Thakurta, Anjan

Abstract Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiD) are a backbone therapy for multiple myeloma (MM). Despite their efficacy, most patients develop resistance, and the mechanisms are not fully defined. Here, we show that IMiD responses are directed by IMiD-dependent degradation of IKZF1 and IKZF3 that bind to enhancers necessary to sustain the expression of MYC and other myeloma oncogenes. IMiD treatment universally depleted chromatin-bound IKZF1, but eviction of P300 and BRD4 coactivators only occurred in IMiD-sensitive cells. IKZF1-bound enhancers overlapped other transcription factor binding motifs, including ETV4. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing showed that ETV4 bound to the same enhancers as IKZF1, and ETV4 CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ablation resulted in sensitization of IMiD-resistant MM. ETV4 expression is associated with IMiD resistance in cell lines, poor prognosis in patients, and is upregulated at relapse. These data indicate that ETV4 alleviates IKZF1 and IKZF3 dependency in MM by maintaining oncogenic enhancer activity and identify transcriptional plasticity as a previously unrecognized mechanism of IMiD resistance. Significance: We show that IKZF1-bound enhancers are critical for IMiD efficacy and that the factor ETV4 can bind the same enhancers and substitute for IKZF1 and mediate IMiD resistance by maintaining MYC and other oncogenes. These data implicate transcription factor redundancy as a previously unrecognized mode of IMiD resistance in MM. See related article by Welsh, Barwick, et al., p. 34. See related commentary by Yun and Cleveland, p. 5. This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 4

Introduction: Iberdomide (IBER; CC-220) is a potent, novel cereblon (CRBN) E3 ligase modulator (CELMoD) agent under investigation in a phase 1/2 dose-escalation study in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) (CC-220-MM-001; NCT02773030). IBER modulates CRBN to induce ubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation of Ikaros/Aiolos, resulting in anti-myeloma and immunomodulatory activity. Compared with immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), IBER binds to CRBN with 20-fold higher affinity and is more efficient at degrading Ikaros/Aiolos. Additionally, IBER can overcome IMiD drug resistance. Here, we evaluate the preclinical activity of IBER in combination with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and assess immune pharmacodynamic changes of IBER + daratumumab (DARA) among patients in the CC-220-MM-001 study. Methods: Preclinical analyses were performed on MM cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy volunteers. In co-culture assays, cell lines and immune cells were treated with clinically relevant concentrations of lenalidomide (LEN; 1 μM), pomalidomide (POM; 300 nM), and IBER (20 nM) alone, and in combination with DARA or elotuzumab (ELO). Clinical biomarker data were obtained from blood samples of patients enrolled in IBER + dexamethasone (DEX) and IBER + DARA + DEX cohorts of the CC-220-MM-001 study. Immune profiling was evaluated by flow cytometry on Cycle (C) 1 Day (D) 1, C2D15, C4D1, and C4D15. Results: Treatment of CD3-stimulated PBMCs with IBER increased cytokine secretion more potently than with IMiD drugs, promoting natural killer (NK) cell proliferation and increasing NK cell numbers by > 30% in cultures. Treatment of CD3-stimulated PBMCs with IBER also promoted immune-mediated killing of MM cell lines, and pretreatment of MM cell lines for 48 h followed by washout sensitized cells to immune-mediated clearance. IBER treatment of MM cells increased protein expression of CD38, but had no discernable effect on SLAMF7 expression. IBER in combination with DARA or ELO enhanced the immune-mediated killing of MM cell lines and resulted in deeper cell killing compared with LEN or POM when combined with the same mAbs. Analogous to preclinical data, immune profiling of patients treated with IBER + DEX demonstrated an immune-stimulatory effect, including increased proliferating NK and T cells. Notably, patients coming on trial directly after a DARA-containing regimen showed depleted NK cell counts, which rebounded by nearly 2-fold after 1 cycle of IBER + DEX. Additionally, the effects of IBER on T and NK cell proliferation were similar in patients treated with IBER + DEX + DARA and IBER + DEX, except for overall reduction in CD38-expressing NK and T cells in patients receiving DARA. Conclusions: IBER induced immune-stimulatory activity more potently than LEN or POM, enhancing cytokine release and NK cell proliferation. MM cells treated with IBER were also sensitized to immune-mediated clearance. These data suggest that IBER may enhance the activity of biologics that exert anti-malignant activity through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Accordingly, IBER enhanced the activity of DARA and ELO in co-culture. IBER also induced an immune-stimulatory effect on NK and T cells in vivo, confirming immune-stimulatory effects of IBER in patients with MM. Notably, the effect of IBER on NK cells was more pronounced in patients whose last treatment regimen contained DARA, suggesting IBER treatment may contribute to NK cell recovery after DARA treatment. Furthermore, immune changes observed by the addition of DARA to IBER + DEX were similar, suggesting IBER was the primary agent promoting immunomodulation in this triplet therapy. Together, these data support continued clinical development of IBER in combination with CD38- and SLAMF7-directed mAbs as well as other immune-directed therapies for the treatment of MM. Disclosures Amatangelo: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Bjorklund:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Ma:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Wollerman:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Pierceall:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Lonial:JUNO Therapeutics: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees; Abbvie: Consultancy; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees; Takeda: Consultancy, Other: Personal fees, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees, Research Funding; Onyx: Honoraria; Millennium: Consultancy, Honoraria; TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. van de Donk:Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Ferrer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Popat:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company). Jagannath:BMS, Janssen, Karyopharm, Legend Biotech, Sanofi, Takeda: Consultancy. Zonder:Intellia: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Alnylam: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees; Celgene: Research Funding; Prothena: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Personal fees; Oncopeptide: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees; Caelum: Consultancy; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees. Minnema:Kite, a Gilead Company: Speakers Bureau; Servier: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Celgene: Other: travel support, Research Funding. Oriol:Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GlaxoSmithKline: 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, Speakers Bureau. Larsen:Janssen Oncology: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Badros:Amgen: Consultancy; University of Maryland: Current Employment. Rodriguez-Otero:Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene/Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria; Medscape: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Oncopeptides: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kite: Consultancy, Honoraria. Sonneveld:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Skyline Dx: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Nguyen:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Hong:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Sorrell:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment; Children's Oncology Group: Other: Non-member; Previous Study Chair AAML08B1. Thakurta:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment; Oxford University: Other: Visiting professor.

Introduction: Iberdomide (IBER; CC-220) is a potent, novel cereblon (CRBN) E3 ligase modulator (CELMoD) agent under investigation in a phase 1/2 dose-escalation study for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) (CC-220-MM-001; NCT02773030). IBER modulates CRBN to induce ubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation of Ikaros/Aiolos, resulting in antimyeloma and immunomodulatory activity. Compared with immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs); IBER binds to CRBN with 20-fold higher affinity and is more efficient at degrading Ikaros/Aiolos. Additionally, IBER can overcome IMiD drug resistance. Here, we compare the preclinical activity of IBER versus IMiD drugs + proteasome inhibitors (PIs), and assess the pharmacodynamic (PD) activity of IBER in patients treated with IBER + dexamethasone (DEX), IBER + DEX + bortezomib (BORT), and IBER + DEX + carfilzomib (CFZ). Methods: MM cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy volunteers were analyzed. Cell lines treated with PIs (BORT and CFZ) were pulsed with drug for 1 h, and then treated with clinically relevant concentrations of lenalidomide (LEN; 1 μM), pomalidomide (POM; 300 nM), or IBER (20 nM). Biomarker data for PD analyses were obtained from blood samples of patients enrolled in the IBER + DEX, IBER + DEX + BORT, and IBER + DEX + CFZ cohorts of the CC-220-MM-001 study. Degradation of Ikaros/Aiolos in peripheral blood was analyzed on Cycle (C) 1 Day (D) 1, pre-dose, and post IBER/IBER + PI dose by flow cytometry. Immune profiling was evaluated by flow cytometry from peripheral blood at C1D1, C2D15, C4D1, and C4D15. Results : Proteasome inhibition in cell lines after 1 h pulse of PI was maintained after washout. However, substrate degradation by IBER was affected only minimally by combination with PIs, and was more potent than by LEN or POM. These results correlate with synergistic antiproliferative activity and more potent tumoricidal activity in cell lines treated with IBER + PI than IMiD + PI combinations. Furthermore, ex vivo treatment of PBMCs with IBER + PIs minimally affected cytokine induction by IBER. Analysis of patient samples from the CC-220-MM-001 study confirmed preclinical observations showing minimal inhibition of IBER PD with the addition of PIs to the treatment regimen. In patient T cells, Ikaros and Aiolos protein levels decreased by > 50% and > 70%, respectively, with IBER + DEX, and by > 30% and > 45% (at lower IBER doses) with IBER + DEX + BORT or IBER + DEX + CFX. In all cohorts, the nadir of substrate expression was determined to be 6 h. After repeated dosing (mid-C1) patients treated with IBER + PIs showed > 70% decreases in both Ikaros and Aiolos expression. Furthermore, immune profiling of patients showed that the addition of PIs to the IBER treatment regimen did not inhibit immune-stimulatory activity of IBER, including induction of NK and T cell proliferation. Conclusions: Preclinically, IBER induced substrate degradation in the presence of PIs, and treatment with IBER + PIs resulted in substantially increased tumoricidal activity. Deeper substrate degradation and increased apoptosis were also observed when PIs were combined with IBER versus IMiD drugs. Clinically, IBER led to rapid decreases in substrate levels, even in the presence of PIs, and levels were reduced further with repeated dosing, suggesting that concurrent administration of PIs minimally affects proteasomal degradation of substrates mediated by IBER. Furthermore, increases in NK and T cell proliferation in IBER-treated patients were consistent whether or not they also received a PI, further confirming that IBER has immune-stimulatory activity in combination with PIs. These data support continued clinical development of IBER in combination with PIs for the treatment of MM. Disclosures Amatangelo: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Bjorklund:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Kang:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Mukhopadhyay:Bristol Myers Squibb: Other: Contract scientist, Research & Early Development. Jiménez Nuñez:CITRE, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Current Employment. Wong:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Pierceall:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Lonial:Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees; Genentech: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees; Takeda: Consultancy, Other: Personal fees, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Personal fees; Abbvie: Consultancy; Millennium: Consultancy, Honoraria; JUNO Therapeutics: Consultancy; TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Onyx: Honoraria. van de Donk:Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Popat:GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria. Jagannath:BMS, Janssen, Karyopharm, Legend Biotech, Sanofi, Takeda: Consultancy. Zonder:Caelum: Consultancy; Intellia: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees; Alnylam: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees; Oncopeptide: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees; Celgene: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Personal fees; Prothena: Consultancy; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees. Minnema:Celgene: Other: travel support, Research Funding; Servier: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Speakers Bureau. Oriol:GlaxoSmithKline: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Larsen:Janssen Oncology: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Badros:Amgen: Consultancy; University of Maryland: Current Employment. Rodriguez-Otero:Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Medscape: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene/Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); Oncopeptides: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kite: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria. Sonneveld:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Skyline Dx: Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Nguyen:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Hong:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Sorrell:Children's Oncology Group: Other: Non-member; Previous Study Chair AAML08B1; Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Thakurta:Oxford University: Other: visiting professor; Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company.

Introduction: Despite advances in treatment strategy, multiple myeloma (MM) remains a challenging, incurable disease as patients (pts) often relapse. Here we describe preclinical data of a novel cereblon (CRBN) E3 ligase modulatory compound (CELMoD), iberdomide (IBER; CC-220), as well as clinical and translational data from a current phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT02773030). These data support a differentiated profile for IBER from immunomodulatory agents (IMiD agents), and development of IBER as a foundation of combination therapy for the treatment of relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM). Methods: Preclinical analyses were performed on pomalidomide (POM)-sensitive and acquired-resistant MM cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers. Eligible pts enrolled on the clinical trial had RRMM and had received ≥ 2 prior regimens, containing at least an IMiD agent and proteasome inhibitor (PI), and had experienced disease progression within 60 days of last MM therapy. Escalating doses of IBER were given on Days 1-21, in combination with dexamethasone (DEX; 40 mg; 20 mg in pts aged > 75 years) on Days 1, 8, 15, and 22, of each 28-day cycle. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) data on CRBN, Ikaros, Aiolos, and ZFP91 expression was obtained from pt bone marrow specimens at screening and at Cycle 2, Day 15. Immune profiling was evaluated by flow cytometry of peripheral blood at Cycle 1, Day 1 and Cycle 2, Day 15. Primary objectives were to evaluate maximum tolerated dose (MTD), recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), safety, and preliminary efficacy. Results: Preclinically, IBER exhibited potent tumoricidal anti-MM and immunostimulatory activity. IBER was more potent than lenalidomide (LEN) or POM in overcoming the immunosuppressive activity of bortezomib (BORT), inducing a more than twofold increase in T cell proliferation in the presence of BORT. IBER also enhanced the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity of daratumumab (DARA), leading to deeper responses than combinations with LEN or POM. Further differentiating from both LEN and POM, IBER showed activity alone and in combination with BORT or DARA in POM-resistant MM cell lines. As of June 28, 2019, 69 pts with RRMM had received IBER + DEX. Median age was 65 years (range 33-80), and median number of prior regimens was 5 (range 2-12). Prior therapies included autologous stem cell transplantation (80%), LEN (100%), POM (70%), PIs (100%), DARA (71%) and anti-BCMA (6%), including CAR T cells. Clinical activity was observed across all dose levels with an overall response rate (ORR) of 29%, clinical benefit rate of 45%, and disease control rate of 80%. ORR was 30%, 28% and 29% in IMiD agent-refractory, DARA-refractory and Quad-class (IMiD agents/PIs/steroids/CD-38 antibodies)-refractory pts, respectively. IBER + DEX showed a favorable safety profile, with grade 3-4 neutropenia, infections, and thrombocytopenia, occurring in 29%, 25%, and 12% of pts, respectively. To date, IBER doses range from 0.3 to 1.3 mg and the MTD/RP2D has not yet been reached. Pharmacodynamic immunophenotyping changes were dose-dependent. Treatment with IBER (at doses > 0.75mg) + DEX doubled the percentage of proliferating T cells and NK cells (P < 0.001 for each) and increased activated and effector memory CD8+ and CD4+ T cells by > 50% (P < 0.01 for each subset). Pharmacodynamic changes in pt bone marrow by quantitative IHC scoring showed significant degradation of substrates (Ikaros, P = 0.006; Aiolos, P < 0.001; ZFP91, P < 0.001) and downregulation of c-myc (P = 0.027), including in pts refractory to POM and with low CRBN expression. Conclusions: IBER + DEX has shown notable clinical activity and favorable tolerability in heavily pretreated pts with RRMM, including pts refractory to prior IMiD therapy. Preclinical and translational data suggest a differentiated profile of IBER from IMiD agents in regard to activity in POM-resistant models, potency in combination with BORT and DARA, and by inducing changes in CD4+ T cells that were not observed in pts treated with POM from prior studies. Taken together, these data support a differentiated profile for IBER from IMiD agents, and the clinical development of IBER as a foundation of combination therapy for the treatment of RRMM. This study is ongoing, and includes cohorts evaluating the combinations of IBER + DEX with DARA, BORT, and carfilzomib. Updated results will be presented at the meeting. Disclosures Lonial: Karyopharm: Consultancy; GSK: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy. Amatangelo:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Popat:Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses; AbbVie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: travel support to meetings. Minnema:Gilead: Honoraria; Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria; Servier: Honoraria; Jansen Cilag: Honoraria. Zonder:Alnylam: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Oncopeptides: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Intellia: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Caelum: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Larsen:Janssen Oncology: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Oriol Rocafiguera:Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Rodriguez Otero:Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy; BMS: Honoraria; Kite Pharma: Consultancy. Badros:Celgene Corporation: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy. Siegel:Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Jagannath:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Merck & Co.: Consultancy; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy. Bringhen:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy. Gironella:Amgen: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Kaiser:Takeda, Janssen, Celgene, Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Travel Expenses; Abbvie, Celgene, Takeda, Janssen, Amgen, Abbvie, Karyopharm: Consultancy; Celgene, Janssen: Research Funding. Cook:Janssen, Takeda, Sanofi, Karyopharm, Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squib, GlycoMimetics, Seattle Genetics, Sanofi: Honoraria; Celgene, Janssen-Cilag, Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding. Gamberi:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Sonneveld:SkylineDx: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding. Nguyen:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Chen:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Homan:Celgene Corporation: Employment. Bjorklund:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wang:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Pierceall:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Bensmaine:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Thakurta:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Peluso:Celgene Corporation: Employment. Van De Donk:Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Servier: 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, Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AMGEN: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Abstract Background: We previously reported that Lenalidomide combined with R-CHOP (R2CHOP) has significant activity in non-GCB (non-germinal center B-cell) subtype of DLBCL as defined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using Hans algorithm (J Clin Oncol. 2015 Jan 20;33(3):251-7). However, defining non-GCB subtype of DLBCL by IHC as opposed to the "gold standard" gene expression profiling (GEP) is subject to technical limitations and its prognostic value has not reproduced in some recently published studies. In addition, recent reports questioned prognostic value of GEP in prospective clinical trials as opposed to initial reports from retrospective case series. To address these concerns, we assessed outcomes by cell of origin (COO) as determined via GEP using NanoString Lymphoma Subtyping Test (LST) on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue on patients enrolled in a phase 2 study of R2CHOP and an independent comparison cohort of patients treated with RCHOP alone. Methods: Eligible patients for R2CHOP phase 2 study MC078E were adults with newly diagnosed, untreated, stages II-IV CD20 positive DLBCL. Patients received oral lenalidomide 25 mg days 1-10 with standard dose R-CHOP every 21 days for 6 cycles. All patients received pegfilgrastim on day 2 of each cycle and aspirin prophylaxis. DLBCL molecular subtype was determined by GEP using NanoString LST, a multiplexed digital gene expression assay performed on the nCounter® Dx Analysis System and reported as GCB vs ABC vs unclassified. A comparison cohort of RCHOP treated DLBCL patients was generated from the prospectively enrolled Mayo Clinic component of the Lymphoma SPORE Molecular Epidemiology Resource (MER). MER patients meeting the same inclusion criteria as MC078E with available tissue were selected based via matching on age, stage, and IPI to the MC078E patients. Event-free survival was defined as time from diagnosis (MER) or study registration (MC078E) to progression, re-treatment, or death. EFS24 was defined as being event-free at 24 months. Associations between COO and outcome were assessed via log-rank tests due to censoring for EFS24. Results: 50 MC078E R2CHOP patients enrolled between 2008 and 2013,124 matched MER RCHOP patients diagnosed between 2003 and 2012 were assessed for COO. Median follow up in 70 patients still alive was 7.9 years (1.9-13.0) in RCHOP treated patients and 4.4 years (1.9-5.5) for 24 in R2CHOP treated patients still alive. Median age was 65 years (range 35-89) in RCHOP treated patients and 69 years (22-87) in R2CHOP patients (p=0.485). 53 RCHOP treated patients (43%) and 31 R2CHOP treated patients (62%) had intermediate-high or high IPI (p=0.021). COO was GCB, ABC, and unclassified DLBCL subtype in 80, 31 and 13 patients in the 124 RCHOP cohort and 33, 13 and 4 patients in the R2CHOP treated patients, respectively (see table). EFS24 was inferior for ABC (48%) compared to GCB DLBCL 71% in MER RCHOP treated patients (p=0.013). In contrast, in R2CHOP treated pts, EFS24 was not different between ABC vs GCB DLBCL 69% vs 67% (p= 0.674). Conclusion: Cell of origin classification of DLBCL determined by NanoString LST remains prognostic in a series of prospectively enrolled DLBCL patients treated with RCHOP. R2CHOP shows promising efficacy in ABC DLBCL as defined by NanoString LST, where the addition of lenalidomide to RCHOP appears to mitigate the negative impact of an ABC molecular subtype on the outcome. Table Table. Disclosures Nowakowski: Morphosys: Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Maurer:Kite Pharma: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Storhoff:NanoString Technologies, Inc.: Employment, Other: Stock option. Dennis:NanoString Technologies, Inc.: Employment, Other: Stock option. Gandhi:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Thakurta:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hagner:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Rimsza:NCI/NIH: Patents & Royalties: L.M. Rimsza is a co-inventor on a provisional patent, owned by the NCI of the NIH, using Nanostring technology for determining cell of origin in DLBCL..

Background:Iberdomide (IBER) is a novel cereblon (CRBN) E3 ligase modulatory compound (CELMoD) that is being investigated as monotherapy, in combination with dexamethasone (DEX), and in combination with DEX and daratumumab or bortezomib in a phase 1b/2a dose‐escalation study in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). IBER modulates CRBN, which induces ubiquitination of Aiolos, Ikaros and ZFP91, increases their proteasome‐dependent degradation, and thereby inhibits myeloma cell growth. IBER binds more potently to CRBN and is more efficient at degrading Aiolos and Ikaros than the immunomodulatory agents (IMiDs) lenalidomide (LEN) and pomalidomide (POM) and it can overcome IMiD drug resistance in pre‐clinical models.Aims:To determine if IBER is pharmacodynamically (PD) active in multiple myeloma patients refractory to POM and/or LEN, and to establish pharmacokinetic (PK)/PD and PD/dose relationships.Methods:As of Jan 11, 2019, 83 patients received IBER as monotherapy or in combination with DEX; 61 (74%) were LEN refractory and 47 (57%) were POM refractory. Longitudinal immunohistochemistry (IHC) data on CRBN, Aiolos, Ikaros and ZFP91 expression was obtained from bone marrow samples from 14 patients dosed with 0.3–0.9 mg IBER daily ± DEX. PD analysis of immune activity by TruCulture® (n = 45) and by peripheral blood flow cytometry (n = 60) was completed on a subset of patients dosed up to 1.0 mg IBER ± DEX. A population PK approach was used to estimate exposure (area under the concentration curve over the 24 hr dosing interval [AUCτ]) on 59 patients dosed up to 1.0 mg IBER ± DEX.Results:IBER AUCτ increased in a dose‐proportional manner in RRMM patients over the dose range 0.3–1.0 mg (22.4–65.31 ng∗hr/mL, respectively). In patient biopsies analyzed to date, CRBN expression was observed in all tumors by IHC at baseline and did not significantly change while on‐treatment. Furthermore, no significant decrease in baseline CRBN expression was observed in patients refractory to POM. In MM cells, significant decreases in Aiolos (median 37% decrease, P < 0.001), Ikaros (median 12% decrease, P = 0.006), and ZFP91 (median 47% decrease, P < 0.001) protein expression were observed on‐treatment across all dose levels; these decreases were unrelated to levels of CRBN expression at screening or prior LEN or POM refractoriness. In TruCulture® samples, dose‐dependent increases were observed in IL‐2 and IFN‐γ, with median increases of 78% and 66%, respectively, 5 hours post 0.9 mg dose of IBER. A dose‐ and exposure‐dependent decrease in B‐cells was detected (median 74% decrease at cycle 2 day 15, IBER 0.9 mg). These observations are consistent with the proposed IBER mechanism of action. Immunoprofiling showed significant increases in total and proliferating NK cells in RRMM patients treated with IBER, and a dose‐dependent increase in proliferating, activated, and effector memory T‐cells. These trends were consistent in RRMM patients treated with IBER monotherapy and in combination with DEX.Summary/Conclusion:These translational analyses from IBER treated RRMM patients indicate it is pharmacodynamically active at the lowest dose (0.3 mg) and exhibits dose‐ and exposure‐dependent immunostimulatory activity, supporting further dose‐escalation beyond 1.0 mg, which is currently ongoing. These results also suggest that prior refractoriness to LEN or POM is not associated with significant loss of CRBN or IBER PD activity, supporting continued investigation of IBER in RRMM patients refractory to IMiD drugs.

Key Points Using the largest set of patients with newly diagnosed myeloma, we identified 63 mutated driver genes. We identified oncogenic dependencies, particularly relating to primary translocations, indicating a nonrandom accumulation of genetic hits.

Abstract Purpose: Randomized, multicenter, open-label, phase 2/3 trial investigating lenalidomide versus investigator's choice (IC) in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Experimental Design: Patients with DLBCL who received ≥2 prior therapies were stratified by DLBCL subtype [germinal center B-cell (GCB) vs. non-GCB; determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC)] and then randomized 1:1 to lenalidomide (25 mg/day, 21 days of 28-day cycle) or IC (gemcitabine, rituximab, etoposide, or oxaliplatin). Crossover to lenalidomide was permitted for IC-treated patients with radiologically confirmed progressive disease. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR). Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and subtype analysis [GCB vs. activated B-cell (ABC)] using gene expression profiling (GEP) were exploratory endpoints. Results: Stage 1: 102 DLBCL patients (by IHC: non-GCB, n = 54; GCB, n = 48) received ≥1 dose of lenalidomide or IC. Hematologic treatment-emergent adverse events with lenalidomide versus IC included neutropenia (42.6%; 36.4%), anemia (33.3%; 47.3%), thrombocytopenia (24.1%; 43.6%), and leukopenia (5.6%; 12.7%), respectively. Overall, lenalidomide-treated patients had an ORR of 27.5% versus 11.8% in IC (ORRs were similar regardless of IHC-defined DLBCL subtype). Median PFS was increased in patients receiving lenalidomide (13.6 weeks) versus IC (7.9 weeks; P = 0.041), with greater improvements in non-GCB patients (15.1 vs. 7.1 weeks, respectively; P = 0.021) compared with GCB (10.1 vs. 9.0 weeks, respectively; P = 0.550). Conclusions: The clinical benefit of lenalidomide monotherapy in DLBCL patients was more evident in the non-GCB subtype. Exploratory analyses suggest that this preferential benefit was more pronounced in the GEP-defined ABC population, demonstrating a need for additional studies of lenalidomide in DLBCL using GEP subtyping. Clin Cancer Res; 23(15); 4127–37. ©2017 AACR.