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Rationale: Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), derived from precursors of plasmacytoid dendritic cells, is a rare and aggressive malignancy with frequent cutaneous involvement. Although cutaneous lesions are often chemosensitive, BPDCN portends a poor prognosis as most patients relapse after developing drug resistance. Patient concerns: We report a case of a 65-year-old man who presented with a rapidly enlarging hyperpigmented plaque on his shoulder with subsequent similarly appearing macules and plaques on his chest, back, and neck. Diagnosis: Skin biopsy revealed a dense adnexocentric dermal infiltrate of immature blastoid cells without epidermal involvement. The infiltrate was immunoreactive for CD4, CD56, CD123, and Bcl-2, but negative for CD3, CD8, CD30, MPO, EBER, and ISH. The patient was diagnosed with BPDCN based on these cell markers. Intervention: Bone marrow biopsy and radiologic work-up showed no evidence of extracutaneous involvement. The patient attained partial remission after undergoing 2 rounds of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP regimen) before autologous stem cell transplantation, however, he quickly relapsed and developed new cutaneous lesions. Outcomes: The patient was treated with venetoclax, a Bcl-2 inhibitor, and exhibits complete resolution of prior skin findings and continues to remain free of new cutaneous lesions 10 months posttreatment initiation with venetoclax. Lessons: Herein, we present a case that supports the use of venetoclax, a Bcl-2 inhibitor, in the off-label treatment of BPDCN with Bcl-2 overexpression. Only 1 prior case has reported the off-label use of venetoclax for the treatment of BPDCN. This case highlights a novel therapeutic option for BPDCN patients unresponsive to traditional treatment.

Murine studies using anti-T-cell antibodies for conditioning in allogeneic SCT demonstrate engraftment with low rates of GVHD. On the basis of this preclinical model, we conditioned 30 patients with advanced hematologic malignancies with rabbit antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and TBI, to reduce rates of fatal acute GVHD. Patients were enrolled in two sequential groups: cohort 1 received ATG 10 mg/kg in divided doses (days -4 to -1)+200 cGy TBI (n=16), and cohort 2 received ATG (days -10 to -7)+450 cGy TBI (n=14). Median donor blood chimerism for the combined group was 94, 93 and 93% in the first, second and third months after transplant. Only three developed grade II acute GVHD despite 43% of patients receiving unrelated donor transplants. One-year survival was 71+/-11 and 54+/-14%, respectively, in recipients of related and unrelated donor SCT. Donor lymphocyte infusions were needed in 12 patients for the management of relapse and for mixed donor-recipient chimerism in 4 patients. We conclude that 10 mg/kg ATG and TBI allows engraftment with a low risk of acute GVHD; however, further dose optimization of ATG is required to achieve a balance between GVHD and disease relapse.

We present response and survival outcomes of a pivotal phase 2 trial of the antibody-drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin in patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma following autologous stem cell transplant (N = 102) after a median observation period of approximately 3 years. Median overall survival and progression-free survival were estimated at 40.5 months and 9.3 months, respectively. Improved outcomes were observed in patients who achieved a complete remission (CR) on brentuximab vedotin, with estimated 3-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates of 73% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 57%, 88%) and 58% (95% CI: 41%, 76%), respectively, in this group (medians not reached). Of the 34 patients who obtained CR, 16 (47%) remain progression-free after a median of 53.3 months (range, 29.0 to 56.2 months) of observation; 12 patients remain progression-free without a consolidative allogeneic stem cell transplant. Younger age, good performance status, and lower disease burden at baseline were characteristic of patients who achieved a CR and were favorable prognostic factors for overall survival. These results suggest that a significant proportion of patients who respond to brentuximab vedotin can achieve prolonged disease control. The trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00848926.

A closed intraarticular fracture is a complex injury that consists of a physical disruption of the subchondral bone and articular surface, and an impaction injury to the articular surface that occurs at the time of the fracture. Few experimental models have been able to incorporate the elements of displaced articular fractures and blunt impaction injury to the articular surface. This work details the initial stages of an attempt to develop such model. Using a model of a dorsal wall fracture of the acetabulum in a goat, we have developed a bench-top method for assessing articular contact stress. Additionally, preliminary in vivo survival data are presented.

Purpose: To compare pregnancy, implantation, and multiple gestation rates resulting from day 3 and day 5 embryo transfers after in vitro fertilization emphasizing a subset of patients who met criteria for day 5 transfer but elected to undergo day 3 transfer.

7558 Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is the only potential curative treatment option for patients with MCL due to its potent graft-versus-lymphoma (GVL) effect. Survival following allo-SCT for MCL is variable due to high rates of non-relapse mortality (NRM). Methods: We retrospectively identified all patients who were treated with an allo-SCT for MCL at Loyola University Medical Center between January 1, 1999 and January 1, 2016. Probability estimates for overall survival (OS) and non-relapse mortality (NRM) at 5 years were calculated from the date of allo-SCT to the date of patient death or last known follow-up. Significance was determined using a cox proportional hazard (CPH) model. Rates of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and relapse were also reported. Results: Patient characteristics (n = 29) are listed in Table. Median follow-up in surviving patients is 10 years (range 5-14 years). A majority of patients (n = 23, 79%) had 3 or more lines of treatment prior to allo-SCT. The 5 year rates of OS and NRM for all patients are 42% and 53%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed a lower risk of death in patients who received TBI-based conditioning (HR: 0.19, 95 CI: 0.04 – 0.81, p = 0.03), and those who had HLA-matched related donor (MRD) transplants (HR: 0.29, 95 CI: 0.11 – 0.79, p = 0.02). Patients who received more than 3 lines of prior treatment had a higher risk of death (HR: 2.77, 95% CI: 1.05-7.34, p = 0.04). Low rates of grade III/IV aGVHD (n = 4) and relapse (n = 4) occurred in our patient population. Two patient deaths were attributable to aGVHD, and the majority of other deaths were due to treatment-related toxicities. Conclusions: In an era of numerous effective non-curative salvage therapies, the optimal timing of allo-SCT for MCL needs further clarification. Our data supports early opposed to delayed allo-SCT for select high-risk patients with MCL who have a MRD. [Table: see text]

10046 Background: The SIPAT is used to assess psychosocial risk in solid organ transplants but data in HSCT is lacking. We examined if pre-HSCT SIPAT scores predict mortality, morbidity, length of stay (LOS) and number of hospitalizations over a 1 year period. Methods: 89 adult HSCT (59% autologous, 38% allogeneic) pts from an academic medical center underwent the SIPAT pre-HSCT. Additional data were obtained on Day 0, and 3-, 6-, and 12-months. Univariable Cox proportional hazards models assessed the instantaneous risk of mortality at any given time after Day 0 as a function of baseline pt characteristics and the SIPAT score. Results: TheSIPAT categorized 28%, 66% and 5.7% respectively of the pts as excellent (E), good (G), and high risk (HR) candidates. One year post HSCT, 76% of E, 72% of G, and 40% of HR candidates were alive. Higher SIPAT scores were a significant predictor of mortality. Compared to E candidates, the HR candidates were 5.94 (95% CI: 1.31-26.81) times more likely to die any time after Day 0 – even after controlling for pts’ comorbidity index ( p = .02). Similarly, compared to G candidates, HR pts were 4.81 (95% CI: 1.33-17.47) times more likely to die even after controlling for pts’ comorbidity index ( p = .01). There was no difference between the G and E candidates on univariable ( p = .75) or multivariable analysis controlling for comorbidity index score ( p = .72). For every 1 point increase in pts’ adherence score, the risk of death was expected to decline by approximately 14% ( HR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.78 – 0.96; p = .01). SIPAT items that predicted mortality were depression ( p = .02), deceptive behavior ( p < .001) and moderate alcohol abuse ( p < .001). In linear regression analysis, higher SIPAT score was associated with longer LOS ( p = .04) but not infection ( p = .23), GVHD ( p = .40), or number of hospitalizations ( p = .73). Because there were only 18 mortality events, multivariable analyses were limited. Future research will examine the effect of SIPAT on time to death controlling for other pt comorbidities. Conclusions: We found the SIPAT was able to predict mortality and LOS in HSCT pts. This finding if validated in a multi-center manner could be an important tool for HSCT pt selection.

Patients with double-hit lymphoma (DHL), which is characterized by rearrangements of MYC and either BCL2 or BCL6, face poor prognoses. We conducted a retrospective multicenter study of the impact of baseline clinical factors, induction therapy, and stem cell transplant (SCT) on the outcomes of 311 patients with previously untreated DHL. At median follow-up of 23 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates among all patients were 10.9 and 21.9 months, respectively. Forty percent of patients remain disease-free and 49% remain alive at 2 years. Intensive induction was associated with improved PFS, but not OS, and SCT was not associated with improved OS among patients achieving first complete remission (P = .14). By multivariate analysis, advanced stage, central nervous system involvement, leukocytosis, and LDH >3 times the upper limit of normal were associated with higher risk of death. Correcting for these, intensive induction was associated with improved OS. We developed a novel risk score for DHL, which divides patients into high-, intermediate-, and low-risk groups. In conclusion, a subset of DHL patients may be cured, and some patients may benefit from intensive induction. Further investigations into the roles of SCT and novel agents are needed.

Many patients with CD30-positive lymphomas such as Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) or systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) respond favorably to frontline chemotherapy [1,2]. However, approximately...

Purpose: The clinical relevance of targeting the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, activated in 70% to 80% of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), is unknown. Experimental Design: Selumetinib is an oral small-molecule inhibitor of MAP–ERK kinase (MEK)-1/2. Forty-seven patients with relapsed/refractory AML or 60 years old or more with untreated AML were enrolled on a phase II study. Patients were stratified by FLT3 ITD mutation status. The primary endpoint was response rate (complete, partial, and minor). Leukemia cells were analyzed for extracellular signal—regulated kinase (ERK) and mTOR phosphorylation. Results: Common drug-related toxicities were grade 1–2 diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and skin rash. In the FLT3 wild-type cohort, six of 36 (17%) patients had a response [one partial response, three minor responses, two unconfirmed minor responses (uMR)]. No patient with FLT3 ITD responded. NRAS and KRAS mutations were detected in 7% and 2% of patients, respectively. The sole patient with KRAS mutation had uMR with hematologic improvement in platelets. Baseline p-ERK activation was observed in 85% of patients analyzed but did not correlate with a response. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3733542 in exon 18 of the KIT gene was detected in significantly higher number of patients with response/stable disease compared with nonresponders (60% vs. 23%; P = 0.027). Conclusions: Selumetinib is associated with modest single-agent antileukemic activity in advanced AML. However, given its favorable toxicity profile, combination with drugs that target other signaling pathways in AML should be considered. The potential association of SNP rs3733542 in exon 18 of the KIT gene with antileukemic activity of selumetinib is intriguing, but will require validation in larger trials. Clin Cancer Res; 20(2); 490–8. ©2013 AACR.

Background Post-remission therapies for patients with AML such as high-dose cytarabine (HiDAC) and allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT) have led to improved outcomes for younger patients, but disease recurrence remains prevalent with ~40% 5-year OS. CD33 is a cell surface receptor expressed in ~90% of AML, representing a promising target for therapy. Vadastuximab talirine (33A) is a CD33-directed antibody conjugated to 2 molecules of a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer. Methods This phase 1b dose-escalation study (NCT02326584) evaluates the safety and anti-leukemic activity of 33A in combination with consolidation therapy (HiDAC) or as a single agent for maintenance therapy. AML patients (ECOG status 0-1) must be in 1st remission (CR or CRi) after standard induction therapy and be able to receive HiDAC (consolidation cohort) or be in 1st remission and have completed planned post-remission therapies, either chemotherapy and/or alloSCT (maintenance cohort). For maintenance post-alloSCT, patients were between Day 60 and 100 post-transplant without significant GVHD. Prior to HiDAC administration (3 gm/m2 q12h Day 1, 3, 5), 33A is given on Day 1 for up to 4 cycles (28-day cycle). For maintenance therapy, 33A is given as a single agent on Day 1 for up to 8 cycles (6-wk cycle). Results Consolidation cohort: 21 patients (57% male) with a median age of 52 years (range, 21-64) were treated with 5, 10, or 20 mcg/kg of 33A with HiDAC. Patients received a median of 2 cycles (range, 1-4). As anticipated, all patients experienced Grade 4 myelosuppression. At 20 mcg/kg, 1 DLT (lack of recovery of platelets [25K] and/or ANC [500] by Day 42) occurred in Cycle 1. At 10 mcg/kg, no DLTs were observed but delay of subsequent cycles of treatment occurred in 4 of 10 patients, primarily due to thrombocytopenia. No DLTs were observed in the 8 patients treated at 5 mcg/kg and 1 non-hematologic-related dose delay was reported (otitis externa). Non-hematologic treatment-emergent adverse events (AE) in ≥25% of patients regardless of relationship included nausea (38%) and fatigue (33%). No infusion-related reactions (IRRs) or events of veno-occlusive disease were reported. The 30- and 60-day mortality rates were 0%. Of the 19 efficacy evaluable patients, 15 (79%) have maintained remission, 18 patients are alive and 3 patients (14%) remain on treatment. Reasons for treatment discontinuation were completion of planned consolidation therapy (38%), AE (thrombocytopenia, 14%), leukemic relapse (5%), and other non-AE (29%). Nine patients (43%) went on to receive an alloSCT. Maintenance cohort: 22 patients (41% male) with a median age of 45.5 years (range, 23-71) have been treated with 5 mcg/kg of 33A. Patients were a median of 6.2 months from diagnosis (range, 3.4-21.5); 12 patients completed chemotherapy-based treatment alone and 10 patients completed standard chemotherapy with an alloSCT in 1st remission. Patients received a median of 3 cycles (range, 1-6); no DLTs were reported. AEs reported in ≥15% of patients were fatigue (41%), neutropenia (41% [36% ≥G3]), nausea (36%), thrombocytopenia (36% [27% ≥G3]), diarrhea, dyspnea, headache, and vomiting (18% each); no IRRs were observed. Of the 20 efficacy evaluable patients, 15 (75%) have maintained remission. Reasons for treatment discontinuation were AEs (41%, primarily myelosuppression), leukemic relapse (14%), completion of planned therapy (9%), and other non-AE reasons (19%); 4 patients (18%) remain on treatment. Median OS is not yet reached and 19 patients are alive. Pharmacokinetic data in patients receiving post-remission therapy with 33A demonstrate that exposure appears to be greater than in patients with active disease, possibly due to a decrease in target-mediated disposition. Conclusions 33A can be safely administered in combination with HiDAC and as monotherapy in the post-remission setting. In combination with HiDAC, non-hematologic toxicities of 33A were consistent with effects reported with HiDAC alone. As a single agent, 33A administered as maintenance post-chemotherapy and/or alloSCT results in predictable on-target myelosuppression, with mild non-hematologic adverse effects. Disclosures Yang: Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Ravandi:Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding. Advani:Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Walter:Emergent Biosolutions: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; CSL Behring: Research Funding; Celator Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; Amphivena Therapeutics, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy; Covagen AG: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Arog: Research Funding. Faderl:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Celator Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Ambit Bioscience: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; JW Pharma: Consultancy; Amgen: Speakers Bureau. Stein:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Stemline Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Argios: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Erba:Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Juno: Research Funding; Jannsen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ariad: Consultancy; Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, DSMB, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gylcomimetics: Other: DSMB; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Sunesis: Consultancy; Celator: Research Funding. Fathi:Agios Pharmaceuticals: Other: Advisory Board participation; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Other: Advisory Board participation, Research Funding; Merck: Other: Advisory Board participation; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bexalata: Other: Advisory Board participation. Levy:Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Jansen: Speakers Bureau; Millennium: Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Wood:Pfizer: Honoraria, Other: Laboratory Services Agreement; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Laboratory Services Agreement; Juno: Other: Laboratory Services Agreement; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria, Other: Laboratory Services Agreement. Feldman:Seattle Genetics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Voellinger:Seattle Genetics: Employment, Equity Ownership.

Background: In follicular lymphoma (FL) patients treated with first-line R-CHOP, early progression of disease (POD) within 2 years after diagnosis is associated with high risk for death (hazard ratio 6.4) and a 50% 5-year overall survival (Casulo et al. JCO 2015). Whether these observations hold for patients treated without chemotherapy is unknown. The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology conducted three frontline rituximab-based non-chemotherapy-containing biologic immunotherapy doublet clinical trials: R-Galiximab (Anti-CD80, CALGB 50402), R-Epratuzumab (Anti-CD22, CALGB 50701) and R-Lenalidomide (CALGB 50803). We performed a retrospective analysis of 174 patients to determine outcomes of early progressors after initial biologic, non-cytotoxic treatment and risk factors for early POD. Methods: CALGB 50402 (n=60), CALGB 50701 (n=57), and CALGB 50803 (n=57) had similar eligibility criteria: previously untreated follicular lymphoma, grade 1, 2 or 3a with stage III, IV or bulky (single mass >7 cm) stage II disease, and ECOG PS 0 to 2. Early POD was defined as progression within 24 months from study entry. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression modeling using forward selection was performed to identify predictors of early POD. Kaplan-Meier (KM) method was used to estimate 2-year and 5-year overall survival probability. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CI were calculated using a univariate and multivariate Cox regression model adjusting for FLIPI. Results: Twenty-seven percent (48/174) of patients had early POD. Median survival follow-up time from study entry was 5.5 years (2.1 to 10.1 years) and median time from diagnosis to enrollment was 2 months (0.2 to 115 months). Median age was 54 (range: 22-90), 49% were male and 24% had low-, 52% intermediate- and 24% high-risk FLIPI (Table 1). Early POD from study entry conferred a worse OS [HR=4.86 (95% CI 1.90-12.4), p < 0.001]. After adjusting for FLIPI, patients with early POD from study entry had a worse OS compared with patients who did not progress within 2 years [HR=4.77 (95% CI 1.70-13.4), p=0.003]. For early POD, the 2-year survival probability was 89% (76-95%) vs. 100% for non-early POD, and the 5-year survival was 76% (60-86%) vs. 99% (95-99%), respectively (Figure 1). When the 2-year early POD interval was taken from time of diagnosis, similar findings were noted (n=171, HR for OS 5.27 (95% CI 1.98-14.0), p 0.0009) [Table 2]. Univariate analysis revealed age >60 (p=0.019), male sex (p=0.002), higher FLIPI (p4 (p=0.010), elevated LDH (p=0.004), nodal size >7 cm (p=0.002), albumin Conclusions: Early relapse within 2 years after diagnosis in patients receiving front-line rituximab-based biologic non-cytotoxic therapy is associated with an increased risk of death. These data are similar to previous findings in patients treated with R-CHOP from the National LymphoCare study, suggesting that the adverse survival of patients with early POD may be independent of systemic treatment modality. Novel clinicopathological approaches are needed at diagnosis to identify patients who are likely to have unfavorable outcomes, and for whom biologic doublets are efficacious. Support: U10CA180821, U10CA180882.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00117975 (CALGB 50402), NCT00553501 (CALGB 50701), and NCT01145495 (CALGB 50803) Disclosures Lansigan: Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Teva: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Spectrum: Consultancy, Research Funding. Cheson:Gilead: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Acerta: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Czuczman:Celgene: Employment. Martin:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses; Teva: Research Funding; Acerta: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses. Hsi:Eli Lilly: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Cellerant Therapeutics: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria; HTG molecular diagnostics: Honoraria. Bartlett:Gilead: Consultancy.

Background For patients who are less than 65 years with newly diagnosed AML, standard induction treatment is continuous infusion cytarabine for 7 days and an anthracycline for 3 days (7+3). Although a high percentage of patients achieve an initial CR by morphologic criteria, some requiring a 2nd induction, a significant number of patients are either primarily resistant to treatment or achieve a morphologic CR but with flow cytometric or molecular evidence of minimal residual disease (MRD). CD33, a cell surface antigen, is expressed in approximately 90% of AML, representing a promising target of therapy regardless of genetic or mutational heterogeneity. Vadastuximab talirine (33A) is a CD33-directed antibody conjugated to 2 molecules of a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer. Upon binding, 33A is internalized and transported to the lysosomes where PBD dimer is released via proteolytic cleavage of the linker, crosslinking DNA, and leading to cell death. Addition of 33A to 7+3 chemotherapy could result in enhanced and deeper (MRD negative) remissions, resulting in reduced relapse rates and improved overall survival. Methods This phase 1b study (NCT02326584) evaluated the safety and antileukemic activity of escalating doses of 33A in combination with 7+3 induction therapy (cytarabine 100 mg/m2 and daunorubicin 60 mg/m2). AML patients (ECOG status 0-1) must be eligible to receive induction therapy. 33A is given on Days 1 and 4 concomitantly with the combination treatment. Response assessments occur on Days 15 and 28; investigator assessment of response is per IWG criteria (Cheson 2003). A 2nd induction regimen and post-remission therapies were per investigator choice and did not include additional administration of 33A. MRD was assessed centrally by bone marrow examination using a multi-parametric flow cytometric assay at Days 15 and Day 28. Results To date, 42 patients (36% male) with a median age of 45.5 years (range, 18-65) have been treated with 10+10 (n=4) and 20+10 (n=38) mcg/kg of 33A. Most patients had intermediate (40%) or adverse (43%) cytogenetic risk by MRC criteria and 17% of patients had secondary AML. As expected, all patients experienced Grade 4 myelosuppression. In patients who achieved CR or CRi, the estimated median time to count recovery from Day 1 of therapy was 33 days for neutrophils (≥1K) and 35 days for platelets (≥100K). Three DLTs (lack of recovery of platelets [25K] and/or ANC [500] by Day 42) occurred at the 20+10 mcg/kg dose level, which was determined to be the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of 33A in combination with 7+3. No non-hematologic treatment emergent adverse events (AEs) ≥Grade 3 were reported in >15% of patients; Grade 1 or 2 non-hematologic AEs occurring in >15% of patients were nausea (55%), diarrhea (33%), constipation (31%), decreased appetite (19%), fatigue (19%), and vomiting (17%); no infusion-related reactions occurred. No veno-occlusive disease (VOD) or significant hepatotoxicity was observed. The 30- and 60-day mortality rates were 0% and 7%, respectively. Of the 40 efficacy evaluable patients, best responses include 24 CR (60%), 7 CRi (18%), and 4 morphologic leukemia-free state (10%) with a CR+CRi (CRc) rate of 78%; 94% of CR or CRi responses occurred with 1 cycle of induction therapy. Twenty-three of 31 (74%) patients attaining CR or CRi achieved MRD negative status. Median OS is not yet reached; 36 patients were alive at the time of this data cut with 6 patients (14%) still on treatment. Pharmacokinetic data demonstrate rapid elimination of 33A. Conclusions 33A can be safely combined with 7+3 with acceptable count recovery and the recommended phase 2 dose is 20+10 mcg/kg on Days 1 and 4. An alternate schedule of single-day dosing on Day 1 is under investigation and enrollment continues. Extramedullary AEs, including hepatic toxicity, and induction mortality rates were similar to reported rates for 7+3 alone in this AML population. A high remission rate within the 1st induction cycle was observed, the majority of which were MRD negative. Disclosures Erba: Sunesis: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Ariad: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, DSMB, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy; Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding; Celator: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Jannsen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gylcomimetics: Other: DSMB; Agios: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Juno: Research Funding. Levy:Millennium: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Jansen: Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Stein:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Stemline Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Argios: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Fathi:Agios Pharmaceuticals: Other: Advisory Board participation; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Merck: Other: Advisory Board participation; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Other: Advisory Board participation, Research Funding; Bexalata: Other: Advisory Board participation. Advani:Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Faderl:JW Pharma: Consultancy; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ambit Bioscience: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Celator Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding. Smith:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Wood:Juno: Other: Laboratory Services Agreement; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria, Other: Laboratory Services Agreement; Pfizer: Honoraria, Other: Laboratory Services Agreement; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Laboratory Services Agreement. Walter:Covagen AG: Consultancy; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy; Amphivena Therapeutics, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; Abbvie: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Celator Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; CSL Behring: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Emergent Biosolutions: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Arog: Research Funding. Yang:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Feldman:Seattle Genetics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Voellinger:Seattle Genetics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Ravandi:Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding.

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is comprised of multiple diseases with different outcomes, cell of origin and molecular pathogenesis. DLBCL derived from germinal center B-cells (GCB) and activated B-cells (ABC) constitutes over 80% of DLBCL. A small number of DLBCL tumors harbor MYC translocations, which are associated with a poorer prognosis. Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBL) occurs in younger patients and is typically treated with intensive or combined modality therapy. R-CHOP is the standard of care for DLBCL but has not been prospectively studied within DLBCL molecular subtypes. DA-EPOCH-R is an alternative and more dose-intensive regimen that showed a PFS of 81% at 4-years in a phase II multicenter CALGB study (Haematologica 2012; 97:758). CALGB/Alliance undertook a phase III randomized study to compare R-CHOP and DA-EPOCH-R in DLBCL and specifically within the GCB and ABC subtypes. Methods: Patients had stage II or higher newly diagnosed DLBCL, age ≥ 18 years and were HIV negative. Subjects were randomized 1:1 to receive R-CHOP or DA-EPOCH-R as previously published. Central nervous system prophylaxis in at-risk patients was 12 mg intrathecal methotrexate in cycles 3-6 (4 doses total). All subjects with accessible tumor were required to have a biopsy or waiver. Subjects received a total of 6 treatment cycles. The primary study endpoints were EFS of R-CHOP (Arm A) versus DA-EPOCH-R (Arm B) and to develop a molecular predictor of outcome based on GCB and ABC DLBCL. Additional analyses include toxicity, pharmacogenomics and analysis of tumor genetics by next generation sequencing, and. Results: 524 patients registered (262 on each arm) between May 2005 and May 2013. Efficacy analysis includes R-CHOP (n=233) and R-EPOCH (n=231) assigned patients with confirmed eligibility who received any treatment. Characteristics of patients registered to Arm A and B did not differ with median age (58; 56), male sex (53.2%; 53.7%), high-intermediate/high IPI (33.6%; 38.2%) and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma histology (6.9%; 5.2%). Therapy was completed per protocol in 89% and 83%, respectively, for Arm A and B, and disease progression on therapy was 2.6% and 1.7%. Adverse side effects leading to treatment discontinuation were 1.7% and 5.6%, respectively, for Arm A and B. Arm B compared to Arm A was associated with more grade 4 neutropenia (90%; 56%), grade 4 thrombocytopenia (35%; 6%), grade 3/4 febrile neutropenia (37%; 19%) and grade 3 neuropathy (motor: 8%;1% and sensory: 15%; 3%). Grade 5 events on study were the same in both arms. Preliminary analysis of EFS in confirmed eligible subjects shows no difference between Arm A and B with hazard ratio of 1.02 and p=0.89 at a median follow-up of 4.9 years. Overall survival is also similar with hazard ratio of 1.19 and p=0.40 at median 5.0 years. Additional analyses of EFS and OS by age (=60) and by GCB versus ABC DLBCL are in process. Conclusions: There was no difference in EFS or OS between R-CHOP and DA-EPOCH-R when considering all patients. DA-EPOCH-R showed increased toxicity consistent with higher dose-intensity but not increased grade 5 toxicity. Compared to R-CHOP, more patients on DA-EPOCH-R did not complete treatment, which may reflect patterns of care or toxicity. Due to the clinical and genetic diversity of DLBCL, subset analyses are necessary to determine the effect of CNS relapse, GCB and ABC subtypes, age and IPI on outcomes of the two arms. These data do not address the efficacy of these regimens in PMBL or MYC+ DLBCL due to their low frequency, and where more dose-intense regimens appear to be important. Full molecular analyses are ongoing. Support: U10CA180821, U10CA180882, U10CA180888, CA180799, CA180820, CA180833, CA21076, CA21115.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00118209. Disclosures Hsi: Cellerant Therapeutics: Honoraria, Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; HTG Molecular Diagnostics: Consultancy, Honoraria. Friedberg:Bayer: Honoraria, Other: Data Safety Monitoring Board. Cheson:Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Acerta: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding. Bartlett:Gilead: Consultancy. Kahl:This study was coordinated by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (Robert L. Comis, MD and Mitchell D. Schnall, MD, PhD, Group Co-Chairs) and supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under the following award number: Research Funding. Zelenetz:Gilead Sciences: Research Funding.

Introduction: Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a leading cause of transplant related mortality following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). The most widely used aGVHD prophylaxis regimen is a combination of a calcineurin inhibitor and a short course of methotrexate. Results of studies on the optimal blood levels of the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus to prevent aGVHD are mixed, with some showing no correlation and others indicating that trough levels between 7-15 ng/mL required to adequately prevent aGVHD. Currently, the established target trough level for this agent is 10 to 20 ng/mL. We retrospectively evaluated the relationship between tacrolimus blood concentration and the incidence of grade II-IV aGVHD in a large cohort of adult patients following allogeneic HCT from either an HLA-matched related or matched unrelated donors. Methods: We evaluated all related/unrelated allografts between January 2004 and December 2012 at the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center at Loyola University. Inclusion criteria included age 18 years or older, first allogeneic HCT for a hematological malignancy, and use of tacrolimus and short term methotrexate for aGVHD prophylaxis. Donors included human leukocyte antigen (HLA) identical sibling (Allo-Sib) or unrelated donors (MUD) either fully matched or 1 antigen mismatched (10%). Both myeloablative and non-myeloablative conditioning regimens were included. Disease risk was defined by the ASBMT classification and Co-Morbidity Index by Sorror et al (HCT-CI). Infusional tacrolimus was initiated on day -2 of HCT at dose of 0.03 mg/kg/d and AM trough blood concentrations measured every other day during the entire hospital stay with the goal of maintaining a level of 10-15 ng/ml and then twice weekly after discharge. Dose adjustments or withholds were based primary on serum creatinine and trough levels per a set protocol that withholds for levels greater than 20 ng/ml or creatinine greater than 2.0 mg/dl. Acute GVHD was graded based on the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry System. Univariate and multivariate analyses exploring all risk factors for aGVHD were performed. Results: A total of 428 patients met the inclusion criteria. Median age was 48.5 years with a male predominance (60.6%). HCT-CI was evenly distributed with 121 (28.2%) low risk, 151 (35.3%) intermediate risk, and 156 (36.4%) high risk. Per ASBMT disease risk classification, more patients had high disease risk (n=211, 49.3%); 64 (15%) with intermediate risk, and 153 (35.7%) with low risk. Acute GVHD II-IV developed in 186 (43%) patients in this largely myeloablative patient population (89%), with donor source split nearly evenly between MUD (45%) and Allo-sib (55%). An extensive univariate analysis for the factors associated with the development of aGVHD was developed (Table 1). The strongest predictor of aGVHD was a level of tacrolimus < 5 ng/ml in weeks 3 and 4 after transplant: of those with no aGVHD only 16.9% had a level < 5 ng/ml during these weeks vs 27.4% with aGVHD (p = .009). Other tacrolimus trough cut points, i.e. 10 ng/ml, 2.5 ng/ml and the mean (13.4 ng/ml in each group) were not associated with a higher rate of aGVHD. In the univariate analysis, AML and allo-sib grafts were noted to be associated with lower risk of aGVHD. In multivariate analysis (Table 2), tacrolimus levels less than 5 ng/ml in weeks 3 or 4 was found to be the most statistically significant factor in predicting aGVHD incidence (Odds ratio 82 95% CI 1.13-2.94; p = .01); other significant factors include HCT-CI (p = .02) and graft source (p = .04). Conclusion: In one of the largest retrospective studies examining the correlation of early tacrolimus blood concentrations and acute GHVD incidence, we show that trough tacrolimus levels less than 5 ng/ml in weeks 3-4 following Allo-Sib or MUD HCT is a strong predictor for an increased risk of aGVHD. We affirm that higher HCT-CI and donor source are risk factors for aGVHD after allografts. This not only helps define more accurately the lower limits of acceptable tacrolimus levels, but appears to emphasize the importance for close monitoring and dose adjustment of these levels at a time when patients are typically discharged to the outpatient setting. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Background: Potent inhibitors of BCR-ABL1have improved remission results and altered post-remission therapy for Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Dasatinib plus dexamethasone followed by hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) promises high response rates, reduced toxicity, and durable remissions. Methods: We conducted a Phase II trial at 17 U.S. centers with the primary objective being to estimate the 3-year overall survival and disease-free survival of patients with Ph+ ALL treated with dasatinib and dexamethasone for remission induction and intensification, central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis, consolidation with reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) allogeneic HCT, autologous HCT, or etoposide and cytarabine, and dasatinib-based maintenance. Eligible patients had untreated Ph+ ALL, were ≥18 years old, and had normal cardiac function. Induction (Course I) used dasatinib 140 mg oral daily and dexamethasone 10 mg/m2/day oral or intravenous (IV) days 1-7. For patients with ≤20% blasts in the Course I, Day 15 bone marrow biopsy, intensification (course II) continued daily dasatinib with another 7 days of dexamethasone. Those with >20% lymphoblasts also received vincristine (VCR) and daunorubicin (DNR). Patients (n=3) not in CR/CRi after Course II received a second induction (Course III) with dasatinib, cyclophosphamide, VCR, DNR, and dexamethasone. After Course II or III, CNS prophylaxis (Course IV) consisted of IV VCR and IV, oral, and intrathecal methotrexate (MTX). Dasatinib was restarted at serum [MTX] 65 years, 5 mg/kg/day) continuous IV for 4 days and cytarabine 2 g/m2 (age >65 years, 1 g/m2) IV every 12 hours for 8 doses (EA) then G-CSF for mobilization. Autologous HCT conditioning used melphalan 100 mg/m2/day on days -2 and -1. Patients >70 years or unable to undergo HCT received EA alone. Dasatinib maintenance (Course VI) began on day 30 of Course V and continued for 12 months and until 2 consecutively negative bone marrow BCR-ABL1RT-PCR assays 3 months apart or until relapse. Dasatinib levels were measured on day 15 of induction. Results: Sixty-six patients enrolled from 12/15/2010 to 11/14/2014; 65 received dasatinib and are evaluable. Median age was 60 years (22-87); 49% were male. Median presenting WBC count was 23.1 x 103/ul (0.3-453.6). No deaths occurred during induction or intensification. CR or CRi occurred 31 patients (48%) by Day 15 of induction and in 62 patients overall (95%; CR 86%). Median dasatinib levels in serum and CSF on Day 15 of induction were 30.3 ng/mL ( Conclusions: Dasatinib with dexamethasone yields CR rates comparable to those reported with tyrosine kinase inhibitors combined with conventional chemotherapy. Post-remission therapy with reduced-intensity allogeneic HCT, autologous HCT, or chemotherapy followed by dasatinib maintenance is feasible. Survival follow up is maturing. Disclosures Stock: Sigma-Tau: Honoraria, Research Funding; Royalties for a chapter in Up to Date: Patents & Royalties; ADC Therapeutics: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Gilead Sciences: Honoraria. Beumer:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding. Stone:Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Sunesis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Celator: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy; Jansen: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; ONO: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Xenetic Biosciences: Consultancy. Larson:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy, Research Funding.

Introduction DLBCL is the most common lymphoid neoplasm in adults (Swerdlow 2016). While durable CRs are achieved in approximately 70% of patients (pts) with frontline RCHOP therapy (Pfreundschuh 2008), pts with high-risk features often experience disease resistance or relapse. In Part 1 of an ongoing study, pts with high-intermediate or high risk DLBCL by international prognostic index (IPI) scores, regardless of CD30 expression by IHC, were treated with 1.2 or 1.8 mg/kg brentuximab vedotin (BV) combined with RCHOP. After 3 of the first 10 pts treated at 1.8 mg/kg BV+RCHOP developed Grade 3 peripheral neuropathy (per Standardized MedDRA Query [SMQ]), all pts enrolled subsequently received treatment with 1.2 mg/kg BV+RCHOP. Following completion of enrollment in Part 1, the protocol was amended to enroll a non-randomized portion of the study (Part 2) evaluating the safety and efficacy of 1.8 mg/kg BV+RCHP (Yasenchak 2015), followed by an open-label, randomized portion comparing BV+RCHP to RCHOP (Part 3). Initial results from Part 2 and updated results from Part 1 are reported here. Methods For Part 2 of the study, pts with CD30-expressing high-intermediate and high-risk DLBCL were treated with up to 6 cycles of 1.8 mg/kg BV+RCHP (NCT01925612). Key inclusion criteria were CD30 expression by IHC performed by a local pathology lab and standard IPI scores of 3-5 or age-adjusted IPI (aaIPI) scores of 2-3 (high-intermediate/high risk). CD30 expression was confirmed by a central pathology lab, although CD30 expression by local pathology lab was required for eligibility. Disease response was evaluated with PET/CT per Cheson 2007. Results At the time of analysis for this ongoing study, 11 pts in Part 2 were treated with BV+RCHP (7 male, 4 female; 22-78 yrs). Of these pts, 9 had high-intermediate risk (IPI 3, aaIPI 2) and 2 had high risk disease (IPI 4-5, aaIPI 3), 6 had Stage IV disease, and 6 had an ECOG score of 2. At the end of treatment, the overall response rate was 91% (9 CR, 1 PR); 1 pt had PD after Cycle 4. The most frequent (>20%) treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) were alopecia and nausea (73% each); fatigue (64%); constipation and peripheral sensory neuropathy (55% each); neutropenia and throat irritation (36% each); and chills, diarrhea, headache, and stomatitis (27% each). Grade 3 or 4 AEs occurred in 8 pts and 5 pts had serious AEs, which included febrile neutropenia, bacteremia, nausea, pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, and vomiting. Peripheral sensory neuropathy occurred in 6 pts and all were Grade 1 or 2 events; no peripheral motor neuropathy AEs were reported. No AEs were fatal or led to discontinuation. One pt discontinued treatment after Cycle 4 due to disease progression. For the first 51 pts in Part 1, the progression-free survival (PFS) at 18 months for pts with CD30 expression (25 pts) or without detectable CD30 expression (24 pts) by IHC was 79% (95% CI: 57%, 91%) versus 58% (95% CI: 36%, 75%), respectively. Overall survival for pts was 92% (95% CI: 71%, 98%) versus 71% (95% CI: 48%, 85%), respectively. Ten pts had pre-existing peripheral neuropathy (per SMQ) at study entry. Treatment-emergent peripheral neuropathy (per SMQ) was observed in 75% of pts (38/51) who received BV+RCHOP; 55% of these pts (21/38) had resolution of all or some peripheral neuropathy events. Conclusions 1.8 mg/kg BV+RCHP is active as frontline treatment in CD30-expressing, high-intermediate/high risk DLBCL. When combined with RCHP, 1.8 mg/kg BV appears to be well-tolerated. The PFS and OS for pts with CD30-expression who received BV+RCHOP appear promising. The study is currently ongoing in pts with CD30-expressing high-intermediate/high risk DLBCL to assess the safety and activity of 1.8 mg/kg BV+RCHP versus standard RCHOP. Disclosures Halwani: Bristol Myers-Squibb: Research Funding; Kyowa Hakko Kirin: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Immune Design: Research Funding; Miragen: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Amgen: Research Funding. Yasenchak:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Farber:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Burke:Pfizer: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; TG Therapeutics: Other: Travel Expenses; Millenium: Consultancy. Fayad:Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Holkova:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Knapp:Insys Therapeutics, Inc.: Consultancy, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses; Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Research Funding. Kolibaba:Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; janssen: Research Funding; GSK: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding. Patel-Donnelly:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Yimer:Ariad Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Biotheranostics: Consultancy; Bluebird Bio: Equity Ownership; Kite Pharma: Equity Ownership; Clovis Oncology: Equity Ownership; Juno Therpeutics: Equity Ownership; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Smith:Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Levy:Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.: Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Research Funding. Seetharam:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Belada:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Brooks:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Kingsley:Gilead: Equity Ownership; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Equity Ownership. Wagner-Johnston:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Ruffner:Forma Therapeutics: Consultancy; Sydnax: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Employment, Equity Ownership; Array Biopharma: Employment; Medivation: Employment. Bartlett:Gilead: Consultancy.

Title: Disease Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Patient Outcomes of Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma or Waldenstroms Macroglobulinemia: A Single Institution Retrospective Review Introduction: Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are a heterogeneous group of B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, with certain subtypes progressing rapidly and requiring immediate treatment and others having a more indolent course. Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) or Waldenstroms macroglobulinemia (WM) is classified as an indolent lymphoma with a natural disease course involving multiple episodes of relapse and remission. Although a wide variety of acceptable treatment strategies exist in both the front line and relapsed settings, there are limited data for the clear recommendation of optimal treatment. We sought to determine if the choice of initial treatment of WM would have an effect on overall survival and cause of death. Methods: A retrospective chart review identified 52 patients diagnosed with LPL or WM between January 2006 and January 2016. Seven patients were excluded due to incomplete data, yielding a total of 45 patients over a 10-year period. Data regarding age, sex, comorbidities, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, IgM level at diagnosis, initial therapy, progression free survival, overall survival, and cause of death were collected. Patient demographics and treatment characteristics were calculated overall, and by three outcomes of interest: relapse free survival, treatment-related death, and all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for age, gender, and comorbidities were used to estimate the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for events associated with initial therapy. Results: Of the 45 patients with WM, the average age of diagnosis was 66.9 (standard deviation: 12.3) and 23 patients (51.1%) were male. The majority of patients had an ECOG status of 2 or less at time of diagnosis (n=39, 86.7%). Thirty-five patients had data regarding IgM level at diagnosis, of which 15 (42.9%) were greater than 3000 mg/dl. The majority of patients (n=39, 86.7%) went on to receive treatment with chemotherapy. Among the patients who received treatment, 9 (23%) patients received rituximab therapy alone while 11 (28%) patients received fludarabine-based regimens. Twenty-four patients (61.5%) received rituximab as either monotherapy or as part of a chemotherapy combination while 14 (35.9%) did not receive rituximab at all. Fludarabine-based initial therapy was significantly protective against relapse (hazard ratio: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.04-0.87). Initial therapy that included rituximab was also protective of relapse, though not statistically significant (hazard ratio: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.13-1.10). At the conclusion of our review, 13 patients (29%) had died. Cause of death was considered treatment related in 3 of these patients: 2 patients developed myelodysplastic syndrome and 1 patient developed acute myeloid leukemia. All three patients had received fludarabine-based chemotherapy in the first line or subsequent setting. Conclusions: Our data suggest that fludarabine-based chemotherapy for initial management of LPL or WM resulted in improved progression free survival when compared to other chemotherapy regimens. We observed a trend toward improvement in progression free survival in patients that received chemotherapy that included rituximab. Interestingly, all patients that died of a treatment related myeloid toxicity had received fludarabine-based chemotherapy as an initial or as a subsequent therapy. We can conclude that while the use of fludarabine in treatment of LPL or WM results in a longer disease free interval, one should be cognizant of the risk of secondary hematologic malignancies. Rituximab or rituximab-based treatment for this low grade lymphoma remains a practical option. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The optimal developmental stage for cryopreserving embryos in IVF-ET remains controversial. Our study demonstrates that besides an improvement in postthaw survival rate for day-1 and blastocyst cryopreserved ET over day-3, all three groups attained statistically similar implantation, clinical pregnancy, multiple, twinning, and male gender rates.

This article describes the biomechanical and biochemical aspects of tendon anatomy and function, response of the tendon to injury, and factors contributing to injury. Clinical implications for treating patients with tendon injury are discussed.

Since the first successful application of micromanipulationin human in-vitro fertilization 10 years ago, the breadth of its application has expanded to encompass single sperm injection, zona ablation, polar body and blastomere biopsy, and very recently the first reports of both cytoplasmic and nuclear transfer.

Purpose. Simultaneous fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used in a preimplantation genetic diagnosis program to determine which embryos were normal for chromosomes X, Y, 13, 18, and 21. Methods: Single blastomeres were disrupted and attached to glass slides using acetic acid and ethanol. Using a ratio mixture of chromosome enumeration DNA probes in combination with locus-specific identifier DNA probes, FISH was performed for the identification of chromosomes X, Y, 13, 18, and 21. Results: Fourteen couples enrolled in IVF produced 134 embryos for biopsy. Blastomeres subjected to five-color FISH revealed that 22% of embryos were normal for chromosomes X, Y, 13, 18, and 21. In addition, 52% were abnormal and no results could be detected for 25%. Twelve couples underwent embryo transfer, two couples did not receive embryos due to lack of any normal embryos, and three couples became pregnant. Conclusions: The simultaneous detection of five-color FISH is a feasible method to detect aneuploidy in preimplantation embryos from women of advanced maternal age.

Previous studies have shown that expression of the heparan sulfate proteoglycan, perlecan, on the external trophectodermal cell surfaces of mouse blastocysts increases during acquisition of attachment competence. However, it is not clear if this change in perlecan protein expression also is reflected at the level of perlecan mRNA expression. In the present investigation, the spatial and temporal patterns of perlecan mRNA expression in the mouse embryo during the periimplantation period were examined byin situhybridization and reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. In addition, a delayed implantation model was used to determine the expression of perlecan mRNA and protein in dormant and estrogen-activated hatched blastocysts. The results demonstrate that perlecan mRNA expression is low in morulae, but increases in Day 4 blastocysts, attaining maximal expression in Day 4.5 attachment-competent blastocysts. In contrast, perlecan mRNA is detected in both the dormant and estrogen-activated delayed blastocysts; however, within 12 hr of blastocyst activation by estrogen, both perlecan protein and heparan sulfate chain expression markedly increase. Taken together, these results suggest that during normal development perlecan mRNA expression increases with the acquisition of attachment competence. Moreover, perlecan protein expression also is attenuated during delayed implantation and appears to increase in response to nidatory estrogen, perhaps via the increased translation of preexisting perlecan mRNA.

Allogeneic transplant using reduced intensity conditioning is a therapeutic option for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) who relapse after an autograft. This was a prospective study of 31 consecutive eligible patients with HL who relapsed after an autograft and underwent an allograft using BEAM (BCNU, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) conditioning. At a median follow-up of 7 years the progression-free survival (PFS) was 36% (95% confidence interval [CI] 19-54%) and overall survival (OS) was 42% (95% CI 23-59%). In multivariate analysis only residual disease at the time of transplant predicted outcome, with a 4-year PFS and OS of 62% and 75% for patients with minimal residual disease versus 8% and 8% for patients with gross residual disease, respectively (p = 0.005 and p = 0.001, respectively). This benefit seemed to be irrespective of chemosensitivity, with an OS for patients with chemorefractory yet minimal disease of 71% at 4 years. BEAM allogeneic transplant is effective in producing long-term remissions after autograft failure. Regardless of chemosensitivity, minimizing tumor burden pre-transplant may improve long-term outcome.

Military failures resulting from the fatal flaw of hubris have the potential for significant lost national treasure and blood. From a combatant commander's perspective, a military leader driven by the dangerous illusion of personal grandeur, arrogance, and narcissism endangers operational objectives and negatively influences current and future strategic objectives. The continual battle to resist hubris temptations requires inner personal humility. However, combatant commanders cannot assume their own success, or that of their subordinates, in resisting hubris. They must embark on a continuous evaluation, re-education, and, where necessary, removal process. A culture of 360-degree awareness regarding military leaders is critical to avoiding the negative impacts of hubris. Three historical cases provide situations in which hubris led to disastrous strategic effects: Alcibiades' expedition to Sicily during the Peloponnesian War, Napoleon Bonaparte's attempt to conquer Russia in 1812, and L. Paul Bremer's Iraqi government transitional leadership. All three examples provide a foundation for the claim that hubris exists as an inherent character flaw, and an individual's access to power serves only to set the azimuth of impact. While eradicating hubris entirely from an operational leader's character is implausible, leaders at all levels can strengthen their awareness of this trait and prevent squandered opportunities.

Purpose Relapsed adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is associated with high reinduction mortality, chemotherapy resistance, and rapid progression leading to death. Vincristine sulfate liposome injection (VSLI), sphingomyelin and cholesterol nanoparticle vincristine (VCR), facilitates VCR dose-intensification and densification plus enhances target tissue delivery. We evaluated high-dose VSLI monotherapy in adults with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) –negative ALL that was multiply relapsed, relapsed and refractory to reinduction, and/or relapsed after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Patients and Methods Sixty-five adults with Ph-negative ALL in second or greater relapse or whose disease had progressed following two or more leukemia therapies were treated in this pivotal phase II, multinational trial. Intravenous VSLI 2.25 mg/m2, without dose capping, was administered once per week until response, progression, toxicity, or pursuit of HCT. The primary end point was achievement of complete response (CR) or CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi). Results The CR/CRi rate was 20% and overall response rate was 35%. VSLI monotherapy was effective as third-, fourth-, and fifth-line therapy and in patients refractory to other single- and multiagent reinduction therapies. Median CR/CRi duration was 23 weeks (range, 5 to 66 weeks); 12 patients bridged to a post-VSLI HCT, and five patients were long-term survivors. VSLI was generally well tolerated and associated with a low 30-day mortality rate (12%). Conclusion High-dose VSLI monotherapy resulted in meaningful clinical outcomes including durable responses and bridging to HCT in advanced ALL settings. The toxicity profile of VSLI was predictable, manageable, and comparable to standard VCR despite the delivery of large, normally unachievable, individual and cumulative doses of VCR.

Lysyl oxidase (EC 1.4.3.13) plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of tissue integrity in both the normal and pathological states. It is a member of a newly discovered gene family that exhibits a complex mode of regulation. To date the resources necessary to begin to address its regulation have not been assembled. In part, this reflects the instability of this region of the genome when cloned into cosmid vectors. The paucity of long range restriction endonuclease sites suitable for mapping this region of the genome has further hampered progress. To begin to address this issue 2 YAC clones of 920 kb and 245 kb that contain the human lysyl oxidase gene were isolated. Long range physical mapping revealed that the 245 kb clone was centrally located within the 920 kb clone. The corresponding map of this region is congruent with that observed in the human genome. Thus, these YACs faithfully represent this region of the human genome. The results of our cloning and mapping studies described in this communication should accelerate the advance of our understanding of this new connective tissue gene family.

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) relapsing after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) presents a major clinical challenge. In the present investigation, we evaluated brentuximab vedotin, a CD30-directed Ab-drug conjugate, in 25 HL patients (median age, 32 years; range, 20-56) with recurrent disease after alloSCT (11 unrelated donors). Patients were > 100 days after alloSCT, had no active GVHD, and received a median of 9 (range, 5-19) prior regimens. Nineteen (76%) had refractory disease immediately before enrollment. Patients received 1.2 or 1.8 mg/kg of brentuximab vedotin IV every 3 weeks (median, 8 cycles; range, 1-16). Overall and complete response rates were 50% and 38%, respectively, among 24 evaluable patients. Median time to response was 8.1 weeks, median progression-free survival was 7.8 months, and the median overall survival was not reached. Cough, fatigue, and pyrexia (52% each), nausea and peripheral sensory neuropathy (48% each), and dyspnea (40%) were the most frequent adverse events. The most common adverse events ≥ grade 3 were neutropenia (24%), anemia (20%), thrombocytopenia (16%), and hyperglycemia (12%). Cytomegalovirus was detected in 5 patients (potentially clinically significant in 1). These results support the potential utility of brentuximab vedotin for selected patients with HL relapsing after alloSCT. These trials are registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01026233, NCT01026415, and NCT00947856.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) causes most non-relapse mortality (NRM) after alternative donor (unrelated and mismatched related) hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT). We previously showed that increases in day +7 TNF-receptor-1 (TNFR1) ratios (posttransplantation day +7/pretransplantation baseline) after myeloablative HCT correlate with outcomes including GVHD, NRM, and survival. Therefore, we conducted a phase II trial at 2 centers, testing whether the addition of the TNF-inhibitor etanercept (25 mg twice weekly from start of conditioning to day +56) to standard GVHD prophylaxis would lower TNFR1 levels, reduce GVHD rates, and improve NRM and survival. Patients underwent myeloablative HCT from a matched unrelated donor (URD; N = 71), 1-antigen mismatched URD (N = 26), or 1-antigen mismatched related donor (N = 3) using either total body irradiation (TBI)-based conditioning (N = 29) or non-TBI-based conditioning (N = 71). Compared to historical controls, the increase in posttransplantation day +7 TNFR1 ratios was not altered in patients who received TBI-based conditioning, but was 40% lower in patients receiving non-TBI-based conditioning. The latter group experienced relatively low rates of severe grade 3 to 4 GVHD (14%), 1-year NRM (16%), and high 1-year survival (69%). These findings suggest that (1) the effectiveness of TNF-inhibition with etanercept may depend on the conditioning regimen, and (2) attenuating the expected rise in TNFR1 levels early posttransplantation correlates with good outcomes.

Background: Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is characterized by the presence of CD30-positive Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg cells. The standard of care for patients (pts) with relapsed or refractory (R/R) HL is salvage chemotherapy followed by high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant (auto-SCT). Approximately 50% of these pts will experience relapse or progression of HL after auto-SCT. For these individuals, outcomes have historically been poor, with median overall survival (OS) from time of relapse ranging from 10.5 to 27.6 mos (Crump, 2008; Fanale, 2013). A pivotal phase 2 study evaluated brentuximab vedotin, a CD30-directed antibody-drug conjugate, in pts with R/R HL after auto-SCT (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00848926). Primary results and 3-year follow-up data have been previously reported (Younes, 2012; Gopal, 2015). Here, we summarize final data from the 5-year follow-up period. Methods: Pts received 1.8 mg/kg brentuximab vedotin once every 3 wks as a 30-min outpatient IV infusion for up to 16 cycles. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR) per independent review according to the Revised Response Criteria for Malignant Lymphoma (Cheson 2007). Assessments of response and durability of response per an independent review facility (IRF) have been previously reported. Following a protocol amendment that removed the requirement for routine CT scanning during the follow-up period, disease status was only assessed per the investigator. Survival and disease status were assessed every 3 mos for 2 yrs and then every 6 mos through Year 5. CT scans were required if progression was suspected clinically. At the time of the amendment, 18 patients were still being assessed for progression; these patients had been in long-term follow-up for a median of over 30 months. Results: The enrolled population of 102 pts (53% female) was heavily pretreated and had a median age of 31 yrs (range, 15-77 yrs). Pts received a median of 9 cycles (range, 1-16) of brentuximab vedotin. Per investigator, the ORR to brentuximab vedotin was 72% and complete remission (CR) rate was 33%. The most common treatment-related adverse events were peripheral sensory neuropathy, nausea, fatigue, neutropenia, and diarrhea. Adverse events of Grade 3 or higher that occurred in ≥5% of pts were neutropenia, peripheral sensory neuropathy, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. At study closure, which occurred approximately 5 yrs after the last patient's end-of-treatment visit, the median observation time for all enrolled patients from first dose was 35.1 mos (range, 1.8 to 72.9). The estimated 5-year overall survival rate was 41% (95% CI: 31 %, 51%) and the median OS was 40.5 mos (95% CI: 28.7, 61.9 [range, 1.8 to 72.9+]). Median OS by best clinical response was CR (n=34): median not reached; partial remission (PR, n=39): 39.4 mos; and stable disease (SD, n=28): 18.3 mos. The median PFS was 9.3 months overall, but was not reached in CR pts. Of the 102 enrolled patients, 15 remained in follow-up and in remission at study closure. Among these 15 pts, 6 received consolidative allo-SCT and 9 have received no further therapy since completing brentuximab vedotin. Conclusions: These end-of-study results demonstrate that single agent brentuximab vedotin can induce durable remissions and long-term survival in a subset of heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory HL, particularly in pts that achieve CR. A randomized phase 3 study is being conducted to evaluate brentuximab vedotin in combination with AVD (doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) versus ABVD (A, bleomycin, VD) for frontline treatment of advanced HL (ECHELON-1 trial, ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT01712490). Figure 1. Overall Survival Figure 1. Overall Survival Disclosures Chen: Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy. Gopal:BMS: Research Funding; Piramal: Research Funding; Emergent/Abbott: Research Funding; Millenium: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Spectrum: Consultancy, Research Funding; BioMarin: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sanofi-Aventis: Honoraria; Merck: Research Funding. Smith:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Ansell:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Celldex: Research Funding. Rosenblatt:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Savage:Seattle Genetics: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria; Infinity: Honoraria; Roche: Other: Institutional research funding. Connors:Roche: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Engert:Takeda Millenium: Honoraria, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria, Research Funding. Larsen:Seattle Genetics Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Huebner:Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Fong:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Younes:Janssen: Honoraria; Novartis: Research Funding; Incyte: Honoraria; Takeda Millenium: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Bristol Meyer Squibb: Honoraria; Curis: Research Funding; Bayer: Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi-Aventis: Honoraria; Johnson and Johnson: Research Funding.

Uncontrolled delayed nausea and vomiting remains a problem after high-dose preparative regimens used for autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants. Recently, aprepitant was approved for highly and moderately emetogenic chemotherapy, and, in particular, is effective for decreasing delayed emesis. To evaluate its safety and efficacy in the transplantation setting, we performed a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial of aprepitant in combination with ondansetron and dexamethasone in patients treated with ablative preparative regimens. Patients were randomized to receive oral aprepitant or placebo daily with oral ondansetron and dexamethasone during and for 3 days after the completion of the preparative regimen in this prospective randomized, double-blind study. The primary objective was complete response (CR) rate, defined as no emesis with no or mild nausea. Other endpoints included number of emetic episodes, nausea severity assessed using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS), the need for rescue antiemetics, and transplantation outcome, including regimen-related toxicity. One hundred eighty-one patients were randomized and 179 patients were eligible for analysis. Overall, CR rates were 81.9% for the aprepitant and 65.8% for the placebo arms (P < .001). Percentages of patients with no emesis all days were 73.3% for aprepitant and 22.5% placebo (P < .001). Mean VAS scores were 16.6 mm aprepitant and 16.9 mm placebo (NS), and there were no differences in the amount of rescue antiemetics used, regimen related toxicity, engraftment, or transplantation outcome. Aprepitant in combination with dexamethasone and ondansetron significantly decreased emesis and significant nausea, whereas not increasing RRT or affecting short-term survival but had no significant impact on the use of PRN antiemetics, or overall VAS nausea scores.

BACKGROUND: Ezatiostat is a glutathione analog prodrug glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (GSTP1-1) inhibitor. This study evaluated 2 extended dose schedules of oral ezatiostat in 89 heavily pretreated patients with low to intermediate-1 risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). METHODS: Patients were randomized by 1 stratification factor—baseline cytopenia (anemia only vs anemia with additional cytopenias)—to 1 of 2 extended dosing schedules. Multilineage hematologic improvement (HI) responses were assessed by International Working Group 2006 criteria. RESULTS: Overall, 11 of 38 (29%) red blood cell (RBC) transfusion-dependent patients had HI-Erythroid (HI-E) response. The median duration of HI-E response was 34 weeks. Multilineage responses were observed. There was 1 cytogenetic complete response in a del (5q) MDS patient. An important trend was the effect of prior therapy on response. A 40% HI-E rate (6 of 15 patients) was observed in patients who had prior lenalidomide and no prior hypomethylating agents (HMAs), with 5 of 11 (45%) patients achieving significant RBC transfusion reduction and 3 of 11 (27%) achieving transfusion independence. A 28% HI-E rate (5 of 18 patients) was observed in patients who were both lenalidomide and HMA naive, with 4 of 8 (50%) patients achieving clinically significant RBC transfusion reductions. Most common ezatiostat-related adverse events were grade 1 and 2 gastrointestinal including: nausea (45%, 17%), diarrhea (26%, 7%), and vomiting (30%, 12%). CONCLUSIONS: Ezatiostat is the first GSTP1-1 inhibitor shown to cause clinically significant and sustained reduction in RBC transfusions, transfusion independence, and multilineage responses in MDS patients. The tolerability and activity profile of ezatiostat may offer a new treatment option for patients with MDS. Cancer 2012. © 2011 American Cancer Society.

Purpose Adult post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) has a reported 3-year overall survival (OS) of 35% to 40%. The impact of rituximab on the outcome of PTLD is not well defined. Methods We examined the clinical features and outcomes among a large cohort of solid organ transplantation (SOT) –related patients with PTLD who were recently treated at four Chicago institutions (from January 1998 to January 2008). Results Eighty patients with PTLD were identified who had a median SOT-to-PTLD time of 48 months (range, 1 to 216 months). All patients had reduction of immunosuppression as part of initial therapy, whereas 59 (74%) of 80 patients received concurrent first-line rituximab with or without chemotherapy. During 40-month median follow-up, 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) for all patients was 57%, and the 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 62%. Patients who received rituximab-based therapy as part of initial treatment had 3-year PFS of 70% and OS 73% compared with 21% (P < .0001) and 33% (P = .0001), respectively, without rituximab. Notably, of all relapses, only 9% (4 of 34 patients) occurred beyond 12 months from PTLD diagnosis. On multivariate regression analysis, three factors were associated with progression and survival: CNS involvement (PFS, 4.70; P = .01; OS, 3.61; P = .04), bone marrow involvement (PFS, 2.95; P = .03; OS, 3.14; P = .03), and hypoalbuminemia (PFS, 2.96; P = .05; OS, 3.64; P = .04). Furthermore, a survival model by multivariate CART analysis that was based on number of adverse factors present (ie, 0, 1, ≥ 2) was formed: 3-year PFS rates were 84%, 66%, 7%, respectively, and 3-year OS rates were 93%, 68%, 11%, respectively (P < .0001). Conclusion This large, multicenter, retrospective analysis suggests significantly improved PFS and OS associated with early rituximab-based treatment in PTLD. In addition, clinical factors at diagnosis identified patients with markedly divergent outcomes.

Phase 1 testing of ezatiostat, a glutathione S-transferase P1-1 inhibitor, for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome was conducted in a multidose-escalation study. Patients received 10 dose levels (200, 400, 1000, 1400, 2000, 2400, 3000, 4000, 5000, and 6000 mg) of ezatiostat tablets in divided doses on days 1 to 7 of a 21-day cycle for a maximum of 8 cycles. The safety and pharmacokinetics of ezatiostat were evaluated. Forty-five patients with low to intermediate-2 International Prognostic Scoring System risk myelodysplastic syndrome were enrolled. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. The most common grade 1 or 2, respectively, treatment-related adverse events were nonhematologic: nausea (56%, 9%), diarrhea (36%, 7%), vomiting (24%, 7%), abdominal pain (9%, 0%), constipation (4%, 9%), anorexia (3%, 7%), and dyspepsia (3%, 7%). Concentration of the primary active metabolite, TLK236, increased proportionate to ezatiostat dosage. Seventeen hematologic improvement (HI) responses by International Working Group criteria were observed at dose levels of 200 to 6000 mg/day with 11 HI responses at doses of 4000 to 6000 mg/day. HI responses occurred in all lineages including 3 bilineage and 1 complete cytogenetic response. Decreased number of red blood cell and platelet transfusions and in some cases transfusion independence were attained. Extended dose schedules of ezatiostat tablets are under investigation. This study was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00280631.

A total of 5700 human chromosome 3-specific cosmid clones was isolated from a series of cosmid libraries constructed from somatic cell hybrids whose only human component was an entire chromosome 3 or a chromosome 3 containing an interstitial deletion removing 50% of long arm sequences. Several unique sequence chromosome 3-specific hybridization probes were isolated from each of 616 of these cosmids. These probes were then used to localize the cosmids by hybridization to a somatic cell hybrid deletion mapping panel capable of resolving chromosome 3 into nine distinct subregions. All 616 of the cosmids were localized to either the long or short arm of chromosome 3 and 63% of the short arm cosmids were more precisely localized. We have identified a total of 87 cosmids that contain fragments that are evolutionarily conserved. Fragments from these cosmids should prove useful in the identification of new chromosome 3-specific genes as well as in comparative mapping studies. The localized cosmids should provide excellent saturation of human chromosome 3 and facilitate the construction of physical and genetic linkage maps to identify various disease loci including Von Hippel Lindau disease and renal and small cell lung carcinoma.

Elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have a poor prognosis due to low response rates (26-46%) to standard chemotherapy and high treatment-related mortality (11-31%). In this Phase II study, we used a combination of hydroxyurea (HU), azacitidine and low dose gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) to assess its efficacy and toxicity in this group of patients. Twenty patients with non-M3 AML and MDS were treated with this regimen. The treatment was begun with HU 1500 mg orally twice daily to lower white blood cell count below 10,000/microL, followed by azacitidine 75 mg/m(2) subcutaneously for 7 days and GO 3 mg/m(2) on day 8. Patients who achieved complete remission (CR) received a consolidation course. The median age of patients was 76 years. Eleven patients (55%) were treated in the outpatient setting. Fourteen (70%) achieved a CR, three of which were incomplete (CRi). The median duration of remission was 8 months and median survival was 10 months. Performance status of 0-1 was associated with high complete response rate. Overall toxicity was acceptable with only one (5%) early death due to disease progression. The combination of HU, azacitdine and GO appears to be a safe and effective regimen in the treatment of AML and high risk MDS in the elderly. These results need to be confirmed in a larger cohort of patients.

Objective To assess the effect of microscopic and macroscopic contamination of embryo transfer (ET) catheters with blood or mucus on in vitro fertilization (IVF)–ET success rates. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Infertility practice in teaching community hospital. Patient(s) Four hundred seventy patients undergoing IVF-ET. Intervention(s) Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and IVF-ET. Main Outcome Measure(s) Implantation rate (IR) and clinical pregnancy rate (CPR). Result(s) The IR and CPR of IVF-ETs were comparable regardless of the presence (26.59% and 48.78%, respectively) or absence (23.49% and 44.44%, respectively) of any type of contamination. Even when analyzing specific contamination categories (i.e., macroscopic blood, microscopic blood on the outer catheter, microscopic blood on the inner catheter, blood anywhere without mucus, mucus only, or blood and mucus combined), there was no statistical significance in IR (range: 21.17% to 26.69%) or CPR (range: 32.69% to 49.5%). Conclusion(s) In general, IR and CPR appear to be unaffected by ET catheter contamination, whether it is macroscopic or microscopic presence of blood or mucus.

A 55-yr-old woman with a history of B-cell lymphoma of the nasopharynx diagnosed in March 1999 eventually underwent submyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation from a sibling donor in December 2002 after conventional treatment options were exhausted. The treatment approach was somewhat altered by the fact that the patient was a practicing Jehovah's Witness and refused blood-blood product transfusion. The course of her treatment was unremarkable until around day 100 posttransplant when she developed graft failure, leading to severe anemia. Blood transfusions were refused. Donor cells were re-infused. During this treatment period, the patient's hemoglobin dropped to a low of 2.7 g/dL, with the patient experiencing severe fatigue, dyspnea on exertion, headaches, and blurred vision. Polymerized human hemoglobin (pyridoxylated) (Poly- Heme, Northfield Laboratories Inc., Evanston, IL) was given under an emergency, compassionate use protocol and successfully bridged the patient's hemoglobin and relieved symptoms during her marrow recovery period.

To compare pregnancy, implantation, and multiple gestation rates resulting from day 3 and day 5 embryo transfers after in vitro fertilization emphasizing a subset of patients who met criteria for day 5 transfer but elected to undergo day 3 transfer.A retrospective analysis of day 3 and day 5 embryo transfers from January 2001 to June 2002 were evaluated in a community teaching hospital setting. A total of 331 patientsor = 40 years old were included. Using Student's t test, chi2 test, and Fisher's exact test, we compared the pregnancy, implantation, and multiple gestation rates.Pregnancy, implantation, and multiple gestation rates were not significantly different between the subgroup who met criteria for day 5 embryo transfer but elected day 3 transfer. There was no significant difference between similar parameters in the overall comparison of day 3 versus day 5 embryo transfers.Blastocyst transfers have similar multiple gestation rates, pregnancy rates, and implantation rates when compared to day 3 embryo transfers.

Twice-frozen, thawed embryos may have utilization in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles.A 37-year-old woman with endometriosis and infertility returned five years after a fresh IVF cycle. Seven cryopreserved embryos (2 pronuclear [pn] and cleaved) were thawed, and five developed to the blastocyst stage. One blastocyst was transferred, and the remaining four were recryopreserved. This transfer did not result in pregnancy. The remaining four blastocysts were thawed, and two were transferred resulting in a live, singleton delivery.Pregnancy can result from cryopreserved 2-pn and cleaved embryos cultured to blastocysts, refrozen and then transferred at the blastocyst stage.

Expression of the basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), perlecan (Pln), mRNA, and protein has been examined during murine development. Both Pln mRNA and protein are highly expressed in cartilaginous regions of developing mouse embryos, but not in areas of membranous bone formation. Initially detected at low levels in precartilaginous areas of d 12.5 embryos, Pln protein accumulates in these regions through d 15.5 at which time high levels are detected in the cartilage primordia. Laminin and collagen type IV, other basal lamina proteins commonly found colocalized with Pln, are absent from the cartilage primordia. Accumulation of Pln mRNA, detected by in situ hybridization, was increased in d 14.5 embryos. Cartilage primordia expression decreased to levels similar to that of the surrounding tissue at d 15.5. Pln accumulation in developing cartilage is preceded by that of collagen type II. To gain insight into Pln function in chondrogenesis, an assay was developed to assess the potential inductive activity of Pln using multipotential 10T1/2 murine embryonic fibroblast cells. Culture on Pln, but not on a variety of other matrices, stimulated extensive formation of dense nodules reminiscent of embryonic cartilaginous condensations. These nodules stained intensely with Alcian blue and collagen type II antibodies. mRNA encoding chondrocyte markers including collagen type II, aggrecan, and Pln was elevated in 10T1/2 cells cultured on Pln. Human chondrocytes that otherwise rapidly dedifferentiate during in vitro culture also formed nodules and expressed high levels of chondrocytic marker proteins when cultured on Pln. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that Pln is not only a marker of chondrogenesis, but also strongly potentiates chondrogenic differentiation in vitro.