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Introduction: Hyaline-vascular type unicentric Castleman disease (HV-UCD) is a classic variant of Castleman disease, characterized by localized lymph node hyperplasia. Due to its rarity, there have been few systematic reports summarizing its clinicopathological features globally. Also, its pathogenesis remains unelucidated. The present study aims to provide a detailed clinicopathological and transcriptomic analysis of HV-UCD to enhance the understanding of its underlying mechanisms at a molecular level. Methods: We conducted a clinicopathological analysis of 51 HV-UCD cases and performed whole transcriptome analysis on frozen lymph node specimens from four cases. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses were performed to identify significant pathways and biological processes involved in HV-UCD, with reactive lymphoid hyperplasia as control. Results: The mean age of HV-UCD patients was 42.8 years, with no significant gender differences. The most common sites involved were the abdominal cavity (n = 18, 35.3%), mediastinum (n = 11, 21.6%), and retroperitoneum (n = 9, 17.6%), with an average size of the lesions being 4.8 cm. Histologically, 33.3% of cases exhibited “dysplastic follicular dendritic cells (dFDCs)” characterized by multinucleation or large nuclei within and outside follicles, positive for follicular dendritic cells (FDC) markers. DEGs analysis compared to reactive lymphoid hyperplasia revealed significant upregulation of genes related to FDCs and angiogenesis. Notably, the placental growth factor (PGF), a proangiogenic factor and a member of the VEGF family, demonstrated significant overexpression. GO analysis identified significant enrichment of genes involved in angiogenesis, cell adhesion, tissue architecture, and humoral immunity. Discussion: This large cohort of HV-UCD cohort provides potentially novel clinicopathological insights. Gene expression analysis demonstrated increased expression of FDC-related genes, suggesting a pivotal role of FDCs in HV-UCD pathogenesis. The differences in the gene profiles related to angiogenesis may contribute to the distinct mechanisms and histological features of HV-UCD and iMCD-TAFRO, where HV-UCD is associated with hyalinization of vascular walls and iMCD-TAFRO is characterized by angiogenesis with endothelial cell swelling. Conclusion: The present results suggest the crucial role of FDCs in HV-UCD pathogenesis from the molecular features. Currently, there are no objective diagnostic markers for HV-UCD. Identifying these markers may lead to a clearer understanding of the disease pathophysiology and improve diagnostic accuracy for HV-UCD. Further investigation is warranted to verify the findings.

Background: Beside fibril-forming proteins, amyloid deposits contain other proteins which can influence organ toxicity, disease initiation and clearance. We investigated the association between the amyloid plaque proteomic signature of diagnostic renal biopsies from patients achieving deep and sustained hematologic remissions and renal organ response in AL amyloidosis. Methods: Retrospective study of newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis patients between 2010-2020. Patients were eligible if; (1) they had a baseline renal biopsy which had undergone laser micro-dissection and mass spectrometry, (2) were assessable for renal response [RenR, non-selective proteinuria ≥1g /24 hours, predominantly albumin], (3) were not on renal replacement therapy and did not experience renal progression within 3-months of diagnosis and (4) had RenR measurements, at least twice annually in the first year from treatment and annually thereafter. Patients who did not obtain a renal complete response (RenCR) required a hematologic very good partial response (VGPR) or better within 6 months of treatment initiation, sustained for a minimum of 6 months. Hematological and renal responses were graded according to consensus criteria. Overrepresentation analyses of differentially expressed proteins were performed using the WebGestalt 2019 and the reactome pathway database. A false detection rate corrected p value <0.05 was used to identify significantly overrepresented proteins and pathways. Results: We defined two organ response categories, to capture the extreme ends of the spectrum: renal suboptimal responders (n=24), patients for whom the best renal response was ≤partial response (RenPR), and renal complete responders (n=29), patients who obtained a RenCR at best response. Overall, the median follow-up was 6.7 years (IQR: 5.4-9.2), 6.6 years (IQR: 5.4-8.1) for complete responders, and 8.4 years (IQR: 6.1-11.3) for suboptimal responders. Between renal suboptimal responders and complete responders there was no significant difference in median age (63 vs 63 years, p=0.7), lambda light chain isotype (66% vs 79%, p=0.3), first-line therapy received and renal stage (Stage III: 14% vs 8%, p=0.9). The median time to RenCR was 52-months (IQR: 31-63). Protein pathways over-represented in renal complete responders included 14-3-3 proteins (YWHAG, YWHAH, YWHAQ, YWHAZ), early components of the complement cascade and complement regulatory proteins (C3, C4A, C4B, C8A, complement factor H), keratins, cytoskeletal proteins (tubulin, actin, filamen) and collagen IV. Protein pathways over-represented in renal suboptimal responders included terminal/effector components of the complement cascade (C5, C6, C8B, C9), amyloid signature proteins (ApoA1 and E, vitronectin, clusterin), proteoglycans (heparan sulfate proteoglycan), transgelin and metallopeptidase inhibitor 3. Proteins with the highest-fold increase in renal complete responders included serine protease inhibitor (SERPINA3) and F-box and leucine rich repeat protein (FBXL6), 9.0 x 106 & 7.7-fold, respectively. Proteins with the highest-fold increase in renal suboptimal responders included complement 6 and 8B, 3.5 & 3.6-fold, respectively. Conclusion: This is the first study to identify proteomic determinants of organ response in AL amyloidosis. Molecular chaperones involved in protein aggregate homeostasis, such as the 14-3-3 proteins are upregulated in renal complete responders, similar to what we have shown in our prior work. This suggests that organ responders may have a more favorable microenvironment which “primes” them for organ response after the amyloidogenic light chain has been cleared from the circulation. Renal suboptimal responders (≤RenPR) have elevated levels of terminal complement proteins including membrane attack complex proteins and reduced levels of early components or complement regulatory proteins, which may be responsible for reno-toxic and reno-protective effects, respectively.

Introduction: Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a clonal plasma cell disorder characterized by tissue deposition of misfolded immunoglobulin light chains in the form of amyloid, leading to organ dysfunction. Halting the production of the amyloidogenic free light chains by achieving a deep hematologic response (HemR) is key to improving organ function, however, variation in organ responses exists. In this work, we investigated variables associated with liver response (LivR) in a large cohort of patients with AL amyloidosis. Methods: Retrospective study of newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis patients with liver involvement seen at Mayo Clinic within 90 days of diagnosis between January 2000 and December 2021. Patients were eligible if they (1) had liver involvement, defined as a baseline alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≥ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) and (2) had LivR measurements at least twice annually in the first year from treatment and annually afterward. LivR was defined as a >50% reduction in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) from baseline value or normalization of ALP. LivR was recorded at 6, 12, and 24 months from treatment initiation and at the best LivR achieved. Patients who died prior to landmark assessment were considered non-responders at subsequent milestone assessments. Covariates associated with LivR were identified by univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses and a proportional subdistribution hazard (Fine-Gray) model for competing risk (treating death as a competing event). Multivariable logistic regression models for LivR were created using best subset selection, with calculation of odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: A total of 130 patients were included, with a median age of 60 years (IQR 53-66), male predominance (69%), and a median follow-up of 8.8 years. Sixty percent of patients had lambda isotype, the median ALP was 368 IU/mL (IQR 279-589), with 48% of patients having ALP ≥3 fold the upper limit of normal (ULN). Median bilirubin was 0.7 mg/dL (IQR 0.5-1.1). Forty-three percent of patients received front-line autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) with or without prior induction therapy, and 5% received daratumumab-based therapy as their front-line treatment. Liver response rate increased with time, with 36 patients (28%) achieving a LivR at 6 months, 47 (36%) at 12 months, 63 (48%) at 24 months, and 94 (72%) at best response. The median time to liver response was 14 months (7.22-32.67). At the 24-month landmark, age <60 years, ALP ≥3 fold ULN, and front-line ASCT were significantly associated with achieving a LivR on univariate logistic regression. On univariate logistic regression at best liver response, age <60 years, ALP ≥3 fold the ULN, kappa isotype, ≥HemVGPR within 6 months, and front-line ASCT were significantly associated with obtaining a LivR. On multivariable logistic regression, at 24 months, ALP ≥3 folds of ULN (OR=2.9, 95% CI 1.4-6.3, P=0.004) was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of LivR. Achieving ≥HemVGPR and front-line ASCT were also associated with increased LivR likelihood, although not statistically significant (p=0.094, p=0.078, respectively). At best liver response, achieving ≥HemVGPR within 6 months (OR=5.2, 95% CI 1.9-14.8), kappa isotype (OR=3.2, 95% CI 1.1-10.0), ALP ≥3 folds of ULN (OR=3.3, 95% CI 1.3-9.9), and front-line ASCT (OR=5.3, 95% CI 1.9-16.7) were factors significantly associated with LivR. The Fine-Gray model demonstrated kappa isotype (HR=1.7), baseline ALP ≥3 folds of ULN (HR=2.1), ≥HemVGPR within 6 months (HR=1.9), and age <60 years at diagnosis (HR=1.9) to be positively associated with achieving LivR (P<0.05). Conclusions: In this large cohort of liver AL amyloidosis, LivR was achieved in 72% of patients, and amongst responders, the median time to response was 14 months from therapy initiation. Predictors of LivR included kappa isotype, deep hematological response in the first 6 months of initial therapy, ASCT usage, and higher baseline ALP levels. These findings better inform clinicians on the likelihood of achievement of liver response and may enable ways to improve its achievement.

Introduction Despite improvements in outcomes with triplet and quadruplet combination regimens in front-line (1L) multiple myeloma (MM) treatment (Tx), pts with disease that relapses early after 1L Tx or responds inadequately to 1L autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) have poor prognosis. Therefore, Txs with novel mechanisms of action are needed. Ide-cel, a BCMA-directed CAR T cell therapy, resulted in deep and durable responses in pts with functional high-risk MM. KarMMa-2 (NCT03601078) is a phase 2, multicenter, multicohort trial of ide-cel: cohort 2a includes pts who progressed ≤ 18 mo of starting 1L therapy with ASCT, cohort 2b includes pts who progressed ≤ 18 mo of starting 1L therapy without ASCT, and cohort 2c includes pts who achieved less than very good partial response ~100 d after 1L ASCT. With a median follow-up of 21.5, 30.1, and 39.4 mo, respectively, median PFS (95% CI) for cohorts 2a, 2b, and 2c was 11.4 mo (5.6-19.6), not reached (NR; 12.2-NR), and NR (38.0-NR). Previous correlative analyses of ide-cel in relapsed and refractory MM have shown that pts with lower pre-Tx tumor burden and lower pre-Tx indicators of basal inflammation had better responses. This cross-cohort analysis evaluated tumor burden, baseline inflammatory status, and T-cell quality differences to develop hypotheses for biologic features underpinning robust PFS previously observed with ide-cel. Methods Levels of soluble BCMA (sBCMA) and 25 exploratory cytokines at infusion and post-Tx were measured by immunoassay. Apheresis and drug product material were characterized by high-parameter flow cytometry and immunoassay. Pharmacokinetics (PK) were evaluated by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction. These analyses were exploratory and post hoc in nature; statistical tests were utilized to identify relationships of interest to develop working hypotheses of the underlying biology. Results Baseline tumor burden, evaluated by median sBCMA (interquartile range [IQR]), was highest in cohort 2b at 156 ng/mL (83-300) compared with 2a at 91 ng/mL (41-169) and 2c at 27 ng/mL (19-48). Pts in cohort 2b had the lowest baseline levels of a subset of inflammatory cytokines, including interferon [IFN]-γ and interleukin-4. Phenotypic data from apheresis material showed that, among the 3 cohorts, pts in cohort 2b also had the lowest amount of effector memory T cells positive for CD45RA (TEMRA; terminally differentiated T cells) and CD57+ T cells (senescent T cells), and the highest amount of CCR7+CD27+ T cells (early memory T cells). Cohorts 2a and 2c had similar phenotypic profiles in the apheresis material. Median time from ASCT to infusion (IQR) was 12.1 mo (9.7-14.3) in cohort 2a and 5.8 mo (5.2-6.2) in cohort 2c. Pts in cohort 2b also had a higher CD4:CD8 ratio in the apheresis material vs the other 2 cohorts. Profiling the drug products from pts in cohort 2b showed higher CAR+ T cell frequency and CAR-specific IFN-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α and granzyme secretion upon stimulation vs 2a and 2c, with a consistent and comparable potency profile among all cohorts. While sBCMA level at infusion was lower in cohort 2c vs 2a, the similarity in inflammatory state and T-cell quality may reflect impacts from recent melphalan use before ASCT and bone marrow recovery after ASCT, as most pts in both cohorts were < 18 mo from ASCT. Robust cell expansion was observed across cohorts. Conclusions The encouraging median PFS outcome previously observed in cohort 2b relative to existing therapies in this high-risk pt population may be driven by the higher T-cell quality and better inflammatory state pre-Tx despite high baseline tumor burden (sBCMA). Pts in cohorts 2c and 2a had comparatively less optimal baseline immune status vs cohort 2b. The promising PFS observed in cohort 2c may be reflective of sufficient T-cell quality to drive optimal responses in the context of relatively low tumor burden at study entry. The median PFS in cohort 2a may reflect the combination of high tumor burden and less optimal baseline inflammatory status. These observations suggest a working model in which ide-cel may demonstrate robust PFS in pts with early-line, high-risk MM and high tumor burden with good baseline immune status and T-cell quality, and in pts with less favorable baseline immune status and T-cell quality when tumor burden is relatively low and stable.

Introduction: Patients with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL), especially adolescents and young adults, can face late effects from treatment, including decreased fertility. Due to time constraints prior to treatment initiation and sometimes financial limitations, implementing fertility counseling and referral-based guideline care remains challenging. We aim to understand the occurrence and predictors of fertility counseling and preservation in patients with NHL in the Lymphoma Epidemiology of Outcomes (LEO) cohort study. Methods: The LEO cohort prospectively enrolled newly diagnosed patients with NHL from 2015-2020 at 8 academic medical centers in the US. Clinical. Treatment data were abstracted from medical records, pathology was reviewed and classified by a LEO pathologist, and participants completed a self-administered questionnaire. Participants were then prospectively followed to identify outcomes and collect additional patient reported data, including a survivorship questionnaire at follow-up 3 years (FU3) after diagnosis that included items on fertility counseling and preservation. The questionnaire contained two fertility questions analyzed: whether healthcare providers discussed the impact of lymphoma treatment on fertility, and whether providers discussed the process of fertility preservation. This analysis was based on participants aged 18-50 years at enrollment and who completed the fertility questions at FU3. Women who had undergone natural or procedural menopause and men who had undergone vasectomy pre-treatment were excluded. We estimated the association of demographic and clinical factors with fertility preservation using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) from univariate and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: Seventy-seven patients were included in the analysis: 36 females (46%) and 41 males (53%). The median age of diagnosis was 40 years (IQR 30-45), and 36 (47%) participants were in the age 18-39-year category. Participant self-identified race/ethnicity was 69% non-Hispanic White, 22% Hispanic, 4% Black and 3% Asian. Sixty (78%) patients were treated with alkylators, 12 (15.6%) with non-alkylators, and 5 (6.5%) with radiation. Fifty-five (71%) of the patients were classified as having aggressive lymphoma, with follicular, extranodal marginal zone, primary cutaneous follicle center, and nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma defined as indolent and remaining subtypes aggressive. Around 6% of female patients underwent fertility preservation after lymphoma diagnosis, compared to 12.2% of male patients. All the patients who had undergone fertility preservation after lymphoma diagnosis were in the 18-39-year age group. On univariate analysis, females were more likely to have undergone fertility toxicity and preservation discussions compared to males, with 72% of females and 59% of males recalling a discussion regarding fertility (OR 1.8, 95% CI 0.7-4.9, p=0.21). Those age 18-39 were significantly more likely to have undergone fertility discussion compared to those aged 40-50 (OR 10.2, 95% CI 3.3-39.2, p<0.001). Patients treated with alkylating therapy were significantly more likely to undergo fertility discussion when compared to those on non-alkylating therapy (OR 9.0, 95% CI 2.3-45.5, p<0.01). In addition, 75% of those with aggressive lymphoma compared to 41% of patients with indolent lymphoma had fertility discussion (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.5-12.4, p=0.01). White patients were significantly less likely than Hispanic, Black and Asian patients to have fertility discussion (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.04-0.6, p<0.01). In the multivariable analysis, alkylating therapy (OR 8.9, 95% CI 1.6-66.7) and age 18-39 years (OR 10.9, 95% CI 2.9-55.3) remained significant predictors of fertility discussion; White race was also trending towards significance (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.04-1.0, p=0.08). Aggressive lymphoma subtype was not a significant predictor of fertility discussion. Conclusions: In this cohort of lymphoma survivors 3 years post-diagnosis, we found that Hispanic patients, those diagnosed at a younger age and exposed to alkylating chemotherapy agents were significantly more likely to undergo discussions regarding the effects of lymphoma treatment on fertility. Our study highlights the importance of all cancer patients of childbearing age having the opportunity to address fertility concerns during clinic visits.

Background: The Optimized Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) Inflammatory (OHI, Zoref-Lorenz et al, Blood, 2022) index, defined by the combined elevation in serum soluble CD25 (sCD25) and ferritin, has emerged as a promising prognostic tool for patients with newly diagnosed hematologic malignancies, demonstrating superior performance in predicting 500-day mortality compared to HLH-2004 criteria. However, previous studies were retrospective, with a substantial proportion (65%) of patients suspected clinically to have HLH. We evaluated the performance of the OHI index in an unselected, prospective cohort of newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Methods: We analyzed the predictive utility of the OHI index in 331 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients enrolled from 2002-2015 in the prospective Iowa/Mayo Molecular Epidemiology Resource cohort. Ferritin and sCD25 levels were quantified in pre-treatment serum samples using R&D ELISA kits. OHI values were also optimized based on 500-day mortality in the cohort using receiver operating curve analysis with internal validation. Patients were classified as OHI+ using the original and newly optimized thresholds for sCD25 and ferritin. The primary endpoint was 500-day survival, and the secondary endpoints were event-free survival (EFS) at 24 months (EFS24), EFS, and overall survival (OS). The predictive capability of the OHI index was evaluated using logistic regression to determine odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for 500-day mortality and EFS24, as well as Cox regression to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CIs for EFS and OS. Results: The median age at diagnosis of the 331 patients was 63.5 years (interquartile range, 54.5-74), and 168 (51%) were male. Using the original thresholds (sCD25 3,900 U/mL and ferritin 1,000 ng/mL), 4.2% of patients were OHI+, with a more than 5-fold higher 500-day mortality risk compared to OHI- patients (OR=5.6; CI 1.6-17, p<0.001). After optimizing thresholds for sCD25 (2,400 U/mL) and ferritin (250 ng/mL) to predict 500-day mortality, 23.6% were OHI+ and the OHI+ group had a 9-fold higher 500-day mortality risk (OR=9.2; CI 4.0-24, p<0.001), with 31% mortality in the OHI+ vs 5% in the OHI- group. OHI+ patients exhibited more B-symptoms (35% vs 20%, p=0.027), elevated LDH levels (76% vs 34%, p<0.001), poorer performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 2+: 38% vs 12%, p<0.001), and more advanced stage disease (Stage IV: 57% vs 38%, p<0.001), although the frequency of a high International Prognostic Index (IPI) was not statistically different between the groups (IPI 3-5: 44% vs 36%, p=0.28). After adjusting for age and IPI, OHI+ remained a strong predictor of 500-day mortality (OR=5.0; CI 1.9-13, p=0.001). Further adjustment for the cell of origin did not impact the results. The association of OHI+ status with 500-day mortality was similar in IPI 0-2 (OR=5.8; CI 1.2-29, p=0.033) and 3-5 (OR=6.8; CI 0.6-73, p=0.11). OHI+ patients were also more likely to not achieve EFS24 (45% vs 13%), with a 3-fold greater risk after adjusting for age and IPI (OR=3.2; CI 1.5-6.5, p=0.0018). The OHI index also retained its predictive ability over longer-term follow-up (median 9.8 years for living patients) for both OS (HR=2.0; CI 1.0-4.0, p=0.040) and EFS (HR=2.2; CI 1.1-4.3, p=0.030) after adjusting for age and IPI. Cytokine profiling using multiplex ELISA identified elevated inflammatory markers in OHI+ patients, underscoring the role of systemic inflammation in prognosis. The distribution of cytokines was significantly different between the groups, with consistently higher means in the OHI+ vs OHI- group, including IL1a (1,628 vs 759 pg/ml, p=0.008), CCL2 (1,020 vs 724 pg/ml, p=0.028), CXCL10 (165 vs 53 pg/ml, p<0.0001), and CXCL9 (380 vs 150 pg/ml, p<0.0001). Conclusions: While the original OHI index for prediction of 500-day mortality was validated in this unselected cohort of newly diagnosed DLBCL patients, optimization of the OHI thresholds identified a larger OHI+ group (24%), enhanced the identification of hyperinflammation, improved predictive ability for early (500-day) mortality, and predicted EFS24 status and long-term OS. This underscores the clinical relevance of the OHI index, supports the need to evaluate disease-specific thresholds, and suggests its potential for use in routine management and as enrollment criteria in clinical trials for novel therapies.

Introduction: The primary analysis of the phase 3 ECHO trial (NCT02972840) demonstrated that acalabrutinib plus bendamustine-rituximab (ABR) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) vs placebo plus bendamustine-rituximab (PBR) in older patients (pts) with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) (Wang et al. EHA 2024, Abstract #LB3439). Here we present additional efficacy and safety results from the ECHO trial. Methods: Pts aged ≥65 years (y) with previously untreated MCL and ECOG PS ≤2 were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive ABR or PBR. Acalabrutinib (100 mg twice daily) or placebo was administered until progressive disease (PD) or unacceptable toxicity. Induction with BR was administered for 6 cycles followed by rituximab maintenance (A±R maintenance, cycles 7-30) in pts achieving a partial or complete response (PR or CR). Pts progressing on PBR could cross over to receive acalabrutinib monotherapy. PFS (primary endpoint) was assessed by independent review committee. Minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity rate (10-5) was assessed in peripheral blood (every 24 weeks [wks], at CR, and at PD) and bone marrow (at CR) by NGS-based ClonoSEQ assay (Adaptive Biotechnologies). Results: Among the 598 pts randomized to ABR or PBR (299 in each arm), high-risk baseline characteristics included high-risk simplified MIPI score in 24.1% and 24.4%, blastoid histology in 8.7% and 6.7%, pleomorphic histology in 5.0% and 6.0%, centrally tested Ki-67 ≥30% in 46.5% and 49.2%, and known TP53 mutation in 7.4% and 9.7%, respectively. PFS hazard ratios (HRs) for subgroups were 0.78 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.51-1.19) in pts with high-risk simplified MIPI score, 0.68 (95% CI 0.29-1.58) in pts with blastoid histology, 0.64 (95% CI 0.25-1.66) in pts with pleomorphic histology, 0.69 (95% CI 0.49-0.98) in pts with Ki-67 ≥30%, and 0.88 (95% CI 0.42-1.78) in pts with known TP53 mutation. In the ABR arm, median PFS was 22.2 months (mo) among pts who discontinued acalabrutinib during induction for reasons other than PD or death, 29.4 mo in pts who discontinued acalabrutinib during A±R maintenance (cycles 7-30) for reasons other than PD or death, and not reached in pts who received acalabrutinib for 31 cycles or more. Among evaluable patients who were MRD negative at the end of induction (24 wks), the rate of conversion to MRD positive during maintenance was lower in the ABR arm (5.85%; n=11/188) than in the PBR arm (15%; n=26/171). Conversely, among evaluable pts who were MRD positive at the end of induction (24 wks), 37.5% (n=3/8) in the ABR arm and 20% (n=3/15) in the PBR arm converted to MRD negative during maintenance. Overall rates of AEs were similar in each arm during induction, but were higher in ABR during A±R maintenance (cycles 7-30) and more so in the monotherapy phase (cycle 31+). Grade ≥3 TEAEs (ABR vs PBR) were 70.0% vs 68.7% during induction, 64.9% vs 62.9% during A±R maintenance (cycles 7-30), and 57.0% vs 45.3% during monotherapy (cycle 31+). Similarly, rates of TEAEs leading to discontinuation of acalabrutinib/placebo were 8.1% vs 8.8% during induction, 23.9% vs 19.0% during A±R maintenance (cycles 7-30), and 25.9% vs 13.7% during monotherapy (cycle 31+). Exposure-adjusted incidence rates per 100 person-years reduced the difference between ABR and PBR for clinically relevant TEAE rates (32.6 vs 29.3 for grade ≥3 serious TEAEs; 4.2 vs 4.0 for grade 5 TEAEs; 15.5 vs 12.4 for TEAEs leading to acalabrutinib/placebo discontinuation), possibly due to longer median exposure to acalabrutinib (28.6 vs 24.6 mo). Conclusion: Acalabrutinib in combination with BR provides a significant PFS benefit in pts with previously untreated MCL, including those with high-risk features. Furthermore, the addition of acalabrutinib to BR provided a greater PFS effect among pts in the ABR arm with the longest exposure to acalabrutinib. The PFS improvement may be partially driven by the contribution of acalabrutinib to sustained MRD-negative status and deepened responses after the end of induction. ABR provides this clinical benefit without excess toxicity as shown by attenuated differences between arms in exposure-adjusted incidence rates, suggesting that higher AE rates in the ABR arm are likely due in part to the longer duration of acalabrutinib treatment vs placebo. These data emphasize the benefits of acalabrutinib in frontline MCL treatment in high-risk pts and the additional benefit of continuous therapy.

Background: Although Covalent BTKis have revolutionized treatment of CLL/SLL, cardiotoxicity is a known side effect, which can increase the total costs to the healthcare system. This study evaluated the real-world healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs in patients who did and did not experience incident cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs) during cBTKi treatment. Methods: Adult patients diagnosed with CLL/SLL who initiated ibrutinib or acalabrutinib treatment (index date) between 2020-2023 in the United States were identified using claims data from Optum's de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database and followed up to 36 months post-index. Patients were stratified into two cohorts based on the presence of an incident CVAE during treatment with index cBTKi, defined as the occurrence of a CVAE not present in a patient's medical history. HCRU and costs were evaluated on a per 1,000 patient-months basis. Z tests and univariate gamma general linear models were used to compare HCRU and cost rates. HCRU between those who received ibrutinib or acalabrutinib were also assessed. Results: Overall, 2,069 eligible patients were identified with a mean ± SD age of 73.7 ± 9.1 years, and 40.4% were female. The mean ± SD [median] treatment-specific observation period was 11.4 ± 9.5 [8.5] months. Of the total cohort, 442 (21.4%) experienced at least one incident CVAE, while 1,627 patients (78.6%) experienced no CVAEs. Among those without a pre-index history of the specific CV AE of interest, the proportion of patients with incident events were 21.4% for hypertension, 9.8% for atrial fibrillation, 9.2% for atrial flutter, and 9.6% for ventricular arrhythmias. Patients who experienced an incident CVAE had 4,334 total days with medical service compared to 3,138 days in those who did not (p<0.001). The drivers of differences in total medical service days between those with and without CVAEs were inpatient days (690 vs 230), followed by outpatient days (2,798 vs 2,425), other visits (e.g., hospice; 662 vs 375), and emergency room (ER) visits (184 vs 109). Total days with medical service were 3,458 in those who received ibrutinib and 3,410 with acalabrutinib. Total healthcare cost rates in those who experienced an incident CVAE were $20,250,560 compared to $17,413,460 in those without CVAEs (p<0.001). Inpatient costs drove differences in total costs between those with CVAEs and those without ($3,417,948 vs $915,839, p<0.001), followed by outpatient ($2,415,060 vs $1,769,628, p<0.01) and ER costs ($186,820 vs $87,585, p<0.001). Pharmacy costs were the largest contributor to total cost rates for both cohorts ($14,016,900 for those with a CVAE vs $14,473,270 without any CVAEs, p<0.001). Regarding specific incident CVAEs, the cost difference in total costs between those with and without the event were $3,789,820 for atrial fibrillation (higher in those with the event), $3,867,160 for atrial flutter, $3,674,860 for ventricular arrhythmias, and $721,840 for hypertension. Inpatient costs were the largest driver in total cost differences between those with and without the specific CVAE of interest; inpatient cost differences were $3,255,699 higher in those with atrial fibrillation, $3,436,913 with atrial flutter, and $3,299,371 with ventricular arrhythmia. For hypertension, pharmacy costs drove differences in total costs and were $346,570 higher in those with the CVAE. Summary/Conclusion: Overall, the economic burden remains high in patients treated for CLL/SLL, especially in cBTKi patients experiencing an incident CVAE. These findings highlight the importance of careful treatment selection, safety monitoring, and early management of CVAEs in order to improve patient outcomes and reduce the downstream impacts on healthcare resources and costs.

Background Underserved patient populations characterized by low income, lack of insurance, low levels of education, and minoritized status face significant barriers when accessing clinical trials. To better understand these challenges, patients from a safety-net county hospital were surveyed on their perspectives on clinical trials, barriers to care, and facilitators of participation. Methods Patients ≥ 18 years old with histologically confirmed non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who received care at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, a safety-net county hospital in Houston, Texas, were invited to participate regardless of treatment status. A self-administered questionnaire was used and offered in English or Spanish. The questionnaire included a total of 53 items with an additional 13 demographic items assessing patient sociodemographic factors and knowledge of clinical trials. Questions also addressed barriers/facilitators of trial participation and respondent willingness to participate in a trial based on certain scenarios. Results Of the 136 patients invited to participate, a total of 49 participants diagnosed with NHL consented to the study and all completed the survey (participation rate 36%). Twenty-seven (55%) surveys were completed in Spanish. Participants self-identified as Hispanic (N=35, 71.4%), African American (N=6, 12.2%), non-Hispanic white (N=7, 14.3%), and Asian/Pacific Islander (N=1, 2%). This cohort included Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma NOS (DLBCL) [32%], Follicular Lymphoma (FL) [28%], Marginal Zone lymphoma (12%). There were several patients with rare histologies such as Burkitt's lymphoma (4.2%); Mantle Cell lymphoma (4.2%), Plasmablastic lymphoma (4.2%) and T-cell lymphoma (4.1%). The majority of participants reported a commute of less than an hour away to the doctor's office (83%) with almost all participants commuting less than 2 hours (98% with 2% missing an answer). Participants were a median age of 55 years old (range 22-80), majority female (51%), less than a bachelor's degree as highest education (91.8%) and earning < $35,000 (49%). Among respondents, 89.8% had not participated in a clinical trial for their cancer. Only 36.7% of respondents reported that they understood what a clinical research study as “somewhat well,” while 30.6% reported their understanding as “not very well.” Regardless, a majority were very willing (38.8%) or somewhat willing (36.7%) to participate in a trial as their initial course of treatment. Respondents' biggest concerns were the cost of a clinical trial (61.2%), not being able to contact the research team with questions (38.8%), and frequency of clinic visits (32.7%). The most helpful resources that participants identified to reduce participation burden were educational resources such as written materials (77.6%), videos (67.3%), an explanation of the study in their language (65.3%), insurance aid (75.5%), and flexible study visit times (65.3%). Notably, 26.5% of participants responded that they believed they had received medication from a doctor as part of an experiment without their permission. When asked which outcome would most influence their decision to participate in a trial, 79.6% of participants rated the possibility of improving quality of life by decreasing pain and increasing activity levels as very important. Fewer patients (55%) rated other outcomes such as types of side effects (55%) and possibility of pain/discomfort (59%) as very important. Conclusions The majority of patients with NHL who participated in this observational study had little or no previous exposure to or understanding of cancer clinical trials. We identified common barriers to participation including out-of-pocket costs, the ability to contact the research team, and the frequency of clinic visits that should be addressed with specific identified resources to reduce participation burden. Interventions guided by these data should be implemented and evaluated to improve clinical trial participation for patients with lymphoma.

Introduction: The prognosis for CLL/SLL has improved with the advent of novel therapeutic classes, including BTKis. While comparative data for several BTKis have been published, there are limited data on patient preferences in BTKi treatment selection. Understanding and integrating patient perspective in the BTKi treatment selection process is crucial to shared decision-making and attaining optimal treatment outcomes. To understand patients' priorities for different treatment attributes that impact their treatment decisions, a comprehensive quantitative analysis of patient preferences on BTKi treatment attributes was conducted. Methods: A patient survey with a discrete-choice experiment (DCE) design was conducted from March to June 2024 among USA adults (≥18 years) with confirmed diagnosis of CLL/SLL, recruited through online patient panels, physician referrals, and support groups. BTKi treatment attributes were selected based on results of a targeted literature review and clinical inputs. Patients responded to DCE questions on attributes related to efficacy, safety (eg, impacts of diarrhea, headache, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension on quality of life [QoL]), formulation type, and dosing frequency. The impact of adverse events (AEs) on QoL was defined as the extent to which AEs caused interruptions in patients' ability to engage in their usual day-to-day activities. A conditional logistic regression model was used to calculate the relative importance of each attribute, as well as patient willingness to trade off specified BTKi treatment attributes. Results: A total of 200 patients with CLL/SLL completed the survey (median age: 61 years; 78% White; 55% female; 60% commercially insured; 82% suburban/urban residence). Less than half (43%) were diagnosed ≥5 years ago, and 61% received ≥3 lines of therapy. Almost all (89%) patients reported having experienced ≥1 AE from treatment previously, with the most common AEs being fatigue (76%), diarrhea (51%), headache (51%), and nausea and/or vomiting (51%). When considering the importance of efficacy measures, most patients prioritized CLL/SLL treatments that extended life expectancy (93%), followed by those that increased the likelihood of remission or cure (84%) and those that paused the progression of disease (67%). Patients preferred treatments with higher efficacy, less impact of AEs on QoL, and lower dosing frequency (P<.001). The top 3 treatment attributes with the highest relative importance to patients were impact of atrial fibrillation on QoL (24%), progression-free survival (PFS; 19%), and impact of headache on QoL (18%), followed by impact of diarrhea (14%) and hypertension (14%) on QoL, dosing frequency (9%), and formulation type (3%). On average, patients were willing to accept a reduction of 2.6, 1.9, 1.4, and 1.4 years of PFS to receive a treatment with less (none or mild vs significant) impact of atrial fibrillation, headache, diarrhea, and hypertension on QoL, respectively. Patients were willing to accept a reduction of 1.0 year of PFS to receive once-daily vs twice-daily treatment. Conclusions: Findings from this patient preference survey suggested that impact of atrial fibrillation on QoL, PFS, and impact of headache on QoL were the most important attributes of BTKi treatment for patients with CLL/SLL in the USA. Shared decision-making in CLL/SLL treatment selection should include an informed discussion about AEs, as besides efficacy comparisons, patients may prefer treatments with less impact of AEs on their QoL. Future prospective studies evaluating the effects of shared treatment decision-making on treatment adherence and outcomes are needed to better understand their impact on CLL/SLL patient care and inform clinical practice.