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Abstract Introduction: Liso-cel is an autologous, CD19-directed, 4-1BB CAR T cell product. TRANSFORM (NCT03575351) is a global, randomized, open-label, phase 3 study of liso-cel versus SOC as second-line therapy in adults with R/R LBCL. In the TRANSFORM study, liso-cel showed superior, more durable efficacy versus SOC, with a potential long-term survival benefit and a favorable safety profile, highlighting the curative potential of liso-cel for second-line R/R LBCL. Upon completion of TRANSFORM, patients who received liso-cel could enroll into a separate, long-term follow-up (LTFU) study (NCT03435796). Here, we report results after approximately 4 years of follow-up in patients from TRANSFORM who consented to the LTFU study. Methods The TRANSFORM study compared liso-cel versus SOC (chemotherapy [R-DHAP, R-ICE, or R-GDP] followed by high-dose chemotherapy [HDCT] + ASCT) in adults aged ≤ 75 years with LBCL primary refractory to or relapsed within 12 months of first-line therapy and eligible for ASCT. Patients in the liso-cel arm underwent lymphodepletion followed by liso-cel (100 × 106 CAR+ T cells). Crossover to receive liso-cel was allowed for patients in the SOC arm. The LTFU study enrolled patients who received liso-cel and discontinued early or completed TRANSFORM; liso-cel was not administered during the LTFU study and subsequent therapies were administered at investigator discretion. Selected AEs considered related to liso-cel (malignancies, neurologic, hematologic, or rheumatologic/autoimmune disorders) and OS would be assessed at each visit (month 3 and then every 6 months from years 1 to 5, and then annually) for up to 15 years from liso-cel infusion until study withdrawal or death, whichever occurred first. OS for the combined study was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. PFS for the combined TRANSFORM and LTFU studies incorporated data from TRANSFORM, assessed by an independent review committee, and from LTFU, assessed by investigators, and was defined as the time from randomization to disease progression or death from any cause. For LTFU only, OS and PFS were measured from LTFU consent to event or censoring. In cases where the patient was censored at last assessment date (without receiving new therapy) in TRANSFORM and enrolled in LTFU, LTFU data were used. For patients from the liso-cel arm of TRANSFORM who did not enroll in the LTFU study, the data from TRANSFORM were considered (ie, either an event or censored) at their last adequate assessment date or before starting new therapy. Results are reported descriptively. Results In total, 184 patients were randomized in TRANSFORM (92 per arm); key demographics and baseline characteristics were previously reported (Abramson, et al. Blood 2023). The LTFU study enrolled 67 patients who received liso-cel (liso-cel arm, n = 43; crossover from SOC arm, n = 24). The median follow-up (range) for the liso-cel arm was 16.9 months (1.3–29.7) in the LTFU study and 40.1 months (2.2–61.9) combining the TRANSFORM and LTFU studies. The median follow-ups for OS and PFS for the liso-cel arm in the LTFU study were 17.1 (16.1–21.9) and 16.9 months (16.0–21.8), respectively. In patients from the LTFU study in the liso-cel arm (n = 43), median PFS and OS were both not reached (NR) with 95% CIs of NR–NR. The 24-month rates (95% CI) of PFS and OS were 94.7% (87.4–100.0) and 95.1% (88.4–100.0), respectively. In the 92 patients randomized to the liso-cel arm, using combined data from the TRANSFORM and LTFU studies, median (95% CI) PFS was NR (12.6–NR); 48-month PFS rate was 52.2% (41.5–62.8). Median (95% CI) OS was NR (NR–NR); 48-month OS rate was 61.5% (51.2–71.7). Safety results from the LTFU study in the liso-cel arm showed no new signals compared with previous reports from TRANSFORM. AEs of any grade occurred in 2 patients (hypogammaglobulinemia and dyspnea; n = 1 each), with no second primary malignancies or serious infections. AEs of grade 3 or 4 occurred in 1 patient (dyspnea). No AEs led to death.Conclusions: After a median follow-up of approximately 4 years combining data from the TRANSFORM and LTFU studies, liso-cel continued to demonstrate long-term clinical benefit with high PFS and OS rates in patients with second-line R/R LBCL. The safety profile of liso-cel continued to be manageable with no new safety signals observed during LTFU. These results further support liso-cel as an effective second-line treatment with curative potential for R/R LBCL.

Abstract Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is always preceded by monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM). While these precursor conditions are asymptomatic, they are not entirely benign and carry a lifelong risk of progression to MM. Unlike other cancers defined by pathology, malignant transformation from MGUS or SMM to MM has so far relied on demonstration of clinical end-organ damage or high tumor cell burden (i.e. SLiM criteria, SV Rajkumar Lancet Onc 2014), as morphology and cytogenetics cannot reliably distinguish them. Methods: To identify genomic features underlying clinical behavior in MGUS and SMM, a total of 374 patients with SMM (n= 290) or MGUS (n=84) with available whole exome (whole exome sequencing, WES, n=190) or whole genome sequencing (whole genome sequencing WGS, n=184) were included in the study. Overall, none of the patients had evidence of SLiM or CRAB criteria at the time of the biopsy. Based on the center of origin and availability of WES and WGS, 227 and 97 patients were used to form our study training and validation set. The study was designed in two parts: 1) defining a new classification for MM precursor conditions; 2) integrating genomics to existing prognostic score to improve accuracy in identifying patients at imminent risk of progression. Overall, 68 patients in the training set were either lost to follow-up or enrolled in a clinical trial and they were only included in the classification part of the study. Results: By leveraging the distribution of established MM-defining genomic events (Maura et al. JCO 2024) in the training set, we developed a workflow that differentiates MGUS and SMM into two genomically distinct entities: one with evidence of neoplastic transformation (i.e., genomic MM) and one without (i.e., genomic MGUS). Overall, 39% of MGUS and 91% of SMM cases had genomic evidence of neoplastic transformation in the training set (i.e., genomic MM). When we applied the same workflow and classification to the validation set, 46% and 83% of MGUS and SMM had evidence of neoplastic transformation, respectively. Importantly, none of the patients classified as genomic-MGUS progressed to MM in either the training or validation cohorts, with a median follow-up of 40 and 61 months, respectively. Moreover, all patients with IMWG 2/20/20 high risk SMM were classified as genomic MM in both the training and validation set. Interestingly, 5 out of 62 (8%) patients enrolled in early intervention trials for high risk SMM were genomically classified as genomic-MGUS. Overall, these data demonstrated that the MM genomic background and neoplastic transformation can be acquired very early in time, even before the SMM phase, in line with what observed in solid tumors. To avoid overestimating the prognostic impact of myeloma-defining genomic events—which are, by definition, enriched in the genomic-MM group compared to genomic-MGUS—we restricted our prognostic analysis to patients in whom transformation has already occurred (genomic-MM). In fact, distinct genomic drivers may predict malignant transformation but not necessarily the risk of imminent progression to MM once transformation has occurred. After running 5-fold cross validations corrected for IMWG 2/20/20, only presence of RAS mutations, genomic events involving MYC, presence of neoplastic copy number variant (CNV) signatures and APOBEC mutagenesis were predictive of early progression in the training set. Adding the presence of high-risk myeloma-defining genomic events to the IMWG 2/20/20 model (i.e., genomic-IMWG) significantly improves the accuracy of predicting MM progression in both the training (c-index 0.69 vs. 0.74) and validation sets (c-index 0.74 vs. 0.79), compared to the IMWG 2/20/20 alone. Conclusion: By leveraging comprehensive genomic profiling integrated with the clinical IMWG 2/20/20 risk score, we propose a novel classification and prognostication system for MM precursor conditions, which will better define patients who may benefit from early therapeutic intervention versus watch-and-wait monitoring.

Abstract Introduction Although chemo-free regimens are increasingly used in elderly patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), most still receive conventional chemoimmunotherapy. Patients up to 75–80 years old are usually treated with full-dose R-CHOP, while 80+ patients receive the attenuated R-miniCHOP regimen as standard of care. Prior studies have shown that in patients aged 65+ years, R-CHOP was associated with improved survival based on propensity score matching (PSM) analysis (Al-Sarayfi, Am J Hematol, 2023), though this did not include comorbidity data. Furthermore, no formal studies have focused specifically on 80+ patients. We aimed to perform a PSM comparison of R-CHOP versus R-miniCHOP to better inform treatment decisions in this population. Methods We harmonized and pooled data from 237 LBCL patients receiving chemotherapy with rituximab (out of all 263 80+ patients) from the prospective LEO cohort (USA, n=147; 2015–2020) and NiHiL registry (Czech Republic, single center, n=116; 2010–2023). Of them, 205 (86%) receiving anthracycline(A)-based regimens were included. Baseline characteristics, comorbidities, treatments, and outcomes were collected. PSM (1:1, caliper 0.2) was performed to compare R-CHOP and R-miniCHOP using age, ECOG performance status (PS), clinical stage, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and major comorbidities (heart disease, history of stroke, and other recent cancer) as matching variables. The endpoints were overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), and lymphoma-specific survival (LSS, defined as death attributed to lymphoma progression). Results Among 205 A-treated patients, median age was 83 years (range 80–99); 30% had ECOG PS 2–4, 67% clinical stage III–IV, 34% ≥2 involved extranodal sites, 59% elevated LDH, and 58% had International Prognostic Index (IPI) scores 3–5. Median follow-up was 5.5 years; median OS and EFS were 4.1 and 3.4 years, resp. A-based regimens comprised full-dose R-CHOP-like (n=79; 39%; R-CHOP n=74, DA-EPOCH-R n=5) and R-miniCHOP (n=126; 61%). Patients receiving R-CHOP-like regimens had more favorable baseline characteristics (median age 82 vs 83 years, P=0.04; ECOG PS 2–4: 16% vs 39%, P<0.01; IPI 3–5: 46% vs 66%, P=0.03) and a lower, though not statistically significant, comorbidity burden (mean 1.14 vs 1.39; heart disease 35% vs 45%, P=0.22; history of stroke 4% vs 6%, P=0.64; other cancer 6% vs 5%, P=0.87). R-CHOP-like regimens vs R-miniCHOP had superior OS (median 6.3 vs 3.4 years; HR=0.61, 95% CI 0.42–0.90; P=0.01) and EFS (median 5.3 vs 2.1 years; HR=0.58, 95% CI 0.40–0.83; P<0.01), with no significant difference in LSS (2-year 89% vs 82%, HR=0.77, 95% CI 0.39–1.54, P=0.46). To mitigate selection bias, we performed PSM on patients with available baseline characteristics treated with R-CHOP (n=69) and R-miniCHOP (n=121), resulting in 63 matched pairs. Matched cohorts were well-balanced on age (median 82 years in both cohorts; P=0.68), ECOG PS 2–4 (17% vs 19%; P=0.82), IPI 3–5 (52% vs. 59%; P=0.41), and comorbidity burden (mean 1.10 vs. 1.29; P=0.30). The presence of heart disease (40% in both cohorts), history of stroke (5% vs 6%), and cancer (5% vs 6%) were similar. Survival modestly favored R-CHOP, but differences were not significant: median OS 5.3 vs 3.5 years (HR=0.73; 95% CI 0.46–1.15; P=0.17), median EFS 3.8 vs 2.8 years (HR=0.76; 95% CI 0.49–1.18; P=0.23), and 2-year LSS 88% vs 84% (HR=1.09; 95% CI 0.45–2.63; P=0.85). Treatment-related mortality was similar in both cohorts (16%). Among R-miniCHOP patients, survival outcomes did not differ between matched (n=63) and unmatched (n=63) groups (OS P=0.72; EFS P=0.23; LSS P=0.27). Unmatched (n=16) R-CHOP patients had a trend toward improved survival compared to matched (n=63) individuals (OS P=0.10; EFS P=0.049; LSS P=0.24). Conclusion This is the first PSM-based analysis comparing R-CHOP and R-miniCHOP in LBCL patients 80+ years old. Despite inherent limitations of a non-randomized design and limited number of matched patients, our findings – derived from two prospective cohorts – suggest that R-miniCHOP may offer outcomes comparable to R-CHOP, particularly with respect to LSS. While these results support R-miniCHOP as an appropriate frontline option, treatment decisions remain highly individualized. These data may help inform clinical decision-making and provide a basis for designing future trials targeting this population, where R-miniCHOP could serve as a comparator arm. Funding: NU21-03-00411, U01 CA195568.

Abstract Introduction: cBTKi have made a substantial impact in pts w/ MCL, but pts who develop PD while on treatment w/ cBTKi have historically had poor responses to subsequent lines of therapy (LOT). Brexucel, lisocel, and the non-covalent BTKi pirto have been approved in this population. While two RW studies have substantiated the benefit of brexucel, similar data for pirto are lacking. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate the outcomes of pts treated w/ pirto in the RW setting. Methods: We performed a multi-center retrospective cohort study of adult pts w/ a diagnosis of MCL who experienced PD after any approved cBTKi and subsequently received pirto. Pts who received pirto w/ bridging intent and those who switched to pirto due to intolerance of cBTKi were excluded. The 95% exact binomial confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for overall response rate (ORR) and complete response rate (CRR). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were defined as the time from pirto start to PD or death, whichever occurred first, and the time from pirto start to death, respectively, and calculated w/ the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test was used to compare survival curves. A multivariate (MV) Cox proportional hazard model was built to calculate adjusted hazard ratio (aHR). Analyses were performed w/ SAS, version 9.4. Results: Data on 111 pts w/ MCL treated across 21 institutions were collected. Median (mdn) age was 72 (range 33 – 93) years. Twenty-seven pts (24%) were female, 3 (3%) were Asian, 5 (5%) Black, 9 (8%) Hispanic, 86 (77%) White. Among the 53 (48%) pts w/ available MIPI-c at diagnosis, 28 (53%) pts were high-risk. Ki67 at diagnosis was available in 84 (76%) pts: of those, 58 (69%) had a Ki67 ≥30%, and 41 (49%) ≥50%. TP53 mutational status was available in 70 (63%) pts: 33 (47%) had documented TP53 mutation and 10/52 (19%) pts had a disease w/ complex karyotype. Pts had a mdn of 3 (range 1 – 9) prior LOT (n=106). Ninety-one pts (86%) received chemo-immunotherapy (CIT), 16 (15%) autologous stem cell transplant, 19 (18%) venetoclax (ven), 29 (27%) chimeric antigen receptor T-cell, 4 (4%) allogeneic stem cell transplant. For cBTKi, 39 (35%) pts received ibrutinib, 56 (50%) pts acalabrutinib, 33 (30%) pts zanubrutinib, and 17 (15%) pts received more than one cBTKi. The mdn time from the last dose of cBTKi to pirto start was 55 (range 0 – 2587) days, w/ 51 (46%) pts who switched from a cBTKi directly to pirto. Thirty (27%) pts had no response (stable disease or PD as best response) to cBTKi, and 40 (36%) pts had no response to the last LOT. Two (2%) pts received pirto in combination w/ CIT, 8 (7%) w/ an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb), 11 (10%) w/ ven ± a mAb, while 86 (77%) pts as single agent. In 104 (94%) pts, pirto was given at full dose, 10 (9%) pts had a subsequent dose reduction. A total of 35 serious (grade ≥3) adverse events (AE) were documented in 27 (24%) pts: 4 (4%) pts had a serious bleeding AE, 5 (5%) pts a serious cardiac AE, 10 (9%) a serious GI AE, and 16 (14%) a serious infectious AE. Ninety-eight (88%) pts were evaluable for response. The ORR was 40% (95% CI 30% – 50%) w/ a CRR of 29% (95% CI 20%– 39%). At the last follow-up, 29 (26%) pts remained on pirto w/ a mdn treatment duration of 15.1 months (range 0.4 – 26). Fifty-eight (52%) pts died, 35 (78%) because of PD. At a mdn follow-up of 15.8 (range 0.4 – 26) months among survivors, the mdn PFS was 4.7 months (95% CI 3.3 – 8.2) and the mdn OS was 13 months (95% CI 9.2 – not available). Using the log-rank test, age (quartile groups), number of LOT (1-2 vs. 3-4 vs. 5+), time from cBTKi to pirto (quartile groups), Ki67≥30%, and high MIPI-C did not result in a statistically significant difference in PFS (p>0.05). Presence of TP53 mutation was associated w/ a non-statistically significant adverse trend in PFS (p=0.0585). No response to cBTKi and Ki67≥50% were associated w/ a statistically significant inferior PFS in log-rank test (p=<0.05), which persisted in a MV Cox regression model (aHR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4-4.2, and aHR 2.6, 95% CI 1.6-4.4, respectively). Conclusions: This is the first RW report on pirto in MCL pts. In this high-risk population, ORR to pirto was comparable to the BRUIN trial, while PFS was significantly worse, especially in pts w/ no response to cBTKi and w/ a high Ki67. However, prolonged remissions were seen in a subset of pts, suggesting that a better characterization of this population w/ durable benefit from pirto is needed.

Abstract Background Chimeric-antigen-receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has transformed outcomes for relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies, yet early identification of patients at highest risk for death remains elusive. A prognostic model that leverages only the information routinely available at the time of CAR-T evaluationcould guide pre-infusion counseling, intensity of follow-up, and resource allocation. Methods We analyzed a prospectively maintained cohort of CAR-T recipients treated at Mayo Clinic to develop and test our model. For each patient, data (vital signs, lab results, cardiac assessments [ECG and echocardiography], and PET/CT images) from initial CAR-T evaluation (up to 60 days prior to CAR-T infusion) was considered. Vital signs and labs were left un-imputed, while ECG, echocardiographic parameters, and PET/CT features were forward-filled from the preceding 60 days. Each patient-day was labeled as “outcome present” or “no outcome,” enabling supervised training of gradient-boosting models to predict overall survival (OS) at 6 months post CAR-T infusion. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the ROC curve (AUC) with 10,000-fold bootstrapping with data shuffling between each iteration to derive confidence intervals for stability. To enhance interpretability, we also developed a simplified model using the top 19 features (determined by Shapley value-based importance), aiming to preserve predictive accuracy with a smaller feature set. Results A total of 570 CAR-T cell treated patients were included in this study (476 patients in the training cohort and 94 patients in the validation cohort). The median age was 64 years and 61% males. The primary diagnoses were B-cell lymphoma (324 patients) and multiple myeloma (246 patients). A total of 4,851 individual vital-sign readings, 11,781 laboratory measurements were included. PET/CT images were available in 318 patients. The ML model demonstrated high discriminative ability for predicting OS at 6 months post CAR-T infusion. Vital signs alone produced a mean AUC of 0.63; radiomics features alone produced a mean AUC of 0.71, while laboratory tests alone produced a mean AUC of 0.84. The features most contributory to each single-modality model were then combined into a simplified multimodal model with a total of 19 features, which produced a mean AUC of 0.87, with a 95% CI of 0.73 - 0.97. The 19 features included in the simplified model were: LDH, ferritin, uric acid, eosinophils, fibrinogen, D-dimer, heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, QTc, QT interval, and the radiomics features of sphericity, first-order Kurtosis, first-order mean, first-order energy, first-order total energy, shape maximum2D diameter (sagittal plane), SUV CoV, SUVp90, shape flatness. This multimodal predictive model was then applied to the validation cohort (uninvolved with model training or testing), which produced an AUC of 0.93, with a 95% CI of 0.84 - 0.98. Conclusions Our ML-driven approach successfully predicts overall survival 6 months post CAR-T infusion, highlighting those individuals at most risk of poor outcomes at the time of CAR-T evaluation. The strong performance of the multimodal version of the model suggests that each data domain contributes complementary resolving power, and by including novel data types, such as PET CT radiomics features, the most accurate predictions could be realized. By providing accurate, near-real-time risk stratification for poor outcomes within 6 months of CAR-T infusion, the model could facilitate proactive patient management. Prospective studies of the integration of this ML model into CAR-T treatment workflows will be crucial to confirm its clinical benefits and to facilitate its adoption in practice.

Abstract Background Neurolymphomatosis (NL) is a rare and frequently underrecognized manifestation of lymphoma, characterized by infiltration of peripheral or cranial nerves by malignant lymphocytes. Limited data exist to guide optimal management. We present the largest single-enterprise (included the 3 Mayo Clinic sites) cohort to date, evaluating disease characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes in patients (pts) with NL. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of pts ≥18 years (yrs) diagnosed with clinical, radiographic, or biopsy-confirmed NL at Mayo Clinic between January 2002 and December 2024. Baseline characteristics were compared using independent t-tests for continuous variables and Fisher's exact or Pearson's chi-square tests for categorical variables. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Objective response rate (ORR) was a secondary endpoint. Kaplan–Meier methods, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to assess survival outcomes and associated factors. Results We included 149 pts. Median age at diagnosis was 64 yrs (range 22–83), and 23% were female. Most presented with stage IV disease (89%), and NL was part of the initial lymphoma presentation in 42% (primary NL). Diagnostic confirmation was based on histopathology and imaging in 55%, imaging alone in 26%, histopathology alone in 16%, and clinical features in 4%. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was the most common histology (61%), followed by marginal zone lymphoma (7%), and T-cell lymphoma (7%). Clinical presentation included painful neuropathy (65%), concurrent CNS involvement (37%), systemic disease (43%), elevated LDH (46.9%), and ECOG ≥2 (38%). Pattern of involvement included cranial nerves (29%), peripheral nerves (28%), and spinal nerve roots (27%). Median follow-up was 92 months (95% CI, 63–119). Among 137 treatment-evaluable pts, first-line regimens included methotrexate-based (MTX) (62%), bendamustine-based (B) (11%), cytarabine-based (Ara-C) (4%), and rituximab-based (R) (excluding MTX, B, or Ara-C) (15%) therapies. Radiation was used in 18%, and 21% underwent autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). Among 103 response-evaluable pts, the ORR was 67% (52% complete response [CR], 16% partial response [PR]). ORRs by regimen were 78% (MTX), 92% (B), and 86% (R). On univariate analysis, primary NL (OR 4.3) and frontline ASCT (OR 8.47) were associated with higher odds of response (p<0.05), while ECOG ≥2 (OR 0.24) and localized disease (OR 0.33) were associated with lower odds. On multivariable analysis (MVA), primary NL (OR 5.0 [1.5–12.1], p=0.02) and ECOG >1 (OR 0.2 [0.06–0.79], p=0.018) remained significant predictors of response. Median PFS was 13 months (95% CI, 9–36), with a 2-yr PFS of 43% (95% CI, 35–53). On MVA, concurrent CNS involvement (HR 2.4, p=0.05), systemic disease (HR 2.7, p=0.02), and ECOG >1 (HR 2.4, p=0.02) were associated with inferior PFS, while primary NL was associated with improved PFS (HR 0.3, p=0.002). Patients undergoing frontline ASCT had a median PFS of 108 months (95% CI, 58–not reached) with a 7-yr PFS of 62% (95% CI, 46–84). Among those receiving second line and beyond (2+) therapy, 24 received MTX-based regimens, 10 received CAR-T, and 8 received tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Post-ASCT median PFS was 30 months (95% CI, 15–NR). Among CAR-T recipients, evaluable responses (n=8) included 4 CR, 1 PR, and 3 PD. Median OS was 56 months (95% CI, 29–133), with a 5-yr OS of 50% (95% CI, 41–60). On MVA, ECOG ≥2 (HR 2.5, p=0.02) predicted worse OS, while receipt of ASCT (HR 0.4, p=0.04) and primary NL (HR 0.5, p=0.04) were associated with improved OS. Conclusion This study represents the largest single-enterprise cohort of pts with NL, providing comprehensive insight into its clinical presentation, treatment patterns, and outcomes. Primary NL and preserved PS were independently associated with improved response rates and survival, while CNS and systemic involvement at diagnosis portended poorer PFS. MTX and bendamustine-based regimens achieved high ORR, and frontline ASCT was associated with significantly prolonged remission duration and OS. These findings highlight the prognostic importance of baseline disease burden and functional status, support the early incorporation of high-intensity regimens in eligible patients, and underscore the urgent need for prospective studies to guide evidence-based management in this rare and understudied population.

Abstract Introduction: Anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) therapy is feasible with an acceptable safety profile in older patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory (RR) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) (Tun et al, AJH 2024). However, immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) is a frequent and challenging toxicity in older pts, and its characteristics and associated risk factors are not well defined. Methods: Seven centers participated in this retrospective study. Pts aged ≥65 years (yrs) with RR LBCL treated with a commercial CART product were included. Baseline characteristics, treatment, CART toxicity, and outcomes were collected. ICANS was graded by the ASTCT criteria in most pts. Cumulative incidences of ICANS were estimated using deaths/progressions as competing risks, and associations between incidences and variables were assessed by Gray's test. A 30-day landmark was set after infusion to reduce immortal time bias. Progression-free survival (PFS; time from the landmark to disease progression or death) and overall survival (OS; time from the landmark to death) were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Statistical analyses were done in JMP v18. Results: A total of 224 pts were included. Median age at infusion was 71 yrs (range 65–89; ≥80 yrs, 12%. 142 (63%) were male and 27 (13%) had an ECOG PS scale of ≥2. The median HCT CI was 1 (range 0–6). LDH was elevated in 110 (51%) pts, 23 (19%) had bulky disease ≥7 cm, 176 (82%) had advanced-stage, and 145 (71%) had extranodal disease. Median number of prior treatments was 2 (range 1–8), and 44 (20%) had prior bendamustine. Prior stem cell therapy was done in 47 (21%) pts (autologous stem cell transplant [SCT], n = 45; allogeneic SCT, n=2). Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) was most frequently used (58%; n=131) followed by lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel) (16%, n=36) and tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) (25%, n=57). Median duration of ICANS was 6 days (interquartile range [IQR] 3–11; range 1–303). Median time to ICANS onset was 6 days (IQR 3.8–8.0; range 0–24). The 30-day cumulative incidence of all grade ICANS was 50.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 44.7–57.9) and grade ≥3 ICANS was 29.8% (95% CI 24.0–37.0). There was no significant difference in incidence of all grade (P=0.39) and grade ≥3 (P=0.49) ICANS as well as duration of ICANS (≥14 vs <14 days; P=0.08) according to the age groups (≥65–69 vs ≥70–74 vs ≥75–79 vs ≥80–89). In contrast, pts with an ECOG PS scale of ≥2 were associated with a higher incidence of all grade (30-day estimate, 66.7% vs 47.0%; P=0.02) and grade ≥3 ICANS (30-day estimate, 53.8% vs 25.6%; P=0.002). In addition, pts with an elevated LDH level had a higher incidence of grade ≥3 ICANS than those without (30-day estimate, 37.5% vs 18.8%;P=0.004). The incidence of ICANS varied among various CART products, with 30-day estimates of 64.9% vs 33.3% vs 29.8% (P<0.0001) for all grades and 40.1% vs 13.2% vs 18.0% (P=0.004) for grade ≥3 ICANS in pts treated with axi-cel vs tisa-cel vs liso-cel, respectively. A trend toward higher grade ≥3 ICANS was seen in pts treated with ≥3 prior lines than those treated with 2 or 1 (30-day estimate, 35.7% vs 28.1% vs 10.5%; P = 0.07). ICANS was managed with steroids in 47 (41%) pts, levetiracetam +/- other agents in 46 (40%) pts, biologic agents +/- other drugs in 15 (13%) pts, and supportive care in 6 (5%) pts. Median follow-up from the 30-day landmark post-infusion was 17.2 months (95% CI 14.2–22.4). Median PFS was 10.5 months (95% CI 5.7–18.2) and OS was 18.2 months (95% CI 13.3 vs 27.5). There was no difference in PFS and OS in pts who experienced ICANS vs no ICANS (median PFS 14.7 vs 10.1 months; P=0.65 and median OS 18.2 vs 24.7 months; P=0.49). However, there was a trend toward inferior PFS and OS in pts who experienced high-grade ICANS compared to those who had grade 0-2 ICANS (median PFS 9.2 vs 21.2; P=0.14 and median OS 11.7 =vs 22.9; P=0.39). Conclusions: This large study of older pts with RR LBCL demonstrated acceptable risks of ICANS, comparable to that in pivotal registration trials, with a relatively higher rate of grade ≥3 ICANS. The risks of ICANS were similar regardless of patient age, including those aged ≥80 yrs, but different among CART products. Similar to younger pts, high tumor burden disease and poor performance status at CART infusion were associated with higher risks of ICANS. A comprehensive neurologic and frailty assessment is warranted to identify suitable CART candidates.

Abstract Introduction There is currently no standard-of-care for patients (pts) who cannot tolerate full dose anthracycline regimens in frontline large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). R-miniCHOP is a commonly used regimen that provides curative intent treatment with manageable toxicity. Despite this, lymphoma and treatment-related mortality are the leading causes of death in these pts. Additionally, many pts may not be eligible to receive R-miniCHOP due to comorbidity or frailty. There are limited clinical trial and real-world data focused on this population. Methods Pts with LBCL age 18 years (yrs) and older were identified from the Lymphoma Epidemiology of Outcomes (LEO) cohort, a prospective study of newly diagnosed pts with non-Hodgkin lymphoma enrolled from 2015-2020 at 8 academic medical centers in the US. Pts with LBCL were included in this analysis if they had received R-miniCHOP or a regimen that did not include an anthracycline (nonAC). NonAC regimens included R-CVP, BR, rituximab, radiation and lenalidomide and rituximab. Pts completed the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13) and were considered vulnerable if they had a score >3. Event-free survival (EFS) was defined as the time from start of treatment until progression/relapse, retreatment, or death due to any cause; EFS at 24 months (EFS24) was a secondary endpoint. Overall survival (OS) was defined as the time from start of treatment until death due to any cause. EFS and OS for R-miniCHOP and non-IC groups, as well as vulnerable and not vulnerable by VES-13 were estimated using Cox models. Results A total of 190 pts received R-miniCHOP (N=139) or nonAC (N=51). R-miniCHOP-treated pts were older (median 82 vs 72 yrs) and more commonly female (55% vs 35%). The majority in both groups (86% vs 78%) received their treatment at a LEO center and did not receive therapy on a clinical trial (89% vs 100%). Most pts receiving R-miniCHOP had high-intermediate (32%) or high (30%) international prognostic index (IPI) score, while both high-intermediate (22%) and high (20%) IPI were lower in the nonAC-treated pts. Cell of origin was determined by immunohistochemistry as available clinically, with GCB 42% vs 31%, non-GCB 32% vs 29%, and not done/unknown 26% vs 39% in R-miniCHOP vs nonAC pts. Double-hit status by FISH was known in 115 pts and was positive in 13% of R-miniCHOP pts and 10% of nonAC pts. The diagnosis-to-treatment interval (DTI) was ≤14 days in 30% of R-miniCHOP pts and 24% of nonAC pts. Of pts who had a VES-13 score (N=119), vulnerable status trended higher in the R-miniCHOP (66%) vs the non-IC group (50%; p=0.15). With a median follow-up of 50.5 months, the median EFS was 37.1 months and median OS was 50.0 months. R-miniCHOP, compared with non-IC, was associated with improved EFS (unadjusted HR=0.54, 95% CI 0.36-0.81; p=0.003) and OS (unadjusted HR=0.58, 95% CI 0.38-0.88; p=0.011). When adjusted for age, IPI, LBCL subtype (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified vs other), DTI and VES-13, R-miniCHOP was strongly associated with improved EFS (HR=0.26, 95% CI 0.14-0.50; p<0.001) and OS (adjusted HR=0.29, 95% CI 0.15-0.57; p<0.001). EFS24 rate was 56% in all pts and was superior in pts treated with R-miniCHOP vs non-IC (62.7% vs 34.1%; p=0.001). In the R-miniCHOP group, vulnerable status (adjusted for IPI) was associated with inferior OS (HR=2.22, 95% CI 1.09-4.50; p=0.028) and trended towards inferior EFS (HR=1.76, 95% CI 0.93-3.32; p=0.083). In a competing-risk cumulative-incidence analysis, lymphoma was the leading cause of death for pts receiving R-miniCHOP at 2 (0.16, 95% CI 0.11-0.24) and 5 (0.20, 95% CI 0.14-0.28) yrs, as well as for those receiving non-IC at 2 (0.35, 95% CI 0.24-0.53) and 5 (0.38, 95% CI 0.26-0.56) yrs. Treatment-related mortality was similar in both groups. In the R-miniCHOP group, the 2-yr (0.20 vs 0.03) and 5-yr (0.20 vs 0.11) lymphoma-related mortality was higher in pts who were vulnerable vs not by VES-13, while there were no differences for mortality due to therapy or other causes by vulnerable status. Conclusions These data support R-miniCHOP as a curative regimen in older and frail pts with the majority achieving EFS24. R-miniCHOP compared to non-IC use is strongly associated with improved EFS and OS when adjusted for disease and patient related variables. Within the R-miniCHOP group, vulnerable status is associated with inferior OS. Additional research efforts are needed to optimize outcomes for this group of pts.

Abstract Introduction: While newly diagnosed patients (pts) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy have prolonged survival outcomes with venetoclax plus azacitidine (VEN+AZA) over AZA alone (2-year overall survival rate: 37.5% vs 16.9%), more can be done to further enhance outcomes (Pratz et al., 2024). CD123 is overexpressed on AML blasts and leukemia stem cells in AML. Pivekimab sunirine (PVEK) is a first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate comprised of a high-affinity anti-CD123 antibody, a cleavable linker, and an indolinobenzodiazepine pseudodimer payload. Previously, in pts with CD123-positive AML, PVEK combined with VEN+AZA demonstrated robust response rates with a manageable safety profile (Daver et al., 2023). Here we report a subgroup analysis from a preliminary cohort of frontline (1L)-treated pts with AML. Methods: Data are from the dose expansion phase of an ongoing, open-label, multicenter, fully enrolled, Phase 1b/2 study of PVEK+VEN+AZA in adults with 1L unfit AML deemed CD123-positive by investigator. Unfit pts were aged ≥75 years (yr), or aged <75 yr with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) score 2–3, or ≥1 defined comorbidity. Pts received PVEK (0.045 mg/kg, intravenous [IV]) on Day (D) 7 plus VEN (400 mg equivalent, oral) daily in a 28-D cycle (cohort 1 received ≥14 D of VEN; cohort 2 received 28 D of VEN) plus AZA (up to 75 mg/m2, subcutaneous or IV) on D1–7. Bone marrow assessments were performed by D12–14 (cohort 1) or D18–21 (cohort 2) to determine VEN duration in cycle 1 and at the end of every subsequent cycle to assess responses and myelosuppression. The primary endpoint was antileukemia activity (complete remission [CR] rate) and measurable residual disease (MRD) assessments. Responses were determined using the modified European LeukemiaNet 2017 criteria (plus CR + partial hematologic recovery [CRh]). MRD-negativity was defined centrally as <0.1% using multiparameter flow cytometry. Safety was assessed as a secondary endpoint. Results: Among 1L unfit pts with CD123-positive AML (n=49), the median (range) age was 77 (58–85) yr, with most pts aged ≥75 yr (n=36 [74%]). Forty-two (86%) pts reported an ECOG PS ≤1, 14% (n=7) had secondary AML, and 20% (n=10) and 51% (n=25) had intermediate or adverse cytogenetic risk, respectively; 65% (n=32) and 35% (n=17) were reported as TP53wt or TP53mut, respectively. Eight (16%) pts bridged to stem cell transplant. The median (range) number of treatment cycles and duration of treatment were 4 (1–20) and 5.5 (0.7–22.7) months (mo), respectively, for PVEK; 4 (1–20) and 5.1 (0.9–22.9) mo for VEN; and 4 (1–21) and 5.7 (0.9–23.4) mo for AZA. For cohort 1 (n=10), the median (range) duration of VEN was 4.5 (2.1–22.9) mo, and for cohort 2 (n=39), the median (range) duration of VEN was 5.7 (0.9–15.2) mo. With a median (range) follow-up of 10 (1.2–26.7) mo, 63.3% (95% CI: 48.3%–76.6%) of pts achieved CR, 79.6% (95% CI: 65.7%–89.8%) achieved CR/CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi), and 73.5% (95% CI: 58.9%–85.1%) achieved CR/CRh; morphologic leukemia free state was achieved in 4% (n=2) of pts. Of pts who achieved CR or CR/CRi with a MRD-evaluable sample, 92% (23/25) and 90% (27/30) achieved flow cytometry MRD-negativity (<0.1%) respectively. The most common (≥50% of pts) any grade treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) were neutropenia/neutrophil count decreased and thrombocytopenia/platelet count decreased (both 69%); constipation (61%); and peripheral edema (51%). Three pts (6%) experienced AEs leading to discontinuation (myocardial infarction/soft tissue infection/thrombocytopenia) and 2 pts had AEs leading to death (respiratory failure/pancytopenia). Conclusions: Unfit pts with newly diagnosed CD123-postive AML demonstrated high CR rates with PVEK+VEN+AZA. These robust response rates were observed across the select mutational profiles tested. Follow up with duration of response and survival estimates among all pts, by molecular subgroups and MRD negativity status, are being evaluated. Triplet therapy in unfit 1L pts with CD-123–positive AML was well-tolerated, and no new safety signals were observed. These data highlight the need to further evaluate this regimen in a randomized trial.

Abstract Background: De novo secondary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma (SCNSL), characterized by concurrent systemic and CNS aggressive B-cell lymphoma at diagnosis, is a rare entity with a dismal prognosis. The prognostic significance of the initial anatomical compartment of CNS involvement (parenchymal vs. leptomeningeal) is not well-defined. We sought to analyze outcomes based on CNS localization in a single-institution cohort. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 34 patients with de novo SCNSL (including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [DLBCL], high-grade B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (HGBCL NOS), and double-/triple-hit lymphoma) treated at the Mayo Clinic between 2002 and 2025. Clinicopathological features, radiologic findings, treatment details, and survival outcomes were abstracted from the medical records. Patients were categorized by the primary site of CNS involvement. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and groups were compared with the log-rank test. Results The study cohort had a median age of 61.5 years (range 19-79) and a median International Prognostic Index score of 3 (range 2-4). Pathological subtypes included double-/triple-hit lymphoma (n=14, 41.2%), non-germinal center B-cell like (non-GCB) DLBCL (n=11, 32.4%), germinal center B-cell like (GCB) DLBCL (n=8, 23.5%), and HGBCL NOS (n=1, 2.9%). Among patients with available data, 14 (43.8%) were positive for MYC rearrangement, 13 (54.2%) for BCL2 rearrangement, and 10 (45.5%) for BCL6 rearrangement. First-line regimens received by patients included MR-CHOP (n=18, 52.9%), DA-R-EPOCH (n=5, 14.7%), combined CODOX-M/IVAC (n=4, 11.7%), R-CHOP with intrathecal methotrexate (n=3, 8.8%), miscellaneous therapies (n=3, 8.8%), and MRT (n=1, 2.9%). The complete response rate was 58.8% (n=20). Intrathecal chemotherapy was administered to 61.8% of patients, and consolidation with autologous stem cell transplant was performed in 35.3%. Based on the CNS compartment involved, de novo SCNSL (DN-SCNSL) were classified into two subtypes: the leptomeningeal subtype, defined as leptomeningeal involvement with or without parenchymal CNS disease (LM-DN-SCNSL; n=22, 64.7%), and the parenchymal subtype, defined as parenchymal-only CNS involvement (P-DN-SCNSL; n=12, 35.3%). Parenchymal disease was multifocal in 75% of cases, supratentorial in 58.3%, and associated with a midline shift in 30%. Although no tested factors (including pathological subtype, age, sex, and bone marrow involvement) were significantly associated with the anatomical compartment, a non-significant trend was noted for BCL6 rearrangement to be more common in the leptomeningeal group (8/13, 61.5%) than the parenchymal group (2/8, 25.0%) (P = 0.18). Survival outcomes were analyzed for both anatomical and pathological classifications. For the parenchymal versus leptomeningeal cohorts, 2- and 5-year Overall Survival (OS) rates were 75.0% vs. 45.1% and 41.0% vs. 38.7%, respectively (P = 0.34). For Progression-Free Survival (PFS), the 2- and 5-year rates were 48.6% vs. 32.5% and 29.2% vs. 26.0%, respectively (P = 0.53). The 2-year OS rates by pathological subtype were 81.8% for non-GCB DLBCL, 45.8% for DHL/THL, and 37.5% for GCB DLBCL (P = 0.27). Survival outcomes (OS/PFS) were not significantly associated with patient age, sex, pathological subtype, or anatomical compartment. Conclusion DN-SCNSL can be anatomically classified into two subtypes: LM-DN-SCNSL and P-DN-SCNSL. While a prognostic trend favoring the parenchymal subtype was observed, the difference did not achieve statistical significance, a finding likely attributable to the small cohort size. This classification may hold clinical utility for guiding risk stratification, and larger studies are needed to validate these findings and identify the most optimal treatments for each subtype of DN-SCNSL.