ALBERT

Description: BACKGROUND: Patients with relapsed and/or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), especially those with aggressive lymphomas, have overall poor prognosis. Novel targets and therapies are under investigation. Molibresib (GSK525762) is a potent and specific inhibitor of the bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family of proteins, the inhibition of which prevents transcriptional complex assembly and the subsequent expression of oncogenic drivers. Molibresib inhibits growth in NHL cell lines, both in vitro and in vivo. Study BET116183 was designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of molibresib in relapsed and refractory hematologic malignancies. Here we report the results from the NHL dose escalation cohort. METHODS: Eligible subjects were adults with relapsed or refractory NHL. An accelerated dose titration was employed with one subject per dose level until the occurrence of a ≥Grade 2 drug-related toxicity; thereafter, subjects were enrolled in a standard 3+3 design. A Neuenschwander continual reassessment method (N-CRM) model was used to provide guidance for the next dose level. Dose escalation continued until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was identified. All data, including safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and efficacy, were used to identify the recommended part 2 dose (RP2D). RESULTS: From 14 May 2014 to the data cutoff date of 24 June 2018, 27 NHL subjects were enrolled and received at least one dose of study drug. Of these, 19 (70%) had B-cell lymphomas (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [DLBCL], mantle cell lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, follicular lymphoma , and Burkitt's lymphoma); eight subjects (30%) had T-cell lymphomas (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma [CTCL], anaplastic T-cell lymphoma [ATCL], peripheral T-cell lymphoma, and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma). The median age was 64 years (range 24 to 76); 20 subjects (76%) were male and 7 subjects (24%) were female. The median number of prior treatments was 3 (range 1 to 〉 4). From the starting dose of 10 mg molibresib orally once daily (QD), the dose was escalated to 80 mg QD. The median time on study was 1.4 months (range 0.2 to 20 months). Two dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were identified in subjects treated at 60 mg QD, though one was subsequently determined not to be a DLT. One subject experienced Grade 4 thrombocytopenia related to study drug. A second subject experienced a Grade 2 mechanical fall; this event was later revised to unrelated to study drug. Across all dose levels, all subjects experienced an adverse event (AE); 25 subjects (93%) experienced at least one AE that was deemed to be related to molibresib treatment. The most common related AEs across all dose levels were thrombocytopenia (n = 21 [78%]), fatigue (n = 6 [22%]), nausea (n = 6 [22%]), diarrhea (n = 4 [15%]), and rash (n = 4 [15%]). Blood bilirubin was increased in 3 subjects (11%), and prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were prolonged in 2 subjects each (7%). Common Grade 3 and Grade 4 related events included thrombocytopenia (n = 19 [70%]), as well as anemia, asthenia, and increased blood bilirubin (n = 2 [7%] each). No Grade 5 related AEs were reported. Among all subjects, 11 (41%) required dose reduction for toxicity: 7 subjects at the 60 mg dose level (39% treated at that dose) and 4 at the 80 mg dose level (57% treated at that dose). PK analyses showed dose-proportionality after single and repeat dosing, with large variability between subjects. One subject with DLBCL achieved a complete remission that was durable through week 54 on study. Four additional subjects (one DLBCL and 3 CTCL) achieved partial remission, for an objective response rate (ORR) of 5/27 (18.5%). Five more subjects had stable disease as best response. Of six CTCL/ATCL subjects enrolled, three subjects had partial response for an ORR of 50% in this sub-population. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study evaluating the safety and efficacy of the BET inhibitor molibresib in NHL subjects. Overall, thrombocytopenia and other AEs were monitorable, manageable and reversible. The RP2D was identified as 60 mg QD. Single-agent activity was observed across multiple NHL subtypes at both 60 mg and 80 mg doses; most notable was a 50% response rate in subjects with CTCL. Because of the promising data, Part 2 of the BET116183 study is currently open and enrolling subjects with CTCL to better define the clinical activity of BET bromodomain inhibition in this histology. Disclosures Dickinson: GSK: Consultancy. Kamdar:Genentech: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Speakers Bureau. Mateos:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Alegre:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kim:Roche: Research Funding; Mundipharma: Research Funding; J&J: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Kyowa-Kirin: Research Funding; Celltrion: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding. Martín:Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses; Servier: Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses. Horner:GSK: Employment. Winnberg:GSK: Employment. Mathew:GSK: Employment. Botbyl:GSK: Employment. Karpinich:GSK: Employment. Kremer:GSK: Employment. Dhar:GSK: Employment. Karadimitris:GSK: Research Funding; Gilead: Honoraria; Celgene: Research Funding.

Description: BACKGROUND: The biological basis for the adverse prognosis of chr1q gain/amplification (1q+) present in ~30% of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) remains ill-defined. The transcription factor (TF) Pre-B-cell leukaemia homeobox 1 (PBX1), encoded on chr1q, acts as master regulator of early hematopoiesis and as an oncogene in leukemia and other malignancies. Herein, we hypothesized that PBX1 orchestrates proliferative regulatory networks that underpin the poor prognosis associated with 1q+ in MM. METHODS: We employed qPCR for mRNA quantification, western blotting and immunohistochemistry for protein analysis, lentiviral shRNA-mediated knock-down, Hoechst/Annexin V staining and flow-cytometry for apoptosis and cell cycle analysis, ChIPseq for cistrome and RNAseq after knock-down for transcriptome analysis. Additional data were obtained from MMRF/CoMMpass, Blueprint Consortium and Arkansas datasets. Computational analysis of clinical and "-omics" data was performed using standard bioinformatic work-flows; pathway enrichment analysis using EnrichR and GSEA. RESULTS: Combined genomic (WGS/WES) and transcriptomic (RNAseq) analysis of the CoMMpass dataset identified a subgroup of 1q+ MM patients (60%) characterized by aberrant PBX1 overexpression and amplification (PBX1amp); survival analysis revealed significantly worse outcome of this subgroup compared to 1q+ non-PBX1amp (p

Description: Key Points The mechanism of bone marrow failure (BMF) in PNH is not known. Novel CD1d-restricted, GPI-specific T cells are present in PNH patients and might be responsible for BMF.

Description: Key Points I-BET151 and I-BET-762 induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in myeloma cells associated with MYC downregulation and HEXIM1 upregulation. Preclinical functional and pharmacologic profiling of I-BET762 supports its use in phase 1 clinical studies.

Description: Abstract 1229 Poster Board I-251 Induction chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is standard treatment for the non-elderly multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Relapses invariably occur and therefore reinduction therapy followed by ASCT is often considered. We retrospectively analysed the results of second ASCT after relapse and re-induction and assessed the effect of bortezomib therapy prior to second ASCT. We included 177 MM patients who relapsed after the initial melphalan 140-200mg/m2 ASCT and treated in a single institution from July 1994 to April 2009. Patients who received melphalan/TBI conditioning, planned upfront tandem transplants, allogeneic SCT, palliation only or who suffered early death or death in remission were excluded from our analysis. The patients were divided into 4 groups based on the type of salvage treatment. Group 1 included 96 patients with median age 59.6 years (range 31.16 – 73.5) at the time of progression who were salvaged with treatment modalities other than a second ASCT or bortezomib. Group 2 received bortezomib based salvage but not a second ASCT and included 31 patients aged 61.7 years (49.3 – 72.9), group 3 included 28 patients aged 58.6 years (31.1 – 70.6) who were treated with a second ASCT and no bortezomib, and finally group 4 included 22 patients aged 59.1 years (32.6 – 70.6) who were treated with bortezomib and second ASCT. For the transplanted patients, the conditioning consisted of melphalan 140-200mg/m2. Bortezomib was given at standard doses (1.3mg/m2 at days 1,4,8, and 11) plus dexamethasone 20mg same and next day of bortezomib injection for 3 to 4 21-day cycles. Survival was estimated from the time of progression after the initial transplant. Univariate analysis showed longer survival for the transplanted patients (median 41.2 and 60.9 months for groups 3 and 4, 15.2 and 29.8 months for groups 1 and 2 respectively, Log Rank p=0.003). In multivariate Cox analysis the type of salvage treatment retained significance (p=0.013, OR 2.75, 95%CI 1.23 – 6.16). When patients treated with a second ASCT (groups 3 and 4) were analysed separately, the difference in survival between groups did not reach significance (p=0.32). Multivariate analysis showed longer survival if complete remission (CR) or near CR (nCR) had been achieved with the first ASCT (p=0.05, OR 6.4 95%CI 1.7 – 23.19) and if disease progression had occurred at least 12 months after the initial ASCT (p65 years, reduced melphalan dose (12 months following the initial ASCT is the most significant prognostic factor of PFS and survival after the second ASCT. Bortezomib based induction is suggested to improve CR and nCR rates after the first ASCT, however its use prior to second ASCT does not appear to produce longer PFS or survival. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Description: Overexpression of the transcription factor MAF, as a result of its juxtaposition to the IgH enhancer [MAF-translocated t(14;16)], is a myeloma-initiating event in 3-5% of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and confers a poor prognosis. MAF is also overexpressed in another 40% of cases, often in co-operation with the oncogene MMSET. The mechanisms by which MAF overexpression impacts on the regulatory genome to generate the MAF-driven oncogenic transcriptome and its direct targets are not known. To address this, we employed a multi-layer -omics approach using primary myeloma plasma cells (PC) as well as myeloma cell lines (MMCL). First, we determined the chromatin accessibility and transcriptome profiles of MAF-translocated myeloma by performing ATAC-seq and RNA-seq, respectively, in purified bone marrow CD138+ PC from two patients with t(14;16) and three healthy donors. We identified 6,640 differentially accessible regions, 87% of which displayed enhanced chromatin accessibility in MAF samples compared to normal PC. Secondary analysis comparing this with ATAC-seq data from a set of 28 other MM samples, including hyperdiploid, MMSET and CCND1-translocated MM, revealed 33% of those regions to be MAF subgroup specific (1,949 regions), with the rest shared between MAF and other cytogenetic groups. Gene annotation and pathway enrichment analysis using GREAT confirmed overrepresentation of the MF myeloma patient signature, as previously identified in microarray datasets. RNA-seq detected significant upregulation of approximately 900 genes in MAF samples compared to normal counterparts, including MAF itself (top 4th hit) as well as its presumed targets (CCND2, ITGB7 and NUAK1). Next, we obtained the MAF cistrome using ChIP-seq in the MAF-translocated MMCL MM1.S and integrated it with the primary PC ATAC-seq data. This revealed that 31% (618/1,949) of the differentially accessible regions in MAF-translocated MM PC are also MAF-bound. Additional overlay with ENCODE ChromHMM epigenome map showed that 47% of MAF binding sites are on active enhancers and 42% on active promoters signifying potential direct regulation of the corresponding genes. Next, we superimposed the accessible and MAF-bound loci on the epigenomic landscapes of normal PC and other B-cell types using their corresponding ChromHMM maps (Blueprint consortium data). Interestingly, 56% (345/618) of the MAF-specific regions were not active in any stage of B cell development. This suggests that aberrant MAF overexpression and chromatin binding in PC is associated with de novo activation of these chromatin regions, over half of which (200/345; 58%) are enhancers; we termed these 'neo-enhancers'. Upon de novo motif analysis of MAF ChIP-seq in MAF-translocated JJN3 and MM1.S MMCL, we confirmed MAF as the first and, interestingly, IRF4 as the second top hit, suggesting a possible MAF-IRF4 functional interaction in myelomagenesis. Indeed, overlay of the accessible MAF-bound loci with IRF4 ChIP-seq data in MM1.S revealed 63% co-occupancy (including 62% of "neo-enhancers"), proposing a novel and extensive co-operative chromatin-based network between the two transcription factors. Final integration of the accessible MAF-bound regions with the paired transcriptomes of primary myeloma PC revealed a set 206 candidate enhancer-gene pairs. Strikingly, we identified two IRF4-cobound "neo-enhancers" linked to overexpression of TLR4 and CCR1, two genes known for their roles in myeloma cell proliferation and migration. We confirmed significant downregulation of both genes upon shRNA-mediated knockdown of MAF in the two MAF-translocated MMCL, MM1.S and JJN3, as well as the lethality of MAF depletion. Further, MAF overexpression in MAF-negative myeloma backgrounds led to transcriptional upregulation of these genes, further validating them as MAF targets. While CRISPR/Cas9i experiments targeting TLR4 are ongoing, preliminary results validated the functional role of the "neo-enhancer" in CCR1 gene expression. In conclusion, we demonstrate for the first time an extensive re-organisation of the PC chromatin conferred by oncogenic MAF in MM; we reveal its extensive co-operation with IRF4 in this process; we validate the directly MAF-regulated genes and functionally characterise neo-enhancers of key MAF-dependent genes that in addition to MAF itself are also critical for myeloma biology. Disclosures Hatjiharissi: Janssen: Honoraria. Caputo:GSK: Research Funding. Karadimitris:GSK: Research Funding.

Description: Introduction: B-cell malignancies may depend on the histone methyltransferase EZH2 to perpetuate a less differentiated state, with activating mutations of EZH2 being potential oncogenic drivers. Tazemetostat, a potent, selective EZH2 inhibitor, is in phase 2 clinical development in relapsed or refractory (R/R) non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Objective responses were observed in patients (pts) with EZH2 mutant or wild type tumors in the phase 1 part of the phase 1/2 study. The ongoing phase 2 study is enrolling pts with mutant or wild type EZH2 having R/R diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or follicular lymphoma (FL) to determine efficacy and safety. The primary endpoint is overall response rate. Here we report results of an updated molecular analysis of archived tumor and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) collected from pts plasma and associations with preliminary response data, including the discovery of novel candidate molecular predictors of tazemetostat response. Methods: Archived tumor and/or plasma-derived ctDNA samples were obtained during screening from R/R DLBCL and FL pts enrolled to the phase 2 trial of tazemetostat in NHL (NCT01897571). Next generation sequencing was performed retrospectively on archived tumor DNA (target coverage of 1,500X) and ctDNA (20,000X for somatic mutations and 5,000X for structural alterations). DNA was isolated from archived tumor and was tested across a panel of approximately 200 genes, including 62 genes commonly altered in NHL to identify somatic mutations, amplifications, and translocations. The ctDNA sequencing was restricted to the 62 gene NHL panel. Best objective overall response data (Cheson 2007) as of May 1, 2018 were used to generate two groups: responders (R = CR + PR), and non-responders (NR = progressive disease, stable disease, or unknown clinical response). Fisher's exact test (two tailed) was performed to identify DNA variants associated with either the R or NR groups for FL+DLBCL combined and for each NHL sub-type independently (Table 1). All gene associations met an unadjusted P-value threshold of ≤ 0.1. Results: In the combined analysis for all NHL pts, EZH2, BRCA2, ETV6, IKZF3 and TNFRSF14 mutations were associated with clinical response. Eleven genes, including BCL6, BCL2, TP53, PIM1, HIST1H1B and HIST1H1E, mutations were associated with a lack of response to tazemetostat. Association of detection of mutations in EZH2, BCL6 and HIST1H1E and response were detected in both ctDNA and archived tumor analysis, with all other genes achieving P ≤ 0.1 in either the ctDNA or the archived tumor analysis. Analysis of the NHL subcategories revealed in FL that mutations in EZH2 and STAT6 were associated with clinical response while mutations in BCL2, TNFAIP3, FOXO1 and MYD88 were identified as negative predictors. EZH2 was the only gene identified in both the ctDNA and archived tumor analyses in FL. In DLBCL, while EZH2 was not detected as a predictor of response to tazemetostat at P ≤ 0.1, the number of pts with mutant rather than wild type EZH2 was higher in responders than non-responders in both analyses. Positive predictors of tazemetostat response were detected in DLBCL: MYD88, MEF2B, ETV6, MLH1, RECQL4, and RNF43. Negative predictors of response were also identified in DLBCL: BCL2, PDL1, PDL2 and SOCS1. When the genes identified as associated with tazemetostat response in DLBCL were compared between the archived tumor and ctDNA analyses, no genes in common were identified. Conclusions: These analyses confirm genes previously described as potential predictors of tazemetostat response in analyses using smaller patient numbers and less mature clinical response data such as STAT6, EZH2, MYD88, TP53,BCL2, BCL6, PIM1 and HIST1H1E. In addition, identification of PDL1/PDL2 and RECQL4/MLH1/BRCA2 as novel predictors points to potential relevance of immune checkpoint and DNA damage repair pathways as additional pathways that may be of relevance to tazemetostat response in NHL. Subanalyses performed independently on each NHL subtype revealed disease specific biomarkers of response that may point to differences in the factors that can influence response to tazemetostat in DLBCL and FL. Disclosures McDonald: Epizyme: Employment, Equity Ownership. Thomas:Epizyme: Employment, Equity Ownership. Daigle:Epizyme: Employment, Equity Ownership. Morschhauser:Epizyme: Consultancy; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Salles:Morphosys: Honoraria; Servier: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Takeda: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Servier: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Merck: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Gilead: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Amgen: Honoraria; Epizyme: Honoraria; Acerta: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria. Ribrag:Servier, Pharmamar, Nanostring, Gilead, Infinity, BMS, MSD, Epizyme: Consultancy; ESAI: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Other: Travel, expenses, accommodation. McKay:Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria. Tilly:Astra-Zeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Honoraria; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Johnson:Kite: Consultancy; Genmab: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Zenyaku Kogyo: Other: Travel, accommodations, expenses; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Eisai: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Travel, accommodations, expenses; Boeringher Ingelheim: Consultancy; Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Dickinson:GSK: Consultancy. Opat:Roche, Celgene, Mundipharma, Janssen: Honoraria; Roche, Celgene, Mundipharma, Janssen: Consultancy. Jurczak:Gilead: Consultancy; Morphosys: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Servier: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; European Medicines Agency: Consultancy; AstraZeneca/Acerta: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sandoz-Nowartis: Consultancy; Afimed: Research Funding; BeiGene: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Epizyme: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Nordic Nanovector: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy. Cartron:Gilead Sciences: Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria. Zinzani:Merck: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; PFIZER: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celltrion: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Astra Zeneca: Speakers Bureau; Merck: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Verastem: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; SERVIER: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; TG Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; TG Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; PFIZER: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Assouline:Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Radford:BMS: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; GlaxoSmithKline: Equity Ownership; AstraZeneca: Equity Ownership; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Gribben:Novartis: Honoraria; Medical Research Council: Research Funding; Acerta Pharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Cancer Research UK: Research Funding; Kite: Honoraria; NIH: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Honoraria; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria; Unum: Equity Ownership; Wellcome Trust: Research Funding. Haioun:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria. Le Gouill:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy, Honoraria. Clawson:Epizyme: Employment, Equity Ownership. Larus:Epizyme: Employment, Equity Ownership. Blakemore:Epizyme: Employment, Equity Ownership.

Description: The phenotype and function of cells enriched in tumor-propagating activity and their relationship to the phenotypic architecture in multiple myeloma (MM) are controversial. Here, in a cohort of 30 patients, we show that MM composes 4 hierarchically organized, clonally related subpopulations, which, although phenotypically distinct, share the same oncogenic chromosomal abnormalities as well as immunoglobulin heavy chain complementarity region 3 area sequence. Assessed in xenograft assays, myeloma-propagating activity is the exclusive property of a population characterized by its ability for bidirectional transition between the dominant CD19−CD138+ plasma cell (PC) and a low frequency CD19−CD138− subpopulation (termed Pre-PC); in addition, Pre-PCs are more quiescent and unlike PCs, are primarily localized at extramedullary sites. As shown by gene expression profiling, compared with PCs, Pre-PCs are enriched in epigenetic regulators, suggesting that epigenetic plasticity underpins the phenotypic diversification of myeloma-propagating cells. Prospective assessment in paired, pretreatment, and posttreatment bone marrow samples shows that Pre-PCs are up to 300-fold more drug-resistant than PCs. Thus, clinical drug resistance in MM is linked to reversible, bidirectional phenotypic transition of myeloma-propagating cells. These novel biologic insights have important clinical implications in relation to assessment of minimal residual disease and development of alternative therapeutic strategies in MM.

Description: In multiple myeloma (MM), a malignancy of the bone marrow plasma cells (BMPC), hyperdiploidy (HY) and oncogene over-expression via chromosomal translocation [including CCND1- t(11;14), MAF- t(14;16), MMSET-t(4;14)] are the primary myeloma initiating events (MIE) that drive distinct transcriptional programs. These are further shaped by secondary SNV and CNV events. This genetic heterogeneity converges, in most cases, to a functionally dichotomous state of CCND1 or CCND2 overexpression. The molecular mechanisms underlying each of the distinct myelomagenic transcriptomes and the CCND1 vs CCND2 dichotomy have not been defined. To address these questions, we obtained highly purified BMPC from 3 healthy donors and 30 MM patients (HY: 15; CCND1: 4; MMSET: 5; MAF: 2; other: 4), either at diagnosis or relapse, and mapped their chromatin accessibility and transcriptome profiles by ATAC-seq and RNA-seq, respectively. In total, we obtained ~300K regions with accessible chromatin in either MM or normal PC. Overall chromatin accessibility increased in myeloma compared to normal PC, particularly in MAF- and MMSET-translocated subtypes. Analysis of combined ATAC-seq/RNA-seq by Multi-Omics Factor Analysis (MOFA) resulted in a clearer samples distinction than either ATAC-seq or RNA-seq alone, with altered chromatin accessibility accounting for more of the variance than expression. Of the top five identified factors, the top two (one transcriptome driven, one accessibility driven) distinguished normal from MM samples, whilst two more separated MMSET, MAF and CCND1 subgroups. Ninety seven, 157, 256 and 348 overexpressed genes in the CCND1, HY, MMSET and MAF subgroups, respectively, were predicted to be regulated by differentially accessible enhancers. Twenty percent (165/858) of these genes were overexpressed in 〉1 subgroup suggesting a process of chromatin accessibility-based convergence evolution. Enrichment analysis suggested direct or indirect involvement of Polycomb and chromatin remodellers; significant enrichment was also found for genes involved in neurogenesis. ATAC-seq footprinting predicted binding sites for 250 expressed transcription factors (TFs), 116 of which displayed higher binding frequency in myeloma than in normal PC and included both known (e.g., XBP1, RELA, IRF4, PRDM1) and potentially novel regulators of myeloma biology (e.g., CXXC1 and NFE2L1). The remaining 134 TF were predicted to be present in at least one MM subgroup, but absent in normal PC. Amongst them, as expected, MAF was active in the MMSET- and more so in the MAF-translocated subgroups. DepMap database analysis suggested myeloma cell dependency on 181/250 TF (CRISPR/Cas9 CERES score 〈 -0.1 in 〉3/14 MMCL analysed). In dissecting the regulatory basis of CCND2 vs CCND1 dichotomy, one MOFA factor completely separated MAF from CCND1 samples, placing extreme opposite weights on the expression of CCND2 and CCND1 respectively. Interestingly, the same factor identified open-chromatin clusters upstream of CCND2 and linked them to its over-expression. These clusters were also open in the MMSET group and in CCND2-expressing HY samples. Conversely, no accessibility was detected in the CCND1 group, the CCND1-expressing HY samples or in normal PCs. Further, super-enhancer calling using the H3K27ac histone mark in MAF-translocated JJN3 cells identified the region of interest as a bona fide super-enhancer. Chromatin long range interactions, as assessed by Capture-HiC, demonstrated high frequency interactions of the CCND2 promoter with the constituent elements of the putative super-enhancer. Experimental validation using a CRISPR/Cas9i system confirmed the functional role of all 4 super-enhancer constituents tested in the regulation of CCND2 expression, while TF footprinting predicted MAF binding to the super-enhancer in MAF-translocated PC. In conclusion, we show that distinct oncogenic transcriptomes in MM are underpinned by extensive chromatin changes, accompanied by TF activity 're-wiring' that does not necessarily require transcriptional deregulation of the TF themselves. We identify novel, non-oncogene TF dependencies that suggest therapeutic opportunities in MM and we discover and characterise the critical super-enhancer that drives overexpression of the CCND2 oncogene in MM. Disclosures Auner: Amgen: Other: Consultancy and Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy. Hatjiharissi:Janssen: Honoraria. Caputo:GSK: Research Funding. Karadimitris:GSK: Research Funding.

Description: Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are powerful immunomodulatory cells that in mice regulate a variety of immune responses, including acute GVHD (aGVHD). However, their clinical relevance and in particular their role in clinical aGVHD are not known. We studied whether peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) graft iNKT-cell dose affects on the occurrence of clinically significant grade II-IV aGVHD in patients (n = 57) undergoing sibling, HLA-identical allogeneic HSCT. In multivariate analysis, CD4− iNKT-cell dose was the only graft parameter to predict clinically significant aGVHD. The cumulative incidence of grade II-IV aGVHD in patients receiving CD4− iNKT-cell doses above and below the median were 24.2% and 71.4%, respectively (P = .0008); low CD4− iNKT-cell dose was associated with a relative risk of grade II-IV aGVHD of 4.27 (P = .0023; 95% CI, 1.68-10.85). Consistent with a role of iNKT cells in regulating aGVHD, in mixed lymphocyte reaction assays, CD4− iNKT cells effectively suppressed T-cell proliferation and IFN-γ secretion in a contact-dependent manner. In conclusion, higher doses of CD4− iNKT cells in PBSC grafts are associated with protection from aGVHD. This effect could be harnessed for prevention of aGVHD.