Monitoring AML Disease Status with Next Generation Sequencing

Abstract Recent advance in next generation sequencing (NGS) have confirmed that AML is a heterogeneous malignancy harboring may many genetic mutations. These mutations have been studied for leukemia genesis, diagnosis and therapeutic targets. Monitoring minimal residual diseases has also been studied recently. We summarized our experience with NGS in morning AML disease status. NGS data during 2014 and 2016 from patient with newly diagnosed or AML and/or AML follow-up patients along with bone marrow biopsy, FISH/cytogenetics, flow cytometric results were reviewed. Targeted sequencing was performed with customized panel (34 genes) on Ion PGM platform from Life Technology Inc. 41 AML patients with complete bone marrow work-up with bone marrow morphology, flow cytometry, FISH/cytogenetics (MFFC) and NGS were collected. At least one sample with complete work-up for each patient was included. Majority of the patients had several studies (2-8 samples). 15 out of 41 (36.6%) has complete remission based on bone marrow morphology, flow cytometry, FISH/cytogenetic studies. No mutations were detected among these 15 patients. 17 patients (41%) showed concordant result with other technologies, i.e. when the patient was in remission based on MFFC, No mutations were detected. When patient had recurrent AML or residual disease, mutations were detected. It worth to point out that 2 patients showed positive mutation without detectable increase in myeloblasts. These 2 patients had relapsed AML within 3 months. Different subclones were detected at different intervals in 1 patient. 2 (0.5%) patients (1 with newly diagnosed AML and 1 with early recurrent AML) showed no detectable mutations. Mutations were detected in 5 patients (12%) with AML remission by MFFC, additional follow-up is need for these patients. The most common mutations included TET2, ASXL1, DNMT3A, RUNX1, IDH1 and TP53. NGS is valuable to assess the AML status despite of heterogeneous genetic abnormalities. Although the NGS results were concordant with bone marrow morphology, FISH/cytogenetics and flow cytometry in most of the cases (87.5%), persistent mutations may be detectable in cases without detectable residual AML by other modalities, which may be associated with minimal residual disease or early relapse, and need further evaluation. Clonal evaluation may occur at molecular level occasionally. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Prognostic Value of Minimal Residual Disease Assessed By WT1 Expression Level and Flow Cytometry in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients Undergoing Allogeneic Marrow Transplantation

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v124.21.1027.1027 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 124 (21) ◽

pp. 1027-1027

Author(s):

Livia Giannoni ◽

Fabio Guolo ◽

Paola Minetto ◽

Federica Galaverna ◽

Chiara Ghiggi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Flow Cytometry ◽

Residual Disease ◽

Disease Free Survival ◽

Disease Status ◽

Leukemic Cells ◽

Free Survival ◽

Relapse Risk ◽

Disease Free

Abstract Background: Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) offers the greatest chance of cure for most patients affected by acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Persistence of disease or high levels of pre BMT minimal residual disease (MRD) have been reported to predict disease relapse after BMT. WT1 expression levels and multicolor flow cytometry (MFC) are widely used as markers of MRD. We recently reported that combined evaluation of MRD by WT1 and MFC after induction therapy can predict relapse risk in AML patients. Aims: The aim of the present study was to apply the same MRD assessment in pre BMT setting to evaluate its reliability in predicting relapse. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed BMT outcome of 66 AML patients with both WT1-based and MFC-based MRD evaluation on bone marrow samples before transplant. Median age at transplant was 44 years. Forty-one were transplanted in first and twenty-five in second or subsequent complete remission. Induction therapies included fludarabine-containing regimens or standard ara-C and daunorubicin schedule (3+7). Median follow-up was 44 months (range 0-119 months); pre-transplantation evaluations were performed at a median of one month before transplant (range 1-3). Disease-free survival (DFS) was calculated from the time of transplantation until last follow-up or documented leukemic relapse. Overall survival was calculated from the time of transplantation to the last follow-up or death for any cause. All causes of death not directly due to relapse or progression of leukemia were considered as non-relapse mortality. A positive MFC MRD was defined by the presence of no less than 25 clustered leukemic cells /105 total events (threshold of 2.5x10-4 residual leukemic cells) at four-color flow-cytometry. Real-time PCR for WT1 was performed on DNA Engine 2 (Opticon®, MJResearch®). WT1 copy number/Abl copy number 500x104 was used as cut-off value for high WT1 expression. Results: Twenty-five relapses (37.9%) were observed. Median DFS was 31 months. Our analysis shows that the probability of relapse was significantly influenced only by disease status (first or subsequent CR) and MRD status at transplantation. Specifically, MFC-MRD was the strongest predictor of longer disease free survival (p <0.001) since no relapses occurred in the eleven MFC-MRD negative patients. Among MFC-MRD positive patients a further stratification of relapse risk is obtained by the evaluation of WT1. Patients with double positive MRD had a significantly worse DFS compared with patients who were MRD positive by MFC but MRD negative by WT1 (p <0.01). The predictive value of MRD was independent from different induction schedules; furthermore the favorable prognostic value of achieving a negative MRD status was not affected by undergoing BMT in second or subsequent remission. Median OS was 26 months and was significantly influenced by disease status and MRD status at transplantation and by relapse after BMT. Cumulative non relapse mortality was 23% at 36 months and was not associated with pre-BMT status. Conclusion: pre BMT MRD evaluation by WT1 and MFC on bone marrow samples is a reliable tool to predict relapse risk. Patients with negative pre-BMT MRD have a significantly longer DFS and OS, while MRD positive patients by both methods display a higher risk of relapse. Patients at higher risk of poor outcome should undergo a more stringent program of post BMT evaluations, in order to detect disease relapse earlier and might be candidate for pre-emptive therapeutic interventions aimed at delaying or avoiding AML reoccurrence. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Fludarabine, Cytarabine, Daunoxome Plus Dasatinib Has High Efficacy with an Acceptable Toxicity Profile As Either Consolidation or Salvage Regimen in Adult Philadelphia Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v126.23.4908.4908 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 126 (23) ◽

pp. 4908-4908 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Giordana Pastori ◽

Fabio Guolo ◽

Daniela Guardo ◽

Paola Minetto ◽

Marino Clavio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Residual Disease ◽

Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽

The Other ◽

Consolidation Therapy ◽

Toxicity Profile ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

Salvage Regimen ◽

Minimal Residual

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS The prognosis of Philadelphia positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients has improved since the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). The inclusion of TKIs in standard ALL protocols allows a great increase in complete molecular responses, but at the price of non negligible toxicities and high rates of toxic deaths. On the other and TKI monotherapy as induction treatment allows to rapidly achieve complete hematologic remission (CR) but only a minority of patients achieve a complete molecular response with high risk of relapse. On the other hand, In the last years we tested a combination of Fludarabine, Cytarabine, Daunoxome (FLAD) with or without TKIs (mainly Dasatinib) as salvage regimen in relapsed-refractory ALL, with acceptable toxicity and good efficacy. We decided to apply the same schedule in newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL as consolidation treatment after a two months TKI (Dasatinib) monotherapy induction on a minimal residual disease condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS FLAD regimen consisted with a three-days administration of Fludarabine 30 mg/sqm followed four hours later by Cytarabine 2000 mg/sqm and Daunoxome 100 mg/sqm. TKI were suspended during chemotherapy administration and were re-administrated starting from day 5. G-CSF was given to all patients from day 4 to complete hematological recovery. FLAD was administrated for up to two cycles; all patients with available donor proceeded to allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) after FLAD. Minimal residual disease (MRD) was evaluated in all patients after each FLAD either by RQ-PCR for VDJ rearrangements, multicolor flow cytometry (MFC) and RQ-PCR for BCR/Abl. Ten Ph+ ALL have been treated with FLAD + TKIs from January 2008 to December 2014: six patients received FLAD as salvage regimen, two of them in post allo-BMT setting, whereas four patients were treated frontline, after hematological CR was obtained with Dasatinib + steroids induction. All frontline patients proceeded to allo-BMT after two FLAD. Median age for frontline patients was 50 years (range 29-58), median follow-up was 20 months. RESULTS As salvage regimen, 5/6 patients achieved hematological CR after FLAD, with three patients achieving also MFC MRD negativity and clearance of VDJ and BCR/Abl transcript. All patients who did not receive subsequent BMT relapsed, whereas of the two transplanted patients one is still in CR after a follow-up of 38 months. In the frontline setting, all patients received 70 days induction of Dasatinib + Steroids and achieved CR with complete hematological recovery. BCR/Abl transcript could be detected in all patients on BM samples on day 33 and on day 70 (Fig. 1), two patientshad MFC MRD positivity both on day 33 and on day 70, whereas two patients achieved MFC MRD negativity on day 33. FLAD was very well tolerated, with negligible non hematological toxicity, with a median duration of ANC <500 and PLT <20000 of 7 and 9 days, respectively, slightly higher in the second course. Median time between the beginning of first and second course was 35 days, whereas median time from second course to allo-BM was 44 days. Two patients achieved BCR/Abl negativity after first FLAD. All patients achieved molecular complete response after the second course (Fig. 1). No patient experienced relapse, whereas one patient died in CR on day +289 after allo-BMT due to myocardial viral infection. CONCLUSIONS FLAD has a very good efficacy in adult Ph+ ALL, with an acceptable toxicity profile. Deep responses have been observed in relapsed patients, and all newly diagnosed patients who received FLAD as consolidation regimen had achieved molecular CR before allo-BMT. Achieving complete hematological response with Dasatinib + steroids allowed us to safely administer two FLAD courses. Figure 1. BCR/abl on bone marrow samples at different timepoints for each of the four patients receiving FLAD as consolidation therapy Figure 1. BCR/abl on bone marrow samples at different timepoints for each of the four patients receiving FLAD as consolidation therapy Disclosures Off Label Use: Use of liposomal daunorubicin in the treatment of ALL.

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Prognostic significance of minimal residual disease detection and PML/RAR-α isoform type: long-term follow-up in acute promyelocytic leukemia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v98.9.2651 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 98 (9) ◽

pp. 2651-2656 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

Joseph G. Jurcic ◽

Stephen D. Nimer ◽

David A. Scheinberg ◽

Tony DeBlasio ◽

Raymond P. Warrell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Residual Disease ◽

Prognostic Significance ◽

Promyelocytic Leukemia ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Pcr Assays

Abstract The t(15;17) translocation in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) yields a PML/RAR-α fusion messenger RNA species that can be detected by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification. Breakpoints within intron 3 of PML produce a short PML/RAR-α isoform, whereas breakpoints within intron 6 result in a longer form. Using RT-PCR, serial evaluations were performed on the bone marrow of 82 patients with APL (median follow-up, > 63 months) who received retinoic acid (RA) induction followed by postremission treatment with chemotherapy, RA, and biologic agents. Sixty-four patients attained a clinical complete remission and had at least 2 RT-PCR assays performed after completing therapy. Forty of 47 patients (85%) with newly diagnosed APL who were induced using RA had residual disease detectable by RT-PCR before additional therapy. After 3 cycles of consolidation therapy, residual disease was found in only 4 of 40 evaluable patients (10%). Among newly diagnosed patients who had 2 or more negative RT-PCR assays, only 3 of 41 (7%) had a relapse, whereas all 4 patients (100%) who had 2 or more positive results had a relapse. Among 63 newly diagnosed patients, those who expressed the short isoform appeared to have shorter disease-free and overall survival durations than patients who expressed the long isoform. These data indicate that 2 or more negative RT-PCR assays on bone marrow, performed at least 1 month apart after completing therapy, are strongly associated with long-term remissions. Conversely, a confirmed positive test is highly predictive of relapse.

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Minimal Residual Disease in Autografts and Bone Marrow of Patients with Multiple Myeloma: 8-Color Multiparameter Flow Cytometry (EuroFlow-NGF) Vs. Next-Generation Sequencing

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2020-137014 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 22-23

Author(s):

Hiroyuki Takamatsu ◽

Naoki Takezako ◽

Takeshi Yoroidaka ◽

Takeshi Yamashita ◽

Ryoichi Murata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Myeloma ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Flow Cytometry ◽

Research Funding ◽

Prognostic Value ◽

Residual Disease ◽

Multiparameter Flow Cytometry ◽

Next Generation ◽

Generation Sequencing ◽

Minimal Residual

Background: Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in conjunction with novel therapeutic drugs can dramatically improve response rates and the prognoses of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, most patients with MM ultimately relapse due to minimal residual disease (MRD). Next-generation multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) (EuroFlow-NGF) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) are currently the standard methods to assess MRD. Aims: To compare the prognostic value of MRD detection in autografts and bone marrow (BM) cells using 8-color MFC (EuroFlow-NGF) and NGS (Adaptive Biotechnologies), and also MRD levels between fresh and cryopreserved autografts using NGF. Methods: The study enrolled 52 newly-diagnosed MM patients who underwent ASCT. The median age ASCT was 61 (range 41-69) years and included 29 males and 23 females at ISS I (n = 17), II (n = 23), and III (n = 12). Of these, 18 patients harbored high-risk chromosomal abnormalities including t(4;14) (n = 15), del17p and t(4;14) (n = 2), and complex (n = 1). Bortezomib-based chemotherapy was used for induction together with melphalan at 140 mg/m2 (n = 1) and 200 mg/m2 (n = 51) for conditioning before ASCT. 39 of 52 (75%) patients received maintenance therapy until progressive disease. The best responses achieved post-ASCT included 30 sCR, 4 CR, 15 VGPR, and 3 PR. Forty autografts, one from each MM patient, were analyzed using NGF and NGS protocols, and BM cells at pre/post-ASCT and autografts derived from 16 patients were analyzed using NGS. The EuroFlow-NGF method uses standard sample preparation; large numbers of cells are evaluated using an optimized 8-color antibody panel that facilitates accurate identification of discrimination between phenotypically aberrant plasma cells (aPCs) and their normal counterparts (Flores-Montero et al., Leukemia 2017). NGS-based MRD assessment was performed using Adaptive's standardized NGS-MRD Assay (Seattle, WA) (Martinez-Lopez et al., Blood 2014). Eight additional autografts were used to assess MRD in both fresh and cryopreserved samples by NGF. Results: MRD was evaluated in 48 of 52 autografts (92%) using NGF and in 44 of 52 autografts (85%) using NGS. We identified aPCs in autografts based on multivariate analysis of individual cell populations (e.g., CD56+, CD19−, CyIgκ+, and CD117+). As the results of NGF revealed a strong correlation with respect to MRD in fresh vs. thawed autografts (r = 0.999, P < 0.0001), MRD was subsequently evaluated in thawed autografts. The sensitivity of NGF was 1 × 10−5-2 × 10−6; the sensitivity of NGS was 1 × 10−6. 28 of 48 (58%) of the autografts were MRD-positive by NGF; 30 of 44 (68%) of the autografts were MRD-positive by NGS. MRD levels in autografts using NGF and NGS correlated with one another (r = 0.69, P < 0.0001; Fig. 1A). MRD negative in autografts by NGF cases (MRDNGF (-)) and MRDNGS (-) tended to show better progression-free survival (PFS) than MRDNGF (+) (P = 0.195) and MRDNGS (+) (P = 0.156), respectively. Furthermore, MRDNGS (-) showed significantly better overall survival (OS) than MRDNGS (+) (P = 0.03) (Fig. 1C) while MRDNGF (-) showed better OS than MRDNGF (+) (P = 0.09) (Fig. 1B). Our data revealed only a minimal correlation between MRD in the autografts (median 1.1 × 10−5,range 0-7.29 × 10−4) and in the BM cells at pre-ASCT (median 5.05 × 10−3,range 6 × 10−6-2.64 × 10−1; r = 0.09, P = 0.7) or at post-ASCT (median 2.11 × 10−4,range 0-9.09 × 10−3; r = 0.14, P = 0.6); MRD detected in the autografts was > 27 times lower than that detected in pre-ASCT BM cells, and MRD detected in the post-ASCT BM cells was > 3 times lower than that detected in pre-ASCT BM cells except for one case in which the ratio was increased by two times. Interestingly, while MRD was detected in all BM cells at pre-ASCT (n = 16), 4 of 16 (25%) of these autografts were MRDNGS-negative. The median of MRD levels of the 4 cases in pre-ASCT and post-ASCT BM cells were 4.14 × 10−4 (range 6-583 × 10−6)and 1.8 × 10−5 (range 0-27 × 10−6), respectively. Conclusion: Although EuroFlow-NGF is a rapid and accurate method for detecting MRD, NGS was more sensitive and provided greater prognostic value than EuroFlow-NGF. Disclosures Takamatsu: Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen Pharmaceutical: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Ono pharmaceutical: Honoraria, Research Funding; SRL: Consultancy, Research Funding. Takezako:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding. Nakao:Symbio: Consultancy; Kyowa Kirin: Honoraria; Alexion: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria.

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Patient-Tailored Analysis of Minimal Residual Disease in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Using Next Generation Sequencing

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v126.23.3841.3841 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 126 (23) ◽

pp. 3841-3841

Author(s):

Erik Malmberg ◽

Sara Ståhlman ◽

Anna Rehammar ◽

Tore Samuelsson ◽

Sofie J Alm ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Flow Cytometry ◽

Exome Sequencing ◽

Deep Sequencing ◽

Myeloid Leukemia ◽

Residual Disease ◽

Leukemic Cells ◽

Multiparameter Flow Cytometry ◽

Targeted Deep Sequencing

Abstract Background and aim: The importance of sensitive minimal residual disease (MRD) analysis for determination of response to treatment in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is becoming increasingly evident. Routinely, this analysis is performed using multiparameter flow cytometry, and in select cases with fusion transcripts using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The drawback with flow cytometry is that it is associated with false negativity due to immunophenotypic shifts during treatment and in pending relapse. In addition, leukemia immunophenotypes often overlap with the normal regenerating bone marrow cell populations. Therefore, other means of identifying remaining leukemic cells are warranted. Leukemic cells in AML are characterized by somatic mutations in recurrently mutated genes as well as in random genes, in most cases as single nucleotide variations (SNVs). We have previously reported that leukemia-specific mutations can be readily identified at the time of diagnosis of AML using exome sequencing of high purity sorted leukemic cells and lymphocytes. The aim here was to show that leukemia-specific mutations identified with exome sequencing at diagnosis can serve as markers for MRD, quantified with targeted deep sequencing, during follow-up. Method: Seventeen cases of AML, age 2-71 years old, were included in the study. Leukemic cells and lymphocytes were sorted using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), from blood or bone marrow at diagnosis of AML. Exome sequencing of sorted cell populations was performed on the Illumina platform. Variant calling was performed with Mutect for SNVs and with Strelka and Varscan for short insertions/deletions. The data was subjected to an in-house statistical algorithm to identify variants present in all leukemic cells and thus suitable for MRD analysis. For targeted deep sequencing, the Truseq-library system was used for in-house PCR and sequencing on the Illumina Miseq platform (2x150 bp). The acquired reads were stitched using PEAR, aligned to the human reference genome and the resulting alignments were analyzed with in-house scripts with respect to specific SNVs and NPM1 insertion. Results: Exome sequencing of the paired leukemia/lymphocyte samples identified 240 leukemia-specific SNVs (14 (0-29) per case (median, range) and 22 small insertions and deletions (1 (0-5) per case). The most common type of mutation was, as expected, substitution of cytosine to thymine (CàT). The number of leukemia specific SNVs correlated with age (r=0.76, p<0.001). Mutations suitable for MRD analysis were identified in all but one of the investigated AML cases. Targeted deep sequencing of leukemic cells in serial dilutions established linearity down to a determined variant allele frequency (VAF) of 0.025% for SNVs and of 0.016% for insertion in NPM1. The level of detection (mean+3SD of normal samples) was VAF 0.025% for SNVs and VAF 0.007% for insertion in NPM1. Targeted deep sequencing was then performed on DNA prepared from follow-up bone marrow slides from a patient with AML with mutations suitable for MRD analysis according to our algorithm. Targeted deep sequencing of three SNVs (in the genes CPS1, ITGB7 and FAM193A) and NPM1 type A mutation could detect mutations at all eight time points tested. There were strong correlations between the detected mutation load of the SNVs and the NPM1 type A mutation and all four mutations were present at relapse 10 months after diagnosis. Targeted deep sequencing of SNVs was in this case more sensitive and robust than multiparameter flow cytometry, which could not detect leukemic cells (<0.1% of all cells) at two of the tested time points (5 and 8 months after diagnosis) and showed a completely switched immunophenotype of leukemic cells at relapse. Conclusions: Exome sequencing of high purity sorted leukemic cells and lymphocytes at the time of diagnosis of AML can identify leukemia-specific mutations suitable for MRD analysis. With targeted deep sequencing of leukemia-specific SNVs identified in this manner, leukemic cell burden can be estimated with high sensitivity during follow-up. The method could be used for patient-tailored MRD analysis in AML. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Serum Free-Lite Chain (sFLC) Assay in Multiple Myeloma (MM): Clinical Correlates and Prognostic Implications in Newly Diagnosed MM Patients Treated with Total Therapy 2 or 3 (TT2/3).

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v106.11.3490.3490 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 106 (11) ◽

pp. 3490-3490 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Federica Cavallo ◽

Erik Rasmussen ◽

Maurizio Zangari ◽

Guido Tricot ◽

Belinda Fender ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Induction Therapy ◽

Response Assessment ◽

Tumor Burden ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

Serum Iga ◽

Igg Isotypes ◽

Highly Correlated ◽

Work Up

Abstract Background: Most newly diagnosed patients with MM have detectable M-protein in serum or urine; only ~5% have non-secretory MM and another 5% are “low secretors” with serum M < 0.5 g/dL and < 100mg/d of Bence Jones proteinuria despite marked tumor burden detected in the bone marrow and on imaging studies. Serum FLCs are present in the majority of such patients and are useful for response assessment. The aim of this study was to examine sFLC in the context of a comprehensive staging work-up for MM. Patients and Methods: TT2 protocol consists of intensive induction with VAD, DCEP, CAD and DCEP followed by tandem transplants, while in TT3 Velcade (V) is added to the DT-PACE regimen in 2 cycles as induction prior to MEL 200 tandem transplant and 2 cycles as consolidation, followed by VDT maintenance. 328 patients from these 2 protocols had baseline sFLC along with the other standard variables. The association between baseline sFLC levels and sFCL ratio (FLCr) and standard parameters was evaluated using Spearman’s correlation coefficient and a Kruskal-Wallis test. During the induction therapy, bi-weekly samples were available for TT3 patients while TT2 patients had weekly samples procured. Results: Significant positive baseline correlations between sFLC and B2M, LDH, creatinine, bone marrow PC% and urine-M excretion (all p<.001); negative correlates were seen with Hb, platelet count and serum-M (p<.001). Both sFCL and FLCr were higher in the presence of cytogenetic abnormalities (CA) than without CA (p=.02 and p=.002); these variables also increased across ISS stage (both p<.001). As expected, 100% of LC only patients had an abnormal free k/l or l/k ratio; surprisingly, also 90% of those with IgA or IgG isotypes and 4/5 patients with non-secretory MM had an abnormal ratio. The median ratio was higher among LC than non-LC MM (487 vs 35; p<0.001). Baseline sFLC were significantly, positively correlated with urine M for only LC MM (R=.34; p=.012) but not with serum IgA (R=−.11, p=.36) or serum IgG (R=.04, p=.56). For the purpose of predicting response or failure to induction therapy, 140 patients with baseline sFLC >=30 mg/dL and serial sFLC measurements were considered: 19% and 23% had normalization of sFLC by 30 days of induction therapy and prior to transplant 1. Normalization of sFLC increased probability of subsequent CR both at 30 days (HR: 3.1; p=0.002) and prior to TX1 (HR=3.9; p=−.001) (Figure 1). Conclusion: S-FLC and FCLr are both highly correlated with CA and ISS, the 2 most important prognostic factors for both EFS and OS, and can hence be expected to have major independent predictive power with longer follow-up. Importantly, subsequent CR was significantly lower in the absence of sFLC normalization by 30 days and prior to transplant 1. Fig 1. CR by normalization of sFLC Pre-TX1 Fig 1. CR by normalization of sFLC Pre-TX1

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Carfilzomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone in High-Risk Smoldering Multiple Myeloma: Final Results from the NCI Phase 2 Pilot Study

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v124.21.4746.4746 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 124 (21) ◽

pp. 4746-4746 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ola Landgren ◽

Mark Roschewski ◽

Sham Mailankody ◽

Mary Kwok ◽

Elisabet E. Manasanch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Myeloma ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Flow Cytometry ◽

High Risk ◽

Minimal Residual Disease ◽

Residual Disease ◽

Color Flow ◽

Smoldering Multiple Myeloma ◽

Generation Sequencing ◽

Minimal Residual

Abstract BACKGROUND: Early treatment with lenalidomide and dexamethasone delays progression and increases overall survival in patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma. The addition of the selective proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib to a lenalidomide and dexamethasone backbone has proven effective in patients with newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma; this combination may allow patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma to obtain deep and durable responses. METHODS: In this phase 2 pilot study, patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma received eight 28-day cycles of induction therapy with carfilzomib (at a dose of 20/36 mg per square meter on days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16), lenalidomide (at a dose of 25 mg on days 1–21), and dexamethasone (at a dose of 10 or 20 mg on days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, and 23). Patients achieving stable disease or better after combination therapy received 2 years of maintenance therapy with lenalidomide. Minimal residual disease was assessed with multi-color flow cytometry, next-generation sequencing by the LymphoSIGHT method, and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT). Myeloma clonotypes were identified in genomic DNA obtained from CD138+ bone marrow cell lysate or cell-free bone marrow aspirate at baseline for each patient based on their high frequency within the B-cell repertoire. Per study protocol, minimal residual disease assessment by next-generation sequencing, multi-color flow cytometry and FDG-PET/CT was repeated when patients achieved a complete response or completed 8 cycles of induction treatment. A sample size of 12 evaluable patients was calculated as being minimally necessary based on the following probability calculations: If the true probability of a very good partial response was 20% or 50%, we calculated that there would be a 7.3% or 80.6% probability, respectively, if 5 or more patients exhibiting a very good partial response (VGPR). Thus, if 5 or more patients out of 12 achieved a very good partial response, there would be strong evidence that the true probability of a VGPR was 50% or more. RESULTS: Twelve patients were enrolled. All 11 patients (100%) who completed 8 cycles of combination therapy obtained VGPR or better (primary end point). Minimal residual disease assessment by next-generation sequencing was performed on bone marrow supernatant to detect cell-free myeloma clonotypes, while flow cytometry analysis utilized bone marrow cells. Overall (N=12), 100% of patients achieved a complete response or better over the study period, including 11 patients (92%) negative for minimal residual disease based on multi-color flow cytometry. Based on next-generation sequencing, two of the 12 patients were positive for minimal residual disease in the bone marrow supernatant; one of these two patients was also positive for minimal residual disease based on multi-color flow cytometry in the bone marrow cells. Information regarding longitudinal minimal residual disease status will be available and presented at the meeting. Adverse events were manageable. CONCLUSIONS: Early treatment with carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone was associated with high rates of complete response and minimal residual disease negativity by multi-color flow cytometry, next-generation sequencing, and FDG-PET/CT in patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma. Disclosures Landgren: Onyx Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Medscape: Consultancy; Millennium Pharmaceuticals: Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC), Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) Other. Off Label Use: Carfilzomib and lenalidomide for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma.

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The importance of flowcytometry study with the first aspirate taken during bone marrow aspiration in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma and follow-up of minimal residual disease

Medical Science and Discovery ◽

10.36472/msd.v8i4.520 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 219-224

Author(s):

Ali Eser

Keyword(s):

Multiple Myeloma ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Flow Cytometry ◽

Plasma Cells ◽

Residual Disease ◽

Bone Marrow Aspiration ◽

Morphological Examination ◽

Flow Cytometric ◽

Flow Cytometric Study

Objective: Flow cytometry (FC) is a diagnostic method supporting traditional morphological examination in disease follow-up and the diagnosis of Multiple myeloma (MM). Normal and atypical plasma cells (PCs) can be told apart from each other by means of FC method. The plasma cell rate is the highest in the blood obtained in the first aspirate during bone marrow aspiration in MM. Material and methods: A total of 60 patients that have been diagnosed with MM between 2018 and 2020, including 30 patients whom flow cytometry was studied with the first aspirate during bone marrow aspiration, and 30 patients whom FC was studied with the second aspirate were included in our study. The characteristics of the patients were analyzed retrospectively from their files. Results: The median ratio of plasma cells (PCs) detected by FC and bone marrow biopsy was 17,5% and 44%, respectively. While this rate was median 37,5% in patients that flow cytometric study was performed with the first aspirate, the rate was found to be median 7% in patients that FC was performed with the second sample. The PCs rates were statistically significantly higher with the flow cytometric study with the first aspirate than the second one (p=0.000). Conclusion: Flow cytometric study with the first aspirate during bone marrow aspiration in patients with MM is diagnostically important.

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Using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for tracking of minimal residual disease in peripheral blood from patients with multiple myeloma.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2019.37.15_suppl.e19525 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. e19525-e19525

Author(s):

Marion Eveillard ◽

Even Rustad ◽

Mikhail Roshal ◽

Yanming Zhang ◽

Amanda Ciardiello ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Multiple Myeloma ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Flow Cytometry ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Residual Disease ◽

Maldi Tof ◽

Minimal Residual ◽

Active Disease

e19525 Background: Minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity after completed therapy is associated with longer progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Current standard of care for MRD testing use flow cytometry and/or next generation sequencing (NGS)-based assays applied on bone marrow (BM) aspirate samples. To develop a strategy for MRD tracking in peripheral blood (PB), we were motivated to evaluate MALDI-TOF head-to-head with established bone marrow-based MRD assays. Methods: We used MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry to detect M-proteins in PB. Our cohort included patients who had serum samples available at 2 timepoints including during active disease and within 60 days of MRD results as determined by flow cytometry of BM aspirates. The cohort enrolled 71 patients (26 females, 45 males) with a median age of 61 years (37-78 years). Twenty-seven patients had high-risk cytogenetics at baseline. Patients were classified at diagnosis as ISS1 (n = 38), ISS2 (n = 18) or ISS3 (n = 6). The flow cytometry based MRD assay was performed using MSKCCs 10-color, single-tube method. MALDI-TOF analysis was performed as described by Mills et al. Samples taken during active disease were used to identify the mass/charge ratio of the M-protein at baseline and in follow-up samples. MALDI-TOF results were compared to flow cytometry bone marrow-based MRD results. Results: The median time between diagnosis and the MRD timepoint was 13.4 months (3.4-91 months). MALDI-TOF in PB and flow cytometry BM-based MRD results were concordant for 44/71 (62%) patients (8+/+, 36 -/- respectively) while 27 were discordant (10 +/-, 17-/+). Fifty-four of 71 patients were in complete response (CR) (45/54 in sCR) at the time of MRD. MALDI-TOF was still positive in 13 of these 54 CR patients. In this cohort, the median PFS since MRD assessment was not reached in the 2 subgroups of double negative patients (n = 31) or in patients with a positive result in at least one technique (n = 23) with a median follow-up of 11.2 months (0-34.6 months). Conclusions: In 44/71 (62%) samples, MALDI-TOF of PB results and flow cytometry BM-based MRD results were concordant. MALDI-TOF of PB may be useful for detecting measurable residual disease and for the monitoring of MM patients during maintenance therapy with the future goal to rule out early recurrent disease.

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High Predictive Value of Pre Transplant Minimal Residual Disease Assessment By Combining WT1 Expression and Flow Cytometry in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v126.23.2029.2029 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 126 (23) ◽

pp. 2029-2029 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fabio Guolo ◽

Federica Galaverna ◽

Paola Minetto ◽

Livia Giannoni ◽

Chiara Ghiggi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Flow Cytometry ◽

Myeloid Leukemia ◽

Residual Disease ◽

Risk Group ◽

Disease Status ◽

Leukemic Cells ◽

Free Survival ◽

Relapse Risk ◽

Risk Of Relapse

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) offers the greatest chance of cure for patients with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Persistence of disease or high levels of pre BMT minimal residual disease (MRD) have been reported to predict relapse risk after BMT. WT1 expression levels and multicolor flow cytometry (MFC) are the most common tools to evaluate MRD. We recently reported that combining WT1 expression and MFC for MRD detection after induction therapy strongly impacts on relapse risk in AML. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of pre-BMT MRD assessment as predictor for the post-transplant relapse risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of 253 consecutive AML patients receiving allo-BMT. Pre-BMT marrow samples were analysed for WT1 expression and MFC as MRD evaluation . Median age at transplant was 45 years. Disease phase was CR1 in 161, CR2 in 63, and CR3 in 29 patients. One hundred eighty-two received myeloablative conditioning, whereas 71 patients received reduced intensity conditioning. Median follow-up was 59 months (95% CI 46.2 - 71.8 months). Relapse-free survival (RFS) was calculated from the time of transplantation until last follow-up or documented leukemic relapse. Overall Survival (OS) was calculated from the time of transplantation until death by any cause or last follow-up. A positive MFC MRD was defined by the presence of no less than 25 clustered leukemic cells/105 total events (threshold of 2.5x10-4 residual leukemic cells) at four-color flow-cytometry. Real-time PCR for WT1 was performed on DNA Engine 2 (Opticon®, MJ Research®). WT1 copy number/Abl copy number 500x104 was used as cut-off value for abnormal WT1 expression. RESULTS Relapse occurred in 81 patients (32%). Three-year estimate of RFS was 63.7% (median not reached). The probability of relapse was significantly affected by disease status (first or subsequent CR, p<0.01), occurrence of acute GVHD (grade 0-1 versus 2 or more, p <0.05), MRD status before transplantation, measured with any method (p <0.001 for WT1-based MRD, p<0.03 for MFC based MRD, p<0.0001 for combined MRD). Multivariate RFS analysis revealed that the combined MRD evaluation was the only independent predictor of RFS (p <0.001). Specifically, MFC-MRD was the strongest predictor of longer relapse free survival (p <0.001) since only two relapses occurred in the 25 MFC-MRD negative patients and 3-years RFS was 89.9%. Among MFC-MRD positive patients, WT1 MRD status stratified the risk of relapse as the 3-years RFS was 71.9% and 31.3%, respectively, for patients with normal or increase WT1, p <0.01, fig.1). The predictive value of MRD was independent from induction schedules, donor type, disease status at BMT and risk group, occurrence of acute or chronic GVHD. Similarly, MRD evaluation was a strong predictor of long term survival, as 3- years OS was 77.2% for MFC negative and 36.9% for double WT1 and MFC MRD positive patients, respectively, (p <0.001). Multivariate OS analysis showed that BMT year, disease status at BMT and combined MRD evaluation significantly influenced OS duration (p <0.001, <0.002 and <0.003, respectively) CONCLUSIONS Pre transplant MRD evaluation by WT1 and MFC on bone marrow samples is a reliable predictor of relapse risk. Patients with both negative pre-BMT MRD markers have a significantly longer RFS, while patients with both positive MRD markers display an higher risk of relapse. Identifying patients who have an higher risk of relapse could open the way to apply pre-emptive therapeutic strategies to prevent AML relapse, from donor lymphocyte infusion to other innovative approaches. Figure 1. RFS according to risk group Figure 1. RFS according to risk group Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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