ALBERT

Description: Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm is a clonal disease derived from precursors of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC). It is a rare neoplasm involving the skin which may or may not be associated from the outset with a leukemic component. The disease invariably progresses to aggressive leukemic dissemination, leading to a differential diagnosis with acute leukemia. In 2004, we set up a French network to recruit biological data at diagnosis. Diagnosis was according to recommendations (Swerdlow et al, 2008), with, in addition, a mandatory panel of pDC markers (Garnache-Ottou et al, 2009) detected by flow cytometry or by immunohistochemistry on infiltrated blood, bone marrow or cutaneous lesions. In total, 109 cases of BPDCN were included in 35 hospitals (2000-2013). BPDCN is more prevalent in men (sex ratio 4.4/1) and in elderly subjects (median age: 63 years; 7 patients were

Description: ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters are a superfamily of highly conserved membrane proteins that transport a wide variety of substrates across cell membranes and confer drug resistance against a wide range of chemotherapeutic agents. We recently found that WT1, which is regularly overexpressed in AML and interact with the splicing machinery, modifies the splicing of ABC transporters A2, A3, A5, and C2. For ABCA3, WT1 knock-down in three AML cell line coupled with Affymetrix HTA2 exon arrays analysis confirmed by exon-specific PCR revealed that WT1 influences the skipping of exon 19. ABCA3 belongs in the ABC subclass and induces a significant reduction in cytotoxicity observed following exposure to DNR, mitoxantrone, etoposide, Ara-C and vincristine. The ABCA3 domain encoded by exon 19 (amino acid 805-847) is localized at the junction of the first nucleotide-binding domain and the second transmembrane domain, and is involved in ATP hydrolysis. In silico, skipping of exon 19 deletes a sequence of 32 amino acids rich in positively charged residues and is thereby assumed to increase drug efflux through increased ATP hydrolysis. The effects of the skipping of exon 19 on chemoresistance and DNR efflux are currently investigated while for the present study, we hypothesized that skipping of exon 19 of ABCA3 might negatively influence outcome in AML patients. Analyzing 132 bone marrow AML samples harvested at diagnostic confirmed the statistically significant correlation between WT1 expression and ABCA3 splicing in vivo (p

Description: Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a frequent condition in patients over 50 years old, that ultimately leads to multiple myeloma (MM) in 20% of patients after 20 to 35 years of follow-up. Little is known about cytogenetic changes associated with this condition. We studied 19 MGUS patients both at diagnosis and after 12 to 35 months of follow-up (mean = 26), using DNA content measurement of bone marrow plasma cells (BMPC), and a new interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization technique (FISH) allowing the simultaneous identification of monotypic BMPC (fluorescent anti light-chain antibodies) and the determination of the number of copies for two different chromosomes within the same PC nucleus (one biotin-labeled probe coupled next to texas red avidin and one FITC-labeled probe). At diagnosis of the MGUS, single interphase FISH showed at least one numeric chromosome change in 13 of 19 patients, after the use of centromeric probes directed against chromosomes no. 3, no. 7, no. 9, and no. 11. At follow-up, abnormalities found at diagnosis in 13 patients were still shown. Moreover, abnormalities occurred in three of the last six patients (trisomy for one to three different chromosomes), although no patient evolved into MM. Dual interphase FISH showed that some BMPC bore numeric changes with both probes tested whereas other BMPC bore abnormality with only one of the probes tested. In patients who showed trisomy for at least three different chromosomes, distribution of numeric changes within BMPC defined significant numbers of up to seven different BMPC clones. All these various clones were shown both at diagnosis and at follow-up. In every patient, these various clones differed only for the number of abnormalities they exhibited, and could be related to each other in a model of gradual acquisition of chromosome changes. Eventually, data reported here show that MGUS patients acquire slowly, gradually, but ineluctably chromosome changes, distributed within several related subclones. However, these changes are not related to transformation into MM: among the various clones coexisting within the same patient, a peculiar change, still to demonstrate, might develop and lead to overt MM.

Description: The nucleoside analogue cytarabine (AraC) has served as the backbone of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment for nearly forty years. About one-third of expressed genes are abnormally spliced in AML yet alternative exon usage (AEU) plays a role in the plasticity of tumor cells and may influence the response to treatment. Here the exon expression profiles of the erythroleukemia K562 cell line were compared to that of its AraC-resistant variant K562/AraC through Affymetrix HTA2 exon arrays. 5140 exon events harbored by 2583 genes distinguished the 2 cell lines. Among these, the skipping of TET2 exon 2 was identified in K562 cells sensitive to AraC whereas TET2 gene expression remained unchanged at the whole transcript level. The results were confirmed by exon-specific RTPCR (ESPCR). Microarray analysis did not evidenced any significant change in mRNA splicing for the 10 remaining exons of the TET2 gene. TET2 is a dioxygenase that catalyzes the conversion of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) and promote DNA demethylation. TET2 somatic mutations occur in about 25% AML, distributing across the whole coding sequence without obvious hot spots. These mutations decrease TET2 enzymatic activity by truncating the protein or affecting its catalytic activity. TET2 exon 2 is spliced in a mutually exclusive manner with exon 1 yet it is used as an alternative promoter (https://fasterdb.lyon.unicancer.fr/). However, TET2 exon 2 is not translated into protein and its role in TET2 regulation is still unknown. Having found that AraC sensitive cells harbor the spliced TET2 isoform, we investigated whether or not skipping of TET2 exon 2 correlate with disease outcome in AML patients treated with AraC-based intensive chemotherapy (AraC-IC). The discovery cohort included 106 consecutive AML patients treated with AraC-IC (median age 57.91, 64 males). RNA was extracted from bone marrow MNCs and assayed for TET2 exon 2 skipping through real-time quantitative ESRTPCR (qESRTPCR) amplification of E1E3 (spliced) and E2E3 (unspliced) TET2 isoforms. TET2 exon 2 skipping was quantified by calculating the ratio E1E3/E2E3. For statistical analysis, the ratio E1E3/E2E3 was dichotomized using median value as the cutoff value. Skipping of TET2 exon 2 was associated with a significantly lower response rate: 65% vs 92%, p = 0.001 but with a significantly lower relapse rate: 39% vs 85%: p

Description: The phase II CAVALLI (NCT02055820) study assessed efficacy and safety of venetoclax, a selective, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) inhibitor, with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) in first-line (1L) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), including patients demonstrating Bcl-2 protein overexpression by immunohistochemistry (Bcl-2 IHC-positive). Eligible patients ≥18 years with previously untreated DLBCL, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤2, and International Prognostic Index 2-5. Venetoclax 800 mg (days 4-10, cycle 1 and days 1-10, cycles 2-8) was administered with rituximab (8 cycles) and CHOP (6-8 cycles); 21-day cycles. Primary endpoints: safety, tolerability, and complete response (CR) at end of treatment (EOT). Secondary endpoints: progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival. Comparative analyses used covariate-adjusted R-CHOP controls from the GOYA/BO21005 study, an appropriate contemporary benchmark for safety and efficacy. Safety and efficacy analyses included 206 patients. CR rate at EOT was 69% in the overall population and was maintained across Bcl-2 IHC-positive subgroups. With median follow-up of 32.2 months, trends were observed for improved investigator-assessed PFS for venetoclax plus R-CHOP in the overall population (Hazard ratio [HR] = 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43-0.87) and Bcl-2 IHC-positive subgroups (HR = 0.55, 95% CI, 0.34-0.89), versus R-CHOP. Despite a higher incidence of grade 3/4 hematologic adverse events (86%), related mortality was not increased (2%). Chemotherapy dose intensity was similar in CAVALLI versus GOYA. The addition of venetoclax to R-CHOP in 1L DLBCL demonstrates increased but manageable myelosuppression and the potential of improved efficacy particularly in high-risk, Bcl-2 IHC-positive patient subgroups.

Description: Introduction: Anemia is the most common hematological abnormality in patients with cancer and hematological malignancies, and is associated with poor prognosis and outcomes that have a detrimental impact on the patient's condition and quality of life (QOL). Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) represent a good treatment option in order to increase the hemoglobin level in patients with anemia. Anemia can also be treated by red blood cell transfusion, but this has a transient effect and is associated with risks such as exposure to infectious agents, iron overload, or transfusion-related acute lung injury. ESA also have safety concerns, including the established increased risk of venous thromboembolic events. However, they are currently the only therapeutic alternative to transfusions. We performed a prospective observational study in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for hematological malignancies, with the primary objective of evaluating the effect of a new ESA biosimilar, epoetin zeta (Hospira) on patient QOL. Secondary objectives included hemoglobin (Hb) and platelet (Pt) recovery, safety, overall survival (OS) and relapse incidence. Results of this study were compared to two reference populations, one receiving epoetin beta (Roche) and one control group not treated with ESA. Here, we present preliminary results for the secondary objectives. Materials and methods: The study included adult patients with Hb level ≤11g/dl occurring after all types of allo-HSCT for any hematological disease (Table 1). Epoetin zeta (30,000 IU) was administered s.c. once per week for up to 6 months, and Hb levels were monitored weekly. Injections were stopped once the Hb level reached 12g/dl without transfusion. If after 4 injections, no improvement was observed, doses were doubled, and if after 8 injections, no improvement was observed, the patient was withdrawn from the study. The QOL was measured at baseline and at 1, 2, 3 and 6 months by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Anemia (FACT-An) scale. Epoetin zeta responders were defined as having Hb level ≥12g/dl (complete response, CR) or a ≥2g/dl increase (partial response, PR) compared with baseline value, in the absence of transfusion. Patients receiving epoetin zeta (group 1) were compared to a similar population receiving epoetin beta with the same procedures (group 2) and to a matched population not treated with ESA (group 3), taking into account the following variables: sex, age, diagnosis, disease status at allo-HSCT, conditioning regimen and HSC source. Results: Between December 2011 and September 2014, 58 patients (from 168 screened) were included in group 1, and compared to 59 patients in group 2 and 65 patients in group 3. The main exclusion criteria were ESA contra-indication and patient refusal. Patients in group 1 had lower Hb baseline levels compared to group 2; patient characteristics for each group are summarized in Table 1. The median number of injections/patient was 10 (range: 6-14) in group 1 and 8 (range: 2-28) in group 2. The cumulative incidence of CR was 80% in group 1 and 71% in group 2. The median time to achieve CR was 48 days (range: 35-70) in group 1, and 39 days (range: 14-180) in group 2. Eight patients withdrew due to ESA inefficacy in group 1 and 8 in group 2. Adverse events were all thromboembolic: 2 events in group 1 and 5 events in group 2, compared to 2 events in group 3 (p=0.34). The multivariate analysis studying different confounding factors on the cumulative incidence of CR showed a significant positive impact of younger age (p=0.001), and a negative impact of being female or having major ABO incompatibility. We did not find any significant difference in terms of OS and relapse rate between the 3 groups. Conclusion: We describe here, for the first time, preliminary data for ESA biosimilar epoetin zeta (Hospira) in allo-HSCT patients showing comparable efficacy and safety to an existing ESA, epoetin beta (Roche) with no impact on OS and relapse incidence, compared to a control group. The QOL and transfusion evaluations as well as a cost-effectiveness study are ongoing and results will be presented. Disclosures Nicolini: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ariad Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau.

Description: BACKGROUND The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, which plays an important role during embryogenesis, can be reactivated in a wide range of cancers. Vismodegib, a selective hedgehog pathway inhibitor, demonstrated antitumor activity in medulloblastoma and basal-cell carcinoma (BCC) patients and has been approved by the FDA and EMA for the treatment of BCC. Preclinical data indicate that Hh pathway can also be activated in lymphoid malignancies and that its inhibition has antitumor activity (Dierks et al, Nature Med 2007; Singh et al, Leukemia 2012; Decker et al, Blood 2012). METHODS We conducted a phase II trial testing vismodegib in patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoma and CLL. Vismodegib was given orally at the dose of 150mg/day until disease progression or unacceptable toxicities for a maximum of one year. The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of vismodegib as measured by the best overall response rate (ORR) during the treatment period. RESULTS Between February 2013 and January 2014, 31 patients were recruited including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL, N=12), indolent lymphoma (iNHL, N=6), primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL, N=10) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL, N=3). Patient characteristics are summarized in Table 1. We found that Hh signaling pathway (measured by IHC and/or PCR based on the expression of SHH, PTCH 1 and 2, SMO, GLI 1, 2 and 3, and ABCG2) was frequently activated at baseline in lymphoma patients. PK analysis demonstrated bioavailability of vismodegib in blood and CSF (median concentration at day 28 = 13398 [6970-20700] and 323 [99-717]ng/L, respectively). Nevertheless, none of the patients responded to vismodegib therapy, except for one. This patient had an iNHL (grade 3a follicular lymphoma). He experienced a partial remission after 2 cycles that lasted for 4.8 months. Interestingly, this patient had the strongest expression of GLI (1, 2 and 3) by PCR compared to all the other patients tested. All patients discontinued treatment prematurely (Table 1), mostly due to disease progression (90.3%). Adverse events (AE) and serious AEs (SAE) related to vismodegib were observed in 51.6 and 12.9% of the patients, respectively. SAEs related to vismodegib were diarrhea, vomiting, lung infection, hypoglycemia, pulmonary embolism, and skin rash (1 patient each). CONCLUSIONS Despite frequent Hh pathway activation, treatment with vismodegib did not show significant clinical efficacy in patients with lymphoma or CLL. This study was supported by Roche. Table 1. DLBCL iNHL PCNSL CLL Patients (N) 12 6 10 3 Median age (years) 74 74.5 65 74 Median number of prior therapies (min-max) 3 [1-6] 2.5 [1-4] 2 [1-3] 3 [1-4] Median duration of treatment (months) 1.7 1.8 1.2 1.9 Best overall response (CR/uCR/PR) 0% 16.7% (N=1*) 0% 0% Median PFS (months) 1.7 2.2 1.2 3 Median OS (months) 5.4 21.3 16.4 19.4 (*) Duration of response = 4.8 months Disclosures Off Label Use: Vismodegib in lymphoid malignancies. Haioun:Roche: Honoraria. Thieblemont:St. Louis Hospital, Paris, France: Employment. Casasnovas:Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy. Morschhauser:Genentech Inc./Roche: Other: Advisory boards. Salles:Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Description: As previously reported (Colombat, Blood2001;97:101), rituximab (4 weekly doses of 375mg/m²) can lead to high response rates (RR) and prolonged remissions with minimal toxicity as 1st line therapy for low tumor burden FL. We report the final analysis of a trial evaluating long term efficacy and safety of rituximab in untreated low tumor burden FL (GELF criteria). 49 patients (pts) were included in the initial trial (median age 52 yrs), 2 refused consent for the extended F/Up period, and 1 pt died at M12. Molecular bcl2-JH rearrangement was assessed throughout the study. The median F/up was 83.8 mths. Overall best RR, complete/unconfirmed RR and partial RR at D78 were 74%, 50% and 24% respectively. Median PFS was 23.5 mths for the study population. Median duration of response (34 responders at D78, i.e 6 weeks after the last rituximab dose) was 28.6 mths, but response was still maintained without any further treatment in 11 pts after 5 years (24%) and in 7 pts after 7 years (15%). 31/46 pts were bcl2 positive in blood and/or marrow samples before rituximab: 11 (35%) became negative at D50, and 20 remained positive (65%). Median PFS was 37 mths for bcl2-negative pts at D50, and 12 mths for patients remaining positive (p=0.018 Log-rank). Of the 7 pts with sustained response after 7 years, 5 were bcl2 positive at D0, 2/5 became negative at D50, and 5/5 were still negative at M84. At year 7, 4/46 pts have died (1 from myelodysplasia, 3 from NHL), 35/42 have progressed, and 7 have never progressed without any other treatment than the initial rituximab therapy. Time to progression was significantly longer in the bcl2-negative population at D50 (p= 0.018, Log-rank). Duration of response was not correlated with bcl2 status at D50, but was associated with ‘Best response CR/Cru’ (p=0.007 Log-rank). Long-term tolerance was good, with only 13 SAE observed in 13 pts during the additional 4 years of F/Up (4 surgeries for non NHL-related pathologies, 1 node biopsy, 1 sleep apnea syndrome, 1 ischemic cardiopathy, 2 deaths from NHL, 1 depression, 1 pneumonia, 1 erysipela, 1 bronchitis). This long-term update confirms that a single 4-dose rituximab treatment yields durable benefits without the toxicity of chemotherapy for pts with low burden FL : Median PFS of 23.5 mths for the cohort, 28.6 mths for responders and 37 mths for pts turning bcl2-negative at D50, 15% of pts have maintained their response after 7 years, (2bis) the quality (CR/Cru) of the initial response was associated with a longer response duration high overall survival is observed with 4 deaths/46 pts (8.6%).

Description: Abstract 3641 Background: Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative disorders, and most subtypes have a poor prognosis even with aggressive chemotherapy. Romidepsin is a potent class 1 histone deacetylase inhibitor approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of patients with PTCL who have received at least 1 prior therapy and patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma who have received at least 1 prior systemic therapy. A phase 2, single-arm, open-label registration study (GPI-06–0002) demonstrated the clinical benefit and tolerability of romidepsin in patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL (data cutoff: Oct 2010). Here, we present an update of the efficacy of GPI-06–0002 and characterize patients who achieved long-term responses (≥ 12 months) as of Dec 2011 (median follow-up: 22.3 months). Methods: Patients with histologically confirmed PTCL (N = 130) who failed or were refractory to ≥ 1 prior systemic therapy received romidepsin 14 mg/m2 as a 4-hour intravenous infusion on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days for up to 6 cycles; treatment could be extended for responding patients. The primary endpoint was confirmed/unconfirmed complete response (CR/CRu) determined by an independent review committee (IRC) based on the International Workshop Response Criteria. Secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR: CR/CRu + partial response), duration of response (DOR), and time to progression. Disease response was assessed every 2 treatment cycles. Baseline patient characteristics by DOR (≥ 12 months vs 〈 12 months) were examined. Results: The majority of the 130 patients had stage III or IV disease (70%); 28% had bone marrow involvement. PTCL not otherwise specified (53%) and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (21%) were the most common subtypes. Patients received a median of 2 prior systemic therapies (range, 1–8); 38% of patients were refractory to their last line of therapy. The ORR was 25% (33 of 130 patients), including CR/CRu in 15% (19 of 130) of patients. The median duration of objective response was 28 months, with the longest response ongoing at 48 months (Figure). Of the 19 patients who achieved CR/CRu, 13 (68%) had not experienced disease progression per the IRC at a median follow-up of 25.8 months. The median duration of CR had not yet been reached (range, 1–48+ months; Figure). Of the 19 patients who achieved CR/CRu, 10 were long-term responders (responses ≥ 12 months). Interestingly, heavy pretreatment (≥ 4 prior systemic therapies) did not preclude patients from achieving long-term CR/CRu: 5 of 10 patients (50%) who maintained CR/CRu for ≥ 12 months were heavily pretreated vs 1 of 9 (11%) patients with CR/CRu maintained for 〈 12 months. Long-term CR/CRu was achieved regardless of response to last prior therapy; only 2 of 10 (20%) long-term responders had an objective response on their last treatment. In contrast, 6 of 9 (67%) patients with CR/CRu for 〈 12 months responded to their last prior therapy. Furthermore, advanced disease did not preclude long-term response to romidepsin: all 10 patients (100%) who maintained CR/CRu for ≥ 12 months had stage III/IV disease vs 55.5% of those who maintained CR/CRu for 〈 12 months. Other characteristics, such as Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, International Prognostic Index score, age, sex, and race, were similar among patients achieving CR/CRu for ≥ 12 months or 〈 12 months. Conclusions: Single-agent romidepsin induced durable responses in patients with relapsed/refractory PTCL, with responses ongoing at 48 months. None of the examined patient and disease characteristics predicted failure to achieve long-term remissions. These results support the use of romidepsin in relapsed/refractory PTCL. Disclosures: Coiffier: Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Pro:Allos: Honoraria; Spectrum : Honoraria; Seattle Genetics : Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding. Prince:Celgene : Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Foss:Celgene : Consultancy. Sokol:Celgene : Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Morschhauser:Celgene : Consultancy, Honoraria. Pinter-Brown:Celgene : Consultancy; Allos : Consultancy. Shustov:Celgene : Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Nielsen:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Nichols:Celgene: Consultancy, Employment, Equity Ownership. Horwitz:Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Allos: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genzyme: Consultancy; Johnson & Johnson: Consultancy; Infinity Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding.