Search

Supplemental table 1: Sequence of hydrolysis probes and primers used for the ddPCR.

Purpose:Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) discontinuation is an emerging goal in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) management and several studies have demonstrated the feasibility of safely stopping imatinib. A sustained deep molecular response on long-term TKI is critical prior to attempting treatment-free remission. Reproducible results from several studies reported recently, failed to identify robust and reproducible predictive factors for the selection of the best candidates for successful TKI cessation.Patients and Methods:We conducted a prospective national phase II study evaluating the cessation of imatinib after at least 2 years of MR4.5 obtained on imatinib first-line in patients with chronic phase CML.Results:A total of 218 patients with de novo chronic phase CML were involved in the study. The median follow-up after imatinib cessation was 23.5 (1–64) months, 2 patients died from unrelated causes, and 107 experienced a confirmed increase in BCR-ABL1 levels defined as molecular recurrence. The molecular recurrence-free survival was 52% [95% confidence interval (CI), 45%–59%] at 6 months, and 50% (95% CI, 43%–57%) at 24 months. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was used to evaluate more accurately low levels of BCR-ABL1 in 175 of 218 patients at imatinib cessation. To apply positive BCR-ABL1/ABL1 ratios on the international scale (IS), a conversion factor was calculated for ddPCR and the significant cut-off point was established at 0.0023%IS. In a multivariate analysis, the duration of TKI (≥74.8 months) and ddPCR (≥0.0023%IS) were the two identified predictive factors of molecular recurrence, with P = 0.0366 (HR, 0.635; 95% CI, 0.415–0.972] and P = 0.008 (HR, 0.556; 95% CI, 0.360–0.858), respectively.Conclusions:We conclude that the duration of TKI and residual leukemic cell load as determined by ddPCR are key factors for predicting successful treatment-free remission for patients with de novo chronic phase CML.See related commentary by Yan et al., p. 6561

Purpose: Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) discontinuation is an emerging goal in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) management and several studies have demonstrated the feasibility of safely stopping imatinib. A sustained deep molecular response on long-term TKI is critical prior to attempting treatment-free remission. Reproducible results from several studies reported recently, failed to identify robust and reproducible predictive factors for the selection of the best candidates for successful TKI cessation. Patients and Methods: We conducted a prospective national phase II study evaluating the cessation of imatinib after at least 2 years of MR4.5 obtained on imatinib first-line in patients with chronic phase CML. Results: A total of 218 patients with de novo chronic phase CML were involved in the study. The median follow-up after imatinib cessation was 23.5 (1–64) months, 2 patients died from unrelated causes, and 107 experienced a confirmed increase in BCR-ABL1 levels defined as molecular recurrence. The molecular recurrence-free survival was 52% [95% confidence interval (CI), 45%–59%] at 6 months, and 50% (95% CI, 43%–57%) at 24 months. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was used to evaluate more accurately low levels of BCR-ABL1 in 175 of 218 patients at imatinib cessation. To apply positive BCR-ABL1/ABL1 ratios on the international scale (IS), a conversion factor was calculated for ddPCR and the significant cut-off point was established at 0.0023%IS. In a multivariate analysis, the duration of TKI (≥74.8 months) and ddPCR (≥0.0023%IS) were the two identified predictive factors of molecular recurrence, with P = 0.0366 (HR, 0.635; 95% CI, 0.415–0.972] and P = 0.008 (HR, 0.556; 95% CI, 0.360–0.858), respectively. Conclusions: We conclude that the duration of TKI and residual leukemic cell load as determined by ddPCR are key factors for predicting successful treatment-free remission for patients with de novo chronic phase CML. See related commentary by Yan et al., p. 6561

The STI571 prospective randomised trial (SPIRIT) French trial is a four-arm study comparing imatinib (IM) 400 mg versus IM 600 mg, IM 400 mg + cytarabine (AraC), and IM 400 mg + pegylated interferon alpha2a (PegIFN-α2a) for the front-line treatment of chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Long-term analyses included overall and progression-free survival, molecular responses to treatment, and severe adverse events. Starting in 2003, the trial included 787 evaluable patients. The median overall follow-up of the patients was 13.5 years (range 3 months to 16.7 years). Based on intention-to-treat analyses, at 15 years, overall and progression-free survival were similar across arms: 85%, 83%, 80%, and 82% and 84%, 87%, 79%, and 79% for the IM 400 mg (N = 223), IM 600 mg (N = 171), IM 400 mg + AraC (N = 172), and IM 400 mg + PegIFN-α2a (N = 221) arms, respectively. The rate of major molecular response at 12 months and deep molecular response (MR4) over time were significantly higher with the combination IM 400 mg + PegIFN-α2a than with IM 400 mg: p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0035, respectively. Progression to advanced phases and secondary malignancies were the most frequent causes of death. Toxicity was the main reason for stopping AraC or PegIFN-α2a treatment.

The STI571 prospective randomised trial (SPIRIT) French trial is a four-arm study comparing imatinib (IM) 400 mg versus IM 600 mg, IM 400 mg + cytarabine (AraC), and IM 400 mg + pegylated interferon alpha2a (PegIFN-α2a) for the front-line treatment of chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Long-term analyses included overall and progression-free survival, molecular responses to treatment, and severe adverse events. Starting in 2003, the trial included 787 evaluable patients. The median overall follow-up of the patients was 13.5 years (range 3 months to 16.7 years). Based on intention-to-treat analyses, at 15 years, overall and progression-free survival were similar across arms: 85%, 83%, 80%, and 82% and 84%, 87%, 79%, and 79% for the IM 400 mg (N = 223), IM 600 mg (N = 171), IM 400 mg + AraC (N = 172), and IM 400 mg + PegIFN-α2a (N = 221) arms, respectively. The rate of major molecular response at 12 months and deep molecular response (MR4) over time were significantly higher with the combination IM 400 mg + PegIFN-α2a than with IM 400 mg: p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0035, respectively. Progression to advanced phases and secondary malignancies were the most frequent causes of death. Toxicity was the main reason for stopping AraC or PegIFN-α2a treatment.

Background The ultimate goal of chronic myeloid leukemia management in the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) era for patients who obtain deep molecular responses is maintaining a durable off-treatment response after treatment discontinuation; this situation is called treatment-free remission (TFR). Knowledge accumulated during the last 10 years justifies moving TFR strategies from research to clinical practice. Methods Twenty experts from the French Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Study Group (France Intergroupe des Leucemies Myeloides Chroniques), including 17 hematologists, 2 molecular biologists, and 1 cytogeneticist, critically reviewed published data with the goal of developing evidence-based recommendations for TKI discontinuation in clinical practice. Results Clinically relevant questions were addressed, including the selection of candidate patients (with known prognostic factors for outcomes taken into account), detailed monitoring procedures during the treatment-free phase, a definition of relapse requiring therapy resumption, and monitoring after treatment reintroduction. Conclusions This work presents consensus statements with the aim of guiding physicians and biologists by means of pragmatic recommendations for safe TKI discontinuation in daily practice. Cancer 2018;124:2956-63. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

Purpose Imatinib (IM) can safely be discontinued in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who have had undetectable minimal residual disease (UMRD) for at least 2 years. We report the final results of the Stop Imatinib (STIM1) study with a long follow-up. Patients and Methods IM was prospectively discontinued in 100 patients with CML with UMRD sustained for at least 2 years. Molecular recurrence (MR) was defined as positivity of BCR-ABL transcript in a quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay confirmed by a second analysis point that indicated an increase of one log in relation to the first analysis point at two successive assessments or loss of major molecular response at one point. Results The median molecular follow-up after treatment discontinuation was 77 months (range, 9 to 95 months). Sixty-one patients lost UMRD after a median of 2.5 months (range, 1 to 22 months), and one patient died with UMRD at 10 months. Molecular recurrence-free survival was 43% (95% CI, 33% to 52%) at 6 months and 38% (95% CI, 29% to 47%) at 60 months. Treatment was restarted in 57 of 61 patients with MR, and 55 patients achieved a second UMRD with a median time of 4 months (range, 1 to 16 months). None of the patients experienced a CML progression. Analyses of the characteristics of the study population identified that the Sokal risk score and duration of IM treatment were significantly associated with the probability of MR. Conclusion With a median follow-up of more than 6 years after treatment discontinuation, the STIM1 study demonstrates that IM can safely be discontinued in patients with a sustained deep molecular response with no late MR.

The ultimate goal of chronic myeloid leukemia management in the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) era for patients who obtain deep molecular responses is maintaining a durable off-treatment response after treatment discontinuation; this situation is called treatment-free remission (TFR). Knowledge accumulated during the last 10 years justifies moving TFR strategies from research to clinical practice.Twenty experts from the French Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Study Group (France Intergroupe des Leucémies Myéloïdes Chroniques), including 17 hematologists, 2 molecular biologists, and 1 cytogeneticist, critically reviewed published data with the goal of developing evidence-based recommendations for TKI discontinuation in clinical practice.Clinically relevant questions were addressed, including the selection of candidate patients (with known prognostic factors for outcomes taken into account), detailed monitoring procedures during the treatment-free phase, a definition of relapse requiring therapy resumption, and monitoring after treatment reintroduction.This work presents consensus statements with the aim of guiding physicians and biologists by means of pragmatic recommendations for safe TKI discontinuation in daily practice. Cancer 2018;124:2956-63. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

BACKGROUND: The pegylated form of interferon-α-2a (PegIFNa2a) in combination with imatinib has demonstrated a molecular improvement in patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia. However, to the authors' knowledge, the appropriate dose of PegIFNa2a has not been established to date. METHODS: In the French SPIRIT trial, the authors compared 2 initial doses of PegIFNa2a, taking into account an amendment that recommended reducing that dose from 90 μg/week to 45 μg/week because of toxicities. Accordingly, 2 subgroups of patients were identified: the PegIFN90 group (171 patients who were treated with the 90-μg/week dose) and the PegIFN45 group (50 patients who were treated with the 45-μg/week dose). Both groups were compared for toxicity and efficacy. RESULTS: PegIFNa2a at a dose of 90 μg/week resulted in a rate of 54% of grade 3 to 4 hematologic toxicity compared with 27% with the dose of 45 μg/week (P < .001), leading to discontinuation rates of 40% and 10%, respectively, before 6 months. The dose reduction did not significantly affect the efficacy of the combination. By 12 months, the cumulative molecular response rates (ie, BCR-ABL/abl ≤ 0.01 [IS: molecular responses graded as molecular response 4 (MR4)]) were 14% and 25%, respectively, for the subgroup treated with imatinib at a dose of 400 mg and the PegIFN90 subgroup. After the amendment, the MR4 rates were 10% and 28%, respectively, for the subgroup treated with imatinib at the 400-mg dose and PegIFN45 subgroup (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study demonstrate that in combination with imatinib, the efficient dose of PegIFNa2a appears to be 45 μg/week. Society.

This phase I/II study was designed to demonstrate the tolerance and the efficacy of a combination of pegylated interferon-α 2a to Imatinib mesylate (IM) 600 mg daily in cytogenetically IM-resistant but in CHR chronic phase CML patients. The combination was generally well tolerated in the 15 evaluable patients. A significant reduction of the Ph1 + BM metaphases was observed in these poor prognosis patients, with 2 long-term CCyR including 2 MMR. After a median follow-up of 43 months, 93% of patients are alive. The addition of PegIFNα2a to IM600 is feasible, and able to overcome resistance within this context.

Nilotinib (Tasigna) is a second-generation BCR-ABL kinase inhibitor, recently introduced and used for the treatment of chronic or accelerated phase CML patients, intolerant or resistant to imatinib. This treatment represents and important step forward for the disease control of such patients but can lead to side effects, sometimes serious, which can limit its optimal use. We propose here some guidelines that might be of help in daily practice, in order to manage properly these side effects.

A retrospective investigation of the JAK2 V617F mutation was carried out in DNA samples from 131 bone marrow (BM) core biopsy specimens corresponding to patients with polycythemia vera (PV) (n = 31), essential thrombocythemia (ET) (n = 31), chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (CIM) (n = 18), as well as patients with normal BM and secondary reactive hyperplasia. We used the TaqMan polymerase chain reaction single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping assay to detect the specific JAK2 mutation. This technique allowed us to detect the JAK2 V617F mutation in a population containing at least 5% of homozygous mutants. Overall, the incidence of the JAK2 V617F mutation was 87% in PV, 67% in ET, and 66% in CIM. This approach proved to be reliable and more sensitive in detecting the mutation compared with that of initial studies on different materials but similar to that of recent work with various polymerase chain reaction-based techniques. Two essential findings arose from our study. First, this technique could be carried out with DNA samples, even partially degraded, from routinely processed BM core biopsy specimens. Second, after correlation with morphological features, it turned out that the characteristics of the megakaryocytes were more specific than the mutational status of JAK2 in characterizing ET and CIM. Concerning PV, as expected, the incidence of the JAK2 mutation was higher, but the morphological criteria were misleading in some cases, strongly suggesting that the combination of both histologic and molecular data would enable the characterization of virtually all cases.

Activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway has recently been shown to be crucial to the establishment of leukemic stem cells in chronic myeloid leukemia. We sought to determine whether beta-catenin was correlated to clonogenic capacity also in the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) setting. Eighty-two patients were retrospectively evaluated for beta-catenin expression by Western blot. beta-Catenin was expressed (although at various protein levels) in 61% of patients, and was undetectable in the remaining cases. In our cohort, beta-catenin expression was correlated with the clonogenic proliferation of AML-colony forming cells (AML-CFC or CFU-L) in methylcellulose in the presence of 5637-conditioned medium, and more strikingly with self-renewing of leukemic cells, as assessed in vitro by a re-plating assay. In survival analyses, beta-catenin appeared as a new independent prognostic factor predicting poor event-free survival and shortened overall survival (both with P

In chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) imatinib mesylate has been shown to selectively inhibit the tyrosine kinase domain of the oncogenic bcr-abl fusion protein. Using this agent alone high rates of cytogenetic responses were recorded. However, several mechanisms of resistance have been described. In vitro studies examining the effects of imatinib mesylate plus cytarabine have shown synergistic antiproliferative effects of this combination. Thus, the CML French Group decided to perform a phase 2 trial testing a combination of imatinib mesylate and low-dose cytarabine in 30 previously untreated patients in chronic phase. Treatment was administered on 28-day cycles. Patients were treated continuously with imatinib mesylate orally at a dose of 400 mg daily. Cytarabine was given on days 15 to 28 of each cycle at an initial dose of 20 mg/m2/d via subcutaneous injection. Adverse events were frequently observed with grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicities and nonhematologic toxicities in 53% (n = 16) and 23% (n = 7) of patients, respectively. The cumulative incidence of complete cytogenetic response (CCR) at 12 months was 83% and at 6 months 100% of the patients achieved complete hematologic response (CHR). We concluded that the combination was safe and promising given the rates of response. (Blood. 2003;102:4298-4305)

While the t(8;21) translocation is one of the most recurrent chromosomal abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia, prognostic studies have been hampered by the relatively few number of patients reported. We thus performed a large retrospective study in 161 adults and children with t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia, all prospectively enrolled in 6 different trials conducted in France between 1987 and 1998 (median follow-up 4.9 years). Prognostic studies were performed in the 154 patients who achieved a complete remission. Individual data were registered, including sex, age, blood and marrow counts, extramedullary disease, and cytogenetics. The value of allogeneic stem cell transplantation versus chemotherapy as postremission therapy was evaluated according to the intent-to-treat principle. Estimated 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival were 52% and 59%, respectively. Outcome was not significantly better in patients from the stem cell transplantation group (estimated 5-year DFS and survival, 56% vs 52% and 67% vs 57%; P =.55 and.64, respectively). White blood cell count (WBC) was the only identified prognostic factor. To further take into account the spontaneous differentiation potential of the leukemic clone, a WBC index was derived as the product of WBC by the ratio of marrow blast. This WBC index was a more powerful factor than the original WBC, allowing us to distinguish 3 subgroups of patients with different outcomes (low index, < 2.5; intermediate index, 2.5-20; high index, 20 or more). In multivariate analysis, the WBC index was the only prognostic factor for DFS (P =.003), complete remission duration (P =.002), and overall survival (P =.04).

Fever is frequently the only clinical sign of infection in patients with chemo-induced neutropenia. In this setting, empirical administration of broad spectrum antibiotics must be rapid. The aim of this work was to compare, for the first time, cefpirome (CPO) and piperacillin-tazobactam (PT) in a large randomized trial. Two hundred-eight febrile neutropenic episodes (FNE) (or = 38.5 degrees C and ANCor = 0.5 giga/l) were treated by randomization, as first line therapy, using either CPO 2 g x 2/day (105 cases) or PT 4 g x 3/day (103 cases), alone (CPO: 15/PT: 15), or plus aminoglycoside (165 cases, CPO: 82/PT: 83) or quinolone (CPO: 2/PT: 2). There were 131 men and 77 women aged between 17 and 83 years (median: 49) who received chemotherapy (n = 160) or allogeneic (n = 10) or autologous (n = 38) stem cell transplantations. Underlying diseases were: acute leukemia (n = 131), lymphoma (n = 33), myeloma (n = 16), solid tumor (n = 8), myeloproliferative disorder (n = 9), chronic lymphoid leukemia (n = 5), aplastic anemia (n = 3), myelodysplasia (n = 3). Distribution of age, neutropenia duration (median: 17 days), underlying disease, and protocol therapy duration (median: 11 days) was comparable in both arms. A microbiologically documented infection (MDI) was evidenced in 57 cases (27%). Bacteria were isolated from blood cultures in 54 cases (Gram positive: 32 cases). Their in vitro susceptibility rates to CPO and PT were not different. Two days after antibiotics initiation, clinical (fever disappearance) and microbiological (culture negativation) success rates (SR) were 62% for CPO versus 61% for PT and 50% versus 55% respectively in case of MDI (p = 0.89). Two deaths and 77 failures were registered. At the end of protocol, SR (no antibiotic change/absence of superinfection) was 59% with CPO versus 50% with PT (p = 0.27) and 53% versus 40% respectively in the 151 cases with neutropeniaor = 10 days (p = 0.17). The occurrence of side effects was similar in both arms. In our hands, the efficacy of CPO and PT was comparable for treating FNE.

This report summarizes a cumulative 4-year experience in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of immunoglobin heavy chain (IgH) and TcR-gamma chain gene rearrangements in 525 cases of lymphoproliferative disorders. Because the sensitivity of the PCR methodology was found to be tissue dependent, in the study of the presence of clonal cell population in tissues containing a small number of polyclonal lymphocytes, such as skin and gastrointestinal biopsy specimens, we used the multiple-PCR run approach. In this latter methodology, we repeat the PCR reaction from the same sample at least three times to confirm the reproducibility of the results. In the study of 273 cases of B- or T-cell lymphomas with characteristic immunomorphological and clinical features, a clonal IgH or TcR-gamma chain gene rearrangement was detected in approximately 80% of cases. A clonal rearrangement involving both IgH and TcR-gamma chain genes was found in 10% of cases of both B-cell and T-cell lymphomas. The study of 167 cases of nonneoplastic lymphoid tissue samples showed the presence of clonally rearranged cell populations for IgH or TcR-gamma genes in 3 and 9% of cases, respectively. We also applied PCR for the study of 85 cases of lymphoproliferations with no definite diagnosis (i.e., benign versus malignant) after immunomorphological analysis. In 65 cases (76%), the correlation of immunomorphological features with the presence (48 cases) or the absence (17 cases) of clonal lymphoid cell populations led to a definite diagnosis. In almost all these cases, the final diagnosis was found to be in agreement with the clinical course. In the 20 remaining cases (24%), no definite diagnosis could be made. We also assessed the value of PCR in detecting bcl-2/J(H) gene rearrangement as an additional clonal marker in the diagnosis of follicular lymphoma. Bcl-2/J(H) rearrangement and/or IgH gene rearrangement was found in approximately 85% (71/85) of follicular lymphoma cases studied.

Hepatosplenic gammadelta T-cell lymphoma is a recently identified entity in which lymphoma cells bearing the gammadelta T-cell receptor (TCR) infiltrate the sinusoids of the liver and the sinuses of the splenic red pulp and bone marrow, without lymph node involvement. It is also characterized by a recurrent cytogenetic finding, isochromosome 7q (i7q10). The authors report a case of hepatosplenic lymphoma of alphabeta T-cell phenotype that shares the same clinical, histologic, and cytogenetic characteristics of the previously described hepatosplenic gammadelta T-cell lymphoma. Fluorescent in situ hybridization performed with chromosome 7 probes showed the typical pattern of isochromosome 7q. Genomic analysis of the TCR gamma locus failed to detect a clonal rearrangement. This unique case of hepatosplenic lymphoma of alphabeta T-cell phenotype supports the possibility that lymphoid populations of different alphabeta or gammadelta phenotype that share similar homing and presumably functional properties could give rise to lymphomas displaying similar clinical and pathologic findings.

Hodgkin's disease is commonly associated with EBV latent infection. The incidence of EBV reactivation (active infection or EBV infection with replicative cycle) was evaluated in a series of 30 patients with untreated Hodgkin's disease (except for one case with chronic lymphocytic leukemia) by quantitation of EBV DNA and titration of anti-ZEBRA antibodies in serum samples. DNA was detected in serum (>2.5 x 10(2) genomes/ml) in 15 of 30 patients and was more frequent in Hodgkin's disease with EBV-positive Reed-Sternberg cells (10/12) than in EBV-negative cases (5/18), (P< 0.01). Of interest was the demonstration that viremia correlated well with increased titers of anti-ZEBRA IgG and/or standard serological profiles of EBV reactivation (12/15), (P < 0.05). However the lack of EBV replicative cycle in Reed-Sternberg cells (negative for ZEBRA antigen and early antigen BHLF1) suggests that the viral replication occurs in a nonneoplastic cell compartment rather than in tumor cells. The measurement of EBV DNA loads and the titration of anti-ZEBRA antibodies shed new lights on the link between activation of EBV replication and Hodgkin's disease: these serological markers together with the determination of the EBV status of the tumor suggest that replication of the viral genome occurs with a decreased efficiency of the immune system, thus allowing progression of the tumor.

Two new variant Philadelphia (Ph) chromosomes with an aberrant location of the BCR-ABL fusion gene on 9q34 of the derivative 9 are reported. One presented cytogenetically as a standard t(9;22)(q34;q11), whereas the other was classified as an ins(9;22)(q34;q11.1q11.2) using the combined interpretation of cytogenetic, FISH, and molecular data. The mechanisms of the two rearrangements are presented. It is suggested that the insertion has occurred in a single event in the patient with ins(9;22). In the patient with t(9;22), both a translocation and an insertion, occurring either sequentially or simultaneously, can account for the location of the BCR-ABL fusion gene on the derivative 9. A possible poor prognostic impact of this aberrant location of the BCR-ABL is also suggested by the clinical data reported in such patients. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 20:148–154, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Seven cases of large B-cell lymphoma which define a previously unrecognized subgroup are reported. Morphologically they are comprised of monomorphic large immunoblast-like cells, containing large central nucleoli, which tend to invade lymphatic sinuses. Superficially they resemble anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) but they lack CD30. These lymphomas express epithelial membrane antigen (as do ALCL), but also contain intracytoplasmic IgA of a single light chain type (five cases) and an endoplasmic reticulum–associated marker detected by antibody VS38. They lack lineage-associated leukocyte antigens with the exception of CD4 (5 of 5 cases) and CD57 (5 of 7 cases). They are labeled by antibodies detecting both the intracytoplasmic and extracellular regions of the ALK receptor kinase, suggesting that they express the full-length form of this molecule. This was confirmed by Western blotting (in the one case tested) which showed a band of 200 kD in tumor cell lysates, and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of mRNA encoding intracellular and extracellular ALK sequences (in the two cases tested). There was no evidence by cytogenetics (one case analyzed) or reverse transcriptase-PCR (three cases tested) of the 2; 5 translocation or the resultant NPM-ALK gene, as is commonly found in ALCL. All but one of the patients were male and all but one were adults, and in all but the latter case the disease followed an aggressive course.

Bcl-x is a Bcl-2-family protein that has been previously detected in cortical thymocytes, plasma cells, and activated lymphocytes. We report here on the high detection rate of the Bcl-x protein found in 86% of Hodgkin's disease samples and on the significance regarding its complex role among the Bcl-2-family of proteins: Bcl-x is known to heterodimerize with Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptosis protein) and with Bax, a potent inducer of cell death. Moreover, recent evidences show that Bcl-x may induce multiple drug resistance in vitro, suggesting that chemical or biological interactions with this protein may have potential therapeutic value in Hodgkin's disease.

Imatinib (400 mg daily) is considered the best initial therapy for patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the chronic phase. However, only a minority of patients treated with imatinib have a complete molecular remission.We randomly assigned 636 patients with untreated chronic-phase CML to receive imatinib alone at a dose of 400 mg daily, imatinib (400 mg daily) plus cytarabine (20 mg per square meter of body-surface area per day on days 15 through 28 of each 28-day cycle) or pegylated interferon (peginterferon) alfa-2a (90 μg weekly), or imatinib alone at a dose of 600 mg daily. Molecular and cytogenetic responses, time to treatment failure, overall and event-free survival, and adverse events were assessed. An analysis of molecular response at 12 months was planned. A superior molecular response was defined as a decrease in the ratio of transcripts of the tyrosine kinase gene BCR-ABL to transcripts of ABL of 0.01% or less, corresponding to a reduction of 4 log(10) units or more from the baseline level, as assessed by means of a real-time quantitative polymerase-chain-reaction assay.At 12 months, the rates of cytogenetic response were similar among the four groups. The rate of a superior molecular response was significantly higher among patients receiving imatinib and peginterferon alfa-2a (30%) than among patients receiving 400 mg of imatinib alone (14%) (P=0.001). The rate was significantly higher among patients treated for more than 12 months than among those treated for 12 months or less. Gastrointestinal events were more frequent among patients receiving cytarabine, whereas rash and depression were more frequent among patients receiving peginterferon alfa-2a.As compared with other treatments, the addition of peginterferon alfa-2a to imatinib therapy resulted in significantly higher rates of molecular response in patients with chronic-phase CML. (Funded by the French Ministry of Health and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00219739.).

We have studied the pharmacokinetics of idarubicin and daunorubicin in a total of 16 leukemic patients treated with one of these drugs associated with aracytine. The AUCs obtained for unchanged drugs were proportional to the dose, and the dose-independent pharmacokinetic parameters were very similar for the two drugs: total plasma clearance (39.0 L/h/m2 for idarubicin versus 38.6 for daunorubicin), total volume of distribution (1756 versus 1725 L/m2) and elimination half-life (42.7 versus 47.4 h). The only metabolites detected were the 13-dihydroderivative of each drug, idarubicinol or daunorubicinol. The elimination half-life of idarubicinol was two times higher than that of daunorubicinol (80.7 versus 37.3 h) which provided an AUC ratio metabolite/parent drug higher for idarubicin than for daunorubicin. In view of the fact that idarubicinol is a much more active metabolite than daunorubicinol, this protracted half-life metabolite can account for the reported higher activity of idarubicin as compared to daunorubicin.

Purpose Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with pretreatment WBC counts greater than 10,000/μL is still considered to carry a poorer prognosis than APL with WBC lower than 10,000/mL. We evaluated outcome improvement in such patients in recent years. Patients and Methods Nine hundred two patients with APL, including 204 patients and 68 patients with WBC counts more than 10,000/μL and more than 50,000/μL, respectively, were enrolled between 1993 and 2005 in two successive randomized trials of the European APL group (APL 93 and APL 2000) that tested, in particular, the modalities of combination of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and chemotherapy, maintenance treatment, escalating doses of cytarabine, early administration of dexamethasone, and CNS prophylaxis. Results Between the APL 93 and 2000 trials, the complete response (CR) rate increased from 89.6% to 93%, and the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) decreased from 40% to 9.5% in patients with WBC counts of 10,000 to 50,000/μL. In patients with WBC counts more than 50,000/μL, the CR rate increased from 82% to 91%, and 5-year CIR decreased from 59% to 24%. Whereas in the APL 93 trial, increased WBC counts were significantly associated with higher CIR and shorter survival, this was not the case in the APL 2000 trial. In patients with increased WBC counts, enrollment onto the APL 2000 trial (v APL 93) and combined maintenance with ATRA and chemotherapy were associated with significantly lower CIR and better survival. Conclusion Outcome of APL with high WBC count has markedly improved over the years as a result of fewer early deaths and fewer relapses. Better initial supportive care and combined maintenance treatment have contributed to this improvement.

Two new monoclonal antibodies--BNH9 and BNF13--were generated by using a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line and standard hybridoma techniques. Both were found to react with epithelial and endothelial cells in routinely fixed and embedded tissues. Unexpected membrane labelling of some large cell lymphomas while non-reacting with normal lymphoid cells, prompted further characterisation. The antibodies were found to recognise red blood cell-related oligosaccharide antigens. The specificities were directed towards H and Y determinants. A distinctive pattern of reactivity was found for BNH9 in studying 480 cases of various lymphoid neoplasms. Strong expression of H and/or Y antigens was observed in 65/127 (51%) cases of anaplastic large cell(ALC) (CD30+) lymphomas, which are also known to co-express epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) frequently. Only a minority (less than 6%) of other non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) (CD30-,EMA-; 208 cases) and Hodgkin's disease (HD) (CD30+, EMA-; 126 cases) were positive. Expression of H and Y antigens was inducible on normal lymphocytes by mitogenic stimulation and by Epstein-Barr virus infection. The data suggest remarkable biological differences of ALC lymphomas within NHL and from HD. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4

Microscopic intracellular detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) messenger RNA in Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease (HD) was possible by in situ hybridization, in tissue sections prepared by a method termed modified acetone methyl benzoate xylene (ModAMeX). The ModAMeX method was initially developed for simultaneous optimal preservation of leucocyte differentiation antigens and morphology. Two biotinylated DNA probes, corresponding to the same BamHI-W (internal repeat) of the EBV genome were used. EBV mRNA was detected in neoplastic cells in 16 of 54 (30%) lymph node biopsy specimens from usual subtypes of HD (lymphocyte predominance, 0/5; nodular sclerosis, 4/22; mixed cellularity, 12/26; unclassified, 0/1). EBV mRNA was also detected in the lymph node biopsy of 1 additional human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related case of HD (mixed cellularity) and in 2 of 4 cases of B-cell lymphomas occurring in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In other non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, EBV mRNA was detected in only 1 of 41 cases. Cases of HD positive for EBV mRNA were immunostained by CD30 and CD15 antibodies. The hybridization signals were exclusively restricted to Reed-Sternberg cells and variants. When analyzed retrospectively, no statistically significant correlation emerged between hybridization findings, EBV serology, or disease outcome over the 3 years of the availability of ModAMeX technique. The findings support the contention of a direct role of EBV in the pathogenesis of HD, at least in some cases.

Purpose Several phase II studies have suggested that cytarabine (AraC) was not required in the treatment of newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients receiving all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), an anthracycline, and maintenance therapy, and we aimed at confirming this finding in a randomized trial. Patients and Methods Newly diagnosed APL patients younger than age 60 years with a WBC count of less than 10,000/μL were randomly assigned to receive either ATRA combined with and followed by three daunorubicin (DNR) plus AraC courses and a 2-year maintenance regimen (AraC group) or the same treatment but without AraC (no AraC group). Patients older than age 60 years and patients with initial WBC count of more than 10,000/μL were not randomly assigned but received risk-adapted treatment, with higher dose of AraC and CNS prophylaxis in patients with WBC counts more than 10,000/μL. Results Overall, 328 (96.5%) of 340 patients achieved complete remission (CR). In the AraC and the no AraC groups, the CR rates were 99% and 94% (P = .12), the 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) rates were 4.7% and 15.9% (P = .011), the event-free survival (EFS) rates were 93.3% and 77.2% (P = .0021), and survival rates were 97.9% and 89.6% (P = .0066), respectively. In patients younger than age 60 years with WBC counts more than 10,000/μL, the CR, 2-year CIR, EFS, and survival rates were 97.3%, 2.9%, 89%, and 91.9%, respectively. Conclusion These results support a role for AraC in addition to ATRA and anthracyclines in the treatment of newly diagnosed APL, at least using DNR at the cumulative dose we used and with the consolidation and maintenance regimens we used.

Background: Blinatumomab is an investigational bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE®) antibody construct designed to direct cytotoxic T cells to CD19-expressing B cells. In a study in minimal residual disease (MRD)-positive ALL, 80% of pts achieved MRD-negative status after receiving one treatment cycle of blinatumomab (Topp MS, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2011;29:2493-8). For pts with newly diagnosed ALL, persistence of MRD after first-line treatment predicts disease recurrence. However, only limited data are available about the relationship between MRD and outcome in adult pts with r/r ALL. Therefore, the aim of this secondary analysis was to evaluate MRD responses and their relationships to other efficacy indices in adult pts with r/r ALL receiving blinatumomab in this phase 2 study. Methods: Eligibility criteria included adult pts ≥18 years, with Philadelphia chromosome negative B-cell r/r ALL who were primary refractory or refractory to first salvage, had their first relapse within 12 months of first remission or allogeneic hematologic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), or received second or later salvage. Blinatumomab was dosed via continuous IV infusion at 28 μg/d (cycle 1 only: 9 μg/d on days 1-7, 28 μg/d on days 8-28) for up to five cycles (one cycle: 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off). The primary endpoint was complete remission (CR: ≤5% blasts with platelets >100,000/µL, absolute neutrophil count >1000/µL) or CR with partial hematologic recovery (CRh*: platelets >50,000/µL, absolute neutrophil count >500/µL) within the first two treatment cycles. MRD in bone marrow was assessed at a central laboratory using allele-specific real-time quantitative PCR. Two MRD-based exploratory endpoints were analyzed: MRD response (no PCR amplification at a minimum sensitivity of 10-4 or Results: Of 189 treated pts (median [range] age = 39 [18–79] years), 81 (43%) pts had a CR (n = 63, 33%) or a CRh* (n = 18, 10%) during the first two treatment cycles. In the subgroup of pts with a CR/CRh* and evaluable MRD data (n = 73), 60 (82%) pts had an MRD response. Of those, 51 (70%) pts had a complete MRD response. The majority of those who achieved a CR/CRh* also achieved a complete MRD response regardless of the number of prior lines of salvage therapy (Table 1). Of all treated pts, 64 (34%) pts had prior HSCT. In pts who achieved CR/CRh*, the rate of MRD response was 81% in pts without and 85% in pts with prior HSCT. In pts who achieved CR/CRh*, the median (95% CI) duration of overall survival was 11.4 (8.5, not estimable) months for those with a MRD response and 6.7 (2.0, not estimable) months for those with no MRD response. The median (95% CI) duration of relapse-free survival was 6.9 (5.5, 10.1) months in patients with a MRD response and 2.3 (1.2, not estimable) months in patients with no MRD response. The HSCT realization rate did not differ significantly between pts with CR/CRh* and a MRD response and those with CR/CRh* and no MRD response (31% and 43%, respectively). Seventeen pts classified as nonresponders per protocol had ≤5% blasts and no evidence of disease, but recovery of peripheral counts did not meet criteria for CRh*. Ten of these 17 pts had evaluable MRD assessments; 50% (5/10) had MRD response and 20% (2/10) had complete MRD response. The clinical significance of this finding remains open. Grade ≥3 adverse events regardless of causality and occurring in >10% of all treated pts during treatment until 30 days after treatment were febrile neutropenia (25%), neutropenia (16%), and anemia (14%). Grade 3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was reported in three (1.6%) patients. Three (1.6%) patients had grade 4 neurologic events, all resolved. Twenty-one (11%) patients had grade 3 neurologic events, 17 were resolved, with 4 events unresolved at death or unknown. Conclusion: In this largest study to date of adult pts with r/r ALL with PCR-based central assessment of MRD, pts who achieved CR/CRh* during single-agent treatment with blinatumomab had high MRD response rates. The exploratory analyses suggested that within pts with a CR/CRh*, those who did not achieve MRD responses tended to have shorter durations of overall and relapse-free survival. These results are consistent with prior reports highlighting the importance of achieving an MRD response in first-line therapy. Disclosures Goekbuget: Amgen Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Off Label Use: This presentation will discuss the off-label use of blinatumomab, as this agent is not approved for use by the FDA, EMA or any other regulatory authorities. Kantarjian:Amgen Inc.: Research Funding. Brüggemann:Amgen Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding. Stein:Amgen Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Bargou:Amgen Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria. Dombret:Amgen Inc.: Research Funding. Heffner:Amgen Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Biotest: Research Funding; Dana Farber CI: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Idera: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Research Funding; Onyx: Research Funding; Spectrum: Research Funding; Talon Therapeutics: Research Funding. Rigal-Huguet:Amgen, Inc.: Consultancy; Ariad: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy. Litzow:Amgen Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding. Zugmaier:Amgen Reseach (Munich) GmbH: Employment; Amgen Inc.: Equity Ownership. Jia:Amgen Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Maniar:Amgen Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Huber:Amgen Research (Munich) GmbH: Employment; Amgen Inc.: Equity Ownership. Nagorsen:Amgen Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership, Related to blinatumomab Patents & Royalties. Topp:Amgen Inc.: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Although they produce high rate of molecular response second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors or imatinib cannot eradicate CML primitive progenitors. Interferon has been shown to modulate gene expression, inhibits leukemic cell growth and induces an immunomodulatory response. In vitro studies support the use of combination of IM plus interferon. We designed a phase III randomised multicenter open-label prospective trial comparing IM 400 mg/d (n=223) with 3 experimental arms: IM 600 mg/d (n=171), IM 400 mg/d combined to s/c Peg-IFN2a (90 µg/wk) (n=221) and IM 400 mg/d combined to s/c Ara-C, (20 mg/m2/d, d15-28 of 28-day cycles)(n=172). Pts were allocated at a 1.1.1.1 ratio, stratified by Sokal risk groups. Molecular assessments were centralised, blinded and calculated according to the international standardised ratio (IS) As of December 31st 2010, date for closing accrual, 787 pts have been included. We first demonstrated that the addition of PegIFN increased the molecular responses. The planned molecular analysis after 1 year based on the outcome of 636 pts resulted in a highly significant superiority of MR4 (≤0.01 % Bcr-Abl/Abl on IS) of the combination IM 400mg-PegIFN (Preudhomme et al. N Engl J Med, 2010). The protocol was also amended after the demonstration that a lower dose of PegIFN (45 µg/week) resulted in less toxicity and similar molecular responses as compared with 90 µg/week. Of interest, a 3-months BCR-ABL transcript level of ≤10% IS was associated with PFS (Accelerated phase, blast crisis, deaths) and time to progression (TTP) improvement overall. However, results which were observed with the addition of PegIFN or an increased dose of IM frontline do not confirm the relevance of the 10% BCR-ABL cut-off level as a strong surrogate marker for progression. After a median observation time of 60 months, 5-year overall survival (OS) was 94%, and 5-year PFS was 93%. Overall 70 pts died because of blastic (n=24) or accelerated phases (n = 1). Out of the 35 pts who progressed to AP and BC, 11 are alive. A blastic phase was recorded in 27 pts (myeloid 20, lymphoid 6, biphenotypic 1), of these 4 are alive (2 myeloid, 2 lymphoid). Main causes of deaths in CP (n = 46) were infections (IM 400 n=4,IM 600 n=0, IM PegIFN n=4, IM Ara-c n=0 ), vascular events (IM 400 n=1,IM 600 n=2,IM PegIFN n=1, IM Ara-c n=1) malignancies (IM 400 n=3, IM 600 n=2 ,IM PegIFN n=4, IM Ara-c n=7 ). In addition, the following causes of death were recorded: suicide (n=2), GVHD (n=2), miscellaneous (n=13). Cumulative incidence of progression, PFS and OS by arms are shown in the table: Table 1 IM 400 (n = 223) IM 600 (n = 171) IM PegIFN (n = 221) IM Ara-c (n 172) Cumulative incidence of progression (p: 0.43)(a) N progressions 11 11 7 6 N competing events (deaths in CP) 9 7 15 15 At 60 months % (95%CI) 5% (3-8) 5% (3-9) 2% (1-4) 4% (2-8) PFS (p:0.92)(b) N (progressions and deaths) 20 18 22 21 At 60 months 93% 93% 94% 91% (95%CI) (89-96) (88-96) (90-97) (85-94) OS (p: 0.64)(b) N (deaths) 15 16 19 20 At 60 months 95% 94% 95% 91% (95%CI) (91-98) (89-97) (91-97) (86-95) Gray’s test Log-rank test Conclusions:The French SPIRIT trial demonstrated that the combination of imatinib with Peg-IFNα2a was associated with deeper molecular responses at 12 months and was able to counteract the risk of early progression in newly diagnosed CML-CP patients. The dose of 45µg/week is well tolerated and sufficient for achieving molecular responses and should be used in further trials. The risk of progression to blastic or accelerated phase, although currently non-significant, is lower with this combination. An update of outcomes will be presented. Disclosures Maloisel: Hospira: Consultancy; Sandoz: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding. Gardembas:BMS: Honoraria. Legros:Novartis, BMS: Honoraria.

Purpose We analyzed the impact of allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (alloSCT) as an early consolidation for young patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia in first complete remission (CR1) through four successive protocols. Patients and Methods Of the 472 patients who achieved CR1, 182 (38%) had an HLA-identical sibling (donor group), and alloSCT was performed in 171 patients (94%). Of the 290 patients without donor (no-donor group), 62% received an autologous SCT. Results In an intent-to-treat analysis based on donor availability, the overall 10-year survival probability was 51% v 43% (P = .11) for the donor and no-donor groups, respectively. A Cox analysis determined that four factors had independent prognostic significance for survival (initial WBC count, French-American-British subtypes, cytogenetic risk, and number of induction courses). This permitted constitution of a simple index that reclassified 21% of the patients compared with usual cytogenetic classification and identified three subpopulations with different outcome and different impact of alloSCT. Conclusion AlloSCT was associated with a survival advantage for an intermediate-risk group. In other groups, numbers are limited for definitive conclusion. However, early performed alloSCT does not seem to be the optimal treatment of high-risk patients or offer any advantage over intensive chemotherapy in low-risk patients.

Summary We report on a randomized trial aimed to determine the impact of a second consolidative high-dose cytarabine-based chemotherapy (HiDAC) in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia prior to an autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Patients aged 18–60 years, in complete remission (CR) received a first consolidation with daunorubicin and cytarabine at reduced dose. Patients not allocated to allogeneic transplantation received one course of HiDAC and then were randomized to receive an ASCT immediately (HiDAC 1 group) or after one more course of HiDAC (HiDAC 2 group). Out of the 437 initial patients, 351 achieved CR (80%), of those 277 (79%) were eligible for first HiDAC, and 128 (36%) were randomized (HiDAC 1: 65, HiDAC 2: 63). Overall survival, leukaemia-free survival and cumulative incidence of relapse and non-relapse deaths were 41% and 53% (P = 0·14), 39% and 48% (P = 0·12), 57% and 47% (P = 0·11), 8% and 8% (P = 0·95) for HiDAC 1 and HiDAC 2 groups, respectively. Further studies are warranted with a larger number of patients to test the place of a second course of HiDAC in this setting.

Rituximab (Mabthera) is used in the treatment of refractory low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or in case of relapse after chemotherapy. Among the different adverse reactions with this drug, the most common is a constellation of symptoms (fever, rigors and chills) that occur more frequently during administration of the first dose of drug. These symptoms could be related to a cytokine-release syndrome. We report the case of a 46 year-old patient, presenting a familial cardiomyopathy, deceased a few minutes after having developed this syndrome, at the time of the 2nd infusion of rituximab. Several hypothesis have been suggested to explain this sudden death: a cardiac failure following deterioration of the systolic function, potentially related to the negative inotropic effects of TNFalpha, and/or an impairment of the diastolic function following the volemic overload. The impact of the reflex "administration of monoclonal antibody/cytokine-release syndrome" was only little investigated under physiologic or pathologic conditions. In spite of a risk of adverse reactions apparently moderated compared to the other drugs used in this context, this case report underlines the need for a special attention when using rituximab among patients with cardiac risk factors (reassessment of the benefit-risk ratio, specific monitoring, pre medication). More generally, it underlines the need for a systematic and continuous identification and reporting of adverse drug reactions to the French network of regional pharmacovigilance centres.

With improved treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) by all trans retinoic acid ( ATRA) combined to anthracycline - aracytin chemotherapy (CT), a larger number of those patients may be at risk of late complications. Recently, the Rome group reported five cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML, non-APL) occurring during the course of 77 APL patients (6.5%) in complete remission (CR). From 1991 to 1998, we treated 677 newly diagnosed cases of APL, and 617 of them achieved CR with ATRA combined to CT ( n = 579) or CT alone ( n = 38); 246 of them received subsequent maintenance CT with 6 mercaptopurine and methotrexate. With a median follow-up of 51 months, 6 patients (0.97%) developed MDS, 13 - 74 months after the diagnosis of APL. In all six cases, t(15; 17) and PML-RARalpha rearrangement were absent at the time of MDS diagnosis, and karyotype mainly showed complex cytogenetic abnormalities involving chromosomes 5 and/or 7, typical of MDS observed after treatment with alkylating agents, although none of the six patients had received such agents for the treatment of APL. Our findings suggest that MDS can indeed be a long-term complication in APL, although probably at lower incidence than that previously reported.

The simultaneous occurrence of Philadelphia positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is a rare event which raises the possibility that the two malignant clones derive from a common, or distinct, malignant stem cells. In this study, we used combined CD19-based cell-sorting and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) to investigate whether or not the BCR-ABL fusion gene was present in the malignant B-cells of a patient who presented a Ph+ CML/B-CLL association. The CD19+ cells lacked the BCR-ABL rearrangement whereas all CD19-cells exhibited the fusion gene. This result demonstrates that B-cell transformation occurred in a Ph-B-cell subset.

Imatinib (Gleevec) (formerly STI571) has been shown to selectively inhibit the tyrosine kinase domain of the oncogenic BCR-ABL fusion protein of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells. In recent phase I and II studies testing this new compound in patients who had failed to respond to interferon (IFN), hematological and cytogenetic responses were reported in most of those with chronic-phase CML. However, in some patients resistance has been associated with a single amino acid substitution in a threonine residue of the Abl kinase domain. In vitro studies examining the effects of imatinib plus cytarabine (Ara-C) using CML cell lines and colony-forming assays of CML patient samples have shown synergistic antiproliferative effects of this combination. Thus several groups decided to investigate this new combination with the hypothesis that cell resistance would be less frequent. The CML French Group performed a phase II trial to determine the safety and tolerability of a combination of imatinib and Ara-C for previously untreated patients with chronic-phase CML. Treatment was administered on 28-day cycles for 12 months. Patients were treated continuously with imatinib orally at a dose of 400 mg daily. Ara-C was given on days 14 to 28 of each cycle at an initial dose of 20 mg/m2/d via subcutaneous injection, hydroxyurea (HU) being stopped at least 7 days before imatinib. Recently, the Dutch group decided to explore a combination of high-dose Ara-C with imatinib in patients in chronic-phase CML. Preliminary results are encouraging. However, a long follow-up is required before concluding that these strategies will overcome cell resistance. Semin Hematol 40(suppl 2):92-97. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) carrying inv(16)/t(16;16) chromosomal abnormalities are associated with a good prognosis. However, studies of this AML subtype have been hampered by the few number of patients reported, frequently collectively considered with those with AML carrying the t(8;21) translocation. We performed a retrospective study in 110 patients with inv(16)/t(16;16) AML (median age, 34 years) prospectively enrolled in 6 trials conducted in France between 1987 and 1998, with the aim to investigate prognostic factors for complete remission (CR) achievement and outcome of CR patients in this AML subtype. CR rate was 93%. Bad-prognosis factors for CR achievement were higher white blood cell count (WBC) and lower platelet count (optimal cutpoints at 120 and 30 x 109/L, respectively). At 3 years, estimated overall survival, disease-free survival (DFS), and cumulative incidence of relapse were 58%, 48%, and 42%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, (1) advanced age (optimal cutpoint, 35 years) was the only factor for shorter DFS and (2) advanced age and low platelet count were the 2 factors for shorter survival of CR patients. Outcome of CR patients (1) was not influenced by WBC and cytogenetic findings and (2) was similar among patients allocated to receive allogeneic transplantation, high-dose, or intermediate-dose cytarabine. Interestingly, advanced age was associated with a trend for more frequent additional chromosome abnormalities and predictive of higher cumulative incidence of relapse rather than death in first CR. These results markedly contrast with those reported in patients with t(8;21) AML in whom WBC, and not age, was the main high-risk factor for relapse, DFS, and survival.

We report four cases of polysomy 8 (one tetrasomy and three pentasomies) observed in acute monocytic leukemia (FAB M4 and M5). Three of them showed a rearrangement of 11q23 identified by conventional cytogenetic analysis and/or chromosome painting. Our cases as well as a review of the literature, suggest that polysomy 8 is preferentially associated with monocytic differentiation (24/31). These polysomies have been observed in 21 de novo leukemias and in 10 secondary hematological disorders. A 11q23 rearrangement has been detected in 9 out of 32 patients, by conventional cytogenetic techniques in 7 and by FISH in 2. We suggest that these cases should be analysed by FISH and molecular studies in order to detect a rearrangement of MLL/11q23. Monocytic differentiation is often associated with a change of the MLL gene and the polysomy 8 might be a particular clonal evolution secondary to 11q23 abnormality.

Summary Hodgkin's disease (HD) has been found to be linked to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Familial HD (FHD) may be related to a possible unknown agent. We have determined whether EBV small RNAs (EBERs) were found in Reed-Sternberg cells from FHD. Five families were studied for histological subtype and EBER presence. There was a striking similarity in FHD subtypes of each family and 3/11 (27%) of the cases were EBER positive. In conclusion, EBV EBERs are only infrequently found in FHD and other factors including viruses different from EBV should be further investigated in FHD.

Abstract 456 Background: The SPIRIT phase III randomized multicenter open-label prospective trial was designed to compare 4-arm, imatinib 400 mg versus imatinib 600 mg versus imatinib 400 mg + cytarabine at a dose of 20 mg/m2/day in cycles of 28 days, versus imatinib 400 mg + PegIFN at an initial dose of 90 μg/week. The planned molecular analysis after 1 year based on the outcome of 636 pts resulted in a highly significant improvement of superior molecular response (SMR) (0.01 % Bcr-Abl/Abl on IS) of the combination imatinib 400mg-PegIFN (N Engl J Med, 2010). Accrual within the imatinib 600 mg and imatinib 400 mg-cytarabine has been stopped. In the initial cohort of 171 pts who had been treated less than 4 months with the 2 combined agents, major molecular response (MMR: 0.1%) rate was 48%, SMR rate was 23%, and undetectable molecular residual disease (UMRD) was 8%. By contrast, in pts receiving the combined agents longer than 12 months, MMR, SMR and UMRD rates were 82%, 49% and 20% respectively. In order to improve tolerability of the combination, initial dose of PegIFN has been reduced to 45μg/week. The current analysis focuses on the tolerability and efficacy of the reduced dose of PegIFN as compared to the initial planned dose of 90μg/week. Patients and methods: As of December 31st 2010, date for closing accrual, 789 pts have been included, 445 pts within the imatinib 400mg and imatinib 400mg+PegIFN arms. The high proportion of PegIFN discontinuation during the first year prompted an amendment that recommended reducing the initial dose down to 45ug/week at enrolment. For these pts the weekly dose of PegIFN was increased up to 90μg after 2 months of treatment with the combination of PegIFN 45μg plus Imatinib 400mg, if the hematological and non-hematological tolerance was acceptable. Out of the 221 pts assigned to imatinib plus PegIFN, 171 received 90μg and 50 received 45μg/week of PegIFN, both groups being similar with a median age of 51 and 48 years respectively. Molecular biology was centralized, samples being collected every 4 months, with a karyotype recommended yearly. Data of parameters of effectiveness and tolerance were collected even after stopping treatment protocol. Adverse events (AE) considered for the analysis are those which led for PegIFN dose adjustment. Results. At the time of the analysis, 30% of pts were still on PegIFN. Table 1 describes the AE which occurred during the two consecutive periods of the trial (before and after the amendment). Hematologic toxicity was predominant within the PegIFN arm (68% pts suffering all grade including 54% with G3-4) leading to 40% of permanent discontinuation of PegIFN. However, only a small proportion of neuropsychiatric syndrome (including depression, chronic fatigue and insomnia) and flu-like syndrome were observed and no cardiac event occurred with PegIFN at the dose of 45μg/week. Rate of all grade hematologic toxicity decreased from 68% to 45% of pts after the amendment. Of interest the reduced dose of PegIFN had a significant impact on the adherence to the treatment. During the first 6 months before and after the amendment, 40% and 10% of pts discontinued PegIFN respectively. Thus after the amendment 90% received at least 6 months of PegIFN. Of note the reduced dose of 45μg/week resulted in a similar response rate as compared to the initial planned dose of 90μg. The MMR rates at 6 months were before and after the amendment 36.3% (95%CI: 29.1–49.3) and 36% (95%CI: 22.0–50.8) respectively. The corresponding number for SMR rates at 6 months were 9.9% (95%CI: 5.9–15.4) and 10% (95%CI: 3.3–21.8) respectively. Finally for 222 pts, imatinib 400mg alone resulted in less responses at 6 months with MMR and SMR rate of 19.3% (95CI: 14.3–25.0) and 5.8% (95CI:3.1–0.7) respectively. The combination of imatinib and PegIFN has been shown in this trial as an effective combination for increasing the rate of molecular responses compared to imatinib alone. The lower dose of PegIFN (45 mg/week) resulted in less early toxicity. It will allow the combination to be given together for a longer period of time and preserve the increased antitumor efficacy. An update with a minimum of 12 months of follow-up of the 50 pts will be presented. Disclosures: Off Label Use: Pegylated form of interferona2a.

Abstract 1612 INTRODUCTION: in follicular lymphoma (FL) patients with high tumor burden (as defined by GELF criteria), R-CHOP is the standard upfront immunochemotherapy. Results from the PRIMA study suggest that a positive PET after induction therapy predicts for earlier relapses, even despite maintenance with rituximab (RTX) for two years [Trotman J, 2011]. For patients under 65y, who relapse after R-CHOP+/−RTX maintenance with high tumor burden, R-chemo+autografting is a recommended option. In a retrospective cohort of 43 relapsed FL pts in two French University Hospitals, we explored the role of such a strategy on outcome - in the era of new RTX based modalities - and also evaluated the impact of PET results before autografting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with relapsed FL after R-CHOP, with at least 1 GELF criteria at relapse (high tumor burden), and who received R-chemo before autografting were eligible. IWC+PETresponse criteria (Cheson 2007) were used, after R-CHOP frontline, and after salvage (before autografting). Patients with Richter transformation at relapse were excluded from this study. OS was calculated from date of salvage to date of death or last follow-up; progression-free survival (PFS) and time to next treatment (TTNT) were calculated from completion of salvage to date of FL relapse or next chemotherapy, respectively. RESULTS: 43 pts (60% males) younger than 65y were identified: they received either FCR-based (2 cycles of FCR, 1 cycle of R-DHAP then stem cell harvest, 2 last cycles of FCR, n=25) or R-DHAP-based (4 cycles of R-DHAP or DHAOx (oxaliplatin replacing cisplatin), and stem cell harvest, n=18). Characteristics at salvage: median age was 54 (range 28–62), with median GELF score of 1 (1–4). Thirty % had progression within 6 mo of R-CHOP (refractory);median PFS was 12mo (range 1–40mo) andmedian TTNT was 15mo. RTX maintenance in 12/43 pts did not significantly increased PFS (15 vs 9 mo, p=0.1). FLIPI1 was low in 39%, Int 36%, high 25% of pts, and FLIPI2 was low in 22%, Int 62.5%, high 15.5% of pts. 1/43 pt had CD20- relapse (who received RTX maintenance), and received FC without RTX. Results: response to FCR/R-DHAP included CR+CRu 68/72%, PR 24/28% respectively, PET evaluation was found negative in 23.5/36% respectively (p=ns). Median stem cell harvest (median 2 leukaphereses) was 4.37 vs 7.8.106 CD34+/kg in FCR vs R-DHAP pts (Mann-Whitney p=0.09), without failure (only one patient required plerixafor). Four patients did not receive the planned autologous transplant (2 failures after FCR (including one Richter transformation), 1 hepatitis before conditioning regimen, 1 withdrawal of consent). Conditioning regimen for the remaining 39 pts was BEAM in 16 (4 FCR+12 R-DHAP), Zevalin-BEAM in 23 pts (9 FCR+14 R-DHAP), including 9 pts who further received RTX maintenance post-autografting. At a median follow up of living pts of 18mo, 9 pts had relapsed, of which 8 needed additional therapy. At time of analysis (June 2011), 37 pts were alive. Causes for death included 1 pancytopenia and infection, 1 Richter syndrome, 1second cancer, 2 complications of allografting (received later on). Late complications were common: pancytopenia or prolonged grade III-IV neutropenia (>3mo) after procedure occurred in 5/43 pts (3 FCR, 2 R-DHAP, without evidence of MDS/AML in these cases), Richter syndrome occurred in 2 patients (1 death), second cancer in 3 pts (1 Hodgkin, 1 womb sarcoma, 1 lung cancer). On an intend-to-treat basis, 41 pts are evaluable. For FCR/R-DHAP pts, 2y PFS was 68/68%, 2y TTNT 80/70%, and 2y OS 73/100%, respectively (logrank p=ns). Two years TTNT tended to be higher in pts receiving Z-BEAM (55 vs 83%), or with PET negativity before autografting (70 vs 85%), both without reaching significance (logrank p=0.1). PET negativity before autografting was the only variable statistically associated with superior OS in our series (logrank p=0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that PET negativity before consolidative autografting is an achievable and desirable goal in FL salvaged after R-CHOP. Disclosures: Ysebaert: Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.

Abstract 3430 Background: Nilotinib is a potent and selective BCR-ABL kinase inhibitor. In the randomized, multicenter phase 3 ENESTnd (Evaluating Nilotinib Efficacy and Safety in Clinical Trials of Newly Diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive CML pts) trial, nilotinib demonstrated superior efficacy, including significantly lower rates of progression on treatment to the accelerated or blastic phases of CML vs imatinib. It was previously reported that nilotinib treatment may lead to transient hyperglycemia in some pts receiving second-line nilotinib (400 mg twice daily [bid]) for resistance or intolerance to imatinib. The objective of this prospective analysis was to determine the effects of frontline nilotinib therapy on glucose metabolism in a subset of pts from ENESTnd with preexisting type 2 diabetes, and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nilotinib therapy in these pts. Methods: Changes from baseline in glucose metabolism parameters including fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, C-peptide, and HbA1c levels at 12 months were assessed in the diabetic subset of pts. Changes in body weight were also assessed. Results: A total of 836 pts were included in the safety analysis of ENESTnd (279, 277, and 280 pts in the nilotinib 300 mg bid, nilotinib 400 mg bid, and imatinib arms, respectively) with a median follow-up of 18 months. In this population, all grade hyperglycemia occurred in 38%, 42%, and 22% of pts in the nilotinib 300 mg bid, 400 mg bid, and imatinib arms, respectively (grade 3/4 in 6%, 4%, and 0%). Importantly, no patient from any treatment arm discontinued study due to hyperglycemia and there were no diabetic serious adverse events (eg, diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar events, and/or hospitalization due to diabetes). The subset of pts with preexisting type 2 diabetes (n = 57; 23, 18, and 16 pts in the nilotinib 300 mg bid, nilotinib 400 mg bid, and imatinib arms, respectively) was analyzed for glucose metabolism parameters and efficacy. Median age was higher (approximately 60 years) in this subset of pts compared to the entire pt population (approximately 47 years). At study entry, 68% (39/57) of pts were on diabetes medications; 18% (7/39) of whom were on insulin. The majority of diabetic pts (74%) did not have a change in diabetes therapy on study. Changes in glucose metabolism parameters were minimal (Table), and no meaningful changes in body weight or HbA1c were noted in any arm. In the subset of pts with preexisting type 2 diabetes, response rates were similar to the overall population, with MMR rates by 12 months of 69.6%, 55.6%, and 25%, and CCyR rates by 12 months of 69.6%, 77.8%, and 68.8% in the nilotinib 300 mg bid, nilotinib 400 mg bid, and imatinib arms, respectively. No pt in the diabetic subset has progressed to advanced disease. Overall, 8, 5, and 6 diabetic pts discontinued nilotinib 300 mg bid, nilotinib 400 mg bid, and imatinib, respectively. Of these, 3, 5, and 4 pts discontinued due to an adverse event or laboratory abnormality unrelated to diabetes. One diabetic pt in each of the nilotinib arms experienced an ischemic heart disease event (grade 1 or 2). Two diabetic pts died, 1 due to intestinal obstruction and 1 due to suicide, both in the nilotinib 300 mg bid arm. Conclusions: Hyperglycemia occurring during nilotinib treatment was usually mild, transient, manageable and did not lead to treatment discontinuation in patients with or without preexisting type 2 diabetes. Moreover, the efficacy and safety of nilotinib in this subset of pts was similar to the overall population in ENESTnd. These data suggest that nilotinib is efficacious and well-tolerated in pts with type 2 diabetes. Disclosures: Saglio: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria. Larson:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Hughes:Ariad: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding. Marin:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Kalaycio:Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Gallagher:Novartis Pharma AG: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kayath:Novartis: Employment. Zheng:Novartis: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kantarjian:Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding. Hochhaus:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.

Ph+ ALL accounts for approximately one third of ALL cases in patients aged 55 years or older. The median survival of older Ph+ ALL patients is one year, with practically no long-term survivors (Blood, 98, Supp1 p319a, 2001). Imatinib has demonstrated remarkable, although transient, activity in relapsed and refractory Ph+ ALL, which prompted the GRAALL to implement a treatment protocol alternating chemotherapy and imatinib in previously untreated elderly patients: ALL patients aged 55 years or older were treated with steroids during one week and Ph+ cases were then offered a specific therapy including an induction treatment with steroids, cyclophosphamide, daunorubicin and vincristine, followed, irrespective of response to induction chemotherapy, by imatinib, 600 mg daily, combined with intermittent steroids during 2 months. Patients in complete response (CR) were then given 10 blocks of alternating chemotherapy, including 2 additional two-month blocks of imatinib, for a total treatment duration of 2 years. Therapy of occult central nervous system leukemia included 5 intrathecal injections of methotrexate and cranial irradiation. Results are compared with those obtained in 21 Ph+ ALL elderly patients treated according to our previous protocol. From January 2003 to November 2004, 30 patients aged 58 to 78 years (median: 65.8 years) were included in the present study. The median follow-up of surviving patients is 15 months. 20/29 assessable patients were in complete response after induction chemotherapy vs 6/21 in the historical controls given similar induction regimen but with no steroids before chemotherapy (p=0.009). Two patients died during induction treatment vs none in the control group. Out of 6 patients alive with disease at completion of induction, 5 were in CR after salvage with imatinib. The projected overall survival is 71% at 1 year vs 43% in the control group (p=0.008, log-rank test). The 1 year projected relapse-free survival is 58% vs 11% (p=0.003) and the projected 1 year event-free survival (defined as failure to obtain a CR, death or relapse) is 57% vs 5% (p

Imatinib (IM) at 400 mg daily has emerged as the preferred therapy for newly diagnosed CML pts. Despite impressive results, only a minority of pts treated with IM achieved a molecular remission. To improve upon these results, the CML French Group designed a phase III, multicentre, open-label, prospective randomized trial. The experimental arms are IM 400mg daily in combination with Peg-IFN-α2a (Peg-IFNα2a, 90 μg weekly) or IM 400mg daily in combination with Ara-C, (20 mg/m2/day, days 15–28 of 28-day cycles) or IM 600mg daily. The reference arm is IM 400mg daily. All pts (over 18 years of age with Bcr-Abl positive CML in chronic phase within 3 months of diagnosis) receive IM 400 mg/day as monotherapy days 1–14 and then start the assigned randomized regimen. Treatment continues at least 12 months or until treatment failure (disease progression by hematologic criteria) or major toxicity. The primary endpoint will be the overall survival. Other endpoints will be: rate and duration of hematologic and cytogenetic responses, major (MCyR) and complete (CCyR), molecular response and the tolerability. Using treatment allocation ratio 1.1.1.1, randomization is stratified according to Sokal risk groups. An interim analysis of the first 636 patients (α=0.85%, β=10%) at 1 year from randomization will allow evaluation of molecular response rates, one of the experimental arm being selected for further comparison with IM 400. The increased dose of IM or a combination regimen would be considered as promising if it increased the 4 log reduction response rate by at least 20 percentage points, e.g. from 15% to 35%, with an acceptable tolerability. Evaluation of molecular response up to 12 months is centralized and blinded. This evaluation is based on a cohort of 315 pts with a median time of observation of 12 months, recruited between 9/2003 and 6/2005.[median age 53 yrs (18–78), 60% of pts were male; Sokal risk distribution: 39% of pts low risk, 38% intermediate risk, and 23% high risk]. At 3 months 82% of pts achieved complete hematologic response. Cytogenetic data are available from 154 pts. At 6 months, 135 pts (87%) achieved a MCyR, being complete in 105 pts (68%). Grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 5% and 0% of IM400 pts, in 5% and 1% of IM600 pts, in 30% and 4% of IM+IFN pts and in 24% and 13% of IM+Ara-c pts respectively. Dose of Peg IFN was reduced in 16% of pts, 45 μg per week being well tolerated. Grade 3/4 non hematological toxicity occurred in 6% of IM400 pts (mainly skin rash and muscle cramps), in 10% of IM600 pts, in 5% of IM+IFN pts (maily skin rash) and in 13% of IM+Ara-c pts (mainly diarrhea). Discontinuation of experimental treatment occurred in 15% of IM600 pts, 28% of IM+IFN pts and in 13% of IM+Ara-c pts. This first analysis of a randomized trial has proven feasibility of IM combinations in addition to high response rates. However a substantial hematological toxicity was recorded with IFN or Ara-c combination, which requires a careful assessment during the first 6 months of treatment. Long-term observation will demonstrate whether these promising results will have the potential to improve survival of CML pts.

Ph+ ALL accounts for approximately one third of ALL cases in patients aged 55 years or older. The median survival of older Ph+ ALL patients is one year, with practically no long-term survivor (Blood, 98, Supp1 p319a, 2001). Imatinib has demonstrated remarkable, although transient, activity in relapsed and refractory Ph+ ALL, which prompted the GRAALL to implement a treatment protocol associating imatinib and chemotherapy in previously untreated elderly patients: ALL patients aged 55 years or older are treated with steroids during one week and Ph+ve cases are then offered a specific therapy including an induction treatment with steroids, cyclophosphamide, daunorubicin and vincristine, followed, irrespective of response to induction chemotherapy, by imatinib, 600 mg daily, combined with intermittent steroids during 2 months. Patients in complete response are then given 10 blocks of alternating chemotherapy, including 2 additional two-month blocks of imatinib, for a total treatment duration of 2 years. Therapy of occult central nervous system leukemia includes 5 intrathecal injections of methotrexate and cranial irradiation. The study is intended to include 30 patients and its main objective is to improve overall one-year survival to 70%. Results are compared with those obtained in 21 Ph+ ALL elderly patients treated according to our previous protocol. Since January 2003, 21 patients aged 58 to 78 years (median: 64.7 years) were included in the AFR09 protocol. Their median follow-up is 3 months. 15/19 patients are in complete response after induction chemotherapy vs 6/21 in the historical controls given similar induction regimen but with no steroids before chemotherapy (p=0.002). The projected overall survival is 95% at 9 months vs 62% in the control group (p=0.08, log-rank test). The 9-month projected event-free survival is 83% vs 10% (p

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) can induce long-term disease-free survival in refractory follicular lymphomas (FL) but is impaired by high rate of transplant-related mortality (TRM). Reduced conditioning followed by allogeneic SCT is a promising concept in FL, allowing a graft-versus-lymphoma (GVL) effect while reducing the TRM. We piloted a clinical trial using this approach in relapsed/primary refractory low-grade lymphomas. From 1998 to 2003, 31 patients (pts) with an HLA-identical sibling have been enrolled. Main pts characteristics were : age = 49 years (range, 32–61 y); grade : I/II FL = 26; FL with histologic transformation = 5; gender = 16 male and 15 female; ≥ 2 prior therapies before transplantation = 23; primary refractory = 8; stage IV = 22; Bulky disease = 16; mean LDH rate before transplantation = 335 UI/l (range, 205–858); residual disease at transplantation (partial response (PR) + progression) = 20. Previous treatments were as follow : anthracyclins = 26, alkylants = 21, anti-CD20 = 15, purine analogs = 7, autologous SCT = 6, radiotherapy = 5. The conditioning regimen was IV fludarabine 30 mg/m²/day (from day −5 to −2); PO busulfan 2 mg/kg/day (from day −7 to −6); antithymocyte globulin (ATG) 2.5 mg/kg/day (from day −4 to −3). 14/31 (45%) and 17/31 (55%) pts received peripheral blood and bone marrow stem cells respectively with a median number of CD34+ cells of 5 x 106/kg (range, 1.8–11.9). Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) prophylaxis consisted in cyclosporine A alone. All patients achieved complete donor (> 95%) chimerism after allogeneic SCT. Median duration of neutropenia (< 0.5 G/L) and thrombocytopenia (< 25 G/L) were 3 days (range, 0–16) and 3 days (range, 0–29) respectively. 8/31 pts (26%) had CMV reactivation but no CMV disease. 3/31 (10%) developed grade II–IV acute GVHD. 10/31 (32%) developed chronic GVHD (5 moderate and 5 extensive). The median follow-up time was 20 months. The TRM was 19% (6/31). Causes of death were aGVHD = 1, auto-immune hepatitis = 1, bacteraemia = 2, pulmonary toxoplasmosis = 1 and Lyell syndrome = 1. Overall response rate was 97% (21 CR + 9 PR) at day 100 and at 1 year (24 CR + 6 PR). The estimated 2-year overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) rate were 75%, 65% and 85% respectively. 2 relapses occurred. Both were treated by anti-CD20, achieved CR and are still alive. Donor age, Bulky disease and LDH were significant for EFS. Altogether, these data suggest that non-myeloablative SCT can induce a high rate of durable remissions with reduced toxicity in this poor risk population.