Midostaurin added to intensive chemotherapy is the standard of care for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with FLT3 mutations (FLT3mut). We analyzed the impact of midostaurin in 227 FLT3mut-AML patients ...included in the AML-12 prospective trial for fit patients ≤70 years (#NCT04687098). Patients were divided into an early (2012-2015) and late (2016-2020) cohorts. They were uniformly treated except for the addition of midostaurin in 71% of late group patients. No differences were observed in response rates or the number of allotransplants between groups. Outcome was improved in the late period: 2-year relapse incidence decreased from 42% vs 29% in early vs late group (p = 0.024) and 2-year overall survival (OS) improved from 47% vs 61% (p = 0.042), respectively. The effect of midostaurin was evident in NPM1mut patients (n = 151), with 2-yr OS of 72% (exposed) vs 50% (naive) patients (p = 0.011) and mitigated FLT3-ITD allelic ratio prognostic value: 2-yr OS with midostaurin was 85% and 58% in low and high ratio patients (p = 0.049) vs 67% and 39% in naive patients (p = 0.005). In the wild-type NPM1 subset (n = 75), we did not observe significant differences between both study periods. In conclusion, this study highlights the improved outcome of FLT3mut AML fit patients with the incorporation of midostaurin.
The association of polymorphisms in molecules involved in the immune response (checkpoint inhibitors) with the clinical outcome after allogeneic transplantation (alloHSCT) has been described. ...Lymphocyte Activation 3 (LAG3) is a surface protein that plays a regulatory role in immunity as an inhibitory immune checkpoint molecule.
To determine its role in the alloHSCT setting, we analyzed 797 patients transplanted from HLA-identical sibling donors. The LAG3 rs870849 C>T polymorphism was genotyped in donors.
We detected a higher incidence of severe acute GVHD in patients transplanted from donors with TT genotype (p: 0.047, HR 1.64; 95% CI 1.01 - 2.67). Overall survival (OS) was worse for patients transplanted from donors with the rs870849 CT/TT genotype (0.020; HR, 1.44; 95% CI 1.06 - 1.96), as well as disease-free survival (DFS) (p: 0.002; HR 1.58, 95%CI: 1.18 - 2.14) and transplant-related mortality (TRM) (p< 0.001; HR: 1.88, 95% CI 1.29 - 2.74). When combining the LAG3 rs870849 and the PDCD1 rs36084323 genotypes of the donor, three genetic groups were well defined, allowing a good stratification of the risk of acute GVHD, TRM, OS and DFS.
We conclude that the LAG3 genotype of the donor may be considered in donors' selection. As this selection may be limited in the HLA-identical sibling donor scenario, further studies exploring the impact of LAG3 genotype of the donor in unrelated transplantation are warranted.
Chromosomal abnormalities are detected in 20-30% of patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) and correlate with prognosis. On the mutation level, disruptive alterations are particularly ...frequent in chromatin regulatory genes. However, little is known about the consequential alterations in the epigenetic marking of the genome. Here, we report the analysis of genomic DNA methylation patterns of 64 CMML patients and 10 healthy controls, using a DNA methylation microarray focused on promoter regions. Differential methylation analysis between patients and controls allowed us to identify abnormalities in DNA methylation, including hypermethylation of specific genes and large genome regions with aberrant DNA methylation. Unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis identified two main clusters that associated with the clinical, biological, and genetic features of patients. Group 1 was enriched in patients with adverse clinical and biological characteristics and poorer overall and progression-free survival. In addition, significant differences in DNA methylation were observed between patients with low risk and intermediate/high risk karyotypes and between TET2 mutant and wild type patients. Taken together, our results demonstrate that altered DNA methylation patterns reflect the CMML disease state and allow to identify patient groups with distinct clinical features.
Background
CPX‐351 is approved for the treatment of therapy related acute myeloid leukemia (t‐AML) and AML with myelodysplastic related changes (MRC‐AML). The benefits of this treatment over standard ...chemotherapy has not been addressed in well matched cohorts of real‐life patients.
Methods
Retrospective analysis of AML patients treated with CPX‐351 as per routine practice. A propensity score matching (PSM) was used to compare their main outcomes with those observed in a matched cohort among 765 historical patients receiving intensive chemotherapy (IC), all of them reported to the PETHEMA epidemiologic registry.
Results
Median age of 79 patients treated with CPX‐351 was 67 years old (interquartile range 62–71), 53 were MRC‐AML. The complete remission (CR) rate or CR without recovery (CRi) after 1 or 2 cycles of CPX‐351 was 52%, 60‐days mortality 18%, measurable residual disease <0.1% in 54% (12 out of 22) of them. Stem cell transplant (SCT) was performed in 27 patients (34%), median OS was 10.3 months, and 3‐year relapse incidence was 50%. Using PSM, we obtained two comparable cohorts treated with CPX‐351 (n = 52) or IC (n = 99), without significant differences in CR/CRi (60% vs. 54%) and median OS (10.3 months vs. 9.1 months), although more patients were bridged to SCT in the CPX‐351 group (35% vs. 12%). The results were confirmed when only 3 + 7 patients were included in the historical cohort. In multivariable analyses, SCT was associated with better OS (HR 0.33 95% CI: 0.18–0.59), p < 0.001.
Conclusion
Larger post‐authorization studies may provide evidence of the clinical benefits of CPX‐351 for AML in the real‐life setting.
We report the results of CPX‐351 treatment in a group of 79 non‐selected patients reported to the PETHEMA epidemiologic registry and compared the main outcomes with a matched cohort among 765 historical patients receiving intensive chemotherapy. After propensity score matching, no differences in complete remission (60% vs. 54%) and median overall survival (10.3 months vs. 9.1 months) were observed between cohorts, although more patients were bridged to allogeneic transplant in the CPX‐351 group (35% vs. 12%). The results were confirmed when only 3 + 7 treated patients were included in the historical cohort.
Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) is a monoclonal antibody with significant activity in CD33+acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). At doses of 9mg/m
, its benefit was limited by hepatotoxicity and sinusoidal ...obstruction syndrome (SOS). Fractionated doses improved toxicity without compromising efficacy. We evaluated the efficacy and the toxicity of low doses of GO.
Twenty-four patients with AML received 3mg/m
of GO as a part of the induction or reinduction therapy.
Fourteen patients diagnosed with de novo AML and 10 patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) AML received GO as a part of the induction or reinduction therapy. Three and no cases of hepatotoxicity were observed, respectively. Thirteen patients received a subsequent haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) after GO therapy. Hepatotoxicity was observed in 2 patients and no SOS was observed in any patient.
The administration of low dose GO is feasible and does not have impact on subsequent HSCT outcome. Although some degree of hepatotoxicity was observed, there were no cases of SOS, either before or after HSCT.
Background
Philadelphia-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-like ALL) is characterized by the activation of several kinase pathways that promote treatment resistance leading to poor survival of ...patients at all ages. Despite the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the Ph-like ABL-class subtype (15% Ph-like ALL), there is not a consensus approach for treatment of most patients (JAK-class especially), and the role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) has scarcely been explored so far (i.e., mandatory vs. MRD-oriented).
Objective
To assess the outcome of Ph-like patients enrolled in the ongoing ALL19 trial from the Programa Español de Tratamientos en Hematología (PETHEMA) for adults (18-60y) with Ph-negative ALL, and to evaluate the effectiveness of alloSCT in first complete remission (CR).
Methods
In the ALL19 trial, patients are allocated to alloSCT according both to the end of induction (EOI) measurable residual disease (MRD) level and to high-risk genetic markers such as low-hypodiploidy, KMT2A rearrangement, TP53 biallelic alteration and concomitant deletion of IKZF1 and CDKN2A/B. Therefore, BCR::ABL1-like subtype was not a criteria for early transplantation unless meeting either poor MRD clearance at EOI or concomitant deletion of IKZF1+CDKN2A/B. Patients with MRD≥0.01% on day+35 (EOI) and/or high-risk genetics were assigned to early alloSCT (preceded by 1 cycle of consolidation chemotherapy) while those with good MRD clearance and standard risk genetics received early and delayed consolidation (3 cycles each) and maintenance therapy. Bone marrow or peripheral blood samples were analyzed by G-banding+FISH, SNP array (750K Affymetrix, Thermo Fisher) and next generation sequencing (NGS, with a custom DNA gene panel, Illumina) at diagnosis in 4 reference laboratories. MRD was centrally assessed by next generation flow cytometry with a sensitivity up to 2x10 -6.
Results
Twenty-four Ph-like out of 248 adult BCP ALL (10%) were detected. Baseline characteristics were similar between Ph-like and the remaining BCP-ALL. Most Ph-like ALL patients showed the JAK-class profile (20/24 83%: 17/24 CRLF2 rearrangementr, 1/24 JAK2r, 1 BLNK::DNTT and 1 JAK2 R683 mutation), 3/24 belonged to the ABL-class subtype (2 ABL2r, 1 NUP214::ABL1) and 1 patient was identified by RNAseq (gene expression profiling similar to BCR::ABL1 ALL) without identifying any rearrangement. Regarding secondary genetic alterations, 17/24 (71%) patients showed the IKZF1 plus profile, 10/23 (43%) harbored JAK2 R683 mutation, 4/23 N/KRAS mutations, 2/23 CRLF2 mutation and 1/23 showed mutations in several genes such as IKZF1, NR3C1 or FLT3, among others.
There were no significant differences in the probability of achieving CR between Ph-like and the remaining BCP ALL (15/20 75% vs. 137/162 85%, p=0.334). However, EOI MRD level of Ph-like individuals was significantly poorer (MRD<0.01% Ph-like 4/15 27% vs. other BCP-ALL 85/136 63%, p=0.007). By intention to treat, most Ph-like patients (17/19, 89%) were allocated to alloSCT (vs. 91/153 59% in the other BCP-ALL, p=0.011) due to either EOI MRD≥0.01% (9/18), IKZF1+CDKN2A/B concomitant deletions (3/18) or both (6/18). The 2-y overall survival (OS) in both groups was not significantly different (57% 95% CI, 27%-78% vs. 67% 55%-77%, p=0.304) (Figure 1). Interestingly, most Ph-like patients died due to treatment-related toxicity (2 transplant-related mortality, 1 CART-related, 1 during induction, 1 in CR and 1 by COVID-19 infection). The 2-y cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) was also similar (Ph-like 27% 8%-50% vs. other BCP-ALL 35% 25%-45%, p=0.946) (Figure 1).
Conclusions
Despite the short follow up of this series, our results show that Ph-like ALL patients have poorer EOI MRD clearance and higher rate of alloSCT realization than the remaining BCP ALL patients, without significant differences in outcome. This suggests that early alloSCT in first CR might overcome the poor prognosis of Ph-like ALL patients.
Funding
Funded in part by: PI10/01417 y FIS PI19/01183 Ministerio de Salud Carlos III, JCyL_SA118P20, FMM21/002_AP176752021, “La Caixa” Foundation, Pfizer Spain, Fundación PETHEMA. This project has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking (JU) under grant agreement No IMI001-07. The JU receives support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA.
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