Reinduction Chemoimmunotherapy with Epratuzumab in Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults: Results From Children's Oncology Group (COG) Study ADVL04P2
Abstract Abstract 573 Outcomes for children with relapsed ALL remain poor, especially when relapses occur early (<36 months) following initial diagnosis. A factor contributing to poor outcomes is much lower rates of successful induction of second remission (CR2). CD22 is almost universally expressed in children with B-cell precursor (BCP) ALL and we previously demonstrated the safety of adding the anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody, epratuzumab, to reinduction chemotherapy in children with first marrow relapse (Raetz et al, JCO 2008 26:3756-62) (COG ADVL04P2). The primary aim of the second part of the COG ADVL04P2 study was to determine if addition of epratuzumab to an established chemotherapy platform improves rates of CR2 in individuals with BCP ALL and early bone marrow relapse. Children, adolescents and young adults, ages 2–30 years with first early marrow relapse of BCP ALL, with or without extramedullary disease, were eligible for this study. The primary study endpoint was CR2 rate at the end of the first block of chemotherapy plus epratuzumab as compared to the 67% CR2 rate for historical controls (COG AALL01P2; Raetz et al, JCO 2008 26:3971-8) treated with the same chemotherapy without epratuzumab. For addition of epratuzumab to be deemed effective, an improvement in CR2 rate of 13% (67% vs. 80%) was required. Because there is a significant difference in CR2 rate between patients with very early (<18 months from diagnosis) vs. early (18 to <36 months from diagnosis) relapse, the statistical design used a model to account for potential differences in time to relapse between these studies. ADVL04P2 had several stages. In part A, epratuzumab was given alone for 4 doses twice weekly in an upfront window to assess safety and response, followed by AALL01P2 chemotherapy plus epratuzumab weekly during the first block of therapy. In part B, patients received the AALL01P2 3-block platform chemotherapy plus epratuzumab (360 mg/m2/dose) during block 1. Initially during part B, epratuzumab was administered weekly for 4 doses starting on day 1 based on pharmacokinetic (PK) data from adults with lymphoma. However, ADVL04P2 PK data showed that the half-life of epratuzumab was much shorter in children with ALL. Thus, ADVL04P2 was amended to give epratuzumab twice weekly for 8 doses, starting on day 1. This report focuses on ADVL04P2 part B and includes results of both the weekly (B1) and twice weekly (B2) epratuzumab dosing schedules. Between 1/07 and 1/11, 116 patients (114 eligible) were enrolled; 54 on B1 and 60 on B2, including 23 (B1) and 19 (B2) very early relapses. Median age at relapse was 10.2 years for the B1 cohort and 8.4 years for the B2 cohort. Concomitant extramedullary disease was present in 3 and 9 of the B1 and B2 patients, respectively. At the end of block 1, 48 B1 patients and 50 B2 patients were evaluable for response with CR2 achieved in (31/48) 65% of B1 and (33/50) 66% of B2 patients. Minimal residual disease (MRD) was measured by flow cytometry in a COG reference laboratory at the end of block 1. Among the 62 pooled B1 and B2 patients who achieved CR2 and had MRD data available at the end of block 1, 26 (42%) (14/31 B1 and 12/31 B2) were MRD negative (< 0.01%), which was significantly higher than the 25% with chemotherapy alone on AALL01P2 (one-sided p=0.001). The addition of epratuzumab to reinduction chemotherapy was well tolerated with no significant increase in the baseline toxicity observed with the platform regimen alone with either schedule. Toxic deaths occurred in 3 patients (2.6%) during block 1 in part B (2 in B1, 1 in B2), compared to 2.4% with block 1 chemotherapy alone. PK analyses in a cohort of B2 patients showed that the epratuzumab trough serum concentration steadily increased to 501 ± 149 mcg/mL before the final dose on day 25 (n=26). The mean serum half-life of epratuzumab was 17.0 ± 4.9 days (n=17) and was shorter than the value of 23 days observed in adults treated with epratuzumab for indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma. No patient developed human anti-human antibodies. Epratuzumab, as given on the B1 and B2 schedules was tolerable in combination with chemotherapy in pediatric and young adult patients with early relapsed CD22-positive BCP ALL, but did not improve CR2 rates when compared to historical controls treated with chemotherapy alone. However, among patients who attained a complete remission, those treated with epratuzumab were significantly more likely to become MRD negative as compared to those treated without epratuzumab. Disclosures: Borowitz: BD Biosciences: Research Funding. Goldenberg:Immunomedics, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties. Wegener:Immunomedics: Employment.
Cytogenetics Abnormalities Predict the Outcome of Allogeneic Transplantation In AML: A CIBMTR Study
Abstract Abstract 680 Cytogenetics play an essential role in determining the prognosis of patients with AML. However, there is still no validated cytogenetics grouping scheme that specifically applies to patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation, which hampers accurate prognostication and risk stratification. We studied 821 adult patients (median age 41, range 18–74) who underwent SCT between 1999 and 2004 for AML (excluding APL) in CR1 or CR2 and who were reported to the CIBMTR from centers with >20 patients meeting study criteria. 75% of patients received a myeloablative conditioning. 496 patients had a normal karyotype. The primary cytogenetics reports were manually reviewed for 92% of the patients with an abnormal karyotype. We compared the ability of the 6 existing grouping schemes (MRC, CALGB, EORTC/GIMEMA, SWOG/ECOG, DFCI, and Monosomal Karyotype (MK) classifications) to stratify patients, using both the Akaike Information Criterion in multivariable models and the C-statistic. Among all existing schemes, the DFCI system provided a marginally superior stratification for overall and leukemia-free survival. We also built a new classification using individual cytogenetic abnormalities in a Cox model that included other significant covariates (performance status, therapy-related disease, conditioning intensity, graft source, donor match, duration of CR1, and gender match). This CIBMTR scheme (see Table), which is similar to the DFCI scheme except for the inclusion of patients with t(8;21) in the intermediate group, could stratify patients into 3 groups with similar treatment-related mortality but significantly different overall survival, leukemia-free survival, and incidence of relapse. This scheme appeared to apply to both patients in CR1 and in CR2 (see FiguresF2). This transplant-specific scheme could be adopted for prognostication purposes and to stratify patients with karyotypic abnormalities entering transplantation clinical trials. Future studies may clarify the relative outcome of patients with t(8;21) and refine this scheme with the inclusion of molecular abnormalities. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Risk-Factors for Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease and Survival After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation From Siblings and Unrelated Donors – An Analysis of the CIBMTR
Abstract Abstract 897 Recent changes in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) including increased use of reduced-intensity conditioning, peripheral blood cells as the graft source (PB) and unrelated donors (URD) warrant re-evaluation of risk factors for acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and its impact on overall survival (OS). Risk factors for these outcomes were analyzed using more recent data from CIBMTR observational database. Methods: The cohort included adult patients ≥ 20 y transplanted from an HLA-identical sibling (SD) (n=3191) or URD (N=2370) for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), or myelodsyplastic syndrome (MDS) using a T-cell replete graft from 1999–2005. Six groups were created to evaluate the impact of conditioning [(myeloablative (MA) and reduced-intensity or non-myeloablative (RIC)], total-body irradiation (TBI) and graft source [(bone marrow (BM) or PB] as follows: MA+TBI+PB (group 1), MA+TBI+BM (group 2) MA+ no TBI+PB (group 3), MA+ no-TBI+BM (group 4), RIC+PB (group 5) and RIC+BM (group 6). Separate analyses were performed for SD and URD. IBMTR grade was used to classify aGVHD. A p-value of ≤ 0.01 was considered significant. Results: Among the SD cohort, the probability of aGVHD grade B-D and grade C-D at 100 days was 39% (95% CI, 37–41%) and 16% (95% CI, 14–17%). In multivariate analyses, non-TBI based MA regimens with a BM graft (group 4), RIC conditioning with PB (group 5) and tacrolimus plus methotrexate aGVHD prophylaxis were associated with lower odds ratio of grade B-D aGVHD (Table 1). The probability of OS was 51% (95% CI: 49–53%) at 3 y and 46% (95% CI: 44–49%) at 5 y. In multivariate analyses, grade B-D aGVHD was associated with a higher risk of death. Other independent risk factors for OS are shown in Table 2. Among the URD cohort, the probability of aGVHD grade B-D and C-D at 100 days was 59% (95%, CI 57–61%) and 32% (30-34%). In multivariate analysis, BM with MA (TBI and no TBI) or RIC conditioning (groups 2, 4 and 6) were significantly associated with lower odds ratio of grade B-D aGVHD (Table 1). Other independent risk factors included a diagnosis of CML. HCT from a 7/8 HLA-mismatched URD showed a trend for higher incidence of aGVHD (p=0.02). The probability of OS was 38% (95% CI: 35–40%) at 3 y and 33% (95% CI: 31–35%) at 5 y. In multivariate analysis, grade B-D aGVHD was associated with a higher mortality. Table 2 shows other independent risk factors for OS. Conclusion: Intensity of the conditioning regimen, TBI and the graft source has a combined effect on the risk of aGVHD. In both SD and URD cohorts, BM with MA, non-TBI regimens were associated with lower risk of aGVHD. In URD cohort, BM after a RIC also was associated with a reduced risk of aGVHD. Modulation of these risk factors is needed to reduce acute GVHD incidence and death after allogeneic transplantation. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The Efficacy of Rasburicase and Rituximab Combined with FAB Chemotherapy in Children and Adolescents with Newly Diagnosed Stage III/IV, BM+ and CNS+ Mature B-NHL: A Children's Oncology Group Report
Abstract Abstract 2702 Introduction/Background Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS) is a potentially life-threatening metabolic syndrome that frequently complicates the management of newly diagnosed mature B-NHL in children and adults (Cairo et al., BJH 2010). We have demonstrated rasburicase to be superior to allopurinol in the rapid reduction of uric acid (UA). (Goldman/Cairo et al, Blood 2001) In the previous FAB/LMB/96 international mature B-NHL trial, variables associated with a significant inferior EFS included advanced stage, elevated LDH, primary mediastinal involvement (PMBL) and combined BM/CNS disease (Cairo et al, JCO, 2011). We have previously reported the pharmacokinetics and safety of the addition of rituximab to a modified FAB/LMB/96 backbone in children and adolescents with advanced stage mature de-novo B-NHL. (Cairo et al., ASCO, 2010) Here we focus on outcome in those specific high-risk sub-categories of advanced childhood mature B-NHL following the incorporation of a recombinant urate oxidase (Rasburicase) and targeted immunotherapy (Rituximab) to the FAB/LMB/96 chemotherapy backbones. Material and Methods Children with newly diagnosed stage III/IV or high-risk (BM+±CNS+) de-novo mature B-NHL were prospectively treated with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (COP) reduction therapy preceded by 4–24 hours of non-alkaline hydration and rasburicase (0.2mg/kg) (generously supplied by Sanofi-Aventis). Laboratory and clinical TLS (LTLS and CTLS) was prospectively monitored as previously defined (Cairo & Bishop, BJH, 2004). Immunochemotherapy consisted of FAB B4 or C1 therapy (adriamycin 1 hr infusion) as we have previously described (Patte et al and Cairo et al, Blood, 2007) with the addition of rituximab 375 mg/m2/dose (generously supplied by Genentech) with 2 doses administered in each induction cycle and 1 dose in each consolidation cycle. Results With respect to LTLS and CTLS, 78 patients were evaluable: group B (stage III/IV) with NL-LDH (<2X ULN, n=23), Group B with HI-LDH (≥ 2X ULN, n=18), and Group C (n=37). The mean initial UA levels (mg/dl +/− SD) were 4.7±2, 8.7±4.6, and 7.1±4.6, respectively. At presentation, 31% of patients (all groups) had an elevated (> 8mg/dl) UA, and 47% received elective doses of rasburicase in the days prior to the first day of chemotherapy. The incidence of LTLS prior to rasburicase in Group B NL-LDH, Group B HI-LDH, and Group C, was 4.3%, 5.5%, and 16.6%, respectively. The incidence of CTLS prior to rasburicase was 0%, 11%, and 8.6%, respectively. Following the administration of rasburicase, the incidence of new onset LTLS and CTLS for the entire cohort was 13% (2.6% with hyperuricemia) and 4% (1% with hyperuricemia), respectively. Furthermore, there was a significant improvement in the estimated GFR in those with renal impairment from day -1 prior to rasbursicase to day+7 post R-COP (55 ± 29 ml/min1.73 m2 to 136 ± 29 respectively; p<0.0007; Figure 1). Following combined FAB 96 chemotherapy (with 1 hour Adriamycin) and rituximab, the 3- year EFS (95% CI) for pilot patients (6 doses of rituximab) with Stage III/IV and Group C BM/CNS patients were 95% (80–99%) (Figure 2) and 89% (73–98%), respectively. Interestingly, two of four patients with centrally reviewed mediastinal primaries developed recurrent disease, while none of the 19 stage III/IV patients with LDH < 2X ULN developed recurrent disease or toxic deaths. Conclusions Rasburicase and non-alkaline hydration largely prevented (94% of the time) new onset TLS with hyperuricemia safely during COP reduction therapy in children with advanced stages of de-novo mature B-NHL. For patients with mediastinal primaries, the high failure rate with group B4 therapy + rituximab suggests it would be appropriate to investigate new treatment strategies. Excluding this histology, combined modified FAB/LMB 96 chemotherapy and rituximab resulted in only 5 deaths (2 toxic deaths, 3 disease related deaths) among our cohort of 62 with advanced mature B-NHL. In comparing these current results from the previous FAB/LMB 96 trial without rituximab, the stage III/IV patients had a 95% vs. 84% and patients with CNS+ disease a 93% vs. 72% 3 year EFS. (Patte et al., Cairo et al. Blood, 2007) Future efforts to intensify chemotherapy in patients with CNS involvement should proceed only with careful toxicity monitoring, as preliminarily these patients seem to have excellent outcome with this immunochemotherapy approach. Disclosures: Gross: Pfizer Oncology: Consultancy; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy; Eli Lilly: Consultancy.
Ibrutinib Alone and in Combination with Dexamethasone and Carfilzomib Significantly Inhibits Cell Proliferation in Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma (PMBL): Ibrutinib May be a Future Targeted Agent in Combination Therapy in Patients with PMBL
Abstract BACKGROUND: Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma (PMBL) is a rare form of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (Lones/Cairo et al, JCO 2000). We have previously reported a significant decrease in EFS among pediatric and adolescent patients with PMBL compared with other stage III non-PMBL diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients following FAB/LMB 96 therapy, suggesting that new therapeutic targeted agents are needed (Gerrard/Cairo et al, Blood 2013). Activation of the B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway has now emerged as a central oncogenic pathway that promotes growth and survival in both normal and malignant B-cells. The cascade of signaling pathways downstream of the BCR includes BTK, MAPK, NF-κB and AKT. PMBL has a constitutively activated NF-kB pathway (Rosenwald et al, JEM 2003). Ibrutinib is a selective and covalent BTK inhibitor that inhibits chronic active BCR signaling and downstream signaling including the NF-kB pathway (Herman et al, Blood 2014) and is an active agent in ABC-DLBCL, which also has an activated NF-kB pathway (Griner et al, PNAS 2014). Preclinical studies of ibrutinib in CLL and MCL suggested that the inhibitory effects on cell proliferation were seen in the range of 1.0uM to 25.0uM (Herman et al, Blood 2011; Cinar et al, Leuk. Res 2013). Despite these relatively high IC50 values in vitro, ibrutinib has been highly effective in the treatment of patients with refractory CLL and MCL (Byrd et al, NEJM 2013 and Wang et al, NEJM 2013). Ibrutinib was approved by the FDA (IMBRUVICA, USPI) for patients with MCL in November 2013 or CLL in February 2014, who have received at least one prior therapy. However, the antitumor activity against PMBL of ibrutinib alone and in combination with other agents is currently unknown. OBJECTIVES: We hypothesize that ibrutinib in combination with other agents may be a future targeted agent in the treatment of PMBL. Therefore, we investigated the effect of ibrutinib alone and in combination with dexamethasone, rituximab and carfilzomib on cell proliferation and apoptosis in a PMBL cell line. METHODS: The Karpas-1106P PMBL cell line (DSMZ, Germany) was treated with ibrutinib alone (0-10uM, generously provided by Janssen R&D LLC) and in combination with dexamethasone (1uM), rituximab (20ug/ml) and carfilzomib (5nM) for 5 days treatment. The MTS cell proliferation assay (Promega) and western blot analysis were performed. Significant differences were determined by Student's t -test.The IC50 values were determined with CompuSyn software (Chou and Martin, ComboSyn, 2005). RESULTS: We observed a significant down-regulation of phosphorylated BTK after 5 days with ibrutinib treatment in Karpas-1106P cell line with 1uM ibrutinib (0.178 ± 1.63, p<0.0001) and the expression of total BTK protein was also significantly decreased with 1uM ibrutinib following 5 days of treatment (0.803±0.190, p<0.005) compared to control (1.000±0.00). We also observed a significant dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation (0-10uM, p<0.0001) in ibrutinib-treated Karpas-1106P PMBL cell line. In combination with dexamethasone, the ibrutinib IC50 values for inhibition of cell proliferation were significantly decreased from 0.71uM ± 0.172 (ibrutinib alone) to 0.04uM ± 0.007 (p<0.005) with 1.0uM dexamethasone combination following 5 days of treatment. Second, in combination with rituximab experiment, the ibrutinib IC50 values was significantly decreased from 0.845uM ± 0.289 (ibrutinib alone) to 0.37uM ± 0.056 (p<0.05) with 20ug/ml rituximab following 5 days of treatment. Lastly, the ibrutinib IC50 values were significantly decreased from 0.72uM ± 0.185 (ibrutinib alone) to 0.002uM ± 0.001 (p<0.005) with 5nM carfilzomib combination following 5 days of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Ibrutinib alone and in combination with dexamethasone, rituximab and carfilzomib significantly inhibited cell proliferation in the Karpas-1106P PMBL cell line. Ibrutinib's potential as an adjuvant agent in combination treatment in patients with PMBL is supported by these experiments. Future studies will focus on the in vivo effects of ibrutinib alone and in combination with dexamethasone and carfilzomib in a NOD/SCID PMBL xenograft mouse model. Disclosures Galardy: Mission Therapeutics: Research Funding.
Outcomes of haploidentical vs matched sibling transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission
Abstract HLA-haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation (Haplo-HCT) using posttransplantation cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) has improved donor availability. However, a matched sibling donor (MSD) is still considered the optimal donor. Using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database, we compared outcomes after Haplo-HCT vs MSD in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission (CR1). Data from 1205 adult CR1 AML patients (2008-2015) were analyzed. A total of 336 patients underwent PT-Cy–based Haplo-HCT and 869 underwent MSD using calcineurin inhibitor–based graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. The Haplo-HCT group included more reduced-intensity conditioning (65% vs 30%) and bone marrow grafts (62% vs 7%), consistent with current practice. In multivariable analysis, Haplo-HCT and MSD groups were not different with regard to overall survival (P = .15), leukemia-free survival (P = .50), nonrelapse mortality (P = .16), relapse (P = .90), or grade II-IV acute GVHD (P = .98). However, the Haplo-HCT group had a significantly lower rate of chronic GVHD (hazard ratio, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.48; P < .001). Results of subgroup analyses by conditioning intensity and graft source suggested that the reduced incidence of chronic GVHD in Haplo-HCT is not limited to a specific graft source or conditioning intensity. Center effect and minimal residual disease–donor type interaction were not predictors of outcome. Our results indicate a lower rate of chronic GVHD after PT-Cy–based Haplo-HCT vs MSD using calcineurin inhibitor–based GVHD prophylaxis, but similar other outcomes, in patients with AML in CR1. Haplo-HCT is a viable alternative to MSD in these patients.
Ibrutinib significantly inhibited Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) phosphorylation,in-vitro proliferation and enhanced overall survival in a preclinical Burkitt lymphoma (BL) model
Excellent outcomes in children and adolescents with CNS+ Burkitt lymphoma or other mature B‐NHL using only intrathecal and systemic chemoimmunotherapy: results from FAB/LMB96 and COG ANHL01P
Key Points Compared with parous female sibling donors, male URDs confer more aGVHD in all patients and more cGVHD in females. There was no difference in survival, relapse, or transplant mortality between recipients of parous female sibling or male URD grafts.
Autologous transplantation versus allogeneic transplantation in patients with follicular lymphoma experiencing early treatment failure