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Discrepancy of Blast Percentage between the Bone Marrow Aspirate and Flow Cytometry and Its Impact on Survival Outcomes in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes Excess Blast (MDS-EB)
Yogarajah, Meera , Nguyen, Phuong L., He, Rong , Patnaik, Mrinal M. , Begna, Kebede H. , Elliott, Michelle A. , Gangat, Naseema , Tefferi, Ayalew , Litzow, Mark, Al‐Kali, Aref , Alkhateeb, Hassan B. , Shah, Meera , Hogan, William J.

Mayo Clinic

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 5441-5441

10.1182/blood-2019-125439 Get It

Background MDS is a heterogeneous disease and the revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) is utilized in prognostication. The percentage (%) of blasts in the bone marrow is determined in the aspirate morphologically. Though the former is the standard of care the blast percentage is also reported by flow cytometry and biopsy which can many times be inconsistent. We previously presented the utilization of biopsy based blast percentage which showed meaningful prognostic groups compared to aspirate. In this study we compare the blasts as reported by the aspirate and flow cytometry in MDS-EB in calculating IPSS-R. Methods The MDS database was reviewed for cases of MDS-EB after due IRB approval at the Mayo clinic. We calculated IPSS-R scores based on the aspirate blast % (IPSS-RAsp) and flow blast% (IPSS-Rfl). The aspirate blast percentage was reported morphologically. Suboptimal aspirates were excluded from the study. The flow blast percentage was determined by immunophenotyping. The overall survival (OS) was determined by IPSS-RAsp and IPSS-RFl. OS estimates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank testing using JMP v.13. Uno's concordance statistic was used to compare the 2 risk scoring systems. Results Of 1322 patients, 431 (33%) cases were identified with MDS-EB out of which 120 (29%) cases had blasts reported in the aspirate and flow. Based on aspirate MDS EB1: 54% (n=65), MDS EB2 46% (n=55). The hematological, cytogenetic and R-IPSS categories were compared between MDS-EB1 and MDS- EB 2. The blast percentage and hemoglobin levels was significantly different between MDS-EB1 and EB2 as seen in table 1, however the IPSS-R risk groups were not significantly different. The flow cytometry was concordant with aspirate in 66/120 (55%) cases. Out of the dis-concordant cases only 20% (11/54) was upstaged by flow cytometry with most of the patients being down staged as expected by the techniques used in processing the blood and hence not reliable when reported low (Figure 1). The OS outcomes based on the IPSS- R asp, IPSS-Rfl areshown in figure 2A,2B .The p value with aspirate based R-IPSS was more significant than flow cytometry based R-IPSS (p= 0.0007 vs 0.0174). We compared the two models for observed OS differences using the Uno model which was not statistically significant. (p= 0.6) Conclusions Both models did not show a difference which is likely due to the very small sample size. However flow cytometry did down stage more patients when disconcordant and may have less value in that setting. It would be ideal to compare all 3 models aspirate, biopsy and flow cytometry however we did not have enough number of patients to do the comparison. Disclosures Patnaik: Stem Line Pharmaceuticals.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Al-Kali:Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding.
Correlation of Flow Cytometric Aberrations with Cytogenetic, Molecular Genetic, and Morphology in Patients with Unexplained Cytopenias
Azouz, Haya , Ternus, Jessica A., Nguyen, Phuong L., Patnaik, Mrinal M. , Timm, Michael, He, Rong , Viswanatha, David S., Gangat, Naseema , Begna, Kebede H. , Litzow, Mark R. , Hengel, Cindy, Al‐Kali, Aref , Jevremović, Dragan , Shi, Min , Shah, Meera , Alkhateeb, Hassan B. , Hogan, William J.

Mayo Clinic

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 5406-5406

10.1182/blood-2019-125114 Get It

Introduction: Whereas morphological assessment and cytogenetics have been the cornerstone for the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), flow cytometry and mutational analyses are novel, evolving techniques. These diagnostic procedures play a role in identifying pre-MDS cases including idiopathic cytopenia of undetermined significance (ICUS) and clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance (CCUS). Aim: To assess flow cytometric findings in ICUS and CCUS and their correlation with progression to MDS or myeloid neoplasm (MN), concurrent genetic aberrations, and underlying pathological evolution. Methods: Patients (Pts) who had undergone evaluation to rule out MDS and had retrospectively undergone flow cytometry, cytogenetic, mutational and morphological assessment were included. Flow cytometry results were classified as normal (no abnormality or 1 equivocal result), abnormal (2 abnormalities or at least 1 abnormality and 1 equivocal result), or atypical (1 abnormality or 2-3 equivocal results). Next generation sequencing included mutation analysis of: ASXL1, BCOR, BRAF, CALR, CBL, CEBPA, CSF3R, DNMT3A, ETV6, EZH2, FLT3, GATA1, GATA2, IDH1, IDH2, JAK2, KIT, KRAS, MPL, MYD88, NOTCH1, NPM1, NRAS, PHF6, PTPN11, RUNX1, SETBP1, SF3B1, TERT, TET2, TP53, U2AF1, WT1, ZRSR2. Results: A) Characteristics: 229 pts were assessed (median age 60 and 69% were males). Based on pathologist interpretation, 87 (38%) pts met diagnostic criteria of MDS, 106 (46%) pts had normal/reactive bone marrow (BM), and 36 (16%) pts had BM findings suspicious for MDS. Median time to follow-up was 24 months for MDS pts, and 32 months for pts with cytopenias. B) Morphology: Pts who had a BM biopsy that was suspicious for MDS by pathologist interpretation were more likely to develop MDS compared to pts with normal/reactive pathology report with an incidence rate (IR) of 16% versus 0.9% (p= .0005). Pts who were suspicious for MDS based on the BM biopsy were more likely to have underlying mutations compared to pts with normal/reactive BM (IR 83% versus 69%, p= .2). C) Flow cytometry: In the non-MDS cohort, 96 (67%) pts had normal flow results, 29 (20%) pts had atypical flow, and 17 (12%) pts had abnormal flow results compared to 16 (18%) pts, 18 (21%) pts, and 53 (61%) pts in the MDS cohort, respectively. Of the pts who had normal flow result (n=112), 16 were MDS, 16 were suspicious for MDS/MN, and 80 were normal/reactive. Pts who had biopsy interpretation suspicious for MDS/MN were more likely to have abnormal flow cytometry compared to normal/reactive BM biopsy (IR 55% versus 24%, p=.0003). IR of MDS was 4% in normal flow, 3% in atypical flow, and 12% in abnormal flow (p= .5). Likewise, IR of MN was 4% in normal flow, 20% in atypical flow, and 30% in abnormal flow (p= .1). D) Genetics (cytogenetics and mutation profiling): Cytogenetics was normal in 123 (86%) pts and abnormal in 19 (13%) pts. Pts who had abnormal cytogenetics were more likely to develop MN (IR 57% versus 5%, p= .002). Out of the 50 non-MDS pts tested for NGS, 38 (76%) were positive for mutations. 15 (39%) pts had 1 mutation, 8 (21%) pts had 2, 3 (8%) pts had 3, 6 (16%) pts had 4, 2 (5%) pts had 5, 1 (3%) pt had 7, and 1 (3%) pt had 8 mutations (61% had >1 mutation). Pts with positive mutations were more likely to develop MDS during follow-up compared to pts who did not have mutations (IR 16% versus 0%, p=.06). Additionally, flow cytometric aberrations significantly correlate with the number of mutations (p= .03). MN correlated significantly with BCOR mutation and RUNX1 (IR 60% (p= .008) and 50% (p=.02), respectively. E) Interaction between variables: In pts with positive mutations, flow cytometry did not correlate with progression to MDS with an IR of 17% of MDS in normal flow, 11% in atypical flow, and 17% in abnormal flow, (p= .9). There was no impact on overall survival neither in pts with abnormal flow results vs normal nor in pts with positive mutations vs wild type. Conclusion: Conventional diagnostic techniques remain the cornerstone of MDS diagnosis with flow cytometry and NGS arising as novel techniques that correlate significantly with progression of pre-MDS pts to MDS. Flow had an impact on pathology final interpretation but did not add value in pt with a positive mutation analysis. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings. Disclosures Patnaik: Stem Line Pharmaceuticals.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Al-Kali:Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Therapy Related Myeloid Neoplasms in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Following Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation
Nadiminti, Kalyan , Meleveedu, Kapil , Al‐Kali, Aref , Litzow, Mark R. , Kumar, Shaji , Patnaik, Mrinal M. , Chen, Dong , Meleveedu, Kapil S , Sidiqi, M Hasib , Alkhateeb, Hassan B. , Hogan, William J. , Gertz, Morie A. , Shah, Meera

Mayo Clinic

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 4560-4560

10.1182/blood-2019-123065 Get It

Introduction: Patients who develop therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN) have dismal outcomes. Previous studies reported the incidence and risk factors associated with t-MN development. Lenalidomide, in the setting of oral, but not intravenous, melphalan is associated with a higher risk of t-MN (Palumbo et. al, Lancet Oncology, 2014). We carried out this study to evaluate the clinical and pathologic features of t-MN, therapies employed, and factors that predict long-term survival after diagnosis. Patients and methods: We identified patients who received the first ASCT 1998-2016 at our institution. t-MN was defined per the WHO 2016 classification. Median overall survival (OS) was calculated from the time of t-MN diagnosis to last follow-up or death. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS (JMP v14.1) or GraphPad Prism (v7). Results: Out of 2115 patients that underwent at least one ASCT, 53 (2.5%) developed t-MN. Thirty-five of 53 (66%) patients who developed t-MN had received lenalidomide. Among 2062 patients that did not develop t-MN, 916 (44.4%) patients received lenalidomide. Lenalidomide exposure was associated with development of t-MN (χ2 with Yate's correction 8.9, p=0.003). Ten patients were excluded from further analyses due to lack of follow up. Clinical characteristics are shown in Table 1a (N=43). Median age at t-MN diagnosis was 70 years (range 44-79). Median time from ASCT to t-MN was 5 years (range 1-15). After a median follow-up of 70 months (95% CI, 38-134), the median OS was 12 months (95% CI, 9-17, Figure). Primary causes of death were t-MN (71%), MM (12%), both (6%), and other including infection, GVHD, and unknown (12%). Seven (16%) had t-AML and 36(84%) had t-MDS. Three (42%) of 7 patients with t-AML had pure erythroid phenotype. At the time of last follow-up, 9 (21%) were alive. Seven (17%) underwent two ASCT, 16 (36%) received more than 2 years cumulative dose of lenalidomide. Median number of cycles of alkylator therapy including high-dose melphalan (HDM) used for ASCT was 2 (range 1-6). On univariate analysis, factors predicting OS from t-MN diagnosis were ≥ 2 alkylator vs. < 2 cycles (11 vs. 27 months, p=0.02), ≥10% vs. <10% blast at the time of t-MN diagnosis (5.5 vs. 17 months, p=0.01), and the presence of complex karyotype (CK) vs. not (11 vs. 17 months, p=0.03). There was no difference in survival among t-MDS patients who transformed to t-AML vs. those who did not, those who received 1 vs. 2 ASCT, and those with lenalidomide duration ≥ 2 vs. <2 years. On multivariate analysis, the number of alkylator therapies and CK, but not % blasts predicted OS from t-MN diagnosis (Figure). Eight (19%) patients proceeded to receive an autologous (n=4) or allogeneic (n=4) transplant for t-MN (Table 1b). There was no survival advantage for patients who underwent SCT for t-MN, compared to those who did not (17 vs. 10 months, p=0.3). Similarly, there was no survival advantage for patients who received allo SCT compared to auto SCT (21 vs. 16 months, p=0.7). Survival for t-MDS and t-AML was also not different (15 vs. 6 months, p=0.2). There is only one long-term survivor in the transplant group (s/p allogeneic SCT). Four of seven (57%) patients died of progressive t-MN, 1 died of progressive MM, progressive MM and t-MN, and TRM each. Conclusions: Lenalidomide, in the setting of HDM, is associated with an increased risk of t-MN. Increased exposure to alkylators, a higher tumor burden, and the presence of CK predict poor survival in t-MN. As HDM/ASCT followed by lenalidomide maintenance remains the standard of care for eligible patients, minimizing exposure to other alkylator regimens may be prudent. While considered the standard, only a minority undergo transplant; and post-transplant outcomes remain poor. Studies to identify prognostic genetic and epigenetic risk factors are ongoing. Disclosures Al-Kali: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding. Kumar:Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding. Patnaik:Stem Line Pharmaceuticals.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.
Use of Maintenance Therapy Post Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Outside of Clinical Trial Setting for Multiple Myeloma: Single Institution Experience
Karam, Dhauna , Lacy, Martha Q. , Hayman, Suzanne R. , Kapoor, Prashant , Kourelis, Taxiarchis , Warsame, Rahma , Kumar, Shaji , Gertz, Morie A. , Dispenzieri, Angela , Dingli, David , Hogan, William J.

Mayo Clinic

Blood | November 14, 2019 | Volume: 134 | Issue: Supplement_1 | Pages: 2013-2013

10.1182/blood-2019-128345 Get It

Background: Based on results from the phase 3 trials, maintenance therapy after autologous stem cell transplantation has become the standard of care. While lenalidomide is typically used as the maintenance agent, patients with high risk MM are often maintained on proteasome inhibitor-based maintenance treatment. We examined the trends in maintenance use and outcomes in a large group of patients transplanted at a single institution over two decades spanning the years when maintenance gradually became standard of care. Methods: We included patients who underwent their first autologous stem cell transplantation between 2000 and 2016 in the current study. Patients who received an allogeneic SCT or a planned tandem SCT were excluded. Clinical data was extracted from the medical records or from a prospectively maintained database. Early transplant was defined as SCT within 12 months of diagnosis. High risk (HR) myeloma was defined as per IMWG criteria, based on presence of high-risk FISH abnormalities. Progression free survival and overall survival were estimated from either diagnosis as well as from the date of SCT. Results: We included 1961 patients with MM who were transplanted between January 2000 and August 2016 in the current analysis. Majority (n=1496; 76%) had an early SCT while the remaining patients were transplanted beyond 12 mos from diagnosis. Maintenance was employed in 31% of the patients, 33% of the early SCT and 23% of the delayed SCT. Proportion of patients receiving maintenance increased over the years: <1% in 2000 to 85% in 2016. The most common maintenance approach was an IMiD (56%), followed by a PI (33%) and a PI+IMiD (8%). FISH risk was available in 875 patients, all assessed within 6 months of diagnosis, and 22% were HR. Overall, maintenance was more commonly used in HR patients (64% vs. 36%), and a PI containing maintenance was more commonly used in HR (42% vs. 12%). The PFS was superior for those receiving a maintenance therapy (70 vs. 23 mos, P<0.001); NR vs. 27 mos for early SCT and 25 vs. 16 mos for delayed SCT. The impact of maintenance therapy was more evident in the HR group HR vs SR risk ratio was 2.3 without maintenance, and 1.5 with maintenance. Among the HR patients, PI based maintenance had a trend towards better outcome, while the PFS was better with non-PI maintenance among the SR patients. OS from diagnosis was also better among the early SCT group who received maintenance (99 vs. 88 mos; p=0.01); however, the OS advantage appeared most evident among the HR patients. Conclusions: The experience with maintenance therapy post autologous SCT for myeloma in a non-clinical trial setting appear to confirm the findings from the phase 3 trials. Maintenance provided benefit in patients who had a delayed SCT in our experience. The benefit appear to be particularly relevant for high risk patients, who appear to benefit from PI based regimens. In contrast, SR patients appear to benefit primarily from IMiD based regimen. Disclosures Gertz: Spectrum: Consultancy, Research Funding; Johnson and Johnson: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy; Ionis/Akcea: Consultancy; Research to Practice: Consultancy; Appellis: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Teva: Speakers Bureau; Alnylam: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Annexon: Consultancy; Abbvie: Other: personal fees for Data Safety Monitoring board; Medscape: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Prothena Biosciences Inc: Consultancy; Physicians Education Resource: Consultancy. Lacy:Celgene: Research Funding. Dispenzieri:Akcea: Consultancy; Intellia: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Pfizer: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Alnylam: Research Funding. Dingli:Millenium: Consultancy; Rigel: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; alexion: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Research Funding. Kapoor:Amgen: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Glaxo Smith Kline: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria; Janssen: Research Funding; Cellectar: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy, Research Funding. Kumar:Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding.
Histopathologic Acute Lung Injury after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Clinical Findings, Radiologic Features, Treatments and Outcomes
Hashmi, Shahrukh K. , Roden, Anja C. , Patnaik, Mrinal M. , Khera, Nandita , Kennedy, Cassie C. , Litzow, Mark R. , Yadav, Hemang , Kennedy, Cassie C , Hefazi, Mehrdad , Sakemura, Reona , Roy, Vivek , Hogan, William J.

Mayo Clinic

Blood | October 14, 2019 | Volume: 132 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 2113-2113

10.1182/blood-2018-99-118930 Get It

Abstract BACKGROUND Respiratory failure syndromes are common after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), and are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. These syndromes are incompletely understood, and may be associated with histopathologic evidence of acute lung injury (ALI). The role of biopsy in this setting is controversial, with uncertain benefits and considerable procedural risk. We report the clinical, radiologic and histopathologic features of patients with biopsy-proven ALI following allo-HCT in a large multi-site retrospective series. METHODS The medical records of 1,864 consecutive adults who underwent allo-HCT at Mayo Clinic, Minnesota (n = 916), Arizona (n = 694), and Florida (n = 254) (Jan 2005-Dec 2017) were reviewed. A total of 152 patients underwent a lung biopsy: 126 bronchoscopic, 22 surgical, and 4 CT-guided biopsies (Figure 1). Patients with a histopathologic diagnosis of ALI were included in the study, and were classified into clinicopathologic subgroups per published American Thoracic Society guidelines (Am J Resp Crit Care Med, 2011). Patients whose diagnosis remained uncertain after a detailed review of the medical records were included in a separate subgroup as undifferentiated ALI. Transplant characteristics, radiologic features, pulmonary function test (PFT) results, treatments, and outcomes were compared between groups. RESULTS Clinicopathologic diagnoses in 62 patients with biopsy-proven ALI consisted of an infectious etiology in 15 (24%), cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) in 15 (24%), idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS) in 9 (15%), bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) in 9 (15%), diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in 3 (5%), periengraftment respiratory distress syndrome in 2 (3%), and undifferentiated ALI in 9 (15%) patients (Figure 2). Transplant characteristics were comparable between groups. Infectious pneumonia and IPS were the most common diagnoses during the first 100 days post HCT (50% and 36%, respectively). Between 100 and 365 days, a range of diagnoses were seen including infectious pneumonia (20%), COP (23%), IPS (14%), BOS (23%), and undifferentiated ALI (20%) (Table 1). In 14/15 (93%) infectious pneumonia cases, biopsy did not change management and diagnosis was concurrently established by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or non-invasive testing. Patients with IPS, BOS, and undifferentiated ALI more commonly had a pleural effusion (66%, 44%, and 44%, respectively). Nodular infiltrates were most commonly seen in patients with infectious pneumonia (55%). Other radiographic findings were not clearly discriminative. BOS and infectious pneumonia were more commonly associated with an obstructive PFT (78% and 33%, respectively), whereas restrictive pattern was more frequently seen in COP and IPS (50% and 57%, respectively) (Table 2). Despite a histopathologic diagnosis of ALI, 9 (15%) patients had clear clinical and radiographic evidence of BOS. Steroids were used commonly in noninfectious syndromes: 93% of patients with COP and in 100% of IPS patients. Of 4 patients with IPS who received Etanercept, 2 (50%) showed complete recovery, whereas the remaining 5 patients who did not receive Etanercept died from fulminant respiratory failure. Most common treatment response was complete recovery in COP (73%), fulminant respiratory failure leading to death in IPS (78%), and chronic respiratory failure in BOS (78%). Estimated OS was shortest in the group with IPS and undifferentiated ALI (median 5 and 17 mons, respectively), whereas patients with COP had the best prognosis (mOS not reached) followed by the infectious pneumonia and the BOS groups (mOS of 59 and 55 mons, respectively). Pulmonary complications were the most common cause of death in patients with non-infectious ALI. Lung biopsy was associated with post-procedural pneumothorax in 17 (27%) patients; 12 of whom required a chest tube. CONCLUSIONS In this largest case series to date of histopathologic ALI after allo-HCT, biopsy does not appear to meaningfully change management in the majority of patients, and is associated with substantial procedural risk. Histopathologic findings do not clearly correlate with the clinical and radiographic picture in a sizeable proportion of the patients. PFT results, BAL findings, the timing of the onset of respiratory failure after HCT, and the response to steroids seem to be of greater diagnostic and/or prognostic value. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase-1 Expressing Dendritic Cell Populations Are Associated with Tumor-Induced Immune Tolerance & Aggressive Disease Biology in Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia
Mangaonkar, Abhishek A. , Reichard, Kaaren K. , Chiu, April , Howard, Matthew T., King, Rebecca L. , Alver, Bonnie, Cousin, Margot A. , Fernández-Zapico, Martín E. , Gangat, Naseema , Al‐Kali, Aref , Elliott, Michelle A. , Litzow, Mark R. , Pardanani, Animesh , Tefferi, Ayalew , Patnaik, Mrinal M. , Carr, Ryan M , Robertson, Keith D. , Villasboas, José C. , Lasho, Terra L. , Hogan, William J. , Solary, Éric

Mayo Clinic

Blood | October 14, 2019 | Volume: 132 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 4344-4344

10.1182/blood-2018-99-113881 Get It

Abstract Introduction: Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a chronic myeloid malignancy associated with monocytosis, autoimmunity (~30%) & an inherent risk for leukemic transformation. Bone marrow (BM) dendritic cell (DC) populations occur in ~30% of patients, with a poorly defined biological & prognostic role. The malignant immune microenvironment is regulated by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO-1) expressing DCs, which modulate regulatory T (Treg) cells & block their conversion into proinflammatory T helper (Th17)-like cells. IDO-1 is a known immune checkpoint & functions by catabolizing tryptophan, an amino acid essential for T cell function. We hypothesized that distinct IDO-1 expressing DC populations in CMML modulate Tregs & contribute towards immune tolerance & aggressive disease biology. Methods: Primary diagnostic CMML peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) & BM biopsy specimens were obtained after Mayo Clinic IRB approval. A DC population was defined on H&E stained biopsy sections as focal collections (>10) of cells with characteristic elongated nuclei & cytoplasmic extensions. Transcriptomic & protein expression studies assessing IDO-1 expression were done by previously described methods. In addition, IHC expression of PD-1, PD-L1 & CTLA-4 was also done. IDO-1 promoter methylation studies with DIP-seq were performed. The impact on immune tolerance was assessed using mass cytometry (CyTOF). Results: Cohort: Twenty eight patients with CMML were included in the study, median age 70 (range: 51-80) years; 71% males. Eleven (39%) patients had coexisting autoimmune conditions. Of these, 8 (73%) had detectable DC populations either at diagnosis, or during the course of their disease. At a median follow-up of 46 (95% CI 27, 84) months, there were 14 (50%) deaths & 9 (32%) leukemic transformations.IHC results: Nine (32%) patients were identified to have a DC population at CMML diagnosis. CD123 & TCL1 staining was performed in 5 (56%) patients, with 3 being positive for both, & 2 positive for CD123 only (additional IHC studies ongoing). IDO1 expression by IHC was documented in all 9 (100%) cases (Fig 1A & 1B), while rare populations of PD-1, PD-L1 & CTLA-4 lymphocytes were also seen in all cases. Due to the low DC burdens (median cellularity ≤ 5%) & uniform staining intensity, IHC-based grading was not done. Samples at serial time-points, post-HMA therapy & at the time of blast transformation, were available in 5 & 3 patients respectively. Among the patients who did not have DC populations at diagnosis, 5 (42%) developed them post-HMA therapy, while 3 (50%) developed them at the time of LT. The development of DC populations was associated with loss of response to HMA (50%) & disease progression (50%).Transcriptomic analysis: RNA expression data was available on 7 (25%) patients, of whom only 1 (14%) had DC populations at diagnosis. The IDO-1 RPKM value in the former was higher than the mean pooled value in the latter group (330 versus 74, p=0.05).Methylation studies: DIP-seq was performed on 12 (43%) cases from the primary IHC cohort. Qualitative analysis of IDO-1 promoter hypomethylation was conducted & confirmed in all 9 (100%) cases with 5-mC & 5-hmC marks compared to input as displayed in figure 1C.Immune profiling: CyTOF was performed on 4 CMML samples (3 with IDO-1 expressing DC populations at diagnosis) from the primary IHC cohort & compared to a normal PBMC control. Results confirmed an increase in DC populations (fig 1D& 1E), & reduced % of Th17-like T cells in CMML samples compared to control (1.1 versus 5.07, p=0.05, fig 1F).Clinical correlates & survival analysis: With the exception that CMML patients with DC populations had a higher frequency of NRAS (P=0.007) mutations, the two groups were comparable for cytogenetic & molecular abnormalities. The median OS for the cohort was 45 (95% CI 29, 84) months. CMML patients with IDO-1 expressing DC populations at diagnosis had a shorter median OS, in comparison to those without (median OS 30 vs 45, p=0.03, Kaplan-Meier analysis in fig 1G). Conclusions: In conclusion, we demonstrate that DC populations are seen in ~30% of patients with CMML with a uniform expression of IDO-1 & limited expression of PD-1, PD-L1 & CTLA-4. CMML patients with BM DC populations have a higher frequency of NRAS mutations & DC IDO-1 expression is associated with tumor induced immune tolerance. Additional IHC, genomic & preclinical studies with IDO-1 inhibitors are ongoing. Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures Al-Kali: Novartis: Research Funding.
Salvage Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma: Investigating the Impact of Pre-Transplant Therapy
Hayman, Suzanne R. , Lacy, Martha Q. , Kapoor, Prashant , Kourelis, Taxiarchis , Kumar, Shaji , Miller, Kevin C., Gertz, Morie A. , Buadi, Francis K. , Dispenzieri, Angela , Dingli, David , Gonsalves, Wilson I. , Hogan, William J.

Mayo Clinic

Blood | October 14, 2019 | Volume: 132 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 4613-4613

10.1182/blood-2018-99-116863 Get It

Abstract Introduction Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) plays a central role in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), even in the era of novel therapies (Gonsalves et al, 2018). Given the efficacy of the latter, as well as for logistical reasons, many patients opt to store their stem cells and delay ASCT until the time of progression. Delayed transplant does not appear to affect overall survival (OS) (Attal et al, 2017). However, in the "salvage" setting, the impact of treatment with additional chemotherapy prior to ASCT is unknown. One study, albeit in the front-line, suggested that in patients achieving less than a partial response (PR), additional induction prior to ASCT did not improve survival (Vij et al, 2015). The present study investigates the role of induction therapy prior to salvage ASCT. Methods We identified 380 patients who underwent ASCT >12 months after being diagnosed with MM from January 1, 2006 to July 1, 2017 at Mayo Clinic Rochester. 121 had a delayed ASCT, but no International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) progression prior to ASCT and were excluded. Another 17 patients achieved less than PR prior to ASCT, thus were deemed primary refractory and excluded. Finally, 8 patients were excluded because they received a planned tandem ASCT. Thus, 234 patients were included in the present study, which was approved by the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board, in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. We refer to the time of progression prior to ASCT, after which we examined the use of pre-ASCT therapy, as T0 to avoid confusion. Time to next therapy (TNT) was defined as the time from ASCT (stem cell infusion, Day +0) to the initiation of a new therapy, not including planned consolidation or maintenance. Patients who were alive and had not received any new therapies, or died before receiving another therapy were censored at the time of last follow up, as of May 15, 2018. OS was defined as the time from Day +0 to death from any cause, with living patients censored at the time of last follow-up. TNT and OS were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. A Cox proportional hazard model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis. High-risk cytogenetics were defined as del(17/17p), t(4;14), t(14;16), and t(14;20). The Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's Exact test were used to compare continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Statistical analysis was completed using JMP 13.0 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Results Of the 234 patients who underwent salvage ASCT, 188 were treated with additional chemotherapy after T0 (hereafter referred to as "pre-ASCT induction"), whereas 46 patients went directly to ASCT. Baseline characteristics were comparable, however more patients in the pre-ASCT induction group had >1 progression prior to ASCT (28% vs. 9%, p= .0065) and had a trend towards a shorter duration of response (DOR) prior to T0 (14.7 vs. 18.5 months, p= .12). Intuitively, the pre-ASCT induction group had a longer time from T0 to ASCT (5.3 vs. 2.3 months, p< .0001). The median TNT for the entire cohort of 234 patients from Day +0 was 17.2 months (95% CI, 14.8-19.7); median OS was 50.4 months (95% CI, 43.3-60.7). TNT and OS were comparable between the two treatment groups (Figure 1). After adjusting for other significant prognostic factors, such as DOR prior to T0 and the presence of high risk cytogenetics, treatment with pre-ASCT induction did not significantly affect TNT or OS (Table 1). However, among the 188 patients treated with pre-ASCT induction, the subsequent depth of response prior to ASCT significantly affected TNT (Figure 2A) and OS (Figure 2B). TNT at 1-year post ASCT was 79.2% for patients achieving a ≥VGPR, 62.1% in those who achieved a PR or stable disease, and 45.7% for patients who had relapsed/refractory MM at the time of ASCT or received >2 lines of pre-ASCT therapy (p= .0003). Interestingly, the time from diagnosis to T0 was comparable between these 3 groups (27 vs. 28 vs. 26 months, respectively, p= .26). Conclusions Many patients with MM do not undergo ASCT until disease progression. In our cohort of 234 patients who underwent salvage ASCT, outcomes were similar whether patients received pre-ASCT induction or not. However, among the 188 patients treated with pre-ASCT induction, deeper responses correlated with significantly longer TNT and OS after ASCT. Further research into the role of chemotherapy prior to delayed ASCT in the era of novel agents is warranted. Disclosures Gertz: annexon: Consultancy; Apellis: Consultancy; Medscape: Consultancy; Teva: Consultancy; janssen: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Physicians Education Resource: Consultancy; Alnylam: Honoraria; Research to Practice: Consultancy; Ionis: Honoraria; spectrum: Consultancy, Honoraria; celgene: Consultancy; Prothena: Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy. Lacy:Celgene: Research Funding. Dispenzieri:Celgene, Takeda, Prothena, Jannsen, Pfizer, Alnylam, GSK: Research Funding. Dingli:Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Other: Participates in the International PNH Registry (for Mayo Clinic, Rochester) for Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Millennium Takeda: Research Funding; Millennium Takeda: Research Funding; Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Other: Participates in the International PNH Registry (for Mayo Clinic, Rochester) for Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. Kapoor:Celgene: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding. Kumar:Celgene: 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; KITE: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.
Efficacy of Mitoxantrone-Based Salvage Therapies in Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia in the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center: Analysis of Survival after CLAG-M Vs. MEC
Scheckel, Caleb , Meyer, Megan, Mi, Lanyu , Slack, James L., Noël, Pierre, Leis, José F., Sproat, Lisa Z., Foran, James M. , Al‐Kali, Aref , Litzow, Mark R. , Palmer, Jeanne , Ketterling, Rhett P. , Hogan, William J.

Mayo Clinic

Blood | October 14, 2019 | Volume: 132 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 2678-2678

10.1182/blood-2018-99-114655 Get It

Abstract Introduction: Primary refractory and early relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (RR-AML) continue to pose a therapeutic challenge. Salvage therapy treatment regimens for refractory and relapsed disease are not standardized but include the commonly-used mitoxantrone, etoposide, and cytarabine (MEC) and cladribine, cytarabine, filgrastim, and mitoxantrone (CLAG-M). Previous studies have suggested a potential benefit of CLAG-M, and therefore we performed an analysis of consecutive patients selected to receive either CLAG-M or MEC as salvage therapy for RR-AML. Methods: The study included 150 consecutive patients with RR-AML who received either CLAG-M or MEC between 09/01/2009 and 12/31/2017. Patients were identified through a pharmacy database based on use of mitoxantrone. Baseline disease and patient-related characteristics and clinical outcomes including allogeneic transplantation (ASCT) were obtained by systematic review of EMR. Overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were estimated according to the Kaplan Meier method and log-rank test was used to compare outcomes between patients who received either of the two regimens. Results: There were 150 consecutive treated patients with RR-AML included in this analysis, 34 patients received CLAG-M and 116 patients received MEC. The median age was 57 years (18-76), and, and 52% were male. Forty-seven (31%) were treated for early relapsed disease (<6 months after successful induction), 17% (>6 months after induction), and the remainder had primary refractory disease (mean number of induction regimens was 1.8, range 1-6). AML risk was defined by cytogenetic criteria. There were a predominance of intermediate-risk subtypes at 47% (71/150) and followed by high-risk at 37% (55/150). Overall CR/CRi rates for CLAG-M and MEC were 74% (23/31) and 58% (63/108) in patients eligible for analysis (p=0.18). The median follow-up from relapse was 23.5 months (1-76). The median OS was 9.5 months for CLAG-M and 10.0 months for MEC (HR=0.88, 95%CI=0.54-1.41, p=0.59). In total, 76 patients (51%) were able to proceed to ASCT following salvage therapy with either CLAG-M or MEC. Among transplant recipients 56% (19/34) and 49% (57/116) were treated with CLAG-M and MEC, respectively. Median OS after ASCT was 13.0 months for CLAG-M and 31.0 months for MEC (HR=1.76, 95%CI=0.87-3.56, p=0.12). The median OS for refractory AML was 13.0 and 66.0 months for CLAG-M and MEC recipients, respectively (HR=0.92, 95%CI=0.46-1.84, p=0.24). Median OS for those with early relapse was 12.0 months for CLAG-M and 10.0 months for MEC (HR=0.69, 95%CI=0.22-2.11, p=0.51). Lastly, among those who had late relapse, median OS was 9.0 and 48.0 months for CLAG-M and MEC, respectively (HR=17.6, 95%CI=1.57-198, p<0.001). A univariate analysis was performed to investigate the impact of factors associated with OS, including treatment, age, gender, whether they proceeded to ASCT, cytogenetic risk type, and donor source. ASCT was associated with significant improvement in both PFS (HR=0.24, 95%CI=0.16- 0.37, p<0.001) and OS (HR=0.26, 95%CI=0.17-0.40, p<0.001) in this cohort. Age greater than 65 was associated with worse PFS (HR=1.02, 95%CI=1.00-1.03, p=0.04) but not OS (HR=1.01, 95%CI=1.00-1.03, p=0.06) after controlling for other variables including the impact of ASCT. Discussion: Despite a lower 30-day induction mortality we did not identify significant differences in outcomes among patients selected to receive CLAG-M vs. MEC. There was a statistically significant improvement in survival in patients who had late relapses and were treated with MEC, and a trend towards improvement in OS of those treated with MEC who proceeded to ASCT. As expected, ASCT was associated with significant improvement in OS in this cohort, and our results strongly support the use of ASCT as consolidation of remission after relapse for AML. Our data suggests that MEC may be a superior regimen, in particular including those with late relapse. Figure. Figure. Disclosures Foran: Agios: Research Funding; Xencor, Inc.: Research Funding. Al-Kali:Novartis: Research Funding. Palmer:Novartis: Research Funding.
Infusion of NKp30/KIR2DL2 Natural Killer Cell Ratio and Survival Post-Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Lymphomas
Porrata, Luis F. , Inwards, David J. , Ansell, Stephen M. , Micallef, Ivana N. , Johnston, Patrick B. , Villasboas, José C. , Hogan, William J. , Markovic, Svetomir N.

Mayo Clinic

Blood | October 14, 2019 | Volume: 132 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 3430-3430

10.1182/blood-2018-99-109922 Get It

Abstract Introduction: Our group (Porrata et al, BBMT 2016; 22: 1017-1023) previously published that the infusion of autograft natural killer (NK) cells correlates with survival post-autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients. A limitation of our previous study was the lack of killer-immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) analysis. Thus, we set up to investigate if the infusion of autograft activating and inhibitory KIR affects survival in NHL. Methods: From December 2007 to October 2010, 122 NHL patients participated in our Phase III clinical trial. A total of 111 patients finished the trail and samples were available for analysis. We analyzed the content of the autograft for inhibitory and activating KIR using flow cytometry analysis of each apheresis collection. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed from the date of transplant. Results: With a median follow-up of 82.8 months (range: 2.1-122.3 months), patients infused with an activating NKp30 (CD158b-CD337+) KIR ≥ 0.09 x 109 cells/kg experienced superior OS and PFS vs < 0.09 x 109 cells/kg: [OS: median was not reached vs 39.8 months, 5 years OS rates of 95% (95%CI, 56%-98%) vs 43% (95%CI, 22%-48%), p < 0.0001, respectively; and PFS: median was not reached vs 12.7 months, 5-years PFS rates of 77% (95%CI, 65%-86%) vs 13% (95%CI, 6%-24%), p < 0.0001, respectively]. Patients infused with the inhibitory KIR2DL2 (CD158b+CD337-) KIR < 0.066 x 109 cells/kg experienced superior OS and PFS vs ≥ 0.066 x 109 cells/kg : [OS: median was not reached vs 48.2 months, 5 years OS rates of 86% (95%CI, 75%-93%) vs 44% (95%CI, 31%-88%), p < 0.0001, respectively; and PFS: median was not reached vs 25.6 months, 5-years PFS rates of 62% (95%CI, 49%-74%) vs 31% (95%CI, 20%-44%), p < 0.0002, respectively]. We combined NKp30 and KIR2DL2 into NKp30/KIR2DL2 ratio. Patients infused with an NKp30/KIR2DL2 ratio ≥ 1.8 experienced superior OS (Figure 1) and PFS (Figure 2) vs < 1.8 : [OS: median was not reached vs 33.4 months, 5 years OS rates of 95% (95%CI, 86%-98%) vs 33% (95%CI, 21%-47%), p < 0.0001, respectively; and PFS: median was not reached vs 14.9 months, 5-years PFS rates of 76% (95%CI, 63%-85%) vs 14% (95%CI, 7%-27%), p < 0.0001, respectively]. Multivariate analysis revealed that the NKp30/KIR2DL2 ratio was an independent predictor for OS [HR = 0.03, 95%CI 0f 0.01-0.07, p < 0.0001] and PFS [HR = 0.17, 95%CI 0f 0.09-0.31, p < 0.0001]. Conclusion: The NKp30/KIR2DL2 ratio provides a platform to develop an immunocompetent autograft to improve clinical outcomes in NHL patients undergoing ASCT. Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures Ansell: LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Celldex: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Merck & Co: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding.
Serial Biomarker Monitoring Early after HCT Identifies Different Risks for Relapse and Graft-Vs-Host Disease
Aziz, Mina, Kapoor, Urvi , Dimopoulos, Christina , Ayuk, Francis , Schreiner, Elisabeth , Choe, Hannah , Chen, Yi‐Bin , Etra, Aaron , Roesler, Wolf, Wölfl, Matthias , Mielke, Stephan , Nakamura, Ryotaro , Ordemann, Rainer, Yanik, Gregory A. , Morales, George , Kowalyk, Steven, Young, Rachel , Schechter‐Finkelstein, Tal, Hartwell, Matthew J. , Gergoudis, Stephanie, Augustine, Allan, Özbek, Umut , Levine, John E. , Ferrara, James L.M. , Levine, John E , Mielke, Stephan , Shah, Jay, Hogan, William J. , Hexner, Elizabeth O. , Merli, Pietro , Kitko, Carrie L. , Qayed, Muna , Wudhikarn, Kitsada , Pulsipher, Michael A. , Reshef, Ran , Anand, Sarah , Kröger, Nicolaus

Mayo Clinic

Blood | October 14, 2019 | Volume: 132 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 356-356

10.1182/blood-2018-99-111200 Get It

Abstract Relapse of malignancy and lethal graft versus host disease (GVHD) are the principal causes of failure of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT). Recently we have shown that at seven days after HCT an algorithm using two serum biomarkers (ST2 and REG3α) can predict severe GVHD (Hartwell et al. JCI Insight 2017). We determined whether serial testing (in the first month following HCT) of patients with low probability biomarkers would improve the predictive accuracy of the algorithm and identify patients with different risks of relapse and lethal GVHD. Patients who received an HCT at 18 centers in the Mount Sinai Acute GVHD International Consortium (MAGIC) for hematologic malignancy and who supplied three blood samples were divided into a training set and validation set with equal numbers of lethal GVHD events, which was defined as death from GVHD or infection during treatment for GVHD. Patients in the training set (n=702) underwent HCT from January 1, 2006 until June 30, 2015, whereas patients in the validation set (n=906) underwent HCT from July 1, 2015 to May 1, 2017. Serum samples were analyzed using the previously published algorithm of two biomarkers up to three times (day 7, day 14, day 28 or GVHD onset, if onset occurred within the first 28 days). The algorithm generates a predicted probability of lethal GVHD between 0 and 1 for each patient. Patients were categorized as either low probability (LP) or high probability (HP) for lethal GVHD. HP thresholds of 0.20 and 0.16 were used to classify patients with and without GVHD symptoms, respectively (once categorized as HP, patients remained in that category and were not retested). All results were similar between training and validation sets, and we present here the validation set results. Serial testing identified 28% of patients as HP with a three-fold greater cumulative incidence of lethal GVHD at one year (13% vs 4%, p<0.001, Figure 1). Relapse rates were the same in both probability groups, and thus LP patients experienced significantly better relapse free survival (RFS) (69% vs 53%, p<0.001). As expected, significantly fewer LP patients experienced severe GVHD at onset (as measured by Minnesota risk), maximum grade III/IV GVHD, or steroid resistant GVHD by day 180 after HCT (Figure 2, p<0.001 for all three parameters). To measure the accuracy of prediction, at each timepoint we calculated the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curves; the AUC increased significantly with each subsequent evaluation, from 0.59 at one timepoint (dotted line) to 0.74 at the third timepoint (solid line) (p<0.001), with a final sensitivity of 65% and specificity of 74% (Figure 3A). Early development of GVHD (by day 28) is a risk factor for lethal GVHD. Therefore, we next plotted RFS (dashed line), relapse (solid line), and lethal GVHD (dotted line) rates in patients who developed GVHD by day 28. 25% of patients with GVHD were categorized as HP and had a cumulative incidence of lethal GVHD more than four times higher (28%) than that of relapse (6%); however the risks were reversed for the 75% of patients who were LP, where relapse (15%) occurred twice as often as lethal GVHD (7%) (Figure 3B). In patients who did not develop GVHD in the first month, this reversal of risks was even more dramatic. Approximately half (53%) of the entire validation cohort did not develop GVHD by day 28 and was LP at all three evaluations. These patients had an exceptionally low risk of lethal GVHD and thus they relapsed (25%) much more often than they died from GVHD (3%). When malignancies were classified according to risk for relapse by the disease risk index (DRI) (Figure 3C), the probability of relapse was three fold higher than lethal GVHD in malignancies with a low DRI (12%), six fold higher for intermediate DRI (20%), and eleven fold higher for high/very high DRI (33%). We conclude that a serial monitoring strategy using GVHD biomarkers for one month after HCT is able to identify two groups of patients with very different risks of lethal GVHD and relapse. For these patients, the intensity of immunosuppression after day 28 could be tailored according to the probabilities of developing lethal GVHD and relapse in the context of clinical trials. Disclosures Aziz: Doris Duke Charitable Foundation: Research Funding. Ayuk:Therakos (Mallinckrodt): Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy. Chen:REGiMMUNE: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Magenta Therapeutics: Consultancy; Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Merli:Neovii Biotech: Honoraria; AMGEN: Honoraria. Roesler:Sanofi: Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses; Amgen: Equity Ownership; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses; Immunomedics: Equity Ownership; Biogen: Equity Ownership; Merck: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy. Kitko:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Mallinckrodt: Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses. Qayed:Novartis: Consultancy. Wölfl:Bristol-myers Squibb: Equity Ownership; Novartis: Equity Ownership; Taheda: Equity Ownership; Juno: Equity Ownership; Neovii: Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses. Mielke:Celgene: Speakers Bureau; DGHO: Speakers Bureau; EHA: Speakers Bureau; Kiadis Pharma: Speakers Bureau; Miltenyi: Speakers Bureau. Wudhikarn:Takeda Oncology: Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses. Nakamura:Celgene: Honoraria; Molmed: Honoraria; Merck: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Atara: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Pulsipher:CSL Behring: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Adaptive Biotech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria. Reshef:Pfizer: Consultancy; Atara Biotherapeutics: Consultancy; Kite Pharma: Consultancy; Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy. Levine:Therakos: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Bluebird: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Kamada: Research Funding; Viracor: Patents & Royalties. Ferrara:Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses; Xenikos: Consultancy, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses; Kamada: Consultancy, Research Funding; Viracor: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties.