ALBERT

Description: Key Points Urinary 3-IS levels predict outcome after ASCT and are associated with antibiotics and NOD2/CARD15 variants.

Description: Chemokines and their receptors control the emigration of leukocytes during inflammation. The role of the RANTES (regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted) receptors CCR1 and CCR5 in the selective recruitment of monocytes, TH1-like T-cell clones, and peripheral T cells enriched for CD45RO+“memory” cells were tested in a system in which arrest under flow conditions is triggered by RANTES immobilized to activated endothelium. With the use of selective nonpeptide receptor antagonists or blocking antibodies, it was found that the RANTES-induced arrest of these cells was mediated predominantly by CCR1. In contrast, CCR5 mainly contributed to the spreading in shear flow, and both CCR1 and CCR5 supported transendothelial chemotaxis toward RANTES. The data in this study reveal specialized roles of apparently redundant receptors in distinct steps of leukocyte trafficking and suggest that not all receptors currently used to define mononuclear cell subsets are involved in their direct recruitment from the circulation.

Description: Chemokines control inflammatory leukocyte recruitment. The propensity of chemokines such as CC chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5)/RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) to bind to glycosaminoglycans and to form higher order oligomers has been shown to be essential for its in vivo activity. However, the specific functional relevance of RANTES oligomerization for distinct steps of leukocyte recruitment on inflamed endothelium mediated by the RANTES receptors CC chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1) and CCR5 remains undefined. We studied RANTES mutants with deficient oligomerization in an assay in which recruitment of monocytes and CD45RO+ CD4+ T cells is triggered by RANTES immobilized on activated endothelium under flow conditions. Notably, the formation of higher order RANTES oligomers was crucial for CCR1-mediated arrest but not for CCR5-mediated spreading/transmigration in flow or transendothelial chemotaxis of leukocytes. Efficient leukocyte arrest in flow but not transmigration may thus require the presentation of RANTES oligomers to bridge surface-bound RANTES and CCR1.

Description: Mobilization of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activates transcription of genes encoding endothelial adhesion molecules and chemokines that contribute to monocyte infiltration critical in atherogenesis. Inhibition of NF-κB has been achieved by pharmacological and genetic approaches; however, monocyte interactions with activated endothelium in shear flow following gene transfer of the NF-κB inhibitor IκB- have not been studied. We found that overexpression of IκB- in endothelial cells using a recombinant adenovirus prevented tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-)–induced degradation of IκB- and suppressed the upregulation of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and E-selectin mRNA and surface protein expression and the upregulation of transcripts for the chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and growth-related activity- (GRO-) by TNF-. This was associated with a reduction in endothelial MCP-1 secretion and GRO- immobilization. Adhesion assays under physiological shear flow conditions showed that firm arrest, spreading, and transmigration of monocytes on TNF-–activated endothelium was markedly inhibited by IκB- overexpression. Inhibition with monoclonal antibodies and peptide antagonists inferred that this was due to reduced expression of Ig integrin ligand as well as of chemokines specifically involved in these events. In contrast, rolling of monocytes was increased by IκB- transfer and was partly mediated by P-selectin; however, it appeared to be unaffected by the inhibition of E-selectin induction. Thus, our data provide novel evidence that selective modulation of NF-κB by adenoviral transfer of IκB- impairs the expression of multiple endothelial gene products required for subsequent monocyte arrest and emigration in shear flow and thus for monocyte infiltration in atherosclerotic plaques.

Description: Mobilization of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activates transcription of genes encoding endothelial adhesion molecules and chemokines that contribute to monocyte infiltration critical in atherogenesis. Inhibition of NF-κB has been achieved by pharmacological and genetic approaches; however, monocyte interactions with activated endothelium in shear flow following gene transfer of the NF-κB inhibitor IκB- have not been studied. We found that overexpression of IκB- in endothelial cells using a recombinant adenovirus prevented tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-)–induced degradation of IκB- and suppressed the upregulation of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and E-selectin mRNA and surface protein expression and the upregulation of transcripts for the chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and growth-related activity- (GRO-) by TNF-. This was associated with a reduction in endothelial MCP-1 secretion and GRO- immobilization. Adhesion assays under physiological shear flow conditions showed that firm arrest, spreading, and transmigration of monocytes on TNF-–activated endothelium was markedly inhibited by IκB- overexpression. Inhibition with monoclonal antibodies and peptide antagonists inferred that this was due to reduced expression of Ig integrin ligand as well as of chemokines specifically involved in these events. In contrast, rolling of monocytes was increased by IκB- transfer and was partly mediated by P-selectin; however, it appeared to be unaffected by the inhibition of E-selectin induction. Thus, our data provide novel evidence that selective modulation of NF-κB by adenoviral transfer of IκB- impairs the expression of multiple endothelial gene products required for subsequent monocyte arrest and emigration in shear flow and thus for monocyte infiltration in atherosclerotic plaques.

Description: Introduction: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a severe hyperinflammatory syndrome caused by excessive immune activation leading to a life-threatening pro-inflammatory cytokine storm. HLH is not an entity of its own, but a clinical syndrome triggered by various conditions like infections, malignancy or autoimmune disorders. HLH pathogenesis is complex and still not fully understood. Contributing factors include immunosuppression (chemotherapy, long-term immunosuppressive therapy), cytokine release from tumor cells, imbalance between infected and immune effector cells as well as genetic predisposition. Despite improved HLH-specific therapy (adapted components from the pediatric HLH-1994 protocol), prognosis is still poor among adult HLH patients. Due to the lack of data on adult HLH in Germany, a national multicenter registry (http://www.hlh-registry.org/) was initiated. Methods: Patients (pts) with proven or suspected HLH were registered by 35 institutions across Germany from August 2010 to July 2016. Both HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria and the HScore (www.saintantoine.aphp.fr/score/) were used to confirm HLH diagnosis. To characterize adult HLH patients, data referring to underlying disease, treatment, outcome, clinical manifestations and laboratory findings were recorded. Where available, patient samples were tested for mutations of the perforin gene PRF1 by standard Sanger sequencing. Results: A total of 125 pts (48 female) were enrolled in our registry, of whom 105 pts either fulfilled diagnostic criteria according to HLH-2004 diagnostic guidelines (n=96) or met at least 4 out of 8 criteria and reached HLH-probability of over 90 % in the HScore (n=9). Among these 105 pts, n=38 (36 %) were female and n=67 (64 %) male. Median age at diagnosis was 49 years (range 17 - 81). Trigger diseases were in line with the literature, with infections (n=34) and malignancy (n=40) being most frequent (Table 1). Patients show a wide spectrum of underlying conditions, i.e. allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) or HLH-mimicking diseases due to cytokine release in response to blinatumomab therapy. Late onset hereditary HLH was found in 3 pts (XLP-1 and -2 respectively in EBV-coinfected pts, one pt with perforin mutation - see below). 22 of 105 patients (21 %) were tested for PRF1 mutations. A compound heterozygous PRF1 A91V/Q405X mutation was identified in one pt presenting with NK/T-cell lymphoma. Heterozygous PRF1 A91V mutations were found in 2 pts with B-cell lymphoma and HLH following alloSCT respectively, in one case with available buccal swab DNA to prove germline origin of the mutation. Table 2 summarizes clinical and laboratory findings in the cohort. A median ferritin value of 32,000 µg/L underlines the importance to evaluate pts with highly elevated ferritin with respect to potential HLH diagnosis. Apart from fever and splenomegaly, clinical presentation frequently comprised hepatomegaly, liver failure, hyperbilirubinemia, renal failure, lung involvement like ARDS, or bleeding. Treatment included steroids in the vast majority of pts (n=89), often combined with i.v. immunoglobulins (n=47) and etoposide (n=49). After a median follow up time of 164 days, 48/97 pts (49.5 %) were alive, 8 pts were lost to follow up. Survival analysis revealed median overall survival of 454 days (Figure 1a). Comparing malignancy-associated HLH and HLH after alloSCT with infection- and autoimmune-associated HLH or HLH due to unknown triggers, survival was significantly poorer in the malignancy/alloSCT group (Figure 1b). Conclusions: HLH trigger conditions in adult patients in Germany are in accordance with published case series. Outcome in adult HLH is still poor, with malignancy-associated and HLH after alloSCT showing the worst prognosis. Diagnostic vigilance and early treatment is a prerequisite for improving outcome of adult HLH. In particular, high ferritin values should raise suspicion of HLH. Disclosures Hochhaus: Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; ARIAD: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Description: Background: Bone disease is the most frequent clinical manifestation of multiple myeloma. In this prospective study we ask whether osteolytic lesions (OL) are driven by myeloma cells showing a different background of genetic alterations in terms of chromosomal aberrations and expressed single nucleotide variants (SNVs) compared to random aspirates (RA) from diffuse myeloma cell infiltration at the iliac crest (spatial genetic heterogeneity). Material and Methods: Consecutive sample-pairs (n=41) were prospectively obtained by CT-guided biopsies of OLs as well as simultaneous random bone marrow aspirates of the iliac crest, the latter undergoing CD138-purification of myeloma cells, in transplant eligible patients with previously untreated symptomatic multiple myeloma, after written informed consent. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were used as germline control. Plasma cell infiltration in biopsies was quantified histologically. Samples pairs (n=8) were subjected to RNA-sequencing (Illumina HiSeq2000), gene expression profiling using DNA-microarrays (Affymetrix U133 2.0), whole exome sequencing (Illumina NextSeq 500), and arrayCGH (Affymetrix cytoscan array). Results and Discussion: Expressed single nucleotide variants.The spectrum of mutated genes in our samples comprises two of the most frequently mutated in symptomatic myeloma, i.e. KRAS and FAM46C, alongside those implicated in myeloma pathophysiology, e.g. mutations in IRF4, FGFR3, and CD200. In total, 1-10 clonal expressed non-synonymous SNVs were exclusively found in OL compared to RA, comprising e.g. WHSC1, FAM46C, and ROCK1P1. In 2/8 patients (25%), no expressed clonal differences between RA and OL were present. Single nucleotide variants.In investigated samples, 77-1569 non-synonymous SNVs appear with an allele frequency of ≥10% in OL and RA, clustering in 4-5 groups. The clonal constitution can vary, but subclones are detectable in both. Subclonal complexity is maintained (subclones remain present) in OL compared to RA, and the vast majority of subclonal changes is present in both, especially for expressed non-synonymous SNVs, incompatible with an "osteolytic clonal variant" driving OL in the majority of patients. Copy number alterations and loss of heterozygosity.Subtle differences in copy number between OL and RA are present. However, only 1/8 patients (12.5%) showed further "gained" aberrations in OL compared to RA, i.e. deletions on chromosome 7p, 8p, and 11p as well as 19p gain. Loss of heterozygosity was observed in 3/8 patients (37.5%) with a shared pattern between OL and RA in all of them. Conclusions: In our prospective study, the majority of alterations is shared between RA and OL. Spatial heterogeneity is present, but nature and frequency of alterations detectable exclusively in OL make them unlikely candidates in most myeloma patients for being causative for generation of OL. Disclosures Hillengass: Novartis: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Goldschmidt: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, Research Funding; Chugai: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Millennium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Onyx: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Durie:Janssen: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy. Hose:EngMab: Research Funding; Takeda: Other: Travel grant; Sanofi: Research Funding.

Description: Key Points Significant intracranial hemorrhage occurs in 20% to 50% of patients with metastatic brain tumors. Therapeutic anticoagulation in patients with brain metastasis did not increase the risk for intracranial hemorrhage.

Description: Background: Lenalidomide (LEN) monotherapy has been effective in extending progression free survival (PFS) after myeloablative AuSCT in pts with MM. Elotuzumab (ELO), a humanized IgG1 immunostimulatory monoclonal antibody against signaling lymphocytic activation molecule F7 (SLAM F7), is FDA approved in combination with LEN and dexamethasone (DEX) for treatment of MM pts who have received 1-3 prior therapies. The objective of this phase 2 trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding ELO to LEN as maintenance therapy post-myeloablative AuSCT. We report updated results of the primary (PFS) and secondary (overall survival [OS] and toxicity) endpoints. Patients and Methods: Between 4/15/2015-1/27/2016, 27 evaluable pts were treated on 28 day cycles with ELO, 10 mg/kg iv weekly for cycles 1-2, q2weeks for cycles 3-6, then 20 mg/kg once monthly for cycles 7+. Pts enrolled after 1/28/2016 (n=57 pts) have received ELO, 10 mg/kg IV weekly for cycles 1-2, and 20 mg/kg on day 1 from cycle 3 until disease progression (PD). LEN has been dosed at 10 mg/day for cycles 1-3, with a dose increase to 15 mg/day at physician discretion starting with cycle 4, in the absence of non-hematologic toxicity 〉 grade 1 and significant cytopenias (ANC 〈 1000/mL, platelet count 〈 100,000/ml). For the 1st 8 weeks, pts

Description: Background: JAK2 inhibitors have been shown to improve symptoms and produce durable reductions in splenomegaly in patients with myelofibrosis (MF), and ruxolitinib has been shown to improve survival in MF patients (Cervantes et al., 2013; Verstovsek et al., 2013). Current prognostic models such as DIPSS plus (Gangat et al., 2011) predict survival in MF based on clinical, laboratory, and cytogenetic information, but their value in predicting clinical response or survival during treatment with JAK2 inhibitors remains unknown. We hypothesized that clinical features such as bone marrow fibrosis and splenomegaly may have independent effects on therapy response. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective analysis to create a new model to risk stratify patients with respect to their likelihood of responding to oral JAK2-inhibitor therapy. Methods: We studied a cohort of 203 patients with bone marrow biopsy-proven MF seen at University of Michigan, Stanford University, and Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. These patients were all treated with ruxolitinib or an experimental JAK2 inhibitor. Our primary endpoint was defined as IWG-MRT criteria for splenic response by palpation (Tefferi et al., 2013). Response in patients with spleen size of less than 5 cm was defined as complete resolution of splenomegaly. Of the 203 patients studied, splenic response was evaluated after 3 months of therapy in 167 patients and after 6 months of therapy in 138 patients; 127 patients were in both groups. A logistic regression was performed to identify factors that would predict clinical response. Results: The following characteristics were significantly associated with spleen response at 3 and 6 months: initial spleen size, European consensus criteria grading of MF on bone marrow biopsy, initial DIPSS plus score, and initial WBC count. Cellularity on marrow biopsy was not significant. We enriched a baseline logistic model of initial dose of oral JAK2 therapy and DIPSS plus score with additional prognostic factors. We found the following clinical characteristics to be jointly associated with splenic response: normalized initial dose of oral JAK2 inhibitor, initial spleen size, DIPSS plus score, degree of fibrosis by European consensus criteria. Duration of disease from time of diagnosis to time of treatment initiation was not prognostic for splenic response. We used this model to calculate the probability of splenic response based on a risk score: Risk score = –1.18(Dose) + 0.09(Initial Spleen Size in cm) + 0.20(DIPSS-plus Points) +0.92 (if fibrosis is MF-3). The probability at 6 months can then be calculated from the risk score as follows: [1/(1+e(risk score-2.6))]. The figure demonstrates the prognostic gain of our model over a model based on DIPSS plus alone. Conclusion: With this observational study, we propose a predictive model which may serve as a clinical tool to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from JAK2 inhibitor-based therapies. Further validation in independent data sets will be required before this model can be more widely applied. Disclosures Mesa: Incyte Corporation, CTI, NPS Pharma, Inc., Gilead Science Inc., Celgene: Research Funding. Gotlib:Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Travel Reimbursement Other; Gilead: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding, Travel Reimbursement, Travel Reimbursement Other. Talpaz:ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc., BMS, Sanofi, Incyte, Pfizer: Research Funding.