Back to Authors

Leis, José F.

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic

Citations 174

Abstract 1191: Depth of immunoparesis predicts time to first therapy in newly diagnosed monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Yao, Yuan, Muchtar, Eli, Hampel, P., Wang, Yucai, Kenderian, Saad, Koehler, Amber B. , Wagner, Catherine, Behnken, Amy, Leis, José F., Schwager, Susan M., Shi, Min, Hanson, CA, Vachon, Celine M., Kumar, Shaji Kunnathu, Slager, Susan L., Yao, Yuan, Rabe, Kari G. , Muchtar, Eli , Hampel, Paul J. , Roeker, Lindsey E. , Wagner, Catherine C., Behnken, Amy, Tsang, Mazie , Hilal, Talal , Parrondo, Ricardo D , Shi, Min , Braggio, Esteban , Kay, Neil E. , Slager, Susan, Parikh, Sameer A.

Cancer Research | April 3, 2026 | Volume: 86 | Issue: 7_Supplement | Pages: 1191-1191

10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-1191 Get It

Abstract Background: Hypogammaglobulinemia at the time of CLL diagnosis predicts shorter time to first therapy (TTFT). However, the depth of immunoparesis and its impact on TTFT in newly diagnosed MBL/CLL remains unexplored. Methods: We identified previously untreated MBL/CLL patients from Mayo Clinic CLL Database (2000-2024) who had serum immunoglobulin (Ig; IgG, IgM and IgA) and monoclonal protein assessed within 1 year of diagnosis. Immunoparesis was evaluated: a) qualitatively by classifying patients into preserved, partial and full Ig suppression, based on the number of suppressed Igs; and b) quantitatively by calculating the average relative difference (ARD), defined as the mean percentage below normal for all Igs. For both methods, only uninvolved Igs were considered for those with monoclonal protein. TTFT was estimated by Kaplan-Meier with competing risk of death. Cox models estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Among 1420 patients, median age at diagnosis was 65 (range 28-96); 954 (67%) were male; 493 (44.8%) had unmutated IGHV, and 86 (6.8%) had TP53 disruption. The median [range, mg/dL] serum IgG, IgA, and IgM were 889 [111-5290], 132 [1-4880], and 49 [4-9480]. Low IgG was present in 472 (33.2%), low IgA in 223 (16.4%), and low IgM in 530 (37.3%) patients. An M-spike was detected in 122 (8.6%) patients; distribution was: IgG (73), IgM (30), IgA (6), or multiple (13). By qualitative assessment, preserved Ig were seen in 664 (46.8%), partial Ig suppression in 604 (42.5%), and full suppression in 152 (10.7%) patients. By quantitative assessment, median ARD was 0.6 (-0.8 to 11.3); 280 (19.7%) patients had negative ARD, and 1140 (80.3%) had positive ARD. In those with negative ARD, 128 (9%) had partial Ig suppression and 152 (10.7%) had full Ig suppression; in those with positive ARD, 664 (46.8%) had preserved Ig and 476 (33.5%) had partial Ig suppression. Median follow-up was 14.7 years; 510 patients progressed requiring therapy. Median TTFT was 9.6 years. Median TTFT for patients with preserved Ig was 12.6 years, 8.0 years for partial Ig suppression (HR 1.4, 95%CI 1.1-1.7), and 1.8 years for full Ig suppression (HR 3.1, 95%CI 2.4-4.0). The median TTFT was 2.3 and 12.1 years for patients with negative vs positive ARD; negative ARD was associated with shorter TTFT (HR 2.4, 95%CI 2.0-2.9). After adjusting for sex and CLL-International Prognostic Index (CLL-IPI) score, full Ig suppression (HR 2.9, 95%CI 2.2-3.9) and partial Ig suppression (HR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-2.0) were associated with shorter TTFT (model 1, c-stat 0.77); and negative ARD (HR 2.4, 95%CI 2.0-2.9) was associated with shorter TTFT (model 2, c-stat 0.76). Negative ARD identified an additional 9% of patients at higher risk for shorter TTFT beyond full Ig suppression. Conclusions: The depth of immunoparesis at diagnosis predicts TTFT and enhances risk stratification in newly diagnosed MBL/CLL. Citation Format: Yuan Yao, Kari G. Rabe, Eli Muchtar, Paul Hampel, Yucai Wang, Lindsey Roeker, Saad Kenderian, Amber Koehler, Catherine Wagner, Amy Behnken, Jose F. Leis, Mazie Tsang, Talal Hilal, Ricardo Daniel Parrondo, Susan M. Schwager, Min Shi, Curtis A. Hanson, Celine M. Vachon, Shaji Kunnathu Kumar, Esteban Braggio, Neil E. Kay, Susan Slager, Sameer A. Parikh. Depth of immunoparesis predicts time to first therapy in newly diagnosed monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis and chronic lymphocytic leukemia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 1191.
Progression of disease within 36 months (POD36) of starting first-line targeted therapy independently predicts poor overall survival in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
Hampel, Paul J. , Leis, José F., Koehler, Amber B. , Bailen, Rachel, Coddington, Catherine, Behnken, Amy, Schwager, Susan M., Hanson, Curtis A. , Mendoza, Cinthya, Rabe, Kari G. , Maurer, Matthew J. , Wang, Yucai , Kenderian, Saad S. , Muchtar, Eli , Roeker, Lindsey E. , Tsang, Mazie , Hilal, Talal , Parrondo, Ricardo D , Coddington, Catherine, Braggio, Esteban , Shi, Min , Slager, Susan L. , Kay, Neil E. , Parikh, Sameer A.

Blood | December 5, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 5667-5667

10.1182/blood-2025-5667 Get It

Abstract BACKGROUND Early disease progression within 24 months following chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) is an established adverse prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in patients (pts) with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Initially reported in pts with follicular lymphoma, progression of disease (PD) within 24 months in pts with CLL treated with CIT (occurring in ~1-out-of-4 pts) is also associated with inferior OS. The prognostic utility of early event status in pts with CLL treated with targeted therapies is unknown. Recently, we reported worse than expected outcomes with BCL2 inhibitor (BCL2i) treatments in an international cohort of pts with covalent BTK inhibitor (BTKi)-resistant, CIT-naïve CLL. We hypothesize that early disease progression on first-line (1L) targeted agent treatment will identify additional pts with high-risk disease beyond conventional prognostics in the current era. METHODS We identified pts in the Mayo Clinic CLL Database with the following 1L treatments a) BTKi (+/- anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody [CD20mAb]); b) BCL2i + CD20mAb; c) BTKi + BCL2i +/- CD20mAb. PD was defined by a) new or progressive lymphadenopathy or splenomegaly; and/or b) ≥ 50% increase from nadir absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) with persistent (>2 months), and otherwise unexplained ALC ≥ 10x109/L; and/or c) Richter transformation. Logistic regression model evaluated association between clinical factors and POD36 status. OS in pts with PD within 36 months of 1L start (POD36) was evaluated and compared to those without early PD (non-POD36) with analyses: a) starting from time of PD (POD36) and starting from 3 years after 1L initiation (non-POD36); and b) Kaplan-Meier landmark analysis amongst pts alive 3 years post 1L initiation. Cox regression analyses compared a) OS from POD36 by groups and b) OS from 1L treatment with POD36 as a time-dependent covariate. RESULTS A total of 787 pts with CLL initiated 1L targeted therapy (n=538 [68%] BTKi +/- CD20mAb; n=151 [19%] BCL2i + CD20mAb; n=98 [13%] BTKi + BCL2i +/- CD20mAb. The median age at 1L start was 67 years (range 26-92 years), and 67% of pts were male. Among pts with complete CLL-IPI data (n=519), 44% and 15% had high- and very high-risk CLL-IPI risk scores, respectively. Specific pre-1L treatment disease characteristics included TP53 disruption (del17p or TP53 mutation) in 120/639 (19%), del11q in 103/634 (16%), unmutated IGHV in 406/591 (69%), complex karyotype (≥3 clonal structural or numerical abnormalities on karyotype) in 70/273 (26%), and positive CD49d expression in 229/449 (46%). The median pre-treatment beta-2-microglobulin level was 3.3 mcg/mL (range 1.2-24.4 mcg/mL). The median follow-up from 1L start was 50 months (95% CI 46-54 months). 496 pts met criteria for defining POD36 status; 72 (15%) had PD, and 424 did not. TP53 disruption (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.5-5.7, P=0.001) was associated with POD36 on univariate analysis; complex karyotype, unmutated IGHV status, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase level, age, sex, and inclusion of CD20mAb were not associated with POD36 status. Median OS from the time of determination of POD36 status was not reached. OS was significantly shorter after POD36 compared to non-POD36 pts (HR 3.5; 95%CI 2.1-6.0, P<0.0001), with 4-year OS estimates of 65% and 88%, respectively. When assessed by landmark analysis at the 3-year timepoint following 1L start (n=50 POD36), OS was also shorter in pts with POD36 compared to non-POD36 pts (HR 3.5; 95%CI 1.8-6.8, P=0.0002). In the overall cohort (n=787), when evaluating OS from 1L treatment with POD36 as a time-dependent covariate, POD36 status was associated with an increased risk of death (HR 4.3; 95% CI 2.6-7.1, P<0.0001) on univariable analysis; and remained an independent marker of shorter OS in multivariable analyses after adjusting for age, sex, TP53 disruption status, and IGHV status (HR 4.2; 95% CI 2.1-8.4, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONMost pts achieved durable CLL disease control with 1L targeted treatments, and early PD occurs much less frequently than previously reported with CIT. However, among pts who receive 1L targeted therapies for CLL, PD within 36 months is associated with a ~4-fold higher risk of death. These results, if validated in larger data sets, will provide a practical measure for identifying a high-risk subgroup of pts in need of novel treatment strategies in future trials.
Venetoclax-obinutuzumab in frontline and R/R CLL: Outcomes compared to age- and sex-matched general population
Pomerantz, Lauren , Hampel, Paul J. , Bailen, Rachel, Koehler, Amber B. , Coddington, Catherine, Behnken, Amy, Leis, José F., Schwager, Susan M., Achenbach, Sara J., Zepeda, Cinthya Mendoza, Hanson, Curtis A. , Parikh, Sameer A. , Rabe, Kari G. , Roeker, Lindsey E. , Kenderian, Saad S. , Kay, Neil E. , Coddington, Catherine, Hilal, Talal , Tsang, Mazie , Parrondo, Ricardo D , Shi, Min , Slager, Susan L. , Braggio, Esteban , Wang, Yucai

Blood | December 5, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 3905-3905

10.1182/blood-2025-3905 Get It

Abstract Background: The synergistic mechanisms of BCL-2 inhibitors and CD20-directed antibodies in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) often lead to deep and durable responses. Although the use of venetoclax-obinutuzumab (Ven-O) in the frontline setting (1L) for CLL/SLL has led to a paradigm shift in the disease management, there are limited data on its efficacy in the relapsed/refractory (R/R) setting. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of Ven-O in both 1L and R/R CLL among patients treated outside the context of clinical trials at our institution. Methods We used the Mayo Clinic CLL Database to identify patients with CLL who were treated with Ven-O, both in 1L and R/R settings. Patients seen at Mayo Clinic Rochester between 2017 and 2025 were included. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from date of Ven-O initiation until last known alive date. Event-free survival (EFS) was calculated from date of Ven-O initiation until the next line of treatment or last known alive date. Kaplan-Meier methods estimated EFS and OS rates at 1, 3, and 5 years. Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore the association between baseline factors and EFS and OS; results are reported as hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Finally, we compared the OS to the age- and sex-matched general population of the state of Minnesota. Results A total of 154 patients (91 1L, 63 R/R) were included in the study. The median age was 68 years (69 1L, 68 R/R), and 68% were male (64% 1L, 73% R/R). Overall, TP53 disruptions (either del17p by FISH or TP53 mutation) were noted in 22 (15%) patients (9% 1L, 23% R/R). CLL FISH findings demonstrated del11q in 24 (19%) patients (19% 1L, 18% R/R), del13q in 46 (36%) patients (36% 1L, 36% R/R), and trisomy 12 in 21 (16%) patients (16% 1L, 18% R/R). IGHV genes were unmutated in 95 (68%) patients (60% 1L, 80% R/R). The CLL-IPI risk score was high in 54 (51%) patients (51% 1L, 53% R/R) and very-high in 18 (17%) patients (8% 1L, 34% R/R). A total of 121 (89%) patients completed planned treatment (1 year of venetoclax in 73 [90%] 1L and 2 years of venetoclax in 48 [87%] R/R). Median follow-up for the entire cohort was 1.8 years (2.2 1L, 1.5 R/R). Neither median EFS nor OS was reached for the overall cohort or within the 1L and R/R subgroups. The 1, 3, and 5-year EFS estimates for the overall cohort were 91% (86-96%), 85% (78-92%), and 67% (51-89%), respectively; corresponding EFS values for the 1L subgroup were 95% (91-100%), 89% (82-98%), and 67% (47-95%), respectively; and for the R/R subgroup were 85% (76-95%), 77% (65-92%), and 77% (65-92%), respectively. The 1, 3, and 5-year OS estimates were 98% (95-100%), 95% (91-99%), and 88% (76%-100%), respectively; corresponding OS values for the 1L subgroup were 99% (96-100%), 97% (94-100%), and 97% (94-100%) and for the R/R subgroup were 96% (91-100%), 91% (82-100%), and 61% (27-100%), respectively. Univariable analyses showed that TP53 disruption was associated with shorter EFS (HR 3.8, 95%CI 1.4-10.2, p=0.01), although IGHV mutation status was not associated with shorter EFS. A higher level of serum beta-2 microglobulin (HR 1.27, 95%CI 1.01-1.59, p=0.04) and R/R status (HR 4.9, 95%CI 0.9-25.8, p=0.06) were associated with a shorter OS. Interestingly, TP53 mutation status and IGHV mutation status were not associated with inferior OS. There was no difference in the observed and expected OS for both the 1L (p-0.23) and R/R (p=0.14) Ven-O treated cohorts compared to the age- and sex-matched general population of the state of Minnesota. Conclusions Our study shows that Ven-O is a well-tolerated regimen with demonstration of durable treatment responses both in the 1L and R/R groups, when used outside the context of a clinical trial. To the best of our knowledge, these data for the first time demonstrate no difference in OS of patients treated with Ven-O compared to age- and sex-matched general population, in both the 1L and R/R settings.
Safety and efficacy of post transplant cyclophosphamide vs tacrolimus plus methotrexate for gvhd prophylaxis in myelofibrosis
Ilyas, Usman , Mead‐Harvey, Carolyn , Vanegas, Yenny Moreno , Humayun, Muhammad Abdullah, Chandani, Kanishka Uttam, Quintanilla, Diana Zamora, Ayala, Ernesto, Foran, James M. , Kharfan‐Dabaja, Mohamed A. , Khera, Nandita , Leis, José F., Punwani, Nathan , Sproat, Lisa, Palmer, Jeanne , Chhabra, Saurabh , Hilal, Talal , Iqbal, Madiha , Murthy, Hemant S. , Roy, Vivek

Blood | December 4, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 6016-6016

10.1182/blood-2025-6016 Get It

Abstract Background In patients with myelofibrosis (MF) undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis has traditionally included a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) plus methotrexate (MTX). We conducted a retrospective study comparing the safety and efficacy of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy)-based GVHD prophylaxis to CNI-based regimens. Methods This study was approved by the Mayo Clinic IRB. Patients with myelofibrosis who underwent allo-HCT after 2016 at Mayo Clinic in Arizona and Florida were included. Categorical variables were compared using Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Overall survival (OS) was defined from transplant to death, and progression-free survival (PFS) from transplant to relapse or death. OS and PFS were estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods; univariate differences were assessed with log-rank tests. The cumulative incidence of acute and chronic GVHD and time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment were analyzed using competing risk models, with death as a competing event; differences were tested using Gray's test. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs). Results A total of 110 patients were included. 53 patients received PTCy-based prophylaxis (43 PTCy/Tac/MMF, 1 PTCy/CSA/MMF, 9 PTCy/Siro/MMF), while 57 received non-PTCy regimens (54 Tac/MTX +/- 39 T-cell depletion, 2 CSA/MMF, 1 Tac/MMF). Median age at transplant was 63 (range: PTCy 40-76; others 38-74) years in both groups; 59 were male (58.5% PTCy vs 49.1% others). Median Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) and HCT–Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI) in patients receiving PTCy vs non-PTCy were 90 vs 80 and 1 vs 3, respectively. Conditioning intensity was similar: 22.6% myeloablative vs 21.7%, and 77.4% reduced-intensity vs 76.7% in PTCy and non-PTCy, respectively (p=1.000). Stem cell source was peripheral blood in all patients except one in the non-PTCy group who received bone marrow. 58 patients had primary MF (54.7% PTCy vs 50.9% others), and 52 had secondary MF (45.3% PTCy vs 49.1% others), including essential thrombocythemia (28.3% PTCy vs 31.6% others), polycythemia vera (17.0% vs 15.8%), and MPN-NOS (0% vs 1.8%). Median follow-up was 26.2 months (95% CI: 20.7-52.7) in the PTCy and 60.6 months (95% CI: 53.1-70.6) in the non-PTCy cohort. CD3 and CD33 donor chimerism ≥95% at day +100 was 66.7% and 86.7% in PTCy vs 63.6% and 92.7% in others, respectively (p=0.50); day +100 driver molecular mutations were present in 32.1% of PTCy and 32.0% of others (p>0.99). Rates of acute GVHD grades ≥2 and ≥3 were not statistically significant, in the PTCy group (37.7% vs 49.1% p=0.229 and 17.0% vs 22.8% p=0.445, respectively). Chronic GVHD (any grade) occurred in 42.3% of PTCy vs 38.2% of others (p=0.664), while moderate-to-severe cGVHD was lower with PTCy (21.2% vs 27.3% p=0.461). Platelet engraftment was significantly delayed in the PTCy group (median 33 vs 21 days, p=0.030). Median time to neutrophil engraftment was also delayed in the PTCy group (20 vs 17 days, adjusted p=0.025). Age-adjusted HR for time to platelet engraftment was 0.60 (95% CI: 0.41–0.90; p=0.014), and for neutrophil engraftment 0.65 (95% CI: 0.44–0.95; p=0.025), indicating significantly delayed hematopoietic recovery with PTCy. Graft failure occurred in 9.4% vs 5.3% (p = 0.48); primary 7.5% vs 3.5%, secondary 1.9% vs 1.8% in PTCy vs non-PTCy groups, respectively. Relapse or progression occurred in 11.3% of PTCy vs 17.5% of others (p=0.355); four patients in the non-PTCy group progressed to AML post-transplant, versus none in the PTCy group (p=0.119). 1-year TRM was 22.6% in the PTCy group and 14.0% in the non-PTCy group, p = 0.324. Median OS was 72.8 months in the PTCy group (95% CI: 49.9 months, upper limit not estimable [NE]) and 93.4 months in the non-PTCy group (95% CI: 48.5 months, upper limit NE), although the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.739). After adjusting for age and HCT-CI, there were no significant differences in PFS (adjusted HR 1.37; 95% CI: 0.73–2.56; p=0.331) or OS (adjusted HR 1.27; 95% CI: 0.64–2.51; p=0.498). Conclusions In myelofibrosis patients undergoing allo-HCT, PTCy-based GVHD prophylaxis showed similar rates of grade ≥2 acute and moderate-severe chronic GVHD compared to non-PTCy regimens. Engraftment was significantly delayed, while OS and PFS were comparable. PTCy appears to be a safe and viable alternative to CNI-based prophylaxis.
The role of imaging studies in predicting time to first treatment and overall survival in high‐count monoclonal B‐cell lymphocytosis
Kosydar, Samuel , Archibald, William J. , Hampel, Paul J. , Call, Timothy G. , Achenbach, Sara J., Rabe, Kari G. , Hanson, Curtis A. , Koehler, Amber B. , Muchtar, Eli , Kenderian, Saad S. , Leis, José F., Schwager, Susan M., Wang, Yucai , Hilal, Talal , Parrondo, Ricardo D , Shi, Min , Parikh, Sameer A , Chaffee, Kari G. , Kenderian, Saad Sirop , Muchtar, E , Kosydar, Samuel R , Achenbach, Sara J., Wang, Yucai , Roeker, Lindsey E. , Hilal, Talal , Tsang, Mazie , Braggio, Esteban , Slager, Susan L. , Kay, Neil E. , Parikh, Sameer A.

British Journal of Haematology | July 16, 2025 | Volume: 207 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 860-868

10.1111/bjh.70009 Get It

SummaryIn individuals with high‐count monoclonal B‐cell lymphocytosis (MBL), we investigated if lymphadenopathy or splenomegaly found by imaging was associated with shorter time to first chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) therapy (TTFT) and overall survival (OS). Individuals with MBL seen at Mayo Clinic (2002–2019) were retrospectively divided into three cohorts based on imaging studies within 1 year of diagnosis: no imaging studies (Cohort A); imaging with no evidence of lymphadenopathy/splenomegaly (Cohort B); imaging with evidence of lymphadenopathy/splenomegaly (Cohort C). We compared baseline characteristics, TTFT and OS across the MBL cohorts to a cohort of individuals with small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). A total of 1078 patients were included: 640 with MBL and 438 with SLL. Compared to Cohort B, individuals in Cohort C were more likely to have unmutated immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV) (43% vs. 25% p = 0.016), high‐risk fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) (del17p and del11q in 15% vs. 4%, p = 0.038) and higher expression of CD38 (31% vs. 16%; p = 0.011). After adjusting for sex and CLL‐International Prognostic Index (IPI), lymphadenopathy/splenomegaly was associated with a shorter TTFT (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–4.04, p = 0.042) but not OS (HR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.62–1.92, p = 0.775). Lymphadenopathy/splenomegaly on imaging in individuals with high‐count MBL is associated with a more unfavourable risk profile and shorter time to first CLL‐directed therapy.
Comparison of Frontline Therapies in Older Adults Age ≥ 80 Years With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): A Mayo Clinic and Danish Nation‐Wide Study
Tsang, Mazie , Hampel, Paul J. , Rabe, Kari G. , Ding, Wei , Leis, José F., Kenderian, Saad S. , Wang, Yucai , Muchtar, Eli , Koehler, Amber B. , Dyke, Daniel L. Van , Hanson, Curtis A. , Hjalgrim, Henrik , Ding, Wei , Kenderian, Saad Sirop , Wang, Yucai , Muchtar, E , Van Dyke, Daniel L, Shi, Min , Parikh, Sameer A , Chaffee, Kari G. , Tsang, Mazie , Brieghel, Christian , Hilal, Talal , Slager, Susan L. , Kay, Neil E. , Niemann, Carsten Utoft , Parikh, Sameer A. , Rotbain, Emelie Curovic

American Journal of Hematology | June 29, 2025 | Volume: 100 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 1678-1681

10.1002/ajh.27747 Get It

Utilizing AI-Enabled EKG Algorithms to Identify Atrial Fibrillation Risk in Patients with CLL Receiving BTK Inhibitors
Zamora, Diana, Leng, Fan, Ngo, Christie C, Leis, José F., Fonseca, Rodrigo , Leng, Fan, Ngo, Christie C, Tsang, Mazie , Hilal, Talal

Blood | December 6, 2024 | Volume: 144 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 3252-3252

10.1182/blood-2024-201245 Get It

INTRODUCTION Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a recognized complication in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treated with Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKis). Early detection and management of AFib are critical due to its association with increased morbidity and mortality. Traditional detection methods, such as intermittent EKGs and wearable devices, often capture only brief snapshots of cardiac activity, potentially missing episodes. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have enabled the development of algorithms that analyze electrocardiograms (EKGs) to predict AFib risk. These algorithms can potentially identify patients with undetected AFib and assess risk at a single point, reducing the need for continuous monitoring. This study evaluates the utility of an AI-enabled EKG algorithm in predicting AFib in patients with CLL treated with ibrutinib and acalabrutinib. METHODS Patients with CLL treated with ibrutinib and acalabrutinib were identified from a single-center database. Patients with CLL who received BTKi therapy at Mayo Clinic between 2015 and 2024 with available EKGs in the EMR were included. Patients were excluded if they received BTKi for non-CLL indications or if patients with CLL had documented AFib without accompanying EKGs in their medical records. An AI-enabled EKG algorithm developed by Attia et al. (Lancet, 2019) was used to estimate AFib probability (AFibAI). EKGs were categorized into pre-treatment, during treatment, and post-treatment phases. Mean values of all EKGs within each phase were used for analysis to reduce heterogeneity. Paired t-test was used for continuous variables and ROC analysis was used to evaluate diagnostic performance. A p-value of <0.05 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS The analysis included 383 individual CLL patients (74% male, median age71; ace/ethnicity not available), of which 79 were treated with acalabrutinib and 304 with ibrutinib, with a total of 5844 EKGs analyzed. The AFibAI was significantly higher in EKGs with documented AFib compared to other EKGs, mostly normal sinus rhythm (0.5710 vs. 0.1857, p <0.001). Pre-treatment AFibAI was higher in patients who ultimately developed AFib after starting BTKi treatment compared to those who did not. Mean AFibAI at baseline was 0.2176 for those who developed AFib and 0.0986 for those who did not (p <0.001; difference between means: -0.1191 +/- 0.02005, 95% CI: 0.-0.1585 - 0.0796). Differences of baseline AFibAI were similar when stratified by BTKi. Trends in AFibAI scores indicated a significant increase during and after BTKi treatment in patients who developed AFib, with mean score of 0.2176 at baseline to 0.4064 post-treatment (p<0.001). In patients who did not develop Afib during BTKi therapy, there was minimal increase of AFibAI scores from 0.1041 at baseline to 0.1620 post-treatment (p = 0.0002). The ROC analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.7280 (SE = 0.03911, 95% CI: 0.6514 to 0.8047, p <0.001), indicating fair discriminatory ability. The sensitivity at the optimal threshold (0.1202) was 65.45% and the specificity was 74.59%, with a Youden's Index of 0.4004. To achieve a sensitivity of ≥90% for detecting patients who ultimately develop AFib, a threshold of 0.2368 was established (specificity of 41.82%). DISCUSSION Our study demonstrates the efficacy of an AI-enabled EKG algorithm in estimating atrial fibrillation risk among CLL patients treated with BTKis. We demonstrated that baseline AFibAI was notably higher in patients who ultimately developed AFib, suggesting that it could potentially identify patients at elevated risk before the onset of AFib. Early identification would allow for closer monitoring and timely intervention, potentially mitigating complications. Pending validation with an external cohort, the 90% sensitivity threshold could help identify the patients at highest risk, where other treatment options could be considered. The trend across different treatment phases revealed a significant increase in scores during treatment, indicating that AFibAI is responsive to changes induced by BTKi therapy and suggest its utility for patient monitoring. Practical questions remain about its impact on clinical decision-making and management. Future prospective studies should confirm the validity of identifying high-risk patients and its role in both treatment decisions and patient outcomes.
Outcomes with Venetoclax-Based Treatment in Patients with Covalent Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (cBTKi)-Treated, Chemotherapy-Naïve Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): An International Retrospective Study
Hampel, Paul J. , Guièze, Romain , Ferrant, Emmanuelle, Dilhuydy, Marie Sarah, Michallet, Anne‐Sophie , Leis, José F., Inchiappa, Luca, Clavert, Aline, Lepretre, Stephane, Tchernonog, Emmanuelle, Koehler, Amber B. , Wang, Lin , Schwager, Susan M., Fornecker, Luc‐Matthieu , Rabe, Kari G. , Wang, Yucai , Kenderian, Saad S. , Dilhuydy, Marie‐Sarah, Muchtar, Eli , Tsang, Mazie , Hilal, Talal , Parrondo, Ricardo D , Slager, Susan L. , Kay, Neil E. , Parikh, Sameer A. , Ysebaert, Loïc

Blood | December 5, 2024 | Volume: 144 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 1856-1856

10.1182/blood-2024-198200 Get It

Introduction Venetoclax + rituximab resulted in a 2-year progression-free survival estimate of 85% in the mostly 2nd-line, post-chemotherapy setting of the MURANO clinical trial (Seymour NEJM 2018). Short remissions with venetoclax in patients (pts) with prior cBTKi treatment (tx) for CLL are reported. However, these cohorts have included heavily pre-treated pts. Here, we report outcomes with venetoclax-based regimens in a contemporary cohort with cBTKi-exposed CLL and no prior chemotherapy. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of pts who received venetoclax for relapsed CLL after prior cBTKi tx at Mayo Clinic and across 8 centers in France. Pts with any prior chemotherapy tx were excluded. Pts were grouped as cBTKi-resistant (CLL disease progression on cBTKi) and cBTKi-exposed (any prior cBTKi tx but without disease progression). Overall survival (OS) was analyzed as the time from initiation of venetoclax until date of death or last known to be alive. Time to next therapy or death (TTNTD) after venetoclax was defined as the time from venetoclax initiation until the earliest date of next tx or death. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate associations of factors with OS and TTNTD. Results A total of 85 pts received venetoclax, including: venetoclax monotherapy (n=13, 15%), venetoclax + rituximab (n=45, 53%), and venetoclax + obinutuzumab (n=27, 32%). Patient characteristics at the time of venetoclax start were as follows: median age 69 years (interquartile range [IQR] 62-77), 59 (69%) male, 45% (33/73 evaluated) with TP53 disruption (del(17p) or TP53 mutation), 82% (46/56 evaluated) with unmutated IGHV, and 41% (15/37 evaluated) with complex karyotype (CK; ≥3 clonal structural or numerical abnormalities on karyotype). The median prior lines of therapy was 1 (IQR 1, 2); 32 (38%) pts had received prior anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody and 8 (9%) pts had received 2 prior cBTKi. Prior cBTKi tx was stopped for a reason other than disease progression in 46 (54%) pts (cBTKi-exposed) and due to CLL progression in 39 (46%) pts (cBTKi-resistant). TP53 disruption, unmutated IGHV, and CK were more common in the cBTKi-resistant subgroup. Among pts with cBTKi-resistant CLL, 60% (12/20 evaluated) had a BTK and/or PLCG2 mutation. Median follow-up from start of venetoclax-based therapy was 20 months. The median TTNTD and OS for the entire cohort was 36 (95% CI 29-not evaluable [NE]) and 68 (95% CI 39-NE) months, respectively. Among the 46 pts with cBTKi-exposed CLL, the median duration of prior cBTKi tx was 6.7 months (IQR 1.8, 23.7). The median TTNTD and OS from venetoclax start were both 78 months in pts with cBTKi-exposed CLL. The 24-month TTNTD and OS estimates were 73% and 81%, respectively. Among the 39 pts with cBTKi-resistant CLL, the median duration of prior cBTKi tx was 42.3 months (IQR 23.4, 60.1). The median TTNTD from venetoclax start in pts with cBTKi-resistant CLL was 30 months. The 24-month TTNTD estimate was 65% in the cBTKi-resistant subgroup, 53% with venetoclax monotherapy (n=5), 62% with venetoclax + rituximab (n=30), and 100% venetoclax + obinutuzumab (n=4). The median OS from venetoclax initiation was 39 months overall in pts with cBTKi-resistant CLL. The 24-month OS estimate was 84% in the cBTKi-resistant subgroup overall, 53% with venetoclax monotherapy, 87% with venetoclax + rituximab, and 100% with venetoclax + obinutuzumab. On a univariate analysis in the whole cohort, only TP53 disruption was associated with shorter TTNTD (HR 2.23; 95% CI 1.02-4.87; P=0.04) and only older age was associated with shorter OS (HR 1.05; 95% CI 1.007-1.095, P=0.02). On a univariate analysis in the cBTKi-resistant subgroup, only TP53 disruption was associated with shorter TTNTD (HR 6.68; 95% CI 1.51-29.46; P=0.01) and OS (HR 7.95; 95% CI 1.02-61.97; P=0.04). Duration of prior cBTKi exposure (as a continuous variable) was not associated with survival outcomes in the cBTKi-resistant subgroup. Conclusions Pts with chemotherapy-naïve, cBTKi-treated CLL had worse than expected outcomes with venetoclax-based tx in a mostly 2nd-line tx cohort, particularly pts with cBTKi-resistant CLL. The frequency of high-risk disease features, shorter duration of disease control with their initial cBTKi tx, and small cohort size warrant caution in generalizing these results to all pts with cBTKi-resistant disease. Novel tx trial strategies in 1st- and 2nd-line settings remain a high priority for high-risk pts.