Döhner, Hartmut

Background: C10603/RATFIY was the first AML trial to show the benefit of adding a targeted agent to intensive chemotherapy for a specific genetically determined subset (Stone R et al, NEJM 2017). The addition of the multi-kinase inhibitor midostaurin (M) to chemotherapy in previously untreated adults with FLT3-mutant AML resulted in superior event-free (EFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to placebo (P) and led to the approval of this agent in combination therapy. Subsequently, additional targeted drugs including gilteritinib for relapsed/refractory FLT3-mutant AML and quizartinib plus chemotherapy in untreated adults with AML with FLT3-ITD disease have gained approval. Long-term follow-up after reporting of the primary endpoint, especially if met, is important in oncology. Objective: We report the EFS and OS data from C10603 using 10 years of follow up to determine the persistence of a midostaurin benefit and to assess the nature of late relapses or toxicity. Methods: C10603 enrolled 717 pts (360 on the M and 357 on the P arm; median age 47.8 years (range 18-61), 398 women (55.5%) of whom 51.7% were randomized to M and 59.4% to P (p=0.04), and 89% white) from 2011-2015 with previously untreated AML who had either a FLT3-TKD or ITD mutation with allelic ratio of >0.05 to receive daunorubicin/cytarabine (3+7) induction (one reinduction permitted) followed by up to 4 consolidation cycles with cytarabine 3 g/m2 every 12h on days 1, 3 and 5. M (50 mg bid) or P was given orally on days 8-22 of each chemotherapy cycle as well as daily during one year of single-agent maintenance. Allogeneic transplantation (alloHCT) was employed at investigator's discretion; study drug was not continued post-HCT. Pts stayed on their randomized arm and were not re-randomized prior to maintenance. Pts were followed for relapse and survival after the end of protocol therapy, regardless of subsequent therapy, for 10 years. Log-rank tests, Kaplan-Meier methods, and Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the treatment effect in EFS and OS, as well as the alloHCT effect. All p values are two-sided. Results: We have completed the 10-year FU on this trial and data collection has concluded. The median EFS was 8.2 months (95% CI, 5.5-11.4) on the M arm compared with 3.0 months for P (95% CI, 1.9-6.0) with a HR of 0.79 (95% CI 0.67-0.94, p=0.0067). Among the 420 CR pts who achieved complete remission (CR) by the protocol specified time of 60 days, 253 have had an event (death in 69 and relapse in 184); these events were relatively equal on each arm. OS, the co-primary endpoint, remained marginally superior for those randomized to M compared to P; the 10-year OS estimate was 43.7% (95% CI, 38.7-49.3%) vs 38.6% (95% CI, 33.6-44.4%) (p= 0.0485). The hazard ratios for OS favored randomization to M in each key biological subgroup (FLT3-ITD low or high allelic ratio or FLT3-TKD), but smaller subsets precluded statistical significance. There was a 10-year OS benefit in favor of M in men (p=0.005), but not women (p=0.9). A total of 414 transplants were performed: only 5 in the latter half of the follow-up period. Transplantation in CR1 was highly beneficial overall (10-year OS, 56% vs 35.8% without transplantation, p=0.001). Among those transplanted in CR1, randomization to M was marginally better than P (61.5% vs 49%, p=.064). After censoring for alloHCT in CR1, there was an OS trend in favor of M (51.8% v 48.0%, p=0.102). In CR1 patients who were randomized to maintenance therapy, M reduced the cumulative incidence of relapse in ELN 2017 favorable and intermediate risk pts, but not in those with adverse risk disease (HR 0.71, 0.47, and 1.01, respectively); maintenance M had no effect on OS. Only 3 pts relapsed after 5 years (all randomized to M). 25 pts randomized to M vs 13 P pts died after 5 years of follow-up. 5 pts on each arm died of a new primary cancer whereas 17 M and 5 P pts were coded as having died from treatment-related causes. None of the 3 pts who relapsed after 4 years had spliceosome mutations at diagnosis; whereas 18% (21/117) patients pts who had relapsed earlier had spliceosome mutations at diagnosis (p=0.419). Conclusions: The EFS benefit of randomization to midostaurin vs placebo when added to chemotherapy was maintained over time, although the benefit for OS was diminished, likely due in part to aging. Patient and disease factors differed between early vs late relapses, which could suggest the use of alternative therapies during distinct therapeutic stages.

Abstract Myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemias derive from the clonal expansion of hematopoietic cells driven by somatic gene mutations. Although assessment of morphology plays a crucial role in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with these malignancies, genomic characterization has become increasingly important for accurate diagnosis, risk assessment, and therapeutic decision making. Conventional cytogenetics, a comprehensive and unbiased method for assessing chromosomal abnormalities, has been the mainstay of genomic testing over the past several decades and remains relevant today. However, more recent advances in sequencing technology have increased our ability to detect somatic mutations through the use of targeted gene panels, whole-exome sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, and whole-transcriptome sequencing or RNA sequencing. In patients with myeloid neoplasms, whole-genome sequencing represents a potential replacement for both conventional cytogenetic and sequencing approaches, providing rapid and accurate comprehensive genomic profiling. DNA sequencing methods are used not only for detecting somatically acquired gene mutations but also for identifying germline gene mutations associated with inherited predisposition to hematologic neoplasms. The 2022 International Consensus Classification of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemias makes extensive use of genomic data. The aim of this report is to help physicians and laboratorians implement genomic testing for diagnosis, risk stratification, and clinical decision making and illustrates the potential of genomic profiling for enabling personalized medicine in patients with hematologic neoplasms.

Abstract The classification of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemias was last updated in 2016 within a collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO), the Society for Hematopathology, and the European Association for Haematopathology. This collaboration was primarily based on input from a clinical advisory committees (CACs) composed of pathologists, hematologists, oncologists, geneticists, and bioinformaticians from around the world. The recent advances in our understanding of the biology of hematologic malignancies, the experience with the use of the 2016 WHO classification in clinical practice, and the results of clinical trials have indicated the need for further revising and updating the classification. As a continuation of this CAC-based process, the authors, a group with expertise in the clinical, pathologic, and genetic aspects of these disorders, developed the International Consensus Classification (ICC) of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemias. Using a multiparameter approach, the main objective of the consensus process was the definition of real disease entities, including the introduction of new entities and refined criteria for existing diagnostic categories, based on accumulated data. The ICC is aimed at facilitating diagnosis and prognostication of these neoplasms, improving treatment of affected patients, and allowing the design of innovative clinical trials.

Abstract The results from the RATIFY trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00651261; CALGB 10603) showed that midostaurin combined with standard chemotherapy significantly improved outcomes in patients with FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)–mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML), compared with placebo. In this post hoc subgroup analysis from the trial, we evaluated the impact of midostaurin in 163 patients with FLT3-tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) mutations. At a median follow-up of 60.7 months (95% CI, 55.0-70.8), the 5-year event-free survival (EFS) rate was significantly higher in patients treated with midostaurin than in those treated with placebo (45.2% vs 30.1%; P = .044). A trend toward improved disease-free survival was also observed with midostaurin (67.3% vs 53.4%; P = .089), whereas overall survival (OS) was similar in the 2 groups. Patients with AML and NPM1mut/FLT3-TKDmut or core binding factor (CBF)–rearranged/FLT3-TKDmut genotypes had significantly prolonged OS with or without censoring at hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), compared with NPM1WT/CBF-negative AMLs. The multivariable model for OS and EFS adjusted for allogeneic HCT in first complete remission as a time-dependent covariable, revealed NPM1 mutations and CBF rearrangements as significant favorable factors. These data show that NPM1 mutations or CBF rearrangements identify favorable prognostic groups in patients with FLT3-TKD AMLs, independent of other factors, also in the context of midostaurin treatment.

AbstractMost patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are diagnosed with early-stage disease and managed with active surveillance. The individual course of patients with early-stage CLL is heterogeneous, and their probability of needing treatment is hardly anticipated at diagnosis. We aimed at developing an international prognostic score to predict time to first treatment (TTFT) in patients with CLL with early, asymptomatic disease (International Prognostic Score for Early-stage CLL [IPS-E]). Individual patient data from 11 international cohorts of patients with early-stage CLL (n = 4933) were analyzed to build and validate the prognostic score. Three covariates were consistently and independently correlated with TTFT: unmutated immunoglobulin heavy variable gene (IGHV), absolute lymphocyte count higher than 15 × 109/L, and presence of palpable lymph nodes. The IPS-E was the sum of the covariates (1 point each), and separated low-risk (score 0), intermediate-risk (score 1), and high-risk (score 2-3) patients showing a distinct TTFT. The score accuracy was validated in 9 cohorts staged by the Binet system and 1 cohort staged by the Rai system. The C-index was 0.74 in the training series and 0.70 in the aggregate of validation series. By meta-analysis of the training and validation cohorts, the 5-year cumulative risk for treatment start was 8.4%, 28.4%, and 61.2% among low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk patients, respectively. The IPS-E is a simple and robust prognostic model that predicts the likelihood of treatment requirement in patients with early-stage CLL. The IPS-E can be useful in clinical management and in the design of early intervention clinical trials.

7015 Background: Besides clinical staging, a number of biomarkers predicting OS in CLL have been identified. The multiplicity of markers, limited information on their independent value, and a lack of understanding of how to interpret discordant markers are major barriers to use in routine clinical practice. We developed an integrated prognostic index using the database of the German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG), which was subsequently validated in a cohort of untreated CLL patients (pts) from the Mayo Clinic. Methods: The analysis was based on a dataset collected between 1997 and 2006 in 3 GCLLSG phase III trials. The external validation was performed on a series of newly diagnosed CLL pts managed at Mayo Clinic. Results: The GCLLSG dataset (1,948 physically fit pts at early and advanced stage; median age: 60 yr (range 30-81); median observation time 63.4 mo) was used as a training dataset. 7 parameters were identified as independent predictors for OS: sex, age, ECOG status, del 17p, del 11q, IGHV mutation status, thymidine kinase and β2-microglobulin. By using a weighted grading a prognostic index was derived separating four different pts groups: low risk (score 0 - 2), intermediate risk (score 3-5), high risk (score 6-10) and very high risk (score 11-14) with significant different OS rates (95.2%, 86.9%, 67.7% and 18.7% OS after 5 yr for the low, intermediate, high and very high risk group respectively (p<0.001). This prognostic index was validated in a cohort of 676 newly diagnosed, untreated pts from the Mayo Clinic (median age 61.5 yr (range 32 - 89); median observation time 47.0 mo). The 4 risk groups were reproduced with 98.3%, 95.4%, 75.4% and 10.8% OS after 5 yr. The prognostic index predicts OS independent of Rai/Binet stage and provides accurate estimations regarding time to first treatment (TTF). C-statistic is 0.75. Conclusions: Using a multi-step process including external validation, we developed a comprehensive prognostic index combining clinical, serum, and molecular information into a single risk score for pts with untreated CLL. The prognostic index provides more accurate prediction of both TTF and OS. To our knowledge it is the first prognostic model in CLL to reach the C-statistic threshold (c > 0.70) necessary to have utility at the level of the individual.

Abstract Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) harboring FLT3 internal tandem duplications (ITDs) have poor outcomes, in particular AML with a high (≥0.5) mutant/wild-type allelic ratio (AR). The 2017 European LeukemiaNet (ELN) recommendations defined 4 distinct FLT3-ITD genotypes based on the ITD AR and the NPM1 mutational status. In this retrospective exploratory study, we investigated the prognostic and predictive impact of the NPM1/FLT3-ITD genotypes categorized according to the 2017 ELN risk groups in patients randomized within the RATIFY trial, which evaluated the addition of midostaurin to standard chemotherapy. The 4 NPM1/FLT3-ITD genotypes differed significantly with regard to clinical and concurrent genetic features. Complete ELN risk categorization could be done in 318 of 549 trial patients with FLT3-ITD AML. Significant factors for response after 1 or 2 induction cycles were ELN risk group and white blood cell (WBC) counts; treatment with midostaurin had no influence. Overall survival (OS) differed significantly among ELN risk groups, with estimated 5-year OS probabilities of 0.63, 0.43, and 0.33 for favorable-, intermediate-, and adverse-risk groups, respectively (P &lt; .001). A multivariate Cox model for OS using allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in first complete remission as a time-dependent variable revealed treatment with midostaurin, allogeneic HCT, ELN favorable-risk group, and lower WBC counts as significant favorable factors. In this model, there was a consistent beneficial effect of midostaurin across ELN risk groups.

Abstract The IGHV4-34 gene is very frequent (~10%) in the B cell receptor immunoglobulin (BcR IG) gene repertoire of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Over 30% of IGHV4-34 CLL cases can be assigned to different subsets with stereotyped BcR IG. The largest is subset #4 which represents ~1% of all CLL and ~10% of IGHV4-34 CLL and is considered a prototype for indolent disease. The BcR IG of a great majority (~85%) of IGHV4-34 CLL cases carry a significant load of somatic hypermutation (SHM), often with distinctive SHM patterns. This holds especially true for stereotyped subsets and is suggestive of particular modes of interactions with the selecting antigen(s). In detail, subsets #4 and #16, both involving IgG-switched cases (IgG-CLL), exhibit the greatest sequence similarity in SHM profiles, whereas they differ in this respect from IgM/D subsets #29 and #201. Prompted by these observations, here we explored the extent that these subset-biased SHM profiles in different IGHV4-34 stereotyped subsets were reflected in distinct demographics, clinical presentation, genomic aberrations and outcomes. Within a multi-institutional series of 20,331 CLL patients, 1790 (8.8%) expressed IGHV4-34 BcR IG. Following established bioinformatics approaches for the identification of BcR IG stereotypy, 573/1790 IGHV4-34 CLL cases (32%) were assigned to stereotyped subsets; of these, 340 cases (19% of all IGHV4-34 CLL and 60% of stereotyped IGHV4-34 cases) belonged to subsets #4, #16, #29 and #201, all concerning IGHV-mutated CLL (M-CLL). Clinicobiological information was available for 275/340 patients: #4, n=150; #16, n=44; #29, n=39; and #201, n=42. Comparisons between subsets revealed no differences in gender and age distribution. Interestingly, however, 36-43% of each subset cases were young for CLL (defined as patients aged ≤55 years), which is higher compared to general CLL cohorts, where young patients generally account for ~25% of cases. In contrast, significant differences were identified between subsets regarding: (i) disease stage at diagnosis, with >90% of IgG subsets #4 and #16 diagnosed at Binet stage A versus 83% in subset #201 and 74% in subset #29 (p=0.029); (ii) CD38 expression, ranging from 1% in subset #4 to 10% in subset #201 (p=0.013); (iii) the distribution of del(13q), peaking at a remarkable 92% in subset #29 versus only 37% in subset #16 (p<0.0001). Regarding other genomic aberrations, they were either absent (NOTCH1 mutations) or rare (SF3B1 mutations, trisomy 12, del(11q), TP53 aberrations due to either del(17p) and/or TP53 mutations). The sole exception concerned a high frequency (14%) of TP53 aberrations in subset #29 (p<0.05 compared with the other subsets), which is notable for M-CLL cases in general. Time to first treatment (TTFT) could be analyzed in 228 cases. IgG subsets #4 and #16 had significantly (p=0.036) longer TTFT (median TTFT: not yet reached) compared to the IgM/D subsets #29 and #201 (median TTFT: 11 and 12 years, respectively). In conclusion, we have identified distinct clinicobiological profiles for different stereotyped IGHV4-34 M-CLL subsets, highlighting subsets #4 and #16 as particularly indolent, which is important for both medical and social reasons, especially considering that a significant proportion of patients in these subsets are diagnosed at younger ages. Our findings support the notion that BcR IG stereotypy refines prognostication in CLL, superseding the crude immunogenetic distinction based on SHM load only. Additionally, the observed heterogeneity suggests that not all M-CLL are equal, prompting further research into the underlying biological background with the ultimate aim of tailored patient management. Disclosures Tausch: Gilead: Other: Travel support. Shanafelt:Glaxo-Smith_Kline: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Polyphenon E Int'l: Research Funding; Hospira: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Pharmactckucs: Research Funding; Cephalon: Research Funding. Niemann:Gilead: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Novartis: Other: Travel grant. Langerak:InVivoScribe: Patents & Royalties: Licensing of IP and Patent on BIOMED-2-based methods for PCR-based Clonality Diagnostics.; DAKO: Patents & Royalties: Licensing of IP and Patent on Split-Signal FISH. Royalties for Dept. of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, NL; Roche: Other: Lab services in the field of MRD diagnostics provided by Dept of Immunology, Erasmus MC (Rotterdam). Hallek:Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Speakers Bureau and/or Advisory Boards, Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria, Other: Speakers Bureau and/or Advisory Boards, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Other: Speakers Bureau and/or Advisory Boards, Research Funding; Boehringher Ingelheim: Honoraria, Other: Speakers Bureau and/or Advisory Boards; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Other: Speakers Bureau and/or Advisory Boards, Research Funding; Mundipharma: Honoraria, Other: Speakers Bureau and/or Advisory Boards, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Speakers Bureau and/or Advisory Boards, Research Funding; Gilead: Honoraria, Other: Speakers Bureau and/or Advisory Boards, Research Funding. Ghia:Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding.