Citations

AbstractFirst‐line cytoreductive drug of choice in high risk essential thrombocythemia (ET) is currently hydroxyurea, a practice based on the results of a randomized study; second‐line drugs of choice include pegylated interferon‐α, busulfan and anagrelide. Anagrelide clinical trials were pioneered by the late Murray N. Silverstein (1928‐1998) of the Mayo Clinic whose studies led to FDA approval in March 1997. The current study represents a retrospective examination of the potential impact of anagrelide therapy on survival and disease complications in ET. 1076 patients with ET were considered (median age 58 years; females 63%); risk distribution, according to the international prognostic score for ET (IPSET), was 28% high, 42% intermediate, and 30% low. Overall (OS), myelofibrosis‐free (MFFS) and thrombosis‐free survival data were compared for ET patients diagnosed before and after the 1997 FDA approval date for anagrelide; a significant difference was apparent in OS (P = .006; HR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1‐1.7) and MFFS (P < .001; HR 4.2, 95% CI 2.7‐6.5), in favor of patients diagnosed prior to 1997; the difference was sustained during multivariable analysis that included IPSET. Similarly stratified survival data in polycythemia vera (n = 665) and primary myelofibrosis (n = 1282) showed no similar impact on survival (P = .3 and .17, respectively). The current study represents a retrospective analysis and suggests significantly decreased OS and MFFS in ET patients diagnosed after the FDA approval date of anagrelide. Whether or not anagrelide therapy was to blame for the worsening of OS and MFFS over time cannot be assumed and requires validation in a prospective study.

AbstractIntroductionCarcinocythemia is a rare phenomenon defined as morphologically identifiable, circulating tumor cells in the peripheral blood. No modern case series of carcinocythemia exists in the literature.MethodsBlood smears from carcinocythemia patients were reviewed and associated clinicopathologic findings described and compared to the literature. When available, bone marrows were examined.ResultsWe identified 7 carcinocythemia cases over 3 years at our institution in 5 females and 2 males with a median age of 57 and compare them to 26 case reports in the literature (19 females, 10 males; median age 57). The primary neoplasms were carcinomas of breast (3 cases), lung, non‐small cell (2 cases), prostate (1), and 1 case of unknown primary. Circulating tumor cells were associated with fragmentation hemolysis (2 cases), asplenic RBC changes (3 cases), and myeloid antigen expression by flow cytometry (2 cases) and were most commonly found at the feathered edge of the slide (6 cases) as single cells or in clusters.ConclusionsThis represents the largest series of carcinocythemia reported. The identification of 7 cases at one institution over a 3‐year period suggests carcinocythemia may becoming more common. Raising awareness of this entity and its associated clinicopathologic findings may help avoid diagnostic pitfalls in blood smear examinations and may guide timely clinical management.

e18514 Background: Standard induction therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) includes “cytarabine and anthracycline”. Anthracyclines are known to cause acute, subacute and chronic cardiac complications ( Lefrak , EA et al, Cancer 1973:32(2):302-314; Singal, PK et al, NEJM 1998;339(13):900-905). It is recommended to do base line cardiac function assessment with echocardiogram prior to induction therapy containing anthracycline. This study was done to find the frequency of changes made in avoiding anthracycline usage following this evaluation. Methods: The Mayo clinic data base was interrogated to identify patients with newly diagnosed AML who underwent echocardiogram prior to anthracycline containing induction chemotherapy. Echocardiogram results, including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), diastolic dysfunction, valvular disease, and any resultant treatment alterations were reviewed. Results: Three hundred twenty six patients were identified. The median (range) age was 61 (17-82) years and 62% were male. The median (range) LVEF was 65% (30-87), and 3 (0.9%) patients had LVEF < 50% (range 30-47%). Of these 3 patients, 1 had 4 vessel CABG a decade ago, his EF was 46% and treated with full dose idarubicin; 2 of them presented with blastic crisis, 1 had EF 46% and improved to 51% after 5 days and then given daunorubicin, the other one had an EF of 30% and treated with 50% dose reduced cytarabine alone. Sixty five (23%) patients had previous chemotherapy or radiation exposure, including 24 (7.4 %) with previous anthracycline, 14 (4.3%) had prior radiation to the chest wall. No patient with previous chemotherapy or radiation exposure had a reduced LVEF. Conclusions: Echocardiography prior to anthracycline therapy rarely detects abnormal LVEF. Screening echo may be helpful in those presented with leukemic blastic crisis or had previous exposure to chemo-radiation.

TPS4135 Background: Gastric cancer is a prevalent and morbid illness for which new treatment strategies are needed. Peri-operative therapy is a standard approach that is associated with only a 15% improvement in overall survival. Early FDG-PET scanning, performed prior to cycle 2, can distinguish patients (pts) responding to chemotherapy from those who are not. FDG-PET non-responding pts have poorer survival. This study addresses the question of salvage therapy in pts who are PET non-responders. Specifically, does salvage chemotherapy with docetaxel /irinotecan improve pt survival in FDG-PET-nonresponding pts with locally advanced gastric cancer. Methods: This is a multicenter, cooperative group, NCI supported, randomized phase II study of salvage chemotherapy + surgery versus surgery and post-operative chemoradiotherapy in pts who are FDG-PET non-responders (defined as a decrease in SUVmaxof the primary tumor of less than 35%). A total of 176 pts with locally advanced, resectable gastric cancer who were FDG-PET non-responders to cycle 1 of platinum/capecitabine based chemotherapy will be randomized in a 1:1 manner to receive either (Arm A) surgery followed by fluoropyrimidine-sensitized radiotherapy (4500 cGy), or (Arm B) salvage chemotherapy with docetaxel / irinotecan (DI) for 2 cycles followed by standard resection and 3 cycles DI post-operatively. DI is administered as D 30 mg/m2, I 50 mg/m2 given on D1, D8 of a 21 day cycle. 416 pts will be screened to yield 162 non-responders (81 FDG-PET non-responders per treatment group). With expected 120 events, the study will have 80% power to detect a hazard ratio of 0.625 for improved survival at the one-sided significant level of 0.15. Pts will be required to provide tissue at the time of resection, as well as whole blood prior to resection for correlative studies associated with platinum sensitivity, FDG avidity, and prognostic markers. This study is available through all cooperative groups (SWOG, ACRIN/ECOG, Alliance, and NRG) and the National Clinical Trials Network. Enrollment began in November 2015. Support: U10CA180821, U10CA180882; Clinical Trial Information: NCT02485834 .

TPS3630 Background: In metastatic colorectal cancer with deficient DNA mismatch repair (MMR), anti-PD-1 antibody monotherapy produced high tumor response rates and extended progression-free survival compared to lack of benefit for proficient MMR tumors (Le, M, et al, NEJM 2016). We propose a phase III randomized trial to determine if the addition of the anti-PD-L1 antibody, atezolizumab (Genentech™), to adjuvant FOLFOX can improve patient disease-free survival (DFS) vs FOLFOX alone in patients with stage III colon cancers with dMMR or microsatellite instability (MSI). By blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction, atezolizumab may activate T cells, thereby, restoring their ability to detect and attack tumor cells. Limited data suggest that FOLFOX may increase intratumoral cytotoxic CD8+ T cells that may serve as ‘immune priming.’ Methods: Patients with curatively resected stage III colon carcinomas with evidence of dMMR or MSI will be randomized to modified FOLFOX6 for 6 months (12 cycles) alone or combined with atezolizumab (840 mg IV q2 wk) continued as monotherapy for an additional 6 months (total duration of 12 months). Patients will be stratified by T, N stage and tumor sidedness. Local testing for MSI or MMR proteins is allowed. Atezolizumab must begin by/with cycle 2. The targeted accrual goal of 700 patients provides 90% power to detect an effect size expressed as hazard ratio of 0.6 for the primary endpoint DFS at two-sided alpha of 0.05. Interim analyses are planned at 50% and 75% of events. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, treatment tolerability, and quality of life. This study will be conducted by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. The protocol has been approved by NCI CTEP and is expected to be activated in mid 2017. Clinical trial information: NCT02912559.