ALBERT

Description: Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a major global health concern. Quantitative estimates of attributable mortality are based on disease-specific hazard ratio models that incorporate risk information from multiple PM2.5 sources (outdoor and indoor air pollution from use of solid fuels and secondhand and active smoking), requiring assumptions about equivalent exposure and toxicity. We relax these contentious assumptions by constructing a PM2.5-mortality hazard ratio function based only on cohort studies of outdoor air pollution that covers the global exposure range. We modeled the shape of the association between PM2.5 and nonaccidental mortality using data from 41 cohorts from 16 countries—the Global Exposure Mortality Model (GEMM). We then constructed GEMMs for five specific causes of death examined by the global burden of disease (GBD). The GEMM predicts 8.9 million [95% confidence interval (CI): 7.5–10.3] deaths in 2015, a figure 30% larger than that predicted by the sum of deaths among the five specific causes (6.9; 95% CI: 4.9–8.5) and 120% larger than the risk function used in the GBD (4.0; 95% CI: 3.3–4.8). Differences between the GEMM and GBD risk functions are larger for a 20% reduction in concentrations, with the GEMM predicting 220% higher excess deaths. These results suggest that PM2.5 exposure may be related to additional causes of death than the five considered by the GBD and that incorporation of risk information from other, nonoutdoor, particle sources leads to underestimation of disease burden, especially at higher concentrations.

Description: Abstract 4589 Background: Burkitt lymphoma is a highly aggressive and rapidly proliferating hematologic malignancy. Various chemotherapy regimens (HyperCVAD, CODOX-M/IVAC, REPOCH) have been shown to improve overall survival rate. However, in instances of relapsed or refractory disease, there is no clear-cut standard of care. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) has shown benefit in these patients. Here, we report our institutional experience using HCT for relapsed/refractory Burkitt lymphoma. Methods: Between February 1994 and January 2010, 13 patients (10 males, 3 females) with refractory or relapsed Burkitt lymphoma were retrospectively evaluated. The patients in question were administered a particular conditioning regimen followed by stem cell transplantation (11 autologous, 2 allogeneic). The average age at transplant was 41.8± 3.4 years (range 24 to 67). Stem cell source was from peripheral blood in all transplants including allogeneic (2 HLA-identical sibling transplants). The conditioning regimens for HCT consisted of the following: TBI/Rituximab/Cytoxan/VP16, TBI/Cytoxan/VP16, BEAM, Cranial Spinal boost/TBI/Cytoxan/VP16 or Cranial boost/TBI/Cytoxan. Results: On average, patients received transplant 299 ± 36 days after initial diagnosis (range 153 to 582). All patients achieved engraftment. For the 5/13 deceased patients (38%), cause of death was attributed to relapsed/refractory disease (n=2) and treatment related causes (n=3). Using the Kaplan-Meier method, the average survival time after transplant was computed at 27.7 ± 5.3 months and 75% were alive 2-years after transplant. Likely due in part to the small sample size, no covariates (age, gender, conditioning regimen, HIV status, presence of B symptoms, and CNS or bone marrow involvement) were found to be predictive of survival rates. Conclusion: Patients with Burkitt lymphoma, known for its rapid growth, can achieve long-term complete remission (CR) with intense, combination chemotherapy. Despite successful long-term remission rates, a substantial portion of patients die from uncontrolled disease. At the first sign of refractory or relapsed disease, resources should be mobilized to proceed with HCT. Our study, though limited in size, provides further compelling evidence that long-term CR, and potentially cure, may be achieved using HCT as a treatment modality. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Description: Introduction Ruxolitinib (RUX) is an FDA-approved oral, selective inhibitor of Janus kinase (JAK) 1/2 for the treatment of patients with polycythemia vera who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant of hydroxyurea or intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis (MF). Preclinical studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that RUX in combination with the immunomodulatory agent lenalidomide (LEN) and dexamethasone shows marked anti-myeloma effects both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, MUC1 is responsible for LEN resistance in MM cells, and RUX blocks its expression in multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Thus, RUX may restore sensitivity to LEN. RUX also downregulates PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression on MM cells and reduces tumor stimulatory M2 macrophage polarization in MM bone marrow. Therefore, a phase 1 trial was conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of RUX in combination with LEN and the steroid methylprednisolone (MP) for relapsed/refractory (RR) MM patients who had previously been treated with LEN/steroids and a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and showed progressive disease at study entry. Methods A traditional 3+3 dose escalation design was used to enroll subjects in four cohorts with expansion once a MTD was determined. Subjects received RUX twice daily continuously, LEN daily on d1-21 of a 28-d cycle and MP orally every other day. In DL0, patients received RUX 5 mg, LEN 5 mg, and MP 40 mg. In DL+1 and +2, both doses of LEN and MP remained unchanged and RUX was escalated to 10 and 15 mg, respectively. DL+3 escalated LEN to 10 mg with MP unchanged and RUX at 15 mg. Primary endpoints were safety, clinical benefit rate (CBR) and overall response rate (ORR). Results Thirty-four patients have been enrolled, and 31 were evaluable for response as of July 13, 2018. The median age was 68 years (range, 49-81), and 20 (59%) were male. Patients received a median of 6 prior treatments including lenalidomide and a PI. No DLTs occurred, and DL+3 was expanded (n=25). Among all 31 evaluable patients, the CBR and ORR were 48% and 39%, respectively (1 CR, 9 PR, 2 VGPR, and 3 MR), and 11 and 5 showed SD and PD, respectively. Notably, all 15 patients achieving ≥ MR were refractory to LEN (i.e. progressed while on or within 8 weeks of last dosage). The median PFS for all evaluable patients was 7.4 months. Grade 3/4 adverse events included transient thrombocytopenia (11.1%), anemia (8.8%), neutropenia (6.7%), hypoxia (4.4%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (4.4%). Common serious adverse events included abdominal pain (6.7%), gastrointestinal bleeding (6.7%) and hypoxia (6.7 %). Conclusions This phase 1 trial demonstrates for the first time that a JAK inhibitor, RUX, can overcome refractoriness to LEN and steroids for RRMM patients. This all oral regimen was well tolerated, and reversible Grade 3/4 cytopenias occurred in only a small minority of patients. These promising results are leading to other clinical trials using immunomodulatory agents, steroids and RUX, for treating RRMM patients, and this may represent a new therapeutic approach for these patients. Disclosures Berenson: BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau.

Description: Abstract 813 Background: Published reports indicate that oral or intravenous (IV) busulfan in combination with cyclophosphamide and VP-16 (BuCyVP-16) is an effective conditioning regimen with acceptable safety profile for lymphoma patients prior to autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Since the therapeutic window of Bu is narrow, it is important to standardize the systemic exposure during conditioning. Although the IV formulation of Bu eliminates the problem of variable drug absorption, unpredictable systemic exposure can still occur due to interpatient differences in Bu clearance. Therefore, tighter control of systemic Bu exposure using pharmacokinetics (PK) may lead to improved efficacy and further decrease in toxicity. The aim of this multi-center, single-arm, Phase II study was to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of IV BuCyVP-16 regimen in lymphoma patients undergoing ASCT, after optimizing Bu exposure using PK-directed dosing. Methods: Patients with chemosensitive, relapsed or primary-refractory Hodgkin and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma undergoing the first ASCT received a test dose of IV Bu (0.8 mg/kg) given as a 2-hour infusion 11 to 14 days before transplant. Bu exposure was determined as area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) using six serial blood samples after the test dose administration. Doses for the conditioning regimen were then calculated to result in total AUC (conditioning + test) of 20,000 mM*min. One-fourth of the resulting calculated Bu dose was given as a 3-hour infusion on Day -8, followed by a second, confirmatory PK analysis. The same daily Bu dose was administered on the next 3 days, unless the confirmatory PK analysis showed that this would result in total AUC outside the target range (〉24,000 mM*min or 1,500 μM*min) in five patients (2.6 %) and lower AUC (

Description: Introduction Ruxolitinib (RUX) is an FDA-approved oral, selective inhibitor of Janus kinase (JAK) 1/2 for the treatment of patients with polycythemia vera who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant of hydroxyurea or intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis (MF). Preclinical studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that RUX in combination with the immunomodulatory agent lenalidomide (LEN) and dexamethasone shows marked anti-myeloma effects both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, MUC1 (Mucin 1) is responsible for LEN resistance in MM cells, and RUX blocks its expression in multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Thus, RUX may restore sensitivity to LEN. RUX also downregulates PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression on MM cells and reduces tumor stimulatory M2 macrophage polarization in MM bone marrow. Therefore, a phase 1 trial was conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of RUX in combination with LEN and the steroid methylprednisolone (MP) for relapsed/refractory (RR) MM patients who had previously been treated with LEN/steroids and a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and showed progressive disease at study entry. Methods A traditional 3+3 dose escalation design was used to enroll subjects in four cohorts with planned total enrollment to be 49 patients. Subjects received RUX twice daily continuously, LEN daily on d1-21 of a 28-d cycle and MP orally every other day. In DL0, patients received RUX 5 mg, LEN 5 mg, and MP 40 mg. In DL+1 and +2, both doses of LEN and MP remained unchanged and RUX was escalated to 10 and 15 mg, respectively. DL+3 escalated LEN to 10 mg with MP unchanged and RUX at 15 mg. Primary endpoints were safety, clinical benefit rate (CBR) and overall response rate (ORR). Results As of March 1, 2019, 43 patients were enrolled, and 40 were evaluable for efficacy. The median age was 65 years (range, 46-81), and 25 (58%) were male. Patients received a median of 6 prior treatments including LEN and steroids to which they were all refractory. No DLTs occurred, and DL+3 was expanded. Among all 40 evaluable patients, the CBR and ORR were 47% and 37%, respectively (1 CR, 4 VGPR, 10 PR and 4 MR), and 16 and 5 patients showed SD and PD. Notably, all 19 patients achieving 〉 MR were refractory to LEN (i.e. progressed while on or within 8 weeks of last dosage). The median PFS for all evaluable patients was 4 months. G3/4 AEs included anemia (16%), sepsis (14%), lymphocytopenia (14%), pneumonia (12%), neutropenia (12%) and hypokalaemia (12%). Most common SAEs included sepsis (14%) and pneumonia (12%). Conclusions This phase 1 trial demonstrates for the first time that a JAK inhibitor, RUX, can overcome refractoriness to LEN and steroids for RRMM patients. This all oral regimen was well tolerated, and reversible Grade 3/4 cytopenias occurred in only a small minority of patients. These promising results are leading to expansion of the current clinical trial to 78 patients, and represent a potential novel therapeutic approach for treating MM. Disclosures Berenson: Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amag: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amag: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy; OncoTracker: Equity Ownership, Other: Officer; OncoTracker: Equity Ownership, Other: Officer; Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Incyte Corporation.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte Corporation.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding. Swift:Bristol Mayers Squib: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Jansen: Consultancy, Honoraria. Eades:Celgene: Other: Stock. Boccia:Genentech: Speakers Bureau; DSI: Speakers Bureau; AMAG: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Speakers Bureau. OffLabel Disclosure: The goal of this clinical trial is to establish ruxolitinib in combination with lenalidomide and methylprednisolone as the therapy for relapse/refractory multiple myeloma patients.

Description: Many older people with frailty are at risk of malnutrition and poor health, yet there is evidence that improving nutrition and weight loss can reduce frailty. This will become more important as the number of older people with frailty increases worldwide in future. Identifying those at risk is challenging due to the difficulty of reaching and screening those older people most at risk, the large number of nutritional assessment tools used, and the lack of consensus on the criteria to make a diagnosis of malnutrition. The management of older people with or at risk of malnutrition should be multi-modal and multi-disciplinary, and all care staff have an important role in delivering appropriate nutritional advice and support. This paper will highlight a number of practical approaches that clinicians can take to manage malnutrition in older people with frailty in community and acute settings, including environmental changes to enhance mealtime experience, food fortification and supplementation.

Description: Introduction: Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the Western hemisphere. Patient characteristics and burden of FL are incomplete and vary from previous studies. This study evaluated patient profile, including patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and duration using real-world data. Methods: Using the Truven MarketScan® databases, patients with FL who were newly initiated with FL indicated regimens were identified from 1/1/2010-12/31/2013 (initial treatment identification period). Patients were selected if they were ≥18 years old, had 1 FL ICD-9 code (202.0) as primary or secondary diagnosis, at least 1 FL commonly prescribed systemic anti-cancer therapy after the diagnosis, and did not use any FL indicated regimen in the past 6 months prior to first agent included in the initial treatment identification period. These patents were followed ≥3 months or to June 30, 2018. Primary outcomes were the distribution of regimens by line, the number of patients who switched from first- to second-line therapies, and from second- to third-line therapies. The treatment duration by line of therapy and regimen were also analyzed. Discontinuation was defined as 3 months without receiving a regimen after treatment. Results: This study identified 4,970 patients who initiated treatment for FL. Of these patients, 48.1% were female (n=2,390), with a mean age of 62.0 (SD: 14.0) years. The average follow-up time was approximately 2 years (median: 733 days). In this analysis, 4,970 patients with FL received first-line therapy for 153 days (median: 94 days), 1,985 received second-line therapy (39.9% of patients who received first-line therapy) for 208 days (median: 80 days), and 664 received third-line therapy (13.4% of patients who received first-line therapy) for 117 days (median: 43 days). Of the 4,970 patients on first-line therapy, 453 (9.1%) remained on first-line therapy, 2,532 (51.0%) discontinued treatment, and 1,985 (39.9%) patients switched to the next line of therapy during the follow-up period. Of the 1,985 patients who switched to second-line therapy, 328 (16.5%) remained by the end of follow-up period, 993 (50.0%) discontinued, and 664 (33.4%) switched to the next line of therapy during the follow-up period. Of the 664 patients who switched to third-line therapy, 125 (18.8%) remained, 269 (40.5%) discontinued, and 270 (40.7%) switched to the next line of therapy. The most common first-line regimens in descending order received by patients were rituximab (n=1,478, 29.7%), R-CHOP (n=1,368, 27.5%), BR (n=1,050, 21.1%), R-CVP (n=371, 7.5%), and FCR (n=63, 1.3%). Second-line treatment regimens were (N=1,985) rituximab (n=992, 50.0%), BR (n=202, 10.2%), R-CHOP (n=138, 7.0%), and R-CVP (n=120, 6.1%). Third-line treatment regimens were (N=664) rituximab (n=228, 34.3%), BR (n=91, 13.7%), R-CHOP (n=75, 11.3%), cyclophosphamide (n=35, 5.3%) and R-CVP (n=31, 4.7%). Conclusion: This data set describes the percentage of patients that transition from first- to second-line and second- to third-line treatment for FL. The primary regimens used across the treatment lines conform to those recommended by the NCCN guidelines. In addition, smaller numbers of non-recommended regimens were reported. Disclosures Fowler: Celgene: 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; ABBVIE: 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; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Hao:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Lim:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Employment. Chen:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Employment. Li:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Employment. Arcona:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Employment.

Description: Background: Paroxysmal cold hemaglobinuria (PCH) is caused by an IgG autoantibody which behaves as a biphasic hemolysin, attaching to RBCs at cold temperatures and activating complement at warmer temperatures, leading to hemolysis. This antibody, known as the Donath-Landsteiner antibody (DL-A), frequently shows specificity for the P-antigen. PCH was historically associated with syphilis infection. More recently, the DL-A has been found primarily in children with acquired autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) following a viral illness. In adults, PCH is rare and may occur as an idiopathic disease or in association with a lymphoproliferative disorder. Cases in children usually resolve spontaneously, whereas the adult form can be chronic and pose a therapeutic challenge, since treatment with steroids and splenectomy may be ineffective. Recently rituximab has been demonstrated to be a useful agent in treating AIHA that is resistant to conventional therapies. Case Report: A 64-year-old woman presented to another hospital with three months of progressive weakness. She was found to be severely anemic. Gastrointestinal blood loss was ruled out. Extensive work up was obtained with CT imaging and bone marrow biopsy, which showed no evidence of malignancy. A hemolytic process was identified and she was placed on oral prednisone 60mg daily. The patient then presented to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center three months later with recurrent fatigue and a hemoglobin concentration (Hb) of 6.6 g/dL. Lab values revealed an elevated reticulocyte count (7.9%), WBC 27.6, total bilirubin 3.5 mg/dL, indirect fraction 3.4 mg/dL, elevated LDH 445 U/L, absent haptoglobin, and microspherocytes on peripheral blood smear. The Direct Antiglobulin (Coombs) Test (DAT) was positive with an anti-complement reagent and negative with an anti-IgG reagent, leading to the suspicion of a DL-A or cold agglutinin. Cold agglutinin titer was normal. A Donath-Landsteiner test was positive, confirming the diagnosis of PCH. Steroids were rapidly tapered and she was given rituximab 375 mg/m2. Her Hb increased and evidence of hemolysis ceased. The patient received 3 additional doses of rituximab weekly. Her Hb recovered to normal. The patient did well for 9 months until she presented again with acute hemolysis (Hb 8.8 g/dL.) The DAT was again positive with an anti-complement reagent and negative with an anti-IgG reagent. She was given a single dose of rituximab with cessation of hemolysis. She received another 3 doses, which resulted in stabilization of her Hb. She remains well at 6 months follow-up. Discussion: The most frequent form of AIHA is due to a warm, IgG antibody and is commonly responsive to steroids or splenectomy, whereas in cold agglutinin disease, caused by an IgM antibody these therapies are usually ineffective. The use of rituximab has been reported as a useful treatment for both warm and cold AIHA refractory to conventional therapy. This is the first case report to our knowledge of a patient with adult PCH refractory to steroids successfully treated with rituximab. This patient responded dramatically to rituximab on two separate occasions, and has remained in remission since the second cycle after treatment with this single agent. Rituximab may represent an effective therapy for adult patients with chronic PCH.