ALBERT

Description: Abstract 2891 Poster Board II-867 Thalidomide maintenance therapy after completion of induction therapy plus ASCT and also after conventional therapy yielded conflicting results with some trials showing improvement in overall survival and others not. This study evaluates the efficacy of Thalidomide plus Interferon a2b (Thal-IFN) in comparison to interferon a2b (IFN) as maintenance therapy in elderly pts with multiple myeloma. For induction therapy, 289 pts had been randomized to either Thalidomide-Dexamethasone or to Melphalan-Prednisolone; results of this part of the study had been reported previously (BLOOD, 113, 3435-3442, 2009). 137 pts who had completed 9 cycles of induction therapy and had achieved stable disease or better were eligible for maintenance treatment, and 128 (median age 72 years, range 54 - 86 years) had finally been randomized to either Thal (starting dose: 200mg/day) in combination with IFN-a2b (Schering-Plough, 3 Mega U, TIW) or IFN a2b (IFN) at the same dose/schedule only. All pts were scheduled for zoledronate 4mg, q 4 weeks. Median follow up from randomization to maintenance: 35 mos. Median duration of maintenance therapy: 13.2 mos and 8.3 mos for pts randomized to Thal-IFN or to IFN, respectively (logrank test p=0.20). Maintenance therapy with Thal-IFN resulted in an improvement in the depth of response from PR to VGPR or CR in 5 (8%) and with IFN in 2 (3%) pts, respectively. Progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly longer in the Thal-IFN (27.7 mos) compared to the IFN only maintenance group (13.2 mos), (HR, 0.55; 95% 95% CI, 0.36-0.86; log-rank test, p=0.0068). Analysis of PFS by either Thal-Dex or MP induction therapy showed a significantly shorter PFS in pts started on Thal-Dex and subsequently randomized to IFN maintenance only (7.8 mos, log-rank test, p=0.037). PFS was 27.7 mos in pts started on Thal-Dex followed by Thal-IFN, 20.2 mos in those with MP induction therapy followed by IFN, and 27.6 mos in pts with Thal-IFN maintenance after MP induction therapy. Overall survival (OS) was similar in both groups (Thal-IFN 52.6 mos and IFN 51.4 mos, HR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.53-1.66, log-rank test; p=0.81). OS by induction therapy did not vary significantly between the four treatment groups (logrank test, p=0.99). No significant difference in OS was seen between pts younger than 75 years and those aged 75 years or older (logrank test, p=0.39). Survival after progression of disease tended to be longer in pts who received IFN maintenance therapy only compared to those started on Thal-IFN (HR: 1.75, 95% CI, 0.97 – 3.14, logrank test: 0.056), while OS was similar between both groups when analyzed from termination of maintenance therapy (HR: 1.20, 95% CI, 0.65 – 2.20, log rang test 0.57). Baseline scores of the EORTC QLQ C30 items general health (Thal-IFN, mean 56; IFN, mean 59) and overall quality of life (Thal-IFN, mean 58; IFN, mean 60) were markedly below the score obtained in an healthy population (mean 75.3 and 73.3 respectively), but did neither differ at baseline between both groups nor did they vary significantly during the course of the maintenance (statistics will be provided). Cytogenetic data were available in 66 pts. PFS tended to be longer in pts with adverse FISH findings [t (4; 14), t (14; 20) Del 17p and abnormalities of 1q21] compared to the standard risk group, but differences were not significant (median: 31.5 vs. 21.6 mos, HR: 1.69, 95% CI, 0.13 – 3.07, log-rank test 0.084). The median of OS was 72.3 mos in those with standard risk and 39.6 mos in those with high risk features (HR: 1.94, 95% CI 0.91-4.13, log rank test: 0.082). In multivariate analysis (Cox model) only Thal-IFN maintenance therapy was shown to correlate significantly with PFS (HR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39-0.89, p=0.04) while for poor performance status, low hemoglobin, and low albumin a statistically non-significant correlation with survival was noted. Hematologic toxicity was similar between both groups. Pts on Thal-IFN maintenance experienced significantly more neuropathy (p=0.0024), constipation (p=0.0007) and skin toxicity (p=0.0063) and increase in renal impairment (p=0.037). In addition, there was a tendency for more dyspnea (p=0.40) and more fatigue (p=0.11) in pts on Thal-IFN maintenance therapy. Other non-hematological toxicities were similarly distributed in both therapy arms. In conclusion, Thal-IFN maintenance therapy resulted in increased PFS compared IFN maintenance treatment only, but OS was similar between both groups. Disclosures: Ludwig: Celgene: Honoraria; Mundipharma: Honoraria; AMGEN: Honoraria; Ortho-Biotech : Honoraria; Janssen-Cilag: Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria. Hajek:Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria. Kuhn:Schering-Plough: Employment.

Description: Background: Daratumumab is one of the most effective new myeloma drugs recently approved for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM), first in monotherapy in heavily pretreated patients, later in triplet combinations from first relapse, based on the results of the SIRIUS, POLLUX and CASTOR trials that showed good tolerability and high effectivity of daratumumab both in monotherapy and combined with lenalidomide or bortezomib. However, clinical trials are different from real world use for many reasons including less rigorous patient selection, greater flexibility with dosing and country specific funding restrictions making real world data very important for clinicians. Real world data regarding daratumumab use is currently very limited. In the Hungarian system, funding of daratumumab was initiated in December 2016, and required individual preapproved funding requests. Initially only monotherapy was reimbursed in double-refractory patients, but from 2018 triplet combination in earlier lines could start as well. Aims and Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of daratumumab in the real world practice. We approached all centers in Hungary where daratumumab was used, in a retrospective analysis. The scope of this study was to analyze response rate, progression free survival (PFS), treatment duration, and adverse events (AEs). Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS (version 20.0) software package. Results: 8 centers responded with 75 patients altogether. Patients were heavily pretreated, the median number of prior lines was 3 (1-12). All patients had prior bortezomib, and most had lenalidomide (82.6%) and thalidomide (86.6%), all but one had one of the two IMiDs. 62.6% of the patients had prior autologous transplantation, with two having prior allograft, as well. Pre-daratumumab cytogenetic FISH tests of 57 patients were available, here 33/57 had high risk cytogenetics. The majority had high international staging system (ISS) score: 8, 16 and 48 were in the ISS 1, 2 and 3 groups respectively. Treatment usually continued until progression, unacceptable toxicity or death, the mean number of cycles was 6. AEs over grade 3 were uncommon, the most frequent AEs were mild infusion associated reactions (IARs, grade 1-2) and infections (Table 1). There were 7 fatal infections, other fatal AEs were absent. Infusion related toxicities were manageable in all cases. The majority of patients (41) had monotherapy with dexamethasone only, but 17 had bortezomib and another 17 lenalidomide combination. Overall response rate was assessable in 66 patients with 7 complete, 8 very good partial, 24 partial, 5 minor responses. 14 showed stable disease, 8 progressive disease. 9 patients had no formal disease reassessment due to either early death or short follow up. There was no clear connection between the number of prior lines and the quality of the response, however those who had either bortezomib or lenalidomid combinations showed better overall response rate (p=0.045). With 43 events so far the estimated PFS and OS were 151 and 260 days, but it was much better in those who showed at least a partial response (PFS 400 days, OS nor reached; Figure 1). The only other factor that significantly affected the PFS was ISS (p=0.039), we could not demonstrate a significant connection between cytogenetics, the number of prior lines, combination therapy and survival. Conclusion: Our results highlight the differences between patients treated in routine practice and those treated in clinical trials. Here treatment protocols were dictated by funding rules, and therefore similar patients were treated with doublets and triplets. The results of the POLLUX and CASTOR trials were superior in comparison to the SIRIUS study with monotherapy, but our results do not reflect this marked difference, probably due to the almost complete absence of 2nd and 3rd line patients who dominated the Pollux and Castor trials. Importantly these heavily pretreated patients tolerated daratumumab well, IARs over grade 2 were absent. Based on our results, daratumumab is an effective treatment option for relapsed/refractory MM with good safety profile. Disclosures Masszi: Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy. Illés:Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Description: Abstract 905 Introduction: Though dose-intensive strategies using chemoimmunotherapy have significantly improved mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) outcomes with prolonged progression-free survival (PFS), most patients still relapse over time. In the relapsed setting, MCL patients often develop chemoresistance and have a poor overall prognosis. The immunomodulatory agent lenalidomide has demonstrated tumoricidal and antiproliferative effects in MCL and clinical activity and safety in multiple phase II studies in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The objective of the MCL-001 “EMERGE” study was to examine the safety and efficacy of single-agent lenalidomide in subjects with MCL who relapsed or were refractory to bortezomib. Methods: This phase II, multicenter, single-arm, open-label study examined single-agent lenalidomide administered at 25 mg/d PO on days 1–21 of a 28-day cycle until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or voluntary withdrawal. The subjects were required to have had prior treatment with rituximab, cyclophosphamide and anthracycline (or mitoxantrone), and to have relapsed or progressed (

Description: Thalidomide-Dexamethasone (TD) is an active regimen both in patients (pts) with relapsing/refractory and in untreated pts with multiple myeloma (MM). Here we compare TD with standard Melphalan-Prednisone (MP) in previously untreated elderly pts with MM. 274 pts have been enrolled (median age: 72 yrs, stage I: 9 (3%), stage II: 84 (31%), stage III: 179 (65%). Pts were randomized to T 200mg/day and D 40mg, days 1–4 and 15–18 (on odd cycles) and days 1–4 (on even cycles) or M 0.25mg/kg days 1–4 and P2mg/kg days 1–4, q 4–6 weeks. T should be dosed up to 400mg/day, if feasible. Pts achieving response or SD were randomized to maintenance therapy either with T (≤200mg/day)-Interferon-a2b (IFN, 3Mega U, TIW) or IFN (3Mega U/TIW). Zoledronic acid (4mg) was administered monthly to all pts during the entire treatment period. Response is defined according Blade’s criteria, plus nCR defined as IF positive or 〉90%↓ in PP and VGPR defined as 〉75% ↓reduction in PP. 231 pts are evaluable per protocol. Best response to TD: CR (14%) nCR 17%, VGPR 17%, PR 21%, yielding an ORR (CR-PR) of 68%. Best response to MP: CR 7%, nCR 8%, VGPR 14%, PR 22%; ORR 51% (ORR in TD vs. MP p=.0044). Time to response and time to best response were shorter in the TD (6, 16 weeks, respectively) compared to the MP group (16, 25 weeks, respectively; p

Description: BACKGROUND: Polycythemia vera (PV) is characterized by increased red cell mass often associated with elevated leukocyte and platelet counts, splenomegaly and significant symptom burden. In the RESPONSE study, which only enrolled PV patients with splenomegaly, ruxolitinib (Rux) demonstrated superior improvements in hematocrit (HCT) control and reductions in spleen volume compared with best available therapy (BAT) in pts who were resistant to or intolerant of HU. Supportive data included clinically meaningful improvements in PV-related symptom burden and quality of life (QOL) measures. Here, we describe the baseline (BL) characteristics and symptom burden of PV pts resistant to or intolerant of HU enrolled in the RESPONSE-2 study, which unlike RESPONSE, enrolled PV patients with a nonpalpable spleen. METHODS: RESPONSE-2 is an open-label, randomized (1:1), multicenter, phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Rux vs BAT in PV pts who are HU-resistant/-intolerant, require phlebotomy (PBT), and have no palpable spleen. Pts' BL symptom burden, BL QOL and BL pt-reported outcomes (PRO) were assessed by using 10-items modified Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form Total Symptom Score (MPN-SAF TSS), the Pruritus Symptom Impact Scale (PSIS), European QOL Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment: Polycythemia Vera V2.0 (WPAI: PV). RESULTS: A total of 149 pts were enrolled. BL demographic data from both arms combined are summarized in the Table. Forty percent of the patients were resistant whereas 60% were intolerant of HU treatment. Other than HU, prior treatments included interferons (15.4%), alkylating agents (8.1%), alkyl sulfonates (2.7%), pyrimidine analogs (0.7%), and other antineoplastic agents (1.0%). Ninety-seven percent of pts had at least 1 PBT within 16 weeks (wks) prior to screening and 72% had ≥ 2 PBT within 24 wks prior to screening. Past medical histories included hypertension (49%), pruritus (23%) and fatigue (9%). BL demographics of pts in RESPONSE-2 were generally comparable with previous PV studies (Table). Despite using frequent phlebotomy and cytoreductive agents during the screening period prior to randomization, 55% and 52% of pts had WBC counts greater than 10 × 109/L and platelet counts greater than 400 × 109/L, respectively, suggesting inadequately controlled disease even while receiving therapy. Additionally, pts had significant symptom burden at BL as measured by the MPN-SAF with fatigue (3.6) and pruritus (3.4) (Table). As measured by EQ-5D-5L scale, 26% and 19% of pts reported moderate to extreme pain/discomfort and depression, respectively. In WPAI outcomes, 40 of 149 pts reported missing work due to PV accounting for 14.3% of their working time. SUMMARY/CONCLUSION: Demographic and BL data from the RESPONSE-2 study highlight the significant unmet medical need in this inadequately controlled HU-resistant/-intolerant PV population. As expected, pts in RESPONSE-2 reported lower scores for symptoms associated with splenomegaly (early satiety, 1.8 vs 2.0; abdominal discomfort, 1.7 vs 2.0) as compared with RESPONSE population. In comparison to PV pts with splenomegaly in the RESPONSE trial, pts without splenomegaly in the RESPONSE-2 trial have a distinct but comparable disease burden with marked fatigue and pruritus. Table 1. Baseline demographics and symptoms (n = 149) Age, median (range), years 66.0 (26.0, 87.0) Time since diagnosis of PV, median, months 80.7 Male, % 57.7 Female, % 42.3 ECOG performance status, % 0 1 72.5 26.8 Hematocrit (%), median,(n=149) 43.0 n (%) 〈 40 ≥ 40 to ≤ 45 〉 45 2 (1.3) 146 (98.0) 1 (0.7) WBC count (x 109/L), median (n=149) 10.6 n (%) ≤ 10 〉 10 and ≤ 15 〉 15 67 (45.0) 43 (28.9) 39 (26.2) PLT count (x 109/L), median (n=148) 420.0 n (%) 〈 100 ≥ 100 and 〈 400 ≥ 400 to 〈 600 ≥ 600 2 (1.3) 68 (45.6) 38 (25.5) 40 (26.8) JAK2 mutation, n (%) (n=149) Positive Negative Unknown 143 (96.0) 4 (2.7) 2 (1.3) MPN-SAF Symptom (n) Mean (SD) Total score (n=145) 2.0 (1.67) Fatigue (n=146) 3.6 (2.72) Early satiety (n=145) 1.8 (2.47) Abdominal discomfort (n=143) 1.7 (2.44) Inactivity (n=142) 2.1 (2.77) Concentration problem (n=146) 2.3 (2.75) Night sweats (n=145) 2.2 (3.07) Pruritus (n=145) 3.4 (3.37) Bone pain (n=144) 2.1 (2.89) Fever (n=144) 0.2 (0.92) Weight loss (n=142) 0.7 (1.72) Disclosures Passamonti: Novartis: Consultancy. Cavo:JANSSEN, CELGENE, AMGEN: Consultancy. Vannucchi:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Other: Research Funding paid to institution (University of Florence), Research Funding; Shire: Speakers Bureau; Baxalta: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Bensasson:Novartis: Employment. Khan:Novartis: Employment. Mounedji:Novartis: Employment.

Description: Introduction: SKY59 is an anti-C5 antibody applying SMART* [Fukuzawa et al., SciRep 2017] to allow for infrequent SC dosing. A three-part adaptive clinical trial was conducted in healthy volunteers (part1 -previously reported, Röth et al., Blood 2017 130:4750) and PNH patients who are treatment naive (part 2) or previously treated with eculizumab (ecu) (part 3) to establish dose, safety and efficacy of SKY59. Methods: Part 2 was an intra-patient dose escalation study. Patients received IV doses of 375mg, 500mg, and 1000mg of SKY59 on days 1, 8 and 22, respectively, followed by weekly doses of SKY59 of 170mg SC starting on day 36. In part 3 PNH patients who had been on ecu for at least 3 months received an IV loading dose of 1000mg SKY59 on day 1, 2 weeks after their last ecu dose, and were randomized to receive 170mg SC QW, 340mg SC Q2W or 680mg SC Q4W of SKY59 starting on day 8. After 5 months all patients entered an open-label extension remaining on their previous dose regimen with SKY59. Terminal complement activity was quantified using an ex vivo liposome immunoassay (LIA). The study was approved by Ethics Committees and Health Authorities and conducted according to the principles of the declaration of Helsinki. Results: 17 PNH patients were included (Table 1), 10 in part 2 and 7 in part 3 at the time of writing this abstract. PK: After SC administration, bioavailability is estimated at 100%. For a patient of 75 kg, the terminal half-life was estimated around 25 days. PD: Following IV dosing, complete complement inhibition (defined as LIA values 〈 10 U/mL, the LLOQ of the assay), was achieved at end of infusion in all patients and maintained for all SC dose regimens. Median baseline (BL) total C5 concentration was 107 μg/mL (range: 66.9 - 130 μg/mL) in part 1, 140 μg/mL (73.6 - 184 μg/mL) in part 2, 295 μg/mL (205 - 354 μg/mL) in part 3. Following treatment with SKY59, patients in Part 2 showed a slight increase in total C5 at week 6 to 215 μg/mL (109 - 331 μg/mL). Patients in part 3 had a significant decrease in total C5 at week 6 to 228 μg/mL (184 - 305 μg/mL), likely reflecting the antigen disposing activity of SKY59. Treatment-naive patients (including one Arg885His C5 SNP patient [Nishimura et al.; N Engl J Med. 2014]) with PNH had a rapid median reduction in LDH (-79% from BL; median 1.20 x ULN, range 0.8 to 1.7 x ULN) at 6 weeks. LDH of Patients in part 3 did not show a significant change at 6 weeks or later compared to BL except for one C5 SNP patient who normalized LDH. 6/6 of naive (non-transfusion dependent) and 1/5 switch (non-transfusion dependent) patients had an increase in hemoglobin of at least 10g/L from BL to week 20, one patient in Part 2 and one patient in Part 3 normalized their hemoglobin. Overall transfusion requirements were not changed. QoL: From BL to week 10 treatment naive patients experienced a median change of +11 points (range -1 to 28) in the FACIT fatigue score. Switch patients showed no significant short-term change from BL to week 12 on the same questionnaire. Safety: Treatment with SKY59 was well tolerated, particularly, no injection site AEs and a low incidence of headache was observed. There were 2 SAEs (break-through hemolysis due to infection and atrial fibrillation) not related to study drug. No AEs resulted in withdrawal from the study or death. In 2/7 switch patients mild-moderate non-serious, likely drug-target-drug complex (DTDC) mediated reactions with clinical manifestations similar to serum sickness were observed in the initial post-switch period (day 9 and 10 respectively). These manifestations were treated with topical steroids and resolved by day 21 with no interruption in study treatment. In patients switching from ecu to SKY59, the formation of DTDC composed of SKY59, C5, and ecu are expected due to the different binding epitopes of the two antibodies. Conclusion: SKY59 administered SC in a low volume is very well tolerated, has a good benefit/risk ratio and is efficacious in treatment naive and ecu-treated patients with PNH. Transient induction of DTDC was not associated with undue toxicity. Furthermore, SKY59 has the potential to provide treatment for patients unresponsive to ecu due to SNP and significantly reduces the treatment burden associated with chronic IV administration. Updated data will be presented at the meeting. * Sequential Monoclonal Antibody Recycling Technology Disclosures Röth: Bioverativ: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Peffault De Latour:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen Inc.: Research Funding; Pfizer Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Usuki:Takeda Pharmaceutical: Speakers Bureau; Boehringer-Ingelheim Japan: Research Funding; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Pfizer Japan: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ono Pharmaceutical: Speakers Bureau; Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Shire Japan: Research Funding; SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited.: Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline K.K.: Research Funding; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd.: Research Funding; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Research Funding; Astellas Pharma Inc.: Research Funding; Chugai Pharmaceutical: Speakers Bureau; Celgene Corporation: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi K.K.: Research Funding; Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K: Research Funding; Nippon Shinyaku: Speakers Bureau; Mochida Pharmaceutical: Speakers Bureau; MSD K.K.: Speakers Bureau. Winter:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hsu:Roche: Employment. Dieckmann:Roche: Employment. Anzures-Cabrera:Roche: Employment. Jordan:Roche: Employment. Shinomiya:Chugai: Employment. Klughammer:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ag: Employment. Bucher:Roche: Employment. Jahreis:Genentech: Employment, Equity Ownership. Nishimura:Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Chugai Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding.

Description: Before the introduction of Alemtuzumab, the prognosis of fludarabine-refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was very poor. This humanised anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody was found to be effective in CLL patients with additional high-risk prognostic markers. In our case report, we present the courses of treatment with Alemtuzumab in a CLL patient with del q11, elevated ZAP-70 and CD38 levels. He was first admitted to our department because of CLL in 1996. He received high dose Chlorambucil, later fludarabine courses between 1996–2002. Because of early disease progression five courses of Alemtuzumab were administered between 2003–2007. The treatment resulting nodal partial remission lasting about 10–11 months. No CTC 3–4 grade side effects were registered, nor hospitalization was necessary. The patient responded favorably to each course of repeated therapy with single agent Alemtuzumab, suggesting, that Alemtuzumab retraitment is the choice of therapy for fludarabine refractory CLL patients.

Description: Background: Pacritinib (PAC), an oral JAK2/IRAK 1 inhibitor, has demonstrated clinical benefit in myelofibrosis (MF) patients in two prior Phase 3 studies (PERSIST-1, PERSIST-2). PAC203 is a randomized Phase 2 dose-finding study in patients with MF who were intolerant of or failed to benefit from ruxolitinib. Herein, we describe the results, including pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) analyses, used to identify the recommended dose of PAC for further study. Methods: Patients with DIPSS intermediate-1, -2, or high-risk MF who were intolerant of ruxolitinib (treatment ≥28 days complicated by development of RBC transfusion requirement or grade ≥3 anemia or thrombocytopenia, hematoma, and/or hemorrhage while treated with

Description: Introduction: Despite recent advances in available treatments, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) remains an incurable disease, and the vast majority of patients (pts) will relapse and require additional lines of therapy. Thus, prolonging remission is a key treatment goal in CLL. This multicenter, randomized, double-blinded phase 3 trial (NCT00774345) was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lenalidomide (LEN) vs placebo (PBO) as maintenance therapy in previously treated CLL pts. Methods: Eligible CLL pts must have had at least a partial response (PR) to second-line therapy. Pts were randomized 1:1 to receive either LEN 2.5 mg once daily on days 1-28 of the first 28-day cycle, or matching PBO. If LEN was well tolerated, escalation to 5 mg/day was permitted from cycle 2, and further escalation to 10 mg/day at cycle 7 and thereafter. Pts were stratified by their response at the end of second-line therapy (PR, nodular PR, complete response [CR], or CR with incomplete bone marrow recovery; vs minimal residual disease [MRD]-negative CR by flow cytometry); age (≤ 70 vs 〉 70 years); and presence of at least one of the following poor prognostic factors: del(11q), del(17p), unmutated IGHV, or b2M 〉 0.4 mg/L (Yes vs No vs Unknown). Co-primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS; IRAC assessed) and overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included: safety, tumor response, duration of response, second PFS (PFS2, time from randomization to second disease progression or death), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Results: Overall, 314 pts were enrolled (LEN, n = 160; PBO, n = 154). Baseline characteristics were balanced between the treatment arms: median age was 63 years (range 37-82) and 63 years (range 37-84), 71.9% and 72.1% were male, 9.4% and 11.7% had MRD-negative CR to second-line treatment, and 47.5% and 47.4% had at least one poor prognostic factor, in the LEN and PBO arms, respectively. On review of the primary analysis, 30 Sept 2015 data cutoff, the required number of progression events to complete the co-primary analysis had occurred, and the data monitoring committee recommended that the study be unblinded. Median follow-up time was 31.5 months, and the median PFS was significantly longer for LEN vs PBO: 33.9 vs 9.2 months, respectively (HR 0.40 [95% CI 0.29, 0.55]; P 〈 0.001). At the time of the analysis there were 86 deaths and there was no significant difference in the OS (HR 0.96 [95% CI 0.63, 1.48]; P = 0.856). Subsequent CLL therapy was received by 35.7% of pts in the LEN arm and 58.4% of pts in the PBO arm, of these pts 16% in the LEN arm and 20% in the PBO arm were treated with a BTK or PI3K inhibitor. Median PFS2 was significantly longer for LEN vs PBO: 57.5 vs 32.7 months, respectively (HR 0.46 [95% CI 0.29, 0.70]; P

Description: Background: Interferon-alpha (IFN) is being used in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) since years and remains the only known treatment with disease-modifying potential. Ropeginterferon alfa-2b (Ropeg) is a novel mono-pegylated IFN, with reduced dosing frequency and improved tolerability. Here, we report 3 years clinical data from the phase III PROUD/CONTI-PV trials with an additional emphasis on the first comprehensive, prospective, randomized, controlled genomic profiling including not only JAK2V617F, but longitudinal targeted sequencing to identify non-JAK somatic mutations and chromosomal aberrations. Study design: 254 PV patients (WHO 2008 criteria, naïve to cytoreduction or HU pretreated but not resistant) were randomized to receive Ropeg or hydroxyurea (HU) in the PROUD-PV study and were rolled over to CONTI-PV study after 12 months, with the option to switch from HU to best-available-therapy (BAT). Efficacy assessment included complete hematological response (CHR, by ELN criteria), and CHR plus symptom improvement (PV-related symptoms and signs including clinically significant splenomegaly). Secondary endpoints included JAK2V617F molecular response (MR, modified ELN criteria). Next-generation-sequencing (NGS, TruSight Myeloid Panel, Illumina) and genome-wide analysis (SNP 6.0, Affymetrix) was applied comprehensively as exploratory genetic work-up. Results: 83 (Ropeg) and 70 (HU/BAT) patients completed the 36-month efficacy analysis time point, mean treatment duration for safety analysis was 3.8 years. Median doses in the third year remained constant: 425 µg Ropeg every 2 weeks and 1,000 mg HU per day. In the HU/BAT arm over 97% of patients remained treated with HU. After 36 months of treatment, maintenance of higher responder rates (full analysis set) was shown in the Ropeg arm compared to HU/BAT for CHR (70.5% vs. 51.4%; p=0.0122; RR [95% CI]: 1.38 [1.07-1.79]) and for CHR plus symptom improvement (52.6% vs. 37.8%; p=0.0437; RR [95% CI]: 1.42 [1.01-2.00]). In contrast to HU/BAT, response rates were steadily increasing in the Ropeg arm throughout 24 months of treatment and remained constant after 36 months. Regarding safety, comparable numbers of patients experienced adverse events (89.8% for Ropeg, 90.6% for HU) and treatment-related adverse events (74.8% for Ropeg, 78.7% for HU). The most common (〉10%) treatment-related adverse events anemia, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia occurred more frequently under HU, whereas GGT increase was mainly observed under Ropeg. No new safety signals appeared in the third year of treatment. Regarding JAK2V617F, after 36 months 66.0% of patients in the Ropeg arm but only 27.0% in the HU/BAT arm had achieved MR (p