ALBERT

Beschreibung: Background: Several biological parameters define patients with multiple myeloma (MM) at high-risk of progression or death. The well-known International Staging System (ISS), as well as age per se, are insufficient to explain differences of overall survival (OS) in patients over 65 years, who are 2/3 of newly diagnosed (ND) MM patients. We have recently showed that a frailty score combining age, functional status (Activity of Daily Living and Instrumental Activity of Daily living scores) and comorbidities (Charlson index) defines 3 categories of patients - fit, intermediate-fitness, frail - with significantly differences in OS and progression-free survival (Larocca A, et al. Blood 2013 122:687). Here we assess the causes of the different mortality in intermediate-fitness and frail groups compared to fit ones and present a final prognostic score based on the combination of ISS and frailty scores. Methods: NDMM patients over 65 years enrolled in 3 clinical trials, receiving either lenalidomide, bortezomib or carfilzomib were included in the analysis. Details on treatment regimens and results of these studies have previously been reported (Palumbo A, et al. Blood 2013 122:536; Larocca A, et al. Blood 2013 122:539, Bringhen S et al. Blood 2014 Jul 3;124(1):63-9). The cumulative incidences of discontinuation and toxicities were calculated using the Fine & Gray model. The frailty score was combined with ISS with the CHi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector method used as an iterative decision tree. Results: 869 patients (median age 74 years) were included in the analysis; 260 (30%) were frail, 269 (31%) intermediated-fitness and 340 (39%) fit. The 3-year OS was 57% in frail, 76% in intermediated-fitness and 84% in fit patients. Overall, 143 patients (16%) died, 70 (27%) frail, 39 (14%) intermediate-fitness and 34 (10%) fit. The causes of death were: disease progression [35 (13%) in frail, 22 (8%) in intermediate-fitness and 18 (5%) in fit patients] and toxicity [21 (8%), 10 (4%) and 11 (3%), respectively]. The higher risk of death for progression was related with the lower dose-intensity due to the higher rate of drug discontinuation and/or dose reduction. The average dose intensity was lower in frail (74%, p=0.0006) and intermediate-fitness patients (80%, p=0.07) compared with fit patients (85%). The cumulative incidence of drug discontinuation for any cause, excluding progression and death, was higher in frail (25%; HR 2.21, p

Beschreibung: Abstract 2839 Patients affected by low-risk essenthial thrombocythosis (ET) may develope thrombotic/haemorragic events at a lower rate compared to high-risk ET patients. So far, it has not be possible to identify useful markers to predict which of these patients are more likely to have an event. Previous authors [Carobbio A et al, Blood 2007] have shown that leukocytosis at diagnosis is associated with a high hazard risk (HR) of developing a thrombotic event, while high platelets count is not. Subsequently other authors [Gangant N et al, Cancer 2009] have contradicted this findings and instead shown that in low-risk ET, the increase in leukocyte count over time correlates with thrombotic events [Passamonti F et al ISTH 2009]. For these reasons we decided to evaluate risk parameters in a dynamic manner with the aim of identifying those patients who are more likely to have an event and might benefit from preventive treatment. We performed a large multicentre retrospective study that included several North Italian Haemathology centres and a large Austrian university hospital. Patient data was analysed using random effect linear regression model and a dedicated Cox model with dynamic proportional risk. We studied 136 patients with low risk ET. Out of those, 45 had a thrombotic/haemorragic event and 91 never had an event (events included: stroke, TIA, IMA, PE, PAD, epystaxis and gastrointestinal bleeding). Overall, the median age was 42 years (IQR 20; range 18–60), the median Hb was 14.0 g/dL (IQR 2.3; range 4.4–18), the median WBC was 8.1 ×103/Â μL (IQR 3.3; range 3.3–23.8), the median PLT was 701 ×103/ÂL (IQR 404; range 206–1806). Gender was M 33% (n=45), F 67% (n=91); smokers were 24% (n=18/N=74); hypercholesterolemia was 18% (n=17/N=92). The FBCs of both groups were recorded from the date of diagnosis (entry time) and up to 3 years of follow up or to the development of a thrombotic/haemorragic event (exit time). A total number of 1294 FBCs were provided by the group with event and compared to a total of 4487 FBCs from the group without event. The follow-up Hb values showed a decreasing linear pattern linear from baseline values. The PLT-count showed a trend similar to Hb over the period of follow-up in both the group without events and in the group with events. The WBC showed a decrease during follow-up in the group with events and an increase in the group without events. Surprisingly, the risk of developing an adverse event after 60 months of follow-up was reduced by 20% for each increase of 1 g/dL Hb (p =0.007), was increased by 8% for each WBC increase of 1 103/uL (p =0.026) and was decreased by 6% for each PLT increase of 100 × 103 /uL (p =0.434). No differences were seen between venous or arterious thrombotic events (Log rank test, p=0.842). In conclusion, this study confirms that baseline FBCs values are not predictive of events within the ET low risk group. The emerging new finding is that the risk of developing an event is higher when Hb is reduced. This strongly suggests a protective role of Hb in the low-risk ET group. Previous studies have shown that red cells might store and generate nitric oxide (NO), a key endothelial modulator [Kim-Shapiro DB et al 2006]. The presence of NO would keep PLT in resting state, would reduce endothelial cell adhesion and in turn reduce thrombosis rate. However this needs to be confirmed. Disclosures: Steurer: Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria. Pizzolo:Hoffmann-La Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria.

Beschreibung: Starting from 1980, 182 cases of primary extranodal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma were diagnosed in our Division. Gastrointestinal NHL were the most frequent: 66 patients (36%), followed by head and neck (42 = 23%), skin(23 =13%), urogenital tract (16 = 9%), CNS (10 =5%), chest (9 = 5%), spleen (7 = 4%), bone (5 = 3%) soft tissues (4 = 2%). Median age was 55,4 (range 20–91); median age was lower in chest, bone and intestinal NHL. 77 patients had stage I disease (48,8%), 74 stage II (46,5%) and 8 patients stage III (5%). In the whole group, 134/182 (73.6%) patients achieved complete remission (CR); CRs were 81.8% in gastroenteric NHL, 75% in urogenital, 69.5% in skin, 66.6% in head and neck. Overall survival in the two most important groups are as follows: head and neck: 61% at 50 months and 55% at 100 months; gastrointestinal tract: at 50 months was 80%, at 100 months 75%. When prognostic factors were considered for the whole group, stage and modified I.P.I. (MIPI) were significantly associated with rate of complete remission and overall survival. Stage I pts had a significantly better rate of complete remission 83.1%, vs. 68.9% for stage II and 37.5% for stage III. Overall survival of stage I pts was significantly better than for patients with stage II or stage III disease (80% vs. 72.5% at 50 months; 80.1% vs. 62.7% at 100 months). Modified International Prognostic Index, MIPI is a score ranging from 0 to 5 according to age (〉60), LDH (over normal values), ECOG P.S. (〉1), Ann Arbor stage (II or III), extranodal sites (〉1). Thirty six patients had a MIPI score of 0, 80 pts MIPI 1, 50 pts MIPI 2 and 16 had a MIPI score of 3 or more. A significant correlation between MIPI and achievement of CR was shown with 88.8% of pts with MIPI 0 achieving CR, 78.5% in MIPI 1, 28% in MIPI 2 and 25% in MIPI 3 or more. Overall survival for the four groups was as follows: 96%, 75%, 62%, 61% at 50 months; 96%, 70%, 54%, 24% at 100 months.

Beschreibung: Abstract 2928 Introduction. The recent development of a safe and efficient once daily oral iron chelator (Deferasirox, ExjadeÒ) made possible regular chelation therapy in transfusion dependent MDS patients. However in this category of patients the reported clinical experience is limited to selected populations. For this reason the GIMEMA group developed a phase IIIb prospective trial to test safety and efficacy of Deferasirox in a large population of patients comparable to general MDS population. Methods. One hundred and fifty-nine transfusion dependent IPSS low-intermediate1 risk MDS patients were enrolled. Analysis has been performed on 123 patients who had completed the planned year of treatment. Baseline characteristics were the following (data are expressed as median with upper and lower quartile unless specifically indicated): median age was 72 years (range 24 – 87); 48 were IPSS low risk and 75 Intermediate1; duration of transfusion dependency before treatment was 20 months (12-36) corresponding to 38 (22-70) packed red blood cells transfusions received. Baseline serum ferritin was 2000 ng/ml (1471-3000). Baseline Charlson and CIRS comorbity scores were 1 (0-1) and 0.2 (0.1-0.4), respectively. Patients started treatment with the standard 20 mg/kg Deferasirox dose but dose adjustments on clinical indications were allowed. Results. 61 patients (49%) prematurely interrupted the study (drop out), 62 (51%) patients completed the planned year of treatment. In logistic model for drop out rate high Charlson co-morbidity score showed a trend as significant risk factors (p=0.06). Drops out were related to: ten patients (8%) had progression to acute leukemia during the study; twenty patients (16%) experienced MDS related clinical problem (three had cardiac failure, seven had severe infectious diseases, four had severe bleeding, three died at home, three presented others MDS related problems); five patients underwent hemopoietic stem cell transplantation and thirteen discontinued treatment for unrelated problems. Drug related toxicity was drop out cause in 13 patients (11% of the entire population). Main causes of toxicity related drops out were increase of creatinine and gastro-intestinal disturbance. Out of 123 patients analyzed for adverse events only 4 (3%) presented grade 3–4 drug related adverse events. Severe adverse events with suspected relationship with study drug were diarrhea and increase of liver enzymes. Serum ferritin was monthly recorded in the 62 patients who completed the protocol with a statistically significant decrement during the 12 months follow up: median baseline value 2000 ng/ml (interquartile range 1471–3000), median final value 1550 ng/ml (interquartile range 775–2200) P 〈 0.001, Friedman test analyzing the entire study period. Analysis of quality of life is ongoing. One patient showed a complete erythroid response to Deferasirox treatment acquiring transfusion independence that is still ongoing after 18 months. Discussion. Preliminary results from the GIMEMA MDS0306 study confirmed feasibility of Deferasirox therapy in transfusion dependent MDS patients. Drop out rate, toxicity related drop out and severe side effects were similar to those reported in other trials even if the present population presented clinical characteristics of more advanced disease and age. The rate of progression is coherent with prolonged disease story. Serum ferritin behavior confirms Deferasirox efficacy. The serum ferritin reduction was more evident in the more heavily overloaded population indicating successful iron depletion in this group of patients as clinically requested. ClinicalTrial.gov identifier NCT00469560. Disclosures: Angelucci: Novartis: Honoraria. Saglio:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria.

Beschreibung: Introduction Since the landmark study of Omura et al. (Blood 1980;55:199), validating cranial irradiation as an adjunct to intrathecal (IT) methotrexate, no other randomized trial of CNS prophylaxis was performed in adult ALL. Although the risk of CNS relapse is now only 1-4%, irradiation contributes to cumulative CNS toxicity together with high-dose methotrexate/cytarabine (HD-M/A), or is logistically difficult, so that developing an effective radiation-free CNS prophylaxis remains an important clinical task. IT DepoCyte® (ITD) might be advantageous, the slow release of liposome-associated cytarabine allowing therapeutic concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid for 14+ days. An open trial reported prohibitive CNS toxicity from ITD in 6/31 patients (Jabbour et al. Blood 2007;109:3214), but ITD to ITD and HD-M/A to ITD intervals were short (14 and 10 days, respectively) and no patient suffered from CNS relapse. Methods In a phase II randomized trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT-00795756) we evaluated toxicity and feasibility (as primary study endpoint) of ITD 50 mg in comparison with IT triple therapy (ITT: methotrexate 12,5 mg, cytarabine 50 mg, prednisone 40 mg). Stratification was by cell lineage and risk class. ITT was given on d1 of courses 1,2,4,6,8; d15 of courses 1,2,8; and d1 of maintenance cycles 2-5 (12x). ITD was given on d1 of courses 1,2,4,6,8; d15 of courses 1,8 (T-ALL only); and d1 of maintenance cycle 2 (6-8x). The shortest ITD to ITD interval was 14 days in T-ALL (courses 1-2 [3x] and 8 [2x]), otherwise it was 21 days between ITD and any prior/subsequent ITD and HD course. ALL therapy consisted of eight induction-consolidation courses followed by risk/minimal residual disease-oriented maintenance or stem cell transplantation (SCT). In HD courses 3,7 (M/A) and 5 (M/Asparaginase) M dosage was 2.5 g/m2 (Ph- B-ALL) and 5 g/m2 (T-ALL) up to 55 years, and A 2 g/m2. Imatinib was used with de-intensified chemotherapy in Ph+ ALL; selected high-risk subsets received early SCT. Results Between 2007-12 201 total patients were enrolled and 141 randomized to ITT (n=73) or ITD (n=68). Median age was 42 years (range 18-68) and risk subsets (ITT/ITD) were SR-B 27.4%/29.4%; HR-B Ph- 26%/25%, Ph+ 23.3%/22.1%, SR-T 5.5%/5.9%, HR-T 17.8%/17.7%. Complete remission was 89% (n=65)/89.7% (n=61). Rates of actual v planned IT injections during induction-consolidation cycles 1-8, after removal of study losses (resistance, early death, SCT, toxicity and relapse), were ITT 374/415 (90.1%) v ITD 219/245 (89.3%) (P=0.76). Although toxicity/medical reasons caused 5 ITD patients to discontinue permanently the study v none in ITT arm (P=0.02), toxicity-driven omissions of IT therapy were marginally increased in ITD arm (29/415 [6.9%] v 24/245 [9.8%]; P=0.20). Neurologic toxicity occurred in 20 (27.4%) ITT v 36 (53%) ITD patients, respectively (P=0.002). According to NCI CTC grading (G), neurotoxicity episodes were GI 7 v 10 (P=0.36), GII 13 v 32 (P=0.003), GIII 4 v 12 (P=0.04), GIV 1 v 5 (P=0.12). GIII-IV neurotoxicity developed in 5/73 (6.8%) ITT patients v 10/52 (19.2%) and 5/16 (31.2%) B- and T-ALL ITD patients, respectively (P= 0.01), correlating in T-ALL with the second/third q14d ITD at courses 1,2,8 (4/5 patients, 5/6 episodes). Apart from reversible headache/radicular pain, the most serious toxicity occurred in 3 (4.1%) ITT patients (seizures 1; leukoencephalopathy 1; loss of consciousness 1) v 5 (7.3%) ITD patients (loss of consciousness 4, 1 with seizures; cerebral oedema/pseudotumor cerebri 1) (P=0.48). Four-year overall and disease-free survival were 54% and 52.2% v 58.9% and 47.7% in ITT and ITD arms, respectively, and relapse rate was 32.3% v 24.6% (all P=NS). In ITT arm there were 2 (3%) CNS and 2 (3%) combined CNS/marrow relapses. In ITD arm only one poorly compliant subject not given any HD course had an isolated CNS relapse (1.6%); no other patient had a CNS recurrence. Conclusion A radiation-free CNS prophylaxis with six spaced ITD in conjunction with HD-M/A may be feasible and at least as effective as other regimens. Excluding reversible headache/radiculitis, serious CNS toxicity was not significantly increased compared with ITT regimen, although some patients were forced to discontinue IT prophylaxis. The occasionally severe CNS toxicity prompts the investigation of a lower ITD dosage (25 mg), also to limit GI-II side effects, and the tighter schedule used in T-ALL should be abandoned because too toxic. Disclosures: Bassan: Mundipharma Oncology; Sigma-Tau; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Off Label Use: Liposome-encapsulated cytarabine (DepoCyte®) used in a prospective phase II randomized trial of CNS prophylaxis in ALL. Masciulli:Novartis: Research Funding; Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo: Research Funding; AIFA (Italian Regulatory Agency): Research Funding; AMGEN S.p.A.: Research Funding; Genzyme Olanda: Research Funding; Gruppo Italiano Trapianti di Midollo Osseo (GITMO): Research Funding; Pierre Fabre Italia S.p.A.: Research Funding; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma: Research Funding; Università degli Studi di Firenze: Research Funding; Sigma-Tau: Research Funding; Myeloproliferative disorder Research Consortium: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Associazione Italiana Linfomi (AIL): Research Funding; Fondazione Italiana Linfomi (FIL): Research Funding; LaRoche: Research Funding. Gallamini:Millenium: Consultancy. Marfisi:Novartis: Research Funding; Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo: Research Funding; AIFA (Italian Regulatory Agency: Research Funding; AMGEN S.p.A.: Research Funding; Genzyme Olanda: Research Funding; Gruppo Italiano Trapianti di Midollo (GITMO): Research Funding; Pierre Fabre Italia S.p.A.: Research Funding; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore-Roma: Research Funding; Università degli Studi di Firenze: Research Funding; Sigma-Tau: Research Funding; Myeloproliferative disorder Research Consortium: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Associazione Italiana Linfomi (AIL): Research Funding; Fondazione Italiana Linfomi (FIL): Research Funding; LaRoche: Research Funding. Marchioli:Associazione Italiana Linfomi (AIL): Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Myeloproliferative disorder Research Consortium: Research Funding; Sigma-Tau: Research Funding; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma: Research Funding; Pierre Fabre Italia S.p.A.: Research Funding; Gruppo Italiano Trapianti di Midollo (GITMO): Research Funding; Genzyme Olanda: Research Funding; AMGEN S.p.A.: Research Funding; AIFA (Italian Regulatory Agency): Research Funding; Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Fondazione Italiana Linfomi (FIL): Research Funding; LaRoche: Research Funding; Università degli Studi di Firenze: Research Funding. Rambaldi:Italfarmaco: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria.

Beschreibung: Abstract 2029 Poster Board II-6 In a prospective NILG (Northern Italy Leukemia Group) study, short IM pulses were added to chemotherapy in order to 1) reduce incidence of early failures, 2) obtain higher transfer rates to stem cell transplantation (SCT), and 3) improve survival in comparison with a prior patient cohort treated with the same chemotherapy program without IM. IM 600 mg/d was given orally for 7 consecutive dd. with each chemotherapy block, starting from day 15 of induction (IDR/VCR/PDN±ASP) and day –3 of the following consolidation courses (5x IDR/VCR/CY/DEXA; 2x HD-MTX/ARA-C). All pts. received CNS chemoradioprophylaxis and were eligible to allogeneic SCT, or alternatively to HD therapy with autologous SCT and long-term maintenance with 6MP/MTX and intermittent IM. Between April '00 and November '08, 100 out of 404 pts. registered in NILG study 09/00 had Ph+ ALL (Ph chromosome and/or BCR-ABL rearrangement). M/F ratio was 1.17 and median age 46 years (range 19-66). 35 pts. constituted the control cohort (IM-) while, starting December '02, 59 pts. were included in the modified protocol (IM+), and 6 were excluded from analysis because treated on a continuous IM schedule. Of 59 IM+ pts., 53 received IM during induction/consolidation as planned and 6 during consolidation only (included in IM- group for remission induction analysis). Outcome to induction therapy of IM+ vs. IM- group was: CR 49/53 (92%) vs. 33/41 (80%), NR 2 (3.7%) vs. 5 (12%), ED 2 (3.7%) vs. 3 (7%) (P=NS). With a median observation interval from diagnosis of 5 years (range 0.6-9.2 years), 21 IM+ vs. 6 IM- pts. are alive in remission (CR1 pts.: 43% vs. 18%, P=0.02), and both OS (Figure) and DFS (0.39 vs. 0.21, P=0.044) rates at 5 years are significantly improved in IM+ group, especially when IM was administered from the induction cycle. The ability to perform a SCT increased from 53%(n=15: 11 allogeneic, 4 autologous) to 68%(n=37: 22 allogeneic, 5 autologous), partly owing to lower incidence of early relapse (26% vs. 56% at 1 year, P=0.005). SCT-related mortality was not different (P=0.58) and postgraft survival probability at 5 years was 0.45 overall, again with no difference related to SCT source or IM. Use of IM was not associated with greater reduction of BCR-ABL transcripts: by PCR analysis of BM samples taken at weeks 10, 16 and 22 in pretransplantation pts., a major response (absent/

Beschreibung: Introduction: the efficacy of Rituximab (R) with standard chemotherapy in DLBCL is well known. We investigated efficacy and safety of Rituximab as adjuvant to dose-dense and HDC as part of first line treatment in untreated pts with aa-IPI at Intermediate-High (IH) or High (H) risk with DLBCL. Patients and methods: 77 previously untreated pts normal and 35% extranodal sites〉1. Complete Response at the end of the treatment was achieved in 60 pts (78%), PR in 2 (3%) and 11 pts (14%) did not response. Four pts (5%) died of toxicity during treatment. Few severe early toxicities (WHO grade 3–4) were reported and late toxicity was minor, with no MDS or ANLL or solid tumour. With a median follow-up of 39 months, 3-yr FFS and 3-yr OS rates were: 71% and 78%. These results were compared to those ones achieved into 41 pts, with the same clinical characteristics, enrolled in a previous phase II clinical trial with up-front HDC and ASCT but without R. Treatment in HDC control group consisted in an induction treatment lasting two months with MACOPB chemotherapy × 8 weekly infusions followed by the same intensified and HDC regimens (MAD× 2 courses + BEAM and ASCT). Three-yr FFS and OS in control group were: 46% and 54%. To properly evaluate the efficacy of R-HDC therapy, a Cox’s model was performed to adjust the effect of treatment for competing risk factors (age, IPI, BM involvement, number of extranodal sites). In this multivariate analysis the risk of failure and death was confirmed as significantly reduced in R-HDC group: adjusted hazard ratio (R-HDC vs HDC) was 0.56 (95% CI=0.30–1.01, p=.05) for FFS and 0.42 (95% CI=0.21–0.88, p=.02) for OS. PBSC harvest and time to engraftment were similar into two groups, with no statistically significant differences: all pts in both groups collected more than 2×106 CD34+/kg; median time to neutrophils engraftment (neutrophils 〉500/mm3) was 9 days in R-HDC group and 10 days in HDC group and median time to platelets engraftment (platelets 〉50000) was 15 vs 16 respectively. Conclusions: these results suggest that Rituximab as adjuvant to dose-dense and HDC may improve the outcome of DLBCL at poor prognosis. This promising new treatment strategy need to be compared to Rituximab dose-dense chemotherapy without HDC as R-CHOP14. Such a randomized trial is currently undergoing conducted by Intergruppo Italiano Linfomi.

Beschreibung: Abstract 2489 Introduction: Epigenetic aberrations play an important role in the development and progression of Multiple Myeloma (MM). 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine (5Aza-dC) and Trichostatin A (TSA) have been studied in reactivating the expression of epigenetically-silenced genes. IGFBP3 gene is a member of the insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) family and can regulate cell growth and death by the ability to bind insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) as well as its IGF-independent effects involving binding to other molecules. Several in vitro, in vivo studies as well as clinical evidence point to IGFBP-3 as an anti-cancer molecule. In our study we analyzed global changes in gene expression profiles of MM cell lines, responding to 5Aza-dC and TSA and we evaluated the IGFBP3 expression in three myeloma cell lines and in samples from myeloma patients. Methods: Human MM cell lines U266 and H929 were treated either with 0.5 micromol/L 5Aza-dC for 7 days or with 100 ng/mL TSA for 24 h or with the combination of 0.5 micromol/L 5Aza-dC for 7 days and 100 ng/mL TSA for additional 24 h. Control cells received no drug treatment. Applied Biosystems microarray platform ABI 1300 was used for carrying out microarray profiling and analysis. To classify up-regulated genes into functional categories the PANTHER Classification System was used (http://www.pantherdb.org). Stained or unstained bone marrow slides were collected from archival samples of 179 myeloma patients. For validation of microarray results, real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) was performed using Taqman Gene Expression Assays (Applied Biosystems). Results: After treatment with 5Aza-dC there was up regulation of gene expression in 698 genes in H929 cell line and 258 genes in U266 cell line. After treatment with TSA 719 genes were up regulated in H929 cell line and 742 genes in U266 cell line. The exposure to the combination of 5Aza-dC/TSA resulted in up-regulation of 921 genes in H929 cell line and 615 genes in U266 cell line. By using Panther classification system we classified up-regulated genes into functional categories and we identified several 5Aza-dC or TSA up-regulated genes that are involved in important cancer-related pathways including cell cycle, apoptosis, cell adhesion, oncogenesis and cell metabolism, including DNA repair and nucleosome assembly. Between these genes we particularly found interesting the expression changes of IGFBP-3 which was up regulated after treatment with 5-azacitidine in U266 cell line (level of induced expression was 5,16). The microarray data were validated in 3 MM cell lines and 179 patients samples by analysis of relative changes in IGFBP3 expression through ΔΔCt method. We found that the expression levels of IGFBP3 were significantly lower in U266 and RPMI myeloma cell lines, but not in H929 cell line and interestingly levels were lower in 54 percent of patients (Fig 1). It has been demonstrated decreased IGFBP-3 expression is associated with cancer progression and in our study we have shown that the down-regulation of this gene may be involved also in myeloma pathogenesis and mediate progression events, hence levels of IGFBP3 may be considered as a biomarker for disease staging. From a therapeutic point of view, up-regulation of IGFBP3 might be considered as target therapeutic strategy for monoclonal gammopathies/ smouldering Myelomas at high risk of progression to active myeloma. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Beschreibung: Introduction Imatinib induces complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) in up to 80% of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients (pts) and major molecular response (MMR) in 33-60% of them. These patients enjoy life expectancy similar to general population. However even undetectable BCR-ABL may not equate to eradication of the disease because the sensitivity of the standard diagnostic method, the Q-RT-PCR, is limited. A new diagnostic method, the digital-PCR (dPCR), able to detect 1 BCR-ABL+ cell out of 107 cells, corresponding to a 100 times increased sensitivity as compared to conventional Q-RT-PCR, was developed (Goh HG et al., Leuk Lymphoma 52(5): 896-904. 2011). Therefore dPCR, assessing with more sensitivity the presence of minimal residual disease, could potentially identify pts in whom CML is eradicated. The Imatinib Suspension And Validation (ISAV) study is aimed at assessing the capability of dPCR to predict relapses after imatinib discontinuation in CML pts with negative Q-RT-PCR results. Methods This study involves 15 sites, 10 in Italy and 5 in each of the following countries: Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Canada and Israel. In this study CML patients (Chronic Phase or Accelerated Phase) under imatinib therapy since more than 2 years and in complete molecular remission (CMR) were eligible. Patients had to be in CMR for at least 18 months, with a minimum of 3 Q-RT-PCR performed in their own centers. After signing the informed consent, pts were tested for dPCR and discontinued imatinib therapy. They are being monitored by standard Q-RT-PCR for 36 months to assess the maintenance of the molecular remission. At the end of this period, a peripheral blood sample for dPCR analysis will be obtained from those pts who will still have undetectable BCR-ABL transcripts by Q-RT-PCR, to verify CML eradication. The loss of molecular remission is defined as two consecutive positive Q-RT-PCR tests with at least one BCR-ABL/ABL value above 0.1%. Patients losing molecular remission resumed imatinib treatment at the same dosage used before interruption. Patients’ quality of life during imatinib discontinuation/resumption is being evaluated trough the EORTC – C30 Quality of Life questionnaire. Results The enrollment in the ISAV study began in November 2011 and ended in June 2013. The study enrolled 112 pts: Italy 69.6%, Berlin 21.4%, Montreal 5.3%, Zaragoza 2.6% and Tel Hashomer 0.9%. Sixty-one percent of the pts were male and 38% were aged 65 or older; median duration of imatinib treatment is 102 months with median duration of CMR of 32 months before imatinib discontinuation. To date, the median follow-up (FUP) time is 4.6 months [95% CI: 4.1-5.8] and 92 pts out of 112 (82%) had at least one Q-RT-PCR performed after imatinib discontinuation. The following analysis is restricted to 48 pts with a minimum of 6 months of FUP. Of these 48 pts, 20 remained Q-RT-PCR negative (42%, 95% CI:29-56%, median duration of negativity after imatinib discontinuation: 10.3 months). Nineteen pts (40%, 95% CI:27-53%) relapsed and resumed imatinib. All relapses occurred in the first 10 months and all but 3 of them in the first 6 months. A loss of CCyR happened in 5 pts out of 19 (26%): 1 pt regained CCyR after 3 months of re-treatment and is now in CMR, 1 pt died shortly after the diagnosis of relapse because of lung adenocarcinoma and 3 pts are now being monitored after imatinib resumption. No case of progression of CML was observed. After the resumption of imatinib the median time to either MMR or CMR, whichever came first, was 2.1 [95% CI: 0.9-5.8] months. Finally, nine pts (18%, 95% CI:10-31%) regained Q-RT-PCR positivity but never lost MMR. The median time to Q-RT-PCR positivity in this group of pts was 2.92 months (range 1-5 months), and the range of duration of Q-RT-PCR positivity (below 0.1%) is between 2 and 14 months. No significant correlation between relapse and previous duration of imatinib treatment, time to CCyR or duration of CMR was present. Patients previously treated with interferon showed a trend toward lower risk of relapse which is not significant so far. Finally, 19% of pts complained of musculoskeletal/articular pain after imatinib discontinuation. Conclusions After 21 months from the beginning of the study with a median follow-up of 4.6 months, 40% of pts relapsed; the majority of relapses happened in the first 6 months after imatinib discontinuation. The correlation of dPCR results with clinical outcomes will be presented at the meeting. Disclosures: le Coutre: Novartis: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Novartis: Research Funding. Gozzini:Novartis: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy.