Search

Figure S1. Hematologic recovery after NK cell infusion in all treated patients.

Suppl. Fig.1. Nampt staining on normal Lymph Nodes; Suppl. Fig. 2. Nampt over-expression in BCMW.1 cells. Suppl. Fig. 3. Dose-response effect curves of FK866; Suppl. Fig. 4. Expression levels of Nampt in WM cells after BTK inhibition (GSE65816); Suppl. Fig. 5. MYD88 L265P and MYD88 WT expressing cells treated with FK866, ibrutinib, or both. Suppl. Fig. 6. MYD88 L265P (BCMW.1 and MWCL-1) and MYD88 WT ( MEC.1 and RL) expressing cells were treated with an inhibitor of Nampt (FK866), BTK (ibrutinib), or both. Suppl. Fig. 7. Effects of co-treatment on primary tumor cells. Suppl. Fig. 8. Densitometric analysis of WB represented in Figure 3B. Suppl. Fig. 9. Rescue experiments with exogenous NAD. Suppl. Fig. 10. Effects of co-treatments on animals body weight.

Table S1. Percentage and absolute number of alloreactive NK cells in responders (A) and non-responders (B) Table S2. Description of cell processing results in responders (A) and non-responders (B)

Suppl. figure legends

Purpose:To evaluate efficacy and safety of venetoclax + azacitidine among treatment-naïve patients with IDH1/2-mutant (mut) acute myeloid leukemia (AML).Patients and Methods:Data were pooled from patients enrolled in a phase III study (NCT02993523) that compared patients treated with venetoclax + azacitidine or placebo + azacitidine and a prior phase Ib study (NCT02203773) where patients were treated with venetoclax + azacitidine. Enrolled patients were ineligible for intensive therapy due to age ≥75 years and/or comorbidities. Patients on venetoclax + azacitidine received venetoclax 400 mg orally (days 1–28) and azacitidine (75 mg/m2; days 1–7/28-day cycle).Results:In the biomarker-evaluable population, IDH1/2mut was detected in 81 (26%) and 28 (22%) patients in the venetoclax + azacitidine and azacitidine groups. Composite complete remission [CRc, complete remission (CR)+CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi)] rates (venetoclax + azacitidine/azacitidine) among patients with IDH1/2mut were 79%/11%, median duration of remission (mDoR) was 29.5/9.5 months, and median overall survival (mOS) was 24.5/6.2 months. CRc rates among patients with IDH1/2 wild-type (WT) were 63%/31%, mDoR 17.5/10.3 months, and mOS 12.3/10.1 months. In patients with IDH1mut, CRc rates (venetoclax + azacitidine/azacitidine) were 66.7%/9.1% and mOS 15.2/2.2 months. In patients with IDH2mut, CRc rates were 86.0%/11.1% and mOS not reached (NR)/13.0 months. Patients with IDH1/2 WT AML treated with venetoclax + azacitidine with poor-risk cytogenetics had inferior outcomes compared with patients with IDH1/2mut, who had superior outcomes regardless of cytogenetic risk (mOS, IDH1/2mut: intermediate-risk, 24.5 months; poor-risk, NR; IDH1/2 WT: intermediate, 19.2 and poor, 7.4 months). There were no unexpected toxicities in the venetoclax + azacitidine group.Conclusions:Patients with IDH1/2mut who received venetoclax + azacitidine had high response rates, durable remissions, and significant OS; cytogenetic risk did not mitigate the favorable outcomes seen from this regimen for IDH1/2mut.See related commentary by Perl and Vyas, p. 2719

Purpose: In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), alloreactive natural killer (NK) cells are crucial mediators of immune responses after haploidentical stem cell transplantation. Allogeneic NK cell infusions have been adoptively transferred with promising clinical results. We aimed at determining whether the composition of NK graft in terms of frequency of alloreactive NK cells influence the clinical response in a group of elderly AML patients undergoing NK immunotherapy.Experimental Design: Seventeen AML patients, in first complete remission (CR; median age 64 years, range 53–73) received NK cells from haploidentical KIR-ligand–mismatched donors after fludarabine/cyclophosphamide chemotherapy, followed by IL2. To correlate donor NK cell activity with clinical response, donor NK cells were assessed before and after infusion.Results: Toxicity was moderate, although 1 patient died due to bacterial pneumonia and was censored for clinical follow-up. With a median follow-up of 22.5 months (range, 6–68 months), 9 of 16 evaluable patients (0.56) are alive disease-free, whereas 7 of 16 (0.44) relapsed with a median time to relapse of 9 months (range, 3–51 months). All patients treated with molecular disease achieved molecular CR. A significantly higher number of donor alloreactive NK cell clones was observed in responders over nonresponders. The infusion of higher number of alloreactive NK cells was associated with prolonged disease-free survival (0.81 vs. 0.14, respectively; P = 0.03).Conclusions: Infusion of purified NK cells is feasible in elderly AML patients as post-CR consolidation strategy. The clinical efficacy of adoptively transferred haploidentical NK cells may be improved by infusing high numbers of alloreactive NK cells. Clin Cancer Res; 22(8); 1914–21. ©2016 AACR.See related commentary by Muntasell and López-Botet, p. 1831

Purpose: Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt) regulates intracellular NAD+ pool and is highly expressed in a number of malignancies. FK866, a selective inhibitor of Nampt, depletes intracellular NAD+ levels, thereby blocking cellular metabolism and triggering sensitization to other drugs and cell death. Here we characterized the antitumor effects of Nampt inhibition in Waldenström macroglobulinemia.Experimental Design: We investigated Nampt role in MW cells using both mRNA and protein expression analyses. We have also used loss-of-function approaches to investigate the growth and survival effects of Nampt on MW cells and further tested the anti-MW activity of dual Nampt and BTK inhibition in vitro and in vivo.Results: We found that Waldenström macroglobulinemia cells exhibit high levels of Nampt compared with normal B cells. Loss of function studies suggested a potential oncogenic role of Nampt in Waldenström macroglobulinemia cells, and BTK-inhibitor ibrutinib and FK866 resulted in a significant and synergistic anti-Waldenström macroglobulinemia cell death, regardless of MYD88 and CXCR4 mutational status. Cell death was associated with: (i) activation of caspase-3, PARP and downregulation of Mcl-1, (ii) enhanced intracellular ATP and NAD+ depletion, (iii) inhibition of NF-κB signaling, and (iv) inhibition of multiple prosurvival signaling pathways. In a murine xenograft Waldenström macroglobulinemia model, low-dose combination FK866 and ibrutinib is well tolerated, significantly inhibits tumor growth, and prolongs host survival.Conclusions: Our results show intracellular NAD+ level as crucial for proliferation and survival of Waldenström macroglobulinemia cells, and provides the mechanistic preclinical rationale for targeting Nampt, either alone or with Ibrutinib, to overcome drug resistance and improve patient outcome in Waldenström macroglobulinemia. Clin Cancer Res; 22(24); 6099–109. ©2016 AACR.

supplemental figure legend

Background Severely immunocompromised patients are at risk for prolonged or relapsed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), leading to increased morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate efficacy and safety of combination treatment in immunocompromised COVID-19 patients. Methods We included all immunocompromised patients with prolonged/relapsed COVID-19 treated with combination therapy with 2 antivirals (remdesivir plus nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, or molnupiravir in case of renal failure) plus, if available, anti-spike monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), between February and October 2022. The main outcomes were virological response at day 14 (negative Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2] swab) and virological and clinical response (alive, asymptomatic, with negative SARS-CoV-2 swab) at day 30 and the last follow-up. Results Overall, 22 patients (Omicron variant in 17/18) were included: 18 received full combination of 2 antivirals and mAbs and 4 received 2 antivirals only; in 20 of 22 (91%) patients, 2 antivirals were nirmatrelvir/ritonavir plus remdesivir. Nineteen (86%) patients had hematological malignancy, and 15 (68%) had received anti-CD20 therapy. All were symptomatic; 8 (36%) required oxygen. Four patients received a second course of combination treatment. The response rate at day 14, day 30, and last follow-up was 75% (15/20 evaluable), 73% (16/22), and 82% (18/22), respectively. Day 14 and 30 response rates were significantly higher when combination therapy included mAbs. Higher number of vaccine doses was associated with better final outcome. Two patients (9%) developed severe side effects (bradycardia leading to remdesivir discontinuation and myocardial infarction). Conclusions Combination therapy including 2 antivirals (mainly remdesivir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) and mAbs was associated with high rate of virological and clinical response in immunocompromised patients with prolonged/relapsed COVID-19.

The presence of peripheral blasts (PB) is a negative prognostic factor in patients with primary and secondary myelofibrosis (MF) and PB ≥4% was associated with a particularly unfavorable prognosis. Ruxolitinib (RUX) is the JAK1/2 inhibitor most used for treatment of MF-related splenomegaly and symptoms. Its role has not been assessed in correlation with PB.In 794 chronic-phase MF patients treated with RUX, we evaluated the impact of baseline percentage of PB on response (spleen and symptoms responses) and outcome (RUX discontinuation-free, leukemia-free, and overall survival). Three subgroups were compared: PB-0 (no PB, 61.3%), PB-4 (PB 1%-4%, 33.5%), and PB-9 (PB 5%-9%, 5.2%).At 3 and 6 months, spleen responses were less frequently achieved by PB-4 (P = .001) and PB-9 (P = .004) compared to PB-0 patients. RUX discontinuation-free, leukemia-free, and overall survival were also worse for PB-4 and PB-9 patients (P = .001, P = .002, and P.001, respectively).Personalized approaches beyond RUX monotherapy may be useful in PB-4 and particularly in PB-9 patients.

We studied pre-transplant minimal residual disease (MRD) in 224 patients (median age 44 years; range 17-65) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in complete remission. MRD was evaluated on marrow samples using multicolor flow cytometry (MFC) and assessment of WT1 gene expression. Both methods showed a strong prognostic value and their combination allowed the identification of 3 groups of patients with different risk of relapse. In multivariate analysis, combined MRD was the only predictor of cumulative incidence of relapse, regardless of donor type, conditioning regimen, first or second CR at HSCT, HSCT year and ELN risk group. Multivariate regression model showed that only negative combined MRD status (p

Background: Laparoscopic lymph node biopsy through a multi-port access (MPLB) is a well-established technique for intra-abdominal lymphoma diagnosis. The aim of the current study is to assess the f...

In 816 patients with 2016 World Health Organization-defined polycythemia vera (PV) enrolled in a multicenter retrospective study, we investigated the predictive value of Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and body mass index (BMI) on thrombosis, progression to post-PV myelofibrosis (PPV-MF) and survival. Patients were subgrouped according to CCI=0 (58.1%, no comorbidities) or CCI≥1 (41.9%) and according to normal/underweight (BMI&nbsp

Comorbidities defined by the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and body mass index (BMI) are significantly associated with outcome in patients who receive continuous treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We evaluated the impact of CCI and BMI on responses, drug-related toxicities, and outcome in a cohort of 402 patients with myelofibrosis (MF) treated with ruxolitinib in 23 European Hematology Centers. Comorbidities were evaluable in all 402 patients. A higher (≥ 3) CCI did not correlate with a lower spleen reduction at any time (p = 0.68) or symptoms' response (p = 0.11), but influenced the onset of anemia during the first 3months of treatment and later (p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively) in patients without anemia baseline. BMI was evaluable in 380 patients and did not correlate with differences in spleen and symptoms response (p = 0.57 and p = 0.49, respectively). A higher CCI and a lower BMI correlated also with a reduced overall survival (p

Metabolic reprogramming is emerging as a cancer vulnerability that could be therapeutically exploitable using different approaches, including amino acid depletion for those tumors that rely on exogenous amino acids for their maintenance. ʟ-Asparaginase (ASNase) has contributed to a significant improvement in acute lymphoblastic leukemia outcomes; however, toxicity and resistance limit its clinical use in other tumors. Here, we report that, in multiple myeloma (MM) cells, the DNA methylation status is significantly associated with reduced expression of ASNase-related gene signatures, thus suggesting ASNase sensitivity for this tumor. Therefore, we tested the effects of ASNase purified from Erwinia chrysanthemi (Erw-ASNase), combined with the next-generation proteasome inhibitor (PI) carfilzomib. We observed an impressive synergistic effect on MM cells, whereas normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells were not affected. Importantly, this effect was associated with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, compounded mitochondrial damage, and Nrf2 upregulation, regardless of the c-Myc oncogenic-specific program. Furthermore, the cotreatment resulted in genomic instability and DNA repair mechanism impairment via increased mitochondrial oxidative stress, which further enhanced its antitumor activity. Interestingly, carfilzomib-resistant cells were found to be highly dependent on amino acid starvation, as reflected by their higher sensitivity to Erw-ASNase treatment compared with isogenic cells. Overall, by affecting several cellular programs, Erw-ASNase makes MM cells more vulnerable to carfilzomib, providing proof of concept for clinical use of this combination as a novel strategy to enhance PI sensitivity in MM patients.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a poor prognosis myeloid malignancy characterized by an atypical phenotype (CD123+, CD56+, and CD4+). We reported that BPDCN-like phenotype (CD123+ and either CD56+ or CD4+ or both) confers poor prognosis to acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) patients with mutated NPM1. Here, we evaluated the incidence and the prognostic relevance of BPDCN-like phenotype in cytogenetically normal AML (CN-AML) patients. From 2006 to 2016, 83 young (age60 yrs), consecutive, CN-AML patients underwent intensive treatment. Fifteen patients (18%) showed a BPDCN-like phenotype with no difference between

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors have improved survival for patients with Philadelphia chromosome–positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, prognosis for old or unfit patients remains poor. In the INCB84344-201 (formerly GIMEMA LAL 1811) prospective, multicenter, phase 2 trial, we tested the efficacy and safety of ponatinib plus prednisone in newly diagnosed patients with Ph+ ALL ≥60 years, or unfit for intensive chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. Forty-four patients received oral ponatinib 45 mg/d for 48 weeks (core phase), with prednisone tapered to 60 mg/m2/d from days-14-29. Prophylactic intrathecal chemotherapy was administered monthly. Median age was 66.5 years (range, 26-85). The primary endpoint (complete hematologic response [CHR] at 24 weeks) was reached in 38/44 patients (86.4%); complete molecular response (CMR) in 18/44 patients (40.9%) at 24 weeks. 61.4% of patients completed the core phase. As of 24 April 2020, median event-free survival was 14.31 months (95% CI 9.30-22.31). Median overall survival and duration of CHR were not reached; median duration of CMR was 11.6 months. Most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were rash (36.4%), asthenia (22.7%), alanine transaminase increase (15.9%), erythema (15.9%), and γ-glutamyltransferase increase (15.9%). Cardiac and vascular TEAEs occurred in 29.5% (grade ≥3, 18.2%) and 27.3% (grade ≥3, 15.9%), respectively. Dose reductions, interruptions, and discontinuations due to TEAEs occurred in 43.2%, 43.2%, and 27.3% of patients, respectively; 5 patients had fatal TEAEs. Ponatinib and prednisone showed efficacy in unfit patients with Ph+ ALL; however, a lower ponatinib dose may be more appropriate in this population. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01641107.

Purpose: To evaluate efficacy and safety of venetoclax + azacitidine among treatment-naïve patients with IDH1/2-mutant (mut) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Patients and Methods: Data were pooled from patients enrolled in a phase III study (NCT02993523) that compared patients treated with venetoclax + azacitidine or placebo + azacitidine and a prior phase Ib study (NCT02203773) where patients were treated with venetoclax + azacitidine. Enrolled patients were ineligible for intensive therapy due to age ≥75 years and/or comorbidities. Patients on venetoclax + azacitidine received venetoclax 400 mg orally (days 1–28) and azacitidine (75 mg/m2; days 1–7/28-day cycle). Results: In the biomarker-evaluable population, IDH1/2mut was detected in 81 (26%) and 28 (22%) patients in the venetoclax + azacitidine and azacitidine groups. Composite complete remission [CRc, complete remission (CR)+CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi)] rates (venetoclax + azacitidine/azacitidine) among patients with IDH1/2mut were 79%/11%, median duration of remission (mDoR) was 29.5/9.5 months, and median overall survival (mOS) was 24.5/6.2 months. CRc rates among patients with IDH1/2 wild-type (WT) were 63%/31%, mDoR 17.5/10.3 months, and mOS 12.3/10.1 months. In patients with IDH1mut, CRc rates (venetoclax + azacitidine/azacitidine) were 66.7%/9.1% and mOS 15.2/2.2 months. In patients with IDH2mut, CRc rates were 86.0%/11.1% and mOS not reached (NR)/13.0 months. Patients with IDH1/2 WT AML treated with venetoclax + azacitidine with poor-risk cytogenetics had inferior outcomes compared with patients with IDH1/2mut, who had superior outcomes regardless of cytogenetic risk (mOS, IDH1/2mut: intermediate-risk, 24.5 months; poor-risk, NR; IDH1/2 WT: intermediate, 19.2 and poor, 7.4 months). There were no unexpected toxicities in the venetoclax + azacitidine group. Conclusions: Patients with IDH1/2mut who received venetoclax + azacitidine had high response rates, durable remissions, and significant OS; cytogenetic risk did not mitigate the favorable outcomes seen from this regimen for IDH1/2mut. See related commentary by Perl and Vyas, p. 2719

Background Erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents effectively improve the hemoglobin levels in a fraction of anemic patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Higher doses (HD) of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) have been proposed to overcome suboptimal response rates observed in MDS patients treated with lower “standard doses” (SD) of rhEPO. However, a direct comparison between the different doses of rhEPO is lacking. Methods A cohort of 104 MDS patients treated with HD was retrospectively compared to 208 patients treated with SD in a propensity score‐matched analysis to evaluate hematological improvement‐erythroid (HI‐E) rate induced by the different doses of rhEPO. The impact of rhEPO doses on survival and progression to leukemia was also investigated. Results Overall HI‐E rate was 52.6%. No difference was observed between different rhEPO doses (P = .28) in matched cohorts; in a subgroup analysis, transfusion‐dependent patients and patients with higher IPSS‐R score obtained a higher HI‐E rate with HD, although without significant impact on overall survival (OS). Achievement of HI‐E resulted in superior OS. At univariate analysis, a higher HI‐E rate was observed in transfusion‐independent patients (P, When compared in a propensity‐score matched analysis, standard doses of rhEPO showed similar effects to those of higher doses in anemic MDS patients. Achievement of favorable response with hematologic improvement in this clinical scenario is possible by reducing drug doses and costs.

Mounting evidence suggests measurable residual disease (MRD) assessments are prognostic in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). High-risk AML encompasses a subset of AML with poor response to therapy and prognosis, with features such as therapy-related AML, an antecedent hematologic disorder, extramedullary disease (in adults), and selected mutations and cytogenetic abnormalities. Historically, few patients with high-risk AML achieved deep and durable remission with conventional chemotherapy; however, newer agents might be more effective in achieving MRD-negative remission. CPX-351 (dual-drug liposomal encapsulation of daunorubicin/cytarabine at a synergistic ratio) demonstrated MRD-negativity rates of 36–64% across retrospective studies in adults with newly diagnosed high-risk AML and 84% in pediatric patients with first-relapse AML. Venetoclax (BCL2 inhibitor) demonstrated MRD-negativity rates of 33–53% in combination with hypomethylating agents for high-risk subgroups in studies of older adults with newly diagnosed AML who were ineligible for intensive therapy and 65% in combination with chemotherapy in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory AML. However, there is no consensus on optimal MRD methodology in AML, and the use of different techniques, sample sources, sensitivity thresholds, and the timing of assessments limit comparisons across studies. Robust MRD analyses are needed in future clinical studies, and MRD monitoring should become a routine aspect of AML management.

Background A growing number of clinical trials have shown that regulatory T (Treg) cell transfer may have a favorable effect on the maintenance of self-tolerance and immune homeostasis in different conditions such as graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), solid organ transplantation, type 1 diabetes, and others. In this context, the availability of a robust manufacturing protocol that is able to produce a sufficient number of functional Treg cells represents a fundamental prerequisite for the success of a cell therapy clinical protocol. However, extended workflow guidelines for nonprofit manufacturers are currently lacking. Despite the fact that different successful manufacturing procedures and cell products with excellent safety profiles have been reported from early clinical trials, the selection and expansion protocols for Treg cells vary a lot. The objective of this study was to validate a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant protocol for the production of Treg cells that approaches the whole process with a risk-management methodology, from process design to completion of final product development. High emphasis was given to the description of the quality control (QC) methodologies used for the in-process and release tests (sterility, endotoxin test, mycoplasma, and immunophenotype). Results The GMP-compliant protocol defined in this work allows at least 4.11 × 109 Treg cells to be obtained with an average purity of 95.75 ± 4.38% and can be used in different clinical settings to exploit Treg cell immunomodulatory function. Conclusions These results could be of great use for facilities implementing GMP-compliant cell therapy protocols of these cells for different conditions aimed at restoring the Treg cell number and function, which may slow the progression of certain diseases.

Introduction Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations occur in ~20% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients (pts) and are frequently identified in older pts. Pre-clinical data showed that cells with IDH1/2 mutation (mut) were susceptible to Venetoclax (Ven) therapy (Chan et.al., 2015). Clinical studies have demonstrated that pts with IDH1/2mut treated with Ven and azacitidine (Aza) achieved high response rates that were durable, and had longer median overall survival (mOS) (DiNardo et. al., 2020; DiNardo et. al., 2019). Herein, we further evaluated the efficacy and safety of Ven+Aza among treatment-naïve AML pts with IDH1/2 mut unfit for intensive treatment either due to comorbidities and/or age ≥ 75 yrs. Methods Data were pooled from pts enrolled in an ongoing phase 3 study (NCT02993523, data cut-off: 04Jan2020) comparing pts treated with Ven+Aza or placebo (Pbo)+Aza, and a phase 1b study (NCT02203773, data cut-off: 19Jun2019) where pts were treated with Ven+Aza. Pts on Ven+Aza received Ven 400 mg daily orally (days 1-28) and Aza (75 mg/m2; days 1-7/28-day cycle). Disease assessments were performed per modified International Working Group response criteria for AML. DNA was isolated from bone marrow aspirates collected from pts prior to the first dose of study drug and analyzed centrally. Pts with positive test results for IDH1 and 2 [RealTime IDH1 or IDH2 assay (Abbott) for phase 3 study, MyAML panel (Invivoscribe) for phase 1b study] were counted as mutation "detected"; pts with a negative test result were counted as mutation "not detected." Pts without a result either due to an inconclusive test or missing specimen were excluded from the analyses. Results IDH1/2 mut was detected in 79 pts treated with Ven+Aza and 28 pts treated with Pbo+Aza. At baseline (Ven+Aza/Pbo+Aza), median age was 76 (range: 64-90)/78 (62-90) yrs. Cytogenetic risks were intermediate: 79%/68%, and poor:21%/32%. ECOG scores were: 0-1: 56%/68% and 2-3: 44%/32%. 73%/86% had de novo AML, and 27%/14% had secondary AML. IDH1 was detected in 32/11, IDH2 in 49/18, IDH2R140 in 36/15, and IDH2R172 were detected in 13/3 pts, respectively. The median number of treatment cycles received (Ven+Aza/Pbo+Aza) by IDH1/2 pts was 8 (range: 1-37)/2.5 (1-18). Complete response (CR)+CR with partial hematologic recovery (CRh) in Ven+Aza/Pbo+Aza were 72% (95% CI: 61%-82%)/7% (1%-24%) (Table). Median time to first CR/CRh response was 1.0/2.6 months (mos), and 51%/0% achieved CR+CRh by initiation of cycle (C) 2. Median duration of response (mDoR) was 29.5 [95% CI: 16.7-not reached(NR)]/15.5 (NR-NR) mos and mOS was 24.5 [15.2- NR/6.2 (2.3-12.7) mos. The separation of 95% CIs for mOS indicate superior treatment effect of Ven+Aza (Figure). In pts with IDH1, CR+CRh (Ven+Aza/Pbo+Aza) was 59%/9%. Median time to first CR/CRh response was 2.3/3.1 mos, and 25%/0% achieved CR+CRh by initiation of C2. Median DoR and OS were 21.9 (7.8-29.5)/NR and 17.5 (6.3-32.7)/2.2(1.1-5.6) mos. In pts with IDH2, CR+CRh rates were 80%/6%. Median time to first CR/CRh response was 1.0/2.1 mos and 67%/0% achieved CR+CRh by initiation of C2. Median DoR was NR (16.7-NR)/15.5 (NR-NR), and mOS was NR (17.6-NR)/13.0 (95% CI: 3.8-15.8) mos. In pts with IDH2R140, CR+CRh were 75%/7%. Median time to first CR/CRh response was 1.0/2.1 mos, and 58%/0% achieved CR+CRh by initiation of C2. Median DoR and mOS were NR (17.8-NR)/15.5 (NR-NR) and NR (15.0-NR)/12.7 (1.7-15.8) mos, respectively. Response rates in pts with IDH2R172 were 92%/0%. Median time to first CR/CRh response was 1.0/NR mos, and 92%/0% achieved response by initiation of C2. Median DoR and mOS were 16.7 (7.5-NR)/3.5 (NR-NR) and NR (12.2-NR)/13.7 (10.6-NR) mos. IDH1/2 mut pts achieved higher CR+CRh rates with Ven+Aza treatment as compared to pts with IDH not detected (72%/60%). Median DoR and mOS were 29.5 (16.7-NR)/17.5 (10.6-23.5) and 24.5 (15.2-NR)/12.3 (9.7-14.8) mos, respectively. In pts treated with Ven+Aza, grade 3/4 hematologic adverse events (AEs) among pts with IDH1/2 detected/IDH not detected were similar (81%/74%) and included grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia (46%/34%), febrile neutropenia (43%/41%), neutropenia (35%/33%) and anemia (29%/24%). Conclusion Ven+Aza compared to Aza monotherapy resulted in higher response rates, longer DoR, and mOS among treatment-naïve pts with IDH1/2mut ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. The safety profile was acceptable. No unexpected toxicities were noted with Ven+Aza combination. Disclosures Pollyea: Pfizer: Consultancy; Glycomimetics: Other; Takeda: Consultancy; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Research Funding; Syros: Consultancy; Syndax: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; 47: Consultancy, Research Funding; Agios: Consultancy; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy. Dinardo:Notable Labs: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria; Agios: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Calithera: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy, Research Funding; ImmuneOnc: Honoraria. Arellano:Gilead Sciences, Inc: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Hanmi: Research Funding; Cephalon Oncology: Research Funding. Fiedler:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel accomodations; Gilead: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; BerGenBio ASA: Research Funding; Servier: Honoraria, Other; Ariad/Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: support in medical writing; Daiichi Sankyo Oncology: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel accomodations; Morphosys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: support in medical writing; Amgen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel accomodations, support in medical writing, Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Konopleva:Reata Pharmaceutical Inc.;: Patents & Royalties: patents and royalties with patent US 7,795,305 B2 on CDDO-compounds and combination therapies, licensed to Reata Pharmaceutical; Calithera: Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Stemline Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding; Ascentage: Research Funding; Ablynx: Research Funding; F. Hoffmann La-Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kisoji: Consultancy; Rafael Pharmaceutical: Research Funding; Forty-Seven: Consultancy, Research Funding. Rizzieri:Gilead: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AROG: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Teva: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Acrobiotech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Stemline: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Kite: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celltrion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Mustang: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Smith:Jazz: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Shinagawa:AbbVie: Research Funding. Lemoli:Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BerGenBio ASA: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jazz: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Dail:Genentech: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Duan:AbbVie: Current Employment, Other: may hold stock or options. Chyla:AbbVie: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Potluri:AbbVie: Current Employment, Other: may hold stock or stock options. Ridgeway:AbbVie: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Kantarjian:Janssen: Honoraria; Daiichi-Sankyo: Honoraria, Research Funding; Adaptive biotechnologies: Honoraria; Oxford Biomedical: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ascentage: Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Actinium: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Research Funding; Delta Fly: Honoraria; BMS: Research Funding; Aptitute Health: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; BioAscend: Honoraria; Jazz: Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Immunogen: Research Funding.

Cisplatin-containing salvage regimens followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation are the current standard of care for relapsed or refractory (R/R) lymphomas. We retrospectively analyzed efficacy and stem cell mobilizing activity of oxaliplatin, cytarabine, dexamethasone and rituximab (R-DHAOx) in 53 R/R diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCL) treated in our center (median lines 2, range 2-5; median age 59, range 22-79). Hematological toxicity was manageable and no patients experienced renal impairment. After 2 courses the overall response rate was 60% (CR 49%, PR 11%). Median overall survival (OS) was 30.53 months (95% CI 11.5-49.55), 3-year OS 40.5%. Twenty-two eligible patients collected HSC and transplantation was performed in 21/22 patients (95%), after a median of 52 days from last cycle. Our results suggest that in DLBCL R-DHAOx has an excellent stem cell mobilizing capability, response rate comparable to cisplatin-containing regimens and good toxicity profile.

Identification of novel vulnerabilities in the context of therapeutic resistance is emerging as a key challenge for cancer treatment. Recent studies have detected pervasive aberrant splicing in cancer cells, supporting its targeting for novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we evaluated the expression of several spliceosome machinery components in multiple myeloma (MM) cells and the impact of splicing modulation on tumor cell growth and viability. A comprehensive gene expression analysis confirmed the reported deregulation of spliceosome machinery components in MM cells, compared to normal plasma cells from healthy donors, with its pharmacological and genetic modulation resulting in impaired growth and survival of MM cell lines and patient-derived malignant plasma cells. Consistent with this, transcriptomic analysis revealed deregulation of BCL2 family members, including decrease of anti-apoptotic long form of myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL1) expression, as crucial for “priming” MM cells for Venetoclax activity in vitro and in vivo, irrespective of t(11;14) status. Overall, our data provide a rationale for supporting the clinical use of splicing modulators as a strategy to reprogram apoptotic dependencies and make all MM patients more vulnerable to BCL2 inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: After ruxolitinib discontinuation, the outcome of patients with myelofibrosis (MF) is poor with scarce therapeutic possibilities. METHODS: The authors performed a subanalysis of an observational, retrospective study (RUX-MF) that included 703 MF patients treated with ruxolitinib to investigate 1) the frequency and reasons for ruxolitinib rechallenge, 2) its therapeutic effects, and 3) its impact on overall survival. RESULTS: A total of 219 patients (31.2%) discontinued ruxolitinib for ≥14 days and survived for ≥30 days. In 60 patients (27.4%), ruxolitinib was rechallenged for ≥14 days (RUX-again patients), whereas 159 patients (72.6%) discontinued it permanently (RUX-stop patients). The baseline characteristics of the 2 cohorts were comparable, but discontinuation due to a lack/loss of spleen response was lower in RUX-again patients (P =.004). In comparison with the disease status at the first ruxolitinib stop, at its restart, there was a significant increase in patients with large splenomegaly (P 10 mg twice daily predicted better spleen (P =.05) and symptom improvements (P =.02), the reasons for/duration of ruxolitinib discontinuation and the use of other therapies before rechallenge were not associated with rechallenge efficacy. At 1 and 2 years, 33.3% and 48.3% of RUX-again patients, respectively, had permanently discontinued ruxolitinib. The median overall survival was 27.9 months, and it was significantly longer for RUX-again patients (P =.004). CONCLUSIONS: Ruxolitinib rechallenge was mainly used in intolerant patients; there were clinical improvements and a possible survival advantage in many cases, but there was a substantial rate of permanent discontinuation. Ruxolitinib rechallenge should be balanced against newer therapeutic possibilities.

COVID-19 is associated with high mortality in patients with haematological malignancies (HM) and rate of seroconversion is unknown. The ITA-HEMA-COV project (NCT04352556) investigated patterns of seroconversion for SARS-CoV-2 IgG in patients with HMs. A total of 237 patients, SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive with at least one SARS-CoV-2 IgG test performed during their care, entered the analysis. Among these, 62 (26·2%) had myeloid, 121 (51·1%) lymphoid and 54 (22·8%) plasma cell neoplasms. Overall, 69% of patients (164 of 237) had detectable IgG SARS-CoV-2 serum antibodies. Serologically negative patients (31%, 73 of 237) were evenly distributed across patients with myeloid, lymphoid and plasma cell neoplasms. In the multivariable logistic regression, chemoimmunotherapy [odds ratio (OR), 3·42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1·04–11·21; P=0·04] was associated with a lower rate of seroconversion. This effect did not decline after 180days from treatment withdrawal (OR, 0·35; 95% CI: 0·11–1·13; P=0·08). This study demonstrates a low rate of seroconversion in HM patients and indicates that treatment-mediated immune dysfunction is the main driver. As a consequence, we expect a low rate of seroconversion after vaccination and thus we suggest testing the efficacy of seroconversion in HM patients.

No abstract available

Secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) poorly responds to conventional treatments and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We evaluated toxicity and efficacy of CPX-351 in 71 elderly patients (median age 66 years) with sAML enrolled in the Italian Named (Compassionate) Use Program. Sixty days treatment-related mortality was 7% (5/71). The response rate at the end of treatment was: CR/CRi in 50/71 patients (70.4%), PR in 6/71 (8.5%), and NR in 10/71 (19.7%). After a median follow-up of 11 months relapse was observed in 10/50 patients (20%) and 12 months cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) was 23.6%. Median duration of response was not reached. In competing risk analysis, CIR was reduced when HSCT was performed in first CR (12 months CIR of 5% and 37.4%, respectively, for patients receiving (=20) or not (=30) HSCT, p = 0.012). Twelve-months OS was 68.6% (median not reached). In landmark analysis, HSCT in CR1 was the only significant predictor of longer survival (12 months OS of 100 and 70.5%, for patients undergoing or not HSCT in CR1, respectively, p = 0.011). In conclusion, we extend to a real-life setting, the notion that CPX is an effective regimen for high risk AML patients and may improve the results of HSCT.

The impact of ruxolitinib therapy on evolution to blast phase (BP) in patients with myelofibrosis (MF) is still uncertain. In 589 MF patients treated with ruxolitinib, we investigated incidence and risk factors for BP and we described outcome according to disease characteristics and treatment strategy. After a median follow-up from ruxolitinib start of 3 years (range 0.1-7.6), 65 (11%) patients transformed to BP during (93.8%) or after treatment. BP incidence rate was 3.7 per 100 patient-years, comparably in primary and secondary MF (PMF/SMF) but significantly lower in intermediate-1 risk patients (2.3 vs 5.6 per 100 patient-years in intermediate-2/high-risk patients, P