Jonas, Brian A.

Abstract Background: MyeloMATCH is an NCI-sponsored initiative for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) employing a Master Screening and Reassessment Protocol (MSRP) to assign patients (pts) to a pt and disease biology-specific clinical trial. Several trials evaluating initial therapies are currently open, while subsequent trials dedicated to eradicating measurable residual disease during consolidation and including stem cell transplant are being developed. A pt enrolled at diagnosis may be followed longitudinally and be eligible for trials in sequential tiers throughout the treatment course. We report key data concerning the first cohort of pts enrolled on the MSRP. Methods: After pts with suspected AML or MDS consent for the MSRP, blood and marrow are sent to the myeloMATCH Molecular Diagnostics Network (MDNet) of central CLIA labs operating under a single Investigational Device Exemption to rapidly define molecular, cytogenetic, and immunophenotypic characteristics. These data are catalogued by a bioinformatics team (MATCHBox) and reviewed daily to assign participants to an available trial based on pt and disease features. A Tier Advancement Pathway (TAP) allows standard of care therapy with potential for assignment to subsequent myeloMATCH trials. Since activation in May 2024, 550 patients age≥18 were enrolled on the MSRP from 76 institutions: 48 Academic, 14 NCORP, 11 community, 3 VA. There are currently 4 open randomized AML trials (≥age 60 or unfit with mutant FLT3, ≥age 60 IDH2 mutant AML, fit age<60 ELN 2017 intermediate-risk AML, fit age<60 ELN 2017 adverse risk) and 1 MDS trial(IDH2 mutant). Patients not eligible for an open protocol were assigned to TAP. Results: Of the 550 pts consented, 491 completed screening assays; 49 had no or incomplete samples; 10 withdrew before completed analysis. Median cytogenetic turnaround time (TAT) was 69 hours (91% within 72 hours), and median Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) TAT from receipt was 49 hours (95% within 72 hours). Seventy-six pts (of 491 with assay data) were not assigned due to non-AML or non-MDS diagnoses, the most common being: B-ALL [n=11], MPN [9], benign marrow [9], APML [7], and MPAL [6]. The AML/MDS verified cohort was 415 pts, 366 (89.2%) patients with AML (45% age <60) and 49 (11.8%) with MDS. The median age at screening was 63 years (range:18-95) and 186 (45%) were female. Eighty-two percent identified as White, 7.5% Black, 3% Asian, 7% unknown, and 9% as Hispanic. The most frequent mutations in the AML pts were NPM1 (24.0%), DNMT3A (22.7%), TET2 (19.9%), NRAS (18.0%), FLT3 (18.0% ITD, TKD 7.1%), TP53 (14.5%), and CEBPA (8.7%); IDH1/2 mutation rates were 8.2% and 13.7%, respectively. Co-mutations include FLT3/NPM1 (9.8%), NPM1/IDH2 (4.4%), IDH1/2 and any RAS (3.8%). Karyotypes were normal in 40.4%, complex 20.8%, inv(16) 6.0%, MLL/KMT2A 4.6% and t(8;21) 1.9%. 29% had favorable risk disease, 29% intermediate, and 42% adverse (ELN 2017). In MDS, mutations included: TP53 (36.7%), RUNX1 (20.4%) ASXL1 (20.4%), TET2 (18.4%), spliceosome mutations (SRSF2, SF3B1, U2AF1 and ZRSR2, 28.6%) andIDH1/2 in 4.1% and 6.1%, respectively. Karyotypes were normal in 24.5%; complex in 40.8%. By IPSS-R, 2.4% were low, 73.8% intermediate, 2.4% high, and 21.4% very high risk. 82/415 (20%) pts were assigned to initial therapy protocol, with an increase in assignment rate to 44% in the most recent two months. 71/415 pts (16%) were enrolled in one of the MyeloMATCH studies. Three-hundred forty-four pts (80%) were assigned and enrolled to TAP (296 AML, 48 MDS) for potential assignment to subsequent tier trials. In the TAP AML pts, 99 (33%) have completed initial treatment, including intensive chemotherapy (IC) in 62% of pts and hypomethylating agents/venetoclax (HMA/VEN) in 38%. In pts <60 years of age, 87% received IC v. 13% with HMA/VEN, in >60 34% IC v. 66% HMA/VEN and in age 60-75 42% IC v. 58% HMA/Ven. Conclusion: MyeloMATCH has screened over 500 pts from academic and community sites in the US and Canada in 14 months, meeting the TAT goal of sample acquisition to results of <72 hours. Assignment to treatment protocols has substantially increased recently. As additional trials open (12 in development) we expect the percentage of pts enrolled on MSRP who go on to therapeutic trials will markedly increase, thereby allowing a personalized medicine approach for a broad group of US and Canadian adult pts with AML and MDS.

Abstract Introduction: Clinical outcomes for patients (pts) with Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+) B-cell precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) have significantly improved with the incorporation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and immunotherapy. Although the incidence of central nervous system (CNS) relapse in Ph+ B-ALL is rare, it has become an emerging challenge with chemotherapy-free approaches. While IKZF1, CDKN2A/B and emergence of T315I kinase domain mutations in ABL1 have been associated with worse outcomes (Foà R, JCO, 2024),further characterization of patients with CNS relapse could prove useful in risk stratification and optimizing treatment intensification. Currently, high white blood cell count (WBC) is being assessed as a marker to identify pts who may benefit from addition of CNS penetrant chemotherapy (ex. cytarabine or high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX)) to TKI and immunotherapy protocols (Short NJ, J Hematol Oncol, 2025). Methods This is a multicenter retrospective study of relapsed/refractory Ph+ B-ALL pts under the COMMAND consortium. Age, gender, induction regimen and TKI of choice during induction were descriptively reported for the entire cohort. Categorical variables were compared, using Fisher's exact test, between pts with CNS relapse and pts with systemic relapse. Variables of interest were the presence of IKZF1 or CDKN2A/B alterations, emergence of T3151 mutation, CNS disease at diagnosis (dx), WBC >70K/microliter at dx, use of high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) during induction or consolidation, and use of TKI as part of the induction regimen. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported for each variable. Results A total of 654 Ph+ B-ALL pts were initially identified across multiple centers in the United States, of whom 20 (3%) experienced a CNS relapse and 157 (24%) experienced a systemic relapse on median follow up of 29 months (range, 0-207). A total of 15 pts with CNS relapse and 114 pts with systemic relapse were used for this analysis after exclusion of pts without molecular data. The median age for the 129 pt cohort was 55 years (range 22-85), of whom 65 pts (50%) were male. Induction regimens used were intensive chemotherapy (IC)+TKI for 79 pts (61%), low-intensity chemotherapy or steroids (LDC-S)+TKI for 40 pts (31%), IC without TKI during induction for 5 pts (4%) and blinatumomab+TKI for 1 pt (1%). TKI of choice during induction included second-generation TKIs (dasatinib, nilotinib) for 77 pts (60%), imatinib for 30 pts (23%), ponatinib for 15 pts (12%) and none during induction for 5 pts (4%). CNS disease at dx was found in 6/15 pts (40%) with CNS relapse and 9/114 pts (8%) with systemic relapse, which was a statistically significant difference (p=0.002, OR= 7.57, 95% CI= 1.81 - 31.08). The systemic treatment regimens for the 15 pts with CNS disease at x were IC+TKI for 10 pts (66%) and LDC-S+TKI for 5 pts (33%), 9 of the pts (60%) received HD-MTX during induction. Intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy administration data at dx was available for 8 pts (53%) with CNS disease at dx, of whom 2 pts received <9 doses, 4 pts received 9-12 doses and 2 pts received >12 doses of IT chemotherapy. Although not statistically significant, pts with CNS relapse were more likely to have IKZF1 or CDKN2A/B alterations (p = 0.648, OR= 1.44, 95% CI= 0.14-7.78), WBC >70K/mcl (p = 0.472, OR= 1.73, 95% CI= 0.34-7.41), emergence of T3151 mutations (p = 0.123, OR= 2.54, 95% CI= 0.72-8.84) and use of HD-MTX during induction or consolidation (p = 0.262, OR= 2.15, 95% CI= 0.61-8.61); while they were less likely to have received a TKI during induction (p = 0.106, OR= 0.18, 95% CI= 0.02-2.34). Conclusion This data confirms that the presence of CNS disease at dx is associated with CNS relapse. Despite recent incorporation into clinical trials, WBC≥70K/mcl and omission of HD-MTX were not seen more frequently in pts with CNS relapse in this cohort. However, this analysis is limited by the small number of pts who experienced CNS relapse. With the rising use of chemotherapy-free regimens, prospectively trialing treatment intensification, such as with additional IT chemotherapy or HD-MTX, could be prospectively trialed in pts with CNS disease at dx to potentially improve outcomes for this subset of pts. The impact of increasing IT chemotherapy doses or additional cycles of systemic chemotherapy in this pt population is yet to be elucidated.

The NCCN Guidelines for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) provide recommendations for the evaluation, diagnosis, and comprehensive care of patients with MDS based on a review of recent clinical evidence that has led to important advances in treatment or has yielded new information on biologic factors that may have prognostic significance in MDS. The multidisciplinary panel of MDS experts is convened at least on an annual basis. During the annual meeting, the panel evaluates new and emerging data to inform their recommendations. These NCCN Guidelines Insights review the recent updates, including treatment recommendations both for lower-risk and higher-risk MDS, preference stratification of therapeutic agents, and emerging data on novel therapeutics.

Background While central nervous system (CNS) disease is found in minority of patients (pts) at diagnosis of Ph+ ALL, later relapses can occur in pts despite adequate CNS prophylaxis. CNS disease can be managed with varying combinations of systemic, radiation, and intrathecal (IT) therapy and can be associated with significant toxicity, especially in older pts. While there are more durable systemic responses with 2nd or 3rd generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) based combinations, CNS penetration can vary by TKI. In this large multi-center study, we analyze the incidence of CNS disease in Ph+ ALL in the context of induction therapies and survival post relapse. Methods We conducted a multicenter observational study in collaboration with 10 U.S. academic centers under the COMMAND consortium and reviewed the incidence of CNS relapse in 505 Ph+ ALL pts. We evaluated baseline characteristics, treatment given prior to CNS relapse, and outcome post relapse. Results Baseline characteristics, initial treatment and outcome prior to CNS relapse Eighteen (3.56%) pts were identified to have CNS disease at relapse. Median age of the pts in years (yrs) was 51 (range [R], 22-75), median white blood cell (WBC) was 33.3 x 10(9)/L (R, 2.1-200) and 6 (33%) pts had additional cytogenetic abnormalities at diagnosis. Sixty-one percent (n= 11) of pts received intensive chemotherapy (IC) during induction; 2 (11%), 14 (78%) and 2(11%) of pts received 1st, 2nd or 3rd generation TKI-based combination during induction, respectively. All of pts achieved complete remission (CR), 45.5% achieved complete molecular remission (CMR) at 3 months from the time of diagnosis. Five (28%) pts received allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) as a consolidation therapy. Treatment received at CNS relapse and response The median time to CNS relapse after induction was 10.8 months (mo) (R, 2-79). All pts except 1 had isolated CNS relapse after CR1, 4/18 (22%) pts had T315I mutation at relapse. Twelve (67%) and 6 (33%) pts received intrathecal chemotherapy (IT) with TKI and systemic chemotherapy + TKI in addition to IT, respectively. Eleven (61%) pts received dasatinib, 5 (28%) pts received ponatinib and one (6%) pts each received bosutinib and imatinib at relapse. Ninety-three percent of pts achieved CR (n=3, not evaluable). Six (33%) pts underwent allo-HCT after CNS relapse, one of these transplanted pts had second allo-HCT. Survival after CNS relapse The median relapse free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) after CNS relapse was 9.8 (95% CI: 3.80-15.76) and 13.87 (95% CI: 4.08-23.65) mo, respectively. In subset analysis, we compared survival outcome among pts who had relapse without CNS involvement (n= 160/505 [32%]). The median RFS (9.9 vs 9.8, p= 0.88) and OS (31.53 vs 28.80, p= 0.57) after relapse was not significantly different among pts who had relapse with or without CNS involvement, respectively. We also compared OS among pts without relapse to those with relapse. The median OS was not reached (NR; 73% alive at 5 years), 28.80 and 31.53 months (p= <0.001) among pts with no relapse, relapse with CNS and without CNS involvement, respectively. Conclusion Our retrospective analysis from a large database showed that CNS relapses were uncommon (3.56%) in adult pts with Ph+ ALL. A majority of pts (89%) received a 2nd or a 3rd generation TKI during induction. Approximately one quarter of pts with CNS relapse had emergence of T315I mutation. While almost all pts achieved CR, the RFS was relatively short. We did not see significant differences in survival among pts who had relapse with or without CNS involvement.

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) provide recommendations for management of ALL, with a focus on the classification of ALL subtypes based on immunophenotype and cytogenetic/molecular markers; risk assessment and stratification for risk-adapted therapy; treatment strategies for Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive and Ph-negative ALL for both adolescent and young adult and adult patients; and supportive care considerations. This selection from the NCCN Guidelines for ALL focuses on treatment recommendations for adults with newly diagnosed Ph-negative ALL based on current evidence.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematologic malignancy characterized by the clonal expansion of myeloid blasts in the peripheral blood, bone marrow, and/or other tissues. It is the most common form of acute leukemia among adults and accounts for the largest number of annual deaths from leukemias in the United States. Like AML, blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a myeloid malignancy. It is a rare malignancy characterized by the aggressive proliferation of precursors of plasmacytoid dendritic cells that frequently involves the bone marrow, skin, central nervous system, and other organs and tissues. This discussion section focuses on the diagnosis and management of BPDCN as outlined in the NCCN Guidelines for AML.

The NCCN Guidelines for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) provide recommendations for the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of patients with MDS based on a review of clinical evidence that has led to important advances in treatment or has yielded new information on biologic factors that may have prognostic significance in MDS. The multidisciplinary panel of MDS experts meets on an annual basis to update the recommendations. These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on some of the updates for the 2022 version of the NCCN Guidelines, which include treatment recommendations both for lower-risk and higher-risk MDS, emerging therapies, supportive care recommendations, and genetic familial high-risk assessment for hereditary myeloid malignancy predisposition syndromes.

Abstract Intensification of therapy for adults with ALL using pediatric regimens with intensive asparagine depletion is feasible. Targeted therapies are improving outcomes. We hypothesized that the UCSF 8707 regimen (Linker et al.JCO 2002;20:2462) could be safely intensified with the addition of pegylated asparaginase (peg asp), cyclophosphamide, rituximab, dasatinib, and intrathecal liposomal cytarabine. Methods: Patients (pts) enrolled at 4 centers. The primary objective was 3-year (yr) EFS (goal >55%). Eligible pts were age 18-60 yrs with untreated ALL or LBL. Treatment consisted of induction Course 1A (C1A): daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 IV d1-3, vincristine (VCR) 1.4 mg/m2 (2 mg if age >50 yrs) IV day 1,8,15,22, prednisone 60 mg/m2 orally (PO) d1-28, peg-asp 2,000 IU/m2 (cap 3,750 IU; 1,000 IU/m2 if age >50 yrs) IV d15, cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 IV d1,15 (or 500 mg/m2 IV q12h d15,16 if d14 marrow M2 or M3). ALL pts in CR/CRi and LBL pts in CR or PR proceeded to post-remission Course 1B (C1B): methotrexate (MTX) 220 mg/m2 IV bolus then 60 mg/m2/hr CIV for 36 hrs d1,15 with leucovorin rescue, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) 60 mg/m2 PO d1-7, 15-21, peg-asp 2,000 IU/ m2 (cap 3,750 IU; 1,000 IU/m2 if age >50 yrs) IV d16. Course 1C (C1C) consisted of cytarabine 2,000 mg/m2 IV d1-4 and etoposide 500 mg/m2 IV d1-4. Courses A-C repeated once then a third course B given. Maintenance POMP (6-MP 60 mg/m2 PO daily, VCR 1.4 mg/m2 (2 mg age >50 yrs) IV monthly, MTX 20 mg/m2 PO weekly, prednisone 60 mg/m2 PO d1-5) repeated monthly for 12 months then POMP with every other month VCR and prednisone for 12 months. Peg asp was given d16 of maintenance month 1. If B-ALL (+/- CD20 expression), rituximab 375 mg/m2 IV was given every 2 weeks for 8 doses starting day 1 of C1A. If Ph+ ALL, dasatinib 140 mg PO daily was given but held during high-dose MTX then restarted when serum [MTX] was </= 0.1 μM. CNS prophylaxis was liposomal cytarabine 25 mg intrathecal C1A d1,15, C2A d1,15 then 50 mg monthly for 4 doses in maintenance. Bone marrow biopsies were performed C1A d14 and after C1A, C1B, C3B, and maintenance. Measurable residual disease (MRD) was evaluated centrally by multi-parameter flow cytometry. BCR-ABL1 QPCR was performed locally. EFS is the time from start of therapy to failure of response by induction day 28, relapse, or death censored for HCT. RFS is the time from response to relapse or death censored for HCT. OS is the time from start of therapy until death. Survival was estimated by the method of Kaplan and Meier. Toxicity was graded with NCI CTCAE version 4.0. Results: Between 4/2014 and 2/2017, 31 pts enrolled and 29 were eligible. Median age was 28 yrs (20-54), 62% were male, 52% were Hispanic, and 86% had ALL. The end induction ORR (CR + PR) was 90% (2 ALL with PR, 1 early death). ORR for LBL was 100% (n= 4). The CR rate for ALL was 88%. For Ph- B-ALL (n=16), the CR rate was 86% with MRD <0.1% and <0.01% in 90% and 80% of CR pts, respectively. For Ph+ B-cell ALL (n=7), the CR rate was 88% (1 early death) with MRD <0.1% and <0.01% in 100% and a CMR rate of 67% at CR. The 2 T-ALL pts achieved CR with MRD >0.1%. Five pts underwent allogeneic HCT in first CR to study therapy. With a median follow up of 32 months (16-44), the 2- and 3-yr EFS were 59%. EFS was similar for B-ALL, T- ALL, LBL, Ph- B-ALL, and Ph+ B-ALL. Five pts relapsed. The 2- and 3-yr RFS were 66%. Concomitant marrow and CNS relapse occurred in 1 pt. No isolated CNS relapses occurred. Transplant-censored 2- and 3-yr OS were 80% and 72%. Uncensored 2- and 3-yr OS were 75% and 70%. Among eligible pts, 8 died: 4 after relapse, 1 in induction from infection, 2 in CR from infection, and 1 from allogeneic HCT complications. Three reversible grade 3-4 events were attributed to liposomal cytarabine, all grade 3: syncope, pseudotumor cerebri, and headache. Grade 3-5 possible peg asp toxicities were transaminitis (58%), hyperbilirubinemia (42%), hyperglycemia (29%), hypertriglyceridemia (26%), elevated GGT/alkaline phosphatase (19%), thrombosis (19%, 1 cerebral venous), hypoalbuminemia (10%), hypersensitivity (6.5%), elevated lipase (6.5%), pancreatitis (3.2%), encephalopathy (3.2%), and avascular necrosis (3.2%). One pt died from encephalopathy. Conclusions: Intensification of UCSF 8707 is feasible and effective. Post-induction remissions were deep with high MRD-negativity rates. EFS, RFS, and OS are favorable with follow up and accrual ongoing (NCT02043587). Strategies to limit peg asp toxicity are needed. Disclosures Wieduwilt: Amgen: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Shire: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Reata Pharmaceuticals: Equity Ownership; Leadiant: Research Funding. Schiller:Astellas Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; bluebird bio: Research Funding. Mannis:AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios: Research Funding; NKarta: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Curtin:Amgen: Research Funding; Onconova: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Andreadis:Genentech: Consultancy, Employment; Bayer: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; Juno: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy. Logan:Adaptive Biotech: Consultancy; Napajen: Consultancy; Shire: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy; Astellas: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Kite: Research Funding. Damon:Actelion: Other: spouse's relationship with company; Boston Scientific: Other: spouse's relationship with company; Novartis: Other: spouse's relationship with company; Gilead Sciences Inc: Other: spouse's relationship with company.