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Üstün, Celalettin

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6896-6213

Mayo Clinic

Rush University Medical Center

Citations 39

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.
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.
Avapritinib achieves deep and durable symptom control with a well-tolerated safety profile in ism: Long-term outcomes from pioneer
Tashi, Tsewang , Elberink, Hanneke Oude , Akın, Cem , Panse, Jens , Radia, Deepti , Broesby‐Olsen, Sigurd , Cerquozzi, Sonia , Dybedal, Ingunn , Jurcic, Joseph G. , Barète, Stéphane , Reiter, Andreas , Pongdee, Thanai , Schafhausen, Philippe, Üstün, Celalettin , Vadas, Peter , Bonadonna, Patrizia , Rein, Lindsay , Vachhani, Pankit , Bidollari, Ilda, Lin, Huimin , Hong, Janet , Lampson, Benjamin L. , Doyle, A. E., Akin, Cem , Castells, Mariana , Siebenhaar, Frank , Livideanu, Cristina Bulai , Hartmann, Karin , George, Tracy I. , Sabato, Vito , Daele, Paul Van , Desai, Ruchi , Bose, Prithviraj , Triggiani, Massimo , DeAngelo, Daniel J. , Doyle, Ashley, Álvarez‐Twöse, Iván , Gotlib, Jason

Blood | December 4, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 2024-2024

10.1182/blood-2025-2024 Get It

Abstract Introduction: Indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM) is a clonal mast cell disease driven by the KIT D816V mutation in ~95% of cases and is associated with symptoms of mast cell activation and tissue infiltration. It can cause chronic, debilitating symptoms − including life-threatening anaphylaxis and impaired bone health. While historically most patients have relied on symptom-directed best supportive care (BSC) therapies, avapritinib is used as a new standard of care targeting KIT D816V, the primary driver for SM. Avapritinib is an oral, potent, selective KIT D816V inhibitor, and the first and only approved targeted therapy for adult patients with ISM in the USA and the EU. Approval was based on results from the phase 2 PIONEER trial. Here, we present the findings from ~3.5-year long-term follow-up. Methods: Adults with centrally confirmed ISM and uncontrolled moderate-to-severe symptoms who completed the randomized dose-finding (Part 1), or randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (Part 2) portions of PIONEER (NCT03731260) rolled over to the open-label, long-term extension (Part 3). This cumulative analysis includes patients who initiated avapritinib at the recommended dose of 25 mg once daily (QD) in either Parts 1, 2, or 3. All patients received BSC. Per investigator discretion and based on disease burden, dose titration up to 50 mg QD of avapritinib was permitted in Part 3. Long-term efficacy was assessed by measuring changes in symptoms and QoL, using the ISM-Symptom Assessment Form (ISM-SAF; ©2018 Blueprint Medicines, a Sanofi Company) and the Mastocytosis Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (MC-QoL). Safety was also assessed. Results: Overall, 226 patients initiated avapritinib 25mg QD across Parts 1, 2, and 3. This longer-term analysis is inclusive of 65 patients who dose titrated from 25 mg to 50 mg QD in Part 3. Median (range) treatment duration was 40.0 months (0.7‒67.2) as of February 21, 2025. Longer-term efficacy data with ~3.5 years of follow-up demonstrated sustained disease-related symptom improvements. The mean change (standard deviation [SD]) in total symptom score (TSS, per ISM-SAF), was −19.80 (19.81) at Week 144 (Month 33) and −20.43 (20.57) at Week 168 (Month 39) from a baseline of 48.08 (19.47). Additionally, avapritinib-treated patients demonstrated durable improvement in their most severe symptoms (mean change [SD] from baseline of −3.35 [3.02] at Month 33 and −3.47 [3.19] at Month 39) per ISM-SAF. Sustained responses were observed across all individual symptom domains (0–30) with mean changes (SD) at Month 33 and Month 39 of −3.77 (5.52) and −3.84 (6.05) for the gastrointestinal domain, −8.21 (7.70) and −8.20 (7.85) for the skin domain, and −4.66 (6.24) and −4.87 (6.51) for the neurocognitive domain. The mean percent change (SD) in MC-QoL was −34.67 (40.16) at Month 33 and −40.72 (33.24) at Month 39 from a baseline of 54.24 (18.32). Treatment with avapritinib was well tolerated, and its safety profile was similar to the previously reported placebo-controlled portion. Most treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were Grades 1–2, and 7% of patients experienced Grade ≥3 TRAEs of which diarrhea, neutrophil count decrease, and weight increase occurred in >1 patient. No Grade ≥3 TRAEs of increase in transaminases were observed. Edema (peripheral and periorbital), the most frequently reported TRAE, was mostly Grade 1 and occurred most frequently during the first 3–4 months of treatment. Three patients (1%) experienced serious adverse events assessed as treatment related. However, none led to treatment discontinuation and no trends were observed. After approximately 3.5 years of follow-up, low rates of treatment discontinuations (n=7, 3%) due to TRAEs were observed. Conclusion: Longer follow-up of patients with ISM treated on the PIONEER trial, including some on avapritinib for up to 5 years, demonstrates that prolonged avapritinib therapy continues to be effective and well tolerated. Additional prospective analyses will be needed to determine effects of selective KIT D816V-inhibition on anaphylaxis. These data support a favorable benefit-risk profile of avapritinib as a chronic treatment for adult patients with ISM.
Efficacy and safety results from the primary analysis of the pivotal summit trial: Bezuclastinib in adults with non-advanced systemic mastocytosis
Rein, Lindsay , Boggs, Nathan A. , Yi, Cecilia Y. Arana , Elberink, Hanneke Oude , Radia, Deepti , Reiter, Andreas , Piris‐Villaespesa, Miguel , Dybedal, Ingunn , Panse, Jens , Vachhani, Pankit , Kirshenbaum, Arnold S. , Vaughn, Jennifer E. , Cerquozzi, Sonia , Fahrenholz, John M., Pomares, Helena , Üstün, Celalettin , Herrscher, Richard, Barète, Stéphane , Rivera, Candido E., Vadas, Peter , McCulloch, Derek, Keohane, Clodagh, Schafhausen, Philippe, Pilla, Amanda, Zhang, Jenna, Sun, Lei , Shah, Nisha , Jolin, Hina, Easton, Rachael, Sachs, Jessica, Bose, Prithviraj , Modena, Brian D. , Sabato, Vito , Hartmann, Karin , Akin, Cem , George, Tracy I. , Yi, Cecilia Arana , Oh, Stephen T. , Hunter, Anthony M. , Castells, Mariana , Livideanu, Cristina Bulai , Daele, Paul Van , Álvarez‐Twöse, Iván , Taparia, Minakshi , Mital, Andrzej , Hus, Marek , Romano, Alessandra , Lansigan, Frederick , Papayannidis, Cristina , Rondoni, Michela , Manning, Michael, Guilarte, Mar , Bernstein, Jonathan A. , Elena, Chiara , Orfali, Nina M. , Mannelli, Francesco , Shah, Nisha, Siebenhaar, Frank , DeAngelo, Daniel J.

Blood | December 4, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 80-80

10.1182/blood-2025-80 Get It

Abstract Background: Systemic mastocytosis (SM) comprises a spectrum of subtypes characterized by neoplastic mast cell (MC) infiltration of tissues and release of MC mediators. Non-advanced SM (NonAdvSM), including indolent SM (ISM), smoldering SM (SSM), and bone marrow mastocytosis (BMM) subtypes, is the most prevalent form of SM. NonAdvSM can be associated with debilitating symptomology which can significantly impair quality of life. The gain-of-function somatic KIT c.2447 C>T (p.D816V) mutation is found in up to 95% of patients with SM. Bezuclastinib (CGT9486) is an oral, potent, and selective type 1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor with activity against KIT D816V. Results from Summit (NCT05186753) Part 1 informed the recommended phase 2 dose (100 mg QD bezuclastinib) for Part 2. We report topline results from the 24-week assessment of Summit Part 2. Methods: Summit is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled Phase 2 trial of bezuclastinib in patients with NonAdvSM who had inadequate symptom control despite best supportive care (BSC) medications. The primary endpoint was 24-week mean change from baseline in Mastocytosis Symptom Severity Daily Diary (MS2D2) total symptom score (TSS) (range 0–110), which is a fit-for-purpose patient-reported outcome measure of NonAdvSM symptom severity. Key secondary endpoints included the proportion of patients with ≥50% reduction in serum tryptase, KIT p.D816V variant allele frequency (VAF), bone marrow (BM) MC burden, and MS2D2 TSS, ≥30% TSS reduction. Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive 100mg QD bezuclastinib + BSC or PBO + BSC. Results: As of May 22, 2025, 179 patients were enrolled in Part 2: 119 were randomized to receive bezuclastinib and 60 to placebo. Patients enrolled were representative of the NonAdvSM population with moderate to severe symptoms. Median age (range) was 51 (23-78) years; 65.9% female; mean (SD) baseline MS2D2 TSS 55.6 (19.8); 82% of patients had ISM, 11% had BMM, and 7% had smoldering SSM. At baseline, median (range) KIT p.D816V VAF in whole blood, BM MC burden, and serum tryptase was 0.25% (0-34%), 10% (1-75%), and 40 (6-692) ng/mL, respectively. Bezuclastinib demonstrated statistically significant superiority to placebo on all primary and key secondary endpoints. At Week 24, bezuclastinib led to significantly greater symptom improvement vs placebo (LS mean [95% CI] MS2D2 TSS change: –24.3 [–27.6 to –21.1] vs –15.4 [–19.6 to –11.2]; placebo-adjusted difference: –8.9 points; P=0.0002). A ≥50% reduction in serum tryptase was achieved in 87.4% of bezuclastinib-treated patients vs 0% on placebo (P<0.0001). Significantly more patients receiving bezuclastinib achieved ≥50% reductions in KIT D816V VAF, serum tryptase, BM MCs (P<0.0001), MS2D2 TSS (P=0.01), and ≥30% reduction in MS2D2 TSS (P=0.0004). Most treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were low grade (gr; 70% Gr 1) and reversible. The most common TEAEs (≥10%) in any treatment group and occurring in greater frequency in the bezuclastinib arm were hair color changes (69.5% vs 5.0%), altered taste (23.7% vs 0%), nausea (22.0% vs 13.3%), increased ALT/AST (22.0% vs 6.6%), headache (17.8% vs 11.7%), alopecia (11.9% vs 3.3%), and increased ALP (10.2% vs 3.3%). TEAEs (≥10%) that occurred more often in the placebo group were diarrhea (13% vs 18%), dizziness (10% vs 12%), fatigue (7% vs 12%), and arthralgia (6% vs 15%). ALT/AST elevations ≥Gr 3 were experienced by 5.9% of patients. The only hepatic adverse events (AEs) reported were transient lab abnormalities; none required hospitalization. Treatment-related AEs requiring dose reductions occurred in 11% of patients receiving bezuclastinib. All discontinuations (5.9%) due to treatment-related AEs were due to transaminase elevations; all fully resolved. Conclusions: At 24-weeks, bezuclastinib 100 mg QD demonstrated statistically and clinically significant improvements in symptom burden and biomarkers of disease vs placebo in patients with NonAdvSM. The treatment was generally well-tolerated and effective across a population that is representative of the real-world NonAdvSM population, including SSM. These results support the use of bezuclastinib to reduce SM burden and symptoms in pts with NonAdvSM, and a potentially disease-modifying impact.
Allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation in advanced systemic mastocytosis in the new era: A CIBMTR study
Üstün, Celalettin , Zhang, Mei‐Jie , Peterson, Andrew C. , Baek, Alexander, Coltoff, Alex, Gandhi, Arpita , Ho, Vincent T., Lin, Adam, Gowda, Lohith , Mensah, Felix, Nadiminti, Kalyan , Trunk, Andrew D. , Uberti, Joseph P., Marcucci, Guido , Akın, Cem , Pullarkat, Vinod , Juckett, Mark, Saber, Wael , Burns, Linda J. , Alkhateeb, Hassan B , Borthakur, Gautam , Nadiminti, Kalyan V , Nishihori, Taiga , Trunk, Andrew , Hamadani, Mehdi , Oran, Betul , Peterson, Andrew, Agha, Mounzer , Alkhateeb, Hassan B. , Chhabra, Saurabh , Coltoff, Alex, Lima, Marcos de , Kassim, Adetola A , Lin, Adam, Borthakur, Gautam , DeAngelo, Daniel J. , McGuirk, Joseph P. , Nishihori, Taiga , Pantin, Jeremy , Gotlib, Jason , Akin, Cem , Hamadani, Mehdi , Valent, Peter , Grunwald, Michael R. , Oran, Betül

British Journal of Haematology | September 23, 2025 | Volume: 207 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 2486-2495

10.1111/bjh.70154 Get It

Summary We investigated the outcomes of patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis (AdvSM) undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic cell therapy (alloHCT) in the US. Twenty‐seven adult (median age, 58 years) patients with AdvSM received alloHCT from 2014 to 2021. Most patients were white (93%), male (63%) and had systemic mastocytosis (SM) with associated haematological neoplasm (SM‐AHN, 70%), received peripheral blood grafts (89%) and non‐myeloablative regimens. KIT mutation was detected in 14 of the reported 16 patients (87.5%). Post‐transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) was used in approximately 50% of the cohort. Approximately 1 year after alloHCT, median bone marrow mast cell burden decreased from 15% pre‐alloHCT to 1.5% (range 0–8) at 1 year post‐alloHCT. The median serum tryptase decreased from 55 ng/mL (range 3–400 ng/mL) pre‐alloHCT to 18 ng/mL (range 0–481 ng/mL) at 1 year post‐alloHCT. At 1 year, progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 59% (95% confidence interval [CI], 41%–77%) and 74% (95% CI, 56%–89%) respectively. In the subset of patients with SM‐AHN, 1‐year PFS and OS were 74% (52%–91%) and 79% (95% CI, 58%–94%) respectively. The cumulative incidence of relapse/progression for the entire population of patients with SM ( n = 27) was 4% (95% CI, 0–14) at 100 days and 15% (95% CI, 4–31) at 1 year. For the subset of patients with AHN, the cumulative incidence was 11% (95% CI, 1–28) at 100 days and 21% (95% CI, 6–42) at 1 year. Relapse/progression was the cause of death in six of 12 patients (5 died of AHN and 1 died of SM progression). Eighteen and nine patients received a KIT inhibitor before alloHCT and after alloHCT respectively. In addition, six patients received a KIT inhibitor for the treatment of relapse/progression of SM after alloHCT. Although it is difficult to delineate the exact effect of alloHCT and KIT inhibitors because of the size of the study in this era, the use of alloHCT and KIT inhibitors pre‐ and post‐ alloHCT is increasing. In the near future, larger studies are required to provide further insights into this subject.
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.
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.
Updated Efficacy and Safety Results of Patients Receiving Selected 100mg Bezuclastinib Dose and Participating in the Open-Label Extension of Summit: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Phase 2 Clinical Trial of Bezuclastinib in Adult Patients wi
Rein, Lindsay , Cridtina, Bulai Livideanu, Üstün, Celalettin , Boggs, Nathan, Kirshenbaum, Arnold S. , Dybedal, Ingunn , Yi, Cecilia Y. Arana , Herrscher, Richard, Patel, Jay , Sun, Lei, Shah, Nisha , Zhang, Jenna, Pilla, Amanda, DeAngelo, Daniel J. , Modena, Brian D. , Oh, Stephen T. , Boggs, Nathan, Manning, Michael, Hunter, Anthony M. , Akin, Cem , Yi, Cecilia Arana , Castells, Mariana , Lansigan, Frederick , George, Tracy I. , Shah, Nisha, Singh, Priya , Carden, Marcus A. , Siebenhaar, Frank , Bose, Prithviraj

Blood | December 6, 2024 | Volume: 144 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 4556-4556

10.1182/blood-2024-194551 Get It

Background: Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a rare disease characterized by neoplastic mast cell (MC) infiltration of extracutaneous tissues. Nonadvanced SM (NonAdvSM) is associated with debilitating symptoms which may significantly reduce health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In up to 95% of patients (pts), SM is driven by the somatic KIT c.2447 A>T (p.D816V) missense mutation. Bezuclastinib (bezu; CGT9486) is an oral, potent, small molecule, selective type 1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with activity against KIT D816V. Results from Part 1 of the 3-part Summit trial demonstrated that bezu is well-tolerated and is associated with encouraging clinical activity, including both reduced MC burden and improvement in symptoms over a 12-week (wk) period vs placebo (PBO). Based on safety, PK, biomarker, and efficacy results, a dose of 100mg QD bezu (optimized formulation) was selected for Summit Part 2. Trial Design and Methods: Summit (NCT05186753) is a multi-center, Phase 2, double-blind, PBO-controlled RCT of bezu in pts with NonAdvSM who have inadequate control of symptoms despite treatment with best supportive care (BSC). A novel pt-reported outcome measure, the Mastocytosis Symptom Severity Daily Diary (MS2D2), was designed to assess disease-specific symptom severity in NonAdvSM pts. Eleven symptoms are included in the MS2D2 Total Symptom Score (TSS). Summit Part 1a randomized pts 1:1:1 to PBO, 100mg, or 200mg, original formulation while Part 1b randomized 1:1:1 to PBO, 100mg, or 150mg, optimized formulation. Pts completing Part 1 of the Summit trial were allowed to receive bezu in the open-label extension (OLE) Part 3 of the trial. Results: As Part 2 will evaluate safety and efficacy of 100 mg bezu at 24 wks, this abstract reports on pts treated with both bezu formulations at 100mg in Parts 1a or 1b, which had similar PK exposures. The presentation will focus on 24-wk outcomes in pts receiving the selected 100 mg bezu dose and participating in the OLE. In Summit Part 1, 19 pts received PBO and 18 received 100 mg bezu for 12 wks. At baseline (BL), the symptoms identified as most severe were within the skin and fatigue domains. At BL, pts were managing their symptoms of NonAdvSM with 2 (43%), 3 (24%), or ≥4 (32%) BSC medications. At the 12-wk assessment in Part 1 (datacut 18Dec2023), the safety and tolerability profile was encouraging, with the majority of TEAEs low grade and reversible without dose modification. The most common TEAEs (>10% in 100 mg bezu) included hair color changes, nausea, diarrhea, peripheral edema, GERD, taste disorder, and neutropenia. There were no reported bleeding or cognitive impairment events. Of 37 pts randomized to PBO or 100 mg QD bezu, 36 (97%) received bezu in the OLE; one pt randomized to the 100 mg original formulation dose reduced and subsequently discontinued due to TEAE of ALT increase. All 19 PBO pts (100%) crossed over to receive bezu in the OLE; of these, 9 were randomized to the 100mg QD bezu dose. Reduction in MC burden was robust among those treated with 100mg bezu - 94.4%, 100%, and 92.3% of pts had at least a 50% reduction in basal serum tryptase, KIT p.D816V variant allele frequency, and bone marrow MCs, respectively. Pts treated with 100 mg bezu had reduction in MS2D2 TSS by 49.1% vs 21.1% with PBO. On a 0-10 scale, the most severe MS2D2 symptom mean change from BL was -3.03 from a BL mean of 7.6 with bezu vs -1.04 from a BL mean of 7.7 with PBO. Individual symptoms of the MS2D2 TSS, as well as others not in the TSS including diarrhea and brain fog, improved more with bezu than with PBO; mean change from BL ranged from -1.66 to -2.69 with bezu vs. a range of -0.52 to -1.58 with PBO. LS mean change from BL in quality of life (Mastocytosis (MC)-QoL, a disease-specific measure) was -22.05 in pts treated with 100mg bezu versus -10.71 in pts treated with PBO. Objective measurements of skin lesions, including centrally adjudicated longitudinal assessments of skin photography, also significantly reduced on bezu. Conclusions: In Part 1 (12 wk assessment), treatment with 100mg bezu resulted in favorable safety and tolerability, significant and deep reductions across all markers of MC burden, and clinically meaningful reduction in all individual MS2D2 TSS symptoms and across domains. The presentation will report on durability and safety/tolerability data beyond 12 wks for those pts randomized to 100 mg in Part 1 and pts who crossed over from PBO in Part 1 to 100mg in Part 3. Summit Part 2 is actively enrolling.
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.