Medina, Aldo Acosta

Abstract Introduction Management of acute leukemia (AL) during pregnancy remains challenging. In the first trimester, chemotherapy is toxic to the fetus, while delaying treatment may endanger maternal health, often prompting recommendations for pregnancy termination. In later trimesters, although the risk of congenital malformations decreases, complications such as preterm labor remain prevalent. Delivery prior to chemotherapy may be considered in advanced gestation. This study aimed to describe maternal and fetal outcomes of patients diagnosed with AL during pregnancy. Methods Following institutional review board approval, we retrospectively identified pregnant patients diagnosed with AL between 1995 and 2025 across Mayo Clinic sites (Minnesota, Arizona, Florida). We recorded leukemia subtype, treatment course, maternal and fetal outcomes. Results We identified 18 patients diagnosed with AL during pregnancy, including 11 with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 7 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Ten were diagnosed in the first trimester, 3 in the second, and 5 in the third. In the AML group (n=11; median age 30 years, range 18-42), one patient had acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). ELN 2022 risk stratification was favorable in 5 (45%), intermediate in 4 (36%), and adverse in 2 (18%). In the ALL group (n=7; median age 23 years, range 19-34), 5 had B-ALL (one Philadelphia chromosome-positive) and 2 had T-ALL. All ALL cases were diagnosed in the first trimester. Among first-trimester AMLs, 2 of 3 had core-binding factor (CBF) AML. All eight patients diagnosed in the second and third trimesters had AML (1 APL, 2 CBF AML, 1 KMT2A-rearranged, 1 with DEK::NUP214 fusion, 1 complex karyotype including t(8;21), 2 with normal karyotype). Overall, 15 (83%) patients achieved complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete count recovery (CRi) after initial induction. One patient had refractory disease and achieved partial remission after salvage, another had refractory disease and achieved CR after multiple lines of therapy, and a third achieved CR after FLAG-idarubicin and revumenib. Five patients received chemotherapy during pregnancy (3 in the first trimester, 1 in the second, 1 in the third); two of these resulted in live births. Among the 10 patients diagnosed in the first trimester, all underwent therapeutic or spontaneous abortion. Of the 3 second-trimester diagnoses, 2 underwent spontaneous or therapeutic abortion at 15 weeks. The third received 7+3 induction at 24 weeks for KMT2A-rearranged AML, followed by preterm delivery at 26 weeks and re-induction with FLAG-idarubicin plus revumenib, achieving CR. Among the 5 third trimester diagnoses, 4 delivered preterm infants (median gestational age 33 weeks) prior to chemotherapy. One patient received 7+3 at 29 weeks and delivered a viable preterm infant at 36 weeks. At a median follow-up of 6.5 years, 5 of 11 patients with AML (45%) and 3 of 7 patients with ALL (43%) died, mostly due to disease progression. Median overall survival was not reached in either group. Causes of death were as follows: 1 of AML, 1 of ALL, 3 of acute stem cell transplant (SCT) complications, 1 of chronic SCT complications, 1 of Hodgkin lymphoma, and 1 of pneumonia. Among patients diagnosed in the second and third trimesters (n=8, all with AML), 6 (75%) resulted in live births: 5 of 5 (100%) third-trimester diagnoses and 1 of 3 (33%) second-trimester diagnoses. All received intensive induction: 7+3 (n=5), 7+3 + ATRA (n=1), 7+3 + gilteritinib (n=1), and 7+3 + nilotinib (n=1). Of the second-trimester group, only one received induction prior to delivery; she later achieved CR with FLAG-ida and revumenib. Among the third-trimester group, one patient received chemotherapy prior to delivery and achieved CR followed by SCT. All but one of the 8 AML patients achieved CR after initial therapy. Conclusions Successful pregnancy outcomes were achieved in 75% of patients diagnosed with AML during the late second or third trimester. Notably, 5 (28%) of patients received chemotherapy during pregnancy. Larger, multi-institutional cohorts are warranted to further characterize the incidence and outcomes of AL in pregnancy.

Abstract Introduction Histiocytic neoplasms (HN) are a rare, heterogeneous group of hematologic disorders derived from myeloid-dendritic cell lineages. The most common forms include Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD), and Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD). These disorders are driven by recurrent activating mutations in the MAPK pathway, most frequently involving BRAF, MAP2K1, PIK3CA, KRAS, and NRAS. This discovery enabled a major therapeutic advance with the use of BRAF and MEK inhibitors, resulting in durable responses. For patients harboring KRAS mutations, MEK inhibitors (MEKi) remain the primary therapeutic approach. However, the impact of KRAS mutation subtypes on treatment response remains poorly understood. Our study aimed to characterize the spectrum of KRAS mutations in LCH, ECD, and RDD and evaluate the responses to MEKi, providing insights to guide future treatment strategies. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of patients with LCH, ECD, and RDD who were evaluated at Mayo Clinic or University of Alabama at Birmingham. Patients were included if next-generation sequencing identified a KRAS mutation. The response assessment was based on radiographic evaluation under the most recent Histiocyte Society consensus guideline. Results We identified 23 patients with a KRAS mutation: 17 females (73.9%) and 6 males (26.1%), with a median age at diagnosis of 61 years (range, 20–78). RDD accounted for 73.9% (17/23) and ECD for 26.1% (6/23); no KRAS mutations were detected in LCH patients. The most frequent KRAS variants were p.K117N (34.8%), p.G12D (17.4%), p.A146T (13.0%), p.G13C (8.7%), and p.G13D (8.7%), with additional variants including p.T58I, p.A59G, p.A146P, and p.A146V. Mutation distribution differed by disease group: p.G12D was more common in ECD (50%) than RDD (5.9%) (p=0.01), whereas p.K117N occurred in 47.1% of RDD and was absent in ECD. Regarding treatment, 57% (13/23) received MEKi, all initially cobimetinib, with 1 patient switched to trametinib due to progression. Of the 10 patients who did not receive MEKi, 1 was treated with vemurafenib for a concurrent BRAF p.V600E mutation; 3 remained on observation; 2 underwent surgery without recurrence; 3 received other systemic therapies including corticosteroid, methotrexate, rituximab, lenalidomide, or sirolimus; and 1 developed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, treated with R-CHOP. The overall response rate in the 12 patients on MEKi (excluding 1 patient too early for assessment) was 75%—3 (25%) CR and 6 (50%) PR (including 1 who initially progressed on cobimetinib but responded to trametinib). All 3 non-responders had RDD. Among the 5 patients with p.K117N, 3 had no response to cobimetinib, 1 achieved PR, and 1 achieved CR; notably, 1 non-responder switched to trametinib and achieved PR in 2 months. All 3 patients with codon 146 mutations achieved PR. Of the 2 patients with p.G12D, 1 achieved CR with a co-occurring MAP2K1 mutation, and 1 had no response. No additional genotype–response patterns were observed. Similar heterogeneity has been reported in prior studies. In a phase II cobimetinib trial, an ECD patient with p.R149G achieved PR, whereas another ECD patient with p.G12R and an LCH patient with p.G13C achieved CR in the presence of co-occurring ARAF and NRAS mutations, respectively. A retrospective cohort described an ECD patient with p.K117N achieving PR on dabrafenib and trametinib with a concurrent BRAF mutation and another with p.G12A achieving PR on trametinib. In a multicenter analysis of trametinib, a patient with p.A59T (co-occurring BRAF and NRAS mutations) had no response, whereas another with p.A146P achieved PR. Collectively, these findings, together with our data, underscore that KRAS-mutated histiocytoses exhibit heterogeneous responses to MEKi, likely influenced by variant type and co-mutations. Discussion KRAS mutations represent an important subset of MAPK pathway alterations in HN, although their prevalence varies by disease type and appears extremely rare in LCH, with no cases identified in our cohort. The most common variants include p.K117N and p.G12D, which may be linked to suboptimal response to MEKi in the absence of concurrent MAPK pathway alterations. As MEKi acts downstream, efficacy likely depends on the level of pathway activation conferred by specific KRAS variants. Larger studies are needed to confirm these observations and identify mutation-specific predictors to guide personalized treatment.

Abstract Introduction: Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare histiocytic neoplasm, with approximately 90% of patients exhibiting alterations in the MAPK pathway. BRAF and MEK inhibitors have shown promising results in treating MAPK pathway-altered LCH. However, treatment interruptions due to adverse effects are common, and limited access to targeted therapies complicates care globally. While chemotherapy remains a common treatment for LCH, the outcomes for patients with MAPK pathway-altered LCH specifically receiving chemotherapy are still unclear. Methods: This multi-institutional international retrospective cohort study analyzed adult patients with BRAF or MAP2K (gain-of-function, GOF) altered LCH that were consecutively seen at Mayo Clinic, MN, AZ, and FL, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Peking Union Medical College Hospital in China between 2007 and 2024. All patients who were included in this study were treated with chemotherapy, and those who have received targeted therapies or other modalities of frontline treatment were excluded. All time-to-event analyses were performed from the frontline therapy initiation, using the Kaplan-Meier method. Progression-free survival (PFS) included death and progression as events and was measured from the time of treatment initiation. The response assessment was based on radiographic evaluation in accordance with the most recent Histiocyte Society consensus guideline. Risk organ involvement was defined as disease involving the liver, spleen, bone marrow or central nervous system. Results: A total of 63 patients with LCH were included. The median age of the population was 34 years (range: 27-43), and males were 59%. Risk organ involvement was seen in 44 (70%) of patients and multisystemic LCH was observed in 48 (76%) patients. Among the 63 patients, BRAF gain-of-function alterations were observed in 79%, MAP2K mutations in 19%, and BRAF fusions in 2%. Of the BRAF gain-of-function alterations, BRAFV600E mutation was seen in 64% patients and [p.N486_P490del] deletion in 36%. There was no significant difference in organ involvement (single-system versus multisystem) or risk organ involvement between patients with BRAF and MAP2K alterations. All 63 patients received systemic therapy with chemotherapy and the regimens included Cytarabine (n=43), Cladribine (n=5), Etoposide (n=1), Methotrexate (n=1), and combined Methotrexate and Cytarabine (n=13). The median follow-up for the entire cohort was 3.8 years (range 3.2–5.0 years), with similar durations observed in patients with single-system vs. multisystem involvement and those with risk-organ involvement vs. no risk-organ involvement. The overall response rate among patients who received chemotherapy was 89%, with complete responses in 15 patients (26%) and partial responses in 40 patients (64.5%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) for the entire cohort was 2.61 years (95% CI: 2.06–NA). The 3-year PFS did not significantly differ based on risk organ involvement: 50.6% (95% CI: 36–71) for patients with risk organ involvement versus 47.4% (95% CI: 28–81) for those without, p=0.52. Patients with single-system disease experienced longer PFS compared to those with multisystem disease; the 3-year PFS was 80.2% (95% CI: 58.7–100) versus 42.2% (95% CI: 29–61.5), respectively, p=0.04. Conclusions: Our results indicate that LCH patients with a GOF alteration in the MAPK pathway derive significant clinical benefit from chemotherapy, achieving deep and durable responses. Therefore, patients should not be excluded from treatment due to the absence of targeted therapies, as they can still attain substantial responses and clinical improvement with chemotherapy, even in the context of MAPK pathway-driven disease.

Abstract Purpose. Malignant histiocytoses (MHs) including Langerhans cell sarcoma (LCS), interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma (IDCS), and histiocytic sarcoma (HS) are rare, aggressive neoplasms of the macrophage-dendritic cell lineage. Prognosis is generally poor, particularly in disseminated disease. While mutation-specific therapies are increasingly used in indolent histiocytic neoplasms, their role in MH remains unclear due to the frequent presence of complex mutational profiles. Our understanding of the genomic landscape of MH is limited. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize the molecular alterations in MH.Methods. We conducted a retrospective chart review of MH patients seen at Mayo Clinic and the University of Alabama at Birmingham who underwent comprehensive next-generation sequencing (NGS), including DNA ± RNA analysis. A systematic literature review using PubMed identified additional MH cases with available molecular data.Results. We identified 17 institutional MH cases (3 IDCS, 3 LCS, 11 HS) and 72 cases from the literature (6 IDCS, 11 LCS, 55 HS) with NGS data. Among the 89 total patients, 26 (29%) had DNA-only sequencing and 63 (71%) had combined DNA/RNA sequencing. Twelve patients (n=12; 13%) had a single mutation; the majority had multiple alterations. The most frequently mutated genes were: RAS (n=26; 29%), CDKN1/2 (n=26; 29%), MAP2K1 (n=15; 17%), PTEN (n=11; 12%), BRAF non-V600E (n=8; 9%), PTPN11 (n=8; 9%), CREBBP (n=8; 9%), TET2 (n=8; 9%), DNMT3A (n=7; 8%), fusions (n=7; 8%), BRAFV600E (n=6; 7%), and NF1 (n=4; 4%). Fusions included BRAF::NRF11, BRAF::CLIP2, BRAF::MBP, EGFR::CYTOR, CDKN2A::ADGRG6, IGH::BCL6, and CLIP2-BRAF. Two patients had no alteration detected. Non-V600E BRAF mutations included D594G (n=3), G596R (n=1), G466A (n=1), N581T (n=1), N581I (n=1), and N581S (n=1). Common co-mutations with BRAF included CDKN2A/B (n=9), TP53 (n=6), KRAS/NRAS (n=5), and PDGFR (n=1). Only 2 of 15 MAP2K1-mutated patients (13%) had isolated mutations; the rest had co-mutations, most frequently TP53 (n=3) and BCL2 (n=3). MAP2K1 mutations included F53I (n=2), C121S (n=2), I103N (n=1), Q56P(n=3), E203K (n=1), F53-K57del (n=1), and F53-Q58del (n=1).NRAS mutations (n=6) included Q16K (n=2), G12C (n=1), Q61R (n=1), and 2 unspecified. KRAS mutations (n=20) included G13D (n=3), Q61H (n=3), G12V (n=2), K117N (n=1), V14I (n=1), and 10 unspecified. The most frequent co-mutational pattern (24%) was RAS plus another gene: BRAF (n=3), TP53 (n=6), MAP2K1 (n=2), PTEN (n=4), and CDKN2A/B (n=6).Twelve patients (12/26; 46%) were treated with targeted therapies. Responses included 6 partial and 5 complete responses. Median duration of response was 27.5 months (range 7–54). The sole non-responder had co-occurring NRASand TP53 mutations and received trametinib. Responders received a range of agents matched to their mutations: trametinib (BRAFV600E, MAP2K1F53I, KRASQ16H/PTEND24G/EPHB1R327C, MAP2K1F53I/BCL2/CDKN1B/KIT, and CALR), dabrafenib + trametinib(BRAFG596R/KRASQ61H), imatinib (MAP2K1C121S/METG28881T/DUSP2G137D/HIST1H3BC97Y/GRIN2AS1216C and PTPN11/STK11/GNA11/JAK2), chidamide + sintilimab(IDH2G515A/RHOAG50T/TET23344delC), sirolimus(PTEN/FGFR3/SETD2) and sorafenib (BRAFD594G/KRASK117N/TP53). Most responders (8/11) had multiple mutations; only 3 had single alterations, suggesting multi-mutant MH may still be targetable. Common complex patterns included BRAF+CDKN2A + CDKN2B (n=4), BRAF + CDKN2A + TP53 (n=2), and BRAF + CDKN2A + KRAS (n=2).Conclusion. The MAPK pathway (BRAF, MAP2K1, RAS) is the most altered signaling axis in MH, often accompanied by mutations in tumor suppressors and cell cycle regulators such as TP53, CDKN2A/B, and PTEN. Most MH patients exhibit multiple genomic alterations. Despite this complexity, durable clinical responses to targeted agents are achievable, even in heavily mutated cases. These findings support the use of comprehensive genomic profiling in MH to identify therapeutic targets and guide precision treatment strategies.

Abstract Background Adult xanthogranuloma (AXG) is a rare clonal histiocytic neoplasm (HN) with a poorly defined mutational landscape. Clinically and immunophenotypically, AXG can resemble other HNs such as Erdheim-Chester Disease (ECD) which frequently harbor MAPK pathway alterations and carry BRAF V600E mutations in close to 50% of cases. However, due to the rarity of AXG, the prevalence of the BRAF V600E mutation and the broader mutational landscape is not well known. In this study, we characterize the mutational profile of AXG. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with AXG at our institution between January 1, 2016, and July 15, 2025. The study was approved by the institutional review board. To ensure inclusion of true AXG cases, only patients with a confirmed histopathologic diagnosis and without multisystemic involvement or characteristic imaging findings of ECD, such as symmetric long bone osteosclerosis, were included. BRAF alterations were identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or next-generation sequencing (NGS). We also performed an extensive literature review of mutational studies in AXG and included cases that underwent comprehensive NGS. Results Seventeen patients with AXG were identified. The median age at diagnosis was 40 years (range: 18–75 years). Out of the 17 patients, 11 (65%) reported the face as the primary site of disease, and 11 (65%) had solitary lesions. Of the 17 patients, 13 (76%) underwent BRAF V600E IHC staining, and none tested positive. Twelve (71%) patients had tissue samples analyzed via NGS, and none exhibited the BRAF V600E mutation. Eight of the 12 (67%) patients with NGS testing harbored other alterations involving the MAPK pathway. These included BRAF fusions (n=3), KRAS mutations (n=2), and individual cases with TRAF7 mutation, ALK1 fusion and FGFR1 fusion. One patient was found to have a mutation in WRN, which is not previously reported in AXG. Three patients had no identifiable pathogenic alterations on NGS. Ten patients were monitored without treatment, 2 underwent surgical resections and 3 received chemotherapy (1 had a complete response [CR], 2 achieved a partial response). One patient with FGFR1 fusion was treated with pemigatinib and achieved a CR for over 3 years. One patient with TRAF mutation obtained a CR after treatment with rituximab. We also identified 51 cases of AXG with adequate mutational testing reported in the literature, which reported findings similar to ours. In a retrospective study from France involving 29 patients, MAPK alterations were observed in 55% of cases: however, only 10% harbored BRAF V600E mutations (1). Another analysis of 270 patients with various HN subtypes included 13 individuals with AXG, none had BRAF mutations. MAP2K1 mutations were seen in 31% of patients (2). Taken together, across a combined cohort of 68 AXG patients, the most common alterations were: KRAS mutations (16%), fusions (14%), MAP2K1 mutations (7%) and BRAF V600E (6%). Among fusions, the most involved gene was BRAF (50%), and GAB2 was the most common fusion partner (n=2). In total, 59% of patients had MAPK alterations. These findings collectively underscore the diverse mutational landscape of AXG and highlight the rarity of BRAF V600E mutations relative to closely related HNs. Conclusion We present a series of AXG cases with mutational profiling, from our institution and the published literature. We demonstrate that MAPK alterations are frequently observed in AXG and are driven by heterogeneous mutations. In contrast to other HNs where BRAF V600E mutations are common, we identified no such mutations in our cohort and found only rare cases in the literature. Our institutional data, along with findings from the existing literature, suggest that AXG may have a distinct molecular profile compared to other HNs. A deeper understanding of its mutational landscape may offer insights into disease biology and identify therapeutic targets. ReferencesAnnabi E, Mahévas T, Chasset et al. Clinical, Histopathologic, and Molecular Features and Treatment of Multiple Xanthogranuloma in Adults. JAMA Dermatol. 2025;161(7):765-768. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2025.0886.Durham BH, Lopez Rodrigo E, Picarsic J, et al. Activating mutations in CSF1R and additional receptor tyrosine kinases in histiocytic neoplasms. Nat Med. 2019;25(12):1839-1842. doi:10.1038/s41591-019-0653-6

Abstract Background:Erdheim-Chester Disease (ECD) is a rare, incurable histiocytic neoplasm. Since its recognition in 1930, our understanding of ECD's pathophysiology has evolved. The identification of its clonal nature after 2015 established ECD as a cancer, prompting increased disease awareness and treatment advances. Targeted therapies show promising responses, but changes in ECD mortality over time have not been extensively documented. Methods:A multi-institutional retrospective cohort study analyzed adults with ECD consecutively seen at Mayo Clinic MN, AZ, and FL and the University of Alabama at Birmingham between 2007 and 2024. Clinical and prognostic data were abstracted. Overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared to expected survival using U.S. Census data, based on age at diagnosis (by calendar year), date of diagnosis, and sex. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated by dividing the number of observed deaths in the study population by the expected number of deaths using U.S. population data. Risk of death was compared by date of diagnosis (pre- and post-2015) using Cox proportional hazards analysis. Statistical analysis was performed with R software. Results:A total of 159 ECD patients were included (median age 58 years [range 19-82], 65% male). Forty-nine patients were diagnosed between 1990-2014 and 110 between 2015-2024. Median follow-up for the entire cohort was 4.0 years (95% CI: 3.2-4.4). Median follow-up for those diagnosed between 1990-2014 was 10.4 years (CI: 3.2-16.8), compared to 3.5 years (CI: 3.0-4.2) for those diagnosed between 2015-2024. The 5-year overall survival rate was 80% (95% CI: 72-88). Patients with ECD had an increase in mortality over expected, with 28 deaths compared to an expected 11.2, an SMR of 2.5 (95% CI: 1.7-3.6, p<0.001). Of 17 patients with an identified cause of death, death was attributable to ECD in 11 (65%), secondary malignancy in 1 (7%), and unrelated causes in 5 (29%). Cause of death was unknown in 11 patients. Among deaths, 11 (39%) were treated with targeted therapy, 8 (29%) with chemotherapy, and 1 (4%) received both. One patient (4%) received steroids, 1 received immunomodulator and targeted therapy (4%), and 6 (21%) received no disease-directed therapy. Of the patients whose death was related to ECD, 10 (91%) had multisystem disease. For 49 patients diagnosed pre-2015, 14 deaths occurred during the follow-up, significantly higher than the expected 5.2 deaths based on U.S. population data (SMR of 2.7 [95% CI: 1.5-4.4, p=0.001]). Among those diagnosed between 2015 and 2024, 14 deaths occurred, compared to expected 6.1 (SMR of 2.3 [95% CI: 1.3-3.8, p=0.006]). In an age- and sex-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model, diagnosis after 2015 vs. diagnosis prior to 2015 yielded a hazard ratio of 0.59 (95% CI: 0.27-1.31, p=0.19). Conclusion:The mortality rate of ECD patients remains higher than the general population, despite advancements in disease recognition and development of targeted therapies. While our data suggest a possible trend toward improved survival among patients diagnosed after 2015, we did not find statistically significant evidence of decreased mortality compared to those diagnosed prior to 2015. Larger cohorts with longer follow-up periods are needed to draw definitive conclusions regarding mortality.