Chen, Min

Abstract Infection is increasingly recognized as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) receiving CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. The current study analyzed the natural history, risk factors, and outcomes of infection in 3350 patients with R/R LBCL receiving commercial CD19 CAR T-cell therapy (n = 2804 axicabtagene ciloleucel [axi-cel], n = 546 tisagenlecleucel) from December 2017 to June 2022. Infection developed in 834 patients (24.9%) within 100 days after infusion, resulting in an infection density of 0.43 per 100 patient days and a 100-day cumulative incidence of 22%. Bacterial, viral, and fungal infections were recorded in 527 (15.7%), 374 (11.2%), and 108 patients (3.2%), respectively, with corresponding infection densities of 0.23, 0.15, and 0.04 per 100 patient days. After a 24-month median follow-up, 1482 patients (44%) had died, with infection as the primary cause in 173 cases (12%). The 100-day infection-related mortality (IRM) was 1.6% (95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.0). Patients with a Karnofsky performance score of ≤80, infection history before CAR T-cell therapy, axi-cel therapy, severe cytokine release syndrome (grade ≥3), and severe immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (grade ≥3) had increased infection risk. Infections within 100 days were an independent risk factor for inferior overall survival beyond day 100 after CD19 CAR T-cell therapy. In conclusion, study results show a significant incidence of infection and IRM in patients with R/R LBCL treated with CD19 CAR T-cell therapy. Furthermore, results identify patients at a heightened risk of infection, offering insights to guide potential interventions aimed at mitigating infection and improving patient outcomes after CAR T-cell therapy.

Introduction: IBER is an oral, potent novel cereblon E3 ligase modulator (CELMoD) agent with marked synergistic tumoricidal and immune-stimulatory effects in combination with BORT or DARA in preclinical models. CC-220-MM-001 is a phase 1/2 study evaluating dose escalations of IBER with different treatment combinations in independent cohorts, in patients (pts) with RRMM (NCT02773030); the IBER + DEX cohort showed a favorable safety profile with promising efficacy and a selected IBER RP2D of 1.6 mg 21/28 days (D). Here, we present results from the IBER + DARA + DEX (IberDd) and IBER + BORT + DEX (IberVd) cohorts. Methods: Eligible pts had received ≥ 2 prior regimens in the IberDd cohort, and ≥ 1 prior regimen in the IberVd cohort, containing at least lenalidomide or pomalidomide, and a proteasome inhibitor (PI), and had experienced disease progression on or within 60 days of last MM therapy. Escalating doses of IBER were given orally, in the IberDd cohort on D1-21, with DARA (16 mg/kg) on D1, D8, D15, and D22 (cycles [C]1-2), D1 and D15 (C3-6), and D1 (C ≥ 7), of each 28-day cycle; in the IberVd cohort, on D1-14, with BORT (1.3 mg/m2) on D1, D4, D8, and D11 (C1-8), and on D1 and D8 (C ≥ 9), of each 21-day cycle. In both cohorts DEX was given weekly. Primary objectives were to evaluate MTD, RP2D, and safety separately for each cohort; a key secondary objective was preliminary assessment of efficacy. Immune profiling was evaluated by flow cytometry from pt peripheral blood at C1D1, C2D15, C4D1, and C4D15. Results: As of June 18, 2020, 19 pts had received IberDd and 21 pts IberVd. Baseline characteristics for the 2 independent cohorts are shown in the table. All pts were refractory to their last prior regimen, and exposure to prior regimens was heterogeneous. IBER doses ranged from 1.0 to 1.6 mg; the MTD/RP2D has not been reached in either cohort. Median follow-up was 5 (0-14) and 3 (0-11) months, 10 (53%) and 13 (62%) pts continue on treatment, median cycles received was 5 (1-14) and 4.5 (1-17), with IberDd and IberVd, respectively. Grade (Gr) 3-4 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported in 14 (78%) pts with IberDd, and in 13 (65%) pts with IberVd. Most frequent Gr 3-4 TEAEs of interest included neutropenia (50%), leukopenia (22%), and anemia (22%) with IberDd; and neutropenia (20%) and thrombocytopenia (20%) with IberVd. In both cohorts, neutropenia was managed with G-CSF. One pt (IberDd; 1.2 mg dose) had Gr 4 neutropenic sepsis. Occurrence of Gr 3-4 non-hematological TEAEs was low in both cohorts. One pt had Gr 2 infusion-related reaction with IberDd, and 3 pts had Gr 1-2 peripheral neuropathy with IberVd. Six (33%) and 4 (20%) pts had IBER dose reductions with IberDd and IberVd, respectively. In the IberDd cohort, with 12/19 (63%) DARA-refractory pts and 11 (58%) quad-class-refractory pts, the overall response rate (ORR) was 35% across all dosing groups (2 very good partial responses [VGPRs], 4 partial responses [PRs]); the clinical benefit rate (CBR) was 47% and disease control rate (DCR) was 88%. In the IberVd cohort, with 16/21 (76%) PI-refractory pts, 9 (43%) BORT-refractory pts, and 10 (48%) quad-class refractory pts, ORR was 50% (1 complete response, 3 VGPRs, 6 PRs); CBR was 65% and DCR was 85%. Responses with IberDd and IberVd were observed irrespective of DARA- and BORT-refractoriness, respectively. Median time to response was 4.1 (4.1-12.0) and 4.9 (3.0-13.1) weeks, in the IberDd and IberVd cohorts, respectively; median duration of response was not reached in both cohorts. Immune profiling showed dose-dependent decreases in B cells and increases in activated and differentiated T cells, in both cohorts. Except for reductions in CD38+ T cells in pts receiving IberDd, these observations were similar in pts treated with IBER + DEX. Conclusions: IberDd and IberVd showed a favorable tolerability profile in heavily pretreated RRMM pts, with promising clinical activity, even among pts refractory to the last prior regimen and previously exposed to IMiD agents, PIs, and CD38 antibodies. Immune-profiling data confirm that IBER + DEX was pharmacodynamically active in triplet combination and not augmented by the addition of DARA or BORT. The study is ongoing with continued enrollment at the 1.6 mg dose level for both cohorts. Updated results, including the MTD/RP2D, will be presented at the meeting. These results support the further development of IBER-based regimens in MM; phase 3 trials are planned to further evaluate these combinations. Disclosures van de Donk: Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Ferrer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Popat:Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company). Larsen:Janssen Oncology: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Minnema:Servier: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Other: travel support, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy. Jagannath:BMS, Janssen, Karyopharm, Legend Biotech, Sanofi, Takeda: Consultancy. Oriol:Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GlaxoSmithKline: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Zonder:Prothena: Consultancy; Intellia: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees; Celgene: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees; Oncopeptide: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees; Alnylam: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Personal fees; Caelum: Consultancy; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees. Richardson:Celgene/BMS, Oncopeptides, Takeda, Karyopharm: Research Funding. Rodriguez-Otero:Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Medscape: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene/Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kite: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Oncopeptides: Consultancy, Honoraria. Badros:Amgen: Consultancy; University of Maryland: Current Employment. Stadtmauer:Sanofi: Consultancy; AbbVie: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding. Bringhen:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Siegel:Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celulatiry: Consultancy; Karyopharma: Consultancy, Honoraria. Gamberi:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; GSK: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria. Gironella Mesa:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Sonneveld:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Skyline Dx: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy. Nguyen:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Di Micco:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Sorrell:Children's Oncology Group: Other: Non-member; Previous Study Chair AAML08B1; Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Chen:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Amatangelo:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Kueenburg:Celgene International Sàrl, a Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Boudry, Switzerland: Current Employment. Lonial:Onyx: Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees; Genentech: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees; Abbvie: Consultancy; Millennium: Consultancy, Honoraria; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; JUNO Therapeutics: Consultancy; TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy, Other: Personal fees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees, Research Funding; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees.

Abstract Introduction Few treatments options are available for patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have previously been treated with lenalidomide (LEN) and bortezomib (BORT), and their prognosis is poor. Pomalidomide (POM) is a distinct IMiD® immunomodulatory agent with a mechanism of action consisting of direct anti-myeloma, stromal-support inhibitory, and immunomodulatory effects. In randomized phase 2 and 3 trials (MM-002 and MM-003), POM plus low-dose dexamethasone (POM+LoDEX) demonstrated marked efficacy in RRMM pts who had received multiple prior therapies, including LEN and BORT. This side-by-side analysis presents the most recent survival and safety data from these trials. Methods The MM-002 and MM-003 trials enrolled pts with ≥ 2 prior therapies, including LEN and BORT. In MM-002, pts received POM (4 mg/day on days 1–21 of each 28-day cycle) alone or in combination with LoDEX (40 mg/week). In MM-003, pts were randomized 2:1 to receive POM+LoDEX or high-dose DEX alone (HiDEX) (40 mg/days 1–4, 9–12, 17–20 in a 28-day cycle); HiDEX was chosen as the comparator to isolate the effects of POM, as at the time of trial design it was the standard salvage therapy for heavily pretreated pts. Thromboprophylaxis was required for all pts treated with POM and pts at high risk of developing venous thromboembolism. Data cutoff was February 1, 2013 for MM-002 and March 1, 2013 for MM-003. The primary endpoint in both trials was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), response rates, duration of response, and safety. Results In each study, pts had received a median of 5 prior therapies (range 1-17), and all pts had received prior LEN and BORT. In MM-002, 113 pts were treated with POM+LoDEX and 108 were treated with POM alone (60% of POM alone pts subsequently received DEX). A total of 79% of pts were LEN refractory; 62% were refractory to both LEN and BORT; and 35% had received LEN as their last prior therapy. With a median follow-up of 14.2 months (mos), median PFS was 4.2 mos, OS was 16.5 mos, and overall response rate (ORR, defined as at least a partial response) was 33% with POM+LoDEX (Table 1). In MM-003, 302 pts were treated with POM+LoDEX and 153 pts were treated with HiDEX (50% of HiDEX pts subsequently received POM). A total of 94% of pts were LEN refractory; 74% were both LEN and BORT refractory; and 29% had received LEN as their last prior therapy. Survival outcomes were similar in MM-003; with a median follow-up of 10 mos, median PFS was 4.0 mos, OS was 12.7 mos, and ORR was 31% with POM+LoDEX. In both trials, LEN as last prior therapy did not impact response, PFS, or OS vs the overall population. Commonly observed adverse events (AEs) are presented in Table 2 for pts treated with POM+LoDEX. Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia was 28% and 13% in MM-002, and 26% and 22% in MM-003 for the POM+LoDEX arms, respectively. AEs were generally manageable for POM+LoDEX in MM-002 and MM-003 with dose interruptions (67% for both) and reductions (29% and 26%, respectively), and standard supportive care, including growth factor support (46% and 43%), red blood cell transfusions (45% and 49%), platelet transfusions (14% and 20%), and anti-infective agents (89% in both trials). Rates of POM discontinuation due to treatment-related AEs were low (2–4% with POM+LoDEX). In MM-002 and MM-003, 49% and 51% of pts in the POM+LoDEX arms experienced neutropenia of any grade. With appropriate AE management, 9% and 23% had dose interruptions, 4% and 8% had dose reductions, and 1 pt in both MM-002 and MM-003 discontinued due to neutropenia. Febrile neutropenia developed in 3% and 10% of pts; 1% and 4% had dose interruptions, 0% and 2% had dose reductions, and no pts discontinued due to febrile neutropenia in the MM-002 and MM-003 studies, respectively. The majority of infections occurred in the absence of neutropenia of any grade (54% in MM-002 and 66% in MM-003). The rate of POM discontinuation due to infection was low (1% in MM-002 and 2% in MM-003). Conclusion In both the MM-002 and MM-003 trials, POM+LoDEX consistently extended PFS in advanced RRMM pts. PFS, OS, and ORR were not negatively impacted in patients who were refractory to LEN or BORT, even as last prior therapy. Both trials demonstrated that with dose modifications and supportive care POM was well tolerated, leading to few discontinuations. POM+LoDEX should be considered a standard of care for pts with advanced RRMM who have exhausted LEN and BORT. Disclosures: Siegel: Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Onyx: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Millennium: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Richardson:Millennium: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Johnson & Johnson: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene Corporation: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Dimopoulos:Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Chen:Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Song:Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Vij:Onyx: Consultancy, Research Funding; Millenium: Speakers Bureau; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Bahlis:Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Baz:Millenium: Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Celgene Corporation: Research Funding. Hofmeister:Celgene Corporation: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Weisel:Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Jagannath:Millennium: Honoraria; Celgene Corporation: Honoraria. Lonial:Millennium: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Onyx: Consultancy; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy. Delforge:Celgene Corporation: Honoraria. Talpaz:Ariad, Sanofi, Novartis: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Ariad, Novartis, BMS, Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; Ariad, BMS, Sanofi, INCYTE: Research Funding. Moreau:Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. San Miguel:Jansen, Celgene Corporation, Onyx, Novartis, Millenium: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Karlin:Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Expert board committee Other, Honoraria. Goldschmidt:Celgene Corporation, Janssen, Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Oriol:Celgene Corporation: Consultancy. Alegre:Janssen: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene Corporation: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Cavo:Millennium: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Onyx: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Martinez-Lopez:Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding. Lacy:Celgene Corporation: Research Funding. Chen:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Casey:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Sternas:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Zaki:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Jacques:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Anderson:Onyx: Consultancy, Equity Ownership; Gilead: Consultancy, Equity Ownership; sanofi aventis: Consultancy, Equity Ownership; Oncopep: Consultancy, Equity Ownership; Acetylon: Consultancy, Equity Ownership; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Equity Ownership.

Abstract Presumably, reduced-intensity/nonmyeloablative conditioning (RIC/NMA) for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) results in reduced infections compared with myeloablative conditioning (MAC) regimens; however, published evidence is limited. In this Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research study, 1755 patients (aged ≥40 years) with acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission were evaluated for infections occurring within 100 days after T-cell replete alloHCT. Patients receiving RIC/NMA (n = 777) compared with those receiving MAC (n = 978) were older and underwent transplantation more recently; however, the groups were similar regarding Karnofsky performance score, HCT–comorbidity index, and cytogenetic risk. One or more infections occurred in 1045 (59.5%) patients (MAC, 595 [61%]; RIC/NMA, 450 [58%]; P = .21) by day 100. The median time to initial infection after MAC conditioning occurred earlier (MAC, 15 days [range, <1-99 days]; RIC/NMA, 21 days [range, <1-100 days]; P < .001). Patients receiving MAC were more likely to experience at least 1 bacterial infection by day 100 (MAC, 46% [95% confidence interval (CI), 43-49]; RIC/NMA, 37% [95% CI, 34-41]; P = .0004), whereas at least a single viral infection was more prevalent in the RIC/NMA cohort (MAC, 34% [95% CI, 31-37]; RIC/NMA, 39% [95% CI, 36-42]; P = .046). MAC remained a risk factor for bacterial infections in multivariable analysis (relative risk, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.23-1.67; P < .0001). Moreover, the rate of any infection per patient-days at risk in the first 100 days (infection density) after alloHCT was greater for the MAC cohort (1.21; 95% CI, 1.11-1.32; P < .0001). RIC/NMA was associated with reduced infections, especially bacterial infections, in the first 100 days after alloHCT.

Key Points Pomalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone significantly improved PFS vs pomalidomide alone in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Pomalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone is an important new treatment option for RRMM patients who have received multiple prior therapies.