Stone, Richard M.

Abstract Myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemias derive from the clonal expansion of hematopoietic cells driven by somatic gene mutations. Although assessment of morphology plays a crucial role in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with these malignancies, genomic characterization has become increasingly important for accurate diagnosis, risk assessment, and therapeutic decision making. Conventional cytogenetics, a comprehensive and unbiased method for assessing chromosomal abnormalities, has been the mainstay of genomic testing over the past several decades and remains relevant today. However, more recent advances in sequencing technology have increased our ability to detect somatic mutations through the use of targeted gene panels, whole-exome sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, and whole-transcriptome sequencing or RNA sequencing. In patients with myeloid neoplasms, whole-genome sequencing represents a potential replacement for both conventional cytogenetic and sequencing approaches, providing rapid and accurate comprehensive genomic profiling. DNA sequencing methods are used not only for detecting somatically acquired gene mutations but also for identifying germline gene mutations associated with inherited predisposition to hematologic neoplasms. The 2022 International Consensus Classification of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemias makes extensive use of genomic data. The aim of this report is to help physicians and laboratorians implement genomic testing for diagnosis, risk stratification, and clinical decision making and illustrates the potential of genomic profiling for enabling personalized medicine in patients with hematologic neoplasms.

Abstract The classification of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemias was last updated in 2016 within a collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO), the Society for Hematopathology, and the European Association for Haematopathology. This collaboration was primarily based on input from a clinical advisory committees (CACs) composed of pathologists, hematologists, oncologists, geneticists, and bioinformaticians from around the world. The recent advances in our understanding of the biology of hematologic malignancies, the experience with the use of the 2016 WHO classification in clinical practice, and the results of clinical trials have indicated the need for further revising and updating the classification. As a continuation of this CAC-based process, the authors, a group with expertise in the clinical, pathologic, and genetic aspects of these disorders, developed the International Consensus Classification (ICC) of myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemias. Using a multiparameter approach, the main objective of the consensus process was the definition of real disease entities, including the introduction of new entities and refined criteria for existing diagnostic categories, based on accumulated data. The ICC is aimed at facilitating diagnosis and prognostication of these neoplasms, improving treatment of affected patients, and allowing the design of innovative clinical trials.

PURPOSE Representativeness in acute leukemia clinical research is essential for achieving health equity. The National Cancer Institute's mandate for Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs) to define and assume responsibility for cancer control and treatment across a geographic catchment area provides an enforceable mechanism to target and potentially remediate participatory inequities. METHODS We examined enrollee characteristics across 15 Cancer and Leukemia Group B/Alliance cooperative group adult acute leukemia clinical trials (N = 3,734) from 1998 to 2013, including participation in optional companion biobanks. We determined enrollment odds by race-ethnicity for all participants adjusted for national incidence, and for those enrolled at CCCs adjusted for catchment area incidence. We modeled biobank participation by sociodemographics using logistic regression. RESULTS Non-Hispanic (NH)-White patients were more likely to be enrolled than NH-Black, NH-Asian, or Hispanic patients (odds ratio [OR], 0.75, 0.48, and 0.44, respectively; all P < .001), but less likely than NH-Native American patients (OR, 1.91; P < .001), adjusted for national incidence. Enrollment odds were lower for NH-Black, NH-Asian, and Hispanic patients at CCCs adjusted for catchment area incidence (OR, 0.57, 0.26, and 0.32, respectively; P < .001); differences were driven by overenrollment of NH-White patients from outside self-defined catchment areas (18.1% v 12.3%; χ2 P = .01) and by CCCs with less absolute enrollee diversity (rank sum P = .03). Among all enrollees, NH-White race-ethnicity and lower neighborhood deprivation correlated with biobank participation (OR, 1.81 and 1.45, respectively; P = .01 and .03). For CCC enrollees, the correlation of race-ethnicity with biobank participation was attenuated by a measure accounting for their site's degree of enrollment disparity but not neighborhood deprivation. CONCLUSION Acute leukemia clinical research disparities are substantial and driven by structural trial enrollment barriers at CCCs. Real-time CCC access and enrollment monitoring is needed to better align research participation with local populations.

7053 Background: Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 ( IDH1) occur in ̃3% of patients (pts) with MDS and are associated with increased transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Ivosidenib (IVO), an oral, potent, targeted inhibitor of the mutant IDH1 (mIDH1) enzyme, is FDA approved for m IDH1 R/R AML and m IDH1 newly diagnosed AML in pts ≥75 years old or with comorbidities precluding the use of intensive induction chemotherapy. In the first-in-human study of IVO in pts with m IDH1 advanced hematologic malignancies (NCT02074839), 12 pts with R/R MDS received IVO 500 mg once daily (QD). Based on encouraging safety and efficacy findings, including an investigator-assessed overall response rate (ORR) of 75%, with median response duration of 21.4 months, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to IVO in m IDH1 R/R MDS and the study was amended to enroll additional pts. We report updated results. Methods: This substudy of the single-arm, open-label study of IVO evaluated pts with R/R MDS after documented failure or relapse following prior standard therapy including intensive chemotherapy and hypomethylating agents. Other key eligibility criteria included: high disease burden based on IPSS or IPSS-R risk at baseline; an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 0–2; and no prior IDH1 inhibitor therapy. Pts received IVO 500 mg QD orally on days 1–28 of 28-day cycles. Results: As of 08May2021, 16 pts with R/R MDS were enrolled: 5 (31%) pts remained on treatment and free from leukemic transformation; 11 (69%) had discontinued including 6 for disease progression, 1 for allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and 1 owing to an adverse event (AE) of sepsis (the only fatal AE; reported by investigator as not related to IVO). AEs are summarized in the Table. 2 pts each experienced differentiation syndrome (grade 2) and QTcF prolongation (grade 1 and 2). 7/16 pts achieved complete response (CR, 44%; 95% CI, 20%, 70%), 1 achieved partial response (6%), and 5 achieved marrow CR (31%), resulting in an ORR of 81% (95% CI, 54%, 96%). Hematologic improvement in ≥1 lineages was achieved by 11/16 (69%) pts. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of duration of CR+PR at 12 months was 60%. 3 pts experienced CRs lasting 24.0, 63.7, and 65.4 months, which remain ongoing. 5/7 pts (71%) who were transfusion dependent at baseline became independent of red blood cell or platelet transfusions for 56 or more consecutive days on treatment. Additional translational data are being analyzed. Conclusions: In pts with m IDH1 R/R MDS, IVO monotherapy was tolerable and induced durable remissions and transfusion independence. These findings support the role of IVO as an effective, oral, targeted treatment for pts with m IDH1 R/R MDS. Clinical trial information: NCT02074839. [Table: see text]

Abstract Herein, we present the long-term follow-up of the randomized E1912 trial comparing the long-term efficacy of ibrutinib–rituximab (IR) therapy to fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) and describe the tolerability of continuous ibrutinib. The E1912 trial enrolled 529 treatment-naïve patients aged ≤70 years with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Patients were randomly assigned (2:1 ratio) to receive IR or 6 cycles of FCR. With a median follow-up of 5.8 years, median progression-free survival (PFS) is superior for IR (hazard ratio [HR], 0.37; P &lt; .001). IR improved PFS relative to FCR in patients with both immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV) gene mutated CLL (HR: 0.27; P &lt; .001) and IGHV unmutated CLL (HR: 0.27; P &lt; .001). Among the 354 patients randomized to IR, 214 (60.5%) currently remain on ibrutinib. Among the 138 IR-treated patients who discontinued treatment, 37 (10.5% of patients who started IR) discontinued therapy due to disease progression or death, 77 (21.9% of patients who started IR) discontinued therapy for adverse events (AEs)/complications, and 24 (6.8% of patients who started IR) withdrew for other reasons. Progression was uncommon among patients able to remain on ibrutinib. The median time from ibrutinib discontinuation to disease progression or death among those who discontinued treatment for a reason other than progression was 25 months. Sustained improvement in overall survival (OS) was observed for patients in the IR arm (HR, 0.47; P = .018). In conclusion, IR therapy offers superior PFS relative to FCR in patients with IGHV mutated or unmutated CLL, as well as superior OS. Continuous ibrutinib therapy is tolerated beyond 5 years in the majority of CLL patients. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02048813.

AbstractFrontline arsenic trioxide (ATO)–based treatment regimens achieve high rates of long-term relapse-free survival in treating acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and form the current standard of care. Refining prognostic estimates for newly diagnosed patients treated with ATO-containing regimens remains important in continuing to improve outcomes and identify patients who achieve suboptimal outcomes. We performed a pooled analysis of exclusively ATO-treated patients at a single academic institution and from the ALLG APML4 and Alliance C9710 studies to determine the prognostic importance of additional cytogenetic abnormalities and/or complex karyotype. We demonstrated inferior event-free survival for patients harboring complex karyotype (hazard ratio [HR], 3.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.63-8.56; P = .002), but not for patients harboring additional cytogenetic abnormalities (HR, 2.13; 95% CI, 0.78-5.82; P = .142). These data support a role for full karyotypic analysis of all patients with APL and indicate a need for novel treatment strategies to overcome the adverse effect of APL harboring complex karyotype.

PURPOSE Chemotherapy outcomes in older patients with Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome–negative B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are very poor. Here, we evaluated blinatumomab as induction and consolidation therapy followed by prednisone, vincristine, 6-mercaptopurine, and methotrexate (POMP) maintenance chemotherapy in this patient population. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients were treated at National Clinical Trial Network sites. Eligibility criteria included age ≥ 65 years and newly diagnosed Ph chromosome–negative B-ALL. Patients received blinatumomab as induction for one-two cycles until attainment of response (complete remission (CR) and CR with incomplete count recovery). Patients then received three cycles of consolidation with blinatumomab followed by 18 months of POMP maintenance chemotherapy. Eight doses of intrathecal methotrexate were administered as central nervous system prophylaxis. RESULTS Twenty-nine eligible patients were enrolled. The median age was 75 years, and the median bone marrow blast count at diagnosis was 87%. Cytogenetic risk was poor in 10 patients (34%), and five of 14 patients (36%) tested had the Ph-like ALL gene signature. Nineteen patients (66%; 95% CI, 46 to 82) achieved CR. Kaplan-Meier 3-year disease-free survival and overall survival estimates were 37% (95% CI, 17 to 57) and 37% (95% CI, 20 to 55), respectively. CONCLUSION Blinatumomab was well tolerated and effective in the treatment of older patients with newly diagnosed Ph chromosome–negative B-ALL, including patients with poor-risk cytogenetics. The 3-year disease-free survival and overall survival results are encouraging and suggest that this approach should be further explored.

The NCCN Guidelines for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) provide recommendations for the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of patients with MDS based on a review of clinical evidence that has led to important advances in treatment or has yielded new information on biologic factors that may have prognostic significance in MDS. The multidisciplinary panel of MDS experts meets on an annual basis to update the recommendations. These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on some of the updates for the 2022 version of the NCCN Guidelines, which include treatment recommendations both for lower-risk and higher-risk MDS, emerging therapies, supportive care recommendations, and genetic familial high-risk assessment for hereditary myeloid malignancy predisposition syndromes.

Abstract Introduction Race-ethnic disparities in clinical trial enrollment have the potential to bias findings, limit generalizability, misdirect drug development, and reduce equitable access to novel therapy. The degree to which such disparities exist within acute myeloid leukemia (AML) North American cooperative group trials, biobanks, and correlative studies remain unclear, as are the factors that influence biobank and correlative study participation among trial enrollees. In addition, the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) mandate for Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCC) to designate catchment areas has not been explored as a mechanism through which AML enrollment disparities can be addressed. Methods We analyzed enrollment data from the 9 Alliance/CALGB AML treatment trials, 2 biobank protocols, and 2 correlative studies active from 1998-2013 and with published results. Trial enrollees could consent to biobank and/or correlative study participation. We compared participation rates of United States (US) enrollees for the mutually exclusive racial-ethnic groups of non-Hispanic (NH)-white, NH-Black, NH-Asian, NH-Native American, and Hispanic using X 2 testing, with NH-white as the comparator and reporting odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Rates were adjusted by national incidence according to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program and the US Census. Testing was repeated for the 55% of participants enrolled at 15 NCI CCCs recruiting ≥10 patients, where incidence was adjusted for catchment area size and demographics. Logistic regression models, clustered by trial, were performed to assess the following predictors for biobank and correlative study participation among trial enrollees: race-ethnicity (NH-white vs non-white), site type (CCC status), age (10-year increments), sex, neighborhood urbanity (urban vs rural) and poverty (&lt;20% vs ≥20% below poverty line) by zip code, and distance from site (10-mile increments). Results There were 3041 trial enrollees at US sites; participant characteristics and demographics by race-ethnicity are shown in Table 1. 93.9% of patients participated in a biobanking study and 60.0% in a correlative study. National incidence adjusted enrollment odds by race-ethnicity are shown in the Figure (top); NH-Black, NH-Asian, and Hispanic persons were enrolled at significantly lower rates than NH-whites; NH-Native American enrollment was significantly higher. Enrollment odds were even lower for NH-Black, NH-Asian, and Hispanic enrollees at CCC sites when adjusted by catchment area incidence (Figure; bottom). Among trial enrollees, there were no univariable predictors of biobank participation, however, male sex (OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.01, 1.37; p=0.04) and NH-white race-ethnicity (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.12,1.57; p&lt;0.001) were associated with correlative study participation. Multivariable models of correlative study participation, with predictors selected based on univariable significance, are shown in Table 2 for all trial enrollees and when restricted to biobank enrollees; in both cases, NH-white race predicted participation. Conclusions Across 15 years of AML cooperative group studies, there were several enrollment disparities by race-ethnicity, which were more pronounced at CCC sites. Over 90% of trial enrollees participated in biobanking, with no race-ethnic differences seen. However, correlative study participation among trial enrollees was higher for NH-whites. Taken together, these data suggest that efforts should focus on increasing trial and correlative study participant diversity-but not biobanking-within NCI-designated CCC catchment areas. Reasonable next steps include identifying key structural, provider, and patient-based barriers to trial and correlative study participation at CCC sites and developing inclusive, multilevel interventions to address them. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Eisfeld: Karyopharm (spouse): Current Employment. Stock: Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; amgen: Honoraria; agios: Honoraria; jazz: Honoraria; kura: Honoraria; kite: Honoraria; morphosys: Honoraria; servier: Honoraria; syndax: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pluristeem: Consultancy, Honoraria. Stone: AbbVie Inc, Actinium Pharmaceuticals Inc, Aprea Therapeutics, BerGenBio ASA, ElevateBio, Foghorn Therapeutics, GEMoaB, GlaxoSmithKline, Innate Pharma, Syndax Pharmaceuticals Inc, Syros Pharmaceuticals Inc, Takeda Oncology: Other: Advisory Committee; Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc, Novartis;: Research Funding; ACI Clinical, Syntrix Pharmaceuticals, Takeda Oncology: Other: Data Safety & Monitoring. DeAngelo: Abbvie: Research Funding; Blueprint: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy; Autolus: Consultancy; Forty-Seven: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Glycomimetrics: Research Funding. Byrd: Newave: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vincerx Pharmaceuticals: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis, Trillium, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Pharmacyclics, Syndax: Consultancy, Honoraria.

Abstract Background CLL International Prognostic Index (CLL-IPI) is a weighted scoring system combining five prognostic factors that was developed for risk stratification of TN CLL in the era of chemoimmunotherapy [CLL-IPI Working Group. Lancet Oncol 2016]. Recently, the four-factor model (CLL4) was validated in patients (pts) receiving ibrutinib, primarily for the treatment of relapsed or refractory CLL [Ahn et al. J Clin Oncol 2021]. Data on model performance are limited when ibrutinib is used as first-line therapy. Here we evaluated CLL4 and CLL-IPI in TN CLL pts aged 65 years or older in the Alliance A041202 trial (NCT01886872) [Woyach et al. N Engl J Med 2018]. Methods Pts were randomized to bendamustine plus rituximab (BR group) or ibrutinib-based therapy with or without rituximab (I/IR group). The CLL4 score was determined for individual pts by assigning 1 point each to the presence of TP53 aberration, β-2 microglobulin (B2M) ≥5 mg/L, elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and prior treatment, and summing over points; risk categories were low (0-1), intermediate (2), and high (3-4). We utilized the first three factors of CLL4 since all pts were previously untreated. The CLL-IPI score was determined based on the presence of TP53 aberration (4 points), B2M &gt;3.5 mg/L (2 points), unmutated IGHV (2 points), age &gt;65 years (1 point), and Rai stage I-IV (1 point), and summing over points; risk categories were low (0-1), intermediate (2-3), high (4-6), and very high (7-10). Two of five CLL-IPI risk factors contributed little information since all pts had Rai stage I-IV and nearly all had age &gt;65 years. The primary endpoint for risk stratification was progression-free survival (PFS). We used Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards models for analyses. Results Of 547 pts randomized, 472 pts had a complete set of data required for the calculation of CLL4 scores. The median age was 71 years, and 92% were older than 65 years. 12% had TP53 aberration including deletion 17p and TP53 mutation. Of 334 pts with known IGHV status, 61% had unmutated IGHV. The median follow-up for PFS was 4.5 years. In these 472 pts, 359 (76%) were low risk, 99 (21%) intermediate risk, and 14 (3%) high risk. In the BR group, PFS was significantly shorter for intermediate/high risk CLL4 than low risk (HR 2.43, 95% CI 1.55-3.79, p=0.0001). However, differences in PFS were less apparent for the I/IR group (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.00-2.56, p=0.05). In 334 pts in whom CLL-IPI scores could be calculated, 6 (2%) were low risk, 38 (11%) intermediate risk, 262 (78%) high risk, and 28 (8%) very high risk. In the BR group, PFS was significantly shorter for high risk CLL-IPI than intermediate risk (HR 3.73, 95% CI 1.16-12.04, p=0.03) and for very high risk CLL-IPI than high risk (HR 6.05, 95% CI 2.80-13.08, p&lt;0.0001). However, there were no significant PFS differences for the I/IR group (high risk CLL-IPI vs intermediate risk: HR 1.33, 95% CI 0.53-3.33, p=0.54; very high risk CLL-IPI vs high risk: HR 1.21, 95% CI 0.48-3.02, p=0.69). We next assessed individual components of the prognostic models in the 334 pt subset including both BR and I/IR groups (Table). Variables significantly associated with PFS were B2M, elevated LDH, and unmutated IGHV when controlling for the treatment group. In contrast, TP53 aberration conferred a poor prognosis in the BR group, but not in the I/IR group (interaction test, p=0.008), indicating first-line therapy with ibrutinib can improve the outcome of TP53 aberrant CLL to levels seen in pts without the aberration. In a multivariable model, the interaction between TP53 aberration and the treatment group remained significant. All adverse risk factors except elevated LDH maintained their independent prognostic value. Conclusions Neither CLL4 nor CLL-IPI effectively discriminated PFS of older adults receiving ibrutinib-based therapy for TN CLL. When given as a first-line treatment, ibrutinib can overcome the poor prognostic impact of TP53 aberration. IGHV mutation status and B2M had independent prognostic value in our dataset. Support: U10CA180821, U10CA180882, U24CA196171; Pharmacyclics, An AbbVie Company Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01886872 Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Ruppert: Telios Pharma: Consultancy. Wiestner: Merck: Research Funding; Acerta Pharma: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Verastem: Research Funding; Nurix: Research Funding; Genmab: Research Funding. Blachly: INNATE: Consultancy, Honoraria; KITE: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria. Byrd: Newave: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vincerx Pharmaceuticals: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis, Trillium, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Pharmacyclics, Syndax: Consultancy, Honoraria. Stone: AbbVie: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Actinium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Aprea: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Syntrix/ACI: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Innate: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; BerGen Bio: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Arog: Consultancy, Research Funding; Syros: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Onconova: Consultancy; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy; Gemoab: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Elevate Bio: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Foghorn Therapeutics: Consultancy; Boston Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Syndax: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Macrogenics: Consultancy. Woyach: AbbVie Inc, ArQule Inc, Janssen Biotech Inc, AstraZeneca, Beigene: Other: Advisory Committee; Gilead Sciences Inc: Other: Data & Safety; AbbVie Inc, ArQule Inc, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Janssen Biotech Inc, Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company,: Consultancy; AbbVie Inc, Loxo Oncology Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly & Company: Research Funding.