Long-Term Outcome of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Patients Treated with Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESAs)

Abstract Background: The majority of MDS patients (pts) have anemia and are treated initially with ESAs. Particularly for lower-risk MDS pts (International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) Low and Int-1), once ESAs are no longer effective, treatment options are limited to drugs commonly used for higher-risk MDS, such as hypomethylating agents, or off-label use of immunomodulatory drugs. As a result, most pts receive only transfusion support post-ESA, representing a pt group with an unmet medical need frequently targeted for drug development, for whom long-term outcome is unknown. Methods: We studied pts diagnosed with lower-risk MDS from 1997-2014 at MDS CRC institutions and treated with ESAs (epoetin alpha (epo) or darbepoetin (darb)). The best response to treatment was categorized per International Working Group 2006 response criteria (hematological improvement (HI), complete response (CR), or partial response (PR)). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) at the time of ESA failure, defined as cessation of treatment due to relapse or refractoriness; a secondary endpoint was time to AML transformation or death, from time of response (for responders) or failure (for nonresponders) determination. Descriptive statistics were used for baseline characteristics. The Kaplan Meier method was used to estimate OS and a log rank analysis was used to compare response categories. Cox regression analysis was performed for multivariable analysis. Results: Of 206 patients included in analyses, median age was 71.6 years (range: 25.3-88.1), 36% were female, 5% were African-American, and 11% had t-MDS. WHO categories included RA (14%), RARS (16%), RCMD (42%), MDS-u (6%), del (5q) (4%), RAEB-1 (9%), RAEB-2 (2%), RARS-T (2%), MDS/MPN-u (3%), and CMML-1 (2%), with pts classified as IPSS Low (39%), Int-1 (61%), or IPSS-R Very Low (16%), Low (55%), Intermediate (26%), and High (4%). IPSS cytogenetic risk groups were Good (72%), Intermediate (22%), and Poor (6%). Baseline median hemoglobin was 9.4 g/dl (range: 5.5-14.2), serum epo level was 97.2 (range: 14.2-3899.0), and 11% were transfusion-dependent. Treatment included darb (59%) and epo (41%) at median doses of 300 mcg (range: 100-500) and 40,000 units (range: 5,000-80,000), respectively. Pts remained on therapy for a median of 30.4 weeks (range: 0.0-447.7) and had a median follow-up of 28.4 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 24.5, 45.4). First treatments following ESA failure included azacitidine (41.7%), decitabine (10.2%), lenalidomide (16.6%), experimental drugs (3.1%), other growth factors (13.6%), ATG and/or other immunosuppressants (8%), chemotherapy (0.1%) , transplant (0.1%) and others (6.6%). The overall response rate (ORR) to ESAs was 18.8%, with 0% achieving CR; 0.1% PR; and 18.7% HI. Responses for epo were 17.3% and for darb were 19.8% (p=.67 for difference). For both ESAs, 81.2% of patients had disease refractory to treatment: 69.4% with stable disease and 12% with progressive disease with no significant differences between epo and darb by responder status. Median response duration for epo and darb were 21.9 weeks (range: 3.0 - 447.7) and 39.1 weeks (range: 0.0 - 350.7) respectively (p=0.045). Median survival from the date of diagnosis was 28.4 months (95% CI: 24.5, 45.4), and from ESA failure was 23.9 months (95% CI: 19.9, 33.0): 21.6 months (95% CI: 15.6, 39.2) for epo and 28.8 months (95% CI: 21.2, 39.7) for darb (p=0.99) (Figure). Median time to AML transformation or death was 17.4 Months (95% CI: 14.1, 22.9): 25.4 months for responders and 16.8 months for non-responders (p=.069). For patients who received ESAs for a minimum of 4 months (39% of pts for epo and 61% for darb), ORR was 16.5%, and median survival from ESA failure was 23.0 months (95% CI: 14.7, 33.0): 22.3 months (95% CI: 13.1, NA) for epo and 24.7 months (95% CI: 14.3, 39.7) for darb (p=0.87). Conclusion: In this large, but uncontrolled cohort, response rates were similar for lower-risk MDS patients treated with epo and darb, though duration was longer for darb. There was a trend for improved outcomes in patients who responded to ESAs. Lower-risk MDS patients treated with ESAs have an OS of less than 2 years from the time of failure, and can thus be considered a high-risk MDS group for whom subsequent therapies are not standardized, representing an unmet medical need. Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures Sekeres: Celgene Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; TetraLogic: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Steensma:Incyte: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Onconova: Consultancy. Komrokji:Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Speakers Bureau.

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Long-Term Outcome Following B-Cell Depletion Therapy with Rituximab In Children and Adults with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v116.21.72.72 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 116 (21) ◽

pp. 72-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vivek L. Patel ◽

Matthieu Mahévas ◽

Roberto Stasi ◽

Susanna Cunningham-Rundles ◽

Bertrand Godeau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Response Rate ◽

Initial Response ◽

Response Rates ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Term Outcome ◽

Long Term Outcome ◽

One Year

Abstract Abstract 72 Background: Studies of B-cell depletion using Rituximab in adults with ITP report responses lasting at least one year in almost all of the 30–40% of patients with complete responses (CR: platelet count >150 × 109/l) and also a small fraction of patients with partial responses (PR: platelet count 50–150 × 109/l). However data describing patients with ITP who are relapse-free and off-treatment beyond 1–2 years from initial Rituximab are almost entirely anecdotal and comparable response data are even less available for children. This study assessed the duration of unmaintained platelet response following rituximab treatment in 72 adults and 66 children with ITP, all of whom had had at least an initial response to rituximab. Long-term outcome was estimated from these data. Methods: Seventeen published studies including 486 patients, 376 adults and 110 children, were used to obtain the initial response rates to standard-dose rituximab treatment (375mg/m2 weekly for 4 weeks) in adults and children. Only 1 included study did not use the standard dose of rituximab. The Godeau study (Blood, 2008) was used to estimate the one-year response rate in adults with ITP. Only those adults whose responses persisted at least one year had follow up assessed whereas children who demonstrated even ephemeral responses were included. Only verified counts were used in this IRB-approved multicenter study. Results: 138 subjects with CR's or PR's after rituximab were included. All patients had starting platelet counts <30×109/l and 131 (95%) had ITP of > 6 months duration. Thirty-three (24%) had undergone splenectomy. Using the data from prior publications to obtain the initial response rates, children had a 56% initial response rate to rituximab treatment and adults had a 57% rate. Taking initial responders and then using the Godeau data for adults and Kaplan-Meier analysis of our data for children, 38% one-year response rates were obtained for both children and adults treated with rituximab. Both age groups also showed remarkable similarity at two years with 30% relapse-free response rates. However, all of the 26 eligible children maintained their response beyond two years whereas adults continued to relapse. Therefore the five-year response rate was 30% for children and only 21% for adults. Sex, duration of ITP, and age among adults did not affect long-term outcome. The rate of relapse was almost identical for splenectomized patients and non-splenectomized ones but the splenectomized patients appeared to relapse sooner (Figure). Patients with CR's (55 of the 72 adults with responses lasting at least one year were CR's) had better long-term outcomes than did patients with PR's even more than one year from initial treatment. B-cells returned significantly sooner to higher levels in subjects who relapsed compared to those whose responses were ongoing. No clinical long-term toxicity was observed but 2 patients were identified to have mild hypogammaglobulinemia > 30 months from initial treatment. Conclusions: In summary, only approximately 1 in 5 adults treated with rituximab will have an at least five-year relapse-free response rate which is disappointingly low; children have only a slightly higher five-year relapse-free response rate. A pilot study to improve outcomes using either R-CVP or double dose rituximab was unsuccessful (Hasan, Am J Hematol,2009) Current efforts to improve long-term response rates have focused on the combination of high dose dexamethasone and rituximab (or even by providing maintenance treatment with rituximab). A better understanding of the mechanism of effect of rituximab in patients with ITP might allow an improved treatment strategy to be developed. Fortunately, the toxicity of rituximab treatment in patients with uncomplicated ITP appears to be low; however, yearly testing for immunoglobulins for a minimum of five years might be appropriate. Disclosures: Neufeld: Novartis. Inc: Research Funding. Shenoy:Novartis Oncology: Honoraria. Bussel:Amgen: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Cangene: Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Genzyme: Research Funding; Immunomedics: Research Funding; Ligand: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Eisai Inc: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Shionogi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sysmex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Portola: Consultancy.

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Incidence, Risk Factors, Treatment and Long Term Outcome of Refractory and First Relapse AML Patients in the OSHO Studies

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-125262 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 1358-1358

Author(s):

Dietger Niederwieser ◽

Rainer Krahl ◽

Christoph Kahl ◽

Hans-Heinrich Wolf ◽

Sebastian Scholl ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Remission Induction ◽

Intensive Chemotherapy ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Term Outcome ◽

Long Term Outcome ◽

Advisory Boards

Introduction: Outcome of patients (pts) with refractory AML or following relapse is considered dismal and usually reported as refractory/relapsed. Here we analyzed long term outcome of refractory and relapsing pts separately over a 10 year (y) period from two prospective, non-age-limited, adult AML studies. Results have been published or presented previously as part of the German AML Intergroup studies1,2. However, incidence, characteristics, treatment and outcome of refractory and relapsed pts have not been evaluated. Patients and Methods: A total of 1621 pts from the OSHO 2002 ≤60 y (n=740) and 2004 >60 y (n=881) with newly diagnosed AML (except acute promyelocytic leukemia) and eligible for chemotherapy were analyzed. The gender was male in 51.7% of pts. AML type was de novo in 66.6%, followed by secondary AML in 25.8% and therapy related in 7.6%. Cytogenetic risk status was normal in 47.9%, intermediate in 16.3%, unfavorable in 15.3%, monosomal in 12.6% and favorable in 7.9%. Molecular analysis revealed wildtype (wt) FLT3 in 80.9% and FLT3 ITD mutated (mut) in 19.1% of pts. NPM was mutated in 30.2% of 1124 pts. In the AML 2002 and 2004 studies (NCT 01414231; NCT 01497002; NCT00266136), pts were randomly (9:1) assigned to remission induction by cytarabine (1 g/m2 bid d 1, 3, 5, 7) and Idarubicin (AML 2002) 12 mg/m2/d d 1-31 or mitoxantrone (AML 2004) 10 mg/m2/d iv d 1 - 32 or to a common arm consisting of a 3+7 scheme 3. Pts in complete remission (CR) received consolidation and stem cell transplantation (HSCT) according to cytogenetic risk and donor availability1,2. Pts with partial remission (PR) or non-response (NR) to two induction cycles were considered refractory. Pts achieving CR and relapsing thereafter were considered relapses and treated with MitoFlag or Flag-Ida4. Results: The majority of pts [median age 62 (range 17-87) y] entered CR or CRi after one or two induction cycles (n=1144; 70.6%). OS was 31.9 (29.5-34.4) % @5y and 26.0 (23.4-28.9) % @10y. Results were age dependent and superior in younger pts with an OS of 46.8 (43.1-50.7) % @5y compared to 19.3 (16.7-22.4) % @ 5y in elderly. Age, cytogenetics and NPM1 were determinants for CR and WBC (p<0,001), gender (p<0,05) and AML type (p<0,01) for OS. FLT3-ITD mut was an important determinant for relapse free survival in pts ≤60y. A total of 238 (14.7%) of 1621 pts, 23.5% in the younger and 76.5% in the elderly study, were refractory (PR 60.1%, NR 39.9%). Pts had a median age of 66 (range 23-83)y. OS of refractory pts was 11.4 (7.9-16.6)% @5y, and dependent upon PR [(13.1 (8.1-21.1) % @10y] and NR [5.2 (2.1-12.6) % @5y; p=0.0003]. Intensive chemotherapy ± HSCT and hypomethylating agents (HMA) were able to induce CR in 24.8% of pts. CR and non-CR pts had an OS of 42.7 (31.4-58.2) % @5y and an OS of 3.7 (1.7-8.0) % @2y, respectively. Risk factors for OS in refractory pts were age and type of therapy (p<0.0001). Almost all long term survivors were treated with HSCT. Of the 1144 CR/CRi pts, 582 relapsed 1-121 months (mts) after CR. Relapse occurred in 34.0% ≤6 mts, in 38,8% between 7-18 mts and in 12,2% >18 mts. Age, cytogenetic risk, type of AML, interval CR to relapse and HSCT were the dominant factors for relapse. CR2 was achieved after intensive chemotherapy ± HSCT, ± DLI and HMA in 227 pts (39.0%), 54.5% in the AML 2002 and 28.4% in the AML 2004. OS of relapsed pts was 13.8 (11.1 - 17.3) % @5y and 10.9 (7.4 - 16.2) % @10y and was higher in the younger with 23.4 (18.2-29.9) % @5y as compared to elderly pts 6.9 (4.4 - 11.0) % @5y. Pts with CR2 had a LFS of 24.9 (19.5-31.7) % @5y and was highest in patients <60y when intensive chemotherapy followed by HSCT was involved. Independent risk factors for OS in relapsed pts were age, cytogenetic risk, interval CR1 to relapse and type of therapy. Relapsed pts with HSCT in CR1 showed a trend for reduced survival. Conclusions Outcome of pts with refractory and relapsed AML is unsatisfactory but consistent >10% @5y. A differential response is observed in refractory and relapsed pts and is dependent upon PR, NR and the achievement of CR. Increase of CR rate in younger but especially in elderly pts with second generation TKI, reduction of TRM using FLT3-inhibitor monotherapy and the option to treat pts ineligible to chemotherapy promise better outcome in refractory and relapsed AML. 1Büchner et al. JCO 2012; 2Niederwieser et al Blood 2016; 3Mayer et al. NEJM 1994; 4Thiel et al. Ann Oncology 2015 Disclosures Niederwieser: Daichii: Speakers Bureau; Cellectis: Consultancy. Scholl:Gilead: Other: Project funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Other: Advisory boards; AbbVie: Other: Advisory boards; Pfizer: Other: Advisory boards; Novartis: Other: Project funding. Zojer:Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Sayer:Novartis: Other: none. Schwind:Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Maschmeyer:Gilead, Janssen Cilag, Astra Zeneca; BMS, Merk-Serono: Honoraria. Hochhaus:Pfizer: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; MSD: Research Funding. Al-Ali:Celgene: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; CTI: Honoraria.

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Long-Term Follow-up of the Randomized Controlled Study in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Severe Aplastic Anemia Treated with ATG, Cyclosporine, with or without G-CSF: On Behalf of the SAA Working Party of the EBMT

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-99-111811 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 1307-1307

Author(s):

André Tichelli ◽

Regis Peffault De Latour ◽

Jakob R. Passweg ◽

Cora Knol ◽

Gérard Socié ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Late Complications ◽

Solid Cancer ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Term Outcome ◽

Long Term Outcome ◽

Secondary Mds

Abstract Introduction The prospective randomized study on treatment of 192 severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients with ATG and Cyclosporine (CSA) with and without G-CSF showed that G-CSF added to ATG/CSA decreases the rate of early infection episodes and days of hospitalization in very SAA (vSAA) patients, but has no significant impact on overall survival (OS), event free survival (EFS), relapse, or death rates (Blood, 2011;17:4434). The number of secondary MDS/AML was low, however with a short observation time. Now, 16 years after initiation of the study, a follow-up was planned to evaluate long-term outcome, comparing patients with and without G-CSF. Patients and Methods A total of 192 patients with newly diagnosed SAA, not eligible for stem cell transplantation (SCT) were entered into this prospective randomized multi-center study to receive ATG/CSA with (49.5%) or without G-CSF (50.5%). In 2011, 44 of the 192 patients had died. For the present study the follow-up of the 148 patients alive at time of first publication were requested. There were 49% males (49% G-CSF; 48% no G-CSF), 36% with vSAA (32% G-CSF; 41% no G-CSF). The median age at randomization was 46 years (2-80), 47 (2-80) for the G-CSF and 44 (7-80) for the non-G-CSF group. The median follow-up using reverse KM method was 11.7 years (10.9-12.5). Results Among the 110 survivors (17 missing), 71 (65%) were in CR, 33 (30%) in PR and 6 not in remission (5%), without any difference between the G-CSF and non-G-CSF group (P=0.523). At last follow-up 65 (34%) of the patients have died. Causes of death were infection (26), bleeding (3), SAA unspecified (3), MDS/AML (4), solid cancer (3), transplant related mortality (8), cardiovascular/aging (7), or unspecified (11). There was no difference in the causes of death between patients treated with or without G-CSF. OS at 15 years was 57±12% for the G-CSF and 63±12% for the non-G-CSF group (P=0.927). EFS, including SCT, relapse, non-response at day 120, second MDS/AML, PNH or death as an event, was 24±10% for the G-CSF, and 23±10% for the non-G-CSF group (P=0.367). Nine patients developed florid or morphological signs of MDS/AML, 9 clonal cytogenetic anomaly only, 7 a solid cancer, 18 clinical PNH, 8 avascular osteonecrosis, and 12 chronic kidney disease (No difference between patients treated with or without G-CSF). Cumulative incidence (CI) at 15 years of MDS/AML (isolated cytogenetic anomalies not included) was 5.0±2% (G-CSF) and 7.3±3% (no G-CSF), respectively (P=0.693); for clinical PNH it was 10.1±5% and 13.3±7% (P=0.499), for relapse of responding patients at day 120, 29.8±22% and 25.1±17% (P=0.545), and for chronic kidney failure 16%±12% and 13%±12% (P=0.513), respectively. Forty patients needed a second line immunosuppressive therapy (IST) for relapse (17), refractory disease (8), cyclosporine dependence (6) or isolated cytopenia (9) (G-CSF 26; no G-CSF 16; P=0.291); 16 patients needed a third line IST for relapse (5), refractory disease (7), isolated cytopenia (4) (G-CSF 12; no G-CSF 4; P=0.647). Twenty-eight patients were treated with allogeneic SCT in second or subsequent line (G-CSF 12; no G-CSF 16). CI at 15 years of SCT (competing risk, death without SCT) was 14±8% (G-CSF) and 22%±10% (no G-CSF), respectively (P=0.380). OS at 10 years since SCT was 46±24%. The most important risk factors for patients treated with ATG/CSA with or without G-CSF were age and severity of the disease at randomization: OS at 15 years was 89±12% (<20 years), 81±13% (20-40 years), 55±15% (40-60 years), and 32±16% (>60 years of age), respectively (P>0.001), and 64±5% and 52±7% for patients with SAA and vSAA, respectively (P=0.021). There was no difference between patients treated with or without G-CSF. Finally, the lack of neutrophil response by day 30, which was significant at first evaluation, is still associated with borderline lower survival (46.6±14% versus 67.1±9%; P=0.058). Conclusion: Long-term outcome of SAA patients treated with ATG/CSA was not influenced by supplementing G-CSF in term of OS, EFS, death rates, relapse, PNH, secondary MDS/AML, solid cancer and non-malignant late complications. Due to the pre-cancer nature of the disease and its long-lasting treatment, patients treated with IST are at risk for a number of malignant and non-malignant late complications. It is somewhat disappointing that in this careful followed cohort less than 25% of patients are alive and event-free 10-15 years after initial treatment. Disclosures Peffault De Latour: Pfizer Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen Inc.: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Hoechsmann:Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Schrezenmeier:Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding. Kulasekararaj:Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel Support . Bader:Neovii: Research Funding; Cellgene: Consultancy; Riemser: Research Funding; Medac: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Risitano:Pfizer Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Amyndas Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Ra Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

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A Complicated Neighborhood: Insights into the Hodgkin Lymphoma Microenvironment

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-121284 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. SCI-8-SCI-8

Author(s):

Maher K. Gandhi

Keyword(s):

Board Of Directors ◽

Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽

Immune Checkpoint ◽

Research Funding ◽

Immune Checkpoints ◽

Biological Entity ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Term Outcome ◽

Viral Oncoprotein ◽

Long Term Outcome

Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) is a heterogenous and complex biological entity. Whereas early studies focussed on characterization of the Reed-Sternberg (RS) cell, there is now increasing recognition of the importance of the tumor microenvironment (TME). This critical but only partially understood component of cHL biology is likely to impact pathogenesis, chemo-sensitivity and long-term outcome. Here, the non-malignant infiltrate is variably comprised of macrophages, regulatory T cells, and stroma, with the relative composition varying by histological sub-type. Notably, relative to other B cell lymphomas, cHL expresses high levels of immune checkpoint receptors such as PD-1 and LAG3, and immune checkpoint ligands such as PD-L1, PD-L2, the latter of which are frequently the subject of genetic amplifications. Hence the bi-directional relationship between the microenvironment and the malignant cell is now a valid target. Breakthroughs in our understanding of the TME in cHL have contributed to its status as the 'poster-child' for how checkpoint blockade can de-activate tumor-tolerance to induce meaningful clinical benefit. A further layer of complexity within the TME is the potential aetiological relationship between cHL and the Epstein-Barr virus, a ubiquitous virus found to reside within the RS cells in 40% of cases, particularly in those cases that have mixed cellularity. Unlike benign EBV-infected B cells, within RS cells the virus is in a highly aberrant latency state with expression of the viral oncoprotein LMP1, a virus that is known to induce immunosuppression and drive PD-L1 expression through the NFkB and the JAK-STAT pathways. But numerous unanswered mechanistic questions remain, not least in the light of the frequent genetically driven deficiencies in antigen presentation present in RS cells, particularly in cases of nodular sclerosing disease. This has reignited debate about the relative roles of adaptive and innate immunity in this disease. Remaining questions that need to be addressed include the evolution of the interaction between the TME and the malignant compartment during the course of cHL, the role of other immune checkpoints and their impact on combinatorial immune based strategies, and the contribution to immune-evasion played by stromal cells. Further understanding will assist the rational development of new immune-based strategies, and potentially one day a chemo-free regimen that is as clinically efficacious but less toxic than current chemotherapies. Disclosures Gandhi: Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Other: Travel Support; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Merck: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria.

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The BCR-ABL Transcript Levels At 3 and 6 Months Predict the Long-Term Outcome of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients Treated Frontline with Imatinib Mesylate: A Gimema CML WP Analysis

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v120.21.1678.1678 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 120 (21) ◽

pp. 1678-1678

Author(s):

Fausto Castagnetti ◽

Gabriele Gugliotta ◽

Massimo Breccia ◽

Giorgina Specchia ◽

Elisabetta Abruzzese ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Board Of Directors ◽

Myeloid Leukemia ◽

Roc Curves ◽

Molecular Response ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Term Outcome ◽

Long Term Outcome ◽

Free Survival ◽

Transcript Levels

Abstract Abstract 1678 Background. Imatinib mesylate (IM) is the therapeutic standard for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but nilotinib and dasatinib, at least in selected patients, have the potential to replace it. The early prediction of poor outcome is important to optimize the treatment strategy. In IM-treated patients, BCR-ABL transcript levels according to the International Scale (IS) > 10% at 3 and > 1% at 6 months were able to identify high-risk groups (Marin et al, JClinOncol 2011; Hanfstein et al, Leukemia 2012). Similar analysis were performed within the IM arms of the ENESTnd trial (Hochhaus et al, EHA 2012) and the DASISION trial (Jabbour et al, EHA 2012). Methods. To investigate the prognostic impact of BCR-ABLIS levels at 3 and 6 months on the future response status and the long-term outcome of CML patients treated frontline with IM, we analyzed 559 patients enrolled within 3 trials of the GIMEMA CML WP (ClinTrialsGov NCT00514488/NCT00510926, observational trial CML023). Patients with evaluable QPCR sample at 3 and 6 months: 487/559 (87%) and 492/559 (88%), respectively. Definitions: major molecular response (MMR): BCR-ABLIS ratio <0.1%; molecular response with 4.0-log reduction (MR4.0): BCR-ABLIS <0.01%; failures: according to 2009 ELN recommendations. The rate of complete cytogenetic response (CCgR) and MMR at 1 year, the rate of MR4.0 at 2 years, the failure-free survival (FFS), the progression-free survival (PFS) and the overall survival (OS) according to the BCR-ABL transcript levels (≤10% vs >10 and ≤1% vs >1%) at 3 and 6 months were analyzed. Patients with events or censored within 3 or 6 months were excluded from the respective analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used for descriptive purposes. Results. Median age: 52 years (range 18–84). IM dose: 76% 400mg, 24% 800mg. Sokal score: 39% low, 39% intermediate, 22% high; EUTOS score: 93% low, 7% high. Median follow-up: 76 months (range: 7–99); 95% of patients had at least 5-year observation. BCR-ABLIS at 3 months: ≤1% in 336/487 (69%), >1% to ≤10% in 120/487 (25%) and >10% in 31/487 (6%). BCR-ABLIS at 6 months: ≤1% in 425/492 (86%), >1% to ≤10% in 54/492 (11%) and >10% in 13/492 (3%). Responses and outcomes according to transcript levels are presented in table 1. Patients with BCR-ABLIS >10% at 3 months achieved inferior CCgR and MMR rates at 1 year and inferior MR4.0 rate at 2 years, but the long-term outcome was comparable to patients with transcript levels < 10%. On the contrary, a BCR-ABLIS >1% at 3 months was associated, not only to lower subsequent response rates, but also to significantly inferior FFS, PFS and OS. The BCR-ABLIS levels able to predict for FFS, PFS and OS with maximal sensitivity and specificity (ROC curves) were 1.9%, 0.8% and 0.8%, respectively. Results were similar, with small differences, in the 6-month analysis. Conclusions. In a multicentric nationwide experience, the proportion of patients with BCR-ABLIS transcript levels >10% at 3 and 6 months was low. The risk distribution and the proportion of patients treated with high-dose IM may explain, at least in part, the differences with other published reports. At 3 and 6 months, a BCR-ABLIS cutoff of 1% was a reliable surrogate marker of response and outcome. A transcript level >10% identified a smaller cohort with inferior responses, but failed to predict the long-term outcome. A BCR-ABLIS level >1% at 3 and 6 months represents a warning, requiring a close monitoring. A switch to 2nd generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors should be considered. Acknowledgments. University of Bologna, BolognaAIL, COFIN, Fondazione Carisbo. Disclosures: Castagnetti: Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Gugliotta:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol-Myers-Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria. Breccia:Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy. Abruzzese:Bristol Myers-Squibb and Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Cavazzini:Novartis Pharma: Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria. Soverini:Novartis: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; ARIAD: Consultancy. Saglio:Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy. Martinelli:Bristol-Myers-Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Baccarani:ARIAD, Novartis, Bristol Myers-Squibb, and Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Rosti:Novartis Pharma: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau.

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Frontline Treatment With Imatinib Mesylate in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients in Early Chronic Phase: a Very Long-Term Analysis by the GIMEMA CML Working Party

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v122.21.258.258 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 122 (21) ◽

pp. 258-258 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Fausto Castagnetti ◽

Gabriele Gugliotta ◽

Massimo Breccia ◽

Giorgina Specchia ◽

Tamara Intermesoli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Board Of Directors ◽

Chronic Phase ◽

Working Party ◽

Molecular Response ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Term Outcome ◽

Long Term Outcome ◽

Free Survival

Abstract Background The chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) therapeutic scenario has been enriched by the approval of second generation TKIs as frontline treatment of early chronic phase (ECP) patients, but imatinib mesylate (IM) still represents the standard for many patients. The long term outcome is extremely important to assess the treatment efficacy and to decide on the allocation of resources. The phase 3 trials comparing second generation TKIs versus standard-dose IM have not still demonstrated a clear improvement in terms of progression-free survival and overall survival. In the IRIS trial, at 8 year, 55% of patients were still on IM and the overall survival (OS) was 85%. Other published reports have shorter follow-up. Aims and Methods To assess the very long-term outcome of CML patients treated frontline with IM, we analyzed 559 patients enrolled within 3 multicentric prospective studies conducted by the GIMEMA CML Working Party (NCT00514488, NCT00510926, observational trial CML023). Definitions: major molecular response (MMR), BCR-ABLIS ratio <0.1%; deep molecular response (MR4.0), detectable disease ≤ 0.01% BCR-ABLIS or undetectable disease with ≥10,000 ABL transcripts; progression, transformation to accelerated or blastic phase; failure, according to 2013 ELN criteria; event, treatment discontinuation for any reason or lost to follow-up. Information on survival and progression were regularly collected. All deaths, at any time and for any reason, were included. All the analysis have been made according to the intention-to-treat principle. Results Baseline demographics characteristics: median age: 52 years (extremes 18-84 years); male sex: 60%; high Sokal, high Euro and high EUTOS scores: 22%, 7% and 7%, respectively; clonal chromosomal abnormalities (CCA) in Ph+ cells: 4% (not evaluable in 32% of patients for insufficient number of metaphases); e13a2 BCR-ABL transcript: 36%. Median follow-up: 76 (7-99) months. The cumulative incidence of complete cytogenetic response (CCyR), MMR and MR4 was 88%, 85% and 61%, respectively. The median time to CCyR, MMR and MR4 was 6, 7 and 42 months, respectively. Patients with high Sokal, high Euro and high EUTOS scores had significantly lower overall estimated probability of CCyR and MMR with respect to low and intermediate risk patients. A high Sokal score also predicted a significantly inferior probability of MR4; patients with high Euro and high EUTOS score had lower overall estimated probability of MR4, but the difference were not statistically significant. The reasons for IM discontinuation were: lack of efficacy (19%), toxicity or death (9%), withdrawal of informed consent (3%); 4% of patients were lost to follow-up. The 8-year event-free survival (EFS), failure-free survival (FFS), progression-free survival (PFS) and OS were 55% (95% CI: 51-60%), 66% (95% CI: 61-70%), 84% (95% CI: 78-89%) and 85% (95% CI: 79-90%), respectively. A high Sokal and a high Euro scores were able to identify patients with significantly lower probability of EFS, FFS, PFS and OS with respect to the other patients. High EUTOS score patients had significantly poorer EFS and FFS, but PFS and OS differences were not significant. Age, performance status and e13a2 transcript resulted independent prognostic factors on PFS and OS. Conclusions Until now, the available data on the very long-term outcome of newly diagnosed chronic phase CML patients treated frontline with imatinib are limited to a company sponsored study (IRIS study). The GIMEMA CML Working Party provided an unbiased overview of the long-term imatinib therapeutic effects in a multicentric nationwide experience. These results should be taken into consideration to make treatment decision concerning the choice of the first line TKI, particularly in low risk patients. Acknowledgments University of Bologna, BolognaAIL, COFIN, Fondazione Carisbo. Disclosures: Castagnetti: Novartis Farma: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria. Gugliotta:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria. Abruzzese:BMS, Novartis: Consultancy. Soverini:Novartis: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; ARIAD: Consultancy. Cavo:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Millennium: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Onyx: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees.

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Long-Term Outcome of Chronic Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients Treated with Nilotinib Front-Line

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2020-139921 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 44-45

Author(s):

Franck E Nicolini ◽

Vincent Alcazer ◽

Pascale Cony-Makhoul ◽

Stephanie Dulucq ◽

Sandrine Hayette ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Chronic Phase ◽

Molecular Response ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

Front Line ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Long Term Outcome

Nilotinib (NIL) 600 mg daily has demonstrated its superiority over Imatinib 400 mg daily in terms of response and incidence of deep molecular response in the front-line chronic phase (CP) CML setting. In this observational study we have retrospectively analyzed the outcome of in- and out-study 202 patients (pts) treated in this setting with NIL 600 mg front-line, in "real-life" conditions. All pts with newly diagnosed adult CP-CML receiving NIL 300 mg BID alone front-line between 10/2007 and 06/2020, were eligible for this study. Data were retrospectively collected according to the current French regulations with pts' information. All pts were assessed and followed according to ELN recommendations 2003, 2006, and 2009 along treatment and to the recommendations from the French group of CML (D. Rea et al., Cancer 2018) in case of TFR. In this regard, a TKI was resumed if loss of MMR. All BCR-ABL1 assessments were performed in the 3 reference laboratories, standardised and expressed in % (IS) with ≥32,000 copies of ABL1 as control. The primary endpoints were the rate of molecular responses in the long-term and the (vascular) safety of Nilotinib. Secondary endpoints were the kinetics of molecular response, survival and safety of Nilotinib. Survival (OS, PFS & EFS) was defined according to ELN (J. Guilhot et al. Blood 2012). Two hundred and two patients were reported with 44% females and 56% males with a median age at diagnosis of 50.4 (17.5-83) years, and 26% of them had cardiovascular risk factors at onset (tobacco abuse 11%, hypercholesterolemia 9.3%, diabetes 1.45%, none with past history of cardiovascular events [CVE]). ELTS scores were high in 14%, intermediate in 31% and low in 55% of pts. Twenty-four (12%) pts harboured additional chromosomal abnormalities at diagnosis. The median follow-up after NIL initiation was 61.5 (1-147.5) months. At last follow-up 113 pts (55%) are not on NIL anymore for toxicities, TFR or resistance reasons. Twenty-eight (14%) pts present an arterial event on NIL (18% PAOD, 14% angina pectoralis, 7% myocardial infarction, 14% stroke, 47% others such as atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy...), that occurred after a median of 26 (0.6-98.5) months on NIL. Forty-six (22.5%) pts reached TFR criteria and stopped NIL after a median of 58.5 (27-126) months. The cumulative incidence (CI) rates of MMR at 1, 2 and 5 years were 64 (57-71)%, 79.4 (75.45-83.35)% and 95 (92-98.5)% respectively. For MR4, those were 35.5 (29-42)%, 60 (52-67)% and 82 (74.5-89)% respectively; and for MR4.5, were 14 (9-19)%, 31 (24-28)% and 62 (54-70.5)% respectively. The CI of sustained MR4.5 (i. e. patients eligible for TFR: MR4.5 ≥2 years) was observed in 30 (23-37)% at 3 years, 45.5 (36-55)% at 5 years and 52.5 (41.5-64)% at 6 years (Figure). The CI of patients entering TFR was 16.75 (10.5-23)% at 5 years and 51.94 (37.31-66.57)% at 10 years with a survival without MMR loss of 70.7 (58- 86)% at 1 year and 65.26 (50.6-84)% at 5 years. Nine (4.5%) pts progressed towards accelerated phase (4 pts) or BC (2 lymphoid, 3 myeloid) responsible for 5 deaths at latest follow-up. Among NIL resistant patients screened, 15 were harbouring ABL1 mutations (5 Y253H, 3 E255K, 3 T315I, 1 M244V, 1 G250E, 1 F359V, 1 V299L). Overall, 10 patients died (5 from CML, 5 from unrelated causes). The probability of OS was 95.75 [95%CI: 92.9-98.7]% at 2 years and 94.8 [91.5-98.3]% at 5 years, for PFS it was 94.92 [91.7-98.2]% at 2 years and 89.5 [84.7-94.6]% at 5 years, and EFS it was 78 [72.3-84]% at 2 years and 60.25 [53.3-68.1]% at 5 years. Regarding sustained MR4.5, univariate analysis showed that female gender (HR=2.46 [1.50-4.02], p<0.001) and low ELTS (HR=0.41 [0.22-0.76], p<0.004) had a significant impact, while multivariate analysis confirmed the role of these 2 factors (HR=2.31 [1.41- 3.79], p=0.001 and HR= 0.52 [0.30- 0.90], p=0.02) in addition to high ELTS (HR= 0.28 [0.14- 0.58], p<0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that only age impacted on the CI of CVE (HR= 1.07 [1.04-1.10], p<0.001, and HR=1.07 [1.04-1.10], p<0.001). NIL first-line efficiently limits progression of newly diagnosed CP-CML patients and provides high rates of sustained MR4.5, allowing TFR in a substantial proportion of pts. However, the onset of arterial occlusive events, especially in the elderly is a matter of concern in the choice of this compound at treatment initiation. Disclosures Nicolini: Incyte: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sun Pharma Ltd: Consultancy. Cony-Makhoul:BMS: Speakers Bureau; Incyte Biosciences: Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy. Dulucq:Incyte: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Cayuela:Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Speakers Bureau. Rea:Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mahon:ARIAD: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Novartis Pharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria. Etienne:Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

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219 Long-term outcome of anemic non del 5q lower-risk MDS refractory to or relapsing after erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs)

Leukemia Research ◽

10.1016/s0145-2126(11)70221-1 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 35 ◽

pp. S86

Author(s):

C. Kelaidi ◽

S. Park ◽

R. Sapena ◽

O. Beyne-Rauzy ◽

V. Coiteux ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lower Risk ◽

Term Outcome ◽

Long Term Outcome ◽

Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents

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Clinical and Biological Characteristics and Outcomes of Richter Transformation : A French Multicenter Study from the Filo Group

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-128053 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 4112-4112

Author(s):

Charline Moulin ◽

Romain Morizot ◽

Thomas Remen ◽

Hélène Augé ◽

Florian Bouclet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Intermediate Risk ◽

Line Treatment ◽

First Line ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Long Term Survivors ◽

First Line Treatment

Introduction: About 2 to 10% of patients (pts) diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) develop diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL, so-called Richter transformation (RT)) over long-term follow-up. The outcomes of pts with RT are variable and poorly understood and there is no consensus on the best therapeutic approach. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics, outcomes and factors predictive of survival in a large series of RT from the French Innovative Leukemia Organization (FILO). Methods: Biopsy-confirmed RT (limited to DLBCL and excluding Hodgkin lymphoma) diagnosed from 2001 to 2018 were identified from eight FILO centers. Clinical and biological characteristics of CLL and RT at diagnosis, including cytogenetics, clonal relation with the pre-existing CLL, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status, cell of origin (COO) analyzed by immunohistochemistry and RT score (Tsimberidou AM et al, J Clin Oncol, 2006) were analyzed as well as treatment and outcomes. Overall survivals (OS) were defined as time from CLL and RT diagnosis to death from any cause and analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Statistical analyses were performed with SAS version 9.4. Results: A total of 70 CLL pts who developed RT were identified. The median age at CLL diagnosis was 62 years old (range 35-82), and 50 (71.4 %) were male. The median time to transformation was 5.5 years (range 0 to 22 years), with 12 simultaneous diagnosis of CLL and RT. Prior to RT, 20 (29%) pts had not been treated for CLL, 50 received one (n=21) or more (n= 29) line of treatment ; 6 pts had received a novel agent (ibrutinib, idelalisib or venetoclax). The median age at RT diagnosis was 68 years old (range 42-88). All biopsies were centrally reviewed; 38/58 pts (66%) had elevated LDH (>1.5N) ; 35/65 pts (54 %) had bulky disease (≥ 5 cm); 10/54 (18.5%) pts had del(17p) or TP53 mutation ; 9/42 pts (21%) had a complex karyotype (at least 3 abnormalities). The CLL and RT were clonally related in 27/27 (100%) tested pts. COO by Hans algorithm was non germinal center B cell-like (GCB) in 26/28 pts (93%). EBV was positive or detected in 5/40 (12.5%) pts. The median of Ki67 positivity was 70% (range 30% to 100%). The RT score (based at RT diagnosis on ECOG performance status 2-4, LDH >1.5 x normal, platelets<100 x 109/L, tumor size >5 cm and >1 prior therapy for CLL) was : low risk in 17 pts (31%), low-intermediate risk in 10 pts (19%), high-intermediate risk in 14 pts (25%) and high risk in 14 pts (25%). The most common first-line treatment of RT was immunochemotherapy (n=57, 87%) including R-CHOP-like regimen (n=48, 73%). Autologous or allogeneic transplantation was performed for 7 pts (11%). Response to first-line treatment was complete or partial response in 26 pts (40%), and stable disease or progression in 39 pts (60%). After a median follow-up of 8 years, 51/64 pts (80%) have died. The main causes of death were progressive DLBCL (n=36, 71%), infection (n=8, 16%) or progressive CLL (n=2, 4%). The median OS of the cohort from CLL and RT diagnosis (Figure 1) were 7.8 years and 9.5 months, respectively. In univariate analysis, patients with TP53 disruption at CLL stage, low platelets count, elevated LDH, elevated beta2-microglobulin, high ECOG score, high RT score, EBV positivity and absence of response to first-line RT treatment had worse OS. The ECOG score, platelets count and TP53 disruption remain significant in multivariate Cox-regression. Last, we compared the clinical and biological parameters of two Richter groups defined as: (i) short-term survivors (<12 months, n = 34) and (ii) long-term survivors (>48 months, n = 18). Long survival was significantly associated with elevated platelets count, low LDH, low ECOG, low RT score and response to RT first-line treatment. Discussion: The clinical outcomes of RT patients is poor and novel treatment options are needed. However, a group of long-term survivors was identified, characterized by elevated platelets count, low LDH, low ECOG, low RT score and response to immunochemotherapy. Disclosures Leblond: Astra Zeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Thieblemont:Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Gilead: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Kyte: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Cellectis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Cymbalista:Janssen: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria; Sunesis: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria. Guièze:Abbvie: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria. Broseus:Janssen: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria; Novartis: Research Funding. Feugier:gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; roche: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

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Long-Term Experience with Large Granular Lymphocytic Leukemia Evolving after Solid Organ and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-130167 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 1226-1226

Author(s):

Hassan Awada ◽

Reda Z. Mahfouz ◽

Jibran Durrani ◽

Ashwin Kishtagari ◽

Deepa Jagadeesh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Viral Infections ◽

De Novo ◽

Post Transplantation ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Post Transplant ◽

Stat3 Mutations

T-cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia (T-LGLL) is a clonal proliferation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). T-LGLL mainly manifest in elderly and is associated with autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), B cell dyscrasias, non-hematologic cancers and immunodeficiency (e.g., hypogammaglobulinemia). LGL manifestations often resemble reactive immune processes leading to the dilemmas that LGLs act like CTL expansion during viral infections (for example EBV associated infectious mononucleosis). While studying a cohort of 246 adult patients with T-LGLL seen at Cleveland Clinic over the past 10 years, we encountered 15 cases of overt T-LGLL following transplantation of solid organs (SOT; n=8) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT; n=7). Although early studies reported on the occurrence of LGL post-transplant, these studies focused on the analysis of oligoclonality skewed reactive CTL responses rather than frank T-LGLL. We aimed to characterize post-transplantation T-LGLL in SOT and HSCT simultaneously and compare them to a control group of 231 de novo T-LGLL (cases with no history of SOT or HSCT). To characterize an unambiguous "WHO-defined T-LGLL" we applied stringent and uniform criteria. All cases were diagnosed if 3 out of 4 criteria were fulfilled, including: 1) LGL count >500/µL in blood for more than 6 months; 2) abnormal CTLs expressing CD3, CD8 and CD57 by flow cytometry; 3) preferential usage of a TCR Vβ family by flow cytometry; 4) TCR gene rearrangement by PCR. In addition, targeted deep sequencing for STAT3 mutations was performed and charts of bone marrow biopsies were reviewed to exclude other possible conditions. Diagnosis was made 0.2-27 yrs post-transplantation (median: 4 yrs). At the time of T-LGLL diagnosis, relative lymphocytosis (15-91%), T lymphocytosis (49-99%) and elevated absolute LGL counts (>500 /µL; 93%) were also seen. Post-transplantation T-LGLL were significantly younger than de novo T-LGLL, (median age: 48 vs. 61 yr; P<.0001). Sixty% of post-transplantation T-LGLL patients were males. Fifteen% of patients had more cytogenetic abnormalities compared to de novo T-LGLL, had a lower absolute LGL count (median: 4.5 vs. 8.5 k/µL) and had less frequent neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia (27 vs. 43%, 33 vs. 35% and 20% vs. 55%; P=.01). TCR Vb analysis identified clonal expansion of ≥1 of the Vb proteins in 60% (n=9) of the patients; the remaining 40% (n=6) of the cases had either a clonal process involving a Vb protein not tested in the panel (20%; n=3) or no clear expansion (20%; n=3). Signs of rejection were observed in 20% (n=3/15) and GvHD in 13% (n=2/15) of the patients. Post-transplantation, 27% of cases presented with neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count <1.5 x109/L; n=4), 33% with thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150 x109/L; n=5) and 25% with anemia (hemoglobin <10 g/dL; n=3). T-LGLL evolved in 10 patients (67%; 10/15) despite IST including cyclosporine (n=5), tacrolimus (n=4), mycophenolate mofetil (n=5), cyclophosphamide (n=1), anti-thymocyte globulin (n=1), and corticosteroids (n=6). Lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly were seen in 13% (n=2) and 33% (n=5) of the patients. Other conditions observed were MGUS (20%; n=3) and RA (7%; n=1). Conventional cytogenetic showed normal karyotype in 89% (n=11, tested individuals 13/15). Somatic STAT3 mutations were identified in 2 patients. Sixty% of cases (n=9) were seropositive for EBV when tested at different time points after transplant. Similarly, 53% (n=8) were seropositive for CMV, of which, 5 were positive post-transplantation and 3 pre-/post-transplantation. The complexity of T-LGLL expansion post-transplantation might be due to several mechanisms including active viral infections, latent oncogenic viral reactivation and graft allo-antigenic stimulation. However, in our cohort graft rejection or GvHD was encountered in a few patients (2 allo-HSCT recipients). Autoimmune conditions were present in 50% of SOT recipients (n=4/ 8, including RA, ulcerative colitis, systemic lupus erythematosus). Some of our patients also had low immunoglobulin levels. Overt EBV (post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder) and CMV reactivation was diagnosed in only 27% (4/15) of the patients. In sum we report the long term follow up of a cohort of T-LGLL and emphasize the expansion of T-LGLL post-transplant highlighting the difficulty in assigning one unique origin of LGLL. Disclosures Hill: Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Celegene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Kite: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; TG therapeutics: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria. Majhail:Atara Bio: Consultancy; Mallinckrodt: Honoraria; Nkarta: Consultancy; Anthem, Inc.: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy. Sekeres:Syros: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Millenium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Maciejewski:Alexion: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy.

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