ALBERT

Description: Abstract 1586 Poster Board I-612 Background Mutations in the nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) gene represent the most frequent gene mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with highest frequency (50-60%) in cytogenetically normal (CN)-AML. Several studies have shown the applicability and prognostic value of an NPM1 mutation (NPM1mut)-based assay for detection of minimal residual disease (MRD). So far, there are no studies evaluating the prognostic value of NPM1mut MRD levels in a large controlled cohort of AML patients (pts) enrolled on prospective clinical trials. Aims To evaluate the prognostic value of NPM1mut MRD levels in younger (16 to 60 years) AML pts harbouring NPM1 mutations type A, B or D, and to assess the influence of concurrent FLT3 internal tandem duplications (ITD). Methods All pts were enrolled in the prospective AMLSG 07-04 and AML HD98A treatment trials. Treatment comprised double induction therapy with ICE (idarubicin, cytarabine, etoposide) followed by high-dose cytarabine-based consolidation, autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Levels of NPM1mut expression ratios, defined as NPM1mut copies per 104ABL copies, were determined by RQ-PCR using TaqMan technology. Dilution series showed a maximum sensitivity of 10-6 and high specificity as no wildtype NPM1 could be detected. Results A total of 1079 samples, [bone marrow (BM), n=1062; peripheral blood, n= 17) from 212 pts were analyzed at diagnosis, after each treatment cycle, during follow-up and at relapse (median number of samples per pt, n=4; range, 1-16). NPM1mut expression ratios at diagnosis varied between 1.1×104 and 10.4×106 (median, 6.9×105). Pretreatment transcript levels were not associated with clinical characteristics (e.g., age, white cell counts, BM blasts) and did not impact on relapse-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Following the first induction cycle, the median decrease of the MRD level ratio normalized to pretreatment levels was 4.21×10-3, independent of the presence of concurrent FLT3-ITD (p=0.39). After the 2nd induction cycle, the median reduction of MRD levels was significantly stronger in the FLT3-ITDneg group (6.75×10-5) compared with the FLT3-ITDpos group (4.19×10-4) (p=0.003) and this differential effect was observed throughout consolidation therapy. For evaluation of the prognostic impact of NPM1mut MRD levels, we compared patients achieving PCR-negativity with those with positive values at different checkpoints. The first reliable checkpoint was after double-induction therapy: the cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) at 4 years of PCR-negative patients (n=27) was 0% compared with 48% (SE, 4.4%, p

Description: Abstract 1709 Introduction: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative therapy for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), but it is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Predictors for treatment outcome after HSCT are limited. Recently, mutations in ASXL1 have been described as an independent adverse prognostic marker for MDS patients not undergoing HSCT. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of ASXL1 in a large cohort of patients with high risk MDS or secondary AML following MDS (sAML) undergoing HSCT. Patients and Methods: Patients (n=105) with a diagnosis of MDS (34.3%) or sAML (65.7%) who received an allogeneic HSCT at Hannover Medical School between 1996 and 2010 and for whom genomic DNA was available from a time when the disease was active, were evaluated for the presence of ASXL1 mutations by direct sequencing. Patients gave their informed consent in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and the study was approved by the institutional review board of Hannover Medical School. Overall survival (OS) and cumulative incidence of non-relapse mortality endpoints, measured from HSCT, were death (failure) and alive at last follow-up (censored). A Cox proportional hazards model was constructed for multivariate analysis and the two-sided level of significance was set at P

Description: Background: Mutations in the genes encoding NPM1, FLT3 (FLT3 ITD, FLT3 TKD), CEBPA, MLL (PTD) and NRAS have been identified as molecular markers in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) exhibiting a normal karyotype. Most recent studies focused on the prognostic value of single markers not taking into account their potential interactions. In addition, little is known about the predictive value of these markers on postremission therapy. Aims: To evaluate the prognostic impact of NPM1, FLT3, CEBPA, MLL and NRAS gene mutations on response to induction therapy, relapse-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) as well as the predictive impact of these mutations on RFS and OS following different postremission therapies. Methods: Patients [16 to 60 years of age] were entered on four AMLSG treatment trials [AML-2/95, AML-1/99, AML HD93, AML HD98A]. As a consistent feature, in all four trials a genetic randomization was performed assigning all patients with an HLA-matched family donor (MRD) to allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) in first complete remission (CR). Leukemia cells were analyzed for mutations in the above genes as previously described. Results: Between 1993 and 2004, 872 patients exhibiting a normal karyotype were registered. Median age was 48 years; median follow-up time was 49 months. Mutations were identified as follows (total number of samples analyzed; incidence of mutations): NPM1 (n=526; 53%), FLT3-ITD (n=531; 31%), FLT3-TKD (n=617; 11%), CEBPA (n=509; 14%), MLL-PTD (640; 8%), and NRAS (641; 13%). CR rate was 76%. In a logistic regression model, the NPM1+/FLT3-ITD- (p

Description: CK and PK contributed equally to this work. Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), a member of the Angiopoietin/Tie ligand-receptor system, represents one of the specific inducers required for angiogenesis. Recent data indicate that bone marrow neoangiogenesis plays an important pathogenic and prognostic role in malignancies of the hematopoietic system. We have recently shown that circulating Ang-2 is a predictor for relapse in the setting of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in a cohort of high-risk (HR) myeloid malignancies (Kümpers, Koenecke et al.: BLOOD May 2008). The aim of this study was to validate our results in a larger cohort of patients. In contrast to our previous work we included different conditioning regimens as well as patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) irrespective of their risk stratification according to cytogenetic (SWOG, ECOG criteria) and/ or mutational status (FLT3, NPM1). Circulating Ang-2 (in-house ELISA) was measured in serum of AML patients treated at our institution between 1991 and 2008 (n=191) immediately before standard (n=83) or reduced intensity conditioning (n= 104) for HSCT. Stem cell sources were BM (n=23), PBSC (n=163) or both (n=5) from MRD (n= 91), MMRD (n=7), MUD (n=67) and MMUD (n=26). The median age of the patients was 49 years (range 18–71). HSCT for AML (n=149) or secondary AML after MDS (n=42) was performed after primary induction failure (n=30) or for relapse (first relapse n=19, subsequent relapse n=5). 119 patients were transplanted in 1st CR; four in 2nd CR. 11 patients had no chemotherapy before HSCT. In this cohort, 114 of 159 evaluable patients suffered from HR-AML. Circulating pre-HSCT Ang-2 was elevated in patients (median (range): 1.7 (0.05–48.8) ng/ml) compared to healthy controls (0.92 (0.27–2.63) ng/ml; p

Description: The translocation t(8;21) yields the leukemic fusion gene AML1/MTG8 and is associated with 10%-15% of all de novo cases of acute myeloid leukemia. We demonstrate the efficient and specific suppression of AML1/MTG8 by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in the human leukemic cell lines Kasumi-1 and SKNO-1. siRNAs targeted against the fusion site of the AML1/MTG8 mRNA reduce the levels of AML1/MTG8 without affecting the amount of wild-type AML1. These data argue against a transitive RNA interference mechanism potentially induced by siRNAs in such leukemic cells. Depletion of AML1/MTG8 correlates with an increased susceptibility of both Kasumi-1 and SKNO-1 cells to tumor growth factor β1 (TGFβ1)/vitamin D3–induced differentiation, leading to increased expression of CD11b, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) receptor, and C/EBPα (CAAT/enhancer binding protein). Moreover, siRNA-mediated AML1/MTG8 suppression results in changes in cell shape and, in combination with TGFβ1/vitamin D3, severely reduces clonogenicity of Kasumi-1 cells. These results suggest an important role for AML1/MTG8 in preventing differentiation, thereby propagating leukemic blast cells. Therefore, siRNAs are promising tools for a functional analysis of AML1/MTG8 and may be used in a molecularly defined therapeutic approach for t(8;21)-positive leukemia.

Description: Background: Patients with primary refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have a dismal outcome. Only allogeneic stem cell transplantion (SCT) currently offers the chance of cure to these patients. In order to improve outcome after allogeneic SCT, one important prerequisite is to increase response rates prior to SCT. Aims: To evaluate the impact of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) given as adjunct to high-dose cytarabine-based salvage therapy in younger adult patients with primary refractory AML on achievement of response. Consecutive allogeneic SCT was intended in all patients. Methods: Main inclusion criteria of the AMLSG 05-04 trial (NCT00143975) were refractory AML following one cycle of ICE (idarubicin, cytarabine, etoposide); and age 18 to 60 years. Dose and schedule of the GO-A-HAM regimen were as follows: GO 3mg/m2, day 1; cytarabine 3g/m2 bid., days 1–3; mitoxantrone 12mg/m2, days 2,3; ATRA 45mg/m2, days 3–5, 15mg/m2 days 6–28. Primary endpoint of the study was CR rate. Safety endpoints comprised early / hypoplastic (ED/HD) death rate, liver toxicity CTC grade 3–5, and rate of veno occlusive disease (VOD) after allogeneic SCT. Results: Between September 2004 and June 2007, 94 patients (median age, 48 yrs; range, 22 to 62) were enrolled. Distribution of cytogenetics was as follows: adverse, n=29 [abn(3q), −5/5q-, −7/7q-, abn(12p), abn(17p), complex]; other n=57 [core binding factor (n=3), cytogenetically normal AML (n=37), various aberrations (n=18)]. FLT3-ITD was present in 18 (22%) of 82 analyzed patients. Response to GO-A-HAM was as follows: CR, n=28 (30%); CRi, n=19 (20%); PR, n=11 (12%); refractory disease (RD), n= 34 (36%); and ED/HD, n=2 (2%). In a logistic regression analysis for achievement of CR, the only significant variable was adverse cytogenetics (OR 0.34, p=0.02). The rate of severe liver toxicity was 0%, the incidence of neutropenic fever was 52%, platelet and neutrophil recovery times from start of treatment were 21 and 22 days, respectively. Following GO-A-HAM, allogeneic SCT was actually performed in 60 patients (64%): matched related (n=14) or unrelated donor (n=42); haploidentical related donor, n=4. All SCT were performed within 3 months after GO-A-HAM, intermediate/severe VOD developed in 5 patients after SCT (9%, 95%-confidence interval (CI) 4–19%), mild VOD in 3 patients. Survival analyses revealed that patients with adverse cytogenetics and/or FLT3-ITD (n=45) had a significantly (p=0.001) inferior overall survival after one year of 38% compared to all other patients (n=39) of 81%. The proportions of patients receiving an allogeneic SCT were similar in both groups (68% and 66%, respectively). Conclusions: The GO-A-HAM regimen is feasible and effective as salvage therapy. However, cytogenetics still remains the most significant variable for achievement of response. Allogeneic SCT after GO-A-HAM was not associated with an increased VOD-rate.

Description: Differentiation arrest in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) results in part from dysregulation of histone acetylation and deacetylation, leading to transcriptional repression of differentiation-inducing genes. Transcriptional repression can be returned by histon deacetylation inhibitors, such as valproic acid (VPA). In September 2004, we initiated two randomized trials [AMLSG 07-04 (age 18–60 yrs), AMLSG 06-04 (age 〉60yrs)] to evaluate the impact of VPA as adjunct to standard induction therapy (idarubicin and cytarabine; additional etoposide in pts.

Description: Background: Midostaurin (M) is a multi-targeted small molecule FLT3 inhibitor which has single agent activity in both internal tandem duplication (ITD) and tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) mutant FLT3 AML. The objective of this global rand phase III trial was to determine if the addition of M to ind and consol therapy followed by one year of maint would improve overall survival (OS) compared to standard chemotherapy in younger adults with activating FLT3 muts. Methods: Between May 2008 and October 2011, 3279 previously untreated AML pts age 18-60 (exclusive of acute promyelocytic leukemia) in 225 sites/17 countries were screened for FLT3 muts at one of 7 academic labs (subject to extensive assay cross-validation). Hydroxyurea was allowed for up to 5 d prior to beginning ind therapy while awaiting results of mut testing. Pts were rand for the duration of therapy to M or P stratified by FLT3 mut subtype (TKD v ITD high allelic mut fraction (〉0.7) vs low mut fraction (0.05-0.7). Ind therapy consisted of D 60 mg/m2 IV d1-3 and C 200 mg/m2 d1-7 CIV plus M or P (50 mg po bid, d 8-22). Re-treatment with a second blinded course was allowed if residual AML was noted on a d 21 marrow exam. Pts achieving complete remission (CR) received 4 cycles of C 3g/m2 over 3h q 12h on days 1, 3, and 5 plus M or P (50 mg po bid, d 8-22) followed by a year of maint therapy with M or P (50 mg po bid). Transplantation (SCT) was allowed. With a sample size of 717 pts, the trial was powered to detect an improvement from 16.3 (P) to 20.9 (M) months in median OS (HR = 0.78) using a one-sided alpha of 0.025 and power of 84%. The final analysis was to occur after 509 deaths, but given the slow rate of events (359 deaths by April 2015), the trial was amended to change the timing of the OS analysis, and promote event free survival (EFS, defined as the earliest of death, relapse, or no CR within 61 d of the start of ind) as a key secondary endpoint. The critical value for this primary analysis is set at 0.02286 (1-sided) accounting for the alpha spent at the interim analysis (0.5%). Support: U10CA180821, U10CA180882, CA31946, Novartis Results: 717 pts (341 FLT3 ITD-Low, 214 FLT3 ITD-High; 162 FLT3 TKD) were rand to either M (n=360) or P (n=357). There were no significant differences between the arms in age (median, 48y), race, FLT3 subtype, or baseline CBC except for gender (M, 48.2% male; P, 40.6% male; p=.04). All pts are off active treatment, with a median follow-up of 57 months for surviving pts. No statistically significant differences were observed in the overall rate of grade 3 or higher hematologic or non-hematologic adverse events (AEs) between M and P (regardless of attribution). A total of 37 grade 5 AEs were reported (M, 5.3%; P, 5.0%; p=1.0). No differences in treatment-related grade 5 AEs were observed (M, 3.1%; P, 2.5%; p=0.82). CR rate is 59% (M) and 54% (P) (p=0.18). The HRs comparing M to P for OS is 0.77 (one-sided p = 0.007; Figure 1), and for EFS is 0.80 (one-sided p = 0.004; Figure 2). 402/717 (57%) pts received an allogeneic SCT (M, 58%; P, 54%) at any time; 177/717 (25%) in CR1 (M, 27%; P, 22%). Median time to allogeneic SCT was similar on each arm (M, 5.0 months; P, 4.6; p=0.23). Secondary analyses for OS and EFS censoring at the time of SCT provided similar results (Table). The benefit of M was consistent across all FLT3 subgroups for both EFS and OS (Figure 3). Conclusions: The C10603 trial demonstrated that a prospective trial in a pre-therapy genetically defined subgroup of AML pts was feasible and that the addition of the multi-kinase inhibitor M to standard chemotherapy and for one year of maint therapy significantly improved EFS and OS (in both uncensored and censored for transplant analyses) in pts whose blasts had a TKD or ITD (low or high FLT3 mut burden). These findings may lead to improved outcomes through the use of M as a component of therapy in younger adults with mutant FLT3 AML. Table.ArmMedian, mos (95% CI)p-value 15-year Event rate% (95% CI)HR2(95% CI)OSM74.7 (31.5, * )0.00750.8 (45.4-55.9)0.77 (0.63, 0.95)P26.0 (18.5, 46.5)43.1 (37.6-48.4)OS, SCT censoredM* (*,*)0.04762.6 (54.6-69.7)0.77 (0.56,1.05)P* (36.9, *)54.9 (46.2-62.8)EFSM8.0 (5.3, 10.6)0.004426.7 (22.2-31.5)0.80 (0.67, 0.95)P3.0 (1.9, 5.8)19.1 (15.1-23.6)EFS, SCT censoredM8.2 (5.5, 10.7)0.02524.2 (18.9-29.8)0.84 (0.70, 1.0020)P3.0 (1.9, 5.8)21.8 (16.8-27.3)1Stratified on FLT3 subtype; one-sided, log-rank p-value.2Cox model stratified on FLT3 subtype.*= not attained Figure 1. Figure 1. Figure 2. Figure 2. Figure 3. Figure 3. Disclosures Stone: Celgene: Consultancy; Sunesis: Consultancy, Other: DSMB for clinical trial; Novartis: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Roche/Genetech: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; AROG: Consultancy; Celator: Consultancy; Juno: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy. Off Label Use: midostaurin- FLT 3 inhibitor. Thiede:Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AgenDix GmBH: Equity Ownership. Niederwieser:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Medeiros:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria. Schlenk:Daiichi Sankyo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Arog: Honoraria, Research Funding; Teva: Honoraria, Research Funding; Boehringer-Ingelheim: Honoraria; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Larson:Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Ariad: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy.

Description: Background: The Wilms’ tumor 1 gene (WT1) encodes a zinc finger protein that functions as a transcriptional regulator. Although its role in haematopoiesis is still not clarified yet, disruption of WT1 function is discussed to promote stem cell proliferation and to induce a block in differentiation, the hallmarks of the two complementation groups of gene mutations that have been postulated for the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In two small studies WT1 mutations were detected in 11% of cytogenetically normal (CN) AML and were associated with a lower complete remission (CR) rate and a higher rate of resistant disease (RD). Aims: To evaluate the incidence and clinical impact of WT1 mutations in the context of NPM1, FLT3-ITD (internal tandem duplication)/TKD (tyrosine kinase domain mutations at codon 835), CEBPA, MLL-PTD (partial tandem duplication), and NRAS mutation status in CN-AML. Methods: Bone marrow or peripheral blood samples from 279 younger adult patients (pts) 16 to 60 years of age with CN-AML (n=242 de novo, n=32 secondary, n=5 therapy-related) were studied. Pts had been entered on three AMLSG treatment trials (AML HD93, AML HD98A, AMLSG 07–04). WT1 gene mutation screening was performed using standard PCR-based direct sequencing of exons 1 to 10; mutation analyses for the other genes were performed as previously described. Results: WT1 mutations were identified in 37/279 (13%) CN-AMLs, predominantly clustering in exon 7 (25/37) and exon 9 (6/37), but also occurring in exons 1, 2, 3, and 8. Most of them were frameshift mutations resulting from insertions or deletions; 33 pts had heterozygous and 4 pts had homozygous mutations. Correlation of WT1 to the FLT3-ITD/TKD, NPM1, CEBPA, MLL-PTD, and NRAS mutation status revealed mutant (mut) WT1 to be significantly associated with FLT3-ITDpos (p=0.003) and CEBPAmut (p=0.02). In a multivariable logistic regression model on induction success, the genotype WT1mut was not significant (p=0.89); the only significant variable was the NPM1mut/FLT3-ITDneg genotype (p=0.003). In univariable analyses for overall (OS), event-free (EFS) and relapse-free (RFS) survival, there was no difference between the WT1wt and the WT1mut group. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models for OS, EFS and RFS also revealed no significant impact of the genotype WT1mut (p=0.4, p=0.71, and p=0.81, respectively); significant variables were the genotypes NPM1mut/FLT3-ITDneg (p=0.007, p=0.0001, and p=0.01) and CEPBAmut (p=0.01, p=0.0003, and p=0.03); and in addition logarithm of white blood cell count for OS (p=0.02). Conclusion: In our study on a large series of molecularly well characterized CN-AML, WT1 mutations occurred in 13% of the pts and were significantly associated with the genotypes FLT3-ITDpos and CEBPAmut. However, in both univariable and multivariable analyses WT1 mutations did not impact on the prognosis of pts with CN-AML. Additional pts have to be investigated to determine whether WT1 mutation status might have an impact within distinct genotypes.

Description: 421 patients (pts.) up to 60 years with de novo (n=328) or secondary (n=93) AML were treated with risk-adapted therapy. Pts. with CBF-leukemias [t(8;21) or inv(16)] or normal karyotype and good response (GR) to induction I (up to 5% blasts in day 15 BM) were considered standard risk (SR), all others as high risk (HR). Induction I consisted of standard dose araC, idarubicine and VP16 (IVA-I). Pts. with GR to IVA-I continued with IVA-II on day 21. In pts. with bad response, the second cycle consisted of either IVA-II or FlAG/Ida. Double induction was followed by early consolidation with intermediate dose araC. As late consolidation, SR patients were randomized between high dose (HD) araC (12 x 3g/m2)/daunorubicine (3 x 45mg/m2) or an autologous PBSCT with PBSC mobilized after early consolidation except SR pts. with normal karyotype and an HLA-matched sibling who were allotransplanted. 214 pts. were classified as SR and 199 as HR. 91% of the SR and 59% of the HR pts. achieved CR (overall CR rate 75%) and 1% of the SR pts. died during induction. After 55 months, overall survival was significantly better for SR (49%) than for HR pts. (25%). Within the SR group, relapse free survival at 46 months was 63% for 21 pts. with inv(16), 58% for 25 pts. with t(8;21), and 37% for 148 pts. with normal karyotype (p = 0.13). Overall survival at 48 months was significantly better (p=0.014) for pts. with inv(16) (93%) than for those with t(8;21) (60%) or normal karyotype (44%). 48 SR pts. (12 with CBF leukemia) were randomized to receive HDaraC and 53 (14 with CBF leukemia) to undergo autoPBSCT. At 55 months, the overall survival was 52% for the autotransplanted pts. and 65% for those receiving HDaraC (p=0.71, intent-to-treat analysis). Median duration of neutropenia (