis ◽

Clonal Evolution ◽

Single Agent ◽

Resistance Mechanisms ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Advisory Committees

Progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) on venetoclax (VEN) and BTK inhibitors (BTKi) is associated with acquired genomic variants in BCL2/MCL1/BCL2L1 and BTK/PLCG2, respectively, in some patients. We aimed to assess the clonal structure and evolution of resistance in patients (pts) with progressive disease treated with single agent VEN or BTKi (or both as sequential monotherapies) using next generation sequencing (NGS) and single cell sequencing. Seven pts with CLL and 1 with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) with disease progression on VEN, ibrutinib (IBR) or zanubrutinib (ZANU) were identified from patients treated at our institutions. Pts were selected on the basis of multiple known resistance mechanisms from previous analysis of mutations (muts) and copy number changes detected using clinical bulk NGS targeting genes of interest including BCL2, MCL1, BCL2L1, BAX, BAK1, BTK, PLCG2, CXCR4, as well as TP53 and SF3B1. Of the 8 pts selected for single cell analysis, all had disease that was relapsed/refractory to chemotherapy prior to receiving either VEN (3 pts), BTKi (2 pts) or sequential VEN-BTKi (3 pts). 6,520-16,378 individual cells from 9 samples (8 pts) were analyzed (total 103,388 cells) using a custom panel targeting pt-specific muts on the Tapestri platform (Mission Bio). A summary of genomic abnormalities detected across the cohort is presented in Figure 1. We first evaluated the relationship between genomic resistance mechanisms within the context of single agent (VEN or BTKi) as well as sequential VEN-BTKi treatment. In CLL pts treated with a single agent, all BCL2 muts in VEN pts and BTK muts in IBR or ZANU pts were identified in different subclones consistent with an oligoclonal pattern of disease progression with independent clonal acquisition of resistance mechanisms. Both pts who received ZANU (either as a single agent or sequentially) harbored the BTK L528W mut (previously described as enriched in ZANU progressors; Handunnetti ASH 2019) in independent clones from BTK C481 muts. In pts who received sequential VEN-BTKi treatment, clones were observed that harbored established or novel dual genomic resistance mechanisms within the same cell (BTK mut/MCL1 amp in CLL, BTK/BAX muts in MCL). However, this was not observed in all clones or for all pts, suggesting the presence of further undetected resistance mechanisms (genetic or other). Given the unique ability of single cell sequencing to resolve mut context within a clonal hierarchy, we next assessed this phenomenon within our cohort utilizing other muts known to be present in these tumors. Analysis of TP53 muts exemplified the diversity of clonal patterns observed, with resistance muts being detected subclonally to parental TP53 muts in some pts and independently of TP53 muts in others. In addition, further evolution of resistant clones was observed through the development of TP53 muts within clones harboring acquired resistance muts, consistent with continued clonal evolution within the resistant disease compartment. In one pt, post-resistance clonal evolution was identified through the clonal acquisition of a CXCR4 mut within a BTK mutated population. Finally, to understand the contribution of BTK zygosity and gender to BTKi resistance (given its location on the X-chromosome), we performed single cell analysis on a disease specimen from a female pt with progressive MCL harboring multiple BTK mutations following treatment with sequential VEN-BTKi. Analysis revealed four clonally independent heterozygous BTK muts inferring the sufficiency of a single mutant allele to drive resistance in this context. Interestingly, this pt also harbored a BCL2 mut and a BAX mut, the latter co-occurring with a BTK mut (BCL2 not assessable). This pt therefore represents the first description of BCL2 or BAX muts occurring in a pt with progressive MCL on VEN and the first of a BTK L528W mut in MCL progressing on ZANU. In summary, these data highlight the significant clonal complexity of CLL progression on VEN and BTKi. Our data show that disease progression in this context is consistently oligoclonal with separate clones harboring distinct identifiable resistance mechanisms. These data have pt-specific implications for the potential utility of cycling back to previously efficacious targeted therapies as well as providing a strong rationale for the early use of disease-appropriate combination targeted therapies. Disclosures Anderson: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute: Patents & Royalties: milestone and royalty payments related to venetoclax.. Handunnetti:AbbVie: Other: Travel expenses; Roche: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria. Yeh:Novartis: Honoraria; Gilead: Research Funding. Tam:BeiGene: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding. Seymour:Morphosys: Consultancy, Honoraria; Mei Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Nurix: Honoraria. Roberts:Janssen: Research Funding; Servier: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Genentech: Patents & Royalties: for venetoclax to one of my employers (Walter & Eliza Hall Institute); I receive a share of these royalties. Blombery:Amgen: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Invivoscribe: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria.

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Characterization of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Evidence for Association with Disease Progression in Trisomy 12 Patients

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v124.21.3281.3281 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 124 (21) ◽

pp. 3281-3281

Author(s):

Renee C. Tschumper ◽

Tait D. Shanafelt ◽

Neil E. Kay ◽

Diane F. Jelinek

Keyword(s):

B Cells ◽

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

B Cell ◽

Disease Progression ◽

Research Funding ◽

Clinical Course ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Lncrna Expression ◽

Trisomy 12 ◽

Non Coding Rnas

Abstract BACKGROUND: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a heterogeneous B cell malignancy with patients being categorized into disease subsets based on several key biologic parameters, e.g., mutation status (mutated, M; or unmutated, UM) of the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV), acquired chromosomal abnormalities, and expression of CD38 and CD49d. Furthermore, about one third of CLL patients express stereotyped B cell receptors and/or may acquire high risk common mutations in genes such as NOTCH1 and SF3B1 suggesting ongoing genetic evolution as drivers of disease development. Critical to this concept, those CLL patients with trisomy 12 (T12) defects have a higher incidence of mutations in NOTCH1 and often have a stereotyped receptor. However, T12 patients may have a variable clinical course that appears to be unrelated to these 2 drivers suggesting an additional, possibly non-coding genetic component that may further impact disease progression in these patients. One potentially relevant genetic factor that could influence T12 clinical course is long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). LncRNAs are transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that can affect a number of cellular processes. Importantly, lncRNAs have been implicated in various cancers including malignant hematopoiesis indicating they could be therapeutic targets and/or clinically useful biomarkers. METHODS: To pursue a role for lncRNAs in T12 we used v3.0 Arraystar Human LncRNA Microarrays to assess the global profile of lncRNA expression in CLL with an emphasis on patients with T12. Two cohorts of 6 patients with T12 were selected for comparison: one defined as progressive with a short time to treatment (TTT) (treatment ≤1 year after diagnosis) and one as indolent (no treatment > 5 years after diagnosis). Each cohort included 3 patients with M and 3 with UM IGHV status. RNA from normal CD5+ and CD5- B cells was included as a control. To compensate for the small sample size in each cohort, a significant difference in lncRNA expression between the groups was defined as a fold change (FC) ≥5.0, p-value ≤0.05 and false discovery rate (FDR) ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: An initial global comparison of CD5+/CD5- normal B cells vs all CLL samples found that 609 lncRNAs were differentially expressed using the criteria listed above with 158 lncRNAs having a FC>10. Notable lncRNAs in this group included: LOC541472 (down in CLL and associated with the IL-6 gene), D63785 (up in CLL and associated with TBC1D3C, an oncoprotein), CTC-459I6.1 (up in CLL and associated with RASGRF2) and AC002480.5 (down in CLL and associated with STEAP1B, shown to be overexpressed in prostate cancer). We next evaluated T12 samples and identified 90 candidate lncRNAs that may discriminate between progressive and indolent T12 cases. Within this group were 11 lncRNAs with a FC > 10, 5 of which have no known associated gene. Of those associated with known genes, 3 were ultra-conserved region encoding lncRNAs down-regulated in progressive T12 patients (TTT ≤1 yr) and linked to hephaestin-like protein 1 precursor, pannexin-1, and tubulin beta-3 chain isoform 1. Of potential high relevance we found that the lncRNA LPP-AS1 was down-regulated in progressive T12 patients (TTT ≤1 yr) and known to be associated with the LIM-containing lipoma preferred partner (LPP) gene (p=0.028; FDR=0.03 and FC=18.3). Looking specifically at IGHV M progressive T12 patients (T12M≤1 yr) vs IGHV M indolent T12 patients (T12M>5 yrs), we again found the LPP-AS1 lncRNA was highly down-regulated in T12M≤1 (p=0.00046; FDR=0.006 and FC=34.5) but it was not found to be differentially expressed in the UM T12≤1 yr vs UM T12>5 yr comparison. The LPP gene has been shown to play a role in cell-cell adhesion, motility and signaling, and is often the fusion partner for the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene in secondary acute leukemia. Furthermore, LLP may play a role in breast cancer cell invasion. LPP-AS1 may be participating in IGHV M T12 progression by affecting LPP and thus influencing migration through the lymph node microenvironment. CONCLUSION: While candidate lncRNAs in T12 CLL need to be validated, the LPP-AS1 lncRNA shows promise as a possible marker and potential treatment target for those patients with T12 and M IGHV that may progress rapidly. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of lncRNAs on clinical outcome of T12 CLL patients. Disclosures Shanafelt: Hospiria: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics/Jannsen: Research Funding; Cephalon: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; glaxoSmithKline: Research Funding; Genetech: Research Funding; Polyphenon E Int'l: Research Funding. Kay:Celgene: Research Funding.

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Mechanisms of Adaptation to Ibrutinib in High Risk Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-99-116739 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 585-585 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Valeria Spina ◽

Gabriela Forestieri ◽

Antonella Zucchetto ◽

Alessio Bruscaggin ◽

Tamara Bittolo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Nuclear Localization ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Research Funding ◽

Clonal Evolution ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Adaptation Process ◽

Over Time ◽

Stimulation Of

Abstract Introduction. Ibrutinib inhibits the BTK molecule downstream the B-cell receptor (BCR). Though highly active in high risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most typical response achievable in patients is a minimal residual disease (MRD) positive partial remission (PR) which is maintained until the development of genetically driven resistance caused by the acquisition of mutations in the BTK or PLCG2 genes. The study aims at characterizing the adaptation process allowing residual CLL cells to persist despite BTK inhibition. Methods. The IOSI-EMA-001 study (NCT02827617) is an observational study consisting in the prospective and longitudinal collection of peripheral blood samples and clinical data from high risk CLL patients treated with ibrutinib. Peripheral blood CLL cells longitudinally drawn from patients before treatment start and at fixed timepoints under ibrutinib were monitored by: i) next generation flow cytometry approaches for changes in proliferation rate, surfaceome, and pathway activation; and ii) CAPP-seq targeted deep next generation (sensitivity ~10-3) for clonal evolution. Results. The study cohort comprised 31 high risk CLL patients, including 15 treatment naïve, 16 relapsed, 80% IGHV unmutated, 42% 17p deleted and 55% TP53 mutated. Median duration of ibrutinib treatment was 45 weeks (24-72 weeks). All patients obtained a MRD positive PR that was maintained in all but one who progressed with a PLCG2 mutation (VAF 3%). Compared to baseline, under ibrutinib therapy CLL cells slowed down their proliferation, as suggested by the decreased expression of Ki-67, the reduction of the proliferating fraction (CXCR4dimCD5bright), and the increase of the resting fraction (CXCR4brightCD5dim). Compared to baseline, under ibrutinib therapy CLL cells also upregulated BCR and adhesion/homing proteins, and decreased the expression of BCR inhibitor proteins. Upon stimulation of the BCR with anti-IgM, the downstream path through pBTK and pPLCG2 was inhibited by ibrutinib, while conversely the downstream path through pAKT and pERK was still inducible throughout all the assessed timepoints. The proportion of CLL cells harboring nuclear localization of NF-kB progressively increased over time under ibrutinib. NF-kB nuclear localization was inducible throughout all the assessed timepoints by CD40L stimulation of the non-canonical NF-kB pathway, but not by anti-IgM stimulation of the BCR/canonical NF-kB pathway. Overall, 880 individual mutations were longitudinally discovered and monitored across a total of 121 sequential timepoints collected during ibrutinib treatment. Clonal evolution was observed in (67.7%) cases, a proportion rate previously documented in CLL treated with chemoimmunotherapy. Clonal evolution appeared to be heterogeneous involving different genes without a stereotypic targeting. Consistently, none of the main driver gene mutations was homogeneously selected or suppressed by ibrutinib suggesting that the biological adaptation of CLL cells under ibrutinib is not genetically driven. Clonal evolution propensity was not associated with any of the biomarkers of the disease, and it did not decrease over time under ibrutinib. Conclusions. Taken together these results suggest that residual CLL cells persisting under ibrutinib therapy adapt their phenotype by upregulating adhesion molecules, chemokine receptors and BCR molecules, and by maintaining a competence of BCR signaling through the PI3K/AKT/ERK pathway. The progressive selection of CLL cells having NF-kB in the nucleus, likely due to the BTK independent non-canonical NF-kB pathway, might explain their survival despite ibrutinib therapy. Finally, clonal evolution is not suppressed by ibrutinib chemotherapy, and despite does not seem to be directly involved in such adaptation process, may ultimately favor the acquisition of BTK and PLCG2 ibrutinib resistance mutations. Disclosures Zucca: Celltrion: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy. Ghia:Sunesis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie, Inc: Honoraria, Research Funding; Acerta: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding; BeiGene: Honoraria, Research Funding. Montillo:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Tedeschi:Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy. Gaidano:AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Morphosys: Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria.

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Long-Term Sustained Responses Following Ibrutinib Discontinuation after Frontline Therapy with Obinutuzumab Plus Ibrutinib in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2020-143473 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 33-34

Author(s):

Paula A. Lengerke Diaz ◽

Michael Y. Choi ◽

Eider F. Moreno Cortes ◽

Jose V. Forero ◽

Juliana Velez-Lujan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Side Effects ◽

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Disease Progression ◽

Research Funding ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Combination Regimen ◽

Grade 3

Single oral targeted therapies have emerged as a standard of care in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, accessibility, side effects, and financial burden associated with long term administration limit their clinical use. Mainly, it is unclear in what clinical situation discontinuation of oral therapy can be recommended. The combination of type II anti-CD20 antibody obinutuzumab-Gazyva® with ibrutinib (GI) has shown a significant progression-free survival benefit in patients (pts) with CLL, including those with high-risk genomic aberrations. We conducted a phase 1b/2, single-arm, open-label trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of GI as first-line treatment in 32 CLL pts. We report the outcome in pts that discontinued ibrutinib (either after 3 years of sustained complete response (CR) as stipulated in the clinical protocol, or due to other reasons). CLL pts enrolled in this protocol were ≥65 years old, or unfit/unwilling to receive chemotherapy. Pts received GI for six cycles, followed by daily single-agent ibrutinib. The protocol was designed to ensure that pts with a sustained CR after 36 months were allowed to discontinue ibrutinib. The median age was 66 years (IQR 59-73), and 6% of the evaluated pts had 17p deletion. All pts were able to complete the six planned cycles of obinutuzumab. The combination regimen was well-tolerated, and the most common adverse events (>5% CTCAE grade 3-4) were neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and hyperglycemia. The rate and severity of infusion-related reactions (IRR) were much lower than expected (Grade≥ 3, 3%), and pts without IRR had lower serum levels of cytokines/chemokines CCL3 (P=0.0460), IFN-γ (P=0.0457), and TNF-α (P=0.0032) after infusion. The overall response rate was 100%, with nine pts (28%) achieving a CR, and four pts (12.5%) with undetectable minimal residual disease (uMRD) in the bone marrow, defined as <10-4 CLL cells on multicolor flow cytometry. At a median follow-up of 35.5 months (IQR 24.5-42.7) after starting treatment, 91% of the enrolled pts remain in remission with a 100% overall survival. Sixteen pts have completed a long-term follow-up of 36 months. Six pts showed CR, with three of them achieving uMRD in the bone marrow. Ten of these pts were in PR, and only one had disease progression and started treatment for symptomatic stage I disease with obinutuzumab plus venetoclax. In total, thirteen pts (41%) have stopped ibrutinib, with a median time on treatment prior to discontinuation of 35 months. Five (16%) of these pts had CRs and discontinued after 36 months. Eight additional pts (25%) had PRs and discontinued ibrutinib without being eligible: three pts discontinued prior to 36 months due to toxicities, and five pts discontinued after 36 months (3 due to side effects, and 2 due to financially driven decision). One patient eligible to discontinue ibrutinib, decided to remain on treatment despite sustained CR. After a median follow up time following ibrutinib discontinuation of 8 months (IQR 3.5-17), only two out of 13 pts have progressed (10 and 17 months after Ibrutinib discontinuation). None of the pts that stopped ibrutinib after achieving a CR have shown signs of disease progression. Of note, the pharmaceutical sponsor provided ibrutinib for the first 36 months, after which pts or their insurer became financially responsible. This particular scenario could bias the discontinuation pattern compared to a real world experience. It also provided us with a perspective about diverse factors affecting the treatment choices of pts. In summary, the obinutuzumab plus ibrutinib combination therapy was well-tolerated, with a much lower IRR rate. Efficacy compares favorably with historical controls with all pts responding to therapy, no deaths associated with treatment or disease progression, and a longer than expected time-to-progression after discontinuation of ibrutinib. The rate of ibrutinib discontinuation was higher than reported in the literature, most likely influenced by the protocol design and financial decisions driven by the switch from sponsor-provided ibrutinib to insurance or self-paid medication. Our observations regarding safety, efficacy and lack of disease progression after ibrutinib discontinuation are encouraging, and warrant confirmation in long-term prospective studies. Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT02315768. Funding: Pharmacyclics LLC. Disclosures Choi: AbbVie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Amaya-Chanaga:AbbVie: Ended employment in the past 24 months, Other: Research performed while employed as an investigator of this study at UCSD.. Kipps:Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Castro:Kite Pharma: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Fate Therapeutics: Research Funding.

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Spatial clonal evolution leading to ibrutinib resistance and disease progression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Haematologica ◽

10.3324/haematol.2018.202085 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 104 (1) ◽

pp. e38-e41 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Richárd Kiss ◽

Donát Alpár ◽

Ambrus Gángó ◽

Noémi Nagy ◽

Ediz Eyupoglu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Disease Progression ◽

Clonal Evolution ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Ibrutinib Resistance

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Disruption of TP53 function by Point Mutations and Deletions Is Associated with An Increased Risk of Disease Progression within Previously Treated, Relapsed Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v118.21.2445.2445 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 118 (21) ◽

pp. 2445-2445

Author(s):

Annika Dufour ◽

Stefan K Bohlander ◽

Evelyn Zellmeier ◽

Gudrun Mellert ◽

Karsten Spiekermann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Progression ◽

Research Funding ◽

Tp53 Mutation ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Dominant Negative ◽

Tp53 Mutations ◽

Mutational Status ◽

Igvh Mutational Status ◽

Binet Stage ◽

Previously Treated

Abstract Abstract 2445 Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients with a deletion of the TP53 tumor supressor gene located at 17p13 have a poor prognosis in first line chemotherapy regimens. Recent studies indicated somatic TP53 mutations as a prognostic factor in CLL independent of 17p13 deletion status. We aimed to further characterize the prognostic value and the impact of TP53 mutations on progression-free survival (PFS) in the presence and absence of a 17p13 deletion in previously treated and relapsed CLL patients within an international phase III clinical study comparing Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide with or without Rituximab (FC versus R-FC: REACH trial). We analyzed 457 patients at diagnosis for mutations in the TP53 gene using a combination of a microarray-based resequencing assay (AmpliChip p53 Test, Roche Molecular Systems, USA.) and Sanger sequencing of TP53 exons 2–10. The data were correlated with clinical and biologic markers as well as with interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and with PFS. Association of the clinical data with PFS was assessed by Cox proportional hazard models. To estimate the functional significance of the individual TP53 mutations we used the IARC TP53 database. TP53 mutations (n=60) were detected in 52 of 457 patients (11.4%) and included 42 missense, 4 nonsense, 8 frameshift mutations, 2 in-frame deletions and 4 mutations in splice sites. Among other clinical variables, only 17p13 deletion was associated with TP53 mutations: 27 of 52 TP53 mutated patients had a 17p13 deletion (concordance rate: 52%, Fisher's test p<0.001). Median PFS for patients with TP53 mutations (n=52, 13 months, HR=1.9 (1.4–2.7), p<0.001) was significantly shorter as compared to patients without TP53 mutations (n=480, 27 months). In a sub-group analysis, chemoimmunotherapy including Rituximab did not significantly improve the PFS of patients with TP53 mutations. Multivariate analysis including treatment arm, Binet stage, age, IGVH mutational status, 17p13 deletion and TP53 mutation status confirmed TP53 mutation status (HR-TP53=1.7 (1.1–2.6), p=0.009) as a prognostic factor for PFS independent of 17p13 deletion status (HR-17p=1.7 (1.1–2.7), p=0.024) and with a similar effect size. The other independent prognostic factors were treatment (HR=0.61 (0.48–0.76), p<0.001), Binet stage (HR=1.64 (1.3–2.1), p<0.001) and IGVH mutational status (HR=2.4 (1.85–3.1), p<0.001). To further dissect the contribution of TP53 mutation and 17p13 deletion on PFS, we considered a multivariate analysis comparing patients with both TP53 mutation and 17p13 deletion (n=28), with only 17p13 deletion (n=9), with a dominant negative TP53 mutation or multiple TP53 mutations (n=8) or with a single TP53 mutation (n=16) against patients without TP53 abnormalities (n=271), adjusted for treatment, Binet stage, age and IGVH mutational status. Patients with a predicted biallelic disruption of TP53 either by a TP53 mutation in combination with a 17p13 deletion (HR: 2.8 (1.8,4.2), p=<0.001) or patients with a dominant negative TP53 mutation as predicted by the IARC TP53 database or multiple TP53 mutations (HR=3.26 (1.5,7.1), p=0.003) had a risk similar in size and which was quite high for disease progression (the reference to calculate the risk, here and in the following, is always the group of patients without TP53 abnormalities). The risk slightly decreased for patients with only a deletion 17p13 (HR=2.2, (1.1–4.3), p=0.021). Very interestingly, single TP53 mutations showed a much lower risk for disease progression (in this case not even significant) (HR=1.61 (0.9–2.8), p=0.084) especially compared to the risk conferred by a biallelic disruption. In this large cohort of previously treated CLL patients, complete disruption of TP53 function (by a combination of a 17p13 deletion and a TP53 mutation, through dominant negative TP53 mutations or through multiple TP53 mutations) was associated with a higher risk for disease progression. Prognosis of patients with a single TP53 mutation was not significantly different from patients without TP53 aberrations. It remains to be shown whether CLL patients with a single TP53 mutation are at a higher risk of acquiring additional mutations of TP53 during disease progression. Prognostic stratification of previously treated CLL patients should include a routine molecular TP53 mutational analysis in addition to deletion analysis of the TP53 locus by FISH. Disclosures: Dufour: Roche: Research Funding. Bohlander:Roche: Research Funding. Spiekermann:Roche: Research Funding. Schneider:Roche: Research Funding. Hiddemann:Roche: Research Funding. Truong:Roche: Employment. Patten:Roche: Employment. Wu:Roche: Employment. Dmoszynska:Mundipharma:; Roche: Honoraria. Robak:Centocor Ortho Biotech Research & Development: Research Funding. Geisler:Roche: Speakers Bureau. Dornan:Genentech: Employment. Lin:Genentech: Employment. Yeh:Genentech: Employment. Weisser:Roche: Employment. Duchateau-Nguyen:Roche: Employment. Palermo:Roche: Employment.

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Relative Prognostic Significance of ZAP-70 and IGHV1-69 Expression in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia,

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v118.21.3891.3891 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 118 (21) ◽

pp. 3891-3891

Author(s):

Laura Z. Rassenti ◽

Emanuela M. Ghia ◽

Lillian Werner ◽

Donna Neuberg ◽

George F. Widhopf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Regression Model ◽

Heavy Chain ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Strong Association ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Cox Regression Model ◽

Clinical Behavior ◽

Trisomy 12

Abstract Abstract 3891 The leukemia B cells of patients (pts) with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) express a restricted repertoire of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV) genes. Moreover, certain IGHV genes appear over-represented in this repertoire. Among these, IGHV1-69 was first identified as most frequently expressed, being used by the CLL cells of nearly 20% of all pts (PNAS, 86:5913–7, 1989). CLL cells most frequently express IGHV1-69 without somatic mutations and often with restricted D and JH segment use, providing for stereotypic motifs in the heavy chain third complementarity determining region (HCDR3). We addressed whether there were peculiar biologic or clinical features of pts with CLL that used IGHV1-69. For this, we studied 452 pts identified in a cohort of 2,866 followed by the CLL Research Consortium (CRC) found to have CLL cells that express IGHV1-69. This accounted for 16% of all pts. We found that 420 of 452 CLL samples (93%) express IGHV1-69 without somatic mutation (≥98% sequence homology with germline IGHV1-69), which is in significant contrast to the frequency use of UM IGHV among CLL samples that do not use IGHV1-69. As noted for CLL pts in general, there is a strong association between mutation status and clinical behavior. Among pts that use IGHV1-69, the 32 of 452 pts that use MU IGHV1-69 had a highly indolent clinical course, with a median time from diagnosis to initial treatment (TFS) of 17.3 years. This was significantly longer than the median TFS of 2.8 yrs for the 452 pts that used UM IGHV1-69 (p<0.0001). Among the pts that used UM IGHV1-69 we identified a stereotypic HDCR3 motif shared by more than one patient in 249/452 (55%) of the cases. Multivariate analysis failed to discriminate any significant differences in the median TFS of pts that used IGHV1-69 that had a stereotypic CDR3 motif versus pts who had an idiosyncratic HCDR3 (2.9 yrs vs 3.0 yrs, respectively p=0.14). Interphase FISH for common cytogenetic aberrations in CLL were available for 281 of the 452 cases. Among these, 58% of the cases had deletions at 17p (18%), 11q (23%), or trisomy 12 (17%). The remaining cases had no detectable chromosomal abnormalities (24%) or isolated deletion of 13q (18%). The CLL cells of all 452 pts were examined for ZAP-70. There was a strong association between the expression of ZAP-70 and use of UM IGHV1-69. However, the association between ZAP-70 expression and use of UM IGHV1-69 was not absolute. Only 70% with UM IGHV1-69 were ZAP-70 positive, as were 12.5% that used M IGHV1-69. Of all 452 pts that expressed IGHV1-69, 300 (66%) had ZAP-70 positive CLL cells. These pts had a median TFS of 2.3 yrs, which was significantly shorter than that of the remaining 152 pts with ZAP-70-negative CLL, who had a median TFS of 4.3 yrs (p<0.0001). Moreover, of the 420 pts that used UM IGHV1-69, 296 (70%) had CLL cells that expressed ZAP-70; these pts had a median TFS of 2.3 yrs. This was significantly shorter than the median TFS of pts with CLL cells that express UM IGHV1-69, but were ZAP-70 negative 4.1 yrs (p<0.0001). A Cox regression model revealed that although the presence of detectable chromosomal aberrations was associated to a shorter median TFS, ZAP-70 was a stronger predictor of short TFS (HR for 13q =1.1 p =0.03, HR for trisomy 12 =1.2 p =0.03, HR for 11q =1.6 p =0.03, HR for 17p =1.8, p =0.03) (HR for ZAP-70 positive = 1.8, p=0.0004). The Cox regression model was used to assess the associations of ZAP-70, and the use or not of the UM IGHV1-69 gene with TFS (p-value <0.05 were considered as significant). We investigated these associations using a previously published cohort of characterized 705 CLL pts (Blood.2008;112:1923). The HR associated with the expression of ZAP-70 (HR=3.2) (p<0.0001) was significantly higher than if either the UM IGHV1-69 or the cases with UM IGHV other than IGHV1-69 were incorporated into the model (HR=1.9 and HR=1.6 respectively, p=0.001). We conclude that cases that use IGHV1-69 are peculiar in that they more frequently use UM IGHV and appear to have a higher frequency of adverse cytogenetic features than CLL cases at large. In addition, we found that CLL-cell expression of ZAP-70 can segregate pts that use UM IGHV1-69 into subgroups with disparate clinical behavior, despite the fact that all patients use the same IGHV gene. Moreover, multivariable analyses revealed that ZAP-70 was strongest predictor of short TFS among all other considered prognostic parameters in this distinctive cohort of pts. Disclosures: Kipps: Igenica: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbott Industries: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; GSK: Research Funding; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding.

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Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells With Trisomy 12 Home To The Bone Marrow In a CXCR4-Independent Manner and Are Prone To Proliferate In Vitro

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v122.21.870.870 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 122 (21) ◽

pp. 870-870

Author(s):

Evelyn Hutterer ◽

Elisabeth Hinterseer ◽

Sylvia Ganghammer ◽

Gabriele Brachtl ◽

Daniela Asslaber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Research Funding ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Independent Manner ◽

Atypical Cell ◽

Trisomy 12 ◽

Inside Out

Abstract Trisomy 12 (tri12) is a frequent chromosomal aberration in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) associated with atypical cell morphology, high in vivo tumor proliferation activity and a predisposition to Richter’s transformation. Tri12 harboring CLL cells express increased levels of the negative prognostic marker CD49d, the α4 subunit of the integrin very late antigen 4 (VLA-4), which we previously identified as a key regulator of CLL cell homing to bone marrow (BM). During this process, inside-out activation of VLA-4 upon CXCR4 binding to endothelially displayed CXCL12 is thought to upregulate the adhesive properties of VLA-4 and augment the arrest of CLL cells on the VCAM-1 presenting vessels. Here, we investigated the functional interplay of VLA-4 and CXCR4 in CLL carrying tri12. We first found that the upregulation of CD49d expression in this subset (MFIR CD49d 9.8±5.3 (n=22) vs. 2.7±3.9 (n=126), p<0.0001) was paralleled by their reduced CXCR4 expression (MFIR CXCR4 11.8±7.2 (n=22) vs. 22.7±14.2 (n=126), p=0.0003). Using short term adoptive transfers, we compared the ability of tri12 and no tri12 CLL cells to home to the BM of NOD/SCID mice. 5-10x106 CLL cells were injected into tail vein and homing was evaluated after 3 hours. Based on their more frequent CD49d high phenotype, we observed increased homing rates (homed human CLL cells per 106 injected cells per 106 acquired murine cells) of tri12 compared to no tri12 CLL (225±160 (n=7) vs. 90±117 (n=20), p=0.025). However, when comparing CD49d+ tri12 and CD49d+ no tri12 subsets, we did not observe any significant differences in their homing capacity. To further study CXCL12/CXCR4 function in BM homing, we pretreated mice with either the novel CXCL12 antagonist NOX-A12 or the CXCR4 inhibitor AMD3100 prior to CLL cell injection. While homing of no tri12 CLL cells (n=3, in duplicates) was reduced by both pretreatments (homing rates 137 vs 38 vs 30), the homing capacity of tri12 CLL cells (n=3, in duplicates) was not affected. We next tested whether VLA-4 expressed on these cells was able to undergo CXCL12-induced activation and support cell arrest under shear conditions. To this end, we perfused CLL cells over VCAM-1 or VCAM-1/CXCL12 substrates and analyzed rates and categories of cell tethering at a single cell level by videomicroscopy. CXCL12 induced the arrests of no tri12 CLL cells (n=3) on VCAM-1 under shear flow in a CXCR4 and VLA-4 dependent manner. In contrast, tri12 CLL cells (n=3) robustly tethered to VCAM-1 in the absence of the chemokine, and interactions could not be further enhanced by additional CXCL12 nor could they be abrogated by use of AMD3100. This failure of CXCR4-induced adhesion was not based on a general defect in CXCR4 functionality as in vitro chemotaxis of tri12 CLL cells (n=5) towards CXCL12 was fully maintained. To detect potential differences in VLA-4 affinity regulation, we used a conformationally sensitive antibody that recognizes epitopes induced by VLA-4 ligation, and an LDV-containing VLA-4 specific ligand to probe resting integrin affinity. Also, we used a small fluorescent ligand to study rapid VLA-4 affinity changes during inside-out chemokine induced activation. On resting tri12 CLL, VLA-4 exhibited an affinity state similar to that observed on circulating lymphocytes, and tri12 CLL cells failed to undergo the rapid affinity up-regulation triggered by CXCL12 pretreatment, in keeping with tethering experiments. Next, we investigated whether the tumor microenvironment has a different influence on the behavior of the tri12 subset. Therefore we subjected the cells to in vitro co-cultures mimicking the lymphoid proliferation centers. Basal levels of the early activation marker CD69 were similar in tri12 CLL compared to no tri12 cases. Tri12 CLL, however, underwent stronger activation when cultured in presence of accessory cells (%CD69+ cells 60.0±18.5 (n=4) vs. 17.7±20.1 (n=19), p=0.008). Moreover, in several setups, proliferation rates of these cells were increased, irrespective of the proliferative stimulus and detection method used. In summary, our results provide a mechanistical basis at least in part explaining the peculiar and clinical features of the tri12 CLL subset. In light of the specific migratory and proliferative properties of tri12 cells and novel agents targeting particularly these functions, our findings may also imply therapeutical consequences. Disclosures: Greil: NOXXON Pharma AG: Research Funding. Hartmann:NOXXON Pharma AG: Research Funding.

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Unexpected and Serious Toxicity Observed with Combined Idelalisib, Lenalidomide and Rituximab in Relapsed/Refractory B Cell Lymphomas: Alliance A051201 and A051202

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v124.21.3091.3091 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 124 (21) ◽

pp. 3091-3091 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Sonali M. Smith ◽

Brandelyn Pitcher ◽

Sin-Ho Jung ◽

Nancy L. Bartlett ◽

Nina Wagner-Johnston ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase I ◽

B Cell ◽

Clin Oncol ◽

Research Funding ◽

Treatment Initiation ◽

Single Agent ◽

Complete Response ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Clinical Activity ◽

Cell Transplant

Abstract Background: A number of targeted and orally available agents show promising activity in lymphoid malignancies, and a rational strategy is to evaluate combinations for safety and efficacy. Idelalisib (idela) is a highly specific and potent inhibitor of the delta isoform of PI3K, downstream of B-cell receptor signaling and upstream of other survival pathways in lymphoma. Idela has single agent activity in both follicular lymphoma (FL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), with response rates over 50% (N Engl J Med. 2014;370:1008). Idela and rituximab (ritux) have been safely combined in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (N Engl J Med. 2014;370:997) and other indolent lymphomas. Two previous Cancer and Leukemia Group B and Alliance studies demonstrated high levels of clinical activity of lenalidomide (len) and ritux in combination without significant toxicity. In relapsed/refractory FL, len plus ritux had higher overall (ORR) and complete response (CR) rates (75% ORR, 32% CR) versus len alone (49% ORR, 13% CR)(J Clin Oncol. 2012;30(suppl; abstr 8000). In frontline FL, len plus ritux achieved 93% ORR and 72% CR rates (J Clin Oncol 32:5s, 2014 (suppl; abstr 8521). A051201 and A051202 were designed to evaluate the safety and activity of len and ritux, in combination with idela, in pts with relapsed MCL or FL, respectively. Methods: Both A051201 and A051202 are phase I trials with 3+3 designs and pre-specified dose-limiting toxicities (DLT). Treatment in the two trials was similar but not identical. A051201 started with len 15mg po day (d) 1-21 q28d idela 150mg bid with continuous 28-d cycles, and ritux weekly during cycle 1. A051202 started with len 10mg po d1-21 q28d and idela 150mg po bid with continuous 28-d cycles, and ritux on C1d8, C1d15, C1d22 and C2d1. Both studies included a maintenance component (data not presented). Biweekly conference calls for safety were established. After 3 patients (pts) from A051202 and 1 pt from A051201 developed severe and unexpected DLT, both trials were suspended and modified. Results: At the time of study suspension, 7 FL pts and 1 MCL pt had been enrolled. Pt characteristics include median age 58.5 years (y) (range, 47-77), 5 male/3 female, and median 1 (range, 1-7) prior treatment; all pts had prior ritux. The MCL pt had an autologous stem cell transplant 3 y prior to enrollment. This pt had a DLT consisting of grade (gr) 4 AST/ALT elevation in the setting of fevers, chills, hypotension at 22 d after treatment initiation. 3 FL pts had DLT consisting of gr 3 lung infection, gr 3 hypotension and rash, and gr 4 sepsis syndrome (culture-negative), respectively. Each of the 3 FL pts with DLT developed fevers and hypotension with or without a rash 11-17 d after treatment initiation and within 24-120 hours of last ritux exposure; 2 pts had pulmonary infiltrates. 3 DLT pts required ICU level support. Other notable toxicities in all 8 pts include gr 1/2 AST/ALT elevation (n=5), gr 3 lymphopenia (n=5), gr 1/2 thrombocytopenia (n=4), grade1/2/3 neutropenia (n=4). Conclusion: Whereas doublet therapy with len/ritux and idela/ritux has been safely combined in other trials and disease settings, we observed 4 DLTs among the first 8 pts, all concerning for high-level immune activation. Although the mechanism of these toxicities is unknown, the combination of rash, fevers, and hypotension is suggestive of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which is a known but uncommon IL-6-mediated event seen with ritux, rarely reported after single agent len, and, to date, not observed with idela. Our observation of 4 potential CRS-like reactions among 8 pts suggests an additive and previously undescribed risk of this combination. Based on the severe toxicities noted, both trials have been amended to remove ritux and pursue a phase I safety assessment of idela and len without ritux in pts with relapsed FL or MCL. Disclosures Smith: Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy, DSMB for another compound, DSMB for another compound Other. Off Label Use: Phase I results of combined idela/len and rituximab. Bartlett:Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Wagner-Johnston:Gilead: Consultancy; Celgene: Research Funding. Richards:Genentech: Consultancy; Celgene: Honoraria. Cashen:Celgene: Speakers Bureau. Cheson:Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding. Leonard:Celgene: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy.

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