Citations 952

MLL1 Modulates IgM and Inflammatory Cytokines in Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 3966-3966

10.1182/blood-2019-125833

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a low-grade B-cell lymphoma associated with the accumulation of lymphoplasmacytic cells in the bone marrow (BM) and a high level of monoclonal IgM protein in the serum. Genome-wide studies revealed genomic alternations in WM, with the most prevalent being a point mutation in the myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) resulting in an amino acid substitution (L265P) that is present in over 90% of WM patients. MyD88 is an effector of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway that mediates inflammatory cytokine expression and secretion upon activation. Here, we found that activation of the TLR-MyD88 pathway in WM cells carrying the MyD88 L265P somatic mutation increases the expression of IL-6 and CCL2, two cytokines known to participate in the pathobiology of several neoplasms including B cell malignancies. Furthermore, IL-6 has been shown to modulate IgM secretion and malignant B cell growth in WM. We demonstrate that an active ERK1/2 pathway, which is elevated in WM patient samples, is required to maintain IL-6 and CCL2 expression in BCWM.1 (p=0.0339) and RPCI-WM1 (p=0.0005) cells. Further characterization identified a change in the chromatin landscape in response to TLR-MyD88 activation in WM cells. We found increased levels of trimethylation of histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4me3) at the promoters of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and CCL2 by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay followed by qPCR (ChIP-qPCR). The H3K4me3 modification is catalyzed by six related homologs of the yeast histone methyltransferase (HMT) family. Further analysis identified the Mixed-lineage leukemia 1 (MLL1) as the enzyme bound to these promoters in response to TLR-MyD88 stimulation of WM cells. Analysis of WM cell lines and primary WM patient cells showed that MLL1 and its binding partner, menin, are expressed at significantly higher levels in CD19+CD138+cells from WM patients compared to CD19+B cells from peripheral blood of healthy donors (p<0.001). We also found an increase in H3K4me3 deposition on IL-6 and CCL2 promoters during early (1-3 hr) and late (12-24 hr) kinetics following TLR-MyD88 stimulation. This also coincided with increased deposition of MLL1 on these cytokine promoters by ChIP-qPCR. Disruption of menin-MLL1 using the MI-2 or MI-503 menin-MLL1 inhibitors significantly reduced IL-6 and CCL2 expression in WM cell lines (BCWM.1 p=0.039; RPCI-WM1 p=0.0041). This also results in significantly reduced IgM expression (p<0.0001) and secretion at inhibitor dose (5 μM) that has no effect on cell proliferation. Finally, MLL1 knockdown using RNAi significantly reduces IgM expression in BCWM.1 (p<0.0001), MWCL (p=0.0016) and RPCI-WM1 (p<0.0001) and IgM secretion in BCWM.1 (p<0.0001) and MWCL-1 (p<0.0001). Taken together, these results identify a novel role for menin-MLL1 in regulating inflammatory cytokines and IgM expression and secretion in WM and provide the rationale for targeting these molecules in WM patients. Disclosures Ansell: Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding.
Bleomycin Use in the Treatment of Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL): Toxicity and Outcomes in the Modern Era

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 4038-4038

10.1182/blood-2019-121488

BACKGROUND: Historically, one in five Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) patients treated with bleomycin develop bleomycin pulmonary toxicity (BPT), a life-threatening interstitial pneumonitis. The current treatment paradigm consists of prompt discontinuation of bleomycin, administration of corticosteroids, antibiotics, hospital admission, respiratory therapy, or intensive care. BPT represents a challenge for patients with HL as it not only impairs respiratory function, but also has negative impacts on clinical outcomes. A collection of a dozen studies suggest BPT has a mortality rate just short of 10% of patients who develop BPT. Given recent data on bleomycin omission with negative interim PET scan, we assessed changes in BPT rates and severity over the past 15 years. Overall, treatment protocol characterization and patient characteristics most responsive to BPT treatment are poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the clinical impact and treatment strategies in patients with BPT. Our goals were to: 1) Identify HL patients in the last decades who developed BPT and identify risk factors for BPT, 2) evaluate the impact of BPT on long-term clinical outcomes, and 3) characterize patterns of treatment strategies among patients with HL who develop BPT. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective analysis was preformed using patient data from the Mayo Clinic Lymphoma Database (Rochester, MN) consisting of 1,299 patients diagnosed with HL. All patients were diagnosed between 2003-2018. Inclusion criteria included 1) newly diagnosed, biopsy proven HL, 2) upfront treatment with ABVD, 3) treatment was received at our institution. All patients were assessed for clinically relevant HL characteristics including stage of disease, presence of bulky disease, presence of B symptoms, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, BPT risk factors, and bleomycin treatment regimen. BPT was clinically defined as 1) Presence of pulmonary symptoms, 2) bilateral interstitial infiltrates on imaging, and 3) no evidence of infectious etiology. Patients treated in the "Early Era" (2000s) were compared to patients in the "Recent Era" (2010s). Comparison of continuous variables between BPT groups was assessed with Wilcox rank-sum test. OS and PFS were estimated via the Kaplan-Meier method. Approval of the protocol by the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board (IRB) was obtained and all patients were consented accordingly. RESULTS: One-hundred twenty six patients met the inclusion criteria for this study. Median follow-up for PFS and OS was 5.5 years (95%CI = 4.8-6.4) and 5.8 years (95%CI = 5.0-7.0), respectively. The 10-year OS and PFS among all patients were 85.1% (95%CI = 77.8-93.1) and 86.3% (95%CI = 80.1-93.0), respectively. Forty-seven patients (37% of all patients) met criteria for BPT. The estimated 10-year OS for BPT and non-BPT patients were 74.7% (95%CI = 61.8-90.5) and 91.7% (95%CI = 83.9-100.0), respectively. The estimated 10-year PFS for BPT and non-BPT patients were 84.7% (95%CI = 74.8-95.8) and 87.0% (95%CI = 79.1-95.8), respectively. In univariable analysis, BPT negatively impacted OS (HR=3.6, 95%CI: 1.2-10.6). However, bleomycin omission did not impact OS (HR=1.3, 95%CI=0.5-3.7). BPT-mortality was 17%. In multivariable analysis, BPT was not significantly associated with OS after adjusting for baseline characteristics (HR=3.0, 95%CI=0.9-9.9). Patients were older (median: 46 vs 33 years) and received less bleomycin (median: 107 vs 215 units) compared to non-BPT patients. BPT was most often managed with bleomycin omission with 59% of patients (74 of 126 patients) having omitted bleomycin at some point during treatment. Patients treated in the "Recent Era" (2010s) had lower BPT rates (28% vs 48%), mortality (10% vs 21%), bleomycin dose (143 vs 204 units), and bleomycin cycles (7 vs 12 cycles), yet higher prophylactic bleomycin omission (59% vs 8%) compared to "Early Era" (2000s). Patients treated in the Recent Era compared to Early Era had a reduction of BPT treatment with steroids, hospital admission, respiratory therapy, and ICU admission by 12%, 22%, 14%, 13%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, our data suggests BPT continues to impact OS in HL patients treated with ABVD, however BPT treatment is decreasing as management changed in recent years. Disclosures Ansell: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding.
Brentuximab Vedotin with Chemotherapy for Stage 3/4 Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL): 4-Year Update of the Echelon-1 Study

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 4026-4026

10.1182/blood-2019-124116

Introduction: As previously reported, the combination of brentuximab vedotin with doxorubicin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (A+AVD) demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in modified progression free survival (modified PFS) compared with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD) in patients with newly diagnosed Stage III or IV classical HL in the phase 3 ECHELON-1 trial (NCT01712490). The benefit of A+AVD in the ITT population observed in the primary analysis was maintained at 3-years median follow-up [3-year PFS: A+AVD: 83.1% (79.9-85.9), ABVD: 76% (72.4-79.2)] and appears independent of interim PET status, disease stage, and prognostic risk factors. Here we present the efficacy and safety results of longer follow-up at a median 43.3 months. Methods: Newly diagnosed patients with Stage III or IV cHL were randomized 1:1 to receive A+AVD (n=664) or ABVD (n=670) intravenously on days 1 and 15 of each 28-day cycle for up to 6 cycles. The primary endpoint of the study was modified PFS per independent central review. The present follow-up PFS analysis is exploratory and per investigator assessment, with a cutoff date of June 17th, 2019. Patients with ongoing peripheral neuropathy (PN) at end of treatment were followed for resolution or improvement (defined as improved by ≥1 grade from worst grade as of the latest assessment) during the post-treatment follow-up period. Results: With a median follow-up of 43.3 months, the 42-month PFS per investigator for all patients was 82.4% (95% CI, 79.1-85.2) on the A+AVD arm and 76.2% (95% CI, 72.6-79.4) on the ABVD arm [overall HR 0.697 (95% CI, 0.547-0.890)]. Exploratory subgroup analyses of PET2(+) and PET2(-) patients showed a treatment effect in favor of A+AVD. The 42-month PFS in PET2(-) patients was 85.0% (95% CI, 81.6-87.7) for A+AVD and 79.6% (95% CI, 75.9-82.8) for ABVD [overall HR 0.695 (95% CI, 0.526-0.919)]; in PET2(+) patients 42-month PFS was 68.3% (95% CI, 54.5-78.7) for A+AVD and 51.5% (95% CI, 38.2-63.4) for ABVD [overall HR 0.552 (95% CI, 0.308-0.989)]. Upon continued follow-up, 81% (356/442) of patients with PN in the A+AVD arm had either complete resolution (64%, 283/442) or improvement (17%, 73/442) of their PN events compared with 83% (236/286) with either complete resolution (74%, 212/286) or improvement (8%, 24/286) in the ABVD arm. Among patients with ongoing PN after continued follow-up, the majority were Grade 1/2 events, with 89% (141/159; 59% Grade 1) and 95% (70/74; 65% Grade 1) on the A+AVD and ABVD arms, respectively. Overall survival data are not yet mature; per protocol, the final analysis will be performed after 112 deaths have occurred. Additional follow-up at an estimated median of ~4 years, including data from prespecified subgroups, will be presented. Conclusions: With a median follow-up of 43.3 months, A+AVD continues to provide a robust, durable benefit for patients with previously untreated Stage III or IV cHL compared with ABVD; the benefit is evident regardless of patient status at interim PET [PET2(+) or PET2(-)] and without the need for treatment intensification. PN continued to completely resolve or improve in patients on the A+AVD and ABVD arms. Together, these data further support the clinical advantages of A+AVD versus ABVD as treatment for patients with previously untreated Stage III or IV cHL. Disclosures Bartlett: Affimed Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Dynavax: Research Funding; Forty-Seven: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Immune Design: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Medimmune: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Millennium: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Straus:Elsevier (PracticeUpdate): Consultancy, Honoraria; Hope Funds for Cancer Research: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria. Dlugosz-Danecka:Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Macrogenomics: Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Illes:Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Feldman:Takeda: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Cell Medica: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Viracta: Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kite Pharma: Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Research Funding; Portola Pharma: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Eisai: Research Funding; Corvus: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses, Speakers Bureau; Kyowa Hakko Kirin: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding. Smolewski:Roche: Other: Travel Expenses. Savage:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS, Merck, Novartis, Verastem, Abbvie, Servier, and Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria. Walewski:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Honoraria; Gilead: Other: Travel Expenses; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Zinzani:Portola: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Immune Design: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sandoz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celltrion: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy; Eusapharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Verastem: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Kyowa Kirin: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Hutchings:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding; Genmab: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding. Radford:AstraZeneca: Equity Ownership, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; GSK: Equity Ownership. Munoz:AstraZeneca: Speakers Bureau; Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics LLC an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Fosunkite: Speakers Bureau; Kyowa: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Portola: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding. Kim:Roche: Research Funding; Kyowa-Kirin: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; J&J: Research Funding; Mundipharma: Research Funding; Celltrion: Research Funding; Donga: Research Funding. Advani:Cell Medica, Ltd: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Kura: Research Funding; Infinity Pharma: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Research Funding; Celmed: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Autolus: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agensys: Research Funding; Stanford University: Employment, Equity Ownership; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kyowa Kirin Pharmaceutical Developments, Inc.: Consultancy; Regeneron: Research Funding; Millennium: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Gilead Sciences, Inc./Kite Pharma, Inc.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Forty-Seven: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Ansell:Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Affimed: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Trillium: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment. Younes:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Curis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Biopath: Consultancy; Xynomics: Consultancy; Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; HCM: Consultancy; BMS: Research Funding; Syndax: Research Funding. Gallamini:Takeda: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy. Miao:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment, Equity Ownership. Liu:Takeda: Employment. Fenton:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Forero-Torres:Seattle Genetics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Honoraria, Research Funding.
Glutathione Metabolism Contributes to the Pathobiology of Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 3971-3971

10.1182/blood-2019-124558

Cancer cells have altered energy demand due to their increased proliferative capacity. In Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia (WM), an indolent yet incurable B-cell lymphoma, the homeostasis of the bone marrow (BM) environment is disturbed due to the infiltration of the lymphoplamacytic cells that continuously produce monoclonal IgM. An alteration in energy demand could skew the balance of key proteins and metabolites towards a permissive niche for WM tumor cells growth, and unfavorably effect on the immune response against tumor cells. Therefore, the aim of our study was to identify how changes in certain metabolites and/or proteins could contribute to the pathobiology of WM and whether the cytokine and chemokine composition of the BM microenvironment play a role in such changes. WM patient's samples including BM plasma, peripheral blood serum and BM cells (n=101) as well as equivalent normal counterparts (n=86) were collected and used for metabolomics analysis. Comprehensive targeted metabolomics analysis was performed using Capillary Electrophoresis Time-of-Flight Mass spectrometry (CE-TOFMS), CE-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (CE-qQqMS) and Liquid Chromatography (LC-TOFMS). Normal and WM peripheral blood serums samples were also used for untargeted proteomics analysis using a fully automated proteomic technology platform that includes an Agilent 1200 Series Quaternary HPLC system connected to a Q Exactive Plus mass spectrometer. Real-time PCR analysis was performed to detect the gene expression of the relevant metabolite transporters located on the cell membrane. BM cells from control and WM patients' samples were used for flow cytometry analysis. IHC was used to detect the proteins on the BM tissues. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchal Clustering Analysis (HCA) on both metabolomics and proteomics data identified two distinct clusters for disease and normal samples, indicating that there are differentially expressed proteins and metabolites in WM versus normal samples. Furthermore, pathway analysis showed that the majority of the altered metabolites were the members of the glutathione (GSH) metabolism pathway. This finding was further validated not only by data obtained from metabolomics analysis of BM cells and BM plasma, but also by proteomic data WM patients serum, implying that GSH metabolism is key to the biology of WM. Moreover, stimulation of WM cell lines by IL-6 and IL-21, cytokines involved in inducing WM cell proliferation and IgM secretion, resulted in increased gene expression of the transporters mediating uptake of metabolites required for GSH synthesis, including SLC7A11, 4F2HC and LAT1, indicating that cytokines in the WM BM could modulate GSH metabolism. In addition, IHC staining of the BM tissues as well as flow cytometry analysis of patients' lymphoplasmacytic cells identified glutathione peroxidase as one of the major proteins modulating GSH metabolism in WM. In summary, our data highlight a central role for GSH metabolism in WM disease biology and indicate that intervening with the metabolic processes could be a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with WM. Disclosures Ansell: AI Therapeutics: Other: research funding for clinical trials; Seattle Genetics: Other: research funding for clinical trials; Regeneron: Other: research funding for clinical trials; Affimed: Other: research funding for clinical trials; Bristol Myers Squibb: Other: research funding for clinical trials; Pfizer: Other: research funding for clinical trials; Merck: Other: research funding for clinical trials; Takeda: Other: research funding for clinical trials.
Event-Free Survival at 24 Months Following Autologous Stem Cell Transplant in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 2896-2896

10.1182/blood-2019-124579

Introduction: Front-line immunochemotherapy (IC) with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) is expected to cure 60-70% of newly diagnosed DLBCL. Up to one third of newly diagnosed DLBCL patients will have relapsed or refractory (r/r) disease.1 Current standard of care for these patients is salvage chemotherapy and, if chemosensitive, to be followed by high dose chemotherapy with hematopoietic cell rescue (autoHCT).2,3 Event-free survival at 24 months (EFS24) after frontline IC is associated with excellent long-term outcomes with overall survival (OS) similar to that of age- and sex-matched controls.4 In comparison, those achieving EFS24 following autoHCT for relapsed or refractory disease may have increased risk for late-mortality compared to the general population with advanced age and intensive salvage therapy contributing to the risk of late complications.5 We sought to better characterize EFS24 after autoHCT to determine the utility of this end-point for informed clinical decisions, patient management, and future clinical trials. Methods: Patients were prospectively enrolled onto the Molecular Epidemiology Resource (MER) of the University of Iowa/ Mayo Clinic Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE). Patients were followed for relapse, retreatment, and death; all events were validated by medical record review. For this analysis patients were included if they were consented within 9 months of initial diagnosis of DLBCL between 2002-2012, had received anthracycline-based IC (R-CHOP, or similar), and eventually had undergone autoHCT for r/r DLBCL. Patients with primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma or post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) were excluded. Overall survival (OS) was defined as time from autoHCT until death due to any cause. Event-free survival (EFS) was defined as time from autoHCT until progression, relapse, retreatment, or death due to any cause. OS from achieving EFS24 after autoHCT was compared to age- and sex-matched general US population. Results: 108 patients underwent autoHCT for relapsed DLBCL between 2002 and 2017. Median age at autoHCT of the patients was 60 years (range 20-78) and 72 (67%) were male. The most common transplant conditioning regimen was BEAM (82%). At a median follow-up after autoHCT of 85 months (range 1-171), 72 patients (67%) had an event and 64 patients (59%) had died. Kaplan-Meier estimates for EFS and OS at 24 months from the time of autoHCT were 49% (95% CI: 40-59) and 61% (95% CI: 52-71), respectively. 52 patients had a progression within 24 months of autoHCT; OS from progression was poor (median OS=2.8 months, 95% CI: 1.8-6.0; 5 year OS = 9%, 95% CI: 2-22). 48 patients achieved EFS24 after autoHCT; median OS from achieving EFS24 was 136 months (95% CI: 92-NE) and 5 year OS was 79% (95% CI: 68-93). This was inferior to the background population (Figure 1, SMR=3.64, 95% CI: 2.11-6.27, p<0.0001). Eight patients had a progression after achieving EFS24 from autoHCT. OS from progression in these 8 patients (median OS=27.3 months, 95% CI: 14.4-NE; 5 year OS = 16%, 95% CI: 3-93) was improved compared to progression within 24 months of autoHCT (p=0.072, figure B). Cause of death (COD) in EFS24 achievers was progression of lymphoma (n=6), infection (n=1), secondary malignancy related to therapy (n=3), heart disease (n=1), and unknown (n=1). Conclusions: Patients achieving EFS24 after salvage chemotherapy and autoHCT have a favorable long-term prognosis; however, overall survival remained inferior to the general population. Most common COD after achieving EFS24 was progression of lymphoma. In spite of this, EFS24 remains a valuable end-point for informed clinical decisions, patient management, and future clinical trials. Figure 1 Disclosures Maurer: Morphosys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Research Funding; Nanostring: Research Funding. Ansell:Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Affimed: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding. Cerhan:Celgene: Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; NanoString: Research Funding. Farooq:Celgene: Honoraria; Kite Pharma: Research Funding.
Waldenström Macroglobulinemia with Excess Plasma Cells: Is It a Distinct Entity?

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 1532-1532

10.1182/blood-2019-131442

Introduction: Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is characterized by circulating monoclonal IgM and bone marrow infiltration with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) cells. Presently, there is limited data to guide prognosis or treatment options of WM based on the proportion of lymphocytes or plasma cells in the LPL population on the pathology. In this study, we aim to look at differing clinical features and outcomes of patients with WM based on the plasma cell (PC) percentage in the diagnostic bone marrow biopsy. Methods Patients with WM seen at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN between January 2001 and December 2017, with a bone marrow biopsy and a corresponding serum free light chain (FLC) examination at diagnosis of WM were included. The percentage of lymphocytes and PCs in the marrow biopsy was determined based on morphology ± immunohistochemistry. On immunohistochemistry, CD138 and/or MUM-1 positivity was used to quantify PCs, whereas CD20 and/or PAX5 were used to quantify lymphocytes. Patients with ≥10% PC component in the lymphoplasmacytic (LPL) cells on bone marrow biopsy were considered to have WM with excess plasma cells (WMEPC), while those with &lt;10% PCs were considered to have lymphocytic WM (LWM). Continuous variables were compared using Wilcoxon test and categorical variables were compared using Chi square test or Fisher's exact test. Time-to-next therapy (TTNT) was defined as the period from initiation of first line therapy to start of second line therapy or death due to any cause before second line therapy. Time-to-event analyses were conducted using Kaplan Meier method. Results: Of 228 evaluable patients, 147 (64%) had ≥ 10% PCs in the initial marrow biopsy. The median follow-up was 3.4 years (95% CI: 2.3-4.3 years) for LWM and 4.3 years (95% CI: 3.4-4.8 years) for WMEPC (p=0.33). The baseline characteristics of WMEPC versus LWM are depicted in Table 1. Patients with WMEPC had lower bone marrow involvement by LPL (30%) compared to LWM (60%; p&lt;0.001) at diagnosis, but the rate of symptomatic hyperviscosity was higher in WMEPC during the disease course (Table 1). The TTNT was shorter for WMEPC [2.6 years (95% CI: 1.8-4.5 years)] compared to LWM [4.5 years (95% CI 3.2-8.2)], although it did not reach statistical significance (p=0.09, Figure 1). There was a trend towards shorter OS for WMEPC [Not reached (95% CI 7.2- NR)] compared to LWM [10.7 years (95% CI 7.3 -12.1 years); p=0.28], Figure 2. Of the 228 patients, 79% (n=182) had data available for systemic therapy. The rate of PR or better with frontline therapy was higher in rates in LWM compared to WMEPC (61 % vs 42% p=0.02, Table 1). Among WMEPC cohort, patients receiving either a proteasome inhibitor (PI)-based or an immunomodulatory (IMiD)-based combination as frontline therapy (n=16) had higher rates of partial response or better (68%) compared to non-PI/non-IMiD based therapy (n=114), p=0.04. Conclusion: WM with excess plasma cells at diagnosis is associated with a trend towards shorter TTNT and OS compared to WM with &lt;10% plasma cells in the lymphoplasmacytic population at diagnosis. Our preliminary data shows higher rates of partial response or better with the use of PI/IMiD based therapy, but the small cohort size limits the strength of this finding which needs to be validated externally. Disclosures Ansell: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Trillium: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Trillium: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Affimed: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Trillium: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Trillium: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding. Gertz:Spectrum: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Prothena: Honoraria; Alnylam: Honoraria; Ionis: Honoraria. Dingli:alexion: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Millenium: Consultancy; Rigel: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Research Funding. Nowakowski:Selvita: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; NanoString: Research Funding; MorphoSys: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech, Inc.: Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Research Funding; Curis: Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding. Dispenzieri:Alnylam: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Intellia: Consultancy; Akcea: Consultancy. Lacy:Celgene: Research Funding. Kumar:Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding. Kapoor:Janssen: Research Funding; Cellectar: Consultancy; Glaxo Smith Kline: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria.
Mass Cytometry Identifies a Novel Signature for Myeloid-Derived Suppressor-Cells in Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 3976-3976

10.1182/blood-2019-124850

Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a heterogeneous population of undifferentiated myeloid cells that are expanded and activated in pathological conditions and have the ability to potently suppress T-cell function and thereby contribute to immunosuppression and tumor progression. While there have been studies showing a role for MDSC in a variety of hematological malignancies, no data is available indicating that MDSCs contribute to the tumor progression in Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia (WM), an indolent lymphoma characterized by bone marrow (BM) infiltration of lymphoplasmacytic (LPL) cells and increased secretion of monoclonal IgM. In previous work, we have found increased GM-CSF and reduced arginine and cysteine in the BM microenvironment in WM. We hypothesized that this was due to the presence and activity of MDSCs in WM. BM aspirates from WM patients (n=17) were therefore processed to isolate LPL (CD19+/CD138+) cells from the rest of the BM cells (CD19-/CD138-). Sorted (CD19-/CD138-) cells from BM of patients with WM were studied with flow cytometry. Using a sequential gating strategy (lack of lineage markers, low levels of HLADR, CD33+, CD11b+) we identified a population of MDSCs that were then subdivided using CD14 and CD15 expression into total-, monocytic-, or granulocytic- MDSCs (m-MDSC, g-MDSC). We also analyzed unsorted BM cells using cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) in order to further identify and phenotypically characterize the BM MDSC population in a group of WM patients with smoldering (asymptomatic) disease, symptomatic disease, or in remission post-treatment. BM samples from normal subjects were used as a control. Flow cytometry data showed significant higher numbers of MDSC subsets expressing PD-L1 and Arginase1 in WM patients when compared to the normal samples. BM cells from WM patients (n=18) then were compared to controls (n=11), and the absolute number of the total MDSC (p=0.05), m-MDSC (p=0.002), g-MDSC (p=0.02) was increased in WM specimens. When MDSCs from WM or normal monocytes from healthy controls were co-cultured with activated T-cells, the proliferation of activated T-cells in the presence of MDSCs from WM patients was impaired compared to controls, confirming the suppressive role of MDSCs. We then performed high dimensional analysis of the total BM MDSC cells using t-SNEand identified phenotypically distinct MDSC cell populations in the BM that were differentially present when healthy controls were compared to patients with smoldering WM or those with WM needing treatment. Specifically, WM patients needing treatment had increased numbers of a distinct MDSC population that was highly positive for CD163, and CD138. Moreover, conventional markers denoting m-MDSC and g-MDSC, such as CD14 and CD15, were highly expressed in all populations and their pattern of expression did not specifically define the MDSC subtypes, indicating that high dimensional phenotyping further details the MDSC sub-compartments beyond the conventional categorization of MDSC using conventional cytometry. In summary, we find that MDSCs are increased in the BM of WM patients compared to controls. MDSCs expressing CD163 and CD138 increase when WM patients become symptomatic and require therapy. Furthermore, MDSCs in the BM of WM patients suppress T-cell function and likely contribute to progression of the disease. MDSCs in the BM therefore present a therapeutic target that should be explored in WM patients. Disclosures Ansell: Bristol Myers Squibb: Other: research funding for clinical trials; Merck: Other: research funding for clinical trials; AI Therapeutics: Other: research funding for clinical trials; Affimed: Other: research funding for clinical trials; Takeda: Other: research funding for clinical trials; Pfizer: Other: research funding for clinical trials; Regeneron: Other: research funding for clinical trials; Seattle Genetics: Other: research funding for clinical trials.
Immune Phenotyping of Cytotoxic T-Cells Reveals a Novel Population of TIM3 Expressing Cells That Lack PD1 and Are Associated with Good Outcomes in Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 2790-2790

10.1182/blood-2019-127757

The outcomes of lymphoma patients treated with PD1 inhibitors (PD1i) vary significantly across different histologies with objective responses rates that are around 70% in classical Hodgkin lymphoma, but significantly lower, around 10%, in indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas (iNHL). This may be due in part to the inability of PD1i to restore the function of exhausted T-cells (Tex) in the tumor microenvironment (TME). PD1 is expressed on various T-cell subsets, including effector cells and Tex. In this study we sought to identify markers of exhaustion beyond PD1 that define T-cell subsets with high reactivation potential in marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). To define different stages of exhaustion in MZL, we developed and validated a mass cytometry (CyTOF) panel which integrates T-cell markers of lineage, differentiation, activation, suppression, cytokine production and transcription factors associated with exhaustion. We analyzed 35 MZL spleens obtained at diagnosis and 6 reactive spleens. We identified a population of CD8 cells in MZL that express TIM3 without PD1, compose 1.5% (range 0.14-4.88%) of total CD8 cells and expand with activation through the TCR (6.2% of CD8, range 0.6-14.2%). Prolonged cytokine exposure has been shown to induce exhaustion in healthy T-cells, and so to determine whether PD1-TIM3+ cells are Tex, we treated healthy donor T-cells with activating beads and IL12 and analyzed them by flow cytometry. We showed that PD1-TIM3+ cells expand with repetitive activation and IL12 treatment suggesting that they are Tex. Since Tex have been shown to have a distinct transcription profile compared to functional effector T-cells, we analyzed the expression of several transcription factors (TFs) that are upregulated in Tex by CyTOF and compared them to other subsets of T-cells. PD1-TIM3+ cells expressed higher levels of Eomes, Tbet, TOX and Helios compared to activated effector cells, confirming that they are Tex, but lower levels levels of the same TFs compared to PD1+TIM3+ cells, consistent with a less severely exhausted phenotype. To characterize the function of PD1-TIM3+ cells, we manually gated on subsets of CD8+ non-naïve cells that were stained with the CyTOF panel and compared the different subsets. We showed that PD1-TIM3+ cells arise from effector cells, maintain their polyfunctionality by producing cytokines and chemokines and have a unique cytokine production profile, including perforin, granzyme B and proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL17A. Importantly, PD1-TIM3+ cells produced higher levels of most cytokines compared to more severely Tex expressing both PD1 and TIM3 (Fig 1). We then performed tSNE analysis where similar objects are modeled by nearby points. We determined that PD1-TIM3+ cells cluster together, suggesting that they are phenotypically homogeneous cells in terms of function and expression of activation markers and are significantly different from PD1+TIM3+ cells (Fig 2). We finally blocked PD1 or TIM3 and analyzed the effect of each antibody blockade on function. We showed that TIM3 blockade was able to restore the production of most cytokines to higher degrees than PD1 blockade. In addition, TIM3 blockade led to upregulation of CD28, which is critical for the rescue of Tex through costimulation, while PD1 blockade did not. We then analyzed the clinical outcomes of all 34 MZL patients. The frequency of PD1-TIM3+ cells was lower among observed patients who failed to achieve an event-free survival (EFS) of 12 months (EFS12) (0.8% vs 1.7%, p=0.02) and among treated patients that failed an EFS of 24 months (EFS24) (0.9 vs 1.7%, p=0.03), when compared to patients that reached these endpoints. Higher levels of PD1-TIM3+ cells were also associated with a trend towards improved overall survival (OS). Five-year OS was 88% vs. 69% in patients with PD1-TIM3+ levels >2% and <2% of total CD8 cells respectively (p=0.1) (Fig 3). Our study provides insights into the mechanisms of failure of PD1i in MZL and identifies a novel population of Tex with high reactivation potential which is clinically relevant and could serve as a target for future immunotherapies in iNHL. Disclosures Anagnostou: American Society of Hematology, Mayo Clinic/Iowa Lymphoma SPORE, Mayo Clinic Immune Monitoring Core, Mayo Clinic Hematology Small Grant: Research Funding. Novak:Celgene Coorperation: Research Funding. Ansell:Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Trillium: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Affimed: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Trillium: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding.
Long Non-Coding RNA Expression in Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia and IgM Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 2774-2774

10.1182/blood-2019-128912

Introduction Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare, incurable, indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is preceded by an IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (IgM MGUS). In recent years, better understanding of the pathobiology of WM and IgM MGUS has strengthened the hypothesis that they may represent different stages of the same disease. Studying the relationship between these two conditions is the essential first step to understanding the mechanisms driving the malignant transformation from IgM MGUS to WM. Recently long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have garnered significant recognition for their roles in the regulation of gene expression and cellular function. lncRNA can regulate gene expression of neighboring protein-coding genes through multiple mechanisms such as by recruiting chromatin modifiers and increasing accessibility of genes to transcription proteins, or by directly binding to enhancers or promoters. Here we present the first analysis of the lncRNA expression profile in patients with WM compared to IgM MGUS. Methods Twenty-one patients with untreated WM (n=14) and IgM MGUS (n=7) seen at Mayo Clinic were included in this analysis. Malignant cells were isolated from bone marrow samples using CD19 and CD38 positive selection. Total RNA was extracted and sequencing was performed using the Illumina HiSeq4000 NGS platform. Differentially expressed lncRNAs in WM compared to IgM MGUS were defined as log2 fold change (FC) > 1.0 (upregulated) or < -1.0 (downregulated) and a false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05. The nearest gene to each lncRNA was also identified and their gene expression was detected. Using the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software and taking into account the transcriptional expression and known function of these genes, a correlation between cell function and disease analysis was performed. Results A total of 119 lncRNAs were differently expressed between WM and IgM MGUS (17 transcripts were upregulated in WM, while 102 were downregulated in WM). Sixteen unique genes were identified as the nearest gene to 17 upregulated lncRNAs, while 18 genes were identified as the nearest genes to the top 18 downregulated lncRNAs in WM compared to IgM MGUS. Several of the upregulated lncRNA in WM were in proximity to known oncogenes. The well-known oncogenic lncRNA PVT1 was found to be upregulated in WM compared to IgM MGUS (log2 FC 1.35, FRD 0.04). PVT1 is overexpressed in several malignancies and associated with inhibition of apoptosis and increased cell proliferation. PVT1 is in close proximity to MYC and co-expression of PVT1-MYC has been described in multiple cancers. PVT1 also potentiate MYC amplification by increasing MYC protein stability, therefore promoting malignant cell growth. The lncRNA TCB1D27, also upregulated in WM compared to IgM MGUS, is located in close proximity to the oncogene TNFRSF13B (TACI), which was found to be overexpressed in WM patients (log2 FC 1.61, FDR <0.001). TACI is a receptor for BLyS/BAFF, which modulates the development of normal B-cells and plays a role in various B-cell malignancies. In fact, BLyS/BAFF level is known to be increased in WM and to promote survival and proliferation of WM B cells. The upregulated lncRNA RP11-25K21.1 in WM is located in close proximity to the oncogene FCGR2B (CD32B), which was also upregulated in WM compared to IgM MGUS (log2 FC 1.59, FDR 0.001). Overexpression of CD32B was previously shown to be associated with inferior outcomes in DLBCL and FL patients, presumably secondary to an increased internalization and clearance of rituximab due to increased CD32B expression on malignant cells. Several other upregulated lncRNAs in WM compared to IgM MGUS are also in proximity of other oncogenes such as PCED1B, POLD3, CLLU1, and SMAD7. Finally, we considered the expression of the nearest genes and their reported cell function and association with diseases. Several genes that are known to have a role in the cell proliferation and/or neoplasm development were noted to be upregulated in WM (figure 1). Conclusion We present the first report of lncRNAs expression in WM and IgM MGUS in addition to a concurrent analysis of the gene expression of the nearest protein-coding genes. Several known oncogenes are in proximity of overexpressed lncRNAs in WM compared to IgM MGUS that could indicate potential implications in the pathobiology of these diseases and the mechanism driving the malignant transformation to WM. Disclosures Paludo: Celgene: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Verily Life Sciences: Research Funding; Verily Life Sciences: Research Funding. Dasari:The Binding Site: Patents & Royalties: US Patent Rights on Mass Spectroscopy Licensing agreement with The Binding Site, Research Funding. Kapoor:Celgene: Honoraria; Cellectar: Consultancy; Janssen: Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Glaxo Smith Kline: Research Funding. Ailawadhi:Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Cellectar: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy. Gertz:Amyloidosis Foundation: Research Funding; i3Health: Other: Development of educational programs and materials; Medscape: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Ionis/Akcea: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Appellis: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Teva: Speakers Bureau; Alnylam: Consultancy; Prothena Biosciences Inc: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Spectrum: Consultancy, Research Funding; Annexon: Consultancy; Physicians Education Resource: Consultancy; Abbvie: Other: personal fees for Data Safety Monitoring board; Research to Practice: Consultancy; Johnson and Johnson: Speakers Bureau; DAVA oncology: Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Proclara: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Springer Publishing: Patents & Royalties; International Waldenstrom Foundation: Research Funding. Novak:Celgene Coorperation: Research Funding. Ansell:Affimed: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Trillium: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding.
Genomic Analysis of R2CHOP-Treated DLBCL Reveals a High-Risk Population Driven By Inflammatory Pathways

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 1480-1480

10.1182/blood-2019-126860

Introduction: New Diffuse Large B-cell (DLBCL) treatments remain a clinical need despite the success of rituximab combined with CHOP chemotherapy (RCHOP), which results in durable responses in 60-70% of patients. Those refractory to, or who relapse following, first-line therapy have a very poor outcome, with only 20% surviving beyond 5 years. Rationally-targeted frontline strategies are needed, especially for those with high-risk disease. Significant advances have been made in the genomic classification of DLBCL, but none have impacted the design of phase III trials for untreated DLBCL patients. Building on new genetic profiling studies to personalize clinical treatment, an NCI initiative, could allow clinicians to add targeted therapies to the RCHOP backbone based on individual tumor signatures. The phase II ECOG-ACRIN1412 trial, which compared RCHOP combined with lenalidomide (R2CHOP) versus RCHOP showed significantly superior event free survival (EFS) and overall survival benefits for those treated with R2CHOP. Herein, we report the profile of a high-risk ABC/non-GCB subset of DLBCL driven by genomic alterations in inflammatory genes that are susceptible to front-line R2CHOP, but continue to experience poor outcome with RCHOP alone. Methods: We studied a total of 196 DLBCL patients. 47 were treated with R2CHOP from an investigator-initiated, open-label, single-arm phase II study (NCT00670358). 149 were newly diagnosed DLBCL cases treated with RCHOP, or R-immunochemotherapy (herein called RCHOP), and followed prospectively through the Molecular Epidemiology Resource (MER) of the University of Iowa/Mayo Clinic SPORE that served as a contemporary cohort. Patients from each treatment group were divided based on their event free survival at 24 months (EFS24). DNA alterations within these populations were identified through whole exome sequencing (WES). Variants were analyzed for their presence in EFS24 achievement or failure groups in both RCHOP and R2CHOP. Both tumor and germline sequencing was performed for 47/47 R2CHOP cases and 49/149 RCHOP cases. Gene expression data from the PanCan panel of 730 B-cell-related genes was analyzed to determine gene expression profiles characteristic of the high-risk/R2CHOP-profile on 59 available non-GCB DLBCL cases (45 RCHOP; 14 R2CHOP). A two-sided comparative marker analysis T statistic test was applied to assess what genes displayed differential expression based on achieving EFS24 in both R2CHOP and RCHOP populations. Positive values represented associations with achieving EFS24 and negative values were associated with cases of EFS24 failure. Results: Three genes were enriched in the RCHOP cases that failed EFS24 but achieved EFS24 with R2CHOP among non-GCB patients: PIM1, SPEN, and MYD88 (L265P), herein referred to as Responder Alterations. In R2CHOP cases, patients with a Responder Alteration had a better overall EFS (P = 0.051) compared to wild type patients. In contrast, RCHOP treated patients with a Responder Alteration in their tumor had a significantly worse overall EFS (P = 0.0004) compared to patients without a mutation. Together, PIM1, SPEN, or MYD88 (L265P) mutations were present in 38.0% (30/79) of all non-GCB cases. Collective R2CHOP and RCHOP EFS24 differential gene expression T values were significantly different for 18 previously-defined signatures. The R2CHOP cases that achieved EFS24 were enriched for genes involved in cell cycle, JAK-STAT, cytokine signaling, and NF-κB pathways based on these signatures and ontology analyses. Lastly, cases with WES and PanCan data were analyzed together to observe differential gene expression patterns between cases with and without signature mutations. These data suggest that R2CHOP disrupts tumors reliant on IRF4, NF-κB, and STAT transcription factors, leading to a loss of proliferative feedback systems. Conclusions: Our combined analysis of DNA and RNA across R2CHOP and RCHOP treatment cohorts identifies a high-risk non-GCB phenotype that encompasses approximately 38% of non-GCB patients, is capable of sustaining JAK-STAT and NF-κB signaling, and is sensitive to R2CHOP. Our study lays the groundwork for a precision therapy approach in DLBCL in which DNA or RNA profiles can be used to identify patients early in treatment who may not benefit from the current standard of care, RCHOP, and who would benefit from the addition of lenalidomide or other targeted agents. Disclosures Gandhi: Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Ansell:LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Regeneron: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic Rochester: Employment; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding. Cerhan:Celgene: Research Funding; NanoString: Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Nowakowski:Curis: Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Research Funding; Genentech, Inc.: Research Funding; MorphoSys: Consultancy, Research Funding; NanoString: Research Funding; Selvita: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Novak:Celgene Coorperation: Research Funding.