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Objectives This study describes the safety, clinical effectiveness and trough plasma concentration (Cmin) of intravenous (iv) posaconazole, provided as part of Merck Sharp and Dohme Australia's Named Patient Programme (NPP) in non-clinical trial settings. Methods A multicentre, retrospective study on the NPP use of iv posaconazole between July 2014 and March 2015 across seven Australian hospitals. Results Seventy courses of iv posaconazole were prescribed and evaluated in 61 patients receiving treatment for haematological malignancy. Sixty-one courses were prescribed for prophylaxis against invasive fungal disease (IFD), the majority of which (59) were initiated in patients with gastrointestinal disturbances and/or intolerance to previous antifungals. The median (IQR) duration for prophylaxis was 10 (6-15) days. No breakthrough IFD was observed during or at cessation of iv posaconazole. Nine courses of iv posaconazole were prescribed for treatment of IFD with a median (IQR) duration of 19 (7-30) days. Improvement in signs and symptoms of IFD was observed in five cases at cessation of, and six cases at 30 days post-iv posaconazole. Cmin was measured in 39 courses of iv posaconazole, with the initial level taken [median (IQR)] 4 (3-7) days after commencing iv posaconazole. The median (IQR) of initial Cmin was 1.16 (0.69-2.06) mg/L. No severe adverse events specifically attributed to iv posaconazole were documented, although six courses were curtailed due to potential toxicity. Conclusions This non-clinical trial experience suggests that iv posaconazole appeared to be safe and clinically effective for prophylaxis or treatment of IFD in patients receiving treatment for haematological malignancies.

Hydroxyurea (Hu) is widely used as first-line cytoreductive therapy for patients with high-risk Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (Ph-neg MPN), but a small proportion of patients have refractory disease or experience adverse effects. Studies have demonstrated busulfan (Bu) to be an active first-line agent, but data on its role as second-line or later therapy are minimal. To evaluate its efficacy and safety in this context, we undertook a multicenter audit of Ph-neg MPN patients who had received Bu as therapy for Hu intolerance or failure. Of 51 patients identified, 38 (75%) achieved either complete or partial hematological response following at least one Bu cycle. Bu was generally well tolerated, with only 21/135 (15%) cycles complicated by adverse effects, predominantly cytopenia; only 6% of cycles were ceased due to treatment complications. Bu is an effective and well-tolerated agent in patients with Ph-neg MPN in the setting of Hu intolerance or unresponsiveness.

The clinical significance of ABCB1 overexpression in predicting outcome of CML patients undergoing first-line imatinib treatment

There is a paucity of evidence supporting the necessity or duration of Pneumocystis jirovecii and antiviral prophylaxis as well as revaccination following autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). A survey aimed at evaluating these policies was distributed to 34 ASCT centres across Australasia. The 26 survey respondents demonstrated significant heterogeneity in their infection prophylaxis and revaccination strategy post-transplant despite the availability of consensual guidelines.

The aim of the study was to determine the molecular cause of dysfibrinogenaemia in a woman with a prolonged thrombin time. Functional fibrinogen abnormalities can be benign or may lead to bleeding or thrombotic conditions. In complex cases, phenotypes may be acquired or involve interplay between several coinherited mutations. The authors developed a new whole-protein time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF MS) approach to direct targeted DNA sequencing of the fibrinogen genes and determine the phase of multiple substitutions in a single individual. TOF MS analysis of the individual's fibrinogen indicated normal Bβ, γ, and alternately transcribed γ' chain isoforms, but aberrant Aα chain masses. Subsequent fibrinogen Aα gene (FGA) sequencing indicated the presence of three different mutations. Two of the substitutions, Aα17Gly→Cys (at the thrombin cleavage site) and Aα381Ser→Phe (in the αC connector) were novel and the third, Aα312Thr→Ala, was a known benign polymorphism. Accurate mass measurements of isolated control Aα chains showed the predicted Aα polypeptide at 66 132 Da and additional phosphorylated species at + 80 and + 160 Da. Patient's Aα chains on the other hand had masses of 66 103 and 66 241 Da indicating that she had one 312Ala allele (-30 Da) and one 312Thr allele which carried both the 17Gly→Cys (+ 46 Da) and 381Ser→Phe (+ 60) Da mutations. Cotransmission of these new mutations was confirmed by Aα chain TOF MS of plasma fibrinogen and targeted FGA nucleotide sequencing for 10 additional family members.

We evaluated early disease progression and its impact on overall survival (OS) in previously untreated follicular lymphoma patients in GALLIUM (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 01332968), and investigated the effect on early disease progression of the two randomization arms: obinutuzumab-based versus rituximab-based immunochemotherapy. Cause-specific Cox regression was used to estimate the effect of treatment on the risk of disease progression or death due to disease progression within 24 months of randomization and to analyze OS in patients with or without disease progression after 24 months. Mortality in both groups was analyzed 6, 12, and 18 months post randomization (median follow up, 41 months). Fewer early disease progression events occurred in obinutuzumab (57 out of 601) versus rituximab (98 out of 601) immunochemotherapy patients, with an average risk reduction of 46.0% (95%CI: 25.0-61.1%; cumulative incidence rate 10.1% vs. 17.4%). At a median post-progression follow up of 22.6 months, risk of mortality increased markedly following a progression event [HR of time-varying progression status, 25.5 (95%CI: 16.2-40.3)]. Mortality risk was higher the earlier patients progressed within the first 24 months. Age-adjusted HR for OS after 24 months in surviving patients with disease progression versus those without was 12.2 (95%CI: 5.6-26.5). Post-progression survival was similar by treatment arm. In conclusion, obinutuzumab plus chemotherapy was associated with a marked reduction in the rate of early disease progression events relative to rituximab plus chemotherapy. Early disease progression in patients with follicular lymphoma was associated with poor prognosis, with mortality risk higher after earlier progression. Survival post progression did not seem to be influenced by treatment arm.

Dasatinib treatment leads to excellent molecular responses in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML). Pleural effusions, an adverse event related dasatinib treatment, may lead to intolerance and drug discontinuations. Strategies aimed at minimising this may improve outcomes. In the Phase III Dasision study, pleural effusion affected ~22% of patients after 4 years of dasatinib treatment at 100mg/d (Cortes et al, 2016 JCO 34(20) 2333-40). The elderly are at particular risk (Latagliata et al 2013 Hem Onc 31(2) 103-9), and there is suggestion that higher dasatinib trough (Cmin) levels may increase the risk of pleural effusions. The randomised OPTIM study (EHA 2014 abstract 5678) has previously reported that patients with Cmin >3nM benefited from dose reductions with preservation of molecular responses. The CML12 (DIRECT) study, run by the Australasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group (ALLG) with financial support from BMS, is a single arm phase II study with the aim of minimizing dasatinib related toxicity whilst preserving efficacy using a similar treatment schema to the OPTIM study. Here, we report results of a per-protocol interim analysis based on early molecular response (EMR; BCR-ABL1 ≤10% at 3 months) and MMR (BCR-ABL1 ≤0.1%) at 12 months, both key secondary endpoints of the study. The primary endpoint of the study- the cumulative incidence of pleural effusion at 24 months - is not yet evaluable. DIRECT initially only enrolled patients >60 years old, predicted to derive the greatest potential benefit from a reduction in toxicity. The protocol was amended after 34 pts were accrued to include patients >18 years old at the recommendation of the trial management committee. All patients started treatment with dasatinib 100mg/day. Dasatinib Cmin was taken at 7, 28 and 56 days after treatment commencement. All Cmin directed dose adjustments were made prior to assessment of BCR-ABL1 at 3 months. Patients sequentially dose reduced to 70mg/day, then to 50mg/day, for Cmin results >3nM. Doses As of June 2019, 71 patients (of 80 planned) from 14 centres have been enrolled, with a median follow up of 7 months (range 0-31). Median age was 64 years (range 21-86) and 48% were female. Sokal risk was low in 40% and high in 9.2%. The median dasatinib Cmin at days 7, 28, 56 and 90 were 4.9, 3.5, 3.5 and 2.7nM respectively (Table). At these time points, 83%, 59%, 73% and 44% of patients had Cmin ≥3nM. There was a trend to lower Cmin after protocol directed dose reduction. The number of patients remaining on 100mg/day after 1, 2 and 3 months of therapy were 11/69 (16%), 5/63 (8%) & 5/55 (9%) respectively. Molecular response data were available for 48 patients at 3 months and 22 patients at 12 months. At 3 months, BCR-ABL1 ≤ 10% was achieved by 46 of 48 patients (96%), of whom 13 (27%) had achieved MMR (27%). At 12 months, MMR was achieved by 20/22 patients (91%), of whom 7 have achieved MR4.5 (BCR-ABL1 Adverse events occurred in 91.5% of patients at all grades - the majority of which were mild. Grade III/IV events occurred in 36.6% and 1.4% of patients respectively. Six of the 71 patients have discontinued dasatinib treatment early, all due to adverse events / dasatinib intolerance. Detailed adverse event data is embargoed until primary endpoint analysis. No patient has progressed to accelerated or blast phase CML. The DIRECT study demonstrated the feasibility of using dasatinib Cmin levels to optimise dosing. Early molecular response rates are encouraging and predict for excellent achievement of long-term molecular response. Long term efficacy and safety data are awaited. Table Disclosures Yeung: Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria. Grigg:Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Other: Travel. Shanmuganathan:Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Travel Support; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: Travel Support; Amgen: Other: Travel Support; Janssen: Other: Travel Support; Gilead: Other: Travel Support. White:BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; AMGEN: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Branford:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Qiagen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Cepheid: Consultancy, Honoraria. Mills:Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Other: Speaker Fees; Amgen: Other: Conference Sponsorship; Specialised Therapeutics: Honoraria; MSD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Shortt:Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Astex: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Gilead: Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Speakers Bureau. Ross:Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Harrup:Cancer Council of Tasmania: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cooperative Trial Group for NeuroOncolog: Other: Collaborative Clinical Trials Group. Hughes:Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene: Research Funding; Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Other: Travel.

Introduction: Molecular MRD monitoring in NPM1 mutant (mut) AML is now standard of care in many countries as prospective clinical trials have demonstrated that suboptimal reduction and/or rising levels of NPM1mut transcript are associated with disease relapse (Ivey, NEJM 2016; Balsat, JCO 2017). Higher levels of NPM1mut MRD positivity are associated with poorer outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic stem transplantation (allo-HSCT) (Dillon, EHA 2019). Data regarding the effectiveness of pre-emptive MRD intervention is scant. A reduction in NPM1mut MRD was reported in 17/33 (52%) receiving azacitidine (Platzbecker, Lancet Oncol 2018). Among patients with NPM1mut molecular relapse in the NCRI AML17 trial, 16/27 (59%) achieved MRD negativity with 1-2 cycles of FLAG-Ida salvage chemotherapy (manuscript in preparation). As the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax in combination with low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) or hypomethylating agents (HMA) are known to be highly active in NPM1mut AML (Wei, JCO 2019; Strickland, EHA 2018), we hypothesized that venetoclax-based regimens could represent an effective low intensity option for patients with persistent or rising NPM1mut MRD. Methods: Consecutive patients with NPM1mut AML from 4 sites treated with venetoclax-LDAC/HMA for MRD eradication were included if previously received at least 1 cycle of intensive chemotherapy and achieved complete remission. cDNA was analyzed on bone marrow aspirate ± peripheral blood samples using a NPM1 mutant specific RT-qPCR (Ivey, NEJM 2016) according to Europe Against Cancer guidelines (Gabert, Leukemia 2003). Results are expressed as MRD level relative to the diagnostic sample (%) with both samples normalized to a control gene (ABL). Results: A total of 10 patients were treated with venetoclax (600 mg PO daily D1-14) in combination with LDAC (20 mg/m2 SC twice daily D1-10; n=8), or venetoclax (400 mg PO daily D1-14) azacitidine (75 mg/m2 SC daily D1-7; n=2) as summarized in Table 1. If concurrent posaconazole was used, the dose of venetoclax was adjusted to 100 mg PO daily. The median age of the cohort was 61.2 years (range 31-81). All patients had intermediate risk cytogenetics, including 8 with normal karyotype at diagnosis. Concurrent mutations in addition to NPM1 are shown in Table 1. The number of consolidation cycles received prior to venetoclax ranged from 0-4 and typically included high-dose cytarabine. Three patients had failed other MRD-directed therapies prior to treatment with venetoclax. Six patients (Cases #1-6) received venetoclax-LDAC/HMA for NPM1mut molecular relapse after complete molecular remission (CRMRD-), or progression after molecular persistence at low copy number (CRMRD+). Five of six (83%) achieved CRMRD- after only 1-2 cycles, with ongoing CRMRD- after a median of 134 days (range 59-447). One patient had failed to respond to FLAG-Ida but achieved CRMRD- after just 1 cycle of venetoclax-LDAC (Figure 1A). Three patients proceeded to subsequent allo-HSCT, including 2 in CRMRD- (Figures 1B and C). Follow up post-HSCT is ongoing ( Four patients (Cases #7-10) were treated for molecular persistence after completion of induction and 0-3 cycles of consolidation chemotherapy. All 4 patients responded, including 3 (75%) who achieved CRMRD-. Case #7 (Figure 1D) had received prior gemtuzumab ozogamicin and azacitidine without molecular response but then achieved CRMRD- after receiving venetoclax-azacitidine, which was sustained for >23 months without an allo-HSCT. Venetoclax in combination with LDAC/HMA was well tolerated. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 2 patients (20%) and one patient had grade 4 sepsis. Grade 4 neutropenia occurred in 70% (median duration 10 days) and grade 4 thrombocytopenia in 40% (median duration 16 days). Conclusion: In the setting of molecular NPM1mut MRD relapse or persistence, venetoclax in combination with LDAC/HMA was highly effective, with MRD reductions in 100% and complete molecular remission in 80%. Future clinical exploration is warranted to validate the role of venetoclax as a pre-emptive approach to suppress persistent or rising NPM1mut MRD. Disclosures Dillon: Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; TEVA: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria. Ivey:Novartis: Honoraria. Vassili:Amgen: Honoraria. Taussig:Celgene: Research Funding. Russell:Jazz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; DSI: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer Inc: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Raj:Jazz: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; MSD: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Mallinckrodt: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Fong:Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Consultancy. Grigg:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Other: Travel. Knapper:Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria; Jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Tolero: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Wei:AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties: AHW is a former employee of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and receives a fraction of its royalty stream related to venetoclax, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Macrogenics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genentech: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria. OffLabel Disclosure: Venetoclax is a BCL-2 inhibitor that is FDA-approved in some indications. This presentation will focus on venetoclax as a MRD-directed therapy in AML, which is not an approved indication.

Background: The effectiveness of anti-tumour T and NK cells in malignancy is mitigated by the engagement of the immune check point pathway with PD-1/PDL-1 interaction.1,2 Immune manipulation with PD-1 inhibition, in combination with rituximab, can increase T cell anti-tumour effect and enhance NK cell antibody dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC), with this combination proving efficacious in rituximab-refractory follicular lymphoma (FL).3 The concept of 'priming' the immune system with nivolumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, prior to tumour-directed therapy has rationale and evidence, but the safety of this approach in previously untreated FL is not described.4 We are conducting a phase II Simon's two stage study to assess the feasibility and safety of combination nivolumab and rituximab in these patients and present the pre-planned interim analysis results. Methods: The 1st FLOR study (NCT03245021) is an ongoing open-label, multi-centre, phase 2 study of nivolumab and rituximab in patients with previously untreated stage III-IV grade 1-3A FL requiring systemic therapy. Eligible patients are ECOG ≤ 2 and do not require urgent debulking therapy. All patients receive induction nivolumab 240mg intravenously (IV) every 2 weeks for 4 cycles. Patients achieving complete response (CR) based on PET/CT Lugano criteria receive a further 4 cycles of 240mg IV nivolumab monotherapy then maintenance nivolumab 480mg IV every 4 weeks for 12 cycles. Patients achieving less than CR received 240mg nivolumab plus 375mg/m2 IV rituximab every 2 weeks for 4 cycles. Those achieving a response at the end of 8 cycles of nivolumab and rituximab continue maintenance nivolumab 480mg IV every 4 weeks for 12 cycles PLUS rituximab 375mg/m2 every 12 weeks for 8 cycles. PET/CT assessment is performed at baseline, after 4 cycles of nivolumab, after 8 cycles of nivolumab +/-rituximab and prior to maintenance cycle 6. The primary end point is safety, with a pre-planned analysis after the first 19 patients completed induction treatment with 8 cycles of nivolumab +/- rituximab. Secondary endpoints included response rates and time to treatment failure (TTF). The planned total study population is 39 patients, with a Simon's two-stage design. We report the results of the pre-planned interim analysis. Results: Baseline characteristics are summarised in Table 1. Treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were predominantly grade 1-2 with fatigue (74%), infection (59%), nausea/vomiting (36%) and abdominal pain (36%) being the most common (Table 2). Immune-related (IR) AEs were reported in 79% of all patients. Grade 3-4 IRAEs were uncommon and included; pancreatitis plus hepatitis (1 patient); transaminitis (n=1), hyperglycaemia (n=2) and asymptomatic lipase increase (n=2) (Table 3). Median follow-up was 17 months. The overall response rate (ORR) was 84% (16/19) with 47% (9/19) achieving CR, 37% (7/19) partial response (PR), 5% (1/19) stable disease and 11% (2/19) progressive disease (PD) as best response (Figure 1A and 1B). Median time to CR was 5 months. Median TTF was 3.4 months. Three pts (16%) discontinued study treatment; 2 due to early disease progression (1 with suspicion of transformation in cycle 2) and 1 due to development of constitutional symptoms with stable disease. Conclusion: In this planned interim analysis, the combination of nivolumab and rituximab in treatment naive follicular lymphoma is associated with a favourable toxicity profile and high overall and complete response rates potentially providing patients an alternative to traditional chemotherapy. Acknowledgements: Bristol-myers Squibb provided funding and nivolumab for this study. References: 1. Salmaninejad A, et al. PD-1/PD-L1 pathway: Basic biology and role in cancer immunotherapy. J Cell Physiol. 2. Ferris RL, et al. Rationale for combination of therapeutic antibodies targeting tumor cells and immune checkpoint receptors: Harnessing innate and adaptive immunity through IgG1 isotype immune effector stimulation. Cancer Treat Rev. 3. Nastoupil LJ, et al. Response rates with pembrolizumab in combination with rituximab in patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma: Interim results of an on open-label, phase II study. J Clin Oncol. 4. Park SE, et al. Increased Response Rates to Salvage Chemotherapy Administered after PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. J Thorac Oncol. Disclosures Chong: Novartis: Research Funding; Hutchison Medipharma: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; Merck Serono: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding. Gilbertson:Roche: Speakers Bureau; Roche: Honoraria. Grigg:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Other: Travel. Ritchie:Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy; BMS: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Beigene: Research Funding; Imago: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria. Koldej:NanoString Technologies: Other: Travel grant. Manos:Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals: Other: Travel; Janssen: Honoraria. Hawkes:Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Merck KgA: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen-Cilag: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Mundi pharma: Research Funding; Roche/Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Speakers Bureau; Merck Sharpe & Dohme: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Research Funding; Takeda: Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Nivolumab is a fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody against programmed cell death 1 (PD-1). The PD-1 pathway is an immune system checkpoint that may be exploited by tumour cells to escape immune surveillance. By blocking the binding of the PD-1 receptor to the PD-1 and PD- 2 ligands, nivolumab reactivates tumour-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in the tumour microenvironment to restimulate anti-tumour immunity.

Pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) increases molecular response rates when used in combination with imatinib (IM) and dasatinib compared with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) monotherapy in de novo chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML). (Preudhomme NEJM 2010, Hjorth-Hansen Leukemia 2016). The phase II Pinnacle (ALLG CML 11) study evaluated the tolerability and molecular response rate of nilotinib (NIL) with Peg-IFN alfa-2B (PegIntron, MSD) in CP-CML patients. Co-primary end points were MMR (BCR-ABL1 ≤ 0.1%) at 12 mths and MR4.5 (BCR-ABL1 ≤ 0.0032%) at 24 mths. Key secondary end points were survival and overall molecular response. Patients were screened for cardiac / vascular disease and associated risk factors at baseline (EKG, left ventricular ejection fraction, arterial duplex of carotids and lower limbs, blood HbA1c and lipid profiles). Those with uncontrolled vascular risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia) or a history of vascular events were excluded. Eligible pts received NIL 300mg BID alone for the first 3 months (mths). PegIntron was then added at 30mcg/week in pts without persistent hematological toxicities, increasing to 50mcg/week as tolerated over the following mth. Combination therapy continued until 24 mths, when pts reverted to TKI monotherapy. Switching to IM 400-600mg QD was allowed for pts with persistent grade II or any grade III/IV toxicity from NIL. Sixty pts were enrolled from 12 Australian centres. Median age was 48.5 years (range 19-72); 45% were female. Sokal risk was low in 43% and high in 18%. Median follow up (FU) was 34 mths (24-60). Data is presented on an intention to treat basis. Eight pts (13%) did not commence Pegintron (2 due to persistent haem toxicities, 4 from GI disturbance, liver/pancreatic enzyme derangements, and 2 from pt preference). Considering Pegintron as a product of protocol assigned dose and duration, adjusted for time from study entry, 21 pts (35%) received >85% of their assigned dose, 13 (22%) received between 50-84% and 18 pts (30%) received 85% of their assigned dose versus those wwho took Adverse events (AE) are reported at a similar frequency compared to the interim analysis. Grade III/IV AEs attributed to NIL were increased lipase and neutropenia (each 12%), pancreatitis (6%), thrombocytopenia and rash (each 5%). Grade III/IV AEs attributed to Pegintron were neutropenia (10%), atrial fibrillation (6%), and myalgia, depression and rash (4% each). Three vascular revents occurred: one case each of ischaemic colitis, femoral artery occlusion, coronary artery disease. The former occurred on imaitnib and the latter 2 occurred after 2.5 and 4 years of niloitnib respectively; both patient have since switched to imatinib. Eighteen pts (30%) have withdrawn from study: 2 withdrew consent, 6 due to intolerance (diarrhoea, pancreatitis, GI upset, rash, high amylase and LFT derangements), 4 for failing to consistently achieve BCR-ABL MMR, 2 for loss of response; 4 pts withdrew for other reasons. Fig 1B shows BCR-ABL1 transcript levels over time. At 3 mths, 22 (37%) have achieved MMR, 23 (38%) had BCR-ABL between 0.1-1%, and 6 (10%) had BCR-ABL between 1-10%; 3 have already withdrawn. Six pts (10%) had BCR-ABL1 ≥10%; 3 subsequently achieved and maintained MMR, 1 has BCR-ABL Combination therapy with NIL and Peg-IFN leads to favourable rates of molecular responses that may be superior to NIL monotherapy (Table). While the majority of patients did not durably tolerate full dose Pegintron, there was minimal interference with TKI dose intensity. Such strategies may maximise achievement of deep molecular response, allowing a trial of TKI cessation and the benefit of treatment free remission to an increased number of patients. Disclosures Yeung: BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Shanmuganathan:Gilead: Other: Travel Support; Janssen: Other: Travel Support; Amgen: Other: Travel Support; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: Travel Support; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Travel Support. Grigg:Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Other: Travel; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Reynolds:AUSTRALASIAN LEUKAEMIA & LYMPHOMA GROUP (ALLG): Consultancy; Novartis AG: Equity Ownership; Novartis Australia: Honoraria; Alfred Health: Employment, Other: Biostatistician for trials funded by the Australian government and Abbvie, Amgen, Celgene, GSK, Janssen-Cilag, Merck, Novartis, Takeda, but sponsored by Alfred Health.. Harrup:Cooperative Trial Group for NeuroOncolog: Other: Collaborative Clinical Trials Group; Cancer Council of Tasmania: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Ross:BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Mills:Novartis: Other: Speaker Fees; Specialised Therapeutics: Honoraria; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Other: Conference Sponsorship; MSD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Yong:BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. White:BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; AMGEN: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Branford:Qiagen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cepheid: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Hughes:Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene: Research Funding; Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Other: Travel. OffLabel Disclosure: Pegylated interferon is not registered for use in chronic phase CML

Background: Whilst up to 60% of DLBCL patients (pts) are cured with frontline R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone), outcomes remain poor for those with relapsed or refractory disease. 1 New strategies to improve frontline cure rates are needed. Tumour cells exploit immune checkpoint pathways, including the PD1/PDL1 axis, to evade the host immune system. PD1/PDL1 over-expression and cytogenetic 9p24 alterations in some DLBCL subtypes provide additional rationale for immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) in this disease. Although single agent PD1 inhibition yields an overall response rate (ORR) of only 10%-30% in heavily pre-treated unselected DLBCL, many responses are durable.2 Immunosuppressive effects of prior therapy may contribute to the modest response to ICI in relapsed disease. A number of considerations influence the incorporation of ICI into upfront DLBCL treatment. Although concurrent PD1/PDL1 inhibition and R-CHOP is safe,3 corticosteroid-related immunosuppression may negate PDL1-inhibitor efficacy. Evidence supporting host immune priming with ICI prior to chemotherapy is promising,4 and maintenance ICI post chemotherapy may assist with immune reconstitution and enhance the anti-tumour immune response. Additionally, avelumab (Av, an anti-PDL1 monoclonal antibody with antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity) acts synergistically with rituximab (R) in vitro (unpublished data, Pfizer 2016). Thus, we present our phase II study assessing the safety of sequential Av+R induction, R-CHOP and Av maintenance as upfront therapy for DLBCL. Methods: AvR-CHOP (NCT03244176) is a phase II multicentre single-arm trial of Av induction + maintenance with R-CHOP in newly-diagnosed adult pts with DLBCL. Pts aged >18 years, ECOG 0-2, stage II-IV and with no active autoimmune disease are eligible. Exclusion criteria include the necessity for urgent cytoreduction, grade 3B or transformed follicular lymphoma, CNS involvement, chronic steroid use, prior transplantation or pneumonitis. Treatment (Fig 1) comprises R (375mg/m2 IV) + Av (10mg/kg IV) x 2 cycles q2-weekly, followed by R-CHOP21 x 6 cycles. Maintenance Av x 6 cycles q2-weekly is given to patients achieving a complete metabolic response by PET/CT at the end of R-CHOP. PET/CT is performed after R+Av 2 cycles, cycle 2 R-CHOP, end of R-CHOP and end of Av maintenance. The primary endpoint is immune-related toxicity within 30 days post-treatment. Secondary endpoints include ORR, failure free survival (FFS), overall survival (OS) and toxicity of treatment. Complete metabolic response rates by PET-CT after R-Av induction and after C2 R-CHOP are exploratory endpoints. Biomarker sample collection is synchronised with PET response assessment. A comprehensive translational substudy will apply high throughput technologies to tissue and sequential blood samples to characterise the tumour-immune system interaction and correlate novel host, tumour and tumour microenvironment factors with treatment responses and toxicity. Planned enrolment is 28 pts across 3 sites in Australia. The study follows a Simon 1 stage design, with an 80% power and a 1-sided alpha of 0.05 to rule out an Av-related toxicity rate of 30% (p0=70%), assuming an expected immune related toxicity rate of 10% [p1=90%]. 23 pts are enrolled to date. Acknowledgements: Merck KgA (avelumab and funding) References: 1. Cunningham D et al. Rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone in patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a phase 3 comparison of dose intensification with 14-day versus 21-day cycles. Lancet (London, England). 2013;381(9880):1817-26. 2. Ansell SM et al. Nivolumab for Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in Patients Ineligible for or Having Failed Autologous Transplantation: A Single-Arm, Phase II Study. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37(6):481-9. 3. Nowakowski GS et al. Safety and efficacy of PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab with R-CHOP or R2-CHOP in subjects with previously untreated, high-risk DLBCL. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2019;37(15_suppl):7520-. 4. Park SE et al. Increased Response Rates to Salvage Chemotherapy Administered after PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. 2018;13(1):106-11. Disclosures Hawkes: Roche/Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel expenses, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Merck KgA: Research Funding; Janssen-Cilag: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Mundi pharma: Research Funding; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Takeda: Speakers Bureau; Merck Sharp & Dohme: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Manos:NovoNordisk Pharmaceuticals: Other: Travel; Janssen: Honoraria. Renwick:Celgene: Consultancy; Roche: Honoraria. Grigg:MSD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Other: Travel. Scott:Medimmune: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties; IBA: Consultancy; Avipep: Consultancy; Life Science Pharmaceuticals: Equity Ownership; Paracrine Therapeutics: Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties; NHMRC: Research Funding; Cancer Australia: Research Funding; Cancer Council Victoria: Research Funding; Cure Brain Cancer: Research Funding; Humanigen: Patents & Royalties. Lee:Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Fong:Astellas: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Rooney:GenesisCare: Employment. Wight:Janssen: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; BMS: Other: Travel; Amgen: Other: Travel. Chong:BMS: Research Funding; Merck Serono: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Hutchison Medipharma: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Avelumab is an anti-PDL1 monoclonal antibody.

Background Primary and secondary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL/SCNSL) are rare brain malignancies with an aggressive clinical course and dismal outcomes. The BTK inhibitor ibrutinib has activity in a range of B-cell lymphomas. Phase I and II studies of ibrutinib monotherapy in relapsed/refractory PCNSL have demonstrated promising results, with response rates of up to 81%. Response rates of up to 69% have also been seen in SCNSL. Ibrutinib has been combined with other systemic agents (e.g. rituximab and methotrexate) in phase 1 trials with promising results (Grommes et al Blood 2019); combination with more intensive combination chemotherapy regimens also appears efficacious but has exhibited a potentially limiting toxicity profile, in particular invasive fungal infections. (Lionakis et al Cancer Cell 2017). However, data for ibrutinib in PCNSL and SCNSL outside the clinical trial setting are scarce. Methods We performed a national, multicentre, retrospective study of the clinical outcomes and safety of patients (pts) with PCNSL and SCNSL who received ibrutinib between December 2015 and June 2019. Results The baseline characteristics of the 16 eligible pts are summarised in the table (Figure 1a). 88% (n=14) had relapsed/refractory disease, with two patients receiving ibrutinib as a component of multiagent frontline therapy. The most common target daily dose was 560mg (range 420-840mg); this was reached in all pts. Among all pts, the objective response rate (ORR) was 69%, with a complete remission (CR) rate of 63%. Both patients receiving ibrutinib in combination frontline therapy achieved a CR. ORR in PCNSL pts was 50% (n=4) and SCNSL pts was 88% (n=7), (P=0.28). ORR was 80% (n=4) when ibrutinib was administered as monotherapy, 80% (n=4) when administered with chemotherapy and 75% (n=3) when administered concomitant with whole brain radiotherapy. MYD88L265P mutation at time of starting ibrutinib was only tested in two patients with PCNSL and none with SCNSL. The mutation was detected in both PCNSL cases, and both later attained a CR. With a median follow up of 14 months, calculated using median observation period among patients alive at last follow-up, median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were not reached. 12 month PFS was 56% for the entire cohort (95% confidence interval [CI] 29-76); 50% for PCNSL (95% CI 15-77) and 60% for SCNSL (95% CI 20-85%) (Figure 1b). 12 month OS was 66% for the entire cohort (95% CI 36-85) ; 50% for PCNSL (95% CI 15-77) and 80% for SCNSL (95% CI 20-97%) (Figure 1c). Ten pts had PFS >6 months (longest 41.3 months), and 11 pts (69%) remained alive, with 9/11 being free from disease progression. Seven pts remain on ibrutinib at time of data analysis, 3 with PCNSL and 4 with SCNSL. Nine pts (56%) have discontinued therapy; 6 due to progressive disease (PD), 1 due to atrial fibrillation with hypotension requiring inotropic support and 2 in remission, one of whom subsequently underwent autologous stem cell transplant. Dose interruptions or reductions were required in 6 pts (37%), due to bleeding (n=2), infection (n=3) and neutropenia (n=1). Grade 3/4 adverse events were infection (31%, n=5), neutropenia (25%, n=4), febrile neutropenia (12%, n=2) and one each (6%, n=1) of atrial fibrillation, thrombocytopenia, and anaemia. No invasive fungal infections were observed, despite use of 8-16mg daily dexamethasone immediately prior to or during ibrutinib therapy in 10 pts (62%). Conclusions In this small real-world, majority methotrexate-refractory population, ibrutinib demonstrates encouraging efficacy and durable responses despite doses lower than used in clinical trials. No unexpected adverse events were observed. Invasive fungal infections were not seen, despite most patients receiving concurrent dexamethasone and/or chemotherapy. We observed substantial variety in additional therapy during ibrutinib treatment, and the optimal way to use ibrutinib in this heterogenous patient group remains unclear. Disclosures Manos: NovoNordisk Pharmaceuticals: Other: Travel; Janssen: Honoraria. Ho:Celgene: Consultancy, Other: Advisory role. Grigg:Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Other: Travel. Gandhi:Amgen: Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Other: Travel Support; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Merck: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Hawkes:Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; Mundi pharma: Research Funding; Janssen-Cilag: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Merck KgA: Research Funding; Merck Sharpe & Dohme: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche/Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Cheah:Roche: Other: Travel expenses; Roche, Janssen, MSD, Gilead, Loxo Oncology, AstraZeneca, TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene, Roche, Abbvie: Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Ibrutinib is not currently approved for use in DLBCL/CNS lymphoma.

In 1992, BHP Coal Pty Ltd, the operator of eight open-cut coal mines in the Bowen Basin of central Queensland, embarked on a major research and development program which still continues today. The Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation at the University of Queensland was one of the research groups that became involved with the program. A series of linked, multidisciplinary projects was developed, focusing on developing procedures to overcome, or at least minimize, the major impediments to the establishment and persistence of self-sustaining ecosystems on postmined land in the central Queensland coalfields. The research addressed both control and/or amelioration of factors that affect plant establishment, as well as control and/or management of those factors limiting growth and ongoing sustainability. Surface crusting, salinity, competition during establishment, and water availability had been identified as the major limitations to successful establishment, while among the sustainability issues, water availability, nutrient availability through the reestablishment of effective nutrient cycling, compaction, and erosion were identified as key issues. Linking both programs is the role of species selection, both plant and microbial, in fostering establishment and sustainability success (Figure 3.1). Figure 3.1 An overview of the major limitations to effective establishment and sustainability of ecosystems established on postmined land in the Bowen Basin of central Queensland. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203740897/f817f29c-f580-4805-a8c5-e1f1c121dded/content/fig3_1.tif"/>

BACKGROUND: Initial results from the ongoing GALLIUM trial have shown that patients with follicular lymphoma have a longer progression-free survival after first-line immunochemotherapy with obinutuzumab than with rituximab. The aim of this secondary analysis was to evaluate the prognostic value of PET-CT responses after first-line immunochemotherapy in the GALLIUM study.METHODS: GALLIUM is an open-label, parallel-group randomised, phase 3 trial, which recruited previously untreated patients with CD20-positive follicular lymphoma (grades 1-3a; disease stage III/IV, or stage II with largest tumour diameter ≥7 cm) who were aged 18 years or older and met the criteria for needing treatment. Eligible patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive intravenous administration of obinutuzumab (1000 mg on days 1, 8, and 15 of cycle 1, then day 1 of subsequent cycles) or rituximab (375 mg/m2 on day 1 of each cycle), in six 21-day cycles with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (known as CHOP; oral administration) followed by two 21-day cycles of antibody alone, or eight 21-day cycles cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (known as CVP; oral administration), or six 28-day cycles with bendamustine, followed by maintenance antibody every 2 months for up to 2 years. The primary endpoint of the trial, investigator-assessed progression-free survival, has been reported previously. This secondary analysis reports PET and CT-based responses at end-of-induction therapy and explains their relation with progression-free and overall survival outcomes in patients with available scans. As per protocol, during the trial, PET scans (mandatory in the first 170 patients enrolled at sites with available PET facilities, and optional thereafter), acquired at baseline and end of induction (PET population), were assessed prospectively by investigators and an independent review committee (IRC) applying International Harmonisation Project (IHP) 2007 response criteria, and retrospectively by the IRC only applying current Lugano 2014 response criteria. IRC members (but not study investigators) were masked to treatment and clinical outcome when assessing response. The landmark analyses excluded patients who died or progressed (contrast enhanced CT-based assessment of progressive disease, or started next anti-lymphoma treatment) before or at end of induction. GALLIUM is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01332968.FINDINGS: 1202 patients were enrolled in GALLIUM between July 6, 2011, and Feb 4, 2014, of whom 595 were included in the PET population; 533 (IHP 2007; prospective analysis), and 508 (Lugano 2014; retrospective analysis) were analysed for progression-free survival (landmark analysis). At end of induction, 390 of 595 patients (65·5% [95% CI 61·6-69·4]) achieved PET complete response according to IHP 2007 criteria, and 450 (75·6% [95% CI 72·0-79·0]) obtained PET complete metabolic response according to Lugano 2014 criteria. With a median of 43·3 months of observation (IQR 36·2-51·8), 2·5-year progression-free survival from end of induction was 87·8% (95% CI 83·9-90·8) in PET complete responders and 72·0% (63·1-79·0) in non-complete responders according to IRC-assessed IHP 2007 criteria (hazard ratio [HR] 0·4, 95% CI 0·3-0·6, pINTERPRETATION: Our results suggest that PET is a better imaging modality than contrast-enhanced CT for response assessment after first-line immunochemotherapy in patients with follicular lymphoma. PET assessment according to Lugano 2014 response criteria provides a platform for investigation of response-adapted therapeutic approaches. Additional supportive data are welcomed.FUNDING: F Hoffmann-La Roche.

Busulfan (Bu) is an alkylating agent widely used in conditioning regimes prior to stem cell transplantation (SCT), most commonly in combination with cyclophosphamide (Bu-cy) or fludarabine (Bu-flu) as myeloablative conditioning prior to allograft or with high-dose melphalan (Bu-mel) prior to autologous SCT. Despite many decades of Bu use, initially orally but now intravenously (IV), a paucity of pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) data exists to inform evidence-based guidelines as how best to balance the efficacy and toxicity of this agent. This is a non-randomized retrospective real-world study at three hospitals investigating the role of PK guidance in dosing Bu in the setting of IV Bu-mel autologous SCT. The primary intent was to examine how effectively PK assessment could be used to achieve a desirable drug exposure and to evaluate factors, particularly, age, sex, actual weight, body mass index (BMI), body surface area (BSA), disease, number of prior treatments, renal function, and the use of concomitant medications that may influence Bu exposure. All patients underwent PK analysis on a test dose of Bu (1.6 mg/kg, i.e., 50% of the first dose) on D-7 and subsequently received a second 1.6 mg/kg dose on D-6. Bu dose was calculated using actual body weight (ABW) if patients were less than ideal body weight (IBW), or adjusted ideal body weight (AIBW) if ABW was greater than IBW. Thereafter, at the discretion of the investigator, the group was divided into two; a weight-based cohort at two hospitals and a PK-guided cohort at the third hospital. Thirty-seven patients received PK-adjusted dosing guided by the results of the initial PK results, targeting a specific Bu exposure expressed as the area-under-the-concentration-versus-time curve (AUC) of between 4000 and 5000 μmol min/day (median 4800). The remaining 27 patients received unadjusted weight-based doses with a further three doses of 3.2 mg/kg of Bu infused over 180 min (D-5 to − 3) irrespective of their initial PK results. For the purposes of the analysis, we selected a target AUC of 4800 μmol min/day in this group, equivalent to the median targeted AUC in the PK-adjusted group. All patients subsequently had repeated PK analysis on D-5 after receiving their “therapeutic” Bu dose. Mel (140 mg/m2 or 100 mg/m2) IV was given on D-2. Sixty-four adult patients were enrolled. Patients who received PK-guided Bu dosing received a higher median Bu dose than the unadjusted weight-based cohort (3.5 mg/kg vs 3.2 mg/kg respectively, p = 0.007). Eighty-one percent (30/37) of patients in the PK-guided group achieved their target AUC (± 15%) compared with 56% (15/27) in the weight-based cohort (p = 0.027). The respective median AUCs of 5064 μmol min/day (range 3639–6157 μmol min/day) and 4854 μmol min/day (range 3251–6305 μmol min/day) were not significantly different (p = 0.16). Multivariate analysis identified ABW as the only independent variable that affected the relationship between Bu dosing and exposure (p = 0.02) with heavier patients achieving lower than anticipated AUCs for the dose they received. On D-5, within the weight-based cohort, the mean AUCs were 12% higher than anticipated based on initial D-7 PK. No correlation between AUC and grade 3–4 transplant-related toxicities were observed, although only three patients had AUCs > 6000 μmol min/day. These results suggest that PK-directed Bu dosing may be of benefit in achieving a target level of drug exposure, with larger studies needed to determine the clinical significance of this strategy.

Following the achievement of deep molecular response on tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), approximately half of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) can discontinue TKI and remain in treatment-free remission (TFR). The ALLGCML8 study enrolled 40 imatinib-treated patients with undetectable BCR-ABL1 mRNA (approximately MR4.5). Molecular relapse was defined as detectable BCR-ABL1 on two consecutive tests or any single value >0.1%. With a median follow-up of 8.6 years (range 5.7–11.2 years), 18 patients remain in continuous TFR (45.0%; 95% confidence interval 31.9−63.4%).The latest relapse detected was 27 months after stopping imatinib. No patient progressed to advanced phase. Twenty-two patients met criteria for imatinib re-treatment and all regained undetectable molecular response. Nine patients in long-term TFR were monitored by highly sensitive individualized BCR-ABL1 DNA PCR in a sufficient number of samples to enablemore precise quantification of residual leukemia. BCR-ABL1 DNA decreased from a median of MR5.0 in the first year of TFR to MR6.1 in the sixth year of TFR. Our results support the long-term safety and remarkable stability of response after imatinib discontinuation in appropriately selected CML patients. Serial high sensitivity testing provides a new and unexpected findingof gradually reducing CML cells in patients in long-term TFR. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

The ability of cytotoxic lymphocytes (CL) to eliminate virus-infected or cancerous target cells through the granule exocytosis death pathway is critical to immune homeostasis. Congenital loss of CL function due to bi-allelic mutations in PRF1, UNC13D, STX11, or STXBP2 leads to a potentially fatal immune dysregulation, familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL). This occurs due to the failure of CLs to release functional pore-forming protein perforin and, therefore, inability to kill the target cell. Bi-allelic mutations in partner proteins STXBP2 or STX11 impair CL cytotoxicity due to failed docking/fusion of cytotoxic secretory granules with the plasma membrane. One unique feature of STXBP2- and STX11-deficient patient CLs is that their short-term in vitro treatment with a low concentration of IL-2 partially or completely restores natural killer (NK) cell degranulation and cytotoxicity, suggesting the existence of a secondary, yet unknown, pathway for secretory granule exocytosis. In the current report, we studied NK and T-cell function in an individual with late presentation of FHL due to hypomorphic bi-allelic mutations in STXBP2. Intriguingly, in addition to the expected alterations in the STXBP2 and STX11 proteins, we also observed a concomitant significant reduction in the expression of homologous STXBP1 protein and its partner STX1, which had never been implicated in CL function. Further analysis of human NK and T cells demonstrated a functional role for the STXBP1/STX1 axis in NK and CD8+ T-cell cytotoxicity, where it appears to be responsible for as much as 50% of their cytotoxic activity. This discovery suggests a unique and previously unappreciated interplay between STXBP/Munc proteins regulating the same essential granule exocytosis pathway.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objectives were to investigate the prescribing practices of primary antifungal prophylaxis (PAP) and incidence of invasive fungal disease (IFD) in adult patients with ALL receiving induction-consolidation chemotherapy. Secondary objectives were to determine risk factors for IFD and resource utilization associated with IFD. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of adult patients with ALL from commencement of induction until completion of consolidation chemotherapy was undertaken from January 2008 to June 2013 in four hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. IFD was classified according to the revised European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer criteria. Cost analysis was performed from an Australian public hospital perspective. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients were included in the audit; 83 (85%) received PAP. Most patients (49/83, 59%) switched between two different antifungal agents, predominantly between liposomal amphotericin B and an azole. Five proven/probable and six possible IFD cases were identified. Proven/probable IFD was most common in patients receiving the BFM95 chemotherapy protocol. The incidence of proven/probable IFD was significantly lower in patients receiving PAP compared with those who did not (2/78, 2.6% versus 3/14, 21.4%; P = 0.024). For every five patients receiving PAP, one proven/probable IFD case would be prevented. Proven/probable IFD was associated with an additional median cost of 121,520 Australian dollars (95% CI: 90,781-180,141 Australian dollars; P < 0.001) compared with patients without IFD. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first multicentre study evaluating PAP use in patients with ALL. With the caveats of interpretation of retrospective, non-randomized data, PAP was associated with a reduced IFD risk.

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) causes significant morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation or chemotherapy for haematological malignancy. Much of these adverse outcomes are due to the limited ability of traditional diagnostic tests (i.e. culture and histology) to make an early and accurate diagnosis. As persistent or recurrent fevers of unknown origin (PFUO) in neutropenic patients despite broad-spectrum antibiotics have been associated with the development of IFD, most centres have traditionally administered empiric antifungal therapy (EAFT) to patients with PFUO. However, use of an EAFT strategy has not been shown to have an overall survival benefit and is associated with excessive antifungal therapy use. As a result, the focus has shifted to developing more sensitive and specific diagnostic tests for early and more targeted antifungal treatment. These tests, including the galactomannan enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Aspergillus polymerase chain reaction (PCR), have enabled the development of diagnostic-driven antifungal treatment (DDAT) strategies, which have been shown to be safe and feasible, reducing antifungal usage. In addition, the development of effective antifungal prophylactic strategies has changed the landscape in terms of the incidence and types of IFD that clinicians have encountered. In this review, we examine the current role of EAFT and provide up-to-date data on the newer diagnostic tests and algorithms available for use in EAFT and DDAT strategies, within the context of patient risk and type of antifungal prophylaxis used.

There is a strong argument for the use of antifungal prophylaxis in high-risk patients given the significant mortality associated with invasive fungal disease, the late identification of these infections, and the availability of safe and well-tolerated prophylactic medications. Clinical decisions about which patients should receive prophylaxis and choice of antifungal agent should be guided by risk stratification, knowledge of local fungal epidemiology, the efficacy and tolerability profile of available agents, and estimates such as number needed to treat and number needed to harm. There have been substantial changes in practice since the 2008 guidelines were published. These include the availability of new medications and/or formulations, and a focus on refining and simplifying patient risk stratification. Used in context, these guidelines aim to assist clinicians in providing optimal preventive care to this vulnerable patient demographic.

Vanishing bile duct syndrome (VBDS) in association with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is well described but not well understood. We report an unusual case of a 75-year-old patient presenting with biopsy-proven VBDS and immunodeficiency, without identifiable cause, which showed a waxing and waning course, culminating in the development of HL 18 months later. To our knowledge, this is the first adult case in which VBDS preceded the diagnosis of HL by such a long period.

Objectives A two-part (Phase 1B/3), sequential, open-label, multicentre study evaluated the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of intravenous (iv) posaconazole given as antifungal prophylaxis to neutropenic patients with AML or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or to recipients at risk of invasive fungal disease (IFD) after allogeneic HSCT. Methods Patients ( N = 237) received 300 mg of posaconazole iv twice daily on day 1, followed by 300 mg of posaconazole iv once daily for 4-28 days. After at least 5 days, patients were randomly assigned to receive posaconazole oral suspension, 400 mg twice daily or 200 mg three times daily, to complete a 28 day treatment course. Primary PK parameters were steady-state average concentration over the dosing interval ( C avg ) and posaconazole trough levels ( C min ). Results Mean posaconazole C min was 1320 ng/mL (day 6) and 1297 ng/mL (day 8); steady-state C min was 1090 ng/mL (day 10). Mean steady-state posaconazole C avg was 1500 ng/mL (day 10 or 14) and was similar in HSCT recipients (1560 ng/mL) and AML/MDS patients (1470 ng/mL). The most commonly reported treatment-related adverse events were diarrhoea (8%), nausea (5%) and rash (5%). IFD was reported in 3/237 patients (1%; 2 proven, 1 probable). Conclusions Intravenous posaconazole at 300 mg was well tolerated, resulted in adequate steady-state systemic exposure and was associated with a low incidence of IFD in this population at high risk. Trial registry and number ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01075984.

Routine chest X-ray (CXR) is recommended for neutropenic fever (NF) management however its role is relatively understudied in haematology patients.To investigate the utility of CXR in the diagnosis and management of patients with haematological conditions complicated by NF.Retrospective, single-centre analysis of haematology patients admitted with NF between January 2011 and December 2015. Baseline demographics, treatment details and outcomes were collected from electronic patient records. CXR underwent independent radiology review. Primary endpoints were a proportion of NF episodes in which CXR detected a probable chest infection in the absence of respiratory symptoms/signs and/or resulted in a change in antibiotic management.Four hundred and thirty-five episodes were identified; CXR was performed in 75% of patients (65% within 2 days of NF). In 4 of 164 (2.4%) asymptomatic patients, CXR was consistent with infection, in contrast to 19 of 119 (16%) patients with clinical signs of respiratory infection. Only 3 of 283 (1.1%) CXR resulted in a change to antibiotics. CXR consistent with infection was not associated with increased mortality or increased admission length, although there was an association with intensive care unit admission (odds ratios: 7.61, 95% confidence interval: 2.04-28.31).In haematology patients with NF, CXR rarely detected chest infection or changed management in patients with no respiratory symptoms or signs. CXR in our institution is no longer part of routine assessment of NF in the absence of these features.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy with increasing prevalence in older populations.1 Infections, particularly pyogenic infections and reactivation of latent viral infections,2 are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with MM. Previously, invasive aspergillosis (IA) had been found to be a significant opportunistic infection in patients with myeloma managed with intensive conventional combination chemotherapeutic regimens with nearly 50% attributable mortality. IA tended to occur early in the treatment course in patients with higher disease stage.3 However, the treatment of myeloma has undergone a paradigm shift with the use of immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), proteasome inhibitors (PI) and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (ASCT) as the new standard of care.

The efficacy of a fixed-dose rituximab schedule was prospectively explored in primary/acute refractory, relapsed or chronic (platelet count >10 × 10(9) /l and ≤50 × 10(9) /l) idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Patients received two doses of rituximab (1000 mg) on days 1 and 15 and were followed-up on weeks 1-8, 12, 26, 39 and 52. A total of 122 patients were included in the safety population; efficacy was analysed in 108 patients. Overall response rate (ORR) at week 8, defined as the proportion of patients achieving complete response (CR; platelet count >150 × 10(9) /l) or partial response (PR; platelet count >50 × 10(9) /l) was 44%. Therapeutic response, defined as achieving a response at week 8, with at least a minor response (MR; platelet count >30 × 10(9) /l), sustained up to weeks 26 and 52 and accompanied by a reduction in ITP medications, was achieved in 44% (week 26) and 35% (week 52) of patients, respectively. Treatment was well tolerated with no safety concerns. While this study failed to meet its primary endpoint of an ORR of 50%, the efficacy of two fixed doses of rituximab appear to provide similar efficacy to the standard 375 mg/m(2) four-dose schedule in relapsed/chronic ITP.

Increasing dose intensity (DI) of chemotherapy for patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) may improve outcomes at the cost of increased toxicity. This issue was addressed in a randomized trial aiming to double the DI of myelosuppressive drugs. Between 1994 and 1999, 250 patients with previously untreated aggressive NHL were randomized to treatment with six cycles of 3-weekly standard (s) or intensive (i) chemotherapy: s-CEOP–cyclophosphamide 750, epirubicin 75, vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 all on day 1, and prednisolone 100 mg days 1–5; i-CEOP–cyclophosphamide 1,500, epirubicin 150, vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 all on day 1, and prednisolone 100 mg days 1–5. Primary endpoint was 5-year overall survival (OS). Relative to s-CEOP patients, i-CEOP patients achieved a 78% increase in the DI of cyclophosphamide and epirubicin. Despite this, there was no significant difference in any outcome: 5-year OS (56.7% i-CEOP; 55.1% s-CEOP; P = 0.80), 5-year progression free survival (PFS; 41% i-CEOP; 43% s-CEOP; P = 0.73), 5-year time to progression (TTP; 44% i-CEOP; 47% s-CEOP; P = 0.72), or complete remission (CR) + unconfirmed CR (CRu) rates (53% i-CEOP; 59% s-CEOP; P = 0.64). Long-term follow up at 10 years also showed no significant differences in OS, PFS, or TTP. The i-CEOP arm had higher rates of febrile neutropenia (70 vs. 26%), hospitalisations, blood product utilisation, haematological and gastrointestinal toxicities, and lower quality of life scores during treatment, although without significant differences 6-month later. In the treatment of aggressive NHL in the prerituximab era, increasing DI did not result in improved outcomes, while at the same time lead to increased toxicity. Am. J. Hematol. 89:536–541, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

e19027 Background: Pts with iNHL undergo active surveillance to detect disease relapse or progression. International guidelines recommend regular RBTs for surveillance but evidence for this practice is lacking. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of pts aged ≥16 yrs from 2008-17 undergoing routine surveillance at 2 Australian centres for grade 1-3a follicular lymphoma (FL) or marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), to assess the utility of full blood count, lactate dehydrogenase & beta-2-microglobulin to detect progression events; (i.e relapse or progression) or to change management. Abnormal results were defined as acute deviations from local laboratory normal ranges not explained by a concurrent medical condition. Eligible pts were either treatment-naive or had achieved a response to lymphoma-directed therapy, had ≥6 mths follow up and an absence of progression events within 3 mths of prior therapy. Demographic data were collected as well as treatment, follow up appointment (appt) details including presence of signs/symptoms, RBT results, survival status & further therapy. The study was ethically approved. Results: 180 eligible pts (FL:142, MZL:38) underwent 1757 follow up appts (median follow up 38 months). RBTs were done at 83% of appts. 74 progression events occurred in a total of 62 pts; 48/74 (65%) had immediate therapy. 2/74 (3%) were detected by RBTs alone, (both treatment naïve pts); 88% by signs/symptoms & 9% by routine imaging. 20/243 (8%) of abnormal RBTs in asymptomatic pts led to a change in subsequent management (10 had imaging; 8 earlier appts; 2 repeat RBTs alone). The sensitivity & positive predictive value of abnormal RBTs to detect progression events were 39% & 9% respectively. In asymptomatic patients, the number of RBTs required to change management and to detect a progression event were 64 and 644 respectively. Conclusions: RBTs rarely detect clinically significant disease progression or relapse and seldom solely lead to a change in management in asymptomatic pts with iNHL. Clinical signs/symptoms are far more likely to detect progression or relapse. Guidelines should reflect the benefit & risk of RBTs in the clinical setting.

The proportion of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cured is increased by administering high-dose cytarabine (HiDAC). It remains uncertain whether to administer HiDAC as induction or consolidation, and whether ≥1 cycle of HiDAC is required. Our retrospective study of 416 adult AML patients, excluding good risk cytogenetics, compared a single cycle of HiDAC-based therapy followed by 2 cycles of standard-dose cytarabine (SDAC) (HiDAC induction cohort) with SDAC-based chemotherapy followed by 2 cycles of HiDAC-based chemotherapy (HiDAC consolidation cohort). Complete remission (CR) rate was greater in the HiDAC induction cohort (90% vs 78%, P

Introduction: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a rare disease that commonly occurs in AYAs, defined in the United States as patients 15 to 39 years of age. Brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris®; A) is an anti-CD30 antibody-drug conjugate approved for adult patients with previously untreated stage III or IV classical HL (cHL) in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (AVD) chemotherapy based on results from the phase 3 ECHELON-1 trial which demonstrated a significantly improved modified progression-free survival (mPFS) compared with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.60-0.98; P=0.04) (Connors JM, et al. N Engl J Med. 2018;378:331-344). Here we describe key efficacy and safety results for 18-to-39-year-old AYA patients enrolled in ECHELON-1. Methods: ECHELON-1 is a global, open-label, multicenter, randomized trial of patients with previously untreated stage III or IV cHL. Patients ≥18 years of age enrolled from both academic and community sites were randomized to receive A+AVD (n=664) or ABVD (n=670). The primary endpoint was mPFS, defined as progression, death, or receipt of additional anticancer therapy for patients who were not in complete response after completion of frontline therapy, as adjudicated by an independent review facility (IRF). Safety and tolerability was also assessed. To account for regional differences in the age ranges that define AYA patients, this exploratory subgroup analysis compares efficacy and key safety outcomes for AYA patients Results: The AYA population consisted of 771 patients comprising 57.8% of the total trial population; the cohort comprised 303 patients aged 30 to 39 years, and 468 patients aged Consistent with the overall trial population, median follow-up time was approximately 24 months for both age groups. AYA patients receiving A+AVD had an improved overall mPFS compared with patients receiving ABVD (≤39 years of age, HR 0.697 [95% CI, 0.495-0.980]; The rate of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in patients receiving A+AVD or ABVD was similar across age groups and reflected that of the overall trial population. TEAEs of interest include peripheral neuropathy (PN), febrile neutropenia (FN), and pulmonary-related toxicity (PRT). For patients receiving A+AVD or ABVD, any-grade PN occurred 64% and 40% of AYA patients; the majority (69%) of patients with PN had improvement/resolution of PN. The rate of FN in patients on A+AVD or ABVD arms was 16% and 5%, respectively; the incidence of FN was lower in patients who received G-CSF primary prophylaxis (9% and 5%, respectively). The incidence of PRT was low on both A+AVD (2%) and ABVD arms (4%). Conclusions : This exploratory analysis of ECHELON-1 demonstrated that AYAs receiving A+AVD had significantly improved mPFS with a manageable tolerability profile compared with AYA patients receiving ABVD. A+AVD can be considered a treatment option for AYAs with advanced-stage cHL. Additional data presented will focus on comparing results between AYA age ranges. Disclosures Crosswell: Seattle Genetics: Other: stock ownership in Seattle Genetics. LaCasce:Research to Practice: Speakers Bureau; Humanigen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Other: Data safety and monitoring board. Bartlett:Affimed: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Bristol-Meyers Squibb: Research Funding; Merck & Co: Research Funding; KITE: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Immune Design: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Acerta: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Millennium: Research Funding; ImaginAB: Research Funding; Forty Seven: Research Funding. Straus:Medical Crossfire: Speakers Bureau; DAVA Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria; InPractice Elselvier: Consultancy; JUNO: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Roch China: Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Employment; Onco Tracker: Consultancy; Millenium (Takeda): Consultancy, Research Funding. Fenton:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Engley:Seattle Genetics: Employment. Jolin:Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.: Employment. Liu:Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Zinzani:TG Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astra Zeneca: Speakers Bureau; PFIZER: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Verastem: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; SERVIER: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; PFIZER: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; TG Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celltrion: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Collins:Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celleron: Consultancy, Honoraria; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene Corporation: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria. Grigg:Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Alfa Interferon, commonly used in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP) in the pre-imatinib era, was able to induce a cytogenetic response in a minority of patients (pts). Pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) is better tolerated than IFN, and increases molecular response rates when used in combination with imatinib (IM) compared with IM monotherapy (Preudhomme NEJM 2010). The phase II Pinnacle (ALLG CML 11) study evaluated the tolerability and molecular response rate of nilotinib (NIL) with Peg-IFN alfa-2B (PegIntron, MSD) in de novo CML-CP. Pts were screened for cardiac / vascular disease and associated risk factors at baseline (EKG, left ventricular ejection fraction, arterial duplex of carotids and lower limbs, blood HbA1c and lipid profiles). Those with uncontrolled vascular risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia) or a history of vascular events were excluded. Eligible pts received NIL 300mg BID alone for the first 3 months (mths). PegIntron was then added at 30mcg/week in pts without persistent hematological toxicities, increasing to 50mcg/week as tolerated over the following mth. Combination therapy continued until 24 mths, when pts reverted to TKI monotherapy. Switching to IM 400-600mg QD was allowed for pts with persistent grade II or any grade III/IV toxicity from NIL.. Sixty pts were enrolled from 12 Australian centres. Median age was 48.5 years (range 19-72); 45% were female. Sokal risk was low in 43% and high in 18%. Median follow up (FU) was 28 mths (16-51). Data is presented on an intention to treat basis. Figure 1a shows BCR-ABL1 transcript levels over time. The co-primary end points are MMR (BCR-ABL1 ≤0.1% IS) AT 12 mths and MR4.5 (BCR-ABL1 ≤0.0032% IS) at 24 mths. At 12 mths, MMR and MR4.5 rates were 76.7% (95% CI 63.4-87%). and 43.4% (95% CI 30.1-57.3%), respectively. In 40 evaluable pts at 24 mths, MR4.5 was 50% (95% CI 29.9-70.1%). The median time to MMR and MR4.5 was 5.8 mths and 18 mths respectively for pts achieving these responses (Figs 1B & C). Six pts (10%) had BCR-ABL1 ≥10% at 3 mths - 2 of whom had multiple dose interruptions due to toxicity; 3/6 have since achieved MMR, 1 has BCR-ABL Dose intensities of NIL were assessed in 3 mth blocks. Median and lower quartile NIL dose intensity was 600mg/d for all 3 mth blocks up to mth 24, except for the lower quartile NIL dose of 567mg for the first 3 mths. Eight pts (13%) did not commence Pegintron (2 due to persistent haem toxicities, 4 from GI disturbance, liver/pancreatic enzyme derangements, and 2 from pt preference). Considering Pegintron as a product of protocol assigned dose and duration, adjusted for time from study entry, 22 pts (37%) received >90% of their assigned dose, 13 (22%) received between 50-90% and 25 pts (41%) received Grade III/IV adverse events (AE) attributed to NIL were increased lipase and neutropenia (each 12%), pancreatitis (6%), thrombocytopenia and rash (each 5%). Three thrombotic events occurred: ischemic colitis in a patient on IM monotherapy, femoral artery thrombosis in a 56yo man after 2.5 yrs of NIL, and coronary disease in a 51yo man after 4 yrs of NIL. Grade III/IV AEs attributed to Pegintron were neutropenia (10%), and myalgia, depression and rash (4% each); other common AEs included fatigue (35%), myalgia (23%), flu-like symptoms (21%) and depression (17%). Ten pts (13%) have withdrawn from study: 2 withdrew consent, 5 due to toxicity (pancreatitis, GI upset, rash, high amylase and fatigue), and 3 for failing to consistently achieve BCR-ABL 90% of assigned NIL/IM and Pegintron doses. This interim analysis suggests that combination therapy with NIL and Peg-IFN leads to favourable rates of molecular responses when compared with with NIL monotherapy (Table 1). While the majority of patients did not durably tolerate full dose Pegintron, there was minimal interference with TKI dose intensity. Longer term results, and impact upon treatment free remission outcome of this combination is awaited. Disclosures Yeung: Pfizer: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Specialised Therapeutics Australia: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria. Grigg:Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Shanmuganathan:Janssen: Honoraria; Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Fund: Other: Scholarship; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Travel sponsorship; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Other: Travel sponsorship. Reynolds:Novartis: Equity Ownership, Other: former employee of Novartis AG and holds stock in the company. . Ross:BMS: Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Research Funding. Yong:Celgene: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding. White:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding. Branford:Qiagen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cepheid: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Hughes:BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Introduction: Progression of disease within 24 months of initial therapy (POD24) is associated with poor survival in patients with follicular lymphoma (FL). Existing prognostic models, such as FLIPI-1 and FLIPI-2, show poor sensitivity for POD24, and are derived from cohorts lacking bendamustine-treated patients. More accurate predictive models based on current standard therapies are needed to identify patients with high-risk disease. The Phase III GALLIUM trial (NCT01332968) compared the safety and efficacy of standard chemotherapy regimens plus rituximab (R) or obinutuzumab (G) in patients with previously untreated FL. Using GALLIUM data, we developed a novel risk stratification model to predict both PFS and POD24 in FL patients after first-line immunochemotherapy. Methods: Enrolled patients were aged ≥18 years with previously untreated FL (grades 1-3a), Stage III/IV disease (or Stage II with bulk), and ECOG PS ≤2, and required treatment by GELF criteria. Patients were randomized to receive either G- or R-based immunochemotherapy, followed by maintenance with the same antibody in responders. The chemotherapy arm (CHOP, CVP, or bendamustine) was selected by each study center. POD24 was defined as progressive disease or death due to disease within 24 months of randomization (noPOD24 = no progression or lymphoma-related death in that period). The most strongly prognostic variables, based on PFS hazard ratios, were estimated using penalized multivariate Cox regression methodology via an Elastic Net model. Selected variables were given equal weights, and a clinical score was formed by summating the number of risk factors for each patient. Low- and high-risk categories were determined using a cut-off that provided the best balance between true- and false-positives for PFS. PFS correlation and sensitivity to predict POD24 were assessed. The data used are from an updated GALLIUM efficacy analysis (data cut-off: April 2018; median follow-up: 57 months). Results: 1202 FL patients were enrolled. Based on data availability and biological plausibility (i.e. could reasonably be linked with high-risk disease), 25 potential clinical and treatment-related prognostic variables were entered into the Elastic Net model (Table). A model containing 11 factors was retained by the methodology and chosen as the best model (Table). Patients were categorized as 'low risk' if they scored between 0 and 3 (n=521/1000 patients with complete data) and as 'high risk' if they scored between 4 and 11 (n=479/1000 patients). At 2 years, the PFS rate was 84.5% in the whole FL population. Using our model, 2-year PFS for high-risk patients was 77% compared with 79.9% for FLIPI-1 and FLIPI-2. In low-risk patients, 2-year PFS was 92% compared with 87.9% for FLIPI-1 and 87.6% for FLIPI-2 (low-intermediate-risk patients). Our model increased the inter-group difference in 2-year PFS rate from 8% (FLIPI-1) and 7.7% (FLIPI-2) to 15%. At 3 years, the inter-group difference increased from 6.9% (FLIPI-1) and 9% (FLIPI-2) to 17% (Figure). Sensitivity for a high-risk score to predict POD24 was 73% using our model compared with 55% for FLIPI-1 and 52% for FLIPI-2 (based on 127 POD24 and 873 noPOD24 patients with complete data). Excluding patients who received CVP, which is now rarely used, resulted in an inter-group difference in PFS of 15% at 2 years and 16.8% at 3 years. A sensitivity analysis showed that inclusion of the 9 clinical factors only (i.e. removal of CVP and R treatment as variables) formed a more basic scoring system (low-risk patients, 1-3; high-risk patients, 4-9); the inter-group difference in PFS was 16.5% at 2 years and 17.6% at 3 years. However, sensitivity for POD24 decreased to 56%. Conclusion: Our clinical prognostic model was more accurate at discriminating patients likely to have poor PFS than either FLIPI-1 or FLIPI-2, and its prognostic value was sustained over time. Our model also identified the FL population at risk of POD24 with greater sensitivity. Variables such as age and bone marrow involvement were not retained by our model, and thus may not have a major impact in the current era of therapy. Factors such as sum of the products of lesion diameters were included, as this captures tumor burden more accurately than presence of bulk disease. Future studies will aim to improve the accuracy of the model by considering gene expression-based prognostic markers and DNA sequencing to form a combined clinico-genomic model. Disclosures Mir: F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Employment. Hiddemann:F. Hoffman-La Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Research Funding. Marcus:F. Hoffman-La Roche: Other: Travel support and lecture fees; Roche: Consultancy, Other: Travel support and lecture fees ; Gilead: Consultancy. Seymour:Genentech Inc: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Bolen:Roche: Other: Ownership interests PLC*. Knapp:Roche: Employment. Launonen:Launonen: Other: Ownership interests none PLC; Travel, accommodation, expenses; Novartis: Consultancy, Equity Ownership, Other: Ownership interests none PLC; Travel. accommodation, expenses; Roche: Employment, Other: Travel, accommodation, expenses. Mattiello:Roche: Employment. Nielsen:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Employment, Other: Ownership interests PLC. Oestergaard:Roche: Employment, Other: Ownership interests PLC. Wenger:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Ownership interests PLC. Casulo:Gilead: Honoraria; Celgene: Research Funding.

Background Survival rates for older pts with advanced HL (aged ≥60 yrs) were historically poor with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD). Reasons may include decreased tolerance of therapy, increased toxicity (particularly with bleomycin), comorbidities, and disease biology. The pivotal phase 3 ECHELON-1 study demonstrated superior 2-yr modified progression-free survival (mPFS) with frontline brentuximab vedotin + doxorubicin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (A+AVD) vs ABVD in pts with stage III/IV cHL (Connors JM et al, NEJM 2018). The study allowed entry of older pts, with no upper age limit. Alternative dosing schedules of the A+AVD regimen have been studied (e.g., sequential brentuximab vedotin before and after AVD; NCT01476410, Evens AM et al, J Clin Oncol 2018). We report efficacy and safety results from ECHELON-1 for older pts with cHL and compare these with those for pts aged Methods mPFS per independent review facility (IRF) for pts ≥60 years was a prespecified subgroup analysis of ECHELON-1. Additional exploratory safety and efficacy analyses were also assessed and compared with younger pts ( Results 14% (186/1334) of pts in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population were aged ≥60 yrs (A+AVD, n=84; ABVD, n=102) and included in the sub analyses. Median age (range) of older pts was: A+AVD, 68.0 yrs (60-82); ABVD, 66.0 yrs (60-83). Baseline pt and disease characteristics in older pts were similar in both arms. ECOG PS scores were 0 (36% vs 36%), 1 (52% vs 54%), and 2 (12% vs 10%) in A+AVD and ABVD arms, respectively. Pts received a median of 6 cycles with mean relative dose intensities for each drug (%) in older pts of: A+AVD, 92.3, 96.6, 93.3, and 97.9; ABVD, 97.3, 88.7, 93.3, and 95.9. With median follow-up of ~25 months, 2-yr mPFS per IRF was similar in both arms for older ITT pts (A+AVD 70.3% [95% CI: 58.4, 79.4] vs ABVD 71.4% [95% CI: 60.5, 79.8]; HR=1.00 [95% CI: 0.58, 1.72]; p=0.993). An exploratory analysis of standard PFS per investigator (INV) showed HR=0.85 ([95% CI: 0.49, 1.48]; p=0.576) (Table 1). For older pts with stage IV cHL (A+AVD n=51; ABVD n=67), there was an increase in 2-yr PFS per INV with A+AVD vs ABVD (74.0% [95% CI: 59.5, 84.0] vs 59.9% [95% CI: 45.6, 71.5]; HR, 0.66 [95% CI: 0.34, 1.26]; p=0.20); mPFS per IRF improvement with A+AVD in older stage IV pts was lower (HR=0.80; [95% CI: 0.42, 1.53]). In younger stage III/IV pts ( Conclusions For older ECHELON-1 pts, mPFS and PFS were similar in both arms. In the larger subgroup of younger pts, mPFS and PFS were improved vs older pts. As expected, incidence of treatment-emergent AEs was higher in older pts, with regimen-specific AEs seen, including fatal pulmonary events in ABVD pts. The high incidence of FN in older A+AVD pts points to the need for G-CSF PP. Disclosures Evens: Acerta: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics International DMC: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Affimed: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Consultancy; Tesaro: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy. Connors:Merck: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Roche Canada: Research Funding; NanoString Technologies: Patents & Royalties: Named Inventor on a patent licensed to NanoString Technologies, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; F Hoffmann-La Roche: Research Funding; Bayer Healthcare: Research Funding; Cephalon: Research Funding; Bristol Myers-Squibb: Research Funding; Lilly: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding. Younes:Sanofi: Honoraria; Merck: Honoraria; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria; Bayer: Honoraria; Novartis: Research Funding; Curis: Research Funding; J&J: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding. Ansell:Merck & Co: Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Celldex: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding. Radford:Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; GlaxoSmithKline: Equity Ownership; AstraZeneca: Equity Ownership; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Feldman:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics: Speakers Bureau; Johnson and Johnson: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Portola: Research Funding; KITE: Speakers Bureau. Tuscano:Takeda: Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding. Oki:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Takeda Millenium: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Grigg:Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Pocock:Kent & Canterbury Hospital: Employment. Dlugosz-Danecka:Roche: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy. Fenton:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Engley:Seattle Genetics: Employment. Liu:Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Miao:Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Jolin:Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co.: Employment. Gautam:Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Employment. Gallamini:Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau.

Aim: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of nivolumab for the treatment of relapsed or residual haematological malignancies after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). Background: Relapse of haematological malignancies following alloSCT is a major cause of post-transplant mortality. Interaction between programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) inhibits T-cell alloreactivity and contributes to immune escape. Nivolumab inhibits PD-1 signalling and augments T-cell cytotoxicity. The safety and efficacy of nivolumab post-alloSCT has not been evaluated in a clinical trial. Method: In this investigator-initiated phase IIa clinical trial, patients with relapsed or persistent haematological malignancies following alloSCT receive nivolumab 3mg/kg for up to 48 weeks. Patients with current graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) or prior grade ≥2 acute GVHD or chronic GVHD are excluded. Results: Six participants have received at least one dose of nivolumab at this interim assessment. Primary haematological malignancies relapsing post-alloSCT included Hodgkin lymphoma (HL, 2 patients), acute myeloid leukaemia (AML, 2), transformed chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (tCLL, 1) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL, 1). The median time from alloSCT to first dose of nivolumab was 25.5 months. Two participants developed grade 3 acute GVHD at 6 days and 13 days following the first dose of nivolumab. Complete or partial responses were observed in 3 participants (50%). Two participants with HL achieved complete responses. One participant with MCL had a complete nodal response with small volume persistent bone marrow disease. One participant with monosomal karyotype AML achieved initial blast reduction (23% to 13%) however subsequently developed progressive AML. T-cell phenotyping at first AML relapse (prior to nivolumab) demonstrated a high proportion of CD8+ T cells that expressed PD-1 and T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM-3) consistent with T-cell exhaustion. Following treatment with nivolumab there was an increase in TNFα production by CD8+ T-cells at day 7 post nivolumab, demonstrating augmentation of T-cell activity. Despite continued nivolumab treatment TNFα production subsequently declined and correlated with loss of clinical response. TIM-3 expression was further upregulated at post-nivolumab progression suggesting this inhibitory checkpoint receptor may have contributed to nivolumab resistance. Conclusion: Nivolumab treatment after alloSCT results in potent immune stimulation with a high rate of clinical responses, albeit with a risk of GVHD. Acquired resistance to nivolumab may develop via upregulation of alternative inhibitory checkpoints. Disclosures Szer: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel Support , Research Funding. Grigg:BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Introduction Cyclosporin (CSA) is commonly used as graft vs host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHSCT) recipients. The usual IV dose is 3mg/kg and the recommended oral dose at switching is 3mg/kg BD in the pre-posaconazole era (Inoue et al. 2014). Posaconazole is now commonly used as antifungal prophylaxis in this context; it increases CSA levels through inhibition of the cytochrome involved in CSA metabolism (Sánchez-Ortega et al. 2012). We evaluated CSA-related toxicity after switch from IV to oral CSA in alloHSCT recipients receiving posaconazole with the aim of defining the optimal weight based oral dose. Methods A retrospective audit was performed of adult alloHSCT patients between October 2015 and October 2017 who received IV and then oral CSA together with posaconazole prophylaxis. Posaconazole was commenced during conditioning and continued at 300mg IV or oral daily according to gastrointestinal tolerance; patients with levels below 0.5mg/L received 200mg orally BD. Despite being protocolised, in practice the starting oral CSA dose in mg/kg, based on actual body weight, was at consultant discretion based on comorbidities at the time, predominantly renal dysfunction. Two groups were analysed: those with starting oral CSA doses ≥ 2.8mg/kg BD ('higher dose') and < 2.8mg/kg BD ('lower dose'). Exclusion criteria included continuation of IV CSA beyond day 30 or CSA taper before day 40 due to relapsed or persistent disease. Data collected included CSA doses in mg/kg at 3 time points: transition from IV to oral CSA, day 40 and day 60, and CSA dose reductions due to the following toxicities: renal impairment (fall in eGFR >15 ml/min/1.73m2 from transition eGFR), new/worsening hypertension, hypomagnesaemia ( Results Twenty eight of 44 patients allografted during this period were eligible with a median age of 43 (19-68) years. All received CSA/methotrexate as GvHD prophylaxis with T cell depletion in 20 (71%). The majority continued posaconazole at day 40 (71%) and day 60 (68%); reasons for discontinuation were heterogenous. Details of CSA doses in each group at each time point are summarised in the Table. Toxicities requiring adjustment were: renal impairment (51%), nausea (43%), hypomagnesemia (43%), hypertension (14%), headache (11%), and miscellaneous (6%). Four patients were admitted to hospital due to toxicity. By day 60, one patient had ceased CSA due to toxicity. Acute GvHD (grade 3-4) occurred in one patient. Conclusion The switch to oral CSA in alloHSCT patients on concomitant posaconazole is associated with frequent early toxicity, particularly at (but not isolated to) doses above 2.8mg/kg BD. Substantial renal dysfunction is common. We are prospectively evaluating whether a starting dose of 2.25mg/kg BD reduces toxicity without compromising the risk of GvHD, particularly in patients receiving T cell depletion. Table. Table. Disclosures Robinson: The University of Melbourne: Employment. Grigg:Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Cyclical thrombocytosis, acquired von Willebrand syndrome, aggressive non-melanoma skin cancers and other hydroxyurea complications have been reported in Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), but their incidence and clinical consequences have not been defined in a large cohort of patients. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 188 consecutive patients with MPNs specifically addressing the incidence of these complications. Cyclical thrombocytosis was documented in 29 patients (15%), the majority of whom were receiving hydroxyurea. Acquired von Willebrand syndrome was identified in 17 of the 84 screened patients (20%), but was not associated with any major bleeding complications. Non-melanoma skin cancers were reported in 51 patients (27%). Hydroxyurea-related fever occurred in nine of 149 patients (6%) who received hydroxyurea. Seventy-three patients (39%) experienced a total of 98 major thrombotic events, with the majority of these occurring prior to or within 3 months of the diagnosis. Cyclical thrombocytosis, acquired von Willebrand syndrome, aggressive non-melanoma skin cancers and other hydroxyurea-related complications are not infrequent in MPNs and have important clinical consequences for management.

Background. The optimal treatment strategy in patients with aggressive B cell central nervous system lymphoma suitable to receive intensive therapy is unknown. The benefit of incorporating rituximab in systemic therapy remains unclear. We performed a retrospective study examining the impact of rituximab in the context of concomitant therapies, including methotrexate, cytarabine, and radiotherapy, in patients treated with curative intent at 4 university teaching hospitals during 1996‐ 2011. Methods. A retrospective study of CNS lymphoma cases treated at the participating institutions was performed in accordance with institutional ethical guidelines. Patients were included if they received a diagnosis of primary diffuse large B cell lymphoma of the CNS, were HIV negative, and were treated with curative intent. Results. One hundred twenty patients aged 21‐81 years were identified. Rituximab recipients and nonrecipients were similar, except for rituximab recipients being more likely to have received a diagnosis after 2004. The median follow-up of surviving patients was 30 months. The 5-year overall survival was 46%. Univariate analysis revealed age ≤60 years, ECOG performance status ≤1, normal lactate dehydrogenase, diagnosis after 2004, and treatment with cytarabine and rituximab as predictive of favorable overall survival. Multivariate analysis identified age to be an independent predictor of overall survival, with a trend toward improved survival from the other variables that were significant in univariate analyses. Conclusions. In this retrospective analysis, the addition of rituximab to high-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy in patients with aggressive B cell CNS lymphoma was associated with improved overall survival. Further studies are underway to prospectively validate these findings.

Objectives: To assess the effect of iron chelation therapy with deferasirox on cardiac iron and function in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia major, sickle cell disease (SCD), and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Methods: This phase IV, single-arm, open-label study over 53 wk evaluated the change in cardiac and liver iron load with deferasirox (up to 40 mg/kg/d), measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: Cardiac iron load (myocardial T2*) significantly improved (P = 0.002) overall (n = 46; n = 36 thalassemia major, n = 4 SCD, n = 6 MDS). Results were significant for patients with normal and moderate baseline cardiac iron (P = 0.017 and P = 0.015, respectively), but not in the five patients with severe cardiac iron load. Liver iron concentration (LIC) significantly decreased overall [ mean LIC 10.4 to 8.2 mg Fe/g dry tissue (dw); P = 0.024], particularly in those with baseline LIC >7 mg Fe/g dw (19.9 to 15.6 mg Fe/g dw; P = 0.002). Furthermore, myocardial T2* significantly increased in patients with LIC 10 ms (Clinicaltrials. gov identifier: NCT00673608). Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) such as imatinib, nilotinib and dasatinib are now established as highly effective frontline therapies for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Disease control is achieved in the majority of patients and survival is excellent such that recent focus has been on toxicities of these agents. Cumulative data have reported an excess of serious vascular complications, including arterial thrombosis and peripheral arterial occlusive disease, in patients receiving nilotinib in comparison with other TKIs, with resultant interest in delineating the pathophysiology and implications for rationale cardiovascular risk modification. To address this issue, we studied the effects of imatinib, nilotinib and dasatinib on platelet function and thrombus formation in human and mouse models using in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo approaches. In vitro studies demonstrated that dasatinib and imatinib but not nilotinib inhibited ADP, CRP, and collagen-induced platelet aggregation and moreover, that nilotinib potentiated PAR-1-mediated alpha granule release. Pretreatment of wild-type C57BL/6 mice with nilotinib but not imatinib or dasatinib, significantly increased thrombus growth and stability, on type I collagen under ex vivo arterial flow conditions and increased thrombus growth and stability following FeCl3-induced vascular injury of mesenteric arterioles and carotid artery injury in vivo. Whole blood from nilotinib-treated CML patients, demonstrated increased platelet adhesion ex vivo under flow, increased plasma soluble P- and E-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, TNF-alpha, IL-6 levels and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) levels in vivo, despite being on daily low-dose aspirin. These results demonstrate that nilotinib can potentiate platelet and endothelial activation and platelet thrombus formation ex vivo and in vivo.

There is currently minimal data on fertility outcomes in premenopausal women undergoing autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) with carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan (BEAM) conditioning. A retrospective analysis of fertility outcomes in premenopausal females aged between 18 and 40 yr who underwent BEAM/ASCT for lymphoma between 1995 and 2011 was performed at four transplant centres. Of 41 premenopausal women who underwent BEAM conditioning, 25 met the inclusion criteria with the main exclusion criterion being inadequate documentation. Eighteen had Hodgkin lymphoma, and seven had non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Median number of chemotherapy regimens pretransplant was 2 (1-3). Seventeen women (68%) with a median age at transplant of 25 yr (range 17-33) recovered their menses. The comparative group without recovery was older with a median age of 34 yr (range 20-40) (P = 0.007). Ten patients, with a median age at transplant of 22 yr (range 17-30), had 15 naturally conceived pregnancies. Chemotherapy regimens and lymphoma type did not obviously influence the incidence of menses recovery or conception. The incidence of recovery of menses and fertility in premenopausal women undergoing BEAM/ASCT for lymphoma is substantial. Younger age at transplant correlates with superior fertility outcomes.

Introduction Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) is commonly used to maintain dose intensity in patients receiving ABVD chemotherapy (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine) for Hodgkin lymphoma. However, the need for growth factor support is unclear, with studies suggesting that dose intensity can be maintained without G-CSF. Moreover, G-CSF is expensive (pegfilgrastim: EUR 1540/cycle; 300 μg filgrastim for 7 days: EUR 700/cycle) and is associated with side effects including bone pain and increased risk of bleomycin lung toxicity. Intermittent G-CSF may be an effective compromise, given that the effect of G-CSF on granulocyte precursors in vitro persists for 4-5 days after administration. After promising results of a pilot study, this schedule has been used subsequently in the majority of our patients receiving G-CSF as secondary prophylaxis for ABVD complicated by neutropenia. Methods Retrospective analysis of the incidence of febrile neutropenia and treatment delay in a variety of different G-CSF schedules used as secondary prophylaxis in patients receiving ABVD. Results 848 cycles in 85 consecutive patients were evaluated. Most patients (86%) received G-CSF, generally commenced prophylactically for neutropenia when cycle 1B was due. Intermittent G-CSF (typically given on days 4, 8 and 12) was used in 413 cycles compared with daily or pegylated G-CSF in 99 cycles. In patients receiving intermittent G-CSF, the median neutrophil count, across all cycles, was 7.3 × 10(9) /L (range: 1.4-47.1) when the next scheduled chemotherapy was due. There were two cases of febrile neutropenia (0.45%) and no treatment delays. One patient developed possible bleomycin toxicity. Conclusions Intermittent G-CSF is effective in maintaining dose intensity in patients receiving ABVD.

In a prior multicenter randomized controlled trial, we found that a 12-week course of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) plus standard immunosuppressive therapy resulted in several beneficial outcomes in patients with corticosteroid-refractory/intolerant/dependent chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Here, we report the results of an open-label crossover ECP study in 29 eligible participants randomized initially to the standard of care non-ECP (control) arm. Eligible for the crossover ECP study were control arm patients who either (1) had progression of cutaneous chronic GVHD (cGVHD), defined as >25% worsening from baseline as measured by the percent change in the total skin score (TSS) at any time, or (2) had less than 15% improvement in the TSS, or had a ≤25% reduction in corticosteroid dose at week 12 of the initial study. ECP was administered 3 times during week 1, then twice weekly until week 12, followed by 2 treatments monthly until week 24. The median age of the study cohort was 43 (20-67) years and 90% had extensive cGVHD. The median months from onset of cGVHD to start of ECP were 26 (range: 4-79). Twenty-five of 29 patients (86%) completed the 24-week course of ECP. Complete or partial skin response at week 24 was noted in 9 patients (31%). The median percent of decrease in TSS from baseline to weeks 12 and 24 was −7.9 and −25.8, respectively. In 4 (17%) and 8 (33%) patients, a ≥50% reduction in corticosteroid dose at weeks 12 and 24 was observed. Extracutaneous cGVHD response was highest in oral mucosa with 70% complete and partial resolution after week 24. In conclusion, progressive improvement in cutaneous and extracutaneous cGVHD was observed after a 24-week course of ECP in patients who previously had no clinical improvement or exhibited worsening of cGVHD while receiving standard immunosuppressive therapy alone in a randomized study. These results confirm previous findings and support the notion that prolonged ECP appears to be necessary for optimal therapeutic effects in corticosteroid-refractory cGVHD patients.

Post-induction aplasia for acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome is a high-risk period for invasive fungal diseases. The effectiveness of fluconazole, itraconazole solution, voriconazole and posaconazole prophylaxis used consecutively from December 1998 to January 2010 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome undergoing remission-induction chemotherapy was retrospectively evaluated. A total of 216 consecutive patients received 573 prophylaxis courses. Breakthrough-invasive fungal disease incidence in fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole recipients was 25%, 16%, 14% and 3%, respectively. Voriconazole/posconazole versus fluconazole/itraconazole combined was associated with significant reductions in breakthrough-invasive fungal disease incidence (20% vs. 8%, P=0.011), premature discontinuations (46% vs. 22% P

Background Initial therapy for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia most often involves the combination of all- trans -retinoic acid with anthracycline-based chemotherapy. The role of non-anthracycline drugs in induction and consolidation is less well-established and varies widely between different cooperative group protocols. Design and Methods In an attempt to minimize relapse and maximize survival for patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia, the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group utilized all- trans -retinoic acid and idarubicin as anti-leukemic therapy for both induction and consolidation. The protocol (known as APML3) was subsequently amended to incorporate maintenance with all- trans -retinoic acid, methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine. Results Eight (8%) of 101 patients died within 30 days, and 91 (90%) achieved complete remission. With a median estimated potential follow-up of 4.6 years, 4-year overall survival was 84%, and 71% of the patients remained in remission at 4 years. The cumulative incidence of all relapses was 28.1%, with 15 of the 25 relapses initially identified as an isolated molecular relapse. Both FLT3 mutations (internal tandem duplications and codon 835/836 kinase domain mutations) and increased white cell count at diagnosis were associated with inferior overall survival, but in multivariate analyses only FLT3 mutations remained significant (hazard ratio 6.647, P =0.005). Maintenance therapy was significantly associated with improved remission duration (hazard ratio 0.281, P