Litzow, Mark R.

Abstract Basket, umbrella, and platform trial designs (master protocols) have emerged over the last decade to study precision medicine approaches in oncology. First-generation trials like NCI-MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice) have proven the principle that studying targeted therapies on a large scale is feasible both from the laboratory and clinical perspectives. However, single-agent targeted therapies have shown limited ability to control metastatic disease, despite careful matching of drug to target. As such, newer approaches employing combinations of targeted therapy, or targeted therapy with standard therapies, need to be considered. The NCI has recently embarked on three second-generation precision medicine trials to address this need: ComboMATCH, iMATCH, and myeloMATCH. The design of these trials and necessary infrastructure are discussed in the following perspective.

Context.— Unlike B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (ALL/LBL), there have been few therapeutic advances in T-cell ALL (T-ALL)/LBL, an aggressive ALL/LBL subtype. Objective.— To perform a focused tissue array study to elucidate tumor markers of therapeutic potential in T-ALL/LBL. Design.— Using immunohistochemistry, we evaluated expression of leukemic antigens of interest, specifically CC-chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4), among others, on available remnant diagnostic material, including tumor tissue slides obtained from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded preserved tissues. Results.— Our analysis identified, for the first time, expression of CCR4 in T-ALL/LBL in 11 of 27 cases (40.7%) and confirmed common expression of BCL2, CD38, and CD47, as reported previously. We also identified the expression of CD123 in 4 of 26 cases (15.4%), whereas BCL6 and PDL1 were expressed in a small number of T-ALL/LBL cases. The potential novel target CCR4 was significantly more common in the Pre/Pro-T immunophenotypic subtype, 6 of 9 (66.7%, P = .01). No additional differences in clinical and epidemiologic variables were noted among positive or negative CCR4 cases. Conclusions.— These findings support preclinical and clinical testing of therapies targeting CCR4, CD47, BCL2, CD38, and CD123 in T-ALL/LBL, and may help guide the development of targeted clinical trials in T-ALL/LBL, a rare disease in urgent need of novel therapies.

AbstractNext-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify pathogenic mutations is an integral part of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapeutic decision-making. The concordance in identifying pathogenic mutations among different NGS platforms at different diagnostic laboratories has been studied in solid tumors but not in myeloid malignancies to date. To determine this interlaboratory concordance, we collected a total of 194 AML bone marrow or peripheral blood samples from newly diagnosed patients with AML enrolled in the Beat AML Master Trial (BAMT) at 2 academic institutions. We analyzed the diagnostic samples from patients with AML for the detection of pathogenic myeloid mutations in 8 genes (DNMT3A, FLT3, IDH1, IDH2, NPM1, TET2, TP53, and WT1) locally using the Hematologic Neoplasm Mutation Panel (50-gene myeloid indication filter) (site 1) or the GeneTrails Comprehensive Heme Panel (site 2) at the 2 institutions and compared them with the central results from the diagnostic laboratory for the BAMT, Foundation Medicine, Inc. The overall percent agreement was over 95% each in all 8 genes, with almost perfect agreement (κ > 0.906) in all but WT1, which had substantial agreement (κ = 0.848) when controlling for site. The minimal discrepancies were due to reporting variants of unknown significance (VUS) for the WT1 and TP53 genes. These results indicate that the various NGS methods used to analyze samples from patients with AML enrolled in the BAMT show high concordance, a reassuring finding given the wide use of NGS for therapeutic decision-making in AML.

Abstract We surveyed the performance of ponatinib, as salvage therapy, in a real-world setting of chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP). Among 55 consecutive patients (median age 49 years) with relapsed/refractory CML-CP, 35 (64%) had failed ≥ 3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), 35 (64%) were pre-treated with nilotinib, and 14 (28%) harbored ABL1T315I. At start of ponatinib (median dose 30 mg/day), 40 patients were already in complete hematologic (CHR), 4 in complete cytogenetic (CCyR), 3 in major molecular (MMR) remission, while 8 had not achieved CHR (NR). Ponatinib improved the depth of response in 13 (33%), 3 (75%), 2 (66%), and 4 (50%) patients with CHR, CCyR, MMR, and NR, respectively (p = 0.02). At a median follow-up of 42 months, 13 (23%) deaths, 5 (9%) blast transformations, and 25 (45%) allogeneic transplants were recorded. Five/10-year post-ponatinib survival was 77%/58% with no significant difference when patients were stratified by allogeneic transplant (p = 0.94), ponatinib-induced deeper response (p = 0.28), or a post-ponatinib ≥ CCyR vs CHR remission state (p = 0.25). ABL1T315I was detrimental to survival (p = 0.04) but did not appear to affect response. Prior exposure to nilotinib was associated with higher risk of arterial occlusive events (AOEs; 11% vs 0%; age-adjusted p = 0.04). Ponatinib starting/maintenance dose (45 vs 15 mg/day) did not influence either treatment response or AOEs. Our observations support the use of a lower starting/maintenance dose for ponatinib in relapsed/refractory CML-CP but a survival advantage for deeper responses was not apparent and treatment might not overcome the detrimental impact of ABL1T315I on survival. The association between prior exposure to nilotinib and a higher risk of post-ponatinib AOEs requires further validation.

7500 Background: The Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) ibrutinib +/- anti-CD20 antibody obinutuzumab (IO) is a standard frontline regimen for older adults with CLL. BTKi alone do not often lead to complete response (CR) or undetectable minimal residual disease (uMRD), thus are given indefinitely. Smaller trials showed that IO plus venetoclax (IVO) can induce uMRD CRs which may allow successful discontinuation. Methods: Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology A041702 is a multicenter trial designed to evaluate if IVO with response-guided discontinuation of I improves progression free survival (PFS) versus IO with indefinite I in treatment-naïve, older CLL pts. IO is given in standard fashion, and in the IVO arm V is added at C3D1 and continued until C14D28. After 14 cycles, pts undergo response evaluation including CT scans and bone marrow biopsy with central MRD assessment by flow cytometry. Pts in IVO arm with uMRD CR discontinue I; all others continue I until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Eligible pts were age ≥70 years (amended to ≥65). Pts had CrCl ≥ 40 mL/min, bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN, and no other life-limiting intercurrent illness. Pts were stratified based on Rai stage and +/- del17p13.1 by FISH, and randomized 1:1 to IO:IVO. With 431 evaluable pts, the trial had 90% power to detect significant improvement in PFS using a one-sided log-rank test with one-sided type 1 error rate of 2.5%. The Alliance DSMB approved release of data on Nov 4, 2022 after meeting the protocol defined futility threshold at the second planned event-driven interim analysis. Data were locked on December 15, 2022. Results: Between January 4, 2019 and July 15, 2022, 465 pts were registered (IO:232, IVO:233). Median age was 74; 67% of pts were men. Rai stage 3-4 was seen in 55% and del17p in 13%. With median follow-up of 14 months, PFS of IO was 87.5% compared to 85% on IVO. Events were observed in 29 pts on IO (4 progressions, 23 deaths, 2 pts started other therapy) and 35 on IVO (7 progressions, 28 deaths). The predefined futility boundary was crossed, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.20 (95% CI: 0.73-1.97) in favor of IO. COVID-19 was the leading cause of death in both arms, (11 COVID-19 deaths on IO, 19 on IVO), with 13 and 11 additional deaths from other causes, respectively. Censoring pts with COVID-19 related deaths, PFS HR is 0.82 (95% CI: 0.44-1.53) in favor of IVO. Grade 3+ toxicity and discontinuation in year 1 of therapy were similar between arms. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that PFS for IVO is not superior to IO for treatment-naive older CLL pts in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic. Study treatment is ongoing, and long-term follow-up will determine if there are advantages to IVO, with special attention to MRD and therapy discontinuation. Support: U10CA180821, U10CA180882, U24 CA196171; https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org . Clinical trial information: NCT03737981 .

e19078 Background: MECOM (EVI1) rearrangements in MDS/AML are rare and carry an unfavorable prognosis. Although allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) may prolong survival, factors impacting outcomes are not known. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with MECOM (EVI1) to associate clinicopathologic variables with prognosis. Methods: This study was approved by the Mayo Clinic IRB. Patients >18 years of age with MDS or AML and MECOM EVI1 at Mayo Clinic between 01/2012 and 12/2022 were included. Response was defined by ELN criteria. Intensive chemotherapy was defined as 7+3 or high dose cytarabine. Non-intensive chemotherapy included hypomethylating agents with or without venetoclax. Median overall survival (OS) and median leukemia free survival (LFS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Outcome differences between sub-groups and univariate analyses were assessed with Cox regression. Results: Sixty patients met criteria for inclusion. Sixty-three percent (n = 38) were male and the median age at diagnosis was 67.8 yrs (range, 56 – 75). Eighty percent had AML (n = 48) and 18% had MDS (n = 11). Sixty-seven percent of patients had secondary AML/MDS (n = 40). Inv(3)/t(3;3) was present in 65% (n = 39) and t(3;21) was present in 12% (n = 7). Thirty-eight percent (n = 23) of patients had cooccurring monosomy 7 or 7q deletion and 5% had complex karyotype (n = 3). SF3B1 was the most common cooccurring mutation in 31% (n = 10), followed by KRAS in 19% (n = 6). Thirty-eight percent of patients (n = 23) received intensive chemotherapy. Complete response (CR) rates were 36% with intensive treatment (n = 8) and 4% with non-intensive treatment (n = 1; p = 0.007). Thirty percent (n = 18) underwent SCT (78% in CR1 and 22% in CR2) and of those, myeloablative conditioning (MAC) was used in 38% while 61% received reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). The mOS in the entire cohort was 11 months (95% CI 6.2, 17). Patients who received a SCT had longer mOS compared to patients who did not (19 vs 6.2 months, HR = 0.31, 95% CI 0.16,0.64; p = 0.001). AML-MRC was a poor prognostic factor in the HCST group for OS (HR = 4.23, 95% CI 1.02, 17.5, p = 0.047). Intensive vs. non-intensive chemotherapy, response prior to transplant (CR vs. no CR), or having 2 or more mutations on NGS did not significantly impact OS or LFS. Conclusions: In line with previous reports, allo-HSCT was associated with improved survival outcomes. Our results showed a high frequency of secondary AML/MDS, but only AML-MRC was associated with decreased survival outcomes. Regardless of therapy type, outcomes were poor. Novel therapies are urgently needed for these patients.

TPS7089 Background: Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative overlap neoplasm (MDS/MPN) that can be further divided into MD (WBC < 13 x 109/L) and MP (≥13 x 109/L) subtypes. MP-CMML is enriched in RAS pathway mutations ( NRAS, CBL, KRAS, PTPN11 and NF1), has a shorter median survival (19 vs 36 months), has a higher rate of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) transformation (40% vs 10%) and has a unique transcriptomic and epigenetic composition. These RAS pathway mutations promote selective PLK1 overexpression, a mitotic checkpoint kinase. Given the relative inefficacy of hypomethylating agents (HMA) in MP-CMML and previously demonstrated in vitro and in vivo efficacy data for PLK1 inhibition on MP-CMML with RAS pathway mutations, we designed a phase 1 clinical trial testing the safety of onvansertib, a novel, orally bioavailable, PLK1 inhibitor in relapsed/refractory MP-CMML. Methods: This is an investigator-initiated, prospective, open-label, phase I study of onvansertib in MP-CMML relapsed/refractory (RR) or intolerant to existing therapies including HMA and hydroxyurea. The primary endpoint is characterization of safety. Secondary endpoints include efficacy as defined by the 2015 MDS/MPN International Working Group criteria, volumetric spleen response and symptom response via assessment with MPN-SAF-TSS. Inclusion criteria include MP-CMML RR following hydroxyurea or at least 4-cycles of HMA or intolerance of treatment with either, platelets ≥ 20,000/m3 and Cockcroft-Gault creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min/m2. Hydroxyurea may continue for the first 28 days on study. Onvansertib will be given orally on days 1 through 21 of a 28-day cycle with a Bayesian optimal interval design to assess the safety and recommended phase II dose. Exploratory end points include targeting efficacy, impact of PLK1 and KMT2A expression and interactions with ASXL1 and TET2 mutations. Twenty-five patients will be enrolled at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, with enrollment open since November 2022. Clinical trial information: NCT05549661 .

7006 Background: Older adult patients (pts) with Philadelphia-chromosome-negative (Ph-) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have poor survival with chemotherapy. The α-CD22 Ab-drug conjugate inotuzumab ozogamicin (InO) and α-CD19/CD3 T-cell engager blinatumomab (blina) were each superior to chemotherapy in Phase III studies in relapsed/refractory B-ALL. Because InO induces high CR rates and blina can induce durable remissions in low burden disease, we conducted a Phase II trial of induction InO then blina for older adults with newly-diagnosed (ND), Ph-, B-ALL. Methods: Eligible were pts ≥60 years old with ND, Ph-, CD22+ (≥20% of blasts) B-ALL without plan for allogeneic HCT (alloHCT). Pts with CNS leukemia or liver disease were excluded. Induction IA was InO 0.8 mg/m 2 day (d) 1, 0.5 mg/m 2 d8, d15 IV on a 21d cycle. Pts with adequate cytoreduction (marrow blasts by ≥50% or cellularity ≤20%) after IA went to IB if in CR/CRi (InO 0.5 mg/m 2 d1, d8, d15 IV; 28d cycle) or IC if no CR/CRi (InO 0.8 mg/m 2 on d1 and 0.5 mg/m 2 on d8 and d15 IV; 28d cycle). Those without cytoreduction to IA started course II blina. Pts without events in IA/B/C received course II blina CIV (9 mcg/d x 7d then 28 mcg/d x 21d; 14d break; 28 mcg/d x28d). Pts with CR/CRi to InO received 2 more 28d cycles of blina, others received 3 more. CNS prophylaxis was methotrexate 15 mg intrathecal x 8. The primary endpoint was 1-yr event-free survival (EFS) with a lower limit of a 90% CI for 1-yr EFS >10% defined as success. EFS was the time from therapy start to failure to achieve CR/CRh/CRi by end Course II, progression, relapse, or death, whichever occurred first. Results: Thirty-three eligible pts were treated (1 ineligible, 2 nd malignancy). The median age was 71 years (range 60-84). Median WBC count was 3,200/mcl (range 6-38,000). Median CD22 expression was 92% (range 21-100%). Eight pts had therapy-related ALL. The cumulative CR rates through Course IA/B/C and Course II were 85% and 97%, respectively (Table). With median follow up of 22 mo, the 1-yr EFS was 75% (95% CI 61-92%). The 2-sided 90% CI was 63-89% for 1-yr EFS with lower bound above 10% indicating regimen success. Twelve pts had events: 9 relapses, 2 deaths in remission (1 after alloHCT), and 1 death without remission from respiratory failure with sinusoidal occlusion syndrome of liver. The 1-yr OS was 84% (95% CI 72-98%). Nine pts have died, 6 after relapse. Conclusions: InO induction then blina consolidation is highly active for ND, Ph-, CD22+ B-ALL. The regimen is an option for older adults and a comparator regimen for future studies. Support: U10CA180821, U10CA180882, U10CA180820 https://acknowledgments.alliancefound.org . Clinical trial information: NCT03739814 . N=33 I A/B/C II Composite CR* 28 ( 85%) 32 ( 97%) CR 15 (45%) 19 (58%) CRh 11 (33%) 12 (36%) CRi 2 (6%) 1 (3%) Refractory 3 (9%) † - 1-yr EFS 75% (95% CI 61-92%) 1-yr OS 84% (95% CI 72-92%) *CR+CRh+CRi † 1 completed IA only

AbstractSomatic mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genes occur frequently in adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and less commonly in pediatric AML. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence, mutational profile, and prognostic significance of IDH mutations in AML across age. Our cohort included 3141 patients aged between &lt;1 month and 88 years treated on Children’s Cancer Group/Children’s Oncology Group (n = 1872), Southwest Oncology Group (n = 359), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (n = 397) trials, and in Beat AML (n = 333) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (n = 180) genomic characterization cohorts. We retrospectively analyzed patients in 4 age groups (age range, n): pediatric (0-17, 1744), adolescent/young adult (18-39, 444), intermediate-age (40-59, 640), older (≥60, 309). IDH mutations (IDHmut) were identified in 9.2% of the total cohort (n = 288; IDH1 [n = 123, 42.7%]; IDH2 [n = 165, 57.3%]) and were strongly correlated with increased age: 3.4% pediatric vs 21% older, P &lt; .001. Outcomes were similar in IDHmut and IDH-wildtype (IDHWT) AML (event-free survival [EFS]: 35.6% vs 40.0%, P = .368; overall survival [OS]: 50.3% vs 55.4%, P = .196). IDH mutations frequently occurred with NPM1 (47.2%), DNMT3A (29.3%), and FLT3-internal tandem duplication (ITD) (22.4%) mutations. Patients with IDHmut AML with NPM1 mutation (IDHmut/NPM1mut) had significantly improved survival compared with the poor outcomes experienced by patients without (IDHmut/NPM1WT) (EFS: 55.1% vs 17.0%, P &lt; .001; OS: 66.5% vs 35.2%, P &lt; .001). DNTM3A or FLT3-ITD mutations in otherwise favorable IDHmut/NPM1mut AML led to inferior outcomes. Age group analysis demonstrated that IDH mutations did not abrogate the favorable prognostic impact of NPM1mut in patients aged &lt;60 years; older patients had poor outcomes regardless of NPM1 status. These trials were registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00070174, #NCT00372593, #NCT01371981, #NCT00049517, and #NCT00085709.