ALBERT

Description: All transretinoic acid (ATRA) followed by daunorubicin (DNR)-AraC chemotherapy (CT) has improved the outcome of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) by comparison to CT alone. In a randomized trial, (1) we compared 2 induction schedules (ATRA followed by CT [ATRA→CT] and ATRA plus CT [ATRA+CT, with CT added on day 3 of ATRA treatment]) and (2) we assessed the role of maintenance treatment. Four hundred thirteen patients ≤75 years of age and with newly diagnosed APL were included. Induction treatment was stratified on white blood cell (WBC) count and age: patients ≤65 years of age and with an initial WBC count of ≤5,000/μL (n = 208) were randomized between ATRA→CT and ATRA+CT (initially randomized patients); patients with a WBC count greater than (high WBC count group, n = 163) and patients 66 to 75 years of age with a WBC count greater than 5,000/μL (elderly group, n = 42) were not initially randomized and received ATRA+CT from day 1 and ATRA →CT, respectively. All patients achieving CR received 2 additional DNR-AraC courses (only 1 in patients 66 to 75 years of age) and were then randomized for maintenance between no treatment, intermittent ATRA (15 days every 3 months) for 2 years, continuous low-dose CT (6 mercaptopurine + methotrexate) for 2 years, or both, using a 2-by-2 factorial design. Overall, 381 (92%) of the patients achieved complete remission (CR), 31 (7%) suffered an early death, and only 1 patient had leukemic resistance. ATRA syndrome occurred in 64 patients (15%) and was fatal in 5 cases. The CR rate was similar in all induction treatment groups. Event-free survival (EFS) was significantly lower in the high WBC group (P = .0002) and close to significance in the elderly group (P = .086) as compared with initially randomized patients. Relapse at 2 years was estimated at 6% in the ATRA+CT group, versus 16% in the ATRA→CT group (P = .04, relative risk [RR] = .41). EFS at 2 years was estimated at 84% in the ATRA+CT group, versus 77% in the ATRA→CT group (P = .1, RR = .62). Two hundred eighty-nine patients were randomized for maintenance. The 2-year relapse rate was 11% in patients randomized to continuous maintenance CT and 27% in patients randomized to no CT (P = .0002) and 13% in patients randomized to intermittent ATRA and 25% in patients randomized to no ATRA (P= .02). An additive effect of continuous maintenance CT and intermittent ATRA was seen, and only 6 of the 74 patients who received both maintenance treatments had relapsed. Overall survival was improved in patients who received maintenance CT (P = .01), and there was a trend for better survival in patients who received maintenance ATRA (P = .22). Our findings strongly suggest that early addition of chemotherapy to ATRA and maintenance therapy combining continuous CT and intermittent ATRA can reduce the incidence of relapse in APL. This effect already translates into significantly better survival for maintenance treatment with continuous CT.

Description: Abstract 3020FN2 Background: The intensive T-cell depletion of the graft accompanying haploidentical stem cell transplantation (SCT) delays immune reconstitution and results in frequent and rapidly lethal infectious complications. The ability to accelerate immune reconstitution following HLA-haploidentical-SCT would extend safe transplantation to the large number of patients who do not have an HLA-matched donor. Methods: Twenty-seven adults with very high-risk malignancy entered a Phase I clinical trial of haplo-identical T-cell depleted allogeneic SCT followed by an immunotherapeutic strategy consisting of alloreactive T-lymphocyte depleted cells to accelerate immune reconstitution (ATIR) while preventing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Selective elimination of host-reactive T cells was achieved using a dibromorhodamine-based photodepletion approach. All stem cell grafts underwent in vitro immunomagnetic T cell depletion using CD34+ positive cell selection (Miltenyi). The myeloablative regimen consisted of TBI (1200 cGy), thiotepa (5 mg/kg), ATG (12.5 mg/kg) and fludarabine (200 mg/m2). No GVHD prophylaxis was administered. Results: Eight patients were enrolled and subsequently removed from the study because of leukemia relapse (n=4) or late identification of an unrelated donor (n=4). All 8 patients died. Nineteen patients (11 M, 8 F) with very high-risk hematologic malignancies (mostly refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (10) and myelodysplastic syndromes (4), and refractory biphenotypic leukemia (1), CLL (2), CML (1) and NHL (1)) proceeded with the trial. Median age was 54 years (range: 20–62). Patient and disease characteristics were similar between patient cohorts. Patients received incremental doses of ATIR cells, from 1×104 to 5×106 CD3 cells/kg at a median of 30 days (range: 28–39) after SCT. Greater than 90% of activated (CD25+CD44+) CD4 and CD8 T cells (p

Description: All transretinoic acid (ATRA) followed by daunorubicin (DNR)-AraC chemotherapy (CT) has improved the outcome of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) by comparison to CT alone. In a randomized trial, (1) we compared 2 induction schedules (ATRA followed by CT [ATRA→CT] and ATRA plus CT [ATRA+CT, with CT added on day 3 of ATRA treatment]) and (2) we assessed the role of maintenance treatment. Four hundred thirteen patients ≤75 years of age and with newly diagnosed APL were included. Induction treatment was stratified on white blood cell (WBC) count and age: patients ≤65 years of age and with an initial WBC count of ≤5,000/μL (n = 208) were randomized between ATRA→CT and ATRA+CT (initially randomized patients); patients with a WBC count greater than (high WBC count group, n = 163) and patients 66 to 75 years of age with a WBC count greater than 5,000/μL (elderly group, n = 42) were not initially randomized and received ATRA+CT from day 1 and ATRA →CT, respectively. All patients achieving CR received 2 additional DNR-AraC courses (only 1 in patients 66 to 75 years of age) and were then randomized for maintenance between no treatment, intermittent ATRA (15 days every 3 months) for 2 years, continuous low-dose CT (6 mercaptopurine + methotrexate) for 2 years, or both, using a 2-by-2 factorial design. Overall, 381 (92%) of the patients achieved complete remission (CR), 31 (7%) suffered an early death, and only 1 patient had leukemic resistance. ATRA syndrome occurred in 64 patients (15%) and was fatal in 5 cases. The CR rate was similar in all induction treatment groups. Event-free survival (EFS) was significantly lower in the high WBC group (P = .0002) and close to significance in the elderly group (P = .086) as compared with initially randomized patients. Relapse at 2 years was estimated at 6% in the ATRA+CT group, versus 16% in the ATRA→CT group (P = .04, relative risk [RR] = .41). EFS at 2 years was estimated at 84% in the ATRA+CT group, versus 77% in the ATRA→CT group (P = .1, RR = .62). Two hundred eighty-nine patients were randomized for maintenance. The 2-year relapse rate was 11% in patients randomized to continuous maintenance CT and 27% in patients randomized to no CT (P = .0002) and 13% in patients randomized to intermittent ATRA and 25% in patients randomized to no ATRA (P= .02). An additive effect of continuous maintenance CT and intermittent ATRA was seen, and only 6 of the 74 patients who received both maintenance treatments had relapsed. Overall survival was improved in patients who received maintenance CT (P = .01), and there was a trend for better survival in patients who received maintenance ATRA (P = .22). Our findings strongly suggest that early addition of chemotherapy to ATRA and maintenance therapy combining continuous CT and intermittent ATRA can reduce the incidence of relapse in APL. This effect already translates into significantly better survival for maintenance treatment with continuous CT.

Description: Background Inhibitory Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIR) negatively regulate Natural Killer (NK) cell-mediated killing of HLA class I-expressing tumors. Lack of KIR-HLA class I interactions has been associated with antitumor efficacy and increased survival in patients (pts) with AML in CR after haploidentical stem cell transplantation from KIR-mismatched donors(Ruggeri, Blood 2007). IPH2101, a fully human mAb designed to enhance antitumor effects of NK cells by blocking the major inhibitory HLA-C-specific KIR can be safely administered in elderly pts with AML (Vey, Blood 2012). Lirilumab is a 2nd generation anti-KIR mAb currently evaluated in multiple indications and combinations with encouraging preliminary results in combination with nivolumab in pts with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (Leidner, SITC 2016). Here we report the results of a phase 2 trial with lirilumab as single agent in the maintenance therapy of elderly pts with AML in first CR. The objectives of this randomized phase 2 study were to determine if lirilumab could improve leukemia free survival (LFS) and to assess two dose schedules predicted from the phase 1 dose-escalation trial (Vey, ASCO 2015) to be associated with either continuous (CONT) or intermittent (INT) full KIR occupancy. Methods EFFIKIR was a randomized double-blind 3-arm placebo controlled trial (NCT01687387). Eligible pts were: aged 60 to 80 yrs, diagnosed with non-APL AML, in CR1 following standard induction (1 to 2 cycles) and consolidation (1 to 2 cycles) and had: ECOG performance status of 0-1, adequate hematologic, liver and renal function. Pts were randomly allocated to receive placebo or lirilumab given at either 0.1 mg/kg q 12 weeks (INT) or 1mg/kg q 4 weeks (CONT) according to a minimization algorithm adjusting for center, primary vs. secondary AML, number of consolidation cycles (1 vs. 2) and cytogenetics. Pts were to receive up to 2 yrs of therapy. The primary endpoint was LFS by independent central review. Results Between November 2012 and July 2014, 153 pts were randomized and 152 pts were treated; Pts characteristics are depicted in Table 1. All had received 7+3 induction therapy. Most pts (81%) received 2 cycles of consolidation prior to inclusion. Consolidation chemotherapy consisted of intermediate-dose single agent cytarabine (IDAC) in 53%, and 5+1 in 47% of the pts, according to the recommendations of the ALFA and FILO cooperative groups, respectively. Median time since diagnosis was 4.9 months (mo) [2.8-15.5]. Median time between CR or the last consolidation and randomization were 3.3 [1.1-5.9] and 1.5 mo [0.3-3.5], respectively. The 3 arms were well balanced apart from a slight trend in favor of the placebo arm for lower age, better ECOG, and use of IDAC as consolidation. In March 2015, based upon DSMB recommendation, treatment of pts in CONT was discontinued in light of an excess of early relapses. Mean number of treatment cycles administered was 14.7, 8.8 and 13.8 in the INT, CONT and placebo arms respectively and only 6 pts had one cycle postponed in the lirilumab arms. Major reasons for study discontinuation were relapse (63%) and adverse events (AE) (10%). AE rate was analyzed by taking into account the exposure across pts in each arm. Slightly more AE rate of G1-G2 asthenia, diarrhea and pruritus was observed in CONT arm. Occurrence of hematological disorders did not differ between the 3 arms. 17 pts (11%) experienced second primary malignancies across the 3 arms. PK/PD results were in line with the model predictions: transient full KIR occupancy lasting 7-28 days for the majority of the INT arm pts and permanent full occupancy in the CONT arm. Lirilumab is not significantly immunogenic and does not induce major modifications in peripheral blood NK and T cell subsets. With a median follow-up of 36.6 mo [33.4; 38.2], 108 pts experienced relapses and 2 pts died before relapse. LFS results are presented in Table 2. Conclusions Single agent lirilumab administered for up to 24 cycles was well tolerated. Lirilumab did not result in a statistically significant improvement of LFS in the challenging setting of maintenance in AML in elderly pts. Immune-pharmacological studies will be presented. Potential hypotheses relevant for AML and lirilumab monotherapy (e.g. dosage/schedule optimization, partial desensitization by continuous KIR blockade leading to an impaired immunosurveillance by NK cells) for the non-significant trends will be discussed. Disclosures Recher: Novartis, Celgene, Jazz, Sunesis, Amgen: Consultancy; Celgene, Sunesis, Amgen, Novartis: Research Funding. Pautas: Pfizer: Honoraria. Rousselot: Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sunesis: Honoraria; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding. Castaigne: Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding. Jourdan: NOVARTIS: Consultancy, Honoraria. Gardin: Sunesis: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Delannoy: Innate Pharma: Honoraria. Beautier: Innate Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Paturel: Innate Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Andre: Innate Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Zerbib: Innate Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Dulphy: Celgene: Research Funding; Innate Pharma: Research Funding; Celyad: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Olive: Imcheck Therapeutics: Other: Cofunder; GSK: Research Funding; Innate Pharma: Research Funding. Pigneux: Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Consultancy; MSD: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sunesis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Biogaran: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Dombret: Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travels, Accommodations, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travels, Accommodations, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz Pharma.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Kite Pharma.: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Agios: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sunesis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cellectis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Menarini: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Chugai/Roche: Consultancy.