Liver Dysfunction in Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Prevalence and Outcomes in a Large Cohort

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of liver dysfunction in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is unknown; knowledge of which may provide important context for emerging therapeutic options with possible hepatotoxicity. The impact of liver dysfunction on outcomes of CLL patients is not well described. METHODS: Between 09/1993 and 04/2016, previously untreated CLL patients seen in the Division of Hematology at Mayo Clinic at diagnosis (<12 months) and who had baseline assessment of at least one of the following liver function tests (LFTs): alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), or total bilirubin were included in this analysis. Baseline lab values were defined as the closest value to CLL diagnosis for each lab within 12 months prior to diagnosis up through 6 months after CLL diagnosis. Patients with at least one abnormal LFT (defined as greater than 1.5 x the upper limit of normal) were classified as having liver dysfunction at diagnosis. Analysis for factors related to baseline liver function was performed using age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression models. Kaplan-Meier methods and multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate time to first treatment (TTFT) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Of 2336 previously untreated CLL patients who met the inclusion criteria, 123 (5%) patients had at least one abnormal LFT value at time of diagnosis. Thirty five patients had abnormal AST (median value 106 U/L, range 72-745 U/L, reference range 8-48 U/L), 25 patients had abnormal ALT (median 112 U/L, range 82-313 U/L, reference 7-55 U/L), and 54 patients had abnormal total bilirubin (median 2.10 mg/dL, range 1.8-26.5 mg/dL, reference range ≤ 1.2 mg/dL). Forty five patients had abnormal alkaline phosphatase; 35 patients in the year 2003 or later (median 198 U/L, range 172-2269 U/L, reference range 45-115 U/L) and 10 patients in 2002 or earlier (median 471.5 U/L, range 394-706 U/L, reference range 98-260 U/L). Abnormal LFTs were more common among those with advanced Rai stage disease (Rai 0-II=4.7% vs. Rai III-IV=13.4%; p<0.001) and among patients with lower hemoglobin (median 13.1 g/dL vs. 13.9 g/dL; p<0.001) at diagnosis. No difference in the rate of abnormal LFTs was observed based on cytogenetic abnormalities detected by FISH or CD38, CD49d, ZAP-70 or IGHV gene mutation status. There was no significant difference in prior alcohol abuse history between patients with liver dysfunction at diagnosis (6%) and those without (5%) (p=0.63). Similarly, there was no significant difference in body mass index between groups (median 27.8 vs. 27.8; p=0.12). After 12 years of follow-up, an estimated 69% of the cases with abnormal LFTs were treated. The most common type of treatments included anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy only, followed by purine nucleoside based chemoimmunotherapy, and an alkylating agent with a monoclonal antibody. The median time to treatment was 4.3 years for cases with abnormal LFTs compared to 6.3 years for cases without abnormal LFTs (p=0.02). However, after adjusting for age, sex and Rai stage, there was no difference in TTFT among patients with abnormal LFTs at baseline compared to those with normal LFTs (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.2 (95% CI, 0.9-1.6); p=0.23). The median survival of CLL patients with abnormal LFTs at diagnosis was significantly shorter than those with normal LFTs (8.6 vs. 11.6 years, p<0.001, Figure 1). After adjusting for age, sex and Rai stage, multivariable cox regression analysis showed that abnormal LFTs retained independent prognostic significance for OS with a HR of 1.4 (95% CI, 1.1-1.8; p=0.012). CONCLUSION: At the time of CLL diagnosis, ~1 out of every 20 patients with previously untreated CLL has abnormal LFTs. These data provide context to the recent reports of hepatotoxicity with the use of signal inhibitors in untreated CLL. Although the presence of liver dysfunction at diagnosis does not seem to predict a shorter TTFT, the OS of these patients is significantly shorter compared to patients who have normal LFTs. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Ding: Merck: Research Funding. Kenderian:Novartis: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding. Kay:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Tolero Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Morpho-Sys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Infinity Pharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Shanafelt:Janssen: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; GlaxoSmithkKine: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Cephalon: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Hospira: Research Funding. Parikh:Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Research Funding.

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Higher Expression of Nuclear Cereblon in Bone Marrow Biopsies of Patients with Multiple Myeloma Treated with Imids in the HOVON-87/Nmsg-18 Trial Is Associated with Longer PFS and OS

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-128584 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 3071-3071

Author(s):

Ruth Wester ◽

M Duin ◽

King Hong Lam ◽

Suzana Couto ◽

Yan Ren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Employment Equity ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Cytoplasmic Staining ◽

Cox Regression Analysis ◽

Cytogenetic Aberrations ◽

Equity Ownership ◽

Response Groups

Introduction Response to treatment in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) is variable. With increasing possibilities of treatment regimens, predictive factors for response are important. Immune modulating agents (IMiDs) require Cereblon (CRBN) for activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the genes involved in the CRBN pathway which predict the response to therapy with IMiDs. Methods Paraffin embedded bone marrow (BM) biopsies were used from newly diagnosed patients included in HOVON-87/NMSG-18 trial obtained at inclusion. In this trial, elderly patients with MM were randomized between treatment with Melphalan-Prednisone (MP)-Thalidomide (MPT) followed by thalidomide maintenance versus MP-Lenalidomide (MPR) followed by lenalidomide maintenance (Zweegman et al. Blood 2016;127:1109-1116). BM biopsies were stained with a fully automated dual color, bright-field immunohistochemical assay for CRBN, its neosubstrates Ikaros and Aiolos and the downstream targets IRF4 and c-MYC. CD138 was used to identify MM plasma cells in the BM samples. For CRBN, both nuclear and cytoplasmic staining was evaluated. The distribution and intensity of the immunostaining was assessed using the H-score. The H-scores were calculated using the following formula: [1 × (% cells 1+) + 2 × (% cells 2+) + 3 × (% cells 3+)] and range from 0-300 (0-600 for combined cytoplasmic-nuclear CRBN H-score). For the Cox regression analysis H-scores were corrected by dividing these by a factor 100: hazard rates were considered per 100 points increase of the H-score. Protein levels of the CRBN pathway were compared between patients with complete response (CR) or very good partial response (VGPR) vs partial response (PR) and no change/progressive disease (NC/PD). High-risk cytogenetic aberrations (FISH) were defined as having deletion of 17p, and/or translocation t(4;14) and/or t(14;16). Statistical analysis was done using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis for progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and the Mann-Whitney test for comparing response groups. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated to illustrate survival. Results BM samples obtained at diagnosis from 149 patients were evaluated. Seventy-one patients were treated in the thalidomide arm vs 78 patients in the lenalidomide arm. Median age was 73 years [range 60-90]. Revised ISS stages I/II/III were 12%/80%/8% respectively. At the time of analysis, median follow up of the 45 patients still alive was 83 months [range 23 - 114 months]. Best response on protocol treatment was sCR/CR in 22%, VGPR in 30%, PR in 36% and NC/PD in 12%. Protein expression across the response groups showed higher nuclear CRBN in patients who responded better (sCR/CR/VGPR; median H-score: 178 (49-273)) compared to patients with a worse response (PR/NC/PD; median H-score: 157 (67-251)), albeit not statistically significant (Mann-Whitney p-value=0.06). Higher H-score of nuclear staining of CRBN was associated with a longer PFS and OS, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.52 for PFS (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.37-0.86, p<0.001) and a HR of 0.56 for OS (95% CI=0.36-0.78; p<0.01). Patients with the top quartile nuclear CRBN levels had a median PFS of 21 months longer compared to patients with the lowest quartile (38 months vs 17 months). In terms of OS, patients with the highest quartile nuclear CRBN expression demonstrated a median survival that was 2 times as high as found in patients with the lowest quartile (75 months vs 35 months; Figure 1). In addition, cytoplasmic staining of CRBN was associated with improved PFS (HR = 0.66 (95% CI=0.47-0.94; p=0.02), but not with OS (HR = 0.73 (CI=0.48-1.11); p=0.14). None of the other markers were associated with survival. In a multivariate analysis (which included study arm (MPT vs MPR), nuclear CRBN, high-risk cytogenetic aberrations and R-ISS), nuclear CRBN remained independently associated with OS as well as R-ISS and study arm. For PFS, only nuclear CRBN remained statistically significant after backward selection. Despite treatment arm being a statistically significant term in the multivariate Cox model for OS, no relation was found for treatment arm and nuclear CRBN, in terms of OS. Conclusions In this study we demonstrate that higher expression of nuclear CRBN in myeloma cells in BM of patients with MM was associated with a superior PFS and OS. Disclosures Couto: Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Ren:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wang:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Thakurta:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Zweegman:Janssen: 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; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Broyl:Celgene, amgen, Janssen,Takeda: Honoraria. Sonneveld:Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; SkylineDx: Research Funding.

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Aberrant a-to-I RNA Editing and Prognostic Impact of Adar in Multiple Myeloma Patients with 1q Amplification

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v128.22.357.357 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 128 (22) ◽

pp. 357-357

Author(s):

Alessandro Lagana ◽

Deepak Perumal ◽

Violetta V Leshchenko ◽

Pei-Yu Kuo ◽

Brian Kidd ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Overall Survival ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Rna Editing ◽

Copy Number ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Cox Regression Analysis ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

Equity Ownership

Abstract Amplification of 1q is observed in 40% of Multiple Myeloma (MM) patients and is associated with a more aggressive clinical course of the disease. The frequency of 1q21 amplifications has been shown to increase significantly in the transition from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) to overt myeloma and to relapse. Previous studies have reported genes on 1q such as ANP32E and CSK1B that have significant impact on survival. However, the biological mechanisms underlying disease aggressiveness associated to 1q amplification still remain unclear. ADAR (Adenosine Deaminase Acting on RNA) is an enzyme responsible for A-to-I editing, a post-transcriptional modification of double stranded RNA consisting in the conversion of specific Adenosines (A) into Inosines (I) by deamination. As Inosine is structurally similar to Guanosine (G), editing events can result in functional consequences in RNA and protein structure, including non-synonymous changes in protein coding sequences and creation/disruption of miRNA binding sites on UTRs. Dysregulation of A-to-I editing by ADAR has been recently linked to cancer. Since the ADAR gene is located in 1q21.3 (the critical minimally amplified region in MM), we asked whether 1q amplification affected ADAR expression, RNA editing and overall prognosis in MM patients. We identified 44 patients with 1q amplification from the IA6 release of the MMRF CoMMpass dataset. As a control group (wt), we selected an equal number of patients from CoMMpass without any 1q alteration. Gene expression analysis showed significantly higher expression of ADAR in 1q-amp patients compared to wt (q = 3.64e-7) (Fig. 1) and significant correlation between ADAR copy number and its expression (Spearman ρ=0.69, p = 4.52e-14). To evaluate the functional impact of ADAR up-regulation, we applied a computational pipeline based on the tool REDItools and our in-house scripts to detect A-to-I edited sites in RNA-Seq samples. The pipeline identified candidate A-to-G mutations in RNA sequences using corresponding Whole-Exome Sequencing data to filter out actual DNA mutations. We calculated sample-wise mean editing frequency across all edited sites and found significantly increased editing in 1q-amp patients compared to wt (p = 4.3e-5) (Fig. 2). Mean editing frequency was significantly correlated with ADAR expression (ρ = 0.62, p < 2e-16) and ADAR copy number (ρ= 0.5, p= 4.32e-7). Our analysis identified 3,286 sites residing in Alu sequences and 1,303 in non-Alu regions. A-to-I editing has been shown to occur predominantly in Alu elements, repetitive sequences abundantly interspersed throughout the human genome, mostly within introns and untranslated regions (UTRs). As expected, most sites were reported within 3' UTRs (66%) and introns (12%). Overall, at the site level, we observed increased editing in 1q-amp vs wt (p < 2e-16). We found that 2,173 sites (47%) had significant differential editing frequency between 1q-amp and wt patients (FDR < 20%). Next, we sought to assess the prognostic implications of ADAR activity. Cox regression analysis revealed a trend toward higher risk in terms of EFS (Event Free Survival) for 1q-amp vs wt (HR = 1.7, 95% CI = 0.83-3.59, p = 0.13), as well as for patients with higher expression of ADAR (HR = 2.4, 95% CI = 0.79-7.15, p = 0.11) and higher mean editing frequency (HR = 2, 95% CI = 0.72-5.59, p = 0.17). Since survival data in the CoMMpass dataset is not yet mature, we evaluated the effects of ADAR expression on survival on an independent dataset consisting of 559 samples from newly diagnosed patients pre-TT2 and -TT3 treatments (GSE2658, Shaughnessy et al, Blood 2007; 109:2276-84). Cox regression analysis showed a significant difference in terms of overall survival between patients with low and high ADAR expression, the latter being correlated with higher risk (HR = 2, 95% CI = 1.18-3.66, p = 0.01) (Fig. 3). In conclusion, we found a significant increase in ADAR expression and aberrant A-to-I RNA editing in MM patients with amplification of 1q. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism by which 1q amplification can contribute to MM pathogenesis via induction of A-to-I RNA editing by ADAR. Figure 1 ADAR expression in 1q-amp vs wt patients. Figure 1. ADAR expression in 1q-amp vs wt patients. Figure 2 Difference in mean RNA editing frequency between 1q-amp and wt patients. Figure 2. Difference in mean RNA editing frequency between 1q-amp and wt patients. Figure 3 Kaplan-Meier curves of overall survival in the Shaughnessy cohort stratified by ADAR expression (GSE2658) Figure 3. Kaplan-Meier curves of overall survival in the Shaughnessy cohort stratified by ADAR expression (GSE2658) Disclosures Chari: Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Array Biopharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Cho:Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agenus, Inc.: Research Funding; Genentech Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Barlogie:Signal Genetics: Patents & Royalties. Jagannath:Janssen: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy. Dudley:NuMedii, Inc.: Patents & Royalties; AstraZeneca: Speakers Bureau; Ontomics, Inc.: Equity Ownership; NuMedii, Inc.: Equity Ownership; Ecoeos, Inc.: Equity Ownership; Ayasdi, Inc.: Equity Ownership; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy; Personalis: Patents & Royalties.

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Impact of Deletion6q23 Identified By FISH in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2020-139068 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 12-13

Author(s):

Hadiyah Y. Audil ◽

Paul J. Hampel ◽

Daniel L. Van Dyke ◽

Sara J. Achenbach ◽

Kari G Rabe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Risk Score ◽

Mayo Clinic ◽

Research Funding ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Cytogenetic Abnormalities ◽

Cox Regression Analysis ◽

Risk Of Death

Background: Cytogenetic abnormalities detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) are known to differentially impact prognosis in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Deletion6q23 (del6q23) has been reported in ~2-3% of CLL patients at diagnosis; however, its prognostic significance remains indeterminate. Methods: We identified previously untreated CLL patients from the Mayo Clinic CLL Database seen between 1/1995 - 2/2020 who had FISH performed. The clinical characteristics, concomitant cytogenetic abnormalities, time to first therapy (TTFT), and overall survival (OS) were compared between patients with del6q23 to those without this abnormality. TTFT was analyzed from FISH date until treatment or last known untreated date, accounting for competing risk of death. OS was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier methods from FISH date. In a matched (CLL-IPI risk score and sex) analysis, Cox regression analysis was used to determine the association between TTFT/OS and presence of del6q23. The Mayo Clinic IRB approved this study. Results: A total of 3101 CLL patients were identified; their median age at diagnosis was 64 years and 66% were male. Of these patients, 42 (1.3%) had evidence of del6q23 by FISH. Compared to patients without del6q23, patients with del6q23 carried a more adverse clinical and cytogenetic profile at the time of diagnosis including advanced Rai stage (22% Rai III/IV vs. 9% Rai III/IV; P = 0.002), unmutated IGHV genes (91% vs. 43%; P < 0.001), and high/very high risk CLL-IPI (50% vs. 27%; P < 0.001). Del6q23 was the sole abnormality in 13 patients (31%). Of the remaining patients, del6q23 was concomitantly present with del13q in 8 patients (19%), and with either del11q or del17p in 21 patients (50%). Of the 42 patients with del6q23, 29 received first line therapy: chemoimmunotherapy in 16 patients, BTK inhibitor in 7 patients, and an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody alone in 6 patients. The median follow-up of the entire cohort was 7.3 years. The median TTFT in patients with del6q23 was 0.7 years while the 5-year OS was 76%. Patients with del6q23 demonstrated significantly shorter TTFT and reduced OS when compared to patients without del6q23 (Figures 1A and 1B). The shorter TTFT was also evident for patients with del6q23 compared to patients without del6q23 divided according to the Dohner risk category (Figure 2A), although there was no difference in OS between these groups of patients (Figure 2B). Because del6q23 patients were enriched for other unfavorable prognostic markers, we identified four control patients without del6q23, matched by CLL-IPI risk score and sex, to each treatment-naïve patient with del6q23. Patients with del6q23 showed a borderline statistically significant shorter TTFT (median 0.7 years versus 3.9 years; P = 0.07) and a nonsignificant association with OS (median 10.9 years versus 10.3 years; P = 0.28). Conclusion: Del6q23 by FISH in previously untreated CLL represents an uncommon abnormality. When compared to patients without del6q23, patients with del6q23 tend to have more adverse clinical and cytogenetic profiles at baseline, which likely confer a worse prognosis as reflected by shorter TTFT compared to patients without this abnormality. Figure Disclosures Ding: Merck: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; DTRM: Research Funding; Beigene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; alexion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MEI Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Octapharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding. Wang:Novartis: Research Funding; Innocare: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding. Braggio:DASA: Consultancy; Bayer: Other: Stock Owner; Acerta Pharma: Research Funding. Kay:Sunesis: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Tolero Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bristol Meyer Squib: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Juno Theraputics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Dava Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Oncotracker: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Rigel: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Morpho-sys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cytomx: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Acerta Pharma: Research Funding; MEI Pharma: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kenderian:Juno: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Lentigen: Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; Sunesis: Research Funding; Kite: Research Funding; Novartis: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Torque: Consultancy; Humanigen: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Mettaforge: Patents & Royalties; Tolero: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding. Parikh:Ascentage Pharma: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; Genentech: Honoraria; Verastem Oncology: Honoraria.

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Impact of Genetic Profile on Clinical Outcomes in Adults ≥60 with AML: The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Experience

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-99-118938 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 2666-2666

Author(s):

Georgina S Daher-Reyes ◽

Caroline J McNamara ◽

Manjula Maganti ◽

Tracy L. Stockley ◽

Jose Mario Capo-Chichi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Age Groups ◽

Genetic Profile ◽

Intensive Chemotherapy ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Cox Regression Analysis ◽

Secondary Aml ◽

Cancer Centre

Abstract Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clinically and biologically heterogeneous disease. Traditionally, cytogenetic analysis has been the backbone for prognostication and treatment decisions. Outcomes vary between age groups with older adults generally having a poorer prognosis. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) has expedited the discovery of novel genetic lesions in AML to better predict response to intensive chemotherapy and overall survival (OS). The aims of our study were to describe the genetic profile of older adults with AML and to determine its impact on treatment response and survival. We included all new patients with a diagnosis of AML (≥20% blasts in peripheral blood or bone marrow; acute promyelocytic leukemia and myeloid sarcoma were excluded), treated at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre between February 2015 and August 2017. NGS was performed on DNA isolated from peripheral blood or bone marrow samples at diagnosis. Analysis was performed using the TruSight Myeloid Sequencing Panel (Illumina; San Diego, CA) on the MiSeq benchtop genome sequencer (Illumina). Of the 54 genes included in the panel, the complete coding region was sequenced in 15, with hotspot region coverage provided for 39. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Registry. We identified 454 patients with a new diagnosis of AML in whom frontline NGS was performed. Of these, 300 were 60 years (range 60-92) or older. Demographic and clinical data are shown in Table 1. The median age overall at presentation was 67 yrs (range 18-92) and 57% were male. de novo AML was diagnosed in 329 patients (72%), secondary AML in 17%, and therapy related myeloid neoplasm in 11%. Secondary AML (sAML) was more frequently seen in the ≥60 vs the <60 population (21% vs 8%). Cytogenetic risk stratification by MRC was favorable in 6%, intermediate in 51%, and adverse in 27%. Unsuccessful cytogenetic testing occurred in 12%. In total 283 patients (62%) received intensive chemotherapy (95% in the younger group and 45% in the older cohort). 216 patients (76%) achieved a response (CR/CRi/morphologic leukemia free state). No statistically significant difference was seen between age groups (P=0.73) NGS detected 1655 variants. Of these, 1353 classified as oncogenic and 302 as variants of unknown significance (the latter were excluded from subsequent analysis). 14 patients had no mutations identified by NGS. Forty three genes were recurrently mutated in the study cohort: 36 were mutated in >1% of patients, and 11 genes were mutated in >10% of patients. The most commonly mutated genes included DNMT3A (25%), NPM1 (21%), TET2 (19%), RUNX1 (16%), TP53 (16%), ASXL1 (15%), IDH2 (15%), SRSF2 (15%), NRAS (12%), and IDH1 (11%). Older patients had a greater number of mutations overall compared to younger adults (median: 3 vs 2; P = 0.001). In total 986 oncogenic variants were identified in the older group (median 3, range 1-12), while 367 oncogenic variants (median 0, range 0-2) were present in patients < 60 years old (P < 0.001). The older group more commonly harbored mutations in TET2 (25 vs 10%), ASXL1 (21 vs 4%), RUNX1 (20 vs 8 %), SRFS2 (20 vs 6 %), STAG2 (11 vs 6%) and U2AF1 (8 vs 2%). Patients with PTPN11 and NPM1 mutations had longer OS, while patients carrying mutations in ASXL1, JAK2, RUNX1, TP53 and SRSF2 had a shorter OS (Table 2). No differences in OS between age groups (P= 0.2). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that male sex (P= 0.0057), sAML (P<0.001), MRC adverse cytogenetic analysis (P<0.002), ASXL1 mutations (P= 0.071) and TP53 mutations (P= 0.089), were associated with shorter OS (Table 3). We then analyzed the correlation between mutations and response rate in patients receiving intensive treatment. PTPN11 and NPM1 mutations were associated with a greater likelihood of achieving a response, while patients with mutations in BCOR, TP53, SF3B1 and U2AF1 had a lower chance of response. Multivariate Cox regression analysis of mutations known to affect response did not show any differences by age, gender, or diagnosis. Mutations in BCOR (P= 0.045), TP53 (P= 0.032) and U2FA1 (P=0.019) were significantly associated with primary induction failure. Overall, older AML patients harbored a greater number of mutations than did their younger counterparts. No age-related differences were observed in mutations known to affect response and/or OS. TP53 mutations, adverse cytogenetics and sAML, were poor prognostic factors regardless of age. Disclosures Schimmer: Medivir AB: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Otsuka Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Yee:Agensys, Astex, GSK, Onconova, Genentech/Roche: Research Funding; Celgene, Novartis, Otsuka: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Gupta:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding. Maze:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria. Schuh:Novartis: Consultancy; Otsuka: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Teva: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Amgen Inc.: Consultancy; Shire: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy.

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Distinct Gene Expression Signatures in Patients with Richter's Syndrome and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with Prior Exposure to Ibrutinib

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2020-136172 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 30-31

Author(s):

Hanyin Wang ◽

Shulan Tian ◽

Qing Zhao ◽

Wendy Blumenschein ◽

Jennifer H. Yearley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Activation ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

B Cell Activation ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Upregulated Genes

Introduction: Richter's syndrome (RS) represents transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) into a highly aggressive lymphoma with dismal prognosis. Transcriptomic alterations have been described in CLL but most studies focused on peripheral blood samples with minimal data on RS-involved tissue. Moreover, transcriptomic features of RS have not been well defined in the era of CLL novel therapies. In this study we investigated transcriptomic profiles of CLL/RS-involved nodal tissue using samples from a clinical trial cohort of refractory CLL and RS patients treated with Pembrolizumab (NCT02332980). Methods: Nodal samples from 9 RS and 4 CLL patients in MC1485 trial cohort were reviewed and classified as previously published (Ding et al, Blood 2017). All samples were collected prior to Pembrolizumab treatment. Targeted gene expression profiling of 789 immune-related genes were performed on FFPE nodal samples using Nanostring nCounter® Analysis System (NanoString Technologies, Seattle, WA). Differential expression analysis was performed using NanoStringDiff. Genes with 2 fold-change in expression with a false-discovery rate less than 5% were considered differentially expressed. Results: The details for the therapy history of this cohort were illustrated in Figure 1a. All patients exposed to prior ibrutinib before the tissue biopsy had developed clinical progression while receiving ibrutinib. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering using the 300 most variable genes in expression revealed two clusters: C1 and C2 (Figure 1b). C1 included 4 RS and 3 CLL treated with prior chemotherapy without prior ibrutinib, and 1 RS treated with prior ibrutinib. C2 included 1 CLL and 3 RS received prior ibrutinib, and 1 RS treated with chemotherapy. The segregation of gene expression profiles in samples was largely driven by recent exposure to ibrutinib. In C1 cluster (majority had no prior ibrutinb), RS and CLL samples were clearly separated into two subgroups (Figure 1b). In C2 cluster, CLL 8 treated with ibrutinib showed more similarity in gene expression to RS, than to other CLL samples treated with chemotherapy. In comparison of C2 to C1, we identified 71 differentially expressed genes, of which 34 genes were downregulated and 37 were upregulated in C2. Among the upregulated genes in C2 (majority had prior ibrutinib) are known immune modulating genes including LILRA6, FCGR3A, IL-10, CD163, CD14, IL-2RB (figure 1c). Downregulated genes in C2 are involved in B cell activation including CD40LG, CD22, CD79A, MS4A1 (CD20), and LTB, reflecting the expected biological effect of ibrutinib in reducing B cell activation. Among the 9 RS samples, we compared gene profiles between the two groups of RS with or without prior ibrutinib therapy. 38 downregulated genes and 10 upregulated genes were found in the 4 RS treated with ibrutinib in comparison with 5 RS treated with chemotherapy. The top upregulated genes in the ibrutinib-exposed group included PTHLH, S100A8, IGSF3, TERT, and PRKCB, while the downregulated genes in these samples included MS4A1, LTB and CD38 (figure 1d). In order to delineate the differences of RS vs CLL, we compared gene expression profiles between 5 RS samples and 3 CLL samples that were treated with only chemotherapy. RS samples showed significant upregulation of 129 genes and downregulation of 7 genes. Among the most significantly upregulated genes are multiple genes involved in monocyte and myeloid lineage regulation including TNFSF13, S100A9, FCN1, LGALS2, CD14, FCGR2A, SERPINA1, and LILRB3. Conclusion: Our study indicates that ibrutinib-resistant, RS-involved tissues are characterized by downregulation of genes in B cell activation, but with PRKCB and TERT upregulation. Furthermore, RS-involved nodal tissues display the increased expression of genes involved in myeloid/monocytic regulation in comparison with CLL-involved nodal tissues. These findings implicate that differential therapies for RS and CLL patients need to be adopted based on their prior therapy and gene expression signatures. Studies using large sample size will be needed to verify this hypothesis. Figure Disclosures Zhao: Merck: Current Employment. Blumenschein:Merck: Current Employment. Yearley:Merck: Current Employment. Wang:Novartis: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Innocare: Research Funding. Parikh:Verastem Oncology: Honoraria; GlaxoSmithKline: Honoraria; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; Ascentage Pharma: Research Funding; Genentech: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding. Kenderian:Sunesis: Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; Humanigen: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Tolero: Research Funding; Lentigen: Research Funding; Juno: Research Funding; Mettaforge: Patents & Royalties; Torque: Consultancy; Kite: Research Funding; Novartis: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding. Kay:Astra Zeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Acerta Pharma: Research Funding; Juno Theraputics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Dava Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Oncotracker: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sunesis: Research Funding; MEI Pharma: Research Funding; Agios Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Meyer Squib: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Tolero Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Rigel: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Morpho-sys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cytomx: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Braggio:DASA: Consultancy; Bayer: Other: Stock Owner; Acerta Pharma: Research Funding. Ding:DTRM: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Merck: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Octapharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MEI Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; alexion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Beigene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

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Favorable Long-Term Outcomes after Daratumumab Discontinuation in AL Amyloidosis Patients Achieving Deep Responses

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-124981 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 1884-1884 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alfred Chung ◽

Gregory P. Kaufman ◽

Surbhi Sidana ◽

David Iberri ◽

Erik Eckhert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Progression ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Median Duration ◽

Research Funding ◽

Control Group ◽

Al Amyloidosis ◽

Cell Transplant ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Free Interval ◽

Significant Difference

Daratumumab (DARA) is a CD38-targeted antibody FDA-approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) and its efficacy has recently been demonstrated in the treatment of AL amyloidosis. DARA is conventionally given indefinitely until evidence of disease progression or intolerance for the treatment of MM. In AL amyloidosis, the optimal duration of therapy is not known, and patients may be treated indefinitely on maintenance, extrapolating from MM data. However, the plasma cell burden observed in AL amyloidosis is often lower than in MM, and thus certain patients achieving deep responses may have durable responses with time-limited treatment. Outcomes for patients who are observed after DARA discontinuation are not known. We report the outcomes of patients at our institution who received time-limited DARA. A retrospective analysis of AL amyloidosis patients treated at Stanford University from 2016 to 2019 with DARA monotherapy and dexamethasone for at least 2 months was performed, and patients who subsequently had DARA discontinued for reasons other than disease progression or lack of response were selected for the study. Hematologic responses were assessed by consensus guidelines. Duration on and off therapy were explored, along with time-to-next treatment or death (TTNT), defined as the time from DARA initiation to restarting/switching therapy or death. An exploratory analysis comparing TTNT between the study population and a control cohort who achieved hematologic CR and were maintained on DARA was conducted with the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank testing. 67 patients received at least 2 months of DARA monotherapy and dexamethasone; among these, 15 patients discontinued therapy for reasons other than disease progression and were included. Median age was 66 years old and median lines of prior therapies was 4 (range: 1 - 6). Baseline difference between involved and uninvolved free light chains (dFLC) prior to DARA initiation was 2.6 mg/dL (range: 0 - 16.8 mg/dL). 10 of 15 patients had cardiac involvement with median NT-proBNP of 1982 pg/mL and 9 of 15 patients had renal involvement with median 24-hour proteinuria of 6.2 g and eGFR of 32 mL/min/1.73m2 at DARA initiation. Median duration from starting to stopping DARA was 7.8 months (range: 2 - 21 months). Median duration from achieving best hematologic response to stopping DARA was 3 months (range: 0 - 17 months). Reasons for discontinuation included: patient preference (5), fatigue/body aches (4), infection (2), other active medical comorbidities (3), and lack of perceived further benefit (1). At DARA discontinuation, median dFLC was 0.1 mg/dL (range: 0 - 2.2 mg/dL) and there were 12 hematologic CR, 1 VGPR, 1 PR, and 1 not assessable for response. Outcomes for all 15 patients are shown in Figure 1. The median treatment-free interval was 17.5 months (range: 5 - 34 months); estimated 2-year TTNT-free survival was 83% (95% CI: 61 - 100%). All 14 evaluable patients eventually achieved CR. 3 patients restarted DARA for rising dFLC, and all 3 patients demonstrated response to retreatment (2 achieving CR and 1 near PR with ongoing follow-up). There were 2 deaths. One patient with severe baseline cardiac amyloidosis developed sudden rise in dFLC after treatment-free interval of 21 months; although he rapidly achieved hematologic CR on retreatment, he died of heart failure within 2 months of restarting DARA. The other patient developed therapy-related AML while off therapy and underwent allogenic stem cell transplant but died of leukemia (censored for AL amyloidosis outcomes at transplant). There was no significant difference in the TTNT between the study group and a control group of 16 patients who achieved CR and were on continuous maintenance (Figure 2; p=0.807). AL amyloidosis patients achieving deep responses with DARA can have favorable outcomes after treatment discontinuation, including a long treatment-free interval. Although our sample size is small, the outcomes of these patients appeared comparable to those achieving CR on continuous DARA maintenance, and patients were able to regain responses when retreatment was necessary. These results suggest that DARA may be safely discontinued in patents achieving deep hematologic responses, which has significant implications for quality of life and financial burden of treatment. Future studies evaluating time-limited versus continuous DARA maintenance after achievement of deep responses are warranted. Disclosures Kaufman: Janssen: Other: travel/lodging, Research Funding. Liedtke:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Prothena: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; IQVIA/Jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Genentech/Roche: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celator: Research Funding; Caelum: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BlueBirdBio: Research Funding; Amgen/Onyx: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding; Adaptive: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. OffLabel Disclosure: Daratumumab for treatment of AL amyloidosis

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Impact of Idelalisib Treatment Interruption with or without Dose Reduction on Outcomes in Relapsed / Refractory Indolent Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-124541 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 5468-5468

Author(s):

Shuo Ma ◽

Rebecca J Chan ◽

Lin Gu ◽

Guan Xing ◽

Nishan Rajakumaraswamy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Overall Survival ◽

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Dose Reduction ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Research Funding ◽

Treatment Interruption ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Hodgkin's Lymphoma ◽

Advisory Committees

Introduction: Idelalisib (IDELA) is the first-in-class PI3Kδ inhibitor and is approved as a monotherapy for relapsed or refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma and in combination with rituximab for R/R chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We previously evaluated IDELA treatment interruption as a mechanism to mitigate treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and found that limited interruption with clinically appropriate re-challenging resulted in superior clinical outcomes. These findings did not comprehensively address the potential confound of interruptions inherently being associated with longer duration of therapy (DoT). Furthermore, the compound effect of IDELA dose reduction together with treatment interruption on IDELA efficacy was not assessed. Objectives: 1) To evaluate whether the benefit of IDELA interruption is retained in patients on therapy >180 days, a duration previously found to be associated with longer overall survival among patients who discontinued IDELA due to an AE; and 2) To compare clinical outcomes of patients who reduced IDELA dosing in addition to interrupting IDELA with those of patients who interrupted IDELA without additional dose reduction. Methods: Using data from Gilead-sponsored trials of patients with R/R indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (iNHL) treated with IDELA monotherapy (N=125, Gopal et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 2014) or with R/R CLL treated with IDELA + anti-CD20 (N=110, Furman et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 2014; and N=173, Jones et al., Lancet Haematol., 2017), DoT, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between patients on IDELA therapy >180 days with vs. without interruption and between patients who experienced Interruption and Dose Reduction (IDR) vs. patients who experienced Interruption but NoDose Reduction (INoDR) at any point during IDELA treatment. Interruption was defined as missing at least one IDELA treatment day due to an AE and dose reduction could have occurred before or after the first interruption. PFS and OS were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared using a log-rank test. Results: Sixty-nine of 125 patients with R/R iNHL (55.2%) and 222 of 283 patients with R/R CLL (78.4%) remained on IDELA therapy >180 days with 29 (42.0%) and 103 (46.4%) of them, respectively, experiencing interruption on or after day 180 (Table 1). The proportions of patients with interruption before day 180 were similar within each of these populations. Among patients on therapy >180 days, those with treatment interruption on or after 180 days had a longer median (m) DOT than patients without interruption (Table 1). Both PFS and OS were longer in CLL patients who interrupted compared to those who did not interrupt (mPFS=28.9 mos. vs. 17.3 mos. and mOS=not reached [NR] vs. 40.4 mos. for with interruption vs. without interruption, respectively, Table 1 and Figure 1). In patients with iNHL, no difference was observed in PFS or OS between patients who interrupted vs. those who did not (Table 1). Of patients who experienced at least one AE-induced interruption at any point during IDELA therapy (n=63 iNHL and n=157 CLL), 47 iNHL patients (74.6%) and 84 CLL patients (53.5%) also had dose reduction. Two iNHL patients (1.6%) and 5 CLL patients (1.8%) had IDELA dose reduction but no interruption. Both iNHL and CLL patients with IDR experienced a similar PFS compared to patients with INoDR (mPFS=16.5 mos. vs. 14.2 mos. for iNHL and 21.8 mos. vs. 22.1 mos. for CLL with IDR vs. INoDR, respectively, Table 2). However, OS was longer in both iNHL and CLL patients with IDR compared to INoDR (mOS=61.2 mos. vs. 35.3 mos. for iNHL and NR vs. 42.4 mos. for CLL, respectively, Table 2; CLL patients shown in Figure 2). Discussion: IDELA treatment interruption is not associated with rapid clinical deterioration, as observed with some B-cell receptor signaling pathway inhibitors. No clear relationship between IDELA DoT and frequency of interruption was observed. When normalized for DoT >180 days, IDELA treatment interruption retained its clinical benefit in the CLL population. When utilized together with IDELA interruption, dose reduction did not lead to inferior clinical outcomes but instead extended OS in both iNHL and CLL populations. Adherence to treatment interruption and dose reduction guidance as outlined in the IDELA USPI may optimize IDELA tolerability and efficacy for patients with iNHL and CLL. Disclosures Ma: Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Juno: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Xeme: Research Funding; Beigene: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Kite: Consultancy; Acerta: Research Funding; Bioverativ: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy. Chan:Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Gu:Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employment. Xing:Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employment. Rajakumaraswamy:Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employment. Ruzicka:Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employment. Wagner-Johnston:Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ADC Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jannsen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

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BCX9930, a Potent, Selective, Oral Factor D Inhibitor, Demonstrates Proof-of-Concept As Monotherapy in Patients with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2020-138838 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 14-15

Author(s):

Austin Kulasekararaj ◽

Jacques Le Roux Malherbe ◽

Andrew McDonald ◽

Melanie Cornpropst ◽

Phil Collis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Total Bilirubin ◽

Proof Of Concept ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Clone Size ◽

The Past ◽

History Of ◽

Pre Treatment

INTRODUCTION: PNH, a rare, chronic, life-threatening disease, is characterized by hemolytic anemia due to uncontrolled activity of the complement alternative pathway (AP), bone marrow failure, and thrombosis. Inhibition of C5 by intravenously administered eculizumab and ravulizumab reduces intravascular hemolysis, but PNH red blood cells (RBCs) become opsonized and susceptible to extravascular hemolysis (Risitano et al, Blood 2009). Only approximately half of PNH patients become transfusion independent with eculizumab treatment (Hillmen et al, NEJM 2006). BCX9930 is a potent, selective, orally administered inhibitor of complement factor D. Inhibition of factor D may prevent both intravascular and extravascular hemolysis in PNH. In healthy subjects, BCX9930 showed linear pharmacokinetics and dose-related AP suppression, and was safe and generally well-tolerated over a wide dose range. Here we describe safety and laboratory data establishing proof-of-concept for BCX9930 monotherapy in PNH patients in Study BCX9930-101 (NCT04330534). METHODS: Ongoing Study BCX9930-101 includes an open-label, dose-ranging evaluation of BCX9930 in PNH subjects who may either be naïve to C5 inhibitors (and receive BCX9930 as monotherapy) or have an incomplete treatment response to eculizumab or ravulizumab (with BCX9930 added to existing treatment). Up to 4 sequential cohorts each use a forced titration design for the first 28 days (Figure 1). Subjects enrolled in South Africa can participate in an individualized 48-week extension if they derive benefit at Day 28. Clinical benefit from BCX9930 is evaluated using laboratory monitoring and symptom assessment. Safety and tolerability are evaluated via clinical and laboratory monitoring, causality of adverse events is assessed by investigators, and the study is overseen by an independent Data Monitoring Committee. Data from Cohort 1 through 28 days is reported; data from the extension and subsequent cohorts will be subsequently summarized as available. RESULTS: To date, four C5 inhibitor naïve PNH subjects in South Africa have enrolled in Cohort 1. These subjects had PNH for a median of 4.5 years; 2 subjects had a history of transfusions in the past year; 1 subject each had a history of aplastic anemia or major thrombosis. Pre-treatment lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total bilirubin, hemoglobin (Hb), reticulocyte count, and RBC PNH Type III clone size ranged from 3.7-11.1 × ULN, 0.61-3.3 mg/dL, 6.1-11.6 g/dL, 0.13-0.29 × 106/µL, and 41.4%-88.6% respectively. Treatment over 28 days with 50 mg twice daily (BID; Days 1-14) and 100 mg BID (Days 15-28) of BCX9930 produced dose-dependent, clinically meaningful improvements across hemolysis biomarkers (Figure 2). Decreases were observed in LDH (4/4), reticulocytes (4/4), and total bilirubin (2/2 subjects with elevated pre-treatment values). Increases were observed in Hb (3/4) and PNH RBC clone size (4/4). One subject showed an initial response to BCX9930 50 mg BID, followed by worsening indicators of hemolysis temporally associated with an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI; onset on Day 7). With an increase in dose to 100 mg BID and resolution of the URTI, LDH and reticulocytes fell and Hb rose. All four subjects reported one or more PNH-associated symptoms, including hemoglobinuria, jaundice, fatigue, erectile dysfunction, headache and abdominal pain, prior to enrollment. With the exception of one subject with persistent hemoglobinuria, all symptoms resolved by Day 28 on BCX9930. Three subjects experienced moderate headache that resolved in < 3 days after initiating BCX9930. One subject developed a rash during treatment with amoxicillin for an URTI; the rash resolved while continuing BCX9930 dosing. One subject on concomitant chronic corticosteroids and azathioprine had an unrelated fatal serious adverse event of disseminated varicella during the study extension. Based on review of safety data, Cohort 2 opened at doses of 200 mg BID and 400 mg BID and, in the 3 subjects who continued into the extension, the dose was titrated to ≥ 200 mg BID. CONCLUSIONS: Oral BCX9930 elicited rapid changes in laboratory parameters indicative of reduced hemolysis and clinical benefit and was safe and generally well-tolerated over a 28-day dosing interval. These interim results establish proof of concept for monotherapy with BCX9930 in the treatment of C5-inhibitor naïve PNH patients and support evaluation of higher doses. Disclosures Kulasekararaj: Alexion:Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel grants, Speakers Bureau;Ra Pharma:Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel grants, Speakers Bureau;BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Apellis:Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel grants, Speakers Bureau;Roche:Consultancy, Honoraria, 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, Other: Travel grants, Speakers Bureau;Celgene:Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel grants, Speakers Bureau.Malherbe:Key Oncologics:Honoraria, Other: Conference sponsor;Novartis:Other: Conference sponsor;Astellas:Honoraria, Other: Conference sponsor;Takeda:Consultancy;Acino:Honoraria;Shire:Other: Conference sponsor;BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:Consultancy;Janssen:Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Conference sponsor;Roche:Honoraria, Other: Conference sponsor.McDonald:venetoclax advisory board in South Africa (in CLL context):Consultancy;Alberts Cellular Therapy:Current Employment.Cornpropst:BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:Current Employment.Collis:BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:Current Employment.Davidson:BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:Current Employment.Chen:BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:Current Employment.Tower:BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:Current Employment.Gesty-Palmer:BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Ended employment in the past 24 months.Sheridan:BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:Current Employment.Risitano:Alexion:Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Alnylam:Research Funding;Novartis:Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau;Pfizer:Speakers Bureau;Achillion:Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Apellis:Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Biocryst:Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;RA pharma:Research Funding;Amyndas:Consultancy;Samsung:Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Roche:Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Jazz:Speakers Bureau.

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BAX-Mutated Clonal Hematopoiesis in Patients on Long-Term Venetoclax for Relapsed/Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2020-137775 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 9-10

Author(s):

Piers Blombery ◽

Ella R Thompson ◽

Xiangting Chen ◽

Tamia Nguyen ◽

Mary Ann Anderson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Advisory Committee ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Clonal Hematopoiesis ◽

Eliza Hall Institute ◽

Hall Institute ◽

Over Time

Venetoclax (Ven) is an effective element of treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with high response rates observed in the upfront and relapsed/refractory (R/R) settings. In addition to inducing apoptosis in CLL cells, Ven also induces apoptosis within normal and malignant myeloid lineage populations (accounting for its efficacy in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia). We investigated the effects of Ven outside the target tumor compartment in patients (pts) with CLL receiving long-term continuous Ven and make the novel observation of the development of BAX-mutated clonal hematopoiesis in this heavily pre-treated patient group. 92 pts with CLL receiving continuous non time-limited Ven have been treated at our institutions on clinical trials. Of these, 41 had sufficient (>6 mo) follow up (median 70; range 14-95 mo) and suitable samples available for further analysis. 38/41 (93%) pts had received previous treatment with alkylators and/or fludarabine. In order to assess the non-CLL compartment in these 41 pts we identified those with peripheral blood or bone marrow aspirate samples taken during deep response to Ven demonstrating either minimal (<5%) or no CLL involvement by flow cytometry (sensitivity 10-4). We initially performed unique molecular index (UMI)-based targeted next generation sequencing of apoptosis pathway genes as well a panel of 60 genes recurrently mutated in lymphoid and myeloid malignancy. From these 41 pts we identified mutations in the apoptosis effector BAX in samples from 12 (29%). 20 different BAX mutations were observed across these 12 pts at variant allele frequencies (VAF) consistent with their occurrence in the non-CLL compartment. Mutations included frameshift, nonsense, canonical splice site and missense mutations occurring in key structural elements of BAX consistent with a loss-of-function mechanism (Fig 1A). Interestingly, an enrichment of missense and truncating mutations predicted to escape nonsense mediated decay were observed at the C-terminus of the BAX protein affecting the critical α9 helix. Mutations in this region have previously been shown in cell lines to cause aberrant intracellular BAX localization and abrogation of normal BAX function in apoptosis (Fresquet Blood 2014; Kuwana J Biol Chem 2020). For comparison, NGS targeted sequencing for BAX mutations was performed on samples from cohorts of pts with (i) myeloid or lymphoid malignancy (n=80) or (ii) R/R CLL treated with BTK inhibitors (n=15) after a similar extent of preceding chemotherapy. Neither of these cohorts had previous exposure to Ven. BAX mutations were not detected in any samples from these pts. Longitudinal sampling from pts on Ven harboring BAX mutations in the non-CLL compartment was performed to further understand compartment dynamics over time (in 9 pts over 21-93 months of follow up). Multiple pts demonstrated a progressive increase in VAF of single BAX mutations over time to become clonally dominant within the non-CLL compartment and with observed VAFs consistent with their presence in the myeloid compartment. Mutations in other genes implicated in clonal hematopoiesis and myeloid malignancy including ASXL1, DNMT3A, TET2, U2AF1 and ZRSR2 were also detected in these pts samples. Targeted amplicon single cell sequencing (Mission Bio) demonstrated the co-occurrence of clonally progressive BAX mutations within the same clones as mutations in DNMT3A and ASXL1 as well as the existence of further BAX mutations at low VAF outside these dominant clones which remained non-progressive over time (Fig 1B). In addition, fluctuations in the presence and VAF of myeloid-disease associated mutations was noted with Ven exposure. In aggregate these data are consistent with the existence of a selective pressure within the myeloid compartment of these pts and an interplay of BAX with other mutations in determining survival and enrichment of these clones over time with ongoing Ven therapy. In summary, we have observed the development of BAX-mutated clonal hematopoiesis specifically in pts with CLL treated with long-term Ven. These data are consistent with a multi-lineage pharmacological effect of Ven leading to a survival advantage for clones harboring BAX mutations within the myeloid compartment during chronic Ven exposure. Finally, our data support the further investigation of BAX mutations as a potential resistance mechanism in myeloid malignancies treated with Ven. Disclosures Blombery: Invivoscribe: Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy; Janssen: Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy. Anderson:Walter and Eliza Hall Institute: Patents & Royalties: milestone and royalty payments related to venetoclax.. Seymour:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Consultancy; Mei Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria; Morphosys: Consultancy, Honoraria; Nurix: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Tam:Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; BeiGene: Honoraria. Huang:Servier: Research Funding; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute: Patents & Royalties: milestone and royalty payments related to venetoclax.; Genentech: Research Funding. Wei:Janssen: Honoraria, Other; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute: Patents & Royalties; AMGEN: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Pfizer: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Macrogenics: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Abbvie: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Speakers Bureau; Astra-Zeneca: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Research Funding. Roberts:Janssen: Research Funding; Servier: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Genentech: Patents & Royalties: for venetoclax to one of my employers (Walter & Eliza Hall Institute); I receive a share of these royalties.

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Outcomes of Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia Receiving Hypomethylating Agent and Venetoclax

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-128958 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 1357-1357 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hannah Asghari ◽

Dasom Lee ◽

Yehuda E. Deutsch ◽

Onyee Chan ◽

Najla Al Ali ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Board Of Directors ◽

Myeloid Leukemia ◽

Research Funding ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Initial Therapy ◽

Intermediate Risk ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Frontline Therapy ◽

Refractory Aml

Background: Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have dismal overall outcomes and survival is exceptionally poor in patients who experience relapse or are refractory (R/R) to frontline therapy. Since December 2018, combination therapy with hypomethylating agents (HMA) and venetoclax (HMA+Ven) has become standard frontline therapy for older patients or younger unfit patients. Moreover, it has been routinely utilized in patients experiencing relapsed or refractory AML yet response and outcome data is limited in patients with R/R disease. Thus, we investigated outcomes after HMA+Ven in patients with relapsed or refractory AML. Methods: We retrospectively annotated 72 patients who received treatment with HMA+Ven at Moffitt Cancer Center and Memorial Healthcare System between 2017 and 2019. Patients were divided into two subgroups: 1) initial remission therapy and 2) salvage therapy. Clinical and molecular data were abstracted in accordance with the Institutional Review Board approved protocol. Overall response rate (ORR) included patients achieving complete remission (CR), CR with incomplete count recovery (CRi), and morphologic leukemia free state (MLFS). Patients achieving CR, CRi, or MLFS were termed as responders (RES) and patients without CR, CRi, or MLFS were nonresponders (NRES). Fisher's Exact method was used to determine significance for categorical variables. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to determine median overall survival (mOS) and log-rank test was utilized to determine significance. All p-values are two-sided. Results: Out of 72 patients, 41 received HMA+Ven as initial therapy and 31 received it in the R/R setting. Baseline characteristics are outlined in Table 1. Median age was 63 years for patients with R/R AML with 58% female. In the R/R cohort, ORR was 34.5% with 0 (0%) patients achieving CR, 8 (27.6%) patients achieving CRi, and 2 (6.9%) achieving MLFS (Table 2). When compared to patients receiving HMA+Ven as initial therapy, ORR was significantly lower in the R/R cohort (64.1% vs. 34.5%, p=0.03). Among 31 patients in the R/R cohort, 6.5% (n=2) proceeded to allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) after achieving CRi. European LeukemiaNet (ELN) risk stratification was known in 22 patients in the R/R cohort and ORR were similar in patients in the favorable/intermediate risk group (n=8) compared to adverse risk group (n=14) (37.5% vs. 28.6%, p=1.0). When compared to HMA+Ven used as initial therapy, ORR among the R/R cohort were not different among adverse risk groups (58.3% vs. 28.6%, p=0.10); however, ORR were significantly lower among patients with favorable/intermediate risk (100% vs. 37.5%, p=0.009). At a median follow-up of 7.6 months (mo), mOS was 4.9mo in the R/R cohort with mOS among RES superior to NRES (not reached vs. 2.4mo, p=0.0009) (Figure 1). Moreover, mOS was inferior in R/R patients compared to initial therapy (4.9mo vs. 13.8mo, p=0.0013) (Figure 2). A total of 15 (48.4%) patients had HMA exposure prior to receiving HMA+Ven without apparent impact on mOS (3.7mo (prior HMA) vs. 4.9mo (no prior HMA), p=0.97). The median duration of CR/CRi was 5.2mo and the median time to CR/CRi was 2.4mo. Based on ELN risk groups, mOS was not statistically different among patients with favorable/intermediate risk disease compared to adverse risk disease (8.6mo (fav/int) vs. 2.8mo (adverse), p=0.07). Responses were also analyzed based upon somatic mutations (Figure 2). In patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 mutations (IDH1/IDH2) compared to patients without IDH1/2, ORR were 60% vs. 25%, respectively (p=0.28) with no significant difference in mOS (7.2mo (IDHmut) vs. 3.1mo (IDHwt), p=0.38). Comparing patients with TP53 mutation to those without TP53 mutations, no significant difference in ORR (25% vs. 33%, p=1.0) or mOS (4.4mo vs. 6.9mo, p=0.0.84) was noted. Conclusion: Although combination therapy with HMA+Ven has yielded impressive responses as frontline therapy, response rates with this combination in the salvage setting are less encouraging with the possible exception of those patients with IDH1/IDH2 mutations. Nevertheless, responders to salvage HMA+Ven had a significant survival benefit compared to nonresponders, suggesting that this combination is a reasonable salvage option in patients with relapsed or refractory AML. Disclosures Padron: Incyte: Research Funding. Kuykendall:Incyte: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy; Abbvie: Honoraria. List:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Lancet:Agios, Biopath, Biosight, Boehringer Inglheim, Celator, Celgene, Janssen, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Karyopharm, Novartis: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Other: fees for non-CME/CE services . Sallman:Celyad: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Komrokji:JAZZ: Speakers Bureau; JAZZ: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; DSI: Consultancy; pfizer: Consultancy; celgene: Consultancy; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy. Sweet:Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Agios: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Jazz: Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; Stemline: Consultancy. Talati:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi-Sankyo: Honoraria; Astellas: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Agios: Honoraria. OffLabel Disclosure: Venetoclax is approved in combination with hypomethylating agents (azacitidine or decitabine) or low dose cytarabine for treatment of newly diagnosed AML in adults aged 75 years or older, or those who have comorbidities that preclude the use of induction chemotherapy.

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