Hefazi, Mehrdad

e18523 Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (AHCT) remains the only curative option for genetically high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Venetoclax plus hypomethylating agents (Ven+HMA) is approved as frontline treatment in elderly patients with AML ( NEJM 2020; 383); however, less is known on the post-transplant outcomes following such therapy. Methods: Newly diagnosed (ND) AML patients who received Ven+HMA and underwent AHCT at Mayo Clinic from 2019 to 2024 were retrospectively recruited. Patients who required salvage therapy following Ven+HMA were excluded. Post-transplant survival (PTS) and relapse incidence were computed. Results: 55 ND-AML patients (60% male, 49% de novo , median age 69 [38-77]) received Ven+HMA (median cycles 3 [2-11]). ELN 2022 cytogenetic risk at time of diagnosis was non-adverse in 67% of patients, while 33% had adverse karyotype. Common mutations at diagnosis included: K/NRAS (88%), TP53 (26%), RUNX1 (23%), ASXL1 (16%), and IDH1/2 (17%). At the time of AHCT, 98% ( n=54 ) were in CR/CRi or MLFS; ELN cytogenetic risk was non-adverse in 91%, and adverse in 5 (9%) patients. Common mutations included: TP53 (16%), TET2 (18%), SRSF2 (15%), ASXL1 (13%), RUNX1 (18%), and DNMT3A (9%). Donor types included HLA-matched unrelated (75%), haplo-identical (11%), matched related (7%), mismatched unrelated (7%). 58% received fludarabine/melphalan conditioning and 54% GVHD prophylaxis with cyclophosphamide. At a median follow up of 25 months (0.7-68 mo), 20 patients (36%) have died, due to relapse in 10 (18%) cases. 3-year cumulative incidence of non-relapse mortality (NRM) was 17%. Median PTS was not reached (1/2/3-year survival 74%/66%/62%). Univariate analysis identified Karnofsky Performance Score <70% (3 vs. 21 months, p<0.01 ), TP53 (14 vs. 21 months p=0.02 ) and TET2 mutation at time of transplant (11 vs. 21 months , p=0.02 ) as risk factors. Multivariable analysis confirmed the prognostic impact of TP53 (HR 2.8) and TET2 mutations (HR 2.9). Age, adverse karyotype at transplant, and donor type did not impact PTS (p>0.1). 13 patients (24%) experienced post-transplant relapse; 1/2/3-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 10%, 21% and 25%, respectively. ELN-defined adverse karyotype at transplant increased risk of relapse (3 year cumulative incidence 80% vs. 17% for non-adverse , p<0.01 ). Overall, 51% of patients developed GVHD; 54%, 39% and 7% were acute, chronic GVHD and both, respectively. GVHD was protective against relapse (3 year incidence 15% vs. 36% in absence of GVHD [p=0.04]). Conclusions: Ven+HMA frontline treatment is associated with favorable post-transplant outcome in elderly ND-AML (3 year PTS 62%/cumulative incidence of relapse 25%/NRM 17%). TP53 mutation and ELN 2022-defined adverse karyotype at the time of transplant independently predicted PTS and relapse incidence, respectively.

e18508 Background: BPDCN is a rare and aggressive hematologic malignancy. Despite the advent of targeted therapies, median overall survival (mOS) remains <1 year (y) in the absence of stem cell transplant (SCT). This study evaluates clinical and molecular predictors of outcomes in a large cohort of BPDCN patients at a tertiary center. Methods: BPDCN patients seen at Mayo Clinic (AZ, FL, MN) between 2000-2024 were identified retrospectively. Analyses considered parameters at diagnosis. Next generation sequencing (NGS) was performed using a 47-gene assay. Standard statistical methods were used; calculations used R. Results: Among 69 patients, the median age was 70y (range 19-94) with male predominance (83%). At presentation, skin (80%), bone marrow (73%), lymph nodes (52%), spleen (27%), and CNS (12%) were involved; 26% had a concurrent hematologic malignancy. Among 20 cases with NGS, the median number of mutations was 3 (range 0-5), most frequently TET2 (n=16), ASXL1 (n=13), SRSF2 (n=7), and NRAS (n=5). Frontline therapy (Table) yielded a complete response (CR) rate of 63% and overall response rate of 76%. CR rates were similar among regimens, but patients who received an ALL (hyper-CVAD based) regimen (8/13) or tagraxofusp (6/9) were more likely to be bridged to SCT (6/29, p<0.01). After median follow up of 38 months (mo), mOS for all was 15 (95% CI 12-21) mo; 44 (64%) were deceased at last follow up. Among 62 evaluable patients, 20 (32%, median age 60 vs 74y, p<0.01) underwent SCT which improved survival (mOS 51 vs 10 mo, 3y OS 52% vs 5%, p<0.01); mOS was not different between allogeneic (n=17) and autologous (n=3) SCT (54 vs 38 mo, p=0.45). When censored for SCT, the 1y OS for patients receiving an ALL regimen, tagraxofusp, or other regimen was 82%, 67%, and 47%, respectively (p=0.15). In univariate analysis, age ≥50y, lymph node involvement, bone marrow involvement, hemoglobin <10 g/dL, leukocytes (WBC) >11 x10 9 /L, abnormal karyotype, and HCT were significantly associated with OS. In multivariate analysis, WBC >11 x10 9 /L (HR 3.7, p<0.03), abnormal karyotype (HR 5.4, p<0.01), and SCT (HR 0.23, p<0.01) remained significant. Separately, SRSF2 mutation was associated with inferior OS (15 vs 51 mo, p=0.02), but significance was lost when adjusted for age, abnormal karyotype, and SCT. Conclusions: Newly-diagnosed BPDCN patients treated with an ALL regimen or tagraxofusp followed by SCT had longer OS compared to those treated with all other regimens. WBC >11 x10 9 /L and abnormal karyotype were independent predictors of inferior survival whereas SCT was beneficial. Regimen N Age (y) ANNOVA CR Chi Sq HCT Chi Sq 1y OS mOS (mo) Log-rank Tagraxofusp 9 68 (40-70) <0.001 7 (78%) 0.548 6 (67%) 0.018 88% 20.8 0.121 ALL 13 43 (20-72) 8 (67%) 8 (62%) 74% 50.7 Hyper-CVAD 11 43 (20-72) 6 (60%) 6 (60%) 67% 35.8 AML 18 70 (48-80) 13 (76%) 5 (28%) 58% 14.2 Intensive 8 66 (48-77) 7 (88%) 3 (38%) 57% 12.4 HMA+Venetoclax 8 69 (65-80) 6 (75%) 2 (25%) 50% 14.0 Lymphoma 8 74 (49-85) 3 (43%) 1 (13%) 50% 14.0 CHOP 6 74 (49-85) 3 (50%) 1 (17%) 50% 17.7 Other 3 66 (63-73) 1 (33%) 0 (0%) 33% 12.0

Background/Objectives: DDX41, DEAD-box RNA helicase 41 gene located on chromosome 5q25.3, is one of the most mutated genes in patients with germline predisposition to myeloid neoplasms. Germline and somatic mutations often have different locations and patterns of mutation, with some hotspots displaying diversity based on ethnicity. We aimed to explore clinical outcomes in patients with various DDX41 hot-spot mutations. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients at Mayo Clinic with DDX41 mutation identified through Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) between 2018 and 2024. We completed unadjusted comparisons using continuous or categorical variables, and survival rates were assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method and cox regression analysis. Results: Overall survival appears to be higher in those with p.M1| when compared to p.Asp140GlyFs*2 and p.Arg525His, with comparable survival between p.Arg525His and p.Asp140GlyFs*2. Among males with p.M1| who underwent bone marrow transplant, those who underwent bone marrow transplant appeared to have lower survival rates, although not statistically significant. Our study was limited by a small sample size, therefore limiting our ability to reach significance. Conclusions: Our findings suggest potential implications for clinical outcomes based on DDX41 mutation hot-spots.

Abstract Chimeric antigen receptor T (CART) cell therapy has shown clinical successes in B cell hematological malignancies. Two B cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed CART cell therapies treating multiple myeloma (MM) were approved by FDA but most patients relapse within 1-2 years. Ex vivo-expanded antigen specific T cells as cancer treatment rely on TCR-mediated killing of tumors. We hypothesized that arming ex vivo enriched tumor-specific T cells with CARs targeting a different antigen improves T cell functions. First, we expanded mucin 1 (MUC1)-activated T cells from patients with MM through ex vivo stimulation by MUC1 peptides-loaded autologous PBMCs for 19 days. Then, we engineered MUC1-activated T cells with 4-1BB-co-stimulated BCMA CAR to generate MUC1 TCR+BCMA CAR+ T cells. Baseline T cells without MUC1 stimulation were engineered with BCMA CAR as control. Baseline T cells, MUC1 T cells, baseline BCMA CART cells, or MUC1 BCMA CART cells were cocultured with luc+ RPMI-8226, a MUC1+BCMA+ MM cell line, for 3 days. MUC1 BCMA CART cells showed stronger tumor killing than BCMA CART or MUC1 T cells in all 3 patients (p&lt;0.0001). MUC1 BCMA CART showed improved proliferation than BCMA CART or MUC1 T cells (p=0.0765, p&lt;0.0001, respectively) after a 5-day stimulation by RPMI-8226. To exclude possibility of metabolic alterations by 19-day PBMC incubation leading to better T cell functions in MUC1 BCMA CART, baseline and MUC1-stimulated T cells from 3 healthy donors were processed for the same assays. Day-19 BCMA CART cells showed inferior tumor killing compared to baseline BCMA CART in all 3 donors (p&lt;0.0001). Lower T cell proliferation was also observed in day-19 BCMA CART (p=0.0838). Our data indicate that improved T cell functions in MUC1 BCMA CART were unlikely due to metabolic changes and required stimulation by tumor antigens prior to CAR engineering likely through MUC1 TCR. Additionally, MUC1 T cells, BCMA CART, or MUC1 BCMA CART cells from tested patients were stimulated by RPMI-8226 for bulk RNA sequencing. Both BCMA CART and MUC1 T cells had distinct transcriptomic features from MUC1 BCMA CART cells. Differential gene expression analysis showed upregulation of T cell function-associated genes (RYR2, ITGA1, GNLY, GZMA, etc.) in MUC1 BCMA CART vs BCMA CART. Enrichment of T cell function-associated pathways was also observed in MUC1 BCMA CART. Analysis between MUC1 T cell and MUC1 BCMA CART showed upregulation of T cell function-associated genes (CSF2, CRTAM, IFNG, GZMB, etc.) and enrichment of immune response pathways in MUC1 BCMA CART. Our findings suggest that equipping ex vivo-enriched tumor-specific T cells with CARs targeting a different antigen improves T cell functions in vitro. Importantly, this provides a rationale for a therapeutic regimen where patients receive ex vivo-enriched tumor-induced T cells followed by CAR engineering. Persistence of the engineered T cells is being investigated Citation Format: Kun Yun, R. Leo Sakemura, Ismail Can, Omar Gutierrez Ruiz, Ekene J. Ogbodo, Truc N. Huynh, Claudia Manriquez Roman, Olivia Sirpilla, Carli M. Stewart, Jennifer M. Feigin, Grace E. DeFranco, Sophia Y. Goldberg, Dominic A. Skeele, Mariam Stein, Dara Missan, Latha Pathangey, Long Mai, Hong Xia, Brooke Kimball, Lionel A. Kankeu Fonkoua, Mehrdad Hefazi, Michael W. Ruff, Elizabeth L. Siegler, Leif Bergsagel, Michael Gustafson, Sandra Gendler, Saad S. Kenderian. BCMA CAR engineering arms T cells with superior functions post ex vivo stimulation by MUC1 peptide-loaded autologous PBMCs [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 6103.

Abstract Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHCT) is considered for all patients with myeloid neoplasms (MNs) harboring TP53 mutations (TP53mut). The aim of this international study across 7 transplant centers in the United States and Australia was to identify factors associated with improved post-alloHCT survival. Of 134 TP53mut MN cases who underwent alloHCT, 80% harbored complex karyotype; 94% of TP53 variants were localized to the DNA-binding domain (DBD). Most common comutations were ASXL1 (7%), TET2 (7%), and DNMT3A (6%). Median post-HCT survival was 1.03 years, and overall survival (OS) at 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years was 51.4%, 35.1%, and 25.1%, respectively. A total of 103 cases (76.9%) met the International Consensus Classification (ICC) criteria for MN with mutated TP53 (referred to as ICC-defined TP53mut MN hereafter). The 3-year OS of ICC-defined TP53mut was significantly shorter compared with that of other TP53mut MNs (3-year OS, 16.9% vs 54.9%; P = .002). ICC-defined TP53mut MNs was independently associated with inferior OS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.62; P = .019). The presence of non-DBD TP53mut only (HR, 3.40; P = .005), DNMT3A comutation (HR, 2.64; P = .016), and pre-alloHCT bone marrow blasts ≥5% (HR, 2.76; P = .006) was independently associated with inferior relapse-free survival (RFS), whereas melphalan-based conditioning was associated with superior RFS (HR, 0.52; P = .005). Combining these variables, we constructed a hierarchical model that stratified patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk categories with 1-year RFS of 81.3%, 31.3%, and 6.7%, respectively (P &lt; .001). In conclusion, a subset of MN harboring TP53mut who have low blasts pre-alloHCT and received melphalan-based conditioning derived long-term benefit from alloHCT.

ABSTRACTTransplant‐associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA‐TMA) is an endothelial dysfunction syndrome observed after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (alloHCT). Our aim was to externally validate the impact of high‐risk features on the clinical outcomes of adult patients meeting the updated TA‐TMA harmonizing criteria. Between 2005 and 2022, 99 patients were diagnosed with TA‐TMA at Mayo Clinic Rochester (incidence 6.2%) after a median of 137 days post alloHCT (IQR: 34–283 days). The development of TA‐TMA was associated with an inferior overall survival posttransplant (HR: 3.8, 95% CI: 2.97–4.72). High‐risk features, including concomitant infection, acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD), and organ dysfunction, were associated with poor survival, while LDH elevation was not associated with inferior outcomes. The most common treatment strategy for TA‐TMA was discontinuation of calcineurin or mTOR inhibitors in 80 (81%) patients. Thirty (37.5%) patients experienced worsening of GVHD with this strategy, of which 26 (86.7%) patients had died at last follow‐up. The most common cause of death among these patients was worsening GVHD (69%; n = 18), followed by infection (11%; n = 3), disease relapse (8%; n = 2), other/unknown causes (8%; n = 2), or TA‐TMA (4%; n = 1). Objective response rate (ORR) to initial treatment for the cohort was 56.6%. Eculizumab was used in 11 patients with an observed ORR of 70%, including 5 complete responses. In conclusion, TA‐TMA remains a significant contributor to non‐relapse mortality and is associated with worse survival following alloHCT. Not all high‐risk features, particularly LDH elevation, have consistently demonstrated a negative impact in adult cohorts. Patients with TA‐TMA may benefit from immune suppression dose adjustment, rather than a discontinuation, and the addition of complement‐directed therapy, particularly among high‐risk patients.

ABSTRACT Patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (ND‐AML) derive variable survival benefit from venetoclax + hypomethylating agent (Ven‐HMA) therapy. The primary objective in the current study was to develop genetic risk models that are predictive of survival and are applicable at the time of diagnosis and after establishing treatment response. Among 400 ND‐AML patients treated with Ven‐HMA at the Mayo Clinic, 247 (62%) achieved complete remission with (CR) or without (CRi) count recovery. Multivariable analysis–derived hazard ratios (HR), including 1.8 for European LeukemiaNet (ELN) adverse karyotype, 4.7 for KMT2Ar , 1.7 for TP53 MUT , 2.6 for KRAS MUT , and 2.1 for IDH2 WT were applied to develop an HR‐weighted risk model: low, intermediate, and high; respective median survival censored for allogeneic stem cell transplant (ASCT) (3‐year survival) were “not reached” (67%), 19.1 (33%), and 7.1 months (0%). In patients achieving CR/CRi, adverse karyotype, KMT2Ar , KRAS MUT , IDH2 WT predicted inferior survival, allowing for a complementary response‐stratified risk model. The model was externally validated and was shown to be superior to the ELN 2024 risk model (AIC 179 vs. 195 and AUC 0.77 vs. 0.69). Survival was inferior with failure to achieve CR/CRi or not receiving ASCT; 3‐year survival for high‐risk with or without ASCT was 42% versus 0% ( p < 0.01); intermediate 72% versus 43% ( p = 0.06); and low‐risk 88% versus 78% ( p = 0.53). The Mayo genetic risk models offer pre‐treatment and response‐based prognostic tools for ND‐AML treated with Ven‐HMA. The current study underscores the prognostically indispensable role of achieving CR/CRi and ASCT.

Introduction: Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has emerged as the new standard of care for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis following reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT). The BMT CTN 1703 phase III trial demonstrated superior GVHD/relapse or progression-free survival (GRFS) in patients receiving PTCy, without affecting relapse risk. The primary objective of this study was to compare the risk of relapse in high-risk myeloid neoplasms post RIC/Nonmyeloablative (NMA) transplant using PTCy vs Tacrolimus/Methotrexate (TAC/MTX) as GVHD prophylaxis (PPX). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with high-risk myeloid neoplasms following RIC/NMA alloSCT who received PTCy or TAC/MTX for GVHD PPX between Jan 2018 and June 2023. Criteria for high-risk myeloid neoplasms included acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with ≥1 of the following (complex or monosomal karyotype, TP53, WT1, FLT3 ITD+/NPM1-, active disease, MRD+, secondary AML), Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with ≥1 of the following (complex karyotype, monosomal karyotype, TP53, RAS pathway mutation, marrow blast of 10% or more) or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were used to estimate overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Non-relapse mortality (NRM) and relapse incidence (RI) were calculated using competing risk analysis. Factors with P&lt;0.10 in univariate analysis were included in multivariate analysis Results: Out of 552 alloSCTs, 108 (19.5%) patients met the inclusion criteria. Seventy-two (66.6%) received TAC/MTX, and 36 (33.3%) received PTCy. The median follow-up time was 26 months (range 3-68). The median age at transplant was 65 years (range 62-69) with age comparable between the two groups (p=0.6). Haploidentical transplant accounted for 33.3% of PTCy, while the remainder had matched related or matched unrelated transplant (MRD/MUD). Compared to TAC/MTX group, the PTCy group had more frequent NRAS mutation (19.4% vs 8.3%, p=0.094), but fewer patients with hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index (HCT-CI) ≥ 3(41.7% vs 61.1%, p=0.056). AML MRD+ was more prevalent in the PTCy group (22.2% vs 8.3%, p=0.098). The two groups were otherwise well-balanced in terms of disease distribution, disease risk index, TP53 mutation, and complex monosomal karyotype (CK and MK). The 1-yr OS, DFS, and GRFS for PTCy vs TAC/MTX were 78.7% vs 72.8% (p=0.9), 53.6% vs 67.9% (p=0.2), 38% vs 40%, (p=0.4), respectively. The 1-yr cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) was higher in PTCy compared to TAC/MTX (37.6% vs 11.1%, p=0.01). Both haploidentical and MRD/MUD in the PTCy group had similar 1-yr RI (34.7 vs 38.3% p=0.7). Limiting the analysis to MRD/MUD, the PTCy group had a higher risk of relapse compared to TAC/MTX (34.7% vs 10.2%, P=0.007). Sub-analysis showed a higher 1-yr-CIR in the PTCy cohort for secondary AML (40% vs 0.0%, p=0.01), TP53 mutation (44.4% vs 18.1%, p=0.02), CK/MK (71.4% vs 22.2%, P=0.008), and chromosome 17 abnormality (60% vs 10%, P=0.001), compared to TAC/MTX. Despite of the increased CIR in the PTCy group, only patients with chromosome 17 abnormality receiving PTCy had an inferior DFS compared to TAC/MTX (median 5 vs. 14 months, p=0.008). In multivariate analysis for 1-yr CIR that included TP53, chromatin modifiers mutations, complex karyotype, high/very high DRI, and PTCy, both PTCy (HR 4.56, 95% CI 1.1-18.07, p=0.031) and high/very high DRI (HR 12.745, 95% CI 1.5-103.4, p=0.017) were independently predictive of post-transplant relapse. However, these factors were not significantly associated with 1-year OS. Conclusion:In patients with high-risk MN following RIC/NMA alloSCT, those receiving PTCy as GVHD PPX had a higher risk of relapse compared to TAC/MTX, irrespective of the donor source. Notably, an inferior DFS was observed only in patients with chromosome 17 abnormality who received PTCy. Despite of the increased relapse risk in the PTCy group, OS, DFS, and GRFS were comparable to TAC/MTX, likely due to higher risk of GVHD and NRM in the latter group.

Despite the high initial responses to chimeric antigen receptor T (CART) cell therapy, most patients relapse within the first 1-2 years. T cell quality influences the success of CART cell therapies greatly, and T cells from cancer patients are prone to transition into dysfunctional states, such as exhaustion or senescence. The role of exhaustion in CART cell failures has been studied extensively; however, the role of T cell senescence has remained mostly unexplored. In this study, we aimed to determine the development of CART cell senescence and its impact on CART therapeutic efficacy. First, we studied the development of CART cell senescence using an in vitro model to induce CART cell dysfunction. Here, we cyclically activated CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T (CART19) cells (either costimulated via 4-1BB (BBζ) or CD28 (28ζ)). Activation cycles are designed to mimic recurrent activation of CART cells to study the impact of T cell activation on CART cell fates throughout treatment. We added a rest time in between activation cycles to focus on senesced CART cell populations since, unlike exhaustion, senescence is irreversible even after rest. We examined CART immunophenotype, cell cycle regulators, transcriptomic profile, senescence marker gene expressions and T cell effector functions on days 0 (D0-T cell), 8 (D8-baseline CART), and 15 (D15-CART cell after one activation/rest cycles). Following an activation/rest cycle, T cell exhaustion markers CTLA4, LAG3, and PD1 returned to basal levels after an initial increase due to activation, while only TIM-3 levels remained elevated (BBζ: p=0.0090, 28ζ: p=0.0394). Increased TIM-3 expression is associated with T cell senescence, which prompted us to further investigate the development of a senescence phenotype. We found a prominent T cell senescence phenotype in BBζ compared to 28ζ, as evident by increased expression of p53 (BBζ: p=0.0248), p21 (BBζ: p=0.0483), CD27 (BBζ: p=0.0080), CD28 (BBζ: p=0.0327), uPAR (BBζ vs. 28ζ: p&lt;0.0001), and KLRG1 (BBζ vs. 28ζ: p=0.0029) in recurrently activated-rested CART cells. Next, we evaluated the transcriptomic signature of recurrently activated-rested CART cells. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) indicated enrichment of gene sets related to senescent T cells as well as senMayo, a novel gene set which is reported to be selectively enriched in senescing cells or tissues, in BBζ, but not in 28ζ, compared to T cell D0 or in BBζ D15 compared to 28ζ D15 (p=0.00014 and p=0.089, respectively). MYC-related gene sets were found to be significantly enriched in recurrently activated/rested BBζ and depleted in 28ζ (p&lt;0.1). MYC expression is increased in BBζ (p= 0.0010) while decreased in 28ζ (p=0.0036) upon recurrent activation and is higher in BBζ (D8: p=0.0018, D15: p= 0.0022) compared to 28ζ at indicated time points by qPCR. Given these results, we induced senescence in CART cells using two alternative strategies: MYC-T58A activation (oncogene-induced senescence) and irradiation. Senescence induced by MYC-T58A overexpression ameliorated only BBζ killing (p=0.0057), whereas senescence induced by irradiation improved 28ζ killing (p= 0.0086), indicating versatile impact of senescence on treatment outcome diverse CART cell therapies. Finally, analysis with two independent patient data sets correlated the emergence of senescence with contradicting clinical outcomes to BBζ and 28ζ treatments. The presence of senescent 28ζ cells in the peripheral blood of 28ζ-treated patients was reported to be associated with complete response in the clinic in an independent analysis. In another cohort, 28ζ-treated patients with higher senescence score were correlated with longer disease-free survival (p=0.0029), while senMayo gene set enrichment in BBζ-treated patients was associated with non-response in the clinic (p=0.014). In the same cohort, MYC-related gene sets-the same genes sets enriched in our recurrently activated/rested BBζ-are also enriched in nonresponsive BBζ-treated patients. In summary, our study indicates that (i) CART cells are susceptible to a state of senescence, as demonstrated using three independent approaches (repeated activation/rest, irradiation, and MYC modulation), (ii) CART senescence is more prominent in BBζ than 28ζ, and (iii) senescence is associated with worse outcomes following BBζ but not 28ζ treatment.

Background Venetoclax + hypomethylating agent (Ven-HMA) therapy results in favorable response rates (CR/CRi 66%) and overall survival (OS; median 14.7 months) in unfit patients with newly-diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (ND-AML; N Engl J Med 2020;383). However, there is substantial heterogeneity in individual patient outcomes based on response to treatment. The objective of the current study was to develop a genetic risk model to predict survival outcome in treatment responders and non-responders, analyzed separately, and also account for allogeneic stem cell transplant (ASCT). Methods Treatment-naïve AML patients receiving Ven-HMA, outside of a clinical trial, at the Mayo Clinic, USA (MN, AZ, FL) were retrospectively recruited. Molecular studies (48-gene panel) were performed by next-generation sequencing. Response was assessed according to the 2022 European LeukemiaNet (ELN) criteria (Blood 2022;140). Standard statistical analyses were performed using JMP Pro (Version 17.0.0). Results 400 ND-AML patients (median age 73 years, 64% male, 60% de novo) received Ven-HMA. ELN cytogenetic risk included favorable 2%, intermediate 60%, or adverse 38%. Mutations involved TP53 in 26%, TET2 19%, RUNX1 19%, SRSF2 18%, ASXL1 18%, DNMT3A 15%, K/NRAS 13%, NPM1 12%, IDH2 12%, FLT3-ITD 10%, IDH1 7% and DDX41 in 4% of informative cases. 153 (38%) patients achieved CR, 94 (24%) CR with incomplete count recovery (CRi), resulting in CR/CRi in 247 (62%) patients. CR/CRi rates were higher with NPM1 (86% vs 59%), IDH2 (77% vs 60%), and DDX41 mutations (93% vs 61%) and lower with TP53 (45% vs 67%), FLT3-ITD (41% vs 64%), RUNX1 (49% vs 65%) mutations and adverse karyotype (48% vs 71%), with all retaining significance in multivariable analysis. CR/CRi rate was highest (87%) in 75 patients with one or more favorable mutations (NPM1, IDH2, DDX41) and no unfavorable mutation (TP53, FLT3-ITD, RUNX1). CR/CRi rate was lowest in 171 patients with at least one unfavorable mutation and no favorable mutation (44%; p&lt;0.01). After a median follow up of 10.5 months (0.5-66), 105 relapses (43% of patients in CR/CRi), 248 (62%) deaths and 65 (16%) ASCT were documented. Univariate analysis for transplant-censored OS disclosed superior survival in patients achieving CR/CRi (median 21 vs 3.6 months; HR 5.4, 95% CI 4.1-7.1). Among patients achieving CR/CRi, IDH2 mutation was associated with superior (median not reached vs 20.5 months) and male gender (median 17.6 vs 29.2 months), TP53 mutations (median 11.9 vs 24.3 months) and adverse karyotype (median 12.6 vs 29.4 months) with inferior survival; multivariable analysis resulted in HRs (95% CI) of 2.1 (1.3-3.4) for male gender, 2.1 (1.2-3.8) for adverse karyotype, and 2.5 (1.1-5.7) for absence of IDH2 mutations. Male gender did not show an association with karyotype, or TP53 mutations (p&gt;0.1). Accordingly, an HR-weighted genetic risk model was generated with assignment of one point each to male gender, adverse karyotype, and absence of IDH2 mutation: high risk = 3 risk factors (n=38; median 9.6 months; 3-year survival 0%); intermediate risk = 2 risk factors (n=129; median 22 months; 3-year survival 38%); and low-risk = ≤1 risk factor (n=78; median not reached; 3-year survival 69%; p&lt;0.01). In patients bridged to ASCT (n=60), post-transplant survival was inferior in the presence of ≥ 2 risk factors (n=42; median 46 months) vs. ≤1 risk factor (n=18; median not reached; p=0.1). In patients not achieving CR/CRi, risk factors for OS included male gender (median 3.4 vs 6.1 months), adverse karyotype (median 3.3 vs 4.5 months) and TP53 mutation (median 3.1 vs 4.5 months) while those with IDH2 mutations lived longer (median 8.4 vs 3.4 months). In multivariable analysis, HRs (95% CI) were 1.9 (1.3-2.9) for male gender, 2.0 (1.4-2.9) for adverse karyotype, and 2.1 (1.1-4.3) for absence of IDH2 mutations. OS was shortest for non-responders harboring 3 risk factors (n=45; median 3 months; 1-year survival 0%) and longer for those harboring two (n=80; median 6 months, 1-year OS 15%) or ≤ 1 risk factor (n=25; median 14 months; 1-year OS 56%; p&lt;0.01). Conclusion The current study describes a molecular profile for predicting response to Ven-HMA in ND-AML and also introduces a novel approach to survival prediction that considers treatment response as the starting point. In both responders and non-responders, male gender and adverse karyotype were identified as unfavorable and IDH2 mutation favorable risk factor for OS.