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BackgroundDisparities in cancer outcomes persist for underserved populations; one important aspect of this is limited access to promising early phase clinical trials. To address this, the National Cancer Institute–funded Create Access to Targeted Cancer Therapy for Underserved Populations (CATCH-UP.2020) was created. We report the tools developed and accrual metrics of the initial year of CATCH-UP.2020 with a focus on racial, ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomically underserved populations.MethodsCATCH-UP.2020 is a P30 supplement awarded to 8 National Cancer Institute–designated cancer centers with existing resources to rapidly open and accrue to Experimental Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network (ETCTN) trials with emphasis on engaging patients from underserved populations. Sites used patient-based, community-based, investigator-based, and program-based tools to meet specific program goals.ResultsFrom September 2020 to August 2021, CATCH-UP.2020 sites opened 45 ETCTN trials. Weighted average trial activation time for the 7 sites reporting this was 107 days. In the initial year, sites enrolled 145 patients in CATCH-UP.2020 with 68 (46.9%) representing racial, ethnic, rural, and socioeconomically underserved populations using the broader definition of underserved encompassed in the grant charge. During the initial year of CATCH-UP.2020, a time impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, 15.8% (66 of 417) and 21.4% (31 of 145) of patients enrolled to ETCTN trials at network and at CATCH-UP sites, respectively, were from racial and ethnic minority groups, a more limited definition of underserved for which comparable data are available.ConclusionTargeted funding accelerated activation and accrual of early phase trials and expanded access to this therapeutic option for underserved populations.

Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene TP53 are detected in 5–10% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes. TP53 mutations have been associated with complex karyotypes, therapy-related malignancies, lower response rates to cytotoxic chemotherapy, and an overall adverse prognosis. In this single-center retrospective study, we analyzed the clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes of 83 patients with TP53-mutated myeloid malignancies treated at Yale Cancer Center between 9/2015 and 5/2019. Complex karyotypes (n=75; 90%) and therapy-related malignancies (n=32; 39%) were common. Median overall survival (OS) was 7.6 months. Intensive chemotherapy did not improve OS compared to lower-intensity treatment for AML patients. Patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHSCT) had a significantly longer median OS, despite relatively limited follow-up. In conclusion, our data confirm the limited efficacy of intensive chemotherapy approaches for TP53-mutated patients with myeloid neoplasms and suggest that a minority of patients achieve long-term survival with alloHSCT.

Introduction: The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) vary in their risk of disease progression; progression includes increasingly severe bone marrow failure, reclassification as acute myeloid leukemia...

Hyperleukocytosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with inferior outcomes. There is limited high quality evidence to support the benefits of leukapheresis. We retrospectively collected data from patients with newly-diagnosed AML who presented with a white cell count (WBC) >50 x 10(9)/L to 12 centers in the United States and Europe from 2006 to 2017 and received intensive chemotherapy. Logistic regression models estimated odds ratios for 30-day mortality and achievement of composite complete remission (CRc). Cox proportional hazard models estimated hazard ratios for overall survival (OS). Among 779 patients, clinical leukostasis was reported in 27%, and leukapheresis was used in 113 patients (15%). Thirty-day mortality was 16.7% (95% CI: 13.9-19.3%). Median OS was 12.6 months (95% CI: 11.5-14.9) among all patients, and 4.5 months (95% CI: 2.7-7.1) among those >= 65 years. Use of leukapheresis did not significantly impact 30-day mortality, achievement of CRc, or OS in multivariate analysis based on available data or in analysis based on multiple imputation. Among patients with investigator-adjudicated clinical leukostasis, there were statistically significant improvements in 30-day mortality and OS with leukapheresis in unadjusted analysis, but not in multivariate analysis. Given the significant resource use, cost, and potential complications of leukapheresis, randomized studies are needed to evaluate its value.

Introduction: Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) represents a group of cancers characterized by abnormal blood cell formation and maturation, leading to various degrees of cytopenias and potential transformation to acute myeloid leukemia. Deletion of the long arm of chromosome 5 (del(5q)) is the most common clonal chromosomal anomaly in MDS, yet the population in this disease subtype is quite heterogeneous. This manuscript analyzes literature on high-risk MDS with del(5q) abnormalities.Areas covered: The paper will review outcomes with lenalidomide among high-risk MDS patients with del(5q). It will discuss the implications of harboring TP53 gene mutations, and share the data for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations in this setting. Finally, the report evaluates the risk of disease progression in these patients.Expert commentary: Improved characterization of MDS has enhanced our understanding of patients with anomalies involving del(5q). Emerging literature is exploring combination therapy beyond lenalidomide, and next-generation sequencing may identify secondary mutations that could be an additional avenue for treatment.

An immunosuppressive microenvironment promoting leukemia cell immune escape plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AML. Through its interaction with cereblon, a substrate receptor for the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, pomalidomide leads to selective ubiquitination of transcription factors Aiolos and Ikaros thereby promoting immune modulation. In this phase I trial, 51 newly diagnosed non-favorable risk AML and high-risk MDS patients were enrolled and treated with AcDVP16 (cytarabine 667 mg/m(2)/day IV continuous infusion days 1–3, daunorubicin 45 mg/m(2) IV days 1–3, etoposide 400 mg/m(2) IV days 8–10) induction therapy followed by dose- and duration-escalation pomalidomide beginning at early lymphocyte recovery. Forty-three patients (AML: n = 39, MDS: n = 4) received pomalidomide. The maximum tolerated dose of pomalidomide was 4 mg for 21 consecutive days. The overall complete remission (CR + CRi) rate, median overall survival, and disease-free survival were 75%, 27.1 and 20.6 months, respectively. Subset analyses revealed 86% CR/CRi rate in AML patients with unfavorable-risk karyotype treated with pomalidomide. Pomalidomide significantly decreased Aiolos expression in both CD4(+) and CD8(+) peripheral blood and bone marrow T cells, promoted T cell differentiation, proliferation, and heightened their cytokine production. Finally, pomalidomide induced distinct gene expression changes in immune function-related ontologies in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells.

Agent Orange (AO) was the dominant weaponized herbicide employed by the United States (US) military during the Vietnam war. AO, however, was found to be regularly contaminated by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the most toxic dioxin known; furthermore, AO was commonly diluted in the field with other aromatic hydrocarbons to assist with delivery mechanisms. Unbeknownst to the US military and the millions exposed, these events have likely contributed to the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) that has affected many veterans. Null studies regarding an association between AO exposure and AML/MDS are limited in their methodology and application. The acknowledgement that the known carcinogen TCDD was a contaminant in AO when paired with a strong biological plausibility for its leukemogenicity and an observed increased risk of AML/MDS in TCDD-exposed individuals should suffice to establish causal association and that veterans to whom this might apply should be awarded appropriate indemnity.

Hypomethylating agents (HMA) showed overall survival (OS) benefits in patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (HR-MDS) in clinical trials. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data of patients ≥66 years diagnosed with refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB), a proxy for HR-MDS, in 01/2001–04/2004 (pre-period) or 01/2006–12/2011 (post-period). Association between post-period diagnosis and OS was examined using propensity scores (PS)-matched samples. Among 1,876 RAEB patients, median OS was 9 months and 30.8% received HMAs (3.6% in pre-period; 43.0% in post-period) with no association between post-period diagnosis and OS. In the top PS quartile, post-period diagnosis was associated with a 74% lower risk of death (Hazard ratio [HR]=0.26, 95%-CI: 0.10–0.69, P=0.007), while outcomes were worse in the lowest PS quartile (HR=2.80, 95%-CI: 1.06–7.36, P=0.037). HMA lead to a 3-month OS benefit for patients most likely to receive HMA but not for unselected RAEB cohort.

Background: Provider experience, or clinical volume, is associated with improved outcomes in many complex healthcare settings. Despite increased complexity of anticancer therapies, studies evaluating physician-level experience and cancer treatment outcomes are lacking. Methods: A population-based study was conducted of older adults (aged ≥66 years) diagnosed with B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2004 through 2011 using SEER-Medicare data. Analysis focused on outcomes in patients receiving rituximab, the first approved monoclonal anticancer immunotherapy. We hypothesized that lower physician experience using rituximab and managing its infusion-related reactions would be associated with early treatment discontinuation. A 12-month look-back from each initiation of rituximab was used to categorize physician volume (0, 1–2, or ≥3 initiations per year). Modified Poisson regression was used to account for provider-level correlation and estimated relative risk (RR) of early rituximab discontinuation (Results: Among 15,110 patients who initiated rituximab with 2,684 physicians, 7.6% experienced early rituximab discontinuation. Approximately one-fourth of patients (26.1%) initiated rituximab with a physician who had no rituximab initiations during the preceding 12 months. Compared with patients treated by physicians who had ≥3 rituximab initiations in the prior year, those treated by physicians without initiations were 57% more likely to experience early discontinuation (adjusted RR [aRR], 1.57; 95% CI, 1.35–1.82; PP=.02 for 1–2 vs ≥3). Additionally, rituximab discontinuation was associated with higher risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.28–1.52; PConclusions: Lower oncologist experience with rituximab was associated with increased risk of early rituximab discontinuation in Medicare beneficiaries with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Physician-level volume may be an important factor in providing high-quality cancer care in the modern era.

Population level survival of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) treated with hypomethylating agents (HMA) is inferior to clinical trials. Using SEER-Medicare data, we identified 2,086 MDS patients diagnosed in 2004–13, aged ≥66 years at diagnosis, and receiving ≥1 HMA cycle. We used multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models to assess the impact of provider experience on persistent HMA therapy and overall survival (OS), respectively. Median number of HMA cycles was 4 and median OS was 10 months. 32% of patients were treated by providers with ≥1 prior HMA initiation in the last 2 years and were more likely to receive ≥4 cycles of HMA therapy (OR=1.29, 95%-CI: 1.06–1.57; P=.01). No significant association was found between MDS or HMA initiation volume and survival. In conclusion, while HMA initiation volume was associated with persistent HMA treatment, neither MDS nor HMA initiation volumes were associated with OS in older MDS patients.

Existing studies regarding the role of DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) and lenalidomide in refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts (RARS) are limited. Using the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results-medicare database, we assembled a population-based cohort of older adults diagnosed with non-del(5q) lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes during 2007-2015. Of 2167 patients, 30% had RARS. About 16% of RARS and non- ring sideroblasts (RS) patients received DNMTi. RARS patients were more likely to receive lenalidomide (11.1% vs. 7.1%

Hyperleukocytosis may lead to multiple medical emergencies. Hydroxyurea, intensive chemotherapy, and leukapheresis are used for cytoreduction. However, there is little data regarding the best approach. Here, we report on the efficacy and safety of high dose cyclophosphamide (HDCy; 60 mg/kg). 27 patients with acute myeloid leukemia or blast phase chronic myeloid leukemia who presented with white blood cell count (WBC) of ≥50x10

PURPOSE Despite advances in immunotherapies, the prognosis for adults with Philadelphia chromosome-negative, newly diagnosed (ND) or relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute lymphoblastic leukemia/acute biphenotypic leukemia (ALL/ABL) remains poor. The benzamide derivative entinostat inhibits histone deacetylase and induces histone hyperacetylation. The purine nucleoside analogue clofarabine is FDA-approved for R/R ALL in children 1−21 years of age. Low doses of clofarabine have been reported to induce DNA hypomethylation. We conducted a phase 1 study of low dose clofarabine with escalating doses of entinostat in adults with ND or R/R ALL/ABL. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Adults ≥60 years with ND ALL/ABL or ≥21 years with R/R ALL/ABL received repeated cycles every 3 weeks of entinostat (4 mg, 6 mg or 8 mg orally days 1 and 8) and clofarabine (10 mg/m2/day IV for 5 days, days 3–7) (Arm A). Adults aged 40–59 years with ND ALL/ABL or age ≥21 years in first relapse received entinostat and clofarabine prior to traditional chemotherapy on day 11 (Arm B). Changes in DNA damage, global protein lysine acetylation, myeloid-derived suppressor cells and monocytes were measured in PBMCs before and during therapy. RESULTS Twenty-eight patients were treated at three entinostat dose levels with the maximum administered dose being entinostat 8 mg. The regimen was well tolerated with infectious and metabolic derangements more common in the older population versus the younger cohort. There was no severe hyperglycemia and no peripheral neuropathy in this small study. There were 2 deaths (1 sepsis, 1 intracranial bleed). Overall response rate was 32 %; it was 50 % for ND ALL/ABL. Entinostat increased global protein acetylation and inhibited immunosuppressive monocyte subpopulations, while clofarabine induced DNA damage in all cell subsets examined. CONCLUSION Entinostat plus clofarabine appears to be tolerable and active in older adults with ND ALL/ABL, but less active in R/R patients. Further evaluation of this regimen in ND ALL/ABL appears warranted.

Compared with reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC), myeloablative conditioning (MAC) is generally associated with lower relapse risk after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). However, disease-specific risk factors in AML/MDS can further inform when MAC and RIC may yield differential outcomes. We analyzed HCT outcomes stratified by the Disease Risk Index (DRI) in 4387 adults (age 40 to 65 years) to identify the impact of conditioning intensity. In the low/ intermediate-risk DRI cohort, RIC was associated with lower nonrelapse mortality (NRM) (hazard ratio [HR],.74; 95% confidence interval [CI],.62 to.88; P

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is frequently associated with hyperleukocytosis [white blood cell count (WBC) of >50 or >100 × 109/L at presentation] [1]. Hyperleukocytosis also predicts a higher risk...

Myeloid neoplasms like acute myeloid leukemia (AML) originate from genomic disruption, usually in a multi-step fashion. Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell acquisition of abnormalities in vital cellular processes, when coupled with intrinsic factors such as germline predisposition or extrinsic factors such as the marrow microenvironment or environmental agents, can lead to requisite pre-leukemic clonal selection, expansion and evolution. Several of these entities have been invoked as "leukemogens." The known leukemogens are numerous and are found in the therapeutic, occupational and ambient environments, however they are often difficult to implicate for individual patients. Patients treated with particular chemotherapeutic agents or radiotherapy accept a calculated risk of therapy-related AML. Occupational exposures to benzene, dioxins, formaldehyde, electromagnetic and particle radiation have been associated with an increased risk of AML. Although regulatory agencies have established acceptable exposure limits in the workplace, accidental exposures and even ambient exposures to leukemogens are possible. It is plausible that inescapable exposure to non-anthropogenic ambient leukemogens may be responsible for many cases of non-inherited de novo AML. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of leukemogens as they relate to AML, assess to what extent the term "de novo" leukemia is meaningful, and describe the potential to identify and characterize new leukemogens.

While most clinicians recognize adult therapy-related leukemias following cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiation, environmental regulatory agencies evaluate exposure to "safe levels" of leukemogenic compounds. Benzene represents the most notorious leukemogenic chemical. Used in the production of ubiquitous items such as plastics, lubricants, rubbers, dyes, and pesticides, benzene may be responsible for the higher risk of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) among automobile, janitorial, construction, and agricultural workers. It is possible that ambient benzene may contribute to many cases of "de novo" AML not arising out of germline predispositions. In this appraisal of the available literature, we evaluate and discuss the association between chronic, low-dose and ambient exposure to environmental benzene and the development of adult AML.

BACKGROUND Although provider-level volume is frequently associated with outcomes in cancers requiring complex surgeries, whether similar relations exist for cancers treated primarily with systemic therapy is unknown. METHODS Using a population-based cohort analysis of older adults diagnosed with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) during the years 2004-2011, we evaluated the association between oncologist volume and 4 clinical outcomes (receipt of any chemotherapy, receipt of an anthracycline-containing or equivalent regimen, early hospitalization, and overall survival). Our primary explanatory variable was lymphoma treatment volume, defined as the number of patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma for which an oncologist initiated therapy during a 12-month look-back period from each incident DLBCL case. RESULTS We identified 8247 Medicare beneficiaries who were newly diagnosed with DLBCL. Chemotherapy was administered to 6202 (75.2%) beneficiaries, and 71.4% of cytotoxic regimens contained an anthracycline. Beneficiaries who were treated by higher-volume oncologists had increased odds of receiving chemotherapy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-1.70; P

Hypomethylating agent (HMA) failure in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) carries a poor prognosis with limited treatment options. Although intensive, remission induction chemotherapy is often used subsequently, in particular to bridge to allogeneic transplantation, it is not clear whether an advantage exists for any particular regimen. Based on an international collaboration, we retrospectively analyzed induction response rate and survival in 366 patients after HMA failure. Patients received 7+3, intermediate- to high-dose cytarabine (IDAC), or purine nucleoside analog-based regimens. For the MDS cohort (n = 307), the overall response rate (ORR) was 41%; median overall survival (OS) was 10.8 months, and 40% of responding patients bridged to allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT). For the AML cohort (n = 59), the ORR was 32%, OS 6 months, and 42% of responding patients bridged to allo-SCT. Prognostic factors for response in MDS included adverse cytogenetics (odds ratio [OR], 0.46, P = .01), age ≥65 years (OR, 0.47; P < .01), and use of IDAC (OR, 2.91, P = .01). Shorter survival was associated with adverse cytogenetics (hazard ratio [HR], 1.43; P = .06). In the AML cohort, OS was decreased by disease progression at time of HMA failure (HR, 2.66; P = .02) and prolonged with use of an anthracycline-containing regimen (HR, 0.37; P = .01). In conclusion, intensive chemotherapy after HMA failure may be a reasonable treatment option for selected patients as a bridge to allogeneic transplantation and should be considered a potential platform for future investigations.

Patients with primary refractory or relapsed-acute myeloid leukemia (RR-AML), particularly older adults, have dismal outcomes and limited therapy options [1]. Given the tolerability of hypomethylat...

Hyperleukocytosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with high risks of leukostasis, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), organ failure and early death [1]. One option for achieving rapid cytored...

Timed sequential therapy (TST) aims to improve outcomes in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) by harnessing drug-induced cell cycle kinetics of AML, where a second drug is timed to coincide with peak leukemia proliferation induced by the first drugs. We analyzed outcomes in 301 newly diagnosed AML patients treated from 2004–2013 with cytarabine, anthracycline, and etoposide TST induction. Median age was 52 (range 20–74) and complete remission rate 68%. With median follow-up 5.8 years, 5-year DFS and overall survival (OS) were 37% (95% CI 31–45%) and 32% (95% CI 27–38%), respectively. In multivariate analysis, older age, unfavorable cytogenetics, and WBC ≥ 50 × 109/L resulted in worse OS. Among patients not undergoing blood and marrow transplant, a propensity score analysis, which reduces imbalance in baseline characteristics, showed consolidation with TST compared with 1 or more cycles high-dose cytarabine trended toward lower DFS and post-remission survival with hazard ratio (HR) 1.9 (95% CI 0.9–4.0), and 1.6 (95% CI 0.7–3.6), respectively. Our results demonstrate the efficacy and feasibility of TST induction for newly diagnosed patients with AML, with results comparable to that seen in clinical trials with other TST therapies and 7 + 3.

Purpose Azacitidine is standard, first-line therapy in higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Whether azacitidine-based combinations with lenalidomide or vorinostat produce superior overall response rates (ORRs) to azacitidine is not known. Patients and Methods North American Intergroup Study S1117 is a phase II/III trial that randomly assigned patients with higher-risk MDS and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) 1:1:1 to azacitidine (75 mg/m2/day on days 1 to 7 of a 28-day cycle); azacitidine plus lenalidomide (10 mg/day on days 1 to 21); or azacitidine plus vorinostat (300 mg twice daily on days 3 to 9). The primary phase II end point was improved ORR. Results Of 277 patients from 90 centers, 92 received azacitidine, 93 received azacitidine plus lenalidomide, and 92 received azacitidine plus vorinostat. Median age was 70 years (range, 28 to 93 years), 85 patients (31%) were female, and 53 patients (19%) had CMML. Serious adverse events were similar across arms, although combination-arm patients were more likely to undergo nonprotocol-defined dose modifications ( P < .001).With a median follow-up of 23 months (range, 1 to 43 months), the ORR was 38% for patients receiving azacitidine, 49% for azacitidine plus lenalidomide ( P = .14 v azacitidine), and 27% for azacitidine plus vorinostat ( P = .16 v azacitidine). For patients with CMML, ORR was higher for azacitidine plus lenalidomide versus azacitidine (68% v 28%, P = .02) but similar for all arms across cytogenetic subgroups, as was remission duration and overall survival. ORR was higher with mutations in DNMT3A and lower for SRSF2, whereas ORR duration improved with fewer mutations. Lenalidomide dose reduction was associated with worse overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.30; P = .05). Conclusion Patients with higher-risk MDS treated with azacitidine-based combinations had similar ORR to azacitidine monotherapy, although patients with CMML benefitted from azacitidine plus lenalidomide. The efficacy of combination regimens may have been affected by dose modifications.

Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) have changed the landscape of the management of patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (HR-MDS). HMAs have improved hematopoiesis and quality of life and, in the case of azacitidine, prolonged survival in a large randomized trial. However, multiple real-life and registry analyses have demonstrated minimal survival gains at the population level after the approval of HMAs. Furthermore, the 24-month median survival observed with azacitidine in the landmark AZA-001 trial has not been replicated in population-based studies or in other clinical trials using azacitidine monotherapy arms. Herein, we critically review the accumulating data suggesting that the actual survival impact of HMAs, especially azacitidine, in patients with HR-MDS is significantly lower than what was observed in the AZA-001 trial and what often is quoted to patients, and discuss the potential explanations for this discrepancy. We also present the rationale for why front-line clinical trial enrollment should be always considered and discussed with every newly diagnosed patient with HR-MDS rather than defaulting to the routine use of HMAs. Finally, we review the challenges to wider-scale enrollment in front-line HR-MDS clinical trials and suggest solutions to accelerate this process with the ultimate goal of achieving a real and substantial change in the natural history of this aggressive malignancy. Cancer 2017;123:3662-3672. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of acute leukemia among adults and accounts for the largest number of annual deaths due to leukemias in the United States. Recent advances have resulted in an expansion of treatment options for AML, especially concerning targeted therapies and low-intensity regimens. This portion of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for AML focuses on the management of AML and provides recommendations on the workup, diagnostic evaluation and treatment options for younger (age

BACKGROUND In a recent randomized, placebo-controlled trial, consolidation treatment with brentuximab vedotin (BV) decreased the risk of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) progression after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). However, the impact of BV consolidation on overall survival, quality of life, and health care costs remain unclear. METHODS A Markov decision-analytic model was constructed to measure the costs and clinical outcomes for BV consolidation therapy compared with active surveillance in a cohort of patients aged 33 years who were at risk for HL relapse after ASCT. Life-time costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated for each post-ASCT strategy. RESULTS After quality-of-life adjustments and standard discounting, upfront BV consolidation was associated with an improvement of 1.07 QALYs compared with active surveillance plus BV as salvage. However, the strategy of BV consolidation led to significantly higher health care costs ($378,832 vs $219,761), resulting in an ICER for BV consolidation compared with active surveillance of $148,664/QALY. If indication-specific pricing was implemented, then the model-estimated BV price reductions of 18% to 38% for the consolidative setting would translate into ICERs of $100,000 and $50,000 per QALY, respectively. These findings were consistent on 1-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS BV as consolidation therapy under current US pricing is unlikely to be cost effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000 per QALY. However, indication-specific price reductions for the consolidative setting could reduce ICERs to widely acceptable values. Cancer 2017. © 2017 American Cancer Society. Cancer 2017;123:3763–3771. © 2017 American Cancer Society

BACKGROUND Despite the approval of azacitidine in 2004 and the approval of decitabine in 2006 in the United States for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), the overall survival (OS) benefit with hypomethylating agent (HMA) therapy is unclear. METHODS Older adults (age ≥ 66 years) who had been diagnosed with CMML from 2001 to 2011 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare database, and propensity score matching was used to match patients who had been diagnosed after HMA approval (2007-2011) and had received HMA treatment with patients diagnosed before HMA approval (2001-2003). Cox proportional hazards models with the matched sample were used to assess the change in OS. A second matched cohort of patients who did not receive HMA after approval and patients diagnosed before HMA approval was used to evaluate survival change attributable to other potential differences between the 2 time periods, such as improved supportive care. RESULTS Among 1378 older adults diagnosed with CMML, the median OS was 13 months, and 18.8% received HMAs. In the primary matched analysis, with 225 HMA users diagnosed in 2007-2011 and 395 patients diagnosed in 2001-2003, the median OS times were 17 and 11 months, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58-0.91; P = .005). In a secondary analysis, the risk of death did not differ between 395 propensity score–matched HMA nonusers diagnosed in 2007-2011 and 484 patients diagnosed in 2001-2003 (hazard ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.91-1.32; P = .34). CONCLUSIONS Despite limited evidence, HMAs are commonly used to treat older CMML patients. The use of HMAs was associated with a 28% reduction in the risk of death in adjusted analyses. Improvements in supportive care do not appear to account for temporal improvements in OS. Cancer 2017;123:3754–3762. © 2017 American Cancer Society

// Thomas Prebet 1 , Thomas Cluzeau 2,* , Sophie Park 3,4,* , Mikkael A. Sekeres 5 , Ulrich Germing 6 , Lionel Ades 4,7 , Uwe Platzbecker 8 , Katharina Gotze 9 , Norbert Vey 4,10 , Esther Oliva 11 , Mary M. Sugrue 12 , Cecile Bally 4 , Charikleia Kelaidi 4 , Najla Al Ali 2 , Pierre Fenaux 4,7 , Steven D. Gore 1,* and Rami Komrokji 2,* 1 Moffit Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA 2 Cote d’Azur University, Nice Sophia Antipolis University, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Nice, France 3 U1065, Mediterranean Center of Molecular Medecine, Nice, France 4 Groupe Francophone des Myelodysplasies, Hopital Saint Louis, Paris, France 5 Leukemia Program, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA 6 Department Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany 7 Service Hematologie Senior, Hopital Saint Louis, Paris, France 8 Universitats Klinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany 9 Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universitat Munchen, Munchen, Germany 10 Departement d’Hematologie, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France 11 Hematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Bianchi Melacrino Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy 12 Celgene Corporation, Summit, NJ, USA * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Thomas Prebet , email: // Keywords : myelodysplasia, outcome, lenalidomide Received : April 18, 2017 Accepted : April 24, 2017 Published : June 14, 2017 Abstract While lenalidomide (LEN) is the standard of care for the lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients with deletion 5q, 35% will not respond to or do not tolerate the drug. Moreover, most of the patients will lose their response after a few years. Defining the outcome of patients with LEN failure and determining the impact of subsequent therapies is therefore important to develop alternative strategies. Based on an international collaboration, we were able to compile a total of 392 patient cases of lower-risk MDS patients with 5q deletion and to analyze their outcome after failure of lenalidomide. The median survival following LEN failure was 23 months. We observed a negative impact on survival of advanced age, higher bone marrow blast count at LEN initiation, progression after LEN failure, and unfavorable cytogenetics. Among the treatment strategies, we observed a relatively prolonged survival of patients treated subsequently with hypomethylating agents and only a limited impact on survival of allogeneic transplantation. In conclusion, our work stresses the relatively short survival of this group of patient and defines the expected baseline for the needed future investigations in this group of patients.

Anemia is a key survival prognostic factor in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Lenalidomide (LEN) can correct anemia in 25% of MDS patients without deletion 5q (del5q). As this therapy will inevitably fail, understanding the outcome of these patients will facilitate development of subsequent treatment strategies. To answer this question, an international retrospective study focused on LEN-treated lower-risk, non-del5q, MDS patients was performed. We analyzed the overall survival after LEN failure, its prognostic factors and the impact of post LEN treatment options. We included a total of 384 patients. The median overall survival after failure of LEN was 43 months. In multivariate analysis, adverse cytogenetics, excess of blasts at the initiation of LEN, and the type of failure (classified as stable disease, relapse, intolerance, or progression) were the main determinants of outcome. Subsequent therapy with hypomethylating agents was associated with a prolonged survival compared to BSC (median OS= 51m vs. 36m, p=0.01). In conclusion, the survival for non-del5q MDS patients after failure of LEN remains relatively prolonged, though with a wide range. Clinical trial participation remains the recommendation for these patients even if options such as hypomethylating agents may be considered.

Background: Despite a potential for cure, a large proportion of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) succumb early to hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications. Prompt initiation of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been associated with improved outcomes. However, little is known about the patterns of care and clinical outcomes of patients with APL in the United States (US) outside of the controlled trial setting. Method s : We identified APL patients (pts) included in the Vizient Clinical Database/Resource Manager (CDB/RM™), which includes patient demographics, hospital characteristics, charge-level medication usage, procedures and mortality data from over 100 academic health centers and affiliated hospitals. Initial inpatient encounters of adult APL pts (≥18 years) during 2014-2015 (most recent years available) were identified by ICD-10 code (C92.40; C92.42) or ICD-9 codes for acute myeloid leukemia (AML; 250.00, 205.02) plus receipt of ATRA for ≥3 days as monotherapy, or in combination with arsenic trioxide (ATO) or an anthracycline. The 3-day minimum ATRA requirement is intended to exclude AML patients who may have therapy initiated while awaiting diagnostic confirmation. Pts were excluded if information on discharge disposition or medication administration were missing or if patients had an ICD-9/10 code consistent with relapsed AML/APL. Primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital death or discharge to hospice. Pearson's Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables in bivariate analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between patient, hospital, and treatment characteristics with the primary outcome. We lacked information on laboratory test results needed to assess the impact of treatment on clinical outcomes. Results: We identified 486 pts treated at 76 hospitals. Patient demographic, treatment and hospital characteristics are shown in Table 1. Median length of stay was 30 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 22-36 days). Pts received a median of 26 days of ATRA (IQR: 12-34 days). The majority of pts was treated with ATRA + ATO (240 pts; 49.4%) or ATRA + anthracycline (146 pts; 30.0%), which are the standard of care for lower- and higher-risk APL, respectively. Forty-two pts (9.3%) received ATRA monotherapy and 58 (11.9%) were treated with ATRA + ATO + anthracycline. Forty-eight pts (9.9%) required endotracheal intubation. Overall, 54 (11.1%) pts experienced our composite adverse outcome of in-hospital death or transfer to hospice (45 pts [9.3%] died in the hospital; 9 pts [1.9%] were discharged to hospice). Among 45 pts who died in the hospital, median time to death was 17 days (IQR: 5-24 days) with 31.1% of deaths occurring during the first 7 days of hospitalization. Half of the pts (n=18; 50%) who died in the ATRA monotherapy group died within 5 days of admission. In bivariate analyses, age ≥66 years (22.9% vs. 7.9%; p Discussion: A substantial proportion (11%) of adults treated for APL in this large inpatient dataset died or were discharged to hospice. This likely underestimates the full mortality rate of APL, because our APL case definition excluded pts who received Disclosures Wang: Celgene/BMS: Research Funding. Podoltsev:Kartos Therapeutics: Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sunesis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Samus Therapeutics: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; AI Therapeutics: Research Funding; Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding; CTI biopharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squib: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Arog Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy, Honoraria; Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Research Funding. Huntington:Genentech: Consultancy; DTRM: Research Funding; Astrazeneca: Honoraria; Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding. Neparidze:Janssen: Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding; Eidos Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Diagnostic committee member ; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Advisory board. Ma:BMS: Consultancy; Celgene/BMS: Research Funding. Gore:Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Zeidan:Acceleron: Consultancy, Honoraria; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria; Cardinal Health: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene / BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Cardiff Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Ionis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; CCITLA: Other; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: Other; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; BeyondSpring: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astex: Research Funding; MedImmune/Astrazeneca: Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Boehringer-Ingelheim: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Taiho: Consultancy, Honoraria; Aprea: Research Funding; Trovagene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Otsuka: Consultancy, Honoraria; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria. Davidoff:Celgene: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy.

Background: Cancer care delivered in an academic setting or by providers with higher volume has been associated with improved overall survival (OS) in selected surgical and medical scenarios, including the care of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Most studies have limited their focus to OS, and have used a simple count of similar patients as a proxy measure for disease-specific expertise. Few studies have assessed whether treatment by an oncologist that specializes in a specific patient's cancer results in better quality care and outcomes. This latter focus may be particularly important for MM management, for which the approval of newer immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) and proteasome inhibitors (PIs), coupled with 1st-line PI-IMiD combinations, stem cell transplant (SCT) & maintenance therapy (MT) among fit patients, have expanded options, complexity and therapy lines. In this study, we constructed a measure reflecting oncologist sub-specialization in treatment of hematologic malignancies and examined associations between that dimension, academic care setting, and various aspects of active MM therapy as well as OS. Methods: We selected adults with a MM diagnosis between 07/07-12/15 from the SEER-Medicare linked database. We required continuous Medicare Parts A and B enrollment and no HMO/PPO coverage from 12 months prior to diagnosis (1 month prior for Part D) through death or end of study (12/16) and MM therapy initiation w/in 12 months post diagnosis. Outcomes including 1st treatment line PI-IMiD combination, SCT, MT, and 2nd, 3rd, and 4th treatment lines were constructed by applying a complex algorithm to claims-based indicators for oral and IV drugs and receipt dates. Provider setting was assigned as academic and/or NCI designated cancer center (NCI-CC), other hospital (other teaching or non-teaching), or community (non-hospital), based on claims from the most recent hematologist or oncologist evaluation and management visit prior to 1st line initiation. The percentage of each oncologist's patient panel diagnosed with a hematologic malignancy (HEME%) was calculated for each 3-year period, using a pooled sample of 11 major cancer sites (reported in SEER-Medicare) for the denominator; HEME% was linked back to each patient based on the oncologist of record at the visit prior to 1st line initiation. Bivariate analyses and multivariable regressions tested for associations with treatment (logistic regression) and OS (Cox proportional hazards models). Regressions controlled for demographics, health status, and diagnosis year. Results: The cohort (n=4932) was 14% Black, and 51% age ≥75 years [Table 1]. Care setting was 14.5% academic/NCI-CC, 22.4% other hospital, and 63.0% community; community setting decreased from 72.4 to 57.8% during the observation period (2007 to 2015). Mean HEME% (31% overall) was higher for academic/NCI-CC (51%), where there was a bimodal distribution with peaks at 25% and 85-90% (Figure 1). Mean HEME% was 27% at both other hospital and community practices, with a peak at 25%. 1st treatment line PI-IMiD combinations, MT after PI-IMiD, and SCT were received by 21%, 53%, and 4%, respectively. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th treatment lines were received by 55%, 31% and 18% respectively. After adjustment, higher HEME% was associated with increased likelihood of receiving a PI-IMiD combination and SCT during 1st line, receiving 3rd line (all at p Conclusion: Using a novel measure of oncologist sub-specialization in hematologic malignancies, we found strong positive associations with receipt of 1st line PI-IMiD combination therapy and ongoing treatment lines in a Medicare insured population with MM. In contrast to HEME%, care setting was less likely to be associated with treatment in our multivariable models. The bimodal distribution of HEME% within academic centers is consistent with academic acquisition of community oncology practices. Future research should consider the role of oncologist sub-specialization in other cancers and with additional outcomes, including patient care experience and cost of care. Disclosures Davidoff: Amgen: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Celgene: Research Funding. Neparidze:Janssen: Research Funding; Eidos Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Diagnostic committee member ; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Advisory board; GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding. Podoltsev:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Sunesis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Samus Therapeutics: Research Funding; AI Therapeutics: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Arog Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Kartos Therapeutics: Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy, Honoraria; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Alexion: Consultancy, Honoraria; Daiichi Sankyo: Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Research Funding; Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding; CTI biopharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squib: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria. Wang:Celgene/BMS: Research Funding. Gore:Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Zeidan:Boehringer-Ingelheim: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Acceleron: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria; Cardinal Health: Consultancy, Honoraria; Taiho: Consultancy, Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; BeyondSpring: Consultancy, Honoraria; Cardiff Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Ionis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: Other; CCITLA: Other; Astex: Research Funding; MedImmune/Astrazeneca: Research Funding; Trovagene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Aprea: Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene / BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Otsuka: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Huntington:DTRM: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Astrazeneca: Honoraria; Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding.

Background: Current guidelines recommend hydroxyurea (HU) as frontline therapy for patients with high-risk essential thrombocythemia (ET) to prevent thrombosis. However, little is known about the impact of HU on thrombosis or survival among these patients in the real-world setting. Patients and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of older adults (aged ≥66 years) diagnosed with ET from 2007 through 2013 using the linked SEER-Medicare database. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the effect of HU on overall survival, and multivariable competing risk models were used to assess the effect of HU on the occurrence of thrombotic events. Results: Of 1,010 patients, 745 (73.8%) received HU. Treatment with HU was associated with a significantly lower risk of death (hazard ratio [HR], 0.52; 95% CI, 0.43–0.64; PPPConclusions: Although underused in our study population, HU was associated with a reduced incidence of thrombotic events and improved overall survival in older patients with ET.

Most patients with lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) become red blood cell (RBC) transfusion dependent at some time during their disease course. Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) are frequently used in this setting; however, reported rates of in RBC transfusion independence (TI) achieved with HMA therapy vary significantly between studies. Here we study the real-life clinical effectiveness of HMA in inducing RBC TI in anemic LR-MDS patients using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database. We find that approximately 40% of LR-MDS patients who were receiving RBC transfusions and 33% who were dependent on RBC transfusions at HMA initiation ultimately achieved TI. The receipt of ≥3 transfusions in the 8-week period before HMA initiation was significantly associated with lower odds of achieving TI. Our study provides important population level estimates of clinical effectiveness of HMAs in LR-MDS.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a spectrum of heterogeneous hematopoietic stem cell diseases, vary in clinical severity, response to therapy, and propensity toward progression to acute myeloid leukemia. These are acquired clonal disorders resulting from somatic mutations within the hematopoietic stem or progenitor cell population. Understanding the natural history and the risk of developing leukemia and other adverse outcomes is dependent on access to well-annotated biospecimens linked to robust clinical and molecular data. To facilitate the acquisition and distribution of MDS biospecimens to the wider scientific community and support scientific discovery in this disease, the National MDS Natural History study was initiated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and is being conducted in collaboration with community hospitals and academic medical centers supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The study will recruit up to 2000 MDS patients or overlapping myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN) and up to 500 cases of idiopathic cytopenia of undetermined significance (ICUS). The National MDS Natural History Study (NCT02775383) will offer the world's largest disease-focused tissue biobank linked to longitudinal clinical and molecular data in MDS. Here, we report on the study design features and describe the vanguard phase of 200 cases. The study assembles a comprehensive clinical database, quality of life results, laboratory data, histopathology slides and images, genetic information, hematopoietic and germline tissues representing high-quality biospecimens and data from diverse centers across the United States. These resources will be available to the scientific community for investigator-initiated research.

Physician ownership of imaging equipment has been shown to be associated with greater use of low-value imaging. However, it is unclear whether ownership also influences utilization of appropriate imaging. We conducted a cohort study of older adults diagnosed with three non-Hodgkin lymphomas with distinct guideline recommendations concerning the use of positron emission tomography (PET) during staging (recommended, not recommended, or equivocal). We found patients who were treated by oncologists with PET ownership were more likely to receive a staging PET regardless of lymphoma subtype. However, the difference in utilization by ownership status was smallest (6%, 95% confidence interval = 2% to 11%, P = .01) in the setting of diffuse large B cell lymphoma, where consensus guidelines recommend routine use of PET. Overall, removing financial incentives related to imaging self-referral may reduce utilization during cancer care, with the potential for greatest impact on imaging of equivocal or low clinical utility.

Background With improving survival for patients with multiple myeloma (MM), supportive care that is focused on optimizing quality of life and minimizing treatment-related toxicities is increasingly important. The extent to which patients with MM are receiving recommended supportive care is unknown. Methods This study used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database to identify older adults (age ≥66 years) diagnosed with MM in 2008-2013 who had received active treatment and survived 1 year or longer after their diagnosis. Outcomes of interest included guideline-recommended supportive care, which was defined as 1) bone-modifying drugs (BMDs) within the 12 months after the diagnosis, 2) influenza vaccination in the first season after the diagnosis, and 3) concomitant use of prophylactic antivirals with proteasome inhibitors. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between patient/facility-level characteristics and supportive care use. Results Among 1996 patients receiving MM-directed therapy, 64%, 52%, and 49% received BMDs, an influenza vaccination, and antiviral prophylaxis, respectively. Non-Hispanic black patients (odds ratio [OR] vs white patients, 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.46-0.88) and patients with baseline renal impairment (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.34-0.54) had lower odds of BMDs. Non-Hispanic blacks (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.37-0.73) and those with dual Medicaid enrollment (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.58-0.99) had lower odds of influenza vaccination. Treatment in a community-based setting was associated with reduced odds of antiviral prophylaxis (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.46-0.72). Conclusions Substantial underutilization of guideline-recommended supportive care was observed among older adults with MM in the United States, and this was associated with both patient and facility characteristics. Targeted interventions are needed to improve supportive care for patients with MM.

Background The majority of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are aged >65 years at the time of diagnosis and are not actively treated. The objective of the current study was to determine the prevalence, temporal trends, and factors associated with no active treatment (NAT) among older patients with AML in the United States. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data from 14,089 patients with AML residing in the United States who were diagnosed with AML at age ≥66 years during 2001 through 2013. NAT was defined as not receiving any chemotherapy, including hypomethylating agents. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze sociodemographic, clinical, and provider characteristics associated with NAT. Results The percentage of patients with NAT decreased over time from 59.7% among patients diagnosed in 2001 to 42.8% among those diagnosed in 2013. The median overall survival for the entire cohort was 82 days from the time of diagnosis. Patients treated with NAT had worse survival compared with those receiving active treatment. Variables found to be associated with higher odds of NAT included older age, certain sociodemographic characteristics (household income within the lowest quartile, residence outside the Northeast region of the United States, and being unmarried), and clinical factors (≥3 comorbidities, the presence of mental disorders, recent hospitalization, and disability). Conclusions Greater than one-half of older patients with AML residing in the United States do not receive any active leukemia-directed therapy despite the availability of lower intensity therapies such as hypomethylating agents. Lack of active therapy receipt is associated with inferior survival. Identifying predictors of NAT might improve the quality of care and survival in this patient population, especially as novel therapeutic options with lower toxicity are becoming available.

The World Health Organization classification and definition of “myeloid sarcoma” is imprecise and misleading. A more accurate term is “extramedullary acute myeloid leukemia tumor (eAML).” The pathogenesis of eAML has been associated with aberrancy of cellular adhesion molecules, chemokine receptors/ligands and RAS-MAPK/ERK signaling. eAML can present with or without synchronous or metachronous intramedullary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) so a bone marrow evaluation is always recommended. Accurate diagnosis of eAML requires tissue biopsy. eAML confined to one or a few sites is frequently treated with local therapy such as radiotherapy. About 75–90% of patients with isolated eAML will develop metachronous intramedullary AML with a median latency period ranging from 4 to 12 months; thus, patients with isolated eAML may also be treated with systemic anti-leukemia therapy. eAML does not appear to have an independent prognostic impact; selection of post-remission therapy including allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (alloHCT) is typically guided by intramedullary disease risk. Management of isolated eAML should be individualized based on patient characteristics as well as eAML location and cytogenetic/molecular features. The role of PET/CT in eAML is also currently being elucidated. Improving outcomes of patients with eAML requires further knowledge of its etiology and mechanism(s) as well as therapeutic approaches beyond conventional chemotherapy, ideally in the context of controlled trials.

BACKGROUND To understand the impact of radiotherapy on the development of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) among elderly prostate cancer patients. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study of elderly prostate cancer patients diagnosed during 1999–2011 by using the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results—Medicare linked database. Competing risk analyses adjusting for patient characteristics were conducted to assess the impact of radiotherapy on the development of subsequent MDS/AML, compared with surgery. RESULTS Of 32,112 prostate cancer patients, 14,672 underwent radiotherapy, and 17,440 received surgery only. The median follow-up was 4.68 years. A total of 157 (0.47%) prostate cancer patients developed subsequent MDS or AML, and the median time to develop MDS/AML was 3.30 (range: 0.16–9.48) years. Compared with prostate cancer patients who received surgery only, patients who underwent radiotherapy had a significantly increased risk of developing MDS/AML (hazard ratio [HR] =1.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–2.13). When radiotherapy was further categorized by modalities (brachytherapy, conventional conformal radiotherapy, and intensity-modulated radiotherapy [IMRT]), increased risk of second MDS/AML was only observed in the IMRT group (HR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.09–2.54). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that radiotherapy for prostate cancer increases the risk of MDS/AML, and the impact may differ by modality. Additional studies with longer follow-up are needed to further clarify the role of radiotherapy in the development of subsequent myeloid malignancies. A better understanding may help patients, physicians, and other stakeholders make more informed treatment decisions. Prostate © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Pre-clinical data in non-M3 AML supports the use of differentiation therapy, but clinical activity has been limited. Myeloid growth factors can enhance anti-leukemic activity of differentiating agents in vitro . We conducted companion phase II trials investigating sargramostim (GM-CSF) 125 μg/m 2 /day plus 1) bexarotene (BEX) 300 mg/m 2 /day or 2) entinostat (ENT) 4–8 mg/m 2 /week in patients with MDS or relapsed/refractory AML. Primary endpoints were response after at least two treatment cycles and toxicity. 26 patients enrolled on the BEX trial had a median of 2 prior treatments and 24 enrolled on the ENT trial had a median of 1. Of 13 response-evaluable patients treated with BEX, the best response noted was hematologic improvement in neutrophils (HI-N) seen in 4 (31%) patients; none achieved complete (CR) or partial remission (PR). Of 10 treated with ENT, there was 1 (10%) partial remission (PR) and 2 (20%) with HI-N. The secondary endpoint responses of HI-N with each combination were accompanied by a numerical increase in ANC (BEX: 524 to 931 cells/mm 3 , p = 0.096; ENT: 578 to 1 137 cells/mm 3 , p = 0.15) without increasing marrow blasts. Shared grade 3–4 non-hematologic toxicities included febrile neutropenia, bone pain, fatigue, and dyspnea. GM-CSF plus either BEX or ENT are well tolerated in resistant and refractory MDS and AML and showed modest clinical and biologic activity, most commonly HI-N.

The hypomethylating agents (HMA) azacitidine and decitabine are both approved by the FDA for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Although heralded as a significant advancement, HMA lead to responses in less than half of patients and for those that respond most will relapse. As such, there is a crucial need to improve frontline therapy approaches. One promising strategy involves combining azacitidine or decitabine with investigational or existing therapies with the goal of achieving synergistic activity and better patient outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to critically review the efficacy and safety of reported HMA-based combination regimens in patients with higher-risk MDS.

BACKGROUND Although newer treatments for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), particularly hypomethylating agents (HMAs), are expensive, it is unclear whether MDS-related costs of care are associated with overall survival. This study evaluated the relation between MDS-related costs and survival among Medicare beneficiaries with MDS. METHODS Eligible patients were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare database with codes for MDS from International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, 3rd edition. The patients were diagnosed between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2011, were 66 years old or older, and were followed through death or the end of study (December 31, 2012). Medicare payments were used to estimate costs. Cumulative costs in a propensity score–matched group of cancer-free Medicare beneficiaries were subtracted from costs in the MDS cohort in each registry to estimate MDS-related costs. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived from multivariate Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for patient and disease characteristics. RESULTS There were 8580 eligible patients, and 1,267 (14.7%) received HMAs. The overall 2-year survival rate was 48.7%, and the 2-year registry-specific MDS-related cost per patient ranged from $40,793 to $78,156 across 16 registries. The 2-year MDS-related cost was not associated with survival in the overall study population (first tertile, reference; second tertile, HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.89-1.04; P = .29; third tertile, HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.91-1.06; P = .64) or in subgroups of patients who did or did not receive HMAs. CONCLUSIONS Medicare expenditures for elderly patients with MDS varied across registries but were not associated with survival. A lack of an association between costs and outcomes warrants additional research because it may help to identify potential areas for cost-saving interventions without compromising patient outcomes. Cancer 2016. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

BACKGROUND As the population ages, the prevalence of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) will increase, and many patients with MDS will require end-of-life (EOL) care. Little is known about the intensity of EOL care received by patients with these malignancies. METHODS Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare database and standard EOL quality measures, we assessed the prevalence and predictors of intensive care unit (ICU) admission in the last 30 days of life, chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life, and hospice enrollment among MDS patients who were 65 years old or older and died between 2006 and 2011. RESULTS Of 6,955 patients, 28% were admitted to the ICU and 7% received chemotherapy near the EOL, while 49% enrolled in hospice. In multivariable models, patients dependent on red blood cell or platelet transfusions at the EOL were less likely to enroll in hospice (odds ratio [OR], 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-0.78). Nonwhite patients were less likely to enroll in hospice (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.67-0.89) and more likely to be admitted to the ICU near the EOL (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.03-1.38). Finally, the prevalence of hospice enrollment increased in later years (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS The intensity of EOL care for patients with MDS varies but is potentially suboptimal with respect to the traditional measure of hospice use. The lower odds of enrollment for transfusion-dependent patients suggest that the current hospice model, which largely disallows transfusions, may not be meeting the palliative needs of this population. Cancer 2016. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

e19057 Background: Approval of MM therapies including immunomodulatory agents (IMiDs), and proteasome inhibitors (PIs), coupled with increasing evidence supporting PI-IMiD combinations, maintenance (MT), and autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) among fit patients, have expanded options, complexity and duration of active therapy. Prior research reported race disparities in initial therapy receipt and survival differences based on provider characteristics. It is unknown whether these effects extend to longer-term management. Methods: We selected adults with MM diagnosis (dx) between 07/07-12/15 from the SEER-Medicare linked database. We required continuous Medicare Parts A, B, and D enrollment and no HMO/PPO coverage from 12 months prior to dx through death or end of study (12/16) and MM therapy initiation w/in 12 months post dx. Outcomes including line of therapy (LOT) 1 PI-IMiD combination, LOT1 length, ASCT, MT, any LOT2, and any LOT4, were constructed using claims indicators for oral and IV drugs and receipt dates. Initial provider setting was assigned as academic &/or NCI cancer center, non-teaching hospital, or community (non-hospital) based on 1st oncologist E & M visit w/in 2 months pre- or post-MM dx. We also examined race (white, black, other), Hispanic ethnicity, Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS) receipt and linked area poverty rate. Multivariable logistic and Cox proportional hazard regressions controlled for demographics, health status, and diagnosis year. Results: The cohort (n = 5678) was 51% male, 14% Black, and 51% age ≥75 years. Initial care setting was 50% academic/NCI, 32% non-teaching hospital, and 19% community; 22%, 53%, and 19% received LOT1 PI-IMiD, LOT 2, and LOT 4, respectively. Median LOT1 length was 165 days. Relative to academic/NCI, community care was associated with lower adjusted odds of all outcomes (e.g. LOT2, aOR: .56, 95% confidence interval (CI) .48 -.65, p < .001; LOT4, aOR: .74, 95% CI .58-.95, p = .02) except LOT1 PI-IMiD. Care at non-teaching hospitals was associated with reduced odds of LOT2. Part D LIS was associated with lower odds of LOT1 PI-IMiD, while increasing % poverty was associated with lower odds of LOT1 PI-IMiD combinations, LOT1 ASCT, LOT2 and LOT4. No associations were observed with race or ethnicity and any outcome. Conclusions: In Medicare insured adults treated for MM, initial care in a community setting was associated with shorter and less complex therapy. Socioeconomic status (Part D LIS, area poverty rates), but not race or ethnicity, was a consistent predictor of MM treatment.

Purpose: After failure of hypomethylating agents (HMA), patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have dismal survival and no approved treatment options. Patients and Methods: We conducted a phase 1b investigator-initiated trial of ipilimumab in patients with higher risk MDS who have failed HMAs. Patients received monotherapy at two dose levels (DL; 3 and 10 mg/kg) with an induction followed by a maintenance phase. Toxicities and responses were evaluated with CTCAE.4 and IWG-2006 criteria, respectively. We also performed immunologic assays and T-cell receptor sequencing on serial samples. Results: Twenty-nine patients from 7 centers were enrolled. In the initial DL1 (3 mg), 3 of 6 patients experienced grade 2–4 immune-related adverse events (IRAE) that were reversible with drug discontinuation and/or systemic steroids. In DL2, 4 of 5 patients experienced grade 2 or higher IRAE; thus, DL1 (3 mg/kg) was expanded with no grade 2–4 IRAEs reported in 18 additional patients. Best responses included marrow complete response (mCR) in one patient (3.4%). Prolonged stable disease (PSD) for ≥46 weeks occurred in 7 patients (24% of entire cohort and 29% of those treated with 3 mg/kg dose), including 3 patients with more than a year of SD. Five patients underwent allografting without excessive toxicity. Median survival for the group was 294 days (95% CI, 240–671+). Patients who achieved PSD or mCR had significantly higher frequency of T cells expressing ICOS (inducible T-cell co-stimulator). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that ipilimumab dosed at 3 mg/kg in patients with MDS after HMA failure is safe but has limited efficacy as a monotherapy. Increased frequency of ICOS-expressing T cells might predict clinical benefit. Clin Cancer Res; 24(15); 3519–27. ©2018 AACR.