Citations

Abstract Background: The Checklist for Early Recognition and Treatment of Acute Illness and Injury (CERTAIN) study is a before-and-after clinical quality improvement study involving 20 countries. Our aim was to describe the challenges and solutions for study implementation across various intensive care units.Methods: After local institutional review board approval, each study center had a setup period before patient data were collected. Each center was required to accomplish 4 stages: baseline data collection, remote simulation training, local implementation, and postimplementation data collection and maintenance of process of care. We measured the time required to complete each study stage and used the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) framework to identify the challenges encountered during each stage and guide improvement strategies to facilitate implementation of CERTAIN.Results: Between June 2012 and December 2017, 55 centers from 20 countries were recruited to participate. The time to complete each stage at different centers varied significantly. The most common domains in which challenges occurred were 1) leadership support and team building, 2) communication, 3) work environment culture, 4) language barriers, 5) infrastructure and technology, and 6) sustainability. Obstacles in these 6 areas delayed reaching major milestones of the study. Different strategies were deployed to overcome these barriers: engaging leadership for support, using native-speaking clinicians during training sessions, using various communication platforms, providing personal computers to local hospitals, making in-person site visits, offering flexible training time, and supporting local centers’ grant applications. Centers that enrolled during the control phase, compared with those that enrolled earlier, had significantly shorter times and less variation in times for each study stage and for the total study time.Conclusions: By using the DMAIC method, we identified the predominant 6 domains in which challenges occurred during implementation of the global CERTAIN study and developed targeted strategies to overcome the challenges and shorten the duration of the study. The DMAIC method would be useful in improving the efficiency of other large-scale multinational quality improvement projects.

Monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis (MBL) has been shown to be the precursor condition that precedes overt diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Whereas CLL is classified with greater than or equal to 5 × 109/L B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, MBL is a clonal expansion of B-cells below this threshold. MBL can be further divided into high- or low-count based on whether the B-cell count is above or below 0.5 × 109/L. Approximately 10% of the population over 40 is estimated to have MBL, increasing to >50% over the age of 90. While low-count MBL is unlikely to progress, 1-2% of high-count (HC) MBL individuals progress to CLL requiring therapy per year. It is debatable if all patients with detectable MBL should be classified as an entity requiring monitoring by a hematologist, especially for low-count MBL. In addition, the diagnosis of leukemia is distressing to patients; therefore, it is important to identify HC MBL patients that are more likely to progress to disease requiring treatment and thus should be monitored more closely. As the majority of MBL cases phenotypically resemble CLL, established prognostic markers including recurrent chromosomal aberrations, beta-2 microglobulin levels, and the mutational status of the Immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region locus (IGHV) have been shown to predict time to treatment (TTT) and overall survival (OS) in a large retrospective study of MBL1. CLL patients can also be divided into three distinct epigenetic subtypes that reflect progressive DNA methylation changes that occurs during B cell development. These 'epitypes' termed low-programmed (LP), intermediate-programmed (IP), and high-programmed (HP) independently predict clinical outcomes irrespective of disease stage and treatment2. LP-CLL patients follow a generally unfavorable clinical course compared to the more indolent HP-CLL patients, while IP CLL patients display an intermediate outcome. Here we sought to determine if epitype forecasts progression to CLL and eventual clinical outcome for individuals with MBL. We analyzed 66 individuals diagnosed with HC MBL at the Mayo Clinic with a median follow-up of 6.3 years. Developmental epitype was determined using our novel Methylation-iPLEX technique that interrogates 34 CpGs and assigns epitype using a random forest model2. Seventy-seven percent of the MBL cases were assigned to one of the three epitypes: 42.4% HP, 19.7% IP, and 15.2% LP. The residual 23% remained unclassified due to ambiguous (low confidence) epigenetic patterns or insufficient purity (Figure 1A). The overall proportion of HP and IP epitypes in MBL were significantly greater than proportions observed in CLL cohorts (P<0.01). Epitypes remained stable over time as 20/21 cases for which we obtained a high-confidence epitype classification at multiple time points remained unchanged. Epitype significantly predicted MBL individuals progressing to treatment (P=0.001) with LP individuals progressing in a median of 5.6 years (P=0.049 and P=0.0002 versus IP and HP, respectively); median was not reached in HP or IP (Figure 1B). Epitype also predicted overall survival (OS) in MBL (P=0.04), with LP individuals having a significantly shorter OS (median of 11 years versus not reached in IP and HP; P=0.056 and P=0.048 versus IP and HP, respectively). In this study we evaluated a cohort of 66 HC MBL cases and determined that classification using developmental DNA methylation epitypes can be employed in HC MBL to aid in risk stratification. HC MBL patients classified as LP are more likely to progress to requiring treatment and have a significantly reduced OS. The epigenetic classification may help clinicians decide how closely and frequently a HC MBL individual needs to be monitored. Figure 1: (A) Breakdown of the epigenetic subtype assigned to 66 HC MBL samples. (B) Kaplan-Meier analysis of time to treatment and (C) overall survival of MBL patients separated by epitype. 1. Parikh, S. A. et al. Outcomes of a large cohort of individuals with clinically ascertained high-count monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis. Haematologica103, e237-e240 (2018). 2. Giacopelli, B. et al. Developmental subtypes assessed by DNA methylation-iPLEX forecast the natural history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood blood.2019000490 (2019). doi:10.1182/blood.2019000490 Disclosures Byrd: Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Research Funding; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Travel Expenses, Speakers Bureau; Ohio State University: Patents & Royalties: OSU-2S; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Acerta: Research Funding. Shanafelt:Patent: Patents & Royalties: US14/292,075 on green tea extract epigallocatechin gallate in combination with chemotherapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Merck: Research Funding; Polyphenon E International: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Hospira: Research Funding; Glaxo-SmithKline: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Cephalon: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Parikh:Genentech: Honoraria; Janssen: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Acerta Pharma: Research Funding; Ascentage Pharma: Research Funding. Kay:Agios: Other: DSMB; MorphoSys: Other: Data Safety Monitoring Board; Infinity Pharmaceuticals: Other: DSMB; Celgene: Other: Data Safety Monitoring Board.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Glioblastoma has a poor prognosis, further complicated by postoperative seizures. We analyzed various factors associated with postoperative seizures in glioblastoma. METHODS Retrospective chart review of 932 patients who underwent craniotomy for glioblastoma (777=83.4% newly diagnosed; 155=16.6% recurrent) at our institution (2002–2014). Postoperative seizures were defined as those occurring within 14 days of surgery. RESULTS Our cohort consisted of 49.9% (n=465) males with mean age of 55.8 (range 9–91) years. In total, 69 (7.4%) had postoperative seizures with mean time from surgery to seizure of 3.1 days (IQR=1–4). Of 536 patients (57.5%) receiving seizure prophylaxis, those treated with Keppra were more likely to have postoperative seizures compared to those on Dilantin (10.9% vs 5.0%; p=0.022). Primary tumor patients were less likely to seize postoperatively compared to recurrent tumor patients (9.7% vs 19%; p=0.016). Patients presenting with seizure as chief complaint (12.1% vs 5.1%; p=0.025) and those with >20% of Chromosome 10 deletion were more likely to have seizures postoperatively (12.4% vs 6.1%; p=0.0029). Risk factors for postop seizures for newly-diagnosed patients included subtotal resection versus gross total resection (28.0% vs 7.1%; p=0.022). Risk factors for postop seizures for recurrent patients were >5% EGFR amplification (23.5% vs 5.8%; p=0.0021) and hyponatremia within mean 2.5 days (IQR 0–1) after surgery (20.8% vs 7.1%; p=0.035). CONCLUSION We identified several risk factors for postoperative seizures in glioblastoma patients, most of which were clinical (seizure as chief complaint, the antiepileptic chosen for prophylaxis, and extent of resection), while some were molecular and linked to genes whose products have demonstrated links to epileptogeneicity (Chromosome 10, EGFR). These findings may assist physicians in detecting glioblastoma patients that are at higher risk for postoperative seizures and in providing prophylaxis to reduce morbidity.

AbstractBackgroundThe Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and National Cancer Database (NCDB) show improved overall survival (OS) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) over the last 15 years. This analysis evaluated the validity of the largely community‐based Connect MM Registry as a national reference for MM.MethodsBaseline disease characteristics and survival in US newly diagnosed MM patients were examined using the Connect MM Registry as well as SEER and NCDB databases. Baseline characteristics predictive of longer survival in Connect MM were also identified.ResultsAs of February 2017, 3011 patients were enrolled in the Connect MM Registry; 2912 were treated. Median age at time of MM diagnosis and age range were numerically similar from 2010 to 2015 across all 3 registries; SEER had a higher representation of nonwhite racial groups than that in the other 2 registries. OS rates suggest proportionate improvement with year of diagnosis among the 3 registries. A Cox proportional hazards model suggests that younger age (<65 years) is associated with longer survival (vs ≥75; HR, 0.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.34‐0.46) in the Connect MM Registry. However, sex (HR, 0.91; P = .15) and race (black vs white; HR, 0.88; P = .21) were not associated with longer OS.ConclusionsData from the Connect MM Registry appear to be largely representative of national trends, comprehensive, and reliable representations of the national MM population. Baseline characteristics were comparable, and survival similarly improved over time among the 3 registries.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifierNCT01081028.

Abstract To enable modularization for network-based prediction, we conducted a review of known methods conducting the various subtasks corresponding to the creation of a drug–target prediction framework and associated benchmarking to determine the highest-performing approaches. Accordingly, our contributions are as follows: (i) from a network perspective, we benchmarked the association-mining performance of 32 distinct subnetwork permutations, arranging based on a comprehensive heterogeneous biomedical network derived from 12 repositories; (ii) from a methodological perspective, we identified the best prediction strategy based on a review of combinations of the components with off-the-shelf classification, inference methods and graph embedding methods. Our benchmarking strategy consisted of two series of experiments, totaling six distinct tasks from the two perspectives, to determine the best prediction. We demonstrated that the proposed method outperformed the existing network-based methods as well as how combinatorial networks and methodologies can influence the prediction. In addition, we conducted disease-specific prediction tasks for 20 distinct diseases and showed the reliability of the strategy in predicting 75 novel drug–target associations as shown by a validation utilizing DrugBank 5.1.0. In particular, we revealed a connection of the network topology with the biological explanations for predicting the diseases, ‘Asthma’ ‘Hypertension’, and ‘Dementia’. The results of our benchmarking produced knowledge on a network-based prediction framework with the modularization of the feature selection and association prediction, which can be easily adapted and extended to other feature sources or machine learning algorithms as well as a performed baseline to comprehensively evaluate the utility of incorporating varying data sources.

Abstract In CN-AML, mutations of specific genes have prognostic significance and are used for treatment guidance. However, these mutations are in general not mutually exclusive and CN-AML patients (pts) frequently harbor mutational combinations with unclear prognostic significance because of the concurrent presence of mutations with favorable (CEBPA, NPM1) and unfavorable (ASXL1, DNMT3A, IDH1, IDH2, FLT3-ITD, MLL-PTD, RUNX1, TET2, WT1) impact on outcome. Here, we report the frequency and clinical significance of isolated mutations and their combinations in 364 CN-AML pts. Younger [<60 years (y); n=163] and older (≥60 y; n=201) pts were intensively treated on frontline CALGB/Alliance protocols and, per protocol, did not undergo allogeneic stem cell transplantation in first complete remission (CR). Median follow-up for pts alive was 8.7 y. Pts were analyzed centrally for mutations in the ASXL1, CEBPA, DNMT3A, IDH1, IDH2, NPM1, RUNX1, TET2, and WT1 genes and the presence of FLT3-ITD, FLT3-TKD and MLL-PTD. We found that 99% of pts had ≥1 and 88% ≥2 of the 12 mutations. Specifically, 11% of pts had 1 gene mutated (n1), 40% had 2 (n2), 31% 3 (n3), and 18% harbored ≥4 mutated genes (n4). The distribution of the different n groups in younger and older pts was similar (Fig 1). The expected frequency of each mutated gene in every numerical (n) group was calculated as follows: [no. of pts with the mutated gene] x [total no. of mutations in the n group] / [total no. of mutations in all pts], and compared with the observed frequency. CEBPA, IDH2, NPM1, and RUNX1 mutations were overrepresented in the n1 and n2 groups (P<.001, P<.001, P=.002, P=.02, respectively) and thus likely represent “early” events in leukemogenesis. In contrast, DNMT3A, FLT3-ITD, and TET2 mutations were more frequent in the n3 and n4 groups (P=.008, P<.001, P=.02, respectively) suggesting that they are likely “late” events. The distribution among age groups and clinical impact of the “early” mutations (i.e., CEBPA, NPM1, IDH2) presenting as isolated mutations or in combination with other mutations were then investigated. Isolated RUNX1 mutations could not be evaluated due to small sample size. Younger pts were more likely to harbor an isolated “early” mutated gene than older pts (21% v 12%, P=.03). Specifically, isolated CEBPA and NPM1 mutations were more frequent in younger pts compared with the older (7% v 2%, P=.007; 7% v 3%, P=.07, respectively). In pts with isolated CEBPA mutations, these were always bi-allelic. Single “early” mutated genes varied in their impact on CR achievement (CEBPA: 100%, NPM1: 94%, IDH2: 67%), and overall survival (OS; 3-y OS: CEBPA: 87%, NPM1: 69%, IDH2: 22%). Acquisition of additional mutations adversely modified the prognostic significance of favorable “early” mutations in the CEBPA (Fig 2A) and NPM1 (Fig 2B) genes, but left unchanged the unfavorable effect of IDH2 mutations (Fig 2C). Two mutational combinations were exceptions to this: younger pts with both NPM1 and DNMT3A mutations (8 pts) had an excellent prognosis with 3-y OS of 100%; and older pts with concurrent NPM1 and IDH2 mutations (9 pts; all IDH2 mutations were in codon R140) had a high 3-y OS rate of 67%. We conclude that CEBPA and NPM1 mutations mainly define pts with favorable prognosis when they present as single markers, whereas mutated IDH2 predominantly associates with adverse outcome. The NPM1+DNMT3A and NPM1+IDH2 mutational patterns may define novel favorable molecular subtypes in younger and older CN-AML pts, respectively, but these results require corroboration in larger pt cohorts. Disclosures: Mrózek: AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEMATOLOGY: I will review abstracls submitted for presentation at the 55th ASH Annual Meeting in the 611 category Other. Eisfeld:AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEMATOLOGY: I will review abstracls submitted for presentation at the 55th ASH Annual Meeting in the 608 category Other.

Abstract Background Myelofibrosis (MF) is a clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) associated with a high degree of symptomatology, progressive cytopenias and potential to transform into acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Thrombocytopenia amongst MF patients is a proven negative prognostic indicator and predictor of transformation to AML. Ruxolitinib is an effective JAK inhibitor for MF symptoms and splenomegaly, but is not indicated in patients with severe thrombocytopenia. Phase III trials of pacritinib have shown alleviation of the MF symptom burden amongst patients with thrombocytopenia (ASCO 2015 Mesa et. al.). In this study, we assessed the symptom burden of MF patients with significant thrombocytopenia who were naïve to pacritinib. Methods Data was assessed from a prospectively collected international database of MF patients in which demographics, disease features, and MF symptoms utilizing the myeloproliferative neoplasm symptom assessment form (MPN-SAF; Scherber et al, 2011). The MPN-SAF includes the patient's perceptions of common MPN-related symptoms and overall quality of life (QOL) on a 0 (absent) to 10 (worst imaginable) scale. Total symptom score (TSS) was computed based on symptom items using the published scoring algorithm on a 0 (all reported symptoms absent) to 100 (all reported symptoms worst imaginable) scale. MF risk scores were calculated using the DIPSS criteria (Gangat, 2011). Thrombocytopenia was defined as a platelet count <100 x 10(9)/L, anemia was defined as hemoglobin<10 g/dL and leukopenia was defined as a white blood cell count <4.0 x 10(9)/L. Associations between the MPN-SAF individual symptoms were investigated using Pearson correlations. Results Demographic and Disease Features: A total of 418 patients with (n=89) and without (n=329) thrombocytopenia completed the MPN-SAF. Patients with thrombocytopenia were slightly younger (57.4 vs. 61.0, p=0.01) with longer disease durations (11.9 years vs. 8.8 years, p=0.0489) and had a higher prevalence of primary myelofibrosis (PMF; 82% vs. 66%, p=0.01). The presence of thrombocytopenia was associated with other laboratory abnormalities including anemia (60.7% vs. 25.3%, p<0.001) and leukopenia (34.8% vs. 52.3%, p<0.001), along with the need for red blood cell transfusions (34.8% vs. 14.6%, p<0.001). Patient cohorts did not differ by gender, DIPSS risk score, history of prior thrombosis or hemorrhage. In comparing patients with severe thrombocytopenia (<50 x 10(9)/L, n=43) to those with moderate thrombocytopenia (51-100 x 10(9)/L, n=46), severe thrombocytopenia patients were more likely to have anemia (74.4% vs. 47.8%, p=0.01) and require red blood cell transfusions (51.2% vs. 19.6%, p=0.002). Symptoms Scores for individual MPN-SAF items were assessed for each subgroup. Patients with thrombocytopenia had markedly higher total symptom scores than patients without thrombocytopenia (32.8 vs. 24.1, p<0.001). Individual scores were also higher for most items (fatigue, early satiety, inactivity, dizziness, sad mood, sexuality, cough, night sweats, itching, fever, weight loss, overall QOL)[Figure 1]. No significant differences in MPN SAF TSS or individual symptom scores were observed in comparing severe vs. moderate thrombocytopenia patients. Discussion MF patients with thrombocytopenia have distinctive clinical characteristics and face a significantly more severe symptom burden. Importantly, despite thrombocytopenia being a recognized risk factor for disease advancement, no correlations are noted between patient symptomatology and risk category. In addition, patients with severe thrombocytopenia do not differ symptomatically from patients with moderate thrombocytopenia despite having more severe anemia, leukopenia and transfusion requirements. This implies that the degree of symptomatology expressed by thrombocytopenic MF patients occurs independent from the exact platelet value. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that patients with thrombocytopenia will benefit from aggressive symptomatic control, potentially from targeted agents. Figure 1. MF Symptoms in Patients With and Without Thrombocytopenia Figure 1. MF Symptoms in Patients With and Without Thrombocytopenia Disclosures Kiladjian: Novartis: Consultancy; Novartis: Other: Travel grant; Research Funding paid to institution (Hôpital Saint-Louis et Université Paris Diderot); Incyte Corporation: Consultancy. Zweegman:Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Harrison:Shire: Speakers Bureau; CTI Biopharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Cervantes:Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi-Aventis: Consultancy; CTI-Baxter: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Barbui:Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Etienne:ARIAD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Congress Travel/Accomodations, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Roy:BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Vannucchi:Shire: Speakers Bureau; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Baxalta: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mesa:Novartis. Research- incyte, Gilead, cti, Genentech, promedior, NS Pharma: Consultancy.

Abstract Abstract 2721 Poster Board II-697 The role of the CD40 pathway in B-cell cancers is rather enigmatic due to having polar opposite roles in tumor biology. Stimulation of the CD40 receptor can reduce cell viability of NHL cell lines and xenograft tumor models, whereas, in sharp contrast, constitutive CD40 stimulation can actually promote proliferation of NHL cell lines, as well as drive lymphomagenesis and transformation of primary B-cells. Therefore, targeting the CD40 pathway has been challenging due to a knowledge gap in understanding the factors that may dictate a pro- or anti-tumor role. To address this directly, we employed a large panel of NHL cell lines and xenografts models to simulate a patient population and to define the molecular parameters to test in the context of clinical trials. Using baseline gene expression profiling, we found that the in vitro activity of an antibody that stimulates the CD40 pathway, Dacetuzumab (SGN-40), correlated strikingly with a transcriptional profile that was representative of an inactive CD40 pathway. Resistant cells, on the other hand, displayed a transcriptional profile indicative of an activated CD40 pathway. Consistent with these observations, constitutive phosphorylation of ERK, a node downstream of CD40 signaling, was present predominantly in cell lines that were resistant to Dacetuzumab. Fifteen genes, based on their association with in vitro activity and their biology as components of the CD40 network, were selected as a classifier from these pre-clinical data and independently tested in a panel of cell lines and xenografts models. Testing the selected gene classifier by qRT-PCR from baseline fixed tumor tissue of 39 patients treated with Dacetuzumab in phase I and II clinical trials revealed the ability to predict sensitivity in patients, as determined by tumor shrinkage >10%, with an overall accuracy of 80%. Consistent with the observed tumor shrinkage, the classifier positive, predicted to respond to Dacetuzumab, patients also exhibited a prolonged progression free survival (PFS) compared to classifier negative patients, predicted not to respond to Dacetuzumab (HR = 0.23, p = 0.001). Finally, using a novel microarray approach to genome-wide expression profiling on fixed tumor tissue revealed that CD40 pathway activation was indeed an important predictor of response. Overall, these data suggest that sensitivity to Dacetuzumab can be predicted by pre-determining the CD40 pathway activation status of tumors. Disclosures: Dornan: Genentech, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Burington:Genentech, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Yue:Genentech, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Shi:Genentech, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Advani:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding. Yu:Genentech, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Lau:Genentech, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Yu:Genentech, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. De Vos:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding. Forero-Torres:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding. Modrusan:Genentech, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Koeppen:Genentech, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Yang:Genentech, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Du:Genentech, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Elkins:Genentech, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Polson:Genentech, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Offringa:Genentech, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Whiting:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Ebens:Genentech, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership.

Abstract Abstract 1731 Background: Symptom burden in primary, post-ET and post-PV myelofibrosis (MF) is frequently severe and correlates with a poor prognosis. However, symptom manifestations are heterogeneous with variable presence of specific symptoms, splenomegaly and cytopenias. We sought to identify the spectrum and features of MF symptomatic phenotypes by cluster analysis of prospectively gathered information on MF symptoms and disease features. Methods: Data was collected among an international cohort of subjects with MF. Data included demographics, disease features and completion of the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) and Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form Total Symptom Score (MPN-SAF TSS) (Blood 2011; 118:401–408). Surveyed symptoms addressed key disease features on a 0 (absent) to 10 (worst-imaginable) scale. Cluster development was based on consideration of r-squared in hierarchical clustering using Ward's linkage. Final cluster assignment was based on the nonhierarchical k-means method. Comparisons between symptom clusters were based on ANOVA and chi-squared tests. Results: Subject Demographic and Disease Characteristics: Data from 329 prospectively enrolled persons with MF was collected (Chinese 102, French 54, German 19, Italian 22, Dutch 45, English 51, Spanish 29, Swedish 7) including 223 PMF, 67 post-ET MF and 39 post-PV MF patients. Participants were of typical age (mean 59) and gender (47% F). Among all participants, four natural symptom clusters were identified (Figure 1). Among clusters, disease features including leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and enlarged spleen varied significantly between clusters (P<0.05). Cluster 1: The “Fatigue Dominant with Few Lab Abnormalities” Profile (n=150 (46%; 69% PMF, 20% post-ET MF, 11% post-PV MF)). Cluster 1, the largest, is characterized by fatigue-dominant complaints in the setting of the lowest overall MPN-SAF TSS and highest proportion of males (59%). Individuals among this group have the lowest prevalence of laboratory abnormalities (65% total; anemia, 67%; thrombocytopenia, 20%) or clinical deficiencies including enlarged spleen (average 6.0 cm below costal margin), prior thrombosis (9%), prior hemorrhage (5%) or prior RBC-transfusions (20.4%). Interestingly, individuals in this group are most likely to have had prior splenectomy (5.8%). Cluster 2: The “Cognitive Complaints with Enlarged Spleen” Cluster (n=105 (32%; 65% PMF, 20% post-ET MF, 15% post-PV MF)). Cluster 2 is the 2nd largest cluster. Subjects have relatively few abnormal lab values (67% vs 65%–77%) but have high severity of fatigue, sexual difficulties, insomnia, inactivity and reduced QOL. These individuals have the largest spleen size (8.7cm below costal margin). Cluster 3: The “Nighttime and Cognitive Complaints” Group (n=53 (16%; 64% PMF, 25% post-ET MF, 11% post-PV MF)). Cluster 3 is the smallest cluster. Subjects have many cognitive and nighttime-related complaints including sexual difficulties, night sweats, insomnia, and concentration problems. Subjects with post-ET MF are predominant. This cluster also has the 2ndsmallest spleen size (7 cm) or history of prior thrombosis (9.6%), hemorrhage (7.8%) or requirement for transfusions (21.2%). Cluster 4: The “Severe Fatigue with Few End-organ Complaints” Cluster (n=21 (6%; 81% PMF, 14% post-ET MF, 5% post-PV MF)). Cluster 4 is the most symptomatic cohort with the highest proportion of subjects with PM. There is a lower frequency of end-organ complaints including abdominal pain, cough, and headaches. Symptoms including sexual difficulties, sad mood and insomnia are predominant. No subjects had prior splenectomy. Subjects also have the highest prevalence of prior thrombosis (29%), hemorrhage (14%), and transfusions (43%). Additionally, this cohort has the largest prevalence of lab abnormalities (77%) with thrombocytopenia (71%), leukopenia (41%) and anemia (41%). Conclusion: This analysis will allow us to examine a new framework for evaluating persons with MF using symptom profiles and is the 1st cluster evaluation of MF. Lab and physical findings contrast significantly between symptom clusters indicating these phenotypic symptoms likely result from etiological factors present in specific disease phenotypes. Future studies should evaluate whether there is a correlation between cluster profiles, prognosis and genotype. Disclosures: Kiladjian: Celgene: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Shire: Honoraria. Roy:Novartis, BMS: Speakers Bureau. Harrison:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; YM Bioscience: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi Aventis: Honoraria; Shire: Honoraria, Research Funding. Vannucchi:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Passamonti:Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mesa:Incyte: Research Funding; Lilly: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; NS Pharma: Research Funding; YM Bioscience: Research Funding.

Abstract Abstract 1739 BACKGROUND: Differences in symptom burden characteristics between persons of European and non-European descent with BCR-ABL negative MPNs including essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), and primary myelofibrosis (MF) are not studied. We reported significant clinical and laboratory differences between these populations age at diagnosis and survivals (Blood 2011;119: 2469–73) which could affect symptom burden. Given China represents one-fifth of the global population, we aimed to evaluate MPN symptom burden among a cohort of Chinese MPN patients. METHODS: Data were collected from Chinese with MPNs and their physicians and compared these to a previously collected data from a cohort of subjects of predominately European descent (N=1488). Subject data included MPN-SAF (Blood 2011;118:401-8) and BFI score (Cancer 1999;85: 1186–96), demographics, and disease-related features. Statistical methods included ANOVA, chi-squared tests, and multiple regressions. RESULTS: Demographic and Disease Characteristics: 397 Chinese subjects were prospectively enrolled with a distribution of 172 (43%) ET, 102 (26%) PV, and 123 (31%) MF (of which 103 [84%] were PMF, 14 [11%] were post-ET MF, and 6 [5%] were post-PV MF). Median age (56.0 y) was younger in Chinese than in the European-descent cohort (63.0 y, p<0.001) despite relative gender equality. Laboratory abnormalities including anemia (76%, p<0.001) and disease features including bleeding (1%, p<0.001), were more common and present at a significantly higher incidences in the European-descent cohort than amongst Chinese. Chinese Symptom Severity and Incidence by MPN type: When comparing across MPN types, symptoms of worst fatigue, early satiety, abdominal discomfort, inactivity, concentration, depression, cough, night sweats, weight loss, and total MPN-SAF TSS score varied significantly (p<0.05) with MF being most severe for each symptom. Chinese versus European-descent Symptom Severity: After adjusting for age and MPN type, Chinese subjects had significantly higher mean severity for fever, sexual difficulties, and quality of life (Table 1). Symptoms of worst fatigue, early satiety, abdominal discomfort and overall BFI score had a significantly higher mean severity in the European descent cohort. Chinese versus European-descent Symptom Incidence: The European-descent cohort had significantly greater incidence of worst fatigue (90% vs 81%, p<0.001), abdominal pain (47% vs 35%, p<0.001), early satiety (65% vs 57%, p=0.005), concentration problems (64% vs 58%, p=0.04), numbness (63% vs 56%, p=0.02), insomnia (68% vs 58%, p<0.001), and depression (62% vs 56%, p=0.02) compared to Chinese subjects. In contrast, symptoms of dizziness (63% vs 57%, p=0.04), sexual difficulties (72% vs 61%, p<0.001), and fever (23% vs. 18%, p=0.03) were significantly worse amongst Chinese. CONCLUSION: We found a significant divergence in severity and incidence of key symptom burdens including QOL, fever, sexuality, dizziness, abdominal pain, early satiety, and fatigue between Chinese and persons of European descent with MPNs. Biological and cultural factors likely account for these differences and should be considered when interpreting outcomes of clinical trials of diverse populations. When the target of therapy is reversing symptoms, the best strategy may require revision for different populations. Disclosures: Mesa: Incyte: Research Funding; Lilly: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; NS Pharma: Research Funding; YM Bioscience: Research Funding.