ALBERT

Description: Introduction. Patients with CLL and FISH positive for trisomy 12 (+12) have unique clinical and biological features. We, therefore, performed an analysis of the association between demographic, clinical, laboratoristic and biological features and outcomes in treatment-naive patients with +12 CLL. Methods. This study included 312 treatment-naive patients with +12 CLL from 9 centers. These patients, diagnosed between January 2000 and July 2016, were compared to a control group of 580 treatment-naive patients with FISH negative CLL, matched by age and gender and followed in the same centers. An additional cohort of 250 patients with +12 CLL followed at a single US institution was used as external validation. Results. Patients' baseline characteristics are shown in Table 1. As compared to patients with negative FISH, patients with +12 had a significant higher prevalence of elevated LDH (p

Description: Introduction. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity (NT)(also known as immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome or ICANS) are commonly observed after chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. While the clinical features of CRS have been extensively described, limited data exists for NT. Here, we report clinical and radiological features of NT after standard of care (SOC) axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) in patients (pts) with relapsed or refractory (r/r) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). Methods. Pts with r/r LBCL treated with SOC axi-cel at MD Anderson Cancer Center between 01/2018 and 04/2019 were included in the study. All pts received anti-seizure prophylaxis with levetiracetam starting on the day of axi-cel infusion for 30 days. CRS and NT were prospectively graded according to CARTOX criteria (Neelapu et al, Nat Rev Clin Oncol, 2018). Association between continuous variables were assessed using the bivariate Pearson correlation. Results. Ninety-five pts were included in the study, 72 (76%) with diffuse LBCL, 17 (18%) with transformed follicular lymphoma, and 6 (6%) with primary mediastinal LBCL. Median age was 60 (range, 18-85), 71 (75%) were male. Median number of previous therapies was 4 (range, 2-15), 26 (27%) had a previous autologous stem cell transplant (SCT), and 1 (1%) a previous allogeneic SCT. Eight (8%) pts had prior central nervous system lymphomatous involvement (parenchymal in 5), and 39 (41%) had prior neurological and/or psychiatric medical history. After axi-cel infusion, NT of any grade was observed in 65 (68%) pts, grade ³3 in 46 (48%)(Table). No significant association was observed between above outlined baseline characteristics and development of NT. Median time from axi-cel infusion to NT onset was 5 days (range, 0-25 days) and median duration was 6 days (range, 1-52 days); no new onset/recurrent NT was observed beyond day 30. Among the 65 pts who developed NT, a CT head without contrast was performed in 48, and was not evaluable in 2 because of motion artifacts. Among the 46 evaluable scans, 1 (4%) was abnormal as compared to baseline, and showed new onset cortical edema (non-diffuse but symmetrical). An MRI brain with contrast was performed in 36 pts, but was not evaluable in 10 because of lack of baseline, motion artifacts or differences in imaging sequences. Among the 26 evaluable scans, 15 (58%) showed abnormal findings, including autoimmune encephalitis-like, characterized by symmetric white matter changes of the pons and hippocampus (6; Fig. A), stroke-like (4; Fig. B), LMD-like (3; Fig. C) and PRES-like (2; Fig. D), with concomitant cortical edema in 5. EEGs were performed in 52 pts (〉1/pt, for a total of 116 EEGs) and were abnormal in 47 (90%). Focal and/or diffuse slowing was the most common abnormality (isolated finding in 35 [73%] pts), while epileptiform discharges and/or non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) were observed 12 (27%) pts. A lumbar puncture was performed in 12 pts: median white blood cell count was 2 cells/µL (range, 0-6), median protein 47 mg/dL (range, 13-600), median glucose 69 mg/dL (range, 30-111), and cytology was positive for malignant cells in 2 (7%) pts. Convulsive seizure was observed in 4 (6%) pts and 10 (15%) received additional anti-seizure therapy for convulsive or non-convulsive seizures. Among the 65 pts with NT, dexamethasone up to 20 mg IV Q6H was given to 42 (65%) pts, methylprednisolone 1000 mg IV daily to 12 (18%), and tocilizumab to 64 (98%; during CRS or CRS with concurrent NT). Overall, 93 (98%) pts developed CRS, grade 〉3 in 27 (28%). A significantly higher rate of NT of any grade (96% vs 57%, p3 (81% vs 35%, p3 CRS. After a median follow-up of 4 months, 6-month progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 60% and 65%, respectively. Significantly shorter 6-month PFS (46% vs 80%, p=0.02) and OS rates (56% vs 83%, p=0.01) were observed among pts developing NT of any grade. Conclusions. Our results suggest that multiple radiological patterns of NT after axi-cel are possible in r/r LBCL pts, MRI being more sensitive than CT scan for their detection. NCSE is a common event, supporting the use of seizure prophylaxis and EEGs for evaluation of these pts. Pts with NT experience a worse outcome, and additional clinical and biological predictors of NT will be analyzed and presented at the meeting. Figure Disclosures Nastoupil: Spectrum: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bayer: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Genentech, Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Gilead: Honoraria; TG Therapeutics: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria. Westin:47 Inc: Research Funding; Novartis: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Juno: Other: Advisory Board; MorphoSys: Other: Advisory Board; Unum: Research Funding; Curis: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Genentech: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Celgene: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Kite: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Janssen: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding. Fowler:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Lee:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding. Parmar:Cellenkos Inc.: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Wang:Guidepoint Global: Consultancy; BioInvent: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; MoreHealth: Consultancy, Equity Ownership; Acerta Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; VelosBio: Research Funding; Loxo Oncology: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Juno Therapeutics: Research Funding; Aviara: Research Funding; Dava Oncology: Honoraria. Pinnix:Merck: Research Funding. Hawkins:Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Other: advisory panels. Neelapu:Precision Biosciences: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Allogene: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; BMS: Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Poseida: Research Funding; Karus: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Research Funding; Cell Medica: Consultancy; Unum Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy. Chi:Kite, A Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Kite Patient Management Advisory Board.

Description: Introduction. In the context of chemoimmunotherapy, complete remission (CR) is more common and is associated with improved survival in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). CR is less frequent in CLL patients treated with ibrutinib, and the prognostic significance of achieving CR with ibrutinib is indeterminate. Methods. We prospectively analyzed 208 CLL patients treated on a phase 2 study (NCT02007044) of first-line (deletion 17p only; n=27) or salvage ibrutinib (n=181), with or without rituximab, between 12/2013 and 01/2018. Response was assessed by international workshop on CLL 2018 guidelines. Categorical variables were compared using the χ2 or Fisher exact tests. Progression-free survival (PFS) was defined as time from treatment initiation to disease progression and/or death, and Kaplan-Meier curves compared using the log-rank test. A landmark analysis at median time of CR achievement (best response) was performed for PFS. Results. After a median follow-up of 34 months (range, 3-48 months), response was evaluable in 194 patients, overall response rate (ORR) was 99%, and CR rate was 24%, with negative minimal residual disease (MRD) in 3% of patients; median time to response was 10 months (range, 3-45 months) and median time to CR was 21 months (5-45 months). None of the patients' baseline characteristics associated with achievement of CR (Table). Among the 47 patients in CR, 7 (15%) discontinued treatment, after a median time from treatment initiation of 19 months (range, 10-39); the main cause of discontinuation was toxicity (5 patients), with second cancer (metastatic melanoma) and disease progression prompting treatment discontinuation only in 2 patients. Among the 145 patients in PR, 50 (34%) discontinued treatment, after a median time from treatment initiation of 14 months (range, 4-45 months); while the main cause of discontinuation was again toxicity (26 patients), 2nd cancers and progressive disease prompted treatment discontinuation in 5 and 14 patients, respectively. Remaining causes of treatment discontinuation among patients in PR were loss to follow-up (3 patients) and consolidation therapy (2 patients). Median PFS was not reached and 28 patients (13%) progressed and/or died. Achievement of CR significantly associated with prolonged PFS (4-year PFS 98% vs 78%, p=0.03)(Figure). The association between CR and prolonged PFS was also confirmed on a landmark analysis (21 months)(p=0.05). Among baseline characteristics shown in the Table, the only factor associated with prolonged PFS was absence of complex karyotype (4-year PFS 80% vs 40%, p=0.05). Median OS has not been reached and 16 (8%) patients have died; of these, only 1 patient was in CR (and cause of death was metastatic melanoma), whereas the remaining 15 were in PR. Among patients in PR, causes of death were: infections in 7 patients, 2nd cancers in 2 patients, Richter transformation in 2 patients and other in 4 patients (small bowel obstruction, colon perforation, intracranial hemorrhage, bradyarrhythmia). Conclusions. This is the first study showing that achievement of CR is a desirable endpoint for patients with CLL treated with ibrutinib, associating with prolonged PFS. Our results support the development of future combination studies, aimed at achieving higher rates of CR in patients treated with ibrutinib. Figure. Figure. Disclosures Wierda: AbbVie, Inc: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding. Jain:Infinity: Research Funding; Novimmune: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genentech: Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Research Funding; Infinity: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Verastem: Research Funding; Servier: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologioes: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astra Zeneca: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Research Funding; Verastem: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Verastem: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ADC Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cellectis: Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologioes: Research Funding; Servier: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novimmune: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astra Zeneca: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Verastem: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Thompson:Adaptive Biotechnologies: Research Funding; Genentech: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Gilead Sciences: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.

Description: Thompson and colleagues report that detection of minimal residual disease using next-generation sequencing, which is 2 orders of magnitude more sensitive than flow cytometry, is a much better predictor of progression-free survival.

Description: Introduction Achieving MRD-negative remission after FCR therapy is an important predictor of longer progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS); however, with long-term follow-up, many MRD-negative patients subsequently relapse. The time course and predictive factors for relapse in initially MRD-negative patients have not been extensively characterized. Methods We prospectively analyzed 289 patients treated first-line with FCR for CLL at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center from 2008-15, to determine pre-treatment characteristics associated with post-treatment MRD negativity and the time course of relapse in MRD-negative patients. MRD analysis was performed in BM after course 3 (n=239) and at end of therapy (EOT) (n=231) using standardized 4-color flow cytometry (FLC). Ninety-five MRD-negative patients had 12-monthly serial MRD monitoring on blood. Results Pretreatment characteristics are shown below (N=289). For the total cohort, the only pre-treatment characteristic significantly associated with PFS was IGHV-unmutated (IGHV-UM) (HR 3.0 [1.6-5.5], p

Description: Introduction. CLL primarily affects elderly individuals who frequently have comorbid health conditions. It is typically assumed non-CLL-related etiologies will be the ultimate cause of death for most CLL patients, particularly those with comorbid conditions at diagnosis. Methods. Between 9/2002 and 11/2014, 1174 patients with newly diagnosed CLL were enrolled in a prospective cohort study evaluating the natural history of CLL. Comorbidities were prospectively recorded at the time of diagnosis. Comorbidities arising during the course of disease were not considered for this analysis. Standardized longitudinal follow-up was performed in all patients every 6 months for the first 3 years after diagnosis and annually thereafter through 04/2015. Internal and external medical records, death certificates, and information from next of kin were centrally reviewed to determine cause of death, using a standardized protocol. Categorical and continuous variables were evaluated using the c2 or Fisher exact tests and the Mann-Whitney test, as appropriate. Results. Baseline characteristics at time of CLL diagnosis are shown in the Table. Over 80% of patients had 2 or more comorbidities at diagnosis (median 3, range 0-11). After a median follow up of 5 years, 224 (19%) patients have died. The cause of death could be accurately determined in 183 (82%) of these patients. The cause of death was due to CLL in 135 (74%), including 84 (46%) CLL progressions, 14 (8%) infections, and 37 (20%) other cancers. Death was due to non-CLL-related causes (such as congestive heart failure, stroke or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in the remaining 48 (26%) patients. On univariable analysis, age and number of comorbid health conditions were not related to whether or not the cause of death was related/unrelated to CLL. The only specific co-morbid condition at diagnosis that predicted for non-CLL related death was stroke (8% vs 1%, p=0.04). Unmutated IGHV was the only prognostic factor thatpredicted greater likelihood of CLL-related death (70% vs 50%, p=0.03). Conclusions. The majority of patients with CLL have multiple comorbidities at time of diagnosis. Despite this fact, CLL progression and/or CLL-related complications are the primary cause of death. The number and type of comorbidities at diagnosis have minimal relationship to whether or not the ultimate cause of death was CLL-related. In contrast, the CLL-specific characteristic IGHV status (but interestingly not FISH defects) correlates with cause of death. Collectively, these findings illustrate the need for more effective CLL therapy, particularly treatments that can be tolerated by patients with comorbid health conditions. It is hoped the signaling inhibitors may help address this unmet need. Table. Number (%), median [range] N=1174 Age (years) 63 [23-89] Males Females 791 (67) 383 (33) Creatinine-Clearance 〉 (mL/min) 86 [10-252] B2M (mg/dL) 2.3 [1.1-13.2] Rai stage 0 I-II III-IV 604 (52) 512 (38) 54 (10) CD49d positive negative 277 (30) 638 (70) CD38 positive negative 332 (30) 780 (70) ZAP70 positive negative 380 (37) 650 (63) IGHV unmutated mutated 394 (44) 506 (56) FISH del13q negative +12 del11q del17p 395 (40) 175 (18) 276 (28) 90 (9) 50 (5) Comorbid health conditions Other cancers 237 (20) Stroke 38 (3) Cardiac disease 326 (28) Hypertension 472 (40) Respiratory 210 (18) Endocrinologic 165 (14) Diabetes 118 (10) Hyperlipidemia 485 (41) Rheumatologic 489 (42) Gastrointestinal 384 (33) Genitourinary 412 (35) Psychiatric 197 (17) DVT/PE 33 (3) Substance abuse 58 (5) Sexually transmitted disease 35 (3) Obesity 376 (32) # of Comorbidities 0 1 2 3 4 〉 4 66 (6) 148 (13) 203 (17) 220 (19) 206 (17) 331 (28) Disclosures Kay: Hospira: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Celgene Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Tolero Pharma: Research Funding. Cerhan:Kite Pharma: Research Funding.

Description: Background Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) affect primarily elderly pts. Their treatment with aggressive chemotherapy is frequently challenging. Moreover, pts with FLT3 mutations have very poor prognosis. We hypothesized that the combination of midostaurin, a FLT3 inhibitor, and 5-AZA, a hypomethylating agent, may be an effective and safe regimen. Methods Both untreated (8) and previously treated (36) pts with AML or MDS were eligible for this study, regardless of FLT3 mutation and prior exposure to FLT3 inhibitors. Pts received 5-AZA 75 mg/mq subcutaneously or intravenously on day 1-7 and midostaurin 25 mg bid (in cohort 1 of phase I) or 50 mg bid (in cohort 2 of Phase I and in Phase II) orally on day 8-21 during the first cycle and continuously thereafter, for 12 cycles of 28 days duration. Cytogenetic risk was defined according to MRC criteria. Differences between categorical variables were compared by the chi2 test. CR duration (CRD) was calculated from the time of CR achievement until relapse and estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. Results Fourty-four pts were enrolled, 13 included in Phase I and 31 in Phase II. Baseline pts’ characteristics are shown in the Table. Thirty-eight pts (86%) received 50 mg bid of midostaurin, and 6 (14%; Phase I) received 25 mg bid. The median number of administered cycles was 2 (1-9). Grade 3-4 hematological toxicities consisted of 95% neutropenia, 64% anemia and 93% thrombocytopenia. Grade 3-4 non-hematological toxicities consisted of 45% infections, 23% hypokalemia, 16% hyponatremia, 7% reduction in ejection fraction, 7% hyperuricemia, 4% hyperglycemia, 4% nausea/vomiting, 4% QTc prolongation, 4% hyperbilirubinemia, and 4% elevated AST. Eleven pts (25%) achieved a CR, 9 with incomplete platelet recovery (20%), after a median time of 13 (10-16) weeks from treatment start. Five (11%) of these pts relapsed after achieving CR. Two pts (5%) received an allogeneic stem cell transplant while on study, one in CR and one primary refractory (after a blast count drop from 27 to 7%), and they are both still in CR and alive. Among 26 pts with FLT3 ITD and no D835 mutation, 9 (35%) achieved CR/CRp. Six of 18 (33%) pts not previously exposed to FLT3 inhibitors responded. There was no significant correlation of dose with response (24% with 50 mg bid vs 33% with 25 mg bid, p=0.63). After a median follow-up of 15 (3-72) weeks, 20 pts (64%) died, 3 (7%) while on study (2 died of sepsis, 1 of unknown causes with progressive disease). The median CRD was 16 (9-23) months. Factors significantly associated with a longer CRD were male sex (p=0.04), age older than 65 years (0.03) and use of 50 mg bid of midostaurin (p=0.02). Conclusions The combination of midostaurin and 5-AZA is safe and well tolerated. Its efficacy is most noticeable among pts with FLT3 mutations. A longer response duration is observed using midostaurin at 50 mg bid dose and in elderly male pts. Disclosures: Ravandi: CELGENE: Honoraria; NOVARTIS: Honoraria. Cortes:ARIAD: Consultancy, Research Funding; ASTELLAS: Research Funding; AMBIT: Research Funding; AROG: Research Funding; NOVARTIS: Research Funding.

Description: INTRODUCTION. Although uncommon, involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) is the most common extramedullary manifestation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). Nonetheless, a broad array of conditions can lead to neurologic symptoms in CLL patients and distinguishing between clinically significant CLL involvement of the CNS and other etiologies can be challenging. The actual prevalence of CNS involvement by CLL is unknown, the only available data being case reports and small case series. METHODS. Between 01/1995 and 11/2014, 186 of the 4317 (4%) patients with CLL followed at our center underwent an MRI of the CNS (e.g. brain, spine) and/or a lumbar puncture (LP) with cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) analysis to evaluate neurologic symptoms. As the mere presence of CLL cells in the CSF is not diagnostic of clinically significant CNS disease, a final diagnosis of clinically significant CNS involvement by CLL was established by the collaborative review of the pathologist, neurologist and treating hematologist based on comprehensive work-up and multi-disciplinary evaluation. RESULTS. After evaluation, the etiology of neurologic symptoms was clinically significant involvement of the CNS by CLL in 19 (10%) patients, CNS Richter Syndrome (RS) in 15 (8%), infection in 42 (23%), autoimmune conditions in 31 (17%), other cancer in 9 (5%), and another etiology in 70 (37%). The sensitivity of LP to detect clinically significant CNS involvement by CLL was 89%, however its specificity was only 42% where CLL cells were also frequently observed in the CSF in concomitance with inflammatory processes, such as infections and autoimmune disease. Factors associated with clinically significant CNS involvement by CLL/RS were mutated IGHV (p=0.04), low CSF glucose (p=0.02), elevated CSF total nucleated cells (TNC)(p=0.004), lymphocytes (p=0.02) and CLL cells, both as absolute count (p=0.05) and percentage of TNC (p=0.02). Median OS among patients with clinically significant CNS involvement by CLL or RS were 21 and 11 months, respectively. Median OS for patients with neurological symptoms secondary to infection was 6 months, to autoimmune process was 63 months, to other cancers was 19 months, and to other non-CLL related etiologies was 37 months. CONCLUSIONS. Clinically significant CNS involvement by CLL and RS are rare conditions. Neurologic symptoms in patients with CLL are attributable to non-CLL-related etiologies in the majority of cases, even when CLL B-cells are present in the CSF. Analysis of the CSF has high sensitivity but limited specificity to distinguish clinically significant CNS involvement by CLL from other etiologies. Comprehensive evaluation is required before attributing neurologic symptoms to CLL. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Description: Background Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that are elderly and have multiple comorbidities show poor tolerance to chemoimmunotherapy. This population is frequent in the real-world clinical practice, but is usually excluded from participating in clinical trials. We, therefore, decided to investigate the activity and toxicity of ofatumumab, a fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody in elderly unfit patients. Methods Patients with untreated CLL requiring therapy (2008 NCI-WG guidelines), aged ≥65 years, who had an ECOG performance status of 2-3 or ECOG 0-1 and a Charlson comorbidity index ≥2 were considered eligible. Patients with another malignancy or with an ongoing serious medical condition were allowed to participate in this trial. Treatment consisted of ofatumumab given as intravenous infusions weekly for the first month (300 mg day 1 and 1,000 mg day 8, 15, 22), then monthly (1,000 mg day 1) for a total of 12 months. The trial was amended after the first 8 patients, and the dose of ofatumumab was increased from 1,000 to 2,000 mg in subsequent patients in view of reports of increased efficacy with the 2,000 mg dose. Acetaminophen, prednisolone and diphenhydramine were administered prior to ofatumumab infusion to ameliorate infusion reactions. Results From January 2012 to the present time, 18 patients have been enrolled in this trial. Patients’ characteristics at treatment initiation are summarized as follows: Table 1 Number of patients 18 Age, years, median (range) 73 (67-85) Male/Female 8/10 Rai stage 3-4 7 (39%) Absolute lymphocyte count, 106/µl, median (range) 30.5 (6.1-149.7) β2 microglobulin, mg/L, median (range) 3.6 (1.6-11.9) Months from diagnosis, median (range) 14 (0-166) FISH1 normal/del(13q) tris(12) del(11q) del(17p) 7 (39%) 5 (28%) 5 (28%) 1 (5%) IGVH Unmutated2 5 (56%) ZAP70 positive2 3 (33%) CD38 positive 12 (67%) 1Hierarchical classification. 2Data available for 9 patients. Six patients (33%) had other cancers (melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, meningioma, essential thrombocythemia). At the time of study entry 6 patients had a positive direct antiglobulin test, and one patient had immune-mediated thrombocytopenia. At the present time, 13 patients are evaluable for response and 5 patients are too early for response evaluation having not yet completed 6 months of therapy. Nine patients achieved a response for an overall response rate of 69%; complete responses were observed in 3 patients (23%), and partial responses in 6 patients (46%). None of the patients obtained minimal residual disease negativity. Of note, the increase in ofatumumab dose appears to be associated with a superior efficacy, with responses observed in all the 5 patients treated at the 2,000 mg dose, whereas only 4 of the 8 patients treated at the 1,000 mg dose achieved a response. At a median follow up of 24 months, 6 patients remain progression-free, 7 patients have progressed and required subsequent treatment with a median time to next treatment of 15 months. None of the patients died on study; one patient died of infectious complications two years after receiving ofatumumab, while receiving subsequent therapies. Eighteen patients are evaluable for toxicity. The most common treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were infusion-related reactions, grade (G)3 in one patient (5%) and G1-2 in 6 patients (33%). Additional G3 AEs, reported in 4 patients, were diarrhea (2 patients), hyperglycemia (1 patient) and neutropenia (1 patient). No G4 AEs were observed. Conclusions Based on our experience, therapy with ofatumumab as frontline single agent for elderly unfit CLL patients is feasible, well tolerated, and clinically effective, obtaining response in 69% of patients. This treatment was safely administered to patients with other cancer diagnoses. Disclosures O'Brien: MorphoSys, Acerta, TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Emergent, Genentech, Gilead, Infinity, Pharmacyclics, Spectrum: Consultancy, Research Funding; CLL Global Research Foundation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen, Celgene, GSK: Consultancy.

Description: Abstract 1488 Background: Individuals with congenital Trisomy 21 (+21) (Down syndrome) have an increased risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). As +21 in AML frequently occurs in association with other karyotypic abnormalities, its prognostic impact remains poorly defined. Thus +21 has been empirically categorized as an intermediate risk cytogenetic aberration. This study focuses on the biological and clinical features of +21 AML. Methods: We analyzed the records of all AML patients treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) between January 1995 and December 2011. Only patients presenting to MDACC at the time of diagnosis with no prior therapy were included. Four cytogenetic groups were defined: +21 alone, +21 plus favorable cytogenetics, +21 plus intermediate cytogenetics and +21 plus unfavorable cytogenetics (Grimwade D et al, Blood 2010). Progression free survival (PFS) was defined as time from diagnosis to relapse or last follow up. Survival curves were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates and were compared using the log-rank test. Results: A total of 90 patients harboring +21 aberrations at diagnosis were identified. Median age was 59 years (range, 18–88) and 58% were male. At diagnosis, median white cell count was 4.6 (0.6–190) × 109/L, hemoglobin 8.6 (3.3–13.4)g/dL, platelets 53 (4–395) × 109/L, peripheral blasts 17% (0–96), and bone marrow blasts 48% (0–97). FAB classification: M0–2 64%, M3 1%, M4–5 20%, M6 10%, M7 4%. Cytogenetic subgroups included: +21 alone: 12%, +21 with favorable: 8%, +21 with intermediate: 8%, and +21 with unfavorable: 72%. Molecular mutations: FLT3 4/49 (2 ITD, 2 D835) (8%), NRAS 4/53 (7%), NPM1 1/25 (4%), CEBPA 2/13 (15%) and CKIT 0/26 (0%). Induction regimens included: Idarubicin+AraC-based (IA) 36%, fludarabine-based (FLU) 24%, clofarabine-based (CLO) 11%, topotecan-based (CAT) 10%, hypomethylating-based (HMT) 11%, and miscellaneous (MISC) 8%. Overall Response Rate (ORR) was 54%. Clofarabine-based induction showed the highest frequency of complete remission (CR) (70%) and HMT the lowest frequency of CR (56%) (Table 1). Median time to CR (TTCR) from initiation of therapy for those patients achieving CR was 5 (3–19) weeks. Patients with +21 alone or treated with HMT had a significantly longer TTCR (p=0.038 and 0.006; respectively). Median PFS was 11 (2–130) months and median CR duration was 5 (1–100) months. PFS was significantly higher in patients with +21 alone (101 months) as compared to the intermediate and unfavorable group (11 and 2 months, respectively) (p=0.006). CR duration did not differ significantly among the 4 cytogenetic groups. Both PFS and CR duration did not differ significantly by induction regimen. Median Overall Survival (OS) for the entire group was 9 (0–130) months. Median OS for stem cell transplant (SCT) recipients (14 months) was significantly higher than those who did not undergo SCT (8 months) (p=0.003). Patients with +21 alone had better OS (32 months) than those in the intermediate and unfavorable groups (5 months and 2 months; respectively) (p