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PURPOSEPreclinical data suggest the combination of an anti–programmed death receptor 1 antibody plus dabrafenib and trametinib to have superior antitumor activity compared with dabrafenib plus trametinib alone. These observations are supported by translational evidence suggesting that immune checkpoint inhibitors plus targeted therapy may improve treatment outcomes in patients with BRAF V600–mutant metastatic melanoma. COMBI-i is a phase III trial evaluating spartalizumab, an anti–programmed death receptor 1 antibody, in combination with dabrafenib and trametinib (sparta-DabTram), versus placebo plus dabrafenib and trametinib (placebo-DabTram) in patients with BRAF V600–mutant unresectable or metastatic melanoma.METHODSPatients received spartalizumab 400 mg intravenously every 4 weeks plus dabrafenib 150 mg orally twice daily and trametinib 2 mg orally once daily or placebo-DabTram. Participants were age ≥ 18 years with unresectable or metastatic BRAF V600–mutant melanoma. The primary end point was investigator-assessed progression-free survival. Overall survival was a key secondary end point (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02967692 ).RESULTSAt data cutoff (July 1, 2020), the median progression-free survival was 16.2 months (95% CI, 12.7 to 23.9 months) in the sparta-DabTram arm versus 12.0 months (95% CI, 10.2 to 15.4 months) in the placebo-DabTram arm (hazard ratio, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.66 to 1.03]; P = .042 [one-sided; nonsignificant]). The objective response rates were 69% (183 of 267 patients) versus 64% (170 of 265 patients), respectively. Grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 55% (146 of 267) of patients in the sparta-DabTram arm and 33% (88 of 264) in the placebo-DabTram arm.CONCLUSIONThe study did not meet its primary end point; broad first-line use of sparta-DabTram is not supported by these results. Further biomarker-driven investigation may identify patient subpopulations who could benefit from checkpoint inhibitor plus targeted therapy combinations.

BACKGROUND: Patient outcomes are poor for aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas not responding to or progressing within 12 months after first-line therapy. Tisagenlecleucel is an anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy approved for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after at least two treatment lines. METHODS: We conducted an international phase 3 trial involving patients with aggressive lymphoma that was refractory to or progressing within 12 months after first-line therapy. Patients were randomly assigned to receive tisagenlecleucel with optional bridging therapy (tisagenlecleucel group) or salvage chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) (standard-care group). The primary end point was event-free survival, defined as the time from randomization to stable or progressive disease at or after the week 12 assessment or death. Crossover to receive tisagenlecleucel was allowed if a defined event occurred at or after the week 12 assessment. Other end points included response and safety. RESULTS: A total of 322 patients underwent randomization. At baseline, the percentage of patients with high-grade lymphomas was higher in the tisagenlecleucel group than in the standard-care group (24.1% vs. 16.9%), as was the percentage with an International Prognostic Index score (range, 0 to 5, with higher scores indicating a worse prognosis) of 2 or higher (65.4% vs. 57.5%). A total of 95.7% of the patients in the tisagenlecleucel group received tisagenlecleucel; 32.5% of the patients in the standard-care group received autologous HSCT. The median time from leukapheresis to tisagenlecleucel infusion was 52 days. A total of 25.9% of the patients in the tisagenlecleucel group had lymphoma progression at week 6, as compared with 13.8% of those in the standard-care group. The median event-free survival in both groups was 3.0 months (hazard ratio for event or death in the tisagenlecleucel group, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 0.82 to 1.40; P = 0.61). A response occurred in 46.3% of the patients in the tisagenlecleucel group and in 42.5% in the standard-care group. Ten patients in the tisagenlecleucel group and 13 in the standard-care group died from adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Tisagenlecleucel was not superior to standard salvage therapy in this trial. Additional studies are needed to assess which patients may obtain the most benefit from each approach. (Funded by Novartis; BELINDA ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03570892.).

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is generally considered an indolent disease, although patients with relapsing FL experience progressively shorter durations of response to second or later lines of therapy. The ongoing ELARA trial in adult patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) FL treated with tisagenlecleucel demonstrated an overall response rate of 86.2% and a complete response rate of 69.1%, with no treatment-related deaths. Tisagenlecleucel was administered in the outpatient setting in 18% of patients in ELARA; however, there is limited knowledge concerning the impact of inpatient versus outpatient tisagenlecleucel administration on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) among patients with r/r FL. Here, we present the first HCRU analysis among patients with r/r FL who received tisagenlecleucel in the Phase II, single-arm, multicenter ELARA trial. HCRU was characterized using hospitalization data from day 1 to month 2 after tisagenlecleucel infusion. Information on length of stay, facility use, and discharge was assessed in patients who received tisagenlecleucel in the outpatient or inpatient setting. All costs were inflated to 2020 US dollars. As of August 3, 2021 (20-month median follow-up), 17/97 (18%) r/r FL patients were infused in an outpatient setting. Patients infused in the outpatient setting generally had favorable Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status and Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index scores, and less bulky disease at baseline. However, the outpatients had higher proportions of patients with grade 3A FL, primary refractory disease, and5 lines of prior therapy compared with inpatients. Forty-one percent of patients treated in the outpatient setting did not require hospitalization within 30 days after infusion, and outpatients who did require hospitalization had a shorter average length of stay compared with inpatients (5 versus 13 days). No outpatients required intensive care unit (ICU) admission, whereas 9% of inpatients were admitted to the ICU. The mean postinfusion hospitalization costs were $7477 and $40,054 in the outpatient and inpatient settings, respectively. Efficacy between both groups was similar. Tisagenlecleucel can be safely administered to some patients in the outpatient setting, which may reduce HCRU for patients with r/r FL.

Tisagenlecleucel is an autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy with clinically meaningful outcomes demonstrated in patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) B-cell lymphoma. In a previous pilot study of tisagenlecleucel in r/r follicular lymphoma (FL), 71% of patients achieved a complete response (CR). Here we report the primary, prespecified interim analysis of the ELARA phase 2 multinational trial of tisagenlecleucel in adults with r/r FL after two or more treatment lines or who relapsed after autologous stem cell transplant (no. NCT03568461). The primary endpoint was CR rate (CRR). Secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), duration of response, progression-free survival, overall survival, pharmacokinetics and safety. As of 29 March 2021, 97/98 enrolled patients received tisagenlecleucel (median follow-up, 16.59 months; interquartile range, 13.8–20.21). The primary endpoint was met. In the efficacy set (n = 94), CRR was 69.1% (95% confidence interval, 58.8–78.3) and ORR 86.2% (95% confidence interval, 77.5–92.4). Within 8 weeks of infusion, rates of cytokine release syndrome were 48.5% (grade ≥3, 0%), neurological events 37.1% (grade ≥3, 3%) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) 4.1% (grade ≥3, 1%) in the safety set (n = 97), with no treatment-related deaths. Tisagenlecleucel is safe and effective in extensively pretreated r/r FL, including in high-risk patients., The study was sponsored and designed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and was approved by the IRB at each participating institution.

Background: JULIET, a pivotal phase II trial of Tisa-cel, an anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy in pts with r/r LBCL demonstrated durable activity with a manageable safety profile (Schuster et al., 2021). We sequentially characterized peripheral blood T cell functionality by immunophenotyping and correlated with efficacy endpoints. Methods: Immunophenotypic characterization of both non-CAR-T and CAR-T cells was performed by flow cytometry in 378 blood samples from 111 pts collected at enrollment and within the first month post Tisa-cel infusion. Proportions of T cell subsets were identified by maturation (CCR7/CD45RA/CD45RO) and exhaustion (PD1/LAG3/TIM3) markers and then correlated with durable clinical response (Complete Response (CR) ≥ 6 mo vs. Non-response (NR)/Relapse), PFS and OS. Results: At enrollment, low T cell levels (median) of these subsets also had significantly shorter PFS and OS, with LAG+PD1+CD8+ ranked on top (mPFS: 2 vs. 34 mo; mOS: 4.6 mo vs. not reached, both p Conclusions: Decreased circulating T cells at enrollment, and increased circulating exhausted T cells in non-CAR-T (at enrollment and D28) and CAR-T (at D28) compartments, were associated with poor response and survival, suggesting these flow measurements may serve as surrogate for overall T cell function, which is critical for optimal Tisa-cel efficacy and early prognostication in LBCL. Citation Format: Ulrich Jäger, Xia Han, Davide Germano, David Quinn, Dalia Gaddis, Aisha Masood, Tanya Mulvey, Jennifer Mataraza, Michael R. Bishop, Gilles Salles, Richard Maziarz, Stephen Schuster. Higher levels of circulating exhausted T-cells at pre- and post-infusion negatively associated with clinical efficacy in tisagenlecleucel (Tisa-cel) treated relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (r/r LBCL) patients (pts) in JULIET trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 5186.

10028 Background: Treatment (tx) with checkpoint inhibitors or targeted therapy improves outcomes in patients (pts) with BRAF V600–mutant advanced melanoma; however, many pts subsequently progress and die. Preliminary evidence suggests that targeted therapy may enhance the impact of checkpoint inhibitors and improve efficacy compared with either treatment alone. Methods: COMBI-i is investigating first-line spartalizumab 400 mg every 4 wk + dabrafenib 150 mg twice daily + trametinib 2 mg once daily in pts with unresectable or metastatic BRAF V600–mutant melanoma (NCT02967692). We report efficacy and safety data from parts 1 (run-in cohort) and 2 (biomarker cohort), with a median follow-up of 24.3 mo. Response was assessed per RECIST v1.1. The randomized part 3 is ongoing. Results: 36 pts were enrolled (part 1: n = 9; part 2: n = 27); 20 (56%) had stage IV M1c disease and 15 (42%) had elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (≥ upper limit of normal). At the data cutoff (August 19, 2019), tx was ongoing in 10 pts (28%). The confirmed investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR) was 78% (n = 28), with 16 complete responses (CRs; 44%) and 12 partial responses (33%). Median duration of response (DOR; 10/28 responders with events) was not reached (NR); 24-mo DOR rate was 53.4% (95% CI, 29%-73%). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 22.7 mo; 24-mo PFS rate was 41.4% (95% CI, 23%-59%). At the cutoff, median overall survival (OS) was NR, with a 24-mo OS rate of 74.1% (95% CI, 56%-86%). In pts with elevated LDH, ORR was 67%, with 4 CRs (27%); median PFS was 10.7 mo (95% CI, 4.6-19.1 mo), and median OS was NR. The estimated 24-mo PFS and OS rates in these pts were 26.7% and 52.5%, respectively. All pts had ≥ 1 tx-related adverse event (TRAEs); 26 (72%) had grade ≥ 3 TRAEs. The most common grade ≥ 3 TRAEs were pyrexia (17%), increased lipase (11%), neutropenia (11%), increased blood creatine phosphokinase (8%), and increased γ-glutamyltransferase (8%). AEs leading to discontinuation of all 3 study drugs occurred in 6 pts (17%). All-causality grade ≥ 3 AEs requiring immunosuppressive medication occurred in 19 pts (53%). One pt died of cardiac arrest that was not considered tx related. Conclusions: The combination of spartalizumab + dabrafenib + trametinib resulted in high ORR and CR rates, with a high frequency of durable responses, including in patients with poor prognostic factors. Clinical trial information: NCT02967692.

Immune and targeted therapies achieve long-term survival in metastatic melanoma; however, new treatment strategies are needed to improve patients’ outcomes1,2. We report on the efficacy, safety and biomarker analysis from the single-arm safety run-in (part 1; n = 9) and biomarker (part 2; n = 27) cohorts of the randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 COMBI-i trial (NCT02967692) of the anti-PD-1 antibody spartalizumab, in combination with the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib and MEK inhibitor trametinib. Patients (n = 36) had previously untreated BRAF V600-mutant unresectable or metastatic melanoma. In part 1, the recommended phase 3 regimen was identified based on the incidence of dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs; primary endpoint): 400 mg of spartalizumab every 4 weeks plus 150 mg of dabrafenib twice daily plus 2 mg of trametinib once daily. Part 2 characterized changes in PD-L1 levels and CD8+ cells following treatment (primary endpoint), and analyzed additional biomarkers. Assessments of efficacy and safety were key secondary endpoints (median follow-up, 24.3 months). Spartalizumab plus dabrafenib and trametinib led to an objective response rate (ORR) of 78%, including 44% complete responses (CRs). Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were experienced by 72% of patients. All patients had temporary dose modifications, and 17% permanently discontinued all three study drugs due to TRAEs. Early progression-free survival (PFS) events were associated with low tumor mutational burden/T cell–inflamed gene expression signature (GES) or high immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) GES levels at baseline; an immunosuppressive TME may also preclude CR. Overall, the efficacy, safety and on-treatment biomarker modulations associated with spartalizumab plus dabrafenib and trametinib are promising, and biomarkers that may predict long-term benefit were identified. Clinical activity and biomarker analysis from the COMBI-i trial evaluating PD-1, BRAF and MEK inhibition in patients with metastatic melanoma demonstrate high response rates and uncover molecular correlates of long-term treatment benefit.

Background: Standard of care (SOC) for second-line (2L) therapy (tx) of relapsed/refractory aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (R/R aNHL) includes platinum-based chemotherapy (PCT) followed by autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (aHCT) in responders. Outcomes are poor for patients (pts) with R/R aNHL who experience progression during or within 12 months (mo) of 1L tx. Tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) is an autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell tx targeting CD19 approved for pts with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL; US) and diffuse LBCL (non-US) after ≥2 lines of tx. BELINDA (NCT03570892) is a Phase III, randomized, global (18 countries) study of tisa-cel vs SOC as 2L tx for R/R aNHL. Methods: Adults with confirmed R/R aNHL within 12 mo after 1L chemo-immunotherapy were eligible. All pts underwent leukapheresis for tisa-cel production and were randomized 1:1 to receive tisa-cel (Arm A) or SOC (Arm B) and stratified by 1L duration of response, International Prognostic Index (IPI), and geographic region. Arm A received optional bridging tx (investigator choice of protocol-defined PCT regimens) followed by lymphodepletion (LD; generally, fludarabine 25 mg/m 2/day [d] + cyclophosphamide 250 mg/m 2/d for 3 d) and followed by a single tisa-cel infusion (0.6-6×10 8 CAR-T cells). Arm B received investigator choice of PCT regimen followed by aHCT in responders or a second PCT in nonresponders. Disease assessments were performed at 6 and 12 weeks (wk), then planned every 3 mo for year (y) 1 and every 6 mo for y 2. The primary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS), defined as time from randomization to stable disease (SD) or progressive disease (PD) at or after wk 12 assessment or death at any time. SD/PD at wk 6 was not considered an event on either Arm. Arm A's wk 6 assessment evaluated disease burden before tisa-cel infusion and after bridging if administered. Arm B's wk 6 assessment determined if response was sufficient for aHCT or if a second PCT regimen was needed prior to aHCT. Results: As of May 6, 2021, 322 pts were randomized: 162 to Arm A and 160 to Arm B. In Arms A and B, 33% and 29% were ≥65 y, and 66% and 67% had primary refractory disease, respectively. Baseline characteristics indicated imbalances with more high-grade B-cell lymphomas (24% vs 17%) and IPI ≥2 (65% vs 58%) in Arm A vs B. In Arm A, 47% received ≥2 cycles of bridging PCT, 36% received 1 cycle, and 17% received 0. In Arm A, 96% received tisa-cel; the median dose was 2.9×10 8 cells. In Arm B, 96% received ≥2 PCT cycles and 54% received ≥2 different PCT regimens; 33% received aHCT, including 10% requiring ≥2 different PCT regimens before aHCT. Median time from randomization to aHCT was 92 d (range, 61-158 d). Median follow-up was 10 mo (range, 2.9-23.2 mo). At wk 6 assessment, 26% had PD in Arm A vs 14% in Arm B. Median EFS in Arms A and B was 3 mo (HR 1.07; 95% CI, 0.82-1.40; P=0.69); Arm A pts with PD at wk 6 had shorter EFS. Overall response rate (ORR) at wk 12 in Arm A was 46% vs 43% in Arm B; complete response rate in both arms was 28%. Some pts responded to tisa-cel after SD/PD at wk 12 without additional tx but were counted as an event in EFS analysis. In Arm B, 81 pts (51%) crossed over to receive tisa-cel, 71 without receiving aHCT. Of 72 crossover pts with response assessment, ORR to tisa-cel was 40%. Overall survival was immature at data cutoff. In Arm A, 84% had a grade ≥3 adverse event (AE; vs 90% in Arm B), including grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome in 5% (CRS; Lee 2014) and grade ≥3 neurologic events (NE) in 3% (CTCAE v5.0), with no grade 5 CRS/NE. Median times to CRS and NE onset were 4 and 5 d, respectively; median time to resolution was 5 and 9 d. Fifty-two (32%) and 45 (28%) pts in Arms A and B died on study, including 42 (26%) and 32 (20%) deaths due to PD, respectively. Ten pts in Arm A and 13 in Arm B died of AEs. Conclusions: Tisa-cel as 2L tx in R/R aNHL pts did not have a higher EFS vs SOC. Possible contributing factors include study design elements, such as optional PCT bridging tx in Arm A with potential delay of tisa-cel infusion until after wk 6 assessment, allowance of a different PCT regimen to reach aHCT in Arm B after inadequate response to first PCT, and imbalances in relevant pt characteristics. Insights from this randomized Phase III study will inform use of cellular tx in the 2L R/R aNHL setting and the design of future CAR-T trials. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Bishop: Arcellx, Autolus, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CRISPR, Kite/Gilead, and Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb and Kite/Gilead: Other: fees for non-CME/CE services . Dickinson: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodation, expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria. Purtill: Novartis: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria; BMS Celgene: Honoraria. Barba: Amgen, Celgene, Gilead, Incyte, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer and Roche, Jazz Phar,aceuticals: Honoraria; Cqrlos III heqlth Institute, aSOCIACION espanola contra el cancer, PERIS: Research Funding. Santoro: Arqule: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy; Takeda: Speakers Bureau; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Servier: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Eli-Lilly: Speakers Bureau; Sandoz: Speakers Bureau; Eisai: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Hamad: Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Kato: Abbvie: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Chugai: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Research Funding; Dainippon-Sumitomo: Honoraria; Eisai: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Kyowa Kirin: Honoraria, Research Funding; MSD: Honoraria; Mundi: Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ono: Honoraria, Research Funding. Sureda: Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Support for attending meetings and/or travel, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Support for attending meetings and/or travel, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Other: Support for attending meetings and/or travel; Bluebird: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Mundipharma: Consultancy. Greil: Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses; Merck Sharp & Dohme: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Research Funding; Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses, Research Funding; Sandoz: Honoraria, Research Funding. Thieblemont: Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Bristol Myers Squibb/Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses , Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Cellectis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Hospira: Research Funding; Bayer: Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses . Morschhauser: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Epizyme: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Chugai: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Genmab: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genentech, Inc.: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AstraZenenca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Consultancy; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Janz: Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Meeting Fees; Novartis: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Travel Accommodations, Expenses, Meeting fees; Roche: Honoraria; Gilead: Other: Travel Accommodations, Expenses, Meeting fees. Flinn: Servier Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Yingli Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Seagen: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Servier Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Unum Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Johnson & Johnson: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Sarah Cannon Research Institute: Current Employment; Vincerx Pharma: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Hutchison MediPharma: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Century Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Triphase Research & Development Corp.: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Trillium Therapeutics: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Teva: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Rhizen Pharmaceuticals: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Portola Pharmaceuticals: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Pfizer: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Merck: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Loxo: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Infinity Pharmaceuticals: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Incyte: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; IGM Biosciences: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Forty Seven: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Forma Therapeutics: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Curis: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Constellation Pharmaceuticals: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Celgene: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Calithera Biosciences: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; ArQule: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Agios: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Acerta Pharma: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Yingli Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Verastem: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Unum Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Seagen: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Nurix Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; MorphoSys: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Iksuda Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Great Point Partners: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; BeiGene: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Other: All Consultancy and Research Funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding. Kwong: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Kersten: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support; Takeda: Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Miltenyi Biotec: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria. Minnema: Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Other: Travel expenses; BMS: Consultancy; Kite/Gilead: Consultancy; Alnylam: Consultancy. Holte: Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Nanovector: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: lectures honorarias; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Nordic: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Martinez-Lopez: Amgen: 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; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: 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; Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: 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; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Maziarz: Novartis: Consultancy, Other: Data and Safety Monitoring board, Research Funding; Incyte Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol-Myers, Squibb/Celgene,, Intellia, Kite: Honoraria; Allovir: Consultancy, Research Funding; Artiva Therapeutics: Consultancy; CRISPR Therapeutics: Consultancy; Intellia: Honoraria; Omeros: Research Funding; Athersys: Other: Data and Safety Monitoring Board, Patents & Royalties; Vor Pharma: Other: Data and Safety Monitoring Board. McGuirk: Kite/ Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel accommodations, expense, Kite a Gilead company, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Allovir: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Magenta Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; EcoR1 Capital: Consultancy; Novartis: Research Funding; Fresenius Biotech: Research Funding; Astelllas Pharma: Research Funding; Bellicum Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Research Funding; Pluristem Therapeutics: Research Funding. Bachy: Kite, a Gilead Company: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Daiishi: Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy. Dreyling: Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Astra Zeneca: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead Kite: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Research Funding; BeiGene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Genmab: Consultancy; MorphoSys: Consultancy. Harigae: Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Novartis Pharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Chugai Pharma: Honoraria; Janssen Pharma: Honoraria; Ono pharma: Honoraria, Other: Subsidies or Donations; Astellas Pharma: Other: Subsidies or Donations; Kyowakirin: Other: Subsidies or Donations. Bond: Kite/Gilead: Honoraria. Andreadis: Merck: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; CRISPR Therapeutics: Research Funding; GenMAB: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Roche: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Ended employment in the past 24 months; Epizyme: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria; TG Therapeutics: Honoraria; Kite: Honoraria; Karyopharm: Honoraria; Atara: Consultancy, Honoraria. McSweeney: Kite-Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gamida: Consultancy, Honoraria; TG Theraputics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Autolous Limited: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; NKARTA: Research Funding; Allovir: Research Funding. Newsome: Novartis: Current Employment. Degtyarev: Novartis: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Del Corral: Novartis: Current Employment. Andreola: Novartis: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Masood: Novartis: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Schuster: AbbVie, Acerta, Celgene/Juno, DTRM Bio, Genentech, Incyte, Merck, Novartis, Portola, and TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Acerta, AlloGene, AstraZeneca, BeiGene, Celgene/Juno, Genentech/Roche, LoxoOncology, Novartis, and Tessa Therapeutics: Consultancy; Acerta, AlloGene, AstraZeneca, BeiGene, Celgene, Genentech/Roche, LoxoOncology, Novartis, Nordic Nanovector, Pfizer, and Tessa Therapeutics;: Honoraria; Novartis: Other: Personal fees, Patents & Royalties; AbbVie, Celgene, Novartis, Juno, Nordic Nanovector, and Pfizer: Other: Steering Committee Participation. Jaeger: BMS/Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Norvartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Gilead: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Westin: Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; MorphoSys: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Umoja: Consultancy; Iksuda Therapeutics: Consultancy; Curis: Research Funding; Morphosys: Research Funding; 47 Inc: Research Funding.

Background: Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the second most frequently diagnosed Non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtype in Western countries. Patients often undergo multiple lines of therapy over many years throughout the course of their disease with worse survival after each successive line of therapy. Recent findings from the ELARA trial showed that tisagenlecleucel, a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, had durable complete response rate of 66.0%, with a probability of 79% (95% CI, 66%-87%) to remain in response ≥6 months (overall response rate 86.2%) in patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) FL. Prior evidence in patients with r/r diffuse large B-cell lymphoma demonstrated that tisagenlecleucel can be safely infused in an outpatient setting and may reduce healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) (Lyman et al, 2020). we present the first HCRU among patients with r/r FL who received tisagenlecleucel in the ELARA trial. Methods: ELARA is a Phase II, single-arm, multicenter study of tisagenlecleucel in adult patients with r/r FL. All patients underwent lymphodepleting chemotherapy with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide or bendamustine, before receiving a single IV infusion of tisagenlecleucel (0.6-6×10 8 CAR-positive viable T cells) that was administered at the investigator's discretion in either the inpatient or outpatient setting. Patients were followed for a median of 11 months, and HCRU was characterized using hospitalization data collected from the first day of infusion up to the second month after treatment, the time period wherein occurrence of CAR-T cell-related adverse events (AEs) such as cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome are most frequent. Information on the length of stay (dates of admission), hospital facilities used, and discharge information were assessed. Healthcare costs associated with hospitalizations and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions were estimated by applying unit costs obtained from published literature. All costs were from healthcare system perspective and were inflated to 2020 US Dollars. Results: Among 97 patients with r/r FL who received tisagenlecleucel infusion, 17 patients (18%) were infused in an outpatient setting and 80 patients (82%) were admitted for inpatient infusion and monitoring. Of the 30 clinical trial sites, 4 sites in US and 1 site in Australia used outpatient administration; at these sites, 68% (17 of 25) of the patients were treated in an outpatient setting. Patients treated in the outpatient setting were more likely to have ECOG performance status of 0 and a more favorable FLIPI score, but more frequently had grade 3A FL, primary refractory disease, and >5 lines of prior antineoplastic therapy than in the inpatient setting (Table). In the outpatient setting, 6 of 17 patients (35%) did not require any hospitalization during the first 2 months post-infusion, whereas 11 of 17 patients (65%) were hospitalized for AEs at a median of 3 days (range 1-25) post-infusion. Patients treated in the inpatient setting had longer total hospitalization days (mean ± SD: 14.3 ± 8.42 vs 5.0 ± 2.16 days) and longer average length of stay (mean ± SD: 13.8 ± 8.54 vs 4.3 ± 1.4 days) compared with the outpatient group. None of the outpatients required ICU admission during the 2 months post-infusion, whereas 7 patients (9%) in the inpatient setting were admitted to the ICU, for a total mean ± SD duration of 5.6 ± 4.47 days (Table). Mean overall hospitalization costs for inpatients were $40,054 per patient, which included $36,351 for inpatient stays and $3,703 for ICU, and $7,477 per patient for outpatients, which are only for inpatient stays as there were no ICU stays. Conclusions: In the ELARA trial, hospitalization and ICU patterns varied substantially between inpatient and outpatient settings and favored HCRU in the outpatient setting. Among patients treated in the outpatient setting, one third of patients did not require hospitalization during the post-infusion period; those who did had a lower average length of stay than the patients infused in an inpatient setting. The mean hospitalization costs in the post-infusion period were substantially lower in the outpatient versus inpatient setting due to the lack of ICU admissions. These data suggest that tisagenlecleucel can be safely administered in the outpatient setting, which may reduce HCRU for patients with r/r FL. Clinical trial information: NCT03568461 Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Fowler: BostonGene, Corp: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company; Bristol Myers Squibb, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, TG Therapeutics and Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Dickinson: Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodation, expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Chen: Mesolbast: Honoraria; Morphosys: Honoraria. Andreadis: GenMAB: Research Funding; Epizyme: Honoraria; Atara: Consultancy, Honoraria; Crispr Therapeutics: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; BMS/Celgene: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria; Kite: Honoraria; Merck: Research Funding; Roche: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Ended employment in the past 24 months; TG Therapeutics: Honoraria. Tiwari: Novartis Healthcare private limited: Current Employment. Masood: Novartis: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Ramos: Novartis: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Bollu: Novartis: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Jousseaume: Novartis: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Thieblemont: Kyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses , Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Bristol Myers Squibb/Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Cellectis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Hospira: Research Funding; Bayer: Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses . Dreyling: BeiGene: Consultancy; Astra Zeneca: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Genmab: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Gilead/Kite: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Schuster: Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Nordic Nanovector: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Research Funding; Acerta Pharma/AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Alimera Sciences: Consultancy; BeiGene: Consultancy; Juno Theraputics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Loxo Oncology: Consultancy; Tessa Theraputics: Consultancy; Genentech/Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmaclyclics: Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; TG Theraputics: Research Funding; DTRM: Research Funding.

Background: Follicular lymphoma is an indolent disease with a continuous relapsing pattern and typically requires multiple lines of therapy. Novel therapies such as tisagenlecleucel are being investigated to improve outcomes. Primary analysis of the single-arm, multicenter, Phase II ELARA trial in r/r FL demonstrated that tisagenlecleucel resulted in high overall (ORR) and complete response rates (CRR), and prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) at a median follow-up of 11 months (mo). Here, we report updated efficacy results from the overall population at a median follow-up of 17 mo, and a subgroup analysis of pts with high-risk disease from the ELARA trial (NCT03568461). Methods: Eligible adult pts had histologically confirmed r/r FL (grades 1-3A) after ≥2 lines of therapy or had relapsed after autologous stem cell transplant. Bridging therapy was allowed and was followed by disease evaluation before tisagenlecleucel infusion. Pts received tisagenlecleucel (0.6-6×10 8 CAR+ viable T cells) after lymphodepleting chemotherapy (fludarabine [25 mg/m 2] + cyclophosphamide [250 mg/m 2] QD for 3 d or bendamustine [90 mg/m 2] QD for 2 d). Endpoints included ORR, CRR, PFS, and duration of response (DOR). Descriptive efficacy subanalyses were performed for 9 high-risk subgroups, including prior hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), ≥5 prior lines of therapy, progression of disease within 24 mo from first immunochemotherapy (POD24), double-refractory disease, high Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) at study entry, high lactate dehydrogenase at baseline, high C-reactive protein (CRP) prior to infusion, radiological bulky disease (by GELF criteria), and high total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV; >510 cm 3) at baseline (median 155.32 cm 3; range 0.1-2470.4 cm 3). Descriptive subgroup analysis was supported by multivariate analysis to identify factors predictive of worse outcomes. Results: As of March 29, 2021, 97 pts received tisagenlecleucel and 94 were evaluable for primary efficacy analysis (median follow-up 17 mo). High and durable responses were seen in the overall ELARA population (ORR 86.2%, CRR 69.1%, 9-mo DOR 76.0%, and 12-mo PFS 67.0%). In CR pts at 9 mo, PFS was 85.5% and estimated probability of remaining in response was 86.5%. Safety reflected known tisagenlecleucel profile; 48% of pts had CRS (majority were grade 1/2) and 11.3% had neurological events (3% grade ≥3). In the subgroup analysis, pts were stratified into risk groups. Efficacy (ORR, CRR) and durability of response were well maintained in all high-risk subgroups, except for POD24 (n=35), high TMTV (n=20), and ≥5 prior lines of therapy (n=27). Compared with corresponding low-risk subgroups, there was a numerical reduction in CRR for high-risk subgroups (POD24 59.0% vs 87.9%; high TMTV 40.0% vs 76.4%; ≥5 prior lines of therapy 59.3% vs 73.1%) (Figure). A reduction in 12-mo PFS was also identified for pts in these subgroups: POD24 (60.8% vs 77.9%), high baseline TMTV (54.5% vs 68.5%), and ≥5 prior lines of therapy (59.6% vs 69.7%). Evaluating the disease characteristics of the high TMTV subgroup compared with low TMTV, high TMTV was associated with a higher incidence of bulky disease (58.3% vs 90.0%), high FLIPI (54.2% vs 85.0%), and high CRP (45.8% vs 70.0%). In the multivariate analysis of high-risk factors, only POD24 (hazard ratio [HR] 2.34; 95% CI, 1.02- 5.34) and high TMTV (HR 2.53; 95% CI, 1.14-5.65) were associated with shorter PFS. For pts with both POD24 and high TMTV (n=12), the CRR was 16.7% with a 12-mo PFS of 36.0%. These analyses of high-risk subgroups are exploratory in nature and should be validated in a larger study cohort. Conclusions : With 17-mo median follow-up, tisagenlecleucel produced high ORR and CRR and was associated with durable response and promising 12-mo PFS in pts with r/r FL and 2+ prior lines of therapy. Safety was consistent with known tisagenlecleucel profile. POD24 and high TMTV were independently associated with PFS. These results suggest that tisagenlecleucel can induce high rates of durable response, including most pts in the high-risk disease subgroups, who have poor prognosis with current non-CAR-T cell therapies. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Thieblemont: Bristol Myers Squibb/Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses , Research Funding; Kyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Takeda: 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; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Cellectis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Hospira: Research Funding; Bayer: Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses . Dickinson: Amgen: Honoraria; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodation, expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Martinez-Lopez: Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Kolstad: Nordic Nanovector: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Popplewell: Pfizer: Other: Travel; Novartis: Other: Travel; Hoffman La Roche: Other: Food. Chavez: AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; MorphoSys: Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Consultancy; Adaptive: Research Funding; Kite/Gilead: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; BeiGene: Speakers Bureau; ADC Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Speakers Bureau; Epizyme: Speakers Bureau. Bachy: Roche: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Daiishi: Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy. Kato: Kyowa Kirin: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Eisai: Consultancy, Research Funding; Dainippon-Sumitomo: Honoraria; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Research Funding; Chugai: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Research Funding; MSD: Honoraria; Mundi: Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ono: Honoraria, Research Funding. Harigae: Novartis Pharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Chugai Pharma: Honoraria; Janssen Pharma: Honoraria; Ono pharma: Honoraria, Other: Subsidies or Donations; Astellas Pharma: Other: Subsidies or Donations; Kyowakirin: Other: Subsidies or Donations; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria. Kersten: Kite/Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria; Miltenyi Biotech: Honoraria; BMS/Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria. Andreadis: GenMAB: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria; BMS/Celgene: Research Funding; Epizyme: Honoraria; Crispr Therapeutics: Research Funding; Atara: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Research Funding; Kite: Honoraria; Merck: Research Funding; Roche: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Ended employment in the past 24 months; TG Therapeutics: Honoraria. Riedell: Kite/Gilead: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; BeiGene: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Tessa Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Xencor: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Calibr: Research Funding. Pérez-Simón: Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Chen: Mesolbast: Honoraria; Morphosys: Honoraria. Nastoupil: MorphoSys: Honoraria; Bayer: Honoraria; Genentech: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: DSMC, Research Funding; IGM Biosciences: Research Funding; Denovo Pharma: Other: DSMC; Bristol Myers Squibb/Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Caribou Biosciences: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Gilead/Kite: Honoraria, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Honoraria; Epizyme: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding. Von Tresckow: Pentixafarm: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Congress and travel support, Research Funding; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Congress and travel support, Research Funding; Kite-Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS-Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Congress and travel support; AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Other: Congress and travel support; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Other: Congress and travel support; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other, Research Funding. Ferreri: Gilead, Novartis, Juno, PletixaPharm, Roche, Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS, Beigene, Pharmacyclics, Hutchison Medipharma, Amgen, Genmab, ADC Therapeutics, Gilead, Novartis, Pfizer: Research Funding. Teshima: Fuji pharma CO.,Ltd: Research Funding; Astellas Pharma Inc.: Research Funding; TEIJIN PHARMA Limited: Research Funding; CHUGAI PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.: Research Funding; Pfizer Inc.: Honoraria; Merck Sharp & Dohme: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kyowa Kirin Co.,Ltd.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda Pharmaceutical Company: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis International AG: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding; Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K.: Other; Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd.: Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Sanofi S.A.: Research Funding; Gentium/Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Patten: ASTRA ZENECA: Honoraria; ABBVIE: Honoraria; NOVARTIS: Honoraria; GILEAD SCIENCES: Honoraria, Research Funding; ROCHE: Research Funding; JANSSEN: Honoraria. McGuirk: Kite/ Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel accommodations, expense, Kite a Gilead company, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Research Funding; Fresenius Biotech: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; EcoR1 Capital: Consultancy; Magenta Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Allovir: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Astelllas Pharma: Research Funding; Bellicum Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Pluristem Therapeutics: Research Funding. Petzer: AppVie: Honoraria; Astra Zeneca: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Sandoz: Honoraria. Viardot: University Hospital of Ulm: Current Employment; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: 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; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kite/Gilead: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Zinzani: JANSSEN-CILAG: Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; NOVARTIS: Consultancy, Other, Speakers Bureau; EUSAPHARMA: Consultancy, Other, Speakers Bureau; SANDOZ: Other: Advisory board; MSD: Consultancy, Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; TAKEDA: Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; ROCHE: Other, Speakers Bureau; SERVIER: Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; KYOWA KIRIN: Other, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Other, Speakers Bureau; CELLTRION: Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; ADC Therap.: Other; GILEAD: Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau; Beigene: Other, Speakers Bureau; VERASTEM: Consultancy, Other: Advisory board, Speakers Bureau. Malladi: Gilead Science: Consultancy; Gilead: Honoraria, Other: Travel support. Lobetti Bodoni: Spouse: Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Spouse: Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Spouse: Celgene: Honoraria; Spouse: Harlcok Healthcare: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company; Spouse: Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Spouse: Sanofi: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Spouse: NHS: Ended employment in the past 24 months; Spouse: F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Gilead: Other: Travel sponsorship in June 2019; Novartis: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Masood: Novartis: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Schuster: Genentech/Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding; Tessa Theraputics: Consultancy; Loxo Oncology: Consultancy; BeiGene: Consultancy; Juno Theraputics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Alimera Sciences: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Acerta Pharma/AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; TG Theraputics: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Research Funding; Nordic Nanovector: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Fowler: Bristol Myers Squibb, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, TG Therapeutics and Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BostonGene, Corp: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Dreyling: Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astra Zeneca: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genmab: Consultancy; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Gilead/Kite: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Research Funding.

Background: Tisagenlecleucel is an autologous CD19-directed T-cell immunotherapy that provides high rates of durable response, with a manageable safety profile, in adult patients with R/R diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). An overall response (OR) rate of 53% and progression-free survival (PFS) rate of ~35% at 12 months were observed in the pivotal Phase II trial, JULIET (NCT02445248) [Jaeger et al. Blood 2020; Schuster et al. NEJM 2019]. Early data from the CIBMTR registry indicate similar efficacy and a more favorable safety profile in the commercial setting [Pasquini et al. Blood Adv 2020]. Outcomes are reported here for a larger group of patients with aBNHL who received commercial tisagenlecleucel with longer follow-up, including those considered ineligible for JULIET. Methods: This non-interventional prospective study used data from the CIBMTR registry and included adult patients with R/R aBNHL in the USA and Canada. Patients who received commercial tisagenlecleucel after August 30, 2017 were included, stratified by eligibility for JULIET based on patient characteristics reported in the registry (eg disease histology, treatment history, ECOG performance status, organ function). The safety and efficacy sets included those with completed Day 100 safety and efficacy forms, respectively, with ≥6 months' follow-up. Patients who died or discontinued prior to data cut-off were also included. Center-reported efficacy outcomes included OR rate, complete response (CR) rate, partial response (PR) rate, PFS, duration of response (DOR) and overall survival (OS). Adverse events of interest, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), were reported using the ASTCT grading criteria. Results: As of October 30, 2020, data were collected from 405 patients who received commercial tisagenlecleucel ≥6 months prior to data cut-off, with 365 patients included in the safety set and 362 in the efficacy set. In the full cohort, DLBCL was the histologic subtype in 79.5% of patients. Median time from receipt of leukapheresis product at the manufacturing site to shipment was 27 days (interquartile range: 25-33). At infusion, median age was 66 years, with 54.3% of patients aged ≥65 years. Patients had received a median of 3 (range: 0-11) prior lines of therapy and 34.3% had primary refractory disease. ECOG performance status at screening was In the efficacy set (median follow-up 15.8 months), the OR rate was 59.4% (95% CI 54.1-64.5), and 39.5% achieved a CR. Six patients with a 100-day best overall response of PR converted to CR. The 12-month PFS rate was 33.5% (95% CI 27.9-39.3), 12-month OS rate was 60.3% (95% CI 53.7-66.2) and median DOR was not reached. Overall, efficacy outcomes in the JULIET-ineligible subgroup reflected those of the wider study population (Table 1). In the safety set, any-grade CRS within 100 days of infusion was observed in 47.7% (n=174) patients, with Grade ≥3 CRS in 4.9% (n=18). Median time to CRS onset from infusion was 4 days (range: 1-15) and median duration was 5 days (95% CI 5-6). Any-grade ICANS within 100 days of infusion was observed in 17.0% (n=62) patients, with Grade ≥3 in 6.0% (n=22). Median time to onset from infusion was 7 days (range: 1-33) and median duration was 9 days (95% CI 6-12). The safety profile of tisagenlecleucel in the JULIET-ineligible subgroup reflected that of the wider study population (Table 1). Conclusions: Updated registry data confirm that aBNHL patients receiving commercial tisagenlecleucel experience similar efficacy outcomes and more favorable safety outcomes than those enrolled in JULIET, even though approximately two-thirds of patients did not appear to meet JULIET eligibility criteria. The CIBMTR registry remains an important source of safety and efficacy outcomes for a large population of aBNHL patients treated with commercial tisagenlecleucel. Updated data will be presented at the meeting. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Landsburg: Curis: Research Funding; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ADCT: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Research Funding; Triphase: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: DSMB member; Morphosys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Frigault: BMS: Consultancy; Editas: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Iovance: Consultancy; Arcellx: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Hu: Kite/Gilead: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Jaglowski: Takeda: Consultancy; Juno: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; CRISPR Therapeutics: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Locke: Legend Biotech: Consultancy, Other; GammaDelta Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role, Research Funding; Wugen: Consultancy, Other; Umoja: Consultancy, Other; Novartis: Consultancy, Other, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Cowen: Consultancy; EcoR1: Consultancy; Emerging Therapy Solutions: Consultancy; Gerson Lehrman Group: Consultancy; Calibr: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Cellular Biomedicine Group: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Iovance Biotherapeutics: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Takeda: Consultancy, Other; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Amgen: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Allogene Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role, Research Funding; Moffitt Cancer Center: Patents & Royalties: field of cellular immunotherapy. Perales: Nektar Therapeutics: Honoraria, Other; MorphoSys: Honoraria; Miltenyi Biotec: Honoraria, Other; Merck: Honoraria; Medigene: Honoraria; Kite/Gilead: Honoraria, Other; Karyopharm: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria, Other; Equilium: Honoraria; Cidara: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; NexImmune: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Other; Omeros: Honoraria; Sellas Life Sciences: Honoraria; Servier: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria. Jacobson: Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support; Lonza: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support; Nkarta: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support; Precision Biosciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support; Humanigen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support; Axis: Speakers Bureau; Clinical Care Options: Speakers Bureau. Hill: Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel Support, Research Funding; AstraZenica: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gentenech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Beigene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte/Morphysis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene (BMS): Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Foley: Novartis: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria. Riedell: Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Calibr: Research Funding; Xencor: Research Funding; Tessa Therapeutics: Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; Kite/Gilead: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BeiGene: Consultancy. Tiwari: Novartis Healthcare private limited: Current Employment. Masood: Novartis: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Lim: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Current Employment. Majdan: Novartis: Current Employment. Pasquini: Kite Pharma: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding. Turtle: Myeloid Therapeutics: Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company, Other: Scientific Advisory Board; T-CURX: Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Century Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Arsenal Bio: Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company, Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Eureka Therapeutics: Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company, Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Caribou Biosciences: Consultancy, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company, Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Precision Biosciences: Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company, Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Nektar Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; Juno Therapeutics/BMS: Patents & Royalties: Right to receive royalties from Fred Hutch for patents licensed to Juno Therapeutics, Research Funding; Asher Bio: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; PACT Pharma: Consultancy; TCR2 Therapeutics: Research Funding; Allogene: Consultancy.

Introduction: In the single-arm phase 2 ELARA trial (NCT03568461), tisagenlecleucel demonstrated efficacy and favorable safety profile in patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) follicular lymphoma (FL) after ≥ 2 lines of prior therapy, including in high-risk sub-populations (Schuster, et al. ASCO 2021). To contextualize these results, we performed a retrospective non-interventional study to compare the efficacy of tisagenlecleucel seen in the single-arm ELARA trial with the standard-of-care (SoC) using individual patient-level data from the US Flatiron Health Research Database (FHRD). FHRD is a database derived from electronic health records from over 280 cancer clinics. The objective was to assess the effect of prescribing tisagenlecleucel vs SoC in patients who participated in ELARA. Methods: Individual patient-level data from FHRD were used to create an external control arm to carry out an indirect comparison with the ELARA trial. Eligible inclusion and exclusion criteria from ELARA were applied to the external control arm. A single eligible line was selected using propensity scores when patients were qualified at multiple lines. Key prognostic factors including age, race, gender, number of prior treatment lines, group stage at initial FL diagnosis, number of months between initial FL diagnosis and indication of index treatment, double refractoriness, and disease progression within 24 months were included in a propensity score model to reduce confounding due to systematic differences in ELARA patients from FHRD patients at baseline for the selected line. Weighting by odds of receiving tisagenlecleucel was used to estimate the average treatment effect on progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), time to next treatment (TTNT), overall response rate (ORR), and complete response rate (CRR). The rates and difference in rates were calculated for CRR and ORR. Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were used to analyze all time-to-event endpoints. 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using bootstrapping. Data from the first 24 months after enrollment in ELARA or after treatment in FHRD were used for the follow-up period in the time to event endpoints, as few patients in ELARA trial had > 24 month data (Figure). Results were reported based on the post-weighting sample by incorporating a weight factor in the above analyses. A series of sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the primary analysis. Results: As of Mar 29, 2021, 98 patients were enrolled in the ELARA trial, of which 97 were included in this indirect comparison (median follow-up, 15 months). In the FHRD cohort (data cut-off, Jun 30, 2020), 98 patients with ≥ 3 treatment lines who met the ELARA eligibility were included (median follow-up, 14 months in the post-weighted sample) (Table 1). In the ELARA vs FHRD cohorts, after applying weighting by odds, the ORR was 85.6% vs 58.1%, and the CRR was 69.1% vs 17.7%. The difference in CRR (51.4%; 95% CI: 21.2, 68.8) was clinically meaningful (Table 2). The median TTNT or death was not reached in the ELARA cohort and was 19.0 months in the FHRD cohort after weighting (HR = 0.34 [95% CI: 0.15, 0.78]) (Table 2). The median OS was not reached for both ELARA and FHRD cohorts in the first 24-month period. KM estimate of OS at 12 months was 96.6% in the ELARA cohort and 84.5% in the FHRD cohort, post weighting. The estimated 59% risk reduction was in favor of tisagenlecleucel over SoC (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.41 [95% CI: 0.11, 1.47]) (Table 2). The median PFS was not reached in the ELARA cohort and was 9.9 months in the FHRD cohort, after weighting. In the ELARA vs FHRD cohorts, the 12-month PFS was 73.2% vs 41.8%, with a HR of 0.45 indicating a 55% reduction in the risk of progression and death with tisagenlecleucel vs SoC. The median PFS considering new anti-cancer therapy as an event was not reached for ELARA and was 9.9 months for FHRD; the estimated probability of being progression-free at 12 months was 70.5% in the ELARA cohort and 39.4% in the FHRD cohort (Table 2). Sensitivity analyses results were consistent with that of primary analysis. Conclusion: In the weighted analyses with adjustment for baseline prognostic factors, there was a consistent trend towards greater CRR, TTNT, OS and PFS in favor of tisagenlecleucel vs SoC in patients with r/r FL. These results support the clinically meaningful treatment benefit of tisagenlecleucel observed in the ELARA trial. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Hao: Novartis: Current Employment. Hsu: Novartis: Consultancy. Parzynski: Novartis: Consultancy. Lobetti Bodoni: Spouse: Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Spouse: Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Spouse: Celgene: Honoraria; Spouse: Harlcok Healthcare: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company; Spouse: Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Spouse: NHS: Ended employment in the past 24 months; Spouse: Sanofi: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Spouse: F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Gilead: Other: Travel sponsorship in June 2019; Novartis: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Degtyarev: Novartis: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Hampson: Novartis: Current Employment. Masood: Novartis: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Wu: Novartis: Consultancy. OffLabel Disclosure: Tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) an autologous CD19-directed CAR-T-cell therapy, has been approved for children and young adults with relapsed/refractory (r/r) acute lymphoblastic leukemia and, adults with r/r diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

The current study was conducted to quantify zinc in nail samples of iron welders from different areas of Lahore, Pakistan. This study intended to assess nutritional deficiencies of zinc in welders. As nails serve a beneficial biomarker of concentrations of trace elements, hence in the present study the nails of welders were used for monitoring. The total number of nail samples collected from workers of iron welding shops, were 40. In a standardized washing procedure the nail samples were scrapped and cleaned of dust particles with nonionic detergent (Triton X-100) and then nail samples were digested afterwards in acid mixture. The concentration of zinc was evaluated by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results revealed that concentration of zinc in nail samples ranged 0.297 – 1.718 mg/kg and averaged at 0.88±0.39 mg/kg which is below the ideal zinc levels in nail samples. Correlation of zinc (mg/kg) was significant with age (0.214< 0.5), weight (0.320< 0.5) and Body Mass Index (0.268< 0.5) of the welders, while a weak correlation of zinc (mg/kg) was found with height (0.042< 0.5) of the welders.

Introduction: Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of asthma, chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis (CF). Reactive oxygen species are unstable compounds with unpaired electrons, capable of initiating oxidation. Aims and objectives: The basic aim of the study is to measure the level of antioxidants and inhalation of hydrogen gas which relation to oxidative stress in asthma. Methodology of the study: This study was conducted at Services Institute of medical sciences, Lahore during 2018. All the data was collected according to the rules and regulations of authority. The data was collected from both genders which suffer from asthma. The blood was drawn from all patients for further analysis of antioxidants. Results: Mean values of investigated parameters and differences in the values between, before and after inhalation of hydrogen gas. The values are expressed in terms of mean± SD. According to the analysis, the level of SOD, MDA and GSH increase as compared to normal level. But the level of catalases decreased with the value of 0.43±0.39. Conclusion: It is concluded that inhalation of hydrogen gas can imbalance the level of antioxidants in the blood in asthma diseases.

Introduction: Chronic bronchitis is defined as a chronic productive cough for three months in each of two successive years in a patient in whom other causes of chronic cough (eg, bronchiectasis) have been excluded. It may precede or follow development of airflow limitation. Objectives of the study: The basic aim of the study is to find the analysis of metabolic syndrome in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Pakistan. Methodology of the study: The present study was conducted at Shahida Islam Medical College, Lodhran, from 2017 to 2018. This was basically a cross sectional study and sample size was 148. After approval from ethical committee all the parents were informed for the purpose of the study and a written informed consent was taken from the patients. Results: From 148 patients, it was observed that the minimum age was 36 years and maximum age was 65 years with mean and standard deviation of the age was 52.44 ± 7.83 years. The minimum glucose level was 80 mg/dL and maximum was 115 mg/dL with mean and standard deviation was 94.05 ± 11.15 mg/dL. The minimum triglyceride level was 100 mg/dL and maximum was 370 mg/dL with mean and standard deviation was 181.70 ± 88.03 mg/dL. The minimum High Density Lipoprotein level was 30 mg/dL and maximum was 58 mg/dL with mean and standard deviation was 46.22 ± 9.03 mg/dL. Conclusion: The frequency of metabolic syndrome was found in 43.9% patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. All effect modifiers have significant influence.

9531 Background: Checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies have improved outcomes in pts with BRAF V600–mutant advanced melanoma; however, many pts progress and new treatment (tx) strategies are needed. BRAF inhibition increases T-cell infiltration, melanoma antigen expression, and PD-1/PD-L1 expression, which may lead to synergistic activity with anti–PD-1 therapy. Methods: COMBI-i is investigating first-line S 400 mg Q4W + D 150 mg BID + T 2 mg QD in pts with unresectable or metastatic BRAF V600–mutant melanoma (NCT02967692). Here we report pooled efficacy and safety data from parts 1 (run-in cohort) and 2 (biomarker cohort). Response was assessed per RECIST v1.1. Results: 36 pts were enrolled (part 1: n = 9; part 2: n = 27); 18 (50%) had stage IV M1c and 15 (42%) had elevated LDH levels. At the data cutoff (median follow-up, 15.2 mo), tx was ongoing in 17 pts (47%). The confirmed objective response rate (ORR) by investigator assessment was 75% (n = 27), with 33% complete responses (CRs; n = 12). Medians for duration of response (DOR; 7/27 pts with events), progression-free survival (PFS; 13/36 pts with events), and overall survival (OS; 7/36 pts with events) were not reached. 12-mo DOR rate was 71.4% (95% CI, 49%-85%). 12-mo PFS and OS rates were 65.3% (95% CI, 47%-79%) and 85.9% (95% CI, 69%-94%), respectively. In pts with high baseline LDH: ORR was 67%, with 3 CRs (20%), median PFS was 10.7 mo (events in 10/15 pts [67%]), and median OS was not reached, with events in 6/15 pts (40%). All pts had ≥ 1 AE; 27 (75%) had grade ≥ 3 AEs. 6 pts (17%) had AEs leading to discontinuation of all 3 study drugs. Any-grade AEs in ≥ 40% of pts included pyrexia, chills, fatigue, cough, and arthralgia. Grade ≥ 3 AEs in > 3 pts were neutropenia, pyrexia, and increased lipase. One pt died of cardiac arrest that was not considered related to study tx. Conclusions: S+D+T showed promising and durable ORR (75%) with CR in 33% of pts. With > 15 mo of follow-up, median PFS was not reached. The safety profile was manageable reflecting individual toxicities of D, T, and S. The global, placebo-controlled, randomized phase 3 (part 3) of COMBI-i is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT02967692.

Background Previous studies have indicated that, in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), bortezomib is associated with an increased incidence of herpes zoster, resulting from reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus (VZV). Objective Our objective was to determine whether increased risk of VZV reactivation could be abrogated by using prophylactic acyclovir. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 100 consecutive MM patients treated with bortezomib-based therapies at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute for development of herpes zoster. Frontline and relapsed/refractory patients were included, and patients received bortezomib alone or in combination with agents such as doxorubicin, melphalan, or dexamethasone. All patients received >4 weeks of acyclovir prophylaxis (400 mg twice daily), which was initiated prior to starting treatment with bortezomib and discontinued 4 weeks following bortezomib. Results Median patient age was 62 years, 57% were male, and most (56%) had Durie-Salmon stage IIIA MM. None of the 100 MM patients receiving acyclovir prophylaxis developed herpes zoster during treatment with bortezomib, irrespective of patients receiving a wide variety of concomitant antimyeloma therapies and regardless of response to bortezomib-based therapy. One additional patient, found to be noncompliant with acyclovir therapy, experienced VZV reactivation, having received 3 cycles of bortezomib (3 weeks each cycle) in combination with cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone. Limitations Limitations of the study include its small size and retrospective nature. Conclusions The increased risk of VZV reactivation observed in previous studies of bortezomib-based therapy was completely abrogated in this series of patients who received prophylaxis with acyclovir.

Over-expression of anti-apoptotic BCL2 has been reported in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), but targeting BCL2 alone did not yield appreciable clinical results. However, it was demonstrated that BCL2 inhibitors enhanced the clinical efficacy of chemo and immunotherapeutics. Lenalidomide, an immunomodulator, is clinically effective in CLL and can enhance the anti-CLL effects of CD20 targeting monoclonal antibody, rituximab. Here, we investigated the mechanism of immune-directed killing of lenalidomide in CLL and evaluated if concurrent targeting of CD20 and BCL2 can enhance this effect. In vitro treatment with lenalidomide enhanced the antibody-mediated cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) directed by rituximab in autologous leukaemic cells. Furthermore, peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from patients after treatment with lenalidomide and rituximab showed increased ADCC in vitro versus control (pre-treatment sample). This effect was further enhanced with pre-treatment of tumour cells with AT-101 (a BH3 mimetic that functions as BCL2 antagonist). Our data suggest that AT-101 in combination with lenalidomide can potentially be an effective therapeutic regimen for CLL.

Lenalidomide has demonstrated impressive antileukaemic effects in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The mechanism(s) by which it mediates these effects remain unclear. Clinically, CLL patients treated with lenalidomide demonstrate an acute inflammatory reaction, the tumour flare reaction that is suggestive of an immune activation phenomenon. Samples from CLL patients treated with lenalidomide were used to evaluate its effect on the tumour cell and components of its microenvironment (immune cellular and cytokine). Lenalidomide was unable to directly induce apoptosis in CLL cells in vitro, however it modulated costimulatory (CD80, CD83, CD86) surface molecules on CLL cells in vitro and in vivo. Concurrently, we demonstrated that NK cell proliferation was induced by lenalidomide treatment in patients and correlated with clinical response. Cytokine analysis showed increase in levels of TNF-α post-lenalidomide treatment, consistent with acute inflammatory reaction. Furthermore, the basal cytokine profile (high IL-8, MIG, IP-10 and IL-4 levels and low IL-5, MIP1a, MIP1b, IL12/p70) was predictive of clinical response to lenalidomide. Collectively, our correlative studies provide further evidence that the antileukaemic effect of lenalidomide in CLL is mediated not only through modulation of the leukaemic clone but also through elements of the tumour microenvironment.

Novel agents have provided a new foundation for multiple myeloma therapies. When combined with other anti-myeloma agents, these compounds significantly enhance clinical efficacy. High-dose steroids are frequently used in anti-myeloma combination regimens; however, the doses employed are often poorly tolerated, especially in patients with concurrent comorbid conditions. We hypothesized that a steroid-independent combination regimen could be developed without significant compromise of efficacy. The availability of such a regimen will be important for patients whose concurrent ailments make them poor candidates for steroid containing anti-myeloma regimens. A phase II single institute, non-randomized clinical trial was conducted to investigate a novel steroid-free three-drug combination of bortezomib (V), pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (D), and thalidomide (T), the VDT regimen. Forty-three newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients requiring treatment were enrolled on this study. The overall response rate and complete response (CR) + near complete response (nCR) rate was 78% and 35%, respectively. Median time to progression was 29·5 months. Fatigue, rash, neuropathy, constipation and infections were the most common side effects. We concluded that VDT is a tolerable and an effective regimen capable of inducing high response rates and can be employed in patients considered to be poor candidates for steroid-based treatment regimens.

Multiple myeloma is a heterogeneous malignant disorder with a variable clinical course suggestive of diverse biological factors that have important prognostic implications. Despite development of several new therapeutic agents and substantially effective novel combination regimens, myeloma remains an incurable disease. There is an emphasis to define new biologic parameters to accurately identify patients with aggressive disease biology. This will allow more informed treatment decisions based on the biology of the disease, resulting in further optimization of management strategies in specific patient subgroups. Among biological parameters of risk stratification, cytogenetics has emerged as arguably the most important dependable and clinically convenient. These are being increasingly utilized to develop therapeutic stratification in newer clinical trials. Appraisal of current data suggests that patients with high-risk cytogenetics have a worse prognosis. However, treatment with novel agents has changed this variable. There is emerging evidence that patients with aggressive disease biology are fairing better with innovative treatment regimens utilizing a combination of conventional and novel agents. This review focuses on current and emerging data about defining high-risk disease in multiple myeloma and the various therapeutic options for this group of patients.

The tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib has revolutionized the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) by selectively targeting the gene product of the Philadelphia chromosome, BCR-ABL, thereby halting disease progression. Although most patients respond to imatinib and achieve prolonged remission, the development of imatinib resistance has emerged as a major clinical issue. Resistance can be either primary, occurring at treatment initiation when patients fail to obtain important predictive milestones, or secondary, occurring during the course of therapy when patients experience a loss of response or disease progression. Two recently approved tyrosine kinase inhibitors, the dual BCRABL and SRC inhibitor dasatinib and the imatinib analog nilotinib, have shown substantial activity among patients with resistance or intolerance to imatinib. Given these new options, identification of nonresponders has become increasingly important to ensure earliest administration of appropriate therapy. Here, we review recommendations for identifying and treating patients with chronic-phase CML who have experienced failure of first-line imatinib.

Background: Preclinical studies have demonstrated synergistic antitumor activity when immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/PD ligand-1 (PD-L1) axis were combined with the Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a phase 1/2a study evaluating the safety and efficacy of ibrutinib in combination with nivolumab in patients (pts) with relapsed or refractory (R/R) high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), follicular lymphoma (FL), diffuse-large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and Richter's transformation (RT). Methods : The study was initiated with Part A to establish the safety of oral (po) ibrutinib administered at the approved doses of 420 mg (CLL, FL, DLBCL) and 560 mg (FL, DLBCL) per day (qd) in combination with standard, intravenous (IV) nivolumab dosing of 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks. A modified toxicity probability interval design was used; approximately 18 pts would be enrolled. In Part B, we examined the efficacy of this combination in 4 expansion cohorts: pts with R/R, ibrutinib and PD-1 inhibitor naïve CLL and SLL (including deletion 17p and 11q), FL, DLBCL (GCB and ABC/non-GCB), and pts with RT. Approximately 35 pts would be enrolled in each cohort. In Part B, pts received 420 mg ibrutinib (CLL, SLL) or 560 mg ibrutinib (FL, DLBCL, RT) with nivolumab. Results: As of June 8, 2017, 141 pts were treated. Median time on study for CLL, SLL, FL, DLBCL, and RT was 71.4, 78.1, 65.5, 19.9, and 12.8 weeks, respectively. In Part A, 14 pts were enrolled, and 1 dose-limiting toxicity of hyperbilirubinemia grade 3 (by CTCAE) was observed, which resolved after 5 days. Thus, the combination of oral ibrutinib (420 mg or 560 mg qd) and IV nivolumab (every 14 days) displayed an acceptable safety profile. In Part B, an additional 127 pts were enrolled: 35 pts (CLL and SLL), 35 pts (FL), 37 pts (DLBCL), and 20 pts (RT). Median age was 65 years (range, 20-89 years), and 61.7% of pts were men. Median number of prior therapies was 3 (range, 1-12). Most common adverse events (AEs) for all pts were grade 1-2 and included diarrhea (31%), pyrexia, and fatigue (each 23%). The incidence of grade 3-4 neutropenia was 24% (DLBCL) to 56.7% (CLL), with febrile neutropenia reported in 2%, 5%, and 13% of pts with CLL, RT, and DLBCL, respectively. Grade 3-4 anemia was observed in 20% (FL, RT) to 24% (DLBCL) of pts. Immune-related AEs (IRAEs) occurred in 46.8% of all pts and were generally grade 1-2. Grade ≥3 IRAEs were reported in 13.5% of all pts; most common were rash and alanine aminotransferase increased. AEs leading to treatment discontinuation or death were reported in 27.0% or 6.4% of treated pts, respectively. Reported deaths were considered unrelated to study drugs. The overall response rate (ORR, complete response [CR] + partial response [PR]) was 83.3% for CLL (including PR with lymphocytosis), 66.7% for SLL, 30.0% for FL, 35.6% for DLBCL, and 60% for RT (Table). Preliminary data indicated that median progression-free survival (PFS) was immature and subject to maturation with longer follow-up for CLL, not estimable (NE) due to lack of events for SLL, 5.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.9, 12.7) for FL, 3.2 months (95% CI: 2.0, 4.7) for overall DLBCL (4.1 months [95% CI: 2.1-7.6] for non-transformed DLBCL and 1.9 months [95% CI: 0.7-4.7] for transformed DLBCL), and 3.6 months (95% CI: 1.4, NE) for RT. Median duration of follow-up for CLL, SLL, FL, DLBCL, and RT was 15.90 (range 1.7, 25.5), 17.02 (1.9, 17.7), 13.34 (0.7, 21.3), 14.75 (0.4, 19.2), and 4.60 (1.4, 11.1) months, respectively. There was a trend toward increased CR and PFS in DLBCL pts with elevated PD-L1 protein staining (≥5% of tumor cells) by central immunohistochemistry analysis. In RT, 2/8 responders (PR or better) had elevated PD-L1 staining. PD-L1 staining was not elevated for all other cohorts. Conclusions : The combination of ibrutinib and nivolumab at full doses displayed an acceptable safety profile in pts in R/R non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The ORR was comparable to those observed with single-agent ibrutinib in CLL, SLL, FL, and DLBCL. Historical results demonstrate poor outcomes in pts with RT treated with single-agent ibrutinib or with chemotherapy. In this study, the rate of clinical response observed in pts with RT exceeded expectation and may support further clinical evaluation. Biomarker analysis is ongoing to identify pts who may benefit most from this novel therapy. Disclosures Younes: Incyte: Honoraria; Curis: Research Funding; Johnson & Johnson: Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria; Merck: Honoraria; Bayer: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Third-party medical writing assistance, under the direction of Anas Younes, was provided by Scott Malkin of Gardiner-Caldwell Communications, and was funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.; Janssen: Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria; Takeda Millenium: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Novartis: Research Funding. Lopez-Guillermo: Celgene: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy, Other: Research grant. Bosch Albareda: Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Masood: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Employment, Equity Ownership. Streit: Janssen Research & Development: Employment, Equity Ownership. Alvarez: Janssen Research & Development: Employment, Equity Ownership. Ceulemans: Janssen Research & Development: Consultancy. Kharabi Masouleh: Janssen Research & Development: Employment. Balasubramanian: Janssen Research & Development: Employment, Equity Ownership. Schaffer: Janssen Research & Development: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wang: Janssen Research & Development: Employment. Fourneau: Janssen Research & Development: Employment. Jurczak: Gilead: Research Funding; Morphosys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Celtrion: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Acerta Pharma: Research Funding; Spectrum: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sandoz Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Nordic Nanovector: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Jagiellonian University: Employment; Servier: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.

TPS7577 Background: Nivolumab (nivo) is a PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor that augments T-cell activation and host anti-tumor responses. PD-1 blockade has shown promise in B- and T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL),1 but many patients (pts) with NHL do not respond or progress after response. Combination therapy using anti-tumor agents with complementary mechanisms of action and low immunosuppressive impact may result in more frequent and durable responses. Brentuximab vedotin (BV) is an anti-CD30 antibody–drug conjugate that induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, with activity in a range of NHL tumors.2,3 Tumor cells undergoing BV-induced apoptosis have shown subsequent immune-mediated anti-tumor cytotoxicity.4 Therefore, nivo and BV may synergize if combined for relapsed/refractory (RR) NHL. Methods: CheckMate 436 (NCT02581631) is a phase 1–2, open-label, international, single-arm study evaluating nivo + BV for CD30-expressing RR NHL (study start: Dec 2015) in pts with RR diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, peripheral T-cell lymphoma (excluding anaplastic large cell lymphoma), and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome); cohorts with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBL) and mediastinal gray zone lymphoma were made eligible in Sept 2016. Pts with PMBL must be aged ≥15 y (≥18 y for other histologies). All pts must have CD30-expressing disease, defined by CD30 on ≥1% of tumor cells or tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes by immunohistochemistry. In the phase 1 component, 6 pts will receive nivo and BV until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. In the phase 2 component, ~130 more pts across the 5 histologies will be enrolled and treated at the recommended dose. Primary endpoints: safety, tolerability, and investigator-assessed objective response rate; secondary endpoints: duration of response and complete response (CR), CR rate, and progression-free and overall survival. Accrual is ongoing. References: 1. Lesokhin A et al. JCO 2016;34:2698–704 2. Jacobsen E et al. Blood 2015;125:1394–402 3. Horwitz S et al. Blood 2014;123:3095–100 4. Gardai S et al. Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):2469 [abstract]. Clinical trial information: NCT02581631.

Summary Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common haematological malignancy in the U.S. The course of the disease has been shown to be negatively impacted by increased levels of BCL2. Strategies to downregulate BCL2 and shift the balance towards cellular demise are actively being explored. Therefore, we examined whether the investigational agent MLN2238 could inhibit the proteasomal machinery and induce CLL cell death while also downregulating BCL2. MLN2238-induced cell death was studied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 28 CLL patients. MLN2238 produced a dose-dependent reduction in BCL2 and CLL cell viability with maximum cell death observed at a 50 nmol/l concentration by 48 h. Annexin-V staining, PARP1 and caspase-3 cleavage along with an increase in mitochondrial membrane permeability were noted after cells were treated with MLN2238; however, apoptosis was only partially blocked by the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD.fmk. Furthermore, we observed enhanced anti-CLL effects in tumour cells treated with either a combination of MLN2238 and the BH3 mimetic AT-101 or MLN2238 and fludarabine. Together, our data suggest the potential for proteasome inhibitor based therapy in CLL and the rationale design of drug combination strategies based on CLL biology.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common adult leukemia and is currently incurable. To expand the therapeutic armamentarium, we investigated neem leaf extract (NLE) after a patient with CLL demonstrated disease regression upon taking oral NLE. NLE-mediated apoptosis was examined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 41 patients with CLL. NLE induced a dose-dependent reduction in CLL cell viability with signifi cant apoptosis observed at 0.06% (w/v) by 24 h. Annexin-V staining and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) and caspase 3 cleavage were observed after NLE treatment. However, a pan-caspase inhibitor only partially blocked NLE-mediated cell death. NLE also caused loss of mitochondrial outer membrane permeability and nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor. Furthermore, NLE treatment resulted in LC3-I cleavage. Biochemical analyses revealed that NLE also inhibits Bcl-2 and p53 proteins. In summary, NLE exhibits anti-leukemic properties in patient primary CLL cells and demonstrates clinical effi cacy, warranting further investigation as a potential therapy for CLL.

TPS7576Background: Nivolumab (nivo) is a fully-human immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody immune checkpoint inhibitor that targets programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) to restore active T-cell immun...

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL) is highly chemoresponsive, and majority of patients respond to therapy except for a small number which require high-dose therapy and stem cell rescue for salvage. We report the results of a single-center experience in 41 patients with relapsed HL treated with high-dose therapy at the time of relapse from the year 1989–2010. The 7-year OS for the group is 39.2 %; the median progression-free survival is 30.6 months. Univariate analysis identified refractory disease at transplant and extranodal involvement as important prognosticators. The 100-day mortality was 5 %. The most common cause for delayed mortality was disease progression. The incidence of secondary malignancy in the group was 2 %. Our results reinforce the significance of long-term follow up as late relapses are observed. Additionally, identifying biological prognosticators and implying them for treatment may improve the outcomes in poor-risk patients.

Understanding the biology of Waldenström macroglobulinemia is hindered by a lack of preclinical models. We report a novel cell line, RPCI-WM1, from a patient treated for WM. The cell line secretes human immunoglobulin M (h-IgM) with κ-light chain restriction identical to the primary tumor. The cell line has a modal chromosomal number of 46 and harbors chromosomal changes such as deletion of 6q21, monoallelic deletion of 9p21 (CDKN2A), 13q14 (RB1) and 18q21 (BCL-2), with a consistent amplification of 14q32 (immunoglobulin heavy chain; IgH) identical to its founding tumor sample. The clonal relationship is confirmed by identical CDR3 length and single nucleotide polymorphisms as well as a matching IgH sequence of the cell line and founding tumor. Both also harbor a heterozygous, non-synonymous mutation at amino acid 265 in the MYD88 gene (L265P). The cell line expresses most of the cell surface markers present on the parent cells. Overall, RPCI-WM1 represents a valuable model to study Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

Over-expression of anti-apoptotic BCL2 has been reported in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), but targeting BCL2 alone did not yield appreciable clinical results. However, it was demonstrated that BCL2 inhibitors enhanced the clinical efficacy of chemo and immunotherapeutics. Lenalidomide, an immunomodulator, is clinically effective in CLL and can enhance the anti-CLL effects of CD20 targeting monoclonal antibody, rituximab. Here, we investigated the mechanism of immune-directed killing of lenalidomide in CLL and evaluated if concurrent targeting of CD20 and BCL2 can enhance this effect. In vitro treatment with lenalidomide enhanced the antibody-mediated cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) directed by rituximab in autologous leukaemic cells. Furthermore, peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from patients after treatment with lenalidomide and rituximab showed increased ADCC in vitro versus control (pre-treatment sample). This effect was further enhanced with pre-treatment of tumour cells with AT-101 (a BH3 mimetic that functions as BCL2 antagonist). Our data suggest that AT-101 in combination with lenalidomide can potentially be an effective therapeutic regimen for CLL.

Overexpression of the Bcl-2 family of genes results in increased transcription of anti-apoptotic proteins. In vitro data suggest that this may enhance acquired chemoresistance and correlate with extramedullary invasion. This has led to pursuing the Bcl-2 family of proteins as therapeutic targets in several malignant disorders, including multiple myeloma (MM). The impact of novel therapeutic agents such as bortezomib on these molecular markers is not known. We investigated the association between the expression of anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family and the efficacy of bortezomib in patients with relapsed/refractory MM. Gene expression data generated prospectively from large clinical trials were utilized. Hypothesis testing using a multisample test for equivalence was performed. The association between Bcl-2 expression levels and clinical response was negated in bortezomib-treated patients (p = 0.014), while not so in dexamethasone-treated patients (p = 0.92). Similar results were noted for variant 2 of the Mcl-1 gene (p = 0.003). Results for Bcl-xl did not meet the level of significance. Thus, the importance of the Bcl-2 family of proteins as prognostic markers in MM should be reassessed in the novel therapeutic agent era. Our data suggest that bortezomib may overcome the prognostic effect conferred by overexpression of some of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family of genes in patients with relapsed/refractory MM.

Lenalidomide has demonstrated impressive antileukaemic effects in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The mechanism(s) by which it mediates these effects remain unclear. Clinically, CLL patients treated with lenalidomide demonstrate an acute inflammatory reaction, the tumour flare reaction that is suggestive of an immune activation phenomenon. Samples from CLL patients treated with lenalidomide were used to evaluate its effect on the tumour cell and components of its microenvironment (immune cellular and cytokine). Lenalidomide was unable to directly induce apoptosis in CLL cells in vitro, however it modulated costimulatory (CD80, CD83, CD86) surface molecules on CLL cells in vitro and in vivo. Concurrently, we demonstrated that NK cell proliferation was induced by lenalidomide treatment in patients and correlated with clinical response. Cytokine analysis showed increase in levels of TNF-α post-lenalidomide treatment, consistent with acute inflammatory reaction. Furthermore, the basal cytokine profile (high IL-8, MIG, IP-10 and IL-4 levels and low IL-5, MIP1a, MIP1b, IL12/p70) was predictive of clinical response to lenalidomide. Collectively, our correlative studies provide further evidence that the antileukaemic effect of lenalidomide in CLL is mediated not only through modulation of the leukaemic clone but also through elements of the tumour microenvironment.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an archetype of malignancy resulting from defects in apoptosis. CLL is an exclusive accumulative disorder marked by low proliferative activity and gradual accumulation of clonal B-lymphocytes blocked in the early (G0, G1) phases of the cell cycle. The heterogeneous clinical course indicates diverse in vivo biology of the leukemic cell and suggests that CLL represents diverse behavior. Understanding the molecular biology of the disease has provided insight into the mechanisms that promote tumorigenesis, specifically defective apoptotic signaling pathways. In this review we attempt to provide a comprehensive discussion of CLL including the origin of malignant lymphocytes, the apoptotic defects and the mechanisms leading to disease progression. We further discuss the therapeutic options, focusing mainly on targeted therapy using novel agents. Finally, we suggest future directions for treatment that utilize the understanding of the disease biology.

Novel agents have provided a new foundation for multiple myeloma therapies. When combined with other anti-myeloma agents, these compounds significantly enhance clinical efficacy. High-dose steroids are frequently used in anti-myeloma combination regimens; however, the doses employed are often poorly tolerated, especially in patients with concurrent comorbid conditions. We hypothesized that a steroid-independent combination regimen could be developed without significant compromise of efficacy. The availability of such a regimen will be important for patients whose concurrent ailments make them poor candidates for steroid containing anti-myeloma regimens. A phase II single institute, non-randomized clinical trial was conducted to investigate a novel steroid-free three-drug combination of bortezomib (V), pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (D), and thalidomide (T), the VDT regimen. Forty-three newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients requiring treatment were enrolled on this study. The overall response rate and complete response (CR) + near complete response (nCR) rate was 78% and 35%, respectively. Median time to progression was 29·5 months. Fatigue, rash, neuropathy, constipation and infections were the most common side effects. We concluded that VDT is a tolerable and an effective regimen capable of inducing high response rates and can be employed in patients considered to be poor candidates for steroid-based treatment regimens.

Members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins are critical components in regulating the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Bcl-2 protein overexpression is associated with drug resistance and poor clinical outcome in cancer patients. Preclinical and clinical evaluations demonstrate that downregulation of Bcl-2 restores the intrinsic apoptotic pathways with antitumor effects. Thus, Bcl-2 is aggressively pursued as a therapeutic target in cancer with several new drugs undergoing clinical investigations. In this manuscript, we will review clinical information on some of the novel compounds specifically designed to target the Bcl-2 gene product(s).Extensive clinical evaluations using a Bcl-2-specific antisense have resulted in an overall disappointing experience. But new small molecule inhibitors of the Bcl-2 hold promise with high target affinity, ease of administration and improved toxicity profile. Early stage clinical trials of these agents are revealing promising results alone as well as in combination with existing anticancer therapeutics. Encouraging results from some of these clinical investigations are summarized in this review.Downregulation of Bcl-2 and restoration of a critical apoptotic pathway in cancer cells remains an important strategy. Novel Bcl-2 inhibitors have started to deliver the therapeutic promise of this target-specific quest.

Background: Chronic disseminated candidiasis (CDC) is a form of invasive fungal infection that occurs most commonly in patients with acute leukemia treated with chemotherapy. Recent studies have provided evidence for diagnostic alternatives to invasive procedures and more therapeutic options for the management of this complication. In order to put diagnostic criteria and methodological approach to the disease into the perspective of developing strategies for therapy, all relevant studies published in the English literature over the last 30 years were examined. Materials and methods: The English-language articles located through MEDLINE (1966 to present) and from selected bibliographies. Results: There is increased recognition of CDC as complication of treatment with chemotherapy in patients with acute leukemia. Liver biopsy may not always be revealing or feasible to perform in some patients. Among the imaging modalities, magnetic resonance imaging has obtained preeminence as a non-invasive tool for the diagnosis of hepatosplenic fungal infections. Administration of amphotericin B (Amp B) in relatively large cumulative doses is needed to ensure appropriate control of the infection and prevention of future relapse. Patients intolerant of, or refractory to conventional Amp B have been successfully salvaged using fluconazole or lipid formulations of Amp B. A constellation of clinical, laboratory and radiologic parameters should be used to determine response and efficacy of therapy. There is sufficient evidence to support the safety and feasibility of continuing chemotherapy for acute leukemia in conjunction with antifungal treatment in patients diagnosed with CDC. Conclusion: The development of CDC in patients with acute leukemia does not preclude further chemotherapy or constitute contraindication for bone marrow transplantation. Knowledge of the course and pattern of evolution of the disease and adopting aggressive therapeutic approach will likely reduce the morbidity and mortality from this complication.

Background Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the accumulation of clonal B cells in the peripheral blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen. This is due to a combined effect of deferred apoptosis with slow, but persistent proliferation of malignant cells. In CLL, tumor-sustaining homeostasis is critically maintained by the ubiquitin proteasome system. The proteasome mediates degradation of various transcription factors such as TP53 as well as upholding a balance between the anti and pro apoptotic proteins of the BCL2 family. Previous studies have demonstrated that the clinical course of the disease is negatively associated with malfunctioning apoptotic pathways that result in increased levels of BCL2. Thus, identification and correction of defects that affect programmed cell death offer therapeutic vantage to reset and engage cell death pathways in CLL. Aim Examination of the anti-CLL properties of the investigational agent MLN2238 (Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA) and its ability to inhibit the proteasomal machinery; induce CLL cell death and downregulate BCL2. MLN2238 activity was also investigated in conjunction with anti-CLL therapies such as fludarabine and dexamethasone along with the BH3 mimetic BCL2 inhibitor, AT-101 (Ascenta Pharmaceuticals, Malvern, PA). Methods CLL cells with >90% CD19+ tumor population were obtained from 28 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CLL. Proteasomal activity was measured using synthetic fluorogenic peptide substrates. Apoptosis was measured by annexin-v/PI staining, and mitochondrial membrane permeability (MOMP) was assessed using TMRM followed by flow cytometry. Protein profiles were ascertained by western blot. Results MLN2238 inhibited the chymotrypsin-like proteasomal activity by more than 90% (p Conclusion While PI have made an important impact in various B cell cancers, their role in CLL has not been well established. We investigated preclinically, a novel PI and noted that targeting the proteasome with MLN2238 resulted in lethal events in CLL cells, which were further enhanced by disruption of the BCL2 prosurvival pathway. Moreover, proteasome disruption sensitized CLL cells to the cytotoxic effect of fludarabine, an important therapeutic in CLL. These data provides the mechanistic basis for evaluation of MLN2238 in CLL through rationale design of drug combination strategies based on CLL biology. We would like to acknowledge the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (A.C.-K. is a Leukemia and Lymphoma Scholar in Clinical Research) for their ongoing support. We are also grateful to Mary Ella Mahoney Davidson (Millennium Pharmaceuticals) for providing logistical support. Disclosures: Foran: Celgene: Research Funding.

The treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has evolved over the last few decades. Recognition has increased of several key components of CLL biology currently manipulated for therapeutics. A milestone in the treatment of CLL was reached with the incorporation of immunotherapy with conventional chemotherapy. The fludarabine/cyclophosphamide/rituximab combination has demonstrated survival advantage for the first time in the treatment of CLL. Several other biological compounds are being explored with the hope of improving responses, impacting survival, and ultimately curing CLL. Important agents being tested are targeted on CLL surface molecules and their ligands, signal transduction protein and oncogenes. This review provides a brief summary of the recent advances made in preclinical and clinical investigation of selected promising therapeutic agents, which lead the target-directed therapeutic approach.

Abstract 1397 Introduction: Forodesine is a potent, specific transition-state inhibitor of the purine salvage pathway enzyme PNP. It induces apoptosis in primary CLL cells through accumulation of deoxyguanosine triphosphate. Unlike other nucleoside analogues, forodesine is not phosphorylated, is not incorporated into DNA and is not cytotoxic. Previous phase 1 and 2 studies showed clinical activity in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (i.v. forodesine) and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (i.v. and oral). In a single institute exploratory study 5 of 13 (38%) CLL patients demonstrated anti-leukemic effects (decrease in peripheral blood malignant lymphocyte counts) with oral forodesine (200mg QD). However none of the patients achieved remission. Forodesine is absorbed via a saturable mechanism, and in a clinical pharmacology study in normal subjects, 200mg twice-daily (BID) dosing was found to partially overcome the exposure limits from once daily dosing; the 200mg BID regimen was used in the current study. Methods and Results: This is a multicenter phase II open label study. Eligible CLL patients had either failed at least 1 prior therapy (progressive disease [PD] or refractory) or were treatment-naïve provided age was >65 or ECOG 2 or 3, or unable to tolerate standard therapy. Among the 26 patients enrolled 1 was deemed ineligible (Waldenstrom's). The median age was 70 (48-92) years, 65% male and 77% had Rai Stage III/IV disease. The median duration from time to CLL diagnosis was 92.7 (8.4-243.5) months. Features of high-risk disease were del (17p) (n=6), ZAP70+ (n=13), and CD38+ (n=15). All patients had relapsed or refractory CLL with a median of 2 (1-21) prior therapies including fludarabine (76%), alkylating agents (72%), anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (72%) and experimental agents (36%). Interim analysis was conducted when 13 patients had been observed for ≥ 6 months: maximum duration of continuous BID forodesine therapy was 364 days. At the date of data cut-off, 20 were evaluable for response (5 were not evaluable because they had received < 8 weeks of therapy), and 12 were still on study. The revised NCI-WG (1996) criteria were used for response assessment. Partial remission was noted in 3 (15%) patients. Additionally 12 (48%) patients demonstrated stabilization of disease. PR onset was noted at 2, 6 and 6 months of therapy. Three patients discontinued due to adverse events (AEs). Serious AEs were reported in 18 patients. Individual SAEs reports included 7 cases of febrile neutropenia, 7 cases of non-neutropenic infections, pneumonia in 4, and herpes zoster in 1. Conclusion: Oral forodesine 200mg BID given continuously was generally safe and well-tolerated in previously-treated CLL patients. The overall response rate was 15%. These safety and efficacy results are particularly intriguing given the relapsed / refractory CLL population studied, which included elderly and poor performance status patients. Furthermore, we observed that, despite being a purine analog, forodesine was well tolerated with continuous daily dosing. This is particularly of interest when considering combination regimens with this new agent. Further studies of optimized dosing regimens of PNP inhibitors in CLL are warranted. These studies could include evaluation of forodesine in combination with other antileukemic agents with different mechanisms of action, in patients intolerant of or ineligible for aggressive conventional chemotherapeutic regimens, or maintenance treatment after conventional therapy. Updated results including ≥6 months follow up for all patients in the Phase II study will be presented at the meeting. Disclosures: Lyman: BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Cantey-Kiser:PharPoint Research, Inc.: Employment. Sheridan:BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership.