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Patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after first-line treatment who are not intended for haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) have poor outcomes and limited treatment options. We assessed the antitumour activity and safety of lisocabtagene maraleucel, an autologous, CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell product, as second-line treatment in adults with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma not intended for HSCT.PILOT, an open-label, phase 2 trial done at 18 clinical sites in the USA, included adults aged 18 years or older who had relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma and PET-positive disease, had received first-line therapy containing an anthracycline and a CD20-targeted agent, were not intended for HSCT by their physician, and met at least one prespecified transplantation not intended criterion. Patients received lymphodepleting chemotherapy (intravenous fludarabine 30 mg/mBetween July 26, 2018, and Sept 24, 2021 (data cutoff for the primary analysis), 74 patients underwent leukapheresis and 61 received lisocabtagene maraleucel (efficacy and safety sets); median age was 74 years (IQR 70-78), 24 (39%) patients were women versus 37 (61%) men, and 54 (89%) patients were White. 16 (26%) of 61 patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2, 33 (54%) had refractory disease, 13 (21%) relapsed within 1 year of first-line therapy, and 15 (25%) relapsed after 12 months of first-line therapy. Median on-study follow-up was 12·3 months (IQR 6·1-18·0). 49 (80% [95% CI 68-89]; p0·0001) patients had an overall response. The most common grade 3 or worse treatment-emergent adverse events were neutropenia (29 [48%] patients), leukopenia (13 [21%]), and thrombocytopenia (12 [20%]). Lisocabtagene maraleucel-related serious treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 13 (21%) patients. There were no treatment-related deaths. Cytokine release syndrome occurred in 23 (38%; grade 3 in one) patients and neurological events in 19 (31%; grade 3 in three) patients, with no grade 4 events or deaths.These results support lisocabtagene maraleucel as a potential second-line treatment in patients with large B-cell lymphoma for whom HSCT is not intended.Juno Therapeutics, a Bristol-Myers Squibb company.

Background: CD6 is a co-stimulatory receptor predominantly expressed on T cells. CD6high CD4+ T cells were recently shown to drive Th1/Th17 immune responses in inflammatory bowel disease and may have a similar role in acute graft-versus-host disease (aGHVD). The CD6 ligand, activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM), is expressed on antigen presenting cells, as well as epithelial and endothelial cells of aGVHDtarget organs (e.g. skin, GI tract). Previous studies in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants showed that ex vivo depletion of donor CD6+ T cells lowered the incidence of aGVHD, providing a rationale for therapeutically targeting CD6 in aGVHD. Itolizumab is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds CD6 and blocks interaction with ALCAM to inhibit T cell activity and trafficking that is being evaluated as treatment for aGVHD. Methods: Here we present interim study results from EQUATE (as of 2020 Nov 13), an ongoing US-based Phase 1b/2 study of itolizumab in combination with steroids for newly diagnosed severe aGVHD (Grade III-IV). Phase 1b involves an open-label, dose-escalation study evaluating doses from 0.4 to 2.4 mg/kg (IV Q2 weeks through Day 57). Results: Ten subjects have completed treatment through Day 57: 0.4 mg/kg (n=4), 0.8 mg/kg (n=3), and 1.6 mg/kg (n=3). All subjects received corticosteroids at an initial dose of 1-2 mg/kg/day. Baseline characteristics include mean age of 48, 90% male, 90% white, 80% with peripheral blood graft source, 80% with HLA matched donor, mean time to GVHD onset of 43 days, and 100% with GI involvement. Across dosing cohorts, all subjects experienced at least 1 adverse event (AE), with hypomagnesemia (n = 3) and peripheral edema (n = 3) being the most common. Most AEs were mild to moderate in severity. One mild infusion reaction AE was noted. Serious AEs that are not unexpected for severe aGVHD on systemic immune suppression were noted in 5 subjects, including recurrent GVHD (n = 1), sepsis (n = 2;1 was considered a DLT) and fever (n = 1). COVID-19 (n = 1) and disseminated nocardia (n = 1) were also reported. Across cohorts, the overall response rate (ORR;complete response [CR] + partial response [PR] + very good partial response [VGPR]) was 80% at Day 29, with 70% of subjects experiencing CR and 10% experiencing VGPR. ORR was sustained through Day 57. At Day 57, 7 subjects had tapered steroids by ≥80% (Fig 1B). Immunologically, itolizumab dose-dependently decreased CD6 levels on T cells within 24 h of first dose, which was maintained throughout the treatment period, particularly at 0.8 and 1.6 mg/kg (Fig 1C). Conclusions: In summary, the preliminary safety and high response rates of itolizumab with steroid therapy in newly diagnosed severe aGVHD is encouraging. Its early risk-benefit profile supports continued study and evaluation in future randomized controlled trials.

The mechanism(s) of acquisition of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (ESCRE) on inpatient hospital units dedicated to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is unclear. The objectives of this study were to determine whether ESCRE organisms are transmitted among patients housed on a HSCT unit, clarify the mechanisms involved, and determine whether routine surveillance for ESCRE carriage and contact isolation for ESCRE carriers is beneficial. The study was conducted on a 30-bed inpatient unit dedicated to the care of patients with hematologic malignancies and HSCT recipients. To investigate whether ESCRE organisms may be transmitted vertically to subsequent room occupants, presumably through contamination of room surfaces, we (1) cultured 6 high touch areas in 10 rooms before and 9 rooms after terminal cleaning that had been occupied by patients with ESCRE carriage, (2) determined the in vitro survivals of our most common clinical ESCRE species, and (3) followed the subsequent room occupants of 54 consecutive ESCRE colonized patients for the development of inpatient acquired ESCRE carriage. To investigate whether ESCRE organisms are transmitted horizontally among inpatients we (1) sequenced 60 available ESCRE Escherichia coli isolates obtained from unit inpatients and searched for identities using complete-genome multisequence locus typing (cgMLST) and (2) retrospectively tabulated the cumulative rates of acquired ESCRE carriage in 356 patients admitted for a first HSCT before (200 patients) or after (156 patients) institution of universal ESCRE stool surveillance and contact isolation for carriers. No ESCRE organisms were cultured from patient rooms before or after terminal cleaning. In vitro, few, if any, ESCRE organisms survived longer than 2 hours. Nine of the subsequent occupants of a room in which a patient with ESCRE carriage had resided were detected with ESCRE carriage, only 2 of whom carried the same species as that of the prior occupant. DNA sequencing and cgMLST determination of the 60 E. coli isolates showed 53 cgMLST strains. Seven of the 53 strains were shared by 2 patients. After institution of universal ESCRE surveillance/isolation there was a significant decline in acquired ESCRE carriage among HSCT recipients. We conclude that vertical transmission of ESCRE organisms through room contamination appears to be uncommon on modern HSCT units. Conversely, our results are consistent with the horizontal spread of ESCRE organisms, probably mediated by intermediate vectors such as personnel or shared equipment. Further studies are needed to better define the magnitude of and risk factors for ESCRE horizontal transfers and the benefits of ESCRE surveillance/isolation.

Patients with multiple myeloma can now be treated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. We studied how CAR-T therapy is used for multiple myeloma. We also studied things that could help make this therapy easier for doctors to use. The CAR-T process takes 13 steps and 177 days. It begins with the choice to use the therapy and ends about 100 days after it is used. The process uses 46 different healthcare professionals and ten different locations. We found several possible changes that can improve this process. Of these changes, three stand out. First, improved teamwork between members of the care team can help them prepare for and resolve possible problems. Second, reducing insurance red tape will make it easier to provide CAR-T therapy to patients. Third, allowing use of CAR-T therapy in places other than hospitals can help more patients receive this therapy. If applied, these three things may lower the time needed to treat patients by 14.4% and may reduce costs by 13.2%.

Current information is limited on the incidence, risk factors, and consequences of extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistant Enterobacteriaceae (ESCRE) carriage in patients undergoing therapy for newly-diagnosed acute leukemia.We monitored 300 consecutive patients who submitted a first stool within the first week of initial hospitalization for initial and hospital acquired ESCRE carriage. Selected available isolates underwent DNA sequencing for determination of strain typing and resistance genes.19 (6%) patients had ESCRE in their initial stool, and there was continued risk for new acquisition throughout their multiple hospitalizations. Patients with AML had more acquired carriage during their initial hospitalization. Increased hospitalizations and male sex were risk factors for detected acquired ESCRE carriage. ESCRE stool carriage was predictive for ESCRE BSI but not for overall survival. Sequencing revealed that E. coli ESCRE isolates contained primarily ESBL, while Enterobacter spp. and Citrobacter spp. showed primarily AmpC genes. The antibiotic sensitivity patterns for ESCRE BSI isolates reflected these genome findings.ESCRE carriage is common in patients with acute leukemia undergoing repeated hospitalizations and increases the risk for ESCRE BSI. ESCRE genera express differing resistance genes which may be predictive for empiric antibiotic efficacy.

Background Few therapies are approved for hospitalized patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Ibrutinib, a once-daily Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, may mitigate COVID-19–induced lung damage by reducing inflammatory cytokines. The multicenter, randomized, double-blind phase 2 iNSPIRE study evaluated ibrutinib for prevention of respiratory failure in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19. Methods Adult patients with severe COVID-19 requiring hospitalization and supplemental oxygen but without respiratory failure were randomized 1:1 (stratified by remdesivir prescription) to ibrutinib 420 mg or placebo once daily for up to 28 days plus standard of care (SOC), including remdesivir and/or dexamethasone. Results Forty-six patients were randomized to ibrutinib plus SOC (n = 22) or placebo plus SOC (n = 24). The primary endpoint (proportion of patients alive and without respiratory failure through day 28) was not met, with no statistically significant difference adjusting for remdesivir prescription (86% with ibrutinib plus SOC vs 79% with placebo plus SOC; adjusted difference, 5.8% [80% confidence interval, –9.2% to 20.4%]; P = .599). Secondary endpoints also showed no statistically significant improvement with ibrutinib plus SOC. Median treatment duration was 14 days for ibrutinib and placebo. Adverse events were similar with ibrutinib plus SOC vs placebo plus SOC (overall: 55% vs 50%; serious: 18% vs 13%) and were consistent with the known safety profile of ibrutinib. Conclusions Addition of ibrutinib to SOC did not improve the proportion of patients alive and without respiratory failure through day 28 in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19. Ibrutinib had a manageable safety profile, with similar safety to placebo. Clinical Trials Registration NCT04375397.

Background: Currently approved CAR T cell therapies are generally administered as inpatient treatment at university medical centers due to concerns about the frequency, onset, severity, and management of AEs, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurological events (NEs). Infusion and monitoring of patients who receive CAR T cell therapy at nonuniversity medical centers and in outpatient settings have not been specifically studied. Liso-cel is an investigational, CD19-directed, defined composition, 4-1BB CAR T cell product administered at equal target doses of CD8+ and CD4+ CAR+ T cells. The liso-cel clinical program allows outpatient treatment per investigator discretion, with standardized guidelines for safety monitoring and AE management. Here we present preliminary safety and efficacy outcomes of liso-cel in relapsed/refractory (R/R) aggressive large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) across inpatient and outpatient settings at nonuniversity medical centers in the OUTREACH study (NCT03744676). Methods: This open-label, multicenter, phase 2 study enrolled adult patients with R/R LBCL at nonuniversity medical centers, including those with university affiliations and centers naïve to CAR T cell therapy. Inclusion criteria included ECOG PS of 0-1, PET-positive disease, adequate organ function, and R/R disease after ≥2 lines of prior systemic therapy including chemoimmunotherapy. Prior autologous HSCT was permitted, but prior allogeneic HSCT was prohibited. After leukapheresis and 3 days of lymphodepleting chemotherapy, patients received liso-cel infusion at a dose of 100 × 106 CAR+ T cells. The primary endpoint was incidence of grade ≥3 CRS, NEs, prolonged cytopenias through day 29, and infections. Secondary endpoints included safety and overall response rate (ORR). All study sites had a multidisciplinary CAR T cell therapy team and standard operating procedures for toxicity monitoring/management of patients treated and/or monitored as outpatients. CRS was graded as per 2014 Lee criteria; NEs were defined as liso-cel-related investigator-assessed events and graded as per NCI CTCAE v4.03. Results: At data cutoff, 34 patients were treated with liso-cel (inpatients, n = 12; outpatients, n = 22); 5 patients were treated at non-Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT)-accredited sites. Demographics and baseline disease characteristics were similar between inpatients and outpatients (Table); overall, median age was 66 years (range, 34-83), 68% had diffuse LBCL not otherwise specified, and 88% were refractory to last therapy. CRS was reported in 4 inpatients (33%) and 9 outpatients (41%), with no grade ≥3 events. NEs were reported in 3 inpatients (25%) and 6 outpatients (27%), with 1 grade 3 event in the outpatient group. Median (range) time to onset of CRS and NEs, respectively, was 2.5 (1-3) and 10 (5-16) days for inpatients and 6 (2-9) and 8.5 (6-13) days for outpatients. Tocilizumab and/or corticosteroid use for CRS and/or NE management was generally low (inpatients, n = 2 [17%]; outpatients, n = 5 [23%]). Overall, the most common (≥45%) treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs) were neutropenia (76%), leukopenia (50%), and anemia (47%). Prolonged cytopenias (grade ≥3 lab values at Day 29) were reported for 7 (21%) patients. No grade 5 TEAEs were reported. Early (≤ study Day 4) and overall hospitalization in outpatients was 18% and 50%, respectively; median time to hospitalization was 5 (2-9) days and median length of stay was 6 (1-18) days. Among efficacy-evaluable patients (n = 31), ORR was 75% for inpatients and 84% for outpatients; CR rate was 50% and 68%, respectively. Of the 5 patients treated at non-FACT-accredited sites (inpatients, n = 1; outpatients, n = 4), 2 had CRS and/or NEs, but none were grade ≥3 events; none of these patients received tocilizumab or corticosteroids. Of these 5 patients, 1 achieved CR and 1 achieved PR; 2 had stable disease and 1 had progressive disease. Conclusions: Patients with R/R aggressive LBCL were successfully treated with liso-cel and monitored for CAR T cell therapy-related toxicities at nonuniversity medical centers in inpatient and outpatient settings using standard operating procedures and multidisciplinary teams. Incidences of severe CRS and NEs were low, as was tocilizumab and/or corticosteroid use. Liso-cel showed encouraging preliminary efficacy in both inpatients and outpatients. This trial is ongoing and actively recruiting. Disclosures Freytes: Sanofi: Speakers Bureau. Stevens:Amgen, MorphoSys: Consultancy. Varela:Neximmune: Consultancy, Current equity holder in private company. Cherry:Kite: Other: Ad Board; Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Ad Board; Epizyme: Other: Ad Board . Essell:Kite: Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Speakers Bureau. Courtright:AbbVie: Other: Investigator in AbbVie-sponsored clinical trials.. Fanning:Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy; Sanofi Aventis: Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeautics: Consultancy; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Prisma Health: Current Employment. Yimer:Sanofi: Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company), Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company), Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company), Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Epizyme: Consultancy, Divested equity in a private or publicly-traded company in the past 24 months; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Divested equity in a private or publicly-traded company in the past 24 months, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company), Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company), Speakers Bureau; Celgene, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy; Texas Oncology: Current Employment. Trede:Juno Therapeutics, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Current Employment; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Youssef:Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Lymp:Juno Therapeutics, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Current Employment; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Bachier:Juno Therapeutics, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Honoraria; CRISPR: Honoraria; AlloVir: Honoraria; Sanofi: Speakers Bureau.

7062 Background: Pts with R/R LBCL after first-line (1L) treatment (tx) who are unable to undergo high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and HSCT have poor outcomes and limited tx options. PILOT (NCT03483103) evaluated liso-cel, an autologous, CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell product, as 2L tx in pts with R/R LBCL not intended for HSCT. Methods: Eligible pts were adults with R/R LBCL after 1L tx who were not deemed candidates for HDCT and HSCT by their physician and met ≥ 1 frailty criteria: age ≥ 70 yr, ECOG PS = 2, DLCO ≤ 60%, LVEF < 50%, CrCl < 60 mL/min, or ALT/AST > 2 × ULN. Bridging tx was allowed. Pts received lymphodepletion with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine, followed 2–7 days later by liso-cel at a target dose of 100 × 106 CAR+ T cells. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was graded per Lee 2014 criteria and neurological events (NE) per NCI CTCAE, version 4.03. Primary endpoint was ORR per independent review committee (IRC); all pts had ≥ 6 mo follow-up (f/u) from first response. Results: Of 74 pts leukapheresed, 61 received liso-cel and 1 received nonconforming product. Common reasons for pre-infusion dropout included death and loss of eligibility (5 each). For liso-cel–treated pts, median age was 74 yr (range, 53–84; 79% ≥ 70 yr) and 69%, 26%, and 5% met 1, 2, and 3 frailty criteria, respectively; 26% had ECOG PS = 2 and 44% had HCT-CI score ≥ 3. After 1L tx, 54% were chemotherapy refractory, 21% relapsed ≤ 12 mo, and 25% relapsed > 12 mo; 51% of pts received bridging chemotherapy. Median (range) on-study f/u was 12.3 mo (1.2–26.5). ORR and CR rate was 80% and 54%, respectively. Median DOR and PFS was 12.1 mo and 9.0 mo, respectively. Median OS has not been reached (Table). Most frequent tx-emergent AEs (TEAE) were neutropenia (51%), fatigue (39%), and CRS (38%), with grade (gr) 3 CRS in 1 pt (2%) and no gr 4/5 CRS. Any-grade NEs were seen in 31%, gr 3 in 5% (n = 3), and no gr 4/5 NEs; 7% received tocilizumab, 3% corticosteroids, and 20% both for tx of CRS/NEs. Overall, gr ≥ 3 TEAEs occurred in 79%, with gr 5 in 2 pts (both due to COVID-19). Two pts (3%) had gr 3/4 infections and 15 (25%) had gr ≥3 neutropenia at Day 29. Conclusions: In the PILOT study, liso-cel as 2L tx in pts with LBCL who met ≥ 1 frailty criteria and for whom HSCT was not intended demonstrated substantial and durable overall and complete responses, with no new safety concerns. Clinical trial information: NCT03483103. [Table: see text]

6567 Background: PILOT (NCT03483103) evaluated liso-cel, an autologous, CD19-directed, CAR T cell product, as 2L tx in pts with R/R LBCL not intended for HSCT. We analyzed changes in health-related quality of life (QOL) with respect to functioning and symptoms in PILOT. Methods: Adults with R/R LBCL after first-line tx were eligible. Pts were deemed not candidates for high-dose chemotherapy and HSCT by their physician and met ≥ 1 frailty criteria: age ≥ 70 yr, ECOG PS = 2, DLCO ≤ 60%, LVEF < 50%, CrCl < 60 mL/min, or ALT/AST > 2 × ULN. Pts completed EORTC QLQ-C30, FACT-LymS, and EQ-5D-5L (health utility index [HUI] and VAS) at screening (baseline [BL]), pre-tx (within 7 days before lymphodepletion), preinfusion on day of liso-cel infusion (Day 1), post-tx on Days 29, 60, 90, 180, 270, 365, 545, and 730/end of study, or at PD. The PRO-evaluable set included all pts with BL and ≥ 1 post-BL assessments. Linear mixed-effects models for repeated measures assessed the least squares (LS) mean change from BL for visits with ≥ 10 pts. Meaningful change from BL was calculated using responder definitions (in points): 10 for EORTC QLQ-C30, 3 for FACT-LymS, 0.08 for EQ-5D-5L HUI, and 7 for EQ-VAS. Results: Among the PRO-evaluable set, completion rates were high (≥ 80%) across most visits for all measures. For EORTC QLQ-C30, mean BL fatigue was meaningfully worse than in a general noncancer population (difference of > 10 points). Overall LS mean changes through Day 545 showed significant improvements in EORTC QLQ-C30 fatigue and pain, FACT-LymS, and EQ-VAS (Table). Improvement for lymphoma symptoms was also clinically meaningful. Fatigue improvement was clinically meaningful with a more sensitive minimal important difference of 4 (Cocks et al, 2012). Significant worsening was not observed for any outcome. In individual patient-level analysis, 70% of pts demonstrated meaningful improvement in FACT-LymS at month 6. Conclusions: Liso-cel meaningfully improved fatigue and FACT-LymS scores without negatively impacting other QOL measures. These data support the clinical evidence of liso-cel as a potential new 2L tx in pts with R/R LBCL not intended for HSCT. Clinical trial information: NCT03483103. [Table: see text]

Additional file 1. SPIRIT Checklist.

Additional file 2. Statistical Analysis Plan.

Background A subset of patients with COVID-19 develops a hyperinflammatory syndrome that has similarities with other hyperinflammatory disorders. However, clinical criteria specifically to define COVID-19-associated hyperinflammatory syndrome (cHIS) have not been established. We aimed to develop and validate diagnostic criteria for cHIS in a cohort of inpatients with COVID-19. Methods We searched for clinical research articles published between Jan 1, 1990, and Aug 20, 2020, on features and diagnostic criteria for secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, macrophage activation syndrome, macrophage activation-like syndrome of sepsis, cytokine release syndrome, and COVID-19. We compared published clinical data for COVID-19 with clinical features of other hyperinflammatory or cytokine storm syndromes. Based on a framework of conserved clinical characteristics, we developed a six-criterion additive scale for cHIS: fever, macrophage activation (hyperferritinaemia), haematological dysfunction (neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio), hepatic injury (lactate dehydrogenase or asparate aminotransferase), coagulopathy (D-dimer), and cytokinaemia (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, or triglycerides). We then validated the association of the cHIS scale with in-hospital mortality and need for mechanical ventilation in consecutive patients in the Intermountain Prospective Observational COVID-19 (IPOC) registry who were admitted to hospital with PCR-confirmed COVID-19. We used a multistate model to estimate the temporal implications of cHIS. Findings We included 299 patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 between March 13 and May 5, 2020, in analyses. Unadjusted discrimination of the maximum daily cHIS score was 0·81 (95% CI 0·74–0·88) for in-hospital mortality and 0·92 (0·88–0·96) for mechanical ventilation; these results remained significant in multivariable analysis (odds ratio 1·6 [95% CI 1·2–2·1], p=0·0020, for mortality and 4·3 [3·0–6·0], p

Background Because both diarrhea due to other causes and gastrointestinal colonization with toxigenic Clostridioides difficile are common in HSCT, there is a possibility of false-positive diagnoses of C difficile infections (CDI). Methods We estimated the probability of a patient being colonized by toxigenic C difficile by testing non-diarrheal surveillance stools from 223 HSCT recipients and the probability that a specimen submitted for C difficile testing was not CDI by determining the number of clinical tests that returned negative from this cohort. The number of expected false-positive CDI was estimated using these probabilities and compared with observed clinical test results. Results The expected false-positive and the observed numbers of positive clinical results were similar. The 20 patients diagnosed with CDI were also similar to 142 patients with diarrhea and C difficile-negative stools in number of stools on day of testing, associated symptoms, and the recorded number of days to formed stools. C difficile colonization was most commonly detected during the first week and CDI during the second. Retrospective analysis of 837 patients showed that 18 stools were submitted for each diagnosis of CDI. Ribotyping of the surveillance samples showed 17 ribotypes. Conclusions Although several assumptions could impact the accuracy of our false-positive CDI estimates, it appears that many HSCT recipients diagnosed with CDI may actually represent colonized status and an alternative cause of diarrhea. Diagnostic stewardship, including limiting CDI diagnoses to patients with positive toxin and restricting stool submissions to patients with more severe symptoms, may decrease the number of false-positive diagnoses.

Background: CAR T cell therapies are generally administered in an inpt setting owing to concerns of AE management. Infusion and monitoring of pts who receive CAR T cell therapy at nonuniversity medical centers (NMC) and in outpt settings have not been studied specifically. Liso-cel is an autologous CD19-directed, defined composition, 4-1BB CAR T cell product administered at equal target doses of CD8 + and CD4 + CAR + T cells. In TRANSCEND NHL 001 (NCT02631044) in pts with third- or later-line LBCL, liso-cel treatment showed an ORR of 73% (CR rate, 53%), with grade ≥ 3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in 2%, and grade ≥ 3 neurological events (NE) in 10% of pts (Abramson et al. Lancet 2020). We report outcomes of liso-cel in pts with R/R LBCL across inpt and outpt settings at NMCs in the United States treated in the OUTREACH study (NCT03744676). Methods: The study enrolled pts at NMCs, including those with university affiliations and centers naïve to CAR T cell therapy. Adults with R/R PET-positive LBCL after ≥ 2 lines of therapy and ECOG PS ≤ 1 were eligible. Pts with grade 3-4 cytopenias, mild to moderate organ function (LVEF ≥ 40%; serum CrCl > 30 mL/min), secondary CNS lymphoma, and prior autologous HSCT were eligible. After leukapheresis and lymphodepleting chemotherapy (LDC), pts received liso-cel at a target dose of 100 × 10 6 CAR + T cells. Primary endpoint was incidence of grade ≥ 3 CRS, NEs, prolonged cytopenias (Day 29 grade ≥ 3 lab values), and infections. Secondary endpoints included safety, ORR, CR rate, duration of response (DOR), and liso-cel PK. B-cell depletion analyses were exploratory. AEs, including NEs, were graded using NCI CTCAE v4.03; CRS was graded per Lee criteria (2014). NEs were defined as investigator-identified neurological AEs related to liso-cel. All study sites had a multidisciplinary CAR T cell therapy team and standard operating procedures (SOP) for outpt monitoring of toxicity and admission for CRS/NE management. Results: At data cutoff, 71 pts were treated with liso-cel at NMCs; 52 and 19 were monitored as outpts and inpts, respectively. Median age was 65 years (range, 28-83; ≥ 65 years, 51%; ≥ 75 years, 18%); 65% of pts had de novo DLBCL, 68% had screening ECOG PS of 1, 82% were chemotherapy refractory, 31% had ≥ 3 prior therapies, and 48% had markers of high tumor burden (pre-LDC LDH ≥ 500 U/L or SPD ≥ 50 cm 2). Demographics and baseline disease characteristics were generally similar in outpts and inpts, respectively, with differences of ≥ 20% noted in incidences of high-grade B-cell lymphoma (4% vs 42%) and DLBCL transformed from indolent lymphoma (29% vs 0%). Overall, any-grade CRS occurred in 39% of pts (no grade ≥ 3) and NEs in 32% (grade 3-4, 10%); 27% received tocilizumab and/or corticosteroids for CRS or NEs. Incidences of any-grade CRS and NEs were similar in outpts and inpts, while grade ≥ 3 NEs, infections, and prolonged cytopenias were numerically higher in outpts, but similar to pivotal trial observations (Table). The most common treatment-emergent AEs were neutropenia (68%), leukopenia (45%), CRS (39%), anemia (38%), thrombocytopenia (37%), and fatigue (35%). No grade 5 AEs were reported. Early (study Day ≤ 4) and overall hospitalization occurred in 33% and 69% of outpts, respectively; median time to hospitalization was 5.0 days (range 2-141) in outpts. The median (range) length of initial hospital stay after liso-cel administration was 6.0 days (1-28; n = 36) for outpts versus 10.0 days (0-31; n = 19) for inpts; 31% of outpts were not hospitalized. All pts were efficacy evaluable. The ORR was 77% and the CR rate was 51%. Median DOR was 14.8 months (95% CI, 3.9‒not reached [NR]) for outpts and was NR (95% CI, 2.0‒NR) for inpts at a median follow-up of 8.1 months and 11.3 months, respectively (Table). PK profiles were similar in outpts and inpts. Target depletion of CD19 + B cells in peripheral blood was also similar between oupts and inpts, and was maintained over the period of 1 year. Conclusions: Pts with R/R LBCL were successfully treated with liso-cel in outpt and inpt settings at NMCs and monitored for CAR T cell therapy-related toxicities using SOPs and multidisciplinary teams. Liso-cel demonstrated durable clinical activity with a favorable safety profile in both outpts and inpts. Incidences of severe CRS and NEs were low, as was tocilizumab and/or corticosteroid use. These data support liso-cel administration at NMCs and in the outpt setting. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Bachier: Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Mana: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Nkarta: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Autolus: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CRISPR: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Varela: Kite: Speakers Bureau; Nexlmmune: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Cherry: BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genetech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Fanning: Sanofi: Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Speakers Bureau; ADC Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genmab: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; TG Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Essell: Gilead: Current Employment, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Speakers Bureau. Yimer: Texas Oncology: Current Employment; Pharmacyclics: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Speakers Bureau; GSK: Speakers Bureau; Beigene: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Astrazeneca: Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Speakers Bureau. Sharman: AstraZeneca: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy; Centessa: Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BeiGene: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy; Lilly: Consultancy. Espinola: BMS: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Mailley: BMS: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Avilion: BMS: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Ogasawara: Bristol Myers Squibb: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Ou: BMS: Current Employment. Shaughnessy: Sanofi: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Kite: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau.

CAR-T therapies represent a novel advance in oncology, albeit at list prices that exceed $373,000 (and that does not capture their total cost to the healthcare system). Since initial product approval in 2017, stakeholders and observers have attempted to investigate clinical and financial impacts of CAR-T therapies, and potential approaches to optimizing access and use by eligible patients. Most existing research is from a single stakeholder perspective - patients, providers, or payers - limiting the ability to draw broader conclusions on trends and offer prospective recommendations. To address this knowledge gap, we sought to identify and describe critical success factors for optimal delivery of CAR-T therapies. We undertook a qualitative study based on interviews with multiple US-based stakeholders including clinicians, financial and operations staff, and payer-insurers. Interviewees--which included oncologists (n=6), facility financial and operational personnel (n=4), and coverage and reimbursement decision-makers from US health plans (n=3)--completed structured, live, hour-long, interviews covering clinical, administrative, and general topics on patient access to CAR-T therapies. All clinicians had experience with ≥1 FDA-approved CAR-T therapies in both registered clinical trials and clinical practice; financial and operational personnel were affiliated with the same facilities as the clinicians, and also had real-world experience with these therapies; payer representatives were directors from a large national commercial plan, regional integrated delivery network, and a Medicare administrative contractor, respectively. Consensus facility feedback (i.e., clinicians, operational personnel) was that CAR-T is effective, and that their administrative processes had been optimized through care team coordination and experience-based efficiencies; in contrast, 2 of 3 payer interviewees expressed that, while CAR-T therapies have shown efficacy, their real-world benefits and applicability are less well-defined. Facility interviewees noted that: (1) reimbursement from commercial insurers is higher than from Medicare, with the latter associated with per-patient net-neutral or negative margins; (2) when possible, differential reimbursement between inpatient and outpatient settings may drive patient management towards outpatient care; and (3) negative-margin cases are currently deemed acceptable due to nonclinical factors (i.e., competitive pressure within a geographic region, anticipated branding/marketing value) and relatively small treated populations. From payer interviewees, CAR-T cost and perceived cost-to-value have made health plans more receptive to considering outcomes-based contracting, capitated provider payments, or other mitigation methods. Left unoptimized, these factors may adversely impact patient access to, and long-term provider attractiveness of, CAR-T therapies. All interviewees agreed that as the CAR-T marketplace grows, a strong preference exists for manufacturers to develop and communicate for their therapies durable outcomes data, clear and comprehensive reimbursement information, and competitive pricing. With the potential for many approved products in a single indication, and/or a single approval for indications with relatively large eligible patient populations, interviewees also conveyed interest in compelling health economic data. Facility interviewees also acknowledged that if it remains an overall net-negative margin service, new providers will be less able to start CAR-T programs and smaller programs may encounter sustainability issues, collectively jeopardizing patient access to these life-changing therapies. Overall, findings from this study suggest that during the continued maturation of the landscape, stakeholders will need to be proactive to ensure that CAR T-cell therapies can be maintained amidst financial and operational pressures. Several CAR-T therapy options for multiple myeloma are on the immediate horizon, likely increasing demand among eligible patients. Accordingly, the need to link real-world evidence of the clinical value and institutional investment burden of these therapies to reimbursement is imperative, both to insulate payers and enable clinicians to provide innovative therapies. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Faber: Amgen: Honoraria; Adaptive: Honoraria; Cardinal Health: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Astra Zeneca: Honoraria; GlaxoSmith Kline: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Juno: Honoraria; Karyopharm: Honoraria; Kite: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Sanofi Genzyme: Honoraria. Hunter: BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kite: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria. Deol: Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy. Crivera: Johnson & Johnson: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Riccobono: Legend Biotech: Current Employment, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Garrett: Legend Biotech USA: Current Employment. Jackson: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Consultancy; Janssen: Current Employment. Fowler: Amgen: Ended employment in the past 24 months; Janssen: Current Employment. Berger: Janssen Scientific Affairs: Consultancy, Research Funding. Lorden: Janssen Scientific Affairs: Consultancy, Research Funding. Stewart: Janssen Scientific Affairs: Consultancy, Research Funding.

Introduction Clinical decision support (CDS) technology has the potential to improve health outcomes by offering physicians an informational resource to support review and application of best pratices.1 The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and Intermountain Healthcare (IMH) conducted a study to assess the suitability of a single health system's data for a myeloma-specific CDS tool that visualizes treatment pathways, and to assess the effort needed to support a CDS program.2 This research is part of a longer-term effort to explore how CDS technology can help: - increase awareness of and apply treatment guidelines by visualizing pathways for specific MM patient cohorts - improve understanding of treatment variation within health systems - improve outcomes research by showing relationships between treatments and outcomes Methods IA12 data from the CoMMpass study3 was used to create a CDS tool prototype. These data were aggregated into state and transition maps to identify nodes and pathways with corresponding outcomes, including response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Intervening patient states were displayed using Sankey diagrams [Fig. 1]. We also tested if EMR data from a community health system (i.e., IMH) could support such visualization. The team designed a study protocol and obtained IRB approval. Inclusion criteria included patients with active MM between January 2016-June 2018; adult aged 18 years to 89 years at diagnosis of active or smoldering MM. An IMH-specific data dictionary was assessed for variable importance, quantity, and ease of acquisition. [Table 1]. IMH then manually abstracted prioritized structured (eg: labs) and non-structured (eg: notes) data for use in the tool. Results Ninety-six of an initial 146 patients meeting eligibility criteria had sufficient data usable for the study, reflecting 44 unique drug combinations across 9 lines of therapy. The tool was able to associate and visualize all patients and their clinical states and transitions to their outcomes. Clinical data was typically complete (99% of the time), including key clinician-derived data, such as ECOG scores (78%) and treatment response (99%). 569 person-hours were required to conduct the abstraction activity on 96 cases, averaging 5.9 hours/patient Discussion The IMH portion of the study supports the hypothesis that a community health system can provide sufficient high-quality information to power a CDS tool with priority features. Only 65% (96/146) of the initial study group had usable data because some patients had received partial care outside of the IMH integrated delivery network (IDN) leaving associated data inaccessible. Initial biostatistical analysis suggests that roughly 750-1000 complete patient records would be required for statistically significant outcomes research with granularly stratified cohorts. The MMRF is currently recruiting 5-7 additional large IDNs to obtain the patients to power more generalizable functionality. References 1 McKie PM, Kor DJ, Cook DA, Kessler ME, Carter RE, Wilson PM, et al. Computerized advisory decision support for cardiovascular diseases in primary care: a cluster randomized trial. Am J Med [Internet]. 2019 Dec 18 [cited 2020 Mar 5]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.10.039 2 Garcelon N, Burgun A, Salomon R, Neuraz A. Electronic health records for the diagnosis of rare diseases. Kidney Int [Internet]. 2020 Jan 14 [cited 2020 Mar 5]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.kint.2019.11.037 3 Christofferson A, Nasser S, Aldrich J, Penaherrera D, Legendre C, Benard B, et al. Integrative analysis of the genomic landscape underlying multiple myeloma at diagnosis: an Mmrf Commpass analysis. Blood. 2017 Dec 7; 130 (Supplement 1): 326. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

e19513 Background: Concerns about adverse events (AEs) related to CAR T cell therapy have resulted in administration of this therapy largely in an inpatient setting. OUTREACH (NCT03744676) evaluates safety and efficacy of liso-cel in patients (pts) with R/R large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) across inpatient and outpatient settings at nonuniversity medical centers (NMCs). Methods: NMCs, including centers naïve to CAR T cell therapy, enrolled adults with R/R LBCL in this open-label, multicenter study. Eligible pts had R/R PET-positive disease after ≥2 lines of prior systemic therapy, ECOG PS ≤1, and adequate organ function. Prior autologous HSCT was allowed. Pts received sequential infusions of equal target doses of CD8+ and CD4+ cells at a total target dose of 100 × 106 CAR+ T cells. Primary endpoint was incidence of grade (G) ≥3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) graded per 2014 Lee criteria, neurological events (NEs), prolonged cytopenias (Day 29 G ≥3 lab values), and infections. Secondary endpoints were safety and overall response rate (ORR). Outpatient AE monitoring/management was managed by a multidisciplinary CAR T cell therapy team following standard operating procedures (SOPs). Results: At data cutoff, 46 pts (inpatients n = 16, outpatients n = 30) were treated with liso-cel. Inpatients and outpatients had similar demographics and baseline disease characteristics; median age was 63 y (range, 34–83), 63% had diffuse LBCL not otherwise specified, and 91% were refractory to last therapy. Safety data were similar across inpatients and outpatients (Table). Early (study Day ≤4) and overall hospitalization in outpatients was reported in 27% and 63%, respectively; median time to hospitalization was 5 (2–61) days and median length of stay was 6 (1–28) days. For efficacy-evaluable pts (n = 44), ORR was 75% for inpatients and 79% for outpatients; CR rates were 50% and 61%, respectively. Conclusions: Liso-cel was successfully administered to pts with R/R LBCL in the outpatient setting and pts were monitored for CAR T cell therapy–related toxicities by multidisciplinary teams using SOPs. The incidences of severe CRS and NEs and use of tocilizumab and/or corticosteroids were similar in inpatients and outpatients, and consistent with the pivotal study observations (Abramson, The Lancet 2020). Updated data with longer follow-up will be presented. Clinical trial information: NCT03744676. [Table: see text]

e18781 Background: Clinical decision support (CDS) technology has the potential to improve health outcomes by offering physicians an informational resource to support review and application of best practices. The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and Intermountain Healthcare (IMH) conducted a study to assess the suitability of a single health system’s data for a myeloma-specific CDS tool that visualizes treatment pathways, and to assess the effort needed to support a CDS program. This research is part of a longer-term effort to explore how CDS technology can help: Increase awareness of and apply treatment guidelines by visualizing pathways for specific MM patient cohorts, Improve understanding of treatment variation for quality improvement within healthcare systems, Improve outcomes research by visualizing relationships between treatments and outcomes. This abstract focuses on the second use case, showing suitability of community health system data to assess treatment variability within the health system. Methods: IA12 data from the CoMMpass study was used to create a CDS tool prototype. These data were aggregated into state and transition maps to identify nodes and pathways with corresponding outcomes, including response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). We also tested if EMR data from a community health system (i.e., IMH) could support such visualization. Inclusion criteria included patients with active MM between January 2016–June 2018; adult aged 18 years to 89 years at diagnosis of active or smoldering MM. An IMH-specific data dictionary was assessed for variable importance, quantity, and ease of acquisition. Results: Ninety-six of an initial 146 patients meeting eligibility criteria had sufficient data usable for the study, reflecting 44 unique drug combinations across 9 lines of therapy. The tool was able to associate and visualize all patients and their clinical states and transitions to their outcomes. Clinical data was typically complete (99% of the time), including key clinician-derived data, such as ECOG scores (78%) and treatment response (99%). Conclusions: The IMH portion of the study supports the hypothesis that a community health system can provide sufficiently high-quality information to power a CDS tool with priority features including display of treatment selection variability. Only 65% (96/146) of the initial study group had usable data because some patients had received partial care outside of the IMH integrated delivery network (IDN) leaving associated data inaccessible. Initial biostatistical analysis suggests that roughly 750-1000 complete patient records would be required for statistically significant outcomes research with granularly stratified cohorts. The MMRF plans to recruit additional large IDNs to obtain the patients to power more generalizable functionality.

Background More data are needed regarding the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and colonization in patients undergoing an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). Methods We studied 472 consecutive patients admitted for a first AHSCT and conducted a prospective C difficile stool surveillance and ribotyping analysis in a subset of 94 patients. Results Clostridioides difficile infection was diagnosed in 7% of patients for an incidence of 3.4 CDI/1000 inpatient days, recurrent/reinfection CDI was rare. CDI was increased in patients who were colonized on admission, had required a recent pre-admission inpatient stay for fever and/or serious infection, or received empiric therapy with a carbapenem or extended-spectrum penicillin. CDI was associated with a longer length of stay and higher hospital costs. Twelve of 94 patients (13%) were found to have colonization on admission; CDI was diagnosed in 27% of these vs 1% in those with initial negative stools. Colonization in the hospital for those negative on admission was infrequent. C difficile ribotyping showed a predominance of 014/020. Conclusions Clostridioides difficile infection is a significant infection in patients receiving a first AHSCT. The risk factors identified may be useful in designing preventive interventions.

Background Antibiotic stewardship is challenging in hematological malignancy patients. Methods We performed a quasiexperimental implementation study of 2 antimicrobial stewardship interventions in a hematological malignancy unit: monthly antibiotic cycling for febrile neutropenia that included cefepime (± metronidazole) and piperacillin-tazobactam and a clinical prediction rule to guide anti-vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) therapy. We used interrupted time-series analysis to compare antibiotic use and logistic regression in order to adjust observed unit-level changes in resistant infections by background community rates. Results A total of 2434 admissions spanning 3 years pre- and 2 years postimplementation were included. Unadjusted carbapenem and daptomycin use decreased significantly. In interrupted time-series analysis, carbapenem use decreased by −230 days of therapy (DOT)/1000 patient-days (95% confidence interval [CI], −290 to −180; P < .001). Both VRE colonization (odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.81; P < .001) and infection (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.2 to 0.9; P = .02) decreased after implementation. This shift may have had a greater effect on daptomycin prescribing (−160 DOT/1000 patient-days; 95% CI, −200 to −120; P < .001) than did the VRE clinical prediction score (−30 DOT/1000 patient-days; 95% CI, −50 to 0; P = .08). Also, 46.2% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were carbapenem-resistant preimplementation compared with 25.0% postimplementation (P = .32). Unit-level changes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) incidence were explained by background community-level trends, while changes in AmpC ESBL and VRE appeared to be independent. The program was not associated with increased mortality. Conclusions An antibiotic cycling-based strategy for febrile neutropenia effectively reduced carbapenem use, which may have resulted in decreased VRE colonization and infection and perhaps, in turn, decreased daptomycin prescribing.

Objective:To compare the effects of empiric carbapenems versus cycling cefepime and piperacillin/tazobactam on the rates of vancomycin-resistantEnterococcus(VRE) colonization, bloodstream infections, and outcomes of patients admitted with acute leukemia.Design:Retrospective clinical study with VRE molecular strain typing and gastrointestinal microbiome comparison.Setting:A regional referral center for acute leukemia.Patients:342 consecutive patients admitted with newly diagnosed acute leukemia.Methods:In September 2015, we changed our empiric antibiotic of choice for neutropenic fever from a carbapenem to the cycling regimen. We studied 214 consecutive patients during the carbapenem period and 128 during the cycling period. Surveillance for VRE stool colonization was conducted weekly. Representative stool samples were analyzed for VRE MLST types and changes in the composition and diversity of the fecal microbiota.Results:The change in empiric antibiotics was associated with a significant decrease in VRE colonization (hazard ratio [HR], 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27–0.66), a switch in the dominant VRE MLST types on the unit, and some modifications in the gastrointestinal microbiome. There were no differences in total gram-positive or gram-negative BSIs. During the carbapenem period, we observed higher absolute numbers ofCandidaspp and fewer ESBL BSIs, but these did not reach statistical significance. Patients during the carbapenem period had longer lengths of stay and durations of severe neutropenia and 10% higher hospital cost.Conclusions:Carbapenem-sparing empiric antibiotic regimens may have advantages related to VRE ecology, gastrointestinal dysbiosis, duration of neutropenia, cost and length of stay.

Studies in the renal transplant population have suggested calcium-channel blockers (CCBs) may protect against calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-induced nephrotoxicity. However, this has not been evaluated in the hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) population. This retrospective study reviews data from 350 consecutive patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT to determine whether amlodipine improved renal outcomes. Subject data included up to one year from CNI initiation. Patients in the amlodipine group (n = 130) received an average of 143 days treatment with amlodipine and experienced a smaller decrease in creatinine clearance (CrCl) through day 180. At day 30, change in CrCl was -17.4 mL/min in the amlodipine cohort and -33.8 mL/min in the control (P < 0.001). At day 180, change in CrCl was -40.9 and -50.6 mL/min, respectively (P = 0.005). Incidence of hospitalization with acute kidney injury (AKI) was significantly lower in patients receiving amlodipine, 7.7% (10/132) vs 16.4% (36/220) (hazard ratio [HR] 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.22-0.89). Median blood pressure in the amlodipine group remained

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a rare malignant neoplasm of the blood-forming cells in bone marrow characterized by persistent monocytosis. Although most patients with CMML show clonal genetic aberrations, there is no known cytogenetic or molecular genetic finding that is specific to CMML. We report a patient who had a clinical and morphological presentation consistent with CMML. The genetic work-up showed an ETV6-ABL1 fusion consequent to a 9;12 translocation, and a missense mutation in SMC1A (c.1757G>A, p.Arg586Gln). The SMC1A mutations are recurrent, albeit rare, in myeloid malignancies, without an established clinical significance in CMML. ETV6-ABL1 fusion is a rare but recurrent genetic aberration found in various hematologic malignancies involving both the lymphoid and myeloid lineage, but to the best of our knowledge, CMML is an exceptionally rare presentation of ETV6-ABL1 rearranged neoplasm. ETV6-ABL1 fusion is often formed through complex rearrangements, and usually cryptic by routine G-banded chromosome analysis. The diseases associated with this rearrangement generally have an aggressive course, hence detecting or excluding this rearrangement during diagnostic work-up is critical for treatment planning.

Background Contaminated surfaces and colonization pressure are risk factors for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization in intensive care units (ICUs). Whether these apply to modern units dedicated to the care of hematologic malignancies and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) procedures is unknown. Methods We reviewed the records of 780 consecutive admissions for acute leukemia, autologous HSCT, or allogeneic HSCT in which the patient was at risk for hospital-acquired VRE and underwent weekly surveillance. We also obtained staff and room cultures, observed staff behavior, and performed VRE molecular strain typing on selected isolates. Results The overall rate of VRE colonization was 11.4 cases/1,000 patient days. Cultures of room surfaces revealed VRE isolates in 10% of terminally cleaned rooms. A prior VRE-colonized room occupant did not increase risk, and paired isolates from 20 patients and prior occupants were indistinguishable on molecular typing in only 1 pair. VRE colonization pressure was significantly associated with acquisition. Cultures of unit personnel and shared equipment were negative except for weighing scales. Observation of unit clinical personnel showed high compliance for hand sanitation and but less so for gowns. Conversely, ancillary staff showed poor compliance. Conclusions Transmission of VRE from room surfaces seems to be an infrequent event. Encouraging adherence to surveillance, disinfection, and contact isolation protocols may decrease VRE colonization rates.

Recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a consequence of intestinal dysbiosis and is particularly common following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an effective method of treating CDI by correcting intestinal dysbiosis by passive transfer of healthy donor microflora. FMT has not been widely used in immunocompromised patients, including HSCT recipients, owing to concern for donor-derived infection. Here, we describe initial results of an FMT program for CDI at a US HSCT center. Seven HSCT recipients underwent FMT between February 2015 and February 2016. Mean time post HSCT was 635 days (25-75 interquartile range [IQR] 38-791). Five of the patients (71.4%) were on immunosuppressive therapy at FMT; 4 had required long-term suppressive oral vancomycin therapy because of immediate recurrence after antibiotic cessation. Stool donors underwent comprehensive health and behavioral screening and laboratory testing of serum and stool for 32 potential pathogens. FMT was administered via the naso-jejunal route in 6 of the 7 patients. Mean follow-up was 265 days (IQR 51-288). Minor post-FMT adverse effects included self-limited bloating and urgency. One patient was suspected of having post-FMT small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. No serious adverse events were noted and all-cause mortality was 0%. Six of 7 (85.7%) patients had no recurrence; 1 patient recurred at day 156 post FMT after taking an oral antibiotic and required repeat FMT, after which no recurrence has occurred. Diarrhea was improved in all patients and 1 patient with gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease was able to taper off systemic immunosuppression after FMT. With careful donor selection and laboratory screening, FMT appears to be a safe and effective therapy for CDI in HSCT patients and may confer additional benefits. Larger studies are necessary to confirm safety and efficacy and explore other possible effects.

8037 Background: Currently approved CAR T cell therapies are generally administered as inpatient (inpt) treatment at university medical centers due to concerns about frequency, onset, severity, and management of AEs, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic events (NEs). We sought to characterize whether patients (pts) could be safely monitored in the outpatient (outpt) setting after receiving liso-cel, an investigational, CD19-directed CAR T cell product administered at equal target doses of CD8+ and CD4+ CAR+ T cells, across university and non-university sites in TRANSCEND NHL 001 (NCT02631044), OUTREACH (NCT03744676), and PILOT (NCT03483103). Methods: Eligible pts had R/R LBCL after systemic chemoimmunotherapy; moderately impaired organ function was allowed. For outpt infusion of liso-cel, pts were required to receive safety monitoring education, have a caregiver and stay within 1 h travel to site of care for 30 d post-treatment. All study sites had a multidisciplinary CAR T cell team and standard operating procedures for toxicity monitoring and management. Results: At data cutoff, 53 pts had received liso-cel on Study Day 1 and were monitored as outpts (university, n = 33; non-university, n = 20), including pts ≥65 y of age (n = 23) and with high tumor burden (SPD ≥50 cm2; n = 16). Any grade CRS and NEs were reported in 18 (34%) and 14 pts (26%), respectively. Severe CRS and/or NEs occurred in only 2 pts (4%) and were reversible. Median (range) time to onset of CRS and NEs was 5 (2–9) and 8.5 (3–22) d, respectively. Tocilizumab and/or corticosteroids for treatment of CRS and/or NEs were required in 8 pts (15%). Overall, 30 pts (57%) required hospitalization post-treatment, with a median (range) time to hospitalization post-treatment of 5.5 (2–22) d; 9 pts (17%) were hospitalized Study Day 4 or earlier. Two pts required ICU-level care. There were no grade 5 treatment-emergent AEs. Safety in pts monitored as outpts was comparable across types of sites. Overall response rate was 81% (95% CI, 68–91). Safety and efficacy were consistent with data from inpts across the 3 studies (N = 270). Conclusions: Pts with R/R LBCL were successfully treated with liso-cel and monitored for CAR T cell-related toxicity in the outpt setting across different types of sites. Incidences of severe CRS, NEs, and early hospitalization were low; 43% of pts did not require hospitalization. A larger dataset will be presented, including comparisons of outpts vs inpts and sites of care. Clinical trial information: NCT02631044 (TRANSCEND NHL 001), NCT03744676 (OUTREACH), NCT03483103 (PILOT) .

8040 Background: Patients (pts) with aggressive large B-cell NHL who are R/R after first-line immunochemotherapy and not eligible for high-dose chemotherapy and HSCT have a poor prognosis and no established standard of care. The ongoing, open-label phase 2 PILOT study is the first to assess the safety and efficacy of liso-cel, an investigational, CD19-directed, defined composition, 4-1BB CAR T cell product infused at equal target doses of CD8+ and CD4+ CAR+ T cells, as 2L therapy in TNE pts (NCT03483103). Methods: Eligible pts had aggressive R/R diffuse large B-cell lymphoma NOS (de novo or transformed follicular lymphoma [FL]), high-grade B-cell lymphoma, or FL grade 3B with 1 line of prior therapy containing an anthracycline and anti-CD20 agent. Pts were deemed TNE by meeting ≥1 criteria: age ≥70 y, ECOG PS 2, or impaired organ function (DLCO ≤60% [but SaO2 ≥92% and CTCAE ≤1 dyspnea], LVEF ≥40% to < 50%, creatinine clearance > 30 to < 60 mL/min, or AST/ALT > 2 to ≤5 × ULN). Liso-cel (100 × 106 CAR+ T cells) was administered 2–7 days after lymphodepletion (LD) with fludarabine/cyclophosphamide. The primary endpoint is ORR; key secondary endpoints are AEs and CR rate. Results: At data cutoff, 25 pts had LD followed by liso-cel infusion. Pt characteristics are summarized in the Table. Overall, 48% (n = 12) had high tumor burden and 48% were primary refractory. 18/25 (72%) pts had grade ≥3 treatment-emergent AEs, 40% of which were cytopenias. No grade 5 AEs occurred within the first 30 days after liso-cel. Five pts (20%) had cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and 3 (12%) had neurological events (NEs). No grade 3/4 CRS was observed; 2 pts (8%) had grade 3/4 NEs. Five pts (20%) received tocilizumab and/or dexamethasone for CRS/NEs. At a median follow-up of 3.5 mo, the ORR was 80% (95% CI, 59–93; n = 20); 48% of pts (n = 12) achieved CR. Conclusions: These interim data suggest that elderly and/or comorbid pts with R/R aggressive large B-cell NHL, who are not eligible for high-dose chemotherapy and HSCT, can receive 2L liso-cel with similar safety and efficacy to 3L+ pts as previously reported (Abramson, ASH 2019 #241). Updated data with longer follow-up will be presented. Clinical trial information: NCT03483103 . [Table: see text]

e19152 Background: Cancer treatment is becoming more complex, necessitating subspecialty expertise and multidisciplinary approaches to treatment planning. Simultaneously, there is increasing demand to provide care as close to home as possible. While tumor boards have long been an institutional backbone to providing high-quality multidisciplinary care in tertiary facilities, connecting several hospitals and dozens of cancer specialists in a large integrated healthcare system is unique and potentially transformational for smaller facilities and communities. Methods: Using highly-secure, network firewall-protected Cisco Telepresence and WebEx capabilities, 11 disease specific tumor boards (Breast, GI, Sarcoma, GU, Thoracic, Head/Neck, Melanoma, Neuro, Heme, Hepatobiliary, Gyn) were organized across Intermountain Healthcare’s 24 geographically and medically diverse hospitals spanning over 500 miles. Meetings for each of these disease-specific tumor boards have been held at least every 1-2 weeks, at set times and days since July 2019. Cases are submitted to the appropriate tumor board by individual providers from anywhere in the system. Submitted cases are reviewed by a designated subspeciality leader. Cases are either added to the system-wide agenda, or at times, the clinical decision can be resolved immediately. Included cases’ records including pathology, radiology and pertinent medical history are obtained for display and discussion. After each tumor board, recommendations and conclusions are recorded by nurse navigators for future review and consultation. Results: From July 2019 to February 2020, 1,598 patient cases were discussed. Just as relevant, 293 unique oncology providers (surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, genetic counselors, nurse navigators, and therapists) participated in tumor board discussions. These deliberations provided insight, experience and recommendations directly related to patient care. Conclusions: Our system-wide, disease-specific, multi-disciplinary tumor boards are useful in connecting oncology providers and subspecialists. This effort has led to better collaboration, coordination and delivery of high-quality cancer care to patients throughout a large healthcare system that includes thousands of patients and dozens of cancer providers in smaller/rural communities. In addition, provider engagement has improved. Work is ongoing to prospectively evaluate the effects on treatment decisions and clinical outcomes.

Background The frequency, risk factors, and outcomes for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia (AL) admitted for induction therapy are unclear. Methods We studied 509 consecutive patients with AL admitted between 2006 and 2017 and conducted a prospective C difficile surveillance and ribotyping analysis in a subset of these. Results The incidence of CDI was 2.2/1,000 inpatient days during induction, and CDI was rare after discharge. CDI was highest in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia. A hospitalization shortly before admission and administration of a greater number of antibiotics increased the risk for CDI. No single class of antibiotics conveyed an increased risk. All cases were successfully treated, and CDI was not associated with an increase in length of stay, costs, or mortality. In a subgroup analysis, 16% of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia and 4% with other leukemia types were colonized on admission. Colonization was associated with a higher risk of CDI. Ribotyping of available isolates showed 27 different strain types with 014/020 and 027 being the most frequent. Conclusions The number of antibiotics administered are a major risk factor for CDI in patients with AL. However, CDI appears to have minimal clinical impact in this population.

Background: Acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) occurs in approximately 50% of patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) with standard GVHD prophylaxis regimens and is a significant contributor to morbidity and non-relapse mortality (NRM). There are currently no FDA approved therapies for the initial treatment of newly diagnosed aGVHD. T effector cells (Teff), particularly CD4+ T helper cells, play a central role in the pathogenesis of aGVHD. CD6 is a co-stimulatory receptor, predominantly expressed on CD4+ T helper cells, that binds to activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM), a ligand expressed on antigen presenting cells and various epithelial and endothelial tissues. The CD6-ALCAM pathway plays an integral role in modulating T cell activation and trafficking and is central to immune mediated inflammation. Previous studies by Soiffer et al. in patients receiving allogeneic bone marrow transplants had shown that depleting CD6+ T cells ex-vivo in donor bone marrow using T-12, an anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody (mAb), as a sole method for GVHD prophylaxis lowered the incidence of acute and chronic GVHD. EQ001 (itolizumab) is a humanized IgG1 mAb that binds to CD6 and blocks the interaction with ALCAM and inhibits both the activity and trafficking of T cells without causing T cell depletion. Itolizumab has s previously been developed and is approved for the treatment of Psoriasis in India. The potential effectiveness of an anti-CD6 mAb targeted approach in treating aGVHD is supported by data from pre-clinical models evaluating the prevention and treatment of GVHD with EQ001. The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and clinical activity of EQ001 in subjects with newly diagnosed aGVHD. Study Design and Methods: This is a multi-center Phase 1b/2 study (NCT03763318) of EQ001 in subjects with aGVHD. Part A (Phase 1b) of the study is an open-label, multiple ascending dose study of EQ001 in adults with newly diagnosed High Risk (MacMillan Criteria) aGVHD following HSCT. Approximately 24 subjects will be enrolled in successive cohorts of 3 to 6 adult subjects using a standard 3 + 3 dose escalation design. For each cohort, subjects will receive EQ001 administered intravenously (IV) every two weeks for five doses with corticosteroids (CS) tapered over the treatment period. A total of four dose levels will be tested ranging from 0.4 mg/kg to 2.4 mg/kg, and subjects will be followed for an additional 10 months after study treatment is completed. The primary objective of Part A is to evaluate safety and tolerability of EQ001. Secondary objectives include an evaluation of PK, PD (including CD6 receptor occupancy, changes in inflammatory cytokines and novel gut biomarkers [ST2, REG3α], and changes in Teff/T regulatory cells populations), and clinical activity (overall aGVHD response rates on Day 29, durability of the response at Day 57 and up to 1 year, cumulative incidence of NRM, rates of chronic GVHD, and CS dose requirements). Data from Part A will inform the dose selection for Part B (Phase 2) of the study. Enrollment to Part A is ongoing. Part B is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in subjects (age ≥12) with newly diagnosed Grade II-IV aGVHD. Approximately 60 subjects will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either treatment with EQ001 (n=40) or placebo (n=20) in addition to and within 72 hours of the first dose of CS. EQ001 or placebo will be administered IV every two weeks for five doses, and subjects will be followed for an additional 10 months after the last dose of study treatment. The primary objective of Part B is to evaluate the overall response rate of aGVHD in patients treated with EQ001 versus placebo. Secondary objectives include an evaluation of safety and other clinical endpoints. The primary endpoint is the overall response rate at Day 29 as defined by a complete response, very good partial response or partial response. Additional clinical endpoints include assessment of NRM, chronic GVHD rates, and CS dose requirements. Conclusion: Inhibiting the CD6-ALCAM pathway with EQ001 represents a unique and promising approach for the treatment of aGVHD following HSCT by inhibiting both the activity and trafficking of T cells. This is the first clinical study to examine the effects of an anti-CD6 therapy for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed aGVHD. Disclosures Koreth: Equillium: Consultancy; Cugene: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy. Shea:Jazz: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy. Jagasia:Kadmon: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Janssen: Research Funding. Waller:Pharmacyclics: Other: Travel expenses, Research Funding; Cerus Corporation: Other: Stock, Patents & Royalties; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Chimerix: Other: Stock; Cambium Oncology: Patents & Royalties: Patents, royalties or other intellectual property ; Amgen: Consultancy; Kalytera: Consultancy. Nakamura:Celgene: Other: support for an academic seminar in a university in Japan; Merck: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alexion: Other: support to a lecture at a Japan Society of Transfusion/Cellular Therapy meeting ; Kirin Kyowa: Other: support for an academic seminar in a university in Japan. Ng:Equillium: Employment, Equity Ownership. Sonnemann:Equillium Inc.: Employment. Light:Equillium Inc.: Consultancy. Nanayakkara:Equillium Inc.: Consultancy. Essayan:Equillium Inc.: Consultancy. Rothman:Equillium Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Connelly:Equillium: Employment, Equity Ownership. Polu:Equillium Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kean:HiFiBio: Consultancy; BlueBirdBio: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Regeneron: Research Funding; EMDSerono: Consultancy; FortySeven: Consultancy; Magenta: Research Funding; Kymab: Consultancy; Jazz: Research Funding; Bristol Meyers Squibb: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding. Ritz:Draper Labs: Consultancy; Talaris Therapeutics: Consultancy; TScan Therapeutics: Consultancy; Equillium: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Research Funding; Aleta Biotherapeutics: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Avrobio: Consultancy; LifeVault Bio: Consultancy. Soiffer:Gilead, Mana therapeutic, Cugene, Jazz: Consultancy; Juno, kiadis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: DSMB; Kiadis: Other: supervisory board; Mana therapeutic: Consultancy; Cugene: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy. Cutler:Kadmon: Consultancy; Omeros: Consultancy; ElsaLys: Consultancy; BiolineRx: Other: DSMB; Cellect: Other: DSMB; Kalytera: Other: DSMB; Incyte: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Jazz: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Fate Therapeutics: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy. OffLabel Disclosure: EQ001 (itolizumab) is an investigational agent being developed for the treatment of acute GVHD. Itolizumab has not received regulatory approval for the treatment of GVHD. The abstract being submitted describes the study design for the phase 1b/2 study. No data is being presented.

Bloodstream infection (BSI) to due vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) is an important complication of hematologic malignancy. Determining when to use empiric anti-VRE antibiotic therapy in this population remains a clinical challenge.A single-center cohort representing 664 admissions for induction or hematopoietic stem-cell transplant (HSCT) from 2006 to 2014 was selected. We derived a prediction score using risk factors for VRE BSI and evaluated the model's predictive performance by calculating it for each of 16232 BSI at-risk inpatient days.VRE BSI incidence was 6.5% of admissions (2.7 VRE BSI per 1000 BSI at-risk days). Adjusted 1-year mortality and length of stay were significantly higher in patients with VRE BSI. VRE colonization (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 8.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.4-20.6; P.0001), renal insufficiency (aOR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.0-5.8; P = .046), aminoglycoside use (aOR = 4.7; 95% CI = 2.2-9.8; P.0001), and antianaerobic antibiotic use (aOR = 2.8; 95% CI = 1.3-5.8; P = .007) correlated most closely with VRE BSI. A prediction model with optimal performance included these factors plus gastrointestinal disturbance, severe neutropenia, and prior beta-lactam antibiotic use. The score effectively risk-stratified patients (area under the receiver operating curve = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.79-0.89). At a threshold of ≥5 points, per day probability of VRE BSI was increased nearly 4-fold.This novel predictive score is based on risk factors reflecting a plausible pathophysiological model for VRE BSI in patients with hematological malignancy. Integrating VRE colonization status with risk factors for developing BSI is a promising method of guiding rational use of empiric anti-VRE antimicrobial therapy in patients with hematological malignancy. Validation of this novel predictive score is needed to confirm clinical utility.

The association between pre–hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization, HSCT-associated VRE bacteremia, and HSCT mortality is disputed. We studied 161 consecutive patients with acute leukemia who underwent HSCT at our hospital between 2006 and 2014, of whom 109 also received leukemia induction/consolidation on our unit. All inpatients had weekly VRE stool surveillance. Pre-HSCT colonization was not associated with increases in HSCT mortality but did identify a subgroup of HSCT recipients with a higher risk for VRE bacteremia and possibly bacteremia from other organisms. The major risk factor for pre-HSCT colonization was the number of hospital inpatient days between initial admission for leukemia and HSCT. One-third of evaluable patients colonized before HSCT were VRE-culture negative on admission for HSCT; these patients had an increased risk for subsequent VRE stool surveillance positivity but not VRE bacteremia. Molecular typing of VRE isolates obtained before and after HSCT showed that VRE strains frequently change. Postengraftment VRE bacteremia was associated with a much higher mortality than pre-engraftment VRE bacteremia. Pre-engraftment bacteremia from any organism was associated with an alternative donor and resulted in an increase in hospital length of stay and cost. Mortality was similar for pre-engraftment VRE bacteremia and pre-engraftment bacteremia due to other organisms, but mortality associated with post-engraftment VRE bacteremia was higher and largely explained by associated severe graft-versus-host disease and relapsed leukemia. These data emphasize the importance of distinguishing between VRE colonization before HSCT and at HSCT, between pre-engraftment and postengraftment VRE bacteremia, and between VRE bacteremia and bacteremia from other organisms.