Citations

Abstract Cytotoxic CD8+ T cells (CTL) are a crucial component of the immune system notable for their ability to eliminate rapidly proliferating malignant cells. However, the T-cell intrinsic factors required for human CTLs to accomplish highly efficient antitumor cytotoxicity are not well defined. By evaluating human CD8+ T cells from responders versus nonresponders to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, we sought to identify key factors associated with effective CTL function. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis of peripheral CD8+ T cells from patients treated with anti–PD-1 therapy showed that cells from nonresponders exhibited decreased expression of the cytolytic granule-associated molecule natural killer cell granule protein-7 (NKG7). Functional assays revealed that reduced NKG7 expression altered cytolytic granule number, trafficking, and calcium release, resulting in decreased CD8+ T-cell–mediated killing of tumor cells. Transfection of T cells with NKG7 mRNA was sufficient to improve the tumor-cell killing ability of human T cells isolated from nonresponders and increase their response to anti–PD-1 or anti–PD-L1 therapy in vitro. NKG7 mRNA therapy also improved the antitumor activity of murine tumor antigen–specific CD8+ T cells in an in vivo model of adoptive cell therapy. Finally, we showed that the transcription factor ETS1 played a role in regulating NKG7 expression. Together, our results identify NKG7 as a necessary component for the cytotoxic function of CD8+ T cells and establish NKG7 as a T-cell–intrinsic therapeutic target for enhancing cancer immunotherapy. See related article by Li et al., p. 154.

Abstract Recognizing that race is a social and not a biological construct, healthcare professionals and the public have called for removal of race in clinical algorithms. In response, the National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology created the Task Force on Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Diseases to examine the issue and provide recommendations. The final report from the Task Force recommends calculating estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) without a race coefficient using the recently published CKD-EPI 2021 creatinine (cr) and creatinine-cystatin C (cr-cys) equations. The Task Force recommends immediately replacing older eGFRcr equations (MDRD Study and CKD-EPI 2009) with the new CKD-EPI 2021 equation. In a 2019 survey by the College of American Pathologists, 23% of 6200 laboratories reporting eGFRcr used an incorrect equation that is not suitable for use with standardized creatinine measurements, 34% used the CKD-EPI 2009 equation and 43% used the MDRD Study 2006 equation re-expressed for standardized creatinine measurement. Rapid transition to using the CKD-EPI 2021 equation is an opportunity for laboratories to standardize to a single equation to eliminate differences in eGFRcr due to different equations used by different laboratories, and to report eGFR without use of race. We provide guidance to laboratories for implementing the CKD-EPI 2021 equations for both eGFRcr and eGFRcr-cys.

Background: We hypothesized that the Effective radiation Dose to the Immune Cells (EDIC) in circulating blood is a significant factor for the treatment outcome in patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: This is a secondary study of a phase III trial, NRG/RTOG 0617, in patients with stage III NSCLC treated with radiation-based treatment. The EDIC was computed as equivalent uniform dose to the entire blood based on radiation doses to all blood-containing organs, with consideration of blood flow and fractionation effect. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and local progression-free survival (LPFS). The EDIC–survival relationship was analyzed with consideration of clinical significant factors. Results: A total of 456 patients were eligible. The median EDIC values were 5.6 Gy (range, 2.1–12.2 Gy) and 6.3 Gy (2.1–11.6 Gy) for the low- and high-dose groups, respectively. The EDIC was significantly associated with OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.12, p = 0.005) and LPFS (HR = 1.09, p = 0.02) but PFS (HR = 1.05, p = 0.17) after adjustment for tumor dose, gross tumor volume and other factors. OS decreased with an increasing EDIC in a non-linear pattern: the two-year OS decreased first with a slope of 8%/Gy when the EDIC < 6 Gy, remained relatively unchanged when the EDIC was 6–8 Gy, and followed by a further reduction with a slope of 12%/Gy when the EDIC > 8 Gy. Conclusions: The EDIC is a significant independent risk factor for poor OS and LPFS in RTOG 0617 patients with stage III NSCLC, suggesting that radiation dose to circulating immune cells is critical for tumor control. Organ at risk for the immune system should be considered during RT plan.

Microglial homeostasis has emerged as a critical mediator of health and disease in the central nervous system. In their neuroprotective role as the predominant immune cells of the brain, microglia surveil the microenvironment for debris and pathogens, while also promoting neurogenesis and performing maintenance on synapses. Chronological ageing, disease onset, or traumatic injury promotes irreparable damage or deregulated signaling to reinforce neurotoxic phenotypes in microglia. These insults may include cellular senescence, a stable growth arrest often accompanied by the production of a distinctive pro‐inflammatory secretory phenotype, which may contribute to age‐ or disease‐driven decline in neuronal health and cognition and is a potential novel therapeutic target. Despite this increased scrutiny, unanswered questions remain about what distinguishes senescent microglia and non‐senescent microglia reacting to insults occurring in ageing, disease, and injury, and how central the development of senescence is in their pivot from guardian to assailant. To intelligently design future studies to untangle senescent microglia from other primed and reactionary states, specific criteria must be developed that define this population and allow for comparisons between different model systems. Comparing microglial activity seen in homeostasis, ageing, disease, and injury allows for a more coherent understanding of when and how senescent and other harmful microglial subpopulations should be targeted.

Shared decision making (SDM) has been advocated to improve patient care, patient decision acceptance, patient-provider communication, patient motivation, adherence, and patient reported outcomes. Documentation of SDM is endorsed in several society guidelines and is a condition of reimbursement for selected cardiovascular and cardiac arrhythmia procedures. However, many clinicians argue that SDM already occurs with clinical encounter discussions or the process of obtaining informed consent and note the additional imposed workload of using and documenting decision aids without validated tools or evidence that they improve clinical outcomes. In reality, SDM is a process and can be done without decision tools, although the process may be variable. Also, SDM advocates counter that the low-risk process of SDM need not be held to the high bar of demonstrating clinical benefit and that increasing the quality of decision making should be sufficient. Our review leverages a multidisciplinary group of experts in cardiology, cardiac electrophysiology, epidemiology, and SDM, as well as a patient advocate. Our goal is to examine and assess SDM methodology, tools, and available evidence on outcomes in patients with heart rhythm disorders to help determine the value of SDM, assess its possible impact on electrophysiological procedures and cardiac arrhythmia management, better inform regulatory requirements, and identify gaps in knowledge and future needs.

R47H- TREM2 mutation enhances AKT signaling in human AD microglia and mediates proinflammatory and synaptic toxicity in a tauopathy mouse model.

Abstract Introduction: Imetelstat is a first-in-class telomerase inhibitor that targets cells with high telomerase activity and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression, characteristics observed in MDS patients (pts) across all disease stages. IMerge (MDS3001, NCT02598661) is a Phase 2/3 global study of imetelstat for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion dependent (TD) pts with non-del 5q LR-MDS ESA-R/R, who have limited treatment options. The results from the Phase 2 part indicated that imetelstat achieved durable transfusion independence (TI) with a manageable safety profile. Among 38 pts with median follow-up of 24 months, ≥8-week (w), ≥24-w, ≥1-year (y) TI rates were 42%, 32% and 29%, respectively (Steensma JCO 2020, Platzbecker ASH 2020). Aims: To assess the correlation between imetelstat's on-target activity with clinical benefits and safety data as of 10-May 2021 in the Phase 2 part of IMerge. Methods: Peripheral blood samples pre and after 1 and 2 cycles of imetelstat administration were collected to analyze hTERT level by Taqman RT-PCR assay. ≥50% hTERT reduction by imetelstat was considered optimal pharmacodynamic (PD) effect. Correlation analyses between the optimal PD and efficacy, including TI rates ≥8-w, ≥24-w, and ≥1-y, duration of the longest TI, and OS, as well as hematological and liver function lab parameters were performed. Results: hTERT analyses on 35/38 pts with matched pre- and post-1 to 2 cycles of treatment samples available demonstrated on-target activity/optimal PD effect of imetelstat in 54.3% (19/35) of pts. Pts who achieved optimal PD had significantly higher rates of TI compared to pts who did not achieve optimal PD: 63.2% (12/19) vs 25% (4/16) had ≥8-w TI (p=0.0411); 57.9% (11/19) vs 12.5% (2/16) had ≥24-w TI (p=0.0125); and 52.6% (10/19) vs 6.3% (1/16) had ≥1-y TI (p=0.0125) (Fig A). Pts who achieved optimal PD effect had a greater reduction in transfusions (both absolute change in transfusion units and % of change in transfusion burden) in the best 8-week interval compared to pts who did not. In addition, pts who achieved optimal PD had a significantly longer median TI duration (68.4 w, 95% CI 4.9, 92.4) compared to those who did not (5.5 w, 95% CI 2.3, 6.6) with a hazard ratio of 0.364 (95% CI 0.167, 0.794, log-rank p value=0.0087, Fig B). Furthermore, median OS was 57.0 months (95% CI 34.6, -) in pts who achieved optimal PD vs 40.7 months (95% CI 26.9, -) in pts who did not, and the 4-year OS rate was 58.4% vs 31.0%, respectively, although not statistically significant. Pts who achieved optimal PD also had lower rates of Grade 3+neutropenia (52.6%), thrombocytopenia (57.9%), or liver function elevations (5.3%) compared to pts who did not achieve optimal PD (68.8%, 68.8% and 18.8%, respectively), although the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Optimal PD effect of imetelstat treatment was demonstrated by ≥50% hTERT reduction. A significant correlation was observed between optimal PD effect of imetelstat and durable TI and improved 4-year OS rate, effectively linking imetelstat activity to clinical efficacy. Additionally, pts who achieved an optimal PD effect by imetelstat treatment did not have higher rates of cytopenias or liver enzyme elevations compared to pts without optimal PD effect. Enrollment is ongoing for the Phase 3 part of IMerge, a randomized (2:1) double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to compare efficacy of imetelstat vs. placebo. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Santini: Menarini: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Geron: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS/Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Fenaux: JAZZ: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Syros Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria. Raza: Celgene Inc: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Genoptix: Speakers Bureau; Kura Oncology: Research Funding; Janssen R&D: Research Funding; Syros Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Onconova Therapeutics: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Germing: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: advisory activity, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria. Font: CELGENE-BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, accomodations, expenses; GILEAD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Menarini: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, accommodations, expenses, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Other: Travel, accomodations, expenses. Diez-Campelo: BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Patnaik: Kura Oncology: Research Funding; Stemline Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Stemline Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Sherman: Geron Corp: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Berry: Geron Corp: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Feller: Geron Corp: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Dougherty: Geron Corp: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Sun: Geron Corp: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Wan: Geron Corp: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Rizo: Geron Corp: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Huang: Geron Corp: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Platzbecker: Takeda: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Geron: Honoraria; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria. OffLabel Disclosure: Imetelstat, a first-in-class telomerase inhibitor, is under clinical development but not approved for treatment of MDS

Abstract Background: MGTA-145, a CXCR2 agonist, has shown promising activity for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) mobilization with plerixafor in pre-clinical models and healthy volunteers. It has the potential to become the first GCSF free regimen for HSC mobilization/apheresis in preparation for transplant, with fewer side effects, better patient experience and optimal resource utilization. Methods: We conducted a single center phase 2 trial of MGTA-145 + plerixafor for HSC mobilization in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), NCT04552743. Primary endpoint was collection of ≥2 x 10 6 CD34+ cells/kg in up to 2 days of mobilization/apheresis. Secondary endpoints were collection of 4 and 6 x 10 6 CD34+ cells/kg, safety and engraftment. Patients with MM, 18-70 years of age, within 1 year of starting treatment & CrCl &gt; 30 ml/min were eligible. Patients received plerixafor 0.24 mg/kg (0.16 mg/kg if renal dysfunction) SQ, followed 2 hours later by MGTA-145 (0.03 mg/kg) IV over 3-10 minutes and apheresis within 30 minutes. Mobilization and collection were repeated for a second consecutive day if day 1 yield was &lt; 6 x 10 6 CD34+ cells/kg. The study was open-label single arm trial of 15 patients. If 13 or more patients met primary endpoint, an expansion cohort of 10 patients was planned. The trial has 85% power at a 5% one-sided type I error rate. Our analysis is based on aggregated results from total cohort of 25 patients. Results: Median age was 62 years, 52% were female, 24% had ISS stage 3, 57% had high-risk FISH (primarily gain1q). Induction therapy was VRD in 68% (17), daratumumab VRD in 24% (6), CyBorD in 8% (2) patients. Median duration of induction was 4 months (3-6) and median lenalidomide exposure was 5 cycles (1-8), with &gt; VGPR in 88% of patients. (Table 1) Plerixafor 0.24 mg/kg was given in 24 (96%) patients. Median pre-apheresis CD34 count was day 1, 24/uL (3-99) & day 2, 15/uL (5-46). Median total HSC cell yield (CD34+ cells/kg x 10 6) was 5.0 (1.1-16.2), day 1 yield was 3.4 (0.3-16.2) and day 2 yield was 1.9 (0.5-4.6) (Fig1). 88% (n=22) of patients met the primary endpoint of collecting sufficient HSCs in &lt; 2 days of mobilization + apheresis to proceed to transplant, 68% (17) in 1 day (2 x 10 6 CD34+ cells/kg). 3 patients who did not meet primary endpoint successfully collected HSCs with standard GCSF + plerixafor dosing & 2-3 apheresis sessions. Secondary endpoints of 4 and 6 x 10 6 CD34+ cells/kg in &lt; 2 days were met in 68% (17) and 40% (10) patients. MGTA-145+plerixafor was well tolerated. At least 1 treatment emergent AE (TEAE) with MGTA-145 was seen in 60% of patients (grade 1, n= 14, grade 2, n=1). Pain (all grade 1) was most common, seen in 44% (11), with 38% (9) patients experiencing acute onset transient bone pain with MGTA-145 (duration: 7 minutes, range: 3-28). Using the validated Brief Pain Inventory, 56% (14) patients self-reported pain with mobilization vs 40% (10) at baseline. 7/15 patients without baseline pain reported pain with mobilization. An increase for worst pain was seen on mobilization day 1, that returned to the baseline, but no difference for aggregate score of pain severity/interference (linear mixed effects model). At last follow-up, 18 patients have completed transplant with MGTA-145 mobilized graft, with melphalan 200 mg/m 2 in 15 (83%) patients. Median of 3.5 (2.2-8.1) x 10 6 CD34+ cells/kg were infused. All patients have engrafted. Median time to neutrophil engraftment of 12 days (range: 11-15) & platelet engraftment (platelets &gt; 20,000, no transfusion in 7 days) of 17.5 days (15-33) are comparable to historical data (DiPersio et al. 2009). RBC transfusion was needed in 3 (17%) patients. 14 patients have day 100 follow-up, all with durable engraftment. MGTA-145 + plerixafor mobilized grafts had a favorable graft composition. We observed high enrichment for CD90+CD45RA- among CD34+ cells, a CD34 subset of long term engrafting HSCs (median: 36% of CD34+ cells, range 10-66%, N=25). 74% (17 of 23) grafts were minimal residual disease negative with next generation flow cytometry. Conclusions: This is the first study to evaluate the novel G-CSF-free regimen of MGTA-145 + plerixafor for HSC cell mobilization & collection for hematologic malignancies. The study cohort was representative of transplant eligible patients with MM, with 88% patients meeting the primary endpoint. The regimen was well tolerated. Patients achieved timely & durable engraftment. Our data support further development of this regimen for rapid HSC mobilization. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Sidana: Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Allogene: Research Funding; Magenta Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy. Kumar: Bluebird Bio: Consultancy; Adaptive: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Carsgen: Research Funding; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Consultancy; KITE: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Tenebio: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Beigene: Consultancy; Antengene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Roche-Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding. Muffly: Pfizer, Amgen, Jazz, Medexus, Pfizer: Consultancy; Astellas, Jasper, Adaptive, Baxalta: Research Funding; Adaptive: Honoraria, Other: fees for non-CME/CE services: , Research Funding. Arai: Magenta Therapeutics: Research Funding. Meyer: Indee, Jura: Consultancy; Orca Biosystems: Research Funding; GigaImmune: Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company; Triursus Therapeutics: Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Rezvani: US Department of Justice: Consultancy; Kaleido: Other: One-time scientific advisory board; Nohla Therapeutics: Other: One-time scientific advisory board; Pharmacyclics-Abbvie: Research Funding. Weng: Kite Pharma: Research Funding. Frank: Kite-Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Allogene Therapeutics: Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Research Funding. Shiraz: Kite Pharma-Gilead: Research Funding. Girgenti: Magenta Therapeutics: Current Employment. Goncalves: Magenta Therapeutics: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Patents & Royalties. Schmelmer: Magenta Therapeutics: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Patents & Royalties. Davis: Magenta Therapeutics: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Ended employment in the past 24 months. Shizuru: Jasper Therapeutics, Inc.: Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Chair of scientific advisory board; Forty seven Inc: Other: Inventor on a patent licenses by Forty Seven. Forty seven was acquired by Gilead in 2020. Miklos: Pharmacyclics: Patents & Royalties; Kite, a Gilead Company, Amgen, Atara, Wugen, Celgene, Novartis, Juno-Celgene-Bristol Myers Squibb, Allogene, Precision Bioscience, Adicet, Pharmacyclics, Janssen, Takeda, Adaptive Biotechnologies and Miltenyi Biotechnologies: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics, Amgen, Kite, a Gilead Company, Novartis, Roche, Genentech, Becton Dickinson, Isoplexis, Miltenyi, Juno-Celgene-Bristol Myers Squibb, Allogene, Precision Biosciences, Adicet, Adaptive Biotechnologies: Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologies, Novartis, Juno/Celgene-BMS, Kite, a Gilead Company, Pharmacyclics-AbbVie, Janssen, Pharmacyclics, AlloGene, Precision Bioscience, Miltenyi Biotech, Adicet, Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Abstract Background: Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR-T) is a recent therapeutic advance for the treatment of myeloma. Among the FDA approved and investigational CAR-T, primary refractory disease post CAR-T infusion is uncommon, however most patients eventually relapse. To gain insight to the myeloma cell and immune cell characteristics associated with early relapse (PD) versus durable response (DR), we examined myeloma cells and immune cells in both the bone marrow and blood by single cell RNA-seq. Method: Bone marrow aspirate and blood samples were collected prior to BCMA targeted CAR-T therapy. CD138 + and CD138 neg cells from bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were collected for 5' based scRNA-seq (10X Genomics). CD138 + cells were clustered by Harmony integration. Top expressing genes in unique clusters for PD and DR were analyzed by Ingenuity Pathway Analyses. To profile CD138 neg BM cells and PBMNC from myeloma patients, the scRNA-seq dataset was mapped to the human PBMC reference using the Seurat v4 reference-guiding approach. Differential gene expression between responders and non-responders was performed using the FindMarkers function for each of the immune cell clusters in the BM and PB. Results: BM and PB samples from 15 patients were analyzed. Among these, 5 patients had relapsed disease more than 1-year post CAR-T infusion (Durable Response, DR), and 10 patients had relapse within 1 year (early relapse, PD). Among these, CD138+ cells were available from 3 DR and 4 PD for analysis. Multimodal expression of BCMA were seen among the CD138+ cells across all samples. Using the mode of the highest expression level as a cut-off, patients with DR had a trend toward having higher fraction of BCMA high CD138+ cells compared to pts with PD. Clustering of all CD138+ cells by Harmony integration identified 12 distinct clusters, among which two clusters were unique to pts in DR, and one was unique to patients in PD. Ingenuity pathway analysis identified the top marker genes in these 3 clusters to be enriched in pathways for IL-15 signaling, BCR signaling, and primary immunodeficiency signaling. (Figure 1A-E.) Differential gene expression for immune cell clusters from CD138 neg BM cells and PBMNC were compared between pts in PD and DR. Interestingly, different patterns were seen in immune cells in PB and BM (Figure 1G). For example, compared to pts in PD, those with DR had decreased signaling in CD16 PB monocytes for interferon signaling and differentiation to macrophages, whereas the CD16 monocytes in the BM in pts in DR had increased expression of mitochondrial genes for anti-oxidant stress, polarization to M1 macrophage and anti-apoptosis. Similarly, pts in DR had CD8 Tcm in the BM with increased expression of genes involved in cell adhesion and anti-apoptosis, and CD4 Tcm in the BM with increased expression of genes in protein metabolism. Conclusion: scRNAseq analysis of myeloma cells suggest different tumor transcriptome profile may be identified in myeloma cells that could relapse early after CAR-T therapy. In addition, host immune profile both in the BM microenvironment and in systemic PB circulation could be associated with durable clinical response. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Kapoor: Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Glaxo SmithKline: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Ichnos Sciences: Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Cellectar: Consultancy; BeiGene: Consultancy. Dingli: GSK: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Novartis: Research Funding; Apellis: Consultancy; Alexion: Consultancy. Kumar: Bluebird Bio: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; KITE: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Tenebio: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche-Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Antengene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Carsgen: Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Consultancy; Beigene: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Adaptive: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding. Lin: Merck: Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sorrento: Consultancy; Juno: Consultancy; Legend: Consultancy; Gamida Cell: Consultancy; Vineti: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding.

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