ALBERT

Description: The combination of 2GTKI+pegylated IFN-α (Peg-IFN) is an attractive approach for first-line treatment of CP CML, inducing high rates of deep molecular responses in phase II trials. Thus, we evaluated nilotinib (NIL) alone versus NIL+Peg-IFN in newly diagnosed CP-CML patients (pts) in a randomised phase III trial (PETALs, EudraCT 2013-004974-82). Newly diagnosed CP CML pts ≤65 y, without prior history of arterial occlusion were randomized 1:1 to get NIL 300 mg BID alone (M0 to M48, arm A) vs Peg-IFN alone for 30 days (M-1→M0) 30 μg/wk as priming, prior to NIL 300 mg BID + Peg-IFN 30 μg/wk 2 wks, upgraded to 45 μg/wk thereafter, for up to 2 y (M0 to M24, arm B) followed by NIL alone for 4 more years unless pts enter treatment-free remission (TFR). The primary endpoint is the rate of MR4.5 by 1 y. As a secondary endpoint, pts reaching MR4.5 ≥2 y are allowed to stop NIL and enter a TFR phase in both arms. The trigger for treatment resumption is loss of MMR. All molecular assessments are centralised, quantifications are expressed as BCR-ABL/ABL1 (IS) in % with ≥32,000 copies of ABL1 as control. Two hundred pts were randomized (99 in A, 101 in B), 130 M and 35 F in each arm, median age of 46 (18-66) y. Median follow-up is 43.8 (34.3-55.9) Mo. Results are analysed in intention-to-treat. Sokal and EUTOS LTS scores were H in 25% and 2.5%, Int. in 33% and 16.5% and L in 42% and 81% pts respectively equally balanced. Median age is 46 (18-66) y, 18 pts (9%) had ACAs, all pts have a "Major" BCR transcript. CHR was obtained in 9.6% of pts at M0 (in B) and 88% of pts in A and 90.4% of pts in B at M1. CCyR rates at M3 were 63% vs 75% in A and B (p=ns), and BCR-ABL1 ≤1% at M6 were 87% in A vs 93% in B (p=ns). By M12, the rates of MMR were 68.1% vs 70.1% (p=0.44), MR4 were 34% vs 47.5% (p=0.041), MR4.5 were 15.9% vs 21.5% (p=0.049), MR5 11.7% vs 23.71% (p=0.023), in A vs B respectively. By M36 the rates of MMR were 83% vs 86.6% (p=0.31), MR4 were 70.2% vs 71.13% (p=0.50), MR4.5 were 37.2% vs 49.5% (p=0.05), MR5 33% vs 42.3% (p=0.12), in A vs B respectively The overall cumulative incidence of MR4.5 is superior in B (54.6 [43.7-65.5]%) vs A (44 [31.5-54]%) close to significance (unilateral Fisher test, p=0.05, see Figure). Seven patients were mutated by Sanger in A (5 Y253, 1 E255K, 1 T315I) vs 2 in B (2 T315I). One pt (A) progressed toward AP and then myeloid BC with a Y253H mutation, is still alive in CMR on Ponatinib. Twenty nine (29%) pts were withdrawn from study in A (toxicity 9, cancer 3, resistance 14, investigator decision 2, lost for FU 1) vs 26 (26%) pts for B (toxicity 13, resistance 8, investigator decision 5), 1 pt died from cervix cancer (A). Median overall doses of NIL delivered by M36 were 600 mg/d in both arms (p=ns). The median overall dose of Peg-IFN delivered in B by M24 was 37.5 mg/wk. The overall rate of grade 3-4 hematologic toxicities was 22%; with 2% and 7% thrombocytopenia, 4% and 6% neutropenia, and 1% and 1% pancytopenia in A vs B respectively. Major grade 3-4 non-hematologic toxicities consisted in 9% of cardiac disorders in A (2 coronaropathies, 1 myocardial infarction, 2 thoracic pains, 2 atrial fibrillation, 1 bradycardia, 1 palpitations, 1 pericarditis) vs 8% in B (2 coronaropathies, 1 myocardial infarction, 3 atrial fibrillation, 1 palpitations, 1 pericarditis), 4% vascular disorders in A (1 thrombophlebitis + PE, 1 transient ischemic attack, 1 PAOD, 1 carotid stenosis) vs 3% in B (1 thrombophlebitis, 1 PAOD, 1 transient ischemic attack). Three % of gastro-intestinal disorders were observed in A (2 pancreatitis, 1 anal fissure) vs 6% in B (2 pancreatitis, 1 anal fissure, 1 abdominal pain, 2 cholecystectomies); 5% auto-immune disorders in B (1 recurrent pericarditis, 2 hemolytic anemia, 1 ITP, 1 thyroiditis); 5 and 8 pregnancies (2 pts + 3 partner Arm 1, 3 pts + 5 partner Arm B), despite recommended contraceptive methods. Secondary tumours were diagnosed in 4% (1 breast, 1 cervix, 1 thyroid, 1 neuroendocrine) in A vs 2% of pts (1 neuroendocrine and 1 testis) in B. Of note 8% psychiatric episodes were reported in B pts (2 unsuccessful suicide attempts), vs 2% in A. We observed 9% lipase elevations in A, 6% in B, 2% cholestatic episodes in A, 6% in B; 3% of transaminase elevations in A vs 2% in B. Infections were detected in 3% A vs 7% in B. The combination of NIL + Peg-IFN seems to provide somewhat higher MR4.5 rates by M36 in newly diagnosed CP CML pts without inducing significant higher toxicities than NIL alone. Whether this will translate in higher TFR rates is under evaluation. Final updated results at M36 will be presented Disclosures Nicolini: Sun Pharma Ltd: Consultancy; Novartis: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Etienne:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Huguet:Servier: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria. Guerci-Bresler:Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Charbonnier:Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy. Legros:Novartis: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria. Coiteux:Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Cony-Makhoul:BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy. Roy:Incyte Biosciences: Consultancy. Rousselot:Pfizer: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding. Quittet:Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Ame:Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Rea:Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria. Dulucq:Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Mahon:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. OffLabel Disclosure: Pegylated Interferon alpha 2 a is not licensed in this setting

Description: The curative potential of allo-SCT for malignancies derives from the progressive reconstitution of the immune system and the development of effective anti-tumor immunity, but GVHD and disease relapse remain considerable obstacles to improvement in overall outcomes. Because in recipients target antigens are persisting, donor-derived T-cell responses may be expected to lead to the accumulation of a sizable proportion of differentiated T-cells, as happens following infection with persisting pathogens. A few cross-sectional studies have pointed to the preponderance of certain memory T-cell subsets associated with chronic GVHD (cGVHD), but the subset identified differed between studies. Inasmuch as qualitative T-cell recovery takes months to years to complete and there is substantial variability in time to development of GVHD or relapse, serial analysis might be more suitable to unveil early changes in T-cell subset composition attributable to transplantation-related events. From October 2003 on, 55 pts who underwent an allo-SCT after myeloablative conditioning were monitored prospectively in terms of clinical post-graft complications, including graft rejection, infections, GVHD and relapse. Blood samples were obtained on days 30±2, 60±3, 90±5, 180±10 and 365±15 post-transplant. Naive (CD45RA+CCR7+), central memory (TCM, CD45RAnegCCR7+), effector memory (TEM, CD45RAnegCCR7neg), and terminally differentiated effector (TTD, CD45RA+CCR7neg) were enumerated within the CD4+ and CD8+ pools, and the percentage of cells coexpressing CD28 was calculated within each eight subsets. The degree of donor-derived T-cell chimerism was assessed by real time PCR (sensitivity ≤ 1%). Median follow-up was 733 d (404–1251). Dynamics of CD4+ and CD8+ naive, TCM, TEM, and TTD were similar between the pts who developed cGVHD (n=15) and those who did not and between pts who relapsed and those who did not. However, costaining to detect CD28 demonstrated contrasting differences between cGVHD and relapse. At day 30, pts who subsequently relapsed (n=17) had elevated percentages of cells keeping CD28 expression within CD8+ T-cell subsets (TCM, p=.001; TCM, p=.021; and TTD, p=.007). Conversely, pts who subsequently developed cGVHD (n=15; only one relapsed) had diminished percentages of CD28+ cells within the two CD8+CCR7+ subsets at day 30 (p=.002 and p=.034, respectively). Loss of CD28 expression is known to be a hallmark of CMV infection but multivariate analysis ruled out, however, a confounding effect of CMV. Adjusted hazard ratios were 0.10 (95% CI, 0.01-0.76; p=.026) and 5.56 (95% CI, 1.16-25.00; p=.032) with CD28neg cells 16.7% of all CD8+ TCM at day 30 for relapse and cGVHD, respectively. Furthermore, pts with relapse had more often mixed chimerism at day 30 while those with cGVHD had more often full-donor chimerism (p=.042 and p=.023, respectively). CONCLUSION: This prospective study is the first to associate an early contrasting change in CD8+CD28neg T-cells with the risk of relapse and cGVHD after a myeloablative conditioning. Determination at day 30 of the proportions of CD8+ T-cell subsets expressing CD28 and of the level of T-cell chimerism could assist in predicting risk of relapse and cGVHD and help build an algorithm for the management of immunosuppressive treatment.

Description: Outcomes in the treatment of sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) are generally disappointing. Imatinib mesylate enables selective, dual inhibition of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) pathways. Recently, the drug’s effects on fibroblasts have been reported in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Inhibiting fibroblast growth (and thus decreasing collagen production in dermal fibroblasts) is thus a logical therapeutic approach. Here, we report on our experience with 12 patients who received imatinib mesylate for refractory sclerodermatous cGVHD following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). The patients’ characteristics were as follows: median age, 35 years (range: 15–59); 7 male recipients, 6 female donors; 4 cases of CML, 4 MDS, 2 ALL and 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The patients had received either myelo-ablative conditioning with standard GVHD prophylaxis based on cyclosporine and short-course MTX (n=9) or nonmyelo-ablative conditioning with cyclosporine and MMF. Seven patients received a marrow graft and 5 received a peripheral blood graft. All displayed refractory, chronic, sclerodermatous GHVD with at least 3 lines (range 3–6) of prior immunosuppressive therapy. The modified Rodnan skin score was used to assess the extent of skin damage. Glivec was initiated at a dose of 400 mg/day between 16 and 119 months post-transplantation (median: 44). Despite an imatinib dose reduction and the administration of various symptomatic treatments, 4 patients (33%) had to discontinue their treatment soon after its initiation (range: 16–64 days) because of intolerance (especially muscle cramps) and were not evaluable in terms of the efficacy criterion. Other side effects reported were parenthesis, diarrhea and edema. In the remaining patients, the scleroderma symptoms improved within three months of treatment initiation. At the time of this report, all patients were alive and those who tolerated imatinib mesylate have experienced a complete or near-complete response (n=4) or partial response (n=4). All responders (except for one who discontinued the drug 157 days after initiation, due to cramps) were still on the treatment, after a median time period of 216 days (range: 80–2053). This retrospective report shows that when imatinib mesylate is well tolerated, it is effective in patients with refractory sclerodermatous cGVHD and is thus a promising candidate for the treatment of this complication. This study should provide useful background information for building prospective, multicenter studies.

Description: Background: Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) is a low-grade lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma characterized by the involvement of the bone marrow with lymphoplasmacytic cells and the production of IgM monoclonal protein. The serum IgM level is an important marker of diagnosis and response; however, it does not correlate with prognosis. Because of it’s long half-life, it is not a sensitive test for response, indicating the need for more sensitive serum markers that predict tumor burden. The level of serum beta 2 microglobulin (B2M), cytopenias, and age are poor prognostic markers in WM. In this study, we sought to determine the value of serum free light chain (sFLC) in WM. Method: We analyzed 159 patients, 99 patients with WM and 70 patients with IgM-MGUS. sFLC levels were performed using Freelite™ reagents on a Dade-Behring Nephelometer. The Freelite assay (The Binding Site, UK) uses antibodies directed against the free light chain (FLC) epitopes. The clonal free light chain was considered the involved immunoglobulin free light chain (FLC), whether kappa or lambda. Results: The median age at diagnosis was 63 years (range, 37–90). The male/female ratio was 1.5. Forty-one% of the patients with WM required therapy at the time of this study. In the patients diagnosed with WM, the median serum B2M was 2.3 mg/L, median hemoglobin 10 gm/dL, median serum viscosity 1.9 cp, and median platelet count 240 ×109/L. Kappa light chain was present in 74% of the total cohort, with no difference between WM and IgM-MGUS. The mean sFLC was significantly higher in WM as compared to IgM-MGUS, with131.2 mg/L (95% CI 72–189) in WM and 39.2 mg/L (95% CI 21–56) in IgM-MGUS, p=0.003. In addition, sFLC correlated with the serum IgM level (r=0.27; p=0.008). To determine whether sFLC predicted for poor prognosis, we analyzed the relation of sFLC with prognostic markers. Elevated sFLC strongly correlated with high serum B2M (r=0.33; p=0.001), anemia (hemoglobin

Description: A recent prospective randomized trial comparing standard-dose to high-dose melphalan in patients presenting with newly diagnosed AL-amyloidosis showed that oral melphalan-dexamethasone (M-dex) given monthly could be considered the current standard of care, with a median survival of 56 months (Jaccard, N Engl J Med 2007). The use of a combination of lenalidomide and dexamethasone has also been tested in patients with symptomatic AL-amyloidosis. The initial dose of lenalidomide at 25 mg/day was poorly tolerated. However, a 15 mg/day dose regimen was well tolerated and effective, with both hematologic and organ responses (Dispenzieri, Blood 2007 & Sanchorawala, Blood 2007). Combining M-dex with lenalidomide (M-dex-rev) could increase the response rate but the toxicity of this regimen is still unknown. Thus we have initiated a multicenter single-arm open-label phase I/II dose escalation study of lenalidomide administered in combination with M-dex. The primary endpoint was the incidence of dose limiting toxicities (DLT) during the first cycle of lenalidomide at a given dose level in order to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). In addition to melphalan 0.18mg/kg/day from day 1–4 of each 28 day cycle and dexamethasone 40mg/day from day 1– 4 of each 28 day cycle, 3 cohorts of 3 subjects were successively exposed to escalating doses of lenalidomide (5, 10 and 15mg once daily on days 1–21 of a 28 day cycle). DLT was defined using National Cancer Institute (NCI) common toxicity criteria during the first 4 weeks of treatment (one cycle) as the following: at least grade 2 cardiac arrhythmia, at least grade 3 non hematologic toxicity, grade 4 neutropenia lasting 〉7 days or any other Grade 4 hematologic toxicity, or treatment delay due to toxicity that occurred during the first cycle. No DLT was observed among the first 3 patients treated at 5, 10 and 15 mg lenalidomide/day. 9 additional subjects will be enrolled at 15 mg/day to better define the safety profile and estimate the hematologic and organ response rate. Final results regarding both toxicity and efficacy will be presented during the meeting.

Description: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation has become standard therapy for haematological malignancies through the positive immunologic graft-versus-leukaemia effect. Initial immune recovery relies on peripheral expansion of infused T-cells which switch to a memory-like phenotype. This study prospectively investigated whether changes in subset composition precedes late complications after myeloablative HLA-matched transplantation. Of 80 recipients, 51 experienced neither early infection nor acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), of whom 18 were still free of clinical complication throughout 395 – 1564 days of follow-up. Compared with this complication-free subgroup, patients who developed chronic GVHD as the only event recovered similar numbers of circulating T-cells with predominance of CD8+ T-cells lacking CC-chemokine receptor-7 and CD28 expression. Conversely, poor CD8+ T-cell recovery with diminished numbers of CD28neg CD8+ T-cells (~1/4th of that of relapse-free patients) preceded occurrence of relapse. In multivariate analysis, lower CD28neg CD8+ T-cell counts by day 60 were associated with greater risk of subsequent relapse (HR 0.33; 95% CI 0.14 - 0.76; P = 0.01). Enumeration of CD28neg CD8+ T-cells in patients without early clinical complication could assist in predicting risk of relapse and help build an algorithm for accelerating the immune recovery by reducing the immunosuppressive regimen and considering the introduction of prophylactic donor lymphocyte infusions.

Description: One of major hurdles to achieving good patient outcomes and survival rates in allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) after myeloablative conditioning is the high rate of transplant-related mortality (TRM). Much progress in supportive patient care has been accomplished over the last decade-notably the use of allelic HLA-matching (Yakoub-Agha, JCO 2006), the introduction of enteral nutrition (Seguy, Transplantation 2004), the development of wireless video-capsule endoscopy for the management of post-transplant diarrhea (Yakoub-Agha, Transplantation 2005), the availability of broad-spectrum antifungal prophylaxis, the use of busulfan IV instead of PO in the conditioning regimen, limitation of the use of ATG in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) treatment and dose reduction when the latter drug is used in conditioning. Although all these various modifications have had a positive impact on short-term patient outcomes, their impact on long-term survival is still unclear. Hence, the main objective of the present study was to evaluate allo-CST outcomes as a function of the transplantation period. A total 445 patients have undergone post-myeloablation allo-CST in our department. The patient distribution over the time was as follows: prior to 1998 (first period): n=133; between 1998 and 2003 (second period): n=154; between 2003 and 2007 (third period): n=158. Only the first transplant for a given individual was taken into account. Kaplan-Meyer curves were plotted for 100-day survival, 180-day survival and 3-year survival for each time period. Setting aside the clear differences in supportive care methods, the three groups were well matched in terms of disease diagnosis, disease status at transplant and the main recipient and donor characteristics. It is noteworthy, however, that the median age of patients increased over time. Mean 100-day survival was 86 days (95% CI: 81–90), 93 days (95% CI: 90–96) and 96 days (95% CI: 94–98) for the first, second and third periods, respectively (p

Description: Background : Providing achievement and sustainability of deep molecular responses (DMR), patients (pts) taking tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) against CML may discontinue therapy. The STOP 2G-TKI observational study showed that dasatinib and nilotinib could be safely stopped and prior suboptimal response or resistance to imatinib was an adverse prognostic factor for treatment-free remission (TFR). We present updated results with a specific focus on the risk of relapse using post-baseline information during follow-up. Methods : Adult CML pts treated with dasatinib or nilotinib without a history of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) or progression to advanced phase stopped TKI provided that: (1) BCR-ABL transcripts were of the major type, (2) total TKI treatment duration was ≥36 months, (3) uMR4.5 had been achieved and maintained for ≥24 months (undetectable BCR-ABL with ≥32000 copies of ABL). Relapse was defined by loss of major molecular response (MMR: BCR-ABL IS 〉0.1%) on a single occasion and triggered TKI reintroduction. The primary objective was TFR at 12 months. After TKI discontinuation, BCR-ABL transcripts were monitored monthly during the first 6-12 months, every 3 months during the 2nd year and then every 3-6 months. Data as of July 1, 2019 are reported in 104 pts (median follow-up 55 months (range: 6-70)). Results: Median age at inclusion was 56 years (range: 21-82) and 65.4% of pts were female. Sokal risk score was low in 49%, intermediate in 31%, high in 16% and unknown in 4%. 2G-TKIs were given after imatinib intolerance in 47% of pts, suboptimal response or resistance to imatinib in 22%, lack of DMR on imatinib in 3% and as 1st line treatment in 28%. Median duration of TKI, 2G-TKI and uMR4.5 was 74 months (range: 36-163), 49 months (range: 19-112) and 31 months (range: 24-72), respectively. Overall, 43 pts (41%) lost MMR within a median time of 5 months (range: 1-59). Overall 60-month TFR was 56% (95% CI, 45.8-66.3) but TFR probabilities increased up to 64% (95% CI: 53.3-74.8), 76.7% (95% CI, 65.9-87.5), 86.2% (95% CI; 76.3-96.2), and 92.1% (95% CI: 83.4-100) for pts still in MMR at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months, respectively (Figure 1). Prior suboptimal response or resistance to TKI was confirmed as the strongest adverse baseline prognostic factor with a 60-month TFR rate of 29.8% (95% CI; 10.8-48.7) (median TFR 12 months) versus 63.6% (95% CI; 52.1-75.2) (median not reached) in pts without such history (logrank p=0.0012). This was explained by significantly higher risk of early relapses (within 6 months but not later) in pts with prior suboptimal response or resistance to TKI (cumulative incidence of relapses by 6 months 47.8% (95% CI; 31.2-73.2) versus 20.9 (95% CI; 13.7-32) in other pts (p=0.00879)). Landmark analyses at specific time points were performed to study the prognostic value of molecular responses categories after TKI discontinuation. All pts in MMR but not deeper at 3 months relapsed by month 9 (median time to relapse 4 months) while pts in ≥MR4 (BCR-ABL IS ≤0.01%) had 12- and 60-months probabilities of 86.8% (95% CI; 79.1-94.4) and 74.9% (95% CI: 64-85.7), respectively (logrank p

Description: Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are able to induce, in some chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients in chronic phase (CP), long-term molecular response 4.5 (MR4.5) and several studies have now demonstrated that TKIs could be safely discontinued in those patients with a Treatment-Free Remission (TFR) rate reaching ~50%. The French CML group had recently demonstrated that a failure of the first TKI discontinuation attempt does not preclude a 2nd successful attempt (RE-STIM study, Legros et al. Cancer 2017). Methods: The RE-STIM study is a national observational multicentre study collecting all cases of 2nd TKI discontinuation attempt of regardless the type, the duration of TKI, the duration of MR4.5 and the reason of discontinuation. CP-CML Patients in failure of a 1st attempt, had to recover a 2nd sustained MR4.5 on TKI to be eligible for this new analysis of the enlarged database (n=106). Loss of MMR loss was the trigger for therapy re-introduction. Results: At the time of analysis (1st June 2019), 106 patients (median age: 55 years (range: 25-81 years)) were included with 41 months (2-131) of follow-up after 2nd discontinuation. Fifty males and 56 females were enrolled. The Sokal risk score was low in 45%, intermediate in 26.5%, high in 20% and unknown in 8.5% of patients. The majority of patients (95%) were treated with imatinib as first-line, and the others with a 2nd generation TKI. The median total time on TKI prior to a 2nd discontinuation was 104 months (range: 38-235) and the median duration of a 2nd MR4.5 prior to a 2nd discontinuation was 68 months (range: 20-176). After a 1st discontinuation attempt, the reason for TKI re-challenge was in majority a loss of MMR (66%), a loss of MR4.5 in 33% of patients (missing data in 1%). The TFR rates after a 2nd discontinuation attempt were 44.3% [95% CI 35.48-55.41] at 24 months, 38.5% [95% CI 29.65- 50.09] at 36 months and 33.2% [95% CI 24.31- 45.39] at 48 months. In univariate analysis, we failed to find any association between TFR and: age, gender, Sokal score, prior exposure to IFN, TKI in combination versus monotherapy, TKI type, TKI treatment duration and uMR4.5 duration before the 1st and 2nd discontinuation attempts, and type of molecular relapse after the 1st discontinuation attempt (MR4.5 versus MMR loss). However, the speed of molecular relapse after the 1st TKI discontinuation remains a factor significantly associated with outcome. In patients who remained in uMR4.5 at 3 months after the 1st discontinuation, the TFR rate at 48 months was 53% [95% CI: 35.32-79.31] and 26% [95% CI: 16.88-40.28] for others. Another factor significantly associated with outcome is the TKI-free duration after the 1st attempt (Figure). The TFR rate at 48 months was 45 % [95% CI: 28.64- 69.62] in patients who remained without treatment more than 6 months after their 1st attempt and 27% [95% CI: 17.57- 41.34] for others. All patients are alive at last follow-up except 2 who died from CML-unrelated reasons. One patient developed a sudden blast crisis at 4 years from 2nd discontinuation. The last previous molecular biology 3 months before transformation was MR4. In patients in TKI re-challenge (n=63), median TKI-free duration was 6 months (2-64), 55% of patients regained their MMR within 3 months (0-35) and 41% regained MR4.5 within 5 months (2-53). Conclusions: This larger cohort confirms that TKIs could safely and successfully be discontinued a 2nd time in CP CML patients despite a 1st failure. The speed of molecular relapse after the 1st TKI discontinuation and TKI-free duration remain major factors significantly associated with TFR outcome. Figure: TFR according TKI-free duration after the 1st attempt of discontinuation Figure Disclosures Legros: Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria. Nicolini:Sun Pharma Ltd: Consultancy; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Etienne:BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Rousselot:Pfizer: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding. Rea:Novartis: 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; BMS: Honoraria; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria. Guerci:INCYTE: Consultancy, Honoraria. Huguet:Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Servier: Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria. Coiteux:Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Mahon:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte Biosciences: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau.

Description: Abstract 442 Background. ESAs are usually the first line tx of anemia in non del 5q lower risk MDS. However, not all pts respond to ESAs and median response duration is only about 2 years (Park, Blood 2008;111:574). Long-term outcome of pts who do not respond to or relapse after response to ESAs is incompletely known. We analyzed this outcome by updating a previously reported lower-risk MDS cohort of 403 pts treated with ESA in centers of the GFM (Blood 2008;111:574). Methods. We analyzed in that cohort low and int-1 (lower risk) IPSS pts with Hb75 was associated with shorter survival (median OS 31 mo vs. not reached for age 65 (P=0.03). 83 pts relapsed after an initial response (IWG 2000 major and minor in 60.2% and 39.8% pts, resp) of 16.5 mo median duration (range 3–74 mo). At tx onset, M/F was 1.35, median age 74.3, WHO classification RA, RCMD, RARS, RAEB-1 in 14%, 38%, 32%, 16% of cases, resp, karyotype fav, int in 92% and 8% pts, resp, IPSS low, int-1 in 51% and 49% of pts. Median serum ferritin was 695 ng/mL and median sEPO 64 IU/L. 45% of the pts were TD (median 2 RBC units/mo). Median OS and 3-y CI of AML after relapse were 53 mo and 9.7%, resp. Median OS after relapse was 26 mo in RAEB-1 and not reached in other WHO subtypes (P=0.06) and was not influenced by the presence of multilineage dysplasia. Pts who relapsed after 24 mo had a 4.1% 3-y CI of AML vs 12.8% in pts who relapsed before 24 mo (P=0.40). Median OS was not reached in pts who relapsed after 24 mo vs 53 mo in those relapsing before 24 mo (P=0.90). No pre-tx characteristic was predictive of relapse before or after 24 mo. 16% of the 83 pts were aged 65 (P=0.17), and their 3- CI of AML after relapse was 0% vs 12% in pts aged 〉65 (P=0.31). In the overall pt population (ie pts with primary resistance, pts with relapse and pts with sustained response), univariate competing risk modeling found CI of death from cardiovascular causes to be correlated with TD and older age at tx onset but not with response status, while only age remained significant in multivariate analysis (HR=1.12 [1.014-1.24], P=0.02). Both older age and early failure (ie primary failure or relapse