ALBERT

Description: Clinical GVHD staging varies between centers and is not agreed upon by independent reviewers (Weisdorf, BBMT 2003). These inconsistencies help explain why promising GVHD treatments from single center studies have not reproduced in multicenter trials. To address this issue, our international GVHD research consortium has developed guidance that has been refined through consensus following case discussions, resulting in uniform and reproducible GVHD clinical symptom reporting. We record all raw target organ symptom data and apply staging based upon this data (Table 1). Only areas of erythema, bullae and desquamation are quantified because other skin changes are not typical of active GVHD rash. Upper GI symptoms must meet thresholds to diagnose GVHD: anorexia with associated weight loss, nausea and/or 2+ vomiting episodes/day lasting 3+ days. For lower GI GVHD we collect stool volumes excluding formed/mostly-formed stools. Unquantified episodes are counted at 200 ml per episode (3 ml/kg for children 7 episodes/day Child: 〉 30 ml/kg/day or 〉10 episodes/day 4 Generalized rash (〉50% BSA) and bullous formation or desquamation 〉 5% BSA 〉15 mg/dl - Severe abdominal pain with or without ileus, or grossly bloody stool (volume independent) Table 2. Confidence Levels Pathologic evidence Clinician assessment Treatment for acute GVHD Comments Confirmed Unequivocal evidence of GVHD GVHD is the etiology for symptoms Not required GVHD is clearly present even if other etiologies co-exist simultaneously Probable Not required (includes equivocal and non-diagnostic biopsies) GVHD most likely etiology for symptoms Yes GVHD is most likely present but other etiologies may also explain the symptoms and there insufficient evidence to make a confirmed diagnosis Possible GVHD in differential diagnosis (but no treatment is being provided) No GVHD may be present, but other etiologies are favored Negative Unequivocal evidence of a diagnosis other than GVHD (e.g., drug rash) GVHD is not considered as an explanation for the symptoms No and the symptoms resolve without GVHD treatment A "negative" biopsy (e.g., normal skin) is not unequivocal evidence of a diagnosis other than GVHD Disclosures Devine: Genzyme: Research Funding. Chen:Bayer: Consultancy, Research Funding. Porter:Novartis: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding. Levine:Novartis: Consultancy.

Description: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) continues to be one of the most common myeloid malignancies in the United States. Achieving a complete response (CR) after induction with standard daunorubicin and cytarabine (7+3) remains suboptimal, occurring in 55-65% of patients. No significant advances have improved these outcomes in the last decade. A recent phase III randomized clinical trial by the Polish Adult Leukemia Group (PALG), showed that adding cladribine 5mg/m2 to standard 7+3 (Daunorubicin 60mg/m2, Ara-C 200mg/m2) improved CR rates to 68% vs 56% with standard 7+3 alone. Achieving a higher CR is important in the outcome of high-risk patients who require allogeneic stem cell transplantation (Allo-SCT) as a curative measure. At our center, we conducted a retrospective analysis evaluating the addition of cladribine to the current standard of care treatment in newly diagnosed AML. We hypothesized an improvement in CR rates in all-risk patients will allow more patients to proceed to Allo-SCT. Adult patients 18 years of age or older with newly diagnosed AML who received remission induction chemotherapy between May 2012 and May 2018 were included in the study. A total of 118 AML patients were screened and those who did not complete induction or did not have bone marrow biopsy at end of induction chemotherapy were excluded. A total of 100 patients were evaluable of which 26 (26%) received DAC and 74 (74%) received 7+3. Within the 7+3 group, 29 (39%) received a Daunorubicin dose of 60mg/m2 (D60) and 45 (61%) received a dose of 90mg/m2 (D90). A higher absolute CR rate was noted after one induction in the DAC group as compared to the combined 7+3 group (21 [80.7%] vs. 49 [66.2%], respectively). The improvement in CR between DAC and D60 reached statistical significance (p=0.043) but there was no statistically significance difference in CR rates between DAC vs D90 (p=0.48). It is interesting to note that more patients in D60 (39%) and D90 (26%) group required re-induction as compared with DAC (12%) (p=0.067). Median overall survival (OS) for the DAC group was not reached, while median OS for D60 was 10 (DAC vs D60 p=0.076) and for D90 was 28 months (DAC vs D90 p=0.97). In the subgroup of patients who underwent Allo-SCT, median OS in the D90 group was 30 months (DAC vs D90 p=0.43) while not reached in the DAC and D60 group (DAC vs D60 p=0.84). For all patients, the median relapse-free survival (RFS) for the DAC cohort was not reached. Median RFS was 12 months for D60 (DAC vs D60 p=0.047) and 25 months for D90 (DAC vs D90 p=0.166) groups. There was no difference in OS and RFS between all three groups who were transplanted in first CR (CR1). In conclusion CR rates following induction chemotherapy were higher in DAC vs Daunorubicin groups, however only statistically significant with respect to D60. Additionally a statistically significant improvement in RFS and a trend towards improved OS was noted in favour of DAC vs D60. Regardless of the induction chemotherapy, there was no difference in OS and RFS of patients who were transplanted in CR1. These results have encouraged us to perform a prospective comparison of standard 7+3 with Dauno 90mg/m2 and DAC. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Description: Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) remains the primary curative option for patients (pts) with poor-risk hematologic malignancies, but graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and relapse remain major obstacles. Of note, GVHD therapy with systemic steroid and more potent immunosuppression abrogates graft-versus-tumor effect and further increases relapse. The NF-κB signaling pathway has a pivotal role in maintaining malignant cell survival and in mediating inflammatory and immune response by promoting activated T and dendritic cell function and survival. Inhibition of proteasome function results in down-regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, thus selective apoptosis of malignant cells, in which this pathway is up-regulated, and of allo-reactive T and dendritic cells. The reversible proteasome inhibitor bortezomib may abrogate GVHD and relapse based on pre-clinical studies and a phase 1/2 clinical trial when added to high-risk mismatched unrelated donor HCTs for pts with hematologic malignancies. (Koreth J, et al. J Clin Oncol 2012;30(26):3202-8.) Carfilzomib is a second-generation irreversible immunoproteasome inhibitor, with potentially increased efficacy and specificity to the immune and hematologic malignancy cells. It has a less off-target toxicity profile, especially myelosuppression, neuropathy and diarrhea. We are exploring the addition of carfilzomib to fludarabine-based conditioning regimens and GVHD prophylaxis with tacrolimus and methotrexate. Primary Objective: To identify the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of carfilzomib when administered on day +1, +2, +6, +7. Methods: The phase 1 design is standard 3+3. Eligible conditioning regimens include fludarabine/busulfan and fludarabine/melphalan. Tacrolimus is started on day -3 and tapered off by day +180 if ≥grade II acute GVHD do not occur. Methotrexate 5 mg/m2 is given IV on day +1, +3, +6, +11. Carfilzomib is administered IV on days +1, +2 at 20 mg/m2/day fixed dose and on day +6, +7 at 4 dose levels: 20, 27, 36, 45 mg/m2/day. Premedication with 4 mg dexamethasone IV is administered prior to each dose of carfilzomib 20 and 27 mg/m2 and with 8 mg prior to each dose of 36 and 45 mg/m2, respectively. Carfilzomib is given after IV methotrexate on day +1 and +6. Subcutaneous filgrastim 5 μg/kg/day is started on day +1 until engraftment. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) are defined as any ≥grade 3 non-hematologic National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4 toxicities which occur within 28 days of carfilzomib treatment (day +35) and are directly attributed to carfilzomib. Results: Since October 2014, 10 pts (Male: Female, 5:5) have been enrolled. Nine pts received all planned 4 doses and 1 female received 3 doses only before being removed due to unrelated infectious adverse events. Among 9 evaluable pts, the median age was 55 (range, 29-61) years; all donors were 8/8 matched (7 sibling, 2 unrelated). Stem cell sources were peripheral blood in 8 and bone marrow in 1 unrelated donor. Primary diseases included FLT3-ITD+ acute myeloid leukemia in 2, acute bi-phenotypic leukemia in 1, BCR/ABL+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 1, myelodysplastic syndrome in 2, lymphoma in 2, and multiple myeloma in 1. All pts received the myeloablative reduced-toxicity fludarabine and busulfan x 4 (FluBu4), with busulfan kinetics targeting the concentration at steady state at 600-900 ng/mL. One pt with diffuse large B cell lymphoma received rituximab-FluBu4. All 9 pts engrafted neutrophil and platelet at a median time of 10 (range, 10-15) and 12 (9-14) days, respectively. A pt of dose level 2 (20/27 mg/m2) who received a bone marrow stem cell dose of 1.3 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg unexpectedly engrafted as early as day +15. Expected common toxicities related to the FluBu4 treatment was oral mucositis. Median CD33+ and CD3+ donor chimerisms were 100% and 88% at day 30, respectively, and were 100% and 91% at day 100, respectively. As of 8/4/15, no DLTs occurred in the 8 pts who had passed day +35, with the median transplant day of day +172 (range, 65-292). The 9th pt of dose level 3 (20/36 mg/m2) is day +14 and has engrafted. Conclusion: Adding the irreversible immunoproteasome inhibitor carfilzomib to fludarabine-based conditioning HCT appears safe and feasible. Dose escalation to level 4 (20/45 mg/m2) is ongoing and the results will be updated at the meeting. Disclosures Pawarode: Onyx Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Off Label Use: Carfilzomib is an irreversible proteasome inhibitor and is FDA approved for treament of relapsed refractory multiple myeloma. It is here being investigated for its immunomodulatory and anti-tumor properties in the prevention of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and disease relapse when incorporated into fludarabine based conditioning and GVHD prophylaxis regimens for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in patients with high-risk hematologic malignancy.. Levine:Novartis: Consultancy.

Description: Key PointsAAT infusion produced a high proportion of durable clinical responses in SR-aGVHD. AAT is associated with minimal toxicity and low rates of infection in patients with SR-aGVHD at significant risk for mortality.