ALBERT

Description: This report documents the last pteraspids, (armored, jawless members of the Heterostraci), which are otherwise only known from the Early Devonian of the Old Red Sandstone Continent. Tuberculate pteraspid heterostracans are described from the Middle Devonian beds of two formations in western North America. The late Givetian Yahatinda Formation of Alberta and British Columbia consists of channels cut into lower Paleozoic rocks and represents deposition in marine to littoral environments. Clavulaspis finis (Elliott et al., 2000a) new combination is redescribed from additional material from the Yahatinda Formation and reassigned to the new genus Clavulaspis because the original genus name is invalid. The Eifelian Spring Mountain beds of Idaho consist of a large channel that represents a clastic-dominated estuarine environment. It contains Scutellaspis wilsoni new genus new species, and the previously described species from the Spring Mountain beds is redescribed and reassigned to Ecphymaspis new genus, which was prompted by new material and a review of the validity of the original genus name. Phylogenetic analysis shows that these three new taxa form part of the derived clade Protaspididae.UUID: http://zoobank.org/9cf09b21-cec1-4ce4-bc2b-658d0b515e10

Description: The field of malignant hematology has experienced extraordinary advancements with survival rates doubling for many disorders. As a result, many life-threatening conditions have since evolved into chronic medical ailments. Paralleling these advancements have been increasing rates of complex hematologic pain syndromes, present in up to 60% of patients with malignancy who are receiving active treatment and up to 33% of patients during survivorship. Opioids remain the practice cornerstone to managing malignancy-associated pain. Prevention and management of opioid-related complications have received significant national attention over the past decade, and emerging data suggest that patients with cancer are at equal if not higher risk of opioid-related complications when compared with patients without malignancy. Numerous tools and procedural practice guides are available to help facilitate safe prescribing. The recent development of cancer-specific resources directing algorithmic use of validated pain screening tools, prescription drug monitoring programs, urine drug screens, opioid use disorder risk screening instruments, and controlled substance agreements have further strengthened the framework for safe prescribing. This article, which integrates federal and organizational guidelines with known risk factors for cancer patients, offers a case-based discussion for reviewing safe opioid prescribing practices in the hematology setting.

Description: Somatic gene mutations are key determinants of outcome in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and secondary AML (sAML). In particular, patients with TP53 mutations represent a distinct molecular cohort with uniformly poor prognosis. The precise pathogenetic mechanisms underlying these inferior outcomes have not been delineated. Here we characterize the immunological features of the malignant clone and alterations in the immune microenvironment in TP53 mutant and wild type MDS and sAML patients. Notably, PDL1 expression is significantly increased in hematopoietic stem cells of TP53 mutant patients, which is associated with MYC upregulation and marked down-regulation of MYC's negative regulator miR-34a, a p53 transcription target. Notably, TP53 mutant patients display significantly reduced numbers of bone marrow infiltrating OX40+ cytotoxic T-cells and helper T-cells, as well as decreased ICOS+ and 4-1BB+ NK cells. Further, highly immunosuppressive regulatory T-cells (i.e., ICOSHigh/PD-1neg) and MDSCs (PD-1low) are expanded in TP53 mutant cases. Finally, a higher proportion of bone marrow infiltrating ICOSHigh/PD-1neg Tregs is a highly significant independent predictor of overall survival. We conclude the microenvironment of TP53 mutant MDS and sAML has an immune privileged, evasive phenotype that may be a primary driver of poor outcomes, and submit that immunomodulatory therapeutic strategies may offer a benefit for this molecularly-defined subpopulation.

Description: Given advanced age, comorbidities, and immune dysfunction, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients may be at particularly high risk of infection and poor outcomes related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Robust analysis of outcomes for CLL patients, particularly examining effects of baseline characteristics and CLL-directed therapy, is critical to optimally manage CLL patients through this evolving pandemic. CLL patients diagnosed with symptomatic COVID-19 across 43 international centers (n = 198) were included. Hospital admission occurred in 90%. Median age at COVID-19 diagnosis was 70.5 years. Median Cumulative Illness Rating Scale score was 8 (range, 4-32). Thirty-nine percent were treatment naive (“watch and wait”), while 61% had received ≥1 CLL-directed therapy (median, 2; range, 1-8). Ninety patients (45%) were receiving active CLL therapy at COVID-19 diagnosis, most commonly Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi’s; n = 68/90 [76%]). At a median follow-up of 16 days, the overall case fatality rate was 33%, though 25% remain admitted. Watch-and-wait and treated cohorts had similar rates of admission (89% vs 90%), intensive care unit admission (35% vs 36%), intubation (33% vs 25%), and mortality (37% vs 32%). CLL-directed treatment with BTKi’s at COVID-19 diagnosis did not impact survival (case fatality rate, 34% vs 35%), though the BTKi was held during the COVID-19 course for most patients. These data suggest that the subgroup of CLL patients admitted with COVID-19, regardless of disease phase or treatment status, are at high risk of death. Future epidemiologic studies are needed to assess severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection risk, these data should be validated independently, and randomized studies of BTKi’s in COVID-19 are needed to provide definitive evidence of benefit.

Description: In an article by Geyer and Peel (2017, p. 288), we inadvertently coined a species-group name, Elrathia groenlandica Geyer and Peel, 2017 for a trilobite species of the superfamily Ptychopariacea. This name is a junior homonym of Elrathia? groenlandica Poulsen, 1927 and is thus invalid (ICZN Article 57.2; see International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, 1999). We therefore propose Elrathia hensonensis new name as the replacement name for E. groenlandica Geyer and Peel, 2017. The new species name is derived from the Henson Gletscher area, North Greenland, the region where the type locality of this species is located.

Description: Background: Measurable residual disease (MRD) is a powerful prognostic factor in AML, including in prediction of outcomes post allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT). However, genomic predictors of successful MRD eradication with chemotherapy prior to alloSCT are unclear. Objectives: Here we provide an integrated analysis of 233 patients (pts) who underwent induction chemotherapy with baseline next-generation sequencing (NGS) followed by serial immunophenotypic monitoring for MRD while patients received additional therapy and alloSCT. Methods: All pts who received anthracycline + cytarabine, +/- investigational agents at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center starting in April 2014 were retrospectively studied (A). 142 out of 233 pts subsequently underwent alloSCT after induction or additional therapy (A). Immunophenotypic MRD was identified in bone marrow aspirates (BMA) by multiparameter flow cytometry. Any level of residual disease was considered MRD+. Molecular analysis was obtained from pre-induction BMA by NGS using 28 or 49 or 400 gene panels. Results: Patient and treatment characteristics for all pts are detailed in panel (B). Induction chemotherapy resulted in an MRD-CR/CRi and MRD+CR/CRi in 29% and 23% of all pts, respectively (C). Additional therapy included consolidation (n=51), intensive re-induction/salvage (n=47) and non-intensive therapy (n=9). Of 83 AML pts with persistent AML and 58 pts with MRD+CR/CRi after induction (R1), 38/141 (27%) were able to be converted to MRD-CR/CRi. While 33/38 of pts went on to alloSCT after conversion to MRD-CR/CRi, 22 and 36 pts went to alloSCT with persistent AML and MRD+CR/CRi AML, respectively. We focused on pre-induction molecular predictors for achieving an MRD-CR/CRi response prior to transplant for the 142 pts who underwent alloSCT (D). Pts with a NPM1 (79%, Odds ratio [OR] 3.7, p=0.01), IDH1 (92%, OR 3.9, p=0.01) and KRAS (100%, OR 5.0, p=0.03) mutations achieved high rates of MRD-CR/CRi prior to alloSCT. In contrast, RUNX1 (28%, OR 0.2, p=0.01), TP53 (12%, OR 0.1, p=0.02) and SF3B1 (14%, OR 0.1, p=0.04) mutations predicted decreased odds of achieving MRD-CR/CRi prior to alloSCT despite induction and post-induction therapy. AlloSCT resulted in high rates of conversion from MRD+ and persistent disease to MRD negativity. Most pts who entered transplant with CR/CRi MRD+ (28/36, 76%) or persistent AML (14/22, 64%) cleared MRD by the first post-transplant BMA at a median of 32 days (E). Post-alloSCT follow-up indicated value in converting MRD+ to MRD- prior to alloSCT. There was no significant difference in post-transplant cumulative incidence of relapse (F) and OS (G) between early MRD-CR/CRi immediately following induction versus later conversion to MRD-CR/CRi with additional therapy prior to alloSCT. Despite initial post-transplant MRD clearance, pts who entered alloSCT with persistent AML or MRD+ had higher incidence of relapse (p=0.00037, F) and poorer post-transplant OS (p=0.013, G) compared to pts who entered alloSCT with MRD-. Pts with persistent disease prior to alloSCT had shorter duration of MRD- induced by alloSCT compared to pts with MRD-CR/CRi after induction or converted MRD-CR/CRi prior to alloSCT (p=0.0042, H). Importantly, duration of MRD negativity after alloSCT for patients who achieved MRD- prior to alloSCT was not affected by whether patients received induction +/- consolidation (I: treatment type 1-3 from B) vs. induction and salvage treatment for refractory AML (I: treatment type 4-6 from B). Conclusion: We show that transplanted AML pts with specific molecular mutations (RUNX1, SF3B1, and TP53) are unlikely to achieve MRD-CR/CRi after induction, consolidation or salvage therapy, while other mutations (NPM1, IDH1, KRAS) predict high rates of MRD- prior to alloSCT. Additional post-induction therapy may be advantageous for some MRD+ pts to achieve MRD- prior to alloSCT. Post-transplant OS is improved in pts who are MRD- at time of transplant, regardless of whether they required additional therapy beyond induction to achieve this state. AlloSCT is highly effective at eradicating MRD, but post-transplant MRD- is more durable in pts who are MRD- pre-alloSCT. Our results suggest that development of MRD-eradicating therapies has the potential to improve post-transplant outcomes and argues for innovative trials for pts with adverse molecular features currently unlikely to achieve MRD- pre alloSCT. Figure Disclosures Cai: Imago Biosciences, Inc.: Consultancy, Current equity holder in private company; DAVA Oncology: Honoraria. Geyer:Amgen: Research Funding. Glass:Gerson Lehman Group: Consultancy. Stein:Syros: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; PTC Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Biotheryx: Consultancy; Bayer: Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Syndax: Consultancy, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Celgene Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi-Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Levine:Gilead: Honoraria; Isoplexis: Current equity holder in private company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Qiagen: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Lilly: Consultancy, Honoraria; Imago: Current equity holder in private company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; C4 Therapeutics: Current equity holder in private company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Prelude Therapeutics: Research Funding; Loxo: Current equity holder in private company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria; Morphosys: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Gyurkocza:Actinium: Research Funding. Perales:Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Nektar Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MolMed: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Medigene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other; Servier: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other; Omeros: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria; NexImmune: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cidara Therapeutics: Other; Miltenyi Biotec: Research Funding; Kite/Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria; Bellicum: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Abdel-Wahab:H3 Biomedicine Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Envisagenics Inc.: Current equity holder in private company; Merck: Consultancy. Papaemmanuil:Kyowa Hakko Kirin: Consultancy, Honoraria; Isabl: Current equity holder in private company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSKCC: Patents & Royalties; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Illumina: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Prime Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria. Giralt:KITE: Consultancy; NOVARTIS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; OMEROS: Consultancy, Honoraria; AMGEN: Consultancy, Research Funding; TAKEDA: Research Funding; ACTINUUM: Consultancy, Research Funding; MILTENYI: Consultancy, Research Funding; CELGENE: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; JAZZ: Consultancy, Honoraria. Tallman:Glycomimetics: Research Funding; Rafael: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Bioline rx: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi-Sankyo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; KAHR: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; UpToDate: Patents & Royalties; Rigel: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Oncolyze: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Delta Fly Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BioSight: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Orsenix: Research Funding; Cellerant: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding. Goldberg:AROG: Research Funding; Aprea: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Aptose: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Dava Oncology: Honoraria; Pfizer: Research Funding; Celularity: Research Funding.