Berman, Ellin

Background: The addition of midostaurin (M), an oral multi-kinase inhibitor, to intensive chemotherapy (IC) prolongs survival in newly diagnosed (ND) FLT3 mutated (m) AML. It is not known if there is a benefit to more potent and selective FLT3 inhibitors. Among these is Gilteritinib (G), now approved as a single agent in relapsed/refractory FLT3m AML. Combined with IC, G also leads to high measurable residual disease (MRD)negative (-) composite complete remission (CRc) in FLT3 Internal Tandem Duplication (ITD)m AML. The aim of the PrECOG 0905 study was to compare FLT3m clearance and CRc rates of G vs M with IC in adults with ND FLT3m AML. Methods: We conducted a randomized, open-label, phase 2 trial comparing G to M in combination with IC during induction and consolidation in ND AML pts with centrally PCR detected FLT3 ITD or TKD mutations. Pts age 18-70 with non M3 AML and no known core binding factor rearrangement were eligible. Pts were stratified by mutation type (TKD only vs. ITD (+/- TKD)), NPM1 mutation status, and FLT3-ITD allelic ratio. Induction consisted of cytarabine 100 mg/m2 by continuous infusion daily, on day (d) 1-7 and daunorubicin 90 mg/m2 IV on d 1-3. G 120 mg daily or M 50 mg twice daily was given orally on d8-21. Consolidation (up to 4 cycles) began within 60 d of induction with Cytarabine (1.5-3 g/m2 IV) X 6 doses and G or M (as per randomization) on d8-21. Pts could proceed to transplant (HCT) at any time. Maintenance was not included. The primary outcome was FLT3m MRD (-) CRc after induction. MRD for TKD mutations was tested by PCR (sensitivity 10-2); ITD MRD was tested by amplicon-based NGS (sensitivity 10-4). Safety and efficacy were analyzed in all eligible pts who received treatment. Secondary endpoints included comparison of CRc, MRD by flow cytometry (sensitivity 10-3), and survival. Results: From 11/2019 to 11/2022, 722 pts were screened at 37 centers, 180 pts randomized, and 177 pts (58% female, 77% white, 8.5% black, 8.5% hispanic) treated on the G (n=90) or M (n=87) arm. Median age was 54, with 27.7% > age 60. FLT3-ITD was present in 80% in the G arm and 78.2% in the M arm. Of those with FLT3-ITD, NPM1 was detected in 56.9% pts in G arm and 58.8% in M arm. 24.4% G and 20.7% M pts had co-occuring FLT3-ITD, NPM1 and DNMT3A mutations. Adverse karyotype was seen in 3.4% G and 9.3% M while 10% G and 13.8% M were ELN 2022 adverse risk. For pts on G arm, 85.6% achieved CRc compared to 72.4% for M (p=0.042). 5 (5.6%) pts on G arm and 6 (6.9%) on M arm received 2 cycles in induction. Post induction, the FLT3m- CRc rate was 40% for G vs 47.1% for M (p=0.366). FLT3-TKD only mutated pts achieved CRc in 88.9 % with G and 63.2% with M and FLT3m- CRc in 72.2% and 63.2% respectively. FLT3-ITDm (+/- TKDm) pts achieved CRc/FLT3m- CRc in 84.7%/31.9% with G and 75%/42.6% with M, respectively. In pts with FLT3-ITD, NPM1 and DNMT3A mutations, 95.5% G and 72.2% M achieved CRc and 50% G vs 33.3% on M achieved FLT3m- CRc. Flow cytometry MRD negative CRc was documented in 64.4% on G arm and 59.8% on M arm after induction (p=0.539). On G arm 67 (74%) patients received at least one cycle of consolidation compared to 53 (61%) pts on M arm. On exploratory analysis, 54 (66%) G and 40 (46%) M were reported to proceed to HCT in first remission. FLT3m testing was done post consolidation cycle 1 in 27 pts in FLT3m+ CRc after induction and 15/18 (83%) on G and 4/9 (44.4%) on M converted to FLT3m-. On multivariate logistic regression analysis for FLT3m-CRc post-induction, FLT3-ITD allelic ratio, NPM1m, WBC and hemoglobin at baseline were significant at the 0.10 two-sided level, while treatment arm, and 2017 ELN risk were not. There were no deaths from treatment-related (TR) adverse events (TRAEs) while grade >=3 TRAE was reported in 73%G vs 70% M during induction and 79%G vs 73%M pts during consolidation. Conclusion: Induction therapy with daunorubicin 90 mg/m2 X 3 days, cytarabine 100 mg/m2 and gilteritinib results in an excellent CRc rate with no TR deaths in pts with ND FLT3m AML up to age 70. Compared to M, G increased the CRc but not the FLT3m- CRc rate after induction. More post induction FLT3m+CRc pts who received G became FLT3m- after consolidation cycle 1 and more G pts succeeded in proceeding to HCT. Future survival data will help evaluate the clinical impact of G and MRD assessments in ND FLT3mAML. Larger studies will be needed to establish most predictive timing of MRD and for definitive comparisons of these drugs in patients with specific mutation profiles ( ie TKD, ITD/NPM1/DNMT3).

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is defined by the presence of Philadelphia chromosome resulting from a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 [t9;22] that gives rise to a BCR::ABL1 fusion gene. CML occurs in 3 different phases (chronic, accelerated, and blast phase) and is usually diagnosed in the chronic phase in developed countries. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy is a highly effective treatment option for patients with chronic phase–CML. The primary goal of TKI therapy in patients with chronic phase–CML is to prevent disease progression to accelerated phase–CML or blast phase–CML. Discontinuation of TKI therapy with careful monitoring is feasible in selected patients. This manuscript discusses the recommendations outlined in the NCCN Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of patients with chronic phase–CML.

BackgroundAcute myeloid leukemia (AML) is fatal in elderly patients who are unfit for standard induction chemotherapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the survival benefit of administering sapacitabine, an oral nucleoside analogue, in alternating cycles with decitabine, a low‐intensity therapy, to elderly patients with newly diagnosed AML.MethodsThis randomized, open‐label, phase 3 study (SEAMLESS) was conducted at 87 sites in 11 countries. Patients aged ≥70 years who were not candidates for or chose not to receive standard induction chemotherapy were randomized 1:1 to arm A (decitabine in alternating cycles with sapacitabine) received 1‐hour intravenous infusions of decitabine 20 mg/m2 once daily for 5 consecutive days every 8 weeks (first cycle and subsequent odd cycles) and sapacitabine 300 mg twice daily on 3 consecutive days per week for 2 weeks every 8 weeks (second cycle and subsequent even cycles) or to control arm C who received 1‐hour infusions of decitabine 20 mg/m2 once daily for 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks. Prior hypomethylating agent therapy for preexisting myelodysplastic syndromes or myeloproliferative neoplasms was an exclusion criterion. Randomization was stratified by antecedent myelodysplastic syndromes or myeloproliferative neoplasms, white blood cell count (<10 × 109/L and ≥10 × 109/L), and bone marrow blast percentage (≥50% vs <50%). The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Secondary end points were the rates of complete remission (CR), CR with incomplete platelet count recovery, partial remission, hematologic improvement, and stable disease along with the corresponding durations, transfusion requirements, number of hospitalized days, and 1‐year survival. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01303796).ResultsBetween October 2011 and December 2014, 482 patients were enrolled and randomized to receive decitabine administered in alternating cycles with sapacitabine (study arm, n = 241) or decitabine monotherapy (control arm, n = 241). The median OS was 5.9 months on the study arm versus 5.7 months on the control arm (P = .8902). The CR rate was 16.6% on the study arm and 10.8% on the control arm (P = .1468). In patients with white blood cell counts <10 × 109/L (n = 321), the median OS was higher on the study arm versus the control arm (8.0 vs 5.8 months; P = .145), as was the CR rate (21.5% vs 8.6%; P = .0017).ConclusionsThe regimen of decitabine administered in alternating cycles with sapacitabine was active but did not significantly improve OS compared with decitabine monotherapy. Subgroup analyses suggest that patients with baseline white blood cell counts <10 × 109/L might benefit from decitabine alternating with sapacitabine, with an improved CR rate and the convenience of an oral drug. These findings should be prospectively confirmed.

Abstract Background: Sapacitabine is a novel oral nucleoside analogue with a unique ability to induce single-strand DNA breaks after incorporation into DNA, leading to production of double-strand DNA breaks and/or G2 cell cycle arrest. In AML cell lines, the active metabolite of sapacitabine, CNDAC, is synergistic with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) particularly when treated with HMAs first. In a pilot study, there were 6 CRs and 2 PRs in 25 patients treated with sapacitabine in alternating cycles with decitabine. This global randomized phase 3 study evaluated the survival benefit of this treatment strategy vs. decitabine monotherapy. Methods: Decitabine 20 mg/m2 was administered intravenously daily x 5 days of a 4-week cycle (for the control arm and odd cycles of the study arm) alternating with sapacitabine 300 mg p.o. b.i.d. x 3 days/week x 2 weeks of a 4-week cycle (even cycles of the study arm). The safety of these doses was further evaluated in the lead-in phase of the phase 3 study to confirm the findings from the pilot study. Eligible patients were ≥70 years with untreated AML and unsuitable for or unwilling to receive standard induction chemotherapy. Patients who had received HMAs for prior MDS or MPD were excluded. Results: For 482 patients randomized to receive decitabine/sapacitabine (n=241) vs. decitabine only (n=241), randomization was stratified by the presence of antecedent MDS or MPN, peripheral white blood cell count (WBC &lt;10,000 vs. ≥10,000) and bone marrow blast percentage (≥50% vs. &lt; 50%). Median age was 77 years (range 70-90), and 317 patients had de novo AML (66%), 165 secondary AML (34%). WBC was ≥10,000 in 161 patients (33%) and &gt;40,000 in 59 patients (12%); 194 patients (40%) had unfavorable cytogenetic risk by SWOG criteria. Disease characteristics were well balanced in both arms. In total, 13.7% of patients achieved CR, more on the study arm vs. control (16.6% vs. 10.8%). A total of 37.3% treated patients received ≥5 cycles of treatment, similar on both arms, as were 30- and 60-day death rates. Median overall survival was 5.9 months on the study arm vs. 5.7 months on control arm, which did not reach a statistically significant difference. In the subgroup of patients with &lt;10,000 WBC (n=321), median overall survival was higher on the study arm vs. control arm (8.0 months vs. 5.8 months), as was CR rate (21.5% vs. 8.6%). Grade 3 or higher adverse events (regardless of causality) that occurred in &gt;10% patients were thrombocytopenia, anemia, neutropenia, pneumonia, febrile neutropenia, sepsis, and disease progression. Conclusion: The regimen of sapacitabine administered in alternating cycles with decitabine was active and well tolerated but it did not significantly improve overall survival as compared to decitabine monotherapy. Further analyses are being conducted to characterize the subgroups of patients who appeared to have benefited from this treatment regimen and the potential cost savings associated with the use of an oral drug. Disclosures Kantarjian: Amgen: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Delta-Fly Pharma: Research Funding; ARIAD: Research Funding; Bristol-Meyers Squibb: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Goldberg: Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Speakers Bureau; COTA: Employment, Equity Ownership; Pfizer: Honoraria; Ariad: Speakers Bureau; Jazz: Speakers Bureau. Sekeres: Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Strickland: Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; CTI BioPharma: Consultancy; Tolero Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Sunesis Pharamaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Baxalta: Consultancy; Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Astellas Pharma: Honoraria. Rubenstein: Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Speakers Bureau. Arellano: Cephalon Oncology: Research Funding. Schiller: bluebird bio: Research Funding; mateon therapeutics: Research Funding. Gaidano: Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria. Montesinos: Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding. Rizzieri: Shire: Research Funding; Erytech: Research Funding. Subramanian: Boehringer-Ingelheim, Lilly, BMS, Astra-Zeneca, Pfizer, Biocept: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Buyse: IDDI: Employment, Equity Ownership. Chiao: Cyclacel LTD: Employment, Equity Ownership.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is defined by the presence of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) which results from a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 [t(9;22] that gives rise to a BCR-ABL1 fusion gene. CML occurs in 3 different phases (chronic, accelerated, and blast phase) and is usually diagnosed in the chronic phase. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy is a highly effective first-line treatment option for all patients with newly diagnosed chronic phase CML. This manuscript discusses the recommendations outlined in the NCCN Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of patients with chronic phase CML.