ALBERT

Description: Introduction: HSCT has been developed in few Wm cases and is nowadays challenged by other innovative approaches. However, high dose therapy followed by autologous HSCT (HD-auto) produces high response rate and some long term responses while allogeneic HSCT performed after either myeloablative (MA-allo) or reduced intensity conditioning (RIC-allo) regimens may be cure of Wm (Dreger 1998, Tournilhac 2003, Maloney 2006). Methods: We updated and extended our retrospective experience on 32 HD-auto, 11 MA-allo and 11-RIC-allo performed from 1990 to 2006 in 51 patients from 18 institutions. A MA-allo and a RIC-allo were performed in 1 and 2 cases respectively following relapse after a 1st HD-auto. Results: Data are presented in the table. HD-auto MA-allo RIC-allo Nb 32 11 11 Median age at transplant 56 46 56 Interval: diagnosis-transplant 38 50 74 Chemoresistance at transplant 25% 36% 55% Conditioning regimen BEAM (13), TBI/melphalan (9), TBI/endoxan (7), other (3) TBI/endoxan (9), other (2) TBI/fluda (10), other (1) Donor Sibling (9), unrelated (2) Sibling (8), unrelated (2), cord blood (1) Median follow up (m) 45 (3–121) 68 (3–132) 22(2–60) Relapse 18 (56%) 4 (36%) 0 Transplant related mortality 12,5% (one 2th cancer) 36% 27% (one 2th cancer) overall survival (1;3;5y) 87%, 77%, 58% 64%, 54%, 54% 82%, 68%, 68% Event free survival (5y) 25% 48% 68% Acute GVHD developed following 9 MA-allo [Grade III-IV (n=1)] and 8 RIC-allo [Grade III-IV (n=1)]. Chronic GVHD developed following 7 MA-allo [limited (n=5), extensive (n=2)] and 5 RIC-allo [limited (n=2), extensive (n=3)]. Conclusion: We confirm that autologous HSCT achieves some long term responses even in heavily pretreated patients. Allogeneic HSCT induces very long term disease control and may cure WM. Specially, the RIC-allo gives impressive results on disease control in a set of older patients, with refractory disease, mostly heavily pretreated.

Description: Treatment of lymphoma with alkylating agents and steroids is known to cause bone loss and increased fracture risk. These effects result from multiple causes including systemic lymphoma-related cytokine activity, steroid-mediated bone loss, and therapy-induced hypogonadism. Furthermore, over half of all untreated lymphoma patients are either osteopenic or osteoporotic at the time of diagnosis.1,2 Pamidronate is known to reduce bone loss and risk of vertebral fractures in lymphoma patients undergoing chemotherapy. However, the effects of the more potent bisphosphonate zoledronic acid in this setting are unknown. Therefore, we report on an ongoing phase III trial designed to evaluate the effect of zoledronic acid on the change in bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with newly-diagnosed lymphoma undergoing chemotherapy. In total, 72 patients will be randomized to either the control arm consisting of therapy with calcium carbonate (1200 mg orally per day) plus vitamin D (400 mg orally per day), or the bisphosphonate arm consisting of therapy with calcium carbonate and vitamin D as in the control arm plus zoledronic acid (4 mg IV given at baseline and at 6 months). The primary endpoint of the study is to compare the absolute change between the baseline and 12-month measures of BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral necks. Thus far, 97 patients have been screened for enrollment. Twenty-four patients (24.7%) failed screening due to periodontal disease, a predetermined exclusion criterion of the study. Twenty-three patients have been randomized to the control arm, and 18 patients have been randomized to the bisphosphonate arm. To date, 11 patients in the control arm and 7 patients in the bisphosphonate arm have completed the one-year follow up period including baseline and one-year BMD evaluations. In comparing the change in BMD at one year of patients in the control arm to that of patients in the bisphosphonate arm, the average change in T scores at the lumber spine was −0.482 vs. 0, at the left femoral neck was −0.218 vs. 0.057, and at the right femoral neck was −0.309 vs. 0.243, respectively. There have been no therapy-related serious adverse events in either arm of the study. In addition, no occurrences of osteonecrosis of the jaw have been noted. In conclusion, treatment with the bisphosphonate zoledronic acid in combination with calcium carbonate and vitamin D supplementation appears to provide prevention of bone loss or improvement in the BMD of patients with lymphoma undergoing chemotherapy. Given the large number of patients with below-average BMD prior to therapy and the known deleterious effects of lymphoma therapy on bone density, baseline BMD evaluation may be warranted in all lymphoma patients. In addition, the unexpectedly high rate of periodontal disease in this patient population further supports the need for careful dental evaluation prior to the consideration of bisphosphonate therapy given the well-described, albeit rare, risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw from zoledronic acid.

Description: Abstract 18 Introduction: Long-term survival in pediatric relapsed AML is only 20-30%. Optimal reinduction therapy is unknown, and there is a concern about cardiotoxicity with repeated anthracycline use at relapse. Preclinical in vitro and animal studies, and limited clinical data suggest that liposomal daunorubicin (DaunoXome®, DNX) is less cardiotoxic. These considerations lead to a phase III study, in the setting of the International BFM Study Group. Materials and methods: FLAG was randomised against FLAG/DNX in the 1st reinduction course. The conventional 5-days FLAG only was recommended as the 2nd course. DNX was dosed at 60 mg/m2/day on days 1, 3 and 5. After induction, allogeneic stem cell transplantation was generally recommended, but time-to-transplant could be bridged by high- or low-intensive consolidation therapy. Primary endpoint of the study was early treatment response, based on bone marrow examination shortly before reinduction course 2, and defined as either good (≤20% leukemic blasts) or poor (〉20% leukemic blasts). This endpoint was chosen because of its prognostic value in earlier relapsed AML BFM-trials, and because compliance with an extended protocol guideline was likely to be suboptimal within the context of a highly multinational and multicenter AML Relapse protocol. However, secondary endpoints were defined, including the CR2 rate determined after 2 courses, long-term survival, and toxicity. Patients with AML M3 and those 〉18 years of age at initial diagnosis were ineligible. The study opened in most countries in 2002/2003. The study closed for accrual on April 1, 2009 when the required 360 fully eligible and evaluable patients had been randomized. Early and late relapsed AML was defined as a relapse within or after 1 year from initial diagnosis, but this only influenced treatment in that early relapsed AML patients were eligible for haploidentical SCT, while late relapsed AML patients were eligible for autologous SCT, if a matched or partly mismatched transplant was not possible. Thirteen groups from 20 countries and 〉100 centers have enrolled patients, with informed consent and after approval of the study by regulatory authorities. Data are presented according to intention-to-treat, with a median follow-up of 2.7 years for patients at risk. Results: Overall 4-year probability of survival (pOS) was 35% SE 2%, the overall CR2 rate 62%. The good early responders had a 4-year pOS of 45% SE 3% versus 10% SE 3% for poor responders (p

Description: In 15% to 30% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), aberrant proliferation is a consequence of a juxtamembrane mutation in the FLT3 gene (FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3–internal tandem duplication [FLT3-ITD]), causing constitutive kinase activity. ABT-869 (a multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor) inhibited the phosphorylation of FLT3, STAT5, and ERK, as well as Pim-1 expression in MV-4-11 and MOLM-13 cells (IC50 approximately 1-10 nM) harboring the FLT3-ITD. ABT-869 inhibited the proliferation of these cells (IC50 = 4 and 6 nM, respectively) through the induction of apoptosis (increased sub-G0/G1 phase, caspase activation, and PARP cleavage), whereas cells harboring wild-type (wt)–FLT3 were less sensitive. In normal human blood spiked with AML cells, ABT-869 inhibited phosphorylation of FLT3 (IC50 approximately 100 nM), STAT5, and ERK, and decreased Pim-1 expression. In methylcellulose-based colony-forming assays, ABT-869 had no significant effect up to 1000 nM on normal hematopoietic progenitor cells, whereas in AML patient samples harboring both FLT3-ITD and wt-FLT3, ABT-869 inhibited colony formation (IC50 = 100 and 1000 nM, respectively). ABT-869 dose-dependently inhibited MV-4-11 and MOLM-13 flank tumor growth, prevented tumor formation, regressed established MV-4-11 xenografts, and increased survival by 20 weeks in an MV-4-11 engraftment model. In tumors, ABT-869 inhibited FLT3 phosphorylation, induced apoptosis (transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling [TUNEL]) and decreased proliferation (Ki67). ABT-869 is under clinical development for AML.

Description: Survival of pediatric relapsed AML is 20–30%. An important prognostic factor at relapse is duration of CR1, but the relevance of early treatment response at relapse has not been reported and is the subject of this report. In 2001 we initiated a prospective study for pediatric relapsed AML, excluding AML M3. FLAG is being used for 2 consecutive courses. Liposomal daunorubicin (DNX) as a potentially less cardiotoxic anthracycline was added or not in a 1:1 randomised fashion to the first course of FLAG. Efficacy data for both study arms are still blinded as the study is ongoing until early 2008. More than 500 patients from 13 groups worldwide were registered by April 2007. This analysis was confined to the 324 patients who are eligible, fully evaluable and relapsed before 1 January 2007, and of whom day 15 (from start of chemotherapy) and/or day “28” (obtained between days 28 and 42 from start of the 1st course) bone marrow (BM) examinations are evaluable. Day 15 BM findings did not affect therapy, while more than 20% blasts on day “28” means the patient is off-protocol and eligible for more experimental therapy or no further treatment. Fifty-three percent of evaluable patients relapsed early (within one year from diagnosis). Absolute blast counts between day 15 and day “28” correlated significantly, but not very strongly (Rho 0.57, P

Description: Introduction: Although the direct measurement of iron from a liver biopsy is the reference standard method to determine liver iron concentration (LIC), results are highly unreliable in patients with advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. As a result, chelation therapy is difficult to monitor in this patient population where effective chelation therapy may be critical. It is therefore important to assess parameters additional to LIC in order to accurately assess body iron in these patients. Aim: To analyze the efficacy of chelation with deferoxamine (DFO) and the investigational once-daily, oral iron chelator deferasirox (DSX) in patients with advanced fibrosis participating in DSX registration studies. Methods: A subgroup of patients from DSX Studies 0107 and 0108 were selected based on a staging result according to the Ischak scale of 5 (incomplete cirrhosis) or 6 (probable or definite cirrhosis), measured either at baseline or after 1 year of chelation therapy. The subgroup of patients with β-thalassemia participating in Study 0107 received DSX (n=26) or DFO (n=30). In Study 0108, the subgroup of patients with β-thalassemia unable to be treated with DFO (n=12) or patients with anemias other than β-thalassemia (n=7) were treated with DSX only. In both studies, patients received chelation therapy according to baseline LIC. Results: In Study 0107, treatment with DSX or DFO led to a decrease in semi-quantitative tissue iron score (TIS) and LIC, which were paralleled by changes in serum ferritin. TIS, LIC and serum ferritin in a subgroup of patients with advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis treated with DSX and DFO (Study 0107) TIS LIC, mg Fe/g dw Serum ferritin, ng/mL DSX (n=26) DFO (n=30) DSX (n=26) DFO (n=30) DSX (n=26) DFO (n=30) *Median (min, max) Baseline* 35.5 (4,39) 34 (10,52) 25.5 (2.4,45.9) 19.5 (3.9,55.1) 4195 (321,12646) 4144 (653,15283) Change from baseline* −2 (−43,20) −2 (−25,16) −9.4 (−42.2,13.1) −3.1 (−24.5,12.4) −1269 (−7082,3609) −951 (−8259,1264 Similarly, in Study 0108, DSX treatment produced a decrease in all 3 parameters in patients with β-thalassemia or rare anemia. TIS, LIC and serum ferritin in a subgroup of β-thalassemia and rare anemia patients with advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis (Study 0108) TIS LIC, mg Fe/g dw Serum ferritin, ng/mL β-thalassemia (n=12) Rare anemia (n=7) β-thalassemia (n=12) Rare anemia (n=7) -thalassemia β (n=12) Rare anemia (n=7) *Median (min, max) Baseline* 35 (4,48) 41 (32,49) 29.4 (3.8,37.4) 26.3 (15,51.3) 4813 (440,11698) 2385 (1553,9099) Change from baseline* 2 (−19,27) −3 (−20,1) −1.6 (−18,9.9) −10 (−13.9,8.8) −986 (−4453,2131) −1322 (−2609,1901) Conclusions: Chelation therapy with DSX or DFO is effective in reducing iron overload in patients with advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. The trends observed in TIS and LIC were closely mirrored by changes in serum ferritin, highlighting the validity of this method for monitoring chelation therapy in this population.

Description: AIMS: OM is a frequent complication of the myeloablative therapy and HSCT. In this Polish multi-center study we assessed the ability of palifermin (rHu-KGF1) to reduce the incidence, duration and severity of OM induced by high-dose chemotherapy followed by HSCT in patients with hematological diseases. We also evaluated the requirement for analgesics and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) caused by OM, incidence of febrile neutropenia and severe infections, the influence of palifermin on the engraftment, aGvHD and hospitalization. METHODS AND RESULTS: 106 patients with hematological diseases were enrolled to the study. 53 of them (50%) received palifermin (60 μg/kg/day) for 3 consecutive days before and after conditioning therapy and they were transplanted between June 2005 and March 2006. Each reporting center submitted equal number of patients to palifermin and control group. Both groups were similar in terms of sex, age, diagnosis, type of transplant and conditioning regimens. The patients in control group were transplanted between December 2000 and 2005. The median age of palifermin and control group was 37,0 years (range, 19 to 58) and 36,1 years (range, 18 to 64), respectively. 29 (54,7 %) autologous and 24 (45,3 %) allogeneic HSCT were performed in both groups. OM was assessed daily after HSCT according to the WHO scale. The incidence of OM of grade 1–4 was 58 % vs 94 % and grade 3–4, 13 % vs 43 % in palifermin group vs. control group, respectively (p

Description: Objectives: To assess the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics and immunogenicity of single and fractionated IV doses of an erythropoietic mimetic antibody fusion protein, CNTO 528, in healthy males. Methods: In this randomized, single-blind, and placebo (PBO)-controlled study, 44 subjects were enrolled in 5 dose cohorts. In Stage 1, 35 subjects received a single IV administration of 0.03, 0.09, 0.3, 0.9 mg/kg CNTO 528 or PBO. In Stage 2, 9 subjects received fractionated IV administrations of CNTO 528 or PBO on Days 1, 3 and 5 (3 infusions of 0.09 mg/kg or PBO). Results: Pharmacodynamics : In subjects treated with IV CNTO 528, a dose dependent increase in reticulocyte counts was observed. The maximum effect occurred at day 8 and returned back to baseline between days 22 through 29. Hemoglobin (Hgb) concentration increased in a dose dependent manner with a maximum effect occurring at day 22. Mean Hgb concentration remained 0.4 g/dL above baseline values at the last measurement, approximately 2.5 months after a single dose administration. A dose dependent increase in RBC count was observed with all RBC indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC) within normal range, indicating an increase in normocytic, normochromic RBCs. In all CNTO 528 treated subjects, a dose-dependent increase in soluble transferrin receptor concentration was observed. A dose-dependent increase in endogenous EPO concentration was observed, followed by a dose dependent decrease in endogenous EPO concentration. This may be the result of a competitive receptor binding mechanism. Pharmacokinetics : With 1 dose, the Cmax and AUC increased in an approximately dose proportional manner. The mean terminal half-life ranged between 6 – 7 days in the higher dose cohorts. Safety : Treatment with CNTO 528 was generally well tolerated. There were no serious adverse events (AEs) and few CNTO 528-related AEs. Two subjects in the highest dose cohort met the protocol pre-specified interruption rule of Hgb ≥ g/dL and underwent phlebotomy. In these subjects, high Hgb concentrations were not associated with AEs or clinical symptoms. All AEs were determined by the investigator to be mild to moderate in intensity. The most common AE across all groups was headache, occurring in both CNTO 528- and PBO-treated subjects. There was no dose-related trend across groups, and most subjects who experienced headaches were in the lowest 2 dose groups. There was no indication that any patterns of AEs or significant safety laboratory, vital signs, or ECG abnormalities were associated with the administration of CNTO 528. Immunogenicity : None of the 24 subjects who received single IV administration of CNTO 528 were positive for antibodies to CNTO 528. Conclusions : Single and fractionated IV administrations of CNTO 528 were well tolerated and resulted in prolonged, dose-dependent erythropoietic responses with notably low inter-subject variability. PK of IV CNTO 528 was linear and approximately dose proportional. No immunogenicity was observed. This data provides the first proof of concept in humans for erythropoietic responses and up-regulation of endogenous EPO levels by an erythropoietic mimetic antibody fusion protein.

Description: Anemia is more common among older blacks than older whites. However, it is unclear whether anemia predicts adverse events similarly in both races. Data on 1018 black and 1583 white adults aged 71 to 82 years were analyzed. Anemia, as defined by World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, was used to predict mortality over 6 years and incidence of mobility disability over 4 years. In proportional hazards models of mortality in whites, the age-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for anemia in men was 1.96 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35, 2.83) and in women was 2.86 (95% CI: 1.69, 4.82). In contrast, anemia was not associated with mortality in black men (HR = 1.15 [95% CI: 0.77, 1.72]) or women (HR = 1.39 [95% CI: 0.91, 2.14]). Higher mortality rate was observed only in black men with hemoglobin values more than 20 g/L (2.0 g/dL) below the WHO cutoff, whereas mortality rates were elevated in white men with hemoglobin values 1 to 10, 11 to 20, and more than 20 g/L below the WHO cutoff. In conclusion, anemia was significantly associated with increased risk of death and mobility disability in community-dwelling older whites. Conversely, older blacks classified as anemic by WHO criteria were not at risk for adverse events, indicating that alternative criteria are warranted.

Description: The development of nonmyeloablative conditionings has recently reduced the transplant-related mortality (TRM) and extended the eligible age for transplantation up to 65–70 years. From January 2000 to June 2005, 106 newly diagnosed patients younger than 65 years were enrolled in a prospective phase II study at 15 Italian Centers. Fifty-eight were also previously described in a comparison of autografting with allografting based on a genetic randomisation (Bruno et al. N Engl J Med 2007). Here we report on a larger GITMO experience with a longer follow-up. Induction chemotherapy consisted of VAD-based regimens, followed by a cytoreductive autograft with melphalan 200 mg/m2, and by a non-myeloablative 2 Gy TBI-based allograft from an HLA-identical sibling. Graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis included cyclosporin and mycophenolate mofetil. Primary endpoints were overall (OS) and event-free (EFS) survivals. Secondary endpoint was TRM. One-hundred-two (96%) patients, median age 54 (30–65), completed the tandem program whereas 4 withdrew their consent. After a median follow-up of 54 (21–94) months, OS was not reached and median EFS was 35 (31–56) months post-transplant. Incidences of acute grade II-IV GHVD and extensive chronic GVHD were 40% and 50% respectively. Fourteen (13%) patients died from TRM, 14 (13%) from disease progression, 2 from lung cancer (2%) and 1 from lymphoma (1%). Overall response, defined as complete (CR) and partial remission, was 91% (93/102), with 53 patients achieving CR. Overall 39/102 patients relapsed, however only 8/53 of those who reached CR post-transplant. By multivariate-analysis disease response prior to allografting was significantly associated with longer OS (HR 0.27, CI 0.09–0.80, p