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Levine, Ross L.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7884-1905

A5025660159 | I1334819555

Mayo Clinic

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Citations 66

Pevonedistat with azacitidine in older patients with TP53-mutated AML: a phase 2 study with laboratory correlates

Blood Advances | October 31, 2022 | Volume: 7 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 2360-2363

10.1182/bloodadvances.2022008625 | PMID 36315007

Guiding the global evolution of cytogenetic testing for hematologic malignancies

Blood | February 15, 2022 | Volume: 139 | Issue: 15 | Pages: 2273-2284

10.1182/blood.2021014309 | PMID 35167654

Abstract Cytogenetics has long represented a critical component in the clinical evaluation of hematologic malignancies. Chromosome banding studies provide a simultaneous snapshot of genome-wide copy number and structural variation, which have been shown to drive tumorigenesis, define diseases, and guide treatment. Technological innovations in sequencing have ushered in our present-day clinical genomics era. With recent publications highlighting novel sequencing technologies as alternatives to conventional cytogenetic approaches, we, an international consortium of laboratory geneticists, pathologists, and oncologists, describe herein the advantages and limitations of both conventional chromosome banding and novel sequencing technologies and share our considerations on crucial next steps to implement these novel technologies in the global clinical setting for a more accurate cytogenetic evaluation, which may provide improved diagnosis and treatment management. Considering the clinical, logistic, technical, and financial implications, we provide points to consider for the global evolution of cytogenetic testing.
Allogeneic Transplantation in Fit Older Adults Is Feasible and Encouragingly Efficacious. Post Remission Data from the Prospective ECOG-ACRIN (E2906) Clinical Study

Blood | November 24, 2021 | Volume: 138 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 413-413

10.1182/blood-2021-149356

Abstract Introduction: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is the most effective post remission anti-leukemia strategy. However, the associated toxicity is a barrier for its routine adoption as standard of care in older adults. Studies of AML patients who underwent alloSCT are mainly retrospective as randomized controlled trials comparing transplantation to non-transplantation are very difficult to conduct. We herein present prospective data from a randomized controlled phase III study, E2906, designed to compare two intensive chemotherapy arms. Patients who achieved remission and had a donor were to proceed to alloSCT after induction or first consolidation, at investigator discretion. Non-transplanted patients received 2 cycles of consolidation and then underwent a second randomization between observation and decitabine maintenance. Herein are reported all patients who received alloSCT either on protocol during first remission (CR1) or at other post induction time-points. Patients and Methods: Enrolled to E2906 study were 727 AML patients age 60 years and over. AlloSCT was performed in 166 patients, of whom 71 received alloSCT as part of the study and 95 received alloSCT off protocol. 105 patients (66/71 on protocol, 39/95 off protocol) received alloSCT at CR1/CRi1/LFS1 (CR: 92, CRi: 9 LFS: 4). Patients were followed for a median of 33.6 months from diagnosis and 29.1 months from transplant. No patients received decitabine maintenance prior to alloSCT. Overall survival (OS) is defined as the time from allo transplant to death from any cause, with follow-up censored at the date of last contact. Disease free survival (DFS) is defined as the time from alloSCT transplant to relapse or death of any cause. The censored follow-up time for patients without relapse or death information is the date of last contact. Kaplan-Meier estimates were used to estimate OS and DFS. DFS and OS were compared between subgroups using log rank tests. A cumulative incidence analysis, with death without prior relapse as competing events, was performed to evaluate the subgroup effect on time to relapse after transplant. Results: Patient characteristics of those who received alloSCT at CR1/CRi1/LFS1 are similar to the general distribution of AML patients eligible for intensive chemotherapy. Median age was 66 years, 52% were male and 88% with ECOG PS of 0-1. Cytogenetic data were available for 85 patients of whom 26% presented with unfavorable cytogenetics. Minimal residual disease (MRD) status prior to alloSCT was available for 44 patients of whom 19 (43%) achieved a MRD negative state. Long-term OS and DFS rates for all 105 patients who underwent alloSCT at CR1/CRi1/LFS1 are encouraging (Figure 1). OS and DFS at two years were 56.4% and 53.6% and 49.4%, 45.6% and 42.9%, 39% at 3 and 4 years, respectively. Age above or below 65 years, gender, induction regimen (3+7 or clofarabine) and MRD status prior to transplantation had no impact on outcome. Survival curves by intermediate or adverse cytogenetic risk are not significantly different. The numbers of patients with CRi1 or LFS1 are too small to compare with patients in CR1. Nevertheless, 36/38 patients that were alive and remain in first remission at the time of data cutoff, are patients who achieved CR1 and only 2/38 are patients transplanted at CRi1 or LFS1. Notably, the non-relapse mortality (NRM) was not significantly different for patients less or over 65 years. NRM at 6 months and 2 years for patients over and under 65 years of age were 4.4%, 8.4% and 15.6%, 24.0% respectively. Relapse during the first year post alloSCT is the main barrier for longer survival, particularly in patients with adverse cytogenetics and MRD positivity prior to transplantation (Figure 2). Conclusions: Fit older patients, including those over age 65, who undergo an alloSCT in CR1, can expect a 4-year survival of 43% with an acceptable NRM rate. The NRM was, surprisingly, not higher than for a typically younger cohort of AML. Relapse within one year after transplant is the major limitation to prolonged survival and this finding reflects the biology of the leukemia in these patients. In this patient population, novel post remission strategies should either be complimentary to alloSCT or competitive with updated outcome of alloSCT. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Ofran: Medison Israel: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy. Claxton: Astellas: Other: Clinical Trial; Novartis: Research Funding; Astex: Research Funding; Cyclacel: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding. Tallman: Syros: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kura: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; NYU Grand Rounds: Honoraria; Innate Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Biosight: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Oncolyze: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; KAHR: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Orsenix: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi-Sankyo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Research Funding; Rafael Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Glycomimetics: Research Funding; Biosight: Research Funding; Orsenix: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Mayo Clinic: Honoraria; UC DAVIS: Honoraria; Northwell Grand Rounds: Honoraria; NYU Grand Rounds: Honoraria; Danbury Hospital Tumor Board: Honoraria; Acute Leukemia Forum: Honoraria; Miami Leukemia Symposium: Honoraria; New Orleans Cancer Symposium: Honoraria; ASH: Honoraria; NCCN: Honoraria. Melnick: Constellation: Consultancy; Epizyme: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; KDAC Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Levine: Prelude: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Ajax: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Zentalis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Mission Bio: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; QIAGEN: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Honoraria; Lilly: Honoraria; Morphosys: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Imago: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Auron: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene: Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; C4 Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Isoplexis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Lazarus: Bristol Myer Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Luger: Syros: Honoraria; Agios: Honoraria; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Brystol Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Acceleron: Honoraria; Astellas: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Onconova: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Biosight: Research Funding; Hoffman LaRoche: Research Funding; Kura: Research Funding. Foran: gamida: Honoraria; aptose: Research Funding; syros: Honoraria; boehringer ingelheim: Research Funding; kura: Research Funding; takeda: Research Funding; abbvie: Research Funding; trillium: Research Funding; revolution medicine: Honoraria; certara: Honoraria; actinium: Research Funding; OncLive: Honoraria; pfizer: Honoraria; servier: Honoraria; bms: Honoraria; novartis: Honoraria; taiho: Honoraria; sanofi aventis: Honoraria; h3bioscience: Research Funding; aprea: Research Funding; sellas: Research Funding; stemline: Research Funding. Litzow: Jazz: Other: Advisory Board; AbbVie: Research Funding; Omeros: Other: Advisory Board; Amgen: Research Funding; Actinium: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Pluristem: Research Funding; Biosight: Other: Data monitoring committee.
Gilteritinib (GILT) Monotherapy with Addition of Decitabine (DEC) in Non-Responders in Older Newly Diagnosed (ND) FLT3 Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Patients Having High and Low Variant Allele Frequency (VAF): A Phase 2/1b Sub-Study of the Beat AML

Blood | November 23, 2021 | Volume: 138 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 1277-1277

10.1182/blood-2021-148207

Abstract Background: GILT is an oral potent selective FLT3 kinase inhibitor approved for marketing for the treatment (Tx) of patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory FLT3 mutated (FLT3m) AML but efficacy in older ND FLT3m AML pts is unknown. Furthermore, FLT3m can be present as a dominant or subclone and impact of FLT3 inhibitor therapy in this setting is uncertain. Here we report the results of a Phase 2/1b sub-study of the Beat AML Master Trial to assess the efficacy of GILT monotherapy (GILTm) in ND FLT3m AML pts aged ≥60 years with high and low VAF and the subsequent response-driven addition of DEC Tx. (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03013998) Methods: The study was an open-label multicenter (15 sites), 3-outcome, 2-stage Phase 2 design that assigned pts to either Dominant FLT3/Group 1 (GP1) or Non-Dominant FLT3/Group 2 (GP2) as shown in Figure 1. Key eligibility criteria included ND FLT3m AML pts with high and low VAF and/or ITD ratio, aged ≥60 years, and ECOG performance status 0-2. In the Phase 2 study, all pts received GILTm 120 mg/day on days 1 - 28. Pts without CR/CRi after cycle 2 were transferred to the Phase 1b study to receive GILT + DEC (Figure 1). Phase 1b study utilized a standard 3+3 design to evaluate the safety/tolerability of concurrent GILT + DEC. Pts received GILT (dose level 1 [DL1] = 80 mg/day or dose level 2 [DL2] = 120 mg/day on days 1-28) + DEC 20 mg/m 2 IV on days 1-10 or 1-5 every 28 days. Primary endpoint was CR+CRi rate (Phase 2). Response was assessed using modified 2017 ELN AML criteria. The non-dominant GP2 was stopped for futility, GP1 was stopped early to modify trial to include venetoclax. Results: Phase 2 - Between 9/10/2018 to 2/11/2020, 19 / 20 enrolled pts (GP1: n = 9; GP2: n = 10) received GILTm and were included in analyses. Baseline pt characteristics are shown in Table 1. Median (range) time on GILTm was 3 cycles (1 - 18) in GP1 and 1 cycle (1 - 9) in GP2. Most common reasons for discontinuing Tx were Tx failure (TF; 44%) and relapse (33%) in GP1 and TF (70%) and disease progression (PD; 20%) in GP2. Overall CR+CRi was achieved in 4 pts (44%) in GP1 and 1 pt (10%) in GP2. Response duration are shown in Table 2. After median follow-up of 14.3 months (mos) and 19 mos in GP1 and GP2, respectively, 1-year OS was 56% and 76%. Most common Grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) were febrile neutropenia and colitis (each 25%) in GP1; anemia and low platelet count in GP2 (each 30%). Overall, 7 pts had 15 serious AEs (SAEs) and all SAEs occurred in GP1 pts; most common SAE was colitis (25%) and 1 pt (13%) had a Tx-related Grade 3 SAE of tumor lysis syndrome. In GP2, 1 pt (10%) had Tx-related Grade 2 AE of differentiation syndrome. In GP1, 2 pts died within 60 days of Tx and none in GP2. Phase1b - After up to 2 cycles of GILTm, 12 pts with no CR/CRi (GP1: n = 4; GP2: n = 8) were transferred to receive GILT + DEC (Figure 1). At the time of this report, 1 pt with CRh remained on Tx. Median total time on Tx (including GILTm) was 4 cycles and median time on GILT + DEC Tx was 3 cycles (Table 2). Most common reasons for discontinuing Tx were PD (33%) and TF (25%); and 2 pts (17%) stopped Tx due to an AE. Pts were treated with DL1 GILT + DEC (n = 3), then DL2 GILT + DEC (n = 9); only 1 pt had dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) at DL2 (Grade 3 hyperbilirubinemia and pneumonitis requiring steroid therapy), hence, DL2 GILT + DEC was considered the MTD. CR+CRi rate was 25% in 3 pts, all at DL2 (Table 2). After a median follow-up of 17.8 mos, the 1-year OS from start of GILT + DEC Tx was 57%. Most common Grade ≥3 Tx-related AEs were anemia, febrile neutropenia and low WBC count (each 22%). Overall, 6 pts had 12 SAEs; 1 pt with SAE of Grade 4 sepsis died. Three GILT-related SAEs occurred in 1 pt - Grade 3 hyperbilirubinemia, and pneumonitis and Grade 1 transaminases increased. One pt died within 30 days and a second within 60 days of Tx. No difference was observed in GILT pharmacokinetics (PK) with or without DEC, however steady state Ctrough values were 1.4 to 2.3-fold greater than in relapsed/refractory AML pts (Admiral trial). Conclusions: In ND pts ≥60 years old with dominant FLT3 AML, GILTm induced a high 44% CR+CRi rate and long median OS (21.7 mos). Pts with non-dominant FLT3 had low 10% CR+CRi rate. GILTm was generally safe and was associated with differentiation syndrome in 1 pt. Concurrent GILT + DEC was acceptably tolerated, only 1 pt had a DLT, and the MTD was 120 mg/day GILT + DEC. A subset of pts with no CR/CRi during GILTm achieved remission with addition of DEC. Based on these results, a triple combination Tx study with venetoclax is currently enrolling. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Traer: Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Schrodinger: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier/Agios: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ImmunoGen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mims: Glycomemetics: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Research Funding; Aptevo: Research Funding; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Beat AML clinical study: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy; Xencor: Research Funding; Kartos Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Kura Oncology: Consultancy; Syndax Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Aptevo: Research Funding. Stein: Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Syndax Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Syros Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy; PinotBio: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Foghorn Therapeutics: Consultancy; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy; Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy. 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. Kovacsovics: AbbVie: Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceutials: Honoraria; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Amgen Inc.: Research Funding; Stemline: Honoraria; Novartis: Research Funding. Blum: Xencor: Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria; Nkarta: Research Funding; Celyad Oncology: Research Funding; AmerisourceBergen: Honoraria; Forma Therapeutics: Research Funding; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: Research Funding; Syndax: Honoraria. Arellano: Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Consultancy; KITE Pharma, Inc: Consultancy. Schiller: Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Research Funding; Mateon: Research Funding; Tolero: Research Funding; Geron: Research Funding; Regimmune: Research Funding; Kite/Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celator: Research Funding; Sangamo: Research Funding; Stemline Therapeutics, Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Research Funding; PrECOG: Research Funding; Pfizer: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gamida Cell Ltd.: Research Funding; FujiFilm: Research Funding; Samus: Research Funding; Trovagene: Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding; Constellation Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Research Funding; Actuate: Research Funding; Arog: Research Funding; Delta-Fly: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Elevate: Research Funding; Ono-UK: Consultancy, Research Funding; Onconova: Research Funding; Deciphera: Research Funding; Astellas: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Forma: Research Funding; Genentech-Roche: Research Funding; Bio: Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharma: Consultancy; Johnson & Johnson: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Biomed Valley Discoveries: Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Research Funding; ASH foundation: Other: Chair-unpaid; Sellas: Research Funding; Ono: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Ariad: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Kaiser Permanente: Consultancy; Cyclacel: Research Funding; MedImmune: Research Funding; Ambit: Research Funding; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Research Funding; Boehringer-Ingleheim: Research Funding; Cellerant: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Kura Oncology: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Millennium: Research Funding; National Marrow Donor Program: Research Funding; NIH: Research Funding; Onyx: Research Funding; Pharmamar: Research Funding; UC Davis: Research Funding; UCSD: Research Funding; Evidera: Consultancy; NCI: Consultancy; Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Olin: Astellas: Honoraria, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Actinium: Honoraria. Foran: taiho: Honoraria; syros: Honoraria; kura: Research Funding; boehringer ingelheim: Research Funding; sanofi aventis: Honoraria; trillium: Research Funding; aptose: Research Funding; abbvie: Research Funding; pfizer: Honoraria; gamida: Honoraria; actinium: Research Funding; takeda: Research Funding; certara: Honoraria; OncLive: Honoraria; bms: Honoraria; revolution medicine: Honoraria; servier: Honoraria; novartis: Honoraria; h3bioscience: Research Funding; aprea: Research Funding; sellas: Research Funding; stemline: Research Funding. Litzow: AbbVie: Research Funding; Jazz: Other: Advisory Board; Pluristem: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Omeros: Other: Advisory Board; Actinium: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Biosight: Other: Data monitoring committee. Lin: AbbVie, Aptevo Therapeutics, Astellas Pharma, Bio-Path Holdings, Celgene, Celyad, Genentech-Roche, Gilead Sciences, Incyte, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Ono Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Prescient Therapeutics, Seattle Genetics, Tolero, Trovagene: Research Funding. Patel: BMS-Celgene, Agios: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Peerview: Honoraria; Aptevo Therapeutics: Research Funding. Foster: Bellicum Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Macrogenics: Research Funding; Rafael Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Macrogenics: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy. Cogle: Aptevo therapeutics: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Vergilio: Foundation Medicine: Current Employment. Gana: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Consultancy; Bausch: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. Druker: VB Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; The RUNX1 Research Program: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GRAIL: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Third Coast Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; EnLiven: Consultancy, Research Funding; Iterion Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Recludix Pharma, Inc.: Consultancy; Pfizer: Research Funding; Merck & Co: Patents & Royalties; Cepheid: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties; Nemucore Medical Innovations, Inc.: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Aptose Therapeutics: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ALLCRON: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Aileron: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vincerx Pharma: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vivid Biosciences: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Byrd: Novartis, Trillium, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Pharmacyclics, Syndax: Consultancy, Honoraria; Vincerx Pharmaceuticals: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Newave: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Levine: Auron: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Consultancy; Ajax: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; C4 Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Isoplexis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Consultancy; Celgene: Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Zentalis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Prelude: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Mission Bio: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy; Gilead: Honoraria; Morphosys: Consultancy; Imago: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; QIAGEN: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Lilly: Honoraria. Borate: Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Blueprint Medicine: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Advisory Board; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Jazz Pharma: Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Rampal: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Galecto, Inc.: Consultancy; Promedior: Consultancy.
Entospletinib (ENTO) and Decitabine (DEC) Combination Therapy in Older Newly Diagnosed (ND) Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Patients with Mutant TP53 or Complex Karyotype Is Associated with Poor Response and Survival: A Phase 2 Sub-Study of the Beat AML Maste

Blood | November 23, 2021 | Volume: 138 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 1279-1279

10.1182/blood-2021-151234

Abstract Background: In vitro studies and emerging clinical data suggest that inhibition of spleen tyrosine kinase may have an antileukemic effect in human AML. Pts with AML and TP53 mutations (TP53m) are commonly associated with older age (≥60 years) and complex karyotype (CK) and respond poorly to standard 7 + 3 induction (IND) chemotherapy with <10% 1-year overall survival (OS). DEC has been reported to improve response in TP53m AML. Here, we report the results of a Phase 2 sub-study of the Beat AML Master Trial that assessed the efficacy of ENTO + DEC combination treatment (Tx) in ND AML patients (pts) with TP53m or CK aged ≥60 years. [ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03013998] Methods: This multicenter (13 sites), open-label, Phase 2 combination Tx study utilized Simon's 2-stage Phase 2 design and enrolled AML pts with TP53m (identified molecularly) ± CK (Cohort A) or CK (≥3 metaphase abnormalities) without TP53m (Cohort B). Pts initially received 5 days of ENTO lead-in (which was later discontinued), followed by ENTO + DEC and those who achieved CR/CRh/CRi/MLFS with up to 3 cycles of IND proceeded to consolidation (CON) Tx for up to 11 cycles (Figure 1). Pts with CRi/MLFS after IND were allowed up to 6 cycles (IND + CON) to achieve CR/CRh or stayed on Tx if they got clinical benefit or went off Tx. CON was followed by maintenance (MTN) Tx for up to 2 years from start of study Tx. Pts were eligible if aged ≥60 years, ND, and had ECOG performance status 0 - 2. Pts received ENTO 400 mg orally twice daily for 5 days during ENTO lead-in, and then every 28 days during IND, CON, and MTN + DEC 20 mg/m 2 IV days 1-10 (IND) or days 1-5 (CON) every 28 days. Response was assessed using modified 2017 ELN AML criteria. The primary endpoint was composite complete remission (CCR) rate (CR + CRh) with up to 3 cycles of IND, and CRi/MLFS that achieved CR/CRh by up to 6 cycles (IND + CON). Beyond stage 1, pt accrual to Cohort A was allowed based on pts with CRi and to Cohort B was stopped early for futility. Results: Between Oct 2017 and Feb 2020, of the 63 pts enrolled (Cohort A = 48; Cohort B = 15), pts with confirmed eligibility who started study Tx were included in the analyses (Cohort A = 45; Cohort B = 13). During lead-in, 27 pts in Cohort A and 6 pts in Cohort B received ENTOm for 5 days. All pts received ENTO + DEC except 1 pt in Cohort A who withdrew consent (WOC). Median ages of the pts were 70 years (range 60 - 84) in Cohort A and 74 years (range 65 - 86) in Cohort B. Median time (range) on Tx was 2.2 mos and 4.8 mos in Cohort A and B, respectively. Most common reasons for Tx discontinuation were adverse event (AE; 27%), Tx failure (TF; 27%) and WOC (18%) in Cohort A; TF (31%), disease progression and relapse (each 15%) in Cohort B. In each cohort, 1 pt discontinued Tx due to death from leukemia and 1 pt in Cohort A in CRh due to development of an additional genetic abnormality. Four pts (9%) in Cohort A and 1 pt (8%) in Cohort B proceeded to transplant. The CCR (CR + CRh) rates with up to 6 cycles of Tx for Cohort A and B were 13.3% and 30.8%, respectively; overall CR + CRh rates were 17.8% and 38.5% (Table 1). In Cohort A, with a median follow-up of 11.5 months, 0% were 1-year disease-free and median OS (mOS) was 6.5 months. In Cohort B, with a median follow-up of 15.1 months, 25% were 1-year disease-free and mOS was 11.5 months. Deaths within 7-, 30-, and 60-days of Tx were 0, 3 and 11 in Cohort A and 0, 0 and 2 in Cohort B. Most common treatment-related Grade ≥3 AEs in Cohort A and B were febrile neutropenia (31% and 39%) and anemia (22% and 31%) (Table 2). Overall, 83 serious AEs (SAEs) were reported in 33 pts in Cohort A and 12 SAEs in 6 pts in Cohort B; most common SAEs in Cohort A were pneumonia (18%) and respiratory failure (11%), and in Cohort B sepsis, dehydration and acute kidney injury (each 15%). Most common treatment-related grade ≥3 laboratory abnormalities in Cohort A and B were neutrophils decreased (27% and 31%), WBC count decreased (20% and 23%), and lymphocyte count decreased (18% and 15%). Conclusions: ENTO + DEC demonstrated activity in ND AML pts aged ≥60 years with TP53m ± CK and CK without TP53 but induced low CR/CRh rates and short OS consistent with previously published poor CR rates and OS in these pts. Our results differ from the high remission rate and longer OS previously reported for DEC monotherapy in AML pts with TP53m. ENTO + DEC was safe and acceptably tolerated. Novel Tx strategies that can benefit AML pts with these most adverse risk factors are urgently needed. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Ruppert: Telios Pharma: Consultancy. Mims: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Beat AML clinical study: Consultancy, Research Funding; Aptevo: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Research Funding; Glycomemetics: Research Funding; Kartos Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Xencor: Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Kura Oncology: Consultancy; Syndax Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Aptevo: Research Funding. Borate: Jazz Pharma: Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Blueprint Medicine: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Advisory Board; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Rampal: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Galecto, Inc.: Consultancy; Promedior: Consultancy. Stein: Abbvie: Consultancy; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Consultancy; Foghorn Therapeutics: Consultancy; Syros Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy; PinotBio: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Syndax Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. 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. Kovacsovics: AbbVie: Research Funding; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Amgen Inc.: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Stemline: Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceutials: Honoraria. Blum: Amerisource Bergen; Abbvie, Syndax: Honoraria; Forma Therapeutics, Xencor; Celyad: Research Funding. Arellano: KITE Pharma, Inc: Consultancy; Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Consultancy. Schiller: Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Research Funding; Gamida Cell Ltd.: Research Funding; Pfizer: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Research Funding; Forma: Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Constellation Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; MedImmune: Research Funding; Ambit: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Kaiser Permanente: Consultancy; Abbvie: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Genentech-Roche: Research Funding; Delta-Fly: Research Funding; Cyclacel: Research Funding; Mateon: Research Funding; Actuate: Research Funding; Onconova: Research Funding; Geron: Research Funding; Sangamo: Research Funding; Arog: Research Funding; Ariad: Research Funding; Stemline Therapeutics, Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Research Funding; Trovagene: Research Funding; Ono-UK: Consultancy, Research Funding; Tolero: Research Funding; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celator: Research Funding; Kite/Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Deciphera: Research Funding; FujiFilm: Research Funding; Samus: Research Funding; Regimmune: Research Funding; PrECOG: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bio: Research Funding; Elevate: Research Funding; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Biomed Valley Discoveries: Research Funding; Ono: Consultancy; Eli Lilly: Research Funding; Sellas: Research Funding; ASH foundation: Other: Chair-unpaid; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharma: Consultancy; Johnson & Johnson: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Boehringer-Ingleheim: Research Funding; Cellerant: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Kura Oncology: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Millennium: Research Funding; National Marrow Donor Program: Research Funding; NIH: Research Funding; Onyx: Research Funding; Pharmamar: Research Funding; UC Davis: Research Funding; UCSD: Research Funding; Evidera: Consultancy; NCI: Consultancy; Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Olin: Astellas: Honoraria, Research Funding; Actinium: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Cellectis: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding. Foran: certara: Honoraria; pfizer: Honoraria; syros: Honoraria; taiho: Honoraria; boehringer ingelheim: Research Funding; servier: Honoraria; revolution medicine: Honoraria; trillium: Research Funding; takeda: Research Funding; abbvie: Research Funding; novartis: Honoraria; bms: Honoraria; OncLive: Honoraria; gamida: Honoraria; sanofi aventis: Honoraria; aptose: Research Funding; actinium: Research Funding; kura: Research Funding; h3bioscience: Research Funding; aprea: Research Funding; sellas: Research Funding; stemline: Research Funding. Litzow: AbbVie: Research Funding; Omeros: Other: Advisory Board; Astellas: Research Funding; Pluristem: Research Funding; Jazz: Other: Advisory Board; Actinium: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Biosight: Other: Data monitoring committee. Lin: AbbVie, Aptevo Therapeutics, Astellas Pharma, Bio-Path Holdings, Celgene, Celyad, Genentech-Roche, Gilead Sciences, Incyte, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Ono Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Prescient Therapeutics, Seattle Genetics, Tolero, Trovagene: Research Funding. Cogle: Aptevo therapeutics: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Vergilio: Foundation Medicine: Current Employment; Roche: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Gana: Bausch: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company; The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Consultancy. Druker: The RUNX1 Research Program: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Aileron: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties; Recludix Pharma, Inc.: Consultancy; Third Coast Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vincerx Pharma: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; VB Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GRAIL: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Iterion Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ALLCRON: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Aptose Therapeutics: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; EnLiven: Consultancy, Research Funding; Merck & Co: Patents & Royalties; Pfizer: Research Funding; Nemucore Medical Innovations, Inc.: Consultancy; Cepheid: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vivid Biosciences: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Byrd: 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; Newave: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Levine: Isoplexis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Honoraria; Zentalis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Imago: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Ajax: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Lilly: Honoraria; Prelude: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy; Celgene: Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Auron: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; C4 Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Morphosys: Consultancy; QIAGEN: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Mission Bio: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. OffLabel Disclosure: Off-label use of entospletinib and decitabine.
Ivosidenib (IVO) in Combination with Azacitidine (AZA) in Newly Diagnosed (ND) Older Patients with IDH1 R132-Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Induces High Response Rates: A Phase 2 Sub-Study of the Beat AML Master Trial

Blood | November 23, 2021 | Volume: 138 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 875-875

10.1182/blood-2021-149115

Abstract Background: IVO is an oral potent inhibitor of mutated IDH1 (IDH1m) enzyme, recently approved for the treatment (Tx) of ND adult patients (pts) with IDH1m AML ≥75 years old or with comorbidities precluding use of intensive induction chemotherapy, and adult pts with relapsed or refractory AML. In this Phase 2 sub-study of the Beat AML Master Trial, we evaluated the efficacy of IVO + AZA combination Tx in ND pts aged ≥60 years with IDH1m AML (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03013998) Methods: This open-label multicenter (16 sites / 9 enrolling) combination Tx study enrolled ND pts with R132 mIDH1 AML, utilizing the modified minimax Simon's 2-stage Phase 2 design. Pts received IVO + AZA for 6 cycles in the absence of disease progression (PD), unacceptable toxicity or stem cell transplant. Pts who achieved complete remission (CR)/complete remission with hematologic improvement (CRh)/complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) continued IVO + AZA for a total of 12 cycles, then IVO monotherapy until PD. Pts without CR/CRh/CRi after 6 cycles continued IVO + AZA if they demonstrated Tx benefit, as defined in Figure 1. Key eligibility included ND IDH1 R132 mutated AML pts aged ≥60 years and ECOG performance status 0 - 2 (Karnofsky ≥60). All pts received IVO 500 mg/day orally in continuous 28-day cycles + AZA 75 mg/m2 IV or SC on days 1-7 every 28 days. The primary endpoint was CR+CRh+CRi rate after 6 cycles of Tx. Response was assessed using modified 2017 ELN AML criteria. The modified minimax Simon's 2-stage design required 40 pts and tested the null hypothesis that the CR/CRh/CRi rate equaled 25% vs the alternative of 50% (one-sided alpha = 0.025, power 90%). Stage 1 required >5/16 responses for continued enrollment. Even though these criteria were met, the sponsor decided to discontinue the trial on 12/12/2019. Here we report the final primary endpoint results. Data were frozen 02/03/2021. Results: Between 07/2018 and 11/2019, 19 patients were enrolled with IDH1m AML; 18 started IVO + AZA Tx and are included in the analyses. At data freeze, 5 pts had died and 7 pts still on Tx were offered standard of care IVO. Median age of the pts was 75 years, 50% were ≥75 years, 61% were female and 89% were White (Table 1). The most common reasons for Tx discontinuation were trial discontinued by sponsor (7 or 39%), stem cell transplant (4 or 22%), and PD (3 or 17%). A total of 13 pts achieved CR/CRh/CRi (72%) by up to 6 cycles of Tx (Table 2 & Figure 2). Over the entire study period, 14 pts achieved CR/CRh/CRi (78%) with 8 CR (44%), 3 CRh (17%) and 3 CRi (17%). No deaths occurred within the first 60 days of Tx. After a median follow up of 19.8 months (mos), Page 2 median response duration was not reached, with 12-mos disease-free survival rate of 69%; also, median OS was not reached, with 12- and 18-mos OS rates of 100% and 73%, respectively. The median (range) time on Tx was 12 mos (<1 - 26.6); 2 pts (11%) discontinued Tx due to an adverse event (AE) - 2 Grade 3 serious AEs (SAEs), differentiation syndrome and skin infection. Overall, 5 pts had 7 Tx-related SAEs; most common Tx-related SAE was differentiation syndrome in 4 pts (22%), of which 3 (17%) were considered Grade ≥3 (Table 3). The most common AEs of any grade (in ≥25% of pts) were diarrhea (61%), constipation (50%), nausea and hypokalemia (each 44%); and most common Grade ≥3 Tx-related AEs were differentiation syndrome and QTc prolongation (each 17%). The most common Tx-related laboratory abnormalities of any grade were decreased platelet count (22%) and decreased WBC count (17%). Conclusions: In ND pts with IDH1m AML and ≥60 years of age, IVO + AZA Tx was associated with a high CR/CRh/CRi rate, no early deaths (60 days) and a 1-year OS of 100%. IVO + AZA was acceptably tolerated and no unexpected toxicities occurred. Most common unique toxicities of IVO observed during the study were differentiation syndrome and QTc prolongation; these led to Tx discontinuation in only 1 pt. CR/CRh/CRi rate obtained with IVO +AZA is higher than that previously reported in studies with the individual agents or intensive chemotherapy approaches, suggesting a synergistic effect. Our overall response rate is similar to that reported recently for IVO + AZA in older ND IDH1 mutant AML pts, despite not including pts with morphologic leukemia-free state and partial remission. Based on these results, a global Phase 3 evaluation of IVO or placebo plus AZA is ongoing (NCT03173248). Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Patel: BMS-Celgene, Agios: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Aptevo Therapeutics: Research Funding; Peerview: Honoraria. Ruppert: Telios Pharma: Consultancy. Borate: Daiichi-Sankyo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Advisory Board; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Jazz Pharma: Research Funding; Blueprint Medicine: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Rampal: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Galecto, Inc.: Consultancy; Promedior: Consultancy. Stein: Syros Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; PinotBio: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Foghorn Therapeutics: Consultancy; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy; Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Syndax Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. 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. Kovacsovics: AbbVie: Research Funding; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Amgen Inc.: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Stemline: Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceutials: Honoraria. Blum: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: Research Funding; Nkarta: Research Funding; Celyad Oncology: Research Funding; Syndax: Honoraria; Xencor: Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria; Forma Therapeutics: Research Funding; AmerisourceBergen: Honoraria. Arellano: KITE Pharma, Inc: Consultancy; Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Consultancy. Schiller: Sangamo: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Ono-UK: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gamida Cell Ltd.: Research Funding; Tolero: Research Funding; Samus: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bio: Research Funding; Mateon: Research Funding; Genentech-Roche: Research Funding; FujiFilm: Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Research Funding; Kite/Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Arog: Research Funding; Delta-Fly: Research Funding; Celator: Research Funding; Forma: Research Funding; Astellas: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Stemline Therapeutics, Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Regimmune: Research Funding; PrECOG: Research Funding; Constellation Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Trovagene: Research Funding; Elevate: Research Funding; Deciphera: Research Funding; Actuate: Research Funding; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding; Onconova: Research Funding; Geron: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharma: Consultancy; Johnson & Johnson: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Biomed Valley Discoveries: Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Research Funding; ASH foundation: Other: Chair-unpaid; Sellas: Research Funding; Ono: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Ariad: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Kaiser Permanente: Consultancy; Cyclacel: Research Funding; MedImmune: Research Funding; Ambit: Research Funding; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Research Funding; Boehringer-Ingleheim: Research Funding; Cellerant: Research Funding; CTI Biopharma: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Kura Oncology: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Millennium: Research Funding; National Marrow Donor Program: Research Funding; NIH: Research Funding; Onyx: Research Funding; Pharmamar: Research Funding; UC Davis: Research Funding; UCSD: Research Funding; Evidera: Consultancy; NCI: Consultancy; Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Olin: Actinium: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Cellectis: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Astellas: Honoraria, Research Funding. Foran: pfizer: Honoraria; gamida: Honoraria; servier: Honoraria; kura: Research Funding; abbvie: Research Funding; takeda: Research Funding; trillium: Research Funding; revolution medicine: Honoraria; novartis: Honoraria; certara: Honoraria; sanofi aventis: Honoraria; bms: Honoraria; syros: Honoraria; taiho: Honoraria; OncLive: Honoraria; actinium: Research Funding; aptose: Research Funding; boehringer ingelheim: Research Funding; h3bioscience: Research Funding; aprea: Research Funding; sellas: Research Funding; stemline: Research Funding. Litzow: Pluristem: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Jazz: Other: Advisory Board; Amgen: Research Funding; Actinium: Research Funding; Omeros: Other: Advisory Board; Biosight: Other: Data monitoring committee. Lin: AbbVie, Aptevo Therapeutics, Astellas Pharma, Bio-Path Holdings, Celgene, Celyad, Genentech-Roche, Gilead Sciences, Incyte, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Ono Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Prescient Therapeutics, Seattle Genetics, Tolero, Trovagene: Research Funding. Foster: Agios: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Macrogenics: Consultancy; Rafael Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Macrogenics: Research Funding; Bellicum Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Cogle: Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Aptevo therapeutics: Research Funding. Vergilio: Roche: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Foundation Medicine: Current Employment. Gana: Bausch: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company; The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Consultancy. Druker: The RUNX1 Research Program: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; EnLiven: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Aptose Therapeutics: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GRAIL: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Nemucore Medical Innovations, Inc.: Consultancy; Merck & Co: Patents & Royalties; Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Cepheid: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Iterion Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Recludix Pharma, Inc.: Consultancy; Third Coast Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; VB Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Aileron: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ALLCRON: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Research Funding; Vincerx Pharma: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vivid Biosciences: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Byrd: 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; Newave: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Levine: QIAGEN: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Imago: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Ajax: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Mission Bio: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Zentalis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Lilly: Honoraria; Celgene: Research Funding; Isoplexis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Morphosys: Consultancy; Gilead: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; C4 Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Prelude: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Auron: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mims: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: Consultancy; Kura Oncology: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Syndax Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Aptevo: Research Funding; Xencor: Research Funding; Glycomemetics: Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Daiichi-Saynko: Consultancy. OffLabel Disclosure: IVO is an oral potent inhibitor of mutated IDH1 enzyme, recently approved for the treatment of ND adult patients with IDH1m AML âââ,¬Â°Ã,Â¥75 years old or with comorbidities precluding use of intensive induction chemotherapy, and adult pts with relapsed or refractory AML. The combination of AZA, a hypomethylating agent, and venetoclax, an oral BCL-2 inhibitor, is also FDA approved for newly diagnosed AML in adults 75 years or older, or who have comorbidities precluding intensive chemotherapy. This presentation will discuss the combination of IVO and AZA.
Asxl1 loss cooperates with oncogenic Nras in mice to reprogram the immune microenvironment and drive leukemic transformation

Blood | October 26, 2021 | Volume: 139 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 1066-1079

10.1182/blood.2021012519 | PMID 34699595

Abstract Mutations in chromatin regulator ASXL1 are frequently identified in myeloid malignancies, in particular ∼40% of patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). ASXL1 mutations are associated with poor prognosis in CMML and significantly co-occur with NRAS mutations. Here, we show that concurrent ASXL1 and NRAS mutations defined a population of CMML patients who had shorter leukemia-free survival than those with ASXL1 mutation only. Corroborating this human data, Asxl1−/− accelerated CMML progression and promoted CMML transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in NrasG12D/+ mice. NrasG12D/+;Asxl1−/− (NA) leukemia cells displayed hyperactivation of MEK/ERK signaling, increased global levels of H3K27ac, upregulation of Flt3. Moreover, we find that NA-AML cells overexpressed all the major inhibitory immune checkpoint ligands: programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)/PD-L2, CD155, and CD80/CD86. Among them, overexpression of PD-L1 and CD86 correlated with upregulation of AP-1 transcription factors (TFs) in NA-AML cells. An AP-1 inhibitor or short hairpin RNAs against AP-1 TF Jun decreased PD-L1 and CD86 expression in NA-AML cells. Once NA-AML cells were transplanted into syngeneic recipients, NA-derived T cells were not detectable. Host-derived wild-type T cells overexpressed programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and T-cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and ITIM domains (TIGIT) receptors, leading to a predominant exhausted T-cell phenotype. Combined inhibition of MEK and BET resulted in downregulation of Flt3 and AP-1 expression, partial restoration of the immune microenvironment, enhancement of CD8 T-cell cytotoxicity, and prolonged survival in NA-AML mice. Our study suggests that combined targeted therapy and immunotherapy may be beneficial for treating secondary AML with concurrent ASXL1 and NRAS mutations.
Molecular classification improves risk assessment in adult BCR-ABL1– negative B-ALL

Blood | April 25, 2021 | Volume: 138 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 948-958

10.1182/blood.2020010144 | PMID 33895809

Abstract Genomic classification has improved risk assignment of pediatric, but not adult B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). The international UKALLXII/ECOG-ACRIN E2993 (#NCT00002514) trial accrued 1229 adolescent/adult patients with BCR-ABL1− B-ALL (aged 14 to 65 years). Although 93% of patients achieved remission, 41% relapsed at a median of 13 months (range, 28 days to 12 years). Five-year overall survival (OS) was 42% (95% confidence interval, 39, 44). Transcriptome sequencing, gene expression profiling, cytogenetics, and fusion polymerase chain reaction enabled genomic subtyping of 282 patient samples, of which 264 were eligible for trial, accounting for 64.5% of E2993 patients. Among patients with outcome data, 29.5% with favorable outcomes (5-year OS 65% to 80%) were deemed standard risk (DUX4-rearranged [9.2%], ETV6-RUNX1/-like [2.3%], TCF3-PBX1 [6.9%], PAX5 P80R [4.1%], high-hyperdiploid [6.9%]); 50.2% had high-risk genotypes with 5-year OS of 0% to 27% (Ph-like [21.2%], KMT2A-AFF1 [12%], low-hypodiploid/near-haploid [14.3%], BCL2/MYC-rearranged [2.8%]); 20.3% had intermediate-risk genotypes with 5-year OS of 33% to 45% (PAX5alt [12.4%], ZNF384/-like [5.1%], MEF2D-rearranged [2.8%]). IKZF1 alterations occurred in 86% of Ph-like, and TP53 mutations in patients who were low-hypodiploid (54%) and BCL2/MYC-rearranged (33%) but were not independently associated with outcome. Of patients considered high risk based on presenting age and white blood cell count, 40% harbored subtype-defining genetic alterations associated with standard- or intermediate-risk outcomes. We identified distinct immunophenotypic features for DUX4-rearranged, PAX5 P80R, ZNF384-R/-like, and Ph-like genotypes. These data in a large adult B-ALL cohort treated with a non–risk-adapted approach on a single trial show the prognostic importance of genomic analyses, which may translate into future therapeutic benefits.
LKB1/ STK11 Is a Tumor Suppressor in the Progression of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Cancer Discovery | February 12, 2021 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 1398-1410

10.1158/2159-8290.cd-20-1353 | PMID 33579786

Abstract The myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) frequently progress to blast phase disease, an aggressive form of acute myeloid leukemia. To identify genes that suppress disease progression, we performed a focused CRISPR/Cas9 screen and discovered that depletion of LKB1/Stk11 led to enhanced in vitro self-renewal of murine MPN cells. Deletion of Stk11 in a mouse MPN model caused rapid lethality with enhanced fibrosis, osteosclerosis, and an accumulation of immature cells in the bone marrow, as well as enhanced engraftment of primary human MPN cells in vivo. LKB1 loss was associated with increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and stabilization of HIF1α, and downregulation of LKB1 and increased levels of HIF1α were observed in human blast phase MPN specimens. Of note, we observed strong concordance of pathways that were enriched in murine MPN cells with LKB1 loss with those enriched in blast phase MPN patient specimens, supporting the conclusion that STK11 is a tumor suppressor in the MPNs. Significance: Progression of the myeloproliferative neoplasms to acute myeloid leukemia occurs in a substantial number of cases, but the genetic basis has been unclear. We discovered that loss of LKB1/STK11 leads to stabilization of HIF1a and promotes disease progression. This observation provides a potential therapeutic avenue for targeting progression. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1307
Increased Interleukin-8 (IL8)-CXCR2 Signaling Promotes Progression of Bone Marrow Fibrosis in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Blood | February 6, 2021 | Volume: 136 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 6-7

10.1182/blood-2020-138843

Introduction: Elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines are a hallmark feature of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-8 (IL8) is increased in patients with myelofibrosis (MF) and correlates with adverse outcome, including overall survival. Previously, the Levine/Fang labs identified increased IL8 secretion from individual CD34+ stem cells in a subset of MF patients. The role of IL8 and its cognate receptors CXCR1/2 in MF pathogenesis has not been delineated. Methods: Single-cell cytokine assays were performed on isolated CD34+ cells from 60 clinically annotated MPN patients (20 MF, 20 PV, 20 ET) using a previously described micro-chip platform (Kleppe et al, Can Disc 2013). 10 healthy donors (CD34+ cells from hip replacements) were used as controls. Integrated RNA-Seq and Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin followed by next-generation sequencing (ATAC-Seq) was performed on CD34+ cells from MPN patients with and without expanded IL8 secreting clones for gene expression/chromatin accessibility analysis. To model the role of IL8-CXCR2 on fibrosis in vivo, the human MPLW515L transplant model (hMPLW515L) of MF was used. Specifically, wild-type (WT) murine bone marrow (Creneg-Cxcr2f/f; Cxcr2WT) or marrow lacking the CXCR2 receptor (VavCre-Cxcr2f/f; Cxcr2KO)were retrovirally infected with MSCV-hMPLW515L-IRES-GFP and transplanted into lethally irradiated WT recipient mice and monitored for disease. Blood counts, chimerism, and flow cytometry were assayed. Moribund mice were sacrificed and assayed for grade reticulin fibrosis and overall survival. Results: Single-cell cytokine assays confirmed an increased proportion of IL8-secreting CD34+ cells in MF patients (40%) in comparison to other MPN sub-types (10% PV/0% ET) (Figure 1A). MF patients with expanded IL8 secreting clones (defined as >50% of total CD34+ cells) had increased leukocytosis (p<0.0001), larger spleen sizes (p=0.0004), greater prevalence of constitutional symptoms (p=0.0084), and higher-grade reticulin fibrosis in marrow (Figure 1B) in comparison to MF patients without prevalent IL8 clones. IHC confirmed increased IL8 expression in marrow biopsies from 8/15 MF patients in comparison to 0/4 normal controls (Figure 1C), and high IL8 expression was also observed in MF splenic megakaryocytes (MKs) as well as in splenic stromal/endothelial cells not seen in normal spleen (Figure 1D). Integrated RNA-Seq/ATAC-Seq analysis of IL8-high MF patients confirmed up-regulation of IL8-CXCR2 signaling and enrichment in pro-inflammatory pathways (i.e TNFa, NFkB, etc) by GSEA, as well as increased expression/accessibility of pro-inflammatory genes S100A8 and S100A9-previously implicated in fibrosis development. Flow analysis of IL8-high MF CD34+ cells revealed enhanced surface expression of CXCR2 and its analog CXCR1, such that MF was characterized by increased IL8 ligand and receptor expression (Figure 1E) and coincided with enhanced NFkB pathway activity (Figure 1F). Consistent with this, colony forming assays of cultured MF CD34+ cells revealed enhanced colony output when cultured with IL8 compared to WT CD34+ cells-an effect ameliorated by co-treatment with the CXCR1/2 antagonist Reparixin (Figure 1G). In vivo, hMPLW515L adoptive transplant with Cxcr2KO hematopoietic donor cells demonstrated improved leukocytosis, thrombocytosis (Figure 2A) and splenomegaly in comparison to Cxcr2WT hMPLW515L recipient mice. Pathologic analysis revealed a reduction in reticulin fibrosis in bone marrow (Figure 2B) and spleen, translating into an improvement in overall survival (Figure 2C). Notably, a significant reduction in dysplastic MKs-a hallmark feature of MF-was also observed in Cxcr2KO hMPLW515L mice (Figure 2D) supporting a role for CXCR2 signaling in MK proliferation. Conclusion: IL8 secreting clones are associated with increased symptom severity and fibrosis grade in MF. Gene expression of MF CD34+ IL8 secreting clones shows up-regulation of inflammatory genes S100A8/A9, implicated in myofibroblast proliferation. Cxcr2 KO abrogates fibrosis formation and prolongs survival in the hMPLW515L model, and CXCR1/2 inhibition impairs colony forming capacity of MF CD34+ cells. These data suggest pharmacologic inhibition of this pathway should be investigated as potential therapy in MF and in PV/ET patients at high risk of fibrotic transformation. Disclosures Fan: IsoPlexis: Current Employment, Current equity holder in private company; Singleron Biotechnologies: Current Employment, Current equity holder in private company. Levine:Morphosys: Consultancy; Prelude Therapeutics: Research Funding; Qiagen: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Honoraria; Loxo: Current equity holder in private company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy; Amgen: Honoraria; Astellas: Consultancy; Imago: Current equity holder in private company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; C4 Therapeutics: Current equity holder in private company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Isoplexis: Current equity holder in private company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Lilly: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy. Hoffman:Protagonist: Consultancy; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Dompe: Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Forbius: Consultancy.