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The molecular landscape of patients with malignant histiocytosis
Rodriguez-Rosario, Alanis Enid, Abeykoon, Jithma P. , Medina, Aldo Acosta, Ruan, Gordon , Zanwar, Saurabh , Bennani, N. Nora , Rech, Karen L. , Shah, Meera , Ravindran, Aishwarya , Yi, Dongni , Goyal, Gaurav , Go, Ronald S.

Mayo Clinic

Blood | December 4, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 7335-7335

10.1182/blood-2025-7335 Get It

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

Mayo Clinic

Blood | December 4, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 7339-7339

10.1182/blood-2025-7339 Get It

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

Mayo Clinic

Blood | December 4, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 2563-2563

10.1182/blood-2025-2563 Get It

Abstract Background Chimeric-antigen-receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has transformed outcomes for relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies, yet early identification of patients at highest risk for death remains elusive. A prognostic model that leverages only the information routinely available at the time of CAR-T evaluationcould guide pre-infusion counseling, intensity of follow-up, and resource allocation. Methods We analyzed a prospectively maintained cohort of CAR-T recipients treated at Mayo Clinic to develop and test our model. For each patient, data (vital signs, lab results, cardiac assessments [ECG and echocardiography], and PET/CT images) from initial CAR-T evaluation (up to 60 days prior to CAR-T infusion) was considered. Vital signs and labs were left un-imputed, while ECG, echocardiographic parameters, and PET/CT features were forward-filled from the preceding 60 days. Each patient-day was labeled as “outcome present” or “no outcome,” enabling supervised training of gradient-boosting models to predict overall survival (OS) at 6 months post CAR-T infusion. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the ROC curve (AUC) with 10,000-fold bootstrapping with data shuffling between each iteration to derive confidence intervals for stability. To enhance interpretability, we also developed a simplified model using the top 19 features (determined by Shapley value-based importance), aiming to preserve predictive accuracy with a smaller feature set. Results A total of 570 CAR-T cell treated patients were included in this study (476 patients in the training cohort and 94 patients in the validation cohort). The median age was 64 years and 61% males. The primary diagnoses were B-cell lymphoma (324 patients) and multiple myeloma (246 patients). A total of 4,851 individual vital-sign readings, 11,781 laboratory measurements were included. PET/CT images were available in 318 patients. The ML model demonstrated high discriminative ability for predicting OS at 6 months post CAR-T infusion. Vital signs alone produced a mean AUC of 0.63; radiomics features alone produced a mean AUC of 0.71, while laboratory tests alone produced a mean AUC of 0.84. The features most contributory to each single-modality model were then combined into a simplified multimodal model with a total of 19 features, which produced a mean AUC of 0.87, with a 95% CI of 0.73 - 0.97. The 19 features included in the simplified model were: LDH, ferritin, uric acid, eosinophils, fibrinogen, D-dimer, heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, QTc, QT interval, and the radiomics features of sphericity, first-order Kurtosis, first-order mean, first-order energy, first-order total energy, shape maximum2D diameter (sagittal plane), SUV CoV, SUVp90, shape flatness. This multimodal predictive model was then applied to the validation cohort (uninvolved with model training or testing), which produced an AUC of 0.93, with a 95% CI of 0.84 - 0.98. Conclusions Our ML-driven approach successfully predicts overall survival 6 months post CAR-T infusion, highlighting those individuals at most risk of poor outcomes at the time of CAR-T evaluation. The strong performance of the multimodal version of the model suggests that each data domain contributes complementary resolving power, and by including novel data types, such as PET CT radiomics features, the most accurate predictions could be realized. By providing accurate, near-real-time risk stratification for poor outcomes within 6 months of CAR-T infusion, the model could facilitate proactive patient management. Prospective studies of the integration of this ML model into CAR-T treatment workflows will be crucial to confirm its clinical benefits and to facilitate its adoption in practice.
Evolving insights and changes in survival of erdheim-chester disease over time
Poleksic, Mia, Spears, Grant M. , Borré, Carla Isabel, Shukla, Brinda H, Fitzgerald, Jacquelyn, Khan, Muhammad Azeem , Bhambhvani, Pradeep, Sen, Mitali , Bailey, Lucy , Sokolowski, Daniel, Valinotti, Julio Sartori, Medina, Aldo Acosta, Gruber, Lucinda , Dasari, Surendra , Abeykoon, Jithma P. , Yi, Dongni , Shukla, Brinda H, Fitzgerald, Jacquelyn, Morlote, Diana M. , Saha, Aditi , Sokolowski, Daniel, Tobin, W. Oliver , Young, Jason R. , Koster, Matthew J. , Shah, Meera , Bennani, N. Nora , Moustafa, Muhamad Alhaj , Hilal, Talal , Vassallo, Robert , Rech, Karen L. , Witzig, Thomas E. , Ravindran, Aishwarya , Go, Ronald S. , Goyal, Gaurav

Mayo Clinic

Blood | December 4, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 2990-2990

10.1182/blood-2025-2990 Get It

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

Mayo Clinic

Blood | December 4, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 3640-3640

10.1182/blood-2025-3640 Get It

Abstract Background The benefit of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as a consolidation strategy after initial chemotherapy in peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is currently unclear, and a randomized trial (EA4232/PTCL-STAT) to answer this question is currently underway. Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a rare, aggressive subtype of nodal PTCL with poor prognosis and unique features. Here, we report a large-scale, real-world evidence on the role of ASCT in frontline AITL management. Methods We analyzed a national cohort of 5,827 patients diagnosed with AITL between 2004 and 2020 from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Baseline demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic characteristics were assessed. Treatment modalities included chemotherapy alone, chemotherapy with ASCT, and no treatment. Overall survival (OS) was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier method and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to validate ASCT's treatment effect. Results Among patients with complete treatment information (n = 5,224), the median age at diagnosis was 68 years (range 20–90). Frontline treatments included chemotherapy alone (68.6%, n = 3,584), chemotherapy with ASCT (14.6%, n = 761), and no treatment (16.8%, n = 879). Compared with patients who did not receive ASCT, those who underwent ASCT were significantly younger (median 60.0 vs 68.0 years), more frequently treated at academic centers (81.5% vs 57.9%, p < 0.001), and more likely to reside in areas with higher educational attainment (p < 0.001). They exhibited lower Charlson-Deyo comorbidity scores (CDS), with a higher proportion having a score of 0 (82.8% vs 73.6%, p < 0.001), and were more likely to have advanced-stage disease (93.0% vs 86.9%, p < 0.001). Furthermore, a higher proportion of patients who received ASCT were diagnosed in more recent years (p < 0.001). Sex, race, and IPI score distribution showed no significant baseline differences. Median follow-up time was 81.1 months (95% CI: 77.4–84.9), and the median OS was 23.3 months (95% CI: 21.3–25.2) for the entire cohort. For patients receiving chemotherapy with ASCT, the median OS was 139.2 months (95% CI: 104.2–174.2). In comparison, chemotherapy alone yielded a median OS of 23.6 months (95% CI: 21.4–25.8), while patients who received no treatment had a median OS of 4.0 months (95% CI: 2.7–5.2); overall p < 0.001. Median OS also significantly improved with more recent diagnosis eras: 20.1 months for patients diagnosed in 2004–2009 (95% CI: 16.8–23.4), 23.9 months for those diagnosed in 2010–2015 (95% CI: 21.0–26.7), and 26.7 months for patients diagnosed in 2016–2020 (95% CI: 23.1–30.4) (p < 0.001). Analyses consistently demonstrated longer median OS in female patients (27.5 vs. 20.7 months in males, p <0.001), and in patients treated at academic centers (27.5 vs. 16.4 months at non-academic centers, p < 0.001). Median OS varied by race (White: 24.0 months vs. Black: 15.2 months vs. Others: 30.3 months; p = 0.017). Patients with higher household income and higher educational attainment experienced significantly improved survival (p = 0.005 and p = 0.017, respectively). Patients with early-stage disease, lower IPI scores, and lower CDS also showed significantly longer survival (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Multivariate Cox regression showed that chemotherapy with ASCT significantly reduced mortality risk compared to chemotherapy alone (HR = 0.438, 95% CI: 0.364–0.527, p < 0.001). No treatment significantly increased mortality risk (HR = 1.941, 95% CI: 1.634–2.305, p < 0.001). PSM analysis further validated that chemotherapy with ASCT significantly lowered mortality risk compared to chemotherapy alone (HR = 0.608, 95% CI: 0.503–0.736, p < 0.001), after matching for age at diagnosis, sex, race, income, education level, academic center, stage, CDS, and diagnosis era. Conclusion This large-scale, real-world analysis suggests that chemotherapy followed by ASCT is associated with significantly improved overall survival in patients with AITL, supported by unadjusted Kaplan-Meier analysis, adjusted multivariate Cox regression, as well as PSM analysis. These data support ASCT as an important consolidation strategy for AITL in real-world practice.
Prognostic significance of cell-of-origin, gene expression profiles, and frontline therapy in predicting secondary CNS lymphoma in newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Falade, Ayo, Mwangi, Raphael, Okcu, Izel, Ravindra, Aditya, Pradeep, Aishwarya, Hampel, Paul, Zanwar, Saurabh, Khan, Muhammad Azeem, Vodicka, Prokop, Klanova, Magdalena, Masar, Michal, Nedved, Adrienne, Khurana, Arushi, Durani, Urshila, Paludo, Jonas, Andrade-Gonzalez, Xavier, Thanarajasingam, Gita, Bennani, N. Nora, Thompson, Carrie, Hricko, Samuel, Janikova, Andrea, Wang, Yucai, Johnston, Patrick, Ivana, Micallef, Novak, Anne, King, Rebecca, Maurer, Matthew, Witzig, Thomas, Ansell, Stephen, Mou, Eric, Habermann, Thomas, Nowakowski, Grzegorz, Bisneto, Jose Villasboas, Trneny, Marek, Cerhan, James, Abeykoon, Jithma, Okcu, Izel , Falade, Ayo, Mwangi, Raphael, Ravindra, Aditya, Pradeep, Aishwarya, Hampel, Paul, Zanwar, Saurabh, Khan, Muhammad Azeem, Vodicka, Prokop, Klanova, Magdalena, Masar, Michal, Nedved, Adrienne, Khurana, Arushi, Durani, Urshila, Paludo, Jonas, Andrade-Gonzalez, Xavier, Thanarajasingam, Gita, Bennani, N. Nora, Thompson, Carrie, Hricko, Samuel, Janikova, Andrea, Wang, Yucai, Johnston, Patrick, Ivana, Micallef, Novak, Anne, King, Rebecca, Maurer, Matthew, Witzig, Thomas, Ansell, Stephen, Mou, Eric, Habermann, Thomas, Nowakowski, Grzegorz, Bisneto, Jose Villasboas, Trneny, Marek, Cerhan, James, Abeykoon, Jithma

Mayo Clinic

Blood | December 4, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 473-473

10.1182/blood-2025-473 Get It

Abstract Background Secondary central nervous system lymphoma (SCNSL) is a rare but significant complication, affecting approximately 2–10% of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), often leading to poor outcomes. The CNS-International Prognostic Index (CNS-IPI) remains a widely adopted tool for estimating CNS relapse risk; however, recent advances in molecular profiling and evolving treatment paradigms have challenged the adequacy of CNS-IPI alone in guiding risk assessment. This study evaluates the prognostic relevance of CNS-IPI in conjunction with molecular and clinical factors, specifically cell-of-origin (COO), gene expression, and frontline treatment regimens. The aim is to refine risk stratification and identify patients at highest risk for SCNSL. Method Building on our previous study, we analyzed data from patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL between 2002 and 2023, enrolled in the Mayo Clinic/University of Iowa Lymphoma Molecular Epidemiology Resource. Patients with primary CNS lymphoma, CNS involvement at diagnosis, or who received CNS-directed therapy were excluded. COO was determined using the Hans algorithm and/or Nanostring profiling. Multivariate cause-specific Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for predictors of CNS relapse that were measured at the time of initial DLBCL diagnosis. Cumulative incidence with competing risks and cause-specific Cox models were used to analyze relapse risk. Result We included 2137 patients in our analysis, median age at diagnosis was 63 (IQR 53-72), with 41.6% (n=890) females. The albumin level was below normal in 32.5% (n=350), 64.0% (n=1367) had CNS-IPI of intermediate/high, 37.5% (n=586) had non-germinal center B-cell (GCB) COO, and 14.5% (n=309) were double expressor positive. At a median follow-up of 83 months (IQR 42 -143), 82 (3.8%) SCNSL relapses were observed; the 3 and 5 yrs cumulative incidence for SCNSL from time of DLBCL diagnosis were 3.7% (95% CI 3.0-4.7) and 3.8% (95% CI 3.1-4.8) respectively. In models accounting for death as a competing risk, the 5-year cumulative SCNSL incidence estimate for patients with a CNS-IPI low was 1.5% (95% CI 0.8-2.7), Intermediate was 4.9% (95% CI 3.7-6.4), and high was 6.1% (95% CI 3.8-9.6). The 5-year cumulative SCNSL incidence estimate for patients with non-GCB COO was 5.2% (95% CI 3.6-7.4) compared to 2.4% (95% CI 1.6-3.6; p=0.001) for GCB patients, and the 5-year cumulative SCNSL incidence for double expressor positive patients was 8.6% (95% 5.8-12.6) compared to 1.5% (95% CI 0.8-2.7; p<0.001) for double expressor negative patients. In a multivariable model (including CNS-IPI, COO, double expressor, treatment group, extranodal involvement, and albumin group), CNS-IPI intermediate (HR 2.85 [1.58-5.14]; p<0.001) and high (HR 4.31 [2.15-8.65]; p<0.001), non-GCB COO (HR 2.36 [1.37-4.06]; p=0.002], double expressor (HR 5.56 [2.88-10.73]; p<0.001), and below normal albumin (HR 1.89 [1.02-3.50]; p=0.042) were independently associated with increased risk of SCNSL. The majority of the SCNSL relapse occurred within the first 2 years after DLBCL diagnosis; 81.7% (n=67), with only 6.1% (n=5) occurring after 5 years. For patients who developed SCNSL, the median OS from the time of SCNSL diagnosis was 24 months (95% CI 17-34), with 5 years OS of 31% (95% CI 22-43). These findings are being validated using an external, international cohort, and final analysis will be presented at the time of presentation at ASH. Conclusion In this large, prospectively followed cohort with long-term follow-up data, SCNSL remains a rare but devastating complication of DLBCL, with a 5-year cumulative incidence of 3.8% and it is associated with very poor long-term survival. While CNS-IPI remains a strong predictor of SCNSL risk, our study identifies non-GCB COO and double expressor phenotype as independent, additive molecular risk factors. These findings suggest that current risk stratification tools may underestimate the risk of CNS relapse in molecularly defined high-risk subgroups. Considering the poor outcomes linked to SCNSL and the absence of a connection with frontline treatment types, future research should aim to enhance risk prediction models through molecular profiling and explore prophylactic strategies to reduce the likelihood of SCNSL.
Final results from the embolden trial:  pembrolizumab in combination with decitabine and pralatrexate in heavily pretreated patients with peripheral and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
Lister, John , Jain, Salvia , Battaglia, Tammy, Abdelmalek, Marian, Horton, Bethany J. , Ayers, Emily C. , Cropley, Thomas G., Pal, Ipsita , Manavalan, John S., O'Conner, Owen, Marchi, Enrica , Roberts, Nathan, Bennani, N. Nora , Abdelmalek, Marian, Portell, Craig A. , Batchala, Prem Pradeep

Mayo Clinic

Blood | December 4, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 5417-5417

10.1182/blood-2025-5417 Get It

Abstract Background: Patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) have a poor prognosis with median overall survival of ~3-12 months with current therapies, highlighting an urgent unmet need for novel therapeutics. PTCL is uniquely sensitive to epigenetic modifiers. We have shown that DNMT3 inhibitors like 5-azacytidine have potent immunomodulatory effects, including upregulation of cancer testis antigens, in pre-clinical models of T-cell lymphoma. Similarly, we have shown that pralatrexate (PTX) is potentially synergistic with drugs targeting epigenetic regulation. These data suggest a role for combining the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab (pembro) with epigenetic agents in patients with PTCL. Methods: PTCL-002 is a multicenter, multi-arm phase Ib study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pembro in combination with PTX and/or decitabine (DAC) in patients with R/R PTCL and CTCL. The study included three arms: arm A (pembro+PTX), arm B (pembro+PTX+DAC), and arm C (pembro+DAC). All patients received pembro 200 mg by IV infusion every 21 days. Dose selection for DAC and PTX in arms A and C, respectively, was based on a continual reassessment method (CRM) while arm B used a partial order CRM. Primary endpoints included MTD, RP2D, dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) and clinical efficacy as assessed by overall response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival, duration of response, and overall survival. Select pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic endpoints were also included in order to assess immune modulation and identify potential predictors of response. Results: We enrolled 26 patients, including 9 patients in arm A, 7 in arm B, and 10 in arm C. Median age was 61 (range 27-77) with 13 males and 13 females. Racial demographics were as follows: White 62%, Black 23%, Asian 3%, and Hispanic 1%. Median number of prior treatments was 3 (range 1-6). Histologic subtypes included ATLL (n=1), AITL (n=4), PTCL-NOS (n=10), SS (n=1), MF (n=6), PCALCL (n=1), MEITL (n=1), PCAECTL (n=1), and TFh-PTCL (n=1). Twenty-four of 26 patients received at least one dose of study drug and were evaluable for toxicity. Twenty-one of 26 of patients received at least one full cycle of therapy and were evaluable for response. Reasons for early discontinuation included consent withdrawal (n=1), rapid disease progression during cycle 1 (n=2), adverse event (n=1), and investigator decision (n=1). One DLT was observed each in arms A and B for prolonged grade 3 thrombocytopenia and febrile neutropenia, respectively. Three DLTs were observed in arm C including one patient with grade 3 hyponatremia and rash; one patient with grade 4 thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and anemia; and one patient with grade 4 neutropenia. There were no treatment related deaths. Based on the observed DLTs, the RP2D for DAC in combination with pembro is 20 mg/m2on days 1-3; the RP2D for PTX in combination with pembro is 30 mg/m2on days 1, 8, and 15; for the triplet combination, the RP2D for DAC is 10 mg/m2given on days 1-5 and the RP2D for PTX is 20 mg/m2given on days 1, 8, and 15. Among 21 evaluable patients, responses were as follows: ORR 19% (4/21), CR 10% (2/21), PR 10% (2/21), and disease control rate (defined as proportion of patients with stable disease or better) 38% (8/21). ORR among evaluable patients in arms A, B, and C were 40% (2/5), 29% (2/7), and 0% (0/9), respectively. Analysis of serum cytokine levels in select patients (4 in Arm A, 4 in Arm B, and 5 in Arm C) revealed significant changes in 5 cytokines when compared to healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Of the 5 cytokines, 3 pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNFα, MIP-3α and IL-10, measured at day 1 pre-treatment were significantly higher in trial patients (p= 0.0001, 0.0008 and 0.003 respectively) than in healthy controls. Trial patients who responded to treatment (PR/CR) in any arms demonstrated a decline in serum levels of TNFα and IL-10 by day 15 of cycle 1, whereas non-responders (PD/SD) showed stable to increased levels of both TNFα and IL-10. Conclusion: We successfully identified the RP2D for DAC and/or PTX in combination with pembro in patients with R/R PTCL and CTCL. We demonstrated that an epigenetic platform incorporating the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab is safe in heavily pretreated disease. More work on changes in cytokine profiles is needed before drawing any conclusions on their relationship to response.
Treatment selection preferences and barriers in relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma.
Gupta, S. C. , Ng, Lay She , Bennani, Nabila Nora, Khurana, Arushi , Hampel, Paul J. , Johnston, Patrick B. , Ansell, Stephen M. , Gupta, Supriya, Muñoz, Javier , Paludo, Jonas , Villasboas, José C. , Wang, Yucai , Iqbal, Madiha , Lin, Yi , Durani, Urshila

Mayo Clinic

JCO Oncology Practice | October 7, 2025 | Volume: 21 | Issue: 10_suppl | Pages: 207-207

10.1200/op.2025.21.10_suppl.207 Get It

207 Background: CAR-T & bispecific antibodies (BsAb) for large B-cell lymphoma offer deep responses, but have unique toxicities requiring close monitoring. Different practice settings have varied strategies for managing these toxicities, leading to increased costs, healthcare resource use, & reduced quality of life. With no direct comparison, rationale for therapy selection may vary. This study explores provider choices, sequencing strategies & access barriers. Methods: A survey of US-based Hematologists was conducted on practice demographics, therapy availability, preferences, & barriers in LBCL. Responses were analyzed across clinical scenarios. Results: Responses were received from 45 physicians. Availability of CAR-T & BsAb varied with 75% prescribing both, & only BsAb being available at 9% of providers’ centers. There was a strong preference for CAR-T over BsAb—higher among academic vs. nonacademic providers (96% vs. 78%; p = 0.03) & at CAR-T vs. non-CAR-T centers (100% vs. 72%; p = 0.001). Even at BsAb-only centers, preference leaned toward CAR-T, though notably lower compared to CAR-T centers. Among centers without either, 86% preferred CAR-T. Practice volume had no impact. Reasons for favoring CAR-T included perceived better outcomes (55%), shorter treatment (26%), center choice (19%), more experience (48%), & curative potential (21%). BsAb selection was driven by CAR-T unavailability & logistical barriers (distance to specialized center, insurance delays, referral complexity, manufacturing time, & hospitalization needs). Axi-cel was preferred by 69% ( p = 0.0001) vs. other CAR-T for third-line or later due to experience with use, response rates, center choice, & logistical ease. Liso-cel (26%) & Tisa-cel (2%) were chosen for perceived favorable toxicity over Axi-cel. Axi-cel was also preferred second-line vs. Liso-cel (73% vs. 24%; p < 0.0001) for similar reasons. Among BsAb, Epcoritamab was favored by 56% for administration ease (subcutaneous), experience, & center preference; Glofitamab by 42% for shorter duration, experience, & center preference. There was no difference by academic vs nonacademic practice & volume for both CAR-T & BsAb. In patients with prior non-CAR-T anti-CD19 therapy, providers chose CD19 CAR-T over CD20 BsAb (80% vs. 18%; p < 0.0001). For relapse after second-line CAR-T, 78% providers preferred BsAb as the next line over other options ( p < 0.0001) due to more favorable response rates, toxicity profile, & experience with use. Providers prioritized response rates, survival, & toxicity profile in their treatment decisions. Logistics, duration, frequency, & cost were less important. There were no differences based on practice setting & CAR-T experience. Conclusions: Despite higher preference for CAR-T due to perceived superior outcomes, access barriers exist. Efforts to streamline referral pathways, logistics, & expand availability are crucial to improve outcomes.
PD-L1 expression and response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in malignant histiocytic neoplasms
Ravindran, Aishwarya , Jiang, Liuyan , Ruan, Gordon , Dasari, Surendra , Abeykoon, Jithma P. , Zanwar, Saurabh , Young, Jason R., Bach, Corrie R. , Ruan, Gordon J , Ravindran, Aishwarya , McConathy, Jonathan , Bennani, N. Nora , Go, Ronald S. , Goyal, Gaurav , Rech, Karen L.

Mayo Clinic

Leukemia & Lymphoma | September 25, 2025 | Volume: 66 | Issue: 14 | Pages: 2675-2684

10.1080/10428194.2025.2561114 | PMID 40995654 Get It

Cardiovascular degeneration in Erdheim-Chester disease: prevalence, burden, and outcomes
Tawfiq, R., Spears, Grant M. , Young, Jason R., Mahowald, Madeline , Tobin, W. Oliver , Patgunarajah, Ubenthira, Ruan, Gordon , Yi, Dongni , Zanwar, Saurabh , Gruber, Lucinda , Ravindran, Aishwarya , Sartori‐Valinotti, Julio C. , Vassallo, Robert , Ryu, Jay H. , Davidge‐Pitts, Caroline , Dasari, Surendra , Abeykoon, Jithma P. , Tawfiq, Reema K , Mahowald, Madeline K , Ruan, Gordon J , Acosta-Medina, Aldo A , Ravindran, Aishwarya , Shah, Mithun V , Bennani, N Nora , Moustafa, Muhamad Alhaj , Hilal, Talal , Sartori-Valinotti, J C , Vassallo, Robert , Ryu, Jay H , Witzig, T.E. , Goyal, Guarav , Abeykoon, Jithma P , Tobin, W Oliver , Rech, Karen L. , Koster, Matthew J. , Acosta‐Medina, Aldo A. , Shah, Meera , Bennani, N. Nora , Moustafa, Muhamad Alhaj , Hilal, Talal , Witzig, Thomas E. , Go, Ronald S. , Goyal, Gaurav

Mayo Clinic

Blood Advances | August 28, 2025 | Volume: 9 | Issue: 23 | Pages: 5988-6000

10.1182/bloodadvances.2025016608 | PMID 40875593 Get It

Abstract Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare systemic histiocytic neoplasm, with cardiac morbidities, including cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and cardiac conditions, playing a significant yet poorly understood role in the disease burden. This study evaluated the prevalence, characteristics, and prognosis of ECD in patients with (ECD-C) and without cardiac involvement (ECD-noC) and compared the burden of cardiac morbidities with matched controls. Patients diagnosed with ECD between 1990 and 2021 at a tertiary center were included, with cardiac involvement centrally assessed using radiographic studies. Cardiac morbidities were compared with a control group without ECD, matched for age, sex, body mass index, and smoking history. Among 104 patients with ECD, 39 (37%) had cardiac involvement. Patients with ECD-C had higher rates of hypertension (67% vs 46%), hyperlipidemia (67% vs 40%), heart failure (36% vs 8%), and pericardial effusion (28% vs 2%) than those with ECD-noC. Compared with the matched non-ECD cohort, patients with ECD had higher prevalence of coronary artery disease (20% vs 7%), heart failure (18% vs 4%), and antihypertensive drug use (55% vs 40%). Notably, patients with ECD-C had inferior progression-free survival (PFS) from frontline therapy compared with patients with ECD-noC (5-year PFS, 28.3% vs 70.5%). These findings highlight the burden of CV risk factors and cardiac conditions in ECD, even without a clinical diagnosis of ECD-C. Importantly, this cardiac morbidity burden is substantial for patients with ECD-C compared with ECD-noC. Our findings highlight the need for comprehensive cardiac risk assessment and management strategies to improve patient outcomes.