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Kay, Neil E.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5951-5055

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic

Citations 514

Incidence and Prevalence of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in the 7-County Region Around Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Vallejo, Bryan Alexis , Achenbach, Sara J., Vachon, Celine M. , Cerhan, James R., Schwager, Susan M., Shanafelt, Tait D. , Hanson, Curtis A. , Call, Timothy G. , Shanafelt, Tait D , Rabe, Kari G. , Norman, Aaron D. , Vachon, Celine M. , Cerhan, James R. , Braggio, Esteban , Parikh, Sameer A. , Kay, Neil E. , Slager, Susan L.

Blood | December 5, 2024 | Volume: 144 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 6801-6801

10.1182/blood-2024-209069 Get It

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the most common leukemias in the United States (US), with an estimated incidence of 20,700 cases in 2024. Population-based studies conducted in Olmsted County (OC), Minnesota, reported an increase in CLL incidence over a 55-year period (1935 through 1989), which was attributed to increased detection of early-stage cases in individuals over age 50. In an updated study from 2000 to 2010 in OC, we reported no further increase in the incidence of CLL using the 2008 International Workshop on CLL (IWCLL 2008) guidelines. Additionally, when we compared the 1996 National Cancer Institute Working Group (NCI-WG 96) criteria with the IWCLL 2008 guidelines incorporating the monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis designation, we found that the use of the IWCLL 2008 guidelines reduced the overt CLL incidence, modified the distribution of Rai Stages at diagnosis, and shortened the median time to first treatment (TTFT). Over the last two decades, 5-year survival for CLL has increased due to new therapies and improved supportive care. Herein we provide updated data on the incidence, prevalence, and natural progression of CLL in OC and studied similar features in an expanded 6-county region around Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Methods: We utilized the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP), a population-based medical records linkage system, to identify CLL cases from 2000 to 2020 using International Classification of Diseases codes. We included individuals residing in OC and the expanded 7-county region (REP-7, including OC), for which data became available starting in 2010. CLL cases were included if they met the IWCLL 2008 criteria. All CLL diagnoses were confirmed by manual review of medical records and data on CLL-related factors were collected, including treatment status, prior history of other cancers, and overall survival (OS). Age- and sex-specific incidence rates were derived from REP census data and adjusted to the 2020 US white population. OS analyses were conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method. TTFT was calculated with death as a competing risk. Cox regression was used to evaluate the effect of decade on TTFT and OS among patients in OC. Results: From 2010-2020, 242 patients were diagnosed with CLL in REP-7, and between 2000-2020, 174 patients were diagnosed in OC. Among the 242 CLL patients in REP-7, the median age at diagnosis was 71 years (range 30-96),158 (65%) were male, 236 (99%) were white, and 74 (31%) had a history of other cancer, with non-melanoma skin cancer being the most common. After age and sex adjustment to the 2020 US white population, the CLL incidence in REP-7 and OC from 2010 to 2020 was 7.8 and 8.1 per 100,000 individuals, respectively. In OC, the age- and sex-adjusted CLL incidence from 2000 to 2020 was 7.5 per 100,000 individuals, showing no significant trend changes over time. Among the 242 patients diagnosed with CLL in REP-7 between 2010 and 2020, 102 received treatment with a median TTFT of 9.8 years. In OC from 2000 to 2020, 79 out of 174 patients received treatment with a median TTFT of 9.4 years. When comparing across two decades in OC, the median TTFT was 12.8 years for the period from 2000 to 2009, decreasing to 5.9 years between 2010 and 2020, but was not significantly different after accounting for age and sex. The median OS for patients diagnosed with CLL in REP-7 from 2010 to 2020 was 11 years. The median OS for patients in OC between 2000 to 2020 was 12.6 years. When comparing across decades in OC, the median OS was 8.9 years for the period from 2000 to 2009, increasing to 13.6 years for those diagnosed between 2010 and 2020, but this trend was not significantly different after accounting for age and sex. Prevalence data for REP-7 and OC were analyzed as of 01/01/2020. Additionally, prevalence data for OC were available for 01/01/2010. In REP-7, the prevalence of CLL was 97 per 100,000 individuals on 01/01/2020. In OC, the CLL prevalence was 86 per 100,000 individuals on 01/01/2010, and 100 per 100,000 individuals on 01/01/2020. Conclusions: We observed no substantial increase in the incidence rates of CLL in REP-7 from 2010 to 2020, nor in the 20 years of available data from OC. However, the prevalence of CLL in OC increased by 16% from 2010 to 2020. Additionally, evidence indicated a longer OS among newly diagnosed CLL cases in OC compared to previous decades, suggesting a potential impact of improved therapeutic approaches on OS.
Combination Interaction Effects of Ibrutinib with Variety Drugs in in Vitro Mesenchymal Stromal Cell System in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Lesnick, Connie , Bhattacharya, Aisharya, Han, Weiguo , Bhattacharya, Aisharya, Sinha, Sutapa , Wang, Zhiquan , Parikh, Sameer A. , Kay, Neil E.

Blood | December 5, 2024 | Volume: 144 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 6760-6760

10.1182/blood-2024-203943 Get It

Introduction: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the accumulation of malignant lymphocytes in the lymph nodes, spleen, blood, and bone marrow. Although current clinical treatment approaches targeting Bruton Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) and Bcl-2, either as monotherapy or in combination are highly effective with high overall response, complete responses, and achievement of undetectable measurable residual disease (MRD), most patients eventually experience disease relapse. In this study, we utilized our unique mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) system, which mimics the in vivo stromal environment in CLL, to explore the combination interaction effect of the first-in-class BTK inhibitor, ibrutinib, with novel tumor microenvironment (TME)-directed drugs in CLL. Methods: Since 1999, patients with CLL seen at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN have been offered participation in a longitudinal study of CLL B-cell Biology (CLL Tissue Bank). This Tissue Bank is seamlessly integrated into the Mayo Clinic CLL Database where the clinical characteristics of all patients are prospectively maintained. Using this resource, we identified previously untreated CLL patients (n=10) for our experiments. Individuals with high risk CLL (defined as those with both unmutated IGHV gene mutations and either del17p- or del11q- by FISH) (n=5) and with low risk CLL (defined as those with both mutated IGHV genes and no del17p- or del11q- by FISH) (n=5) were studied. Annexin-V/PI apoptotic cell death assays were employed to evaluate the effects of TME-directed drugs including everolimus (mTOR inhibitor), MI-2 (MALT1 inhibitor), ruxolitinib (JAK1/2 inhibitor), S63845 (MCL-1 inhibitor), and venetoclax (Bcl-2 inhibitor) either as single agent, or in combination with ibrutinib on CLL B cells in direct contact with MSCs. Dose response curves and IC50 levels were generated for single agent killing effect in CLL. The combination interaction effects were determined by Combination Index (CI) values generated by CalcuSyn software indicating synergistic (CI < 0.9), additive (CI between 0.9 - 1.1), or antagonistic (CI > 1.1) interactions. Among drug combinations with synergistic CI values, the following indicated different levels: below 0.1 very strong, 0.1 - 0.3 strong, 0.3 - 0.7 good, and 0.7 - 0.9 moderate synergism. Results: All tested drugs exhibited different IC50 levels in CLL cells co-cultured with MSCs: MI-2 IC50 of 3.5uM, ruxolitinib IC50 of 18.5uM, S63845 IC50 of 0.115uM, venetoclax IC50 of 0.006uM, and both everolimus and ibrutinib did not reach IC50 levels at maximum tested doses. Of interest we observed more killing in high versus low-risk cohort when treated with everolimus (19uM vs. undetectable), MI-2 (2.5 vs. 4uM) and S63845 (0.09 vs. 0.14uM) as single agents (IC50, high vs. low, respectively), while ruxolitinib and venetoclax showed no differences. Combination interaction effect results showed highly synergistic interactions for all patients (good to strong synergism) when ibrutinib was combined with S63845 or venetoclax, moderate to strong synergism for ibrutinib and everolimus, moderate synergism to additive levels for ibrutinib and MI-2, and moderate synergism to antagonism for ibrutinib and ruxolitinib. We also observed more synergism in the low-risk cohort when treated with ibrutinib and MI-2/ruxolitinib combinations, but no difference with ibrutinib and everolimus/S63845/venetoclax combinations between low and high-risk cohort. Conclusions: In summary, we evaluated the pre-clinical combination effects of ibrutinib when used together with other novel agents on CLL B cells in the presence of TME, where patients were assigned to low or high-risk cohorts. Our study showed that ibrutinib exhibits highly synergistic effects with venetoclax, S63845 and everolimus in both cohorts. The observed difference in effectiveness between high and low-risk cohorts when treated with ibrutinib plus MI-2 or ruxolitinib suggests these combinations would be beneficial for a subset of patients with high risk CLL. These preclinical data offer preliminary insights that support the evaluation of therapeutic combinations in patient with high-risk CLL: a population with significant unmet medical needs. Funding Statement: This study was funded and supported by Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie company.
Aberrantly Expressed Mitochondrial Lipid Kinase, AGK, Activates JAK2–Histone H3 Axis and BCR Signal: A Mechanistic Study with Implication in CLL Therapy
Mamidi, Murali K. , Sinha, Sutapa , Mendez, Mariana T. , Sanyal, Tapojyoti , Mahmud, H., Kay, Neil E. , Gupta, Mamta , Xu, Chao , Mukherjee, Priyabrata , Ghosh, Asish K. , Mahmud, Hasan , Vesely, Sara K , Mukherjee, Priyabrata , Holter Chakrabarty, Jennifer , Ghosh, Asish K , Kay, Neil E , Gupta, Mamta , Sinha, Sutapa , Holter‐Chakrabarty, Jennifer

Clinical Cancer Research | December 5, 2024 | Volume: 31 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 588-602

10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-24-1192 Get It

Abstract Purpose: Although the B-cell receptor (BCR) signal plays a critical role in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cell survival and a target of current therapies (ibrutinib targets Bruton’s tyrosine kinase; idelalisib targets PI3Kδ), contribution of the cytokine-driven JAK2 pathway to the “CLL cell-survival signaling network” is largely undefined. Experimental Design: Patients with CLL were enrolled to investigate expression/activation of JAK2 and acylglycerol kinase (AGK), and their functional implication in primary CLL cell survival. A series of biochemical and molecular biology assays were employed to uncover the underlying mechanism. Results: We detected that compared with normal B cells, CLL cells aberrantly express constitutively active JAK2. Mechanistically, HSP90 forms a chaperoning complex with JAK2, resulting in its aberrant accumulation in CLL cells. We also discovered aberrant upregulation of a novel mitochondrial lipid kinase, AGK, which remains complexed with HSP90 in CLL cells activating JAK2. Although AGK is typically mitochondrial, we detected its nuclear localization in association with JAK2 in some CLL cells. Functionally, JAK2 phosphorylates its noncanonical substrate, histone H3(Y41), but not STAT3, activating transcription of diverse sets of genes in a patient-specific manner. Additionally, JAK2 activates the BCR signal in CLL cells via LYN/Bruton’s tyrosine kinase axis. Targeted inhibition of JAK2 as monotherapy, or in combination with the BCR inhibitors or venetoclax (a BCL2 inhibitor), induced apoptosis synergistically in CLL cells. Conclusions: These findings suggest that aberrantly expressed AGK activates JAK2, independent of cytokine, leading to activation of diverse sets of gene transcription in CLL cells. Combined targeting of JAK2 and BCR signals or BCL2 may be effective in some patients with CLL.
Profound deficiencies in mature blood and bone marrow progenitor dendritic cells in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia patients
Medina, Kay L. , Welch, Baustin M. , Parikh, Sameer A. , Kay, Neil E. , Parikh, Sameer A , Kay, Neil E , Medina, Kay L

No container title available | September 27, 2024 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: No page available

10.21203/rs.3.rs-4953853/v1 Get It

Abstract Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients are immunocompromised and highly vulnerable to serious recurrent infections. Conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) are principal sensors of infection and are essential in orchestrating innate and adaptive immune responses to resolve infection. This study identified significant deficiencies in six functionally distinct DC subsets in blood of untreated CLL (UT-CLL) patients and selective normalization of pDCs in response to acalabrutinib (a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor) therapy. DCs are continuously replenished from hematopoiesis in bone marrow (BM). Four BM developmental intermediates that give rise to cDCs and pDCs were examined and significant reductions of these were identified in UT-CLL patients supporting a precursor/progeny relationship. The deficiencies in blood DCs and BM DC progenitors were significantly associated with alterations in the Flt3/FL signaling pathway critical to DC development and function. Regarding clinical parameter, cDC subset deficiencies are associated with adverse prognostic indicators of disease progression, including IGHV mutation, CD49d, CD38, and ZAP-70 status. Importantly, UT-CLL patients with shared DC subset deficiencies had shorter time-to-first treatment (TTFT), uncovering a profound alteration in innate immunity with the potential to instruct therapeutic decision-making.
Risk of Incident Melanoma Among Individuals With Low-Count Monoclonal B-Cell Lymphocytosis
Vallejo, Bryan Alexis , Ansari, Ahmed , Achenbach, Sara J., Rabe, Kari G. , Norman, Aaron D. , Olson, Janet E. , Kay, Neil E. , Braggio, Esteban , Hanson, Curtis A. , Vachon, Celine M. , Baum, Cristian L., Shanafelt, Tait D. , Vallejo, Bryan A , Chaffee, Kari G. , Norman, Aaron D , Olson, Janet E , Kay, Neil E , Braggio, Esteban , Vachon, Celine M. , Cerhan, James R , Shanafelt, Tait D , Slager, Susan L , Parikh, Sameer A. , Cerhan, James R. , Slager, Susan L.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | September 4, 2024 | Volume: 42 | Issue: 35 | Pages: 4153-4162

10.1200/jco.24.00332 Get It

PURPOSE Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)–phenotype monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) is a premalignant condition that is roughly 500-fold more common than CLL. It is unknown whether the two-fold increased risk of developing melanoma associated with CLL extends to individuals with MBL. METHODS Using the Mayo Clinic Biobank, we identified participants who were 40 years or older with no previous hematological malignancies, who resided in the 27 counties around Mayo Clinic, and who had available biospecimens for screening. Eight-color flow cytometry was used to screen for MBL. Individuals with MBL were classified as low-count MBL (LC-MBL) or high-count MBL on the basis of clonal B-cell percent. Incident melanomas were identified using International Classification of Diseases codes and confirmed via medical records review. Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CI. RESULTS Of the 7,334 participants screened, 1,151 were identified with a CD5-positive MBL, of whom 1,098 had LC-MBL. After a median follow-up of 3.2 years (range, 0-13.5), 131 participants developed melanoma, of whom 36 individuals were positive for MBL. The estimated 5-year cumulative incidence of melanoma was 3.4% and 2.0% among those with and without MBL, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, and history of previous melanoma, individuals with MBL exhibited a 1.86-fold (95% CI, 1.25 to 2.78) risk of melanoma. This elevated risk persisted when analysis was restricted to those without a history of melanoma (HR, 2.05 [95% CI, 1.30 to 3.23]). Individuals with LC-MBL had a 1.92-fold (95% CI, 1.29 to 2.87) increased risk of developing melanoma overall and a 2.74-fold increased risk (95% CI, 1.50 to 5.03) of melanoma in situ compared with those without MBL. CONCLUSION LC-MBL is associated with an approximately two-fold increased risk of melanoma overall and a 2.74-fold increased risk of melanoma in situ.
Utility of Targeted Sequencing Compared to FISH for Detection of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Copy Number Alterations
Wiedmeier, Julia E. , McCabe, Chantal E. , O’Brien, Daniel R. , Jessen, Erik , Campos, Cecília Bonolo de , Waller, Rosalie G. , Allmer, Cristine, Rabe, Kari G. , Cerhan, James R. , Kay, Neil E. , Yan, Huihuang , Dyke, Daniel L. Van , Griffin, R. L. , Wiedmeier-Nutor, Julia E , Bonolo de Campos, Cecilia, Griffin, Rosalie, Chaffee, Kari G. , Cerhan, James R , Kay, Neil E , Van Dyke, Daniel L, Jessen, Erik , Waller, Rosalie G , Griffin, Rosalie , Boddicker, Nicholas , Parikh, Sameer A. , Slager, Susan L. , Braggio, Esteban

Cancers | July 3, 2024 | Volume: 16 | Issue: 13 | Pages: 2450

10.3390/cancers16132450 Get It

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by multiple copy number alterations (CNAs) and somatic mutations that are central to disease prognosis, risk stratification, and mechanisms of therapy resistance. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) panels are widely used in clinical applications as the gold standard for screening prognostic chromosomal abnormalities in CLL. DNA sequencing is an alternative approach to identifying CNAs but is not an established method for clinical CNA screening. We sequenced DNA from 509 individuals with CLL or monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL), the precursor to CLL, using a targeted sequencing panel of 59 recurrently mutated genes in CLL and additional amplicons across regions affected by clinically relevant CNAs [i.e., del(17p), del(11q), del(13q), and trisomy 12]. We used the PatternCNV algorithm to call CNA and compared the concordance of calling clinically relevant CNAs by targeted sequencing to that of FISH. We found a high accuracy of calling CNAs via sequencing compared to FISH. With FISH as the gold standard, the specificity of targeted sequencing was >95%, sensitivity was >86%, positive predictive value was >90%, and negative predictive value was >84% across the clinically relevant CNAs. Using targeted sequencing, we were also able to identify other common CLL-associated CNAs, including del(6q), del(14q), and gain 8q, as well as complex karyotype, defined as the presence of 3 or more chromosomal abnormalities, in 26 patients. In a single and cost-effective assay that can be performed on stored DNA samples, targeted sequencing can simultaneously detect CNAs, somatic mutations, and complex karyotypes, which are all important prognostic features in CLL.
Efficacy of pembrolizumab monotherapy and in combination with BCR inhibitors for Richter transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
LaPlant, Betsy, Leis, José F., Call, Timothy G., He, Rong , Micallef, Ivana N. , Nowakowski, Grzegorz S. , Koehler, Amber B. , Hampel, Paul J. , Aitken, Casey N., Ansell, Stephen M. , Wang, Yucai , Parikh, Sameer A. , Shanafelt, Tait D. , Habermann, Thomas M. , Witzig, Thomas E. , Kenderian, Saad S. , Muchtar, Eli , Sinha, Sutapa , Kay, Neil E. , Ding, Wei

Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 10, 2024 | Volume: 42 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 7050-7050

10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.7050 Get It

7050 Background: The management of Richter transformation (RT) of CLL represents an unmet clinical need. We previously reported modest efficacy of pembrolizumab monotherapy in an initial cohort of patients with RT (Ding, et al, Blood 2017). Here we report updated results of this trial, including an expansion cohort and a combination therapy cohort. Methods: Patients with biopsy proven RT to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were enrolled and treated with single agent pembrolizumab (200 mg IV Q3W). Patients with progressive disease (PD) or stable disease (SD) after 3 months of pembrolizumab monotherapy were allowed to add a B-cell receptor (BCR) kinase inhibitor. The primary end point was overall response rate (ORR). Results: A total of 26 patients with RT were enrolled (9 in initial cohort and 17 in expansion cohort). The median age was 68.5 years. Ten (38%) patients had del(17p) or TP53 mutation. The median number of prior lines of therapy was 3 (range 1-10). Fifteen (58%) patients had received ibrutinib previously (14 of whom had PD on ibrutinib). With pembrolizumab monotherapy (n=26), the ORR was 23.1%, with 2 (7.7%) complete response (CR), 4 (15.4%) partial response (PR), and 7 (26.9%) SD. Of the 6 patients with confirmed CR or PR, responses occurred after a median of 2 cycles of monotherapy. The median duration of response (DOR) was 3.2 months (95% CI 2.8-NA). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 2.6 months (95% CI 1.6-3.6). Sixteen patients went on to receive a BCR kinase inhibitor (ibrutinib [n=15], idelalisib [n=1]) in combination with pembrolizumab, after SD or PD on pembrolizumab monotherapy. The ORR to combination therapy was 62.5%, with 4 (25.0%) CR and 6 (37.5%) PR. Of the 10 patients with confirmed CR or PR to combination therapy, responses occurred after a median of 4 cycles of therapy. The median DOR was 4.5 months (95% CI 1.6-NA). The median PFS was 7.6 months (95% CI 2.3-13.3). After a median follow-up of 50.4 (95% CI 34.0-56.0) months, the median overall survival (OS) for all 26 patients with RT was 11.6 months (95% CI 7.5-20.1), and the 2-year OS rate was 27%. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) of any grade occurred in 24 (92%) patients, including anemia (54%), thrombocytopenia (58%), neutropenia (54%), leukopenia (35%), lymphopenia (23%), dyspnea (23%), diarrhea (19%), and nausea (23%). Treatment-related grade 3 or above AEs occurred in 21 (81%) patients, including neutropenia (38%), leukopenia (31%), thrombocytopenia (27%), anemia (15%), febrile neutropenia (12%), and lung infection (12%). Conclusions: This expanded analysis confirmed that pembrolizumab has modest single agent activity in RT. Combination therapy with pembrolizumab and a BCR kinase inhibitor is associated with increased efficacy (ORR >60%), similar to other reports. These results support further investigation of immune checkpoint inhibitor-based combination therapy in RT. Clinical trial information: NCT02332980 .
Outpatient treatment with concomitant vaccine-boosted convalescent plasma for patients with immunosuppression and COVID-19
Ripoll, Juan G. , Tulledge‐Scheitel, Sidna M. , Stephenson, Anthony A. , Ford, Shane , Pike, Marsha L., Gorman, Ellen K. , Hanson, Sara N. , Juskewitch, Justin E. , Miller, Alex J. , Zaremba, Solomiia , Ovrom, Erik A. , Fischer, Erin N., Derr, Amber N., Eberle, Michele R. , Larsen, Jennifer J., Carney, Christina M., Theel, Elitza S. , Joyner, Michael J. , Senefeld, Jonathon W. , Razonable, Raymund R , Ganesh, Ravindra , Hurt, Ryan T. , Theel, Elitza S , Parikh, Sameer A , Kay, Neil E , Joyner, Michael J , Senefeld, Jonathon W , Juskewitch, Justin E , Zaremba, Solomiia , Razonable, Raymund R. , Ganesh, Ravindra , Parikh, Sameer A. , Kay, Neil E.

mBio | April 11, 2024 | Volume: 15 | Issue: 5 | Pages: No page available

10.1128/mbio.00400-24 Get It

ABSTRACT Although severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and hospitalization associated with COVID-19 are generally preventable among healthy vaccine recipients, patients with immunosuppression have poor immunogenic responses to COVID-19 vaccines and remain at high risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and hospitalization. In addition, monoclonal antibody therapy is limited by the emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants that have serially escaped neutralization. In this context, there is interest in understanding the clinical benefit associated with COVID-19 convalescent plasma collected from persons who have been both naturally infected with SARS-CoV-2 and vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 (“vax-plasma”). Thus, we report the clinical outcome of 386 immunocompromised outpatients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and who received contemporary COVID-19-specific therapeutics (standard-of-care group) and a subgroup who also received concomitant treatment with very high titer COVID-19 convalescent plasma (vax-plasma group) with a specific focus on hospitalization rates. The overall hospitalization rate was 2.2% (5 of 225 patients) in the vax-plasma group and 6.2% (10 of 161 patients) in the standard-of-care group, which corresponded to a relative risk reduction of 65% ( P = 0.046). Evidence of efficacy in nonvaccinated patients cannot be inferred from these data because 94% (361 of 386 patients) of patients were vaccinated. In vaccinated patients with immunosuppression and COVID-19, the addition of vax-plasma or very high titer COVID-19 convalescent plasma to COVID-19-specific therapies reduced the risk of disease progression leading to hospitalization. IMPORTANCE As SARS-CoV-2 evolves, new variants of concern (VOCs) have emerged that evade available anti-spike monoclonal antibodies, particularly among immunosuppressed patients. However, high-titer COVID-19 convalescent plasma continues to be effective against VOCs because of its broad-spectrum immunomodulatory properties. Thus, we report clinical outcomes of 386 immunocompromised outpatients who were treated with COVID-19-specific therapeutics and a subgroup also treated with vaccine-boosted convalescent plasma. We found that the administration of vaccine-boosted convalescent plasma was associated with a significantly decreased incidence of hospitalization among immunocompromised COVID-19 outpatients. Our data add to the contemporary data providing evidence to support the clinical utility of high-titer convalescent plasma as antibody replacement therapy in immunocompromised patients.
Abstract LB345: Correlating the blood immune repertoire and clinical features of del17p CLL patients
Katcher, Ethan J., Gwin, K, Lothert, Petra K., Trisal, Preeti, Strong, Nicholas, Dyke, Daniel L. Van , Huang, C. Chris , Gandhi, Anita K. , Medina, Kay L. , Parikh, Sameer A. , Rabe, Kari G. , Braggio, Esteban , Slager, Susan L. , Strong, Nicholas, Wang, Zhiquan , Kay, Neil E.

Cancer Research | April 5, 2024 | Volume: 84 | Issue: 7_Supplement | Pages: LB345-LB345

10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-lb345 Get It

Abstract Introduction: Deletion in the short arm of chromosome 17 (del17p) is a strong, negative prognostic biomarker found in about eight percent of patients with untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). CLL patients with del17p exhibit resistance to therapy, accelerated disease progression, and global immunodeficiency. It is unclear the extent to which global immunodeficiency impacts disease course and therapy outcomes. The goal of this study was to document the blood immune repertoire of patients with untreated CLL who have del17p and associate with clinical features, time to first treatment (TFT), and overall survival (OS). Methods: Biobanked blood samples from treatment-naïve del17p CLL patients (n = 58) and age-matched controls (n = 5) were obtained. B cells and T cells were analyzed with comprehensive, cell type-specific flow cytometry panels and visualized with unbiased dimensionality reduction. Lab values were log-transformed and compared using t-tests and one-way ANOVAs. TFT was calculated from date of sample collection to date of first CLL-directed therapy or last known untreated date; OS was calculated from date of sample collection to death or last known alive status. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses (results reported as hazard ratio [HR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]) were employed to identify associations of lab values with OS and TFT. Results: Patients with del17p CLL had increased proportions of T regulatory cells (Tregs) among total CD4+ T cells compared to controls (CLL 11.1%, control 5.7%, p = 0.05). A higher proportion of CD8+ T cells was associated with longer TFT (HR 0.57, 95%CI 0.36-0.89); in contrast, higher proportions of TIGIT+ (HR 1.83, 95%CI 1.03-3.28) and TIM3+ conventional (non-Treg) CD4+ T cells were associated with shorter TFT (HR 1.70, 95%CI 1.02-2.84). A higher proportion of PD1+ CD8+ T cells was associated with shorter OS (HR 1.79, 95%CI 1.05-3.06), in addition to PD1+ conventional CD4+ T cell proportion (HR 2.21, 95%CI 1.06-4.60). CLL B cells expressed PD-1 and inducible T cell costimulator (ICOS) at significantly lower median fluorescence intensities (MFIs) than control B cells (p < 0.0001 for both). The CXCR5+ MFI (HR 1.0002, 95%CI 1.0001-1.003) and CD23+ MFI (HR 1.88, 95%CI 1.01-3.50) of CLL B cells were associated with shorter TFT. Discussion: In this cohort of treatment-naïve del17p CLL patients, we determined that patients with higher proportions of exhausted CD4+ and CD8+ T cell phenotypes had significantly shorter OS. Cytotoxic T cell proportion positively associated with TFT, whereas proportions of CD4+ T cell exhaustion phenotypes negatively associated with TFT. Higher CXCR5+ and CD23+ MFIs of CLL B cells also associated with shorter TFT. The preliminary findings from our study suggest that the blood immune repertoire has strong associations with clinically relevant outcomes such as time to first treatment and overall survival in patients with untreated del17p CLL. Citation Format: Ethan J. Katcher, Kim A. Gwin, Sameer A. Parikh, Kari G. Rabe, Petra K. Lothert, Preeti Trisal, Esteban Braggio, Susan L. Slager, Nicholas Strong, Daniel L. Van Dyke, Zhiquan Wang, C. Chris Huang, Anita K. Gandhi, Kay L. Medina, Neil E. Kay. Correlating the blood immune repertoire and clinical features of del17p CLL patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr LB345.
Abstract 7450: The impact of prior history of non-hematologic malignancies on time to first treatment and overall survival among individuals with CLL or MBL
Vallejo, Bryan Alexis , Allmer, Cristine, Robinson, Dennis P. , Hampel, Paul J. , Rabe, Kari G. , Wang, Yucai , Braggio, Esteban , Kay, Neil E. , Cerhan, James R. , Parikh, Sameer A. , Slager, Susan L.

Cancer Research | March 22, 2024 | Volume: 84 | Issue: 6_Supplement | Pages: 7450-7450

10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-7450 Get It

Abstract Background: The impact of a prior history of non-hematologic malignancy (NHM) on clinical outcomes among individuals with newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL), the precursor to CLL, is not well known. Methods: In this prospective study, we identified individuals with CLL/MBL who were seen in the Division of Hematology at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Participants provided consent within nine months of diagnosis, had no prior history of hematological malignancy, and completed a self-reported risk-factor questionnaire, including a prior history of NHM. Time to first treatment (TTFT) was defined as the time between the date of diagnosis and the earliest date of the first CLL treatment, death, or the last known treatment-free follow-up date. Overall survival (OS) was defined as the time from diagnosis to death or the last follow-up. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between a prior history of a NHM with OS and TTFT. We adjusted for sex and the CLL International Prognostic Index (CLL-IPI), a score comprised of five key CLL prognostic factors, including age and Rai stage. Results: Among the 1,090 CLL/MBL individuals, 833 (76%) had CLL. The median age at diagnosis was 64 years (range 24-89), with 65% being men, and 230 (21%) reported a prior history of NHM. The most common tumor was non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC, 8.9%, 96 individuals), followed by prostate, testicular, and penile tumors (7.3%, 51 individuals), and melanoma (1.9%, 20 individuals). CLL/MBL patients with a prior history of a NHM were more likely to be over 65 years old (29%) than under 65 years old (14%, p < 0.0001). After a median follow-up of 2.9 years (range 0-21), 470 CLL/MBL patients progressed, requiring CLL treatment. CLL/MBL individuals with a prior history of NHM had a longer TTFT compared to those without (HR=0.69; 95% CI: 0.53-0.90; p=0.006). Individuals with a prior history of NHM who had either intermediate or high-very high CLL-IPI score had significantly longer TTFT (HR= 0.55; 95% CI: 0.33-0.92; p=0.02, and HR=0.65; 95% CI: 0.43-0.97; p=0.03, respectively) compared to those without NHM. After a median follow-up of 8.6 years (range 0-21), 359 individuals died. CLL/MBL patients with a prior history of NHM also experienced reduced OS compared to those without (HR=1.46; 95% CI: 1.08-1.97, p=0.013), particularly among those with low (HR=1.70; 95% CI: 0.96-3.00, p=0.07) or intermediate-risk (HR=2.08; 95% CI: 1.24-3.51, p=0.006), according to CLL-IPI. After excluding NMSC, results remained constant. Conclusions: At the time of diagnosis, one out of five CLL/MBL individuals had a prior history of a NHM. These individuals had a longer time to first CLL directed treatment and reduced OS, even after accounting for other important CLL prognostic factors, which deserves additional studies. Citation Format: Bryan A. Vallejo, Cristine Allmer, Kari G. Rabe, Dennis P. Robinson, Yucai Wang, Paul J. Hampel, Esteban D. Braggio, Neil E. Kay, James R. Cerhan, Sameer A. Parikh, Susan L. Slager. The impact of prior history of non-hematologic malignancies on time to first treatment and overall survival among individuals with CLL or MBL [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 7450.