Search

Background Most older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who attain morphologic remission with intensive chemotherapy (IC) will eventually relapse and post-relapse prognosis is dismal. In the pivotal QUAZAR AML-001 trial, oral azacitidine maintenance therapy significantly prolonged overall survival by 9.9 months (P P Methods QUAZAR AML-001 is an international, placebo-controlled randomized phase 3 study. Patients aged ≥ 55 years with AML and intermediate- or poor-risk cytogenetics at diagnosis, who had attained first complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi) within 4 months before study entry, were randomized 1:1 to receive oral azacitidine 300 mg or placebo once-daily for 14 days in repeated 28-day cycles. Safety was assessed in all patients who received ≥ 1 dose of study drug. Results A total of 469 patients received oral azacitidine (n = 236) or placebo (n = 233). Median age was 68 years. Patients received a median of 12 (range 1–80) oral azacitidine treatment cycles or 6 (1–73) placebo cycles. Gastrointestinal AEs were common and typically low-grade. The most frequent grade 3–4 AEs during oral azacitidine therapy were hematologic events. AEs infrequently required permanent discontinuation of oral azacitidine (13%), suggesting they were effectively managed with use of concomitant medications and oral azacitidine dosing modifications. Conclusion Oral azacitidine maintenance had a generally favorable safety profile. Prophylaxis with antiemetic agents, and blood count monitoring every other week, are recommended for at least the first 2 oral azacitidine treatment cycles, and as needed thereafter. Awareness of the type, onset, and duration of common AEs, and implementation of effective AE management, may maximize treatment adherence and optimize the survival benefits of oral azacitidine AML remission maintenance therapy. Trial registration This trial is registered on clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01757535 as of December 2012.

Purpose CC-486 is an oral formulation of azacitidine that allows for extended dosing schedules to prolong azacitidine exposure to malignant cells and maximize clinical activity. CC-486 300 mg daily, administered for 14 or 21 days of 28-day treatment cycles, is currently under investigation in two ongoing phase III trials. The 300-mg daily dose in these studies is administered as two 150-mg tablets (Formulation A). Methods We evaluated the bioequivalence of one 300-mg CC-486 tablet (Formulation B) with Formulation A and food effect on Formulation B, in adult patients with cancer in a 2-stage crossover design study. Results The ratios of the geometric means of the maximum azacitidine plasma concentration (Cmax) and of the area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time 0 extrapolated to infinity (AUC∞) were 101.5% and 105.7%, demonstrating the bioequivalence of Formulations A and B. Formulation B was rapidly absorbed under fasted and fed conditions. The geometric mean of Cmax was significantly decreased by ~ 21% in the fed state. Median Tmax was reached at 2 h and 1 h post-dose in fed and fasted states, respectively (P Cmax and Tmax are not expected to have a clinical impact. Conclusion The single 300-mg CC-486 tablet was bioequivalent to two 150-mg tablets, which have shown to be efficacious and generally well-tolerated in clinical trials, and can be taken with or without food.

Background: Approximately 40-60% of older patients (pts) with AML achieve complete remission (CR) with IC. Factors influencing the use of consolidation after induction include disease-related considerations, extent of hematopoietic recovery, pt fitness, and physician and pt preference. Most older pts who achieve AML remission will experience disease relapse despite consolidation therapy (Schlenk, Haematologica, 2018). In the phase III, randomized, double-blind QUAZAR AML-001 Maintenance Trial, CC-486, an oral hypomethylating agent, was shown to significantly prolong OS and RFS vs. placebo (PBO) in pts with AML in first remission following induction ± consolidation. Prior to study entry, the use of consolidation chemotherapy and number of consolidation cycles was at the discretion of the treating physician, with study eligibility not contingent on the use of consolidation. Objective: Assess survival outcomes in the QUAZAR AML-001 trial in pt subgroups defined by number of consolidation courses received before study entry. Methods: Eligible pts were aged ≥55 years with newly diagnosed AML, intermediate- or poor-risk cytogenetics, and ECOG PS ≤3. Within 4 months (mo) of attaining first CR or CR with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi), pts were randomized 1:1 to CC-486 300 mg or PBO QD for 14 days per 28-day treatment (Tx) cycle. OS and RFS were compared among pts who received no consolidation ("No Consolidation"), 1 cycle of consolidation ("1 Consolidation"), or ≥2 cycles of consolidation ("≥2 Consolidations"). For these analyses, "induction" and "consolidation" defined regimens received before and after, respectively, the reported date of first CR/CRi. OS was defined as the time from randomization to death, and RFS as time from randomization to relapse or death. Kaplan-Meier OS/RFS estimates were compared for CC-486 vs. PBO using log-rank test. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were generated using a stratified Cox proportional hazards model. These analyses were not powered sufficiently to determine statistical significance. Results: 472 pts were randomized to CC-486 (N=238) or PBO (N=234). Most pts (80%) received consolidation before study entry. The No Consolidation cohort comprised 94 pts (20%; CC-486 52, PBO 42), the 1 Consolidation cohort comprised 212 pts (45%; CC-486 110, PBO 102), and the ≥2 Consolidations cohort comprised 166 pts (35%; CC-486 76, PBO 90), including 19 pts (CC-486 6, PBO 13) who received 3 consolidation cycles. Common agents used for consolidation were cytarabine (377/378 pts), idarubicin (95/378), and daunorubicin (37/378). While most pts received 1 induction, 97 pts received ≥2 induction courses; of them, 21 (CC-486 14, PBO 7) did not receive consolidation and 76 (CC-486 43, PBO 33) received ≥1 consolidation cycle. Baseline characteristics (eg, CR / CRi after IC, ECOG PS, cytogenetic risk at diagnosis) were generally similar among Tx arms and cohorts. Median (range) ages of pts in the 0 / 1 / ≥2 Consolidation cohorts were 71 (58-84), 68 (55-86), and 67 (55-82) years, respectively. In the No Consolidation cohort, median OS from the time of randomization with CC-486 vs. PBO was 23.3 vs. 10.9 mo, respectively (HR 0.55 [95%CI 0.34, 0.89]), and median RFS was 8.4 vs. 3.9 mo (0.55 [0.34, 0.88]) (Figure A). In the 1 Consolidation cohort, median OS was 21.0 vs. 14.3 mo with CC-486 vs. PBO, respectively (HR 0.75 [95%CI 0.55, 1.02]), and median RFS was 10.0 vs. 4.7 mo (0.72 [0.53, 0.99]) (Figure B). In the ≥2 Consolidations cohort, median OS was 28.6 mo with CC-486 vs. 17.6 mo with PBO (HR 0.75 [95%CI 0.50, 1.11]), and median RFS was 13.0 vs. 6.1 mo (0.59 [0.41, 0.87]) (Figure C). Conclusions: CC-486 was associated with consistent survival benefits vs. PBO regardless of number of prior consolidation cycles. Use of consolidation was generally associated with nominal improvements in OS and RFS within each Tx arm; however, in the CC-486 arm, median OS for pts who did not receive consolidation was similar to those who received 1 consolidation cycle (23.3 and 21.0 mo, respectively). Results should be interpreted with caution, as these cohorts were not prospectively defined and the study was not powered to detect significant differences between subgroups. Nevertheless, these data clearly suggest that older pts with AML in first remission after induction can benefit from CC-486, regardless of their fitness to receive consolidation or the number of consolidation cycles received before starting CC-486. Disclosures Wei: AMGEN: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Research Funding; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute: Patents & Royalties; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Astellas: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Pfizer: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Macrogenics: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Speakers Bureau; Astra-Zeneca: Honoraria, Other: Advisory committee, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Other. Roboz:Orsenix: Consultancy; Actinium: Consultancy; Argenx: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Astex: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Array BioPharma: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Jasper Therapeutics: Consultancy; Cellectis: Research Funding; Otsuka: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Trovagene: Consultancy; Eisai: Consultancy; Celltrion: Consultancy; Epizyme: Consultancy; Helsinn: Consultancy; MEI Pharma: Consultancy; Sandoz: Consultancy; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy; Amphivena: Consultancy. Dombret:Sunesis: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Shire-Baxalta: Consultancy; Immunogen: Consultancy; Otsuka: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Menarini: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Jazz Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Nova: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding; Astellas: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Cellectis: Consultancy. Döhner:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Astex: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AROG: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sunesis: Research Funding; Oxford Biomedicals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Helsinn: Consultancy, Honoraria; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria; GEMoaB: Consultancy, Honoraria. Selleslag:Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen Cilag: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Belgian College: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Teva: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. La Torre:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Skikne:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Kumar:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Dong:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Beach:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Ravandi:Macrogenics: Research Funding; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Orsenix: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Xencor: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria.

Older patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the phase 3 AZA-AML-001 study were evaluated at entry for cytogenetic abnormalities, and a subgroup of patients was assessed for gene mutations. Patients received azacitidine 75 mg/m2/day x7 days (n = 240) or conventional care regimens (CCR; n = 245): intensive chemotherapy, low-dose cytarabine, or best supportive care only. Overall survival (OS) was assessed for patients with common (occurring in ≥10% of patients) cytogenetic abnormalities and karyotypes, and for patients with recurring gene mutations. There was a significant OS improvement with azacitidine vs CCR for patients with European LeukemiaNet-defined Adverse karyotype (HR 0.71 [95%CI 0.51-0.99]; P = 0.046). Azacitidine-treated patients with -5/5q-, -7/7q-, or 17p abnormalities, or with monosomal or complex karyotypes, had a 31-46% reduced risk of death vs CCR. The most frequent gene mutations were DNMT3A (27%), TET2 (25%), IDH2 (23% [R140, 15%; R172, 8%]), and TP53 (21%). Compared with wild-type, OS was significantly reduced among CCR-treated patients with TP53 or NRAS mutations and azacitidine-treated patients with FLT3 or TET2 mutations. Azacitidine may be a preferred treatment for older patients with AML with Adverse-risk cytogenetics, particularly those with chromosome 5, 7, and/or 17 abnormalities and complex or monosomal karyotypes. The influence of gene mutations in azacitidine-treated patients warrants further study.

PURPOSE Treatment options are limited for patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS). This phase III, placebo-controlled trial evaluated CC-486 (oral azacitidine), a hypomethylating agent, in patients with International Prognostic Scoring System LR-MDS and RBC transfusion–dependent anemia and thrombocytopenia. METHODS Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to CC-486 300-mg or placebo for 21 days/28-day cycle. The primary end point was RBC transfusion independence (TI). RESULTS Two hundred sixteen patients received CC-486 (n = 107) or placebo (n = 109). The median age was 74 years, median platelet count was 25 × 109/L, and absolute neutrophil count was 1.3 × 109/L. In the CC-486 and placebo arms, 31% and 11% of patients, respectively, achieved RBC-TI ( P = .0002), with median durations of 11.1 and 5.0 months. Reductions of ≥ 4 RBC units were attained by 42.1% and 30.6% of patients, respectively, with median durations of 10.0 and 2.3 months, and more CC-486 patients had ≥ 1.5 g/dL hemoglobin increases from baseline (23.4% v 4.6%). Platelet hematologic improvement rate was higher with CC-486 (24.3% v 6.5%). Underpowered interim overall survival analysis showed no difference between CC-486 and placebo (median, 17.3 v 16.2 months; P = .96). Low-grade GI events were the most common adverse events in both arms. In the CC-486 and placebo arms, 90% and 73% of patients experienced a grade 3-4 adverse event. Overall death rate was similar between arms, but there was an imbalance in deaths during the first 56 days (CC-486, n = 16; placebo, n = 6), most related to infections; the median pretreatment absolute neutrophil count for the 16 CC-486 patients was 0.57 × 109/L. CONCLUSION CC-486 significantly improved RBC-TI rate and induced durable bilineage improvements in patients with LR-MDS and high-risk disease features. More early deaths occurred in the CC-486 arm, most related to infections in patients with significant pretreatment neutropenia. Further evaluation of CC-486 in MDS is needed.

Background: Although induction chemotherapy results in remission in many older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), relapse is common and overall survival is poor.\ud \ud Methods: We conducted a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the oral formulation of azacitidine (CC-486, a hypomethylating agent that is not bioequivalent to injectable azacitidine), as maintenance therapy in patients with AML who were in first remission after intensive chemotherapy. Patients who were 55 years of age or older, were in complete remission with or without complete blood count recovery, and were not candidates for hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation were randomly assigned to receive CC-486 (300 mg) or placebo once daily for 14 days per 28-day cycle. The primary end point was overall survival. Secondary end points included relapse-free survival and health-related quality of life.\ud \ud Results: A total of 472 patients underwent randomization; 238 were assigned to the CC-486 group and 234 were assigned to the placebo group. The median age was 68 years (range, 55 to 86). Median overall survival from the time of randomization was significantly longer with CC-486 than with placebo (24.7 months and 14.8 months, respectively; P

In the randomized, phase 3, MDS-005 study (NCT01029262), lenalidomide-induced red blood cell transfusion independence (RBC-TI) in 27% of transfusion-dependent patients with lower-risk non-del(5q) myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) ineligible for or refractory to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. To determine the influence of erythropoietin (EPO) level on response, 155 patients treated with lenalidomide in MDS-005 were categorized into four groups by baseline EPO level. The EPO500 mU/mL group had higher RBC transfusion burden and the lowest proportion of patients with ring sideroblasts ≥15% versus lower EPO groups. Achievement of RBC-TI ≥8 weeks inversely correlated with EPO level, ranging from 42.5 to 15.5%. EPO level did not affect erythroid hematologic improvement response (36.2-44.4%). This analysis suggests patients with lower EPO levels experience the strongest benefit from lenalidomide. Although meaningful improvements were observed in some patients with EPO level500 mU/mL, new treatments are needed for this population.

CC-486 is an oral formulation of azacitidine that allows for extended dosing schedules to prolong azacitidine exposure to malignant cells and maximize clinical activity. CC-486 300 mg daily, administered for 14 or 21 days of 28-day treatment cycles, is currently under investigation in two ongoing phase III trials. The 300-mg daily dose in these studies is administered as two 150-mg tablets (Formulation A).We evaluated the bioequivalence of one 300-mg CC-486 tablet (Formulation B) with Formulation A and food effect on Formulation B, in adult patients with cancer in a 2-stage crossover design study.The ratios of the geometric means of the maximum azacitidine plasma concentration (CThe single 300-mg CC-486 tablet was bioequivalent to two 150-mg tablets, which have shown to be efficacious and generally well-tolerated in clinical trials, and can be taken with or without food.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines for AML ascribe disease-risk partly based on NPM1 and FLT3 mutational status. NPM1 mutations (mut) occur in 25%-30% of patients (pts) with AML and are associated with favorable prognosis in the absence of co-occurring FLT3-ITD. FLT3-ITD alterations are observed in ~15-30% of AML pts and confer poor prognosis, whereas the prognostic implication of FLT3-TKD point mutations (~7% of pts) is less clear. Post-IC, absence of MRD is associated with favorable relapse-free and overall survival (RFS/OS). In the randomized, phase 3 QUAZAR AML-001 trial, Oral-AZA (CC-486) significantly prolonged OS and RFS vs placebo (PBO) in older pts with AML in first remission after IC (Wei, NEJM 2020). It is of high interest to understand the effects of Oral-AZA in pts with NPM1 and/or FLT3 mutations, and whether their outcomes are influenced by post-IC MRD status. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate survival outcomes with Oral-AZA vs PBO in pts with NPM1mut ± FLT3mut at AML diagnosis (Dx), and OS by baseline (BL) MRD status (+/-) in pts with NPM1/FLT3 mutations. METHODS: In QUAZAR AML-001, pts aged ≥55 years with AML and NCCN intermediate or poor-risk cytogenetics at Dx were randomized 1:1 to receive Oral-AZA 300 mg or PBO QD within 4 mo after attaining first CR/CRi with IC (induction ± consolidation). NPM1 and FLT3 statuses (mut or wild-type [wt]) at AML Dx (before IC) were collected from pt diagnostic case report forms. MRD analyses were conducted by MFC (≥0.1% MRD+ cutoff) in bone marrow aspirate samples collected at screening (post-IC; ie, BL). OS and RFS were estimated from the time of randomization using Kaplan-Meier methods. Multivariate (MV) Cox regression analyses of the prognostic effects on OS/RFS were performed, with NPM1 and FLT3 mutational status and cytogenetic risk at Dx; post-IC MRD status (+/-) at BL, and randomized Tx (Oral AZA vs PBO) as variables. RESULTS: Of 472 pts enrolled , 469 (99.4%) had mutational data available at Dx, and the MRD-evaluable cohort comprised 463 pts (98.1%). In all, 137 pts (29%; Oral-AZA n = 66, PBO n = 71) had NPM1mut at AML Dx, and NPM1mut was significantly correlated with MRD- status at BL (post-IC)(P = 0.0178). Among pts with NPM1mut, OS was significantly improved in pts receiving Oral-AZA vs PBO, whether pts were MRD- (median 48.6 vs 26.2 mo, respectively) or MRD+ (median 39.4 vs 10.3 mo) at BL (both P < 0.0001) (Figure). While median OS for NPM1mut pts in the Oral-AZA arm was nominally improved for MRD- pts vs. those MRD+ (48.6 vs. 39.4 mo, respectively), median OS for NPM1mut pts in the PBO arm was substantially influenced by post-IC MRD status (26.2 vs 10.3 mo for MRD- and MRD+ pts, respectively) (Figure). Similarly, median RFS for pts with NPM1mut/MRD- in the Oral-AZA and PBO arms was 24.9 vs 9.9 mo, respectively, and for pts with NPM1mut/MRD+ was 19.4 vs 4.6 mo. In all, 66 pts (14.1%) had FLT3-ITD (n = 46) and/or FLT3-TKD mut (n = 24) at AML Dx; NPM1 and FLT3-ITD status was NPM1mut + FLT3-ITD - in 107 pts, NPM1mut + FLT3-ITD + in 30 pts, and NPM1wt + FLT3-ITD + in 16 pts. In the Oral-AZA arm, median OS in pts with FLT3mut was not meaningfully different from that in pts with FLT3wt (28.2 and 24.7 mo, respectively), but FLT3mut conferred a negative prognosis in the PBO arm (median OS 9.7 mo, vs 15.2 mo for FLT3wt pts). Risk of death was reduced 46% with Oral-AZA vs PBO in pts with FLT3mut (HR 0.54 [95%CI 0.25, 1.14]). When considering MRD status, median OS in FLT3mut/MRD- pts was 28.2 vs. 15.9 mo in the Oral-AZA (n = 14) and PBO (n = 17) arms, respectively, and was 24.0 vs 8.0 mo in FLT3mut/MRD+ pts (Oral-AZA, n = 16; PBO, n = 18). In MV analyses, Oral-AZA significantly improved OS vs PBO when adjusted for other variables (P = 0.035); NPM1 status (P = 0.001), FLT3status (P = 0.035), and cytogenetic risk at Dx (P < 0.001) were each also significantly predictive of OS, as was post-IC MRD status (P < 0.001). All except FLT3 status (P = 0.737) were significantly predictive of RFS. CONCLUSIONS: Oral-AZA prolonged OS and RFS vs PBO in pts with NPM1mut, with improvements beyond the prognostic benefit conferred by MRD-, suggesting that pts with NPM1mut and MRD- can attain substantial OS benefit with Oral-AZA maintenance. An OS benefit was also observed with Oral-AZA vs PBO in pts in FLT3mut at Dx, but outcomes may be confounded by co-occurring NPM1mut, so further investigation is needed. MV analyses confirmed the independent prognostic influence of Oral-AZA, NPM1 and FLT3 mutations at Dx, cytogenetic risk at Dx, and post-IC MRD status on OS. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Döhner: Janssen: Honoraria; Helsinn: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria; GEMoaB: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Berlin-Chemie: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Astellas: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Agios: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Oxford Biomedica: Honoraria; Pfizer: Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria. Wei: Astellas: Honoraria; Novartis, Celgene, AbbVie, Servier, AstraZeneca, and Amgen: Research Funding; Novartis, Janssen, Amgen, Roche, Pfizer, Abbvie, Servier, BMS, Macrogenics, Agios, Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Roboz: Glaxo SmithKline: Consultancy; Helsinn: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Jasper Therapeutics: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Actinium: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Astex: Consultancy; Mesoblast: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; MEI Pharma - IDMC Chair: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Otsuka: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Janssen: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy. Montesinos: Agios: Consultancy; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Tolero Pharmaceutical: Consultancy; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Forma Therapeutics: Consultancy; Glycomimetics: Consultancy; Teva: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astellas Pharma, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Stemline/Menarini: Consultancy. Thol: Abbvie: Honoraria; Astellas: Honoraria; BMS/Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria. Ravandi: AstraZeneca: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Agios: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria, Research Funding; Xencor: Honoraria, Research Funding; Syros Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria; Astex: Honoraria, Research Funding; Prelude: Research Funding; Taiho: Honoraria, Research Funding. Dombret: Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Servier: Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria; BMS-Celgene: Honoraria; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria. Sandhu: Celgene: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Bioverativ: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy. Skikne: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. See: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Ugidos: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Risueño: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Patents & Royalties. Chan: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Thakurta: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Patents & Royalties. Beach: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Lopes de Menezes: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Patents & Royalties.

BACKGROUND: While many older patients (pts) with AML attain complete remission (CR) after treatment (Tx) with IC, ~80% will relapse and overall survival (OS) is poor. The randomized, placebo (PBO)-controlled, phase 3 QUAZAR AML-001 trial assessed Oral-AZA (CC-486), a hypomethylating agent, in pts with AML in remission after IC who were not eligible for stem cell transplant. At the primary data cutoff in July 2019, Oral-AZA was associated with significantly prolonged OS vs. PBO: 24.7 vs. 14.8 months (mo), respectively (P < 0.001) (Wei, 2020), but the tails of the Kaplan-Meier OS curves for Oral-AZA and PBO began to converge during later time-points (after ~48 mo). More than one-quarter of all randomized pts (125/472 [26.5%]) were either still receiving Tx with Oral-AZA (n = 45) or PBO (n = 26) or remained alive in survival follow-up (n = 26 and n = 28) at the primary cutoff. Upon trial unblinding, pts continued to be followed for OS (but not relapse-free survival). We assessed longer-term OS for pts in QUAZAR AML-001 as of September 2020, after > 1 year of additional follow-up. METHODS: Pt eligibility and study design have been reported in detail. Briefly, eligible pts were aged ≥55 years with newly diagnosed AML, intermediate- or poor-risk cytogenetics at AML diagnosis (Dx), and ECOG PS ≤3, and had achieved first CR or CRi after IC (induction ± consolidation) before screening. Within 4 mo after CR/CRi, pts were randomized 1:1 to Oral-AZA 300 mg or PBO QD for 14 days/28-day Tx cycle. After trial unblinding in July 2019, pts in the Oral-AZA arm could continue to receive Tx in an extension phase if they continued to benefit; pts in the PBO arm had Tx discontinued and were followed for OS. Kaplan-Meier estimated OS was calculated from the time of randomization until death, withdrawal of consent, or loss to follow-up, and compared between Tx arms by log-rank test. To determine whether OS was influenced by pt-related factors, we compared baseline (BL) demographic and disease characteristics of pts who were alive (on-Tx and/or in survival follow-up) for ≥ 3 years from randomization ("Long-term [LT] Survivors") vs. those of pts who died or were censored before 3 years. Results: In all, 472 pts were randomized to Oral-AZA (n = 238) or PBO (n = 234). Median age was 68 years (range 55-86), 91% of pts had de novo AML, and 86% had intermediate-risk cytogenetics. Upon trial unblinding, 39 pts (16%) in the Oral-AZA arm continued into the extension phase Overall, 31.4% and 15.5% of pts received > 24 mo of Tx with Oral-AZA or PBO, respectively. At the updated follow-up in September 2020, 54 pts (23%) in the Oral-AZA arm were alive in survival follow-up, including 31 pts (13%) still receiving Oral-AZA in the extension phase; 165 pts (69%) had died and 19 pts (8%) had withdrawn consent or were lost to follow-up. In the PBO arm, 35 pts (15%) remained alive, 176 (75%) had died, and 23 (10%) had withdrawn consent or were lost to follow-up. At a median follow-up of 51.7 mo, median OS in each arm remained unchanged from the primary cutoff date: 24.7 vs. 14.8 mo with Oral-AZA vs. PBO, respectively (P = 0.0008); however, the KM OS curves for Oral-AZA and PBO showed greater separation with additional follow-up, and the two curves did not touch or cross at any time (Figure). KM-estimated 3-year survival rates were 37.4% vs. 27.9% in the Oral-AZA and PBO arms, respectively (∆ +9.5% [95% CI 0.9%, 18.1%]). The LT Survivors cohort comprised 140 pts (29.7%) in the Oral-AZA (n = 83) and PBO (n = 57) arms who were known to be alive for ≥ 3 years. Compared with pts who died or were censored before 3 years, those in the LT Survivors group were more likely to have intermediate-risk cytogenetics (95% vs. 82%) and an NPM1 mutation (45% vs. 9%) at AML Dx, and less likely to be MRD+ at BL (33% vs. 52%). Among pts with post-IC MRD+ at BL, 71% (34/48) in the LT Survivors cohort achieved MRD negativity on-study, compared with 15% (26/172) in the < 3-year cohort (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: With > 1 year of additional survival follow-up, median OS in QUAZAR AML-001 remained unchanged in both Tx arms, but the tails of the Oral-AZA and PBO OS curves showed greater separation at later time-points than in the primary analysis (which may have been confounded by extensive censoring), indicating a sustained, long-term OS benefit with Oral-AZA. Intermediate-risk cytogenetics and NPM1 mutations at AML Dx, and absence of detectable MRD post-IC, were associated with long-term survival in QUAZAR AML-001. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Wei: Novartis, Celgene, AbbVie, Servier, AstraZeneca, and Amgen: Research Funding; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute: Ended employment in the past 24 months; Novartis, Astellas, Pfizer, MacroGenics, AbbVie, Genentech, Servier, Celgene, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Janssen: Honoraria. Döhner: Pfizer: Research Funding; Oxford Biomedicals: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; Jazz: Honoraria, Research Funding; Helsinn: Honoraria; GEMoaB: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Honoraria; Berlin-Chemie: Honoraria; Astex: Honoraria; Astellas: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Agios: Honoraria, Research Funding. Sayar: BMS: Honoraria. Ravandi: Taiho: Honoraria, Research Funding; Xencor: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Prelude: Research Funding; Syros Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Astex: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria, Research Funding; Agios: Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Montesinos: Novartis: 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, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Stemline/Menarini: Consultancy; Forma Therapeutics: Consultancy; Glycomimetics: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Teva: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Tolero Pharmaceutical: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astellas Pharma, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Advisory board, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Dombret: Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Servier: Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria; BMS-Celgene: Honoraria; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria. Selleslag: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen Cilag: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Honoraria; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; Teva: Consultancy, Honoraria. Skikne: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Beach: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Tian: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Roboz: Celgene: Consultancy; MEI Pharma - IDMC Chair: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Mesoblast: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Otsuka: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Helsinn: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Actinium: Consultancy; Astex: Consultancy; Glaxo SmithKline: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy; Jasper Therapeutics: Consultancy; Janssen: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy.

BACKGROUND The immunologic effects of maintenance therapy in patients (pts) with AML in remission are not well-characterized but of high clinical interest, as rapid recovery of bone marrow (BM) after intensive chemotherapy (IC) may help delay relapse. Post IC, immunological interactions in the BM microenvironment present several immunosuppressive mechanisms. PD-L1 is commonly overexpressed on AML blasts, which is associated with worse prognosis. Oral azacitidine (Oral-AZA [CC-486]) is a hypomethylating agent recently approved in the US for pts with AML in complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi). To better understand the effects of Oral-AZA on immune cells, checkpoint expression of PD-L1/2 on AML blasts and normal myeloid progenitors (MPs), and the kinetics of T cell recovery and activation/exhaustion (eg, PD1, TIM3) were assessed. METHODS Biomarker-evaluable pts aged ≥ 55 years with AML were randomized 1:1 to Oral-AZA 300 mg (n=56) or placebo (PBO, n=52) post IC within 4 months of achieving CR. Flow cytometry evaluations of BM aspirates were performed at screening (ie, baseline [BL]), every 3 cycles until cycle 24 and every 6 cycles thereafter to cycle 36, or as clinically indicated. Correlative analyses of baseline immune parameters with median (med) relapse-free survival (RFS) were computed using Kaplan-Meier methods. RESULTS In the biomarker-evaluable pts, PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression at BL were higher on AML blasts (med intensity 7.1 and 2.9) than normal MPs (0.7 and 1.6). Most AML blasts were PD-L2+ (79%), whereas only 1.9% were PD-L1+. When stratified by the med, higher BL CD3 T cell numbers (as a % of total BM ) were associated with favorable RFS in both Tx arms (Oral-AZA: ≥ med, 562 days[d] and < med, 235d [P = .0308]; PBO: ≥ med, 325d and < med, 155d [P = .0391]). At cycle 3, pts in the Oral-AZA arm had a 1.7-fold increase in CD3 T cells from BL (PBO, 1.1; P = .0450), suggesting Oral-AZA can promote immunologic recovery during early Tx cycles. There was an inverse correlation between T cell exhaustion marker phenotypes (PD1/TIM3+) with CD4 (r = -.5967; P < .0001) and CD8 (r = -.2484; P = .0095) T cell numbers. An increase in RFS was seen in the PBO arm with lower PD1/TIM3+ CD4 numbers (< med, 429d; ≥ med, 155d; P = .0037), with a nominal increase observed in the Oral-AZA arm (< med, 428d; ≥ med, 303d; P = .6764). In a subset of pts, Oral-AZA appeared to suppress CD4 T cell exhaustion (PD1/TIM3+) compared with PBO. CONCLUSIONS Pts in CR/CRi post-IC have a unique immune profile defined by high expression of PD-L1 on a subset of blasts and a high % of PD-L2+ blasts. A higher BL CD3 T cell count after IC in BM was prognostic. Additionally, Oral-AZA appears to contribute to an increase in T cells while also suppressing exhaustion, potentially promoting T cell signaling that could activate functional immune-mediated responses against residual leukemic cells. Citation Format: Daniel L. Menezes, Wendy L. See, Alberto Risueno, Jianglin Ma, Ignazia La Torre, Barry Skikne, CL Beach, Keshava Kumar, Anjan Thakurta. Oral azacitidine modulates the immune microenvironment in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients in remission: A subanalysis from the QUAZAR AML-001 Trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 505.

BACKGROUND: CC-486, a DNA hypomethylating agent and epigenetic modifier, is an oral formulation of azacitidine (AZA) that is administered at lower exposures for extended durations (300 mg/day [d] for 14 or 21d/28d cycle) compared with the injectable formulation of AZA, which is given in a high exposure, limited duration regimen of 75mg/m2 for 7d/28d cycle. AZA induces DNA damage and cytotoxicity, and promotes changes in gene expression leading to cellular differentiation. As DNA incorporation of AZA is S-phase-dependent, it has been hypothesized that extended dosing with CC-486 prolongs drug exposure and DNA incorporation to enhance epigenetic activity. The mechanism of action imparted by extended dosing schedules of CC-486 is not fully understood. In patients with myeloid malignancies, DNA hypomethylation in blood is sustained throughout the 28d Tx cycle with extended CC-486 dosing regimens (Laille, 2015; Garcia-Manero, 2016). To better understand the mechanism of CC-486, we assessed the kinetics of expression of myeloid markers of cellular differentiation and cytotoxicity with various AZA dosing schedules in in vitro and in vivo models of AML. METHODS: AML cell lines (AML-193, KG1a, and MV4-11) were treated in vitro with AZA (0.05 - 5 µM daily for 5d or 15d), and at cumulative concentrations of 1 or 3 µM administered once or fractionated over 2-5d to experimentally model CC-486 extended exposures: 1 µM cumulative dose (1 µM × 1d, 0.5 µM × 2d, 0.33 µM × 3d, 0.25 µM × 4d, or 0.2 µM × 5d); 3 µM cumulative dose (3 µM × 1d, 1.5 µM × 2d, 1 µM × 3d, 0.75 µM × 4d, or 0.6 µM × 5d). AZA- or vehicle-treated cells were analyzed by flow cytometry, DNA methylation (Illumina Infinium EPIC assay), and RNA-Seq. Temporal expression of CD11b was assessed as a surface marker of myeloid differentiation, and Annexin-V staining was used to determine the extent of apoptosis and cell death. In efficacy studies, mouse models of AML (syngeneic, cell line-derived xenografts) were treated intraperitoneally with AZA regimens at 1 mg/kg/d × 15d (extended) or 3 mg/kg/d x 5d. RESULTS: Tx of AML-193 cells with 0.05 - 5 µM daily AZA led to upregulation of markers of myeloid differentiation (including CD11b) at lower doses, and a dose-dependent increase in apoptosis up to 7d after Tx initiation. Following Tx with 1 µM AZA for 1d, maximal cellular differentiation (ie, CD11b expression) occurred at d3 in 30% of AML-193 cells; conversely, cells treated with 0.2 µM/d AZA for 5d showed greater differentiation (40%) peaking on d7 (Fig A). CD11b expression was increased upon each subsequent cell division; after 5 cell divisions, CD11b upregulation was 4-fold higher in cells treated with multiple, lower AZA doses than with 1 µM AZA administered for 1d (Fig B). CD11b upregulation was not observed in the absence of cell division under serum starvation conditions for 3d (to induce cell cycle arrest), further suggesting that cell division is a requirement for AZA-induced CD11b changes (Fig C). Similarly, AML-193 cells treated with a 3 µM cumulative AZA dose over 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5d showed greater changes in myeloid differentiation marker expression, with peak apoptosis at d7 with extended dosing regimens (Fig D). In KG1a and MV4-11 cells, Tx with 1 µM AZA QD for 5d led to induction of myeloid differentiation by d7, and cell death (followed by recovery of undifferentiated cells) by d28. In contrast, daily Tx with 0.3 µM AZA for 15d led to slower, more robust upregulation of differentiation markers, peaking at d21 and accompanied by a gradual loss of cell viability. Extended AZA exposure to cells led to pronounced changes in gene expression (Fig E) and DNA methylation (Fig F) at both d7 (immune response gene signature) and d28 (cell adhesion gene signature) compared with limited duration exposure AZA. In mice, low exposure, extended regimens of AZA exhibited higher DNA and RNA incorporation into peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and bone marrow cells when compared with higher exposure, limited duration regimens. Extended AZA dosing led to significant efficacy in murine AML models. CONCLUSIONS: In AML cell lines, low exposure, extended duration AZA schedules modeling CC-486 induced robust changes in differentiation. These results suggest that CC-486-mediated effects using extended exposure regimens preferentially promote a differentiation effect and cell death of AML tumor cells. These mechanistic insights may help inform rational CC-486 combination Tx strategies. Disclosures Dunshee: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Ended employment in the past 24 months; Genentech Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Dai:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Jang:Bristol Myers Squibb: Ended employment in the past 24 months. Risueño:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Patents & Royalties: Named in BMS (before Celgene) patent filings related to predictive patient response biomarkers in hematological malignancies. Jeyaraju:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Hagner:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. See:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. MacBeth:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Wang:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. La Torre:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Skikne:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Beach:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Kumar:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Thakurta:Oxford University: Other: visiting professor; Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Lopes de Menezes:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company.

INTRODUCTION: About 50% of older patients with AML attain remission with intensive induction chemotherapy (IC) but the majority will eventually relapse. Effective, well tolerated maintenance treatments are needed to reduce the risk of relapse and prolong survival for older patients with AML in remission, who are less likely than younger patients to be candidates for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). CC-486 is an oral hypomethylating agent that allows for extended dosing schedules to sustain therapeutic activity. In the randomized, phase III QUAZAR AML-001 Maintenance Trial, CC-486 significantly prolonged overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) vs. placebo in patients aged ≥55 years with AML in first remission after IC ± consolidation. Gastrointestinal (GI) events were the most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) reported in patients who received CC-486. Here we assess the rates of GI TEAEs and associated management strategies over time with CC-486 treatment in QUAZAR AML-001. METHODS: Eligible patients were aged ≥55 years and had AML with intermediate- or poor-risk cytogenetics and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) scores ≤3. Patients had achieved complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi) after IC ± consolidation and were not candidates for HSCT. Within 4 months of achieving CR/CRi, patients were randomized 1:1 to CC-486 300 mg or placebo, administered once-daily on days 1-14 of repeated 28-day treatment cycles. Safety was assessed among patients who received ≥1 dose of study drug, from the date of first dose through 28 days after the last dose. Prophylaxis and treatment of GI TEAEs were allowed but not mandatory. RESULTS: In all, 236 patients received CC-486 and were evaluated for safety. The median age at study entry was 68 years (range 55-86), 202 patients (85.6%) had intermediate-risk cytogenetics at diagnosis, 185 (78.4%) had achieved CR after induction, and 184 (78.0%) received ≥1 course of consolidation before randomization. Overall, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (any grade) were reported in 65%, 60%, and 50%, respectively, of patients treated with CC-486. Few patients experienced grade 3 TEAEs (nausea, 3%; vomiting, 3%; diarrhea, 5%) or serious events (0.4%, 0.8%, and 1.3%, respectively), and only 1 grade 4 event (diarrhea) was reported at any time on-study. Rates of GI TEAEs were highest during initial treatment and decreased thereafter. In cycles 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6, respectively, nausea was reported in 53%, 17%, and 15% of patients; vomiting in 49%, 15%, and 10% of patients; and diarrhea in 29%, 16%, and 11% of patients (Figure). The most commonly used concomitant GI medications were 5-HT3 antagonists, metoclopramide, lactulose, and loperamide; use of these agents was also highest during the first 2 treatment cycles and decreased over time (Figure). GI events required CC-486 treatment interruptions for 13% of patients, dose-reductions for 6% of patients, and treatment discontinuation for 5% of patients. DISCUSSION: Most GI-related TEAEs reported by patients treated with CC-486 were low-grade, and events decreased in frequency after initial treatment cycles, indicating these events were well managed. Use of GI medications decreased concurrently, suggesting progressive GI tolerance to CC-486 with continued therapy. Few patients discontinued CC-486 due to GI TEAEs. Prophylaxis and symptomatic intervention of GI events during early CC-486 therapy may facilitate treatment adherence to promote better outcomes. Disclosures Ravandi: Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Orsenix: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Macrogenics: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Xencor: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria. Selleslag:Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria; Teva: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen Cilag: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Belgian College: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Sayar:Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Safah:Amgen: Honoraria; Astellas: Speakers Bureau; Verastem: Honoraria; Janssen: Speakers Bureau. Hiwase:Novartis Australia: Research Funding. La Torre:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Skikne:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Kumar:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Dong:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Beach:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Dombret:Otsuka: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sunesis: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Jazz Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Nova: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Menarini: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Cellectis: Consultancy; Shire-Baxalta: Consultancy; Immunogen: Consultancy.

BACKGROUND: In newly diagnosed AML, high remission rates are typically achieved with IC, but the response is often transient, and detectable residual disease in the bone marrow post-chemotherapy is predictive of early relapse. Emerging data show that the identification of ≥ 0.1% MRD by multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) in patients with AML in remission after IC is an important prognostic marker that may help guide treatment (Tx) decisions. CC-486 is an oral hypomethylating agent that allows for extended dosing schedules to prolong drug exposure over the Tx cycle. In the QUAZAR AML-001 Maintenance Trial, Tx with CC-486 300 mg QD for 14 days/28-day Tx cycle was associated with significantly improved overall (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) vs. placebo (PBO) in patients (pts) with AML in first remission after induction chemotherapy ± consolidation. Samples for MFC were obtained prior to randomization and serially throughout the study to assess the impact of MRD on OS and RFS, and to evaluate rates of conversion from MRD positivity (+) to negativity (-) in the CC-486 and PBO arms. METHODS: Eligible pts aged ≥ 55 years with AML were randomized 1:1 to CC-486 300 mg or PBO within 4 months of achieving first complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi). MFC assessments of bone marrow aspirates were performed centrally at screening; at cycles 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, and 36; and as clinically indicated. Samples were analyzed with a panel of 22 cell surface markers using an MRD+ cutoff of ≥ 0.1% (per ELN MRD guidelines). For pts MRD+ at baseline (BL; ie, at randomization), an MRD response was defined as achievement of MRD- for ≥ 2 consecutive assessments. MRD- duration was calculated from the time of randomization (for pts MRD- at BL) or from the first of ≥ 2 consecutive MRD- tests (for pts MRD+ at BL), until the last MRD- assessment (for pts who became MRD+) or Tx discontinuation. OS, RFS, and MRD- durations were estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods. Multivariate (MV) Cox regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of BL MRD status (MRD+ vs. MRD-) and randomized Tx arm (CC-486 vs. PBO) with OS and RFS. RESULTS: The MRD-evaluable cohort comprised 463/472 randomized pts (98.1%; CC-486, n=236; PBO, n=227) who had samples available for evaluation at BL and at ≥ 1 post-BL visit. At BL, 43% of pts (n=103) in the CC-486 arm and 50% (n=116) in the PBO arm were MRD+. Overall, BL characteristics were similar between MRD+ and MRD- pts: median ages were 69 (range 55-84) and 68 (55-86) years, respectively; 84% and 88% had intermediate-risk cytogenetics at diagnosis; 52% and 46% of pts had an ECOG PS of 0; and 79% and 82% received ≥ 1 cycle of consolidation after induction. CC-486 Tx resulted in improved OS from time of randomization compared with PBO in pts who were either MRD+ (median 14.6 vs. 10.4 mo, respectively; HR 0.69 [95%CI 0.51, 0.93]) or MRD- (median 30.1 vs. 24.3 mo; HR 0.81 [0.59, 1.12]) at BL. Median RFS was also extended with CC-486 vs. PBO for both MRD+ (7.1 vs. 2.7 mo, respectively; HR 0.58 [95%CI 0.43, 0.78]) and MRD- pts (13.4 vs. 7.8 mo; HR 0.71 [0.52, 0.98]). In MV analyses, BL MRD status (MRD+ vs. MRD-) was significantly associated with OS (HR 1.85; P < 0.0001) and RFS (HR 2.04; P < 0.0001), and CC-486 showed a significant Tx benefit vs. PBO on both OS (HR 0.74; P = 0.0067) and RFS (HR 0.63; P < 0.0001) independent of MRD status at BL (Figure). The median duration of MRD negativity was extended with CC-486 vs. PBO: 11.0 vs. 5.0 mo, respectively (HR 0.62 [95%CI 0.48, 0.78]). Tx with CC-486 also resulted in a higher rate of MRD response (MRD+ to MRD-) vs. PBO: 37% vs. 19%, respectively. Among MRD responders, 9/38 patients (24%) in the CC-486 arm achieved MRD negativity > 6 mo after randomization, compared with only 1/22 patients (5%) in the PBO arm. CONCLUSIONS: The QUAZAR AML-001 Maintenance Trial was the first prospective, randomized trial to include long-term longitudinal assessment of MRD in older patients with AML in remission. In both treatment arms, MRD+ status (≥ 0.1%) after induction ± consolidation was associated with significantly shorter OS and RFS compared with MRD- status. Approximately one-fourth of MRD responders treated with CC-486 achieved MRD negativity > 6 mo after study entry, suggesting that CC-486 could induce MRD negativity after prolonged MRD+ status. Maintenance Tx with CC-486 substantially improved OS and RFS independent of MRD status at BL. Disclosures Roboz: Otsuka: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Orsenix: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Argenx: Consultancy; Actinium: Consultancy; Sandoz: Consultancy; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Eisai: Consultancy; Celltrion: Consultancy; MEI Pharma: Consultancy; Helsinn: Consultancy; Epizyme: Consultancy; Jasper Therapeutics: Consultancy; Cellectis: Research Funding; Trovagene: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Astex: Consultancy; Amphivena: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Array BioPharma: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy. Ravandi:Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Xencor: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria; Macrogenics: Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Orsenix: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Wei:Pfizer: Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research: Patents & Royalties: AW is eligible for royalty payments related to venetoclax; Roche: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Macrogenics: Honoraria; Astra Zeneca: Honoraria, Research Funding. Dombret:Menarini: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Cellectis: Consultancy; Shire-Baxalta: Consultancy; Immunogen: Consultancy; Otsuka: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sunesis: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Jazz Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Nova: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding. Döhner:Astex: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AROG: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria; GEMoaB: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Oxford Biomedicals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sunesis: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Helsinn: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Thol:Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi Sankyo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Voso:Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Porkka:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS/Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding. La Torre:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Skikne:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Kumar:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Dong:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Beach:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Risueño:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Patents & Royalties: Named in BMS (before Celgene) patent filings related to predictive patient response biomarkers in hematological malignancies. Lopes de Menezes:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Ossenkoppele:Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy; J&J: Consultancy, Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Daiichi Sayko: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy.

BACKGROUND: AML is an aggressive malignancy primarily affecting older individuals. Although 40%-60% of patients (pts) aged >60 years attain complete remission (CR) with IC, 80%-90% of them eventually relapse. In the continuum of AML care, the greatest expenditures are associated with relapsed/refractory disease, and hospitalization is the largest component (~70%) of direct AML healthcare costs (Pandya, 2020). In the randomized, phase III QUAZAR AML-001 Maintenance Trial, CC-486, an oral hypomethylating agent, significantly prolonged overall (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) vs. placebo (PBO) in pts with newly diagnosed (ND) AML in first remission following IC. OBJECTIVE: Determine rates of hospitalization and days in hospital with CC-486 and PBO in QUAZAR AML-001, and quantify associated costs of hospitalization using unit costs estimated from a US claims database. METHODS: In QUAZAR AML-001, eligible pts were age ≥55 years, with de novo or secondary AML, intermediate- or poor-risk cytogenetics, and ECOG PS ≤3; achieved first CR or CR with incomplete count recovery (CRi) after IC ± consolidation; and were not candidates for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Within 4 months of CR/CRi, pts were randomized 1:1 to CC-486 300 mg or PBO, administered once-daily on days 1-14 of repeated 28-day cycles. Pts who received ≥1 dose of study drug were followed for hospitalizations and durations of stay from date of informed consent through 28 days after last dose. The mean number of days hospitalized per month (30 days) in each treatment arm was computed by dividing the aggregate number of hospitalized days by the number of ongoing pts at each time-point. Rates of hospitalization and days in hospital were also adjusted for duration of CC-486 and PBO exposure. 95% confidence intervals (CI) for relative risk (RR) estimates and associated P values are based on asymptotic methods. Patients with a primary diagnosis of AML, preceded by ≥6 months (baseline) without a claim for AML were identified in the IBM MarketScan Commercial & Medicare database from April 2013 to July 2019. A stepwise procedure was then used to include pts aged ≥55 years at diagnosis, without a diagnosis of another primary cancer or HSCT, and with insurance coverage during the entire 6-month baseline period. Unit cost of hospitalization was derived as the average total AML-related hospitalization costs incurred per day of stay, adjusted for inflation to 2019 US dollars. RESULTS: In all, 469 pts were enrolled in QUAZAR AML-001 and received CC-486 (N=236) or PBO (N=233). Total exposure to CC-486 was 363.8 pt-years (PY) and to PBO was 234.9 PY. In all, 108 pts (45.8%) in the CC-486 arm and 118 (50.6%) in the PBO arm were hospitalized. The total numbers of hospitalizations were 173 in the CC-486 arm and 151 in the PBO arm; however, the exposure-adjusted rate of hospitalization was significantly lower in the CC-486 arm: 0.48/PY vs. 0.64/PY, respectively (RR 0.740 [95%CI 0.595, 0.920]; P = 0.0068) (Table). The total number of days hospitalized was 2872 in the CC-486 arm and 3139 in the PBO arm, and the exposure-adjusted days-in-hospital rate was significantly lower in the CC-486 arm (7.89/PY vs. 13.36/PY in the PBO arm; RR 0.591 [95%CI 0.562, 0.621]; P < 0.0001) (Table). Of the ND-AML cohort identified in the MarketScan database, 3058 pts had ≥ 1 noncapitated hospitalization and provided the basis for estimated hospitalization-related costs. Median age and sex distribution of these pts were generally consistent with those of pts in QUAZAR AML-001. The mean AML-related hospitalization cost incurred in the database was $7,126/day (2019 USD). Thus, based on exposure-adjusted days-in-hospital rates in the CC-486 and PBO arms (7.89/PY and 13.36/PY, respectively), the estimated mean costs of hospitalization in QUAZAR AML-001 were $56,224/PY in the CC-486 arm and $95,201/PY in the PBO arm. Cumulative cost savings in the CC-486 arm compared with PBO ranged from $2,837 in month 2 to $40,909 by month 24 (Figure). CONCLUSION: CC-486 was associated with significantly reduced exposure-adjusted risk of hospitalization and days in hospital compared with PBO, which are estimated to result in substantial cumulative cost savings. Significantly prolonged RFS with CC-486 vs. PBO in this study (10.2 vs. 4.8 months; P = 0.0001) may translate into substantial economic benefits, with lower hospitalization-related costs due to reduced rates of hospitalization and days in hospital. Disclosures Oliva: Alexion: Consultancy; Apellis: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Patents & Royalties, Speakers Bureau. Oriol:Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GlaxoSmithKline: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. La Torre:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Skikne:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Beach:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Kumar:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Dong:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Chen:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Ranjan:SmartAnalyst India Pvt. Ltd.: Current Employment. Kiendrebeogo:SmartAnalyst, Inc.: Current Employment. Braun:Servier: Research Funding; Daiichy-Sankyo: Honoraria.

Context In the phase III QUAZAR AML-001 Maintenance Trial, CC-486, an oral hypomethylating agent significantly prolonged overall and relapse-free survival vs. placebo among patients with AML in first remission after induction chemotherapy (IC). Gastrointestinal (GI) events were the most frequent adverse events (AEs) with CC-486. Objective Assess GI AE rates with CC-486 over time and associated management strategies. Methods Eligible patients were aged ≥55 years and had AML with intermediate- or poor-risk cytogenetics, and ECOG-PS scores ≤ 3. Patients achieved complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) after IC ± consolidation and were not transplant candidates. Within 4 months of CR/CRi, patients were randomized 1:1 to once-daily CC-486 300-mg or placebo on days 1-14 of repeated 28-day cycles. Safety was assessed in patients who received ≥1 dose, through 28 days after the last dose. Prophylaxis and treatment of GI AEs was allowed but not mandatory. Results 236 patients received CC-486 and were evaluated for safety. Median age was 68 years (range, 55-86). Rates of any-grade nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea were 65%, 60%, and 50%, respectively; few patients experienced grade 3 (3%, 3%, and 5%) or serious (0.4%, 0.8%, and 1.3%) events, and only 1 grade 4 event (diarrhea) was reported. Rates were highest during initial treatment and decreased thereafter: in cycles 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6, nausea was reported in 53%, 17%, and 15% of patients, respectively; vomiting in 49%, 15%, and 10%; and diarrhea in 29%, 16%, and 11%. 5-HT3-antagonists, metoclopramide, lactulose, and loperamide were the most common concomitant medications; use of these agents also decreased over time. GI events required CC-486 dose-reductions for 6% of patients, treatment interruptions for 13%, and discontinuation for 5%. Conclusions Most GI AEs with CC-486 were low-grade, and events decreased in frequency after initial cycles. Use of GI medications decreased concurrently, suggesting progressive GI tolerance to CC-486. Few patients discontinued CC-486 due to GI AEs, indicating these events were easily managed. Clinicians and patients should be aware of possible GI events during early CC-486 treatment; prophylaxis and symptomatic intervention may facilitate treatment adherence to promote better outcomes.

Introduction: Standard treatment with intensive induction chemotherapy (IC) for pts with AML can induce remission, but responses are often short-lived, and the majority of pts will relapse (Chen Y, et al. Medicine 2016;95:e4182). Although maintenance therapy with injectable AZA has improved disease-free survival in pts with AML in complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) after intensive chemotherapy (Huls G, et al. Blood 2019;133:1457; Oliva EN, et al. Blood 2019;134(Supp 1):117), overall survival (OS) benefits have been more difficult to achieve. In the randomized, phase 3 QUAZAR AML-001 study (NCT01757535), maintenance therapy with CC-486, a novel oral formulation of AZA, demonstrated a significant 9.9-month improvement in OS and a 31% reduction in mortality versus placebo (PBO) for pts with AML in first CR/CRi following intensive chemotherapy (Wei AH, et al. Blood 2019;134:LBA-3). In the absence of direct head-to-head clinical studies to guide treatment selection, we used an ITC to evaluate the comparative efficacy of CC-486 versus injectable AZA as maintenance therapy in pts with AML in first remission after intensive chemotherapy. Methods: Relative OS was calculated by using individual patient data (IPD) derived from published Kaplan-Meier (KM) OS curves from the QUAZAR AML-001 (NCT01757535) study of CC-486 versus PBO, and 2 studies of injectable AZA versus control (HOVON 97 [EudraCT 2008-001290-15] and QoLESS [EudraCT 2010-019710-24]) using Engauge digitization software (Guyot P, et al. BMC Med Res Methodol 2012;12:9). Unlike pts from the intervention arm (CC-486, AZA), pts in the PBO/control arm did not receive cancer therapy post-IC. For each study, time-specific relative OS benefit was calculated by dividing the difference in the KM OS estimate between each intervention arm and the respective PBO/control arm by the KM OS estimate for the PBO/control arm (Betts KA, et al. poster presented at EHA 2017:E1300). Treatment effect was measured by fitting parametric survival curves to the IPD from the intervention arm and PBO/control arms, respectively. The restricted mean survival time (RMST) was estimated as the area under the OS curve (AUC) at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years. The incremental AUC (ΔAUC) was determined at selected timepoints by subtracting the RMST of the PBO/control arm from the RMST of the intervention arm for each study. A 95% confidence interval for the incremental mean survival time was estimated via simulation from the variance-covariance matrix of the fitted parametric model using ≥ 10,000 iterations. Results: Follow-up was longest for QUAZAR AML-001 (5 years) with both HOVON 97 and QoLESS limited to 30 months at time of analysis. Overall, CC-486 showed a sustained and numerically higher relative OS benefit through 60 months compared with AZA in HOVON 97 and QoLESS (Figure). The relative benefit of AZA versus control in the initial 18 months appeared to fade, reaching close to or below zero around month 21. Indeed, the relative OS benefit with CC-486 and AZA (HOVON 97, QoLESS) was 30.4%, 20.3%, and 15.5% at 12 months; 35.5%, 17.0%, and 21.8% at 18 months; and 36.4%, −7.7%, and 2.2% at 24 months, respectively. Log-normal survival curves were fitted to IPD from each intervention arm and the respective PBO/control arm. Comparing the RMST, CC-486 showed a statistically meaningful improvement in mean survival time at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years and for the entire extrapolation period, while AZA was not associated with significant OS benefits at any time point in HOVON 97 or QoLESS (Table). The mean incremental survival benefit with CC-486 versus PBO and AZA (HOVON 97 and QoLESS) versus control at 3 years was 4.18 versus 1.18 and 2.35 months, respectively; at 5 years was 6.14 versus 1.11 and 0.99 months, respectively; and for the entire extrapolation period was 10.12 versus −6.58 and −18.32 months, respectively. The improvement in mean OS of 10.12 months with CC-486 was consistent with the median OS improvement (9.9 months) reported in QUAZAR AML-001. Conclusions: In this ITC, CC-486 had a longer duration of follow-up than injectable AZA and an earlier and more durable relative OS benefit, which was maintained beyond 60 months. This analysis demonstrates that CC-486 was associated with a meaningful improvement in mean survival time, and that maintenance treatment with CC-486 provides a long-term survival benefit compared with the relative short-term benefit observed with AZA. Disclosures Chen: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Disher:Eversana: Current Employment. Siddiqui:Eversana: Current Employment. La Torre:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Skikne:Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment. Suero:Eversana: Current Employment; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy. Cameron:Eversana: Current Employment. Gavanji:Eversana: Current Employment. Cameron:Eversana: Current Employment, Current equity holder in private company.

Older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have worse rates of complete remission and shorter overall survival than younger patients. The epigenetic modifier CC-486 is an oral formulation of azacitidine with promising clinical activity in patients with AML in Phase I studies. The Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled QUAZAR AML Maintenance trial (CC-486-AML-001) examines CC-486 maintenance therapy (300 mg/day for 14 days of 28-day treatment cycles) for patients aged ≥55 years with AML in first complete remission. The primary end point is overall survival. Secondary end points include relapse-free survival, safety, health-related quality of life and healthcare resource utilization. This trial will investigate whether CC-486 maintenance can prolong remission and improve survival for older patients with AML.

The economic burden associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is poorly defined and understudied. The goal of this study is estimate the direct cost of illness for AML in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK), by conducting a comprehensive literature review and calculating the average direct cost-of-illness per patient for the first 6 months of therapy. Patients were grouped by therapy: intensive chemotherapy alone; induction chemotherapy followed by allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT); low intensity therapy; and best supportive care. Data suggest that the pathways alloSCT, followed by intensive chemotherapy, are associated with the highest direct costs. Calculated direct costs suggest that they are higher in the US ($14,014 for BSC-only to $352,682 for alloSCT) than in the UK (£3708 [$5837] for BSC-only to £112,545 [$177,187]). AML appears to be associated with significant direct economic costs, but more studies are needed to fully assess the economic impact especially in relation to total and indirect costs.

CC-486, the oral formulation of azacitidine (AZA), is an epigenetic modifier and DNA methyltransferase inhibitor in clinical development for treatment of hematologic malignancies. CC-486 administered for 7 days per 28-day treatment cycle was evaluated in a phase 1 dose-finding study. AZA has a short plasma half-life and DNA incorporation is S-phase-restricted; extending CC-486 exposure may increase the number of AZA-affected diseased target cells and maximize therapeutic effects. Patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) received 300 mg CC-486 once daily for 14 days (n=28) or 21 days (n=27) of repeated 28-day cycles. Median patient age was 72 years (range 31-87) and 75% of patients had International Prognostic Scoring System Intermediate-1 risk MDS. Median number of CC-486 treatment cycles was 7 (range 2-24) for the 14-day dosing schedule and 6 (1-24) for the 21-day schedule. Overall response (complete or partial remission, red blood cell (RBC) or platelet transfusion independence (TI), or hematologic improvement) (International Working Group 2006) was attained by 36% of patients receiving 14-day dosing and 41% receiving 21-day dosing. RBC TI rates were similar with both dosing schedules (31% and 38%, respectively). CC-486 was generally well-tolerated. Extended dosing schedules of oral CC-486 may provide effective long-term treatment for patients with lower-risk MDS.

Introduction Chromosome 17 abnormalities, especially disorders of the 17p region and including TP53 gene mutations, result in very low rates of cure for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) treated with conventional chemotherapy or allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT). Our retrospective study analyzed outcomes in patients with chromosome 17 (ch17) abnormalities who received conventional chemotherapy followed by allo-HCT versus those who did not receive a transplant. We analyzed whether poor outcomes extend to patients with all types of ch17 abnormalities and the impact of concomitant TP53 gene mutations assessed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) on prognosis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed diagnostic and outcome data on 98 patients treated at our institution from 2012 to 2018 with AML or MDS who possessed ch17 abnormalities by cytogenetic analysis. The presence of TP53 mutations was analyzed by NGS. Primary endpoint of our study was overall survival (OS). Results 61 patients with AML and 37 with MDS were included. Complete remission (CR) with first line treatment was similar between induction chemotherapy or hypomethylating agents (HMA), 22.9 % versus 21.6 % (p = 0.33). Median OS for all patients (with or without transplant) was 10 months. Patients with abnormal ch17 in conjunction with any TP53 mutation(s) exhibited worse OS compared to patients without a TP53 mutation (10 versus 23 months, p = 0.02). 30 patients (19 AML, 11 MDS) underwent HCT, with a median OS of 11 months. For AML patients who underwent allo-HCT, 18 were in CR (13 with cytogenetic remission) and 1 had persistent disease at transplant. In the MDS cohort, 3 patients were in CR (2 with cytogenetic remission) and 8 had stable disease. Post allo-HCT survival of AML and MDS cohorts did not differ (p = 0.6), although cytogenetic CR at time of HCT trended towards improved OS (17 versus 8 months; p = 0.6). Conclusions AML/MDS patients with ch17 abnormalities have poor outcomes with or without HCT. Our results show that patients with ch17 abnormalities and TP53 mutations have a significantly poorer survival compared to patients who have ch17 abnormalities but no TP53 mutations. Drugs targeting abnormalities of the p53 pathway, improvement in depth of response prior to HCT, and novel maintenance strategies are needed for improved outcomes in these patients.

Introduction: Many older patients (pts) with AML respond to intensive induction chemotherapy (IC), but responses are often short-lived and overall survival (OS) is poor. The benefit of post-remission maintenance treatment (Tx) for pts with AML is unclear, as no therapy has shown to significantly improve OS. CC-486 is an oral hypomethylating agent that allows for prolonged drug exposure during each Tx cycle to sustain therapeutic activity. We hypothesized that prolonged Tx with CC-486 could be effective as post-remission maintenance in AML. Herein, we report the primary results of QUAZAR AML-001 (NCT01757535), a phase III international, randomized, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled study evaluating CC-486 as maintenance therapy in pts aged ≥55 years with AML in first remission following IC. Methods: Eligible pts had de novo or secondary AML, intermediate- or poor-risk cytogenetics, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) scores of ≤3; had achieved first complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete count recovery (CRi) after IC, with or without consolidation chemotherapy; and were not candidates for hematopoietic stem-cell transplant (HSCT). Within 4 months of attaining CR/CRi, pts were randomized 1:1 to receive CC-486 300 mg or PBO once-daily on days 1-14 of repeated 28-day Tx cycles. A 21-day dosing schedule was permitted for pts who experienced AML relapse with 5-15% blasts in blood or bone marrow while on-study. Tx could continue indefinitely until the presence of >15% blasts, unacceptable toxicity, or HSCT. The primary endpoint was OS. Secondary endpoints included relapse-free survival (RFS), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and safety. Samples were collected for exploratory translational endpoints, including measurable residual disease (MRD). Kaplan-Meier estimates of OS and RFS were compared for CC-486 vs. PBO by stratified log-rank test. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were generated using a stratified Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Between May 2013 and October 2017, 472 pts were randomized to receive CC-486 (n=238) or PBO (n=234). Baseline characteristics were balanced between Tx arms. Median age was 68 years (range 55-86), 91% of pts had de novo AML, and 86% and 14% of pts, respectively, had intermediate-risk or poor-risk cytogenetics. Following induction, 81% of pts achieved a CR and 19% achieved CRi; 80% of pts had received consolidation chemotherapy (45% received 1 consolidation cycle and 31% received 2 consolidation cycles). At a median follow-up of 41.2 months, OS was significantly improved with CC-486 vs. PBO: median OS was 24.7 months vs. 14.8 months from time of randomization, respectively (P=0.0009; HR 0.69 [95%CI 0.55, 0.86]) (FigureA). RFS was also significantly prolonged: median RFS was 10.2 months in the CC-486 arm, compared with 4.8 months in the PBO arm (P=0.0001; HR 0.65 [95%CI 0.52, 0.81]) (Figure B). OS and RFS benefits of CC-486 were demonstrated regardless of baseline cytogenetic risk, the number of prior consolidation cycles received, and CR/CRi status. CC-486 did not adversely impact overall HRQoL vs. PBO, as assessed by mean changes from baseline in HRQoL measures during Tx. CC-486 had a manageable safety profile generally consistent with that of injectable azacitidine. Median exposure to CC-486 was 12 cycles (range 1-80) and to PBO was 6 cycles (1-73). The most frequently reported adverse events (AEs) with CC-486 and PBO were grade 1 or 2 gastrointestinal (GI) events, including nausea (64% and 23%, respectively), vomiting (59% and 10%), and diarrhea (49% and 21%). The most common grade 3-4 AEs were neutropenia (CC-486, 41%; PBO, 24%), thrombocytopenia (23% and 22%), and anemia (14% and 13%). Serious AEs were infrequent, mainly infections, which occurred in 17% of pts in the CC-486 arm and 8% of pts in the PBO arm. Few AEs led to Tx discontinuation, most often GI events (CC-486, 5%; PBO, 0.4%). Conclusions: CC-486 is the first therapy used in the maintenance setting to provide statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in both OS and RFS in pts with AML in remission following induction chemotherapy, with or without consolidation. Oral CC-486 has a manageable safety profile and represents a new therapeutic standard for pts with AML in remission. Disclosures Wei: Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: AHW is a former employee of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and receives a fraction of its royalty stream related to venetoclax, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Macrogenics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: 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; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Döhner:AbbVie, Agios, Amgen, Astellas, Astex, Celator, Janssen, Jazz, Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; AROG, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer: Research Funding; Celgene, Novartis, Sunesis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Montesinos:Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Teva: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Ravandi:BMS: 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, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Orsenix: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Astellas: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Xencor: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Macrogenix: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Sayar:Celgene Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Porkka:Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Selleslag:Celyad: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Consultancy; Daichii Sankyo: Consultancy; Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Astex Otsuka: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Sandhu:Takeda: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Bioverativ: Consultancy; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy. Giai:BMS: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Beltrami:Ospedale Policlinico San Martino: Employment. Ossenkoppele:Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. La Torre:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Skikne:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kumar:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Dong:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Beach:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Roboz:AbbVie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Actinium: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amphivena: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Argenx: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astex: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celltrion: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Eisai: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MEI Pharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Orsenix: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Otsuka: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sandoz: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Trovagene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

After failure of DNA methyltransferase inhibition (DNMTi) there is no standard of care therapy for high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and median survival for higher risk disease is less than 6 months (Prebet et al, JCO 2011; Jabbour et al, Cancer 2015). Pevonedistat, a first in human small molecule inhibitor of the NEDD8 activating enzyme (NAE), downregulates Cullin ring ligases (CRL) which interferes with the shuttling and degradation of proteins in the proteasome and leads to accumulation of CRL substrates. Combining pevonedistat (Pev) with azacitidine (AZA) resulted in synergistic cell killing in in vitro and xenograft models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Smith et al, Blood 2011), elicited favorable response rates in treatment naïve elderly or unfit AML patients (Swords et al Blood 2018), and is currently under study in treatment-naïve MDS. The study presented herein (NCT03238248) investigates the utility of adding pevonedistat to azacitidine (PevAz) after DNMTi failure in MDS and MDS/MPN overlap syndromes. Methods: In this on-going single-arm phase II study, MDS and MDS/MPN patients were eligible if they were refractory to DNMTi treatment, progressing after at least 2 cycles of therapy; had failed to achieve a complete remission (CR) after at least 4 cycles of DNMTi therapy; or had relapsed after an initial response to DNMTi therapy. Enrolled subjects received AZA 75mg/m2 sc/iv daily on days 1-5 and Pev 20mg/m2 iv on days 1, 3 and 5 of each 28-day cycle. Survival is the primary endpoint and is assessed at regularly scheduled study visits and every 3 months after ending protocol-directed therapy. Hematologic and bone marrow response rates are secondary endpoints. Responses to treatment are determined by the MDS International Working Group (IWG) response criteria (Cheson et al, Blood 2006) or for MDS/MPN, by the modified MDS/MPN IWG response criteria (Savona et al, Blood 2015). Results: As of the data cutoff on 15 MAR 2019, 23 subjects (21 with MDS, 2 with MDS/MPN) had enrolled and initiated treatment. Subjects had previously been treated with AZA (n=11/23), decitabine (n=11/23), and ASTX727 (n=4/23); some subjects had been treated with more than one DNMTi prior to enrollment. Median number of cycles of any prior DNMTi therapy was 7 (range 2-35). 65% of subjects were female. Median age at enrollment was 67 years (range 51 - 85). 65% had Intermediate-2 or High risk disease by IPSS at time of enrollment. Median number of PevAz cycles completed prior to the data cutoff was 4 (range 1-19). One subject had not reached the first response assessment at the time of the data cutoff and data was unavailable for one subject. The overall response rate including complete and partial remission, hematologic improvement and clinical benefit (CB) was 42.9% (9/21), and CR rate (including 1 CR + 4 marrow CR) was 23.8% (5/21) with a median duration of response (DOR) of 8.7m (range 2.8m-15.7m). An additional 38.1% (8/21) had stable disease as best response (Table 1). The most common Grade >2 adverse events (any attribution) include thrombocytopenia (39%), anemia (35%), leukopenia (26%), neutropenia (22%), infections (17%), and febrile neutropenia (13%). Six subjects experienced Grade ≤ 2 elevations in AST/ALT and 4 had Grade ≤ 2 elevation in bilirubin, whereas only one subject experienced Grade > 2 LFT abnormality (increase in ALT). There was one death on study due to intracerebral hemorrhage related to a previously undiagnosed metastatic carcinoma. PevAz treatment was discontinued in other subjects due to disease progression (n=7), adverse event (n=1), lack of response (n=1), or to pursue allogeneic stem cell transplant after achieving a satisfactory response to PevAz (n=3). Ten subjects were continuing PevAz therapy on study as of the data cutoff. Summary: PevAz was well-tolerated in MDS and MDS/MPN patients who had previously failed DNMTi, with the most common adverse events of cytopenias, which are a common feature of these diseases. 5/21 subjects achieved CR/mCR with meaningful DOR, and the ORR of 42.9% exceeded expectations for MDS patients with previous failure of DNMTi therapy; both MDS/MPN patients responded with CR and CB. For these patients whose treatment options are limited and prognosis very poor, these preliminary data are especially encouraging and warrant further investigation. This therapy combination is being tested in a phase 3 study in treatment naïve high risk MDS, CMML and low-blast AML. Disclosures Watts: Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Research Funding. Strickland:Astellas Pharma: Consultancy; Sunesis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy. Byrne:Karyopharm: Research Funding. Bradley:AbbVie: Other: Advisory Board. Savona:Sunesis: Research Funding; Selvita: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Consultancy, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Boehringer Ingelheim: Patents & Royalties.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a potentially curative treatment for MDS. Besides the innate heterogeneity of MDS, intensity of the conditioning regimen (myeloablative (MAC) versus reduced intensity/non-myeloablative (RIC)), specific agents used in conditioning, donor and source of stem cells and GVHD prevention regimens further influence outcomes. We sought to determine how conditioning regimens influenced MDS subgroup cohort outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of 107 MDS patients (63 male and 44 females) with median age 61.8 (17-73 years) who underwent allogeneic SCT at our institution between 2008 and 2017. For the purposes of this report, patients were grouped according to WHO classification into non-RAEB (RCMD, RA, RARS RCUD or 5q deletion, n=49) and RAEB (RAEB1 and RAEB2, n=58) categories. Median time from MDS diagnosis to transplantation was 139 days (20-3175). No patients were in complete remission (CR) at time of SCT. Allogeneic donor types were matched related, matched unrelated, haplo-identical and cord blood in 30, 65, 10 and 2 patients, respectively. Stem cell source was peripheral blood (91 patients) and bone marrow in 14. Forty patients (median age 52.2 (17-61) years) underwent MAC and 67 (median age 63.7 (23-73) years) RIC. Twelve patients died within 100 days of transplantation, 3 due to disease progression, 5 to acute GVHD, and 4 to other transplant-related causes. Median overall survival (OS) for all 107 patients was 1.3 years with 54%, 47% and 40% alive at 1, 2 and at 5 years. OS was slightly higher in patients undergoing RIC with OS of 57%, 48% and 40% (median 1.532 years) versus 50%, 40% and 38% with MAC (median 0.92 years) at the same time points (p>0.1). Median OS of the 49 patients with non-RAEB and 58 patients with RAEB MDS was 3.01 years versus 0.92 years (p>0.1). GVHD was the most frequent cause of death (46%), followed by relapse/progression (28%), infection (14%) and other (12%). Of 29 patients undergoing RIC with non-RAEB MDS, median OS was 3.78 years while for 38 RAEB patients it was 1.17 years (p>0.1). See table for OS according to conditioning regimen and WHO classification. For MAC, in 20 non-RAEB patients median OS was 2.2 years while the median OS was 0.69 years for 20 RAEB patients (p>0.1). CR after SCT was achieved in 57 patients (53%), 33 receiving RIC (CR 49.2%) and 24 receiving MAC (CR 60%). Seven patients subsequently relapsed, 4 RIC and 3 MAC. Of the non-RAEB patients achieving CR, median OS in the 16 patients treated with 111 RIC was not reached and in 14 patients receiving MAC, median OS was 3.75 years (p>0.1). For the 27 RAEB patients achieving CR, median OS was 4.4 years in 17 patients treated with RIC versus not reached in 10 patients treated with MAC. Overall, death in non-RAEB patients occurred in 26/49 (53%) compared to 38/58 (66%) RAEB patients and in 40/67 (59%) patients undergoing RIC versus 25/40 (63%) MAC patients (p>0.5). The hematopoietic transplant comorbidity index did not predict OS outcomes in these MDS patients (p>0.1) and the cytogenetic score according to the IPSS-R "very good -very poor" groups indicated no differences in OS in the non-RAEB patients but in RAEB patients significant differences according to the cytogenetic score was evident (P Conclusions: In this retrospective analysis of MDS patients undergoing allogeneic SCT, achieving CR led to improved survival. In non-RAEB MDS patients achieving CR, OS was similar irrespective of conditioning intensity (RIC or MAC). Furthermore, outcomes did not differ in RAEB patients who achieved CR according to intensity of conditioning regimen. However, those receiving MAC had not reached median OS at 5 years. The outcomes in this analysis indicate that improvement in the incidence of deaths due to GVHD would likely have the greatest impact in improving survival in MDS patients undergoing allogeneic transplantation. Table Disclosures Abhyankar: Therakos: Other: Consulting, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Speakers Bureau. Lin:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Yacoub:Incyte: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Ganguly:Kite Pharma: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Seattle Genetics: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding. McGuirk:Pluristem Ltd: Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Research Funding; Kite Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bellicum Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Fresenius Biotech: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Juno Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; ArticulateScience LLC: Other: Assistance with manuscript preparation.

CC‐486 (oral azacitidine) is an epigenetic modifier in clinical development for treatment of hematological cancers. This study of extended CC‐486 dosing included patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). After a pharmacokinetic assessment period, 31 patients (MDS n = 18, CMML n = 4, and AML n = 9) entered a clinical phase in which they received CC‐486 300 mg once‐daily for 21 days of repeated 28‐day cycles. Median age was 71 years (range: 53‐93); 42% of patients were aged ≥75 years. A total of 5 patients with AML (63%) had prior MDS. Median number of CC‐486 treatment cycles was 4 (range: 1‐32). The most common treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were gastrointestinal (84% of patients) and hematologic (81%). Most common grade 3‐4 TEAEs were neutropenia (n = 13, 42%) and anemia (n = 9, 29%). Ten patients experienced grade 4 neutropenia. Infrequently, CC‐486 dose was interrupted or reduced due to gastrointestinal (n = 5, 16%) or hematologic (n = 6, 19%) TEAEs. Overall response rate (complete remission [CR], CR with incomplete hematological recovery [CRi], partial remission [PR], marrow CR) in the MDS/CMML subgroups was 32% and in the AML subgroup (CR/CRi/PR) was 22%. Red blood cell transfusion independence rates in the MDS/CMML and AML subgroups were 33% and 25%, respectively, and 2 MDS/CMML patients attained hematologic improvement as a best response on‐study. No baseline gene mutation was predictive of response/nonresponse. CC‐486 allows flexible dosing and schedules to improve tolerability or response. Neutropenia in early treatment cycles deserves scrutiny and may warrant initiation of prophylactic antibiotics. KEY POINTS The safety profile of oral CC‐486 was comparable to that of injectable azacitidine; most adverse events were hematological and gastrointestinal. Extended (21‐day/cycle) CC‐486 dosing induced responses in patients with hematological malignancies, many of whom had prior DNMTi failure.

Thrombocytopenia is among the strongest predictors of decreased survival for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) across all prognostic risk groups. The safety and efficacy of CC-486 (oral azacitidine) was investigated in early-phase studies; we assessed clinical outcomes among subgroups of MDS patients from these studies, defined by presence or lack of pretreatment thrombocytopenia (≤75 × 109/L platelet count). Patients received CC-486 300 mg once-daily for 14 or 21 days of repeated 28-day cycles. Overall, 81 patients with MDS, median age 72 years, comprised the Low Platelets (n = 45) and High Platelets (n = 36) cohorts. Pretreatment median platelet counts were 34 × 109/L and 198 × 109/L, respectively. Grade 3–4 bleeding events occurred in 2 patients in the Low Platelets and 1 patient in the High Platelets groups; events resolved without sequelae. Treatment-related mortality was reported for 7 patients, 5 of whom had pretreatment platelet values

Relapse is the main cause of treatment failure after allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Injectable azacitidine can improve post-transplant outcomes but presents challenges with exposure and compliance. Oral CC-486 allows extended dosing to prolong azacitidine activity. We investigated use of CC-486 maintenance therapy after alloSCT. Adults with MDS or AML in morphologic complete remission at CC-486 initiation (42 to 84 days after alloSCT) were included. Patients received 1 of 4 CC-486 dosing schedules per 28-day cycle for up to 12 cycles. Endpoints included safety, pharmacokinetics, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) incidence, relapse/progression rate, and survival. Of 30 patients, 7 received CC-486 once daily for 7 days per cycle (200 mg, n = 3; 300 mg, n = 4) and 23 for 14 days per cycle (150 mg, n = 4; 200 mg, n = 19 [expansion cohort]). Grades 3 to 4 adverse events were infrequent and occurred with similar frequency across regimens. Standard concomitant medications did not alter CC-486 pharmacokinetic parameters. Three patients (10%) experienced grade III acute GVHD and 9 experienced chronic GVHD. Of 28 evaluable patients, 6 (21%) relapsed or had progressive disease: 3 of 7 patients (43%) who had received 7-day dosing and 3 of 23 (13%) who had received 14-day dosing. Transplant-related mortality was 3%. At 19 months of follow-up, median overall survival was not reached. Estimated 1-year survival rates were 86% and 81% in the 7-day and 14-day dosing cohorts, respectively. CC-486 maintenance was generally well tolerated, with low rates of relapse, disease progression, and GVHD. CC-486 maintenance may permit epigenetic manipulation of the alloreactive response postallograft. Findings require confirmation in randomized trials. (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01835587.)

Parenteral azacitidine improves overall survival in higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes. An oral azacitidine formulation would allow extended dosing schedules, potentially improving safety and/or efficacy. Two Phase 1 studies evaluated the pharmacokinetics (PK) of oral azacitidine in subjects with hematologic malignancies. Study 1 evaluated different oral formulations (immediate release tablet [IRT], enteric-coated tablet, and capsule; N = 16). Study 2 assessed the effect of food (Part 1; N = 17) and gastric pH modulation with omeprazole (Part 2; N = 14) on oral azacitidine PK. Azacitidine plasma concentration-time profiles for IRT and capsule formulations were similar, with more rapid time to maximum plasma concentration (Tmax ) than the enteric-coated tablet. Study 2 evaluated only IRT formulations of oral azacitidine. Under fed condition, Tmax was delayed ∼1.5 hours but area under the concentration-time curve (AUC∞ ) and maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax ) were comparable under fed and fasted conditions. Mean azacitidine AUC∞ and Cmax increased upon omeprazole co-administration (18.3% and 13.2%, respectively, vs. oral azacitidine alone), but not to a clinically meaningful extent. High inter-subject variability in AUC∞ and Cmax (%CV range 46.4-68.9%) was observed. Oral azacitidine is rapidly absorbed with little or no effect of food on PK parameters, and does not require dose adjustments when taking a proton-pump inhibitor.

Summary Introduction: Thrombocytopenia occurs frequently in chronic hepatitis C. The mechanism of this association was investigated utilizing the immature platelet fraction (IPF%) as an index of platelet production together with assay of thrombopoietin (TPO). Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 47 patients with chronic hepatitis C were studied, 29 with thrombocytopenia and 18 without thrombocytopenia (six patients in each group were on interferon therapy). Results: IPF% was elevated in the thrombocytopenic compared with the nonthrombocytopenic group (9.0 ± 4.8%vs. 4.7 ± 2.4%, P

Purpose To determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), safety, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles, and clinical activity of an oral formulation of azacitidine in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Patients and Methods Patients received 1 cycle of subcutaneous (SC) azacitidine (75 mg/m2) on the first 7 days of cycle 1, followed by oral azacitidine daily (120 to 600 mg) on the first 7 days of each additional 28-day cycle. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles were evaluated during cycles 1 and 2. Adverse events and hematologic responses were recorded. Cross-over to SC azacitidine was permitted for nonresponders who received ≥ 6 cycles of oral azacitidine. Results Overall, 41 patients received SC and oral azacitidine (MDSs, n = 29; CMML, n = 4; AML, n = 8). Dose-limiting toxicity (grade 3/4 diarrhea) occurred at the 600-mg dose and MTD was 480 mg. Most common grade 3/4 adverse events were diarrhea (12.2%), nausea (7.3%), vomiting (7.3%), febrile neutropenia (19.5%), and fatigue (9.8%). Azacitidine exposure increased with escalating oral doses. Mean relative oral bioavailability ranged from 6.3% to 20%. Oral and SC azacitidine decreased DNA methylation in blood, with maximum effect at day 15 of each cycle. Hematologic responses occurred in patients with MDSs and CMML. Overall response rate (ie, complete remission, hematologic improvement, or RBC or platelet transfusion independence) was 35% in previously treated patients and 73% in previously untreated patients. Conclusion Oral azacitidine was bioavailable and demonstrated biologic and clinical activity in patients with MDSs and CMML.

CC-486 (oral azacitidine) is an epigenetic modifier in development for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia. In part 1 of this two-part study, a 7-day CC-486 dosing schedule showed clinical activity, was generally well tolerated, and reduced DNA methylation. Extending dosing of CC-486 beyond 7 days would increase duration of azacitidine exposure. We hypothesized that extended dosing would therefore provide more sustained epigenetic activity. Reported here are the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) profiles of CC-486 extended dosing schedules in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) from part 2 of this study. PK and/or PD data were available for 59 patients who were sequentially assigned to 1 of 4 extended CC-486 dosing schedules: 300mg once-daily or 200mg twice-daily for 14 or 21 days per 28-day cycle. Both 300mg once-daily schedules and the 200mg twice-daily 21-day schedule significantly (all P < .05) reduced global DNA methylation in whole blood at all measured time points (days 15, 22, and 28 of the treatment cycle), with sustained hypomethylation at cycle end compared with baseline. CC-486 exposures and reduced DNA methylation were significantly correlated. Patients who had a hematologic response had significantly greater methylation reductions than non-responding patients. These data demonstrate that extended dosing of CC-486 sustains epigenetic effects through the treatment cycle. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00528983

A case of diffuse well differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma with associated leukopenia, is described. The colony-forming unit (CFU-C) assay was used to quantitate myeloid precursor cells and to test for the presence of suppressor cells and/or serum factors inhibiting myeloid cell proliferation. Mild suppression of CFU-C was noted with the patient's bone marrow cells in coculture studies with normal marrow. The patient's serum, when added to the culture of normal bone marrow cells, produced a marked decrease in CFU-C. Treatment with combination chemotherapy (prednisone, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine) produced a clinical response with correction of the leukopenia. Post-treatment serum did not produce a significant reduction in CFU-C from normal bone marrow.

Several reports have defined nonfamilial thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) as an autoimmune disorder caused by antibodies to von Willebrand's factor-cleaving protease (vWF-CP). This raises the possibility that rituximab, a monoclonal antibody against CD20 present in B-lymphoid cells, may have utility in the treatment of TTP. We report five consecutively treated patients with relapsed TTP who responded rapidly to immune suppression by rituximab at our institution. These two male and three female patients had a median age of 37 years (27-70). The median time from diagnosis to therapy was 24 months (8-60). Prior therapies included plasma exchange and corticosteroids in all cases, splenectomy (4), vincristine and aspirin (3), and azathioprine (2). The median number of plasma exchanges received prior to therapy was 59 (21-158). The cohort had a median platelet count of 48 x 10(9)/l (23-110), median hemoglobin of 9 g/dl (8-11), and median lactate dehydrogenase of 632 IU/l (311-945) prior to administration of rituximab. Analysis of vWF-CP activity demonstrated absent or decreased activity with detectable inhibitors in four patients. All patients attained a complete response. The median time to response after the first dose of rituximab was 5 weeks. Responses are maintained in all patients from 10 to 21 months after treatment. This report adds to the evidence that rituximab has efficacy in nonfamilial TTP and warrants further study.

Current initiatives to reduce the high prevalence of nutritional iron deficiency have highlighted the need for reliable epidemiologic methods to assess iron status. The present report describes a method for estimating body iron based on the ratio of the serum transferrin receptor to serum ferritin. Analysis showed a single normal distribution of body iron stores in US men aged 20 to 65 years (mean ± 1 SD, 9.82 ± 2.82 mg/kg). A single normal distribution was also observed in pregnant Jamaican women (mean ± 1 SD, 0.09 ± 4.48 mg/kg). Distribution analysis in US women aged 20 to 45 years indicated 2 populations; 93% of women had body iron stores averaging 5.5 ± 3.35 mg/kg (mean ± 1 SD), whereas the remaining 7% of women had a mean tissue iron deficit of 3.87 ± 3.23 mg/kg. Calculations of body iron in trials of iron supplementation in Jamaica and iron fortification in Vietnam demonstrated that the method can be used to calculate absorption of the added iron. Quantitative estimates of body iron greatly enhance the evaluation of iron status and the sensitivity of iron intervention trials in populations in which inflammation is uncommon or has been excluded by laboratory screening. The method is useful clinically for monitoring iron status in those who are highly susceptible to iron deficiency.

Background Particularly since the advent of lenalidomide, lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients with del(5q) have been the focus of many studies; however, the impact of age on disease characteristics and response to lenalidomide has not been analyzed. Methods We assessed the effect of age on clinical characteristics and outcomes in 286 lenalidomide-treated MDS patients with del(5q) from two multicenter trials. Results A total of 33.9, 34.3, and 31.8% patients were aged

Background: Karyotype is the strongest independent prognostic factor for survival in AML. The randomized phase 3 AZA-AML-001 study of older patients with AML showed AZA prolonged overall survival (OS) compared with CCR (10.4 vs 6.5 months, respectively; P=0.101) (Dombret et al, Blood, 2015). In a prospective subanalysis of the study, AZA was shown to meaningfully prolong OS by 3.2 months compared with CCR (P=0.0185) in the subgroup of patients with NCCN-defined poor-risk cytogenetics (Döhner et al, Blood, 2014: Abstract 621). Aim: This analysis evaluates treatment effects of AZA vs CCR on OS in subgroups of patients with specific cytogenetic abnormalities as well as in patient subgroups defined by cytogenetic risk per modified European LeukemiaNet (ELN) recommendations (not considering molecular markers) (Döhner et al, Blood, 2010). Methods: Patients aged ≥65 years with newly diagnosed AML (>30% bone marrow [BM] blasts), ECOG performance status score ≤2, intermediate- or poor-risk cytogenetics per NCCN 2009 criteria, and WBC count ≤15x109/L were randomized to receive AZA (75 mg/m2/day [d] x7d/28d) or CCR: intensive chemotherapy (cytarabine 100-200mg/m2IV x7d + anthracycline IV x3d induction), low-dose ara-C (20mg SC BID x10d/28d), or best supportive care only. Karyotypes obtained from BM were reviewed centrally by an independent cytogeneticist. OS was evaluated in subgroups of patients with frequent specific abnormalities, including -5/del(5q), -7, -7/del(7q), abnormal (17p) or complex karyotype (based on specific abnormalities, patients may have been evaluated in more than one category). OS was also assessed for patients in ELN-defined karyotype risk subgroups: Intermediate (Int)-I (normal karyotype), Int-II (all abnormalities not classified as Favorable or Adverse), and Adverse karyotype. OS was assessed using Kaplan-Meier methods and compared using a weighted log-rank test. Results: Centrally reviewed cytogenetic data were available for 485/488 patients (99.4%). In all, 220 patients (45.4%; AZA n=114, CCR n=106) had Int-I karyotype, 111 patients (22.9%; AZA n=53, CCR n=58) had Int-II karyotype, and 154 patients (31.8%, AZA n=73, CCR n=81) had Adverse karyotype (Figure 1). OS was comparable between AZA and CCR in patients with Int-I karyotype (14.1 vs 10.1 months, respectively; hazard ratio [HR] 0.83, 95%CI 0.60, 1.1; P=0.44) and patients with Int-II karyotype (8.9 vs 9.6 months; HR 1.19, 95%CI 0.79, 1.8; P=0.78). There was a significant 2.4-month median OS difference in favor of AZA in patients with Adverse karyotype (5.3 vs 2.9 months with CCR; HR 0.71, 95%CI 0.51, 0.99; P=0.046; Figure 2), with 1-year survival rates of 29.1% vs 14.7% for AZA and CCR, respectively. AZA was associated with longer median OS and higher 1-year survival compared with CCR for all subgroups of patients with the specific cytogenetic abnormalities under study: -5/del(5q), -7, -7/del(7q), abnormal (17p), and complex karyotype, with HRs ranging from 0.54 to 0.69(Table). Median OS in the CCR arm was less than 3 months for each of these subgroups. Similar to what has been reported in MDS (Ravandi et al, Cancer, 2009), AML patients with chromosome 7 abnormalities responded particularly well to AZA, with an improvement in median OS of 4.1 months over CCR. Patients with complex karyotypes also had meaningful improvements in OS, with ~15% more AZA-treated patients alive at 1 year than CCR patients. Conclusions: Prognosis is dismal for older AML patients with adverse karyotypes, and is especially poor for patients with complex karyotypes. Median OS and 1-year survival in patients with ELN-defined Adverse karyotype treated with AZA were almost double those of patients treated with CCR. AZA-treated patients with the specific cytogenetic abnormalities and/or complex karyotype in this analysis had a 31-46% reduction in risk of death vs CCR, and proportions of patients alive at 1 year were 11-22% greater with AZA. These data suggest AZA should be the preferred treatment for older patients with AML and adverse karyotypes. Disclosures Seymour: Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel support, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel support, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Santini:Astex: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Onconova: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Stone:Celator: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Xenetic Biosciences: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Jansen: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; ONO: Consultancy; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Sunesis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Al-Ali:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Morrill:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Songer:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Weaver:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Skikne:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Beach:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Dombret:Agios: Honoraria; Ambit (Daiichi Sankyo): Honoraria; Menarini: Honoraria; Menarini: Honoraria; Servier: Honoraria; Sunesis: Honoraria; Karyopharm: Honoraria; Kite Pharma.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Astellas: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria; Roche/Genentech: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria; Ariad: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Jazz Pharma: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Recent knowledge gained regarding the relationship between erythropoietin, iron, and erythropoiesis in patients with blood loss anemia, with or without recombinant human erythropoietin therapy, has implications for patient management. Under conditions of significant blood loss, erythropoietin therapy, or both, iron-restricted erythropoiesis is evident, even in the presence of storage iron and iron oral supplementation. Intravenous iron therapy in renal dialysis patients undergoing erythropoietin therapy can produce hematologic responses with serum ferritin levels up to 400 μg/L, indicating that traditional biochemical markers of storage iron in patients with anemia caused by chronic disease are unhelpful in the assessment of iron status. Newer measurements of erythrocyte and reticulocyte indices using automated counters show promise in the evaluation of iron-restricted erythropoiesis. Assays for serum erythropoietin and the transferrin receptor are valuable tools for clinical research, but their roles in routine clinical practice remain undefined. The availability of safer intravenous iron preparations allows for carefully controlled studies of their value in patients undergoing erythropoietin therapy or experiencing blood loss, or both.

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) supplemented with glutamine (GLN) has been reported to be effective for patients with bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Our aim was to evaluate enteral and parenteral glutamine in patients undergoing BMT.For evaluation of GLN in BMT, 66 patients with 43 hematologic and 23 solid malignancies (21 breast carcinomas), were randomized, double-blinded, to either oral GLN (n = 35) or glycine-control (GLY) (n = 31), 10 g three times daily. When TPN became necessary, patients who received GLN orally were given TPN with GLN (0.57 g/kg). Those who received GLY received standard TPN, isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Patients with hematologic malignancies received high-dose chemotherapy, total body irradiation, and either allogeneic (ALLO) BMT (n = 18) or autologous (AUTO) stem cell transplantation (n = 25). Patients with solid malignancies (n = 23) received AUTO.There were 14 in-hospital deaths without relationship to GLN administration. For respective comparisons of ALLO and AUTO transplants in the GLN and GLY hematologic groups and AUTO in the solid tumor groups, there were no significant differences in hospital stay, duration of stay after BMT, TPN days, neutrophil recovery500/mm3, incidence of positive blood cultures, sepsis, mucositis, and diarrhea. Acute graft us host disease occurred in 1 of 10 hematologic patients receiving GLN and in 3 of 8 patients receiving GLY placebo (p.05). Possible reduction in need for TPN and a suggestion of improved long-term survival were associated with GLN.Oral and parenteral GLN seemed to be of limited benefit for patients having AUTO or ALLO BMT for hematologic or solid malignancies. Further study of long-term effects of GLN in BMT seems warranted.

The present study was undertaken to assess the feasibility of using ferritin and transferrin receptor measurements on dried capillary blood spots to identify iron deficiency (ID) in public health surveys. Measurements on serum and blood spots prepared from venous blood were performed in 71 healthy subjects, 41 of whom were iron-replete and 30 who had ID, either without (n = 20) or with (n = 10) anemia. Parallel measurements were performed on hemolyzed whole blood and washed hemolyzed red blood cells to assess the erythrocyte contribution of ferritin and transferrin receptor to dried blood samples. The concentration of ferritin in dried blood samples was threefold higher than serum assays due to the release of ferritin from hemolyzed erythrocytes, which diminished the usefulness of ferritin measurements for detecting ID. On the other hand, there was negligible erythrocyte contribution to the measurement of transferrin receptor in dried blood spots. The most sensitive parameter in dried blood spots was the ratio of receptor/ferritin, which was suitable for identifying iron-deficiency anemia (IDA), but less reliable than serum assays for detecting milder ID without anemia. We conclude that tandem measurements of serum ferritin and transferrin receptor in dried blood spots can be used to facilitate the identification of IDA in epidemiologic studies.© 1998 by The American Society of Hematology.

Recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is well established in the management of anemia of chronic renal disease. However, a number of clinical issues, including the best laboratory indicators of an imminent marrow response to rHuEPO replacement, the ideal measurements to detect masked iron deficiency, and optimal methods of iron replacement, remain unanswered. To investigate these issues, studies were performed in anemic chronic hemodialysis patients. A number of standard hematologic measurements in addition to automated reticulocyte counts (Sysmex R-1000) and serum transferrin receptors (TfR) were obtained in these patients. A response to initiation of rHuEPO administration could be predicted if the serum TfR concentration was less than 6 mg/L (normal, 3.8 to 8.5 mg/L). In patients on rHuEPO, an imminent hemoglobin response to an increased rHuEPO dose could be predicted after 1 week based on a greater than 20% increase from baseline in the serum TfR or absolute reticulocyte count, with a sensitivity of 92%. In patients on rHuEPO replacement with serum ferritin levels greater than 30 microg/L, none of the panel of tests, including serum TfR, reliably detected masked iron deficiency. In a long-term study over 5 months in patients on a stable maintenance dose of EPO, a gradual decline in total body iron occurred, even in subjects with initial adequate iron stores, and despite taking 50 mg elemental iron daily as oral ferrous sulphate. The serum TfR is useful for predicting a hemoglobin response when initiating rHuEPO therapy, and combined with automated reticulocyte counting it is valuable for predicting a hemoglobin response when increasing the dose of rHuEPO. The serum TfR loses its specificity for detecting tissue iron deficiency in patients on maintenance rHuEPO therapy because of increased erythropoiesis, which itself raises serum TfR levels.

Introduction: Approximately 50% of pts with de novoMDS present with cytogenetic abnormalities at diagnosis (Haase D, et al. Ann Hematol. 1995;70:171); deletion (del)5q occurs in ~15% of pts (Haase D, et al. Blood. 2007;110:4385). Cytogenetic abnormalities in addition to del(5q) may be associated with shorter overall survival (OS) and increased risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) versus del(5q) alone (Mallo M, et al. Leukemia. 2011;25:110). In 2 large multicenter studies (MDS-003 and MDS-004), lenalidomide (LEN) was evaluated in red blood cell (RBC) transfusion-dependent pts with IPSS Low- or Intermediate-1-risk MDS and del(5q) (List A, et al. N Engl J Med. 2006;355:1456; Fenaux P, et al. Blood. 2011;118:3765). Here, we examine specific cytogenetic abnormalities and outcomes in pts with MDS and del(5q) plus ≥ 2 additional cytogenetic abnormalities from MDS-003 and MDS-004. Methods: Of 353 pts enrolled, 281 had available cytogenetic data with ≥ 12 evaluable metaphases, and were included. Pts received either LEN 10 mg on days 1-21 of each 28-day cycle, LEN 5 mg or 10 mg continuously, or placebo (PBO). In MDS-004, at week (wk) 16, PBO pts could cross over to LEN 5 mg. Centrally reviewed cytogenetic studies were performed at baseline, and wks 24 and 48 (MDS-003); and at baseline, wks 12 and 24, and every 24 wks thereafter (MDS-004). RBC transfusion independence (TI) ≥ 26 wks, cytogenetic response (CyR), AML progression, OS, and AML-free survival were assessed by baseline cytogenetic complexity in LEN-treated pts with del(5q) plus ≥ 2 additional abnormalities. These patients did not fulfill IPSS lower-risk classification after central pathologic/cytogenetic evaluation. Results: Of 281 pts, 25 (8.9%) had del(5q) plus ≥ 2 additional abnormalities at baseline. In these pts, the most common additional abnormalities at baseline were -7 (20.0%), del(13q) (20.0%), +21 (16.0%), and del(11q) (16.0%). Baseline characteristics were comparable across the 24 LEN-treated pts with 2 (n = 9), 3 (n = 8), or ≥ 4 (n = 7) additional abnormalities. Rates of RBC-TI ≥ 26 wks were 44.4%, 50.0%, and 28.6% in pts with 2, 3, or ≥ 4 additional abnormalities (P = 0.77), respectively. In pts evaluable for CyR (n = 21), rates of CyR were 33.3%, 28.6%, and 20.0% (P = 1.00), respectively; all cytogenetic responders achieved RBC-TI ≥ 26 wks. The other pts who achieved RBC-TI ≥ 26 wks but did not meet the criteria for CyR showed reductions in the del(5q) clone. No PBO pts achieved CyR; however, 1 pt had a partial response (PR) after crossover to LEN 5 mg. Of the pts randomized to LEN, 4 achieved a complete response (CR) (5 mg, n = 1; 10 mg, n = 3) and 2 achieved a PR (5 mg and 10 mg). Median duration of CyR was 282 days (range 168-957). The median number of additional cytogenetic abnormalities in the subset of pts with poor-risk abnormalities (i.e. 17p, 3q, and monosomal abnormalities; n = 7) was 3 versus 2 in pts with good-risk abnormalities (i.e. all other abnormalities; n = 14). Rates of RBC-TI ≥ 26 wks were 28.6% versus 57.1% for the poor-risk versus good-risk groups, respectively. Rates of CyR were 14.3% versus 35.7%, respectively (all CR). In pts with 2, 3, or ≥ 4 additional abnormalities, the 2-year AML progression rates were 56.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.8-89.9), 40.0% (95% CI 14.8-80.5), and 33.3% (95% CI 5.5-94.6), respectively. Median time to AML was 1.8 years (95% CI 0.6-not reached [NR]), 3.1 years (95% CI 0.4-4.8), and NR (95% CI 1.6-NR) (P = 0.75), respectively (Figure 1A). Of 10 pts who developed AML, 6 had involvement of chromosome 7 [del(7q) or -7] at baseline, but presence of -7 did not necessarily portend a poor response in all. Median OS was 1.8 years (95% CI 0.6-3.7), 3.6 years (95% CI 0.5-NR), and 1.6 years (95% CI 0.2-3.3) (P = 0.17) in pts with 2, 3, or ≥ 4 additional abnormalities (Figure 1B). Median AML-free survival was 1.5 years (95% CI 0.6-3.7), 2.5 years (95% CI 0.4-4.8), and 1.6 years (95% CI 0.2-3.3) (P = 0.36), respectively (Figure 1C). Conclusions: Although RBC-TI and CyR with LEN do occur in pts with del(5q) plus ≥ 2 additional abnormalities, the prognosis is generally dismal and less favorable versus isolated del(5q) and del(5q) plus 1 additional abnormality (Giagounidis A, et al. Blood. 2014;124:abstract 3270). Pts with del(5q) and complex karyotypes are generally associated with IPSS Intermediate-2- or High-risk MDS, which require more intensive treatment approaches, including azacitidine and stem cell transplantation, if feasible. Figure 2. Figure 2. Figure 3. Figure 3. Disclosures Giagounidis: Celgene Corporation: Honoraria. List:Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding. Hellström-Lindberg:Celgene Corporation: Research Funding. Mufti:Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Morrill:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wu:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Skikne:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Fenaux:Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Introduction: Anemia represents the main therapeutic challenge in pts with lower-risk MDS (Fenaux P, Adès L. Blood. 2013;121:4280-6). Prospective studies evaluating LEN for the treatment of red blood cell transfusion-dependent pts showed significant clinical activity in both non-del(5q) and del(5q) International Prognostic Scoring System-defined lower-risk MDS (Raza A, et al. Blood. 2008;111:86-93; Santini V, et al. Blood. 2014;124:abstract 409; List A, et al. N Engl J Med. 2006;355:1456-65; Fenaux P, et al. Blood. 2011;118:3765-76). Hematologic adverse events (AEs) are common, but manageable, with LEN treatment (Giagounidis A, et al. Ann Hematol. 2008;87:345-52). However, there has been no direct comparison of safety profiles in non-del(5q) and del(5q) pts. This pooled analysis compared the incidence of AEs in LEN-treated lower-risk MDS pts with or without del(5q). Methods: This retrospective analysis of pooled data from 7 prospective clinical trials compared the incidence of AEs in LEN-treated lower-risk MDS pts with or without del(5q). The non-del(5q) group included 416 pts from 4 studies: MDS-005 (n = 160), MDS-002 (n = 215), MDS-001 (n = 24), and PK-002 (n = 17). The del(5q) group included 243 pts from 5 studies: MDS-003 (n = 148), MDS-004 (n = 69), MDS-007 (n = 11), MDS-001 (n = 8), and PK-002 (n = 7). A TEAE was defined as an AE that began or worsened in severity on or after the first dose of LEN through to 28 days after the last dose of LEN. Pts received the recommended starting dose of 10 mg LEN for ≥ 1 cycle; in study MDS-005, pts with impaired creatinine clearance (CrCl; ≥ 40 to < 60 mL/min) had a LEN 5 mg starting dose in order to achieve a similar area under the curve as pts with normal CrCl who were receiving LEN 10 mg. Results: Among the LEN-treated lower-risk MDS pts with or without del(5q) in this pooled analysis, the most commonly reported TEAEs (any grade) occurring in ≥ 5% of pts were hematologic: neutropenia [49.3% vs 73.7% for non-del(5q) vs del(5q), respectively], thrombocytopenia (37.3% vs 64.2%), and anemia (16.8% vs 20.2%). Overall, 84.6% of non-del(5q) pts and 96.3% of del(5q) pts experienced grade 3-4 hematologic TEAEs, including neutropenia [45.2% vs 72.0% for non-del(5q) and del(5q), respectively], thrombocytopenia (31.3% vs 52.7%), and anemia (11.8% vs 12.8%) (Table). Non-hematologic TEAEs were similar for both non-del(5q) and del(5q) pts, except deep-vein thrombosis (1.2% vs 4.9%, respectively) and hypertension (0.2% vs 3.7%). Acute myeloid leukemia was reported as a TEAE in 3 non-del(5q) and 9 del(5q) pts. Bleeding events (any grade) occurring concurrently with grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia were observed in 20.7% of non-del(5q) and 24.4% of del(5q) pts. Infection (any grade) occurring concurrently with grade 3-4 neutropenia was observed in 33.6% of non-del(5q) and 54.0% of del(5q) pts. Analysis of grade 3-4 hematologic TEAEs for pts receiving long-term (> 12 months) LEN treatment by time of onset (0 to 6, > 6 to 12, and > 12 to 18 months) showed that onset rates of grade 3-4 neutropenia during the first 6 months were higher versus rates at > 6 to 12 months for non-del(5q) (42.9% vs 19.5%, respectively) and del(5q) pts (65.4% vs 21.3%). Rates decreased similarly for thrombocytopenia in non-del(5q) (13.0% vs 5.2%) and del(5q) pts (40.4% vs 6.6%). At > 12 to 18 months, onset rates of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia for non-del(5q) pts were 15.6% and 9.1%, respectively; rates for del(5q) pts during this period were 23.5% and 4.4%. Grade 3-4 TEAEs resulted in discontinuation of LEN in 27.4% of non-del(5q) and 20.6% of del(5q) pts (Table); however, the criteria for discontinuation differed between studies. Conclusions: In this analysis of pooled data from 7 studies, the safety profiles of LEN-treated lower-risk MDS pts were similar between non-del(5q) and del(5q) pts. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were the most common TEAEs in both groups; however, the frequency of these TEAEs was lower in non-del(5q) pts. Among non-del(5q) and del(5q) pts receiving long-term treatment with LEN, onset rates of thrombocytopenia and neutropenia were lower at > 6 to 12 months versus the first 6 months of treatment. In summary, TEAEs in lower-risk MDS pts with or without del(5q) treated with LEN 10 mg for ≥ 1 cycle are predictable, well characterized, and clinically manageable. Disclosures Almeida: Shire: Speakers Bureau; Bristol Meyer Squibb: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy. Off Label Use: Lenalidomide used to treat MDS patients without del(5q). Santini:celgene, Janssen, Novartis, Onconova: Honoraria, Research Funding. Vey:Celgene: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria. Giagounidis:Celgene Corporation: Honoraria. Hellström-Lindberg:Celgene Corporation: Research Funding. Mufti:Celgene Corporation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Skikne:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hoenekopp:Celgene International: Employment, Equity Ownership. Séguy:Celgene International: Employment. Zhong:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Fenaux:CELGENE: Honoraria, Research Funding; NOVARTIS: Honoraria, Research Funding; AMGEN: Honoraria, Research Funding; JANSSEN: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Background: When administered subcutaneously (SC), the epigenetic modifier, azacitidine (AZA) is shown to improve overall survival in patients (pts) with AML compared with conventional care regimens (Fenaux, JCO, 2010; Dombret, Blood, 2015). CC-486, the oral formulation of AZA, is in clinical development for use in hematologic malignancies. An early dose-finding study of CC-486 administered on a 7-day schedule showed it to be safe and clinically active in pts with AML (Garcia-Manero, JCO, 2011; Gore, Blood, 2011). Extending CC-486 dosing for more than 7 days may increase AZA exposure to leukemic cells over the treatment (Tx) cycle to improve response. Objective: Evaluate the safety and efficacy of CC-486 administered in extended dosing schedules (14 days or 21 days per 28-day cycle) in pts with AML. Methods: Pts with AML from two phase I/II studies were sequentially assigned to receive CC-486 in 1 of 4 extended dosing regimens: 300mg QD x14 days (d)/28d (14-QD), 300mg QD x21d/28d (21-QD), 200mg BID x14d/28d (14-BID), or 200mg BID x21d/28d (21-BID). Hematologic responses (complete remission [CR], partial remission [PR], CR with incomplete hematologic recovery [CRi], marrow CR [mCR]), were assessed using IWG criteria for AML (Cheson, J Clin Oncol, 2003), and hematologic improvement (HI) and transfusion independence (TI) were assessed using IWG criteria for MDS (Cheson, Blood, 2006). Tx-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were graded by NCI-CTCAE v3.1 or v4.0. Results: In all, 23 pts with AML participated in the studies: 14-QD n=4, 21-QD n=12, 14-BID n=4, 21-BID n=3. Median age was 68 years (range 44 - 93), 48% were male, 22% and 78% had ECOG performance status scores of 0-1 or 2, respectively, median % bone marrow blasts was 25%, and median baseline hematology counts were: Hgb 9.1 g/dL (7.4 - 11.7), platelets 33 x 109/L (3 - 435), and ANC 0.3 x 109/L (0 - 6.4). Median time from diagnosis was 1.1 month (range -0.2 - 82.1). Eleven pts (52%) had prior MDS and 13 pts (57%) had received prior Tx for MDS (n=5) or AML (n=8), including 5 pts (38%) who had received hypomethylating agents (HMAs). The median number of CC-486 Tx cycles for all pts was 4 (1 - 9) (Figure). Overall response (CR, PR, CRi, mCR, HI or TI) rate was 48% (11/23), with generally comparable responses and response rates across the 4 dosing regimens (Table 1). Responses were observed in 4 pts (50%) who were relapsed/refractory to prior AML Tx. Two pts (40%) who had received prior HMA Tx responded, 1 of whom attained CR. HI was achieved by 32% (7/22) of pts, and 20% (3/15) of RBC transfusion-dependent pts attained RBC TI. Six pts with prior MDS (55%) responded during Tx. One pt proceeded to transplant. Febrile neutropenia (30%) and anemia (22%) were the most common grade 3-4 TEAEs (Table 2). Incidences of grade 3-4 TEAEs were generally similar across the 4 CC-486 dosing regimens. Conclusions: CC-486 administered in extended 14- or 21-day per cycle schedules was well tolerated. One-half of these older pts with AML had a hematologic response, including pts who had prior MDS, or AML that failed or lost response to prior Tx. Interestingly, pts who previously received injectable HMA Tx had hematologic responses (including CR) with CC-486, likely due to the alternative methylation pattern obtained with prolonged oral administration (Laille, Plos One, in press). Ease of administration of CC-486 can facilitate long-term Tx for sustained disease modification, provide an additional option for failure of IV/SQ HMA therapy, and may improve outcomes in combination Tx regimens, which warrant investigation. Disclosures Savona: Karyopharm: Consultancy, 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; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Gore:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Kolibaba:Janssen: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Cell therapeutics: Research Funding; GSK: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Genentech, Inc.: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Ukrainskyj:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kumar:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Dong:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hetzer:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Skikne:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership.