ALBERT

Description: We obtained a global view of gene expression in both cell lines and pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) samples that harbor one of several selected chromosomal abnormalities. When the cell lines were studied alone, we found that these chromosomal abnormalities were associated with the predominant variation in transcriptional programs across the set of cell lines studied. When cell lines and clinical samples were studied together, we found that each chromosomal abnormality (TEL/AML1, BCR/ABL, or MLL abnormalities) was associated with a characteristic gene expression signature that was shared by both cell lines and clinical samples. However, BCR/ABL was associated with a much more heterogeneous pattern of expression than were TEL/AML1 and MLL abnormalities. This observation has important implications for the study of BCR/ABL ALL. In addition, we systematically identified genes whose expression was associated with TEL/AML1, BCR/ABL, or MLL abnormalities in both clinical samples and cell lines. Although some of these genes have previously been described, many have not previously been reported to be associated with one of these chromosomal abnormalities. Notably, we found that the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) is consistently highly expressed in TEL/AML1 ALL compared with BCR/ABL or MLL. (Blood. 2004;103:1043-1049)

Description: Treatment resistance, as indicated by the presence of high levels of minimal residual disease (MRD) after induction therapy and induction consolidation, is associated with a poor prognosis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We hypothesized that treatment resistance is an intrinsic feature of ALL cells reflected in the gene expression pattern and that resistance to chemotherapy can be predicted before treatment. To test these hypotheses, gene expression signatures of ALL samples with high MRD load were compared with those of samples without measurable MRD during treatment. We identified 54 genes that clearly distinguished resistant from sensitive ALL samples. Genes with low expression in resistant samples were predominantly associated with cell-cycle progression and apoptosis, suggesting that impaired cell proliferation and apoptosis are involved in treatment resistance. Prediction analysis using randomly selected samples as a training set and the remaining samples as a test set revealed an accuracy of 84%. We conclude that resistance to chemotherapy seems at least in part to be an intrinsic feature of ALL cells. Because treatment response could be predicted with high accuracy, gene expression profiling could become a clinically relevant tool for treatment stratification in the early course of childhood ALL.

Description: Introduction: New targets and treatment modalities are needed for multiple myeloma (MM). Fc receptor-homolog 5 (FcRH5) is a type I membrane protein that is expressed on B cells and plasma cells, and is found on myeloma cells with near 100% prevalence. BFCR4350A, a humanized immunoglobulin G-based T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody (bsAb), targets the most membrane-proximal domain of FcRH5 on myeloma cells and CD3 on T cells. Dual binding facilitates efficient immunological synapse formation, resulting in T-cell activation and potent killing of myeloma cells (Li et al. Cancer Cell 2017). GO39775 (NCT03275103) is an ongoing, multicenter Phase I trial evaluating the safety, activity, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of BFCR4350A monotherapy in pts with relapsed/refractory (R/R) MM. We present dose-escalation data from the single step-up dosing cohort (Arm A). Methods: All pts have R/R MM for which no established therapy is available, appropriate, or tolerated. Prior exposure to CAR-T cells, T-cell engaging bsAbs, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), including those targeting BCMA, is allowed. In dose-escalation, pts receive BFCR4350A by IV infusion in 21-day cycles (Q3W). In Arm A, a single step-up dose is used in Cycle (C) 1 to mitigate the risk for cytokine release syndrome (CRS), with the step dose (0.05-3.6mg) given on C1 Day (D) 1 and the target dose (0.15-132mg) given on C1D8, and on D1 of each subsequent cycle. Results: At cut-off (April 13, 2020), 51 pts (median age: 62.0 years [range: 33-80]; high-risk [HR] cytogenetics [1q21, t(4;14), t(14;16), or del(17p)]: 28 pts) had been enrolled into Arm A. Median number of prior lines of therapy was 6 (range: 2-15). Prior treatments included: proteasome inhibitors (PIs), 100% (94.1% refractory); immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), 100% (98.0% refractory); anti-CD38 mAbs, 78.4% (92.5% refractory); autologous stem cell transplant, 86.3%. Overall, 66.7% of pts were triple-class refractory (≥1 PI, ≥1 IMiD, and ≥1 anti-CD38 mAb), and 94.1% of pts were refractory to their last therapy. At cut-off, 46/51 pts were evaluable for efficacy. Responses were observed at the 3.6/20mg dose level and above, in 15/29 pts (51.7%) (Table). Responses included 3 stringent CRs, 3 CRs, 4 VGPRs, and 5 PRs (Table). At the 3.6/20mg dose level and above, responses were observed in pts with HR cytogenetics (9/17), triple-class refractory disease (10/20), and prior exposure to anti-CD38 mAbs (11/22), CAR-Ts (2/3), or ADCs (2/2). Duration of response data are evolving, with 6/15 pts in response for 〉6 months at cut-off. Median follow-up for safety was 6.2 months (range: 0.2-26.3 months). Almost all pts (49/51) had ≥1 treatment-related AE. The most common treatment-related AE was CRS (Lee et al. 2014 criteria; 38/51 pts, 74.5%). CRS was Grade (Gr) 1 in 20 pts (39.2%), Gr 2 in 17 pts (33.3%), and Gr 3 in 1 pt (2%) (due to Gr 4 transaminase elevation). CRS was most common in C1 (38 pts) and was uncommon or absent in subsequent cycles (4 pts). Most CRS events (49/58, 84.5%) resolved within 2 days. 18/38 (47.3%) pts with CRS received tocilizumab and/or steroids. Other treatment-related AEs in ≥5 pts were neutropenia and lymphocyte count decreased (6 pts each, 11.8%), aspartate aminotransferase increased and platelet count decreased (5 pts each, 9.8%). Treatment-related Gr 3-4 AEs (20 pts, 39.2%) in ≥3 pts were lymphocyte count decreased (6 pts, 11.8%), neutropenia (5 pts, 9.8%), anemia and platelet count decreased (3 pts each, 5.9%). No treatment-related Gr 5 (fatal) AEs were observed. Treatment-related AEs leading to withdrawal of treatment were uncommon (1 pt, 2.0%). One DLT (Gr 3 pneumonia) was observed in the 3.6/90mg cohort, but the MTD was not reached. BFCR4350A PK was linear across the active dose levels tested and the estimated half-life was supportive of the Q3W dosing regimen. Conclusions: BFCR4350A monotherapy demonstrates promising activity in heavily pre-treated R/R MM, with deep and durable responses observed in pts with HR cytogenetics, triple-class refractory disease, and/or prior exposure to anti-CD38 mAbs, CAR-Ts, or ADCs. Toxicity was manageable, with C1 single step-up dosing effectively mitigating the risk for severe CRS and allowing escalation to clinically active doses. Updated data will be presented. Disclosures Cohen: Novartis: Other: Patents/Intellectual property licensed, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda,: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GlaxoSmithKline: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kite Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Oncopeptides: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Seattle Genetics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AstraZeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genentech/Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Harrison:Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Patents & Royalties: wrt panobinostat; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Haemalogix: Consultancy; Janssen: Honoraria; CRISPR Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Krishnan:Sutro: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Z Predicta: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy; Regeneron: Consultancy; Takeda: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Other: Stock BMS, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy. Fonseca:Amgen: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; Juno: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy; Aduro: Consultancy; OncoTracker: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Oncopeptides: Consultancy; GSK: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Forsberg:Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Genentech, Inc., Sanofi, Karyopharm, Abbvie: Research Funding. Spencer:AbbVie, Celgene, Haemalogix, Janssen, Sanofi, SecuraBio, Specialised Therapeutics Australia, Servier and Takeda: Consultancy; Amgen, Celgene, Haemalogix, Janssen, Servier and Takeda: Research Funding; AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Haemalogix, Janssen, Sanofi, SecuraBio, Specialised Therapeutics Australia, Servier and Takeda: Honoraria; Celgene, Janssen and Takeda: Speakers Bureau. Berdeja:BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Glenmark: Research Funding; Genentech, Inc.: Research Funding; Bioclinica: Consultancy; Teva: Research Funding; Vivolux: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Cellularity: Research Funding; Acetylon: Research Funding; CURIS: Research Funding; Legend: Consultancy; Lilly: Research Funding; Constellation: Research Funding; EMD Sorono: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Prothena: Consultancy; Poseida: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Servier: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bluebird: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Kite Pharma: Consultancy; CRISPR Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kesios: Research Funding. Li:Genentech, Inc./ F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Current Employment. Choeurng:Genentech, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Vaze:Genentech, Inc./ F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Samineni:Genentech, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Sumiyoshi:Genentech, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Divested equity in a private or publicly-traded company in the past 24 months. Cooper:Genentech, Inc./ F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Fine:Genentech, Inc.: Current Employment; F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Trudel:Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genentech, Inc.: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria. OffLabel Disclosure: BFCR4350A is a humanized IgG-based T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody that targets the most membrane-proximal domain of FcRH5 on myeloma cells and CD3 on T cells. Dual binding facilitates efficient immunological synapse formation, resulting in T-cell activation and killing of myeloma cells. BFCR4350A is an investigational agent.

Description: Introduction: Fc receptor-homolog 5 (FcRH5) is an immunoglobulin (Ig) domain-containing type I membrane protein that is expressed exclusively in the B-cell lineage. FcRH5 expression is retained in myeloma cells, with near 100% prevalence, and is elevated vs normal B cells. BFCR4350A is a humanized IgG-based T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody. Binding of BFCR4350A to the most membrane-proximal domain of FcRH5 on myeloma cells and to cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3) on T cells results in efficient immunological synapse formation and potent T-cell-directed killing of myeloma cells (Li, et al. Cancer Cell 2017). An ongoing Phase I dose-escalation study (GO39775; NCT03275103) is investigating the safety, activity, pharmacodynamics (PD) and pharmacokinetics of BFCR4350A monotherapy in patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma (MM). In Arm A, clinical activity was observed at the 3.6mg/20mg (step/target) dose level and above, and toxicity was manageable (Cohen, et al. ASH 2020). We present preliminary biomarker data that demonstrate the mode of action (MOA) of BFCR4350A, provide support for Cycle (C) 1 step-up dosing, and offer preliminary insights into markers that may predict response. Methods: In Arm A, R/R MM pts receive BFCR4350A by intravenous infusion in 21-day cycles. In C1, a single step-up dosing approach is used to mitigate the risk for cytokine release syndrome (CRS), with the step dose given on C1 Day (D) 1 and the target dose given on C1D8. The target dose is then administered on D1 of each subsequent cycle. PD changes in peripheral blood (PB) are assessed at baseline and at multiple time points within C1 by whole blood flow cytometry, plasma cytokine electrochemiluminescence and digital ELISA. Tumor biomarkers are assessed at baseline and pre-C2 by bone marrow (BM) biopsy dual CD138/CD8 immunohistochemistry staining and BM aspirate flow cytometry. The clinical cut-off date used for the current analyses was April 13, 2020. Results: At cut-off, all pts in Arm A (n=51) were biomarker evaluable. FcRH5 expression on myeloma cells was detected in all pts. Dose-dependent PD changes in PB were observed 24-192 hrs after the C1D1 infusion. Variable reduction in circulating T cells was observed 24 hrs after the 0.3-1.8mg C1D1 doses, while consistent reduction was observed after the 3.6mg C1D1 dose, with recovery by C1D8 (192 hrs). T-cell activation was detected 24 hrs post-infusion by upregulation of CD69 in CD8 and CD4 T cells and elevation of IFN-γ in plasma (median increase of ~150-fold from baseline), while T-cell proliferation (Ki67+) peaked by C1D8. At the 3.6mg C1D1 dose, CD8 T-cell activation and proliferation were up to 20-fold higher than at baseline. Minimal elevation of IL-6 was observed post-infusion in pts who received doses below 3.6mg on C1D1, while more consistent increases (≥100pg/ml) were observed in pts who received 3.6mg. IL-6 levels peaked within 24 hrs of the C1D1 dose and the kinetics of IL-6 increase were associated with dose and risk for CRS. Step-up dosing mitigated the risk for severe CRS, as evidenced by lower IL-6 levels after the C1D8 target dose compared to the 3.6mg C1D1 step dose in 27/33 (82%) pts (see Cohen, et al. ASH 2020 for corresponding clinical data). Preliminary data suggest that pts who respond to BFCR4350A have more pronounced T-cell expansion in PB, irrespective of baseline CD8 T-cell levels during the first week of C1. Analysis of the subset of pts with paired BM biopsies (n=19 pts) revealed that levels of CD8+ tumor infiltrating T-cells (TILs) were higher in responding pts than in non-responding pts at the end of C1. Conclusions: In this study, we demonstrated that early PD changes in T-cell activation, proliferation, and cytokine production confirm the MOA of BFCR4350A and support C1 step-up dosing for CRS mitigation in R/R MM. Early data suggest that at the end of C1, higher peripheral CD8 T-cell expansion and TILs are observed in responding pts than in non-responding pts. Additional analyses are ongoing to establish BFCR4350A response predictors and to better characterize the populations that are likely to benefit. Updated data will be presented. Disclosures Nakamura: Genentech, Inc.: Current Employment; F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Lear:F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Genentech, Inc.: Current Employment. Wilson:Genentech, Inc.: Current Employment. Koeppen:Genentech, Inc./ F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Current Employment; F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Pliant Therapeutics, Allogene, Jounce: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Vaze:Genentech, Inc./ F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Trudel:Takeda: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genentech, Inc.: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding. Spencer:Amgen, Celgene, Haemalogix, Janssen, Servier and Takeda: Research Funding; AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Haemalogix, Janssen, Sanofi, SecuraBio, Specialised Therapeutics Australia, Servier and Takeda: Honoraria; AbbVie, Celgene, Haemalogix, Janssen, Sanofi, SecuraBio, Specialised Therapeutics Australia, Servier and Takeda: Consultancy; Celgene, Janssen and Takeda: Speakers Bureau. Harrison:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Patents & Royalties: wrt panobinostat; Janssen: Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; CRISPR Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Haemalogix: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Cohen:Novartis: Other: Patents/Intellectual property licensed, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda,: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GlaxoSmithKline: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kite Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Oncopeptides: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Seattle Genetics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AstraZeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genentech/Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Fine:Genentech, Inc.: Current Employment; F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Li:Genentech, Inc./ F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Current Employment. Cooper:Genentech, Inc./ F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Sumiyoshi:Genentech, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Divested equity in a private or publicly-traded company in the past 24 months. OffLabel Disclosure: BFCR4350A is a humanized IgG-based T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody that targets the most membrane-proximal domain of FcRH5 on myeloma cells and CD3 on T cells. Dual binding facilitates efficient immunological synapse formation, resulting in T-cell activation and killing of myeloma cells. BFCR4350A is an investigational agent.