Feusner, James H.

Abstract Purpose: Clinical trials in APL have generally reported similar outcomes for children and adults. However, sub-group analysis of pediatric patients treated on 2 consecutive trials of the European APL group demonstrated that children <5 years (yr) had an increased risk of relapse (Bally et al., JCO, 2012). Here we report the effect of age < 5 yr on outcome for the North American Intergroup Study C9710. Methods: Outcomes were compared among young children (age <5 yr, n=16) to those of older age (5-12 yr, n=25 and 13-18 yr, n=45) enrolled on C9710. Treatment on C9710 included induction with daunorubicin, cytarabine and ATRA followed by two consolidation cycles with daunorubicin and ATRA and maintenance for one year with ATRA +/- mercaptopurine and methotrexate. Patients of age ≥15 yr were randomized to receive or not receive two 5-week cycles of arsenic trioxide (ATO) before the chemotherapy consolidation. However, analysis in this study of young children compared to those of older age was restricted to patients who did not receive ATO. Results: Clinical remission (CR) rates were similar between the 3 age groups (age <5 yr= 88%, age 5-12 yr= 80%, age 13-18 yr= 82%; P=0.93). Overall survival (OS) Kaplan-Meier estimates were not significantly different (log rank P=0.84), and 5 yr OS rates were 77% (age <5 yr), 80% (age 5-12 yr), and 84% (age 13-18 yr). Similarly, event-free survival (EFS) Kaplan-Meier estimates were not significantly different (log rank P=0.48), and 5 yr EFS rates were 56% (age <5 yr), 47% (age 5-12 yr), and 59% (age 13-18 yr). Young children did not have a higher relapse rate (5-yr cumulative incidence of relapse by age: <5 yr=29%, 5-12 yr=49%, 13-18 yr=29%). Conclusions: Results of this intergroup trial demonstrate that ATRA administration during induction, consolidation and maintenance leads to CR rates >80% and 5 yr OS rates >75%. These results are superior to recently published results of pediatric non-APL acute myeloid leukemia and confirm results from the prior APL intergroup trial (INT0129) that demonstrated that ATRA in induction and/or maintenance significantly improved outcomes for pediatric APL (Gregory et al., Ped Blood and Cancer, 2009). Our sub-group analysis showed no association of age with outcomes in children treated with this regimen. Disclosures Off Label Use: Daunorubicin- labeled for use in AML for adults and for pediatric ALL (not pediatric AML) Arsenic Trioxide- labeled for use in relapsed/refractory APL (not de novo APL) Mercaptopurine and Methotrexate- labeled for use in pediatric ALL (not APL).

Abstract Purpose: Recent studies have demonstrated differential outcomes for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) vs. children treated for acute myeloid leukemia. Here we analyze outcomes by age group for APL patients treated on the North American Intergroup Study C9710. Methods: Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared between children (<15 yr, n=55) vs. AYAs (15-31 yr, n=42). To control for differences in treatment center, only young adults registered at Children’s Oncology Group (COG) treatment sites were included. Treatment included induction with daunorubicin, cytarabine and ATRA. All patients (pts) received two consolidation cycles with daunorubicin and ATRA and maintenance for one year with ATRA +/- mercaptopurine and methotrexate. Pts ≥15 yr were randomized to an additional two cycles of arsenic trioxide (ATO). Sub-group analysis was also performed to exclude pts ≥15 yr who received ATO and thus compare only patients <15 yr vs. ≥15 yr who had not received ATO. Results: Children and AYAs had similar characteristics of gender, race/ethnicity, Sanz risk grouping and M3v histology. Among all pts enrolled at COG sites on the study, complete response (CR) rates were similar (<15yr =85% vs. ≥15yr =81%, P=0.59). AYAs had improved 5 yr disease-free survival (DFS) from time of CR compared to younger pts (<15 yr =47% vs. ≥15 yr =70%, log rank P=0.05), and there was a trend toward difference in 5 yr event-free survival (EFS) (<15 yr =46% vs. ≥15 yr =63%, log rank P=0.13). Overall survival (OS) at 5 years was not significantly different (<15 yr =82% vs. ≥15 yr =75%, log rank P=0.47). Twenty-three of 42 pts ≥15 yr received ATO consolidation cycles, which may have contributed to their improved DFS and EFS. Thus, we analyzed outcomes by removing from the analysis patients ≥15 yr who received ATO consolidation cycles, and compared pts <15 yr who did not receive ATO (n=55) to pts ≥15 yr who were randomized to no ATO (n=19). CR rates were again similar (<15 yr =85% vs. ≥15 yr no ATO =84%, P=1.0). There was no significant difference in other outcomes including 5-yr DFS from time of CR (<15 yr =47% vs. ≥15 yr no ATO =63%, log rank P=0.31), 5-yr EFS (<15 yr =46% vs. ≥15 yr no ATO=53%, log rank P=0.89), or 5-yr OS (<15 yr =82% vs. ≥15 yr no ATO=79%, log rank P=0.78). Conclusions: The C9710 study demonstrated improved EFS, DFS and OS among adult patients receiving ATO consolidation compared to those who did not receive ATO (Powell et al., Blood, 2010). The current analysis of results for AYAs versus younger pediatric pts showed improved DFS among the whole AYA cohort (of which 55% received ATO consolidation) compared to pts <15 yr (of which 0% received ATO). When the analysis was restricted to AYA pts not receiving ATO, however, the results of this intergroup APL trial showed similar CR, DFS, EFS and OS for AYAs and younger pts. Thus, unlike other subtypes of AML, APL appears to have a consistent response across the pediatric and AYA age groups. The most recent COG clinical trial in APL is now evaluating whether pediatric patients can also benefit from ATO consolidation. Disclosures Off Label Use: Daunorubicin- labeled for use in AML for adults and for pediatric ALL (not pediatric AML) Arsenic Trioxide- labeled for use in relapsed/refractory APL (not de novo APL) Mercaptopurine and Methotrexate- labeled for use in pediatric ALL (not APL).

Abstract Abstract 1038 The relationships of inherent disease-related characteristics and of treatment to the nature of APL cell clones that emerge at disease relapse are poorly understood. We studied these relationships in 45 patients who relapsed after ATRA/chemotherapy treatment on the non-arsenic trixoxide arm of intergroup phase III trial C9710 (Powell, et al. Blood, Epub). Four variably-expressed APL cell clonal markers were assessed: PML-RARA ligand binding domain mutations (LBD-M), FLT3 internal tandem duplication mutations (ITD), FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase mutations (D835; RTK-M) and additional chromosome abnormalities (ACA), i.e., in addition to the hallmark t(15;17). The methods for mutation analysis of PML-RARA and FLT3 have been reported and were RNA transcript-initiated supplemented by selected quantitative FLT3 mutation analyses initiated from DNA. Karyotype data were derived by standard cytogenetic methods. Four patients were excluded from analysis because the sample level of PML-RARA, as determined by quantitative RT-PCR, was insufficient to exclude possible false-negative mutation results. In 41 evaluable patients, the marker incidences were: LBD-M, 44%; ITD, 37%; RTK-M, 12%; ACA (22 tested), 59%. At presentation, the corresponding incidences were: LBD-M, 0% (by high-sensitivity testing a minor subclone of the relapse mutation was found in 2/7 patients tested); ITD, 43% (37 tested); RTK-M, 22% (37 tested); ACA, 24% (34 tested). The low frequency of RTK-M impeded further analysis. The other markers, using relapse determinations, were assessed for potential associations between the markers and with the following parameters: age, sex, presenting WBC count, PML-RARA type, time to relapse, relapse on or off ATRA treatment (on = taking or within 30 days of discontinuing) and post-relapse survival. The most essential positive findings are summarized below:Association of Marker with Parameter or Other MarkerCases with ParameterCases without Parameterp-valuePretreatment parameters: LBD-M with WBC count < 5,000/uL12/18 (67%)7/23 (30%)0.030 ITD with WBC count >10,000/uL10/15 (67%)5/26 (19%)0.006 ITD with S-form PML-RARA15/15 (100%)10/26 (38%)<0.0001Relapse parameters: ITD with lack of ACA1/7 (14%)12/15 (80%)0.007 LBD with relapse On-ATRA11/18 (61%)7/23 (30%)0.064 Off-ATRA only: LBD with lack of ITD0/7 (0%)9/16 (56%)0.019 The results confirm reports, which tested pretreatment samples, of a strong association between FLT3ITD mutations present at relapse and high WBC count and S-form PML-RARA. At relapse, there was, also, divergent selection of ITD-harboring vs ACA-harboring clones. LBD-M occurred more frequently in patients with low presenting WBC counts. They, also, occurred in patients who relapsed while on ATRA, consistent with an ATRA selective role for clones harboring LBD mutations. A significant segregation of patients with LBD-M or ITD was observed after relapse off ATRA treatment (p = 0.019), while no segregation was observed in overall relapse patients (p = 0.346) or after relapse on ATRA (p = 0.316). In 2 patients who relapsed on ATRA, quantitative analysis indicated that LBD-M and ITD mutations must be present in the same APL cell clone. There were no significant survival differences related to any clonal marker (post-relapse survival = 66%). Although the small number of cases is cautionary, the overall data suggest that LBD-M may have an overriding, dominant APL clone selection role in relapse that occurs on ATRA therapy. Other inherent clinicopathologic characteristics of APL may predispose to divergent molecular pathways of disease progression and relapse in patients alternatively harboring clones with LBD-M or ITD after the termination of ATRA selection pressure. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

AbstractBackgroundAcute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a unique leukemia subtype requiring specialized treatment including all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA). A prior report demonstrated worse outcome among young children <5 years old compared with older children.MethodsWe evaluated outcomes for pediatric patients (<18 years old; N = 83) with APL treated on North American intergroup study CALGB 9710 at Children's Oncology Group sites. Induction and consolidation included ATRA, cytarabine, and anthracyclines. Patients ≥15 years old were randomized to addition of arsenic trioxide (ATO) consolidation. All patients were randomized to ATRA maintenance with versus without oral chemotherapy.ResultsThe estimated 5‐year overall survival (OS) rate was 82%, and the event‐free survival (EFS) rate was 54%. Seven patients (8.4%) died during induction due to coagulopathy. Maintenance randomization demonstrated that addition of oral chemotherapy to ATRA significantly reduced relapse rate, but difference in EFS did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.12; 5‐year rates [95% CI]: 41% [17%–64%] ATRA only vs 72% [56%–88%] ATRA plus chemotherapy). There was no difference (P = 0.93) in EFS for age <5 years versus 5–12.99 years versus 13–17.99 years (5‐year rates: 56%, 47%, and 45%, respectively). Among adolescents 15–17.99 years old in the ATO randomization, there was a significantly lower relapse risk at 5 years for those receiving ATO (0% ATO vs 44% no ATO; P = 0.02).ConclusionOur data demonstrate that intensified ATRA, cytarabine, and anthracycline chemotherapy is effective for pediatric APL including very young patients, but early deaths and relapses remain barriers to cure. Further improvements are likely with incorporation of ATO into pediatric APL regimens.

AbstractMutations in the all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)–targeted ligand binding domain of PML-RARα (PRα/LBD+) have been implicated in the passive selection of ATRA-resistant acute promyelocytic leukemia clones leading to disease relapse. Among 45 relapse patients from the ATRA/chemotherapy arm of intergroup protocol C9710, 18 patients harbored PRα/LBD+ (40%), 7 of whom (39%) relapsed Off-ATRA selection pressure, suggesting a possible active role of PRα/LBD+. Of 41 relapse patients coanalyzed, 15 (37%) had FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 internal tandem duplication mutations (FLT3-ITD+), which were differentially associated with PRα/LBD+ depending on ATRA treatment status at relapse: positively, On-ATRA; negatively, Off-ATRA. Thirteen of 21 patients (62%) had additional chromosome abnormalities (ACAs); all coanalyzed PRα/LBD mutant patients who relapsed off-ATRA (n = 5) had associated ACA. After relapse Off-ATRA, ACA and FLT3-ITD+ were negatively associated and were oppositely associated with presenting white blood count and PML-RARα type: ACA, low, L-isoform; FLT3-ITD+, high, S-isoform. These exploratory results suggest that differing PRα/LBD+ activities may interact with FLT3-ITD+ or ACA, that FLT3-ITD+ and ACA are associated with different intrinsic disease progression pathways manifest at relapse Off-ATRA, and that these different pathways may be short-circuited by ATRA-selectable defects at relapse On-ATRA. ACA and certain PRα/LBD+ were also associated with reduced postrelapse survival.

Abstract Few studies have examined the outcome of large numbers of patients with the microgranular variant (M3V) of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in the all-trans retinoic acid era. Here, the outcome of 155 patients treated with all-trans retinoic acid–based therapy on 3 clinical trials, North American Intergroup protocol I0129 and Programa para el Estudio de la Terapéutica en Hemopatía Maligna protocols LPA96 and LPA99, are reported. The complete remission rate for all 155 patients was 82%, compared with 89% for 748 patients with classical M3 disease. The incidence of the APL differentiation syndrome was 26%, compared with 25% for classical M3 patients, and the early death rate was 13.6% compared with 8.4% for patients with classical M3 morphology. With a median follow-up time among survivors of 7.6 years (range 3.6-14.5), the 5-year overall survival, disease-free survival, and cumulative incidence of relapse for patients with M3V were 70%, 73%, and 24%, respectively. With a median follow-up time among survivors of 7.6 years (range 0.6-14.3), the 5-year overall survival, disease-free survival, and cumulative incidence of relapse among patients with classical M3 morphology were 80% (P = .006 compared with M3V), 81% (P = .07), and 15% (P = .005), respectively. When outcomes were adjusted for the white blood cell count or the relapse risk score, none of these outcomes were significantly different between patients with M3V and classical M3 APL.

AbstractCCG-2961 incorporated 3 new agents, idarubicin, fludarabine and interleukin-2, into a phase 3 AML trial using intensive-timing remission induction/consolidation and related donor marrow transplantation or high-dose cytarabine intensifi-cation. Among 901 patients under age 21 years, 5-year survival was 52%, and event-free survival was 42%. Survival improved from 44% between 1996 and 1998 to 58% between 2000 and 2002 (P = .005), and treatment-related mortality declined from 19% to 12% (P = .025). Partial replacement of daunomycin with idarubicin in the 5-drug induction combination achieved a remission rate of 88%, similar to historical controls. Postremission survival was 56% in patients randomized to either 5-drug reinduction or fludarabine/cytarabine/idarubicin. For patients with or without a related donor, respective 5-year disease-free survival was 61% and 50% (P = .021); respective survival was 68% and 62% (P = .425). Donor availability conferred no benefit on those with inv(16) or t(8;21) cytogenetics. After cytarabine intensification, patients randomized to interleukin-2 or none experienced similar outcomes. Factors predictive of inferior survival were age more than 16 years, non-white ethnicity, absence of related donor, obesity, white blood cell count more than 100 000 × 109/L, −7/7q−, −5/5q−, and/or complex karyotype. No new agent improved outcomes; experience may have contributed to better results time.

Purpose Randomized comparisons of idarubicin (IDA) with daunorubicin (DNR) show that in adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), IDA achieves higher remission rates and longer remission durations. In Children's Cancer Group Pilot Study CCG-2941, we assessed toxicity and feasibility of substituting 4 mg of DNR with 1 mg of IDA in intensive-timing daunorubicin-based induction therapy (DNR/DNR) used in CCG-2891. Patients and Methods On days 1 through 3 and 10 through 14, patients received two courses of dexamethasone, cytarabine, 6-thioguanine, etoposide, and IDA (IDA/IDA). After enrollment of 65 patients, toxicity prompted replacement of IDA with DNR (IDA/DNR) on days 10 through 14 for the remaining 28 patients. Outcomes were compared with those of intensive timing in CCG-2891. Results Treatment-related mortality after two courses of induction was not significantly different among the three regimens: 14% with IDA/IDA, 7% with IDA/DNR, and 9% with DNR/DNR. In course 1 of CCG-2941 IDA/IDA, 11% of patients withdrew compared with 1.5% in CCG-2891 (P < .001) and 5% in CCG-2941 IDA/DNR (P = not significant). Compared with CCG-2891 DNR/DRN, CCG-2941 IDA/IDA increased days in hospital (43 v 36 days; P = .007), mean duration of course 1 by a week (P = .002), and risk of grade 3 or 4 hyperbilirubinemia (18% v 5%; P = .02). Toxicity of IDA/DNR was not different from that of DNR/DNR in CCG-2891. The mean day 7 marrow blast percentage was 11.4% in CCG-2941 versus 21.1% in CCG-2891 (P = .004). Remission induction, survival, and event-free survival rates were not significantly different from those of CCG-2891. Conclusion In CCG-2941, excessive toxicity and withdrawals outweighed potential benefits of early response with IDA.