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We conducted a single-center retrospective study to assess cardiovascular (CV) toxicity and treatment discontinuation for CV toxicity in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or follicular lymphoma (FL) patients treated with immunochemotherapy (R-CHOP-like). Between 2006 and 2017, 433 patients were included (DLBCL

This prospective study aimed to investigate the prognostic effect of sarcopenia, geriatric, and nutritional status in older patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Ninety-five patients with DLBCL older than 70 years who were treated with immunochemotherapy were included. The lumbar L3 skeletal muscle index (L3-SMI) was measured by computed tomography at baseline, and sarcopenia was defined as low L3-SMI. Geriatric assessment included G8 score, CIRS-G scale, Timed Up and Go test, and instrumental activity of daily living. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment and the body mass index, and several scores used in the literature incorporating nutritional and inflammatory biomarkers, namely the Nutritional and inflammatory status (NIS), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index, Prognostic Nutritional Index, and Glasgow Prognostic Score.Fifty-three patients were considered sarcopenic. Sarcopenic patients displayed higher levels of inflammation markers and lower levels of prealbumin than non-sarcopenic patients. Sarcopenia was associated with NIS, but was not associated with severe adverse events and treatment disruptions. They were, however, more frequent among patients with elevated NIS. Sarcopenia did not appear in this study as a prognostic factor for progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS). However, NIS emerged as predictive of the outcome with a 2-year PFS rate of 88% in the NIS ≤ 1 group and 49% in the NIS > 1 group and a significant effect in a multivariate analysis for both PFS (p = 0.049) and OS (HR = 9.61, CI 95% = [1.03–89.66], p = 0.04). Sarcopenia was not associated with adverse outcomes, but was related to NIS, which appeared to be an independent prognostic factor.

In previously untreated, medically fit patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, research is focused on developing fixed-duration strategies to improve long-term outcomes whilst sparing patients from serious toxicities. The ICLL-07 trial evaluated a fixed-duration (15-month) immunochemotherapy approach where, following obinutuzumab-ibrutinib induction for 9 months, patients (n=10) in complete remission (CR) with bone marrow (BM) measurable residual disease (MRD)

Angiogenesis is in a constant balance between pro and anti-angiogenic factors. Neoangiogenesis, implicated in metastatic spreading is characterized in solid cancers, but fairly new in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We hypothesize that secretion of angiogenic factors could be correlated to the pathogenesis of CLL, and therefore predict the outcome of patients. We investigated concentrations of 22 cytokines and chemokines in 137 non-del 17p B-CLL patients, treated with a fludarabine-cyclophosphamide-rituximab (FCR)-based regimen. We constructed a biomarker index defining different risk groups based on lymphocyte count, the intensity of CD20 antigen on CD19+ cells, Ang-2, and PDGF-BB plasma concentrations at diagnosis. Four groups were defined, exhibiting specific molecular signatures and correlated with progression-free survival of patients. Our results suggest that we can determine at diagnosis of non-del 17p B-CLL patients, those with a very high probability of progression-free survival, independently of IGVH mutational status and residual disease at the end of treatment.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) after conditioning with a sequential association of fludarabine, amsacrine, and cytosine arabinoside (FLAMSA) followed by a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen has emerged for patients with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML), especially in refractory or relapsing patients. Here we aimed to address retrospectively the impact of pretransplantation minimal residual disease (MRD) by flow cytometry on the outcomes of high-risk AML patients who underwent allo-HSCT after sequential FLAMSA-busulfan (FLAMSA-Bu)-based conditioning regimens. We included 165 high-risk AML patients who underwent transplantation after FLAMSA-BU in this retrospective single-center "real life" study. All patients received in vivo T cell depletion with antithymocyte globulin (5 mg/kg). MRD detection was based on a leukemia-associated immunophenotype using the European LeukemiaNet recommendations, with a threshold of .1%. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using R version 4.1.1 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). With a median follow-up of 4.0 years post-transplantation, the median overall survival (OS) was 54.9 months. Overall, 41 patients (24.8%) relapsed post-transplantation, with a resulting cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) of 26.7% at 2 years and 34.0% at 5 years. Detectable MRD preceding allo-HSCT and refractory status were associated with worse median OS and CIR rates compared with patients without detectable MRD; however, OS was not significantly different between pre-HSCT MRD-positive and refractory patients (median, .7 year versus 2.0 years; P = .3). Conversely, pre-HSCT MRD negativity was associated with a reduced 2-year CIR. Neither European LeukemiaNet risk stratification nor age had a significant influence on OS. In the multivariate analysis, only pre-HSCT MRD positivity and lower conditioning regimen intensity were significantly associated with a poorer OS. The cumulative incidence of extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease at 2 years was 26.15%. The estimated nonrelapse mortality (NRM) of the entire cohort at 2 years was 23.1%, with age and unrelated donor identified as risk factors for higher NRM. Our data ahow that FLAMSA-Bu conditioning did not reverse the pejorative effect of detectable pre-HSCT MRD, suggesting that such patients should be offered alternative strategies before HSCT to reach deeper remission.

We present the results of a phase 2 study evaluating the combination of obinutuzumab + idelalisib in relapsed/refractory (R/R) Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM). The goal was to determine the safety and efficacy of a fixed-duration chemotherapy-free treatment. During the induction phase, patients received idelalisib + obinutuzumab for 6 cycles, followed by a maintenance phase with idelalisib alone for ≤2 years. Forty-eight patients with R/R WM were treated with the induction combination, and 27 patients participated in the maintenance phase. The best responses, reached after a median of 6.5 months (interquartile range, 3.4-7.1; range, 2.6-22.1 months), were very good partial response in 5 patients, partial response in 27 patients, and minor response in 3 patients, leading to overall response rate and major response rate estimates of 71.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 56.7-83.4) and 65.3% (95% CI, 50.4-78.3), respectively. With a median follow-up of 25.9 months, median progression-free survival was 25.4 months (95% CI, 15.7-29.0). Univariate analysis focusing on molecular screening found no significant impact of CXCR4 genotypes on responses and survivals but a deleterious impact of TP53 mutations on survival. Although there was no grade 5 toxicity, 26 patients were removed from the study because of side effects; the most frequent were neutropenia (9.4%), diarrhea (8.6%), and liver toxicity (9.3%). The combination of idelalisib + obinutuzumab is effective in R/R WM. Nonetheless, the apparent lack of impact of genotype on outcome could give new meaning to targeting of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway in WM. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02962401.

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) with major ABO incompatibility is responsible for transfusion dependent anaemia, impaired quality of life and iron overload. We conducted a retrospective study, over a 10-year period, which included all consecutive patients who received a major ABO mismatched aHSCT, to assess the impact of specific treatment on PRCA. We did not observe any PRCA in the 57 aHSCT issued from cord blood. Among the remaining 631 patients, cumulative incidence of PRCA was 10·5% [range 8·2-13.0]. The median duration of resolved PRCA was 171 days [IQR 116; 261]. Pre-transplant high isohaemagglutinins titre was associated with an increased risk of PRCA (P < 10-4 ). PRCA did not affect overall survival (P = 0·95). Twenty-two patients (33·3%) received at least one specific treatment. The most commonly used treatments were rituximab (17 patients) and donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI; seven patients). Regarding PRCA resolution, we did not observe a significant difference between treated or untreated subjects (HR = 0·93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·48- 1·80; P = 0·82). Similar results were observed with erythropoietin treatment (22 patients, HR = 0·86 95% CI: [0·47-1·57] P = 0·62). Our data do not support the use of erythropoietin, rituximab or DLI for the treatment of PRCA.

In myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), the prognosis of the disease is related partly to the complications of blood cytopenias, and partly to the risk of transformation, over time, into acute leukemia...

The OPAL study is a French multicenter observational retrospective analysis of adults with relapsed/refractory Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated in a real-life setting by ponatinib. Twenty-nine patients were included since 2012. Median age was 55 years. The initial dose of ponatinib, combined to chemotherapy in half of the patients, was 45 mg/day in most instances. The remission rate was 90% and seven patients received allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Median disease-free and overall survival were only 3.5 and 9.9 months respectively. The outcome of patients with

The relevance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis as a liquid biopsy and minimal residual disease tool in the management of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) patients was demonstrated in retrospective settings and remains to be confirmed in a prospective setting. We developed a targeted Next-Generation sequencing (NGS) panel for fast analysis (AmpliSeq® technology) of nine commonly mutated genes in biopies and ctDNA of cHL patients. We then conducted a prospective trial to assess ctDNA follow-up at diagnosis and after two cycles (C2) of chemotherapy. Sixty cHL patients treated by first line conventional chemotherapy (BEACOPPescalated [21.3%], ABVD/ABVD-like [73.5%] and other regimens [5.2%, for elderly patients]) were assessed in this noninterventional study. The median age of the patients was 33.5 years (range: 20-86). Variants were identified in 42 (70%) patients. Mutations of NFKBIE, TNFAIP3, STAT6, PTPN1, B2M, XPO1, ITPKB, GNA13 and SOCS1 were found in 13.3%, 31.7%, 23.3%, 5%, 33.3%, 10%, 23.3%, 13.3% and 50% of patients, respectively. ctDNA concentration and genotype were correlated with clinical characteristics and presentation. Regarding early therapeutic response, 45 patients (83%, not available [NA] =6) had a negative positron emission tomography (PET) after C2 (Deauville Score 1-3). The mean of DeltaSUVmax after C2 was -78.8%. ctDNA after C2 was analysed in 54 patients (90%). ctDNA became rapidly undetectable in all cases after C2. Variant detection in ctDNA is suitable to depict the genetic features of cHL at diagnosis and may help to assess early treatment response, in association with PET. Clinical Trial reference: NCT02815137.

We report a randomized prospective phase 3 study (CLL7), designed to evaluate the efficacy of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) in patients with an early-stage high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Eight hundred patients with untreated-stage Binet A disease were enrolled as intent-to-treat population and assessed for four prognostic markers: lymphocyte doubling time 10 U/L, unmutated IGHV genes, and unfavorable cytogenetics (del(11q)/del(17p)/trisomy 12). Two hundred and one patients with ≥2 risk features were classified as high-risk CLL and 1:1 randomized to receive either immediate therapy with 6xFCR (Hi-FCR, 100 patients), or to be observed according to standard of care (Hi-W&W, 101 patients). The overall response rate after early FCR was 92.7%. Common adverse events were hematological toxicities and infections (61.0%/41.5% of patients, respectively). After median observation time of 55.6 (0–99.2) months, event-free survival was significantly prolonged in Hi-FCR compared with Hi-W&W patients (median not reached vs. 18.5 months, p p = 0.864). In conclusion, although FCR is efficient to induce remissions in the Binet A high-risk CLL, our data do not provide evidence that alters the current standard of care “watch and wait” for these patients.

International audience

Most myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients become red blood cell (RBC) transfusion-dependent. Transfusing MDS patients with prophylactically RH-KEL1 antigen-matched (PAM) RBC units is recommended to avoid RBC allo-immunization. D+C-E-c+e+, D+C-E+c+e- and D+C+E-c-e+ phenotypes are infrequent among French blood donors. To preserve infrequent phenotype RBC units for patients other than MDS, and to manage frequent phenotype RBC unit stocks, we let, for 1 year, higher-risk non-immunized chronically transfused MDS and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients receive RBC transfusions matched only for D. Our objectives were to evaluate the impact of non-PAM transfusions on the transfusion policy (which would be modified in case of RBC allo-immunization) for frequent and infrequent phenotypes patients and to estimate the number of infrequent phenotypes RBC units that could be redistributed to other patients.Ninety patients were enrolled. Thirty-five patients had infrequent phenotypes, nine received only PAM RBC (143 units) and 26 PAM and non-PAM RBC (415 and 532, respectively): none developed allo-immunization. Fifty-five patients had frequent RBC phenotypes, 34 received only PAM RBC (561 units) and three developed antibodies (2 non-RH-KEL1 and one anti-E); 21 received PAM and non-PAM RBC (436 and 109, respectively) and one developed allo-immunization (unknown specificity). Our strategy enabled us to preserve 532 infrequent phenotypes RBC units: 216 D+C-E-c+e+, 33 D+C-E+c+e- and 283 D+C+E-c-e+ units, representing 48.8% of the total number of RBC units received by infrequent phenotypes patients during the study period.Allowing the transfusion of non-PAM RBC in selected chronically transfused MDS and AML patients was feasible and enabled to redistribute infrequent phenotypes RBC units to other patients in need.

The mutational status of the variable region of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IGHV) is a very important biomarker for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. However, the routine detection of IGHV mutational status is time-consuming and costly. Therefore, we performed 5' Rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5' RACE) in 81 CLL patients who previously underwent detection using Biomed-2. The agreement rate of these two methods was 93.8 %. Regarding the discordant cases, 5' RACE was more sensitive to identify unproductive and multiple rearrangements. Furthermore, 5' RACE can also be used to simultaneously sequence light chains. In most CLL cases, the mutational statuses of heavy and light chains are concordant, except in IGLV3-21. Most IGLV3-21 (24/25) rearrangement shared a similar LCDR3 (QVWDSSSDHPWV) and harbored a single point mutation, namely, IGLV3-21

In recent years, treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has improved substantially, leading to longer survival. This has necessitated a greater focus on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but data are lacking. In a part-prospective, part-retrospective study, we enrolled 219 adults with ALL in France to assess the impact of key disease and treatment characteristics on HRQoL. Overall HRQoL and most specific QoL domain scores were consistently better among patients receiving front-line therapy, those currently in complete remission, and those who had previously received hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. Furthermore, HRQoL was consistently impaired in patients with minimal residual disease present (MRD+). In multivariate analyses, multiple lines of therapy, MRD+, leukopenia, comorbidities, and anemia were significantly associated with impaired HRQoL. This study provides real-world data on HRQoL in adults with ALL in France and shows the positive impact of MRD-negative status on HRQoL.

TO THE EDITOR : Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) exhibit a variety of skin lesions including mostly non-specific cutaneous manifestations (such as cutaneous infections or exaggerated reactions to insect bite) and secondary cutaneous malignancies, as patients are at high risk of developing basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma. Specific cutaneous infiltration by neoplastic B lymphocytes with clinically identifiable skin lesions, also called leukemia cutis (LC), is more uncommon and has seldom been reported in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. [...]

We conducted a retrospective study to analyze the prognostic factors impacting the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients undergoing first-line therapy and admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) compared to a control cohort who did not required ICU admission. Between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2018, 828 patients were diagnosed with DLBCL at our institution, including 72 patients who were required ICU admission during disease course. Among them, forty-five patients undergoing homogeneous first-line therapy with /R-CHOP-like regimen and ICU-admitted were selected for the present analysis. Control "non-ICU" DLBCL patients were matched by age, IPI score and treatment received. The median age at ICU admission was 65 years, 97.8% of patients displayed advanced-stage disease (III/IV), and 84.4% had a high IPI score (3-5). The main reasons for ICU admission were acute respiratory failure (40.0%) and septic shock (33.3%). The ICU mortality rate was 33.3%. The 2-year PFS was lower in ICU survivors patients than in non-ICU patients: 31.7% (95% CI 18.5-54.1) vs 60.8% (95% CI 51.2-72.1, P = .00049). Admission to the ICU is an event that clearly impacts the outcomes of patients with DLBCL, until 2 years after the event. ICU prognosis seems mainly related to critical patient severity at admission rather than lymphoma-related prognostic factors (IPIs), suggesting that ICU admission criteria should not be based only on the lymphoma prognosis.

In total, 279 patients with hairy-cell leukemia (HCL) were analyzed, with a median follow-up of 10 years. Data were collected up to June 2018. We analyzed responses to treatment, relapses, survival, and the occurrence of second malignancies during follow-up. The median age was 59 years. In total, 208 patients (75%) were treated with purine analogs (PNAs), either cladribine (159) or pentosatin (49), as the first-line therapy. After a median follow-up of 127 months, the median overall survival was 27 years, and the median relapse-free survival (RFS) was 11 years. The cumulative 10-year relapse incidence was 39%. In patients receiving second-line therapy, the median RFS was 7 years. For the second-line therapy, using the same or another PNA was equivalent. We identified 68 second malignancies in 59 patients: 49 solid cancers and 19 hematological malignancies. The 10-year cumulative incidences of cancers, solid tumors, and hematological malignancies were 15%, 11%, and 5.0%, respectively, and the standardized incidence ratios were 2.22, 1.81, and 6.67, respectively. In multivariate analysis, PNA was not a risk factor for second malignancies. HCL patients have a good long-term prognosis. PNAs are the first-line treatment. HCL patients require long-term follow-up because of their relatively increased risk of second malignancies.

International audience; Measurable residual disease (MRD) status is widely adopted in clinical trials in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Findings from FILO group trials (CLL2007FMP, CLL2007SA, CLL2010FMP) enabled investigation of the prognostic value of high-sensitivity (0.7 × 10-5) MRD assessment using flow cytometry, in blood (N = 401) and bone marrow (N = 339), after fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR)-based chemoimmunotherapy in a homogeneous population with long follow-up (median 49.5 months). Addition of low-level positive MRD

International audience; The prognostic value of IL7-receptor pathway (IL7Rp) mutations in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) remains unclear. We performed a comprehensive study of 200 adult patients with TALL included in the GRAALL2003/2005 protocols to address the clinical significance of IL7Rp mutations. Next-generation sequencing of the IL7Rp (IL7R/JAK1/ JAK3/STAT5B) revealed that IL7Rp mutations were frequent in adult TALL (28%) particularly in immature/early T-cell progenitor (ETP)-ALL. They were associated with mutations of NOTCH-pathway, PHF6, and PRC2 components but not with K/NRAS. IL7Rp mutated (IL7Rp mut) TALL were slow-responders, with a high rate of M2/M3 day-8 marrow compared with IL7Rp non-mutated (IL7Rp WT) TALL (p = 0.002) and minimal residual disease positivity at 6-weeks (MRD1) (p = 0.008) but no difference in MRD2 positivity at 12-weeks. Despite this, no adverse prognosis was evidenced when censored for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In time-dependent analysis, HSCT did not benefit IL7Rp mut patients whereas it was of marked benefit to IL7Rp WT cases. IL7Rp-mutations identify a subgroup of slow-responder T-ALLs which benefit from post-induction chemotherapy regimens but not from HSCT. Our data suggest that prior knowledge of the mutation status of IL7Rp may influence HSCT decision and help to guide therapy reduction.

As a result of significant recent developments, the management of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is changing, and new therapeutic options will continue to emerge in the near future. The recommendations of the French Innovative Leukemia Organization (FILO-CLL) group presented here are intended to provide practical recommendations for physicians taking care of CLL patients, taking into account the availability of both biological tests and therapies in daily practice in France at the time of publication. This text details the documented information and guidelines on diagnosis, indications for treatment, infectious complications and therapeutic strategies in frontline and relapsed CLL as well as in particular conditions such as autoimmune cytopenia or Richter syndrome.

From a liquid biopsy, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) can provide information regarding basal tumoral genetic patterns and changes upon treatment. In a prospective cohort of 30 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL), we determined the clinical relevance of cfDNA using targeted next-generation sequencing and its correlation with PET scan imaging at the time of diagnosis and during treatment. Using a dedicated DLBCL panel, mutations were identified at baseline for 19 cfDNAs and profiles were consistent with expected DLBCL patterns. Tumor burden-related clinical and PET scan features (LDH, IPI, and metabolic tumor volume) were significantly correlated with the quantity of tumoral cfDNA. Among the four patients presenting additional mutations in their cfDNAs, three had high metabolic tumor volumes, suggesting that cfDNA more accurately reflects tumor heterogeneity than tissues biopsy itself. Mid-treatment, four patients still had basal mutations in their cfDNAs, including three in partial response according to their Deauville scores. Our study highlights the major interests in liquid biopsy, in particular in the context of bulky tumors where cfDNA allows capturing the entire tumoral mutation profile. Therefore, cfDNA analysis in DLBCL represents a complementary approach to PET scan imaging.

Summary Background Most patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia relapse after initial therapy combining chemotherapy with rituximab. We assessed the efficacy and safety of rituximab maintenance treatment versus observation for elderly patients in remission after front-line abbreviated induction by fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR). Methods This randomised, open-label, multicentre phase 3 trial at 89 centres in France enrolled treatment-naive and fit patients aged 65 years or older with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia without del(17p). Eligible patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0–1 and adequate renal and hepatic function. Patients in response to complete induction treatment with four monthly courses of full-dose FCR with two interim rituximab doses on day 14 of cycles 1 and 2 (oral fludarabine [40 mg/m 2 per day] and oral cyclophosphamide [250 mg/m 2 per day] for the first 3 days of each cycle, rituximab at 375 mg/m 2 intravenously on day 0 of cycle 1 and subsequently at 500 mg/m 2 on day 14 of cycle 1, days 1 and 14 of cycle 2, and day 1 of cycles 3 and 4) were eligible for randomisation. Recovery from FCR toxicity and patient willingness to continue the trial were mandatory. We randomly assigned (1:1) patients to either receive intravenous rituximab (500 mg/m 2 ) every 8 weeks for up to 2 years or undergo observation, with a central computer-generated randomisation list using randomly permuted blocks of variable sizes. Randomisation was stratified by IGHV mutational status, the presence or absence of del(11q), and response level to induction treatment. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival, with the objective to assess the superiority of rituximab maintenance relative to observation. The final analysis was done in the intention-to-treat population. Safety was analysed in all patients who received at least one dose of study drug in the rituximab group and in all patients in the observation group. This trial is closed to accrual whilst continuing patient follow-up. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00645606. Findings Between Dec 14, 2007, and Feb 18, 2014, 542 patients were enrolled, of whom 525 started FCR induction. Between June 10, 2008, and Aug 14, 2014, 409 (78%) patients were randomly assigned to rituximab maintenance (n=202) or observation (n=207). Four (2%) patients in the rituximab group did not receive the allocated treatment (progressive disease [n=1], adverse events [n=3]). After a median follow-up of 47·7 months (IQR 30·4–65·8), median progression-free survival in the rituximab group (59·3 months, 95% CI 49·6–not estimable) was improved compared with the observation group (49·0 months, 39·9–60·5; hazard ratio 0·55, 95% CI 0·40–0·75; p=0·0002). Neutropenia and grade 3–4 infections were more common with rituximab maintenance (105 [53%] of 198 patients vs 74 [36%] of 207 patients and 38 [19%] vs 21 [10%], respectively) during the study. The most common grade 3–4 infection was lower respiratory tract infection (24 [12%] vs eight [4%]). The incidence of second cancers, except basal cell carcinoma, was similar in both groups (29 [15%] vs 23 [11%]). Deaths were related to adverse events for 23 (11%) patients in the rituximab group and 16 (8%) in the observation group. Interpretation 2-year maintenance rituximab in selected elderly patients improves progression-free survival and shows an acceptable safety profile. Immunotherapy maintenance strategy is a relevant option in front-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, even in the age of targeted therapy. Funding French National Cancer Institute (INCa), Roche, Chugai.

On behalf of the GRAALL group, the Czech Republic ALL group, the Finland ALL group and the EWALL group. Introduction. Treatment of older patients (pts) with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) remains an unmet medical need. Inotuzumab ozogamicin (INO), an anti-CD22 antibody conjugated to calicheamicin, is approved for the treatment of relapsed/refractory BCP-ALL in adults, sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) being the major adverse event associated with INO. A previous first line study conducted by the MDACC in pts 60 years or older successfully used INO in combination with a lower intensity version of the hyper-CVAD (mini-hyper-CVD). Due to the occurrence of SOS, the total doses were fixed at 1.3 mg/m² for cycle 1 followed by 3 cycles at 1 mg/m² (Kantarjian H et al. Lancet Oncol, 2018). Here, we aimed to assess the activity and safety of fractionated INO at a reduced dosage in combination with low-intensity chemotherapy as frontline therapy for older pts with CD22+ Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-neg) BCP-ALL. Methods. EWALL-INO is a single arm prospective phase 2 multicentric study conducted in European centers belonging to the EWALL group. Eligibility criteria were pts aged 55y or older, performance status ≤2, and newly diagnosed CD22+ (20% or more of positive blast cells) Ph-neg BCP-ALL without central nervous system involvement. After a prephase including 5 days (D) of dexamethasone (DEX) 10mg per D and a single intrathecal injection (IT), the induction regimen was begun and split in 2 parts. Induction part I (Induc1) consisted of one triple IT, vincristine (VCR) 2 mg (1 mg over 70y) D1 D8 D15 D22 and DEX 20 mg D1D2 D8D9 D15D16 D22D23 combined with 3 injections of INO (0.8 mg/m² D1, 0.5 mg/m² D8 and D15). Induction part II (Induc2) was offered to pts in CR or CRp (CR with platelets < 100 G/l) after Induc1 or as salvage therapy. Induc2 consisted of DEX 20mg D1D8, cyclophosphamide (CY) 300 mg/m² D1 to D3, one triple IT D2 and 2 injections of INO (0.5 mg/m² D1 and D8). Pts in CR/CRp were programmed to receive 6 blocks of consolidation (Ara-C 1.5g/m²/12h adapted to renal clearance D1D2 and DEX 10mg/12h D1D2, cycles 1 and 4; Methotrexate (MTX) 1.5 g/m² over 24h D1, VCR 1 or 2 mg D1, one triple IT D2 and 6-mercaptopurin (6-MP) D1 to D7, cycles 2 and 5; CY 500 mg/m² D1D2, VP16 75 mg/m² D1D2, one triple IT D2 and MTX 25 mg/m² D1, cycles 3 and 6) followed by a POMP maintenance (VCR, 6-MP, MTX, DEX) during 18 months. Allograft was allowed after at least 3 blocks of consolidation at the discretion of the investigators. The evaluable population was pts who received at least 1 dose of INO. Analyses were by modified intention to treat and performed JUN 28, 2021. All pts gave informed consent. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under the NCT number: NCT03249870. Results. Between DEC 29, 2017 and JUN 22, 2021, 115 pts (out of 130 planned pts) were enrolled including 6 pts with screen failure. The first 90 eligible pts (up to MAR 1, 2021) were considered for this analysis to obtain a minimum of 4 months follow-up. Median age was 69y (range 55-84) and median follow-up for alive pts was 1.18 years (range 0.3-3.5). At time of analysis, 90 and 88 pts had started induc1 and induc2, respectively. Treatment related mortality was 2.2% (2/90) and CR/CRp rate was 85.5% (77/90, 6 CRp) after induc1. Three cases relapsed between induc1 and induc2 and 5 pts were salvaged by induc2 allowing to a CR/CRp rate of 87.7% (79/90, 8 CRp) after induc2. One pts died from refractory disease during induc2. One, 2, 3 4 and 5 injections of INO were administered to 2 (2.2%), 2(2.2%), 11 (12.2%), 2 (2.2%) and 73 pts (81.1%) respectively. Only 6 pts were allografted. One-year OS was estimated to be 78.5% (95%CI 68-85.9) and median OS was not reached. One-year relapse free survival was 74.5% (95CI 63.5-82.6) (Figure 1). Grade 3-4 liver toxicity was observed in 8 pts (8.8%) during the study including 3 pts (3.3%) developing SOS, 2 related to INO during induc1 and one occurred after transplant. Twenty-nine pts died during the follow-up, 16 from relapses (overall incidence 18%) and 13 from adverse events (overall incidence 14.4%), including one COVID19 fatal infection during consolidation. Conclusion. Fractionated inotuzumab ozogamicin at reduced doses (0.8/0.5/0.5/0.5 mg/m²) combined with low-intensity chemotherapy is a very active and well tolerated frontline therapy for older patients with CD22+ Ph-neg BCP-ALL. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Doubek: Janssen-Cilag, AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Amgen, Gilead, Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Huguet: Novartis: Other: Advisor; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Other: Advisor; Celgene: Other: Advisor; BMS: Other: Advisor; Amgen: Other: Advisor; Pfizer: Other: Advisor. Raffoux: ABBVIE: Consultancy; PFIZER: Consultancy; CELGENE/BMS: Consultancy; ASTELLAS: Consultancy. Boissel: CELGENE: Honoraria; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; PFIZER: Consultancy, Honoraria; JAZZ Pharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; SANOFI: Honoraria. 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. Rousselot: Incyte, Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Inotuzumab ozogamicin as first line therapy in newly diagnosed CD22+ Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia

With the emergence of targeted therapies, defining the best strategy for the treatment of previously untreated CLL patients remains challenging. The aim of this phase 2 study was to compare the efficacy of an association with ibrutinib and venetoclax (IV) to the standard FCR regimen in fit patients with intermediate risk CLL defined by either unmutated IGHV status, 11q deletion or complex karyotype in the absence of TP53 abnormality. Patients were randomized 1:1 between two treatment arms, ie FCR 6 cycles or IV. After a lead-in phase of ibrutinib as a single agent from month (M)1 to M3, the total duration of treatment with IV was based on the response achieved at M9; if bone marrow (BM) MRD was < 0.01% using flow cytometry, the treatment was continued for 6 additional months until M15 and then stopped; if BM MRD at M9 was ≥ 0.01%, the treatment with IV was continued for 18 additional months until M27. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with BM MRD < 0.01% at M27 in both arms. We present here the preliminary results on the first evaluation done at M9 including CT-scan, BM biopsy and MRD assessment in PB and BM after the inclusion of all the 120 patients as initially planned. One hundred and twenty patients were enrolled from September 2019 to February 2021. The median age was 59 [34-72] and 61 [34-74] years in the FCR and IV arms, respectively. The characteristics of the patients were well balanced between the 2 arms in terms of gender (male 72% FCR, 74% IV), PS ECOG 0-1 (59% FCR, 68% IV) and Binet stage (A, B and C 15%, 64%, 21% for FCR ; 8.5%, 59% and 32% for IV). No major difference in terms of cytogenetic features was noted, all patients but one had unmutated IGHV. At the time of data cut-off for this interim analysis, the median follow-up for the all cohort was 11 [2.9 - 19.8] months. The frequency of all grades adverse events (AE) observed so far was 53% (grade 3-4, 24%) in the FCR arm and 47% (grade 3-4, 17%) in the IV arm. The rate of infusion-related reactions (IRR) in the FCR arm was 35% on cycle 1-day 1 (14% grade 3-4) ; for the IV arm, 6% of patients experienced tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) (grade 4 for 4 patients). ibrutinib doses were reduced for 7 patients (4 permanently stopped and 3 resumed at a lower dose because of toxicities (digestive, hepatic or haematological)). Venetoclax was permanently discontinued before M9 in 4 patients (digestive toxicities and grade 4 neutropenia). Forty serious adverse events were reported of which 15 in the IV arm (1 sudden death, 1 ischemic stroke, 2 atrial fibrillations, 2 clinical TLS, 1 hepatitis, 1 neutropenia, 4 COVID pneumonitis and one osteoporotic fracture) and 25 in the FCR arm (2 neutropenias, 1 anemia, 1 thrombocytopenia, 1 autoimmune haemolytic anemia, 3 IRR, 4 TLS, 2 COVID pneumonitis, 4 fever episodes of undetermined origin, 1 community-acquired pneumonia, 1 gastrointestinal toxicity, 1 confusion, 2 chest pains, 1 acute myeloid leukemia, 1 myelodysplasic syndrome). The patients with COVID pneumonitis had a favorable evolution with the need for intensive care and convalescent plasma for 3 of them. The first 60 patients included in the study have reached M9 and among them, 6 prematurely discontinued the study, 3 in each arm (active hemolysis, ischemic stroke and sudden death in the IV arm; 2 grade 4 hematologic toxicities and 1 early progression in the FCR arm). In the evaluated patients (n=54), 71% of patients in the FCR arm and 48% of patients in the IV arm achieved bone BM MRD < 0.01%. The complete (CR, CRi) and partial response rates were 54% and 46% in the FCR arm and 76% and 24% in the IV arm respectively. In conclusion, the preliminary results show a lower BM MRD rate in the IV arm compared to the FCR arm at M9, with a toxicity that remains significant and relatively similar between the two arms. However, BM MRD rate should improve after longer exposure to the IV combination and the analysis of the primary endpoint at M27 will be decisive in determining the best therapeutic strategy. Disclosures Quinquenel: Abbvie: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria. Laribi: Le Mans Hospital: Research Funding; Novartis: Other: Personal Fees, Research Funding; Takeda: Other: Personal Fees, Research Funding; BeiGene: Other: Personal Fees; IQONE: Other: Personal Fees; AbbVie: Other: Personal Fees, Research Funding; Astellas Phama, Inc.: Other: Personal Fees; AstraZeneca: Other: Personal Fees; Jansen: Research Funding. Cymbalista: Lilly-LOXO: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ASTRA ZENECA: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Leblond: AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Lilly: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Support; Roche: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Beigene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Dartigeas: Astra-Zeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel grants/Congress; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel grants/Congress; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel grants/Congress. Ferrant: Janssen: Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses; AbbVie: Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses; AstraZeneca: Honoraria. de Guibert: Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria. Feugier: Astrazeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria. Cartron: Roche, Celgene-BMS: Consultancy; Danofi, Gilead, Novartis, Jansen, Roche, Celgene-BMS, Abbvie, Takeda: Honoraria. Ysebaert: Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Roche: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding.

Median age at diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia is 72 years. However, only few patients over 80 years of age are included in clinical trials, even in those devoted to unfit patients. In order to evaluate both efficiency and safety of venetoclax in this category of patients, we conducted a multicentric retrospective study and collected data from 77 CLL patients from 19 FILO centers who started venetoclax after 80 years of age. Median age at venetoclax initiation was 86 years old (81-97). 63% of patients had a history of heart disease, 62% had renal failure (moderate 59% and severe 3%) and 29% had a history of severe infections. Despite their comorbidities and a CIRS greater than 6 in 70% of cases, their autonomy was preserved with a median performans status of 1 (0-4). In this comorbid geriatric population, pretherapeutic geriatric assessment was only performed in a single patient. The median number of prior therapies was 2 (0-6) with an exposure to a BCR inhibitor in 56% of cases. 11q and 17p deletion were found in 39% and 30% of cases respectively, 39% of patients had a complex karyotype and 30% harbored a TP53 mutation. However, in this real life population, these prognostic factors were only performed in half of patients. IGHV mutational status was only available in 11 patients, and 83% of them had unmutated IGHV. At the time of venetoclax initiation, the tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) risk was moderate in 57% of cases and high in 8% of cases. Venetoclax was administered as a single agent (42%) or in association with rituximab (58%). In total, half of the patients were hospitalized at each dose ramp-up, and only 3 patients were treated on outpatient basis. 82% of the cohort was able to reach the daily dose of 400mg. Half of the patients were included in a phone call monitoring program with oncology nurses to pre-emptively manage side effects and foster therapy adherence. The safety study reported 14% of TLS, with 2 discontinuations of treatment within the first month: one of which led to dialysis and the other to death. As in the previously published studies, 25% of patients had infectious complications, and grade 3 haematological and digestive toxicities were reported in 42% and 22% of cases, respectively. The reduction of the daily dose of venetoclax was necessary for 33%. Permanent discontinuation of venetoclax occurred in 40% of subjects, including 29% of early withdrawal (within the first 3 months). Main reasons for discontinuation were intolerance (21%), CLL progression (21%), death (21%) and scheduled treatment discontinuation (10%). The overall response rate was 86%, consisting of 49% of complete response (unconfirmed by bone marrow biopsy) and 37% of partial response. With a median follow-up of 21months, estimated progression free survival and overall survival were 29 and 38 months respectively. Prior exposure to a BCR inhibitor had no impact on progression free survival. To conclude, venetoclax has a manageable safety profile in elderly patients with comorbidities and can induce prolonged responses. Finally, if additional follow-up by oncology nurses seems to be more and more implemented, the pre-therapeutic onco-geriatric evaluation remains underexploited in this population. Disclosures Ferrant: AstraZeneca: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses; Janssen: Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses. Feugier: Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Astrazeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria. Laribi: AstraZeneca: Other: Personal Fees; Le Mans Hospital: Research Funding; AbbVie: Other: Personal Fees, Research Funding; Jansen: Research Funding; Novartis: Other: Personal Fees, Research Funding; IQONE: Other: Personal Fees; Astellas Phama, Inc.: Other: Personal Fees; BeiGene: Other: Personal Fees; Takeda: Other: Personal Fees, Research Funding. Tchernonog: JANSSEN: Consultancy; ABBVIE: Consultancy; ASTRAZENECA: Consultancy. Dartigeas: Astra-Zeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel grants/Congress; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel grants/Congress; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel grants/Congress. Quinquenel: Abbvie: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria.

INTRODUCTION Central nervous system (CNS) relapse is a challenging situation in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). High CNS-International Prognostic Index (IPI), activated B-cell (ABC) subtype and MYD88 L265P mutation, features often found in transformed Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM), are associated with a higher risk for developing CNS relapse. This study was aimed to describe CNS involvement in a large cohort of transformed WM. METHODS This international multicenter retrospective study included patients with a diagnosis of WM and a concurrent or sequential histological diagnosis of DLBCL. CNS disease was diagnosed by detection of DLBCL cells in the cerebrospinal fluid and/or by brain biopsy. Patients with CNS involvement by lymphoplasmacytic cells (Bing-Neel syndrome) were excluded. Of 254 identified patients with a diagnosis of histological transformation (HT) between 1988 and 2020, 19 were excluded due to lack of data on extranodal involvement. The first part of the analysis focused on baseline CNS involvement. Clinicobiological characteristics were compared between groups using Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests or Mann Whitney tests as appropriate. We analyzed CNS recurrence in the second part of the study. Forty-eight additional patients were excluded due to baseline CNS involvement (n = 25), absence of treatment at HT (n = 14) and lack of details on follow-up (n = 9). Cumulative incidence of CNS relapse was analyzed using competing-risk models that accounted for other events like systemic relapse or death from any cause, reporting sub-hazard ratio (SHR). RESULTS Baseline CNS involvement was present in 25 patients (11%) with transformed WM, including 10 (4%) with parenchymal disease, 10 with leptomeningeal, 4 (2%) with both, and 1 with unspecified CNS involvement. Characteristics associated with baseline CNS involvement were performance status 2-4 (P=0.03) and ≥2 extranodal sites (P=0.02). Median survival after HT was 1 year [0.7-2.5], comparable to the one of patients without CNS disease (1.8 year [1.2-2.6], P=0.74). We observed no difference in survival based on isolated CNS involvement (n = 10) compared to CNS and systemic involvement (n = 15) (P=0.94). Twenty-three CNS relapses occurred (12%). The 2-year and 3-year rates of CNS relapse were 9% (95% CI, 6-14) and 11% (95% CI, 7-16) (Figure 1). The median time to relapse in the CNS was 11 months (95% CI, 7-25). Thirteen CNS recurrences (57%) occurred during the first year of follow-up. Seventy percent were isolated CNS relapses. The location was leptomeningeal in 43% of cases, parenchymal in 35%, both in 17%, and unspecified in 4%. According to CNS-IPI risk groups (data available for 20 patients), 9 patients (45%) belonged to the high-risk group, 10 (50%) to the intermediate-risk group and 1 (5%) to the low-risk group. Prior to CNS relapse, 87% of patients had received rituximab, and 39% had received CNS prophylaxis (30% intrathecal chemotherapy, 4% high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX), and 4% both). After CNS recurrence, 96% of patients received salvage treatment: combination of HD-MTX and HD-cytarabine (48%), HD-MTX alone (30%), or HD-cytarabine alone (9%). Four patients underwent consolidative autologous stem cell transplantation. The median survival after CNS relapse was 5.6 months. Factors associated with 3-year cumulative incidence of CNS recurrence in univariate analysis were involvement of kidney/adrenal glands (HR, 4.4; P=0.01) and MYD88 L265P mutation (P=0.01) (Figure 2A and B). Of note, among 74 patients (over 187, 40%) with data available for MYD88 mutation status, 11 CNS relapses occurred in patients with MYD88 L265P mutation (n = 54, 20%) whereas no relapse were observed in MYD88 WT cohort (n = 20). A trend toward higher risk of CNS relapse for ≥2 extranodal sites (HR, 2.3, 95% CI 0.98-5.3; P=0.06) was observed. Cumulative incidence according to CNS-IPI risk groups (0% in the low-risk, 9% in the intermediate-risk and 14% in the high-risk group) was not statistically significant (P=0.47). CONCLUSION CNS involvement occurs frequently in transformed WM. Rate of CNS relapse seems similar to DLBCL patients belonged to the CNS-IPI high-risk group. Special attention should be paid to patients with kidney/adrenal involvement and MYD88 L265P mutation. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Vos: Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Other: Travel reimbursement. Treon: X4: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Dana Farber Cancer Institute: Current Employment; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Self: Patents & Royalties: Holder of multiple patents related to testing and treatment of MYD88 and CXCR4 mutated B-cell malignancies; AbbVie: Consultancy, Research Funding; BeiGene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Dimopoulos: Janssen: Honoraria; Beigene: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria. Kapoor: Cellectar: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; BeiGene: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Amgen: Research Funding; Ichnos Sciences: Research Funding; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Glaxo SmithKline: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding. Castillo: Abbvie: Consultancy, Research Funding; BeiGene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding.

Context: Increased selectivity of the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) acalabrutinib versus ibrutinib may improve tolerability. Objective: To compare acalabrutinib versus ibrutinib in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Design: Open-label, randomized, noninferiority, phase 3 trial. Patients: Previously treated CLL patients with del(17p) or del(11q) by central lab. Interventions: Oral acalabrutinib 100 mg twice daily (BID) or ibrutinib 420 mg once daily (QD) (stratified by del(17p) status, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status [2 vs ≤ 1], and number of prior therapies [1–3 vs ≥4]) until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Main Outcome Measures: Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), as assessed by independent review committee; secondary endpoints of all-grade atrial fibrillation (AF), grade ≥3 infection, Richter transformation, and overall survival (OS) were assessed in hierarchical order. Results: 533 patients (acalabrutinib, n=268; ibrutinib, n=265) were randomized (median age 66 years; median 2 prior therapies; del(17p) 45.2%; del(11q) 64.2%). At a median follow-up of 40.9 months (range 0.0–59.1), acalabrutinib was noninferior to ibrutinib with a median PFS of 38.4 months in both arms (HR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.79–1.27). Acalabrutinib was statistically superior to ibrutinib in all-grade AF incidence (9.4% vs 16.0%; P=0.023). Among other secondary endpoints, incidences of grade ≥3 infection (acalabrutinib: 30.8%, ibrutinib: 30.0%) and Richter transformation (acalabrutinib: 3.8%, ibrutinib: 4.9%) were comparable between arms. Median OS was not reached in either arm (HR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.59–1.15), with 63 (23.5%) deaths in the acalabrutinib arm and 73 (27.5%) in the ibrutinib arm. Among any-grade adverse events (AEs) in ≥20% of patients in either arm, acalabrutinib was associated with lower incidence of hypertension (9.4%, 23.2%), arthralgia (15.8%, 22.8%), and diarrhea (34.6%, 46.0%) but a higher incidence of headache (34.6%, 20.2%) and cough (28.9%, 21.3%). AEs led to treatment discontinuation in 14.7% of acalabrutinib- versus 21.3% of ibrutinib-treated patients. Any-grade AEs of clinical interest that were less frequent with acalabrutinib included cardiac (24.1% vs 30.0%), hypertension (above), and bleeding events (38.0% vs 51.3%). Conclusions: In this first head-to-head trial of BTKis in CLL, acalabrutinib demonstrated noninferior PFS with less cardiotoxicity and fewer discontinuations due to AEs versus ibrutinib.

T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) is a rare, aggressive neoplasm of precursor T cells that occurs mostly in adolescents and young adults. In this review, we describe the treatment of adult T-LBL with a focus on recent advances using pediatric-inspired acute lymphoblastic leukemia regimens, which have greatly improved outcome. We also discuss the development of prognostic indicators for T-LBL, especially oncogenetic factors, that can identify patients at higher risk of relapse and may help further extend T-LBL patient survival. Pediatric-inspired acute lymphoblastic leukemia regimens have the potential to become the treatment of choice for adult T-LBL, and they might also reduce the need for other longstanding T-LBL interventions, particularly mediastinal irradiation and stem cell transplantation.

Gain in the short arm of chromosome 2 (2p+) induces gene overexpression and drug resistance in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: analysis of the central role of XPO1

Introduction In previously untreated, medically fit patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and no 17p deletion, there is current research interest in improving survival outcomes and potentially sparing some patients from the standard 6 cycles of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR). The phase II ICLL-07 (NCT02666898) trial, conducted by the French Innovative Leukemia Organization (FILO), aimed to explore the efficacy of obinutuzumab and ibrutinib treatment induction for 9 months, followed by a minimal residual disease (MRD)-driven strategy. Methods Following assessment at Month 9, patients in complete response (CR) with bone marrow (BM) MRD ResultsBetween 10/2015 and 05/2017, 135 patients were enrolled. At Month 9, only 8% of patients reached CR with BM MRD Conclusion These findings from the ICLL-07 trial demonstrated that, in previously untreated, medically fit patients with CLL and no 17p deletion, treatment induction with obinutuzumab and ibrutinib followed by an MRD-driven strategy yielded a high rate of CR with BM and PB MRD Disclosures Salles: Roche, Janssen, Gilead, Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Educational events; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Educational events. Leblond:Gilead: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: 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, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Astra Zeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Cartron:Roche, Celgene: Consultancy; Sanofi, Gilead, Janssen, Roche, Celgene: Honoraria. Cymbalista:Sunesis: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria. Le Garff-Tavernier:Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria. Letestu:Alexion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: speaker fee, expert contracts; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: speaker fee, expert contracts; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: speaker fee, expert contracts; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: speaker fee, expert contracts. Feugier:janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; roche: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

International audience; About Related Information ePDFPDF Request permission Export citation Add to favorites Track citationShare a linkShare on Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RedditIntroduction: The relevance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis as a liquid biopsy and minimal residual disease tool in the management of classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) patients was demonstrated in retrospective settings and remains to be confirmed.Methods: We developed a targeted Next‐Generation sequencing (NGS) panel for fast analysis (AmpliSeq® technology) of nine commonly mutated genes in biopsy and ctDNA of cHL patients. We then conducted a prospective trial to assess ctDNA follow up at diagnosis and after 2 cycles of chemotherapy (C2). A dedicated bioinformatics pipeline to optimize detections of variants with low rates and minimize artefactual misinterpretations was built. Sixty cHL patients treated by first line conventional chemotherapy (BEACOPPescalated [21.3%], ABVD/ABVD‐like [73.5%] and other regimens [5.2%, for elderly patients] were included in this non‐interventional study (NCT02815137).Results: Median age of the patients was 33.5 years (range 20‐86) with a predominance of male patients, scleronodular subtype and ECOG 0‐1 (53.3%, 70% and 88.3%, respectively). Variants were identified in 33 (55%) patients, precisely in 16/30 (53.3%) and 30/60 (50%) of available biopsy and ctDNA samples respectively. Concordance between genetic profiles of biopsy and ctDNA was accurate for 22/30 patients (73.3%). Mutations of NFKBIE, TNFAIP3, STAT6, PTPN1, B2M, XPO1, ITPKB, GNA13 and SOCS1were found in 11.7% (mean number of variants by sample [range]: 1 [0‐1]), 25% (1.1 [0‐2]), 21.7% (1.4 [0‐2]), 1.7% (1 [0‐1]), 25% (1.3 [0‐3]), 6.7% (1 [0‐1]), 15% (1.4 [0‐3]), 5% (1.3 [0‐2]) and 31.7% (1.8 [0‐7]) of all patients, respectively. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering was performed among the 9 genes to represent the association of alterations (See Figure 1).Higher level of [ctDNA] at diagnosis was associated with adverse characteristics: age ≥45 years, presence of anemia (hemoglobin

International audience; No abstract available

In patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, achievement of a complete response with minimal residual disease of less than 0·01% (ie,1 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cell per 10 000 leukocytes) in bone marrow has been associated with improved progression-free survival. We aimed to explore the activity of induction therapy for 9 months with obinutuzumab and ibrutinib, followed up with a minimal residual disease-driven therapeutic strategy for 6 additional months, in previously untreated patients.We did a single-arm, phase 2 trial in 27 university hospitals, general hospitals, and specialist cancer centres in France. Eligible patients were at least 18 years old and previously untreated, and had immunophenotypically confirmed B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia; an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score of less than 2; a Binet stage C according to IWCLL 2008 criteria or Binet stage A and B with active disease; no 17p deletion or absence of p53 mutation; and were considered medically fit. In the first part of the study (induction phase), all participants received eight intravenous infusions of obinutuzumab 1000 mg over six 4-weekly cycles and oral ibrutinib 420 mg once per day for 9 months. In part 2, after assessment on day 1 of month 9, patients with a complete response and bone marrow minimal residual disease of less than 0·01% received only oral ibrutinib 420 mg once per day for 6 additional months. Patients with a partial response, or with a complete response and bone marrow minimal residual disease of 0·01% or more, received 6 months of four 4-weekly cycles of intravenous fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and obinutuzumab 1000 mg, alongside continuing ibrutinib 420 mg once per day. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving a complete response with bone marrow minimal residual disease less than 0·01% on day 1 of month 16 assessed by intention to treat (ITT). This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (number NCT02666898) and is still open for follow-up.Between Oct 27, 2015, and May 16, 2017, 135 patients were enrolled. After induction treatment (day 1 of month 9), 130 patients were evaluable, of which ten (8%) achieved a complete response with bone marrow minimal residual disease of less than 0·01% and were assigned to ibrutinib, and 120 (92%) were assigned to ibrutinib plus fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and obinutuzumab. After minimal residual disease-guided treatment (day 1 of month 16), 84 (62%, 90% CI 55-69) of 135 patients (ITT population) achieved a complete response with bone marrow minimal residual disease of less than 0·01%. The most common haematological adverse event was thrombocytopenia (in 45 [34%] of 133 patients at grade 1-2 in months 1-9 and in 43 [33%] of 130 patients at grade 1-2 in months 9-15). The most common non-haematological adverse events were infusion-related reactions (in 83 [62%] patients at grade 1-2 in months 1-9) and gastrointestinal disorders (in 62 [48%] patients at grades 1 and 2 in months 9-15). 49 serious adverse events occurred, most frequently infections (ten), cardiac events (eight), and haematological events (eight). No treatment-related deaths occurred.Obinutuzumab and ibrutinib induction therapy followed by a minimal residual disease driven strategy is safe and active in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. With longer follow-up, including assessing the evolution of minimal residual disease, if response is maintained, this strategy could be an option in the first-line setting in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, although randomised evidence is needed.Roche, Janssen.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most prevalent type of adult leukemia in Western countries [1]. Despite advances in chemo-immunotherapy, most CLL patients relapse after the first-line che...

The prognostic implications of DNMT3A genotype in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia are incompletely understood. We performed comprehensive genetic and clinico-biological analyses of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with DNMT3A mutations treated during the GRAALL-2003 and -2005 studies. Eighteen of 198 cases (9.1%) had DNMT3A alterations. Two patients also had DNMT3A mutations in non-leukemic cell DNA, providing the first potential evidence of age-related clonal hematopoiesis in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. DNMT3A mutation was associated with older age (median 43.9 years vs. 29.4 years, P

7500 Background: Increased selectivity of the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) acalabrutinib (Aca) vs ibrutinib (Ib) may improve tolerability. We conducted an open-label, randomized, noninferiority, phase 3 trial to compare Aca vs Ib in patients (pts) with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Methods: Previously treated CLL pts with del(17p) or del(11q) by central lab were randomized to receive oral Aca 100 mg BID or Ib 420 mg QD (stratified by del(17p) status, ECOG PS [2 vs ≤1], and number of prior therapies [1–3 vs ≥4]) until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) as assessed by IRC; secondary endpoints of all grade atrial fibrillation (AF), grade ≥3 infection, Richter transformation, and overall survival (OS) were assessed in hierarchical order. Results: 533 pts (Aca, n=268; Ib, n=265) were randomized (median age 66 y; median 2 prior therapies; del(17p) 45.2%; del(11q) 64.2%). At a median follow-up of 40.9 mo (range 0.0–59.1), Aca was noninferior to Ib with a median PFS of 38.4 mo in both arms (HR 1.00; 95% CI 0.79–1.27). Aca was statistically superior to Ib in all-grade AF incidence (9.4% vs 16.0%; P=0.023). Among the other secondary endpoints, incidences of grade ≥3 infection (Aca: 30.8%, Ib: 30.0%) and Richter transformation (Aca: 3.8%, Ib: 4.9%) were comparable between arms. Median OS was not reached in either arm (HR 0.82 [95% CI 0.59–1.15]), with 63 (23.5%) deaths in the Aca arm and 73 (27.5%) in the Ib arm. Among any-grade AEs in ≥20% of pts in either arm, Aca was associated with a lower incidence of hypertension (9.4%, 23.2%), arthralgia (15.8%, 22.8%), and diarrhea (34.6%, 46.0%) but a higher incidence of headache (34.6%, 20.2%) and cough (28.9%, 21.3%). AEs led to treatment discontinuation in 14.7% of Aca- vs 21.3% of Ib-treated pts. Among any-grade events of clinical interest, cardiac, hypertension, and bleeding events were less frequent with Aca (Table). Conclusions: In this first head-to-head trial of BTKis in CLL, Aca demonstrated non-inferior PFS with less cardiotoxicity and fewer discontinuations due to AEs vs Ib. Clinical trial information: NCT02477696. [Table: see text]

The mean age at diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is 72 years, with 22.8% of patients being older than 80 years. However, the elderly are underrepresented in clinical studies of CLL. We performed a retrospective study of CLL patients aged 80 years or older at the initiation of first-line therapy in hospitals affiliated with the French intergroup on CLL (French Innovative Leukemia Organization) between 2003 and 2013. Here, we describe the clinical and biological characteristics, treatment, and outcomes for 201 patients. The median age of the cohort was 83.2 years (80-92 years). The median Cumulative Index Rating Scale comorbidity score was 5 and the median creatinine clearance was 48 mL/min (Cockcroft-Gault formula). At treatment initiation, Binet stage was A (26.4%), B (27.9%), or C (40.3%). Therapy consisted mainly of chlorambucil (65.7%), bendamustine (10.5%), and rituximab (44.3%) as follows: chlorambucil alone (45.3%) or immunochemotherapy (48.3%) with rituximab + chlorambucil (22.7%), rituximab + bendamustine (10.4%), or rituximab + cyclophosphamide + dexamethasone (5.5%). The overall response rate was 66.2% with 31.8% clinical complete remission. The median overall and progression-free survival from treatment initiation was 53.7 and 18.3 months, respectively. These results suggest that treatment is feasible in this age group, even with immunochemotherapy. Thus, prospective trials should target this population and oncogeriatric evaluation and new targeted therapies should be part of such future trials.