ALBERT

Description: Oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetics has been analyzed through mathematical modeling of constant work-rate exercise, however, the exponential nature of the VO2 response in resistance exercise is currently unknown. The present work assessed the VO2 on-kinetics during two different sub maximal intensities in the inclined bench press and in the seated leg extension exercise. Twelve males (age: 27.2 ± 4.3 years, height: 177 ± 5 cm, body mass: 79.0 ± 10.6 kg and estimated body fat: 11.4 ± 4.1%) involved in recreational resistance exercise randomly performed 4-min transitions from rest to 12% and 24% of 1 repetition maximum each, of inclined bench press (45°) and leg extension exercises. During all testing, expired gases were collected breath-by-breath with a portable gas analyzer (K4b2, Cosmed, Italy) and VO2 on-kinetics were identified using a multi-exponential mathematical model. Leg extension exercise exhibited a higher R-square, compared with inclined bench press, but no differences were found in-between exercises for the VO2 kinetics parameters. VO2 on-kinetics seems to be more sensitive to muscle related parameters (upper vs. lower body exercise) and less to small load variations in the resistance exercise. The absence of a true slow component indicates that is possible to calculate low-intensity resistance exercise energy cost based solely on VO2 measurements.

Description: Background: Nosocomial outbreaks of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii are of worldwide concern. Using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and multiple locus variable number tandem repeat sequence (VNTR) analysis (MLVA), the present work examines the genetic diversity of the endemic and epidemic A. baumannii clones isolated in a single hospital over a twelve-year period. Results: PFGE analysis of 405 A. baumannii-calcoaceticus complex isolates detected 15 A. baumannii endemic/epidemic PFGE types (EE1 to EE15) that grouped into five clusters: EE1-EE8, EE9, EE10, EE11 and EE12-EE15. The MLST sequence type (ST) distributions were: international clone II (ST-2) 60%, international clone III (ST-3) 26.7%, ST-15 6.7%, and ST-80 6.7%. MLVA-8Orsay returned 17 allelic profiles. The large (L) VNTR marker profiles were fully concordant with the detected STs, and concordant with 14 up to 15 PFGE types. Imipenem resistance was detected in five PFGE types; the prevalence of the bla OXA-58-like and bla OXA-40-like genes was 60% and 40% respectively. Conclusions: PFGE proved to be a vital tool for analysis of the temporal and spatial distribution of the clones. MLST and the VNTR L-markers grouped the isolates into clonal clusters. The wide diversity of MLVA small (S)-markers, however, did not permit clustering. The present results demonstrate the persistence of several endemic PFGE types in the hospital, the involvement of some of them in outbreaks, and the inter hospital transmission of extensively drug-resistant ST-15 and ST-80.

Description: BACKGROUND: AML risk classification is based on genetics (cytogenetics and molecular features) and more recently also on minimal residual disease (MRD) after chemotherapy. These two aspects allow predicting relapse and supporting or not the most anti-leukemia treatment that remains allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). We prospectively investigated the combined use of the two predictive markers to allocate post-remission therapy with or without HCT. Objectives of the study were testing: a) if this approach was feasible in a multicenter setting; b) the proportion of patients who were allocated to an allogeneic HCT and finally received the procedure; c) the final distribution into the risk categories and their outcome; d) to analyze the outcome of patients with favorable or intermediate genetics moved to the high risk category because of positive MRD. METHODS: Adult patients with primary AML treated at 15 academic hospitals were included between February 2012 and December 2018. Induction chemotherapy consisted of idarubicin 12 mg/m2 days 1-2-3 and cytarabine 200 mg/m2 days 1 to 7. Consolidation courses were high-dose cytarabine (3 g/m2 or 1.5 g/m2 if ≥60 y/o). The number of consolidation courses was based on genetic risk: 3 in favorable genetics category (FGC) (CBF, NPM1mut/FLT3-ITDwild or ratio0.1%) and/or quantitative PCR of the specific transcripts (RUNX1/RUNX1T1, CBFβ/MYH11 and NPM1). RESULTS: Seven hundred forty-five patients (median age: 55, range18-70 y/o, 51% male) were enrolled. Cytogenetics according the revised MRC classification in 707 informative cases was: CBF AML 12%, intermediate 65% (75% of them normal karyotype), and adverse 23%. FLT3-ITD was detected in 28% of patients with intermediate risk cytogenetics and NPM1 mutation in the same group was present in the 48%. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 81% (n=603) of patients, 82% and 80% in patients up to and above 60 yrs, respectively. Induction death occurred in 9% of patients, 7% and 11% the two age groups, and 10% of patients had refractory leukemia; 542 (90%) of the 603 CR patients completed the consolidation phase and were risk allocated taking into account genetics and MRD. The remaining CR patients were not allocated because of early relapse (n=22), death in CR (n=5), severe toxicity (n=22) or others (n=12). After risk allocation, 208 (38%) patients were in the genetics-MRD combined favorable group (CFG), 103 (19%) in combined intermediate group (CIG) and 231 (43%) in the combined adverse group (CAG). In the latter, 185 (80%) of patients received an allogeneic HCT in first CR. Fifty-seven patients (11%) moved from the genetically FGC or IGC to the CAG because of high MRD at the end of consolidations. Median follow-up in survivors was 25 months. Overall 4-years survival (OS) of the whole series is 48±2%; event-free survival (EFS) is 77+3% in the CFG group, 45+6% in the CIG and 34+4% in the CAG (p

Description: INTRODUCTION: A sizable proportion of elderly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients receive frontline hypomethylating agents (HMAs), namely azacitidine (AZA) and decitabine (DAC), as they are deemed unfit for intensive chemotherapy (ICT) by their treating physicians. A foreseeable high early death (ED) rate and lack of overall survival (OS) benefit under ICT are the main drivers for this decision. Several groups have published different predictive tools for ED or OS in elderly patients receiving ICT but, since ED in patients treated by HMAs is lower, the research activity has been restricted to OS in this population. METHODS: 415 elderly AML patients (264 M, 152 F) aged 61-90 receiving frontline HMAs (AZA 297, DAC 118), either in daily practice or within clinical trials (AZA 27, DAC 17), with complete relevant clinical information (see Table I) were available from the PETHEMA epidemiologic AML registry (NCT02006004). We analyzed the predictive value for ED (8wk) of the prognostic factors for OS/ED in AML included in the Walter, MRC/LRF, ALFA and ALMA scoring systems, namely age, WBC count, performance status (PS), MRC 2010 cytogenetics, platelet count and secondary disease, as well as the type of HMA. The potential predictors were categorized following previous published models (Walter, MRC/LRF, ALFA, ALMA). Cumulative early death rate at 8 weeks was calculated by the life-time method and the relevant strata were tested for univariate significance by the Wilcoxon test. All significant covariates were included in a Cox multivariate regression model and those significant for death at 8wk were included in a new predictive tool (HMA-EDS). Patients were assigned randomly in a 1:1 ratio to a training cohort (TC) and a validation cohort (VC). The different scoring systems (Walter, MRC/LRF, ALFA, ALMA, HMA-EDS) were checked for their prognostic impact on ED. Finally the 95% CI for the expected death rate at 8wk for the different strata of the new model was calculated for the full patient series. RESULTS: 51 patients out of 415 died and 13 were lost to follow-up before day 56 (cumulative ED rate at 8wk 13%, 95%CI 9-17%). Age, cytogenetics, secondary AML, platelet count and type of HMA were not significantly associated to ED. PS and WBC count strata confirmed their prognostic utility both in univariate and multivariate analysis (Table II). We developed the HMA-EDS by adding WBC (cutoffs 10 and 50, scores 1/2/3) and PS (0-1/2-4, scores 0/1) that classified patients in low-risk (score 1-2/ 84.6% of patients) and high risk (3-4/ 15.4% of patients) strata. When the prognostic utility for ED in the TC and the VC for the different scoring AML systems were checked, only HMA-EDS predicted ED in both cohorts (see Table III). The new EDS discriminates 2 different strata for ED at 8wk in unfit AML patients treated by HMA (see Figure 1 & Table III), namely a lower-risk group (ED rate 10%, 95% CI 6-14) and a high-risk group (ED rate 26%, 95% CI 14-38). CONCLUSIONS: WBC count and PS are the main predictors for ED in unfit AML patients treated by HMAs. A new tool (HMA-EDS) discriminates two different risk groups and supersedes other previously published prognostic systems (Walter's, Wheatley's MRC/LRF, ALFA and ALMA) for this purpose. This score could be useful to select patients for front-line HMA or even HMAs-based combination therapies, given that several cycles are usually needed to achieve a clinical response. We suggest that other patient-related covariates such as geriatric assessment be checked in future studies. Disclosures Ramos: Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria. Fernandez:Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Teva: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

Description: Introduction Younger patients with acute myeloid leukemia and intermediate cytogenetic risk (AML-IR) harboring NPM1 mutation (NPM1mut) without FLT3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) have a relatively favorable prognosis, and are not deemed as candidates to receive an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in first complete remission (CR1). However, it remains uncertain if this favorable prognosis is also maintained in older patients within the same molecular features with some conflicting results. Patients and methods We analyzed the cohort of patients ≥60 year-old considered fit for intensive chemotherapy and included in the CETLAM protocols LMA-2003 and LMA-2012 for patients up to 70, consisting of a standard induction chemotherapy, HiDAC post-remission therapy, followed by alloHSCT in selected patients with high-risk features. Overall we identified 192 patients between 60 and 71 year-old diagnosed with AML-IR with known NPM1 and FLT3 mutational status. Results We identified 192 AML-IR patients (93♀, 99♂) aged 〉=60 (median age was 65 years old (range: 60-71)), with a median WBC count 10.6 x 109/L (range: 0.23-400 x 109/L), median bone marrow blasts 65% (range: 20-100%). Overall, CR rate was 78%, five-year overall survival (OS) was 30±4%, and leukemia-free survival (LFS) was 31±4%. Patients were classified in three molecular groups depending on NPM1mut and FLT3-ITD: 40 patients harbored NPM1mut/FLT3 without ITD (FAV group), 98 patients had NPM1wt/FLT3wt, and 54 had a FLT3-ITD. Five-year OS of these 3 groups were: 64±9%, 25±6%, and 19±6%, respectively (p60 who received intensive chemotherapy, with a high proportion of long-standing responses after HiDAC-based post-remission therapy. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Description: Abstract 1452 Introduction: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous group of neoplastic disorders characterized by the presence of acquired genetic alterations in hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells. The prognostic impact of immunophenotypic markers has long been controversial. Despite this, only a very limited number of studies have investigated the prognostic impact of the levels of cell surface membrane (Sm) proteins commonly expressed on AML blasts. In this study we analyzed the prognostic impact of the levels of expression of several markers associated with AML blasts and normal hematopoietic precursors, as asessed by Multiparameter Flow Cytometry (MFC) in de novo AML patients (pts). Methods: Overall, 122 adult de novo AML pts diagnosed between 12/2003 and 08/2011 were studied, after excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia. All cases were diagnosed and classified according to the WHO criteria and they were immunophenotyped using an extensive 4-color panel of monoclonal antibodies by MFC, as previously described. Patients were treated according to the multicenter CETLAM AML-03 trial. Blast cells were gated after excluding all other cell populations, as well-delineated clusters of SSC low/int/CD45dimevents (“blast gate”) using the merge function of the Infinicyt software (Cytognos SL, Salamanca, Spain). For each case, the reactivity for the following markers was evaluated in terms of mean fluorescence intensity (MFI; arbitrary units) in bone marrow samples: CD123, CD117, CD34 and CD7. Normal residual bone marrow lymphocytes were used as reference for internal quality control purposes. Cytogenetic and molecular risk stratifications were based on the European LeukemiaNet (ELN) recommendations and the molecular lesions were investigated using well established protocols. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and relapse rate (RR) were measured by the Kaplan–Meier method and curves were compared with the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox regression model. P-values ≤0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Results: Median AML patient age was of 54 years (range: 20–70 y) with a M/F ratio of 63/59. Twelve pts (10%) had good cytogenetic/molecular risk, 83 (68%) intermediate, 17 (14%) high risk and 10 (8%) pts were unknown. Fifteen cases (12%) had NPM1mut, 33 (27%) showed FLT3-ITDmut, 5 (4%) pts carried CEBPAmut, 41 (33.6%) pts with no mutations and 28 (23%) pts were unknown. The median follow-up of pts alive was 19 months (range 0–97 months) and the 5-year OS of all pts was 42±5%. Univariate analysis of prognostic factors showed an association between higher CD45 (MFI 〉232; p=.01), CD117 (MFI〉259; p=.008), CD34 (MFI 〉242; p=.007) and CD7 (MFI〉 19; p=.03) expression and both a shorter OS and DFS. In addition, high CD123 expression (MFI 〉248; p=.04) was associated with a shorter DFS. In multivariate analysis only a high CD45 (p=.03) and a high CD34 (p=.03) expression were identified as independent predictors for a shorter OS. In turn, higher levels of CD123 (p=.03) and of CD34 (p=.02) were independent predictors for DFS and relapse, even when age, gender and WBC were taken in account. Conclusion: In this study, we show that higher levels of expression of immunophenotypic markers associate with immature myeloid precursors (CD45, CD117, CD34 and CD7) as assessed by MFC, have a significantly adverse prognostic impact in AML, both as regards OS and DFS. Accordingly, higher levels of CD45 and CD34 were independent predictors for both a shorter OS whereas, greater CD123 and CD34 values were associated with an increased risk of relapse and a shorter DFS, supporting the adverse prognostic impact of a more immature blast cell phenotype in de novo AML. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Description: Abstract 3593 Azacitidine (AZA) is currently being used in AML patients (Pts) not deemed candidates for intensive chemotherapy. Most of this usage follows approved drug label by EMA, but off-label usage is not uncommon in Pts with 〉30% bone marrow blast (BMB) cells. Clinical trials are now comparing AZA vs. conventional care in selected populations, and data from daily practice may shed light on the generalizability of their results. A retrospective nationwide study was set up in Spain in order to evaluate the population of AML Pts that is receiving AZA as front-line therapy (Rx) in Spain, its patterns of usage, effectiveness and safety in daily practice conditions, as well as the factors linked to overall response rate (ORR) and overall survival (OS). Only Pts treated before Dec/2010 could be included in this study, that was approved by the Spanish Medicines Agency (AEMPS, code ACL-AZA-2011–01). Data were collected from Oct/2011 to Jan/2012 and analyzed as of Jun/2012. ORR was evaluated according to both ELN-2010 criteria for AML as well as IWG-2006 criteria for MDS (in order to assess the impact of PB changes), OS measured from 1st cycle of AZA to death or last follow-up, and toxicity coded according to NCI CTCAEv3.0. One-hundred and ten untreated Pts (79 M/31 F, median age 75, range 56–89) were recruited from 22 academic and community sites. Comorbidity was present in 96 Pts (cardiac 43, hepatic 10, renal 3, diabetes 26, other neoplasms 18, etc.), ECOG being ≥2 in 33. Thirty Pts had an antecedent hematological disorder. Five cases had recurrent genetic abnormalities (NPM1-mutated AML in 4), 61 had MDS-related AML, 16 therapy-related AML and 28 AML not otherwise specified. Cytogenetics (Cyto) was available in 95 (86.4%): 48 diploid and 47 abnormal. MRC-2010 cyto category was favourable in 1, intermediate in 64 and adverse in 30. Median WBC at Dx was 3.3 x10E9/L (0.8–172.4), WBC before 1st AZA cycle 2.8 (1.0–175.0), platelet count 56 (7–467), PB blast 4.0% (0–100) and hemoglobin 91 g/L (48–142). Sixty-four Pts (58.2%) had BMB〉30% (median 35.0%, range 15.0–98.0%). Median time from Dx to Rx was 19.5 days (0–411). Pts received 745 AZA cycles (median 4, range 1–29; ≥6 cycles 45.4%, ≥12 cycles 18.8%), but 30.9% received ≤2 because of disease progression or toxicity. 7.2% received concomitantly hydroxiurea for WBC control. Route of administration was EV in 5.8%, home administration took place in only 1.5%, and AZA was given as inpatients in 27.3% of the cycles. The no. of days of AZA Rx was 7 in 63.6% of the cycles, week-end off Rx being common place (5–2–2 schedule in 71.9%). Median AZA daily dose was 73.6 mg/sqm (