7013
Background: Venetoclax combined with intensive chemotherapy proved to be safe with promising activity. The GIMEMA AML1718 trial (NCT03455504) was based on the administration of venetoclax-FLAI ...(fludarabine, idarubicin, cytarabine) to intermediate/high-risk ELN2017 AML. Methods: To investigate the potential advantage of the addition of venetoclax, patient-level data from GIMEMA AML1718 (V-FLAI group, n=57) were compared to “3+7”-like induction (AML1310, Venditti et al. 2019, 3+7 group, n=445), and to FLAI real-life experience (Guolo et al. 2016, FLAI group, n=155) using a propensity score matching. In the model, we included the following variables: age at diagnosis, gender, ELN2017 risk classification and allogenic transplant rate. For determining adequate balance, the diagnostic method employed was the standardized mean difference, visualized through a Love plot; a standardized bias score less than 0.2 was used as a criterion. The final weighted sample sizes are 183 (3+7), 54 (V-FLAI) and 155 (FLAI). Weights were calculated with a multinomial logistic regression model. The Odds Ratio (OR) were estimated using logit models. Survival curves were compared by standard and pairwise Log-rank test. Results: FLAI, V-FLAI and 3+7 cohorts differed in terms of age (median: 52 vs 54 vs 49 years, respectively, p<0.001), in terms of risk category (p< .001) - since the low risk was not represented both in V-FLAI and FLAI trials -, in terms of transplant rate (45% vs 49% vs 27%, p<0.001) and female sex (43% vs 35% vs 48%, p=0.15). Being more recent, AML1718 had a shorter median follow-up (10.5 vs 75.8 vs 104.8 months). The matching weights produced the best balance, with SMDs <0.18 for all variables. After weighting, the CR rate observed in the V-FLAI group was higher than FLAI and 3+7, as well as MRD-negativity rate. In terms of Odds Ratio (OR) the probability of achieving CR in V-FLAI and FLAI patients was significantly higher compared to 3+7 patients (p=0.01 and p=0.03, respectively). Conversely, V-FLAI and FLAI did not differ in their probability to achieve CR (p=0.34). Concerning MRD, the OR associated to V-FLAI group was significantly higher (namely, a higher probability of MRD-negativity) of that associated to both FLAI and 3+7 treatments (p=0.005 vs FLAI; p=0.001 vs 3+7). Looking at survival outcomes at 12 months, upon weighting, DFS estimate of the V-FLAI group was higher than “3+7” and FLAI (p=0.048). Conclusions: VFLAI resulted in a deeper disease response as compared to other regimens. These results highlight the potential benefit of venetoclax added to intensive induction chemotherapy and suggest the role of fludarabine-based regimens as a backbone for high-risk disease. Table: see text
After the identification of discrete relapse-risk categories in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) receiving all-trans retinoic and idarubicin (AIDA)–like therapies, the Gruppo Italiano ...Malattie Ematologiche dell'Adulto (GIMEMA) designed a protocol for newly diagnosed APL (AIDA-2000) in which postremission treatment was risk-adapted. Patients with low/intermediate risk received remission at 3 anthracycline-based consolidation courses, whereas high-risk patients received the same schedule as in the previous, non–risk-adapted AIDA-0493 trial including cytarabine. In addition, all patients in the AIDA-2000 received all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for 15 days during each consolidation. After induction, 600 of 636 (94.3%) and 420 of 445 (94.4%) patients achieved complete remission in the AIDA-0493 and AIDA-2000, respectively. The 6-year overall survival and cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) rates were 78.1% versus 87.4% (P = .001) and 27.7% versus 10.7% (P < .0001). Significantly lower CIR rates for patients in the AIDA-2000 were most evident in the high-risk group (49.7% vs 9.3%, respectively, P < .0001). Our data confirm that anthracycline-based consolidation is at least equally effective as cytarabine-containing regimens for low-/intermediate-risk patients and suggest that a risk-adapted strategy including ATRA for consolidation improves outcome in newly diagnosed APL. Furthermore, our results highlight the role of cytarabine coupled to anthracyclines and ATRA during consolidation in the high-risk group. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT 001064570.
Background. Treatment free remission (TFR) is one of the most important aims of CML treatment but, so far, the best treatment strategy to obtain a durable deep molecular response (DMR) and the ...overall rate of patients able to achieve a successful TKI discontinuation based on intention-to-treat principle from CML diagnosis are still debated. In November 2016 we launched an international, prospective, randomized, two arms study to evaluate both the depth of the molecular response and the rate of TFR in newly diagnosed CP-CML patients treated with a second generation TKI (Nilotinib, NIL) or with imatinib (IM) followed by switching to NIL in absence of optimal response (Clinical Trial number 02602314). Patients were randomized 1:1 between NIL and IM, stratifying on the Sokal score. All the patients achieving a MR4.0 or better by three years and maintaining this level of response up to the end of the fourth year of therapy were qualified for the discontinuation phase. We recently reported that patients enrolled in the NIL arm had a rate of MR4.5 at two years (primary co-endpoint of the study), significantly higher than those in the IM arm (32 vs 22%, p = 0.023 Pane F. et al, EHA 2022).
The aim of the present analysis is to assess, in both arms of the trial, the percentage of patients achieving the eligibility to treatment discontinuation, defined as a MR4 maintained in 4 consecutive MRD analysis within the fourth year of therapy.
Methods. In this pilot analysis, we first examined the rate of patients eligible to discontinuation and their baseline features (i.e. age, gender, ELTS and Sokal risk, BCR::ABL1 isoform) compared to patients without sustained MR4, using Fisher's exact test or Wilcoxon according to variable type. In patients discontinuing TKIs at 48 months, the successful TFR probability at 12 months after TKI withdrawal was computed with the Kaplan Meier method. Molecular relapse, defined as the loss of MMR or confirmed loss of MR3.0, progression, or death were considering as event in the event-free survival curve.
Results. Of the 448 randomized patients, 289 had at least 48-month observation at the time of the present analysis and were evaluated for TFR eligibility, 141 in the IM arm and 148 in the NIL arm, respectively. Ninety-three patients (32%) showed a sustained MR4 in the fourth year and were deemed eligible for treatment discontinuation, 45 in the IM arm (32%) and 48 in the NIL arm (32%). Of the remaining 196 patients, 59 did not have the criteria to discontinue treatment and 137 previously went off study for failure, progression, toxicity, death, or other causes (66 in the IM arm and 71 in the NIL arm, respectively).
We found that sustained MR4 achievement was significantly associated with low disease risk, according to both ELTS (81.7% vs 47.2% p<0.0001) and Sokal scores (50.5% vs 34.2%, p=0.008). There is a weak correlation to the age, being those eligible younger (median 52.5 vs 55 years, p=0.037), while no differences in gender and BCR::ABL1 isoform distributions were observed. Within the IM arm, patients who switched to NIL were 60/141 (43%), 44 within the first 12 months and 16 after the first year; those patients had a lower probability of starting the TFR phase compared to patients continuing IM (22% vs 40%, p=0.025). The median follow-up of the 93 patients who attempted treatment discontinuation at 48 months is 9.9 months (IQR: 5.3-12.1). The percentages of those patients in TFR were 82.9% (95% CI:74.8-91.8) at 6 months and 74.3% (95% CI:63.9-86.4) at 12 months. The analysis per random was considered premature given the short follow-up and the proportion of patients not yet evaluable for the discontinuation.
Conclusions
Although the results are still preliminary to draw definitive conclusions on the rate of sustained DMR and stable TFR , our data indicates that despite higher 24-month rates of MR4.5 in the NIL arm, the probability of reaching criteria for TFR attempt may be not different in the two study arms: one third of patients attempted discontinuation and the majority of them appear to be free of relapse after a median of 10 months from the therapy discontinuation. Among patients of the IM arm, patients switching to NIL due to absence of optimal response had a lower probability to attempt discontinuation. Noteworthy, as for the MR4.5 rate at 24 mo. of therapy, patients at low ELTS risk score are those with the highest probability to achieve sustained MR4 and being eligible for the treatment discontinuation.
Background: New therapeutic strategies are strongly needed to improve the prognosis of high risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patients, such as combination of novel agents and conventional ...chemotherapy. The Italian GIMEMA AML1718 trial (NCT03455504) investigate the safety and efficacy of the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax (VEN) in combination with intensive fludarabine-based induction (FLAI) fludarabine 30 mg/sqm from day 1 to day 5, cytarabine 2000 mg/sqm from day 1 to day 5, and idarubicin 8 mg/sqm on days 1, 3 and 5 as first-line therapy for newly diagnosed non low-risk ELN AML patients. Results from the Planned Interim Analysis of Safety Run-in and Part 1 (early expansion cohorts) were presented at the last 2022 ASH Meeting. Median overall survival (OS) was not reached; probability of 12-month OS was 76%. Median disease-free survival was not reached. With a median follow-up of 10.5 months, 28 patients (49%) received allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in first complete remission (CR).
Centralized multicolour flow cytometry minimal residual disease (MFC-MRD) assessment was planned during the phase 2, part 2 of the study (confirmatory cohort) where the lower effective dose of VEN (400 mg/day) was administered in association with FLAI. Here we report results from early time-points (TPs) MRD analysis with the aim of identify the most informative TPs for MRD assessment and prognostic correlations.
Methods: Erythrocyte-lysed whole bone marrow (BM) samples obtained at diagnosis from patients enrolled in the confirmatory cohort were centralized and analysed with a broad panel of monoclonal antibodies to identify the leukemia-associated phenotype (LAIP) which was used to track residual leukemic cells during follow-up. Eight color flow cytometry analysis was performed at pre-defined TPs (TP1: post-induction I, TP2: post induction II/consolidation I, following TPs: post consolidation/pre-transplantation) (FACSCantoII; BD Facs Diva Software V6.1.3). A positive flow MRD was defined by the presence of no less than 10 clustered leukemic cells/10^4 total events. Enrollment closed on January 2023. Collection and analysis of later TPs is ongoing.
Results: Sixty-seven patients from 11 centers were enrolled in the phase 2, part 2. Risk stratification according to ELN 2017 was intermediate in 46% of patients and high risk in 54%. Fifty-eight/67 patients (87%) obtained CR after induction I.
In the centralized MRD analysis, 170 samples has been collected and analysed so far (60 baseline samples, 110 MRD samples). Seven patients lacking baseline sample for LAIP identification were excluded from the analysis. TP1 was available in 57/59 patient achieving CR (97%), and TP2 was available in 29 patients, so far.
MFC-MRD negativity was obtained in 31/57 (54%) at TP1 (post V-FLAI, Fig. 1). An increase in MFC-MRD negativity rate was observed at TP2 (post Induction II or consolidation I) with 20 MFC-MRD negative patients/29 available samples (69%, Fig. 1).
Thirteen/110 follow up samples (8%), albeit resulting MRD negative, were considered inadequate for the analysis due to haemodilution, 9 from TP1 and 4 from TP2 (Fig. 1).
TP1 and TP2 MRD assessment were scheduled at day 28 of Induction I and Induction II/consolidation, respectively. However, in most cases, delayed haematological recovery was observed after V-FLAI, thus resulting in suboptimal samples for MRD evaluation.
Conclusions: Preliminary results from centralized MRD analysis confirm that the combination therapy is able to induce high-quality remissions with a very high percentage of MFC-MRD negativity in a difficult cohort of patients, with a higher percentage of MFC-MRD-negative after the completion of the second course of therapy. Delayed haematological recovery may impact on reliability of MRD assessment due to hypocellular and regenerative marrow samples, suggesting that in those cases MRD analysis should be postponed. Correlation with survival will be performed as the data collection will be complete.
Neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) is an impairment of defecation control due to any nervous system lesion negatively affecting physical health status and quality of life. We aimed at systematically ...assessing all available evidence on NBD treatment in adults and providing clinical management guidance and recommendations.
PICOs and questions (N.=7) were identified by an expert panel. We searched for and retrieved evidence from the PUBMED and EMBASE databases, limited to the English language and the Western countries context, related to any type of setting and published from 2009 to 2019. Health effects, patient values, preferences and resource use were assessed. Of all, only RCTs, observational studies and systematic reviews on adult population (≥18 years) were analyzed. The study was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and Cochrane recommendations. The effect size, if possible, was calculated for the interpretation of the outcomes, and evidence was assessed through the GRADE method.
Thirty-one studies were included in our qualitative synthesis. Evidence is generally scarce. Most of the outcomes are narratively described and therefore defined by imprecision. Besides, most of the included studies are affected by risk of bias. Digital stimulation was found to be effective in short term follow-up. The pharmacological treatment choice, combined or alone, needs to be balanced case by case considering clinical history, setting of use and bowel management protocol. According to only one RCT supporting evidence mainly in persons affected by spinal cord injury (SCI), trans-anal irrigation (TAI) improves QoL and patient independency with a significant reduction of time spent for defecation and daily bowel program. History of urinary infections predicts the choice of using TAI. Patient-reported efficacy of colostomy alone or in combination with other surgeries appears evident in terms of patient's satisfaction and QoL over time. Nonetheless, perioperative and late complications can occur and may result in reduced acceptability over time.
Evidence is somehow weak and mainly reported in SCI. The systematic use of assistive interventions does not reduce the need of conservative or invasive approaches. Studies are needed on the role of bowel management in protecting patients from complications secondary to NBD in long term follow-ups.
Introduction
To investigate the risks and possible benefits of routine versus intensive insulin therapy, assessed by the frequency of hypoglycemic events defined as a glucose concentration less than ...80 mg/dl (<4.44 mmol/l) in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Methods and Results
Ninety-seven patients admitted after severe TBI, were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups of target glycemia. Insulin was infused at conventional rates when blood glucose levels exceeded 220 mg/dl (12.22 mmol/l) or at intensive rates, to maintain glycemia at 80–120 mg/dl (4.44–6.66 mmol/l). The following primary and outcome variables were measured during follow-up: hypoglycemic episodes, duration of ICU stay, infection rate, and 6-month mortality and neurologic outcome measured using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Episodes of hypoglycemia (defined as blood glucose <80 mg/dl or 4.44 mmol/l) were significantly higher in patients receiving intensive insulin therapy: median (min–max) conventional insulin therapy 7 (range 0–11) vs. intensive insulin therapy 15 (range 6–33);
P
<0.0001. Duration of ICU stay was shorter in patients receiving intensive insulin therapy (7.3 vs. 10.0 days;
P
< 0.05); while infection rates during ICU stay (25.0% vs. 38.8%,
P
= 0.15), and GOS scores and mortality at 6 months were similar in the two groups.
Conclusions
Intensive insulin therapy significantly increases the risk of hypoglycemic episodes. Even though patients receiving intensive insulin therapy have shorter ICU stays and infection rates similar to those receiving conventional insulin therapy, both groups have similar follow-up mortality and neurologic outcome. Hence if intensive insulin therapy is to be used, great effort must be taken to avoid hypoglycemia.
In recent years the management of patients (pts) with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has benefited from a deeper knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the disease and from the development of ...novel therapeutic approaches. That notwithstanding, local and national accessibility to drugs and tests may lead to distinct “real-world” practices in terms of management of pts that are worth of being recorded and compared to understand the degree of reproducibility and applicability of international guidelines. This could also be relevant for the design of future clinical trials, more tailored to the true patient's needs. To this end, within the GIMEMA cooperative study group the observational retrospective and prospective CLL2121 study (NCT04867915) has been designed with the objective of evaluating the diagnosis and management of CLL in all hematological centers in Italy through the assessment of: 1) the methods and the actual diagnostic/prognostic work-up capacity; 2) the algorithms applied to define disease progression and treatment requirements with respect to national and international guidelines; 3) the clinical and biological variables not strictly associated with CLL, but capable of influencing the clinical course and overall survival; 4) the true incidence of some rarer complications associated with CLL. The study consists of a collection of clinico-biological data from all pts with newly diagnosed CLL, small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) or CLL-like monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL), according to the iwCLL 2018 criteria in Italy. The retrospective part aims at including all cases followed at the participating centers with a diagnosis between January 2010 and September 2021, while the prospective part will include all pts with a documented diagnosis of CLL, SLL or MBL between September 2021 and September 2025. In this pilot analysis of the study, we examined pts' demographics, diagnosis, treatment line and type. Data were collected using the REDCap electronic data capture platform, analyzed using the SAS software v.9.4 and reported as numbers and frequencies. Between 2 November 2021 and 28 June 2023, 3294 eligible pts were enrolled in 75 hematology centers (out of the total of 110 centers who will be activated during the study) across the entire Italian territory. At the time of the present report, 3033 pts had clinical data available for our preliminary analysis. The vast majority of pts registered (N=2599, 85.7%) belonged to the retrospective cohort while only a minority (N=434, 14.3%) to the prospective cohort. Pts had a median age of 68 years ranging from 29 to 97; 60% of pts were males. 2630 pts (86.8%) had a diagnosis of CLL, 187 (6.2%) of SLL and 214 (7.0%) of MBL (2 missing information). Among those with available results 112 pts (12.6%) were TP53 mutated, 526 (45.6%) del(13q) positive, 174 (14.9%) del(11q) positive, 142 (11.9%) del(17p) positive and 226 (20.4%) presented a trisomy 12. The majority of pts (57.6%) were untreated, while 42.4% have been treated. Within the latter subset, 67.3% of pts have received one line of therapy, 21.4% 2 lines of therapy, 11.3% ≥3 lines of therapy. The most common therapeutic regimens were the combination of chemotherapy with an anti-CD20 antibody (39.3%), mainly rituximab, and those based on BTK inhibitors (33.3%), mainly ibrutinib. Chemotherapy alone was used in 12% of pts. Only 5% of pts was treated with the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax. In the remaining 10% of pts, other approaches were used. This is the initial report of a nation-based real-world data collection aimed at describing the biological and clinical features of pts diagnosed with CLL in virtually all Italian hematology centers starting from 2010. The pattern of treatments highlighted in our preliminary analysis, with a wide use of the watch & wait policy and of chemoimmunotherapy, will help understand how the introduction of novel therapies impacted treatment habits also in light of the timing of the local reimbursement policy. The different time of drug access in Italy, typically delayed after the EU approval, may also have affected the limited use of venetoclax-based treatment. The continuous accrual of pts in this study will allow to obtain a close-to-registry vision of CLL management in Italy over time, in terms of coverage of the entire country but enriched with the granularity of the data and flexibility of the collection typical of a real-world study.
