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Purpose: Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutations occur in 5% to 10% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Ivosidenib is an IDH1 inhibitor, approved for use in patients with IDH1-mutated AML. Patients and Methods: We conducted a multicenter, phase I trial of maintenance ivosidenib following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in patients with IDH1-mutated AML. Ivosidenib was initiated between days 30 and 90 following HCT and continued for up to 12 28-day cycles. The first dose level was 500 mg daily, with level reduction to 250 mg daily, if needed, in a 3 × 3 de-escalation design. Ten additional patients would then receive the MTD or recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). The primary endpoint was establishing the MTD or RP2D of ivosidenib. Results: Eighteen patients were enrolled, of whom 16 initiated post-HCT ivosidenib. One dose-limiting toxicity, grade(g) 3 QTc prolongation, was observed. The RP2D was established at 500 mg daily. Attributable g≥3 adverse events were uncommon, with the most common being QTc prolongation in 2 patients. Eight patients discontinued maintenance, with only one due to adverse event. Six-month cumulative incidence (CI) of gII-IV aGVHD was 6.3%, and 2-year CI of all cGVHD was 63%. Two-year CI of relapse and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) were 19% and 0%, respectively. Two-year progression-free (PFS) was 81%, and 2-year overall survival (OS) was 88%. Conclusions: Ivosidenib is safe and well-tolerated as maintenance therapy following HCT. Cumulative incidence of relapse and NRM, as well as estimations of PFS and OS, were promising in this phase I study.

Representativeness of Study Participants

Supplemental Figure 2: Overall and progression-free survival for patients according to NPM1 mutational status

Purpose:Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutations occur in 5% to 10% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Ivosidenib is an IDH1 inhibitor, approved for use in patients with IDH1-mutated AML.Methods:We conducted a multicenter, phase I trial of maintenance ivosidenib following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in patients with IDH1-mutated AML. Ivosidenib was initiated between days 30 and 90 following HCT and continued for up to 12 28-day cycles. The first dose level was 500 mg daily, with level reduction to 250 mg daily, if needed, in a 3 × 3 de-escalation design. Ten additional patients would then receive the MTD or recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). The primary endpoint was establishing the MTD or RP2D of ivosidenib.Results:Eighteen patients were enrolled, of whom 16 initiated post-HCT ivosidenib. One dose-limiting toxicity, grade(g) 3 QTc prolongation, was observed. The RP2D was established at 500 mg daily. Attributable g≥3 adverse events were uncommon, with the most common being QTc prolongation in 2 patients. Eight patients discontinued maintenance, with only one due to adverse event. Six-month cumulative incidence (CI) of gII-IV aGVHD was 6.3%, and 2-year CI of all cGVHD was 63%. Two-year CI of relapse and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) were 19% and 0%, respectively. Two-year progression-free (PFS) was 81%, and 2-year overall survival (OS) was 88%.Conclusions:Ivosidenib is safe and well-tolerated as maintenance therapy following HCT. Cumulative incidence of relapse and NRM, as well as estimations of PFS and OS, were promising in this phase I study.

Supplemental Figure 1: Overall and progression-free survival for patients, according to whether the transplant followed first line or second line treatment.

Purpose: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells treated with dasatinib in vitro undergo apoptosis via inhibition of Lyn kinase. Thus, in this study we tested the activity of dasatinib in patients with relapsed CLL.Experimental Design: Patients were eligible for this phase II trial if they had documented CLL/SLL and had failed at least 1 prior therapy with a fludarabine-containing regimen and if they required therapy according to NCI-WG criteria. The starting dose of dasatinib was 140 mg daily.Results: Fifteen patients were enrolled, with a median age of 59 and a median of 3 prior regimens. All patients had received fludarabine, and 5 were fludarabine-refractory. Eleven of the 15 (73%) had high risk del(11q) or del(17p) cytogenetics. The primary toxicity was myelosuppression, with grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in 10 and 6 patients, respectively. Partial responses by NCI-WG criteria were achieved in 3 of the 15 patients (20%; 90% CI: 6–44). Among the remaining 12 patients, 5 had nodal responses by physical exam, and 1 patient had a nodal and lymphocyte response but with severe myelosuppression. Pharmacodynamic studies indicated apoptosis in peripheral blood CLL cells within 3 to 6 hours after dasatinib administration, associated with downregulation of Syk (spleen tyrosine kinase) mRNA.Conclusions: Dasatinib as a single agent has activity in relapsed and refractory CLL. Clin Cancer Res; 17(9); 2977–86. ©2011 AACR.

Supplementary Figure S1; Supplementary Tables S1-S2.

BCR-ABL1 kinase inhibitors have improved the prognosis of Philadelphia-chromosome-positive (Ph+)-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Ph-like (or BCR-ABL1-like) ALL does not express BCR-ABL1 but commonly harbors other genomic alterations of signaling molecules that may be amenable to therapy. Here, we report a case with a NUP214-ABL1 fusion detected at relapse by multiplexed, targeted RNA sequencing. It had escaped conventional molecular work-up at diagnosis, including cytogenetic analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization for ABL1 rearrangements. The patient had responded poorly to initial multi-agent chemotherapy and inotuzumab immunotherapy at relapse before the fusion was revealed. The addition of dasatinib targeting NUP214-ABL1 to inotuzumab resulted in complete molecular remission, but recurrence occurred rapidly with dasatinib alone. However, deep molecular remission was recaptured with a combination of blinatumomab and ponatinib, so he could proceed to allotransplantation. This case illustrates that next-generation sequencing approaches designed to discover cryptic gene fusions can benefit patients with Ph-like ALL.

Background Outcomes for patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) remain poor. Novel therapies specifically targeting AML are of high interest. Brentuximab vedotin (BV) is an antibody-drug conjugate that is specific for human CD30. In this phase 1 dose escalation study, the authors evaluated the safety of BV combined with mitoxantrone, etoposide, and cytarabine (MEC) re-induction chemotherapy for patients with CD30-expressing R/R AML. Methods Using a standard dose escalation design, the authors evaluated 3 dose levels of BV (0.9 mg/kg, 1.2 mg/kg, and 1.8 mg/kg) administered once on day 1 followed by MEC on days 3 through 7. Results There were no dose-limiting toxicities noted and the maximum tolerated dose was not reached. The recommended phase 2 dose of BV was determined to be 1.8 mg/kg when combined with MEC. The side effect profile was similar to that expected from MEC chemotherapy alone, with the most common grade ≥3 toxicities being febrile neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia (toxicities were graded using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [version 4.0]). Among the 22 patients enrolled on the trial, the composite response rate was 36%, with a composite response rate of 42% noted among those who received the highest dose of BV. The median overall survival was 9.5 months, with a median disease-free survival of 6.8 months observed among responders. Approximately 55% of patients were able to proceed with either allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or donor lymphocyte infusion. Conclusions The combination of BV with MEC was found to be safe in patients with CD30-expressing R/R AML and warrants further study comparing this combination with the use of MEC alone in this population (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01830777). Lay summary The outcomes for patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) are exceptionally poor. New and emerging treatment combinations are actively being studied in an effort to improve outcomes. The authors examined the combination of brentuximab vedotin, an antibody product that recognizes a marker called CD30, with mitoxantrone, etoposide, and cytarabine (MEC), a common chemotherapy regimen, in patients with R/R AML that expressed the CD30 marker. The authors found that the combination was safe and well tolerated. Future studies comparing this new combination with the use of MEC alone can help to inform its effectiveness for this patient population.

A Man with Painful Mouth Ulcers A 68-year-old man was admitted with painful mouth ulcers and weight loss of 6 weeks’ duration. The ulcers had worsened despite treatment with acyclovir, prednisone, ...

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) comprise a spectrum of clonal blood cancers characterized by ineffective clonal hematopoiesis and the risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) [1]. The me...

Older patients with AML face difficult treatment decisions as they can be treated either with ‘intensive’ chemotherapy requiring prolonged hospitalization, or ‘non-intensive’ chemotherapy. Although clinicians often perceive intensive chemotherapy as more burdensome, research is lacking on patients’ quality of life (QOL) and psychological distress. We conducted a longitudinal study of older patients (≥60 years) newly diagnosed with AML receiving intensive (cytarabine/anthracycline combination) or non-intensive (hypomethylating agents) chemotherapy. We assessed patients’ QOL [Functional-Assessment-of-Cancer-Therapy-Leukemia] and psychological distress [Hospital-Anxiety-and-Depression-Scale] at baseline and 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks after diagnosis. We enrolled 75.2% (100/133) of eligible patients within 72-hours of initiating intensive (n = 50) or non-intensive (n = 50) chemotherapy. Patient QOL improved over time (β = 0.32, P = 0.013). At baseline, 33.3% (33/100) and 30.0% (30/100) of patients reported clinically significant depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively, with no differences between groups. Patients’ depression symptoms did not change over time, while their anxiety symptoms decreased over time (β = −0.08, P

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is generally well tolerated for treatment of APL. We present a patient with severe watery diarrhea and pancreatitis thought to be due to ATO toxicity in the setting of obesity and acute kidney injury. Future studies evaluating ATO levels in patients experiencing toxicities may help guide dose modifications.

Antifungal prophylaxis during induction for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) varies according to local rates of invasive fungal infections (IFIs). We evaluated fluconazole prophylaxis and no antifungal prophylaxis, as a natural interrupted time-series study to assess survival and infection complications.We identified patients with AML ≥ 18 years old undergoing induction chemotherapy during 2 time periods: period 1, fluconazole prophylaxis from August 1, 2013 to September 30, 2015, and period 2, no prophylaxis from October 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017. The primary outcome was incidence of proven or probable IFI. Secondary outcomes included types of IFIs and 60-day overall survival (OS). IFI was defined by the 2002 European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group Consensus criteria.One hundred forty-four patients received induction chemotherapy over the 2 time periods. In the prophylaxis versus no-prophylaxis groups, the rate of proven or probable IFIs was 4 (5%) of 87 versus 12 (21%) of 57 (P = .01). The total number of proven IFIs was 3 (3%) of 87 versus 4 (7%) of 57 (P = .44), whereas probable IFIs were 1 (1%) of 87 versus 8 (14%) of 57 (P .01). No difference was observed in fungemia. Incidence of IFIs was too low to detect resistance patterns. OS at 60 days was improved in with fluconazole prophylaxis compared with no prophylaxis (hazard ratio, 0.329; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.89; P = .028).Observed rates of proven or probable IFI were lower in the fluconazole prophylaxis group versus the no-prophylaxis group. Sixty-day OS was higher with fluconazole prophylaxis. Further study is required to evaluate how fluconazole may impart the differences in survival seen in this analysis.

Background Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells harboring mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) produce the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG). This study prospectively evaluated the 2HG levels, IDH1/2 mutational status, and outcomes of patients receiving standard chemotherapy for newly diagnosed AML. Methods Serial samples of serum, urine, and bone marrow aspirates were collected from patients newly diagnosed with AML, and 2HG levels were measured with mass spectrometry. Patients with baseline serum 2HG levels greater than 1000 ng/mL or marrow pellet 2HG levels greater than 1000 ng/2 × 106 cells, which suggested the presence of an IDH1/2 mutation, underwent serial testing. IDH1/2 mutations and estimated variant allele frequencies were identified. AML characteristics were compared with the Wilcoxon test and Fisher's exact test. Disease-free survival and overall survival (OS) were evaluated with log-rank tests and Cox regression. Results Two hundred and two patients were treated for AML; 51 harbored IDH1/2 mutations. IDH1/2-mutated patients had significantly higher 2HG levels in serum, urine, bone marrow aspirates, and aspirate cell pellets than wild-type patients. A serum 2HG level greater than 534.5 ng/mL was 98.8% specific for the presence of an IDH1/2 mutation. Patients with IDH1/2-mutated AML treated with 7+3-based induction had a 2-year event-free survival (EFS) rate of 44% and a 2-year OS rate of 57%. There was no difference in complete remission rates, EFS, or OS between IDH1/2-mutated and wild-type patients. Decreased serum 2HG levels on day 14 as a proportion of the baseline were significantly associated with improvements in EFS (P = .047) and OS (P = .019) in a multivariate analysis. Conclusions Among patients with IDH1/2-mutated AML, 2HG levels are highly specific for the mutational status at diagnosis, and they have prognostic relevance in patients receiving standard chemotherapy.

Introduction: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) are advanced myeloid neoplasms with poor survival and no curative therapy except allogeneic transplant; they are enriched for mutations in the spliceosome complex, including the genes SF3B1, SRSF2, ZRSR2, and U2AF1. Ceralasertib (AZD6738) is a selective and potent orally bioavailable inhibitor of Ataxia Telangiectasis and Rad3 Related (ATR) kinase. Expression of mutant spliceosome genes induces alternative splicing and R loops (DNA:RNA hybrids) in human hematopoietic cells. ATR is a critical mediator for R loop resolution; if ATR is inhibited, cells that have excess R loops undergo apoptosis, whereas normal cells are spared. We hypothesized that inhibition of ATR may be useful in patients with MDS or CMML, particularly those who harbor splicing factor gene mutations. Methods: We designed a 2 part study to evaluate ceralasertib monotherapy in adult patients with MDS or CMML progressing on, not responsive to, or ineligible to receive front-line therapy. Enrollment cohorts included SF mut (SF3B1, SRSF2, U2AF1, or ZRSR2) and SF wt. Part 1 was dose finding, enrolling up to 6 patients at de-escalating dose levels starting at the tolerable dose in solid tumors: 160mg BID days 1-14 of 28 d cycles, 120mg BID d1-14, or 80mg BID d1-14. Higher-risk MDS (IPSS-R > 3.5) and CMML patients were enrolled first, and once a dose was deemed safe in this group, patients with lower-risk MDS (IPSS-R 3.5, TD post ESA or severe neutropenia/thrombocytopenia) were evaluated for safety starting at that dose. Part 2 of the study is ongoing and evaluating a total of up to 20 SF mut patients and 20 SF wt patients for efficacy. A Simon 2-stage design mandated that at least 1 of the first 10 patients in each group needed to respond (IWG) to enroll the final 10 patients. We report here the toxicity and preliminary response data. Results: At the data cut-off (7/15/21) a total of 31 patients have been enrolled on study with 29 evaluable: 21 with higher-risk MDS or CMML, and 8 with lower-risk MDS. 2 higher-risk MDS patients were not evaluable for toxicity or response and replaced; one did not start the study drug, and one patient mistakenly took a home chemotherapy concurrently. The median age was 73 (range 43-88) and the cohort was predominantly male (26/29). Baseline blood counts evaluable for hematologic lineage response: 16/27 had ANC < 1000 (median ANC 700, range 100-7760), 27/29 had Hgb < 11 (median 8.5, range 5.9-12.4), and 17/29 had platelets < 100 (median 66, range 11-415). The most frequently seen ≥ grade 3 and higher all cause adverse events (AEs) for higher-risk patients (n=20) included anemia (n=6), febrile neutropenia (n=4), neutropenia (n=5), thrombocytopenia (n=6). In lower-risk MDS (n=8), ≥ grade 3 AEs included thrombocytopenia (n=2), and neutropenia (n=2). The most frequent AEs possibly related to therapy were cytopenias (Table 1). Blood counts typically declined during treatment with recovery or improvement at the end of the 28d cycle. 4 patients had dose modifications to treat with ceralasertib on days 1-10 of 28, with improved blood parameters. 5 deaths occurred within 30d of study treatment; 1 patient had an intracranial bleed with thrombocytopenia and active CMML, possibly related to study treatment, while 4 deaths were related to underlying disease (3 with AML, 1 with sepsis and MDS). No DLTs were observed during the DLT period and the starting dose of 160mg BID days 1-14 of 28 was deemed the RP2D. The Simon 2-stage design assessed responses after the first 10 SF mut patients were treated (n=8 higher-risk, n=2 lower-risk MDS). Three patients had responses as per IWG criteria (Fig 1), including one patient each showing improvement in neutrophil count, hemoglobin improvement, and one patient with blast decrease and blood counts that met CR. In addition, one patient had evidence for clinical activity with platelet count improvement. Out of 7 SF wt patients evaluable for response, no responses have been observed. Study enrollment and follow-up continues in both cohorts. Discussion: Ceralasertib is an oral ATR inhibitor which can be safely administered to patients with progressive/refractory MDS and CMML at doses of 160mg BID on days 1-14 of a 28 day cycle; toxicity was manageable with decreased dosing. The study is ongoing, with preliminary evidence of activity in splicing factor mutated disease that may permit further development of mutation-directed therapy. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Brunner: Keros Therapeutics: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; GSK: Research Funding; Aprea: Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy; Acceleron: Consultancy; Janssen: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Garcia: Prelude: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding. Neuberg: Madrigal Pharmaceuticals: Other: Stock ownership; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding. Dean: AstraZeneca: Current Employment. Smith: AstraZeneca: Current Employment. Stone: Arog: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Onconova: Consultancy; Gemoab: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Innate: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Foghorn Therapeutics: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Actinium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Aprea: Consultancy; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz: Consultancy; Syndax: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Syntrix/ACI: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Boston Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy; Elevate Bio: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BerGen Bio: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Syros: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Macrogenics: Consultancy. Fathi: Foghorn: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kite: Consultancy, Honoraria; Morphosys: Consultancy, Honoraria; Ipsen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kura: Consultancy, Honoraria; Trillium: Consultancy, Honoraria; Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Blueprint: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Servier: Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Graubert: Janssen: Research Funding; astrazeneca: Research Funding; Calico: Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: AZD6738 is being investigated in a number of malignancies including MDS and CMML

Depletion of glutamine (Gln) has emerged as a potential therapeutic approach in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as neoplastic cells require Gln for synthesis of cellular components essential for survival. Asparaginases deplete Gln, and asparaginase derived from Erwinia chrysanthemi (Erwinaze) appears to have the greatest glutaminase activity of the available asparaginases. In this Phase I study, we sought to determine the dose of Erwinaze that safely and effectively depletes plasma Gln levels to ≤ 120 μmol/L in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) AML. Five patients were enrolled before the study was halted due to issues with Erwinaze manufacturing supply. All patients received Erwinaze at a dose of 25,000 IU/m2 intravenously three times weekly for 2 weeks. Median trough plasma Gln level at 48 h after initial Erwinaze administration was 27.6 μmol/L, and 80% (lower limit of 1-sided 95% CI 34%) of patients achieved at least one undetectable plasma Gln value (

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders associated with progression to leukemia and poor survival. Clonal hematopoiesis in people without an MDS diagnosis carries an increased risk of cardiovascular death. Many clonally restricted mutations are shared between patients with MDS and those with non-MDS clonal hematopoiesis; therefore, we evaluated the risk of cardiovascular death among patients with MDS. We evaluated adults with MDS in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database of the National Cancer Institute and compared them with the general population living in the same states. We grouped histological subtypes of MDS into lower-, intermediate-, and higher-risk disease. The primary outcomes were overall survival and primary cause of death (COD) as reported to state registries. A total of 21 372 patients with MDS between 2001 and 2011 died during follow-up with a known COD. The rate of death due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) was 4613 per 100 000 person-years, compared with 2091 in the age- and-sex-adjusted US population (standardized mortality ratio, 2.21). At 24 months, the cumulative incidence of death attributed to MDS or leukemia was 23% vs 8% for CVD. Among those alive at 60 months, 27% eventually died of CVD compared with 29% from MDS or leukemia; those with lower-risk disease who survived >60 months had more deaths attributed to cardiovascular causes (30%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 26.7-33.2%) than MDS itself (24%; 95% CI, 21.4-27.5%). Patients with MDS are more likely to die of cardiovascular causes than the general population. Modifying cardiovascular risk factors, especially among those with lower-risk disease, may be warranted for MDS-related clinical care.

BACKGROUND Cabozantinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3), MET, AXL, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, and KIT, is approved for use in multiple malignancies. We assessed the safety and tolerability of cabozantinib in AML, given up-regulation of multiple relevant pathways. METHODS Adults were eligible if they were 18 years old or older with relapsed/refractory AML or if they were 70 years old or older with newly diagnosed AML but were ineligible for conventional therapy. Cabozantinib was administered in 28-day cycles, and dose escalation occurred via cohorts. A pharmacodynamic evaluation of serial plasma samples via a plasma inhibitory assay (PIA) was used to assess FLT3-inhibitory activity in FLT3-mutant cell lines. RESULTS Among 18 patients enrolled, 5 were found to harbor FLT3/ITD mutations. Sixteen patients (89%) had relapsed/refractory AML, and most were treated with 2 or more lines of prior treatment. No dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were detected at the first dose level (40 mg daily), but 2 patients experienced DLTs at the next level (60 mg daily). The remaining patients were then dosed at 40 mg daily, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Additional grade 2 or higher toxicities, possibly/probably related to cabozantinib, included fatigue, nausea, transaminitis, and electrolyte imbalance. No patients had a marrow response according to formal criteria, but 4 had peripheral blast reductions; 2 of these 4 patients transiently cleared circulating blasts. One patient experienced a reduction in marrow blasts, and 1 had stable disease. The FLT3-inhibitory activity of plasma samples, as assessed with the PIA, revealed potent and sustained inhibition in FLT3/ITD and, notably, F691 tyrosine kinase domain (TKD)–mutant cells. CONCLUSIONS Cabozantinib is well tolerated in AML patients at an MTD of 40 mg daily and is a potent inhibitor of FLT3/ITD- and F691 TKD–altered tyrosine kinases. Cancer 2018;124:306-14. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

BACKGROUND Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) can be treated effectively with tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy directed at BCR-ABL, but access to care, medication cost, and adherence may be barriers to treatment. This study was designed to determine whether the insurance status at diagnosis influences CML patient outcomes. METHODS The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was used to identify 5784 patients, aged 15 years or older, who were diagnosed with CML between 2007 and 2012 and whose insurance status was documented at diagnosis. The primary outcome was 5-year overall survival (OS). Covariates of interest included the age at diagnosis, race, ethnicity, sex, county-level socioeconomic status, and marital status. OS was evaluated with a log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier estimates. RESULTS Among patients aged 15 to 64 years, insurance status was associated with OS (P

Characterization of pathogenic alterations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has led to development of promising targeted therapies, including FLT3 (FLT3i) and IDH1/2 inhibitors (IDHi), with several approved for use; midostaurin (MIDO), gilteritinib, enasidenib (ENA), and ivosidenib (IVO). A proportion of patients (pts) have concurrentFLT3andIDHmutations at diagnosis or develop a second mutation during therapy.FLT3mutations, in particular, are associated with poor response rates to IDHi therapy, and treatment-emergentFLT3mutations also appear to confer therapeutic resistance to these agents. There is therefore growing interest to study combined therapies that target multiple pathways, but the clinical experience with combined IDHi and FLT3i therapy has not yet been reported. We performed a retrospective data collection and analysis at 5 institutions (Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, University of California San Francisco, and MD Anderson). Using de-identified information from institutional databases, pts treated with concurrent IDHi and FLT3i were identified. Collected data included demographic data, date of initial diagnosis, number of prior therapies, prior hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT), prior targeted therapy, type ofIDHandFLT3mutation, concurrent mutations and cytogenetics, duration of concurrent therapy, therapy-related toxicity, best response, toxicities, and vital status. We identified 12 pts who received concurrent IDHi and FLT3i therapy, 11 of which had relapsed/refractory (R/R) AML. Median age was 57 (range 31-84) and 9 (75%) were male. 7 (58%) were Caucasian, 3 (25%) African American, and 2 (17%) Asian. All pts had intermediate-risk cytogenetics.IDH1R132 mutations were detected in 3 (25%), andIDH2R140 mutations in 9 (75%) pts. OneIDH2mutation arose at relapse. All pts hadFLT3-ITDmutations, and for 3 (38%), this mutation was known to have emerged at relapse. Common concurrent mutations includedDNMT3A(75%) andNPM1(58%). Median number of prior lines of therapy was 2 (range 0-6), and 4 pts (33%) had underwent prior HCT. Six pts (50%) had received FLT3i monotherapy in a prior line of treatment; 4 sorafenib, 1 gilteritinib, 1 MIDO, and 1 with FF-10101 (one pt had 2 prior lines of FLT3i). Six pts were initiated on concurrent therapy in simultaneous fashion, and the remainder were sequential; 2 pts (17%) were on IDHi therapy to which the FLT3i was added, and 4 (33%) had been on FLT3i with subsequent IDHi addition. Four pts (33%) received concurrent gilteritinib and ENA, 3 (25%) received gilteritinib and IVO, 3 (25%) received sorafenib and ENA, and 2 (17%) MIDO and ENA. Three pts received hypomethylating therapy concurrent with combined FLT3i/IDHi therapy; 2 received azacitidine (AZA) with ENA/MIDO, and 1 received AZA with ENA/gilteritinib. Pts were on concurrent therapy for a median of 75 days (range 9-343). Two pts had rash attributable to sorafenib, leading to temporary treatment pause in one and discontinuation in the other. No other toxicities were thought to be related to concurrent treatment. Four pts (33%) achieved CR or CRi (2 CR, 2 CRi), all with persistence of molecular residual disease (MRD). The median duration of remission for these pts was 310 days (range 85-326), and 3 have since relapsed. One pt experienced MLFS, 1 had peripheral blast reduction and 1 had improvement in platelets. An additional pt had MRD(+) CR (byNPM1PCR) on gilteritinib prior to addition of ENA, and then achieved MRD(-) CR with dual therapy. The 4 remaining pts did not respond to concurrent treatment. Two pts (17%) were effectively bridged to HCT following dual therapy. Five pts (42%) remain alive. In this retrospective analysis, a notable proportion of pts benefitted from concurrent FLT3i and IDHi therapy. Composite remission rate was 33%, and overall response rate (CR+CRi+MLFS) was 42% among a largely R/R patient cohort, the majority of whom had received IDHi or FLT3i monotherapy in a prior line of treatment. An additional pt in MRD(+) CR cleared MRD following concurrent treatment. Concurrent therapy appeared to be largely well-tolerated. These response rates are particularly intriguing, given the presence ofFLT3/ITDmutations, alterations thought to confer resistance to IDHi monotherapy. Larger, prospective studies are needed to fully assess the promise of concurrent FLT3i and IDHi therapy in co-mutated pts with AML. Disclosures Fathi: Amphivena:Consultancy;Astellas:Consultancy;Trillium:Consultancy;Amgen:Consultancy;Seattle Genetics:Consultancy, Research Funding;Abbvie:Consultancy;Pfizer:Consultancy;Newlink Genetics:Consultancy;Forty Seven:Consultancy;Trovagene:Consultancy;Kite:Consultancy;BMS/Celgene:Consultancy, Research Funding;Novartis:Consultancy;Daiichi Sankyo:Consultancy;Kura Oncology:Consultancy;Blueprint:Consultancy;PTC Therapeutics:Consultancy;Agios:Consultancy, Research Funding;Takeda:Consultancy, Research Funding;Jazz:Consultancy;Boston Biomedical:Consultancy.Perl:Arog Pharmaceuticals Inc:Other: uncompensated consulting, travel costs for meetings;Astellas:Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: writing/editorial support, travel costs for meeting presentations related to study, Research Funding;AbbVie Inc:Consultancy, Honoraria, Other, Research Funding;Syndax:Consultancy, Honoraria;Takeda:Honoraria, Other: Travel costs for meeting;Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Beat AML:Consultancy;Novartis:Honoraria, Other, Research Funding;Actinium Pharmaceuticals Inc:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Daiichi Sankyo:Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Writing/editorial support, travel costs for meetings, Research Funding;FUJIFILM Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc:Research Funding;New Link Genetics:Honoraria, Other;Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals:Research Funding;Biomed Valley Discoveries:Research Funding;Loxo Oncology Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly & Company:Consultancy, Honoraria, Other;Jazz:Honoraria, Other;Agios:Consultancy, Honoraria, Other;FORMA Therapeutics:Consultancy, Honoraria, Other.Levis:Menarini:Honoraria;Amgen:Honoraria;FujiFilm:Honoraria, Research Funding;Daiichi-Sankyo:Honoraria;Astellas:Honoraria, Research Funding.Smith:Daiichi Sanyko:Consultancy, Honoraria;Abbvie:Other: Research Support, Research Funding;FujiFilm:Other: Research support, Research Funding;Astellas Pharma:Honoraria, Other: Research Support, Research Funding;Revolution Medicines:Other: Research Support, Research Funding;Sanofi:Honoraria.Brunner:Forty-Seven Inc:Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;AstraZeneca:Research Funding;Takeda:Research Funding;Celgene:Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Novartis:Research Funding;Jazz Pharmaceuticals:Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.Amrein:Amgen:Research Funding;AstraZeneca:Consultancy, Research Funding;Takeda:Research Funding.Hobbs:Merck:Research Funding;Constellation:Honoraria, Research Funding;Incyte:Research Funding;Bayer:Research Funding;Celgene/BMS:Honoraria;Novartis:Honoraria;Jazz:Honoraria.Narayan:Sanofi-Genzyme:Other: Current Spouse employment ;Takeda:Other: Prior Spouse employment within 24 months;Genentech:Other: Prior Spouse employment within 24 months and prior spouse equity divested within past 24 months.Daver:Pfizer:Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Karyopharm:Research Funding;Servier:Research Funding;Daiichi Sankyo:Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Genentech:Research Funding;AbbVie:Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Astellas:Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Novimmune:Research Funding;Gilead:Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Amgen:Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Trovagene:Research Funding;Fate Therapeutics:Research Funding;ImmunoGen:Research Funding;Novartis:Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Celgene:Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Jazz:Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Trillium:Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Syndax:Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Amgen:Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;KITE:Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Agios:Consultancy, 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, Research Funding.DiNardo:Calithera:Research Funding;Celgene:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Agios:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Syros:Honoraria;Daiichi Sankyo:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Notable Labs:Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Jazz:Honoraria;ImmuneOnc:Honoraria;Takeda:Honoraria;MedImmune:Honoraria;Novartis:Consultancy;AbbVie:Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Midostaurin for relapsed/refractory AML Sorafenib for relapsed/refractory AML

Characterization of molecular alterations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has led to development of targeted therapies, including FLT3 and IDH1/2 inhibitors. Maintenance therapy following hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has shown substantial promise. Enasidenib (ENA), a selective IDH2 inhibitor, was associated with impressive rates of response in relapsed/refractory (R/R) AML and is now FDA-approved for this indication. We sought to assess the tolerability and define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of ENA as maintenance following HCT for IDH2-mutated myeloid malignancy. HCT-eligible patients (pts) ≥ 18 years with AML in remission, or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with 1000/µL and platelets > 50000/µL). Those with prior HCT, active disease, QTc ≥450ms, and active infections were excluded. ENA was initiated between day 30 and 90 after HCT, at which time the following were required: chimerism ≥70% of donor origin among blood/marrow cells, no acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) requiring ≥0.5mg/kg/day prednisone or equivalent, and no relapse. ENA was taken orally (po) daily (qd) in 28-day cycles. The period for dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) evaluation was the first cycle, escalation to successive levels was guided by DLT incidence, and 2 levels (50mg,100mg) were studied. Following establishment of MTD or recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), 10 pts would be enrolled in an expansion cohort. Pts were monitored for relapse and toxicity and continued until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or receipt of 12 cycles. Nineteen pts have been registered prior to HCT at 3 sites, Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Three pts could not initiate ENA following HCT; 2 due to logistic challenges of the COVID pandemic and 1 due to relapse. The remaining 16 pts initiated ENA treatment. The median age was 61 years (range 31-76); 12 (75%) were male, and 13 (81%) were Caucasian. Fourteen (88%) had AML, of which 6 were AML with MDS related changes and 2 had antecedent myeloproliferative neoplasm. Two pts (13%) had MDS. Among these 16 pts, 9 (56%) had IDH2 R140, and 5 (25%) had IDH2 R172 mutations. IDH2 subtype data was unavailable for 2 pts. Of 15 pts with available data from time of diagnosis, 11 (73%) had intermediate-risk and 4 (27%) had adverse-risk cytogenetics. Among these 15 pts, common concurrent mutations were DNMT3A (47%), SRSF2 (33%), and RUNX1 (33%). Eleven AML pts (85%) received intensive versus non-intensive therapies (15%) prior to HCT, and among all pts, 7 (44%) had received ENA prior to HCT. HCT data was available for all 16 pts; 4 pts (25%) received myeloablative, and 12 (75%) received reduced-intensity conditioning. Nine pts (56%) had a matched unrelated, 6 (38%) had haploidentical, and 1 (6%) had a matched related donor HCT. Three pts were enrolled at the 50mg dose level, 6 pts at 100mg, and after no DLTs were detected, the remaining were enrolled in an expansion cohort at 100mg qd. Median follow-up (F/U) for surviving patients is currently 11.7 months (range 1.5-18.9). 2 pts (13%) have relapsed during F/U, at 96 and 364 days post HCT. Additional ≥grade (G) 3 toxicities detected during treatment, possibly or probably related to ENA, included neutropenia, anemia, and bilirubinemia. Six pts (38%) required dose interruptions lasting a median 19 days (range 7-25), 4 required a dose reduction to 50mg, and 1 stopped treatment due to G3 bilirubinemia. In total, 3 pts (18%) discontinued study treatment, 1 for aforementioned G3 bilirubinemia, 1 to pursue a GVHD trial, and 1 for relapse. Six pts have completed the 12-month f/u without relapse, and 7 remain on study. 15 of 16 pts remain alive. Thus far, 3 pts have experienced ≥ G2 aGVHD, and 4 had moderate chronic GVHD. Serial measurement of 2HG is being conducted on samples, and these will be reported. Enasidenib is well-tolerated as post-HCT maintenance therapy for myeloid malignancy at the RP2D of 100mg qd. No DLTs have been detected, and a low rate of post-HCT relapse has been identified to date, although longer f/u is needed. Larger, randomized studies of ENA in the post-SCT setting would determine the true efficacy of this agent as maintenance therapy. Disclosures Fathi: Blueprint: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Newlink Genetics: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding; PTC Therapeutics: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Boston Biomedical: Consultancy; Amphivena: Consultancy; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite: Consultancy; Trovagene: Consultancy; Forty Seven: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Trillium: Consultancy; Kura Oncology: Consultancy. Soiffer:Gilead: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Juno: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; VOR Biopharma: Consultancy; alexion: Consultancy; Rheos Therapeutics: Consultancy; Cugene: Consultancy; Precision Bioscience: Consultancy; Be the Match/ National Marrow Donor Program: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kiadis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Mana Therapeutics: Consultancy. Levis:Menarini: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; FujiFilm: Honoraria, Research Funding; Astellas: Honoraria, Research Funding; Daiichi-Sankyo: Honoraria. Mims:Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Kura Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: Other: Senior Medical Director for Beat AML Study; Agios: Consultancy; Syndax Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Other: Data Safety Monitoring Board; Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Devine:Magenta Therapeutics: Consultancy. Defilipp:Incyte: Research Funding; Regimmune: Research Funding; Syndax Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Spitzer:Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bluebird Bio: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Frigault:Celgene: Consultancy; Arcellx: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gilead/Kite: Consultancy, Research Funding. Amrein:Amgen: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding. Hobbs:Incyte: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; Constellation: Honoraria, Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Brunner:Janssen: Research Funding; Acceleron Pharma Inc.: Consultancy; GSK: Research Funding; Xcenda: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Jazz Pharma: Consultancy; Forty Seven, Inc: Consultancy; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Biogen: Consultancy; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding. Narayan:Genentech: Other: Prior Spouse employment within 24 months and prior spouse equity divested within past 24 months; Takeda: Other: Prior Spouse employment within 24 months; Sanofi-Genzyme: Other: Current Spouse employment . Chen:AbbVie: Other: Data and Safety Monitoring Board Member; Incyte Corporation: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Actinium: Other: Data and Safety Monitoring Board Member; Equillium: Other: Data and Safety Monitoring Board Member; Magenta: Consultancy; Kiadis: Consultancy. OffLabel Disclosure: Enasidenib as post-transplant maintenance therapy

Introduction: While progress has been made in the treatment of childhood leukemia, the outlook for patients >60 years of age with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is poor with complete remission rates (CR) of approximately 60% and 3-year survivals (OS) of less than 15%. Intensified treatment in a later CALGB trial showed little improvement with a CR=61% and 5-year OS=6% (Stock, Cancer 2013). Ixazomib is an oral proteasome inhibitor, which has shown single agent activity and promising combination activity in pediatric ALL patients (Messinger, Blood 2012). We sought to assess the safety and tolerability, as well as early efficacy of adding ixazomib to a current MGH-DFCI/HCC multi-agent regimen for older adults with ALL. Methods: Patients aged 51 to 75 years of age with newly diagnosed B-ALL and T-ALL were screened for eligibility. Patients with mature ALL (including Burkitt's) were excluded. Patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive ALL (BCR-ABL1+) were eligible, and dasatinib was added to the chemotherapy on Day 10 for these patients. The chemotherapy treatment schedule from induction through maintenance is outlined in Table 1. A standard 3 + 3 patient cohort dose escalation design was used to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of ixazomib during induction for these patients, the primary objective of the trial. After consolidation I, patients in complete remission (CR) with a suitable donor were offered a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) as per institutional guidelines. Those not going to HSCT continued therapy as noted in the table. Results: There were 19 patients with B-ALL enrolled, none with T-ALL. Among these patients, 7 harbored BCR-ABL1 rearrangements. The median age was 65 years, 74% were male, and 90% had a performance status 0 or 1. The MTD was 2.3 mg of ixazomib, as 2 patients at 3.0 mg developed DLT's: a grade 3 peripheral neuropathy and a grade 5 acute kidney injury (Table 2). Grade 3 and 4 toxicities encountered at any time consisted mainly of grade 4 neutropenia in 13 patients and grade 4 thrombocytopenia in 12 patients. One patient experienced grade 3 neutropenia and 5 patients experienced grade 3 thrombocytopenia. Two patients with grade 2 neuropathy did not meet the definition of DLT. Among the 19 patients, 15 (79%, [95% confidence interval (CI), 54-94%]) achieved CR (14) or CRi (1), and 5 patients went on to HSCT. The median follow-up time was 2 years (range, 1-5) for 8 patients remaining alive. The 1-year overall survival estimate was 53% [95% CI, 29-72%], while the 2-year overall survival estimate was 47% [95% CI, 24-67%]. Conclusions: A dose of 2.3 mg of ixazomib in combination with induction chemotherapy among older patients with ALL was well-tolerated and associated with a promising rate of complete remission. Disclosures Amrein: Takeda: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding. Brunner:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Forty-Seven Inc: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Research Funding. Hobbs:Novartis: Honoraria; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria; Jazz: Honoraria; Constellation: Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding. Neuberg:Celgene: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Madrigak Pharmaceuticals: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Fathi:Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding; PTC Therapeutics: Consultancy; Amphivena: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Newlink Genetics: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Blueprint: Consultancy; Trillium: Consultancy; Kura Oncology: Consultancy; Forty Seven: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Boston Biomedical: Consultancy; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite: Consultancy; Trovagene: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy. OffLabel Disclosure: MLN 9708, ixazomib is FDA approved for multiple myeloma. In this trial it is used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is increasingly known to play a role in pathogenesis of hematologic malignancies, including myeloid neoplasms. Regorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor that targets angiogenic, stromal and oncogenic kinases including VEGF- 1, 2, 3, TIE-2, PDGFR-β,c-KIT, rRET, RAF-1, FGFR-1, BRAF and p38 MAP kinase. As a result of regorafenib's broad inhibition of kinases and its effects on angiogenesis, this drug has the potential to overcome the limitations of more selective kinase inhibitors and may be associated with efficacy in various myeloid neoplasms, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). METHODS: We conducted a single-center, open-label, dose-escalation and expansion phase I trial in patients with relapsed/refractory AML, MPN, or MDS to assess the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of regorafenib and identify the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). A 3+3 dose escalation design was used with 2 planned dose levels (120 mg or 160 mg daily in 28-day cycles), as well as 1 de-escalation level (80 mg daily). An additional 10 patients were treated on an expansion cohort. RESULTS: Six patients were enrolled during the dose escalation phase (3 at 120 mg daily followed by 3 at 160 mg daily), with no DLTs, as defined by a Grade >3 toxicity occurring within the first 28 days after initiation of treatment, and unrelated to the myeloid neoplasm. Therefore, the RP2D of regorafenib was identified as 160 mg daily. Ten additional patients were enrolled on this dose during the expansion phase. The median age was 74 (range 36-84), and 13 (81%) patients were male. Diagnoses included 7 AML, 6 MDS, and 3 MPN patients (Table 1). Dose modifications and delays occurred in 5 and 4 patients, respectively. The median duration of treatment was 56 days or 2.5 cycles (range: 5-410 days, 1-15 cycles). Of the 16 patients, the best overall disease response as measured by IWG criteria included partial remission (in 1 patient with AML), stable disease in 12 (2 de novo AML, 2 secondary AML, 3 MPN, and 5 MDS) patients, and progressive disease in 3 (1 MDS and 2 secondary AML) patients. An initial improvement in absolute neutrophil count and/or hemoglobin was observed in the 6 MDS patients, although this did not meet criteria for hematologic improvement by IWG criteria. All patients have discontinued off treatment. The most frequent Grade 3-4 adverse effects (AEs) included liver function test abnormalities (5.1%), fatigue (4.3%), thrombocytopenia (3.4%), and neutropenia (3.4%) (Table 2). The majority of AEs were grades 1-2. CONCLUSIONS: Regorafenib demonstrates an acceptable safety profile in relapsed/refractory myeloid malignancy patients, a population where few treatment options exist. The majority of patients achieved stable disease. Modest improvements in cell counts were observed in MDS patients, and we are performing correlative studies to clarify regorafenib's mechanism of action and identify populations which may benefit from treatment. Disclosures Amrein: AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding. Brunner:Novartis: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Forty-Seven Inc: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Fathi:Kura Oncology: Consultancy; Trillium: Consultancy; Boston Biomedical: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; PTC Therapeutics: Consultancy; Amphivena: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy; Blueprint: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy; Trovagene: Consultancy; Forty Seven: Consultancy; Newlink Genetics: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding. Narayan:Sanofi-Genzyme: Other: Current Spouse employment ; Takeda: Other: Prior Spouse employment within 24 months; Genentech: Other: Prior Spouse employment within 24 months and prior spouse equity divested within past 24 months. Neuberg:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Madrigak Pharmaceuticals: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Celgene: Research Funding. Chen:Takeda: Consultancy; Magenta: Consultancy; Equillium: Other: Data and Safety Monitoring Board Member; AbbVie: Other: Data and Safety Monitoring Board Member; Incyte Corporation: Consultancy; Actinium: Other: Data and Safety Monitoring Board Member; Kiadis: Consultancy. Hobbs:Merck: Research Funding; Constellation: Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria; Bayer: Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: Regorafenib was used to assess safety and preliminary efficacy in advanced myeloid malignancies

Introduction: Outcomes for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) among older patients has remained largely unchanged for decades. Long-term survival for patients aged >60 years is poor (median survival 10.5 months). Targeting the proteasome in AML is attractive, since leukemia stem cells have demonstrated sensitivity to proteasome inhibition in preclinical models, perhaps through down regulation of nuclear NF-KB (Guzman, Blood 2001). AML cell lines are susceptible to synergistic cytotoxicity when bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor, is combined with daunorubicin and cytarabine. We have shown that adding bortezomib to standard treatment in AML results in a high remission rate, although grade 2 sensory neurotoxicity was noted in approximately 12% of treated patients. A newer generation proteasome inhibitor, ixazomib, is less frequently associated with neurotoxicity, and, therefore, was selected for combination with conventional chemotherapy in this phase I trial. The primary objective of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of ixazomib in combination with conventional induction and consolidation chemotherapy for AML. Herein are the initial results of this trial. Methods: Adults >60 years of age with newly diagnosed AML were screened for eligibility. Patients with secondary AML were eligible, including those with prior hypomethylating agent therapy for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We excluded those with promyelocytic leukemia. There were 2 phases in this study. In the first phase (A), the induction treatment consisted of the following: cytarabine 100 mg/m2/day by continuous IV infusion, Days 1-7; daunorubicin 60 mg/m2/day IV, Days 1, 2, 3, and ixazomib was provided orally at the cohort dose, Days 2, 5, 9, and 12. Consolidaton or transplant was at the discretion of the treating physician in phase A. In the second phase (B), induction was the same as that with the determined MTD of ixazomib. All patients were to be treated with the following consolidation: cytarabine at 2 g/m2/day, days 1-5 with ixazomib on days 2, 5, 9, and 12 at the cohort dose for consolidation. A standard 3 + 3 patient cohort dose escalation design was used to determine whether the dose of ixazomib could be safely escalated in 3 cohorts (1.5 mg/day, 2.3 mg/day, 3.0 mg/day), initially in induction (phase A) and subsequently in consolidation (phase B). The determined MTD of ixazomib in the first portion (A) of the trial was used during induction in the second portion (B), which sought to determine the MTD for ixazomib during consolidation. Secondary objectives included rate of complete remission, disease-free survival, and overall survival (OS). Results: Thirty-six patients have been enrolled on study, and 28 have completed dose levels A-1 through A-3 and B1 through B-2. Full information on cohort B-3 has not yet been obtained, hence, this report covers the experience with the initial 28 patients, cohorts A-1 through B-2. There were 12 (43%) patients among the 28 with secondary AML, either with prior hematologic malignancy or therapy-related AML. Nineteen patients (68%) were male, and the median age was 68 years (range 61-80 years). There have been no grade 5 toxicities due to study drug. Three patients died early due to leukemia, 2 of which were replaced for assessment of the MTD. Nearly all the grade 3 and 4 toxicities were hematologic (Table). There was 1 DLT (grade 4 platelet count decrease extending beyond Day 42). There has been no grade 3 or 4 neurotoxicity with ixazomib to date. Among the 28 patients in the first 5 cohorts, 22 achieved complete remissions (CR) and 2 achieved CRi, for a composite remission rate (CCR) of 86%. Among the 12 patients with secondary AML 8 achieved CR and 2 achieved CRi, for a CCR of 83%. The median OS for the 28 patients has not been reached (graph). The 18-month OS estimate was 65% [90% CI, 50-85%]. Conclusions: The highest dose level (3 mg) of ixazomib planned for induction in this trial has been reached safely. For consolidation there have been no serious safety issues in the first 2 cohorts with a dose up to 2.3 mg, apart from 1 DLT in the form of delayed platelet count recovery. The recommended phase 2 dose of ixazomib for induction is 3 mg. Accrual to cohort B-3 is ongoing. Notably, to date, no grade 3 or 4 neurotoxicity has been encountered. The remission rate in this older adult population with the addition of ixazomib to standard chemotherapy appears favorable. Figure Disclosures Amrein: Amgen: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding. Attar:Aprea Therapeutics: Current Employment. Brunner:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Forty-Seven Inc: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Hobbs:Constellation: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria; Incyte: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; Jazz: Honoraria; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria. Neuberg:Celgene: Research Funding; Madrigak Pharmaceuticals: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding. Fathi:Blueprint: Consultancy; Boston Biomedical: Consultancy; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Kura Oncology: Consultancy; Trillium: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Newlink Genetics: Consultancy; Forty Seven: Consultancy; Trovagene: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Astellas: Consultancy; Amphivena: Consultancy; PTC Therapeutics: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Jazz: Consultancy. OffLabel Disclosure: Ixazomib is FDA approved for multiple myeloma. We are using it in this trial for acute myeloid leukemia.

Summary Background Increased aurora A kinase (AAK) expression occurs in acute myeloid leukaemia; AAK inhibition is a promising therapeutic target in this disease. We therefore aimed to assess the activity of alisertib combined with 7 + 3 induction chemotherapy in previously untreated patients with high-risk acute myeloid leukaemia. Methods We did a single-arm, phase 2 trial of patients recruited from the Dana–Farber/Harvard Cancer Center in the USA. Eligible patients had previously untreated acute myeloid leukaemia, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0–2, and were at high risk of disease as defined by the presence of an adverse-risk karyotype, the presence of secondary acute myeloid leukaemia arising from previous myelodysplastic syndrome or myeloproliferative neoplasm, the presence of therapy-related acute myeloid leukaemia, or being 65 years or older. Enrolled patients received 7 + 3 induction chemotherapy of continuous infusion of cytarabine (100 mg/m2 per day on days 1–7) and intravenous bolus of idarubicin (12 mg/m2 per day on days 1–3). Oral alisertib (30 mg) was given twice per day on days 8–15. Patients could receive up to four consolidation cycles with cytarabine and alisertib, and alisertib maintenance for 12 months. The primary endpoint was a composite including the proportion of patients achieving complete remission and those with a complete remission with incomplete neutrophil or platelet count recovery. Analyses were per-protocol. This study is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov , number NCT02560025 , and has completed enrolment. Findings Between Dec 31, 2015, and Aug 1, 2017, we enrolled a total of 39 eligible patients. 19 (49%) of 39 patients had secondary acute myeloid leukaemia and three (8%) had therapy-related acute myeloid leukaemia. At mid-induction, 33 (85%) of 39 patients showed marrow aplasia, six (15%) received re-induction. The median follow-up was 13·7 months (IQR 12·7–14·4). Composite remission was 64% (two-stage 95% CI 48–79), with 20 (51%) of 39 patients achieving complete remission and five (13%) achieving complete remission with incomplete neutrophil or platelet count recovery. The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events included febrile neutropenia (16 [41%] of 39), neutropenia (12 [31%]), thrombocytopenia (13 [33%]), anaemia (11 [28%]), anorexia (nine [23%]), and oral mucositis (four [10%]). No treatment-related deaths were observed. Interpretation These results suggest that alisertib combined with induction chemotherapy is active and safe in previously untreated patients with high-risk acute myeloid leukaemia. This study met criteria to move forward to a future randomised trial. Funding Millennium Pharmaceuticals.

Bendamustine-rituximab (BR) is a standard therapy in CLL, and lenalidomide has single-agent activity. This phase 1 study evaluated lenalidomide-BR as initial CLL therapy. Thirteen patients were treated at three dose levels (DL), and an additional 10 were treated at the MTD. The MTD was DL3: lenalidomide 5 mg daily D8-21 of C1, then 10 mg D1-21 of C2-6. One DLT occurred at DL2 (pulmonary embolus). Grade ≥3 toxicities included neutropenia (52.2%), rash (26.1%), anemia (21.7%), thrombocytopenia (21.7%), and febrile neutropenia (13.0%). Of 13, 9 treated at the MTD required dose modification, most for neutropenia (5). OR and CR rates were 87% and 39%, respectively. Lenalidomide-BR could be safely administered and was active as initial CLL therapy, although frequent dose modification at the MTD suggests that lenalidomide 10 mg is too high for most patients. Given the current treatment landscape, lenalidomide combinations warrant evaluation in CLL patients who are chemonaïve but have been failed by the approved targeted therapies.

BACKGROUND Older adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are often assumed to have poor outcomes after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). However, little is known about ICU utilization and post-ICU outcomes in this population. METHODS The authors conducted a retrospective analysis for 330 patients who were 60 years old or older and were diagnosed with AML between 2005 and 2013 at 2 hospitals in Boston.They used descriptive statistics to examine the proportion of patients admitted to the ICU as well as their mortality and functional recovery. They used logistic regression to identify risk factors for in-hospital mortality. RESULTS Ninety-six patients (29%) were admitted to the ICU, primarily because of respiratory failure (39%), septic shock (28%), and neurological compromise (9%). The proportions of patients who survived to hospital discharge, 90 days, and 1 year were 47% (45 of 96), 35% (34 of 96), and 30% (29 of 96), respectively. At 90 days, 76% of the patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) of 0 or 1, and 86% were in complete remission (CR) and/or continued to receive AML-directed therapy. In a multivariate analysis, a poorer baseline ECOG PS score (odds ratio, 2.76; P = .013) and the need for 2 or more life-sustaining therapies (ie, vasopressors, invasive ventilation, and/or renal replacement therapy; odds ratio, 12.4; P

BACKGROUND Outcomes among older patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia remain poor. This study sought to determine the efficacy of an intensified, multi-agent approach derived from a Dana-Farber consortium trial in younger adults for patients older than 50 years (trial identifier NCT00973752). METHODS The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) at 1 year. Patients received induction chemotherapy with vincristine, prednisone, doxorubicin, and pegylated asparaginase. Imatinib was incorporated for Philadelphia chromosome–positive disease. After induction, the first consolidation incorporated clofarabine. Patients in remission could proceed to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) after induction and consolidation I. Those not receiving HCT went on to receive central nervous system, consolidation II, and continuation phases of treatment. RESULTS Thirty patients were enrolled: 19 achieved a complete remission (CR) after induction and 1 achieved CR after consolidation I for a CR rate of 67%. Sixteen patients underwent HCT. The proportion surviving at 1 year was 63%, and this met the primary endpoint. The 2-year OS rate was 52% (n = 30), and the 2-year disease-free survival rate was 52% for patients achieving CR (n = 20). There was no survival advantage among those undergoing HCT. Therapy-related hyperbilirubinemia prompted adjustments and limitations to asparaginase dosing. CONCLUSIONS Intensified chemotherapy can result in improved outcomes in comparison with historical data. Additional studies of similarly intensive regimens are warranted in this population. Cancer 2016. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Summary Background Decitabine, a DNA methyltransferase 1 inhibitor or DNA hypomethylating compound, is not readily orally bioavailable because of rapid clearance by cytidine deaminase (CDA) in the gut and liver. This dose-escalation study, guided by pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic observations, evaluated whether simultaneous oral administration with the novel CDA inhibitor cedazuridine increases decitabine bioavailability for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes. Methods In this phase 1 study, we enrolled patients aged 18 years or older with myelodysplastic syndromes or chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia. Eligible patients were assigned to cohorts to receive escalating oral doses of decitabine and cedazuridine. The starting dose was decitabine 20 mg and cedazuridine 40 mg. Treatment cycles lasted 28 days, with 5 days of drug administration. In cycle 1, each patient received a cohort-defined dose of oral decitabine on day −3, a 1-h intravenous infusion of decitabine 20 mg/m2 on day 1, and cohort-defined doses of oral decitabine plus cedazuridine on days 2–5. In cycles 2 and beyond, the oral decitabine and cedazuridine were given on days 1–5. The dose of cedazuridine was escalated first and decitabine was escalated once CDA inhibition by cedazuridine approached the maximum effect. The drug dose was escalated if mean decitabine area under the curve (AUC) of the oral drug was less than 90% of that for intravenous decitabine in the cohort and if no dose-limiting toxicity was observed. Dose-limiting toxicity was defined as a grade 3 or greater non-haematologic toxicity or grade 4 haematologic toxicity lasting more than 14 days and unrelated to the underlying disease. Once the decitabine AUC target range set as the primary endpoint, and established with intravenous decitabine, was reached at a dose deemed to be safe, the cohort that most closely approximated intravenous decitabine exposure was expanded to 18 evaluable patients. The primary objectives were to assess the safety of decitabine plus cedazuridine, and to determine the dose of each drug needed to achieve a mean AUC for decitabine exposure similar to that for intravenous decitabine exposure. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02103478. Findings Between Oct 28, 2014, and Nov 13, 2015, we enrolled 44 eligible patients (of 75 screened) with previously treated or newly diagnosed myelodysplastic syndromes or chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia; 43 of the enrolled patients were evaluable. Participants were treated in five cohorts: cohorts 1–4 included six evaluable patients each; cohort 5 included 19 patients in a 13-patient expansion. Dose-dependent increases in decitabine AUC and peak plasma concentration occurred with each cohort dose escalation. There was no evident increase in toxicity compared with that reported for intravenous decitabine. Decitabine 30 mg and 40 mg plus cedazuridine 100 mg produced mean day-5 decitabine AUCs (146 ng × h/mL for decitabine 30 mg, and 221 ng × h/mL for decitabine 40 mg) closest to the mean intravenous-decitabine AUC (164 ng × h/mL). The most common grade 3 or more adverse events were thrombocytopenia (18 [41%] of 44 patients), neutropenia (13 [30%]), anaemia (11 [25%]), leukopenia (seven [16%]), febrile neutropenia (seven [16%]), and pneumonia (seven [16%]). Four (9%) patients died because of adverse events, none of which was considered drug related, and three (7%) patients died more than 30 days after discontinuing treatment because of progressive disease (two [5%]) and respiratory failure (one [2%]). Interpretation Oral decitabine plus cedazuridine emulated the pharmacokinetics of intravenous decitabine, with a similar safety profile and dose-dependent demethylation. Clinical responses were similar to intravenous decitabine treatment for 5 days. Further study of decitabine plus cedazuridine as an alternative to parenteral therapy or in combination with other new oral agents for myeloid disorders is warranted. Funding Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults aged 60 years and older has a poor prognosis. The goal of this study was to describe the perceptions of older patients with AML regarding treatment decisions and the potential risks and benefits of treatment. Patient‐clinician concordance in estimated treatment risk and the likelihood of cure with intensive and nonintensive treatment was also examined., Background. Older patients (≥60 years) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) face difficult decisions regarding treatment with “intensive” chemotherapy that carries significant toxicity for a small chance of a cure versus “nonintensive” chemotherapy to control the disease, but with fewer side effects. However, studies of how these patients understand the risks and benefits of such treatments are lacking. Methods. We conducted a longitudinal study of older patients newly diagnosed with AML assessing patients’ (n = 100) and oncologists’ (n = 11) perceptions of treatment‐related mortality at enrollment and prognosis at 1 month. We examined concordance between patients’ and oncologists’ perceptions using Cohen's kappa (κ < 0.10 indicates little/no concordance). Results. We enrolled patients within 72 hours of initiating intensive (n = 50) or nonintensive (n = 50) chemotherapy. Whereas 91% of patients reported that they were “somewhat” to “extremely likely” to die from treatment, oncologists estimated that only 12% were at high risk of dying because of treatment (κ = −0.09). Ninety percent of patients reported that they were “somewhat” or “very likely” to be cured of their AML, whereas oncologists estimated this chance of cure for only 31% of patients (κ = 0.05). Among patients receiving intensive chemotherapy, 98% reported that they were “somewhat” or “very likely” to be cured, whereas their oncologists estimated this likelihood of cure for only 49% (κ = 0.04); among those receiving nonintensive chemotherapy and their clinicians, these proportions were 82% and 13%, respectively (κ = 0.03). Patients who indicated a lower likelihood of cure reported significantly higher depression symptoms (p = .03). Conclusion. Older patients with AML overestimate the risks and benefits of treatment. Interventions to facilitate communication and enhance patients’ understanding of the goals of therapy and treatment risk are needed. Implications for Practice. Older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are confronted with challenging decisions regarding treatment with “intensive” chemotherapy that carries significant toxicity for a small chance of a cure versus “nonintensive” chemotherapy to control the disease, but with fewer side effects. A clear understanding of the likely outcome and risks of the various treatment strategies is essential for these patients to make informed decisions about their care. This article reports that older patients with AML overestimate both the risks and benefits of treatment and have substantial misperceptions about their prognosis. Interventions to enhance patients’ understanding of their prognosis and treatment risk are needed.

Background: Decitabine (DAC), a DNA methyltransferase 1 inhibitor/hypomethylating agent, is not readily orally bioavailable due to rapid clearance by cytidine deaminase in the gut/liver. This first-in-human pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic-guided dose-escalation study evaluated whether simultaneous oral administration with the novel cytidine deaminase inhibitor cedazuridine increases DAC bioavailability for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) therapy. Methods: In this phase 1 study, patients with MDS received escalating oral doses of DAC and cedazuridine. The primary objectives were to assess the safety of ASTX727, a combination of the two drugs, and to determine the dose of each drug needed to achieve a mean area under the curve (AUC) for DAC similar to that for iv DAC. Findings: Forty-four patients (43 evaluable) with previously treated or newly diagnosed MDS or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia were treated in five cohorts: cohorts 1-4 included six evaluable patients each; cohort 5 included 19 patients in a 13-patient expansion. Twenty patients (46%) had received prior hypomethylating agent therapy. Dose-dependent increases in DAC AUC and peak plasma concentration occurred with each cohort dose escalation. There was no evident increase in toxicity compared with that reported for iv DAC. Decitabine 30 or 40 mg with cedazuridine 100 mg produced mean day 5 DAC AUCs of 146 and 221 ng*h/mL, respectively, compared with a mean iv DAC AUC of 153-166 ng*h/mL. Long interspersed nuclear element-1 demethylation increased with dose. Thirteen patients (30%) had a clinical response, including five (12%) with a complete response, two with a marrow complete response, and six with hematologic improvement. Six patients remain on therapy. Interpretation: Oral ASTX727 emulated the pharmacokinetics of iv DAC, with a similar safety profile and dose-dependent demethylation. Clinical responses were similar to iv DAC treatment for 5 days. Funding: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and StandUp2Cancer. Declaration of Interest: MRS has received research support from Astex, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgen, Gilead, Incyte, Millennium, Sunesis, and TG Therapeutics; has consulted for Astex, Celgene, Gilead, Incyte, Karyopharm, Millennium, Sunesis, and TG Therapeutics; and has equity in Karyopharm. OO has received research support from Astex. AbbVie, Agios, AstraZeneca, Celgene, CTI/Baxalta, Gilead, Incyte, Janssen, NS-Pharma, Oncotherapy, Sanofi, and S*Bio; has participated in advisory board meetings for AbbVie, Celgene, CTI/Baxalta, Dava Oncology, Incyte, Jazz, and Pfizer; and has received drug supply support from Pfizer. PCA has received research support from Astex. DPS has received research support from Celgene, H3 Biosciences, and Janssen; and has received personal fees from Janssen, Onconova, Sensei, and Takeda. AED, SF, and WH have nothing to declare. LCM has received research support from Jazz; has consulted for Incyte; has participated in a speakers bureau for Celgene; has participated in advisory board meetings for Novartis and TG Therapeutics; and has equity in Pfizer. HK has received research support from Astex, AbbVie, Agios, Amgen, Ariad, BMS, Cyclacel, Immunogen, Jazz, and Pfizer; has received honoraria from AbbVie, Agios, Amgen, Immongen, Orsinex, Pfizer, and Takeda; and has participated in advisory board meetings for Actinium. JL, AO, and MA are employees of Astex. GG-M has research support and honoraria from Astex/Otsuka. Ethical Approval: All patients provided written informed consent. The protocol was approved by the institutional review board at each participating institution.

BACKGROUND Health care utilization in older adults (age ≥60 years) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has not been well studied. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of 330 consecutive older patients who were diagnosed with AML between May 1, 2005 and December 23, 2011, at 2 hospitals in Boston to examine their health care utilization and end-of-life care. Using multivariable logistic and linear regression models adjusting for covariates, we also compared health care utilization between patients who received intensive induction chemotherapy (n = 197; cytarabine/ anthracycline combination) versus nonintensive chemotherapy (n = 133; single-agent therapy). RESULTS The median number of hospitalizations for the entire cohort was 4.2 (range, 1-18 hospitalizations). Patients who died spent a mean of 28.3% of their life after diagnosis in the hospital and 13.8% of their life attending outpatient clinic appointments. Although the majority of patients (87.9%) died during the 2-year follow-up period, a minority received palliative care (16.2%) or hospice (23.1%) services. Within 30 days of death, 84.5% of patients were hospitalized, and 61% died in the hospital. Among the patients who died, those who received intensive induction therapy (vs nonintensive therapy) spent 30% more of their life after diagnosis in the hospital (P

SummaryThere is a lack of effective predictive biomarkers to precisely assign optimal therapy to cancer patients. While most efforts are directed at inferring drug response phenotype based on genotype, there is very focused and useful phenotypic information to be gained from directly perturbing the patient’s living cancer cell with the drug(s) in question. To satisfy this unmet need, we developed the Dynamic BH3 Profiling technique to measure early changes in net pro-apoptotic signaling at the mitochondrion (“priming”) induced by chemotherapeutic agents in cancer cells, not requiring prolonged ex vivo culture. We find in cell line and clinical experiments that early drug-induced death signaling measured by Dynamic BH3 Profiling predicts chemotherapy response across many cancer types and many agents, including combinations of chemotherapies. We propose that Dynamic BH3 Profiling can be used as a broadly applicable predictive biomarker to predict cytotoxic response of cancers to chemotherapeutics in vivo.

Patients with relapsed AML have a poor prognosis and limited responses to standard chemotherapy. Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug that may modulate anti-tumor immunity. We performed a study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of lenalidomide with mitoxantrone, etoposide and cytarabine (MEC) in relapsed/refractory AML. Adult patients with relapsed/refractory AML were eligible for this phase I dose-escalation study. We enrolled 35 patients using a ‘3 + 3' design, with a 10 patient expansion cohort at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Lenalidomide was initially given days 1-14 and MEC days 4-8; due to delayed count recovery, the protocol was amended to administer lenalidomide days 1-10. The dose of lenalidomide was then escalated starting at 5 mg/d (5-10-25-50). The primary objective was tolerability and MTD determination, with secondary outcomes including overall survival (OS). The MTD of lenalidomide combined with MEC was 50mg/d days 1-10. Among the 35 enrolled patients, 12 achieved complete remission (CR) (34%, 90%CI 21-50%); 30-day mortality was 6% and 60-day mortality 13%. The median OS for all patients was 11.5 months. Among 17 patients treated at the MTD, 7 attained CR (41%); the median OS was not reached while 12-month OS was 61%. Following therapy with MEC and lenalidomide, patient CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells demonstrated increased inflammatory responses to autologous tumor lysate. The combination of MEC and lenalidomide is tolerable with an RP2D of lenalidomide 50mg/d days 1-10, yielding encouraging response rates. Further studies are planned to explore the potential immunomodulatory effect of lenalidomide and MEC. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The lethality of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is often associated with infectious complications, caused either by direct disruption of normal hematopoiesis by the disease or by marrow suppression d...

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) can be treated effectively with tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy directed at BCR-ABL, but access to care, medication cost, and adherence may be barriers to treatment. This study was designed to determine whether the insurance status at diagnosis influences CML patient outcomes.The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was used to identify 5784 patients, aged 15 years or older, who were diagnosed with CML between 2007 and 2012 and whose insurance status was documented at diagnosis. The primary outcome was 5-year overall survival (OS). Covariates of interest included the age at diagnosis, race, ethnicity, sex, county-level socioeconomic status, and marital status. OS was evaluated with a log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier estimates.Among patients aged 15 to 64 years, insurance status was associated with OS (P .001): being uninsured or having Medicaid was associated with worse 5-year OS in comparison with being insured (uninsured patients, 72.7%; Medicaid patients, 73.1%; insured patients, 86.6%). For patients who were 65 years old or older, insurance had less of an impact on OS (P = .07), with similar 5-year OS rates for patients with Medicaid and those with other insurance (40.2% vs 43.4%). In a multivariate analysis of patients aged 15 to 64 years, both uninsured patients (hazard ratio [HR], 1.93; P .001) and Medicaid patients (HR, 1.83; P .001) had an increased hazard of death in comparison with insured patients; patients younger than 40 years, female patients, and married patients also had a lower hazard of death.These findings suggest that CML patients under the age of 65 years who are uninsured or have Medicaid have significantly worse survival than patients with other insurance coverage. Cancer 2017;123:2561-69. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

On the basis of the data suggesting that adolescents and young adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have improved outcomes when treated on pediatric protocols, we assessed the feasibility of treating adult patients aged 18-50 years with ALL with the DFCI Pediatric ALL Consortium regimen utilizing a 30-week course of pharmacokinetically dose-adjusted E. coli L-asparaginase during consolidation. Between 2002 and 2008, 92 eligible patients aged 18-50 years were enrolled at 13 participating centers. Seventy-eight patients (85%) achieved a complete remission (CR) after 1 month of intensive induction therapy. With a median follow-up of 4.5 years, the 4-year disease-free survival (DFS) for the patients achieving a CR was 69% (95% confidence interval (CI) 56-78%) and the 4-year overall survival (OS) for all eligible patients was 67% (95% CI 56-76%). The 4-year DFS for the 64 patients who achieved a CR and were Philadelphia chromosome negative (Ph-) was 71% (95% CI 58-81%), and for all 74 Ph- patients the 4-year OS was 70% (95% CI 58-79%). We conclude that a pediatric-like treatment strategy for young adults with de novo ALL is feasible, associated with tolerable toxicity, and results in improved outcomes compared with historical regimens in young adult patients with ALL.

Resume Introduction La transplantation pulmonaire pediatrique (TP) reste une petite partie des TP effectuees dans le monde. La majorite de ces TP concerne les jeunes adolescents, les transplantations chez les nourrissons restant anecdotiques. Nous avons mene une etude retrospective de TP chez les enfants et les adolescents dans un centre a Paris depuis le debut des annees 90 a 2013. Methodes Les donnees de l’hopital Broussais puis celles de l’HEGP ont ete recueillies retrospectivement de 1990 a 2013 : 380 TP ont ete rapportees chez 368 patients, dont 111 TP realisees chez des enfants de 5 a 18 ans (30 %). Resultats Cent onze patients ont recu 121 TP : 86 greffes bipulmonaires, 13 greffes combinees poumons-foie, 3 greffes monopulmonaires, 5 greffes cœur-poumons et 4 greffes combinees cœur-poumons-foie. Quatre-vingt-huit pour cent des patients etaient greffes pour mucoviscidose. L’âge median etait de 14 ans, le poids de 34 kg et la taille de 144 cm. L’âge median des donneurs etait de 27 ans, le poids de 60 kg et la taille de 167 cm. Les courbes de survie conditionnelle pour les enfants n’etaient pas differentes de celles des adultes : 72 % a un an, 42 % a 5 ans, 37 % a 10 ans et de 26 % a 15 ans. Il n’y avait pas de surmortalite precoce apres transplantation. La survie selon la periode de greffe etait significativement plus elevee apres l’annee 2000 (53 % a 5 ans vs 32 %, p = 0,03). Conclusion La transplantation pulmonaire chez les enfants de moins de 18 ans a des resultats similaires a ceux des adultes.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is more common and more lethal among patients over the age of 60. Increased body mass index (BMI) has been associated with a higher incidence of various malignancies, including AML. We sought to determine whether patient BMI at the time of AML diagnosis is related to overall survival (OS) among elderly patients. We identified 97 patients with AML diagnosed after the age of 60 and treated with cytarabine-based induction chemotherapy. The median age was 68 years (range 60–87); 52% of patients were male, and our study population was predominantly white (89% of patients). The median OS for all patients was 316 days (95% CI 246–459). The hazard ratio for mortality was increased among patients with a BMI < 25 compared to BMI ≥ 30 (HR 2.14, P = 0.009, 95% CI 1.21–3.77), as well as with older age (HR 1.76, P = 0.015, 95% CI 1.12–2.79) and with secondary versus de novo disease (HR 1.95, P = 0.006, 95% CI 1.21–3.14). After multivariable analysis, we did not find a significant association between OS and other potential confounders such as coronary artery disease or diabetes among these patients. We conclude that increased BMI was independently associated with improved OS among older AML patients at our institution. Am. J. Hematol. 88:642–646, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine remission induction frequency when bortezomib was combined with daunorubicin and cytarabine in previously untreated older adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and safety of bortezomib in combination with consolidation chemotherapy consisting of intermediate-dose cytarabine (Int-DAC). Patients and Methods Ninety-five adults (age 60 to 75 years; median, 67 years) with previously untreated AML (including therapy-related and previous myelodysplastic syndrome) received bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 with daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 on days 1 through 3 and cytarabine 100 mg/m2 by continuous IV infusion on days 1 through 7. Patients who achieved complete remission (CR) received up to two courses of consolidation chemotherapy with cytarabine 2 gm/m2 on days 1 through 5 with bortezomib. Three cohorts with escalating dose levels of bortezomib were tested (0.7, 1.0, and 1.3 mg/m2). Dose-limiting toxicities were assessed during the first cycle of consolidation. The relationship between cell surface expression of CD74 and clinical outcome was assessed. Results Frequency of CR was 65% (62 of 95), and 4% of patients (four of 95) achieved CR with incomplete platelet recovery (CRp). Eleven patients developed grade 3 sensory neuropathy. Bortezomib plus Int-DAC proved tolerable at the highest dose tested. Lower CD74 expression was associated with CR/CRp (P = .04) but not with disease-free or overall survival. Conclusion The addition of bortezomib to standard 3 + 7 daunorubicin and cytarabine induction chemotherapy for AML resulted in an encouraging remission rate. The maximum tested dose of bortezomib administered in combination with Int-DAC for remission consolidation was 1.3 mg/m2 and proved tolerable. Further testing of this regimen is planned.

Aberrant expression of aurora kinase A is implicated in the genesis of various neoplasms, including acute myeloid leukemia. Alisertib, an aurora A kinase inhibitor, has demonstrated efficacy as monotherapy in trials of myeloid malignancy, and this efficacy appears enhanced in combination with conventional chemotherapies. In this phase I, dose-escalation study, newly diagnosed patients received conventional induction with cytarabine and idarubicin, after which alisertib was administered for 7 days. Dose escalation occurred via cohorts. Patients could then receive up to four cycles of consolidation, incorporating alisertib, and thereafter alisertib maintenance for up to 12 months. Twenty-two patients were enrolled. One dose limiting toxicity occurred at dose level 2 (prolonged thrombocytopenia), and the recommended phase 2 dose was established at 30mg twice daily. Common therapy-related toxicities included cytopenias and mucositis. Only three (14%) patients had persistent disease at mid-cycle, requiring “5+2” reinduction. The composite remission rate (complete remission and complete remission with incomplete neutrophil recovery) was 86% (nineteen of twenty-two patients; 90% CI 68–96%). Among those over age 65 and those with high-risk disease (secondary acute leukemia or cytogenetically high-risk disease), the composite remission rate was 88% and 100%, respectively. The median follow up was 13.5 months. Of those treated at the recommended phase 2 dose, the 12-month overall survival and progression-free survival were 62% (90% CI 33–81%) and 42% (90% CI 17–65%), respectively. Alisertib is well tolerated when combined with induction chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia, with a promising suggestion of efficacy. (clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:01779843).

Summary Background Older adults (≥60 years of age) with acute myeloid leukaemia spend a substantial proportion of their life in hospital after diagnosis. We examined reasons for their hospital admissions and identified potentially avoidable hospital admissions (PAH) in this age group in the USA. Methods In this retrospective analysis, we examined the reasons for hospital admissions in older patients diagnosed with and treated for acute myeloid leukaemia at two tertiary care hospitals in the USA. We included patients receiving intensive induction chemotherapy or non-intensive treatment. We excluded those with acute promyelocytic leukaemia, those seen only for a one-time consultation who received primary treatment elsewhere, and those who received supportive care alone. We identified the eligible cohort using the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital Leukemia Clinical Research Information Systems database. Practising oncologists used a consensus-driven medical record review process to identify the primary reason for each hospital admission and categorise it as potentially avoidable or not avoidable on the basis of an adaptation of Graham's criteria for PAH. We used multivariable logistic regression analyses to identify predictors of PAH. Findings Between May 1, 2005, and Dec 23, 2011, we assessed 1040 hospital admissions (excluding initial admission for diagnosis) in 329 consecutively admitted patients. The most common primary reasons for hospital admissions were: fever or infection (396 [38%]), planned admission for chemotherapy or transplantation (391 [38%]), and uncontrolled symptoms (102 [10%]). We identified 172 (27%) of 649 unplanned hospital admissions as potentially avoidable; among these admissions, 82 (48%) were readmissions because of previous premature hospital discharge, 32 (19%) because of problems that could have been managed in the outpatient setting, and 26 (15%) because of failure of timely outpatient follow-up. In a mixed logistic regression model, higher education (odds ratio 1·43 [95% CI 1·01–2·00]; p=0·04) and receipt of non-intensive induction chemotherapy (1·97 [1·25–3·10]; p=0·003) were predictors of PAH. Interpretation Although many hospital admissions in older patients with acute myeloid leukaemia are unavoidable and driven by the illness course and its treatment, a substantial proportion are potentially avoidable. Future interventions to reduce PAH in this population are clearly warranted. Funding National Cancer Institute, National Palliative Care Research Center, and Cambia Health Foundation.