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Limited information is available on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). The Campus CML network collected retrospective information on 8665 CML patients followed at 46 centres throughout Italy during the pandemic between February 2020 and January 2021. Within this cohort, we recorded 217 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients (2·5%). Most patients (57%) were diagnosed as having SARS-CoV-2 infection during the second peak of the pandemic (September 2020 to January 2021). The majority (35%) was aged between 50 and 65years with a male prevalence (73%). Fifty-six percent of patients presented concomitant comorbidities. The median time from CML diagnosis to SARS-CoV-2 infection was six years (three months to 18years). Twenty-one patients (9·6%) required hospitalization without the need of respiratory assistance, 18 (8·2%) were hospitalized for respiratory assistance, 8 (3·6%) were admitted to an intensive care unit, while 170 (78%) were only quarantined. Twenty-three percent of patients discontinued tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy during the infection. Twelve patients died due to COVID-19 with a mortality rate of 5·5% in the positive cohort and of 0·13% in the whole cohort. We could also document sequelae caused by the SARS-CoV-2 infection and an impact of the pandemic on the overall management of CML patients.

Recommendations for dyslipidemia management aimed at reducing arterial occlusive events (AOEs) have been recently published. So far, no data have been reported on the management of dyslipidemia in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients treated with nilotinib. We investigated 369 CML adult patients, stratified according to the new Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) scoring system. Plasma levels of cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides were measured prior to the start of nilotinib and after 3, 6, and 12months. The 5-year cumulative incidence of AOEs was 15.9%. Patients with cholesterol levels > 200mg/dL and LDL > 70mg/dL 3months after treatment showed a significantly higher incidence of AOEs (21.9 ± 4.6% vs 6.2 ± 2.5, P= 0.003). Patients belonging to the high and very high SCORE risk group showed a significant increase of AOEs (34.4 ± 6% vs 10 ± 2.1%, P< 0.001). In multivariate analysis, both high cholesterol and LDL levels and a high and very high SCORE risk remained significantly associated with the risk of AOEs (P= 0.008; HR = 3.5; 95% CI = 1.4–8.7 and P < 0.001; HR = 4.4; 95% CI = 2–9.8, respectively). Overall, 78 patients (21.1%) presented dyslipidemia at the time of CML diagnosis and 88 (23.3%) after starting nilotinib, but only 26 of them (29.5%) were treated with statins. Low LDL and cholesterol plasma levels are associated with a significant lower risk of AOEs in CML patients treated with nilotinib in the real life.

Hypertension is a commonly reported comorbidity in patients diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and its management represents a challenge in patients treated with 2nd- or 3rd-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), considering their additional cardiovascular (CV) toxicity. The renin angiotensin system (RAS) contributes to hypertension genesis and plays an important role in atherosclerosis development, proliferation, and differentiation of myeloid hematopoietic cells. We analyzed a cohort of 192 patients with hypertension at CML diagnosis, who were treated with 2nd- or 3rd-generation TKIs, and evaluated the efficacy of RAS inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs)) in the prevention of arterial occlusive events (AOEs), as compared with other drug classes. The 5-year cumulative incidence of AOEs was 32.7 ± 4.2%. Patients with SCORE ≥ 5% (high-very-high) showed a significantly higher incidence of AOEs (33.7 ± 7.6% vs 13.6 ± 4.8%, p = 0.006). The AOE incidence was significantly lower in patients treated with RAS inhibitors (14.8 ± 4.2% vs 44 ± 1%, p < 0.001, HR = 0.283). The difference in the low and intermediate Sokal risk group was confirmed but not in the high-risk group, where a lower RAS expression has been reported. Our data suggest that RAS inhibitors may represent an optimal treatment in patients with hypertension and CML, treated with 2nd or 3rdG TKIs.

Not available.

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent hematological disease, often responsive to the first line of treatment, but characterized by repeated relapses. The therapeutic algorithm for relapsed/refractory FL patients comprises phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors. Idelalisib showed anticancer activity, while inducing a significant rate of toxicities. Since the evidence in the literature on its use in normal clinical practice is scarce, a retrospective multicenter study was conducted to evaluate effectiveness and tolerability in a real-life context. Seventy-two patients with a median age at diagnosis of 57.2 years—mostly with an advanced stage (88.9%) and relapsed to the most recent therapy (79.1%)—were enrolled. The median number of prior therapies was three (20.8% refractory to the last therapy before idelalisib). With a median number of 4 months of treatment, the overall response rate was 41.7% (20.8% complete responses). Median disease-free survival and overall survival were achieved at 8.4 months and at 4 years, respectively. Forty-four percent of patients experienced at least one drug-related toxicity: 6.9% hematological ones and 43% non-hematological. The study confirmed that idelalisib has anticancer effectiveness and an acceptable safety profile in relapsed/refractory FL with unfavorable prognostic characteristics, even in the context of normal clinical practice.

Introduction Treatment of chronic phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) proved to be almost equally effective in young and elderly patients. Three TKIs, imatinib (IM), dasatinib (DAS) and nilotinib (NIL), are approved for frontline therapy in Italy. Choice of frontline TKI is based on a combined evaluation of patient's characteristics and expectations, with age usually playing a prominent role. However, to date, few data are available on patterns of TKI selection in very elderly patients. Aim To analyse the use of frontline TKI therapy in a large and unselected cohort of very elderly CP-CML patients Methods We retrospectively evaluated 332 patients aged ≥75 year diagnosed from 1/2012 to 12/2019 at 36 Hematology Centres participating at the "Campus CML" project. Results Clinical features at diagnosis for the whole cohort and according to frontline TKI are reported in Table 1. As to frontline TKI, 285 patients (85.8%) received IM and 47 (14.2%) a 2G-TKI (DAS n=28, 59.5%; NIL n=19, 40.5%). Of the 285 IM-treated patients, 192 (67.3%) started with standard dose (400 mg/day) and 93 (32.7%) with a reduced dose (300 mg/day n=64, 22.5%; Following widespread introduction of generic IM in Italy in early 2018, patients were divided in 2 groups: among 238 patients diagnosed from 2012 to 2017, 198 (83.1%) received IM and 40 (16.9%) a 2G-TKI, while patients diagnosed in 2018-2019 were treated with IM in 87/94 (92.5%) cases and with a 2G-TKI in 7 (7.5%) cases only (p=0.028). Conclusions IM remains the frontline drug of choice in very elderly CML patients, and this trend seems to increase after the introduction of the generic formulation. However, 2G-TKI are used in a small but sizeable group of patients, without a clear correlation with baseline CML features, thus probably reflecting a physician's evaluation of patient's fitness and/or expectation. Efficacy and safety of initial reduced TKIs doses in the setting of very elderly patients warrant further analyses. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Latagliata: Novartis: Honoraria; BMS Cellgene: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria. Bonifacio: Novartis: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria. Elena: CELGENE: Other: funding for meeting participation; PFIZER: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; NOVARTIS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GILEAD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Iurlo: Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Speakers Bureau. Sportoletti: AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria. Stagno: Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Support for attending meetings and/or travel; InCyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Support for attending meetings and/or travel, Research Funding. Abruzzese: Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria. Breccia: Bristol Myers Squibb/Celgene: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria.

Background Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) revolutionized treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, the first months of therapy are crucial, as optimal response is defined as the achievement of molecular milestones at 3, 6 and 12 months (mo.) and as many toxicities, also causing a TKI switch, are more frequent in the 1st year. Methods To evaluate achievement of early molecular response (MR) and incidence of events leading to a TKI change during the 1st year of therapy, we retrospectively studied 1650 CP-CML patients diagnosed from 2012 and 2019 at 31 Hematology Centres and treated with frontline imatinib (IM) or second-generation (2G) TKIs dasatinib or nilotinib. Optimal MR at 3, 6 and 12 mo. were assessed according to 2020 ELN recommendations. Results Frontline TKI was IM in 926 (56.1%) and 2G-TKIs in 724 (43.9%) cases: the main clinical features at diagnosis of the entire cohort and according to frontline treatment is reported in the Table 1. Commonest comorbidities were arterial hypertension (38.7%), previous neoplasm (13.6%), diabetes (11.3%), peripheral vascular diseases (7.8%), COPD (7.5%) and ischemic heart disease (6.8%). IM-treated patients were older (p Optimal MR was achieved at 3 mo. by 1186/1430 (82.9%), at 6 mo. by 1025/1352 (75.8%) and at 12 mo. by 826/1264 patients (65.3%), respectively. Total number of patients discontinuing TKI in the 1st year was 321/1650 (19.4%), being higher with IM (237/926, 25.5%) than 2G-TKIs (84/724, 11.6%) (p0.001), hematologic toxicity (1.7%, 2.0% IM vs 1.4% 2G-TKIs, p=0.25) and progression (1.0%, 1.2% IM vs 0.8% 2G-TKIs, p=0.56). Cumulative incidence of discontinuation at 3, 6 and 12 mo. were 5.6%, 10.7% and 19.3%, respectively; values for IM and 2G-TKIs at the three timepoints were 8.1%, 15.0%, 25.5% and 2.5%, 5.3%, 11.5% (p Conclusions This real-world study on over 1600 CML patients shows that almost 20% discontinue frontline TKI during the 1st year, mostly for primary resistance or toxicity. Discontinuation rates are higher with IM compared to 2G-TKIs, mostly at 3 mo. and are probably due to a lower attainment of early MR. The impact of older age, higher risks and heavier burden of comorbidities in IM patients should be considered and need deeper investigation. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Elena: GILEAD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; NOVARTIS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; PFIZER: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CELGENE: Other: funding for meeting participation. Sportoletti: AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria. Stagno: InCyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Support for attending meetings and/or travel; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Support for attending meetings and/or travel, Research Funding. Iurlo: Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Speakers Bureau. Bonifacio: Novartis: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria. Breccia: Pfizer: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb/Celgene: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Latagliata: Novartis: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; BMS Cellgene: Honoraria.

Introduction. New guidelines for the management of dyslipidemia and lipid modification in order to reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events have been recently published by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS). New recommendations regarding the target value of plasma lipids in very high and high CV risk patients have been provided, in addition to an estimate of the CV risk with a new Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) chart. Few data have been reported on the management of dyslipidemia in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients treated with nilotinib, and the association with arterial occlusive events (AOEs). We therefore analyzed a large real-life cohort of Italian patients with CML treated with nilotinib outside of clinical trials and evaluated the association between AOEs and plasma lipoproteins levels; moreover, we estimated the prognostic value of the new SCORE chart to predict AOEs. The secondary endpoint was to report the management of dyslipidemia in the clinical practice. Methods. We identified 233 adult patients with CML who were treated in 20 Italian centers with nilotinib. All patients were stratified into low to moderate (SCORE ≤ 5%) or high to very high (SCORE risk >5%) CV risk, according to the new version of the SCORE 2019. We recorded concentration levels of cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and triglycerides at diagnosis of CML, before starting ponatinib and therefore after 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. All AOEs (cerebrovascular, peripheral vascular and CV events excluding hypertension) were considered. Results. The median age was 50 years (range 20-88) and the Sokal score was intermediate-high in 45.5% of patients. The median follow-up was 5 years (range 3.4-10.5). Nilotinib was administered as first line of therapy in (72%) of cases or second or subsequent lines of treatment for inefficacy (20.9%) or intolerance (7.1%). At baseline, nilotinib was administered at the following doses: 800 mg/day in 9.3% of patients, 600 mg/day in 87% of patients, 400 mg/day in 3.1% of patients and 300mg in 0.6% of patients, respectively. The median time of drug exposure was 60 months (range 2-155). The 48-month cumulative incidence rate of AOEs was 14.1±2.7%. Patients with cholesterol plasma levels > 200 mg/dL and LDL >70 mg/dL at baseline and 3 months after starting nilotinib, showed a significantly higher incidence of AOEs (24.5±7.3% vs 11±2.7%, P=0.02 and 22.3±4.9% vs 5.9±2.6, P=0.003, respectively) Figure 1. Patients with triglycerides levels > 200 mg/dL 3 months after starting nilotinib, showed a significantly higher incidence of AOEs (56±20.5% vs 13.3±2.7%, P=0.011) Patients belonging to the high and very high SCORE risk group showed a significant increase of AOEs (32.8.1±9% vs. 9±1%±2.6%, p=0.001). In multivariate analysis, statistical significance of cholesterol plasma levels > 200 mg/dL and LDL >70 mg/dL after 3 months and high-very-high SCORE was maintained (P=0.018, HR=3.4, 95% CI=1.2-9.4 and P=0.004, HR=3.5, 95% CI=1.5-8.2, respectively). Overall, 46 patients (20.5%) presented dyslipidemia at CML diagnosis and 65 (29%) at the start of treatment with nilotinib. Despite dyslipidemia, only 6 patients were taking statins during the treatment with nilotinib and only 5 started it after 3 months of nilotinib: 3 patients were treated with rosuvastatin and 2 with pravastatin. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that a proper control of dyslipidemia, keeping cholesterol and triglycerides plasma levels ≤ 200 mg/dL and LDL ≤70 mg/dL is associated with reduced risk of AOEs in CML patients treated with nilotinib. An under estimation of the clinical importance of elevated plasma lipids as a risk factor for AOEs events represents a possible issue in the real-life. Figure 1 Disclosures Abruzzese: Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bms: Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Galimberti:Incyte: Honoraria; Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Castagnetti:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria. Pregno:Incyte-Italy,: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: conference reports; Novartis-Italy: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: conference reports; Pfizer-Italy: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: conference reports. Bocchia:CELGENE: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria. Gugliotta:Novartis: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria. Foà:Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Scarce information is available on the use of ponatinib as second-line treatment in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) patients resistant and/or intolerant to prior tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. We collected data from 29 CML patients, with a median age of 54 years (range 32–72). Eleven patients had received dasatinib, 15 patients received nilotinib, and 3 patients received imatinib as first-line treatment. Forty-five percent of patients started ponatinib for secondary resistance, 38% for primary resistance, 7% for severe intolerance associated to a molecular warning, 7% due to the presence of a T315I mutation, and 3% for severe intolerance. Ponatinib was started at a dose of 45 mg in 60% of patients, 30 mg in 38%, and 15 mg in 2% of patients. Overall, at a median follow-up of 12 months, 85% of treated patients improved the level of response as compared to baseline, with 10 patients achieving a deep molecular response (MR4-4.5). No thrombotic events were recorded. The dose was reduced during treatment in 2 patients due to intolerance and in 8 patients in order to reduce the cardiovascular risk. Ponatinib seems a valid second-line treatment option for chronic phase CML, in particular for patients who failed a front-line second-generation TKI due to BCR-ABL-independent mechanisms of resistance.

Background Bosutinib is a 2nd generation tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) active in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) patients resistant or intolerant to frontline imatinib, dasatinib or nilotinib; the favourable toxicity profile makes bosutinib potentially useful in elderly patients, but at present there are no data in unselected cohorts of these subjects. Aim To highlight this issue, a real-life cohort of 91 patients followed in 21 Italian Centers and treated with bosutinib when aged > 65 years was retrospectively evaluated. Patients The main clinical features of the whole cohort at diagnosis and at baseline of bosutinib treatment are reported in the Table; all patients were in CP when bosutinib was started. Median interval from diagnosis to bosutinib treatment was 49.7 months [interquartile range (IQR) 14.2 - 117.5]. Results Starting dose of bosutinib was 500 mg/day in 20 patients (22.0%), 400 mg/day in 7 patients (7.7%), 300 mg/day in 28 patients (30.8%), 200 mg/day in 34 patients (37.3%) and 100 mg/day in 2 patients (2.2%), respectively. After a median period of treatment of 18.1 months (IQR 9.4 - 27.7) all patients were evaluable for toxicity; on the whole, all grade hematological and extra-hematological toxicities were reported in 12/91 (13.1%) and 45/91 (49.4%) patients, respectively. A grade 3 - 4 hematological toxicity occurred in 5/91 patients (5.4%); a grade 3 - 4 extra-hematological toxicity occurred in 16/91 patients (17.5%). Overall, 46 patients (50.5%) never discontinued bosutinib: a temporary discontinuation < 6 weeks was needed in 19 patients (20.9%) and a temporary discontinuation > 6 weeks in 2 patients (2.2%). A permanent bosutinib discontinuation was needed in the remaining 24 patients (26.4%): in particular, 11 patients (12.1%) permanently discontinued bosutinib due to toxicity (skin rash in 3 cases, gastro-intestinal toxicity in 3 cases, pleural effusion in 2 cases, transaminitis, QTc prolongation and myalgia in 1 case each), 6 patients (6.6%) due to resistance and 7 patients (7.7%) due to other reasons (unrelated death in 6 cases and patient decision in 1 case). As to response, 5 patients (5.5%) were considered too early for assessment (< 3 months of treatment); among the 86 patients evaluable for response, 11 patients (12.7%) did not have any response (including 6 patients who discontinued bosutinib for early toxicity), 4 (4.6%) achieved hematological response only, and 71 (82.5%) achieved Cytogenetic Response (CyR) (Major CyR in 4, Complete CyR in 67). Among the 67 patients in Complete CyR, 58 (67.4% of all 86 evaluable patients) also achieved Molecular Response (MR) [Major MR (MR 3.0) in 19 (22.1%), Deep MR (MR 4.0/4.5) in 39 (45.3%)]. The 3-year Overall Survival and Event-Free Survival of the whole cohort of patients from bosutinib start were 83.0% (CI95% 71.6 - 94.4) (Figure 1) and 59.5% (CI95% 39.9 - 72.1), respectively. Conclusions Our real-life data show that bosutinib is effective, even if initial doses in many cases were lower than recommended, with a favourable safety profile also in elderly patients with important comorbidities resistant/intolerant to previous TKI treatments,: as a consequence, it could play a significant role in the current clinical practise for these frail patients. Disclosures Latagliata: Celgene: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria. Trawinska:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria. Annunziata:Pfizer: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy. Elena:Novartis: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy. Crugnola:Incyte: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Bonifacio:Novartis: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria. Sgherza:Incyte: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Iurlo:Pfizer: Other: Speaker Honoraria; Incyte: Other: Speaker Honoraria; Novartis: Other: Speaker Honoraria. Breccia:Celgene: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria.

Little is known regarding the activity of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKis) on chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) clonal evolution (CE). We treated 10 CE CML patients in either hematologic chronic (8 cases) or accelerated (2 cases) phase with imatinib or second generation TKi. Additional chromosomal abnormalities appeared during the course of disease in seven cases, being present at diagnosis in three. A total of 6/10 (60%) patients achieved complete cytogenetic remission (CCyR) with imatinib in 3–14 months. Major or complete molecular remission (CMR) was obtained in four CCyR patients after 21, 25, 22, and 12 months, as well as in a fifth patient who started nilotinib because of suboptimal response after 75 months of imatinib treatment. One patient received nilotinib due to imatinib intolerance after 56 months of therapy while on CMR, and maintained such status. After a median follow-up of 82 months (range, 3–116), six patients are alive, five of which are in continuous CCyR while one patient is in his third CCyR on dasatinib after relapsing on imatinib and nilotinib. Five patients are in complete (four) or major (one) molecular remission, ongoing at 3, 48, 61, 95, and 96 months, on imatinib (three) or nilotinib (two). Although a small number of patients was studied, our results suggest that long-term cytogenetic and molecular remission can be achieved in CML CE patients with TKis treatment.

A variety of options have been proposed to treat malignant ascites but most of them have failed to reach a significant impact in terms of palliation. Laparoscopic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (LHIPEC) could represent a good therapeutic tool for patients in whom medical therapies have failed and peritoneovenous shunting is contraindicated. Here we present a case of a 49-year-old woman with malignant ascites secondary to peritoneal spreading of a right pleural mesothelioma. After failure of medical therapy, the patient underwent LHIPEC with Cisplatin 25 mg/m/L and Doxorubicin 7 mg/m/L. A dramatic reduction of ascites was documented in the postoperative period and the patient experienced complete abdominal symptom relief. Ascites did not recur during a follow-up period of 6 months. LHIPEC could be a good therapeutic option to palliate malignant ascites from mesothelioma in cases not eligible for a radical treatment. Further studies are needed to standardize dosage and perfusion parameters.

INTRODUCTION. Continously improving results have been obtained during the last two decades in the control of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph’) positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, the final goal of molecular remission remains difficult to be obtained, even in the imatinib era. AIMS: Evaluation of the rate of long lasting molecular remission (undetectable p210 transcript at RQ-PCR confirmed by NESTED/RT-PCR in at least two subsequent tests performed over a period of 12 months or more) in response to imatinib or to imatinib-IFNa combination employed as first, second or subsequent line of therapy. PATIENTS. Imatinib alone or in combination with IFNa was given as first, second or subsequent line of therapy to a total of 47 patients. In particular, twenty-one patients were treated at the time of diagnosis with imatinib alone (18,G1) or imatinib-pegilated IFN combination (3,G2). Twenty-three additional patients (G3) received imatinib as second line therapy. Finally, 11 patients were treated with the imatinib-IFNa combination as second (5,G4) or third (6,G5) line therapy. In details, G4 consisted of three patients in cytogenetic relapse (3) or no response (2) after first line imatinib (1)or IFNa-ARA-C(1)therapy. All six patients included in G5 were complete kariotypic, but not molecular responder to imatinib given as second line treatment. METHODS. Molecular response was evaluated by NESTED/real-time-PCR (Guo JQ et al.; Leukemia : 2002; 15:2447–53) and real-time quantitative-PCR (Gabert J et al. Leukemia : 2003; 17: 2318–57) time intervals of 3–6 months from the beginning of therapy. RESULTS. A complete molecular remission lasting 12 months or more was obtained in 11 of 42 evaluable patients(therapy duration ≥ 18 mths).The response rate was higher in patients receiving the imatinib-IFNa combination(6/14) than in those given imatinib in monotherapy (5/36).In details, 4/14 and 1/3 patients respectively receiving early imatinib or imatinib-IFNa combination achieved a stable molecular remission. Two to four consecutive negative tests were documented in all five cases over a period ranging from 12 to 19 mths with 4 patients still in continous remission. Furthermore, 1/22 and 5/11 patients obtained a complete molecular response to imatinib given as second line therapy or imatinib-IFNa combination employed as second (4) or third (1) line therapy. Five negative tests were documented over a period of 12 mths in the patient responsive to imatinib monotherapy. Three to 7 negative consecutive tests were obtained during a period of 12 to 36 mths in the remaining five cases while receiving the imatinib-IFN-a combination. At the present time, 5 of these 6 patients are in continous molecular remission. In all molecularly responsive patients, stable molecular remission was usually preceded by a period of fluctuating negative-positive results of NESTED-PCR tests. CONCLUSIONS. It is not possible to achieve any firm conclusion regarding the effect of the imatinib-INFa combination on molecular response because of the small sample size of treated patients. However, our findings suggest an additive effect of imatinib and IFNa in Ph’ clone control as indicated by the improvement of the quality of remission in long lasting kariotypically, but not molecularly responsive patients when this combination therapy was utilized.

Introduction Progressive improvement has been observed in CKR and survival of CML patients (pts) in response to interferon (IFN)a-based regimens, or imatinib. The purpose of this study is the evaluation of: rate of, time to and duration of CKR in accordance to first line therapy employed and Sokal score; impact on overall survival of CKR, and Sokal score, separately considered or combined together. Patients. 109Ph’+ and 5Ph’−, (BCR-ABL positive), CML pts were treated at diagnosis with allogeneic transplantation (3 pts), hydroxyurea (HU) (19 pts), INFa (51pts, G1), INFa associated with ARA-C (20 pts, G2), imatinib alone (18 pts, G3), or imatinib combined with INFa (3 pts, G4). INFa was employed as second line therapy in 12 pts initially treated with hydroxyurea (G5), while INFa/ARA-C combination or imatinib alone was given to 24 (G6) and 23 (G7) pts with de novo or acquired resistance or intolerance to INFa. Third line therapy, consisting of the combination of imatinib with IFNa, was employed in 11 (G8) pts with no CKR (5 pts) or in complete cytogenetic, but not in molecular remission (6 pts). Results. 40 of 94 Ph’+ evaluable non-allotransplanted pts obtained one or more (overall 47) CKRs to INFa-based regimens or imatinib. CKR rate, median time to CKR and response duration are shown in table 1. In the analysis according to Sokal score 82/94 pts, with complete prognostic data at diagnosis, were included. The percentage of responders was higher in the low compared to the non-low Sokal risk group (57% vs. 31%). Irrespective of the treatment, median duration value of the first CKR was also better in the former [18+mths(1–64)] than in the latter group [6mths(2–54)] with 16 vs.4 pts still in first or subsequent remission. Overall survival for CKRs was 68+mths(5–275) vs. 52mths(5–270) for CKRs with 35 vs. 6 pts still alive respectively. Overall survival according to Sokal score at diagnosis was 61+ mths(5–275) for low vs 53mths(5–212) for non-low risk patients. The impact on survival of CKR and Sokal risk were then analyzed simultaneously. The median survival of 27 CKRs and 20 not CKRs with low Sokal risk were 61+mths(5–275)and 63 mths(14–270) respectively as compared to 73+mths(11–212) of 11 CKRs and 36mths(5–139) of 24 not CKRs with unfavourable characteristics at diagnosis. The number of patients still alive in these 4 groups were 24/27, 3/20, 8/11, 3/24 respectively at the time when this analysis was performed. Conclusions. The present data not only confirm the effectiveness of imatinib-over the INFa-based regimens in inducing CKR, but also suggest that response to treatment may be better than Sokal risk in predicting patient survival. Rate,time to and duration of CKR according to treatment PT Group CKR rate(%) time to CKR( months) Duration of CKR (months) N° of pts in cCKR Median Range Median Range G1 17 16 (3–28) 6 (2–53) 0 G2 30 11 (3–24) 15,5 (2–33) 0 G3 85 6 (2–14) 10+ (1–44) 11 G4 100 4 (4–5) 48 (2–50) 1 G5 0 0 G6 9 9,5 (7–12) 40,5 (17–64) 1 G7 54 9 (4–38) 21,5+ (3–54) 6 G8 80 3 (2–4) 26+ (4–48) 9

The occurrence of additional chromosomal abnormalities (ACAs) in Philadelphia chromosome (Ph’) positive cells, a phenomenon termed clonal evolution (CE), reflects an increased genetic instability of the leukemic population which progressively acquires a highly malignant phenotype. Few data are available regarding the therapeutic effects exerted by imatinib mesylate on Ph’ cells bearing ACAs. Herein, we report the activity of imatinib mesylate employed as single agent or in combination with recombinant interferon (rIFN)a2 in inducing cytogenetic and molecular responses in 14 CML patients (F:M=5:9, median age: 58 years) with CE already present at diagnosis (5) or occurring later during the course of the disease (9) as the sole sign of accelerated phase (AP) (12) or associated with other AP features (2). Overall, the analysis of ACA rate showed the presence of i(Ph’) in 4, +8 in 3, -Y in 3, variant translocation in 2 (t(9;19;22) and t(3;9;22)), -17 in 1, 17p- in 1, 3p- in 1, 22q- in 1, and additional translocations involving chromosomes other than 9 and 22 in 3 other instances. Of note, the two cases with variant translocation showed at diagnosis the classical t(9;22). The t(9;19;22) or t(3;9;22), which was documented later in the course of the disease was therefore a proven second event. Imatinib was given at 400mg po/daily in all, but 2 patients with signs of AP in addition to CE who received a daily dose of 600 mg. rIFNa2 was given at a daily dose of 1 to 3x106UI, according to patient’s tolerance. An overall cytogenetic remission rate of 64% (9/14) was documented in response to imatinib mesylate employed as single agent (6/10) or in combination with rIFNa2 (3/4). Suppression of the ACA population was documented within an interval of 3–14 months from the beginning of imatinib treatment and it was timely coincident with the occurrence of CCR in 6 patients, irrespective of the entity of the ACA population in the context of the entire Ph’ positive one. In 2 of them, a “biphasic” response to imatinib was observed. Initially, suppression of i(Ph’) and t(9;19;22) with re-emergence of the original t(9;22) hemopoiesis was documented 4 and 7 months after treatment initiation, respectively, and then CCR occurred after further 10 and 9 months of treatment, respectively. In the last patient, a mixture of non-clonal and clonal +8 Ph’ negative hemopoiesis was noted at the time when CCR was documented. All 9 CCR patients tested negative for BCR/ABL gene at FISH analysis. Six of the 9 CCR obtained a major or complete molecular remission 3–29 months from treatment initiation. In 3 additional patients, who never achieved a CCR, suppression of the secondary clones was documented. In 1 case, the clone bearing 17p- was no more detected from the 6th to the 42nd month of therapy, when a new clone showing the i(17q) was recorded. In the other 2 cases, the leukemic population bearing the 3q- and 22q- or -17 marker was suppressed 6 and 3 months after the beginning of imatinib mesylate treatment, respectively. After a median follow up of 70 months, 8 patients are still alive and in continuous CCR. Such a long follow up, along with the rate, quality and duration of the responses observed, suggest that CE does not compromise the therapeutic activity of imatinib alone or combined with rIFNa in CML.

Background. There are evidences supporting the existence of a synergism between the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib and anthracyclines. In addition, several in vivo data show synergic-additive effect of bortezomib and pegylated liposomal doxorubicine (Peg LD). Recently these findings were confirmed by the results of a phase III study. Patients and therapy. Based on these findings we are using this combination as salvage therapy in active multiple myeloma (MM) in current patient care. So far, 23 MM patients (F:M 14:9, median age 66 years, range 45–74) with a disease resistant to or relapsing after high or conventional dose chemotherapy have been enrolled. Patient distribution according to disease status and previous therapy was as follows: three and 11 patients with a disease resistant to(including PR cases)or relapsing after high dose chemotherapy with PBSC support, respectively; four and 5 patients with a disease resistant to or relapsing after conventional chemotherapy, respectively. Bortezomib1,3mg/m2 was given as a bolus IV injection on days 1,4,8 and 11 for 8 cycles(induction therapy), then administered on days 1,8,15 and 22 for 3 cycles. PegLD was given at a dose of 40mg/m2 every 3 weeks. In the 1st cohort, Peg LD was employed after the completion of the 8th cycle of bortezomib, during maintenance therapy. In the second cohort, Peg LD was combined with bortezomib starting from the 4th induction cycle. Sequential drug administration was chosen in order to evaluate if PegLD increases the antitumor of bortezomib employed as single agent. Results. The1stcohort included 5 patients. Two with resistant disease to high dose(1) or conventional dose chemotherapy(1) and 3 with relapsing disease after high dose(2)or conventional dose(1). Bortezomib therapy resulted in 4 objective responses(2 nCR,2 PR) and 1 disease stabilization. However, the addition of PegLD did not induce any significant improvement of response in 3 cases. In 2 patients PD was documented, after an initial response, before and during the maintenance therapy respectively. The 2ndcohort included 5 patients resistant to high (2 pts)or conventional (3 pts) dose chemotherapy and 13 with relapsing disease. Response was evaluated in 17/18 cases. One patient still on induction therapy was in a therapeutic phase too early to be evaluated. Myeloma progression was documented in 3 istances during the first three cycles of bortezomib. After the1stcycle in1 and after the 2ndcycle in 2 cases. Of the remaining 14 patients, 9 reached PR, 3 nCR and 2 CR after the first 3 cycles of bortezomib. One patient developed cardiac failure and did not receive PegLD. In the13 patients who completed the planned therapy a conversion of 4 PRs into CRs and 3 nCRs into CRs was documented. No improvement was reported in the other 2 PR cases. One of the CR patients showed an isolated bone progression during the 11th cycle of treatment. Overall, bortezomib or PegLD-bortezomib combination, were well tolerated. Grade1–2 thrombocytopenia was the most common hematological toxicity. All patients complained mild to moderate asthenia and grade 1–2 paresthesias. Conclusion. It is not possible to achieve any firm conclusion regarding the effect of bortezomib-PegLD combination on the control of resistant-relapsing MM, mainly because of the small sample size of treated patients. However, our findings suggest that this combination therapy may exert in some cases a significant antitumor activity.

Introduction: Continous improving results have been obtained during last two decades in the control of Ph’positive chronic myeloid leukemia(CML). However the final goal of molecular remission remains difficult to obtain even in the STI age. Aims : Evaluation of the rate of molecular response to IFNα,IFNα based treatment,to STI or to STI-INFα combination was analized in 100 consecutive Ph+ CML patients observed in a single Institution over a period of 20 years. Patients, Methods and Results All patients were treated at the time of diagnosis (87) or late (13) during the course of their disease. Distribution according to treatment was: INFα,63pts (late or early:13,50);INFα-ARA-C combination,20pts;STI,14 pts;STI-INFα association, 3 pts. Two pts, both initially assigned to INFα-ARA-C combination, were crossed-over to STI, one because relapsing off-therapy after a long lasting continous (25 mths) molecular remission and the other in cytogenetic response because intolerant to the initial treatment. In addition, other 3 pts patients, with persistent complete cytogenetic, but not molecular remission to INFα or INFα-ARA-C combination were subsequentially trated with the STI-IFNα association. At present,99/100 pts are evaluable. The median times of follow-up for the entire group and form the different treatment subgroups are: late IFNα 154 months(42–263); early IFNα, 71 months(1–197); IFNα-ARA-C, 61 months(5–203); STI- IFNα,78 mths(11–47), STI,31 mths(3–41). A complete kariotypic remission(CKR) was observed in 15/63 IFNα treated pts, in 10/20 IFNα-ARA-C pts group, in 10/13 cases of STI group and in 3 /3 pts who received STI-IFNα. A molecular response(RT-nested PCR, JQ Guo, Leukemia: 2002,15,2447–53) was observed in 4/15,2/10,5/10 and in 2/3 CKR pts initially trated with the different modalities listed above. Response was confirmed from 2 to 7 consecutive or not consecutive times in the 2/4 cases responsive to INFα, in the 2 cases responsive to INFα-ARA-C combination,4/5cases responsive to STI and in 2/3 cases responsive to STI-IFNα association. The 2nd and the 3rd molecular remission to STI were obtained in the patient molecularly and cytogenetically relapsed off-therapy and, for the first time from the diagnosis, in the other patient in CKR to IFNα-ARA-C combination and crossed to STI treatment. Furthermore, all 3 cases, in CKR, but not molecular response to other treatments at the time of cross-over to STI-IFNα combination, achieved a persistent (in 2 to 3 tests over a period ranging from 6+ to 12+ mths) molecular remission. The first interval between the start of the treatment and the first molecular response varied from 12 to 52, from 3 to 22, from 11 to 24, from 5 to 11 mths in the groups initially treated with IFNα, IFNα-ARA-C, STI or STI-IFNα respectively. The 2 pts, crossed-over to STI alone, both, obtained a response after 29 mths of therapy. In addition in the 3 pts crossed-over to STI-IFNα therapy, the molecular response was obtained after 14,23 and 25 mths from the start of last treatment. Conclusion It is not possible to achieve any conclusion regarding the treatment effect on molecular response duration because of the different length of follow-up of various groups of patients. However in responsive patients to IFN alone or combined to ARA-C or STI, consecutive negative RT-PCR tests were observed more frequently than in patients receving STI alone.