Burger, Jan A.

Abstract Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who develop Richter transformation (RT) have a poor prognosis when treated with chemoimmunotherapy regimens used for de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Venetoclax, a BCL2 inhibitor, has single-agent efficacy in patients with RT and is potentially synergistic with chemoimmunotherapy. In this multicenter, retrospective study, we evaluated 62 patients with RT who received venetoclax-based treatment outside of a clinical trial, in combination with a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi; n=28), rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone (R-CHOP) (n=13), or intensive chemoimmunotherapy other than R-CHOP (n=21). The best overall and complete response rates were 36%/25%, 54%/46%, and 52%/38%, respectively. The median progression-free and overall survival estimates for the same treatment groups were 4.9/14.3 months, 14.9 months/not reached, and 3.3/9 months, respectively. CLL with del(17p) was associated with a lower complete response rate in the total cohort (odds ratio [OR] 0.15; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04-0.6; p=0.01) and venetoclax-naïve subgroup (OR 0.13; 95%CI 0.02-0.66; p=0.01). TP53 mutated CLL was associated with a lower complete response rate (OR 0.15; 95%CI 0.03-0.74; p=0.02) and shorter progression-free survival (hazard ratio 3.1; 95%CI 1.21-7.95; p=0.02) only in venetoclax-naïve subgroup. No other clinical or baseline characteristics, including prior venetoclax treatment for CLL, showed statistically significant association with outcomes. Grade 3-4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia events were most frequent with intensive chemoimmunotherapy + venetoclax; grade 3-4 infection rates were similar across treatment groups. In this difficult-to-treat RT patient population, venetoclax-based combination regimens achieved high response rates, with durable remission and survival observed in a subset of patients.

SummaryThe phase I/II AU‐003 study in patients with treatment‐naïve (TN) or relapsed/refractory (R/R) chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma demonstrated that zanubrutinib therapy results in clinically meaningful and durable responses with acceptable safety and tolerability. We report updated safety and efficacy data for 123 patients with a median follow‐up of 47·2 months. Patients received zanubrutinib 160 mg twice daily (81 patients), 320 mg once daily (40), or 160 mg once daily (two). Discontinuations due to adverse events or disease progression were uncommon. The overall response rate (ORR) was 95·9% (TN, 100%; R/R, 95%) with 18·7% achieving complete response (CR). Ongoing response at 3 years was reported in 85·7%. The ORR in patients with del(17p)/tumour protein p53 mutation was 87·5% (CR 16·7%). The 2‐ and 3‐year progression‐free survival estimates were 90% (TN, 90%; R/R, 91%) and 83% (TN, 81%; R/R, 83%) respectively. The most reported Grade ≥3 adverse events were neutropenia (15·4%), pneumonia (9·8%), hypertension (8·9%) and anaemia (6·5%). The annual incidence of atrial fibrillation, major haemorrhage, Grade ≥3 neutropenia and Grade ≥3 infection decreased over time. With a median follow‐up of ~4 years, responses remain clinically meaningful and durable and long‐term tolerability to zanubrutinib therapy continues.

Abstract Purpose Although CD49d is an unfavorable prognostic marker in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), definitive validation evidence is lacking. A worldwide multi-center analysis was performed using published and unpublished CLL series to evaluate the impact of CD49d as overall survival (OS) and treatment free survival (TFS) predictor. Patients and Methods A training/validation strategy was chosen to find the optimal CD49d cut-off. The hazard ratio (HR) for death and treatment imposed by CD49d was estimated by pooled analysis of 2,972 CLL, and Cox analysis stratified by center and stage was used to adjust for confounding variables. The importance of CD49d over other flow cytometry-based prognosticators (CD38, ZAP-70) was ranked by recursive partitioning. Results Patients with ≥30% of neoplastic cells expressing CD49d were considered CD49d+. The decrease in OS at 5 and 10-years among CD49d+ cases was 7% and 23% (decrease in TFS 26% and 25% respectively). The pooled HR of CD49d for OS was 2.5 (2.3 for TFS) in univariate analysis. This HR remained significant and of similar magnitude (HR=2.0) in a Cox model adjusted for clinical and biological prognosticators. Hierarchical trees including all cases, or restricted to early stage or patients ≤65 years, always selected CD49d as the most important flow-cytometry-based biomarker, with negligible additional prognostic information added by CD38 or ZAP-70. Consistently, by bivariate analysis, CD49d reliably identified patients' subsets with poorer outcome independent of CD38 and ZAP-70. Conclusions In this analysis of ∼3000 patients, CD49d emerged as the strongest flow cytometry-based predictor of OS and TFS in CLL. Disclosures: Shanafelt: Genentech: Research Funding; Glaxo-Smith-Kline: Research Funding; Cephalon: Research Funding; Hospira: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Polyphenon E International: Research Funding. Burger:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding.

Abstract Introduction CC-292, an oral, highly selective, small-molecule irreversible-inhibitor of Btk is under investigation for the treatment of CLL and other B-cell malignancies. This phase 1 trial investigated the safety, dose limiting toxicities (DLT), and clinical activity of CC-292 monotherapy in subjects with relapsed or refractory (R/R) CLL or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This interim analysis focused on the safety and clinical activity in subjects with CLL and small cell lymphocytic leukemia (SLL). Methods Eligible subjects with R/R (≥ 1 prior therapy) CLL/SLL were treated with monotherapy CC-292 in a dose-escalation study with doses ranging from 125 mg to 1000 mg QD and BID dose levels of 375 mg and 500 mg. As a maximum tolerated dose was not established, CLL patients have been enrolled in an early dose expansion cohort of 750 mg QD and preliminary recommended phase 2 dose expansion cohort at 500 mg BID. All subjects received continuous dosing in 28-day cycles until progressive disease or intolerable toxicity. Clinical activity was investigator assessed per the 2008 iwCLL criteria. Results 83 subjects with R/R CLL/SLL have been enrolled as of June 30, 2013. Baseline characteristics include median age of 67 years (34-89), 52% Rai stage 3/4 disease, median 3 prior therapies (1-12), and 34% refractory to last treatment. Poor-risk factors were present in 67% of subjects, including del11q (22%), del17p (24%), and unmutated IgVH (54%). 67% of subjects remain on study. Subjects have received a median of 6 treatment cycles (0.2-21.6). The most frequent grade 3/4 adverse events (AEs) included neutropenia (21%), thrombocytopenia (15%), pneumonia (10%), and anemia (8%). Rates of febrile neutropenia were low (4%). The most common treatment-emergent AEs (≥ 10% of subjects) were diarrhea (59.7%), fatigue (37.5%), neutropenia (26.4%), thrombocytopenia (26.4%), nausea (26.4%), pyrexia (22.2%), headache (19.4%), cough (19.4%), upper respiratory infection (16.7%), peripheral edema (15.3%), abdominal pain (15.3%), dizziness (13.9%), muscle spasms (13.9%), contusion (13.9%), anemia (12.5%), pneumonia (12.5%), sinusitis (12.5%), and urinary tract infection (11.1%). One CLL patient at the 500 mg BID dose level has experienced a drug-related adverse event of grade 4 thrombocytopenia during Cycle 1 that was assessed as a DLT. The number of patients discontinuing study treatment due to AEs was low (2.4%). Results are summarized for efficacy-evaluable patients treated at the 4 dose levels where at least a partial response (PR) was achieved (750 mg, 1000 mg, 375 mg bid and 500 mg bid) (n = 55). During cycle 1, 89% experienced a ≥ 25% increase in absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), which usually resolved with continued treatment. The table below details the best responses achieved to date. In subjects with del11q, del17p, unmutated IgVH, and no high-risk genomic factors, the PR rate was 42% (5/12), 25% (3/12), 44% (7/16), and 47% (7/15), respectively. Importantly, nodal responses were induced in the majority of subjects receiving BID dosing (375 mg: 67%; 500 mg: 62%) with an overall PR rate of 40%. When achieved, nodal responses were typically observed by cycle 2 and were sustained with continued treatment. Although the sample size is small, subjects treated at 375 mg or 500 mg BID showed continued lymph node size reduction over time from cycle 2 (mean reduction of 42% and 45%, respectively) to cycle 7 (mean reduction of 60% and 71%, respectively). Conclusion CC-292 is well tolerated as an oral daily therapy. Single-agent therapy with CC-292 is sufficient to achieve high nodal and partial response rates in relapsed/refractory CLL subjects, including those with high-risk genomic features. These results support continued development of CC-292 for the treatment of patients with CLL/SLL. Disclosures: Brown: Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Emergent: Consultancy; Onyx: Consultancy; Sanofi Aventis: Consultancy; Vertex: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Genzyme: Research Funding. Off Label Use: The abstract shows scientific information on CC292 which is an investigational product developed by Celgene. This investigational product is not approved by any health authority for any indication. Harb:Celgene: Research Funding. Hill:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding. Sharman:Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Cylene Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Avila Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding. Barr:Celgene: Consultancy. Foran:Celgene: Research Funding. Burger:Pharmalytics: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding. Mahadevan:Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Millennium: Speakers Bureau. Ma:Genentech: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy. Barnett:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Marine:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Nava-Parada:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Azaryan:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Mei:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kipps:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.

Abstract Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is primarily a disease of the elderly, with the majority of patients (pts) older than 65 y at diagnosis (US SEER). Historically, younger, more fit pts were eligible for aggressive chemoimmunotherapy treatments, but older age and comorbid conditions can limit options due to tolerability concerns. Ibrutinib (ibr), a first-in-class, oral, once-daily inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase, is indicated by the US FDA for the treatment of pts with CLL/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) and allows for treatment without chemotherapy. Results from the phase 3 RESONATE (PCYC-1112) and RESONATE-2 (PCYC-1115) trials established ibr as a standard option in relapsed/refractory (R/R) and treatment-naïve (TN) CLL/SLL. This analysis examines safety and efficacy from these studies by age. Methods: RESONATE randomized 391 pts with R/R CLL/SLL to receive ibr (n=195; 420 mg once daily) until progressive disease (PD) or unacceptable toxicity or intravenous ofatumumab (n=196; 300 mg at week 1, 2000 mg weekly for 7 w and then every 4 w for 16 w). RESONATE-2 randomized TN pts aged ≥65 y to receive ibr (n=136; 420 mg once daily) until PD or chlorambucil (clb; n=133; 0.5 mg/kg to a maximum of 0.8 mg/kg) on days 1 and 15 of a 28-day cycle for up to 12 cycles. Pt data from both studies were grouped by age (ibr and comparators [comp]) and analyzed for effect of age on outcome. Results: Ibr group included 136 TN pts: 65 to <75 y (termed mid, n=90) and ≥75 y (termed old, n=46), and 195 R/R pts: <65 y (termed young, n=77), 65 to <75 y (mid, n=75), and ≥75 y (old, n=43). Table 1 lists key baseline pt characteristics. For ibr, median follow-up was 28.6 mo for TN and 36.1 mo for R/R pts. PFS is shown in Figure 1. For TN ibr pts, the 24-mo PFS rates were 88% (mid) and 89% (old), whereas clb pts aged ≥75 y did worse than those aged 65 to <75 y (23% vs 40%). For R/R pts, the 24-mo PFS was 75% (young), 77% (mid), and 62% (old). For ibr, median OS was not reached for any age subgroup (R/R or TN). The CR+CRi rates for TN ibr pts were 19% (mid) and 17% (old) and for R/R pts were 6% (young), 9% (mid), and 9% (old). Median treatment duration and the most common grade ≥3 AEs are listed in Table 2. The most frequent any-grade adverse events (AEs) were diarrhea, fatigue, cough, upper respiratory tract infection, nausea, pyrexia, and anemia for all pts and age subgroups. For ibr, grade ≥3 AEs occurred in 64% (mid) and 83% (old) of TN pts, and 70% (young), 84% (mid), and 84% (old) of R/R pts. The prevalence of common grade ≥3 AEs was typically highest in the first 12 mo of ibr therapy, and decreased thereafter for all age groups. Pts ≥75 y had a higher rate of grade ≥3 neutropenia and urinary tract infection in both TN and R/R populations. R/R ibr pts <65 y experienced a lower frequency of grade ≥3 pneumonia and atrial fibrillation (AF) than older subgroups. Any grade AF occurred in 11% (mid) and 9% (old) of TN ibr pts, and 1% (young), 20% (mid), and 14% (old) of R/R ibr pts. For ibr, dose reduction due to AE occurred in 9% (mid) and 22% (old) of TN pts and 6% (young), 20% (mid), and 12% (old) of R/R pts. 107 (79%) TN ibr pts remain on treatment: 81% (mid) and 74% (old); 99 (51%) R/R pts remain on treatment: 49% (young), 59% (mid), and 40% (old). For ibr, discontinuation due to AE occurred in 11% (mid) and 13% (old) of TN pts, and 6% (young), 11% (mid), and 19% (old) of R/R pts. The most common AE leading to discontinuation of ibr was infection(TN: n=4, RR: n=5). Conclusions: The PFS rate for TN ibr pts was similar regardless of age subgroup, whereas it was shorter for clb-treated pts ≥75 y compared with those 65 to <75 y. In the R/R population, ibr pts ≥75 y tended to have shorter PFS compared to those <75 y. There was no perceivable difference in CR rate by age within the TN and R/R ibr populations. The rates of grade ≥3 AEs tended to be higher in pts ≥75 y for both ibr and comp arms. Age did not impact discontinuation rates due to AE for TN pts treated with ibr, but increased with age for R/R pts. This study is limited by the number of pts ≤65 y who were only eligible for the R/R trial. This analysis supports single-agent ibrutinib as a treatment option regardless of pt age, but reinforces the need for close toxicity monitoring, especially in older pts. Disclosures Woyach: Karyopharm: Research Funding; Morphosys: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding. Hillmen:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding. Brown:Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses; Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria; Infinity: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses; Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sun Biopharma: Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodations, or other expenses. Coutre:Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding. Barr:AbbVie: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding. O'Brien:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Devereux:Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Speakers Bureau; GSK: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Gilead: Consultancy, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Speakers Bureau. Reddy:KITE: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GILEAD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; INFINITY: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mulligan:GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Zhou:AbbVie: Equity Ownership; Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Employment. Ninomoto:AbbVie: Equity Ownership; Amgen: Equity Ownership; Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Employment. James:Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Employment; AbbVie: Equity Ownership. Burger:Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses; Portola: Consultancy; Gilead: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Research Funding; Roche: Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses.

Abstract BACKGROUND: The study of rare diseases is limited by the uncommon nature of the conditions as well as the widely dispersed patient populations. Current rare disease registries such as the National Organization of Rare Diseases utilize centralized platforms for data collection; however because of their broad nature, these do not always capture unique, disease specific elements. Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL) is a rare leukemia globally with approximately 900 new cases diagnosed in the US each year. The HCL Foundation undertook creation of a Patient Data Registry that collects data from multiple HCL Centers of Excellence (COE) around the globe to better understand the complications, treatment outcomes, disease subtypes, comorbid conditions, epidemiology, and quality of life of patients with HCL. METHODS: Investigators at The Ohio State University Department of Biomedical Informatics and Division of Hematology in collaboration with the HCL Foundation developed a Patient Data Registry (PDR) for the longitudinal capture of high quality research data. This system differs from other registries in that it uses a federated( rather than centralized) architecture, wherein data is queried and integrated in an on-demand manner from local registry databases at each participating site. Further, the data collected for use in the registry combines both automated exports from existing electronic health records (EHRs) as well as additional data entered via a set of web-based forms. All manually entered data comes from source documents, and data provenance spanning electronic and manually entered data is maintained via multiple technical measures. Patients may be enrolled at HCL COE, or, if they do not have access to a COE they may enroll via a web-based portal (www.hairycellleukemia.org). At this time due to regulatory requirements the web-based portal is available to US patients only. All data are de-identified (see Figure 1: De-Identification Workflow) which reduces regulatory burden and increases opportunities for data access and re-use. End users have access to data via a project-specific query portal. RESULTS: The Patient Data Registry has been deployed at The Ohio State University, Royal Marsden Hospital, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, and is undergoing deployment at the University of Rochester. Up to 25 international HCL COE may participate. In addition, US patients are actively entering the registry via the web-based portal. To date, 227 patients have been consented to the registry with 119 of these being via the web-based entry point. CONCLUSION: We created an international and web-based patient data registry which will enable researchers to study outcomes in HCL in ways not previously possible given the rarity of the disease. This work was made possible by research funding from the Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation. Figure De-Identification Workflow Figure. De-Identification Workflow Disclosures Andritsos: Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation: Research Funding. Anghelina:Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation: Research Funding. Lele:Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation: Research Funding. Burger:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding. Delgado:Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis/GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Infinity: Research Funding. Jones:AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Lozanski:Beckman Coulter: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Stemline Therapeutics Inc.: Research Funding; Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding. Montserrat:Morphosys: Other: Expert Testimony; Vivia Biotech: Equity Ownership; Gilead: Consultancy, Other: Expert Testimony; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses. Parikh:Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Research Funding. Park:Genentech/Roche: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Robak:Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Tam:janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Heckler:Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation: Research Funding. Payne:Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation: Research Funding.

Abstract Abstract 3871 Background. A number of investigators have provided data supporting the value of CD49d expression on B leukemic cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) as independent prognostic variable. These studies used a variety of clinical end points including overall survival (OS), time to treatment (TTT) or treatment free survival (TFS). The factors included in multivariate analyses of these studies also differed. Unresolved issues regarding the prognostic value of CD49d assessment in CLL included the choice of the optimal cut-off to define positivity and CD49d prognostic value in patients subsets defined by other standard prognostic factors. Aim. To perform meta-analysis using individual patient level data from studies of CD49d expression to evaluate its ability to predict OS (primary end-point) and TTT/TFS (secondary end-point). Methods. Studies published by 30 April 2011, reporting an association of high CD49d expression on B CLL cells, measured by flow cytometry, and end-points were identified by Medline search. Additionally, we performed a manual review of abstracts presented at the congress of the American Society of Hematology from 2006 to 2010. CD49d was used as a categorical variable, as coded in original studies. Results. We identified 6 published studies and one abstract for inclusion. All authors agreed to provide individual data on the patients in these publications as well as unpublished data on additional patients to be used for replication analysis. Four authors also submitted updated follow-up data. We collected the following variables: date of diagnosis, OS, TTT/TFS, CD49d, CD38, ZAP-70, immunoglobulin mutational (IGHV) status, del17p and del11q chromosomal aberrations, age, stage, ALC, and β2 microglobulin concentration. Data from 3146 individual patients was available with 261 subsequently excluded due to missing end point and/or CD49d data. Of 2771 patients with valid data, 1405 (51%) were included in the previous publications and 1366 (49%) were unpublished. Before starting analyses a decision was made to perform meta-analysis on published data and use data from previously unpublished data as a validation cohort. Pooled CD49d hazard ratio for OS was 2.62 (1.88–3.64). In bivariate analysis, the prognostic value of CD49d was confirmed and of comparable value in patients subsets defined by CD38 and ZAP-70 expression, IGHV status, unfavorable chromosomal aberrations. Finally, we performed a multivariate analysis including CD49d, CD38, ZAP-70, IGHV status, del17p and del11q. CD49d was significantly associated with shorter overall survival in this adjusted model, with a hazard ratio of 2.47(1.17–5.21). Inspection of Martingale residuals plots of CD49d in each study failed to show a recognizable cut-point. CD49d cut-points previously adopted in published studies (30% and 45%) were subjected to validation in the cohort of 1366 unpublished patients. The Cox model with 45% cut-off had a slight greater hazard ratio (2.73 vs 2.65, log-rank p<0.0001). Only 4% of patients changed prognostic category after swapping the cut-off from 45% to 30%. Conclusions. Preliminary results of a meta-analysis using individual patient data from >1400 patients confirm the association of high CD49d expression with short OS independent of other prognostic parameters. While the 45% cut-off has a marginal better prognostic power, the 30% cut-off has the advantage of being already in use for CD38 and generally adopted for other surface antigens in chronic leukemia immunophenotyping. These findings may have implication for patient's stratification in future prospective studies and potential therapeutic efforts to target CD49d or CD49d signaling. Disclosures: Shanafelt: Genentech: Research Funding; Glaxo-Smith-Kline: Research Funding; Cephalon: Research Funding; Hospira: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Polyphenon E International: Research Funding. Burger:Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding.

Abstract Zanubrutinib is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK). In this first-in-human, open-label, multicenter, phase 1 study, patients in part 1 (3 + 3 dose escalation) had relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies and received zanubrutinib 40, 80, 160, or 320 mg once daily or 160 mg twice daily. Part 2 (expansion) consisted of disease-specific cohorts, including treatment-naive or relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). The primary end points were safety and tolerability, and definition of the maximum tolerated dose (part 1). Additional end points included pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and preliminary efficacy. Reported herein are results from 144 patients enrolled in the dose-finding and CLL/SLL cohorts. No dose-limiting toxicities occurred in dose escalation. Median BTK occupancy in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was &gt;95% at all doses. Sustained complete (&gt;95%) BTK occupancy in lymph node biopsy specimens was more frequent with 160 mg twice daily than 320 mg once daily (89% vs 50%; P = .0342). Consequently, 160 mg twice daily was selected for further investigation. With median follow-up of 13.7 months (range, 0.4-30.5 months), 89 CLL/SLL patients (94.7%) remain on study. Most toxicities were grade 1/2; neutropenia was the only grade 3/4 toxicity observed in &gt;2 patients. One patient experienced a grade 3 subcutaneous hemorrhage. Among 78 efficacy-evaluable CLL/SLL patients, the overall response rate was 96.2% (95% confidence interval, 89.2-99.2). Estimated progression-free survival at 12 months was 100%. Zanubrutinib demonstrated encouraging activity in CLL/SLL patients, with a low incidence of major toxicities. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02343120.

SummaryIbrutinib, a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is approved for treatment of various B‐cell malignancies. In ibrutinib clinical studies, low‐grade haemorrhage was common, whereas major haemorrhage (MH) was infrequent. We analysed the incidence of and risk factors for MH from 15 ibrutinib clinical studies (N = 1768), including 4 randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Rates of any‐grade bleeding were similar for single‐agent ibrutinib and ibrutinib combinations (39% and 40%). Low‐grade bleeding was more common in ibrutinib‐treated than comparator‐treated patients (35% and 15%), and early low‐grade bleeding was not associated with MH. The proportion of MH in RCTs was higher with ibrutinib than comparators (4.4% vs. 2.8%), but after adjusting for longer exposure with ibrutinib (median 13 months vs. 6 months), the incidence of MH was similar (3.2 vs. 3.1 per 1000 person‐months). MH led to treatment discontinuation in 1% of all ibrutinib‐treated patients. Use of anticoagulants and/or antiplatelets (AC/AP) during the study was common (~50% of patients) and had an increased exposure‐adjusted relative risk for MH in both the total ibrutinib‐treated population (1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–3.0) and RCT comparator‐treated patients (2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.0–5.6), indicating that ibrutinib may not alter the effect of AC/AP on the risk of MH in B‐cell malignancies.

The Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib, which antagonizes B cell receptor (BCR) signals, demonstrates remarkable clinical activity in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The lymphocytosis experienced by most patients under ibrutinib has previously been attributed to inhibition of BTK-dependent integrin and chemokine cues operating to retain the tumor cells in nodal compartments. Here, we show that the VLA-4 integrin, as expressed by CD49d-positive CLL, can be inside-out activated upon BCR triggering, thus reinforcing the adhesive capacities of CLL cells. In vitro and in vivo ibrutinib treatment, although reducing the constitutive VLA-4 activation and cell adhesion, can be overcome by exogenous BCR triggering in a BTK-independent manner involving PI3K. Clinically, in three independent ibrutinib-treated CLL cohorts, CD49d expression identifies cases with reduced lymphocytosis and inferior nodal response and behaves as independent predictor of shorter progression-free survival, suggesting the retention of CD49d-expressing CLL cells in tissue sites via activated VLA-4. Evaluation of CD49d expression should be incorporated in the characterization of CLL undergoing therapy with BCR inhibitors.