Citations

Abstract Introduction: ASP2215, a new tyrosine kinase inhibitor with activity against FMS-like receptor tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) and AXL receptor tyrosine kinase, is currently in development for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Methods: In an ongoing, first-in-human Phase 1/2, dose-escalation/dose-expansion study, the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile and pharmacodynamic (PD) effects of ASP2215 were evaluated under fasting conditions in patients with relapsed or refractory AML (R/R AML). Patients who met study criteria were assigned to treatment in the dose-escalation cohorts or were randomized to an open dose level in the dose-expansion cohorts. The dose-escalation cohort was a modified 3+3 with accelerated titration design that evaluated ascending oral doses of ASP2215 (20-450 mg), the dose-expansion cohort was a parallel, multi-dose-expansion cohort. Blood samples were collected and safety/tolerability assessments, including 12-lead electrocardiogram, were evaluated at protocol-specified time points for both cohorts. Effect of increasing ASP2215 exposure on inhibition of FLT3 phosphorylation, assessed via plasma inhibitory assay (PIA), was evaluated using an inhibitory PK/PD Emaxmodel. PK/PD analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between ASP2215 exposure and changes from baseline in QTcF intervals (ΔQTcF) and changes from baseline in clinical laboratory values (e.g., creatinine kinase [ΔCK], aspartate aminotransferase [ΔAST]). Results: Data from an interim analysis of the dose-escalation/dose-expansion study were available from 215 subjects (n=23 [dose escalation], n=192 [dose expansion]). The ASP2215 PK parameters across the dose range (20-450 mg), evaluated after both single- and multiple-dose administration, are presented (Table); statistical analyses suggest the ASP2215 PK parameters are dose proportional from 20-450 mg. Median time to maximal concentration (Tmax) was observed between 2 hr and 6 hr after single and repeated oral dosing. The estimated median half-life (t1/2) ranged from approximately 45 hr to 159 hr based on the accumulation ratio; ASP2215 accumulation was extensive after multiple dose administration as reflected by the accumulation index (Rac) ranging from approximately 3.2-10. A strong correlation was shown for ASP2215 exposure-related inhibition of FLT3 phosphorylation, with >90% FLT3 inhibition observed by Day 8 at ASP2215 doses of ≥80 mg. Although a positive slope was observed between ΔQTcF and ASP2215 exposure, only 5% of the study population were reported as having a maximum post-baseline QTcF interval >500 msec. A similar trend was observed with ASP2215 concentration-related increases in ΔCK and ΔAST; however, <10% of all subjects experienced a Grade ≥3 shift from baseline in CK or AST concentrations. Conclusions: ASP2215 has demonstrated exposure-related FLT3 inhibition and a pharmacokinetic profile that support once-daily oral administration for the treatment of AML in subjects who relapsed after, or are refractory to, induction or salvage treatment. Table. ASP2215 Pharmacokinetic Parameters after Multiple-Dose Administration 20 mg (n=4) 40 mg (n=3) 80 mg (n=3) 120 mg (n=3) 200 mg (n=2) 300 mg (n=3) 450 mg (n=3) Cmax(ng/mL) 45.6 (30.5, 137) 106 (76.7, 140) 396 (217, 516) 282 (248, 593) 1460 (886, 2040) 1260 (1040, 2280) 1150 (776, 1530) Tmax(hr) 4.01 (4.00, 6.00) 3.87 (0.500, 6.00) 4.33 (4.00, 4.42) 2.02 (1.95, 5.75) 6.03 (6.00, 6.07) 6.05 (4.08, 6.07) 5.00 (4.07, 5.93) AUC0-24(ng·h/mL) 926 (543, 2480) 2460 (1750, 2800) 6280 (4160, 10600) 6190 (4200, 11300) 31500 (16500, 46600) 28700 (22300, 43300) 11500 (8070, 14900) t1/2 (hr) 52.8 (39.7, 83.1) 83.7 (68.5, 243) 91.5 (60.9, 108) 45.3 (30.5, 63.3) 143 (99.7, 186) 159 (83.3, 187) 56.9 (51.5, 62.3) Rac 3.70 (2.92, 5.51) 5.55 (4.64, 15.1) 6.02 (4.18, 7.02) 3.25 (2.38, 4.33) 9.08 (6.51, 11.7) 10.1 (5.53, 11.7) 3.94 (3.62, 4.27) Data are presented as median (minimum, maximum). AUC0-24, area under the concentration-time curve between 0-24 hr; Cmax, maximal concentration; t1/2, elimination half-life; Tmax, time to maximal concentration; Rac, accumulation ratio. Disclosures Smith: Astellas: Research Funding; Plexxikon: Research Funding. Off Label Use: ASP2215 is an investigational product for the treatment of AML. Perl:Astellas US Pharma Inc.: Consultancy; Ambit/Daichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Arog Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Asana Biosciences: Consultancy; Actinium Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Altman:Novartis: Other: Advisory board; BMS: Other: Advisory board; Seattle Genetics: Other: Advisory board; Spectrum: Other: Advisory board; Ariad: Other: Advisory board; Astellas: Other: Advisory board; assistance with abstract preparation. Gill:Astellas Pharma US, Inc: Employment. Kadokura:Astellas Pharma Global Development: Employment, Other: Personal fees. Yuen:Astellas Pharma, Inc.: Employment. Fisniku:Astellas: Employment. Liu:Astellas: Employment. Nagase:Astellas: Employment. Sargent:Astellas Pharma US, Inc: Employment. Bahceci:Astellas Pharma Global Development: Employment.

Abstract Background: Event free survival (EFS) is often used as an endpoint in AML clinical trials. EFS-based endpoints are controversial due to the lack of a consistent definition for the timing of complete remission (CR), and consideration of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Here, we examined the impact of the timing of achievement of CR and censoring for HCT in the estimation of the EFS, and assessed its robustness as an endpoint in AML. Methods: All prospective trials since 2003 using anthracycline and cytarabine chemotherapy for newly diagnosed patients (pts) with AML conducted through the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, and whose primary endpoint data has been reported, were included (5 trials total). Trial 1 - randomized phase III study in older AML pts (n=504, median age 69, 61% male); trial 2 - single-arm phase II study in older FLT3-mutated AML pts (n=54, median age 67, 56% male); trial 3 - randomized phase III study in younger AML pts (n=546, median age 48, 55% male); trial 4 - randomized phase III study in younger FLT3-mutated AML pts (n=717, median age 48, 45% male); and trial 5 - single arm phase II study in core-binding factor AML pts with no restriction on age (n=61, median age 51, 51% male). Induction failure was defined as one of: no CR by 60 days (Definition 1), no CR by the end of all protocol induction courses (Definition 2), or no CR by the end of all protocol treatment (Definition 3). CR was defined as <5% blasts in a cellular marrow with recovery of >1000 neutrophils/ul (>1500 neutrophils/ul for trial 1), >100,000 platelets/ul, and no red cell transfusion requirement. EFS was defined as the time from randomization / registration to the first evidence of induction failure using each of the 3 methods above, relapse, or death from any cause. Patients last known to be alive without relapse were censored at the date of last contact. Including the 3 induction failure definitions and consideration of censoring or no censoring for HCT, the Kaplan Meier estimates of EFS were computed for the six different definitions of EFS. Results: The number of deaths was respectively 464, 38, 307, 357, and 13 across the 5 trials, with a median follow-up of 99.7, 28.2, 60.1, 58.2, and 33.5 months on the alive patients, respectively. Not considering HCT, in trial 1, the median EFS ranged from 2.0 to 4.3 months (115% difference); in trial 2, the median EFS ranged from 6.9 to 8.3 months (20% difference); in trial 3, the median EFS ranged from 9.8 to11.2 months (14% difference); and in trial 4, the median EFS ranged from 5.5 to 9.7 months (76% difference). The median EFS was not achieved in trial 5; however the 1-year EFS estimates ranged from 78 to 83% (6% difference). Consistently across all trials, as expected, the EFS estimate using the 60-day induction failure yielded the shortest estimates, whereas the end-of-treatment induction failure yielded the longest estimates. Results were similar both with and without censoring at the time of HCT as the event of interest occurred prior to transplantation in most cases. Conclusions: Although relapse and death are firm endpoints, the determination of failure to achieve CR is not consistent across studies. While there is minimal impact of censoring at HCT on EFS estimates, the median EFS estimates differed considerably based on the timing of CR used to define induction failure, with the magnitude of difference being large enough in most cases (observed range: 14% to >100%) to lead to incorrect conclusions about efficacy in a single arm trial if the trial definition was not consistent with the definition used for the historical control. The timing of CR should be carefully examined in the historical control data used to guide the design of the next trial. Table. Table. Disclosures Uy: Glycomimetics: Consultancy; Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy. Stone:Celator: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Jansen: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; ONO: Consultancy; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Sunesis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Xenetic Biosciences: Consultancy.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Recurrent somatic mutations in the metabolic enzymes isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1/2) confer gain-of-function activity in cancer cells, resulting in accumulation of the oncometabolite, D-2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG). High levels of 2-HG result in epigenetic changes and impaired cellular differentiation. IDH mutations have been identified in multiple solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Approximately 6-10% and 9-13% of adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) carry mutations in IDH1 (mIDH1) or IDH2 (mIDH2), respectively. AG-120 is a first-in-class, oral, potent, reversible, selective inhibitor of the IDH1 mutant enzyme under evaluation in multiple ongoing single agent and combination clinical trials [NCT02074839, NCT02073994, NCT02632708, NCT02677922]. This is the first report of IDH1 mutation clearance assessed by variant allele frequency (VAF) analysis using next-generation sequencing (NGS) in patients treated on the dose escalation portion of the first-in-human phase 1 study [NCT02074839]. METHODS Patients with advanced mIDH1-positive hematologic malignancies received AG-120 as a single agent orally once daily (QD) or twice daily (BID) continuously in 28-day cycles. Primary objectives were determination of safety, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and selection of a dose schedule for expansion cohorts and future studies. Secondary objectives included clinical activity assessed by investigators using modified 2003 International Working Group Criteria in AML. Determination of mIDH1 VAF was performed using the FoundationOne® Heme test on mononuclear cells from the bone marrow or peripheral blood at screening and subsequent time points on study. This NGS assay reports IDH1 mutations for samples with VAF ≥1%, with median coverage 500X. Patients with IDH1 mutational clearance (IDH1-MC) were defined as having mIDH1 at baseline and at least one on-study sample with no reported mIDH1. RESULTS Seventy-eight patients were treated in the dose escalation portion, which is now closed to enrollment. As of the data cut-off of May 12, 2016, the median duration on treatment was 3.2 months and 9 (11.5%) patients remain on treatment, with an additional 8 (10.3%) patients transitioned to stem cell transplant. Doses ranged from 300-1200 mg QD with 1 cohort at 100 mg BID. Though the MTD was not reached, the recommended phase 2 dose was determined to be 500 mg QD. The majority of adverse events (AEs) were grade 1 and 2, the most common (≥30%) being diarrhea, fatigue, and nausea; the most common grade ≥3 AEs (≥15%) were febrile neutropenia, anemia, leukocytosis and pneumonia. The most common serious AEs were febrile neutropenia (16.7%) and pneumonia (12.8%). The overall response rate (ORR) was 38.5% (n=30), with 17.9% (n=14) achieving a complete remission (CR). Longitudinal mIDH1 VAF data were available for 51 patients; of these, 22% (n=11) achieved a CR. IDH1-MC was observed in 27.3% (3/11) patients who achieved CR (Figure 1). In contrast, only 1/40 patients who did not achieve CR experienced IDH1-MC. This occurred in a patient with an initially low mIDH1 VAF who had clinical progression despite IDH1-MC (Figure 1, bottom right). In all 3 patients with CR who achieved IDH1-MC, an initial increase in mIDH1 VAF, or early peak, was observed prior to IDH1-MC, suggesting that early clonal expansion might have occurred as part of the mechanism of action of AG-120. CONCLUSION This is the first demonstration that treatment with single agent AG-120 can result in mIDH1 clearance as determined by NGS. Further analysis of the mutational profiles is planned. AG-120, a potent, selective, oral inhibitor of mIDH1 continues to demonstrate a well-tolerated safety profile in patients with advanced hematologic malignancies, and induced objective single-agent durable responses. The data continue to support the efficacy and safety of single agent AG-120 and provide evidence that the underlying biology of the disease is altered by treatment. Figure 1. VAF analysis using FoundationOne® Heme NGS assay in 4 AML patients with IDH1-MC treated with AG-120 Figure subscript: Y-axis is mIDH1 VAF, x-axis is days on treatment. Text indicates investigator-assessed clinical response. CR, complete remission; CRi, CR with incomplete neutrophil recovery; CRp, CR with incomplete platelet recovery; R/R, relapsed/refractory; SD, stable disease; PD, progressive disease; *post-transplant sample Figure 1. VAF analysis using FoundationOne® Heme NGS assay in 4 AML patients with IDH1-MC treated with AG-120. / Figure subscript: Y-axis is mIDH1 VAF, x-axis is days on treatment. Text indicates investigator-assessed clinical response. CR, complete remission; CRi, CR with incomplete neutrophil recovery; CRp, CR with incomplete platelet recovery; R/R, relapsed/refractory; SD, stable disease; PD, progressive disease; *post-transplant sample Disclosures DiNardo: Daiichi Sankyo: Other: advisory board, Research Funding; Novartis: Other: advisory board, Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Agios: Other: advisory board, Research Funding. de Botton:Novartis: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy; Pierre Fabre: Consultancy. Stein:Agios: Other: advisory board; Celgene: Other: advisory board; Novartis: Other: advisory board. Roboz:Cellectis: Research Funding; Agios, Amgen, Amphivena, Astex, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celator, Celgene, Genoptix, Janssen, Juno, MEI Pharma, MedImmune, Novartis, Onconova, Pfizer, Roche/Genentech, Sunesis, Teva: Consultancy. Pollyea:Alexion: Other: advisory board; Pfizer: Other: advisory board, Research Funding; Ariad: Other: advisory board; Glycomimetics: Other: DSMB member; Celgene: Other: advisory board, Research Funding. Fathi:Bexalata: Other: Advisory Board participation; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Other: Advisory Board participation; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Other: Advisory Board participation, Research Funding; Merck: Other: Advisory Board participation; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding. Altman:Syros: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Flinn:Janssen: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Research Funding; Gilead Sciences: Research Funding; ARIAD: Research Funding; RainTree Oncology Services: Equity Ownership. Foran:novartis: Honoraria; Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding; karyopharm: Honoraria; medscape: Honoraria; pfizer: Honoraria; boehringer ingelheim: Research Funding; agios: Research Funding; Cellerant: Research Funding. Pigneux:Sunesis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria. Kantarjian:ARIAD: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Pfizer Inc: Research Funding; Delta-Fly Pharma: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Liu:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Attar:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Sacolick:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Yen:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hurov:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Choe:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wu:Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Stone:Amgen: Consultancy; Sunesis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios: Consultancy; Celator: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Jansen: Consultancy; ONO: Consultancy; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Xenetic Biosciences: Consultancy.

Abstract Sorafenib is an oral multikinase inhibitor that blocks the autophosphorylation and activation of a number of kinases including the FLT3 tyrosine kinase with an internal tandem duplication mutation (FLT3-ITD). Sorafenib has activity against AML with FLT3-ITD mutations as a single agent in the setting of post-transplant relapse and in combination with chemotherapy for newly diagnosed AML. Historical Cancer and Leukemia Group B results using standard chemotherapy for older patients (pts) with FLT3-ITD have demonstrated a complete remission (CR) rate of 67%, median survival of 0.8 yrs, and 1-yr overall survival (OS) of 30% (Whitman et al., Blood 2010). More recently, sorafenib was demonstrated to significantly prolong event-free (EFS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of younger adults irrespective of FLT3 mutation status (Rollig, et al., ASH 2014). We hypothesized that the addition of sorafenib to induction and post-remission therapy would improve the overall survival of older pts with FLT3-mutated AML. The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology conducted a multicenter, single-arm phase 2 study in pts ≥ 60 years old with AML and either a FLT3-ITD or a point mutation in the activation loop of the kinase domain (FLT3-TKD). Subjects with PML-RARA, core-binding factor AML or who had received prior treatment for AML were excluded. Induction chemotherapy consisted of cytarabine 100 mg/m2 CIVI on days 1-7 and daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 IV on days 1-3 (7+3) with oral sorafenib 400 mg bid on days 1-7. Those not achieving a hypoplastic bone marrow on day 14 were to receive a second cycle of cytarabine and daunorubicin (5+2) plus sorafenib 400 mg bid on days 1-7. Post-remission therapy consisted of intermediate-dose cytarabine 2 g/m2 on days 1-5 with sorafenib 400 mg bid on days 1-28 for 2 cycles followed by maintenance sorafenib 400 mg bid for 12 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint of the study was 1-yr OS. With a sample size of 39 FLT3-ITD patients and type I error rate of 10%, this design provided 90% power to distinguish between true 1-yr OS rate of 50% compared to our historical rate of 30% for the FLT3-ITD pts. A total of 474 pts were screened for FLT3 mutations though a central laboratory. FLT3 mutations were identified in 83 subjects (17.5%). Fifty-four pts with a median age of 67 years (60.3-82.7) were enrolled, including 39 with FLT3-ITD (71%) and 15 with FLT3-TKD (29%). All pts have now completed protocol treatment. Of the 54 pts, 37 achieved a CR or CRi (69%). The 30-day induction mortality was 9% with no additional deaths occurring between days 30-60. With a median follow up of 28.3 months, the observed 1-yr OS (95% CI) was 62% (45-78) for the FLT3-ITD pts and 71% (42-92) for the FLT3-TKD pts. The median DFS and OS was 12.5 mo (7.7-17.4) and 15.0 mo (10.4-20.1) respectively in the FLT3-ITD group and 9.0 (1.6-NA) and 16.2 mo (5.0-NA) for the FLT3-TKD group. For all subjects, the 2-yr OS was 28% (17-43) and DFS was 27% (15-46). There were no treatment-related deaths during consolidation or maintenance. For pts receiving sorafenib maintenance, the most commonly reported related adverse events were Grade 1 diarrhea, fatigue, transaminitis, and Grade 2 palmar-plantar erythodyesthesia. The mean plasma inhibitory activity (PIA) for FLT3 was 94% (n=25) on day 6 of induction, 93% (n=15) on day 15 of consolidation and 99.2% (n=6) on day 15 of maintenance demonstrating robust inhibition of FLT3 in vivo. This study represents the first prospective clinical trial for older adults with AML targeting a specific mutational profile within the US cooperative group setting. The study met the primary endpoint demonstrating that the addition of sorafenib to chemotherapy for FLT3-ITD AML improves the survival of older adults more than doubling the 1-yr OS compared to historical controls (62% vs 30%, p <0.0001). Disclosures Uy: Novartis: Research Funding. Off Label Use: Sorafenib for AML. DeAngelo:Novartis: Consultancy; Ariad: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy. Stock:Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Byrd:Acerta Pharma BV: Research Funding. Stone:Celator: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Roche/Genetech: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; AROG: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; Sunesis: Consultancy, Other: DSMB for clinical trial; Novartis: Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy. Larson:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Ariad: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Azacitidine and decitabine are indicated for the first line treatment of intermediate and high risk MDS. About 40% to 47% of patients respond to 1st line hypomethylating agents. The median duration of response is 13 months. There are no effective therapies for patients who fail to respond to or progress on hypomethylating agents. A phase II trial of high dose lenalidomide (50mg/day) induction therapy followed by low dose (10mg/day) maintenance therapy in elderly patients with AML had demonstrated a high CR/CRi of 30%. CR was restricted to patients with presenting WBC counts <10000/µL, peripheral blast counts <1000/ µL and < 30%, many of whom could have been classified as having MDS rather than AML by FAB criteria. With the rationale that MDS and AML represent a continuum of disease, and the promising results in AML we aimed to assess the clinical activity of high dose lenalidomide by conducting a clinical trial of high dose Lenalidomide induction followed by low dose maintenance in patients with hypomethylating agent refractory MDS. METHODS: We conducted an open label, single arm, multi-center phase II trial of high dose lenalidomide induction (50mg/day for two 28 day cycles) followed by low dose lenalidomide maintenance therapy (10mg/day for 12 cycles) for patients with MDS (as defined by FAB criteria) refractory to hypomethylating agents. Patients who had failed to show CR, PR or HI (hematological improvement) after at least 6 cycles of azacytidine or decitabine or who had progressed on treatment were considered eligible. Patients were enrolled in a Simon's optimal two-stage design with an intended sample size of 43. The primary endpoint was proportion of confirmed responses (CR, PR or HI), as defined by international working group criteria, during the 14 cycles of treatment. RESULTS: 24 patients were enrolled in the first stage of the study. 16 patients completed at least one cycle of therapy and were considered evaluable for efficacy. Efficacy: Characteristics and outcomes of patients are detailed in Table 1. There were no complete or partial remissions. Marrow complete remission (MCR) was seen in 8/16 patients (50%). One of the 8 patients with a MCR had 5q- karyotype; 3/8 had trisomy 8 and one patient had a complex karyotype with monosomy 7. Median duration of MCR was 70 days (range 28-336 days). MCR lasted beyond the high dose induction period in 2 patients, one of whom had a 5q interstitial deletion (112 days) and one patient with trisomy 8 (336 days). Hematologic improvement (HI) was seen in 2/16 patients (12.5%) (Refer to table below). Toxicity: ≥grade 3 toxicities included pneumonia (12/24, 50%), sepsis (4/24, 17%), febrile neutropenia (8/24, 33%), rash (2/24, 8%), thromboembolic event (1/24), MI (1/24), new cancer -mammary analogue salivary carcinoma- (1/24). TABLE 1 Pt No: Age IPSS Prior cycles of 5-aza/ decitabine Cycles of Lenalidomide Reason off trial Best Response 1 69 1.5 2 4 Pancytopenia MCR 2 78 3 8 1 Death-Unrelated SD 3 73 2 7 1 Consent withdrawn SD 4 87 2 14 12 Progression MCR, HI-p&n 6 72 2 13 2 Thrombocytopenia MCR 7 69 2 13 1 PE SD 8 75 1 7 2 New Cancer MCR 9 74 1 4 3 Progression SD 10 75 2 0 2 Progression SD 11 72 1 13 3 Thrombocytopenia MCR 12 75 3 6 1 Progression PD 13 78 1 9 3 Gr3 Fatigue MCR 14 70 0 19 2 Progression MCR, HI-p 15 72 1 23 1 Progression PD 16 73 1 8 2 Gr 3 fatigue MCR CONCLUSIONS: High dose lenalidomide followed by standard dose maintenance in hypomethylating agent refractory MDS resulted in a marrow complete remission rate of 50% and hematological improvement rate of 12.5%. Future protocols should explore whether an extended schedule of intermittent dosing of high dose lenalidomide would allow for improved efficacy with acceptable toxicity. Disclosures Off Label Use: Lenalidomide is used in this study in patients with MDS both with and without deletion 5q.Use in patients without deletion 5q is off label use.. Tibes:Tetralogic Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Stockerl-Goldstein:Celgene: Speakers Bureau. Jacoby:Norvo Nordisk: Consultancy. Cashen:Celgene: Speakers Bureau. Vij:Onyx: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria; Jannsen: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Millennium: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Abstract Patients with melanoma have a high risk of developing brain metastasis, which is associated with a dismal prognosis. During early stages of metastasis development, the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is likely intact, which inhibits sufficient drug delivery into the metastatic lesions. We investigated the ability of the peptide, K16ApoE, to permeabilize the BBB for improved treatment with targeted therapies preclinically. Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) was carried out on NOD/SCID mice to study the therapeutic window of peptide-mediated BBB permeabilization. Further, both in vivo and in vitro assays were used to determine K16ApoE toxicity and to obtain mechanistic insight into its action on the BBB. The therapeutic impact of K16ApoE on metastases was evaluated combined with the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway inhibitor dabrafenib, targeting BRAF mutated melanoma cells, which is otherwise known not to cross the intact BBB. Our results from the DCE-MRI experiments showed effective K16ApoE-mediated BBB permeabilization lasting for up to 1 hour. Mechanistic studies showed a dose-dependent effect of K16ApoE caused by induction of endocytosis. At concentrations above IC50, the peptide additionally showed nonspecific disturbances on plasma membranes. Combined treatment with K16ApoE and dabrafenib reduced the brain metastatic burden in mice and increased animal survival, and PET/CT showed that the peptide also facilitated the delivery of compounds with molecular weights as large as 150 kDa into the brain. To conclude, we demonstrate a transient permeabilization of the BBB, caused by K16ApoE, that facilitates enhanced drug delivery into the brain. This improves the efficacy of drugs that otherwise do not cross the intact BBB.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Melanoma patients have a high risk of developing brain metastases, which is associated with a poor prognosis. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) inhibits sufficient drug delivery into metastatic lesions. We investigated the ability of a synthetic peptide (K16ApoE) to permeabilize the BBB for more effective drug treatment. METHODS: DCE-MRI was performed to study the therapeutic window of BBB opening facilitated by K16ApoE. In vivoand in vitroassays were used to determine K16ApoE toxicity and also to obtain mechanistic insight into its action on the BBB. The therapeutic impact of K16ApoE on melanoma metastases was determined together with dabrafenib, which is otherwise known not to cross an intact BBB. RESULTS: DCE-MRI exhibited an effective K16ApoE-mediated BBB opening for up to 1h. Mechanistic studies displayed a dose-dependent effect of K16ApoE caused by induction of endocytosis. At higher concentrations, the peptide also showed unspecific disturbances on plasma membranes. Combined treatment with K16ApoE and dabrafenib reduced the brain metastatic burden in mice compared to dabrafenib. We also showed by PET/CT that the peptide facilitated the delivery of compounds up to 150 kDa into the brain. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate a transient opening of the BBB, caused by K16ApoE, that facilitates improved drug-delivery into the brain. This improves the efficacy of drugs that otherwise do not cross the intact BBB.

Background Preliminary clinical studies on the safety and efficacy of the pipeline embolization device (PED) for the treatment of small/medium aneurysms have demonstrated high occlusion rates with low complications. Objective To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the PED for treatment of wide necked small and medium intracranial aneurysms. Methods PREMIER is a prospective, multicenter, single arm trial. Patients were treated with the PED for unruptured wide necked aneurysms, measuring ≤12 mm along the internal carotid artery or vertebral artery, between July 2014 and November 2015. At 1 year post-procedure, the primary effectiveness endpoint was complete occlusion (Raymond grade 1) without major parent vessel stenosis (≤50%) or retreatment, and the primary safety endpoint was major stroke in the territory supplied by the treated artery or neurologic death. Results A total of 141 patients were treated with PEDs (mean age 54.6±11.3 years, 87.9% (124/141) women). Mean aneurysm size was 5.0±1.92 mm, and 84.4% (119/141) measured <7 mm. PED placement was successful in 99.3% (140/141) of patients. Mean number of PEDs implanted per patient was 1.1±0.26; a single PED was used in 92.9% (131/141) of patients. At 1 year, 97.9% (138/141) of patients underwent follow-up angiography with 76.8% (106/138) of patients having met the study’s primary effectiveness endpoint. The combined major morbidity and mortality rate was 2.1% (3/140). Conclusions Treatment of wide necked small/medium aneurysms with the PED results in high rates of complete occlusion without significant parent vessel stenosis and low rates of permanent neurologic complications. Trial registration NCT02186561 .

Objective Discrepancies in ELISA measurements of human corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) using detection monoclonal antibodies that recognize an epitope (9G12) within its reactive center loop (RCL), versus an epitope (12G2) in a different location, have suggested that CBG with a proteolytically cleaved RCL exists in blood samples. We have previously been unable to verify this biochemically, and sought to determine if N -glycosylation differences account for discrepancies in ELISA measurements of CBG. Methods and subjects Molecular biological, biochemical and glycopeptide analyses were used to examine how N -glycosylation at specific sites, including at N347 within the RCL, affect CBG ELISA or steroid-binding capacity assay (BCA) measurements. Plasma from patients with congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) was also examined in these assays as examples of N -glycosylation defects. Results We demonstrate that an N -glycan at N347 within the CBG RCL limits the 9G12 antibody from recognizing its epitope, whereas the 12G2 antibody reactivity is unaffected, thereby contributing to discrepancies in ELISA measurements using these two antibodies. Qualitative differences in N -glycosylation at N238 also negatively affect the steroid-binding of CBG in the absence of an N -glycan at N347 caused by a T349A substitution. Desialylation increased both ELISA measurements relative to BCA values. Similarly, plasma CBG levels in both ELISAs were much higher than BCA values in several CDG patients. Conclusions Plasma CBG measurements are influenced by variations in N -glycosylation. This is important given the increasing number of CDG defects identified recently and because N -glycosylation abnormalities are common in patients with metabolic and liver diseases.