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PDF file - 175K, Supplementary Table S1. Clinical and prognostic parameters of cases analyzed by gene expression profiling arrays (45 cMBL and 115 Rai0-CLL) and by miRNA expression profiling arrays (39 cMBL and 111 Rai0-CLL). Supplementary Table S2. List of the 302 modulated genes identified by the supervised multiclass analysis comparing cMBL and Rai0-CLL samples stratified according to IGVH mutational status at the 90th percentile of false discovery rate (FDR) equal to 0. The SAM score(d) and the contrast values of each class are reported for each gene. Negative values indicates down-regulation, positive up-regulation. In bold italic are marked the eight genes that showed different modulation depending on Rai0-CLL or cMBL configuration. Supplementary Table S3. List of the 18 modulated miRNAs in the supervised multiclass analysis comparing cMBL and Rai0-CLL samples stratified according to IGVH mutational status at q-value 0. The SAM score(d) and the contrast values of each class are reported for each gene. Negative values indicates down-regulation, positive up-regulation.

PDF file - 22K, Distribution of the most frequently utilized IGHV. The histogram shows the percentages of VH sequences used in cMBL compared to Rai0-CLL cases.

Purpose: To investigate the incidence and clinical relevance of classic and new prognostic markers, IGHV gene mutational status, and chromosomal abnormalities in clinical monoclonal B lymphocytosis (cMBL) compared with Rai stage 0 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (Rai0-CLL).Experimental Design: A group of 136 patients with cMBL and a group of 216 Rai0-CLL cases were investigated prospectively.Results:IGHV-mutated cases were significantly more frequent among cMBLs (P = 0.005), whereas the distribution of CD38 and ZAP-70 positive cases, of patients with NOTCH1 and SF3B1 mutations or exhibiting the major CLL cytogenetic abnormalities, was similar in the two groups. Moreover, no significant differences were found either in IGHV/IGHD/IGHJ gene usage or in the overall prevalence of stereotyped IGHV gene sequences. Cells from cMBL and Rai0-CLL exhibited similar gene and microRNA (miRNA) signatures; in addition, when grouped according to the IGHV mutational status, IGHV-unmutated cases showed different transcriptional signatures compared with IGHV-mutated patients, irrespective of the cMBL or Rai0-CLL classification. cMBL diagnosis per se was predictive of longer progression-free survival.Conclusions: Our study based on a prospective series of patients indicates that no major differences exist between the circulating cells from cMBL and Rai0-CLL, at least based on a comparison of the markers used in the study. This possibly suggests that the two conditions mainly differ in the initial size of the monoclonal cell population, which may influence the subsequent timing of clonal expansion and clinical manifestations. Clin Cancer Res; 19(21); 5890–900. ©2013 AACR.

PDF file - 289K, Unsupervised analyses in cMBL and Rai0-CLL cases. (A) Gene and (B) miRNA expression profiling analyses by hierarchical clustering. Information about IGHV mutational status ('+' = M, '-' = UM), CD38, ZAP-70, chromosome 12 trisomy, chromosome 17, 11, and 13 deletions ('+' = positive, '-' = negative) are included alongside the patient ID. In the legend bar: turquoise indicates Rai0-CLL and yellow cMBL samples, respectively. The color scale bar represents the relative gene expression changes normalized by the standard deviation, and the color changes in each row represent gene expression relative to the mean across the samples.

PDF file - 64K, Supervised analysis comparing cMBL and Rai0-CLL samples. Haetmaps of the differentially expressed (A) gene and (B) miRNA. Information about IGHV mutational status ('+' = M, '-' = UM), CD38, ZAP-70, chromosome 12 trisomy, chromosome 17, 11, and 13 deletions ('+' = positive, '-' = negative) are included alongside the patient ID. In the legend bar: turquoise indicates Rai0-CLL and yellow cMBL samples, respectively. The color scale bar represents the relative gene expression changes normalized by the standard deviation, and the color changes in each row represent gene expression relative to the mean across the samples.

PDF file - 145K, Q-RT-PCR validation of the microarray expression data of LOC400986 and miR-130a. The microarray and Q-RT-PCR data of LOC400986 (A) and miR-130a (C) scaled in the range 0-1 are shown in the charts together with Pearson correlation coefficient. Boxplots of LOC400986 and miR-130a Q-RT-PCR expression comparing Rai0-CLL vs cMBL cases are represented in charts B and D respectively with the corresponding P-values (Wilcoxon rank sum test).

PDF file - 171K, Distribution of unfavorable events in Rai0-CLL and cMBL and correlation with prognosis. (A) Boxplot of concomitant unfavorable events (y-axis)in cMBL and Rai0-CLL; (B) Kaplan-Meier estimated curves of time to first treatment in the whole cohort stratified according to the number of concomitant events (as indicated in each of the four legends). The p-value and the hazard ratios (with the 95% confidence interval) of the proportional hazard model are indicated above each plot.

The GIMEMA phase II LLC1518 VERITAS trial investigated the efficacy and safety of frontline, fixed-duration venetoclax and rituximab (VenR) combination in young (≤65 years) and fit patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and unmutated IGHV and/or TP53 disruption. Treatment consisted of the Ven ramp-up, six-monthly courses of the VenR combination, followed by six monthly courses of Ven single agent. A centralized assessment of measurable minimal residual disease (MRD) was performed on the peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) by ASO-PCR at the end of treatment (EOT) and during the follow-up. The primary endpoint was the complete remission (CR) rate at the EOT. Seventy-five patients were enrolled; the median age was 54 years (range 38-65), 96% had unmutated IGHV, 9 (12%) had TP53 disruption, and 4% were IGHV mutated with TP53 disruption. The overall response rate (ORR) at the EOT was 94.7%, with a CR rate of 76%. An undetectable (u) MRD was recorded in 69.3% of patients in the PB and 58.7% in the BM. The 12-month MRD-free survival in the 52 patients with uMRD in the PB at the EOT was 73.1%. After a median follow-up of 20.8 months, no disease progressions were observed. Three patients have died, two due to Covid-19 and 1 to tumor lysis syndrome. The first report of the VERITAS study shows that frontline VenR was associated with a high rate of CRs and durable responses with uMRD in young patients with CLL and unfavorable genetic characteristics.

The standard treatment for young patients with untreated PTCLs is based on anthracycline containing-regimens followed by high-dose-chemotherapy and stem-cell-transplantation (HDT + SCT), but only 40% of them can be cured. Romidepsin, a histone-deacetylase inhibitor, showed promising activity in relapsed PTCLs; in first line, Romidepsin was added with CHOP. We designed a study combining romidepsin and CHOEP as induction before HDT + auto-SCT in untreated PTCLs (PTCL-NOS, AITL/THF, ALK-ALCL), aged 18–65 years. A phase Ib/II trial was conducted to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of Ro-CHOEP, and to assess efficacy and safety of 6 Ro-CHOEP as induction before HDT. The study hypothesis was to achieve a 18-month PFS of 70%. Twenty-one patients were enrolled into phase Ib; 7 dose-limiting toxicities were observed, that led to define the MTD at 14 mg/ms. Eighty-six patients were included in the phase II. At a median follow-up of 28 months, the 18-month PFS was 46.2% (95%CI:35.0–56.7), and the 18-month overall survival was 73.1% (95%CI:61.6–81.7). The overall response after induction was 71%, with 62% CRs. No unexpected toxicities were reported. The primary endpoint was not met; therefore, the enrollment was stopped at a planned interim analysis. The addition of romidepsin to CHOEP did not improve the PFS of untreated PTCL patients.

219 HIV-negative adults ≤70 years with primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) were enrolled in the randomized IELSG32 trial. Enrolled patients were randomly assigned to receive methotrexate-cytarabine (arm A), or methotrexate-cytarabine-rituximab (B), or methotrexate-cytarabine-thiotepa-rituximab (MATRix; arm C). A second randomization allocated patients with responsive/stable disease to whole-brain irradiation (WBRT) or carmustine-thiotepa-conditioned autologous transplantation (ASCT). First results, after a median follow-up of 30 months, showed that MATRix significantly improves outcome, with both WBRT and ASCT being similarly effective. However, sound assessment of overall survival (OS), efficacy of salvage therapy, late complications, secondary tumors, and cognitive impairment requires longer follow-up. Herein, we report the results of this trial at a median follow-up of 88 months. As main findings, MATRix was associated with excellent long-lasting outcome, with a 7-year OS of 21%, 37%, and 56% respectively for arms A, B, and C. Notably, patients treated with MATRix and consolidation had a 7-year OS of 70%. The superiority of arm B on arm A suggests a benefit from the addition of rituximab. Comparable efficacy of WBRT and ASCT was confirmed. Salvage therapy was ineffective; benefit was recorded only in patients with late relapse re-treated with methotrexate. Eight (4%) patients developed a second cancer. Importantly, MATRix and ASCT did not result in higher non-relapse mortality or second tumors incidence. Patients who received WBRT experienced impairment in attentiveness and executive functions, whereas patients undergoing ASCT experienced improvement in these functions as well as in memory and quality of life.

Simple Summary This prospective, multicenter study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a front-line treatment with the ibrutinib and rituximab combination in 146 unfit patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We observed an OR, CR, and 48-month PFS rates of 87%, 22.6%, and 77%, respectively. Responses with undetectable MRD were observed in 6.2% of all patients and 27% of CR patients. TP53 disruption and B-symptoms revealed a significant and independent impact on PFS. The 48-month cumulative treatment discontinuation rate due to adverse events in this patient population was 29.1%. It was significantly higher in male patients, in patients aged ≥70 years, and in those managed at centers that enrolled less than five patients. In conclusion, the ibrutinib and rituximab combination was an effective front-line treatment for unfit patients with CLL. However, a high rate of treatment discontinuations due to adverse events was observed in this unfit population. Abstract The GIMEMA group investigated the efficacy, safety, and rates of discontinuations of the ibrutinib and rituximab regimen in previously untreated and unfit patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Treatment consisted of ibrutinib, 420 mg daily, and until disease progression, and rituximab (375 mg/sqm, given weekly on week 1–4 of month 1 and day 1 of months 2–6). This study included 146 patients with a median age of 73 years, with IGHV unmutated in 56.9% and TP53 disrupted in 22.2%. The OR, CR, and 48-month PFS rates were 87%, 22.6%, and 77%, respectively. Responses with undetectable MRD were observed in 6.2% of all patients and 27% of CR patients. TP53 disruption (HR 2.47; p = 0.03) and B-symptoms (HR 2.91; p = 0.02) showed a significant and independent impact on PFS. The 48-month cumulative rates of treatment discontinuations due to disease progression (DP) or adverse events (AEs) were 5.6% and 29.1%, respectively. AEs leading more frequently to treatment discontinuation were atrial fibrillation in 8% of patients, infections in 8%, and non-skin cancers in 6%. Discontinuation rates due to AEs were higher in male patients (HR: 0.46; p = 0.05), patients aged ≥70 years (HR 5.43, p = 0.0017), and were managed at centers that enrolled

Background: Secondary CNS lymphoma is a rare but potentially lethal event in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. We aimed to assess the activity and safety of an intensive, CNS-directed chemoimmunotherapy consolidated by autologous haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with secondary CNS lymphoma. Methods: This international, single-arm, phase 2 trial was done in 24 hospitals in Italy, the UK, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Adults (aged 18–70 years) with histologically diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and CNS involvement at the time of primary diagnosis or at relapse and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 3 or less were enrolled and received three courses of MATRix (rituximab 375 mg/m2, intravenous infusion, day 0; methotrexate 3·5 g/m2, the first 0·5 g/m2 in 15 min followed by 3 g/m2 in a 3 h intravenous infusion, day 1; cytarabine 2 g/m2 every 12 h, in 1 h intravenous infusions, days 2 and 3; thiotepa 30 mg/m2, 30 min intravenous infusion, day 4) followed by three courses of RICE (rituximab 375 mg/m2, day 1; etoposide 100 mg/m2 per day in 500–1000 mL over a 60 min intravenous infusion, days 1, 2, and 3; ifosfamide 5 g/m2 in 1000 mL in a 24 h intravenous infusion with mesna support, day 2; carboplatin area under the curve of 5 in 500 mL in a 1 h intravenous infusion, day 2) and carmustine–thiotepa and autologous HSCT (carmustine 400 mg/m2 in 500 mL glucose 5% solution in a 1–2 h infusion, day −6; thiotepa 5 mg/kg in saline solution in a 2 h infusion every 12 h, days −5 and −4). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival at 1 year. Overall and complete response rates before autologous HSCT, duration of response, overall survival, and safety were the secondary endpoints. Analyses were in the modified intention-to-treat population. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02329080. The trial ended after accrual completion; the database lock was Dec 31, 2019. Findings: Between March 30, 2015, and Aug 3, 2018, 79 patients were enrolled. 75 patients were assessable. 319 (71%) of the 450 planned courses were delivered. At 1 year from enrolment the primary endpoint was met, 42 patients were progression free (progression-free survival 58%; 95% CI 55–61). 49 patients (65%; 95% CI 54–76) had an objective response after MATRix–RICE, 29 (39%) of whom had a complete response. 37 patients who responded had autologous HSCT. At the end of the programme, 46 patients (61%; 95% CI 51–71) had an objective response, with a median duration of objective response of 26 months (IQR 16–37). At a median follow-up of 29 months (IQR 20–40), 35 patients were progression-free and 33 were alive, with a 2-year overall survival of 46% (95% CI 39–53). Grade 3–4 toxicity was most commonly haematological: neutropenia in 46 (61%) of 75 patients, thrombocytopenia in 45 (60%), and anaemia in 26 (35%). 79 serious adverse events were recorded in 42 (56%) patients; four (5%) of those 79 were lethal due to sepsis caused by Gram-negative bacteria (treatment-related mortality 5%; 95% CI 0·07–9·93). Interpretation: MATRix–RICE plus autologous HSCT was active in this population of patients with very poor prognosis, and had an acceptable toxicity profile. Funding: Stand Up To Cancer Campaign for Cancer Research UK, the Swiss Cancer Research foundation, and the Swiss Cancer League.

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Background. Literature on the treatment of rrPCNSL is limited to a few retrospective studies and phase II trials addressing new drugs or strategies. Evidence supporting therapeutic choice in patients (pts) with rrPCNSL after modern high-dose-methotrexate (HD-MTX)-based chemotherapy (chemo) followed by consolidative whole-brain irradiation (WBRT) or autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is lacking. We reviewed management and outcome of pts with rrPCNSL in the randomized trials of the IELSG, which included 294 assessable pts, treated with modern approaches, and followed for several years. Herein, we analyse efficacy of salvage options to provide recommendations for routine practice. Methods. Pts enrolled in the IELSG20 or IELSG32 trials who experienced progressive disease (PD) at any time were considered. Pts who died due to toxicity and pts with extra-CNS relapse were excluded. Pts were grouped according to the time to progression after the first-line treatment: refractory (REF; relapse/PD ≤6 months from end of treatment), early relapse (ER; 6-35 months) and late relapse (LR; ≥36 months). Effect of salvage therapy on survival after relapse (SAR) was the primary objective. SAR was estimated from date of PD/relapse to date of death or last visit. Results. 164 pts (median age 58, range: 26-70; 94 males) were considered: 119 (73%) REF, 24 (15%) ER and 21 (13%) LR. First-line chemo included HD-MTX in all pts, alone in 31, +cytarabine in 68, +cytarabine/rituximab in 36, and +cytarabine/rituximab/thiotepa (MATRIX regimen) in 29. Consolidation was part of first-line treatment in 58 (35%) pts: WBRT in 39 and carmustine-thiotepa/conditioned ASCT in 19; 106 pts did not receive consolidation due to PD during first-line chemo (n=96), pt refusal (2), poor conditions (4) or per protocol (4). Treatment of relapsed/PD was WBRT in 47 pts and chemo in 58; 59 pts received only supportive care (BSC) due to rapid neurological impairment or pt refusal. Importantly, except for performance status (ECOG PS 0-1: 49% of BSC pts, 70% of treated pts; p=0.009), pts managed with BSC showed the same characteristics (age, gender, extension of disease, first-line treatment) than pts who received salvage therapy. Salvage chemo consisted of HD-ifosfamide-based chemo (R-IE, RICE, DeVIC) in 20 pts, rechallenging with HD-MTX-based chemo (same regimen or ± other drugs) in 25, direct myeloablative chemo and ASCT in 3, single drugs in 10; 17 pts responsive to salvage chemo received consolidative ASCT (n=12) or WBRT. Pts with LR had a better outcome than REF and ER cohorts, with a 2-year SAR of 64±11%, 11±3% and 13±7% (p= 0.001), respectively. These figures were similar when only treated pts were considered, with 2-year SAR of 80±11%, 17±4% and 23±12% (p= 0.0002), respectively. All untreated pts died of lymphoma within 4 months of progression. Salvage WBRT (n= 45) and chemo (n= 31) were associated with poor outcome in REF pts (2-year SAR 18±5% vs 16±6%; p= 0.76). Salvage treatment after ER or LR consisted of chemo in 27 pts and WBRT in two; HD-MTX retreatment showed a trend to a better outcome with respect to other chemo combinations, with a 2-year SAR of 73±12% and 27±13% (p=0.25), respectively. Importantly, 12 of the 15 pts with a SAR longer than one year were treated with HD-MTX-based chemo, followed by consolidation in 5 of them. A 2-year SAR of 90±9% was observed in the 11 LR pts retreated with HD-MTX-based chemo. At a median follow-up from relapse/PD of 40 (range 3-118) months, 16 (10%) pts are alive and disease-free. Deaths were due to lymphoma in 137 (93%) pts, infections in six (4%), and thromboembolic events in two (1%); cause unknown in two pts. Multivariable analysis showed that ECOG PS 0-1, LR and HD-MTX retreatment were independently associated with better SAR and that outcome was not affected by age, gender, first-line induction and consolidation, and considered trial. Conclusions. Mortality of rrPCNSL is regrettably high (≈90%), even among selected pts enrolled in prospective trials. One-third of pts are considered unsuitable candidates for salvage treatment. WBRT provides a marginal benefit over BSC in REF pts, suggesting that other strategies, including novel agents, should be considered in routine practice. Pts experiencing LR can achieve long-lasting second remission, especially when retreatment with HD-MTX-based chemo is feasible. Efficacy of salvage therapy appears to be independent of the first-line treatment. Disclosures Ferreri: Pfizer: Research Funding; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Genmab: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Hutchison Medipharma: Research Funding; Beigene: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; PletixaPharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; x Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adienne: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Ospedale San Raffaele srl: Patents & Royalties. Cwynarski: Roche: Honoraria, Other: Travel / Conference Support, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Travel / Conference Support, Speakers Bureau; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria, Other: Travel / Conference Support; Atara: Honoraria; Gilead, KITE: Honoraria, Other: Travel / Conference Support, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Travel / Conference Support; Incyte: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Pulczynski: Roche: Research Funding. Fox: Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Astrazeneca: Honoraria; Atarabio: Honoraria; BMS/Celgene: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Beigene: Honoraria, Research Funding. La Rosée: AstraZeneca: Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squib: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria; Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Schorb: Roche: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Riemser Pharma GmbH: Honoraria, Research Funding. Tucci: janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gentili: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Roeth: Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Kira: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bioverativ, a Sanofi company: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria. Linton: BeiGene: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; University of Manchester: Current Employment; Genmab: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Hartley Taylor: Honoraria; Aptitude Health: Honoraria. Binder: Deutsche Krebsgellschaft, Medconcept GmbH, event Lab. GmbH: Honoraria, Other: Speaker Activity; Amgen GmbH, Janssen-Cilage GmbH, DGHO, Art tempi, Tumorzentrum Anhalt MD, Uniklinikum Hamburg, Sanofi Aventis: Honoraria, Other: Speaker Activity. Hemmaway: Abbvie: Honoraria. Pinto: Takeda: Consultancy; MSD: Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb-CELGENE: Honoraria; Incyte: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Zucca: Celltrion Healthcare: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Miltenyi Biomedicine: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene/BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BeiGene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Gilead, Kite: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Other: Travel Support.

Introduction: Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) have a 40-50% cure rate when treated with cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin-etoposide-vincristine-prednisone (CHOEP) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Romidepsin, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, showed promising activity in relapsed or refractory PTCLs. Methods: On these premises, we designed a phase I/II trial (PTCL13 NCT02223208) to evaluate whether the addition of romidepsin to CHOEP improves the outcome of newly diagnosed PTCLs. In the phase Ib part of the study, we defined 14 mg/ms as the maximum tolerated dose of romidepsin when administered in combination with CHOEP (Ro-CHOEP). Thus, in the phase II part of the study we evaluated the efficacy of Ro-CHOEP followed by HSCT in young patients. The primary objective of the study was to demonstrate a 15% increase in 18-months progression-free survival (PFS) for the combination Ro-CHOEP plus HSCT (from 55% to 70%, planned sample size=110), compared to the previous Italian trial (Corradini P et al, Leukemia 2014). Patients aged 18-65 years with stage II-IV PTCL-NOS, angioimmunoblastic/T follicular helper (AITL/THF) and ALK negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma, were eligible. Treatment plan consisted of 6 courses of Ro-CHOEP every 21 days (14 mg/ms Ro day 1 and 8), followed by cisplatin-cytarabine-dexamethasone (DHAP) with stem cell harvest and HSCT. Patients in complete response (CR) after induction proceeded to autoHSCT, while those in partial response (PR), with an available HLA-matched donor, proceeded to alloHSCT upfront. Results: From September 2017 to October 2020, 86 patients were enrolled into the phase II part of the study; median age was 55 years (IQR 49;60); 78 (91%) had stage III-IV and 31 (36%) IPI score >2. Pathological materials were collected at the time of diagnosis, and centrally reviewed by expert hemo-pathologists; subgroups were: 33 PTCL-NOS, 21 ALK negative, 31 AITL/THF, and one case not classified due to inadequate material. According to the statistical plan, an interim analysis was performed on the first 75 patients. At a median follow-up of 26 months, the 18-months PFS was 48% (95% CI: 0.36-0.58) and the OS was 75% (95% CI: 0.64-0.83). The 18-months PFS for PTCL-NOS versus ALK negative vs AITL/THF was 37% (95% CI: 0.20-0.54) vs. 51% (95% CI: 0.28-0.70) vs. 58% (95% CI: 0.36-0.74), p 0.118; the 18-months OS for PTCL-NOS vs. ALK negative vs. AITL/THF was 72% (95% CI: 0.51-0.85) vs. 76% (95% CI: 0.51-0.89) vs. 81% (95% CI: 0.60-0.92), p 0.957. All 86 patients completed the induction phase and were evaluable for response after 6 Ro-CHOEP: the overall response rate (ORR) was 71% (61 patients), with 62% (53 patients) CR. Four patients with ongoing treatment are not evaluable for response at the end of therapy, at the time of the analysis. Only 39 of 82 patients (48%) underwent HSCT and 43 did not: 28 due to progressive disease, 8 for poor mobilization, 7 for adverse events (1 sepsis, 2 cardiological events, 4 others). Among the 82 patients evaluable for response at the end of treatment, the final ORR after HSCT was 40% (33 patients), with 39% CR (32 patents). The most frequent toxicities during Ro-CHOEP treatment were hematological, with grade 3-4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in 33% and 34% of all the 459 cycles, respectively; severe febrile neutropenia was reported in only 4% of Ro-CHOEP courses. Severe non-hematological toxicities were observed in 35 (41%) of patients: cardiological in 5 patients (6%), gastrointestinal in 9 (10%), infections in 10 (12%), others in 11 (13%). Twenty-four deaths were recorded: 22 due to lymphoma progression, 1 due to transplant related mortality for a septic shock after alloSCT, 1 due to secondary malignancy. Conclusions: In the PTCL13 phase I part of the study we demonstrated the feasibility of the combination Ro 14 mg/ms plus CHOEP followed by high-dose chemotherapy and HSCT; in the phase 2 part of the study, the primary objective was not achieved, with a 18-months PFS of 48%. Based on these results, the enrollment of the trial was stopped due to inefficacy of the experimental combination. The benefit of adding romidepsin to chemotherapy was not observed neither in PTCL-NOS nor in AITL/THF. In conclusion, the addition of romidepsin to CHOEP did not ameliorate prognosis in newly diagnosis PTCLs eligible to HSCT. Disclosures Chiappella: Roche: Other: lecture fee, advisory board; Incyte: Other: lecture fee; Takeda: Other: advisory board; Celgene Bristol Myers Squibb: Other: lecture fee, advisory board; Clinigen: Other: lecture fee, advisory board; Novartis: Other: lecture fee; Janssen: Other: lecture fee, advisory board; Gilead Sciences: Other: lecture fee, advisory board; Astrazeneca: Other: lecture fee; Servier: Other: lecture fee. Flenghi: Roche: Other: Travel, Accomodations, Expenses; Janssen: Other: Travel, Accomodations, Expenses. Zilioli: Gentilli: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Other, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Servier: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Consultancy; Italfarmaco: Consultancy. Cavallo: Servier: Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Speakers Bureau; ROCHE: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Musuraca: roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Varettoni: janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; beigene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AstraZeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Corradini: Incyte: Consultancy; Novartis, Janssen, Celgene, BMS, Takeda, Gilead/Kite, Amgen, AbbVie: Other: travel and accomodations; BMS: Other: Travel and accommodation; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis; Gilead; Celgene: Consultancy, Other: Travel and accommodations; Amgen; Takeda; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel and accommodations; KiowaKirin; Incyte; Daiichi Sankyo; Janssen; F. Hoffman-La Roche; Kite; Servier: Consultancy; AbbVie, ADC Theraputics, Amgen, Celgene, Daiichi Sankyo, Gilead/Kite, GSK, Incyte, Janssen, KyowaKirin, Nerviano Medical Science, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, Takeda: Honoraria; AbbVie, ADC Theraputics, Amgen, Celgene, Daiichi Sankyo, Gilead/Kite, GSK, Incyte, Janssen, KyowaKirin, Nerviano Medical Science, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, Takeda: Consultancy. OffLabel Disclosure: Romidepsin is not registered in first line treatment. Romidepsin was provided free for the clinical trial.

Although sometimes presenting as an indolent lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive disease, hardly curable with standard chemo-immunotherapy. Current approaches have greatly improved patients' outcomes, nevertheless the disease is still characterized by high relapse rates. Before approval by EMA, Italian patients with relapsed/refractory MCL were granted ibrutinib early access through a Named Patient Program (NPP). An observational, retrospective, multicenter study was conducted. Seventy-seven heavily pretreated patients were enrolled. At the end of therapy there were 14 complete responses and 14 partial responses, leading to an overall response rate of 36.4%. At 40 months overall survival was 37.8% and progression free survival was 30%; disease free survival was 78.6% at 4 years: 11/14 patients are in continuous complete response with a median of 36 months of follow up. Hematological toxicities were manageable, and main extra-hematological toxicities were diarrhea (9.4%) and lung infections (9.0%). Overall, 4 (5.2%) atrial fibrillations and 3 (3.9%) hemorrhagic syndromes occurred. In conclusions, thrombocytopenia, diarrhea and lung infections are the relevant adverse events to be clinically focused on; regarding effectiveness, ibrutinib is confirmed to be a valid option for refractory/relapsed MCL also in a clinical setting mimicking the real world.

Relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not suitable for high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has a dismal prognosis and no standard therapy. We designed an Italian multicenter retrospective study aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of rituximab plus bendamustine (R-B) as salvage treatment in patients not eligible for ASCT because of age and/or comorbidity or in patients with post-ASCT recurrence. Fifty-five patients with a median age of 76 years were included. The overall response rate was 50%, including 28% complete remission and 22% partial remission. The median overall survival (OS) was 10.8 months. The median progression free survival (PFS) was 8.8 months. Eleven patients are still alive and in complete remission at last follow-up (12-71 months). Toxicity was moderate, mainly grades 1 and 2. R-B showed promising efficacy results with an acceptable toxicity profile and should be further investigated, possibly in combination with novel drugs.

Background The International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group-32 (IELSG32) trial is an international randomised phase 2 study that addresses two key clinical questions in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma. Results of the first randomisation have demonstrated that methotrexate, cytarabine, thiotepa, and rituximab (called the MATRix regimen) is the induction combination associated with significantly better outcome compared with the other induction combinations tested. Here, we report the results of the second randomisation that addresses the efficacy of myeloablative chemotherapy supported by autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT), as an alternative to whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT), as consolidation after high-dose-methotrexate-based chemoimmunotherapy. Methods HIV-negative patients (aged 18–70 years) with newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0–3 were randomly assigned to receive four courses of methotrexate 3·5 g/m2 on day 1 plus cytarabine 2 g/m2 twice daily on days 2 and 3 (group A); or the same combination plus two doses of rituximab 375 mg/m2 on days −5 and 0 (group B); or the same methotrexate–cytarabine–rituximab combination plus thiotepa 30 mg/m2 on day 4 (group C), with the three groups repeating treatment every 3 weeks. Patients with responsive or stable disease after induction treatment, with adequate autologous peripheral blood stem-cell collection, and without persistent iatrogenic side-effects, were eligible for the second randomisation between WBRT (photons of 4–10 MeV; five fractions per week; fraction size 180 cGy; started within 4 weeks from the last induction course; group D) and carmustine–thiotepa conditioned ASCT (carmustine 400 mg/m2 on day −6, and thiotepa 5 mg/kg every 12 h on days −5 and −4, followed by reinfusion of autologous peripheral blood stem cells; group E). A permuted block randomised design was adopted for both randomisations, and a computer-generated randomisation list was used within each stratum. No masking after assignment to intervention was adopted. The primary endpoint was 2-year progression-free survival, with induction group and response to induction chemotherapy as stratification parameters. Analyses were done on a modified intention-to-treat basis. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01011920. Findings Between Feb 19, 2010, and Aug 27, 2014, 227 patients were recruited from 53 centres in five countries. 219 of 227 enrolled patients were assessable. Of the 122 patients eligible for the second randomisation, 118 patients were randomly assigned to WBRT or ASCT (59 patients per group) and constitute the study population. WBRT and ASCT were both effective, and achieved the predetermined efficacy threshold of at least 40 progression-free survivors at 2 years among the first 52 patients in both groups D and E. There were no significant differences in 2-year progression-free survival between WBRT and ASCT: 80% (95% CI 70–90) in group D and 69% (59–79) in group E (hazard ratio 1·50, 95% CI 0·83–2·71; p=0·17). Both consolidation therapies were well tolerated. Grade 4 non-haematological toxicity was uncommon; as expected, haematological toxicity was more common in patients treated with ASCT than in those who received WBRT. Two toxic deaths (infections) were recorded, both in patients who received ASCT. Interpretation WBRT and ASCT are both feasible and effective as consolidation therapies after high-dose methotrexate-based chemoimmunotherapy in patients aged 70 years or younger with primary CNS lymphoma. The risks and implications of cognitive impairment after WBRT should be considered at the time of therapeutic decision. Funding Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco, Cancer Research UK, Oncosuisse, and Swiss National Science Foundation.

A risk score based on three biological features (CD38, ZAP-70, and IGHV mutational status) was previously developed to predict progression-free survival (PFS) in untreated Binet A CLL patients. Here we perform a score validation analysis in a prospective and independent cohort of patients. Biological markers (CD38, ZAP-70, and IGHV mutational status) and gene expression profiles (GEP) of leukemic cells from CLL patients included in a prospective multicenter observational study (O-CLL1-GISL protocol, clinicaltrial.gov ID:NCT00917549) were used to assess the value and reproducibility of this score. To date, 468 Binet A patients were classified as low- (0 positive marker), intermediate- (1 positive marker), or high-risk (2 or 3 positive markers) using the progression risk score. The 3-year PFS probability was 91.7%, 82.9%, and 57.4% for low-, intermediate-, and high-risk (P < 0.0001) cases, respectively. These values were similar to those found in the original cohort. At Cox multivariate analysis, Rai stage, absolute lymphocyte count, progression risk score, and β-2 microglobulin maintained an independent prognostic impact on PFS. This score remained a predictor of progression when analysis was limited to 371 Rai 0 cases (P < 0.0001). Finally, the cells from the different CLL risk groups showed differences in their gene expression patterns. These results confirm the ability of this progression risk score to predict PFS among Binet A patients. The utility of the score was also extended by demonstrating that it retains prognostic value when applied exclusively to Rai 0 patients. Specific transcriptional patterns were significantly associated with risk groups.

NOTCH1 mutations have recently emerged as new genetic lesions significantly correlated with survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). NOTCH1 c.7541_7542delCT is by far the most frequently observed NOTCH1 mutation in the disease. To estimate the prevalence and clonal evolution of NOTCH1 c.7541_7542delCT mutation, and prospectively investigate its clinical significance in early stage CLL and clinical monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis (cMBL), we analyzed by next generation sequencing (NGS) 384 cases at diagnosis enrolled in the GISL O-CLL1 multicenter trial. The patient cohort included 100 cMBL and 284 Binet stage A CLL cases, 48 of whom were also longitudinally investigated at progression or during follow-up (32 and 16, respectively) in absence of treatment. Deep sequencing of the NOTCH1 mutation hotspot was performed by Roche 454 pyrosequencing on the Genome Sequencer Junior instrument. NOTCH1 mutation was validated by an extremely sensitive PCR-based approach and Sanger sequencing. The association between NOTCH1c.7541_7542delCT and clinical, molecular and biological variables, as well as its impact on progression free survival (PFS), were tested. Deep sequencing analysis of NOTCH1 mutation hotspot in our cohort (median depth of coverage 1510x, ranging from 605 to 2842) revealed a mutant allele frequency ranging from 0.02% to 75% of total reads in 145 cases. The occurrence of the mutation was subsequently assessed by an extremely sensitive ARMS (amplification refractory mutation system)-PCR, which allowed to confirm the presence of delCT in the 49 cases with frequency of mutated sequencing reads greater than 0.7%, specifically in 11% of cMBL (11/100) and 13.4% of CLL patients (38/284). Furthermore, mutated samples were subjected to DNA Sanger sequencing: in line with the expected sensitivity of the method, the mutation was identified only in samples with higher mutation loads according to NGS (mutant allele frequency ≥ 7%, n=25). Our data revealed that often NOTCH1 mutational activation affected a neoplastic sub-clone, especially in cMBL patients. NOTCH1 mutated patients utilized unmutated IGHV genes more frequently, and had higher expression of CD38 and ZAP-70 (P=3.2e-11, P=2.6e-08, P=3.4e-05, respectively). Trisomy 12 was more frequent in this patient group (P=5.4e-04), whereas 13q14 deletion was less represented than in the NOTCH1 wild-type patients (P=2.8e-03). NOTCH1 mutation was associated with the occurrence of stereotyped HCDR3 (P=5.6e-03); in addition, compared with other major BCR subsets, CLL subset #10 was significantly enriched in NOTCH1 mutations (P=0.032). The prevalence of the analyzed dinucleotide deletion was not significantly different between cMBL and CLL patients, even if only Rai 0 cases (28/197 cases, 14.2% mutation frequency) were considered. The percentages of variant sequencing reads in NOTCH1-mutated cases were slightly higher in CLL (median 19.6%) than in cMBL (median 4.2%), a finding confirmed by a regression analysis that highlighted the association of the CLL presentation with higher percentages of NOTCH1 delCT reads (P=0.033). NOTCH1-mutated cases, both at sub-clonal and clonal levels, displayed a significant reduction in median PFS (P=0.0018), although NOTCH1 mutation prognostic value, in multivariate analysis, was not independent if 11q and/or 17p deletion, IGHV mutational status, and cMBL or CLL status were considered. Finally, sequential analyses in a representative fraction of cases of our dataset indicated that (i) NOTCH1 mutation did not occur during the course of the disease and that (ii) the mutational load in positive cases was stable over time. These findings highlight the importance of using high sensitive methods for an accurate detection of NOTCH1 mutation in cMBL/early stage CLL. This is required for a better prognostic stratification and also to obtain useful information for potential therapeutic approaches, since sub-clonal mutations in untreated CLL can possibly anticipate the dominant genetic composition of the relapsing tumor. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Introduction: Secondary CNS dissemination (SCNSL) is a rare but lethal event in pts with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). It can occur both at presentation, in pts with systemic disease, or at relapse, during or after primary therapy. Following the experience from primary CNS lymphoma, pts with SCNSL are currently treated with high-dose-methotrexate-based chemo and autologous transplant (ASCT). However, this strategy is associated with poor control of extra-CNS disease, and only 1/3 of pts proceed to ASCT and recover from this event. Thus, we designed a multicenter phase II trial addressing an intensified chemoimmunotherapy consolidated by ASCT in HIV-neg pts with SCNSL (NCT02329080). Methods: Inclusion criteria were: histologically confirmed DLBCL; CNS involvement at presentation (concomitant to systemic disease) or relapse (isolated or concomitant to systemic lymphoma); age 18-70 ys; ECOG-PS ≤3; no prior treatment with high-dose methotrexate. Registered pts received 3 courses of MATRIX followed by 3 courses of RICE combined with intrathecal chemo and consolidated by BCNU-thiotepa/ASCT. The primary endpoint was 1-yr PFS. The Fleming design was used; to detect a difference in 1-yr PFS from 50% (P0) to 65% (P1), 69 pts were required (one-sided, type I error 5%, power 80%), with a dropout of 10%, 76 pts were needed. If ≥41 pts were progression-free at 1 yr, the strategy would be considered effective. Results: Between 3/2015 and 8/2018, 79 pts were enrolled at 24 centers in 4 countries; 75 pts (median age 58, range 23-70; 38 males) were assessable. CNS involvement was recorded at presentation in 32 (43%) pts and at relapse in 43 (isolated site in 15, concomitant to systemic relapse in 28). CNS sites were brain parenchyma in 34 (45%) pts, brain + eyes in 10 (13%), brain + CSF in 13 (17%), brain + CSF + eyes in 6 (8%), CSF/meninges in 8 (11%), spinal cord in 2 (3%), and eyes in 2 (3%). Median time to CNS involvement was 5 months (range 1-61) in the 43 pts registered at relapse; 20 (47%) of them had refractory disease. 320 (71%) of the 450 planned chemo courses were delivered; 64 (85%) pts received intrathecal chemo. 78 SAEs were recorded in 42 pts, mostly due to FN and infections (64) or bleeding (5); 74 (95%) SAEs were followed by recovery. The 4 lethal SAEs (TRM= 5%) and the 5 transient interruptions occurred during MATRIX. Dose reductions were indicated in 33 (10%) courses. Most common g4 toxicities were thrombocytopenia in 118 (37%) courses, neutropenia in 113 (35%) and infections in 9 (3%). Stem cells collection was successful (median of 6.75M/kg; range: 2.4 - 45) in 42 (88%) of the 48 pts referred for leukapheresis. 55 (73%; 95%CI 63-83%) pts achieved a response after 2 courses of MATRIX; 19 (95%) of the 20 pts who had a CR after 2 MATRIX maintained the response after RICE; 9 (26%) of the 35 pts who had a PR after 2 MATRIX achieved a CR after RICE. Conversely, only 3 of 16 pts with PD/SD after 2 MATRIX achieved a response from RICE. 49 pts (65%; 95%CI 54-76%) achieved a response after MATRIX-RICE induction, and 36 responders received ASCT; 13 responders did not receive ASCT due to insufficient mobilization (n=4), PD due to treatment delay (5), frailty (2), neurological decline (1), and consent withdrawal (1). 45 pts (60%; 95%CI 50-70%) had responsive disease after the whole treatment. At 1 year from registration, 41 pts were progression free (efficacy threshold ≥41). At a median follow-up of 25 (12-47) months, 31 pts are progression free, with a 2-yr PFS of 42 ± 6% for the whole series and 75 ± 7% for the 36 transplanted pts (Fig. A & B). Sites of relapse/progression were CNS in 10 pts, extra-CNS organs in 9 and both in 18. Overall, 33 pts are alive, with a 2-yr OS of 42 ± 6% for the whole series and 82 ± 7% for transplanted pts. Causes of death were lymphoma (35) and toxicity (4); 3 pts died without evidence of disease due to neurological decline, PTE and sudden death. Pts with CNS disease at presentation had the best outcome (Fig. C), whereas CSF/meningeal disease (Fig. D) and age >60 ys were independently associated with poor outcome. Conclusions: MATRIX-RICE followed by ASCT achieved the primary endpoint in this very-poor-prognosis population, without major safety concerns. Survival figures of transplanted pts seem a little better than reported in prior trials, whereas pts with MATRIX-refractory disease had no benefit from crossing to RICE. The best survival figures were recorded in chemo-naïve pts treated at presentation and in pts without CSF/meningeal disease. Figure Disclosures Ferreri: Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Research Funding. Doorduijn:Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding. Nassi:Merck: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy. McKay:Janssen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Epizyme: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Davies:ADCT Therapeutics: Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; MorphoSys AG: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; GSK: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Acerta Pharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BioInvent: Research Funding. Fox:Celgene: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Sunesis: Consultancy; Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Atara Biotherapeutics: Consultancy; Adienne: Other: Travel Support. Osborne:Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; NIL: Employment; NIL: Other: leadership; NIL: Other: Stock & other ownership interests; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Liberati:Incyte: Consultancy; Novartis: Other: Clinical trial support; Janssen: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Clinical trial support; Roche: Other: Clinical trial support; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Clinical trial support; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Clinical trial support; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Zambello:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Zucca:Celltrion Helathcare: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AstraZenaca: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel Grant, Research Funding; Kite, A Gilead Company: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Other: Travel Grant. Cwynarski:Adienne: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Other: conference and travel support , Speakers Bureau; Roche,: Consultancy, Other: conference and travel support, Speakers Bureau; Autolus: Consultancy; KITE: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy, Other: conference and travel support, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy; Atara: Consultancy; Janssen: Other: conference and travel support, Speakers Bureau.

Purpose The randomized HD2000 trial compared six cycles of ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine), four escalated plus two standard cycles of BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone), and six cycles of COPP-EBV-CAD (cyclophosphamide, lomustine, vindesine, melphalan, prednisone, epidoxorubicin, vincristine, procarbazine, vinblastine, and bleomycin; CEC) in patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma. After a median follow-up of 42 months, patients who received BEACOPP were reported to have experienced better progression-free survival (PFS) but not better overall survival (OS) results than those receiving ABVD. We here report a post hoc analysis of this trial after a median follow-up of 10 years. Patients and Methods Three hundred seven patients were enrolled, 295 of whom were evaluable. At the time of our analysis, the median follow-up for the entire group was 120 months (range, 4 to 169 months). Results The 10-year PFS results for the ABVD, BEACOPP, and CEC arms were 69%, 75%, and 76%, respectively; corresponding OS results were 85%, 84%, and 86%. Overall, 13 second malignancies were reported: one in the ABVD arm and six each in the BEACOPP and CEC arms. The cumulative risk of developing second malignancies at 10 years was 0.9%, 6.6%, and 6% with ABVD, BEACOPP, and CEC, respectively; the risk with either BEACOPP or CEC was significantly higher than that reported with ABVD (P = .027 and .02, respectively). Conclusion With these mature results, we confirm that patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma have similar OS results when treated with ABVD, BEACOPP, or CEC. However, with longer follow-up, we were not able to confirm the superiority of BEACOPP over ABVD in terms of PFS, mainly because of higher mortality rates resulting from second malignancies observed after treatment with BEACOPP and CEC.

Recently, encouraging results in terms of safety and efficacy have been obtained using bendamustine–rituximab (BR) in untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients enrolled in a phase II study. Here, we report a retrospective international multicenter study of CLL patients treated with BR as front-line therapy. The cohort included 279 patients with progressive CLL from 33 centers (29 Italian, 3 Israeli and 1 German) who received at least 1 cycle of BR as first-line treatment during the 2008–2014 period. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BR administered as front-line therapy, outside of controlled clinical trials. Median age was 70 years (range, 43–86 years); 62.4% were males and 35.8% had Binet stage C. Forty-two patients (15.2%) were unfit (cumulative illness rating scale [CIRS] score ≥7), and 140 (50.2%) had creatinine clearance ≤70 ml/min. Fluorescent in situ hybridisation analysis, available for 192 cases, showed that 21 (10.9%) had del11q and 18 (9.4%) del17p. The overall response rate (ORR) was 86.4%, with a complete remission rate of 28%. Patients with del17p had an ORR of 66.7%. After median follow-up of 24 months, the 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 69.9%; CIRS ≥7, immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable-region (IGHV) unmutated status, del17p and BR dose intensity

Objective: We performed an external and multicentric validation of the predictive value of abdominal computed tomography (aCT) on time to first treatment (TTFT) in early stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. Methods: aCT was performed at diagnosis in 181 Rai 0 patients enrolled in the O-CLL1GISL trial (clinicaltrial.gov ID:NCT00917549). Results: Fifty-five patients showed an abnormal aCT. Patients with an abnormal aCT showed a significantly shorter TTFT than those with normal aCT (P < 0.0001). At multivariate analysis, aCT (P = 0.011), b-2 microglobulin (P = 0.019), and CD38 expression (P = 0.047) correlated with TTFT. Following IWCLL 2008 criteria, 112 (61.9%) cases remained at Rai 0, while 69 (38.1%) satisfied the criteria of clinical monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (cMBL). Reclassified Rai 0 patients with an abnormal aCT showed a significantly shorter TTFT than those with a normal aCT (P < 0.0001). At multivariate analysis, only aCT (P = 0.011) correlated with TTFT. Eleven cMBL cases (15.9%) showed an abnormal aCT and were reclassified as small lymphocytic lymphomas (SLL); nonetheless, TTFT was similar for cMBLs and SLLs. Conclusion: Our results confirm the ability of the abnormal aCT to predict progression in early stage cases.

Despite a high proportion of patients with primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) experiences failure after/during first-line treatment, a few studies focused on salvage therapy are available, often with disappointing results. Herein, we report feasibility and activity of a combination of rituximab, ifosfamide and etoposide (R-IE regimen) in a multicentre series of patients with PCNSL relapsed or refractory to high-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy. We considered consecutive HIV-negative patients ≤75 years old with failed PCNSL treated with R-IE regimen (rituximab 375 mg/m2, day 0; ifosfamide 2 g/m2/day, days1–3; etoposide 250 mg/m2, day 1; four courses). Twenty-two patients (median age 60 years; range 39–72; male/female ratio: 1:4) received R-IE as second-line (n = 18) or third-line (n = 4) treatment. Eleven patients had refractory PCNSL, and 11 had relapsing disease. Twelve patients had been previously irradiated. Sixty (68%) of the 88 planned courses were actually delivered; only one patient interrupted R-IE because of toxicity. Grade 4 hematological toxicity was manageable; a single case of grade 4 non-hematological toxicity (transient hepatotoxicity) was recorded. Response was complete in six patients and partial in three (overall response rate = 41%; 95%CI: 21–61%). Seven patients were successfully referred to autologous peripheral blood stem cell collection; four responders were consolidated with high-dose chemotherapy supported by autologous stem cell transplant. At a median follow-up of 24 months, eight responders did not experience relapse, two of them died of neurological impairment while in remission. Six patients are alive, with a 2-year survival after relapse of 25 ± 9%. We concluded that R-IE is a feasible and active combination for patients with relapsed/refractory PCNSL. This regimen allows stem cell collection and successful consolidation with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplant. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Summary This study investigated the clinical activity and toxicity of R-HCVAD-AM [rituximab plus HyperCVAD (R-HCVAD) alternating with high-dose cytarabine and methotrexate (AM)] in patients with newly diagnosed Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL). Patients aged ≤70 years with confirmed MCL received four alternating cycles each of R-HCVAD and AM. Patients who obtained a partial response proceeded to autologous stem cell transplant. Sixty-three patients were enrolled and 60 were fully eligible. Median age was 57 years (22–66); 60%, 33% and 7% were classified at low (L)-, intermediate (I)- or high (H)-risk, respectively, according to the MCL International Prognostic Index (MIPI). Only 22 patients (37%) completed the four cycles and three patients died during therapy. Overall response and complete response rates were 83% and 72% respectively. After a median follow-up of 46 months (range 1–72) the estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival rates were 73% [95% confidence interval (CI) 59–83%], and 61% (95%CI 45–73%) respectively. MIPI maintained the prognostic value with an estimated 5-year OS of 89%, 80% and 24% for L, I, and H groups respectively (P

Background: Almost all PCNSL belong to the category of DLBCL. However, affected pts are treated with high-dose methotrexate-based combinations that are not currently used in other DLBCL and require hospitalization and extensive expertise to manage toxicity. The use of R-CHOP could overcome these difficulties, but CNS availability of related drugs is poor. TNF induces BBB permeabilization and enhances CNS access of anticancer drugs. Coupling TNF with NGR, a peptide that targets CD13+ tumor vessels, improves its biological effects and therapeutic index. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that this conjugate (called NGR-hTNF) can break the BBB, thereby improving CNS access and activity of R-CHOP in pts with r/rPCNSL enrolled in a phase II trial (NCT03536039). Herein, we report results of activity, safety and BBB permeabilization. Methods: HIV-neg adults with PCNSL failed after methotrexate-based chemo and measurable disease were enrolled and treated with 1 course of R-CHOP, followed by 5 courses of R-CHOP21 preceded by NGR-hTNF (0.8 μg/m², 1-h inf). Overall response rate (ORR) was the primary endpoint. The two-stage Simon Minimax design was used; sample size estimated to demonstrate an improvement from 30% ORR (P0) to 50% (P1) (one-sided test; α 10%; β 90%) was 28 pts. NGR-hTNF/RCHOP would be declared active if ≥12 responses were recorded. As secondary endpoints, changes in vessel permeability, CD13 expression and anticancer drugs pharmacokinetics were assessed in the first 10 pts. Changes in BBB permeability were assessed by Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) and 99mTc-DTPA-SPECT in tumor lesions, perilesional areas and normal appearing brain. DCE-MRI findings recorded before/after the 1st course (RCHOP alone - baseline) and before/after the 2nd and 6th courses (NGR-hTNF/RCHOP) were compared to establish the effect of TNF, and results were expressed as Ktrans values normalized using contralateral white matter. SPECT was performed before and after the 3rd course, and results were expressed as changes in the volume of ≥30% 99mTc-DTPA uptake (cm3). CD13 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry on diagnostic tissue samples. Rituximab, cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin concentrations on matched CSF/plasma samples collected before/after the 1st, 2nd and 6th courses were tested to exclude a non-specific effect of NGR-hTNF on pharmacokinetics. Results: 22 pts (median age: 58 yo, range 26-78; 11 males) were enrolled; 18 pts had intermediate-high IELSG score. Pts were heavily pretreated: 13 had received ASCT, WBRT or both; 13 had refractory disease. Twenty pts were evaluable for the primary endpoint. NGR-hTNF/RCHOP combination was active: the predetermined activity threshold (≥12 responses) was achieved, with confirmed tumor response in 13 pts (65%; 95%CI= 45-85%), which was complete in 9. At a median follow-up of 8 months (2-26), 9 pts remain relapse free and 12 pts are alive. Treatment was well tolerated; toxicities were quickly solved without dose reductions or interruptions. G4 toxicities were neutropenia (49% of courses) and thrombocytopenia (15%), anemia (1%), and FN (1%). Ten SAEs were recorded in 8 pts: g2 seizures (n= 2), g2 DVT (2), g3 infections (2), g3 syncope (2), g4 FN and g2 LVEF reduction. There were 3 cases of g1-2 TNF infusion reaction. DCE-MRI studies showed an increase of vascular permeability after NGR-hTNF infusion as median (range) Ktrans of tumor and perilesional areas raised from baseline values of 23.5 (6.8-98.8) and 2.5 (0.4-3.9) to 35.3 (23.9-887.7; p= 0.39) and 4.7 (2.2-37.7; p= 0.01), respectively. Likewise, SPECT studies showed a significant enlargement of the volume ≥30% 99mTc-DTPA uptake, with median (range) values before and after NGR-hTNF infusion of 26 cm3 (5 - 67) and 40 cm3 (10 - 92), respectively (p= 0.02), with a median volume increase of 45% (14-87%). As important features supporting the specificity of the effect of NGR-hTNF, CD13 was expressed in all diagnostic samples, and drug levels in CSF/plasma samples were not influenced by NGR-hTNF. Conclusions: NGR-hTNF/RCHOP is active and safe in pts with r/rPCNSL. NGR-hTNF enhances vascular permeability specifically in tumor lesions and perilesional areas, which was consistently demonstrated by DCE-MRI, SPECT and plasma/CSF pharmacokinetics studies and was in line with CD13 expression. Accrual completion is warranted. This innovative approach deserves to be addressed as first-line treatment in PCNSL pts. Disclosures Angelucci: Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Chair Steering Comiittee TELESTO Protocol; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (MA) and CRISPR CAS9 Therapeutics AG (CH): Other: Chair DMC; Jazz Pharmaceuticals Italy: Other: Local ( national) advisory board; Roche Italy: Other: Local (national) advisory board; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Chair DMC.

Emerging evidence suggests that angiogenic signalling pathways play important role in the patho-biology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Our goal was to investigate: (i) the spontaneous and hypoxia-induced production of pro-angiogenic factors, VEGF and Ang2, by Real-time PCR and ELISA, (ii) the degree of vascularization in CLL-infiltrated bone marrow (BM) compartment by CD34 immunohistochemical staining of microvessels and (iii) the direct angiogenic effect of CLL-derived VEGF and Ang2 by function-blocking experiments in Matrigel assays. The results demonstrated that CLL cells spontaneously express both VEGF and Ang2 and are able to secrete these factors in surrounding microenvironment. Full-length Ang2 mRNA and truncated form Ang2(443) were detectable. Moreover, CLL cells were shown to enhance secretion of both VEGF and Ang2 proteins when subjected to hypoxic condition. Furthermore, increased in vivo and in vitro angiogenesis was induced by CLL cells. Enhanced BM vascularity correlated with Ig-unmutated CLL subset and increased expression of Ang2. Then, we demonstrated that supernatants obtained from CLL cells significantly increase the HUVEC tube formation in Matrigel assays and that this enhanced angiogenic capacity is mediated by both CLL-derived VEGF and Ang2. Taken together, these results suggest that several simultaneous mechanisms may be involved in the CLL capacity to induce the disruption of pre-existing vessel structures to give rise to tumor neoangiogenesis. The preliminary studies in solid tumors, showing that the disruption of Ang2 function can inhibit tumor vessel density and growth, are encouraging and suggest the possibility of new future therapeutic options targeting CLL microenvironment.

Survival rates for elderly Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) have not improved substantially in recent years, mainly because of a lack of prospective randomized studies, due to difficulties in enrolling patients. Between 2002 and 2006, 54 untreated HL patients, aged between 65 and 80 years and considered 'non-frail' according to a comprehensive geriatric evaluation, were enrolled into a phase III randomized trial to compare a reduced-intensity regimen (vinblastine, cyclophosphamide, procarbazine, prednisone, etoposide, mitoxantrone, bleomycin; VEPEMB) with standard ABVD (adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine). Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Seventeen patients were in early stage (I-IIA), while 37 were advanced stage. Median age was 72 years and median follow-up was 76 months. Five-year PFS rates were 48% vs. 70% [adjusted Hazard ratio (HR) = 2·19, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0·94-5·10, P = 0·068] and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 63% vs. 77% (adjusted HR = 1·67, 95% CI = 0·69-4·03, P = 0·254) for VEPEMB compared to ABVD. Overall treatment-related mortality was 4%. World Health Organization grade 4 cardiac and lung toxicity occurred in four patients treated with ABVD versus no cases in the VEPEMB arm. Standard ABVD regimen resulted in better PFS and OS than the VEPEMB, although the differences were not statistically significant. The low toxicity of both treatments was probably attributable to stringent selection of patients based on a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment that excluded frail patients.

Although the achievement of deep and long lasting remissions is a realistic goal of therapy in the fit patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), this disease typically affects elderly patients who also show one or more concomitant pathological conditions or functional limitations that have an additive effects on the reduction of patient’s life expectancy and represent major limitations in the adoption of standard therapies. In these unfit but typical patients with CLL, the goals of treatment may vary from achieving good remissions without severe toxicity to simple palliation. Differently from the past when the definition of patient medical status was mainly based on age and was left to the subjective assessment of the physician, today there are several tools to define in a standardized, reproducible, and multidimensional way the initial patient assessment and to plan treatment goals in an objective way. In this review, an overview of the current approaches to the definition of the medical fitness of the patient is provided along with some practical suggestions to integrate these tools in the clinical approach to elderly patients with CLL.

ZAP-70 is a marker of clinical outcome in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), however its assessment suffers from a lack of standardization consensus. To identify novel markers able to surrogate IGHV mutational status, CD19(+)CD5(+)-B-lymphocytes from 216 patients enrolled in a prospective study (ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier: NCT00917540 ), underwent gene expression profiling. Samples were split into CLL-Training (n = 102) and CLL-Validation (n = 114) sets, and an independent supervised analysis for IGHV mutational status was performed considering all genes with gene expression equal or above that of ZAP-70. Thirty-one genes (23 up- and 8 down-regulated) and 23 genes (18 up- and 5 down-regulated) satisfied these criteria in the CLL-Training and CLL-Validation sets, respectively, and 20 common genes (15 up and 5 down) were found to be differentially regulated in both sets. Two (SNORA70F, NRIP1) of the down-regulated and 6 (SEPT10, ZNF667, TGFBR3, MBOAT1, LPL, CRY1) of the up-regulated genes were significantly associated with a reduced risk of disease progression in both sets. Forcing the afore-mentioned genes in a Cox multivariate model together with IGHV mutational status, only CRY1 (HR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.1–4.9, P = .027) and MBOAT1 (HR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1–3.7, P = .018) retained their independent prognostic impact, supporting the hypothesis that these genes may potentially act as surrogates for predicting IGHV mutational status.

To assess the impact of T-cell/B-cell phenotype on clinical outcome, the authors retrospectively compared patients who had peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified (PTCL-U), with patients who had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).Two hundred ninety-seven cases of PTCL-U and 496 cases of DLBCL that had been transferred from the files of the Intergruppo Italiano Linfomi or the Gruppo Italiano Linfomi were integrated into a unique working file and reviewed by the authors.The PTCL-U group and the DLBCL group had significantly different distribution patterns with respect to patient age, gender, disease stage, performance status (PS), the presence or absence of systemic "B" symptoms, the presence or absence of bulky disease, lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, and number of extranodal sites (ENS). A significantly greater number of patients in the DLBCL group experienced complete remission (P0.0001). Multinomial logistic regression analysis confirmed that immunophenotype, PS, LDH concentration, and number of ENS were independent predictors of response. At a median follow-up duration of 43 months, there was no observable difference in disease-free survival (DFS) between patients with DLBCL and patients with PTCL-U; however, multivariate analysis did reveal that poorer PS and bone marrow involvement were significantly associated with shorter DFS. Furthermore, although the overall survival (OS) curves associated with the T-cell and B-cell immunophenotypes were significantly different from each other at a median follow-up duration of 37 months (P = 0.0012), Cox multivariate analysis excluded immunophenotype from the final OS model.The findings made in the current study indicate that the natural history of PTCL-U may differ from that of DLBCL. Patients with PTCL-U tended to have less favorable clinical outcomes, although the observed difference in outcome was only partially attributable to immunophenotype, which was independently associated with response, but not with survival. Differences in prognostic factor distributions between patients with PTCL-U and patients with DLBCL may account for some portion of the expected phenotype-associated risk.

Objective:We report updated results at a median follow-up of 12 years of a phase II trial assessing first-line MATILDE chemotherapy and response-tailored radiotherapy in patients with primary CNS lymphomas (PCNSL).Methods:Forty-one HIV-negative patients (18-70 years; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 3) with histologically confirmed PCNSL received 3 courses of MATILDE chemotherapy followed by whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Chemotherapy activity was the primary endpoint.Results:Overall response rate was 76% (95% confidence interval [CI] 63%-89%) after chemotherapy and 83% (95% CI 71%-95%) after chemotherapy radiotherapy. At a median follow-up of 144 months (range 47-153), 31 patients experienced an event: relapse in 24, progressive disease in 3, and toxic death in 4, with a 5-year progression-free survival of 24% 8%. Two patients experienced a late relapse (100 and 101 months). Nine patients are alive and disease-free, 8 of whom are alive at >10 years, with a 5-year overall survival of 30% +/- 7%. At 10 years from diagnosis, no patient showed chronic hematologic and nonhematologic toxicities, with a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 29 in all cases but one.Conclusions:At a median follow-up of 12 years, MATILDE regimen followed by WBRT confirmed the previously reported survival plateau, which further proves its long-lasting efficacy with acceptable neurologic deficits.Classification of evidence:This study provides Class IV evidence that in patients with PCNSL, MATILDE chemotherapy followed by response-tailored radiotherapy increases the probability of disease remission at 12 years. OI Baldini, Luca/0000-0003-2964-9981

PURPOSE: To explore a more direct method for evaluating tumor burden (TB) in Hodgkin’s disease (HD) and to verify its prognostic importance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The volume of TB at diagnosis was directly and retrospectively measured in 121 HD patients through images of the lesions recorded by computed tomographic (CT) scan of the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis for all deep sites of involvement and many superficial ones, and by ultrasonography (US) for the remaining superficial lesions. RESULTS: The TB, which was obtained from the sum of the volumes of all the lesions measured on CT scans and US and normalized to body-surface area (relative TB [rTB]), showed a median value of 102.6 cm3/m2 (range, 2.2 to 582.8). At multivariate analysis for prognostic value, rTB was the parameter that statistically correlated best with time to treatment failure (P = 2.2 × 10-6), followed by erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P = .0003), and serum fibrinogen (P = .0112). The prognostic discrimination allowed by rTB alone proved to be clearly superior to that obtained with the score of the International Prognostic Factor Project. The rTB was found to be correlated with many clinical staging parameters (bulky disease, number of involved lymph node regions, serum lactate dehydrogenase, ESR, hemoglobin, Karnofsky index), but its predictability from these variables was low (R2 = .668). CONCLUSION: Relative TB is emerging as a strong prognostic factor in HD, more powerful than and largely independent of those hitherto known and used. Further studies are needed to confirm these results and exploit their clinical value, particularly the relationship among rTB, drug doses, and response.