ALBERT

Description: Background Treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) remains challenging as durable remissions are achieved in patient sub-groups only. Identifying patients that are likely to benefit prior to or early after starting relapse treatments remains an unmet need. MUKseven is a trial specifically designed to investigate and validate biomarkers for treatment optimization in a 'real-world' RRMM population. Design In the randomized multi-center phase 2 MUKseven trial, RRMM patients (≥2 prior lines of therapy, exposed to proteasome inhibitor and lenalidomide) were randomized 1:1 to cyclophosphamide (500 mg po d1, 8, 15), pomalidomide (4 mg days 1-21) and dexamethasone (40 mg; if ≥75 years 20 mg; d1, 8, 15, 21) (CPomD) or PomD and treated until progression. All patients were asked to undergo bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) bio-sampling at baseline, cycle 1 day 14 (C1D14, on-treatment) and relapse. For biomarker discovery and validation, IGH translocations were profiled by qRT-PCR, copy number aberrations by digital MLPA (probemix D006; MRC Holland), GEP by U133plus2.0 array (Affymetrix), PD protein markers by IHC and PB T-cell subsets by flow cytometry for all patients with sufficient material. Primary endpoint was PFS, secondary endpoints included response, OS, safety/toxicity and biomarker validation. Original planned sample size was 250 patients but due to a change in UK standard of care during recruitment with pomalidomide becoming available, a decision was made to stop recruitment early. Results In total, 102 RRMM patients were randomized 1:1 between March 2016 and February 2018. Trial entry criteria were designed to include a real-world RRMM population, permitting transfusions and growth factor support. Median age at randomization was 69 years (range 42-88), 28% of patients had received ≥5 prior lines of therapy (median: 3). Median follow-up for this analysis was 13.4 months (95% CI: 12.0-17.5). 16 patients remained on trial at time of analysis (median number of cycles: 19.5; range 8-28). More patients achieved ≥PR with CPomD compared to PomD: 70.6% (95% CI: 56.2-82.5%) vs. 47.1% (CI: 32.9-61.5%) (P=0.006). Median PFS was 6.9 months (CI: 5.7-10.4) for CPomD vs. 4.6 months (CI: 3.5-7.4) for PomD, which was not significantly different as per pre-defined criteria. Follow-up for OS is ongoing and will be presented at the conference. High-risk genetic aberrations were found at following frequencies: t(4;14): 6%, t(14;16)/t(14;20): 2%, gain(1q): 45%, del(17p): 13%. Non-high risk lesions were present as follows: t(11;14): 22%, hyperdiploidy: 44%. Complete information on all high-risk genetic markers was available for 71/102 patients, of whom 12.7% had double-hit high-risk (≥2 adverse lesions), 46.5% single-hit high-risk (1 adverse lesion) and 40.8% no risk markers, as per our recent meta-analysis in NDMM (Shah V, et al., Leukemia 2018). Median PFS was significantly shorter for double-hit: 3.4 months (CI: 1.0-4.9) vs. single-hit: 5.8 months (CI: 3.7-9.0) or no hit: 14.1 months (CI: 6.9-17.3) (P=0.005) (Figure 1A). GEP was available for 48 patients and the EMC92 high-risk signature, present in 19% of tumors, was associated with significantly shorter PFS: 3.4 months (CI: 2.0-5.7) vs. 7.4 (CI: 3.9-15.1) for EMC92 standard risk (P=0.037). Pharmacodynamic (PD) profiling of cereblon and CRL4CRBN ubiquitination targets (including Aiolos, ZFP91) in BM clots collected at baseline and C1D14 is currently ongoing. Preliminary results for the first 10 patients demonstrate differential change of nuclear Aiolos (Figure 1C), with a major decrease in Aiolos H-scores in 7/10 patients from baseline to C1D14 and reconstitution at relapse. T-cell PB sub-sets were profiled at baseline and C1D14 by flow cytometry. Specific sub-sets increased with therapy from baseline to C1D14, e.g. activated (HLA-DR+) CD4+ T-cells, as reported at last ASH. CD4+ T-cell % at baseline was associated with shorter PFS in these analyses in a multi-variable Cox regression model (P=0.005). PD and T-cell biomarker results will be updated and integrated with molecular tumor characteristics and outcome. Discussion Our results demonstrate that molecular markers validated for NDMM predict treatment outcomes in RRMM, opening the potential for stratified delivery of novel treatment approaches for patients with a particularly high unmet need. Additional immunologic and PD biomarkers are currently being explored. Disclosures Croft: Celgene: Other: Travel expenses. Hall:Celgene, Amgen, Janssen, Karyopharm: Other: Research funding to Institution. Walker:Janssen, Celgene: Other: Research funding to Institution. Pawlyn:Amgen, Janssen, Celgene, Takeda: Other: Travel expenses; Amgen, Celgene, Janssen, Oncopeptides: Honoraria; Amgen, Celgene, Takeda: Consultancy. Flanagan:Amgen, Celgene, Janssen, Karyopharm: Other: Research funding to Institution. Garg:Janssen, Takeda, Novartis: Other: Travel expenses; Novartis, Janssen: Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria. Couto:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Wang:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Boyd:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria. Pierceall:Celgene: Employment. Thakurta:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Cook:Celgene, Janssen-Cilag, Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen, Takeda, Sanofi, Karyopharm, Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squib, GlycoMimetics, Seattle Genetics, Sanofi: Honoraria. Brown:Amgen, Celgene, Janssen, Karyopharm: Other: Research funding to Institution. Kaiser:Takeda, Janssen, Celgene, Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Travel Expenses; Celgene, Janssen: Research Funding; Abbvie, Celgene, Takeda, Janssen, Amgen, Abbvie, Karyopharm: Consultancy.

Description: Introduction A significant proportion of myeloma patients relapse early and show short survival with current therapies. Molecular diagnostic tools are needed to identify these high risk patients at diagnosis to stratify treatment and offer the prospect of improving outcomes. Two validated molecular approaches for risk prediction are widely used: 1) molecular genetic risk profiling [e.g. del(17p), t(4;14)] 2) gene expression (GEP) risk profiling, [e.g. EMC92 (Kuiper et al., Leukemia 2012)]. We profiled patients from a large multicentric UK National trial using both approaches for integrated risk stratification. Methods A representative group of 221 newly diagnosed, transplant eligible patients (median age 64 years) treated on the UK NCRI Myeloma XI trial were molecularly profiled. DNA and RNA were extracted from immunomagnetically CD138-sorted bone marrow plasma cells. Molecular genetic profiles, including t(4;14), t(14;16), Del(17p), Gain(1q) were generated using MLPA (MRC Holland) and a TC-classification based qRT-PCR assay (Boyle EM, et al., Gen Chrom Canc 2015, Kaiser MF, et al., Leukemia 2013). GEP risk status as per EMC92 was profiled on a diagnostic Affymetrix platform using the U133plus2.0-based, CE-marked MMprofiler (SkylineDx) which generates a standardised EMC92 risk score, called 'SKY92'. Progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were measured from initial randomization and median follow-up for the analysed group was 36 months. Statistical analyses were performed using R 3.3.0 and the 'survival' package. Results were confirmed in an independent dataset, MRC Myeloma IX, for which median follow-up was 82.7 months. Results Of the 221 analysed patients, 116 were found to carry an established genetic high risk lesion [t(4;14), t(14;16), del(17p) or gain(1q)]. We and others have recently demonstrated that adverse lesions have an additive effect and that co-occurrence of ≥2 high risk lesions is specifically associated with adverse outcome (Boyd KD et al, Leukemia 2011). 39/221 patients (17.6%) were identified as genetic high risk with ≥2 risk lesions (termed HR2). By GEP, 53/221 patients (24.0%) were identified as SKY92 high risk. Genetic and GEP high risk co-occurred in 22 patients (10.0%), 31 patients (14.0%) were high risk only by GEP and 17 patients (7.7%) by genetics only. SKY92 high risk status was associated with significantly shorter PFS (median 17.1 vs. 34.3 months; P

Description: Background Mutations of RAF/RAS genes are one of the most common oncogenic events in multiple myeloma. Therapeutic targeting of RAF/RAS/MAPK signalling using small molecule inhibitors has led to significant responses in solid cancers. Recently, combined inhibition of key pathway kinases has demonstrated increased efficacy and decrease toxicity, leading to development of second-generation small molecules with dual inhibitory function. RO5126766 is a potent dual RAF-MEK inhibitor that has demonstrated significant clinical activity with minor toxicities in various solid cancers carrying RAS mutations in a currently ongoing phase I basket study (Trial number NCT204007509; Chenard-Poirier et al. ASCO 2017). Based on the drug's promising efficacy, the trial has been expanded to include myeloma patients with RAF/RAS tumour mutations to provide information on safety and preliminary efficacy in this patient population. We report updated results for RAF/RAS-mutant relapsed and refractory MM patients treated with RO5126766. Methods MM patients with relapsed or relapsed and refractory myeloma whose disease had progressed after at least 3 prior therapies were recruited to the study. All patients had been treated with an IMiD and a proteasome inhibitor and their tumours were confirmed to carry a RAS mutation by sequencing. Patients were treated with RO5126766 4mg twice weekly for 3 out of 4 weeks, in 28 day cycles, with the addition of optional weekly dexamethasone as per investigator's discretion. Response assessment was completed using IMWG criteria and toxicities were reported according to CTCAE version 4.0. Whole body diffusion-weighted MRI every 3 cycles was used for functional imaging disease assessment. Results At the time of analysis, a total of five patients were recruited; one was still receiving cycle 1 of therapy, with the four remaining patients being evaluable at the point of abstract submission. The median age of evaluable patients at initiation of treatment was 74 years (range 70-76). Patients had received median 4 (range 3-5) lines of prior therapy, including autologous stem cell transplant (75%). Three tumours had a KRAS mutation whilst in one tumour, synchronous KRAS and NRAS mutations were found. Three patients received RO5126766 alone, while 1 patient also received weekly concomitant dexamethasone. One patient (KRAS and NRAS mutations) achieved a partial response after 1 cycle of therapy but progressed after 7 months. A second patient achieved stable disease (confirmed biochemically and by functional MRI imaging) with single agent RO5126766 treatment and currently continues on trial having completed 8 cycles of therapy. The two remaining patients progressed after 2 and 1.5 cycles, with the latter patient receiving dexamethasone in combination with RO5126766. The two patients who received 7 and 8 cycles of RO5126766 experienced no clinically significant adverse events (AE), with commonly reported toxicities including grade 1 rash (2/2), grade 1 diarrhoea and grade 1 thrombocytopenia. This is in line with tolerability profile observed in the solid tumour cohorts (n=28 solid tumour patients recruited to date) of this basket trial. One patient developed worsening kidney impairment attributable to disease progression with rising serum free light chains and came off study. Interestingly, ocular toxicities, commonly associated with RAF-MEK inhibitors, were not observed in this patient cohort, which may be related to their dosing schedule. Conclusion In this basket study across RAS mutated tumours, the novel, dual RAF-MEK inhibitor RO5126766 as monotherapy in myeloma patients has shown promising single agent activity. In line with observations in the in parallel recruiting solid tumour cohorts, the dual RAF-MEK inhibitor RO5126766 is generally well tolerated and can be administered as an ongoing therapy. This has been observed in a solid tumour patient who has been receiving RO5126766 for 3.5 years with little and manageable toxicities. Longitudinal patient bone marrow trephine material has been collected and analysis of phospho-protein markers of RAS/MAPK pathway activation for PD biomarker evaluation will be performed. Recruitment to this study continues and data will be updated prior to the conference. Potential single-agent activity of RO5126766 with manageable toxicity grants further evaluation of its use as a molecularly targeted therapy in myeloma. Disclosures Sriskandarajah: Celgene: Other: Travel, Accommodation expenses, Speakers Bureau. Boyd:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory role; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Travel and Accommodation expenses; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria. Shah:Sanofi: Other: Travel and Accommodation expenses; Celgene: Other: Travel, Accommodation expenses. Hall:Sanofi (Inst): Research Funding; Cambridge Major Laboratories (Inst): Research Funding; Accuray (Inst): Research Funding; Kyowa Hakko Karin (Inst): Research Funding; Astrazeneca (Inst): Research Funding; Bayer (Inst): Research Funding. Tunariu:Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Speakers Bureau. de Bono:Sanofi (Inst): Research Funding; AstraZeneca (Inst): Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Other: Travel, Accomodation expenses; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other; Astellas Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodation expenses; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodation expenses; Genentech/Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria; Orion Pharma GmBH: Other: Travel, Accommodation expenses; Qiagen: Other: Travel, Accommodation expenses; Taiho Pharmaceutical: Other: Travel, Accommodation expenses; Vertex: Other: Travel, Accommodation expenses; Genentech (Inst): Research Funding; Abiraterone Rewards to Investors (Inst): Patents & Royalties: Abiraterone; PARP inhibitors and DNA repair defects (Inst): Patents & Royalties: PARP inhibitors; Genmab: Other: Travel, Accommodation expenses. Banerji:Institute of Cancer research: Employment; Novartis: Consultancy; Onyx (Inst): Research Funding; Chugai Pharma (Inst): Research Funding; AstraZenca (Inst): Research Funding; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Kaiser:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Other: Travel Support; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Other: Travel support; Chugai: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.

Description: Background and aims Treatment of relapsed/refractory myeloma (RRMM) remains a challenge as most approved and commonly accessible doublet treatments induce responses (≥PR) in less than half of patients. The combination of the classical alkylator cyclophosphamide with thalidomide (CTD) or lenalidomide (CRD) is standard of care in early lines of therapy in the UK and elsewhere. Data on the clinical value of cyclophosphamide and pomalidomide combination therapy in RRMM is currently sparse and lacking for patients that have previously been treated with cyclophosphamide in earlier lines of therapy. Material and Methods MUKseven is a randomised phase II study for RRMM patients comparing cyclophosphamide (500 mg po d1, 8, 15), pomalidomide (4 mg days 1-21) and dexamethasone (40 mg; if ≥75 years 20 mg; d1, 8, 15, 21) (CPd) versus standard pomalidomide and dex (Pd). Patients with ≥2 prior lines of therapy were randomised 1:1 to receive either CPd or Pd and treated until progression. The primary endpoint of the study is PFS, secondary endpoints include response, OS and safety and toxicity. Patients underwent bone marrow sampling and peripheral blood collection at baseline, on treatment and at relapse to correlate outcomes with disease biology. The original sample size was 250 patients but due to approval of pomalidomide by the UK funding agency NICE mid-recruitment, and resulting low enrolment rates, a decision was made to close the trial early. Results In total 102 evaluable RRMM patients were randomised between March 2016 and February 2018, 51 each to CPd and Pd treatment arms that were comparable regarding age, gender, ISS and ECOG performance status. Patients had received a median of 3 prior lines of therapy (range 2-8); all had been treated with proteasome inhibitors and lenalidomide and 94% of patients had received cyclophosphamide as part of earlier lines of therapy. Trial entry criteria were permissive and allowed ongoing red cell, platelet and growth factor support to reflect real-world practice in RRMM - 11% of patients required platelet and 16% G-CSF support before starting trial therapy. Treatment with CPd was associated with a significantly higher response rate (≥PR) of 68.6% (95% CI: 54.1 - 80.9%) compared to 47.1% (CI: 32.9 - 61.5%) for Pd (P=0.018). Five patients (9.8%) on CPd treatment reached CR vs. none with Pd therapy (Table 1). PFS data is currently maturing and will be presented at the conference. At the time of abstract submission 20 patients were still on trial treatment and 22.5% of evaluable patients had received trial therapy for 12 months or longer. Anaemia, fatigue and infection of any grade were common side effects and similar in frequency between treatment arms, whereas higher grade cytopenias were more frequent with CPd than Pd. More patients experienced at least one SAE with CPd treatment (44 patients) than with Pd (36 patients). Over 80% of SAEs suspected to be related to study drug for CPd and Pd arms were infections or cytopenias requiring admission for iv therapy. Five patients on the CPd arm and 4 patients on Pd discontinued therapy due to toxicity. Site and patient adherence to central bone marrow and peripheral blood collection was high with 92% of baseline samples, 87% at C1D14, 87% at C4D14 and 43% of samples at relapse received by central laboratories. High risk genetic lesions gain(1q), del(17p) and adverse translocations t(4;14), t(14;16) and t(14;20) were profiled, amongst other changes, using molecular assays (digital MLPA, TaqMan). Of the 66 patients for whom complete results were available at the point of abstract submission, 48.5% were found to have 1 high risk lesion and 13.6% ≥2 high risk lesions ("double-hit"). The best response achieved in patients with double hit tumours was PR in 1 out of 9 evaluable patients. Further genetic profiling and related exploratory analyses are ongoing. Discussion The combination of cyclophosphamide, pomalidomide and dexamethasone significantly increases response rates and depth of response compared to pomalidomide and dexamethasone in RRMM patients, even those that have already been exposed to cyclophosphamide combination therapy in previous lines of therapy. Primary endpoint PFS data for CPd vs. Pd will be presented at the conference. Analyses of outcomes in the context of molecular profiles are ongoing and will be presented at the conference. Disclosures Pawlyn: Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support; Takeda Oncology: Consultancy, Other: Travel support; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel Support; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Travel support. Garg:Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Travel Support; Novartis: Other: travel support, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; Takeda: Other: Travel Grant. Boyd:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Travel and Accommodation expenses; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory role. Cook:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Glycomimetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Kaiser:Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Other: travel support; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Other: travel support; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Chugai: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.

Description: INTRODUCTION Features of high risk myeloma (MM) have been studied in detail but patients with longer term responses to first-line therapy are less well characterised. Identification of common features of this group may support optimised management. Here we analysed clinical and genetic characteristics of long-term responders of 4,249 trial patients from the UK MRC Myeloma IX (M-IX) and NCRI Myeloma XI (M-XI) trials. PATIENTS AND METHODS In M-IX patients were randomised between alkylating therapy (CVAD or MP) and thalidomide-based induction therapy (CTD). M-XI patients were randomised between thalidomide and lenalidomide based induction (CTD vs CRD) and a response-based bortezomib (CVD) intensification. Fitter patients received HD-Mel+ASCT consolidation. Patients were then randomised to thalidomide (M-IX) or lenalidomide (M-XI) maintenance or observation. Trials included symptomatic, newly diagnosed patients based on CRAB criteria. This analysis included 1,921 My-IX and 2,328 My-XI patients with median follow-up of 73 and 61 months (m), respectively. Genetic profiling was available for 1,866 patients. Patients with a long-term response post induction (PFS≥48m) were identified and their baseline characteristics, responses and treatment compared to those with PFS

Description: Introduction Epigenetic dysregulation is a hallmark of cancer and has significant impact on disease biology. The epigenetic structure of myeloma is heterogeneous and we previously demonstrated that gene specific DNA methylation changes are associated with outcome, using low-resolution arrays. We now performed a high-resolution genome wide DNA methylation analysis of a larger group of patients from a UK national phase III study to further define the role of epigenetic modifications in disease behaviour and outcome. Patients and Methods Highly purified (〉95%) CD138+ myeloma bone marrow cells from 465 newly diagnosed patients enrolled in the UK NCRI Myeloma XI study were analysed. The extracted DNA was bisulfite-converted using the EZ DNA methylation kit (Zymo) and hybridized to Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip arrays. Raw data was processed using the R Bioconductor package "minfi". SNP containing probes and probes on the sex chromosomes were removed. 464 samples and 441293 probes were retained following inspection of quality control metrics. Beta values were summarized across functional genomic units or differentially methylated regions (DMRs) that included: gene bodies, promoters, insulators, CpG-islands and enhancers. K-means was applied to each DMR to cluster patients into 2 groups (high or low methylation) per region. Filters were applied to define a clinically meaningful minimum group size and methylation differences between the groups. Overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were assessed by a Cox proportional hazards regression model fitted to each DMR with a time-dependent covariate of the trial pathway. Pathway analyses were performed using GREAT (Stanford University) and GSEA (Broad Institute). Results We identified 589 differentially methylated regions that were significantly associated with PFS and OS when using a cut-off of P