Citations

Abstract Germline variants in DDX41 are the most frequent genetic predisposition to adult hematologic malignancies. The most common variants are truncating, implicating loss of function in the pathogenesis. However, non-truncating variants account for 30-40% of cases, and their impact on essential DDX41 functions remains unknown. We utilized a genetic complementation assay to assess the functionality of 10 recurrent germline non-truncating variants of DDX41. All variants restored viability to Ddx41 -deficient hematopoietic progenitor cells at exogenous expression levels. In contrast, the hotspot mutant p.R525H, which is somatically acquired at disease onset in >50% of patients, failed to restore viability. CRISPR-based modeling in cell lines and mice revealed heterogeneity: some variants were non-functional at endogenous expression levels whereas others maintained complete functionality, supporting normal cell proliferation and even lifelong hematopoiesis in a homozygous setting. Notably, co-expression of p.R525H with some variants caused impaired hematopoietic progenitor cell viability, indicating a dominant-negative effect of p.R525H. In contrast, other variants, all classified as variants of unknown significance, were unaffected by the presence of p.R525H. A screen of 100 disease-associated variants confirmed that many non-truncating germline variants are susceptible to p.R525H-mediated dominant-negative effects, whereas wild-type DDX41 is not. These findings indicate that DDX41 variant curation is complicated by variable effects on functionality and variant-specific interactions with somatically-acquired DDX41 mutations. The dominant-negative effect of p.R525H provides a mechanistic basis for the conclusion of recent patient cohort analyses that co-occurrence with a somatic hotspot mutation is a reliable indicator of DDX41-driven disease in carriers of non-truncating variants.

Background/objectives: To develop expert consensus on peripheral venous access devices (PVAD) and associated care practices, and to formulate guidance recommendations aimed at improving peripheral venous access and management, including the integration of vein visualization technology. This is particularly important for patient populations with peripheral venous depletion, who often present with compromised vasculature that complicates successful PVAD access and increases the risk of complications. Preserving vascular integrity in these patients is essential for maintaining treatment pathways and preventing long-term vascular damage. Methods: A multi-phase approach to consensus development was used consisting of the following: (1) a literature review, (2) a survey and consultation with a vascular access expert panel ( n = 9), and (3) a consultation meeting with patient and public representatives ( n = 2). Results: Survey results and consultation findings from the expert panel demonstrated consensus for 14 of 24 statements. Further analysis resulted in a total of four key problem statements on peripheral venous access and care, and 11 recommendations for future development. Following review by patient and public representatives, three additional recommendations were added, and three existing recommendations were refined. The final consensus statement reflects four problem statements with 14 recommendations. Conclusion: This expert consensus presents 14 evidence-informed statements designed to strengthen practice, improve patient safety, and enhance clinician confidence and competence. Central to these recommendations is the adoption of routine structured pre-insertion vessel assessment using vein visualization technology where appropriate to minimize vessel trauma, and promote more consistent, high-quality vascular access care.

Introduction Eczema and food allergy commonly emerge during infancy and are linked to changes in the gut microbiome, yet it remains unclear when microbiome differences associated with allergic disease first appear during development. Methods We analyzed age-stratified shotgun metagenomic data from 97 children aged 4–36 months, including physician-confirmed cases of eczema or food allergy and non-allergic controls, excluding recent antibiotic or probiotic exposure. Microbial taxa, functional pathways, and composite microbiome metrics were evaluated across three developmental stages: early infancy (4–6 months), mid-infancy (6–12 months), and toddlerhood (12–36 months). Results Differences between allergic and non-allergic children were minimal before 6 months of age but became more apparent during mid-infancy and persisted into toddlerhood. Allergic conditions were associated with reduced abundance of fiber-fermenting and butyrate-producing taxa, enrichment of facultative and inflammation-associated microbes, lower microbiome maturation scores, and shifts in metabolic and inflammatory functional capacity. Discussion These findings suggest that gut microbiome divergence associated with allergic disease becomes more apparent during mid-infancy, highlighting a developmentally relevant period for understanding early immune disruption. The results support further longitudinal and interventional studies aimed at clarifying whether earlier microbiome-targeted strategies may help modify progression along the atopic march.

TPS2103 Background: Treatment for newly diagnosed IDH-mutant astrocytoma, WHO grade 3, is based on the results of the CATNON study, demonstrating benefit of radiotherapy followed by 12 months of adjuvant temozolomide. While temozolomide and radiotherapy significantly improved survival, the prognosis for these patients remains limited and more effective therapies are required. This trial will evaluate the benefit of the addition of the IDH1 and IDH-2 inhibitor vorasidenib to adjuvant temozolomide versus placebo following standard radiotherapy to evaluate possible improvement in outcomes. Methods: Alliance A072301 (NCT07215910) is a multicenter, double-blinded phase 3 randomized study to determine if the addition of vorasidenib to adjuvant temozolomide significantly improves progression-free survival (PFS), based on blinded central review in patients with newly diagnosed, IDH-mutant astrocytoma, WHO grade 3. Key inclusion criteria include age ≥ 12 years old, histological confirmation of astrocytoma (absence of 1p/19q codeletion), WHO grade 3, presence of any IDH mutation, plan for radiation and chemotherapy and surgery within 6 months. The presence of CDKN2A/B homozygous deletion, spinal or leptomeningeal disease, as well as prior chemotherapy, cranial irradiation or IDH inhibitor therapy, is exclusionary. 408 patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive vorasidenib 40 mg or placebo daily with 12 cycles of temozolomide following radiotherapy and then continued as monotherapy until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Stratification factors include age (< 40 years old vs ≥ 40 years old) and residual disease (< 2 cm vs ≥ 2 cm). Tumor assessments with MRI will be every three months for the first two years, every four months for the next two years and then every six months thereafter as per blinded independent central review using the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) 2.0 criteria. Key secondary endpoints include PFS by local review, time to next treatment, safety and tolerability, quality of life measures. Exploratory measures will include seizure frequency. The trial will have 85% power to detect a hazard ratio of 0.625 with one-sided type I error rate of 0.025. Enrollment for the trial commenced February 2026. Support: U10CA180821, U10CA180882, U24CA196171. https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org.

e19504 Background: Initiation of bsAbs requires SUD with close monitoring, typically in IP settings, to mitigate early toxicities. As bsAb use expands, it is crucial to understand the financial viability for administering bsAbs, particularly non–PPS-exempt hospitals paid via a capitated, DRG-based method where costs may exceed payout. We compared net costs and payments for Medicare pts initiating bsAbs in the IP setting at non-PPS-exempt hospitals and explored cost variations for hospital characteristics and adverse events (AEs). Methods: Using Medicare FFS Parts A/B claims (10/25/21–10/20/24), pts ≥65 years with MM, IP bsAb initiation, and 12 mos continuous pre-index coverage were identified. Pts receiving other MM therapies <30 days post-index or treated in PPS-exempt hospitals were excluded. Hospital costs were estimated by applying revenue center–specific Medicare cost–charge ratios from CMS Hospital Cost Reports to IP facility charges. Outpatient (OP) bsAb costs were estimated using ASP/unit administered/wasted at the time of the claim. Costs for other OP services were estimated using revenue center–specific cost–charge ratios. Medicare payments were defined as total allowed amounts on IP and OP claims, and net cost as payments minus estimated costs. IP resource use and net cost recovery by academic vs nonacademic hospital, length of stay (LOS), and AEs were analyzed. Results: Of 3074 pts with a bsAb claim, 1129 met inclusion criteria. Mean IP LOS was 9 days (range 1–68). Hospital mean estimated IP cost/day for index hospitalization was $3963. Mean estimated costs for index hospitalization were $36964 per pt for IP SUD and $28366 for mean Medicare payments with a mean loss of $8598 per pt (median −$5616). Payments exceeded estimated costs on average by $2764–8149 for 1–4-day hospitalizations and roughly equal costs for hospitalizations at 5 days. For pts with LOS of 6–9 days and ≥10 days, payments were lower than costs by $6735 and $16659, respectively, suggesting a loss. For pts with subsequent OP administrations (74%) observable in this sample, cumulative payments and costs were assessed following the index hospitalization, mean cumulative longitudinal payments were ≥ cumulative costs within 2–3 mos. IP stay net losses were higher among pts with infection (−$6406 vs no infection), neutropenia (−$7006), and febrile neutropenia (−$10018). Payment patterns and estimated costs were similar across hospital types. Conclusions: Results suggest a large financial burden on non-PPS-exempt hospitals for IP-administered bsAb SUD. While shorter LOS for IP SUD generally did not result in financial losses, longer LOS was associated with disproportionately higher costs relative to payments. Care models (e.g. OP SUD) are key to manage initiation costs and ensure delivery of care for bsAbs remains financially sustainable.

e16323 Background: Advanced EP-NEC are typically treated with the combination of platinum plus etoposide. Despite therapy, outcomes remain poor, with reported median overall survival (OS) of 12-13 months. Early initiation of systemic therapy is commonly practiced given the aggressiveness; however, recent data from small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) suggest that shorter TTI does not necessarily improve OS. The impact of TTI on outcomes in EP-NEC has not been well studied. Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study across three Mayo Clinic sites including adults with biopsy-confirmed stage IV EP-NEC diagnosed between 2005 and 2025. TTI was defined as days from pathologic diagnosis to initiation of first-line systemic therapy. A binary cutoff (≤14 vs > 14 days) was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and TTI was also analyzed as a continuous variable. OS and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models. Multivariable analyses adjusted for age, sex, ECOG performance status, presence of liver metastases, and first-line treatment strategy (chemotherapy alone vs chemotherapy plus immunotherapy). Results: Among 248 pts, median age was 61 years. Median OS for the cohort was 13.9 months (95% CI, 11.7–16.7), and median PFS was 5.7 months (95% CI, 5.3–6.3). Pts with TTI > 14 days had longer median OS compared with those treated within ≤14 days (16.4 vs 10.1 months), with improved OS on unadjusted analysis (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.50–0.96; p = 0.028), though this association was not statistically significant after multivariable adjustment (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.53–1.05; p = 0.097). Pts with TTI > 14 days also had longer median PFS compared with ≤14 days (6.5 vs 4.8 months), with improved PFS on unadjusted analysis (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.51–0.88; p = 0.0038). On multivariable analysis, TTI > 14 days remained independently associated with improved PFS (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.56–1.00; p = 0.047). However, when analyzed as a continuous variable, TTI was not independently associated with OS (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98–1.00; p = 0.173) or PFS (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98–1.00; p = 0.089). Conclusions: In this multicenter cohort of pts with metastatic EP-NEC, earlier initiation of systemic therapy (≤14 days) was not associated with improved overall survival, and longer time-to-treatment was independently associated with improved PFS. However, when TTI was analyzed as a continuous variable, no statistically significant associations were observed, suggesting that the observed benefit with delayed treatment may reflect pt selection or clinical context rather than a direct biological effect. These findings may provide reassurance in scenarios where short delays are necessary—for biomarker testing or clinical trial enrollment—and highlight the need for further investigation in the era of precision oncology.

7028 Background: Axi-cel, autologous anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy, showed long-term survival and curative potential in R/R LBCL (ZUMA-1; Neelapu et al. Blood . 2023). Few studies have examined long-term outcomes beyond clinical trials. Here we report long-term real-world outcomes of axi-cel in R/R LBCL using large-sample CIBMTR data. Methods: A total of 1500 adults from 79 US centers receiving commercial axi-cel after ≥2 LOT for LBCL from Oct 2017-Aug 2020 were enrolled in a post-marketing requirement study. A protocol was developed prior to the study’s implementation, reviewed by Kite and CIBMTR. This is a secondary analysis of said study. Key outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), time to next therapy (TTNT), disease-specific mortality (competing risks were non-relapse deaths), subsequent malignancies, and non-relapse mortality (NRM). Outcomes were analyzed descriptively. Cases with missing data were excluded separately for each endpoint. Results: As of Aug 2025, 1446 patients (pts) were included in the analysis. Median age at infusion was 62.2 y (range, 19.6-90.8: 38% of pts ≥65 y); 65% were male. Five percent of pts had ECOG PS ≥2 and 16% had high-grade lymphoma. Pts had a median of 3 (range, 2-4) prior LOT, 28% had prior autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation, and 50% received bridging therapy. At 59.7 mo median follow-up, median PFS (95% CI) was 7.9 mo (6.3-10.9) and 5-y PFS was 30% (27-32). The median OS was 25.7 mo (21.6-30.2); 5-y OS was 38% (35-41). The 5-y cumulative incidence of disease-specific mortality was 51%. Among pts who were progression-free at 2, 3, 4, or 5 y post-infusion, the OS at 6 y (95% CI) was 73% (68-78), 81% (76-86), 90% (84-94), and 94% (89-97), respectively. The median duration of response (DOR) was 25.3 mo (95% CI, 20.7-32.8) and 5-y DOR was 38% (35-41). The median TTNT was 12.2 mo and 30% did not need additional LOT at 5 y. Of pts who received subsequent salvage therapy, 12 (2%) received cell therapy, 39 (7%) received hematopoietic cell transplant, and 475 (90%) received other therapy. The 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5-y cumulative incidence of relapse (95% CI) was 49% (46-51), 52% (50-55), 54% (52-57), 55% (53-58), and 56% (53-59), respectively. No new safety signals were observed. The primary causes of death (n=864; 60%) were primary disease (540; 63%), infection (111; 13%), and organ failure (57; 7%). The 5-y cumulative incidence of NRM was 16% (95% CI, 14-18). At 5 y, 11% (95% CI, 10-13) had subsequent malignancies, mostly therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (6%) and non-melanoma skin cancer (3%); none were directly attributed to axi-cel. Conclusions: This real-world study showed sustained survival at 5 y among pts with R/R LBCL treated with axi-cel after ≥2 LOT, consistent with ZUMA-1. Infection and organ failure were common causes of NRM. These results continue to support the use of axi-cel with curative intent in R/R LBCL.

4514 Background: Maintenance avelumab is a standard of care in patients (pts) with la/mUC who do not progress after first-line PBC. Cabozantinib (CABO) is an oral inhibitor of MET, VEGFR and TAM, active in multiple solid tumors. We hypothesized that an avelumab (Av)-CABO combination would improve outcomes in pts with mUC with an acceptable safety profile compared to avelumab maintenance alone. Methods: MAIN-CAV (NCT05092958) is a phase III randomized, multicenter, international trial for la/mUC pts who did not progress after 4-6 cycles of any PBC (gemcitabine-cisplatin, gemcitabine-carboplatin, MVAC, ddMVAC). Pts were randomized 1:1 to Av 800 mg IV every 2 weeks alone or with CABO 40 mg daily for ≤2 years. Stratification factors were response to first-line PBC (complete response [CR] vs partial response [PR] vs stable disease [SD]) and visceral metastases. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS); secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), safety and quality of life. The target accrual was 654 pts; the trial closed early after enrollment of 68 pts following adoption of enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab as the new preferred first-line standard in the US. Results: From 3/2022 to 3/2024, 68 pts were randomized (Av n = 33; CABO-Av n = 35). Median OS was 24.8 months (mo) with Av and 23.0 mo with Avb-CABO (Hazard ratio 1.41; 95% CI 0.66–3.01; p = 0.186). Median PFS was 4.6 mo with Av vs 6.0 mo with Av-CABO (p = 0.343). Objective response rate among pts with PR or SD after first-line PBC was 20.8% with Av vs 11.5% with Av-CABO (p = 0.424). Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 24.2% pts on the Av arm vs 39.4% of pts on the Av-CABO arm and CABO dose reductions occurred in 63% of pts. Conclusions: Addition of CABO to Av did not improve OS or PFS compared with Av alone in this underpowered, prematurely closed phase III trial; safety was consistent with known profiles. U10CA180821,U10CA180882; U24CA196171, U10CA180863. (CCTG);U10CA180888 (SWOG); https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org. Clinical trial information: NCT05092958 .

3109 Background: Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) is an enzyme that catalyzes the removal of poly-ADP-ribose (PAR) chains from proteins during DNA damage repair. PARG inhibition leads to selective cell death in tumors with underlying replication fork defects, including BRCAm tumors, through a mechanism distinct from PARP inhibition. ETX-19477 is an oral, potent, and selective PARG inhibitor that shows robust preclinical activity in mouse models of ovarian, breast, and gastric cancers. Methods: ERADIC8 is an open-label, multicenter, Phase 1/2 study, consisting of two parts, dose escalation and dose expansion. A Bayesian Optimal Interval Design was used to enroll patients (pts) into dose escalation cohorts, with enrichment for pts with BRCAm high grade serous ovarian (HGSOC) and breast cancers. The primary objective is to assess safety/tolerability of ETX-19477 and define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended Phase 2 dose(s). Secondary and exploratory objectives include pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary anti-tumor activity per RECIST v1.1. ETX-19477 is given orally once or twice daily in 21-day cycles. Results: As of Jan 6 2026, 45 pts were enrolled into the study across 11 dose levels (range: 80-750 mg QD, 190-350 mg BID). Tumor types included ovarian (n=24, BRCAm: 18), breast (n=8, BRCAm: 7), endometrial (n=6, BRCAm: 0), colorectal (CRC, n=3, BRCAm: 1), and other (n=4, BRCAm: 0) cancers. Treatment-related AEs (TRAEs; any grade) occurring in >20% of pts were nausea (53%), vomiting (38%), and fatigue (24%). The only Gr3 TRAE occurring in >5% of pts was neutropenia (16%). There was one Gr4 TRAE of neutropenia in 1 pt (2%) and no Gr5 TRAEs. ETX-19477 exposure is dose proportional, and the BID regimen achieves >85% PARG inhibition throughout the dosing interval in a blood-based PAR accumulation pharmacodynamic assay. As of the data cutoff, dose escalation is ongoing at 350 mg BID (MTD has not been defined) and dose expansion is ongoing at 200-300 mg BID. Among BRCAm, HGSOC pts enrolled at BID dose levels, there were 7 evaluable pts with a median of 4 prior lines of therapy (range 2–11): 2 pts achieved a partial response (PR, 29%) and 3 pts achieved stable disease (SD, 43%). Both pts with PRs were platinum-resistant and received prior PARP inhibitor treatment. 1 pt with BRCAm CRC remains on active therapy (250 mg BID) with SD for 7 months. Conclusions: ETX-19477 was well tolerated and showed anti-tumor activity in heavily pretreated pts with BRCAm, platinum-resistant HGSOC during dose escalation. These findings provide the first clinical proof-of-concept of PARG inhibition in HGSOC. ETX-19477 is being further evaluated in the dose expansion phase of the study. Clinical trial information: NCT06395519 .

2090 Background: A subset of meningiomas has an aggressive clinical course requiring multimodal therapies. Yet, treatment options beyond surgery and radiation are limited. Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) is uniformly expressed in meningiomas and can be targeted by the radiopharmaceutical agent [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE ( 177 Lu-Dotatate). [ 68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE ( 68 Ga-Dotatate) PET is emerging as a promising imaging modality to assess treatment response in SSTR2-expressing tumors. However, prospective clinical data supporting the use of 177 Lu-Dotatate and 68 Ga-Dotatate in treatment-refractory meningiomas is limited. Methods: In this multicenter, open-label, phase 2 clinical study (NCT03971461), adult patients with progressive intracranial meningiomas received 177 Lu-Dotatate at 7.4 GBq (200 mCi) every 8 weeks for 4 doses. The primary endpoint was 6-month progression-free survival (PFS-6). Up to 5 meningioma lesions per patient were assessed by gadolinium-enhanced T1 MRI every 12 weeks. 68 Ga-Dotatate PET was obtained before/after 177 Lu-Dotatate treatments. Lesional 68 Ga-Dotatate PET activity was assessed relative to liver/spleen or superior sagittal sinus (SSS). Results: 32 patients (female = 21, male = 11) with progressive meningiomas (WHO grade 1 = 7, grade 2 = 24, grade 3 = 1) were enrolled. Median age was 65.5 (range 41-78) years. All patients had at least one prior tumor surgery and at least one course of radiation. Overall, 177 Lu-Dotatate was well tolerated and the most common grade 3/4 adverse events were transient cytopenia in 15 patients (47%). One patient (3%) discontinued treatment due to grade 4 thrombocytopenia. PFS-6 was reached in 22 patients (69%), which includes 5 of 7 (71%) with grade 1 and 17 of 24 (71%) with grade 2 meningiomas. Best radiographic response by MRI was partial response (PR) in 5 (16%) and stable disease (SD) in 20 (63%) patients. Eight patients (16 lesions) were evaluable by paired MRI and 68 Ga-Dotatate PET pre- and post-treatment. Referenced to SSS, 68 Ga-Dotatate avidity reduced by ≥50% in 2 lesions (PR), 25-49% (minor response, MR) in 3 lesions and remained stable ( < 25% reduction and < 25% increase) in 11 lesions. Using liver/spleen as a reference (6 patients, 14 lesions), 68 Ga-Dotatate uptake was reduced in 9 lesions and stable in 5 lesions. 68 Ga-Dotatate PET assessments were generally concordant with MRI-based treatment response assessments. Conclusions: The primary endpoint (PFS-6) was met in this phase 2 study with 69% of patients achieving PFS-6, thereby surpassing established historical benchmarks. 177 Lu-Dotatate was generally well tolerated and deserves further study in patients with advanced meningiomas. Exploratory 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET studies showed decreased uptake in a subset of lesions and bears promise as an imaging biomarker to assess treatment response. Clinical trial information: NCT03971461 .