Citations

SummaryThe definition of the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) subtype ‘MDS with isolated del(5q)’ was expanded to include cases with one additional non‐chromosome 7 based cytogenetic abnormality in the 2016 revised World Health Organization classification. This study applied the revised definition to a large primary MDS cohort, and evaluated the prognostic impact of the additional cytogenetic abnormality. Seventy‐two of 1067 patients (7%) met the ‘MDS with isolated del(5q)’ criteria, 11 (1%) of whom had an additional cytogenetic abnormality. There was no survival difference between patients in whom del(5q) occurred alone, compared to those with one additional cytogenetic abnormality (P = 0·52).

Akt is a downstream target of B cell receptor signaling and is a central regulator of CLL cell survival. We aim to investigate the safety and efficacy of the Akt inhibitor MK‐2206 in combination with bendamustine and rituximab (BR) in relapsed and/or refractory CLL in a phase I/II study. A standard phase I design was used with cohorts of three plus three patients to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of MK‐2206 in combination with BR in relapsed CLL. Single‐agent MK‐2206 (weekly dosed) was administered one‐week in advance before BR on cycle 1 and subsequently was given with BR at the same time for cycle 2‐6. Phase II employed the MTD of MK‐2206 with BR to evaluate safety and efficacy of this study combination. Thirteen relapsed/refractory CLL were treated for maximal 6‐cycle of therapy. The maximum tolerated dose of MK‐2206 was 90 mg by mouth once weekly. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (46%), febrile neutropenia (23%), rash (15%), diarrhea (15%), and thrombocytopenia (15%). Overall response rate was 92% with a median progression free survival and treatment free survival of 16 and 24 months, respectively. Five patients (38%) achieved complete remission or complete remission with incomplete count recovery, two of whom were MRD negative. The efficacy and tolerability of this combination indicates that Akt inhibition combined with chemoimmunotherapy is a promising novel treatment combination in CLL and deserves further prospective clinical trial.

SummaryCD49d is a surface integrin that is expressed on chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cells, and strongly correlates with more aggressive disease. Given its association with cell‐cell adhesion and leucocyte trafficking, we hypothesized that patients with high CD49d expression would experience a clinical course dominated by lymphadenopathy. CD49d expression was measured by flow cytometry and considered positive if expressed by ≥30% of CLL cells. The study included 797 newly diagnosed CLL/small lymphocytic leukaemia patients; 279 (35%) were CD49d positive. CD49d‐positive patients were more likely to present with lymphadenopathy (P < 0·001); a finding that persisted after adjusting for fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and IGHV mutation status [odds ratio (OR) 2·51; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·64–3·83; P < 0·001]. Among CLL Rai 0 patients, CD49d positivity was associated with shorter time to development of lymphadenopathy (3·2 years vs not reached, P < 0·01). This association was maintained after adjusting for either FISH [hazard ratio (HR) 2·18; 95% CI 1·25–3·81; P = 0·006) or IGHV status (HR 2·02; 95% CI 1·11–3·69; P = 0·02) individually, but was attenuated when adjusting by both (HR 1·72; 95% CI 0·88–3·38; P = 0·11).These data demonstrate that CD49d‐positive CLL patients experience a disease course dominated by lymphadenopathy. These findings could have implications for therapy selection and disease monitoring.

AbstractMonocytosis (absolute monocyte count, AMC ≥ 1 × 109/L) might accompany a spectrum of myeloid neoplasms, other than chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). In the current study, we examined the prevalence, laboratory and molecular correlates, and prognostic relevance of monocytosis in polycythemia vera (PV). Among 267 consecutive patients with World Health Organization (WHO)‐defined PV, 55 (21%) patients displayed an AMC of ≥1 × 109/L and 18 (7%) an AMC of ≥1.5 × 109/L. In general, PV patients with monocytosis were significantly older and displayed higher frequencies of leukocytosis (81% vs. 50% at AMC ≥1 × 109/L) and TET2/SRSF2 mutations (57%/29% vs. 19%/1% at AMC ≥ 1.5 × 109/L). In univariate analysis, AMC ≥1.5 × 109/L adversely affected overall (OS; P = .004; HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.4‐4.8) and myelofibrosis‐free (MFFS; P = .02; HR 4.4, 95% CI 1.3‐15.1) survival; during multivariable analysis, significance was borderline sustained for OS (P = .05) and MFFS (P = .06). Other independent risk factors for OS included unfavorable karyotype (P = .02, HR 3.39, 95% CI 1.17‐9.79), older age (P < .0001, HR 3.34 95% CI 1.97‐5.65), and leukocytosis ≥15 × 109/L (P = .004, HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.26‐3.29). In conclusion, in the current study, we encountered a higher than expected prevalence of monocytosis in patients with PV and the mutation profile and age distribution of PV patients with monocytosis is akin to those of patients with CMML and might partly contribute to their worse prognosis.

Abstract Breast cancer risks conferred by many germline missense variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, often referred to as variants of uncertain significance (VUS), have not been established. In this study, associations between 19 BRCA1 and 33 BRCA2 missense substitution variants and breast cancer risk were investigated through a breast cancer case–control study using genotyping data from 38 studies of predominantly European ancestry (41,890 cases and 41,607 controls) and nine studies of Asian ancestry (6,269 cases and 6,624 controls). The BRCA2 c.9104A&gt;C, p.Tyr3035Ser (OR = 2.52; P = 0.04), and BRCA1 c.5096G&gt;A, p.Arg1699Gln (OR = 4.29; P = 0.009) variant were associated with moderately increased risks of breast cancer among Europeans, whereas BRCA2 c.7522G&gt;A, p.Gly2508Ser (OR = 2.68; P = 0.004), and c.8187G&gt;T, p.Lys2729Asn (OR = 1.4; P = 0.004) were associated with moderate and low risks of breast cancer among Asians. Functional characterization of the BRCA2 variants using four quantitative assays showed reduced BRCA2 activity for p.Tyr3035Ser compared with wild-type. Overall, our results show how BRCA2 missense variants that influence protein function can confer clinically relevant, moderately increased risks of breast cancer, with potential implications for risk management guidelines in women with these specific variants. Cancer Res; 77(11); 2789–99. ©2017 AACR.

75 Background: We have previously shown that chronic baseline prostate inflammation in an otherwise benign biopsy was associated with lower risk of prostate cancer in repeat prostate biopsies and lower tumor volumes for those who are diagnosed with cancer. In the present study, we evaluated whether baseline acute or chronic prostate inflammation among men with initial negative biopsies for prostate cancer was associated with cancer grade at the 2-year repeat prostate biopsy. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 889 men 50-75 years-old with negative baseline prostate biopsy and positive 2-year repeat biopsy for prostate cancer in the REDUCE study. Acute and chronic prostate inflammation (coded as present or absent) and cancer grade were determined by central pathology. The association of inflammation in baseline biopsies with 2-year repeat biopsy cancer grade (low-grade: Gleason scores 2-6 vs. high-grade: Gleason scores 7-10) was evaluated with t test, chi-squared test and logistic regression controlling for age, race, body-mass index (BMI), digital rectal exam (DRE), prostate volume, baseline pre-study PSA and treatment (dutasteride or placebo). Results: Chronic, acute inflammation and both were detected in 533 (60%), 12 (1%) and 85 (10%) baseline biopsies, respectively. Presence of acute and chronic inflammations were significantly associated with each other (P < 0.001). Patients with chronic inflammation had significantly larger prostates (P < 0.001). Both types of inflammation were unrelated to race, BMI, PSA or DRE. At 2-year biopsy, a total of 621 (70%) tumors were low-grade and 268 (30%) tumors were high-grade. In both uni- and multivariable analyses, men with baseline chronic inflammation had significantly less high-grade tumors (univariable OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.47-0.87, P = 0.004; multivariable OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.50-0.93, P = 0.016) than those without baseline chronic inflammation. Baseline acute inflammation was not associated with tumor grade. Conclusions: Among men undergoing repeat prostate biopsy 2 years after a negative baseline biopsy who all had cancer on the follow-up biopsy, the presence baseline chronic inflammation was associated with lower prostate cancer grade.

35 Background: Studies suggest cancer patients frequently misunderstand information about cancer treatment. Doctors and nurses often give cancer patients written information such as internet-downloaded printouts about chemotherapy. We observed that cancer patients at Mayo Clinic often cannot recall cancer drug names and expected side effects, despite receiving written information. We investigated whether pocket cards [PC] could improve drug name and side effect recall compared to written information alone. Methods: We randomized 100 cancer patients starting chemotherapy to receive PC plus written information or written information alone. Each PC listed the drug name and 3-5 common drug side effects. Written information included a Mayo Clinic produced drug information sheet and printed information from the CareNotes System (Thomson Reuters), with each sheet listing a drug’s name and common side effects. Cancer patients were tested for drug names and side effects recalled at treatment start, again at 4-6 weeks, and again at 8-10 weeks. Results: Of 100 cancer patients randomized (50 to PC plus written information and 50 to written information alone), 66 completed the study. Demographics: median age 64 years (24-81 years); 41 male; 59 female. At 8-10 weeks, no significant difference between groups was observed for drug names recalled correctly (p = 0.79) or median side effects recalled (p = 0.34). Drug name recall declined at 8-10 weeks (29% named drug names correctly at treatment start versus 20% at 8-10 weeks). Median side effects recalled was unchanged at 8-10 weeks (p = 0.19). Conclusions: PC do not appear to improve cancer patients’ drug name recall better that written information alone, nor do PC increase recall of drug side effects. Patient recall of drug names decreases over time. Additional education provided several weeks after chemotherapy has begun may be warranted to reinforce patient knowledge of important treatment-related information.