ALBERT

Description: AML patients with unfavourable cytogenetics generally have a poor outcome. Over the last decade a number of strategies to improving survival have been assessed by the East German Study Group (OSHO). Here, we analyse the results of three protocols (AML 93, AML 96 and AML 2002) for effects on outcome in younger patients (

Description: Clinical trials on different cytarabine doses for treatment of AML provide evidence of a dose response effect, but also for increase toxicity after high dose AraC (HDAC). Pharmacokinetic measurements of cytarabine-triphosphate (AraC-CTP), which is the most relevant cytotoxic metabolite of AraC, have revealed its formation in leukemic cells to be saturated with infusion rates above 250 mg/m2/h, this being significantly lower than used in HDAC schedules. Methods: Based on a pharmacological model and encouraging results of a phase II study we conducted a prospective randomized multicenter clinical trial comparing the effects of two different application modes of AraC in patients up to 60 years with untreated newly diagnosed AML. Patients were randomized to receive AraC at two different infusion rates (IR) during induction and consolidation treatment: arm A/experimental: 1 × 2 g/m2/d AraC over 8 hours (IR 250 mg/m2/h) arm B/standard: 2 × 1 g/m2/d AraC over 3 hours (IR 333 mg/m2/h). Induction and first consolidation consisted of AraC (days 1, 3, 5, 7) in combination with an anthracycline (Idarubicine 12 mg/m2 or Mitoxantrone 10 mg/m2, days 1–3). The final dosage points (AraC day 7 and anthracycline day 3) were excluded from the second consolidation. The third consolidation consisted of either allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplantation or of chemotherapy identical to second consolidation. Results: From 02/97 to 04/02 419 patients were enrolled in the study. The present analysis is based on 361 eligible and evaluable patients with a median follow up of 7 years. CR was reached in 249/361 (69%; 95%CI: 65%–74%) patients. No statistically significant differences were detected between arms A and B with regard to CR-rate (69% vs 69%) or early death rate (11% vs 8%). Hematological recovery of median white blood cell count (WBC) 〉 109/l and median platelets (plt) 〉 50 × 109/l revealed no difference between arms A and B after induction (WBC day 22 vs 22, p=0,68; plt day 25 vs 26, p=0,41) and consolidation (WBC day 28 vs 27, p=0,07; plt day 42 vs 40, p= 0,58). The event free survival (EFS) after 5 years is 0,25 ± 0,03 % for all patients with an overall survival of 0,31 ± 0,03 % after 5 years. For the purposes of analysis, the 83 transplant patients (23 allogeneic MRD, 14 allogeneic MUD and 46 autologous) were censored at time of transplant. No statistically significant difference between arms A and B in regard to EFS (0,25 ± 0,04 vs 0,25 ± 0,04, p=0,99), relapse incidence (0,63 ± 0,06 vs 0,60 ± 0,06, p=0,89), overall survival (0,32 ± 0,04 vs 0,30 ± 0,04, p=0,44) and therapy associated mortality (0,18 ± 0,04 vs 0,17 ± 0,03, p=0,95) were detectable after adjustment of prognostic factors. An analysis of risk factors by multivariate cox regression model confirmed cytogenetics at diagnosis to be the most important risk factor for CR rate (p

Description: Purpose: This multicenter study investigated the efficacy and safety of high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) induction followed by high-dose busulfan/thiotepa with autologous stem-cell transplantation (HD-BuTT) and response-adapted whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in patients with newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma. Patients and methods: 23 patients (median age 55 years) were treated in five centres. Patients received HD-MTX (4h-infusion; 8g/m2; 〉60y: 6g/m2) on d1 and d10 followed by leucapheresis. Then patients were stratified according to their results on neuroimaging: In case of at least a partial response, HD-BuTT consisting of 16mg busulfan / 10mg thiotepa per kg body weight followed by peripheral stem cell transplantation was given. Patients without response to induction or without complete response after high-dose therapy received WBRT (45Gy) as further treatment. Results: 16 patients received the planned treatment with HD-MTX followed by HD-BuTT. CR / PR rates for these patients were 19 % / 69 % after HD-MTX, 69 % / 13 % after HD-BuTT, 81 % / 6 % after HD-BuTT plus WBRT, respectively. Included the patients with early WBRT due to toxicity (n=2) and non-responders to HD-MTX induction (n=4) the overall response rate for all 23 patients was 83 % (intention-to-treat). Outcome was significantly influenced by the response to MTX-induction. There were three treatment-related deaths. Irradiated patients (n=9) had a high incidence of severe neurotoxicity leading to death in 3 patients. At a median follow-up of 15 months the median EFS and OS for all patients were 17 and 20 months, after HD-BuTT 27 months and “not reached”, respectively. Patients older than 60 years and younger patients have achieved similar outcomes. Conclusion: This study showed that HD-methotrexate induction followed by HD-BuTT is a feasible treatment option for newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma. Patients achieving CR after HD-BuTT show no signs of clinical neurotoxicity with median survival not reached yet. Time on treatment is 2–3 months only, but the induction treatment needs improvement to be more effective. WBRT in this study was associated with a high incidence of severe neurotoxicity and should therefore be avoided.

Description: Cytogenetic high risk AML (abn 3q26, abn 11q23, −5/5q-, −7/7q- and complex) has a dismal prognosis with a two year overall survival (OS) below 20% even in young patients. Attempts to improve survival by intensifying consolidation chemotherapy have so far failed. In the two OSHO protocols AML 96 and AML 2002, we investigated the role of allogeneic HCT in these patients. A total of 708 patients have been entered into the two studies between 1997 and the present. The first protocol (AML 96) compared two different schedules employing identical total dosages of intermediate AraC and Idarubicin. The second protocol (AML 2002) studied the role of two different induction therapies in patients failing to reach CR after the first induction therapy. In patients with cytogenetic high risk AML, the search for a donor (either familial or, if none available, then unrelated) was initiated as soon as possible. Allogeneic HCT was scheduled either after induction or after first consolidation therapy. HCT was performed after conditioning with cytoxan and 1200 cGy total body irradiation followed by GvH-D prophylaxis with cyclosporine and methotrexate. Of the 708 patients, 138 (19,5%) had high risk cytogenetics and 77 (55,8%) of these went into remission after one or two cycles of induction chemotherapy. Of these 77 patients, 54 were alive and in CR after the first consolidation therapy and were allocated to either related (n=12) or unrelated (n=21) HCT or, if no compatible donor was available, to a two courses of chemotherapy (n=21). Median age of the patients was 36 (range 17–51) years, 46 years (range 23–59) years and 49 (range 16–60) years for patients receiving related HCT, unrelated HCT and chemotherapy respectively. Data were analysed as intention to treat.LFS at 3 years was 67 ± 14% after related and 44 ± 14 % after unrelated HCT, but decreased to 11 ± 7% in patients receiving chemotherapy. Allogeneic HCT results were significantly better than the results of chemotherapy with p-values of 0.005 and 0.002 for related vs. chemotherapy and unrelated vs. chemotherapy respectively. Major differences in relapse incidences were seen between the three groups, with the lowest RI at 3 years after related HCT 26±0.13%, followed by unrelated HCT 48±15% and by chemotherapy 89±8% (p=0.003 and p=0,0006 for chemotherapy vs. related or unrelated HCT). Transplant related mortality at 3 years was 10±9%, 14±10% and 6±6% for patients receiving HCT from related donors, from unrelated donors and chemotherapy, respectively. Conclusions: From the results observed in the two prospective, multicenter studies we conclude that consolidation with allogeneic HCT is superior to chemotherapy in younger patients with high risk cytogenetics. While no differences in TRM were seen between the three treatment arms, a lower relapse incidence after related and unrelated HCT contributed to the improved OS.

Description: Abstract 51 Background Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo SCT), a treatment modality based on transfer of immunocompetent donor lymphocytes offers curative potential to subjects with a variety of hematological cancers. In multiple myeloma (MM), high-dose melphalan followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (auto SCT) is adopted as a standard of care. However, it remains palliative since virtually all patients (pts) relapse and renders allo SCT an option of interest. Deletion of chromosome 13q14 (13q-) in MM has been shown to negatively impact prognosis. Therefore, improvement of therapy for 13q- pts is highly desirable. Patients and methods A prospective two-arm multi-center trial (DSMM V) was set up by our group to compare tandem high-dose melphalan 200 mg/m2 (HD Mel) with a reduced intensity conditioning allo-SCT after one cycle of HD Mel for 13q- MM. Eligibility criteria were 13q- on bone marrow FISH analysis; age up to 60 years; newly diagnosed MM in Salmon and Durie stages II and III; and measurable disease. Allocation to either treatment arm was by availability of an HLA-matched (one mismatch allowed) volunteer related (VRD) or unrelated donor (VUD). Initially, all pts received four cycles of anthracycline/dexamethasone-based induction followed by chemomobilization of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCT) and one cycle of HD Mel. Allogeneic SCT was performed after preparation with fludarabine (30 mg/m2 for 3 consecutive days) and melphalan 140 mg/m2. ATG was administered for VUD transplants. Results 199 pts with a median age of 53 (range, 30 – 60) years were enrolled between October 2002 and March 2007 and included in this interim analysis. Sixty-seven percent had stage III disease. Allo SCT was performed in 126 of 199 pts (63%), 76 of whom (60%) received VUD allografts. The remaining 73 subjects uniformely received tandem HD Mel. Pts following allo SCT were more likely to achieve CR (59%) when compared to tandem HD Mel (32%; p=.003) within one year after end of therapy. Similarly, overall response rate was significantly higher with allo SCT (91% versus 86%; p=.003). Of note, depth of response to allo SCT was not associated with presence of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD): 62% CR with grades II to IV GVHD vs 58% CR with grades 0 and I (p=.75). Treatment-related mortality (TRM) at 2 years from allo SCT was 16/126 (12.7%). At a median follow up of 25 months for tandem HD Mel and 34 months for allo SCT, projected 3-year overall survival is 72% (auto) and 60% (auto/allo SCT; p=0.22), respectively. Conclusions This is the largest trial on first-line allogeneic stem cell transplant in MM so far. Our interim results show a higher CR rate in FISH 13q- subjects undergoing allo SCT when compared to tandem HD Mel. Despite a majority of allografts in our study being delivered from unrelated donors, TRM was comparable to trials confined to sibling transplants. At a relatively short follow-up, there is not yet a difference between both arms regarding OS, albeit longer follow-up may be important as previously described. This as well as analysis of the impact of donor type and chronic GVHD on outcome will be presented at the meeting. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Description: Abstract 131 Introduction. Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after cytoreductive induction is considered standard of care for younger patients (pts) with multiple myeloma (MM). The previous standard of induction, the Vincristin-Adriamycin-Dexamethasone (VAD) combination, achieves inferior results compared with induction regimens which combine the proteasome inhibitor Velcade (V = Bortezomib) with Dexamethasone (D)(=VD) and a cytostatic drug such as Doxorubicin (PAD = VD plus Doxorubicin). Velcade-based induction therapy was shown to translate into better myeloma control after high dose melphalan and to lead to prolonged progression-free survival. In order to find a more efficacious and safer drug combination for induction therapy in MM, we tested the combination of Velcade with Cyclophosphamide and Dexamethasone (VCD). Methods. This trial was designed as an open, prospective, multi-center, uncontrolled, combined phase II/III study. As previously reported (Kropff M et al., Ann Hematol 2009), in the first 30 pts the optimal dose of iv Cyclophosphamide in combination with V and D was defined as 900 mg/m2 on d1. Between 03/2006 and 03/2009 we enrolled an additional 370 pts up to 60 years of age with untreated MM to receive three 3-week cycles of induction treatment with V 1.3 mg/m2 iv d1,4,8,11; D 40 mg/d orally d1,2,4,5,8,9,11,12; and C 900mg/m2 iv d1 before scheduled high dose melphalan and ASCT. The primary endpoint of the study is response rate on day 63 after 3 cycles of VCD according to EBMT and IMWG criteria. Results. Final data from 400 pts from 39 German centers will be presented at the meeting. In the currently evaluable 300 pts (mean age 52.3 years; 1.7% stage I, 21.3% stage II, 77.0% stage III) molecular cytogenetic analysis showed a prevalence of 13q- in 38%, of t[4;14] in 13% and of 17p- in 12% of pts (no changes in 35%). All 300 pts (88.3% of whom completed three cycles) were included in the intent-to-treat analysis. Overall response rate (ORR = CR+PR) was 84%, with 10% CR and 74% PR, 5.7% MR, 7.3% NC and 2.3% PD. The negative prognostic impact of 13q- or t[4;14] was abrogated (ORR normal 87.3%, 13q- 83.7%, t[4;14] 90.0%), the unfavorable influence of p53 loss in the 17p- subgroup was still detectable (ORR 69.2%) but this did not reach statistical significance. VGPR rates will be reported at the meeting. Serious adverse events were documented in 78/300 (26.0%) patients. Death rate was remarkably low (1.3%, of which one was not related to the trial medication). 155/300 (52%) of pts experienced grade 3/4 non-serious AEs and of these leucopenia (93/300 pts= 31%), thrombocytopenia (7%), neutropenia (6%), anaemia (5%) were the most frequent events. 80 AEs grade 3 or 4 and 45 SAEs were of infectious origin and occurred in 47/300 pts. 80/130 SAEs (61.5%) were at least possibly related to Velcade. 101/300 pts (34%) developed episodes of peripheral neuropathy. PNP was grade 1 in 62/300 pt (20.7%), grade 2 in 31/300 pt (10.3%) and grade 3 in 7/300 pts (2.3%). Conclusion. This analysis demonstrates that proteasome inhibition by Velcade in combination with Dexamethasone and iv Cyclophosphamide (VCD) is an induction regimen for newly diagnosed MM which is highly effective in a short period of time, has a rather low toxicity profile and is feasible for administration in an outpatient setting. Based on these characteristics, VCD qualifies to become a new standard for MM induction therapy. Disclosures: Einsele: OrthioBiotech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Off Label Use: Bortezomib is licensed as monotherapy for use in relapsed/refractory MM and in combination with melphalan/Prednisone in the first-line treatment of MM pts ineligible for HD-MEL and ASCT. . Liebisch:OrthoBiotech: Consultancy, Honoraria. Langer:OrthoBiotech: Consultancy. Kropff:OrthoBiotech: Consultancy, Honoraria. Kröger:OrthoBiotech: Honoraria. Ostermann:OrthoBiotech: Honoraria. Mügge:OrthoBiotech: Honoraria. Wolf:OrthoBiotech: Honoraria. Gramatzki:OrthoBiotech: Consultancy, Honoraria. Maschmeyer:OrthoBiotech: Travel Grant. Sezer:OrthoBiotech: Consultancy, Honoraria. Heidemann:OrthoBiotech: Honoraria. Jäger:OrthoBiotech: Honoraria. Dechow:Celgene: Research Funding. Simon:OrthoBiotech: Honoraria. Straka:OrthoBiotech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Fingerle-Rowson:orthoBiotech: Employment. Knop:OrthoBiotech: Honoraria.

Description: Incidence of febrile neutropenia following cytotoxic treatment of tumor patients can be reduced by prophylactic G-CSF treatment. We report results of a prospective open non-interventional multicenter observational trial in 2233 patients on lenograstim, a recombinant glycoprotein (rHuG-CSF) expressed and glycosylated in Chinese hamster ovary cells. In total 10 846 courses of chemotherapy followed by G-CSF treatment have been documented for either hematologic or oncologic malignancies (breast and ovarian cancer 4207 courses, Hodgkin’s disease and Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma 4381 courses, lung cancer 780 courses, other malignancies 1478 courses, respectively). Lenogratim was administered either interventionally or to less amount for prophylaxis of granulocytopenia; the mean daily dosage was 263 micrograms subcutaneously. A significant number of patients were treated for stage III or IV disease. Almost 1/3 of the patients (34,2%) were elderly aged at least 65 years old. The patients had not been hospitalized for cytotoxic therapy. Lenograstim treatment was started on day 6 (median 6,8 + 4,0) of chemotherapy regimens for almost 5 days (median duration of treatment 5,2 + 3,1 days). Median leukocyte count was 1,9 × 109/L when lenograstim treatment was started, and 5,9 × 109/L at the end of lenograstim treatment, respectively. Especially supporting the CHOP regimen in lymphoma patients lenograstim was administered prophylactically: in 39,5% of lymphoma patients, but only in 24,1% of patients with gynecologic tumors lenograstim treatment was performed for at least 5 days. The rate of infection or fever reported was 9,8% (7,8% in breast cancer patients, 9,0% in lymphoma patients, respectively). 87,1% of chemotherapy courses (87,5% in lymphoma patients and 86,6% in breast cancer patients) could be performed according to the protocol initially scheduled without reduction of dosage or delay of treatment intervals. We conclude that lenograstim was feasible and efficacious for prophylaxis of neutropenic fever in chemotherapy patients. In 2/3 of the patients daily lenograstim dosage of 263 micrograms was suitable to stimulate granulocytopoiesis after conventional cytotoxic therapy within 5 days. No serious adverse events possibly related to lenograstim were reported.

Description: Abstract 1612 Poster Board I-638 Cytogenetically normal AML (CN-AML) is a heterogeneous disease with molecular markers impacting considerably on survival. Acquired gene mutations such as the internal tandem duplication (ITD) of the FLT3 gene has been shown to be associated with poor prognosis. Furthermore, it has been shown that the poor prognosis in the group of patients with high risk cytogenetics could be improved, when a consolidation therapy with allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HCT) was performed. To investigate the importance of a postremission consolidation therapy in CN-AML patients according their mutational status for the FLT3-ITD mutation we compared the clinical outcome in these patients on an intention to treat analysis. A total of 800 patients have been entered into two OSHO (East German study group for hematology and oncology) studies between 1997 and now. The first protocol (AML 96) compared two different induction schedules employing different schedules of intermediate AraC and Idarubicin. The second protocol (AML 2002) studied the role of two different induction therapies in patients failing to reach CR after the first induction therapy. From the 800 patients treated within these protocols 338 pts. had a normal karyotype. Complete remissions were obtained in 277 patients after one or two induction cycles. Out of these patients 78 pts received a consolidation therapy by allogeneic HCT whereas 169 pts were further treated by conventional chemotherapy or by autologous transplantation. HCT was performed after conditioning with cytoxan and 1200 cGy total body irradiation followed by GvH-D prophylaxis with cyclosporine and methotrexate. Material at the time of diagnosis to analyse the presence of a FLT3-ITD mutation was available in 116 pts. Of those, 70 patients received conventional chemotherapy whereas 46 pts. were transplanted from an allogeneic donor as postremission therapy. Data were analyzed on an intend-to-treat-analysis in 116/277 patients being in CR1 after induction therapy from whom a FLT3-ITD mutation analysis was available. The EFS in this cohort of 116 patients was 38% after 5 years. Within the subgroup of patients (n=46) who received a HCT from an allogeneic donor the EFS was 44% compared to 33% (p=0.19) within the subgroup of conventional treated patients(n=70). As previously described, the detection of a FLT3-ITD mutation had a negative impact on event free survival which was calculated with 25% after 5 years in contrast to 46% in FLT3-ITD negative patients (p=0.06). In a further step EFS was analyzed according to the FLT3 status and the postremission treatment given. The EFS in conventional treated patients was significantly different (FLT3-ITD negative: LFS=50% vs. FLT3-ITD positive: LFS=19%; p=0.05). But, allogeneic HCT in first complete remission equalizes this difference (FLT3-ITD negative: LFS=50% vs. FLT3-ITD positive: LFS=35%; p=0.58). Major significant differences were seen in relapse incidences (RI) between the four subgroups of patients (FLT3-ITD positive and negative, conventional postremission therapy or allogeneic HCT; p=0.003). FLT3-ITD positive patients treated with conventional chemotherapy had a RI of 80% that could be reduced to a RI of 48% in the group of HCT patients. Within the two different treatment groups of FLT3-ITD negative patients the RI in the conventional treated group was 55% compared to 26% in HCT patients. To conclude, the worse prognostic impact of the presence FLT3-ITD mutation on the outcome of CN-AML pts. can be improved by allogeneic HCT performed in first complete remission after two courses of induction therapy. Allogeneic HCT reduces the relapse incidence in FLT3-ITD positive as well as in FLT3-ITD negative pts. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.