Citations

AbstractBackgroundAcute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adults is aggressive, with long‐term outcomes impacted by treatment resistance and toxicity. CD52 is expressed in most cases of B‐ and T‐lineage ALL. Alemtuzumab, a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that targets CD52, was identified as a potential agent to improve treatment efficacy without increasing toxicity.MethodsIn this phase 1/2 study (Cancer and Leukemia Group B [CALGB] 10102, NCT00061945), a course of single‐agent alemtuzumab was intercalated into CALGB 19802 backbone chemotherapy after the third course of intensive chemotherapy in those who were CD52+ at diagnosis. Phase 1 tested three dose levels of subcutaneous alemtuzumab (10, 20, and 30 mg 3 times weekly for 4 weeks/12 doses) and demonstrated that 30 mg was tolerable. Phase 2 established feasibility.ResultsThe study enrolled 295 evaluable patients (115 in phase 1, 180 in phase 2); 206 (69.8%) were CD52+. Among evaluable CD52+ patients, 43.7% (90/206) completed the first three treatment modules; 97.8% (88 of 90) were treated with alemtuzumab. Alemtuzumab was associated with cytomegalovirus viremia, which occurred in 23.3% (14 of 60) of patients during and 29.2% (19 of 65) after alemtuzumab treatment. With a median follow‐up of 101.2 months, median overall survival (OS) was 26.3 months (3‐year rate, 44%; 5‐year rate, 36%; 10‐year rate, 31%). Landmark analysis at the start of the fourth course of treatment demonstrated no difference in OS or disease‐free survival between patients who did and who did not receive alemtuzumab.ConclusionAlemtuzumab was feasible to administer in adults with ALL receiving intensive chemotherapy, but was without evidence of benefit.

Abstract Background Cyclin D has been shown to play an essential role in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) initiation and progression, providing rationale for targeting the CDK4/6‐cyclin D complex that regulates cell cycle progression. Procedure The Children's Oncology Group AINV18P1 phase 1 trial evaluated the CDK4/6 inhibitor, palbociclib, in combination with standard four‐drug re‐induction chemotherapy in children and young adults with relapsed/refractory B‐ and T‐cell lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoma. Palbociclib (50 mg/m 2 /dose) was administered orally once daily for 21 consecutive days, first as a single agent (Days 1–3) and subsequently combined with re‐induction chemotherapy. This two‐part study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), followed by an expansion pharmacokinetic cohort. Results Twelve heavily pretreated patients enrolled, all of whom were evaluable for toxicity. One dose‐limiting hematologic toxicity (DLT) occurred at the starting dose of 50 mg/m 2 /dose orally for 21 days. No additional DLTs were observed in the dose determination or pharmacokinetic expansion cohorts, and overall rates of grade 3/4 nonhematologic toxicities were comparable to those observed with the chemotherapy platform alone. Five complete responses were observed, two among four patients with T‐ALL and three among seven patients with B‐ALL. Pharmacokinetic studies showed similar profiles with both liquid and capsule formulations of palbociclib. Conclusions Palbociclib in combination with re‐induction chemotherapy was well tolerated with a RP2D of 50 mg/m 2 /day for 21 days. Complete responses were observed among heavily pretreated patients.

Background Cyclin D has been shown to play an essential role in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) initiation and progression, providing rationale for targeting the CDK4/6-cyclin D complex that regulates cell cycle progression. Procedure The Children’s Oncology Group AINV18P1 phase 1 trial evaluated the CDK4/6 inhibitor, palbociclib, in combination with standard four-drug reinduction chemotherapy in children and young adults with relapsed/refractory B- and T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoma. Palbociclib (50 mg/m 2 /dose) was administered orally once daily for 21 consecutive days, first as a single agent (days 1-3) and subsequently combined with reinduction chemotherapy. This two-part study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) followed by an expansion pharmacokinetic (PK) cohort. Results Twelve heavily pretreated patients enrolled, all of whom were evaluable for toxicity. One dose-limiting hematologic toxicity (DLT) occurred at the starting dose of 50 mg/m 2 /dose orally for 21 days. No additional DLTs were observed in the dose determination or PK expansion cohorts and overall rates of grade 3/4 non-hematologic toxicities were comparable to those observed with the chemotherapy platform alone. Five complete responses were observed, two among four patients with T-ALL and three among seven patients with B-ALL. Pharmacokinetic studies showed similar profiles with both liquid and capsule formulations of palbociclib. Conclusions Palbociclib in combination with reinduction chemotherapy was well tolerated with a RP2D of 50 mg/m 2 /day for 21 days. Complete responses were observed among heavily pretreated patients.

PURPOSE To improve the outcomes of patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LL), the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib was examined in the Children's Oncology Group phase III clinical trial AALL1231, which also attempted to reduce the use of prophylactic cranial radiation (CRT) in newly diagnosed T-ALL. PATIENTS AND METHODS Children and young adults with T-ALL/T-LL were randomly assigned to a modified augmented Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster chemotherapy regimen with/without bortezomib during induction and delayed intensification. Multiple modifications were made to the augmented Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster backbone used in the predecessor trial, AALL0434, including using dexamethasone instead of prednisone and adding two extra doses of pegaspargase in an attempt to eliminate CRT in most patients. RESULTS AALL1231 accrued 824 eligible and evaluable patients from 2014 to 2017. The 4-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) for arm A (no bortezomib) versus arm B (bortezomib) were 80.1% ± 2.3% versus 83.8% ± 2.1% (EFS, P = .131) and 85.7% ± 2.0% versus 88.3% ± 1.8% (OS, P = .085). Patients with T-LL had improved EFS and OS with bortezomib: 4-year EFS (76.5% ± 5.1% v 86.4% ± 4.0%; P = .041); and 4-year OS (78.3% ± 4.9% v 89.5% ± 3.6%; P = .009). No excess toxicity was seen with bortezomib. In AALL0434, 90.8% of patients with T-ALL received CRT. In AALL1231, 9.5% of patients were scheduled to receive CRT. Evaluation of comparable AALL0434 patients who received CRT and AALL1231 patients who did not receive CRT demonstrated no statistical differences in EFS ( P = .412) and OS ( P = .600). CONCLUSION Patients with T-LL had significantly improved EFS and OS with bortezomib on the AALL1231 backbone. Systemic therapy intensification allowed elimination of CRT in more than 90% of patients with T-ALL without excess relapse.

Introduction: Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are often treated with intensive induction chemotherapy to achieve complete remission (CR). Early response to standard anthracycline plus cytarabine induction (7+3) is assessed by a day 14 nadir bone marrow biopsy. The nadir marrow has limitations, though, including sampling issues and ambiguity as to whether blasts are leukemia cells vs. regenerating marrow. In prior studies, the predictive value for remission of the nadir marrow is only 67-84%. A more accurate predictor of residual disease (RD) would give clinicians an opportunity to modify therapy earlier. Positron emission tomography (PET/CT) with 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine (FLT) is a molecular imaging modality that can assess cellular proliferation in the bone marrow compartment. A prior single-institution pilot study showed a significant difference in the marrow FLT uptake between patients with AML who achieved CR and those who had RD after count recovery. Methods: EAI141 was an ECOG-ACRIN-led, prospective, multi-center study designed to assess FLT PET/CT as a predictor of CR after AML induction. The primary objective was to evaluate the predictive value of post-treatment FLT PET/CT imaging for detecting RD, with the secondary objectives of evaluating the predictive value for detecting CR and estimating the sensitivity and specificity. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of > 7 g/mL in total bone marrow compartment was chosen prospectively based on data from a pilot study as a marker for presence of leukemia cells at nadir. The predictive values, sensitivity, and specificity of the FLT PET/CT and the nadir bone marrow biopsy were calculated. Eligible subjects were 18 years or older with previously untreated AML who were to receive induction with 7+3. Subjects underwent a nadir marrow biopsy and an FLT PET/CT scan 10-17 days after starting induction, and prior to any re-induction if disease was noted on the nadir marrow. A recovery marrow was performed 28-35 days after initial treatment or re-induction to assess CR or RD. Subjects could undergo an optional pre-treatment scan. Relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were additional clinical outcomes. Results: 87 subjects from 9 centers were enrolled between 2016-2018, and 61 were considered evaluable. Reasons for being not evaluable included study ineligibility (n=3), no post-treatment scan (n=13), and no remission marrow (n=10). Median age was 58 years (range 21-73); 56% were men and 44% were women. CR was achieved in 56% (34/61). Treatment was a single induction course in 79% (48/61) and re-induction in 21% (13/61). Predictive value based on FLT PET/CT was 60% (9/15, 95% CI 32%-84%) for RD and 61% (28/46, 95% CI 45%-75%) for CR. Of patients who achieved CR, 28/34 had SUVmax ≤ 7 g/mL (sensitivity of 82%) and 9/27 of those who did not had high SUVmax > 7 g/mL (specificity 33%). Predictive value of an aplastic marrow was 59% (26/44) for CR and 56% (9/16) for RD. Of patients who achieved CR, 26/33 had marrow hypoplasia (sensitivity 79%) and 9/27 with RD had disease in the nadir marrow (specificity 33%). Significant heterogeneity of bone marrow compartment post treatment (SUVhetero ranging from 0.24 to 1.07) was observed in FLT-PET/CT scans. Heterogeneity of bone marrow compartment decreased about 50% from pre-treatment to post-treatment FLT PET/CT. OS for all participants, stratified by post-treatment FLT PET/CT response and nadir marrow results, are summarized in the Figure. Conclusions: Although this study did not show significant advantage of FLT PET/CT compared to nadir marrow to predict RD or CR on the average, it did show signal heterogeneity in the study population that may be relevant to disease biology not appreciated by a single sampling site for the nadir or remission marrow. For example, in patients with false negative nadir biopsy, in approximately 20% of patients assessment with FLT PET/CT was correct, likely reflecting bone marrow heterogeneity and limitation of a single point sampling. Similarly, in almost 60% of patients with false positive nadir biopsy, FLT PET/CT assessment was correct. Figure 1 Disclosures Jeraj: AIQ Solutions: Current equity holder in private company. Kostakoglu:F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Consultancy. Strickland:KiTE: Consultancy; Kura: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Sunesis: Research Funding; ArcherDx: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy. Uy:Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Astellas Pharma: Honoraria. Perlman:GE Healthcare: Research Funding; AIQ: Research Funding.

Background: The prognosis for patients (pts) with relapsed T-ALL and T-LL is dismal; the primary goal of T-ALL/T-LL treatment is to prevent relapse. AALL1231 was a COG phase 3 clinical trial that randomized children and young adults (age 1-30 years) to a modified augmented BFM (aBFM) backbone +/- the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib during induction and delayed intensification (DI) (1.3mg/m2 x 4 doses per block). Bortezomib was tested in frontline therapy based on strong preclinical data and data in relapse on COG AALL07P1. Pts were stratified as standard (SR), intermediate (IR), or very high risk (VHR), primarily based on disease response: morphologic and minimal residual disease (MRD) at end induction and end consolidation (T-ALL) and radiographic response (T-LL). To eliminate cranial radiation (CXRT) in all pts, (except VHR: Day 29 M3 marrow or EOC MRD >0.1% or pts with overt CNS leukemia at diagnosis, CNS3), the aBFM backbone was modified to use dexamethasone (dex) as the sole corticosteroid and an extra pegaspargase dose was added in both induction and DI, following the MRC strategy. IR pts received a second interim maintenance (IM) phase (one Capizzi MTX; one HD-MTX). Following consolidation, VHR pts received 3 BFM high-risk intensification blocks in lieu of IM. Results: AALL1231 accrued 847 patients (824 eligible and evaluable) of 1400 anticipated from 2014 until early closure in 2017 when COG AALL0434 established that nelarabine (NEL) improved DFS in T-ALL (AALL1231 did not include NEL). The 3-year EFS for Arm A (no bortezomib) vs Arm B (bortezomib) were 81.7±2.4% and 85.1±2.2 % (HR=0.782, p=0.074) (3/31/20 data cut-off; see Table 1 for additional outcomes). SR and IR pts, who account for 95% of pts, had significantly improved EFS on Arm B as compared with Arm A. Yet, VHR patients had improved EFS on Arm A. Patients with T-LL had improved EFS and OS with bortezomib: 3-year EFS (76.5±5.9% vs 88.3±4.5%; p = 0.01); 3-year OS (78.0±5.8% vs 89.5±4.2%, p = 0.007). A similar improvement in EFS and OS was not seen in T-ALL; however, with longer follow-up this may change. No excess toxicity was seen on Arm B. A dex-based Induction did result in lower MRD rates; more T-ALL pts on AALL1231 had Day 29 MRD <0.1% as compared with AALL0434 which used a prednisone-based Induction (AALL1231 Arm A: 69.6%; Arm B: 72.2%; AALL0434: 64.6%; p = 0.02). However, this did not translate into improved survival. Indeed OS, but not EFS was worse on AALL1231 than AALL0434. On-going analyses are investigating the increased mortality on AALL1231, but preliminary analyses suggest a combination of increased toxic deaths and overall poor outcome in the VHR group. On AALL0434, 90.8% of T-ALL pts received CXRT. On AALL1231, 9.5% of subjects were scheduled to receive CXRT (CNS3 T-ALL/T-LL: 5.7%; VHR T-ALL: 4.1%). A comparison of AALL0434 pts that received CXRT with similar AALL1231 pts not receiving CXRT on AALL1231 demonstrated similar EFS (p = 0.14) and OS (p = 0.42) (Table 2). CNS relapse rates were higher in these pts on AALL1231 (4.5%) as compared with AALL0434 (1.7%), but overall relapse rates were the same (6.5% vs 6.4%). Notably the benefit of NEL in AALL0434 was due to reduction of CNS relapses. 128 AALL1231 pts came off protocol therapy after the study was closed for physician or patient/parent choice. Data collection is underway to understand the reasons for removal, including if it was to receive NEL. Conclusions: Outcomes for SR and IR pts with T-ALL and T-LL treated with bortezomib were excellent despite the elimination of prophylactic CXRT. Bortezomib significantly improved 3-year EFS for these groups, comprising ~95% of pts. Outcomes for VHR pts were dismal and worse on the bortezomib arm. T-LL pts had significantly improved EFS and OS with bortezomib on the AALL1231 backbone. This is the first trial to demonstrate an OS benefit for de novo pediatric T-LL with a new agent; however, longer follow-up is needed. Therapy intensification allowed elimination of CXRT in the majority of pts without excessive relapse. These results should be interpreted cautiously as the 3-yr OS on AALL1231 was inferior to AALL0434. Nevertheless, incorporating bortezomib into standard therapy for de novo T-LL appears advantageous. Future COG T-ALL/T-LLy trials will build on the positive findings from AALL0434 and AALL1231, balancing intensity while mitigating toxicity to maintain high cure rates without routine cranial radiation. (MLL, SPH, EAR contributed equally) Disclosures Teachey: Amgen: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; La Roche: Consultancy; Sobi: Consultancy. Dunsmore:Dexcom: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Galardy:Abbott: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Abbvie: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Harker-Murray:Regerenon Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Hermiston:Sobi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Shimano:Novartis: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Dova Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. McKay:Immunogen: Current Employment. Bollard:Mana Therapeutics: Other: IP. Loh:Medisix Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Other: Institutional Research Funding. Hunger:Novartis: Consultancy; Amgen Inc.: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria. Raetz:Celgene/BMS: Other; Pfizer: Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Bortezomib for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia under an IND

Background: Despite improvements in outcomes for children with B- and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-ALL, T-ALL, B-LLy and T-LLy), the outcome of patients with primary resistant or relapsed disease remains very poor, particularly for children with second or greater relapses and with T-cell disease. Deregulation of cell cycle machinery is essential for both the induction and progression of ALL (Sicinska et al. Cancer Cell 4:451-61, 2003). Additionally, targeting cell cycle regulators CDK4 and 6 efficiently suppresses ALL growth and disease progression in vivo (Sawei et al. Cancer Cell 22:452-65, 2012) and this effect is augmented by conventional chemotherapy. These data provided the rationale for investigating the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib in relapsed/refractory ALL and LLy. Preliminary results from the ongoing Children's Oncology Group (COG) AINV18P1 trial are reported. Methods: Patients aged 1-30 years with first or greater isolated or combined marrow relapses of T-ALL or T-LLy and second or greater relapses of B-ALL or B-LLy are eligible for COG AINV18P1 (NCT03792256). Patients with refractory disease with at least 2 prior induction attempts or first relapse refractory to at least one prior re-induction attempt are also eligible. This is a 2-part study conducted at selected COG sites. In Part 1 of the study (dose determination), palbociclib was administered orally once daily for 21 consecutive days, first as a single agent (days 1-3) and subsequently in combination with 4-drug re-induction chemotherapy (Table 1). Study treatment consisted of a single cycle of therapy. A starting palbociclib dose of 50 mg/m2/dose was explored with one dose de-escalation (35 mg/m2/dose) using the rolling six design to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Part 2 (expansion cohort) is accruing 6 additional patients (pts) at the MTD for further assessment of the safety and feasibility of combination therapy. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), defined as hematologic and non-hematologic toxicities exceeding baseline toxicities observed with re-induction chemotherapy alone, are assessed throughout the treatment cycle. The primary aims of the study are safety, determination of the MTD/RP2D and assessment of palbociclib pharmacokinetics (PK). Secondary aims are assessment of the biological and preliminary clinical activity of combination therapy in this patient population. Results: As of June 30, 2020, 8 pts have enrolled; 6 in Part 1 and 2 in Part 2. All 6 pts in Part 1 completed one full cycle (32 days) of protocol therapy. The median (range) age of pts is 10 (6-21) years and 62% are male (Table 2). Three pts had T-ALL, 4 B-ALL and 1 T-LLy. Pts received a median (range) of 2 (1-6) prior chemotherapy regimens and 2 pts underwent prior allogeneic stem cell transplant. All 6 pts in Part 1 experienced grade 3-4 toxicities, most commonly hematologic: anemia (3 pts), neutropenia (5 pts) and thrombocytopenia (4 pts). Three pts had grade 3 infections and one pt had grade 3 hyperbilirubinemia, which resolved. No hematologic or non-hematologic DLTs were observed at the 50 mg/m2/dose of palbociclib in Part 1 and accrual to the expansion phase of the trial at this dose continues. PK and pharmacodynamic studies assessing cell cycle inhibition are also ongoing. Conclusions: Palbociclib in combination with 4-drug re-induction chemotherapy is safe and well tolerated in children and young adults with relapsed/refractory ALL and LLy. Further assessment of the feasibility and activity of combination therapy is ongoing in the expansion phase of this trial. Disclosures Raetz: Celgene: Other: DSMB member; Pfizer: Other: Institutional research funding. Teachey:La Roche: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Sobi: Consultancy. Norris:Merck: Other: Travel funding. Gore:Amgen, Novartis, Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Loh:Medisix Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Other: Institutional Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: This study includes off-label use of palbociclib in children and young adults with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoblastic lymphoma.

7003 Background: In younger adults with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), anthracycline dose intensification during induction may improve complete remission (CR) rates; however, an improvement in overall survival (OS) in a randomized trial has not been demonstrated. This unresolved issue led the ECOG to compare standard dose (SDD) to high-dose daunorubicin (HDD) in induction. Methods: Adult patients with previously untreated AML were randomized to receive either SDD (45 mg/m2/d) or HDD (90 mg/m2/d) each for 3days combined with standard-dose cytarabine (100 mg/m2/d) for 7 days by continuous intravenous infusion. Those achieving a CR were allocated to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or high-dose cytarabine (with or without a single dose of gemtuzumab ozogamicin) prior to autologous HSCT. Intravenous busulfan and cyclophosphamide was the preparative regimen for both allogeneic and autologous HSCT. The primary end point of this study was OS from the time of induction randomization. Results: 633 patients, age 18 to 60 (median 48) years, were entered in this study. There were no differences in patient demographics or disease characteristics between the two groups at presentation. In an intention-to-treat analysis, HDD resulted in a significantly higher CR rate (63.3% vs. 47.7%, p = 0.0003) than SDD. Induction deaths were similar between the two groups (5.4 vs. 5.0%, p = ns). 334 (52.8%) patients entered the consolidation phase. 57.4% of HDD and 48.1% of the SDD patients, received consolidation therapy on study, and 28.7% and 23.1% proceeded to HSCT respectively. Median OS was superior for the HDD (23.7 months) over the SDD (15.1 months) group (p = 0.005). In subgroup analysis, patients with favorable or intermediate-risk cytogenetics or age <55 years benefited from the HDD. Conclusions: We demonstrate for the first time in a prospective randomized trial that intensifying induction therapy through a higher daily anthracycline dose, in the setting of identical intensive consolidation therapy, results in a higher CR rate as well as prolonged OS. In younger AML patients a higher dose of anthracycline in induction should be considered the new standard of care. No significant financial relationships to disclose.