Wang, Eunice S.

Abstract 5-azacitidine (5-AZA) is standard of care in the first-line setting for higher-risk patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). However, 40-50% of patients are refractory to 5-AZA and most responders ultimately demonstrate disease progression within 2 years, often progressing to AML. For patients refractory to 5-AZA, 2-year survival probability is low (15%). Thus, there is a need for more effective initial and second-line therapies for patients with higher-risk MDS. The Inhibitors of Apoptosis (IAP) Proteins are a family of molecules that suppress apoptotic cell death. Expression of IAPs is dysregulated in MDS, suggesting a potential path for therapeutic intervention. SMAC (second mitochondrial activator of caspases) is an IAP antagonist, resulting in caspase activation, inhibition of NF-kB and increased apoptosis. Birinapant is a potent bivalent SMAC mimetic with improved tolerability and therapeutic index compared to other SMAC mimetics. This Phase Ib/2a study was designed primarily to determine the MTD and recommended Phase 2 dose and schedule of birinapant in combination with 5-AZA in patients with higher-risk MDS who are naïve or have relapsed or are refractory to 5-AZA. To date, 11 patients have been enrolled in the Phase 1b portion of the study, including 7 with IPSS classification high-risk MDS (5 male, 2 female; median age 75, range 64-82) and 4 with intermediate-risk MDS (2 male, 2 female; median age 72.5, range 65-84). All patients received standard 5-AZA, administered via either intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) routes, at 75 mg/m2 for 7 days of a 28-day cycle in combination with birinapant. Birinapant was administered IV twice weekly (Days 1 and 4) for either 3 of 4 weeks or 4 of 4 weeks per 28-day cycle at a dose of 13 mg/m2. No cycle 1 dose-limiting toxicities have been observed. Adverse events ≥ Grade 2 observed in two or more patients and judged to be related to treatment were rash/pruritis (Grade 2, 2 patients), thrombocytopenia (Grade 4, 2 patients) and neutropenia (Grade 4, 1 patient; Grade 3, 1 patient). Two SAEs, Grade 3 abdominal soft tissue necrosis with abdominal pain in the area of subcutaneous injections of 5-AZA, and Grade 3 cellulitis were judged to be related to treatment. These local injection site reactions/cellulitis were more severe than usually expected with SC 5-AZA, suggesting an on target pharmacodynamic (TNF mediated) localized synergistic effect in skin, but were not observed with IV administration. Both occurred after cycle 1 and were not considered DLTs. Data showing inhibition of NF-kB, a downstream pro-survival molecule activated by IAPs, in circulating blast cells from patients treated with birinapant at a dose of 13 mg/m2 twice weekly for 3 weeks out of 4, suggests that birinapant is pharmacologically active at this dosing schedule. Based on these and other pharmacodynamic data, despite not determining the formal MTD, the Phase 2 dosing regimen has been established as birinapant administered at 13 mg/m2 IV twice weekly for 3 weeks of a 28-day cycle in combination with 5-AZA at 75 mg/m2 by IV infusion for 7 days of a 28-day cycle. Although not a primary endpoint, evidence of clinical activity in 5-AZA resistant/refractory patients was observed in 2 of 11 patients to date, with an additional good clinical response in a 5-AZA naive high-risk MDS/CMML patient. One patient with prior 5-AZA-refractory MDS (cytogenetics: hypodiploid and +11q) showed bone marrow (BM) blast count reduction from 25% to 2% after 1 cycle of 5-AZA/birinapant treatment. Another patient with MDS (cytogenetics: +X; +19; +21) refractory to single-agent 5-AZA showed BM blast count reduction from 21% to 7% after 2 cycles. A third patient with treatment-naïve MDS/CMML-2 (cytogenetics: 46, XY, inv(6)(p11.2q15), t(6;21)(q21;q22) ) who had received prior hydroxyurea demonstrated BM blast count reduction from 17% to 2% after 3 cycles and underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Several patients remain on study and are in active follow-up. This Phase 1b trial provide data for an acceptable safety profile of the first combination of a SMAC mimetic (birinapant) administered with IV 5-AZA. Early signs of clinical activity including in 5-AZA naïve and refractory patients were observed. These results provide rationale for a randomized Phase 2 study comparing birinapant in combination with 5-AZA against 5-AZA alone in the first-line setting for patients with higher-risk MDS. Disclosures Borthakur: Tetralogic Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Foran:TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Wang:Tetralogic Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Rakkar:Tetralogic Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Hager:Tetralogic Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Frey:Tetralogic Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Andreeff:TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Carter:Tetralogic Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Minderman:Tetralogic Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Russell:Tetralogic Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Tibes:Tetralogic Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding.

Abstract Background: Gilteritinib (ASP2215) is a novel, highly selective, potent oral FLT3/AXL inhibitor with preclinical activity against FLT3-ITD activating and FLT3-D835 resistance mutations. The objectives of this phase 1/2 study were to assess gilteritinib safety/tolerability, pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) profiles after single- and multiple-day dosing, and antileukemic effects in patients with R/R AML. Methods: This open-label study (NCT02014558) enrolled patients (≥18 yr) into 1 of 7 dose-escalation cohorts (20-450 mg once daily [QD]) or concomitant dose-expansion cohorts. While confirmed FLT3 mutation was not an inclusion criterion, each expanded dose level enrolled ≥10 patients with FLT3 mutations (FLT3mut+); 120 and 200 mg dose levels were further expanded with ≥40 FLT3mut+ patients. The choice to expand these dose cohorts was based upon FLT3 inhibition in correlative assays and clinical activity seen during dose escalation. Safety and tolerability were primary endpoints; blood samples were drawn from patients in the dose-escalation cohorts to evaluate gilteritinib PK parameters and PD effects. Antileukemic response rates (eg, complete remission [CR], CR with incomplete platelet recovery [CRp], CR with incomplete hematological recovery [CRi], overall response rate [ORR]) were secondary endpoints. Results: Patients (N=252; 129M:123F, median age 62 yr [range: 21-90]) enrolled between October 2013 and August 2015 received ≥1 dose of gilteritinib. The study population was heavily pretreated: 70% (n=177) had ≥2 prior AML therapies, 29% (n=73) had a prior stem cell transplant, and 25% (n=63) had prior TKI treatment with sorafenib most commonly used. Across the study, 194 patients had a locally confirmed FLT3 mutation (ITD, n=159; D835, n=13; ITD-D835, n=16; other, n=6). For all enrolled patients, progressive disease (n=75), lack of efficacy (n=44), adverse events (n=34), and death (n=29) were the most common reasons for treatment discontinuation. Seven deaths were considered possibly/probably related to treatment: pulmonary embolism, respiratory failure, hemoptysis, intracranial bleed, ventricular fibrillation, septic shock, and neutropenia (all n=1). Maximum tolerated dose was determined to be 300 mg when 2 of 3 patients in the 450 mg cohort experienced diarrhea and/or hepatic transaminase elevation as dose-limiting toxicities. Diarrhea (16%) and fatigue (15%) were the most commonly reported treatment-related adverse events of any grade. Less than 5% of patients (11/252) had a maximum post-baseline QTcF interval >500 msec. Gilteritinib concentrations were generally dose proportional and showed both a long-elimination half-life (45-159 h) and substantial accumulation (3.2-10 fold) by day 15. An exposure-related increase in the inhibition of FLT3 phosphorylation with increasing doses of gilteritinib was also observed. Gilteritinib showed strong antileukemic activity in FLT3mut+ patients (ORR=49%); response was observed less frequently in patients with wild-type FLT3 (ORR=12%). While CR, CRi, and CRp occurred at all doses, responses were enriched among FLT3mut+ patients with gilteritinib steady-state trough concentrations ≥100 ng/mL, which correlated with potent FLT3 inhibition in PD assays and corresponded to doses ≥80 mg. The ORR in 169 FLT3mut+ patients receiving ≥80 mg was 52% (Table); median overall survival in this patient population was ~31 wk (range: 1.7-61; Figure) and median duration of response was 20 wk (range: 1.1-55). Clinical responses occurred in FLT3mut+ patients with -ITD, -D835, and both mutations (ORR: 55%, 17%, and 62%, respectively) as well as in FLT3mut+ patients with or without prior TKI treatment (ORR: 42% vs 56%, respectively). Conclusions: This PD-driven, first-in-human study shows that gilteritinib was well tolerated and generated frequent, prolonged, clinically important responses in FLT3mut+ patients with R/R AML. Antileukemic responses were enriched in FLT3mut+ patients treated at doses that consistently and potently inhibited FLT3 phosphorylation. The survival of these patients appears better than expected for this patient population when treated with standard therapy. Our data suggest that FLT3 inhibition may improve survival in patients with FLT3mut+R/R AML; as such, phase 3 testing of oral gilteritinib 120 mg QD in patients with FLT3mut+R/R AML after first-line therapy is underway (NCT02421939). Disclosures Perl: Astellas US Pharma Inc.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Asana Biosciences: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Arog Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Actinium Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Altman:Janssen: Other: advisory board; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Spectrum: Other: advisory board; Ariad: Other: advisory board; Seattle Genetics: Other: advisory board; Syros: Other: advisory board. Cortes:ARIAD: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Teva: Research Funding. Smith:Astellas: Research Funding. Erba:Jannsen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding; Juno: Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, DSMB, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Ariad: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Gylcomimetics: Other: DSMB; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sunesis: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Celator: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy. Gill:Astellas: Employment. Goldberg:Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy; COTA Inc: Employment; Pfizer: Honoraria; Neostem: Equity Ownership. Jurcic:Astellas: Research Funding. Larson:Astellas: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy. Liu:Astellas: Employment. Ritchie:Celgene: Consultancy, Other: Travel, Accomodations, Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ariad: Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Research Funding; Bristol-Meyers Squibb: Research Funding; NS Pharma: Research Funding. Schiller:Incyte Corporation: Research Funding. Strickland:Celator: Research Funding; Cyclacel: Research Funding; Karyopharm Therapeutica: Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding; Baxalta: Consultancy; Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ambit: Consultancy; Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Astellas Pharma: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Sunesis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding. Wang:Incyte: Speakers Bureau; Immunogen: Research Funding. Stuart:Sunesis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accomodations, Expenses, Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; Celator: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding. Martinelli:Ariad: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Bahceci:Astellas: Employment. Levis:Millennium: Consultancy, Research Funding; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.

Abstract Introduction: ASP2215 is a highly selective inhibitor of AXL and FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) receptors. ASP2215 is active against both FLT3 internal tandem duplication [ITD] and D835 mutations. Prior analyses of an open-label, dose-escalation/dose-expansion study in subjects with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) show ASP2215 was well tolerated from 20-300 mg and associated with antileukemic activity in FLT3 mutation-positive (FLT3+) patients at ≥80 mg with minimal activity observed in wild-type FLT3 subjects. Here we describe the tolerability and potent activity of ASP2215 in a large cohort of FLT3+ patients. Methods: Patients (≥18 years) with R/R AML were assigned to treatment in dose-escalation cohorts or were randomized to an open dose level in the dose-expansion cohorts. Although FLT3 mutation was not an inclusion criterion, each expanded dose level enrolled ≥10 FLT3+ subjects; 120 mg and 200 mg dose levels were further expanded with ≥40 FLT3+ subjects. Tolerability was assessed by adverse event (AE) monitoring. Response assessment was based on modified Cheson criteria and duration of response and overall survival were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates. Results: As of June 19, 2015,215 patients with a median age of 61 yr (range: 21-90) had received ≥1 dose of ASP2215 (safety population). Across the safety population, 65% of subjects received ≥2 prior lines of AML therapy, 29% had a hematopoietic stem cell transplant prior to ASP2215 treatment, and 23% had prior tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment. Approximately 73% of patients were FLT3+, of which 137 had FLT3-ITD mutation, 7 were FLT3-D835+, and 9 had both FLT3-ITD and D835. Treatment-related AEs of all Grades, reported in ≥10% of the safety population were diarrhea (16%), fatigue (13%), and increased AST (11%); <2% of subjects reported a Grade ≥3 QTc prolongation. Activity was assessed in the 133 FLT3+ patients treated with ASP2215 ≥80 mg. Overall response rate (ORR; composite complete [CRc] plus partial remission [PR]) for all FLT3+ subjects was 55% (Table). Median overall survival for FLT3+ patients receiving ASP2215 ≥80 mg was ~29 weeks (95% CI: 22-32) and was similar for patients who achieved CRc or PR (Figure). Treatment with ≥80 mg ASP2215 was associated with an ORR of 60% in FLT3-ITD subjects; ORR for the other FLT3 populations was 29% (Table). No difference was observed in median ORR of ASP2215 (≥80 mg) in TKI-naïve patients (55%) and patients with prior TKI treatment (55%). Conclusions: ASP2215, a novel AXL/FLT3 TKI, was well tolerated in subjects with R/R AML and demonstrated a strong antileukemic activity in FLT3+ subjects. Importantly, the ASP2215 response rate in these FLT3+ patients was independent of prior TKI treatment. Even in this heavily pretreated population, the survival of R/R FLT3+ AML patients who received ≥80 mg ASP2215 was longer than prior reports of cytotoxic chemotherapy or other FLT3 inhibitors. Table. ASP2215 Response Assessment 80 mg 120 mg 200 mg 300 mg 450 mg Total All FLT3+ Subjects Population, n 12 52 57 10 2 133 CRc, n (%) 5 (42) 25 (48) 28 (49) 3 (30) 0 61 (46) PR, n (%) 3 (25) 3 (6) 3 (5) 3 (30) 0 12 (9) ORR, n (%) 8 (67) 28 (54) 31 (54) 6 (60) 0 73 (55) Subjects with FLT3-ITD Only Population, n 10 46 50 8 0 114 CRc, n (%) 4 (40) 23 (50) 26 (52) 3 (38) 0 56 (49) PR, n (%) 3 (30) 3 (7) 3 (6) 3 (38) 0 12 (11) ORR, n (%) 7 (70) 26 (57) 29 (58) 6 (75) 0 68 (60) Subjects with FLT3-D835 and Subjects with FLT3-ITD and FLT3-D835 Population, n 2 5 5 1 1 14 CRc, n (%) 1 (50) 1 (20) 2 (40) 0 0 4 (29) PR, n (%) 0 0 0 0 0 0 ORR, n (%) 1 (50) 1 (20) 2 (40) 0 0 4 (29) CRc, composite complete remission (complete remission + complete remission with incomplete platelet recovery + complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery); ORR, overall response rate; PR, partial response. NR, no response. Subjects with non-evaluable data (N=8) were not included in this curve. Figure 1. Overall Survival by Best Overall Response Achieved with ASP2215 ≥80 mg Across All FLT3+ Subjects Figure 1. Overall Survival by Best Overall Response Achieved with ASP2215 ≥80 mg Across All FLT3+ Subjects Disclosures Altman: BMS: Other: Advisory board; Novartis: Other: Advisory board; Spectrum: Other: Advisory board; Ariad: Other: Advisory board; Seattle Genetics: Other: Advisory board; Astellas: Other: Participation in an advisory board December 2013. Off Label Use: ASP2215 is currently under investigation for the treatment of AML and is not yet approved.. Perl:Arog Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Asana Biosciences: Consultancy; Actinium Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Ambit/Daichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Astellas US Pharma Inc.: Consultancy. Cortes:Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; BerGenBio AS: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Teva: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ariad: Consultancy, Research Funding; Astellas: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ambit: Consultancy, Research Funding; Arog: Research Funding; Celator: Research Funding; Jenssen: Consultancy. Levis:Arog: Research Funding; Ambit: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Astellas: Consultancy. Smith:Plexxikon: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding. Claxton:NCI: Research Funding; Medimmune, Inc: Research Funding; Ambit Biosciences Corp: Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp: Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Research Funding. Erba:Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ariad: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; GlycoMimetics: Other: Data Safety and Monitoring Committees ; Jannsen (J&J): Other: Data Safety and Monitoring Committees ; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Millennium/Takeda: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celator: Research Funding; Millennium/Takeda: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Sunesis: Consultancy; Celator: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; Astellas: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Sunesis: Consultancy; Ariad: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; GlycoMimetics: Other: Data Safety and Monitoring Committees ; Jannsen (J&J): Other: Data Safety and Monitoring Committees ; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy. Gill:Astellas Pharma US, Inc: Employment. Goldberg:Cyclacel: Research Funding; Celetor: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Ambit: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding. Jurcic:Astellas Pharma: Research Funding. Larson:Astellas: Consultancy, Research Funding. Lui:Astellas Pharma US, Inc: Employment. Ritchie:Incyte: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Ariad: Other: Advisory Board; Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Onyx: Speakers Bureau. Sargent:Astellas Pharma US, Inc: Employment. Schiller:Sunesis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Strickland:Sunesis Pharmaceuticals: Other: Steering Committee and Advisory Board Participation; Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Other: Advisory Board Particpation; Amgen: Other: Advisory Board Particpation; Daiichi-Sankyo: Other: Advisory Board Particpation; Boehringer-Ingelheim: Other: Advisory Board Particpation. Wang:Immunogen: Research Funding. Stuart:Sunesis: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Astellas Pharma, Inc: Research Funding. Baldus:Novartis: Research Funding. Martinelli:MSD: Consultancy; ARIAD: Consultancy; BMS: Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy. Bahceci:Astellas Pharma Global Development: Employment.

Abstract Abstract 788 FLT3 mutations are common in AML and are associated with poor prognosis. Lestaurtinib is a multi-targeted kinase inhibitor with potent activity against FLT3. In an attempt to definitively establish whether or not there is clinical benefit for FLT3 inhibition in the relapse setting, we conducted a randomized trial of chemotherapy followed by lestaurtinib for patients with FLT3 mutant AML in first relapse. Patients were randomized to receive either chemotherapy alone, consisting of mitoxantrone, etoposide, and cytarabine (MEC) or high-dose cytarabine (HiDAc) depending on the duration of CR1) or chemotherapy followed by 80 mg lestaurtinib orally BID. Patients on the chemotherapy only arm were eligible for crossover if they were refractory to therapy. Patients on the lestaurtinib arm received the drug for up to 112 days on study (they could continue to receive the drug through a separate extension protocol). The primary objective was complete remission (CR/CRp). Secondary objectives included overall survival (OS), safety, and tolerability. From January 2004 through December 2008, 224 patients at 52 different centers were enrolled and randomized, with 220 patients actually receiving therapy. Blood samples from patients on the lestaurtinib arm were obtained at baseline, on Day 15, and on Day 42 for pK studies and for determination of in vivo FLT3 inhibition and measurement of plasma FLT3 ligand (FL) and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) levels. The median age for all patients enrolled was 55 years (53.5 in the control arm, 58.5 in the lestaurtinib arm), with 88% having FLT3/ITD mutations, 8% having D835 mutations, and 4% having both. The duration of CR1 was less than 6 months in 47% of patients in each arm. On the lestaurtinib arm, 107 patients received at least 1 week of lestaurtinib (mean 60.1 days, range 8-418), with 17 of these patients receiving drug on the extension protocol. On the chemotherapy only arm, 7 patients crossed over to receive lestaurtinib, and 31 patients went on to receive lestaurtinib on the extension protocol after outcome evaluation. Lestaurtinib was generally well tolerated following chemotherapy, with 104 Grade 3/4 adverse events in the lestaurtinib arm versus 99 in the control arm. There were 61 serious adverse events in the lestaurtinib arm versus 49 in the control arm. Early death (by Day 42) occurred in 22 lestaurtinib patients (2 progressive leukemia, 14 infectious, 6 organ failure) and16 control patients (6 progressive leukemia, 5 infectious, 5 organ failure). By intention to treat analysis, there were 29 CR/CRp in the lestaurtinib arm and 23 in the control arm (26% versus 21%; p = 0.35), with no difference in OS (4.73 months versus 4.57 months) between the two arms. Blood samples from 79 of the 107 lestaurtinib-treated patients obtained on Day 15 were analyzed for FLT3 inhibitory activity (plasma inhibitory activity [PIA] assay), as well as FLT3 ligand (FL), lestaurtinib, and AGP concentrations. Mean lestaurtinib plasma concentration was 12 uM at Day 15 and fell to 7.5 uM on Day 42. Mean lestaurtinib concentration at Day 15 was 13.3 uM in patients achieving CR/CRp and 11.5uM in non-responders. A target of >85% inhibition of FLT3 maintained at trough (pre-dose) was defined from previous studies. Of the 79 patients tested, 46 (58%) achieved this degree of FLT3 inhibition on Day 15. FL concentrations rose from baseline (15.6 pg/mL) to Day 15 (1148 pg/mL), and AGP concentrations rose by an average of 52% over the same period, both of which may have reduced the degree of FLT3 inhibition. Of the 46 patients with target FLT3 inhibition on Day 15, 18 (39%) achieved CR/CRp, while only 3 (9%) of the 32 patients with below target FLT3 inhibition achieved CR/CRp. Thus, in patients with FLT3 mutant AML at first relapse, pharmacokinetic factors and possible physiologic factors (FL and AGP) limit lestaurtinib's ability to effectively inhibit FLT3. FLT3 inhibition by lestaurtinib, when achieved, correlates with better CR rates, but in this trial that benefit was negated by a poor CR rate in those patients for whom the drug did not reach the target level of FLT3 inhibition. Overall, lestaurtinib treatment following re-induction chemotherapy failed to increase response rates or prolong survival of patients with FLT3 mutant AML in first relapse. Disclosures: Levis: Cephalon: Clinical Advisory Board member. Ravandi:Cephalon: Honoraria, Member, clinical advisory board, Research Funding. Erba:Cephalon: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Baccarani:Novartis Pharma, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dome, Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Stone:Cephalon: ad hoc consultancy; Novartis: Research Funding, ad hoc consultancy. Advani:Cephalon: Research Funding. Douer:Cephalon: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Litzow:Cephalon: Research Funding. Tremmel:Cephalon: Employment, Equity Ownership. Bensen-Kennedy:cephalon: Employment. Smith:Cephalon: Research Funding.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of acute leukemia among adults and accounts for the largest number of annual deaths due to leukemias in the United States. Recent advances have resulted in an expansion of treatment options for AML, especially concerning targeted therapies and low-intensity regimens. This portion of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for AML focuses on the management of AML and provides recommendations on the workup, diagnostic evaluation and treatment options for younger (age <60 years) and older (age ≥60 years) adult patients.

Survival outcomes for older adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are poor and optimal management is challenging due to higher-risk leukemia genetics, comorbidities, and lower tolerance to intensive therapy. A critical understanding of these factors guides the selection of frontline therapies and subsequent treatment strategies. In addition, there have been recent developments in minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD) testing and blinatumomab use in the context of MRD-positive disease after therapy. These NCCN Guidelines Insights discuss recent updates to the NCCN Guidelines for ALL regarding upfront therapy in older adults and MRD monitoring/testing in response to ALL treatment.

Abstract Novel treatment strategies are needed for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This randomized phase 2 trial compared the efficacy and safety of 20 mg/m2 of IV decitabine on days 1 to 10 alone (arm A) with those of 1.3 mg/m2 of subcutaneous bortezomib (arm B) on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 for up to 4 10-day cycles followed by monthly 5-day cycles. Previously untreated AML patients age ≥60 years (excluding those with FLT3 mutations and favorable-risk cytogenetics) without restrictions in performance status (PS) or organ function were eligible. Median age was 72.4 years (range, 60.5-92.3 years); 31 patients (19%) had baseline PS ≥2, 35 (22%) had an antecedent hematological disorder, 58 had (39%) adverse cytogenetics, and 7 (5%) and 23 (14%) had abnormal cardiac or renal function. There were no statistically significant differences in overall survival (OS) or responses between the 2 treatment arms. The overall response rate (complete remission + complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery) was 39% (n = 64), with median OS of 9.3 months. Nineteen responders (31%) underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The most common adverse event was febrile neutropenia, and there were no unexpected toxicities. Adding bortezomib to decitabine did not improve outcomes, but responses were better than those in previous trials using 5-day decitabine cycles. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01420926.

7003 Background: Gilteritinib, a highly selective FLT3/AXL inhibitor, has displayed antileukemic activity in FLT3 mutation-positive (FLT3mut+) relapsed/refractory (R/R) AML in the CHRYSALIS Phase I/II study (NCT02014558), specifically at doses ≥80 mg/d. This exploratory analysis assessed molecular response to gilteritinib in a CHRYSALIS subpopulation. Methods: Molecular response was assessed from bone marrow aspirates obtained at baseline and at ≥1 additional time point from FLT3mut+ patients (≥18 y) treated with 120 or 200 mg/d gilteritinib. These doses were identified due to their ability to induce consistent, potent FLT3 inhibition and high clinical response rates. FLT3-ITD and total FLT3 were quantified by NGS to assess molecular response. A Cox regression model of overall survival (OS) by Kaplan-Meier estimation established a FLT3-ITD:total FLT3 ratio (ITD signal ratio) of 10−2as the threshold for improved survival. Results: Of 147 FLT3-ITDmut+ patients who received gilteritinib 120 or 200 mg/d, 80 were included in this analysis. Composite response rate for these 80 patients was 55%. During response, 20 patients (25%) had an ITD signal ratio of ≤10−2. Of these 20 patients, 18 had a ratio of ≤10−3 (major molecular response [MMR]) and 13 had a ratio of ≤10−4 (minimal residual disease [MRD] negative). Median time to achieve minimum signal ratio was 54 days. Elimination of morphologic leukemia was observed in 80% of patients with ITD signal ratios <10−2. Patients who had a signal ratio ≤10−2, MMR, or were MRD negative had significantly longer median OS than those who did not (Table). Conclusions: Molecular responses to gilteritinib in FLT3-ITDmut+ R/R AML correlated with clinical response and improved OS. This is the first demonstration of molecular response to a FLT3 inhibitor in AML. These data suggest ITD signal ratio may predict durable clinical benefit of gilteritinib. Clinical trial information: NCT02014558. [Table: see text]

Significance In this work we report on the previously uncharacterized clinical and biological role for EGFL7 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Patients with increased EGFL7 mRNA expression had lower complete remission rates and shorter overall and event-free survival, demonstrating the clinical relevance of EGFL7 expression in cytogenetically normal AML. Our results show that AML blasts are able to synthesize and secrete EGFL7 protein, promoting autocrine blast cell growth. Inhibition of EGFL7 results in decreased proliferation and induces apoptosis of AML cells. Taken together, our data provide the rationale for targeting EGFL7 using blocking antibodies as a therapy for patients with AML.