Ranheim, Erik A.

Abstract Mutations in chromatin regulator ASXL1 are frequently identified in myeloid malignancies, in particular ∼40% of patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). ASXL1 mutations are associated with poor prognosis in CMML and significantly co-occur with NRAS mutations. Here, we show that concurrent ASXL1 and NRAS mutations defined a population of CMML patients who had shorter leukemia-free survival than those with ASXL1 mutation only. Corroborating this human data, Asxl1−/− accelerated CMML progression and promoted CMML transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in NrasG12D/+ mice. NrasG12D/+;Asxl1−/− (NA) leukemia cells displayed hyperactivation of MEK/ERK signaling, increased global levels of H3K27ac, upregulation of Flt3. Moreover, we find that NA-AML cells overexpressed all the major inhibitory immune checkpoint ligands: programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)/PD-L2, CD155, and CD80/CD86. Among them, overexpression of PD-L1 and CD86 correlated with upregulation of AP-1 transcription factors (TFs) in NA-AML cells. An AP-1 inhibitor or short hairpin RNAs against AP-1 TF Jun decreased PD-L1 and CD86 expression in NA-AML cells. Once NA-AML cells were transplanted into syngeneic recipients, NA-derived T cells were not detectable. Host-derived wild-type T cells overexpressed programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and T-cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and ITIM domains (TIGIT) receptors, leading to a predominant exhausted T-cell phenotype. Combined inhibition of MEK and BET resulted in downregulation of Flt3 and AP-1 expression, partial restoration of the immune microenvironment, enhancement of CD8 T-cell cytotoxicity, and prolonged survival in NA-AML mice. Our study suggests that combined targeted therapy and immunotherapy may be beneficial for treating secondary AML with concurrent ASXL1 and NRAS mutations.

Eosinophilic disorders and related syndromes represent a heterogeneous group of neoplastic and nonneoplastic conditions, characterized by more eosinophils in the peripheral blood, and may involve eosinophil-induced organ damage. In the WHO classification of myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms, eosinophilic disorders characterized by dysregulated tyrosine kinase (TK) fusion genes are recognized as a new category termed, myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms with eosinophilia and rearrangement of PDGFRA , PDGFRB or FGFR1 or with PCM1-JAK2 . In addition to these aforementioned TK fusion genes, rearrangements involving FLT3 and ABL1 genes have also been described. These new NCCN Guidelines include recommendations for the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of any one of the myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms with eosinophilia (MLN-Eo) and a TK fusion gene included in the 2017 WHO Classification, as well as MLN-Eo and a FLT3 or ABL1 rearrangement.

Abstract NRAS Q61 mutations are prevalent in advanced/relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) and correlate with poor patient outcomes. Thus, we generated a novel MM model by conditionally activating expression of endogenous NrasQ61R and an MYC transgene in germinal center (GC) B cells (VQ mice). VQ mice developed a highly malignant MM characterized by a high proliferation index, hyperactivation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and AKT signaling, impaired hematopoiesis, widespread extramedullary disease, bone lesions, kidney abnormalities, preserved programmed cell death protein 1 and T-cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif domain immune-checkpoint pathways, and expression of human high-risk MM gene signatures. VQ MM mice recapitulate most of the biological and clinical features of human advanced/high-risk MM. These MM phenotypes are serially transplantable in syngeneic recipients. Two MM cell lines were also derived to facilitate future genetic manipulations. Combination therapies based on MEK inhibition significantly prolonged the survival of VQ mice with advanced-stage MM. Our study provides a strong rationale to develop MEK inhibition–based therapies for treating advanced/relapsed MM.

Abstract Purpose: We sought to improve upon frontline bendamustine/rituximab (BR) induction therapy followed by rituximab maintenance in untreated high-risk follicular lymphoma (FL). Patients and Methods: Patients were randomized to BR induction followed by 2-year rituximab maintenance (BR-R), BR with bortezomib and rituximab maintenance (BVR-R), or BR followed by lenalidomide (1 year) with rituximab maintenance (BR-LR). Dual primary objectives were complete remission (CR) rate and 1-year disease-free survival (DFS); 289 patients enrolled (NCT01216683). Results: For induction, 92%, 87%, and 86% of patients randomized to BR-R, BVR-R, or BR-LR received six cycles, respectively. CR rate with BR versus BVR induction was 62% versus 75%, respectively (P = 0.04). One-year DFS rates with BR-R versus BR-LR were 85% versus 67%, respectively (P = 0.0009). This was due to an imbalance in CR rates post-BR induction and discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs). The most common grade 3–4 AEs for BVR versus BR were neutropenia and sensory neuropathy (12% vs <1%); 83% of the latter occurred with intravenous bortezomib. The most common grade 3–4 AEs related to LR versus rituximab maintenance were neutropenia 66% versus 21%, respectively (P < 0.0001), and febrile neutropenia 10% versus 2%, respectively (P = 0.05). The overall treatment-related mortality was 1.4%. With 5-year median follow-up, 3-year PFS rates for BR-R, BVR-R, and BR-LR were 77%, 82%, and 76%, respectively (P = 0.36) with OS rates of 87%, 90%, and 84%, respectively (P = 0.79). For prognostication, CR rate and POD-24 were associated with survival. Conclusions: Altogether, neither bortezomib added to BR induction nor lenalidomide added to rituximab maintenance immediately post-BR induction is recommended in untreated FL.

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) belongs to the group of "mixed myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm". There is currently no effective chemotherapy to treat CMML. Approximately 30% of CMML cases evolve to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) soon after their initial diagnosis, contributing to the poor prognosis of CMML patients. Ras pathway genes are frequently mutated in CMML patients (NRAS:11%; CBL:10%; KRAS:8%). Our whole exome sequencing of CMML patient samples and targeted sequencing of CMML patient-derived myeloid colonies showed that oncogenic NRAS could serve as an initiating or progression mutation. Consistent with human genetics, all the oncogenic Nras mice we and others characterized (NrasG12D/+, NrasG12D/G12D, and NrasQ61R/+), develop myeloproliferative (MP)-CMML like phenotypes.However, oncogenic NRAS alone is insufficient to drive CMML progression or transformation to AML. Additional sex combs-like 1 (ASXL1) is a human homolog of fly Asx. Mutations in ASXL1are predominantly nonsense and frequently identified in all myeloid malignancies (e.g. 40% in CMML). ASXL1mutations predict inferior overall survival in univariable analysis in multiple large CMML cohort studies and are significantly associated with NRASmutations in CMML patients. Therefore, we hypothesize that loss of Asxl1 cooperates with oncogenic Nrasto drive CMML progression. To test our hypothesis, we used Vav-Cre to drive oncogenic Nras expression and/or Asxl1 deletion in hematopoietic system. We refer these mice as NrasG12D/+, Asxl1-/-and NrasG12D/+;Asxl1-/-(NA) mice. Consistent with the literature, Asxl1-/-mice are normal at 6-week old. NrasG12D/+ mice showed mild CMML-like phenotypes, including enlarged spleen, increased white blood cell and monocyte counts, and expanded LSKs (Lin-Sca-1+c-Kit+) and myeloid progenitors (MPs). Compared to NrasG12D/+ mice, NA mice showed more sever phenotypes that were associated with hyperactivated ERK signaling in MPs at both basal level and upon GM-CSF stimulation. Our new NrasG12D/+mice developed a fully penetrant MP-CMML with the median survival of ~430 days. Loss of Asxl1 significantly shortened the median survival of NrasG12D/+ mice to 220 days. Half of NA mice displayed CMML transformation to AML. The transformed AML was serially transplantable to recipients. To investigate the mechanism(s) underlying NA-driven CMML/AML, we performed RNA-Seq analysis in Lin- c-Kit+BM cells from age-matched control, Asxl1-/-, NrasG12D/+, and moribund NA mice with CMML or AML phenotypes. We found 844 differentially expressed genes (DEG) in AML cells compared to control cells (FDR<0.05 and fold change>2). Among these genes, 341 are common between NA and published Nf1+/-;Asxl1+/-AML cells, including AP-1 complex genes (Jun, Junb, Jund and Fosb) that are crucial for malignant propagation in several AML subtypes. The remaining 503 genes are unique in NA AML, including Flt3, one of the mostly mutated genes in AML. These data suggest that our NA AML model demonstrates some distinct mechanisms from Nf1+/-;Asxl1+/-model. In-depth analysis of RNA-seq data is still ongoing. We also examined multiple histone marks using Western blot in BM cells of 6-week old mice. Our data showed that levels of H3K4me3, H3K4me1, and H3K27me3 were downregulated in Asxl1-/-cells, whereas H3K27Ac level was comparable to that of control cells. In contrast, H3K27Ac level was upregulated in NrasG12D/+and NA cells, while levels of H3K4me3, H3K4me1, and H3K27me3 were indistinguishable from those of control cells. BRD4 is a member of the BET family of bromodomain-containing proteins that binds to acetylated histones to activate gene transcription. Thus, we hypothesized that Ras/MEK/ERK signaling and BRD/BET are potential targets to inhibit AML progression. To test this hypothesis, we treated the AML cells and BMT recipients using trametinib (a MEK inhibitor approved by FDA to treat melanoma) and GSK525762 (a pan BET inhibitor under clinical development). We demonstrated thatcombined treatment significantly inhibited the growth of leukemia cells in vitro and prolonged the survival of recipients in vivo. It was more effective than single agent alone. Overall, we established a novel CMML/AML mouse model, which represents a significant group of CMML patients with poor prognosis. Our study provides a strong rational to treat these patients with combined MEK and BET inhibition. Disclosures Patnaik: Stem Line Pharmaceuticals.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Abstract Background: Bortezomib has efficacy in follicular lymphoma (FL). Though generally well tolerated, it is associated with a few known toxicities, including neurotoxicity. As a chronically administered agent, it is important to investigate the tolerability of bortezomib over time as a single agent and in combination with chemotherapy. The current method of summarizing adverse events (AEs) -focusing on the maximum grade and reporting only grade 3 or higher incidences- fails to capture toxicity that evolves over time or chronic low grade AEs that may occur at significant expense to patients' quality of life. In this study, we applied the Toxicity over Time (ToxT) analytic approach (Thanarajasingam et al, Lancet Oncol 2016), which graphically and analytically depicts AEs longitudinally, to a randomized Phase 2 ECOG-ACRIN sponsored study, E2408, to characterize chronic toxicity of bortezomib (V) when added to standard bendamustine-rituximab (BR) induction in previously untreated high risk FL. Methods: In E2408, patients (pts) were randomized to one of 3 arms at a 1:2:2 ratio: A) BR x 6 followed by maintenance rituximab (MR) x 2 years (yrs) vs B) BVR x 6 (bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 IV/SQ days 1, 4, 8, 11) then MR x 2 yrs vs C) BR x 6 then MR x 2 yrs + lenalidomide 20mg/day x 1 yr. Pts enrolled 1/2011-5/2015. This analysis focuses on the 6 cycles of induction only, with arms A and C combined. Six AEs of interests were selected, 4 symptomatic (subjective) AEs (peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN), diarrhea, febrile neutropenia, fatigue); and 2 non-symptomatic (objective) AEs (neutropenia and thrombocytopenia). Treatment-related post baseline AEs of any grade were investigated by conventional maximum grade toxicity analysis (ToxC) and ToxT methods. The mean AE grades over cycles were analyzed by repeated measures models, time to grade 2 or higher (gr2+)AE were analyzed with time-to-event analysis; and AE profile over the entire course of the study was summarized by area under the curve (AUC) analyses. Comparisons were performed between treatment arms (BVR vs. BR). Results: All 280 randomized treated pts (187 on BR, 93 on BVR) were included in the analysis regardless of eligibility status; 87% (163/187 BR, 81/93 BVR) completed all 6 cycles. Analyzing the symptomatic AEs,ToxC indicates that the overall incidence of grade 3+ PSN was significantly higher in BVR (12%) than BR (1%) (p<.0001). Additional, ToxT captures the trajectory, demonstrating a rapid, rising incidence and worsening grade of PSN on BVR vs BR over 6 cycles in a steam plot of mean gr. by cycle (Fig 1a) and bar chart of incidence and grade per cycle (c1: 13% gr1 3% gr2, c6: 36% gr1 12% gr2 6% gr3 on BVR; c1: 3% gr1, c6: 10% gr1 1% gr2 on BR, Fig. 1b). Risk of developing gr2+ PSN was significantly higher in BVR than BR with 28% vs 0.5% by day 100 (HR=0.01, p<.0001, Fig. 1c). ToxC captures a higher incidence of grade 3+ diarrhea on BVR (7% vs. 1% , p=.01) while AUC from ToxT includes chronic lower grade diarrhea, that is substantial over time on BVR vs. BR (p<.0001), but is not cumulative. Furthermore, the risk of developing gr2+ diarrhea affecting drug tolerability is significantly higher on BVR than BR(13% vs 5% by day 100) (HR=0.3, p=.05). Febrile neutropenia appeared to be similar, and fatigue was marginally more severe under BVR (p=.06 by AUC). For objective AEs, ToxC reveals no significant difference in neutropenia or thrombocytopenia BVR vs BR (neutropenia gr 3+: 36% vs 31%, p=.4; thrombocytopenia gr3+: 10% vs. 5%, p=.12). However, ToxT illustrates that neutropenia is cumulative, worsening over repeated exposure to drug (c1: 2% gr1 5% gr2 5% gr 3+ , c6: 7% gr1 10% gr2 12% gr3+ both arms combined; p<.0001) on mean grade over time (Fig. 2a). In contrast, thrombocytopenia does not worsen with continued treatment (Fig 2b, p=.73). Conclusions: Compared with conventional toxicity analysis (ToxC), ToxT delineated important additional and clinically relevant depictions of both symptomatic and laboratory AEs over time for bortezomib added to BR in FL pts. In patients receiving BVR, close monitoring is suggested for PSN, diarrhea and neutropenia for reassessment of risks and benefits, symptom interventions and dose modification. Longitudinal toxicity analyses such as ToxT can guide AE interventions as well as patient and clinician education, and provide a more patient-centered toxicity assessment of chronically administered therapies for lymphoma. Disclosures Hong: Merck: Consultancy. Evens:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Acerta: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Tesaro: Research Funding; Affimed: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics International DMC: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Advani:Kura: Research Funding; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Participated in an advisory board, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Participated in an advisory board, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Kyowa: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Participated in an advisory board; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Participated in an advisory board; Cell Medica: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Participated in an advisory board; Infinity: Research Funding; Gilead/Kite: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Participated in an advisory board; Janssen: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Participated in an advisory board; Regeneron: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Participated in an advisory board, Research Funding; Forty Seven Inc.: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Millenium: Research Funding; Agensys: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Autolus: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Participated in an advisory board. Gascoyne:NanoString: Patents & Royalties: Named Inventor on a patent licensed to NanoString Technologies. Witzig:Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Dueck:Bayer: Employment; Pfizer: Honoraria; Phytogine: Employment. Kahl:Genentech: Consultancy; Acerta: Consultancy; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Juno: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; CTI: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy.

Abstract Background: There remains a critical need to identify untreated HR FL patients (pts) who are at increased risk of early progression and death with conventional treatment. Data examining baseline PET has been reported to be prognostic in FL, however, there remains a paucity of data analyzing this in the context of bendamustine/rituximab (BR) induction followed by maintenance rituximab (MR). We examined the prognostic impact of baseline PET metabolic imaging from the randomized BIONIC study for pts with untreated HR FL. Methods: The BIONIC study conducted by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group enrolled untreated grade I/II or IIIa FL pts with HR disease defined as GELF high tumor burden and/or FLIPI score of 3-5. Pts were randomized to: a) standard BR induction x 6 followed by maintenance rituximab (MR) q 2 months x 2 years vs b) bortezomib + BR x 6 followed by MR q 2 months x 2 years vs c) BR x 6 followed by q 2 months MR x 2 years + lenalidomide given concurrently with the first year of MR. Survival analyses showed no significant differences in 4-year progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) for any study arm (Evens AM et al, ASH 2017). All pts were thus pooled for the purpose of analyzing baseline PET imaging and other characteristics and for correlation with clinical outcomes. Kruskal-Wallis & Wilcoxon Rank Sum test were used to assess differences in distribution of: metabolic measurements (SUVmax and SUVmean of the dominant mass (i.e., the mass/lesion with the highest SUV uptake); metabolic tumor volume (MTV); and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) by categorical variables); induction treatment response; and end-of-induction (EOI) PET response vis-à-vis Deauville scoring (1-3 = negative). Cox proportional hazards regression was used to correlate these metabolic measurements with PFS & OS and multivariable analyses were conducted. An optimal cutoff threshold (grouping into 'High' or 'Low' categories) was used for the metabolic measurements that were significantly associated with PFS & OS. Results: Metabolic data were received and measurements were analyzed centrally on 182 (71%) of 257 eligible pts. The EOI overall response rate (ORR) for all pts on study was 92% with a complete remission (CR) rate of 73%. Additionally, 12% of pts experienced early progression of disease (POD) within 2 years. SUVmax was borderline for association with PFS (P=0.06) and MTV and TLG were not associated with PFS or OS. We demonstrated a statistically significant linear relationship between continuous SUVmean score with PFS and OS, and thereafter, used the minimum p-vlaue approach to determine the optimal cutoff threshold of 7.03 to group pts into 'High' and 'Low' risk groups; with this threshold, baseline SUVmean of the dominant mass was categorized as high risk in 27% pts. The 4-year PFS rates for SUVmean low vs high groups were 80% (95% CI 72, 90%) vs 55% (40, 74%), respectively, P<0.001; and the corresponding 4-year OS rates were 93% (89, 98)% vs 80% (95% CI 69, 93%), respectively, P=0.01 (see Fig. 1). Sensitivity analyses showed no differences in baseline SUVmean by study arm, GELF or FLIPI. The only clinical characteristic that varied among patients with low vs high baseline SUVmean was Black race (0.8 vs 8.0%, respectively, Chi-square P=0.08); there were no other differences based on age, sex, stage, FLIPI, GELF status, ECOG PS, LDH, or # of extranodal sites. In addition, baseline SUVmean correlated with EOI PET (negative EOI PET with baseline SUVmean Low vs High: 81% vs 62%, respectively, P=0.03). In multivariable analyses, both baseline SUVmean and EOI PET remained significant (SUVmean: PFS HR 2.62 (95% CI 1.40-4.92), P=0.001, OS HR 2.37 (95% CI 1.01-5.56), P=0.02; EOI PET PFS HR 4.70 (95% CI 2.74-9.54), P<0.001, OS HR 2.78 (95% CI 1.18-6.56), P=0.01). Finally, baseline SUVmean was also strongly predictive of FL pts who experienced early 2-year POD (Chi-square P<0.001). Conclusions: High baseline SUVmean of the dominant mass was a strong independent prognostic factor for survival for untreated HR FL pts treated with BR-based induction with rituximab maintenance and significance was independent of FLIP or GELF criteria. Collectively, this represents a novel and simple method to identify FL pts at increased risk of early POD and poor survival with standard therapy. Continued investigation of combined PET imaging analyses and other correlative studies to enrich prognostication are warranted. Disclosures Hong: Merck: Consultancy. Advani:Bristol Myers Squibb: Other: Consultancy/Advisory role and Institutional Research Support; Kyowa: Other: Consulting/Advisory Role; Infinity: Other: Institutional Research Support; Pharmacyclics: Other: Institutional Research Support; Seattle Genetics: Other: Consultancy/Advisory role, Institutional Research Support; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Other: Institutional Research Support; Millenium: Other: Institutional Research Support; Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals: Other: Consultancy/Advisory Role; Autolus: Other: Consultancy/Advisory Role; Takeda: Other: Consultancy/Advisory Role; Celgene: Other: Institutional Research Support; Roche/Genentech: Other: Consultancy/Advisory Role, Institutional Research Support; AstraZeneca: Other: Consultancy/Advisory Role; Cell Medica: Other: Consultancy/Advisory Role; Gilead/Kite: Other: Consultancy/Advisory Role; Agensys: Other: Institutional Research Support; Kura: Other: Institutional Research Support; Forty Seven, Inc: Other: Institutional Research Support; Merck: Other: Institutional Research Support; Janssen Pharmaceutical: Other: Institutional Research Support. Gascoyne:NanoString: Patents & Royalties: Named Inventor on a patent licensed to NanoString Technologies. Witzig:Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Kahl:Acerta: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Juno: Consultancy; CTI: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy. Evens:Affimed: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Acerta: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Tesaro: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics International DMC: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy.

Abstract Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by clonal expansion of malignant plasma cells (PCs) and aberrant production of monoclonal immunoglobulin detected as an M spike using serum protein electrophoresis. In the United States, MM represents ~15% of hematologic malignancies and is one of the few cancers increasing in incidence (e.g., 14,400 in 1996 to 30,770 in 2018, from SEER). Previously, a Vk*MYC mouse model was described, in which AID-dependent activation of MYC transgene in germinal center (GC) B cells catalyzes a highly penetrant, indolent MM after a prolonged latency, suggesting that additional genetic mutations are required for the malignant MM progression. Recent sequencing of paired tumor/normal samples from advanced or refractory MM patients identified that constitutive activation of Ras signaling pathway (KRAS: 23%; NRAS:20%; BRAF: 8%) associates with MM progression and therapy resistance. To determine whether oncogenic Nras promotes the progression of Myc-induced indolent MM to a malignant stage, we generated NrasLSL Q61R/+; Vk*MYC; IgG1-Cre (VQ) mice along with single mutant mice Vk*MYC; IgG1-Cre or NrasLSL Q61R/+; IgG1-Cre. To boost NrasQ61R expression in GC B cells, 6-7 weeks old mice were immunized with NP-CGG. A significant fraction of VQ mice developed M-spike after immunization and subsequently died of a highly aggressive MM, which was characterized by high proliferative index, hyperactivation of AKT and ERK pathways, and disease hallmarks (e.g. osteolytic lesions, anemia, and kidney injury). VQ myeloma was readily transplantable into serial syngeneic recipients. In our preliminary study, combined Bortezomib and AZD6244 treatment attenuated MM phenotypes and prolonged the survival of VQ recipients. To facilitate easy molecular or genetic manipulations of VQ MM cells, we established two cell lines from primary cells. These cells could be easily infected (see another abstract from our co-author, Dr. Asimakopoulos's group). The cultured MM cells also express high levels of CD155, a ligand of immune checkpoint TIGIT, which has been recently reported to mediate a significant immune checkpoint blockade in MM patients. We further investigated the transcriptional signature of VQ MM cells (from bone marrow [BM] and from lymph nodes [LN]) vs wild-type (WT) plasma cells using the Illumina Bio-Rad's Single-Cell Sequencing platform. Illumina's Sure Cell app was used to de-multiplex samples, process barcodes and perform single-cell 3' gene counting. The processed data were then analyzed using Seurat R package to yield cluster information and their associated enriched genes. Our results revealed distinct clusters of CD138+ MM and WT cells, and also showed high similarity & overlap between BM & LN MM samples. Consistent with the genetic changes introduced to VQ MM cells, both Myc and Nras expression levels were significantly elevated in MM clusters compared to WT clusters. We also found that transcriptional levels of several potential therapeutic targets were significantly elevated in MM clusters, including Integrin alpha 4 and metabolic enzymes. Currently we are validating the scRNA-Seq results. Taken together, we generated a novel mouse model in which activation of Vk*MYC and oncogenic Nras in GC B cells results in a highly malignant, transplantable MM. The VQ mouse model represents an important innovation that will serve as a platform to investigate pathogenesis of resistant and refractory multiple myeloma and allow for testing the efficacy of novel therapeutic agents. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract Abstract 687 Background: A persistently positive PET scan after just a few cycles of therapy is predictive of a poor clinical outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Prior data suggested that about one third of patients remain PET positive after 2–4 cycles, with ≤ 20% 2 year progression-free survival (PFS) for such patients. A response-adapted strategy was studied in E3404 to test the hypothesis that an early treatment change to four cycles of R-ICE might reduce the treatment failure rate of patients whose PET scan remained positive after an initial 3 cycles of R-CHOP. Study Design: Previously untreated patients with DLBCL stage III, IV, or bulky II, with measurable disease, HIV negative, and with adequate organ reserve, were eligible. PET/CT scan was performed before treatment and again after 3 cycles of R-CHOP. A fourth cycle of R-CHOP was given while the scan was centrally reviewed and scored as either positive or negative for FDG-avid tumor by a single reviewer using criteria based on modifications of the Harmonization Criteria. Persistently PET-positive patients received 4 cycles of R-ICE, while PET-negative patients received 2 more cycles of R-CHOP, for a total of 6 cycles. PET/CT was performed again at the end of treatment. A ≥45% 2 year PFS for mid-treatment PET- positive patients was viewed as a promising result, with 88% power if 33 such patients were accrued. Total accrual of 99 patients was therefore planned. Results: Of 100 patients accrued, 78 were eligible; all but 1 ineligibility was based on central pathology review. Fifty-eight were male; median age was 62 years (20–74); 13% IPI 0–1, 31% IPI 2, 37% IPI 3, and 19% IPI 4–5. Seventy-four of 78 (95%) patients completed the first 3 cycles of R-CHOP. Of 72 patients continuing treatment, 67 (93%) completed protocol treatment: 83% of mid-treatment PET-positive and 93% of PET-negative patients. Of 74 patients undergoing mid-treatment PET scan, 12 (16%) were scored as positive, and 62 (84%) as negative. At the end of treatment, 13% were scored as positive, and 87% as negative. Two-year PFS, from the time of study entry, was 72% among all eligible patients. Two year PFS from the time of mid-treatment PET scan was 45% (90% CI, 21–67%) for patients scored as mid-treatment PET-positive, and 77% (90% CI 67–85%) for patients scored as mid-treatment PET-negative. The 80% confidence interval (corresponding to a test with a one-sided type I error of 10%) did not include the null hypothesis of 25%, implying that the results met the pre-specified threshold. Among all 78 eligible patients, 10 have died (13%); 5-year overall survival was 87% (90% CI 78–92%) Three-year overall survival was 67% (90% CI 40–84%) for mid-treatment PET-positive patients, and 93% (90% CI 85–97%) for mid-treatment PET-negative patients. Conclusions: The 2-year PFS for mid-treatment PET-positive patients met the threshold to be considered promising, but the confidence interval was wider than expected due to the small patient number. In addition, the inter-observer variability in the interpretation of mid-treatment PET scans as a binary variable in this study (studied and reported separately in Horning SJ et al. Blood 2010) implies that treatment modification based on early PET scanning should remain confined to clinical trials. Disclosures: Swinnen: Celgene: Consultancy; Genentech: Research Funding. Quon:Genentech: Research Funding. Advani:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding. Kahl:Roche/Genentech: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Cell Therapeutics: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; GSK: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy. Horning:Genentech: Employment; Roche: stock, stock Other.

6511 Background: Conventional adverse event (AE) analysis (ToxC) focuses on incidence of grade (gr) 3+ toxicities, and fails to capture AE time profile. Novel metrics that reflect chronic low gr and overall AE burden are needed. We applied the Toxicity over Time (ToxT) approach to ECOG-ACRIN 2408 to depict time-dependent toxicity of lenalidomide (L) with rituximab maintenance (MR) in follicular lymphoma (FL), and we developed a novel summary metric of symptomatic AE burden, the maximum gr over time (MGOT). Methods: In E2408, high risk FL patients (pts) were randomized (1:2:2) to: A) bendamustine-rituxumab (BR) x 6 then MR x 2 years (yrs) vs B) BR-bortezomib x 6 then MR x 2 yrs vs C) BR x 6 then MR x 2 yrs + L x 1 yr (MRL). Analysis included 3 laboratory and 5 symptomatic AEs of highest incidence during maintenance on arms A and C. Treatment-related AEs of any gr were analyzed by ToxC and ToxT. Repeated measures, time-to-event (TTE) and area under the curve (AUC) analyses capture trends over time in ToxT. MGOT combines the 5 symptomatic AEs. Results: 104 randomized pts (30 MR, 74 MRL) were included. For the laboratory AEs, by ToxC, neutropenia incidence was significantly higher in MRL (84%) than MR (47%, p < .001). ToxT additionally shows neutropenia does not worsen over time (10/14/20% gr 1/2/3+ at c1, 6/21/12% gr 1/2/3+ at c12). For the symptomatic AEs, ToxC indicates 2% gr 3+ GI AEs. However, gr 1-2 GI AEs are more common on MRL (59%) than MR (26%, p < .001). ToxT AUC captures a higher burden of GI AEs over time on MRL(2.8) vs MR(1.4, p = .002). TTE depicts sooner GI AE onset in MRL (10% vs 0% gr 2+ GI by day 50, p = 0.03). Bar charts of incidence and grade by cycle illustrate this improves over time (34/7/4% gr 1/2/3+ at c1, 13/0/0% gr 1/2/3+ at c12). ToxT MGOT analyses demonstrate earlier time to gr 2+ symptomatic AE on MRL vs MR (63% vs 31% by day 50, p < .001) and suggest that overall AE burden over time is higher for patients on MRL(AUC 18.2) than MR(11.8, p < .001). Conclusions: ToxT depicts AE time profile and can guide AE interventions. Summary metrics suggest that symptomatic AEs occur earlier and their burden over time is higher on MRL. We are implementing ToxT in patient-reported AE data to better characterize pt tolerability.