Citations

Abstract The absence of a standardized definition for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) flares and data on its clinical course are significant concerns. We retrospectively evaluated 968 patients across 23 Mount Sinai Acute GVHD International Consortium (MAGIC) transplant centers who achieved complete response (CR) or very good partial response (VGPR) within 4 weeks of treatment. The cumulative incidence of flares within 6 months was 22%, and flares were associated with a higher risk of nonrelapse mortality (NRM; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 4.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.19-7.36; P < .001). Flares were more severe (grades 3/4, 41% vs 16%; P < .001) and had more frequent lower gastrointestinal (LGI) involvement (55% vs 32%; P < .001) than the initial GVHD. At CR/VGPR, elevated MAGIC biomarkers predicted the future occurrence of a flare, along with its severity and LGI involvement. In multivariate analyses, higher Ann Arbor (AA) biomarker scores at CR/VGPR were significant risk factors for flares (AA2 vs AA1: aHR, 1.81 [95% CI, 1.32-2.48; P = .001]; AA3 vs AA1: aHR, 3.14 [95% CI, 1.98-4.98; P < .001]), as were early response to initial treatment (aHR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.21-2.80; P = .004) and HLA-mismatched unrelated donor (aHR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.00-3.02; P = .049). MAGIC biomarkers also stratified the risk of NRM both at CR/VGPR and at the time of flare. We conclude that GVHD flares are common and carry a significant mortality risk. The occurrence of future flares can be predicted by serum biomarkers that may serve to guide adjustment and discontinuation of immunosuppression.

Abstract Background Risankizumab (RZB), a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-23 p19, was evaluated for maintenance therapy in patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) and clinical response to RZB intravenous (IV) induction treatment in a phase 3 double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled withdrawal (WD) maintenance study, COMMAND (NCT03398135). Methods Patients with moderately to severely active UC who achieved a clinical response per Adapted Mayo score after 12 or 24 weeks (wks) of RZB IV treatment in the phase 2b and phase 3 INSPIRE induction studies (NCT03398148)1 were randomized 1:1:1 in COMMAND to RZB 180 mg (RZB180), 360 mg (RZB360), or PBO (RZB withdrawal) subcutaneous (SC) treatment every 8 wks for 52 wks. The efficacy analysis included responders to 12 wk of RZB IV, while the safety analysis included responders to 12 or 24 wk of RZB IV. The primary endpoint was clinical remission per Adapted Mayo score at wk 52. Key secondary endpoints included endoscopic improvement, HEMI, endoscopic remission, steroid-free clinical remission, maintenance of clinical remission, no bowel urgency, and no abdominal pain at wk 52. Results At baseline of induction, demographics and disease characteristics were similar between treatment groups; 75% of 548 patients had history of inadequate response or intolerance to ≥ 1 advanced therapy (AT). Patients receiving RZB180 (40.2%) and RZB360 (37.6%) achieved significantly higher rates of clinical remission vs WD (25.1%) (adjusted treatment difference vs WD: 16.3% and 14.2%, respectively; P ≤ .01) (Fig. 1A). Greater proportions of patients achieved endoscopic improvement, HEMI, endoscopic remission, steroid-free clinical remission, maintenance of clinical remission, no bowel urgency, and no abdominal pain with RZB180 and RZB360 vs WD (Fig. 1B). The overall rates of adverse events (AEs), and serious infections were similar among treatment groups (Table 1). Serious (presented as events/100 patient-years [E/100 PY]) (RZB180: 5.9; RZB360: 6.3; WD: 11.4) and severe AEs (RZB180: 1.6; RZB360: 4.0; WD: 8.0) were lower in the RZB arms vs WD. No active tuberculosis, adjudicated anaphylaxis, serious hypersensitivity, or adjudicated major adverse cardiovascular events were reported in any treatment group. Conclusion In patients with moderately to severely active UC responding to 12-week RZB induction therapy, RZB maintenance dosing with 180 mg and 360 mg SC was superior to placebo in achieving clinical remission as well as other key clinical, endoscopic, and histological-endoscopic endpoints. RZB was well-tolerated, with no new safety concerns observed.

AbstractObjectivesCorpus callosotomy (CC) is used to reduce seizures, primarily in patients with generalized drug‐resistant epilepsy (DRE). The invasive nature of the procedure contributes to underutilization despite its potential superiority to other palliative procedures. The goal of this study was to use a multi‐institutional epilepsy surgery database to characterize the use of CC across participating centers.MethodsData were acquired from the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium (PERC) Surgery Database, a prospective observational study collecting data on children 0–18 years referred for surgical evaluation of DRE across 22 U.S. pediatric epilepsy centers. Patient, epilepsy, and surgical characteristics were collected across multiple CC modalities. Outcomes and complications were recorded and analyzed statistically.ResultsEighty‐three patients undergoing 85 CC procedures at 14 participating epilepsy centers met inclusion criteria. Mean age at seizure onset was 2.3 years (0–9.4); mean age for Phase I evaluation and surgical intervention were 9.45 (.1–20) and 10.46 (.2–20.6) years, respectively. Generalized seizure types were the most common (59%). Complete CC was performed in 88%. The majority of CC procedures (57%) were via open craniotomy, followed by laser interstitial thermal therapy (LiTT) (20%) and mini‐craniotomy/endoscopic (mc/e) (22%). Mean operative times were significantly longer for LiTT, whereas mean estimated blood loss was greater in open cases. Complications occurred in 11 cases (13%) and differed significantly between surgical techniques (p < .001). There was no statistically significant difference in length of postoperative stay across approaches. Mean follow‐up was 12.8 months (range 1–39). Favorable Engel outcomes were experienced by 37 (78.7%) of the patients who underwent craniotomy, 10 (58.8%) with LiTT, and 12 (63.2%) with mc/e; these differences were not statistically significant.SignificanceCC is an effective surgical modality for children with DRE. Regardless of surgical modality, complication rates are acceptable and seizure outcomes generally favorable. Newer, less‐invasive, surgical approaches may lead to increased adoption of this efficacious therapeutic option for pediatric DRE.

Abstract In a retrospective analysis at 11 US medical centers, bridging therapy (BT) impact after receiving idecabtagene vicleucel was assessed in 214 patients. 79% received BT, including 12% Selinexor-containing, 45% alkylator-based, 15% proteasome inhibitor combinations, and 18% immunomodulatory drugs +/- monoclonal antibody combinations (IMiD +/- mAb combos). BT recipients had worse performance status, higher stage disease, ferritin and CRP pre-infusion. The overall response rate to BT was 12%, with no difference among BT subgroups. Safety profiles were similar, but Selinexor had a higher grade ≥2 ICANS incidence. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.7 months in BT vs. 11.5 months in no-BT (p=0.007). Median PFS was longest with IMiD +/- mAb combos (12 months), comparable to no-BT, and significantly longer than other BT subgroups (p=0.01). Alkylator-based BT had inferior PFS compared to IMiD +/- mAb combos (p=0.03). Median overall survival (OS) for the BT was 13.8 months vs. not reached in no-BT (p=0.002). Alkylator-based BT had shorter OS compared to others (11.97 months vs. NR; p=0.001). Stepwise Cox regression showed alkylator-based BT and response

Several reports describing a rare primary liver tumor with histologic features reminiscent of follicular thyroid neoplasms have been published under a variety of descriptive terms including thyroid-like, solid tubulocystic, and cholangioblastic cholangiocarcinoma. Although these tumors are considered to represent histologic variants, they lack classic features of cholangiocarcinoma and have unique characteristics, namely immunoreactivity for inhibin and NIPBL::NACC1 fusions. The purpose of this study is to present clinicopathologic and molecular data for a large series of these tumors to better understand their pathogenesis. We identified 11 hepatic tumors with these features. Immunohistochemical and NACC1 and NIPBL fluorescence in situ hybridization assays were performed on all cases. Four cases had available material for whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis. Most patients were adult women (mean age: 42 y) who presented with abdominal pain and large hepatic masses (mean size: 14 cm). Ten patients had no known liver disease. Of the patients with follow-up information, 3/9 (33%) pursued aggressive behavior. All tumors were composed of bland cuboidal cells with follicular and solid/trabecular growth patterns in various combinations, were immunoreactive for inhibin, showed albumin mRNA by in situ hybridization, and harbored the NIPBL::NACC1 fusion by fluorescence in situ hybridization. WGS corroborated the presence of the fusion in all 4 tested cases, high tumor mutational burden in 2 cases, and over 30 structural variants per case in 3 sequenced tumors. The cases lacked mutations typical of conventional intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. In this report, we describe the largest series of primary inhibin–positive hepatic neoplasms harboring a NIPBL::NACC1 fusion and the first WGS analysis of these tumors. We propose to name this neoplasm NIPBL:NACC1 fusion hepatic carcinoma.

Introduction ABBV-383 is a fully human, silenced Fc region IgG4 monoclonal, BCMA × CD3 T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody with 2 BCMA-binding domains and a low-affinity CD3-binding domain. ABBV-383 has shown promising activity following intravenous (IV) infusion every three weeks (Q3W) as monotherapy in patients (pts) with RRMM in an ongoing phase 1 study (D'Souza A, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2022 Nov 1;40(31):3576-3586; Voorhees et al. Blood 2022;140[suppl 1]:4401). Herein, preliminary pharmacokinetic (PK) and immunogenicity results from Q3W regimens of this study and impact of soluble BCMA (sBCMA) on ABBV-383 PK are reported. Methods In the phase 1 study (NCT03933735), adult pts with RRMM, who were previously exposed to ≥3 prior multiple myeloma agents including ≥1 proteasome inhibitor, immunomodulatory drug, and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, received Q3W IV infusion at doses 0.025 - 120 mg in escalation (ESC) phase, and at 20 mg, 40 mg, and 60 mg in expansion (EXP) phase. Serial blood samples for PK characterization were collected in cycles 1, 3, and 6 along with sparse/periodic samples throughout the study. Blood samples were also collected throughout the study to detect anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) for immunogenicity characterization and to determine sBCMA concentrations. Appropriate validated assays were used to determine ‘total’ (unbound and bound to sBCMA) and ‘free’ (unbound and partially bound to sBCMA) ABBV-383 serum concentrations, to detect/determine ADAs/titers, and to determine total sBCMA concentrations. ‘Total’ and ‘free’ ABBV-383 serum concentrations from cycles 1, 3, and 6 were used to calculate individual PK parameters (peak concentration [C max], trough concentration [C trough], area under the concentration-time curve [AUC], terminal phase elimination half-life [t 1/2], clearance [CL], and steady state volume of distribution [V ss]) using non-compartmental analysis in Phoenix WinNonlin Version 8.2. Immunogenicity was summarized using ADA/titer data. Impact of baseline/pre-dose sBCMA concentrations on ‘total’ and ‘free’ ABBV-383 PK parameters from cycles 1, 3, and 6 was explored. Results ‘Total’ and ‘free’ ABBV-383 intensive PK data (cycles 1, 3, and 6) were available from 169 and 157 pts, respectively, representing Q3W regimens in ESC and EXP cohorts and ADA data were available from 186 evaluable subjects. Preliminary PK results suggest that ‘total’ and ‘free’ ABBV-383 exhibited approximately dose-proportional PK between 5.4-120 mg Q3W. Estimated t 1/2 for ‘total’ and ‘free’ ABBV-383 ranged between 11-12 days and 8-11 days, respectively, with steady state achieved by cycle 4 in Q3W EXP cohorts. Estimated CL and V ss were consistent with those of a typical IgG4 antibody in humans. Across EXP Q3W regimens, accumulation (cycle 3 vs. cycle 1) was 30%-60% in C max and 60%-177% in C trough for ‘free’ and ‘total’ ABBV-383. ABBV-383 exposures (AUC tau and C trough) of ‘total’ ABBV-383 were 28-74% higher than those representing ‘free’ ABBV-383 among the EXP Q3W regimens with no/minimal observed differences in C max (≤21%). Higher sBCMA levels prior to treatment appeared to reduce ‘free’ ABBV-383 PK exposures with pronounced reduction at lower doses (e.g., 20 mg) and in cycle 1, however the effect diminished in later cycles (cycles 3 and 5). Preliminary assessment of immunogenicity indicated an ADA incidence of 3.8% (7/186) with low titers ranging between 11.7 and 187 titer units and no impact on PK. Conclusions ABBV-383 exhibited a PK profile with relatively long half-life and low incidence of immunogenicity. Overall, sBCMA impacted (reduced) the ‘free’ ABBV-383 (pharmacologically active component) PK exposures only, with pronounced effect at lower doses and the effect is consistent with understanding of treatment dependent sBCMA dynamics over time. Determination of both ‘total’ and ‘free’ ABBV-383 serum concentrations allowed to demonstrate such underlying impact of sBCMA on PK.

Background: Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN) represent a group of rare hematologic malignancies, distinguished by their concurrent dysplastic and proliferative features. Patients with these neoplasms have an increased risk of acute leukemia transformation and often present with extramedullary and constitutional symptoms. The only approved therapies for MDS/MPNs are hydroxyurea, decitabine (oral decitabine/cedazuridine and parenteral decitabine) or azacitidine (parenteral) for pts with CMML. Given the rarity and the heterogeneity of MDS/MPNs, prospective studies focusing specifically on MDS/MPN have been uncommon, and refining treatment strategies has been difficult. ABNL-MARRO ( A Basket study of Nove l therapy for untreated MDS/MPN and Relapsed/ Refractory Overlap Syndromes) is an international cooperative effort that leverages the expertise of the MDS/MPN International Working Group (IWG) and provides a framework for collaborative studies around the world to advance treatment of MDS/MPN and to explore clinical and pathologic markers of disease severity, prognosis, and treatment response (Moyo TK et.al BMC Cancer. 2022). Methods: ABNL-MARRO 001 (AM-001) is an open-label, phase 1b/2 study testing the treatment combination of ASTX727 (days 1-5), a fixed dose oral combination pill containing 35 mg of the DNMTi decitabine (DEC) and 100 mg of the cytidine deaminase inhibitor cedazuridine (CED), together with a series of active agents in myeloid disease (see Figure 1a) for MDS/MPN. In arm A, ASTX727 is combined with itacitinib 300 mg (days 1-28), a selective JAK1 inhibitor in newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory (R/R) pts. Here we report results from the 3+3 dose de-escalation phase 1b portion used to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) in arm A. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were assessed in cycle 1. Disease response was assessed by the MDS/MPN IWG response criteria (Savona et.al., Blood. 2015). Results: Seven patients were enrolled with a median age 75 (range 32-82) years with newly diagnosed (4 pts) or R/R (3 pts) MDS/MPN. Three patients had CMML, 2 had MDS/MPN-U, and 2 had refractory MDS/MPN RST. One patient was not DLT evaluable given severe disease-induced cytopenia, and was not included in the assessment (patient 4 in Figure 1b). The majority of pts experienced a treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) of any grade; the most common (≥30% of pts) were thrombocytopenia (50%), neutropenia (30%), and constipation (30%); 50% of pts experienced a Grade ≥3 TEAE; the most common was neutropenia (30%). No DLTs were reported, and these AEs were consistent with what has been reported in the use of ASTX727 (Savona et al. Blood. 2022). One patient achieved a CR, and two additional patients had the best overall response of optimal marrow response after receiving 6 cycles of treatment. All patients are alive with a median follow-up of 12 months (range 6-17 months). The clinical responses and time-on-treatment of all pts in phase 1b are summarized in Figure 1b. Summary/Conclusion: Based on the preliminary results of the phase 1b study, the dosing schedule of 35 mg DEC / 100 mg CED daily for 5 days in combination with itacitinib 300 mg daily for 28 days was selected as the RP2D as it balanced clinical efficacy with an acceptable and manageable safety profile. This regimen and dose are being utilized in a 28-day cycle in the ongoing global, multi-center phase 2 study (NCT04061421).