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Perl, Alexander E.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1463-2231

Mayo Clinic

University of Pennsylvania

Citations 36

Regional practice differences significantly impact benefit from post-HCT gilteritinib for FLT3-ITD AML
Levis, Mark J. , Hamadani, Mehdi , Logan, Brent R, Jones, Richard J., Singh, Anurag K, Litzow, Mark R. , Papadopoulos, Esperanza B. , Perl, Alexander E. , Soiffer, Robert J., Üstün, Celalettin , Vasu, Sumithira, Solh, Melhem , Mishra, Asmita , Muffly, Lori , Stelljes, Matthias, Onozawa, Masahiro , Thomson, Kirsty , Chen, Caroline , Hasabou, Nahla, Rosales, Matt, Gill, Stanley C. , Nuthethi, Rishita, King, Denise , Mendizabal, Adam , Horowitz, Mary M, Chen, Yi‐Bin , Papadopoulos, Esperanza , Perl, Alexander E , Ustun, Celalettin , Ueda Oshima, Masumi , Uy, Geoffrey , Waller, Edmund K , Muffly, Lori , Kim, Hee-Je , Najima, Yuho , Onozawa, Masahiro , Hill, Jason , Devine, Steven , Chen, Yi-Bin , Hamadani, Mehdi , Logan, Brent R. , Jones, Richard J. , Singh, Anurag K. , Wingard, John R. , Soiffer, Robert J. , Ueda, Masumi , Uy, Geoffrey L. , Waller, Edmund K. , Vasu, Sumithira , Stelljes, Matthias , Hill, Jason E. , Devine, Steven M. , Horowitz, Mary M.

Blood Advances | July 31, 2026 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: No page available

10.1182/bloodadvances.2026020327 Get It

BMT CTN 1506 ("MORPHO") was a phase 3 study of post-hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) maintenance with gilteritinib versus placebo for patients with FLT3-ITD-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first remission. Subgroup analysis indicated a significant benefit of post-HCT gilteritinib for participants in North America, but no benefit for those in Europe or Asia. We conducted a post-hoc analysis of the data focusing on days from AML diagnosis to HCT, pre-HCT FLT3 inhibitor use, and FLT3-ITD measurable residual disease (MRD). Participants transplanted < 120 days from AML diagnosis and/or those treated with FLT3 inhibition pre-HCT were more likely to have improved survival from post-HCT gilteritinib. Pre-HCT MRD levels were higher (P = 0.001) in participants transplanted within 120 days from diagnosis and in those treated with a FLT3 inhibitor pre-HCT and transplanted within 120 days (P = 0.008). Pre-HCT MRD was dependent on both FLT3 inhibitor use and time to HCT, as participants treated with successive courses of chemotherapy + FLT3 inhibition had successively lower MRD by the time of HCT. Time from AML diagnosis to HCT and pre-HCT FLT3 inhibitor use both appeared to impact MRD levels immediately prior to HCT, and geographic differences in these two practice patterns likely accounted for the observed regional differences in benefit from post-HCT gilteritinib. Increasing the number of courses of treatment pre-HCT may lower MRD sufficiently to eliminate the need for post-HCT inhibition, but with a presumed risk of some patients experiencing early progression. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02997202.
NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Version 3.2026
Patel, Anand , Patel, Anand , Pollyea, Daniel Aaron , Altman, Jessica K. , Assi, Rita, Bachiashvili, Kimo, Bhatt, Vijaya Raj , Fathi, Amir T. , Fedorov, Kateryna, Foran, James M. , Gojo, Ivana , Goldberg, Aaron, Hall, Aric C. , Jonas, Brian A., Levine, Matthew R., Mangan, James, Mannis, Gabriel N. , Marcucci, Guido , Mims, Alice S , Moriarty, Kelsey, Ali, Moaath Mustafa, Neff, Jadee , Nejati, Reza , Olin, Rebecca L. , Patel, Anand, Percival, Mary‐Elizabeth M. , Perl, Alexander E. , Pettit, Kristen, Rao, Dinesh S. , Ravandi‐Kashani, Farhad, Schwabkey, Zaker, Shallis, Rory, Stahl, Maximilian, Stone, Richard M. , Thota, Swapna, Uy, Geoffrey L., Walker, Alison, Wang, Eunice, Awotiwon, Ajibola, Roth, Sydney L., Stehman, Katie

Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network | June 15, 2026 | Volume: 24 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 222-229

10.6004/jnccn.2026.0028 Get It

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematologic malignancy characterized by the clonal expansion of myeloid blasts in the peripheral blood, bone marrow, and/or other tissues. It is the most common form of acute leukemia among adults and accounts for the largest number of annual deaths from leukemias in the United States. 1 The NCCN Guidelines Panel for AML convenes annually to update recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of AML in adults. These recommendations are based on a review of recently published clinical trials that have led to significant improvements in treatment or have yielded new information regarding biologic factors that may have prognostic importance. These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize the panel’s most recent recommendations regarding the monitoring and management of measurable (minimal) residual disease.
Effect of FLT3 maintenance in older FLT3-ITD+ adults undergoing allogeneic HCT. a post hoc analysis of BMT CTN 1506
Abedin, Sameem , Baidoo, Victor, Szabo, Aniko, Jones, Richard J. , Singh, Anurag K. , Litzow, Mark R. , Papadopoulos, Esperanza B. , Perl, Alexander E. , Soiffer, Robert J. , Üstün, Celalettin , Oshima, Masumi Ueda, Vasu, Sumithira , Solh, Melhem , Mishra, Asmita , Muffly, Lori , Stelljes, Matthias , Onozawa, Masahiro , Chen, Caroline , Hasabou, Nahla, Rosales, Mathew, Gill, Stanley C. , Nuthethi, Rishita, King, Denise , Mendizabal, Adam , Horowitz, Mary, Chen, Yi‐Bin , Levis, Mark J., Muffly, Lori , Abedin, Sameem , Litzow, Mark R. , Wingard, John R. , Oshima, Masumi Ueda, Uy, Geoffrey L. , Waller, Edmund K. , Kim, Hee-Je , Najima, Yuho , Rosales, Mathew, Hill, Jason E. , King, Denise, Devine, Steven M. , Levis, Mark J. , Hamadani, Mehdi

Blood | December 4, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 170-170

10.1182/blood-2025-170 Get It

Abstract INTRODUCTION Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) is indicated in patients (pts) with FLT3-ITD mutated AML. The randomized BMT CTN 1506 trial (Levis et al. JCO) demonstrated that maintenance with FLT3 inhibitor gilteritinib (gilt) significantly improved relapse-free survival (RFS) among pts with detectable peri-alloHCT minimal residual disease (MRD) but was also associated with a greater degree of myelosuppression and infections. In older pts, aged >60 years, increasing post-HCT toxicity may adversely impact outcomes. On this basis, we performed a post-hoc analysis of pts aged > 60 years enrolled onto BMT CTN 1506 to examine the impact of gilteritinib maintenance in older pts. METHODS Pts ≥60 years randomized on BMT CTN 1506 (gilt=47, placebo=57; N=104) were included. The primary endpoint of this post-hoc analysis was RFS. We additionally assessed overall survival (OS), incidence of relapse, non-relapse mortality (NRM) in all pts and in pts with detectable MRD. RESULTS Baseline characteristics were balanced. Age was similar (65.2 vs 64.7 years; p = 0.12), as was prior TKI exposure, and NPM1 mutation status. Myeloablative conditioning (MAC) was used in 8 (17%) pts randomized to gilt and 18 (32%) pts randomized to placebo (p=0.08). Median f/u of survivors was 43.8 months (range:1-61 mo.). Estimated RFS and OS at 48 months were not different between groups (RFS: gilt: 57.0%, 95%CI 44.1-73.7%, placebo: 57.1%, 95%CI 45.4-71.8%; OS: gilt: 56.9%, 95%CI 42.9-46.7%, placebo: 58.4%, 95%CI 46.7-73.1%). While gilt assignment did not affect survival, several predictors of poorer survival were identified including use of reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) (HR = 3.46; p = 0.014), use of calcineurin inhibitor/MTX for graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis (HR = 2.29; p = 0.041), high-risk cytogenetics (HR = 2.64; p = 0.021), and MRD (+) pre-HCT (HR = 2.29; p = 0.018). Finally, relative to gilt assignment, opposing rates of relapse and NRM were observed. The incidence of relapse was lower with gilt (16%, 95%CI 6.8-28% vs 32%, 95%CI 20-45%, p=0.046) but NRM was higher (27%, 95%CI 15-41% vs 11%, 95% CI 4.3-21%, p=0.033). We next analyzed the 49 pts (gilt=22, placebo=27) with detectable peri-HCT MRD. RFS and OS again were not different (RFS: gilt: 44.4%, 95%CI 27.1-72.7%, placebo: 43.8%, 95%CI 28.4-67.5%, OS: gilt: 49.2%,95%CI, 31.3-77.4%, placebo: 55.6%, 95%CI 39.4-77.8%). The incidence of relapse trended lower in gilt pts (25%, 95%CI, 5.3-44.7% vs 45% (95%CI, 25-63%), p=0.2) while NRM trended higher (31%, 95%CI 12-52% vs 11%, 95%CI, 2.7-26%, p=0.12). Seventeen (36%) patients completed planned 2 year maintenance with gilt compared to 29 (51%) completing therapy with placebo. Median time on gilt was 13.2 months. The most common reason for discontinuation was adverse events (n=19, 40%), of which cytopenias (n=8) and infections (n=4) were most frequent. Non-relapse causes of death among gilt treated pts included infections (n=8), intracranial hemorrhage related to thrombocytopenia (n=1), second cancer (n=1), and Guillain-Barre syndrome (n=1). Most infections (n=5) were attributed to GVHD as an underlying cause. CONCLUSION Among pts aged ≥60 years, gilt maintenance did not improve RFS or OS. Gilt use was associated with reduced relapse regardless of peri-HCT MRD status demonstrating disease effect; however, higher NRM limited overall benefit. In older FLT3 mutated pts, employing strategies to mitigate HCT related toxicity, e.g. alternative GVHD prophylaxis strategies, may better accommodate use of maintenance therapy including gilt. Lower doses of gilt (particularly with azole co-use) may be worth exploring to mitigate drug AEs, improve compliance, thus further improving benefit.
Time from AML diagnosis to HCT and pre-HCT FLT3 inhibition impact pre-transplant MRD and benefit from post-HCT gilteritinib
Levis, Mark J., Logan, Brent R. , Jones, Richard J. , Singh, Anurag K. , Litzow, Mark R. , Papadopoulos, Esperanza B. , Perl, Alexander E. , Soiffer, Robert J. , Üstün, Celalettin , Oshima, Masumi Ueda, Vasu, Sumithira, Solh, Melhem , Mishra, Asmita , Muffly, Lori , Stelljes, Matthias , Onozawa, Masahiro , Thomson, Kirsty , Chen, Caroline , Hasabou, Nahla, Rosales, Mathew, Gill, Stanley C. , Nuthethi, Rishita, King, Denise , Mendizabal, Adam , Horowitz, Mary, Chen, Yi‐Bin , Muffly, Lori , Levis, Mark J. , Hamadani, Mehdi , Litzow, Mark R. , Wingard, John R. , Oshima, Masumi Ueda, Uy, Geoffrey L. , Waller, Edmund K. , Vasu, Sumithira , Kim, Heeje, Najima, Yuho , Rosales, Mathew, Hill, Jason E. , King, Denise, Devine, Steven M.

Blood | December 4, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 1058-1058

10.1182/blood-2025-1058 Get It

Abstract Aims BMT CTN 1506 (“MORPHO”) was a global phase 3 study of post-hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) maintenance with gilteritinib versus placebo for patients with FLT3-ITD-mutated AML in CR1. The study did not meet its primary endpoint of improved relapse-free survival (RFS) for post-HCT gilteritinib, but subgroup analysis indicated a benefit for participants with pre-HCT measurable residual disease (MRD). Subgroup analysis also indicated a statistically significant benefit of post-HCT gilteritinib for participants in North America, but no benefit for those in Europe or Asia. RFS for the control arms in Europe and Asia was higher than anticipated, suggesting that participants with different disease biology may have accrued to the study in these different geographic regions. In the primary analysis of the study, pre-HCT FLT3 inhibitor use and MRD across the entire study population were both found to have impacted outcomes. Time from diagnosis to HCT, a reflection of local practice patterns, is also known to impact outcomes for FLT3-ITD AML. We hypothesized that local practice patterns of pre-HCT FLT3 inhibitor use and time from AML diagnosis to HCT could have influenced the disease biology of study pts at the time of enrollment. This would be predicted to result in pre-HCT MRD levels and could provide an explanation for the regional differences observed in the study outcome. Methods We conducted a post-hoc analysis of the data focusing on days from AML diagnosis to HCT, pre-HCT FLT3 inhibitor use, and FLT3-ITD MRD assessed by a high-sensitivity assay. Eligibility requirements included FLT3-ITD-mutated AML in first remission after intensive chemotherapy and HCT occurring within 12 months of achieving remission. Patients refractory to induction therapy, or those with a history of relapse, were ineligible. Results Accrual took place in 16 different countries, with 5 countries accounting for 79.7% of the total accrual: USA 42.7%; Japan 15.7%; Korea 8.4%; UK 6.7%; Germany 6.2%; other countries 20.2%. In two countries, USA and Germany (48.9% of total enrollment), participants underwent HCT a median of 119 days after AML diagnosis, and 90.2% were treated with a FLT3 inhibitor pre-HCT. In contrast, in Japan, Korea, the UK and the other 11 countries all combined, participants underwent HCT a median of 152.5 days after AML diagnosis, and only 30.8% received any FLT3 inhibitor pre-HCT. Amongst all participants, those transplanted < 120 days from AML diagnosis and/or those treated with FLT3 inhibition pre-HCT were more likely to have improved RFS from post-HCT gilteritinib. RFS was improved with post-HCT gilteritinib in the US and Germany (HR 0.397; CI 0.220-0.718), whereas no benefit was evident in all other countries combined (HR 1.184; CI 0.685-2.048). Pre-HCT MRD levels were significantly higher (P = 0.011) in participants transplanted within 120 days from diagnosis as well as in those treated with a FLT3 inhibitor pre-HCT and also transplanted within 120 days (P = 0.019). Pre-HCT MRD was dependent on both FLT3 inhibitor use and time to HCT, as participants treated with successive courses of chemotherapy + FLT3 inhibition had successively lower MRD by the time of HCT. Conclusions The time from AML diagnosis to HCT and FLT3 inhibitor use pre-HCT both appeared to impact MRD levels immediately prior to HCT, and geographic differences in these two practice patterns likely accounted for the regional differences in benefit from post-HCT gilteritinib observed in BMT CTN 1506. Successive courses of chemotherapy without FLT3 inhibition appears to have selected a more favorable risk (e.g., MRD-lower) population for enrollment. Successive courses of chemotherapy combined with FLT3 inhibition progressively eradicated MRD, such that a majority of participants undergoing HCT after 3 or 4 courses were MRD negative and therefore unlikely to benefit from post-HCT gilteritinib. These findings have implications for clinical practice. Increasing the number of courses of chemotherapy combined with FLT3 inhibition before HCT may lower MRD sufficiently to eliminate the need for post-HCT inhibition for some patients but, alternatively, the additional delay could increase the risk of pre-HCT relapse, preventing patients from receiving HCT in first remission.
Impact of transplant conditioning, NPM1 mutations, and measurable residual disease in FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia
Levis, Mark J. , Hamadani, Mehdi , Logan, Brent R. , Jones, Richard J. , Singh, Anurag K. , Litzow, Mark R. , Papadopoulos, Esperanza B. , Perl, Alexander E. , Soiffer, Robert J. , Üstün, Celalettin , Vasu, Sumithira, Solh, Melhem , Mishra, Asmita , Muffly, Lori , Stelljes, Matthias , Onozawa, Masahiro , Thomson, Kirsty , Chen, Caroline , Hasabou, Nahla, Rosales, Matt, Gill, Stanley C. , Nuthethi, Rishita, King, Denise , Mendizabal, Adam , Horowitz, Mary M. , Chen, Yi‐Bin , Papadopoulos, Esperanza , Perl, Alexander E , Ustun, Celalettin , Ueda Oshima, Masumi , Uy, Geoffrey , Waller, Edmund K , Muffly, Lori , Kim, Hee-Je , Stelljes, Matthias , Najima, Yuho , Hill, Jason , Chen, Yi-Bin , Hamadani, Mehdi , Wingard, John R. , Ueda, Masumi , Uy, Geoffrey L. , Waller, Edmund K. , Vasu, Sumithira , Hill, Jason E. , King, Denise, Devine, Steven M.

Blood Advances | July 1, 2025 | Volume: 9 | Issue: 20 | Pages: 5123-5133

10.1182/bloodadvances.2025016306 Get It

Abstract We conducted a post hoc analysis of data from Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network 1506 (MORPHO), a randomized trial of gilteritinib vs placebo as posttransplantation maintenance for patients with FLT3-ITD–mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), focusing the interactions between conditioning regimen intensity, measurable residual disease (MRD), and NPM1 comutation status reported from diagnosis. Comparing FLT3-ITD MRD before and after conditioning, there was no difference between myeloablative conditioning (MAC) and reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) in eradication or reduction of FLT3-ITD MRD. For participants who were FLT3-ITD MRD negative before HCT, there was no difference in the cumulative incidence of relapse during follow-up between those receiving MAC vs RIC. NPM1 comutation was associated with the largest magnitude of relapse-free survival benefit from post-HCT gilteritinib, and in these participants, post-HCT gilteritinib in the setting of RIC appeared to be as effective as MAC at preventing relapse. MAC appeared superior to RIC in preventing relapse only in participants who were NPM1 wild type at diagnosis and FLT3-ITD MRD positive before HCT. Our findings suggest that only a subset of patients with FLT3-ITD AML undergoing HCT may benefit from MAC and that, similar to AML therapy before HCT, the intensity of the HCT regimen should be adapted according to the molecular features of the disease. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02997202.
Academic Community Partnership in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia and Early Mortality
Jillella, Anand P., Altman, Jessica K. , Luger, Selina M. , Tallman, Martin S., Foran, James M. , Bradshaw, Danielle , Law, Lisa Y. , Bryan, Locke J. , Zahr, Abdallah Abou, Begna, Kebede H. , Perl, Alexander E. , Vadakara, Joseph , Qamar, Rubina , Bergan, Raymond C. , Carlos, Ruth C. , Litzow, Mark R. , Lee, Sandra J. , Tallman, Martin S. , Fisch, Michael , Wagner, Lynne I. , Kota, Vamsi

JAMA Oncology | February 27, 2025 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 400

10.1001/jamaoncol.2024.7033 Get It

ImportanceAcute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is an acute illness that presents with cytopenia, infections, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Achieving remission has been shown to make a major difference in patient outcomes; however, early death rates in the first month have been as high as 30% due to acute presentation, comorbidities, the rarity of APL, and clinician inexperience.ObjectiveTo develop treatment strategies that would decrease estimated 1-month mortality from 30% to below 15%.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsIn this nonrandomized clinical trial, a treatment algorithm that focused on supportive care was used to prevent early death in patients with APL treated at academic and community health centers between August 2017 and July 2021. Because of the rarity of the disease, expert support was available 24/7 from 7 designated APL experts at 6 participating academic lead centers, and included an additional 293 community centers. When a patient presented with APL, an expert was contacted and a consensus treatment plan was developed using the algorithm and expert suggestions. There were no exclusion criteria and all patients with a confirmed diagnosis of APL regardless of age or comorbid conditions were enrolled. Expert support was provided throughout induction. Initial data analysis was conducted May 2023.Main Outcomes and MeasuresOne-month mortality; additional objectives were to compare outcomes in academic and community centers and assess 1-year and overall survival.ResultsA total of 201 patients were enrolled from 43 centers; 62 at lead centers and 139 from 37 community centers. The median age was 53 years (range, 18-91 years), with 72 patients (35.8%) who were aged 60 years or older; 105 patients (52.2%) were male. Fifty-two patients (26.4%) were diagnosed with high-risk APL. The 1-month mortality rate was 6 deaths of 201 patients (3.0%; 95% CI, 1.1%-6.4%) after adjusting for 1 interim analysis. In a secondary analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method, the 1-month overall survival (OS) rate was 97.0% (95% CI, 93.5%-98.6%) and the 1-year OS rate was 94.5% (95% CI, 90.3%-96.9%).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this nonrandomized clinical trial, use of an algorithm combined with expert support resulted in a dramatic decrease in early death in academic and community centers. Population-wide survival improved in this highly curable disease, which suggests that implementing an accessible support system with APL experts for comanagement is the most logical next step.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03253848
Measurable residual disease and posttransplantation gilteritinib maintenance for patients with FLT3-ITD –mutated AML
Levis, Mark J. , Hamadani, Mehdi , Logan, Brent R. , Jones, Richard J. , Singh, Anurag K. , Litzow, Mark R. , Papadopoulos, Esperanza B. , Perl, Alexander E. , Soiffer, Robert J. , Üstün, Celalettin , Vasu, Sumithira, Solh, Melhem , Mishra, Asmita , Muffly, Lori , Stelljes, Matthias , Onozawa, Masahiro , Thomson, Kirsty , Nagler, Arnon , Wei, Andrew H. , Marcucci, Guido , Chen, Caroline , Hasabou, Nahla, Rosales, Matt, Gill, Stanley C. , Nuthethi, Rishita, King, Denise , Mendizabal, Adam , Horowitz, Mary M. , Chen, Yi‐Bin , Papadopoulos, Esperanza , Perl, Alexander E , Ustun, Celalettin , Ueda Oshima, Masumi , Uy, Geoffrey , Waller, Edmund K , Muffly, Lori , Kim, Hee-Je , Stelljes, Matthias , Najima, Yuho , Wei, Andrew H , Hill, Jason , Chen, Yi-Bin , Hamadani, Mehdi , Wingard, John R. , Ueda, Masumi , Uy, Geoffrey L. , Waller, Edmund K. , Vasu, Sumithira , Hill, Jason E. , King, Denise, Devine, Steven M.

Blood | January 7, 2025 | Volume: 145 | Issue: 19 | Pages: 2138-2148

10.1182/blood.2024025154 Get It

Abstract BMT CTN (Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network) 1506 (“MORPHO”) was a randomized study of gilteritinib compared with placebo as maintenance therapy after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for patients with FLT3-ITD–mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A key secondary end point was to determine the impact on survival of before and/or after HCT measurable residual disease (MRD), as determined using a highly sensitive assay for FLT3-ITD mutations. Generally, gilteritinib maintenance therapy was associated with improved relapse-free survival (RFS) for participants with detectable peri-HCT MRD, whereas no benefit was evident for those lacking detectable MRD. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the data and found that the level of MRD detected with this approach correlated remarkably with RFS and relapse risk, and that MRD detectable at any level negatively affected RFS. In the placebo arm, 42.2% of participants with detectable FLT3-ITD MRD relapsed compared with 13.4% of those without detectable MRD. We found that 14.8% of participants had multiple FLT3-ITD clones detected as MRD and had worse survival irrespective of treatment arm. Finally, we examined the kinetics of FLT3-ITD clonal relapse or eradication and found that participants on the placebo arm with detectable MRD relapsed rapidly after HCT, often within a few weeks. MRD-positive participants on the gilteritinib arm relapsed either with FLT3 wild-type clones (assessed by capillary electrophoresis), after cessation of gilteritinib with persistent MRD, or on progression of multiclonal disease. These data demonstrate the potential of FLT3-ITD MRD to guide therapy with gilteritinib for this subtype of AML. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02997202.
A Randomized Phase II Study of Venetoclax and HMA-Based Therapies for the Treatment of Older and Unfit Adults with Newly Diagnosed FLT3-Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): A Myelomatch Treatment Trial: ECOG-ACRIN MM20A-EA02
Altman, Jessica K. , Sun, Zhuoxin , Perl, Alexander E. , Little, Richard F. , Gore, Steven D. , Michaelis, Laura C. , Abedin, Sameem , Luger, Selina M. , Litzow, Mark R. , Abedin, Sameem , Uy, Geoffrey L. , Abaza, Yasmin , Reagan, John L. , Atallah, Ehab

Blood | December 5, 2024 | Volume: 144 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 2907.1-2907.1

10.1182/blood-2024-199701 Get It

Background: Randomized studies in newly diagnosed (ND) AML patients with a FLT3 mutation show that adding 14 days of a FLT3 inhibitor to each intensive chemotherapy cycle improves overall survival. For patients unsuitable for intensive chemotherapy due to older age or comorbidities, the presence of a FLT3-ITD mutation is associated with high rates of early relapse and short remission duration. There is a limited survival benefit of venetoclax (ven) plus azacitidine (aza) compared to aza alone among patients with AML with a FLT3-ITD mutation. Accordingly, there is significant interest in adding FLT3-targeted therapy to lower intensity chemotherapy for patients with ND AML and FLT3 mutations, but to date no randomized data have demonstrated a survival benefit for this approach.Gilteritinib (gilt) is a highly potent and FLT3-selective oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is the standard therapy of relapsed/refractory FLT3-mutated AML, based upon superior survival in randomized studies. Gilt can also be combined safely with ven and/or aza, though myelosuppression remains a concern. Despite this, single institution studies of ven, aza, and gilt therapy of ND AML patients with FLT3-mutations show that this three-drug regimen is associated with near-universal complete remission rates (CR 90%, CRi 6%) and a majority of studied patients eliminate detectable FLT3-ITD (<1 x10-5) within four cycles by an ultrasensitive, amplicon-based NGS assay (Short, et al. JCO 2024). Rates of CR with full count recovery and survival appear superior to historical comparisons, but myelosuppression is potentially increased with the triplet regimen. These data demonstrate a need for multi-institutional comparative trials, not only to determine whether adding FLT3-inhibitors to ven and aza improve deep remission rates, but also to refine schedules of the triplet combination that improve tolerability for widespread use.Methods: This tier 1 MyeloMATCH substudy is an open-label, randomized phase 2 trial that will enroll ND AML patients older than age 60 or individuals judged by their treating physician to be best served by azanucleoside + ven-based therapy due to comorbidity. Subjects provide samples to the central MyeloMATCH Master Screening and Reassessment Protocol (MSRP, NCT05564390 ) and are assigned to the MM1OA-EA02 substudy (NCT06317649) based upon the presence of a FLT3-ITD or FLT3-TKD (D835) mutation by NGS. Subjects are randomized to one of three arms (regimens 1, 2, or 3), stratified by age (<70 years vs. older) and FLT3-ITD burden (ITD VAF>33% vs. lower VAF or D835). All study arms contain aza and ven administered in 28-day cycles with two study arms also including gilt. Regimen 1 is ven and aza administered as per the pivotal VIALE-A study. Regimen 2 adds gilt 80 mg once daily on days 1-28 and regimen 3 adds gilt on days 8-21 only. A marrow biopsy is performed during the first cycle (day 14-21, depending on study arm) and all chemotherapy is held until count recovery if a morphologic leukemia-free state or aplasia is seen. Patients receive up to two induction cycles to achieve remission and then receive ongoing consolidation cycles of therapy with a similar pattern of gilt administration up to 2 years. To minimize risk of cumulative myelosuppression, during consolidation azacitidine administration is reduced to days 1-5 on regimens 2 and 3 and ven limited to days 1-7 on regimen 2 and days 1-14 on regimen 3. For all arms, treatment-related adverse events prompt further reduction in ven, aza, or gilt dose or duration. Response will be measured after cycles 2 and 4, including centrally-performed MRD by flow cytometry. The primary endpoint is the rate of MRD(-) CR (<1 x 10-3) after up to 4 cycles. Key secondary endpoints include safety data, response rate, EFS, and OS. The study is powered to detect a 25% absolute improvement in MRD(-) CR rate in either triplet arm from a target accrual of 147 patients. A safety run-in for regimens 2 and 3 to confirm tolerability and feasibility will be performed after 20 subjects enroll to these arms; an interim futility analysis will be performed once response assessment of 50% of all planned accrual occurs. Study was activated on June 6, 2024 and is expected to continue until December 2025.
Gilteritinib Results in Higher Remission and Transplant Rates Than Midostaurin but Does Not Increase the Post-Induction Mutational MRD Negative Rate: Results of the Phase 2 Randomized Precog 0905 Study in Newly Diagnosed FLT3
Luger, Selina M. , Pratz, Keith W. , Perl, Alexander E. , Altman, Jessica K. , Redner, Robert L. , Qasrawi, Ayman , Asch, Adam S., Jeyakumar, Deepa , Foran, James M. , Kolitz, Jonathan E. , Berman, Ellin , Wilde, Lindsay , Abedin, Sameem , Gundabolu, Krishna , O’Dwyer, Kristen M. , Curran, Emily , Ross, Kelly , Sun, Zhuoxin , Litzow, Mark R. , Abedin, Sameem , Chen, Li , Loghavi, Sanam , Fathi, Amir T , Shah, Meera , Kota, Vamsi , O'Dwyer, Kristin , Kishtagari, Ashwin , Litzow, Mark R.

Blood | December 5, 2024 | Volume: 144 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 221-221

10.1182/blood-2024-201595 Get It

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).
Health-related quality of life with gilteritinib vs placebo posttransplant for FLT3-ITD + acute myeloid leukemia
Hamilton, Betty K. , Pandya, Bhavik J. , Ivanescu, Cristina, Elsouda, Dina, Hamadani, Mehdi , Chen, Yi‐Bin , Levis, Mark J. , Ueda, Masumi , Litzow, Mark R. , Soiffer, Robert J. , Üstün, Celalettin , Perl, Alexander E. , Singh, Anurag K. , Geller, Nancy L. , Hasabou, Nahla, Rosales, Matt, Cella, David , Corredoira, Laura, Pestana, Carolina , Horowitz, Mary M. , Logan, Brent R., Ueda Oshima, Masumi , Geller, Nancy , Hamadani, Mehdi

Blood Advances | August 22, 2024 | Volume: 8 | Issue: 19 | Pages: 5091-5099

10.1182/bloodadvances.2024013746 Get It

Abstract The Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Clinical Trials Network conducted a phase 3 randomized trial comparing gilteritinib with placebo after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for FLT3-ITD+ acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The primary analysis demonstrated no statistically significant difference in relapse-free survival (RFS); however, patients with FLT3-ITD measurable residual disease (MRD) peri-HCT had significantly longer RFS with gilteritinib. This analysis investigates the effect of post-HCT gilteritinib vs placebo on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). HRQOL was measured with Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT), FACT-Leukemia (FACT-Leu), and EuroQOL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D-5L) at post-HCT randomization; day 29; months 3, 6, 12, 18, 24; and/or end of therapy. HRQOL and clinically meaningful differences were summarized using descriptive statistics and compared using mixed model repeated measures to evaluate longitudinal change from baseline and stratified Cox model to evaluate time to improvement. HRQOL completion rate was acceptable (>70%) across all time points and measures. There were no differences in HRQOL scores at any time point between cohorts. Clinically meaningful and time to improvement in HRQOL were similar in both arms. Despite higher treatment-emergent adverse effects with gilteritinib, response to the question of being “bothered by side effects of treatment” did not differ between groups. Subgroup analysis of MRD-positive and negative patients demonstrated no differences in HRQOL between arms. For patients with FLT3-ITD+ AML undergoing HCT, gilteritinib maintenance was not associated with any difference in HRQOL or patient-reported impact of side effects. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT02997202.