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Heaney, Mark

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4886-9149

Mayo Clinic

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Citations 12

Phase 2 study of ruxolitinib and decitabine in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm in accelerated and blast phase
Mascarenhas, John , Rampal, Raajit K. , Bhave, Rupali , Hexner, Elizabeth O. , Wang, Eunice S. , Gerds, Aaron T. , Abboud, Camille N. , Kremyanskaya, Marina , Berenzon, Dimitry, Odenike, Olatoyosi , Farnoud, Noushin , Krishnan, Aishwarya , Weinberg, Rona Singer , Salama, Mohamed E. , Najfeld, Vesna , Medina-Martínez, Juan S. , Zhou, Yangyu, Sandy, Lonette, Heaney, Mark , Levine, Ross L. , Dueck, Amylou C. , Dueck, A. C. , Wang, Eunice S. , Gerds, Aaron T , Mascarenhas, John , Hexner, Elizabeth , Najfeld, Vesna , Kosiorek, Heidi , McGovern, Erin , Ossa, Juan Arango , Levine, Max F. , Mesa, Ruben A. , Hoffman, Ronald

Blood Advances | October 26, 2020 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 20 | Pages: 5246-5256

10.1182/bloodadvances.2020002119 Get It

Abstract Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) that have evolved into accelerated or blast phase disease (MPN-AP/BP) have poor outcomes with limited treatment options and therefore represent an urgent unmet need. We have previously demonstrated in a multicenter, phase 1 trial conducted through the Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Research Consortium that the combination of ruxolitinib and decitabine is safe and tolerable and is associated with a favorable overall survival (OS). In this phase 2 trial, 25 patients with MPN-AP/BP were treated at the recommended phase 2 dose of ruxolitinib 25 mg twice daily for the induction cycle followed by 10 mg twice daily for subsequent cycles in combination with decitabine 20 mg/m2 for 5 consecutive days in a 28-day cycle. Nineteen patients died during the study follow-up. The median OS for all patients on study was 9.5 months (95% confidence interval, 4.3-12.0). Overall response rate (complete remission + incomplete platelet recovery + partial remission) was 11/25 (44%) and response was not associated with improved survival. We conclude that the combination of decitabine and ruxolitinib was well tolerated, demonstrated favorable OS, and represents a therapeutic option for this high-risk patient population. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02076191.
ACVR1/JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor momelotinib reverses transfusion dependency and suppresses hepcidin in myelofibrosis phase 2 trial
Oh, Stephen T. , Gerds, Aaron T. , Verstovšek, Srđan , Miller, Carole B., Rivera, Candido E., Goel, Swati , Heaney, Mark , Arcasoy, Murat O. , Zhang, Yafeng , Ganz, Tomas , Kowalski, Mark , Brachmann, Carrie Baker, Gerds, Aaron T , Verstovsek, Srdan , Oh, Stephen T , Talpaz, Moshe , Gupta, Vikas , Mesa, Ruben A. , Fleischman, Angela G. , O'Connell, Casey Lee , Kawashima, Jun

Blood Advances | September 11, 2020 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 18 | Pages: 4282-4291

10.1182/bloodadvances.2020002662 Get It

Abstract Momelotinib (MMB) is a JAK1/2 and ACVR1 inhibitor with demonstrated clinical activity in all 3 hallmarks of myelofibrosis (MF): anemia, constitutional symptoms, and splenomegaly. In this phase 2 open-label translational biology study (NCT02515630) of 41 transfusion-dependent patients with MF, we explored mechanisms underlying the favorable activity of MMB on MF-associated iron-restricted anemia, including its impact on serum hepcidin levels, and markers of iron storage and availability, erythropoiesis, and inflammation. A transfusion-independent response (TI-R), defined as red blood cell transfusion independence (TI) ≥12 weeks at any time on study, occurred in 17 patients (41%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 26%-58%), including 14 patients (34%; 95% CI, 20%-51%) who achieved TI-R by week 24. In addition, 78% of TI nonresponse (TI-NR) patients achieved a ≥50% decrease in transfusion requirement for ≥8 weeks. Adverse events (AEs) were consistent with previous studies of MMB in MF, with cough, diarrhea, and nausea as the most common. Twenty-one patients experienced grade ≥3 AEs, most commonly anemia and neutropenia. Consistent with preclinical data, daily MMB treatment led to an acute and persistent decrease in blood hepcidin associated with increased iron availability and markers of erythropoiesis. Baseline characteristics associated with TI-R were lower inflammation and hepcidin as well as increased markers of erythropoiesis and bone marrow function. Overall, the study demonstrates that MMB treatment decreases hepcidin in conjunction with improving iron metabolism and erythropoiesis, suggesting a mechanistic explanation for the reduced transfusion dependency observed in transfusion-dependent MF patients treated with MMB, thereby addressing the key unmet medical need in the MF population.
Erdheim-Chester disease: consensus recommendations for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment in the molecular era
Goyal, Gaurav , Heaney, Mark , Collin, Matthew , Cohen‐Aubart, Fleur , Durham, Benjamin H. , Hershkovitz‐Rokah, Oshrat , Girschikofsky, Michael , Jacobsen, Eric D. , Toyama, Kazuhiro, Goodman, Aaron M. , Hendrie, Paul C. , Estrada‐Veras, Juvianee , Shpilberg, Ofer , Abdo, André , Kurokawa, Mineo , Mazor, Roei David , Jankú, Filip , Haroche, Julien , Goyal, Guarav , Collin, Matthew , Hershkovitz-Rokah, Oshrat , Mazor, Roei D , Durham, Benjamin , Vaglio, Augusto , Cao, Xin-Xin , Dagna, Lorenzo , McClain, Kenneth L. , Picarsic, Jennifer , Go, Ronald S. , Diamond, Eli L.

Blood | March 18, 2020 | Volume: 135 | Issue: 22 | Pages: 1929-1945

10.1182/blood.2019003507 Get It

Abstract Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare histiocytosis that was recently recognized as a neoplastic disorder owing to the discovery of recurrent activating MAPK (RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK) pathway mutations. Typical findings of ECD include central diabetes insipidus, restrictive pericarditis, perinephric fibrosis, and sclerotic bone lesions. The histopathologic diagnosis of ECD is often challenging due to nonspecific inflammatory and fibrotic findings on histopathologic review of tissue specimens. Additionally, the association of ECD with unusual tissue tropism and an insidious onset often results in diagnostic errors and delays. Most patients with ECD require treatment, except for a minority of patients with minimally symptomatic single-organ disease. The first ECD consensus guidelines were published in 2014 on behalf of the physicians and researchers within the Erdheim-Chester Disease Global Alliance. With the recent molecular discoveries and the approval of the first targeted therapy (vemurafenib) for BRAF-V600–mutant ECD, there is a need for updated clinical practice guidelines to optimize the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. This document presents consensus recommendations that resulted from the International Medical Symposia on ECD in 2017 and 2019. Herein, we include the guidelines for the clinical, laboratory, histologic, and radiographic evaluation of ECD patients along with treatment recommendations based on our clinical experience and review of literature in the molecular era.
Evaluation Of Afuresertib, An Oral Pan-AKT Inhibitor, In Patients With Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis
Arceci, R.J., Jacobsen, Eric D. , Vassallo, Robert , Borrello, Ivan , Oliff, Allen, Morris, Shannon R., Reedy, Beth Ann, Portnoy, Alison, Smith, Deborah A. , Noble, Bob, Murnane, Amy A., Szabo, Stephen A., Heaney, Mark , Vaseilbuh, Sarah, Vassallo, Robert , Allen, Carl E. , Dunkel, Ira J. , Whitlock, James A. , Rodríguez‐Galindo, Carlos , McClain, Kenneth L.

Blood | October 14, 2019 | Volume: 122 | Issue: 21 | Pages: 2907-2907

10.1182/blood.v122.21.2907.2907 Get It

Abstract Background Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a heterogeneous disease whose myriad manifestations result from accumulation of Langerhans cells in a variety of organs most commonly including skin, bone, central nervous system, liver, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. The disease can affect people of any age. Treatment is primarily driven by disease extent and organ involvement and can range from focused radiation or surgery to multi-agent chemotherapy. There is a relatively high recurrence rate following complete remissions with conventional chemotherapy. In the first-time-in-human (FTIH) study of the oral pan-AKT inhibitor afuresertib (GSK2110183), in patients with hematologic malignancies, a patient with refractory multi-system LCH experienced a prolonged period (> 3 years) of clinical benefit on 125mg oral once daily afuresertib. This observation led to the evaluation of the use of afuresertib in patients with LCH. Methods This single-arm, open-label trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of afuresertib, administered at 125 mg once daily, in adults and adolescents with relapsed/refractory LCH and adults with treatment-naïve LCH. Secondary objectives included pharmacokinetics. Diagnosis of LCH was confirmed by pathology review of archival tissue. The Histiocyte Society criteria were used for response evaluation at three and six months with safety and pharmacokinetic assessments performed at pre-specified intervals. BRAF status from archival tissue was evaluated by Sanger sequencing. Results 17 patients (16 adults, 10 females) were enrolled; median age was 38 years (15-75). 3/17 patients had isolated pulmonary disease, 1/17 had single-system multifocal-bone disease, 1/17 had single-system skin disease, and 12/17 had multi-system disease. Seven patients were treatment-naïve; 10 had relapsed/refractory disease, including the one adolescent. The most frequent (>20% of patients) adverse events (AEs), regardless of causality, were nausea (59%), fatigue (59%), upper respiratory infection (47%), diarrhea (47%), dyspepsia (35%), bone pain (39%), asthenia (24%), memory impairment (24%), decreased appetite (24%) and vomiting (24%). Most AEs were Grade 1 or 2 in severity; no Grade 4 AEs were reported and no Grade 3 AEs occurring in more than 1 subject were reported. 6/17 (35%) had afuresertib dose modifications (interruption or reduction). Afuresertib plasma concentrations in the adult patients were similar to values seen in adult patients with other hematologic malignancies in the FTIH study. Following a single dose, the concentration-time profile in the adolescent patient was similar to adults in the FTIH study (Tmax = 3h: Cmax 229 ng/ml: AUC24 = 3893 ng*h/mL). 15 patients had archival tissues collected for BRAF testing; 13 had DNA suitable for analysis. 2/13 was BRAF V600E mutant and 11/13 were BRAF wild type. Upon evaluation of the all-treated patient population, 5/17 (29%) patients were reported as better at the three and/or six month disease assessment. Among the 5 responders, three were treatment-naïve and two had relapsed/refractory disease. The median duration on study for all patients was 214 (44-426) days. For the 5 patients who responded, the median duration on study was 372 (255-426) days. Conclusion The pharmacokinetic and safety profile of afuresertib in patients with LCH was consistent with that observed in patients with other hematologic malignancies evaluated in the FTIH study. Afuresertib was active in patients with both treatment-naïve and relapsed/refractory disease. Additional evaluation, including molecular profiling, may be warranted alone or in combination with BRAF inhibitors or established therapies for LCH to determine the optimal population of patients with LCH who might benefit from afuresertib Disclosures: Vassallo: GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding. Oliff:GlaxoSmithKline: Employment. Morris:GlaxoSMithKline: Employment. Reedy:GlaxoSmithKline: Employment. Portnoy:GlaxoSmithKline: Stock, prior employee Other. Smith:GlaxoSmithKline: Employment, Equity Ownership. Noble:GlaxoSmithKline: Employment, stock Other. Murnane:GlaxoSmithKline: Employment, stock Other. Szabo:GlaxoSmithKline: Employment. Heaney:Novartis: Research Funding; Sanofi-Aventis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Onconova: Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding.
Efficacy of Combined Ruxolitinib and Decitabine in Patients with Accelerated and Blast-Phase Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: Results of a Phase II Study (MPN-RC 109 trial)
Rampal, Raajit K. , Bhave, Rupali , Heaney, Mark , Abboud, Camille N. , Kremyanskaya, Marina , Berenzon, Dmitriy, Odenike, Olatoyosi , Virtgaym, Elizabeth, Sandy, Lonette, Weinberg, Rona Singer , Salama, Mohamed E. , Mascarenhas, John , Kosiorek, Heidi , Hexner, Elizabeth O. , Wang, Eunice S. , Gerds, Aaron T. , Najfeld, Vesna , Levine, Ross L. , Mesa, Ruben A. , Dueck, Amylou C. , Hoffman, Ronald

Blood | October 14, 2019 | Volume: 132 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 3027-3027

10.1182/blood-2018-99-111935 Get It

Abstract Background: The Philadelphia chromosome negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), including polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF), carry a propensity to evolve into an accelerated phase (MPN-AP, 10-19% blasts in the blood or marrow) and blast phase (MPN-BP, ≥20% in the blood or marrow). Such disease evolution carries a dismal prognosis with a median survival of 3-5 months, and thus the development of innovative treatment strategies represents an urgent unmet clinical need. Responses in patients with MPN-AP/BP to both hypomethylating agents and single-agent ruxolitinib (RUX) have been reported. In vitro, the combination of RUX and decitabine (DEC) are synergistically active in cells derived from patients with MPN-BP and from a murine model of MPN-BP. These observations led us to explore the safety of the combination in MPN-AP/BP in a phase I study. An MTD for RUX in combination with DEC 20mg/m2/d x 5 days was not reached in this study and the recommended Phase II dose of RUX was selected as 25mg BID for the first cycle of therapy followed by 10mg BID in subsequent cycles with a goal to minimize myelosuppression and maintain ambulatory administration (Rampal et al ASH 2016). Here we report the final results of the phase 2 combination of RUX + DEC in patients with MPN-AP/BP (NCT02076191). Methods: We conducted a multicenter, open label, phase II trial in patients with MPN-AP/BP, following a previous diagnosis of ET, PV or PMF. Patients enrolled were treated with the RPTD dose of RUX + DEC on a 28-day cycle until progression of disease, unacceptable toxicity or patient/physician withdrawal. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed using the NCI CTCAE v4.0. The primary endpoint was response rate by cycle 6 using modified Cheson criteria: CR required 0% peripheral blood blasts, ANC >1000/uL, hemoglobin ≥10g/L, and platelets ≥100x109/L; CRi required 0% peripheral blood blasts with incomplete count recovery; and PR required ≥50% decrease in peripheral blood blasts regardless of blood counts. Results: A total of 25 patients were accrued to study. The median age was 71 years (46.7-85.6). 10 patients (40%) had MPN-AP and 15 patients (60%) had MPN-BP. 6 patients (24%) had been previously been treated with single-agent RUX, and 2 patients (8%) had been treated with single-agent DEC. Median palpable spleen size was 7cm (range 0 - 20cm). The median number of cycles of treatment received on study was 4 (range 1 - 20). The most common grade 3/4 non-hematologic AEs observed were pneumonia (16%), febrile neutropenia (16%) and infection (8%). The most common grade 3/4 hematologic AEs were anemia (16%), neutropenia (12%) and leukopenia (8%). The most common reasons for study discontinuation were AEs in 9 patients (36%), disease progression in 5 (20%) patients and hematopoietic cell transplantation in 2 (8%) patients. Eighteen (72%) patients were evaluable for response. The overall response rate (CR+CRi+PR) was 61% (11/18 patients). CRi was observed in 2 patients (11%), PR in 9 patients (50%) and no response in 7 patients (39%). The median time to CR/PR was 3.4 mos (95% CI: 2.1 - not estimated). The median peripheral blood blast count reduction was 80.1% (range 71.4-100%) (Figure 1A). The median reduction in spleen size by palpation was 70.5% (range 0-100%) (Figure 1B). Median overall survival for all patients was 7.6 months (95% CI: 4.3 - Not estimated); 9.7 months (95% CI: 4.3 - Not estimated) for MPN-BP and 5.8 months (95% CI: 3.6 - Not estimated) for MPN-AP (Figure 2). Three patients (17%) were able to proceed to HCT. The results of ongoing genomic, histopathologic and cytokine profiling studies will be available for presentation at the meeting. Conclusions: The combination of RUX+DEC has activity in patients with MPN-AP/BP. The drug combination is generally well tolerated and can be administered as an outpatient, a distinct advantage over intensive induction therapies that have not shown significant benefit in these patients. Additional work is ongoing to assess the genomic and clinical variables predictive of response with this combination therapy approach. Given the tolerability and efficacy, this regimen may be of particular benefit to patients who are not candidates for intensive therapies. Disclosures Rampal: Constellation: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria; Stemline: Research Funding; Incyte: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria. Mascarenhas:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding. Wang:Jazz: Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Jazz: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Gerds:Celgene: Consultancy; Apexx Oncology: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; CTI Biopharma: Consultancy. Heaney:Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Blueprint: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Decipheral: Research Funding. Abboud:Agios: Honoraria; Jazz: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Kremyanskaya:Incyte: Research Funding. Odenike:ABBVIE: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CTI/Baxalta: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Dava Oncology: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Oncotherapy Science: Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; NS Pharma: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Astex: Research Funding; Gilead Sciences: Research Funding. Levine:Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding; C4 Therapeutics: Equity Ownership; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria; Epizyme: Patents & Royalties; Prelude: Research Funding; Qiagen: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Loxo: Consultancy, Equity Ownership; Imago: Equity Ownership; Novartis: Consultancy; Isoplexis: Equity Ownership. Mesa:Novartis: Consultancy; NS Pharma: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; UT Health San Antonio - Mays Cancer Center: Employment; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding. Dueck:Phytogine: Employment; Bayer: Employment; Pfizer: Honoraria. Hoffman:Incyte: Research Funding; Formation Biologics: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Merus: Research Funding; Summer Road: Research Funding.
Hepcidin Suppression By Momelotinib Is Associated with Increased Iron Availability and Erythropoiesis in Transfusion-Dependent Myelofibrosis Patients
Miller, Carole B., Rivera, Candido E., Goel, Swati , Heaney, Mark , Arcasoy, Murat O. , Zhang, Yafeng , Ganz, Tomas , Brachmann, Carrie Baker, Oh, Stephen T. , Talpaz, Moshe , Gerds, Aaron T. , Gupta, Vikas , Verstovšek, Srđan , Mesa, Ruben A. , Fleischman, Angela G. , O'Connell, Casey Lee , Kawashima, Jun

Blood | October 14, 2019 | Volume: 132 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 4282-4282

10.1182/blood-2018-99-111349 Get It

Abstract Introduction: Patients develop anemia as a result of myelofibrosis (MF) or its treatment, including Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. However, momelotinib (MMB), a JAK1/2 and Activin A receptor type I (ACVR1) inhibitor with demonstrated clinical activity in MF, improved anemia in prior clinical trials. JAK1/2 and ACVR1 respond to inflammation and iron stores to control iron availability through hepcidin, the key regulator of the entry of iron into circulation. Like other inflammatory diseases, MF is characterized by high hepcidin. MMB inhibited ACVR1 to modulate hepcidin and ameliorate anemia in a rodent model (Asshoff, Blood 2017). The impact of MMB was investigated on blood hepcidin, along with markers of iron storage and availability, erythropoiesis, and inflammation to explore mechanisms of the favorable effects of MMB on MF-associated anemia. Methods: In a phase 2 open-label study, MMB 200 mg once daily was given for 24 weeks to transfusion-dependent (TD; ≥4 units red blood cells [RBC] transfusion in the 8 weeks prior to first dose of MMB) patients with primary or post-ET/PV MF (age ≥18 yrs, required MF therapy, CrCl ≥ 60 mL/min, platelets ≥50 K, and absence of Gr ≥2 peripheral neuropathy, baseline palpable spleen was not required, patients with prior splenectomy were excluded). Patients were evaluated for MMB efficacy and safety. Total symptom score (TSS) was based on a modified Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form. Transfusion-independent response/non-response (TI-R/NR) was defined as RBC transfusion-independence ≥12 weeks at any time on study. Serial blood samples were analyzed for a panel of biomarkers and liver iron content (LIC) was measured by MRI. Blood hepcidin was evaluated at every study visit in the morning (8-10am) pre-dose and 6 hours post-dose using a mass spectrometry assay and, prior to first dose, the normal daily increase of blood hepcidin was observed in half the population. Results: 41 patients (mean age 70, 63% male, 88% white) received MMB. By week 24, 14 (34.1%, 90% CI: 22.0-48.1%) patients had a TI-R and 39.0% had no RBC transfusion for ≥8 weeks at any time (90% CI: 26.2-53.1%). Six patients (15.8%, 90% CI: 7.1-28.8%) had a ≥50% reduction from baseline to week 24 in TSS and 5 patients (12.2%, 90% CI: 4.9-23.9%) had a ≥35% reduction in spleen volume; in those patients with week 24 data, the TSS and splenic response rates were 28.6% and 19.2% respectively. TSS and spleen volume assessments were not available for 17 (44.5%) and 15 (36.6%) patients, respectively, and these patients were considered non-responders. Adverse events were consistent with previous studies of MMB in MF, with cough, diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue as the most common. AEs ≥Gr 3 were experienced by 21 patients, most commonly anemia and neutropenia. At every study visit, median blood hepcidin decreased 6 hours after dosing with MMB (Fig. 1). Daily inhibition of hepcidin did not lead to an increase in serum iron for the entire population. However, serum iron, transferrin, hemoglobin, reticulocytes, and hematocrit increased at week 2 in patients with TI-R. Following this peak, serum iron decreased while hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet count increased through week 24. At baseline, TI-R was associated with lower hepcidin, LIC, serum iron, reduced inflammation (C-reactive protein and ferritin), and higher hematocrit, erythrocytes, reticulocytes, platelets, and hemoglobin than TI-NR (Fig. 2). In multivariable analysis, TI-R was strongly associated with baseline hemoglobin ≥8g/dL (p=0.036) and lower morning hepcidin (p=0.013), weakly associated with younger age (p=0.070) and lower DIPSS score (p=0.075), but not with gender, type of MF (primary vs post-ET/PV), spleen volume, TSS, or JAK2V617F mutation. Conclusion: Safety findings and rate of TI-R were similar to TD MF patients in other MMB trials. Consistent with preclinical data, daily MMB treatment led to a transient decrease in blood hepcidin. In patients with TI-R, hepcidin suppression was associated with increased iron availability and markers of erythropoiesis. At baseline, TI-R associated with reduced inflammation, lower hepcidin, and increased markers of erythropoiesis and bone marrow function. Overall, the study suggests that transient modulation of hepcidin by MMB is sufficient to boost erythropoiesis in those transfusion-independent MF patients with lower baseline inflammation and greater erythropoietic potential. Disclosures Oh: Takeda: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Gerds:Celgene: Consultancy; Apexx Oncology: Consultancy; CTI Biopharma: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy. Gupta:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding. Verstovsek:Italfarmaco: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mesa:Novartis: Consultancy; Celgene: Research Funding; NS Pharma: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; UT Health San Antonio - Mays Cancer Center: Employment. Miller:Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Heaney:Decipheral: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Blueprint: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding. O'Connell:Incyte: Research Funding. Arcasoy:Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; CTI BioPharma: Research Funding; Samus Therapeutics: Research Funding. Zhang:Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employment. Kawashima:Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Ganz:Intrinsic LifeScience: Consultancy, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Silarus Pharma: Consultancy, Equity Ownership; Keryx Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Akebia: Consultancy, Research Funding; Vifor: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; Ablynx: Consultancy; La Jolla Pharma: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties: Patent licensed to La Jolla Pharma by UCLA. Baker Brachmann:Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership.
Safety and Efficacy of Combined Ruxolitinib and Decitabine in Patients with Blast-Phase MPN and Post-MPN AML: Results of a Phase I Study (Myeloproliferative Disorders Research Consortium 109 trial)
Rampal, Raajit K. , Berenzon, Dmitriy, Abboud, Camille N. , Kremyanskaya, Marina , Weinberg, Rona Singer , Salama, Mohamed E. , Tognoni, Gianni, Prosperini, Giuseppe, Lelio, Alessandra Di, Serone, Eliseo , Marfisi, Lorenzo, Sandy, Lonette, Heaney, Mark , Mascarenhas, John , Kosiorek, Heidi , Hexner, Elizabeth O. , Levine, Ross L. , Mesa, Ruben A. , Dueck, Amylou C. , Hoffman, Ronald

Blood | October 10, 2019 | Volume: 128 | Issue: 22 | Pages: 1124-1124

10.1182/blood.v128.22.1124.1124 Get It

Abstract Background: The Philadelphia chromosome negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) includePolycythemia Vera (PV), Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) and Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF). These stem cell disorders carry a propensity to evolve into acute myeloid leukemia (MPN-blast phase [BP] or post-MPN AML) with a dismal prognosis not meaningfully improved by conventional anti-leukemia therapy. Thus, MPN-BP is an urgent unmet clinical need. Responses in patients with MPN-BP to hypomethylating agents and single agent ruxolitinib have been reported. More recently, combination of ruxolitnib and decitabine has demonstrated synergistic activity in vitro in cells derived from patients with MPN-BP and from a murine model of MPN-BP (Rampal et al PNAS 2014). These observations led us to explore the safety of combined decitabine and dose escalation of ruxolitinib in MPN-BP. Objective: To establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of ruxolitinib in combination with a fixed dose of decitabine (DEC-RUX). Methods: We conducted an open label Phase I trial in patients with MPN acceleration phase (AP) as defined by 10%-19% blasts in the peripheral blood or bone marrow or a diagnosis of MPN-BP as defined by ≥ 20% blasts in the blood or bone marrow, following a previous diagnosis of ET, PV or PMF. Patients were enrolled in a standard 3+3 phase I design with an MTD defined as a dose <33% DLT. Ruxolitinib was administered at doses of 10mg, 15mg, 25mg, or 50mg every 12 hours in combination with concurrent decitabine at a dose of 20mg/m2 daily intravenously over 5 days and repeated every 28 days. Adverse events were assessed using the NCI CTCAE v. 4.0. DLTs were defined as Grade 3 or higher non-hematologic toxicity events not clearly related to disease and grade 4 hematologic events with a bone marrow cellularity of ≤5% and no evidence of leukemia. Response assessment was carried out every cycle using modified Cheson criteria: CR required 0% peripheral blood blasts, WBC ≥4x109/L, hemoglobin ≥10g/L, and platelets ≥100x109/L; CRi required 0% peripheral blood blasts with incomplete count recovery; and PR required ≥50% decrease in peripheral blood blasts regardless of blood counts. Results: A total of 21 patients were accrued to study (Table 1). The median age was 63 years (range 48-88). 52% carried a diagnosis of MPN-AP, and 48% carried a diagnosis of MPN-BP. 29% of patients and 24% of patients had prior exposure to ruxolitinb and decitabine, respectively. The median number of cycles received varied from 10.5 cycles in the 10mg BID cohort to 2 and 2.5 cycles in the 25mg BID and 50mg BID cohorts, respectively (Table 2). The most common Grade 3/4 non-hematologic AEs observed were due to infection in all dosing cohorts. In terms of hematologic toxicity, treatment emergent Grade 3/4 anemia was observed in 1 patient in each of the 10mg BID, 15mg BID, and 50mg BID cohorts. Grade 3/4 leukopenia was observed in only 1 patient at the 50mg BID cohort, and Grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia was observed in 2 patients in the 10mg BID cohort and 1 patient in the 15mg BID cohort. DLT rate was below 33% for all dose levels so the MTD was not reached. The most common reason for ending study treatment was toxicity/adverse events (33%) followed by disease progression (22%). 9 patients died during study or follow-up. Of those, 5 (56%, 2 in 10mg BID cohort, 1 in 15mg BID cohort, 2 in 50mg BID cohort) died of infection, 3 (33%, 1 in each of 10mg, 25mg, and 50mg BID cohorts) of progressive disease, and 1 (11%, 25mg BID cohort) of hemorrhage. The median overall survival for patients on study was 10.4 months (95% CI 3.3 mo - not reached). CR/CRi as best response was observed in 7/21 patients (33%, 95% CI 15-57%; 2 CR, 5 CRi; Table 2). Conclusions: DEC-RUX combination therapy was safely administered to patients with MPN-AP/BP and an MTD was not reached. Based on pre-clinical data, observed safety profile, duration of treatment, and clinical responses in this phase I trial, the Recommended Phase II Dose of RUX was selected as 25mg BID for an induction cycle followed by 10mg BID in all ensuing cycles. Molecular and bone marrow pathology responses will be presented at the meeting. Disclosures Mascarenhas: Promedior: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Novartis: Other: DSMB , Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Incyte: Other: Clinical Trial Steereing Committee, Research Funding. Hexner:Blueprint medicines: Consultancy; Novartis: Research Funding. Abboud:Alexion: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Novartis: Research Funding; Teva: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria; Baxalta: Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Gerson and Lehman Group: Consultancy; Cardinal: Honoraria. Levine:Novartis: Consultancy; Qiagen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mesa:Promedior: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Incyte: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Galena: Consultancy; Ariad: Consultancy; Gilead: Research Funding; CTI: Research Funding.
Safety and efficacy of combined ruxolitinib and decitabine in accelerated and blast-phase myeloproliferative neoplasms
Rampal, Raajit K. , Price, Leah , Berenzon, Dmitriy, Abboud, Camille N. , Kremyanskaya, Marina , Weinberg, Rona Singer , Salama, Mohamed E. , Menghrajani, Kamal , Najfeld, Vesna , Sandy, Lonette, Heaney, Mark , Levine, Ross L. , Dueck, Amylou C. , Goldberg, Judith D. , Dueck, A. C. , Price, Leah , Goldberg, Judith D , Najfeld, Vesna , Mascarenhas, John , Kosiorek, Heidi , Hexner, Elizabeth O. , Mesa, Ruben A. , Hoffman, Ronald

Blood Advances | December 18, 2018 | Volume: 2 | Issue: 24 | Pages: 3572-3580

10.1182/bloodadvances.2018019661 Get It

Abstract Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), including polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis, have a propensity to evolve into accelerated and blast-phase disease (MPN-AP/BP), carrying a dismal prognosis. Conventional antileukemia therapy has limited efficacy in this setting. Thus, MPN-AP/BP is an urgent unmet clinical need. Modest responses to hypomethylating agents and single-agent ruxolitinib have been reported. More recently, combination of ruxolitinib and decitabine has demonstrated synergistic in vitro activity in human and murine systems. These observations led us to conduct a phase 1 study to explore the safety of combined decitabine and dose-escalated ruxolitinib in patients with MPN-AP/BP. A total of 21 patients were accrued to this multicenter study. Ruxolitinib was administered at doses of 10, 15, 25, or 50 mg twice daily in combination with decitabine (20 mg/m2 per day for 5 days) in 28-day cycles. The maximum tolerated dose was not reached. The most common reasons for study discontinuation were toxicity/adverse events (37%) and disease progression (21%). Fourteen patients died during study treatment period or follow-up. The median overall survival for patients on study was 7.9 months (95% confidence interval, 4.1-not reached). Among evaluable patients, the overall response rate by protocol-defined criteria (complete remission with incomplete count recovery + partial remission) was 9/17 (53%) and by intention-to-treat analysis was 9/21 (42.9%). The combination of decitabine and ruxolitinib was generally well tolerated by patients with MPN-AP/BP and demonstrates potentially promising clinical activity. A phase 2 trial evaluating the efficacy of this combination regimen is ongoing within the Myeloproliferative Disorder Research Consortium.
Phase I/II trial of glasdegib in patients with primary or secondary myelofibrosis.
Tauchi, Tetsuzo, Ritchie, Ellen K. , Deininger, Michael W. , Jamieson, Catriona , Heaney, Mark , Komatsu, Norio , Su, Yun , Shaik, Mohammed Naveed, DiRienzo, Christine, Zeremski, Mirjana, Woolfson, Adrian , Chan, Geoffrey , Gerds, Aaron T. , Mesa, Ruben A. , Minami, Hironobu , Zhang, Xiaoxi , Talpaz, Moshe

Journal of Clinical Oncology | September 6, 2018 | Volume: 35 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 7061-7061

10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.7061 Get It

7061 Background: Glasdegib is a small molecule inhibitor of the Sonic Hedgehog pathway, and data from the single arm, lead-in cohort of a phase 1b/2 trial in myelofibrosis (MF) are shown. Methods: Patients (age ≥18 yrs) with primary/secondary MF previously-treated with ≥1 Janus Kinase inhibitor (JAKi) were enrolled and received glasdegib 100 mg QD orally in 28 day cycles. AEs and laboratory abnormalities were assessed. Key efficacy endpoints were proportion of patients with spleen volume reduction (SVR) ≥35% and ≥50% reduction in total symptom score (TSS) measured by the MPN Symptom Assessment Diary (MPN-SAD) at Week 24. Results: 21 patients were enrolled between Oct '14-Oct '15 in this ongoing study. Mean age was 69.3 yrs (range 58-83). Median duration of treatment was 85 days (22-343). 52% were refractory patients with inadequate response to prior JAKi. Baseline symptoms were mostly mild (1-4), except fatigue (>4). No patients achieved SVR ≥35%, 5 patients had some SVR (maximum 2.3-21.4% reduction from baseline), and no progressive disease prior to Day 71. At week 24, 1 patient had ≥50% reduction in TSS, but 3/21 and 4/21, respectively showed 30% and 20% TSS reduction. Of 14 patients with severe baseline symptoms (1 with ≥5, or ≥2 with ≥3), 1, 1, and 2 achieved 50%, 30%, and 20% TSS reduction, respectively at week 24. TSS, spleen-related, and constitutional symptom scores showed a trend of reduction over 24 weeks with spleen-related symptoms, inactivity, and fatigue showing greatest improvement (52%, 58%, and 36%, respectively). Dysgeusia (N=13), muscle spasms (N=12), alopecia (N=8), decreased appetite (N=7), fatigue (N=7), lipase increase (N=5), and weight decrease (N=5) occurred in ≥20% patients. None, except 1 episode of fatigue, were considered serious AEs. Glasdegib steady state PK was consistent with previous single agent data. Conclusions: Glasdegib has an acceptable toxicity profile in patients with primary/secondary MF previously treated with JAKi. Symptom responder definition for refractory patients may not be the same as for JAKi naïve patients. Patient reported symptom improvement may be a more sensitive indicator of treatment benefit vs SVR. Further study of glasdegib may be warranted. Clinical Trial Information: NCT02226172.