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Background: Mouse double minute-2 homolog (MDM2) plays a key role in downregulating p53 activity in hematologic malignancies, and its overexpression is associated with poor outcomes., Methods: This phase 1 study assessed the safety and efficacy of different dosing regimens of the MDM2 inhibitor milademetan as monotherapy and in combination with azacitidine (AZA) in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes., Results: Seventy-four patients (monotherapy, n = 57; milademetan-AZA combination, n = 17) were treated. The maximum tolerated dose of milademetan was 160 mg once daily given for the first 14-21 days of 28-day cycles as monotherapy and on Days 5-14 in combination with AZA. Dose-limiting toxicities were gastrointestinal, fatigue, or renal/electrolyte abnormalities. Treatment-emergent adverse events related to milademetan occurred in 82.5% and 64.7% of participants in the monotherapy and AZA combination arms, respectively. Two participants (4.2%) in the monotherapy arm achieved complete remission (CR), and 1 (2.1%) achieved CR with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi). Two participants (13.3%) achieved CRi in the combination arm. New TP53 mutations, detected only during milademetan monotherapy, were found pre-existing below standard detection frequency by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction., Interpretation: Milademetan was relatively well tolerated in this population; however, despite signals of activity, clinical efficacy was minimal., (© 2024 The Author(s). Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: Magrolimab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks cluster of differentiation 47, a don't-eat-me signal overexpressed on cancer cells. Cluster of differentiation 47 blockade by magrolimab promotes macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of tumor cells and is synergistic with azacitidine, which increases expression of eat-me signals. We report final phase Ib data in patients with untreated higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) treated with magrolimab and azacitidine (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03248479)., Patients and Methods: Patients with previously untreated Revised International Prognostic Scoring System intermediate-/high-/very high-risk MDS received magrolimab intravenously as a priming dose (1 mg/kg) followed by ramp-up to a 30 mg/kg once-weekly or once-every-2-week maintenance dose. Azacitidine 75 mg/m 2 was administered intravenously/subcutaneously once daily on days 1-7 of each 28-day cycle. Primary end points were safety/tolerability and complete remission (CR) rate., Results: Ninety-five patients were treated. Revised International Prognostic Scoring System risk was intermediate/high/very high in 27%, 52%, and 21%, respectively. Fifty-nine (62%) had poor-risk cytogenetics and 25 (26%) had TP53 mutation. The most common treatment-emergent adverse effects included constipation (68%), thrombocytopenia (55%), and anemia (52%). Median hemoglobin change from baseline to first postdose assessment was -0.7 g/dL (range, -3.1 to +2.4). CR rate and overall response rate were 33% and 75%, respectively. Median time to response, duration of CR, duration of overall response, and progression-free survival were 1.9, 11.1, 9.8, and 11.6 months, respectively. Median overall survival (OS) was not reached with 17.1-month follow-up. In TP53 -mutant patients, 40% achieved CR with median OS of 16.3 months. Thirty-four patients (36%) had allogeneic stem-cell transplant with 77% 2-year OS., Conclusion: Magrolimab + azacitidine was well tolerated with promising efficacy in patients with untreated higher-risk MDS, including those with TP53 mutations. A phase III trial of magrolimab/placebo + azacitidine is ongoing (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04313881 [ENHANCE]).

Background: CYAD-01 is an autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell product based on the natural killer (NK) group 2D (NKG2D) receptor, which binds eight ligands that are overexpressed in a wide range of haematological malignancies but are largely absent on non-neoplastic cells. Initial clinical evaluation of a single infusion of CYAD-01 at a low dose in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and multiple myeloma supported the feasibility of the approach and prompted further evaluation of CYAD-01. The aim of the present study was to determine the safety and recommended phase 2 dosing of CYAD-01 administered without preconditioning or bridging chemotherapy., Methods: The multicentre THINK study was an open-label, dose-escalation, phase 1 study for patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, or multiple myeloma, after at least one previous line of therapy. Patients were recruited from five hospitals in the USA and Belgium. The dose-escalation segment evaluated three dose levels: 3 × 10 8 (dose level one), 1 × 10 9 (dose level two), and 3 × 10 9 (dose level three) cells per infusion with a 3 + 3 Fibonacci study design using a schedule of three infusions at 2-week intervals followed by potential consolidation treatment consisting of three additional infusions. The occurrence of dose-limiting toxicities post-CYAD-01 infusion was assessed as the primary endpoint in the total treated patient population. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03018405, and EudraCT, 2016-003312-12, and has been completed., Findings: Between Feb 6, 2017, and Oct 9, 2018, 25 patients were registered in the haematological dose-escalation segment. Seven patients had manufacturing failure for insufficient yield and two had screening failure. 16 patients were treated with CYAD-01 (three with multiple myeloma and three with acute myeloid leukaemia at dose level one; three with acute myeloid leukaemia at dose level two; and six with acute myeloid leukaemia and one with myelodysplastic syndromes at dose level three). Median follow-up was 118 days (IQR 46-180). Seven patients (44%) had grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events. In total, five patients (31%) had grade 3 or 4 cytokine release syndrome across all dose levels. One dose-limiting toxicity of cytokine release syndrome was reported at dose level three. No treatment-related deaths occurred, and the maximum tolerated dose was not reached. Three (25%) of 12 evaluable patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndromes had an objective response. Among responders, two patients with acute myeloid leukaemia proceeded to allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) after CYAD-01 treatment, with durable ongoing remissions (5 and 61 months)., Interpretation: Treatment with a multiple CYAD-01 infusion schedule without preconditioning is well tolerated and shows anti-leukaemic activity, although without durability outside of patients bridged to allogeneic HSCT. These phase 1 data support the proof-of-concept of targeting NKG2D ligands by CAR T-cell therapy. Further clinical studies with NKG2D-based CAR T-cells are warranted, potentially via combinatorial antigen targeted approaches, to improve anti-tumour activity., Funding: Celyad Oncology., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests DAS has received payment as a member of advisory boards for Aprea, AvenCell, BlueBird Bio, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), Intellia, Kite, Novartis, Shattuck Labs, Servier, and Syndax; as a consultant for AbbVie, Magenta, Molecular Partners, and Takeda; as a member of a speakers bureau for BMS, Incyte, and Servier; and for research funding from Aprea and Jazz. VH has received payment as speaker with honoraria from Novartis, support for attending meetings from Novartis and Abbvie, and as member of data safety monitoring board with Incyte and Novartis. ESW has received consulting fees from Abbvie, AmGen, Astellas, BMS, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Jazz, Kite, Mana, Novartis, NuProbe, Pfizer, PharmaEssentia, and Takeda; and payment as member of data safety monitoring board or speaker bureau from Abbvie, Astellas, CTI Biopharma, Dava oncology, Gilead, Novartis, Kite, Pfizer, Rafael, and Stemline. MLD has received licensing fees from Atara and CRISPR; research funds from Atara, CRISPR, Kite, and Novartis; and consulting fees from Synthekine, Adicet, and Bellicum. J-PM has received payment as an advisory board member or speaker with honoraria from Pfizer, Roche, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Innate, Merck Serono, Boerhinger, BMS, Novartis, Janssen, Incyte, Cue Biopharma, ALX Oncology, iTEOS, eTheRNA, NEKTAR, and F-Star; and as member of a data safety monitoring board with honoraria for Psioxus. AA took part in advisory boards from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Daiichi, EISAI, Genomic Health, Hengrui, Innate, Ipsen, Leo Pharma, Lilly, Merck, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, and Seattle Genetics; received speaker fees from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Daiichi, EISAI, Genomic Health, Ipsen, Leo Pharma, Lilly, Merck, Merck Sharpe and Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, and Seattle Genetics; and research grants from BMS, Roche. EMA-O, RB, NB, M-SD, DEG, CL, FFL and AF are or were employed by Celyad Oncology. RB, NB, M-SD, DEG, CL, FFL, and AF are or were employed by Celyad Oncology. All other authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Olutasidenib (FT-2102) is a potent, selective, oral, small-molecule inhibitor of mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1). The aims for phase 1 of this phase 1/2 study were to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and clinical activity of olutasidenib, as monotherapy or in combination with azacitidine, in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome, harbouring mutant IDH1., Methods: In this phase 1/2, multicentre, open-label clinical trial, we enrolled patients aged 18 years or older with acute myeloid leukaemia or intermediate, high, or very high risk myelodysplastic syndrome harbouring mutant IDH1 at 18 study sites in the USA, Australia, France, and Spain. Other key eligibility criteria included Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2 with adequate liver and renal function. The primary outcomes were dose-limiting toxicities and the maximum tolerated dose, maximum evaluated dose, and the recommended phase 2 dose of olutasidenib. Olutasidenib was administered orally in doses of 150 mg once daily, 150 mg twice per day, and 300 mg once daily. Azacitidine (75 mg/m 2 ) was administered subcutaneously or intravenously daily for 7 days on, 21 days off. The study was ongoing at the data cutoff (Oct 2, 2019) and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02719574., Findings: Patients were enrolled between Aug 8, 2016, and Nov 14, 2018. 78 patients received olutasidenib as monotherapy (n=32) or in combination with azacitidine (n=46). The median follow-up was 8·3 months (IQR 3·1-13·3) for monotherapy and 10·1 months (4·2-15·3) for combination therapy. 16 (50%) of 32 patients in the monotherapy group and 24 (52%) of 46 patients in the combination therapy group were women. Most patients were White (26 [81%] for monotherapy and 31 [67%] for combination therapy). No dose-limiting toxicities were reported in the dose-escalation cohorts and 150 mg twice per day was declared the recommended phase 2 dose on the basis of safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and clinical activity. The most common (≥20%) grade 3-4 treatment-emergent adverse events with monotherapy were thrombocytopenia (nine [28%] of 32 patients), febrile neutropenia (seven [22%] of 32), and anaemia (seven [22%] of 32); and with combination therapy were thrombocytopenia (19 [41%] of 46), febrile neutropenia (13 [28%] of 46), neutropenia (13 [28%] of 46), and anaemia (nine [20%] of 46). 11 (34%) of 32 patients in the monotherapy group and nine (20%) of 46 patients in the combination therapy group died (most commonly from disease progression [three (9%) of 32 and four (9%) of 46]). No deaths were considered study-drug related. For patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia, 41% (95% CI 21-64; nine of 22) receiving monotherapy and 46% (27-67; 12 of 26) receiving combination therapy had an overall response. For treatment-naive patients with acute myeloid leukaemia, 25% (1-81; one of four) receiving monotherapy and 77% (46-95; ten of 13) receiving combination therapy had an overall response., Interpretation: Olutasidenib, with or without azacitidine, was well tolerated and showed meaningful clinical activity in patients with IDH1-mutated acute myeloid leukaemia. The results of this phase 1 study provide rationale for the continued evaluation of olutasidenib in multiple patient populations with myeloid malignancies., Funding: Forma Therapeutics., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests JMW has received research funding from and was a board/advisory committee member for Takeda; has received research funding from Immune System Key Ltd and Takeda; and was a board/advisory committee member for Genentech, Rafael Pharma, Reven Pharma, and Celgene/Bristol-Myers Squib (BMS). MRB has received research funding for her institution from AbbVie, Forma Therapeutics, Kite, Kura, and Takeda. JY has received research funding from Seattle Genetics, Janssen, AROG, Loxo Oncology, and Agios. TP is a consultant to Curios and Daiichi; and has received research funding, is a consultant to, and has recently become an employee of BMS. SL is a consultant to AstraZeneca, BMS, Helsinn, Innate Pharma, and PIN Pharma, and has recently become an employee of Janssen Research and Development. GJS has received research funding, honoraria, is on the speakers’ bureau for, and is a board/advisory committee member for Agios, Gamida, Gilead, and Incyte; has received research funding, honoraria, is on the speakers’ bureau for, holds stock in, and is a board/advisory committee member for Amgen and BMS; has received research funding, honoraria, and is a board/advisory committee member for Novartis, Ono Pharma, and AVM Biotech; has received honoraria, is on the speakers’ bureau for, and is a board/advisory committee member for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK); has received research funding and holds stock in Janssen/Johnson & Johnson; has received research funding and is on the speakers’ bureau for AbbVie, Astellas, Celgene, Karyopharm, and Stemline; has received honoraria and is a board/advisory committee member for AstraZeneca; and has received research funding from Actinium, Actuate, Ambit, Cellectis, Cyclacel, Constellation, Daiichi-Sankyo, Deciphera, DeltaFly, Forma Therapeutics, FujiFilm, Genentech/Roche, Geron, Glycomimetics, Kura Oncology, Mateon, Medimmune, Millennium; Onconova, Pfizer, PrECOG, RegImmune, Sangamo, Samus, Sellas, Tolero, and Trovagene. SND has no conflicts to disclose. AP has received honoraria from and is a consultant to AbbVie; is a consultant to Gilead; and has received honoraria from Astellas, Agios, Pfizer, and Jazz Pharmaceuticals. PM has received research funding from, is a consultant to, and is on the speakers’ bureau for BMS; and is a consultant to Forma Therapeutics, Syndax, and Kura Oncology. ESW is a consultant to and a board/advisory committee member for AbbVie and Gilead; is a consultant to, and is on the speakers’ bureau for Astellas, Pfizer, and Stemline; is a board/advisory committee member for Rafael Pharmaceuticals; is a consultant to Amgen, BMS, GSK, Janssen, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Kite, Mana Therapeutics, Novartis, PharmaEssentia; and is on the speakers’ bureau for Kura Oncology and Dava Oncology. KPS has received research funding and honoraria from, is a consultant to, and is on the speakers’ bureau of Jazz Pharmaceuticals; has received honoraria from, is a consultant to, and is on the speakers’ bureau for Novartis; has received honoraria from and is on the speakers’ bureau for Incyte; and has received research funding from Rafael, Glycomimetics, and Celgene. AHW has received research funding, honoraria, is a consultant to, is on the speakers’ bureau for, and is a board/advisory committee member for Astellas; has received research funding, honoraria, is on the speakers’ bureau for, and is a board/advisory committee member for AbbVie/Genentech, Amgen, Celgene/BMS, and Novartis; has received research funding, honoraria, is a consultant to, is a board/advisory committee member for Servier and Syndax; has received honoraria, is a consultant to, and is a board/advisory committee member for Janssen and Gilead; has received honoraria, and is a board/advisory committee member for MacroGenetics and Pfizer; has received research funding and honoraria from, and is a board/advisory committee member for AstraZeneca; has received research funding from Astex; and is an employee of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and is eligible for a fraction of the royalty stream related to venetoclax. SDB has received honoraria and research funding from Forma Therapeutics, has received honoraria, research funding, and is a consultant to Agios; has received honoraria, is a consultant to, and is on the speakers’ bureau for Celgene; has received honoraria and is a consult to Astellas, Daiichi Sankyo, Syros, AbbVie, Bayer, and Janssen; has received honoraria from Seattle Genetics; and is a consultant to Pierre Fabre, Novartis, Pfizer, and Servier. MA is a consultant to and a board/advisory committee member for BMS-Celgene and Novartis; and is a consultant to Astellas, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, and Pfizer. WD is a consultant to Janssen, BMS, and BeiGene. APS has received honoraria from AbbVie, Novartis, and Amgen; and is a board/advisory committee member for Pfizer. CR has received research funding from MaaT Pharma; has received honoraria from Incyte and Janssen; has received honoraria and has membership on an entity's board of directors or advisory committee for MacroGenics, Pfizer, and Takeda; has received honoraria, research funding, and has membership on an entity's board of directors or advisory committee for Amgen, Astellas, BMS/Celgene and Roche; and has received honoraria, research funding, is a consultant to, and has membership on an entity's board of directors or advisory committee for AbbVie, Daiichi Sankyo, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, and Novartis. BAJ has received research funding to his institution, is a consultant to, and is a board/advisory committee member for AbbVie, BMS, Genentech/Roche, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, and Treadwell; has received research funding to his institution, is a consultant to, and is a data monitoring committee member for Gilead; has received research funding to his institution, is a consultant to, and is a protocol steering committee member for GlycoMimetics; is a consultant to and a board/advisory committee member for Servier, Takeda, and Tolero; has received travel reimbursement from AbbVie; has received research funding to his institution from 47, Accelerated Medical Diagnostics, Amgen, AROG, Celgene, Daiichi Sankyo, F. Hoffman-La-Roche, Forma Therapeutics, Hanmi, Immune-Onc, Incyte, Loxo Oncology, LP Therapeutics, Pharmacyclics, and Sigma Tau. PBF has received research funding from Forma Therapeutics, Astex Pharmaceuticals, and Incyte. CM has received honoraria from Astellas, BMS, and Celgene. PK, JS, SF, SMG, and JB are employees of and hold stock in Forma Therapeutic. PH was an employee of and holds stock in Forma Therapeutics; and is an employee of and holds stock in Kymera Therapeutics. HM was an employee of and holds stock in Forma Therapeutics. JEC has received research funding for his institution from, and is a consultant to BMS, Novartis, Pfizer, Takeda, Daiichi, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Merus, and Forma Therapeutics; has received research funding for his institution from Astellas and Amphivena; and is a consultant to BiolineRx and Bioptah. All authors had access to and had the opportunity to review the study data and are responsible for data analysis and interpretation. All authors participated in writing of the report (including original draft, review, and editing). All authors attest to study completeness, and accuracy of the data and data analysis. JMW and JEC participated in analysis of the data, and directly accessed and verified the underlying data reported in the manuscript. JMW had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This phase 1b study evaluated glasdegib (100 mg once daily) + azacitidine in adults with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) who were ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. Of 72 patients enrolled, 12 were in a lead-in safety cohort (LIC) and 60 were in the AML and MDS (including CMML) expansion cohorts. In the LIC, the safety profile of glasdegib + azacitidine was determined to be consistent with those of glasdegib or azacitidine alone, with no evidence of drug-drug interaction. In the expansion cohort, the most frequently (≥ 10%) reported non-hematologic Grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse events were decreased appetite, electrocardiogram QT prolongation, and hypertension in the AML cohort and sepsis, diarrhea, hypotension, pneumonia, and hyperglycemia in the MDS cohort. Overall response rates in the AML and MDS cohorts were 30.0% and 33.3%, respectively; 47.4% and 46.7% of patients who were transfusion dependent at baseline achieved independence. Median overall survival (95% confidence interval) was 9.2 (6.2-14.0) months and 15.8 (9.3-21.9) months, respectively, and response was associated with molecular mutation clearance. Glasdegib + azacitidine in patients with newly diagnosed AML or MDS demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and preliminary evidence of clinical benefits.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02367456., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

KMT2A partial tandem duplication (KMT2A-PTD) is an adverse risk factor in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a potential therapeutic target, and an attractive marker of measurable residual disease. High initial KMT2A-PTD RNA levels have been linked to poor prognosis, but mechanisms regulating KMT2A-PTD expression are not well understood. Although KMT2A-PTD has been reported to affect only a single allele, it has been theorized but not proven that genomic gains of a monoallelic KMT2A-PTD may occur, thereby potentially driving high expression and disease progression. In this study, we identified 94 patients with KMT2A-PTDs using targeted DNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) and found that 16% (15/94) had complex secondary events, including copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity and selective gain involving the KMT2A-PTD allele. High copy numbers indicating complexity were significantly enriched in AML vs MDS and correlated with higher RNA expression. Moreover, in serial samples, complexity was associated with relapse and secondary transformation. Taken together, we provide approaches to integrate quantitative and allelic assessment of KMT2A-PTDs into targeted DNA NGS and demonstrate that secondary genetic events occur in KMT2A-PTD by multiple mechanisms that may be linked to myeloid disease progression by driving increased expression from the affected allele., (© 2022 by The American Society of Hematology. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), permitting only noncommercial, nonderivative use with attribution. All other rights reserved.)

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is a risk factor for the development of therapy-related myelodysplastic syndromes (tMDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (tAML). Adoption of targeted-immunotherapeutics since 2011, may alter the risk of CH progression to tMDS/AML. To study this, we evaluated risk of tMDS and tAML in 667 588 ≥ 1-year survivors of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), melanoma and multiple-myeloma (MM) diagnosed during: 2000-2005, 2006-2010 and 2011-2016. The risk of tMDS increased significantly after NSCLC across all time periods (P trend  = 0.002) while tAML risk decreased from 2006-2010 to 2011-2016, coinciding with increasing use of non-chemotherapeutic agents. tAML risk after RCC decreased (P trend  = 0.007) whereas tMDS risk did not significantly change over time. After melanoma, tMDS and tAML risks were similar to the general population. tMDS and tAML risk after MM increased from the first to second time-period, however, only risk of tMDS decreased during last period. We report diverging trends in the risk of tAML and tMDS after adoption of modern cancer therapies for specific cancers. It is imperative to further explore impact of contemporary treatment strategies on clonal evolution. Modern treatments via their discrete mechanism of actions on pre-existing CH may alter the risk of subsequent tMDS and tAML., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

We conducted a phase I clinical trial of H3B-8800, an oral small molecule that binds Splicing Factor 3B1 (SF3B1), in patients with MDS, CMML, or AML. Among 84 enrolled patients (42 MDS, 4 CMML and 38 AML), 62 were red blood cell (RBC) transfusion dependent at study entry. Dose escalation cohorts examined two once-daily dosing regimens: schedule I (5 days on/9 days off, range of doses studied 1-40 mg, n = 65) and schedule II (21 days on/7 days off, 7-20 mg, n = 19); 27 patients received treatment for ≥180 days. The most common treatment-related, treatment-emergent adverse events included diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. No complete or partial responses meeting IWG criteria were observed; however, RBC transfusion free intervals >56 days were observed in nine patients who were transfusion dependent at study entry (15%). Of 15 MDS patients with missense SF3B1 mutations, five experienced RBC transfusion independence (TI). Elevated pre-treatment expression of aberrant transcripts of Transmembrane Protein 14C (TMEM14C), an SF3B1 splicing target encoding a mitochondrial porphyrin transporter, was observed in MDS patients experiencing RBC TI. In summary, H3B-8800 treatment was associated with mostly low-grade TAEs and induced RBC TI in a biomarker-defined subset of MDS., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Glasdegib is a Hedgehog pathway inhibitor. This ongoing, open-label, phase 2 study (NCT01546038) evaluated glasdegib plus cytarabine/daunorubicin in patients with untreated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Patients received glasdegib 100 mg orally, once daily in continuous 28-day cycles from day -3, with intravenous cytarabine 100 mg/m 2 on days 1-7 and daunorubicin 60 mg/m 2 on days 1-3. Patients in remission then received consolidation therapy (2-4 cycles of cytarabine 1 g/m 2 twice daily on days 1, 3, 5 of each cycle), followed by maintenance glasdegib (maximum 6 cycles). Primary endpoint was complete remission (CR) in patients aged ≥55 years. Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), safety and outcome by mutational status. Patients had a median (range) age of 64.0 (27-75) years, 60.0% were male, and 84.5% were white. In 69 evaluable patients, 46.4% (80% confidence interval [CI]: 38.7-54.1) achieved investigator-reported CR. Among patients ≥55 years old (n = 60), 40.0% (80% CI 31.9-48.1) achieved CR. Among all 69 patients, median OS was 14.9 (80% CI 13.4-19.3) months, with 12-month survival probability 66.6% (80% CI 58.5-73.4). The most common treatment-related adverse events (≥50% patients) were diarrhea and nausea. There were no significant associations between mutational status (12 genes) and clinical response, suggesting potential benefit across diverse molecular profiles. Glasdegib plus cytarabine/daunorubicin was well tolerated and associated with clinical activity in patients with untreated AML or high-risk MDS. A randomized phase 3 trial of glasdegib in combination with chemotherapy (7 + 3 schedule) is ongoing., (© 2018 The Authors. American Journal of Hematology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Purpose: Treatment options are limited for patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The azanucleosides, azacitidine and decitabine, are first-line therapy for MDS that induce promoter demethylation and gene expression of the highly immunogenic tumor antigen NY-ESO-1. We demonstrated that patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receiving decitabine exhibit induction of NY-ESO-1 expression in circulating blasts. We hypothesized that vaccinating against NY-ESO-1 in patients with MDS receiving decitabine would capitalize upon induced NY-ESO-1 expression in malignant myeloid cells to provoke an NY-ESO-1-specific MDS-directed cytotoxic T-cell immune response. Experimental Design: In a phase I study, 9 patients with MDS received an HLA-unrestricted NY-ESO-1 vaccine (CDX-1401 + poly-ICLC) in a nonoverlapping schedule every four weeks with standard-dose decitabine. Results: Analysis of samples serially obtained from the 7 patients who reached the end of the study demonstrated induction of NY-ESO-1 expression in 7 of 7 patients and NY-ESO-1-specific CD4 + and CD8 + T-lymphocyte responses in 6 of 7 and 4 of 7 of the vaccinated patients, respectively. Myeloid cells expressing NY-ESO-1, isolated from a patient at different time points during decitabine therapy, were capable of activating a cytotoxic response from autologous NY-ESO-1-specific T lymphocytes. Vaccine responses were associated with a detectable population of CD141 Hi conventional dendritic cells, which are critical for the uptake of NY-ESO-1 vaccine and have a recognized role in antitumor immune responses. Conclusions: These data indicate that vaccination against induced NY-ESO-1 expression can produce an antigen-specific immune response in a relatively nonimmunogenic myeloid cancer and highlight the potential for induced antigen-directed immunotherapy in a group of patients with limited options. Clin Cancer Res; 24(5); 1019-29. ©2017 AACR See related commentary by Fuchs, p. 991 ., (©2017 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Our objective was to recognize the association of autoimmune diseases (AD) in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and understand how this association could affect prognosis and management of both diseases. We describe our cohort of 10 patients and 34 patients reported in the English literature in addition to ten cohort studies. Interestingly, four cases showed improvement in AD after 5-azacitidine treatment. The mechanism(s) of the association between AD and MDS are discussed. Treatment could be targeted against AD, MDS or both, though based on recent reports, treating MDS with hypomethylating agents alone could improve the associated AD., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Lenalidomide treatment in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) may lead to thrombocytopenia and dose reductions/delays. This study evaluated the safety and tolerability of the thrombopoietin mimetic romiplostim and its effects on the incidence of clinically significant thrombocytopenic events (CSTEs) in lower risk MDS patients receiving lenalidomide., Methods: Patients were assigned to weekly placebo (n = 12) or romiplostim 500 μg (n = 14) or 750 μg (n = 13) for four 28-day lenalidomide cycles., Results: The treatment groups were generally similar with respect to baseline disease characteristics. Del(5q) abnormalities were noted in 1 (8%) patient in the placebo group, 3 (21%) in the romiplostim 500 μg group, and two (15%) in the 750 μg group. CSTEs were noted in 8 (67%) patients in the placebo group, 4 (29%) in the romiplostim 500 μg group, and 8 (62%) in the romiplostim 750 μg group. Throughout the study, median platelet counts trended lower in placebo-treated than in romiplostim-treated patients. Thrombocytopenia-related adjustments in lenalidomide occurred in 6 (50%) patients in the placebo group, 5 (36%) in the romiplostim 500 μg group, and 2 (15%) in the 750 μg group. Although the percentages of patients who received platelet transfusions were similar across treatment groups, there was a trend toward lower numbers of transfusions in both romiplostim groups during each treatment cycle. There were two serious treatment-related adverse events during the treatment period (cerebrovascular accident, placebo; worsening thrombocytopenia, romiplostim 500 μg). Two patients (romiplostim 500 and 750 μg, respectively) had an increase in bone marrow blasts to >20% during treatment, but had no post-treatment biopsy to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of progression to AML., Conclusions: These data suggest that romiplostim administered to MDS patients during lenalidomide treatment may decrease the frequency of dose reductions/delays due to thrombocytopenia. Additional study is needed to confirm the results of this preliminary trial., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00418665.

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of romiplostim, a thrombopoietin mimetic, in patients with low- or intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) receiving azacitidine therapy. Forty patients with low- or intermediate-risk MDS were stratified by baseline platelet counts (< 50 vs ≥ 50 × 10(9)/L) and randomized to romiplostim 500 μg or 750 μg or placebo subcutaneously once weekly during 4 cycles of azacitidine. The primary endpoint was the incidence of clinically significant thrombocytopenic events, defined by grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia starting on day 15 of the first cycle or platelet transfusion at any time during the 4-cycle treatment period. No formal hypothesis testing was planned. The incidence of clinically significant thrombocytopenic events in patients receiving romiplostim 500 μg, romiplostim 750 μg, or placebo was 62%, 71%, and 85%, respectively. The incidence of platelet transfusions was 46%, 36%, and 69%, respectively. These differences were not statistically significant with the small numbers in each group. Romiplostim 750 μg significantly raised median platelet counts during cycle 3 on day 1 (P = .0373) and at the nadir (P = .0035) compared with placebo. Grade 3 rash and arthralgia each were reported in 1 romiplostim-treated patient (4%). This study suggests romiplostim may provide clinical benefits in MDS patients during azacitidine therapy.

Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) remained available to US clinicians through an open-label expanded-access protocol (NCT02312037) until GO was reapproved. Patients were aged ≥3 months with relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome, or acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), and had exhausted other treatment options. Three hundred and thirty one patients received GO as monotherapy for R/R AML (n = 139), combination therapy for R/R AML (n = 183), or treatment for R/R APL (n = 9). Corresponding treatment discontinuations occurred in 68, 39, and 33% of patients. All-causality grade 5 AEs occurred in 52, 22, and 22% of patients in the monotherapy, combination, and APL groups, respectively. Corresponding grades 3 and 4 treatment-related AEs were reported in 60, 55 and 78% of patients. Hepatotoxicity occurred in five patients: veno-occlusive disease (n = 4) and drug-induced liver injury (n = 1). GO was generally well tolerated in patients with R/R AML or APL. Most frequent treatment-related grade ≥3 AEs were hematologic AEs. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02312037 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]